By Angela Brunk

Senior Joe Heichel from Ell-Saline has set big goals for this fall football season. A proud stat produced by Heichel during the 2022 season was over 50 tackles during the season. This year he has pushed the bar even higher with his goal set for at least 70 tackles. Not only has Heichel set big goals for himself, but he also has big goals for the team as well.

“I’m hoping to be able to go to state or at least make it deep into the playoffs,” said Heichel. With the senior leadership from Heichel, he is not afraid of some strong competition. “I’m looking forward to playing some bigger powerhouses this year and seeing how well we do against them, and hopefully get an idea for playoffs.”

Heichel plays both corner on defense and receiver on offense, and he has been using his time during the off season to improve his game and reach the big goals he set for himself and the team. Balance, hand-eye coordination, and agility were his three main areas of focus for improvement in his game. 

After graduation this school year, Heichel plans to attend college and major in engineering. After football season is over, The Cardinals will continue to benefit from Heichel’s participation in basketball. In the spring, Heichel competes in track and field and also adds trap shooting into his busy mix of activities. Besides participating in a sport every season, Heichel is also a member of NHS at his high school.