It took a little bit for the Louisburg girls soccer team to get on the scoreboard Tuesday in its home opener against Lansing, but once it did, the goals came in bunches.

The Wildcats scored five first half goals, and it was more than enough to get their first win of the season in a 5-0 victory over the Lions. 

“It definitely feels good to start with clear and decisive wins, both at the JV and varsity levels,” Louisburg coach Jordan Roquemore said. “There were a lot of great moments and we were able to play 19 different athletes over the course of the varsity game. It was good for building confidence and experience.”

Senior Rowan Yows had a big night for the Wildcats as she scored the game’s first goal and finished with two on the night to go along with an assist. In all, four different players found the back of the net.

Another senior, Baileigh Johnson, made it a 2-0 lead midway through the first half on a cross from Yows. Freshman Kahlan Harris followed with her first varsity goal to make it 3-0.

Just a couple minutes later, the Wildcats answered again when sophomore Briella Diehl battled for the ball near the net and snuck It past the Lansing goalie for her first varsity score and a gave the Wildcats a 4-0 advantage.

Right before halftime, Yows added her second goal of the night and all but sealed the win for the Wildcats.

“I loved seeing Rowan have a big game, but it was very encouraging to see how many other players scored or created opportunities,” Roquemore said. “We had 14 shots on goal from 10 different players, which shows exceptional diversity in players able to create and finish scoring chances.”

Defensively, the Wildcats limited the Lions’ chances as the back line of Jaden Bentz, Lila Edwards, Faith Sewell, Cora Roche and Caroline Apple kept the ball out of harms way. 

Senior goalie Ally Brown, who played her first-ever soccer game in the net, earned the clean sheet.

Defense was one of the many things that the Wildcat did well in, what they hope, is the first of many victories.

“We had some bright moments with our passing connections and our attack showed a lot of dynamism and potential,” Roquemore said. “However, we still have a lot to work on. Our passing consistency needs improvement and we have some gaps in our formation we need to tighten up. 

“Overall, I am very encouraged by what I saw. This team has incredible potential and solid depth at the varsity level. We will continue to improve and sharpen as we play more together and get comfortable in our positioning. Wins are great, but consistent improvement and growth from game to game is a goal I am more interested in achieving.”

Louisburg will try and make it two wins in a row today as the Wildcats travel to Leavenworth. Varsity is set to begin at 6 p.m.

It was a memorable season in 2024 for the Louisburg girls soccer team after they captured their first regional title in three years and earned a spot in the state quarterfinals.

The Wildcats lost to the eventual state champion in Bishop Miege, but finished the season with a 13-5-1 record. As fun as the season was, this season will look a little different.

Not only did Louisburg lose four starters to graduation, but the Wildcats have a new leader in head coach Jordan Roquemore, as he replaced Ben York, who was the head coach the last two years. The transition has been a smooth one as he has served as the Louisburg assistant the previous five seasons.

Roquemore will be joined by assistant coach Lily McDaniel, who is an LHS alum and former member of the Wildcat program.

“My experience as an assistant coach over the last four years has been a huge help in making the transition to head coach,” Roquemore said. “Knowing the girls, the culture, and the history of the program has been invaluable. I have a lot of appreciation for the time and effort coach (Kyle) Conley and coach York have put into the program. Working with them has taught me a lot. 

“Also, bringing Lily back into the program as my assistant and JV coach has been great. She is an excellent addition and has my full confidence.”

With a new coach comes a few changes, including a new formation. Louisburg will play a 4-2-3-1, which puts four defenders in the back, two defensive midfielders, three attacking midfielders and a lone forward up top.

“This formation is dynamic and adaptable, but it’s not easy to master,” Roquemore said. “It is going to require a lot of mental and physical work from the players, but they are absolutely up for the challenge.”

The Wildcats return experience all over the field, including in the midfield as they bring back a pair of all-league players in senior Rowan Yows and junior Mena Fercho.

Yows, who was a first team all-league and all-state selection, had 12 goals scored and a team-high 17 assists last year. As for Fercho, she was an honorable mention all-league player a year ago with seven goals and seven assists.

They will be joined by returning starter in senior Riley May, who gave the Wildcats big minutes last season.

