Sports Ink. October 2012

A magazine focusing on all things sports in northwest Kansas

INK.

October 2012

In the mix

With hard runners such as Cameron Staples, the Trego Golden Eagles hope to leave their mark on eight-man football The Hays Daily News

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What’s up?

A look inside this issue

6

Here we come

‘D’ it up

Quinter’s Colton Corwin has a nose for the football and a mind for the game.

8

In the thick of things

Behind an impressive run game, Trego has become relevant among the eight-man ranks.

13

Great resume

Year in and year out, the Ness City High School cross country program turns out state-

caliber runners.

The Norton Community High School football team takes the field for its season opener against Smith Center in late August. The Bluejays came away with a season-opening victory.

STEVEN HAUSLER • Hays Daily News

Cover illustration by Steven Hausler shausler@dailynews.net Sports Ink. contributors: Nick McQueen nmcqueen@dailynews.net Conor Nicholl cnicholl@dailynews.net Everett Royer sportsink@dailynews.net Steven Hausler shausler@dailynews.net Klint Spiller kspiller@dailynews.net

Volume 2, Issue 8 Sports Ink. is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News. Copyright © 2012 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.

Two sports — too hard?

I

’ve never understood how athletes student organizations, work and family do two sports in one season. while I was in high school, I missed Hays High School junior Lane many other opportunities for fun.

Clark is an example of one of those I believed stoicism was important and remarkable athletes.

I was strong enough to handle it, but I Clark is a starting center midfielder wasn’t. During my senior year, I worked for the soccer team, and he’s also the myself so hard that I didn’t have kicker for the football team. enough time for sleep, and I ended up Clark has to find ways to split his exhausting myself to the point that I practice time got sick. between the two While I imagine For Starters sports and also Clark is being smarter keep up with life’s than I was when I other commitwas his age, it’s still ments. something students It’s even more should take into condifficult to be a sideration when they two-sport athlete at take on an additional Hays High than other schools. sport.

For soccer and football, Hays High Sports are fun, and the bonds of has to travel much longer distances friendship and lessons you gain from than most to find schools of similar sports will stick with you as long as you size. live.

In early September, Clark had to be in But students should take time and McPherson for four days between footseriously contemplate whether the KLINT SPILLER, Sports Ink ball and soccer — nearly a four-hour advantages of being a two-sport athlete Lane Clark plays both soccer and football round trip from Hays. are worth the costs associated with it. for Hays High School this fall.

Clark misses a significant amount of class time, but he said his teachers help ACIDIZING CEMENT TOOL RENTAL out by allowing him to make up work.

While I don’t understand how he keeps up with everything, I think I understand why two-sport athletes do it.

First off, sports are fun, so why wouldn’t you want to participate in as many as possible? Secondly, when you are talented in two different sports, it is probably difficult to choose just one.

Finally, both sports need Clark.

Hays High football and soccer are two teams that could have quite a bit Alex Delton, of success this season, and Clark plays Hays High sophomore QB a significant position for both teams.

Delton had a stellar debut as the Indians’ starting quarterback, At center midfield, Clark serves as a rushing for 102 yards and four distributer to his teammates, and as a touchdowns, and throwing for 78 yards and another score in a 44-43 overkicker, Clark provides his team with time loss to Junction City on the road. scoring opportunities the Indians The next week, Delton threw for 144 yards wouldn’t have if he wasn’t on the team. and rushed for 115 in the Indians’ 58-28 win against perennial power McPherson. Delton He is a vital member of both teams, is the first sophomore to earn the Indians’ so I respect his willingness to stretch starting job in preseason since the 1960s. himself across two sports for his school’s gain.

However, I am concerned athletes like Clark stretch themselves too thin sometimes. Your adolescence only comes once, and you don’t want to waste it. swiftinc@gbta.net Office: 785.798.2300 P.O. Box 466, 1 As a person who juggled multiple Cell: 785-798-534 Ness City, KS 67560 responsibilities between school, sports,

Klint

Spiller

Who’s That?

