Area High School Fall Sports Preview

FALL SPORTS 2023 AREA HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW

EMPORIA FOOTBALL SET TO BEGIN KADEN GLINSMANN ERA

By John Sorce john@emporia.com

The Emporia High School football team will begin a new era in 2023.

After going 2-8 a season ago and Keaton Tuttle’s resignation, the Spartans will have a new voice on the sidelines hoping to turn the program around.

Kaden Glinsmann comes to Emporia from Polson High School in Montana, where he has been for the last four years. He took over a team that went 0-9 in 2018 and then went 4-5 in his first two years before going 10-1 and 9-1 the last two seasons. But he felt a sense of complacency settling in and felt it was time for a new challenge.

That led Glinsmann to Emporia.

“It was one of those situations where if you’re green, you grow and if you’re ripe, you rot,” Glinsmann said. “I felt like complacency had begun to settle in a little bit and I was looking for a change. I had known of Emporia because of playing them while I was at [Wichita] Heights and then having attended the Kansas Shrine Bowl here. I was fairly familiar with the area and I applied, [Ath -

letic Director Beau] Welch reached out and we got that process going.”

Senior Sheldon Stewart got the majority of time at quarterback last season when Fred Jackson suffered an injury before week one. Jackson was able to return for the final regular season game, but Stewart gained valuable experience at the position that should benefit him this year.

“We’re going to try some different things out, but I think he’s going to be the guy that leads us on Friday nights,” Glinsmann said. “Obviously, the new system is a ton to learn. But he’s a really smart kid and takes everything to heart and he wants to do as well as he possibly can, because he knows that he’s the guy that ultimately sees this team being successful.”

Sept. 15 — Salina

Central

Sept. 22 — Topeka High

Sept. 29 — at Manhattan

Oct. 6 — at Wichita East

Oct. 13 — Washburn Rural

Oct. 20 — at Junction City

Emporia placed seven players on All-Centennial League teams last year. But all but one, kicker Alex Allemang, have graduated. Returning players also expected to make an impact are senior wide receiver/ defensive back Cooper Rech and junior defensive lineman Koby Le. Other players figure to emerge as the season goes along. While people tend to look

at wins and losses, Glinsmann, who has a history of building programs, doesn’t worry about that. He wants to instill in his players to take things play-by-play and let the final result handle itself.

“I think the first thing is belief,” Glinsmann said. “We have to believe in our vision and we are here to compete. We don’t worry about wins and losses. One thing I’m going to instill in these guys is to play each play the right way and let the scoreboard figure itself out at the end. When we see the most success is going to be when we care the least about the scoreboard and care the most about playing for the guy next to us.”

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EMPORIA BOYS SOCCER LOOKING TO GET OVER STATE HUMP IN 2023

By John Sorce john@emporia.com

One win is what separated the Emporia High School boys soccer team from its first ever trip to the state quarterfinals a season ago.

Emporia earned the No. 2 seed in Class 5A state tournament and advanced to the regional final, falling 3-0 to an upstart Andover squad and concluding its season with a 15-3 record.

While the Spartans graduated 11 seniors from last year’s roster, head coach Victor Ibarra believes his team will be competitive once again this season. He credited his team’s depth to what could help Emporia make another deep postseason run this time around.

Ibarra is entering his 11th year leading the program. He is very passionate about not only coaching soccer, but about mentoring young men.

Soccer Schedule

Sept. 10 — TBA

Sept. 12 — Hayden

Sept. 14 — Valley Center

“Coaching at the high school level is about mentoring and providing guidance to young men,” Ibarra said. “Watching them make mistakes and helping them learn from their mistakes is very rewarding when it’s all said and done. This isn’t about getting players to be soccer professionals but about becoming productive citizens in our community.”

Sept. 19 — Washburn

Sept. 21 — Topeka High

Sept. 28 — Manhattan

Oct. 3 — Wichita

Oct. 5 — Pittsburg

Oct. 7 — JV Tournament

Oct. 12 — Wichita

Oct. 17 — St. Marys

“I think we’re extremely deep,” Ibarra said. “We have a great combination of senior leadership with some youth and I really enjoy the chemistry with how they’re playing together so far. I filled up every varsity uniform this year, because all of those guys deserve it.”

Oct. 19 — Junction City

Oct. 23-28 — TBA

Oct. 31-11-4 — TBA

Emporia will have eight seniors this year including captain Alex Mosiman, who has also served in that role for the last three years. Mosiman was also named a top 25 player in 5A by KSHSAA and was All-Centennial League First-Team last year.

Returning players who earned honorable mentions are Edwin Maciel, Damien Garcilazo, Keith Dix, Kevin Magana and Zander Keosybounheuang.

The team did lose its top two goal scorers in Gio Garcilazo and Jefry Linares, but does return Maciel who was third a season ago with eight. He will also be a four-year varsity starter.

Other players expected to make an impact this season are juniors Carter Granado and Benjamin Gamez, who is new to the varsity team and expected to make

a big impact.

While the team did graduate its three-year starter in goaltender Diego Reyes, Ibarra said he has two goalies who are going to split time this season in Alex Ramirez and Andrew Ruxton. Both kids bring different skill sets to the position.

“Alex and Andrew are two quality, varsity starting goalies and it’s going to be a huge lift to be able to substitute a guy in and not miss a beat,” Ibarra said. “They both have different strengths and weaknesses, but I think they’re elite overall and it’s really nice to have two guys like that.”

Regardless of what the team’s record winds up as, Ibarra hopes the team can look back at the end and say his guys were able to improve each day.

“We’ll try to objectively get better every day so when we look back at the end of the season, we can say we’ve done everything to enjoy the ride and trust in what we did in practice,” Ibarra said. “We want to believe in each other through trust, hold each other accountable, be proud of what school we represent, communicate with one another to remain transparent and last but not least, care for one another.”

EMPORIA CROSS COUNTRY TO HAVE YOUTHFUL ROSTER IN 2023

By John Sorce john@emporia.com

Even with a young roster, the standard remains the same for the Emporia cross country team: get both the boys and girls teams to qualify for state.

The Spartans sent the girls as a team last year and had one boy qualify as an individual in Daghyn True. The junior is the defending Centennial League Champion and finished fifth at regionals and 10th at state.

Entering his ninth year leading the program, head coach Mike Robinson knows he will need to have some guys step up to get them there as a unit. He wants to see what he has in the first few meets of the season.

“The first couple of meets, I just want to see where everyone’s at as far as how fit we are,” Robinson said. “I already kind of know who our top performers are going to be, so just seeing who else is going to step up to the plate is really all you can do those first few meets.”

Senior Micah Sheffy-Harris will lead the way for the Lady Spartans. She took ninth at league, third at regionals and placed 57th at state. Sophomore Bailee Van Sickle is also a returner to watch.

