Football season for the Wayne County High School Wildcats opens Friday night at Guy H. Buchanan Stadium with the ‘Cats hosting the Mt. Pleasant Tigers. The Wildcats come off of a 6 – 5 season in 2022, losing in the first round of the TSSAA Class 1A playoffs to McKenzie. With the loss of eight seniors last year, they will be looking to returners from a year ago to fill in the gaps and improve that record. The Wildcats are under the leadership of a new head coach, Derek Willis. He replaces long time Wildcat coach, Cary Crews, who retired from WCHS. Willis has had previous experience heading up a football program, as he directed the WMS Wildcats successfully for several years, and has worked with the WCHS squad for the past few seasons as an assistant. He will be assisted by John Blackwell, Lance Nutt, Brilee Harris, Jason McWilliams, Will Mosley, Ben Gallian, and Owen Risner.
This year’s version of the Wildcats will feature ten senior players and two senior managers. The seniors leading the way will be Ryder Butler, Talan Keeton, Jared Dingus, Hayden Smotherman, Jacob Nienest, Michael Derksen, Jaxon Pope, Aaron Martin, Ethan Baumgartner, and David-Gant Dixon. Senior Managers are Luke Mangubat and Lucas “Bull” Horton.
There are also ten junior squad menbers. Those are Will Robertson, Sayler Skelton, Gage Pope, Drew Bevis, Kevin Griggs, Cayson Castleman, Ben Thompson, Christian Martin, Brayden Littleton, and Baker Bryant.
Eleven sophomore players will add depth to the squad. Included in this class are Raymond Overby, Kacee Hunt, Peyton Griggs, Dane Bryant, Kaden Weaver, Lakota Hooker, Preston Gough, Ty Carlton, Hayden Horner, and Kolby Ray.
The thirteen incoming freshman players are Case Butler, Brayson Harris, Mason Moore, Daylan VanFleet, Ethan Dingus, Taylor Staggs, Vayden Overton, Kaleb Gross, Landen Smotherman, Seth Beavers, Wyatt Morris, Braylen Martin, and Kaden Mitchell. Ellory Whitcomb and Jaxon Lowe will also be working as managers for the ‘Cats.
Wildcat home games will kick-off at 7:00 p.m. Come out and support the ‘Cats as they work to have a great 2023 season! “WORK HARD WILDCATS AND GOOD LUCK!”—Submitted
