CLAY CENTER – A promising start quickly unraveled for the Louisburg Wildcats last Friday, as costly penalties and turnovers doomed their chances in a 34-7 road loss to Clay Center.

Louisburg had two touchdowns called back due to penalties in the first half and committed four turnovers in the game — mistakes that proved too much to overcome against a physical Clay Center squad.

The Tigers struck early with a 2-yard touchdown run from Eisaac Girton in the first quarter. Girton added another score in the second, this time a 38-yard dash to give Clay Center a 13-0 lead heading into halftime.

Despite the early setbacks, Louisburg responded in the third quarter with their lone touchdown of the night. Quarterback Max Amren connected with Martin Soto for a 20-yard score, and Maddox Day added the extra point to cut the deficit to 13-7.

But any momentum Louisburg had was quickly erased in the fourth quarter. Clay Center rattled off 21 unanswered points — including a 2-yard touchdown by Drew Hoffman, another Girton scoring run from 11 yards out, and a 41-yard interception return by Cayden Schwab.

Offensively, the Wildcats showed flashes of potential. Tate McGreer led the ground game with 48 yards on seven carries, while Bryce Thompson added 34 yards on 12 attempts. Amren finished 10-of-22 passing for 83 yards, with Soto, Ayden Filkins, and John Guetterman among the key targets.

On defense, Thompson anchored the Wildcats with a game-high 14 tackles. Johnny Hendrickson and Guetterman added 12 and 11 tackles, respectively.

Still, the Wildcats were left frustrated by missed opportunities and self-inflicted wounds.

“This game could be a positive if we can learn from it,” Louisburg head coach Drew Harding said. “I think this game really showed if you have a bad week of preparation you are probably not going to play well on a Friday night.  Unfortunately for us, we didn’t prepare very well and so the result wasn’t where we want to be.”

Louisburg will try and bounce back this Friday as the Wildcats travel to Bonner Springs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

CC      7          6          0          21 – 34

LOU    0          0          7          0 – 7

Scoring Summary

First quarter

CC: Eisaac Girton 2 run (kick good)

Second quarter

CC: Girton 38 run (kick failed)

Third Quarter

L: Martin Soto 20 pass from Max Amren (Maddox Day kick)

Fourth Quarter

CC: Drew Hoffman 2 run (Hoffman run)

CC: Girton 11 run (kick good)

CC: Cayden Schwab 41 interception return (kick failed)

STATISTICS

RUSHING – Tate McGreer 7-48; Bryce Thompson 12-34; Cole Heinrich 2-28; Max Amren 5-11

PASSING – Max Amren 10-22-83

RECEIVING – Ayden Filkins 1-29; Martin Soto 1-20; John Guetterman 5-18; Bryce Thompson 2-9; Lincoln Nielsen 1-7

TACKLES – Bryce Thompson 14, Johnny Hendrickson 12, John Guetterman 11, Cole Heinrich 7, Michael Foote 6, Mathias Wright 5, Cole Poindexter 3, Hunter Brotherton 3, Martin Soto 1, Gage Feldkamp 1, Will Norton 1, Freddy Moreau 1, Braxton Koechner 1, Colin Schleicher 1

Louisburg has found itself in a pair of close games to start the 2025 season, but unfortunately, the Wildcats couldn’t get the big play they were looking for in either one – which included Friday’s home opener against Paola.

The Rivalry on 68 wasn’t kind to the Wildcats as the Panthers pulled away in the second half and handed Louisburg a 28-21 loss. In a contest filled with game-changing plays, the Panthers made just a couple more.

The biggest swing came late in the third quarter. Down 21-14, the Wildcats drove all the way down to the 1-yard line. After a couple Paola stops backed it up to the 4, Louisburg starting quarterback Max Amren had to leave the game with cramps on third down. 

Louisburg decided to go for it on fourth down at the 5 and the Panther defense held the Wildcats short. The Panthers swung the momentum with a fourth down conversion of their own.  

On fourth and 2 near midfield, Paola running back Bodhi Shay broke free around the left side and scored on a 46-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter in what was a 14-point swing for the Panthers. 

“There were probably several turning points in this one,” Harding said. “We had a really good drive going and weren’t able to finish it off and then they got a big fourth down where they were able to turn it into a touchdown. That was a big one, and then at the end of the first half we weren’t able to keep them out of the endzone and gave up a score. We aren’t playing our best situational football just yet, but we will keep working on it. 

“That is your rival, so you want to beat your rival, so these types of losses sting a little extra. They are a good football team and they can do a lot of good things.” 

Louisburg (0-2) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard to begin the game as sophomore Mathias Wright broke free for a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to put the Wildcats up early. 

