2017 spring sports web

Spring Sports Preview The Iola Register | Saturday, March 18, 2017

Finding the Right Mix Combination of veterans and youth guides Iola softball team.

Page 4

The Future is Now Iola senior Jadyn Sigg

Iola baseball turns to sophomore to lead its pitching staff Page 2

2 Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Young Mustangs set to step up

T HEAD COACH: Mark Percy ROSTER: Seniors - Ben Cooper, Darius Greenawalt, Coleson Wiggin. Juniors - Evan Sigg, Ethan Tavarez, Isaac Vink, William Winner. Sophomores - Blake Ashmore, Hunter Baughn, Derek Bycroft, Matt Karr, Dylan Newland, Hunter Preston, Kane Rogers, Nic Zimmerman. Freshmen - Casen Barker, Calvin Delich, Cal Leonard, Zane Whitney, Brady Wiggin.

SCHEDULE: March 27 - Burlington (JV) 28 - at Burlington (V) 31 - at Burlington (JV) April 1 - (V) Chanute, (JV) at Chanute 3 - at Prairie View (JV) 4 - Prairie View (V) 7 - at Independence (V) 10 - Anderson County (JV) 11 - at Anderson Co. (V) 17 - at Osawatomie (JV) 18 - Osawatomie (V) 20 - Humboldt (JV) 25 - Parsons (V) 27 - at Neodesha (V) May 1 - at Wellsville (JV) 2 - Wellsville (JV) 5 - at Independence (JV) 8 - Santa Fe Trail (JV) 9 - at Santa Fe Trail (V) 15-18 - Regionals

he Iola Mustangs have to replace one of the Pioneer League’s top pitchers with the departure of last season’s ace Ethan Schiebmier.

The absence of such a talented arm would be a crushing blow to most squads, but Mustang skipper Mark Percy is confident that his team can overcome the loss because of the depth Iola has.

“At this point, we only have about 20 kids out, which isn’t very many, but our quality is really good,” Percy said. “We are in pretty good shape. We don’t have anyone out here who lacks experience and that is huge... Over half of our 20 can pitch.

“Whenever I talk to other coaches they say, ‘Boy, we don’t have much pitching.’

But we have a lot even though some of them are younger.”

The headliner among the arms is sophomore Derek Bycroft, who ascended into sharing the ace role by the end of his freshman campaign.

“I’m ready,” Bycroft said.

“I’ll take whatever role coach wants me to take and I’ll embrace it and do as well as I can.”

Behind Bycroft, senior Ben Cooper will likely go into the second spot in the rotation.

“I just want to lead by example this season,” Cooper said.

Kane Rogers, Coleson Wiggin, Isaac Vink, Ethan Tavarez and Darius Greenawalt provide the depth in the rotation and bullpen that Percy is so excited about.

Greenawalt, specifically, is a player that has impressed his coach with the amount of work he has put toward

Iola junior Isaac Vink slides across home plate to score a run for the Mustangs. REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA

improving.

“We had offseason throwing and if you went every single time it was 50 times,” Percy said. “Darius was in it for 48 of those times. He has improved a ton and probably has as good of arm as anyone on our team.”

The Mustangs lost their entire starting outfield from last season and also lost starting first baseman Ethan Sigg.

Percy will turn to a wellstocked group of young players to fill those holes.

“I’m really excited,” Bycroft said. “A lot of those guys are in my class and I’ve played a lot of ball with them so I know what they can do.

They are going to be great for us this season.”

Sophomore Blake Ashmore will likely jump into the starting lineup at second base while Vink shifts from that spot into center field to replace Brett Taylor.

Wiggin, who split time with Tavarez at catcher, fig-

ures to be the everyday first baseman and cede the behind-the-plate duties to Tavarez and sophomore Nic Zimmerman, who showed off his talented bat last summer during the American Legion season with the Iola Indians when he served as their No. 3 hitter.

Rogers is another player who used the Legion to show what he can do. Rogers gives Iola a versatile option who can fill in for Bycroft at third base or Cooper at shortstop when they pitch and take one of the outfield spots.

“When you have as many guys that can pitch as we do, you need somebody that can move into their spot,” Percy said. “We have to be pretty versatile. We will be younger than I thought we were going to be, but I am not down as far as our talent and the effort these guys are putting in.”

All in all, the Mustangs have a lot to replace from last year’s team, but with

the plethora of young talent ready to fill in, hopes remain high for the defending Pioneer League champions.

NEW COACH Brett Taylor wasn’t the only Taylor that Percy had to replace from last year’s squad. Assistant coach Marty Taylor stepped down after his son’s graduation, leaving an opening for Percy to fill.

Percy thinks he found the right person to fill Taylor’s shoes in former Mustang player Ryan Latta.

“I coached him and I like his mentality and how he works with the kids,” Percy said. “All of our guys respect him and he has always been a student of the game.”

For most of the players, Latta has been their coach at the youth level.

“He coached us all the way back into little league traveling ball years and he has always been a great coach,” Bycroft said. “He knows his stuff."

