Written by: Dallin Fryar
Tanner Baumann returns for his third season at the helm of the Gooding Senators. The Senators opened the 2023 campaign with an 8-0 win over Jerome and did not taste victory again for six weeks. Injuries riddled the Senator roster early in the season and made it difficult for them to recover from as the season wore on.
Coach Baumann stated health as a major factor to their success this upcoming season. He said, “I’m excited to see the growth from last year…. getting healthy will be a breath of fresh air.”
Despite losing ten starters, Coach Baumann looks forward to having LB Brodee Greeley who missed five games last season. Greeley, who received all-conference honors as a sophomore, will need to help prevent the big play, that plagued the Senators' defense in 2023.
On the other side of the ball, Coach Baumann said, “We need to find ways to score more consistently. We have to be able to get points on the board at a higher rate this season.”
The Senators only averaged 10 ppg last season, however a lot of sophomores got good varsity experience. Four offensive linemen that started as sophomores return as the anchor of this offense, and the Senators will look to lean on them, along with senior QB Brady Thill throughout the 2024 season.
Gooding begin their season with a rematch of last year’s season opener at Jerome, followed by a trip to Boise in Albertsons Stadium against Parma, before returning for their home opener versus Caldwell.
A shift in classification in the state of Idaho only affects one aspect of the Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference, 3A to 4A. All conference members remain the same, meaning the Senators have their work cut out for them this season. However, don’t be surprised to see them chasing the postseason if they can remain healthy.