Wichita Heights High’s DJ Dingle & John Randle

There are no easy roads in Class 6A football. No one knows that better than the squad at Heights High School in Wichita. Head coach Dominick Dingle gave the marching orders this summer; hit the weights, get your body and mind ready for a tough season. His athletes responded with a great summer and renewed focus on making the most of every opportunity this season has to offer.

Two players who are certainly a big part of the overall success at Heights are DJ Dingle and John Randle.

DJ Dingle is the starting quarterback for the Falcons and a guy who can hurt you standing in the pocket and throwing the ball downfield or breaking free and chewing up yards on the ground. Dingle recently had a big game against Wichita West where his arm strength was on full display.

“The Falcons are led by three-year starter and captain at the quarterback position,” said coach Dingle. “Heights biggest challenge this season will be staying healthy through a tough schedule that includes road games at Garden City, Wichita Northwest, and Carroll along with a rivalry road game at Wichita Southeast. The schedule also will see the Falcons against Bishop Carroll and Kapaun in week seven and eight. If the Falcons can stay healthy while competing every week the tough schedule should prepare the Falcons for the ability to be one of the top teams in the state, win the GWAL championship, and make a run at a 6A championship. The Falcons will be battled tested come playoff time.”

Running back John Randle is turning heads at the next level. Several schools are interested in adding Randle to their 2023 recruiting class, but before he decides on his future team, Randle is focused on making the most of this season with the Falcons.

“Randle is a three-year starter for us at running back,” said coach Dingle. “Both Dingle and Randle were both AllConference and All-State selections the past two seasons. Randle has put together back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons while Dingle passed for over 1,400 yards and last season.”

Randle is a threat to catch the ball as well, having added 267 yards receiving and two scores last season and he is a factor in the return game on special teams averaging 27.3 yards per punt return. Last season the pair combined for 41 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards of production.

The schedule does not get any easier as coach Dingle eluded to with teams like Southeast and Kapaun on the road and Bishop Carroll at home.

Valley Center’s Mason Ernstein

By Matt Browning Valley Center High School senior and member of the varsity boys soccer team, Mason Ernstein, has worked

hard this offseason to prepare himself for a potential position switch in his final season of prep soccer.

“Last season I played outside back. This season I would like to play defensive midfielder though,” said Ernstein.

Ernstein said playing with this group of guys has been special.

“I love how we all get along with each other and there is no drama,” said Ernstein. Soccer is not the only sport Ernstein participates in at Valley Center. He is a foursport athlete, which means he never takes a break from athletics throughout the school year.

“I run cross country in the fall as well, I do swim in the winter and I do tennis in the spring,” said Ernstein.

But soccer is the focus, and he is hopeful the opportunity to play at the next level will present itself.

“I would like to play soccer in college. If that does not work out however I would like to go to WSU and major in some sort of engineering I am not sure what kind yet though,” said Ernstein.

Away from sports, Ernstein said he enjoys hanging out with friends and playing disc golf. Recently Ernstein was a student at the Wichita Driving School and said the experience was a good one.

“My experience with Wichita Driving School was very good. Their lessons were easy to understand, and the driving teachers were very nice,” said Ernstein. “The thing I enjoyed the most about it was the driving experience with their teachers.”