By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

Buried by a brutal NCKL schedule and the challenge of youth, the Chapman football team finished the 2024 campaign at 2-7, marking a third-straight season with three or fewer wins.

Culture changes don’t happen overnight, but under second-year head coach Jason Grider, things appear to be moving in the right direction, and the Irish are hopeful that could translate to more notches in the win column very soon.

“The work we’ve put in is what has me most excited,” Grider said. “That started last year, and our kids bought in right away. They’ve worked their tails off all summer long and into practice. We’re getting to where we need to be to win games, and we’re still going to be young, but we’ve got coachable kids and they’ve put on a lot of size and strength.”

The NCKL has become a gauntlet, with four of its seven schools finishing .500 or better a season ago, and 21 of those 33 total losses coming at the hands of other NCKL foes.

That standard is what Chapman has their eyes on, and it’s teams like Wamego, Rock Creek, Marysville, and Clay Center that the Irish will have to go through to return to playing November football.

“It sounds simple but we’ve improved in our blocking and tackling and we’re getting to spots when we need to a lot faster,” Grider said. “Our conference is loaded and we’ve got no weeks off, our guys know they’ll be in for a fight every week but that should make us battle tested by the time we get to the playoffs.”

Experience will play a big role for the Irish this season, as their starting lineups feature just three underclassmen, all sophomores, across the board.

“We return a lot of talent and the guys that maybe didn't get as much playing time last year have done a great job,” he said. “When you play a bunch of sophomores like we did last year, you don’t always make great decisions, but they’ve got great experience and great leadership.”

The biggest change will come at quarterback, where junior Andrew Scott takes the reins from the recently graduated Cooper Lewis.

“Andrew’s embraced his role from the spring to the summer,” Grider said. “He’s a great leader, a hard worker and a three-sport guy. He was a state qualifier in track and he understands his role and what his job is. In our system you have to make a lot of reads on the fly and he does that well.”

The Chapman backfield will feature a mix of old and new, with returning scrimmage-yards leader Audiel Becker taking over at tailback alongside Colten Bell and Kaicen DeWeese.

In the trenches, seniors Ian Sayers, Jacob Gfeller, and Neziah Brown anchor the O-Line, with Brown playing two-ways as a star on the D-line as well.

Sayers, Becker, DeWeese and Brecken Francis fill out the starting roles in the linebacking corps, while Dom Krogman and Andrew Scott lead efforts in the secondary.

“I think this team has a pretty high ceiling,” he said. “We’re going to be fairly young again this year but we’ve got smart kids who got some experience last year, and the sky could be the limit if we keep developing and stay injury-free.”

The Irish will have a great chance to see just how far they’ve come when they travel to Smith Center to battle the Redmen in week one.

“We’ll see if we’ve improved as much as I think we have, especially in the run game,” Grider said. “If we can get that going, I think that will help our defense a lot as well. We’ve got really smart kids at Chapman and we’ve been building up our football IQs as well.”

Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - at Smith Center 9/12 - vs. Abilene 9/19 - vs. Riley County 9/26 - at Clay Center 10/3 - vs. Concordia 10/10 - at Wamego 10/17 - at Marysville 10/24 - vs. Rock Creek

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostBuried by a brutal NCKL schedule and the challenge of youth, the Chapman football team finished the 2024 campaign at 2-7, marking a third-straight season with three or fewer wins.Culture changes don’t happen overnight, but under second-year head coach Jason Grider, things appear to be moving in the right direction, and the Irish are hopeful that could translate to more notches in the win column very soon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812152965.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>“The work we’ve put in is what has me most excited,” Grider said. “That started last year, and our kids bought in right away. They’ve worked their tails off all summer long and into practice. We’re getting to where we need to be to win games, and we’re still going to be young, but we’ve got coachable kids and they’ve put on a lot of size and strength.”The NCKL has become a gauntlet, with four of its seven schools finishing .500 or better a season ago, and 21 of those 33 total losses coming at the hands of other NCKL foes.That standard is what Chapman has their eyes on, and it’s teams like Wamego, Rock Creek, Marysville, and Clay Center that the Irish will have to go through to return to playing November football.“It sounds simple but we’ve improved in our blocking and tackling and we’re getting to spots when we need to a lot faster,” Grider said. “Our conference is loaded and we’ve got no weeks off, our guys know they’ll be in for a fight every week but that should make us battle tested by the time we get to the playoffs.”Experience will play a big role for the Irish this season, as their starting lineups feature just three underclassmen, all sophomores, across the board.“We return a lot of talent and the guys that maybe didn't get as much playing time last year have done a great job,” he said. “When you play a bunch of sophomores like we did last year, you don’t always make great decisions, but they’ve got great experience and great leadership.”The biggest change will come at quarterback, where junior Andrew Scott takes the reins from the recently graduated Cooper Lewis.“Andrew’s embraced his role from the spring to the summer,” Grider said. “He’s a great leader, a hard worker and a three-sport guy. He was a state qualifier in track and he understands his role and what his job is. In our system you have to make a lot of reads on the fly and he does that well.”The Chapman backfield will feature a mix of old and new, with returning scrimmage-yards leader Audiel Becker taking over at tailback alongside Colten Bell and Kaicen DeWeese.In the trenches, seniors Ian Sayers, Jacob Gfeller, and Neziah Brown anchor the O-Line, with Brown playing two-ways as a star on the D-line as well.Sayers, Becker, DeWeese and Brecken Francis fill out the starting roles in the linebacking corps, while Dom Krogman and Andrew Scott lead efforts in the secondary.“I think this team has a pretty high ceiling,” he said. “We’re going to be fairly young again this year but we’ve got smart kids who got some experience last year, and the sky could be the limit if we keep developing and stay injury-free.”The Irish will have a great chance to see just how far they’ve come when they travel to Smith Center to battle the Redmen in week one.“We’ll see if we’ve improved as much as I think we have, especially in the run game,” Grider said. “If we can get that going, I think that will help our defense a lot as well. We’ve got really smart kids at Chapman and we’ve been building up our football IQs as well.”Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - at Smith Center 9/12 - vs. Abilene 9/19 - vs. Riley County 9/26 - at Clay Center 10/3 - vs. Concordia 10/10 - at Wamego 10/17 - at Marysville 10/24 - vs. Rock Creek

🏈 Chapman seeking year-two improvement amidst loaded NCKL

WICHITA, Kan. (September 4, 2025)—Kaelen Culpepper hit his 20th overall home run of the season across a split doubleheader. After throwing a combined two-hitter in Game 1, the Wichita Wind Surge split the doubleheader against the Tulsa Drillers with a 2-0 win in Game 1 and a 14-5 defeat in Game 2. The Wind Surge are now one game behind of the Drillers for a playoff spot.

Ricardo Olivar and Ben Ross lined a pair of RBI singles toward center in the bottom of the first to give Wichita the first runs of Game 1.&nbsp;

Sam Armstrong would work with that by giving up just a hit and a walk over five strong innings with four strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 2-1 with the Wind Surge. Mike Paredes earned his sixth save after striking out four over the final two frames of the 2-0 shutout victory.&nbsp;

Tulsa struck first in Game 2 on a run-scoring single by Eduardo Guerrero and a sac fly to right from Zach Ehrhard in the top of the second inning. Maddux Houghton and Kaelen Culpepper each hit a solo home run in the home half of the third to tie the game.&nbsp;

Seven straight runs came across for the Drillers over the fourth and fifth innings, with a Zach Ehrhard grand slam doing the damage in the fourth. Guerrero singled in another, and James Tibbs III made his first hit of the series count on a two-run knock to right to make the score 9-2 Tulsa heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.&nbsp;

Kala’i Rosario singled in Kyle Hess in the bottom of the fifth, then the Drillers got the run back on a base hit to center by Nelson Quiroz in the top of the sixth, 10-3 Tulsa.&nbsp;

A Griffin Lockwood-Powell RBI single to left, a bases-loaded fielder’s choice, and a two-RBI double to right by Taylor Young added four more for the Drillers in the seventh. A run-scoring double from Rosario and a sac fly by Ben Ross made it 14-5 in the home half of the frame, but Wichita would fall by that final score.&nbsp;

C.J. Culpepper fell to 2-2 on the year after taking the loss. Six earned runs came across on nine hits and three walks over three and two-thirds innings; he also had three strikeouts.&nbsp;

