The top end of the Coulee Conference has been as competitive and productive as any football fan could hope for these past few years.
In the last three seasons, the Coulee has produced at least one state finalist.
In 2022, West Salem played its way to Camp Randall before losing the Division 4 title game to Monroe.
Aquinas, however, managed to play its way to the Division 5 title game in each of the past three seasons. The Blugolds came home with three straight WIAA championships from those trips and have eyes on challenging for a fourth in spite of making the move to D4 due to the Performance Factor pushing them up a division this season.
However, Aquians' move to D4 is just one of a number of factors that could alter the Coulee's trend of having a team playing on the final day of the season.
Roster turnover, head coaching changes and a slight alteration to the conference makeup leave a number of questions to answer for the Coulee as a whole.
The league welcomes back regular member, Luther, this fall as Altoona returns to its own home in the Middle Border Conference.
Luther spent four seasons as part of the Scenic Bluffs Conference — though only played three years in the SBC because of the fall/spring split during the pandemic-influenced 2020 campaign.
OLSON TAKES REINS AT WEST SALEM
One of the Coulee's strongest programs has a new head coach this fall.
Ryan Olson takes over as West Salem's leader on the sidelines. Olson, who also serves as the Panthers' athletic director, replaces Justin Jehn, who accepted an administration position at WSHS.
Olson, who had his first varsity head coaching job at Royall from 2015 to 2019, is no stranger to the Coulee Conference as he grew up and graduated from Viroqua back in 2009.
West Salem won the Coulee in 2022, but dropped to third place last year after suffering losses to both Aquinas and Westby.
Luke Baginski, Trevor Arentz and Drew McConkey return to solidify the Panthers' backfield. The trio combined for over 1,500 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023.
NEW-LOOK NORSEMEN LOOK TO COMPETE FOR COULEE CROWN
Replacing 13 seniors from last year's squad is the challenge for Westby coming into the 2024 season.
Rhett Stenslien rushed for 778 yards and scored 10 TDs a year ago, while Brady Mowery and Blake Sutton ran for over 1,200 yards and combined for 16 scores on the ground. Replicating that production will be paramount to WHS's success this year.
Coach Andy Hulst expects the players on his new-look varsity squad to step into roles and fill the voids left behind. The Norsemen move to sophomore quarterback Maddox Torkelson and may lean on a competent passing attack with top receiver Anders Stakston returning. Stakston hauled in 10 TDs last year and reeled in 29 catches for 674 yards.
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