By Joanna Chadwick

Eisenhower has named Marc Marinelli as its football coach, a decision that was approved by the Goddard school board on Monday night.

Marinelli, who coached at Hesston, takes over a program that is just a year old.

“I think most football coaches would not admit they’re control freaks,” Marinelli said. “I am. I think the fact that it’s a one-year program and I can go and do everything my way, I think it’s led me to this program. I can do everything my way.”

Eisenhower only won a single game last year, which Marinelli considers a challenge.

“I think the first thing you have to do, it’s such a numbers game,” he said. “Last year they had 75 guys. You have to hit the hallways hard. I watched them play basketball. I see a ton who play basketball, but not football.

“There’s a bunch of kids walking the hall that can help us. That’s the first thing we have to do. Sell ourselves to the kids.”

By Joanna Chadwick

The Wichita Eagle and VarsityKansas.com’s All-Metro boys and girls basketball teams have been announced. The girls will run in Thursday’s Wichita Eagle, along with the all-league lists from the area, and the boys will run in Friday’s Wichita Eagle.

Congrats to all those selected!

Boys

Coach Brett Flory, Derby

Trevon Evans, Eisenhower

Conner Frankamp, North

Braden Hullings, Kapaun

Taylor Schieber, Derby

Zach Winter, Andover Central

 

Girls
Coach Antwain Scales, South

Kendrian Elliott, South

Alli Heimerman, Garden Plain

Abbie Lehman, Newton

Paige Lungwitz, Maize

Katie Palmer, Heights

By Joanna Chadwick

The 2012-13 All-Metro girls basketball team will be in Thursday’s Wichita Eagle and on VarsityKansas.com. All the area All-League teams will run then, too.

