Gassman ready to take next step with JCCC soccer program
Louisburg senior Cade Gassman recently signed his letter of intent to play for the Johnson County Community College men’s soccer program.
Ever since Cade Gassman walked onto the pitch for the Louisburg soccer team as a freshman, he has made a huge impact for the Wildcats.
Whether it was helping Louisburg to its best finish in program history, or earning countless postseason honors, Gassman certainly left his mark on the Wildcat program.
Starting next fall, the Louisburg senior hopes to do the same at the collegiate level.
Earlier this year, Gassman signed his letter of intent to join the Johnson County Community College men’s soccer program and will go from being a Wildcat to a Cavalier.
“I’ve always wanted to play soccer as long as I can and I realized It was possible to get to the next level my freshman year of high school,” Gassman said. “It meant a lot to me and my family when we signed and saw that dream come true.”
Gassman has played the sport since he was 5-years-old and has slowly seen him develop into an all-state player for Louisburg. He hopes to take that next step at JCCC.
Before he committed, however, Gassman already had an inside knowledge of the Cavalier soccer program. His older sister, Carlee, played there so Cade had a chance to get to know the school first-hand.
So when JCCC coach Jeff Cole made Cade an offer, it was hard for him to pass it up.
Louisburg senior Cade Gassman signed to play with the JCCC men’s soccer program. Sitting next to Cade are his parents Tara and Brent Gassman. Standing (from left) is his sister Carlee, head coach Bobby Bovaird and sister Bree.
“Going to her games, the facilities were brand new and nice and after (Cole) reached out and gave me an offer, it was the best fit for me,” Cade said. “I had many of my club teammates playing at JCCC and friends I’ve made over time. I heard lots of great things.”
During his time with the Louisburg program, Gassman finished his Wildcat career with 47 goals and 26 assists. He was also a four-time first team All-Frontier League and all-state player.
A season ago, he also helped the Wildcats to a third place finish in the Class 4-1A state tournament — the best finish in school history.
“I’m so excited to see what Cade is able to accomplish at the next level,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “He’s been such an incredible leader on the field — at many times, he’s been like a third coach with how he works with his teammates. His positivity is infectious and he’s got such an uncanny work ethic. Combine those two traits with his natural talent, and you get a kid like Cade.
“JCCC is picking up a pretty special player with him, that’s for sure. Not only is he a very talented player, but he’s extremely coachable and was always willing to listen to suggestions I might have had. With a growth mindset like Cade has, he will definitely find even more success at the college level.”
Gassman has high hopes for what he can accomplish with the Cavalier program and is excited to work under head coach Jeff Cole.
“The JCCC program, as far as culture, is good and went very far in the playoffs last season,” Cade said “As far as playing style, I will have to see when I get there but I know coach Cole with his previous experience at UMKC will have a high level approach to how we play. My goal is to work my way to the starting 11 and win the NJCAA national championship.”
As for his time in Louisburg, Gassman is grateful for everything the program did for him and for all the experiences he leaves with.
“The soccer program means a lot to me,” he said. “It has given me a great work ethic and allowed me to be a better leader and teammate. It has definitely bettered me as a player and a teammate.”
Top 10 Louisburg Sports Stories of 2022
It was a successful, and eventful, 2022 for Louisburg High School athletics and for those who are connected to the Wildcat program.
This past year created a lot of school history for LHS and a few programs brought back state hardware.
Below are the top stories from 2022, along with a brief explanation of each. Included in the writeup is the link to the actual story from the event.
When putting the list together, I took a lot of things into account – whether it was team vs. individual, popularity of the sport, historical achievements and the interest it drew on the web site.
This year was a blast to cover and I am looking forward to seeing what 2023 will bring. Thank you to everyone for their support and can’t wait for it all to begin again.
10. Louisburg golf qualifies for state
FORT SCOTT — As the scores were rolling in, the Louisburg golf team was a little worried.
The Wildcats were in jeopardy of not qualifying for state after a few of the golfers didn’t have the scores they were hoping for in the Class 4A regional tournament in Fort Scott.
Chanute and Independence had already assured themselves of a spot, but the third place team was up in the air as the top three teams automatically qualify for state.
As it turned out, the Wildcats had nothing to worry about as they edged Paola by four strokes to finish in third with a 357 to secure their third consecutive spot in the 4A state tournament.
Seniors A.J. Arriola, Sam Wheeler, Ian Kirkpatrick, Johnny Thompson, along with juniors Jackson Olson and Nick Lancaster, advanced to the state tournament.
Arriola carded a 78 and finished as a regional runner-up, as he was just two strokes behind regional champion Drayton Cleaver of Chanute.
As for Olson, the Louisburg junior set a personal record by six strokes to shoot an 81 and took fourth overall. Those personal bests were enough to get the Wildcats into that third place spot.
At state, Arriola and Wheeler finished as the team’s top two golfers. Arriola carded a 97 to take 59th overall, while Wheeler finished with a 98 and came in 66th.
9. Brueggen’s earns school’s first state swim medal
LENEXA — Even though she is just a freshman, Sabra Brueggen is already putting a stamp on her high school swim career at Louisburg High School.
It all came to a rousing end on May 21 as Brueggen earned her first state medal at the Class 5-1A Kansas State Swim and Diving Championships at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center.
On the day before in the preliminaries, Brueggen also took fifth in a season-best time of 1:00.15.
“Medaling as freshman means the world to me, and it proves to me that all of my hard work for all of these years, has paid off,” Brueggen said. “I feel like I performed my absolute best at state, and I was very happy with the results. It gives me confidence that I will have a bright future representing OzPaLou at the state swim meets.”
She nearly had a second medal in the 50 freestyle. Brueggen put together a season-best time of 25.26 seconds, but finished ninth overall. It was the same finish she had the in the preliminaries.
The top eight in each event earn a state medal as she was just .06 away from earning another spot on the medal stand.
8. Harding takes over as Wildcat football coach
The Louisburg football program had a different leader on the sidelines this past season.
