For many high school athletes, the games end when graduation day arrives. Few continue their sports careers on the collegiate level, and even fewer have aspirations to play beyond college.
That is not the case for several area athletes, who are continuing their dreams of playing football as members of the Madison Mustangs, a semipro football team in the Ironman Football League.
Aaron Zurbuchen, a 1993 graduate of Verona Area High School, is one of those players who never thought that he'd be once again donning shoulderpads, a helmet and playing a game he thought he left on the fields of high school stadiums.
After playing a few years with the Madison Seminoles, what the Mustangs were known as originally, the 33-year-old gave it another shot at trying out in 2007.
"I kind of tried out on a fluke thinking I was a bit old to play," Zurbuchen said.
He also added that his father, Gary, was a member of the Seminoles in the 1960s, giving him some added incentive to be a part of this team.
Zurbuchen is one of three former Verona graduates who are members of the Mustang family. Brothers Adrian and Zak Smith are also members of the Madison team.
"It's fun, it's a new experience for me," said Zak Smith, who admitted he couldn't see himself playing football again. "Coming here, there's guys that have played college, it's a big step up."
Don't quit your day job
A popular slogan of many amateur athletics teams, the Mustangs carry the banner of, "For love of the game."
With many members of the team not only working full-time jobs, they also find themselves balancing family and personal responsibilities along with finding time to practice and take part in games throughout the week.
Zurbuchen has been a union carpenter for 10 years, while Zak Smith, a 2002 graduate of VAHS, is a member of the Madison Fire Department.
"Everybody here works 40 hours a week, if not more, and then come out here for practice. There's plumbers, electricians and landscapers. There's all walks of life and it's good to see them involved with something like this," said Zurbuchen, who resides on Madison's east side.
Enjoying success
While the Madison Mustangs name has only been around for two years, semipro football has been a long-standing tradition in the Madison area.
The team, which held the names Madison Seminoles and Verona Trojans before becoming the Mustangs, is eyeing its fourth berth in the Iron Bowl this season.
A one-time champion of the league's championship game (2001), the players are certainly happy to see a great deal of camaraderie and sportsmanship that has come with their 2008 season. And while some of the players are in their mid-30s, there is still that gleam of the high school boy in their eyes.
"I can illustrate that perfectly," Zurbuchen said. "It just transcends age, it's something anybody can come out and enjoy.
"Every time we score a touchdown I'm running down the sidelines screaming my head off."
The Mustangs play their home games at Middleton's Otto Breitenbach Field.
Out to a 4-0 start to the 2008 season, the team has two home games remaining this year - on July 19 versus St. Francis Monarchs and July 27 against the New Berlin Panthers. Ticket prices are $6 for adults.
For more information on the Madison Mustangs, visit www.madisonmustangsfootball.com.
