(KJCCC) WICHITA, Kan. -- The Hutchinson Blue Dragons were picked as the team to beat in the fast-approaching 2019 football season, as the conference coaches voted them number one at the season kickoff Media Day.

The coaches, athletic directors, and administrators gathered at Newman University in Wichita for the annual meeting with local and state media.  Conference commissioner Carl Heinrich addessed the audience with remarks concerning football and the strength of the KJCCC.

Coaches and administrators from the ICCAC, affiliates in a game scheduling agreement, trekked to Kansas for the event.  Colleges in the football affiliation are Iowa Central, Iowa Western, and Ellsworth.  In the ICCAC coaches poll, Iowa Western was picked first, with Iowa Central in second, and Ellsworth selected third.

Hutchinson was picked first, with the Butler Grizzlies close behind in second.  The Garden City Broncbusters were picked third.

The season opens August 22.

The 2019 Football Poll -

1. Hutchinson
2. Butler
3. Garden City
4. Highland
5. Coffeyville
6. Independence
7. Dodge City
8. Fort Scott

(Photo, front row, left to right, Ricky Coon, Dodge City, Rion Rhoades, Hutchinson, Tim Schaffner, Butler, Kiyoshi Harris, Independence.
Back row, Aaron Arnold, Highland, Aaron Flores, Coffeyville, Carl Heinrich, KJCCC Commissioner, Kale Pick, Fort Scott, Thomas Minnick, Garden City. Photo by Randy Smith, Butler Athletics)