May 2012 MVP: Shawnee County High School Sports Magazine by E2 Communications & Publishing

May 2012

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May 2012

Braden Dimick

contents & contributors

Tara Dimick

Publisher

Editor-in-Chief Rachel Lock

18 Track & Field // Student-Athletes to Watch

8 Experience Returns // Hayden Girls Soccer

24 Inspirational Athlete // Kellen Wittman

In This Issue 4

Athletes in Action // Boys Tennis

Athletes in Action // Girls Swimmming

26 Coach Talk // Mark Elliott Interviews Golf Coach Jeff Stromgren

28 Coaches’ Corner // Advice to the Next Generation of Athletes & Favorite Coaching Experiences

Creative Director

30 Made In Shawnee County // J.B. Bauersfeld Interviews C.B. McGrath

Contributing Writers JB Bauersfeld // Mark Elliott Lisa Loewen // Karen Ridder Cover Design David Vincent PO Box 67272 ▪ Topeka, KS 66667 785.217.4836 ▪ mvpeditor@gmail.com www.mvpsportsmagazine.com

Jenni Ponton

Photographer

Account Executive Tara Dimick // 785.217.4836 Publishing Company E2 Communications, Inc.

MVP Sports Magazine is published by E2 Communications, Inc. Reproduction or use of this publication in any manner without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Every effort was made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication as of press time. The publisher assumes no responsibility of any part for the content of any advertisement in this publication, including any errors and omissions there in. E2 Communications, Inc. makes no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding any goods or services advertised or listed in this publication. Listings and advertisements are provided by the subject companies. E2 Communications, Inc. shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s right therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. By placing an order for an advertisement, the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher against any claims relating to the advertisement.

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athletes in action // BOYS TENNIS

1 2

4 1. David Haag, SR, Shawnee Heights 2. Austin Davids, JR, Topeka West 3. Tanner Lantz, SR, Seaman 4. Jared Bray, FR, Washburn Rural 5. Isaiah Martin, FR, Highland Park

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May 2012

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athletes in action // GIRLS SWIMMING

3 3

1. Jamie Fritsch, JR and Haley Molden, SR, Washburn Rural 2. Mackenzie Morrison, JR and Emily Wagemaker, SR, Topeka High 3. Halsey Handley, SO, Washburn Rural 4. Haley Molden, SR, Washburn Rural

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May 2012

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Experience Returns

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Hayden Girls Soccer by LISA LOEWEN

Fourth at State in 2009. Third in 2010. Second last year. The table is set for Hayden’s girls soccer team to take home the state title this year. Returning five seniors and 11 juniors, the Wildcats are a veteran group of experienced players who know what it takes to win. Bringing home that elusive state championship however, isn’t a fore-

Kreutzer said. “They need to lead by example. That means listening in practice, working to improve and sometimes keeping their mouths shut [chuckle].” In his 11 years as a high school soccer coach, Kreutzer has seen a shift in the game. Growing up in Germany, soccer was as much a part of Kreutzer’s

“What happens this year is what matters.” – Head Coach Klaus Kreutzer gone conclusion. “We have a lot of work to do,” Head Coach Klaus Kreutzer said. “Just because we did a good job last year, no one cares. What happens this year is what matters.” And what happens this year depends on the team playing each game as it comes and not looking too far ahead. With three players already committed to playing soccer for Division II schools next year, keeping the focus on the high school field right now can be difficult. “It’s a daily challenge to keep their minds on the here and now,” Kreutzer said. “Sometimes the older girls think they have nothing to prove.” Regardless of whether or not they plan to play soccer at the next level, Kreutzer said the seniors on the squad play a pivotal leadership role. They have a considerable influence on the younger players, both on and off the field. “That’s a legacy they need to leave behind them at Hayden,”

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life as his shoes. He learned to handle the ball at an early age because all the other kids were working on their footwork too. Understanding where the ball was going to go and what position he needed to be in to capitalize that was second nature to h i m . Without

the same emphasis here in the states, those basic footwork and timing skills are often missing. “Girls soccer used to be so ugly to watch,” Kreutzer said. “Good athletes don’t necessar-

