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contents 6
His Own Cure
10
Soccer Girls
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Track and Field 2013
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Coach Talk
24
Davids’ Legacy
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Trojan Power
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Made in Shawnee County
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2
3
Brenon Kincade’s battle to overcome the obstacles of diabetes to play football.
MVP looks at the increase in the number of girls playing soccer, and the reasons for this increase.
MVP highlights the returning Shawnee County track and field standouts.
Mark Elliott talks with Mike and Jared Goehring about coaching past and present.
The love of tennis has been passed on by Topeka West Tennis Coach Kurt Davids to his sons Andrew and Austin.
MVP Highlights the Topeka High 2013 State Weightlifting Champions.
JB Bauersfeld talks with Ken Berry, former Washburn Rural standout and two-time Major League Gold Glove winner.
Athletes in action
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1. # 21 Morgan Athon, Silver Lake 2. #24 Megan Lockwood, Silver Lake 3. #5 Madison Wagner, Silver Lake 4. #1 Megan Deiter, Silver Lake
On the Cover:
CONTRIBUTORS
Emmiley Springfield, SO, Highland Park
Publishers Braden and Tara Dimick
Mackenzie Cox, SR, Hayden Katie Howland, SR, Topeka West
Editor-in-Chief Tara Dimick
Jessica Ortega, SR, Topeka High Carleigh Konrade, SR, Seaman
Photographer Rachel Lock
Maddie Decker, SR, Washburn Rural Bailey Wells, JR, Shawnee Heights
Designer David Vincent Contributing Writers J.B. Bauersfeld Melissa Brunner Mark Elliott Adam Vlach
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Account Executive Tara Dimick 785.217.4836
Follow us - @MVP_SportsMag
Check out this issue online at www.MVPSportsMagazine.com
MVP Junior Advisory Board
Page 3: Athletes in Action
Silver Lake Softball
Lindsay Dunekack Byron Lewis Topeka High School
Subscriptions 785.217.4836 or taradimick@gmail.com MVP Sports Magazine PO Box 67272 Topeka, KS 66667
Jeremy Hurla Trenton Miller Seaman High School Kirah Lohse Hayden High School Jonathan Mariani Topeka West High School Allison Vlach Washburn Rural High School Madison Wegner Silver Lake High School Alisha White Highland Park High School
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MVPSportsMagazine.com March 2013
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His Own Cure By Melissa Brunner
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Brenon Kincade, Senior, Washburn Rural High School
hile his teammates were wrapping their ankles, Brenon Kincade was wrapping a twoinch square pod around his thigh. While the others might have tossed a water bottle under the bench, Brenon made sure he handed the football team’s trainer a PDA-looking device to keep close by.
The device helps monitor Brenon’s blood sugar levels and the pod is a pump, ready to send insulin into his body should it be needed. Brenon, a Washburn Rural High School senior, has Type 1 diabetes, a condition he’s learned to manage since diagnosed at age 12.
The Beginning Looking back, Brenon says it’s easy to see something wasn’t right. “When I was younger, I was taller than all the kids around me, but I was still really thin. I looked gaunt. My skin was pale. My cheeks weren’t full,” he recalls. “I wouldn’t say I felt weak, but, knowing how I feel now versus how I felt then, I know I didn’t have a lot of energy.” A bout with the flu in sixth grade brought the eventual diagnosis. Brenon said he was sick for two to three months. There were other signs too. He would sleep all day and make repeated trips to the bathroom–frequent urination is among the tell-tale signs of diabetes. The day he was diagnosed, his fasting blood sugar was 536. A normal
number would be 70 to 80. “Going into the hospital, life was a certain way,” Brenon says. “Coming out, it was different.”
Figuring It Out Brenon wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the routine diabetes would entail. Brenon says he watched his father, who also has Type 1 diabetes, test blood sugar and take insulin shots for as long as he could remember. Still, he says, counting carbs—the main element in food that impacts
blood glucose levels—and figuring out when he would need insulin was a challenge. Football added another wrinkle. “When sports came around, it was kind of stressful, kind of hard to balance,” he said. “But my mom, being a nurse, and my doctor who has been around sports, would give me tips.” Brenon’s mom, Amy Kincade, says her health care background made her realize Brenon didn’t have to let
diabetes relegate him to the sidelines. “I knew Brenon would be able to participate and ‘be normal’ in whatever he wanted to do,” she said. “He would just have to add some steps: checking his glucose and giving himself his own insulin.”