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The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Fillies return experienced squad

W HEAD COACH: Chris Weide ROSTER: Seniors - Sydney Wade, Jadyn Sigg, Riley Murry, Sofia Generi, Morgan DelaCruz. Juniors - Chloe Gardner, Colbi Riley, Scout Rush, Katelynn Olsten, Emily Mollins, Carley Cescon, Camryn Freimiller.

Sophomore - Mia Aronson, Madisyn Holloway, Sierra Snavely, Paige Burrough, Kassy Shelby, Katie Weide, Kendra Sprague.

Freshmen - Nissa Fountain, Kelsey Morrison, Torre DePriest, Gabby Richards, Bre Northcutt, Zavi Evans, MJ Neises, Courtney Jones, Sadrie Overall, Gabby Lampe, Makayla Perez, Marissa Van Houden, Jada Stogsdill.

SCHEDULE: March 28 - at Burlington (JV/V) 31 - at Burlington (JV) April 1 - (V) Chanute, (JV) at Chanute 4 - Prairie View (JV/V) 7 - at Independence (V) 11 - at Anderson Co. (JV/V) 18 - Osawatomie (JV/V) 20 - Humboldt (JV) 25 - Parsons (V) 27 - at Neodesha (V) May 2 - Wellsville (JV/V) 5 - at Independence (JV) 9 - at Santa Fe Trail (JV/V) 15-18 - Regionals

hen Fillies’ coach Chris Weide took over the Iola softball team last year, he was dealt a very young team with only two seniors and only one of those being a full-time starter.

Now in Year Two, Weide still has a young team, but it comes with a lot of experience led by its three returning senior starters.

“It is pretty exciting,” Weide said. “The girls are buying into the program. They are enjoying themselves and having fun and we are seeing some success. It has made us raise our expectations coming into this year.”

Center fielder Jadyn Sigg has embraced more of a leadership role this season.

She was the lone senior captain to lead the team during its early preseason practices while shortstop Sydney Wade and first baseman Riley Murry were busy advancing the Fillies to the substate finals in basketball.

“It is kind of scary sometimes because I’m not used to being the leader,” Sigg said.

Sigg’s move into center field last season solidified the Fillies defense. With eight returning starters, Sigg will remain in center field.

“I’m really comfortable in center now after playing there most of last year,” she said.

The entire starting infield returns as well — with the exception of Ashlie Shields at catcher. Wade and Murry are anchors at their spots while junior third baseman Chloe Gardner was the top hitter for the Fillies at .403 as a sophomore.

“We are only getting better,” Gardner said. “A lot of

Iola sophomore Sierra Snavely throws a pitch during a game last season. REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA people are stepping up.”

Late in the season, Katelynn Olsten took the second base job and now enters her junior year as a leading candidate to start there again this season.

Junior Scout Rush will likely take over behind the plate for Shields.

“If the season started today, Scout would be our starting catcher,” Weide said.

“When Ashlie had a concussion last year, Scout stepped

in and did a really, really good job. Kendra Sprague caught a lot for the J.V. last year and with some of the freshmen we have, there should be a good competition. Scout is doing a good job though. If she can build on what she did last year, we will be looking for big things out of her.”

Everyone figures to bump up one spot in the lineup behind Wade — the team’s leadoff hitter — with Shields

departing the No. 2 spot.

The corner outfield spots will see the most competition for playing time with sophomores Mia Aronson and Madisyn Holloway having an inside track along with several other returning players. A huge freshman class — 13 players out — will definitely factor into the competition.

“We have a ton of freshmen out,” Weide said. “They are talented too, you can tell they have played a little ball.

They are aggressive and we are going to look for some big things out of them as well.”

In the pitcher’s circle, the Fillies should be in good hands with sophomore Sierra Snavely returning and Aronson back to provide depth.

“You can already see more leadership out of both of them,” Weide said. “They know what we expect and they are showing the younger girls what to do. Not only are they great pitchers, but they are showing the leadership that they will have to provide in the future, too.”

Snavely was spectacular last season as a freshman with a 3.96 ERA in 99 innings pitched. She displayed the stuff to put away opposing batters with 96 strikeouts — 48 of those swinging — and also had top-notch control with only 20 walks.

Aronson filled in for Snavely late in the season when Snavely was ill and flashed that she can be a productive member of the pitching staff as well.

With all that experience back, the Fillies hope to hit the ground running and get off to a strong start to begin the season.

“I think that we could go to state this year,” Sigg dared to venture.

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

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6 Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Iola runners making strides

T HEAD COACH: Dana Daugharthy ROSTER: Boys: Seniors - Chase Regehr, RJ Holding, Trea Mitchell. Juniors - Alex Morrison, Bryce Andres, Christian Jackson, Ethan Holloway, Jonathan Rodewald, Kanyon Beasley, Kieffer Endicott, Nathan Sprague, Cale Barnhart.

Sophomores - Cole Regehr, Evan Nelson, Hunter Mittlemeir, Alex Holding, Tayton Driskel, Trevor Stover, Tyler Garner, Trey Bruner. Freshmen - Andre Quinn, Christian Floyd, Dan Foust, Gary Lower, Pieter Venter, Tavon Bass.

