Dragons send Kansans to Elite Programs

tools that he had with the frame that he had, that he was definitely going to be a kid that could develop into that high level of football player,” Dallas said. “We didn’t know if that would happen after a semester, after a year, or after two seasons, but for him, the fortunate thing was he came in from day one.”

Kitselman started at tight end for Hutch as a true freshman and with more development, along with some some synergy from the already highly touted Benson – the number one ranked JUCO player in the class of 2023 – the Lyndon product soon found himself in the recruiting crosshairs of the most dominant college football program of the 21st century.

“They had a need at tight end and he checked all the boxes, from an athletic standpoint and size standpoint, that they look for,” Dallas said. “They really didn’t hesitate once they discovered him. But that’s the exposure that those guys get by coming to a program like ours because of guys like Malik Benson getting recruited by Alabama. They’re at your practice and they’re seeing other guys, too, when they’re at practice. So, when you’re sending 25 plus kids to Division I programs every year it’s easy for other people to get spotted, even though they may be coming to campus to get their eyes on somebody else.”

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

Since its discovery in the 1880s, salt has been a key source of production for the city of Hutchinson, with the subterranean deposits being mined and shipped throughout the country for vital purposes.

This salt mining industry defined what the city was known for throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, helping the Reno County seat, often referred to as “Salt City,” flourish and reach beyond its central Kansas scope.

While the famed salt mines and their benefits don’t appear to be going anywhere any time soon, another key source of production coming out of Hutch – Division I football players –are helping to put their own stamp on the city.

Since Hutchinson Community College head coach Drew Dallas took over the job in the final days of 2019, the Blue Dragons have been an assembly line of elite talent, which helped the program win a 2020 NJCAA National Championship, make another title appearance in 2022, and hold an overall record of 28-3 over that three-year span.

And while the city of Hutchinson has sent salt from the earth to myriad destinations, Dallas and the Blue Dragon program have been doing the same with Kansas’ “salt of the earth” in the form of some of its best athletes.

From their 2022 NJCAA runner-up team, the Blue Dragons sent a total of 34 players to DI schools ranging from Power Five to FCS, including Blue Valley North alum Nikko Taylor (Oregon State, DE), Andover’s Ashton Ngo (Arkansas, LS), Junction City’s Marcello Bussey (Memphis, WR), and Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Tremon Echols (Kent State, WR) headlining the group.

That group adds to what is becoming a legacy of Hutch athletes going on to DI programs. In the four seasons prior to 2022, Hutch sent 36 of their players to Power Five schools and produced 95 DI players total, with destination schools including Auburn, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas Tech, West Virginia, and others. In the case of Lansing High’s Malik Benson (HCC 2023) and Lyndon High’s Miles Kitselman (HCC 2022), the landing spot was Tuscaloosa.

Benson enjoyed a spectacular start to his time at Hutch, piling up a school record 2,152 receiving yards and earning recognition as the top-ranked junior college prospect in the nation before joining the Crimson Tide.

“Glad I was able to play alongside such great talent,” Benson said. “It was a huge benefit being able to go to Hutch, made me become a man. The program is ran a lot like a four-year, so my adjustment wasn’t hard at all. Coach

Dallas and the whole staff prepared me for Alabama, and the standard at Hutch was to become a better football player, and man.”

The Lansing product is now in a position for a step onto the Power Five stage as the next in a long line of talented Crimson Tide receivers.

“You may not know his name yet, but you will soon,” Sports Illustrated’s FanNation BamaCentral beat writer Austin Hannon said. “Malik Benson could be the next high-impact transfer for Nick Saban.”

Bama has had six receivers selected in the top two rounds since 2020, and Benson is pojected by many to start for the Tide this fall.

For Miles, the progression to major college football pros-

In his first year with the Crimson Tide, Kitselman played in six games with two receptions for 18 yards and made an additional impact on special teams. One of those six games being a Sugar Bowl appearance against his home state’s Kansas State Wildcats.

