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

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

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

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

Just look at what was accomplished last year:

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Boys golf qualified for state as a team.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Louisburg grad Andy Hupp (36) runs onto the field with his defensive teammates during the Kansas Shrine Bowl on June 26 at Hutchinson Community College.

When the Louisburg football season came to an end last November, Andy Hupp thought his football playing days were done.

Hupp was ready to put the sport he loved behind him and focus on his future. However, football wasn’t done with him just yet.

Earlier this year, Hupp was selected to participate in the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl and represent the East team on the defensive side of the ball.

So for one last time, Hupp put on the pads late last month and played about half of the game in the East’s 14-0 loss at Hutchinson Community College.

Despite the defeat, the Shrine Bowl was an experience Hupp won’t soon forget.

“It was a blessing to be able to strap up the pads one final time,” Hupp said. “Although it was really fun creating a bond with players that I’ve always played against and been ‘rivals’ with (Branden Martin from Tonganoxie and Carter Stanchfield from Paola) I really missed playing this sport with my boys back home. 

“It is really sad that I will never play football again, but I left the game on one of the most prestigious notes possible in my opinion. So I am happy with the way my career ended.”

Hupp, who played on the defensive line, was a part of what was a defensive battle between the two teams. 

The West had just a 7-0 lead late in the game before sealing the win late on a turnover and a score. 

The Louisburg grad recorded two tackles in the contest as he played close to half of the snaps. 

“It was a different feeling playing in this game,” Hupp said. “It was a college regulated game with media breaks and 12 minute quarters so it was really fun with all of the different factors, especially when you add in the skill level of everyone on the field. It made it feel like a real college football game.

“I made a couple tackles, and a forced incompletion. There was one play where the quarterback was scrambling and I hit him pretty good and my nose started bleeding a lot so I had to go get that fixed.”

Hupp reported to the Shrine Bowl practice a week before the game and the teams had two-a-day practices, scrimmages and film study.

However, it was the opportunity to meet the patients at the Shriners Hospital for Kids that was the highlight of Hupp’s week.

“The experience was definitely one of a kind,” he said. “Meeting some of the Shriners Hospital kids was by far the best part. Their stories are amazing and I’ve never seen bigger smiles. 

“All in all, the Shrine Bowl experience was awesome and meeting those kids puts a lot into perspective. I’m glad I had the opportunity to play for them.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kody Cook raises the national championship trophy after Hutchinson Community College won the junior college national title on June 5 after a 29-27 win over Snow College.

HUTCHINSON — Everything about this college football season for Kody Cook wasn’t what he expected.

At the same time, that has kind of been the story of his life. 

Cook, who is currently the wide receivers coach at Hutchinson Community College, had quite the journey through the college football world after he led Louisburg to its first state championship as the team’s quarterback in 2010.

He went to Hutchinson in hopes of continuing as a quarterback, but instead was moved to wide receiver. That was until his final game as a Blue Dragon when, thanks to an injury, he took the reins at quarterback and led Hutchinson to bowl game victory and earned MVP honors.

That performance helped him earn a walk-on spot at Kansas State University, where again they saw him as a wide receiver. Then in his senior season, again due to injury, Cook was forced into duty as the team’s quarterback and helped the Wildcats to a Liberty Bowl appearance.

“Those experiences throughout my life just showed me that if you trust the process, put in the work, do what you are supposed to do, you are going to get rewarded at some point down the line,” Cook said. “It is never on your time or when you want it to be, but it will happen. I have learned to do that through Hutch and at K-State. The toughest part is to remain focused.”

Cook was tested once again this past season at Hutchinson. The junior college football season was moved to the spring due to COVID-19, and he and the rest of the coaching staff was a little worried about how their roster was going to look.

“The biggest thing we were nervous about, once they said no to the fall and yes to the spring, was that our kids would graduate in the fall and go somewhere else,” Cook said. “That is always great for them and something that we want for all our players, but there was a good chance we could have a depleted team because our kids could leave for other places. To be able to make it through the spring, and not have to deal with much of it, it almost helped us. It allowed our younger players get used to everything.”

