Sportsink032615

A magazine focusing on all things sports in northwest Kansas

INK. April 2015

92 and counting

Nearly four seasons without a loss, Hoxie stamps its name on history

The Hays Daily News

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Can’t do that

Smith Center sophomore David Hileman, this year’s 126-pound Class 3-2-1A state champion, signals to the referee during his match against Rossville junior Alex Cavanaugh in the semifinals Feb. 27 at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Nick McQueen, Sports Ink.

12

What’s up?

Get

your

A look inside this issue

spell on

The Spelling Bee has turned into a fierce competition.

4

Who’s that?

Notable

performances from northwest Kansas.

6

In the books

Nearly four seasons with no losses.

The Hoxie girls’ program is one for the ages.

14 J

ust for kicks

A one-on-one with TMP-Marian sophomore Deonna Wellbrock.

Sports Ink. contributors: Nick McQueen nmcqueen@dailynews.net Austin Colbert acolbert@dailynews.net Jolie Green jgreen@dailynews.net Maggie Gebhardt mgebhardt@dailynews.net

On the cover: The Hoxie girls’ basketball team huddles up during its Class 1A Division I sub-state semifinal game against Victoria in Quinter. Photo by Jolie Green.

Volume 5, Issue 2 Sports Ink. is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News. Copyright © 2015 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.

J

Team effort

ust when you think someone had the Bluejays’ number, the Norton Community High School wrestling team does it again.

During the Class 3-2-1A state wrestling finale last month at Gross Memorial Coliseum, it seemed as though Norton’s stranglehold in the team aspect of the 3-21A field was in jeopardy.

Then, Norton goes and does — well, what Norton does.

The Bluejays came back and dominated the back side of the bracket en route to the program’s third straight state championship under longtime coach Bill Johnson. It was the Bluejays’ eighth team championship since 2004 and the fifth in the last six seasons.

The funny thing was, even after a somewhat disappointing Day 1 in the tourney, where Norton was 1-5 in semifinal matches, it seemed as though Johnson knew exactly what For starters was going to happen on Day 2. nick While cautious about predicting his team’s victory, Johnson thought all the way back to 1998 when his team had a big lead, but lost it in Day 2 to Hoxie, which went on to claim the team title.

Yet, even as Johnson spoke about it being a difficult task to accomplish, you had the feeling the wrestling guru was holding a crystal ball.

The Bluejays owned Day 2 of the event, as six wrestlers (including the five who lost in semifinal matches), came through with state medals. Throw in freshman Ryan Johnson’s second place at 106 pounds, and it was yet another dominating tournament for Norton.

It might not seem quite as dominant as the Bluejays did not collect a single individual champ, but what made this time special was it was a true team effort — something Johnson was quick to point out.

What happened at the state meet this year just goes further in supporting the fact. that while wrestling is made up of individuals’ accomplishments, it truly is a team sport.

Through the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that a wrestling team is probably the closest group of guys you will come across. And things like what happened at Gross Memorial Coliseum are the times when that comarederie really shows up.

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Norton Community freshman The 106-pound wrestler played a key role in Norton’s third straight Class 3-2-1A state wrestling championship in February in Hays. Johnson made his way into the championship match, winning his first two matches by pin and a technical fall, before earning a 9-5 decision in the semifinals. In the title match the freshman lost 5-2 to Scott City junior Zach Tucker. Johnson, the son of longtime Norton coach Bill Johnson, finished his season 41-5 and was Norton’s highest finisher in the team title showing, Norton’s fifth title in the last six seasons.

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Notable performances in northwest Kansas Bryce Younger

The 113-pound freshman for the Ellis High School wrestling team made his presence known at the Class 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships in February at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.

Younger finished his season 38-4 with only one loss in Class 3-2-1A. That loss though, came in the title match to Rossville sophomore Bryce Gfeller, an 8-5 decision. Younger’s only other losses were to Class 5A and 6A wrestlers, and one out of state to a state champion from Nebraska.

