The Mound Westonka varsity football team looks to kick off the 2023 season at Haddorff Field this Thursday night against SMB. The White Hawks are coming off back-to-back undefeated regular seasons but move into a much tougher district schedule this year, which head coach Nick David is looking forward to. “We expect to compete for the Skyway Bronze Subdistrict title though Orono, Delano, and Providence Academy will be very tough opponents,” said David, who begins his 11th season as head coach at Mound Westonka, sporting a 59-31 overall record. The coaching staff will be very familiar, as offensive coordinator Mike Wallace returns for his ninth season. Defensive coordinator Kyle Ague will begin his fifth season on coach David’s staff, and in his third season as the defensive coordinator.

This year's offense will see a bevy of changes as last season’s starting quarterback and All-District selection, Carter Reinbold, will become more multi-dimensional lining up at different positions on offense. Junior Cole Drill takes over the signal calling for a team that finished 8-1 last season. “We graduated some very dynamic players at the running back and wide receiver positions,” asserted David. The White Hawks lost four All-District selections from a year ago, including running back Tyler Albert (16 rushing touchdowns and over 1,000 yards rushing on the ground) and wide receiver Kade Tappen (30 receptions, 466 yards, 8 TD’s). There is still loads of talent in the cupboard however as 6’5” junior wide receiver Max Kraay (13 receptions, 3 TD’s) returns. Senior Jacob Hansberger and junior Ray Beiningen look to share running back duties. Up front, senior Mikey Oftedahl, a 4-year starter and two-time All-District selection, will anchor the offensive line with fellow senior captains Connor Esposito and Drake Woodruff, junior John Seemann, and sophomore Dawson Leinfelder. Oftedahl is highly touted and David believes “he is one the most talented offensive lineman ever to come out of Mound Westonka.” Juniors Dylan Holappa and Carter Kleinsasser will each see time at tight end.

Defensively, senior Jaaron Konkel will fill the middle linebacker spot where he recorded 50 tackles a year ago. Joining Konkel in the middle of the defense will be juniors Roman Larsen and Cole Munsterteiger. Junior outside linebacker Ray Beiningen (41 tackles) also returns, while Reinbold will move to the defensive side of the ball as well this season playing opposite Beiningen at outside linebacker. Kleinsasser will also add much-needed depth at outside linebacker. David speaks very highly of his senior athlete, “Carter is going to have a huge season for us this year on both sides of the ball and we feel he has the ability to be a great football player at the next level.” The entire defensive backfield will be new as senior Owen McCue takes over at one safety position while junior JT Kimbrough steps in at one of the cornerback positions. Sophomore Brandt Tebbs will also see playing time as a defensive back. “We are very new/young in the secondary.” The defensive front returns junior Beck Jenson (6 sacks) and senior Drake Woodruff (25 tackles). Seniors Oftedahl, Morgan Nester, and junior Dylan Sloan will solidify and have a significant impact on the defensive line that recorded 25 sacks a season ago.

Senior Sam Gaylord takes over the full-time kicking duties for the first time. He connected on 3 extra points last season in a backup role behind the 2022 MSHSL’s leading extra point kicker Ben Neve.

Mound Westonka has been Subdistrict Champions 5 out of the last 8 seasons, but the White Hawks are hoping their new Subdistrict schedule helps better prepare them for a Section 6AAAA playoff run. Last year’s playoff loss to Zimmerman, who made the Class AAAA State Semifinals, showed that an undefeated regular season doesn’t always translate into playoff success. “We have seen limited success in the playoffs as we have never made it to a Section Championship game nor qualified for the State Playoffs in the history of our high school football program,” noted David. The homecoming game this year will be one to mark on the calendar as Mound Westonka hosts perennial Lake Minnetonka rival Orono. The White Hawks have not beaten the Spartans in football since 1984 (38 Years). However, coach David said his team looks forward to ending that drought later on this season.

White Hawks to Face SMB in Season Opener

The White Hawks open their season versus SMB at home on Thursday, Aug., 31. The game begins at 7 p.m. “We are really excited to kick off our season against a quality class AAAA opponent in SMB,” said coach David. SMB was the Class AAAA State Champion in 2018 and the Class AAAA State Runner-Up in 2019.

Purchase your tickets for this Thursday Night’s Home Varsity Football game versus SMB here.