by joanna
I can’t believe this is the final day of 2011, but here we are, looking at 2012 starting.
We can’t have the year end, though, without a look back at 2011.
What stories fascinated you? What were the highlights for you? Below are some of my memories from the year. They are definitely not a complete rehashing of 2011, so feel free to add your thoughts.
Happy New Year!
By TONY ADAME
The Wichita Eagle
Chalk up another high-profile recruit from the Wichita area to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.
Collegiate’s Trace Clark, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound defensive end, committed to the Cowboys on Thursday/Friday, choosing Oklahoma State over Iowa, Purdue, Kansas, Kansas State, Oregon and Stanford.
Gundy flew from Stillwater to Wichita on Thursday night by private jet and Clark committed in his family’s living room.
“I’m very relieved to know that most of the process is over now,” said Clark, a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com. “I can get back to my school work and playing basketball and I only have a couple of coaches that I need to talk to now in coach Gundy and my position coach.”
Schools can’t comment on recruits until they’ve signed a national letter of intent, which Clark will do on February 1.
Last month, Clark was named to The Wichita Eagle’s Top 11 team after recording 106 tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles this season.
Clark joins two other local standouts on the Cowboys’ roster in running back Joseph Randle, from Wichita Southeast, and defensive back Devin Hedgepeth, a Derby product. Hedgepeth was Clark’s host for his recruiting visit the weekend of the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game.
“I think those two being there helped a lot,” Clark said. “With Devin being my host on the trip, he was just really helpful and (Randle and Hedgepeth) both kept telling me they really wanted me to be another Wichita-area kid who comes down there and has success.”
Clark didn’t let family ties get in the way of his decision, either. His father, Steve, played for Kansas State and the New England Patriots and older brother Zac was an All-Pac 10 defensive lineman last season as a senior at Oregon.
“I think that Trace looked at what the best situation was for him, for his education and his football future,” said Steve, who is an assistant coach at Collegiate. “(Oklahoma State) did the best job of recruiting Trace from Day One, did all the things you’re supposed to do when you’re serious about somebody.
“We had some idea it would be Oklahoma State, but (Gundy) didn’t know when he showed up. It was funny because (Gundy) said he told his assistant coaches that if they’d already been up here, to stay home because they’d had their chance. He wanted a shot at it.”
Clark told his family earlier this week that it was down to Oklahoma State and Iowa and they went out and bought gear from both schools, just in case. Clark also marks a clean sweep of siblings to play Division I sports – Older sister Destiny played volleyball at Arkansas and older sister Sadie plays at Arkansas State.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy and Collegiate defensive end Trace Clark tonight at the Clark's house in Wichita after Clark committed to the Cowboys.
I spent some time last night talking with Andover Central wrestler Zac Gentzler – he’s a two-time state champ and only a junior – and I’ve got to say the kid got me fired up for the rest of wrestling season. I wish people could listen to ZG talk about the sport and the passion that he has for it – specifically about winning a Class 5A team title last season.
My dad was a high school wrestling coach for over 20 years so I grew up around the sport (I played basketball in high school, which killed him) and I’ve always liked watching the heavier weights a little more because of the brute force, but the older I get I think I’m starting to appreciate the lower classes more because their technique is so amazing … they’re like surgeons out there. Might have been watching Heights’ Daniel Deshazer the last couple of years that won me over – he was pretty electric.
I’d love to hear what local wrestling fans love about the sport. Do you like the heavier or lighter classes? Do you get caught up in the team competition or are you there just to watch individuals? Who do you think is the best wrestler in the area this season, pound-for-pound?
Look forward to hearing from you – you can always e-mail me at tadame@wichitaeagle.com if that’s easier for you and I’ll post your replies.
-TA
Mike Gehrer will return as head coach of the Collegiate Spartans football team, athletic director Mitch Fiegel said this afternoon.
Gehrer, 56, was 126-32 as Collegiate’s coach from 1990 to 2004, including Class 3A championships in 1994 and 2000. His teams produced six Eagle Top 11 selections.
Bill Messamore followed Gehrer as Spartans coach in 2005 and remained until the end of this season, when he announced his resignation. Gehrer has been an assistant to Messamore the past three years. Gehrer said Messamore will stay on the sideline as wide receivers and special teams coach.
Fiegel said Troy Black, who was defensive coordinator for Gehrer in his first stint, will return to that role. Former Friends coach Phil Keys will be offensive coordinator.
We’re down to just one more full night of prep games before Christmas break, and Tuesday’s slate was jam-packed with area action. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights:
Tim Grunhard, the longtime Kansas City Chiefs center who has been a successful high school coach at Bishop Miege, is joining Charlie Weis’ staff at Kansas.
Grunhard will be offensive line coach. He and Weis are Notre Dame grads.
Grunhard led Miege to five straight playoff appearances and the 2009 Class 4A title.
Bob Huggins greets a former player. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle)
I looked at this photo from last week’s West Virginia-Kansas State photo gallery and wondered who Bob Huggins was so happy to see. After all, the man is wearing no K-State purple, so it probably wasn’t an old Manhattan acquaintance.
Come to find out it may be the only City League basketball player to ever play for Huggy Bear. It’s Floyd Johnson, an All-City pick from Heights in 1985 who played two seasons for Huggins at Akron (1987-89).
Johnson played two seasons for Randy Smithson at Butler Community College, averaging 12 points and 7 rebounds. Huggins signed Johnson before his fourth season at Akron. The Zips were an independent at the time, transitioning from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Mid-Continent Conference, but were 42-15 in those two seasons. Johnson’s senior year included an NIT game.
Huggins and Johnson left at the same time — Huggins was hired by Cincinnati and became a national name. Johnson is back in Wichita, working for Sedgwick County.
Smithson and Huggins . . . Floyd probably has some stories.
by joanna
I was at Andover Central to watch the Jaguars play host to Goddard Eisenhower. I was impressed with both teams. Eisenhower will be better down the line when it develops more depth. Andover Central got the win in a pretty well-played game.
In the City League, East beat Southeast by 23 points. Wow. North beat Carroll and Northwest beat Kapaun.
On the girls side, Kapaun beat Northwest, handing the Grizzlies their first loss. Heights held West to six points and Andover Central shot so well in a win over Goddard Eisenhower.
How did your team do tonight? Anyone impress you?
Join Joanna Chadwick in a live chat today from 1 to 2 p.m.
Pratt’s Cheyenne Becker is one of 12 finalists for the Wendy’s Heisman. Two national winners will be announced Friday night in New York.
She is a cross country and track athlete.
Goddard’s Daniel Jones was a finalist in 2008.
Below is an explanation of what Wendy’s does here.