Tori Beltz

Beltz, a junior infielder for the Fort Hays State University softball team, got off to a strong start for the Tigers’ season, offensively. Through the Tigers’ 7-8 start, Beltz had 15 hits in 41 at-bats with a .780 slugging percentage.

Beltz connected for five home runs and two doubles while driving in a team-best 11 runs in the start. Beltz, from Rose Hill, was second on the team in batting average at .366 and was one of six Tigers to start the first 15 games. She also was tied for the team lead with 10 runs scored, and led the team with 32 total bases.

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Jared Vitztum

The junior played a key role in getting the Thomas More Prep-Marian boys’ basketball team back to a state tournament for the first time since 2007. In the semifinals at the Class 4A Division II sub-state in Colby, Vitztum scored 18 points, 11 of which came in the first quarter as TMP cruised to a 65-23 win against Colby.

Then in the title game, Vitztum was the second-leading scorer with nine points in addition to eight rebounds. Heading into the state tournament, the junior averaged 14.4 points and right around eight rebounds per game.

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Nate Klinge

Klinge, a senior for the Wallace County boys’ basketball team, helped guide the Wildcats back to the Class 1A Division II state tournament with his team-leading performance this season. Klinge averaged 15.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for Wallace County, which entered state as the No. 2 seed with a 21-2 record. Klinge scored in double figures in all but three games for the Wildcats, scoring a season-best 28 in a win against Wichita County on Feb. 20.

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92 and counting Page 6

April 2015

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ast summer, Hoxie High School girls’ basketball coach Shelly Hoyt had the opportunity to witness longtime Little River coach Shane Cordell and the Redskin girls being honored for all they had accomNick plished.

McQueen In the mid to late 1990s, Little River was the elite of Kansas high school girls’ basketball, winning four straight Jolie Green Class 1A state titles and beating teams such as McPherson, Moundridge and Claflin, programs with elite players in Kansas history.

In the process, Little River set a state record with

story by

photos by

SPORTS INK.

91 consecutive victories, a mark that seemed somewhat impossible at the time.

Records, of course, are meant to be broken.

Hoyt thought one day maybe the girls from Hoxie’s program might be on that stage and be able to look back on their tremendous accomplishments during the last four seasons.

“They don’t fully understand the impact of it,” Hoyt said of her team, which two nights after tying the 91

consecutive wins with a Class 1A Division I sub-state semifinal win against Victoria, set the new mark at 92 with a sub-state title over Stockton.

“Some day when they’re up there on the stage they’ll understand, but right now, they’re just trying to play one game at a time.”

It’s that mantra that has helped produce Kansas’ new longest streak. Not only that, Hoxie has done it in dominating fashion.

And entering the 1A Division I state tournament in Emporia two weeks ago, Hoxie was far from finished.

“Our theme this year is kind of ‘unbreakable,’ said Terran Hoyt, the coach’s daughter and junior on this year’s team. “So it’s kind of cool to think that we achieved something that was unbreakable. We’re going to be remembered, but on to bigger and better PAGE 8 things now.”

The “one-game-at-a-time” just as easily could read one state championship at a time. Each year, Hoxie puts forth a goal to play for, and win, a state championship. That’s become the expectation, one that doesn’t seem as if it will change any time soon.

“We’ll be able to (enjoy the record) at the end of the season,” said senior Carly Heim, who was a freshman starter when the streak began in 2011-12 after a 61-50 loss to Wichita-Word of Life. “We’re just focused on winning sub-state, getting to state and winning it.”

With the near-perfection of the last four seasons, Hoxie was in prime position once again to claim a state title in Emporia, which would mean a fourth consecutive crown. Most of the girls, with the exception of Heim and senior Lexi Schamberger have never known a defeat as the junior high has enjoyed a run of undefeated seasons as well. And leading up to the state tourney this year, Hoxie had lost just three times since 2010-11, and had played in four consecutive title games, taking second in the first one.

