Alexis Smith
Talk of the town! Prior to Rock Creek’s 63-7 victory against Bishop Ward, Head Coach Shane Sieben and "Coach" Ron Lee, grandfather of senior quarterback Mack Lee.
Under the Friday night lights. The Rock Creek Mustangs take the field with the support of their community. With each game the Mustangs showcase determination and teamwork. During the 2024 season, the Mustangs had a strong run.
Freshman Paityn Brooks serves as one of the Rock Creek football team’s managers. Her role includes filming games and keeping players hydrated—a behind-the-scenes job that plays a key part in game-day success.
At First Brooks was unsure if she wanted to help manage team. Her friend and fellow football manager, freshman Reagan Asbury invited her to go to the first scrimmage.
“I went to one of the practices and I knew I wanted to be a part of the program” Brooks said.
Though she couldn’t attend every game due to her commitment to the school musical, Brooks did her best to support the team however she could. Some of her favorite memories come from watching those high-pressure moments that end in victory for the players. She recalled the adrenaline that comes with watching the game shift in real time.
“[The] moment when it starts to click in the player’s head that they are going to win” Brooks said.
An example of one of those moments is when Brooks reflects on one of her favorite games, which was against Marysville,
“Because at one point the game was close in score and the moment the players realized that, they led the game to a win” Brooks said.
Looking ahead to next season, Brooks hopes to increase her involvement, aiming to attend more practices and games.
While the players execute on the field, Head Coach Shane Sieben leads the team from the sideline, drawing on a lifetime of experience in sports. With both his father and grandfather having coached, athletics have deeply shaped Sieben’s life.
“I’ve always enjoyed impacting young adults’ lives and I really enjoy the challenge that athletics provides” Sieben said.
Calling a play that emphasizes academics, Sieben underscores the importance of the “student” in “student-athlete.”
“If all we are teaching is football as coaches, we are doing our players an injustice. I feel like my job is to stay updated on our athletes’ grades and stay in contact with the teachers regarding our players’ grades and behavior” Sieben said.
Reflecting on the season’s big wins, one particular Friday night stands out: a district-defining victory over Marysville.
“They were undefeated and had beat Wamego so it was a big game for us. Our kids played fantastic and really dominated the game. That basically won us the district championship and it meant a lot to our kids and coaching staff,” Sieben said.
As the Mustangs look to move the chains next season, Coach Sieben is focused on fundamentals.
“For our kids to work hard, be great teammates, and get better each and every day. If we do those things the wins will take care of themselves” Sieben said.