Wilson looks to rebuild around its line after Highmark run

Overview

• Bill Atlas is entering his 20th season as Wilson's varsity head coach and his 27th coaching football in Western New York.
• Wilson graduated 15 seniors from a team Atlas said finished last season at Highmark Stadium, and the Lakemen are aiming to get back to the sectional final.
• Atlas pointed to the offensive line as Wilson's most experienced offensive group, with Cris Interisano, Connor Woodward, Ethan Dietz and Ryan Felicetti among the linemen he named.
• Wyatt Sherman, a sophomore quarterback, enters the season as a poised young piece in a multiple offense based on spread principles.
• The Lakemen open Sept. 4 at home against JFK and close the listed regular-season schedule Oct. 23 at Newfane.

Wilson Lakemen Football Preview

Wilson enters the 2026 football season with a large graduating class behind it and a clear place to start again.

Bill Atlas, entering his 20th season as Wilson's varsity head coach, said the Lakemen graduated 15 seniors from a team that ended last season at Highmark Stadium. Atlas is in his 27th season coaching football in Western New York and his 30th season overall, and the next version of Wilson will be built around players moving into larger roles.

"We graduated 15 seniors last year and ended at Highmark Stadium," Atlas said. "We have a handful of players stepping up."

Wilson's goal is still to make another postseason push. Atlas said the Lakemen are looking to get back to the sectional final, and he pointed to the offensive line as the team's most experienced offensive group.

Line Play Leads The Reset

The names Atlas gave up front start with Cris Interisano, Connor Woodward, Ethan Dietz and Ryan Felicetti.

Interisano is listed as a senior lineman/linebacker and is one of the team's primary leaders. He made 47 total tackles, including six tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble as a junior in 2025.

Woodward, a senior lineman, also brings varsity experience and special-teams production. In 2025, he made 26 point-after attempts and one field goal.

Dietz is a sophomore lineman Atlas named as part of the group expected to anchor the trenches. Felicetti, a senior lineman, is also in that core. Together, they give Wilson a place to build an offense that Atlas described as multiple and based on spread principles.

Sherman Steps In At Quarterback

Wyatt Sherman is the quarterback Atlas named entering the season. Sherman is listed as a sophomore QB/S, and Atlas called him "very poised and getting better daily."

Wilson will ask Sherman to grow with an offense that has experience up front but is still replacing a large senior class. The skill group includes senior Nick Lemke, who Atlas identified as a potential breakout player and one of the Lakemen's primary leaders.

Lemke, listed as a senior back/linebacker, rushed for 463 yards and six touchdowns as a junior in 2025 and added one receiving touchdown. Atlas also noted Lemke's commitment to SUNY Brockport for lacrosse as a player storyline to watch.

Mason Coulter is another name Atlas wants readers to know. Coulter, a junior back/linebacker, is expected to take on a featured role and was also named one of Wilson's primary leaders.

Defense Wants To Attack

Wilson's defensive identity is direct.

"Our defense is attacking," Atlas said.

Atlas listed tackling as the area Wilson most needs to develop as the season progresses, a fitting focus for a team replacing 15 seniors. Interisano gives the defense one of its proven returning pieces after his 2025 production, while Woodward, Bryce Avery, Bryson Pallone and Wyatt Hilwig also had prior-season defensive work in 2025.

Avery, a senior lineman, made 14 total tackles and had a sack as a junior. Hilwig, a senior end/defensive back, had 12 total tackles in 2025. Pallone, a senior end/defensive back, had nine total tackles last season.

Josh Haley is the special-teams player Atlas pointed to as someone who could make a difference.

Schedule Landmarks

Wilson's listed schedule opens Sept. 4 against JFK at Walter J. Hutchison Stadium. The Lakemen stay home Sept. 11 against Franklinville/Ellicottville and Sept. 18 against Bishop Kearney Williamsville.

The first listed road game comes Sept. 26 at Cardinal O'Hara. Wilson returns home Oct. 2 against Catt Little Valley, then heads into three straight road games: Oct. 9 at Silver Creek/Forestville, Oct. 16 at Randolph and Oct. 23 at Newfane.

For Wilson, the season starts with replacing a deep senior class while leaning into a clear foundation: line experience, Sherman's growth at quarterback, leaders such as Interisano, Lemke and Coulter, and a defense Atlas wants to play on the attack.