HUNTER COOKSTON
Writer
Last December, the Marion County Warriors finally got the monkey off their back after a 30-year drought. For the Class of 2025 seniors, winning a state championship had been a dream since they were little—and they made that dream a reality.
This season, the goal remains the same: win another Gold Ball. The Warriors lost 17 seniors from last year’s championship squad—a significant number—but head coach Tim Starkey knows exactly what it takes to return to Finley Stadium on the first Saturday in December.
“First and foremost, we have to stay healthy, we have to have some things go our way. For us to just get back there, the goal is to get there. We’re taking the steps and preparing, doing the things that we know can keep us healthy. We are doing stuff to put ourselves in a position to get back there. You just have to win that game one time and that’s what we’re working on doing,” Starkey said.
Marion County is aiming to win its region for the third consecutive year. However, the challenge has grown tougher. The Warriors now share a region with Bledsoe County, Monterey, York Institute, and Grundy County.
“Obviously winning the region is a box we want to check to make a run in the playoffs. We want to win the region, it sets us up to get back to Finley Stadium. These are games we just can’t slip up and lose,” Starkey stated.
Even though Marion County enters the season as the team to beat, there’s less pressure now than there was a year ago. Much of that is due to finally ending the decades-long title drought.
“I think a lot of players are anxious to experience it again. I think the pressure was getting the monkey off our back. We enjoyed it and these guys can’t wait to do it again, so we’re going to do whatever it takes to represent the East at Finley Stadium.”
The Warriors have the talent to make another deep run. While this year’s team may not yet be as well known, every player saw what last season’s group accomplished. Many who watched from the sidelines are now eager to follow in the footsteps of those senior leaders.
Marion County may be short on in-game experience, but they are not short on overall experience—and they certainly aren’t short on belief.
