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D A R A N N E U S C H A F E R ’ S A M E R I C A N F A M I LY I N S U R A N C E A T H L E T E S P O T L I G H T

Salina South’s Mercedes Tarver By Hayden Swope Mercedes Tarver of Salina South was beyond ready for this year’s basketball season. Between the team chemistry and talent, Tarver and the Cougars have already gone to prove themselves only halfway through the season. “One of my favorite memories so far was when the team was ranked number eight in the KBCA rankings because our team hadn’t been ranked in a decade,” Tarver said. “With only three upperclassmen and the rest underclassmen, people were skeptical about how our season would go. Within our first few games, we proved ourselves to people and we now hold ourselves to higher standards.” This being her senior year, Tarver has been thankful for everything the sport has provided her with. “I started playing basketball in the seventh grade,” Tarver said. “I like the competitiveness and the outlet that playing basketball provides for me. I play for my team and love the group of strong women that we have this year. I also play for myself and like seeing the growth that I have achieved each year.” Being one of the few upperclassmen on the court, Tarver knew she wanted to be

the best leader and athlete she could be for her fellow teammates. “Going into the season my first goal was to be a leader for the team on and off the court,” Tarver said. “I also have been striving towards reducing my turnovers and finishing strong around the rim more. Besides improving stats, I have made it a point to be resilient. When mistakes are made and things are not going my way I try to remind myself to stay positive and confident.” After high school, Tarver plans to continue her leadership and further her education. “Regarding my future, I plan on majoring in business, possibly at K-State,” Tarver said. “I am unsure of a career at the moment but I want to be a leader in my career.”

COMMERCIAL TIRE CALL OF THE WILD ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Bennington’s Cooper Matthews By Matt Browning

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When it comes to Bennington’s Cooper Matthews being an outdoorsman, it has as much to do with family than anything else.

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“I’ve been going hunting with my dad for as long as I can remember, but my knowledge and drive for it has continued to grow over the years,” Matthews said. At the very least, Matthews is either hunting or fishing every weekend. “I scout locations and study patterns throughout the week,” Matthews said. “For fishing, I go out whenever the weather allows. When I’m not out hunting or fishing, my time is spent on prepping decoys, researching/ watching videos, practicing calling or simply cleaning and maintaining my equipment.” There are two specific memories that stand out to Matthews. “Two memories that stick out to me are pheasant and quail hunting with my grandpa and dad,” Matthews said. “I carried a toy shotgun and was so excited to one day be able hunt ‘for real’ alongside the two people I looked up to the most. My second memory would be my first duck hunt which was in Oklahoma with my brother-in-law, his brother and his buddies. We shot a six-man limit of ringnecks and ever since then I knew this was where all my time and money would be going.” Hunting or fishing allows Matthews to escape from any stresses he might have at that time. “When I’m hunting, I use it as an escape from the real world,” Matthews said. “All the negative things in life go away and I can just sit in nature and be content.”

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Kentucky Football By Matt Browning The University of Kentucky Wildcats unveiled a new field at Nutter Field House prior to the start of the 2023 season. The field is dedicated to and named after former Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks and his wife Karen.

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Hellas was chosen to design and install the field, who also manufactured and installed the same Matrix Helix® turf at Kroger Field, which is where the Wildcats play their home games. Brooks coached at Kentucky from 2003-09 leading the Wildcats to four consecutive bowl games. The Wildcats’ success has continued under current head coach Mark Stoops, who has guided Kentucky to eight consecutive bowl games. “Kentucky has seen great success in recent years and the upgrade to Hellas’ Matrix Helix synthetic turf system at both Nutter Field House and Kroger Field are reflections of where this first-class program is headed,” said Hellas Business Development Manager Jimmy Redovian. The Wildcats have won four bowl games since 2018 at Kentucky and have produced two ten-win seasons in the past five years. They finished the 2023 season 7-6, with an appearance in the Gator Bowl.

