Ad Astra Radio will preview area high school football teams, based on county. Today, we preview the teams from Kingman County.
Previous previews are listed below. Click on the county to see those previews.
Kingman County high school football preview
Cunningham Wildcats
Coach: Lance McGuire, 21st season
Classification: Eight-Player Division 2
District: 2
2025: 11-1, Six-Player state champion
Postseason: Had first-round bye; beat Altoona-Midway 1-0 (forfeit); beat Otis-Bison 46-0; beat Tescott 44-0; beat Weskan 51-8
Best postseason finish: State champions 2022, 2025
Top returning players: Stephen Kerschen, Kollin Fischer, Brody Bock, Tyler Osner, Liam McGuire, JP Kerschen.
Key game: Sept. 18 at Central Christian. Take off the football cleats and put on some track shoes instead. This could be a lot of fun, as it will include a state quarterfinalist returning a lot, and a state champion returning a lot. It will go a long way to deciding the district championship.
Outlook: The resurrection of Cunningham football continues to be one of the state’s best stories. A school that didn’t even have football a decade ago due to lack of numbers now has so many players that the school has left six-player for eight-player. While the Wildcats only have a couple starters back, they have 12 returning lettermen, which is more than some programs have total numbers. Cunningham played one eight-man game last season, and lost in overtime to a seven-win Minneola team. It’s going to be a different year in Cunningham, but no matter what, it should be successful again.
Kingman Eagles
Coach: Tanner Hageman, seventh season (40-27)
Classification: 2A
District: 8
2025: 2-7
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: State runner-up, 1972, 2022
Top returning players: Brennan Van Wyhe, sr., OL; Andrew Ziegler, jr., OL/DL; Logan Birkenbaugh, jr., QB/DB; Trent Clark, sr., WR/LB; Boston Beck, sr., RB/LB; Jaxson Campbell, jr., WR/TE/LB; Chris Hepburn, sr., TE/DE/LB; Ben Cousins, jr., OL/K; Andrew Ziegler, jr., DL; Levi Gattis, jr., LB; Trent Clark, sr., LB
Key game: Sept. 25 at Southwestern Heights. This is the district opener, and it’s a heck of a trip. Both teams are coming off two-win seasons, and with the rest of the district being fairly even, the winner here gets the district slate off to a great start.
Outlook: After a great stretch of seasons, among the best in school history, Kingman had an inevitable rebuilding year last year. While the Eagles return a lot, they did lose a good number of linemen. The skill players are mostly back, however, as the top three receivers and two of the top three running backs also return, as well as Logan Birkenbaugh under center. The defense looks similar with the defensive backfield returning intact. The schedule is much different, as the Eagles go west for district play. With games against Wichita Trinity and Belle Plaine to start the season, the Eagles have a good shot at starting 2-0, which would set the table for a good season. A winning record and home playoff game are on the table
Norwich Eagles
Coach: Adam Leroux, second season (1-8, 13-29 overall)
Classification: Eight-player Division 2
District: 2
2025: 1-8
Postseason: Lost to Victoria 56-0
Best postseason finish: Runner-up 1974
Top returning players: Easton Schroeder, jr., RB/LB; Liam Vaara, sr., G/ NT; Lucas Fisher, sr., G/DE; Kyedon Schroeder, jr., QB/CB; Rylan Poe, so., G/LB; Hunter Poe, jr., WR/CB.
Key game: Oct. 9 at Attica/Argonia. The first part of district play is tough, but the schedule becomes more manageable late. With Central Christian and Cunningham expected to battle for the district title, that leaves just two playoff berths left for the other four teams. This game will likely send the winner into the playoffs, while the loser will have work to do.
Outlook: It was a rebuilding year for Norwich, which struggled to a one-win season. Many top players, especially at the skill positions, are back. Easton Schroeder was dynamic out of the backfield, amassing more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. Three starters on the line are also back, while Kyedon Schroeder returns at QB. Norwich also welcomes back Liam Vavra, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. There will be some continuity with Leroux back, as he’s the first returning coach since 2022. The roster is also larger, with an expected 25 players out. It’s still a young team, however, and the Eagles will need some of those players to take on leadership roles.
