Sunflower Sports Solutions AOW (Female)
Each week, S3 will present a Northwest Kansas Boy and Girl "Athlete of the Week" (AOW). The Athlete of the Week is presented by BP Clean-Rite.Freshman has enjoyed standout season for Bobcats
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Ransom-Western Plains freshman Jaelyn Spangler enjoyed a prolific youth career.
In her first high school meet, Spangler broke the school mark by two seconds in the 400-meter dash. She continued to break the WP record for three consecutive meets. Spangler and Western Plains train on a dirt track, one of a handful of schools that still does across the state.
“I never hear any complaints from our kids; they just work hard,” Joe Spangler, Jaelyn’s father and the veteran Western Plains coach, said to Sunflower Sports Solutions.
Jaelyn’s favorite event is the 400 meters and has emerged as a key name to know statewide for girls’ track. She is currently third in Class 1A in the event and stands first by a healthy margin among Greeley County regional competitors. Spangler earns Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3) Female Athlete of the Week for the week of April 28 to May 4.
Spangler is also 12th for 1A in the 200 dash with a time of 27.30 seconds and third among GC runners, per the statewide classification list available at Catch It Kansas.
The Western Kansas Liberty League track meet is next Friday in Colby.
Spangler can be a rare Western Plains state track placer.
Since 1990, Western Plains has had three state placers in girls’ track and field. The 3,200-meter relay took seventh in 2005 and ’14. Jill Weeks earned state runner-up in the javelin in ’05 and ’06, per KSHSAA archives.
Statewide, she is third in 1A in the 400 dash with a time of 60.79, trailing only Hanover’s Anna Jueneman and Hutchinson Central Christian’s Jessa Losew. Juenemann is the reigning 1A-II Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year and one of Kansas' top all-around athletes. Losew is a national track medalist with summer events.
In her eighth grade season, Spangler enjoyed a massive year in volleyball, basketball and track. She is an outside hitter and server in volleyball. As an eighth grader in basketball, she averaged 16 points and six steals a game.
In junior high, Spangler notably broke the school marks in the 100, 200 and 400, along with the 1,600 relay and sprint medley relay. Spangler reset the junior high leaderboard that stood for 15 years. Spangler opened the '23 junior high season with 10 gold medals in 10 events. Coach Spangler noted that Jaelyn is one of the hardest workers he has had in 20-plus coaching seasons.
For her freshman year in basketball, Spangler was one of seven players for the Bobcats. WP is annually among the state’s 15 smallest schools with currently 31 students. She averaged 7.3 points per game, second-best on the squad, and paced the team with 6.7 assists and 1.8 steals a contest. WP posted a 5-16 record.
For track this season, Spangler has enjoyed multiple standout meets. She took fourth in the 100 dash (13.47) and won the 200 (27.63) and 400 (1:01.48) at the Ness City meet on April 9. At the April 30 Logan Invitational, she won the 400 dash in 1:01.46. WP sophomore Madelyn Kraus took second in the event at 1:05.90. Kraus was WP’s leading scorer in basketball this winter.
At the Dighton meet last Friday, Spangler earned second in the 200 dash (27.74) and won the 400 (1:01.21).
Distance runner still flying under radar
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Entering last week, Ellis sophomore Avery Boydston had enjoyed a strong start and ranked among the state leaders in the distance events. Boydston continued her outstanding career with a big performance at the Quinter track meet Friday.
Despite a state runner-up in cross country, a top-four individual finish and a state championship in the 3,200 relay, Boydston continues to fly under the radar statewide.
As S3 noted last fall, Boydston has the strong opportunity to take the mantle as 2A’s top distance runner. Plus, Boydston is part of a talented Ellis girls track team that should have a strong chance for a state team championship next month at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium.
Boydston broke the Ellis high school mark in the 3,200-meter run at the Wichita State Pre-State meet April 11, and since lowered the mark.
Boydston earns Sunflower Sports Solutions’ Female Athlete of the Week for the week of April 21 to April 27.
As of April 20, Boydston had a season best of 11 minutes, 24.7 seconds in the 3,200-meter run, per Kansas historian Carol Swenson’s statewide list. That ranked second in the classification behind Smith Center freshman Madison Howland (11:09.96). Howland and Boydston went 1-2 respectively in 2A state cross country last fall. Boydston stood No. 20 for all classes in the event.
On Friday, Boydston collected titles at the Quinter Invitational, one of the largest regular season meets in northwest and southwest Kansas. Boydston delivered a great time in the 1,600-meter run in 5 minutes, 19.95 seconds. She bested a field of 25 runners. That included Golden Plains senior Emma Weiner, who has won 1A state titles in cross country and track. Weiner ran 5:23.77 for second.
This lowered Boydston’s personal record in the event. Weiner set new school marks in both events.
Boydston also delivered a 3,200-meter title in 11:36.50, nearly three seconds ahead of Weiner. The pair was a minute and a half plus ahead of the field. Additionally, Ellis junior Natalee North won the 2A discus with a toss of 129-9. North is the defending state champion in the event. North took third in the shot put in 34-6.
Plus, senior hurdler Kylee Pfeifer and freshman sprinter Evelyn Merriman have enjoyed strong starts for EHS.
Boydston’s 1,600-meter time is just outside the top-24 for all classes. The only 2A girls to run under 5:16 is Howland at 5:13.03 and Sterling’s Faith Ekart at 5:15.83.
Boydston finished in second place at the Class 2A state cross country championship last fall in a time of 19 minutes, 16.1 seconds. She was at least 10 plus seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Howland won in 18:38.4. Howland and Boydston run summer track together at an elite level with the Kansas Flyers.
Boydston defeated top runners at state cross country, including Richmond-Central Heights senior Emma Cubit, Sterling senior Faith Ekart and highly decorated Wabaunsee junior Payton Wurtz.
At state track last May, Boydston took fourth in the 2A 1,600-meter run in 5:30.01 behind two seniors and Wurtz. One of those seniors was all-time great Chesney Peterson of Stanton County, now at Tennessee.
Boydston paced the 3,200-meter relay to a gold medal in 10:07.86, less than a second faster than Salina-Sacred Heart. Boydston also competed in the 800 and posted a 2:33.26 for 12th place.
Boydston has enjoyed a strong start to this season and continually lowered her times.
At La Crosse, Boydston won the 1,600 (5:40.75) and the 3,200 (12:11.02) in the season-
opening March 28 meet.
At Norton on April 4, she won the 1,600-meter run in 5:33.10 and picked up a 3,200-meter title in 11:52.11. Boydston won the 3,200 by more than a minute and a half.
In mid-April, Boydston ran in the Elite (all classes) 3,200-meter run at Wichita State University’s Pre-State meet earlier this month. Boydston finished second in 11:35.19 and defeated multiple bigger class runners, including from Eudora, Clay Center, Kapaun-Mt. Carmel and Great Bend. Northern Heights freshman Ellei McCrory took first in 11:00.69.
At Plainville on April 16, Boydston finished second to Norton senior Mackenzie Clydesdale in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:33.93. Clydesdale posted a 2:24.87. Boydston easily won the 1,600 in 5:38.85.
On April 19 at the Osborne Kaser Relays, Boydston posted personal bests in all three distance events. She ran the 11:24.7 in the 3,200, posted a 5:25.4 in the 1,600 and ran a 2:27.60 in the 800. Only two 2A runners had posted under 2:22.
At Osborne, Boydston won the 800 by nearly seven seconds. She won the 1,600 by more than 22 seconds, and the 3,200 by nearly 70 seconds.
The Boydston siblings are known for track, too. Taryn and Cayson are seventh grade twins. In the last week, Cayson set a personal record in the 3,200 with 11:58.89. Taryn broke Ellis’ seventh grade school record with a 11:55.83. That broke Avery’s mark of 12:29. Per the Milesplit database, Taryn ranks first in Kansas among middle school girls and No. 25 nationally.
Holcomb is undefeated
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Holcomb has opened 10-0 and outscored opponents 95-12. Senior ace Korryn Johnson, a Fort Hays State commit, has opened 10-0 with a 0.25 earned-run average and again garnered state headlines. Johnson recently passed 700 career strikeouts.
However, senior catcher Rian Rodriguez has put up huge numbers at the plate and currently is top-five in Kansas in slugging percentage, per MaxPreps (min. 36 at-bats). Rodriguez has a .562 batting average, 11 extra base hits, three homers and 19 RBI – all team bests. Rodriguez has caught all of Johnson’s career strikeouts.
Rodriguez has posted a 1.125 slugging percentage. In her career, Rodriguez carries a .471 average with 20 homers and a .862 slugging percentage. A returning all-state selection, Rodriguez earned Sunflower Sports Solutions’ Female Athlete of the Week for the week of 4/7-4/13.
Holcomb owns doubleheader sweeps against Scott City, Hays-TMP and Cimarron. Those squads are a combined 21-1 when not playing the Longhorns. Holcomb is one of five undefeated 3A squads, along with Leon-Bluestem (12-0), Wichita Trinity (8-0), Frontenac (10-0).
Longhorn ace has chance to break state marks for wins and Ks
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnicholHays
After a great 2024 start, Holcomb senior ace pitcher Korryn Johnson has a chance to break all-time Kansas marks for career wins and strikeouts.
Johnson, a Fort Hays State University softball commit and two-time first team all-state selection, has led the Longhorns to four straight season-opening victories.
Holcomb opened with quality wins against rival Scott City in 3-0 and 3-2 victories on April 2. Then, the Longhorns defeated Hays-Thomas More Prep-Marian, 10-0 and 2-1 at home last Thursday.
Johnson and Holcomb’s senior class is named the Sunflower Sports Solutions’ Female Athletes of the Week for the week of March 31 to April 6.
Last season, Holcomb finished 19-2, including two wins (16-3, 9-8) versus TMP, and regular season victories (3-2 and 6-1) against Scott City. Holcomb lost to SC, 5-4, in the regional final.
Scott City has pitcher Cheyenne Cramer, an Allen County commit.
TMP, backed by junior shortstop Brooke Koenigsman, a returning first team all-state selection, is 4-0 when not facing Holcomb this spring.
Johnson, the reigning GWAC Pitcher of the Year, has thrown all 26 of her team’s innings in 2024. She has yet to allow an earned run and has posted 47 strikeouts against one walk. Last year, Johnson led Kansas with 127 innings pitched. In her career, Johnson has a 63-9 record, 1.88 earned-run average and 672 strikeouts in 424.1 innings.
Riverton’s Taylor Compton holds the all-time record for wins (80) and season (24 in 2017), along with career strikeouts (886). Johnson could have a chance for the single season strikeout mark of 303, set by Campus’ Jessica Hoppock. All records per the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
On April 3, Johnson and Rylie Thyne were both named Holcomb’s Class of 2024 co-valedictorians.
Johnson is part of Holcomb’s highly decorated senior class.
Shortstop Emma Cornelsen, center fielder Brooklyn Deniston, catcher Rian Rodriguez and Johnson are the top-four hitters in the lineup and all four-year starters. The fifth senior, Lilli Pena, starts at second base. Rodriguez is considered a top-five catcher for all classes and is Holcomb’s all-time home run leader. Rodriguez has caught every one of Johnson’s career strikeouts. No current pitcher-catcher in Kansas has worked more together than Johnson and Rodriguez.
She carries a team-high .667 average, along with five extra base hits and a homer. Deniston is hitting .500, while Johnson carries a .400 mark. Rodriguez has 18 career homers and earned all-state honorable mention honors by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association last year and second team all-state as a sophomore.
Johnson and Cramer were notably both first team all-state by Sports In Kansas as sophomores and juniors. Cornelsen and Deniston have each earned at least honorable mention all-state from SIK the last two seasons.
On March 20, Rodriguez picked up a women’s wrestling offer from Ottawa University.
Scott City, TMP and Cimarron are likely two of the stronger teams on Holcomb’s softball schedule.
Like many baseball and softball teams, Holcomb has taken advantage of the new KSHSAA rule that allows squads to play 26 regular season games, six more than last season. This should help Johnson move closer toward all-time records.
