Nick Weitzel-Wilson

Nick Weitzel doesn’t see eye to eye with Allen Iverson when it comes to discussing the importance of practice. “These preseason practices mean a lot. Our non-league schedule, a lot of them are playoff games and we like hard games. They build you up for good playoff runs. These preseason practices build up your character, your chemistry,” Weitzel said. Wilson’s non-league slate includes Gov. Mifflin, Central Dauphin, and Roman Catholic from Philadelphia. With that gauntlet ahead, Weitzel knows how valuable practice time is before the opener on August 26th. The Bulldogs struggled early last year. They dropped three of their first five games and allowed 42 points to both Exeter and Gov. Mifflin. Wilson’s defense stood tall, however, late last season. Weitzel and company held Manheim Township to 14 points in a late October victory that helped the Bulldogs claim their record 28th Section 1 championship in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Wilson upset top-seeded Central York in the District 3-6A semifinals. Two-time all-state quarterback Beau Pribula and the Panthers managed just 11 points. Pribula is now a freshman at Penn State. The Bulldogs’ defense played well again in the District 3 final at #2 seed Harrisburg. Wilson came up short 14-10 and finished (9-4). Weitzel led the team with five sacks. The 6’1, 210-pound defensive end had 7.5 of the squad’s 76 tackles for loss. The Bulldogs gave up 127 yards per game on the ground and 127 through the air. They need to replace three of their top four tacklers. Gavin Lenart, Josh Drake, and T.J. Flite graduated. Weitzel told me to keep an eye out for linebackers Landon Farrell and Ryan McMillan. Farrell ended up second on the team in tackles with 46 (8TFL). McMillan, a junior who loves to hit, added 37 stops. We talked about all-state selection Cam Jones. Weitzel elaborated on what makes the senior CB/WR/KR so elusive. Weitzel, who also plays basketball at Wilson, has a twin brother on the football team. Zack is a senior lineman for the Bulldogs. “There’s no one closer I could be to than him. We’ve actually got a lot closer over the years,” Nick said. Weitzel mentioned his favorite subject in school and what he likes to do for fun. Wilson fans have had a lot of fun over the years at John Gurski Stadium. The Bulldogs haven’t had a losing season since 1963.