On Friday after the state track meet, I made a list of medalists who had appeared in the magazine over the course of our first year of publishing. Here, it continues with a list of Saturday's medalists from the area at the 2008 state track meet:
Abby Rowland, Andale senior
Second in 4A girls pole vault
-In Game Plan Track in May, the magazine previewed the boys pole vault competition at state. As a note, we mentioned that Andale, a program traditionally strong in the pole vault, might have its best shot at winning a title on the girls side. Turns out, Rowland placed second to El Dorado freshman Jamie House, and Andale sophomore Ben Horsch had an upset win on the 4A boys side. Rowland's teammate Lizzy Schmitz placed third, further proving Andale's dominance in the event.
Jeremy Postin, Andover senior
Fourth in 4A discus
-Postin will appear in the magazine for the first time in June. Postin, who plans to throw at Florida University next year, was the state shot put champ after tearing two knee ligaments during football season in the fall.
Chris Ronen, Newton senior
Fourth in 5A javelin
-Ronen, who neared 200 feet during the regular season, threw the javelin 170'7" at the state meet. Ronen was featured with Matt Byers and Roman Belden in the May issue feature "Wingin' It".
Katie Porter, Goddard senior
First in 6A long jump
-Katie Porter, who also medalled in the triple jump at state, led the basketball portion of Picture This in the April issue. Porter and the Goddard girls basketball team made a run to the 6A state title game, falling by two points to Lawrence.
Colton Rausch, Clearwater senior
Fourth in 4A high jump
-After the mid-season basketball tournaments in January, Colton Rausch and the Clearwater boys team were poised to make a run through the regular season into the postseason. Rausch was photographed in the February feature on contenders, as Clearwater had won the Chaparral mid-season tournament.
Zack Puetz, Garden Plain senior
First in the 3A discus
-Puetz, a lineman on the football team in the fall, appeared in the August and November magazines, as the Owls marched to the 3A title. Puetz was then featured in the May issue in the Family Affair section, as he was in process to catching his dad Mitch's school record in the shot put. Puetz also won the 3A shot put, throwing further than any other at the state meet.
Jordan Voelker, Newton senior
Second in the 5A shot put
-Voelker closed out an outstanding high school athletic career with secon-place finishes in the 5A discus and shot. Also a defensive end and all-league forward on hoops team, Voelker, who was photographed in the April issue, went on top of his game. Newton teammate Evan Kaufman placed fifth in the shot, rounding a very good throwing team at Newton when you also throw Chris Ronen into the mix.
Andrea Markel, Pretty Prairie junior
Second in the 2A javelin
-Markel was featured as the Commerce Student-Athlete of the Month in the May issue. Markel is a three-sport athlete in basketball, volleyball and track, and used to play high school golf.
Jenny Welker, Pretty Prairie junior
First in the 2A 100 hurdles
-Welker, who was covered in the track season preview in the March issue, repeated as champ in the 100 hurdles.
Ryan Haswell, Andover senior
Second in the 4A 110 hurdles
-Haswell, who contributed to the Andover High boys' first-place tie with Andale, is photographed in the June issue, on stands in the second week of June.
Tanner Hageman, Cheney junior
Third in the 4A 110 hurdles
-Hageman overcame a knee injury to become the starting quarterback at Cheney this past fall only to break his collarbone mid-season. Hageman came back to have a strong basketball season, as Cheney was ranked in 4A most of the year, and medal at the state track meet. He was featured as the Kansas Orthopaedic Center Comeback Player of the Month in November.
Keith Hayes, Wichita Southeast senior
Fourth in the 6A 110 hurdles
-Hayes had the top time in the state entering the state meet and was the defending champ in the event, but a hamstring held him back in 2008. Hayes, who was photographed in the August issue and the March issue track preview, will run at KU next year.
Sierra Gant, Independent senior
First in the 3A 200
-Gant was mentioned in the March issue track preview as a returning medalist in the multiple sprint events.
Audacia Moore, Wichita Heights senior
First in the 6A 100 and 200
-Moore appeared on the cover of the March issue and will do so again in the June issue as an inset photo. Moore, who broke the state meet record with a time of 11.77 in the 100, will run at WSU on a track scholarship next year. She is a national talent.
Laura Nightengale, El Dorado senior
First in the 4A 800
-Nightengale finished up her prep rivalry with Heather Garcia of Baldwin in form. While losing to Baldwin in the 1600, Nightengale beat Baldwin handily in the 800. These girls traded off these events for three years. The November issue featured Nightengale, and she also appeared in the August issue in Spotlight.
Tom O'Connell, Andover junior
Second in the 4A 1600
-O'Connell finished ahead of fourth-place Andrew Wagner of El Dorado, who finished ahead of O'Connell at the state cross country meet in the fall.
Emilee Morris, Hutchinson senior
First in the 5A 1600 and 800
-Emilee Morris, who started out at Hutchinson as a sprinter, would fill out her role and more later on as a distance runner. Morris medalled at her final two state cross country meets and won the 1600 at the state track meet a year after medalling in the event. Morris was the Commerce Student-Athlete of the Month in December.
