By NICHOLAS KIMBALL

Staff writer

Marion won’t field a softball team this season because of a lack of players, but it will compete in four other sports, including a joint swimming team with members from Marion, Centre, Hillsboro, and Peabody-Burns.

Track

Warrior track and field experienced little turnover this year with almost everyone from the 2024 team back to compete.

“The Heart of America League will be as difficult as it has ever been,’ coach Grant Thierolf said, “but we feel like we have the athletes to challenge the best teams and be successful in that competition.”

Luke Wessel will lead the distance runners and is ready to end his senior season on a great note.

“Luke placed third in the 800 and seventh in the 1600 last year while anchoring our fourth place 4 x 400 relay as well at the state track and field meet,” Thierolf said.

Kellen Waner and Sam Loomis will lead the jumpers.

“Kellen qualified for state in the pole vault and will be ready to return to state by the end of the season,” Thierolf said.

Three throwers capable of getting to state are Jackson Bitonti, Jackson Howard, and Brian Nguyen.

“All three throw the discus well,” Thierolf said. “Brian adds a skilled javelin athlete to the mix while Jackson and Bitonti keep throwing better in the shot put.”

Leading the sprinters will be Tripp Peterson, Wyatt Soyez, and Jesse Snyder.

Leading the hurdlers will be Cooper Jirak and Jordy Raymer.

“Our girls’ team will be led by a great group of senior women,” Thierolf said.

Addison Cooper, Taryn Kraus, and Kenna Wesner will lead the girls on the track and in jumps.

“Taryn placed seventh last year in the 300 hurdles at the state meet,” Thierolf said, “and she is dedicated to stand on a higher platform this year.

“Kenna Wesner had a great season in the horizontal jumps last year and has put the time into making a return visit to the state meet.

“And Addison Cooper fills so many roles for us. She sprints, she can long jump, and is a fantastic leader for our young ladies.”

Dylan Kraus placed second last year at state in the 400 and is ready to lead the rest of the girls’ sprinters.

Dylan also will compete in pole vault along with Hailey Harshman, Caileigh Johnson, and Erin Regnier.

Senior Sophia Dye will lead the throwers.

“Sophia has been a very good thrower for us the past three years, and we expect great things from her in her senior year,” Thierolf said. “It’s going to be a great year for the Marion Warriors track and field team.”

The Warriors will open their season Tuesday in Moundridge. A home meet is scheduled for April 11.

Baseball

Warriors’ baseball has a .772 winning percentage over the last 14 years with coach Roger Schroeder in command. The team has recorded 230 victories to just 68 losses.

Last season ended in the state quarterfinals with a record of 21-5 after the team secured its eighth regional championship.

“Lots of roster turnover from last season to this season,” Schroeder said. “We graduated a decorated class of six in 2024. We have five freshmen and a first-year sophomore with us for 2025 to round out our 17-man roster.”

Returning seniors are Lander Smith, Lane Smith, and Luke Watkins.

Returning junior starters from last season are Carson Krause, Jameson Looper, and Kadon Mercer.

“Overall, this is a season that will look different than the past few because we have lots of new faces all over the field,” Schroeder said.

The six returning players will play a major role for the team.

“We will be light on experience, which I believe will lead to some inconsistencies early in the season, but by the midpoint of the year, I expect us to be more up to speed and be a very competitive team,” Schroeder said.

The Warriors began the season with a scrimmage in early March along with preseason games after spring break against Clearwater and Haven.

Because of field conditions at Ell-Saline, the Warriors’ opening doubleheader Friday took place at home. This means Marion’s first five games this year will be home games.

The Warriors won both games Friday, 11-1 and 6-5 in extra innings.

Their next games will be Tuesday against Hutch-Trinity.

Swimming

County swimming falls under the Marion umbrella, even though only a few of the athletes come from Marion.

This will be head coach MacKenzie Magee’s third year in charge along with assistant coach Brett Magee.

“We are a little bit of a smaller team this year, so our team scores might not be as large, but I think that this team is set up for a great deal of success,” MacKenzie Magee said. “I predict there will be multiple best times this year and I am hoping to qualify more girls for state this year in individual event.”

Most of the team is made up of returners from last season, with only two new members.

From Marion, Alexis Hostetler and Tandice Tajchman make their return.

For Peabody-Burns, Maddy Blythe and Chloe Callahan return.

“Peabody has been a part of the co-op for three years now, and Maddy has been with me from the start of my time joining the team,” Magee said.

Centre brings back Olivia Carlson along with new member Cheyanne Helmer.

Hillsboro has the largest group, with returning members Austyn Driggers, Rylie Hein, Talia Jost, Gabi Sibayan, and Lauryn Vogt and new member Gracelyn Just.

“Gabi will be the first four-year swimmer out of Hillsboro,” Magee said.

One swimmer to keep an eye on is Vogt.

“She has had a phenomenal past two seasons, and I expect nothing else as we enter her junior year,” Magee said.

Marion senior Alex Hostetler also is poised to have a strong year.

“Last year she really found her groove in the 500 freestyle, and she has continued to put in work this off season,” Magee said.

Olivia Carlson is the only diver on the team and is familiar with state diving competition.

“I think she is set to have a great senior year,” Magee said.

The swimming team opened its season at home Thursday, taking second place, before traveling to Maize Aquatic Center over the weekend.

After a week-long break, county swimmers will be back in action April 15 at Newton.

Golf

Marion’s golf team is young with only sophomores and freshman on the team.

“Jacob Tharp, a sophomore, is our most experienced player,” seventh-year coach Max Venable said. “He played varsity golf last year as a freshman and went to regionals.”

Things Venable hopes the team achieves are respecting the game, reaching their fullest potential as golfers, and most important, having fun.

The team has been practicing after school since the start of March for its opener Thursday at Salina.