Once again that patience and trust paid off for Cook.

On June 5, Hutchinson won the junior college national championship with a 29-27 victory over Snow College in Little Rock, Ark. It was the school’s first national football championship in its 89 years and the Blue Dragons rallied from a 21-10 deficit in the second half to complete the momentous win.

“After going through a year like COVID and watching the players work so hard to try and prepare for a season, it was tough to go through things like that,” Cook said. “It is always special to win a national championship and all the cliche stuff is true. With COVID though, it just meant a little more. Plus being able to do it at my alma mater and to be able to help give Hutch their first national title in 89 years was really special. It is exciting and we are ready to do it again.”

So happy for and proud of Kody Cook who serves as WR coach for this years national championship team-Hutchison Community College. Deserved

— Bill Snyder (@CoachBillSnyder) June 9, 2021

After leaving Kansas State as a student assistant under then-head coach Bill Snyder, Cook realized coaching was his passion. So, he decided to take the long road toward achieving that goal.

It started in Hutchinson in 2017 as a tight ends coach, before becoming an assistant coach at Mill Valley High School in 2018.

“It has been hard, with the first couple years, especially,” Cook said. “I got the opportunity to coach at Mill Valley for a year, and they have a great program over there and Joel Applebee does a great job as they have won state the last two years. Then the opportunity was presented to me to come back to Hutch and coach with one of my mentors and it was a great opportunity for me. I jumped at the chance. 

“I am always looking forward to the future and what it holds. The toughest thing for me is being able to control what you can control. That is the tough part when you have something like COVID or whatever, and I think this season taught me to be patient and just embrace the moment.”

Along with coaching, also comes the challenges of recruiting – which is also something that Cook knows he doesn’t always have control of, either.

Cook is responsible for recruiting the Kansas City area and also Louisiana for the Blue Dragons and he enjoys getting to tell players about his alma mater.

“It can be stressful because you are playing phone tag with 17 or 18-year-old kids, but I enjoy getting to go to different places,” Cook said. “To be able to go down to that part of the country (Louisiana) that is football-oriented is really awesome. I get to talk on the phone with these young men, and it kind of takes me back to what it was like for me growing up. There are a lot of highs and lows and a lot of unknowns, but you get to experience that with them. 

“It is enjoyable for me to be able to be able to tell them about the Hutch program and I just want to tell them the truth and have them make their own decision. It is important to be transparent. Then when you get the official word that they signed on the dotted line for Hutch, you are excited for the player, but at the same time you are excited for yourself at the same time. I just love every part of college football.”

Coaching at the collegiate level is not easy and one where you have to pay your dues and Cook wants to work his way toward the top. He has dreams of becoming a head coach or an offensive coordinator at the Power 5 level, but with everything else in his life, he has learned patience and hard work is key.

“Whenever God is willing and allows it to happen, it will happen,” Cook said. “Everything is already written and you just have to trust the process and when it happens, it happens. I can only control what I can control, but I would love to be a head coach or offensive coordinator at that level one day.”

As for getting back to Louisburg, Cook hasn’t had much of a chance to visit his old stomping grounds, but he does have advice for those players who are interested in playing or coaching in college one day.

“If you want to play at this level, you have to have attention to detail and be disciplined,” Cook said. “I think the biggest thing we see from kids coming in is they think they are disciplined, but then they get here and we show them what being disciplined actually looks like. It is more than just football. If you are a hard worker on the field, but if you are not doing the right thing off the field, paying attention in the classroom or not going to class, it is going to be hard to succeed in life. Everything goes together. What is tough for a 17 or 18-year-old kid to realize sometimes is what I do outside of football, affects football. They think it is separate, but it isn’t. 

“My advice to them is to put your all into everything. I know it is cliche, but it is true. You need to buy in and trust the process. When I was 18 years old, I struggled with that sometimes and with my school work. It hurt me and that is part of the reason I had to go to Hutchinson. You learn how you are supposed to do things and it teaches you a certain way to be competitive on the football field and in life. Just stay focused, stay humble and stay disciplined and everything will work itself out in the end.”