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Little River’s Aubrey Olander was one of Class 1A Division I’s top players last season, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game, but that has not stopped her from grinding in the weight room and gym in order for the Redskins to get to the next level. “I missed out on summer basketball due to injury, but I spent a lot of time in the weight room with my teammates and shot baskets in my spare time working to make myself better for this season,” Olander said. “I have also kept in shape by participating in track and volleyball. One area that I wanted to improve on this year is my rebounding. I have worked on this area by pushing myself in the weight room to get stronger and being more aggressive during games and practices. It helps tremendously to have very competitive teammates who push me every day in practice.” Little River has a new coach this season, but Olander thinks the combination of Coach Rolfs and the expectations will make for a fun ride this season. “After last season, we have a lot to prove, and getting a fresh start this season with new plays and a different viewpoint of the game has been a learning experience but also a lot of fun,” Olander said. “Our new head coach Cy Rolfs has taught us a lot about the game of basketball and we are looking forward to extending the success we've had so far this season.”

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WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY ECK STADIUM - HOME OF TYLER FIELD

Kylee Naccarato By Matt Browning Kylee Naccarato still gets sentimental whenever she thinks about her time at Hutchinson Community College. To say it was a special time for her would be an underestimate. “It was an experience that provided me with a strong sense of community and belonging as well as an enjoyable college experience,” Naccarato said. “Hutch CC fostered an inclusive environment that allowed me to form meaningful connections with people from all different walks of life.” Naccarato, who played basketball for the Blue Dragons, had one specific memory that stood out to her more than others. “One standout moment was our team’s journey to a tournament in Phoenix, Arizona,” Naccarato said. “Surprisingly, the basketball game play itself fades

into the background. What truly lingers in my memory is the fun, quality time spent with my teammates. From attending my inaugural NBA game at the Phoenix Suns to exploring the town via trolleys for shopping, and enjoying meals at places like the Hard Rock Cafe – the entire experience was an absolute delight.” Growing up in Hutchinson, Naccarato has a deep connection with the college and more specifically, the women’s basketball program. “From attending numerous games to even being a ball girl in my younger years, the Sports Arena holds a special place in my heart,” Naccarato said. “The athletes who graced its iconic floors were my role models, making it a dream come true when the opportunity arose for me to become one of them.”

Student Studentofofthe theMonth Month Riley Gard – McPherson HS By Matt Browning Riley Gard plays golf and soccer at McPherson, but her athletics per put on hold when she had to have bone spurs removed from her right hip and IT band extension. Gard turned to Advanced Physical Therapy to help regain flexibility, mobility and strength in her hip. There were several treatments and exercises that Advanced Physical Therapy used on Gard that has her back on the golf course and field. “APT used scraping, cupping, star touches in the second session,” Gard said. Gard’s time at Advanced Physical Therapy was unique in that she had a presurgery regiment and then a post-surgery regiment. Both times she was at APT, it was an intense process for Gard. “The first one was pre-surgery and it went for about six weeks,” Gard said. “And the second session after surgery was for about eight weeks.”

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VISIT SALINA WINNING EDGE STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Clifton-Clyde’s Coy Steinbrock By Blake Chadwick Having your parent coach you at the high school level is never easy, but it is something Justin Steinbrock and his son Coy, will always remember. Coy is the second of three kids and is the only boy in the family. The senior is a shooting guard who has just recently broken the school record for most three-pointers in his career with 109.

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“It feels great to break the record, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” Steinbrock said. “They are the ones who get me the ball when I am open and set the screens for me to run off and trust me to make the shots.” The record wouldn’t have been able to be broken without his dads support. “My dad also helped me accomplish this as he was telling me that anyone can become a shooter if they put the shots in and was always forcing me to get in the gym which I am thankful for,” Steinbrock said. Mostly known as a shooter throughout his career, Steinbrock has been able to transition to an all-around game as he’s gotten older.

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“This year I’ve been proud of him because he’s doing a lot more of the little things,” coach Steinbrock said. “Chasing down loose balls, deflections, etc. the extra effort things that coaches love to see.” Coy has shaped his game around playing hard and it’s been paying off as he has helped lead his team to an 11-2 record thus far. As a senior, he knows that this is his last run so he is going to make sure he goes all out.

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Minneapolis’ Myka Deronett By Hayden Swope

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Myka Deronett of Minneapolis has always leaned on basketball as a comfort sport, but for a long time, the career was a little rocky for her.

