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Student of the Month Grace Thompson Sedgewick High School Athletes push their bodies to do extraordinary things. In the case of Grace Thompson from Sedgwick High School, the three-sport athlete suffered an injury just before basketball season was set to start. The point guard was sidelined for the rest of the season. “I tore my ACL in practice three days before our first basketball game,” said Thompson. “I had my surgery at the end of December and then I started physical therapy a couple days later.” Advanced Physical Therapy utilized the tools and expertise at their disposal to help Thompson get back on her feet. “I don’t necessarily have a favorite treatment,
but I’ve felt great results with the system,” said Thompson. “I’ve also really enjoyed the people that work at Advanced Physical Therapy. I look forward to my appointments each week.” The volleyball, basketball and track athlete is making excellent gains thanks to the work she and the staff at APT are putting in to get Thompson back on the court and track. “I would say the biggest improvement would be my range of motion,” said Thompson. “After
the surgery I could barely bend it and now it’s where it was before I tore it.” Thompson plays outside hitter and libero for the volleyball team and she competes in four events for the track team; 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, shot put and discus.
Contact us today to schedule your appointment! To locate one of our 15 convenient locations visit or call: aptclinics.com · 866.412.5554
WICHITA AREA SOCCER POLL
Large School Soccer Poll Winner: Josie Hallier - Hutchinson Hutchinson High School’s Josie Hallier is not only one of the soccer teams best players, she’s also in the marching band and is part of student council.
A 13-year veteran on the soccer field, Hallier starts at attacking midfielder where her speed and ability to get on goal makes her a threat on every play. Hallier said she the closeness of the team is something she loves most about playing for Hutchinson. “I really like how close my team and I are. We always work hard and together. When we aren’t playing we are all good friends with each other,� said Hallier.
Also a club player, Hallier has shown she has the talent to play at the next level. “I play club soccer and I have played for 10 years in a club. I currently play for Kansas Rush-Wichita and Dylan Gruntzel,� said Hallier. “I am going to Butler Community College to play soccer there.�
Like most athletes, Hallier has plenty of people to thank for making her the player she is today. But it’s an old coach that stands out amongst a long list of contributors.
“Ben Fetherston has been a big influence in my life. He was my old club coach and not only did he make me a better player, but he has made me a better person,� said Hallier. She has found a way to stay busy despite our current situation. From reading to
FCA ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
YouTube videos and playing soccer tennis, Hallier has found a silver lining through the disappointment of not playing one last time for her school and with her teammates.
“I was looking forward to a better season with my team and playing with my seniors for the last time,� said Hallier.
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FCA Athlete of the Month: Isaiah Sulzman
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Isaiah Sulzman is a senior at East High School and a member of the varsity baseball team. As a student-athlete, Sulzman spends a lot of time with his coaches and teammates before and after their games. It was a coach that first invited him to an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) meeting.
Isaiah Sulzman
“What I have enjoyed most are my friends, Coach and FCA. It has really helped me in life with a lot of things,� said Sulzman. Also a football player, Sulzman understands what it takes to not only compete, but to do it while showing great sportsmanship while representing his team, coaches and school.
Athlete of the Mon
The future graduate offers this advice to the underclassmen and anyone looking to join the FCA.
“The FCA is real helpful. All the people in FCA are nice and you will love to being apart of it,� said Sulzman.
For more information about nominating a student athlete of the month please contact Kelly Thorne at: KThorne@fca.org
LETTERMAN OF THE MONTH
All Seasons Letterman of the Month: Tanner Carter - Maize A two-sport athlete at Maize High School, Tanner Carter may have had is school year in the classroom cut short, but the football and basketball player was able to get in both seasons and play very well. “I’ve played football since I was in third grade and basketball since the fifth grade,” said Carter.
Tanner Carter
The senior loves playing with her teammates, especially those he got to suit up this year. “I love how unselfish everyone is, how we push each other to work harder, and how we always have each others back,” said Carter.
But with the school year cut short, there are some things he misses about being on campus.
“I miss seeing all my friends and since it was my senior year I really wanted to just soak everything in one last time and make it the best it could be,” said Carter. Next year Carter, like many of his classmates, will embark on their first year of college life. Carter plans to attend Butler Community College next fall.
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Outside the Locker with Butler’s Ericka Mattingly Ericka Mattingly, a former basketball standout at South, was chosen as the Butler Community College athlete of the month.
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“It was a reflection of how hard our whole entire team worked and what Helmer instilled in us,” Mattingly said. “It was a blast playing at Butler. It was fun playing with a group of girls that was eager to work hard everyday. That was always what Helmer told us, was to be a dog. It is okay if you make mistakes. Everyone is human, as long as you take accountability for the mistakes you make, change it, and work hard while you are doing it then that was all that mattered.”
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Butler and Mattlingly enjoyed a great amount of success and even though the Grizzlies didn’t win the regional tournament in 2017-2018, Mattingly was proud of the effort of her team that went 21-10 overall and 17-9 in the conference.