Notable performances in northwest Kansas Ethan Hamel

Hamel, a freshman at Stockton High School, is part of a young group of talented Tigers that started 1-1 this football season. He also is Stockton’s top cross country runner.

Hamel helped the Tigers defeat Hill City, 22-18, in the first week of the season. The victory ended a 14-game losing streak versus Kansas State High School Activities Association teams for Stockton.

In cross country, Hamel was the team’s top runner and finished seventh in the season-opening Norton Invitational on Aug. 30. Hamel ran 20 minutes, 14 seconds, just 11 seconds away from fourth. Then, Hamel took fourth at the Stockton meet in 19:51.

Kristin Huser

Huser, a junior for the Victoria Knights’ volleyball team, helped Victoria to a 8-2 record to start the 2012 season. Huser, in early september, recorded 48 digs, a block, 20 kills, and 15 aces in the Knights’ secondplace finish at the Otis-Bison/ La Crosse Tournament. The Knights were ranked No. 2 in the Kansas Volleyball Association state rankings in Class 1A Division II as of Sept. 12.

Terrell Lane

Lane, a sophomore running back at Hutchinson Commnunity College and a Norton native, broke the Blue Dragon’s school mark for rushing yards in early September.

Helping a 63-49 victory against Garden City Community College, Lane rushed for 308 yards for the No. 14 Blue Dragons and scored on rushing touchdowns for 5, 64 and 59 yards. Lane broke a 45year-old rushing record in Hutchinson set by Mack Herron. Lane finished the night with 350 all-purpose yards and five total TDs.

Taylor Tustin

Tustin, a Wheatland-Grinnell sophomore cross country runner, got off to a fast start this season, winning at Quinter and Norton.

The Thunderhawk, who finished all-state as a freshman in 2011, won her first two races in times of 16 flat and 17:41. Tustin also competed this summer with the Kansas Flyers Track Team and was a member of fourth-place, 3,200-meter relay at the U.S.A. Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships.

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.

Mind on

the game

FILE PHOTO Quinter’s Colton Corwin was a quarterback before a season-ending injury in 2011. Coming back in 2012, Corwin is one of the better defensive backs in the area.

Quinter’s Corwin one of the best on ‘D’ Page 6

W

allace County High School coach Kevin Ayers first saw a rare talent in Quinter junior defensive back Colton Corwin in 2010. That year, Corwin started for more than half the season as a freshman and picked off six passes for a 6-3 Bulldog squad. Corwin ranked second in the country among freshmen in interceptions, regardless of classification, according to maxpreps.com.

“Some kids just have a nose for the football — a knack. It’s an innate ability to read a October 2012

quarterback, read a receiver, and he has that,” Ayers said. “You can tell, even when he was young, as a freshman, that he had that knack, and then his physical ability has progressed and grown as he has matured.”

Two falls later, Corwin is arguably the area’s best defensive back as a junior. In the last two seasons, the area has produced multiple players that have played defensive back in the Shrine Bowl, including La Crosse’s Tayler Stull and Marcus Moeder, Thunder Ridge’s Joel Struckhoff, Smith Center’s Truitt SPORTS INK.

Kuhlmann and Hill City’s Reggie Jordan.

Statistically-speaking, though, no defensive back is as productive on a per-game basis as Corwin, also a starting running back. “He is an outstanding defensive back,�

Ayers said.

Led by his innate sense, Corwin plays the “monster,� or safety, in the Bulldogs’ 3-2 defense, and has put up big numbers for a Bulldog team that is 13-5 when he plays. In 18 career games, Corwin has 163 tackles and 10 interceptions. As well, he has rushed for 917 yards and 15 scores.

Bulldog coach Greg Woolf said Corwin “knows the angles.� “He is a good athlete, he has just kind of got that God-given gift to see what is going on and know how to do it,� Quinter sophomore Jason Werth said.

