SMB Wolfpack finds camaraderie with rival schools

The SMB Wolfpack is celebrating victories both big and small this season.

With a 4-3 season record, a definitive victory over a difficult opponent from last year, and enjoyable team bonding experiences, players and fans alike are feeling good about the direction the season has been going.

Defensive back Connor Overgaard has state championship ambitions for the Wolfpack: “The first round of the playoffs is [Oct. 25], and we hope to make it back to the Bank this year,” Overgaard said.

To do this, linebacker and captain Joey Stolpestad noted a few points the team had to work through; he said they need to “play well on both sides of the ball and get first downs.”
Both the state semifinals and the 4A State Championship are held at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The year hasn’t been without challenges: “We’ve been overcoming a few injuries to key players,” Overgaard said.

Despite this, “the season has been good so far,” Stolpestad said. He’s glad the team won against Park Center High School this year.

“Last season they destroyed us during our senior night,” he said.

Their game score this year was 24-14.

When the team is off the field, their bond remains strong. As a co-op with three other schools—Blake, Minnehaha Academy and SPA—the Wolfpack’s cohesion is a finely crafted thing, and players appreciate the connections they’ve made.

“Its nice to have a bigger team,” Overgaard said. “It makes the rivalries in other sports more fun when you’ve been on a team with the players on the other team.”