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“It was a blast right from the start,” Mattingly said. “It was fun to start getting after it and get to know all of the girls I would be playing with that year. We all bonded often, taking trips to El Dorado Lake and doing other fun things together to get to know each other.”
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Mattingly played for former Titans coach, Mike Helmer, with the Grizzlies in 2017-2018 before moving on to UMKC.
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CHRIS HERREN
Chris Herren Brings Powerful Message to Andover High School By Harold Bechard Kelly Norlin and his wife Sophie were flipping through the TV channels last year when they came across an ESPN 30 for 30 show called ‘Unguarded,’ which detailed the trials and tribulations of former NBA and college basketball player Chris Herren. The show documented the rise and fall of Herren, a former McDonald’s High School All-American from Fall River, Mass., who would later play college basketball at Boston College and Fresno State, and pro ball with the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and several international clubs. But, what piqued the Norlin’s interest in the show wasn’t the basketball angle, as much as the toll that drugs - cocaine, heroin, painkillers and alcohol - had taken on the lives of Herren and his family.
The Norlins knew first hand what drug addiction did to a family. Their oldest child - Jordan - died of an opiod overdose on April 15, 2018, at the age of 23.
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An idea grew as the show progressed. Eventually, the Norlins decided to use the money from their son’s memorial fund to try and bring Herren - now one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the country - to Andover to speak to students and faculty at Andover High School and Andover Central High School.
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“You know, it was one of those lucky/ blessing type of things,” Kelly Norlin said. “We don’t watch a ton of ESPN stuff in the evening, other than an occasional game or two. We were flipping through the channels and saw it come on. We happened to watch it and it was kind of a light bulb moment.” Herren was booked up a year in advance when Norlin first made contact. Money
from the Jordan Norlin Memorial Fund paid for the 6,500 speaker’s fee - $3,250 per school - while other local businesses, including VYPE Magazine, helped take care of the travel, lodging and meals for Herren and his assistant. “We were wondering what to do; what would have the most impact with that money - some type of education for the kids, maybe send stuff out to the parents?” Norlin said. “We were really kind of spinning our wheels and then we saw (the ESPN show) and thought that would be the way to go.
Chris Herron
“After (Jordan) passed away, we set up a fund. We didn’t want flowers or anything like that. So, we set up this fund and it exceeded expectations.”
Norlin said bringing Herren to Andover last month was worth every penny. Herren now travels the country sharing his story through ‘Herren Talks’. He has spoken to over one million students, athletes and community members on the topics of substance use disorder and wellness. After completing intensive rehabilitation programs, Herren has been alcohol and drug-free since August 1, 2008.
“It was awesome. It was spot on. He doesn’t candy-coat it at all,” Norlin said. “He tells it exactly how it is. The best part about it is he’s going back and forth about his story and how it affected his life. I loved the way he talked about the first day versus the last day. All these kids think it’s okay to do that and try it - ‘We’re going to do blunts, or drink a few beers or pop a few pills’. “For some kids, it might be okay and they can get away with it. But, there are others who have that addictive gene and that may be it right there. That might be the one
Jordan Norlin shot that gets them addicted.”
Norlin said each presentation lasted around 90 minutes. A 35-40-minute video was followed by a half-hour talk from Herren and then a question and answer session. He was also able to spend some time with Herren during the day. “He’s a great guy; down to earth, very sincere,” Norlin said.
For the Norlins, who have two other children - son Josh and daughter Sierra - the response from students and faculty members at both schools was very positive. Kelly Norlin said the healing process for his family was helped “a little bit,” but there’s still a long way to go. “Obviously, it’s as devastating as it can get when you lose a child,” he said. “It takes time, and you still have those days when you catch a picture or see something and it’ll throw you back. It definitely helps to be able to spread the word. Even if you just save one or two people, it’s worth it.”
GO HOG WILD PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH
GO ! Prep Performance of the Month
Koby Campbell, Rose Hill
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Koby Campbell from Rose Hill was chosen for the Hog Wild Performance of the Month for April. Campbell scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the Rockets’ 61-57 upset victory over top-seeded Parsons in the quarterfinals of the 4A Tournament. He hit one of two free throws in the closing seconds to make it a two-possession game. Rose Hill trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half before trailing 34-22 at halftime. “We knew were never out of it because we had been in this situation multiple times during the season,” Campbell said. “We just kept playing hard and stayed positive and we crept back in the game and made big plays. Those ultimately led us to get back into the game, then taking the lead, and finally finishing strong and getting the W.” Campbell finished the season averaging 26.8 points per game for the Rockets, who also upset Clearwater in the sub-state finals for their first trip to the state tournament since 2016. Not only did Rose Hill defeat Parsons and Clearwater, two of the top 10 teams in Class 4A, Campbell led the Rockets to victories over Andale, which qualified for the 4A tournament and Collegiate, which qualified for the 3A tournament. Campbell just recently committed to play basketball at Kansas Wesleyan and major in Broadcast Journalism.
