Pierce County players, coaches come together for a week of practice

By Reagan Hoverman

Leading up to the 2022 North vs. South small school Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) All-Star game, the North roster, which practiced at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, had a guest speaker provide insight into the game and life after high school football.

The guest speaker was former Wisconsin Badger Jake Keefer, a Baldwin-Woodville High School graduate and son of Baldwin- Woodville head football coach Dan Keefer, who was selected as one of the North small school All-Star team’s assistant coaches under head man Jason Janke of Ellsworth.

The entire coaching stau agreed that it would be important to have a speaker for the week such as Jake Keefer, who played in the 2011 All-Star game for the North small school team. After the final team practice on the evening of Thursday, July 14, Jake Keefer spoke to the roster about the All-Star game and life after high school football.

“One of the things I would encourage you guys to do is focus on the friendships you guys have built here this week,” Jake Keefer said. “It’s going to be pretty cool for you, whether this is your last football game or you’re jumping into the workforce or you’re going to play college football – focus on keeping these relationships and staying in touch. It’s special to be able to have that and the brotherhood of being a part of the WFCA.”

Jake Keefer, who played on outstanding Baldwin-Woodville teams in his four years of high school and was ranked as the eighth-best outside linebacker in the country by MaxPreps after his senior season with the Blackhawks, stated that some of his best football memories came from the WFCAAll-Star game after his senior year of high school.

Jake Keefer made it clear that he loved Madison and loved being a Badger, but that he would do almost anything to be able to go back in time and put the All-Star pads on one more time to play alongside some of the best high school players in the state.

“Take it seriously but have fun,” Jake Keefer said. “I would do anything to be able to strap up the pads and knock somebody’s skull again. Make sure you live it up and enjoy it.”

After Keefer spoke about how magical the WFCAAll-Star weekend is, he told the captivated audience of players about continuing to use traits and important life lessons learned in high school football that will apply as they begin the next chapter of their lives.

“I encourage you guys as you’re working to the next step of your life, hold firm to what you’ve learned in football,” Jake Keefer said. “What you guys have brought to your communities, you guys have all been leaders in the community you grew up in. People look up to you. You’re smart, tough, dependable guys and you’re going to continue to crush it if you keep holding that firm and being a leader.”

While Jake Keefer only played in the game once, his father, Dan Keefer, coached in the game two previous times – once as the head coach – and tallied his third time working the game for the North on Saturday afternoon. On Thursday night, he spoke about the then-upcoming game and what fans could expect.

“This will be as competitive of a game as you will ever see,” Dan Keefer said. “The North takes pride in it, the South takes pride in it, it’s a big deal. For a lot of these guys, it’s their last chance to play football and it means a lot to them. There will be a lot of emotion and a lot of guys busting their tale.”

While Dan Keefer has coached some excellent teams during his tenure with the Blackhawks of Baldwin-Woodville, he stated that these players in this All-Star game are on another level. One of the most outstanding aspects in his eyes is the speed with which the players learn the system for the All-Star game.

“This is like the very best kid that we coach, but it’s a whole team of them,” Dan Keefer said. “They pick things up fast, they’re good athletes and they’re smart people. I’m amazed at how quickly they absorb things and they don’t repeat mistakes. I love our high school kids and we have great kids, but it's a diuerent world when you go back to that – it’s not like All-Star week.”

To be selected for the team, a player must first be nominated by their high school coach. Generally, coaches nominate fantastic ath- letes and fantastic individuals – on and ou the field. There is an unwritten rule that All-State players are immediately on the team because they were identified as one of the best players in Wisconsin for the year.

After players have been nominated and All-State players have been received, Jason Janke's coaching stau got together and began watching tape to decide which players would be the best fit for what they were trying to ac complish at the All-Star game. In Dan Keefer’s experience, coaches have always nominated great, high-class players.

“In my three years (coaching in this game), I have never seen a kid I would consider to be selfish," Dan Keefer said. "They're all good kids and team-oriented guys which is great.”

Ellsworth star running back/wide receiver Ashten Quade, who ended up winning the Player of the Game award at the 2022 All-Star game, enjoyed his experience working with players from all over the state. He spoke about his favorite parts of the week with the North All-Star team.

“It’s been great so far meeting a lot of new kids and also kids I played against,” Quade said. “A lot of the people I never would have thought I would hang out with, now I plan on hanging out with them after this week. It makes it a special week.”

One of the adjustments for Quade was looking at Aiden Russell of Prescott and Charlie Tronrud of Osceola as teammates instead of seeing them as some of the best players that he played against this year. He spoke about those new friendships and getting to play alongside those two and lots of other players.

“It’s great going from playing them and maybe not liking them as much to actually talking to them and seeing that they’re kids just like us,” Quade said. “It gives me a perspective on opponents and just in life by getting to know someone.”

By any standards, it was a successful week of practice leading up to the game and an outstanding game for the North squad as they defeated the South 25-7 on Saturday afternoon. Although the players will go diuerent ways now that the week is over, they will forever have a memory of winning the last football game of their high school careers.

Spring Valley senior and 2022 North small school All-Star game player Connor Ducklow looks to the sideline for a defensive play call during the Thursday night practice on July 14. Ducklow was one of eight Pierce County players to be selected to an All-Star game roster. Photo by Reagan Hoverman

Baldwin-Woodville head coach Dan Keefer (left) and his son, Jake Keefer (right), stand together at the Thursday evening, July 14 North All-Star small school practice at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Jake Keefer spoke to the roster after practice about playing in the All-Star game, what to expect, his time with the Wisconsin Badgers and life after high school football. Dan Keefer was selected by Jason Janke as one of the assistant coaches for the game Saturday afternoon. Photo courtesy of Jason Janke