Paola answered on its first possession, and it ended on a 2-yard touchdown run by Shay to tie the game. The Wildcats took the lead back again late in the first quarter as Amren found the endzone on a 5-yard touchdown run.  

In the second quarter, the Panthers answered as quarterback Mason Stein hit Trace Metcalf in the back of the endzone for a 10-yard pass. Then with seconds left in the first half, Stein found Sasha Pichnenko for a leaping 12-yard grab in the corner of the endzone and the Panthers took a 21-14 halftime lead. 

After Shay’s big run in the fourth quarter made it a two-score game, the Wildcats kept fighting as Amren hit Martin Soto for a 32-yard pass on a third and 23. It eventually ended on an 8-yard touchdown run by Amren. 

The Wildcats got the ball back with under two minutes remaining, but time ran out on their possible game-tying drive.  

“I was obviously proud of the way our guys battled,” Harding said. “It was a pretty similar situation to our first game where we were down two scores in the second half and were able to get back in it. There wasn’t a lot of flow to the game. Both sides were cramping and it really slowed the game down. At the same time, we have to play more complete football to put us in better situations.” 

Amren was big on offense for the Wildcats. The junior quarterback led the team with 242 total yards of offense, including a pair of touchdowns, and 125 yards rushing.

Soto was Amren’s favorite target on the night as he had five catches for 94 yards. Sophomore John Guetterman led the Wildcats on defense with a team-high 12 tackles and fellow linebacker Bryce Thompson added eight.

Louisburg will look for that first win this Friday as the Wildcats travel to Clay Center for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

“We have to play more complete football,” Harding said “We have been making a lot of mistakes that hurt ourselves. We have these lapses where we don’t execute, but we have to continue to play a complete football game and be better in situations. We will battle a tough Clay Center team with a long road trip. We know it won’t be easy, but we will get back to work to continue to get better.”

PAO 7 14 0 7 — 28 

LOU 14 0 0 7 — 21 

SCORING SUMMARY 

First Quarter 

L: Mathias Wright 90 kickoff return (Owen Jewett kick) 

P: Bodhi Shay 2 run (Tate Trachsel kick) 

L: Max Amren 5 run (Jewett kick) 

Second Quarter 

P: Trace Metcalf 10 pass from Mason Stein (Trachsel kick ) 

P: Sasha Pichnenko 12 pass from Stein (Trachsel kick) 

Fourth Quarter 

L: Shay 46 run (Trachsel kick) 

P: Amren 8 run (Jewett kick) 

STATISTICS

RUSHING – Max Amren 21-125, Bryce Thompson 9-29, Tate McGreer 4-24

PASSING – Max Amren 12-17-117

RECEIVING – Martin Soto 5-94; Maddox Day 1-14; Rickey Giles 3-10, Ayden Spradling 1-3

TACKLES – John Guetterman 12, Bryce Thompson 8, Cole Heinrich 6, Rickey Giles 5, Ayden Spradling 5, Murphy Adams 5, Mathias Wright 4, Michael Foote 4, Johnny Hendrickson 4, Max Amren 3, Tate McGreer 3, Martin Soto 3, Gage Feldkamp 3, Will Norton 2, Cole Lanz 1, Freddy Moreau 2, Braxton Koechner 1, Colin Schleicher 1, Devin Goerman 1

TONGANOXIE – In a back-and-forth contest filled with momentum shifts, Louisburg needed one more positive thing to go its way.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, it never came.

It was the first varsity game for several Louisburg players Friday in Tonganoxie. On a team that returned just four starters from a season ago, the Wildcats came up just short in a 20-14 loss to Tonganoxie.

“I felt like we competed well,” Louisburg coach Drew Harding said. “There were a couple of times in the game where there was a big momentum swing in their favor and we continued to battle and give ourselves a chance at the end. We didn’t execute very well in key moments and so that is something we will need to clean up as the season progresses.”

After a scoreless first quarter, it was Tonganoxie that struck first as it drove down the field on scored on a 2-yard touchdown by quarterback Bodee Maslak. The Wildcats, however, answered right back.

Louisburg quarterback Max Amren reeled off several big runs during a 7-minute drive for the Wildcats and eventually scored on a 15-yard run to tie the game after a Blaise Vohs extra point.

However, with under two minutes left in the first half, the Chieftains put together a couple big plays and drove down the field to score another touchdown right before halftime and took a 14-7 lead.

Tonganoxie made it a two score game with a touchdown on its first drive of the second half, but the Wildcats answered again – this time through the air. Amren connected with John Guetterman for a long pass play, which set up another pass from Amren to Martin Soto in the endzone, which was eventually called for pass interference.

