High School Sports Preview
Written by Paige Feikert
High-Flying High Schoolers
Written by Paige Feikert
Bryan Chadwick will be the coach for the new Derby girls flag football team. He’s spent years coaching girls sports and football at several area schools and currently coaches girls basketball at Derby High School. Photo credit: Joel Craig, The Derby Informer
Girls Flag Football: Derby High School
Derby High School is known for its dominance on the gridiron, with seven class 6A state football titles and sold-out crowds at Panther Stadium on Friday nights throughout the fall. While Derby football isn’t going anywhere, this year a new team is hoping to catch that same success and hype: the Derby High School girls flag football team.
“The city loves football and girls have played football. They’ve played the junior league football, they played in middle school — then they got to high school and they didn’t really have anything in terms of football,” said Bryan Chadwick, Derby High School flag football coach.
Chadwick was integral in creating the club girls flag football program at Derby North Middle School last year in preparation for the sport to grow and eventually reach the high school stage.
“I coached my sons in flag football, I’ve coached my friends’ frat teams in flag football, it’s my passion and to be able to share it with these young ladies and share my love for the sport, that’s what I want to do,” Chadwick said.
Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports for youth in the United States, with hundreds of colleges adopting the sport as a varsity or club program. Flag football will also debut as an Olympic sport in 2028. On Derby’s initial interest survey, more than 100 girls expressed interest.
“I’m trying to create this program for these girls and give them the opportunity to do extra things,” Chadwick said. “They’re going to be part of something big — being part of the first flag football team in Derby and have an opportunity to get a college scholarship.”
Last year, 28 teams across the state piloted the sport, including a few from around Wichita, as part of a Kansas City Chiefs and NFL FLAG initiative. This year, Derby is joined by Campus, Maize and Maize South as well as the seven public city league schools — Wichita East, Heights, North, Northwest, South, Southeast and West.
Wichita Southeast boys soccer team finished last season fourth in the state and hope to make an even deeper run this year.
Boys Soccer: Wichita Southeast High School
This summer, the Men’s World Cup was hosted on North American soil, demonstrating to both soccer fans and those new to the sport the global interest in the game. It’s a sport that brings people together regardless of where they call home.
That same sense of togetherness ties the various styles of players from around the world together on the Wichita Southeast High School soccer team. The school has a large English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program — a program that the Wichita School District says supports students from more than 100 countries and 115 different languages across the district.
“I’m always pleasantly surprised at how well they can play together when they’re different kids from different cultures — no one is selfish,” said Cody Fitch, coach of the Wichita Southeast High School boys soccer team.
But despite the various styles and backgrounds of the players at Southeast, the players find ways to fit their individual strengths together on the pitch. That eventually looks like a high-powered attack, which brought the team success last year in its fourth-place state finish.
“I would say the point of the game is to score and go forward, so they do it naturally, they don’t need too much prodding from me,” Fitch said. “They play really well together naturally.”
This year the team was invited to a showcase game against the 2025 Missouri class 6 state champions, St. Louis University High School, hosted at the Kansas City Current training facility. The Buffalos will also take on Washburn Rural on the road this season — the reigning Kansas class 6A state champions.
Jayla Reed joins a strong senior class at Maize South this year who hope to finish their high school careers at the top of the state.
Girls Volleyball: Jayla Reed, Maize South High School
After a third-place finish in the class 5A state volleyball tournament last year, Maize South senior Jayla Reed is looking ahead to an even better run this year.
“We have a very strong senior class, so I think that we have the talent to win state, that’s what I’m most excited about this year,” Reed said.
The defensive specialist is part of a strong senior class at Maize South with several NCAA DI commits. Whether through their high school careers or club volleyball, Reed and her teammates have shared a court for years.
“We’re down to four original girls [on the Maize South team], but most of the girls on the team I have known for a while because of club,” Reed said. “They’re all very talented and they know what they’re doing and they’re good leaders on the court, so it’s easy to play together.”
Reed and her teammates are focused on the post-season. She is looking forward to big matches that come with post season games. But as a senior, Reed is also trying to enjoy her final ride with the Mavericks.