:: APRIL 2020
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BUHLER BASEBALL
Buhler Baseball Misses Out On State Championship Dreams
Buhler Baseball By Joanna Chadwick There’s six seniors on the Buhler baseball team who won’t get a chance to get back to the Class 4A title game due to spring sports seasons being canceled because of COVID-19.
Who won’t be able to showcase all the talent and experience that the Crusaders were bringing back after only losing two players from 2019.
Who won’t be able to erase the disappointment of coming so close to a 4A championship in 2019. “(Finishing second,) that pushed us in the offseason to go to all the workouts, working out on our own, getting our arms stronger, hitting in the cages, doing all the little stuff,” senior Briggam McCurdy said.
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“When I found out our season was over, I was pretty devastated. I definitely did not want to hear that. They just took it away from us with no warning. “I can’t even really describe it. It was like a huge weight just landed on you. You can’t get it off.”
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Buhler has a special group of seniors that includes five who played together since they were in third grade — McCurdy, Cade Miller, Cole Ely, Connor Ogburn and Braden Sides. Hunter Carson joined the group their freshman year. “Most of us have played together our whole lives,” McCurdy said. “… It’s been our goal to win a state championship. It makes it so much better that we’ve been a team for all our lives and been great friends forever.
“It makes it a lot more fun to play with friends, knowing that everyone has your back. It’s a lot better of an experience being able to play with the same kids your whole life and grow up with them.”
McCurdy won’t play baseball in college — he’s going to get his welding certificate — so his career is over. “Baseball has definitely been my favorite sport,” he said. “… I love everything about it.”
SCCDAT ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
SCCDAT Athlete of the Month: Lauren Payne When Lauren Payne became a high school student, she knew she wanted to help her school and classmates make a difference in Lauren Payne people’s lives, but she wasn’t sure how. Now a sophomore at Oxford High School, Payne has become a member of SCCDAT (Sumner County Community Drug Action Team). “Originally I didn’t know what SCCDAT was or what it meant to be a part of this group. However I was invited to attend meeting by the president for the Oxford SCCDAT Kendra Ives,” said Payne. “I enjoy the fact that SCCDAT is a group working towards a common goal, which is to reduce substance abuse in our communities. From this group I’ve also grown closer with other members from my school and the surrounding schools.” The three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball and softball) has certainly left her mark on a school and community she loves.
“Oxford students and staff is a really inclusive school, many see this school as their second family,” said Payne.
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COLLEGE SIGNINGS
Dotted Line.....Wichita Area Signings 2020 Dotted Line Signing Season is about to b
Athletic directors – Student Athletes – Coaches – Parents Let VYPE know about your signings and signing celebrations! All will be featured in VYPE and on VYPE digital media – VYPEKS.com & @
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Jairus Kennedy-Kapaun Mt. Carmel Football-Kansas State University
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ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Karenna Gerber - Halstead By Matt Browning Karenna Gerber of Halstead was chosen as the Shelter Athlete of the Month for April. Gerber led the Dragons to the 3A state tournament, where they defeated Scott City 45-42 in double overtime in the first round.
Gerber, who is just a junior, scored 12 points in the state game and was one of Halstead’s leading scorers this season. “When I am not playing my other sports, I am playing basketball,” Gerber said. “During the spring and summer I play with my club team (Next Level Eclipse), and go to lots of tournaments with them. I also spend a lot of the summer with my Halstead team doing workouts and going to camps. Individually, I have gone to camps that I have been invited to, and I spend a lot of time in the gym before school and after practices.” Standing 6-0 tall, but also having the ability to play the perimeter, Gerber is a matchup nightmare for opponents.
When asked what would be the scouting report on her, Gerber said her size and length is what makes her most difficult to
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Gerber, who was selected to VYPE’s 3A All-State team, wants to play basketball in college and has considered following in her dad’s (education) or mom’s (nursing) footsteps.
“I have had a lot of correspondence with great coaches, and I really have enjoyed the recruitment process up to this point,” Gerber said. “Finding somewhere to play basketball that I feel is the best fit for me is the most important factor in finding a college.”
Aside from basketball, volleyball and running track, Gerber is also involved in Student Council, Kay Club, Bel Canto, Theater and Yearbook at Halstead.
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“I feel like I am someone that can score on the block and have been working on a more consistent jump shot,” Gerber said. “My favorite part about my game is being able to make plays in transition and I actually enjoy playing defense. I am fortunate enough to be blessed with size and length, and I like to think of myself as someone who is coachable and has been taught to play the game the right way.”
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WICHITA SMALL SCHOOLS SOCCER POLL
Girls Soccer Player of the Month Poll: Alexis Hutton A junior at Buhler High School, Alexis Hutton has spent most of her many hours of her young life on the soccer field. Now a varsity player, Hutton’s passion for the game has not failed despite the current situation her and players across the country are facing. “Due to the virus it has been hard to stay in touch with my teammates but we have made many efforts. Facetime calls, group chats and workouts in small groups have
made this somewhat possible,” said Hutton. “One thing that I love most about my team and teammates specifically is the positive environment that we have. We are very supportive of each other and always look to help one another on and off the field.”
