A big change to the Kansas High School
Activities Association (KSHSAA) postseason could be coming sooner rather than
later if a proposal, submitted by the Frontier League, passes the KSHSAA Board
of Directors and its member schools.

Last month the Frontier League,
led by Paola High School principal Jeff Hines and Louisburg superintendent Dr.
Brian Biermann, petitioned KSHSAA to separate public and private schools into
their own postseason competitions.

In order for it pass, the petition
must be signed by 20 percent of the 355 member schools according to KSHSAA
bi-laws. The Frontier League got the 71 needed petitions and have now submitted
this to appear in front of the KSHSAA Board of Directors for vote in their
Sept. 18 meeting.

The board of directors would then
have to pass it by simple majority of those in attendance to bring the proposal
to a vote from all the member schools.

“Kansas needs to catch up with
the rest of the country and get this competitive imbalance under control in our
state,” Hines said. “The longer we wait then more students will be negatively
impacted. We have a responsibility as educators to create the best
opportunities possible for our students. No one can honestly say we have
the best system possible right now. It can definitely be improved.”

The proposal submitted by the Frontier League is the same one the state of Texas uses that keeps the schools in their same classification, but only separates the schools come postseason.

Other options were discussed
before submitting the proposal, such as implementing a multiplier on all
private schools like Missouri currently does. In fact, it is the most popular
proposal among the schools that were surveyed by Hines last January.

They also talked about the “Oklahoma
model” where schools are bumped up a classification based on success for
competitive balance.

Seventy-four percent of the
schools said they would support a population multiplier, 64 percent would
support competitive balance factors and 51 percent would support separate
divisions.

However, KSHSAA would not be able
to make this change with a multiplier due to state statute K.S.A. 72-130 that
states a high school association “must establish a system of classification of
member high schools according to student attendance.”

KSHSAA would not be able to pass a
new bi-law that goes against state statute, and therefore, the Kansas State
Legislature would have reword the statue to allow the association to make those
changes.

The Frontier League believes the Texas model, or separate postseason divisions, does not deal with classifications. Also, this model had more support from 5A and 6A schools as neither classification would likely vote for a multiplier.

“We don’t view that as a classification decision as we are not affecting classification, but KSHSAA and their lawyers view that it is,” Biermann said. “5A and 6A schools that we talked to really wanted us to push for the Texas model because they don’t want to play them (private schools) either. The biggest thing for me is if 5 and 6A schools don’t want to play them, then why do we? As a superintendent, I am supposed to create opportunities for kids. We had four teams last year in both soccer teams, football and volleyball that all saw their season end to Bishop Miege. It is not right that we have kids and coaches that work their tails off and they don’t have the opportunity to win.

“Am I all about state
championships? Absolutely not. But we also know the reality of it in the
current system. Winning state championships is important for communities and is
always a goal. I am not ever going to give up on this idea and neither will the
Frontier League.”

The public versus private school
debate has been going on for the last several years and Hines has been leading
the charge since 2015 when he put together a study that displayed the disparity
of state championships won by private schools.

In 2018-19, private schools won 32
percent of the state championships in Classes 5A through 1A. There are currently
no private schools in 6A. Twenty-one of those 24 state titles were won by
private schools in Class 4A and 5A.

That is a high number considering
that out of the 355 member schools, only 27 of them are private.

The Frontier League wanted to see change, so Hines surveyed the 355 member schools late last year and presented his findings to KSHSAA in January. More than 88 percent of the schools responded, that included 22 private institutions, and 87 percent said they want the current system changed.

Although most schools said they
would support the multiplier model more, Hines and the rest of the league
schools, believe it is the best way to proceed at this time.

“Our
survey indicated that separate divisions was the least popular option among
member schools, however as a league we feel like it is the most appropriate
option,” Hines said. “A multiplier will pass through and will be our next
option if this does not go through.  A multiplier will impact many private
schools that are not quasi sports academies that are not very successful in athletics. The
separate divisions avoids this situation.”

If
the proposal does pass the board of directors, KSHSAA will then put it to a
vote with all 355 member schools and it must pass by a simple majority and by
four of the six classes.

From
there, KSHSAA executive director Bill Faflick would take it to the Kansas
Legislature before change could be implemented.

“We
know it won’t happen overnight,” Biermann said. “Even if this passes, nothing
will change this year and probably not the following year. It could be three
years out with the way football schedules take shape. We are honestly ok with
that if we knew that there was light at the end of the tunnel. If this would
not pass, we would turn right around and do the multiplier one.”

Despite what happens at the
upcoming board of directors meeting, Hines believes changes to the system will
happen sooner rather than later.

“I am now confident something will get done,” Hines said. “I
think it will ultimately take a multiplier to get something done. If the
separate divisions fails then we will propose a multiplier for the spring board
of directors meeting.”

 A lot of obstacles are still in the way for change to happen, whether it has to deal with state statues or member votes, but none of the schools in the nine-member Frontier League are going to stop until they see a more even playing field.

“I am very proud of the Frontier League, and even though we compete against each other, we are very unified on this,” Biermann said. “It is about fairness and equality and I am tired of having my kids at Louisburg High School not having the same opportunity as some others. The throttle is down and it is going to stay down.”

The Louisburg Tonics Granny
Basketball team will soon contend for the national championship.

