Following a 1-8 2024 campaign, the Yates Center Wildcats believe they have what it takes to go from worst to first in the Three Rivers League.
Coach Ryan Panko attributes the Wildcats’ confidence to a myriad of factors but foremost among them was their participation at summer workouts. 
“Our team chemistry, the kids we have showing up to weights and getting after it might be the best I’ve had since I’ve been here, and I’ve been here since 2017,” Coach Panko said. “We have a group of kids that get along with each other. They play for each other. They have fun with each other. There are no secrets, we’ve been doing this all summer and everything we’ve been doing the last few years has stayed the same.”
The Wildcats also have another factor working in their favor this year — their age. With only three upperclassmen last season, including one senior, the Wildcats’ age may have played a factor in their 1-8 record. This year, however, the tables flipped and they have three seniors in Eli Hess, Blake Morrison and Clayton Culver, the latter taking on football for the first time and expected to be an immediate contributor on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
“I’m really excited for it,” Culver said. “Hopefully we’ll have fun and do pretty good. I’m pretty confident. I think we have a good shot of doing really well this season. We have good chemistry.”
Another aspect of the upcoming season is how wide open the Three Rivers League seems ahead of the September 4 kickoff. With two-time returning TRL champion Marmaton Valley graduating perennial All-TLR selections in Jaedon Granere, Brayden Lawson and several other senior contributors, blood seems in the water and Coach Panko and company just got a whiff.
“They’ve been getting after it the past couple of years as freshmen and sophomores,” Panko said. “Now, they’re juniors and seniors. It’s really paid off this summer, but we’ll know more as the season goes along. We’ll get into full pads and see where the kids are.”