Holcomb faces Cimarron (4-0) on Tuesday. Holcomb split with Cimarron on April 11 last season – and then didn’t lose for more than a month.
The senior class has paced the Longhorn softball program to its first ever state appearance and GWAC title. Johnson has four career no-hitters.
Holcomb is one of 15 Kansas teams that carries a 4-0 or better mark, per KSHSAA standings. Holcomb and Scott City are traditionally in the same regional. However, this year, Holcomb will head to the Colby regional and Scott City bumped to 4A.
Rebel girls look to contend for state track title this spring
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Photos of Jacee Deges
Particularly among Class 3A and lower schools, Montezuma-South Gray has an excellent case as currently the state’s most successful all-sports girls program.
South Gray’s overall success earns the Rebel girls the Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3) Female Athletes of the Week for the week of March 24 to March 30.
SG, the reigning state runner-up in 1A track, has a chance for its fourth top-four team finish this school year in the spring. SG won cross country, took second in volleyball and fourth in basketball.
Last fall, South Gray won its second straight 1A cross country title. Sophomore Jacee Deges, junior Kylie Stapleton and junior Gwyn Jantz all finished in the top-nine, while freshman Jenna Simmons earned 19th. Junior Reegan Meairs and sophomore Brenna Faurot were also on the state title squad.
In volleyball, South Gray was Kansas’ last undefeated squad and completed the best season in school history. The Rebels, led by coaches Rick Moyer and Caley Love, posted a 41-3 record and earned state runner-up to Little River.
Senior setter Kaylee Moyer earned first team all-state, along with 5-foot-10 junior opposite Allie Reed. Senior Vi Helm, the team leader in volleyball and basketball, was a second team all-state pick as a 5-foot-11 middle hitter. Plus, senior libero Jacelyn Huelskamp collected honorable mention all-state. Huelskamp was the lone libero named to any all-state team in Class 1A, Division I.
In basketball, South Gray has reached state in back-to-back winters. This year, the Rebels finished fourth in 1A-I with coach John Wahl. South Gray, helped by its press and a highly efficient offense, posted a 22-3 record. Wahl, a Rule 10 coach, had coached the Rebel junior high boys, and took over the girls’ program this winter.
“You can’t be more fortunate to have a greater group of girls,” Wahl told S3 at the state basketball tournament.
Helm enjoyed a huge season with 16.8 points per game, while Stapleton had 13.6 points a contest. Reed had 9.6 points a game, and paced the squad with 7.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.4 steals a contest. Huelskamp led South Gray with 85 percent shooting from the free throw line, while Stapleton posted 38 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
“They are just great girls,” Wahl said after the third-place game. “They work hard. They play together. They really are a family, and like I told them in the locker room, ‘Go get ready for track,’ because they are going to be competing for a state track championship. And so really proud of our seniors. They have given a lot to South Gray over four years, and so it’s tough for them.”
Helm was a consensus top-10 all-state player in Class 1A, Division I. Helm and Reed were each first team all-league, while Stapleton picked up second team honors. Reed and Stapleton were part of the five-player all-conference defensive team, too. Helm collectively averaged 15.9 points per game in the last two winters.
“Vi is great,” Wahl said. “She plays downhill. She gives you everything that she has got every single time. Attitude is just fantastic. Jacelyn is the same way. I mean, they are the heart of the team. Next year, it’s going to have to be Kylie, or it’s going to have to be Allie, and so we will have to find somebody. But Vi truly is the leader of the team. Everybody goes how she goes.”
Deges was a strong defensive player and contained Centralia star junior Oen Deters well under her scoring average in a 58-52 loss in the third-place game on March 9 to Centralia. Deters averaged around 20 points a game, and Deges held her to one made field goal when she was the primary defender.
South Gray had never run a box-and-one defense and forced any other player to beat the Rebels. Meairs rotated some as the main defender on Deters, too. South Gray had never even practiced a box-and-one and drew it up in 11 a.m. shootaround before the third-place contest.
“Jacee is our best defender, and she has been all year,” Wahl said. “She will take any challenge as a sophomore.”
South Gray boys’ basketball won the 1A-I state championship. Mark Applegate and Joey Dyck were consensus classification coach and player of the year, including from Sunflower Sports Solutions.
“Our girls, they played hard,” Wahl said. “That was a really good Centralia team, I mean they are fantastic, and so we are really proud of our girls, and so onto the next thing for them. They are a great group of girls, and you can see the community is amazing.”
Last spring, Washington County won the 1A state track title with 55 points, four ahead of South Gray. SG was 12 points ahead of the field, or scoring in at least two events, a big margin at the state track meet. South Gray has never won a girls’ track state title.
Stapleton enjoyed a huge track meet with a state championship in the 800-meter run (2:20.26), second in 100 hurdles (15.44) and fourth in the long jump (17-0.50). South Gray took second in the 3,200 relay and fifth in the 1,600 relay.
Additionally, Jantz earned fifth in the 1,600, while Huelskamp took fifth in the 300 hurdles. Helm was third in the high jump, and Deges earned seventh in the pole vault. The 1,600 relay finished fifth, while the 3,200 relay was state runner-up.
Last Thursday, South Gray opened at the Meade Invitational, a competition that had eight of the 12 SPIAA schools. Helm leapt 5-2 in the high jump and won by four inches. Helm also took second in the triple jump at 33-0.25. Stapleton had a massive long jump for a season-opening meet at 17-6.
SG won the 3,200 relay in 11:10.75 with Deges, Meairs, Huelskamp and Jantz. Stapleton won the 100 hurdles by more than two seconds in 15.52. Jantz took second in the 1,600 at 6:15. Huelskamp picked up a title in the 300 hurdles at 50.71. Stapleton won the 800 at 2:30.44. Deges finished second in the 3,200 run at 13:51.17. The 1,600 relay earned second in 4:38.63 with Huelskamp, Reed, Jantz and Stapleton.
Amanda Jaeger was perfect during the KSHSAA year - and won her Shrine Duals match
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Photo by Brice Kesler, Kansas Shrine Bowl
Colby senior Amanda Jaeger finished her career as one of just six undefeated wrestlers for all Kansas classes. Jaeger went 41-0 and won the Class 4-1A title at 130 pounds, her second straight state championship. Jaeger and Rossville 123-pounder Kendra Hurla became the first girl wrestlers in state annals to post an undefeated record – and win their Kansas Shrine Duals match.
On March 17, the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association and the Shrine Bowl committee held its first-ever Shrine Duals at Newman University. The Shrine Bowl football game has occurred for the last 50 years. Both the all-star contests featured the top seniors.
At 130 pounds, Jaeger won by an 18-2 technical fall over Spring Hill’s Gracie Oppeau. Jaeger represented the West in a 72-62 East victory. Boys' and girls' scores were combined. This winter, Hurla joined Olathe South’s Nicole Redmond and Bonner Springs’ Olivia Stean as the first four-time KSHSAA state girls’ wrestling champions.
Jaeger’s historical feat earned her Sunflower Sports Solutions’ Female Athlete of the Week for the week of March 17 to March 23. This marked Jaeger’s second S3 honor this winter.
Jaeger is the first Colby girl to win a state wrestling title. Of the perfect wrestlers, Hurla, Jaeger and Leavenworth’s Avari Johnson were the only seniors. Russell junior Jaden Ney joined Jaeger as the lone girls from Northwest Kansas. Ney finished 38-0 at 145 pounds.
Brygette Ross was the Indians' lone senior this winter
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Photo by Avery Solida
Kate Bezrukova is an assistant psychology professor at Santa Clara University in California. A sports fan, Bezrukova and her colleague Chester Spell wrote a highly influential 2015 leadership paper called “The ‘Magic Potion’ of Team Chemistry.” The paper appeared in “Psychology Today,” and had a major impact on at least one World Series champion in Major League Baseball.
Bezrukova and Spell discussed sports teams and keys to a cohesive group, including compatibility, strong leaders, team goals over individuals and subgroups/fault lines. One fault line is less inexperienced versus more experienced players.
One of the conclusions was that teams would benefit from an experienced player who: cared more about team than individual and was able to bring everyone together through their character – regardless of playing time. This will show up empirically with more victories and upticks from performers surrounding the veteran.
This winter, Hays High girls’ basketball lone senior Brygette Ross was that type of player. HHS enjoyed a 16-6 season, 8-0 in league play, and its first Western Athletic Conference championship since 2012.
Hays High finished with the No. 28 defense for all classes, per the nationally known statistical site Massey Ratings. According to MaxPreps, the Indians had the third-hardest schedule in 5A. Last year, HHS finished with the No. 67 defense.
Ross earns S3 Female Athlete of the Week honors for the week of March 10-March 16. Ross is also one of several under-the-radar basketball players that S3 will note in the next couple of weeks before spring sports start in full. Ross said she had never played on a team with just one senior.
“I am glad that I am the only senior,” Ross told S3 a few weeks ago. “I am happy to take on that leadership role.”
As a junior, Ross played in four games with four points and four rebounds in 16 minutes. This winter, Ross participated in 19 of 22 contests with 34 points and 24 rebounds. She delivered 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds a contest.
Ross was universally considered excellent for HHS’ team chemistry. Multiple squads across Kansas struggled this winter in part to limited senior leadership or seniors not accepting their role. That was not the case with Hays High.
“She is the best teammate anybody in the country could have, and she is an even better person,” HHS coach Len Melvin told S3 earlier this winter. “And she accepts her role.”
Melvin has looked to create a “We” culture in turning around the Indians. HHS has posted six, 13, 14 and 16 wins in Melvin’s four seasons.
“I am happy with the way that are accepting it,” Melvin said.
Before 2012, HHS had previously last captured titles in ’02 and ’03. In the last several days, the WAC announced the annual all-conference selections. HHS juniors Molly Martin and Katie Linenberger were first team all-league, while sophomore post Zoe Winter was second team. Ten girls made the WAC list.
“They have a really good girl that plays on the inside (Linenberger)…so they try and feed her,” Liberal coach Brandi Fowler told S3. “It’s her and Molly.”
Hays High girls opened 6-5 and won 10 consecutive games before a sub-state title game loss at Bishop Carroll.
The Indians beat Washburn Rural, won two games versus rival Great Bend and beat McPherson. Rural was the 6A state runner-up, GB finished with 16 victories, and McPherson earned third place in 4A.
“You really truly got to believe it in your head that we are the best team tonight, and we are going to do what it takes to win,” Melvin said.
Melvin was conference coach of the year, and Riley Dreher and Kenlee Winter were both among 5A’s top defensive players. The quintet has all been written about at Sunflower Sports Solutions this fall and winter. Plus, Morgan Armbruster played in all 22 contests and is considered one of the state’s top freshmen.
“We have a very, very crowded gym in terms of talented players,” Melvin said.
From freshmen through junior, everyone had good comments about Ross.
“Everybody wants that role to be escalated if it can anytime, but she is an unbelievable person, and she is everybody’s biggest cheerleader,” Melvin said.
For the conference-title winning Hays High boys, Sean Dreiling earned coach of the year, and senior point guard Jack Weimer was player of the year. Sophomore post Dawson Ruder earned first team, and senior Kyzer Fox was second team.
It marked the first time in school history that Hays High boys and girls basketball won the conference titles in the same year.
In mid-February, Ross had several long-lasting moments. First, she was part of the conference championship. At Hays High, conference championships are posted on a big wall in the gymnasium. Ross’ senior season will be up there for years to come. She started on Senior Night.
“It’s definitely hard sometimes,” Ross said. “But I just keep thinking to myself, ‘Just stay positive,’ and then I will get my moment, we are a team, it’s not an individual sport, just accepting my role, and doing the best that I can.”
On Feb. 23, Ross enjoyed a signature moment. She made her third trey – and final of her career – off a pass from Martin on a buzzer-beater to end the first half at Great Bend. That gave Hays High a 20-19 lead. The Indians never trailed again in the contest.
