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THEY ARE WHAT WICHITA NEEDS ...ARE YOU?

Student of the Month Maize’s Claire Morgan By Matt Browning Senior Claire Morgan of Maize was chosen as the Advanced Physical Therapy Athlete of the Month for May. Morgan plays soccer for the Eagles where she injured her knee in the last game of the season of her junior year. “In the last regular season soccer game in high school of my junior year, I was pressuring the defender and as I was running, I planted my foot and my knee popped backwards,” Morgan said. “I immediately went down and was rolling around on the turf due to the intense pain. I knew something was really wrong because I heard such a loud pop and I had never been in so much pain in my life. I ended up being able to walk off the field

Student of the Month

which now is surprising because my ACL and meniscus had been completely torn.” A few weeks later, Morgan had surgery and then went to Advanced Physical Therapy for her rehab.

“The treatments that were most beneficial were muscle scraping to get rid of the scarred tissue that built up, lifting weights to get the muscle built back up in my quad, calve, and hamstring, and dry needling to release tension in tight muscles,” Morgan said. “The muscle scraping not only broke up scarred tissue but loosened up my tight quad and hamstring muscles.” Morgan said the work she did with APT was beneficial towards her soccer career as now she feels as strong as she ever has been. “After my injury, I was really nervous to play again just because the risk of

Claire Morgan retearing or tearing the other ACL is increased but the PT I received allowed me to not be scared to run or to kick a soccer ball and even jump on one foot,” Morgan said.

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KANSAS TURNPIKE AUTHORITY DRIVING CHANGE ATHLETE

Stephfon Hunter

Driving Change Athlete of the Month:

Hutchinson’s Stephfon Hunter By Matt Browning

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Stephfon Hunter of Hutchinson was chosen as the Driving Change Athlete of the Month for May. Hunter has volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club for six years.

“Honestly when in middle school, I did not see helping out as volunteering,” Hunter said. “I enjoyed being on the go and being involved. As I got older, I realized that I am making a difference and that my time is the one resource I get to choose how I spend it. Some of my best memories are loading up supplies and seeing the faces of those we are serving light up.”

Hunter started as a volunteer and then became a Vision Leader. Since he began his career with Big Brothers and Sister, he has volunteered about 200 hours a year.

Some of the specific events Hunter has contributed to are: -delivering food during the pandemic to families

-gathering Christmas gifts for families to donate to Ronald

McDonald House

-during the Christmas season delivering over 200 gifts to seniors

-a book drive that delivered to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas -serving on the Reno County Youth Philanthropy Council to study local groups and decide how to use money to fund their vision -the local elementary and middle schools, helping with field day and daily mentoring -Judy’s Mile

-The Shrine Bowl

-Hershey’s track meet

“My faith is my motivation to be steadfast in the service of others,” Hunter said. “The simplest gestures change lives and open doors. Boys & Girls Club was the perfect fit for me. As I grew up in the club, I began to see my role change from taking a trip to actually making opportunities to volunteer. Never hesitate to get involved.”

TAYLOR ZEKA’S SHELTER ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

GO ! Prep Performance of the Month

Mulvane’s Jacob Wilson By Hayden Swope Jacob Wilson, a track athlete at Mulvane, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month. Only a freshman, Wilson has already made a big impact on the track program.

“Being chosen for something like this is an honor because of the number of athletes in the district and because I’m just a freshman,” Wilson said.

Carter Wagner, Rose Hill High School Carter Wagner of Rose Hill was chosen for the Hog Wild Performance of the Month for May. Wagner broke the school record twice in the high jump at the Wellington Invitational. “It means a lot to me to have pushed myself and beat my own record but I can't get stuck on one accomplishment and have to keep moving forward,” Wagner said. Wagner took third at the 4A Tournament last year in the high jump and Wagner took second this season, while also winning a state title in the triple jump.

Wilson wanted to come into the track season adding on to his achievements from cross country while also helping to lead his track team far this season. “I just came into this season wanting to build off my success from cross country and establish myself as a valuable asset to my team,” Wilson said.

Jacob Wilson Besides track and cross country, Wilson is also involved in student council, KAYS club, the college ambassador program, and a student group called the “Green Team.”

“I would love to run cross country and distance track at a division one level, and wherever that opportunity may present itself, I will take it,” Wilson said. “I would also like to become a travel nurse with an English teaching degree so I could teach English to people who may not get the education they wish for.”

“I have mostly been focused on just getting to state and performing well, but my biggest goal is to win a state title,” Wagner said. While Wagner has been focusing on his individual craft and making strides towards winning Class 4A, he has also been proud of the entire Rockets track team this season.

Besides track, Wagner is also involved in concert and jazz band at Rose Hill. Next year, Wagner is going to continue his track career at Emporia State. He wants to major in Sports Leadership and minor in coaching.

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“I'm really proud of my team this year because we just had freshman Ava Markley break the girls triple jump school record and have multiple athletes that have the potential to go and place at state,” Wagner said.

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YMCA #YIBELONG SPOTLIGHT

YMCA #YiBelong Spotlight

Brandy & David Eagle By Matt Browning David and Brandy Eagle were chosen for the YMCA Yi-Belong feature for May. The Eagles have been volunteering their time at the YMCA since the summer of 2021. “We initially began coaching because of our son Alexander, but now we coach because we enjoy coaching and seeing the impact we have had on kids’ lives is truly gratifying,” Brandy said.

The Eagles have been married for 20 years and they are heavily invested in their family. They have three kids—Darius (25), Skyler (23) and Alexander (15). They also have three grandchildren. When not coaching at the Y, David and Brandy own and operate Eagle Collision Center in Arkansas City, as well as Eagle Business Solution, which is an accounting and tax preparation business.

AJ VANG Goddard, KS - On holding the Program Record for Offensive Linemen with 25 Consecutive Games

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Brandy said she would encourage any person interested in coaching or volunteering at the YMCA to make sure they are doing it for the right reasons. “Don’t volunteer because it looks good on your resume or because you’re being made to volunteer for school or work,” Brandy said. “Volunteer because of how it makes you feel and because you’re able to make a positive impact on others.”

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“... 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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“Our lives are very busy between our businesses, Alexander’s sports, our big family and then just life in general, but we work as a team and manage to always push through it all because we know how important what we do is to everyone,” Brandy said. “We have seen the impact of

Brandy & David Eagle our coaching on the kids we coach but we also must say that we can’t do what we do without the kids either. The kids motivate us and keep us going and they too should be highlighted for all their efforts, dedication and hard work.”