The forward for Buhler loves being a student-athlete representing her school at home or on the road. “I enjoy being a student athlete because of the overall atmosphere created at Buhler. All of the staff and coaches are highly encouraging and want to see me and all of my peers succeed,” said Hutton. “My favorite subject in school is science. I have always found it interesting because it provides answers to many questions I may have. However, my favorite teacher is my math teacher Mr. Moler. He is my favorite teacher because I feel like he does
Alexis Hutton an excellent job explaining and teaching the subject.” While Hutton has some down time, she is still staying active and working on her skills, agility and speed.
“I am a very restless person and cannot sit still for too long. So if I am not practicing or playing soccer I am likely playing tennis, basketball, track, or any other sport,” said Hutton. The next time you are at a Buhler girls soccer game, but sure and look for No. 43 on the pitch making plays.
WICHITA LARGE SCHOOL SOCCER POLL RUNNER-UP
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Wichita Large School Girls Soccer Poll Runner-Up: Madi Wingler
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Bishop Carroll sophomore Madi Wingler is a two-sport athlete and one of the top players to watch in coming seasons. This year, Wingler was able to get in onto the court, but the pitch was another story.
Wingler started playing soccer at the age of six. Being around her teammates and competing for her school are two things Wingler loves about being a student-athlete at Bishop Carroll. And the support she received during a recent online poll certainly helped solidify her passion for her school and the game of soccer. “It means everything, to know we always have someone backing us up and being there for
support. I know and my teammates know that our Coach Rauch gives so much time to the program and everyone who supports us, it drives us to always do our best no matter the circumstances. My favorite times were being able to look up and see all the people who came out to watch us play,” said Wingler.
Also a club player, Wingler is involved in many things outside of school.
“I play club soccer for Rush and Energy FC. I was given the opportunity by my goalkeeper coach Kyle Eno, to teach kids how to be goalkeepers. That has taught me so much to be able to be both the student and the teacher. I also like to participate in my parish as much as I can,” said Wingler. For Wingler, being a student-athlete for Bishop Carroll is more than just being on the field or basketball court. “I enjoy the opportunities that it has provided for me. Bishop Carroll has both great teachers and great coaches that helped me grow as an athlete, a student, and most importantly in
Madi Wingler my faith. I have also been able to build new friendships with people I may have never known,” said Wingler.
Upon graduating from Bishop Carroll, Wingler plans to attend a state college and continue playing soccer at the next level. “I will be attending Kansas State University with a scholarship to play soccer. I intend to pursue a major in sports medicine. I also hope to further my soccer career past the college level,” said Wingler.
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TEAM OF THE MONTH
Sterling Boys Basketball By Matt Browning The Sterling boys basketball team was chosen as the Visit Wichita Team of the Month for April. The Black Bears defeated Erie 64-54 in the first round of the 2A Tournament in Manhattan.
“Yes, the winning is always fun, but this group of guys was just fun to be around, both in the halls at school and at practice each day,” Sterling coach Derek Schneider said. “It was a team that brought a lot of energy each day and just never seemed satisfied with where
we were. The seniors did a great job setting the tone each day with their intensity, but also their ability to keep things loose and free.” Sterling was just 5-3 on January 17th, before they won 15 of its last 16 games, including Hutchinson Trinity and Ellinwood in its substate.
“I knew this summer during our league in McPherson that we had the potential to do some great things,” Schneider said. “I saw how hard our guys played and how well everyone got along and knew that we had a chance for some really great things.”
BROUGHT TO YOU BY VISIT WICHITA Visit Wichita is proud to support sports in Wichita. Athletes, fans and events have a tremendous impact on our community, and we’re committed to helping bring more sports to our city. Learn more about how sports contribute to making Wichita a great place to live, work and play, head to VisitWichita.com/SportCity.
VisitWichita.com | 800.288.9424 Parents, coaches, principals, teachers and fans can nominate a deserving team by contacting Mike Cooper at 316.218.3579 or Mike.cooper@vype.com
Schneider said having to tell his team their season was over due to the cancellation of the state tournament amid concerns of COVID-19 was difficult but he tried to convey the message that what was happening was greater than basketball. “That doesn’t take the sting out of it, but at least I hope they could see that it was a truly serious situation that forced us into an early ending,” Schneider said. “I was proud of what we were able to accomplish and proud of our guys all year. It was a great experience, and even just playing one game, one they will never forget.”
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CAMPUS SWIM
Campus Swim Seniors Take to the Pool for Make-a-Wish-Foundation By Matt Browning It started eight years ago with a group of seniors who wanted to leave a legacy at Campus High School and eight years later the impact is still going on strong. Each year, the Campus swimming program organizes and runs Swim-to-a-Wish, which benefits the Kansas Make-a-Wish Foundation.
The event has raised several hundreds of thousands of dollars in the eight years and has spread from just Campus High School to six other schools in the Wichita and Salina-area.
