Tennis team placed second team at regionals

The tennis team placed second at the regional tournament hosted by St. James on Monday, May 6. Juniors Eric Howes and Joe Vincent placed fourth as a doubles team and qualified for state. Senior Rafa Seguro Trujillo placed second as a single and qualified for state.

Seniors Joey Perkins and Nathan Stacy also competed in doubles and junior Connor Mills competed in singles.

Tennis coach Eric Ammerman thinks that the ones who are going to state will do well.

“I think that [Trujillo] can finish in the top five [at state],” Ammerman said. “With [Howes] and [Vincent] it depends if they do their best. They need to reach their peak in order to win.”

Howes thinks that they played their best at regionals.

“It went well and we did what we needed to do,” Howes said.

Vincent agrees.

“The team we played had a great attitude and it was a good time,” Vincent said.

The ones who qualified for state will compete on Friday, May 10-Saturday, May 11 in Emporia.

Varsity tennis team wins three matches

The varsity tennis team won three out of nine matches in their dual on Thursday, April 25 against St. James Academy.

Varsity tennis coach Eric Ammerman thinks that the team did their best.

“Most of [the players] tried their hardest,” Ammerman said. “They could improve on volleying and staying focus.”

Varsity tennis palyer Eric Howes thinks that the team played as best as they could.

“We did well. It was a good match to prepare us for regionals,” Howes said.

Ammerman thinks that the team needs to improve on some skills.

“[We need] to work on volleying … and forced errors,” Ammerman said. “They need to improve quickly because this is their last week, since regionals is on Friday.”

The varsity tennis team’s next meet is on Tuesday, April 30 in Ottawa. The meet starts at 3 p.m.

Mayhem Week offers spirit events for students

The StuCo-sponsored Mayhem Week began with a dodgeball tournament on Monday, May 7 and ended with a mud volleyball tournament on Saturday, May 12.

“It’s a week full of school spirit,” StuCo sponsor Erica Crist said. “Mayhem Week is a fun way to end the school year.”

This year, the funds raised went to StuCo funds, which are used to pay for different school activities, help support other groups and clubs and to give scholarship money to senior StuCo members.

On Monday, the dodgeball tournament took place, which included six teams of six players each.

The winner of the tournament was the team Brick Squad. The team members, freshman Patrick Muldoon, sophomores Ben Carroll and Jason Biesma and juniors Kyle Kain, Brett Hamilton and Nathan Stacy, were awarded a “golden” sphere for the win.

“Going into double overtime against the Brick Squad was the best part of the night,” sophomore Hunter Moravac said.

On Tuesday, May 8, the senior versus faculty game took place. The seniors were overwhelmed by the faculty’s power according to senior Tony Vitale, with the faculty winning 70-42.

“It was a blowout,” Vitale said. “We probably should have forfeited the game.”

In the talent show, 13 acts performed, but the overall winner was freshman Alex Ayala for his beat boxing performance. For winning first place, he received $30 along with a rubber ducky.

“The talent show is my favorite part of Mayhem Week,” Crist said. “All the students put so much work into it. It’s great seeing the wide variety of talent.”

Topping off Mayhem Week, students participated in mud volleyball. There were 16 teams in the tournament with six players on each team. The Brick Squad also won.

“Even though our team left early, it was fun killing the teams that we played and getting completely dirty,” sophomore Ty Smith said.

Sophomore Sankie Smith had similar views on playing mud volleyball.

“The fact that we were playing in mud, not sand [made it fun],” Sankie said. “Mud brings a different aspect to the game.”

Sophomore track member enjoys running

Finding enjoyment in running long distances, sophomore varsity track runner CJ Meeks is disappointed that the season is almost over.

“I’ve had a good time this year, running at meets and competing for first in every event that I ran,” Meeks said. “I’m looking forward to running at regionals and state, but after the seasons over, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Running in three events this year, the mile run, the 800 meter run, and the 4 by 4 relay, according to Meeks, he has been a help to the team and has enjoyed the coaching, along with encouragement. In the 800 meter run, Meeks holds the school record after running a 1:59, and has the fastest mile time on the team with a 4:47.

“It feels good helping my team in every event that I run in,” Meeks said. “Running is what I enjoy doing, and track helps me stay in shape.”

Sophomore softball player excited for post season

With the regular season coming to a close on Saturday, May 5, the girls varsity softball team finished with a record of 18-2. Sophomore varsity softball player Abby Ford is excited for the regional playoffs that start on May 14.

