Augusta hoping to end a long playoff draught
Chad Hanson takes over in Eleva-StrumStrum, Augusta (WQOW) -- The News 18 two-a-days continue with a pair of Dairyland Conference teams who are hoping to end long playoff draughts.
Eleva-Strum has not made the playoffs since 2008, but are hoping a new coach can get them back. Chad Hanson won the division seven state title with Greenwood-Granton last season, but says the chance to rebuild his alma mater was too good to pass up.
"One thing that I did at Greenwood-Granton was building the community support and I'm trying to do that here. Getting the community behind the kids, building the school spirit in the school, and then on the field. It's just the kids buying into what I'm trying to have them do," says Hanson. "Coming from winning a state championship last year I got a little bit behind me when I can say: 'Hey guys, it worked there, so if we do it right, it'll work here too'."
The Cardinals open up the season on Thursday against Elk Mound.
Over in Augusta, the Beavers have not made the playoffs since the 2004 season. The team started last year 0-5 before winning its final two games. The team hops that momentum carries over to this year.
"Our last two victories were tremendous boosts to the program," says Augusta coach Neil Bygd. "Our off-season program, conditioning and weight training was very good, the best since I've been here, and I think that is a direct correlation to our two victories at the end of the season last year. "
"Last year we seemed about in the middle, we just weren't working and weren't used to the winning and that stuff. So I think this year we're really going to kick into gear this year and get that feeling," says senior Tanner Walker.
The Beavers take on Lake Holcombe this Saturday at Williams Stadium on the UW-Stout campus in Menomonie.