The USD 416 Board of Education approved the hire of LHS assistant coach Drew Harding to be the team’s new head coach in January after the district decided not to renew the contact of former coach Robert Ebenstein.
Harding spent the last five seasons as a Wildcat assistant coach, including time as a defensive coordinator. He is a 2010 Louisburg graduate and was a big part of the Wildcat program during his time as a student-athlete at Louisburg High School.
However, Harding didn’t see himself be a head coach of any sport coming out of college.
“It means a lot,” Harding said. “When I got out of school, I didn’t get into education right away and started somewhere else. I decided to get into education because of the impact my former coaches at Louisburg had on me. To come full circle and to be in the position that I am in now, is pretty surreal. I am really excited for the opportunity and hopefully I can have the same type of impact on student athletes as they come through the program.”
Ebenstein has the been the head coach the last five seasons and helped the Wildcats to a 30-18 record during that time, including a Frontier League and regional title in 2018. He had a winning record three of those five seasons.
He was also named the KFCA Coach of the Year during that season and was selected to be an assistant coach for the Kansas Shrine Bowl. He was an assistant coach for the Wildcat program for five years before earning the head coaching job.
7. Conley resigns a Louisburg head boys and girls soccer coach
He was recently hired to lead the boys and girls soccer programs at Blue Valley West, where he will serve as the head coach of both teams.
Conley, who also taught social studies at LHS, informed the players and parents of his decision on May 4. The Blue Valley Board of Education approved his hire on May 9.
“Making the decision to leave Louisburg was extremely difficult,” Conley said. “The players and parents, both past and present, made this decision tough. No parents or players caused this decision. I am very thankful to Mr. (Dave) Tappan and Mr. (Darin) Gagnebin for giving me this opportunity to coach and teach at Louisburg. The amount of support that my teams, my family and I received from Louisburg soccer parents and the community was incredible.”
Conley has the been head girls coach at Louisburg since its inception in 2016 and has led that program to four consecutive state final fours.
Twice, the Wildcats made the state championship game and finished runner-up on both occasions. He has guided the program to an 82-34-3 record.
Conley took over the boys program in 2016 and finished with a 77-32-3 record. He led the Wildcats to two state final fours during that span, including a third place finish in 2020.
“I am so proud of the things that our student athletes in the soccer programs have accomplished both on and off the soccer field,” Conley said. “I will always cherish the memories that we have made here with the Louisburg soccer programs.”
6. Girls cross country qualifies for state, Vohs earns state medal
WAMEGO — For the second consecutive season, Emma Vohs left the Class 4A state cross country meet with more than was she arrived with.
“I was so excited to win another state medal this season and couldn’t be happier that I reached my goal for that race, which was placing top 10,” Vohs said. “The race was a tougher course, as was the competition this year, but I am blessed to run with such talented girls that push me to do better each race.”
A week earlier at regionals, the team of Vohs, Maddy Rhamy, Lola Edwards, Nova Ptacek, Bree Gassman, Erin Apple and Madison Huggins finished third to punch their ticket to state
“It never gets old seeing the joy in the team’s eyes when they hear they qualified for state,” Louisburg coach John Reece said. “The girls work hard to accomplish this goal each year, and because of their dedication to their sport, they achieve great things even if they might not make it, but they did.
“The program has built itself and I’m just glad to be a part of it. Yes, we put together a training plan to accomplish great things at the end of the season, but the runners do the work to get there. It takes self discipline, motivation and guts to be there at the end of the season.”
5. Wildcat wrestling medals 3 at state
Louisburg wrestling has had its fair share of state medalists in its long history, but what the Wildcats accomplished in February at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina was something the program had never seen before.
Aiden Barker (195 pounds), Kaven Bartlett (126) and Elijah Eslinger (285) each finished in the top six in their respective weight classes and put together their best performances of the season. It was also the first time each of them earned a state medal.
“This season was the most state placers we’ve had in a single year in program history,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “Prior to 1992, KSHSAA only medaled the top 4 in each weight. In both 1988 and 1989, we had two top-4 placers and one top-6 placer, but this really shows how the program is progressing and developing. We nearly had four medalists, too.”
Barker, a senior, was a favorite for a medal heading into Salina and finished fifth overall with a 13-1 major decision over Ottawa’s Jared Ferguson in the fifth-place match.
Bartlett and Eslinger also left lasting impressions on the Wildcat program as each medaled sixth overall after both nearly turned their brackets upside down as they advanced to the semifinals on Friday. They both guaranteed themselves a medal on the first day.
4. Louisburg cheer earns state runner-up performance
TOPEKA — It has almost become commonplace to see the Louisburg High School cheer squad in the finals of the Class 4A Gameday Spirit Showcase.
However, that doesn’t mean the cheerleaders are any less excited about it.
For the second straight season, the Wildcats finished as the state runner-up in the Class 4A competition at the Stormont-Vail Events Center. They finished with a score of 79.45 and were one point behind champion Paola.
It is the fourth straight season that the Wildcats have finished in the top three, which included a state championship in 2019.
“I am so unbelievably and incredibly proud of this team,” Louisburg coach Marissa Morrow said. “This positivity and attitude that these girls have shown this year have been the key to our success. I had no doubt that the material and performances we brought on Saturday had the potential to do well, but it was the girls who made it possible to pull it together. They were all such competitors and left it all out on the mat, and I couldn’t ask for more. We also could not have done it without the support of our amazing cheer families.”
Members of the team are Sydney Dudzik, Bella Feikert, Zoe Cutshaw, Caroline Dugger, Elizabeth George, Addison Drake, Brooklyn Harmon, Adison Vargo, Maddy Carpenter-Ross, Sienna Finch, Alayna Stohs, Alaina Dudzik, Maddie O’Keefe, Liz Willming, Kayleigh Ramsey, Taryn Osborn, Anna Brizendine and Jocelyn Burk.
3. LHS football secures Frontier League title
With just over a minute left in regulation, Louisburg was staring at the possibility of their first league loss and was watching an outright Frontier League title slip away.
