Eleven years ago, I was a nervous wreck.

I had just been laid off from my newspaper job, one where I had spent seven years covering Louisburg. Like so many others in this profession, I suddenly found myself staring at an uncertain future as newspapers continued to disappear. Jobs were scarce. Stability was gone. And I had a family to support.

I knew I was probably going to have to take a job I didn’t want — something far from journalism — just to make ends meet.

Then an idea hit me.

With news media shifting more and more online, I wondered: Would Louisburg support something like this? Would the community care enough about local sports to follow an independent site dedicated solely to their athletes?

As it turned out, the answer was an overwhelming yes.

Because of the relationships I had built during my first seven years here, there was an appetite from local businesses to support the idea — and many of them never wavered. Eleven years later, a lot of those same businesses were still standing beside Louisburg Sports Zone, believing it was an important piece of the community.

They were right — and I couldn’t agree more.

This past decade-plus has been some of the best years of my life. Through Louisburg Sports Zone, I formed incredible relationships with coaches, athletes, administrators, parents and community members. Even as a graduate of rival Paola, the Louisburg community adopted me as one of their own.

For those of you around my age or older, this might resonate.

I often felt like Norm from Cheers.

Every time I walked into a gym, stadium or field, I’d hear, “Hey Andy!” or “Thanks for coming!” or “We appreciate you.” So many people knew my name — even people I didn’t know — simply because they appreciated what I did.

Instead of an icy cold glass in my hand, I carried a camera. My barstool wasn’t at a counter — it was on the sideline, capturing moments as they happened. And there were plenty of them.

State championships. State tournament appearances. Individual champions and medalists. Record-breaking performances.

I was lucky enough to see it all.

But my favorite part was always watching kids grow — seeing freshmen mature into seniors and leave as confident, capable young adults. That transformation never got old.

My very first event as Louisburg Sports Zone was a home basketball game. I was only a couple months removed from being laid off and still unsure if this idea would work or if anyone would even care.

Those worries disappeared quickly.

As I walked into the gym, Natalie Moore, Kirstin Lowry and Kallie O’Keefe stopped their warmups to smile and wave. Coach Shawn Lowry walked clear across the court to shake my hand and welcome me back.

More than a decade later, I still get those same smiles from athletes and handshakes from coaches and parents alike. Those connections are what made this decision so difficult.

Six months ago, I was offered a position with KSHSAA Covered and the Kansas High School Activities Association. Honestly, I never thought I’d have another writing job outside of Louisburg Sports Zone. I fully intended to keep doing this until the appetite for it simply wasn’t there anymore.

But the opportunity was too good to pass up — and it was the right move for my family.

I knew the connections wouldn’t be the same. Starting over is hard, especially when you know what you’re leaving behind. My favorite part of this job was feeling the appreciation from the community and knowing I was giving people something positive to read.

I wasn’t perfect. I made mistakes along the way. But this community allowed me to grow — as a writer, photographer and a person. I always tried to do the best I could and to cover every sport as fairly and equally as possible.

The last five or six years put me in an interesting position, as my own kids were playing varsity sports. How do you balance being a supportive dad and a journalist at the same time? I hope I did it right.

One of the biggest perks of this job was getting to write about my kids — their first varsity goal, first basket, first shutout or a big volleyball performance. I know how lucky I was to experience that.

None of this would have been possible without my family — especially my wife, Jennifer. I wasn’t home much in the evenings, especially with young kids, and that wasn’t easy. She never stopped supporting me.

To my kids — Jordan, Ally and Carter — thank you for understanding the crazy hours and for supporting me even when I couldn’t be at everything like other parents. I love you more than you know.

I also want to thank all of my advertisers, past and present. Louisburg Sports Zone doesn’t exist without you. Craig Holtzen and Edward Jones, Dixon Contracting Services, White’s Automotive, Prime Accounting Services, Amborn Stone, Wildcat Vet Clinic, Dr. Andy Hill, Destination Fun Travel, Vance Brothers, Go Brolly, First National Bank, First Option Bank, Landmark Bank, Dr. Laura’s Orthodontics, IronHorse Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Louisburg Family Dental, Vohs Pharmacy, Elliott Insurance, Magnum Equipment, Louisburg Athletic Club, Louisburg Library, Tri-County Pest, Midwest Collision — and so many others along the way.

I also wanted to give a big shoutout to a Louisburg graduate – Kenneth Sweeney. He has been my “web guy” this whole time. He helped design the site and has also been there to help me troubleshoot what problems have come up since then. I couldn’t have done it without him.

