Trenton_Fall Sports Pages_2020

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T August 24, Friday August 24, 2018 2018 EPUBLICAN -TIMES RFriday RENTON

F ALL SPORTS

Frida y Aug ust 24 , 2018

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020 republican-times.com

FALL S P O RTS 2018 FALL SPORTS 2018 ff, V V

TRENTON :: FOOTBALL :: SOFTBALL :: TENNIS :: GOLF :: VOLLEYBALL PLUS :: GRUNDY COUNTY with NEWTOWN-HARRIS :: PRINCETON :: MERCER :: GILMAN CITY :: TRI-COUNTY

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:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

PAGE 2, SECTION 1

FALL SPORTS 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION ONE Page 2: Page 3: Page 7: Page 8: Page 10: Page 12: Page 14: Page 15:

Contents Trenton Football Season Preview Trenton Cheerleaders Trenton Football Team Trenton Band Princeton Football GRC Coaches Poll/Schedule Pattonsburg w/Gilman City & No. Harrison Football

Trenton, MO

SECTION TWO Page 2: Page 4: Page 6: Page 8: Page 9: Page 10: Page 12: Page 13: Page 14:

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FALL SPORTS 2020

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

SECTION 1, PAGE 3

PROJECTED STARTERS OFFENSE 2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Sr. Royce Jackson

’DOGS HAVE NEW LOOK, NEW HOPE FOR 2020

C

oming off a 2-8 season the Trenton Bulldogs, naturally, would like to see an improvement in 2020 as the program enters its second season under head coach Kevin Hixson.

Improving on two wins certainly seems like an atainable goal, however, to do so, the Bulldogs will have a lot of work to do.

Despite the 2-8 showing a season ago, Trenton nearly had two 1,000-yard rushers in 2019. Jaren Whitney finished the year with 1,024 yards on the ground while Mark Trump added 963. To put those numbers in perspective, Trenton hasn’t had two players break 1,000 yards rushing in the same season since 2007 when De’Andre Vandevender ran for 2,680 yards and Scott Stevens added 1,064.

Both Trump and Whitney were seniors, as was quarterback Sam Schilling who ran for 168 yards. That means Trenton will feature and entirely new backfield in 2020. Payden McCullough, who ran for just 46 yards last season is the Bulldogs’ leading returning rusher.

Needless to say, with Hixson’s ground-based offense, Trenton is in need of some new stars to help the program take a jump from last year’s mark.

“It’s kind of a next man up mentality,” Hixson said.

“If somebody went down last year, it’s the next guy up and that’s just kind of how we approached it in the offseason. It’s going to be tough with an entirley new backfield, but the guys we have coming back are doing a pretty good job in camp and we are going to have to lean on their senior leadership and hope for the best.”

Trenton is moving back to the ‘Wing T’ formation that Hixson attempted to incorporate last season. Trenton was forced into a split-back set early in the season, however, as it became apparent - with Whitney and Trump - that the Bulldogs were more suited to that look.

Senior Quincy Griffin is set to start the season as the Bulldogs’ featured back. A former quarterback, Griffin gives Trenton a unique player who understands, not only the rushing roles, but also the passing routes. He showed what his knowledge can do at the position in the jamboree last week, catching a pair of passes out of the backfield for big gains.

Griffin is listed at just 6-1, 165 pounds, though and that is not uncommon for this year’s team. While there is some size on the line, Trenton will be pretty small in the backfield. Canyon VonBurg, who will also start, is [CONTINUED on Page 4]

8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/30

BROOKFIELD N/A @ East Buch N/A @ Princeton 7-21 @ Putnam Co. 26-30 MILAN 14-30 @ Polo 48-12 @ Maysville 42-29 GALLATIN 0-24 SO. HARRISON 13-30 Districts, TBA 13-62

HEAD COACH

Kevin Hixson - second year at THS Career Record: - 2-8 at THS Offensive Coordinator: - Greg Dalrymple Assistant Coaches: - Jon Guthrie - Levi Marlay - Trey Shields - David Sager - Luke Lewis

Defense

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PAGE 4, SECTION 1 5-9, 160. At 6-0, 190, Nate Burkeybile, who will see time in the varsity backfield as well, is the largest back Trenton has.

“Quincy Griffin is going to start (at running back),” Hixson said. “He has put a little speed on in the offseason. We’re not going to be very big (in the backfield), so durability is a concern for me. But, we are going to start Quincy Griffin and Canyon VonBurg and we are going to have Nate Burkeybile and Ian Elbert and possibly Kaden Owen in the wings, trying to get them some reps.”

Under center will be sophomore Coleman Griffin. Coleman split time with Quincy as the junior varsity quarterback last season, but the Bulldogs ultimately settled on Coleman as the quarterback entering 2020. Griffin has played the position since his Junior ’Dog days, but has never thrown a varsity pass. He had one rushing attempt last year that went for a loss of six yards. The new signal caller has show growth through the summer and fall practices, however, despite the unusual nature of the past offseason.

“Coleman got his feet wet last year as a freshman with some JV stuff,” Hixson said. “He has a good head on him. He is pretty athletic, he is a pretty good runner and he is starting to see stuff whereas last year he had the deer-in-the-headlights look when you put him in a varsity game. I think

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES :: things have kind of slowed down for him and I think he understands what he is looking for and what we are trying to get.

“It just makes sense for us as a program to take this guy that is a sophomore and throw him in the heat and then we have him for the next two years and it should be a solid position for us.”

With Quincy Griffin’s pass catching abilities out of the backfield and senior tight end Royce Jackson returning, Trenton should offer a couple of passing targets for Coleman Griffin.

Jackson will also cap a line that has looked much improved for the Bulldogs. Trenton lost Jerrick Stotts and Carson Burchett to graduation and Jake McNabb, another starter a year ago, did not come back out this year. That leaves the Bulldogs with some work to do on the line - a job that has fallen on assistant coaches Jon Guthrie and Levi Marlay. “(The line) is probably the group that has made the most improvement throughout camp and practice to this point,” Hixson said. “We brought coach Guthrie up from the middle school to help work with the line and he played at Jeff City and helped coach at Truman. We brought that experience to the varsity level and then Levi Marlay is a good addition to our coaching staff. Those guys have [CONTINUED on Page 5]

FALL SPORTS 2020

Quincy Gri n will start at running back for Trenton in 2020. He will look to provide the Bulldogs with rushing yards as well as being a receiving threat out of the backfield.

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FALL SPORTS 2020 that offensive line really cranking, really working together.”

Kael Brock is a returning starter on the offensive line and will move to center this season. Cayson Harper and Caleb Johnson will start at the guard positions and freshman Gavin Cagle and sophomore Dylan Spencer will round out the line at the tackle positions. With those five, Trenton’s line averages 222 pounds.

“We are probably bigger up front this year,” Hixson said. “And, from what I can tell, just a little bit more explosive. I’m kind of excited to see those guys and see what we are capable of. Maybe we can replace

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES :: some experience with some excited young legs. That’s one position that I’m really looking forward to seeing in week one because I know they have been working really hard.”

Trenton will do it’s best to keep its line fresh this season as well. It is tough at this level to get by without playing athletes on both offense and defense, but the Bulldogs will attempt to do as little of that as possible on the lines to start the season.

“I don’t like to play those guys both ways because how you play up front determines how you are going to be,” Hixson said. “We have those five guys on the offensive side and

Trenton will look to Caleb Johnson, right, to help anchor an offensive line that lost three starters from last season.

then two or three other guys who can rotate in on the offensive and defensive lines to try and keep those guys as fresh as we can.”