Colin Hagan, Kapaun senior
Third in the 5A 1600
-Hagan, who will run at Drake next year, medalled for the second year in a row in the 1600. He was photographed in the December issue as a medalist at the 5A cross country meet.
Robby Martinez-Garcia, Wichita Northwest sophomore
First in the 6A 1600
-Martinez-Garcia, who is photographed in the June magazine, which hits stands in the second week of June, is a rising star. He upset the field with his win in the 1600 as just a sophomore.
Tiffany Bias, Andover Central sophomore
First in the 4A 400 and 200
-The titles just keep coming to sophomore sensation Tiffany Bias. Bias, who also won a state basketball title this past winter as the starting point guard for the Jags, repeated as champ in both the 200 and 400. Bias was photographed in the August and April issues and will appear again in the June issue.
Kurt Pauly, Garden Plain sophomore
First in the 3A 400
-There are so many great Pauly athletes in the Conway Springs area, but there also many around Garden Plain. Kurt Pauly, mentioned in March's track preview, seems to figure as one of the up-and-comers, as he gets his first title as a sophomore. Look for Austin Pauly at Conway making some contributions in football this fall. No relation, at least recently.
Mike Flores, Maize junior
First in the 6A 400
-Mike Flores, who appeared on the cover of the March issue, repeated as the champ in the 400. He also medalled in two other events: the 200 and triple jump. His teammate Miles Ukaoma placed third in the 400 as a sophomore.
Deidra Anthony, Wichita South junior
Second in the 6A 300 hurdles
-Anthony was photographed in the March track preview. The defending champ in the event, Anthony placed second.
Zack Roberts, Newton senior
First in the 5A 300 hurdles
-Roberts, who is photographed in the June issue (on stands in second week of June) led a 300 hurdles field that was deep locally. Valley Center's Todd McKown placed second, Kyle Long of Carroll fourth, Gage McKinnis of Hutch sixth and Miguel Johns of Newton seventh.
Tyrell Everett, Wichita Heights senior
First in the 6A 800
-Everett, who ran the second-fastest 800 at the state meet, is photographed in the June issue.
Ethan Ungles, Andale senior
First in the 4A 100, 200 and 4x100 relay
-Ungles, who was photographed in the November issue in the "Game Day" feature on Hutch and Andale football, was a leading offensive threat at wideout for Andale football this past fall. A two-time titlist in football and track, in addition to his individual gold medals this spring, Ungles leads the June feature on the state track meet and appears on the cover.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Cross Referencing State Track
The 2007-2008 high school sports season is winding down in the state of Kansas. But the state goes out in style.
The Kansas state high school track meet at Cessna Stadium in Wichita is quite a spectacle. As with every other spring, every top track and field athlete in the state – 6A through 1A – has gathered in Wichita over Memorial Day weekend to see who can run the fastest or longest, jump the highest or longest, and who can throw several different types of objects the furthest.
It is raw sport – performed in events that people have competed at for centuries. And every May, Wichita hosts one of the finest editions of the tradition that is track and field.
As prep sports in Kansas wind down, so does the coverage of High School Sports The Magazine. We will continue to publish throughout the summer, with our Year-in-Review issue in July and our Football Preview in August. Also, look in Picture This, the opening photo gallery in the magazine, in June, July and August for many of the state track and field champions competing this weekend.
Here is a sampling of some of Friday’s medalists who have appeared in the pages of HSSTM Central Kansas over the past year:
Michelle Babb, Clearwater sophomore
Fourth in 4A 3200 meter run
-Babb was photographed in the December issue in the sidebar of the feature story on the Mulvane cross country team. Babb placed third at the Class 4A state cross country meet this past fall at Wamego Country Club.
Tom O’Connell, Andover junior
Champion in 4A 3200 meter run
-In September, O’Connell was featured in a write-up in the Cross Country Preview in Game Plan. He was also pictured. O’Connell placed fifth at the Class 4A state cross country meet last fall.
David Roberts, Mulvane junior
Third in 4A 3200 meter run
-David Roberts’ unbelievable run through the fall cross country season was chronicled in a feature story in the December issue. Roberts left everyone in the dust at the Class 4A state cross meet, leading Mulvane to a dominant team victory in which they placed six runners in the top 20. All return next season. Roberts is photographed on the second page of the feature story in December.
Nikki Trooien-Smith, Mulvane sophomore
Fifth in 4A 3200 meter run
-Trooien-Smith is also photographed in the December feature on the Mulvane cross team. Trooien-Smith is a leader of this Mulvane distance team. He’s the ringleader who gets them all together to run early in the morning throughout the summer.
Evan Landes, Mulvane freshman
Sixth in 4A 3200 meter run
-Landes, son of Mulvane cross and track coach Dale Landes, is the rising star of the group. Just a freshman, he has already medalled at state in cross country and the 3200.
Brooke Vining, Valley Center sophomore
Fourth in 5A 3200 meter run
-Fourteenth at the state cross meet this past fall, Brooke Vining returned to the top this spring in the 3200. Coming off a 2006-07 season in which she placed top-five at the state cross meet, Vining was featured in Spotlight in the September issue along with teammate Page Miller.
