Ad Astra Radio will preview area high school football teams, based on county. Today, we preview the teams from western Sedgwick County.
Previous previews are listed below. Click on the county to see those previews.
Marion County high school football preview
Centre Cougars
Coach: Thieen Antoszyk, third season (2-14).
Classification: Six-player
District: 1
2025: 2-6
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: State champions 1997
Top returning players: Noah Brunner, jr., QB; Ayden Perez, sr., OL/DL; Carey Pinrod, jr., OL/DL; Micah Carlson, sr., WR/DB; Judah Richards, so., OL/DL; Cody Diepenbrock, so., RB; Ayden Britton, so., WR; Jason Ribelin, sr., OL.
Key game: Oct. 9 vs. Chetopa. While Peabody-Burns is the heavy favorite to win this district, the battle for the other five playoff spots should be competitive. This game could go a long way to deciding a first-round bye and/or a first-round home playoff game.
Outlook: After two tough years in eight-player football, Centre moves back to six-player, where the Cougars had more success in 2022-2023. The Cougars return quite a few players too, including Noah Brunner at quarterback and four linemen. It’ll be an interesting season, as the seniors played six-player football as freshmen. It is a different game, so there may be some adjusting for the Cougars, especially in the opener against a solid Otis-Bison team. But then, the Cougars will get a chance to build something going to a key late-September game against MDCV. Playing at home in the playoffs and having a winning record should be Centre’s objectives.
Goessel Bluebirds
Coach: Garrett Hiebert, 15th season (48-81)
Classification: Eight-man Division 2
District: 3
2025: 1-8
Postseason: Did not qualify.
Best postseason finish: Quarterfinals 1996, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2020, 2021.
Top returning players: Brayton Base, sr., QB/DB; Claudio Flores, sr., RB/DB; Wyatt Sommerfeld, sr., TE; Gage Abbott, jr., OL/LB; AJ Hagewood, jr., OL/DL; Josh Kahns, jr., OL/DL
Key game: Sept. 18 at Hartford. Goessel’s district has some outstanding teams, like Rural Vista, Lebo and Burlingame, but there are chances for wins. The winner of this game will have an early insight into making the playoffs.
Outlook: Goessel struggled to another 1-8 season, but it wasn’t long ago when Goessel was in back-to-back state quarterfinals. The move between divisions in eight-man football is always a mixed bag, but Goessel should like its chances at more wins and a playoff appearance. While the team is overall young, there is experience back. Four players who started on the line are back, as are quarterback Brayton Base and running back Claudio Flores. There will be several chances at wins, and a .500 regular season is not out of the question, which would be an impressive climb for this program.
Hillsboro Trojans
Coach: Demetrius Cox, seventh season (33-25)
Classification: 1A
District: 5
2025: 6-4
Postseason: Beat Ellsworth 18-17; lost to Hoisington 46-6
Best postseason finish: Semifinals, 1981, 1986, 2006
Top returning players: Zayne Haslett; Brayson Amstutz; Preston D’Ablini; Thurston Silhan; Braxton Hiebert; Talon Regier; Hudson Rogers; Daniel Blackmon-Richard; Peter Farha; Jaeton Loewen; Nate Oelke
Key game: Oct. 2 at Inman. This matchup illustrates how good this district is. Two teams that return a lot and with ambitions to compete for a state title. Don’t miss this one.
Outlook: Although Hillsboro didn’t graduate a ton, the players who are moving on were massive contributors, including Jesiah Gooch. But the cupboard is far from bare. Zayne Haslett is a two-way star, and there is a lot back on the lines. Hillsboro has a tough schedule ahead, including non-district matchups with Hoisington and Haven, to say nothing of a district that includes Inman, Moundridge and Trinity Catholic, but the expectations are deservedly high. This is a team that could make a run in Class 1A.
Marion Warriors
Coach: Jackson Schneider, first season
Classification: 2A
District: 7
2025: 7-3
Postseason: Beat Salina Sacred Heart 20-12; lost to Sterling 53-14.
Top returning players: Hitch Soyez, sr., G/LB; Jackson Howard, sr., G/DE; Tripp Peterson, sr., WR/CB; Isaac Wesner, sr., WR/LB; Jordy Raymer, sr., WR/LB; Landon Hendricks, so., RB/DL; Ryker Salsbury, jr., T./LB; Ryder Kraus, jr., WR/DB; Colt Smith, C/NT
Key game: Oct. 2 vs. Haven. This district is one of the most balanced in any classification. Let’s say this much: even the fourth-place team will have a chance at a postseason run. It’s imperative for Marion to get district play off to a good start here.
Outlook: Marion moves up a classification, and wow, the district assignment is loaded. The Warriors don’t lose a lot, but the quality that graduated can’t be underestimated, including Jameson Looper. With a new coach in Jackson Schneider, Marion starts afresh and Schneider has some pieces to work with. Hitch Soyez sports an elite name to go with his all-state resume. The experience in the trenches will help also. But boy, that schedule is tough and not just the district that includes Garden Plain, Haven, Douglass and Halstead. If Marion can get some early wins against a tough schedule, there’s no reason to think Marion can’t contend in the district.
Peabody-Burns Warriors
Coach: Eric Dutton, fourth season (19-9)
Classification: Six-player
District: 1
2025: 7-3
Postseason: Had bye; beat Southern Coffey County 54-0; lost to Tescott 52-30.
Best postseason finish: State runner-up, 1977
Top returning players: Ashton Talkington, sr., OL/LB; Dalton Philpott, sr., RB/LB/QB; Colin Groff, sr., RB/LB; Jameson Miles, sr., TE/DL/LB; Aiden Hurst, sr., QB/LB; Gage Wilson, sr., OL/DL; Cale Gossen, jr., QB/TE/LB; Kash Wilson, so., RB/LB; Devlin Kealy, so., RB/LB.
Key game: Sept. 11 at Tescott. These teams have locked horns in the postseason four straight years, and Tescott has won every meeting. This game is not in district, but it might be the most important game of the regular season for Peabody-Burns, because it may not be the only time the Warriors play Tescott.
Outlook: Peabody-Burns may not get the attention in six-man football as Cunningham, Weskan, South Barber and Tescott, but Peabody-Burns has built a solid, reliable program under Eric Dutton. With Cunningham moving to eight-man, the eastern side of six-man seems wide open, with Peabody-Burns and Tescott seemingly the favorites. Ten returning Warriors saw starting time last year, and Jameson Miles is one of the best players in the classification. The line is experienced and the weapons are abundant. With six seniors, who have all seen significant time since their freshman year, this is Peabody-Burns’ best chance to play for a state championship since 1977.