WICHITA, Kan. (September 4, 2025)—Kaelen Culpepper hit his 20th overall home run of the season across a split doubleheader. After throwing a combined two-hitter in Game 1, the Wichita Wind Surge split the doubleheader against the Tulsa Drillers with a 2-0 win in Game 1 and a 14-5 defeat in Game 2. The Wind Surge are now one game behind of the Drillers for a playoff spot.Ricardo Olivar and Ben Ross lined a pair of RBI singles toward center in the bottom of the first to give Wichita the first runs of Game 1.&nbsp;Sam Armstrong would work with that by giving up just a hit and a walk over five strong innings with four strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 2-1 with the Wind Surge. Mike Paredes earned his sixth save after striking out four over the final two frames of the 2-0 shutout victory.&nbsp;Tulsa struck first in Game 2 on a run-scoring single by Eduardo Guerrero and a sac fly to right from Zach Ehrhard in the top of the second inning. Maddux Houghton and Kaelen Culpepper each hit a solo home run in the home half of the third to tie the game.&nbsp;Seven straight runs came across for the Drillers over the fourth and fifth innings, with a Zach Ehrhard grand slam doing the damage in the fourth. Guerrero singled in another, and James Tibbs III made his first hit of the series count on a two-run knock to right to make the score 9-2 Tulsa heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.&nbsp;Kala’i Rosario singled in Kyle Hess in the bottom of the fifth, then the Drillers got the run back on a base hit to center by Nelson Quiroz in the top of the sixth, 10-3 Tulsa.&nbsp;A Griffin Lockwood-Powell RBI single to left, a bases-loaded fielder’s choice, and a two-RBI double to right by Taylor Young added four more for the Drillers in the seventh. A run-scoring double from Rosario and a sac fly by Ben Ross made it 14-5 in the home half of the frame, but Wichita would fall by that final score.&nbsp;C.J. Culpepper fell to 2-2 on the year after taking the loss. Six earned runs came across on nine hits and three walks over three and two-thirds innings; he also had three strikeouts.&nbsp;POSTGAME NOTES<ul>
 <li>With the Game 1 victory, the Wind Surge tied their franchise-high with an eight-game winning streak.</li><li>Kaelen Culpepper’s home run in Game 2 gives him a combined 20-20 season between High-A Cedar Rapids and Wichita. He’s the third Twins farmhand to record the feat, alongside Kyler Fedko and Kala’i Rosario.</li><li>Game 2 marked the final Tumba Vacas game of the 2025 season.</li><li>The team’s doubleheader record this year is 1-1-2.&nbsp;</li><li>The Wind Surge are one game back of Tulsa for the playoff spot in the Texas League North.</li>
 </ul>

Wichita Splits Doubleheader Against Tulsa

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a two-out solo home run in the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Thursday night to avoid a sweep in a three-game series.

The Royals hit four solo homers in a game where all seven runs came on home runs.

Lucas Erceg (7-4) struck out two in one inning and Carlos Estévez picked up his major league-best 37th save.

Angels starter Kyle Hendricks allowed two runs on three hits in six innings, while Kansas City starter Noah Cameron allowed three runs on five hits in five innings.

The Angels got on the board in the first on a three-run homer by Luis Rengifo. With two outs, Taylor Ward singled, Jo Adell walked and Rengifo hit a slider 384 feet down the left-field line.

The Royals answered in the second on Adam Frazier's home run, the 1,000th hit of his MLB career. Vinnie Pasquantino connected on his 29th home run of the season leading off the fourth inning to trim the deficit to 3-2.

The Royals tied it when Salvador Perez hit his 24th home run of the season, leading off the seventh inning.

After the Royals tied the score in the bottom of the seventh, Erceg retired the Angels in order in the eighth.

With his home run, Perez reached 495 career RBIs at Kauffman Stadium, breaking a tie with Frank White for the third most RBIs in the history of the ballpark. He trails George Brett (839) and Hal McRae (534).

The Angels return to start a three-game series with the Athletics. The Angels will send RHP José Soriano (10-9, 3.68 ERA) to the mound to face RHP Mason Barnett (0-1, 11.25).

The Royals continue their nine-game homestand against the Twins. RHP Michael Wacha (8-11, 3.52) will start for Kansas City. Minnesota has not named its starter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757038330352.png" alt="Image Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Image Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a two-out solo home run in the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Thursday night to avoid a sweep in a three-game series.The Royals hit four solo homers in a game where all seven runs came on home runs.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRoyals%2Fvideos%2F2313421895755658%2F&show_text=true&width=476&t=0" width="476" height="591" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Lucas Erceg (7-4) struck out two in one inning and Carlos Estévez picked up his major league-best 37th save.Angels starter Kyle Hendricks allowed two runs on three hits in six innings, while Kansas City starter Noah Cameron allowed three runs on five hits in five innings.The Angels got on the board in the first on a three-run homer by Luis Rengifo. With two outs, Taylor Ward singled, Jo Adell walked and Rengifo hit a slider 384 feet down the left-field line.The Royals answered in the second on Adam Frazier's home run, the 1,000th hit of his MLB career. Vinnie Pasquantino connected on his 29th home run of the season leading off the fourth inning to trim the deficit to 3-2.The Royals tied it when Salvador Perez hit his 24th home run of the season, leading off the seventh inning.Ryan Zeferjahn (6-5) took the loss.<h2>Key Moment</h2>After the Royals tied the score in the bottom of the seventh, Erceg retired the Angels in order in the eighth.<h2>Key Stat</h2>With his home run, Perez reached 495 career RBIs at Kauffman Stadium, breaking a tie with Frank White for the third most RBIs in the history of the ballpark. He trails George Brett (839) and Hal McRae (534).<h2>Up Next</h2>The Angels return to start a three-game series with the Athletics. The Angels will send RHP José Soriano (10-9, 3.68 ERA) to the mound to face RHP Mason Barnett (0-1, 11.25).The Royals continue their nine-game homestand against the Twins. RHP Michael Wacha (8-11, 3.52) will start for Kansas City. Minnesota has not named its starter.

⚾ Bobby Witt Jr.'s eighth inning homer helps KC avoid sweep

With the departure of Tom Flax from Minneapolis to Concordia, the Lions found themselves in need of a new head coach ahead of the 2025 season.

Former coordinator Garrett Galanski, who had served as an assistant coach at Minneapolis for the last four years and a coordinator for two, was happy to answer the call.

With a renewed vision and a new skipper at the helm, the Lions are hopeful that they can take their program to the next level after posting a combined finish of 31-59 over the last ten seasons.

“I want us to come out and compete to the best of our ability every week,” Galanski said. “I don’t believe in losing scenarios; there’s always a way for us to do the things we want to do and whether we’re winning or losing by a million, I don’t ever want to see our kids give up.”

This offseason has been an intense one in Minneapolis, but challenge and discipline are necessary to attain success, and could give an edge to the Lions in their upcoming campaign.

“It’ll be interesting to see if we’re going in the right direction once we get out there,” he said. “We need to be able to do our job, that’s something we’ve struggled with for the last six years. We like to do everyone else's job other than our own, but if we can instill trust in the guys around us that will be huge.”

On offense, the Lions will be led by third-year starter Owen Just, who returns to the role for his senior season in a new-look offense that should unlock his full potential.

“I think Owen’s ceiling can be whatever he wants it to be,” Galanski said. “He can play multiple sports at the next level, he’s mentally tough, and I’m excited to see how he works within our tweaked offense. We’re going to play a little more to his skill se,t and we’ll see how that looks on Friday nights.”

Just will be joined in the backfield by the tandem of Bryson Lonberger and Brayton Peters, while a brand new receiving corps is headlined by Kingston Derronet, Brayden Johnson, Nolan Arnold, and Charlie Klein.

In the trenches, the Lions will be veteran-heavy, with five upperclassmen leading the way.

Defensively, Minneapolis will be shaking things up, with just four returning starters in the same spots as last year.

Logan Haley, Wyatt Griffin, and Bladen Johnson will form the Lions’ three-man front, while Brayton Peters, Logan Biggs, Josh White, and Jasper Johns fill out the linebacker positions.

In the secondary, Owen Just and Bryson Lonberger patrol the deepest parts of the field at safety while Charlie Klein and Nolan Arnold play up at cornerback.

For Minneapolis, taking the next step will mean focusing on opponents one at a time, and confidence will play a big role regardless of who lines up across from the blue and white on Friday night.

“Our biggest challenges in the past have been in our ability to look at the next opponent as just the next opponent,” Galanski said. “Past accolades don’t mean anything to me; who a team is going to be on Friday is all that matters. We have to be able to adapt to that.”

The Lions get a huge test in their season opener as they play host to the defending 2A State Champions in Southeast of Saline.