“You will probably see a mixture of returners and new faces in our midfield this year,” Roquemore said. “You will see Mena out there along with Riley. Rowan has also been a big contributor over the last three seasons, but has struggled with some physical ailments affecting her longevity on the field. She is coming into this season healthier than ever and I believe you will see her best season yet this spring.”

Senior Baileigh Johnson returns as the team’s starting striker after earning all-league and all-state honors season a year ago. She tallied 15 goals on the year with four assists and several underclassmen could also see time at the position.

Defensively, the Wildcats return most of their back line and should be a strength of the team. They will be led by senior Jaden Bentz, who earned all-league honors a season ago.

Joining Bentz will be juniors Lila Edwards and Faith Sewell, who are both returning starters.

The Wildcats, however, will have a new face in the net as senior Ally Brown will start in goal in her first year with the program.

“We had a really fantastic season on defense last year and we are bringing back three of our four back-line starters in Jaden, Faith Sewell and Lila. Everywhere else on the field, you will be seeing a mixture of returners and new faces. 

“Having Ally step up as a goalkeeper this year will be huge for us. She may be inexperienced in the goal, but her athleticism and intelligence have made her a quick, effective study. Ultimately, the entire team is responsible for preventing goals, not just our goalkeeper. Playing smart possession and defense all over the field will help keep our new goalie out of bad situations.”

Louisburg knows it will have a difficult schedule as it tries for another regional title. Not only do the Wildcats have to make their way through a difficult Frontier League slate, but also tough non-league opponents including Basehor-Linwood and De Soto.

The Wildcats will open their season today as they host Lansing. Varsity is set to begin at 6 p.m.

“I have very high expectations for this group,” Roquemore said. “They are a talented, hard-working group with mixture of grades and skill-sets. We have our work cut out for us this season with a new formation and opponents who are consistently improving each season, but I am really excited to see what we can do. This program has had tremendous success since its inception and we will continue to do so.”

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.

Jordan Roquemore has had a unique path to becoming a soccer coach.

He wasn’t always the biggest soccer fan growing up, but played in high school and then another year in college. With every passing year, his admiration for the game grew.

“I would say my soccer background is unconventional,” Roquemore said. “My first experiences with soccer came from playing at grade school recess and by watching the USWNT win the 1999 World Cup. Without knowing much about soccer, I learned to love the game.” 

That respect for the sport eventually led him to the sidelines as an assistant coach, including the last four with the Louisburg girls soccer program. Now, he is ready to lead a program of his own.

Over the summer, Roquemore was hired to become 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.”

The Wildcat program has been a successful one since its inception in 2016. During that span, Louisburg has racked up two state runner-up finishes, four state final four appearances and six regional titles.

Roquemore served as an assistant coach for two years under the program’s first coach, Kyle Conley, and then for the last two years under York.

“I am grateful for the experiences under every one of the three head coaches I have gotten to work with over the years,” Roquemore said. “I’ve seen three distinct styles of coaching and play as an assistant. Every one of them has made an impact in how I see the game and afforded me opportunities to learn and grow. 

“The first coach I ever served under in Texas, David Collins, is still a mentor for me today. However, I learned so much while serving with all of them: strategy, team dynamics and culture, running effective practices and ultimately, what it takes to win games.”

It is that experience in Texas that helped shape Roquemore’s passion for the game.

“The Brook Hill School in Bullard, Tex., hired me as an English teacher and happened to have an assistant soccer position available,” he said. “My main motivation in applying was to supplement my salary, but it ended up changing the course of my career. 

“For three years, I was the assistant and goalie coach for the girls team while we won two state championships. For me, it transformed my understanding of the game and how to coach it. I wouldn’t be here now if not for that experience.”

Joining Roquemore will be Louisburg alum Lily McDaniel, who was hired as the Wildcat assistant coach. McDaniel was a part of several of those Wildcat teams that made state appearances.

As far as what will change with the program, that remains to be seen, but Roquemore isn’t ready to fix what isn’t broken. Still, he wants to put his own fingerprints on the program.

“This will be my fifth year with the program and I have a great deal of respect for the norms and traditions we have established,” he said. “Much of the basic structure of the program will remain the same: strong community, high expectations, and a major focus on building positive relationships and good human beings. But there will be changes. We are going to be working on developing a fluid, adaptive, and offensively-dangerous style of play. I want to make the most of the talent, athleticism and intelligence we have in our group.

