Louisburg junior Emma Prettyman goes up for two of her 10 points Friday at Tonganoxie High School during the Lady Cats’ 36-27 win.

TONGANOXIE — The Louisburg girls basketball team couldn’t have asked for a better start to its season Friday at Tonganoxie.

The Lady Cats scored 13 straight points to begin the game, and held the Chieftains scoreless in the first quarter, as they won 36-27 to get their season started off on the right foot.

“The girls were super excited on Friday to play our first game, and we were we glad to get our first win,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane. “I do not think the girls were nervous, but they were very excited and so glad to be back on the court together.”

Louisburg was able to control the game inside as forwards Jordan Mynsted and Emma Prettyman recorded a bulk of the Lady Cats’ points in the paint.

Mynsted scored a team-high 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while Prettyman had 10 and eight rebounds. Mynsted also finished with four steals and two blocks.

“Jordan and Emma did a great job finishing on the inside, rebounding, and making their put backs,” Lane said. “They both have been working super hard and I think their efforts showed on Friday.”

The Lady Cats also controlled the game on the defensive end as well. Louisburg forced 25 Tonganoxie turnovers and scored 14 points off those Chieftain mistakes.

Junior Brianne Kuhlman led Louisburg with five steals on the night, while juniors Emma Lohse, Adyson Ross and Ava Baker each had two steals. Baker also had a pair of blocked shots.

“Our defense was tough,” Lane said. “Any time we can hold a team to under 30 points shows how tough we are on defense. We started off very intense on the defensive end, we were in the correct spots and we rotated great when we helped and we finished with blocking out. The girls did a great job.”

There were still aspects that Lane would like to see her team get ironed out, especially the offensive side of the ball where the Lady Cats shot just 27 percent for the game.

Still, she knows that will only get better and hopes it starts tonight when the Lady Cats travel to Burlington for a 6 p.m. tip.

“I think the biggest thing we need to work on after our first game is shot selection and having patience on offense,” Lane said. “If we can have more patience, I think we will not be as rushed on offense and in return score more points.”

LOU 13 8 10 5 — 36

TONG 0 9 11 7 — 27

LOUISBURG (1-0): Jordan Mynsted 5-15 2-2 11; Emma Prettyman 4-9 2-2 10; Adyson Ross 2-12 1-2 5; Delaney Wright 1-10 0-0 3; Emma Lohse 1-3 0-0 2; Brianne Kuhlman 1-8 0-0 2; Sierra Hahn 1-1 0-0 2; Delanie Tally 0-3 1-2 1. Totals: 14-51 6-8 36. 3-point field goals: 2, (Mynsted, Wright)

Louisburg junior Colyer Wingfield goes up for a basket and gets fouled Friday in the Wildcats’ season opener at Tonganoxie High School.

TONGANOXIE — Outside of the first quarter, the Louisburg boys basketball team played even with Tonganoxie on Friday in its season opener.

However, that first quarter was something the Wildcats weren’t able to recover from.

Tonganoxie outscored the Wildcats by 16 in the opening frame and handed Louisburg a 61-48 loss at Tonganoxie High School. 

“Tongie came out in a zone defense, which is what we were expecting,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We talked about the importance of attacking the zone, but we struggled to get into any kind of offensive rhythm. I thought we did a pretty good job of being aggressive, but we didn’t get very many clean looks once we got the ball inside. We had some good looks from the perimeter, but we didn’t get any of them to fall.”

Louisburg trailed 22-6 after the first quarter, but a team with just one returning starter, the Wildcats didn’t back down. They trailed 35-17 at halftime, but the Wildcats went on a run to cut into Tonganoxie’s lead.

The Wildcats trimmed the lead to 10 after a pair of baskets from Michael Seuferling, one from Colyer Wingfield and a 3-pointer from Maverick Rockers.

“Even when we got down early, I thought we’d be fine,” Pfannenstiel said. “We just needed to get going offensively and settle in on defense. We came out the second half with a lot of energy and did a nice job of cutting it to 10. But Tongie went on a run to close out the third quarter which put us right back where we started.”

Rockers had a big game scoring the ball for Louisburg with a team-high 15 points, while Wingfield finished with 11. Seuferling also finished in double figures with 10 points. 