Spring Hill scored a touchdown and took a four-point lead with 1 minute and 12 seconds left. Things were looking bleak for the Wildcats.
As it turned out, 52 seconds was all the Wildcats needed to pull off one of the season’s most memorable moments. Louisburg quarterback Declan Battle found junior Caden Caplinger in the endzone on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds remaining to give the Wildcats a 20-17 victory.
“There weren’t a lot of people who thought we could be league champions,” Louisburg coach Drew Harding said. “I don’t think it was anything that people expected out of us, and the Frontier League is really good. For this group to come to work, get better every day and to see success is pretty sweet.”
The win was extra special for 16 Louisburg seniors as they were also able to celebrate that league title on Senior Night.
Jackson Kush, Nathan Apple, Carson Wade, Isaiah Whitley, Riley Van Eaton, J.R. Rooney, Will Hutsell, Brayton Brueggen, Christian Golladay, Nathan Vincent, Jase Hovey, Mack Newell, Hunter Moore, Mason Dobbins, Corbin Hamman and Layne Ryals all got to end their final regular season home game with a win.
“The Frontier League title means so much to me and this team,” Rooney said. “As a team before the season, the seniors wrote down our goals, and league champs was on everyone’s list. To clinch it on senior night was amazing. Going undefeated at home, to win it on our field in front of our town — it was an indescribable feeling.”
2. Wildcat volleyball finishes fourth at state
HUTCHINSON — The state tournament ended the way it started for the Louisburg volleyball team — with a loss to Towanda-Circle.
Still, it was everything that happened in between that made for a lot of lasting memories for the Wildcat players.
Louisburg went 2-1 in pool play at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, which included a revenge win over Tonganoxie in the final match of the day. That gave the Lady Cats a spot in the state semifinals Saturday, where they finished fourth in Class 4A.
The Wildcats suffered a 2-0 loss to both Bishop Miege and Circle, but they still ended their season as one of the state’s top teams.
“I am extremely proud of this team,” Louisburg coach Leanna Willer said. “Looking at how we started this season, and our ups and downs along the way, it is a huge accomplishment for them to have come together as a team at the end of the season and play our best volleyball yet. It was apparent in the last couple of weeks that they really started playing for each other and capitalizing on the strong team bonds they built throughout the year.”
The Wildcats, the No. 9 seed, knocked off No. 1 seed Baldwin, 25-18 and 25-19, at Baldwin High School in the finals of the Class 4A sub-state tournament. That win puts Louisburg in the state tournament for the first time since 2019.
Members of the team are Emma Prettyman, Adyson Ross, Claire Brown, Allie Kennedy, Ashlyn Berck, Delaney Nelson, Izzy Moreland, Bronwynn Williams, Caileigh Kilgore, Megan Quinn, Hailey Sword and Madelyn Williams.
1. Wildcat boys take third at state track; Koontz, Caplinger win state titles; Lady Cats medal nine
WICHITA — For the second consecutive season, the Louisburg boys track and field team brought home hardware from the Class 4A state meet.
Andale won the state championship with 101 points and Chanute was the state runner-up with 71.
Louisburg got points from a lot of different areas as the Wildcats medaled in 10 events and had 12 medalists overall, including all three of their relays.
“I am not going to complain at all,” Koontz said. “I believe we came here with less people than we did last year and everyone did their best. Even though we didn’t get exactly what we wanted, third place is still a great achievement.”
What he couldn’t believe was he had just won his first state title in the 300 hurdles and Koontz did so by breaking a 14-year-old school record. Koontz ran a time of 38.98 seconds to break R.J. Saunders’ record of 39.16 set in 2008 to earn the gold.
It turned out to be his second state title of the day as he also earned the gold medal in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.61 seconds. Koontz won the state in that event last season as well.
Caplinger cleared a lot of his marks in the pole vault and did so in convincing fashion as he was able to win a state title in just his second year with the program.
Last season at state, Caplinger medaled eighth after he cleared 12-6. A year later, the Louisburg sophomore improved his mark by two feet and is a state champion.
It was an impressive showing from Caplinger as he didn’t miss an attempt until he tried for 15 feet at the end. He entered the competition at 12-6 and had five straight successful clearances.
“At first I was really nervous, but then it just kind of turned into a routine thing,” Caplinger said. “I started going over heights consistently and the rest just kind of fell into place. I cleared 14-6 earlier this week twice in a row, so I knew I could do it. I was still a little nervous though.”
As for the Lady Cats, Delaney Wright left the state meet with three medals. Wright, who has been coming back from a severe injury for most of the season, finished as the state runner-up in the 400-meter dash, third place in the 200 dash and fifth in the long jump.
A season ago, Wright was the state champion in all three events, but couldn’t get the repeat she was hoping for.
“Going into state I knew I still wasn’t where I want to be due to my injury a couple months ago,” Wright said. “But I wanted to attack it still and give it all I had. I am blessed I was there to compete and earn three medals cause in the beginning I didn’t even know if I was going to compete my senior year.”
In all, the Lady Cats put together a strong state performance as they medaled in nine events and finished with 40 team points and took sixth overall. They were just eight points away from the third place spot, and a plaque.
“Once again the state qualifiers did an amazing job,” Louisburg girls coach John Reece said. “They all performed well and most beyond expectations. To leave the meet finishing in sixth place was outstanding. We left with lots of medals and great memories.”
Six Wildcats named to all-state team; McManigal, Gassman selected first team
Louisburg seniors Cade Gassman, Colin McManigal, Toby Espina-Roca, Brecon Klugman, Matthew Sword and Gavin York were all named to the KHSSCA all-state team.
The season may be over, but members of the Louisburg boys soccer team are still getting recognized for a strong 2022 campaign.
Six Wildcats were named to the Class 4-1A All-State team by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association on Nov. 18.
A pair of Wildcats were recognized among the best as seniors Colin McManigal and Cade Gassman were selected to the all-state first team. Senior Toby Espina-Roca was a second team honoree, while Brecon Klugman, Matthew Sword and Gavin York were named as honorable mentions.
