During most of the high school football season, Northwestern's Ryan Miesbauer had the luxury of sitting out the second half while his team rolled to lopsided victories.
That wasn't the case in a Wisconsin second-round playoff game against Neillsville when the senior running back carried the ball about 40 times on a muddy field in the Tigers' third game in 10 days.
"Carrying the ball 40 times was very tiring, but only after the game," Miesbauer said. "During the game it was fine because we were in good condition."
There are few prep athletes in better condition than the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Miesbauer, who ran for 1,487 yards and scored 21 touchdowns in garnering the News Tribune's 2009 All-Area Player of the Year award.
"Having to carry 40 times in the mud, you could tell he was getting worn out," said teammate Donnie Hissa, an All-State offensive lineman. "But he's a warrior and fought through that, and had a great game."
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That was typical of the three-sport star -- he's a state tournament qualifier in wrestling and track and field -- who is also one of the top powerlifters in his age category in Wisconsin.
"He's one of those kids who gives you everything he has, and as a result it makes you a better team," Tigers coach Dennis Scherz said.
Northwestern rebounded after a pair of 1-8 seasons to go 4-5 in 2008 and then 12-1 with an appearance in the Division 4 semifinals this past season. Miesbauer played a big role in that turnaround, making 75 tackles from his linebacker position and proving as tough to tackle as any runner in the Northland.
"He makes it pretty easy on us," Hissa said. "He can do a lot of work himself since he's a strong kid and is not very easy to bring down. I said before the season that even if we don't block, he's going to get his yards because he's that tough to bring down."
Whether that translates into a college football career remains to be seen. Bemidji State coaches paid a visit to the Maple school on Friday, while Miesbauer expects to make an official visit to another NCAA Division II university, Minnesota Duluth, in January. He said the Bulldogs are interested in him for football and track and field -- Miesbauer had the best shot put toss (56 feet, 8¾ inches) among Division 2 throwers during the season and placed second at the 2009 state meet.
"A lot of coaches at the college level look at those track athletes," Scherz said. "That's how he got on their radar."
Miesbauer has sent a videotape to Army football coaches, whom he said have indicated interest. Likewise, Miesbauer said the regimented lifestyle on the West Point, N.Y., campus would appeal to him.
"I like throwing shot and I like playing football, so I'd do both if I could," he said. "But if I could only play football at West Point, I'd go there."