Page Miller, Valley Center sophomore
Fifth in 5A 3200 meter run
-Fourth in the 3200 last spring and seventh in the 1600, Page Miller duplicated her placing at the state cross meet this past fall in the 3200 this spring. She has now placed in the top five at state cross and in the state 3200 two years in a row. She was featured in Spotlight with teammate Brooke Vining in the September issue.
Jake Wike, Derby junior
Champion in 6A 3200 meter run
-Jake Wike, fourth at last fall’s 6A cross country meet, was featured in Triple Play in the April magazine. Wike shaved 20 seconds off his best time in the 3200 all year to win at state. His time coming into the meet was not enough close to being the best in the state.
Tanya Friesen, Buhler junior
Champion in 4A long jump
-Tanya Friesen, also a fine hoopster, appeared in the March issue’s spring sports preview. The defending champ in the long jump, Friesen won her second straight title this spring. She was photographed in the March spring preview.
Austin Bahner, Wichita Heights junior
Champion in 6A triple jump
-The May issue of High School Sports The Magazine, currently on stands, features three-sport athletes from the area. Austin Bahner, pictured in the feature jumping from the triple jump runway with a basketball in hand and a soccer ball coming off his foot, was a state-level competitor in all three sports going into this spring’s state track meet. Now Bahner is a state champion. And he still has a year left.
Mike Flores, Maize junior
Second in 6A triple jump
-Though he placed second to Bahner, Mike Flores will defend his 6A title in the 400 on Saturday and compete for his first title in the 200. Featured on the cover with Audacia Moore of Wichita Heights in the March issue, Flores led our spring sports preview. He broke 49 seconds for the first time all season at last spring’s state meet in the 400. What will he do this time?
Jordan Voelker, Newton senior
Second in 5A discus
-Jordan Voelker, one of the most chiselled athletes in the area, was photographed in the April issue of the magazine in the feature on the state basketball tournament. He was selected first-team all-league in AV-CTL II.
Alex Roe, Maize junior
Fifth in 6A discus
-After chipping the bone in his thumb at the end of the football season, Roe made a strong return this spring to throw the discus. He will be featured as the Kansas Orthopaedic Center Comeback Player of the Month in June.
Roman Belden, Mulvane senior
Fourth in 4A javelin
-Belden was one of three javelin throwers featured in the story “Wingin’ It”, which appeared in the May issue, currently on stands. Belden overcame a shoulder injury in April to return to state, following up his 2007 sixth-place finish with fourth in 2008. Belden was featured with Chris Ronen of Newton and Matt Byers of Wichita East.
Jawanza Poland, Wichita East senior
Second in 6A long jump
-Jawanza Poland appeared in the feature on three-sport athletes in the May issue. He appears in the lead for his outstanding prowess in three sports. A long, lanky receiver, a versatile forward and long jumper, Poland will play basketball for Cowley and coach Steve Eck next year.
Kelly Roberts, Hutchinson senior
Fifth in 5A triple jump
-Roberts appeared in the three-sport athlete feature, as well. Not only is versatile on the football field as a slot back and kicker capable of hitting field goals over 50 yards, but he plays basketball and qualified at state in four events in 2007. He is also musical.
Ben Horsch, Andale sophomore
Champion in 4A pole vault
-When does Andale not compete for the title in the pole vault? Kyle Horsch, Ben’s older brother and an outstanding tailback for the state title football team last fall, did not go out for track, though he was their top returning vaulter. Ben stepped in as just a sophomore and took the crown himself. Surely there are great things to come from the younger Horsch. Horsch and teammate Michael Baalman, both of whom coach Greg Smarsh believed had a chance to medal at state a month ago, were featured in Game Plan Track in May, currently on stands.
Michael Baalman, Andale junior
Second in 4A pole vault
-Andale’s depth in vaulting knows no limits. Baalman and Horsch were featured in Game Plan in May.
Will Wright, Augusta senior
Fourth in 4A pole vault
-Will Wright was photographed and featured in Game Plan Track in May, currently on stands. Wright had the highest vault in the state going into the state track meet (14-6), but faled to best 13-6 at state. A month ago, he told HSSTM that his best competition would come from Andale – he just didn’t know who.
Katie Porter, Goddard senior
Fifth in 6A long jump
-Katie Porter was a starting guard on the Goddard basketball team, which nearly won the 6A state basketball title in March. Porter and Goddard fell to Lawrence 54-52. Porter leads the basketball portion of Picture This in April magazine, driving to the basket.
Matt Byers, Wichita East junior
Second in 6A javelin
-Matt Byers, a three-sport athlete at Wichita East, gave probably the best story of Friday at the meet. He threw the javelin for a state-meet record distance, but then his top competitor, Johannes Swanepoel, a sophomore from Shawnee Mission South, broke Byers’ record. Byers, the East quarterback and guard on the third-place state basketball team, threw 219-8, and Swanepoel threw 221-2. Both will throw Division I if they want to. Byers was a main part of the feature story on javelin throwers in the May issue, currently on stands.
