Louisburg’s Conlee Hovey is currently working the the University of Kansas football program as a walk-on after committing to the Jayhawks earlier this year.
The dream for Conlee Hovey was to play Division I football, but he wasn’t always sure it would become a reality.
The recruiting process was a difficult one at times and Hovey had a lot of tough decisions to make. However, when one option presented itself, he wasn’t about to turn it down.
Hovey was offered a walk-on spot with the University of Kansas program earlier this year and he was more than happy to jump on the opportunity.
“I was a KU fan growing up, so it’s just kinda surreal to be able to play and represent the Jayhawks,” Hovey said. “It really meant a lot for me to make it to the next level. When I was younger I never thought that I could be a Division I player. It has really taught me that hard work can pay off.”
The Jayhawk coaches had a lot of interest in the Louisburg senior at tight end. Hovey, who stands at 6-5, was a big target in the Wildcat offense the last two years.
In his senior campaign, Hovey had 25 catches for 286 yards and two touchdowns and was a first-team All-Frontier League selection. He was also named to the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Louisburg senior Conlee Hovey signed with the Jayhawk football program earlier this year. Seated next to Conlee are his parents Jodi and Shane. Standing are his brothers Jase and Chance.
Although he had other opportunities, he wanted to be a part of the up-and-coming Jayhawk roster under head coach Lance Leipold.
“I love the direction the program is heading,” Hovey said. “Coach Leipold has really turned the program around and I wanted to be part of that change.”
Hovey reported to campus earlier this summer and has already begun work with the rest of his Jayhawk teammates. It has all started in the weight room.
“The workouts have been going good,” Hovey said. “I’ve gotten a lot stronger in such a little time that I have been here.”
Roster numbers have been more limited than in year’s past as teams can now only keep 105 players, which is down from 128 due to an NCAA antitrust settlement. Combine that with the fact that any of those 105 players can be placed on scholarship, reduces the number of walk-ons teams will take on.
Heading into the summer, Hovey was just one of two walk-ons on the roster and will more than likely redshirt his first season with the Jayhawks. Still, he is ready to continue working at tight end and is excited for the future.
“The coaches see me as a great blocker and that I have good hands,” he said. “They want to see my routes develop better so I am working on that.
“My expectations are to be a special teams guy my first year or two, then really step up to be a main part of the offense my later years. I know it’s not gonna be easy, but I’m excited to get to work and challenge myself.”
Moore named 2025 Louisburg Sports Zone Male Athlete of the Year
Louisburg senior Ashton Moore was voted as the 2024-25 Louisburg Sports Zone Male Athlete of the Year.
For Ashton Moore, life on the football field and on the wrestling mat was a good one in his final campaign at Louisburg High School.
Whether it was all-league or all-state honors, postseason football awards or selections to all-star matches, Moore had a long list of accomplishments during his senior season.
As memorable as those things were, he found himself more focused on other things. He was a team captain for both the football and wrestling teams and wanted to be leader to those around him.
That turned into on-the-field success as he finished his football career as one of the top players to come through the Wildcat program and earned scholarship to join the Kansas State football program.
Moore experienced that same type of success in the wrestling arena where he was one victory away from winning a state championship. It is those reasons, among others, that Moore was voted as the 2025 Louisburg Sports Zone Male Athlete of the Year.
The award was given based on a vote by Louisburg High School coaches as Moore was recognized for his achievements with the football and wrestling programs.
“It means so much to me to be named Athlete of the Year,” Moore said. “We have a lot of great athletes, so to be considered one of the best means a lot to me.”
On the football field, Moore was a first-team All-Frontier League selection on both sides of the ball and earned first team All-State honors as the team’s starting linebacker.
Moore was a first team all-league running back as he led the way with 611 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns. He also had 14 catches for 132 yards and another touchdown to amass 750 yards of total offense, despite only playing defense for the first few games of the season.
He was also named a first team all-league linebacker as the K-State commit led the Wildcats with 80 tackles on the season and had 6.5 tackles for loss.
Moore also became the program’s all-time leading tackler with 324 stops, surpassing Garrett Griffin’s mark of 274 that ended with the 2011 season.
He also received the Bobby Bell Award, which is given to the best small-class defensive lineman/linebacker in the Kansas City metro area, along with being selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Louisburg senior Ashton Moore receives his athlete of the year award along with former wrestling coach Bobby Bovaird and football coach Drew Harding.
“Ashton is very deserving of being named athlete of the year based on how he has impacted both the wrestling and football programs this past year,” Louisburg football coach Drew Harding said, “For the football team, Ashton was the leader of our team and always set a positive example for his fellow teammates to follow. He always carried himself the right way and was always representing himself and Louisburg in a positive light.
“He had just a phenomenal year for the football team. He battled through a hamstring injury all year that very easily could have made him sit out. Ashton finished his career as the all team leading tackler in Louisburg history as well as being a key factor in our offense being successful. He was a tremendous part of our team’s success over the past few years and we are extremely excited to see him continue to represent Louisburg while playing at K-State.”
On the wrestling mat, Moore cemented himself as the one of the program’s best wrestlers. At 215 pounds, Moore advanced to the state title match and finished as the Class 4A state runner-up.
He finished his season with a 41-3 record and ended his Wildcat career as a 2-time state medalist and a 4-time state qualifier. Moore was a team captain the last two seasons and was selected to participate in the Metro Classic. He also did work in the classroom as a 3-time academic all-state recipient.
However, it was more than just his talent on the mat that made Moore stand out among the rest.
“Ashton’s accomplishments on the wrestling mat speak for themselves,” former Louisburg wrestling coach Bobby Bovaird said. “He’s one of the most decorated wrestlers in school history. But what truly sets him apart is his heart as a leader. He mentored younger and less experienced teammates with compassion and humility, and he made every kid, regardless of sport or ability, feel seen and valued.
“Ashton didn’t just lead by performance — he led with integrity, inclusion, and relentless work ethic. That’s why he’s not just our athlete of the year — he’s our standard.”
Representing Louisburg has been a privilege for Moore and one that he will remember for a long time.
