BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST TIMBERWOLVES

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

Due to the inherent talent within the Eastern Kansas League, it’s become a seemingly annual rite of passage for an EKL team or two to struggle through their stacked league schedule, only to make a deep run in the postseason. Blue Valley Southwest kept the tradition alive last fall.

Entering into the postseason at 3-5, and with just one win in league play, the Timberwolves proceeded to reel off three convincing victories against Seaman, Emporia, and a 69-35 win over a De Soto team that entered the contest 9-1. It wasn’t until the state semifinals that Southwest was finally knocked out by a Mill Valley team on the way to its fourth consecutive state title leaving the Timberwolves at 6-6 on the year.

The momentum going into this fall built by that strong finish is further bolstered by the return of eight offensive and nine defensive starters, including senior All-State defensive back Trey Thomas.

The senior cornerback recorded 43 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and a class-leading seven interceptions, with one returned for a pick-six, during his junior season, after recording 30 tackles, eight pass deflections, four interceptions, and a fumble recovery as a sophomore.

“Last season we really learned to come together as a team,” Thomas said. “We had some injuries that happened to a couple key players early in our season that really made us learn to work through some adversity. We are a 5A school that plays in the EKL, which is mainly all 6A schools in an incredibly strong league, and while we really like the challenge of playing a tough schedule, it is hard when we lose key players because we don’t have the depth that some of the 6A schools have due to our school’s size. Many of us were playing in positions that were new to us, but we pulled it together and came away with some key wins.”

Thomas has received significant college recruiting interest for his efforts on the field, as well as the classroom, where he maintains a 4.4 GPA.

“Trey is a player who consistently works on improving his skills, encourages others, and cares about his teammates,” head coach Anthony Orrick said.

Others back for what appears to be a loaded Timberwolf D include senior defensive backs Gage Ilges (25 tkls., 5 INTs), Tate Everard (51 tkls., 3 INTs), Emmitt Peters (50 tkls., 3 INTs), and Landon Chrstiansen (64 tkls., 8 TFLs, 1 INT), senior linebackers Jackson Ready (82 tkls., 7 TFLs), Gavin Grant (37 tkls., 4 TFLs, 1 sack), and Ryan Specht (24 tkls., 3 TFLs), as well as Brent Gillis (12 tkls., 5 TFLs, 3 sacks), Jason Strickland (7 tkls., 2 TFLs, 1 sack), and Will Morgan (17 tkls., 3 TFLs) along the defensive line.

Even though Southwest is a 5A program, most of the players mentioned above contribute on both sides of the ball, with Thomas, quarterback Dylan Dunn – a 2,800 yard passer a year ago – and receiver Alex Parks among the few who platoon. And while 13 players return with starting experience – including 11 seniors – virtually every position returns some starts when considering those returners who filled roles on both sides of the ball.

“Our team goal is always to win the state championship, having a goal less than the ultimate achievement is just settling,” Thomas said. “We have been working in the gym since January and have high expectations for this coming season. We have a lot of returning starters and some new talent that will help us make our goal possible.”

As for his individual focus, improvement is a common theme.

“My personal athletic goals are no different, I have high expectations for myself as well. For the last two seasons, I led the state in interceptions. My goal is to do it again in 2023. The hard part is that opponents are throwing to my side less and less, so this goal becomes even more challenging each season.”

Thomas’ opportunity to achieve those goals starts in a Week 1 matchup with perennial power Blue Valley.