Austin Hunt, Belle Plaine senior
Champion in 3A 3200 meter run
-Austin Hunt was featured in Game Plan Cross Country in September as part of our season preview. Hunt also was integral part of the Belle Plaine basketball team which upset Collegiate at sub-state this past March.
Zack Puetz, Garden Plain senior
Champion in 3A shot put
-Zack Puetz has achieved several landmarks this season. Featured in Family Affair in the current May issue, Puetz was chasing his father Mitch’s school record in the shot put early in season and eventually got it. Puetz, who uncle Todd coaches the track and football team at Garden Plain, will play on the line at Washburn this fall. Puetz was also featured in the story on Garden Plain football which appeared in our inaugural August issue.
Hannah Hemberger, Argonia senior
Third in 1A shot put
-The Argonia girls basketball team this past winter went undefeated until they were upset at sub-state. They were featured as the Preferred team of the month in March. Hemberger was one of two seniors on the team.
Wayne Bennett, Remington senior
Second in 3A javelin
-Bennett was photographed in the Spring Sports Preview which appeared in the March issue of the magazine. He was the defending 3A champ in the javelin this spring.
Cole Cherryholmes, Remington senior
Fourth in 3A javelin
-Cherryholmes was one of the most prolific passers in the state this past football season, throwing for over 400 yards several times. He was a source in the story on three-sport athletes which appears in the May issue, currently on stands. Cherryholmes will play football at NJCAA national champ Butler Community this fall.
The Kansas state high school track meet at Cessna Stadium in Wichita is quite a spectacle. As with every other spring, every top track and field athlete in the state – 6A through 1A – has gathered in Wichita over Memorial Day weekend to see who can run the fastest or longest, jump the highest or longest, and who can throw several different types of objects the furthest.
It is raw sport – performed in events that people have competed at for centuries. And every May, Wichita hosts one of the finest editions of the tradition that is track and field.
As prep sports in Kansas wind down, so does the coverage of High School Sports The Magazine. We will continue to publish throughout the summer, with our Year-in-Review issue in July and our Football Preview in August. Also, look in Picture This, the opening photo gallery in the magazine, in June, July and August for many of the state track and field champions competing this weekend.
Here is a sampling of some of Friday’s medalists who have appeared in the pages of HSSTM Central Kansas over the past year:
Michelle Babb, Clearwater sophomore
Fourth in 4A 3200 meter run
-Babb was photographed in the December issue in the sidebar of the feature story on the Mulvane cross country team. Babb placed third at the Class 4A state cross country meet this past fall at Wamego Country Club.
Tom O’Connell, Andover junior
Champion in 4A 3200 meter run
-In September, O’Connell was featured in a write-up in the Cross Country Preview in Game Plan. He was also pictured. O’Connell placed fifth at the Class 4A state cross country meet last fall.
David Roberts, Mulvane junior
Third in 4A 3200 meter run
-David Roberts’ unbelievable run through the fall cross country season was chronicled in a feature story in the December issue. Roberts left everyone in the dust at the Class 4A state cross meet, leading Mulvane to a dominant team victory in which they placed six runners in the top 20. All return next season. Roberts is photographed on the second page of the feature story in December.
Nikki Trooien-Smith, Mulvane sophomore
Fifth in 4A 3200 meter run
-Trooien-Smith is also photographed in the December feature on the Mulvane cross team. Trooien-Smith is a leader of this Mulvane distance team. He’s the ringleader who gets them all together to run early in the morning throughout the summer.
Evan Landes, Mulvane freshman
Sixth in 4A 3200 meter run
-Landes, son of Mulvane cross and track coach Dale Landes, is the rising star of the group. Just a freshman, he has already medalled at state in cross country and the 3200.
Brooke Vining, Valley Center sophomore
Fourth in 5A 3200 meter run
-Fourteenth at the state cross meet this past fall, Brooke Vining returned to the top this spring in the 3200. Coming off a 2006-07 season in which she placed top-five at the state cross meet, Vining was featured in Spotlight in the September issue along with teammate Page Miller.
Page Miller, Valley Center sophomore
Fifth in 5A 3200 meter run
-Fourth in the 3200 last spring and seventh in the 1600, Page Miller duplicated her placing at the state cross meet this past fall in the 3200 this spring. She has now placed in the top five at state cross and in the state 3200 two years in a row. She was featured in Spotlight with teammate Brooke Vining in the September issue.
Jake Wike, Derby junior
Champion in 6A 3200 meter run
-Jake Wike, fourth at last fall’s 6A cross country meet, was featured in Triple Play in the April magazine. Wike shaved 20 seconds off his best time in the 3200 all year to win at state. His time coming into the meet was not enough close to being the best in the state.
Tanya Friesen, Buhler junior
Champion in 4A long jump
-Tanya Friesen, also a fine hoopster, appeared in the March issue’s spring sports preview. The defending champ in the long jump, Friesen won her second straight title this spring. She was photographed in the March spring preview.
Austin Bahner, Wichita Heights junior
Champion in 6A triple jump
-The May issue of High School Sports The Magazine, currently on stands, features three-sport athletes from the area. Austin Bahner, pictured in the feature jumping from the triple jump runway with a basketball in hand and a soccer ball coming off his foot, was a state-level competitor in all three sports going into this spring’s state track meet. Now Bahner is a state champion. And he still has a year left.
