Garden City’s Brian Hill

Brian Hill, the head football coach at Garden City High School, was chosen as the Hutchinson Community College Profile of the Month. Hill was an assistant coach for the Blue Dragons’ football team from 1995 to 2000.

“My time at HCC was very valuable to me as a young coach,” Hill said. “I learned how important creating positive relationships with players from Andy Hill. I also learned how to prepare week to week for your opponents. I was surrounded by some very good veteran coaches who taught me how to use my practice time wisely. I feel my five years there at HCC really set the table for me as a young coach that helped provide me with the skills necessary to eventually become a head coach.”

Being able to grow as a coach from a scheme-standpoint was also a valuable asset Hill gained during his time in Hutchinson.

“As far as X’s and O’s I really learned how to put plays together and how to call a game offensively, the game has really changed schematically but how to put plays together hasn’t,” Hill said.

Hill has gone 68-51 in 13 seasons as the head coach of the Buffaloes. This season, they are off to a 3-0 start.

“Our three goals every year are to win our conference, beat Dodge City and compete for a state championship,” Hill said.

Coach Diana Schutte is no stranger to taking on a challenge. In 2021 the Halstead volleyball team shuffled the deck and worked to find starters to replace those lost, but coming into the 2022 season, things have changed. Coach Schutte and the Dragons have a firm grasp on the lineup and have put in the hard work in preparation for the season.

“Last year the Dragons found themselves a brand-new team losing every one of their starters due to graduation or moving out of district, but this year the shift is only losing one senior. The entire team is returning and gaining a standout freshman, Katherine Engel who can fill the hitting gap Halstead struggled with in 2021,” said coach Schutte.

Engel is a solid addition to the lineup, but top returns like Dominique Schutte, Piper Dunn, and Dalaina Schutte will certainly make a big impact this season.

“Sophomore setter and outside hitter Dalaina Schutte had a great off season improving her hitting and setting game,” coach Schutte said.

Dalaina recorded 197 kills, 362 assists and was named All-League Honorable Mention last year. Dominique put up excellent numbers as well with 298 kills, 51 digs, and 252 assists.

Dominique (Jr.) has been offered scholarships from Newman and Emporia for basketball but is all volleyball player when she steps on the court. She can read the court well especially when she connects with her setter, her sister, Dalaina.

“Emma Boese (Sr.) sat her entire junior year due to an injury and is trying for varsity minutes as a defensive threat being pushed by two-year starter at Libero, Pyper Dunn. Senior Briley Whitmer is a three-year varsity starter in the setting position,” said coach Schutte.

Others to watch this season include Briley Whitmer (Sr.) setter, Clara Myers (Sr.) OPP, Sydney Holzrichter at MB and Lauren Wilson (Jr.) DS.