“Basketball has always been my favorite sport,” Deronett said. “As a kid, I did not get to play very often because I was not very good. I fouled out of almost every game and generally did not understand the sport. Going into highschool, I wanted to improve my skills, so I could play varsity.” After years of watching from the sideline, Deronett knew that high school would be her time to shine. “I knew as a freshman that I had no chance of being on varsity, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could get to that level at some point, even if it was not in that season,” Deronett said. “I worked hard to improve my skills, and eventually, I earned myself a spot my sophomore year. I used to play for myself, but my experience on varsity showed me that I would rather play for my team.” While getting that starting spot on varsity has to be a proud memory, one of Deronett’s favorites moments is the ones she spends with her teammates. “The most memorable moments happen in the locker room,” Deronett said. “Overall, we all bond really well with each other. But one of my most favorite things we do is pray before every game. We stand in a circle, hold hands, bow our heads, and pray the Lord’s Prayer. I feel like the prayer is our way of getting rid of the nerves before a game, and it is a really cool moment that we share.” Deronett has big plans for after graduation, including furthering her education and beliefs. “I plan to attend Oral Roberts University to study Accounting and minor in Praise and Worship Leadership,” Deronett said. “I also want to be part of the ORU praise and worship team as a pianist.”

BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Butler Community College’s Karly Girty By Matt Browning It late in the recruiting period and despite the time constraints of the period, Butler volleyball player Karly Girty felt like her recruitment was simple. “Coach Lechtenberg and Cosby were very clear in their expectations of me,” Girty said. “I appreciated their efforts to make sure I was a good fit for the program.” From that recruiting moment until now, GIrty has loved everything about her experience as a Grizzly. “I’ve had a fantastic experience with the professors and classes at Butler,” Girty said. “In each of my classes, the teachers have made an effort to get to know me on a personal level and made sure that I understood the material. Additionally, Butler provides many helpful resources such as tutor labs where students can get help from

“I have yet to have a bad experience with a faculty member at BCC,” Girty

said. “If you are someone who wants to work in a positive atmosphere where you are seen and encouraged to grow, Butler is the place for you.”

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There is no doubt in Girty’s mind that she made the right choice by going to Butler. She said she would encourage any prospective student or student-athlete to attend Butler based off her experiences alone.

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“A few that stick out to me are spending time with my teammates, making a podcast for my psychology class, and having dinner at Coach Lechtenberg’s house,” Girty said.

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Our average class size is 16, but the opportunities created at Butler are boundless.

While she has been at Butler for less than a year, Girty has already made experiences that she will remember forever.

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TEAM OF THE MONTH

Sunrise Elite Basketball By Matt Browning Once again, the Sunrise Elite Basketball Team has a collection of ranked high school players that have signed or committed to play at high level college programs across the country. According to 247 Sports, Sunrise has three players ranked inside the Class of 2024’s top 200 players. David Castillo, a 6-1 combo guard, is ranked No. 47 and has signed to play at Kansas State next season. Castillo is

originally from Bartlesville, Oklahoma and chose the Wildcats over Arkansas, Florida, Kansas and Oklahoma State. Kany Tchanda is a 6-9 post player, who is ranked No. 172. While Tchanda has not chosen a school yet, the schools listed on Tchanda’s 247 Sports profile are Central Florida, Charlotte, Morgan State and SMU. Tchanda is originally from Concord, North Carolina. The final player in the Class of 2024 ranked nationally is 6-2 combo guard Elijah Elliott, who checks in at 181. Elliott

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has committed to Florida Atlantic, who made the 2023 Final Four. Elliott, who is originally from Orlando chose the Owls over Drake, Georgia Southern, Kansas State and Louisiana Tech. Sunrise currently has one player ranked in the Class of 2025 and that’s 6-3 point guard Jeremiah Green, who is ranked No. 55. Green, who is from Denton, Texas, has five schools listed has ones he is interested in including Auburn, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas A&M and West Virginia.

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J E F F W E L L S ’ A M E R I C A N FA M I LY I N S U R A N C E A T H L E T E S P O T L I G H T

Salina Sacred Heart’s Jason Marrs By Hayden Swope Basketball has been a huge part of Salina Sacred Heart’s Jason Marrs’ life. Playing for his support system every game, Marrs is ready to prove himself on the court. “I have had a basketball in my hands for as long as I can remember,” Marrs said. “I have been playing with the same group of guys since we started at the YMCA. I play for my teammates and coaches. What I love the most about the game of basketball is how I can build relationships with my family members and teammates.” Besides the wins and the stats, some of the best memories include making those around you proud, something Marrs knows a lot about. “Experiencing the games with my family is something I will always cherish,” Marrs said. “My little brother is my biggest fan and watching him react to a big three is something I enjoy. Our first game was at Clifton-Clyde, which is where my grandfather went to high school, and so winning a tough game there was great.” Sacred Heart and Marrs are both looking for a winning record, and are hopeful for a state appearance. “Our team is focused on winning our league and going on a deep postseason run,” Marrs said. “Both will be challenging as we will face some great competition. Personally, I work hard to be the best shooter I can be. I’ve spent the off-season making over 10,000 shots so I can be ready when my team needs me.” After high school Marrs hopes to further his education and go down the business route. “I plan to attend the University of Notre Dame to study accounting or finance and pursue a business career,” Marrs said.

