September 2012 - MVP Shawnee County High School Sports Magazine

football preview September 2012

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stormont-vail & cotton-o’neil

three levels of care Stormont-Vail HealthCare provides a variety of levels of care. If a medical need occurs when your primary care physician is not available, you have three options: Mild

The ClinicModerate at Walmart by Stormont-Vail Severe 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays Located inside the north Topeka Walmart and providing minor health services without an appointment for patients ages 18 months and older. Staffed by advanced practice nurses and a physician assistant.

Mild

Moderate

Cotton-O’Neil ExpressCare Severe With three locations in Topeka and one in Osage City, these urgent care clinics, complete with lab and X-ray services, are available to patients of all ages who need treatment for a minor illness or injury.

You do not have to be a Cotton-O’Neil patient to be cared for at ExpressCare.

ExpressCare – Croco: 2909 S.E. Walnut Dr. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends ExpressCare – Urish: 6725 S.W. 29th St. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends ExpressCare – North: 1130 N. Kansas Ave. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays ExpressCare – Osage City: 131 W. Market 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends

Mild

Moderate

Severe

Stormont-Vail Emergency and Trauma Center Open 24 hours a day, every day, and designed for sudden, serious injury or illness. Located one block west of Eighth and Washburn.

Call Health Connections’ Ask-A-Nurse at (785) 354-5225 evenings and weekends for help finding the most appropriate level of care.

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September 2012

contents 4 In Honor of Title IX Football Preview 8 Silver Lake High School 9 Rossville High School 10 Hayden High School 12 Highland Park High School

6 football preview 28 Coach Talk // Topeka High’s Walt Alexander

30 Made in Shawnee County // Former Atlanta Falcon Trey Lewis

16 Seaman High School 18 Shawnee Heights High School 20 Topeka West High School 22 Topeka High School 24 Washburn Rural High School 26 Taking Care of the Team Cover Photo: Raymond Solis, Topeka High; O’Shai Clark, Highland Park; Jacob Tetuan, Hayden

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contributors & from the editor

In Honor of Title IX Special Edition Column For all the female athletes getting ready for another season of intercollegiate or interscholastic competition in volleyball, tennis, golf, basketball, soccer, cross country or whatever, thank Title IX. This year marks the 40th anniversary of that simple addition to an education bill. Signed June 23, 1972, it says, “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to

time and hoped that would give me a leg up.

The job they offered: a parttime sportswriter to cover girls and women’s sports. Although I’d always been a sports fan, sports writing had never entered my mind, but figuring it was a foot in the door, I said yes.

It was the start of an interesting adventure.

At the time, girls weren’t getting much more than their scores in the paper, although they did carry box scores for city

by Karen Sipes Journal, the 1976-77 school year, we did have the newspaper’s first all-state girls basketball team.

Other sports opportunities for girls at the time were volleyball, tennis, track and cross-country, gymnastics and swimming.

Paula Davis was an outstanding golfer attending Topeka High, but she had to play on the boys team because there wasn’t a girls team.

So things have progressed, not just for girls, but also for boys.

If you can’t imagine not having the opportunity to compete in sports, just know that wasn’t always the case.

Just ask your grandmothers. discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

What a difference those few words have had.

If you can’t imagine not having the opportunity to compete in sports, just know that wasn’t always the case. Just ask your grandmothers.

I went to high school and college in the 1960s. About the only opportunity for girls and women at that time was cheerleading.

It wasn’t until schools at all levels learned that their federal funds would be in jeopardy if they didn’t offer equal opportunity that sports programs for females became a possibility, albeit often grudgingly.

Although that opportunity came too late for me, it did open some interesting doors.

When my husband was transferred to Topeka in late 1976, I contacted The Capital-Journal about a job. I had been working at another Stauffer paper at the

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schools’ basketball games. Parents, coaches and others had been pushing for more, and with me on board, the guys on the staff didn’t have to deal with the girls.

Back then, the girls games often did take longer, so when they played first, the boys game would start late, making deadlines difficult to meet. Today, I still chuckle to myself when I see some of the high scoring girls games and some of the real low scoring or lopsided boys games.

