Muskego鈥檚 Hunter Wohler is ready to be a Badger
MUSKEGO, Wis. (BVM) — 聽Growing up in Wisconsin, it is common to dream of playing for the University of Wisconsin football team. Playing at Camp Randall in front of thousands of fans on a chilly Wisconsin fall Saturday is something Wisconsin football players aspire to.
Hunter Wohler, a 6-foot-2 safety from Muskego, will live out that dream starting next fall when he joins the Badgers football program as a freshman. After verbally committing last December, Wohler made it official last week on Early National Signing Day.
鈥淚t was surreal having something you鈥檝e dreamed of your whole life actually come true,鈥� Wohler said. 鈥淚t means a lot. I couldn鈥檛 have asked for anything more. It was special.鈥�
Wohler grew up a Badger fan and although he has played other sports, football has always been his favorite.
鈥淭here was never really any doubt that football was my number one sport,鈥� Wohler said.
However, when he began playing for Muskego High School, Wohler was not focused on a possible college career. As a young high schooler joining an impressive Warrior program, he was focused on football.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 expecting much, especially being a sophomore, so I just went out there and played the game I love,鈥� Wohler said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect to hear from any coaches.鈥�
That鈥檚 why he was surprised when Wisconsin began recruiting him as a sophomore. Led by defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, Wohler was recruited early and Wisconsin became the first of many schools to offer him a scholarship.
鈥淲hen I got that offer, I realized it was a dream come true,鈥� Wohler said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the hometown team and growing up being a Badger fan it鈥檚 a special feeling knowing that you can keep going in your athletic career especially at the college of your choice.鈥�
Over the next few years, Wohler showed why Wisconsin offered the safety a scholarship so early.
From his sophomore year to his last game as senior this season, Wohler helped lead Muskego to a 37-0 record. In that time, the Warriors also won two state championships and if the state tournament had not been canceled this year due to COVID-19, there is a good chance they would鈥檝e won a third. Even more impressive, the Muskego defense only allowed a team to score more than 20 points six times. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety was a big part of that.
鈥淭here is a different mindset and a different drive that our defense has had these last few years,鈥� Wohler said.聽
For his part in these elite defenses, Wohler has been named the Associated Press Wisconsin Player of the Year the last two years and this year as a senior he won the Jim Leonhard Award as the outstanding senior defensive back in Wisconsin. This also led to him receiving offers from Ohio State, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Minnesota.聽
Even with the individual accolades and the recruiting, Wohler is quick to acknowledge that what the Warriors have been able to do these last few years has been a team effort. From the coaching staff down, Muskego has been on a different level, and Wohler credits his success to being a part of the Warrior program.
鈥淚 think if I was on any other team in the state, it would be a different story,鈥� Wohler said. 鈥淭his is one of the best programs in the state right now if not the best. Having the coaches, the teammates and the culture is really what took my game to the next level.鈥�
Now he moves from one of the best programs in the state to one of the best programs in the country, especially on the defensive side of the ball.聽
Wisconsin has always taken in pride in being a top-tier defensive team, but since Jim Leonhard took the reins back in 2016, the Badgers have been incredible.聽
鈥淐oach Leonhard is an unbelievable coach,鈥� Wohler said. 鈥淎ll around the defense and the coaches, there is no place you鈥檇 rather be as a defensive back.鈥�
Wohler still has a basketball season and a senior year to finish at Muskego, but once that is over, the young man is ready for what awaits him in Madison.
鈥淚鈥檓 just going to go in and work hard,鈥� Wohler said.
