Wildcats runner-up at league, Lady Cats take fourth

By Andy Brown
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Updated: October 18, 2021

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

Louisburg senior Jaden Vohs (right) and freshman Jerynce Brings Plenty earned first and second team all-league honors, respectively, Thursday at the Frontier League Invitational. Vohs’ time of 16:45 was the third-fastest in school history.

BALDWIN CITY — The Frontier League Invitational is usually one of its toughest meets of the season for the Louisburg cross country team.

The league, which is known for its talented cross country teams, features the top three girls teams in the state (Eudora, Baldwin and Louisburg) and several experienced boys teams.

Louisburg left the Baldwin Golf Course last Thursday well-represented on the all-league list. The Wildcats boys had five runners earn all-league honors and finished second as a team.

The Lady Cats took fourth overall, despite one of their top runners having to an exit with an injury, and earned three all-league honors.

The boys team of Jaden Vohs, Jerynce Brings Plenty, Noah Cotter, Hayden Ross, Leo Martin, Landon Henry and Sawyer Richardson finished with 57 points. Spring Hill was the league champion with 51 points.

It is the first time in school history that the Louisburg boys have earned five all-league honors.

“Finishing second as a team shows how much individual effort went into each of their races,” Louisburg coach John Reece said. “We are finding our groove at the right time.”

Vohs recorded his best race of the season as he finished third overall with a time of 16 minutes and 45 seconds. His time ties him for third place all-time in school history with Wyatt Reece.

That finish also earned Vohs a first-team all-league honor. Tonganoxie’s Eli Gilmore was the league champion at 16:35.

“Jaden made a big jump in time which was inevitable,” coach Reece said. “He has been working hard and still has more to go. Give him the right race, at the right time, with the right mindset and he is even faster.”

Brings Plenty, a freshman, earned second-team all-league honors along with sophomore Noah Cotter. Brings Plenty finished eighth in 17:40 and Cotter was 11th in 18:13.

Ross and Martin each earned honorable mention all-league spots. Ross, a senior, ran an 18:28.03 to take 19th overall and Martin, a junior, was right behind him in 20th in 18:28.28.

Henry (19:32) and Richardson (19:48) rounded out the top Wildcat runners in 40th and 44th, respectively.

The girls continued their strong season as the Lady Cats took fourth with 101 points. Eudora won the league title by one with 44 points over Baldwin. Spring Hill was third with 81.

Sophomore Emma Vohs earned second team all-league honors as she took ninth in 20:23.

Senior Reese Johnson and sophomore Maddy Rhamy each earned honorable mention all-league. Johnson was 16th in 21:09 and Rhamy was 17th in 21:25.

“The girls ran well,” coach Reece said. “Finishing fourth as a team again this year is an accomplishment in a very tough league. KSHSAA has graciously placed our league together for our regional meet as well which means very good teams will not qualify for state because of the strength of the teams running.”

Juniors Nova Ptacek (22:58) and Bree Gassman (23:10) finished 37th and 38th, respectively. Sophomore Erin Apple was 41st in 23:19.

Another sophomore, Lola Edwards, had to pull out of the race due to an injury.

The Wildcats will return to the Baldwin Golf Course this Saturday as they will compete in the Class 4A regional. Louisburg will once again compete with some of the state’s best in Eudora and Baldwin.

“We are looking forward to returning to Baldwin for regionals as we run well there,” coach Reece said. “We are looking to extend the season for both teams and make an appearance at the state meet again with two teams and hopefully leave with hardware.”