HEITSCHMIDT, OLSEN, RYAN TO LEAD 2025/26 VIKINGS

LOOKING FOR A WINNING SEASON

By Staff

          LINDSBORG – It has been a rough couple of seasons for the Smoky Valley boys’ basketball program as they look to take a big step forward and find their first winning season since 2022/23.

          After finishing 4-17 in each of the past two seasons, Doug Schneider enters his fifteenth season in charge of the program with high hopes of finding success while building the team around center Ty Heitschmidt and guard Braylon Olsen, both multi-year starters.

          Heitschmidt is a six-foot-five senior who averaged 14.4  points and grabbed 7.3 rebounds for the Vikings while earning second-team all-Central Kansas League. Olsen is the five-foot-eleven senior who directs the offense while scoring 9.1 points a game.

          “The Vikings will have to continue to make improvements in their offensive game to put up points in the very challenging Central Kansas League games,” noted coach Schneider. “This team will need to be disciplined and provide a solid effort night in and night out to be successful.”

          The Vikings also have the return to the court of senior forward, Kristian Ryan, who at six-foot-six, compliments Heitschmidt under the basket. Ryan played in only five games a year ago due to injury but averaged 6.6 points and 2.2 rebounds.

          Three other seniors, six-foot-four Atticus Pavlovich, five-foot-eleven Brock Gengler, and six-foot-two Marik Anderson will be the remaining starters returning as they combined to put 9.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in the stat sheets a year ago.

          Sophomore Kaleb Burgardt, a five-foot-nine guard will have an opportunity to contribute more this season as well after seeing quality time in the backcourt last season.

          Coach Schneider finished his thoughts about the upcoming Smoky Valley season by explaining, “This year’s team is filled with players who have varsity experience and they will need to build on the experience and take advantage of our tremendous length to make things difficult on our opponents. This is a hard-working group who will need to prove that they can bring it every night they step on the court. Scoring was an issue last season so this group will be looked upon to improve their offensive skill set and find ways to score against some quality teams. We will also be challenged to having to defend some of the best players in the state.”

          The coaches have placed it upon the team to reach these goals for the 205/26 season – Be competitive in every game. Finish in the top four of the Sterling Invitational Tournament, and finish in the top five of the Central Kansas League standings.

          The Vikings were scheduled to open the 2025/26 season at home hosting Southeast of Saline on Tuesday, December 2 before going on the road to Central Plains in Claflin on Friday, December 5.

RETURNING VIKING STARTERS:

Ty Heitschmidt – Sr, 6’5”, C = 14.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.7 apg, 2^nd team All-CKL

Braylon Olson – Sr, 5’11”, G = 9.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.7 apg

Atticus Pavlovich – Sr, 6’4”, G = 4.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.0 apg

Brock Gengler – Sr, 5’11”, F = 2.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.7 apg

Marik Anderson – Sr, 6’2” F = 2.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 apg

Kristian Ryan – Sr, 6’6”, G/F = 6.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, missed all but five games due to injury

RETURNING VIKING LETTER WINNERS:

Kaleb Burgardt – So, 5’9”, G

VIKING 2025/26 SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, Dec. 2 – hosting Southeast of Saline

Friday, Dec. 5 – at Central Plains

Friday, Dec. 12 – at Concordia

Monday, Dec. 15 – hosting Belle Plaine

Friday, Dec. 19 – hosting Halstead

Tuesday, Jan. 6 – at Hoisington

Tuesday, Jan. 13 – hosting Chapman

Friday, Jan. 16 – at Nickerson

Tuesday-Friday, Jan. 20-23 – at Sterling Invitational Tournament

Tuesday, Jan. 27 – at Hutchinson Trinity

Friday, Jan. 30 – hosting Russell

Tuesday, Feb. 3 – hosting Hoisington

Friday, Feb. 6 – at Haven

Tuesday, Feb. 10 – at Hillsboro

Friday, Feb. 13 – hosting Hesston

Tuesday, Feb. 17 – at Halstead

Friday, Feb. 20 – hosting Pratt

Tuesday, Feb. 24 – hosting Larned

Thursday-Friday, Feb. 26/27 – Class 3A Regionals

Monday-Saturday, Mar. 2-7 – Class 3A Sub-State

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)