Trevor Murphy and Brody Polk, two players weighing a combined 520 pounds, will plug the middle of the line at the defensive tackle spots.

Jackson will be a two-way player.

The tight end will also be a returning starter at defensive end where he accumulated 47 tackles, three for loss, and one sack.

“I though last year Royce and Dalton (Burchett) did a great job of setting the edge and they were probably our most consistent players defensively,” Hixson said. “We are really going to lean on Royce and his experience. He has a little faster gear this year and he is going to get after some people.”

Trenton will have to replace Burchett, who graduated, at the other tackle position. Linebacker Noah Lewis and safety Whitney also graduated creating a significant hole in

SECTION 1, PAGE 5 each level of the defense to fill.

“We had nine or 10 seniors last year, which isn’t a great number, but it’s enough to slide the scale a little bit Hixson said. “We are young in the back field and we are young in the second level on defense.”

Payden McCullough will be a returning starter at linebacker to give the group some experience and Sam Gibson started four games last season as a freshman. Now a sophomore, Gibson will see his role greatly increased. Burkeybile will be a new starter at linebacker for Trenton.

“Those guys just have to run downhill and play physical,” Hixson said. “I just told them yesterday, ‘its not going to be glamorous or pretty, but you just have to play physical.’”

Quincy Griffin and Coleman Griffin will anchor the corners after seeing time at those positions last year, but Trenton must find a pair of new safeties, one of which will have to replace all-conference performer in Whitney.

[CONTINUED on Page 6]

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PAGE 6, SECTION 1 Gabe Novak, Kayden Spencer and Brice Gibler are all in the running to help out the defensive backfield at the safety spots.

“We are going to be okay on the corners and a little green in the middle,” Hixson said of his secondary.

“It’s a situation where try to find guys that can maybe cover up another guy. We are going to be young at one defensive end, so we are going to stick our senior outside backer on that side to kind of help him. It’s twoway football, you have got to move some bodies around and play some bodies that help you out in the long run.”

Trenton will look to build off last season in Hixson’s second year. The two wins last season were not enough and Hixson feels like a couple of games slipped away due to slow starts. Consistency early in games has been stressed throughout the offseason and well as increasing the team’s physicality.

“I think we need to be more consistent off the bus,” Hixson said. “We

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES :: had a shot at a couple of games and we were just sluggish off the bus.

The Putnam County game we lost by two points. If we come out and play in the first quarter, who knows how that turns out. We didn’t show up until after the first quarter, so we have got to be more consistant after long bus rides and then just be more physical. That’s the one thing I have talked about with my coaching staff this whole week. We have got to play more physical, run down hill and play with more courage and more toughness. Those are the things we really need to focus on.”

Trenton’s schedule has a new look this season. The Bulldogs will get Brookfield in week 1. Brookfield is far from a pushover, but Trenton’s fellow Bulldogs don’t quite represent the challenge that perrinial state contender Lathrop did in previous season openers. In week 2, East Buchanan replaces Lexington on the schedule.

From that point on, Trenton is into Grand River Conference play where

Milan, Trenton’s week 5 opponent, and South Harrison, who Trenton will see in the regular season finale in week nine, are poised to be the front runners. The Bulldogs placed sixth in the GRC last season, another

FALL SPORTS 2020 mark Trenton will hope to improve on in 2020.

The season begins tonight (Friday) with Brookfield visiting C.F. Russell Stadium. Kick off is scheduled for 7 o’clock.

Trenton coach Kevin Hixson addresses the Bulldogs after the jamboree in Chillicothe last week. Hixson enters his second year guiding Trenton after a 28 season in 2019.

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:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

FALL SPORTS 2020

SECTION 1, PAGE 7

TRENTON CHEERLEADERS

Adria Willey

Ali Westcott

Carly Spencer

Emilee Lovell

Emily Owen

Emma Curtis

Emma Roberts

Kelsey Gibler

Kristi Ewing

Krysta McCullough

Melanie Guerrero

Savannah Triplet

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2020 TRENTON FOOTBALL #2 Gabe Novak

#4 Brice Gibler

#5 Quincy Griffin

#7 Kayden Spencer

#8 Canyon VonBurg

#20 Sam Gibson

#24 Payden McCullough

#26 Gavin Chambers

#27 Nate Burkeybile

#28 Kaden Owen

#44 Hugo Stutzman

#48 Brayden Hughs

#50 Gabe Gamble

#54 Cayson Harper

#55 Kael Brock

#66 Cayden Spears

#69 Bo Meeker

#71 Bobby Schreckengaust

#72 Brody Polk

#73 Dylan Spencer

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ON N FOOTBALL #9 Connor Crawford

#12 Caylub Tyler

#13 Coleman Griffin

#14 Wyatt Schneiderheize

#15 Collin Taylor

#34 Ian Elbert

#36 Hunter McAtee

#37 Rudy Esparza

#40 Jarek Habelitz

#42 Gavin Kelsall

#57 Gabe Stark

#58 Timothy Kempton

#62 Gavin Cagle

#64 Luke Schilling

#65 Caleb Johnson

#75 Trevor Murphy

#80 Brayden Wiggins

#81 Jesse Huber

#87 Royce Jackson

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:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

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FALL SPORTS 2020

TRENTON GOLDEN BULLDOG Kael Brock

Kayleigh Snuffer

Amanda Parrack

Kayleigh Campbell

Ellie Boman

Travis Gifford

Olivia Roberts

Callie Jackson

Kierra Werteen

Chloe White

Brice Gibler

Sarah Tobias

Sydney Ellis

Jillian Voorhies

Paige Ferris

Kelsie Gibler

Lydia Leininger

Serenity Marsh

Brett Kennedy

Mirena King

Haley Shultz

Shyal Chapman

Dylan Smith

Trager Leeper

TRENTO TON GOLDEN BUL LL LD DO OG MARCHING BAND

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FALL SPORTS 2020

SECTION 1, PAGE 11

MARCHING BAND Madison Snuffer

Jillian Simpson

Mari Atup

Donnie Gilbertson

Jaica Clark

Shay Westerhof

Maurissa Bonta

Tucker Otto

Nick Smith

Collin Taylor

Connor Campbell

Victor Markell

Alondra Fernandez

Sarai Fernandez

Lillian Woods

Cade Claycomb

Gabe Gamble

Levi Johnson

Milo Simpson

Josh Truitt

Carter Wells

Gabby Barrer

KayLeigh Streett

Shelby Williams

Joey Pattison

Taylor Morton

GO BULLDOGS!

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PAGE 12, SECTION 1

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

FALL SPORTS 2020

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Members of the 2020 Princeton Tigers football team include, from left, front row, Evan Houck, Ben Berwanger, Eli Henke, Logan Smith, Ethan Glenn, Riley Rhoades, Luca Nichols, Luke Kelly, Andrew Rhoades, Kelby Thomas; middle row, Wilbur Walkup, Tyler Brown, John Birge, Hunter Foster, Jayce Davis, Blaze Siemer, Mason Robinson, Kaleb Thomas, Tristan Girdner, Nicholas Rubio; back row, Dakota Thomas, Jaden Finney, Nikolas Roberts, Justin Rhoades, Owen Schre er, Zeb Schwartzkopf, Brayden Summers, Ashton Berndt, Talan Holt and Gavin Power.