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DRIVE TO ZERO

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Amanda Brown, Flinthills High School Soon-to-be high school junior Amanda Brown is excited to see what the next two years at Flinthills High School will hold. Brown is involved in many activities at school including the SAFE program and she’s a member of the volleyball and track teams. “I am involved in SAFE, TSA, STUCO, Math Relays, Volleyball, Track, NHS, NAHS, Drama Club, and SkillsUSA,” said Brown. “I got involved in the SAFE program my freshman year and this coming school year will be my third year.” Getting to meet her classmates and helping to spread the message of seatbelt safety are just two reasons Brown loves being part of the SAFE program. “I enjoy getting to meet new people and make a positive impact on the people around me,” said Brown. “In our SAFE program I have helped run Easter egg hunts and 12 Days of SAFE Christmas, as well as many other fun events and games.”

Brown said it’s important to be involved in your school and help where you can. “I would encourage people to join SAFE because it’s such a simple and fun way to spread a good message to the people that matter to you and make a difference in your community. Being involved in SAFE, I have met so many great people and learned so much about being safe while driving,” said Brown. Brown has a busy summer schedule which includes more volleyball and the theatre.

plan on attending Wichita State University and getting a degree in bioengineering. I want to use this degree to become a biomedical engineer and design prosthetics.”

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“This summer I am competing at nationals for TSA and traveling to Washington, D.C. I am going to summer weights and volleyball practices to get ready for this upcoming season, as well as working at Mitchell Theaters in El Dorado,” said Brown. “After I graduate, I

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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

HELLAS SPOTLIGHT

Hellas Construction Field of the Month: Fort Hays State Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke and athletic staff at Fort Hays State University are very familiar with the quality of work the Hellas Construction team can provide a school. Several years ago, Hellas replaced surfaces that were outdated. Hellas returned this spring to add another update to the facilities at Fort Hays State.

“We had our first experience with Hellas and Matrix turf back in 2013 when they replaced our existing turf on our football and constructed our surface in our Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility, which was 65 yards long and regulation 53 yards wide,” said Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke. “This facility has made a significant impact on our programs and the turf had held up very well. Our student-athletes love it. Most recently, Hellas resurfaced our existing soccer turf this spring and is currently constructing a new artificial turf

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. playing surface for our softball facility.”

The student-athletes at Fort Hays State are eager to test the new surface.

“All of our athletes from both sports are extremely excited. Hellas has been extremely responsive when called upon for any repairs needed. We feel like we’ve had excellent installations and professional service. We’re looking forward to the completion of our current softball facility project,” said Hammeke.

BUILDING FOR SPORTS FROM START TO FINISH Michelle Kuhns | mkuhns@hellasconstruction.com hellasconstruction.com

TOMMY LEACH’S SHELTER ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Southeast High’s Suzy Jacobs

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By Hayden Swope

Suzy Jacobs, a swimmer at Southeast, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month. As a junior, Jacobs made an impressive run leading her team in points this season. “Being chosen as one of the athletes of the month is very unexpected as there are so many different athletes at Southeast and, well, a very small swim team,” Jacobs said. “I am very honored to be one of the athletes chosen.” Jacobs spent the season dropping times and growing her abilities, all while leading the Southeast swim team to a successful season.

“My goals for the year were focusing on improving my strokes and getting faster in my best events, as well as expanding the Southeast girls’ swim team,” Jacobs said. “My fellow swim captains and I were able to increase the number of swimmers for our team this year which was amazing. Personally, my

Suzy Jacobs swim goals have improved as well as my strokes, but I’m still hoping to improve through the rest of the season as well as my senior year.” Jacobs also swims for the Wichita Swim Club and plans on spending her offseason training for her senior year. Jacobs said the state tournament is one of her biggest goals for next swim season.

“After high school I plan on attending college, though I am still undecided where,” Jacobs said. “On the other hand, I do know I want to major in marine biology and photography.”

WICHITA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Campus’ Sayler Roberts By Matt Browning Sayler Roberts of Campus was voted the Wichita Large School Girls Swimmer of the Year. Roberts broke the school record in the backstroke this season.

“To have this opportunity is something I’m eternally grateful for,” Roberts said. “I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such a supportive community. My friends and family and even friends of friends were voting like crazy and reposting the link, and to me it means something bigger than me, I’m representing Campus and Haysville, too. I’m proud of myself and all of the girls nominated.” As she heads into her senior year, Roberts said her progress as a junior has her optimistic about what she can accomplish.

“I’m even satisfied with the times I lost because those helped me have goals to work towards and aspire to be even better than before,” Roberts said. “Here’s to senior year being just as good if not better.”

Roberts’ club season was long and arduous, so she was mentally fatigued as the high school season started.

“I needed a fresh start coming out of a long winter club season and my high school teammates have been nothing but supportive and positive, bringing a whole new wave of energy to swimming for me,” Roberts said. “Positivity and fun are really the most important aspects of swimming to me, and this season was packed with those.”

Sayler Roberts

WICHITA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Wellington’s Jensen Lynnes C am p u s o f Ap p li e d S ciences an d T e c hn o lo g y

By Matt Browning

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7-2018

Jensen Lynnes

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over something I cannot control, but to use it to spark a fire under me and be the best I can in every other way.”

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“This season has been one of resilience,” Lynnes said. “I have been fighting a shoulder issue throughout “It is an honor to have received the the season and I’m happy I was able most votes against such a talented to swim near my best times as we group of girls,” Lynnes said. “Any of enter into the postseason.” those girls are just as deserving of Standards Visual this. I want to make a special shoutout There was not a specific physical to my teammates: Emma, Reese, improvement for Lynnes in the and Lilli who I have the privilege of pool this season, but she thinks swimming with each day to push her biggest area of growth was her each other to be our best, and Georgia mental strength. as a club teammate. I can’t thank “After all the obstacles physically in my community, family, and friends my way, I learned that it is best to do enough as they always rally for me what I can to improve while letting as the only Wellington High School my body heal simultaneously,” Lynnes swimmer. Their support has blown said. “I learned to not get discouraged me away.”

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Jensen Lynnes of Wellington was voted the Wichita Small School Girls Swimmer of the Year. Lynnes overcame injuries this season to make it to the state meet.

Lynnes had such a severe shoulder injury early in the season that she was forced to sit out some of her meets.

WICHITA AREA SOFTBALL SPOTLIGHT

WSU wins AAC with help from Kansas Track Athletes

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Ca mp us o f A ppl i e d S c i e n c e s a nd T e c h n o l o g y

By Matt Browning The Wichita State men’s track team ended Houston’s fiveyear conference championship streak by knocking off the Cougars in the 2022 AAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. It was the program’s first ever league title. The Shockers entered the third day of the championship with an 89-14 lead on Houston, but their predictive form chart still showed a 19-point loss. But they had a couple of breaks go their way, which resulted in the school’s first men’s championship since 2017. “All year we felt like we had a team that could battle for the championship,” Wichita State coach Steve Rainbolt said. “It still seemed like an awfully big goal, almost like a dream.

