Sportsink082913

A magazine focusing on all things sports in northwest Kansas

INK.

September 2013

Back to work

Ottley, Knights have high expectations entering new season

The Hays Daily News

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What’s up?

A look inside this issue

6

Hot one at NBC

Fun run

In its second year, the Schoenchen Mile offers a unique road race for the Hays

Track Club.

Back to work

8

The Victoria football team has big goals in mind for the 2013 season.

14

Purple power

Hays High grad puts in his time to take his football game to the

next level — K-State.

Hays Larks manager Frank Leo sits in the team dugout shrouded in cooling mist during Hays’ game earlier this month against the San Diego Stars at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita.

Austin Colbert, Sports Ink.

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 3, Issue 7 Sports Ink. is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News. Copyright © 2013 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.

Let the games begin T

he suspense is nearly unbearable.

So much so that at the end of the process, it almost gets to the Since the final whistle blew last November on the 2012 footpoint where the excitement has burned itself out — almost. ball season, it’s been nothing but build-up for 2013.

But, even if there is a lull, it doesn’t last long. It comes right back Each offseason seems to get longer and longer. again when you show up to any field for that first Friday night.

Nevertheless, since the start of summer, once I put together each And, as a reporter, you can only hope you don’t get a stinker that team’s schedule for the upcoming gridiron season, the suspense first time out. and excitement has been mounting more and more. Each year, I Although I’ve had my fair share of those through 13 years, my tell myself not to think about football until the temperature falls first game last year didn’t disappoint with Phillipsburg and what below 90, but it’s nearly impossible. turned out to be K-State signee Sean Newlan. Newlan, obviously It’s that way every year. And, how can one working in the passing game during the summer, For starters help but get excited about what this season connected on scoring tosses of 88 and 49 yards might have in store? in the first half of a 48-18 rout of defending MCL Last year, we had a feeling Ness City was champion Plainville. He connected on another going to have a good season, but we weren’t bomb in the second, fully displaying his improved sure how good it would be. We knew there passing ability and a remarkable athleticism which were good athletes out there, but by season’s soon earned him a chance with the Wildcats. end, you nearly had to take off your shoes to Though it was still a balmy 90-plus degree evecount the number of players who went on to play with big-time ning at kickoff, the feel of fall was finally in the air, and Phillipsburg programs — with three at the Division I level with Kansas State turned in a masterful performance fit for a kickoff classic in front of University. a jam-packed hometown crowd. It was like sitting in the sun all day In the news industry, perhaps we are more excited about the waiting for a sip of water, then getting sprayed with a fire hose — it’s gathering of current information on readers’ favorite teams, and that refreshing. kicking around the office what we might get to witness in the And it is time to quench that thirst once again. upcoming season. We probably are the only ones just as excited as As you will see with the upcoming HDN area football preview, the the players and coaches to get the season started. stage is set for the 2013 season. Now, it’s up to the “Boys of Fall” to For the past two weeks, we’ve been collecting information, phoget out there and play it out. tos, stats and just about anything else we can dig up.

I can’t wait.

nick

McQUEEN

Proud to Support Our Student Athletes Wishing all of our school teams a safe and successful season. We hope you'll experience the thrill of victory, but more importantly, that you'll enjoy every minute of the game. We salute your hard work, school spirit and commitment to the team. Good Luck!

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Who’s That?

Notable performances in northwest Kansas Chandler Hawkins

Hawkins, a left-handed pitcher in his first summer with the Hays Larks, turned in a masterful performance in Hays’ first victory of the NBC World Series. Hawkins threw 8.1 innings against the Casa Grande (Ariz.) Cotton Kings. He recorded six strikeouts and gave up just four hits in pushing his record to 7-2 as the Larks’ ace this summer. The Arkansas State University product had a 2.11 earned-run average with 69 strikeouts in 64 innings with just eight walks in 11 appearances.

Kade Parker

Parker, who will be a senior at Hays High School, turned in a solid summer and played a key role in the Eagles’ second straight Class AAA state championship in July. Parker missed the early portion of the summer to a knee injury, but emerged as one of the top three hitters with a .370 average for the Eagles. He was also one of the Larks’ top three pitchers.

Parker had 27 hits in 73 atbats with 16 runs scored. On the mound, he finished 5-3 in 10 appearances (eight starts) with a 1.99 earned-run average. He threw 56.1 innings with 43 strikeouts to 18 walks.

