The PC football program gained another coach at the beginning of the year. His name is Mason Erschen, our new 6th-grade teacher. Mr. Erschen attended Cuba City High School and played four years of football throughout high school. He also played one year of college football at Clark University as a safety.
Mr. Erschen has always enjoyed playing football and knew that he wanted to keep being involved in the sport. He was able to start his coaching journey while student teaching at St. Rose Elementary and Middle School in Cuba City. While there, he had the opportunity to coach defense for both the JV and Varsity teams in Cuba City. One of the biggest differences he says between PC and Cuba City’s team atmosphere is that the coaches at PC tie everyone together as a team. The PC coaches have the JV team come up and play scout offense against the varsity defense and some JV kids come up and play scout defense against the varsity offense. Cuba City only has a team meal every Thursday night before the game on Friday.
Mr Erschen has helped out our JV and Varsity teams tremendously by giving great input for Varsity games and practice. “He is very knowledgeable about the defensive backs and receivers because he played those positions in high school and college. He has a lot of coaching technique points for kids and has the experience,” said Mr. Eastlick, who is also part of our PC football program.
Mr. Erschen does a lot of work for our PC football team, as he helps teach individual techniques for the defensive backs and wide receivers because he has experience from playing those positions back in high school. Mr. Erschen helps the players on the team by giving them input on what to do better. Konner Spitzack says Mr. Erschen helped him by teaching him different angles to block the opposing team. Mr. Erschen helped our team significantly by being the scout offense quarterback until he had shoulder surgery.
Mr. Erschen only played one year at Clark University because of his shoulder. “My shoulder got bad and I needed surgery,” said Mr. Erschen. The cause of his shoulder injury was caused by a big hit during his junior year of high school. That injury affected him throughout his senior year of high school and his first year at Clarke. “The injury was bothering me to the point where I couldn't play football at the best of my ability, so I felt it was more beneficial to drop my scholarship and transfer to UW-Platteville.”
Mr. Erschen left Clarke and transferred to UW-Platteville to further his education and receive his degree in teaching. “It was a lot cheaper to transfer to UW-Platteville and get my degree than going to Clarke is; another reason why I transferred,” said Mr. Erschen. Mr Erschen also wanted to work more at the dairy farm he originally worked at before becoming a teacher to better afford college.
Being a first-year teacher and coach at the same time can be difficult, but Mr Erschen wanted to become a teacher and coach. That was his dream. “It’s not difficult to be a teacher and a coach if you truly dedicate your time to something you want.”