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

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

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

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

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

FEMALE

Reese Johnson – Junior – Cross Country, Soccer

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

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

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

Alyse Moore – Senior – Volleyball, Basketball, Track

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

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

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

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

Delaney Wright – Junior – Basketball, Track

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

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

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

MALE

Weston Guetterman – Senior – Football, Basketball

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

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

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

Cade Holtzen – Senior – Cross Country, Wrestling, Track

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

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

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

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

Kolby Kattau – Junior – Football, Baseball

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

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

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

Alec Younggren – Senior – Football, Wrestling

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

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

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

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

Braden Yows – Junior – Soccer

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

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

Louisburg senior Alec Younggren fights through a block during a game earlier this season. Younggren will look a lot of the same more as he will join the Fort Hays State football program this fall.

Alec Younggren had a senior year that wasn’t exactly what he was expecting.

He transferred to a new school for his final year of high school, and then he suffered an injury that forced him to miss almost half of the football season. Younggren went through all of it while trying to get recruited to play football in college.

The situation wasn’t ideal, but Younggren made the most of it and eventually found his future home in the process.

Younggren signed his letter of intent to play football at Fort Hays State in the fall as he looks to continue enjoying the game he loves.

“It’s means the world to me to able to play college football and it’s has been my dream ever since I was a kid,” Younggren said. “It’s everything I’ve worked for throughout my entire career.”

Younggren, who transferred to Louisburg from Olathe South over the summer, thought he would be finishing his high school career there. Instead, with the COVID-19 pandemic threatening school sports in the fall, Younggren moved to Louisburg in hopes of getting to play his senior year.

An injury took away part of his senior year, but he was able finish his season strong as he was named an All-Frontier League first team offensive lineman and was an honorable mention defensive player.

Younggren was also an honorable mention all-state selection by the Topeka Capital-Journal.

The Louisburg senior had a couple different options to choose from, but he felt right at home on his visit to Fort Hays.

“Fort Hays just had something about it that clicked for me,” Younggren said. “The coaches, the athletes, and all-around it was a school I could call home and somewhere I think I can thrive.”

The Tigers have become one of the top teams in the MIAA that last few seasons and Younggren hopes to help in that regard. Fort Hays had a 17-6 record and an MIAA championship the last two years before COVID-19 impacted the world of college football.

“The coaches are some of the best in their position throughout college football I believe,” Younggren said. “They have me playing defensive end for now so we will see how it goes.

“The goals I have going into college football, and for college itself, is to better myself and become the best I can be.”

As for Louisburg, where he also finished as a state runner-up wrestler, Younggren enjoyed his time with the Wildcat program.

“I felt very welcome the second I came to Louisburg,” Younggren said. “There are great people, great coaches and all-around felt that I was in the right spot to finish out high school football.”

Louisburg senior Will Patterson will look to transition from the high school to college game this fall with the McPherson College football team.

Will Patterson was all ready for his final year of Louisburg football.

The Wildcat senior saw a lot of playing time on the defensive line early on and was hoping to end his Louisburg career on high note.

Unfortunately, Patterson suffered an injury halfway through the year and ended his season prematurely. He wasn’t sure if that was the end of his football career.

Instead, Patterson started focusing on college opportunities and he found the perfect fit.

Patterson signed his letter of intent to play football at McPherson College – an NAIA program in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

“I am very excited,” Patterson said. “Football has always been a major part of my life and I always dreamed of playing at the next level.”

The Louisburg senior had a couple different choices to choose from during the process, but the Bulldogs made the most sense.

“The coaching staff was excellent, and the campus was small and beautiful,” Patterson said. “The football program also has a lot of tradition.”

Patterson will play under Jeremiah Fiscus, who is entering his third season as the Bulldog head coach. Last season, McPherson was 3-4 in a COVID-shortened season, but Patterson is excited for what the future holds.

“The coaches were very kind and had an exact plan for what they wanted to do with me,” Patterson said. “They know how to win. The head coach was on the coaching staff of TCU when they won the Rose Bowl, and my D-Line coach won a D2 National Championship at Delta State University. The coaches we’re very big into weight lifting which is the main reason I am where I am to this day, thanks to my dad in those late night at the gym.”

