Sportsink022714

A magazine focusing on all things sports in northwest Kansas

INK.

Power of

tradition

Coach Bill Johnson and Norton have become the cream of the crop in 3-2-1A

The Hays Daily News

March 2014

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3

On the mat

Trego’s Brandon Schoenthaler looks to pin Phillipsburg’s Michael Dusin during a 145-pound match on the first day of the Bob Kuhn Prairie Classic at the HHS gym in January.

CHAD PILSTER , Sports Ink.

What’s up?

A look inside this issue

16

Picture

6

this

Focused on the Hays High school boys’ basketball team’s TOC title.

Power of tradition

Norton’s wrestling program has built an elite reputation

in Class 3-2-1A.

12

Finding their groove The Oakley girls are trying to put together a good run in

Randall Rath’s final season as coach.

Sports Ink. contributors: Nick McQueen nmcqueen@dailynews.net Conor Nicholl cnicholl@dailynews.net Everett Royer sportsink@dailynews.net Jolie Green jgreen@dailynews.net Chad Pilster cpilster@dailynews.net Austin Colbert acolbert@dailynews.net Volume 4, Issue 1 Sports Ink. is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News. Copyright © 2014 Harris Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Sports Ink. is a registered trademark of The Hays Daily News, 507 Main, Hays, KS 67601 (785) 628-1081.

4

Midst of a magical season I

t’s easy to get caught up in the grind of the season. You can Tournament of Champions. A five-time TOC runner up under lose perspective and don’t notice the magic happening right coach Rick Keltner (who is in his 29th year leading Hays High), in front of you. this year’s team won the program’s first TOC crown since 1955.

This season, that magic belongs to the Hays High School And they did it by beating Class 6A schools Hutchinson, Manboys’ basketball team. The Indians seem to have destiny on hattan and Wichita East, ranked No. 2 at the time. their side, and after making it into February with an unblemHays High hasn’t won the Western Athletic Conference since ished record, the expectations have gone through the roof.

2006, but midway through February was well on its way to The sad reality is anything less than a deep run in the state ending that streak. playoffs will be seen as a disappointment.

To many outsiders, anything less than For Starters In athletics, people remember you by how the school’s first state title since 1944 you finish. Just ask the 2007 New England might be viewed as a failure. But to the Patriots.

Hays High players, coaches and fans, But what great teams, like this year’s Hays let’s hope they remember it for the High squad, deserve to be remembered for remarkable season it has been — regardare its accomplishments — and there are less of how it ends. many for the Indians — and by the journey Many of these Hays High players will taken by its players. be ranked in the top 20 of multiple It’s easy to forget the Indians were a miserly 6-15 two seasons career and season statistical categories when they graduate. ago, when the current seniors were sophomores. Then came a They might even leave it as the winningest team in school 14-7 season a year ago. What has followed this season has been history (the 1995-96 team went 21-4 and finished third at nothing short of spectacular and includes the Indians’ first No. state).

1 ranking since the 2001 season, when they went 19-3.

What I will remember is a team that played with heart.

The first sign of a special season came when Hays High won They were fearless. They attacked on both sides of the court, its second consecutive Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout, forced turnovers, made big plays on offense. I will rememonly its seventh Shootout title in 31 years. ber them beating a mighty Wichita East team to win the A month and a half later the Indians found themselves playTOC — even after the Blue Aces athleticism seemed too ing for another tournament title, this time at the Dodge City much for them early in the game.

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5

Who’s That?

Notable performances in northwest Kansas Tucker Rhoades

Rhoades has made a name for himself in his first year wrestling at Thomas More Prep-Marian.

The freshman reached No. 4 at 113 pounds in Class 3-21A after winning 21 of his first 27 matches. His best win came against Norton’s Branson Addington, ranked No. 1 at the time, in the semifinals of the Western Kansas Tournament of Champions in Ellis on Feb. 1.

Audra Nowak

The Victoria High School senior was averaging 14.1 points per game after a 51-24 win against Macksville in early February, helping the Knights to an 8-7 record. Nowak’s effort was second to only senior guard Kristin Huser. Nowak also was the team’s leading rebounder at 6.1 boards per night. She recorded one double-double with 11 points and 18 rebounds against Ellis. She scored in double figures in all but one game for Victoria, posting a season-high 28 points in a 49-35 win against Otis-Bison. She scored 21 in a 50-48 loss to La Crosse on Jan. 31.