A record-setting field of women
basketball players, age 50-87, will trek to Lawrence, KS – known as a legendary
basketball town – to play in the 2019 National Granny Basketball
Tournament.  The six-on-six competition,
based on 1920s-style rules, will be held Saturday, July 20, at the Ambler
Student Recreation Center on the campus of the University of Kansas.

“This is the largest event in the
history of Granny Basketball, and we are proud to host it in Lawrence,” said
Dee Bisel, local co-chair of the national tournament committee and player for the
Lawrence based Grey Tornadoes.  “Sixteen
teams and 200 players will compete on four courts at this beautiful facility.  We are excited for the players, family
members and fans to be a part of this special experience.”

 “The Louisburg Tonics always have fun playing Granny Basketball and are looking forward to playing in the national tourney against teams from other states. We probably do more laughing than playing basketball though,” says Jean Carder, Tonics captain.

The team to watch is the
three-peat champion of the national tournament, the Harpers Ferry Fireflies
hailing from a small town in northeast Iowa. Players will travel to match their
skills against other teams, including contenders from Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri,
Texas, Louisiana and other states.

Granny Basketball is a fun-filled
activity that encourages women age 50 and over to stay fit and active in a
non-traditional, social environment. The league provides wholesome, nostalgic
and sometimes humorous entertainment, as well as an outlet for charitable
fundraising.

Players dress in 1920s-inspired
uniforms – black bloomers, middy blouses and sailor-style collars displaying
each player’s number.

The old-style, six-on-six rules call
for the court to be divided into three sections, one each for forwards, centers
and guards. Players can have up to two dribbles per possession. Running is not
allowed, but “hurrying” is. With an emphasis on safety, players are not allowed
to jump or have physical contact. Also, only three fouls are allowed. The
modified league rules also award three points for underhanded “granny shots.”

The 16 teams will be organized
into four pools, where each team will play three games starting at 8 am.  The final four teams, the top team from each
pool, will advance to the semi-finals and championship games. The championship
game is scheduled for 4 p.m.

The public is invited. Proceeds
from the suggested $5 donation at the door will benefit the local Visiting
Nurses Association.

The Granny Basketball League is a non-profit Iowa-based organization founded in 2005.  Currently, 37 Granny Basketball teams are active in 9 states:  Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.  The league has grown by eight teams in 2019, predominantly in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.  The national tournament will return to Lawrence in July 2020, then will travel to Prairie Du Chien, WI in 2021.

Members of the Tonics are: Becky Berg, Louisburg; Lisa Berg, Olathe
Jean Carder, Louisburg; Kathleen Caverty, Louisburg; Ruth Fladung, Louisburg; Wanda Harlow, Bucyrus; Helen McClain, Louisburg; Julie McKinley, Linn Valley; LaVonne Mize, Louisburg; Diana Moore, Louisburg; Ellen Morland, Louisburg; Janet York, Louisburg and Coach Kate Berg Camp, Gardner

For more information, visit www.grannybasketball.com
and www.facebook.com/grannybasketball.

Dennis Stiles (top left), John Lohse (top right), Jason Burk (bottom left) and Krystal (Bowes) Grojean will be inducted into the Louisburg High School Athletic Hall of Fame this fall.

It has been 11 years since
Louisburg High School had inducted a class into its athletic hall of fame, but
the wait for a new class is finally over.

The USD 416 Endowment Association, which oversees the LHS Athletic Hall of Fame, has announced a new 4-member class. Dennis Stiles (Class of 1969), John Lohse (1995), Jason Burk (1999) and Krystal (Bowes) Grojean (2001) were the top four vote getters in this year’s hall of fame voting and will be honored in an induction ceremony sometime this fall.

“Louisburg has a history of great athletes,” said Damon Dennis, a USD 416 Endowment Association board member. “We had a good cross-section of both young and older voters this year that really took their job seriously. The four athletes chosen represent several generations of former Wildcats and each one were dominant in their particular era and sports. The Endowment Association is excited to get the Hall of Fame going again and plan on some big things in the future.”

More than two dozen voters, that includes current members of the hall of fame, long-time Louisburg residents, teachers and coaches, voted on the class in June. Each voter was asked to submit their top four choices for the hall and votes were then tabulated.

To be eligible for the hall of fame, the inductee must wait at least 10 years following graduation to be nominated.

The last class that was inducted was in 2008 and Dennis, and the rest of the Endowment Association, is committed to making this a yearly occurrence moving forward.

Here
are the accomplishments of each of the newest hall of fame inductees. Look for
more information on an induction ceremony in the coming weeks.

Dennis Stiles – Class of 1969 – Football, Basketball, Track

Stiles
lettered 4 years in football and
track and 3 years in basketball. His senior year he was named all-league and
all-state in football and was co-captain on the Wildcat team that finished the
year 4-4.

As sophomore, he played on the varsity basketball team which was 12-0 in
league play, finished the year 19-3 and were district champions. He earned
honorable mention all-state honors his sophomore and junior seasons and was
second-team all-state his senior year. Stiles was at one time the school’s
career scoring leader.

 Stiles competed at the state
track meet as a junior and senior where he placed fourth in the discus his
senior year. He previously held school records in the discus and triple jump.
He also received a football scholarship to Kansas State University.

