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Student of the Month Rose Hill’s Mandi Heinz
She also said Advanced Physical Therapy is the place to go for any prospective athlete who needs rehabilitation. “I would recommend an injured athlete go to Advanced Physical Therapy for their injuries,” Heinz said.
By Matt Browning Mandi Heinz, a volleyball player at Rose Hill, was chosen as the Advanced Physical Therapy Athlete of the Month for February. Heinz was a second team allleague libero for the Rockets this season. Heinz injured her rotator cuff while overusing it for volleyball and she said the use of bands on her shoulder was the treatment that helped her the most.
Outside of volleyball, Heinz also runs track and participates in FCCLA at Rose Hill. Only a junior, Heinz desires to play volleyball in college and wants to pursue a career in exercise science or physical therapy.
Meet Our Therapists! JOE KNAPP, PT, DPT
Mandi Heinz
LET US GET YOU
BACK IN
THE GAME
Your favorite sport: My favorite exercise is running!
Your favorite activity to get in easy movement: My favorite activity to get in some easier movements is yoga; however, I go to Gina's classes at Hot Asana and they are definitely not always easy!
SCAN TO LEARN MORE OR TO GET SCHEDULED!
Sports you did in high school: I played soccer competitively through high school. What you treat or specialize in as a physical therapist: I love working in care and prevention of athletic injury in the adolescent athlete. I specifically like working with high school athletes because they are motivated to get better! Your best tip for student athletes: My best advice for aspiring athletes is to focus more on recovery. Sleep and nutrition are the most important aspects of recovery. If these are not high priority, they need to be!
TO GET SCHEDULED WITH JOE, CALL 855.745.0278! Contact us today to schedule your appointment! To locate one of our 22 convenient locations visit or call: aptclinics.com · 866.412.5554
KANSAS TURNPIKE AUTHORITY DRIVING CHANGE ATHLETE
Mikayla Elmore
Driving Change Athlete of the Month:
Wellington’s Mikayla Elmore
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Getting involved with school activities is second nature for Wellington High School’s Mikayla Elmore. She is a member of the SAFE (Seatbelts Are For Everyone) program, SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) and the dance team.
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“I have been active in the SAFE program for two years,” said Elmore. “This was something that Officer Wylie needed help with, so I stepped up junior year to be involved.”
Elmore said she has always felt it was important to spread the safe driving message to her peers at Wellington. “It’s important to me because I want to be a good role model for my younger brothers and cousins. I want them to know that it’s always important to help other people because someday they may be in their boat,” said Elmore. Elmore has been a member of the dance team at Wellington for several years.
“I have been on the Wellington High School dance team since my freshman year. Since the dance team came back my freshman year, I will be the first dancer in many years to
go all four years on the team,” said Elmore. “As a senior, I like that I’ve got to watch the girls join after me “grow up.” We are all like sisters, and it’s a bond that I’m going to miss so much.” Being a student at Wellington is something special for Elmore.
“The fact that everyone supports everyone. You won’t ever see an empty student section at a sporting event,” said Elmore. “Grades have always been very important to me. Like I said earlier, I want my younger family members to know that straight A’s are possible with hard work.” Her plans after graduation include college and pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. One day Elmore said she would like to become a school principal. The future educator offers some friendly advice for other students who are interested in the SAFE program. “Stick with it, because you will do amazing things with this group. You will become a leader in your school, your community, and younger kids as you enter DARE.”
TAYLOR ZEKA’S SHELTER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
GO ! Prep Performance of the Month
Mulvane’s Karlie Kanaga By Matt Browning Karlie Kanaga was chosen as the Mulvane Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month for February. Kanaga is a starter on the Wildcats’ basketball team this winter and was a first team all-league forward last spring. “To be chosen as athlete of the month means a lot,” Kanaga said. “I know there are so many people to choose from and it is such an honor to be chosen.”
Mulvane has made great strides this season and Kanaga’s predominant goal was to improve the Wildcats’ win total which they already have.
Jett Schwartz, Valley Center High School
Besides playing basketball and soccer, Kanaga also plays volleyball at Mulvane as well as being involved in National Honor Society and Rowdie Crowd Council.
Next year, Kanaga plans to go to Emporia State University to play soccer.
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“This season I really wanted us to become more of a family and just play the game,” Kanaga said. “In past years, yes we’ve played basketball, but this year everyone is in it 100 percent and we’re playing a completely different game.”
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Kanaga attributes the team’s increased win total to being
more like a family.
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Jett Schwartz of Valley Center was chosen as the Hog Wild Athlete of the Month for February. Schwartz, a sophomore, has been one of the top ranked wrestlers at the 106-pound weight class all season. “My proudest moment or accomplishment this year so far was winning my first high school wrestling tournament,” Schwartz said. “It felt really good to win and start the season strong and at my own school surrounded by my friends and family.” Schwartz said there is constant pressure to succeed because of his high ranking and he expects to do so every time he gets on the mat. “The pressure from that (being No. 1) alone is enough to get me out of my comfort zone but I have been able to manage and still perform well under the pressure,” Schwartz said. “Throughout the rest of the season the pressure will build up but I’m persistent in my goals and will continue doing my best.” For the rest of the season, Schwartz has one thing in mind. “My main goal for the season is to be a state champion,” Schwartz said. “I believe that I can do it and will continue working towards it.” Schwartz wants to wrestle in college and for the next two years he wants to work on his strategies and skills.
“So far I believe our season has been great,” Kanaga said. “Yes, there are a few games we should have won but didn’t, but that’s just basketball. Our progress from last year to this year is just insane. I look forward to getting some more wins under us this year.”
Karlie Kanaga
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WICHITA AREA SPOTLIGHTS
YMCA #YiBelongSpotlight
SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION OPENS FEB 7 YMCAWICHITA.ORG/SPORTS
Jesus Campos By Matt Browning Jesus Campos was chosen as the YMCA Yi-Belong recipient for the month for January for his dedication and commitment to youth sports at the Richard A. DeVore South YMCA.
BASKETBALL
“I would totally recommend anyone wanting or even thinking about volunteering as a coach for youth sports or a volunteer at the YMCA,” Campos said. “It starts with taking action and being part of these young souls wanting to start a career or even just have fun doing something with kids of their age. When it’s all about the kids and when you do it for the kids it’s so worth it and I would highly recommend it.”
BASEBALL FLAG FOOTBALL
VOLLEYBALL SOCCER
Campos coaches youth soccer at the Y, specifically two of his daughters (Adalee and Liviann), plus he is also involved with adult soccer, so his schedule fills up quickly.
AJ VANG Goddard, KS - On holding the Program Record for Offensive Linemen with 25 Consecutive Games
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girls U-8 team, and we have our games every Saturday morning,” Campos said. “As I mentioned before, I also play adult soccer at the South YMCA on Sundays so that being said, I’m pretty involved with the YMCA.” Campos said he has always dreamed of coaching his kids in soccer and to be able to finally do that is extremely fulfilling. “This is the start to a journey that will open many doors to my daughters, and I only want the best for them,” Campos said.
y d a e R e f i l r o f
“... this place is so special. To think of all the greats that have come out of here, it is kind of crazy to think that I have had more starts than anyone at Butler. Means the world to me.”
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“We practice twice a week for my
Jesus Campos
ButlerCC.edu
Connect with us.
DRIVE TO ZERO
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Kayla Schroeder , Andover Central Soccer is a way of life for Kayla Schroeder of Andover Central High School, and she loves playing with all of her teammates at school and on her club team, Rush. “The best part of soccer at Andover Central is having fun playing a sport that I love with my friends,” said Schroeder. “The club team is like a family, and we all want to see everyone succeed. Club soccer has really helped me improve on reading the ball and overall goalie training. It also has really helped me have confidence as a soccer player and taught me how to be mentally ready as a goalie for the game.” Schroeder also volunteers at Tanganyika Wildlife Park, loves to spend time fishing, wakeboarding, and drawing.
“There have been several people in my life that have influenced me. Off the field it would be my grandfather. He has taught me that with hard work you can achieve your dreams. On the field coach Johnson spent time developing my soccer skills and helping me rise to another level. He also pushed me to believe I could reach my goals. Coach Gruntzel helped me on foot skills and preparing me for life after high school,” said Schroeder. During her time at Andover Central, Schroeder has enjoyed making memories with her teammates that will last a lifetime. “I remember my freshman year singing on the bus to games,” said Schroeder. “Club soccer would be
winning our tournament my senior year and all the support from the parents. And playing spoons and other games with my teammates between soccer games.”