John Peden

The Goodland High School senior 160-pound wrestler went 5-0 and won the individual title in the GWAC Dual meet Feb. 8 in Goodland, helping the Cowboys to a firstplace finish with a 5-0 record.

Peden spent much of the season ranked No. 2 at 160 pounds heading into his team’s Class 4A regional last week in Colby. Peden also won at 160 pounds at the annual Bob Kuhn Prairie Classic in January in Hays, helping Goodland to the team championship. He defeated Class 5A Salina Central product Dalton Peters for the title.

Whitney Taylor

The Fort Hays State University senior and Ellis High School graduate was a member of the Tigers’ school-record setting indoor 1,600-meter relay team. The group, which also includes Hays’ Hanna Pfannenstiel, ran a 3:58.47 to finish sixth in the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. Taylor ran the first leg in 59.59 seconds, the second fastest of the four.

Got an idea of someone who you think should be included in Who’s That?

Send it to sportsink@dailynews.net with Who’s that? in the subject line, or call (800) 657-6017.

Power 6

When it comes to wrestling, it’s tough to compete against Norton’s success.

N

ORTON — In the winter of 2004, Norton It happened when former longtime Norton Community High School wrestling coach coach Jake Durham came to Johnson and had Bill Johnson found the “secret” to the a suggestion for then 140-pound senior Scott Bluejays’ success.

Goldsby.

Turns out, a weekly gather“He said, ‘Johnson, that Goldsby kid is nick ing of his club for a mcqueen lacking iron,’ ” Johnson recalled. “ ‘He gets liver feed in the weeks out to a big lead, and just coasts through leading up to the the second and third period. He needs chad Class 3-2-1A state some iron.’ ” pilster wrestling tournaSo Johnson and his assistants — along ment was all it with a host of wrestling parents — acted took to seemingly get his on Durham’s advice to get some liver in the wresteam over the hump. tlers’ systems. They put together a liver feed for

story by

photos by

Page 6

March 2014

SPORTS INK.

r tradition 7

of

the team.

It turned out to be a difficult task for most team member to choke down.

From that point, though, Goldsby, who Johnson thought was a borderline state medalist, competed all the way to the title match at 140 pounds. His only losses in that span came in at the hands of a four-time state champion — Hoxie’s Mat Gilliland.

Norton also claimed its first of six team titles in 10 years, and its first since Durham led the Bluejays to the

Sports Ink.

2-1A crown in 1965.

There was one wrestler who couldn’t stomach what some would call an acquired taste, and he ended up the only one of 11 state qualifiers that season to not earn a state medal.

In reality, it might not be quite as magical as Popeye’s can of spinach. But given the Bluejays’ historical run in that same time span, who’s going to argue with any tradition the program carries on? Regardless of how insignificant it might seem.

March 2014

Norton arguably is the best smallschool wrestling program in the state, and has the numbers to back that up.

In school history, Norton has 93 individual state titles, 12 state team titles, and 297 state medals. Since Johnson took over a struggling program in 1991, Norton has 116 state medals.

“Such a big part of my high school career,” said Nathan Broeckelman, now the wrestling and football coach at TribunePAGE 8 Greeley County.

Page 7

8

“The years we’ve had an enormous

amount of success, the kids really bond together — one cohesive unit.”

- Bill Johnson, Norton wrestling coach “Something I really thrived in. It was big, I took it pretty seriously.”

And that’s the program Johnson, Norton assistants and program supporters have built back up — a perennial state contender always in the discussion of who’s the best.

From near-worst to first Probably the only blemish on Norton’s program since the run began in 2004 came in 2012. The Bluejays, coming off a state title, had just two state medalists and managed only a 16th-place showing as the defending champ. So at the start of the 2012-13 season when two of the team’s top returners went down with injury, Johnson wondered if things were going to start to slip.

“There are going to be ups and downs,” Johnson said.

“That’s what makes it fun and challenging. That group we had went from 16th to first. That was probably the most improved team I’ve ever coached. Everything kind of came together.”

On the other hand: “In 2008, we probably should have won a state title and we didn’t,” Johnson added. “I tell the kids, ‘I just expect you to go out and wrestle as hard as you can and let the chips fall

File photo, Sports Ink. Norton’s Clay Madden, left, is one of only five 3-2-1A wrestlers to win four gold medals.

where they may.’ ” Despite the slip in 2012, Johnson’s Bluejays found themselves back on top last season. With one individual champion and seven more state medals, Norton claimed its sixth title in 10 seasons at Hays’ Gross Memorial Coliseum.