Girls: Senior - Chelsea Ray. Juniors - Erin Klubek, Madison Carlin, Sloan Geddry, Kylee Maloney. Sophomores Ashleigh Nicholas, Brie-Anna Winner. Freshmen - Christine Helman, Elka Billings, Ella Taylor, Elysia Kunkler, Melany Dean, Sierra Petty.

SCHEDULE: March 31 - at LCHS (V/JV) April 6 - at Paola (V) 10 - at Chanute (JV) 14 - at Anderson County 21 - at Fredonia (V) 25 - at Fort Scott (JV) 27 - at Osawatomie (V) May 2 - at Burlington (V) 4 - at Humboldt (JV) 5 - at Chanute (V) 8 - Home Meet (JV) 11 - League at Wellsville 19 - Regionals

he Iola track and field team has a very interesting dynamic between the Mustangs and Fillies as they enter the 2017 season.

Where the Mustangs are a veteran group led by state qualifiers from a year ago like senior Chase Regehr and junior Nathan Sprague, the Fillies are a young squad with sophomore Ashleigh Nicholas as the only returning state qualifier from last season. Thus the Fillies are pinning a lot of their hopes for this season on a loaded freshman class.

That dynamic is similar to the one that existed during cross-country and that ended with both teams winning Pioneer League championship crowns.

Could the track and field squad celebrate a similar fate? Coach Dana Daugharthy certainly thinks it’s possible.

“My goal ever since I’ve taken over as coach is to win the Pioneer League with both the girls and the boys,” Daugharthy said. “With the boys, I think we have a legitimate shot and if we could only get a couple of more girls out, the girls have a chance, because we are close.”

Regehr and Sprague led the 4x800 relay team that made it all the way to Wichita last season.

With all that talent back in that relay, Regehr expects to return to the state meet as a team. Regehr is also setting his sights on qualifying for the state meet in his individual events this season.

“I want to go to state this season in two events instead of just one,” Regehr said. “I’d also like to win the league 800 meters. I was second last

Iola junior Nathan Sprague runs during last season’s State Championships in Wichita. REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA year, but this year it should be mine to win.”

One of the other intriguing names for the boys’ team is sophomore Tayton Driskel, whose speed was on display this fall during football season.

“Tayton will be a major key for us,” Regehr said. “I expect him to score a lot of points for us and his jumping ability really helps us in those events.”

For the Fillies, Nicholas has already become one of

the veterans and a leader on the team.

“I am so ready to go,” Nicholas said. “We have so many more hurdlers now and I’m really proud to be able to pass some of the things that I know down to them.”

Nicholas qualified for state in the 100-meter hurdles last season, and plans on not only a stronger performance this year but also wants to add the 300-meter hurdles to her state schedule.

“I want to do way better than I did last year,” Nicholas said. “Last year when I went to state, I barely even made it over the first hurdle without breaking a hip, because I was not ready. I definitely want to make state in the 300-meter hurdles, too.”

The hurdles figure to be the strength for the Fillies with freshman Elysia Kunkler joining Nicholas on a mission to dominate the rest of the Pioneer League in that event.

“I’m really excited about the prospect of adding Elysia, but really there are several freshmen I’m excited about,” Daugharthy said.

“Elka Billings is going to have a really good year and Ella Taylor will, too. I think there are a lot of freshmen girls that are going to surprise some people this year.”

Nicholas said she is excited to be pushed in practice throughout the season as the two young hurdlers plan to make each other better as they roll toward state.

“I know she will push me because I know she is definitely faster than me at the 100-meter hurdles. We don’t know about the 300-meters yet,” Nicholas said. “Last year, I taught her how to keep her arms tucked in so we help each other.”

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The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Lacy steps in to save golf program W

HEAD COACH: L.C. Lacy ROSTER: Chloe Hageman Johnathan Lynn Drake Sell Parker Smith Cassiday Lowell Annika Hobbs Jeremy Waldman Jaxson Wiltse Gentry Dougherty SCHEDULE: April 4 - (JV) Iola Invitational 5- at Independence 11 - at Pittsburg Invitational 17 - (JV) at Anderson County 24 - Buck Quincy Invitational 31 - at Parsons May 1 - (JV) at Independence 1 - League at Santa Fe Trail 2 - at Coffeyville 8 - at Chanute Invitational 9 - at Anderson County Invitational 11 - at Prairie View Invitational 15 - Regionals

hen L.C. Lacy saw that the Iola golf program was in danger, the long-time general manager at the Allen County Country Club knew he needed to step up to help save the program that he cares so much about.

“They couldn’t find a coach when Mr. (Doug) Kerr wanted to go to track and they had even talked about not having a program because they couldn’t find a coach,” Lacy said. “I didn’t want that to happen.”

Lacy takes over for Kerr, who began the rebuilding project last year after losing a talented group of seniors the year before, and inherits a group that gained a lot of experience last season.

“We have a few players that have played some and have been around the game, but we need to tweak their games a little bit,” Lacy said. “I’ve watched them out here for a couple of years and I’ve seen things that they do wrong, as far as not following through with the club and things like that, so we are working on those things.”