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The senior has dreams of becoming an architect one day and has even shadowed a few places to gain some experience in the field. Kansas State is her college of choice and their School of Architecture. Schroeder said several people have influenced her, helping her reach the goals she
has set for herself.
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www.ktsro.org/impaired-driving
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SAFE is a statewide program supported by the Kansas Department of Transportation
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HELLAS SPOTLIGHT
Hellas Field of the Month:
City of Great Bend
By Matt Browning The City of Great Bend’s five baseball and softball fields are the Hellas Construction Fields of the Month for February. The Great Bend School District, all city recreation programs and KCAC baseball and softball tournaments use the fields.
“Hellas has specs that sets them apart from other turf companies,” said Chris Umphres, the Assistant Superintendent and Sports Director of Great Bend Recreation. “Hellas has the ability to manufacture and install their own product. These required specs and the ability to get the job done at the level clients demand is a huge asset to cities, schools and recreation departments. There will always be a conflict with selling the decision makers on the benefit of why paying more for a project is worth it. Hellas is worth it.”
The specific turf used on the infields was Hellas Matrix Helix baseball/softball turf height and infill. Hellas put new turf on one full-sized baseball field, three softball fields and one multipurpose field, as well as building a new batting cage and bullpen. “Hellas was done with our project one month before the deadline,” Umphres said. “Other surrounding communities are still waiting on products to show up on site. Hellas has the ability to cut out the middleman on most of their products. This streamlined our project and created a great working relationship at every level of employee that had a hand in our project. You can bet that Great Bend will look to partner with Hellas for future projects because of the professionalism and quality of their products.”
HELLAS PROVIDES FULL SERVICE SPORTS CONSTRUCTION from manufacturing to design/build, construction to installation, service and maintenance — we have you covered from start to finish.
BUILDING FOR SPORTS FROM START TO FINISH Michelle Kuhns | mkuhns@hellasconstruction.com hellasconstruction.com
TOMMY LEACH’S SHELTER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Wichita Southwast’s Mekhi Beaubrun
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By Matt Browning
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Mekhi Beaubrun of Wichita Southeast was named the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month for February. Beaubrun is a key contributor for the Buffaloes basketball team.
“I feel honored and blessed to be the one chosen out of many qualifying athletes even with how the season is playing out for me, it makes me proud to see there are people who recognize my potential along with me,” Beaubrun said. “I am also honored and motivated because it shows that I am on a good path academically and athletically, which I will continue to work hard to be the best I can be at both because they are important and will always be my top priorities.” Beaubrun wanted to improve his leadership skills this season for Southeast and while there have been some highs and lows, he has seen growth in that area. “One area I wanted to improve this season was leadership at the
Mekhi Beaubrun highest level, which includes leading by example on and off the court and giving great advice for my teammates to be successful so I will have the experience for the college level,” Beaubrun said. From a statistical standpoint, Beaubrun set some lofty goals, knowing he would need to achieve these goals in order for the Buffaloes to find success.
“I wanted to be close to averaging a double-double in stats with points and assists,” Beaubrun said. “No matter how many points are needed from me in each game, I know assists are always needed.”
WICHITA AREA LARGE WRESTLING SPOTLIGHT
Maize’s Ayden Flores By Matt Browning Ayden Flores of Maize was voted the Wichita Large School Preseason Wrestler of the Year. Flores received just over 5,000 votes which was just over 33 percent of the overall vote. “What this means to me is I have a great group of supporters,” Flores said. “It means a lot to have people believe in me.”
A year ago, Flores finished with a record of 33-6 and finished second at the Derby Invitational, the Tournament of Champions, regionals and sub-state. At the 6A Tournament, Flores placed third. Only a sophomore, Flores has lofty goals for this season. “My goals for this season are to go undefeated and win state,” Flores said. “I feel like there is always room for improvement in all areas of the sport.” Outside of wrestling, Flores also plays football for the Eagles.
Even though he has two and half years left of high school,
Ayden Flores Flores already has his eyes set on wrestling at the Division I level, specifically Arizona State.
As for a career, he wants to give back to the community as a wrestling coach.
WICHITA AREA SMALL WRESTLING SPOTLIGHT
Mulvane’s Chris Dietrich
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“I feel honored that people voted for me because I am
After he graduates, Dietrich wants to pursue a career in fitness, perhaps being a personal trainer. He is unsure what college he wants to attend but hopes he can continue his wrestling career.
FEBRUARY 2022
Chris Dietrich of Mulvane was voted the Wichita Small School Preseason Wrestler of the Year. Dietrich received over 7,700 votes which was nearly 43 percent of the overall vote.
Outside of wrestling, Dietrich also runs track and cross country for the Wildcats. He was also inducted into the National Honor Society this year.
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Chris Dietrich
“If I get lucky enough to get the chance to wrestle this year, I want to make it into the finals at state,” Dietrich said. “I need work on my pinning combinations and finishing my shots.”
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Last season Dietrich finished with a record of 26-6 and took sixth at the 4A Tournament. He is hoping for an outside chance of being able to get back on the mat this season.
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aware who the other wrestlers are,” Dietrich said. “But my win is bittersweet because I was hit by a car on August 26 and most likely will not be able to wrestle this year due to my injuries.”
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DERBY ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Q&A
Wi t h D e r b y ’s A le x H e d d e n
Hedden and Derby Mark State’s Top Score We caught up with Alex after a few meets to get his thoughts on the team and to learn more about this Derby senior. VYPE: Alex, when did you start bowling and who encouraged you to start?
Hedden: I started bowling when I was about three years old. I never got encouraged to become a bowler. My dad picked bowling in high school around age 16. He first taught my older brother how to bowl and then wanted to get me into the world of bowling. VYPE: What do you love most about your team and teammates?
Hedden: Everyone that comes out for bowling has a love for the sport even if they’ve just recently started bowling. Bowling is a big team sport, so everyone has a lot of support for each other and that just makes bowling easier when everyone is having fun. VYPE: How has this season gone for you and what has been the highlight for you personally?
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Hedden: Were only three meets in and have started off very strong with a little hiccup at the second meet but bounced back the next meet. The highlight so far is shooting 2,767 which is one of the state’s top team scores.
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VYPE: Do you have a favorite place to bowl?
When Derby head coach Brent Cunningham talks about his team, there are several bowlers he mentions with equal trust in their abilities. When speaking about Alex Hedden, coach Cunningham talks about leadership and knowledge of the game. “Alex is one of those guys you want on your team. He is a quiet leader and leads by example. He also is one of the first ones to notice the lanes are getting ready to transition in the middle of a game and makes sure his teammates are aware,” said Cunningham. “He’s very knowledgeable in the sport of bowling and makes good grades and is always willing to help others out. Also, he’s a four-year letterman and one of the best bowlers in the state.”
Hedden: My favorite place to bowl is North Rock Lanes because it’s a very nice alley and the all-around feeling of bowling there feels good. My home alley, Derby Bowl is a close second behind North Rock, but I’ve been bowling at Derby Bowl for such a long time. VYPE: What are your plans after you graduate?
Hedden: My plans after I graduate are to attend Butler Community College for two years and then go up to KU to study meteorology. VYPE: What do you enjoy doing when you have some free time?
Hedden: I don’t have very much free time but when I do, I either do a little bit of gaming or sleep. I’m very busy outside of bowling and during bowling season as I ran cross country, play tennis, work at Chick-Fil-A, and play in the band at home basketball games.
DERBY COACH OF THE MONTH
Panthers Poised to Crown More
CHAMPIONS Derby Coach of the Month: Bill Ross, Wrestling
By Joanna Chadwick After losing another wave of outstanding wrestlers, Derby has revamped and reloaded once again. Like all other teams across the country, Derby has had its fair share of wrestlers miss competitions due to COVID-19, but long-time coach Bill Ross isn’t worried about that. The Panther pedigree is strong.