“I loved every second of playing sports in Louisburg,” Moore said. “From a very young age I was at almost every Louisburg sporting event watching my cousins or siblings play. Making it to high school and getting to be the one playing was such an amazing feeling. There’s something very special about playing for Louisburg and being able to feel the support of the whole community. I know there’s not many other places like that.”
Moore, who was a 3-sports athlete his first three years of high school, decided to just do two his final year to focus on resting and healing up for the start of his college football career.
However, playing multiple sports throughout his high school career was something that led to all his successes.
“Playing multiple sports was very important to me,” Moore said. “Football was always my main sport, but I wouldn’t have been the player I am without the other sports I’ve played. I would say out of all the sports I played, wrestling helped me with football the most. Not just physically, but it made me much more mentally tough.
“I think every athlete should play as many sports as they can in high school. It will not only develop you into a better athlete, but also give you so many great memories you’ll have forever. There aren’t many schools where you have the opportunity to be a part of multiple sports teams like you do in Louisburg. It’s a very special thing and you should take full advantage of it.”
Former Louisburg head football coach Gary Griffin was inducted in the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame on June 6 at Liberty High School.
When it comes to Louisburg football, it is hard not to describe the Wildcat program without uttering the name Gary Griffin.
After serving as an assistant and head coach for more than 30 years, Griffin was recognized for his year’s of service by the Kansas City area football coaches.
Griffin was inducted in the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame at halftime of the annual all-star game on June 6 at Liberty High School.
“I was a little shocked when I was told that I got in,” Griffin said. “I honestly didn’t consider myself of that caliber. It is pretty cool because it is your peers that recognize you so it is a great honor.
“I was honestly in a pretty lucky situation in Louisburg. When I became the head coach, we already had a pretty good program. My coaching staff and I just tried to elevate it from there. We had a great bunch of coaches and a string of talented players.”
Griffin has played a big role in the Louisburg program, but none bigger than in 2010 when he led the Wildcats to their only state championship. It was an undefeated season that was capped off by a win over Holton in the state title game.
He guided the Wildcats to the state championship game in 2007 and earned a runner-up finish. Griffin was also an assistant coach on the 1997 team that was a state runner-up.
Griffin finished his head coaching career with a 113-44 record and would later help Drexel High School to an 8-man championship in 2021 as an assistant.
He is currently an assistant coach for the Wildcat program, where he works alongside many of his former players, including current head coach Drew Harding.
Louisburg head football coach Gary Griffin hoists the state championship trophy following the Wildcats’ win over Holton in the state championship in 2010.
“I am starting to get to a point where I am reflecting more,” Griffin said. “Being able to help out Drew has been a great and then seeing all the alumni coaches on the staff is pretty cool. I listen to them talk and about all the good times they had and the lessons they learned.
“When you are a coach, you just take it day by day and you are just doing your job. You don’t really think about the impact you are having on the lives of these kids. Then after you are away from it for a while, you see how much it meant to them and then you think to yourself, ‘Maybe I did make a difference.’”
A special part for Griffin was that his family could be in attendance to share in his special day, which included his wife Lori, his children Gentry and Garrett, along with his grandchildren.
“It was great they could all be there,” Griffin said. “My family was a big part of everything we accomplished. Lori was the perfect coach’s wife as there is a lot that comes with that. When Gentry was growing up, she understood when I had to miss some of her stuff and was so supportive of everything I did.
“Then at the same time to be able to coach my son (Garrett) and have him there the whole time and grow up in the program was pretty cool as well. I definitely couldn’t have done this without my family.”
Griffin wasn’t the only coach to be inducted on that night. He was a part of an 8-coach hall of fame class that also included former Paola coach Mike Dumpert.
Dumpert and Griffin squared off on the gridiron several times throughout their careers during the Louisburg and Paola rivalry games.
“I have always respected Paola’s program,” Griffin said. “They were the one team every year that no matter how good or bad we were, it was going to be a battle. Always had a ton of respect for Dumpert. He did it like I did where he was an assistant coach for a long time and then became a head coach.
“The guy he coached under was a legend in Jim Lee and they had a lot of great teams there and Dumpert was a big part of that.”
2025 Louisburg Sports Zone Male Athlete of the Year Finalists
Louisburg seniors Ashton Moore, Myles Vohs and Brayden Yoder are the finalists for the 2025 Louisburg Sports Zone Male Athlete of the Year Award.
For the eighth consecutive 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. Then I sent the nominations back to the coaches and they voted for their top 3 male and female athletes. The recipient will be announced in the coming days.
Below are the three finalists for the Male Athlete of the Year award in alphabetical order by last name.
Ashton Moore – Senior – Football, Wrestling
Ashton was a letterwinner for both the Louisburg football and wrestling teams this past season. On the football field, Moore was a first-team All-Frontier League and All-State selection at running back and linebacker for the Wildcats as he led Louisburg to a 7-2 record.
On defense, he became the Wildcats’ all-time leading tackler with 324 stops and he is second in program history with 26.5 tackles for a loss. He also earned the Bobby Bell Award this past season as the Kansas City area’s top small class linebacker/defensive lineman. At running back, he led the Wildcats with 611 yards on the ground to go along with 12 total touchdowns. He was also selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Moore was also the Class 4A state runner-up in wrestling at 215 pounds. Moore is a 4-time state qualifier for the Wildcats and a 2-time state medalist. He finished the 2025 season with a 41-3 record and has 128 career wins for the Wildcat program. Moore was also a team captain for both the football and wrestling teams.
Myles Vohs – Senior – Football, Basketball, Track
Myles was a 3-time letterwinner this season for the football, basketball and track and field teams. On the football field, Vohs was the Wildcats’ favorite target at wide receiver as he had 41 catches for 852 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also averaged more than 20 yards per catch. He was an All-Frontier League first team selection and honorable mention all-state.
On defense, Vohs was an honorable mention all-league selection at cornerback with 20 tackles, 7 pass break-ups and he also had an interception for a touchdown. For his efforts, Vohs was also named to the All-Simone Team and was selected to play in the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association all-star game.
