Summer camps at Louisburg High School aren’t too far away and here is some information if you are interested in signing up.

FOOTBALL

LHS football coach Kyle Littrell is holding his team camp on June 15 through 19 on the team’s practice field just outside the high school. The cost for the high school camp is $45 and includes insurance, a T-shirt and shorts.

Littrell will also conduct a middle school and elementary school camp. The seventh and eighth-grade camp will run from 10 a.m. to noon on June 15 through 18 and will cost $35. There will also be an elementary camp from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on June 15-17 for grades 3-6 and will cost $25. Both camp fees include a T-shirts.

For more information, contact Littrell at 837-1720 or littrellk@usd416.org.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Head boys basketball coach Jason Nelson is conducting his team camp from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on June 8 through 12 in the LHS gymnasium. The cost for the high school camp is $50 and includes a T-shirt.

Nelson will also hold a junior high and elementary school camp as well. The session for sixth through eighth-grade will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on June 8 through 11 and the cost is $45. The third through fifth-grade camp will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on June 8 through 10 and is $40. Both camps include a T-shirt.

All three camps will have a heavy emphasis on fundamentals. The due date to sign up is May 23. For more information, contact Nelson at (913) 963-8421 or nelsonj@usd416.org.

VOLLEYBALL

LHS head volleyball coach Jessica Compliment will hold camps from fifth-grade on up through high school this July.

On July 13 through 17, Compliment will conduct the high school camp from 1 to 4 p.m. and the cost is $45. The seventh and eighth-grade camp will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on July 13 through 16 and costs $35. The fifth and sixth-grade session will go from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on July 13 through 15 and costs $30.

Deadline to sign-up for the camps is May 15 and all costs include a camp T-shirt. For more information, contact Compliment at (785) 766-3758 or complimentj@usd416.org.

WRESTLING

LHS head wrestling coach Bobby Bovaird will conduct a beginners and advanced camp on June 22 through June 25 in the LHS gymnasium

The beginners camp is for novice and youth wrestlers and will run from 5 to 7 p.m. each day. The minimum age is 6-years-old. Children who will be in kindergarten or first grade must have adult supervision.

The advanced camp will run from 7 to 9:15 p.m. for high school, middle school and experienced youth wrestlers. The cost for both camps is $35 and includes a T-shirt. Deadline to register is June 1.

For more information, contact Bovaird at (913) 424-0999 or bovairdr@usd416.org

GIRLS SOCCER

The LHS girls soccer program will prepare for its inaugural season this summer. Head coach Kyle Conley is holding a high school camp from 10 a.m. to noon on June 15 through 19 along with assistant coach Michael Pickman.

The cost for the camp is $40, which includes a T-shirt. Campers will need to bring shin-guards and a water bottle. Deadline to sign-up is May 15. For more information contact Conley at conleyk@usd416.org.

BOYS SOCCER

Head coach Ben York will be conducting his high school team camp on July 13 through 17. The cost for the camp is $50. For more information, contact York at benyork13@gmail.com.

Louisburg senior Nick Blancarte signs his letter of intent to play football for Fort Scott Community College on Feb. 4. Sitting next to Nick are his parents Christina and Matt Blancarte. Standing (from left) is Louisburg assistant football coach Gary Griffin, head coach Kyle Littrell and assistant Robert Ebenstein.

A lot of Louisburg football fans might not have heard the name Nick Blancarte before the season, but after it was over, everyone knew who Blancarte was, including Fort Scott Community College.

Blancarte signed his letter of intent to play football for Fort Scott on Feb. 4 at Louisburg High School and the Louisburg senior is ready to get his college career started.

“I am extremely excited to sign with Fort Scott,” Blancarte said. “I think it will be a good place to further my football career and my education. I really got along with all the coaches there well and they made me feel that this was the place for me. It was a good fit.”

The coaches see Blancarte fitting in as a safety in the Greyhounds’ secondary, a position he has played since middle school.

“Nick was a really good addition to our football team this year,” Louisburg coach Kyle Littrell said. “Safety is a position where I think he can flourish at. Nick has good speed, toughness and a mind for the game. I think what sets Nick apart is his desire to get better and his attention to detail when watching/studying film.