Lacy hopes to translate some of his knowledge from his years of experience with the game to his young players, but recognizes that it will be a growing process.

“They have to practice and learn a lot of things with experience,” Lacy said during the first week of practice.

“We aren’t even going to go onto the golf course this week. We are going to just work on chipping, putting and striking the ball. Once we get that down, we can start playing and I will work with them as we play.”

It is a good thing that Lacy stepped in, too, because the

Iola sophomore Chloe Hageman follows through on a swing last season at Allen County Country Club. REGISTER/ JON DYKSTRA

program appears to be growing in popularity with nine players out for the team this season.

One area where a lot of that growth can be attributed is on the Fillies’ side of the team where sophomore Chloe Hageman — the only girl out for the team last season — is now joined by Annika Hobbs and Cassiday Lowell.

“I am so stoked that other girls are playing,” Hageman

said. “I think it is great.”

Hageman saw a lot of growth in her game last season and is excited to work closer with Lacy who has helped her improve while she has been casually golfing at the country club before, but never had the opportunity to actually coach her on a consistent level.

“L.C. has always been a big part (of my golfing experience),” Hageman said. “So

having somebody that you are close with already is going to make the season more fun. He also knows what he is talking about. Golf is what he does.”

Having a year of high school golf under her belt makes Hageman confident that she and her team will improve this year, “Having that year is going to make everything easier,” Hageman said. “Last year, I feel like we were all nervous and didn’t know what to expect. But this year we know what to expect and we are more confident in ourselves.”

Junior Drake Sell returns to the team as one of its leaders and is excited to get the season going after the strides he made last season.

“I think we are all ready to be coached this year,” Sell said. “Last year, we all just wanted to come out and get a feel for it, but this year we are ready to buckle down and learn more about golf.”

One player that Lacy is looking forward to seeing play more this year is sophomore Jeremy Waldman.

“Jeremy has played and he practices a lot in the summer out here,” Lacy said. “I think he could get a lot better.”

Despite being an underclassman, Waldman looks forward to being one of the team’s leaders this season.

“I am pretty excited to teach some of our new people some good steps about golf,” Waldman said.

Growth is going to be a theme of the season.

“My goal for them is to get them better by the end of the season than they are now and get them to playing better, scoring better and being able to say they did a better job and feel better about the game,” Lacy said.

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10 Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Fawson, Allen lead Mustangs

S HEAD COACH: Dan Berg ROSTER: Rhett Allen ................... 12 Isaiah Fawson .............. 12 Nathan Cunningham .... 11 Jackson Cone .............. 10 Jonathan Miller ............ 10 Bret Plumlee ................ 10 Eason Chueng ...............9 Karson McGraw ............9 Adryan Nading .............9 Elijah Fawson ................9 SCHEDULE: March 14 - Chanute, Pittsburg, Fort Scott at Independence 16 - Columbus, Parsons, Independence at Iola 30 - Pittsburg, Chanute, Columbus, at Coffeyville April 1 - at Neodesha Invitational 4 - Ottawa, Fort Scott at Chanute 6 - LCHS, Columbus, Fort Scott at Pittsburg 10 - (JV) at Parsons 11 - Parsons, Chanute, Pittsburg at Coffeyville 13 - LCHS, Columbus at Chanute 21 - Columbus, Fort Scott, Paola at Chanute May 1 - (JV) Pittsburg, Independence at Coffeyville 5-6 - Regionals/Substate1

enior Isaiah Fawson has a bad taste in his mouth going into his final season as a member of the Mustangs tennis team. And the only remedy is a state tournament appearance.

“I’d like to make it to state this year,” Fawson said. “After missing out on state in basketball, I’d like to redeem myself in tennis.”

Last season, the Mustangs sent three players to Topeka for the state meet, but Fawson wasn’t among them. As the No. 2 singles player for Iola, Fawson was eliminated one win away from state.

Now as he enters the season as the team’s No. 1 singles player following the graduation of Colby Works, who finished 11th at state last year, Fawson appears to be in good shape to make a run at it with an admittedly simple playing style.

“I like to hit it as hard as I can,” Fawson said with a laugh. “I just like to hit it hard.”

Fawson says that playing with Works the last few years has helped him expand his game and he thinks it has made him a more complete player.

“I’ll be taking Colby’s spot so I have a lot to live up to,” Fawson said. “Colby is a really consistent player. He was always a precise player. Instead of relying on the power game, he could place the ball wherever he wanted. He tried to drill that into me so instead of just trying to kill it every time, I could try to be a little bit more strategic in my playing style.”

Fawson is looking forward to the challenge of playing as a No. 1 player.

“The competition will be a lot steeper so that will be a lot more exciting and a lot more

Iola senior Isaiah Fawson follows through on a serve last season in Independence. REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA

intense,” Fawson said.

Fawson isn’t the only singles player with his eyes on the state tournament.

Rhett Allen joined forces with senior Mason Key last year to form the Mustangs’ top doubles team and were able to advance all the way to Topeka. But with Key gone, Iola coach Dan Berg has shifted Allen into singles competition.