Tonganoxie also had three players in double figures, led by Andrew Wilson’s 19 points. Culyer Kietzmann scored 13 points and Zane Novotney had 12. 

“They’ve got two really good guards that can really put stress on a defense,” Pfannenstiel said. “Our on ball defense wasn’t as good as I hoped. I really thought we’d have more success keeping our man in front of us, but when they were able to drive the ball like they were, they were getting to the rim and then started kicking it out to shooters. 

“They hit some big shots on the perimeter which helped them stretch out their lead early. We have to do a better job of closing down those driving lanes.”

Louisburg will try for its first win of the season tonight when the Wildcats travel to Burlington for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

“It’s the first game, so we are so grateful for the opportunity to get back on the court,” Pfannenstiel said. “Our effort was great against Tongie, but obviously we have areas where we need to get better. We will get back to work and look forward to our next game.”

LOU 6 11 11 20 — 48

TONG 22 13 11 15 — 61

LOUISBURG (0-1): Maverick Rockers 15, Colyer Wingfield 11, Michael Seuferling 10, Mack Newell 7, Hunter Rogers 3, Isaac Guetterman 2. Totals 20 3-7 48. 3-point field goals: 5, (Rockers 3, Wingfield, Rogers)

Senior Michael Seuferling is Louisburg’s lone returning starter off last season’s state runner-up team. The Wildcats open their season tonight at Tonganoxie.

It isn’t easy to follow up the best season in program history, but that is the challenge this year’s version of the Louisburg boys basketball team has in front of them.

It was made even more difficult in the offseason when the Wildcats’ all-state and all-league player, Julian Margrave, transferred to a prep school in New Hampshire for his senior season.

Louisburg returns just one starter and two of its top eight players off last season’s state runner-up team. Although the challenge is a difficult one, coach Ty Pfannenstiel is excited to see what his new players can do.

“Obviously we hope the success of last season continues to help us build and develop this program the right way,” Pfannenstiel said. “We have high standards and expectations for our players, which we believe help us out when it comes to wins and losses.  We return two of our top eight players off of last year’s team, so we are going to need some players to step up this year and fill some pretty big shoes.

“Practice has been great. We have a really good group of kids that bring a competitive mentality to practice every day.  I’ve been really please with how things have started this year.”

Senior guard Michael Seuferling is the team’s lone returning starter and will look to lead the Wildcats on the perimeter. Another senior, Maverick Rockers, will run the offense as the starting point guard after serving as a backup role a year ago.

Senior Issac Guetterman will join Seuferling and Rockers at the guard spot, while juniors Colyer Wingfield and Mack Newell will start inside.

Pfannenstiel will also look to senior newcomers Hunter Rogers and Carson Kern to provide big minutes off the bench, along with junior Trey Myers. Juniors Cade Gassman and Layne Ryals could also see time.

“Those three senior leaders are going to be important for us,” Pfannenstiel said. “They know the standards of what it means to be a Louisburg basketball player and they’ve done a tremendous job of displaying that leadership this offseason. We are going to expect a lot out of those three this season.”

Despite all the new faces on the varsity roster, the way Pfannenstiel runs offense and defense will stay the same.

“We really haven’t changed much,” he said. “We plan to stick to what has made us successful in the past — tough, aggressive defense, and a focus on being efficient on offense.”

Since the Wildcats lost a lot of their offensive scoring from last season, Pfannenstiel is hoping the team’s defense can help give the team energy.

Louisburg, which is currently ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, will get to test that out today when the Wildcats open their season at Tonganoxie.

“We aren’t going to have a lot of size, but I do think we have a chance to be pretty good on defense,” he said. “Our guards do a nice job of applying pressure and making teams uncomfortable on that end. My biggest concern is how are we going to be at rebounding on the defensive end of the floor? With our lack of size, we are going to have to make up with being disciplined in blocking out and getting five bodies to the basket.  

“Our expectations are always high. We don’t necessarily set goals when it comes to wins and losses, or where we want to end at the end of the season. Our expectations are to go out every night and play with the type of poise and effort that brings pride to our school and community.” 

Louisburg senior Delaney Wright saves a ball from going out of bounds during the state tournament last season. Wright is one of three seniors returning this season.

It was a season to remember for the Louisburg girls basketball team a year ago.