“It’s kind of bittersweet. I’m excited, but it’s sad knowing that there are a lot of lasts — my last first game, and the last time I’ll really be playing volleyball,” Reed said. “But after this season I plan to go to college to become an orthodontist.”
Princedakari Marshall is a junior who will put his athleticism on display for East High School this football season.
Boys Football: Princedakari Marshall, Wichita East High School
As just a sophomore, Princedakari Marshall drew enough attention as the Wichita East High School quarterback for an honorable mention selection for the Greater Wichita Athletic League. This year, though, Marshall is looking to make an even bolder impression.
“I’m looking forward to this year since they have me playing out on the field a little more, so I can show what I can really do out there,” Marshall said.
After his sophomore year as starting quarterback, Marshall carries a lot of experience and leadership into this season. Additionally, the Aces will have a second quarterback this year, enabling Marshall to play a variety of positions. Throwing, catching, running, rushing — Marshall has been playing on nationally ranked teams since he was just six years old and has experience everywhere on the field.
“Growing up, he played all positions. He was never just a quarterback: he played defense, he played receiver, he played running back, he can do all things,” said Ternell Marshall, Princedakari’s father. “Me as a father, I’m more excited this year that he’s not just locked in at quarterback, so he can showcase his true talents to colleges.”
East lost in the second round of the postseason last year, but with a strong team of juniors and sophomores, some of which had opportunities to develop last year, the Aces are looking to make a deep run this fall.
Senior Naomi Koontz led the Newton girls golf team to the class 5A state tournament last year.
Girls Golf: Naomi Koontz, Newton High School
Naomi Koontz has played Sand Creek Station Golf Course hundreds of times. She knows how to play hole 10 — the 648-yard par five proclaimed by the course as the longest hole in the state — and she can navigate the inconspicuous bunker on hole 13. While the course’s challenges have propelled Koontz to the state golf tournament every year of high school, she’s hoping this year is her best finish yet.
“It’s been a lot of fun, especially to be on a team,” Koontz said of her high school golf career. “During my high school season I’ve played really well, and I normally don’t do as well at state for some reason.”
The Newton High School senior finished the class 5A state tournament in third place both her junior and sophomore seasons, and fourth place her freshman year. This year will be Koontz’s second year playing for her father, who took over as head coach of the Newton High School girls golf program last year.
“I started golfing mainly because my dad and my older brother both golf, so when I was younger I would go to the course with them,” Koontz said. “I practice with my dad a lot already so it felt similar [when he was coaching], but I really liked it, he’s a great coach.”
After graduation, Koontz will go on to play golf at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Wichita Collegiate earned its 17th straight class 4A state title last season, and return several top players for this year’s team including sophomore Hitha Ganganala. Photo credit: Scott Paske, KSHSAAcovered.kshsaa.org
Girls Tennis: Area Teams and Players to Watch
Wichita Collegiate will return several powerhouse players from their 2025 state champion team, headlined by class 4A state champion Hitha Ganganala, who lost only one match last year as a freshman. The Spartans also return Tanya Ramesh, a doubles state champion last year, 2025 state qualifier Natalia Saad, and doubles team Natalie Nichols and Giana Shuart.
Reigning class 5A state champions Andover return Audrina Gjoza, Rylie Nance and Ada Tantemsomboon. Kapaun Mt. Carmel returns Caroline and Chloe Hocker and Julia Judkins.
Ava Claassen returns for Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s cross country team after a record-setting performance in the 3,200-meter at the state track meet earlier this year. Kapaun swept the girls and boys class 5A state cross country titles in 2025. Photo credit: Andy Brown, KSHSAAcovered.kshsaa.org
Cross Country: Area Teams and Players to Watch
Kapaun Mt. Carmel returns a trio of runners from last year’s class 5A state title team on the boys team with Koelton Erwin, Kolbe Meyer and Jack Sauer. In class 6A, Derby will return Ben Perry for his senior season, after running the third fastest 5K in school history last season.
Kapaun is also the reigning class 5A state champions on the girls’ side, returning Abigail Bird, Ava Claassen and Maddyx Erwin. Bishop Carroll’s Megan Stephenson will return this year coming off the best freshman performance at the class 5A state meet last year. Valley Center will return Sophie Ellis for her senior season and add Jentry Adams who transferred from Trinity Academy.