The Panthers return four Class 6A state placers from last year’s team. State runner-up Braden Tatum, who transferred from Rose Hill, fourthplace finisher Tate Rusher, two-time fourth-place finisher Knowlyn Egan and fourth-place finisher Miles Wash.
“This team works very hard,” Ross said. “They show up for practice every day and they are ready to work. They welcome hard practices, and they want to improve. They are very business-like, and they have great character. I can count on them giving me 100 percent effort each time they compete.” The hard-working reputation of the Panthers’ program is still evident. The Panthers tied for sixth in a 12-team tournament and 12th in a 34team tournament despite having some key wrestlers out during those last two tournaments.
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The Newton Invitational was one of the first opportunities to get a good idea of some of the potential matchups in Class 6A because it fielded 34 teams. Wash was fourth at 220 pounds, and Rusher was third at 138. Ross continues to preach family with his team despite the COVID issues that have separated them.
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Photo By Janeah Berry
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The Panthers feel poised and confident to make a run at multiple individual state championships – barring no injuries or COVID pauses for the athletes.
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“It is fun coaching kids that love to go to work,” he said. “This team makes it easy for me to come to practice every day because I know every practice is going to go well. Their great attitudes and work ethic make it easy for me to go to practice every day.”
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Min Stitch: Max Jump:
0.3 mm 6.8 mm
Colorway:
Colorway 1
T W O B R O T H E R S B B Q #P LC A Y ESt. R Descr PR OFILE Code
Bishop Carroll’s Let the Games Begin! Kiley Doonan 1. 1 2886 1626 Brand: Madeira PolyNeon 40 2. 2 1153 1800 Brand: Madeira PolyNeon 40 3. 3 341 1838 Brand: Madeira PolyNeon 40 4. 4 579 1672 Brand: Madeira PolyNeon 40 5. 3 1445 1838 Brand: Madeira PolyNeon 40 6. 4 3466 1672 Brand: Madeira PolyNeon 40By Total Bobbin: 38.56ft
Visit Two Brothers BBQ before and after the game! Four Locations East Wichita – 300 S Greenwich Rd, Wichita (316) 683-1330 Wichita College Hill – 3134 E Douglas Ave, Wichita (316) 978-9990 West Wichita – 6730 W Central Ave, Wichita (316) 440-4077 El Dorado – 1701 W Central vAve, El Dorado (316) 452-5522
www.twobrothersbbq.com For team dinners & other catering needs check out Two Brothers BBQ Last Saved: 11 Jul, 2016
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Kiley Doonan of Bishop Carroll was chosen as the Two Brothers BBQ Athlete of the Month for February. Doonan is one of the top players on the Golden Eagles’ basketball team, which has been ranked in VYPE’s Wichita Large School Power Rankings for most of the season. “Being chosen as the Two Brothers BBQ athlete of the month is an honor,” Doonan said. “I am very thankful for the nomination.”
Doonan has been proud of what Carroll has accomplished already this season, but there is more to get done before the season concludes.
“We are learning to work together and capitalize on each other’s strengths,” Doonan said. “Personally, I am proud of my defense this year and am working to improve my offensive game. I am looking forward to the remainder of our season; getting to rise up as a team and advance into the postseason.”
ALL SEASONS LETTERMAN OF THE MONTH
Kiley Doonan Before the season started, Doonan had specific goals for her team.
“Going into this season my goal was to help create a team that would make Bishop Carroll proud and to keep the city league champions title,” Doonan said. Doonan also runs track at Bishop Carroll and is one of eight Community Coordinators.
Next year, Doonan wants to attend either Wichita State or Hutchinson Community College.
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Cheney’s Rylan Doshier
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The big man in the middle for Cheney High School is the All Seasons Letterman of the Month.
Rylan Doshier is the type of teammate you love to have on the court. His willingness to sacrifice himself and do all the little things to help his team succeed makes him stand out amongst his peers. He loves playing with this group of guys and has known many of them for years. “They are my closest friends that I’ve grown up with and played with since third grade,” said Doshier.
The senior is a rebounding machine and was All-League Honorable Mention last season after leading the team in defensive charges taken from his center position. Also a football player, Doshier said
LETTER JACKETS, PLUS...
Ryan Doshier he loves everything about being a student-athlete at Cheney.
“I love how well the community supports us and cheers us on,” said Doshier. “I plan to go to college after I graduate and get a degree in marketing.”
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VIA CHRISTI BEHIND THE SCENES
Via Christi Behind the Scenes: Goddard’s Kaylee Laha Kaylee Laha first got involved in the sport of bowling after some encouragement from her sister. Now a junior at Goddard High School, Laha is not only one of the top bowlers in her class, she is helping some of the younger bowlers with their game as well.
“Kaylee is the team leader of the girl’s squad. In bowling in general, there is usually more of a gap in talent and experience between the top girls and the lower level on the girl’s side than there is on the boy’s side. We are no different. Purely on her own, Kaylee works with our first-year bowlers to help them with technique and answering questions to the point that she is almost a defacto assistant coach,” said coach Rehse. Laha said bowling is her only sport and she loves being
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Kaylee Laha around her teammates.
“One thing that I enjoyed most was the people around me. I’ve made great friends while being in it,” said Laha. “I tell them to start out small. Make a small goal and work towards it. The mental approach is to relax and have a cool head. Focus on what you are doing.”
Her future plans include bowling in college and majoring in education.
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S U N R I S E C H R I S T I A N S P OT L I G H T
Sunrise Christian’s
By Matt Browning
Mark Mitchell
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Gradey Dick
The McDonald’s All-Star Game is scheduled to be played on March 29 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
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ESPN has Mitchell, who has signed with Duke, as the 31st best player in the nation.
FEBRUARY 2022
Mitchell, who is in his first year at Sunrise after transferring from Bishop Miege, is averaging nearly 18 points per game and seven rebounds.
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In its updated recruiting rankings, ESPN has Dick ranked as the No. 8 player in the country.
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Dick, a Wichita native and Kansas signee, is averaging nearly 19 points per game for Sunrise, which is the top-ranked prep team in the nation.
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Gradey Dick and Mark Mitchell from Sunrise Christian Academy were chosen as McDonald’s All-Americans Wednesday afternoon.
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MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICANS
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SHARI WILLIAMS’ SHELTER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Northwest’s Geremiah Moore By Matt Browning Geremiah Moore was chosen as the Wichita Northwest Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month for February. Moore is a two-sport standout athlete for the Grizzlies.
“It’s great being chosen,” Moore said. “I love the recognition so I’m greatly thankful to be chosen.” Moore was a first team all-league quarterback for Northwest this season and is currently one of the top players on the Grizzlies’ basketball team which is in the mix for a City League title. Last season Moore was a second team all-league selection. “My season has been great. We are 5-1 and have a great team,” Moore said. “For the rest of the way this season I expect us to be going to state and competing on that stage.”
Moore is a gifted athlete on the basketball floor, but his primary focus this season was to improve his IQ and decision making in hopes to accomplish his lofty goals for the Grizzlies.
Geremaih Moore
“My goals going into this season were for us to compete with everyone and make our way to state game by game,” Moore said.
While he has no concrete plans at this time, Moore wants to play either football or basketball in college.
SCCDAT PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
South Haven’s MaKaylin Kuchar
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“I began my involvement in SCCDAT as a junior in 2020. I like that being a part of SCCDAT means you are making a difference all over Sumner County,” said Kuchar.
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MaKaylin Kuchar The SCCDAT (Sumner County Community Drug Action Team) has several members from schools across the county. MaKaylin Kuchar is a senior at South Haven High School where she’s a member of the SCCDAT team.
Party favors Allowing minors to drink on your property can cost you:
A $1,000 fine 365 days in jail Legal liability If these facts don’t grab you, maybe the thought of smiling for your very own mug shot will. Be a responsible host. It Matters.
Outside of helping the community she lives in, Kuchar is involved in many other activities including band, choir, Scholars Bowl, JETS, National Honor Society, FCCLA and theater. Kuchar said she loves being part of the cheer team as well. “The thing I love most about being on a team is the relationships you form with your teammates,” said Kuchar.
Next fall her plans include heading off to college at Southwestern College, but until then, Kuchar plans to continue helping her community and doing things she loves to do outside of school.