The Lady Cats reached the state tournament for the first time in 47 years and went on to finish third in Class 4A. It was a great time to be Louisburg fan.

This year’s version of the Lady Cats will look a little different after losing four all-league players to graduation. Despite the losses, Louisburg still has a good foundation to build upon as they return several key pieces from last season’s team.

“Our mindset going into the season is very positive,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “The returners want to continue our successful from last year and build success with the new players.

“Practice has been going well so far. This year being my second year has been easier because the returners know what I expect out of them. The returners can also help the new players when needed as well.”

One of those veteran players is senior Jordan Mynsted. The Louisburg forward was one of the team’s top scorers from a year ago and earned second team All-Frontier League honors.

Mynsted was second on the team as she averaged almost 11 points a game and had four rebounds a contest. She will be asked to do much of the same this year.

“Jordan has been putting in a lot of work in the off season,” Lane said. “I do think she is going to be a huge offensive threat and she is going to be hard to guard. Her work has developed her game and I think it is going to show on the floor.”

Louisburg also returns its defensive stopper from a year ago in senior Delaney Wright. The Lady Cat guard was consistently asked to guard the team’s best player and will be the defensive leader this season.

“Our team is going to really rely on Delaney on the defensive side of the ball,” Lane said. “Most games she will be guard the other teams best player. Delaney is very unselfish and her spark on the defensive side of the ball always puts excitement into the team.”

The Lady Cats also bring back point guard Brianne Kuhlman, who started all of last season as a sophomore. Now as a junior, she will continue to run the offense.

Junior Adyson Ross, who provided a spark off the bench as a sophomore, will be in the starting lineup along with Kuhlman, Wright and Mynsted. Junior forward Emma Prettyman will also get the start for the Lady Cats.

Senior Sierra Hahn, along with juniors Emma Lohse, Ava Baker, Delanie Tally and Tehya Harvey, will all look to provide big minutes off the bench.

“The returners are super important,” Lane said. They have done a great job leading our team so far this season. They have been super positive and helpful with all the girls. With the positivity coming from the seniors and returners, our team is really starting to develop and I think they can all see how great we can be.

“Some underclassmen who have done a great job in practice and have really stepped up are Emma Prettyman, Delanie Tally, Adyson Ross and Emma Lohse. It’s going to be fun getting to see them get some game time this year after all their hard work last year and this summer.”

The Lady Cats hope they can end their season at the state tournament again like last year as they begin the preseason ranked No. 5 in Class 4A. Louisburg will also try for its first league crown since 2008 and its first outright title since 1999.

“This season I have big expectations for this team,” Lane said. “I would like to see us win 15-plus games again and I would also like to have a run at the league title.”

Julian Margrave had a senior year to remember for the Louisburg boys basketball team. 

Margrave led the Wildcats to their first ever state championship game appearance and a runner-up finish in Class 4A. He was also a unanimous All-Frontier League selection and an all-state player.

Basketball is life for the 6-foot, 9-inch forward and he wanted a new challenge for himself. As it turns out, growth isn’t always easy.

Margrave recently announced he would be transferring from Louisburg to New Hampton Prep for his senior campaign. 

“It was a very, very tough decision to leave my hometown,” Margrave said. “I’m leaving so many friends and family members that I’ve been surrounded by my whole life, but I believe taking this next step and going to prep school is the right idea and best move for my future.”

New Hampton is an independent college preparatory high school in New Hampton, New Hampshire.

Margrave gave his commitment to New Hampton coach Andrew Gale after exploring the idea of playing his final year of high school outside of Louisburg.

“My AAU coach and I have been taking to each other around April to really get me to go somewhere,” Margrave said. “I told him I wanted someplace to be challenged everyday on and off the court and in and out of the classroom. He gave me a few spots to choose from and after a great zoom call with Andrew Gale, I knew right away that was the place for me.”

Margrave had a busy summer of basketball as he plays for KC RUN GMC, one of the top AAU programs in the country. With a lot of success, also brought some college offers.

He received Division I offers from South Alabama, UMKC, Valparaiso, Radford and Nebraska-Omaha.