All-League girls basketball
City League
First team
Sam Bachrodt, Kapaun;5-9;So.
Jharian Bowen, Heights;5-10;Sr.
Kendrian Elliott, South;6-2;Fr.
Relina Johnson, East;5-8;Sr.
Katie Palmer, Heights;5-8;Sr.
Kirea Rogers, South;6-0;So.
Coaches of the year: Marvin Estes, Kapaun; Antwain Scales, South
Second team
Cheyenne Bullock, Southeast;6-2;Sr.
Jordyn Miller, Carroll;6-0;Jr.
Sydney Kuhn, Kapaun;6-2;Jr.
Shelby Lopez, Carroll;5-11;So.
Jada Lynch, Heights;5-9;Sr.
Tori Spann, East;5-7;Sr.
Honorable mention
Alex Arline, so., Southeast; Raven Baldwin, sr., East; Aliyah Bernard, so., North; Jamisha Bonner, sr., West; Calea Carr, jr., Northwest; Shayla Cotman, sr., Northwest; Katie Cramer, fr., Northwest; McKayla Crawford, sr., Heights; Kayla Demel, sr., Carroll; Jayden Dennis, sr., North; Patriece Dodson, so., South; Eledria Franklin, jr., South; Grace Hagan, so., Kapaun; Cassidy Harbert, sr., Northwest; Makayla Harding, sr., Heights; Hunter Hogan, jr., Carroll; Kaylie Ines, jr., East; Kimirra Lee, jr., East; Hannah Lienhard, sr., Kapaun; Ericka Mattingly, fr., South; Molly McAuliffe, sr., Kapaun; Aujanae McCoy, sr., West; Madison Northcutt, jr., North; Maddie Oxler, sr., Carroll; Cassie Pauls, so., Northwest; Kiersten Parks, jr., Heights; Mariah Plowden, sr., Southeast; Jurnee Reid, sr., Heights; Hannah Schauf, sr., Carroll; Rhiannon Taylor, sr., Northwest; Odyssey Trussel, sr., Heights; Eileen Vlamis, sr., East.
Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League
Division I
First team
Alyxis Bowens, Derby;Sr.
Megan Holloway, Salina South;Sr.
Abbie Lehman, Newton;
Paige Lungwitz, Maize;Sr.
Shaelyn Martin, Salina Central;Jr.
Keiryn Swenson, Maize;So.
MVP: Paige Lungwitz, Maize
Coach: Jerrod Handy, Maize
Second team
Madi Greenwood, Derby;Jr.
Daley Handy, Maize;So.
Emily Hiebert, Newton; Sr.
Kelsi Langley, Newton; Sr.
Hayley Leeper, Campus;So.
Janai Mitchell, Salina South;Sr.
Emily Wood, Salina Central;Jr.
Honorable mention
Chandler Benway, jr., Derby; Brianna Bosley, jr., Campus; Brayden Byrd, jr., Maize; Hannah Carlgren, jr., Newton; Cassidy Cook, sr., Salina South; Shayla DeGarmo, so., Hutchinson; Emilee Holloway, so., Salina South; McKinna Kraus, jr., Hutchinson; Hailey Mayfield, jr., Salina Central.
Division II
First team
Jaylyn Agnew, Andover;So.
Brynn Minor, Eisenhower; So.
Sklyer Snodgrass, Andover Central;Jr.
Evan Stamp, Andover Central;Sr.
Mariah Suchan, Maize South;Jr.
Sydney Tilson, Andover;Sr.
MVP: Jaylyn Agnew, Andover
Coach: Max Hamblin, Andover
Second team
Kaley Hallmark, Andover;So.
Kilah Hoenscheidt, Eisenhower;Jr.
Meg Huelskamp, Andover Central;Sr.
Kaitlyn Potter, Arkansas City; Fr.
Madison Wedekind, Valley Center;Sr.
Meagan Williams, Valley Center;Sr.
Honorable Mention
Katelyn Day, so., Andover; Emily King, so., Eisenhower; Katie Kretchmar, jr., Andover Central; Justyce Perez, sr., Andover Central; McKenna Poynter, jr., Maize South; Samantha Schwab, fr., Goddard; Lexi Tilson, fr., Andover.
Division III
First team
Destynee Donaldson, Mulvane;Jr.
Elise Gerlach, Mulvane;Sr.
Katelyn Loecker, McPherson;Sr.
Abby Pedersen, McPherson;Jr.
Haley Ruder, McPherson;Sr.
Josie Williams, Buhler;Sr.
MVP: Katelyn Loecker, McPherson
Coach: Chris Strathman, McPherson
Second team
Courtney Griffiths, Winfield;So.
Karrie McNutt, Winfield;Jr.
Kynnedy Myers, Rose Hill;So.
Jessica Steffen, Buhler;Fr.
Taryn Torgerson, Buhler;Jr.
Andrea Valadez, El Dorado;Sr.
Honorable mention
