Brookfield East Spartan Football

8/18/2022

This Friday, August 19th, Brookfield East will travel to the University of Oshkosh to battle Oshkosh West in the first game of the 2022 season.

Brookfield East begins their quest for a 13th straight playoff appearance and 15th in program history heading into the 2022 season. The game day clock in the locker room has continually counted down, with under 48 hours left, an exciting season awaits.

The Spartans began practice two weeks ago with two-a-days. The most difficult time of the year is found within these days. Multiple practices, workouts and the need to drink more water than ever before is often forgotten. Each player is asked to do something that many people wouldn’t consider; give up the final weeks of summer to give full out effort each time the whistle is blown.

“Finish” as Coach Farley consistently reinforces, involves a process that includes everybody from start to finish. The beast that is found within these Spartans, is supported through people that don’t always get the recognition they deserve. As the season looms, the entire Brookfield East Staff and Players did not get to this point without other people. Whether that be Maddie Pankow setting up practice every single day, to parents dropping off their kids at all times, Coach Wirtz handling all the things related to game days and film. Mrs. Waffenschmidt, the schools athletic secretary, dealing with scheduling, busing, and the day to day that is never easy. Mr. Westphal instilling the confidence behind coaches, giving them the resources to succeed, and the ability to inspire the students that commit to this opportunity. The parents volunteering at concessions, and teachers running the chains. Brookfield East is a community built of students, teachers, parents, administrators, coaches and many more that allow success on and off the field.

What this season is, is an opportunity. An opportunity, that is, to reach the goals that stay the same, to exceed expectations, to become what a Spartan truly means.

There is a rock placed outside the south entrance of the Brookfield East football stadium. It is in memory of Coach Jake who attended, taught and coached at East. A part of the 2016 State Championship team, his impact goes far beyond the X’s and O’s that he so fluently laid out for the offenses he coached.

Above the rock states, “Find Your Team”, a constant reminder that everyone involved within this program is not alone. Never. Not once, will an athlete, coach or volunteer have to face the troubles of today and tomorrow, without someone else in their corner. Never will a trial or tribulation be too tall or too far out of reach. The belief, found through the words of Coach Jake resonate with all. Finding your team involves being able to sacrifice, to listen, and to grow. Being a high school athlete is not easy. It isn’t. Being a football player isn’t easy. It isn’t.

It is worth it.

As the 2022 season awaits, these words will support the quest that is about to begin. Not one person is alone in their struggle, the team has each other's back. The team has the ability to accomplish anything. Everything. Alone, one is not capable of accomplishing nearly as much.

Being an athlete at any level requires sacrifice. The act of giving up something of value for the sake of other considerations. To give the level of effort needed to succeed, to go above and beyond to match the effort of the one standing next to you. That is Brookfield East Football.

The season awaits, the fans will come to watch a few hours, the cheers will be loud, the criticism may be louder. The success is within reach, yet there are few people that see what it takes to reach the levels that Brookfield East has reached. Coach Jake has seen it all.

The 2022 season is upon us, join the ride.

This team is ready.

It’ll be fun.

August 19th, Oshkosh Stadium, 7pm.