Aaron Yoder

Yoder, a former runner for the Fort Hays State University cross country and track and field teams, was back in Ellis County earlier this month, and won the male division of the Herzogfest 5K in Victoria. Yoder completed the course in 15 minutes, 46.1 seconds. Yoder, a 2008 graduate of Fort Hays, will enter his fourth season as an assistant cross country coach at Bethany College in Lindsborg. Yoder is a Hillsboro native who was a four-time all-conference selection in track and field with the Tigers, and all-conference in cross country and indoor track.

Baylee Holecek

Holecek, a member of the Hays Striders, competed and took third in the pentathlon at the AAU Club Championships on July 8 in Orlando, Fla. Holecek scored 2,086 points in the 13-yearold division. She had two second-place finishes — the 800 meter and the shot put.

Holecek ran 2:45.35 in the 800, and threw 30-5.75. The other events were the long jump, high jump and 100-meter hurdles.

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.

Welcome to the club Unique mile run part of slate for Hays Track Club

T

here are 5,280 feet in a mile, a distance Cameron Rieth — or any competitive runner — isn’t used to facing on race day.

While most races are either 5K (3.1 miles) or 10K (6.2 miles) in measure, finding a race only one mile in length is a rarity. But that is also what made The Schoenchen Mile on July 27 so unique.

The beer mug prize was pretty unique, too.

“I’m happy I got one of those mugs more than anything,” said Rieth, who was the top overall male finisher with a time of 4 minutes, 31.3 seconds. “If I had time and I didn’t have to work I would definitely have had a beer in it.”

Page 6

TOP: Jason McCullough, race director, reads the results of the race after the Schoenchen Mile in front of Earl’s Bar & Grill in Schoenchen. The event was part of a schedule for the Hays Track Club, a group of competitive runners in the area. BOTTOM: The trophies for the Schoenchen Mile decorated with the Hays Track Club logo.

September 2013

Chad Pilster, Sports Ink.

SPORTS INK.

“It’s

just fun to be able to compete at a high level with other

people with the same goals. T hose are some of the main reasons why

I

really wanted to start that .”

- Jason McCullough, Hays Track Club Schoenchen, located about 10 miles south of Hays, held the mile-long race for the second time in as many years.

The race was hosted by the Hays Track Club, which was founded in 2011 by current Fort Hays State University cross country coach Jason McCullough.

“It’s just fun to be able to compete at a high level with other people with the same goals. Those are some of the main reasons why I really wanted to start that,” McCullough said. “It’s a great support system. It’s a great incentive knowing that you are part of this club so you better train for your upcoming races — it kind of gives you a goal to look for.”

McCullough started the club with help from fellow Fort Hays coaches, with the intention of it being an outlet for former Fort Hays runners to stay competitive.

Originally an all-male group, the Hays TC has had five female runners and nearly a dozen male runners compete under its name.

“When you get done with college you kind of lose that support system with the team,” said Rieth, a former Fort Hays runner and current Hays TC member.

“It’s more or less a support system to keep us motivated and keep going.

Most of us still have goals we want to reach that maybe we didn’t reach in college.”

The club itself is rather informal.

With little to no structure, it operates more as a way to unite former Fort Hays runners than as a true competitive team. At the same time, McCullough didn’t create the Hays TC to simply allow runners to socialize, but as a way for them to stay competitive after college, something he stresses to his Fort Hays runners.

“When I recruit athletes, one of my goals is that they want to continue running after college,” McCullough said. “So I try to instill in them that love of running and that excitement about running. Because of that a lot of them want to continue to run and a lot Sports Ink.

Matt Dumler, TMP-Marian cross country and track and field coach, ties his shoe before the start of the Schoenchen Mile in late July.

of them stick around here in the Hays area.”

Being a Fort Hays graduate or having any affiliation with the FHSU cross country team isn’t a requirement to be part of the Hays TC. All McCullough really wants in the members is for them to have a connection to the Hays area and be a competitive runner.

Along with providing a support system for area runners, the Hays TC also operates a few races of its own. McCullough got his start operating races well before he started the track club, creating the Herzogfest 5K in 2004 and the Wild West 5K in 2007.

