Highland Bulldogs
Head Coach: Jim Warnecke
Assistant Coaches:
Riley Litzenburg-DC/LBs/WRs
Derrick Rolfingsmeier-Sp Teams/DL
Ethan Shimer-OL/DL
Trevor Worsham-DBs/WRs
Brendon Delaney- QBs/Backs
Payton Blaylock-Backs/DBs
Jim Warnecke Sr- Backs
Steve Lanxon- LBs
2024 Regular Season schedule (if known)
@ Breese Central
vs Mahomet Seymour
vs Rochelle (@ Illinois Weslyan)
vs Mascoutah
@ Waterloo
vs Civic Memorial
vs Troy (Triad)
@ Jerseyville
vs Decatur St. Theresa
Returning Offensive Starters for 2024
Blake Gelly/QB/5'8/175/2026
Ashton Zobrist/OG/5'11/195/2025
Ethan Greenwald/FB/5'11/200/2025
Nick Judge/TE/6'2/205/2025
Tyson Rakers/TB/5'11/175/2025
Blake Reinacher/WR/6'1/160/2025
Trent Stock/WR/ 6'2/195/2025
Wyatt Rinderer/WR/5'10/185/2025
Returning Defensive Starters for 2024:
Dalton Balint/FS/5'10/130/2025
Ethan Greenwald/MLB/5'11/200/2025
Nick Judge/DE/6'2/205/2025
Tyson Rakers/SS/5'11/175/2025
Ashton Zobrist/DE/5'11/195/2025
Gavin Frey/CB/6'3/180/2026
Wyatt Rinderer/LB/5'10/185/2025
Newcomers to Watch:
Wyatt Rinderer
Gavin Frey
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
7on7 Paducah Tourney
Team Camp at McKendree University
Impact Player for Highland?
Highland senior FB/ILB Etahn Greenwald (5-foot-11, 200 pounds) is a two way starter and a multi-year varsity starter fore the Bulldogs. Greenwald will be asked to provide leadership on and off the field along with providing a high level of production again this fall.
Looking for a sleeper name to watch this fall for Highland? Highland senior TE/DE Nick Judge (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) is a good sized athlete who will be asked to play full time on both sides of the football this season. Look for Judge to drw more recruiting looskm this summer and fall for the Bulldogs.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2024 Highland Bulldogs
Highland and head coach Jim Warnecke is looking to improve upon the Bulldogs 10-2 record in 2023. Highland posted a 8-1 regular season record, made the Class 5A state playoff field and beat Mt. Vernon and Metamora before losing to Providence Catholic in the 5A quarterfinal rounds. Jim Warnecke has posted an impressive 99-39 record in 13 seasons at HIghland. and the Bulldogs have missed the IHSA state playoff field just once in his tenure.
The biggest question facing Highland this summer?
Can the Bulldogs get back into the IHSA state playoff and make a deeper run in 2024? The Bulldogs had a nice season in 2023 and in some ways those around the program felt this coming season was going to be a real breakout season. Highland welcomes back 15 returning starters (8 offense 7 defense) and if they can add a bit more depth this summer, I can see this team again defending it's Mississippi Valley conference title and making a strong run again in 2024.
Preseason Ranking? 2024 Preseason Class 5A Top 10 heavy consideration.
Head Coach: Jim Warnecke
Assistant Coaches:
Riley Litzenburg-DC/LBs/WRs
Derrick Rolfingsmeier-Sp Teams/DL
Ethan Shimer-OL/DL
Trevor Worsham-DBs/WRs
Brendon Delaney- QBs/Backs
Payton Blaylock-Backs/DBs
Jim Warnecke Sr- Backs
Steve Lanxon- LBs
2024 Regular Season schedule (if known)
@ Breese Central
vs Mahomet Seymour
vs Rochelle (@ Illinois Weslyan)
vs Mascoutah
@ Waterloo
vs Civic Memorial
vs Troy (Triad)
@ Jerseyville
vs Decatur St. Theresa
Returning Offensive Starters for 2024
Blake Gelly/QB/5'8/175/2026
Ashton Zobrist/OG/5'11/195/2025
Ethan Greenwald/FB/5'11/200/2025
Nick Judge/TE/6'2/205/2025
Tyson Rakers/TB/5'11/175/2025
Blake Reinacher/WR/6'1/160/2025
Trent Stock/WR/ 6'2/195/2025
Wyatt Rinderer/WR/5'10/185/2025
Returning Defensive Starters for 2024:
Dalton Balint/FS/5'10/130/2025
Ethan Greenwald/MLB/5'11/200/2025
Nick Judge/DE/6'2/205/2025
Tyson Rakers/SS/5'11/175/2025
Ashton Zobrist/DE/5'11/195/2025
Gavin Frey/CB/6'3/180/2026
Wyatt Rinderer/LB/5'10/185/2025
Newcomers to Watch:
Wyatt Rinderer
Gavin Frey
2024 Team 7on7 or Team Summer Camp?
7on7 Paducah Tourney
Team Camp at McKendree University
Impact Player for Highland?
Highland senior FB/ILB Etahn Greenwald (5-foot-11, 200 pounds) is a two way starter and a multi-year varsity starter fore the Bulldogs. Greenwald will be asked to provide leadership on and off the field along with providing a high level of production again this fall.
Looking for a sleeper name to watch this fall for Highland? Highland senior TE/DE Nick Judge (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) is a good sized athlete who will be asked to play full time on both sides of the football this season. Look for Judge to drw more recruiting looskm this summer and fall for the Bulldogs.
EDGY's Preseason Thoughts on the 2024 Highland Bulldogs
Highland and head coach Jim Warnecke is looking to improve upon the Bulldogs 10-2 record in 2023. Highland posted a 8-1 regular season record, made the Class 5A state playoff field and beat Mt. Vernon and Metamora before losing to Providence Catholic in the 5A quarterfinal rounds. Jim Warnecke has posted an impressive 99-39 record in 13 seasons at HIghland. and the Bulldogs have missed the IHSA state playoff field just once in his tenure.
The biggest question facing Highland this summer?
Can the Bulldogs get back into the IHSA state playoff and make a deeper run in 2024? The Bulldogs had a nice season in 2023 and in some ways those around the program felt this coming season was going to be a real breakout season. Highland welcomes back 15 returning starters (8 offense 7 defense) and if they can add a bit more depth this summer, I can see this team again defending it's Mississippi Valley conference title and making a strong run again in 2024.
Preseason Ranking? 2024 Preseason Class 5A Top 10 heavy consideration.
