Senior profiles
jeremy vondenkamp
Although Jeremy has competed in football and basketball his entire MHS career, he found most of his success on the track.
Breaking school records became the norm for the senior this year, as he now holds both the 110 and 300-meter hurdle records.
He didn't find success just this season. As a junior Jeremy was the only Warrior to earn a medal at the 3A state track meet after taking seventh in the 110m hurdle race.
Known for his enthusiastic play on the basketball court, Jeremy said his most embarrassing moment was being called for a technical and was later forced to run in practice.
But it is that drive to succeed that has helped him become one of the best hurdlers in the state.
Jeremy has spent the past year as assistant REC basketball and baseball coach, and wouldn't mind one day down the road becoming a head coach.
For now he will focus on track and school after signing a national letter of intent to run the hurdles at Benedictine College in Atchison. He will work toward a degree in business and marketing and wants to find a job in the Kansas City area dealing with real estate.
michael brookens
On top of his various music and activity involvements at MHS, Michael found time to compete in four sports during his time as a Warrior.
He played basketball two years, golf one year, football four years, and competed in track four years.
At just five feet, eight inches tall, Michael led the Warriors' football team in tackles the past two seasons totaling 182.
Like many of his senior football teammates, Michael will always remember the two league championships his class claimed in its first two years in the Mid-Central Activities Association.
Michael said he could possibly coach football in the future, but will travel to Moorhead, Minn., to attend Concordia College.
shawn britton
Shawn concentrated on track during his MHS sports career, competing all for years.
He picked up football his junior and senior season, and competed in wrestling this past year.
Shawn showed a new sport wasn't hard to grasp by compiling a 12-4 record on the wrestling mat, and coming just one victory short of reaching the state tournament.
He improved as a defensive lineman his second season on the team recording 39 tackles after just eight his junior year.
He is hoping to reach the state track meet this week in either the shot put or discus toss.
He also is hoping to attend Hutchinson Community College as a member of the track and field team.
casey nelson
A three-sport star and power lifting champ, it didn't matter what Casey did as a Marion High School athlete, he did it well.
In his final two seasons as running back for the Warriors, Nelson rushed for 2,260 yards and amassed 32 total touchdowns. His final wrestling season the senior won a match at the state wrestling tournament, and qualified for the state track meet his sophomore year in the pole vault.
It was the pole vault however that may have ended his sports career in April when he fell after completing a vault, and hit his head on a concrete slab.
Casey called it the most embarrassing moment of his career because he was combative with the EMS personnel, but anyone who knew him would categorize it as more scary than embarrassing.
Just like on the sports field, Nelson was a fighter and bounced back quicker than anyone thought.
Although he says his sports plans are "pretty well finished," he said he would love to coach football and would enjoy passing his love for the game onto younger kids.
This fall he will attended Kansas State University and study construction science, and hope to find a job in a related field.