Celina Banks, sr., Winfield; Janae Barnes, jr., McPherson; Aubree Burkhart, jr., Mulvane; Hannah Helferich, sr., El Dorado; Alia Khalidi, sr., Rose Hill; Autumn Lipscomb, jr., Rose Hill; KaSandra Melick, jr., Mulvane.
Division IV
First team
Rachel Eck, Andale;Sr.
Kailey Jenkins, Wellington;Sr.
Brittany Meyer, Andale;So.
Jerica Skar, Collegiate;Sr.
Bryna Vogel, Clearwater;Jr.
Jamie Wright, Circle;Sr.
MVP: Bryna Vogel, Clearwater
Coaches: Mark Kerschen, Andale; Chuck Reitberger, Clearwater
Second team
Savannah Cornejo, Wellington;Sr.
Keli Dunn, Collegiate;Sr.
Josie Eck, Andale;Sr.
Casady Marlnee, Augusta;Jr.
Emily Rowland, Andale;Sr.
Brooke Winter, Clearwater;Sr.
Honorable mention
Kristen Babb, sr., Clearwater; Jacy Gibbs, sr., Circle; Jordan Hull, jr., Collegiate; Kalie Robinson, sr., Augusta; Alexis Wiebe, sr., Circle.
Central Plains League
First team
Chelsea Ebenkamp, Conway Springs;Sr.
Sara Echelberry, Conway Springs;So.
Cassidy Haukap, Garden Plain;Sr.
Alli Heimerman, Garden Plain;Sr.
Kristin Miller, Trinity Academy;Jr.
Shiloh Miller, Trinity Academy;So.
Second team
Cadence Bourne, Garden Plain;Sr.
Taylor Denney, Cheney;So.
Noelle Dooley, Garden Plain;So.
Zoey Green, Douglass;Sr.
Haley McKee, Chaparral;Sr.
Sarah Wright, Douglass;Sr.
Honorable mention
Kali Ast, jr., Belle Plaine; Danielle Balzer, sr., Belle Plaine; Lizzie Costello, jr., Garden Plain; Alise Coccetella, so., Independent; Whitney Guetersloh, so., Trinity Academy; Kelli Henderson, sr., Trinity Academy; Taylor Mathes, sr., Chaparral; Brittney May, sr., Conway Springs; Taylor Needham, jr., Cheney; Bayley Nispel, jr., Douglass; Brandee Oliver, sr., Bluestem; Addie Roe, sr., Medicine Lodge; Tina Schrage, so., Independent; Alyssa Smith, sr., Conway Springs; Cassidy Stimpert, sr., Medicine Lodge.
Central Kansas League
First team
Kylah Comley, Sterling;Fr.
Haley Davis, Haven;Sr.
Addie Lackey, Hillsboro;Jr.
Tena Loewen, Hillsboro;Sr.
Brenna McClure, Lyons;So.
Caylee Richardson, Hesston;So.
Ashley Rogers, Haven;Sr.
Second team
Danae Bina, Hillsboro;Jr.
Dani Dowell, Sterling;Sr.
Payton Hoeme, Pratt;Sr.
Jenson Maydew, Pratt;Jr.
Aubree Nuest, Sterling;Jr.
Cami Richardson, Hesston;Fr.
Ashley Weaver, Hesston;Sr.
Honorable mention
Madison Bangert, jr., Kingman; Sydney Beat, jr., Halstead; Andi Dowell, so., Sterling; Aubrey Hollinger, jr., Lyons; Ali Jost, jr., Hesston; Lydia Lambert, sr., Sterling; Alexis Lasater, so., Lyons; Hannah McBride, jr., Smoky Valley; Maci Schlehuber, sr., Hillsboro; Sada Smith, so., Kingman Samantha Stallbaumer, so., Haven; Marissa Stewart, jr., Nickerson; Paige Stewart, jr., Nickerson; Whitney Tilley, sr., Pratt; Kelsey Unruh, so., Hesston.
Heart of America
First team
Kaitlynn Goalden, Inman;5-7;Jr.
Brooke Holloway, Moundridge;5-9;Jr.
Xannie Quiring, Berean Academy;5-6;Sr.
Brooke Racette, Hutchinson Trinity;5-6;So.
Kylee Schunn, Remington;5-8;Jr.
MacKenzie Suderman, Moundridge;5-9;Jr.
Darriane Wikoff, Ell-Saline;5-9;Sr.
Second team
Audrey Bebermeyer, Sedgwick;5-9;So.
Aubreale Favors, Bennington;5-4;Sr.
AnnaBelle Little, Sedgwick;5-11;Sr.
Michelle Schrag, Moundridge;5-7;So.
Erika Smith, Canton-Galva;5-6;Jr.
Kristyn Wedel, Remington;6-0;So.
Aubrey Wilson, Ell-Saline;6-0;Jr.
Honorable mention
Brittany Clancy, sr., Ell-Saline; Katey Ehrlich, jr,. Marion; Cassidy Enns, fr., Canton-Galva; Mariah Hammersmith, fr., Hutchinson Trinity; Kayla Mesh, so., Hutchinson Trinity; Carrie Unruh, jr., Berean Academy; Madison Watson, jr., Hutchinson Trinity; Naomi Williams, fr., Inman.

