It was a successful, and eventful, 2021 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 several programs brought back state hardware.
Below are the top stories from 2021, 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.
This year was a blast to cover and I am looking forward to seeing what 2022 will bring. Thank you to everyone for their support and can’t wait for it all to begin again.
10. Louisburg golf team qualifies for state
INDEPENDENCE — For the second time in as many seasons, the Louisburg boys golf team qualified for the state tournament.
Except this time, the Wildcat team is made up of a completely new roster.
The Louisburg group of Johnny Eberhart, A.J. Arriola, Johnny Thompson, Sam Wheeler, Dacey Wieland and Jackson Olson shot a 392 to finish third at the Class 4A regional meet at Independence Country Club.
The Wildcats were just three strokes behind runner-up Field Kindley. Independence won the regional title with a 361.
Louisburg last went to state in 2019, but the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Eberhart led Louisburg with an 87 and finished fourth overall and was the lone Wildcat to make the cut for the second day.
9. Compliment steps back from volleyball program after 15 seasons.
When Jessica Compliment walked off the floor following her team’s semifinal sub-state loss to Bishop Miege back in October of 2020, the only thought on her mind was how that match was more like a state championship battle.s
It wasn’t your normal match as the two perennial state contenders had to square off so early in the postseason. She was proud of her team and was looking forward to another season of helping Louisburg volleyball get to another state tournament.
Little did she know, it would be the last time she would find herself on the Lady Cat sideline.
In late January, Compliment submitted her resignation as head volleyball coach as she will be stepping away to spend more time with her growing family.
Compliment certainly left her mark on the Louisburg volleyball program as she finished her 15th season back in October and has an impressive resume to show for it.
In the decade-and-a-half as the Lady Cat coach, Compliment guided Louisburg to eight state tournament appearances and placed in the top four of seven of them.
She also finished nine wins shy of 400 as she posted a record of 391-226 and helped Louisburg to three state championship matches.
Shortly after, the district hired assistant coach Leanna Willer to take over the program.
8. Wildcat boys soccer wins Frontier League title, advances to regional title
It had the drama of a state championship match, but instead the No. 1 and 3 ranked teams in the state were playing for the Class 4-1A regional championship title.
Louisburg hosted Bishop Miege in hopes ending the Stags’ string of consecutive state championships.
Instead, the Wildcats once again saw their season come to a close after a 2-0 loss to the Stags at Wildcat Stadium and ended their season with a 12-5-1 record.
The loss was heartbreaking defeat for the Wildcats, who had their sights set on another state final four — and possibly — a state title. To make matters worse, it was to a Miege team that has handed Louisburg a loss in five of the last six postseasons.
Earlier in the season, the Wildcats were crowned as co-champions of the Frontier League with Spring Hill.
7. Wildcat wrestling medals two
SALINA — Cade Holtzen and Alec Younggren didn’t get to leave Salina with what they were hoping to earn.
Only a select few get to leave with the title of “state champion,” and both Louisburg seniors were close to reaching their goal. Despite that, both wrestlers helped the Wildcat team to their best state finish in nearly 11 years.
Younggren reached the championship match, only to finish second at 220 pounds, while Holtzen rallied back to medal third at 132 during the Class 4A Kansas State Wrestling Championships at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center. The two wrestlers combined to score 30 points, which put them 14th in the team standings.
Louisburg hadn’t finished that high since 2010, when Austin Hood won his first of three state titles and his brother Bryce, took second. The Wildcats were 10th that year.
6. Louisburg cross country qualifies both teams for state, medals four.
WAMEGO — It wasn’t the finish Louisburg wanted following the Class 4A state cross country meet, but the Wildcats left with more than their fair share of hardware.
Louisburg was awarded four state medals following the meet at Wamego Country Club, including three on the girls side for the second straight season.
The Lady Cats had hoped to earn a team plaque for the second year in a row, but took fifth overall with 144 points. Eudora won the girls championship with 56, Baldwin was second with 64 and Winfield was third with 93.
Sophomore Emma Vohs led the charge for Louisburg as she finished sixth overall. Sophomore Maddy Rhamy and senior Reese Johnson also medaled for the Lady Cats.
In his first year with the boys program, senior Jaden Vohs had a strong final run for the Wildcats as he medaled 12th overall.
5. Louisburg cheer finishes runner-up at state competition
TOPEKA — The Louisburg High cheer program knows a thing or two about being one of the last teams left standing at the Game Day Showcase.
Louisburg, which won a state title in 2019 and took third in 2020, found itself one of the two teams left standing.