TIGERS EXPECTING TO BE CONTENDERS AGAIN

A

year ago the Princeton Tigers went through a coaching change that saw Nathan Powell return home and completely overhaul the offense from a run-and-shoot air attack to a ground-and-pound running game. Many believed in Powell’s Maryville pedigree, but few felt he could make the Tigers a contender in his first year, something shown by a fifth-place ranking in the preseason Grand River Conference coaches poll.

But, when the dust settled on the 2019 season, the Tigers shared the league crown with South Harrison and Gallatin in a three-way tie atop the standings. The conference title, though shared, made Princeton the first, and only, team with multiple GRC championships since the league took its current form ahead of the 2016 season.

In Powell’s second season, Princeton has some big pieces to replace, but the Tigers are planning on battling for another GRC championship.

8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/30

MID-BUCH 0-35 @ Midway N/A TRENTON 21-7 @ Milan 25-24 PUTNAM CO. 19-4 @ Maysville 27-18 @ Polo 42-12 SO. HARRISON 20-14 @ Gallatin 14-20 Districts, TBA 7-10

HEAD COACH Nathan Powell - second year Career Record: - 7-3 Defensive Coordinator: - Wes Guilkey Assistant Coaches: - Scott Ussery - Cody Scroggie Last Year’s Awards: Cam Hartley, all-district, unanimous first team AllGRC; Nick Grooms, all-district, unanimous first team All-GRC; Andrew Birge, alldistrict, first team All-GRC; Ashton Berndt, all-district, first team All-GRC; Ben Berwanger, second team AllGRC; Austin Kelly, second team All-GRC; Vincent Bruckman, honorable mention All-GRC

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FALL SPORTS 2020 “I think competing for a conference title is something a team has to expect to do each year,” Powell said.

“Some years you’re gonna have better chances than others, but I don’t think you can ever go into a season counting yourself out. That said, we bring back 14 seniors from a team that shared the conference title last year and I fully expect to be there again this year.”

If Princeton has something going for it in 2020, it is the return of its top rushers from last year. The Tigers spread the wealth with their rushing yards and Ben Berwanger, Eli Henke, Justin Rhoades and Riley Rhoades all return. Berwanger and Henke shared carries pretty evenly and were the top two rushers on last year’s team. Despite sharing the workload, Berwanger earned second-team All-GRC honors last year.

“Ben, Eli, Justin and Riley are all huge weapons for us to get back,” Powell said. “Going into their second year in the system allows us to tweak things a bit more and build off of what we established. Those guys are not only fantastic athletes but tremendous leaders for us as well.”

At quarterback, Princeton will see a change, however. Austin Kelly graduated following last season, leaving the Tigers with a hole in the backfield. Cam Hartley, who started for an injured Kelly in 2018 before moving to tight end last season, also graduated.

Enter Zeb Swartzkopf, who will take the snaps for the Tigers this year. Despite not playing the position at the varsity level, Swartzkopf had a good rapport with the returning backs and Powell believes the Tigers are in for a smooth transition under center.

“Zeb will be our starting QB this season,” Powell said. “He’s new to the position but has been a major contributor to the team since his freshman year. He could be a big playmaker for us but we aren’t going to put the weight of the world on his shoulders. The seniors have played together since they were in elemen-

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES :: tary school and the chemistry isn’t an issue at all. These guys all know each other inside and out and understand how the guys around them work.

This team has been a blast to be around and I’m excited and hopeful for what the season could bring.”

On the line the Tigers must replace all-district and all-conference performers in Nick Grooms and Andrew Birdge. At a school the size of Princeton, those losses impact the defensive line as well. While Princeton must deal without those two, the other side of the line returns intact with Ashton Berndt, an all-district and all-conference performer in his own right, back. Brayden Summers and Blaze Siemer are also back to help anchor the front end for the Tigers.

Perhaps the biggest loss for the Tigers is Hartley who, at linebacker, was a unanimous first team All-GRC selection. He led Princeton in tackles in each of the past three seasons and was arguably the best defensive player in the entire conference. Hartley is not someone Powell expects one player to replace.

“Cam is the type of player that you can’t ask any one person to try to replace,” Powell said. “Honestly, to have a good defense, it can’t all come down to just one guy. I felt like our team defense was pretty good last year but this year, with added experience and much more speed on the field, I feel like our defense will be improved. We aren’t going to be the biggest team on the field, but our kids will know where to line up and

they’re going to fly to the football.”

Owen Schreffler is one candidate to be Princeton’s leading tackler this season as he returns to a linebacker position for the Tigers. Princeton will also have to replace Kelly at free safety, where he was a second-team All-GRC pick. Berwanger, Henke and both Rhoades boys should find a spot on defense either at linebacker or defensive back.

Princeton finished the season with seven wins, going 7-3 overall and 61 within the GRC. To get back to the top of the GRC standings, for Princeton or any other team, Powell expects them to have to compete with South Harrison. South Harrison, which shared the title with Gallatin and Princeton, went the farthest in the postseason, winning a district championship to reach the state quarterfinals.

“I think whoever wins (the GRC) this year is definitely going to have to go through South Harrison considering the success they had last year and what they bring back,” Powell

SECTION 1, PAGE 13 said.

Princeton was the only team to defeat South Harrison in the regular season last year, topping the Bulldogs 20-14 in week nine to knock them from the ranks of the unbeatens and grab the shared GRC title.

This year Princeton will open the season at home, playing host to a traditionally strong Mid-Buchanan team. Kick off at Eddie Allen Field tonight (Friday) is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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PAGE 14, SECTION 1

COACHES POLL Coaches were asked to rank their seven Grand River Conference opponents 1-7. A first-place vote received seven points, second was six points, five for third and so on through one point for a seventh-place vote.

The results are as follows: (First place votes in parentheses)

1. SO. HARRISON (6)48 2. MILAN (1) 39 t3. PUTNAM CO. (1) 32 t3. PRINCETON 32 5. GALLATIN 29 6. TRENTON 24 t7. MAYSVILLE 10 t7. POLO 10 In 2019 the Grand River Conference enjoyed its wildest year in the 11-man football ranks since the league took on its current format ahead of the 2016 season. Three teams - Princeton, South Harrison and Gallatin - shared the league title, marking the first three-way tie for first in the current era. On top of the tri-champ standings, Milan fell to all three teams by one possession or less and Putnam County and Milan both up-ended a co-GRC champ in the postseason, showing the wide-open nature of the conference.

In 2020, three teams received firstplace votes in the annual coaches poll, however, South Harrison is the consensus frontrunner, receiving six of the eight first-place votes.

1. South Harrison Bulldogs South Harrison was one of three teams to share the league title last year, however, the Bulldogs made

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES :: the deepest postseason run of any GRC school, winning a district title.

In 2020 the Purple Bulldogs return quarterback Austin Lasher and running back Gradyn Linthicum as well as four all-conference offensive linemen, making South Harrison a sure contender. Head coach Chris Schoning returns to try and keep South Harrison at the top of the league. Former Trenton coaches Erik Coffey and Brandon Boswell are on his staff.

2. Milan Wildcats Milan will look to return to its 2018 conference championship winning ways. The Wildcats return a dangerous backfield duo in Dominic Dabney and Deric Doporto, but quarterback Ryan Dabney and his favorite receiver Hunter Shaw have both graduated.

Milan does add Mallen Cole, a two-year starter at quarterback at Maysville, who moved in the offseason. His father Mark Cole, the former Maysville head coach, will join the coaching staff under long-time Milan head coach John Dabney. t3. Putnam County Midgets Despite losing Torque Brundage to graduation, the Putnam County Midgets finished tied for third in the coaches poll, garnering one firstplace vote.