“His best coaching job was probably last year,” said The Bluejay file USD 211 Superintendent • 12 team state championships Greg Mann. “He took a (6 in 3-2-1A in the last 10 seasons) group of kids that probably had no business winning a • 93 individual state titles, countstate championship and got ing 11 wrestlers to win at least two it done. state crowns — all of whom won four “I’m not sure how he did state medals. it.”

• 297 state medals dating back to 1936, The season also garnered 116 under coach Bill Johnson. national attention for the 23-year head coach, a Fort • 31 state trophies (Top 3) Hays State University graduate and 118-pound NAIA • Has one of only five 3-2-1A wrestlers — Clay Madden — national champion from to win four state championships.

1987.

Page 8

March 2014

Johnson recently was named the National Federation of High Schools Coach of the Year.

“He’s a great coach,” said Broeckelman, a 2007 graduate, a four-time medalist and two-time champion for the Bluejays. “He would take the individuals and help them improve, no matter what their style was. He had enough knowledge he could teach each individual what they needed to do to be successful on the mat.”

The foundation was there When Johnson came to Norton, Mann said the program had started to drift from where it had been in six title runs under Durham. Johnson spent two years at Kingman before the Norton position opened, and he jumped at the chance.

At the time, the Norton Wrestling Club was run by Dave Ward, now the head coach at Hays Middle School.

SPORTS INK.

bond

h

9 “(Ward) came to me and said, ‘What do you want us to teach?’ ” Johnson said. “I was shocked. I was fortunate we had a guy like Dave.”

The start was a bit rocky, though. In Johnson’s first season, he said he had four senior wrestlers quit after the first big tournament of the season in Hoxie.

“They said, ‘You are asking more than what we are willing to give,’ ” Johnson said.

Hard work is the standard under Johnson.

“Practices were intense, but we really had some great camaraderie among the team,” said Clay Madden, a 2006 graduate, and Norton’s four-time Class 3-2-1A champion. “Everyone pushed each other harder each day.”

By 1996, Norton had four state medalists and placed third as a team in 3-2-1A. That season saw the second of three straight state titles for former standout Jeff Boyle.

The next season, Boyle garnered the No. 1 national ranking at heavyweight and eventually played football at the University of Wyominh. He spent time with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.

Boyle, who lives in the Kansas City area, still stops by at least once during the season to talk with the team in the wrestling room.

“That was the group he built on,” Mann said. “He kept them interested and really made them understand wrestling was important to him, and important in Norton.”

Even the facilities show how big wrestling is to the school and the community.

The Bluejays’ wrestling room — it’s own building that includes a weight room — mirrors what a larger high school or small college might have.

“I didn’t realize how nice it was until I went to Manhattan,“ said Broeckelman, who served as an assistant coach for five years at Class 6A Manhattan High School while attending Kansas State University.

He added Manhattan since has built a new wrestling facility. “It just shocked me a bit

115 West Main, Norton, KS 785-877-2911

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This picture of the ‘Liver Shack Quacks’ is one of numerous pieces of memorabilia that adorn the walls of the wrestling room in Norton.

how good we had it in Norton.”

The Norton wrestling room is large enough for two full mats with room to spare, a locker room and a coaches’ office.

When the building was built in the 60s, the weight room actually was two classrooms.

“Facilities are as good as any small school you’re going to see, and probably better than a lot of big schools,” Mann said.

Strength in numbers While similar size schools might struggle to get kids on the mat, Norton has no problem year in and year out. On average, the Bluejays have 25 to 30, and wrestlers constantly are challenging for varsity spots.

“Nothing was a given,” Madden said.

“You had to earn it every practice and every week when you wrestled in a tournament.

“There were some weights where it was just one person, but you always matched up with someone just to make sure you got your work in.”

Of the 14 weight classes, Norton had ranked wrestlers in seven of them heading into the Class 3-2-1A WaKeeney regional last week. That included 106pound junior Caysean Campbell, the No. 1 ranked wrestler and a defending runner-up. Norton, despite finishing fourth in the Phillipsburg Panther Classic, still held the top team ranking as well.