T H E A L L E Y ’ S B OW L E R O F T H E M O N T H

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Salina South’s Will Krannawitter

The Salina South boys bowling team took eighth last season at the Class 5-1A Tournament and Will Krannawitter, who was one of the Cougars’ top bowlers last season, thinks big things are in store for his team this year.

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“The thing I’m most excited for this season is being able to spend another year with my team,” Krannawitter said. “I think we have a shot at state this year and it would be my senior year wish if we could win that.”

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While Krannawitter wants to win a state title, he also wants to enjoy the ride of his senior season. “The goals I have for this year are to focus on the game and also being able to focus on having more fun,” Krannawitter said. “I would love to make it to state with my team this year and be able to win it.” Some of Krannawitter’s scores last season were really good, but he struggled with consistently being

good. That was the one area he is focused on improving in 2024. “One area I would like to improve on this year is staying more consistent with my scores, last year I wasn’t too consistent but I have a feeling that this year will be different,” Krannawitter said.

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SALINA REGIONAL ORTHOPEDIC COACH OF THE MONTH

Minneapolis’ Chas Hauck: Coach of the Month By Blake Chadwick Minneapolis wrestling head coach Chas Hauck has been making impacts on kids’ lives for 26 years now. Hauck has been around wrestling since 5th grade when he decided to give it a chance. Now, he is the head wrestling coach, a title he has held for the last 10 years. “My absolute love came in high school,” Hauck said. “I started to mature just a little, we had an amazing coach with Jeff Giles, we had good teams that worked really hard not just for themselves, but for the whole team and really good leadership. It became a brotherhood for me.” Hauck rekindled that wrestling love again after his time in the military. “I got into coaching after coming back from the military and seeing

how much wrestling and all the lessons we learn in it and the mentality at a young age had helped me through a lot of the trials of not just military life, but also adult life,” Hauck said. Hauck uses his background to keep up with his “tough but fair” coaching style, a style that has produced many great wrestlers. This year’s list of great wrestlers includes senior 120-pound Chase Johnson, sophomore 126-pound Brayton Peters, senior 138-pound Joel Abell, and senior 150-pound Braylon Smith. On top of those studs, Hauck noted that he has a lot of young guys too. “I’ve got some young freshman wrestling JV , that we are excited about in upcoming years.”

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NEX-TECH ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Hillsboro’s Rachel Schafer By Matt Browning Hillsboro’s Rachel Schafer has had a unique path towards being a Class 4-1A ranked wrestler in the 145 weight class. Schafer was homeschooled until last year, so being able to wrestle was the first her first sport ever. Over the last year, it has been a bumpy ride, that she hopes culminates into a memorable ending in 2024. “I started wrestling after Christmas break, due to GPA requirements, and then my season was cut short when I broke my fibula in the beginning of February, the week of regionals,” Schafer said. “I was most excited to just get back at it, and see how much I had improved from the previous year.” Before her injury last season, Schafer learned so much about what she needed to do to become not only a competent wrestler, but become of the best in her weight class. “I am very big on the gym so I did a lot of simple strength training, and running for endurance,” Schafer said. “I attended a one day girls wrestling camp in Council Grove, which was my first wrestling of any kind since healing from my injury, and that got me very excited for this

current season. I needed to improve on taking shots first in my matches, so I worked on my explosiveness, and just overall confidence in everything I did.” At the time this profile was written, Schafer was 131, which was a significant jump from last season’s 7-9 record and her on track to be wrestling for something big in late February. “My biggest goal is to simply wrestle in the state competition, and be a good role model for girls that are younger and newer to the sport,” Schafer said.

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Salina Central’s Jase Adam

Salina Central’s Lydia Dong

Winning a state title seems like a natural progression for Salina Central’s Jase Adam.

One of the things Salina Central’s Lydia Dong is most excited about for her senior season as a wrestler is being able to work with her coaches one last time. She has developed a repour and relationship with them throughout her high school career and even longer.