The team did graduate two key runners in Maryn True and Elizabeth Willhite,

Roster

BOYS

Bennett, Evan Gomez, Edgar Heinen, Bryce James, Evan Mitchell, Tegan Shaw, Brayden Cunningham, Andrew

Lowery, Gideon Samuels, Will

True, Daghyn Tucker, Conor Ulrich, Marek

Bin Arif, MJ

Luthi, Tyler

Reynolds, Finneas Torres, Eduardo

GIRLS

Beatty, Emma Evans, Madison Lowery, Amelia Rodriguez, Juliana Wellman, Kaylee Macias, Ariella Rodriguez, Katrina Van Sickle, Bailee Perez, Sophia Perez, Marely Curtis, Allison Lewis, Leanna Gardner, Bonnie Heinen, Lily Sheffy-Harris, Micah Zapata, Damia Ruvalcaba, Sofia

who is now running at Emporia State. But Robinson has liked what he has seen so far from the younger runners and thinks the girls can get back to state as a team.

“Micah is going to finish well at almost every race and she’s also a great leader,” Robinson said. “She’s been around all summer and put in the work, and has been a good example for the younger kids.

“We lost a lot of talent with Maryn and Elizabeth graduating. But we have a lot of

freshmen that look really good on the girls side. So, I think there’s potential for them to head back to state again and place the same or higher.”

One of the things that Robinson looks for in incoming freshmen is how they handle the demands of high school cross country, compared to what cross country was like at the middle school level.

“There’s a huge difference between middle school and high school cross country,” Robinson said. “The first couple of

meets we will want to see if they warm up and cool down properly. But we have a few kids who are a little more advanced, and I want to see how they will compete.”

Cross Country Schedule

Sept. 14 — at The Orchard

Sept. 16 — at Baldwin City

Sept. 22 to 23 — Lawrence

Oct. 7 — El Dorado

Oct. 14 — at Topeka

Oct. 21 — TBA

Oct. 28 — Lawrence

Robinson noted the key to the team’s success this year will be developing athletes and capitalizing on the work that was done during the summer. He hopes to see a few runners step up over the course of the season for those final spots to send to the state championship, which will be held at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence in October.

EMPORIA GIRLS TENNIS RETURNS YOUTHFUL, BUT EXPERIENCED ROSTER

By John Sorce john@emporia.com

The Emporia girls tennis team will be young this season, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t return players with valuable experience.

The Lady Spartans return all three state qualifiers from a season ago: sophomore Kali Keough in singles and senior Ashlynn Foraker and sophomore Peyton Chanley in doubles.

Head coach Saul Trujillo is happy with what he’s seen from his returning players so far.

“They’re looking good,” Trujillo said. “I know Kali has been working on her serve a lot and Peyton and Ashlynn have been working on their doubles games a lot. We kind of had to stick them as a doubles team at the last minute at regionals to qualify for state. Now, they’re getting more experience playing doubles together and are more ex-

perienced going into the season.”

Also retuning is Darian Chadwick, who got some experience at regionals last year. But everyone else will be new to varsity ten-

nis this year. Trujillo noted the pace of the game as the biggest difference between JV and varsity tennis.

“I think the hardest part for those young-

er girls who haven’t played varsity is adjusting to the pace and how fast the ball is going,” Trujillo said. “The game is going really fast for them right now, so we’re just trying to slow things down a bit for them. We’re just trying to work on handling pace and getting them ready for varsity matches.”

The players have been working on the basics early on in practice, focusing on ground strokes, serves and volleys in preparation for game action.

While Trujillo hopes his returners will take a step forward this season, he noted that other players and teams have also improved, so it will come down to who performs the best in each match.

“I think they’ll definitely be better from last year,” Trujillo said. “But we have a hard schedule and I’m sure other teams have gotten better, too. So, it’ll just come down to whoever plays the best on any given day.”

The Class 5A state tournament will be held Oct. 13-14 this year in Salina.

EMPORIA GYMNASTICS HOPE TO HAVE MULTIPLE STATE QUALIFIERS IN 2023

By John Sorce john@emporia.com

The Emporia gymnastics team had two state qualifiers last year. But neither was able to participate.

Senior Journey Walburn and junior Laney Cooper suffered injuries just prior to the state meet last season. The Spartans are hoping more girls will have the opportunity to compete this year.

Head coach Angela Podrebarac, entering her 11th year leading the team, likes what she has seen from practice so far.

“I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen,” Podrebarac said. “We’ve had some super hard working practices and I feel like the girls are ready for what’s to come. Gymnastics is hard, because it’s not like you can just pick it up where you want. There’s a lot of strength, flexibility and conditioning that goes into it.”

Podrebarac will have 11 girls this year, which she noted is about the usual number of girls that come out for gymnastics. The team is senior-heavy, with five of them, and Cooper leading the charge.

There is also Linley Mendenall, who has a dance background and is out for the first time. Podrebarac is excited to see how that skill set will translate to gymnastics. “We have five seniors this year, which is a large number and I’m excited for that,” Podrebarac said. “We have some experience. Linley Mendenall is a senior who is out for the first time, but she’s a dancer so she brings those skills.”

Podrebarac said the girls will focus on the basics early in the season as they get back into their season routine.

“I think just cleaning up the requirements,” Podrebarac said. “We have some skills that we are still working on, and then making sure we don’t have holes that we can easily fill because those scores add up pretty quickly.”

There is no league or regionals for gymnastics in Kansas. Instead, athletes qualify for state based on their best scores in each event across all competitors in the state. Podrebarac hopes to see the girls improve their scores as the season progresses, and to have multiple girls at state in Newton on Oct. 21.

EMPORIA GIRLS GOLF HOPES TO GET BACK TO STATE AFTER HISTORIC YEAR

By John Sorce john@emporia.com

It may be hard for the Emporia High School girls golf team to replicate the success they had a season ago, but the goals remain high.

The Lady Spartans are coming off a second-place finish at the Class 5A state tournament but graduated the top two golfers the program has ever had in Avary and Olivia Eckert.

While finishing as one of the top teams at state is unlikely, head coach Rick Eckert thinks the team could have enough pieces to get back there this year.

“While we’re not going to shoot at the level we did last year, I don’t know that we’re going to see a huge drop off to the point that we won’t be competitive,” Eckert said. “If we get better as the year goes on, I think getting that fourth spot in our regional that goes to state can be a realistic possibility.”

Sophomore Elise Eckert, who finished 14th at state last year, is going to be Emporia’s top player. Senior Ella Fessler is also a returning player expecting to make an impact.

Senior Nicole Dalton played with the team as a freshman, but took two years off from playing high school golf. But she has been working on her game and Eckert expects her to be a solid addition as the team’s No. 3 player.

