By NICHOLAS KIMBALL

Staff writer

Marion graduated some athletic seniors last year, leaving space open this year for younger athletes to compete for a spot.

Football

A handful of last year’s all-star players and guys who had been starters for the two or three seasons have graduated.

Still, a fair amount of last year’s defensive and offensive lines return to help lead the team back to a potential playoff run.

Last year’s all-state linemen Brian Nguyen and Luke Watkins, along with senior Jackson Bitonti, are expected to lead the offense.

Others competing for offensive line positions are Hitch Soyez, Jackson Howard, and freshman Ryker Salsbury.

Junior Kadon Mercer will return as tight end. He started there last season and “has had a great off-season getting stronger and faster,” coach Shaun Craft said.

“In the backfield we will have to replace three-year starters and all-state players Jack Lanning and Trevor Schafers,” Craft said.

Junior Jameson Looper, an all-district player who rushed for nearly 500 yards last year, will be the starting running back.

Lane Smith, who played receiver and saw some time at running back late in season, is expected to start alongside Looper at running back,” Craft said.

“And several guys are competing to take over the quarterback position,” he said.

With all-state player Jack Lanning having graduated, Kellen Waner and Carson Krause have taken the lead over the summer and continue to battle for the spot.

Tripp Peterson, Isaac Wesner, Wyatt Soyez, and Jesse Snyder look to round out the offense as receivers.

On defense, Bitonti and Watkins will be returning up front. Kadon Mercer is looked to-to step up and replace all-state lineman Cole Smith.

All-state player Brian Nguyen will anchor the linebackers along with returning starters Looper and Smith.

Craft said they “really improved through the course of last season.”

“The guys have done a great job so far this off season of working hard and competing every day with the goal to get back to playoffs,” he said. “Last year’s seniors left some big holes to fill but did a great job of leading and setting the expectations for Warrior Football.”

Thee Warriors will open the season on the road Friday against Herington. Their first home game won’t be until Sept. 20, against Bennington.

Cross-country

Missing state by one point as a team last year, the Warriors bring back a core group with a sizable chip on their shoulders to get back to Wamego as a group.

Individual state qualifiers from last season Luke Wessel and Eli Klenda are part of the core.

“Luke is coming off a strong track season and will be our No. 1, who will set the tone and push this group this season,” coach Jason Hett said.

Wessel placed 16th last year at 2A cross county. Klenda placed 30th, and Hett is looking for a big jump from him this year.

Others who are poised to propel forward are Harrison Beery, Owen White, Zayden Janzen, Keenan Lange, and Jaxson Salsbury.

“We are going to look to them to knock off some major time this season to help our group reach the goals we have set for us,”Hett said.

The boys’ side is rounded by Sam Calvert, Josh Smith, Kael Dameron, and Vlad Harris.

Three girls will be joining this season: Brooklyn Beery, Izy Branson, and Gabrielle Stuchlik.

“Brooklyn and Izy will push each other in practice,” Hett said. “I am excited to see their growth this season.”

This will be Stuchlik’s first year.

The Warriors cross- country team will start its season Thursday in Abilene.

Volleyball

Coach Keri Collett returns for another year, and she brings with her returning varsity players Kenna Wesner, Erin Regnier, Shaliah Ensley, Taryn Kraus, Hailey Harshman, Shyann Harris, and Kate Watkins.

Team captains won’t be decided until after a few weeks of practices.

“As we approach the new volleyball season,” Collett said, “our focus remains on building a cohesive team and embracing the challenges ahead.

“Every season brings its own set of opportunities and obstacles, and we’re committed to preparing our players to compete at their highest level and grow both individually and as a unit.”

Seniors on the team are Alexis Hostetler, Addison Copper, Taryn Kraus, Erin Regnier, and Kenna Wesner.

“We will have a few new things happening that we will be able to get to in practice with a more mature and advanced group of girls,” Collett said. “I am very excited to see what we can accomplish.”

The team has been practicing every day of the work week since Aug. 19 inside the Sports and Aquatics Center. Its first match was Tuesday against Sedgwick.

The Warriors will be at home Thursday against Goessel.

Girls’ golf

Two seniors will lead the way this season, Georgia Madgwick and Alyera Koehn. They will be joined by three other returning players.

“This year, we will have more players than ever,” coach Max Venable said.

He is anticipating between 14 and 17 golfers.

“The majority of these girls are new to the game, so we will spend the early part of the season working on fundamentals, learning the rules, and discussing course management,” he said.

Venable expects the girls to be respectful of the game and represent themselves well.

He wants them to be coachable and most importantly to have fun.

The team has been practicing after school at Marion County Country Club. Its first match will be Tuesday on the Lamont Hills golf course.

Cheer

Coach Reann Buchanan will have her cheer squad attempt new stunts, cheers, and traditions this season.

Leading the way for are captains Sara Groening and Willow Spence.

Returning to cheer this season are Gabrielle Stuchlik, Hailey Harshman, Kattie Stultz, and Shyann Harris.

Freshman joining this year are Rylee Thomas, Alexandra Carlson, Izy Branson, and Kiersten Wilden.

“My expectations,” Buchanan said, “are that the team keep a respectful, positive attitude and try only to bring our team and fans together in support of our players.

“We plan to attend every game home and away to cheer on our Warriors.”

Cheer will be a part of the candidate games and burning of the dummy for the homecoming game Sept. 27.

Little Cheer camp will be Oct. 25 during Warrior football halftime.