NV girls took fourth in Class 1A, Division II
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Photo by Scott Sansom
Almena-Northern Valley girls’ basketball enjoyed a major turnaround, upset several teams in the postseason and crafted the second-best finish in school history. The Huskies finished 13-13 and fourth place in the Class 1A, Division II state tournament this week at Barton Community College.
NV’s only other season with a better showing is a Class 1A title in 1994. That year and this winter are the lone state berths in Husky girls’ basketball annals. Northern Valley was a strong rebounding team and collected 34 percent of available offensive rebounds, per Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3) data.
Northern Valley has an eight-player roster: freshmen Jaycee Gebhard, Jordyn Cox and Iris Schemper, 6-foot sophomore Audrey Bina, junior Delaney Sides and seniors Mary Baird, Austyn Cox and Braxton Cox. Bina enjoyed a huge volleyball season and was among the state leaders in kills. Bina and Cox were first team all-league volleyball, while Baird and Braxton Cox were honorable mention.
Northern Valley carried a 1-8 record after Jan. 12. Bina did not play until January. Northern Valley went 12-6 with her in the lineup. Cox delivered 13.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals a contest. Baird finished with 10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds. Sides had 9.7 points. Bina was among the state leaders in blocks with 8.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game.
In sub-state, Northern Valley defeated Thunder Ridge (37-29) and Wheatland-Grinnell (54-50). NV was a combined 0-3 against those teams before the playoffs. Northern Valley is a combined 27-21 in the last two years with coach Dean Lewis. Before then, the Huskies won a combined 11 games in the previous four seasons.
In Thursday’s first round, NV was the No. 8 seed and knocked off top-seeded South Haven, 49-42. In the semifinals, Northern Valley lost to Hanover, 56-42, which won its second consecutive state title. On Saturday, NV fell to Wallace County, 62-46, in the third-place game. Northern Valley boys also qualified for state and fell in the state quarterfinals.
Versus South Haven, Austyn Cox had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Bina delivered 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. NV finished plus-13 on the glass. Northern Valley outscored South Haven, 17-7, in the first quarter and 19-10 in the fourth quarter.
Bina blocked three shots in the semifinals versus an elite Hanover squad. Bina delivered eight points, while Jordyn Cox and Delaney Sides totaled seven. The Twin Valley League again performed well at state. From the TVL, Hanover won 1A-II girls, Frankfort earned 1A-I girls and Centralia took third in 1A-I girls. Valley Heights took fourth in 2A girls.
Against Wallace County, Bina enjoyed another huge game with 13 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks. Delaney Sides finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Austyn Cox tallied 11 points. NV finished plus-14 on the glass.
Wynn, Mattheyer cap strong senior years
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Photo courtesy of Free Range Photography
The Kansas Shrine Bowl football game has occurred for the last half century and annually has elite talent from the East and West. A Shrine Bowl invitation is one of the top honors a football player can earn.
Recently, the Shrine committee and the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association formed the inaugural KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals. The event will occur March 17 at Newman University and features the top boy and girl seniors.
On Thursday, a few days after the state tournaments concluded, the wrestlers were publicly announced for the KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals. For the girls, six northwest Kansas wrestlers earned an invite: WaKeeney-Trego’s Adrian Wynn at 123 pounds, Colby’s Amanda Jaeger at 130, Hays High’s Lexi Burton at 136, Phillipsburg’s Isabella Keesee at 136, Ellis’ Kaydawn Haag at 143, and Trego’s Myah Mattheyer at 155.
Burton has committed to Fort Hays wrestling, Haag to FHSU softball. Both were state runner-ups this winter in 5-6A and 4-1A, respectively. Haag had previously won a state championship as a junior. Jaeger completed a 41-0 season and won her second straight state title. Haag and Jaeger were previously Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3) Female Athletes of the Week, sponsored by BP-Cleanrite.
The Trego duo, notably Wynn, enjoyed an impressive improvement en route to a state medal and Shrine Bowl honor. Wynn and Mattheyer earned the S3 Female Athlete of the Week award for the week of Feb. 25 to March 2.
At 120, Wynn finished fourth and completed a 34-5 season in Class 4-1A. Wynn posted a 4-2 record at state with both losses to Chanute’s Kadynce Axelson, who delivered a 42-2 mark. Axelson has helped Chanute to first and third place team finishes the last two winters.
At 155, Mattheyer (31-7) went 1-2 at state. Trego sophomore Kallan Rothchild (26-10) finished with a 0-2 mark at 115.
Last year, Wynn posted a 30-8 record, including a 2-2 state record and didn’t place at 115. Mattheyer finished 30-13, 0-2 at state at 145.
As sophomores, Wynn delivered a 19-16 mark at 120, and Mattheyer posted a 20-10 record at 155, though neither one qualified for state.
Wynn and Sydney Boyle have enjoyed the most success of any Trego girl since the program started, per S3 archives.
Ney, Pfeifer continue longtime success
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Russell juniors Jaden Ney and Teagen Pfeifer have competed in wrestling together since third grade. This year, KSHSAA changed the state wrestling format. Normally, Class 4-1A girls is in Salina, and 3-2-1A boys contests at Hays. However, the 3-2-1A boys moved to Salina, too. Both tournaments were held over three days.
On Saturday, for the first time in Kansas annals, boys and girls competed in state championship matches on side-by-side mats. Ney and Pfeifer battled in their final bouts simultaneously.
Ney earned a state title at 135 girls, while Pfeifer took second at 165 boys. He helped Russell to a sixth-place team finish with 65.5 points. That is Russell’s best team showing in at least 20-plus years. KSHSAA archives list Russell boys’ best showing a seventh-place finish in 2001.
Ney and Pfeifer earned Sunflower Sports Solutions’ Female and Male Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 18-Feb. 24. The Athlete of the Week is sponsored by BP-Cleanrite.
Ney completed a 38-0 season at 135 pounds with a 4-1 win against Santa Fe Trail’s Hailee Crosland (38-2). Ney was a state runner-up as a sophomore. Ney enjoyed one of the most dominant seasons by any wrestler, male or female, this winter. She became the first Russell girl to ever win a state title. The last Bronco boy was Alan Dolezal in 1968, per multiple sources.
Ney won her first three state matches by fall in 45 seconds, 18 seconds and 19 seconds. She had two of the five fastest falls in the 4-1A state meet.
In the final, she held off Crosland, 4-1. Crosland entered state with just one loss. Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3) has kept the all-time girls’ wrestling records since before it became a KSHSAA sport.
Last season, Ney finished 10-1 with only a loss in the state championship. As a freshman, Ney took third with a 31-5 mark. She stands at 79-6 for a career win percentage of 92.9. Entering this winter, fewer than 40 girls, regardless of classification or weight class, had a better all-time winning percentage. S3 has more than 500 girls in the database that is available at SunflowerSportsSolutions.com.
The 4-1A girls’ team race was expected to be very close between Rossville, Oakley and defending champion Chanute. All three teams came within 2.5 points with Rossville ahead at 82.5. Russell finished in 24th with 28 points.
For the boys, Pfeifer completed a 31-7 season. He won by fall in 53 seconds, a 6-2 decision and by fall in 2:17. In the final, he lost to West Elk’s Creyo Koop, 12-2. Koop has enjoyed a dominant football and wrestling career. Koop joined his dad as a West Elk champion and posted a 45-0 record.
As well, Xzephren Donner (34-9) took third at 106, while Brayden Suchy (34-6) finished in third at 175.
In addition to wrestling, Pfeifer and Ney were science fair partners and champions three years in a row. The duo and families were proud to see each other grow and develop and strive higher and higher.
Pfeifer has 82 career victories. He is also a three-year starter for Russell football. In 2022, he helped Russell to its first playoff win since 1979 and one of the state’s top turnarounds that year. Pfeifer comes from a longtime athletic family.
His uncle, Brandon Pfeifer, coached TMP and Ellis wrestling for many years and was thrice a state runner-up for Ellis. Teagan’s first cousin, Konnor, was a two-year state placer for Ellis. Their cousin, Jared, won a state long jump championship for Ellis.
Hays High girls have clinched share of WAC title for first time since 2012
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Photo by Gina Johnson/courtesy of Winter family
HAYS – In mid-January, Hays High girls’ basketball went 1-2 at the midseason Colby tournament. Coach Len Melvin labeled the competition a “wakeup call.” HHS lost to Beloit and Olathe East, allowed 43 and 44 points in the defeats and fell by double digits both times. Melvin knew Hays High would face teams of similar ability in the second half.
On Jan. 22, Hays High returned to practice. In Melvin’s eyes, the coaching staff was concerned on what team was going to show up; a squad ready to face the adversity or a team that wasn’t mentally ready to take on the challenge.
Since Colby, the Indians have not lost.
“So far we have responded pretty well,” Melvin told Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3).
On Friday, Hays High controlled Garden City, 43-14, in a home victory. GC is a 3-point heavy team, and the Indians led 21-6 at halftime. Junior Kenlee Winter said to hold the 9-10 Buffs to such a low point total was “insane.”
“Our defense has been absolutely phenomenal,” Winter said.
Melvin believed the victory “really defined” the message the coaches have shared with the players: HHS can have off nights offensively, but still find success with “really sharp” defensive performances. Overall, the Indians have permitted 36.7 points per game.
“They are doing the stuff that we are asking them to do, and they are doing it really well, and we tried to throw some different looks at them tonight, and I thought it was really good,” Melvin said.
Lone senior Brygette Ross was solid in a reserve role, while starters Molly Martin, Katie Linenberger, Zoe and Kenlee Winter and Riley Dreher all played well. Ross, freshman Morgan Armbruster and sophomore Annie Humphrey have been the key bench players. HHS switched in the posts against Garden City’s offense.
“It’s very bittersweet, but I am glad,” Ross said. “That’s been our goal all year is to get a WAC title, and so I am glad that I have these girls by my side to do it with me.”
The Indians have won seven in a row, and improved to 13-5 overall, 6-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. HHS boys also defeated Garden City. Both teams have earned at least a share of a WAC crown.
“I was really pleased with our defense,” Melvin said.
The boys last won titles in 2020, ’21 and ’22. The girls accomplished a goal that was first set when Melvin and the coaches took over four years ago. The Indians last won a WAC girls’ basketball title in 2012. Before then, Hays High girls hadn’t won a title since ’03. Hays High didn’t talk to the girls about Friday’s ramifications. Winter said the focus is on “1-0” each game.
“I think they are smart enough to probably figure it out, but we really want it outright," Melvin said.
Friday yielded the fewest points a much improved Garden City team has scored this season. It’s also the fewest points HHS has allowed. In the seven-game win streak, the Indians have defeated rival Great Bend (44-37), won at Dodge City (48-29), beaten longtime powerhouse McPherson (44-41) and won at Liberal (59-49) on Feb. 9.
It marked the first time Hays High won at Liberal since 2013. Hays High had lost six straight to McPherson dating back to ’09.
“That game was like a really big like wow, we are actually a really good team,” Winter said.
Since Melvin took over, Hays High has always made defense its foundation. This season marks HHS’ best defense, per Massey Ratings, a nationally renowned site that also includes strength of schedule. In 2022, Hays High had the No. 48 defense for all classes. In ’23, HHS stood at No. 60. After the Liberal win, the Indians stand at No. 33 – a number that is expected to improve when new numbers are released early this next week.
On Tuesday, HHS bested Abilene, 53-27. Kenlee Winter delivered six steals, per Indian broadcaster Dustin Armbruster. On Friday, Winter didn’t score, but finished with three assists, two steals and a deflection in the second half, per S3 statistics.
“In my mind, it’s just use your feet, always be moving, whoever I go against, I just don’t let them think that they are faster than me,” Winter said. “I always think that I am faster, and I try to move better.”
The 5-foot-5 Winter averages three points and two rebounds a contest. She has played in 35 career games with 17 starts.
“This last week, week and a half, you are starting to see what we think that she is capable of doing every night,” Melvin said. “There is really nobody that is going to play harder than her. She plays just at a high level of effort, and you are going to have to tolerate a couple of silly fouls, because she does play so hard, but this is the basketball that we expected all year from her, and I am excited that she is starting to hit it down the stretch.”