“The summer was great,” Margrave said. “I’ve been blessed enough to play for what I think is one of the, if not the best AAU program in the nation, KC RUN GMC. I’ve been able to play with many great players who are going to do magnificent things in the future and it’s so much fun to practice with them and learn so many new things day in and day out. I felt as if I improved immensely,

“I feel that my hard work is definitely starting to pay off and that this is really just the beginning of my career.”

The next stop in his career will be New Hampton and he is looking forward to another challenge.

“There are so many goals that I want to achieve at New Hampton, of course in the everyday aspect I want to get better,” Margrave said. “I’m really trying to take my life day by day and focusing on the present moment and not worrying about the past or future. But most importantly I want to win. New Hampton has a great winning program and I see myself as a valuable piece to helping them win a championship! 

Margrave averaged 17.7 points a game last season for Louisburg, along with 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

The fact he won’t be suiting up for the Wildcats this season was a tough decision for him to make, but he has many fond memories to look back on.

“Man, I’ve had so many great moments with Louisburg,” he said. “Of course my favorite moment is definitely running out of the tunnel at the state championship. Those are one of those moments that are priceless and you can never get back, just the adrenaline and excitement I had to really be in the championship with my hometown team was enormous. But most importantly my favorite moments being at Louisburg were just the everyday events I had at school, being around my friends.

“Going to class, cracking jokes with everyone at lunch, and really just being surrounded by people who make me forget about basketball and focus on having a great time.”

There hasn’t been a whole lot of good to talk about in the last year or so.

Our life has changed around us. We are having to deal with a new normal and there are a lot uncertainties as to what our future holds. 

It is an unnerving time for a lot of people and our country seems more divided than ever. Still, to get by in this difficult time, you have to look for positives.

For me, the last school year brought me some of the best moments in my journalistic life. The 2020-21 school was arguably one of the most successful seasons in Louisburg High School history from top to bottom, and I was more than grateful to be there for it all.

Just look at what was accomplished last year:

• Boys cross country qualified for state for the first time in school history.

• Girls cross country placed at state for the first time in its history as they took third in Class 4A. Maddy Rhamy, Lola Edwards and Reese Johnson also earned medals.

• Boys soccer had its best finish in school history with a 3rd place state finish.

• Boys basketball advanced to the state championship game for the first time and took second.

• Girls basketball advanced to the state tournament for the first time in 47 years and recorded its best finish in third.

• Wrestlers Alec Younggren and Cade Holtzen took second and third, respectively, at the state tournament.

• Boys golf qualified for state as a team.

• Girls soccer made an improbable run to advance to its fourth straight state final four and the Wildcats took fourth.

• Delaney Wright won three state track titles in the long jump, 200 dash and 400 dash and broke all three school records in the process.

• Maybe perhaps the best accomplishment of all, the Louisburg boys track and field team won the Class 4A state championship as they edged out Andale for the title.

Just a year removed from losing their spring season due to COVID-19, the Wildcats came back stronger than ever and it showed. It was an exciting time to be a Louisburg sports fan.

However, with so much positivity from last season, it is time to turn the page and focus on what the 21-22 season has in store.

First day of fall practice begins this Monday and the football, volleyball, cross country and boys soccer team all have a chance to do some special things this season. I am fortunate I will be able to be there once again to cover it all.

As I talked about earlier, there is a lot of negativity going on in the world right now, but I am more than thankful to have a job where I can get away from all that and cover all the special moments. 

Last season was a much-needed get away for me and it was an unbelievable journey to see all the Wildcat history that was made.

This year has another chance to be a special one. There is no way to predict what will happen, but I do know there is a chance for even more history and records to fall this upcoming year.

Football numbers are up and the Wildcats are poised for a big season, while the cross country, volleyball and boys soccer team all return several key pieces to make a run in the postseason – and that is just what the fall will hold.

The seasons can’t get here soon enough and I am ready to cover it all once again. Hope to see you all out there supporting the Wildcats and maybe you can forget all those stresses in life — even if it is just for a few moments.

Weston Guetterman had a lot on his plate during his final year at Louisburg High School.

Guetterman was the starting quarterback for the football team, after playing wide receiver for most of his career. 

He continued that leadership onto the basketball court where he was the point guard on the Wildcats’ state runner-up team that had the best finish in school history.