“That’s the biggest goal is to win state,” Coach Hoyt said. “So that’s all they think about. We have to work harder to get ready for so-and-so. I love their attitude about it. They have a long time to think about that record.”

Hoxie senior Carly Heim goes up for a shot against Victoria in the sub-state semfinal game March 5 in Quinter.

The past four years 2011-12, 24-1 20 straight wins (one bye) As of March 11, the last Hoxie loss came on Dec. 10, 2011.

It was the championship game of the Castle Rock Classic in Quinter when the Indians dropped a 61-50 contest to WichitaWord of Life, a school not affiliated with the Kansas State High School Activities Association.

From there, though, Coach Hoyt knew her team was going to be a force to be reckoned with. The Indians had played for the state championship, but lost to Olpe the year prior. But, the coach knew she had a talented group coming through.

“We have been waiting on these kids for a long time,” Hoyt said after the Castle Rock Classic in 2011. “I have had them since they were in second and third grade. We knew what they were coming in (with) and we have been excited about it. They have put the time in, let’s put it that way, so we expect them to play at

this level.”

Arguably, Hoxie took it to a new level.

After the loss, only one team — Oakley — played within single digits of the Indians. That game was an eight-point win for Hoxie, part of 20 straight the Indians won.

Making it back to the state tournament, the Indians steamrolled Lost Springs-Centre in the first round, then beat Spearville by 12 points, and claimed a title a long time in the making when they beat St. John, 55-45, in the title game. Through, Hoxie had been a mainstay at the 2A level, the Indians had just one state title to their credit — coming in 1993. That was until 2012.

After the game, one of the seniors on that team — Mackenzie Mense — spoke about the program’s dedication.

“Everything we have ever worked for has come true,” she said after the title. “This is our dream. It’s for the team. The team, oh my gosh, this is the best that you you could ask for.”

And so it began.

File photo, Sports Ink. The Hoxie seniors raise the championship plaque up for their fans after their win at the 2012-13 Class 1A Division I state title game in Emporia.

2012-13, 26-0 25 straight wins (one bye) Right after the Indians defeated Olpe 68-63 for their second straight state championship, Heim — then a sophomore — thought the title game was one of Hoxie’s best-played games of the season.

“Honestly, we prefer to be in close games like this because it’s more of a challenge,” she said as a sophomore.

So it would make sense she thought that was the best game of the season. The fivepoint difference was the closest anyone has been to Hoxie since the loss. In 2012-13,

the only teams to stay within single digits of the Indians played at the state tournament. In the semifinals, Hoxie defeated St. Johns, 47-41, before Olpe stayed within five.

Hoxie won its previous games that season by an average of 46.2 points per game, the closest contest being a 24-point win against Class 3A Norton. Ellis, which was a sub-state runner-up in Class 2A, played within 26. It was arguably the most dominant any Hoxie team in this stretch has been. With Heim, then juniors Kristina Farber and Gabi Spresser, Hoxie averaged

22 steals per game en route to a second consecutive title.

It didn’t come easy, though, as Heim pointed out. Even after a 22-10 run in the game put the Indians well out in front, Olpe came storming back. Something not many teams have done against the Indians.

“It wasn’t surprising they came back,” Heim said after the title.

“We had the experience of being here last year, and that helped when they did. We’re so blessed to have a team like this. I’m very grateful PAGE 10 for it.”

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“…it’s kind of cool to think that we achieved something that was unbreakable. We’re going to be remembered, but on to bigger and better things now.”

Terran Hoyt, Hoxie

2013-14, 26-0 25 straight wins (one bye) After two straight titles, Hoxie earned the respect of everyone else in Class 1A, and entered the season as a heavy favorite to go for a three-peat. But the Indians — for the first time since the loss — had some regular-season competition that at least on paper seemed capable of hanging with the powerhouse.