I had to explain to my coaches that if I needed to get off the field and check my blood sugar, I had to.”
figure out a new routine, with a new class schedule, new freedoms with friends.
The next step was planning and, by high school, Brenon was getting the hang of it.
Still, the basics are there. And Brenon knows the stakes.
“You have to make sure you prepare,” he said. “I could dictate what I would do throughout the day to set myself up for a good practice.” It got even better before his junior year, when Brenon switched to a wireless pump system. Now, he could keep the pump on during practice and games. He wrapped a bandage around the pod on his leg, while the trainer held the sensor on the sidelines. “I noticed what I thought was normal wasn’t normal at all, and it opened up new meaning of what practice could be,” he said. The wireless device is also a lot less worrisome. Brenon says the pods themselves are disposable, designed to last 80 hours each. So if one did get bumped while wrapped under his football uniform, it wasn’t as big a deal to replace it as it would have been with the old pump should it have been damaged.
Moving Forward The first step was communication with his coaches. In middle school, Brenon used a wired insulin pump where a cord ran from the controller in his pocket to the pump attached into his abdomen. He had to take it off during games and practices so it wouldn’t get ripped out or broken. He compensated by having Gatorade and granola bars always close at hand should he start to feel lethargic or dizzy. “For a while, I considered quitting football,” he said. “But, I love football.
Brenon believes football gave him the discipline to learn what it takes to manage his disease. “You can be a perfect diabetic if you’re sitting in a hospital bed and doing nothing, but you can’t do that in life,” he said. “Having football thrown into life was that extra thing for me. It prepared me for things like having a job, or going on a family vacation.” But not having the disciple of football is a concern as Brenon looks ahead to college. He says he knows he’ll have to
“You have to be ahead of it. If you chase it, you’ll always be counting carbs,” he said. “The one thing you can’t do is not do it because there are consequences. You get weak, sweaty and can’t think with low blood sugar. With high, you’re causing nerve and organ damage. There is no grace period. The damage doesn’t go away.” With that level of understanding, his mom is confident he’ll do what’s right. “I couldn’t possibly understand how it is to live with diabetes. It’s part of everything he does,” Amy said. “He is still very blessed, and he gets that, too.”
No Limits Brenon said the same approach will not work for everyone. He says it takes trial and error to figure out what to eat when, what types of food are best for which situations, and whether a pump versus shots is the best method to get medication. It’s also important to surround yourself with a network of people who will support you in managing your disease. Both Brenon and his mom admit he’s not a perfect diabetic. But he is determined not to let it stand in the way of his life, and he hopes that’s an example to other young people living with the condition. “Don’t let having a chronic illness get in the way of thinking you can do things,” Brenon said. “There is a cure and it’s you.” MVP
A diagnosis of diabetes can bring many questions for parents and young athletes. MVP asked Dr. Katarina Gambosova, a pediatric endocrinologist with the Cotton-O’Neil Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, and Ruth Borthwick, RN, MSN, a nurse clinician with the Diabetes Center at the St. Francis Health Center, to address some of the common concerns. MVP: What is diabetes? Borthwick: Diabetes is a disease caused by the inability of the body to use glucose or sugar. Sugar provides the energy for our body to function. To use the energy (sugar) from our food, we need a hormone known as insulin. If there is not enough insulin or the insulin does not interact with our body cells correctly, we develop diabetes.
at diabetes, the following make you more at risk for developing diabetes, regardless of your body type: • Family history • Certain ethnic groups (Pacific Islanders, Asian Islanders, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans) • Certain medications and treatments.
MVP: What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? Gambosova: Type 1 is caused by immune destruction of pancreatic cells that make insulin, the hormone that is responsible for keeping blood sugar in range. Type 2 diabetes is caused by unhealthy food choices, often leading to weight gain. People have to make more insulin for their large weight and for the unhealthy sugary and highcalorie foods they eat. MVP: At what age is each typically diagnosed? Gambosova: Type 1 is usually diagnosed in childhood. Type 2 used to be diagnosed in adult age 40 and later. Now, even kids as young as eight can be diagnosed due to drastic obesity in children. MVP: Do all people with diabetes have weight problems? Borthwick: Most of the people with Type 1 diabetes are thin or underweight for their height. Type 2 patients can include any body type. When looking
MVP: How can physical activity help diabetes? Gambosova: Physical activity decreases the amount of insulin needed even for bad food. It makes the body more sensitive to the insulin the body is making, so less insulin is needed. If a person with Type 2 starts daily physical activity, and they lose weight, then they don’t have to make so much insulin. Their body gets more sensitive to the insulin, if it is still making insulin, and people can come off insulin treatment, if they needed to take it. MVP: What special considerations must young athletes with diabetes keep in mind?