May 2012

ily know when to do what, so they always seem to be a step behind.” Kreutzer said he is seeing that skills gap slowly closing as more kids play club soccer at an earlier age. Good coaching, increased opportunities to play competitively and more parity between players have brought up the playing level of most high school soccer players. As a result, more soccer players are looking at continuing to play at the next level to help defray the costs of a college educa-

tion. Playing soccer is like going to school, Kreutzer said. Everyone wants to score well on a test, but if they don’t do their homework and turn in their daily assignments, chances are they won’t get the grade they want. The same holds true for his soccer team. Bringing home that state title is going to take hard work in practice and keeping the focus on the field. continued on pg. 10

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HAYDEN GIRLS SOCCER CAPTAINS KATIE WOLFE Senior // Defender

What is your role as an individual player on the team? To give 111% all of the time and keep our defense strong. Coach always says that they don’t write about defense in the papers, but it wins games. Our offense is as strong as it has ever been and I want our defense to be the same.

What is your goal for this year? To win state. We have gotten 4th, 3rd and 2nd the past three years respectively and this is our year.

Why soccer? Soccer isn’t just a sport anymore, it’s a way of life. I’ve been playing for fourteen years and it has definitely shaped the person I am today. The year I couldn’t play was the most difficult thing I’ve been through and it made me realize how much I love the game. Signed a letter of intent to play soccer for Emporia State University.

CARLEE SEITZ Senior // Midfielder

What is your role as team captain? To set a good example for the rest of the players on the team, and to teach them that hustle doesn’t take talent.

How is this year’s team different than last year?

Why soccer? I’ve been playing soccer since I was four years old, and I’m playing in college, so I couldn’t imagine my life without it. It teaches you respect and responsibility. It’s made me the person I am today. Signed a letter of intent to play soccer for Washburn University.

- Katie Wolfe, Senior

ADDISON BARRY

Sophomore // Midfielder What is your role as team captain?

KYLIE WATSON

Senior // Forward What is your role as an individual player on the team? To always give 112% and put forth my best effort. My primary goal is to score the goals. But, also I always work to support my team and keep a positive attitude on and off the field.

“These girls are the sisters I never had, and our bond makes us even stronger.”

To lead the team in both attitude and work ethic, and to represent our team to the best of my ability. Also, a team captain should always be willing to go the distance for their teammates. Which I am willing to do this year.

“This year’s our time to shine. We’ve worked so hard these past years that we owe it to ourselves.”

- Carlee Seitz, Senior

How is this year’s team different than last year?

What is your goal for this year?

Every year we develop as a team. Not just in skill, but as a family. Our bond is stronger than ever. I love this team and would do anything for my family.

Why soccer?

What is your goal for this year? To be the best that we can be. I believe that we have the determination and talent to go all the way and win state this year.

My goal for our team this year is to win both Centennial League and State.

Soccer is such a physically and mentally challenging sport, but when you have a team like I have this year, it makes the experience so much more meaningful.

Signed a letter of intent to play soccer for Fort Hays State University.

We all get a long so well, which creates great chemistry on the field. I would do anything for these girls.

“I am who I am because of soccer, and it will continue to pave my path in life.”

- Kylie Watson, Senior

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May 2012

Left to right: Katie Wolfe, Carlee Seitz, Kylie Watson, & Addison Barry

May 2012

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2012 HAYDEN GIRLS SOCCER TEAM

Sarah Pimentel Goalie // Junior

Hailey Myers Defender // Junior

Melinda Faught Midfield // Junior

Geana Johnson Defender // Junior

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Kirah Lohse

Defender // Freshman

Shannon Strecker Defender // Junior

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Mackenzie Cox Center-Mid, Junior

Courtney Schumacher Junior // Forward

Kiley Ossello Forward // Senior

Randi Watson Forward // Junior

Jacki Martinek Forward // Freshman

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May 2012

Margaret Dunshee Forward // Freshman

Kaylee McCaffrey Defender // Senior

Ali Taggart

Center-Mid // Freshman

Melissa Vega Defender // Junior

Jaimie Myers

Outside Forward // Junior

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shawnee county

TRACK STARS T O WAT C H Left to right: Breanne Douglas, Delores Smith and Samahj Ross