Playing high pressure positions in two popular sports didn’t seem to both Guetterman much as he rose to the occasion. Those were some of the reasons he was selected as the 2021 Louisburg Sports Zone Male Athlete of the Year.

“I am truly honored to have been named athlete of the year,” Guetterman said. “It was never really a goal of mine to achieve this. I just wanted to be the best I could be for each of my teams and for the town. Each of them were a huge part of why I won this award. It is their award as well.”

Going into the 2020 football season, the Wildcats were looking for someone to lead the team at the quarterback spot. After being an all-league receiver a year ago, Guetterman took the reins and didn’t back down from the challenge.

Guetterman ended the year with 548 yards rushing and six touchdowns. He also earned honorable mention All-League honors on defense for his play in the secondary. He finished the year with 32 tackles, two interceptions, three tackles for a loss and seven batted balls. 

“Weston is an all-around team player, who is willing to do what is best for the team,” Louisburg football coach Robert Ebenstein said. “Weston was a couple hundred yards away from being the all-time leading receiver in school history (*since 2000). He would have easily been able to achieve that record but he was willing to step up and play quarterback for us this year and did a great job learning the offense and leading our team.”

Basketball is where Guetterman really shined as the Wildcat point guard. He led Louisburg to the Class 4A state tournament, where the Wildcats knocked off Parsons and Augusta to reach the state championship game against Bishop Miege.

The Wildcats went on to finish runner-up and had the best finish in school history. Guetterman was a second-team All-Frontier League selection from the point guard spot and averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals a game. He was also an all-state selection by the Topeka Capital-Journal, Wichita Eagle and Sports in Kansas.

“Weston is an easy guy to root for,” Louisburg basketball coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “He’s such a humble athlete. He was a 3-year starter in basketball and continued to improve as a player throughout his career. He had a quiet confidence about him that just made him seem comfortable on the court at all times. 

“Not only was Weston a great player and leader, but he was always respectful and appreciative of his opportunity to play. He truly loved being a Louisburg athlete and always represented our community the right way.”

It was the state semifinal game against Augusta where Guetterman helped guide the Wildcats to their first state championship game in school history.

He finished with a game-high 21 points to go along with a team-high six steals and four assists.

“My favorite memory was the state semifinal game against Augusta,” Guetterman said. “That was one of the best all around basketball games that I’ve seen or played in. The pure joy and emotion in that game was unmatched. Then running out onto the court to play Miege that Saturday for the championship and seeing a sea of purple — that made the trip. It was such a joy and we were honored to have the support, even if the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped.”

There are a lot of memories for Guetterman to look back on this past season, but each sport brought something special to the table.

“As far as football goes, there is nothing like a Friday night crowd and I get chills every time I think about it,” Guetterman said. “Every time we took the field I would make sure to run through the tunnel behind my teammates just so that I could take in how much this community cares for our teams. There is nothing like that jog to the sideline with the Bulls theme song pumping through your ears. 

“Basketball this year might have been the most fun that I’ve had playing a sport ever. The success that my team and I had was truly a great experience. From hanging with ranked 6A teams to beating our rival Paola three times in a season, I just enjoyed it all.”

Being able to participate in multiple activities left Guetterman with a lot of positives in his high school career and he will take those with him for the rest of his life.

“It is a huge deal that our school offers so many opportunities as far as athletics and extracurricular activities go,” Guetterman said. “It is important, especially for high school age students, to stay busy and active outside of school alone. I loved participating in many sports and keeping myself on my toes. 

“Playing the sports that I played in has a team atmosphere, and even though we had success this year, the thing that I will cherish the most are the bonds that I have created with my teammates and coaches throughout the years.”

Success has seemed to follow Alyse Moore wherever she goes. 

It isn’t by chance, however — Moore has made her own luck.

Whether it was helping the Louisburg girls basketball team to its best finish in school history, eclipsing the 500 rebound plateau or earning a state medal and breaking the school record in the javelin, Moore had a big year for Wildcat athletics.

Those were just some of the reasons Moore was named the 2021 Louisburg Sports Zone Female Athlete of the Year.

“It means everything to me to be honored as the Female Athlete of the Year,” Moore said. “I am super thankful to have gotten the opportunity to be an athlete at Louisburg and it is great to be able to be rewarded for that.”