The same six players were also given All-Frontier League honors earlier this month.
Gassman earned first team honors for the fourth time in his high school career and has been a fixture on the Wildcat team since his freshman season.
This season, Gassman finished with five goals and four assists, but he was a valuable piece to the team at controlling play in the midfield and starting attacks.
McManigal led the team in scoring with 12 goals on the year to go along with three assists. It was a 1-2 combo that was big for the Wildcats this season.
Espina-Roca moved to the midfield this season for Louisburg after spending the last three years on the defensive side. He was also an integral part of the Wildcat team as he finished with six goals and five assists.
In his first year as a varsity goalie, Klugman thrived for the Wildcats as he finished with 113 saves and finished with six shutouts on the season. His save number was the second highest total in program history for a season.
Sword and York were key pieces on the Wildcat back line as they turned away several attacks and helped keep games close. York made the move to defense halfway through the season after seeing time at forward to start the year.
The two players led the Wildcat defense against some difficult opponents and were big in helping Klugman throughout the season.
Six Wildcats earn spot on all-league soccer; Gassman, McManigal named first team
Cade Gassman, Colin McManigal, Toby Espina-Roca, Brecon Klugman, Matthew Sword and Gavin York were all recently named to the All-Frontier League Soccer Team.
It was an up and down year for the Louisburg boys soccer team, especially when it came down to Frontier League action.
After a slow start, the Wildcats found their footing and finished with a 9-7-2 record that earned them a spot in the regional championship match. In what was a difficult league slate, Louisburg had its fair share of bright spots, including a win over league champion Spring Hill.
Louisburg also had plenty of talent on its roster and the rest of the league coaches took notice. The Wildcats were awarded six spots on the all-league team that was announced earlier this week.
Senior forwards Cade Gassman and Colin McManigal earned first team honors, while senior midfielder Toby Espina-Roca and senior goalie Brecon Klugman were named to the second team. Senior defenders Matthew Sword and Gavin York were honorable mention selections.
“The last few years, I learned quickly that the Frontier League is legit in Kansas soccer,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “With the top teams in the league, it was pretty clear that Spring Hill had the dominant season, even though we were one of their five losses this season, and they had eight kids earn all-league honors. We had two at each level and I feel like we could have placed a few others on that list as well.”
Gassman earned first team honors for the fourth time in his high school career and has been a fixture on the Wildcat team since his freshman season.
This season, Gassman finished with five goals and four assists, but he was a valuable piece to the team at controlling play in the midfield.
McManigal led the team in scoring with 12 goals on the year to go along with three assists. It was a 1-2 combo that was big for the Wildcats this season.
“Cade and Colin have made such an impact on our program over the last four years,” Bovaird said. “Many times this season, officials and opposing coaches have mentioned how fun Cade is to watch and several have said that he’s a special kid. He truly is an amazing and skilled player, but the thing is when you look at his stats for this year, you can tell that he was 100 percent about the Wildcat team. That’s one of the most commendable things about him, and that’s what I hope college coaches notice the most about him. Sure he’s got crazy skills, but he’s a player who will bring so much more to the team.
“This season, Colin was the epitome of overcoming adversity. You’d watch the kid get the ball at his feet and power through 2, 3, sometimes 4 defenders and get a shot off. He knows how to use his stature and determination to go to goal, and you won’t see him hit a ton of fancy and flashy moves; you just see him drop his shoulder and take kids on.”
Espina-Roca moved to the midfield this season for Louisburg after spending the last three years on the defensive side. He was also an integral part of the Wildcat team as he finished with six goals and five assists.
“This season, Toby was our soccer guy,” Bovaird said. “I mean, he lives and breathes soccer, and at halftime of nearly every game, he gave some great insight to what was happening on the field.”
In his first year as a varsity goalie, Klugman thrived for the Wildcats as he finished with 113 saves and finished with six shutouts on the season. His save number was the second highest total in program history for a season.
“Brecon did amazing this year, and his skills in goal really kept us in quite a few of our game,” Bovaird said. “All this considering the fact that his junior year was his first time playing high school soccer, and he split time in goal at the JV level. This year, he jumped into the role of varsity goalie and was incredible.”
Sword and York were key pieces on the Wildcat back line as they turned away several attacks and helped keep games close. York made the move to defense halfway through the season after seeing time at forward to start the year.
The two players led the Wildcat defense against some difficult opponents and were big in helping Klugman throughout the season.
“Matthew’s presence on the back line was incredible this season,” Bovaird said. “He was calm and collected when under pressure, and he was a vocal leader to the guys on the field, as well as a huge mentor to Brecon in goal. Matthew was an outstanding leader for us on and off the field.
“Gavin started out great at forward, getting three goals and having one assist, but once he moved back to defense, it was a very effective change for the team. He worked with Matthew and Brecon so well at defense, and I find myself wondering what if we had made that adjustment sooner in the season.”
Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week nine of the fall sports season, sponsored by Edward Jones-Craig Holtzen.
CADE GASSMAN, SENIOR, BOYS SOCCER
Louisburg senior Cade Gassman has been the glue that held the Wildcat boys soccer team together throughout the season. He came up big for the Wildcats last Thursday during the team’s regional championship match at Bishop Ward. Gassman scored the game tying goal in the second half that eventually forced overtime.
Although the Wildcats eventually fell in three overtimes, 2-1, Gassman was a key cog in the Wildcats’ attack. In his career as a four-year starter for Louisburg, he is second in program history with 47 goals and third with 26 assists.
“He has been an integral part of the team,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “He’s like a coach on the field — the guys look up to him, they follow his lead, and they play more cohesively because of him.”
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the fall season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
Wildcats suffer heartbreak in triple-overtime loss to Bishop Ward
Louisburg head coach Bobby Bovaird consoles Wildcat goalie Brecon Klugman shortly after the Wildcats’ 2-1 loss to Bishop Ward on Thursday in the regional championship game at Bishop Ward High School. The Wildcats lost in three overtimes, with the deciding goal coming on a penalty kick late in the third OT.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — With the right to advance to the state quarterfinals on the line, Louisburg and Bishop Ward did everything possible for their respective teams to keep their season alive.
