Hesston senior Gunner Goalden wants the 2026 football season to represent more than another year on the field. It’s the final opportunity to suit up alongside teammates he’s grown with for years.
“The thing I’m most excited about is going out there with my guys for one last ride,” Goalden said. “Leaving it all on the field for our senior season. Just being able to go play the sport I’ve loved since I was a little kid.”
Goalden enters his final high school season as one of Hesston’s most accomplished linemen after earning All-Central Kansas League honors and all-state honorable mention recognition a year ago. He finished the 2025 season with 68 tackles, four sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries. He was named first-team All-CKL on the offensive line, second-team All-CKL on the defensive line and received all-state honorable mention at defensive line.
Rather than relying on last season’s success, Goalden spent the offseason focused on becoming a more complete player.
He has trained with Rashad Daniels, whose guidance has helped him continue developing both physically and mentally.
“The offseason I’ve been training and working out with Rashad Daniels, who has helped me a lot through my high school career and has been pushing me to my limits so I grow bigger, faster and stronger,” Goalden said. “This offseason I’ve been to many camps as well.”
One area of emphasis has been improving his speed, something he believes can elevate every aspect of his game.
“An area I want to improve on is speed,” Goalden said. “So I have been working on plyometrics and doing more sprinter workouts to try and get quicker off the ball.”
Goalden has set lofty expectations for his senior campaign, both individually and as a leader for the Swathers. While earning all-state honors remains a personal goal, his biggest focus is helping Hesston compete for the ultimate prize.
“I want to be an All-State player and want to be the most dominant player on that field no matter what,” Goalden said. “I want to be a good leader for the younger guys on the team. I want to bring a state championship back to Hesston.”
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