That came true early in the season, and it of course came in the Castle Rock Classic in December 2013, and two more times during the season.

Upstart Dighton had upset in mind three times, but again, like so many teams have, the Hornets fell short.

In the Castle Rock tournament, Dighton played to within eight points of the Indians.

Then in the Northwest Kansas League Tournament, Dighton stayed within nine.

“Each time, we could kind of check ourselves as far as where we were, and how much better we had gotten,” Coach Hoyt said of the Dighton matchups.

Then, later, Dighton gave Hoxie it’s closest regular-season game in the last 92 when the Hornets lost 69-63 on their home floor. It

junior

File photo, Sports Ink. Hoxie’s Shelby Heim, center, celebrates after the Indians’ 2012 state title with Mackenzie Mense, left, Lexi Schamberger (24), and Danel Stithem (14) after their win against St. John at Emporia.

turned out, that was the closest any team came to dethroning the juggernaut.

Class 2A state qualifier Ellis played to within eight points — also in the earlyseason tournament in Quinter.

At state last season, Hoxie rolled to its

third straight title, winning the three games by a combined 65 points.

Farber, in the title game, helped contain one of the state’s best players that season — Valley Heights sophomore Brandi Jo Roepke, a 5-foot-11 forward, further illustrating

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Hoxie’s defensive prowess, and Hoxie went on a 36-6 run against the team right behind them it in the final KBCA rankings.

“Our kids have that capability,” Coach Hoyt said after the blowout. “We knew we could pressure them. We knew we had to hold Brandi Jo Roepke down. She is a great player (Farber) did an awesome job on her.”

The third straight title led to Hoyt being named the HDN Coach of the Year, and Heim, one of the team’s leading scorers in her first three seasons, was named the Player of the Year.

2014-15, 23-0 entering state 22 straight wins (one bye) While not as close, Dighton still provided Hoxie with its toughest test this season. The closest, though, the Hornets got was within 15 points, which happened twice. Hoxie defeated Dighton, 60-45 at the Castle Rock, then won 65-40 when the two met in league play in Hoxie.

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JOLIE GREEN, Sports Ink. The Hoxie girls basketball team huddles at the end of halftime during the March 5 Class 1A Division I sub-state semfiinal game against Victoria.

The 24-point win against Stockton in the sub-state championship game was the closest anyone has been. While a bit anticlimactic, the win was enough to assure the state’s new record. Yet, that never was Hoxie’s concern.

“It will take some pressure off if we can be successful on Saturday,” Coach Hoyt said after her team tied the record.

“Depending how the girls play that out.

They’re kids, and they really don’t listen to it when people talk about it.”

Many of the former players were on hand when Hoxie officially set the new record, and met the current players on court as the

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announcement was made. “(This team’s) goal is to win state, and for the former players, I’m sure it was to get the record,” Hoyt said. “For these guys, it’s to win state. That’s what they’re working toward.”

And, given it’s Hoxie and it’s girls’ basketball, it’s likely that will always be the goal moving forward.

“Definitely worth it,” Farber said after the Indians’ title in 2014. “Every year, every day in the gym, it all comes up to this one moment. It’s what we have been working for, and I wouldn’t trade any minute for it.”

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Mac Hayes, from Washington Elementary School in Ellis, spells a word for the judges at the Sunflower Spelling Bee in March at Fort Hays State University’s Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Hays.

JOLIE GREEN, Sports Ink.

James Sturgill from Norton Junior High.

Page 12

BEE competitive S

potlights beaming. Hearts pounding. Palms sweating.

Deep breaths. Competitors performed at their highest abilities, as spectators were on the edge of their seats, gripping onto that crucial moment that makes all the difference — the moment it could all be over.

Just like in a flash of pure exhilaration as a basketball floats through the air, almost in slow motion, arching toward a winning basket in the final seconds of a game, Sunflower Spelling Bee participants and audience members held onto each letter, fearful

April 2015

SPORTS INK.

of the devastating reality they might hear those crushing words: “I’m sorry. That is incorrect.”

