By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
After a disappointing 3-6 campaign in 2022, the Chapman football program is primed for a bounce-back this year, with 12 returning seniors and another year of varsity experience.
While the traditional run-heavy offense featured the talent to work effectively, the Fighting Irish relied a bit too much on hammering teams through brute force last season, but now possess the tools to return to what has made Chapman football so efficient in years past.
“We’re much improved as an actual option running team this year,” 7th-year head coach Kurt Webster said. “Last year we were a lot more power-oriented and we struggled to get the ball pitched at the right times but our slots are improved and our QB is reading and running triple option well.”
That quarterback comes in the form of sophomore Kelan Gruver, who will take the reigns in the backfield alongside a stable of returning backs in Aiden Whitley (1,400+ yds in 2022), Dakota Curtis, and Cooper Lewis.
The offensive line will be anchored by a pair of veteran returners in seniors Weston Langvardt (1st team All-NCKL) and DJ Messerly, while Ian Suther reprises his role as the team's leading wideout.
On defense, Chapman will see both its biggest returning strength, as well as its biggest unknown, as Messerly and Langvardt, both all-league defensive linemen, return to the trenches alongside Michael Shipman, playing in front of a mostly new linebacking corps.
“Linebacker play will be something we’ll be keeping an eye on in the first couple of weeks,” Webster said. “We’ve got some guys that have been on the field on Friday nights but didn’t get a ton of reps.”
That group will see Ryan Clark, Cade Hanney, Kenden Blacketer, and Ben Griffis look to wreak havoc in the middle of the defense, while Ian Suther (All-NCKL Defense), and Cooper Lewis patrol the secondary.
The NCKL looks just as formidable as always ahead of the 2023 season, which will provide Chapman with an opportunity to go toe to toe with some of the best teams in the state each week.
“With where we are in our league and district we’re capable of beating everyone on our schedule but everyone on our schedule is capable of beating us,” he said. “We have to make sure we take things one game at a time and put our full focus and energy into each week because we play in the toughest leagues and one of the best districts in 3A.”
Despite coming off a down year, the Irish see 2022 as little more than a blip on the radar, and fully expect to be a competitor once again when the new season gets underway this week.
“We always want to compete for a league and district title,” Webster said. “We want to put ourselves in a position to make a deep playoff run and if things fall into place even a state title run. Last year we only had five seniors, this year we have about 12 so we’re poised for a bounce-back year.”
The Irish open their 2023 campaign at home on Friday, September 1st when they take on the Concordia Panthers at 7:00.