John Lohse – Class of 1995 – Football, Basketball and Baseball

Lohse lettered all four years in baseball and was selected to represent
Kansas in the all-star baseball classic his senior year. He was an all-league
pitcher and centerfielder for the Wildcats his sophomore through senior years.
He had a .510 average his junior and senior seasons with 10 home runs his
junior year and 12 more his senior season.

In football, Lohse was a 3-year letterwinner. He was an all-league wide
receiver his junior and senior seasons. In his senior year, he had 850 yards
receiving and 11 touchdowns and was later selected to represent Kansas in the
Metro Classic All-Star Game.

Lohse was also a 3-year letterwinner in basketball and was an
all-league selection his junior and senior seasons. He averaged a double-double
his junior and senior years.

Post-graduation, Lohse attended Pittsburg State on a baseball
scholarship and played on the Gorilla team for four years. He was selected to
the all-MIAA team his sophomore and junior seasons before injuring his shoulder
his senior year. He had a .315 average his junior and senior seasons. In his
first collegiate at-bat his freshman year, Lohse hit a game-winning grand slam
to give Pitt State its first win over Missouri Southern in five years.

Jason Burk – Class of 1999 – Track and Football

Burk was a 4-year letterwinner for the Louisburg track and field team
and qualified for state in all four years in four events. He accumulated 12
state medals, 16 regional track medals and 14 Frontier League medals. Burk was
selected to the Kansas City All-Metro track team in 1998 and 1999.

During his senior season, Burk was a state champion in both the triple
and long jump. He won the triple jump with a leap 48 feet and the long jump
with a mark of 22-5. He also finished fifth in the 100-meter dash and sixth in
the high jump. As a junior, Burk won a state championship in the triple jump
with mark of 46 feet and won three more state medals. He took second long jump,
fourth in the 100 dash and sixth in the 200 dash. As a sophomore, Burk won
state medals in the triple jump (second), long jump (fourth) and 4×100 relay
(third). He was a member of the 4×100 team that took second at state as a
freshman in 1996.

At one time, Burk held seven school records. He currently holds school
records in the triple jump, high jump and long jump. Burk holds the school
record for most points in a season with 326.

Burk also played football, where he was a part of bi-district, district
and regional championship teams.

Krystal (Bowes) Grojean – Class of 2001 – Volleyball, Basketball, Track

Bowes was a 4-year letterwinner in track before she was offered a
scholarship on the Wichita State track and field team.

In her senior season at Louisburg, Bowes earned three state medals,
including a second-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 145-10. She was
also third in the discus with a toss of 126-9 and fifth in the shot put at
37-5. As a sophomore and junior, she finished sixth in the discus at state. In
all, Bowes racked up five state medals in her high school career before moving
on to Wichita State. She is the current Louisburg record holder in the javelin
(146-10) and discus (137-11).

At Wichita State, she earned academic All-American honors and was a
team captain all four years. Bowes was a two-time NCAA national qualifier and
finished fifth in the javelin and was second in the Missouri Valley Conference
in 2006. In 2004, Bowes took first in the MVC in the javelin and fourth in the
discus. In 2003, she won the Missouri Valley Conference discus title, was
second in the javelin and fourth in the hammer throw. Bowes was also a member
two Shocker teams that won conference titles.

In volleyball and basketball at LHS, Bowes was a 3-year letterwinner in each sport and earned first-team all-Frontier League honors each season.

Current members of the LHS Hall of Fame

Class of 2005:

Tom
Stevens – 1934 – Track and Field (High Jump)

1947/48
Undefeated Football Teams

Richard
Meiers – 1949 – Basketball/Football

Don
Meek – 1965-1998 – Coach/Administrator

Larry
Harding – 1976-1994 – Volleyball/Golf Coach

Amy
Dodson Goode – 1986 – Volleyball/Basketball

Class of 2006:

Jim
Wells – 1936 – Track and Field (Pole Vault)/Football

Doug
Eaton – 1971 – Wrestling

Sue
Truman Apple – 1974 – Track and Field/Volleyball/Basketball

Mike
Meek – 1985- Football/Wrestling/Track and Field

Jamie
Waite – 1991 – Track and Field (Pole Vault)/Football/Basketball

Class of 2007

Alan
Taylor – 1949 – Football

Tim
Dozier – 1987 – Wrestling/Football

Beth
Dodson Dixon – 1989 – Volleyball/Basketball

Jeff
Lohse – 1991 – Baseball/Football/Basketball

Class of 2008

Greg
Kahmann – 1987 – Baseball/Football/Basketball

Mark
Buckingham – 1994 – Basketball

Louisburg High School’s Lakin Cunningham recently won the state barrel racing title and will compete at the National High School Rodeo in four events.

Lakin Cunningham has had a rodeo season to remember – and it isn’t even over yet.

Cunningham competed in the Kansas High School Rodeo Finals last month in Mulvane and left with a lot to show for it. She won the barrel racing state championship and was a reserve champion in goat tying.

That success led to even bigger
things as she was named All-Around Cowgirl for the state of Kansas. Cunningham
was also crowned the 2019-20 Rodeo Queen for the second consecutive year.

Cunningham, who just finished her
sophomore year at Louisburg High School, didn’t give much thought on winning
the all-around title. As the season went on, however, it became much more of a
reality.

