b'School Spotlight:Ashton MurphyMankato West High School (Mankato, MN)by Demetrius Hollins II Offensive LineM ankato West High School is a 5A public high schoolClass of 2024located in Mankato, Minnesota. It is one of the high schools within the Mankato Area Public Schools dis-trict. The school serves students in grades 9 through 12 and offers a range of academic, extracurricular, and athletic programs. The Mankato West Scarlets have a history of winning state champion-ships with the first one in 1999. After previously going undefeatedElkhorn South Highand winning the state championship in 2021, the Scarlets came intoOmaha, Nethe 2022-23 season with high hopes of winning back-to-back state championships. They began the season asserting their dominance the same way they did in the 2021-22 season by going undefeated in the regular season. The Scarlets went to the state championship HT: 65in the 2022- 23 season but unfortunately, their season came to aA shton Murphy is a three-star Lineman from Elkhorn SouthWT: 240heartbreaking end with a close loss in the championship game (26- High School in Omaha, NE. Ashton, playing both on of-29). fense and defense, has recently moved to entirely playing The Scarlets plan to move forward from last seasons championshipon defense since he committed to be a Nebraska Cornhuskers.Gridiron Football Grade:6.9 of 10loss by having a great summer camp. Coming into this season, theWith his long body build, Ashton has been a massive part of the Mankato West Scarlets are going to be one of the top and favoriteStorms offensive and defensive lines. Graduating in the class of teams to win the state championship this year. Coach JJ Helget is2024, Ashton is trying to improve his skills and continue his knowl-entering his 18th season at Mankato and 7th since taking the headedge during his senior year to help him in the next level. I got to coach position. When talking to Coach Helget, he discussed howtalk to Ashton recently and asked him about the past, present, and the team is focused on continuing to get better, finding guys to fillfuture of his football career and more. bySean Murphythose key spots that seniors left open, and finding the right guys to mix in. We asked Coach Helget about what has the team learned from how last season ended.Coach Helget talked about how theDerek Weisskopfteam following the loss had that let-down feeling but it gave the team some motivation because the championship loss was coming off a 31-game winning streak. Coach Helget briefly talked about how losing in the championship game benefitted the team becauseAthletea lot of guys never felt how it was to lose so this season they are playing with a chip on their shoulder while they are aiming to get first place and take home the state championship. Since the team has several members from last seasons squad, the team is coming into this season with an unfinished business attitude. While talkingClass of 2024to Coach Helget he gave us players to look out for. These players include: Williamsburg High WR Jalen Smith60, 185 lbs. He recently committed to the Uni- Williamsburg, IAversity of Minnesota. He had 49 receptions for 729 yards and 8 touchdowns for the Scarlets last season and captured nationwide63 205 lbs WR & FS Derek Weisskopf from Williamsburg High attention when he ran a 10.87 in the 100-meter dash. Jalen is cur- HT: 63 School in Williamsburg, IA. According to 247sports.com, Derek is rently ranked in the top 5 players in the state of Minnesota. WT: 200 ranked in the top 3 Iowa High School football players.QB Bart Mcaninch61, 210 lbs. Coach Helget said Hes one ofPhoto by: JACK BUTLER, SBLIVE SPORTSA lot of professional athletes played multiple sports growing up. the best quarterbacks hes seen throw the football He had 28 TDs 0Some athletes are good enough to even be recruited in multiple INT 13 Rushing TDs and threw for over 2400 yards for the ScarletsGridiron Football Grade:8.8 of 10 sports. According to Allen Trieu, a National Recruiting Analysis, last season. Derek is a jack of all trades both on the football field and as far as other sports go.by Demetrius Hollins II14 15'