Varsity Kansas - The Blog

by joanna

One of the things that I enjoy about the blog is that it affords us the chance to talk about how a story comes about. In this case, the story I did on Heights senior Dorrian Roberts.

It’s one of those stories that is difficult for me to do. But it’s also one of those stories that gives me so much hope because you see a teenager intent on a future. A teenager who hasn’t had the easiest life.

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by joanna

This is a completely self-serving post. I admit it. But it’s a topic I think about every week — press box chairs.

Let me say right now that I’m delighted to have any space in any press box. It’s nice to be able to keep stats while sitting at a hard surface of some kind, and the people inside are usually wonderfully enjoyable to talk about.

But the press box chairs must come from the 1940s.

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by joanna

History was definitely made tonight, with Barack Obama becoming the first black president (or mixed race president — it’s all in how you look at it). And with the Wichita public school district getting its bond issue passed. What a night.

But there were sports played tonight, too. Namely, playoff football and soccer. So let’s get it on.

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            A few years ago, the KSHSAA doubled the number of teams in the state football playoffs.  Now, two teams from each district make the playoffs; 160 teams in all.

            Goodness sakes, this is too many.

            Coaches and athletic administrators call it goodness because it involves more kids.  But what message does it send our kids in a system that rewards mediocrity? (more…)

by joanna

FYI: This is RikRok’s idea for this post. And it’s a good one.

So tell me, does a great QB make a great team? The example I just discussed was Drew Brees. He’s one of those top-notch quarterbacks, but that team isn’t great. He can’t play defense, he can’t catch the ball, he can’t block for himself.

This was originally discussed regarding Blake Bell. Blake Bell is a great quarterback with a great corps of receivers around him. Will he still be a great quarterback next year if he doesn’t have all that around him? I’m betting yes. But that doesn’t mean his team will be great.

Then you look at someone like Logan Watkins, who played at Goddard. Here’s a kid who probably wasn’t getting a whole lot of Division I looks to be a QB. Undoubtedly a great athlete, a kid who could do it all and obviously was THE key to that team last year.

So what do you think?

by joanna

The football postseason is getting underway, and the winter sports seasons aren’t too far away. So I have a plea to coaches in the area and across the state.

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by joanna

It looks like another crazy week in the Wichita area. But that’s how we all like it, right? We’ve got football and soccer on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. And we’re just two weeks away from basketball practice starting. Unbelievable.

Let’s get it going with Tuesday’s football games in the playoffs.

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by joanna

Blake Bell needed just 136 yards to tie former Heights quarterback Cameron Kasel’s CL record set in
2005 of 2,462 yards. He did it against Liberal, throwing for 297 yards in the win as Carroll moved to 8-1.

Not bad for a junior in his first year starting. He’s had a great season, but I’m sure Carroll was happy to see such production from its running game as it got on Friday night. Nothing like going into the playoffs with a dual-threat offense. Not that the passing game can’t carry this team. I’m sure no matter the conditions that Bell would be tough — especially considering the group of receivers he has.

So who’s the greatest high school quarterback you’ve seen? The greatest QB period?

by joanna

Here’s the bracket for the postseason.

by joanna

The final night of the regular season for football is now officially over. And what a finish it was.

I was at Derby at Heights, and I got a great game - no surprise. But there was a winner — Heights — who I didn’t expect. Heights wins 33-14 and takes the district title.

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