Sumner County Community Drug Action Team SCCDAT.org
“I am a Saloon Girl with the Border Queen Bellas in Caldwell, Kansas. I also play in a Bluegrass group in Ark City,” said Kuchar. “In my free time, I love to make music with my family. Bluegrass and country music are very important to my family and me. Both my brother and I play a variety of different instruments, our father accompanies us on the piano while our mother is our number one supporter and fan.”
Bishop Carroll’s
Dusty Trail
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“HCC is a great place because of the community support and the tight knit community feel. I felt at home in Hutchinson, got help and support from some great local people, and made some great friends there,” Trail said. “My advice for new players would be to embrace the culture and the community in Hutchinson and do your best to make a positive impact on that culture and in the community. You will come out of it with a truly positive experience for yourself which will impact your life in the future and enrich the football program and the community as a whole.”
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“I started coaching baseball summer leagues after my sophomore year in
“Back in the day, I don’t remember thinking about trying to get noticed by colleges. I was just trying to be the best player and teammate I could be to help the team win a championship,” Trail said. “Getting noticed just kind of happened because of that. I think the same attitude is still true today, but now there are a lot more avenues for selfpromotion with social media. I think this makes it much harder on college coaches to identify the players they want because they now get inundated with highlight reels of players from all over the country, at all levels, that want that opportunity, and it can be
For coach Trail, his time at Hutchinson CC was a special one.
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The coaching path for Trail started while he was still in college.
The former quarterback turned safety remembers what it was like to be a student-athlete in high school and being focused on the moment, not recruiting.
overwhelming for them. Athletic talent will always get recognized first, so put time and energy into making yourself the best athlete you can possibly be.”
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“My dad was probably my biggest mentor and influence in getting me into the profession. At HCC my two biggest influences, who got me thinking about coaching, were Tom Saia and Pat Becher. They both coached me at HCC, because I did track there as well. They helped form me into the type of coach I wanted to be, later on, because of the type of family men they were and what they taught me about being a positive influence on those around you,” said Trail.
college in my hometown of Osborne, Kansas and started coaching football at Fort Hays State University after I was done playing,” Trail said. I coached at FHSU for four years then started my high school coaching career in Princeton, TX. I coached there for two years before heading to Bishop Carroll.”
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In his 27th year of teaching and coaching at Bishop Carroll High School, former Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon and current Bishop Carroll head football coach Dusty Trail has spent a career teaching some of the same lessons he learned from his former coach and father to his student-athletes over the years.
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MELANIE RENE JEWELRY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s Sophia Gimino player, she picked up golf two years ago and was an All-City member of our state championship golf team this year. She also won state in the javelin last year as a sophomore on a broken foot,” said Graf.
Sophia Gimino Kapaun head coach Billy Graf said Sophia Gimino is one of the best basketball players he’s ever coached. High praise coming from Graf. But it’s not a surprise if you’ve seen Sophia play.
“She has no weakness in her game. She is a student of the game and wants to be as good as she can be. Not only is she an accomplished basketball
She also helps broadcast the football games, boy’s basketball games and baseball games for Kapaun. Being a student-athlete at Kapaun is special for Gimino for many reasons. “I love how close everyone is and how we all have each other’s backs,” she said.
Her favorite class at school is U.S. History and she has big plans once she graduates. “After I graduate, I want to attend college and study pre-med while either playing basketball or running track,” said Gimino.
The junior point guard said she enjoys hanging out with friends and playing sports in her free time.
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WICHITA COLLEGIATE PLAYER OF THE MONTH
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Engage. Encourage. Empower. Come for a visit and learn why Wichita Collegiate Spartans win both on the field and in the classroom. 9115 East 13th Street phone: 316.634.0433 visit: www.wcsks.com
Wichita Collegiate’s Haley Allen By Matt Browning Haley Allen, who plays basketball, was chosen the Collegiate Athlete of the Month for February. Allen plays a significant role for the Lady Spartans. “My experience at Collegiate has been great,” Allen said. “I love the atmosphere of the school.”
Allen, who started coming to Collegiate as a freshman, has arecommendation for any student interested in attending Collegiate concerning the dynamic between the students and teachers. “I would encourage them (prospective students) to come to Collegiate It has given me so many opportunities and amazing experiences,” Allen said. “The teachers all have the student’s best interests in mind and want to see them succeed.” Outside of basketball, Allen also participates in volleyball at Collegiate. Outside of sports, she is heavily involved in Young Life.
“The school has a large community involved with Young Life and it’s a great environment to be in,” Allen said.
Haley Allen Next year, Allen will be attending the University of Arkansas and plans to major in Business or Economics.
JESSE MEISCH’S SHELTER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Wichita South’s Andre Baker By Matt Browning Andre Baker of Wichita South was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month for February. Baker averages four points, five rebounds and one block per game for the Titans’ basketball team. “It feels like it’s an honor and I feel like it shows off all the hard work I’ve been putting in,” Baker said.
Baker has been pleased with his season so far, but there is one individual goal he wants to accomplish before the season is over. “I’m looking forward to actually getting my first dunk in a game,” Baker said.
Andre Baker
“I would say the two areas I wanted to improve were my ball handling and my confidence with the ball,” Baker said. “I definitely needed to work on getting up more shots to build my confidence.”
During the offseason, Baker participates in track to help his endurance for summer basketball. Baker has not committed to any school yet but has aspirations to play Division I basketball.
Baker knew he was going to have an increased role this year, so that meant he had to improve two areas of his game.
HAYSVILLE CAMPUS COACH OF THE MONTH
Campus Coach Spotlight:
Pam Burkett By Matt Browning
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Pam Burkett
Being a counselor, Burkett spends a significant amount of her job talking to prospective parents and students. Her sales pitch is simple.
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Burkett views her job as more than just that. She views Campus and the people she interacts with every day as a second family.
“I am so proud to tell them what an amazing school it is and about all the different opportunities we have,” Burkett said. “There is something for everyone. Our teachers also go up and above. I would recommend it to anyone.”
“I love my cheer team,” Burkett said. “Over the years I have had girls and boys. This year is all girls. They overall get along and work really well together. We have worked really hard on a routine this year and are very proud of it.”
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“The teachers are so good and the kids are so accepting,” Burkett said. “I still love getting up and going to work every day.”
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Burkett, who is a counselor at the high school, is in her 27th year as the Campus cheer coach and said her cheer team this year is a close-knit group that she has enjoyed being around.
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“It was such an honor to be named coach of the year,” Burkett said. “I’m not the best at accepting things like this but it is amazing that I was chosen.”
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Pam Burkett of Campus High School was chosen as the Kansas State Cheer Coach of the Year. Burkett is also the recipient of the Campus School District Profile of the Month for February.
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TEAM OF THE MONTH
Ell-Saline Girls Basketball By Matt Browning The Ell-Saline girls basketball team was chosen as the Visit Wichita Team of the Month for February. The Cardinals traveled to Hutchinson Trinity and Remington throughout league play defeating the Celtics and falling to the Broncos.
Ell-Saline has been ranked in the VYPE basketball rankings throughout the month of January after winning only six games last season.
“Most of these girls played on a very successful softball team and know how winning feels,” said head coach Bill Gies. “We are benefiting from that now as well as from the girls being more comfortable with their role on the team.” Defense and rebounding are vital to the Cardinals’ success and four
players lead the way in those areas: Sadie Bradley, Raleigh Kramer, Bayleigh Schneider and Keala Wilson.
“Senior Sadie Bradley is a solid defensive player along with Raleigh Kramer, who works hard on the boards and contributes points as well,” Gies said. “Bayleigh Schneider has been scoring more as of late and has been important. Keala Wilson has been great on the boards all season.” While the marked improvement has been a nice accomplishment for the Cardinals, there is still plenty left to achieve this season.
“Our goal is to be in the top four of our league and to represent our school in the state tournament this year,” Gies said. “Improving on last year is what we planned on, worked for. We are having more success than the last couple of seasons, but we have bigger plans.”