MVP: What are the symptoms of diabetes? Borthwick: Typical symptoms of Type 1 diabetes is the sudden onset of: • Extreme thirst • Frequent urination • Hunger • Weight loss • Blurry vision • Wounds that do not heal • Frequent infections As the sugar becomes higher and higher, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and no elevated temperature. Patients with Type 2 diabetes have the same symptoms, but the onset may be slow and difficult for the person to recognize.
Borthwick: Young athletes need to check their blood sugars regularly. It is recommended that they know their blood sugar level before they start exercising and that they monitor their blood glucose during the activity. MVP: Must young athletes with diabetes limit their physical activity? Gambosova: No, it is beneficial. Their insulin need is actually lower. No activities need to be avoided. Borthwick: No, but every athlete should work with their care team prior to and during participation to learn precautions and guidelines for exercise. MVP
Emmiley Springfield
Hayden
Highland Park
Senior
Sophomore
Defender
Sweeper
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Mackenzie Cox
MVPSportsMagazine.com March 2013
Katie howland Topeka West Senior Defender
Jessica Ortega
Topeka High Senior
Def Forwar
h
rd
Carleigh Konrade Seaman Senior Defender
Maddie Decker
Bailey Wells Shawnee Heights
Washburn Rural
junior
Senior
Midfielder
Mid Forward
March 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com
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hey’re faster and stronger with a competitive drive and the skills to match. It just might be why girls are sticking with soccer more than ever.
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“America offers girls the opportunity to play at a high level through college, high school and club, which has helped America become one of the top teams in the world,” says Louis DiLeonardo, who has 17 years of experience coaching the sport, the past 10 as head coach of the Seaman Lady Vikings. “Young girls watch these players play and want to play the sport.” His coaching colleagues agree. While the rapid growth in participation numbers of the mid to late 90s seems to have subsided, the players have changed. “The quality of player and athlete has improved dramatically,” says Brian Hensyel, the Washburn Rural girls’ varsity coach of eight years, with eight years heading up the JV squad before that. “The players today come in with more experience and skill than they did when I first started.” The Kansas State High School Activities Association first crowned a girls soccer champion in 1993. That year, 27 schools from all classes competed for one crown. Just over 1,100 girls participated in their high school teams. By 1999, more than 50 schools fielded girls team and KSHSAA awarded two titles. It expanded to three championships in 2011 and, this year, 89 schools have girls soccer with more than 3,300 students taking part. Coaches credit groups like the Sunflower Soccer Association for opening the door to girls at an early age. While they might initially play to be with their friends, the sport offers something other activities might not. “At an early age, they’re all active on the field, all ‘involved’ in what’s going on on the field,” said Klaus Kreutzer, Hayden High School’s head coach, said. “I think children like to be involved in play and be active, which isn’t always the case in softball, unless you’re the pitcher or catcher.” Like softball, coaches say soccer also appeals to girls who want to be part of a sport with a strong team aspect, unlike their other spring option, track and field, which has the activity level of soccer, but often focuses more on individual performance.