That set up a 12-yard touchdown run from Bryce Thompson that cut the Tonganoxie lead to just six.

The Wildcat special teams and defense then stepped up to stop a pair of Tonganoxie drives. Senior Rickey Giles blocked a field goal and was picked up by Mathias Wright.

After a Louisburg turnover that stopped the ensuing drive, the Wildcat defense struck again, this time Thompson forced a fumble as the Tonganoxie runner was inching toward the endzone and Guetterman recovered it.

Thompson was all over the place defensively for the Wildcats as he registered a team-high 12 tackles, while Guetterman had nine and Giles had eight.

“Defensively I thought we played pretty well except for two drives,” Harding said. “The drive at the end of the first half and the drive coming out of halftime we didn’t play with the kind of effort we need to play with. We will need to continue to work on the fundamentals of tackling and getting off blocks.”

The Wildcats had one more opportunity with under two minutes left in the contest. Amren connected with Soto for a 47-yard gain to the Tonganoxie 25. However, from there, the Wildcats would turn the ball over on downs.

Amren led the Wildcat offense with 161 yards total offense, including 110 yards through the air. Soto and Guetterman finished with 60 and 52 yards receiving, respectively.

“I felt offensively we were kind of up and down throughout the night,” Harding said. “We would have flashes of quality football and then have moments were we didn’t excute well. I think consistency will be a big point of emphasis for us moving forward offensively.”

The Wildcats will try and get that first win of the season this Friday as the Wildcats host Paola at Wildcat Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

LOU       0               7               7               0 — 14

TON    0          14        7          0 — 20

Second Quarter

T: Bodee Maslak 2 run (kick good)

L: Max Amren 15run (Blaise Vohs kick)

T: Maslak 1 run (kick good)

Third Quarter

T: Blake Riedel 1 run (kick failed)

L: Bryce Thompson 12 run (Vohs kick)

STATISTICS

RUSHING – Max Amren 12-51; Blaise Vohs 8-33; Bryce Thompson 2-15; John Guetterman 3-6.

PASSING – Max Amren 13-22-110

RECEIVING – Martin Soto 2-60; John Guetterman 5-52; Blaise Vohs 5-32; Rickey Giles 1-10

TACKLES – Bryce Thompson 12, John Guetterman 9, Rickey Giles 8, Murphy Adams 4, Max Amren 3, Gage Feldkamp 3, Michael Foote 3, Cole Heinrich 2, Martin Soto 2, Johnny Hendrickson 2, Colin Schleicher 2, Mathias Wright 1, Ayden Spradling 1, Will Norton 1

For the last three seasons, the Louisburg football team has had a steady stream of experience run through the program that culminated with a 24-member senior class a year ago.

With so much departure from last season, the Wildcats knew they would see many new faces on the varsity roster in 2025. Louisburg has just seven seniors on the roster and several players will be making their varsity debut on Sept. 5 when the Wildcats travel to Tonganoxie for their opener.

Not the ideal setup for any program, but head coach Drew Harding has liked what he has seen from his players when they started work over the summer to now.

“We definitely needed a good summer,” Harding said. “We had lots of opportunities for kids to compete and improve individually as well as a team. I think the kids took advantage of that and now we are in a better position. 

“It has been going well so far. This is a young group overall, but they are taking coaching and we are seeing improvement throughout the roster.”

Louisburg returns four starters from its 7-2 season a year ago that saw the Wildcats lose a close game to Bishop Miege in the first round of the playoffs. One of those starters is senior lineman Johnny Hendrickson.

Hendrickson is a 3-year starter on the Wildcat offensive line and will look to lead a young group up front on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Hendrickson will be joined by senior Michael Foote, while several others are competing for spots. Colin Schleicher, Braxton Koechner, Owen Ebenstein, Murphy Adams, Gaston Schleicher and Hunter Brotherton could all see time this season.

“Johnny will be huge for us on both sides of the lines,” Harding said. “He is a really hard worker and kids look up to him with how he approaches things, not only on the field, but in the weight room as well. He will be the guy that really makes us go this year.”

Along with a new offensive line, comes a new quarterback. Junior Max Amren is the new signal caller for the Wildcats, and according to Harding, he can do a little bit of everything for the offense.

“Max is doing a good job,” Harding said. “He has the ability to throw it as well as run it.  He is a smart kid, which is a good thing as we put a lot on our quarterback’s plate. We are looking forward to getting him out there on Friday nights and seeing what he can do.”

Senior Rickey Giles is the team’s other returning starter on offense as he looks to lead a Wildcat receiving core with some new faces as well. Along with Giles, seniors Ayden Spradling, Martin Soto, sophomore John Guetterman and junior Ayden Filkins will all be targets for Amren, along with tight ends Eli Roth and Gavin Manson.