Going into the 2023 season, Hutch is again boasting loads of homegrown talent, with O-linemen Maddox Marcotte (Bishop Carroll), Chris Cain (Mission Valley), and Matt Glen (Salina Central), skill players Darby Roper (Haven) and Julius Bolden (Wichita Northwest), D-linemen Rudy Vargas (Junction City), Xavier Stillman (Wathena), and Daniel Brown (Bishop Ward), defensive back Jordan Scruggs (Schlagle), and place kicker Cole Segraves (Maize) all receiving DI interest.

Another key piece of the 2022 Blue Dragon team back for 2023 is 6-2, 389 pound All-Conference defensive tackle Danny Saili (Jeff West, Topeka High), who committed to OU from a list of interested DI programs that included an offer for the University of Maryland.

“Hutchinson is really the reason I’m at the level I am at today,” Saili said. “Coach Saldago taught me how to really play the game of football. Hutch is a place where a high level of play is expected and I had to meet those expectations. They’ve really just pushed me to be the best I can be in every situation.” pect was a bit more measured.

“Andrew Krause, our tight ends coach, was in charge of recruiting that area of Kansas,” Dallas said. “We kind of break the state into eight areas and our coaches go out and they get boots on the ground and talk to these coaches, and then go see them and try to meet these kids in person and see them run around in practice if we can. We saw him, they were in the playoffs prepping for a playoff football game. He played offensive tackle and D-end in high school and had some things going in recruiting, but nothing major. He had some walk-on opportunities, there at K-State and a scholarship offer from Emporia state.”

As a senior at Lyndon, the 6-5, 250 pound Kitselman was first team All-State at defensive end and helped lead the Tigers to the 2020 1A state semifinals where they were edged 14-12 by eventual state champions Olpe. Although he had a walk-on offer from Kansas State and a D2 offer from Emporia, Hutch and the path they offered was what Kitselman chose.

“We really felt like with his size and athletic ability, we watched him practice and play basketball and with all the

Saili and company are joined by a recruiting class that includes quarterback Malachi Berg (Topeka West), receiver Tre Richardson (Highland Park), running back Tyrell Reed (Free State), O-Linemen Logan Cox (Seaman) and Mason Thrush (Maize), D-linemen Devan Lowe (Olathe North), Kelonnie Patterson (Manhattan), and Darrius Comeaux (Shawnee Mission North), linebackers Eric Butler (Olathe Northwest), Jalen Rice (El Dorado), and Cooper Hajek (Nemaha Central), as well as D-back Adrian Spencer (Lansing).

“Our 2023 recruiting class has a great mix of talent from throughout the state of Kansas and across the nation,” Dallas said. “I believe we did a great job as a staff going out and identifying the prospects that fit our system, have the tools, and have the drive to continue our success. Of course, when recruiting an athlete, they still have to come in, buy into the process, and make the deposits before we see the payoff. However, this group of young men has the make up to do that and we feel we have a blueprint that is proven.”

Hutch offers a number of reasons for the Sunflower State’s

Ellsworth’s Layton Leiker has been making an impact at EHS since first stepping on campus as a freshman, from playing a key role on the varsity football squad, to keeping a report card full of high marks, as well as staying involved anywhere he can in the school.

“Layton is someone who is always involved,” head football coach Josh Homolka said. “No matter the organization, the class, the sport he is currently in, Layton is always all-in. He is extremely determined and someone you can always count on.”

Other sports Leiker is involved in include basketball, baseball, and trap shooting.

Outside of athletics, Leiker has served as the class vice president, is treasurer for the National Honor Society, is a student rep for the Economic Development Board in Ellsworth - recently winning their Economic Development Entrepreneur contest - and continues to maintain a 4.0 GPA.

Leiker works part-time at his dad’s dental office, Leiker Orthodontics, in Great Bend.

After high school Leiker plans to attend K-State to complete his undergraduate degree and follow in his father’s footsteps with a career in orthodontics.

