The water dump that wasn’t

WAYLAND — It’s a tradition that has marked the ultimate success in the game of football. Whether at the high school, college or pro level. After a major win, players take a bucket of water or Gatorade and dump it on the head of the winning coach.

The dump nearly happened two weeks ago when the WACO football team won its Class 8-Player quarterfinal and advanced to the UNI-Dome for the first time since 2010, but after a talking to by the coaches, the Warriors sat the bucket down.

“We tried to get him,” said quarterback Isaac Oswald. “Edeker turned around and yelled at us, and we don't like Edeker yelling at us. It's pretty scary.”

As players approached Coach Chad Edeker with a bucket of cold water, Edeker asked them if this was the time to be celebrating. Was the goal to get to the semifinals, or should they be thinking about a championship?

“They wanted to dump the water on me, and I said, ‘no,’” Edeker said. “This isn't what we're celebrating.”

Edeker says the 52-7 domination of Montezuma in the quarters was just a stepping stool on the road to what he hopes is a state championship.

“He knows we want more,” said running back Simeon Reichenbach. “He says when we get further, hopefully, we can do it then.”

The water was eventually dumped on the field by Edeker himself, ending all suspense from those waiting around to see if he would get the dump after talking to his players.

“He didn't want to get wet,” joked running back Louden Huisenga.

Six days later in Cedar Falls, the Warriors escaped Newell-Fonda 29-21 in the state semifinals. The water once again stayed in the bucket.

On Thursday morning, however, the watch may be back on. That is, if the second-ranked Warriors can down No. 1 Remsen St. Mary’s in the Class 8-Player championship game.

WACO (13-0) and Remsen (12-0) will kick off in the early morning, a 9:30 a.m. start. It will be the first of seven state championships played at the UNI-Dome over the end of the week.

And if WACO can knock off its toughest foe yet, it will be plenty of reason to celebrate.

“Making the dome is not our achievement,” Edeker said. “Our goal is to win the whole stinking thing.”