“I worked on a lot of individual training in Topeka over the summer to try and get myself ready to compete in singles,” Allen said. “I need to rely on myself and not a partner. It is all about me this year.”

Allen said he is looking for-

ward to the challenge of playing singles and getting to go against Fawson every day in practice.

“We push each other and hopefully help each other,” Allen said. “That way we can both make it to state.”

Berg said he will be counting on both of his seniors to provide a lot of leadership this season.

“They are both four-year players even though it is only my third year,” Berg said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing them compete as well as they did last year and the year before, because they have always done a great job.”

With Key gone and Allen switching to singles, last sea-

son’s No. 2 doubles team of sophomores Jonathan Miller and Bret Plumlee will be elevated to the No. 1 doubles spot.

“Jonathan and Bret really improved last year as the year went on,” Berg said. “The longer they played together, the better they got. They should be ready to step up and help us a lot this year.”

The second doubles team spot is up for grabs, but with 10 players out for tennis this season, Berg looks forward to the competition for varsity spots.

“We have a lot of first-year players and I am still trying to find out who will end up being our second doubles team."

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The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Splane, Hoepker lead Cub staff F

BASEBALL HEAD COACH: Matt Miller SOFTBALL HEAD COACH: Brad Piley SCHEDULE: March 28 - Neodesha 30 - at Erie April 3 - at Leon-Bluestem 10 - Eureka 13 - at Burlington 21 - Home Tournament 25 - at Cherryvale 28 - Lebo May 4 - at Uniontown 8 - Caney 15-20 - Regionals

amiliar faces will continue to play huge roles for the Cubs in the spring as seniors Daylon Splane and Rayce Hoepker transition from the basketball court to the baseball diamond.

“We just want to get to state,” Hoepker said. “We will do anything needed to get there.”

With Jake Haviland now pitching for Allen Community College, Splane and Hoepker will transition into the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the rotation.

Both offer great options for the Cubs. Splane was 5-0 last season with a 0.89 ERA, while Hoepker was 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA. “It is good to have that experience,” Splane said. “If you don’t have experienced

pitchers, you are going to have some problems going into the season. I feel pretty confident. We should be good.”

They should also find themselves near the top of the batting order after strong years at the plate last season.

Hoepker hit .412 last season with 17 RBIs while Splane hit .340 with 25 RBIs. Hoepker has also been working on playing shortstop this season.He and Splane will likely end up rotating between pitcher and shortstop.

“That is new for me, because I have normally played third base before,” Hoepker said.

Junior left-hander Lance Daniels will also be moved up in the batting order after hitting .340 last year with 18 RBIs.

Humboldt senior Daylon Splane pitches in Yates Center last season. REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA

Cubs move forward without Richey

T

Humboldt junior pitcher Rylan Wilhite throws a pitch during a game last season in Yates Center. REGISTER/JON

DYKSTRA

his season will be different for the Cubs without Courtney Richey on the mound, but different doesn’t mean less successful.

Even without the All-State pitcher leading their club, the Cubs remain one of the most talented teams around and a lot of that credit goes to coach Brad Piley who always has an eye to the future.

“There might be a lot of teams that we face that think we are going to be down without Courtney, but I think we will surprise them,” Piley said.

Last season, despite having Richey, Piley gave thensophomore Rylan Wilhite plenty of starts to help prepare her for the next two

years when she becomes the top Cubs’ pitcher.

“I am looking forward to this season and proving a lot of people wrong who think we can’t do anything without Courtney,” Wilhite said.

“We are going to do great things.”

With Wilhite becoming a full-time pitcher, that opens up a hole at shortstop, but Piley says that last season’s catcher Makaylah McCall will move out into the field and he is very confident that the senior will be fine.

“Wherever I put Makaylah she is going to do well,” Piley said.

The only other major loss for the Cubs is center fielder Hannah Hulett. Piley is remedying for that by shifting sophomore Aricah McCall

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Saturday, March 18, 2017

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14 Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Puckett joins a loaded Cubs core

TRACK HEAD COACH: Eric Carlson TRACK SCHEDULE: March 31 - at Central Heights April 6 - at Eureka 11 - at Yates Center 14 - at Pitt St. Relays 21 - Fredonia Relays 21-22 - KU Relays 25 - at Burlington 27 - at Neodesha May 4 - Home Meet 8 - at Iola 11 - League at Leon-Bluestem 20 - Regionals

GOLF HEAD COACH: Eric Sparks

GOLF SCHEDULE: March 27 - at Caney April 4 - at Burlington 6 - (JV) at Uniontown 10 - (JV) at Erie 11 - at Pittsburg 18 - at Fredonia 24 - at Iola May 1 - (JV) at Eureka 2 - at Neodesha 8 - League 15 - Regionals

T

he Humboldt Cubs certainly weren’t going to lack for talent on a girls’ team that returned a lot from its core group last season, but adding an extra state qualifier isn’t something coach Eric Carlson is going to complain about.