By Joanna Chadwick

All-Metro and All-League teams will run in Friday’s Wichita Eagle and at VarsityKansas.com.

All-league basketball

City League
First team
Zach Beard, North;5-10;Jr.
Ealy Bell, Heights;6-3;Jr.
Conner Frankamp, North;6-1;Sr.
EJ Garnes, Southeast;5-9;Jr.
Braden Hullings, Kapaun;5-11;Sr.
Christian Smith, Carroll;6-1;Sr.
Coach of the year: Gary Squires, North
Second team
Logan Bullinger, Carroll;6-6;Sr.
Samajae Jones, East;6-0;So.
Jordan Kelly, West;6-1;Sr.
Jeremy Lickteig, Kapaun;6-6;Sr.
JJ Normore, East;6-5;Sr.
De’Shawn Terrell, East;5-8;Sr.
Honorable mention
Damien Akao, sr., Kapaun; Kennedy Bates, sr., West; Toby Baxter, sr., Kapaun; Sean Bernard, jr., North; John Bogle, jr., North; Anfernee Boykins, sr., West; Atir Cherne, so., Kapaun; Nick Griffin, sr., East; Jerrick Harding, fr., Southeast; Shelby Harris, jr., South; Semaj Hervey, so., Heights; Jordan Hester, sr., East; Brent Johnston, jr., Northwest; Austin Larkin, sr., Carroll; Eric Lolar, sr., Northwest; Octevious Loudermilk, jr., Southeast; Omar Martin, sr., South; Traevon McGairty, jr., East; Jordan Moore, jr., South; Jordan Murdock, jr., Southeast; Luke Nespor, sr., East; Abdoulie Njai, sr., West; Reagan Oyugi, so., Southeast; Chris Reed, sr., Heights; Jordan Wilbeck, jr., Heights; Nick Williams, so., Northwest; Tarius Williams, jr., North.
Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League
Division I
First team
Treyton Hines, Salina Central;Jr.
Tavon Morrow, Maize;Sr.
Josiah Ray, Derby;Sr.
Taylor Schieber, Derby;Sr.
Justin Stonebraker, Salina South;Jr.
Trevor Turner, Hutchinson;Sr.
MVP: Taylor Schieber, Derby
Coach: Brett Flory, Derby
Second team
Tyler Chambers, Derby;Sr.
Max Kuhn, Salina Central;Jr.
Connor Lungwitz, Maize;So.
Mark Vaughn, Salina Central;Sr.
Grant Walker, Newton;Sr.
Braydon Wells, Hutchinson;Jr.
Honorable mention
Justin Bengtson, sr., Salina Central; James Conley, so., Derby; Joe Dower, sr., .Hutchinson; Gunar Drinnen, jr., Newton; Jeremy Dunham, jr., Derby; Tanner Higgins, sr., Hutchinson; Jordan McNelly, so., Salina Central; Zach Nachbar, jr., Salina South; Conner Ryan, sr., Salina South; Marcus Saucedo, sr., .Campus; Aaron Shaw, jr., Maize; Austin Vaden, sr., Campus.
Division II
First team
Dallas Bruner, Andover;Sr.
Brady Carter, Andover;Sr.
Adam DeKoning, Andover;Jr.
Trevon Evans, Eisenhower;Jr.
Matt Morris, Eisenhower;Jr.
Zach Winter, Andover Central;Sr.
MVP: Trevon Evans, Eisenhower
Coach: Steve Blue, Eisenhower
Second team
Kavin Harris, Arkansas City;Sr.
Cameron Hurley, Andover Central;Sr.
Kade Kordonowy, Maize South;So.
Collin Nevil, Goddard;Sr.
Brennan Stemple, Eisenhower;Jr.
Braden Tormey, Valley Center;Sr.
Honorable mention
Masen Allen, sr., Eisenhower; Brett Barney, jr., Maize South; Austin Chippeaux, jr., Goddard; Blake Crager, so., Valley Center; Kolten Holinde, sr., .Andover Central; Tyler Kvasnicka, sr., Andover; Darraja Parnell, fr., Andover Central; Matt Postlewait, sr., Arkansas City; Garrett Reeves, sr., Valley Centerl; Payten Ricks, fr., Maize South; Tucker Vang, jr., Goddard; Jarrett Whitcomb, sr., Andover Central.
Division III
First team
Will Adler, Winfield;6-1;So.
Travis House, El Dorado;6-1;Jr.
Kyler Kinnamon, McPherson;5-10;So.
Ryan Norquist, Buhler;5-11;Jr.
Ty Redington, Mulvane;6-2;Sr.
Keaton Sorenson, McPherson;6-4;Sr.
MVP: Kyler Kinnamon, McPherson
Coaches: Kurt Kinnamon, McPherson and Gary Melcher, El Dorado
Second team
Trevor Crain, El Dorado;6-3;Sr.
Jared Haury, El Dorado;6-5;Jr.
Marcus Houghton, McPherson;6-1;Sr.
Logan Mays, Winfield;6-1;Jr.
Nolan Smith, Mulvane;6-0;Sr.