What are those guys saying now?

On the collegiate level at that time, women competed in the AIAW (Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women).

They didn’t travel on chartered jets or streamlined buses, but in vans. They didn’t have training table meals, and at many schools the only scholarships available were academic ones, not athletic ones.

But back to high school. That first year I was at The Capital-

September 2012

There are more sports available for all of them to choose from.

Back then local high schools didn’t have baseball, soccer or bowling.

Title IX still gets cursed by some, but that’s not the prevailing attitude. Back then, it would have been unimaginable that a major college basketball court would bear the name of the women’s coach instead of the men’s coach, but there’s Pat Summit’s name on the court at Tennessee.

Tara Vandaveer, the long-time coach at perennial national contender Stanford, never had a chance to play, but she loved the game and watched the boys practice.

Today, there are more than 9,000 women’s college teams and more than three million girls participating in high school sports.

That’s something to cheer about. And so is Title IX.

Contributors Publisher Braden Dimick Editor-in-Chief Tara Dimick Photographer Rachel Lock Creative Director Jenni Ponton Contributing Writers J.B. Bauersfeld Mark Elliott Karen Sipes Account Executive Tara Dimick 785.217.4836 Publishing Company E2 Communications, Inc.

PO Box 67272 Topeka, KS 66667 785.217.4836 taradimick@gmail.com www.mvpsportsmagazine.com

MVP Sports Magazine is published by E2 Communications, Inc. Reproduction or use of this publication in any manner without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Every effort was made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication as of press time. The publisher assumes no responsibility of any part for the content of any advertisement in this publication, including any errors and omissions there in. E2 Communications, Inc. makes no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding any goods or services advertised or listed in this publication. Listings and advertisements are provided by the subject companies. E2 Communications, Inc. shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s right therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. By placing an order for an advertisement, the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher against any claims relating to the advertisement.

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Football preview MVP gives you a glimpse into what to expect from nine area football teams and the seniors leading them.

Chris Johnston // Silver Lake & Dalton Catron // Rossville

Football Legend OFFENSE: Center (C); Offensive Guard (G); Offensive Tackle (T); Quarterback (QB); Running Back (RB); Wide Receiver (WR); Tight End (TE); DEFENSE: Defensive Tackle (DT); Defensive End (DE); Linebacker (LB); Middle Linebacker (MLB); Outside Linebacker (OL or OLB); Defensive Back (DB); Cornerback (CB); Safety (S) SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker (K); Holder (H); Long Snapper (LS); Punter (P); Punt Returner (PR) or Kick Returner (KR)

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September 2012

DAYS

10 OF CAPITAL CITY

RESTAURANT WEEK Join us for Capital City Restaurant Week September 21-30.

One dollar provides five meals

Capital City Restaurant Week is a collaboration between Topeka restaurants and Harvesters, The Community Food Network, in Topeka. For every meal selected off the Restaurant Week menu, this establishment will donate 10% of the proceeds to Harvesters.

to Harvesters.

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21-30 /CapitalCityRW

September 2012

@CapitalCityRW

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silver lake

SENIORS:: Braden Robinson // 14 // CB, WR; Dalton Massell // 63 // DT; Blake Baird // 23; Drew Lamprecht // 57 // LB; Chris Johnston // 77 // DT, OT; Evan Burdiek // 11 // QB; Shane Wilson // 56 // C; Cole Trammel // 27 // TE; Garrett Wichman // 29 // WR; Peter Pfannenstiel // 21 // RB; Jeffrey Torkelson // 2 // WR

C.J. Hamilton // Silver Lake High School "We think there's potential but that's still to be determined that's still what we need to figure out."

- C.J. Hamilton, Head Football Coach "We're still fast, we don't have that much size still but we have the speed and a little bit more players coming back. It's pretty much the same team, just different players."

- Evan Burdiek, Senior Quarterback "Every day we say dedicate. We have to dedicate ourselves to the weight room, to the team, to our family, to the community."