In the end, two penalty kicks decided the winner of the Class 4-1A regional championship match.
Bishop Ward converted a penalty kick in the first half to take the lead, then after Louisburg tied it in the second half, the match went into extra time.
In the third overtime, Louisburg was called for a foul in the box and the Cyclones were awarded their second penalty kick and converted to hand the Wildcats a 2-1 defeat.
It was a crushing end to the Wildcats’ season in what was an evenly played match throughout.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many tears flowing after a game as I did Thursday night,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “The talent of this group, combined with their work ethic, coachability, desire, and unity, was something amazing to be a part of. They definitely played very well toward the end of the season, and they bought into the program this year. They overcame a rough start and started to peak at just the right time to make a run in the postseason. None of them wanted it to end so soon, but they did everything they possibly could to keep it going.”
Louisburg senior Cade Gassman tries to settle the ball Thursday at Bishop Ward.
The loss enough was difficult to stomach, but the fact the difference the match was a pair of penalty kicks, made it even tougher on the Wildcat players.
“The frustrating thing about that game was that we played so well considering the circumstances and adversities we faced,” Bovaird said. “We controlled possession of the ball for most of the game, and we had them on the ropes many times. I mean, we had 8 corners to their 2, and we had 13 crosses to their 9. We played tough defense, but it’s frustrating that two subjective calls decided the outcome of the game.”
Louisburg faced adversity from the start as the Wildcats had to play without two of their starters — Matthew Sword and Jackson Olson — who were out of town competing at FFA nationals and the Wildcats relied on their bench to help pick up the slack.
Senior Gavin York heads the ball out of the back for Louisburg.
The Wildcats did more than that. Seniors Andrew Brown and Brock Varns helped fill the void at Olson’s outside-mid spot, while senior Gavin York moved over to Sword’s sweeper spot. Another senior, Caden French, filled in as an outside back.
“At the end of the day, a game like Thursday’s regional championship is a testament to a team’s character,” Bovaird said. “The fact that we were missing two starters, one of whom being our defensive leader (Sword), and we were on a field that really didn’t seem to fit game standards and we still took it to the wire shows the grit that our guys have.
“They entered that match as the underdogs, but they battled every minute of the game. My hats off to Gavin for transitioning to sweeper and playing a great game, Caden for stepping in and marking some of their fastest players, and Andrew for sliding to the opposite side and giving us some offensive presence. Those three were ready to do their part for the team, and I think they made a phenomenal impact in the absence of Jackson and Matthew.”
Louisburg senior Caden French clears the ball away for the Wildcat defense Thursday against Bishop Ward.
Bishop Ward opened the scoring in the first half as the Wildcats were called for a foul in the box on a breakaway attempt by Ward. The Cyclones converted the penalty kick and took a 1-0 lead at halftime.
It stayed that way till midway through the second half. Louisburg senior Colin McManigal took the corner kick and senior Cade Gassman headed the ball in for the equalizer.
“That was the boost we needed,” Bovaird said. “At that point in the game, we were trailing and the game was three-fourths of the way finished. In soccer, if you’re not scoring goals by that point, things start changing. Players get desperate, they lose focus on the game plan, and they start questioning if they have what it takes to pull out a win. Cade’s goal gave our guys the extra wind they needed to push through the end of regular time.”
The Wildcats took 17 shots for the match, including seven by Gassman to lead the Louisburg attack. Senior Toby Espina-Roca and sophomore Emmett White had three and two shots, respectively.
Louisburg goalie Brecon Klugman jumps up for a save in the first half of Thursday’s regional championship game at Bishop Ward.
Louisburg senior goalie Brecon Klugman made sure it stayed tied throughout the overtime periods. Klugman finished with three saves and five blocked shots.
Klugman really stepped up in the second overtime period with a save and three blocked shots, including one where he used his body deflect a Cyclone shot on a breakaway attempt.
“What a phenomenal season Brecon’s had,” Bovaird said. “Brecon came out for the first time last year and only played half the time in goal on junior varsity, and the other time he spent on the field in defense. This year, he slid right into the starting goalie position, and he made some incredible saves that night. If it hadn’t been for his athleticism and growth over the season, we wouldn’t have been in the position we were in at the end of the season.”
With 27 seconds left in the third overtime, Bishop Ward went on the attack and had several scrums in front of the goal. All that led to a Wildcat foul in the box when a player slid to make a play on the loose ball as the Ward player was going for it.
Louisburg senior Toby Espina-Roca flies through the air to knock the ball away Thursday.
The official awarded the Cyclones the penalty kick and they converted to take the regional championship — and at the same time — 15 Wildcat seniors saw their high school careers come to an end.
Gassman, McManigal, Brecon Klugman, Varns, Andrew Brown, Jordan Brown, Ayden Deterding, French, Owen Barber, York, Sword, Olson, Dagon Klugman, Espina-Roca and Kaven Bartlett all suited up for Louisburg for the final time.
“My heart is broken for the team, especially the seniors,” Bovaird said. “I really don’t like speaking negatively of game officials, but I strongly feel that you either need to take control of that style of play early in the game and call it consistently, or you need to allow the players to decide the game and avoid making those powerfully impacting subjective calls.”
The Wildcats finished their season with a 9-7-2 record, including wins in three of their last four matches.
“The last few years, we’ve talked about the program being a family, and every year I see more and more what that means,” Bovaird said. “We had the motto ‘United’ this year, and that’s what we were. In the face of adversity, we stepped up and were ready for the challenge. I’m nothing but proud of these guys, and I’m truly going to miss this senior class.”
Wildcats advance to regional title game with win over Maranatha
Louisburg’s Colton Blue (right) and Colin McManigal celebrate a goal Tuesday in the Wildcats’ 5-2 victory over Maranatha Academy in the Class 4-1A regional semifinal in Louisburg.
