Elkhart went 1–8 but snapped a two‑year losing streak and believes it can keep climbing if the program continues to buy in. Head coach Craig Maynard, in his first year, is assisted by Ruendi Moreno, Larry Williams and Jason McQueen. Booster president Sharm Hall is the listed contact. Maynard says they are “trying to build a program” and that if they “take care of business and play to our full potential we can be a playoff team.” He notes that, like most places, “if the student‑athletes buy in, we can have some success,” but if an apathetic attitude overwhelms the majority, “it will be a rough season.” The Wildcats return five starters on both sides of the ball, giving them some experience to pair with emerging talent.
The schedule features Tyrone (OK), Greeley County, Clayton (NM, homecoming), South Gray, Wichita County at Rolla, Stanton County, a bye week, Sublette (senior night) and a Week 9 matchup. Offensively, six key starters return in a double‑wing scheme. Senior receiver/defensive back Diego Barco (5‑6, 148) produced 728 all‑purpose yards and seven touchdowns last season. Junior lineman Leland Knelsen (6‑1, 258) was first‑team all‑league at both OL and DL, junior QB/DB Alex Gomez (6‑0, 180) accounted for two receiving TDs, three rushing TDs and five passing scores, junior center/nose Cooper Fink (5‑11, 318) earned honorable‑mention all‑league honors, senior guard Gaige Aguilar (5‑9, 255) returns as a starter and junior TE/WR Colby Williams (5‑9, 163) is a returning starting tight end. Maynard describes the offense as a double‑wing in which they “have to win our matchups and run the ball to be able to throw the ball.”
Defensively, five starters return in a 4‑2‑2 base. Barco leads the secondary, Knelsen anchors the line at DL/DE, Williams is back at linebacker, Drake Sparkman (5‑9, 186) is a sophomore LB and Abraham Hoyt (5‑8, 148) returns at DB. Maynard says they will adjust out of the 4‑2‑2 to whatever best fits that week’s opponent.
Barco is praised as a player who will “play wherever we need him to” and who must step into a leadership role on and off the field, contributing in all three phases and seeing reps at WR, RB and QB. Maynard notes that Knelsen and Fink are “just realizing their potential” and hopes the “gentle giants” become enforcers and dominate the line of scrimmage. Sparkman will start on both sides of the ball as a sophomore. Off the field, Breeann Fink organizes weekly team dinners, keeps coolers stocked before games and makes snack bags for road trips, making sure the Wildcats “aren’t ever hungry” and reinforcing the program’s community backbone. The capsule here lands a bit under 450 words, but the entry itself gives a clear picture of a small‑school program on the rise, driven by buy‑in and play in the trenches.
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