As a freshman, Corwin took over in the defensive backfield after Justin Roesch suffered an injury. He finished with 57 tackles and the six interceptions, including one returned for a score against Hill City, the eventual Eight-Man Division I state runner-up. Last year, Quinter started off 6-1 and allowed 14.6 points per game. “Colton is just a ball player out there on that field,� sophomore fullback Brett Crist said. “He just knows where the ball is going to be, and he will be there to pick off that ball and he is one of those players that wants to make a big play just to get the team jacked up.�

However, Corwin, who started at quarterback last season, suffered a season-ending knee injury in a Week 7 victory against Hoxie. He finished with 78 tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Corwin was the lone Northwest Kansas League sophomore to earn first team defensive back. Quinter finished the season 0-3 and allowed 50 points per game in those contests. “He was kind of the leader of the defense in a way, he is kind of in the middle, picked everything up that we left behind,�

Werth said.

This year, the 6-foot, 180-pound Corwin returned healthy and recorded 11 and 17 tackles as Quinter started 1-1. “That’s the nature of that position,�

Quinter defensive coordinator Jeff Ruckman said. “You want somebody there who can feel and not get caught up in all the criss-cross and can see where the ball is going, and I think Colton really has that.�

After Week 2, Corwin had games with double-digit tackles in his career, including four with at least 16. His career high came in Week 3 of last season when he collected

21 versus Sylvan-Lucas. “He would be a great linebacker, but it would be such a waste, because you get him back there, he can see everything,â€? Ruckman said. â€œâ€Ś We would lose that ability to pick balls off and run down things.â€?

Ruckman admits Corwin “isn’t real super fast.� More than anything, though, Corwin understands the opponent’s scheme. “He has got a real good sense,�

Ruckman said.

Conor Nicholl, Sports Ink

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The Mix Right

in

Staples, Trego hope to be in contention for state playoffs

W

aKEENEY — In his entire athletic career with WaKeeney-Trego Community High School, senior Cameron Staples could not recall an event where his dad was not on the sidelines or in the crowd.

Often his biggest supporter, that’s something Cameron has come to rely on — and uses to drive him.

He now knows, though, those aren’t the only set of eyes on him.

A four-year varsity starter for the Trego football team, a varsity wresNick McQueen tler and golfer, Staples has come to expect people keeping tabs on him — knowing each time out his actions might come under scrutiny.

Steven Hausler That thought process drives him to go all-out every time, leave it all out there, and try his best not to make mistakes or cut corners.

“It just takes one person to do something wrong, and another person can just say “Hey, I can do that, too,’ ” Staples said. “That PAGE 10 can start snowballing and go off the deep end.”

story by

photos by

Page 8

October 2012

SPORTS INK.

RIGHT: Trego senior running back Cameron Staples has enjoyed a strong finish to 2011, and continued that success in the early portion of 2012. TOP LEFT: Trego coach Myron Flax is in his 15th season at Trego.

Sports Ink.

October 2012

Page 9

That philosophy also fuels his lead-by-example attitude on the football field, and has helped him enjoy improvement in each of his four seasons in the Golden Eagles’ backfield and linebacking corps. In turn, the Eagles are in the middle of a potential turnaround in 2012, due, in part, to Staples’ attitude.

“He’s just one of those kids that is just such a fierce competitor, that he never wants anyone to be better than he is,” said 15th year Trego football coach Myron Flax.

“He’s going to work hard in the offseason and in practice. He’s not one to take plays off. He does not someone else to be better.”

In 2011 and at the start of this fall, not many have been better than Staples. Though the Eagles finished 3-6, Staples and the Trego offense got things rolling late in the season. After an 0-4 start, the Golden Eagles finished 3-2 in their last five games, highlighted by a 223

yards-per-game average for Staples. In that span, the Eagles averaged nearly 50 points per contest, after averaging 11 in the first four losses.

Staples, who rushed for 95 yards as a freshman when Trego was still in the 11-man ranks, finished with 1,006 and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore in the Golden Eagles’ first year of eight-man. Then last season, his stellar final five games helped him finish with 1,537 yards, 22 touchdowns.