“Swim-to-a-Wish has continued to grow each year,” Campus swimming coach Kelly Kennedy said. “When we started it, we set our goal at $1,200and we had no idea what we were doing. We had $1,600 collected before any of the boys ever got in the water. The event collected $5700 the first year. Honestly, we thought we would only do this one or two years and we just finished year eight.” Swim-to-a-Wish has a personal impact on Kennedy.
When Kennedy’s daughter, Aubrey, was four
years old, she was diagnosed with cancer. After her chemotherapy treatments were complete, Make-a-Wish sent the entire Kennedy family to Disney World.
Kennedy wanted to repay Make-a-Wish for bringing such joy to his family when they really needed it. “That trip put the light back in our family when we really needed it,” Kennedy said. “I wanted to pay back Make-a-Wish, so we brought back this marathon swimming event that hadn’t been done since 1982. We named it the second year.”
The concept of Swim-to-a-Wish is simple: swim team members join together to swim a 100mile marathon in relay format over the course of a weekend. Five swimmers swim 100 miles continuously from a Friday after school until
midday Sunday.
USD 261 has not only embraced the event, but has been supportive in its growth and exposure. “This event could not have grown to what it is today without the support from our superintendent, school board, administration, principals and the rest of the district,” Kennedy said. “Campus has raised the most money each year but I believe that is because we have the chance to get on television and radio stations to advertise the event.”
“It is amazing the support all the teams have received for participating. It brings me to tears to talk about how well this event has done and the communities that support it year after year.”
USD 261 HAYSVILLE SCHOOLS ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Campus Spotlight: Colts Basketball
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By Matt Browning
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The Campus boys basketball team was selected for the USD 261 Profile for April.
Haysville Public Schools Advantages For Students:
The Colts were undefeated and had just defeated Manhattan 66-50 in the 6A Tournament before KSHSAA decided to cancel the remaining state tournament games due to the COVID-19 outbreak. “It was very sad how it ended and we felt that we played so well against Manhattan,” said Campus coach Chris Davis. “Our goal was to win this thing and I liked our chances. Our team was dialed in.”
· Three National Blue Ribbon Schools
Chris Davis
“I feel for all of our kids. I also feel for our school. The support was off the charts. The community of Haysville and Wichita was with this team from day one. That was evident at Koch (Arena).”
Davis said this team had such a passion for winning and were unselfish in order to do so. “They gave of themselves so that others could be successful,” Davis said. “It was a team that could score at every position. It was also a deep team. I sincerely looked forward to going to practice everyday.”
· K-12 aligned rigorous curriculum · International Baccalaureate Program · Athletes recruited by state & area colleges · New and updated facilities · Safe & caring environment
Even though Campus wasn’t officially crowned as state champions, Davis feels like this team will always be remembered as one due to how dominant they were.
Of the Colts’ 23 victories this season, 10 of them were by 20 points or more. “I’m sure when they go back to their 20th reunion they will be state champions,” Davis said. “They will tell their kids and grandkids that in 2020 they won a state championship. How could you argue 23-0? “
316-554-2200 · USD261.COM · #coltstrong
SALINA CHAMBER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Salina Chamber Athlete of the Month: Carter Funk By Matt Browning Carter Funk from Hesston was chosen as the Salina Chamber Athlete of the Month for April.
Funk runs cross country and track and field for the Swathers, but his real passion is music.
“I have always been involved in musicals and loved acting and singing,” Funk said. “I became serious about music when I was 12 years old. I would find soundtracks on YouTube and began to write lyrics to create my own songs.” At Hesston, Funk is involved with the Hesston High Singers, which is a select group of musicians who perform throughout the community.
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Funk does not play any instrument, because he considers his voice as his primary instrument.
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I use software called Logic Pro X to produce instrumental backgrounds, but producing beats isn’t my strong trait in recording music,” Funk said. “I love to be creative with my lyrics and melodies by singing, recording into my microphone in my studio.”
Rap and hip-hop are Funk’s main choice of music to not only listen to, but to sing as well. He plans to attend Bethel College next season to run cross country and track, but his predominant focus will be music.
Carter Funk “I will not give up on my music passion and continue to make music throughout the next stages in my life,” Funk said. “I will be involved in choir at Bethel College and selected ensembles.”
BISHOP CARROLL GOLF
Bishop Carroll Golf Q&A with Carson Towey VYPE: What age did you start playing golf and who got you started? Towey: I started to play golf when I was seven years old and my dad got me started on the game. VYPE: What appealed to you about the sport? Towey: The thing that appealed to me most about golf is that it challenges me mentally and physically, and the feeling of a well hit shot keeps me coming back. Growing up, I played basketball, football, track and soccer. VYPE: Do you have a favorite course? Towey: My favorite place to play is Reflection Ridge. This is my favorite because I live on this course and I play it almost every day, but it still challenges me each time I go out there and play. VYPE: What are your personal best and tournament best scores? Towey: The best score I have ever posted is a 3-under, 69 at Reflection. My tournament best was a 2-under, 70 at
Cherry Oaks in Cheney. VYPE: What’s your go-to club? Towey: My favorite club to hit is my driver. It’s my favorite club because it sets me up for success on every hole. VYPE: Tell me about your teammates and what they have meant to you. Towey: My teammates are very fun and energetic. We had five seniors that led the team at the start of this season. I enjoyed being a part of the Bishop Carroll golf team so much through these past four years! I had so much fun with Coach Berger and Coach Gomez and all my teammates during practices and tournaments. It really stinks that I won’t be able to play my senior year because I believe that our team would have been really good. VYPE: What have you improved on the most since last season? Towey: The most improved part of my
Carson Towey game coming into 2020 is my accuracy and distance off the tee. I have gotten a lot stronger these past few months and have really worked on ball placement off the tee. VYPE: What are your plans after graduation? Towey: My plans after graduation are to attend and play golf at Kansas City Kansas Community College. I will join my brother there next year and I am very excited for this opportunity.