But it all came together.” WSU had so much local flavor on its team this season and a pair of Visual Standards those Kansas athletes led the day three charge for the Shockers. Beloit’s Brady Palen and Davis Dubbert took second and third in the high jump. Freshman Ridge Estes, from Bucklin took third in the discus while freshman Jaleel Montgomery from Wichita ran a personal best time of 10.50 in the 100-meter. The Shockers had 24 athletes from Kansas on their men’s roster. Rainbolt said being able to get local athletes, no matter

7-2018

how talented, has been important for the growth and sustainability of the program. “It’s been unbelievably significant,” Rainbolt said. “It’s not always the top talent, too. We have developed those athletes. A lot of that has happened.” Athletes like Estes, who are from a small schools and communities, might not have been recruited by many schools, but Rainbolt and his staff have a developmental program in place that taps into unlocked potential. With the new age of college athletics like Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal, being able to develop athletes has become even more crucial. “It’s more important to stay in our lane,” Rainbolt said. “We believe in what we do. We think it’s a winning formula and strategy.” Photos Courtesy of Wichita State University

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ALL SEASONS ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Hesston’s Jace Regier By Matt Browning Jace Regier of Hesston was chosen as the All Seasons Letterman of the Month for May. Regier is a football player and golfer for the Swathers.

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“The most important thing for any multi-sport athlete to know is how to balance their time between academics and their focus-sport,” Regier said. “This looks different for everyone, but my balance revolves around golf. Considering my responsibilities as a student, I am satisfied if I can be on the golf course for 45 minutes per day outof-season. In season, this looks more like two hours per day.”

While Regier has played football in high school, golf is by far his greatest priority. “It’s my primary focus during the winter and spring months,” Regier said.

The 2022 golf season has been a good one for Regier, who is a fixture for Hesston, which won Class 3A.

“As of now, I am ranked in the top 20 in Kansas 3A golf with a career low of 72,” Regier said. Regier is not only busy in athletics,

SAFE STREETS ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Jace Regier but he is also heavily involved in clubs and extracurricular activities at Hesston.

“I am involved in a variety of clubs and extracurricular activities at Hesston,” Regier said. “I currently serve as the student-body president and was the junior class representative prior to this position. I have also been on the varsity golf team for the past four years and am an active member of Future Business Leaders of America where I have qualified for the national competition two years in a row. Additionally, I am an executive member of Hesston High’s sports media department, the Swather Sports Network.”

Southeast’s Andrew Le

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Andrew Le of Southeast was chosen for the SAFE Streets profile for May. Le was introduced to SAFE by his mentor Ngoc Vuong.

“I am heavily involved in various organizations, and I was trying to find ways to fund one of the groups I founded and chair at Wichita Southeast High School, Buffs at Work,” Le said. “Through some teachers, I was able to make my way to the Youth Service to America Project Grant meeting, where I was introduced to Ngoc and his organization at SAFE.” There were numerous service projects Le was able to complete at Southeast through SAFE and the hope is that he has been able to inspire other young people to follow a similar path.

“The first being a ‘kindness wall’, was simply a poster where students could post positive messages and encourage other students throughout the building to push through during finals week,” Le said. “This wall wasn’t only up at Southeast, but through another organization, Students Empowerment, we were able to get it up at South High as well. Both of these posters were featured on “The Wichita Beacon!” Another project we were able to

Andrew Le complete was toiletry kits for the local homeless population.” Le said there are countless reasons why students should look into joining SAFE, with trying to make a difference for your peers being one of the most significant ones.

“SAFE allowed me to become more involved in my local community and has allowed me to spread my passion of public service to other teens,” Le said. “If you are interested, or passionate about serving your community, leading your fellow peers, or inspiring others to do the same, join SAFE.”

WICHITA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Mulvane’s Luke Sorensen By Chad Waters Lucas Sorensen is a sophomore on the Mulvane baseball team where he is a starting pitcher and leading hitter on the junior varsity squad. In nine games, Sorensen led the Wildcats with 15 hits, 16 RBIs, and an impressive .682 batting average. Sorenson started in six games on the mound, striking out 29 batters in 20 innings with a 3.4 ERA.

“Lucas was our top pitcher for JV,” coach Steve Nelson said. “He ended up batting in the third spot and was our best hitter this year as well. We brought him up for varsity for a few games for extra pitching. He took a huge step from his freshman to sophomore year. Lucas is a great kid with a huge future in Mulvane baseball, and I’m looking forward to his next two years.” Sorensen is excited for the future to join a varsity squad that made the state tournament last season. This offseason Sorensen plans to add a third pitch to his repertoire and work on hitting to the opposite side of the field.

Sorensen also competes on the football team where he is the Wildcats starting quarterback for the junior varsity squad. Sorensen was a leader on the team this past season and is excited to compete for a varsity spot next fall. Outside of athletics, Sorensen carries a 3.86 GPA and in the summertime, will

Luke Sorensen volunteer to umpire games at the local recreational center. In his spare time, Sorensen enjoys fishing and hiking.

Upon graduation, Sorensen wants to attend Butler Community College to study Sports Medicine. Both Sorensen’s parents attended Butler and currently work in the medical field. Sorensen credits his dad, Logan, who also played baseball at Mulvane, for helping Sorensen improve throughout his baseball career.

“My dad always helped me understand that everything wouldn’t always go my way and the most important thing is how you respond to that adversity,” Sorensen said. “It’s definitely helped me to be more composed and be a better leader for my teammates when things don’t go our way.”

VIA CHRISTI BEHIND THE SCENES

Wichita East’s Dave Shelly By Matt Browning

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There have been countless memories for Shelly over his 33 years as a teacher at East, but there is one that stands out above the rest.

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“Kids do appreciate seeing people there to support them and take an interest in them outside the classroom,” Shelly said.

“One sports memory goes back to 1992,” Shelly said. “My dad was in a serious car accident and I was at the hospital almost constantly for the first couple of weeks when not in the classroom or sleeping. He had recovered to the point that by state basketball tournament time he no longer needed such continuous attention and the first event I attended after the accident was the tournament at Henry Levitt Arena, which East won. That stands out to me above any of the other championships because of my personal circumstances at the time.”

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Being able to get to every sporting event is next to impossible, but Shelly understands how important it is for his students to see his face.

Dave Shelly

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“I believe it has helped in developing relationships, since it does give a good point of connection for conversations,” Shelly said. “Even when I’m not there, I often ask them how a game or meet went, and they appreciate that someone cares. In many cases family members come to an event, but there are students whose parents can’t make it and they are glad someone is there to see them compete.”