Still, Johnson said there are guys on the second team who could step into roles on the first team, adding to the elite mentality.

“We have had kids that were state

After Norton’s Class 3-2-1A state title in 2011, this award was made by wrestling parent Jim Broeckelman to honor the team’s accomplishment and their liver consumption in that time span. Broeckelman’s two sons, Nathan and Billy, combined to wrestle for eight seasons in Norton.

medalists that get beat off the team the next year,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of cut-throat, but the strong will survive and step out on the mat for us.”

The Norton Wrestling Club boasts approximately 60 kids, and Norton Junior PAGE 10 High has about 30 out.

Bluejay junior Jordan Dole, center left, and sophomore Gavin Lively, center right, tip the ball in a warmup game prior to the Bluejays’ wrestling practice in early February.

Some of the coaches in the wrestling club are former Bluejay wrestlers, including 2006 state champion Luke Pfannenstiel, state medalists Jeremy Harding and two-time state champion Lance Roe — among others.

“Lots of kids will start wrestling in the kids’ program. They grow up together, spend a lot of time together. They eat together,” Mann said. “There’s a real strong family component to really strong wrestling programs.”

Family atmosphere While most of the wrestlers during the last 10 years have not enjoyed choking down the weekly liver feed, the togetherness is part of the draw.

When the tradition began in 2004, Nathan Broeckelman was a freshman, and his father, Jim, was part of what soon became known as the “Liver Shack Quacks.”

A group of fathers gathered to cook the liver in Jim Broeckelman’s wood shed.

“Had to cook it out there so the house didn’t smell like liver forever,” Nathan Broeckelman said. “He would have to air it out for a good week when spring came.”

With the combination of cutting weight, and simply not liking the taste, the event was more about the team aspect than anything.

“I had to use some ketchup. I had to douse it pretty good,” Nathan Broeckelman said.

“I was always cutting weight, so I didn’t eat a ton of it.

11 “Not sure it helped as much as anyone thought, but just a great bonding activity to be a part of.”

And it was far from a superstition.

“Wrestlers are always superstitious about something, but that certainly wasn’t one of them,” Madden said. “Don’t miss eating it, but I’ll always remember it.”

It’s not the only tradition still going strong either.

Along with creative and fun ways the team warms up for practice each day, some team members also gather on Sundays for a game of dodgeball, something that also started while Madden was in high school.

“It was an easy way to lose weight without thinking about it,” Madden said.

The team also comes together each season to decide on a theme for the year — anything from Harley-Davidsons to last year’s MIB (Men in Black ) theme. It’s a metaphor that ties everyone together. At some point in the season, the team will gather for a poster shot and to take photos for state banners, a unique quality at the 3-2-1A tourney.

“The years we’ve had an enormous amount of success, the kids really bond together — one cohesive unit,” Johnson said. “They think of the ‘team before me.’ ” Plus the competition helps drive the team’s success.

“I’m smart enough to figure out it’s not just coaching that gets the kids there,” Johnson said. “It’s community, administrators, assistant coaches. And you’re only as good as your practice partner.”

Trophies piling up A person can’t walk into the former high

Norton senior Branson Addington, left, drills a double-leg takedown against junior teammate Caysean Campbell during practice in early February in Norton.

school gym or the new high school gym — the site of the annual J.R. Durham Invitational — without seeing some sort of wrestling trophy.

Since 1996, Norton has returned at least two state medalists to the wrestling room each season. Twice in that span, Norton has collected four individual state titles — the first time in 1997, the other in 2006 (Nathan Broeckelman, Pfannenstiel, Madden, Roe).

With wrestling, “you kind of learn at a young age, what you can get and receive with hard work,” Madden said. “It pays off. In the end, you get to see your results from what you put in.”

Since 1996, Norton has 10 Top 3 finishes, and has finished outside the top

five only twice (1999 and 2012).

While Norton now expects to be “near the top every season,” Johnson said it’s more than just winning or competing for titles.

“You try to teach them it’s going to build discipline,” Johnson said. “They may not want to drill hard in wrestling.

They may not want to shoot 100 free throws in the gym, and they may not want to hit the blocking sled.

“But, hopefully it will build some character. When that baby is crying at 3 a.m., and they don’t want to get out of bed, they’ll have that dedication to do what needs to be done.”

Perhaps much like the dedication it takes to choke down a piece of fried liver.