Mike Flores, Maize junior
Second in 6A triple jump
-Though he placed second to Bahner, Mike Flores will defend his 6A title in the 400 on Saturday and compete for his first title in the 200. Featured on the cover with Audacia Moore of Wichita Heights in the March issue, Flores led our spring sports preview. He broke 49 seconds for the first time all season at last spring’s state meet in the 400. What will he do this time?
Jordan Voelker, Newton senior
Second in 5A discus
-Jordan Voelker, one of the most chiselled athletes in the area, was photographed in the April issue of the magazine in the feature on the state basketball tournament. He was selected first-team all-league in AV-CTL II.
Alex Roe, Maize junior
Fifth in 6A discus
-After chipping the bone in his thumb at the end of the football season, Roe made a strong return this spring to throw the discus. He will be featured as the Kansas Orthopaedic Center Comeback Player of the Month in June.
Roman Belden, Mulvane senior
Fourth in 4A javelin
-Belden was one of three javelin throwers featured in the story “Wingin’ It”, which appeared in the May issue, currently on stands. Belden overcame a shoulder injury in April to return to state, following up his 2007 sixth-place finish with fourth in 2008. Belden was featured with Chris Ronen of Newton and Matt Byers of Wichita East.
Jawanza Poland, Wichita East senior
Second in 6A long jump
-Jawanza Poland appeared in the feature on three-sport athletes in the May issue. He appears in the lead for his outstanding prowess in three sports. A long, lanky receiver, a versatile forward and long jumper, Poland will play basketball for Cowley and coach Steve Eck next year.
Kelly Roberts, Hutchinson senior
Fifth in 5A triple jump
-Roberts appeared in the three-sport athlete feature, as well. Not only is versatile on the football field as a slot back and kicker capable of hitting field goals over 50 yards, but he plays basketball and qualified at state in four events in 2007. He is also musical.
Ben Horsch, Andale sophomore
Champion in 4A pole vault
-When does Andale not compete for the title in the pole vault? Kyle Horsch, Ben’s older brother and an outstanding tailback for the state title football team last fall, did not go out for track, though he was their top returning vaulter. Ben stepped in as just a sophomore and took the crown himself. Surely there are great things to come from the younger Horsch. Horsch and teammate Michael Baalman, both of whom coach Greg Smarsh believed had a chance to medal at state a month ago, were featured in Game Plan Track in May, currently on stands.
Michael Baalman, Andale junior
Second in 4A pole vault
-Andale’s depth in vaulting knows no limits. Baalman and Horsch were featured in Game Plan in May.
Will Wright, Augusta senior
Fourth in 4A pole vault
-Will Wright was photographed and featured in Game Plan Track in May, currently on stands. Wright had the highest vault in the state going into the state track meet (14-6), but faled to best 13-6 at state. A month ago, he told HSSTM that his best competition would come from Andale – he just didn’t know who.
Katie Porter, Goddard senior
Fifth in 6A long jump
-Katie Porter was a starting guard on the Goddard basketball team, which nearly won the 6A state basketball title in March. Porter and Goddard fell to Lawrence 54-52. Porter leads the basketball portion of Picture This in April magazine, driving to the basket.
Matt Byers, Wichita East junior
Second in 6A javelin
-Matt Byers, a three-sport athlete at Wichita East, gave probably the best story of Friday at the meet. He threw the javelin for a state-meet record distance, but then his top competitor, Johannes Swanepoel, a sophomore from Shawnee Mission South, broke Byers’ record. Byers, the East quarterback and guard on the third-place state basketball team, threw 219-8, and Swanepoel threw 221-2. Both will throw Division I if they want to. Byers was a main part of the feature story on javelin throwers in the May issue, currently on stands.
Austin Hunt, Belle Plaine senior
Champion in 3A 3200 meter run
-Austin Hunt was featured in Game Plan Cross Country in September as part of our season preview. Hunt also was integral part of the Belle Plaine basketball team which upset Collegiate at sub-state this past March.
Zack Puetz, Garden Plain senior
Champion in 3A shot put
-Zack Puetz has achieved several landmarks this season. Featured in Family Affair in the current May issue, Puetz was chasing his father Mitch’s school record in the shot put early in season and eventually got it. Puetz, who uncle Todd coaches the track and football team at Garden Plain, will play on the line at Washburn this fall. Puetz was also featured in the story on Garden Plain football which appeared in our inaugural August issue.
Hannah Hemberger, Argonia senior
Third in 1A shot put
-The Argonia girls basketball team this past winter went undefeated until they were upset at sub-state. They were featured as the Preferred team of the month in March. Hemberger was one of two seniors on the team.
Wayne Bennett, Remington senior
Second in 3A javelin
-Bennett was photographed in the Spring Sports Preview which appeared in the March issue of the magazine. He was the defending 3A champ in the javelin this spring.