- Chris Johnston, Senior Defensive Tackle (Source: "Silver Lake Eagles football preview," KSNT TV Topeka)

Silver Lake Football Schedule 8/31 Wabaunsee 9/7 Neodesha 9/14 Riley County 9/21 Rock Creek 9/28 St Marys 10/5 Rossville 10/12 Pleasant Ridge 10/19 Atchison County 10/26 Maur Hill PrepMount Academy

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Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Home Away

September 2012

Peter Pfannenstiel

rossville

SENIORS:: Kyle Stonaker // 62 // OT, DT; Rain Schultz-Pruner // 56 // DF, TF; Scott Shinn // 53 // OL, DL; Tyler Day // 47 // TE Dalton Catron // 2 // QB, S; Kyle Hammer // 20 // WR, S; Taylor Hartshorn // 17 // WR, C; Cole Brecheisen // 14 // WR, DB Trace Davis // 4 // WR, C; Not Pictured: Colton Miller, OL; Josh Shoffner, OL

Coach Steve Buhler // Rossville High School What does this group of seniors bring to your team?

“This year's group of seniors brings varsity experience and a focus that will help our younger players play an important role in the success of this year's team.”

What should people expect to see from this year’s team?

“When people watch this year's football team they will see a group of players who have good athleticism and play a physical and extremely hard brand of football.”

What are the biggest obstacles that the team will have to overcome?

“This year's team will have to over come a lack of size compared to our opponents but that is something Rossville teams have always had to deal with.”

Kyle Hammer

Rossville Football Schedule 8/31 Chapman 9/7 Abilene 9/14 Wabaunsee 9/21 Riley County 9/28 Rock Creek 10/5 Silver Lake 10/12 Mission Valley 10/19 Council Grove 10/25 St. Marys

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Away Home Away Away Away Home Away Home Home

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hayden SENIORS: Skylar Smith // 11 // WR, DB Bryan Sheern // 55 // OT, DT Dylan Broxterman // 32 // LB, RB Nick Gonzalez // 69 // OT/DT Zach Dodd // 25 // LB, RB Jake Radmacher // 60 // DE, G Dalton Toelkes // 4 // DB, WR AJ Talbert // 8 // WR, DB Ben Schmanke // 28 // LB, RB Nathan Haverkamp // 81// DE, WR

SENIORS: Brogan Barry // 35 // WR, DB Gage Stevens // 23 // RB, DB Charlie Konrade // 72 // OL, DL Quinton Redd // 76 // DT, C Jacob Tetuan // 2 // QB Andy Otting // 44 // TE, DL Thomas O’Grady // 74 // OL, DL Colby Foerg // 62 // OL, DL Philip Rineberg // 18 // FB, ILB DJ Bartels // 42 TE, DL Reily Martin // 31 // RB, DB

Coach Bill Arnold // Hayden High School What does this group of seniors bring to your team?

“A sense of comradeship they have with each other, along with their parents, and a great desire to put the team to the forefront over all individualism.”

What should people expect to see from this year's team?

“A burning commitment to the program and school to do whatever it takes to be a winner. They should put a product on the field that everyone can be proud of—a never die attitude.”

Hayden Football Schedule 8/31 Seaman Home 9/7 Topeka High Hummer Sports Park 9/14 Washburn Rural Home 9/21 Junction City Away 9/28 Emporia Home 10/5 Highland Park Away 10/12 Royal Valley Home 10/19 Holton Away 10/26 Wamego Home

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September 2012

What are the biggest obstacles that the team will have to overcome?

“Finding the right guys to fill in at spots. Limited varsity time, but given time they should be just fine.”

Brogan Berry

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highland park

SENIORS:: Mason Dean // 75 // DL; JamaJa Guesby // 50 // MLB; O’Shai Clark // 6; Jamon Fulton // 1 // QB; Brady Bass // 54 // G, MLB; Zackariah Ortega // 68 // DL,OL; Justin Chaneller // 58; Stacy Ashurst-Thomas // 22 // CB, WR

Coach Nick Cummings // Highland Park High School What does this group of seniors bring to your team?

“A winning attitude. Last year was a beginning. Darting has got most of my kids in basketball, so they refuse to lose or get out-worked. These seniors demand to work hard. They will be great leaders for this 2012 season.”

What should people expect to see from this year's team?

