With the 2024 season in the books, there is a lot to dissect and be proud of. The Wolves ended with a 4-5 record but showed glimpses of what is to come. With a tough schedule this year, the Wolves dominated in their four wins with a 56-13 win over Roosevelt, a 49-21 victory over Waterloo West, a 65-13 win over Ottumwa to end their undefeated season, and a 50-6 win over Ames to end the year and send the seniors off with a win. Every team the Wolves lost to made it to the playoffs this season including one who played for the state championship. While the seniors may not have ended their careers the way they wanted, they did set an example for the younger players to follow and move forward.

Awards and Records

The end-of-the-year awards saw nine Wolves on the 1st Team All-District honors, five on the 2nd Team, and four Honorable Mentions. 1st team was highlighted by the two sophomore offensive weapons in quarterback Mack Heitland and wide receiver Jordon Green. Green was not the only wideout to make it either, as juniors Elliot Combe and Isaiah Oliver also filled the selections. Two junior offensive linemen, Henry Mohr and Greyson Beattie, and senior tight end Gavin Schaller finish off the offensive first-team selections. On the defensive side, two seniors made it as defensive lineman Jack Vinyard and defensive back Andrew Eastman finished out the first-team selections. 

The second-team selections were defensive-heavy as two defensive linemen made it with junior Jackson Davis and Senior Brayden Williams, one junior linebacker in Brady Fitz, and junior defensive back Blake Ludwig were selected. Offensively, senior wide receiver Julian Sweeney makes his case, giving the wide receiver room, their 4th all-team selection this year.

Honorable mentions went to senior linebacker Tanner Jackson, junior linebacker Austin Van Horn, and two senior offensive linemen, Nick MacBeth and Colby Nelson. 

Team awards, as voted on by the players, went as follows: Team MVP: sophomore Jordon Green; Co-Most Valuable Defensive Players: seniors Andrew Eastman and Jack Vinyard; Most Valuable Offensive Player: Sophomore Mack Heitland; Most Valuable Special Teams Player: Senior Landen Steffy; Most Improved: senior Cole Tietz; and Wolf of the year; Senior Gavin Schaller.

Heitland’s accolades on the year don’t stop there, as he now holds nine in-season records and two career records. Mack puts himself at the top in most passing touchdowns in a career, with 28, and completion percentage in a career sits at 74%. Heitland dominated in-season records as he became the leader in passing yards with 1883 yards, with most attempts with 199 yards in the year, most completions with 148, a completion percentage at 74.4%, and most passing touchdowns with 28. In-game records were just as good as he is the new record holder of most passing yards with 349 yards, completions with 20, completion percentage at 95.2%, and 6 passing touchdowns. With all these records under the sophomore’s belt, he has two more seasons to improve and add to them. 

Impressive records don’t stop with Heitland, as Jordon Green and Isiah Oliver are holders of every receiving record but one. Green, with 670 yards, and Oliver, with 430 yards, are 1 and 2 in receiving yards for a career; 45 receptions (Green) and 36 receptions (Oliver) are 1 and 2 in receptions in a career; and Green stands alone at the top of receiving touchdowns in a career with 9. All career stats and In-season records for receiving were the same. In-game records were a lot of the same as Green is the new record holder of most receiving yards with 118 yards, Oliver and Green tie for most receptions in a game with 9, and the final stat of most receiving touchdowns goes to two different names as senior tight end Gavin Schaller and junior wideout Elliot Combe have 3. 

Bounce-back Potential

The potential of the Wolves moving into next year has a feel-good theme to it. With nearly all of their offensive production coming back, an offseason to grow and dial in their chemistry could be what the Wolves need to have an explosive bounce-back season. Bringing back two 1st team junior offensive linemen could be what puts this offense over the top, as long as they can fill the two graduating offensive linemen to beef up the front line. Defensively, the Wolves return three of their top five tacklers from last season, including the team-leading 5.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss from Jackson Davis. With many juniors returning, another upperclassman-heavy team will be in store for next season to build on from this year and provide leadership on both sides of the field, both on and off the field. This offseason is important for creating a strong foundation for future success.