Now both operate under the Hays TC banner, with The Schoenchen Mile being McCullough’s newest — and likely not his last — creation.

“The reason I chose Schoenchen is because I wanted to have events that are unique and not always in the same place,” McCullough said. “One of those things is maybe going to Catharine, Pfeifer or Munjor or some other small Volga German town surrounding Hays.

I have some ideas of different, unique and fun races that I’d like to do.”

September 2013

Wes Windholz plays polka music on an accordion while Mike Manning, Hays, stretches with his daughter, Payton, 11 months, before the Schoenchen Mile.

Until then, McCullough will focus on the upcoming cross country season at FHSU and spend some time with the family. But ideas for more races are always brewing in the back of his mind.

“I’ve thought about putting on a meet in the early spring some time,” McCullough said, “but I have to get the OK from my wife because this takes a lot of time.”

For more information about the Hays Track Club, visit www.haystrackclub. com.

Austin Colbert, Sports Ink. Page 7

Getting bac Ottley, Knights have high expectations for 2013

ck to work V

ICTORIA – Sam Ottley has learned about passion from his brothers. spent virtually his entire life Once he finished junior high games around Victoria athletics.

Thursday, all he could think about was His dad, Dave, has served in his brothers’ game Friday night. The multiple roles with the school excitement was even higher if district, coached basketball and Victoria played a big contest, is now the Knights’ elementary such as then-rival Bushton-QuiConor school principal. From 2005Heights.

Nicholl vira“Learned 09, Ottley watched his older to play excited and brothers, Jordan and Brett, get ready to play,” Sam said. earn all-state football honors.

Sam Ottley started playing Jordan started at quarterback Everett quarterback in junior high, Royer and defensive back, collected a mainly because Jordan played state championship in 2006, a the position. Earlier in his high runner-up showing in 2008 and Shrine school career, Ottley played end. He Bowl honors. Brett was arguably the best took over as the starting quarterback last player on a sub-state team in ’09. Sam fall, the fifth different quarterback in as

story by

photos by

Sports Ink.

September 2013

many years for the Knights.

Like his brothers, Ottley delivered a huge season. Despite playing nearly the entire year without all-state running back Dalton Dreiling, Ottley finished with more than 1,800 total yards and surprised many people with his play.

“It was just awesome seeing him come out of his shell,” running back Bryan Dome said.

However, Victoria finished 6-4 and lost in the first round of the Eight-Man Division II playoffs, 17-14, to Fowler.

This fall, the Knights return five seniors, all whom started last year and usually both PAGE 10 ways.

Page 9

Lineman Nathan Kuhn will be a senior.

Juniors Dome and wideout Noah Dreiling are strong at their positions for a team that averaged 36 points per game against the classification’s hardest strength of schedule, according to preppowerindex. com. The defense, which allowed 25.3 points per contest, and playing better against elite opponents are areas the Knights still to improve on.

“We have a lot of work to do,” eighthyear coach Doug Oberle said. “We have a long way to go. We return a lot of skill guys, but we have got to come up with an identity. Defensively, we have to really play a lot better on that side of the ball. Our tackling was not good last year. I thought offensively, we were pretty solid.”

For the first time since Brett Ottley’s senior year, Victoria is among the top eight-man squads in the preseason ranks.

The Knights, 1-3 in the postseason in the last three falls, look to contend for another state title.

“We always want to be good, and I think that we realize that we have a good opportunity to be good,” Sam Ottley said.

• • • The last two seasons, area success was marked by elite speed in 2011 and the play of young quarterbacks in 2012. This season, it centers around several powerhouse programs that have been strong for years, but haven’t won a state title in several seasons – or ever.

Oakley has earned at least seven wins in eight of the last nine years, but has never played for a state title. This season, a big senior class puts the Plainsmen among the Class 2-1A favorites.

“We have a really challenging schedule and one of the biggest keys is going to stay

Camaro Enough said.

healthy for us, because we don’t have a lot of depth,” coach Randall Rath said.

“We have been very excited what they have done this summer up until now.

The kids have been really committed.

They are a close-knit group of kids.”

In Eight-Man, Division I, Osborne made the sub-state title game in 2010 and ’11, but slipped back to 6-3 last fall. This year, the Bulldogs look for their first state crown since a 3A title in 1983, are a top-five team and has Kenton Ubelaker, the area’s returning leader with 2,140 all purpose yards.