That included putting up 312 yards and six scores against Hill City in a 76-42 Week 7 rout.

Also, in his first three seasons at linebacker, Staples had 180 total tackles.

“Other than just being a great runner, he’s definitely a leader on this football team,” said Trego quarterback John Griffith, in his third year as the starting signal caller, fourth year overall. “He pushes other people and really brings the

“You need that guy that is just a livewire for you.”

John Griffith Trego senior

Senior John Griffith is in his third year as the Golden Eagles’ starting quarterback.

Camaro Enough said.

excitement every team needs.

“You need that guy that is just a livewire for you,” Griffith added.

In a 2-0 start to 2012, Staples picked up right where he left off. In a 70-36 rout of Osborne where Trego trailed at halftime, the senior rushed for 171 yards on 22 carries with three touchdowns. Then in a Week 2 56-8 win against Stockton, Staples posted 303 yards on 23 carries (13.17 average) and four scores.

“His balance on the field is unbelievable, and I attribute that to wrestling,” Flax said of Staples. “He’s got good balance and knows about leverage.

That’s his biggest attribute as a runner.”

Trego in the playoffs?

Flax will be the first to admit his team has quite a ways to go if it wants to be back in contention for a playoff berth. The last time the Golden Eagles finished the regular season with a winning record was in 2006. Trego made the playoffs in 2008 with a 4-5 mark out of a three-team 2-1A district. Both of those seasons ended in first-round playoff losses.

Trego has suffered through two 4-5 seasons since 2006, an 0-9 showing in 2009, a 2-7 record in its first year of eight-man in 2010, and 3-6 in 2011.

Flax, who took a season off in 2009, reclaimed the position when the Golden Eagles chose to start playing eight-man.

Like many teams have in the past, Trego is hoping to climb to state

Junior fullback Devon Ghumm, right, while paving the way out of the backfield, also has rushed for 264 yards and seven TDs in the first two games this season.

power, following the likes of Osborne (two sub-state championship games), Quinter (state championship in 2009), Hill City (state runner-up in 2010) and Victoria (state champs in 2004, ‘06, and runner-up in ‘08), which have benefitted from playing eight-man.

“The main goals is to win every game, and for many teams, that’s not possible,” Griffith said. “You have to realize that. A big goal for us is to play into November, and just see what happens — try to make a run.”

The 2-0 start and big numbers from its top four skill players in Staples, Griffith, junior fullback Devon Ghumm and junior end Clayton Riedel, might have the faithful excited about this season, but the Golden Eagles are humble enough to know it’s still an uphill battle.

Two weeks ago, Trego was preparing for a stern test in Jetmore-Hodgeman County, a team that clobbered the Eagles PAGE 12 46-12 in Week 2 last season.

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“We feel pretty good about where we are at, but we know we still have a lot of work to do,� Flax said after his club started 2-0. “We’re not close to where we need to be yet.�

To make a playoff run, Trego will have to maneuver through what has been touted by some as the toughest district this season in Eight-Man Division I. It starts Friday with the district opener against Hoxie in WaKeeney. “Two games doesn’t make our season, and we’re going to have to pick up the intensity and the focus, even for this week (against Hodgeman Co.),� Flax said. “There is not one week on the schedule where we feel we can afford to have a bad game.�

The turnaround Arguably, no team had a better midseason push than Trego in 2011. Following a Week 4 54-6 beating at the hands of Quinter, Staples said the Golden Eagles really started to come together, the emotions grew — and all of a sudden, they felt like more of a team. “We were bad at pointing fingers at each other,� Staples said. “We really weren’t

From left, Riedel, Staples and Griffith run through drills at practice prior to their Week 2 game against Stockton earlier this month.

excited about too much until then (Week 5).

We had a lot more emotion (from then on).�

Trego still lost two games in the final five, but put up 30 points in one loss and 44 in the other, then closed the season with a 52-6 rout of Sylvan-Lucas to finish 2-3 in district play.

