Louisburg battles through adversity, falls to Miege in regional title match

ROELAND PARK — Louisburg’s postseason run came to an end against one of the state’s most decorated programs, but not before the Wildcats showed once again how far they’ve come.

Facing perennial Class 4-1A contender Bishop Miege on Oct. 30, the Wildcats trailed just 2-0 at halftime before the Stags pulled away for a 6-0 win in the regional championship match. Miege went on to finish third at the state tournament after falling to eventual champion Rose Hill in the semifinals.

Louisburg’s trip to the regional final was hard-earned. Two nights earlier, the Wildcats outlasted Eudora in a dramatic shootout at home in cold, windy, and rainy conditions. The 5-4 (3-1) win in penalty kicks sent Louisburg back to the regional title match for the second straight season.

The Wildcats got goals from Caleb Feldkamp (2) and Tanner LaBrie, along with an Eudora own goal. Grant Cannon tallied two assists, and Owen Marsh added another.

That victory, however, came at a cost. Senior defender Renner Erickson tore his ACL during the match, while LaBrie and Cody Courtney were also banged up. Despite the injuries, the Wildcats regrouped quickly and gave Miege a strong first half.

“It was a tough game against a really talented Bishop Miege team,” Louisburg head coach Bobby Bovaird said. “We were hanging right with them for most of the first half before they finally broke through with a late goal, and then they added another right before halftime. We were missing Renner, and Cody and Tanner got banged up, so we had some adversity before the game even started. But the guys stepped up, played their hearts out, and competed hard.”

Bovaird said the Wildcats’ determination in the face of challenges defined their season.

“Miege is one of those programs that’s always in the mix for a state title, and our guys went toe-to-toe with them,” he said. “Being regional finalists is something to be proud of, even if we were hoping to take that next step.”

Louisburg closed the season with a 10-7-1 record — a strong campaign for a team that had to replace eight starters from last year’s group that made a deep postseason run.

“I’m especially proud of how the team responded after the Eudora game,” Bovaird said. “The weather was miserable — cold, wet, and windy — and after a game in those conditions, you might expect the team to lag a little, but we adapted and left it all on the field against Miege.”

For Bovaird, the 2025 Wildcats will be remembered for their perseverance.

“We had a lot of new faces stepping into key roles, and they rose to the challenge,” he said. “When injuries hit, guys stepped up. That next-man-up mindset really defined our year. Our seniors led the way, and our younger players grew tremendously. It was a season full of heart, growth, and resilience.”