UPDATE: The Yates Center Wildcats are eyeing a major turnaround as they prepare for the 2024 Three Rivers League, set to kick off on September 4. After a challenging 1-8 season last year, the Wildcats are confident that their rigorous summer training has positioned them for success in a league that appears wide open.
Coach Ryan Panko credits the team’s renewed spirit and determination to their summer weight lifting program, stating, “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.” The Wildcats’ dedication is evident, with junior Jeremiah Jones leading the charge during intense workouts.
This season, the Wildcats have a crucial advantage in experience. With only three upperclassmen last season, including just one senior, their youth heavily influenced their previous record. However, the dynamics have shifted dramatically this year with three seniors: Eli Hess, Blake Morrison, and Clayton Culver. Culver, stepping onto the field for the first time, is expected to make an immediate impact on both offense and defense.
“I’m really excited for it,” Culver expressed. “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.”
The Three Rivers League is shaping up to be highly competitive, especially with reigning champions Marmaton Valley losing key players like Jaedon Granere and Brayden Lawson. Coach Panko sees this as an opportunity, stating, “Blood seems in the water and we just got a whiff,” adding that the Wildcats have been preparing intensely for this moment.
As the September 4 kickoff approaches, Panko emphasized the importance of their summer training. “They’ve been getting after it the past couple of years as freshmen and sophomores. Now, they’re juniors and seniors. It’s really paid off this summer, but we’ll know more as the season goes along.”
Fans and followers of the Wildcats are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting season. As team dynamics continue to evolve, the Wildcats are poised to make their mark in the Three Rivers League, ready to shift from the bottom to the top.
Stay tuned for further updates as the Wildcats prepare to take the field and prove their mettle against the competition.