Patterson will play on defensive for the Bulldogs at nose guard, similar to what he played for the Wildcats. 

He is also looking forward to the school aspect of it all as he plans to major in Criminal Justice, with the hopes of being a federal agent.

As far as football goes, Patterson just plans on putting in the work and see what happens from there.

“My expectations are what they always have been — work as hard as I can and hope an opportunity comes my way,” he said.

There hasn’t been a year like 2020, and for most people, they are ready to put it behind them and forget it ever existed.

Still, with all the challenges that 2020 brought, there were still plenty of positives to talk about when it came to Louisburg High School sports. History-making state places and state medals were plentiful on this list, but it wasn’t all positive. Louisburg had to say goodbye to a beloved town figure and athletes had to deal with the loss of spring sports.

Below are the top stories from 2020, along with a brief explanation of each. Included in the explanation 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. Thanks to the cancellation of spring sports, I don’t have the top 10 like I normally do, but I got close.

This year was a blast to cover, when I had the opportunity, anyway. Still, I am looking forward to what 2021 will bring. Thank you for everyone’s support and can’t wait for it all to begin again.

8. Ratliff-Becher wins state powerlifting title

After winning a state championship in 2019 Reilly Ratliff-Becher had every intention of backing up her performance during the Class 4A State Powerlifting Championships on March 7 at Piper High School.

In fact, the Louisburg senior wanted to improve it. Last season, Ratliff-Becher took first in everything but squat, which she got runner-up.

This time around, she got the clean sweep.

Ratliff-Becher took first in bench, squat and clean and that led to her second straight state championship in the 180-pound class.

“It means a lot to me that I was able to win the state title again,” Ratliff-Becher said. “I set a goal for myself to win first in everything since I had got second in squat last year and I achieved it. Even though it wasn’t my best showing with the numbers I got on my lifts.

“The competition was very good this year, as it always is. But, fortunately with all the work I put in to at least maintain my numbers from last year, meant I was able to lift bigger amounts than my competition.”

7. Conley named state and midwest coach of the year

After a third place finish to end the year, Louisburg boys soccer coach Kyle Conley was recognized among the state’s best.

Conley was named as the Class 4-1A Coach of the Year by the Kansas Soccer Coaches Association in November.

He guided the Wildcats to a 16-2 record on the season and the team’s highest finish in program history when Louisburg ousted Rose Hill, 3-0, in the state third-place game.

Just a few weeks later, Conley was honored once again – this time on the girls’ side.

Despite the lost season, the United Soccer Coaches wanted to recognize coaches for their past accomplishments and for what this past spring was supposed to hold.

Atop that list was Conley as he was named as the Small School Midwest Coach of the Year. 

“I am absolutely honored to receive this award,” Conley said. “There are so many great coaches in the Midwest, but to me this is a program award. None of this is possible without everyone involved; girls coming to work their tails off everyday, parents traveling and supporting us anywhere and everywhere, community helping with supporting the program, the school supporting the girls, etc. Without the support and buy in from the girls, parents and community none of this is possible.”

The Wildcat girls program has had a successful start in its four years. Conley has a 54-22-2 record during that span, that included two state runner-ups and another state final four appearance. 

6. Louisburg cheer places third at state

The Louisburg cheer squad had to do its postseason competition a little different this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It didn’t seem to bother them much as the defending state champions found themselves right in the thick of things again.

Although they didn’t repeat as champs, they were still among the state’s best as the Wildcats cheerleaders finished third in the state back in November.

Unlike performing in front of judges like they did in 2019, the Wildcats had to video tape their performance and send it in to be judged. It fared well as they tallied 83.35 points to finish in the top 3.

Baldwin earned the state title with 88.85 points and Abilene was second with 85.25.