On the basketball court, Vohs was the team’s starting point guard and was one of the top scorers on the team with nearly nine points a game to go along with a team-best 56 assists and 32 steals.
On the track, Vohs earned three state medals this past season, including two in a pair of relays. He ran on the 4×100 and 4×400-meter relay teams and both earned a sixth place finish at the state meet. Vohs also placed at state in the long jump as he was fifth with a jump of 21-6.5.
Brayden Yoder – Football, Wrestling, Track
Brayden was a 3-time letterwinner for Louisburg this past season in football, wrestling and track and field. In football, Yoder was a first-team All-Frontier League selection on defense and was a fixture on the Wildcat defensive line. He was second on the team with 68 tackles, including 6 for a loss and a team-high 5.5 sacks.
He was also a second team all-league selection on offense as a lineman. Yoder was one of the leaders on the offensive line that amassed nearly 3,000 yards of total offense. He also earned honorable mention all-state honors.
On the wrestling mat, Yoder was a state qualifier for the Wildcats and finished the season with a 35-12 record at 190 pounds. He was also a regional champion and finished one win shy of a medal during the Class 4A state tournament.
On the track, Yoder was one of the Wildcats’ top javelin throwers on the season and his best throw was just under 150 feet.
Top 10 Louisburg Sports Stories of 2024
It was a successful, and eventful, year 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 made their way to state competition.
Below are the top stories from 2024, 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 2025 will bring. Thank you to everyone for their support and can’t wait for it all to begin again.
Jordan Roquemore was hired as the new head coach of the Louisburg girls soccer program after serving four years as an assistant.
10. Coaching Changes: Willer steps down from LHS volleyball, Roquemore takes over girls soccer
Louisburg volleyball and girls soccer saw some big changes in their respective programs.
He became the third head coach in the history of Louisburg girls soccer. He replaced former coach Ben York, who coached the Wildcats the last two seasons.
“I feel tremendously honored to take over as head coach,” Roquemore said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to take over an exceptional program with a great group of athletes, supportive parents and invested community members. I don’t take the responsibility lightly, but I am also really excited.”
Louisburg volleyball coach Leanna Willer is stepping down from her post after serving as head coach for the last four seasons.
Willer has spent eight seasons with the Wildcat program, including the last four as head coach. She accepted a new position as head coach at Olathe East.
“This decision is bittersweet, but deep down I know that this is the best decision for me and my life,” Willer said in an email to parents. “The team will move on, and I feel lucky that I could play a small part in the long-standing traditions of the program. To the alumni and class of 2024, I thank you for your commitment to this team and to this program, and for making my time at Louisburg unforgettable. To our younger players, I am sorry for not seeing your journeys all the way through, but please know that you have my unwavering support and I cannot wait to see what you all can accomplish with the time you have left as Louisburg Wildcats.”
Louisburg junior Sabra Brueggen swims the backstroke during the prelims of the Class 5-1A state meet in Lenexa.
9. Brueggen wins state swim medal
For the third straight season, Sabra Brueggen left the Class 5-1A state swim meet with some hardware.
The Louisburg junior showed why she is among the state’s best as she earned a fourth place medal in the 200-yard individual medley — her first ever state medal in that event — Saturday at the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center.
The 2-day meet provided a lot of ups, and some downs, for the Louisburg swim program, but for Brueggen it was nice to return to the medal stand.
“I was very happy and content with my 200 IM swims last weekend,” Brueggen said. “Not only did I set a new personal best time, but I also walked away with fourth place in an event that is not one of my primaries.”
Janie Harth, Ella Bockelman and Cadence Weichert also joined Brueggen at the state meet as they qualified for the consolation finals in the 200 medley relay 400 freestyle relay.
8. Dixon achieves pro volleyball dream
It was setting up to be an epic finish to Anna Dixon’s collegiate volleyball career.
Dixon, as a graduate transfer, made the move to the University of Florida for her final season and quickly made an impact on the Gators’ roster.
Despite have to learn a new position due to an injury on the team, Dixon seemed to flourish. She helped the Gators out to a quick start and everything was going according to plan.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
Dixon suffered a season-ending elbow injury that put a premature end to her collegiate career. It was a devastating blow.
However, instead of sulking, Dixon worked that much harder to get back to the court and achieve her ultimate goal — playing professional volleyball.
“I am super excited to compete at the highest level, but also to be able to do that here in the US,” Dixon said. “It has been a dream of mine to be able to play professionally, in front of club girls who are in the same shoes that I was in many years ago. I am excited to give them the opportunity to have something to look forward to and work toward. Blessed for the opportunity and ready to get to work.”
Members of the Louisburg cheer team are: (Front row) Anna Brizendine, Addison Vargo, Reece Jones; (middle row) Leia Ward, Lilly Burnett, Taryn Osborn, Elle Keating, Brooklyn Roney, Harper Boyle, Kelsey Shelton, Kim Powls, Gretchen Reitz, Kinsley Rayne; (back row) Will Leach, Kayleigh Ramsey (Laney Stohs, Reece Younggren, Reese Anderson, Greta Gatzka, Addison Bishop, Maggie Wanjigi
7. Cheer takes third at state
TOPEKA — The Louisburg High School cheerleading squad is no stranger to the finals of the Class 4A Game Day competition.
Heading into the Nov. 23 showcase in Topeka, the Wildcats have made the final round in each of the last five seasons. Louisburg had no problem making it a sixth straight, and for the fifth time in six years, they came home with a state plaque.
“Bringing home another trophy from the Game Day Cheer competition was a testament to our team’s hard work, dedication, and growth throughout the season,” Louisburg cheer coach Breanna Kostroske said. “It means so much to us because it reflects their skill, their heart, and spirit—three things we emphasize daily. For our athletes, it symbolizes their resilience and the countless hours they’ve spent perfecting their routines.
“As coaches, we are incredibly proud of their overall performance. They left it all on the floor, and while there is always room for improvement, they gave a performance that showcased their teamwork, precision, and energy.”
Louisburg junior Ashton Moore took fourth overall at 190 pounds at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament in February.