HIGHLAND PARK // 5A Breanne Douglas

Samahj Ross

Senior // Highland Park 2nd Place at 2011 State | 4 x 100 | Time: 49.56

Delores Smith Senior // Highland Park 2nd Place at 2011 State | 4 x 100 | Time: 49.56 2010 All-City Honorable Mention

(2011 4 x 100 Relay Team included: Ross, Douglas, Smith and 2011 graduate, Heloice Steele)

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Left to right: Jailyn Lee, Krystal Corhn and Keauna King

ROSSVILLE // 3A Mindy Wilson Senior // Rossville 1st Place at 2011 State | 300 Meter Hurdles| Time: 45.59 1st Place at 2011 State | 4 x 400 Relay | Team Time: 4:03.61 2nd Place at 2011 State | 200 Meter | Time: 25.74 4th Place at 2011 State | 100 Meter | Time: 12.86 1st Place at 2010 State | 300 Meter Hurdles 1st Place at 2010 State | 4 x 400 Relay 1st Place at 2010 State | 4 x 800 Relay * Set a 4A State Meet Record in 2010 with a time of 9:32.61 3rd Place at 2010 State | 200 Meter 1st Place at 2009 State | 4 x 800 Relay (2011 4 x 400 Relay Team included: Wilson, Wilson, McCullough and 2011 graduate, Becky Jensen)

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Left to right: Mindy Wilson, Shannon Parr and Mandy Wilson

TOPEKA HIGH // 6A Jailyn Lee Sophomore // Topeka High 3rd Place at 2011 State | 4 x 100 Relay | Team Tim: 48.62 2011 All-City Track & Field Team

Krystal Corhn Senior // Topeka High 3rd Place at 2011 State | 4 x 100 Relay | Team Tim: 48.62 5th Place at 2011 State | 100 Meter | 12.42 2011 All-City Track & Field Team

Keauna King Junior // Topeka High 3rd Place at 2011 State | 4 x 100 Relay | Team Tim: 48.62 2011 All-City Track & Field Team (2011 4 x 100 Relay Team included: Corhn, Lee, King, Shiya Browning)

WASHBURN RURAL // 6A Jacob Morgan Senior // Washburn Rural 3rd Place at 2011 State | 3200 Meter | Time: 9:33.20 4th Place at 2011 State | 1600 Meter | Time 4:27.07 7th Place at 2010 State | 3200 Meter 15th Place at 2009 State | 3200 Meter 2010 & 2011 All-City Track & Field Team 2x State Cross Country Champion Gatorade Kansas Cross Country Runner of the Year May 2012 2012 May

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From left to right: Matt Bryan, Wyatt Mckay, Cody Scheck and Josey McNorton

Wyatt McKay Senior // Seaman 2nd Place at 2011 State | 4 x 800 Relay | Team Time: 8:02.23 7th Place at 2011 State | 4 x 400 Relay | Team Time: 3.32.48 2011 All-City Track & Field Team

Josey McNorton Junior // Seaman 2nd Place at 2011 State | 4 x 800 Relay | Team Time: 8:02.23 7th Place at 2011 State | 4 x 400 Relay | Team Time: 3.32.48 2011 All-City Honorable Mention

TOPEKA WEST // 5A LJ Wallace Senior // Topeka West 2nd Place in 2011 State | 4 x 100 Relay | Team Time: 43.43 3rd Place in 2011 State | High Jump | Jump Height: 6’ 6” 4th Place in 2010 State | High Jump 2011 4 x 100 Relay Team broke the league record by running a team time of 42.62 2011 All-City Track & Field Team 2010 All-City Honorable Mention (at Highland Park)

Jovan Inyard Senior // Topeka West 2nd Place in 2011 State | 4 x 100 Relay | Team Time: 43.43 2nd Place in 2011 State | 4 x 400 Relay | Team Time: 3:23.81 2011 4 x 100 Relay Team broke the league record by running a team time of 42.62 2011 All-City Track & Field Team (2011 4 x 400 Relay Team included: Eddie Garcia, Inyard, and 2011 graduates, Paul Hatch and Tegan Michael) (2011 4 x 100 Relay Team included: Wallace, Inyard, and 2011 graduates, Paul Hatch and Xavier Riley)