You can stream the season opener free of charge with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post, or tune in on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM)

Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - vs. SE of Saline 9/12 - at Lyons 9/19 - vs. Ellsworth 9/26 - vs. Norton 10/3 - at Halstead 10/10 - at Beloit 10/17 - vs. Russell 10/24 - at Phillipsburg

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostWith the departure of Tom Flax from Minneapolis to Concordia, the Lions found themselves in need of a new head coach ahead of the 2025 season.Former coordinator Garrett Galanski, who had served as an assistant coach at Minneapolis for the last four years and a coordinator for two, was happy to answer the call.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812152965.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>With a renewed vision and a new skipper at the helm, the Lions are hopeful that they can take their program to the next level after posting a combined finish of 31-59 over the last ten seasons.“I want us to come out and compete to the best of our ability every week,” Galanski said. “I don’t believe in losing scenarios; there’s always a way for us to do the things we want to do and whether we’re winning or losing by a million, I don’t ever want to see our kids give up.”This offseason has been an intense one in Minneapolis, but challenge and discipline are necessary to attain success, and could give an edge to the Lions in their upcoming campaign.“It’ll be interesting to see if we’re going in the right direction once we get out there,” he said. “We need to be able to do our job, that’s something we’ve struggled with for the last six years. We like to do everyone else's job other than our own, but if we can instill trust in the guys around us that will be huge.”On offense, the Lions will be led by third-year starter Owen Just, who returns to the role for his senior season in a new-look offense that should unlock his full potential.“I think Owen’s ceiling can be whatever he wants it to be,” Galanski said. “He can play multiple sports at the next level, he’s mentally tough, and I’m excited to see how he works within our tweaked offense. We’re going to play a little more to his skill se,t and we’ll see how that looks on Friday nights.”Just will be joined in the backfield by the tandem of Bryson Lonberger and Brayton Peters, while a brand new receiving corps is headlined by Kingston Derronet, Brayden Johnson, Nolan Arnold, and Charlie Klein.In the trenches, the Lions will be veteran-heavy, with five upperclassmen leading the way.Defensively, Minneapolis will be shaking things up, with just four returning starters in the same spots as last year.Logan Haley, Wyatt Griffin, and Bladen Johnson will form the Lions’ three-man front, while Brayton Peters, Logan Biggs, Josh White, and Jasper Johns fill out the linebacker positions.In the secondary, Owen Just and Bryson Lonberger patrol the deepest parts of the field at safety while Charlie Klein and Nolan Arnold play up at cornerback.For Minneapolis, taking the next step will mean focusing on opponents one at a time, and confidence will play a big role regardless of who lines up across from the blue and white on Friday night.“Our biggest challenges in the past have been in our ability to look at the next opponent as just the next opponent,” Galanski said. “Past accolades don’t mean anything to me; who a team is going to be on Friday is all that matters. We have to be able to adapt to that.”The Lions get a huge test in their season opener as they play host to the defending 2A State Champions in Southeast of Saline.You can stream the season opener free of charge with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post, or tune in on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM)Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - vs. SE of Saline 9/12 - at Lyons 9/19 - vs. Ellsworth 9/26 - vs. Norton 10/3 - at Halstead 10/10 - at Beloit 10/17 - vs. Russell 10/24 - at Phillipsburg

🏈 New coach, new mindset: Minneapolis enters Galanski era in 2025

The Kansas Wesleyan women's cross country team checks the boxes that are needed for a successful season - talent, experience, depth.

The challenge for fourth-year coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/92f33724-1b9c-4928-aa08-9a312e286282?elinkdata=28392">Garrett Young</a> and his staff is building off previous successes that include a second-place finish in the Kansas Conference meet and berth in the NAIA National Championship in 2024.

Young is confident the process will continue this fall.

"We've been here, and we've done this but we're going back and we're doing this at a higher level now," he said. "They know the training is going to be a little bit faster, they know the miles are going to be a little bit longer, they know we're going to continue to push them to that next level."

Young is impressed with what he has seen during summer and preseason workouts. The Coyotes are ranked 13th in the NAIA's preseason poll after placing 14th in the field of 35 teams in 2024.

"I think the whole group took some really big steps in the track season," he said. "The women that have been at the national level before or earned an All-American took some steps. We had a lot of the younger women that maybe got under 19 minutes for 5 (kilometers) for the first time on the track and I think we had eight or nine women last year break 19 (minutes) on the track for 5K."

Three Coyotes are grizzled veterans of NAIA competition. Senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/52c70a8a-974a-4376-8268-6dabdab3fed5?elinkdata=28392">Madisyn Ehrlich</a> is seeking her fourth trip to nationals while classmates <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fb6195b9-336d-462c-a41b-d024ebcb2197?elinkdata=28392">Josie Koppes</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d92b677c-dbf4-444c-aa36-998821a3ccde?elinkdata=28392">Charlee Lind</a> are chasing their third. Senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6b28e480-9ac9-4b6e-8c25-ba1c72c2ccf3?elinkdata=28392">Kirstin Hackney</a> and sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/820cf908-ef07-48a7-99aa-63c67b8433a0?elinkdata=28392">Hailey Nordhus</a> ran in the NAIA meet last year and are back as well. Sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0e45be9f-2348-46f4-a702-22d6995e91d4?elinkdata=28392">Micah Dickens</a> as an alternate at nationals a year ago and returns.

"I don't know what our top seven is going to be, but we're excited to see who shakes out," Young said.

It took a while for last year's squad to realize its potential.

"The whole year we were telling them 'you guys are good,'" Young said. "It wasn't until the first national ranking came in and that was the first time that they're like 'oh, people are noticing.' And then we jumped in the national rankings and at that point I distinctly remember one of the runners being like 'we're like, good.' It was not a surprise to any of the coaching staff."

Six Coyotes were among the top 20 finishers in the conference meet led by Koppes' ninth-place finish. Saint Mary was the champion, and Young expects another battle between his team and the Spires this fall. The KCAC meet is in Leavenworth.

"Saint Mary loses a lot from their top seven," he said. "The thing about Saint Mary is it doesn't matter what they lose a lot of times because they bring a lot back as well. It's just about being out there and competing on that day. I'm sure other teams in the conference are going to try and have their say in it but I could see the top 20 being a whole lot of Coyotes and a whole lot of Spires so it might literally just be who finishes in front of who at that given point."

The Kansas Wesleyan women's cross country team checks the boxes that are needed for a successful season - talent, experience, depth.The challenge for fourth-year coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/92f33724-1b9c-4928-aa08-9a312e286282?elinkdata=28392">Garrett Young</a> and his staff is building off previous successes that include a second-place finish in the Kansas Conference meet and berth in the NAIA National Championship in 2024.Young is confident the process will continue this fall."We've been here, and we've done this but we're going back and we're doing this at a higher level now," he said. "They know the training is going to be a little bit faster, they know the miles are going to be a little bit longer, they know we're going to continue to push them to that next level."Young is impressed with what he has seen during summer and preseason workouts. The Coyotes are ranked 13th in the NAIA's preseason poll after placing 14th in the field of 35 teams in 2024."I think the whole group took some really big steps in the track season," he said. "The women that have been at the national level before or earned an All-American took some steps. We had a lot of the younger women that maybe got under 19 minutes for 5 (kilometers) for the first time on the track and I think we had eight or nine women last year break 19 (minutes) on the track for 5K."Three Coyotes are grizzled veterans of NAIA competition. Senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/52c70a8a-974a-4376-8268-6dabdab3fed5?elinkdata=28392">Madisyn Ehrlich</a> is seeking her fourth trip to nationals while classmates <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fb6195b9-336d-462c-a41b-d024ebcb2197?elinkdata=28392">Josie Koppes</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d92b677c-dbf4-444c-aa36-998821a3ccde?elinkdata=28392">Charlee Lind</a> are chasing their third. Senior <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6b28e480-9ac9-4b6e-8c25-ba1c72c2ccf3?elinkdata=28392">Kirstin Hackney</a> and sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/820cf908-ef07-48a7-99aa-63c67b8433a0?elinkdata=28392">Hailey Nordhus</a> ran in the NAIA meet last year and are back as well. Sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0e45be9f-2348-46f4-a702-22d6995e91d4?elinkdata=28392">Micah Dickens</a> as an alternate at nationals a year ago and returns."I don't know what our top seven is going to be, but we're excited to see who shakes out," Young said.It took a while for last year's squad to realize its potential."The whole year we were telling them 'you guys are good,'" Young said. "It wasn't until the first national ranking came in and that was the first time that they're like 'oh, people are noticing.' And then we jumped in the national rankings and at that point I distinctly remember one of the runners being like 'we're like, good.' It was not a surprise to any of the coaching staff."Six Coyotes were among the top 20 finishers in the conference meet led by Koppes' ninth-place finish. Saint Mary was the champion, and Young expects another battle between his team and the Spires this fall. The KCAC meet is in Leavenworth."Saint Mary loses a lot from their top seven," he said. "The thing about Saint Mary is it doesn't matter what they lose a lot of times because they bring a lot back as well. It's just about being out there and competing on that day. I'm sure other teams in the conference are going to try and have their say in it but I could see the top 20 being a whole lot of Coyotes and a whole lot of Spires so it might literally just be who finishes in front of who at that given point."