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Dave Shelly, longtime teacher and Scholar’s Bowl sponsor at Wichita East, was chosen for the Via Christi Behind the Scenes profile for May. Shelly makes it a point to get to as many of the Aces’ sporting events as possible.

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SHARI WILLIAMS’ SHELTER ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Northwest High’s Brady Unrein By Hayden Swope Brady Unrein, a baseball player at Northwest, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month. Just this season, Unrein has 71 strikeouts over 39 innings along with three home runs at the plate. “There are so many great athletes that were nominated, and I am honored to have received this award and thank you to Shelter Insurance,” Unrein said.

Unrein spent the season working on his relationships with his team as well as his leadership skills.

“My goals for this year were being a positive team leader while building good relationships with my coaches and teammates, as well as having fun,” Unrein said. “Areas of improvements are building strength and getting wiser while gaining more confidence in myself, and I felt like I have achieved these goals successfully this year with always room to grow.” Unrein has many memorable

Brady Unrein moments from his season but one stuck out more than the others. “My most memorable moment would be when I hit two home runs in one game and had the opportunity to start varsity my freshman and sophomore years,” Unrein said. Although undecided, Unrein wants to further his baseball career after high school.

“I’m currently undecided on a college at this time, but I am excited to find the right fit for me and my future and would like to continue playing the game I love,” Unrein said.

SCCDAT PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

Caldwell’s Kyzer Hutsler

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drugs should look to get involved with programs like SCCDAT.

Kyzer Hutsler By Matt Browning Kyzer Hutsler from Caldwell was chosen for the SCCDAT profile for May. Hutsler has been involved in SCCDAT for eight months after a special person suggested it was a great club to join. “I first heard about SCCDAT when our police chief here told me that I should get involved and that’s what I did,” Hutsler said. Hutsler said that any student who feels compelled to speak about the dangers of

“If you are thinking about joining and getting involved in SCCDAT you should do it,” Hutsler said. “If it’s something you believe in and you want to spread the message about drugs and the dangers that come along with them, then you should get involved.”

Throughout the school year, Hutsler and the others involved in SCCDAT try to find little ways to spread the message about not doing drugs. “During the school year, we do small things that help spread the message to the students,” Hutsler

said. “For Halloween we gave out candy to students to help spread the message. We try to help spread messages in our everyday lives, and we have meetings in the school to brainstorm for more ideas on how to help bring awareness.”

Hutchinson’s Clayton Evans

Evans is in his seventh season as the Salthawks’ softball coach, after coaching baseball for two years.

Evans recently dealt with a lifechanging injury that has allowed him to become closer to his players.

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“I was recently paralyzed from the waist down and seeing my girls step up and help me as needed and get me back to coaching is something I’ll never forget,” Evans said. “I hope I can be an example of how an individual has to keep going and with the help of others we can accomplish what we want to.”

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The relationship Evans and his program have with Hutchinson Community College is something

“I’m always watching how they run things and ask questions if I have any,” Evans said. “They’re always willing to help and explain drills to me and why they do them. I love talking softball with them. My high school girls and I watch games as much as possible.”

“I try to relate softball as much as possible to real life,” Evans said. “Mistakes happen and we have to learn from them and get better. Softball is a game of failure as a hitter, and we have to be able to respond positively to that. Life can be difficult and when it is, we have to be able to get through it with the help of others if needed. The same goes for sports and especially softball.”

that he values. He thinks it builds interest within his program.

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Clayton Evans, the head softball coach at Hutchinson High School, was named the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon of the Month profile for May.

MELANIE RENE JEWELRY ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Bishop Carroll’s Laynie Winfrey By Matt Browning Laynie Winfrey, a basketball player at Bishop Carroll, was chosen for the Melanie Rene Jewelry Profile for May. As a freshman, Winfrey made an impact on the Eagles’ varsity team this season. “I am very honored and humbled that I was chosen,” Winfrey said. “There are so many of my teammates who deserve this. It is just another thing to mentally push me through my workouts.”

Being a freshman on the varsity team was a valuable learning experience for Winfrey. The lessons she learned she will take going forward over her next three years. “Our team made it to the state tournament, but we did not perform like we hoped we would,” Winfrey said. “It was very hard to watch the seniors and how upset they were. Their high school basketball career was over. That day I said to myself you can’t be satisfied just making it to the state tournament. You have to push your teammates to finish and accomplish the end goal of winning the state championship.” Basketball is the only sport and

Laynie Winfrey extracurricular activity Winfrey participates in at Bishop Carroll. However, basketball takes up the majority of her time outside of the high school season.

“Outside of Bishop Carroll I participate on two club basketball teams,” Winfrey said. “I play on the Next Level 16U & Next Level LifePrep 17U teams. Playing up on the Next Level LifePrep 17U team has pushed me to get better in all areas of my game. It has also given me an opportunity that is unique. I get the opportunity to play with international girls from Columbia, Poland, Africa, and Ukraine.”

WICHITA COLLEGIATE SPOTLIGHT

Collegiate’s Katherine Grace

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By Matt Browning

Swimmer Katherine Grace was chosen as the Collegiate Female Athlete of the Month for May. Grace was a state tournament qualifier for the Spartans this season. “I have been pleasantly surprised and satisfied with my performance during this swim season,” Grace said. “I’m excited to be able to attend the state meet this season, and I look forward to being able to compete.”

Grace said her in-season training has paid off this season and has made a substantial impact in her performance.

“The thing that put me over the top and allowed me to qualify for state is easily the strength training program Coach Black has developed,” Grace said. “He has made me a stronger, faster, and more explosive athlete.” The atmosphere and encouragement Collegiate has provided has been instrumental for Grace from an academic and emotional perspective. “Collegiate has pushed me to become the person and athlete I am today,” Grace said. “It is a community full of teachers, administration, and teammates who care about you like family. WCS has taught

Katherine Grace me to strive for success in the classroom, court, and pool. Rigorous academic classes have taught me leadership skills, a strong work ethic, and communication qualities. Collegiate prepares you as a person, student, and leader.”

Grace said that any student that would be interested in Collegiate should know the biggest takeaway is how the school gets students ready for the real world.

“For any prospective Collegiate student, I would assure them that, with a Collegiate education, they will be beyond prepared for college and any leadership opportunity in their future,” Grace said. “Collegiate has so many opportunities for students to become involved, and they make it possible to have excellent relationships with teachers and classmates from all different grades.”

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

JESSE MEISCH’S SHELTER ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

South High’s Dameion Beaver By Hayden Swope Dameion Beaver, a track athlete at Wichita South, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month for May. Beaver qualified for state this year by placing second in the 400-meter at regionals. Beaver then placed 15th at the state meet in the 400. “To be chosen as one of the athletes out of many means a lot to me and my family,” Beaver said. “Nothing but hard work and perseverance has carried me to the position I am in today. Just blessed nonetheless.” Beaver’s biggest priority this season was to make it to state in any of his events, while also cutting down times throughout the season.