The Cubs add Marmaton Valley transfer Savanna Puckett, who qualified for the state meet in the 100-meter dash last season. Adding a sprinter gives the Cubs something they have lacked in past seasons.

“We’ve never really had just a straight sprinter so as a coach, I’m trying to do a little bit more homework and some reading on how best to train her,” Carlson said.

In addition to Puckett, the Cubs return plenty of state-level talent. Sophomore Kaylie Johnson and junior Britnee Works will both be seeking a return to the state

meet after qualifying in jumping events last season. Annalise Whitcomb, Lizzie Myers and Padyne Durand also return after making state.

“On the girls side we bring back just about everybody, so I am really excited about the girls,” Carlson said. “We have freshmen that are really going to help us out, too, so the girls are sitting really good.”

The boys’ team will be led by a familiar face to local track and field fans as Joe Kline is back for his senior season.

The Cubs lost several state qualifiers from last year.

Carlson said he is looking forward to finding out which young athletes are going to rise up to lead the team with Kline.

“We aren’t going to be as strong or deep as what we were, but we have a lot of talent and experience coming back and we are working

Sellman returns to lead Humboldt golfers

R

yan Sellman didn’t waste any time making an impact on the Humboldt golf team as a freshman and now he hopes the encore performance is even better than the opening act.

Sellman finished 37th at the state tournament last season.

“I know what I have to improve on,” Sellman said following last season’s state meet. “I’m really motivated

because I want to get back to state.”

While Sellman is certainly this year’s leader, the team has terrific numbers out as coach Eric Sparks prepares for his second season leading the program.

Senior Matt Lea should also provide leadership.

Rounding out the rest of the Humboldt roster is Drake Hottenstein, Roni Bulk, Reid Smith, Jacob Fudge, Jacob Lea and Michael Young.

Humboldt sophomore Kaylie Johnson jumps during last year’s state championships in Wichita. REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA

Wagner eyes state return for Wildcats

HEAD COACH: Kevin Barnes SCHEDULE: April 3 - at Erie 4 - at Burlington 18 - at Fredonia 27 - at Sedan May 2 - at Neodesha 4 - at Uniontown 8 - at Jayhawk-Linn

Y

ates Center senior Remi Wagner is back for his senior season and is ready to make one more run at a state championship.

He took ninth at the State Sand-Greens Championships as a junior and as a sophomore.

Senior Jon Barnes will also be a leader for the Wildcats this season.

Krais Baker, James Hess and Reece Solander will round out the Wildcat lineup this season.

The Wildcats will begin their season on April 3 in Erie.

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Saturday, March 18, 2017

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16 Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Young Wildcats seek improvement

A BASEBALL HEAD COACH: Derek Scharff SOFTBALL HEAD COACH: Craig Richey SCHEDULE: March 28 - Altoona-Midway (Softball Only) 30 - at Waverly/Lebo April 3 - St. Paul (Baseball Only) 3 - at Chetopa (JV Softball Only) 6 - at Yates Center 10 - Burlingame 11 - Northeast Arma (JV Softball Only) 17 - at Uniontown 18 - Uniontown (JV Softball Only) 20 - at St. Paul 24 - at Northeast Arma May 2 - Chetopa (Softball Only) 4 - Oswego 8 - at Jayhawk-Linn 15-17 - Regionals

s has been the case in every boys’ sport this year, Marmaton Valley will trot out a very young team when the baseball season opens.

For Wildcat coach Derek Scharff, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as he looks to rebuild the Marmaton Valley program.

“We are really young,” Scharff said, who is in his 12th season as the Wildcat coach. “We don’t have really any seniors, but we have a pretty big junior class and that is where most of our pitching is so good.”

The Wildcats are hoping to get a lift with the return of

Marmaton Valley junior Justice Pugh slides across home plate to score a run last season in Moran. REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA

junior Brock Hall — who is a pitcher and catcher — to the squad after he missed last season due to an arm injury suffered during football sea-

son.

Other key returners include juniors Trevor Wilson, Justice Pugh and Korbin Smith and sophomore Isaac

Heskett.

“I just want us to throw strikes and be competitive,” Scharff said. “Last season, I thought we would do a little better pitching, but we struggled and put a lot of people on base and it’s hard to win that way.”

The Wildcats will have a new assistant coach this season. Former star pitcher Garrett Ericson — a 2009 graduate — returns to join his former coach.

Richey looks forward to building Wildcat program

C

Marmaton Valley sophomore Karlie Stephens pitches last season in Moran. REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA

raig Richey may be a new face with the Marmaton Valley softball program, but he has certainly seen a lot of high school softball the last few years.

The father of former Humboldt All-State pitcher Courtney Richey always knew that he eventually wanted to coach at the high school level so when the Wildcat job became available, he jumped on it.

“I love coaching softball,” Richey said. “I eat, breathe and sleep it and I thought this was a unique opportunity, so I took it.”

Richey also has the good fortune of having last year’s head coach Kaylin Colgan back as an assistant coach to keep some continuity.

“She has some experience and the seeds have already

been planted here,” Richey said. “Now we just have to fine-tune them.”

That fine-tuning is going well so far for Richey.