Cole Cherryholmes, Remington senior
Fourth in 3A javelin
-Cherryholmes was one of the most prolific passers in the state this past football season, throwing for over 400 yards several times. He was a source in the story on three-sport athletes which appears in the May issue, currently on stands. Cherryholmes will play football at NJCAA national champ Butler Community this fall.
Monday, May 19, 2008
State Track
Who can deny the greatness of the Kansas state track meet. Every corner of Kansas is represented: city people, rurals, small towners, 'tweeners, farmers, suburbanites. Kansans from all walks congregate at Cessna Stadium each Memorial Day weekend to watch the state's best athletes compete. In the upcoming issue of the magazine, senior contributing editor Ted Hayes will offer some of his best memories from the state track meet over the years. Also, we'll have photo galleries of the meet in the June issue, and I'm considering using the photo gallery Picture This in July and August for state track, as well. There are just so many athletes from so many schools we need to cover. What do you think? Good idea?
Performances not to be missed this weekend will be those of the two athletes who appeared on the cover of the March issue of the magazine. Audacia Moore of Wichita Heights, signed to sprint at WSU next year, will challenge the state meet record in the 100 meter, and is heavily favored to repeat as champ in both the 100 and 200. She's also a state qualifier in the long jump and triple jump. Mike Flores, the defending champ in the 400 meter, returns to state as a junior, having qualified in 200, 400 and triple jump. He has the best 400 time in the state this year.
After not appearing on any honor roll lists all spring, Ark City's Darrell Freeman is on the map for state once again. The defending 5A 100 champ placed second in the 200 last spring by .01 seconds. He'll have plenty of local challengers - Grant Leoscher and Nathaniel Martens of Newton and Aaron Babbidge of Valley Center.
Andover Central's Tiffany Bias has the state's top 4A time in the 100, 200 and 400. Placing third in the 100 last year, Bias wont he 200 and 400. She could sweep the sprints this year.
El Dorado's Laura Nightengale ran the fastest 800 last spring and should repeat as champ in 4A. Also in 4A, Tanya Friesen could win state in the triple jump and long jump.
Let's talk baseball, softball and soccer tomorrow.
Performances not to be missed this weekend will be those of the two athletes who appeared on the cover of the March issue of the magazine. Audacia Moore of Wichita Heights, signed to sprint at WSU next year, will challenge the state meet record in the 100 meter, and is heavily favored to repeat as champ in both the 100 and 200. She's also a state qualifier in the long jump and triple jump. Mike Flores, the defending champ in the 400 meter, returns to state as a junior, having qualified in 200, 400 and triple jump. He has the best 400 time in the state this year.
After not appearing on any honor roll lists all spring, Ark City's Darrell Freeman is on the map for state once again. The defending 5A 100 champ placed second in the 200 last spring by .01 seconds. He'll have plenty of local challengers - Grant Leoscher and Nathaniel Martens of Newton and Aaron Babbidge of Valley Center.
Andover Central's Tiffany Bias has the state's top 4A time in the 100, 200 and 400. Placing third in the 100 last year, Bias wont he 200 and 400. She could sweep the sprints this year.
El Dorado's Laura Nightengale ran the fastest 800 last spring and should repeat as champ in 4A. Also in 4A, Tanya Friesen could win state in the triple jump and long jump.
Let's talk baseball, softball and soccer tomorrow.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Regional Week
Here are my picks to regional baseball, softball and soccer. Track regionals are on Friday, and I'll give you a few names to watch.
6A Baseball - Campus
-Campus is the surprise team of the year. They're in the running because of pitching - David Ormiston and Jonathan Murray, both headed for Kansas jucos. I'm going to take Wichita North in this regional, though. Matt Applegate and Tyler Grimes are still bitter about missing state last year. They could be the two best players in the area, combining the ability to hit and pitch.
6A Baseball - Goddard
-Goddard should have absolutely no problems getting by Southeast and Derby or Heights. Goddard had no problem getting to state last spring, either, but faltered in the first round as the No. 1 seed. They're hungry to do better, and they're outrageously talented. With doubleheader sweeps over Wichita North and Maize, they could win it all. One note on the sweep of North: neither Applegate nor Grimes threw.
6A Baseball - Maize
-After their 10-1 trouncing of Wichita Northwest on Friday last week to end the regular season, Maize is heavily favored to return to state after missing out last year. Nick Cocking, Tyler Zimmerman, Jake Marasco, Ryan Hege - bats are not missing. Garrett Gould and Kurtis Schuyler - they've got the pitching. However, they got swept by Goddard. I still have them as contenders.
4A Baseball - El Dorado
-This region is stacked. Andover Central, with star pitcher Ben French, is the favorite with a record of 19-1. But a host of teams await them after their first-round game today against 3-17 Circle. Mulvane (11-9) faltered down the stretch after a fast start, El Dorado (13-7) won their league with strong fundamentals, Andover (15-5) hung with it behind the bat of Bret Lentz, and Douglass (12-4) had a strong year in the Central Plains (can they hang with AVCTL teams?). With their pitching staff, Andover Central is a state contender.