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LJ Wallace & Jovan Inyard

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Left to right: Austin Smith, Corey Ballentine, Tyson Holmes, Kaley Hauschild and Gavyn Yetter

SHAWNEE HEIGHTS // 5A Austin Smith Junior // Shawnee Heights 3rd Place at 2011 State | 4 x 400 Relay | Time: 3:24.18 2011 All-City Honorable Mention

3rd Place at 2009 State | 4 x 400 Relay 2010 & 2011 All-City

Corey Ballentine

Gayvn Yetter

Sophomore // Shawnee Heights 3rd Place at 2011 State | 4 x 400 Relay | Time: 3:24.18

(2011 4 x 400 Relay Team included: Smith, Ballentine, and 2011 graduates, Randy Luedke and Johnny Acker)

Tyson Holmes Senior // Shawnee Heights 4th Place at 2011 State | Javelin Throw | Distance: 178’ 3” 3rd Place at 2010 State | Javelin Throw 2010 & 2011 All-City Track

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May 2012

(2011 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 Relay Teams included: Yetter, Hauschild, and 2011 graduates, Sheylon Rice and Cassidy Downing)

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Inspirational Athlete:

all in Kellen Wittman //// Shawnee Heights High School by Karen Ridder

Kellen Wittman wanted to make seven goals playing soccer last year for the Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds—she ended up with 23. This standout athlete received First Team 5A All-State, First Team AllRegion, First Team All-City and First Team All-Centennial League in 2011—and she was only a freshman. It is an impressive record, but not necessarily what makes her story unique. While Kellen gets noticed locally for her skills on the soccer field, the sport where she really shines is one that gets her connected to players across the country and in Canada—ice hockey. The lessons this hard charging athlete has learned by mixing these two sports, has improved both her games, given her an aggressive drive to succeed and challenged her attitude about winning.

SOCCER Kellen credits her soccer skills to early coach Lance Wilson with the Prodigy Soccer Club who picked her out of a twoday youth sports camp just because he needed another player. “I just took a chance on her. Little did I know what I was getting into,” says Wilson. Kellen took to the game and soon became one of the strongest players on the team. “She was the type of kid who could literally dominate a game for you. If she was on that day, there was no limitation to what

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May 2012

she could accomplish,” says Wilson.

HOCKEY At the same time Kellen was learning club soccer, she also took up ice hockey. Her involvement with this sport started with a family trip to see the Topeka Scarecrows play when she was about five-years-old. Her parents said, “Would you like to try that?” She said, “Yes.” They didn’t know what they were getting into. Dad, Joe, recounts taking her out skating. “I left her alone, and in about 30 minutes she figured it out. For the next couple of months I could out skate her, but then she took off.” Kellen eventually joined the Topeka Scarecrows and other teams in Kansas City. Now, she plays for the Kansas City Storm and the St Louis Lady Blues. The Lady Blues is an AAA team that has Kellen traveling across the country for tournaments at least once a month. This year the team has played in Pittsburg, PA; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Rochester, NY; Madison, WI; Detroit, MI; and Washington, DC as well as St. Louis. It is a pace the family has kept for a few years. “She was the only middle schooler I knew who had so many frequent flier miles she got free tickets,” says mom, Karen.

TOUGH DECISIONS A few years ago, Kellen gave up playing club soccer in favor

“I get inspiration from my teammates and I try to give it back to them.” of hockey. She knew she wanted to play for her high school team, and the combination of the two club sports sent the family to Kansas City four times or more a week. She says she likes playing soccer better, but hockey was a year-round sport, and not something she could pick up again playing for Shawnee Heights. “I think she realized when you are in, you are all in or you shouldn’t be in,” explains Karen. So she took a break from club soccer and focused on hockey, but that didn’t mean her soccer skills diminished.

CONNECTING HOCKEY & SOCCER Shawnee Heights Varsity Girls Soccer Coach Marc Serrano, says he thinks lessons learned in hockey have helped Kellen have

an advantage on the field. As a hockey player she is used to contact and a fast paced game. Serrano says that translates to a fearless attitude on the field. “I just say it’s the overall way she plays the game. Coaches always ask players to play 100% and sometimes you question it, but with her it’s pretty obvious she plays 100% and she gives everything she can on the field,” says Serrano. Kellen also has a very good vision of the field. She can anticipate runs off the ball, sees open players and leads teammates in the right direction. She can see the runs her teammates will be making or should be making.