Oakley wins Saturday's Scott City regional
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Oakley sophomore Cali Wagoner has significantly shifted the balance of power in Class 4-1A wrestling. As a freshman, Wagoner became the first girl to place at the state meet for Quinter, a 1A school that traditionally does not have a full wrestling program. Wagoner finished fifth at 135 pounds with a 33-7 record.
Sunflower Sports Solutions has the official girls’ wrestling all-time and current wins list available at sunflowersportssolutions.com. Last season, Wagoner was tied for sixth in wins among Kansas freshman girls. Oakley had four wrestlers reach state, including a third-place finish from Citori Bosserman, a state runner-up from Atavia Cain, and a combined 2-4 showing from Mikayha Cain and Abbygayl Jackson.
Oakley finished in 15th place with 43 points. The team race was close with Chanute edging Rossville, Baldwin, Santa Fe Trail, Pratt, Hoisington, Columbus and Buhler. Chanute had 88 points, while the next seven teams were between 53 and 73. Chanute’s and Rossville’s nine state wrestlers featured six non-seniors. Those two teams were considered the 2024 state favorites.
However, the Wagoner family moved 30 miles west on I-70 to Oakley. The Plainsmen have risen to No. 1 in 4-1A and won the Scott City regional on Saturday. Oakley had 117 points, while Colby was second with 112.5. Hoisington finished third with 105.
The state meet is Feb. 22-24 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina.
Wagoner went 4-0 at 155 and improved to 30-5 at the regional. Wagoner finished with a team-high 26 points at the regional, tied for third among all girls. She had three falls in a combined 2 minutes, 26 seconds. In the championship, Wagoner beat Plainville’s Lillian Garcia, 8-1. Garcia is 31-15.
Additionally, freshman Kylee Hodges (34-6) won the 115-pound regional title. A sophomore, Jackson (29-6) took third at 130. Junior Atavia Cain moved to 33-0 at 170. Freshman Brooke Smith (19-3) finished second at 190.
Entering the regional, Oakley is ranked first by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, followed by Rossville, Pratt, Winfield, Paola, Chanute, Tonganoxie, Hoisington, Colby and Fort Scott. Hodges is ranked third at 115, Jackson sixth at 130. Wagoner and Cain are each ranked first at 155 and 170.
Kattenberg continues SC success
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Smith Center senior Dakota Kattenberg reached 1,000 career points – and continued an impressive family lineage in Lady Red athletics. Kattenberg is part of Smith Center’s highly publicized senior class that is currently ranked No. 7 in Class 2A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. SC stands at 13-2 and is currently tied for the lead for the Mid-Continent League regular season title.
On Tuesday, Smith Center beat previously undefeated Hoxie, 63-50, and moved into first place for the MCL crown. Hoxie stands at 14-1 and is ranked fourth in 2A. On Friday, Smith Center lost at Hays-Thomas More Prep-Marian, 55-34, on Friday. SC, Hoxie, WaKeeney-Trego and Norton all have one league regular season loss. TMP has two. The top-six MCL teams are all 8-9 or better in one of the state’s best conferences.
Kattenberg is now fourth on the all-time Smith Center list. The top-3 on the SC scoring totals are all directly related. Kattenberg’s aunt, Dayna Weltmer (nee Finch), tallied 2,256 career points and played at Creighton. Tallon Rentschler enjoyed a highly decorated career and finished with 1,185 points. Rentschler is currently playing for Fort Hays volleyball. Sydney Benoit tallied 1,079 points, led Smith Center to a state championship and played for KU basketball.
After Tuesday, Dakota is fourth with 1,013 points. Denyse Kattenberg, Dakota’s mom and Dayna’s sister, is fifth with 996 points. Denyse is the longtime Lady Red volleyball and girls’ basketball assistant coach to Hall of Fame head coach Nick Linn.
Dakota, Camryn Hutchinson, Tinley Rentschler and Gracie Kirchhoff are the Smith Center’s well-known senior quartet in volleyball and basketball.
Returning state champion with big year for CHS
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Photo by Everett Royer, ksportsimages.com
Last winter, Amanda Jaeger became the first Colby High School girl to capture a state wrestling title.
This year, Jaeger, a senior, has enjoyed an undefeated start, including a 21-0 mark after the recent Buffalo Invite on Jan. 20 in St. Francis. Jaeger captured all three matches by fall, in 35 seconds, 1:38 and 3:26.
Additionally, Colby had several other champions. Junior Aspen Sharpe stands at 22-2 after a 3-0 mark at 100 pounds. Freshman Gala White (11-7) took second at 105, and freshman Cora DeGood (19-3) was first at 110. Sophomore Cheyanne Hill (15-10) took third at 125. Freshman Morgan Hills (19-3) won at 135 with two wins by fall and a 10-9 victory.
Sophomore Makenzi Rhymer (7-13) finished third at 140, while Alana Fabrizius (14-9) took third at 170. Colby won the 13-team tournament with 138.5 points, well ahead of St. Francis’ 102. Jaeger also has captured titles at Hoxie, Colby, McCook (Neb.), Goodland, Norton, Hays and Cimarron.
The Hays’ Girls Prairie Classic, held on Jan. 13, came in a 15-team tournament. Colby finished second to host Hays High with 112 points, and Jaeger collected a title.
Last winter, Jaeger was a slight upset champion. She beat Abilene’s Kaylee Weibert by technical fall in the first round. In the second match, Jaeger won by major decision over McLouth’s Leighanna Patz. Jaeger picked up a 2-0 victory against Pratt’s Jadyn Thompson in the semifinal. Thompson was Kansas’ all-time wins leader for part of her senior year. Jaeger beat Rock Creek’s Brooklyn Burenheide by a 12-2 major decision in the championship. Jaeger finished a 32-1 season.
She is currently ranked first in Class 4-1A for 130 pounds, per the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association. Jaeger is currently Colby’s only ranked girl wrestler.
Thunder Ridge's point guard with two offers, highly efficient per-game
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Photo by Dale Stephens
Thunder Ridge senior point guard Kamryn Rietzke has long exhibited a superb work ethic and love for basketball. When she is on the court, the 5-foot-5 Rietzke is among the state’s more productive players, especially when it comes to points, assists and steals. However, Rietzke never played in a single Northern Plains League midseason tournament game.
In her freshman year, the tournament was cancelled because of COVID. In the last two years, Rietzke couldn’t play because of season-ending injuries.
Rietzke worked extremely hard on her physical therapy workouts with Todd Clover, the well-known longtime head girls’ summer basketball coach for the Waconda Lakers. Dozens of players from north central Kansas, mainly from smaller schools, have found great success with Clover during the years. Clover has won well over 500 games with the Lakers.
She has basketball offers from McPherson College and Kansas Wesleyan. Rietzke was released in late fall and was ready for basketball. Rietzke is among the top Class 1A, Division II players and generally considered a top-100 all-classes player for the Class of 2024. She is tied for tenth for all classes in steals per game with five.
This winter, in a controversial move, the NPL cancelled the tournament because of weather. Many midseason tournaments, including the nearby Mid-Continent League tournament, managed to complete their competitions. The MCL played the majority of the games in Plainville, a centralized location for the conference, and used two gyms.
Thunder Ridge is now scheduled to play just 16 regular season games, four fewer than most squads. TR stands at 5-2, including a 54-23 win at Lakeside on Jan. 19. Remarkably, that is Thunder Ridge’s lone game since Dec 19. Rietzke tallied 20 points with four treys versus Lakeside.
Rietzke, a left-handed shooter, by far paces the Longhorns with 13.2 points per game; no one else is above 5.3. She is second to Starla Cochurn in rebounds and assists. Rietzke has 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Rietzke paces TR with steals.
Rietzke was also invited to play on America’s Team next summer in Barcelona, Spain.
Last year, TR finished 13-11. In seven games before injury, Rietzke delivered 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.9 steals per contest. Rietzke was in the top-20 in steals per game at the time of injury and also ranked in the top-50 in points per game for all classes. In three volleyball seasons, Rietzke delivered an impressive 1,477 career assists.
Rietzke has played in 36 career games and delivered 13.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.5 assists a contest. Extrapolate those averages over a full four years and 80-plus games, and Rietzke has more than 1,000 career points, 300 rebounds, 250 steals and 200 assists.
Rietzke earned third team all-league basketball in 2023 and honorable mention in ’22.
Cheylin duo with great success
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
The message came to Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3) in mid-summer regarding Bird City-Cheylin freshman Taylor McCarty.
“McCarty of Cheylin is a first team all-state 1A Division II lock,” the basketball insider told S3. “…Really, really smart, strong, fluid basketball player.”
That prediction has held true for McCarty, the third high-level athlete in her family. McCarty has played for Magic, the well-known northwest and southwest Kansas summer travel program. The 5-foot-8 McCarty is ranked in the top-50 for all classes in the Class of 2027 in the well-respected Prep Girls Hoops rankings that were released in the last couple of days.
McCarty enjoyed 25 points against Wheatland-Grinnell in earlier this month. After Dec. 19, McCarty averaged 23.9 points a contest, best among Kansas freshmen, according to Kansas researcher Brad Doebele. She also had 9.6 rebounds, 4.7 steals and 3.1 assists after seven games. In late December, McCarty finished with her first career triple-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 steals against Brewster. Cheylin girls have no juniors or seniors with mostly freshmen and a few sophomores.
Cheylin girls are 4-4. The Cougars were 1-22 last winter and were expected to be much improved this year. Additionally, McCarty’s older brother, Logan, earned a Shrine Bowl football invite earlier this month. Logan was the consensus Six-Man Offensive Player of the Year for the undefeated Cheylin squad this fall.
Logan is the first ever six-man player to earn Kansas Shrine Bowl honors. The McCarty’s older brother, Colton, was a multi-time first-team all-state football player and has played for Bethel College football.
Holcomb's Jera Kruleski cleared 1,000 career points and had her first ever double-double
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Holcomb guard Jera Kruleski enjoyed 11.3 points per game in 2020-21, which ranked in the top-10 among Kansas freshmen, per MaxPreps lists. Kruleski moved into the starting lineup midway through her freshman year.
Holcomb had its second straight season of seven victories under coach Andrea Ardery. Kruleski was part of a statewide freshmen group who averaged double figures that included Andover’s Brooke Walker, Riverside’s Taylor Weishaar and Clearwater’s Elizabeth Tjaden.
“Going back to her freshman year, she had been praised and encouraged to score a lot of points,” Ardery told Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3). “She is a phenomenal shooter, she does that really, really well, but we told her as a freshman, if you want to get better as a basketball player, you need to step up your defensive game.”
Since then, Kruleski has continued to score at a high level. She delivered 15.1 points per game as a sophomore, 14.9 last season and has opened with 12.7 points a contest this year.
However, Kruleski has seen a notable uptick in rebounding and steals.
Her rebounding has upped from 2.4 to 2.1 to 3.9 to 5.3. Her steals have gone from 1.7 to 2.5 to 2.7 to 3.7. In her career, she has made 121 treys and shot 34 percent from long range. Last year, she ranked in the top-15 for all classes in Kansas for 3-point percentage.
She has helped Holcomb post 12-10 and 13-9 records the last two falls, the Longhorns’ best marks since 2013-14. This year, Kruleski and Holcomb have enjoyed milestones. On Dec. 15, Holcomb defeated Goodland, 54-52, in a road GWAC contest.
That ended Goodland’s 43-game winning streak, the longest current run, boys or girls, in Kansas.
“The Goodland win was obviously very good, because of them winning back-to-back state championships and having their streak" Ardery said. "But to me, it wasn’t even about that streak, it was every time we play them, we lose by 20, maybe 30 points, and to go to their place and actually win the game, was huge for us, and I thought our girls played with a lot of confidence in that game."
"We usually walk in there with our tail between our legs just because they are intimidating," Ardery added. "They are really, really good. They have a great culture and tradition that they’ve set up over the last four years, and in the past, they’ve had all of their six-footers that are really tough to play against.”