Last season, the junior wrestler took second at the 5A Tournament, while taking third in his freshman season. As the preseason No. 1 wrestler at the 126 weight class, Adam has his sights set on getting that elusive state title, plus more for the Mustangs. “My goals for this season are to win a state championship and get to 100 wins by the end of this season,” Adam said. “My current record through two years of high school is 58-21.” Being able to sustain his energy over the course of a match and tournament is something Adam wants to improve on this season. “One thing I need to work on this year that I struggled with the past two years is my cardio,” Adam said. “I need to be able to wrestle a whole match without getting tired, which is something I struggled with this last year.”

“I am most excited to wrestle for my amazing coaches one last time, including Coach Black and Coach Brundgardt (who have coached me for 6 years), Coach Lueders, and Coach Brake,” Dong said. Since girls wrestling is still in its infant stages at the high school level in Kansas, Dong hopes that she can make an impact, even just a small one, this season. “My individual goal is to be comfortable on the mat, to place at state, and end my high school career with a lasting impact on the Salina Central Girls Wrestling program,” Dong said.

While Adam went to a variety of camps and offseason tournaments, it was his workouts with private coaches that he thinks will be what puts him over the top in 2024.

Last season, Dong went 25-7, while being chosen first team all-league and taking second place at the 6A-5A Tournament. For this season to be even better, Dong started something new in wrestling over the offseason.

“What was most helpful to me was running, going live in matches, and lifting weights with one of my coaches, Ryan Brungardt,” Adam said. “I thank him for taking time out of his life to push me to be the best I can be this past summer and by helping me to believe in myself and my abilities.”

“In the off season I wrestled quite a bit and even started my freestyle journey,” Dong said. “I wrestled for the SAW Regional Training Center and with them I began competing freestyle. During my off season one of my biggest goals was to build my strength.”

Clay Center’s Brody Hayes

Lyons’ Alexa Guzman

Clay Center’s Brody Hayes still replays the season in his mind. The Tigers accomplished so much and Hayes is proud of every single moment.

By Blake Chadwick

“Winning our first home game this year on our brand new turf field was amazing,” Hayes said. “The atmosphere of the crowd and the energy that the boys brought was incredible. I felt that that win really jump-started our season. Also clinching an outright league title and district title for the first time in 30 years was a cool memory as well.”

The seniors’ wrestling journey wasn’t all perfect, though. During her sophomore year, the school finally made a girls’ wrestling team, but due to not having a designated coach for the team, Guzman ended up quitting for the year. “My junior year Coach Joel (Grizzle) joined us,” Guzman said. “He is an amazing coach, and he encourages us to get better every day. That year, we ended up with 71 wins, which is a huge improvement, considering we only got three the year prior.”

Trust, respect and accountability were the three things that Hayes felt made Clay Center’s season so successful.

Guzman has always been the team leader and, at times, is also seen as the “momma,” according to coach Grizzle.

“This group of boys has worked extremely hard for multiple years so I knew we were due for a big year,” Hayes said. “From lifts in the winter to workouts on the field in the spring and summer, we got better every single day and it paid off.”

“She leads by example, loves on the girls when they need it, helps correct technique, and is in the coaching chair next to me when it is open.”

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“Personally, I thought I performed well,” Hayes said. “I did my job as best I could for this team. I felt I grew as a leader as well. One of my goals before the season was to grow in my leadership skills and I thought I did a nice job with that.”

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Hayes was a versatile playmaker on both sides of the ball, earning multiple postseason accolades and awards. He racked up over 1,400 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns on offense, while recording 101 tackles (seven for a loss) and two interceptions on defense.

“Wrestling was something different from what my brothers did, and I wanted to try something new, something that was only my thing,” Guzman said. “There weren’t many options, so I decided to give wrestling a chance, and I ended up falling in love with the sport.”

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From the first game of the season, to Clay Center’s state semifinal loss to Cheney, Hayes said there were so many moments that stood out to him.

Alexa Guzman is a big-time wrestler for Lyons High School and has a mindset that won’t let her be held down. The senior has been wrestling for eight years after quitting basketball, a sport she admits she hated with a passion.

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“I was very proud of my team this season,” Hayes said. “Everyone played super physical all season and that was one of our goals. I felt we performed well and handled adversity extremely well. I could not ask for a better group of guys to go to battle with. I am very grateful for the relationships I created and strengthened this fall.”