3A Baseball - Wichita Independent
-Independent ((20-0) finally broke through in the Central Plains League, after playing second fiddle to Trinity Academy the past couple years. This is a fundamentally-sound baseball team which benefited from Trinity's down year. They should have no problems getting to state, but watch out for Trinity (9-9) pulling a couple upsets if they can find a pitcher they couldn't find during the regular season.
6A Softball
-Goddard (18-2) and Wichita Heights (18-2) should be locks for state, unless Derby (9-11) is able to pull an upset. Maize (17-3) swept Wichita Northwest (16-4) last Friday to end the regular season; the two should meet again in the regional final on Thursday. I've got Maize.
4A Softball
-Wow. The Douglass regional is so strong. Five of eight teams are eight games or more over .500: Andover Central (16-4), Clearwater (16-4), Mulvane (14-6), Rose Hill (14-6), Augusta (15-5). Nikki Armagost is a dominant pitcher for Central. Augusta sophomore catcher Caitlin Ray has two grand slams this season, and is on Division I prospect radar already. This tournament is up for grabs. In the El Dorado regional, pitcher Karly Schmelzer has led Andale-Garden Plain to an 18-2 record. Nickerson (16-2) could contend, but Schmelzer will pitch every game and she's incredible.
3A Softball
-Will the story come full circle? Can Independent (18-0), a program that didn't win a game in 2003 and 2004, win the the state title in coach Corey Lyon's fourth season? They placed fourth with a 17-4 record last spring.
6A Soccer
-Maize (16-0) did not allow a goal the entire regular season. No team from the area has ever won a girls state soccer title.
5-1A Soccer
-Andover (16-0) has prolific scoring power behind Kortney Clifton (KU signee). She has well over 200 goals for her career. The question is not whether they can win their regional; can they beat Kapaun, which is traditionally the deeper team?
Let's do track later in the week.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Future plans
The June issue of HSSTM will feature Diandra Miliner on the cover. Miliner, a freshman at Maize High, competes nationally as a gymnast, training with Folger's Gymnastics. Having placed first in all-around competitions at several national competitions in Kansas, Texas, Pennsylvania and more, Miliner, a level 10 gymnast, placed first at regionals in April, which was held at the WSU Heskett Center.
Also pictured on the cover as insets will top athletes from state competition to take place later this month. I have my eye on several teams and athletes from the area to be on the cover, but I welcome your input. Several outstanding track athletes are arisen this spring, and 6A baseball has been extremely competitive. Let me know what I'm missing out on.
Also, due to the publishing date being so close after state competition, we will redirect readers to the Web site for extended stories on some of the athletes and teams featured.
I received a call today from a parent of an El Dorado baseball player. They won the AV-CTL Division Division III yesterday. The El Dorado boys sports programs have struggled of late, so this is huge for that school. Class 4A regional baseball should be very competitive, as well. Andover Central, Wellington, Andale, Clearwater, Mulvane and Andover are having pretty good seasons, especially Central. They have an outstanding pitching staff, led by Ben French, who hasn't allowed a run in league play. He's also got a no-no this season (see May issue, Picture This).
We ran a feature story on the Web about Steve Eck leading a new coup in the City League. Now coach at Cowley County, which had its best season ever under Eck last year in his first season, Eck has signed the City League's top six players outside Jordan Cyphers to play for him next year: Poland and Holloman from East, Gantt and Barnes from Southeast, Lance Russell from South and Kelton Marshall out of Heights. I'm very anxious to see how these players fare next season at the college level, and on the same team. It will be a great story and joy to watch if these guys can come together and earn a berth in the national juco tournament in 2009.
Also pictured on the cover as insets will top athletes from state competition to take place later this month. I have my eye on several teams and athletes from the area to be on the cover, but I welcome your input. Several outstanding track athletes are arisen this spring, and 6A baseball has been extremely competitive. Let me know what I'm missing out on.
Also, due to the publishing date being so close after state competition, we will redirect readers to the Web site for extended stories on some of the athletes and teams featured.
I received a call today from a parent of an El Dorado baseball player. They won the AV-CTL Division Division III yesterday. The El Dorado boys sports programs have struggled of late, so this is huge for that school. Class 4A regional baseball should be very competitive, as well. Andover Central, Wellington, Andale, Clearwater, Mulvane and Andover are having pretty good seasons, especially Central. They have an outstanding pitching staff, led by Ben French, who hasn't allowed a run in league play. He's also got a no-no this season (see May issue, Picture This).
We ran a feature story on the Web about Steve Eck leading a new coup in the City League. Now coach at Cowley County, which had its best season ever under Eck last year in his first season, Eck has signed the City League's top six players outside Jordan Cyphers to play for him next year: Poland and Holloman from East, Gantt and Barnes from Southeast, Lance Russell from South and Kelton Marshall out of Heights. I'm very anxious to see how these players fare next season at the college level, and on the same team. It will be a great story and joy to watch if these guys can come together and earn a berth in the national juco tournament in 2009.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Tyler Zimmerman
After writing up the Game of the Week story for the Web on Monday, I was apprised of an oversight by a reader. This, I will admit, is because I have not yet been out to see Maize High play baseball yet. I'm going on Friday, when they meet Wichita Northwest.