INSPIRATION For her own inspiration, Kellen says, “The people around me give me the drive to do anything I can.” Those include her parents, friends, coaches and especially her teammates. “I get inspiration from my teammates and I try to give it back to them.” Kellen’s story is one about lessons learned and those she’s continuing to learn as this young player mixes her love of team with her love of winning.

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COACH TALK Mark Elliott of WIBW 580 AM SPORTSTALK TALKS WITH WASHBURN RURAL’S Head golf Coach jeff stromgren. ELLIOTT: Alright Jeff, let’s go back to your high school days at Abilene and the sports you played. STROMGREN: At Abilene I was a three-sport athlete. In football, I was the quarterback. I played golf for four years. Four of us started as freshman, and we were the four-man team. We got second at state our freshman year, fourth our

sophomore year, third our junior year and our senior year we got second again. In basketball, we went to the state tournament one time out of the four years and got beat in the first round.

ELLIOTT: And you didn’t get drafted or anything, I mean you were eligible [laughs].

ELLIOTT: So next you headed to Cowley County Community College. Your coach there was an interesting guy.

ELLIOTT: Then you came to Washburn University, playing for Glenn Cafer, the Washburn Hall of Fame coach.

“They didn’t have money for a (girls’) golf coach so they asked me if I would do it for nothing, and I said yes. “ STROMGREN: That was Jerry Mullen; he was kind of a wild man, but he knew his basketball. He was a great coach; h e demanded a

lot. I enjoyed playing for that kind of coach because that is the way I coach, and what I expect out of our kids right now. I started every game. We went to the Region 6 play-offs every year and won two or three games, but never did get to the national tournament. When I was up at Cowley they had a couple of kids get hurt on the baseball team, so I ended up playing baseball my sophomore year.

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May 2012

STROMGREN: Uhh no. I couldn’t throw very far so I played second base.

STROMGREN: Glenn Cafer was a great coach. Bob Chipman, another Hall of Fame coach, was the assistant coach at the time. I learned a lot of things from those two. ELLIOTT: What happened before you got to Washburn Rural? STROMGREN: I student-taught out here at Washburn Rural, and coached under Ron Bowen. I graduated from Washburn in 1980. Right out of college I went to Meade, Kansas, a 2A high school to be the head basketball coach. With the knowledge I had from Mullen, Cafer and Chipman, I thought I knew it all. I didn’t know a thing. I was the assistant football coach at Meade. We won the state football championship my first year, so we had only one day of practice before our first basketball game, Meade vs Cimmaron. We won 88 to 50-something. We played them later in the year, and we only scored 45 points. So I had coached them down half the points. We ended up winning 45-43. The next year I took a coaching job in Winfield, a 5A high

school. In my eight years there we had three state championship qualifying teams. Our best finish was fourth at state. I ended up coming to Washburn Rural in 1989. ELLIOTT: So you came to Washburn Rural as the head basketball coach and the assistant golf coach. You were around the coaching legends of Washburn Rural with Coach Bowen and Coach Glaze. You coached basketball for six years until 1995. Tell us about your basketball coaching days. STROMGREN: We had a number of kids who played football and basketball. With Coach Bowen they were in a state championship game almost every year, so we were always behind the eight ball for practice, and we had kids that were really banged up. A lot of them didn’t have the shooting skills that kids do now because they played so many sports. We did a lot of trapping and pressing, and we got a lot of points off of defense. We made the state tournament two out of the six years. It was a great run. ELLIOTT: You officiate the Big 12, Missouri Valley, and some MIAA when you have some spare time. Is that your fix for basketball? Do you miss coaching basketball? STROMGREN: If I weren’t officiating basketball, I would miss it a lot more. The first two years I missed the practice part. What I enjoyed most about coaching was getting kids game-ready

ELLIOTT: Well that was because you said, I need a big salary to coach the girls’ golf team.

and lining out how we were going to attack the other team. We came up with some funky defenses. The game part of it I didn’t really miss. I got very uptight, had a hard time letting go, and letting the kids go off the game plan. I was one to stick with what we wanted to do and you can’t do that out on the floor. You can’t be so mechanical. You have to go with the flow a little bit. As an official it’s fun to see what other coaches are doing in the game planning, and then all I have to do is officiate the game. Once the game is over, it is over.