6. Moore medals at state wrestling
SALINA — Louisburg has been no stranger to the medal stand at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament and it was the case again back in February in Salina.
Louisburg junior Ashton Moore reached the semifinals at 190 pounds on the first day to secure himself a medal, and then finished fourth overall on the tournament’s final day.
Moore had several close matches throughout the 3-day tournament at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center and was challenged each day.
“I thought I wrestled some of my best matches of the season and it felt great to have it pay off with a medal,” Moore said. “It felt amazing to win those first two matches and know I was guaranteed my medal. Those wins really helped me gain a lot of confidence going forward in the tournament.”
Five other Wildcats made the trip to state, but faced some tough matchups. Juniors Canaan Clayton (113 pounds), Will Showalter (120), Logan Henry (132), Jay McCaskill (157) and senior Traden Noll (150) each finished 0-2 on the first day.
Louisburg sophomore Colin Brown earned medals in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke during the Class 5-1A state meet in Topeka.
5. Wildcat boys swim makes history earning 5 medals at state
TOPEKA — The Louisburg boys swim program is still relatively new compared to other teams around the state, but the Wildcats made its presence felt back in February at the Class 5-1A state meet in Topeka.
Two of those athletes — Colin Brown and Andrew Jamison — each brought home individual medals. Brown, Jamison, Colton Prettyman and Noah Sharp also medaled in the 200-yard medley relay.
Brown hit the pool strong as the Wildcat sophomore medaled fourth in the 100-yard butterfly and later finished fifth in the 100 backstroke with personal best times.
Jamison, another sophomore, earned two medals of his own. He finished fifth in the 200 individual medley and later took sixth in the 100 breaststroke.
Prettyman reached the consolation finals in the 50 freestyle and took 13th overall with a personal best time.
Louisburg senior Myles Vohs makes a leaping catch in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game against Bishop Miege.
4. Wildcat football nearly pulls upset of Miege as successful season comes to early close
The mountain of playing Bishop Miege is always a tough one for public schools to climb, especially when it comes to football.
Miege, which has won seven state titles in the last 10 years, has never lost to a non-private school in the playoffs during that decade long of dominance.
Louisburg wanted to be the first team to hand it that loss as the No. 2 seed Wildcats hosted the No. 15 Stags in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The Wildcats were so close to that mountaintop, but came up just short as they fell to Miege, 21-14, to end their season with a 7-2 record.
Louisburg was behind 14 points, only to rally and tie the game at halftime. The Wildcats had one final drive to try and tie it again late, but a Miege interception dashed the Wildcats’ hopes of an upset.
“In this moment, the only word I can come up right now is proud,” Louisburg coach Drew Harding said. “I am so proud of the team. Our biggest emphasis was we had to start fast and we didn’t. They got out to a 14-0 lead, and most times when you play teams like Miege that can snowball and get out of hand quick. Those guys just battled and were able to tie it up at halftime. Then for us to continue to fight and have a chance to tie it at the end — proud is all I can say about them.”
The Wildcats ended their season with back-to-back losses after they won their first seven games of the season. They were in line to win their third straight league title, but lost a close game the week before to Spring Hill that also bumped them off their No. 1 seed line, forcing a matchup with Miege in the first round.
Miege’s streak of state titles came to an end later in the season as the Stags fell to Andover Central in the state championship game.
(Photo courtesy of Minna Meyer) The Louisburg girls soccer team hoists the regional championship plaque following their 2-0 win against Maranatha Academy.
For the last two seasons, the Louisburg girls soccer team has seen heartbreak in the Class 4-1A regional championship.
Losses to Topeka-Hayden and Bishop Miege have prevented the Wildcats from that regional title, with their last coming in 2021.
It is elusive no more.
The No. 1 seed Wildcats shutout No. 8 Maranatha Academy, 2-0, to win the Class 4-1A regional title at Wildcat Stadium. It was a dominating effort from start to finish as the Wildcats improved their record to 13-4-1 on the season.
“This was a preseason goal of ours,” Louisburg coach Ben York said. “We fell short last year and we wanted to do as much as we could in the regular season to control our own destiny. The girls put a lot of work in and were focused to get to this game and get a win. They definitely earned this one and it was good to see them enjoy it.”
Louisburg faced a tough matchup in the state quarterfinals as the Wildcats lost to Bishop Miege at home, 7-0.
Louisburg senior Declan Battle hoists the regional championship trophy following the Wildcats’ 10-3 win over Wamego in Class 4A regional championship game.
2. Wildcat baseball earns first regional title in 15 years
The current members of the Louisburg baseball team couldn’t remember the last time the Wildcats made the state tournament even if they tried.
That’s because they were just wee toddlers the last time the Wildcats earned a spot a state — 2009 to be exact.
These players are going to have a hard time forgetting this one.
For the first time in 15 years, Louisburg is headed back to the state tournament after the Wildcats put together a convincing 10-3 victory over Wamego in the Class 4A regional championship back in May at Lewis-Young Park.
The Wildcats also defeated Parsons, 8-0, in the regional semifinal to put together what was a dominating performance from top to bottom.
“This is just amazing,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said. “To see how much work these guys have put in, then to come out and get the job done, it is pretty surreal. We had a bunch of guys step up and do exactly what they needed to do. They played great defense, pitched great and everyone in the dug out was into the game. It was a great win.
“It has been awhile and it has been a long time coming. We have had some great teams and this team finally pushed through and got it done.”
In the state tournament, the Wildcats had to battle rival Paola in the first round, but lost in a pitcher’s dual to the Panthers, 3-0.
Louisburg senior Maddy Carpenter-Ross celebrates after clearing 12 feet at the Class 4A state meet in Wichita. That clearance gave Carpenter-Ross her second straight state championship in the event.
1. Wildcat sweep pole vault state titles, medal 8 at state
WICHITA — Cooper Wingfield and Maddy Carpenter-Ross found their way atop the medal stand last May at the Class 4A state track meet.
All season, Carpenter-Ross had her eyes set on a second straight state title in the pole vault and she dominated her competition.
Going into the Class 4A state meet at Wichita State, Carpenter-Ross won every competition going away and was ready to do the same against some of the state’s best.