Carisa McBride is a senior who makes a big impact on her school and community in a multitude of ways.

Along with being a 4.0 student, McBride is a member of the varsity volleyball and basketball teams, having also competed in track in the past. Unsurprisingly, given her excellent GPA, she was also a member of the Kansas Volleyball Coaches Association All-Academic team following the 2022 season.

Off the court she is a member of the National Honor Society, is involved in student government, has taken college classes since her sophomore year, is set to become a state scholar by the time she finishes high school, and is also on path to become her class valedictorian.

McBride earned her CNA certification as a junior, which is fitting given her future goals. After high school she plans to attend Fort Hays State University where she intends to major in a field of study that will allow her to help people as a professional, with either psychology or another healthcare field her likely path.

“Carisa is a great teammate who is always encouraging and positive,” Lincoln head volleyball coach Renee Crenshaw said. “She is willing to do whatever is needed to help the team be successful.”

Submitted

Minneapolis High senior Maggie Shupe is entering her senior year with more activity and accolades than most students get in a full four.

Shupe is an All-League athlete, serving as team captain in both volleyball and basketball, and has participated in school plays, musicals, and dance team, with choreography credits in the latter two.

The senior is also a member of the art club, book club, has been an MHS Student Council rep for three years and co-president of STUCO for one. She also helps with the government commodities distribution program, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Outside of school, Shupe has work experience at her father Erik’s business, Messenger Total Promotions, as well as lifeguarding at the city pool, and babysitting.

After graduation, Shupe plans to attend Fort Hays State where she will major in organizational leadership.

“Maggie is an incredible leader, whether it be on the court, in the weight room, or out in the community,” noted MHS volleyball coach Julie McCullick. “She puts in the work to improve her athletic skills, but Maggie also spends hours in the summer running our youth theater program and teaching art to kids through our rec. commission.”

Sylvan Unified senior Drayse Walter is expected to make a big impact for the Mustangs this fall after rushing for over 250 yards and four touchdowns at running back, and totalling 45 tackles with two interceptions on defense last season. Walter doesn’t limit his impact to just the gridiron, however.

Drayse is also a varsity member of the basketball and baseball teams, competes in powerlifting, and is currently taking college classes at Lincoln Tech for welding.

“Drayse is an extremely hard worker,” Sylvan head coach Ben Labertew said. “He’s always willing to help those around him, and is a great leader.”

In the summers and on weekends Walter works long hours as a farmhand as well.

After he wraps up his senior year, Walter plans to either start his own welding business, which he is leaning toward, or alternatively continuing his education to become a shop teacher.

Minneapolis senior Braylon Smith is a team player, whether or not he’s in competition. He is a varsity member of the football, wrestling and track team - earning All-State and all-league recognition in football, as well as being a state place-winner in wrestling and track.

Smith is also an FFA member, competed in the FHSU Math Relays, where his team took third overall and second in trigonometry, and has been on the high honor roll since his freshman year.

Outside of school Smith works at GL Huyett in Minneapolis. He also assists in the nursery at his church, helps with community service, runs the chain gang for junior high football games, has volunteered at the Minneapolis Youth Track Meet for the last two years, and helps with town cleanup after major storms.

“Braylon is a great student and athlete,” Minneapolis head football coach Tom Flax said. “He pushes his teammates to be better on and off the field. He has shown a great deal of growth this summer in becoming more vocal, which is what we need from him.”

After school Smith is considering attending Kansas State University or Fort Hays State University, where he plans on majoring in anesthesiology.

"I would whistle every single set, every single rep, because I wanted to control the pace of the weight room But RackCoach instead has taken that to a whole other level for us. It allows us to have great structure, the kind we want in the weight room, and dictate the kind of pace we want to work at every single day "

"RackCoach has been pivotal in allowing us to actually coach our athletes in the weight room Our athletes are actively engaged in our training sessions and are held accountable for every set and rep. RackCoach is a game changer for all of our athletic programs here at Wamego "