On the football field, soccer field, volleyball court and cross country course, dozens of Chieftain athletes — a good portion of them freshmen — saw their first look at varsity competition in the past few months. That didn’t always result in favorable scores, but is sure to pay dividends in future seasons.

The football team faced arguably the steepest climb of any THS team this fall, having lost nearly every starter on both sides of the ball. But, despite losing almost all its offensive and defensive production from 2013, the Chieftains still finished just one win shy of a playoff berth.

Next year’s team will have to replace some key voids, but unlike this year, THS will return a slew of players with a full year of varsity experience. Current juniors Ryan Musick, Kyle Burge and Kyle Fain made some noise on offense this fall, while sophomore Connor Brown and juniors William Woodyard and Grant Swearngin headline the returners on defense.

With several other players also back next season, look for the 2015 Chieftains to improve on this year’s 2-7 record.

The soccer team started a handful of new players, but hardly saw a drop in production, posting its second-best win total in program history. THS must replace all-time leading scorer Asher Huseman and defensive captain Kyle Caldwell among other starters, but returns the core of this year’s 14-4-1 team that won a regional title.

Expect next year’s squad to again make a push toward state behind players such as Tyler Novotney — now a three-year varsity player — and starting goalkeeper Alex Kroll.

The THS girls cross country team finally got over the hump and earned a state bid this fall, winning a regional title in the process. Believe it or not, the Chieftains return all but one runner next season. Freshman Emma Campbell was the team’s top runner all season and will look to replicate that success as a sophomore alongside fellow 2014 underclassmen Mia Bond, Isabella Behm, Emily Chambers and Alyssa Scott.

On the boys side, THS returns a trio of state qualifiers in sophomore Drew Cook and juniors Ethan Phillips and Dylan Staatz. Freshman Chandler Hamman was also a varsity regular this season, so the boys seem primed to make a run at a team state bid in 2015.

The volleyball team went through its share of ups and downs on the way to a 16-21 record this fall, but must replace only a pair of seniors in Jessica Minear and Summer Cerny. Junior Cheyenne Ford and sophomores Mykah Wingerter and Taylor Lee and have played up front since they were freshmen. Meanwhile, juniors Lauren Jackson and Kaitlin Hall will bring three years of varsity experience to the back row.

Junior Halley Calovich and sophomore Emily Hummelgaard also return after seeing their first varsity action this year, so experience won’t be an issue when the Chieftains return to the court next year.

— Justin Nutter can be reached at 913-845-2222 or jnutter@theworldco.info.