WOMEN'S XC SEASON PREVIEW: 2025 Coyotes check all boxes for successful season with talent, experience and depth

Most college cross country coaches would be more than a little concerned after losing three of their top five runners from the previous season - the trio having competed at the national level in the postseason.

Kansas Wesleyan coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0f557481-3e32-4c64-8f78-8e5b7e3f7dec?elinkdata=28360">Garrett Young</a> is an exception.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0ed26de4-2be6-4ef2-a827-1868a57a867b?elinkdata=28360">Julian Avila</a> was KWU's top finisher in the NAIA National Championship meet a year ago in Columbia, Missouri while <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c009cc43-4b73-4676-9234-58246b2d523c?elinkdata=28360">Austin Hess</a> was the team's third runner and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8c2f76e9-a325-4994-95c5-f21a367b9ab5?elinkdata=28360">Giovanni Rios</a> fifth.

While those departures are significant, Young is confident the Coyotes will remain in contention in 2025.

"I think we've got some guys who are back and have taken some big steps," said Young who enters his fourth season. "I think the pressure is there for more guys understanding that 'I need to step up and perform at a certain quality or a certain level.'"

Young's optimism is based on a large number of returning runners and some newcomers.

"We bring back pretty much everyone else out of that top 10 back and then we brought in some talented freshmen," he said. "The thing about freshmen is they still have to learn what college running is and about, but they've looked good early on, so we'll see what we've got."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9c0a4107-18b6-4442-ad3e-490ee41d7ccd?elinkdata=28360">Damion Jackson</a> headlines the list of returners. He earned cross country All-America honors as a freshman two years ago and was an All-American in the 3,000 meter indoors last year. Seniors <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/717fdf79-61fb-432d-bbe1-fe8f1c87bbdc?elinkdata=28360">Jake Cruz</a>, team captain Austin Schaefer, Nick Martinez and graduate student <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/57b275b7-9e96-44e6-b877-2b595f827d9a?elinkdata=28360">Ty Davidson</a> also return as do juniors <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6218fc05-ee64-4a01-9ad2-d92d3d721028?elinkdata=28360">Wyatt Johnson</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b01b9399-0888-4fe2-a790-6d61a551557d?elinkdata=28360">Brenden Ellis</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/777694e7-5d29-4543-8393-791c12318e77?elinkdata=28360">Tytus Reed</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/be1518d4-c385-41ca-a0b4-32045eaa19a7?elinkdata=28360">Triston Cottone</a>.

Johnson is a three-time All-American and has been to cross country nationals as an alternate. Sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a09870c7-3ee6-4c24-a508-1f20b1bbc015?elinkdata=28360">Evan Pearce</a> has improved since last season according to Young.

"He was one that we were really excited about out of high school, and I think he's done the work this summer to deserve some mention and be in contention to be a guy that we expect to be running pretty well for us," he said.

Young likes what he seen from two newcomers in particular, Ethan Ochona and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4c9f6451-eb42-4308-88ae-0a4d756ab26e?elinkdata=28360">Braulio Torres</a>.

"Ethan is a transfer from Cloud County Community College that we're pretty excited about," he said. "Torres is a freshman from El Paso, Texas who had really strong credentials and PRs (personal records) out of high school. But the whole freshman class is pretty talented - it's just seeing who can step up to that 8 (kilometer) distance."

Jackson placed second in the KCAC Championship last season while Ellis was 13th and Cruz 18th as the Coyotes finished second in the team standings behind Saint Mary.

Young expects a similar scenario to unfold this fall.

"It's pretty much a Spire and Coyote battle," he said.

"We need more guys to be able to consistently step up on any given weekend," Young said. "I think for this group it's going to be finding a team identity. This has to be a group effort. We need guys running together and placing well together."

Most college cross country coaches would be more than a little concerned after losing three of their top five runners from the previous season - the trio having competed at the national level in the postseason.Kansas Wesleyan coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0f557481-3e32-4c64-8f78-8e5b7e3f7dec?elinkdata=28360">Garrett Young</a> is an exception.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0ed26de4-2be6-4ef2-a827-1868a57a867b?elinkdata=28360">Julian Avila</a> was KWU's top finisher in the NAIA National Championship meet a year ago in Columbia, Missouri while <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c009cc43-4b73-4676-9234-58246b2d523c?elinkdata=28360">Austin Hess</a> was the team's third runner and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8c2f76e9-a325-4994-95c5-f21a367b9ab5?elinkdata=28360">Giovanni Rios</a> fifth.While those departures are significant, Young is confident the Coyotes will remain in contention in 2025."I think we've got some guys who are back and have taken some big steps," said Young who enters his fourth season. "I think the pressure is there for more guys understanding that 'I need to step up and perform at a certain quality or a certain level.'"Young's optimism is based on a large number of returning runners and some newcomers."We bring back pretty much everyone else out of that top 10 back and then we brought in some talented freshmen," he said. "The thing about freshmen is they still have to learn what college running is and about, but they've looked good early on, so we'll see what we've got."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9c0a4107-18b6-4442-ad3e-490ee41d7ccd?elinkdata=28360">Damion Jackson</a> headlines the list of returners. He earned cross country All-America honors as a freshman two years ago and was an All-American in the 3,000 meter indoors last year. Seniors <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/717fdf79-61fb-432d-bbe1-fe8f1c87bbdc?elinkdata=28360">Jake Cruz</a>, team captain Austin Schaefer, Nick Martinez and graduate student <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/57b275b7-9e96-44e6-b877-2b595f827d9a?elinkdata=28360">Ty Davidson</a> also return as do juniors <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6218fc05-ee64-4a01-9ad2-d92d3d721028?elinkdata=28360">Wyatt Johnson</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b01b9399-0888-4fe2-a790-6d61a551557d?elinkdata=28360">Brenden Ellis</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/777694e7-5d29-4543-8393-791c12318e77?elinkdata=28360">Tytus Reed</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/be1518d4-c385-41ca-a0b4-32045eaa19a7?elinkdata=28360">Triston Cottone</a>.Johnson is a three-time All-American and has been to cross country nationals as an alternate. Sophomore <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a09870c7-3ee6-4c24-a508-1f20b1bbc015?elinkdata=28360">Evan Pearce</a> has improved since last season according to Young."He was one that we were really excited about out of high school, and I think he's done the work this summer to deserve some mention and be in contention to be a guy that we expect to be running pretty well for us," he said.Young likes what he seen from two newcomers in particular, Ethan Ochona and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4c9f6451-eb42-4308-88ae-0a4d756ab26e?elinkdata=28360">Braulio Torres</a>."Ethan is a transfer from Cloud County Community College that we're pretty excited about," he said. "Torres is a freshman from El Paso, Texas who had really strong credentials and PRs (personal records) out of high school. But the whole freshman class is pretty talented - it's just seeing who can step up to that 8 (kilometer) distance."Jackson placed second in the KCAC Championship last season while Ellis was 13th and Cruz 18th as the Coyotes finished second in the team standings behind Saint Mary.Young expects a similar scenario to unfold this fall."It's pretty much a Spire and Coyote battle," he said.Teamwork is the key to success for KWU."We need more guys to be able to consistently step up on any given weekend," Young said. "I think for this group it's going to be finding a team identity. This has to be a group effort. We need guys running together and placing well together."

MEN'S XC SEASON PREVIEW: Talent-laden Coyotes anticipate strong season ahead

The Sacred Heart football team showed promise throughout their 3-5 2024 season, and with a slew of returning players on both sides of the ball, the team has a chance to take another step forward in 2025.

For the first time in four years, the program retains its head coach as Ryan Krajicek returns for his second season at the helm.

That lack of consistency has been a key culprit in a rough four-year stretch for the Knights, but it’s one of many things changing in Salina.

“We were the fourth coaching staff that these kids had had in four years, that’s four different offenses, four different defenses, different vernacular, all of it,” Krajicek said. “Last year we tried to streamline everything, and with such a young team, we wanted them to learn things quickly; now coming into year two we have that background.”

A familiar scheme and a familiar staff pair well with a familiar roster, as the Knights bring back several key pieces from last year’s team.

That list begins with junior quarterback Maddox Wells, who completed 118 passes for north of 1,500 yards, with 17 touchdown passes and just six interceptions in 2024.

“Maddox is a blast to coach and to teach in the classroom,” he said. “He leads by example and he’s always the last guy to leave the weight room. He can extend plays and direct traffic well and he’s got that game sense about him.”