BROUGHT TO YOU BY VISIT WICHITA Visit Wichita celebrates the athletes in our community and applauds their dedication. We’re proud to cheer them on, and we’re excited to bring a variety of action-packed sporting events to Wichita – the heart of the country. Here are a few you won’t want to miss: • March 26 & 28: NCAA – Women’s Basketball Championship • May 27-28: KSHSAA – 5A Girl’s Soccer State Championship • July 6-16: USA Boxing – National Junior Olympics & Summer Boxing Festival • July 22-25 & 28: The Basketball Tournament (TBT) • Aug. 7-13: USA Waterski National Championships • Aug. 19-20: American Cornhole League Pro Shootout Learn more about these competitions and more at 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
SPORTS THRIVE IN WICHITA. Come out and see 250 of the best college wrestlers in the nation right here in Wichita. Purchase tickets to the NAIA Wrestling Championship, March 4-5, at Hartman Arena.
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Go to VisitWichita.com for more upcoming sporting events.
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BOSTON BASHAM’S SHELTER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Maize South’s Avery Lowe By Matt Browning Avery Lowe, a junior basketball player from Maize South, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Maize Athlete of the Month for February. Last season, Lowe was a first team all-league and an honorable mention all-state selection for the Mavericks. “It is a great opportunity,” Lowe said. “I am so excited that I was chosen.”
One of Lowe’s primary goals this season is to get the Mavericks into the state tournament, after they came up short last season. Maize South finished with a 14-8 record. “This season has been so fun but as a team we have some growing to do but it has been successful so far,” Lowe said. “I am looking forward to playing more games.”
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Lowe also plays volleyball at Maize South and is involved in National Honor Society, Pep Club, CaCow and Friendship Club.
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Avery Lowe After high school, Lowe plans to attend Nebraska-Kearney and wants to study education.
S E R V I C E B O DY S H O P S I G N I N G S
Dotted Line..... 2022 Signings
Austin Carlson, Clearwater HS Fort Hays State-Football
Austin Hilton, Belle Plaine Tabor College-Basketball
Bailey Way, Andover Arkansas Tech University-Softball
Cedrick Harris, Hutchinson Trinity McPherson College-Football
Eli Wiseman, Belle Plaine Butler CC-Basketball
George Jekov, The Independent Florida Tech-Swimming
Harrison Middleton, Cheney HS Friends-Golf
Kylie Forney, Andover UTSA-Softball
Savannah Schule, Clearwater HS Barton CC-Cheer
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DAV I S - M O O R E ’ S P L AY E R P R O F I L E
Davis-Moore Chevrolet Military Student Athlete of the Month
Brennan Walker
Brennan Walker is a three-sport student-athlete at Beloit High School. This winter he is wrestling and will take to the track this spring. Walker said he loves being part of the Beloit family.
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“My teammates here in Beloit, they all have the same goal as me. We all want to be the best team in the state.
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We all talk about achieving our goals. Although we fell short in this football season, I know that the younger kids are still going to be hungry for next season and will be going for that state title again,” Walker said. “So, all in all I just love the drive my team has and the passion we have for the sport and for each other.”
Another family Walker is a member of is his military family. His father served in the U.S. Army and retired in 2011. Now Walker is planning on serving once he has graduated high school.
“I was young while my father was in the Army. He was gone a lot when I was a baby and toddler. While my dad was in the Army, we stayed
in Glasco the entire time,” Walker said. “I am planning on attending the Naval Academy and majoring in Civil Engineering. I will also be throwing javelin at the academy. Or I may attend K-State and major in Construction Management.”
Being part of Beloit High School will always be a special time in his life.
“This football season was a blast. Ever since the team of 2013 made it to the state game, I have dreamt of being there myself. I was just selected into the Shrine Bowl so I will get to play one last football game before I hang the cleats up for good,” Walker said. “I will always remember all the memories I have with my friends and all the memories I made in sports.
JODI OCADIZ’S SHELTER ATHLETES OF THE MONTH
Eli Shetlar
Andover High School
Andover High School’s Eli Shetlar is a member of the varsity basketball team under head coach Martin Shetlar. Eli has worked hard to improve his game and it’s showing this season. Eli said being part of this team is something special for him. “I love practicing with our team every day and pushing each other to get better. The bond between teammates is very strong and we are all great friends off the court. Our coaching staff is very smart and supportive which make practices and games fun,” said Eli. Basketball is not the only activity Eli is involved in at Andover. “Being a student-athlete at Andover is special because all of the students are very supportive and we have a great culture at Andover,” Eli said. “Besides basketball I am involved in marching band and concert band where I play the drums. I am also involved in National Honor Society at Andover.” The shooting guard/small forward would love to play at the next level while pursuing a degree in college. “I am interested in getting my real estate license. I want to learn sales and how to run a business,” said Eli.
Andover High School
Samantha McClellan is a senior at Andover High School and a member of the dance team. McClellan has been dancing since she was two years old, and she loves being part of the team at Andover. “I love how supportive my teammates are, not just in dance but in life. They never fail to make me laugh, even at 6 am practice,” said McClellan. “My favorite memories from dance team are mostly from the traditions that we have like our team Christmas parties and team dinners.” McClellan’s involvement with athletics does not end there. She is a member of the swim team and belongs to the Blue Crew and is serving as committee head for the National Honor Society. Her plans after graduation include pursuing a
degree in college. “After I graduate, I plan on enrolling in a big SEC school to pursue a major in Health Service Administration and watch some football,” said McClellan. The senior said she will always be thankful for the time she spent at her dance academy. “An important role model in my life is the studio owner of Kansas Dance Academy, Diane Gans. Ms. Diane has known me from a very young age. She has shown me my potential and pushed me to fight for my goals since I was 10 years old. Ms. Diane pours her heart into every dancer that comes through her studio and gives them space to grow as performers and people. I am forever grateful to her for the ways she challenged me and beleived in me,” McClellan said.
Emelyn Carpenter Andover Central High School
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Emelyn Carpenter of Andover Central High School is as tough and brave as they come. During her freshman and sophomore years Carpenter had two major hip surgeries due to being born with mild bilateral hip dysplasia. She traveled to St. Louis for both surgeries, but each time the medical team was uncertain if she would fully recover to the same level of dancing she was before the surgery. Today the senior is a member of the varsity dance team and is back to performing at a high level. “I started dancing when I was three years old and have been doing it for 15 years,” said Carpenter. “My teammates never fail to make me laugh. I truly have made some of my best friendships through dance and I appreciate them all every day.” During her time at Andover Central, Carpenter has made many great memories with her teammates. “My favorite memory from dance team over the years is going for coffee with my teammates after 6am practices. It always gave me
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Max Holcomb is a senior shooting guard for the Andover Central basketball team and player coach Tyler Richardson says can hit from three-point land with consistency. Holcomb has developed his shot over thousands of reps in the gym. He loves playing for and representing Andover Central and his teammates.
Samantha McClellan
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motivation to get up in the morning and it was truly a bonding experience that I really looked forward to,” said Carpenter. Now she is preparing to attend college at Kansas State University where she will major in nursing. “The plan right now is to become a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) in the future,” said Carpenter.
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Max Holcomb
“The thing I love most about my team is how we are all willing to go 100 percent and put the team success over individual stats and success,” said Holcomb. In his final year of high school basketball, Holcomb said he’s enjoying his last run and is looking forward to participating in other sports. “Besides basketball at Andover Central, I am part of the golf team and was part of the cross-country team my freshman and sophomore years,” said Holcomb. His future plans include more school and using his favorite subject to his advantage. “My favorite class throughout high school has always been math. Math is something that just comes easy to me, and I enjoy the challenge of problem solving for answers,” said Holcomb. “After high school I plan on starting my academic career by going to college and starting my business degree.”
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G I R L S B OW L I N G S P O T L I G H T
Augusta’s Malori Renville By Matt Browning Malori Renville of Augusta took 67th last season at the 5-1A State Bowling Tournament and she understands what she needs to accomplish to finish higher than that this season.
“I know there are many talented bowlers in the state and realistically, my goal is to finish in the top 50,” Renville said. “In order for me to accomplish this goal, I need to work more on spare shooting and not being as nervous during competition.” Along with her spare shooting, Renville also has a couple of areas she wants to improve on so that her scores continue to climb.
throughout the season.”
The Orioles took fifth as a team last season and they have talent returning to be a threat to win state this season.
“All of us are close and they’re like a second family to me,” Renville said. “If we continue working hard and sticking together, I believe our team has a good chance of winning a state title.”