“Goals I focused on this season were to make it to state solo this year after winning the four by four last year,” Beaver said. “Whether that was for the 100-meter, 200-meter, or 400-meter, I wanted to make it somehow.”

Dameion Beaver Beaver is also involved in football and the National Honor Society at South, and plans on continuing his athletic and academic career at Friends University.

“My future plans are to attend Friends University to further my educational and athletic careers in football,” Beaver said. “Communication and journalism are degrees I want to pursue. Broadcasting and reporting are the main careers I find my interest in the most.”

WICHITA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Campus’ Pariss Lloyd By Matt Browning Pariss Lloyd of Campus was chosen for the Campus District Student Spotlight. Lloyd is viewed among her peers as one of the leaders of her class.

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Next year, Lloyd will be playing volleyball at Hesston and plans to begin studying in the nursing program.

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She has played volleyball for four years, as well as being the National Honor Society Vice President, student trainer for two years, Link

Crew mentor, Stompin’ Grounds coffee shop, and YEK. She has also represented Campus as a Riverfest schooner mate, is top 10 percent in her class, takes honors and college classes and has been a student council member at-large.

The number of extracurricular activities Lloyd participates in are numerous.

Pariss Lloyd

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“Campus high school has made me grow so much since I started,” Lloyd said. “Campus has so many extracurricular activities that can help you feel like you belong and gives you a chance to get to know people, Campus high school teachers, counselors, and office staff have also helped me grow in so many ways, they are always there for me whenever I need something and always there to give me advice.”

Lloyd said the influence of the Campus School District has made a significant impact on her both academically and emotionally.

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“Being described as a leader makes me feel accomplished, honored, and proud that people view me as a leader,” Lloyd said. “I am self-aware and prioritized, I want everyone to grow. I am kind, caring, flexible, openminded, and a problem solver.”

TEAM OF THE MONTH

McPherson High School Baseball By Matt Browning The McPherson baseball team was chosen the Visit Wichita Team of the Month for May. The Bullpups won Class 4A and have south central wins over Andale, Circle and Winfield.

“We did return a lot of players from our 2021 team as that team only had one senior,” coach Heath Gerstner said. “However, each year is so much different. I knew we would have some bumps and have some lessons to learn along the journey and frankly still have a lot of baseball left.” McPherson has leaned on its pitching and defense this season, as the Bullpups have allowed 3.1 runs per game. Jaret Myers carries an ERA of 0.89, while Hunter Alvord has an ERA of 1.24.

“We have done a great job of attacking hitters and then our defense has made the plays needed to keep us in all games,” Gerstner said.

The postseason is always a hurdle for teams to overcome and McPherson is no different. Gerstner said the current format even adds more pressure to his team.

“If we can throw strikes, play great defense, and have some timely hitting then we always have a chance,” Gerstner said. “We haven’t been to a state tournament since 2015 so these kids are just trying to make it back and then see if we can do some damage.”

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: • 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

DRAMA ON ICE

JUNE 22 – 25, 2022 • INTRUST BANK ARENA • WICHITA, KANSAS

THE 2022 NATIONAL THEATRE ON ICE COMPETITION

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is in Wichita this June at INTRUST Bank Arena. See teams from around the country combine the grace of figure skating with the impact of theater and dance.

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Go to VisitWichita.com for more upcoming sporting events.

BOSTON BASHAM’S SHELTER ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Maize’s Aiden Werner By Hayden Swope Aiden Werner, a track athlete from Maize, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month. As a senior, Werner took first, with a personal record in the 400-meter at the Goddard Invitational, and second with a personal record in the 800-meter at the Hutchinson Invitational. “I am honored and surprised to be chosen by Shelter, as there are many amazing athletes in Maize,” Werner said.

Werner worked this season to improve his times and abilities in his events.

“This season my goal was to try and get below two minutes for the 800-meter as currently my personal record is below 2:04 and I recently split below 2:03 in the 4×800m relay,” Werner said.

Werner shared that he will always remember the events where he did better than expected and his team was there to support him. “The most memorable moment from cross country this year was probably running at Rim Rock

Aiden Werner and getting a PR that I wasn’t expecting in the slightest. My goal was just to have a good race on such a hilly course,” Werner said. “And my highlight from track this year is probably the 4×400 at every meet just because of how exciting the environment is with everyone else cheering.”

After high school, Werner plans on attending Kansas State University and running in his free time.

WICHITA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Wellington’s Deitrek Gill

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By Matt Browning

and regional individual champion. There were Deitrek Gill of Wellington was high hopes for him and voted the Wichita Large School Boys Golfer of the Year. Gill finished the Crusaders to repeat as state champions, but fourth in the rain-shortened 4A Tournament this year, after taking Mother Nature had other ideas. home the individual title last season. “We were close in both after the first day, and I “I am grateful to have been was looking forward to chosen as the VYPE Large School the opportunity to come Golfer of the Year,” Gill said. “I’ve back the next day,” Gill been competing with the other nominated golfers for many years, said. “Unfortunately, the second round was rained so I know how strong they are. I felt honored just to be nominated. out, and we didn’t have a chance to battle back from second place.” I look forward to playing against them again this summer.”

There were many accomplishments for Gill this season, including being league

Being able to overcome adversity and embrace whatever challenges faced him during a round was an area of growth for Gill this season.

Deitrek Gill “My biggest area of growth this year in my game was my mental toughness,” Gill said. “I felt that was more critical this year because the weather was extremely bad. I was able to grind my way through those tough rounds better than I have in the past.”

WICHITA AREA GOLF SPOTLIGHT

Bishop Carroll Boys Golf By Chris Cox Bishop Carroll has always had great teams in their athletic department and golf coach Mark Berger says this year has been one of his better boys’ golf teams in recent memory. “It’s been a really good season for us so far,” he says. “We won the league title for the first time in 16 years and just the third time ever. That was a big accomplishment for us. We also shot our secondbest score in recorded history and hosted a 5A regional with the top five teams in the state.”

One thing that has made this year special for Berger and the Golden Eagles is the fact they were able to knock off a formidable opponent.