When the final results were announced in November, the judges awarded the Wildcat cheer squad the state runner-up plaque. Paola won the state title, while Baldwin made it a Frontier League sweep as it took third.
4. Wildcat girls take fourth at state soccer
WICHITA — The Louisburg girls soccer team may have left the Class 4-1A Kansas State Girls Soccer Championships with a pair of losses, but the Wildcats took a lot of pride in what they accomplished.
For the fourth straight season, Louisburg advanced to the state final four and the Wildcats finished fourth in the state – a far cry where many people thought they would end up. The Wildcats lost a pair of 2-1 matches to Mulvane and then to McPherson in the third-place match at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
Louisburg, which lost 12 seniors from a season that didn’t happen due to COVID, returned just three varsity players. Despite all that, they ended up being one of the top teams in the state.
3. Louisburg girls basketball snaps 47-year state drought, takes third at state
SALINA — The tears were abundant following Louisburg’s loss to McPherson in the Class 4A state semifinal game.
The Lady Cats saw their season come to an end after their 58-46 loss to the Bullpups in Salina, but as hard as the finality of it was to take, they know what is the bigger picture.
Before the game even started, Louisburg already wrapped up its best finish in program history and became the first Lady Cat team to place at state as it finished third.
A season that finished with a 19-5 record and a third place state trophy, is one that will always be remembered in Louisburg history.
“It means the world to me to finish third at state,” senior Megan Foote said. “Obviously it wasn’t how we wanted to finish, but that’s okay. I’m still beyond proud of this group and the accomplishments we have made. We are the best girls basketball team in Louisburg history. I’d say to be a part of that, is pretty awesome. I’m honored.”
For the last three quarters of the game, Louisburg actually outscored McPherson 43-37, but it was the first quarter that the Lady Cats weren’t able to overcome.
McPherson scored the first 15 points of the first quarter and took a 21-3 lead going into the second period.
2. Wildcat basketball advances to first-ever state title game, finish runner-up
SALINA — The result of the state championship game is not what the Louisburg boys basketball team will focus on several years from now.
The fact that the 2020-21 Wildcats recorded the best finish in school history, will be more than enough for them to fondly reminisce about.
Louisburg, which played in its first-ever state championship game in Salina, fell to state power Bishop Miege, 94-40. As disappointing as the result was, many of the Wildcats were looking bigger picture.
“We will forever live in history with this senior class and with this team,” senior Weston Guetterman said. “Until someone wins it at least, we are going to be the bar that everyone looks to. It is a proud moment for all of us.”
In the state semifinal, the Wildcats got a revenge victory with a come-from-behind 58-55 win over Augusta to advance to the state title game.
1. Wildcat track wins second state championship; Wright wins three state titles.
WICHITA — On the 10th anniversary of the Louisburg boys’ first state track championship, this year’s team wanted to do something to commemorate the historic event.
The Wildcats decided they wanted to win one of their own.
Louisburg edged out Andale for the state championship Friday during the Class 4A Kansas Track and Field Championships at Cessna Stadium in Wichita.
It is just the second track championship for Louisburg and just the fourth team state championship in school history.
The first one was a golf title in 1977, and then football won its first state title in 2010. The track team followed with its first later that school year in 2011 and the Louisburg cheer squad won a state title in 2019.
“There are no words to describe how incredibly proud I was of the entire team,” Louisburg coach Andy Wright said. “It was a total team effort. It was a moment I will never forget as a coach, and how exciting that it came down to the final race. Everyone gave it their all, and I just couldn’t happier as a coach to see all of that hard work pay off for them with the greatest reward.”
Tom Koontz led the Wildcats with four state medals, including a state championship in the 110-meter hurdles.
On the girls side, Delaney Wright made some history of her own.
Wright was the favorite to win state titles in her three events at the Class 4A State Track and Field Championships.
She didn’t disappoint.
Wright not only won three state championships, but she won them in convincing fashion, breaking two school records in the process. The Louisburg junior won the long jump, 400-meter dash and the 200-meter dash on her way to an historic day in Wichita.
“My experience at state track this year was amazing,” Wright said. “The people competing there were super nice and my teammates made it more fun. It meant a lot to pull off winning three state titles.”
Wright became the first female Wildcat athlete to win three state titles in the same year as she helped the Lady Cats to a fifth place finish in the team standings – also the highest finish for Louisburg girls track and field.
“I can’t say enough how awesome of a competitor Delaney is,” Louisburg girls coach John Reece said. “I know she went to state with one thing on her mind – win. She did just that and truly performed to her best. Winning three different events is an incredible feat.”