“An all-around better attitude, performance, and team confidence because we are going to teach these kids to be aggressive and use our team speed to our advantage.”

What are the biggest obstacles that the team will have to overcome?

“We don’t bring back a lot of starters from last year, and our size will be an obstacle that we will just have to overcome.”

Stacy Ashurst-Thomas

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September 2012

Highland Park Footballl Schedule 8/31 Topeka High 9/7 Washburn Rural 9/14 Emporia 9/21 Manhattan 9/28 Junction City 10/5 Hayden 10/12 Shawnee Heights 10/19 Seaman 10/26 Topeka West

Home Away Home Away Home Home Away Away Home

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seaman SENIORS: Tyler Barth // 6 // WR Justus Sharples // 26 // RB, DB Ryan Greenwood // 19 // WR Butch Rea // 22 // QB, DB Kaleb Palmer // 59 //C Dylan Hall // 67 // G, DT Austin Teske // 74 // Defensive Line Not Pictured: Sean Higley

SENIORS: Bryant Guillen // 29 // K Alex Sumner //14 // S, DB Hayden Kramer // 4 // WR, LB Nathan Stanley // 34 // LB, FB Justice King // 38 // FB, D-Nose Tyler Bushnell // 3 // DB Brian Madeira // 80 // KR, DE Tyler Campbell // 9 // RB, DB

Coach Blake Pierce // Seaman High School Football What does this group of seniors bring to your team?

“Our seniors are a talented group. They are athletic and experienced players. We have very high expectations for their success on and off the football field.”

What should people expect to see from this year's team?

“They will see a bigger, faster, and more experienced football team.”

Seaman Football Schedule 8/31 Hayden Away 9/7 Junction City Home 9/14 Manhattan Away 9/21 Emporia Away 9/28 Topeka High Home 10/5 Washburn Rural Away 10/12 Topeka West Home 10/19 Highland Park Home 10/26

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What are the biggest obstacles that the team will have to overcome?

“Our schedule--the Centennial League is one of the best football leagues in the state of Kansas. We also need to get our swagger back following a disappointing season last year.”

Shawnee Heights Away

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September 2012

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shawnee heights SENIORS: Jordan Floyd // 50 // DE, OT Braden Werner // 52 // LB, G Raymond “R.J.” Jones // 24 // OLB Jacob Yaws // 82 // DE, TE Stephen Bell // 57 // DT, OT Marshal Hall // 21 // LB Shannon Meck // 60 // DE Michael Newman // 44 // DE\ SENIORS: Ben Taliaferro // 55 // C, DL Nick Meck // 45 // RB, G Dakota Weaver // 10 // WR, K Wyatt Sicard // 20 // WR, FS Kyle Geiger // 13 // QB Austin Smith // 81 // WR, CB Tre Ingram // 4 // WR, CB Chad Grey // 25 // TE, LB Armando Cruz // 79 // G, DT Not pictured: Michael Moten, Will Edwards, Skylar Lewis

Coach Jason Swift // Shawnee Heights High School What does this group of seniors bring to your team?

“The senior class brings a winning attitude to our program. They have worked hard and played a significant part in winning the district championship the past two years, along with winning playoff games. They expect to win but understand that the opportunity to win has to be earned.”

What should people expect to see from this year's team?

“Expect this team to compete every snap regardless of the play, time or score. I believe we will be strong on both sides of the line and gain experience in the skills positions throughout the year. A great compliment is that other teams say that we play the game with great effort and discipline. I know our players want to represent their program with the same passion.”

What are the biggest obstacles that the team will have to overcome?

“Our defense will return many good football players.

We will be very inexperienced on offense but they have worked hard this summer to be ready for Friday nights.”

Austin Smith

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September 2012

Shawnee Heights Football Schedule 8/31 Emporia Home 9/7 KC Schlagle Away 9/14 Junction City Home 9/21 Topeka High Hummer Sports Park 9/28 Washburn Rural Home 10/5 Manhattan Away 10/12 Highland Park Home 10/19 Topeka West Hummer Sports Park 10/26 Seaman Home

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topeka west

SENIORS: Isaiah DeClerk-VanSickle // 84 // TE, DE; Dezmon Walker // 2 // WR. RB, OLB; Akayvion Russell // 12 // WR, CB; Jonathan Mariani // 11 // QB; Jacob Thrall //13 // WR, DB; Jeremy Selley // 27 // S

Coach John Tetuan // Topeka West High School Football What does this group of seniors bring to your team?