Bret Waddell, Rose Hill;6-4;Jr.
Honorable mention
Alex Evans, sr., Mulvane; Bransyn Felty, sr., Buhler; Landon Fox, sr., Winfield; Kendyl Gard, sr., Winfield; Zach Haynes, sr., Mulvane; Tucker Hoover, sr., Winfield; Peter Horton, jr., McPherson; Ryan Horton, jr., McPherson; Gabe Nickel, jr., Rose Hill; Austin Waddell, fr., Rose Hill; Jace Williams, fr., Buhler.
Division IV
First team
Johnny Becker, Clearwater;6-1;Jr.
Gerad Deaver, Andale;6-6;Sr.
Colin Frickey, Clearwater;6-3;Sr.
Riley Kemmer, Collegiate;6-8;Sr.
Hunter Knoblauch, Andale;6-0;So.
Ben Seiler, Andale;6-4;Sr.
MVP: Hunter Knoblauch, Andale
Coach: Jeff Buchanan, Andale
Second team
Stewart Dennison, Circle;6-5;Sr.
Jason Hermreck, Andale;6-3;So.
Connor Hurst, Augusta;6-0;So.
Markus Phox, Collegiate;6-0;Sr.
Reed VanDeest, Clearwater;6-0;Jr.
Chase Winter, Augusta;5-8;Sr.
Honorable mention
Nick Becker, sr., Wellington; Bo Knoblauch, fr., Andale; Elliott Mann, sr., Collegiate; Trevor Nance, so., Wellington; Chad Reibenspies, jr., Clearwater; Paul Richard, jr., Circle; Landon Root, jr., Collegiate; Kesten Trebbe, sr., Augusta.
Central Plains League
First team
Chase Banister, Douglass;Jr.
Brice Dean, Independent;Sr.
Cody Holthaus, Douglass;Jr.
Ryan Miller, Trinity Academy;Sr.
Ross Rasmussen, Conway Springs;Jr.
Gabe Schomacker, Cheney;Sr.
Second team
Scott Angell, Medicine Lodge;Jr.
Tyler Burns, Trinity Academy;So.
Travis Echelberry, Conway Springs;Sr.
Taylor Hageman, Cheney;Sr.
Preston Miller, Trinity Academy;Jr.
Trey Williams, Independent;Sr.
Honorable mention
Trevor Copenhaver, sr., Chaparral; John Gardner, jr., Douglass; Dane Hrencher, jr., Medicine Lodge; Pat Hurd, sr., Bluestem; Austin Johnson, sr., Belle Plaine; Matt Jones, so., Trinity Academy; Matthew Loveland, sr., Independent; Clayton Milford, jr., Garden Plain; Dalton Murphy, sr., Conway Springs; Michael Panek, sr., Garden Plain; Ty Patterson, so., Cheney; Justin Struble, sr., Chaparral.
Central Kansas League
First team
Skylar Dean, Pratt;Sr.
Luke Johnson, Haven;Sr.
Austin Maxwell, Sterling;Sr.
Wyatt McKinney, Hesston;Jr.
Grant Raleigh, Hesston;So.
Anthony Santiago, Halstead;Jr.
Brett Weinbrenner, Hillsboro;Jr.
Second team
Jed Beachy, Haven;Sr.
Ryan McClure, Lyons;Jr.
Andy Osner, Smoky Valley;Sr.
Mitchell Packard, Kingman;Jr.
Ryan Schadler, Hesston;Jr.
Shaq Thiessen, Hillsboro;Sr.
Matthew Vincent, Lyons;Jr.
Honorable mention
Tyler Albright, sr., Kingman; Blake Bohling, sr., Halstead; Kirk Engelland, sr., Sterling; Harry Faber, sr., Hillsboro; Chase Hageman, sr., Pratt; Briton Hawk, sr., Smoky Valley; Holden Hendricks, sr., Smoky Valley; Tim Hendrixson, so., Haven; Devan Herb, jr., Halstead; Jake Jaderston, sr., Sterling; Grady Kirkhart, so., Lyons; Tyler McCartney, so., Hesston; Ryan O’Toole, sr., Nickerson; Josh Wiebe, sr., Hillsboro.
Heart of America
First team
Zach Fief, Bennington;5-10;Sr.
Jacob Harper, Marion;6-3;Sr.
Jordan Hett, Marion;6-0;Sr.
Josh Miller, Inman;5-7;Sr.
Daniel Ratzlaff, Moundridge;5-9;Sr.
Derek Stanley, Bennington;6-1;Sr.
Caleb Tanner, Remington;6-1;Sr.
Second team
Tyler Cottam, Inman;5-11;Jr.
Justin Friesen, Inman;6-1;Jr.
BJ Glanton, Bennington;6-1;Jr.
Tyler Kaufman, Moundridge;6-0;Sr.
Logan Pearce, Berean Academy;6-2;Jr.
Alex Ropp, Inman;6-4;Sr.
Logan Thompson, Sedgwick;6-3;Sr.
Honorable mention
Chris Agee, sr., Sedgwick; Nathan Eisenbarth, sr., Hutchinson Trinity; Hunter Enyart, jr., Moundridge; Colton Frazer, so., Moundridge; Ryan Lorimor, sr., Moundridge; Toby Omli, sr., Ell-Saline; Kyle Regier, sr., Remington; Kaleb Whitehair, sr., Ell-Saline.