On the defensive side, Putnam has to replace Tony Bondy. Those are two pretty big absences for the Midgets, but they do return a large portion of their offensive and defensive lines. Putnam took a big step forward as a program last year and the conference coaches took note.

Head coach Clyde Bondy will look to keep the Putnam County ascension going this season. t3. Princeton Tigers Princeton earned a share of the league title last season, surprising some as the Tigers did so with a firstyear head coach who incorporated an entirely new offense.

Princeton will have to replace quarterback Austin Kelly and linebacker Cam Hartley, but the Tigers do return all of their running backs from a season ago.

Nathan Powell enters his second

year at the helm for the Tigers.

5. Gallatin Bulldogs Gallatin grabbed its first GRC title last year, at least a share of it, since the conference took its current form ahead of the 2016 season.

Gallatin will have a vastly different look this season after wholesale graduations will force head coach Patrick Treece to go down the depth chart to find new contributors. Linebacker Gage Wright will be one returning starter Gallatin can lean on as they transition into a new season.

6. Trenton Bulldogs Kevin Hixson enters his second season in Trenton after the Bulldogs stumbled to a 2-8 mark last year.

Trenton graduated its entire backfield, so it will be up to a new core of players to push Trenton back toward the top half of the GRC. Trenton will look to new faces in the backfield such as Quincy Griffin and Canyon VonBurg to replace the production lost by the graduation of Jaren Whitney and Mark Trump, who combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards in 2019. t7. Maysville Wolverines Maysville enters a new era after the departure of Mark Cole, who took his son, quarterback Mallen Cole, with him to Milan.

Maysville will have Christopher McMillen in place of the outgoing Cole to lead the Wolverine program going forward. Blayke Kolb and Cole Gripka are returning all-conference linemen Maysville will look to for leadership during the transition. t7. Polo Panthers After back-to-back 0-10 seasons, Reid Stephens is out and Kyle Ross returns as the head coach of the Polo Panthers. Ross last coached Polo during the 2017 season, in which the Panthers were 5-5. He led Polo to its last GRC championship in 2015, the last year before the conference added Trenton, Milan and Putnam County and took on its current look.

The Panthers lose their only allconference performer from last season in Wyatt Seager, so Ross will have his work cut out for him in 2020.

FALL SPORTS 2020

2020 GRC SCHEDULE WEEK 1 Brookfield @ Trenton Mid-Buchanan @ Princeton South Shelby @ Milan Maysville @ St. Joe Christian South Harrison @ East Buch Gallatin @ North Platte Putnam County @ Highland Plattsburg @ Polo

WEEK 2 Trenton @ East Buchanan Princeton @ Midway Milan @ Harrisburg Maysville @ Mid-Buchanan West Platte @ South Harrison Hamilton @ Gallatin Polo @ Slater Putnam County @ South Shelby

WEEK 3 Trenton @ Princeton Milan @ Putnam County Gallatin @ South Harrison Maysville @ Polo

WEEK 4 Trenton @ Putnam Co. Princeton @ Milan South Harrison @ Maysville Polo @ Gallatin

WEEK 5 Milan @ Trenton Putnam County @ Princeton Polo @ South Harrison Maysville @ Gallatin

WEEK 6 Trenton @ Polo Princeton @ Maysville South Harrison @ Putnam Co. Gallatin @ Milan

WEEK 7 Trenton @ Maysville Princeton @ Polo Milan @ South Harrison Putnam County @ Gallatin

WEEK 8 Gallatin @ Trenton South Harrison @ Princeton Maysville @ Putnam County Polo @ Milan

WEEK 9 South Harrison @ Trenton Princeton @ Gallatin Putnam County @ Polo Maysville @ Milan

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FALL SPORTS 2020

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PATTONSBURG FOOTBALL

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT 8/28 LEBLOND 66-26 9/4 @ Schuyler Co. n/a 9/11 NO. ANDREW 68-62 9/18 @ King City 78-52 9/25 @ Stanberry 58-6 10/2 RICH HILL 82-48 10/9 @ Worth Co. 82-50 10/16 APPLETON CITY n/a 10/23 ALBANY 90-64 Members of the 2020 Pattonsburg Panther football team from Gilman City include, from left, James Norton, Flint Pinkley, Brody Langfitt, Kaden Locker and Zane Gibson.

“

We have really changed the outlook on Pattonsburg football. We went from kind of being a cupcake and getting our butt kicked every week to making a name for ourselves the last couple of years. We lose a big piece at quarterback and we lose seven of our eight starters, but luckily we have some good kids to fill those shoes.

Our expectations don’t change. I tell the kids every year our expectations are state championship or bust. We’ve built a new culture around here and our guys expect to win and that’s what we expect to do. Winning brings kids over and we have some good ones from Gilman. Our two juniors, James Norton and Flint Pinkley, are going to help us up front. They are guys that we just haven’t had out of Gilman, expecting to help. Brody Langfitt and Kaden Locker are sophomores and those kids are going to be filling big shoes, stepping in at receiver and playing some DB. We expect big things out of them and then we have Zane Gibson, who is a freshman in his first year out. It is just a good group of five from Gilman. My first year as an assistant we had one from Gilman in Gage Sperry, so it’s nice to have numbers and the more numbers you have, the better off you will be.

- Pattonsburg Head Coach Scott Cavin

”

HEAD COACH Scott Cavin - second year Career Record: - 10-2 Last Year’s Awards From Gilman: none Key Losses From Gilman: none Key Returnees From Gilman: Kaden Locker, James Norton, Flint Pinkley, Brody Langfitt

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RTEPUBLICAN-TIMES RENTON

FALL SPORTS

SECTION TWO :: TRENTON :: SOFTBALL :: TENNIS :: GOLF :: VOLLEYBALL AND :: GRUNDY COUNTY with NEWTOWN-HARRIS :: PRINCETON :: MERCER :: GILMAN CITY :: TRI-COUNTY

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:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

PAGE 2, SECTION 2

Chandler Lynch

Maci Moore

Teya Cooksey

Chloe Harris

FALL SPORTS 2020

Gracyn Rongey

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT Eliana Cowling

Ella Novak

Emma Roberts

Ivy Foster

Jaycie Griffin

Jena Harris

Jenna Reeter

Katelyn Clark

Madi Moore

Morgan Foster

Morgan King

Seanacie Ireland

Shay Westerhof

Summer Ceradsky

TRENTON AGAIN TASKED WITH REPLACING STARS

F

ollowing the Trenton High son, the Bulldogs were tasked with Last year, with the help of an allSchool softball team’s replacing five seniors who were key state campaign by catcher Lexi 2018 state runner-up sea- in the run to the Class 2 title game. Whitaker and solid pitching from McKayla Blackburn, Trenton again contended for conference and district titles despite coming up just short in both races, finishing with a 16-8 record.

With Whitaker and Blackburn graduating, Trenton will again be tasked with replacing two of its top players in 2020.