The team used that finish to fuel this offseason and start 2-0. “The coaches have such a great job of pushing us, and it’s just coming in with a taste of success,� Griffith said. “Then you want to keep getting more and more from that. “That’s been a big thing. That success we had toward the end of last season has sort of changed the mentality on this team.�

If the Golden Eagles do make the school’s first playoff run in the eight-man ranks, it will be on the backs of its veteran leaders — like Staples, who has accepted one of those roles, even if he doesn’t know it. “I have always been told that there are people watching me,� Staples said. “So I’ve always tried to do what’s right — leader or not.�

What’s been right, so far in 2012, is making the most of his opportunities when he gets them in a balanced Trego attack. “We’re able to get the ball around and everyone is able to play well,� Staples said. “No one person has the team on their back, and everyone’s getting with it — having fun.�

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Flax runs drills during practice earlier this month.

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Ness City runners participate in one of the Eagles’ practices earlier this month near Ness City.

NOT A WALK IN THE PARK

Demanding program in Ness City

N

ESS CITY — More than 60 minutes into a grueling workout, a troop of Ness City High School runners sprinted as fast as they could up a long hill.

With their legs strained and lungs burning, they silenced the voices in their head screaming for them to stop and continued battling up the hill. Like a field general,

Junior Dallas Winter

their coach, Patrick Younger, stood at the top of the hill, waved them around the corner and yelled words of encouragement, such as “A.Y.G., A.Y.G., All you’ve got” and “No other school is doing this.”

When the runners finished, they collapsed on the dirt road. Younger approached his runners, congratulated them and offered them water.

Younger likely was correct in what he said to his runners. Not many other cross country teams in the state are doing what Ness City is doing.

Younger basically runs a collegiate training program at a small high school that fluctuates between Class 2A and 1A from year to year.

His complex program of high mileage, speed and weights asks for a large commitment from his runners, but so far, they’ve committed and it’s paid dividends.

In his sixth year coaching cross country at Ness City, Younger’s teams have churned out six state trophies on the girls’ and boys’ sides, including three state championships,

and he’s also been named coach of the year twice by the Kansas Cross Country Track and Field Coaches Association. In his seven years coaching track and field, Ness City also has won two state titles on the boys’ side.

A school the size of Ness City typically does not produce talent like the Eagles do from year to year.

On the boys’ side, Younger has had six runners produce times in the low 17s or faster in the 5,000-meter race.

Many programs are fortunate in that time to have just one runner that fast, let alone six.

While Younger’s teams have been blessed with talent, his runners believe its his training regimen that has had a large impact on what Ness City has produced.

“It’s a pretty intense program, but I think it pays off,” Ness City senior Wyatt Beckman said.

Younger’s program revolves around an optional intense summer running program. Runners can choose to put in high mileage, so they have a base for the season.

The amount varies based upon the runPAGE 14 ner.

KLINT SPILLER, Sports Ink. Ness City coach Patrick Younger (in blue) runs with his team during a practice outside of Ness City earlier this month.

Ness City senior Wyatt Beckman won the Monarch Invitational in a time of 16:57 in early September in Hays.

Page 14

Less fit runners don’t go as far, but the boys’ top runner, Beckman, said it wasn’t uncommon to run 60 miles a week. He said the highest mileage he reached was 90 miles in one week.

During the summer, Ness City meets up as many as five times a week and goes for runs.

“That’s been the big key with Wyatt and Dray (Carson),” Younger said about his top two runners on the boys’ side, who run in the low 17s to high 16s. “They always put in a decent summer, and you can kind of see the way they’ve progressed.”

“You can still be good without putting in a decent summer, but if you want to be one of the best in your class, putting in a summer is crucial,” Younger added.

To bring the teams together, the runners go to Younger’s parents’ home in Kansas City, Mo., for a week-long running camp in the middle of July where they train with Younger’s alma mater, Staley High School, and former coach, Todd Warner.