Tyler Zimmerman, not mentioned in the game preview, is one of Maize's leading hitters this season. Zimmerman's batting .475, while Nick Cocking's at .493 and Jake Marasco at .426. Zimmerman, Maize's rightfielder, was the first guy coach Rocky Helm brought up when I spoke with him this morning. He's one of the seniors who has provided an unexpected boost to the team this season. Helm had high praise for this senior outfielder.
On another note, I spoke Bob Hovey of Kansas Rivals today, and he's ecstatic about the track and field performances this season. Matt Byers of Wichita East has one of the top javelin throws in the nation this season, yet he's No. 2 in Kansas right now. Also Heights sprinter Audacia Moore and Southeast hurdler Keith Hayes are ranking high nationally. Check out Bob's track and field leader board for the state at hovpen.com.
Tyler Zimmerman, not mentioned in the game preview, is one of Maize's leading hitters this season. Zimmerman's batting .475, while Nick Cocking's at .493 and Jake Marasco at .426. Zimmerman, Maize's rightfielder, was the first guy coach Rocky Helm brought up when I spoke with him this morning. He's one of the seniors who has provided an unexpected boost to the team this season. Helm had high praise for this senior outfielder.
On another note, I spoke Bob Hovey of Kansas Rivals today, and he's ecstatic about the track and field performances this season. Matt Byers of Wichita East has one of the top javelin throws in the nation this season, yet he's No. 2 in Kansas right now. Also Heights sprinter Audacia Moore and Southeast hurdler Keith Hayes are ranking high nationally. Check out Bob's track and field leader board for the state at hovpen.com.
Monday, May 5, 2008
It's heating up
It's tough to figure out spring sports early in the season; bad weather and cancellations muddle up forecasts. That's why I took a break from the blog. At least that's what I keep telling myself.
Several important storylines have developed. The headliner is the Maize girls soccer team. Coach Nathan Wilkey in his fourth season at Maize has led the Eagles to an undefeated season entering its final week. Maize has not allowed a goal all season. For a team that didn't know who its goalkeeper would be at the beginning of the season, it's even more astounding. The two most intriguing lines to follow here are Wilkey and history. As men's soccer coach at Friends University where he achieving similar success, Wilkey is becoming a figurehead of Wichita soccer. He knows his stuff, recognizes talent and can bring it together, both in practice and recruiting. The other - history - pertains to the drought the Wichita area has experienced at state soccer. Never since girls state soccer began in 1993 has a team west of Topeka won a state title. Maize could do so this year, as they came close last year, losing 1-0 to Blue Valley North after giving up a goal 22 seconds in. Maize beat BV North 2-0 at the Titan Classic in late March.
Class 6A baseball is extremely competitive in the area this year. With Wichita North dropping its doubleheader to Goddard on Friday, even more teams are in the mix for hosting a regional. Campus, however, in a big surprise to all but the Colts, is in the driver's seat for the top overall seed in the area. Having swept Goddard earlier in the year, Campus has just one loss going into its doubleheader at McPherson. Those games are for the AVCTL II crown, though Campus' real focus is to win in order to get the top regionals seed. North plays Heights and Northwest, another 6A contender with four losses, to secure the city title. Northwest also plays Maize, another team with three losses hoping to host a regional, on Friday. The entire order could be mixed up from where it is now by the end of the week. Goddard, with one more game against Bishop Carroll, has three losses and should host with a win against Carroll. Goddard swept Maize earlier in the year and took a single game from Northwest.
Several important storylines have developed. The headliner is the Maize girls soccer team. Coach Nathan Wilkey in his fourth season at Maize has led the Eagles to an undefeated season entering its final week. Maize has not allowed a goal all season. For a team that didn't know who its goalkeeper would be at the beginning of the season, it's even more astounding. The two most intriguing lines to follow here are Wilkey and history. As men's soccer coach at Friends University where he achieving similar success, Wilkey is becoming a figurehead of Wichita soccer. He knows his stuff, recognizes talent and can bring it together, both in practice and recruiting. The other - history - pertains to the drought the Wichita area has experienced at state soccer. Never since girls state soccer began in 1993 has a team west of Topeka won a state title. Maize could do so this year, as they came close last year, losing 1-0 to Blue Valley North after giving up a goal 22 seconds in. Maize beat BV North 2-0 at the Titan Classic in late March.
Class 6A baseball is extremely competitive in the area this year. With Wichita North dropping its doubleheader to Goddard on Friday, even more teams are in the mix for hosting a regional. Campus, however, in a big surprise to all but the Colts, is in the driver's seat for the top overall seed in the area. Having swept Goddard earlier in the year, Campus has just one loss going into its doubleheader at McPherson. Those games are for the AVCTL II crown, though Campus' real focus is to win in order to get the top regionals seed. North plays Heights and Northwest, another 6A contender with four losses, to secure the city title. Northwest also plays Maize, another team with three losses hoping to host a regional, on Friday. The entire order could be mixed up from where it is now by the end of the week. Goddard, with one more game against Bishop Carroll, has three losses and should host with a win against Carroll. Goddard swept Maize earlier in the year and took a single game from Northwest.
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