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Campbell Peterson of Salina South carried a series average of 698 last season, which was the third best on the Cougars’ team. Salina South returns so much talent this season, including Peterson, which has him thinking big things in 2024. “I am excited for the state meet at the end of the season as I think our team has a good chance of winning it this season,” Peterson said.

At Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, our Even as the defending Class 5-1A comprehensive care includesindividual education to prevent injuries, champion, the process of sports improvement is a long andpreservation arduous one of performance enhancement, and the healing and for Salina South’s Rylee Lambeth. damaged joints through surgery and rehabilitation. When you’re Not only she you focusback on in the game. sidelined by injury, our focus is does getting fundamentals and her weaknesses, but she goes above and beyond when analyzing her game.

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Peterson understands that his growth as a bowler will go a long way in helping him and the Cougars reach their goals.

“I have been in the bowling alley every chance I get and work on arrow drills and wrist drills,” said Lambeth, who carried an average of 198, series average of 708 and game average of 278. “I also rewatch my film from all my tournaments I do in the off season and last year’s season.”

“My individual goals are to have the highest average in the state and I want to win state with my team at the end of the season,” Peterson said.

Not only does Lambeth want to repeat as the individual champion, she also has others goals she would like to cross off her list.

In order to improve not only his average and game totals, but his series average, too, Peterson focused on a basic fundamental throughout the offseason.

“I have been bowling with the Salina Unified team, while also getting reps in on my own,” Lambeth said. “I am wanting to improve on all my games and shooting higher series. I am hoping to redeem my state title, try to win all my meets, and hopefully win some tournaments with my teammates.”

“I want to improve on my spare shooting,” Peterson said. “I do this by spending time on each spare and making sure I am comfortable and confident in each shot.” Bowling will continue for Peterson after he graduates from Salina South in the spring. “I plan on attending Barton Community College to continue bowling and to study business,” Peterson said.

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While Lambeth is certainly excited to see how far her game has come in the past year, there are other aspects to the season that has her pumped. “I am excited to see how much I have improved since last year as well as all the suburban rides with Mr. White and my teammates,” Lambeth said. After high school, Lambeth hopes to continue her bowling career at Wichita State University.

Shrine Bowl Football

Shrine Bowl Wrestling

The 2024 Kansas Shrine Bowl, which will be played on June 29th at Emporia State University, announced the rosters for this year’s game in early January.

The Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors announced the addition of a new East vs. West senior all-star wrestling event in conjunction with the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association. The KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 17th, 2024 at Fugate Gymnasium on the campus of Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.

The following players in VYPE’s coverage area were chosen to participate in the 51st annual contest:

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Kaiden Abasolo, Mulvane; Demariae Baker, Derby; Keegun Biems, Concordia; Tre Birch, Wichita Northwest; Karson Butts, Andale; Donald Collier, Wichita Trinity; Tristen Davidson, Kingman; Lucas Dickman, Eisenhower; Sammy Dresie, Maize South; C.J. Felder, Maize; Brax Fisher, Abilene; Teegan Haines, McPherson; Brody Hayes, Clay Center; Trey Heitsman, Valley Center; Blaise Hoover, McPherson; Mason Hopper, Derby; Mason Jones, Hutchinson; Daniel Kejr, SE-Saline; Brayden Kunz, Conway Springs; Weston Langvardt, Chapman; Jack Lanning, Marion; Derrick Lowe, Wellington; Kason Messenger, Cheney; Daeonte Mitchell, Wichita East; Hunter Mowery, Salina Central; Kyle Newsom, Andover Central; Henry Purvis, Bishop Carroll; Nick Ruth, Newton; Avante Scales, Wichita Heights; Aydan Spiers, Kapaun Mount Carmel; Jackson Voth, Cheney; Loden West, Ellsworth. The head coach of the west squad will be McPherson’s Jace Pavlovich and his assistants will be Wichita Heights’ Dominick Dingle, Eisenhower’s Darrin Fisher, Wellington’s Jeremiah Meeks and SE-Saline’s Mitch Gebhardt. In addition to playing in the annual East vs. West allstar football game, Kansas Shrine Bowl participants get the opportunity to meet and interact with the Patient Ambassadors from Shriners Children’s during the Hospital Experience Day. An event, that for many, is more impactful than any other event during the week of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. During the Hospital Experience Day, players come to understand that these children have put in the same kind of hard work, dedication and sacrifices they have; only their work has resulted in allowing them to walk, run, play, and live a full life.

