Joanna and Jonathan break down Championship Weekend in high school football.

by joanna

So what are you thankful for? Is it family? A job? Or the fact that your team isn’t as bad as the Chiefs?

For me, I’m thankful that I have a healthy family, two sets of grandparents who love hanging with my kids and that we’re having an unbelievably beautiful Thanksgiving.

As for sports, I’m thankful that Missouri is going to beat KU on Saturday (at least I hope so!) and that I’ve got an area team to cover in the state championships on Saturday (makes it much more interesting to cover an area team in a title game, win or lose).

So how about you?

by joanna

It’s a possibility, just a possibility, mind you, that the City League will be playing its season openers at Koch Arena on Dec. 5th and 6th. There’s a huge maybe here, though, because the only way that happens is if WSU volleyball does not get a regional to host.

If WSU volleyball hosts a regional, Koch Arena won’t be available and games will go on as previously scheduled.

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by joanna

My dear Hovey wrote on a previous comment that Wichita State women are playing Memphis on Friday. Now, I’ve been immersed in football and high school basketball, so WSU hasn’t been on my mind (although I read Paul Suellentrop’s story on coach Jody Adams — excellent story).

Anyway, Memphis’ connection to Wichita is two former Heights players — sophomores Shekeira Copeland, an All-State player her senior year, and Savannah Ellis, Perry’s sister. Ellis has started one game and is averaging 4.0 points, 4.8 rebounds. Copeland is averaging 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 points.

Any other players out there doing well in college ball? Let us know. We’re always looking for ideas for posts.

by joanna

Each year we pick 10 people to watch in our community heading into the new year. In the past we’ve had people like Mark Turgeon, Winston Brooks. This year we’re looking for your ideas for candidates and any ideas can be e-mailed to lbuselt@wichitaeagle.com. Feel free to send Lori the ideas, but let’s discuss it here, too. They can represent various sectors of our community, including — but not limited to — athletics, business, education, entertainment/arts, government, politics and public service. (Lori’s words)

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By J. Long

We’ve been running basketball previews for the last two weeks. While we’ve been trying to make sure we talk about all the top players, some do slip through the cracks.

Spencer Robertson from North for example. Robertson was left out of the preview but will be a very key player for North this year. The 6-foot-4 junior has good touch around the basket and can lure opposing post players to the perimeter and knock down the triple.

Any other players out there that people might not know about?

by joanna

Derby was obviously the team to talk about in football. And the fans never disappointed us, coming here regularly to chat, some to talk trash, others to hand out parking info! Wow, that was so nice. I mean it.

But who will be on The Blog come basketball season? Will it be Northwest fans (we already have a couple posting regularly)? Will it be Heights girls fans? What about Andover Central boys?

And why don’t Carroll and Kapaun fans come to this blog?

So who will it be? I want to know.

by joanna

Just a little fun thing to do today, some of it has to do with sports, some of it doesn’t. If you only want analysis of games, skip this post. If you want something to take your mind off the weekend you have to spend with the in-laws, keep reading.

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by joanna

Yep, it’s the weekly installment, and I’m running behind, at least three hours behind my usual posting time. Let me apologize up front.

OK, moving on. We’ve got Thanksgiving this week, so where will you be?

We also have state championship football! this Saturday, will you be going to a game?

Let’s talk about it:

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by joanna

I’m working on an obituary on former East track coach J.D. Edmiston, who recently died. His is a name that I didn’t know, but from what I’ve discovered, he was a legend in the track community.

He coached Jim Ryun his senior year, and also turned out many outstanding track and cross country athletes. He coached Randy Smith, who was the first Kansas high school athlete to run a two mile in track and cross country in under 9 minutes.

But the thing I’ve discovered about Edmiston isn’t just track related — it’s that he was a great man. I’ve been told that while he was a tough coach, an ex-military guy, he was fair, compassionate and honorable.

I’m still checking, but it looks as though his funeral is Friday at Olivet Baptist Church.