WICHITA AREA LARGE SCHOOL BASEBALL POLL
He is keeping in touch with the guys via social media, and has enjoyed a group chat with coaches from the University of Oklahoma.
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As a student-athlete at Buhler, McCurdy said his favorite subject was English, but his favorite teacher is also a cocah.
“Probably all the patches on my letter jacket, it gets a lot of attention.”
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His favorite team is the Kansas City Royals and his favorite player is Mike Trout. When he’s not playing baseball McCurdy enjoys riding his dirtbike and hanging out with his friends. What made being a student-athlete so special for
Briggam McCurdy
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“I would say English is my favorite, my favorite teacher, which was also my football coach is Mr. Warner, he is the kind of teacher/friend all schools should have,” said McCurdy.
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“I love how we have played with and known each other our whole lives and it helps us play as one instead of nine individuals,” said
McCurdy.
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Buhler High School senior Briggam McCurdy is the starting left fielder for head coach John Neill. McCurdy has called the diamond his home away from home for years. His passion for the game and his talent on the field caught the eye of many recruiters at the next level. McCurdy loves being around his teammates and playing with the same guys he grew up with as a youth player.
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Wichita Large School Baseball Poll Winner: Briggam McCurdy
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VIA CHRISTI BEHIND THE SCENES ATHLETE
Via Christi Behind the Scenes Athlete: Matt Rudy No athlete goes into a season expecting to get hurt. Andover High School sophomore Matt Rudy spent much of this football season recovering from an injury in order to be prepared for basketball season.
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Matt Rudy
“I was unable to play football this year. It set back all the hard work I put in during the summer. I was able to come back and play basketball,” said Rudy. “After my injury my teammates helped me get back to 100 percent. They mean a lot to me, they helped to push me to be my best.”
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A ten-year veteran of the basketball court, Rudy is looking forward to his junior year and having a full year of both sports. During this shutdown, Rudy is working more than ever to be ready for football practice some time this summer.
“I’m working hard so I can be at the top of my game for football and basketball,” said Rudy.
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WICHITA SMALL SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE MONTH
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Wichita Small School Baseball Player of the Month: Hunter Henderson
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Class of 2022 baseball standout Hunter Henderson, is not letting the cancelation of his sophomore season get him down. In fact, Henderson and several of his teammates are keeping track of one another thanks to social media, but they cannot deny the urge to toss the ball around on a sunny day. “We are texting, Snap-chatting, and just meeting up to play catch with a couple of guys,” said Henderson.
The sophomore has played baseball for over 10 years and is normally the catcher when Augusta takes the field. Henderson can pitch and has been known to play first base as well. The baseball team is his second family and Henderson loves being around his extended
brothers.
“I love the family feel to it,” said Henderson about the team. “It’s like we’re brothers.”
That atmosphere at Augusta High School is a big reason Henderson loves being a part of the team and the school. “I enjoy the friends I make while playing a sport and also being in a small town everyone knows you,” said Henderson.
As a student, Henderson knows the importance of making good grades, not just so he can play baseball, but for his future as well. “I love history and there are a lot of good teachers at Augusta, but Mr. Sims would be my favorite,” said Henderson. Like most ball players, Henderson has a reason or superstition for everything, including his number.
“I wear 48 because when I was four or five I loved NASCAR and my family and I used to go
Hunter Henderson there every other weekend and watch No. 48 Jimmie Johnson, but last year 48 was taken so I chose 44,” said Henderson.
His favorite team to watch (once the season gets started) are the Cleveland Indians and his favorite player is Francisco Lindor. And when he’s not tossing the ball around or doing homework, you can usually find him hitting the weights or spending time with friends. “I love working out and hanging with some of my friends,” said Henderson.
M U LVA N E B A S E B A L L
Steve Nelson
Mulvane Baseball Q&A with Head Coach Steve Nelson VYPE: Obviously you and your team is disappointed there is no season this year, especially after the way you finished 2019. What has been your message to the team during this time? Nelson: Honestly it’s been difficult to stay in contact with all of them but when I found out the season was officially canceled I messaged them all. I simply said how disappointed I was to not get to have a chance to watch them compete this year and try to improve on what we accomplished at the end of last season. I also told them that this was another lesson in life. That this is something that is a bad deal but we have to take it in stride and learn from it. I try to tell them all the time that sports teaches them more about life than anything else.