The event will feature around 60 of the state’s top wrestlers, both girls and boys, competing in an East vs. West team dual format. All net proceeds from the KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals will benefit Shriners Children’s, previously known as Shriners Hospitals for Children. “We’re thrilled for this opportunity to partner with the KWCA to showcase some of the best athletes in Kansas and increase the impact our organization can have for Shriners Children’s,” said Brice Kesler of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. “The opportunity to share the reasons behind our cause with the outstanding wrestling community throughout Kansas is going to be a great benefit for everyone involved.” The KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals will continue the traditions of East vs. West all-star competition that has led to 50 years of success with the Kansas Shrine Bowl, generating more than $3.8M in donations to Shriners Children’s. The partnership with the KWCA will help bring a new philanthropic aspect to the KWCA’s mission of promoting and recognizing outstanding contributions and accomplishments in wrestling throughout the state of Kansas. The athletes who are selected to participate in the KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals will have the opportunity, through fundraising initiatives and competition, to make a lasting impact on the lives of children while displaying their talents on a premier all-star stage. “The KWCA is excited to partner with the Shriners to bring back the Senior All-Star Classic,” said Nathan Broeckelman, KWCA President. “This event will be a great showcase for our senior athletes across the state for one last go representing their respective high schools.”

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OLIVER’S SPORTS ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Bennington’s Mister Smith

Hanover’s Brigham Bruna

By Blake Chadwick

By Hayden Swope

Coming in as one of the better teams in Class 2A, the Bennington Bulldogs had a lot of hype surrounding their name because of the amount of talent they brought back.

Brigham Bruna, a basketball player at Hanover High School, has gotten to play the varsity court since freshman year, and it’s only been up from there.

Mister Smith was one of those key players for the Bulldogs.

With Hanover having only one loss on the season so far, Bruna along with the rest of the team have had plenty of time to show off their skills on the court.

The senior is an all-around player who plays the forward spot for the Bulldogs and is very efficient, as he is currently averaging 14 points and seven rebounds per game. But the numbers aren’t what will satisfy him. “My goal this season is to better myself,” Smith said. “I feel like I still have a lot of potential left. So every day is room for improvement.” Smith has been playing basketball since first grade. For the better part of that time, he’s been playing with his fellow seniors, Eli Lawson, Talan Pickering and Kian Wilson. “We seem to know each other’s strengths, and using that allows us to play smoothly together,” Smith said. He, Lawson, and Pickering were a group that were “thrown into the fire” as freshmen and have been playing great basketball ever since. “Playing with these guys for a long time is almost every hooper’s dream,” Smith said. “Not only growing up with your best friends but also playing with them for that long truly is the best feeling in the world.”

“It’s been a really successful season so far,” Bruna said. “There have been some ups and downs but we have been able to capitalize on opportunities when we needed to.” A tough loss to Axtell took a toll on the team, but they are looking at making a big comeback. “We took one unfortunate loss to Axtell in the TVL Championship, but we are looking to build and get back at them at the end of the season,” Bruna said. While ten and one on the season, Bruna and the Wildcats are excited to see where the rest of the year takes them. “Like I said the season has been great and I really look forward to seeing how much we can progress as a team and how far we can make it towards the end of the year,” Bruna said.

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BLUESTEM ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

McPherson’s Cristian Garcia

By Matt Browning

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Perhaps the thing McPherson’s Cristian Garcia was most excited about for the swimming season was being able to show what kind of leader he is.

“I could tell this team needed a leader figure to it so I knew that had to be me,” Garcia said. “We had a bunch of brand new guys coming in and a couple of past season swimmers returning and we needed to build a good team bond, which I believe we have this year.” For the summer outdoor season, Garcia joined a club team, which proved to be extremely successful. “I did really well in club swimming getting 10 first place ribbons, six second place ribbons, and three third place

ribbons,” Garcia said. “During the summer and spring I also worked out and went on two mile runs almost every day to build muscle and endurance before the season started.” Garcia came so close to state last season, which left him heartbroken. He wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again. “Breaststroke is my main event and during last season I didn’t make it to state because someone beat me out by a tenth of a second and that left me heartbroken because the previous two years I made it,” Garcia said. “I raced in breaststroke all summer long working on improving the form and the speed.”

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