ESKRIDGE (KSNT) – The Mission Valley Vikings are looking forward to improving this season, after going 5-4 last year. Four of those wins came in district play.
The team’s main goal is to make a deeper playoff run this year after losing to Olpe 35-21 in the first round of the Class 1A bracket.
After losing a strong senior class last season, head coach Garret Heath is looking to his five new captains—Sam Bryan, Ian Deters, Gunnar Trickel, Bryce Bunger, and Jake Mills—to lead the way.
“We’re going to depend on senior leadership this year quite a bit, because they followed a really good senior class a year ago,” Heath said. “They’re going to have to follow that same lead and do a great job of giving us energy and leadership on the field, setting an example for the younger guys.”
The captains were voted on by their peers. Being chosen means a lot to this year’s five leaders.
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“It’s a lot of honor, the team voted us captains, so it’s like, you thank them, you thank everyone, and you just try and do your best for them and help them and yourselves get better,” Bryan said, a senior center and defensive tackle.
“It means a lot, you know,” Trickel said, the Vikings’ senior tackle. “I’ve known these guys since I was a little kid, so to be voted by them just shows how much team morale that we have.”
“You’ve got to be a role model for these freshmen, these kids coming up,” Mills said, the Vikings’ junior quarterback. “You’ve got to show them the right way, how to play the game, and you know you’ve got a lot on your shoulders.”
Mission Valley opens up its 2025 season at home versus Hogan Prep Charter on Friday at 7 p.m.