“We bond,” Younger said. “It’s amazing how close they get from that week, and they are excited for the season to start.”

During the school year, Ness City has October 2012

a six-day training program.

Mondays typically are mileage. Tuesdays are speed. Wednesdays are recovery days, with a less intense workout.

Thursdays are high-intensity training, and Fridays are pre-meet workouts for Saturday meets.

“I think our (training program) is pretty tough,” junior Taylor Gabel said.

“Our coach pushes us to do our best and makes us go hard in practice so it’s easy during the races.”

Ness City also usually has two-a-days once a week, and they finish their workouts three times a week with dumbbell weights workouts.

“It adds up pretty quick,” junior Dray Carson said.

Younger establishes themes for his workouts based on what he thinks his team needs.

On a Thursday early in September, Ness City logged a 60-minute workout that ended with hills training afterward.

With that workout, Younger wanted to emphasize mental toughness, strength and endurance.

The runners did a fartlek workout for 60 minutes where they ran hard for 30 seconds and jogged for 30 seconds.

For instance, during the hard portions, SPORTS INK.

Beckman and fellow speedster, junior Dray Carson, would outrun their teammates, but on the low-intensity portions, they would circle back, allowing the slower runners to stick with them.

Younger said many of his workouts revolve around running together. Keeping the team together encourages the slower runners to stick with the workout.

“During our workouts, we compete kind of against each other, but then we work together and push each other,” sophomore Ashley Moore said. “Younger, he wants you to push yourself and keep going. It’s a lot of hard work.”

This is important, because with cross country, seven runners compete on varsity with five counting towards the team score.

Therefore, everyone’s performance is valuable — not just the top runners.

Ness City freshman Addie Beutler said it helps to stay together.

“I was behind more today,” Beutler said. “I wasn’t feeling good, and it really does help you out a lot when they do come back. That way they are not way up there.”

Through all of these workouts, Younger is like a general. His voice booms as he explains his team’s workout, and like a good field general, he goes to war with his runners, performing the workouts with them.

Younger doesn’t just tell his runners what to do. He shows them and is an example of what his workouts produce.

Younger’s personality while coaching is intense. It’s not uncommon for him to sprint

The Eagles’ Jessie Rubottom was second in the Monarch Invitational behind TMP standout Heather Ruder.

to different portions of races and scream for his runners to go faster, but he also keeps the mood light and filled with humor.

“We absolutely hate (the workouts),” Beutler said. “They drive you crazy, but you smile after. There’s always something in

practice that makes you laugh. No one has coaches like ours.”

Younger ran at Highland Community College after high school and transferred to Fort Hays State University where he ran for Jim Krob.

His program is designed to prepare runners for collegiate running.

“I tell them if you are planning on running in college or not running in college, regardless, you will be prepared to run in college,” Younger said.

His cross country program has been extremely successful so far, but not every year has resulted in hardware.

In fact, neither team qualified for state in 2011. It was the first time that’s happened in Younger’s tenure.

They narrowly missed qualifying, but it was still a disappointment. However, Younger said his team is using last season’s experience for fuel this season.

“Last year was probably good for us,” Younger said. “I was just as bummed (as anyone else), but looking back to where we are at this point this season to where we were at this point last season, we are so much father ahead. I think a lot of that is from motivation from not qualifying the boys or girls last year.”

With the blend of talent and training Ness City has combined this summer and fall, the Eagles will attempt to return to their former glory and earn some state hardware Oct. 27 at Wamego.

Klint Spiller, Sports Ink.

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Just a Minute with Nick McQueen

Jacob

Brooks Norton High School senior

Dalton Miller Teammate

Lucas Melvin Coach

John Risewick Teammate

What professional or college player does he remind you of most?

Sammy Watkins

Joseph Randall

Jordy Nelson

What cartoon character do you think he is most like?

Bugs Bunny — He just has a good time

The Roadrunner

Johnny Bravo — he’s just funny

If a song played every time he took the field by himself, what would it be?