“I think Nicole is going to be really important for us

as a team because she’s going to give us a consistent third score,” Eckert said. “She has a lot of experience and has been working on her game during the summer. She looks ready to go and I’m hoping she has a really good season.”

Freshman Kelsey Shull and senior Hayden Mann rounds out the team’s roster this year. Eckert expects Shull to be the player that gives the team their No. 4 score the most and she comes in with a prior background. That gives Eckert a sense of relief, as a lot of freshmen who come out from the team have never played before.

“Kelsey having played before causes so much less stress on me,” Eckert said. “She has some background with the middle school program. She has an idea of what she’s doing and has played in some tournaments before, so it’s good that we’re not starting from scratch. She has some pretty high expectations for herself and is expecting some big things out of her game.”

Eckert hopes the girls will continue to improve each day and stay positive when things get challenging. If they do that, he hopes they will be able to get them back to state as a team, which will be Oct. 16-17 in Hutchinson.

“We need to have a good work ethic, continue to develop our short-game skills and keep a positive attitude when things get challenging,” Eckert said. “We are going to compete as hard as we can every week and hopefully reach our ultimate goal of going to state.”

EMPORIA VOLLEYBALL RETURNS VETERAN SQUAD IN 2023

By John Sorce john@emporia.com

One win stood between the Emporia volleyball team and a trip to the state tournament a season ago.

Head coach Ping Wang, entering her third year leading the team, is hoping her team will be able to win sub-state this year after falling short in last year’s final to Bishop Carroll and finishing the year with a 28-11 record. The team will be experienced as they return six seniors and only graduated one starter in Rebecca Snyder.

Emporia will be a veteran group this year with the majority of the girls having a full year of experience under their belts playing together as a team. It was a new experience for some of the last year, and there were some growing pains early on.

But Wang feels that experience is going to pay off for them this year.

“I think that is definitely going to help their confidence,” Wang said. “This is pretty much the same group that

lost in the sub-state and I told them after that game to remember the feeling and push yourselves if you don’t want to have that same feeling again this year.”

Sophomore Jade Xu is a returning All-Centennial League First Teamer and was also the league’s Newcomer of the Year. Xu finished her freshman year with 209 kills with a .291 hitting percentage.

Seniors Alexa Shivley and Lexsey DeWitt along with junior Sadie Rethman were second-teamers last season, while senior Ryan Peak was an honorable mention. They will also get Kyla Herfkens back, who missed last season with an injury.

The team will get a boost from Adeiah Heffner, a junior middle hitter who transferred to Emporia from Council Grove, and incoming freshman Kaylee DeWitt.

Wang feels the strength of the team this season will be a strong offense with five players capable of being good middle or outside hitters. The team needs to improve its speed on defense and some of its offensive systems. If they are able to do that, they should be one of the top contenders in Class 5A.

COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY PHOTO/KIM GAINES

MADISON FOOTBALL ENTERS NEW ERA IN 2023

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

A “changing of the coach” marks the beginning of the 2023 football campaign for Madison High School. Longtime head coach Alex McMillian left to test the 11man waters, as new head coach Nate Teichgraeber is set to commence his third head-coaching gig.

Teichgraeber inherits a somewhat successful program. The Bulldogs posted a 6-4 record last season and played in the second round of the playoffs but were defeated by a tough Little River team.

However, the seasoned coach loses 142 offensive yards and three touchdowns per game. Those numbers reflect Bryson Turner’s output from last year. His speed and overall athleticism won’t be replaceable anytime soon. Madison also lost the receiving prowess of Gavin Isch, another key piece to the varsity squad’s success the past couple of seasons.

“Replacing the production, leadership, and positive culture our seniors provided will be our toughest challenge. We graduated some all-state caliber human beings and all-state football players. Losing the individual offensive production from Bryson Turner will be a challenge,” the first-year coach said with a bit of candor.

Teichgraeber said the Dogs will have to rely on the entire 8-man unit to move the ball and make plays to keep defenses honest along with physicality on the line of scrimmage. The implementation of these goals started this summer.

“We will need to develop offensive cohesion this summer, so we can execute in the fall,” he said. “We also need some new guys to have a solid summer so they can build a role for us in the fall. We have had a solid spring/summer in the weight room, and we hope to see better results from our bigs up front, on both sides of the ball.”

Despite the absence of an ultraskilled offensive weapon, there are some strengths. The Dogs return six starters on both sides of the ball, and the majority are big men.

“We return guys who have played in many big-time games over the last few years, which will help us as our newcom-

Football Schedule

Sept. 15 — at Lebo

Sept. 22 — Marantha

Sept. 29 — at Lyndon

Oct. 6 — Cair Paravel

Oct. 13 — Burlingame

Oct. 20 — at Chase County

Oct. 27 — TBD

ers develop and establish new roles for us,” Teichgreaber said. “The development of the guys in the trenches in their training since last season has me excited for what we can accomplish in the fall.”

And you don’t have to be named Bryson Turner to be an impactful player. Madison has a group of seniors who can show out on any given Friday. Beginning with Lane Darbro. The two-time defensive all-state selection and playmaker is a tone-setter. He led the team with five tackles for loss and five pass deflections, plus grabbed two picks from his defensive end position.

“He can be one of the best 8-man football players in the state in 2023,” Teichgraeber said.

All-district returning senior quarterback Hayden Helm completed 70% of his passes — with no interceptions — in just five games of action last year.

“Hayden is poised to take a big leap as a playmaker on offense and a key cog in the secondary,” Teichgraeber said. “Hayden, a returning two-year starter, looks to climb into the upper echelon of playmakers in 8M1 on both sides of the ball in ‘23.”

Senior Gannon Pyle is the top returning Bulldog tackler. But his presence on offense is critical to the team’s success.

“A lunch-pail guy who always does what is best for the team,” the head coach said. “Gannon is switching to guard for his senior year on offense and looks to be a key cog on offense for the Dogs in the trenches.”

Jesse Schneider is a returning starter on both sides of the ball, and his versatility allows him to play any position up front.

“An energy guy for the Dogs, look for Jesse to push for all-district honors in ‘23.”

Rounding out the returning starters is junior Colton Isch. Teichgraeber said the team’s second-leading returning tackler will switch from safety to corner this season.

“Solid two-way player on defense, excelling in coverage (always guarded the

Roster:

Colton Isch

Cade Hurlburt

Will Grimmett

Hayden Helm

Gannon Pyle

Cohen Luthi

Jefferson Davies

Lane Darbro

Lane Smith

Drake Loveall

Ethan Hall

Packer Bolinger

Gabrial Villarreal

Octavian Dean

Austin Griffith

Landon Seimears

Jesse Schneider

Jackson King

Tripp Gulick

Brayden Grimmett

Carson Kusmaul

Colter Luthi

Kendrick Andersen

Lakin Watts

other team’s No. 1 wide receiver) and solid downhill tackler,” Teichgraeber said. “Smart, rangy player who looks to push himself into the top of 8M1. He had a great summer and looks to be an impact guy for the Dogs on both sides of the ball.”