As well, Atwood returned its entire team from a 7-2 squad last year, and Hoxie brings back dynamic quarterback Chase Kennedy from a 7-3 team.

Atwood hasn’t won a championship since 1991 and Hoxie has never won a football title.

Wallace County has made the playoffs all seven years under coach Kevin Ayers. The Wildcats are 19-3 the last two seasons and lost in the sub-state championship last fall. This season, Wallace County returns six offesnive starters and five defensive, including the entire defensive line from a team

that allowed just 102 points. The Wildcats last won a state title in 2007, the only trip to Newton under Ayers.

Along with Victoria and Thunder Ridge (25-1 past two years), those three teams are considered the west’s best for Eight-Man, Division II. Victoria has won five state titles, all from 1981 to ’06, second-most in the area behind Smith Center’s eight.

Dome’s family is similar to many Knights. His father played on the ’81 state title team. His older sister, Andrea, is engaged to Brenton Hoffman, who played on the ’06 and ’08 teams. “(My dad) always gives me (static) because I don’t have a ring on my finger like he does,” Dome said.

After losing just six games from 2006-09, Victoria has dropped 12 in the last three years. Expectations are always high — perhaps annually the highest of any area team — for a squad that has 11 straight playoff appearances, currently the longest among Kansas eight-man schools. Ottley understands the expectations, but feels no pressure to match his brothers.

“We try to do our best and go undefeated and win state,” senior end Tanner Hobbs

said. “I think we can get it done.”

• • • Athletically, Sam Ottley isn’t like his brothers. Jordan and Brett are both under 6-foot tall, while Sam is 6-1.

“He goes to family get-togethers now and looks over the top of both of their heads,” Oberle said. “…The common thread is that all three showed up and worked hard.”

Oberle called Jordan Ottley “extremely quick, athletic and powerful.” Jordan, now married and a teacher in the USD 489 district, saw his football career end because of concussions at FHSU. Brett, a national qualifier for the Tigers in the pole vault two years ago, wasn’t blessed with raw talent.

“Brett was just a hard working kid. He didn’t maybe have some of the agility, some of the quickness that Jordan had, but was just a hard-nosed kid, ran hard, intelligent, played defense well,” Oberle said.

“Lacked some size, lacked some build that Jordan had.

Sam, in terms of his ability, is a totally different player than both of PAGE 12 those.”

“We have a long way to go. We return a lot of skill guys, but we have got to come up with an identity. Defensively, we have to really play a lot better on that side of the ball.”

- Doug Oberle, Victoria head coach

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In Oberle’s time, Victoria has produced Cody VonLintel, Jordan Ottley, Garrett Dreiling, Cody Scheck, Corey Dinkel and now Sam Ottley under center. Everybody except Scheck – who was still solid – earned all-state honors on at least one side of the ball.

Vonlintel, Jordan Ottley and Corey Dinkel were well-known for their running ability.

“I am not very good at coaching quarterbacks,” Oberle said with a laugh. “I think we try to fit the system to the quarterback a little bit, but yet we still maintain our identity. I still feel like we are a veer option type team is our bread and butter. Obviously with Garrett and Cody, two kids, 6-4, 6-5, who could really throw the football well.”

Oberle thought Sam Ottley would also be more of a running quarterback. Then, Victoria had some problems on the offensive line. Dreiling went down with a knee injury in Week 1. Ottley showed a strong arm, especially on deep passes to Dreiling, Kansas’

Tanner Hobbs returns for his senior season for the Knights.

leading receiver among eight-man sophomores in 2012, according to maxpreps.com.

“I just thought it was amazing how it happened, because Victoria has never been a throwing team,” Dome said. “We have al-

ways been running, and we started to throw more last year.”

Ottley and Oberle believe the signal caller can still improve passing, especially with his decision making and footwork.

This summer, Ottley repped the fundamentals often after weights, including sometimes running 13 and 14 Option 50 times to hone the play.

Continued progression could lead to another big fall numbers-wise – and possibly a trip to Newton.

“I don’t know if Sam is a natural quarterback in terms of ability, but in a small school, you have got to find that guy and play him at that position, and he is getting better,” Oberle said. “The leadership aspect of it, making decisions in crucial times, getting the guys to where they need to be. I am looking for a big step forward for him this year, and he has got to make that step forward.”

