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Olathe West is known for their new but well-regarded specialized academic programs. If the school offered a class titled  ‘Building from the Ground Up’, head football coach TJ O’Neill would certainly be the perfect choice to lead the class.

Since the high school west of K-7 and Santa Fe opened in a few short years ago, O’Neill has been tasked with building the football program from scratch. O'Neill said they have taken a methodical approach to make sure the Owls are doing it in a way that will sustain success.

“We are continuing to build our program with a focus on competing at a high level each and every week,” O’Neill said pridefully. “We have fantastic coaches, an incredible administration and great parents, but our players are what turns the wheel. They want to get better every day and it’s the reason we’ve had three years of steady progress.”

Olathe West, the fifth and newest high school in the Olathe School District, opened its doors for the first time 2017. Football was practiced and played at the junior varsity level for one season before varsity play began in earnest in 2018.

Since then the Owls have earned a 16-15 record, including reaching the class 6A regional finals last year before falling to fellow Sunflower League foe Shawnee Mission Northwest. 

O’Neill said his team isn’t going to back down from any team and will be hanging tough. He also said the schedule won’t get any easier for the new kids on the block. 

“The Sunflower League continues to be one of the better leagues in Kansas and our team will need to be locked in each week to have the opportunity to win.” O’Neill predicts. “We are excited about our group of players this year, as they have had a ton of success coming up through our system - and a very productive off-season.”

The Owls return nine starters on both sides of the ball, including All-State players in stud running back Anthony Favrow and the uber-athletic safety Will Krzkowski.
Favrow (5-foot-10, 195), returns to the backfield after a sizzling junior campaign that saw him rush for 1,186 yards and a dozen touchdowns, an average of over 129 yards per game. The senior already holds an FBS offer from Army - who would love to have Favrow’s tank-like running ability lineup for the Black Knights on Saturdays.

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At quarterback, junior Mason McGavran (6-foot, 185) will start the season under center and behind an offensive line loaded with young talent. Lineman Dylan Birge (6-foot-2, 260) is only a junior, but last season’s play earned him All-Sunflower League honors. Fellow junior lineman Cooper Zwart (6-foot-4, 305) will be an imposing sight for defensive lines throughout the Sunflower League.

The two returning targets for McGavran are a couple of sure-handed seniors. Tanner Zimmerman (6-foot-4, 205) and tight end Dane Hutchins (6-foot-1, 215) are going to play a big role in getting the Owls offense rolling.

On the defensive side of the ball, West returns a nucleus of talent that held opponents to under 17 or fewer points in six contests last season.

Krzykowski (6-foot-1, 195) is regarded as one of the top prospects throughout Kansas in the 2022 class. The senior safety was nothing short of danger for opposing offenses in 2021. Krzykowski led the Owls last year with 87 total tackles, including two fumble recoveries and an interception.

In addition to Krzykowski, senior linebacker Mike Anderson (5-foot-11, 205) and senior lineman Trevor Vincent (5-foot-10, 240) both scored All-Sunflower League recognition for their hard-nosed style of play and will need to continue their powerful play to boost a young Owl defense. 

Junior lineman Tyler Crowell (6-foot-4, 200) and junior strong safety Brandon Roupsouay (5-foot-8, 175) offer experience that O’Neill and his coaching staff are looking to develop early with underclassmen. 

“We are looking for some of our juniors and sophomores to step up and earn more playing time to help the team,” a hopeful O’Neill remarked. 

O’Neill said he senses they are inching closer to winning the close games that they may have had trouble with in the past. He said narrowing the gap is a process. 

“We made great progress over the last few years, allowing us to battle into the fourth quarter last season with some very talented teams,” O’Neill recalled. “Our next step is to find a way to win those games.”

The upstart Owls are happy with the program’s early success, but they also feel they are in the early stages of the program really taking flight. 

“Being able to come out and have the success we’ve had is really great, but we’re just getting started,” an exited O’Neill remarked. “We are really looking forward to seeing what these young men can do on Friday nights.”

Olathe West begins their 2021 season September 3 against Olathe Northwest. 

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