“The girls seem to be really buying into the program,” Richey said. “They are responding awesomely, I can’t complain. They are giving me 150 percent.”

Richey inherits a very good starting piece to build with in sophomore pitcher Karlie Stephens, who is coming off a strong freshman season.

“Hopefully she makes some strides this year,” Richey said.

Isabelle Bigelow, Makayla Brooks, Shayla Brooks also return after playing key roles last season.

“We have a good core of girls,” Richey said. “I think the sky is the limit.”

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Saturday, March 18, 2017

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18 Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Wildcat girls go for more history

T HEAD COACH: Steve Smith SCHEDULE: April 4 - at Oswego 11 - at Yates Center 18 - Waverly Invitational at Burlington 20 - SCC Invitational at Burlington 25 - JV at Fort Scott 28 - at Madison May 4 - at Humboldt 8 - JV at Iola 11 - League at NE Arma

he Marmaton Valley girls cross country team accomplished something that the school had never done before by going to the state meet as a team. And now with several of the key figures from that team joining forces again, the Wildcats hope to accomplish big things in track and field, too.

“I’m very excited,” Marmaton Valley coach Steve Smith said. “We have a lot of potential.”

Junior Shelby Yoho was the leader of this year’s cross country team and now as a returning state qualifier in track and field, she will be counted on to continue to lead.

Fellow junior Megan Ensminger also returns after making it to state last season.

The team will get a boost

from the return of senior Kyla Drake. Drake was a state qualifier as a sophomore, but opted to play softball instead of going out for track and field as a junior last season.

Senior Brooklynn Newman is also back as a thrower.

“It is always good to have those seniors out for their leadership qualities,” Smith said.

The boys team faces more of a transition year after losing state qualifiers Brady Newman and Austin Deer to graduation, but Smith is looking forward to seeing a lot of growth among the returners.

Some key returners for the boys include junior Josh Wise, sophomore Gage Griffith and junior Will Holman.

Marmaton Valley junior Shelby Yoho, left, passes a runner during last season’s State Championships in Wichita.

REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA

Lancers have high hopes

C

Crest junior Caleb Stephens high jumps during the State Championships in Wichita. REGISTER/JON DYKSTRA

rest goes into this season with both the boys and girls teams returning a state qualifier and with the talent level on coach Alan Newton’s squad, they are expecting to see their state numbers grow.

Sophomore Camryn Strickler made state in the 300-meter hurdles and Newton expects her to also qualify in the 100-meter hurdles.

“Camryn and Regan (Godderz, another key sophomore) just finished up basketball and they look like they are in great shape,” Newton said.

Senior Laurel Godderz just missed qualifying in the javelin and discus last season and Newton says he has adjustments for her that should help her as well.

“She has barely missed state

two years in a row and I picked up a few adjustments that we can make,” Newton said.

Another senior, Karlee Hammond, has joined the team and has Newton intrigued by her talent.

“Karlee is multi-talented,” Newton said. “She didn’t go out for track the first two years I was here and that is unfortunate because she has a lot of potential and natural talent.”

On the boys’ team, junior Caleb Stephens returns after making it to Wichita last season in the high jump.

Freshman Billy Lyda also has a good chance to make state this year.

“Last year as an eighth grader, he ran an 11.25 in the 100 which would have placed him at state,” Newton said. “He also ran a mid-50 second 400."

HEAD COACH: Alan Newton SCHEDULE: April 6 - at Eureka 11 - at Pleasanton 20 - SCC Invitational at Burlington 24 - at Jayhawk-Linn 25 - JV at Fort Scott 28 - at Madison May 4 - at Humboldt 9 - at Iola 11 - League at NE Arma

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Saturday, March 18, 2017

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20 Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Ludolph, strong girls’ core lead Titans

S HEAD COACH: Jeff True SCHEDULE: April 7 - at Lyndon 11 - at Yates Center 18 - Waverly Invitational at Burlington 20 - SCC Invitational at Burlington 25 - at Burlington 28 - at Madison May 4 - at Humboldt 8 - JV League at Emporia 11 - League at Emporia

outhern Coffey County returns a very talented girls track and field roster led by its loaded junior class.

Adina Ratzlaff is back after qualifying for the state meet in four events last season. She finished fourth in the 400-meter dash, 10th in the 200-meter dash and 14th in the 100-meter dash. She also qualified as a part of the 4x100 relay.

“She will have a chance to medal in all four events of whatever we decide to put her in,” Titan coach Jeff True said.

Erikah Lyons qualified in three events with the 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay and javelin.

The team’s third junior, Dani Kasprzak, also qualified in both relays, as did

sophomore Braelyn Falls.

Sophomore Jordyn Stone rounded out the state competitors by running in the 4x400 relay.

Junior Chonnor Ludolph is the top returner for the Titans boys team. Ludolph took fourth in the 100-meter hurdles at state and also qualified in the 300-meter hurdles, but he will be limited to just the hurdles and running events.

“Chonnor injured his back and that is going to keep him from jumping for us,” True said. “Last year, he triple jumped and did really well, but he won’t be able to do that this year. He battled it during basketball to the point where they didn’t know if he was going to be able to finish the season."