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VYPE: Coach, what would you like to say to your seniors? Nelson: I would simply like to say I’m sorry for losing a season of baseball. I know it is something all seniors look forward to greatly but I know this group even more so because they had hoped to build on last years end of season run. They had been putting in a lot of time on their own in the pre season. I would also like to say thank you though for all the sacrifices they have made for me over the years. Almost all of them played for me in football and baseball for four years. They are great kids and have done what I have asked over they years. No questions, just work and compete. I truly appreciate all of their efforts for me over the years. I’m a very lucky person even in a bad time. Special side note to my son, it isn’t easy being a coach’s kid but I appreciate the way you handled this dynamic. I truly enjoyed all the extra time I got with you that most dads don’t get. To all of them: I also want you to know that I’ll always be here for you. Our season has ended, but I’ll always be your coach.
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VYPE: Enough of the doom and gloom talk, lets get into some of the history of your playing and coaching career. Where did your baseball journey start as a player, what were some of your stops and when and with who did you start coaching? Nelson: I have played in Mulvane my entire life. I played from 1990-1993 for MHS. I came back after college to teach and coach at my alma mater. I played for Dave Katzenmeier in high school who had the biggest influence on my philosophy as a coach. I began my career here as an assistant under Brian Minks (also a former Mulvane grad). I then became the varsity asst. under my brother-in-law Daniel Myears (our head football coach). When he took the football job we switched positions. He
VYPE: Away from baseball, what does coach Nelson like to do? Hobbies? Other activities? Nelson: I love to hunt (pheasant & deer). I do a little fishing. Probably my biggest activity has become cattle work. I have a friend that owns quite a few cattle and I spend a great deal of time with him helping in any way I can. I try to spend as much time as possible with my boys. As of now, I have two in college and am learning how to be a Dad/coach in a different way. My youngest will be an eighth grader and I look forward to coaching him in the future.
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VYPE: Seniors are affected more than any other group. What does this do to some of the kids who were trying to get that extra recognition from a college or Juco?
VYPE: This also has an affect on your underclassmen. Guys who would normally get some important JV time will not have that opportunity and some may need to play varsity next year. What type of an adjust is that for you and your staff? Nelson: It will be tough. We will lose seven seniors that would have all played a lot for us this season. So we will be inexperienced next year. And with the possibility of summer ball being canceled as well, that is a lot of missed playing time. But again, as we tell kids every year, names change but the expectations stay the same. No excuses, we will just have to get to work.
is my varsity asst. and David Dieker is our JV head coach. He has been with us for 10 years. He is a great asset as he brings experience from Chaparral Kansas and Cowley Comm. College. Robert Glaser is our fourth coach and he was also a fellow Mulvane grad who handles our pitching staff. He relates well to the pitchers as he pitched at MHS and went on to pitch in college. Plus Dave Fennewald, Scott Swaney, and Dale Landes had big influences in my coaching life as well.
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VYPE: Who are some of the guys you were really looking forward to seeing play this year? Nelson: Watching Hunter Dye try to repeat what he did on the mound for us last year. Gage Gerlach who hit almost .400 for us last year. Watching Hunter Seier who was so solid for us at shortstop as a freshman....I really think he can be special and wanted to see his growth. Then obviously all the seniors, especially my son Tanner play their final seasons.
Nelson: It obviously makes it extremely difficult. Of our seven seniors we had out, three of them already have offers. Cole Diffenbaugh to Fort Hays for track, Matt Beyer to Butler for football and Trey Greer to Southwestern for football. I think Hunter Dye and Gage Gerlach had some chances for baseball offers but hopefully what they have done in the past will be enough if they really want to pursue it. I’m on board to help with that in any way they need.
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J O M A B OW L E R O F T H E M O N T H
Joma Bowler of the Month: Kai Zoch When Kai Zoch of Circle High School first stepped foot in a bowling alley it was with family and friends. Now a member of the bowling team in high school, Zoch has spent much of his life knocking down pins.
Kai Zoch
“Not one particular person got me involved in bowling. I come from a bowling family. My grandparents talk a lot about them bowling back in the day. I spent a lot of birthdays at the bowling alley. I never really started bowling league and getting serious into bowling until about the third grade,” said Zoch. Outside of bowling, Zoch is involved in band, scholars bowl, forensics, choir (which is his favorite subject) and was involved in his schools play. “Being around people that enjoy bowling like I do, along with the experiences I make with those people,” said Zoch.
Upon graduating from school, Zoch plans to attend Ottawa University and bowl while majoring in psychology with the goal of working for the FBI on day.
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Hellas Field of the Month: Derby High School
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Derby High School Athletic Director, Russell Baldwin, wanted Panther Stadium to reflect the passion and care he and his staff have for their student-athletes. Having experience with other turfs, Baldwin knew he wanted a proven product from a company like Hellas Construction.