The Wildcats will use a running back by committed approach, at least to start the season as senior Blaise Vohs and juniors Bryce Thompson and Tate McGreer will all get touches in the backfield.

Vohs will also be a weapon in the kicking game as the Wildcat senior returns after earning first team All-Frontier League honors a season ago.

Defensively, several players are competing for spots on the line with Hendrickson that include Foote, Koechner, Roth, Devin Goeman, Gaston and Colin Schleicher and Adams. Thompson, Guetterman and Will Norton will serve as the team’s starting linebackers.

Another returning starter, senior Gage Feldkamp, will lead the Louisburg secondary. Soto, Cole Heinrich, Cole Lanz, Amren, McGreer, Giles, Spradling and Vohs could all see time at corner or safety.

Even with all the new faces, the Wildcats coaches haven’t treated this season differently. They are looking forward to seeing what their players can do under the lights.

“I honestly don’t think the preparation for the season has been that much different,” Harding said. “We have been moving a little slower through some installs, but I think kids have been picking up things well. They have stepped up and realized this is a great opportunity for them to get on the field and show what they can do.”

The Wildcats begin their season on the road at Tonganoxie as they begin a tough grind through the Frontier League.

“The Frontier League is tough and I think it will be especially deep this season,” Harding said. “I hope that we continue to improve each and every week so we can be playing our best football come playoff time. I think this is a group that will go out and compete and we are looking forward to getting started.”

Lucas Swartz did a little bit of everything for the Louisburg football team.

Not only was he one of the top players on a Wildcat defense that finished with a 7-2 record, but he also made several big plays on special teams throughout the season. Swartz showed he was willing to help the team wherever he was needed.

He hopes to bring that same type of attitude and outlook to his next stop – Morningside College. Earlier this year, Swartz signed his letter of intent to secure his dream of playing college football.

“I have dreamed of playing college football since I was 3 years old,” Swartz said. “That is when I remember touching a football for the first time and played with people older than me. This journey has been so awesome, and I have had the best years playing football and it is great to see this become a reality.”

Swartz joins a Mustang program, based in Sioux City, Iowa, that is one of the top teams in the NAIA and recently won a national championship in 2019. In 2024, Mustangs advanced to the national semifinals, before falling to the eventual champion, Grand View.

However, it wasn’t just the on the field success that attracted Swartz to Morningside, but those associated with the program, as well.

“What stuck out to me about Morningside was the atmosphere around the family and it’s just overall really nice here,” Swartz said. “The decision wasn’t really that hard because they’re a really good football team and have been for years. I’m very excited I’ve got this opportunity to be playing for the Mustangs.”

This past season, the Louisburg graduate made a big impact on the Wildcats. He was a first-team All-Frontier League selection as a multipurpose player.

Swartz 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 and recorded a big stop on a 2-point conversion to secure a win for the Wildcats.

“Football has been such a crucial part of my life,” Swartz said. “The Louisburg football program has shaped me into a great player and the coaches are the best. They push you every day, not just on the field, but in the classroom.”

The Mustangs see Swartz as a player on both the defensive side of the ball, and on special teams. The coaches see him at defensive back/linebacker, and he will also see a lot of time on special teams.

“My expectations are to be playing my first year at long snapper,” Swartz said. “I show up every day putting in work to prove to the coaches on why they recruited me to be here. Also, I hope to win a championship while I am here at Morningside. I am so excited for what’s in store for me these next couple years. I will push myself to be the best I can be on and off the field. I will be a leader and never give up.”

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.

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.”

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.

“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.”

Previous winners:

2018: Austin Moore

2019: Blue Caplinger

2020: Garrett Rolofson

2021: Weston Guetterman

2022: Tom Koontz

2023: Mason Dobbins

2024: Declan Battle

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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. 

Over the summer, Jordan Roquemore was hired as the head coach for the Wildcat girls soccer program after spending several years as an assistant. 

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.”

On the volleyball side, head coach Leanna Willer submitted her resignation in early December.

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.”

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. 

All that hard work finally came to fruition back in July when Dixon, a 2019 Louisburg High School graduate, signed with the Atlanta Vibe, which is a part of the Pro Volleyball Federation.

“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.”

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.

Louisburg finished third in the state competition as it edged out Baldwin for the top three spot in Class 4A.

“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.”

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.

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.

Louisburg had its best postseason finish in its young history as the Wildcats finished eighth overall in the team standings with 104 points thanks in part to just four swimmers.

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. 

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.

3. Wildcat girls soccer wins regional championship

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.

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.

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.’”

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.