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“Our archrival is Kapaun Mount Carmel and they had won 15 straight league titles until Bishop Carroll Boys Golf we beat them this junior Colby Hays. He’s about five year,” Berger says. “They’ve also over par and had several good won a bunch of state titles so rounds as well,” says Berger. “We winning the league title felt like had two other golfers averaging in winning a state title because they are one of the top teams, if not the the 70s in junior Pearce Lashley and senior Jack Stuckey. We also top team, in the state.” had a couple of others that filled in when they needed to or stepped Leading the way for the Golden up when the others didn’t have Eagles this year was junior Noah great days. But those four really Holtzman. carried the bulk of the load.” “Out of the seven tournaments With this year being the success it we played before the postseason tournaments, he won five of them was for Bishop Carroll, Berger says he is excited to continue building which is awesome,” Berger says. “His scoring average was between next year. 72 and 72.5, so he was just a little “We have a lot of young guys back bit over par. By my records that’s next year and a hopefully we’ll the best season scoring average have some good freshmen come we’ve had in our history.” in as well,” he says. “Every year we want to compete like this. We want But it was not just Holtzman that to keep it going so when these made this year’s Carroll squad juniors graduate after next year great. we can keep it rolling.” “Our second-best golfer was

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JODI OCADIZ’S SHELTER ATHLETE SPOTLIGHTS

Central’s Brock Stupka Andover’s Kylie Forney By Hayden Swope

By Hayden Swope

Kylie Forney, a softball player at Andover, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month. Forney led her team with a batting average of .500, and had 10 home runs at the plate this season.

Brock Stupka, a track athlete at Andover Central, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month. Stupka qualified for the 5A state meet in all four of his events, and even placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles. “Andover has a bunch of crazy talented athletes so to be chosen is a pleasure and is much appreciated,” Stupka said.

Stupka had big goals for the postseason meets but had a small setback during the regular season. “My main goals for the season were to make it to state in all four of my events and try to place in a couple of them,” Stupka said. “I had a little bit of a setback where I injured my ankle halfway into the season, unfortunately, but I did make it to state in all four of my events and did place in the 110 hurdles.” Stupka spent the season with his little brother, Brendt Stupka, and made his favorite memories with him at the league meet.

Brock Stupka “The most memorable moment of the season for me was at the league meet when it was just me and my little brother, Brandt, left in the high jump and we both ended up getting personal bests,” Stupka said. “It was really cool having my little brother compete against me in three of my four events throughout the season, and the league meet high jump was a really cool and special moment.” Stupka plans to continue his track and field career at Washburn University.

“I am super grateful to be chosen,” Forney said. “I was not expecting to be picked out of all of the talent in our area. I would not be where I am without everyone who has been there for me throughout this journey.” Forney’s biggest goal was to make every moment of her senior year count, on and off the field. After battling injuries throughout the years, Forney did just that.

“All four high school seasons were cut short due to the pandemic and injuries,” Forney said. “Walking into senior year, humbled, I had a different vision for the game. The goal was to go in and enjoy every moment I had left with my team; to see the game as more than just the sport. I grew as a leader, teammate, and friend.”

Kylie Forney Forney involved herself not only on the softball fields, but also in the school. She participated in the Blue Crew, Link Crew, and also played on the basketball team. Forney plans on continuing her success after high school.

“I have been blessed to continue my athletic and academic career at the University of Texas-San Antonio,” Forney said. “I plan on moving towards the medical route and majoring in biochemistry or pre-med, while using the skills I have developed from those around me.”

Central’s Xander Garcia

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By Hayden Swope

Xander Garcia, a track athlete at Andover Central, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month. Garcia placed third at league in the 400 and made it to the state tournament in the fourby-four. “I feel honored to be one of the athletes that have been chosen,” Garcia said. “It is great to hear stories from athletes and their highest moments and I’m so glad to get to share mine.”

Garcia spent the season bettering his skills and times for the postseason.

“I was working on just trying to do better than last year and make my coaches and family proud of me,” Garcia said. “I’d set a goal for myself to beat what my personal best time was from seasons previous.”

Garcia said his favorite moments with his team happened after the long regular season meets heading into state. “My favorite memory for me was taking third in the league meet and making it to state in the four by four,” Garcia said. “It meant so

Xander Garcia much to me because I had not had a great season leading up to this point. I was trying to finally make something happen.” Garcia plans to go to college after high school, although undecided, while studying either forensic science or archeology.

DAV I S M O O R E ’ S AT H L E T E S P OT L I G H T

Davis-Moore Chevrolet Military Student Athlete of the Month Trinity’s Claire Hewlett

A three-sport athlete at Wichita Trinity Academy, Claire Hewlett is one of many students in the Wichita area who currently has a parent serving in the United State Armed Forces. Hewlett, a soccer, volleyball, and basketball player for the Knights, just finished her sophomore year and loves being part of the Trinity family. “What I love about Trinity is the encouragement and the environment,” said Hewlett.

Hewlett is not only thriving at Trinity, but she is also making the most of every opportunity she gets to be part of the culture of her school.

Thanks to her father serving in the United State Air Force, Hewlett has traveled to many places around the U.S.

“The “brats” have to learn to adapt to many new situations whether that’s new places, not having a parent around, or having to make new friends and it’s not easy,” said Hewlett.

Being an Air Force family can be difficult at times, not only for the serving member, but for the family as well. “It has meant that not just the person serving in uniform sacrifices, but so does their family. I have lived in Kansas, Maryland, Florida, Alabama, and Texas,” said Hewlett. Her father has been a big influence in her life.

“My dad is probably my biggest influence. He is brave, selfless, Godly and has great wisdom to share,” said Hewlett. The future can be uncertain for military families, but for Hewlett, she is planning on attending college and pursuing a degree in a familiar place.

“My future plans are to go to the University of Georgia or the University of Alabama and get my Business and Marketing degree,” said Hewlett.

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LANDON HEAD’S SHELTER ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Wichita East’s Denae McElrath By Hayden Swope Denae McElrath, a track runner at Wichita East, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the month. As a senior, McElrath has taken first in every 100-meter and 200-meter event she’s participated in while also setting school records. “This year I opened my season up with a personal record of 12.34,” McElrath said. “For most of the season I danced around low 12’s. However last week I hit another personal record of 11.73.” McElrath spent the season occupied with cutting down times in hopes of qualifying for state and improving herself as a leader for her team.

“A goal that I focused on this season was improving my speed along with being a better leader for the underclassmen,” McElrath said. “A goal for my postseason finish is to go to state. I wanted to improve on my leadership as a senior, and as the year went on many of these goals I have succeeded in, and I hope that it will translate when I get to college.” Although her senior season came to an end, McElrath said she will always

Denae McElrath remember the relationships made throughout the season with her teammates.

“The most memorable moment from the season was traveling and being on the road building better relationships with all of my teammates,” McElrath said. McElrath plans to attend college after high school and become a physical therapist.

WICHITA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Hutch Central Christian’s Ryland Kooiman

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By Matt Browning

Ryland Kooiman of Hutchinson Central Christian was voted the Wichita Small School Player of the Year. Kooiman, along with the Cougars, won the 1A Tournament this season. “A big thanks goes to my school and my family for voting and telling other people to vote,” Kooiman said.