In the backfield Dom Matteucci reprises his role alongside Elias Godon and Miles wells, while Wells’ favorite target Noah Hines headlines a recieving corps with several newcomers.

The biggest test for the Sacred Heart offense will come in the trenches, where the Knights plan to start three freshmen alongside seniors Cayson Ivey and Gabe Rodriguez.

“Having three freshmen on the offensive line will be a challenge for us,” Krajicek said. “But we wouldn’t put those kids there if we didn’t think they could get the job done.”

The defense see’s several familiar names, with some in new spots as Maddox Wells, Noah Hines and Luis Hernandez patrol the secondary, Gabriel Aguayo, Cayson Ivey, Elias Gordon and Maddox Ontiveros fill out the linebacker corps, and Gabe Rodriguez, Cruz Carrico, Edward Gawith and Landon Pfiefer go to battle in the trenches.

While the results of this rebuild remain to be seen, hopes and expectations in Salina haven’t been this high in awhile, and those supporting the Navy and Gold could be in for an entertaining season ahead.

“Our goal is to keep building,” he said. “The vibes around the community and the kids are as high as they’ve been since I’ve been here. Things still aren’t where we’d like them to be but we have great kids and they have great families, I’m privileged to be able to coach them up and I love going into Friday night’s with them every week.”

Ahead of the 2025 kickoff, Sacred Heart is eying some very attainable goals that should be well within their reach if the Knights can stay healthy.

“Our goal is to do some things that Sacred Heart hasn’t done in a very long time,” Krajicek said. “It’s been a decade since we won our district and it’s been even longer since we finished with a winning record, those are things we want to accomplish.”

The Knights open their season on the road battling the Bearcats in Ellsworth.

All Sacred Heart football games will be broadcast on the Salina Post YouTube page, with Nicolas Fierro providing play-by-play commentary.

Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - at Ellsworth 9/12 - at Plainville 9/19 - vs. Pleasenton 9/26 - vs. Valley Heights 10/3 - vs. Sedgwick 10/10 - at Bennington 10/17 - vs. Herington 10/24 - at Republic County

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostThe Sacred Heart football team showed promise throughout their 3-5 2024 season, and with a slew of returning players on both sides of the ball, the team has a chance to take another step forward in 2025.For the first time in four years, the program retains its head coach as Ryan Krajicek returns for his second season at the helm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812152965.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>That lack of consistency has been a key culprit in a rough four-year stretch for the Knights, but it’s one of many things changing in Salina.“We were the fourth coaching staff that these kids had had in four years, that’s four different offenses, four different defenses, different vernacular, all of it,” Krajicek said. “Last year we tried to streamline everything, and with such a young team, we wanted them to learn things quickly; now coming into year two we have that background.”A familiar scheme and a familiar staff pair well with a familiar roster, as the Knights bring back several key pieces from last year’s team.That list begins with junior quarterback Maddox Wells, who completed 118 passes for north of 1,500 yards, with 17 touchdown passes and just six interceptions in 2024.“Maddox is a blast to coach and to teach in the classroom,” he said. “He leads by example and he’s always the last guy to leave the weight room. He can extend plays and direct traffic well and he’s got that game sense about him.”In the backfield Dom Matteucci reprises his role alongside Elias Godon and Miles wells, while Wells’ favorite target Noah Hines headlines a recieving corps with several newcomers.The biggest test for the Sacred Heart offense will come in the trenches, where the Knights plan to start three freshmen alongside seniors Cayson Ivey and Gabe Rodriguez.“Having three freshmen on the offensive line will be a challenge for us,” Krajicek said. “But we wouldn’t put those kids there if we didn’t think they could get the job done.”The defense see’s several familiar names, with some in new spots as Maddox Wells, Noah Hines and Luis Hernandez patrol the secondary, Gabriel Aguayo, Cayson Ivey, Elias Gordon and Maddox Ontiveros fill out the linebacker corps, and Gabe Rodriguez, Cruz Carrico, Edward Gawith and Landon Pfiefer go to battle in the trenches.While the results of this rebuild remain to be seen, hopes and expectations in Salina haven’t been this high in awhile, and those supporting the Navy and Gold could be in for an entertaining season ahead.“Our goal is to keep building,” he said. “The vibes around the community and the kids are as high as they’ve been since I’ve been here. Things still aren’t where we’d like them to be but we have great kids and they have great families, I’m privileged to be able to coach them up and I love going into Friday night’s with them every week.”Ahead of the 2025 kickoff, Sacred Heart is eying some very attainable goals that should be well within their reach if the Knights can stay healthy.“Our goal is to do some things that Sacred Heart hasn’t done in a very long time,” Krajicek said. “It’s been a decade since we won our district and it’s been even longer since we finished with a winning record, those are things we want to accomplish.”The Knights open their season on the road battling the Bearcats in Ellsworth.All Sacred Heart football games will be broadcast on the Salina Post YouTube page, with Nicolas Fierro providing play-by-play commentary.Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - at Ellsworth 9/12 - at Plainville 9/19 - vs. Pleasenton 9/26 - vs. Valley Heights 10/3 - vs. Sedgwick 10/10 - at Bennington 10/17 - vs. Herington 10/24 - at Republic County

🏈 Knights eye next stage of rebuild in 2025

The Ellsworth Bearcats got off to an electric start in 2024, winning five in a row to open their season before dropping their final four, including a first-round playoff game, down the stretch.

Despite the late-season skid, the Bearcats have now posted three straight winning seasons and have no intention of slowing down now with a strong group of returning veterans.

“I thought we played really hard last year. Our senior class did a good job, and we were in all but one of those games in that four-game losing streak,” Ellsworth head coach Josh Homolka said. “We were in it, we just didn’t have the horses to get it done but everyone’s a year older now.”

The biggest changes for Ellsworth will come in the backfield, where sophomore Carson Jacobs takes over at quarterback, and senior Tucker Goss is promoted to lead back.

“Carson can sling it and he’s not a real big guy, but he’s nimble on his feet and he’s got some shake to him,” Homolka said. “We’re looking forward to Tucker Goss toting the rock quite a bit for us as well. We’ve had a history of guys who spend time at fullback going back to tailback, and that toughness should help us with those extra yards.”

The O-Line will feature four seniors and one junior, with newcomer Drew Davis joining Ethan Tully, Cam Gardner, Micah Galvan, and Keegan Urbanek in the trenches.

At receiver, Cooper McGowan and a converted Jace Thomasson will anchor a group that includes Braylyn Gardner, Jackson Minear and Liam Stone.

The Bearcats are veteran-heavy on defense as well, with three seniors in Cooper McGowan, Tucker Goss, and Micah Galvan at linebacker, Jackson Minear at safety, and Tully, Urbanek and Gardner playing both ways on the line.

“Our linebacking crew is a huge strength for this defense,” he said. “We have three seniors that will be playing back there with Cooper on the outside and one of the best tandems in the 2A with Micah and Tucker on the inside. Those two are as physical and athletic as a lot of college-type guys.”

Drew Davis (DL), Rett Bohl (LB), Liam Stone (CB), and Jace Thomasson (CB) round out the defense as the only non-senior starters on the unit.

“I’m excited about how much experience we have,” Homolka said. “These guys have played a lot of key downs for us, and that always pays off. “I think the sky’s the limit for this team.”

The Bearcats open their season at home on Friday night with an NCAA foe in Sacred Heart.

This game will be broadcast with live video and audio commentary on the Salina Post YouTube page.

Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - vs. Sacred Heart 9/12 - vs. Republic County 9/19 - at Minneapolis 9/26 - vs. Lyons 10/3 - at Hillsboro 10/10 - vs. Halstead 10/17 - at Beloit 10/24 - at SE of Saline

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostThe Ellsworth Bearcats got off to an electric start in 2024, winning five in a row to open their season before dropping their final four, including a first-round playoff game, down the stretch.Despite the late-season skid, the Bearcats have now posted three straight winning seasons and have no intention of slowing down now with a strong group of returning veterans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812152965.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>“I thought we played really hard last year. Our senior class did a good job, and we were in all but one of those games in that four-game losing streak,” Ellsworth head coach Josh Homolka said. “We were in it, we just didn’t have the horses to get it done but everyone’s a year older now.”The biggest changes for Ellsworth will come in the backfield, where sophomore Carson Jacobs takes over at quarterback, and senior Tucker Goss is promoted to lead back.“Carson can sling it and he’s not a real big guy, but he’s nimble on his feet and he’s got some shake to him,” Homolka said. “We’re looking forward to Tucker Goss toting the rock quite a bit for us as well. We’ve had a history of guys who spend time at fullback going back to tailback, and that toughness should help us with those extra yards.”The O-Line will feature four seniors and one junior, with newcomer Drew Davis joining Ethan Tully, Cam Gardner, Micah Galvan, and Keegan Urbanek in the trenches.At receiver, Cooper McGowan and a converted Jace Thomasson will anchor a group that includes Braylyn Gardner, Jackson Minear and Liam Stone.The Bearcats are veteran-heavy on defense as well, with three seniors in Cooper McGowan, Tucker Goss, and Micah Galvan at linebacker, Jackson Minear at safety, and Tully, Urbanek and Gardner playing both ways on the line.“Our linebacking crew is a huge strength for this defense,” he said. “We have three seniors that will be playing back there with Cooper on the outside and one of the best tandems in the 2A with Micah and Tucker on the inside. Those two are as physical and athletic as a lot of college-type guys.”Drew Davis (DL), Rett Bohl (LB), Liam Stone (CB), and Jace Thomasson (CB) round out the defense as the only non-senior starters on the unit.“I’m excited about how much experience we have,” Homolka said. “These guys have played a lot of key downs for us, and that always pays off. “I think the sky’s the limit for this team.”The Bearcats open their season at home on Friday night with an NCAA foe in Sacred Heart.This game will be broadcast with live video and audio commentary on the Salina Post YouTube page.Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - vs. Sacred Heart 9/12 - vs. Republic County 9/19 - at Minneapolis 9/26 - vs. Lyons 10/3 - at Hillsboro 10/10 - vs. Halstead 10/17 - at Beloit 10/24 - at SE of Saline

🏈 Senior-heavy Bearcat squad returns to gridiron with all-new backfield

<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/quatama-massaquoi/11368">Quatama Massaquoi's</a> 87th minute goal was the difference maker as the Kansas Wesleyan Men's soccer team defeated Central Christian 2-1 on Wednesday at JRI Stadium.

Massaquoi, who played football for the Coyotes the last two seasons, headed the ball home after a delivery of a pass from <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/skyler-denny/11359">Skyler Denny</a> on a set piece following a foul by the Tigers.

It was the Coyotes to tally first in the 41st minute as <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/emilio-rodriguez/10613">Emilio Rodriguez</a> sent one home off a pass by <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/juan-manuel-lozada-leon/10602">Juan Manuel Lozada Leon</a>.

Wesleyan would hold the lead until the 62nd minute when Sidney Tippner scored to equalize.

KWU outshot CCC 9-3 in the match, with six shots on frame. <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/seth-flores/10591">Seth Flores</a> had three shots to lead the Coyotes. <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/shae-wirt/11381">Shae Wirt</a> got the win in goal for the Coyotes with one save.

<a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/quatama-massaquoi/11368">Quatama Massaquoi's</a> 87th minute goal was the difference maker as the Kansas Wesleyan Men's soccer team defeated Central Christian 2-1 on Wednesday at JRI Stadium.Massaquoi, who played football for the Coyotes the last two seasons, headed the ball home after a delivery of a pass from <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/skyler-denny/11359">Skyler Denny</a> on a set piece following a foul by the Tigers.It was the Coyotes to tally first in the 41st minute as <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/emilio-rodriguez/10613">Emilio Rodriguez</a> sent one home off a pass by <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/juan-manuel-lozada-leon/10602">Juan Manuel Lozada Leon</a>.Wesleyan would hold the lead until the 62nd minute when Sidney Tippner scored to equalize.KWU outshot CCC 9-3 in the match, with six shots on frame. <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/seth-flores/10591">Seth Flores</a> had three shots to lead the Coyotes. <a href="https://kwucoyotes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/shae-wirt/11381">Shae Wirt</a> got the win in goal for the Coyotes with one save.

⚽️ Late goal pushes KWU MSOC past Central Christian

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jo Adell homered and drove in every run for the Los Angeles Angels in their 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.

Adell hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning for the second consecutive game. His three-run shot to center field on the first pitch he saw from reliever John Schreiber gave the Angels a 3-2 lead in this one.

Yoán Moncada, aboard on a single when Adell went deep, doubled off Lucas Erceg (6-4) in the eighth before scoring on Adell’s two-out single for a 4-3 advantage. Adell’s 33 homers and 90 RBIs are career highs.

Reid Detmers struck out two in the ninth for his third save.

Angels star Mike Trout sat out again after getting scratched from the lineup Tuesday night&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-trout-scratched-skin-infection-angels-5965805b874df0fcdd5a304a91799cd6">because of a skin infection</a>&nbsp;on his left arm.

Salvador Perez had a one-out double in the seventh for the Royals off winning pitcher Robert Stephenson (1-0). It was his 33rd double this season and the 625th extra-base hit of his career, tying Frank White for third on the franchise list. Adam Frazier doubled to tie it at 3.

Mike Yastrzemski had a sacrifice fly in the first inning to help the Royals take a 2-0 lead against Caden Dana, making his first start this season and the fourth of his career. Dana allowed two hits and one earned run over five innings.

Royals rookie Ryan Bergert gave up one hit and left with a 2-0 lead after issuing a leadoff walk to Zach Neto in the sixth. Bergert struck out six and walked three.

Kansas City (70-69) has lost three in a row and seven of 11.

Kyle Isbel was on second base in the eighth when Angels reliever Andrew Chafin struck out Bobby Witt Jr. for the second out. Chafin then fanned Vinnie Pasquantino in a 12-pitch duel to keep it 4-3.

The Angels have won the first two games of the series, improving to 162-144 at Kaufmann Stadium.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jo Adell homered and drove in every run for the Los Angeles Angels in their 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.Adell hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning for the second consecutive game. His three-run shot to center field on the first pitch he saw from reliever John Schreiber gave the Angels a 3-2 lead in this one.Yoán Moncada, aboard on a single when Adell went deep, doubled off Lucas Erceg (6-4) in the eighth before scoring on Adell’s two-out single for a 4-3 advantage. Adell’s 33 homers and 90 RBIs are career highs.Reid Detmers struck out two in the ninth for his third save.Angels star Mike Trout sat out again after getting scratched from the lineup Tuesday night&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-trout-scratched-skin-infection-angels-5965805b874df0fcdd5a304a91799cd6">because of a skin infection</a>&nbsp;on his left arm.Salvador Perez had a one-out double in the seventh for the Royals off winning pitcher Robert Stephenson (1-0). It was his 33rd double this season and the 625th extra-base hit of his career, tying Frank White for third on the franchise list. Adam Frazier doubled to tie it at 3.Mike Yastrzemski had a sacrifice fly in the first inning to help the Royals take a 2-0 lead against Caden Dana, making his first start this season and the fourth of his career. Dana allowed two hits and one earned run over five innings.Royals rookie Ryan Bergert gave up one hit and left with a 2-0 lead after issuing a leadoff walk to Zach Neto in the sixth. Bergert struck out six and walked three.Kansas City (70-69) has lost three in a row and seven of 11.<h2>Key moment</h2>Kyle Isbel was on second base in the eighth when Angels reliever Andrew Chafin struck out Bobby Witt Jr. for the second out. Chafin then fanned Vinnie Pasquantino in a 12-pitch duel to keep it 4-3.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Angels have won the first two games of the series, improving to 162-144 at Kaufmann Stadium.<h2>Up next</h2>

⚾ Jo Adell a one-man show for Angels in win over Royals

In week seven of the 2024 season, Salina South defeated Haysville-Campus 42-23.

That win snapped a 30-game losing streak stretching back to 2021, and while cause for celebration, was the highlight of an otherwise 1-9 campaign, marking a decade since the last winning season at Salina South.

For those who only follow high school football through box scores and social media, the steady progress the Cougars have made could be easy to miss, but things aren’t the way they were for the green and gold, and that progress has begun with a change in mindset.

“I think we’re really close to having the football culture where we’d like it to be here,” second-year head coach Christien Ozores said. “Our coaches have done a lot of work over the offseason, not just getting kids stronger physically but mentally as well. Trying to fix attitude, behavior, mindset, things like that. Hopefully, we can get this thing turned around. I know we have a challenging schedule, but I think we’re going to sneak up on some people.”

The 2024 season had massive obstacles from the very beginning. The team played 13 sophomores and 11 juniors, implemented its third different defensive scheme in as many years, and had to go through all the growing pains a young team with a new head coach would in one of the most competitive leagues in the state of Kansas.

While a 1-9 season isn’t enough to move the needle considerably, the swarm of returning Cougars who make up this year’s team has leveled up physically and mentally, and should be far more prepared to take on the challenges that lie ahead with a new intensity.

“From a mental standpoint, we have more confidence,” Ozores said. “Our guys have bought into being close to each other and doing the right things on and off the field, and it’s made a difference.”

