Paola High, coached by Mike Smith, features a pair of talented sophomores who are already producing at an all-league level. At running back, Bodhi Shay turned in a standout 2025 season as a 10th grader, earning honorable mention All-4A, all-conference and all Tri-County honors. He topped 1,000 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns and added about 200 receiving yards, giving Paola a true dual-threat back who can hurt defenses between the tackles and in the passing game. Smith notes that Shay has had a great summer in preparation for the upcoming season, positioning him for an even bigger role.
Quarterback Mason Stein provides the Panthers with an emerging passing presence. As a sophomore in 2025, Stein also earned honorable mention All-4A and all Tri-County recognition. He broke the school’s single-season passing record by throwing for more than 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns, giving Paola a productive trigger man in the offense. With Shay and Stein both returning as juniors and already decorated, Paola’s backfield is set up to be one of the more dangerous underclassman tandems in Kansas heading into 2026.