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“Our best soccer players would also make great runners,” Hensyel says. Keeping girls interested in the sport is the chance to set loftier goals. Tim Collins has been around the Topeka soccer scene for more than 20 years and was hired to launch Washburn University’s women’s soccer program in the 2003 season. “Just having the chance to continue a sport you have passion for raises the dedication for youth in our community,” Collins said. “At the same time, it raises the level of coaching as youth and high school coaches are answering to greater standards to get their players to another level.” All of the growth does come with a cautionary tale. Topeka West coach Chris McGinnis says he’s already seeing a gap between programs whose girls have the financial resources to attend clinics and camps, and join traveling squads versus those whose girls do not. However, he’s hopeful organizations will continue to develop opportunities for young athletes of all backgrounds to get involved and realize the most important benefits of all. “Teamwork, working together for a single goal, being a part of something bigger than oneself, learning to handle both victory and defeat,” McGinnis says. “I think sports prepare them for life.” mvp
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Track and field 2013
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Joe Reagan Sophomore, Seaman
- 100m Dash 2012 State Champion - 200m Dash 2012 State Champion - Long Jump 2012 State Runner Up
Jumpers to watch 2012 State Placing Provided
6A Boys Joel Long, Topeka High, SO High Jump (6-00.00) // 8th Place DaMaCias Neilson, Topeka High, JR Triple Jump (41-10.50) // 10th Place
6A Girls Daizsa Jordan, Topeka High, JR High Jump (4-08.00) // 15th Place Erika Lane, Washburn Rural, SR. Triple Jump (33-09.50) // 15th Place
5A Boys Joe Reagan, Seaman, SO Long Jump (22-09.50) // 2nd Place Joe Miller, Seaman, SO High Jump (6-02.00) // 6th Place Montoy Perry, Topeka West, JR Long Jump (21-00.25) // 7th Place Corey Ballentine, Shawnee Heights, JR Triple Jump (43-00.00) // 10th Place Jake Wyer, Seaman, JR Pole Vault (11-06.00) // 12th Place
5A Girls Taylor Selk, Shawnee Heights, JR Long Jump (16-04.75) // 6th Place Triple Jump (32-10.50) // 15th Place Tatyana Legette, Seaman, SO High Jump (4-10.00) // 11th Place Kyla McNorton, Seaman, SR High Jump (4-10.00) // 13th Place
3A Girls Janeigh Dantzson, Rossville, SR Long Jump (14-10.25) // 12th Place
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March 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com
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Runners to Watch 2012 State Placing Provided
3A Boys Sam Calderwood, Silver Lake, JR 1600m (5:06.67) // 16th Place
4A Girls Mary Kate Franklin, Hayden, JR 800m (2:21.73) // 6th Place Peyton Finley, Hayden, SO 3200m (12:13.60) // 10th Place
5A Boys
Joe Reagan, Seaman, SO 100m (10.45) // State Champion 200m (22.79) // State Champion Austin Smith, Shawnee Heights, SR 200m (23.30) // 4th Place Cody Scheck, Seaman, SR 400m (50.52) // 4th Place Rasheed McAlpin, Shawnee Heights, SO 300m Hurdles (41.01) // 5th Place
Corey Ballentine, Shawnee Heights, JR 400m – (51.50) // 6th Place Montoy Perry, Topeka West, JR 100m (10.92) // 7th Place Tyler Campbell, Seaman, SR 300m Hurdles (41.38) // 7th Place Matt Bryan, Seaman, SR 1600m (4:41.42) // 7th Place 800m (2:11.06) // 15th Place Connor Immenschuh, Topeka West, SR 1600m (4:41.42) // 13th Place Brock Elgin, Topeka West, SR 3200m (10:32.79) // 12th Place 1600m (4:53.27) // 15th Place Jaylin Riley, Shawnee Heights, JR 3200m (10:39.52) // 13th Place John Figgs, Seaman, SR 3200m (10:41.19) // 14th Place
5A Girls
Samahj Ross, Highland Park, JR 200m (27.03) // 4th Place 100m (12.49) // 7th Place Taylor Rand, Shawnee Heights, JR 800m (2:26.43) // 9th Place
