'It's surreal,': Grafton High School football team heads to state for first time since 1984
Coach Jim Norris' wife had baby boy earlier this week
Coach Jim Norris' wife had baby boy earlier this week
Coach Jim Norris' wife had baby boy earlier this week
For the first time since the Reagan administration, Grafton's high school football team is going to the state finals.
And it's been an emotional week for the Blackhawks — on and off the field.
The team's journey to state kicked off with a midnight practice on the first day of the high school football season.
Four months later, the Division 3 contenders head to Camp Randall with everything on the line.
The last time Grafton was in the state championship game was in 1984.
"The past couple of years, we've obviously fallen short of the goal. I mean, it's just surreal to share this with this special of a team," senior safety Garrett Bonk said.
"It's kind of been this unreachable thing, just kinda off in the background. If we get there, awesome, but now it's like, 'Dude, we did it," senior offensive lineman Jackson Heinle said.
"The whole community behind us. It's a great feeling. Definitely will help us perform on Friday," Bonk said.
Head coach Jim Norris is extra tired. His wife delivered a baby boy this week.
"My wife, we had our second son Monday at about 2. It's been a long couple days, but it's been awesome," Norris said.
"It's an emotional rollercoaster for me, and I'm not even having a kid," Heinle said.
"I don't know how he does it. I don't think I could have a kid and have a big game like this coming up," Bonk said.
Grafton plays Rice Lake at 10 a.m. Friday.
