April 5, 2022

Christian Dean of Wichita Independent was voted the Wichita Small School Postseason Football Player of the Year. Dean was a first team all-league selection this season for the Panthers, where he rushed for over 1,300 yards and 29 touchdowns on 146 carries.

“I think the football season was great at The Independent School,” Dean said. “The football team went out there and did our best and we were able to have a winning season for the first time in a while with the help of my driven teammates.”

In their first year at the Eight-Man level, the Independent School went 8-2 and won a playoff game. Dean said it was a successful season, but the final game left them wanting more.

“This made my season good but not great because I considered my whole team achieving what we set out to do and that was to win games,” Dean said. “But the whole big goal is to win state which we didn’t achieve and I hope my underclassmen will.”

After years of struggle, being able to bring The Independent School a winning season was more memorable than any individual memory for Dean.

“There wasn’t a particularly moment that stood out to me because the entire season was one to remember,” Dean said. “To bring this school a winning season meant a whole lot to me. From growing up and watching my siblings have success at The Independent School really motivated me to be successful in sports and in academics. I know the season didn’t end how we wanted to. But I can leave the independent field knowing that we were the start of bringing the football program back to its feet.”

April 25, 2022