“As a coach, I have also learned the importance of being yourself and finding what works for you. I’m not going to pretend to be anyone else since that wouldn’t be helpful to me or the team. I love soccer. I love coaching and I love this team. My hope is to run a successful program with a high degree of excellence where kids can grow, enjoy themselves, and be challenged. That hope will be backed by building the culture, expectations, operations and communication needed to make that goal a reality.”

The Louisburg volleyball and girls soccer teams had memorable seasons last year.

Louisburg volleyball made the state tournament and came home with a fourth-place state medal. The girls soccer team also reached the state level as the Wildcats earned a regional championship and a spot in the state quarterfinals.

The common link for the two teams was senior Hailey Sword.

Sword played pivotal roles on both teams and those were big reasons why she was chosen as the 2024 Louisburg Sports Zone Female Athlete of the Year.

“The award means so much to me,” Sword said. “It really is a blessing that putting in hard work over the years could be recognized. I could not have been a successful athlete without the amazing coaching and support that I had.”

Sword, who will be playing volleyball at Graceland University this coming fall, was a big piece of the Louisburg volleyball team. 

She played all six rotations for the Wildcats and was a big factor at the net and on defense. Sword tallied a team-high 308 kills and finished second on the team with 42 aces. Defensively, Sword was also strong in the back row as she was second on the team with 295 digs.

“As an overall athlete, Hailey has made a big impact in both of her main sports at LHS,” Louisburg volleyball coach Leanna Willer said. “Her natural athleticism made her stand out from the beginning, but her passion for each sport helped her to play both volleyball and soccer at an extremely high level. She had opportunities to play either one at the next level! We are so excited to see her continue her volleyball journey, and we’ll be supporting her 100 percent of the way.”

She was selected to the KVA All-State Tournament team after she helped Louisburg to a fourth place finish at state. Sword also earned honorable mention All-Frontier League honors.

“Hailey has played a huge role in the volleyball team’s success during her time at LHS,” Willer said. “Each year her role changed slightly, but her competitive nature, aggressive swing, and ball control each made a big impact on the court. Eventually, we came to rely on her as a complete six rotation player available to be an offensive threat at all times and to make big defensive plays as well.

“Hailey figured out what her team needed and transformed into an electric player with a standout personality on the court that launched our state tournament run last year, and she continued to be a leader as a senior.”

On the pitch, Sword also found a lot of success. After helping Louisburg to the state quarterfinals, she earned a lot of individual honors.

Sword was named to the All-Frontier League first team as a defender and was selected second team all-state. She was a four-year letter winner and she was a part of a school record setting defense that allowed the fewest goals in a season. She also tallied three goals and two assists.

“Hailey was a team captain this year and our best leader on the field,” Louisburg coach Ben York said. “A late injury to a teammate forced her to play center back for us. She excelled in the role, all while we were transitioning into playing with two centerbacks from a sweeper/stopper formation from last year.”

She, like a lot of athletes, had to overcome adversity in both sports. However, Sword is appreciative of everything she, and her teammates, accomplished.

“Playing sports in Louisburg has been a great experience,” Sword said. “I learned so much about the sports that I participated in but also about life. Louisburg athletics really made me feel that I had a family and a place in Louisburg. I would not be the person I am today without the teams that I got to be a part of. It was not always perfect or what I maybe wanted, but I would not change a thing and it always worked out in the end.”

Previous winners:

2018: Isabelle Holtzen

2019: Carson Buffington

2020: Reilly Ratliff-Becher

2021: Alyse Moore

2022: Delaney Wright

2023: Adyson Ross

Honors continue to roll in for the Louisburg girls soccer team after they completed another strong season.

After capturing the Class 4-1A regional title last month and earning several all-league honors, the Wildcats are now getting state recognition.

The Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association recently released their all-state teams and five Wildcats earned honors.

Junior Rowan Yows (midfield) was a Class 4-1A first team selection. Seniors Hailey Sword (defender) and Lexi Hampton (forward) earned second team honors.

Senior Macy Lemke (goalie) and junior Baileigh Johnson (forward) were named to the honorable mention team.

Yows had a strong season to lead the Wildcats in the midfield as she was third on the team with 12 goals scored, but also led Louisburg with 17 assists.

Sword was a big part of the Wildcat defense that set a school record for goals against with 14 and did so making a position change before the start of the season. She also tallied three goals and two assists.