Moore began the school year as the starting outside hitter for the Louisburg volleyball team and ended as an honorable mention All-Frontier League player.

She was second on the Lady Cats with 174 kills and also played well on defense as she was second on the team with 195 digs. She also had 19 aces.

“Alyse is an extremely hard worker and was a joy to coach for four years,” former Louisburg volleyball coach Jessica Compliment said. “Her hard work and leadership paid off as a multi-sport athlete, and I enjoyed seeing her excel in each sport. She had a way of bringing out the best in her teammates and pushed herself and her teammates to be the best they could be. Alyse is very deserving of this award, and I am very happy for her.”

On the basketball court, Moore made an even bigger impact as she helped the Lady Cats to a third place finish at the Class 4A state tournament, which the program’s best finish in school history. It was also the first state appearance for the program in 47 years.

Along with eclipsing the 500 career rebound mark, Moore was also an honorable mention all-league player. She led Louisburg in rebounding with 8.6 boards a game to go along with 7.3 points and 1.7 steals.

She also earned honorable mention all-state honors from Sports in Kansas and the Wichita Eagle.

“Alyse is very talented in several different sports, but I feel Alyse is deserving because of her hard work and effort,” Louisburg basketball coach Adrianne Lane said. “No matter what season, Alyse would work hard and contribute to her team. It was an honor coaching Alyse in basketball. She would do whatever the team needed to win and she set a great example for everyone with her effort in practice and her positive attitude.”

It was that tournament run that stuck out to Moore the most and it was a time she will never forget.

“I would have to say my all time favorite memory from this year was the Labette County game that brought us to Salina,” Moore said of the team’s state quarterfinal win. “I have never played in such a loud and fun environment and I am so lucky to have been able to have that experience and get to be in the final four with all of my best friends. I will remember that moment for the rest of my life.”

That success continued over to the javelin as Moore recorded her state straight state medal in the event as she finished fourth. In the process, Moore also broke a 20-year-old school record with a throw of 149 feet.

Next season, Moore will throw for the University of Kansas track and field team as she continues to try and improve in an event she just started trying three years ago.

“Alyse is an amazing student-athlete,” Louisburg girls track coach John Reece said. “She has a great work ethic and that carries over into competition and her leadership as a teammate. She was always willing to put in the extra time needed to make herself even better. This showed with her breaking a longtime javelin record and competing on the big stage at the state meet.

“Since having her in the classroom to now, she has held a high standard for herself and has achieved great things. She will be an asset at the next level and I expect to read about her doing great things in the future.”

Moore also made a little more history following the team’s state tournament run in basketball. She became the first female athlete in school history to participate in four different state athletic events.

As as sophomore in 2019, she went to state in both softball and track. Moore has also placed at the state tournament with both the volleyball and basketball teams.

“To be able to be the first female athlete in school history to participate in the state tournament in four different sports is honestly a dream come true,” Moore said. “It is an amazing opportunity to be able to compete at the state tournament even once, and to be able to do that in four different sports makes me beyond proud. I couldn’t have done it without my coaches and my teammates and I can’t thank them enough.”

Playing in multiple sports has taught Moore different things when it came to competing and other aspects of team sports. It was a memorable four years for the recent Louisburg grad.

“Each sport is slightly different in their own way, but I love each and every one of them and I still have a tough time deciding which one was my favorite,” Moore said. “I loved the crazy celebrations on the court in volleyball. I loved the bond that you create with your teammates in basketball, and I loved the reflection of hard work and technique in track. I enjoyed each sport so much.

“I am so thankful for my time at LHS and for all of my amazing coaches and teammates. I also would like to thank my parents for motivating me every day to work hard and be a good person while doing so. I am going to miss being able to play sports in front of such a supportive community and with unbelievably great people.”

Madilyn Melton stands a center court with her parents, Meghan and Andy Melton, following her performance in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game on June 19 in Salina.

Before venturing off into the world of college basketball, Madilyn Melton had one more obligation when it came to the high school hardwood.

Melton, who graduated this past May from Louisburg High School, was selected to participate in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association all-star game that took place in Salina.

It was an honor and experience that she won’t soon forget.

