SHAWNEE WOLVES
Coach: JASON MADONNA
4-6
Shawnee High School enters the 2026 season with a hard-working group that blends returning experience with emerging talent under third-year head coach Jason Madonna. Coming off a 4-6 campaign, Madonna likes the balance on this roster, calling it “a hard-working group that brings back a good amount of experience, as well as some new talent that we’re very excited to see step into bigger roles.” With five starters returning on both sides of the ball, Shawnee expects to be more consistent week to week.
Offensively, the spread attack will again be guided by junior quarterback Tal Leone (5-11, 185), who started three games as a sophomore and threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns, so “the Friday night lights won’t be completely new to him.” He will distribute the ball to a versatile skill group headlined by senior Rah’Mel Slaughter-Bey (5-11, 170), a two-year starter at receiver and corner who posted 22 catches for 235 yards and a touchdown last fall, plus a 67-yard rushing score. Junior Drake Estala (5-10, 185) returns as a receiver/running back after a 2025 season with 10 receptions for 69 yards, and the staff is excited about young playmakers Aiden Kennedy (5-10, 175) and Brendan Johnson stepping into bigger roles on offense. Up front, several senior linemen with heavy varsity mileage are expected to “be the catalyst of the offense,” including three-year starter Chuffee Waldon (6-3, 292), two-year starter Rosario Serena (6-3, 280) and fellow senior Kade Donaghey (6-4, 300).
The defense mirrors the offense with five returning starters and a similar mix of veterans and rising contributors in a base 3-4 scheme. Senior middle linebacker Nolan Ward (6-0, 200) anchors the unit after recording 65 tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss in 2025. Junior edge defender Riley Storie (6-2, 210) is coming off a standout year with 77 tackles, six sacks and 14 tackles for loss, while senior defensive lineman Logan Skelton (6-3, 300) brings size inside after notching 20 tackles and five tackles for loss. Sophomore defensive end James Hooks (5-11, 245), who produced 19 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss as a freshman, headlines the young front-seven talent. In the secondary, senior free safety Weston Setzer (6-2, 175) provides experience, while sophomore strong safety Aiden Kennedy continues to develop after breaking in last season. The staff also points to players like Kennedy, Hooks, Kyle Williams and Johnson as young guys “looking to prove something” as they complement veteran leaders such as Nolan Ward, Logan Skelton, Riley Storie and Rah’Mel Slaughter-Bey on a defense that expects to be faster and more disruptive this fall.
8-28 – at Elk City
9-4 – at PC North
9-11 – vs. Ponca City
9-18 – vs. Bethany
9-25 – vs. Newcastle
10-2 – at Southeast
10-9 – vs. El Reno
10-16 – at Altus
10-30 – vs. MacArthur
11-6 – at Elgin
To nominate a high school student for a feature in VYPE Magazine email a nomination to [email protected]