The Louisburg boys soccer team did exactly what it wanted to begin the playoffs — continue its hot streak from the regular season.
After getting two wins to end the regular season, the Wildcats put together another positive result — this time in the Class 4-1A regional semifinals. Louisburg hosted Maranatha Academy and came away with a 5-2 victory.
The Wildcats scored four second half goals, despite a muddy and sloppy playing surface, and they are moving onto the regional championship match tonight at Bishop Ward.
“We had a great game overall, despite the conditions,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “These days, so many club teams and high school teams have the luxury of playing on nice turf surfaces, but when it comes down to it, soccer is a sport played on the grass. We have a grass practice field and a grass game field. That’s our home stadium, and we’re very proud of it.
“Statistically, Tuesday’s game was most likely going to be the final home game for our seniors, and I wanted them to be able to play one more game on that field. Playing there, especially when it’s wet and muddy, creates adversity, but we’ve shown time and again that it’s an advantage for us. On top of all that, the fact that we were able to step up to adversity and unfavorable conditions like the wet field shows that we’re capable of handling any adversity thrown at us. You need that preparation for the postseason.”
Sophomore Emmett White puts a shot on goal Tuesday against Maranatha.
It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to get on the board and they were able to play from in front early.
Senior Gavin York sent a shot into the box and it ricocheted off the Maranatha keeper. The ball bounced to senior Colin McManigal, who put it away in the empty net to give Louisburg a 1-0 advantage three minutes into the contest.
Louisburg (9-6-2) had several good looks at the goal in the first half, but couldn’t get it to go in, but still led at halftime.
For the game, the Wildcats outshot Maranatha 42-8 and had 14 corner kicks on the night. Louisburg also had 17 shots on target.
Those opportunities started to go in after halftime. Senior Toby Espina-Roca took a shot near the 18 that flew past the Maranatha keeper, and then sophomore Colton Blue scored to give the Wildcats a 3-0 advantage early in the second half.
Senior Jordan Brown gave the Wildcats their fourth score on a shot near the goal, then after two Maranatha goals, the Wildcats sealed the win with their final tally.
Louisburg senior Cade Gassman wins a ball in the air Tuesday against Maranatha.
Senior Matthew Sword crossed the ball into the box and it found the foot of senior Dagon Klugman, who scored his first varsity goal, and the celebration was on.
“I love how we got organized from the very beginning of the game and were looking to put the ball in the back of the net,” Bovaird said. “Getting that first goal so early changed the tone of the game. In the second half, they really stepped things up, and I’m very proud of them for that. One thing I told the guys after the game is that this home field now has special meaning for our seniors. Anyone who was able to score a goal in that game, or any other game, will remember the feeling of seeing the ball hit the net, they’ll remember where they were when they scored that goal, and they’ll remember what they did to make it happen. That’s the incredible thing about this game.”
Senior Cade Gassman led the Wildcats in the midfield and was aggressive from the beginning. Gassman led the Wildcats with 10 shots on the night, including five on target.
McManigal had eight shots, with four on target, while Blue finished with five shots and sophomore Emmett White had four. Espina-Roca and York each had three shots.
Wildcat senior Andrew Brown beats a Maranatha player to the ball Tuesday in Louisburg.
Now the Wildcats are preparing for the Class 4-1A regional championship game tonight at Bishop Ward. Louisburg is hoping to return to the state quarterfinals after falling to Bishop Miege in the same game a year ago.
They will do so without a pair of starters as Sword and Jackson Olson will be gone as they are competing at FFA Nationals. Still, the Wildcats will rally together as they try to keep their season alive.
“We’ll be facing adversity again in several ways,” Bovaird said. “First, it’s an away game on a field that historically has had very poor conditions, but we’ve shown that we can accommodate that. Second, we’ll be without two starters, but we have considerable experience with our senior players and they’ve shown that they can adapt and overcome.
“Finally, it will be against a fast team with a higher seed, but we’ve stepped on the field with teams like Spring Hill and Piper and shown the Kansas soccer scene that we can not only compete with them, but also win against them. It’ll be a tough game, but we’re ready for the challenge.”
Wildcats score five second half goals in shutout of Leavenworth
Louisburg senior Toby Espina-Roca celebrates after scoring one of the Wildcats’ five second half goals Thursday in Leavenworth. The Wildcats defeated the Pioneers, 5-0.
LEAVENWORTH — The Louisburg boys soccer team closed out the regular season in style as the Wildcats played some of their best soccer of the season at the right time.
Louisburg scored five second half goals and rolled to a 5-0 victory over Leavenworth. The Wildcats recorded back-to-back shutouts to conclude their schedule.
“That’s the thing about our win against Leavenworth — it was a huge confidence booster for a lot of reasons,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “It’s so important to finish on a positive, and ending our regular season with a win is a powerful boost for the guys’ morale.”
After what was a scoreless first half, the match turned into blowout in about 20 minutes time and the Wildcats had some fun doing it.
Senior Colin McManigal scored two of the five Wildcat goals in the second half and put the first one away two minutes after halftime. McManigal dribbled through defense, worked his way to the middle of the box and shot it past the goalie to give the Wildcats the lead.
Louisburg senior Colin McManigal celebrates one of his two goals Thursday at Leavenworth.
About 15 minutes later, the Wildcats (8-6-2) struck again. Senior Toby Espina-Roca received a nice give-and-go pass from senior Cade Gassman. Espina-Roca dribbled into the box and put it past the Leavenworth goalie to put the Wildcats up two.
McManigal struck again in the 68th minute as he got a pass from Jackson Olson and then dribbled in near the goal to put another shot away.
“It’s a lot of fun to watch Colin play up top like that,” Bovaird said. “He gets the ball at his feet and finds a way to keep possession and move it through sometimes two or three defenders. He just keeps his feet moving and uses a low center of gravity to power through the defense. He’s got this non-stop work ethic, and this year he’s been a dominant presence on the field.”
The scoring didn’t stop there as a pair of Wildcat seniors got their first varsity goals just moments later.