Others expected to immediately contribute are juniors Packer Bollinger and Cade Hurlburt.

“Packer returns as a two-way starter from ‘22. He can run well for his size, and has the ability to be a dominant two-way player in the trenches for the Dogs. Cade is a Swiss army knife type of player. He led the team in INTs last year, splitting snaps at DB and LB.”

COURTESY PHOTO/KIM GAINES

VOLLEYBALL HOPES EXPERIENCE CARRIES OVER

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

The Madison Lady Bulldogs nearly punched their ticket to the state tournament last year, despite an 11-20 record.

But the team makeup is a bit different this season. The Bulldogs lost three key players to graduation: Sarah Miser, who will compete in

MADISON

From PAGE 8

track field at Tabor College, Yolaine Luthi who is rowing for Kansas State this year and Elizabeth Freund.

“We lost a big group of seniors from last year,” said head coach Ashley Redeker, who is in her eighth year at Madison. “We lost our leading hitter and a lot of varsity experience.”

Her squad wasn’t seniorheavy last year, either. Redeker told the Gazette in 2022 that the team had several younger players with limited experience who would be filling crucial positions but didn’t expect any drop off in the level of play from the previous year.

And Redeker was basically right. The Lady Bulldogs made it to the sub-state championship, losing a close match to a legitimate Olpe team.

She said this season, “…we have a team that is young, but they are very aggressive and scrappy.” That could mean another trip to the sub-state championship match for the Lady Dogs.

Madison will rely on outside hitter Jalynn Weakley and libero Brooke Gaines to lead the 2023 group to a successful season. Sadie Albert (middle), Caylin Luthi (outside hitter/setter), OH/S Candace Ashlock (setter/ outside hitter) and Kimber Hudson (outside hitter/middle) round out the returners expected to make an impact.

The challenges in the 2023 campaign will be similar to last season: inexperience in big positions.

“One of our biggest weaknesses will be experience and learning to play in different positions,” Redeker said. “I think our team has a great work ethic and they are committed to helping each other be the best that they can be.”

This year’s goal? Win.

“We hope to finish with a winning record and continue to build tradition,” Redeker said.

NEW HEAD COACH HOPES NORTHERN HEIGHTS FOOTBALL BUILDS OFF EXPERIENCE

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

Northern Heights High School has weathered some tumultuous campaigns lately.

They’re winless the past two seasons, their last victory occurring on Sept. 11, 2020, against Northeast High School (who they nearly beat last year.) That game was the Wildcats only win in 2020.

To say the team has struggled mightily over the last three years is unfortunately an understatement.

Questions remain as new head coach Peyton Heins takes command of the program. The biggest question seems to be how a squad still maturing football-wise will fare this season.

Football Schedule

Sept. 15 — at Council Grove

“We were a very young team last year,” Heins said. “We played multiple freshmen and sophomores. I’m hoping to build off of the experience our young players gained last year…Size and maturity are our biggest weakness.”

Sept. 22 — at Jayhawk-Linn

Sept. 29 — at Olpe

Oct. 6 — Central Heights

In 2022, former head coach Todd Callahan abruptly resigned in late September, the week the Wildcats were scheduled to play Olpe. Northern Heights was forced to forfeit the contest, and the program wasn’t able to regroup after that.

Oct. 13 — at NE-Arma

Oct. 20 — at Pleasanton

Heins suggested that there really isn’t a returning team leader but said he is looking for one to emerge. The returning players expected to contribute are sophomore wrestling standout

Leo DeDonder, sophomore Kamden Robinson, and a pair of juniors Tripp Stormont and Clayton Collier. Junior Colton Bolinger

Roster

Cooper Woodrow

Cameron Hageman

Cole Gerleman

Leo DeDonder

Kamden Robinson

Elijah Warnick

Kelton Bish

Oliver Sheely

Harlan Badger

TJ Dean

Ryan Osage

Gage Morrison

Elijah Brammell

Tripp Stormont

Gabe Beck

Clayton Collier

Kolten Bolinger

Gus Phillips

Harrison Figuerra

Tyler Robinson

Aiden Eckstrom

Boston Eckstrom

Spencer Fox

Preston Patton

Diego Avendano

is a new player that could make an impact. Heins aims to establish a solid culture inside the program.

“My biggest goal of the season is to gain toughness and a no-quit attitude back to this program,” Heins said. “My next goal is to mature as a team and build a team chemistry to play for each other and have each other’s back.”

PREISNER HOPES TO LEAD NORTHERN HEIGHTS VOLLEYBALL TO NEXT STEP

Northern Heights High School begins its 2023 volleyball campaign with new head coach Lakota Preisner.

Preisner, who spent the past three years as the team’s assistant, will try to guide the 4-27 2A program, along with assistant Loren Rice, to an improved record.

Her goals are straightforward.

“We hope to stay positive throughout the season; stay determined; have fun; improve our record and to get the kids to love the sport even more than they already do,” Preisner said.

She sees the team’s strengths as communication, team unity/encouragement, work ethic and adaptability. And the squad’s weaknesses will be serving and hitting. “But that will come along with more practice.”

Volleyball Schedule

Sept. 12 — at Council Grove

Sept. 19 — at Osage City

Sept. 23 — at Olpe

Sept. 26 — Lyndon

Oct. 3 — at Central Heights

Oct. 10 — Chase County

Kailyn Schlimme was a key loss for the Jaguars, but they return 5-foot-8 senior Makenna Delgado, 5-foot-7 Chloe Navarro and 5-foot-5 senior Addison Landgren. Delgado brings a skill set that includes kills and blocks, while Navarro possesses dig and kill abilities.

Oct. 14 — at Chase County

Oct. 17 — Burlingame and Herrington

Oct. 21 — Sub State

Oct. 27, 28 — State

B y c hri Stopher A dA m S adams@emporia.com

NORTHERN HEIGHTS CROSS COUNTRY TO FIELD TWO FULL TEAMS

Cross Country Schedule

Sept. 14 — The Orchard

Sept. 21 — at Wabaunsee

Sept. 23 — at Rim Rock

Sept. 28 — Council Grove

Oct. 5 — at Osage City

Oct. 12 — at Camp Chippewa

Oct. 21 — Regional at TBD

Oct. 28 — State at Wamego

Roster

BOYS:

Cooper Hamlin

Nathan Hansen

Nathanial Ciero

Patrick Niedfeldt

Braxton Young

Logan Schlimme

Rees Spade

Max Olson

Jacob Merrill

Henry Schneickert

Tripp Stormont

Gabe Beck

GIRLS:

Clayton Collier

Kolten Bolinger

Gus Phillips

Harrison Figuerra

Tyler Robinson

Aiden Eckstrom

Boston Eckstrom

Spencer Fox

Preston Patton

Diego Avendano

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

Northern Heights High School has numbers this year. And they’re fielding a full girls’ crew for the first time since 2019. The 10-boy/7-girl squad has head coach Lane Callanan optimistic about 2023.

