Under The Lights: Four Waupun Seniors Gear Up for a Defining Final Season
Jacob Matoushek
August 6, 2025
Friday Night Lights
Friday night football in Wisconsin connects different generations. In small towns, like Waupun, it shows the spirit of the community. People anticipate the game well before it starts. Families eat dinner in town. Students wear school Black and Yellow. People go to the stands to cheer, not just for the team, but for something larger. The stadium becomes a central spot. Kids play behind the stands. Grandparents talk with friends. Neighbors unite. The stadium lights shine on the field and light up the close bonds between the spectators. Each game feels like a reunion, a chance to celebrate what Waupun means. For the seniors, this experience means more. They feel the jersey’s weight, not just as players but as leaders and representatives of their school and town.
As the sun sets on summer and the lights come on over the field, four senior leaders from the Waupun Warriors are preparing for a season they hope to remember forever. Isaiah Thurk, Logan Prall, Grahm Gopalan, and Chase Beahm each bring their own passion, goals, and personality to the game, but all share one thing in common: football means more than just wins and stats. It’s a bond, a grind, and a shot at something bigger. As the Warriors take the field this fall, one thing is clear, this group of seniors isn’t just chasing wins, they’re chasing legacy, memories, and moments they’ll carry with them long after the final whistle.
The “Why”
For Isaiah, the love of football is simple and physical: “I play football because there’s nothing better than Friday night lights, and hitting people.”
Logan’s story starts at home: “I fell in love with football at a young age because of my dad. My dad and I would play catch till it got dark out, and when it would get dark out we would play in the living room. Football has been a part of my life since I was born and I don’t ever want it to end.”
Grahm values the camaraderie: “I’ve always enjoyed playing since I was young, I’ve always loved the teamwork aspect of it and honestly, there’s no feeling quite like being a part of a team, grinding through practices, and then finally nailing a win together.”
Chase plays for the relationships: “I play football because of the bonds that are made throughout the season and beyond the season. Football is such a grind all year long and you form such strong relationships going through it together with your teammates. You also have such a big roster that you form relationships with kids who you never thought you would, and nothing beats the atmosphere of a packed house on a Friday night”
Big Goals, Bigger Vision
This year, expectations are high. As a team, all four players want to make a deep playoff run, beyond last season’s first-round appearance.
Isaiah wants to push for a team effort: “My individual goals are to be disruptive on defense and keep our run game dominant, as a team I want us to make it past the first round of playoffs.”
Logan has big individual goals: “As a team I want to win conference for the city of Waupun. Personally I want to win conference player of the year/ WR of the year/ all state/ while also achieving 1,000 receiving yards.”
Grahm would like to push the team forward as a leader: “As a team definitely winning conference and making a run for it in the playoff. My individual goals are all conference and just really filling that leadership role this season.”
Chase, the quarterback, wants to make a statement: “As a team we were happy just to make the playoffs last year, but this year we want to make a statement and make a good push. Individually my goal is to lead the conference in passing yards and touchdowns.”
Friday Night Fever
I asked them what they’re most excited about, and the answer is unanimous: Friday nights.
For Isaiah, it’s all about crack blocks.
For Logan, it’s the chance to represent Waupun again under the lights.
Grahm looks forward to daily grind with the team.
And Chase is energized by the chemistry and work ethic of this year’s squad: “The group of guys we have and the skill we have is exciting. Our guys come into practice every day and work super hard to better our team, and the younger guys are stepping into their new roles perfectly”
Influences and Inspiration
Teammates past and present have shaped each of these seniors.
Isaiah credits Able Kooima for giving him his mentality and work ethic.
Logan says Chase Beahm always has his back on and off the field.
Grahm admired Landon Potratz, a dependable senior last year.
Chase was mentored by Easton Hull, who took him under his wing as a freshman.
And behind every great player is a great coach.
Isaiah pointed to Blake Dobbratz, who trained and supported him beyond football.
Logan praised Coach Sloan for believing in him from day one.
Grahm is shaped by Coach Harmsen, a leader who “provides constructive feedback and always has our best interest.”
Chase shares appreciation for both Coach Ramirez and Coach Sloan—Ramirez helped him love the game, and Sloan has supported him through the challenges of being a multi-sport athlete.
Pressure? Bring It On.
Adversity doesn’t rattle this group.
Isaiah blocks it out completely: “I don’t think about pressure, and I always try to find a way to succeed when I find adversity.”
Logan relies on preparation: “I like to remind myself of all the hard work I have put in. and tell myself that I am built for the moment”
Grahm trusts his training and focuses on enjoying the moment. I trust “my hard work and dedication to the sport I love and just having fun and enjoying the time I still have.”
Chase sees pressure as a sign of readiness: “I handle pressure by understanding that our team is good enough to handle high pressure scenarios, and that we wouldn’t have pressure if we weren’t good enough for it. And overcoming adversity is being able to have a short memory and knowing mistakes will happen, but fixing what you did and moving on to the next play.”
Who They Are, In Numbers
Every number tells a story.
Isaiah wears #10 for Justin Herbert, QB1.
Logan rocks #22—a nod to his dad’s pro number, 21—aiming to make a legacy of his own. “I don’t want to be number 21 exactly like him. I chose 22 to… leave a legacy in Waupun.”
Grahm is switching things up for senior year with #0.
Chase chose #15, the number his grandpa wore when he was a high school quarterback.
All In
For some, football is everything. For others, it shares the stage.
Isaiah is all football, all the time.
Logan feels the same—football is his future.
Grahm prioritizes baseball, but football’s close behind.
Chase commits fully to whichever season he’s in, balancing them with care: “Whatever the season I am in is my main sport… spending time invested in that sport makes it my main sport”
Special Thanks
I want to give a huge thank you to the wonderful student athletes who answered my questions. Isaiah Thurk, Logan Prall, Graham Gopalan and Chase Beahm, they are amazing young men who thrive on the field.
Article submitted by Jacob Matoushek.