Louisburg senior Jordan Brown is surrounded by his teammates following his first varsity goal Thursday at Leavenworth.
Senior forward Jordan Brown went down the middle of the field on a breakaway, his shot bounced off the arm of Leavenworth defender and found the back of the net.
Louisburg did some more celebrating three minutes later. Senior Gavin York sent a free kick into the box and Caden French headed it in for his first varsity goal, which sealed the game for Louisburg.
Those two goals brought the Wildcat bench to their feet as they clinched their second straight win.
“That’s one of the best parts of being a coach — seeing the joy on a kid’s face when he scores his first goal,” Bovaird said. “I feel really fortunate to have been able to witness two guys experience that on Thursday evening. Soccer is one of those sports where sometimes players tend to measure their skill by how many goals they score or how many assists they have, but the truth of the matter is that players have an impact by making things happen on the field. Their movement, their positioning, their passes — they all add up in the bigger picture.
“Caden and Jordan are examples of how kids can contribute to the team, and I was so happy to see them be able to score a goal. It was icing on the cake.”
Louisburg senior Caden French (left) celebrates with his teammates after he scored his first varsity goal Thursday.
Gassman had a big day for Louisburg in the middle of the field as he finished with a pair of assists, while York and Olson also had an assist.
The Louisburg defense of York, Matthew Sword, Ayden Deterding, Owen Barber, French, Kaven Bartlett and Olson also had a big game, limiting Leavenworth to just six shots.
Senior goalie Brecon Klugman also had his second straight clean sheet with two saves and a blocked shot.
Now the Wildcats’ focus shifts to the postseason. Louisburg is the No. 6 seed in this year’s Class 4-1A regional tournament and the Wildcats will host Maranatha Academy at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Should the Wildcats advance, they will play either Bishop Ward or Ottawa on Thursday for the regional championship.
“The postseason is always an exciting time, and I can’t wait to see how our guys respond to the opportunity to be out there in the regional tournament,” Bovaird said. “I think there’s a lot of positive energy with the guys, and that energy is infectious. They’re playing really well, and this is the right time to start peaking.
“I told the guys how much fun this season has been. They’ve already made it such a memorable season, so I want them to be able to see it out the way they always dreamed it would be. I love their focus and competitiveness, and I think it’s going to be an exciting run to the end.”
Wildcats blank Piper on road to get back on winning track
Louisburg senior Matthew Sword slides in for a tackle on a Piper player Thursday at Piper High School. The Wildcats defeated the Pirates, 2-0.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In a season filled with ups and downs, the Louisburg boys soccer team wanted to go into the postseason on an up swing.
In their final week of the regular season, the Wildcats are off to a good start.
Louisburg traveled to Piper in its second to last game of the regular season and put together one of its better performances of the season. The Wildcats blanked the Pirates in a 2-0 victory as they got a goal in each half to get the win.
“I’d say this has to be one of our biggest wins this season,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “Piper has beaten several teams we either lost to or tied. The guys seemed to be firing on all cylinders, and I’m pretty happy with that.”
Piper, a Class 5A team, entered the match with a 9-5 record, but the Wildcats put together what could have been their best performance outside of their win against Spring Hill earlier in the season.
Louisburg moved the ball around and connected three to four passes together on multiple occasions to get good looks at the goal. For the game, the Wildcats took 13 shots and seven of those were on target.
“That’s something we’ve been working on,” Bovaird said. “I love how they’re taking the concepts we work on at practice and apply them to the game. We’ve worked on supporting one another with our movement, communicating, and playing the way we’re facing, and with those skills, we were able to make some great attacks against Piper.”
Louisburg senior Cade Gassman pushes the ball up the field Tuesday at Piper.
The Wildcats got on the board in the 22nd minute when senior midfielder Toby Espina-Roca scored after a cross from sophomore Jacob Brown hit off a Piper defender and came right to the foot of Espina-Roca. He hit the shot from about 20 yards out and it found the upper-right corner of the net.
Espina-Roca, along with senior Cade Gassman, did a lot of work in the midfield to get the Wildcats multiple looks at the goal. Gassman led the way with three shots on the night, while Espina-Roca, Emmett White, Colin McManigal and Gavin York each had two.
“Toby and Cade have been playing together that way all season,” Bovaird said. “They’ve got a great understanding of one another and when one goes forward, the other hangs back to cover. It takes a huge amount of pressure off our shoulders when we’re not trailing on the scoreboard.
“At halftime, I gave the old ‘play like it’s still 0-0’ talk. I asked the guys to think about the moments leading up to Toby’s goal — what they were doing on the field was what enabled that goal to happen. There’s no need to change it, there’s no need to get desperate. Play solid soccer, go into your tackles hard, and move off the ball to support one another.”
The Wildcats (7-6-2) tacked on another goal midway through the second half. McManigal sent a corner kick into the box and it was headed in by a Piper player for an own goal and gave Louisburg the cushion it was looking for.
Defense also proved to be big for the Wildcats as senior goalie Brecon Klugman earned the clean sheet with six saves and a blocked shot. Klugman saved a breakaway opportunity and also another shot close to the goal.
Louisburg senior Gavin York clears a ball out of the back Tuesday against Piper.
The back line was strong for the Wildcats as Matthew Sword, York, Owen Barber, Ayden Deterding, Jackson Olson and Caden French all came up with big plays throughout the match.
“Gavin and Matthew were solid on defense,” Bovaird said. “Both were playing great games. Brecon had some amazing saves, too. We’ve been making our mark as a defensive-minded team lately, but with last night’s game, our guys really figured out some offensive things as well.”
The Wildcats travel to Leavenworth tonight for their regular season finale as they try to improve on their seeding for the postseason.
“It’s hard to predict how regionals will be set up, but with the win, it’s pretty likely that we’ll host our first round regional game,” Bovaird said. “A win against Leavenworth should secure the No. 6 seed for us. There’s a lot of variables and things beyond our control, so the game plan is to worry much less about how the seeds will turn out and focus more on what we’ve been doing to get us to this place.