“To be asked to play in the KBCA All-Star game with some of the top players was such an honor,” Melton said. “To be chosen to represent my team and community and our accomplishments was truly a once in a lifetime gift. I was beyond excited and thankful to be given this opportunity.”

Melton played for the Blue All-Stars and she helped them to a 101-86 victory over the Gold on June 19 at Mabee Arena on the campus of Kansas Wesleyan University. 

The all-star game is made up of the best senior basketball players in the state and Melton was one of those. She was a first-team all-league selection this past season and also earned all-state honors.

“The whole experience was exciting and nerve-wracking all in one,” Melton said. “On one hand I was so excited to play in the game and challenge myself, but on the other to play a game with girls you don’t know and a coach you are not familiar with made me a bit nervous. 

“I spent the entire day with the team. We began with practice which led to lunch together and time to just hang out and get to really know the girls. By the time the game rolled around, all my worries went away and I felt like I was playing with friends.”

Melton played 19 minutes for the Blue team and recorded four points, had two rebounds and an assist in the victory. Osawatomie graduate Amiah Simmons led the Blue team with a game-high 23 points.

McPherson’s Grace Pyle led Gold team in scoring with 14 points and Spring Hill’s Allisyn Frank had 11 points and five rebounds.

“Playing a game with new teammates, brings on challenges,” Melton said. “You don’t know each other like you do your school teammates. You don’t their next move and so it makes you have to step up even more and just play. Everyone on that court that day just loves the game and were honored to be there and be a part of something so special.”

Now, Melton’s focus is toward her college career as she gets ready to take the court for the Benedictine women’s basketball team later this year.

“I am super excited and ready for Benedictine,” Melton said. “This summer I have been able to play some games with the Lady Ravens and help with their high school camp.  It makes it very real that I am going to do this. I am going to get to play ball in college. The team has some amazing athletes on it and I am ready for the challenge of pushing myself to rise to their level of ball. I am so thankful for this opportunity. Benedictine has given me such a gift to play ball and earn my degree at the same time.”

For the past five years, Louisburg Sports Zone has given out Athlete of the Week awards during each of the three sports seasons. I do it to recognize special athletic achievements and to highlight the athletes.

For the fourth straight year, Louisburg Sports Zone will be handing out an Athlete of the Year honor to a male and female athlete at Louisburg High School. I wanted the opportunity to recognize those who exemplify what it means to be an “athlete.”

Although I am giving out the award, I wanted the process to be subjective, so I asked the head coaches at LHS to help me out. I asked each coach to send me nominations of who they thought exemplified the Athlete of the Year honor. They will then vote for their top 3 male and female athletes and then I will tabulate the results and determine the winner. The winner will be announced later this month.

Below are the nominees for this year’s award in alphabetical order by last name. Congrats to all those who were nominated and best of luck!

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

FEMALE

Reese Johnson – Junior – Cross Country, Soccer

Junior Reese Johnson made history in a couple different sports for Louisburg this past season.

In the fall, Johnson played a big role on the girls cross country team. The Lady Cats finished third in Class 4A, as that was the first time a team had placed at state in girls cross country. Johnson also medaled 15th individually and was one of three Lady Cats to earn state medals that day.

In the spring, Johnson was one of the leaders on the girls soccer team that advanced to the Class 4-1A state final four this past season. Johnson earned second team All-Frontier League honors after she finished the season with seven goals and nine assists as the Wildcats finished fourth at state.

Alyse Moore – Senior – Volleyball, Basketball, Track

Alyse Moore ended her senior season as one of the most accomplished athletes in Louisburg High School history. Moore is the first female athlete in school history to compete at the state level in four different sports, including both softball and track in the same season in 2019.

In the spring, Moore earned her second straight track state medal in the javelin as she finished fourth in the Class 4A meet. Earlier in the year, Moore broke a 20-year-old school record with a throw of 149 feet.

Moore was also a starter on the girls basketball team and helped the Lady Cats to their best finish in school history. Moore and the Lady Cats advanced to state for the first time in 47 years and took third overall. Individually, Moore eclipsed the 500-career rebound mark and was an honorable mention all-league player. She led the team in rebounds with 8.6 boards a game and also averaged 7.3 points and 1.7 steals.

On the volleyball court, Moore started as an outside hitter for the Lady Cats and was second on the team with 174 kills and 195 digs.