Hampton had a strong season herself as she was the team’s leading scorer with 17 goals to go along with six assists from her forward spot.

In goal, Lemke had another strong season as a second-year starter. The Wildcat senior had 44 saves to go along with just 14 goals allowed and also had seven shutouts.

Johnson was the team’s second leading scorer as she was third Wildcat to earn second team honors. The Louisburg junior added 15 goals and also had four assists on the season.

Louisburg finished its season with a 13-5-1 record and a spot in the state quarterfinals before getting eliminated by the eventual state champion, Bishop Miege.

For the seventh 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 they voted for their top 3 male and female athletes and I tabulated the results and determined the winner. The winner will be announced in the coming days.

Below are the three finalists for the Female Athlete of the Year award in alphabetical order by last name.

IZZY MORELAND — SENIOR — VOLLEYBALL, SOFTBALL

Izzy was a starting member of the Louisburg volleyball team that finished fourth at the Class 4A state tournament. Moreland was a middle blocker for the Wildcats. She finished the season with 105 kills and led the team with 48 blocks.

On the softball diamond, Moreland was the Wildcats’ No. 1 pitcher this past season as she helped Louisburg to 11 wins on the year. She was a second team All-Frontier League selection at pitcher. 

Moreland led the Wildcats as she threw 94 innings and struck out 90 batters. She also had a 3.92 ERA. At the plate, Moreland finished with a .306 average, 26 hits, two doubles, two triples and a home run. She also added 19 RBIs on the season.

MEGAN QUINN — SENIOR — VOLLEYBALL, SOFTBALL

On the volleyball court, Megan has been the setter for the Wildcats the last two seasons and helped Louisburg to the state tournament the last two years, including a fourth place finish this season. She led the team with 540 assists in a split-setter role and also had a team-high 43 aces.

Quinn also thrived on the softball field as she was an all-league honorable mention selection on the infield and was also one of the Wildcats’ starting pitchers. She was the Wildcats’ biggest bat in the lineup with four home runs this season and has nine the last two years.

The Louisburg senior batted clean-up for most of the season. She was third on the team with a .342 average to go along with 27 hits and eight doubles to go along with her four home runs and a team-high 38 RBIs.

HAILEY SWORD — SENIOR — VOLLEYBALL, SOCCER

Hailey was a 3-year letter winner for the volleyball team and played all six rotations the past two seasons. Sword tallied a team-high 308 kills and finished second on the team with 42 aces. Defensively, Sword was also strong in the back row as she was second on the team with 295 digs.

She was selected to the KVA All-State Tournament team after she helped Louisburg to a fourth place finish at state. She also earned honorable mention All-Frontier League honors.

Hailey was also a captain of the Wildcat soccer team this past spring as he helped lead Louisburg to a regional championship. She is a four-year letter winner and she was a part of a school record setting defense that allowed the fewest goals in a season. Sword was also named to the All-Frontier League first team.

It was a special season for the Louisburg girls soccer team, one that ended with 13 wins, a regional championship and an appearance in the state quarterfinals.

With all that success comes postseason awards and the Wildcats were well-represented on the All-Frontier League team. 

Louisburg earned seven spots on the All-Frontier League list that was released last week, including three first team selections. Junior Rowan Yows (midfield), senior Hailey Sword (defense) and senior Lexi Hampton were named to the first team.

Juniors Baileigh Johnson (forward), Jaden Bentz (defense) and senior Macy Lemke (goalie) were second-team selections, while sophomore Mena Fercho (midfield) was an honorable mention selection.

Yows had a strong season to lead the Wildcats in the midfield as she was third on the team with 12 goals scored, but also led Louisburg with 17 assists.

“Rowan is the engine of our team,” Louisburg coach Ben York said. “Coming off an all-state scoring season from a year ago, she settled into a role for us this year that mainly revolved around distribution. She racked up 17 assists for us running the midfield, all while fighting back spasms for a large portion of the season.”

Sword was a big part of the Wildcat defense that set a school record for goals against with 14 and did so making a position change before the start of the season. She also tallied three goals and two assists.

“Hailey was a team captain this year and our best leader on the field,” York said. “A late injury to a teammate forced her to play center back for us. She excelled in the role, all while we were transitioning into playing with two centerbacks from a sweeper/stopper formation from last year.”