“Our boys team has shown that they can compete at regional competitions,” he said. “This year, they look to compete at the state competition. As a team, they are looking for a top-10 finish at Wamego (state) at the end of the season. The girls team is very young. They are all looking to prove that they can compete at a high level and show that they are a threat to a lot of girls

teams in the area.”

The returning team runners expected to make an impact this season are Cooper Hamlin (17:48.18 at the 2022 Flint Hills League Cross Country Championships) and Laura Cathcart.

The girls team lost Teagan Hines, who placed 10th at the FHL Championships and was just one season too late to compete with a full complement of

runners. Callanan said the new runners who could have a strong season are Ellei McCrory and Josie Tiffany.

The third-year coach is anxious to start the season with a dedicated group, “With all having big goals and high expectations for themselves and as a team.”

LEBO FOOTBALL HOPES TOUGH SCHEDULE HELPS COME POSTSEASON

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

he 2022 football season could be considered a success for Lebo High School. They put together an 8-3 record (3-1 in Lyon County League play) and made it to the sectionals, losing to a formidable CantonGalva team in the championship contest.

This year, expectations are still high for the Wolves, despite losing multiple starters to graduation and leaving some significant holes to fill.

“We also return multiple guys who contributed throughout the season,” said Lebo head coach Brian Hadley, who begins his sixth season helming the program. “Players have been buying in and working hard in the weight room knowing that this season is their chance to step up.”

Leading Lebo’s spread offense is junior Drew Konrade. Konrade only threw

Football Schedule

Sept. 15 — vs. Madison

Sept. 22 — at St. Paul

Sept. 29 — at MdCV

Oct. 6 — at Hartford

Oct. 13 — vs. Marmaton Valley

Oct. 20 — at Crest

around six passes per game in 2023 and was just over 50% in completion rate, but he threw 14 TD passes against three picks.

“Drew moved to starter in the third game of the season and led us to eight straight wins last season,” Hadley said.

“He finished the season with over 1,100 yards offense, 21 TDs and 17 2-point conversions.”

Senior Corey Reese is the star in the

backfield, totaling 876 ground yards on 99 carries — averaging nearly nine yards per carry — and 16 trips to the house. Reese received First-Team All-League honors and was selected as an Honorable Mention AllState at linebacker.

“Corey had a great season as a junior… he also anchored our defense with 75 tackles, including 13.5 TFLs,” Hadley said.

Another key piece to the Wolves’ squad is returning starter Dominic Risner. Hadley said the senior tight end was one of the team’s most effective blockers in 2023. Risner grabbed 10 catches for 140 yards and on defense, collected 25.5 tackles, 6.5 for loss.

“We are expecting big things from Dominic this season,” Hadley said.

And with the critical losses of Austin Bailey and Isaac Durst, the team will rely on Honorable Mention All-State junior lineman Zach Oswald to anchor both lines.

“The Wolves offensive and defensive line will look to junior Zach Oswald to lead the charge,” Hadley said.

Lebo will play a daunting September schedule featuring Lyndon, Burlingame, Madison and St. Paul. But three years of third-round playoff appearances should help the Wolves navigate wins against challenging opponents.

Roster:

Corey Reese

Dominic Risner

Grayson Shoemaker

Kord Kiefer

Gunner Graybeal

Ashton Lattimer

Zach Oswald

Taegan Kelley

Drew Konrade

Connor Bailey

Brayden Hopkins

Daniel Rausch

Kaden Balding

Gus Ford

Ayden Ferguson

Garrison Knight

“We will have a tougher schedule to start the season, but this should help us during the playoffs,” Hadley said.

Front Row: HC Brian Hadley, Sr. Dominic Risner, Sr. Grayson Shoemaker, Sr. Corey Reese, Sr. Gunnar Graybeal. Second Row: Jr. Taegan Kelley, Jr. Drew Konrade, Jr. Zach Oswald, So. Brayden Hopkins, So. Daniel Rausch, Jr. Eli Hauff, Manager Kohlton Shoemaker. Back Row: AC Dennis Becker, Fr. Brandon VanDever, Fr. Ayden Ferguson, Fr. Kaden Balding, Fr. Garrison Knight, Fr. Gus Ford, AC Jim Jones. Not Pictured: Sr. Kord Kiefer, Jr. Ashton Lattimer, Manager Rayden Risner, Manager Matthew Ferguson

LEBO VOLLEYBALL LOOKS TO KEEP THINGS ROLLING

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

Lebo High School reigns supreme in Class 1A volleyball…at least for the past three years.

The Lady Wolves are the defending 1A Division II state champions, dropping one match only in 2022 (44-1, a school record). They were the state runner-up in 2021 and 2020, losing to Hanover and Claflin-Central Plains (1A Division I), respectively. The Hanover rivalry extends to the basketball court as well.

“We bring back most of our starting lineup,” head coach Gina Peek, who helped

coach the Red team in the Kansas Volleyball Association’s All-Star match this summer, told the Gazette. “We have experience. We handle the ball well and are knowledgeable about the game in general. We still bring a lot of terminating offense to the court.”

This season should reflect similar success with that mostly intact terminating offense, but the loss of talented multisport athlete Brooklyn Jones — now at Kansas State throwing the javelin — creates a void.

“Our offense will look a little different, and we’ll need people to step up to the varsity game and fill whatever role we

need at any week, match or moment that it is needed,” Peek said.

Lebo does return two Kansas Volleyball Association First-Team All-State selections, 5-foot-8 junior Saige Hadley and 5-foot-6 senior Audrey Peek, to the squad. And one KVA Honorable Mention AllState player, 5-foot-5 junior Abi Jones. Peek’s stat totals are 215 kills, 65 aces, 273 digs and 44 blocks. Hadley has collected 374 kills, 95 aces and 252 digs. Jones has recorded 57 aces and 942 assists.

Returning senior Katie Ott will be another key contributor. The middle blocker has logged 95 kills and 38 blocks.

The Wolves will also rely on junior Siara Crouch, “a returning starter that will have an opportunity to contribute more offensively. She has done a great job defensively for us the past two years.” And senior Emma Marsh and sophomores Ally Peek and Allison Konrade. Peek said they’ve performed well this summer and will compete for multiple positions. While season goals haven’t been officially set, they’ll most likely resemble last season’s objectives.