2917 Vine, Hays 785-625-4830

12

Findingmojo Oakley girls’ basketball coach Randall Rath speaks to his team during a timeout in a home game in February against Greeley County.

Jolie Green, Sports Ink.

their

Through its work in practice, Oakley tries to turn things around

O

n Jan. 29, Oakley High School girls’ basketball coach Randall Rath stood at a crossroads. The night before, the Plainsmen scored just 18 points and lost by 26 at home to Goodland.

Oakley’s best player and one of Kansas’ top forwards, senior Laura Dennis, had missed the previous two weeks with a knee injury. Dennis was cleared for Goodland, but the coaching staff decided Page 12

to hold her out.

Oakley, with just seven players in the rotation, stood at 6-5, a rare down year for a program that’s made four state tournament appearances and won a state crown in the last decade.

Coach Rath and senior Brooke Ottley believed Oakley needed to get its “mojo” back in Rath’s final year as girls’ basketball coach. Rath had resigned early March 2014

last fall and couldn’t make it to practice Jan. 30 because of interviews for other jobs. On Jan. 31, Oakley played host to Tribune-Greeley County.

Before practice, Rath sat the team on the bleachers at Oakley’s Impact Center, a basketball court that’s connected to a church and, along with the school gym, one of two venues routinely used for practice.

SPORTS INK.

o

13 Rath, the head girls’ coach since 1992, the head football coach for the last 16 years and the head track coach, penned a letter to the girls.

It was the third time he wrote a letter this winter; Rath also does it before every football game. Rath’s former coach at St. Francis, Kent Kechter, followed the same practice.

Kechter, now in his 41st year of teaching at St. Francis, coached boys’ basketball for 15 years.

The one-page sheet featured a message and several bullet points, including “Always see the ball, shoot when open and be a team leader.” Rath also emphasized, “We are going to be just fine.”

“Being young like we are, sometimes kids, they read things, comprehend it and let it sink in a little bit better than if you talk to them,” Rath said.

Rath never discusses individuals or statistics. One of Kansas’ few coaches who doesn’t use MaxPreps for statistics, Rath won’t make statistics available during the season for players or media. In his eyes, making a good play is “way more important” than a number.

“We don’t hand them out until the season is over,” Rath said. “I don’t like them in papers. I just think it’s something that’s an individualized thing. I think that’s for wrestling, boxing. When you are ‘uno on uno.’ ” The players enjoy the tradition and team concept. Ottley said she “wants to work her hardest” for Rath.

“That’s just something that we always had with the Lady Plainsmen basketball,” Ottley said. “It’s not about the individual.

It’s team, and definitely that’s what I will miss next year leaving is that team bond. He never individualizes anyone.

It’s always what we can do to improve the team or what we did good as a team, not individual, and I like it. It’s really nice.”

• • • At the start of practice, Rath had the girls shoot 5-foot shots, a usual opening drill. At 2:53 p.m., 10 minutes after practice started, Oakley worked on its “Purple 12” defense.

Several times, Rath said, “See the ball all the time” and wanted the Plainsmen to have their hands high.

One occasion, Rath stopped the drill and showed how he didn’t want a defender to get pinned on the inside.

“It’s tough sometimes, but I think he is a good coach,” said junior point guard Marlee Rath, the youngest of Coach Rath’s three daughters. “I would rather have that than someone who doesn’t know what they are Sports Ink.

Oakley senior Laura Dennis shoots a layup during a game against Greeley County in Oakley.

doing. It has its ups and downs, but try to make the best of it.”

At 3 p.m., Oakley worked on 1-3-1 and tandem presses, defenses Oakley would use heavily against Greeley County. At 3:03 p.m., Rath stopped practice and asked the girls to not make mental mistakes, give great effort and “have to be able to do it every time.” Oakley had struggled with mental errors in the last March 2014

several games without Dennis.

At times, Rath took the varsity, and veteran assistant Andy Starbuck had the junior varsity. For Oakley to be successful, Rath believed a couple of the freshmen “have to play halfway well” and complement a veteran core of Dennis, Ottley, Marlee PAGE 14 Rath and guard Kenzie Hemmert.

Page 13

14 Dennis participated in some drills with her knee injury. Then, Oakley worked on its offensive half-court sets.

“We like to run, too, but I think when you get into half court, you have to execute and if you can execute, I think you can be successful,” Rath said. “…. It gives us an opportunity to at least get a good look to draw a foul.”

