2010 VarsityKansas football highlights: Circle
This preview is part of a series of high school football previews by VarsityKansas reporters. Look for new previews daily. All Wichita-area schools will be previewed in The Wichita Eagle on Saturday, Aug. 21. The previews will include photos and video.
CIRCLE
Coach: Lee LaMunyon, fourth season
Top linemen
OL-LB Jake Remy 5-10 185 Sr.
OL-DL Kristian Farner 5-11 190 Sr.
OL-DL Dylan Milner 6-0 255 Sr.
TE-DL Jordan Phillips 6-6 302 Sr.
Top skill players
QB-DB Alex Gardinier 6-2 190 Sr.
RB-LB Jimi Hill 5-6 175 Sr.
RB-LB Kanyon Kinder 5-10 185 Sr.
WR-DB Richard Mould 5-10 170 Sr.
2010 schedule
All games start at 7 p.m.
Sept. 3 Maize South
Sept. 10 Valley Center
Sept. 17 at Clearwater
Sept. 24 Wellington
Oct. 1 at Wichita Collegiate
Oct. 8 at Andale
Oct. 15 El Dorado
Oct. 22 Rose Hill
Oct. 28 at Augusta
Projected 2010 record: 5-4
Playoff berth: Yes
Last season: 4-5
Breakdown: Circle has 13 seniors, the first time fourth-year coach Lee LaMunyon has had that many. That’s just the first part of what thrills him about this team. There’s Jordan Phillips, the defensive lineman who has made an oral commitment to Oklahoma. Not only is he a skilled player who will create havoc with opponents because of his mobility and size, but he has upped his commitment to improving. And so have other players. Circle has depth and experience at most positions.
While Phillips will get the attention, Alex Gardinier will be the go-to player as Circle attempts to get to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Gardinier likely will start at quarterback, but he’s so athletic that he can play virtually anywhere. Circle will count on seniors Kanyon Kinder and Jimi Hill at running back and will run behind an experienced line. Defensively, LaMunyon expects improvement after the Thunderbirds gave up nearly 27 points per game in 2009. Circle should have more consistency because it mainly playing juniors and seniors. Circle must handle adversity, though. Tough situations will happen, and that’s been a problem in the past.
QB Alex Gardinier breaks down the Thunderbirds
What do the T-Birds do well?
“It’s going to that all the seniors have bought into it. We know we can win. In the past it was, ‘We already lost, we give up.’ It’s different now. We know that this is our last year to play football, so we have to do good. We’re seniors.
“I think we’ll be pretty balanced, run-pass. We have athletes all over, so there’s not like one specific place that gets pointed out.”
What do the T-Birds need to improve on?
“I know last year our special teams took a drop. We need to get more guys with experience. I know people from last year are coming back and that will help. I think guys will make the plays this year.”
Coach Lee LaMunyon: “This is my most committed team that I’ve coached as a whole. This is the strongest, fastest team that I’ve coached as a whole.
“We’ve always had good-to-great athletes, but right now, we’ve got a lot of commitment — parents, players, the community. Right now it feels good, it’s a lot of fun. We’re sporting 13 seniors and I want to make all feel that they are valuable because everyone will play a role and everyone is valuable to me and to the team.”
— Joanna Chadwick