Panthers reloaded during another championship run

Greendale - Coach Rob Stoltz knows his Greendale football team will always be looked at as a contender in the Woodland Conference, but he didn't think many people saw the Panthers as a champion in 2011.

Yet that is exactly what they were, as they wound up 8-0 in the Black Division to claim the crown.

"We lost a lot of phenomenal talent (from 2010)," the coach said. "We know we are always a team of interest, but I don't think many people expected us to be 8-0 in the Woodland.

"At Greendale, the names and faces change, but the success does not. Our guys bought into our system. We had some gaps (from last season), but the guys filled them."

The Panthers finished 8-2 overall, keeping alive their recent run of success.

"It's a 100 percent buy-in by the players," Stoltz said. "There is commitment and hard work, and when you add administrative support, you have a recipe for success."

It also does not hurt to have a player like senior quarterback Sam Brick, who was a threat in both running and passing this season. Brick passed for 1,275 yards and 17 touchdowns with just four interceptions while running for 457 yards and nine more scores.

He was a unanimous choice for all-Woodland Black Division and the top vote-getter at quarterback for all-region.

The Greendale offense was also helped by junior running back Mike Scheidt and senior back Sebastian Garcia-Bankowski, but both sustained season-ending injuries in the eighth game against Wauwatosa West. Scheidt had a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, while Garcia-Bankowski had a torn medial collateral ligament and meniscus. The injuries, ironically, came within four plays of each other.

That double blow crippled the Greendale offense and contributed to their 14-7 WIAA playoff defeat against Brookfield East.

The offensive line was led by senior tackle Matt Pulizos, the Black Division lineman of the year and first-team all-region.

The defense was paced by senior linebacker Drake Barczak, senior end Bobby Hintz and junior linebacker Peter Pekar.

Barczak collected 98 total tackles, 5½ sacks and nine tackles for losses and was the top vote-getter at linebacker in the division, while Hintz had two sacks and was the top vote-getter on the line in the division and Pekar racked up 84 tackles and was first-team all-division.

Greendale will lose a number of seniors, but Stoltz is confident the team can continue to win.

"The challenge is now on the returning players and the coaching staff to start this all over again," he said. "It does not stop. We are taking the month off, but on Dec. 3 we begin the weight room and speed training."

That's how Greendale continues to be not just a contender, but a consistent champion.