6A Boys
Duke Tibbs, Topeka High, SR 400m (50.13) // 8th Place Justin Montney, WRHS, JR 1800m (2:05.88) // 13th Place
6A Girls
Raianna Maples, Topeka High, JR 200m (26.55) // 5th Place Erika Lane, WRHS, SR 400m (1:00.05) // 6th Place Tessa Pearson, WRHS, SR 300m Hurdles (47.36) // 6th Place
Rasheed McAlpin
Sophomore, Shawnee Heights - 2012 State 5th Place 300m Hurdles
March 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com
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Raianna Maples Junior, Topeka High - 200m Dash 2012 State 5th Place
Cody Scheck
Senior, Seaman - 400m Dash 2012 State 4th Place
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March 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com
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Kelsey Tenbrink Sophomore, Shawnee Heights - Javelin Throw 2012 State 5th Place
Throwers to Watch 2012 State Placing Provided
3A Girls Mackenzie Freeman, Silver Lake, SR Shot Put (34-09.50) // 9th Place
5A Boys Travis Eklund, Shawnee Heights, JR Shot Put (45-08.00) // 8th Place Dylan Hall, Seaman, SR Discus Throw (123-01) // 12th Place Malcom Mikkelson, Seaman, JR. Shot Put (43-02.25) // 13th Place Brett Breitkreutz, Shawnee Heights, JR Discus Throw (111-07) // 14th Place
5A Girls Kelsey Tenbrink, Shawnee Heights, JR Javelin Throw (126-00) // 5th Place Kayla Henault, Shawnee Heights, JR Discus Throw (98-06) // 11th Place Abbey Harrison, Seaman, SR Javelin Throw (89-04) // 16th Place
Relay Runners to Watch 2012 State Placing Provided
3A Girls Rossville - Andrea Rietcheck, SO; Amanda Hurtig, SR; Brooke Channel, JR 4x400 Relay (4:08.80) // State Champions
Rossville Girls 4x400 Team Andrea Rietcheck - 2012 State Champions
4A Girls Hayden - Mary Kate Franklin, JR; Peyton Finley, SO; Maria Doyle, SO; Sarah Pimentel, SR; Shannon Strecker, SR 4x800 Relay (10:01.40) // 5th Place
5A Boys Shawnee Heights - Rasheed McAlpin, SO; Austen Hubert, SO; Corey Ballentine, JR; Austin Smith, SR; Shannon Meck, SR 4x400 Relay (3:21.21) // State Champions Seaman - Joe Reagan, SO; Tyler Campbell, SR; Cody Scheck, SR; Brian Madeina, SR 4x400 Relay (3:27.54) // 6th Place
Hayden Girls 4x800 Team Mary Kate Franklin, Maria Doyle, Peyton Finley, & Sarah Pimentel - 2012 State 5th Place
Shawnee Heights -DeJuan Gardenhire, SO; Gage Welborn, SO; Austin Figueroa, SO 4x800 Relay (8:40.08) // 13th Place
Topeka West - Connor Immenschuh, SR; Zach Lynch, SR; Trevor Heine, SR; Noah Lindquist, JR; Brock Elgin, SR 4x800 Relay (8:43.32) // 14th Place
5A Girls Shawnee Heights - Taylor Selk, JR; Kyla Vargas, SR; Haley Brun, SR; Taylor Rand, JR 4x400 Relay (4:02.82) // 2nd Place
Topeka High 4x100 & 4x400 Team Duke Tibbs & Eli Weinbrecht
- 2012 State 3rd Place 4x400 Relay & 5th Place 4x100 Relay
Shawnee Heights - Taylor Rand, Maeson Ballou, JR; Aubrey Busenitz, SO; Lauren Maisberger, SO 4x800 Relay (10:28.43) // 12th Place Seaman - Allie Crom, SO; Ashley McCune, SO; Sage Tichenor, JR; Carlee Barker, JR; Cheyenne Kahler, SO 4x800 Relay (11:03.74) // 15th Place
6A Boys Topeka High - Eli Weinbrecht, SR; Duke Tibbs, SR; Todd Hetherington, JR 4x400 (3:19.98) // 3rd Place 4x100 Relay (43.24) // 5th Place Washburn Rural - Justin Montney, JR; Thomas LaRoche, JR; Aaron Kelly, SR; James Hismeh, SR 4x800 Relay (8:38.80) // 14th Place
6A Girls
Shawnee Heights 4x400 Team Taylor Selk, Hayley Brun, & Taylor Rand
Washburn Rural - Hannah Schnacker, SR; Bre Waters, SR 4x800 Relay (10:06.84) // 11th Place
- 2012 State Runner Up
Shawnee Heights 4x400 Team
Rasheed McAlpin, Austen Hubert, Corey Ballentine, & Austin Smith - 2012 State Champions
Coach Talk With Mark Elliott
Mark Elliott WIBW 580 AM SportsTalk Silver Lake High School Graduate
Mark Elliott talks with Mike Goehring, retired coach from Topeka West High School, and his son, Jared Goehring, Washburn Rural High School boy’s & girl’s head golf coach.