“Going into finals I knew I had a pretty good chance at winning the All-Around as I had about a 2,500 point lead on the girls behind me, but still anything can happen at the state finals when there is so many points up for grabs,” Cunningham said. “I knew I just had to perform to the best of my ability and whatever happened was in God’s hands. Going through the finals I didn’t even know what the All-Around standings were, and to be honest I didn’t want to know. So when I found out I did end up winning the title I was so happy.

“Going into this season this fall, all-around cowgirl was not even a goal of mine. In fact, it’s something I didn’t even expect when the season started last August as I thought to be an All Around contender that I needed to be a roper and have a couple more events.  But, I had a great fall season in barrel racing and goat tying and led the All-Around standings from that first rodeo and kept my lead throughout the entire season.  It was just something that happened and I was so happy that it did. The All-Around title has been won by seniors for the past several years in Kansas High School Rodeo, so I’m so honored to have achieved this award my sophomore year.”

Cunningham
went up against some tough competition and found herself in a tight race for
the barrel racing title with her horse, Precious. Unfortunately, during her
runs at state she noticed something wasn’t right with Precious.

When
all her rides were complete, Cunningham realized she was hurt. Despite all
that, Cunningham was still able to take the barrel racing crown, which was her
first event state title.

“We had been doing very well all season
and I have learned, when something is up with my horse, that she doesn’t turn
good,” Cunningham said. “Before the short round, we went back into the practice
pen to try and figure out what the problem was. We figured out that my horse
was hurting, but there was nothing we could do about it because the short go
was that night, so I just told myself just be smooth and get through one last
run. We ended up being third in the short round and it was enough to win us the
state championship title by 2.5 points. I led that event from the very first
rodeo last August and feel so blessed my horse put me in the money so many
times and brought me my first event state championship title.”

Cunningham also stepped it up in the
goat-tying competition as she put together some of her best times of the season
as the right moment. She was sitting third in the state going into the finals
and the top five had been shuffled all year long.

She had a strong performance in the first two rounds with two 7-second times and then had a time of 7.3 seconds in the short-go to cinch the runner-up spot.

“I knew going into finals that I just had
to make three smooth and solid goat runs and I would be okay for a spot on the
nationals team,” Cunningham said. “One mess up might cost me going to nationals
since the points were so close between the top 5 girls. Little did I know I
would go into finals and blow my expectations of myself way out of proportion.
All I was hoping for was a spot on the nationals team and I ended up being the
reserve champion goat tier and landing just a few of points behind the state
champion.”

Wyoming is the next stop for Cunningham
as she will compete in the National High School Rodeo in Rock Springs. She will
compete in four events, including barrel racing, goat tying and reined cow
horse, which she took fourth at state.

Along with those, she will also represent
Kansas in the royalty pageant. She will be the only competitor from Kansas to
compete in four events.

The royalty pageant is something Cunningham
is looking forward to and has a better idea of what to expect this time around.

“Last year was a learning experience for
me,” Cunningham said. “Going into the Nationals last year I had no idea what to
expect. As a freshman, it was a little overwhelming for me as it’s the largest
rodeo royalty pageant in the world with up to 50 girls (only 5 were freshman
last year), but I learned the ropes and am so excited to go and do even better
this year. Being a rodeo queen means so much to me. A lot of people think that
a rodeo queen is someone who sits on a horse and looks pretty, but to me it’s
so much more than that.

“Being able to introduce new people to rodeo, as well as be someone for little kids to look up to is just one of the many things I love about it. I also love all the opportunities and skill it introduces you to. I’ve been able to meet so many people in the western industry that I never would have met if it weren’t for being a rodeo queen. I learn to be so much more responsible, how to talk to people and use better social skills. I also love the fact that I can show people that rodeo queens aren’t just girls who sit on a horse and look pretty. They are also tough rodeo athletes.”

The soon-to-be LHS junior is looking forward
to the competition as nationals and Cunningham knows this is the moment she has
been waiting for since the season started last August.

“This is my fifth time representing Kansas on its national team as I made it all three years of middle school and then my freshman year as well,” she said. “I’ve never qualified for nationals in more than two events though, so this year will be an experience.”

“When I go into nationals, I don’t think
to myself, ‘Oh I have to go out and win a national title,’ I think to myself
that I need to go out there and perform to my very best ability and whatever
happens, happens. When I think this way it makes it easier for me to control my
nerves. Sometimes you have to fail to learn how to overcome things. I learned a
lot from my hardships my freshman year and my success at nationals my eighth-grade
year. Those lessons made my sophomore year better than I ever could have imagined
when I started the season. I left state finals with three saddles, seven belt
buckles and many other awards.”

All this success isn’t new to the
Cunningham family. Lakin’s mother, Kara, also won the Kansas High School Rodeo All-Around
Cowgirl title in the early 90s and won multiple state titles as well.

Her grandparents, Jim and Sandy Lowe, are
also big parts of her rodeo success.

“I’m following in the family’s footsteps,”
Lakin said. “My grandpa is the one that oversaw the breeding program both my
horses came from and my grandma is the one that guided me on how to train my
barrel horse and my mom on how to train my goat horse. It’s so cool that I’m a second
generation KHSRA All-Around Cowgirl, State Champion and Queen.”

Nationals isn’t the only big event that
Lakin will compete at this summer as she also qualified for the National Little
Britches Finals Rodeo in August in Oklahoma. She will also compete in barrel
racing and goat tying.

In December, Cunningham will also travel
to Las Vegas to compete in the Vegas Tuffest Junior World Championship in goat
tying.