By Joanna Chadwick (Updated, 10:28 a.m. Tuesday)

Rose Hill has named assistant Ray Boese as its football coach. Boese replaces Greg  Slade, now the coach at Campus.

Boese takes over a program that won the Class 4A title in 2011 but finished 4-6 in 2012.

“We had a great group of candidates that we interviewed and I thought that several of them would have been an
excellent choice for the program,” Rose Hill athletic director Jim Linot wrote in an e-mail. ” Ray has been an assistant coach in our program for several years and I believe is one of the finest defensive coaches in the state.  I believe that he earned the job not only during the interview, but with the resume’ he has built here and he will do an excellent job of continuing the tradition that we have established at Rose Hill High School.”

**** I talked to Coach Boese on Tuesday morning to get a little more information about him and to get his thoughts on taking over at Rose Hill.

Boese, a Wichita State and Wichita South grad who is 48, is thrilled to be named the Rose Hill coach.

“I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am,” he said. “This is a life-long ambition. At times I didn’t know if it would ever come true. This is the best day I’ll ever have in this job. Every day after, instead of congratulating me, they’ll be telling me what I need to do better.

“…. I told everyone when I was 18 that this was what I was going to do. It’s an end of a journey to some extent, and the beginning of a bigger  journey.”

Boese was an assistant for eight seasons at West and then went to Rose Hill as Slade’s assistant in 1998.

I asked him what he wants to bring to the program and what he wants to continue.

