By Payton Moody
Meet Seiling High School’s senior quarterback Kaden Manuel, a player with tremendous talent and strong faith who has made a lasting impression on the field. Manuel has had an impressive career, passing for over 4,000 yards, rushing for 3,465 and 56 touchdowns for the Seiling Wildcats. He has also made a substantial impact on the defensive side of the ball with 228 tackles and 13 sacks.
Kaden’s favorite coach, Devin Benton, the strength coach at Seiling High, has had a significant impact on both his extraordinary path as an athlete and as a person.
“My favorite coach throughout my career has been my strength coach, Devin Benton,” Manuel said. “He has impacted me in so many ways. He not only made me a better athlete, but he made me a better man. Most importantly, he made me have better faith in Jesus, and because of that, I am forever thankful for him.”
In the game of football, it takes a cohesive team effort to achieve success, and Manuel values every teammate who has supported and stood by him. “I admire all my teammates; it takes everyone to win,” Manuel said.
Beyond the field, Manuel credits his favorite teacher, Mr. Elder, for being a profound influence on his life. “Although Mr. Elder is a great teacher, he’s an even better person and a man of many talents,” Manuel said. Mr. Elder’s impact extended beyond the classroom, as he taught Manuel and his classmates roping, flanking, and tying calves – invaluable skills that shaped their lives in more ways than one.
As the off-season commenced, Manuel made a conscious decision to shift his focus towards football and faith. “I decided to quit playing summer baseball after many years of playing all summer,” he said. “I started to dedicate more time to my faith and football.”
As the new season dawns, Manuel has set his sights on a single goal – the gold ball. Both individually and as a team, he aims for the ultimate triumph, to bring the coveted victory to Seiling High School.
Beyond high school, Manuel has ambitious plans, aiming to play college football and pursue a degree in business marketing or management.