On the field, the Cougars will be led by a quarterback tandem of sophomore Izzy Telles and senior Aiden Spellman, who each bring a unique skill set to the table.

In the trenches, the Cougars have hit the weight room with three of their returning starters combining to put on 65 lbs this offseason.

That group will work to carve a path for returning back Armane Redmond in the ground game, and look to buy time for South’s quarterbacks to find talented receivers like Jaxon Myers, Jay Curtis, Kolton Herbal, Kobie Henley, and Jaxton Kitchener.

“We have a few guys that have moved to different positions and into the spots we feel fit best with our system,” he said. “That can be a big change but the kids are doing a good job of making adjustments and playing fast and physical.”

On defense, the Cougars will start just one underclassman in sophomore defensive tackle Corbin Beason, who started in the majority of games his freshman year and who has also added 20 pounds this offseason.

Beason will join Jayven Correa-Brown and Conner Riley in the trenches, backed up by the experienced linebacking corps of Jaxon Anthony, Gabe Wheelbarger, Maddox Girard and Ra’Shawn Jones.

In the secondary, Kobie Henley and Landon Huffman return at safety, while Caden Stauffer and Jalen Cheeks work to lock up receivers from the corner positions.

“Our kids feel more comfortable being in the same defensive system for the first time in three years,” Ozores said. We still want to tackle better, we need to be more physical, and we need more sacks and turnovers; all of those will be big points of emphasis this season.”

With another season of learning experiences under their belts, and another offseason in the weight room, the Cougars could very well be primed to take the next step this season if they can put all the pieces together.

“I think we can sneak up on a lot of teams and I’m sure we’ll be underestimated but we have to use our experience to our advantage,” he said. “These kids have so much experience, now, hopefully we can establish that winning mindset.”

The Cougars open their 2025 season in Salina with cross-town rival Salina Central.

This year’s Mayor’s Cup matchup will be broadcast with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post.

Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - vs. Salina Central 9/12 - at Maize South 9/19 - at Derby 9/26 - at Hutch 10/3 - vs. Valley Center 10/10 - at Goddard 10/17 - vs. Haysville Campus 10/24 - vs. Maize

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostIn week seven of the 2024 season, Salina South defeated Haysville-Campus 42-23.That win snapped a 30-game losing streak stretching back to 2021, and while cause for celebration, was the highlight of an otherwise 1-9 campaign, marking a decade since the last winning season at Salina South.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812152965.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>For those who only follow high school football through box scores and social media, the steady progress the Cougars have made could be easy to miss, but things aren’t the way they were for the green and gold, and that progress has begun with a change in mindset.“I think we’re really close to having the football culture where we’d like it to be here,” second-year head coach Christien Ozores said. “Our coaches have done a lot of work over the offseason, not just getting kids stronger physically but mentally as well. Trying to fix attitude, behavior, mindset, things like that. Hopefully, we can get this thing turned around. I know we have a challenging schedule, but I think we’re going to sneak up on some people.”The 2024 season had massive obstacles from the very beginning. The team played 13 sophomores and 11 juniors, implemented its third different defensive scheme in as many years, and had to go through all the growing pains a young team with a new head coach would in one of the most competitive leagues in the state of Kansas.While a 1-9 season isn’t enough to move the needle considerably, the swarm of returning Cougars who make up this year’s team has leveled up physically and mentally, and should be far more prepared to take on the challenges that lie ahead with a new intensity.“From a mental standpoint, we have more confidence,” Ozores said. “Our guys have bought into being close to each other and doing the right things on and off the field, and it’s made a difference.”On the field, the Cougars will be led by a quarterback tandem of sophomore Izzy Telles and senior Aiden Spellman, who each bring a unique skill set to the table.In the trenches, the Cougars have hit the weight room with three of their returning starters combining to put on 65 lbs this offseason.That group will work to carve a path for returning back Armane Redmond in the ground game, and look to buy time for South’s quarterbacks to find talented receivers like Jaxon Myers, Jay Curtis, Kolton Herbal, Kobie Henley, and Jaxton Kitchener.“We have a few guys that have moved to different positions and into the spots we feel fit best with our system,” he said. “That can be a big change but the kids are doing a good job of making adjustments and playing fast and physical.”On defense, the Cougars will start just one underclassman in sophomore defensive tackle Corbin Beason, who started in the majority of games his freshman year and who has also added 20 pounds this offseason.Beason will join Jayven Correa-Brown and Conner Riley in the trenches, backed up by the experienced linebacking corps of Jaxon Anthony, Gabe Wheelbarger, Maddox Girard and Ra’Shawn Jones.In the secondary, Kobie Henley and Landon Huffman return at safety, while Caden Stauffer and Jalen Cheeks work to lock up receivers from the corner positions.“Our kids feel more comfortable being in the same defensive system for the first time in three years,” Ozores said. We still want to tackle better, we need to be more physical, and we need more sacks and turnovers; all of those will be big points of emphasis this season.”With another season of learning experiences under their belts, and another offseason in the weight room, the Cougars could very well be primed to take the next step this season if they can put all the pieces together.“I think we can sneak up on a lot of teams and I’m sure we’ll be underestimated but we have to use our experience to our advantage,” he said. “These kids have so much experience, now, hopefully we can establish that winning mindset.”The Cougars open their 2025 season in Salina with cross-town rival Salina Central.This year’s Mayor’s Cup matchup will be broadcast with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post.Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - vs. Salina Central 9/12 - at Maize South 9/19 - at Derby 9/26 - at Hutch 10/3 - vs. Valley Center 10/10 - at Goddard 10/17 - vs. Haysville Campus 10/24 - vs. Maize

🏈 Stronger, seasoned Salina South looking to level up in year two of Ozores era

There’s a saying at Salina Central High School: Pressure is Privilege.

That statement rings especially true following a 4-5 season where the Mustangs felt they left a lot on the table, finishing without a playoff win for a second-straight season.

Despite all that, and the graduation of excellent talents like Jack Gordon, Tate Gary, Isaiah White, James Mackinney, and Tyrus Young, expectations are still riding high for the Mustangs in 2025 with a veteran-heavy squad brimming with talent.

“There’s a lot to be excited about this year,” Central head coach Mark Sandbo said. “We have great leadership with 19 seniors, and we’ve got great numbers out for football. You can do a lot of good things in 5A football with a senior group that big, and these guys have come through our system and spent a lot of time with us, they’re geared up and ready to go.”

For the Mustangs to return from good to great, they’ll need to clean things up across the board, from penalties to turnovers to simple miscues, but for a team that was two plays away from finishing 6-3 last season, there’s good reason to think brighter days are ahead for Salina Central.

“We’ve gotta stay healthy, and we need to play clean,” Sandbo said. “We were inconsistent last year, and that falls on my shoulders. I didn’t do a good enough job of preparing our guys for those situations and that pressure and I think we’re going to be a lot cleaner this year.”

That level of accountability is what Salina has come to expect from Sandbo, who enters his eighth season at Central with a 38-29 record, seven Mayor’s Cup wins, and three postseason victories.

While the Mustang’s floor feels very high this season, their ceiling will likely hinge on the play of junior quarterback Griffin Hall, who takes the reins from Jack Gordon.

“If you were to recruit a guy for what we like to do it would be a guy like Griffin,” Sandbo said. “The guys who have had a lot of success in our system mirror his abilities and intangibles. He’s a great thrower, he’s dynamic with the football and he’s a high-IQ player that makes good decisions. He checks all of those boxes and he’s a terrific leader as well.”

Hall will have a wealth of talent around him, including returning 1,400-yard rusher Cooper Reves, and stellar wideouts like Bodie Rodriguez, Noah Peck, Keaton Smith and Gannon Cole.

All of this will run behind an offensive line that averages 290 lbs on its left side, anchored by 4-star left tackle Kaden Snyder, who has committed to play football at Kansas University next season.

The defense will also be veteran-heavy, featuring just one underclassman on the starting 11, and six seniors returning to reclaim their starting roles.

“A lot of our strengths defensively are in the second level and on the back end, which hasn’t been the case for the last few years,” he said. “We have to replace guys like James Mackinney who are taking reps at Air Force this year but we have some newcomers and returning starters that we’re excited about.”

Connor Carter, Kytrell Johnson and Ryne Callahan will lead the charge in the trenches, while Grant Ostmeyer joins Jesus Delgado, Abram Owings and Grayton Gross in the linebacking corps.

Kory Serocki reprises his role at free safety, and will anchor a unit that stars Alex Garcia, Trae Wise, and Jeremiah Smith in patrolling the deepest parts of the field.

The combination of experienced veterans and talented newcomers has Central in an excellent position to take a step forward this season, and that confidence has spread throughout the locker room ahead of the new campaign.