Hampton had a strong season herself as she was the team’s leading scorer with 17 goals on the season to go along with six assists from her forward spot.

“Lexi was a team captain this year.,” York said. “She continued her ability to find the net this season and has a knack for getting goals. This season we asked her to play a target forward and she did a great job, all while playing with a broken wrist for over half the season.”

Bentz was another key piece to the Wildcat record-setting defense as an outside back and limited dangerous chances all season.

“Jaden is the best on ball marker I have, and she has instincts that make her very difficult to beat,” York said. “She is a quiet leader that just goes about her business and does her job well.”

In goal, Lemke had another strong season as a second-year starter. The Wildcat senior had 44 saves to go along with just 14 goals allowed and also had seven shutouts.

“Macy was also a team captain this season,” York said. “She had 44 saves, which is definitely as a result of our defensive efficiency this season. She developed as the season went along into someone very reliable playing out of the back with her feet.”

Johnson was the team’s second leading scorer as she was third Wildcat to earn second team honors. The Louisburg junior added 15 goals and also had four assists on the season.

“This was a breakout season for Baileigh,” York said. “She played a number of positions for us depending on the need. She is beginning to understand the game at the next level and she was probably our most dangerous forward for most of the season.”

In the midfield, Fercho was a key piece to the Wildcat attack and found success throughout the season. She tallied seven goals and seven assists on the year.

“She was the go to player on the outside of the midfield for us,” York said. “She replaced a senior from last year who was very dangerous for us and she did a great job. Not only on the outside, but we also were able to utilize her as a center midfielder as well. Her and Rowan play extremely similar games and play well together.”

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE SOCCER

FIRST TEAM

Bailey Smith, Baldwin, senior, midfield

Rowan Yows, Louisburg, junior, midfield

Olivia Infante, Spring Hill, senior, midfield

Jayla Erpelding, Eudora, senior, midfield/forward

Elizabeth Williams, Spring Hill, junior, forward

Alex McBride, Baldwin, senior, midfield

Nora Prather, Baldwin, senior, midfield

Hailey Bergmann, Spring Hill, junior, defense

Hailey Sword, Louisburg, senior, defense

Lexi Hampton, Louisburg, senior, forward

GOALIE: Alyssa Reichard, Baldwin, senior

SECOND TEAM

Rose Bilyeu, Bonner Springs, junior, defense

Miley Maxwell, Tonganoxie, freshman, forward

Xin Clobes, Eudora, senior, forward

Natalie Loving, Tonganoxie, freshman, midfield

Jaden Bentz, Louisburg, junior, defense

Lizzie Fisher, Eudora, junior, defense

Jane Huges, Spring Hill, freshman, forward

Baileigh Johnson, Louisburg, junior, forward

Addy Ediger, Baldwin, senior, forward

Kambrea Kerr, Eudora, freshman, midfield

GOALIE: Macy Lemke, Louisburg, senior

HONORABLE MENTION

Marin Drummond, Baldwin, sophomore, defense

Madisyn Sprinkle, Ottawa, sophomore, utility

Jaden Brooks, Eudora, junior, forward

Natalie Rice, Spring Hill, freshman, midfield

Maris Flory, Baldwin, senior, defense

Emily Nilges, Bonner Springs, freshman, midfield

McKenna Klamm, Tonganoxie, senior, midfield

Mena Fercho, Louisburg, sophomore, midfield

Dylan Nichols, Ottawa, sophomore, forward

Baylie Igleheart, Tonganoxie, junior, forward

Kyleigh Musick, Eudora, senior, defense

Kyie Enriquez, Bonner Springs, junior, defense

Lauren Grauberger, Eudora, senior, midfield

Laney Montgomery, Spring Hill, junior, midfield

Taylor Hines, Spring Hill, freshman, forward

GOALIE: Meredeth Billings, Bonner Springs, sophomore

The task was a difficult one last Tuesday for the Louisburg girls soccer team.

The Wildcats hosted Bishop Miege — the 7-time defending state champion — for the Class 4-1A state quarterfinals at Wildcat Stadium. Going up against one of the state’s best teams was always going to be a challenge.

Louisburg saw its season come to a close one win shy of the state final four with a 7-0 setback to Miege.