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There are a lot of things that changed in the officiating in the last 15 years. We get a lot of tape evaluation on calls that we’re making—good calls and other ones where you could have changed your body position and had a better look. ELLIOTT: Tell us a about your career at Washburn Rural as the golf coach. STROMGREN: I was the assistant golf coach for Coach Don Williams from 1990 to 1998. In 1998, I took over the head job for boys. In 1992, we started a girls’ program.

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ELLIOTT: All the different sports can play all year round and coaches nowadays expect their kids to be focused on whatever sport it is. It’s totally different than when we grew up where you were expected to play them all. How do you feel about specialization, is it a positive or a negative? STROMGREN: Overall from the kids’ aspect, I think it’s a little bit of a negative. I think they should have more than one sport that they play, and take a break. The guys on the PGA tour don’t go 12 months out of the year. A lot of them take a month or two off and come back freshened up. For kids to continue to improve and get college scholarships, they almost have to do something year-round to keep conditioned because golf is getting very competitive at the college level.

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ELLIOTT: You have two state championships in golf for Washburn Rural; one of those was a girls’ state championship. What has changed since you started coaching golf at Washburn Rural?

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STROMGREN: Actually, we had some girls who played on the boys’ team. They were good players, they just didn’t get to play much because they were playing against boys and hitting from the men’s tee box. So they went to the school board to try to get a girls golf team started. They didn’t have money for a golf coach so they asked me if I would do it for nothing, and I said yes. The school board said no, you can’t do it for nothing, you have to be paid to be a coach. So they paid me a dollar that first year. They also paid my assistant, Sharon Lucas, one dollar. We finished second in the state; lost by two shots to Kansas City Aquinas. There were no seniors on that squad, so, it was hard for the school board to say we don’t have the money and cut the program. I would have done it for a dollar again, but they came up with some money.

STROMGREN: Kids are specialized. We had a lot of boys and girls who played at least two sports. Now we don’t have many golfers who do other sports. A lot of the golfers are becoming full-time, year-round players; lifting weights in the wintertime and playing in the spring, summer and fall.

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coaches’ corner What advice do you have for younger studentathletes? Baseball Coach Steve Bushnell Seaman “Don’t focus on becoming a one-sport guy. There’s so much that can be gained from playing multiple sports and the variety of athletic skills that are unique to those different sports. Young athletes should take advantage of the opportunities they have to play; and play as long as they can because those days won’t last forever.”

Baseball Coach Ryan Schmidt Shawnee Heights “Keep looking for ways to improve your game. Players tend to practice what they’re already good at doing, but don’t work at the things that don’t come easy. Learn to bunt for a base hit. Learn to hit to all fields. Learn to be unselfish at the plate and “give yourself up” if your team needs a run. Play more positions. If you tryout as only a second baseman, you will be standing in a very long line. Ask your summer coach to try you in different defensive positions; if not in games, then at least during practice. More options for your coach means the potential for more playing time for you. Finally, actively participating in a solid weight training and conditioning program can greatly help your chances. It is amazing the difference that off-season lifting, with maintenance during the season, has made for the successful players that I have been fortunate to coach.”

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May 2012

Baseball Coach Alan Neal Washburn Rural “Continue to strive to be the best. As you grow and mature, your abilities change. Players may grow 5-6 inches from one year to the next.”

Softball Coach Steve Giddens Shawnee Heights “Make yourself indispensable. Know what everyone around you is supposed to do.”

What is your favorite coaching memory? Softball Coach Lloyd Murphy Highland Park “In 2009, we lost Game 1 to Hayden 9-8 on a dropped easy fly ball. In Game 2, we pitched a senior who had never pitched in a high school game. We were behind 11-9 in the top of the 7th, on our last at-bat we scored 11 runs and ended up winning 20-14. I’ll remember that for a while.”