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Chance worth taking Pitcock making leap to Division I

C

hance would have it that Barb Pitcock met former Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein in the Manhattan Regional Airport as the senior was on his way to New York City for the 2012 Heisman Trophy presentation.

“I just said to him, ‘You’ve always been someone my son looks up to and you are a mentor of his. Could you sign something for me?’ ” Barb said. “And he wrote a little note to Chance and we framed it.”

To call Chance Pitcock a K-State fan would be an understatement. The Russell native has bled purple since he was a child, and has always had a “far-fetched dream” of being able to play Wildcat football.

But Chance — a natural multi-sport athlete with Division I speed — had a drive and work ethic that made even his crazy boyhood dream seem reachable, if barely.

“He had (KSU football coach) Bill Snyder sign the back of his jersey when he was just a little boy,” Barb said. “It’s funny because now both those autographs are hanging on his wall. When you have mentors and you have dreams and you work hard and never give up, things happen.

It’s still kind of crazy. I get goose bumps thinking about it.”

It was the day after Chance graduated from Hays High School in May his life changed. He had yet to make any decisions about his future — he held offers from a few universities across the country Page 14

to play baseball — and felt “completely confused” by what lay ahead of him.

Chance saw playing collegiate baseball as a legitimate option. It was a sport he felt he could go a lot farther in than football, not that playing Division I football was an option for him the night before.

Then came the letter, throwing his world upside down.

“I woke up to my parents and they had the letter in the mail from K-State asking me to go down to their summer camp. It was kind of out of nowhere,” Chance said.

“For me to be at K-State, the first few days I was there I was in awe.”

The path that led Pitcock to K-State started a year earlier, when he decided to transfer from Russell to Hays High for his senior season. The move was purely about athletics and the opportunity to go from 3A to 5A, letting him test his skills against the state’s bigger schools.

“It was a big move, especially when you’ve been in a small town like Russell your whole life. You put your sweat, blood, heart and tears into everything that you have — it takes a big step,” said David Pitcock, Chance’s father. “When he saw that he could compete on the field with those 5A kids … he said his confidence just went through the roof. He noticed that he could really play with anybody.”

Hays High football coach Ryan Cornelsen took notice of Chance’s speed and quickness from the beginning. While only listed at 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, Chance was just as strong as kids twice his size, and soon became the Indians key lock-down cornerSeptember 2013

back and wide receiver.

Despite the success on the field, no major Division I school paid Chance any interest.

But Cornelsen believed that Pitcock had the drive to play major college football, and decided to take his recruiting into his own hands.

“Based on (his speed) and his work ethic and what I saw of him in the weight room, I felt he deserved a chance to follow his dream,” Cornelsen said. “I got in touch with (KSU linebackers coach Mike Cox) who recruits our area and they were willing to give him a shot. I think his work ethic probably shined through and what they saw in him is probably the same thing I saw in him.”

K-State kept in contact after their meeting, but Chance didn’t believe anything would ultimately come of it. Chance was told he might have the option of walking on once school started, but it was a risk that would end any chance of him taking a scholarship from another school should he not make the team.

“I give all the credit of that to coach Cornelsen. He called down and set me up on a little visit and I talked to coach Cox,” Chance said. “We contacted him a few times just to keep in touch, but we didn’t expect a letter. I really didn’t know if it was true. I couldn’t believe it.”

The letter invited Chance to K-State’s summer workout program, where his hard work paid off even more when he was invited to walk-on as a cornerback in the fall as a member of the PAGE 16 Wildcat football team.

SPORTS INK.

Chance Pitcock, who walked on at Kansas State University this season, works out earlier this month at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays.

Austin Colbert, Sports Ink.

Sports Ink.

September 2013

Page 15

“As his dad, I would say his number one attribute to me is his work ethic and his willingness to take direction and learn. He is always wanting to get better,” David said.

“It just goes back and shows all the work he’s done. You don’t get there overnight. It’s something he has worked at his whole life.”

Chance was officially to report to camp on Aug. 25, five days before K-State’s season opener against North Dakota State. The decision to walk on at KSU wasn’t difficult for him. But when he was asked what town was to be put on his locker, he had to think a little longer.

