Football is Back!
![Wayland 8-man football team captains and coach: John Harmon, Sam Porras, Coach Cody Schultz, William Goodman, Osaya Sule]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1693240438/waylandorg/wgonwpy6haay9icr4fhw/FootballIsBack_ReloadedToRebuild_08282023.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1693240438/waylandorg/wgonwpy6haay9icr4fhw/FootballIsBack_ReloadedToRebuild_08282023.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1693240438/waylandorg/wgonwpy6haay9icr4fhw/FootballIsBack_ReloadedToRebuild_08282023.jpg","width":800}])
Wayland Academy is fielding its first football team since 2019.
Camp started on Monday, August 14, and Wayland Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Cody Schultz says the eight-man team is full of positive energy and motivation.
Of the 30+ players on the team, more than half are international students coming to Beaver Dam from 12 different countries. Many have never played American football before.
“We are very excited for this season! We do not have a ton of experience; however, what we lack in experience will be made up for by having high-effort and high-character kids! We are ‘Reloaded to Rebuild’ Wayland Academy Football!" –Coach Cody Schultz
Wayland’s football program was put on hold after the 2019 season—making this the first team since the pandemic. Wayland’s last championship was won in 2013. The Big Red will play a mostly JV schedule during their first season and hopes to move into a conference with a varsity schedule in the near future.
The first game is on Tuesday, August 29, when the Big Red will host Montello at 4:30 p.m. Wayland Academy home games are played on Brown Field, located on Wayland’s main (north) campus.
Assisting Coach Schultz are Wayland Graduate Resident Omri West (Special Teams Coordinator/Offensive Backs/Defensive Line), Student Success Coach Rob MacLellan (Defensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs), and Wayland parent Joe Bruns (Offensive Line/Defensive Line).
Team captains are William Goodman `24, John Harmon `24, Sam Porras `25, and Osaya Sule `24.
The full 2023 roster consists of seniors John Harmon `24 (Columbus, WI), Osaya Sule `24 (Minocqua, WI), William Goodman `24 (Bahamas), Vicky Ezeh `24 (United Kingdom), Ahmet Yavuz `24 (Turkey), Anik Biswas `24 (India), Grazy Karangwa `24 (Rwanda), and Ajani Christmas `24 (Hopkins, SC).
Juniors are Tyrique Jean Jacques `25 (Dominica), Sam Porras `25 (Costa Rica), Jayden Robinson `25 (Bronx, NY), Jack Yan `25 (China), Nicolas Argüello `25 (Costa Rica), Bao Bui `25 (Vietnam), Andy Bui `25 (Vietnam), Laye Camara `25 (New York), and SD Nimeri `25 (Chicago, IL).
Sophomores are Liam Cleary `26 (Beaver Dam), Easton Keil `26 (Beaver Dam), Tavondre Bruns `26 (Beaver Dam), Nolan Cargen `26 (Beaver Dam), Topher Ryan `26 (Lake Forest, IL), John Kim `26 (Korea), Martin Serrano Castillo `26 (Spain), Bill Xue `26 (China), Alpha Sylla `26 (New York City), Jay Cho `26 (Korea), and Bill Xue `26 (China).
Freshman are Grant Weinman `27 (Beaver Dam), Yejun Kim `27 (Korea), Albert Kim `27 (Korea), Chan Jeong `27 (China), Aydan Saunders `27 (Bahamas), Bogdan Babenko `27 (Russia), and Ilia Babenko `27 (Russia).
Big Red football team managers are Ana Mlsna `25 (Weyauwega, WI), Jordan Rickun `24 (Mequon, WI), Alexa Argüello `26 (Costa Rica), and Eli Feiwell `27 (Chicago).
Coach Schultz was interviewed on local radio station WBEV the Daily Dodge on the team’s plans. Listen to the interview here: dailydodge.com/football-is-back-at-wayland-academy.
The full athletic calendar is available at wayland.org/athletics.
- football
Here are the first three big red football players to earn their football helmet decals! Each earned their decals by representing mantras the Wayland Academy football program stands for.
Junior Samuel Porras was selected for all of the leadership he has shown through the first couple of days of practice! Sam is always early to practice, has a smile on his face, is quick to learn new things, and motivates his team members through his positivity and hard work!
Freshman Grant Weinman was selected for his attention to detail and his coachability! Grant is a great listener and gives his best effort to do exactly what is required of him. His future is very bright!
Junior Jayden Robinson was selected for his toughness and grit! Jayden has been working extremely hard, even with some minor bumps and bruises; he finds a way to persevere in practice to get the job done!
Great work to these three and all of the big red football players working hard to ring the bell for the Wayland Academy football program!
#RTB #ReloadedToRebuild