“We haven’t established these as a team yet, but I don’t think they’ll want any less than what they accomplished last year,” Peek said.

LEBO CROSS COUNTRY HAS EYES ON STATE

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

The Wolves Cross Country team returns a state-level runner and a girls team setting their sights on Wamego in late October.

Accomplished runner Caleb Durst seeks his second opportunity to compete in the state meet final. The allstate junior finished fifth at the 1A state championship last year, clocking 17:47.18.

Head coach Amanda Durst said Caleb aims to run in the mid to low 16:00s,“…and contend for gold at state.”

Cross country Schedule

Sept. 14 — Wellsville

Sept. 21 — Camp Chippewa

Sept. 23 — Rim Rock

Sept. 28 — Council Grove Lake

Oct. 5 — Osage City Golf Course

Oct. 12 — League - TBD

Oct. 21 — regional - TBD

Oct. 28 — State - Wamego

Caleb established a new school record at the 2022 Lyon County League Boys Championships and placed second at the 1A regional. He also finished fifth in the 3200-meter run final (10:23.17) at the 2023 1A State Track and Field Championships.

Despite losing two members of last season’s statequalifying team (finished 10th overall), the girls plan to return to Wamego in the fall.

“One goal is for this team to qualify at regionals for the state championship,” Coach Durst said.

Junior Kennah Speer and sophomore Cira Plummer will set the pace for the Lady Wolves.

Speer placed second at the 2022 Lyon County League Girls Championships and 18th at the 1A state meet, running 22:01.31.

Plummer was fifth at the LCL Girls Championships

and eighth at the 1A regional.

“Kennah and Cira have goals to contend for medals at each meet,” Durst said.

Newcomers expected to show out are freshman Chloe

Whalen and senior Hannah Carpenter.

“Freshman Chloe Whalen has been with our middle school team for three years and we are excited to see her compete in high school,” Durst said.

L to R: Cira Plummer (So), Hannah Carpenter (Sr), Caleb Durst, (Jr), Chloe Whalen, (Fr), Kennah Speer (Jr).

OLPE FOOTBALL HOPES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN 2023

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

Olpe High School has obviously found success on the gridiron the past five seasons; two 1A state titles bookended by sectional losses to Centralia and a 2018 runner-up designation after losing to Smith Center in the championship game.

The 2023 season brings some uncertainty as to where the Eagles will stand when all is said and done in November.

“We will be a work in progress,” said Olpe head coach Chris Schmidt. “I think the defense will be solid. We need to find

some playmakers on offense.”

Offensively, Schmidt said Olpe will lean on the running game this year. That means Isaac Miller and Ethan Redeker. Redeker is a threat in the backfield. The senior back amassed 270 yards on 40 carries in 2022, nearly averaging seven yards per rush. He also hauled in 26 passes for 379 yards.

On the other side of the ball, the Eagle defense could prove to be the strength of the team. Schmidt said Olpe should receive stout play from the front seven. Senior Blake Skalsky registered 15 tackles and nine tackles for loss last season.

Miller made 67 tackles at linebacker, and defensive lineman Rowdy Orear recorded 33. In the secondary, Redeker logged 54 tackles and six interceptions.

Schmidt said the squad is small in the backfield and secondary, but if they pay attention to detail and protect the football, positive outcomes should occur for a team that posted an 8-3 record in 2022.

“We want to improve every week, stay healthy,” Schmidt said. “If we block, tackle and execute, we will be ok. Everyone needs to do their job and count on their teammates to do theirs. We hope to make a run in the playoffs.”

Sept. 15 — at Osage City

Sept. 22 — at Osage City

Sept. 29 — at Pleasanton

Oct. 6 — Caney Valley

Oct. 13 — Jayhawk Linn

Oct. 20 — at Central Heights

OLPE VOLLEYBALL HOPES NEW OFFENSE FUELS STATE RETURN

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

For Olpe High School volleyball, losing equaled success in 2022, so to speak. The Lady Eagles lost three matches to formidable opponents in 1A Division I championship play but qualified for the big dance after securing a sub-state championship.

The last time Olpe played in a state champion match was in 2012 when they defeated St. John-Hudson.

A return to state in 2023 is a very realistic expectation for a program that recorded a strong 91.1 serving percentage last fall.

“We will be running a new offense this year,” said third-year head coach Crystal Heins. “It will allow our team to maximize our offensive and defensive capa-

Volleyball Schedule

Sept. 12 — Waverly, Madison

Sept. 18 — at West Franklin

Sept. 19 — Lebo

Sept. 23 — Olpe Invitational

Sept. 26 — at Madison, Waverly

Oct. 3 — at SCC, MDCV

Oct. 9 — Flinthills

Oct. 10 — at Harford, B’game

Oct. 14 — LCL Tournament

Oct. 21 — Sub-State

Oct. 27-28 — State

bilities, while also creating a balanced attack. Our goal is to return to the state tournament and hope for a better outcome this year.”

And the squad that went 24-18 last year has the personnel to make a serious postseason run. It starts with Grace Coughlin. Coughlin was the Eagles leading hitter and blocker in 2022. Heins said the middle hitter has deftly applied her knowledge to the court, resulting in highly effective play. According to MaxPreps, Coughlin led the state last season in blocks — all classes — registering 157.

Athletic senior setter Kadey Robert also returns, bringing an element of tenacity to the Eagles’ play.

“We are going to take full advantage of that by keeping her in the rotation more this year,” Heins said.

Senior middle hitter Milly Bailey is another returner who will be a key contributor.

“Milly Bailey did an amazing job on the front row for us last year,” Heins said. “Her ability to connect with the ball was wonderful.”

Sophomore Lilly Skalsky will also be back but won’t play right away after recently sustaining an ankle injury. “We look for her to return later in the season.”

Other returning players expected to make an impact are defensive specialist Gracie Scheve, multidimensional player Kamryn Temeyer and setter Kayla Steinke who Heins said “has soft hands making her an ideal setter for our team.”

Newcomer Aubryn Garriott will factor into the team’s productivity as well. “She is definitely one to keep an eye on this season,” Heins said.

HARTFORD FOOTBALL HOPES TO TAKE NEXT STEP IN KISTNER’S SECOND YEAR

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

Hartford seeks to improve on last season’s 2-7 campaign under second-year head coach Danen Kistner.

Kistner said the keys to the Jaguars’ success begin with the proper mentality (rather than physical limitations or abilities).

“The keys for us to be competitive in our district and ultimately get back into the playoffs are continuing to grow mentally as our team is young,” Kistner said. “With that being said, mental toughness is important.”

