By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
With seven returning state qualifiers, including four state place winners, Seneca is shooting for its first state championship since 2016.
The Indians were fourth in Class 2 last season and welcome back state placewinners in Brant Laughlin, Eli Manley, Jace Renfro and Nolan Napier, along with state qualifiers in Landon Commons, Sawyer Cornell and Jaxen Rhoades.
“As a team, we look to compete for conference (and) district championships,” coach Jeff Sill said. “Discipline, hard work and the commitment to being your best is embedded in our team’s culture and we are determined to become state champions.”
Laughlin, a sophomore, is coming off a state runner-up finish at 126 pounds. He finished 45-4, losing 14-9 to Odessa’s Jet Brown in the state final. That halted Laughlin’s 19-match winning streak.
Laughlin is projected to be anywhere from 132-150 for this season.
Renfro, a junior, was also a runner-up last season while going 45-3 at 190. He’s expected to stay at 190.
Manley was sixth at state at 132 and went 36-11. He could be back at 132 or go up as high as 150 this season.
Napier, a senior, was sixth and went 25-9 at 215. He will remain at 215.
Commons will be at 165 for his senior season, while Cornell, also a senior, will be at 175. Rhoades, a sophomore, will be anywhere from 106-120 after going 29-14 at 106.
Also returning with experience are sophomores Jaxson French, Jeffrey Todd and Paxton Bruegal and seniors Blane Fritchey and Aden Kitch.
Newcomers who may crack Seneca’s lineup include freshmen Logan Thompson, Dawson Manley and Landon Hughes and sophomore Ryan Busby, Journey Williams, Landyn Hartje and Connal Truluck.
On the girls side, Seneca features returning starters in senior Tessa Kinslow, juniors Harley Lankford and Morgan Barber.
Freshmen Bella Schribner and Lyric Harris will join the fold.
Seneca’s tournament trail will take the Indians and/or Lady Indians to Cassville, Nixa, Carl Junction and the Santa Slam in Coppell, Texas, in December, the Diamond State Duals in Springdale, Arkansas, the TOC in Newton, Kansas and the Big Eight Conference Tournament in January and Buffalo and the Indians’ own People’s Bank of Seneca Tournament in February.
