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It is a Friday night in Hartland, and the air smells like a mix of damp grass and overpriced concession stand popcorn. You can hear the pads popping from the parking lot. This isn’t a massive 5A powerhouse with three thousand students and a stadium that looks like a small NFL arena. No, this is different. It’s lake country lutheran football. For a school that started in 1999 with a handful of kids in a rented building, what they’ve done on the gridiron is, honestly, kind of ridiculous.
People look at the private school tag and assume it’s all about recruiting or some bottomless budget. They’re wrong.
Actually, the Lightning have built a culture that thrives on being "smaller." They aren't usually the biggest team on the field—anyone who watched the 2021 shootout against Mayville can tell you that—but they play with a specific kind of disciplined chaos that drives opponents crazy.
The 2025 Season: A Deep Run and a Familiar Foe
If you followed the team this past year, you know the 2025 campaign was a roller coaster that almost ended at Camp Randall. They finished with an 11-2 record. That's elite by any standard. Under the guidance of Head Coach Greg Brazgel, the Lightning tore through the Metro Classic Conference, finishing 6-1 in the league.
The playoffs were a masterclass in "Lightning football" until the very end.
They handled Kiel 42-6 in the opener.
Then came Wittenberg-Birnamwood (35-14).
Then a gritty 34-21 win over New Glarus in the Sectional Final.
But the state semi-final on November 14, 2025, felt like a movie we've seen before. They ran into the Mayville Cardinals at Slinger High School. It was a 15-27 loss that ended the dream just one step short of the title game. It was a tough pill to swallow, especially since Mayville has become a bit of a postseason gatekeeper for LCL over the years.
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Standout Performers on the 2025 Roster
You can't talk about this season without mentioning the seniors who carried the load. Connor Lubbers was basically the engine room. Playing quarterback is hard enough, but Lubbers managed a 45.5 QB rating while also being the team's primary rushing threat. He wasn't just a signal-caller; he was a problem for defensive coordinators.
Then there’s Nathan Graf. The guy was a vacuum in the passing game, leading the team with 41.0 receiving yards per game. On the other side of the ball, Evan Roell and Adam Anderson were the heart of a defense that allowed only about 13.7 points per game.
Anderson, standing at 6'4", is a presence. When he’s coming off the edge, the pocket collapses fast. It’s that combination of senior leadership and underclassmen like Tyson Graf (Junior) and Will Molnau (Sophomore) that keeps the pipeline moving.
Why the Lightning System Actually Works
The secret sauce isn't a secret. It’s the "Share Jesus, Shape Lives, Develop Leaders" mission statement. Yeah, it sounds like a brochure. But on the field, it translates to a weirdly high level of trust between the players.
Coach Brazgel has been the architect of this for years. He isn't just a "football guy"; he's the Academic Dean. He sees these kids in the hallways, not just under the lights. That matters when you're down by 10 in the fourth quarter and need to rely on the guy next to you.
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- Discipline: They rarely beat themselves with stupid penalties.
- Versatility: Most of these kids play both ways. You'll see a star running back subbing in at linebacker without blinking.
- Trickery: They aren't afraid of a fake punt or a double-pass. In fact, they live for it.
Back in 2015, they became the "Team of the Week" after a 56-yard fake punt against Brookfield Academy. That play wasn't just a fluke; it was drawn up by special teams coach Mark Kirk after he saw a similar play in a TCU bowl game. That’s the LCL vibe—they’re always watching, always learning, and always looking for an angle.
The "Small School" Misconception
Lake Country Lutheran has an enrollment of about 360 students. In the world of Wisconsin high school football, that usually slots them into Division 5 or Division 4. Critics love to say that private schools have an unfair advantage because they can "pull from anywhere."
But look at the roster. It’s not a team of 90 kids. It’s usually about 35 to 50 players.
Compare that to some of the public school giants they scrimmage against.
LCL is often outmatched in pure size.
The 2021 season is the perfect example. They went 9-0 in the regular season, led by the versatile Luke Haertle. When Haertle went down with a shoulder injury in the playoffs, the team had to pivot instantly. They don't have a third-string superstar waiting in the wings. They have "next man up," which usually means a sophomore who was playing JV on Monday.
What’s Next for Lake Country Lutheran Football?
The 2026 season is already looming, and the questions are the same as they are every year. How do you replace a guy like Lubbers? Who steps up as the new vocal leader in the locker room?
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The Metro Classic isn't getting any easier. Racine St. Catherine’s is always a threat—they actually handed LCL their only conference loss in 2025 (a 28-6 stinger). If the Lightning want to get back to the state championship, they have to figure out how to bridge the gap between their "finesse" game and the "power" game required to beat teams like Mayville.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes
If you're a parent or a player looking at the program, or just a fan trying to keep up, here is what you need to know for the upcoming cycle:
- Watch the Junior Class: Keep an eye on Teddy Kogutkiewicz and Grant Strong. These guys got significant snaps in 2025 and are expected to be the pillars of the 2026 squad.
- Focus on Strength Training: The biggest hurdle for LCL has historically been physical size in the late rounds of the playoffs. Off-season weight room attendance will be the deciding factor for the 2026 November run.
- The Schedule Matters: Pay attention to the non-conference games in late August. LCL often schedules tough opponents like Saint Mary’s Springs to battle-test the roster early. These games are better indicators of postseason success than the lopsided conference wins in October.
The Lightning aren't going anywhere. They've established themselves as a perennial power in Hartland, and while the 2025 ending was bittersweet, the foundation is basically concrete at this point.
Keep an eye on the WIAA Division 5 rankings as the 2026 season approaches. If you want to see how the next generation of Lightning players is shaping up, attending the summer 7-on-7 drills at the Hartland campus is the best way to get an early look at the depth chart.