Goodland is the back-to-back 3A state champs. The Cowgirls had dealt with sickness and nearly hit a half court shot to finish the contest.
“Hats off to Holcomb, good team,” Goodland coach Bill Biermann said on his postgame radio show. “…I’ve probably never been prouder of a team in defeat.”
Kruleski delivered 20 points and two steals in the Goodland victory.
“We get those big wins there, those are really special, because you know all of the heartache and work that you have put into it, and to see that come to fruition is pretty special,” Ardery said.
Against Goodland, Holcomb trailed by nine after the first quarter and was down by double digits during the contest. Kruleski finished five of 11 from the field, two of five from 3-point range.
“Boy, they lit us up in the second quarter,” Biermann said.
In the first January game, Kruleski finished with 21 points and three steals in a 63-29 victory against Ulysses and cleared 1,000 career points.
Kruleski became the second all-time player in Holcomb girls’ basketball history to reach 1,000 career points, joining Brenna Gottschalk, a 2011 graduate who tallied 1,285 points. She is the 17th player in Kansas for all classes to reach 1,000 this season, per research from well-known girls’ basketball historian Brad Doebele.
Walker, Tjaden and Weishaar have recently cleared 1,000 career points. Walker has committed to Utah, Tjaden to Emporia State and Weishaar to Central Missouri. Kruleski holds a Bethany offer.
“Ever since then, her sophomore through her senior year, she has really, really stepped it up,” Ardery said. “She’s fun to watch, and she fills the stat line better than anybody on our team. She contributes in all aspects of the game.”
The 5-foot-6 Kruleski reached 1,000 with 1 minute, 56 seconds left in the third quarter against Ulysses. She has mainly played for Magic in the summer, a well-known program that primarily draws from northwest and southwest Kansas.
“She just has that high basketball IQ that she sees things and then understands the game really well,” Ardery said.
Holcomb has opened 5-2 and will host its own sub-state. Holcomb is the only team to defeat Goodland (6-1). Seven of the eight teams in the Holcomb sub-state are .500 or better.
“The teams are going to be really, really tough,” Ardery said.
On Dec. 8, Holcomb defeated Meade, 64-36. Kruleski finished with 14 points, including six treys. She also delivered a double-double with 10 rebounds.
“She had never had that before, so she was pretty proud of that,” Kruleski said.
Before the contest, Kruleski had never had more than seven rebounds in a game. The victory marked her first career double-double. Ardery said Kruleski “wanted to make sure” she had a double-double and checked her rebounding total.
“For somebody her size and playing at the point guard position quite often, I mean for her to have a double-double, especially with the second (part) being on rebounds is quite impressive, but she is a good team player and a good basketball player, too,” Ardery said.
Long known for softball, Riley Dreher making an impact for Indians
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
HAYS – Hays High junior Riley Dreher contributed defensively in multiple ways during the Indians’ 60-55 home victory Friday against Liberal.
Dreher created steals, deflected passes, wreaked havoc while diving for balls, forced turnovers – and blocked a 3-pointer that effectively sealed the victory.
“Riley is a grinder,” HHS coach Len Melvin told Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3).
Dreher is part of Hays High’s acclaimed junior class that includes starters Molly Martin, Katie Linenberger and Kenlee Winter. Dreher and Winter’s strength comes on defense.
“He knows that we like to play defense,” Dreher said. “We are a little aggressive.”
Hays High has opened 4-3, 1-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. HHS owns a win against Washburn Rural, ranked seventh in 6A, and against a Liberal team the Indians had not defeated since Jan. 5, 2018. HHS had dropped 11 straight in the Liberal series.
“She just guards really well, she is long, she is strong,” Melvin said of Dreher.
Dreher averages two points and 1.5 rebounds a contest. Her lone basket Friday came on a second quarter 3-pointer. However, she finished with two steals, two deflections, multiple dives (including one that led to a key fourth quarter turnover) and a block, per S3 charting.
“It was a team effort, and it was a good time,” Dreher said.
Friday’s game yielded 65 possessions, per S3 statistics, a higher than average number for a high school contest. Liberal (4-3) entered averaging 59 possessions a game. Liberal had turnovers on 26 percent of possessions. Dreher’s defense helped the Indians force turnovers on 31 percent of possessions.
Liberal coach Brandi Fowler was impressed with the Indians’ defense. Fowler called “fouls and turnovers” the difference for the Redskins. LHS averages .86 points per possession and tallied .85 against HHS. Hays High’s defense has notably Washburn Rural and Wichita Heights, both ranked 6A teams, to season lows.
“They play really good pressure defense,” Fowler said.
In the season opener, Dreher finished with two steals against crosstown rival Hays-TMP, per Hudl statistics. In the marquee victory versus Washburn Rural, Dreher had five points, two rebounds and a steal. Earlier this month, Dreher had five steals in a road win versus Junction City.
“You’ve just got to get in their eyes,” Dreher said. “Make them think that they don’t know what they are looking at basically. It’s hard to pass around a hand if it’s in your face.”
Dreher is well-known for her softball ability and has earned Class 5A all-state honorable mention each of the last two seasons. Both of her parents, Jamie and Dustin, were acclaimed Fort Hays athletes and still dot the Tiger record book. Dustin is the Hays High head baseball coach.
In 2023, Dreher paced Hays High softball to its first Western Athletic Conference title in 12 years. Dreher hit .462 with 15 extra-base hits as a freshman. She carried a .569 average, three homers and 29 RBI last spring, all team-bests. In basketball, Dreher appeared in all 22 games last winter and produced two points a game. She had 16 deflections, 15 steals (fourth-best) and a block.
Dreher was expected to move into a starting role this year as Indian girls’ basketball looks to capture its first league crown since 2012. She earned all-star honors at the Fort Hays summer camp. The key juniors have played basketball together since early elementary school.
Melvin usually assigns Winter or Dreher to a top offensive scorer. They are different defensive players.
“Kenlee likes to jump around and get in passing lanes,” Melvin said.
Liberal features senior Hailey Contreras, a Tabor commit who has made more than 125 treys in her career. Contreras tied the game at 47 on a floater with 6 minutes, 36 seconds left. Then, HHS held her to 0 of 3 shooting (all treys) and a key turnover the rest of the game.
“I thought they both did a great job, but Riley makes it really hard to do things when she is guarding you,” Melvin said.
“That’s my job,” Dreher added. “He said, ‘Lock her down.’”
Liberal led 50-47 when Dreher forced a turnover on a dive midway through the fourth quarter. On Liberal’s last shot of the game, Contreras had a 3-pointer in the corner. Dreher blocked it, and HHS was able to run out the clock.
“I just gave it my all,” Dreher said.
HHS' Katie Linenberger has enjoyed a big start for Indians
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
The all-tournament team from the season-opening Hays City Shoot-Out is generally a list of standout players from all classes. In most years, the Shoot-Out produces multiple eventual state qualifying teams and has yielded at least one final four squad in the last four years.
This season, the Shoot-Out all-tournament team featured Manhattan’s Maxine Doering, Hugoton’s Abi Slocum, Washburn Rural’s Maddie Vickery and Katie Hinck, Olathe West’s Emma Sales and Emma Thomas, Hays-TMP’s Brooke Koenigsman, and Hays High’s Molly Martin and Katie Linenberger.
Doering is headed to Kansas State for rowing. Slocum is easily Hugoton’s most experienced returning player off three straight final four squads. Vickery is among the nation’s top freshmen. Hinck was returning all-league honorable mention for 6A state runner-up Rural.
Sales has recently picked up an offer from Northwest Missouri State, was first team all-conference in ’22-23 and earned Shoot-Out MVP. Koenigsman and Martin have played major minutes since their freshman season, are great shooters, outstanding multi-sport athletes and all-league in volleyball and basketball.
Linenberger, HHS’ junior post, was expected to enjoy a breakout season and put herself in the upper echelon of players. That happened with the all-tournament accolades and second-place finish for Hays High at the Shoot-Out. Hays High defeated TMP and state-ranked Washburn Rural before a loss to Olathe West, currently ranked fourth in 5A.
On Dec. 8, HHS also defeated Junction City, 55-27, in a road non-league game. Linenberger set a new career high with 21 points, per HHS broadcaster Dustin Armbruster. The 6-foot Linenberger is known for her high-level athleticism. In the spring, Linenberger went 5-foot-4 and finished as 5A runner-up in the high jump.
Last season, Linenberger played in all 22 games for a 14-8 Indian squad. She finished third in minutes played behind Martin and since-graduated Carly Lang, now playing volleyball and basketball for Garden City. Linenberger averaged eight points and five rebounds a contest. Linenberger and Martin have helped HHS to a 3-2 start with marquee home games against Wichita Heights and Liberal next Tuesday and Friday, respectively.
Heights is currently ranked fifth in 6A. HHS/Liberal will mark the Western Athletic Conference opener. Hays High has lost 11 straight to Liberal.
Linenberger, who has received a volleyball offer, was a key player in the fall for a 21-14 team, the Indians’ first winning season since 2019.
She is also a member of National Honor Society. Her older brother, Jace, was a former HHS all-state player. Jace is currently averaging five points and four rebounds a game for Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Haag should become all-time MCL girls' winningest wrestler
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Ellis senior Kaydawn Haag reached 100 career wrestling victories. Haag entered this winter No. 10 on the active girls’ wrestling list, per Sunflower Sports Solutions’ database. Haag should become the all-time winningest Mid-Continent League girls’ wrestler in the next couple weeks.
Haag is a three-time state placer, one-time state runner-up and defending state champion.
Haag is a multiple-time first team all-state softball selection and has committed to Fort Hays. Haag is currently ranked first at 140 pounds in Classes 4-1A.
Wichita County opens with strong first game
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Leoti-Wichita County girls’ basketball is considered a significant contender in Class 2A. The Indians are preseason ranked fifth in 2A, behind only Pittsburg-Colgan, Riverside, Hillsboro, Hoxie and a spot in front of defending champion Berean Academy.
Wichita County finished 19-5 last season and lost to Hillsboro, 36-30, in the first round of state. WC has significant returners, led by Megan Ricke.
She averaged 13.5 points per game, while Ashlynn Ricke had 8.8 points per contest, and Breanne Ricke delivered 7.2 points a contest. Additionally, Megan Ricke easily paced the Indians with 7.9 rebounds a game, and led her team with four steals, and 1.1 blocks a contest.
All three Ricke sisters are back this winter. The Rickes led Wichita County to its first state berth in 22 years.
On Friday, Wichita County opened with a 71-40 win versus Elkhart. In volleyball, Megan and Ashlyn Ricke, a senior and junior respectively, were both first team all-league.
Johnson led Kansas in innings pitched last spring
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Recently, many of the state’s top Class of 2024 softball players committed to colleges. Holcomb pitcher Korryn Johnson received significant interest from multiple schools. Johnson was among multiple November commitments and signed with Fort Hays State University.
Johnson led Kansas with 127 innings in 2023, per MaxPreps leaderboards.
Her 211 strikeouts were second. Santa Fe Trail’s Kaelee Washington paced the state with 254 Ks. Washington just signed with University of Kansas. Silver Lake ace Avery Wende signed with Washburn after major interest from several lower Division I schools.
Eisenhower catcher Karlee Ford flipped her commitment from junior college powerhouse McLennan to Iowa State as she gathered more interest. Olathe Northwest catcher/third baseman Kendall Yarnell signed with Central Florida.
Wamego junior Peyton Hardenburger, the state’s top player, has committed to Tennessee. Scott City ace Cheyenne Cramer, who has dueled against Johnson multiple times in recent years, committed to Labette County Community College in recent weeks.
In her career, Johnson carries a .434 average with 19 extra-base hits to 64 RBI. She is 59-9 with a 2.00 earned-run average, four no-hitters in 398.1 innings. Fort Hays enjoyed a 31-24 season last spring, the most wins for a program in a decade.
Stay tuned for more softball coverage on S3 as spring approaches.