“Hellas goes above and beyond to explain why they do things and to insure the safety of our students playing and competing on their fields. Hellas has an amazing product and the final presentation is just outstanding. They are coming back to install a new synthetic track after the next football season that will be black to blend in with the new turf. Then it will really be something to see,” said Baldwin. From the design process to actual completion, Hellas worked with Derby High School to insure the field was completed to the highest of standards.
“Working with Hellas was very easy and smooth from beginning to end. Their professionalism throughout was phenomenal and we are very satisfied,” said Baldwin. “They treat you with respect. What I mean is that school districts are not experts on turf and installation no matter how many “turf” classes we have taken. They talked to us and explain everything little thing that goes with the process, not just the big things. They want you to learn exactly what they are doing so the next time becomes easier.”
West Acres Bowl · 749 N Ridge, Wichita · 316-722-5211 Northrock Lanes · 3232 N Rock, Wichita · 316-336-5444 The Alley · 11413 E 13th, Wichita · 316-618-1000 The Alley of Hutchinson · 1221 E 23rd Ave, Hutchinson
DRIVE TO ZERO STUDENT OF THE MONTH Lilliana Wilson, Hutchinson Lilliana Wilson is a sophomore at Hutchinson High School where her first year as a member of the SAFE Club is nearing an end. Wilson originally got involved with SAFE after one of the club officers introduced her to the group. “I got involved in SAFE club to show people that being safe is more important than being cool. Officer Fine was how I was informed about the club I am so thankful I was able to get involved in a club like this one,” said Wilson. There are many things about SAFE Wilson really enjoys. “The best part about SAFE club so far is working the pledge to wear your seat belt table, being able to encourage people to wear their seat belt and at the end of the day saving people’s life by you just saying only a couple words to get them to wear their seat belt, that is my favorite part so far,” said Wilson. Wilson feels it is an important cause and she is going to continue to support and encourage her classmates. “I want my classmates to be informed about SAFE club to see that there are people out there who
care about everyone’s safety and are actually trying to help everyone in our school’s lives and live a safe and happy life,” said Wilson. Also involved in STUCO, CTC, and Sign Language Club, somehow Wilson finds the time to also play volleyball and softball. Away from school you can usually find Wilson hitting a few balls in the cages or just hanging out with friends. “I enjoy going to the softball cages and getting better as a teammate to help us through our hard times, I also enjoy spending time with my friends and making amazing memories with them,” said Wilson. The sophomore offers this advice to other students looking to join a worthwhile club. “If you are interested in joining SAFE Club go talk to your school resource officer or administrator. Ours, Officer Fine, always loves the company from his students. I highly encourage every single one of my classmates to want to get involved in helping our community become a Safe place for each other,” said Wilson. VYPE KANSAS
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SAFE is a statewide program supported by the Kansas Department of Transportation
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DESIGNCONTEST Work Zone Awareness Week 2020
Check back to see the winning art published in the May issue.
CALL OF THE WILD WICHITA AREA OUTDOORS SPOTLIGHT
CALL WILD Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism OF THE
Wichita Area Outdoors Spotlight: Hunter Maase - Cheney Presented by
By Matt Browning
Call of the Wild Athlete receives $50 Gift Card from Cabelas!
Maize South Trap Shooting teamI enjoy about the “What
outdoors is the fact that Hunter Maase of Cheney was the you can go to a river with a recipient of the KDWP Call of the Wild pole walk all the way up to award the Now for in its third year,month Maize South of is oneApril. of the state’s budding trap-shooting teams. first-yearand just watch theUnder mouth coach Chris Morrison, who credits a group of team dads who help coach as well, Maize South has 25 Nathan Fideldy Mavericks out for the team. By the spring, which is the main season for Kansas Waterfowl high school trap flying around,” Buhler HS Bass Team shooting, could have 40 out. Morrisonrunner has extensivefor outdoors background, as he’s an avid Maase is atheycross-country the Receiving his Cabelas Maase said. “You can also hunter and fisherman. The Mavericks use the Ark Valley Gun Club for practice and competition. $50 gift card! Cardinals, but spends most of his time admire the beauty of the outdoors either hunting or fishing. To nominate a student athlete outdoors. I can go fish the that loves the outdoors lake in the evening not catch VYPE atand “(My father) did a lot contact of fishing, kelsey.baucom@vype.com anything and just watch the upland game hunting, but never to my sunset and that makes it all level,” Maase said. “I guess he was a Proud Supporter of worth it to me.” stepping stone that started my outdoor Kansas Outdoors, career.” Besides being a bass fisher, which is Student Athletes, what Maase most considers himself, he Kansas Department Maase said he started Waterfowl also hunts game in various sizes ranging of Wildlife Parks & hunting when he was 12 years old and from rabbits to deer. Tourism & VYPE considers himself more of that type of Magazine hunting that anything else. “Hunting is more of fall to winter and a
Hunter Maase little into spring so I hunt then,” Maase said. “And when the fish move into shallower water when it gets warmer I fish all summer.” After high school Maase is going to get into welding in order to save money to go back to school to become a game warden.
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