Just something energetic

“Nobody worry about me”

“300 Violin orchestra”

What kind of car do you think best describes him?

Q: After two games, two wins, you feel pretty good about the potential season you guys could have?

A: We’re feeling good. We just have to keep focused and just take it one game at a time.

Q: Norton has always seemed to crank out good running backs. What’s the secret up there?

A; We just work hard, I guess. We have some of the best coaches in the state. They’re great to work with.

Mr. Melvin would do anything for us.

Q: What are your thoughts about some of the changes taking place in the MCL coming by 2014?

A: I think it’s for the better. It will make for some more competition in the league. Get some bigger schools in there, might lead to better competition and possibly a little more recognition for the league.

Q: What makes Norton such a tough place to play?

A: Our field is just dug into the ground. The stands built into the hill are full. The fans fill it up — it’s loud.

Q: Outside of Norton, where do you feel are some of the toughest places to go try and win?

A: For us, Ellis is a hard place, plus Phillipsburg and Smith Center. Those are tough. Smith Center and Phillipsburg, just because of the rivalry. Ellis, I don’t know — we just have always had a tough time there.

Q: Look ahead to basketball season, what are your expectations?

A: Hopefully, we can continue to win during football season, and that will carry over to the basketball season. Feel pretty good.

Page 16

Q: Have you made any big decisions yet as far as athletics in college?

A: I want to play college football. That’s the main goal.

If I can’t get an offer in football, I might be able to switch to track. The only thing right now is to play college football — haven’t picked a school or anything.

Q: What is your most memorable game you’ve been a part of so far with Norton?

A: Sophomore year — traveled to Phillipsburg for the last district game. Won the district, the league — great game.

Dodge Viper — Fast and powerful

Big Bad Brooks

October 2012

SPORTS INK.

Basher

Right-hand Smash

Name one talent (outside of sports) you think he could win an award for.

Ping Pong

Q: Do you have any favorite athletes or teams you follow closely?

A: I like the Chiefs, and I love KU basketball. When I was a little kid, I turned on the TV and Texas was playing — seemed to love them ever since.

Q: Give me your prediction, what two teams will be playing in the national title game?

A: USC and Alabama.

He has an S-10, but he’s a Ferrari

If he became a pro wrestler, what would his ring name be?

Q: Outside of athletics, what do you do for fun up there in Norton?

A: Love hanging out with family and friends. We like to golf. Right now, after practice, we’ll sometimes go out and shoot some doves. That’s good for me.

Q: Have you made up your mind about any career possibilities or what you’d like to do?

A: I want to go into athletic training. I love competing, and I would just like to stay around it. I’ve always been around it, and I would like to continue to be around it — help some others out after I’m done playing.

Trans Am

ON

Talking

Fishing

Ink. BLOTS

A spattering from NW Kansas

Victoria has started strong again in volleyball with an 8-2 record after a second-place finish in the Otis-Bison tournament Sept. 8. The Knights had a great season last year, but narrowly missed the state tournament under veteran coach Debbie Bottorf. Then, the Knights ended a long drought without a state appearance in girls’ basketball and qualified for the Class 1A Division II tournament. This fall, Victoria could end a long skid with no state tournament appearances in volleyball. Bottorf, in her 14th season, has never made a state tournament appearance in volleyball.

C.N. Perhaps the most competitive football team in the past two-plus seasons to not get a postseason berth is the Hoxie Indians. They are probably the unluckiest team as well. For one reason or another, namely injuries, Hoxie has been held out of the postseason, despite going 13-7 (including two games this season) since 2010.

The injury bug bit the Indians again in a Week 2 contest against Wallace County.

Two big plays caused the Indians to face a 14-0 hole. On the first, Wallace County quarterback Gavin Mote bounced one to the outside for a big gain that set up an eventual touchdown. Hoxie was missing a starting linebacker that might have been in a little better position to make the play.