Smith Center setter thrice earns first team all-state
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Smith Center senior setter Camryn Hutchinson completed one of the most accomplished volleyball careers in Lady Red and 2A history.
Last week, the Kansas Volleyball Association released its annual all-state teams. Each squad has just 21 players, including seven on the first team.
Hutchinson was the lone setter who earned first team all-state 2A, the third straight year she earned that distinction. Hutchinson is the only current 2A player that has accomplished the feat.
Hutchinson entered this fall as the Lady Red’s all-time assist leader. She completed her career with 2,679. That ranks in the top-20 all-time in Kansas history, per the Sunflower Sports Solutions database. It’s the most publicly recorded by a Mid-Continent League setter.
Smith Center finished 39-6 and in third place in 2A behind Hillsboro and Ellinwood. Smith Center went undefeated through the Mid-Continent League.
Smith Center senior Gracie Kirchhoff, an outside hitter/middle hitter, picked up first team, too. SC senior Dakota Kattenberg earned honorable mention all-state.
Kirchhoff has committed to Sterling College, while Kattenberg has major KCAC interest. Those three are part of Smith Center’s highly decorated senior class that went second, first, second, third in 2A volleyball the last four seasons under Hall of Fame coach Nick Linn and veteran Denyse Kattenberg.
Linn has more than 1,000 career victories and is in the Hall of Fame.
In 2A, six setters earned all-state honors at some level, though three played another position. Among the ones listed just at setter, Hoxie senior Josey Kennedy picked up second team, while Sedgwick sophomore Kalyn Sampson was honorable mention.
Hutchinson earned first team all-state as a sophomore, too. She, Hillsboro’s Zaylee Werth and Inman’s Suttyn Harris were the lone ones to earn 2A first team each of the last two seasons. Kirchhoff was honorable mention in 2022.
Hutchinson was first team all-state as a sophomore, the only non-senior named to that list.
This fall, Hutchinson led Smith Center with 297 serving points and 779 assists. Known for her passing, Hutchinson recorded 187 digs, fourth-best on the squad.
Her 94.6 serving percentage ranked above the season average. SC averaged kills on 41 percent of swings, which normally ranks in the top-15 for all classes. Smith Center hit .324 as a team. Last year, SC led all of Kansas with a .326 hitting mark.
Hutchinson, Kirchhoff and Kattenberg will help pace a Lady Red basketball team that should open in the top-10 in 2A in early December. Linn and Kattenberg lead the basketball team.
Ryan Sramek led eight-man in multiple offensive categories
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
WaKEENEY – The Atwood-Rawlins County football team met in the end zone after a 58-12 playoff victory at WaKeeney on Nov. 3. RC missed multiple starters, though junior back Ryan Sramek enjoyed another huge game with 269 offensive yards and four scores.
Senior Braxton Dixson, in his first year as the starting quarterback, accounted for three TDs. Senior Brayan Rodriguez continued his strong two-way season with a pivotal interception on the sideline. The offensive line, with no players starting in the same positions as last season, helped the offense produce more than 400 yards of offense. No Buff is more than 200 pounds and has been undersized every week.
In the end zone, the coaching staff reminded the Buffs of the summer weight room work that propelled Atwood to its 9-1 start and Eight-Man, Division I Round of 16 victory versus WaKeeney. The Golden Eagles featured a top-10 defense and had won its first district title in 20 years.
Sramek, eight-man’s leading rusher this fall, finished sixth in Class 3-2-1A wrestling last winter. He weighed around 150-155 pounds this fall. In the summer, Sramek improved by around 80 pounds in bench and squat and arond 45 in the hang clean.
“It really helps that you show up every day and then you just get stronger and stronger,” Sramek said. “It’s crazy, you show up every day, your weight goes up crazy, and those coaches push you a lot in the weight room.”
Aaron Sramek, Ryan’s dad, has coached 19 years in various capacities at his alma mater. He gave significant credit to his assistant coaches, all whom have significant Rawlins County ties.
Starting in May, the three coaches were in the weight room every morning with the players. The players bought in.
“We knew we had to get stronger, because we knew we were going to be so small,” coach Sramek said.
After the WaKeeney victory, Atwood had met a goal it first set with summer weights started: Face No. 1-ranked and defending state champion Leoti-Wichita County.
Last season, Atwood finished 8-3 and lost 58-12 to Wichita County in Division I state quarterfinals. After the WaKeeney victory, coach Sramek was “super excited” to face Wichita County again.
On Friday, Atwood was significantly more competitive with Wichita County. The Buffs fell, 56-34, in the state quarterfinals. It marked WC’s 24th straight victory and its closest game this fall.
Entering the contest, Wichita County had permitted just 58 total points this year.
Sramek rushed 32 times for 209 yards and four scores. He caught a 14-yard pass, collected 15 tackles and an interception. Sramek does an excellent job of staying low on his carries and gaining extra yards once hit, traits that came the summer work on his body and hips. Atwood occasionally used Sramek as a passing/Wildcat quarterback this fall, too.
“Ryan, he does a good job of finding that seam, and our line just tries and create that seam for him,” center Pete Crouse said. “He takes advantage of it.”
Atwood completed a 9-2 season, the program’s most wins since 2002, per Kansas Football History. That season came under Hall of Fame coach Dan Lankas. Ryan Sramek finished a remarkable season with 265 carries for 1,982 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns. He paced eight-man in carries, rushing yards, along with total yards from a non-quarterback (2,314), per MaxPreps statistical lists.
“He’s fast, he’s faster than we are, and they were a lot more physical than us tonight,” Trego coach Pat Haxton said. “And we kind of tried to bank on being physical, and that dude hits cutbacks, and if you miss a tackle on him, look out, he is gone. He is a tremendous football player.”
While Division I is dominated by Lyndon in the east and Wichita County in the west, Sramek has emerged on the short list for player of the year and Atwood will likely finish in the top-five in the final polling. Sramek also had 86 tackles and a team-high seven interceptions.
“It’s an awesome feeling out there, and I love playing with this team, and these coaches do a lot for us,” Sramek said. “They put in so much work and effort into this team, it’s just amazing.”
Rodriguez enjoyed a mammoth year and led with 146 tackles, 39 catches, 624 receiving yards, nine scores and four fumble recoveries. He delivered 20 tackles for loss. Coach Sramek believes Rodriguez should earn all-state defensive honors and noted he “has worked so hard to get to where he is at.” Junior Dorian Culwell had 95 stops, 19 for loss.
“Brayan Rodriguez is one of our best players, he’s arguably our best player, even though my son has had a good year,” coach Sramek said. “He’s a great receiver and a great ball catcher, that’s not a big part of our game right now, so he doesn’t get as many balls his way.”
Dixson completed a strong season at quarterback with 54 of 90 passing for 906 yards with 12 scores against four interceptions. He rushed 74 times for 349 yards and eight rushing scores. Rawlins County averaged 6.6 yards per rush, 9.7 yards per pass, and 43.8 points per game.
Last year, RC had 6.9 yards per rush, 8.8 yards per pass and 38.9 points a contest.
“We are undersized every time we play, and they put so much time in the weight room this summer,” coach Sramek said.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Crouse played center in his early youth football years. He played guard last fall. Coach Sramek said Crouse is more naturally a fullback. However, because of Rawlins County undersized line, the coaches asked Crouse to play center in the summer. They believed Crouse provided the best option to single block. Crouse immediately agreed, because he knew it benefited the team, and started to work on snapping.
“Never questioned us coaches on our decision to do that,” coach Sramek said.
In the Week 9 bracket game, Rawlins County traveled several hours east to Lincoln. The game was played in drizzle and fog. Ryan Sramek finished with 56 carries for 311 yards and two scores. Coach Sramek said it was never his intention to have his son – or any player – run that many times in a game. However, Rawlins Count didn’t want a negative play and knew they could produce three to four yards on a Sramek run. They ran the same play probably 20 times in the second half. The line continually made holes for Sramek.
In addition to Crouse and Rodriguez, the line included senior Gus Hanson (6-0, 155), sophomore Daylan Fairchild (6-0, 200) and senior Henry Holle (6-2, 170).
“It’s always tough to get a good push going,” Crouse said. “And keep the guys motivated and keep them head strong to be able to get that push going. We have been really working on it in practice everyday. We try to block to the whistle, that’s our whole thing is playing to the whistle every play, and it’s really showed with our line this year, and especially the past couple weeks, we’ve really just tried to step up our game.”
QHS wins back-to-back 1A cross country titles
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Quinter captured its second straight Class 1A boys’ state cross country championship last Saturday. The Bulldogs finished with 45 points, 25 in front of Ness City. Throughout the year, QHS has enjoyed great depth. Quinter, under coach Ed Mense, had four runners between No. 11 and No. 21.
Sophomore Elliott Churchwell led the way in 17 minutes, 29.5 seconds. Sophomore Kendrick Selensky was No. 17 in 17:38.6. Senior Micah Simon was a spot behind in 17:39.1. Junior Hans Deaton rounded out the top-four in 17:47.8. Junior Tate Blackwill, sophomore Pierce Rummel and freshman Zion Beckner rounded out the squad.
At the 1A Meade regional, Quinter delivered 31 points, eight ahead of Skyline for the title. QHS' top-four finished between fifth and No. 12. Deaton led the way, followed by Selenky, Simon and Churchwell.
Back at the season-opening TMP meet, Quinter finished third behind Hoxie and Hutchinson Trinity and five points ahead of Ness City. At that meet, Deaton led Quinter, with Churchwell second, Selensky third and Simon fourth.
Last season, Quinter was first with 30 points, 15 ahead of Beloit-St. John’s and 27 ahead of Ness City. The depth showcased again for the Bulldogs. QHS had four runners between ninth and 19th: Deaton, Churchwell, Simon and then-senior Matthew Elder.
South Gray girls complete historic weekend in volleyball, cross country
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Montezuma-South Gray volleyball coach Rick Moyer grew up in Pennsylvania and played Division III college volleyball at Eastern Mennonite University. They scrimmaged against Penn State, a Division I volleyball power and national champion when Moyer was in school.
Moyer said he “learned from the best” from Penn State’s players.
“We were hitting our hardest shots, and they were running free ball plays,” Moyer said.
When the Moyers moved to Montezuma, he wanted to run a college-based offense with high schoolers. In the younger ranks, most volleyball coaches focus on merely getting the ball over the net. Moyer wanted his teams to still pass, set and hit to get used to junior high and high school volleyball. His daughter, Kaylee, never played rec volleyball.
“We are playing volleyball, we are not playing tennis here,” coach Moyer said.
In junior high, Kaylee Moyer and Allie Reed were the hitters and swung 50 to 60 times per day.
“They can play the game, because they learned it in junior high,” Moyer said.
The roots helped South Gray complete the best volleyball season in school history last weekend at the Class 1A, Division I state tournament. SG finished 41-3 and fell in the state championship to two-time defending champion Little River. Rick Moyer served as head coach and Caley Love the assistant.
South Gray lost to Atwood-Rawlins County in the first pool play match in three sets. Then, SG beat Wichita Classical in two sets and earned a huge three-set victory against longtime power Centralia: 24-26, 25-23, 25-16.
In the semifinals, SG defeated Clifton-Clyde, 25-21, 25-16. The Rebels lost in the championship to LR, 25-15, 23-25, 25-7. South Gray became the last Kansas team regardless of classification to lose a match this fall.
Earlier this week, the Kansas Volleyball Association released its all tournament state teams. Reed and senior libero Jacelyn Huelskamp were named to the 1A-I 12-player list.
“Allie Reed, she can hit line, she can hit angle, she can hit anything,” Moyer said.
Additionally, South Gray girls won its second straight 1A state cross country championship last Saturday. SG had 27 points and rolled to the title. Colony-Crest finished second with 72 points.
Sophomore Jacee Deges finished sixth with 20 minutes, 24.9 seconds. Junior Kylie Stapleton was eighth in 20:35.2. Junior Gwen Jantz earned ninth in 20:35.4. Freshman Jenna Simmons earned No. 19 in 21:25. Junior Reegan Meairs and sophomore Brenna Faurot rounded out the team.