“Nick is a natural leader who has the ability to hold himself and his teammates to a higher standard. Fort Scott is going to love what they get from him. As long as Nick tackles the ball carrier and not just the ball, he will be just fine.”

He may have only spent a year at Louisburg, but Blancarte certainly made his impact on the Wildcat football team.

As the team starting safety, Blancarte, a transfer from Mill Valley High School, made big play after big play in the Louisburg secondary and quickly become one of the go-to players on defense.

Blancarte finished the season as the Wildcats’ lone first team selection on the all-Frontier League team as an all-league defensive back. He finished the season second on the team in tackles with 67, had six tackles for a loss to go along with three interceptions. He led the team with 29 solo tackles.

He also made several ferocious hits on the year on defense and even on special teams.

“I definitely like making those big hits, especially early in the game,” Blancarte said. “I think it really sets the tone for the game and it lets the opponent know you are there and it sends a message.”

Blancarte has set a goal for himself to play football beyond his two years at Fort Scott, but he knows it won’t be easy.

“I don’t want to say that I am going to play Division I or Division II football because I know it will be a challenge,” Blancarte said. “I know it is going to take a lot of hard work and preparation for that kind of next step, but I am looking forward to trying.”

Joining Blancarte at Fort Scott will be teammate Brenton Wrigley, who was also a big part of the Louisburg defense. Once Blancarte and the rest of the Fort Scott signees report in the fall, the coaches will work them into the program by getting them in shape.

“What both players have to realize that the first three weeks, they are trying to run off the kids who really don’t want to be there,” Littrell said. “When they make it through that three-week period, both will know that they have accomplished something special. I wish the best of luck to both of these fine young gentlemen.”

Nick is the son of Matt and Christina Blancarte.

Louisburg High School senior Brenton Wrigley signed his letter of intent Wednesday to play football at Fort Scott Community College. Sitting next to Brenton are his parents Ryan and Krista Wrigley. Standing is Louisburg assistant football coach Gary Griffin, head coach Kyle Littrell and assistant Robert Ebenstein.

Each year Brenton Wrigley got better and better for the Louisburg High School football team.

Now that his high school career is over, Wrigley hopes to continue that progression to the collegiate ranks. Wrigley, a senior, made it official Wednesday when he signed his letter of intent to play football for Fort Scott Community College.

Wrigley, who played on the offensive line and was a middle linebacker for Louisburg, is ready for the opportunity that has been placed in front of him.

“I am very excited to further my education and football career at the next level,” Wrigley said. “Fort Scott is a small town just like Louisburg, which is the kind of area I like and their staff and coaches seemed like a nice fit for me.”

Wrigley was all over the field for the Wildcats this past season, especially on the defensive end. He led the Wildcats with 68 tackles, with four for a loss and added 2.5 sacks.

He also earned all-Frontier League second team honors for his play in the middle of the Louisburg defense.

“Brenton is a kid who in the four years in the program has probably improved more than any kid I have ever coached,” Louisburg coach Kyle Littrell said. “Brenton’s work ethic is relentless and he has the right attitude to go with it. Each and every year Brenton played for us, you could see that he spent a lot of time working on his techniques and strength to be able to perform at a high level.”

That work ethic is what Wrigley hopes will put him on the playing field at Fort Scott. Not only did the Fort Scott coaches recruit him to play linebacker, they would also like to see him be a long-snapper as well a position he also played for the Wildcats.

“It is very exciting to be able to long-snap in college,” Wrigley said. “I have done it since I was a little kid.”

Joining Wrigley at Fort Scott will be teammate Nick Blancarte, who was also a big part of the Louisburg defense. Once Wrigley and the rest of the Fort Scott signees report in the fall, the coaches will work them into the program by getting them in shape.

“What both players have to realize that the first three weeks, they are trying to run off the kids who really don’t want to be there,” Littrell said. “When they make it through that three-week period, both will know that they have accomplished something special. I wish the best of luck to both of these fine young gentlemen.”

Along with football Wrigley will be majoring in finance and business administration. Brenton is the son of Ryan and Krista Wrigley.