Outside linebacker Vince Biegel became one of the Badgers’ biggest defensive stars last season, making one impact play after another each weekend. He’s well known in Madison for his big hits, but before he was crushing opponents in the backfield, he was mowing them down on the other side of the ball.
The 6-foot, 4-inch Wisconsin Rapids native played running back up until his freshman year of high school, when he began focusing on his defensive ability. Although he claims he scored quite a few touchdowns at the position, he did say he does not miss running back.
“I like getting after it, tackling guys and being the aggressor a little more than being the receiver,” Biegel said.
His excellent instincts on the field may have to do with the fact that football has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. He grew up in a football family: His grandfather played football at BYU and his dad was a high school coach at Wisconsin Rapids and later at BYU. Hayden Biegel, his younger brother who is a redshirt sophomore for the Badgers and has a shot at starting on the offensive line this year, used to throw on football helmets with Vince and their dad in the backyard before they began any organized football. Now playing together at UW, Vince highlighted the importance of this experience with his younger brother, saying, “that is what it’s all about. For Hayden to come to the university with me has been by far the biggest blessing,” Vince said. “He’s a great competitor, he’s on the offense, I’m on the defense, so we’re always knocking heads together. It’s a special thing to have when you have a guy who knows your background, knows who you are as a person and always has your back.”
While Biegel looks to compile another strong season for the Badgers, his athletic drive doesn’t stop once he leaves the football field. In fact, sometimes he takes it to the ice. The menacing linebacker is a true Wisconsinite who started playing hockey at six years old, before he began playing football. He is not a diehard fan of any NHL team but is rather torn between the Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks, a dilemma countless UW students can relate to.
“I love playing hockey and I still will to this day strap on some skates for some recreational time and to see if I still got it,” Biegel said.
And Biegel won’t stop there. This summer, Nigel Hayes, star forward for the Men’s basketball team, said that the basketball team could beat any other UW athletic team in any sport. Biegel’s response to Hayes’ assertion was that he “wouldn’t throw bulletin board material” but he was willing to take on the challenge.
“I’ll just say that there are sports we can definitely beat them at, one being obviously here, and I’d also like to challenge them in the hockey arena. We got some guys that can definitely play hockey here with Eric Steffes, and Derek Strauss is another one,” Biegel said.
And his role in the game?
“If need be, I’ll strap on the goalie pads. If they wanted to go a little five-on-five hockey, I would definitely pick the Badger football team.”
Madison students may be waiting anxiously for that hockey game, but in the meantime they can get excited about watching Biegel fly into the backfield.
