By Blake Chadwick
Coming off a Class 3A state championship, Hesston junior forward Drew Bartell is ready to help lead the Swathers in their pursuit of back-to-back titles. A key contributor in last year’s title run, Bartell averaged 8.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting an impressive 58.5 percent from the field.
The junior was named second team all-league and received multiple honorable mention all-state honors.
“My biggest strengths are my footwork, finishing ability, and high motor,” Bartell said. “This offseason I’ve worked on getting to the rim off the dribble and improving my shooting ability, and I’ve definitely seen growth in both.”
Basketball has been part of Bartell’s life for as long as he can remember.
“Whether it was on the Little Tikes hoop in my basement or the hoop in the driveway, if I had free time, it was spent with a basketball in my hands,” Bartell said.
For Bartell, after winning a state championship, he knows how important the upperclassmen were. Now as he steps into that role, he understands that leadership is about setting the tone through work ethic and accountability.
“I plan to be more vocal this year, making sure everyone is sticking to our values of attitude and effort,” Bartell said. “I’ll also lead by example, continuing to be the last one in the gym, working hard, and having a positive attitude.”
Hesston head coach Garrett Roth praised Bartell’s steady development and team-first mentality.
“Drew is continuing to grow into his body and become quicker and more athletic,” Roth said. “He’s a great kid that has improved since his freshman year by just straight competing and adopting an aggressive mentality. He had a great year last year starting all 26 games and being a big part of our success. The best part of Drew’s game is his footwork and ability to finish through contact. I’m looking forward to him having a huge year for us with a bigger role on both ends of the floor.”
