Tyler Consolidated High School
Silver Knights Entering New Era Under Kyle Ritz
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SISTERSVILLE -- It's a new era in the Tyler Consolidated football program as veteran head coach Ryan Walton has handed over the keys to former Magnolia High standout Kyle Ritz.
Ritz inherits a team that finished 6-4 a season ago, including a first-round playoff loss at Cameron. All four of the Silver Knights' losses came to playoff teams, including twice to the Dragons, Doddridge County, which lost in the state semifinals, and eventual Class A state champion Williamstown.
"We want to be able to set our own expectations," Ritz said. "And no matter what people think of us we want to be able to either prove them right or wrong.
"Our baseball team had a great season last year, going all the way to the state championship game, and we want to continue to build off of that success. We have both kids and coaches that were a part of that team."
Tyler Consolidated has a good place to start the offense with first-team all-state running back senior Sean Winfrey (5-11, 195) returning along with second-year junior starting quarterback Brady Strode (6-1, 175). Winfrey ran for over 1,600 yards as a junior.
Coach Ryan Walton on the upcoming season
Junior Isaiah Miller (5-8, 145) and sophomore Reese Davis (6-1, 180) will both be available at quarterback while junior Branson Winfrey (5-8, 150) will run alongside his brother in two-back sets.
Senior Tristen Tuttle (6-5, 240) is back at tight end with seniors Marques Jackson (5-9, 135) and Zade Billings (6-1, 185) joining Davis, Branson Winfrey and sophomore Bo Tallman (5-9, 140) at wide receiver.
Three returning starters help make up the front in seniors Shane Bates (6-0, 260) at left tackle and Tyler Ferrell (6-0, 235) at right tackle with junior Wes Glover (5-10, 275) at center. The remaining two spots will go to senior Jayden Clark (6-3, 250) and sophomore Garrett Bordenkircher (5-10, 195).
Others available on the line are senior Heath Hensley (5-11, 290), junior Gabe Glover (5-11, 240) and sophomore Trysten Magruder (6-0, 240).
Tallman and Bates will handle the kicking duties with junior Nate Deaton (6-0, 160) also available to kick.
Tuttle and Clark will be at defensive end with Ferrell and McGruder also seeing time while Bates and Wes Glover will occupy the tackle spots. Others there are junior Elijah Hood (6-0, 300), Hensley, Gabe Glover and McGruder.
The linebacking corps consists of Davis, Sean Winfrey, sophomore Keith Doyle (5-11, 170), freshman Cayden Hall (5-10, 185), Bordenkircher and sophomore Sawyer Kunkel (6-0, 190).
Jackson and Billings will be the corners with Tallman and Branson Winfrey at the safeties. Others who could see playing time in the defensive backfield are Strode, sophomores Derrick Day (5-11, 165) and Kayden Utt (6-0, 165) along with freshmen Wes Kelly (5-8, 130) and Gideon Winfrey (5-8, 136).
"A couple of the keys to winning are good kids and a supportive community and we definitely have both of those here," Ritz added. "It all starts with the weight room in December. We want the kids to win the reps, win their activities and win the day.
"Our hope is to get winning embedded in their skin. Our numbers are nice and the kids have bought into what we are wanting to do. Through the winter, spring and summer we have never had less than 20 guys at workouts. And that is with a lot of different events to work around.
"Being from New Martinsville and Magnolia, I grew up in a very prideful time there. Year in and year out we were competitive in all of our athletics, and I want to bring that to Tyler Consolidated. I grew up with expectations of success and that weight just got heavier and you got older. The bar was always set high.
"But I also tell the guys that I was never the most gifted athlete or the best. I learned to work hard which led to a lot of success. I also coached at River last year, which was very similar in community support and enthusiasm."
With the Little Kanawha Conference going to mandatory scheduling for the first time this year, Cameron has been dropped from the slate. After opening at Ritchie County, the Silver Knights will have back-to-back home games before hitting the road for five of their next six.
"I like the mandatory schedule because you never have to go and find teams," Ritz said. "And this is a very good conference with some powerhouse teams. It is very competitive at both the conference and state levels. We have a huge closing stretch at Williamstown and St. Marys before hosting Doddridge County, so we will know where we stand by that point."
Ritz will be assisted by Joey Asturi, Rob Jones, Chris Metz, Slade Buchannon, Moke Riggs and Zach Heasley.