ALTAMONT — Two Labette County Grizzlies football standouts earned all-state honors from the Kansas Football Coaches Association this week.
Mikel Reed and Kegan Bates were both named to the KFBCA’s All-State Senior Class 4A team.
“I’m really proud of both of those guys getting selected,” Labette County head coach Bradley Argabright said. “Getting two guys on those guys is a huge credit to those guys, their teammates and the year they had. They’re deserving of this award and we’re proud of them.”
Reed was one of five defensive linemen selected to the team.
A game-wrecker for the Grizzlies, Reed tallied 58 tackles and an eye-popping 18 for a loss.
“Mikel was a dominant force this year and I said that many times,” Argabright said. “He’s a great player that plays hard every single down, offense and defense. He got better and better as the year went along. He had a lot of tackles for a loss as a defensive lineman. He made an impact on a lot of plays this year. He changed the course of games. I’m really proud of Mikel.”
Offensively, Reed added three touchdowns on six carries.
Argabright expects Reed, who’s being heavily recruited by KJCCC schools, to contend for a Shrine Bowl selection as well.
“He’s probably going to be a Shrine Bowl kid,” Argabright said. “He was one of our best players. We’re definitely going to miss him.”
Bates was a two-way star for Labette County who was named to the KFBCA team as a defensive back.
Bates had five interceptions and four pass-breakups as a cornerback while also notching 84 tackles, the second-most on the team.
“Kegan is a really good secondary player for us and rarely ever got beat over the top,” Argabright said. “He always had great coverage. He’d be the smallest player on the field and still finished with a ton of tackles. He was a complete defensive back for us this year. He played both ways, too.”
On offense, Bates racked up seven total touchdowns and 404 total yards. He’s being recruited for baseball and football.
“The interesting part about Kegan is that he’s a second team All-SEK kid,” Argabright said. “We had two guys first team above him but then he gets on all-state. His film tells the story of his gameplay. He had great speed. He was a great tackler and he couldn’t be beat. He was a really good player.”
Labette County recently wrapped the best season in school history, finishing with a 9-3 record, a share of the SEK League title and advancing to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.
2025 KFBCA All-State Senior Team Class 4A QB- Brody Haskell Augusta 6’0 180 RB- Ben Clouse Buhler 5’9 165 RB- Jalik Armstrong Wellington 5’10 175 WR- Dominic Falco Wamego 5’11 175 WR- Brecken Albert Augusta 6’1 180 TE- Aiden McCullough Ottawa 6’3 215 OL- Nick Anciaux Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6’6 272 OL- Paxton McLeod Andover Central 5’11 270 OL- Landon Heise Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6’3 273 OL- Brady Alonzo Chanute 6’5 272 OL- Cage Crabill Eudora 6’2 245 ATH- Manny Myers Mulvane 6’0 175 DL- Jaylen Wilson Andover Central 6’3 260 DL- Heath Hoekman Abilene 6’3 215 DL- Cole Tarantino Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6’1 198 DL- Mikel Reed Labette County 6’3 260 DL- Devyn Davis Bishop Miege 6’0 255 LB- Cal Purvis Kapaun Mt. Carmel 6’3 227 LB- Liam Marler Ottawa 5’8 178 LB- Talon Conrad Wamego 6’2 215 LB- Hank Shinliver Wellington 6’1 195 DB- Jacob DeRouchey Wamego 5’10 175 DB- Taygen Funston Abilene 6’1 170 DB- Jacob Miller Buhler 6’1 230 DB- Kegan Bates Labette County 5’9 155 Punter/Kicker- Blaise Vohs Louisburg 5’11 180 Returner- Sebastian Bentley Rose Hill 5’7 148 Head Coach- Weston Schartz Kapaun Mt. Carmel Assistant Coach- Jason Tharp Eudora