This time, however, it was much harder.
To get this state title, Carpenter-Ross was going to have to have to set a new personal best and break her own school record in the process.
She did it and accomplished that feat on her first try.
With two competitors left at 12 feet, Carpenter-Ross cleared it on her first try as did Holton’s Piper Robinson. Both competitors missed at 12-6, and since they were tied, they decided the winner based on misses at 11-6, where the Louisburg senior got it on her first try.
“It is pretty awesome,” Carpenter-Ross said. “I worked really hard for that and I am so relieved right now. It was a little stressful, but I was in that competitive mindset and I was so happy that I PR’d. Everyone was setting personal records, so I was just like ‘My turn.’”
Louisburg junior Cooper Wingfield pumps his fist after clearing 15 feet in the pole vault at the Class 4A state meet in Wichita. He captured his first state title in the event.
Wingfield, who was the state runner-up last season, entered the competition at 14 feet. He missed the first two attempts on his opening height, and another miss would not only prevent him from a state title, but a spot on the medal stand.
On the third attempt, the Louisburg junior cleared it with ease and eventually cleared 15 feet on his first attempt, which was the winning height.
“I was really nervous there on that last attempt (at 14 feet),” Wingfield said. “All I needed was a good jump to get in the zone and from there I knew I could jump pretty high. The competition was a lot harder this time around than it was last year. I knew I had to make everything on my first attempt and once I had one good jump, I knew I could do it.”
It had already been a special season in the pole vault for Wingfield, as he earned a league and regional title, and broke the school record.
Other state medalists were Gavin Lohse (third, long jump), Jaymes Melton (seventh, shot put), Ben O’Bryan (seventh, discus), Suzanna Dansel (seventh 100 dash) and Jacob Brown (eighth, pole vault). The girls 4×100 team of Dansel, Kendall Crossley, Emma Vohs and Addi Mallett medaled sixth.
Moore, Hovey selected to play in Kansas Shrine Bowl
Louisburg seniors Ashton Moore (left) and Conlee Hovey were named to this year’s Kansas Shrine Bowl roster during a selection show on New Year’s Day.
Louisburg will be well-represented at the Kansas Shrine Bowl later this year as two Wildcat seniors were selected to the all-star game.
Ashton Moore and Conlee Hovey were named to the East squad as the rosters were announced during a New Year’s Day selection show.
The game will be played on June 21 at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City. Moore was chosen as one of the team’s linebackers, while Hovey was a defensive end selection.
Moore and Hovey both had big years for the Wildcats and were recognized as such. The two Louisburg seniors earned first team all-league honors on both sides of the ball.
Moore was a first team all-league running back as he led the way with 611 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns. He also had 14 catches for 132 yards and another touchdown to amass 750 yards of total offense despite only playing defense for the first few games of the season.
He was also named a first team all-league linebacker as the K-State signee led the Wildcats with 80 tackles on the season and had 6.5 tackles for loss.
Moore was later named a first-team all-state selection and was a recipient of the Bobby Bell Award, which is given to the top small class linebacker/lineman in the Kansas City metro area.
As for Hovey, he was named a first team all-league defensive end after tallying 47 tackles, 5.5 for a loss and he had three sacks.
Hovey, who is a University of Kansas commit, was also a first team selection at tight end as he had 25 catches for 286 yards and two touchdowns. He also earned all-state honors.
The initial Shrine Bowl invitations are the result of a selection process combining statewide media votes and Kansas Shrine Bowl coaching staff selections from a list of 447 nominees. In addition to filling position specific needs on the roster, the selection process includes additional criteria regarding geographic restrictions, classification size, and limits on the number of players that may be selected per school.
In addition to playing in the annual East vs. West all-star football game, Kansas Shrine Bowl participants get the opportunity to meet and interact with the Patient Ambassadors from Shriners Children’s during the Hospital Experience event during game week. For many, the Hospital Experience is the highlight of their time at the Kansas Shrine Bowl and showcases the true purpose of the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Since 1974, nearly $4 million has been sent to Shriners Children’s thanks to the supporters of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Shriners Children’s is a world-renowned healthcare system with hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers and outreach locations across the globe.
It is dedicated to improving the lives of children every day by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay.
Louisburg has been no stranger to the all-star game as Declan Battle played last year and Nathan Vincent was a selection two years ago. Both older brothers of Moore and Hovey were also Shrine Bowl selections. Austin Moore was a selection in 2019 and Jase Hovey earned the honor in 2023.
Wildcat football earns 17 spots on all-league team
Seven Louisburg players were named to the All-Frontier League first team, including (from left) Ashton Moore, Conlee Hovey, Brayden Yoder, Miles Mees, Myles Vohs, Lucas Swartz and Blaise Vohs. Moore and Hovey were first team selections on both sides of the ball.
The Louisburg football team may have come up short of its goal of winning its third straight league title, but several Wildcat players certainly left a mark with their opposing coaches.
The All-Frontier League football team was released last week and Louisburg was well-represented throughout the roster. The Wildcats earned 17 spots overall, including nine first-team selections.
Seniors Ashton Moore, Conlee Hovey, Brayden Yoder, Myles Vohs, Miles Meek, Lucas Swartz and junior Blaise Vohs all earned first team selections.
Alex Saad, Erik Lien, Logan Henry and Yoder were also awarded second team honors, while Darby Van Eaton, Johnny Hendrickson, Jimmy DeVary and Myles Vohs earned honorable mention.
“I felt like we were represented well,” Louisburg coach Drew Harding said. “Anytime you get recognized by an opposing coach it is a huge honor. I felt like our players played well this year and the amount of representation we had on the all-league teams shows the quality of players that we have”
Moore and Hovey both had big years for the Wildcats and were recognized as such. The two Louisburg seniors earned first team honors on both sides of the ball.
Moore was a first team all-league running back as he led the way with 611 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns. He also had 14 catches for 132 yards and another touchdown to amass 750 yards of total offense despite only playing defense for the first few games of the season.