What helps Trenton, though, is the return of Maci Moore. Moore has arguably been Trenton’s best player in each of the past three seasons and is back for one more run as a senior. The Bulldogs’ starting

8/29 PLATTE VALLEY n/a 8/31 @ Albany n/a 9/1 PUTNAM CO. 1-4 9/3 @ Maysville 3-1 9/8 PRINCETON 4-1 9/10 @ Gallatin 12-0 9/14 HAMILTON 0-8 9/15 @ So. Harrison 14-0 9/17 POLO 12-1 9/21 LAWSON 10-3 9/22 MILAN 18-0 9/26 NCMC TOURN. n/a 10/1 @ GRC Crossover 14-4 10/3 Centralia Tourn. 3rd 10/5 MARCELINE 5-15 10/6 @ Brookfield 12-2 10/8 @ Cameron n/a 10/12 @ Chillicothe 8-3

HEAD COACH Joel Hultman - sixth year - second at Trenton Career Record: - 74-47 - 16-8 at Trenton Last Year’s Awards: Lexi Whitaker, first team allstate, first team all-region, first team all-district, unanimous first team All-GRC; McKayla Blackburn, second team all-region, first team all-district, unanimous first team All-GRC; Maci Moore, second team all-region, first team all district, first team All-GRC; Chandler Lynch, first team all-district, second team All-GRC; Teya Cooksey, second team All-GRC; Chloe Harris, honorable mention All-GRC

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FALL SPORTS 2020 shortstop will once again be near the top of the lineup, where she hit .378 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs a year ago as the team’s leadoff batter. “(Moore) is a phenomenal individual player who will go down as one of the best hitters in our program, if not the best,” Trenton coach Joel Hultman said. “Last year we needed a leadoff hitter and I knew she could figure it out. It hurt her numbers, but when we talked, all she wanted was to win.

“She has worked hard during our time off. She comes in faster and stronger, looks great at the plate, in the field and on the base paths.”

Trenton will have to find some protection for Moore in the lineup, though. Last year as the leadoff Moore got some protection and having Whitaker in the lineup behind her helped keep teams from avoiding Moore too much. This year the likes of Chandler Lynch and Teya Cooksey will have to step up and make teams that put Moore on base pay.

Lynch, the team’s third baseman has been a varsity starter for the past two seasons. She hit .406 last year and tied Moore for the team lead in runs scored with 34.

“Chandler is a junkyard dog and I mean that in the most sincere way,” Hultman said. “I would love to compete with nine Chandlers. She loves to compete, she is naturally talented, works hard and has a ton of experience. She is a great teammate who loves to come to the field every day.

I feel like each year she finds another level to go to.”

Cooksey, meanwhile, was a varsity starter for the first time last year and improved greatly as the season went along. She helped fill an outfield void and hit her first career home run, driving in over 20 runs on the season. With Moore and Lynch ahead of her in the lineup, Cooksey could be in line for a big run-producing season in 2020.

“Teya has really found another gear this year,” Hultman said. “I feel like last year she was a little scared

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES :: to make the amazing play. She brought a lot of stability in the outfield last year and produced a lot at the plate. I always felt she could go to that next level and this year we are seeing it at practice. I can’t wait to see how she does on game days.”

Chloe Harris and Gracyn Rongey also return from last season and should give Trenton a pair of seasoned veterans to help produce in the lineup and field.

“Gracyn and Chloe both know who they are at the plate, which is very mature,” Hultman said. “I have coached a lot of high school athletes that didn’t find success because they did not know their strengths or weaknesses. They have continued to build on those strengths while trying to improve their weaknesses.”

Shay Westerhof and Jenna Reeter are also players who accumulated over 25 plate appearances each at the varsity level last season.

The biggest question for the Bulldogs entering 2020 is replacing the battery. Rongey will slide behind the plate from her first base post to take over for Whitaker, who had an allstate campaign as the team’s catcher last season. Rongey might not be an all-state candidate, but she is a serviceable backstop that Trenton will be able to count on at catcher.

“Gracyn has to know our defense and know where to go with the ball on every play, whether she’s involved in the play or not,” Hultman said. “She’s the only one who can see the whole field. It’s a challenge that she is improving on every day at practice.”

In the circle, Blackburn leaves for a collegiate career at North Central Missouri College. Reeter, who fired 15.2 varsity innings last year, will attempt to step up into the number-one pitcher role this year. Reeter will be looking to improve on an 11.20 ERA she accrued last season. Emma Roberts, a freshman who pitched for the middle school team last year, will also battle for time in the circle.

“We will have to see how everything goes,” Hultman said. “I like for

the players play to tell me what to do rather then me telling them how to play and putting them in a place where they might not succeed. I don’t like to put a ceiling on any of the players. I want them to go for it and get rewarded for it. They are getting time at practice so we can figure out what the lineup will be and what changes we might make during the game. That might change or stay the same when games start. We will just have to see how it goes.”

Trenton also loses Summer Martin, a second baseman who moved out of district in the offseason. That leaves the right side of the infield up for grabs as Rongey moves to catcher. Right field is also open.

Westerhof will likely factor into one of those positions, but players are still making their case for playing time. Even when the lineup is set for the season opener, it might not look the same even by the end of that game.

“We are working on that right now,” Hultman said of the final

SECTION 2, PAGE 3 pieces in the lineup. “There are 14 to 15 candidates (for varsity spots) and that might be, depending on our bench, more than ever in our program’s history. I could see 12 to 13 players playing in any given varsity game.”

Trenton’s program has a lot of history, but this edition of the team has more questions than past ones have had going into the season. Hultman isn’t ready to rule his team out come district time, though.

“This is a prestigious program that everyone wants to keep going so there is pressure,” Hultman said.

“But, the only thing we can control is trying to get better each day, learning from our mistakes and staying together as a team. We want to be playing our best as districts roll around. We want to maximize our potential. What that looks like I don’t know yet, but we are going to do it together and enjoy each day.”

Trenton opens the season tomorrow (Saturday), hosting Platte Valley at Griffin Field at 10:30 a.m.

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:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

PAGE 4, SECTION 2

FALL SPORTS 2020

TENNIS TEAM WILL LEAN ON RETURNEES AT TOP

Lexi Gott

Morgan Dolan

Mallory Sole

Alaina Overton

Emilee Lovell

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Chloie Hall

T

Faith Lee

he Trenton High School girls tennis team will be leaning on some experience to lead it into the 2020 season.

Trenton returns a pair of all-district athletes in Lexi Gott and Morgan Dolan and Mallory Sole and Alaina Overton were full-time varsity players as well last year.

At the top will be Gott, who was Trenton’s number-one player all season in 2019. Gott was 4-7 in singles play at the top spot, but paired with Kendall Crowley for a 13-win doubles season that saw the duo advance to sectionals after a second-place district finish.

Gott will again be leaned on to tackle opponents top players this

Harley Hall

Jessika Kennedy

Jillian Voorhies

Lindsey Babcock

Lydia Leininger

Serenity Marsh

year. A season of experience in the top spot should see her improve on her singles record from a year ago.

It’s likely Gott will again be a contender in the postseason.

Dolan, meanwhile, led Trenton in wins overall, running a teambest 10-5 singles mark. With Overton as a partner, she posted a 14-5 doubles mark to push her overall win total to 24. Dolan will have a

bump up in competition level this year, however, as she will undoubtedly move up beyond the five spot in the lineup which she held down for the majority of last season. Last season’s number two, Crowley, graduated and number three, Gwyneth Foster, moved out of state in the offseason.

With both Dolan and Gott, Trenton will seek some leadership as

9/1 9/3 9/7 9/8 9/10 9/16 9/17 9/21 9/22 9/23 9/24 9/28

CARROLLTON @ Savannah @ Chillicothe @ LeBlond CAMERON @ Cameron Tourn. @ Kirksville @ Maryville @ Lafayette @ Benton Tourn.

