by joanna
Northwest has hired Steve Martin, the defensive coordinator at Heights the past three seasons, as its football coach.
Martin, 30, replaces Weston Schartz, now at West.
Martin is a 1999 Andale graduate and he played three seasons at Bethel College. He was Troy’s coach for four seasons.
Garden Plain has hired Brad McCormick, a longtime assistant, as its football coach. McCormick replaces Todd Puetz, who was suspended without pay following his arrest in an underage sex sting.
Garden Plain principal Troy McChristian said approximately 45 coaches applied for the position and five were interviewed.
“It was a very tough decision for our committee because there were so many good applicants,” McChristian said. “… Brad is a good fit for our program right now. He knows the kids, he knows the coaches, he knows the community, he knows the expectations for Garden Plain football.”
Northwest football coach Weston Schartz will return to West High next season, The Eagle’s Jeffrey Lutz is reporting. Schartz coached at West from 1987 to 2001, leading the Pioneers to a Class 6A runner-up finish in 1997 and has been with the Grizzlies since 2002.
Schartz’s 154 career wins ranks him No. 2 on the City League’s all-time wins list behind Ed Kriwiel, who has 297 wins.
by joanna
If you missed the list of Kansas Shrine Bowl selections, you can see it here.
It’s a great list, with a lot of great athletes. Sure, you won’t be able to see McPherson QB Tyler Matthews, who has already graduated and is at TCU. But there’s so many other top-flight athletes. Such as Dillon Call from Derby, Joey Capul from Garden Plain, Trace Clark from Collegiate, Matt Reed from Heights.
And that’s just on the western part of the state. It’s a difficult time picking these teams because there are so many outstanding athletes — and only one senior from each team can be selected.
It’s an honor, and these athletes and their schools should be thrilled.
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 joanna
The Top 11 football and All-Class football teams are can’t-miss reading for the football diehards. Congrats to all those selected!
The All-Metro football team came out today in The Wichita Eagle and at VarsityKansas.com.
Congratulations to all the players who made it.
by joanna
Dwight Suderman won the final football predictions contest of the 2011 season. Congrats, Dwight!
A lot of you were like me — you got 4 of 5 right, missing only on Heights.
Let’s get the first basketball predictions contest of the year going. Remember, the winner gets a VarsityKansas.com T-shirt.
E-mail jchadwick@wichitaeagle.com with your picks, include the tiebreaker.
Good luck and enjoy the basketball season!
by joanna
The all-league teams are chosen by the league coaches. The All-Metro team will be released on Thursday.