He was also named a first team all-league linebacker as the K-State commit led the Wildcats with 80 tackles on the season and had 6.5 tackles for loss.
As for Hovey, he was named a first team all-league defensive end after tallying 47 tackles, 5.5 for a loss and he had three sacks.
Hovey was also a first team selection at tight end as he had 25 catches for 286 yards and two touchdowns.
“Both of those guys are big time players,” Harding said. “Obviously to get first team on both sides of the ball you have to be making a difference out there on game nights and they did just that. In addition to being great football players for us they were also great leaders. Both of those guys are going to play on Saturdays and we are excited to watch them continue to compete.”
Also on the offensive side, Myles Vohs was a first-team selection at wide receiver and was the Wildcats’ biggest threat in the passing attack. Vohs had a team high 41 receptions for 852 yards and had nine touchdowns.
Vohs was also named as an honorable mention defensive back with 20 tackles, seven pass break ups and also had an interception for a touchdown.
“Myles was a big play threat for us anytime he touched the ball,” Harding said. “No matter how he got it he had the ability to take it all the way. He also had a knack of making big time contested catches. He was a major focus of opposing defenses and he was still able to be incredibly productive all throughout the year. “
Meek did a good job opening holes for the Louisburg offense and was a first-team all-league selection on the offensive line that accumulated nearly 3,000 yards of total offense.
“Miles really turned himself into a player over his four years,” Harding said. “We are extremely proud of his work ethic and consistency that he provided us. Miles was incredibly smart and could’ve played any of our five offensive line positions in an instant at a high level.”
On defense, Yoder played at high level all season for the Wildcats and was rewarded as he was selected as a first team defensive tackle. He was second on the team with 68 tackles, including six tackles for a loss and a team-high 5.5 sacks.
He was also recognized for his play offense as he was a second team selection as an offensive lineman.
“Brayden was extremely productive from his defensive tackle spot,” Harding said. “He is back to back first team DT and deservingly so. Brayden plays with good technique and good effort all the time. We are really glad that he was on our football team and are proud of his accomplishments.”
Swartz, who played mainly as a safety for the Wildcats, made big plays throughout the year for Louisburg and earned first team honors as a multipurpose player on defense. He finished the year with 42 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Swartz also recorded a blocked field goal on special teams.
“Lucas always played with an incredible motor,” Harding said. “If we had 11 guys that could play with Lucas’ motor then we would have an easy job. He made a bunch of big plays for us this year including the game winning stop in OT against Tonganoxie. He was definitely deserving of his first team honor.”
On special teams, Blaise Vohs earned top honors this season as a first-team all-league kicker. He missed just one extra point on the season and was 3-for-3 on field goals.
“Blaise was nails for us all year as a kicker,” Harding said. “He was also key to our kickoff unit being able to directionally kick as well as get touchbacks to start opposing offenses backed up. We are very excited to have Blaise back for his senior season.”
Saad also had a big season for the Wildcats and was named as a second team all-league quarterback. In his first season as a starter, Saad was 109-for-167 and had 1,702 yards with 16 touchdowns. He also rushed for 115 yards and a score.
“Alex just got better and better throughout the year,” Harding said. “He was really good at scrambling and making plays that were off script. He was also great with our RPO plays that kept defenses honest and made big plays for us. Alex is a really gifted athlete and you could see that on display on Friday nights.”
On defense, Henry and Lien also played big roles on one of the top units in the Frontier League.
Henry was a second team selection as a safety and he finished the year with 50 tackles and five pass break-ups to go along with a team-high four interceptions.
“Logan had a knack for always being around the ball,” Harding said. “Whether it was filling the alley from his safety spot or breaking up a pass, he had a really good year for us. Finishing the year with 4 interceptions was a great accomplishment by Logan and we are proud of his development over his 4 years.”
As for Lien, he is in his first season as a starter and made the most of it as he earned a second team spot as a linebacker. He finished the year with 49 tackles, three tackles for a loss, three pass breakups and an interception.
“Erik was very consistent,” Harding said. “He really turned himself into a good football player over his four years. Erik was really smart and we could move him around to many different spots within the defense. He had a really good season and we were happy to see him get recognized with all-league honors.”
The Wildcats also had three other players earn all-league spots.
Hendrickson was the third Wildcat offensive lineman to be recognized on the all-league team. The Louisburg junior was named as an honorable mention as a guard on an offense that had 3,000 total yards.
He opened those holes up for Van Eaton as he was named as an honorable mention running back. He recorded 426 yards on the ground and had five touchdowns to go along with 102 yards receiving.
On defense, DeVary was named as an honorable mention defensive lineman. The Wildcat senior finished the year with 22 tackles, but had 5.5 tackles for a loss and a sack.
ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL
OFFENSE
First Team
QUARTERBACK: Haydon Hull, Ottawa, junior
RUNNING BACK: Ashton Moore, Louisburg, senior; Patrick Stumpff, Spring Hill, senior; Tanner Hand, Tonganoxie, senior
BACK: John Onyenagubo, Baldwin, senior; Kyle Blanz, Bonner Springs, senior; Dez Hoobler, Eudora, freshman; Myles Vohs, Louisburg, senior; Lucas Gholston, Spring Hill, senior; Nate Sims, Ottawa, junior; Jayce Mourning, Ottawa, sophomore
MULTIPURPOSE: Kyle Blanz, Bonner Springs, senior; Nate Simms, Ottawa, junior
SPECIAL TEAMS
First Team
KICKER: Blaise Vohs, Louisburg, junior
PUNTER: Brooks Bayer, Spring Hill, sophomore
RETURNER: Nate Sims, Ottawa, junior
Second Team
KICKER: Josh Audiss, Ottawa, senior
PUNTER: Nate Steinlage, Eudora, senior
RETURNER: Benny Ragan, Spring Hill, junior
Honorable Mention
KICKER: JD Troutman, Paola, senior; Cody Lobb, Tonganoxie, freshman; Ryan Jackson, Spring Hill, senior PUNTER: Max Harvey, Baldwin; Martin Guerra, Bonner Springs, sophomore; Carter Hepner, Ottawa, senior
RETURNER: JD Troutman, Paola, senior
Week 10 Athlete of the Week: Conlee Hovey
Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week 10 of the fall sports season, sponsored by Landmark National Bank.