Members of the Louisburg cheer squad are Bella Feikert, Addison Drake, Brooklyn Harmon, Jayden Trester, Maddy Carpenter-Ross, Sophie Katzer, Sammy McDaniel, Julia Arriola, Andrea Gaza, JoJo Hendrickson, Sydney Dudzik, Abby Bradley, Anna Poe, Sienna Finch, Mable Graham, Audrey Anderson, Zoe Weers, Anna Morrison and Maggie Madison

5. Holtzen, Owens earn state medals for Wildcat wrestling

Ryan Owens and Cade Holtzen both had their own agendas going into the state wrestling tournament.

Owens, qualified for state last year, but left without a win and he vowed to fix that this time around. As for Holtzen, he came up short in his efforts for a second state medal as a sophomore last season and had all the motivation not to come home empty-handed again.

Both wrestlers more than made up for their rough patches a year ago.

Owens and Holtzen left Salina with a state medal during the Class 4A Kansas State Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center. 

Owens made it to the semifinals and wound up earning a fourth-place medal at 120 pounds, while Holtzen finished fifth at 126 pounds.

It also marked the first time since 2016 that Louisburg finished the season with multiple state medalists, when Nathan Keegan and Mason Koechner each brought home medals.

The Wildcats nearly had three medalists as sophomore Brandon Doles finished one win shy of a state medal at 160 pounds with a 2-2 record.

4. Dennis steps down as LHS team doctor

Almost every day of the week, if you were looking for Damon Dennis, he could be found at his office on 11 S. Broadway St., helping treat those pesky aches and pains, taking X-rays, or mending those beaten up athletes after a game.

Doc D – as he his affectionately known – opened Louisburg Chiropractic Office 28 years ago and has served as the Louisburg High School athletic team doctor for almost that same amount of time.

Dennis has seen it all. The walls in his office are lined with mementos from his years of service to both the community and the high school.

He has taped thousands of ankles, seen even more patients and has touched many lives during his time in Louisburg. That is why this week is one of the more emotional times in his life.

In May, he left Louisburg Chiropractic Office and handed the reins over to Dr. Jake Polzin. Add to that, Dennis also stepped away as LHS’ team doctor and left an absence on the sidelines and behind the mic that many in Louisburg have come to know.

“My decision to step down and sell the practice has turned out to be the hardest thing I have ever done,” Dennis said. “I have poured everything I have into my job and community. It has become my entire existence. I was taught from a young age to serve others and your community. I feel like the pressures I have put on myself have become unhealthy. I have put about 40 years work in to 28 and feel like there is never going to be a good time to make such a huge life change. 

“That being said, I feel like I need to make changes while I am still able to do the things that will be best for my family. Dr. Polzin came along and I think he will carry on the work at the office wonderfully. We are a lot alike in many ways. I could not have found anyone better to replace me.”

For many, Dennis has been a big part of people’s lives, especially in the athletic arena. He has served as the LHS team doctor since 1992 and has treated many athletes in those 28 years.

3. Girls Cross Country Takes Third at State

For 23 years, the Louisburg cross country program has been chasing a top three finish at the Class 4A meet.

The Wildcats have had several teams qualify, especially in the last few seasons, but have always come up short of their goal. Following Saturday’s race in Wamego, the Wildcats can finally stop running after it.

The Louisburg girls put together an historic performance at the Class 4A Kansas State Cross Country Championships at Wamego Country Club. The Lady Cats earned a state plaque with a third place finish as they surpassed Buhler by eight points to record the school’s first top three state finish.

Junior Reese Johnson, sophomores Claire Brown, Bree Gassman and Nova Ptacek, along with freshmen Lola Edwards, Maddy Rhamy and Erin Apple, will all go down in school history as they became the first Wildcat team to bring home state hardware.

“It means the world to me to be a part of the first team ever to place at state,” Rhamy said. “Coming into the state meet, I was just hoping our team would be in the top half, so you could imagine my excitement when our team placed third. I didn’t even know we made school history until our coaches told us.”

Rhamy was one of two freshmen who earned top 10 finishes individually, along with Edwards. Rhamy finished eighth overall in 20 minutes and 58 seconds, while Edwards was right behind her in 10th in 21:02.

Junior Reese Johnson also garnered a state medal as she was 15th in 21:28 to help the Lady Cats to an historic performance.