CHILLICOTHE BENTON

9-0 2-7 2-7 6-3 n/a n/a 6-3 4-5 8-1 (1-2) 2-7 4-5

HEAD COACH Tammy Ockenfels - sixth year Career Record: - 46-41 Last Year’s Awards: Lexi Gott, all-district; Morgan Dolan, all-district; Kendall Crowley, all-district

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FALL SPORTS 2020 the duo enters their senior season.

Along with Emilee Lovell, Trenton’s only other senior on the roster, the two will help lead the way for a team that has seven sophomores out this year.

“They are looking great,” Trenton coach Tammy Ockenfels said. “As seniors you want that senior leadership and they have given us that so far. They have been having practices in St. Joe over the summer, too. They have another coach over there and that’s just great. They come and they have great ideas and great leadership and it really helps the other girls. We have seven sophomores and they look up to them and that’s what you want as a coach.”

Overton and Mallory Sole, a pair of juniors , were varsity starters last season as well, giving Trenton four of its top six back for this season.

Like Dolan, the duo will have higher spots in the lineup this year. Sole was the team’s number four player last season while Overton played

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES :: number six.

“Mallory and Alaina both played varsity the entire time last year,” Ockenfels said. “They are looking really well and I’m looking forward to the season having those four key players already. Then the other ones are kind of battling for that five and six spot and it is kind of open right now. It’s like one day one girl is looking really good and then the next day it is someone else. It will be interesting here in the next couple of weeks with challenges to see who gets those spots.”

In the group battling for the last two varsity spots are Lovell, the senior, junior Harley Hall and then the group of seven sophomores. Chloie Hall, Jessika Kennedy, Faith Lee, Lydia Leininger and Jillian Voorhies were all out last year as freshmen, playing junior varsity matches, while Lindsey Babcock and Serenity Marsh are newcomers who round out the squad.

As a team, Trenton was one win

away from a district championship last year, falling to Chillicothe in the Class 1, District 15 championship dual. With four of the top six back this year, Trenton expects to challenge for a district championship again this year, but that won’t necessarily be the end-all, be-all for Ockenfels’ group.

“We got second at districts last year and it would be great if we could win it this year,” Ockenfels

SECTION 2, PAGE 5 said. “But, I just want to see them work together as a team. That’s what I tell them, just have a fun season, get along, let’s just work. They get so close to each other and that’s really what I want to see.”

Trenton gets the season started on Tuesday, playing host to the Carrollton Trojans. First serves for the season-opening dual are scheduled for 4 p.m.

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:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

PAGE 6, SECTION 2

FALL SPORTS 2020

Ally Yoder

Ava Simpson

Evy McCullough

Jessa Shipley

Katie Markell

Kenzie Yuille

Lily Berti

Olivia Roberts

Skylar Gott

Mackenzee Epperson

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Abby Simpson

Aubree Dalrymple

Dariana Sanchez

Haley Shultz

Kate Clark

Kaylea Boyle

Kenzy Dolan

Kinze Hanson

Lillian Woods

Mackenzie Lewis

Makina Limpkemann

Mercy Schneizer

Nautica Dowling

Paige Farris

Saige Gott

8/31 CAMERON 0-2 9/1 LAWSON 0-2 9/3 CHILLICOTHE 1-2 9/8 PLATTSBURG 0-2 9/10 @ Carrollton 2-0 9/14 @ Hamilton 0-2 9/15 @ So. Harrison 2-0 9/17 @ Kirksville 0-2 9/19 @ Lathrop Tourn. n/a 9/22 HAMILTON 2-1 9/28 @ Brookfield 2-0 9/29 EA. BUCHANAN 0-2 10/1 SO. HARRISON 2-0 10/3 @ Carrollton Quad 1st 10/5 @ Chillicothe 0-2 10/6 @ Lathrop 0-2 10/13 @ LeBlond 0-2 10/19 ST. JOE CHRISTIAN 0-2 10/20@ Savannah 0-2

HEAD COACH

Pam Bowden - second year

Sarah Washburn

Zoie McGowan

Maddy Couey

Juliet Schmaedeke

Career Record: - 11-18 Last Year’s Awards: Evy McCullough, second team all-district

VOLLEYBALL TEAM LOOKS TO BUILD

L

ast year the Trenton High School volleyball program took some strides as the program continues to build. Pam Bowden entered as the eighth head coach in the program’s history and guided the squad to an 11-

18 showing.

Trenton’s volleyball history is not a rich one.

The team has never been above .500 in the program’s 25 seasons. However, Trenton volleyball is nowhere near what it once was. The 11 wins

marked the third year in a row Trenton has reached a double-digit win total, something that never occurred in the first 22 years of the program’s existence. Trenton also reached the district semifinals for the fourth year in a row last

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FALL SPORTS 2020 season - something Trenton had only done twice prior to the recent streak beginning.

The program is definitely growing, something evident by the number of girls out for the sport. Trenton has 29 players in 2020. But reaching double digit wins and having big numbers are the norm now and Bowden hopes her program can take the next step in it’s building this year.

“Last year, coming in, I felt like we had goals to beat specific teams on an individual basis,” Bowden said. “As we have talked about our goal setting this year, we knew we were right under .500 last year and this year we want to get to .500 or be over it and better our position at districts.”

A big boost for Trenton in its chase for the first .500 season in school history is the return of Evy McCullough, an all-district performer last season. McCullough has been a force at the net for the Bulldogs in recent seasons, leading Trenton in

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES :: kills and blocks last season.

“Evy was a good player last year and she is a good role model for the younger kids and even her other teammates,” Bowden said. “I have high expectations for her and she should be a leader in the middle of the court for us.”

Trenton also returns Ava Simpson who took over as the team’s primary setter a year ago, doing so as just a freshman. Bowden sees the year of experience she got only benefitting her this year as she will look to set the table for McCullough and the team’s other hitters.

Libero Kenzie Yuille also returns to give Trenton added experience.

She spent all last season as the Bulldogs’ defensive specialist on the back line and will look to provide the team with the same effort this year.

Olivia Roberts and Jessa Shipley both got varsity time last year and should see their roles increased this season, while Lily Berti, Ally Yoder, Skylar Gott, Makenzie Epperson and

Katie Markell will look to provide an impact at the varsity level as well.

With 29 girls out for the sport, Trenton had plenty of options for Bowden to choose from when assembling her varsity squad. The 29 athletes makes the volleyball team the largest girls fall sports team at the school.

“It’s really good to have a lot of faces and a lot of support,” Bowden said. “We will just have to be really flexible when it comes to getting everybody playing time, but I think our varsity is strong and with this many girls I think we will be able to build good junior varsity and C teams as well.”

For Bowden, year two is an opportunity to improve as well. She was hired a year ago with little volleyball background and was largely learning with her team as the season went along. This year, Bowden feels more comfortable in her position and that should aid Trenton in its chase for a .500 record as well.

SECTION 2, PAGE 7 “Last year I knew very little about varsity volleyball at the high school level,” Bowden said. “This year I feel like we have a grasp on how things work and how things run and what to expect when we go certain places. I think that everybody is just a little more at ease this year.”

Trenton opens the season with four-straight home matches, the first of which is against Cameron on Monday at 5 p.m.

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PAGE 8, SECTION 2

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

FALL SPORTS 2020

JUST TWO STRONG, BUT GOLFERS READY FOR ’20

C

oach Travis Mullenix was worried about how many golfers he would have entering 2020. Three of the five players out a year ago were seniors. When the first practice of the year rolled around, Mullenix’s fears were realized when only Josie Chumbley and Mari Atup were present.