CONLEE HOVEY SENIOR, FOOTBALL
Louisburg senior Conlee Hovey had a big season for the Wildcat football team and he put together one of his better games on Nov. 1 in the Wildcats’ final game against Bishop Miege. Hovey, a tight end, led Louisburg with five catches for 78 yards in the Wildcats’ first round playoff loss to Miege that ended the Wildcats’ season with a 7-2 record.
Hovey played on both sides of the ball for the Wildcats and also had a strong game at defensive end. He finished with five tackles on the night and was among the team’s top tacklers on the season.
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 nearly pull upset of Miege in first round of playoffs
Louisburg’s Ashton Moore finds some running room Friday against Bishop Miege in the first round of the state playoffs.
The mountain of playing Bishop Miege is always a tough one for public schools to climb, especially when it comes to football.
Miege, which has won seven state titles in the last 10 years, has never lost to a non-private school in the playoffs during that decade long of dominance.
Louisburg wanted to be the first team to hand it that loss Friday as the No. 2 seed Wildcats hosted the No. 15 Stags in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The Wildcats were so close to that mountaintop, but came up just short as they fell to Miege, 21-14, to end their season with a 7-2 record.
Louisburg was behind 14 points, only to rally and tie the game at halftime. The Wildcats had one final drive to try and tie it again late, but a Miege interception dashed the Wildcats’ hopes of an upset.
“In this moment, the only word I can come up right now is proud,” Louisburg coach Drew Harding said. “I am so proud of the team. Our biggest emphasis was we had to start fast and we didn’t. They got out to a 14-0 lead, and most times when you play teams like Miege that can snowball and get out of hand quick. Those guys just battled and were able to tie it up at halftime. Then for us to continue to fight and have a chance to tie it at the end — proud is all I can say about them.”
Bishop Miege got out to a quick start as they took a 7-0 lead on a 4-yard touchdown by Vinny George in the first quarter and then Stag quarterback Marco Rodriguez scored on a 4-yard run of his own to put Miege up 14-0 early in the the second quarter.
It didn’t get much better as the Wildcats found themselves on their own 2-yard line on their next drive. However, it was there when the game started to turn.
Louisburg made several big plays, including a 40-yard pass from quarterback Alex Saad to Rickey Giles, and the Wildcats drove 98 yards that ended on a 13-yard run by Ashton Moore to cut the Miege lead in half. Moore also had a 22-yard screen pass from Saad that set up the score.
“We had a negative play that set us up in a bad situation,” Harding said. “For them to battle through that, put a drive together and get a touchdown was great to see and 98-yard drives don’t happen very often, especially against a good defense like Miege. I think that drive was a good representation of what these guys did all night.”
Louisburg senior Brayden Yoder celebrates a sack Friday against Bishop Miege.
The Wildcat defense then came up with a big play as senior Brayden Yoder recorded a sack on third down and force a Miege punt near midfield with under three minutes left in the first half.
Louisburg got its quick strike offense going as Saad connected with Myles Vohs on a 43-yard pass to get into Miege territory. That set up a 17-yard pass from Saad to Moore to tie it up with 40 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Wildcat offensive line of Yoder, Miles Meek, Xander Lucas, Nate Capuro and Johnny Hendrickson, along with tight ends Conlee Hovey and Erik Lien, opened holes for several big plays in the first half.
Hovey had a team high five catches for 78 yards to lead the Wildcats, while Vohs had 4 catches for 57 yards. Saad alluded pressure for most of the night as he completed 17 of 27 passes for 251 yards.
“Their confidence was high at halftime and they were feeling good about their situation, especially after being down 14 points and battling back,” Harding said. “Unfortunately we weren’t come out and put a drive together in the second half, but our defense played phenomenal all game and kept us in the game.”
Louisburg’s defense had one of — if not its best — game of the season. The Wildcats held a high-powered Miege offense to 21 points, despite being put in tough situations most of the night.
Louisburg senior Lucas Swartz dives to try and bring down a Miege player Friday at Wildcat Stadium.
They held the Stags to three field goal attempts, two of which were missed and the other was blocked by senior Lucas Swartz to keep it a one score game in the second half.
Junior Gage Feldkamp also had a big interception to keep the Stags out of the endzone. Senior Russell Wiseman had seven tackles, while Vohs and Yoder each had six to be among the team leaders in stops.
“I would have to say this was our best defensive performance of the year,” Harding said. “We shut down their run game and made them throw it. We did a good job against that as well. They are a high-powered offense, so to hold them to 21 points, especially when they had good field position for most of the night, was really good.”
Moore had a big night for the Wildcats as he finished with a team-high 10 tackles. He also ran the ball hard on offense as he tallied 70 yards from scrimmage to go along with his two scores in his final game in a Louisburg uniform.
“Ashton was extremely motivated,” Harding said. “You could tell that by the way he was running the football. He was flying around on defense and he is a great player. We are extremely lucky that he is at Louisburg and he had a great career for us. I know he is going to have a great career moving on as well.”
Miege added a touchdown in the third quarter to take a 21-14 lead, but the Wildcat offense would stall for most of the second half, until one final drive in the fourth.
Louisburg’s defense forced a Miege punt with just under two minutes left in the game.
Louisburg senior Myles Vohs makes a leaping catch in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game against Bishop Miege.
Saad immediately hit Vohs on a leaping 16-yard catch to put the ball at the Miege 40 yard line. With 1:12 left in the game, Saad threw a pass toward the endzone that was tipped and Miege made a diving interception that all but ended the contest.
“We were going to go for 2 for sure and go for the win,” Harding said. “I was really looking forward to having that opportunity. We got down there, but we had a penalty and couple negative things happen to where we couldn’t get it in the endzone.
“I don’t think we are into moral victories by any means, but I think every one of them can hold their heads high. They all put their best efforts into this and this was the most focused we have been all year in terms of preparation. They came out and played really well. They should be proud of everything they have accomplished.”
