This is the fifth installment of a six-part series of columns that will look ahead to the upcoming high school sports year for our six area schools.
– June 21 — SCC Titans
– June 24 — Yates Center Wildcats
– June 27 — Crest Lancers
– July 1 — Humboldt Cubs
– Today — Iola Mustangs/Fillies
The Iola Mustangs have an enormous luxury heading into next season with by far the most experienced frontline in the Pioneer League.
Ethan Holloway is the league’s only returning First Team All-Pioneer pick and was one of the Wichita Eagle’s All-State honorable mention selections. The 6-foot-7 forward will lead a group of big men with a lot of experience to lean on.
Evan Sigg started next to Holloway last season and while both players were relegated to playing nearly exclusively around the basket last year, they could see expanded roles this season. Both seniors have shown a reliable mid-range jump shot and ball-handling ability which could make each player a matchup nightmare — sometime that new coach Luke Bycroft is sure to unlock.
The third-most experienced Mustang is also a forward with senior Zach Cokely playing a sixth man role last year and making great strides. With Cokely on the team, the Mustangs will be able to play nearly every minute this season with two high-quality forwards on the floor.
The backcourt will provide the most questions for the Mustangs next season.
With Joey Zimmerman, Ben Cooper, Isaiah Fawson, Braden Plumlee and Chase Regehr all having graduated, the Mustangs are without all three of last season’s starters and most of their depth from a year ago.
Bycroft has the luxury of having coached the junior varsity team last year so he goes into the season with a good idea of what each potential replacement can do.
A near-lock to be a part of the starting lineup is junior Derek Bycroft, who is the purest point guard on the team. While Cooper was more of a score-first point guard as well as an excellent shooter, Bycroft will fall into a more traditional lead guard role as a distributor.
On the wings, seniors Cale Barnhart and Isaac Vink would appear to be the most plausible starters after earning starts last season when Zimmerman was hurt.
While that new group of potential starters provides some excellent defense and ball-handling, they lack proven three-point range.
The Mustangs will lean on a couple knock-down shooters off the bench to fill that void. Junior Blake Ashmore and sophomore Cal Leonard were exceptional long-range threats at the junior varsity and freshman levels last year and will be able to add that element to the varsity team.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
While the Mustangs will be leaning on an experienced frontcourt, the Fillies return most of their experience in the backcourt.
Senior Colbi Riley is the team’s only returning starter with Sydney Wade, Toni Macha, Riley Murry and Della Lohman having graduated. Riley will shift to the point guard spot this season to fill in for Wade.
Riley has had experience running the team for stretches the past two seasons when Wade has been injured.
Next to Riley will be junior Madisyn Holloway, who broke out last season — earning the sixth-man role. She is the team’s most proven long-range shooter.
Senior Chloe Gardner and junior Piper Moore earned playing time last season and should be in the mix to start.
The frontcourt lost the most experience from last year with Macha, Murry and Lohman all playing in the post at times.
Sophomore Kelsey Morrison played excellently for the freshman and junior varsity teams last year and will be thrust into a major role this year, possibly filling Holloway’s shoes as sixth man.
Senior Katie Bauer is the most experienced forward and seems like a lock to start. She will be most relied to provide the team rebounding and defense, especially if they start a four-guard lineup.
Senior Macayla Bycroft is the next most experienced post player. She will be a favorite to start if the Fillies go with a traditional lineup.
WRESTLING
The Mustang wrestling program will go through a transition this season with the graduations of Colton Toney and Tavon Blazek.
Senior Drake Sell and sophomore Gary Lower are the most experienced returners to the team and will be counted on to make a big jump this year.