“As you can see, we will travel a lot of
miles this year chasing dreams at some big events and competing in the sport I
love,” Lakin said.

Leia Shaffer, a 2019 Louisburg High School graduate, may have left Wildcat cheer behind, but she is ready to take it up a notch as she found out she made the Pittsburg State cheer squad earlier this spring and is excited for what is in store for her.

Cheerleading has always been a big
part of Leia Shaffer’s life.

Shaffer started cheering in the
fourth grade and she has been hooked ever since. However, now that her high
school cheer career is over, she wasn’t ready to give up the sport.

The recent Louisburg High School graduate
decided to try out for the Pittsburg State cheer squad in late March and she
got the news she was hoping for. Shaffer earned a spot on the Gorilla cheerleading
team after some nerve-racking tryouts.

“I was really surprised because I
didn’t think I was going to make it,” Shaffer said. “I had to wait a while to
see if I was going to or not and when I found out I called my mom right away. I
was just so happy, but more so I was pretty surprised.”

It wasn’t the easiest of processes for Shaffer as she had to take part in two days worth of tryouts – some of which as a little unfamiliar to her. Also, it didn’t help that she was one of the last to be called on.

“I was actually the very last person to go,” Shaffer said. “It was a little nerve-racking cause it is not the same as high school, so I wasn’t used to doing some of the things you do in college. It is a little different than high school cause there is less stuff to focus on, but the things you do are a lot harder. All the stunts are co-ed. You get assigned one person to stunt with and you do the best you can with them and then you can pick someone.”

Almost a decade worth of cheer helped prepare Shaffer for this moment. Her first year of competitive cheer was with the Football and Cheerleading Club of Johnson County.

Shaffer would then move on to
teams at Diamond Academy, Kansas City Athletic Cheer and the Cheer Pit along
with four years of cheering for Louisburg High School.

“I have wanted to cheer in college ever since I started cheering in elementary school,” Shaffer said. “I wasn’t really sure where, I just knew I wanted to cheer somewhere in college. I didn’t know how it was going to go, or even if I was going to make it or not, but I just wanted it really bad.”

It was a special moment for the entire Shaffer family as Leia’s mother, Dana, has been the high school cheerleading coach for the last two seasons. As it turned out, mom wasn’t quite as surprised as daughter was.

“She told me that she didn’t think
I needed to be as worried as I was,” Leia said. “She told me she thought I
would be fine and that she was happy for me that I made it.

“It was fun having her as a coach,
but sometimes it is a little stressful because she can’t coach me the same as
everyone else and everyone knows that too. I have had fun with it and I am
happy I was able to share that time with her.”

Shaffer will travel to Pittsburg
at different times during the summer for workouts, before practices really kick
into high gear in August when school begins. Although cheer is going to be a
big focus for her as freshman, she is excited to begin her journey into the
nursing field as well.

“I just really hope that I have fun and learn a lot of new stuff,” Leia said. “I have done this for so long that I have learned a lot along the way, but I know there will be new things for me to learn. I am really excited to get down there, start school and get to work.”

Louisburg senior Brock Bila has racked up a lot of accomplishments in his young fishing career and he is excited to take the next step as he signed his letter of intent to join the bass fishing team at Drury earlier this month.

Fishing has been a big part of
Brock Bila’s life for as long as he could remember.

So when it came down to figuring
out what to do after high school, it only made sense that fishing was involved
somehow. For some, deciding what to do after graduation is one of the most
stressful decisions they will have to make.

For Bila, it was one of the
easiest.

During a signing ceremony in front
of family and friends on April 3, Bila signed his letter of intent to join the
bass fishing team at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. It was a moment that
was a long time coming for the Louisburg High School senior.

“This is a huge step for me,” Bila said. “Figuring out where I was going to college and pursue my fishing dreams is a big deal. I didn’t know the team I was going to go to and how I was going to go about making the decision. It is a relief knowing that I am going to go to college in Springfield, fish on the Drury team and it just makes me really happy.”

Bila, who is a state fishing
champion on the high school and adult level, had several choices to choose
from, but when it came down to it Drury made the most sense as it is located
near the Lake of the Ozarks.

“There were 5-plus schools that I
was considering, but Drury is just the best option for me because of the
presence that team has in the fishing industry, their coach and just being able
to be around all those lakes,” Bila said.

“Drury is currently 21^st
in the nation in bass fishing and they have a great team. K-State was another
option for me, but the reason I didn’t go that route was because Drury has a
selected team and you don’t have to fish any qualifiers to be a part of their
team. At K-State you have to fish the qualifier to get on the team to be able
to fish in the tournament. Drury was just a better fit.”

Bila also hopes fishing in college
will open new doors for him and his future. He will be a part of Drury team
that will travel all over the country competing in tournaments and will allow
him to fish in different climates.

He also has a dream of fishing professionally when he gets out of college, but if that doesn’t work out, Bila plans to major in business and still be involved in the fishing world.

“I am really excited to be able to
travel,” Bila said. “I have traveled to some of the southern states to fish,
but in college we are going east, west, north, south – just everywhere. Being
able to experience those different lakes and that world is just exciting.

“I want to major in business and
marketing. I know if I can’t make it professional, then hopefully I can get in
the fishing industry. I just love everything about it. Drury’s coach is the
marketing director for Bass Pro and that is a big thing because he a lot of
connections with the pros and he has pros come talk to us and teach us about
different things. Everything about Drury was just the best.”