Outside of bowling, Renville also runs cross country for Augusta and is a member of the National Honor Society.
“I’d like to improve my spare shooting and as any other bowler would, strike percentage,” Renville said. “I’d also like to continue improving my average
Malori Renville Next year, Renville wants to attend college and pursue a career in engineering, much like her father.
LANDON HEAD’S SHELTER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Wichita East’s Dakota Everett
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Dakota Everett, from Wichita East, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month for February. Everett has been a ranked wrestler in the 182-weight class for most of the season.
“It was very unexpected,” Everett said. “I never knew that I was a candidate, let alone that I’d be chosen. But I’m very grateful for it.”
Everett has had one thing on his mind all season and that is where he finishes at the end of it.
“My only goal this season is to win state,” Everett said. “That’s been everything I’ve been working towards for the past four years.” Everett said his mentality has been the one thing he has tried to improve on in the offseason and throughout this season.
Dakota Everett “At the start of the season I knew I needed to have a better mindset if I wanted to be successful,” Everett said. “So, I’ve been working on that, along with my physical health.” Outside of wrestling, Everett also plays baseball and is in the band. Right after the school year ends, Everett will leave for boot camp after beginning the process of becoming a United States Marine earlier in the year.
J O M A B OW L E R S O F T H E M O N T H
Wichita Northwest’s Kalee Stockstill
Hutchinson’s Caleb Hernandez
By Matt Browning
By Matt Browning
Kalee Stockstill of Wichita Northwest was chosen as the JOMA Bowler of the Month for February. Stockstill, a freshman, is currently in her first season for the Grizzlies
Caleb Hernandez of Hutchinson was chosen as the Hutchinson JOMA Bowler of the Month for February. Hernandez carries one of the top averages on the Salthawks’ team.
“It is an honor to be chosen as bowler of the month especially since I am just starting my high school bowling journey,” Stockstill said. “I have watched my brother grow in his bowling career and he is a great example of what happens when you work hard and practice a lot.” Collecting spares and not losing any unnecessary pins was a focal point for Stockstill in the offseason when she was improving her game.
“I want to improve my spare shooting,” Stockstill said. “Picking up spares can change the outcome of a game or even a match. I want to have a higher
Kalee Stockstill ratio of spare shooting that I had at our first match.” Stockstill actually attends Northeast Magnet for school, but then bowls for Northwest. At Northeast Magnet, Stockstill plays the viola and sings in the choir. Stockstill’s dream is to attend The Savannah College of Art and Design, major in computer animation and hopefully be a part of the bowling program.
“It means a lot to be chosen as the JOMA bowler of the month,” Hernandez said. “I started bowling just a few months ago when I started working at the Alley and quickly realized it was something I could do and that I was decent at it. I just feel honored to receive any award that recognizes my talent.”
I would be able to. I am looking forward to competing and most of all having fun doing something I enjoy.”
“I was nervous when the season started because it was my first year bowling and I had no idea how well I could do,” Hernandez said. “It started slow, but I quickly improved and started bowling way better than I ever thought
“Going into the season I made a goal to consistently bowl 200’s and to be able to compete with everyone else,” Hernandez said. “I wanted to strive to be the best I could be.”
Since this is Hernandez’s first season bowling for Hutchinson, he felt some nerves once the season started, but has since grown more and more comfortable.
Caleb Hernandez
Goals for Hernandez were perhaps different from other high school bowlers with experience, but he felt like they were reasonable considering how novice he was with high school bowling.
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B OY S B OW L I N G S P O T L I G H T
Eisenhower’s Drew Merrell By Matt Browning Drew Merrell, the top returning bowler from Eisenhower, established himself as a state tournament threat last season. Merrell took sixth at the 5-1A Tournament a year ago. Bigger plans are on Merrell’s mind this season.
“Last year was definitely an amazing season,” Merrell said. “I practiced a lot in the offseason to make this season even better. My goals are to improve my average and finish top three at state.” Merrell knows that his individual improvement will go a long way in helping the Tigers make a splash this season.
“This season I want to focus on consistent shot making and staying in the moment during each frame,” Merrell said. “I also strive to be a great team player and look forward to our team developing even better chemistry. Improving my individual stats from last season is one way I want to contribute to our team’s success.” The Tigers were runner-up to Kapaun Mount Carmel last season, but they return more than just Merrell, which has
Drew Merrell him excited about his team’s chances.
“We are coming back with a strong team,” Merrell said. “With 2021state top 20 finishers Kyler Stockstill and Cale McConnell on the team, we have a lot of talent and have started off this season strong. I definitely think we are ready to earn a state title.”
KEN GOOCH’S SHELTER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Belle Plaine’s Brecken McGinnis
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Brecken McGinnis of Belle Plaine was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month for February. McGinnis plays basketball for the Dragons. “I’ve never been chosen for something like this so that’s pretty cool,” McGinnis said.
McGinnis said the Dragons’ season did not get off to a great start, but McGinnis is confident they can turn things around.
“We started off rough, but I think we will start to figure it out later in the season,” McGinnis said. “I look forward to winning some more games and enjoying my last months of basketball.”
McGinnis takes pride in doing the dirty work, like taking charges, for Belle Plaine, but he wants to improve his offensive skills this season.
Brecken McGinnis “I want to improve my shooting and driving skills,” McGinnis said. McGinnis also plays football and baseball at Belle Plaine, while also participating in the Letterman’s Club.
Next year, McGinnis plans on going to trade school and wants to become an electrician.
WICHITA DRIVING SCHOOL PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Valley Center’s Cheyanne Blackwood Valley Center High School senior Cheyanne Blackwood is a member of the volleyball, softball, and wrestling teams while also participating in the Friendship Club. To say she has a lot on her plate is an understatement.
“I have many teams that I get to play with along with many things I enjoy. I love spending time together outside of the game. A family aspect is very important to me and all my teams have this,” said Blackwood. Blackwood also attended the Wichita Driving School in the summer of 2018.
“I enjoyed having a big class of people to attend the school with. Knowing that other people were in the same situation as me helped get rid of the nerves. I also liked how well the information was given. It made it easy to pass the test at the end of the day,” said Blackwood. Next fall Blackwood plans to attend college and pursue a degree in Biology then later become licensed in dentistry. Blackwood said her success comes from her family’s support.
Cheyanne Blackwood “A lot of people have shaped me into the person that I am today, but there has been one person who has been there for me through it all. That is my father,” she said. “He has taught me how to be kind, fearless, and humble. He strives to make me the best person I can be every day. He is always there to give me advice even when I don’t want to hear it. Without him I wouldn’t have accomplished everything that I have. His biggest goal for me is to be successful while still being kind to others.”
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TODD BENWAY’S ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Derby’s Naomi White Derby High School basketball player Naomi White is the Derby Athlete of the Month.
White said she loves playing with this group of girls and is excited to see what the future holds for her and the team. “What I love most about my team and teammates is that we treat each other just like a family and will always have each other’s back through anything,” White said. The sophomore is a shooting guard for head coach Daniel Harrison. She can also play small forward.
“Naomi has worked extremely hard on her game this offseason in order to be considered for an important role on this year’s varsity. She is an excellent athletic who finishes strong at the basket. She is also one of our most tenacious defenders who really makes it hard for opposing team’s ball handlers. I believe she will have a breakout year and really make positive contributions to our success this year,” said coach
Naomi White Harrison.
White is focused on basketball and schoolwork. Her favorite subject in school is Geometry taught by Mr. Burns. Away from the classroom, White said she volunteers with her parents in the community and on McConnell Air Force Base. “I love the friendships and connections I make while being a student-athlete. I also enjoy the community support that Derby provides to our programs,” said White. “I enjoy hanging out with my friends, training for basketball, and reading.”
Area Girls Basketball Loaded With Talent
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Andover Central girls basketball coach Stana Jefferson has seen many talented players in the state over her tenure with the Jaguars. From Jackie McFarland at Derby to Erika Mattingly at Wichita South to Central’s very own Tiffany Bias, Jefferson has coached or coached against some of the state’s best during the 21st century.
But the talent currently in the Wichita and Salina areas can certainly rival any other time period.
In VYPE’s coverage area alone, there are currently 11 confirmed players who have either committed or are being recruited by Division I schools and four more who have either committed or are being recruited by Division II schools. That number is likely to grow after the season, too.