“This group brings great leadership and experience from having played since they were sophomores.”

What should people expect to see from this year's team?

“People should expect to see great competitors on the field with no quit in them.”

Topeka West Football Schedule 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19

KC Schlagle Washington Topeka High Washburn Rural Manhattan Junction City Seaman Shawnee Heights

Hummer Sports Park Away Hummer Sports Park Away Hummer Sports Park Away Away Hummer Sports Park

10/26

Highland Park

Away

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What are the biggest obstacles that the team will have to overcome?

“The biggest obstacles are bringing a winning attitude to Topeka West and believing in the system.”

Akayvion Russell MVPSportsMagazine.com

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topeka high SENIORS Jared Bagby // 58 // OL, DL Danny Christopher // 8 // WR, DB Auner Paulino // 61 // OL, DL Raymond Solis // 2 // QB Marcos Hobson // 80 // WR Eli Weinbrecht // RB, DB

SENIORS Chris Muniz // 65 // OL, DL Rahyne Robinson // 88 // DE Ja’Jaun Smith // 3 // RB, DB Will Geary // 59 // OL, DL Brandon Courville // 32 // LB Merick Whetstone // 41 // LB

Not Pictured: Jared Butler, Harold Carver, Dalton Clayburg, Cruz Gallegos, James Gragson, Trevon King, Marcus Reece, Alex Weichert

Coach Walt Alexander // Topeka High School What does this group of seniors bring to your team?

“A great deal of experience and leadership!”

What should people expect to see from this year's team?

“A group of kids that play very hard "Every Play" for their parents, teammates, community and school.”

What are the biggest obstacles that the team will have to overcome?

“Stay away from injuries.”

Topeka High Football Schedule 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19 10/26

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Highland Park Hayden Topeka West Shawnee Heights Seaman Emporia Manhattan Junction City Washburn Rural

Away Hummer Sports Park Hummer Sports Park Hummer Sports Park Away Away Hummer Sports Park Away Hummer Sports Park

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September 2012

Eli Weinbrecht and Raymond Solis

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washburn rural

SENIORS: Chaise James // 19 // CB; Hayden Jenkins // 20 // FS, RB;

SENIORS: Cody Grammer // 42 // FB; Griffin Smith // 43 // FB;

Jacob Baum // 88 // DE; Konner Winkley // 7 // LB,CB; Joshua West // 45 // LB; Thomas McGee // DT; Connor Stotts // 32 // FS; Pau Stamps // 11 // CB; Malik Maxville // SS // 3

Adam Klecan // 66 // Center; Christian Provost // 55 // OL; Domingo Lopez II // 52 // OL; Chris Janes // 15 // WR; Ed Linquist // 60 // G

Coach Derick Hammes // Washburn Rural High School What does this group of seniors bring to your team?

“This senior class takes a lot of pride in some of our recent accomplishments. They feel it’s important to carry on the Washburn Rural tradition and improve the program.”

What should people expect to see from this year's team?

“People will see many new faces with our team this year. I expect this group to show improvement as they have done in the off-season. If we continue to improve, we can have a very good year.”

What are the biggest obstacles that the team will have to overcome?

“Our biggest challenge for the upcoming season will be to gain experience in key areas. After losing the nucleus of a good team, this year’s group will have to come together early in the year because the league schedule will once again be very difficult.”

Washburn Rural Football Schedule 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19 10/26

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September 2012

Blue Valley West Away Highland Park Home Hayden Away Topeka West Home Shawnee Heights Away Seaman Home Junction City Home Manhattan Away Topeka High Hummer Sports Park

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Taking Care of the Team Madi Steinbrock

Bailey Saville

Washburn Rural High School Football Manager

Washburn Rural High School Football Manager

What has being a manager taught you?

