2024 Pigskin & Hoops Preview: Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds Football

TEAM: Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds

CLASSIFICATION: 5A

LEAGUE: United Kansas Conference

COLORS: Columbia Blue, Red & White

SOCIAL MEDIA: @SHHSThunderbird on Twitter

HEAD COACH: Jason Swift (22nd year, 101-110)

2023 RECORD: 8-3 (5A Regional champions, sectional runners-up)

2023 IN REVIEW

For sheer entertainment, it was hard to beat the 2023 season for the Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds, who played some of the most thrilling games of the fall. A last-second win over Lansing, an overtime win over arch-rivals Seaman, and a narrow win over Wamego helped the T-Birds to their best regular season record since 2017. Once the postseason began, wins over Sumner Academy and Highland Park earned Heights a sectional appearance for the first time in a decade.

KEY DEPARTURES

Coach Swift and his staff said goodbye to an accomplished senior class that was 26 players deep. It included the nucleus of his offense – quarterback Rykei Tuley, running back Allen Baughman, and receiver Jacob Malcolm, all of whom were second-team All-UKC picks in 2023. It also included All-State defensive lineman Christian Gonzalez, a Washburn commit. Linebacker Alex Dittman, safety Jordan Armbruster, defensive lineman Alex Dawkins, and offensive linemen Rykan Carver and Alex McHardie leave All-Conference sized shoes to fill as well.

TOP RETURNERS

The only two starters returning for the T-Birds are on the defensive side of the ball, and they’re both good ones. Senior safety Parker Busenitz and junior cornerback Tyren Parker each picked off three passes last season. Parker is already getting some Division I recruiting attention and will be a weapon at wide receiver as well. Among seniors that Coach Swift hopes will make the most of their opportunities this season are tight end Brett Rantz; offensive linemen Ty Thompson, Gavin Newberry and Cooper Wohler; linebacker Hunter McGrann; and defensive backs Payton Berry-Briggs and Liam Benz. Junior kicker Camden Granado is a reliable leg who has made some clutch kicks. And remember the name Aiden Scott at quarterback, who impressed in second-string action as a sophomore last season. Coach Swift believes Scott can lead the offense and put up some big-time numbers, so don’t be surprised if Scott is among the best signal-callers in the area.

2024 SCHEDULE

9/6 vs Washburn Rural

9/13 @ Topeka West

9/20 vs Basehor-Linwood

9/27 @ Leavenworth

10/4 @ De Soto

10/11 vs Seaman

10/18 vs Lansing

10/25 @ Turner

United Kansas Conference

2024 OUTLOOK

These T-Birds have no choice but to hit the ground running with a non-league test against Washburn Rural and a tough league affair with Basehor-Linwood among their first three games. That may not be ideal for a team with such a lack of experience. But Coach Swift always has his players prepared, and the fact that the T-Birds were able to get so many players playing time under the lights last season should shorten their learning curve. There’s also a lot of intrigue about what Scott can do as the starting quarterback. The United Kansas Conference schedule will be rugged, as usual, but Shawnee Heights will be up for the challenge and can contend near the top of the league once again.

FROM THE COACH’S HEADSET

“We lost 26 seniors that finished their career with an eight win season last year. We only return two position players, which leaves plenty of opportunities for this year’s players to go win a job. The initial outlook is that we will be inexperienced and young, but reality is that we have several good players that will now get the opportunity to show what they can do on Friday nights. I believe that once we realize that we will field a competitive team, our players will gain confidence that we will be successful. We have good numbers and very athletic kids.” – Jason Swift

–Dan Lucero

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