Delaney Wright – Junior – Basketball, Track

Delaney Wright ended the 2020-21 school year with a bang as she became the school’s first athlete to win three state championships in track in one season. 

At the Class 4A state meet in Wichita last month, Wright won state titles in the long jump, 400-meter dash and 200-meter dash. She broke her own 200 and 400 school records to reach those accomplishments. On the season, Wright set new school records in each of those events.

Wright was also a key player on the girls basketball team and helped the Lady Cats to their best finish in school history. Wright and the Lady Cats advanced to state for the first time in 47 years and took third overall at the Class 4A state tournament. Wright was one of the team’ best defensive players as she averaged two deflections and a steal per game. She was also assigned to the team’s best player.

MALE

Weston Guetterman – Senior – Football, Basketball

Weston Guetterman played big roles for both the Wildcat football and basketball teams this past season.

On the gridiron, Guetterman was the starting quarterback for Louisburg, which finished 4-3 and tied for third in the Frontier League standings. Guetterman earned honorable mention All-League honors on defense for his play in the secondary. He finished the year with 32 tackles, two interceptions, three tackles for a loss and seven batted balls. He also finished with 548 yards rushing and six touchdowns.

Guetterman was one of the team leaders on the boys basketball team that advanced to its first state championship in school history and took second at the Class 4A state tournament. He was a second-team All-Frontier League selection from the point guard spot and averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals a game. He was also an all-state selection by the Topeka Capital-Journal, Wichita Eagle and Sports in Kansas.

Cade Holtzen – Senior – Cross Country, Wrestling, Track

Cade Holtzen was a three-sport athlete this past season for Louisburg and became the first male athlete (that is known) to participate in state competitions in all three sports, in the same season.

Holtzen helped the Wildcat cross country team to qualify for state for the first time in school history as they finished third at regionals. At state, Holtzen took 56th overall in 18 minutes and 46 seconds.

On the wrestling mat, Holtzen had a year to remember as he finished his career with a 155-19 record and a third-place state finish at 132 pounds. He was a four-time state qualifier for the Wildcats and a three-time state placer. Holtzen served as the team captain this past season and currently holds eight program records, including most season victories and most career wins. He was also chosen to participate in the 2021 Metro Classic.

In the spring, Holtzen earned his second state medal of the year as he helped the 4×800-meter relay team to a third place finish. He also helped the Wildcats to their second team Class 4A state track championship in school history.

Kolby Kattau – Junior – Football, Baseball

Kolby Kattau was a two-sport athlete this past season and had a good year for both the football and baseball program.

In the spring, Kattau helped the Wildcats to their first regional championship game since 2009 as he played both first base and pitcher. Kattau finished the year with a .444 average and racked up 32 hits for the Wildcats to go along with a .560 on-base percentage. He finished with five doubles, two triples, 16 RBIs, scored 26 runs and stole nine bases. He was a first team All-Frontier League selection and was an honorable mention all-state selection by the KBCA.

On the football field, Kattau played on both sides of the ball for a team that finished with a 4-3 record and tied for third in the Frontier League. He finished with two touchdowns from the running back spot and had 41 tackles at linebacker.

Alec Younggren – Senior – Football, Wrestling

Alec Younggren was a two-sport athlete for Louisburg as he shined on the football field and on the wrestling mat.

Younggren, who missed part of the football season with an injury, still played well-enough on the offensive and defensive lines to earn All-Frontier League honors on both sides of the ball. Younggren was named as a first-team offensive lineman and an honorable mention lineman on defense.

He was a key fixture on the Wildcat offensive line that amassed more than 2,400 yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns. He also had 23 tackles on defense. Younggren was also an all-state honorable mention selection.

The Louisburg senior had an historic season in wrestling as he advanced to the 220-pound Class 4A championship match, where he finished runner-up. He finished the year with a 37-1 record and had Louisburg’s highest state finish since 2012.

Braden Yows – Junior – Soccer

Louisburg junior Braden Yows was vital part of the Wildcats’ best finish in school history this past season. Yows helped the Wildcats to a third place finish in the Class 4-1A state tournament.

Yows was a first-team All-Frontier League and all-state selection from his midfield spot. He broke a program record with 21 assists and also finished with seven goals on the year.