Southern Coffey County junior Chonnor Ludolph runs the hurdles during the State Championships in Wichita. REGIS-

TER/JON DYKSTRA

Wildcats bring back talented boys squad

T

Yates Center sophomore Hadley Splechter runs during last season’s State Championships in Wichita REGISTER/

JON DYKSTRA

he Yates Center boys track and field team seemingly just continues to get stronger — especially in the distance events.

Already with one of the state’s top mile and twomile runners back with sophomore Hadley Splechter — who finished second at the state cross country meet this year — and with junior Jordan Smith — seventh at state cross country — also being among the area’s best, the Wildcats added the state’s fourth-best cross country runner with Colin Bedell.

“Colin should be a great addition to our already pretty stacked distance team,” Yates Center coach Jennie Davis said. “I put a lot of pressure on those three, but

they push themselves even more than I do.”

The distance runners aren’t the only top-notch runners the Wildcats have at their disposal. Levi Cooper is back after qualifying for state last year and is hungry going into the season after falling at the state meet.

“This is his year that he has a lot to prove and wants to show people how good he is,” Davis said.

The girls’ side faces more of a transition after the loss of their only state qualifier in Makayla Jones to graduation.

“Makayla is a huge loss for us,” Davis said. “But last year we had only three girls out for track and this year we have five so that is great... They are out here working really hard."

HEAD COACH: Jennie Davis SCHEDULE: March 31 - at Lyndon April 6 - at Eureka 11 - Home Meet 13-14 - at Wichita State 21 - at Fredonia 27 - at Neodesha May 2 - at Burlington 4 - at Cherryvale 11 - at Northeast Arma 19 - Regionals

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Saturday, March 18, 2017

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22 Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

Daugharthy continues Wildcat rebuilding project

L

BASEBALL HEAD COACH: David Daugharthy SOFTBALL HEAD COACH: Abbie Collins SCHEDULE: March 28 - Uniontown 30 - at Eureka April 6 - Marmaton Valley 11 - Chetopa (Softball Only) 13 - at West Elk (Baseball Only) 13 - at Altoona-Midway (Softball Only) 17 - at Oswego 21 - Northeast Arma 25 - Jayhawk-Linn 27 - at St. Paul May 2 - at Uniontown (Baseball Only) 4 - Caney Valley 16 - Regionals

Yates Center junior Ryan Moffet on the mound. REGISTER/ JON DYKSTRA

ast season, coach David Daugharthy was short-handed with hardly enough on the roster to field a team. This season is a different story.

“We are up at least 10 kids this year and almost doubled the size of the team,” Daugharthy said. “We couldn’t scrimmage last year, we had coaches out running the bases because we didn’t have enough kids to practice. It is nice to have (more athletes). Kids are fighting for spots. The only way to build a successful team is to have guys fighting for spots.”

With an infusion of new talent, Daugharthy isn’t afraid to dream big.

“The team goal is the same as it was last year. I want to do something Yates Center baseball hasn’t done in a while and go to the state tournament,”

Daugharthy said. “The expectations are higher this year.”

The team’s top returners include a pair of seniors in Gavin Dillow and Logan Tidd.

“They are both going to be solid,” Daugharthy said. “Logan is going to be a solid fielder. He didn’t hit the ball like he wanted to last year, but I think he will make adaptations.”

Other key returners include Dalton Brittan who will pitch and play first base and pitchers Braydon Gaulding and Ryan Moffet.

Newcomers include senior Mikey Bruner and sophomores Nolan Jones and Aaron King.

“It is nice to have them,” Daugharthy said. “They were all on the basketball team that did well. Just having that type of leadership and high-character kids helps a lot.”

Proper set to lead Wildcat softball

D

espite losing a huge piece in their vocal leader and shortstop Jessica Rossillion, the Yates Center Wildcats appear poised to make a big leap from their 6-17 record last season.

A big reason for that optimism is the return of pitcher Emily Proper, who in addition to leading the team in the pitcher’s circle, was the team’s top hitter last year.

The senior hit .423 last season with 18 RBIs and finished with a .475 on-base percentage.

Yates Center coach Abbie Collins hopes to give Proper some help in the pitching department this season after relying on her to record all but one out all of last season.

Yates Center looks to freshmen Maddie Collins and Tay-

lor Jacobs to add some pitching depth to the team.

“It won’t all be on Emily this year and she will be able to go out and play some center field,” Collins said.

In addition to Proper, the Wildcats have several other top hitters back.

Sophomore Allie Pringle hit .380 last year, senior Hali Crellin was at .357, sophomore Emma Chrisman was at .323 and junior Katelyn Jones hit .313.

“Emily and Hali are both going have to be leaders for us this year,” Collins said of her only two seniors.

With all those capable bats returning, Collins is very hopeful for this season.

“We can hit the ball, but we need to sharpen up our defense. We are working hard at it,” Collins said.

Yates Center senior Emily Proper throws a pitch. REGIS-

TER/JON DYKSTRA

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The Iola Register Spring Sports Special

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