“My experience at Hays High was awesome. I love Hays High. It’s an incredible school and atmosphere,” Chance said. “But I felt for the 17 years I was in Russell that this town deserved for me to put that on the plaque.”

And for David, his main hope is the Russell community feels equally as fond of his son, who through shear determination went from an unknown, smalltown athlete to a member of the Kansas State football team, fulfilling a childhood dream in the process.

“There were mixed emotions. Anytime

File photo, Sports Ink. Chance Pitcock, a former Hays High Indian, makes a tackle during a game last season against Salina South at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays.

a kid that is athletic with the ability like that moves out of a small town, people might be rubbed the wrong way,” David said. “When you have big goals and you really want to step out there and see what you can do, you would hope ACIDIZING

Athletes get hungry.

You need a place to store food.

CEMENT

people would understand that. But now, with hindsight and him making the team, I would hope people in the community would see how proud he is.

“He knows that’s where he grew up.”

Austin Colbert, Sports Ink.

TOOL RENTAL

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Schippers, who will be a junior at TMP-Marian High School this fall, had a good summer for the Monarchs, who made their second straight trip to the Class AA state legion tournament. Schippers batted .364 in 32 games played with 99 at-bats. The average included eight doubles and one of only two home runs for Hays this summer. Schippers also pitched in two games for Hays (20-15) and picked up two wins in eight innings with six strikeouts.

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Ink. BLOTS

A spattering from NW Kansas

Through the years, many football coaches have attested to the fact the best coaching jobs they have had to do are the year after their first state championships. With competition so great, it’s hard year-after-year for a team to reach the state champion caliber level. So, when a coach does finally achieve an elusive first title, it’s traditionally because a group of kids had been working for years to achieve that goal. Ness City coach Chris Bamberger might just be feeling that way this season. The Eagles, coming off one of the most dominant eight-man runs in recent history with a Division I title, replace a whole heap of players. It’s difficult to see the Eagles not being in the mix. But, as bad as it sounds, this year and next can be a good indicator of whether the Eagles are a program or a one-hit wonder. That being said it takes hard work on the part of the players, too. As good as a coach’s program might be, the kids have to buy into it.

- Nick There’s no question that inevitabilities in western Kansas, such as school or athletic program consolidation, can step on many toes. Members of those communities should be able to take comfort in one thing, though — student-athletes really come together on the field or the court.

It’s a great experience, especially for those who were taught neighboring towns were considered rivals. The Logan and Palco boys’ teams will find that out this fall. Of course times have changed just a bit, and kids know each other much more than just meeting at the line Friday night (summer

Finally, football season is upon us again.

During the last two weeks, we’ve been around the area putting together the HDN’s annual prep football preview. Who is the best of the best this season? A strong argument could be made for Atwood-Rawlins County in EightMan Division I. The Buffaloes lost no one off last year’s 7-2 club that started the season 7-0.

The Buffs’ two losses were to district champion and runner-up Ness City and Hoxie.

Michael Capo, right, returns after rushing for 852 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is one of three backs to rush for at least 400 yards for the Buffs.

- Nick

camps, etc.), but taking the field with a new group this fall just adds to the learning experience of it all. When I was a youngster in Montezuma, we despised the Copeland Vikings. When junior high came along, they were amongst us, and South Gray has grown into a traditional contender.

- Nick So, as this month’s issue is going together, fantasy football is getting closer and closer. Many, like me, like to think they are pretty good at wheeling and dealing.

But, let’s be honest, second place in backto-back years in two different leagues is just plain lucky. Especially since in one of the leagues, Tony Romo carried me to second place. Not this year. He’s been cut.

Good luck everyone.

- Nick

Buzz Hayden Hutchison Legion, NCCC baseball

Jacob Brooks HCC football

Just ran into a kid at the lake that pitches at SAU, he then asked if I had my glove. 15 minutes later we’re playing catch on the lakeside.

Meeting those kids from the shrine hospital showed me how good my life is and that you can’t take it for granted. #greatexperience

Sports Ink.

On the Horizon

Sept. 5 — The Fort Hays State Uni2013 season against MIAA foe Emporia State University at Lewis Field Stadium. It’s the annual Kickoff Classic at 7 p.m.

Sept. 6— Opening night for prep football. The Hays Daily News Area Game of the Week travels to Smith Center for a classic rivalry with a new look.

