Wenzel, Hardy key figures for Appleton North as it prepares for season
Appleton North seniors Grant Hardy and Ben Wenzel talk about the upcoming football season for the Lightning.
Appleton North football, coming off a 5-5 season, aims to be an FVA frontrunner.Key players include quarterback Grant Hardy and Wisconsin commit linebacker Ben Wenzel.The team’s tough early schedule includes away games against Mukwonago, Kenosha Bradford and Fond du Lac.
Looking for a team lurking in the shadows as a possible Fox Valley Association frontrunner this season? You might have one with Appleton North.
The Lightning is coming off a 5-5 season and first-round exit in the WIAA football playoffs in Division 1. North’s record last season was modest but somewhat deceiving. The team was competitive in nearly every game and lost to FVA tri-champs Neenah, Kaukauna and Kimberly by a combined 11 points during the regular season.
“You go all the way back to the year that we had the state semifinal team (2021), we didn’t win conference that year either,” Appleton North head coach Rob Salm said. “And we’ve been in situations where we could have been conference champs any of those years and we didn’t finish in our close games. So it’s been frustrating.
“So we looked at that and we’re like, ‘How do you get over that, that hurdle?’ And the mindset of the boys this year is we take it one game at a time and we’re going to execute. We’re going to do this in practice and we’re going to be disciplined.”
Grant Hardy takes reins as Appleton North quarterback
There’s excitement this season due to North having talented athletes at premium positions, including Grant Hardy at quarterback and Ben Wenzel at linebacker.
Hardy, who played receiver last season but was a quarterback earlier in his career, is fully committed to the position switch and the 6-foot-4 standout basketball player hit the weights this past offseason to reshape his body for football.
“It was different,” Hardy said. “It was really the first time in my life where I had to think about my diet. Naturally I’m a little more lean, but you know from last season to this season I’ve put on about 20 pounds of muscle. So I think that’s really helped my arm, taking hits and escaping the pocket and just being a better all-around athlete.”
Junior running back DJ Wilson should see plenty of carries in the backfield and Keegan Muchow is the team’s top returning receiver. The offensive line, according to Salm, is expected to be another high point led by senior Michael Schopf.
But the key for the offense will be Hardy.
“Our offense is a quarterback-driven offense, so that individual has to be a pretty talented kid and Grant is crazy talented, and he is a great teammate,” Salm said. “I think my favorite thing about Grant is that it’s never about Grant. He’s a great leader. It’s always about the team and the team doing well. Having that at the quarterback position really allows your team to be at its best.”
Badgers commit Ben Wenzel leads Appleton North defense
Wenzel, a University of Wisconsin commit, spearheads a defense that is used to having success. It may be a bit on the young side this season, but Wenzel does have some experienced help in seniors Brady Golden (linebacker) and Trey Fox (defensive line).
“Our defense has always been the staple of the Appleton North football team,” Wenzel said. “It’s been the best in the state the last couple of years, so we intend on keeping that standard and we want to give our offense the best opportunity to score some touchdowns and win us the game.
“We’re getting off to a good start here. We’re kind of young, but there’s a lot of talent in the room — linebackers and defensive backs too.”
Salm pointed out that Wenzel is similar to Hardy in the team-first mentality.
“He’s never been about Ben Wenzel. These guys are not selfish kids. They really care about what’s best for our team to be successful,” Salm said. “(Wenzel) is super talented and we have Trey Fox on the defensive line. He’s crazy talented and he’s healthy now.”
Appleton North faces challenging road schedule to start season
A fast start would help North, which plays its first three games on the road against traditionally strong programs with nonconference matchups at Mukwonago and at Kenosha Bradford before opening conference play at Fond du Lac in Week 3.
“That’s why we’re doing it,” Salm said about the tough early schedule. “I mean, we want to. You could easily schedule an opponent who is, you know, maybe not quite at the highest level. And I think your kids, they’re natural high school kids. They are going to be like, ‘Well, we don’t have to be at our best.’
“They know where we want to be. (Mukwonago) is a top-five team in the state. We have to be at our best. … I mean, we’re traveling to Mukwonago, Kenosha, Fond du Lac. So we’re going to be used to getting in that bus and going. It’s the right move and it prepares us for the rigors of the conference season. And now with the new matrix playoff system, it doesn’t hurt you. It helps you to play those good opponents.”