Mike Goehring 1965: St. George HS graduate 1970: KSU graduate 1970: Head girls’ track coach, assistant football coach, and assistant boys’ basketball coach at St. George HS 1971: Head boys’ basketball coach at St. George HS (in addition to other coaching positions) 1972: Teacher at Belvoir Elementary and coached track and tumbling at Landon Middle School 1972: Ninth grade boys’ basketball and football coach at French Junior High 1981: Head volleyball and head girls’ basketball coach at Silver Lake HS 1982: Head girls’ basketball and head boys’ gymnastics coach at Topeka West 1994: State Champions in girls’ basketball 2000: State Champions in girls’ basketball 2002: Retired from coaching girls’ basketball 2006: Inducted into the Kansas Basketball Coach Association Hall of Fame 2007: Retired from education Today: Travels with his wife, watches his grandchildren play sports, and follows Jared’s teams
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MARK: Mike, you went to school at St. George and came back to coach at your alma mater. There is a little challenge in doing that because you know everybody, and they know you. MIKE: I was very excited to return to St. George to coach boys’ basketball and the girls’ track program. I had done my student teaching there under a great coach and mentor, Jack Clanton (former Washburn University All-American and Hall of Famer). I also knew all of the kids because I had gone to school with their brothers and sisters. One unique aspect was that my junior high and high school coach was still the head boys’ basketball coach when
I came back to St. George. The second year I was there they asked me to take over as boys’ head basketball coach. I felt a bit bittersweet about that. Yes, I wanted to get my feet wet and become a head coach, but my coach was the head coach, and they were going to have to tell him that I was going to take over. I never will forget, he asked me the first day, “Well, you’re going to take over, you’ll do a great job. What do you want me to call you?” And I said “Well… sir.” He just laughed and said, “That’ll be the day. I’ve coached you from seventh grade up in basketball and baseball.” Then he said, “We’ll have a great time.” That was a great beginning point.
MARK: Let’s talk about the 2002 season with Topeka West. MIKE: We had the opportunity to hire Jared at Topeka West in 2002. I went to the administration and they were really into it because I had just come off a triple bypass surgery in the summer of 2001. I thought, “That’d be great, maybe he could help calm me down and keep things in perspective.” And for the most part it worked. I had numerous special memories coaching at Topeka West with the state championships and the Hall of Fame inductions, but having your son as one of your coaches ranks right at the top of special memories in my coaching career.
never left. What went into that decision to go to Washburn Rural instead of Topeka West?
that was about the only thing that I ever had to deal with as far as shutting off the electronics.
JARED: My mom and dad never pressured me or my sister to go to either school; it was always our choice. A lot of my friends, and teammates from basketball and golf were at Washburn Rural, so that was an easy decision. It’s also one of the better decisions that I’ve made because I’m still there. I bleed royal blue.
MARK: Jared, what would you want to leave your athletes with by the time they graduate?
MARK: What went into the decision to be the head golf coach? JARED: Playing college golf, seeing the atmosphere and understanding the camaraderie you can build with your team
JARED: If a student wants to go on and play at the next level, I feel like one of my jobs is to persuade them to do so. Too much emphasis right now is being put on the Division I level. “If I’m not a Division I golfer then I don’t really want to give it a shot.” That’s where I’m here to help them understand that the years that I played at Washburn at the Division II level were some of the best years of my life. If they have the ability, at the JUCO, Division III, II, or
Jared Goehring 1999: Washburn Rural HS graduate 1999: KSU student and golf team walk-on 2002: Conference champions in golf at Washburn University 2003: Washburn University graduate 2002: Assistant girls’ basketball coach to his father at Topeka West HS 2003: Physical education and sports medicine teacher 2003-2012: Boys’ basketball coach from freshman to Varsity level for Washburn Rural HS 2005: Boys’ head golf coach at Washburn Rural HS 2012: Boy’s & girl’s head golf coach at Washburn Rural HS
Jared Goehring, WRHS head golf coach, with WRHS Senior Simon Beatty
MARK: What was your experience like coaching with your dad?
got my attention. I’ve wanted the golf position for as long as I can remember.
I level, they need to use that to their advantage and continue playing.
JARED: First off, it was an experience I’ll never forget. I went into it with my eyes wide open, soaking everything up. I learned that the coach is always right, and whatever the coach and coaching staff had in place is what mattered.