“They are on a different level than us,” Louisburg coach Ben York said. “We don’t have the athletes to really compete with them. It doesn’t really matter what formations you use, or what field you play on, you try to hope that they don’t have a good game and they just played really well. They took advantage of opportunities and really crashed well in the box and we are still learning how to play fast like that. 

“We aren’t forced to play that fast during the season, and then you play a team that seems like they bring like 15 kids off the bench who are just as good. We are a good match for most of the 4A schools, we just aren’t a match against them and that is unfortunate, but it is reality.”

The Stags jumped on the Wildcats early as they scored the go-ahead goal just minutes into the contest and recorded five first half goals to go up 5-0 at halftime.

Miege added a pair of goals in the second half to seal the victory. The Stags went on to win their 8th straight championship later in the week with a double overtime win over Cair Paravel out of Topeka.

Although the loss was a difficult one to take, the Wildcats still put together a memorable season that saw their first regional title since 2021 and ended their season with a 13-5-1 record.

“This is a culmination of two years of hard work,” York said. “I think last year we spent getting over the mental side of things we didn’t do well, which was physical and mental toughness. This year we cleaned that up a lot and that is a big tribute to the senior class and putting in a lot of work. I hate this is the last thing we think about in what was a special season. This is not a reflection of our season at all. Our seniors put four hard years into this program.”

The Wildcats had to say goodbye to a 7-member senior class, several of which have played big parts in the program since their freshman seasons. Lola Edwards, Lexi Hampton, Hailey Sword, Macy Lemke, Ellery Allen, Aliya Klugman and A.J. Fire all played their final game for Louisburg.

“The preparation that we had this year was good and I thought we made good progress throughout the year as well,” York said. “We are still a work in progress and then we lose a group of great seniors. We make our way into the next season trying to get better at the things we didn’t do well (against Miege) and hopefully that will carry with us and the junior class can then see what we need to do.

“I hate that the last thought of the season is this, when our season was so much more than just one game. That for me is the shame of it all. Could we have played better than we did? Probably, and we gave up things that we shouldn’t have and gave them a few runs. We will just keep doing the best we can to keep moving forward.”

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 seeded Wildcats shutout No. 8 Maranatha Academy, 2-0, to win the Class 4-1A regional title Thursday 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.”

The Wildcats dominated possession from the opening whistle as they peppered the Maranatha defense with 22 shots on goal, with 12 of those coming in the first half.

Junior Baileigh Johnson got the Wildcats on the board late in the first half as she scored on an assist from freshman Ellia Gibbons and Louisburg took a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The Wildcats built themselves a little cushion in the second half as senior Lexi Hampton found the back of the net on an assist thanks to junior Rowan Yows.

“It was odd because on paper we controlled the game with probably 70-75 percent possession,” York said. “We just sometimes have problems figuring out how to score. We have good opportunities, we just need to be a little more refined. I mean we had several go off the post or others were just wide. We knew Maranatha wasn’t going to score on us, so it was good stay patient and work the ball around to get good looks.”

Defensively, the Wildcats limited Maranatha’s chances as senior goalie Macy Lemke earned the clean sheet with two saves. The back line of Hailey Sword, Jaden Bentz, Lila Edwards and Faith Sewell turned away any kind of attack as well.

“We have one of the more talented defensive groups we have had in a long time,” York said. “We let in the least amount of regular season goals, I think, as we have given up just 14 goals in 16 games coming in. We aren’t scoring in big lumps as we have in the past. I think we scored 21 more goals last year, but we had more wins this year, so it has been a different year, but a successful one.”

No matter what happens moving forward, York wants his team to make sure they enjoy what they have accomplished so far this season.

“I try to make sure they understand to enjoy the moment and how special it is to win a regional title,” York said. “There are a lot of schools who would love to have the success we have had. They really did accomplish something and you like to see them celebrate these types of wins.”

Louisburg will now square off with Bishop Miege in the state quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Wildcat Stadium. It will be a rematch of last year’s regional title game, where Miege ended the Wildcats’ season. 

The Stags have also won the last seven state championships, so York knows the task will be a challenging one for his team. 

“Miege is fast and has a lot of skill,” York said. “They know how to take lumps and they learn that playing such a hard schedule. They have depth against 4A schools that they can run out and have ability to wear you down. If you don’t make them pay for the mistakes, you don’t get second chances. We will definitely be tested. I just want the girls take it to them the best that they can, and if we can have a good day and some luck, it should be a competitive game.”