After falling in the regional championship last fall, the Iola Mustangs return to the diamond with a new coach and a pair of seniors who missed the fall and winter sports seasons with injuries.
Iola coach Lake Johnson will see his team in live action for the first time when they take the field for the Girard jamboree.
“So far, it’s been pretty good, and the guys are pretty bought in,” Johnson said. “I like our effort. It’s going really well and we’re expecting to have a good season. We have two pretty tough teams at the jamboree, which I don’t mind because it lets us see where we’re at.”
As part of the jamboree, Iola will face Girard and Pittsburg.
Tre Wilson, an All-state catcher, will take the field after missing the previous two sports seasons with a knee injury. Back up to full speed, the switch-hitting senior hopes to make an immediate impact this season.
“My recovery went a lot better than expected,” Wilson said. “Everything is going my way, thankfully. I’m just ready to get the season started. I want to do a lot better than I did last year, and I had a really nice season last year.”
Senior outfielder Easton Weseloh may have to wait a bit longer to return to the Iola lineup after suffering a similar injury early in the 2025 football season. And though he will not take the field until April, he is able to participate in a limited capacity until medical staff clears him.
“I’m coming back quicker than I expect and I feel a lot better than I expected,” Weseloh said. “My throwing is good, and moving from side to side will eventually be pretty good. I’m just trying to do as much as I can and make a big impact. We can be pretty good if our pitching and hitting stays consistent.”
While Thursday’s jamboree will give Coach Johnson a look at some talented underclassmen, it will also give him an idea of where to focus. After all, talented teams tend to expose potential weaknesses and Girard and Pittsburg more than fit the description.
“It’s awesome to take over this program after it’s had so much success in the past,” Coach Johnson said. “With that comes a bit of pressure. We’re preparing every day to keep us going in the right direction. I feel confident and excited.”
