Schwantes takes over Marion/Tigerton football team

MARION — Micah Schwantes was tabbed the new Marion/Tigerton football head coach.

Schwantes replaces Lance Litchfield, who also served as Tigerton’s athletic director.

“I love the game of football,” said Schwantes. “Beyond my family, there is nothing that I am more passionate about. It, more than anything else, helped prepare me for life. It built the foundations for my greatest successes and taught me to persevere when faced with challenges and failures. I want to give my student-athletes that same experience.”

Schwantes has several years of football coaching experience under his belt as he steps in as the co-op’s next coach.

He began coaching the game at Lancaster High School (his alma mater) as a defensive coach. He then served as an assistant on offense for UW-Platteville for three years as he was wrapping up his degree in physical education. After graduating, Schwantes served as an offensive coordinator in Waupaca for four years.

“With all the experiences that I have had at different levels, I am going to take pieces from all to create a positive culture for not only the student-athletes but for the fans of Marion/Tigerton Thundercatz football,” said Schwantes, who also serves as the head coach for the Marion boys golf team.

“I want to equip them with the tools that they will need to meet all of life’s trials and tribulations. By having the coaching staff implement a philosophy of being committed to developing a positive and productive program, we will be able to help our athletes acquire these tools. This will be achieved by building a dedicated, aggressive, strong and determined team that is a positive representation of our school and community while consistently competing.”

Helping fill out the high school staff will be Brian Gleason (defensive coordinator), Caleb Bembenek (special teams coordinator) and volunteers Mark Fredy, Chris Goke and Tony Malueg. Jason Rieckmann and Matt Herbal will help guide the middle school level.

Schwantes is hoping to pick up where Litchfield and the Thundercatz left off. In 2019, Marion/Tigerton posted a 6-4 record, tied for the Central Wisconsin Conference title and qualified for the eight-player playoffs.

Litchfield stepped down as the football coach and Tigerton AD to accept the AD position at Cochrane-Fountain City.

“I feel I am ready to move on to a little bigger school,” said Litchfield.

Litchfield served as the Marion/Tigerton head coach for the past two seasons, and was also an assistant for two years before that.

Litchfield takes great pride in the way the co-op performed during the 2019 season, calling it his greatest accomplishment as coach. Marion/Tigerton was playing in its first season of eight-player football and coming off a win-less 2018 season.

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