Boeder ready for challenging road ahead
6-foot-5, 270-pounder is Kewaunee's next big talent
Mitchell Boeder is putting on some miles this year.
The Kewaunee junior’s latest travels saw him go about 1,100 miles in three days for three different football games.
The 20 hours spent in vehicles during the trek is just part of the recruiting trail for the standout lineman.
The 6-foot-5, 270-pounder is a sought-after talent by college squads in part because of the natural size he possesses.
However, it’s the little aspects of his game that will ultimately determine his long-term success.
“He’s got those good, physical gifts” Kewaunee football coach Randy Charles said. “We all know that. That’s no secret. That’s why he’s getting looks. But he’s starting to understand that he’s the old guy on the line right now, and there were some instances where he started stepping out of his comfort zone and showing some of those leadership qualities and helping those young guys along.
“I know it is not easy for him because he’s a quiet kid. That’s exciting to see that because that’s a big thing I know we’re going to need.”
Boeder is the lone returning starter on the Storm’s offensive line this season. He’s made a rather seamless transition from left tackle to right tackle to protect the blindside of junior quarterback Brett Paulsen, who is a lefty.
Following a nonconference game at Neaguanee, Mich., last week, Boeder headed south to Madison where he was invited to watch the Badgers’ season-opening game. From there, he headed to Cedar Falls to take in Northern Iowa University’s season-opening game last Saturday.
It's all part of the process of being Kewaunee’s next big lineman on the recruiting trail, as he's following in the big footsteps of Braxton Riha and Tanor Bortolini.
“When you see a guy that size you get excited because you know he has the potential and that he’s seen the path,” Charles said. “That’s a challenge for a lot of guys to keep making it up to higher and higher levels of football. Everyone knows it’s there, but the path to get there is not easy.”
Boeder’s athleticism allows him to make things look easy at times.
The three-sport athlete earned second team all-Packerland Conference honors in football last year, advanced to the WIAA individual state wrestling tournament, and came up just short of qualifying for state in track and field after a driving downpour contributed to him scratching on his discus throw attempts at sectionals.
To top it off, Boeder filled in for a summer league basketball tournament in Sturgeon Bay when his friends were a player short.
Simply put, Boeder is happy to step up when needed, which is why he didn’t mind tackling the long-snapping duties this year as well.
“We have a lot of young guys,” Kewaunee senior running back Jackson Wisnicky said. “So, it’s a sigh of relief to look over to the right and see that 6-foot-5 mammoth is just comforting.”
You could say Boeder is comfortable with life on the road since he’s traveled from coast to coast to show cattle with his family for as long as he can remember, including stops on both coasts, from Oregon to Massachusetts.
His upbringing on a farm gives him a natural toughness and work ethic. Those attributes led to opportunities earlier this year to camp invites for several NCAA Division I programs.
Still, the toughest workouts he went through were his preseason football practices at Kewaunee since he no longer had his older brother, Matthew, by his side on the line anymore.
In taking on a leadership role on the team, Boeder is getting out of his comfort zone by having to speak up more.
“At the start it was a bit rough,” Boeder said. “It was hard transitioning from last year’s line to this year’s. But I think we’re going to do pretty good.
“Communicating. That’s the biggest part right now. If we keep doing that, we’re going to be fine.”
Kewaunee (1-1) opens up Packerland Conference play Friday night by hosting Oconto.
Elsewhere in the county, Luxemburg-Casco (0-2) looks to record its first victory when it visits rival Denmark for a North Eastern Conference showdown.
Meanwhile, Algoma (0-1) travels to Fish Creek for an Across the Bay Conference game at Gibraltar. The Wolves are looking to bounce back following a triple overtime loss at N.E.W. Lutheran/Oneida Nation last week.