It's really taught me to pay more attention, because you have to get on the field right when they call a time-out so all the boys can get water. And you also have to pay attention while you're filming because Hammes is not too happy if you miss a play.

What has being a manager taught you?

I think it taught me some responsibility and you learn more about the sport.

What other activities do you participate in?

I'm on the Blue Streak (the school newspaper) as a writer. I'll be both a writer and photographer after winter break.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

As of right now, I want to either be a physical therapist or a speech pathologist.

Who is your hero?

I don't really have a hero, I think that you should walk to the beat of your own drum and do what you think is right for you.

Any funny moment that has happened on the job?

Once at a varsity game, I was standing at the end zone handing out water, we had scored a touchdown and one of the football players got really excited and started spraying water, and it got all over me.

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September 2012

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Honestly, I have no idea. But I'm a real animal lover so most likely something where I would be working with them.

Who is your hero?

I don't have an actual hero. But the people I admire are the ones that stick to what they believe in and don't waver from those beliefs for anyone. Also, someone with confidence who isn't afraid of what other people think and just do their own thing.

Any funny stories that have happened on the job?

One thing that was quite a regular thing was our temperamental camera would always stop working. So we decided to name the camera Betsy. The only way we could get Betsy to work was to compliment her and make her feel good about herself or we would never get any filming done. So we were always telling her that we loved what she'd done with her cords and we would tell her she looked be-yoo-tiful today. Everything you can imagine. We tried it.

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COACH TALK Mark Elliot of of WIBW 580 AM Sportstalk talks with Topeka High Head Football Coach Walt Alexander.

MARK ELLIOTT: Let’s go way back, to your high school days, where you went and a little background.

WALT ALEXANDER: I graduated from Beloit High School and played for Clayton Williams. He was one of the best coaches that I learned from. He went on and coached at KU. We had a 33-game winning streak and won three straight titles in a row.

MARK: What year did you graduate?

WALT: 1980.

MARK: After Beloit, where did you go?

WALT: I went to Fort Hays State to play football for a year. Then I thought I was just going to do the family farm business forever.

My parents talked me into going in the military, so I went to the Army for four years, almost five.

I was in Germany for three years and that’s where I coached my first team. It was a great experience for me, we got to travel around Europe for two years. I knew at that point in time that I was going to have to get out of the Army and go back to college to get my teaching degree so I could coach.

MARK: And you got your degree where?

WALT: I went to Kansas State University and walked on, because I wanted to learn as much about football as I could. I was a pretty good football player in

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high school, started both ways for three years and enjoyed every minute of it. My very first play ever (for K-State) was against Iowa State, when Bill Snyder was the offensive coordinator at Iowa State. I became a student assistant my last year there.

Coach Snyder came in with a whole new staff and I met with Coach for a long time.

I had the opportunity to be the head coach at Westmoreland, or be a student assistant for Coach Snyder. I was kind of a non-traditional student. I was a little older, divorced, and I had two babies, so I was a little bit different. Playing football on that kind of a schedule is pretty taxing on a family, so I ended up coaching at Westmoreland, and was an assistant at Rock Creek. (As a student assistant at K-State), I never would’ve got to coach my own kids and been with my kids, so everything happens for a reason.

MARK: How did you end up at Topeka High?

WALT: After Rock Creek and Westmoreland, I got my first teaching and coaching job at Elk Valley High School. They were the first ones to offer me a job, and at that point you didn’t turn anything down. They had the longest losing streak in the nation. I hadn’t been used to losing. Took that one year, and we broke that losing streak.

That was neat.

Then went to Ness City, September 2012

stayed there for one year. Ness City wanted me to get a social studies endorsement, and, well, I’m not going to be a classroom teacher. That’s not why I got into this business. So, Hill City popped open and I took it. I was there for three years, then I took the job at Belleville. We had

WALT: Having him do the same thing because he watched me do it for all those years, and watching him be successful, is fun.

“Our motto coming into this year is ‘Nothing for Granted.’”

great success there.

Effingham came open and my son was a really great wrestler and loved wrestling, so I took the job. We had great success there.

Then it was time to find a job where we could settle in and stay for a long time, and fortunatel y we ended up here, and it’s been great.