Bila also got a chance to share
his special day with all the people that have helped improve in fishing. Along
with his mother, Rena, he was also joined by his fishing coach and boat
captain, Larry Brumley.

Family friend Bernard Neubauer, who introduced Bila to the sport, was on hand, as was Kansas BASS high school and college director, Richard Heflin. All of those individuals had a big impact on his fishing career.

“Bernard is who got me into fishing and Larry has been like a dad to me on the water and learning how to fish,” Bila said. “Everywhere we go, whether it was in state or out of state, no matter what time he was always ready to go. Whenever I would fish in team tournaments, I would always have Larry as my boat captain and he was a constant when other teams have random boaters and coaches every single time. No matter where I was going to fish, Larry was always ready to go with me and he means a lot to me.

“Richard Heflin is the high school and college director for Kansas BASS. Since I have grown up, he has been there and he has turned that program around and he has seen a 40 to 50 percent growth, which is really big for Kansas.”

Before he goes to college, he will have one more high school adventure left. Bila, along with Louisburg senior Eli Minster, qualified for nationals on April 7 and will fish in the BASS High School National Championship.

It is an exciting time for Bila
and he is ready to take the next step in his fishing journey.

“After I went to Blue Valley
Northwest my freshman and sophomore year, I didn’t really know what I was going
to do,” Bila said. “When I moved here, and I kept on fishing, I realized that
fishing was an actual possibility in college and get a scholarship. That is
when I took it seriously, but I have always loved fishing. I know I just can’t
wait to do it on the college level.”

Broadmoor Elementary School student Kendall Crossley poses with all her medals following her all-around state gymnastics championship last March in Columbia, Mo.

Kendall Crossley was waiting with
bated breath – hoping what happened a year ago wasn’t going to repeat itself.

In March of 2018, Kendall was ahead
in the standings during the Missouri State Gymnastics Championships with only
one competitor remaining. She was forced to wait for the final scores to roll
in.

The wait was hard, but the result
was even more difficult for Kendall as she lost the all-around state
championship by one-tenth of a point. It was a tough setback for Kendall,
despite earning the state championship in the uneven bars and a runner-up
finish in the all-around Level 3 competition.

Kendall, who is a student at
Broadmoor Elementary, got back to work instead of sulking about her close loss.
She used that as motivation.

Not only did Kendall have to get past a difficult loss, she also had to move to a level where she would be competing against older, more experienced competitors. She rose to the challenge and found herself in the exact same spot last month – waiting for the final competitor to finish her routine.

This time, Kendall was all smiles.
On March 22, she became the Missouri Level 4 10D state champion at Columbia
College in Columbia, Mo., with a score of 36.85, which turned out to be her
highest scoring meet of the season as she led from start to finish.

“When I finally realized I had won the state championship,
it made me feel happy and proud of myself,” she said. “I also felt relieved
because I didn’t have to worry about being disappointed. I was very nervous
waiting for the scores because I didn’t want to lose out on first place again
by a tiny amount.”

Kendall performed well in all her events during the state
competition as she was a state champion on vault and floor exercise. She was
also third on uneven bars and fourth on balance beam.

 “I could not be
prouder of her,” her father Shawn said. “It is well-deserved, and saying she
worked for it doesn’t begin to do it justice.”

The journey to a state championship has been a long time
coming for Kendall, who has given up a lot to focus on her gymnastics. She
currently competes at Eagles Gymnastics in Martin City, MO., and has been there
since she was 3-years-old.

“Since June she has spent
11-plus hours every week in the gym,” Shawn said. “Not only does she do Level 4
gymnastics at Eagles, she also takes Elite Ballet and Jazz/Lyrical dance. She
misses out on playing other sports, she misses family outings, she misses
birthday parties, she misses father/daughter dances, she misses being at home.
It’s a life of go, go, go.

“It’s straight to the gym after school
and she isn’t home until after 9 by the time we get food somewhere. She is
dedicated to this sport, and it’s a level that is hard to explain unless you
see it on a daily basis.”

It is a commitment that has always been
there from Kendall, but it was no more tested than last season when she was
forced to make a difficult decision.

Kendall had high hopes for herself in her
second season as a Level 3 gymnast, but her body was fighting back. She was
diagnosed with a pars stress fracture in her back and a spine specialist
recommended she end her season prematurely.

After some discussion, and with the blessing of the doctors, she was allowed to continue her season with limitations in practice. Even with the obstacles, Kendall was atop the leaderboard in the state championships in 2018 at Union Station in Kansas City.

She led from the start, but when the
final scores came in, that one-tenth of point was the difference between a runner-up
and a state championship.

“Last year was very difficult for many reasons,” Kendall
said. “I had to lead my level 3 team with a hurt back. I felt like I needed to
be a good example. I couldn’t do the best that I could do. I had to sit out
some parts of practice. I felt like I was wasting time and wasn’t improving.”

Kendall took some time to recover from her injury after
the season and then got right back to work. Not only did she have to move up a
level, she also had to learn brand new routines for all four of her events.

“A great number of the girls she would
compete against this year would have a leg up because they would have had a
full year of practicing and performing these routines,” Shawn said. “It was
supposed to be a down year for Kendall, one with a bit of a learning curve.
That was the expectation at least. However, Kendall is very self-motivated and
incredibly driven. She set out with the mindset that this would be her year.”