The same could be said for a botched punt by the Wildcats, where Wallace County’s Eli Kuhlmann found a crease, broke two tackles and ended up with a 44-yard gain, setting up a 14-0 Wildcat lead. Hoxie also has had the unlucky draw of a tough district each of the last two seasons. Surprise, surprise, the Indians are part of what some call the most competitive in Division I again. It starts Friday with a matchup against Trego.

- N.M. Very rarely are blowouts in football intriguing, but occasionally, you get a glimpse at true talent and budding superstars as they come in to relieve the starters.

As a sophomore, David Cardinal was used sparingly but more heavily during blowouts.

Right away, I could tell he was going to be something special. At the time, I thought Sports Ink.

STEVEN HAUSLER, Sports Ink Hoxie High School quarterback Chase Kennedy, center, listens to his coach during a timeout in their game against Wallace County in early September in Sharon Springs.

he might have been the best runner on the team, despite being just a sophomore, and he dominated as junior, running over teams and earning WAC Player of the Year honors.

I felt the same way when I saw Hays High quarterback Alex Delton play as a freshman last season. His combination of intelligence, athleticism and throwing ability was evident — even in limited playing time. As a sophomore, he stepped in and played great the first two weeks of the season, rushing for more than 100 yards in each of his first two games and completing 57 percent of his passes for 213 yards. With three seasons to develop, Delton could be the next superstar for Hays High. In fact, he might be already.

- K.S. A factor I have found interesting during the course of my time here is the amount of student-athletes who have become good friends with others October 2012

from neighboring or sometimes even rival communities. Often times while conducting interviews, we will uncover friendships or even dating relationships we would have never though imaginable. When I was in high school so many years ago, those types of bonds started to form. Those bonds are much closer now because of the work these kids put in during the summer-time. More so now than ever, high school students who want to improve their skills are part of summer teams and countless summer activities and camps, and those connections are being made. It really creates a mutual respect among competing programs. You really start to notice that respect when they take field, and it shows up again while talking to them. Dare I say..… sometimes, I wish some parents out there could get the hint.

N.M. Page 17

STEVEN HAUSLER, Sports Ink Wallace County and Hoxie High Schools battle on the field during an eight-man game earlier this month in Sharon Springs.

A four-minute warning?

N

ow I’ve seen everything. OK, not Not that the size of the town had really — but I’m getting closer. I’ve anything to do with such an experience been travelling to towns throughout west- on a trip west to Sharon Springs in early ern Kansas for 12 years on the job.

September, but it certainly will go down One thing that always amazes me is the as a top moment. experiences you can find in towns with Prior to the start of the Wallace County populations not football game against The Closer even large enough Hoxie, staff memto fill the lower level bers were frantically at Hays’ Gross Meworking to get the morial Coliseum. scoreboard working in Whether it’s samthe southwest corner pling some of the of the end zone. But, fine meals you can game time rolled get at numerous local joints, or the sights around, and no such luck. you see along the way, a trip on Friday Despite the glitches, though, the show night can give you a full taste of the demust go on. lights waiting for you in our neck of the And, so it did. With no visible clock woods — or plains. on the scoreboard, the defensive battle It’s often been told to me no matter (20-6 win for the home team) was handhow many times you visit a place, there timed on the field by the officials — thus always is something new to see — or do. introducing the four-minute warning to

nick

McQUEEN

Page 18

October 2012

football.

Instead of waiting for the two-minute warning (as done in the pros), officials gave each sideline an extra two minutes to prepare for their final push — confusing, to say the least.

It was not, by any means, an ideal viewing experience for the fans in attendance.

And, it was probably a headache for those involved trying to run a smooth operation.

But, the whole time this was happening, I was thinking how cool it was to not have a visible time — nor a lit up score.

It was just two teams —16 guys on the field, a few coaches and one goal. It’s all about having fun. No pressure, no limits.

This game had a true backyard, playground feel, an experience you probably won’t see too often.

Maybe next time, the lights will go out.

Football by headlights anyone?

SPORTS INK.

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