by joanna

Here’s your topic: Preseason All-Metro (for football, volleyball and boys soccer)

Memo to Bobby Rozzell: I’m now following you on Twitter! Anyone else out there who I need to follow?

by TAYLOR ELDRIDGE

• AUGUSTA ORIOLES

Class: 4A
League: Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League, Division III
Head Coach: Steve Pazzie, 19th year
2008 Recap: Not much went right for Augusta last year in a winless season that featured only one loss closer than 10 points. Augusta’s upset bid over Mulvane fell short and the Orioles finished the season 0-9 overall and 0-5 in league.
2009 Schedule: 9/4 Riley County; 9/11 Rose Hill; 9/18 at Buhler; 9/25 at Andover Central; 10/2 Mulvane; 10/9 at Arkansas City; 10/16 at Circle; 10/23 Andover; 10/30 El Dorado.
Returning Starters: 9
5 Impact Players: HB/LB Shane Smith (6-3, 205, Sr.); FB/CB Brandon Swa (5-8, 165, Sr.); WR/LB Matt Burk (6-0, 180, Sr.); T/LB Cody Burden (6-0, 185, Sr.); HB/CB Leonel Mestas (5-8, 165, Jr.).

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by joanna

I’m late this morning on the open discussion. Sitting in doctor’s offices will do that to you.

OK, what do you want to talk about? The floor is yours.

by TAYLOR ELDRIDGE

• ARKANSAS CITY BULLDOGS

Class: 5A
League: Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League, Division II
Head Coach: Darrin Wegner, fourth year
2008 Recap: It was a painful season for the Bulldogs, as they dropped three games by a touchdown or less – including two district games. Ark City’s offense scored over 30 five times, but lost two of those games to finish 3-6 overall and 1-4 in league.
2009 Schedule: 9/4 at Salina South; 9/11 El Dorado; 9/18 at Valley Center; 9/25 Campus; 10/2 at McPherson; 10/9 Augusta; 10/16 at Kapaun Mt. Carmel; 10/23 at Newton; 10/30 Winfield.
Returning Starters: 10
5 Impact Players: G/DL Devin Metzinger (6-0, 225, Sr.); QB/DB Devin Avery (5-9, 160, Sr.); OL/DL Cody Larmer (6-3, 285, Sr.); HB/S Trevor Harris (5-10, 170, Jr.); FB/OLB Justin Spencer (6-0, 180, So.).

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by TAYLOR ELDRIDGE

• COLLEGIATE SPARTANS

Class: 3A
League: Mid-Central Activities Association
Head Coach: Bill Messamore, fifth year
2008 Recap: A sparkling undefeated regular season, which included three district victories totaling 164-21, was tainted by another first round exit in the state playoffs to the hands of eventual state champion Conway Springs. Collegiate finished 9-1 and 6-0 in league.
2009 Schedule: 9/4 at Nickerson; 9/11 Marion; 9/18 at Hesston; 9/25 at Smoky Valley; 10/2 Haven; 10/9 at Halstead; 10/16 at Douglass; 10/23 Bluestem; 10/30 Independent.
Returning Starters: 16
5 Impact Players: QB Blake Jablonski (6-1, 185, Sr.); WR Tre Bailey (6-6, 200, Sr.); RB/LB/K Tyler Coughenour (6-1, 210, Sr.); Brett LeMaster (6-3, 185, Sr.); WR/CB Bryce Cornejo (6-3, 165, Sr.).

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by joanna

I haven’t done one of these posts in a long time. But as the faithful readers know, I’m a nosy sort of person. Ask Northwest football coach Weston Schartz, who has pointed out I ask an awful lot of questions. (I haven’t talked to him in forever!)

So here’s the deal. There’s some burning questions I have that I want you to answer. Most don’t have to do with sports. Some do. I want you to answer and feel free to give us your own ‘I wanna know.’ It can be fun if you play along.

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by joanna

I’m on vacation and I’m sick. Anyone feel sorry for me?

Last night I was the all-time QB for my kids and some neighbor kids. It was an absolute blast. And one of my favorite childhood games was playing work-up in baseball (my dad’s word). We’d have a limited number of players, so of course we had ghost runners. The flag football games were the best, and we used to play against my much-older brothers, and they’d have to play defense on their knees.

Anyone else have fond memories of playing sports as a kid?

by joanna

I didn’t get one of these going this week. My bad. I guess I got caught up in my vacation.

What’s on your mind football-wise?

How about we talk defense. Who are some of the top defensive players? Will Heights’ defense be like it has been in the past or will losing all those players affect the Falcons? Can you name a top defensive player besides Derby’s Devin Hedgepeth?

by TAYLOR ELDRIDGE

• MAIZE EAGLES

Class: 6A
League: Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League, Division I
Head Coach: Craig Broadbent, third year
2008 Recap: A promising 2-0 start quickly dissipated once league play and injuries set in. The Eagles lost their final seven games of the season, including five by 10 points or less. Maize finished 2-7 overall and 0-5 in league.
2009 Schedule: 9/4 Valley Center; 9/11 at Blue Valley North; 9/18 at Hutchinson; 9/25 Salina South; 10/2 Derby; 10/9 at Salina Central; 10/16 Garden City; 10/23 at Dodge City; 10/30 Goddard.
Returning Starters: 9
5 Impact Players: WR/DB Miles Ukaoma (6-1, 185, Sr.); QB/DB Dillon Ayres (6-0, 185, Sr.); RB/LB Terrance Jones (5-7, 175, Sr.); WR/DB Dylan Schellenberg (5-11, 155, Sr.); WR/LB Derek Lee (6-3, 200, Jr.).

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by joanna

I’m reading the paper this morning and I see that we have a 10-year anniversary of Barry Sanders retiring from the NFL. He’s definitely someone who I could have watched for many more years but am glad I got to see at all.

Who do you wish you still had the chance to watch? Who quit their game too early? Too late?