The 11-year-old Louisburg resident got her season off to a good start with a pair of all-around runner-up finishes and then took first in the all-around in three of her next four meets that led up to the Missouri State Championships and her state title.

All the success she achieved also saw a
jump in competition. Kendall will now be competing in Level 6 gymnastics with
the Eagles, which means more of a time commitment for a girl that has school
and after-school activities.

“I am still hungry for more,” Kendall
said. “The more I win, the more other people want to beat me. There may always
be someone working harder than me and I don’t want that.”

Louisburg senior Kiefer Tucker stands atop the podium after winning the Class 4A state powerlifting title at 200 pounds. Tucker also broke a 24-year-old state bench press record.

BASEHOR – Two Louisburg High
School weightlifters made their way to the top of the podium Saturday during
the Class 4A State Powerlifting Meet at Basehor-Linwood High School.

Louisburg senior Kiefer Tucker and
junior Reilly Ratliff-Becher both earned state championships in their
respective weight class. Senior Jonathan DePriest finished third overall and
several other Wildcats also earned individual medals.

Not only did Tucker win a state
title in the 220-pound division, he also broke a 24-year state bench press
record as he recorded a bench of 375 pounds to surpass the old mark of 365. He
also won the squat competition at 505 pounds and had a total of 1,165 pounds to
run away with the crown.

Tucker’s total was the highest
three-lift mark at the entire state meet in all weight classes.

“We had a very successful day,” Louisburg
weightlifting coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “I was proud of how our kids competed
and represented Louisburg. I am excited for Reilly and Kiefer. Nobody
works harder than those two in the weight room. Their consistent effort day in
and day out is why they are state champions. For Kiefer to break a 24-year-old
state record is an amazing feat.”

As happy as he was with the state
title, the state record will stick with Tucker for a long time.

“I had messed around with 375 and
385 before on bench, so I was confident that I could lift it if I had the
chance,” Tucker said. “I was more worried about my first lifts on bench at 345
and 365 because if I messed up on those attempts then I would not have had the
change to even attempt 375. It was definitely a sigh of relief when I finally
locked it out.

“It was a great feeling to beat
the state record. To put Louisburg up on the record chart definitely brought a
smile to my face.”

Ratliff-Becher had a big day in
the women’s division as she won a state crown in the 180-pound weight class.
She finished with a three-lift total of 575 pounds.

The Louisburg junior took first in
bench press with 155 pounds, first in clean at 150 pounds and second in squat
with a 270-pound lift.

“Winning the state title meant a lot to me,” Ratliff-Becher said. “I have put in a lot of time and effort in weights class, so it’s nice to see it has paid off. But, also because I feel as if I put out a message to girls that it’s cool to be strong physically. I know that being sometimes the only girls in a class with a lot of strong guys is intimidating. Weightlifting is all about your own personal growth and seeing how far you can push yourself.

“I was honestly surprised I won
because there are lots of very strong girls there and it’s good competition. It’s
also fun to meet new people that have the same interests and motivation as you.”

DePriest also had a strong day for
the Wildcat lifters as he had a three-lift total of 915 pounds in the 242-pound
weight class to take third. The Louisburg senior was second in clean at 265
pounds and third in bench at 245 pounds.

Three other Wildcats also earned
state medals for their efforts.

In the 148-pound weight class,
Dylan Knipp was first in the bench press with a 235-pound mark on the men’s
side.

In the women’s division, Camdyn
Clark was second in bench in the 132-pound division with a lift of 135 pounds.
In the 140-pound weight class, Melia Rice was third in bench press at 130
pounds.

Louisburg saw a big jump in participants at the state meet this season. The Wildcats took 28 athletes this year compared to just nine last year and Pfannenstiel is excited to see interest in weightlifting grow.

“Last year was our first year of
powerlifting so it’s still pretty new to Louisburg,” he said. “We took a van
and nine athletes last year. This year we took a bus with 28 athletes. It’s
exciting to see how it’s grown in popularity in just one year. Next year we
hope to take even more kids. 

“Our kids at Louisburg work hard in the
weight room. I’m glad there is a sport like powerlifting that allows them to
compete and show off their hard work. I was proud of every one of them.”

Ratliff-Becher, like many of the
other competitors, is appreciative of what Pfannenstiel has done to help create
a powerlifting culture in Louisburg.

“I’m very thankful to have a
weights coach like Mr. Pfannenstiel,” she said. “I feel like he doesn’t get enough
credit sometimes, but he is a big part of why we did so well at the meet. He
spends a lot of time giving us workouts every day to become stronger. He always
knows what to say to get me believing in myself.”

As for the meet itself, it was a great experience for the Wildcat lifters to participate in and is different than most state competitions. It is also a good way to help prepare athletes for different athletic avenues.

“The whole meet was a great
experience overall,” Tucker said. “Just to be able to see and go up against
other great lifters was a fun time. Everyone there had a great attitude and
wanted to see you succeed even if it meant beating them. To be able to win my
weight class and lift the highest total out of any weight class was a great
feeling.

“It wouldn’t be right for me not
to give credit where credit is due, so I owe all of this to the football team.
The program, the coaches, and my teammates taught me how to not only be
physically strong, but more importantly how to be mentally tough. I owe it all
to them and I’m just glad I was able to represent this town in a good manner.”