At the beginning of the volleyball season, coach Moyer asked the girls about goals. They mentioned a league championship and state berth. Moyer wanted his team to play loose and relaxed. Many people told Moyer this year, “Man, they are fun to watch.”
“I believe God has a plan for this team,” Moyer said. “I said, ‘Maybe to lose every single game.’ But I was like, ‘We are just going to go out and play hard, and we will see what happens. Whatever happens, happens, and that’s just God’s plan. That’s what I believe. …. I don’t really concentrate on winning. It’s just playing your best and that takes all the pressure off them. Just to go play your hardest, and we go home. Sun will come up tomorrow, and we will go from there.”
Reed, a junior, paced South Gray with 350 kills and a .270 hitting percentage. Senior Vi Helm was second with 261 kills and a .249 hitting mark. Sophomore Lakin Goossen has 192 kills and a .123 average. Junior Clara Breneman delivered 112 kills and a .188 average.
“We run basically a college offense,” Moyer said. “A lot of things are just on the fly, especially with the middles. We are going to go front or behind depending on the pass, and Kaylee is smart enough to do that, and it takes awhile to be able to do that. So her and Vi Helm are really good at just winging it, and just making something happen, but they are fun to watch.”
Moyer, a senior, paced the classification with 858 assists and cleared 2,000 in her career.
“She is a great setter,” Helm said. “…I think setting is something very hard. You are touching the ball every single play, and it sets it up for the kills. I think that’s a very mental game also, and I know that if she is setting the ball, we are going to get a good hit off of it or a good kill. Something’s good is going to happen, and I always have faith in her that she is going to get it up.”
Huelskamp led with 316 digs, while Goossen finished with 296 digs. Last year, South Gray finished 33-7. Reed had 250 kills, while Breneman had 31 kills.
“She is already a naturally good blocker,” Helm said of Breneman said. “So she has been working on blocking, but her hitting has improved so much this year. She has been really reaching for the ball and (hitting) it down, and I think that’s really what is helping her play more, and just getting more kills.”
Goossen played varsity maybe once last season. She was opposite Reed this fall.
“You play left side opposite Allie Reed, the pressure is on,” Moyer said. “We just tell her, ‘Hey, you don’t need to get kills.’ She is a really good passer. Did really good at defense. It’s hard to come on this team and do so well. But she is. She is just pretty steady. She is just learning confidence.”
Reed and Helm will headline a South Gray girls’ basketball team that went to state last season and should be one of the best 1A-1 squads this winter.
Linebacker paces Hays High in tackles
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
HAYS – Wyatt Kirkpatrick and Dalton Meyers started to play together in the Pride of Kansas Football League in third and fourth grade. Then, Meyers was the quarterback, and Kirkpatrick anchored at center. Kirkpatrick was a linebacker on defense.
Kirkpatrick played offensive line and linebacker through middle school before he switched to defense full-time. Meyers was a defensive back and then moved to linebacker for 2023.
“It just fits me right,” Meyers said.
Both are first-year starters in Hays High’s new look defense that helped the Indians capture a school record fourth straight Western Athletic Conference championship.
“Me and Wyatt are like best friends,” Meyers said. “We are like really close together, and every time we start going down, we always come to each other. We’re like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to be leaders.’ Coach is saying we need to be leaders, so we come together, and we have a really close relationship with each other.”
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Kirkpatrick has 86 tackles, second-most in the league, per Dustin Armbruster, the league statistician and Hays High broadcaster. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Meyers is second on the team and sixth in the conference with 68 stops. Meyers leads the league with 13 tackles for loss, and Kirkpatrick is tied for second with eight. HHS has permitted 26.7 points per game.
“He’s the next guy we kind of saw coming that could step into that linebacker role,” head coach Tony Crough said of Kirkpatrick. “We have had some linebackers over the last six years, and he was the next one we said that could fill those shoes as kind of a 100-tackle kind of guy, and he’s right there, and he is making good plays and starting to lead the defense.
“He’s got that true mentality of just, ‘I want to make tackles, and I want to be the inside linebacker that runs to the ball,’” Crough added. “He plays with an intensity that a lot of the guys feed off of, and he is really starting to be a true leader on the defense.”
Hays High posted a 6-2 regular season, including 3-1 in the WAC. The Indians have won three games on the last play.
“Guys just having to push through and wanting it more is kind of what I like to think of,” Kirkpatrick said. “How bad do we want it? And we always wanted it, so that’s how we got this.”
On Friday, Hays High will play host to Valley Center (5-3) in a Week 9 bracket game at Fort Hays State University’s Lewis Field Stadium. Start time is 7 p.m. HHS beat Valley Center, 28-6, in a Round of 16 contest last year.
HHS played in a remarkable three overtime games and gained the No. 7 seed in 5A West. In the past couple of years, Mill Valley and Maize had elevated above the rest of the classification. This fall, 5A has zero undefeated teams. The top-10 squads in 5A West are 7-1, 6-2 or 5-3.
No. 1 Kapaun Mt. Carmel, headlined by running back Omari Elias, an Air Force commit, is considered the favorite.
“I feel like 5A West is wide-open for us right now, and I think we are ready for anybody,” Kirkpatrick said. “And if we have been playing like we have been playing, I think we beat anybody, and we can compete with anybody in 5A West.”
In Week 1, Hays High won 20-14 at Junction City in overtime. In Week 2, Hays High defeated Great Bend, 28-27, in a game that came down to the final play of regulation. In Week 4, HHS lost, 24-21, versus Garden City at home. In Week 7, Hays High won at Liberal, 48-41, in double overtime.
“It’s just been really tough,” Kirkpatrick said. “We’ve just had to really dig deep and find out who we are and what we are made of. We have done a really good job of just being determined and showing we can play with those top dogs and just proving ourselves.”
Senior Malik Bah has a conference-best 1,003 yards and 11 rushing scores. The school’s all-time leading rusher had more than 80 combined touches in the first two weeks.
“Just give the ball to Malik until he’s just gassed,” Crough said of the first two wins. “And we are just going to keep giving it to him, because he is our guy. (Week 7), we won in double overtime, and both times we scored, it was Malik as a decoy.”
In the last six years, a stretch that has more than 1,800 team seasons, only 2018 Belle Plaine has played in three overtime games in the same year, per Sunflower Sports Solutions research and the KPreps database.
“Scrappy and real resilient when it matters,” Crough said.
HHS is 5-3, 8-3 and 10-2 the previous three seasons; the latter is the best year in school annals. Crough has discussed “Meet the Standard” with the current group.
“We are a team,” Meyers said. “We came out to win. We came out to beat people. We come to play hard, and that’s our goal. We have many years before us, they Meet the Standard, they Set the Standard, and we are here to Meet the Standard. We are ready to do that again and just keep on doing it.”
Audrey Bina has enjoyed a big fall for Husky volleyball
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Almena-Northern Valley sophomore Audrey Bina has enjoyed a first team all-state caliber season and paced the Huskies to a top-10 record in Class 1A, Division II. Northern Valley stands at 24-13, a jump from the last several years.
Northern Valley had a run of excellence, notably from 2013-18. That included a state title in 2017. Then, Northern Valley finished 5-27, 0-22, 15-20 and 21-16 before another improvement this fall. The 6-foot Bina is among the state leaders with 409 kills, five kills per set and a .234 hitting percentage. She has 49 percent of her team’s kills.
Bina is tenth for all classes in kills, per the MaxPreps lists. The top-10 is filled with elite athletes. Ingalls sophomore Olivia Stein has led the state and nation in kill percentage for part of the year. Two others have committed/received Division I offers for a sport. Two more have committed to a MIAA school for a sport.
For sophomores statewide, Bina, a setter/middle hitter/middle blocker is second to Stein in kills.
Bina and Austyn Cox both earned top-10 players in the massive Western Kansas Liberty League-Northwest Kansas League all tournament last week.
Northern Valley is the second seed in the Grainfield sub-state that will occur Saturday. Wheatland-Grinnell is the top seed at 30-7. NV has the ninth-most wins in the classification.
Among teams in the western half, only W-G, Greeley County (school record 28-9) and Ingalls (25-8) have more. In the WKLL/NWKL tournament, Northern Valley and Wheatland-Grinnell were the only WKLL teams to reach the championship bracket.
Additionally, Bina is second with 46 aces, nine behind junior Delaney Sides for the team lead. Bina has 46 blocks; the rest of the team has 17 blocks combined.
Seniors Braxton and Austyn Cox have delivered 274 and 266 digs, while Sides has 216. Senior Mary Baird has 169 digs. Bina has 156 digs, while junior Tatum Lentz has 140. NV has 15.8 digs per set.
Austyn Cox and Bina are the two main setters with 430 and 212 assists, respectively. Braxton Cox has 412 serve-receives. Cox just passed 1,000 career assists. Head coach Lacey Hansen and assistant coach Emily Lowry lead Northern Valley.
Bina has significantly improved her numbers from last season when she had 273 kills and hit .167 with 20 blocks en route to first team all-league honors. In basketball, Bina recorded 7.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Bina also qualified for state in triple jump, the lone NV girl to qualify for state track.
Smith Center is 28-4
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnicholllHays
Nick Linn, Smith Center’s longtime head volleyball coach, has enjoyed great success, multiple school records and milestones with his experienced senior class. Smith Center is second, first and second in 2A the last three seasons. The Lady Red, possibly in Linn’s last tenure in his Hall of Fame tenure, concluded the regular season Tuesday.
“They want to ask questions,” Linn told Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3) in the summer. “They just do what you ask them. …. Half the work is done for you when you get kids like that.”
Senior Gracie Kirchhoff, who would like to play college volleyball, surpassed 1,000 career kills at the Concordia Invitational on Sept. 30. She is the third all-time player in SC history to clear the milestone. She joins Tallon Rentschler and Gracen Hutchinson.
Rentschler was 2A player of the year in ’21 and currently plays at Fort Hays. Hutchinson signed for Hastings volleyball.
Smith Center is ranked second in 2A by the Kansas Volleyball Association. SC ended the regular season Tuesday with a 28-4 mark. Smith Center won a triangular Tuesday at host Great Bend and longtime SC rival Phillipsburg. GB had lost just three times this year and was ranked tenth in 5A.
Smith Center has two losses to 3A Beloit (31-2), a defeat at 3A Hoisington (25-10), and at Minden (Neb.).
Last fall, Kirchhoff was first team all-league, all state tournament team and honorable mention all-state in volleyball. She was second in kills, digs and aces. Kirchhoff entered this year with 720 kills and should finish second all-time in school history.
Smith Center is a collective 146-19 in the last four falls. SC will be the heavy favorite in the 2A Republic County sub-state contested Oct. 21. Earlier this year at the Republic County tournament, Camryn Hutchinson cleared 2,000 career assists and is the Lady Red record holder.
Kirchhoff, Hutchinson, Tinley Rentschler, Baylee Archer, and Dakota Kattenberg headline the Lady Red’s four-year group with great careers in volleyball and basketball. SC is 56-15 with a third-place finish in basketball in the last three winters.
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Wheatland-Grinnell has long enjoyed great volleyball history, including the recent run under coach Shannon Foster. Overall, W-G won state in 2015 and has multiple final four showings during the last decade. Additionally, Wheatland and Grinnell were volleyball powers before consolidation, with nine state titles from 1974 to 1991.
Senior Karoline Schroeder has put together one of the more productive careers for the tradition-laden school in Gove County. Schroeder recently cleared 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs and 1,000 serve-receives in her career when W-G updated season statistics last week.
She is the fourth player in W-G history to surpass 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career.
In mid-September, Sunflower Sports Solutions (S3) noted very few players, usually one to four a year across Kansas, hit 1k/1k/1k in those three categories. Schroeder is the first known player to reach the marks this fall.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Schroeder has 1,088 kills, 1,225 digs and 1,546 serve-receptions in her career. For basketball, she should quickly clear 500 rebounds this winter and with a big season, she could clear 1,000 career points.
