Kansas Pregame 8-Man Top 8: Ryan Sramek

Kansas Pregame polled 8-Man coaches earlier this month who voted for the top four seniors they coached against this season. Kansas Pregame staffers then used those votes to develop a Top 8 list of seniors for each division. Check out another Top 8 capsule below, and find the complete list of Top 8 selections, and the honorable mention list, here for 8-Man I and here for 8-Man II. 

Rawlins County senior Ryan Sramek helped guide the Buffaloes to a 17-5 record and two sectional playoff appearances in his sophomore and junior seasons before capping off his career with a standout senior campaign, leading his team to a 7-3 record and a second-round appearance in the 8-Man Division I playoffs, where they fell to South Central, 24-6, in the regional round. Despite the loss, Sramek solidified his legacy as one of the program’s all-time greats.

Sramek’s impact on the field was undeniable. His speed, agility, and physicality, combined with his deep understanding of the game, made him a unique talent. His father and head coach, Aaron Sramek, noted Ryan’s ability to lead by example. 

“Ryan leads by example and his teammates respect his direction and follow suit. He continuously gives his all on the field and his effort is contagious. His attitude on and off the field is something that coaches really appreciate because it creates more cohesiveness for the team.”

The 2024 campaign included standout performances, like a pivotal defensive play against St. Francis where Sramek took on a lead blocker, knocked both players to the ground, and chased down a receiver to prevent a long touchdown. That same series ended with a defensive stop and was followed by Sramek’s career-long 77-yard touchdown run. Coach Sramek described the sequence as one that “showed his grit on defense to never give up” and highlighted his open-field ability as a consistent offensive threat.

During his senior season, Sramek continued to excel on both sides of the ball, finishing the year with 1,764 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, along with 580 receiving yards and seven touchdowns through the air. Defensively, he added 82 tackles and five interceptions.
Over his career, Sramek set Rawlins County records with 5,028 rushing yards, 7,156 all-purpose yards, 5,813 total yards, 92 touchdowns, 78 rushing touchdowns, and 602 points scored. He also recorded 19 interceptions and 261 tackles.. The records previously belonged to his older brother, Cole Sramek.

Ryan earned first-team All-State honors at running back from Sports in Kansas and KSHSAA Covered in both 2023 and 2024. He was also a two-time finalist for the Sports in Kansas 8-Man Offensive Player of the Year. In addition to football, Sramek excelled in other sports. He is a three-time state wrestling qualifier and two-time placer in 321A and earned multiple medals at the 2024 1A state track meet, including third place in the long jump, second in the 4x100 relay, fourth in the 200 meters, and eighth in the 100 meters.

Off the field, Sramek is an honor roll student, a member of the National Honor Society, FFA, 4-H, and the Catholic Youth Organization.

Sramek has received interest from multiple colleges for football and track but remains undecided about his post-graduation plans.

"This was an opportunity that I will never forget and am very thankful to be a part of," Coach Sramek reflected about coaching his son. "Coaching him for the past three years has been very rewarding as we have watched how his hard work and dedication in the offseason can really make an impact on the game.”