Scouting Wauconda: Bulldogs prepare for a less turbulent ride
When he retires (maybe never) and is enjoying his grandchildren (the tally is up to 5), when his beard is gray (OK, it already is), Dave Mills plans to write a book about the dumb things people involved in high school athletics do.
He has rough-drafted (at least in his head) five chapters.
"Last year I added a sixth chapter: 'Things You Never Think About,' " said Mills, who's in his 28th year of coaching and is starting his 10th as Wauconda's head football coach.
Last season inspired the someday author.
Coming off back-to-back playoff seasons, Wauconda entered last year with hopes of a third-straight postseason appearance, which would be unprecedented at the school. Instead, the Bulldogs endured an unprecedented amount of adversity. The worst was the unexpected death of assistant coach Joe Ryback in midseason.
Before the season, three-year starting offensive lineman Tristan Kraft tumbled 25 feet down a cliff in Wisconsin, causing him to miss two games. There was also what Mills called a 10-day period where hand-foot-and-mouth disease ran through the team.
"It was like, anything that could have possibly gone wrong (did)," Mills said. "We had Murphy's Law last year."
The football was wrong too. Wauconda started 0-6, before winning two of its last three.
"The whole year in general was just crazy," said linebacker Anthony Concialdi, a first-year starter last season as a junior.
"It was difficult," offensive lineman Chris Carlson said.
The start of a new season signals a badly needed fresh start.
"We got a tight group of guys," Carlsen said. "I feel like we got a lot of leadership."
That leadership starts with players like Carlsen, who at 6 feet 3 and 270 pounds has the look of a college player. Entering his third year as a starter, Carlsen has offers from Benedictine, which is moving up to Division II next year, and Augustana. He has dropped 20 pounds since last year but is noticeably stronger and cut.
"He's a machine," Concialdi said with a laugh.
Carlsen, Concialdi (All-Northern Lake County Conference Second Team last year), senior linebacker Doug Antonucci and senior lineman Ismael Serna serve as team captains. While those four provide experience, a sophomore newcomer might start at quarterback.
Nick Bulgarelli is the front-runner after starting at QB on the freshman team last year. He followed up in the winter by earning a midseason promotion to the varsity basketball team.
"Talented, intelligent, but not battle-tested yet," Mills said of the 6-1 Bulgarelli.
Junior Jeremy Pones, senior Erik Trela, senior Jack Sammons and junior Michael Olsen are starting candidates at running back and wide receiver, as are sophomores Javerius McQuinn and J.J. Jacoby.
Carlsen anchors the offensive line with fellow seniors Serna, Josh Sloan, Robert O'Rourke and Ty Burke. All either started or played a lot last season. Carlsen and Serna will be playing their third season on varsity.
"We feel pretty confident about our O-line," Mills said. "Everybody's back, and everybody dedicated themselves to the weight room."
Concialdi (5-7, 160) is one of the leaders of the defense, which also includes senior Ryne Jerard and junior Kellen Calby in the secondary. Inside linebackers include Antonucci, Riley Kirk and junior Aidan Stephan. Junior Alec Smith and senior Drew Frontzak return up front.
"Good work ethic," Concialdi said of this season's squad. "Everyone's working hard."
And trying to start a new chapter in Wauconda football.