Kooiman had modest goals for this season, so being able to take home the 1A title was so much more than what he expected.

“Honestly my goal was to break 80 one time this year and so I was very happy (with my season),” Kooiman said. “I had so much fun playing with the guys on my team

and just improving each day with them. I never thought I was going to win state. I was just trying to play the best I could.”

One of the most significant reasons Kooiman became one of the best players in 1A this season was his improvement on the greens. From the time the season started in March until the conclusion, Kooiman was a completely different putter.

“My coach and my grandpa really helped me with my putting stroke throughout the season and by the time postseason rolled around my putting stroke was completely different,” Kooiman said.

Ryland Kooiman

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

Abigail Monaghan-Derby-St. Mary University-Cross Country-Track

Allyson Lange-Conway Springs HSSouthwestern University-Softball

Austin Hoyt-EisenhowerSouthwestern-Track

Brett Gibbs-ClearwaterButler CC-track

Cole Keesling-Clearwater HSNW Oklahoma State-Baseball

Cole Minton-DerbyTabor College-Football

Jerome Ragin-NorthwestWilliam Jewell-Football

Madison WinglerAbigail BehringEmma GaulMatthew HolthusenBishop Carroll

Trent Hastings-ClearwaterButler CC-track

Tyler Foster-DerbyMcPherson College-Baseball

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J O M A B OW L E R S P OT L I G H T S

Hutchinson’s Ethan Jefferson

Kapaun Mount Carmel’s Patrick Bloomer

By Matt Browning

Ethan Jefferson of Hutchinson was chosen as the JOMA Bowler of the Month for May. Last season, Jefferson had a 173 average for the Salthawks and a series high of 615.

Patrick Bloomer of Kapaun Mount Carmel was chosen as the JOMA Bowler of the Month for May. Bloomer was the 5-1A runner up this year for the Crusaders.

“My junior season had its ups and downs for sure,” Jefferson said. “I had some sickness halfway through the season causing me to miss some meets, which really bummed me out to be honest. With me being gone that opened up a spot on varsity for a few meets for other people. So, when I returned, I had to compete for my spot. This competition lit a fire beneath me to work harder and to earn my spot back by a large margin which I did.” When Jefferson started bowling in high school, he had to adjust his release and form. It has taken some time, but work in the offseason has improved Jefferson’s mechanics.

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“My release and form were really clunky and very forced so I had to clean it up,” Jefferson said. “And to do

Ethan Jefferson that I started with just slowing down my game and taking more time with everything. And as for my release, I had to strengthen my wrist a lot so I started doing workouts to strengthen it. I still do these workouts today, but to be honest my work is never done and I will always find something to work on.” Just a junior, Jefferson has big plans for his senior season, which will hopefully open up doors for college bowling.

“I have to say the ultimate dream of mine is to bowl in college and I know if I work hard enough, I can do it,” Jefferson said.

“I feel like when it mattered the most I showed up for my team,” Bloomer said. “Although we did not succeed in clinching another state title before our high school careers were over, I still think we accomplished many feats, some as a team and some individually.” Bloomer had as successful a season as any in the state, with series scores in the 700s.

“I shot a 749, to set a personal record and a 719 the following week in the regular season,” Bloomer said. “At state I shot 710, which was just short of first at 713. Despite the outcome I am extremely proud of where I have come in just three short years.” The progress Bloomer has made since his sophomore season

Patrick Bloomer is remarkable and he credits hard work and determination in getting him to where he was this past season.

“I started to join leagues so I could get the feel of a competition in a way,” Bloomer said. “I was also able to work with some of my future teammates on the technique, etiquette, and nuances of bowling. Even to this day I am learning new mechanics and strategies to further my physical and mental game. As they say, practice makes perfect.”

WICHITA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Bishop Carroll’s Barrett Steven By Matt Browning Barrett Steven of Bishop Carroll was voted the Wichita Large School Boys Tennis Player of the Year. Steven took seventh in the singles portion of the 5A Tournament.

“It means a lot,” Steven said. “I am very thankful to my friends and family that voted for me.”

Steven had high expectations for his season and even though some of those expectations were not met, he feels like it was a great stepping stone for next season. “I was pleased with how I improved through my season although I did not receive the final results I wanted,

I think I learned a lot.” Steven said. “This learning will lead me into a better season with better results next year.” There was a time where Steven’s backhand game was a weakness, but that changed this season. “I saw the most growth in the backhand part of my game,” Steven said. “It really has gotten so much better over the years and is now a strong point for me.”

At this time, Steven is planning on going to Kansas for college, but if a tennis scholarship presented itself and was too good to pass up, then he would continue his tennis career.

Barrett Steven

K I R K FA R B E R ’ S A M E R I C A N FA M I LY T I S S T U D E N T S P O T L I G H T

Independent’s Janna Wagner By Hayden Swope Janna Wagner, a swimmer at The Independent School, has been chosen as the American Family Insurance Athlete of the Month.

hope to major in nursing,” Wagner said. “Over the years I’ve had a lot of close contact with doctors, nurses, and other staff, so I’ve seen what a difference they make. No matter what, I want to work with children in pediatric care.”

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“I’m going to attend Wichita State in the fall and

Janna Wagner

Wagner spent the season staying healthy and focused on doing well at all the meets she attended.

Wagner said the most memorable moment of the season was getting to know and compete with her teammates. Wagner is very involved at The Independent School and has big plans for the future.

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“I’m honored and completely surprised,” Wagner said. “Honestly, my athletic achievements in sports haven’t been the most impressive from a pure performance point of view, though I’ve been swimming since I was two years old. But my journey hasn’t been an easy one. I was born with Biliary Atresia and had to have a liver transplant at 18 months old and fought off three rejection episodes and other illnesses since then.”

“Just being able to train consistently and make it to the meets were two of my goals,” Wagner said. “I figured if I could just stay healthy, make it to all my practices, and follow coach Katie’s advice, then I knew I would improve before and throughout the season. Building my stamina was an area I knew I had to improve on since I wasn’t able to train consistently during prior seasons. There were a couple of hiccups in the past months, but I think I succeeded overall.”

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WICHITA DRIVING SCHOOL PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

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Valley Center Softball By Matt Browning The 2022 Valley Center softball team won the 5A State Championship on May 28 at Wichita State University’s Wilkins Stadium.

The Hornets rode great pitching, defense and timely hitting to defeat BasehorLinwood 4-1 in extra innings and finished the season with 20 consecutive wins and a 23-2 record. In the opening round facing Spring Hill, Valley Center won 5-2 and in the semifinals, Valley Center jumped on Eisenhower in the third inning when Maci George blasted a grand slam home run to left center field to give the Hornets a 4-0 lead. Valley Center went on to a 9-1 victory. In the championship game, Valley Center had a matchup with undefeated Basehor-Linwood, which had knocked out the Hornets 5-4 in the opening round of 2021 state a year ago. In the top of the eighth inning and the score tied 1-1, George again came through with a big hit, blasting the game-winning three-run home run. Valley Center won the first state championship in program history

and won the school’s first girls team state championship in 44 years, the only other title being the 1978 title by the girls track and field team. George, who is going to play at North Texas next year, went 8-for-12 in the tournament with nine runs driven in and four runs scored.