“We can’t turn the ball over, we have to take care of the football, and we need to stay healthy. If we can do those three things, I think we have a chance to be really successful,” Sandbo said. “There are a lot of good football teams in 5A and there are years where I hope we never see them, but this year I think we can mix it up with anyone. Some things have to go our way but I think this could be a fun year.”

The Mustangs open their 2025 season in Salina with cross-town rival Salina South.

Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - at Salina South 9/12 - vs. Ark City 9/19 - vs. Haysville Campus 9/26 - at Goddard-Eisenhower 10/3 - at Newton 10/10 - vs. Andover Central 10/17 - vs. Andover 10/24 - at Goddard

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostThere’s a saying at Salina Central High School: Pressure is Privilege.That statement rings especially true following a 4-5 season where the Mustangs felt they left a lot on the table, finishing without a playoff win for a second-straight season.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812152965.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite all that, and the graduation of excellent talents like Jack Gordon, Tate Gary, Isaiah White, James Mackinney, and Tyrus Young, expectations are still riding high for the Mustangs in 2025 with a veteran-heavy squad brimming with talent.“There’s a lot to be excited about this year,” Central head coach Mark Sandbo said. “We have great leadership with 19 seniors, and we’ve got great numbers out for football. You can do a lot of good things in 5A football with a senior group that big, and these guys have come through our system and spent a lot of time with us, they’re geared up and ready to go.”For the Mustangs to return from good to great, they’ll need to clean things up across the board, from penalties to turnovers to simple miscues, but for a team that was two plays away from finishing 6-3 last season, there’s good reason to think brighter days are ahead for Salina Central.“We’ve gotta stay healthy, and we need to play clean,” Sandbo said. “We were inconsistent last year, and that falls on my shoulders. I didn’t do a good enough job of preparing our guys for those situations and that pressure and I think we’re going to be a lot cleaner this year.”That level of accountability is what Salina has come to expect from Sandbo, who enters his eighth season at Central with a 38-29 record, seven Mayor’s Cup wins, and three postseason victories.While the Mustang’s floor feels very high this season, their ceiling will likely hinge on the play of junior quarterback Griffin Hall, who takes the reins from Jack Gordon.“If you were to recruit a guy for what we like to do it would be a guy like Griffin,” Sandbo said. “The guys who have had a lot of success in our system mirror his abilities and intangibles. He’s a great thrower, he’s dynamic with the football and he’s a high-IQ player that makes good decisions. He checks all of those boxes and he’s a terrific leader as well.”Hall will have a wealth of talent around him, including returning 1,400-yard rusher Cooper Reves, and stellar wideouts like Bodie Rodriguez, Noah Peck, Keaton Smith and Gannon Cole.All of this will run behind an offensive line that averages 290 lbs on its left side, anchored by 4-star left tackle Kaden Snyder, who has committed to play football at Kansas University next season.The defense will also be veteran-heavy, featuring just one underclassman on the starting 11, and six seniors returning to reclaim their starting roles.“A lot of our strengths defensively are in the second level and on the back end, which hasn’t been the case for the last few years,” he said. “We have to replace guys like James Mackinney who are taking reps at Air Force this year but we have some newcomers and returning starters that we’re excited about.”Connor Carter, Kytrell Johnson and Ryne Callahan will lead the charge in the trenches, while Grant Ostmeyer joins Jesus Delgado, Abram Owings and Grayton Gross in the linebacking corps.Kory Serocki reprises his role at free safety, and will anchor a unit that stars Alex Garcia, Trae Wise, and Jeremiah Smith in patrolling the deepest parts of the field.The combination of experienced veterans and talented newcomers has Central in an excellent position to take a step forward this season, and that confidence has spread throughout the locker room ahead of the new campaign.“We can’t turn the ball over, we have to take care of the football, and we need to stay healthy. If we can do those three things, I think we have a chance to be really successful,” Sandbo said. “There are a lot of good football teams in 5A and there are years where I hope we never see them, but this year I think we can mix it up with anyone. Some things have to go our way but I think this could be a fun year.”The Mustangs open their 2025 season in Salina with cross-town rival Salina South.This year’s Mayor’s Cup matchup will be broadcast with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post.Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - at Salina South 9/12 - vs. Ark City 9/19 - vs. Haysville Campus 9/26 - at Goddard-Eisenhower 10/3 - at Newton 10/10 - vs. Andover Central 10/17 - vs. Andover 10/24 - at Goddard

🏈 With new QB under center, Central eyes return from good to great

The Abilene Cowboys found themselves in a bit of a reloading season in 2024, experiencing growing pains at several key positions throughout a 3-6 campaign that left many, including those in the locker room, wanting more.

With those challenges behind them, and a slew of returning stars on both sides of the ball, the Cowboys are primed and ready to return to their winning ways in 2025, with a senior-heavy roster and a clearer path to success.

“I love the progression that we’ve made over the offseason,” Abilene head coach Brad Nicks said. “We have 14 great seniors who have been staples in this program since they were freshmen, and all of them should play a big role in the season ahead.”

That colossal senior class begins with quarterback Taygen Funston, whose dual-threat abilities posed a real challenge for opposing defenses.

Several of Funston’s favorite targets return to this offense as well, including Levi Evans, Heath and Lane Hoekman, Jaxon Cuba and Noah Wilkins.

The backfield will be familiar to Abilene fans, led by the tandem of Lane Hoekman and Davyn Cuba, but running behind a mostly new offensive line.

“Line play for us is where everything starts,” Nicks said. “You don’t replace guys like the ones we lost easily, but I feel really good about the guys we have who are stepping into those roles.”

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostThe Abilene Cowboys found themselves in a bit of a reloading season in 2024, experiencing growing pains at several key positions throughout a 3-6 campaign that left many, including those in the locker room, wanting more.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812152965.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>With those challenges behind them, and a slew of returning stars on both sides of the ball, the Cowboys are primed and ready to return to their winning ways in 2025, with a senior-heavy roster and a clearer path to success.“I love the progression that we’ve made over the offseason,” Abilene head coach Brad Nicks said. “We have 14 great seniors who have been staples in this program since they were freshmen, and all of them should play a big role in the season ahead.”That colossal senior class begins with quarterback Taygen Funston, whose dual-threat abilities posed a real challenge for opposing defenses.Several of Funston’s favorite targets return to this offense as well, including Levi Evans, Heath and Lane Hoekman, Jaxon Cuba and Noah Wilkins.The backfield will be familiar to Abilene fans, led by the tandem of Lane Hoekman and Davyn Cuba, but running behind a mostly new offensive line.“Line play for us is where everything starts,” Nicks said. “You don’t replace guys like the ones we lost easily, but I feel really good about the guys we have who are stepping into those roles.”Those newcomers include a familiar name in Cael Casteel, who joins his brother Pierce on the line, and a fresh senior in Bradyn Blake, who set a new standard in the weight room with a squat max of over 500 pounds.On defense, the veteran presence is even more pronounced, with Taygen Funston, Lane Hoekman, Kayden Thrower, and Levi Evans reprising their roles in the secondary, and Jaxon Cuba, Kash Hargrave, and Ethan Evans all returning to fill out the linebacking corps.Even on a D-Line that lost Devin Alvarez and Tyler Holloway, a pair of returners in Heath Hoekman and Jaxon Cuba bookend a unit that includes more veterans like Pierce Casteel and Jaelin Robinson on the interior.“Our defensive strength is in our line,” Nicks said. “When you have bookends like Heath Hoekman and Jaxon Cuba, that’s a heck of a thing to anchor to, and we’ve got guys behind them that look really strong.”While the 2024 season came with a learning curve, 2025 has been much smoother in preseason, something the Cowboys are confident will translate to the field in their first few weeks of the season.“It’s been great to have so many guys back who know our systems,” he said. “Things have been very seamless with so many guys who played big roles for us. That’s allowed us to push beyond where we were a year ago, and it’s helped us push everyone on our roster from top to bottom.”Many around the state have tempered their expectations for Abilene in 2025, but inside the locker room, standards remain high despite the gauntlet ahead.“The kids have set the goal to be 7-1, and we still want to host a home playoff game. We’re trying to get back to where we were a few years back,” Nicks said. “We feel like we were two plays away from being 5-3 last season. Our kids are hungry, and I think we have good goals to chase this year.”The Cowboys will have a chance to make a statement and begin the year with a bang when they host Clay Center this Friday, looking for their first win over the Tigers since 2018.Full 2025 Football Schedule 9/5 - vs. Clay Center 9/12 - at Chapman 9/19 - at Concordia 9/26 - vs. Rock Creek 10/3 - at Marysville 10/10 - at Augusta 10/17 - vs. El Dorado 10/24 - vs. Wamego