Four in the running to become Marion’s QB1
Staff writer
Football
Head coach Shaun Craft and assistants Cody Coleman, Jordan Metro, and Jimmy Shipman are wrangling with a smaller group than normal this year.
“The Warriors lost a few seniors from last year’s squad, and all were multi-year starters who were vital to our teams’ success over the last few years,” Craft said. “We looked once again to develop a quarterback over the summer.”
Four players are battling for the position: senior Carson Krause, junior Jordy Raymer, sophomore Ryder Kraus, and freshman Jymer Raymer. Carson Krause took a few snaps last season filling in for Kellen Waner. That could give him a leg up with experience.
Powerhouse senior running back Jameson Looper will make his return after rushing for more than 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns last year.
“Senior Wyatt Soyez and junior Aiden Coetzee both had some carries for us in the backfield last season and will be competing with sophomore Sam Rziha and freshman Easton Babcock for the other starting spot in the backfield,” Craft said.
Other returning starters on offense are wide receivers Tripp Peterson and Isaac Wesner along with lineman Hitch Soyez.
All-league and all-state defensive lineman Kadon Mercer will be the lone returning starter on the defensive line and will look for junior Jackson Howard to assist him. Mercer also figures to help on the offensive side of the ball.
“He has great size and hands but really developed into a great blocker for us last season,” Craft said.
Four starters return as linebackers: Looper, Wyatt Soyez, Jordy Raymer, and Wesner, building core strength for the team.
“They all just kept getting better week after week for us last year, and I’m excited to see them really play with confidence this season,” Craft said.
One challenge on defense will be finding someone to fill a void left by all-state linebacker Brian Nguyen in the middle.
“I expect Soyez, Coetzee, Ryker Salsbury, Hagen Gardner, and Ollie Norris to compete for those open jobs on the defensive side,” Craft said.
The Warriors will open their season Friday at home against Herington. Fans will notice that a new scoreboard has been installed north of the field.
Marion will be host for its second game Sept. 12 before its first road game.
“We have a bunch of younger guys competing every day, along with a good core group of upper classmen that want to leave their own legacy by playing into November,” Craft said.
Volleyball
Nearly 20 girls hit the court for practice after school inside the Sports and Aquatics Center in Marion.
“All years are special, but this year is particularly meaningful for me,” head coach Keri Collett said. “I’ve been coaching these seniors in volleyball and building a relationship with them since they were seventh graders. In the last six years, I’ve coached them every year but one.”
Maria Carlson, Shaliah Ensley, Shyann Harris, Hailey Harshman, and Kate Watkins are the five seniors. Each has earned playing time and played together over the years.
“While I encourage them to take it one step at a time, I’m so proud of their fire and truly admire their drive,” Collett said.
Juniors on the team who show potential are Dylan Kraus and Kate Wessel.
“Also, we will see some different young ladies suiting up varsity and may have a shot at some playing time, but I can’t tell you exactly who those will be yet,” Collett said.
Collett wants to move to a much quicker game with many plays for the girls to run.
“I want them to have fun playing and have the confidence to try new things,” Collett said.
Practice caters toward this quicker pace that the girls are trying to run, and it can get intense.
“Service receive will be a huge thing for us to try to perfect this year and will always be something we need to work on as well as getting ourselves in the right position to pass up balls from other opponents’ hits,” Collett said.
Marion opened its season Tuesday on the road against Sedgwick. The team’s next games will be Saturday at Pratt for the Skyline Tournament.
Marion’s first home game won’t be until Sept. 20th in the 19th annual Spikefest Tournament.
“I can’t tell you what our record will be, but I can tell you they will do everything they can to put themselves in the best position to be highly successful,” Collett said. “They’ve been waiting for their moment, and here it is, and I told them they have nothing to lose, so they might as well put everything they have into it.”
Cross-country
To start practice, Marion head coach Jason Hett has his team meet on the track at the football field, where members perform various warm-ups, stretches, and sprints. Afterwards, the team hits the streets of Marion for a nice long lap.
In all, 19 runners are out for cross-country this season — 7 girls and 12 boys.
“We will be led by a great senior class who has been a group who has invested in this program for four years and have been great leaders,” Hett said. “This is going to be their year to shine and break the wall as a group.”
Senior Eli Klenda is the most decorated member of the team as a three-time state qualifier, placing 27th last season. Klenda’s top time is 17:11.
Six other returning seniors are Harrison Beery, Vlad Harris, Keenan Lange, Jaxon Salsbury, Gabrielle Stuchlik, and Owen White.
“Each of them will need to shave some time off, but they are ready to put in the work to do just that to help this group reach our goals,” Hett said. “And this will be the first season since the early ’90s that we will have a full girls’ team.”
Returning sophomore Brooklyn Beery placed 21st at regionals last year.
“She is looking to shave some time off and compete to get to the state meet this season,” Hett said. “She will be pushed by our group each day, and she will push this group as well.
“It is great to have a full girls’ squad this season, and they have big goals, and we are going to strive to help them reach them this season.”
The Warriors’ first cross-country meet will be Thursday on the road in Lindsborg.
Marion will be host for its first and only cross-country event of the season Sept. 25.
Girls’ golf
Nineteen girls take a seat on a patio deck at Marion Country Club as head coach Max Venable goes over house rules and expectations for this year’s golf season.
“My first year at Centre, I had three girls out for golf,” Venable said. “This year at Marion, we have 19 players.
I’m very excited about the continued growth and interest in golf at Marion High School.”
This will be Venable’s fifth year at Marion and eighth year as a head coach.
“My plan this year is to help our girls improve their scoring abilities by focusing on execution on and around the greens,” Venable said. “To accomplish this, we have been working on controlling our putting speed and a simplified chipping technique that allows the players to get the ball on the green more frequently.”
This year’s team has four seniors: Lexi Branson, Mariella Owens, Luana Rovelo, and Naomi Wilson.
“Naomi Wilson is the most experienced player on the team, and I’m excited to see how she finishes her high school golf career,” Venable said.
Other players to watch are Sybil Bowman, Reagan Cooper, and Vyolett Dawson.
“We have quite a few freshmen this year, and they have a chance to improve quickly and contribute to the team,” Venable said.
The team will start its season Thursday in Wamego with a junior varsity event and Tuesday in Lamont Hills for a varsity event.