MERKEL — Since his arrival in Merkel two years ago, MHS football coach Will Kates has been fighting an uphill battle with inexperience and lack of depth. 

The net result has been a 7-14 overall record with one playoff appearance. But Kates understood the challenge when he inherited an MHS team that had posted just one winning season since 2012.

There is, however, some light developing at the end of the tunnel.  The Badgers, though still suffering from a depth problem, are loaded with seniors heading into the 2023 season.