There were 80 spellers that battled their way to the national qualifying competition at Fort Hays State University’s Beach/ Schmidt Performing Arts Center on March 7.

The pressure was on as competitors kept all that was on the line in the back of their minds, which included an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee — a televised contest featured on ESPN for the 22nd year in a row.

A tremendous amount of studying, preparation and training went into getting ready for such a prestigious, course altering face-off.

“It requires a lot of hard work before they get here and when they arrive, it requires a lot of poise and concentration,” said Brett Leopold, president of ITC Holding Corp.

— the primary sponsor of the bee.

Leopold would know — the company president was victorious in the Sheridan County spelling bee both in the seventh and eighth grade, advancing forward to the state competition.

Just like in a heated sporting event, spellers “learn to perform in front of an audi-

ence, with the spotlight shining on them,” Leopold said.

Head football and basketball coach at Ellis High School, Butch Hayes, attended the bee in support of his son, eighth-grader Mac, who advanced to the fourth round before facing elimination.

The coach said he could see obvious similarities between athletics and the spelling bee.

“That competition is there,” he said. “You want to win and beat your opponent the best you can.”

Intense pressure was felt not only by the participants and members of the audience, but by the judges, who must pay close attention to every microscopic detail including timing, surroundings, spelling, pronunciation, emphasis and origin. Was the word pronounced clearly? Did the speller understand the word? Did another participant or spectator create a distraction?

“Focus is critical,” said Hays’ Mayor and Sunflower Spelling Bee Judge Henry Schwaller IV. “Judges are similar to referees. We are held accountable for our decisions, and if there is a ‘call’ or appeal on one of our decisions, we review the video recording.”

After video review, the judges decide

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either to change their decision or justify it, just like in a game challenge.

“The Sunflower Spelling Bee is no different than any other sporting event,” Schwaller said. “Both (events) focus on skills developed through intense practice and effort. Participants and parents work hard, and since it is a competition, all want to win.”

“You play better in some games than you do in others – this is the same for the spelling bee,” said Hays High Teacher and Sunflower Spelling Bee Judge Jeanie Michaelis. “You may miss a word that you know how to spell, but at the moment, you just can’t pull the correct spelling out.”

Competitors try to hide the nerves and anticipation, but find difficulty doing so, knowing their every move is critical and the slightest fumble could result in a disqualification.

“I get really nervous, but I try not to stress too much about it,” said Mac Hayes, who represented Washington Elementary School, Ellis.

The speller said remembering to take deep breaths helps him remain calm and in control.

After 78 students faced heartbreaking eliminations, two contestants remained, dueling for the desired Sunflower Spelling Bee Champion title.

Back and forth, word after word, the two remaining spellers carried the event into its 30th round, both trying to swing that knockout punch.

After Elizabeth Joseph, eighth-grader from Mill Creek Middle School, spelled her final word incorrectly, Kushala Madduru, fifth-grader from Cedar Hills Elementary School, held the chance to claim the title in the palm of her hand.

“W - e - i - s - s - n - i - c - h - t - w - o.

Weissnichtwo,” she carefully said, becoming the new champion and ensuring an opportunity to compete at the national level.

“Going to Scripps National makes me nervous, but I can’t wait,” Madduru said after the win.

Holding her composure. Carefully processing each thought. Overcoming the pressure. Remaining focused. Madduru performed to the best of her ability and rose above 79 talented individuals to claim her victory.

“I’m feeling good,” she said. “It feels awesome to win.”

The 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee is set to take place in May. Maggie Gebhardt, Sports Ink.

qa

and Deonna Wellbrock

Deonna Wellbrock is a sophomore at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. She is a multi-sport athlete that particularly excels in her favorite sport: soccer. As a freshman goalkeeper for the Monarchs, Wellbrock helped guide TMP soccer to a program-best 8-3-2 record and Class 4-3-2-1A state tournament berth. She was named a first-team all-state selection on defense last season. Her father, Darryl Wellbrock, is the TMP girls’ soccer coach.