“A win today will help give us confidence with what we’re doing. I keep telling the guys that the two things we can control are our attitudes and our actions. When we focus on those two things, we get consistency, and consistency is what will get us to our goals.”
Wildcats shutout at Topeka
On what was a rare Saturday game for Louisburg, the Wildcats traveled to Hummer Sports Park in Topeka for a match with Topeka High.
Louisburg senior defender Owen Barber clears the ball away from the goal Saturday in Topeka.
The Wildcats couldn’t quite stay with the Class 6A program as they fell 2-0 as the Trojans scored a goal in each half.
Louisburg had three shots on target from senior Andrew Brown to the lead the Wildcats. Toby Espina-Roca, Colin McManigal, Caden French and Cade Gassman also took shots for Louisburg.
Wildcat seniors honored with shutout win over Turner on Senior Night
Louisburg senior Colin McManigal heads the ball away from Turner player Monday at home. The Wildcats got the win, 1-0, over Turner as they honored 15 seniors and a manager on Senior Night.
Monday’s match with Turner may have just been a regular match on the schedule when it came to the standings, but for many on the Louisburg soccer team, it meant so much more.
It was Senior Night for the Wildcats that featured the largest senior class the Louisburg program has ever had. The Wildcats honored 16 seniors and their parents prior to the game and they wanted a memorable moment for what could be their final time playing on their home field.
The Wildcats got what they were looking for.
Turner was called for a handball in the box and the Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick late in the second half. Cade Gassman converted and the Wildcats held on for a 1-0 victory over the Golden Bears.
“Nothing is ever guaranteed, and I’m pleased with how the guys battled for a win on senior night,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “Turner is a tough team with some talented individuals and some physical players. That game may end up being our final home game of the season, depending on how regionals pan out. I’m really happy for the guys for them to have earned a win at home on such a special night.”
Louisburg’s senior class of Andrew Brown, Brock Varns, Jackson Olson, Caden French, Jordan Brown, Matthew Sword, Brecon Klugman, Dagon Klugman, Gavin York, Ayden Deterding, Kaven Bartlett, Cade Gassman, Toby Espina-Roca, Owen Barber, Colin McManigal and manager Tehya Harvey left their home field with a lasting memory.
Toby Espina-Roca settles the ball Monday during the Wildcats’ home match with Turner.
“I first got to know these seniors as a spectator when they were freshmen, and then the next two seasons I got to work with almost all of them on the JV squad at one point or another,” Bovaird said. “This year, they’ve made huge strides as a team, and I’m so proud of the resilience they’ve shown. It’s a really special class, and to have 15 seniors is pretty neat. They’re definitely cementing their contributions to the foundation of future teams with our program.”
It was a back and forth match that left both teams with good chances to score. Even with all that, it was penalty kick that decided it all.
With eight minutes left in regulation, Jackson Olson took a shot in the box that hit the hand of a Turner player. The Wildcats were awarded the penalty kick and Gassman put it in the back of the net with ease.
“It was definitely a back-and-forth game, and Turner had about 55 percent possession that game,” Bovaird said. “I was a little surprised to see that stat after the game, because I felt like we did well possessing the ball. Regardless, we out-shot them and had some nice strings of passes. I wasn’t worried if we had to go into overtime. We’ve been there several times this year, and I think our fitness is pretty good for this point in the season.”
The Louisburg seniors were honored Monday on Senior Night. Pictured are (front row, from let) Dagon Klugman, Gavin York, Ayden Deterding, Kaven Bartlett, Cade Gassman, Toby Espina-Roca, Owen Barber, Colin McManigal, manager Tehya Harvey; (back row, from left) Andrew Brown, Brock Varns, Jackson Olson, Caden French, Jordan Brown, Matthew Sword and Brecon Klugman.
Louisburg outshot Turner 12-11 and had four shots on goal. Gavin York, Toby Espina-Roca, Gassman and Colin McManigal each put shots on target.
Defensively, the back line of Ayden Deterding, Matthew Sword, York, Owen Barber, Caden French and Kaven Bartlett held strong, while senior goalie Brecon Klugman recorded six saves.
As good of a win this was for the Wildcats, Bovaird liked what he saw from his players throughout the contest.
Andrew Brown puts a shot on goal Monday against Turner.
“Before the game, I gave them a challenge — let’s get the ball in the corner and send across some crosses,” Bovaird said. “We had a team objective of getting at least 10 crosses in the attacking third, and we ended up with almost that many by the end of the first half. Although we didn’t get any goals off those crosses, it was great to see them respond to a challenge like that.
“What I really like is that they’re keeping things in perspective. We’re working on a style of soccer that will keep us in the game later in the post-season and give us a chance at moving on in regionals. It’s not about doing what it takes to win right now; it’s about improving on what’s important so we are ready to peak when it matters. The Turner game was a positive example of that mindset for us.”
Wildcats shutout Paola to win second in a row
It may not have been the prettiest victory for Louisburg, but at this point in the season, a win is all the matters.
The Wildcats recorded their second straight shutout as they blanked Paola, 1-0, on the road Tuesday to improve their record to 6-5-2 on the season. Louisburg outshot Paola 28-3 in the contest, but had a tough time finding the back of the net.
“While there were a lot of frustrating things about the Paola game, I’m still pleased with the quality of soccer we played,” Bovaird said. “We dominated the field with over 60 percent possession during the game, and that’s good considering how much of a factor the wind ended up being. We limited Paola to just three shots on the night, and none of them were on target. Aside from the score being just 1-0, we played some good soccer against them.”
Louisburg’s Jackson Olson clears the ball Monday at home against Turner.
Senior Colin McManigal provided the Wildcats with their lone goal as he broke open a scoreless game in the second half with a goal on an assist from sophomore Emmett White.
Jackson Olson, Toby-Espina Roca and McManigal all had two shots on target, while White, Andrew Brown and Jordan Brown also had a shot on goal.
Louisburg is back in action today when it travels for a match with Topeka High at Hummer Park.