“I think consistency in terms of having the next group ready,” he said. “That’s basically what happened last year. The next group wasn’t ready. I want to change things up a bit with the coaching responsibilities. If I’m the linebacker coach, I want to coach all the way from ninth through 12th grade, instead of having a freshman coach, coach all these sports.

“I want to get into a platoon coaching situation…. I think that will bring up our professionalism. Now we own one spot. We can show more pride that way as a coach — ‘this is my spot. If they don’t do well, that’s my job.’”

By Joanna Chadwick

It’s never too early for football talk, so let me get it started by talking about some of the state’s top talent.

Of course there’s Olathe South’s Braden Smith, a highly sought-after lineman.

Gardner-Edgerton back Trae Wrench has the speed and physicality … and he just gets yards (4,826 in his career).

Hiawatha lineman Peyton Newell now has 27 Division I offers, the latest from Georgia, according to his dad, Frank.

And in our area, Derby TE DeAndre Goolsby has offers from Kansas, K-State, Arkansas and should be getting more soon, according to coach Brandon Clark. DB Travis Young is also close to an offer from a Big 12 school, punter Kavan Mark is getting looks and so are Jeremy Dunham, Jose Delgado and Cole Hansen.

Collegiate QB Landon Root has been offered from Tulsa.

Other Wichita athletes that should get offers soon include Northwest RB Deron Thompson and Heights DL Aderio Ammons.

North’s Sean Bernard picked up an offer from Toledo on Feb. 20.

By Joanna Chadwick

Caleb Smith’s connection to the Valley Center football program is deep. His father, Mike coached Valley Center from 1993-2001 and was 64-22 with three playoff berths (the days before two from every district).

In the 11 years since Smith left for Garden City, Valley Center has had five coaches and won 17 games.

Caleb Smith, who has been a Derby assistant, plans to get the program back to its winning ways.

“They’ve definitely struggled,” Smith said. “You always go through ups and downs. If dad had been there they would not have struggled quite as much.

“First of all, at the high school program, there are guys walking the halls that need to be playing. I’m going to invest ta lot of time in the younger levels, like my dad did before and Coach (Brandon) Clark does here at derby, at the high school, at the middle school and 2^nd through 6^th graders.”

By Joanna Chadwick

Maize South volleyball coach Teri Larson has resigned.

Larson, whose daughter Jody, a senior, has signed with Oklahoma, also coached at Maize.

The e-mail she sent to fellow coaches and friends is below.

(more…)

By Joanna Chadwick

There was a week during the 2012 football season when I was just a little above 50 percent in my picks. It was just that kind of week. Losses that you just didn’t see coming.

Well, I feel we’re experiencing something similar in boys basketball this season.

Take the win by Circle over McPherson (45-44) last night. Tell me: Who saw that coming? McPherson just won its own tournament, getting very good wins in that tourney, including over previously unbeaten SM East (53-40). And then Mac loses to Circle, a team that now has two wins and has eight losses by double-digits?

At least five people contacted me through Twitter, text or Facebook about whether that was the right score last night.

That’s not the only crazy, inconsistent thing about the season.

Take a look in the City League. This season we’ve seen West beat Carroll (64-48, Jan. 11), Carroll beat Northwest (66-45, Tuesday), Northwest beat Kapaun (52-50, Jan. 11), Heights beat Northwest (57-47, Dec. 14), Kapaun beat Heights (58-31, Tuesday), North beat Kapaun (75-44, Dec. 11), West beat North (79-67, without Conner Frankamp Tuesday).

Glad I’m not making predictions on games. My winning percentage would be awful.

By Joanna Chadwick

Collegiate senior Markus Phox returned to Wichita late Sunday afternoon after a football recruiting visit to Princeton, tired from traveling but excited about his future.

He’s got options for college with Princeton and Davidson in the mix, along with walk-on offers from Tulsa and Kansas State.

But his basketball season, a chance to battle for a Class 4A title, is over. He broke a bone in his left foot during a game at Andale last Tuesday, ending his season.

(more…)