MARK: Now your son is entering his second year at Effingham, and that’s kind of cool, you coached there and your son’s there now.

MARK: Let’s talk about Topeka High. You’re in your seventh year. 25 wins, 31 losses. You came into Topeka High and what you had to do was change attitudes, change expectations.

WALT: Kids are kids wherever you go, but it’s changing a whole mindset of a school system and the people in that school system. Once you get it rolling, and once they have a little bit of success anywhere, it’s easier.

Like the strength program for us, the first two years I didn’t even take kids to weightlifting competitions. When I got here, they couldn’t squat and they couldn’t clean and they weren’t very strong. It was easy to tell why we were getting beat on the football field. But then there was success. The first time we went out, we got third place in state weightlifting, it seemed like things had flipped.

Their mentality changed, and since they got a taste of being successful, we haven’t lost in weightlifting. Three-time state champions in weightlifting, and every meet we go to, we just dominate.

Ultimately, they do it so they can be more successful, not only on the football field, but in all the sports they do. The strength program is the core of what it takes, but I think another thing is just loving the kids and having a great staff that truly cares about the kids and are willing to spend the time with them to develop trust.

MARK: Topeka High is an interesting place. You have some of the smartest kids in the state of Kansas and you have others that are challenged a bit. You have the rich kids, and the ones that don’t have a lot of money. This is a very diverse student body.

WALT: You’re absolutely correct. I think the most unique thing about this job is the different personalities and the different backgrounds that people come from and that we blend together. With one kid’s dad being a dentist, and you have a kid

whose family can’t pay the light bill, but they’re best friends.

That’s pretty special.

One aspect of this school that a lot of people don’t understand, we may have an enrollment of 1200 - 1300 kids, but we probably have the talent pool of a 4A school when it comes to football. That’s the challenge. You’ve got to find about 20-30 kids that really buy-in and just get them really strong. I think that’s the secret to why we’ve maybe turned this around. It’s not the number of the kids that go to our school for the football program. It’s finding the quality of kids that are willing to do what it takes to be successful, and then working with them. Eventually, you’ll get more of those kids, and we’re still in the process of doing that.

MARK: Lots of injuries last year that led to that 4-5 season.

You’ve got a great group of seniors coming back. You’ve got Will Geary, started on the defensive line since his freshman year. You’ve got Austin Tillman that is going to be a junior linebacker and was tremendous as a sophomore. Raymond Solis had some injuries last year, but back at quarterback. How excited are you about this 2012 football season?

WALT: Our motto coming into this year is “Nothing for Granted.” This group doesn’t take that for granted. Just because we have a lot of starters back, just because we have a lot of experience back, really doesn’t mean much if you start relying on it.

They’re a great group of kids that have great parents. The parent support of this group is probably the best we’ve seen.

I think that the sky’s the limit if they come together and stay injury-free.

MARK: Back in Beloit, it was all about your record, are you 9-0 or 8-1? If you’re 7-2 you might get lucky and get in the playoffs, but more than likely not.

But NOW, it’s how you play the last three games. You have one

of the more difficult districts around. Week 7 you have Manhattan, Week 8 you have Junction City, and Week 9 you host Washburn Rural. Then there are other districts that you look at and you’re like, holy cow, we could sleepwalk through there to get to the playoffs. But you’ve been in this district before, there’s no surprise, how do you look at that?

WALT: Our kids are used to it, we’ve been in the same district for the last six years. We’ve played Manhattan, the last four years, within six points every single time. It is one of the best games you’ll ever see, and I hope that’s the case this year.

Then we have Junction City, and you know Junction’s kind of had our number a little bit. We did upset them that year that they were undefeated and ranked number 2 in the state, and we made the playoffs that year. It’s a tough district, but if you can get through it and get through it healthy, then I think it makes you better.

WALT: Well, I think that our main thing is play hard every play. Don’t care about what the scoreboard says; we’ll worry about that when it’s over. Just play hard every play.

But, you can’t help but look at the schedules and look down the road. Our kids want to win, they want to make the playoffs.

This group has talked about being in the state title game. But if you overlook anybody and you don’t take everything one play, one game at a time, then you never know. I think our kids understand that. Hopefully, we can do a good job as coaches and keep them on the right path.

