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
With a new coach, there is always an adjustment period, but with the Mustangs losing quarterback Ben Cooper and defensive leaders Chase Regehr and Joey Zimmerman, that adds to the work coach David Daugharthy must do to get his team ready for the new season.
Luckily for the Mustangs and Daugharthy, around those signal-calling positions Iola returns much of their playoff squad from a year ago.
On the offensive side of the ball, the top returning playmakers are on the edge where 6-foot-7 senior receiver Ethan Holloway provides the team with a tremendous weapon as a possession receiver and red zone target.
Complementing Holloway on the outside is fellow-senior Isaac Vink. The speedy weapon will see an increased role without Zimmerman for the offense to lean on.
Without the team’s leading passer and rusher from last year, the offensive backfield is full of questions for the Mustangs, but the team has the talent to provide the answers they need.
Running back was one of their deepest positions last season and junior Tyler Garner will be back to lead that group along with senior Cale Barnhart.
Adding to the excitement of the running back group is the much-anticipated arrival of Isaac Badders, who has led the middle school Ponies to undefeated records the past two seasons and will add some explosiveness to the stable of backs.
The quarterback position is a little less clear cut going into the year.
Senior Evan Sigg saw time in the ‘Wildcat’ package last season and could move to quarterback full-time, but junior varsity signal callers Casen Barker and Elijah Luedke could also may factor in along with the potential move of a running back or receiver to the position.
The Mustang defense should be a strength despite the loss of leaders like Regehr, Zimmerman and Trea Williams at each level of the defense.
The secondary will be a major strength with Vink returning as the team’s No. 1 cornerback and Barnhart and Garner providing some stability at safety.
Sigg was a force off the edge for the linebackers, but finding a replacement for Regehr at middle linebacker will be a major key.
On the defensive line, Mathew Karr, Nic Zimmerman and Holloway will play big roles, but replacing Williams and Tavon Blazek in the middle of the line is a tall task.
The kicking game should be in good hands with Pieter Venter assuming the full-time duties.
VOLLEYBALL
Junior Piper Moore has been a leader and top player for the Fillies’ for the past two seasons, but now that she is finally an upperclassman, that responsibility is magnified.
Around Moore, the Fillies replace four starting players with Sydney Wade, Jadyn Sigg, Riley Murry and Toni Macha all graduating.
A big senior class will look to fill the roles vacated by last year’s seniors. This year’s seniors are highlighted by Colbi Riley, Katie Bauer, Karly McGuffin, Chloe Gardner and Madi Carlin.
Replacing the blocking ability of Murry will be very important to the Fillies’ defense this year and while McGuffin, Riley, and Bauer all will play roles in helping to fill that void, new coach Emily Hampton has been very pleased with the development of junior Shaylee Sutterby at that position.
With Riley, Moore and Bauer being the team’s premier hitters, Gardner and junior Mia Aronson will be very key players — especially in the back row.
Without Wade, Moore will likely be asked to take on more of the setting responsibilities, despite leading the team in kills last year.
CROSS COUNTRY
The Fillies won the Pioneer League championship last year despite four of their top-five runners being freshmen.
It was quite a remarkable feat for the young team, but now the Fillies will enter this season with a whole new level of confidence and expectations.
Sophomore Kelsey Morrison returns to the team after qualifying for state last season and consistently being the Fillies’ top runner.
Around Morrison, her fellow sophomores Elysia Kunkler, Rachel Bycroft and Elka Billings will be trying to make that trip with their teammate this season.
Filling out the top five for the Fillies is likely to be junior Madisyn Holloway. Holloway often was the team’s sixth varsity runner last season, but with Megan Klubek having graduated and running for Allen Community College, Holloway’s role will likely increase.
Where the Fillies return all but one of their runners, the Mustangs must replace all but one of their top runners.
Having junior Cole Regehr back off of last year’s state team is a big-time advantage for the Mustangs, but replacing Isaiah Fawson, Braden Plumlee and Kendall Jay is a tall task.
Bryce Andres, Royce Smith and Elijah Fawson are the varsity runners from a year ago that will be expected to step up this year.
Both the Fillies and Mustangs should see contributions from a strong freshman class.
GIRLS TENNIS
The Fillies are in a tremendous spot entering the season with their entire roster from last year returning.
The headliners from that group are the senior No. 1 doubles team of Erin Klubek and Macayla Bycroft. They will have their eyes set on making it to state in their final season playing together.
Junior Jennifer Tidd showed last season that she is capable of being a strong singles competitor and will look to continue that growth this year.
Senior Carley Cescon and sophomore Allie Utley provide the team with good depth as either singles or doubles players.