Sykora Smith pitched over 13 consecutive innings without allowing a run during the tournament. The Hornets had five first team all-league performers: George, Smith, Lucy Hooper, Mykah Klumpp and Tori Turner. Head coach Cory Jones was named Coach of the Year, Hooper was named Player of the Year and Smith was named Pitcher of the Year. Others that were given all-league recognition were Ainsley Kraus, Alyssa Crumbliss and Morgan Thatcher (second team) and Kennedy Johnson (honorable mention).

WICHITA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Wellington’s Carson Rademacher By Matt Browning Carson Rademacher of Wellington was voted the Wichita Small School Boys Tennis Player of the Year. Rademacher, along with doubles partner Justin Norris, took sixth at the 4A Tournament.

“It means so much to me,” Rademacher said. “I couldn’t have done it without my coaches, family, and friends cheering me on and supporting me throughout my whole career. I have put in countless hours on the court and for it all to pay off is just an unreal feeling.” Rademacher has been friends with Norris since they were kids, so being able to have a successful season with him was particularly gratifying. “Our record was 25-6 before state,”

Rademacher said, “which was able to get us a great start in the tournament. Unfortunately, it didn’t end as planned. We were going for the championship title but fell short and placed sixth and tied for third as a team and lost in a tie break match for the plaque.” Being a more accurate player was something Rademacher saw improvement in this season, which was a key component to going 25-6.

“There was a little bit of improvement everywhere but mostly I improved in my accuracy down the line and also down the middle when we needed it,” Rademacher said.

Carson Rademacher

KEN GOOCH’S SHELTER ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Belle Plaine’s Blake Hunter By Hayden Swope

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Besides track, Hunter is involved in cross country, basketball, and FFA. After high school, Hunter plans on entering the Marines to become a mechanic.

“The most memorable moment of this season was earning plaques and showing them off,” Hunter said.

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Hunter has enjoyed his wins saying he will always remember getting to show off his awards.

“Some goals I had throughout the season were to work on improving myself and working on my own abilities,” Hunter said. “I think the goals I made I have achieved because I have improved, but there is always more room to improve.”

Blake Hunter

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Hunter spent the season bettering himself, his times, and all his events, while juggling a leadership role on the team.

“I am proud and thankful to be chosen,” Hunter said.

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Blake Hunter, a track athlete at Belle Plaine, was chosen as the Shelter Insurance Athlete of the Month. Hunter has had an exciting season winning the Douglass, Belle Plaine, and Wellington Invitationals in the 600-meter. He also took fourth at the Central-Burden invitational where he set a personal record of 2:17.15.

WICHITA COLLEGIATE TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Collegiate Baseball By Matt Browning For the first time since 2001, the Collegiate baseball team won a state championship, this time defeating Columbus 10-3 in the 3A championship game.

2022 KIAAA AWARDS District Athletic Director of the Year Award Winners District 1 - Jeff Fuss CAA, Lyons HS District 2 - Scott Burger, Sabetha HS District 3 - Gary Howard CAA, Spring Hill District 4 - Kevin Armstrong, RAA Hutchinson HS Middle School - Amy Wright, Paola MS

Kansas Athletic Director of the Year

Carp Winner Gary Mussleman, KSHSAA Retired

Sportswriter of the Year Shawn Beldon, Spectrum Sports KC

Sportscaster of the Year

Kevin Armstrong RAA, Hutchinson HS

Glen Grunwald, Eagle Radio Hutchinson

NIAAA State Award of Merit

KIAAA Jack Dresslar Scholarship Winners

Penny Lane CAA, Washburn Rural Art Newcomer Promising Athletic Director Nick Barnes, Halstead HS

*Keleb Becker, Abilene Trenna Whitmore, Washburn Rural *Ella Mackiewiz, Shawnee Northwest Alexandra Schreiner, Kingdom (* represents those nominated as the section 5 scholarship candidates)

CONGRATULATIONS

“Looking back on the season, it is impressive that we were able to come out with the 23-1 record that we did,” Collegiate coach Joe Gehrer said. “We had a tough stretch in the middle of the year with 10 games in 15 calendar games. Two of those games were at Buhler who beat us at our place last year by a combined score of 39-3, and they had not been swept in a double header series in over four years.” What made this season even more special for Gehrer, was his dad, Mike, was an assistant coach. Mike was the head coach and Joe was a player when the Spartans last won a state championship.

“It has been such a special experience to have him on the bench for the past few years,” Joe Gehrer said. “When one of the best motivators and youth sports coaches wants to be

a part of your staff, you don’t say no. I have always looked up to him and how he built the football and baseball programs at WCS. It is really special to now be a small part of that legacy.” Last season, Collegiate was run-ruled in the first round of the state tournament, so winning its quarterfinal matchup against Goodland was substantial. “As soon as the final out happened in that game, we could see the boys relax,” Joe Gehrer said. “They take their craft very seriously, and put a lot of pressure on themselves. It was great to see them get back to having fun playing the game that they love.”

Collegiate Baseball

SALINA CHAMBER WINNING EDGE PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

South’s Parker Benoit By Peter Addison

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SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS

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Parker Benoit is a baseball player through and through. Parker’s passion for the sport began at an early age.

“I have been playing baseball ever since I could walk,” he said.

Benoit, primarily a first baseman who can play third base if called upon, doesn’t play any other sports. Baseball has always had a positive impact on Benoit’s life. Some of his most memorable moments occurred on or around the field with his teammates and coaches. “My favorite part of being on the team is making friendships and memories that won’t be forgotten,” he said.

Benoit finds inspiration on and off the field from his friends, family, and coaches. One individual in particular stands out amongst the rest.

“Mason Lundgrin has been my favorite influence in life and in the game of baseball,” he said. Lundgrin, a former student at Salina South, currently plays baseball at Lipscomb University and Benoit hopes to follow a similar path as Lundgrin. To achieve these goals, Benoit seeks out advice and words of encouragement from

Parker Benoit all of the positive influences in his life. However, a recent speech by coach Tyler Smith resonated with Benoit.

“My favorite memory while attending South High would have to be coach Tyler Smith’s speech at my graduation,” he said. Those words of encouragement have inspired Benoit to follow his dreams. When asked about his future plans Benoit responded that after high school, he wants to play baseball on the collegiate level and pursue a degree in business.

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