Trenton will bust out the clubs all the same, though, entering a season of uncertainty just two golfers strong. Chumbley and Atup, both juniors, enter their third season with the program. Both saw split varsity time as freshmen before becoming full-time staples of the lineup a year ago.

“It’s nice that (Chumbley and Atup) did come out as freshmen and I have had them for three years, this being the third of course,” coach Mullenix said. “We have a very good relationship and they are both very coachable. They both came in as freshmen with little to no experience, so it has been neat to see them progress and get better. Hopefully this year they can take an even larger step than they did last year.”

The duo will need to take a pretty

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Josie Chumbley

big step as they move into the one and two positions vacated by Maci Henson and Oakley Madden, both of whom graduated after all-conference and all-district seasons a year ago.

“We’ve talked about this being a big year to take a big step (forward),” Mullenix said. “Consistency is key in golf and we have been working on their swings and trying to reproduce the same swing over and over and they are getting better.”

Trenton opens the season on Tuesday, hosting Brookfield at 4 p.m.

Mari Atup

9/1 BROOKFIELD 9/3 @ Chillicothe 9/7 @ Marceline 9/8 @ Lawson Tourn.

9/10 @ Gallatin Quad 9/15 @ Gallatin Tourn.

9/16 @ Richmond Tourn.

9/21 @ Putnam County 9/24 @ Chillicothe Tourn.

9/28 @ GRC Tourn.

10/1 RICHMOND 10/6 PRINCETON 10/12 @ Districts

L W L n/a 1-3 6th n/a L 11th 3rd n/a W 6th

HEAD COACH Travis Mullenix - fifth year

Coach Travis Mullenix

Career Record: - 15-16 Last Year’s Awards: Maci Henson, All-GRC, AllDistrict; Oakley Madden, All-GRC, All-District.

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FALL SPORTS 2020

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

SECTION 2, PAGE 9

PRINCETON SOFTBALL

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Members of the 2020 Princeton Tigers softball team include, from left, front row, Becca Kile, Kaydee Cunningham, Jasmine Allen, Alison Allen, Lauren Krohn, Kyla Coffman; back row, Klaire Buckler, Katelyn Girdner, Megan Spencer, Hannah Meighen, Grace Kelly, Carsey Brown, Emma Walkup, Faith Siemer, Gracie Allnutt, Makenzie Dunkin and Makayla Meyer.

Not pictured is coach Heather Hall.

HEAD COACH Heather Hall - seventh year Career Record: - 65-57

Last Year’s Awards: Lindsey Batson, first team All-GRC, first team all-district, first team all-region, second team all-state; Lauren Krohn, first team All-

GRC, first team all-district, first team all-region, second team all-state; Lacie Lewis, second team All-GRC, first team all-district, first team all-region, first team allstate; Jasmine Allen, second team All-GRC, first team alldistrict, second team all-region; Carsey Brown, honorable mention AllGRC, first team all-district; Sara Spencer, first team alldistrict; Kennedy Norton,

first team all-district; Mackenzie Dunkin, first team all-district; Megan Spencer, second team alldistrict Key Losses: Lindsey Batson, Lacie Lewis, Sara Spencer, Kennedy Norton Key Returnees: Lauren Krohn, Jasmine Allen, Carsey Brown, Makenzie Dunkin, Megan Spencer

8/29 @ Albany Tourn.

8/31 @ Schuyler Co. 9/1 MAYSVILLE 9/3 @ So. Harrison 9/8 @ Trenton 9/10 MILAN 9/12 @ Chillicothe 9/14 @ Mercer 9/15 @ Gallatin 9/17 PUTNAM CO. 9/21 GILMAN CITY 9/22 POLO 9/26 @No.HarrisonTourn.

9/29 WORTH CO. 10/1 GRC CROSSOVER 10/5 @ Lathrop 10/6 @ Pattonsburg 10/8 @ King City 10/10 Princeton Tourn.

10/12 MARCELINE

1st n/a 1-4 9-3 1-4 19-0 n/a 11-1 6-5 6-12 14-0 13-1 n/a 9-6 1-0 n/a 10-0 n/a n/a n/a

“

This year our team is very young as we have 6 sophomores and 5 freshmen. We're coming off of a very successful season and the loss of a senior class that featured 4 key starters for us. There will be lots of opportunities for new players to step up into those roles and earn playing time. The key for us is going to be finding the right combination that will lead us to the most success this season. We're blessed with a group of really talented athletes, and I can't wait to see what they can do.

”

- Princeton Head Coach Heather Hall

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PAGE 10, SECTION 2

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

FALL SPORTS 2020

GRUNDY SOFTBALL

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Members of the 2020 Grundy County Panthers softball team include, from left, front row, Lacy Smith, Abby Smith, Skylar Bonnett, Molly Milazzo, Grace Larson; back row, Lainie Lewis, Anna Fordyce, Carly Smith, Lillian Fordyce, Daya Allnutt, Macy Saul, Abby Webb and Kammi Phillips. Not pictured is coach Chelsie Jones.

“

I am very excited to be joining this program. This is a great group of girls and I have been impressed all summer with their dedication to improving their game. We have a solid foundation of leadership from our upperclassmen and a large group of underclassmen with a lot of talent. With each practice I have noticed the girls stepping up and starting to come together as a team.

”

- Grundy Head Coach Chelsie Jones

8/28 @ Tri-County 9/1 EA. HARRISON 9/3 GILMAN CITY 9/9 @ Novinger 9/11 @ Green City 9/12 @ Milan Tourn.

9/15 WINSTON 9/17 @ No. Harrison 9/19 @ HDC Tourn.

9/22 TRI-COUNTY 9/24 @ Mercer 9/25 BRASHEAR 9/29 @ Gilman City 10/1 @ Linn Co. 10/5 MERCER 10/8 NOVINGER 10/12 @ Meadville

1-8 17-20 16-14 16-8 1-19 (1-2) 4-11 2-20 (1-1) 6-7 3-13 n/a n/a n/a 1-15 n/a 4-14

HEAD COACH Chelsie Jones - first year Career Record: - 0-0 Last Year’s Awards: Abigail Mathews, first team All-HDC; Bri Carpio, honorable mention All-HDC; Dorothy Mathews, honorable mention All-HDC Key Losses: Dorothy Mathews, Hannah Garcia, Bri Carpio, Abigail Mathews, Anna Milazzo Key Returnees: Macy Saul, Grace Larson, Daya Allnutt

grundy softball

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FALL SPORTS 2020

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

SECTION 2, PAGE 11

GRUNDY BASEBALL

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Members of the 2020 Grundy County Panthers baseball team include, from left, front row, Gauge MacGreggor, Zack Cross, Peyton Moore, Brett Otto, Corbin Axtell, Cooper Coffman, Payton Miller; back row, Fletcher Christy, Weston Carver, Cooper Lewis, Cadan Gann, Cole Peterson, Aiden Gann and Aidan Rains. Not pictured are Johannes Oaks and coach Ty Stillwell.

“

We have a great mixture of age on this year’s team. We add seven new freshmen to the team and are led by four seniors. We are expecting some of the freshmen to step in immediately and play a key role. We look to bring new life to the Grundy County baseball program this year.