It was a proud moment for many in the Louisburg program, and included in that is John Reece. The longtime Wildcat head coach was all smiles following his team’s performance.

“It is 23 years the making,” coach Reece said. “You always have the plans and goals to get to state and then you get a group to go to state and do something great. This year was one of those. With the Frontier League as tough as it is, and then getting third there, put it in our heads that maybe we could do this. They all went out and ran their races, and that just shows their grit and determination and who they are.”

A week earlier, the Wildcats also made history as its was the first time in school history when they qualified the entire boys team to the state meet as they took third at regionals.

2. Boys Soccer Finishes Runner-Up At State

As the Louisburg players huddled around their state plaque, many of them looked at it in awe and wonder.

“Hey guys, we won this,” a player shouted.

The statement was obvious at the time, but nonetheless, their excitement was more than warranted.

For the first time in program history, the Louisburg boys soccer team brought home a plaque from the state final four as the Wildcats defeated Rose Hill, 3-0, on Saturday in the third place match of the Class 4-1A state tournament at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.

It was only the second time in school history that the Wildcats had it made it this far, with the other being in 2016, when they finished fourth.

“There are only six teams in the entire state that get to end their year with a win and we wanted to be one of those teams,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “We want to be able to hang up a banner on our field and we wanted a plaque so that no one can forget what these kids earned and what they did this season. I am so proud of all of them.”

It was a program defining moment for the Wildcats as they began the weekend searching for a state championship, but lost 2-0 to Bishop Miege on Friday in the semifinals. Still, recording the best finish in school history is nothing for someone to hang their head about, and the Wildcats came out Saturday wanting to make sure they brought some hardware home.

“It’s absolutely crazy to think about what we have accomplished this year, partly because I have only played soccer in high school,” senior captain Logan Faulkner said. “Bringing a state plaque back will just be a reminder of what we did and how we reached our goal.”

1. COVID-19 Cancels Spring Sports

In March, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly closed all schools for the rest of the 2019-20 school year due to the spread of COVID-19.

When most students hear school has been closed, especially in the winter, cheers erupt. In this case, however, the tone was much more somber – especially among the senior class.

Proms were canceled. Any plans they had for a graduation ceremony were put on hold, and for more than 30 seniors, their last opportunity at playing a sport at Louisburg High School was taken away.

In fact, close to 200 students were planning on participating in an activity in the spring, but with no school, the Kansas State High School Activities Association followed suit and canceled the spring season the day after Gov. Kelly’s declaration.

Students, parents and coaches alike have had to come to grips that a season they had been looking forward to all year, was never going to happen. Tears flowed, walls were punched in frustration and some were left speechless.

There would be no game days, no Senior Nights and no postseason runs. Athletes had to figure out how to cope with this fact and it was a challenge for the Louisburg girls soccer, track and field, baseball, softball, golf and swim teams.

Many of those teams had big postseason aspirations after success in 2019 and were left wondering what could have been.

Louisburg senior Andy Hupp was a fixture on the Wildcat defensive line this past season and several other people took notice.

Hupp was recently named to the Kansas Football Coaches Association All-State first team in Class 4A. It is just one of many honors Hupp has come to receive since the season began.

“Andy put in a ton of work over the past four years in the weight room, both during the school year and during the summer,” Louisburg coach Robert Ebenstein said. “Andy made huge gains even when school was not in session last spring, because he wanted it. I was very pleased to see that the other coaches in 4A recognized his hard work and skill and voted for him to be all-state.”

Last month, Hupp was selected to the All-Frontier League first team on defense following a season that finished with 49 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Hupp was a two-way all-league player as he was also named to the all-league honorable mention team.

“Andy has been a very selfless player in this program,” Ebenstein said. “Andy has taken varsity reps at every offensive position except for center, but he would have done it if we asked him to. So I am so pleased to see his approach to the team first and hard work pay off with one of the best individual honors you can receive.”

On Sunday, Hupp and senior teammate Alec Younggren were also selected to the Class 4A Topeka-Capital Journal honorable mention team as linemen. 