The gauntlet has been thrown down on the hardwoods of Louisburg.

The LHS Selects, a team that represents the LHS Select Choir, will face off in a basketball game for the ages against Louisburg’s own Granny Basketball team, The Tonics.

The showdown is set for 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Louisburg High School gym. The free-will admission charity fund-raiser will help the Select Choir raise the last bit of money it needs to travel to New York in April to perform at the Lincoln Center, the prestigious performing arts center in Manhattan.

The basketball game will feature members of the Tonics going up against the Selects playing by the Granny Basketball League rules.

Granny Basketball is similar to the 1920s style of play where the court is divided in three sections and there is no running, no jumping and only two dribbles per possession. Two guards or defenders are in one section, two centers or passers are in the middle section and the two forward or offensive players are in the third section of the court. Granny basketball players wear uniforms from that period.

 “I hope that the Louisburg community knows how
much our choir has appreciated their support. We are so proud to have the
opportunity to represent our town,” Alison Moore, choir director, said.

“The Tonics are really excited for the opportunity to help out the Select
Choir. One of the foundations of the Granny Basketball League is to assist with
charity opportunities and we are excited to get on the court and show the
Selects how to play basketball,” Jean Carder, captain of the Tonics, said.
“Oh, and for those players that are males or younger than 50, there will
be a surprise handicap but my lips are sealed until game time. We hope the
community comes out for a fun and novel event that supports the Select
Choir.” 

Local celebrities, school staff and students will make up the Selects team with
choir members and current LHS basketball players Brayden Gage, Maddon
Rutherford, Dylan Deshazer, Andy Hupp, Carson Buffington and Alyse Moore serving
as Selects captains. Team members include Moore, Dr. Damon Dennis; Robert
Ebenstein, LHS head football coach; Drew Harding; LHS football and basketball
coach; and students Austin Moore, Blue Caplinger, Kody Lowry, Lauren Vincent
and others.

The Tonics include Carder, Janet York, Ellen Morland, Diana Moore, Becky Berg,
LaVonne Mize, Ruth Fladung, Helen McClain, Jayne Schommer, Cathy Hadley,
Kathleen Caverty all from Louisburg; Wanda Harlow, Bucyrus; Susan McKeever,
Drexel; Julie McKinley, Linn Valley; Jan Berg, Edgerton; Lisa Berg, Olathe; and
Tonics coach Kate Berg Camp, Gardner.

The 2019 LHS Winter Homecoming candidates are (front row, from left) Leia Shaffer, Camdyn Clark, Riley Vohs, Bailey Kern; (back row) Jakob Krause, Kiefer Tucker, Beckett Rasmussen and James Foote.

Homecoming week at Louisburg
High School kicked off Monday and events are in full swing. With something
going on every day this week, it will be a busy time for students. All of
it is, of course, centered around the crowning of the 2019 winter king and
queen. Eight students were selected as nominees and here are their names and
profiles.

The crowning will take place on Friday during halftime of the
Wildcat boys’ basketball game with Ottawa. Tipoff for that game is set for
approximately 7:30 p.m. Good luck to all the participants and make sure to come
out on Friday to support both the Wildcat girls and boys basketball teams

Leia Shaffer

Leia is the daughter of Ryan
and Dana Shaffer. Leia has participated in cheerleading and girls soccer for
four years, debate for one year and Spanish Club. Following graduation, Leia
plans to attend Pittsburg State University and get a degree in nursing.

Jakob Krause

Jakob is the son of Kraig and Trisha Krause. Jakob has participated in baseball for four years, basketball, football, FCA, Choir and National Honor Society for two years. Following graduation, Jakob plans to attend the University of Nebraska and study civil engineering.

Camdyn Clark

Camdyn is the daughter of
Kelly and Jennifer Clark. Camdyn has participated in band, girls soccer and the
musical for four years, select choir, debate and boys soccer manager for two
years and mixed choir and forensics for one year. Following graduation, Camdyn
plans to attend Johnson County Community College and then transfer to a
university to major in physical therapy.

Kiefer Tucker

Kiefer is the son of David Tucker and Debbie Hardy. Kiefer has participated in football and track and field for four years, Model UN for three years, National Honor Society for two years and wrestling, musical and boys basketball manager for one year. Following graduation, Kiefer plans to play football in college and is undecided on his destination.

Riley Vohs

Riley is the daughter of
Jason and Shava Vohs. Riley has participated in FFA for four years, volleyball
for three years and softball for two years. Following graduation, Riley plans
to attend Missouri State University to major in nursing.

Beckett Rasmussen

Beckett is the son of Mike
and Mercedes Rasmussen. Beckett has participated in baseball, football, student
council, musical, choir and forensics for four years, National Honor Society
and broadcasting club for two years and debate for one year. Following
graduation, Beckett plans to attend Rockhurst University to play baseball and
major in communications.

Bailey Kern

Bailey is the daughter of
Matthew and Veronica Kern. Bailey has participated in softball for four years,
volleyball manager and choir for three years, basketball and FFA for two years
and National Honor Society for one year. Bailey is currently undecided on her
post-graduation plans.

James Foote

James in the son of Jim and Dana Foote. James has participate in football and FFA for four years, basketball for one year and choir for one year. Following graduation, James plans to attend Kansas State University to major in agribusiness and minor in finance.