MARK: Now Mike, you never let your kids use their cell phones or their iPads during your time. Of course, I’m not sure they were out yet.
MARK: They say golf is great for business, so girls and guys can use it to help them in their career. What are the attributes of golf that makes it stand out from the other sports?
MARK: Jared, let’s go back to your high school days, you obviously could have gone to Topeka West, that’s where your dad was coaching, but you went to Washburn Rural and basically you’ve
MIKE: I can’t even remember if I ever saw a cell phone during the last few years of coaching. About the only thing I saw were inhalers, five or six of the kids had inhalers on the sideline. I had one girl who I had to make sure didn’t bring a guitar with her on the bus, but
JARED: One of the biggest attributes is honesty. There is not always a coach watching and a golf course is a pretty big area of land. We want to protect the integrity of the game. MVP
March 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com
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Kurt Davids, Topeka West Head Tennis Coach and Austin Davids, Topeka West Senior
T
he Davids legacy began in 1979 when one 14-yearold boy from Baldwin City, Kansas laced up his tennis shoes and picked up his racquet. From the beginning, it was obvious that a talent for tennis ran in Kurt Davids’ blood. He played varsity tennis all four years of his high school career. He then went on to play at Butler County Community College, where Kurt and his partner became the first-ever All-Conference players for Butler County in 1986. He had the opportunity to play at higher levels, but life took him elsewhere.
of them would hit tennis balls back and forth in the yard with racquetball racquets. In elementary school, Andrew and Austin would go to the high school practices with their dad and find a separate court to hit balls back and forth to each other. After practice, evenings, and weekends were devoted to practicing with their dad.
Tennis reemerged in Kurt’s life again as both a player and a coach. After picking up tennis again, he has played on many United States Tennis Association (USTA) League teams, advancing in tournaments to the sectional level multiple times and to the national level once.
Coach and Dad Having a parent coaching a child is always an interesting situation. For Kurt, treating a son as if he’s just another player is the most difficult part.
Kurt began coaching Topeka West’s boys tennis team in 1994 and the girls team in 2000. But there were two players Kurt began coaching long before they reached high school, his sons, Andrew and Austin. A Family Affair Austin Davids, a senior at Topeka West, began playing tennis with his older brother when he was five years old. The two
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Tournaments and league play took the Davids family all around the Missouri Valley when Austin was eight years old. “We made it a family affair,” Kurt said.
“I have found it is easier if I can treat the other players on my team as family members,” Kurt said. Austin says that having his dad as the coach is very beneficial to him. Spending so much time with him on the court, in addition to living at home, has allowed Austin to be able to read his dad’s emotions. He also says his dad has a dry sense of humor that can lighten the mood when things are not going as planned, which is something that benefits the entire team.
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MVPSportsMagazine.com March 2013
Austin Davids, Topeka West Senior
Brothers Reunite Andrew Davids currently plays tennis at Emporia State University. Austin has signed a letter of intent to play at ESU in the fall. Austin says that the most exciting part is the idea of playing next to his brother once again. “I think the memory that hits home the most was after Austin and Andrew lost in the state finals his (Austin’s) sophomore year,” Kurt said. “Austin was more distressed about not ever playing with his brother again than he was about finishing second. That sentiment sconfirmed for me that I had taught him that winning was not everything and that he was playing tennis for reasons beyond himself. I am really looking forward to them being together on the same team again.” The Davids boys began the journey together and now they will get to finish together. Perhaps they will go even further. With a coach and father like Kurt, it is definitely in the realm of possibilities. MVP
Andrew & Austin Davids playing doubles for Topeka West in 2011
March 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com
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TROJAN POWER
Front row L-R: Tyler Matthias, Ja’Juan Smith, Will Geary, Blair Woelk, Eli Weinbrecht, Marcus Reece, Taeler Jackson, Matthew Williams, Nick Richardson, Denver McDaniel, Da’Ma’Cias Nielson 2nd row L-R: Trevor King, Ike Hedquist, Morgan Thomas, Andy Soto, Randy Herrera, Jake Thompson, Brian McKenzie, Nick Crider, Alec Beatty, Jake Regnier, Zeurl Kutina, Austin Tillman Back row L-R: Savil McClaurine, Raymond Solis, Rahyne Robinson, Derek Gomez, Antoine Dorsey, Dalton Clayburg