This does not include the past two years, which saw three City League players (Laniah Randle, Taylor Jameson and Ella Anciaux) sign with Division I schools and two more area players (Kylee Scheer and Karenna Gerber) sign with Division II schools. Needless to say, this era of Kansas girls
basketball will be looked back as a golden one.
“The quality of girls basketball is probably as high as it’s ever been in the state,” said Clearwater coach Casey Carlson said. “Just in this area alone I could see at least 12-15 players play at the D1 and D2 level over the next two to three years.”
Let’s take a look at the players who have already committed to Division I or II schools or are actively being recruited:
-Zyanna Walker from Wichita Heights has committed to Louisville. Walker, who is ranked No. 38 in the nation according to ESPN.com, did not play last season due to a knee injury. Walker’s teammate Cayanna Stanley has trimmed her list of schools to two Division I programs and one Division II program. -Brittany Harshaw from Andover Central has committed to Creighton. Harshaw was a first team all-state selection last year while averaging 18 points and six rebounds per game. Ellie Stearns, Harshaw’s teammate, has committed to Fort Hays State.
-Derby’s Maryn Archer and Addy Brown are both Division I players. Archer has committed to Arkansas, while Brown
has trimmed her list to Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas Tech. Brown was a first team all-state player last season, while Archer sat out due to a knee injury, but was allstate as a freshman.
-Ava Jones from Nickerson has committed to Arizona State. Just a junior, Jones put up monster numbers last season. She averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds and was named first team all-state.
-Teammates Carli Carlson and Elizabeth Tjaden from Clearwater are getting looks from mid major Division I programs, as well as high-end Division II schools. Carlson’s recruiting has picked up now that she is fully healthy following a season-ending knee injury last year. Tjaden is just a sophomore. -Avery Lowe from Maize South has committed to Kearney University, a Division II program that won the MIAA last season.
-Maycee James from Goddard had several Division II looks, but ultimately chose Butler Community College and
Ava Jones will likely get the same kind of offers when she moves on from Butler.
-Winfield sophomore Aleah Moree is starting to see the recruiting process for her pick up, as she is getting Division II looks, but Division I schools are monitoring her development. With all of this talent in the area, Jefferson thinks it has and will continue to do wonders for the younger generation of girls interested in basketball.
“It is absolutely an incredible thing for the younger generation watching these girls play and receive lots of attention and be on center stage,” Jefferson said. “Watching them receive college scholarships has to motivate them to strive to reach those goals. It is great for the game.”
Ted Anderson: Husband, Dad, Friend, Coach, Basketball Junkie Ted Anderson
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Story continues on https://ksvype.com/ted-anderson-husband-dad-friend-coach-basketball-junkie/
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remembered an expected second-round opponent getting upset at state. Well, the staff had no scouting report on El Dorado, so Meier called Anderson. And Anderson, of course, had a scouting report on El Dorado. Anderson was most known for coaching basketball, but he also had a brilliant football mind. He was a former quarterback, basketball captain and played baseball. He went to Pitt State on a golf scholarship. “Anybody that was around him – family, friends, players, coaches – understood that the game of basketball made him tick through and through. He had such a passion for the game of basketball. That’s a second home right there,” said Jeff Buchanan, Andale’s boys basketball coach. “… If you showed an interest in the game, if you showed a desire to learn something about the game, he’d talk to you until there was nothing else to talk about.”v Meier recounted how some national clinic Anderson was planning on attending was canceled. So Anderson created his own on the fly, and got thenHutchinson coach Phil Anderson and then-Hayden coach Ben Meseke to fill in. It was all free, and Anderson provided a meal for the coaches in attendance. During the Covid-19 pandemic’s shutdown in 2020, Anderson created a Zoom basketball clinic that met weekly. “I think it was called ‘Too Much Time on My Hands,’” Buchanan said. “It was college coaches, small college coaches, high school coaches, people with a pure interest in basketball. He’d find people with an expertise in a certain area, and if you’re available, you could jump on and ask questions. And then he’d gather notes, gather plays from the presentations, and he’d send it out to you, as well. “It wasn’t just him making connections, it was that he wanted everyone to have as much passion as him.” The passion for basketball enveloped his players. His early-morning freshman boys practices at Andale were usually memorable. Gerad Deaver, who was on Anderson’s first freshman boys team at Andale, was driving to practice and slid into the ditch one snowy morning. “A few minutes later, Anderson pulled up with Jordan – and maybe Jacy, can’t remember exactly – seeing me standing on the side of the road and offered me a ride to practice,” Deaver said. “Later during that practice, we were working on an inbound play that I ran incorrectly. Coach stopped it and said, ‘forget about your truck!’ Probably a nicer way of saying, ‘pull your head out of your ass!’”
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an assistant for Jeff Buchanan,” McPherson coach Kurt Kinnamon said. “We had the ball at the end of the quarter and always had a play that we ran. Ted was up yelling what we were going to do. We had put in an opposite counter to the play, and I think we got a dunk out of it. “After the game, Ted said, ‘you changed your play. Send it to me, please.’ He was always wanting to learn and see if it was something he could use.” Derby coach Brett Flory met Anderson upon being hired as Valley Center’s boys coach at age 25. “He was texting me about how he could help, how we were going to play … before I had even met the guy,” Flory said. “… Even after he left Valley Center, we consistently texted or called to talk ball or sometimes just to joke around – nobody knows more funny movie references than him. “If there was a new offense or innovation at any level of basketball, you could count on Ted to know about it. He was just an awesome guy and incredibly intelligent.” And also highly persuasive. Anderson convinced Meier to spend a summer at Emporia State to become certified to teach Driver’s Ed. While Anderson taught it for one summer after that, Meier is going on his 28th summer teaching it. Lonnie Thiessen, who taught with Anderson at Valley Center Middle School and was the freshman girls coach, knows all about his persuasive friend. “Our classrooms were next to each other for a number of years,” Thiessen said. “One day when talking before school, he says, ‘Lonnie, we are going to get our Master’s.’ We had never discussed this previously, but Ted was a convincing man. “Even though I was in my low 40s and had no intention of going back to school and he was 15 years younger than me, he made it happen. He rounded up a group of five other teachers and coaches from Valley Center, and on Monday nights for the next year and a half, we attended Friends University and got our Master’s in Teaching Arts together.” Anderson craved learning. He went to countless coaching clinics. While other coaches might attend a few sessions and then just hang out with friends, Anderson had his whole day of sessions mapped out from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. “He was a clinic guru,” Meier said. “… Then he’d go home and rewrite the notes. If he wanted to see a particular inbounds play, ‘remember this from the clinic in 1996?’” And he seemingly had scouting reports on everyone. Meier, an assistant Topeka Hayden football coach and former basketball coach,
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS
him,” Jacy Anderson said. “He radiates this positive attitude, and he has so much knowledge that people want to learn. And he just knows a lot. He’s just overall a good role model and a good guy.” So many stories have already been told in the days following Anderson’s death. And likely there are so many still out there because Ted Anderson seemingly knew everyone – and they remembered him. Jeffrey Kennard was part of a tight-knit group of friends who graduated with Anderson at Basehor in 1987. There’s the, possibly inappropriate, story of when Anderson was in high school taking a call from his mom, Marilyn, one day in the coaches’ office … buck naked. “Ted acts completely normal and grabs the phone … proceeds to hold a normal conversation in full view of the coaches and players,” Kennard said. “We were all rolling, but Ted thought nothing of it – at least not until Coach Cooper smacked him on the behind and said, ‘put on some damn clothes, Ted!’” Weston Meier met Anderson while they both attended Pittsburg State. They were at a party when Anderson found out that he had played against Meier’s brother when Topeka Hayden and Basehor met in the sub-state championship. “He was a history book of remembering things,” Meier said. “He enjoyed talking anything sports.” Jake Bruna agreed. “Ted was a walking book. So knowledgeable and touched so many people,” Bruna said. “He was a mentor for so many coaches and players.” Jordan Anderson recalled a game in middle school that they called ‘Stump The Swami,’ which was when a student would pore through a trivia book and try to find something that Ted Anderson didn’t know. If you succeeded in stumping Anderson, you earned a Jolly Rancher. “Nobody really got a lot of Jolly Ranchers,” Jordan Anderson said. A few months ago, the Anderson family went to the Auschwitz Exhibit in Kansas City. Anderson was a huge history buff, and museums were a common stop for the family. Afterward they went to eat with one of Jordan Anderson’s friends. “He didn’t believe that my dad knew everything about the Super Bowls – who won the Super Bowl, the score, who was the MVP, how many yards they got,” Jordan Anderson said. “My buddy says, ‘we’ve got to pull this up and check this guy.’ “The score is right, MVP is right, guy had 200 yards rushing. Who knows that? “My mom always says he was a guy full of useless facts.” That memory served him well as a coach. “I remember when he was