Sept. 13 — Hoxie plays host to Sharon Springs-Wallace County in a great Eight-Man I vs. Eight-Man II challenge.

Last year, Wallace County won 20-6 in Sharon Springs.

Sept. 19 — HHS XC Invitational versity football team kicks off the

invites some of the best teams from the area.

What’s on your mind?

Tweet to @HDNMcQueen, #sportsink

TMP football

Great day with our Jr./ Sr. High Football Moms today! Blessed to have devoted people supporting our program.

Love to all the Moms out there!

September 2013

Ian Bentley Larks pitcher

Alex Delton HHS quarterback

It was a blessing and an honor to play for one of the best teams in the country this summer, I’ll never forget this or anyone I played with

Was out in Manhattan today.

Spent my afternoon with KState! Gooooood time today! #EMAW

Page 17

Hoxie’s Chase Kennedy leads Hoxie as another Eight-Man Division I playoff hopeful in 2013.

E

On the radar in 2013

arlier in this Sports Ink, I profiled Sam Running back Jordan Baird and offensive Ottley and the Victoria Knights for this lineman Ian Vincent may be more wellfall. One of the key roles that I look at in all known, but Chandler enters his third seasports is “most indispensable player.” This son as a starter. Multiple coaches have called is not necessarily the “best player.” These Chandler Northern Valley’s key. are the players that will likely shape the area The Huskies went 6-3 and 7-2 the last two football season. I think Ottley – because of years, but haven’t made the playoffs either the role he plays – is the area’s most indisseason. Chandler is a terrific runner who pensable player entering 2013. Here are five collected 160 carries for 1,111 yards and 20 others on my radar that will make a huge scores, but the passing game must improve. impact this fall: Chandler went 22 of 59 for 236 yards with 1. Kenton Ubelaker, Osborne RB. Statistia 0/5 TD/INT ratio. cally, no area player That included a 2 of 9 THE CLOSER is better based on last effort for 19 yards with season’s numbers. three INTs in a 32The younger brother 28 Week 5 loss to St. of former Bulldog John’s-Beloit, a game standouts Brooke and that effectively cost the Karie, Kenton (2,140 Huskies a shot at the all-purpose yards) is playoffs. entering his fourth year as a starter. Osborne 3. Lucas Moeder, Warren Storie, La Crosse is a little under-the-radar, but returns plenty RBs. I’ve said this multiple times this sumof skill talent with Ubelaker, senior runmer: Lucas Moeder is the area’s most underning back Maverick Lerock and sophomore rated athlete. Moeder collected 59 tackles, quarterback Jake Tiernan. One wrinkle, four interceptions and three sacks. He though, Osborne will mainly play west or posted a solid basketball season and then central schools, but will be on the east side won the Class 1A javelin title with the state’s comes playoff time. Likely that would mean best throw, regardless of classes. a matchup with Madison, the preseason This year, Moeder and Warren Storie steps No. 1 team. into a position that is tradition-laden: Leop2. Hunter Chandler, Northern Valley QB. ard running back. Last year, La Crosse had

conor

NICHOLL

Page 18

September 2013

2-1A’s best 1-2 punch with Levi Morss and Kip Keeley. Before then, the Leopards had Marshall Musil and Marcus Moeder in the backfield. Lucas Moeder had 15 carries for 61 yards and Storie collected 30 carries for 327 yards and four scores in 2012.

4. Chase Kennedy, Hoxie QB. Last year, the Indians finished 7-3 with a blowout victory against rival Atwood in Week 9. This season, Atwood has set sights on a state championship run after it brought back its entire team from a 7-2 season. However, Hoxie/Atwood in Week 9 is a critical swing game. Kennedy has won his entire career in football and basketball, been a key player in basketball since his freshman year and played quarterback since he was a sophomore. Kennedy led Hoxie to a 5-0 home record, passed for 752 yards, rushed for 587 and collected 21 total scores.

5. Wallace County, DL. In the eight-man ranks, it all comes down to the front three.

The area has seen dominant fronts the last few seasons, including Otis-Bison in 2009 and Ness City last year. This season, no one has a front like Wallace County with Dalton Walker at nose guard and Clay Schemm and Callahan Grund on the ends. Walker led the team with eight tackles for loss, while Schemm had seven sacks and Grund had 5.5 for a team that allowed just 102 points.

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