Softball Coach Jay Monhollon Seaman “Winning the 2011 Regional in extra innings to qualify for the state tourney.”

Softball Coach Kurt Lohse Topeka West “Our first double header sweep of Manhattan in 2009. We came back from eight runs down in the second game.”

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MADE IN SHAWNEE COUNTY J.B. Bauersfeld, WIBW-TV sports anchor, talks with University of North Carolina basketball assistant coach and former Topeka west standout, C.B. McGrath. J.B. Bauersfeld (JB): You’ve been with Coach (Roy) Williams for nine years at North Carolina; I know you’ve had some head coaching opportunities, what are your thoughts on that front?  C.B. McGrath (CB): You know it’s all about finding the right fit. I have a great job now, working for Coach Williams at North Carolina, we’ve had a good run. It is hard to leave, but at some point I have to get out on my own and see if what I know is enough, and if I’m good enough to keep my job. College basketball is a crazy business. You have guys losing their jobs all the time; guys who have really good teams, but just aren’t getting to the NCAA tournament. It’s not the media’s fault by any means, but the media definitely puts a lot of pressure on people at times. JB: And the alumni? CB: And the alumni. You have to live up to expectations and have a product on the floor that everybody’s proud of. Also, it has to be fun. At some point I’m going to go some place not like a Kansas or a North Carolina. I hope to take over a program that has a chance to win at a smaller scale. I played for some great coaches. I played for your dad (Jim Bauersfeld in AAU), Coach (John) Oestreich at Topeka West, and Coach Williams (at

KU). So I’ve learned from some great guys. I think all the time: I was taught basketball; I wasn’t taught athleticism. We weren’t coming from the greatest genetic pool in the history of basketball, but it was something I took for granted.   JB: When Jerod Haase went to The University of Alabama at Birmingham, did you think that was a good opportunity to move?   CB: Jerod and I are great friends, we’ve been by each others side since we were teenagers. It was hard for me, emotionally, to watch him walk out that door at the (Dean) Smith Center for good. But you know, we both want to be head coaches, and the opportunity presented itself to Jerod and he thought it was a great opportunity, which it was. I’m so proud of him for doing it and, um, he knows and I know if Coach Williams quit and I needed a job; then I’d call Jerod. JB: Being around KU again (in St. Louis), does it bring up some of those KU memories? CB: All my life, growing up in Kansas, hearing the Rock Chalk chant, I loved it. Then as a player, that’s what you want to hear. Now, both times playing them as an opponent, I haven’t wanted to hear the Rock Chalk chant. We had to hear it both

times and you have to give them credit, because they outplayed us both times.    JB: How is it different going through an NCAA tournament as a coach instead of as a player?   CB: I’m so far removed now from being a fan. Every school is an opponent, even if it’s my alma mater. I’m happy for Kansas in the end; they exceeded expectations, but it doesn’t make my life better. We wanted our kids to accomplish some goals, it just didn’t work out. JB: You have a wife (Kris) and three kids (twin girls Addison and Kate, age 5; and son Hunter, age 3), how does that impact your career decisions?   CB: It’s 100% impact. It’s the exact opposite of leaving Kansas. It was just my wife and me. We weren’t attached to anything. Now, she’s has family here; we have three young kids. She’s has a lot on her plate. That’s the factor that has come in on a couple of jobs that I’ve pursued and been offered, it just wasn’t the right time for the family. I don’t regret the decisions that I’ve

C.B. McGrath was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Kansas his senior year at Topeka West (1994). Since then, he’s played basketball for the University of Kansas and been an assistant for Roy Williams at both the KU and the University of North Carolina.

MVPSportsMagazine.com

May 2012

made. If it never works out and I’m never a head coach anywhere, it’s fine. You know, everybody’s job is better then wherever you are. I sometimes think: being the head coach at Topeka West is not a bad gig, and I’m sure he’s thinking, assistant coach at North Carolina’s not a bad gig. I guess it just depends on which day it is and what transpires.

photo provided by CJONLINE

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To learn more, visit StFrancisTopeka.org/SpiritofWomen 32 MVPSportsMagazine.com May 2012