Derby Softball – Team Spotlight – Presented by Primerica – Rob Cooper
By Blake Chadwick The Derby Panther softball team is a program that consistently excels year after year. Now entering head coach Christy Weve’s 22nd season at the helm, the team aims to build on last year’s impressive 24-5 record and look to make it four straight state tournament appearances. “I expect the season to go […]
Circle’s Danick Bleich – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Omnicut Motivational Fitness
By Ken Hansard Danick Bleich, a junior catcher and outfielder last season for Circle High School, and his Thunderbird teammates finished Bleich’s junior campaign 17-12, culminating in a tough loss at the first round of the 4A State Championships to the eventual state runner-up, the Pratt Greenbacks. While Bleich and his teammates would love to […]
Buhler’s Ashlyn Coker – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Scooter’s Coffee
By Hayden Swope Buhler’s Ashlyn Coker has been looking forward to the spring soccer season all year. After making second team all-league last season, Coker has big goals for herself and her team. “Some goals that I have for this season would be to have a winning record, make the All-State first or second team, […]
Sunrise Hoopsfest – Presented by Visit Wichita
By Matt Browning For the third year in a row, the top high school basketball talent gathered at Fugate Gymnasium on the Newman University campus in Wichita, Kansas on February 7th and February 8th. The two-day boys basketball showcase featured four of the top high school basketball programs in the country: Sunrise Christian Academy, Link […]
Wellington’s Hank Shinliver – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Aspire Home Medical
By Ken Hansard The Wellington Crusaders’ baseball team finished 18-10 last season, losing in the regional championship to a Pratt Greenbacks team that would go on to take second at state. The Crusaders were playing without their quarterback on the field, then sophomore catcher Hank Shinliver, who missed the biggest game of the year due […]
Andale-Garden Plain’s Emery Bensen-Hladik – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by C.E. Machine Company Inc
By Ken Hansard Last spring, after graduating eight seniors from the 2023 squad, the Andale-Garden Plain softball team was supposed to be entering a rebuilding phase; however, anyone who knows the history of these schools knows that there really is no such thing – that high turnover just means a chance to reload. The Indians, […]
Halstead’s Kaci Young – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Action Physical Therapy
By Ken Hansard As Kaci Young looks toward her final season of softball for Halstead, she can also reflect on a lot of past success. The Dragons finished last season 20-4. A big reason for that impressive record came from Young’s exploits at shortstop and on the mound, where she recorded an impressive 176 strikeouts […]
Udall’s Isaac Johnson – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Advanced Physical Therapy
By Ken Hansard Isaac Johnson, senior centerfielder and pitcher for the Udall Eagles, is a decorated three sport athlete who has played baseball and basketball all four years and who is additionally a two-time All-District defensive back. However, with his senior baseball campaign set to begin, his primary goal at this point is just getting […]
Trinity’s Haley Green – Poll Winner – Presented by Hutchinson Community College
By Cooper Chadwick After tearing her MCL during the summer of 2023, senior Haley Green spent her junior year rebuilding, but still showed out, scoring seven goals and dishing out four assists which earned her all-state second team. This year Green is motivated to have a stellar season without injury, but one thing she is […]
Maize’s Jadyn Perales – Poll Winner – Presented by Hutchinson Community College
By Cooper Chadwick Prepared to lead her team back to state, senior Jadyn Perales is a powerful and an integral part of the Maize Eagles midfield. “She is a strong physical presence in the MF and always seemed to make the right decision on the ball. Was involved in a number of crunching tackles that […]