Holton football driven by senior leadership, desire for success in 2024

HOLTON (KSNT) - The Holton Wildcats are looking to find themselves back in the 3A sub-state matchup, if not farther, in 2024.

Holton football ended its 2023 season with a loss to Hayden in the 3A sub-state round of the playoffs. Heading into 2024, the Wildcats are relying heavily on their upperclassmen to mentor younger members of them and get them ready to compete on the same stage.

"I just really appreciate the leadership and being a player-led team and helping our young players get better and doing things right," Holton head coach Brooks Barta said. "We're really excited about how we start the season, but more excited about how we finish."

Barta says Holton graduated quite a few key offensive and defensive linemen, but returns a handful of talented skill players who he's excited to have back.

With one full week of practice in the books and roughly two more to go until Holton's official season opener, Barta likes what he's seen from his seniors in terms of leadership and establishing continuity.

"The young guys have got to learn somehow," senior running back/outside linebacker Logan Altenburg said. "And by the time they're a senior, we want them to be able to teach [younger players] just the way we're teaching them right now."

"You just got to talk them through [things]," senior running back/safety Kyler Jackson said. "Some of them learn a little faster, but you've go to talk to all of them."

As for as the message from Coach Barta to the entire team? The players say it's about hard work and accomplishing their goals.

"Coach Barta has been saying we've been to sub-state or more the past four years," senior quarterback/safety Bodie Dillon said. "Us seniors, and everybody else is eager to get to that state game and come back with a championship."

Holton opens its 2024 campaign at home against Sabetha on Sept. 6.