“This is the whole season leads up to,” Ford said. “It all comes down to the end to see who makes it to state.”

Ford has been playing softball since the age of six.

“I’ve been playing the game for a long time,” Ford said. “It’s fun being able to compete against others who enjoy the game as much as I do.”

Along with finding enjoyment in playing softball, Ford has become closer to her teammates throughout the course of the season.

“I’ve gotten to know my teammates a whole lot better,” Ford said. “We’re all good friends and will always be there for each other.”

Freshman golfer enjoys golfing for the school

Varsity golfer freshman Jack Casburn has always enjoyed golfing, starting to play in second grade. After golfing for eight years, Casburn is excited to finally compete for the high school team.

“It’s a whole different scenario golfing on a team,” Casburn said. “You have to really stay focused on what to do with every shot and make the right decision. If you lose focus, you’re bound to mess up.”

Being his first season on the high school team, Casburn hopes to gain experience from watching his teammates and learning something new every day.

“I’d like to become a better all-around player and learn from the upperclassmen,” Casburn said.

As the team practices almost every day of the week, Casburn says that his teammates and he are close to each other and are always encouraging one another.

“We all know each other pretty well,” Casburn said. “We talk a lot during practice and tend to hang out once practice is over.”

Sophomore tennis player finds enjoyment in playing tennis

Following in his father’s footsteps, who played tennis in high school, sophomore varsity tennis player Jack Townsend has found enjoyment playing tennis for the school.

“Tennis is always fun to play,” Townsend said. “When playing, you’re always doing something, you can never get bored.”

On the team, Townsend said he has a leadership role and plays his hardest in both practices and games. He sets a good role, playing to his full potential.

“I make sure that I am going 100 percent,” Townsend said. “I try my best and make sure my teammates are not slacking off.”

Out of the season, Townsend has improved his tennis abilities and made new friends.

“When it comes to my teammates and I, we are all friends,” Townsend said. “We are really, really close to one another.”

Freshman basketball player gains experience on court

Being the only freshman on the varsity team, forward Patrick Muldoon became a better player by working with teammates who are older and more skilled than who he is used to playing with.

“Varsity really gives me more experience,” Muldoon said. “It helps a lot having teammates who you can count on to make a play.”

Though playing on varsity has its advantages, there are also some disadvantages to going up against older players.

“Overall, I’m just slower to adjust to new concepts,” Muldoon said. “It’s difficult going up against players who have been playing basketball for a couple more years.”

As the team’s season progresses, Muldoon hopes the team can keep learning to play as one. As the team is on a two game losing streak, Muldoon plans to step up his game and bring as much as he can to the table.

“We are all getting to know one another pretty well,” Muldoon said. “As the season goes on, I expect we will only get closer.”

Sophomore basketball player holds high hopes

Sophomore forward Carly Eaton enjoys playing for the team and helps contributing by scoring 4 points a game to help the team to a record of 12-3.

“So far, we are playing great,” Eaton said. “Hopefully we can keep our winning streak going over the next few games.”

As the team is on a 12-game winning streak, Eaton hopes to make a run in the state tournament and build confidence as a team. Practicing six days a week, the team is truly getting to know one another.

“As a team, we are all extremely close,” Eaton said. “We have gotten to know each other and are all pretty good friends.”

Along with becoming friends, the team plans on practicing even harder as the tournament becomes closer.

“When the tournament comes around we will be prepared as a team,” Eaton said.

Sophomore basketball player gives it his all

Sophomore guard Nick Friesner began playing basketball in third grade, and since then has worked to improve his game and focus on becoming an all around player.

“Watching college basketball inspired me to first start playing,” Friesner said. “Ever since I first saw the [college basketball] players and how good they are, I’ve wanted to play like them.”

Along with working to get better every week, Friesner expects to improve by competing his hardest in every game and giving it his all in practice.

“During practice, everybody goes their hardest,” Friesner said. “When everybody else is giving their best efforts, it is only right to give it everything you got.”

Practicing almost everyday and having one to two games a week, Friesner sees his teammates as his friends and results in positive relationships with the teammates. He believes that as the season progresses, the team will finish strong and pull out from being in fourth in the Kaw Valley League to rising to the top.

“It’s nice having teammates who you can count on,” Friesner said. “We are all pretty good friends and have always got each others backs.”

Next Page »