Basketball and Wrestling

LN Invitational

Tournament of The Year

written by: Justin Scott

Every year, Liberty North hosts one of the most premier basketball tournaments in the Kansas City metro. The tournament features brackets, filled with an assortment of competition from all over the metro, and is organized by Liberty North’s Athletic Director Lane Green. “The Liberty North classic basketball tournament is one of the premier preseason basketball tournaments in the area, the Kansas City metropolitan area,” Green said. But what makes the tournament unique is that it is a co-ed style tournament inviting competition from both genders. “What makes it unique is the fact that it’s a term for both boys and girls. It’s a full girls tournament and a full boys tournament, all played on the same week here at Liberty North,” Green said. While Liberty North hosted the tournament last year it was plagued by restrictions from the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, that removed fans from the stands. But now with lighter restrictions, Girls Varsity Head Coach Brian Rockers hopes the atmosphere of the past will return. “Well, hopefully, this year the atmosphere is back from what it was two years ago. Anytime we play in the Fieldhouse, whether it be in the tournament, or just a non-count game or a conference game, the atmosphere is huge,” Rockers said. Not only is the atmosphere of the games important but the tournament serves as a way to get a feel of the competition the teams are facing this year. “We always try to tell our girls anytime we play in a tournament, we either want to go three in a row or two and one you want to come out of those tournaments with a winning record. So doing well that week would be a huge, huge benefit for us finishing up the first parts of the basketball season.” Rockers said. Not only does the tournament provide the ability to get an early tip-off on the competition for the teams. But it also is a long lasting tradition at Liberty North, going almost all the way back to the schools founding. “The tournaments about 10 years old. And it’s a great tournament because it gives all the boys and girls teams who participate in a chance to see where they’re at as a basketball team to give them an idea of where they stand in terms of competitiveness.” Green said.

photo by: Justin Scott

Men’s JV and Varsity teams run dribbling drills in preparation for their upcoming games. The LN Invitational will be held December 6-10. “It gives all the schools an opportunity to get their feet wet,” Lane Green said.

Pin Down For Wrestling

written by: Jack Bendure

Womens Wrestling Women’s Wrestling

The women’s wrestling team is gearing up for their first duel against the Park Hill South Panthers and the Oak Park Northmen Wednesday, December 1. The team has been practicing to get ready for their first meet. “There is an intense drive and passion this year. You can tell from the atmosphere in the room that there are big goals set this season and they will do anything to get them,” head coach Laurel Shoger said. The team has set its sights on having a successful season with hopes of sending multiple athletes to state this year. “Our biggest goal is to work on building each other up and connect more as a team. We would also love to maintain our good dual record as well as take home more medals from tournaments,” Shoger said.

The men’swrestling team is gearing up for their season, it will kick off at home and will progress to duels and tournaments all over the metro area. The team has been working hard, practicing since October to prepare. “Conditioning is definitely a challenge but it’s super important for us to be ready for competition and it’s definitely a good show of who wants it the most,” senior Preston Beran said. The Eagles are working with a full roster this year with lots of freshmen moving up to the high school level. “Our biggest improvement has definitely been getting the new freshmen good looks at practice and getting to give them a good feel of what a live match is going to look like,” Beran said. Coaches have said that there is a lot of talent, so drawing line-ups will prove challenging. “There’s a lot of competition to make varsity, we’re going to have a good line up on JV and Varsity,” head coach Logan Searle said.

Mens Wrestling Men’s Wrestling

photos by: Justin Scott Men’s Wrestlers run takedown drills in preparation for upcoming duels. The team has a full roster this year. “Our biggest improvement has definitely been getting the new freshmen good looks at practice,” Beran said.