While some area teams, such as Hoxie and Ellis, consistently run, the Plainsmen usually operate out of a half court offense.

“We just like to play tough defense half court, and if we need to press, we can do it,” Marlee Rath said. “I think he tries to save our legs.”

“I like it. Full court stuff just makes me tired,” Dennis added with a smile.

Later, Oakley put in “13-5” and “13-6” half court, trapping defenses.

Rath mainly put in the defense because Oakley suffered a recent loss to WheatlandGrinnell where the Thunderhawks milked the clock from the high perimeter. As well, Oakley ran some box-and-one with junior Kaelyn Van Eaton as the “1” defender who chases around the opponent’s top scorer.

While some coaches are loathe to use junk defenses such as box-and-1 and triangleand-2, Oakley uses them often.

In the ’06-07 state tournament, Oakley ran a junk defense all game against Osborne standout Jannica Schultze and went onto win a state title. Four years ago, Oakley faced Hill City and then-senior Lexi Hardiek in the sub-state final.

The Plainsmen ran a box-on-1 on Hardiek, Kansas’ all-time leader in 3-point field goals, with Jill Dennis, Laura’s older sister, guarding the sharpshooter.

Hardiek finished with 25 points, but went only 9 of 21 from the field. Oakley won 56-48 and outscored Hill City 15-7 in the fourth quarter.

“She shot air balls in the fourth quarter, because (Dennis) just ran her into the ground,” Rath said.

By 4:10 p.m., Rath was finished with practice. At this point in the season and with limited depth, Oakley normally doesn’t go more than 75 minutes. Mainly because the Impact Center has just two baskets, Rath never had the team do individual free throw shooting, also a coaching rarity. Dennis stayed behind to run several down-andbacks to test the knee.

Two nights later, Oakley played a struggling Greeley County team that entered the contest 2-9. Greeley County had no point guard, one senior and is a significantly smaller school than Oakley. A win was likely for the Plainsmen. Still, the contest

The Plainsmen girls’ basketball team lines up for the national anthem prior to the start of their game against Greeley County.

marked Dennis’ first game back, a chance to improve and an opportunity to bounce back after the Goodland loss.

“Our mojo kind of left us,” Rath said.

••• Oakley opened the game on a 32-2 run and won easily, 58-13.

“They play really hard, and they play with a lot of intensity and they seem to be wellcoached and they seem to listen to him,” Greeley County coach David Schneider said.

The Plainsmen ran their tandem and 1-3-1 presses often and continually forced steals and turnovers.

“That was kind of new last year, and we really focused on that in practice, and really scrambled to get the ball, and it really worked tonight,” Ottley said of the tandem press.

Greeley County, because of its lack of athleticism, couldn’t play man-to-man. Instead, it went zone and allowed Oakley to take wide-open treys. After a few early misses, Rath yelled to get to the ball inside.

“When you have Laura Dennis on your team, you’ve got to get into her hands. In our offense that we are going to run, we are going to get that look anytime we want it,” Rath said.

Dennis finished with eight points and a team-high six steals. She wasn’t back

to full strength, but Oakley gained confidence with her on the court. As the game progressed, the Plainsmen started to make more treys, and Rath allowed his team to shoot more from the outside.

“Such a presence, it opens other kids up,” Rath said.

After intermission, Oakley ran its new “13-5” and “13-6” defenses for a few possessions. Rath wasn’t pleased with how the Plainsmen performed with the new looks, but wanted to see it in a contest.

“It’s good to do it in a game where the team doesn’t know what you are going to do, so they can’t cheat,” Rath said. “In practice, the kids can kind of adjust and cheat against you. We wanted to rep that.”

Afterward, the players wore smiles. In just 72 hours, the season had changed. Dennis was back. The Tuesday loss was replaced with a big Friday win. The team had more confidence. Rath believed Oakley could be a solid team at year’s end. The mojo returned.

“We work extremely hard in practice to do our best. So when something like (a loss) happens, we all take it really personally, and we all were pretty down. We knew that we would come out tonight, and we would get them and that’s what we did,” Ottley said.

Conor Nicholl, Sports Ink.