”

- Grundy Head Coach Ty Stillwell

8/28 @ Tri-County 9/4 LA PLATA 9/9 @ Novinger 9/11 @ Green City 9/22 TRI-COUNTY 9/25 BRASHEAR 10/1 @ Linn County 10/8 NOVINGER 10/12 @ Meadville

20-10 0-15 n/a 0-13 14-15 7-15 n/a n/a 6-16

HEAD COACH Ty Stillwell - second year Career Record: - 1-5 Last Year’s Awards: n/a Key Losses: none Key Returnees: Caden Gann, Cooper Lewis

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:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

PAGE 12, SECTION 2

FALL SPORTS 2020

MERCER SOFTBALL

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Members of the 2020 Mercer Cardinals softball team include, from left, front row, Savannah Martin, Summer Martin, Brea Shipley, Rainey Michael, Emma Shipley, Raygen Vincent, Breanna Houk; back row, Jordan Coon, Nataleigh Klaiber, Kaydee Hill, Tori Meinecke, Emilea Brown, Maddi Fisher and Gracie Rogers. Not pictured is coach Melissa Hill.

“

We are excited about this season. We have a great group of returning players who set the tone and create a hard-working environment for our upcoming underclassmen. It is comforting to have the numbers this year with two young returning pitchers and a group of players who play multiple positions. It will be nice to have a few options to play around with.

”

- Mercer Head Coach Melissa Hill

9/8 @ Winston 12-2 9/12 @ Cainsville Tourn.

9/14 PRINCETON 1-11 9/17 @ Ea. Harrison 11-1 9/19 @ HDC Tourn.

2nd 9/21 ALBANY 0-15 9/24 GRUNDY COUNTY 13-3 9/29 NO. HARRISON 0-13 10/1 @ Gilman City 6-3 10/5 @ Grundy County 15-1 10/6 @ Tri-County 14-6 10/8 LINN COUNTY n/a 10/10 @ Princeton Tourn.

10/12 GREEN CITY 1-8

HEAD COACH Melissa Hill - fifth year Career Record: - 19-21 Last Year’s Awards: Kaydee Hill, unanimous AllHDC, first team all-district; Jordan Coon, All-HDC, first team all-district; Aubrey Wilson, All-HDC honorable mention, second team alldistrict; Rainey Michael, AllHDC honorable mention Key Losses: Aubrey Wilson

MERCER SOFTBALL

Key Returnees: Kaydee Hill, Jordan Coon, Rainey Michael

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:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

FALL SPORTS 2020

SECTION 2, PAGE 13

GILMAN CITY SOFTBALL 2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT 9/1 @ Pattonsburg 9/3 @ Grundy Co. 9/8 PATTONSBURG 9/15 NO. HARRISON 9/17 TRI-COUNTY 9/19 @ HDC Tourn.

9/21 @ Princeton 9/24 @ Ea. Harrison 9/29 GRUNDY CO. 10/1 MERCER 10/6 WINSTON 10/8 @ Tri-County 10/12 GALLATIN Members of the 2020 Gilman City Hawks softball team include, from left, front row, Reese Sperry, Riley Whitt, Sidney Gibson, Jolee Ward, Presley Burke, Robyn Snuffer; back row, Zoe Williamson, Ericka Burke, Laina Ward, Lindsey Snuffer, Jaiden Rainey, Ava Langfitt and Bailey Williamson. Not pictured are Chloe Norton and coach Holly Preston.

“

We actually have a full team this year, so that is exciting. We are expecting big things this year. I think we are very solid defensively this year.

We have only done batting stations right now, we haven’t really gotten into offense a whole lot at this point, but our defense has looked very strong. Lindsey (Snuffer) is back and will be my starting pitcher. She is my senior pitcher and she has pitched for the last three years. We are expecting really big things this year, we really are.

”

- Gilman City Head Coach Holly Preston

9-19 14-16 n/a 2-12 10-11 n/a n/a 15-2 n/a 3-6 4-5 n/a 1-12

HEAD COACH Holly Preston - seventh year Career Record: - 14-45 Last Year’s Awards: Lindsey Snuffer, first team All-HDC; Sidney Gibson, honorable mention All-HDC Key Losses: Michelle Sutton Key Returnees: Lindsey Snuffer, Jolee Ward, Sidney Gibson

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PAGE 14, SECTION 2

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

FALL SPORTS 2020

TRI-COUNTY SOFTBALL

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT

Members of the 2020 Tri-County Mustangs softball team include, from left, front row, Tori Dunks, Liberty Perkins; middle row, Carly Turner, Lucy Turner, Ciara King, Anissa Williams, Jordan Marrs, Kiera Huskey; back row, Destiny Gutshall, Kandyce Mooney, Lexi Wyant, Rikki Cook and Trystn Dunks. Not pictured is coach Dillon Lowrey.

“

8/28 GRUNDY CO. 9/1 TINA-AVALON 9/3 @ Winston 9/4 @ Meadville 9/8 EA. HARRISON 9/10 @ No. Harrison 9/17 @ Gilman City 9/21 POLO 9/22 @ Grundy Co. 9/24 PATTONSBURG 9/28 @ Braymer 10/2 @ HDC Tourn.

10/5 @ Linn County 10/6 MERCER 10/8 GILMAN CITY 10/12 @ Stewartsville

8-1 22-0 8-0 14-4 24-5 4-15 11-10 n/a 7-6 0-10 0-11 n/a n/a 6-14 n/a 0-13

HEAD COACH

We’re looking forward to this season with a lot of returning starters eager to play. Last year we were fortunate to have quite a bit of success with some strong upperclassman. Most upperclassmen are returning this year Dillon Lowrey with our senior first baseman and strong batter, Rikki Cook. Our all-conference player, Carly Turner, is a strong pitcher and also ready to go this season. These girls are excited to get back on the field and see the competition - first year these next few months.

Career Record: - 0-0

”

- Tri-County Head Coach Dillon Lowrey

Last Year’s Awards: Carly Turner, All-HDC; Rikki Cook, honorable mention All-HDC; Kiera Huskey, honorable mention All-HDC; Anissa Williams, honorable mention, All-HDC Key Losses: none Key Returnees: Carly Turner, Rikki Cook, Kiera Huskey, Anissa Williams

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FALL SPORTS 2020

:: REPUBLICAN-TIMES ::

SECTION 2, PAGE 15

TRI-COUNTY BASEBALL

2020 SCHEDULE 2019 DATE OPPONENT RESULT 8/28 8/31 9/4 9/17 9/22 10/2 10/5

GRUNDY CO. ATLANTA @ Meadville NOVINGER @ Grundy Co. @ Macon Co. @ Linn Co.

10-20 0-12 2-19 5-16 15-14 7-6 n/a

HEAD COACH John Roberts - second year Members of the 2020 Tri-County Mustangs baseball team include, from left, front row, Michael Holtzclaw, Kayden Malott, Cale Turner, William Terhune; back row, head coach John Roberts, Jaxson Waterbury, Montee Hughes, Garrett Skinner, Logan Malott and assistant coach Troy Kull.

“

We improved a lot last year as the season went along. We won our first couple of games in the history of the program in the fall. Our last two games were walk-off wins so it gave us a lot of momentum. Granted, we had a good number of seniors, but the guys that are here really want to play ball. They are a hardworking bunch of guys and really good representatives for our school. We need a few more of them because our numbers are kind of down right now. If we can just get our numbers up a little bit I think we will be poised to compete every time we play.

”

- Tri-County Head Coach John Roberts

Career Record: - 2-4 Last Year’s Awards: n/a Key Losses: Johnny Cosper, Jared Johnson, Reid Simmons Key Returnees: Garrett Skinner, Jaxson Waterbury

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