Roster:

Landen Schultz, Tyce Ndegwa

Coy Wilkinson

Hayden Trester

Simon Blankley

Keenan Renfrow

Daden Wilson

Tysin Bulson

Nolin Trester

Oliver Smith

Bo Peter

He said mistakes will occur, and the ability to quickly apply them to short-term memory is crucial, adding that it can be accomplished through the development of strong practice habits, which creates on-field confidence.

The Jaguars strength is speed which will be utilized in their West Coaststyle offense, base 3-4 defense and special teams. Returning wide receiver/defensive back sophomore Keenan Renfrow, personifies the team’s speed. The sprinter was a Second-Team All-Grasslands receiver and All-District Honorable Mention receiver and defensive back.

Grayson Dailey

Hartford lacks roster numbers and has only one senior on its squad. They’ll have to rely on a handful of returners to maintain a high level of play: The aforementioned Renfrow, Tysin Bulson, Nolin Trester, Simon Blankley, Grayson Dailey, Bo Peters and Daden Wilson.

Bulson amassed 1,061 all-purpose yards on offense, but his defensive numbers were possibly more impressive. From his linebacker position, the junior recorded 59 tackles (10 for loss), three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception.

Trester was a 2022 Sports In Kansas Honorable Mention All-State selection at tight end. The junior player compiled 16

receptions for 258 yards, three touchdowns and three 2-point conversions. Plus, he is the team’s kicker.

Defensively, Dailey, Blankley and Peters stood out. Dailey had 38 tackles at linebacker, six tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and two sacks. Blankley posted 44 tackles and five tackles for loss, while Peters logged 39 tackles, seven for loss, one forced fumble, and two sacks.

Wilson registered six pancake blocks at center as a freshman.

And three freshmen who excelled in junior high school will also be called upon to contribute: quarterback Landen Schultz, who went 88-126 for 904 yards and 13 TDs

Football Schedule

Sept. 15 — Burlingame

Sept. 22 — at Crest

Sept. 29 — at Marmaton Valley

Oct. 6 — Lebo

Oct. 13 — at St. Paul

Oct. 20 — MdCV

to one interception (70% completion rate); wide receiver/defensive back Coy Wilkin-

son, 41 receptions for 553 yards and five fumble recoveries; and tight end/defensive end Tyce Ndegwa, who made 20 tackles, two for loss and hauled in 20 receptions for 168 yards and five touchdowns.

Kistner communicates a healthy dose of optimism about his young team.

“The youth of this team is exciting,” he said. “Even with only having one senior on the roster, there is a lot of good young talent on our football team and this will be a year for us to grow, develop and compete at the varsity level. Even with our youth, this team can be competitive this year in our district if we have good leaders step up and our kids continue to put in the work.”

COURTESY PHOTO/ANNABELLE PAYTON

Front Row: Bo Peters, Simon Blankley, Daden Wilson, Hayden Trester. Middle Row: Landen Schultz, Tyce Ndegwa, Coy Wilkinson, Oliver Smith. Back Row: Grayson Dailey, Tysin Bulson, Keenan Renfrow.

HARTFORD VOLLEYBALL HOPES TO BUILD ON EXPERIENCE

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

Last season the Lady Jaguars only posted a 3-27 record, but the silver lining to that was there weren’t any seniors on the team. It turned into an additional year of experience for the 2023 squad.

In 2022, head coach Ashton Kistner told the Gazette that they would be a young team, and that could materialize as a strength or a weakness. But that youthful leadership could be a key to success. It seems her optimism has remained intact as the fifth-year head coach feels fortunate.

Roster:

Tobye Sull

Sydney Sull

Keilee Finnerty

Hannah Tunnell

Lexi GieskenMears

Avery House

Volleyball Schedule

Sept. 12 — at KS School for the Deaf

Sept. 16 —Jaguar Invitational

Sept. 19 — Madison/MDCV

Sept. 26 — at Lebo

Oct. 3 — at Waverly

Oct. 10 — Burlingame/Olpe

Oct. 14 — LCL Tournament

“I was fortunate enough last year that I did not have any seniors that graduated from the squad,” she said. “I have the same girls, plus two freshmen that joined our team.”

Oct. 21 — Sub-State

Oct. 27-28 — State

and 125 digs last year.

Aubrey Finnerty

Chiara Garcia

Jade Wilson

Kistner will rely on the same three returning players that she did last season. All are juniors. Keilee Finnerty, Tobye Sull and Lexi Giesken-Mears. Kistner said in 2022 that “I am very excited for all three of them to have big sophomore seasons.”

Finnerty compiled 86 kills and 120 digs last season. In contrast, she collected 67 kills and 77 digs in 2021. Sull registered 44 aces, 117 assists and 131 digs last year, logging 33 aces, 24 assists and 175 digs during her sophomore campaign. Mears’ numbers in 2022 were 52 kills and 117 digs, as opposed to 19 kills

Perhaps all three will be selected for postseason honors. The last volleyball player chosen for all-league was Kiernan Breshears in 2021.

“My returning players are leaders on the court, they will bring dedication and knowledge of the sport to the team,” Kistner said.

Additionally, Kistner said freshman Jade Wilson should be a contributor. “She is a hard worker and will be a great addition to the team.”

Serve-receive will be a weakness for the Lady Jaguars this year, Kistner added.

“But it is my goal for the end of the season for that to be one of our strengths… Our goal this season is to improve on the areas that we are lacking in and make it one of our strengths.”

Top: Tobye Sull, Keilee Finnerty, Lexi GieskenMears. Floor: Chiara Garcia, Avery House, Sidney Sull, Aubrey Finnerty, Jade Wilson, Hannah Tunnell

LYON COUNTY STATE BANK

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HARTFORD CROSS COUNTRY TO RETURN VETERAN TEAM

B y c hri Stopher A dA m S adams@emporia.com

Hartford High School cross country returns the nucleus of a successful 2022 boys team that qualified for the state meet.

“Our goal is to get our boys team back to the State Meet,” said 14-year head coach Tammy Windle. “I am also hoping that all of them can have individual improvements over last season.”

The Jaguars return juniors Cody Cleveland, Samuel Blankley and Oliver Smith.

Cleveland placed ninth at last year’s regional meet, qualifying him for state. He finished third at the Lyon County League meet and first at the West Franklin Meet.

Cross Country Schedule

Sept. 14 — Northern Heights at The Orchard

Sept. 21 — West Franklin at Camp Chippewa

Sept. 28 — Council Grove Meet at Council Grove Lake

Oct. 3 — Eureka at Eureka Country Club

Oct. 12 — League at Camp Chippewa

Oct. 21 — Regional meet

Oct. 28 — State meet at Wamego Roster:

GIRLS:

Trinity Windle

BOYS:

Samuel Blankley

Cody Cleveland

Nathan Cleveland

Blankley secured ninth place at the LCL meet last season, 18th at Eureka and venth at LCL, 16th at Eureka and sixth at the West Franklin meet.

said. “Grayson was our 2nd runner on the team last season, he qualified for state as an individual with a 10th place at Regionals and got fifth at league to help the team secure a first place at both meets. So needless to say, we will miss both of these guys.”

