Grafton varsity football team heads to state finals for first time in nearly 40 years

 

GRAFTON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Grafton Blackhawks are packing their bags for Camp Randall.

The varsity football team is getting ready to take on Rice Lake in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Finals.

"It is kind of crazy that we have made this big of an impact this year," said Dalton Reindl, a high school senior with Grafton's varsity football team.

Reindl sealed Grafton's fate with a game-winning interception against Stoughton High School last week Friday.

"Man, I haven’t really sat down and thought about it," said Reindl.

The team, under the leadership of Head Coach Jim Norris, is heading to Madison to take on Rice Lake in the Division Three championship game at Camp Randall.

"Every year since 2018, we've kind of hit another milestone, and kind of been doing more and more," said Norris.

Wide receiver, senior Jaeden Tiegs, said the road to get here required hard work.

"A lot of dedication, we had a lot of summer workouts, waking up early, the midnight practice, I mean just a lot of grinding," said Tiegs.

CBS 58 was there for the team's first practice, right when the clock hit midnight.

"It just set the tone for what we needed to do, it was all business from the start," said Tiegs.

Now, the team is focused on their next play.

"We have made history to where we are, being able to leave a mark is better than to not leave one at all," said Reindl.

The last time the team went to the state finals was back in 1984.

The team takes on Rice Lake on Friday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m.