It marked the end to what was a special season for the Wildcats as they won their first seven games to start the year and just missed out on a third consecutive Frontier League title.
It was also the last time 24 seniors will wear the Louisburg uniform as they gave everything they had in their final contest.
“To have a senior class that is this large is a great thing,” Harding said. “Every single one of them had a role on our team, and they did a good job playing that role. We are very lucky to have each and every one of them and they are going to be great individuals past high school and beyond football. I am proud of all their accomplishments.”
LOU 0 14 0 0 — 14
BM 7 7 7 0 — 21
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
B: Vinny George 4 run (kick good)
Second quarter
B: Marco Rodriguez 4 run (kick good)
L: Ashton Moore 13 run (Blaise Vohs kick)
L: Ashton Moore 17 pass from Alex Saad (Vohs kick)
Third Quarter
B: Teryn Jackson 33 pass from Rodriguez (kick good)
STATISTICS
RUSHING — Ashton Moore 14-32; Darby Van Eaton 2-18; Alex Saad 7-12
TACKLES — Ashton Moore 10, Russel Wiseman 7, Myles Vohs 6, Brayden Yoder 6, Conlee Hovey 5, Jimmy DeVary 4, Lucas Swartz 3, Gage Feldkamp 3, Logan Henry 2, Bryce Thompson 2, Erik Lien 2, Miles Meek 2, Rickey Giles 1, Reid McCaskill 1
Wildcats denied third straight league title in loss to Spring Hill
Louisburg senior Myles Vohs hauls in a leaping catch Friday during the Wildcats’ Senior Night game against Spring Hill. Vohs led the way with 128 yards receiving.
As the final buzzer sounded Friday at Wildcat Stadium, members of the Louisburg football team found themselves in uncharted territory.
For nearly three years, the Wildcats hadn’t lost a Frontier League game and had won 19 straight league contests going into Friday’s Senior Night game against Spring Hill. And just like the last three years, Louisburg’s final game with Spring Hill would decide the Frontier League title.
The streak, unfortunately, came to an end for the Wildcats as they suffered a 14-13 setback to the Broncos and lost their first game of the season, along with their No. 1 ranking in Class 4A.
“At this point, it is kind of hard to grasp on what we accomplished in the league and it is tough to see it come to an end,” Louisburg coach Drew Harding said. “We were two points away from continuing the streak and it is definitely a tough loss.
“I felt like we played pretty decent overall. We just had a couple errors and some penalties that kind of cost us. I don’t think we played bad by any means, I think they just played a little bit better.”
Prior to the game, the Wildcat team honored their 24 senior players and three senior managers with their parents. Russell Wiseman, Logan Henry, Josh Holtzen, Daniel Aponte Soto, Reid McCaskill, Conlee Hovey, Wyatt Crooks, Garrison Bloustine, Myles Vohs, Emmett White, Alex Saad, Ashton Moore, Lucas Swartz, Darby Van Eaton, Erik Lien, Aidan Meyer, Jacob Bentz, Roy Bauer, Brayden Yoder, Nate Capuro, Jimmy DeVary, Xander Lucas, Miles Meek and Aiden Kennedy were recognized, along with managers Jazzy Leach, Sami Lane and Liz Willming.
It was a defensive battle for most of the night, despite both teams scoring on their opening drives. Spring Hill (7-1) took the lead first on a 7-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jordan Miller, then the Wildcats (7-1) answered when Ashton Moore found the endzone on a 1-yard run.
From there, opportunities to score were few and far between.
Louisburg junior Blaise Vohs gave the Wildcats the lead in the kicking game with a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter to put the Wildcats up 10-7 at halftime.
The lead widened with another Vohs field goal in the third quarter, this time a 26-yarder. Spring Hill, however, had an answer as it drove down the field and scored on a 3-yard run to go up 14-13.
“Spring Hill just made a couple more plays than we did,” Harding said. “I think we just made a few too many mental errors. We kicked two field goals in the redzone and that turned out to be the difference. If we could cash one or two of those in then it is a completely different game.”
The Broncos tried to extend its lead with a field goal of their own, but the 37-yard try was blocked by Conlee Hovey and gave the Wildcats some momentum with nine minutes left in the game.
Louisburg quarterback Alex Saad tries to find some running room Friday against Spring Hill.
Louisburg quarterback Alex Saad found Myles Vohs for a 39-yard diving catch to the Spring Hill 38-yard line. Then Saad hit Vohs again for another first down to the 25.
Then on third down at the 20-yard line, Saad’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by the Broncos with just under five minutes left. Spring Hill would run out the clock on the Wildcats’ hopes for a third straight league title.
“It was tough,” Harding said. “It was just a tipped pass and the kid made a heck of a play on the interception. It was unfortunate that it kind of happened that way.”
The connection between Saad and Myles Vohs was big for most of the night. Myles led the way with seven catches for 128 yards and Saad completed 11 of 17 passes for 153 yards.
However, the Wildcats were unable to get much going in the run game as they had just 59 yards on the ground and 41 of those came from Moore.
“Spring Hill was very physical and they did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage,” Harding said. “It was tough for us to get any traction in the run game and that made it pretty difficult on us.”
Louisburg’s Brayden Yoder (left) and Lucas Swartz combine on a tackle Friday.
Defensively, the Wildcats did their best to limit a powerful Spring Hill offense. Louisburg held Spring Hill to just one point off its season low and the Wildcats got a big performance from defensive tackle Brayden Yoder.
Yoder was all over the field as he led the Wildcats with 17 tackles on the night, including eight solo stops. Moore finished with 13 tackles and had six solo tackles.
Hovey was also big on the defensive line for Louisburg as he had 11 tackles, including two for a loss. Lucas Swartz and Erik Lien had eight and six tackles, respectively.
Louisburg will now begin its playoff run Friday as the Wildcats, who earned the No. 2 seed, will host No. 15 Bishop Miege (1-7). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
“We are playing on borrowed time right now and nothing is guaranteed,” Harding said. “Our mission from this point forward is just to prepare as best we can during the week and put us in a position to make our season last as long as we possibly can.”