24 Hour Travel Plaza

www.mitteninc.com 1001 US 40 Oakley, KS 67748

P.O. BOx 160 Oakley, KS 67748

15

Ink. BLOTS

A spattering from NW Kansas

Hays High School losing Ryan Cornelsen as its football coach is a tough loss for the Indians. Instead of people being resentful, Cornelsen should be applauded for what he did in five years at HHS. Prior to his arrival from La Crosse, Hays High hadn’t been to the playoffs since 1995 and wasn’t a highly sought-after job. Then Cornelsen changed all that by going 35-12 and leading the Indians to backto-back state playoff appearances. Now, Cornelsen will head the Hutchinson High School football program, which dominated the state for a decade under former Coach Randy Dreiling, now at St. Thomas Aquinas. Cornelsen’s accomplishments at Hays High won’t be forgotten, and it was through his leadership the future of Hays High football looks bright.

- Austin

While the split in 1A a few years ago seemingly made it easier for teams to make state, the upcoming Class 1A Division II sub-state in Grainfield is far from easy for its top three teams.

The two favorites have to be TriplainsBrewster (junior Shayna Rogge, pictured) and Golden Plains, but don’t count out host Wheatland-Grinnell. If I had to pick, I think this is TriplainsBrewster’s year. The Titans and Golden Plains split their first two meetings, and were scheduled for a third before sub-state.

- Nick

Any excuse you can take to head north, Phillipsburg always seems to be a good destination to find some uniqueness. While you’re there, be sure and stop in at The Chubby Pickle. The quaint little kitchen/dining area will leave you wanting more of its signature sandwiches.

- Nick

While the Norton High School wrestling team has been so dominant through the years, you would think it’s all wrestling, all the time.

Bluejay coach Bill Johnson though, likes when his team members do other things throughout the year. That’s contrary to what a lot of coaches will say about becoming successful, because some believe year-round practice makes perfect. Norton’s six state title should say enough on that argument.

- Nick

The Thomas More Prep-Marian boys’ and girls’ basketball teams won’t be easy outs in sub-state this season. Neither team will enter the postseason with overly impressive records or state rankings, but could be in position to surprise. The TMP boys have been the definition of a team all season, with no single player standing out. They have four to five guys that can go off any night and have streaky 3-point shooters. If they are hitting shots, a trip to state isn’t a crazy idea. The girls are young — only one senior on the roster — but have faired well against a tough schedule. Led by star freshman Megan Koenigsman, the Monarch girls will enter the postseason as battle-tested as anyone and could grow up in a hurry right before our eyes.

- Austin

Two weeks ago when the Kansas State University men’s basketball team upset then No. 7 ranked Kansas, the Wildcat faithful — or a handful of students —stormed the court. Was it warranted? Probably not. But when you think about, when wins like that are so rare, why not celebrate a little bit? Although, to do it against a team that already had five losses? As college basketball fans, I think we owe it to the game to keep it as classy as possible, and not let ourselves stoop to lower levels. Probably only necessary if you knock off an undefeated topranked rival or an unlikely tournament win — not a mid-season conference game that was winnable in the first place.

- Nick

Sports Ink.

March 2014

On the Horizon Feb. 28 - March 1 — The Class 3-21A state wrestling championships at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Two days of non-stop wrestling action with 224 wrestlers all vying for 14 state championships.

March 3 - 8 —Sub-state basketball around the state. One of the best Class 2A sub-states in the state will be played in Oberlin, especially on the girls’ side, with defending champion Smith Center, Ellis and Oakley. The winner of that tournament earns the right to play at

Manhattan.

March 7 - 9 — The MIAA Tournament semifinals and finals at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. state in

Each year, one of the most interesting things about the Class 3-2-1A state wrestling tournament is to see what people come up with for banners to hang inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

When you’re out there this weekend, tweet your favorites to @HDNsports or use the hashtag #sportsink. It’s a good way to show off the creativity and support your favorite team or wrestler competing this week.

- Nick

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Senior Clayton Riedel puts up a reverse layup in the TOC title game against Wichita East.

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The Hays High School boys’ basketball team celebrates with the trophy from the Indians’ first Dodge City Tournament of Champions title since 1955 at United Wireless Arena in Dodge City in January. The Indians defeated Wichita East, then ranked No. 2 in Class 6A.

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Indian coach Rick Keltner gives instruction to senior point guard Kyler Niernberger during their first-round game against Hutchinson.