MARK: Good luck this season, it should be a fun year for the Trojans.

WALT: I appreciate it Mark, thanks.

MARK: When you sit down with your staff and set up goals, what do you focus on?

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MADE IN SHAWNEE COUNTY JB Bauersfeld, WIBW-TV Sports Anchor, talks with former NFL Atlanta Falcon and Washburn Rural High School graduate Trey Lewis JB: Things worked out for you with the Falcons for a few years, but you’ve parted ways. Where are you right now and what are you up to?

Trey Lewis (TL): I just got my dealership license to sell cars here in Topeka. (I am) still working out, still ready to go play if I get the call.

JB: What is that process like, waiting for that call?

TL: This one’s new to me.

Fortunately, I got drafted and was with Atlanta the whole time so I never had to play the waiting game or look for other teams. It’s different working out on your own and being your own judge of how much you got to do that day and being ready when that call does come.

Obviously, it’s a lot less intense as far as not having coaches yelling at you.

JB: That’s an intensity I’m sure you’d welcome though.

TL: Yeah, yeah. At this point I kind of miss it. Anytime I get a

little contact or I mess around and fall at home, I’m kind of like “Oh yeah. Feels good.” I’m missing getting hit.

JB: You don’t fall too often, do you?

TL: No, no, no.

JB: What are your prospects?

How confident are you in getting back into the NFL?

like getting drafted and getting picked up. I say, “I didn’t know it was going to happen, I didn’t have anyone to look up to to see how it was done.” Now to see that’s more the norm there and guys are getting recruited with the idea that, “Hey, I can go to Washburn and still make it to that next level.”

JB: Do you feel like a trailblazer in that respect?

TL: I really don’t know. I could be on 32 teams’ lists or 1 team’s list or none; so it’s just a matter of who’s going to call first. I’ve been in the league four years and I’ve had some injuries. The things I did when I was on the field, I think, were enough that I think a team is probably going to give me a shot.

TL: I do, in a sense. I don’t think I did when I was living it; but now that I look back I see the difference.

JB: As far as Washburn is concerned, you have multiple guys on rosters across the league; how cool is that a DII has had that much success?

TL: I tell kids all the time, just have fun playing and work hard now. Trying to shoot for the NFL, there are so many things that can keep you from getting there and it’s kind of a goal where you have to have a lot of things go your way just to reach it. Have fun, enjoy what you’re doing and work hard to get better every day.

TL: It’s a dream, it’s crazy.

Before me, it was unheard of.

Guys ask me about what it was

JB: Coming out of high school, you weren’t a highly heralded guy; do you have any advise for young guys and girls putting in that hard work?

JB: How long can you keep working out at this same intensity level and keep waiting for that call?

Shaun Hill #13 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Trey Lewis #97 of the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park on October 11, 2009 in San Francisco, California.

Source: Ezra Shaw

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TL: Working out, for me, I get enjoyment out of it, so that’s not exactly the hard part. The worst part’s probably the mental part, staying focused and keeping that mindset.

WASHBURN RURAL HIGH SCHOOL Trey Lewis graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 2003, as an honorable mention all-Class 6A, second-team allCity and all-Centennial League and was named the team’s defensive MVP. WASHBURN UNIVERSITY Lewis started on the defensive line at Washburn University. In his final year at Washburn, he became the first Ichabod to be named to the Associated Press Little All-American team since 1963, and was named to the American Football Coaches Association All-American (AFCAAA) team—becoming the first Ichabod player and only the second Ichabod overall to be named to the coaches team since 1988. Lewis finished his career at Washburn with 156 total tackles, including 68 solo stops, 23 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

ATLANTA FALCONS Lewis was drafted in the sixth round by the Atlanta Falcons, being the 185 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He worked his way into a starting role by week four before tearing his ACL in week 11. He recovered and then tore his ACL again 2008 and was released in September 2011.

LEADING THE LEGACY He was the first in a string of Ichabods who have found their way onto NFL rosters, including: Cary Williams, Joe Hastings, Michael Wilhoite and Brian Folkers.

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