By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The year 2021 was the year Camden Barta would shine.
Seaman’s senior quarterback had to wait in line for his opportunity to be under center for the Vikings, spending 2020 behind Reid Cowan, who would go on to play for Emporia State. That time learning from Cowan grew Barta's IQ for football and expanded his knowledge of the game.
“Cowan was the best mentor anyone could’ve asked for,'' Barta said. "He taught me everything I know behind center. I give him a lot of credit for the success I had on Friday nights this year.''
Seaman's Camden Barta is coming off a big senior season in his first year as the Vikings' starting quarterback. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The success on Friday nights in the 2021 season earned Barta plenty of recognition and awards.
Barta was selected as a Top 22 player in Shawnee County by TopSports.news back in late November. He was also named first-team all-state as a defensive back and an all-state honorable mention quarterback.
“I’m proud to hold the awards because I’ve worked really hard in the off-season,'' said Barta. "I had a lot of people not thinking I could do what I did this year after my junior year. I had doubters. Knowing that I did what I did this year, nobody can take that away from me. I’m happy with the results.''
Barta silenced the critics with his performances in the 2021 campaign -- completing 62 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,224 yards, 23 touchdowns, just eight interceptions and also collecting four rushing touchdowns.
The 6-foot-3 signal-caller is now in the history books, shattering six school records in his first year as a full-time starting quarterback.
Barta now holds the Seaman record for most passing yards in a season (2,224), most touchdown passes in a game (five), most passing TDs in a season (23), most completions in a season (138), best completion percentage in a season (62.2) and longest TD pass.
The Seaman Vikings ended up going 6-4 on the year. When the Vikings won, they did it in blowout fashion. When the Vikings were victorious, they outscored the opposition, 262-32. It was a difficult task to keep up with the arm of Barta while three of the most talented receivers in the area were running routes. The three-headed monster of Brody Gormley, PJ Vargas, and Casen Stallbaumer made Barta’s life a bit easier for him.
“We had a game plan coming into every week to get our receivers the ball as much as possible. I knew how good of athletes they all were and what they could do for us. Vargas has the best hands I’ve ever seen. Stallbaumer can play any position on the field with his athletic versatility. Gormley had the height and speed. I could throw it up to those guys and they could all make explosive plays for us when we needed them the most,” said Barta.
Barta and his teammates made a lot of positive memories this past fall and the games that didn’t end up in the win column were teachable moments for the quarterback.
“My most memorable game from this year was the Washburn Rural game,'' Barta said. "That’s the most fun I’ve ever had in a game. The game was just a fun back and forth contest for all four quarters.''
Barta led the Vikings through some intense battles throughout the course of the season, including a 44-37 postseason loss to Blue Valley Southwest.
Although that game didn’t end like Barta didn’t wanted it to, lessons were learned from the experience.
“The emotions during that game were emotions I’ve never had before,'' Barta said. "We lost to them my junior year as well. We’ve never wanted a game more, as a team. We had the weapons and the firepower, but so did they. Blue Valley Southwest had Dylan Dunn and Zach Atkins, who are one of the best quarterback-receiver duos in the state.
"I learned you can face adversity however you want to. You can sit on the sideline upset, or you can pick your head up and keep fighting. Our team kept fighting until the end. I was proud of my guys.''
Now Barta wants to pay it forward to the next starting quarterback for the Vikings.
“Work until you can’t anymore,'' he said. "Be open to any changes that are going to come your way with the spread offense. Take pride in every practice, drill, and rep you get. With the staff that Seaman has, they will lead you to great things. You just have to take pride in being a Viking.”
What’s next for Camden Barta?
“Go play football at the next level,'' he said. "It’s been my dream since I’ve started playing. To see the whole recruiting process unfold is a really cool thing for my family and me. I am really grateful for the opportunity to be recognized for the year that I had.''