Senior Jordan Windholz fires a jumper in the first-round game against Hutchinson, a 62-41 win for Hays High.

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The Indians react after the final buzzer against Wichita East in a 61-51 HHS win. The following week, Hays High rose to No. 1 in Class 5A.

Photos by Austin Colbert

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A rare coaching resume

D

uring two days in last week of JanuCoach Rath on coaching his daughary, Sports Ink. spent time with the ters. Every summer since Taylor, now Oakley girls’ basketball team and ob25, was in fifth grade, the Raths have served a practice and game. traveled the MAYB circuit: Coach Randall Rath, in his 22nd year “It’s enjoyable. The most enjoyable part as head girls’ basketball coach, is also of it is the summer because it’s so laid the head football and track coach. He is back, and you get to see the friendships the lone area coach that’s a head high that they build when they go to MAYB school coach in tournaments and the all three sports. As experiences they have THE CLOSER well, Rath has had a there, and calling unique experience of their friends to go to coaching all three of the gym. My wife and his daughters: Taylor I just spent a lot of Rath-Willis, Kaylen time just rebounding and Marlee, currently for them and shoota junior and starting ing, and some people point guard. Rath’s might think that’s wife, Ann, is involved in basketball as a crazy, but it’s good social time for us, too. scorekeeper.

“We talk about a lot of things while they Ann and the girls have helped Rath are doing that, besides basketball. It’s break down film throughout the football really enjoyable in the offseason, because season, too. Rath announced his resignathey have enjoyed it. It’s something that tion last fall and has spent the winter as a family, they have been very supportlooking for new jobs. ive of me, too, and that’s important when Craig Wamsley, Oakley first-year head you are a coach, I think.” boys’ basketball coach and football asCoach Rath on the overall importance sistant: “It was great to get to help with football with Coach Rath, working with him, and learning under him and that’s a once in a lifetime job. It’s too bad that we are losing him, because he is a phenomenal asset. This town won’t realize how much they are going to miss Coach Rath and everything he does for this town and this school and the organization and everything.” * Custom hand rails, gates, fencing, The Plainsmen, a consistent 16-20 win window well covers, exterior stairteam in the last decade, opened 7-5 this cases/landings, and more! winter. * Refurbishing metal lawn/patio Marlee Rath on leaving Oakley: furniture “A lot of people ask me if I am sad. * Greener Blast of exterior surfaces, I will miss it here, but there are better concrete, swimming pools, and things, I know. I think it’s time for my more! dad to find something better, move up * Fabricating of ornamental landscaphigher, a bigger school. Next year, I want ing features: chimney caps, mailbox to have more of a successful senior year. posts, flag poles, benches, arbors Next year, we will be really young again. and more!

It will be frustrating just like this.”

Senior Brooke Ottley on Oakley basLet us take your spring ketball: “You want to work your hardest, put project to the next level! your heart into it. Mr. Rath, that’s something that he expects out of you — and 1027 East HWY 40 Byp you want to give them to him. That’s kind Hays, KS 67601 of like an awesome feeling, just to work 785-625-5736 your hardest at something.”

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of summer basketball: “That’s helped the kids have success, all the kids. We were very fortunate. There were other parents in the classes that helped promote that and drove their kids all over the place to tournaments. I think that’s how you build a program. You can see what Hoxie has done with that.”

Coach Rath came to Oakley from Palco and was the boys’ basketball assistant coach for a year before the girls’ job came open. Rath never thought he would coach girls. He simply enioys coaching and applied for the position. On how girls have changed during the years: “If they don’t think they are going to be on the varsity team, then they don’t want to go out. I think in the last five years, that’s been a change. The bad thing is, I think kids, if they really like athletics – and all sports aren’t for everybody – but the more they can be involved, the more they can learn from every sport, and can bring something into the next one, and it makes them more competitive. In high school, it just builds a better, well-rounded person.”

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BRADY WERTH Hays High junior

The reigning WAC player of the year, Werth has managed to elevate his game even more this season. The junior carried the Indians to their first Dodge City Tournament of Champions title since 1955 and HHS’ first No. 1 ranking since 2001. Werth averaged 16 points per game in the TOC, including a 26-point performance against Hutchinson in the opening round. He was named to the all-tourney team, and also was named the tournament’s Most Inspirational Player. Through 13 games this season, Werth averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks.

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Best of luck to all area teams

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