Younggren, who missed the first part of the season with an injury, still recorded 23 tackles to earn honorable mention honors.

On offense, Younggren was a key fixture on the Wildcat offensive line that amassed more than 2,400 yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns.

The Frontier League always provides difficult competition in football and the 2020 season continued that trend.

With all that, Louisburg was right in the thick of things. The Wildcats finished the regular season with a 4-3 record and finished in a tie for third in the league standings.

Now, five Wildcats are being rewarded for their efforts.

The All-Frontier League team was released last week and the Wildcats earned honors on both sides of the ball.

Senior Andy Hupp was named to the first team defense and was an honorable mention selection on offense. The opposite happened for senior Alec Younggren, who earned first team offense honors and was an honorable mention on defense.

Ben Wiedenmann, a senior running back, was named to the all-league second team. Fellow seniors Weston Guetterman and Konnor Vohs were selected as honorable mention defensive players.

“We did well as we could have hoped for,” Louisburg coach Robert Ebenstein said. “The Frontier League is always tough and this year was no different. We finished tied for 3rd in the league with Piper at 4-3, with Tonganoxie and Paola ahead of us.”

Hupp was one of the leaders of the Wildcat defense and made a lot of plays along the defensive line. He finished with a team-high 49 tackles on the season, including eight for a loss. Hupp also added two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Younggren, who missed the first part of the season with an injury, still recorded 23 tackles to earn honorable mention defensive line honors.

On offense, Younggren was a key fixture on the Wildcat offensive line that amassed more than 2,400 yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns. As for Hupp, he was an honorable mention all-purpose player as he saw time at fullback and some at quarterback.

“I was very glad to see the other coaches in the league notice the play of both Andy and Alec,” Ebenstein said. “They were both a major part of our game plans week in and week out on both sides of the ball.”

Wiedenmann had a memorable senior season running the ball for the Wildcats. He finished the season with 1,121 yards on the ground to go along with nine touchdowns on 7.2 yards a carry – numbers which helped him earn second team honors.

“Ben was third in the league in rushing if our league was set up to honor running back and quarterbacks separately,” Ebenstein said. “Unfortunately our league by-laws still combine ‘backs’ as quarterbacks and running backs. The league was full of great backs this year so a second team all-league honor is a great honor.”

Guetterman and Vohs both had strong seasons in the secondary for Louisburg to earn a spot on the honorable mention team.

Vohs finished with 39 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble to go along with 10 batted balls. Guetterman had 32 stops on the season with two interceptions, three tackles for loss a forced fumble and seven batted balls.

“I was glad to see all of their work pay off, and they both played their hearts out,” Ebenstein said. “Konnor unfortunately lost a tie breaker for the second team vote.  Again, our by-laws are in need of restructure, but both of them were without a doubt all league players in my opinion.”

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL

OFFENSE

First Team

BACKS – Jovanni Blackie, Paola, junior; Tyler Bowden, Tonganoxie, senior; Garrett Williams, Paola, senior

RECEIVER – Dallas Bond, Tonganoxie, senior; Silas Etter, Eudora, junior; Bo Robison, Paola, senior

LINE – Damarius Bassett, Paola, senior; Denver Gardner, Spring Hill, senior; Jerrod Lowe, Tonganoxie, senior; Carter Stanchfield, Paola, senior; Alec Younggren, Louisburg, senior

MULTIPURPOSE – Zach Knowlton, Spring Hill, junior

KICKER – Jackson McWilliams, Tonganoxie, freshman

Second Team

BACK – Brayden Beerbower, Eudora, junior; Blake Poje, Tonganoxie, senior; Ben Wiedenmann, Louisburg, senior

RECEIVER – Cortland Hervey, Bonner Springs, senior; Malakhi Kennon, Piper, senior; Cole Mahaffey, Baldwin, junior

LINE – Camden Beebe, Piper, sophomore; Travis Bohnenblust, Eudora, senior; Conner Bruch, Tonganoxie, junior; Toby Thomas, Baldwin, senior; Zak Van Diest, Eudora, senior