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proudly shared what Jordan and Jacy were accomplishing. “A unique man that knew no stranger and wanted to make the community a better place.” Anderson built connections – and maintained them. Last summer, Anderson sent Lainee Eck a picture of a note he had found that she had written to him sometime during middle school. The note read: Why I appreciate Mr. Anderson. He is a good reading teacher. He is a good sports coach. He is funny. He’s nice. He pushes you to make your goal. “I feel like there is nothing more to say,” Eck said on Saturday. “He always made me feel like I was somebody, and I will always remember him saying, ‘don’t be in a hurry to go nowhere.’ As a future teacher, I will use that quote in my classroom every year.” Former Cheney basketball star Kylee Scheer has her own memory of playing against Anderson’s Andale team. “When we played them last year in the Haven tournament, before the game even started, he came over to me and said, ‘I’ll pay you to have less than 20 (points),’” Scheer recalled. “Then during the game, I had the ball and was about 3-4 feet behind the threepoint line, and he yelled at his girls to ‘get out on her. She will shoot it from there,’ and I did. And made it. And he said, ‘dang it, I told you guys she’s good.’ “After we beat them, he hunted me down and found me in the training room and said to me, ‘I didn’t think a player like you had any improvement left in you, but you have improved so much from last year, and I cannot wait to see you play in the future. Proud of you, kiddo.’ “Always a memory I’ll remember. What a guy.” Anderson made an impact in the classroom in Valley Center, too. “I went over to his classroom on my plan one day … and I just sat for a while and watched,” said Mike McCormick, who coached with Anderson in Valley Center. “Many people think coaches coach and teaching just comes with the job. “Ted had as much love and passion and life in that classroom as any field or court. He might as well have been carrying a clipboard and whistle in that classroom because those middle school kids were working hard, eating up that energy he was giving them as fast as they could.” Ah, energy. It was impossible to miss Anderson’s energy. Once you were in his sphere, he was likely walking your way with a smile on his face, ready with a comment or even a useless bit of trivia. Or he might just pick your brain on whatever topic you knew best. “I saw a lot of comments (on Friday) that were talking about how they were drawn toward
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By Joanna Chadwick Jordan Anderson sat in his dad’s office on Saturday morning, looking around in amazement at the amount of paper dealing with basketball. There were scribbled plays, notes, practice schedules, new and old scouting reports. One of the practice schedules Jordan Anderson found on Friday included Anderson’s customary finish to every agenda: “play together, play hard, play smart, have fun and rebound.” Anderson, a Star Wars fanatic, included his most-used parting line: “may the force be with you always.” Ted Anderson suffered an apparent heart attack on Jan. 27, 2022, after his Andale girls basketball team beat Haven 3732 to advance to the semifinals of the Haven tournament. “He was such a unique and educated guy that had a quote for everything,” Kaleb Konda said. “‘Don’t be in a hurry to go nowhere.’ ‘May the force be with you.’ ‘The strength of the wolf is in the pack, and the strength of the pack is in the wolf.’ “I could go on and on. He had a quote for everything and a way to motivate no matter the circumstance. He was a legend in Andale, leave no doubt about it. There was Andale football and then there was Coach Anderson. He was on that level.” Star Wars was a perfect fit for Anderson particularly because of Yoda, truly a philosopher. “He probably took a few lessons out of Yoda’s playbook,” Jordan Anderson said. “When he said ‘may the force be with you,’ it was his way of telling you he loves you and he’ll give you everything he’s got and we’ll walk off into the sunset.” Anderson is survived by his parents, Chris and Marilyn Anderson of Basehor, Kansas; his brother, Bret Anderson, of Platte City, Missouri; his wife, Tracy Anderson; and children Jordan, Jacy and Jillian Anderson of Andale. Anderson, who coached football and basketball, was a middle school English teacher at Valley Center and later at Andale. “All four of my kids had Papa A, as the middle schoolers called him, as a teacher, and my girls were both coached by him,” Terra Eck said. “… He was a great coach and impacted many lives but I also think he had even more impact as a teacher. He was a perfect fit for middle schoolers because he was patient and saw potential in all of them. “He connected well with ornery ones especially well, and each of his kids had a bit of that, too, which I’m confident they inherited from him. “My last interaction with him was at breakfast on a Sunday morning. He was with Tracy and Jillian and had brought his game prep notes in with him. But in typical Ted fashion, he spent most of the time talking and telling stories and asking how the kids were doing and he
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WICHITA AREA SPOTLIGHT
Bishop Carroll’s Kaylee Back By Matt Browning Over the past two seasons, Kaylee Back from Bishop Carroll has established herself as not only the top bowler in 5A, but in the entire state, as she has won back-to-back 5-1A Tournaments. This season, Back wants to develop even better consistency to her game, which could be a scary thought to the rest of 5-1A.
“I want to focus on being more consistent and repeating good quality shots throughout games and meets throughout the season,” Back said. “Along with focusing on having fun with my team and not getting caught up in just focusing on myself.”
Winning a third state title is certainly in front of Back’s eyes, but she wants to enjoy the moment and process this season. “Winning one state title was a dream, winning two was unbelievable, and knowing a third is up for grabs is even more of a reason for hard work,” Back said. “This season I want to just take meets one shot at a time and focus on one meet at a time, and just continue to put the work in
Kaylee Back throughout the season.”
Carroll graduated many seniors from last season’s state championship team, but Back is confident the Eagles can develop their younger players to become a factor in 5-1A again. “Losing eight seniors in one year definitely makes the atmosphere a little different,” Back said. “This year we have a very young team with only two seniors leading, but we have the girls willing to put the work in and be improving to make a run at another state title.”
Central Christian’s Wesley Cunningham
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Wesley Cunningham of Wichita Central Christian understands what his individual season means for his Lion teammates. If Cunningham can improve his game, then Central Christian can continue to grow towards potentially becoming a team that can compete in the 5-1A Tournament.
“My team is interesting, since we are a 1A school we do not have many people to go out and bowl but with the help of our coach Mark Johansson our team has shot a 2400 team score and are improving everyday,” Cunningham said. “At the beginning of the season I would have said we had no chance to make state as a team but if we keep improving at the rate that we have been and we bowl well at regionals I think we might have a chance.” There were times last season where Cunningham struggled with consistency, which was something he focused on improving. He also has some specific scoring goals in mind.
Wesley Cunningham “The thing I have been working on the most this season is being more consistent and being able to make twelve good shots each and every game,” Cunningham said. “My main goals for this season was to average 230, shoot a 760 at least and do as well as I can at every meet or tournament I go to.”
Work Zone Awareness Week 2022
DESIGN CONTEST safe workers. safe drivers. safe work zones.
This poster contest is open to Kansas students in grades 8-12. Winning artwork will be featured in May’s issue of VYPE Magazine. Submissions should be 7.5 inches wide by 7.75 inches tall, 300 dpi, CMYK color format and exported as a PDF file. Artwork may include, but is not limited to, illustration, photography, digital design, etc. Do NOT use KTA or K-TAG logos in your artwork. To enter, view official contest rules and upload your artwork at ksturnpike.com/contests by 11:59 p.m. CST on March 27, 2022.
SPORTS THRIVE IN WICHITA. Come out and see 250 of the best college wrestlers in the nation right here in Wichita. Purchase tickets to the NAIA Wrestling Championship, March 4-5, at Hartman Arena.
MARCH 4 - 5
UGH EVE O R RY TH
WE LOVE SPORTS. . TWIS N R U T T&
Go to VisitWichita.com for more upcoming sporting events.