Elijah Dischert

Oliver Smith

“Last year was Oliver’s first year of cross country and he really improved throughout the season…Samuel Blankley and Oliver Smith were part of our boys team that won our league and regional meets,” Windle said.

However, the Hartford boys lost reliable runner Adam Blankley to graduation last year and 2022 No. 2 runner Grayson Dailey — a 2022 state meet qualifier — who decided to focus on football this fall.

“Adam ran fantastic at the Regional and State Meet for us, we will miss his leadership and work ethic,” Windle

But two newcomers might help fill the void. Elijah Dischert and Nathan Cleveland are two freshmen that Windle is excited about.

“Neither of them have ran distance before, so there will be a learning curve, but I am super excited to have them on the team and look forward to seeing how they will perform.”

On the girls side, the Lady Jaguars return junior Trinity Windle, who excelled in JV competition and recorded her fastest time, 23:37.48, at the LCL league meet, placing fourth.

“I look for Trinity to continue to improve this year,” Windle said.

COURTESY PHOTO/ANNABELLE PAYTON

Standing: Oliver Smith, Sam Blankley, Cody Cleveland. Sitting: Nathan Cleveland, Trinity Windle not pictured Elijah Dischert

CHASE COUNTY FOOTBALL LOOKS TO KEEP WINNING WAYS IN 2023

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

Chase County High School lost its program’s skipper this year, as former head coach Brody VanDegrift moved on due to a career opportunity. A replacement still hasn’t been found.

The 9-2 Bulldogs are coming off a successful 2022 campaign — they played for the sectional championship against Little River High School — but like the other Bulldog team, they suffered a couple of critical personnel losses.

“The Bulldogs graduate a good core group of seniors that went a combined 25-7 over the past three seasons,” said longtime Chase County assistant coach Derick Budke. “Graduation of all-state se-

Football Schedule

Sept. 15 — at Goessel

Sept. 22 — at Burlingame

Sept. 29 — at Moranatha Christian Academy

Oct. 6 — Lyndon

Oct. 13 — at Cair Paravel

Oct. 20 — Madison

lections Mitch Budke and Cal Kohlmeier leaves the biggest holes after the duo provided highly productive performances on offense and defense throughout their high school careers.”

But Budke’s comments don’t necessarily connote this season will be less successful. He said Chase County still possesses exceptional team speed and a profusion of talent.

“We will be led by senior Brock Griffin and his consistent 4.5 second 40-yard dash times over the summer,” Budke said. “Wyatt Griffin, Luke Budke, and Micah Cauthers all consistently recorded times in the 4.7-4.8 second range as well.”

Griffin rushed for 548 yards on 61 carries (9.0 avg.) and 10 TDs and will be asked to shoulder a heavier offensive load this season. Budke also said Griffin is one of the top tacklers (117) in Kansas 8-man football.

Sophomores Luke Budke and Wyatt Griffin will also see their offensive roles

significantly expanded this year. Cauthers, a standout on the mat during the winter, will occupy a leadership role in 2023.

Budke said senior Tag Groh “is a walking touchdown” who recorded multiple touchdowns on all three team units. The sprinter, who placed third in the 400 meters at this year’s state meet final, might be the most exciting player suiting up for the Bulldogs this season. He notched five interceptions of which three were picksixes, hauled in four TDs on seven receptions and took two kick returns (out of three) to the house.

Even with the loss of VanDegrift, the program’s continuity appears to be unimpaired, and the Bulldogs should find themselves in another postseason run this year.

COURTESY PHOTO/MAKENZIE COLLINS AND KASSIDY BUDKE

CHASE COUNTY VOLLEYBALL HOPES TO REBOUND THIS SEASON

By chriStopher AdAmS adams@emporia.com

Chase County High School looks to rebound, coming off a 6-21 season in 2022 and a 2-21 season in 2021.

Fourteen-year head coach LeAnn Hansford hopes to boost the Lady Dogs court fortunes in 2023 by extracting the best from her squad.

“I look forward to all players stepping up and filling roles,” she exclaimed.

Chase County will have a capable returning contingent to improve on the

2021/2022 records.

Middle hitter sophomore and talented athlete Madelyn Wilson — 2nd team All-League Lyon County League, fourth in the shot put at the state track and field meet and eighth in the javelin also led the Lady Dog hoopsters to a 14-9 record and sub-state berth — will lead the charge. Senior setter Kinzie Rogers — Honorable Mention Lyon County League, also placed fifth in her weight class at the state wrestling championships this year — adds depth along with seniors Lilly Hinkson and Karsen Vandegrift.

Volleyball Schedule

Sept. 12 — at Osage City

Sept. 16 — at Hartford

Sept. 19 — West Franklin

Sept. 26 — Mission Valley

Sept. 30 — Flinthills Tournament

Oct. 3 — Council Grove

Oct. 5 — Madison

Oct. 10 — at Northern Heights

Oct. 14 — League

Oct. 21 — Sub-State

Oct. 27-28 — State

COURTESY PHOTO/MAKENZIE

KASSIDY BUDKE

CHASE COUNTY CROSS COUNTRY RETURNS CORE GROUP OF RUNNERS

Cross Country Schedule

Sept. 14 — Northern Heights

Sept. 21 — Marion

Sept. 28 — Council Grove

Oct. 5 — Osage City

Oct. 12 — League at West Franklin

Oct. 21 — Regionals

Oct. 28 — State

The Chase County boys cross country team hopes to run at Wamego in October as the Bulldogs return the core of their 2022 squad.

The loss of talented runner Cooper Schroer will be felt. He was a statemeet qualifier and a competitive middle-distance trackster who placed third in the 2A 800-meter final at the state track and field championships last May. But state-qualifier Silas Hernandez will lead the 2023 edition of Chase County cross country along with Tate Morgan. The team’s depth pieces are Carson Schroer, Bryson Koch, JP Ubert, Red Schecter and Joey Swift.

The Bulldog runners finished third at the 2022 Flint Hills League Cross Country Championships, Hernandez placing ninth and clocking 17:36.70.

Morgan was 18th, recording a time of 18:55.98. Only two girls will be competing for the Lady Bulldogs this year. Kinslea Glanville returns, and Sadie Mushrush is a newcomer. Glanville placed 16th at the league championships last season, running 23:49.41.

B y c hri Stopher A dA m S adams@emporia.com

COURTESY PHOTO/MAKENZIE COLLINS AND KASSIDY BUDKE