MULTIPURPOSE – Sam Kleidosty, Tonganoxie, junior

KICKER – Zane Busick, Piper, sophomore

Honorable Mention

BACK – Fletcher Aude, Paola, senior; Darius McNeal, Piper, senior; Draven Pipken, Spring Hill, sophomore; Zeke Reazin, Eudora, senior; Jayce Smith, Bonner Springs, junior

RECEIVER – JD Andrewski, Bonner Springs, junior; Lance Bassett, Piper, sophomore; Isaiah Coppage, Piper, sophomore; Teagan Troute, Baldwin, senior

LINE – Trey Bones, Ottawa, senior; Antonio Caballero, Bonner Springs, junior; Zane Clark, Bonner Springs, junior; Tony Cobbs, Piper, senior; Kaden Coons, Baldwin, senior; Tucker Isaacs, Tonganoxie, senior; Tyler Neis, Eudora, senior; Allen Peuser, Paola, senior; Cameron Rogers, Piper, sophomore; Kolton Scott, Baldwin, junior; Carson Stear, Spring Hill, junior; Tanner Thompson, Spring Hill, senior

MULTIPURPOSE – Andy Hupp, Louisburg, senior; Gavin Lang, Baldwin, senior; Cael Lynch, Eudora, senior; Cory Macon, Piper, senior; Brock Pitzer, Paola, senior

DEFENSE

First Team

LINE – Dallas Bond, Tonganoxie, senior; Jake Karr, Paola, senior; Andy Hupp, Louisburg, senior; Carter Stanchfield, Paola, senior

LINEBACKER – Adam Callahan, Baldwin, senior; Anthony Ferguson, Piper, senior; Cael Lynch, Eudora, senior; Branden Martin, Tonganoxie, senior

DEF BACK – Sam Kleidosty, Tonganoxie, junior; Zach Knowlton, Spring Hill, junior; Garrett Williams, Paola, senior

MULTIPURPOSE – Mitch Geiger, Tonganoxie, senior

PUNTER – Garrett Williams, Paola, senior

Second Team

LINE – Demarius Bassett, Paola, senior; Lance Bassett, Piper, sophomore; Nate Criqui, Eudora, senior; Tucker Isaacs, Tonganoxie, senior

LINEBACKER – Isaac Brackner, Paola, senior; Jake Hooker, Spring Hill, senior; Darius McNeal, Piper, senior; Chase Wilm, Spring Hill, senior

DEF BACK – Kale Hammerschmidt, Eudora, sophomore; Malakhi Kennon, Piper, senior; Heston Robbins, Tonganoxie, senior

MULTIPURPOSE – Will Schreiner, Eudora, senior

PUNTER – Reese Fogle, Ottawa, junior

Honorable Mention

LINE – Camden Beebe, Piper, sophomore; Conner Bruch, Tonganoxie, junior; Tony Cobbs, Piper, senior; Sam Darnell, Baldwin, sophomore; Jayden Flores, Bonner Springs, sophomore; Denver Gardner, Spring Hill, senior; Jerrod Lowe, Tonganoxie, senior; Cory Macon, Piper, senior; Daquon Rogers, Paola, senior; Toby Thomas, Baldwin, senior; Alec Younggren, Louisburg, senior

LINEBACKER – Jack Earlywine, Paola, senior; Amarian Graves, Bonner Springs, sophomore; Jaden Hamm, Eudora, sophomore; Gavin Lang, Baldwin, senior; Jerimiah Ledbetter, Bonner Springs, junior

DEF BACK – Weston Guetterman, Louisburg, senior; Divante Herrig-Brittian, Piper, junior; Dominque Herrig-Brittian, Piper, junior; Isaac Meyers, Paola, senior; Brock Pitzer, Paola, senior; Cody Powell, Spring Hill, senior; Tiernan Reed-Cox, Ottawa, junior; Konnor Vohs, Louisburg, senior; Carter Wylie, Bonner Springs

MULTIPURPOSE – Shane Doty, Baldwin, senior; Brandon Sander, Bonner Springs, senior; Brandon Snell, Piper, senior