Smoky Valley’s Hope Duncan should clear all three marks in the same week this month. Olathe Heritage Christian Academy’s Rachel Van Gorp and Beloit’s Mylie Brown could get there, too. Those are likely the main candidates.
Duncan and Brown have committed to Fort Hays, Van Gorp to Iowa State.
Last season, W-G went 26-16 and advanced to the state tournament, where it went 1-2. Schroeder was second team all-state Class 1A, Division II by the Kansas Volleyball Association and has played like a first team all-state pick in 2023. She easily paces the Thunderhawks with 265 kills and 837 attacks.
Freshman Alivia Ball, a nationally ranked high jumper in junior track, is second with 106 kills and paces with a .178 hitting average. Junior Jordan Perez, freshman Natalie Bixenman, junior Emily Heier, senior Maddy Zerr, senior Jordyn Beckman, sophomore Evangeline Godek and junior Abigail Cheney have been key players, too.
Beckman leads with 293 digs, while Schroeder is second at 238. Heier has led with 394 assists. Schroeder is first with 364 digs. W-G has averaged 18.4 digs per set, up from 16.9 last season. Plus, the Thunderhawks have had a slight uptick in serve-receive rate from 91.4 to 92.2.
Wheatland-Grinnell will host its own sub-state. The Thunderhawks are 22-6 and are the clear favorite to advance to state later this month. Northern Valley (19-9) is the only other squad in the sub-state with a winning record. W-G defeated Northern Valley on Aug. 29. W-G won the Gove County Classic championship for the second straight year in early September. W-G is currently ranked fifth in Class 1A, Division II by the coaches.
All but one of W-G’s lone losses have come against larger schools, including top-5 2A Ellinwood, 3A Goodland and 3A Scott City. The Thunderhawks also fell to Lebo, the defending 1A-II champs who has one loss to a KSHSAA team this fall.
Ellis volleyball has enjoyed strong season
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Ellis senior Kaydawn Haag continued her impressive three-sport career and recently cleared 500 career kills. Haag and the Railroaders finished second at the Kiowa County tournament last Saturday. Ellis lost twice to South Gray, including once in three sets. South Gray is one of three remaining undefeated teams left for all classes, with 6A Blue Valley North and 2A Sedgwick.
As of Wednesday morning, Ellis stood at 13-6, per KSHSAA records. Several times, Sunflower Sports Solutions has noted the Railroaders as a 2A emerging team this fall.
EHS could enjoy the program’s best season in at least two decades this year. Ellis has experienced a big turnaround with 24-11 and 25-12 records the last two falls. The Railers have not won more than 25 matches in a season since before 2008.
Haag has paced Ellis with 2.4 kills per set and a .158 average. Natalee North has been impressive with two kills a set and a .119 mark. Haag leads with 3.9 digs per set, and setter Kylee Pfeifer is second with 3.5. Taylor Seibel is third at 3.1. Pfeifer has cleared 1,200 career assists.
Junior Brooke Starns is at 39 kills, while Pfeifer has 35 and senior Emily James has posted 31. North, a 6-foot junior and 2A discus champion, easily leads with 19 blocks. Senior Jadyn Starns, junior Isabella Eck and junior Addison Kohl have been key players, too.
Haag is a three-time state wrestling medalist, including a state runner-up as a freshman and state championship last season. She is top-10 in wrestling wins among active wrestlers, per the S3 database.
She is committed to Fort Hays softball. This spring, Haag set the school record with eight homers, 54 runs scored and 28 walks. In ’22, Haag sent the team marks for wins (10) and strikeouts (80). She is the EHS career leader in homers (12), runs scored (121), wins (26) and strikeouts (225). She is tied for the RBI lead at 84.
Garden City junior Piper Harris is two-time first team all-WAC in volleyball and softball
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
Garden City junior outside hitter Piper Harris consistently exudes joy when playing volleyball. Harris is a back-to-back first team all-Western Athletic Conference pick and is currently the league’s most decorated player entering 2023. This year, Harris has helped an experienced Buffs squad to an 10-6 record, including seven straight victories. Last Saturday, GC’s junior varsity and varsity went a combined 12-0.
“A lot of hustle plays, and we just really never gave up the entire day,” Harris said. “It was just like we all had the same attitude, and just like we wanted to win, the drive to win.”
Harris credited her optimism and performance to a variety of people: her parents, and grandparents, teammates, club coaches and the Garden City program. Harris grew up watching Buff volleyball win 10 straight conference titles, a stretch that ended in 2021. GC is 155-89 under coach Trista Bailey.
Her grandfather is Dr. Michael Harris, a well-known dentist in Garden City since 1973. Piper’s mom is Katrina. Her dad, Dr. Grant Harris, is a GC graduate and dentist since ’03. Father and son lead Harris and Harris Family Dentistry. Piper carries a 4.0 GPA and wants to pursue dentistry just like her family.
“That joy probably has to come from my younger self,” Harris said. “Like I just always wanted to be a Lady Buffalo playing on that court, and it’s just like a dream of mine, and I am here. And I always want to win, but I will always be proud of the effort my teammates put forward. And I will always give them my best, and it’s just exciting playing with them, and it couldn’t make me happier.”
Piper will likely not pursue collegiate athletics, though is considered a top-35 all-classes recruit for 2025 Kansas graduates, per Prep Dig. She is expected to go to Kansas State and then dental school. This year, she really likes Physics and Algebra II.
“I want to be just like my dad,” she said.
Harris has played volleyball since first grade and began club in fourth grade with High Performance. Chris Vargas, the current Garden City Community College assistant volleyball coach, has led the High Performance program, a pipeline for Buffalo success. She played several years for GC Mission Volleyball, a club run by Bailey.
Harris is currently with Rampage, based in Great Bend. Multiple Rampage players have made significant impacts this volleyball season for a couple programs.
Generally, Harris makes the 249-mile round trip to Great Bend twice a week during club season. Harris normally finishes any school work on the way to GB. After around a two-hour practice, she gets food and normally rests on the way home.
“It’s not much of a hard thing for me,” Harris said. “But my mom deserves all the credit for driving me.”
Harris has started since her freshman year in volleyball and softball. Harris has earned first team all-conference both seasons in softball, too.
Last year, Garden City received 83 percent of its kills from non-seniors. Defender Adeleena Unzueta, and setters Lexi Arwine and Aleeya Cruz returned this year. Harris produced a well-rounded season and paced with 314 kills, 251 digs and ranked second with 420 receptions. She averaged 3.5 kills and 2.8 digs per set with a .183 average.
This year, through the first 17 sets, Harris is at 2.9 kills per set and upped to .228 attacking. She is second in receptions (110) and digs (2.9 per set). Sophomore middle KJ Pinchon has emerged with a .377 hitting percentage, top-15 for all classes in Kansas. Junior Avery Just and sophomore Ava Luna are key hitters, too.
Harris just cleared 1,000 career serve-receptions. Next year, she will have a chance for a highly rare trifecta of 1,000 apiece in kills, digs and serve-receptions. She’s played outside hitter, left back and left front all three seasons.
Harris recently measured an impressive vertical jump of around 23 inches. She is 5-10 in volleyball shoes. Harris’ main team goal is to win WAC, a title she said GC “really” wants back. Great Bend (11-1), Garden City, and Hays High (8-8) are the top contenders, while Liberal is the defending champion.
“I really just have to give it all to my passer and my setter,” Harris said. “Adeleena Unzueta and Lexi Arwine and Aleeya Cruz, they are just phenomenal volleyball players, and they just really know how to get the ball to where it’s supposed to be, and yeah, I just really owe it all to them.”
Freshman Madison Howland has enjoyed two dominating wins
By CONOR NICHOLL
@cnichollHays
HAYS – Brad Howland had witnessed the elite running talent from his daughter, Smith Center freshman Madison Howland, during the last couple seasons. Madison has always liked the sport and often went on runs after school in fifth and sixth grade. She posted strong times in junior high. Howland had unlocked her potential with summer track through the Kansas Flyers. Bob Smith has coached the Flyers for 34 years.
Howland and her teammates earned acclaim and made the front page of Runner’s Space, a well-known national site, for the performance this summer at the USATF Nationals. The competition occurred at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, known as Track Town.
Howland ran on the anchor leg in the 3,200-meter relay for the 13-14 girls’ age group. The relay featured Tribune’s Jailyn Brandl, Ellis’ Taryn Boydston, Plainville’s Brilynn Trumpp and Howland. The group was seeded second. Trumpp and Howland passed up several runners in the last two legs.
Howland secured the victory in the last 20 meters in 9 minutes, 55.50 seconds. Multiple photos captured the finish with the girls wearing looks of shock, disbelief and joy. Howland also finished fifth nationally in the 13-14 age group with a time of 10 minutes, 27.11 seconds in the 3,000-meter run.
“That race was pretty intense,” Madison said. “There was a lot of good runners there. I kind of like – it’s a team, more of a team, so you kind of have more pressure on you since you have three teammates.”
The 15-16 group won the national championship in the 3,200 relay, while the 17-18 group was second.
The 15-16s has Russell’s Kinsey Zorn, Ellis’ Avery Boydston, Wabaunsee’s Payton Wurtz and South Gray’s Kylie Stapleton. The 17-18 relay featured Marysville’s Brynn O’Neill, Lawrence’s Emma Roman Nose, Norton’s Mackenzie Clydesdale and Clay Center’s Lauren Smith.
“It’s unbelievable,” Brad said. “I knew the Trumpp girl was the third leg, and when she took the baton. …. I knew if she would at least stay there, Madi could work them up to second – and she was just a lot more hard-headed than the girl that was in the lead the whole race, and she is a smart runner.
“She was working her way up on that girl, and she picked up on some cues that that girl was giving, and she knew right then that she should go, and she went,” Brad added.
A few weeks later, Smith Center opened the high school cross country season on Sept. 2 at Hays-TMP. Madison had run 175-180 miles this summer.
Brad wasn’t sure what other talent would be in the race or if his daughter would be intimidated against seniors. Brad, the Smith Center assistant cross country coach, and longtime SC head coach Kelli Armknecht looked for Madison to run in the 19 minutes on a hot Saturday morning.
Madison quickly asserted herself and rolled to a title in 19 minutes, 20 seconds.
“We were hoping she’d be in the 19:30s, and she did better, so yeah, was really proud of her,” Armknecht said. “We knew she could do that, but just really nice to see it.”
She is on the short list for 2A state favorite – and could help the Lady Red qualify a team to the state cross country meet.
“I was kind of nervous, but then once I got into it, I kind of started to relax a little more and just do what I like to do,” Madison said.
“She knows how to start a race, and she knows how to run up front,” Brad added. “And that’s what she did, and never looked back.”
Smith Center has 14 high school runners and five in junior high. Armknecht has spent 12 years with the program. The early years had three to five high school runners. The Lady Red finished fourth in a closely packed five-team race. The top-four teams were within 20 points.
“For me, it’s exciting to have a full team this year on girls and guys,” Armknecht said. “…It’s taken a long time to build a program, and so it’s really fun to have this many kids.”
Freshman Felicity Herredsberg was tenth in 24 minutes, 23.2 seconds. Sophomore Emily Pruden, in her first-ever race, posted 15th place in 25:10.09. Sophomore Emma Howland, senior Linsey Campbell and freshman Kaydyne Armknecht also competed.
“We are really proud of them,” coach Armknecht said.
The boys finished fifth, too. Sophomore Gavin Hickert and junior Leo Hickert were the team’s top runners in 15th and 22nd place, respectively.
Additionally, Howland won at Stockton’s Lake Webster course in 23 minutes, 8.8 seconds on Sept. 8.
“It’s really exciting to see a freshman with this much talent,” Armknecht said.
That was nearly two and a half minutes ahead of the field. Herredsberg took fourth, and Pruden was seventh.
“Just super proud of her,” Brad said. “I mean, couldn’t be more proud of her. Of course that nationals win was an amazing deal, but just to see her come out on a normal cross country race and pull something like that off was nice.”