Varsity / Issue #2

VARSITY Lawrence, Kansas / Issue #2

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VARSITY Issue 2

a project of Four Birds Media

info@fourbirdsmedia.com / (785) 766-5669 cover photo / Emmalee Schaumburg

Fall on the Pitch / photos 08 Naomi Hickman / story 18 Friday Night Sights / photos 24

From Sprained Ankles to Strep Throat

We’re Open!

New Pediatric Practice

Lawrence Pediatrics believes in complete preventive care and Dr. Kirsten Evans has lived in Lawrence since 1989. healingschool for children from birth She completed medical and residency at Theto ageMedical 21. Center and has practiced University of Kansas

pediatrics in Topeka, Kansas City and Virginia, treated children of all ages withmission: a wide variety of illnesses. Dr. Our Evans has workedprovide in private practice, as faculty at The comprehensive pediatric KU Med Center and as a pediatric hospitalist at Storcare for your child’s lifelong mont Vail Health Care. Dr Evans serves as adjunct fachealth. ulty for Saint Louis University and is president Welcome of the Welcome Kansas Medical Education Foundation.

Dr. Kirsten Evans has lived in

to to our our new new practice. practice. .. .open .open to to all! all!

Welcome to 1989. our .new.open a Lawrence since She new practice.

Welcome to our practice. to . .open Kirsten Evans

Lawrence Pediatrics Pediatrics, p.a.

Lawrence Lawrence Pediatrics Lawrence Pediatrics

completed medical school and Kirsten E. Evans M.D.,to Ph. D., F.A.A.P.new practice. . .open Welcome our M.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.P. residency at The University of Kansas Medical Center, and has Welcome to our new practice. . .open to all! ,, p.a. p.a. practiced pediatrics in Topeka, Kansas City, and Virginia, treating children of all ages with a wide variety COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRIC FORpractice, YOUR as CHILD COMPREHENSIVE of illnesses. She has workedCARE in private a faculty PEDIATRIC member at The COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRIC , p.a.

3310 Clinton of Parkway Court / (785) 856-9090 543University Lawrence Ave / Suite D / 785-856-9090 Kansas Medical Center,CARE and as aFOR pediatric hospitalist at YOUR CHILD , p.a.

CARE FOR YOUR CHILD Stormont Vail Health Care. Dr. Evans also serves as adjunct faculty for www.LawrencePeds.com COMPREHENSIVE Saint Louis University president of the Medical Education PEDIATR MONDAY - FRIDAY and 8:00is AM - 5:00 PMKansas , p.a. PEDIATR COMPREHENSIVE Foundation.

CARE FOR YOUR CHILD

Lawrence

Lawrence

Pediatrics, p.a.

Pediatrics Lawrence COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRIC

CARE FOR YOUR CHILD MONDAY -- FRIDAY MONDAY FRIDAY COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRIC 9:00 9:00 AM AM -- 5:00 5:00 PM PM CARE FOR YOUR CHILD

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Fall on the Pitch FSHS vs. LHS - October 10, 2016

Naomi Hickman Senior / Free State High School / Volleyball photos by Emmalee Schaumburg

If not for an exchange at a Saturday morning garage sale, Naomi Hickman may not have ever played volleyball. The thing is, well, Naomi wasn’t even there. In fact, she kind of owes her volleyball career to her little sister Rachel.

“Years ago I was at a garage sale with Rachel,” Miriam Hickman, Naomi’s mother, explains with a laugh. “This nice man asked me if my daughter played volleyball. I explained that she doesn’t and we hadn’t given it much thought because we didn’t know of any opportunities. And, oh by the way, I have an older daughter.”

That nice man was Craig Friedrichsen, long-time Lawrence club volleyball coach.

“He started smiling and rubbing his hands together,” Miriam says. “We got Naomi in the gym and haven’t really looked back sense.”

Naomi, a middle blocker at Free State High School, just ended her career with a school record 730 kills, including 284 as a senior and 232 as a junior. Ranked in the top100 of PrepVolleyball’s Senior Ace rankings, Hickman has signed to play college volleyball at Creighton University.

“She is a powerhouse,” explains Free State volleyball coach Amy Hoffsommer. “She is a program changer, for sure. It has been a pleasure to watch her grow as a player, a leader and a person these past two seasons.”

Naomi’s tall and lean build was natural for the game. However, the game didn’t exactly come naturally.

“Initially I had no idea what I was doing,” she says with a confident laugh. “It took 2 or 3 practices for me to even begin to figure out what I suppose to do. Slowly I started to really like the game and wanted to learn more.”

Then, as the saying goes, something just clicked.

“I’m not sure when, after the first year or so, but I thought to myself ‘I think I can really excel at this.’ That was a big point in my career. That’s when I decided to work at becoming as good as I can be.”

She had been playing basketball and volleyball but, beginning with her freshman year at Free State, she focused on volleyball.

“I think she enjoyed basketball,” Miriam explains. “But as she got older the game got a lot more physical and that aspect she didn’t enjoy. Naomi isn’t a very physically aggressive person, so volleyball really suits her personality.”

When not playing or practicing with the Free State squad, Naomi has played club volleyball in Kansas City three nights a week and countless weekends. Essentially, her volleyball season is year-round. That’s completely fine with her.

“I really love the game,” Naomi says. “I love the competi-

tion and the team aspect. As much as one person can influence a match, it really takes an entire team to win and I like working with my teammates to win.”

Winning was the goal her senior season. After three seasons with disappointing endings, Naomi entered the season with a singular goal: make the state tournament.

“Since my freshman year it’s always been a goal of mine for our team to qualify for state,” she explains. “Finally being able to do that my last year was incredibly special.”

At the state tournament, Hickman lead the Firebirds to a 2-1 record, including handing the nation’s No. 5 team, Blue Valley West, its first loss of the season, but failed to qualify for the finals.

“It was great to finally be there to represent our school after 12 years of not qualifying,” Hickman says. “The atmosphere was so great with a large student section. We played together and fought hard to win that game. We earned that win through teamwork and working hard.

However it was devastating when they announced that Shawnee Mission East would be moving on to the finals, instead of us. They announced it seconds after we won, which definitely saddened the atmosphere. It was bittersweet.”

Naomi describes herself as a shy girl, thoughtful girl.

Though clearly the team leader on the court, it took years for her to grow into the role.

“I’m not a real loud person,” Naomi says in a small laugh. “I don’t really lead by yelling and screaming. I worked really hard to lead by example.”

Though not loud, her voice was always heard by other, Coach Hoffsommer says.

“When a girl, especially an underclassman, makes a mistake, it’s one thing to have me yelling from the sidelines.

It’s totally different when Naomi gives them her quiet encouragement. I know how much of a difference her trust in her teammates makes and she’s never critical of her teammates. She’s always telling them ‘We’re okay. Let’s get the next point.’ That’s leadership.”

As Naomi makes plans to join the Bluejays’ squad in Omaha, she is looking forward to the possibility of playing in Lawrence again in a few years. Her sister, Free State sophomore – and Firebird teammate - Rachel (the one approached at that garage sale so many years ago), has already committed to play volleyball at the University of Kansas.

“Oh yeah, I’ve thought about playing against her,” Naomi says with a big laugh. “I’m not sure how I’d handle that, though. We’ve never competed against each other at that high of a level. But, I’m sure I’ll beat her.”

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friday night sights FSHS vs. LHS - October 21, 2016

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