The Iola High School Mustang football team braved the sweltering heat the first day of practice Monday at Riverside Park.
With the high temperatures matched by oppressive humidity, the Mustangs made the most of their opportunities, and plenty of water breaks, during the first KSHSAA sanctioned practice of the 2025-2026 athletic season.
“I’m excited about the group we have,” Iola coach David Daugharthy said. “We have a younger group, but they are really hard working. They are dedicated and, on top of that, they are just really good kids.”
With only four seniors on the roster, the Mustangs’ offseason strength and conditioning program may come to their benefit sooner than expected with a slew of game-ready underclassmen filling crucial holes. Another welcome edition this season is junior Roy Gordon. After playing two seasons of 8-man football at Crest, Gordon transfered to Iola over the summer and enjoyed the greater focus on position groups thanks to more available coaches at the 3A program
“It’s a lot better. There has been a little adjustment but the coaches are helping me through it all,” Gordon said. “With their help, it’s been a lot easier.”
The next three weeks will serve as a crash course for coaches to install their offensive and defensive schemes. On Monday, Coach Daugharthy kept things simple. Following position drills, Daugharthy opened up the offense before closing practice with routes honed by 7-on-7 drills over the summer. For senior running back Easton Weseloh, Monday’s run-through seemed just the beginning of a fruitful 2025 campaign.
“It was pretty good. We just have to have a little more intensity from the younger guys,” Weseloh said. “That will come. We’ll be really good. We have a lot of people who don’t have varsity experience. We got the kids to do it.”
From here, the Mustangs will go head-to-head Friday as part of Iola High School’s blue-gold scrimmage. Next Friday, the Mustangs will get their first taste of live competition at the Humboldt Jamboree. 
“We have a ton of good athletes and they are working hard,” Daugharthy said. “Once we figure it out. Once we get up to that varsity game speed and we start clicking on all cylinders, then we’re going to be pretty deadly. I can see that spark in their eyes. They’re ready for it. They know what’s coming, but they will be ready.”