Where did you develop your love for soccer?

“It started with my brother (Darren, a 2009 TMP graduate). I traveled with him and watched him all throughout when I was little. I actually learned how to walk in my dad’s minivan at one of his soccer tournaments, because I was at soccer tournaments so much. Then when my dad started coaching it really hit me I wanted to get really good at soccer because I wanted to follow in my brother’s footsteps.”

Why did you decide to become a goalkeeper?

“I went to a lot of camps over the summers and talked with them. I needed them to help me decide.

I asked them where they saw more potential, and they said definitely goalkeeping. They said they see a lot in how I react to things and how much sooner I can get to things. … Which I do agree with, now that I’ve accepted it. I used to love to play on the field and my dad had to force me to play in goal.

Now I like it a lot more.”

What have you learned by playing for the Olympic Development Program soccer team in Kansas?

“New girls. You can definitely play with anyone, honestly. We had the Ellis girls coming in. You can play with anyone as long as they have the same love you do. I’ve noticed that a lot at ODP because these girls, I’ve never played with them before, but we have coaches coming up to us asking how long our club has been together when we are not a club, we are just girls that meet up every month to play.

I think the drive and the love for the game is what makes that stand out.”

What are the best and worst things about playing for your dad?

“Best things and worst things could be the same for me. Him pushing me a lot harder than the other girls at times can be best, but me taking credit and responsibility for what other girls do sometimes kind of sucks. It reverts back to me almost every single time because I’m the coach’s daughter — I

with

TMP sophomore

Interview, photo by Austin Colbert

should help out and be that responsible person.”

“It’s nice, though, because I can go home and talk to an actual coach and him actually being my father, that’s really nice. But it’s also bad sometimes because you get home and you’re like, ‘I want you to be the dad. Can you be the dad for a little bit?’”

“He said it’s definitely been different with a girl and a boy. He said it was a lot easier with Darren, because he didn’t have as much attitude. And I have attitude, but we’ve worked things out so far. We just need three more seasons to get through.”

What did last season’s success mean to you?

“I think it proved a lot of people wrong. They did not expect that out of us. For that to happen and us girls being able to say that is such an improvement.”

“I think the confidence was a lot different. I think we pushed each other a lot more, because we had to fight for positions, I definitely know that. It was amazing. The experience was amazing.”

What are your expectations for this season?

“I really want to see what will come for us because I’m pretty sure it’s going to be pretty amazing.”

“Talked to a lot of girls about it actually. I want to see what their goals are so I can talk to my dad about it. I think a lot of people’s goals are to get farther than state, maybe get to the championship game and possibly win state. My goal personally would to be to get to state and be competitors. And if it’s possible beat Trinity. Trinity is one of the biggest people I want to beat right now.”

Considering the underclassmen TMP girls have been finding success across all sports, what has allowed them to succeed so quickly?

“I think it has come back from our club coaches.

They worked with us and we’ve worked together so long that we have that chemistry that some girls don’t have. Now putting us all together like that has changed so much and has had the potential be so much more for our team.”

“You don’t want to strive for too much and be let down, so you just live for the moment. Then just wait to see how everything goes.”

A little of this, a little of that Favorite

Favorite

hobby

food

Playing Candy Crush

Fruit snacks

Dream Job Nurse or heart surgeon

Page 14

Favorite TV Show The Bachelor

Favorite

Favorite

athlete

book

Mia Hamm

Hates to read

Worst habit

Cracks fingers Dream vacation

California to see ocean

April 2015

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Best of luck to all area teams

Walmart is proud to support all area schools in their sporting & academic endeavors.

Thank you for your continued patronage!

Walmart is looking for energetic high school students who are looking for: • Extra income • Flexible schedule • Jobs while attending school

4301 N. Vine, Hays

785.625.0001