Topeka High 6A State Champions Weightlifting
123 - Nick Crider - 4th Place 123 - Nick Richardson - 3rd Place 123 - Jake Thompson - 2nd Place 132 - Brian McKenzie - 3rd Place 132 - Randy Herrera - 2nd Place 140 - Ike Hedquist - 4th Place 140 - Matthew Williams - 3rd Place 140 - Marcus Reece - 2nd Place 148 - Denver McDaniel - 5th Place 148 - Ja’Juan Smith - 2nd Place 148 - Morgan Thomas - State Champion 156 - Tyler Matthias - 4th Place 165 - Alec Beatty - 3rd Place
165 - Da’Ma’Cias Nielson - State Champion 172 - Trevon King - 2nd Place 172 - Eli Weinbrecht - State Champion 185 - Bill Keys - 6th Place 220 - Raymond Solis - 4th Place 220 - Antione Dorsey - 2nd Place 242 - Dalton Clayburg - State Champion HWT - Jake Regnier - 5th Place HWT - Savil McClaurine - 4th Place HWT - Derek Gomez - 3rd Place Girls 132 - Blair Woelk - 2nd Place 148 - Taeler Jackson - State Champion
Made in Shawnee County JB Bauersfeld WIBW-TV Sports Anchor Highland Park Graduate
Ken Berry graduated from Washburn Rural in 1959 before attending Wichita State University. He was quickly signed by the Chicago White Sox before playing 14 Major League Baseball seasons with the White Sox, Angels, Brewers and Indians. Berry was an All-Star in 1967 and won two Gold Gloves in 1970 and 1972. After finishing his playing days, Berry moved into coaching and scouting, and now teaches youngsters the intricacies of hitting.
JB: What are your fondest memories from your days at Washburn Rural?
JB: What was life like going from Topeka and Wichita to the Big Leagues?
KB: Probably playing football and then going right to basketball and then going right to track and baseball. We only played four games of baseball for the entire (sophomore) year.
KB: Well, that was a fouryear process. I don’t know, it wasn’t for me, I was just a young kid who didn’t really have any background as far as how to handle myself with money or anything else;
had the Nautilus machines coming out and it was great.
spend time with my family and staying close to them.
The overreaction to weights when I was playing was that they were afraid that the guys were going to be muscle builders and lose their flexibility, which was probably a good philosophy, but now they have a set regimen.
I managed in Birmingham, Alabama and we won the championship and everything was great. The White Sox wanted me to go to AAA to manage, they were grooming me for a possible big league job, and I told them that I would rather go back and rove. The guy that was running the show just dropped it right there. I really enjoyed managing because I feel like there are a lot of things managers can do to create two or three runs a game if you have the right people.
In track, I high-jumped, polevaulted and broad-jumped. I had to dig my own (sand) pits. JB: What made you pick Wichita State? KB: I wanted to pick K-State and Ernie Barrett was right... I spent all my energy with sports so my grades (suffered). But he didn’t like it that my grades were borderline C’s; so K-State wasn’t interested, but Wichita State was. So I went down there to play football. When I got there, freshmen weren’t eligible, so we only played four games. After school was over, I went to western Kansas and played baseball in Liberal, and that’s when you could sign at any time (before the draft), so the White Sox offered me a contract at that point and I accepted it.
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of course we didn’t make any. It wasn’t like nowadays with players making all this money.
It’s just like anything else, over the years it gets better and better and more scientific.
I came back to Topeka (in the summers) and played basketball to stay in shape. We weren’t allowed to lift weights.
JB: How did the transition from playing to coaching come about and which did you like better?
JB: Why is that? KB: They just felt like weight lifting wasn’t the right thing for baseball guys. But when I started coaching, I was about 40 years old, they
MVPSportsMagazine.com March 2013
KB: I think that if I had to do it over again and my wife weren’t opposed to it, I think I would have gone in with the idea that I would try to get to the big leagues as a manager. I was more centered on being able to
I liked coaching better because when we were playing, we didn’t have the hitting instructors and baserunning instructors. We were out there on our own and it was do or die. JB: What made you decide to stay put in Topeka after all these years? KB: My family. You know, Topeka is a good place to raise a family. I’m a smaller town kind of guy, I don’t get caught up with the fast kind of life and that sort of thing. I’d just as soon stay here and do my fishing. MVP
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