Thank you to every coach I’ve worked with. Getting to know you and promote your programs has truly been an honor. I appreciate you enduring my countless emails that I send out every week. You have helped make Louisburg Sports Zone what it is as well. I will miss you all.

And finally, the student-athletes — you are the reason this worked. Thank you for letting me into your lives and giving me so many incredible stories to tell. And consider this a long-overdue apology to anyone I ever did “dirty” with an unfortunate action photo.

So here I am, 11 years later, feeling some of those same nerves as I move into something new. The last six months with KSHSAA Covered have been great, and I’ve been welcomed with open arms.

Still, walking away from something I built was not easy.

I only hope that Louisburg Sports Zone has been as much of a blessing to you as it has been to me. These have been some of the best times of my life — and I will treasure them always.

Thank you, Louisburg.

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 2025, 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.

Although 2025 will be the last for Louisburg Sports Zone, I am looking forward to seeing, from a distance, what Louisburg athletics can accomplish in the future. Thank you all for the support in these last 11 years. I will never forget it.

10. Wildcat golf qualifies two for state

A year ago, the Louisburg golf team suffered heartbreak when the Wildcats were completely shut out of the state tournament. 

Not this year, however.

The Wildcats sent two golfers to the state tournament this past May as senior Sam Frederick and junior Derek Frederick both represented Louisburg after earning a spot following the May 19 regional tournament at the Independence Country Club.

Both players competed in their first state tournament, which was held May 27 at the Sand Creek Station Course in Newton. 

Sam Frederick earned a regional medal with a top 10 performance as he led the Wildcat team. The Louisburg senior finished 10th with an 87 on a tough Independence Country Club course. Independence had the top three individual finishers, led by champion Ethan Small, who had a 75.

Derek Frederick was the final individual to qualify for the state tournament as he carded a 91 and took 17th overall. 

9. Coaching changes as Brown, Crossley, Schoning take over volleyball, wrestling, girls soccer programs

There were some coaching changes in 2025 as three teams found new leaders to take charge of their respective programs.

Rich Brown (volleyball), Shawn Crossley (wrestling) and Dawson Schoning (girls soccer) were all hired new Louisburg head coaches.

Brown, who took over from Leanna Willer, helped the Wildcats to the sub-state championship game this past season.

Crossley takes over from long-time coach Bobby Bovaird, who resigned following the season earlier this year. Crossley, who is an LHS alum and former Wildcat wrestler, was an assistant coach the last several years.

As for Schoning, he takes over from former coach Jordan Roquemore who helped lead the Wildcats to a fourth-place state finish a year ago. Schoning, who is new to the district this year, was an assistant coach on the boys team this past fall.

8. Brueggen earns pair of state swim medals

TOPEKA — As Sabra Brueggen stepped onto the state swim podium for the final time, a flood of memories came rushing back.

Memories of when it all started, the friends she made and all her successes along the way. Brueggen has been one of the top swimmers in Class 5-1A the last four years and she proved it once again on May 24 during the Kansas State Swim and Dive Championships in Topeka.

The Louisburg senior ended her high school career with two state medals and a lifetime full of memories.

“Ending my high school career was a very sentimental moment for me,” Brueggen said. “It was the last time I would be racing some of the girls I have been swimming against since age six. Being able to share the podium with them one last time made it even more meaningful, making me very proud of how I performed at my final state meet.”

Brueggen had strong swims throughout 2-day meet that began on May 23 at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. In the prelims, she qualified for the finals in fifth in both the 200-yard individual medley and 100 backstroke.

In the finals, Brueggen found her way to the medal stand as she finished sixth in the 200 individual medley in 2 minutes and 14.42 seconds.

The 100 backstroke proved to be much of the same for Brueggen there as she also medaled sixth in a time of 58.81 seconds. It completed a string of four straight years of earning a state medal.

7. Wildcat girls make history with first regional cross country title

NEODESHA — For the first time in program history, the Louisburg girls cross country team left a regional meet as champions.

On a rainy, muddy Saturday at Riverside Park in Neodesha, the Wildcats powered through the slick conditions to win the Class 4A regional championship with 39 points — seven ahead of runner-up Paola. The victory also secured a state berth for the entire Louisburg squad.

“It was awesome and emotional to see the girls leave Neodesha as regional champs,” Louisburg coach John Reece said. “It has been a long time in the making as we have had multiple teams qualify for state but have never won a regional title. The rankings had us winning the meet, but those are just rankings. The girls showed up to compete and that is exactly what they did.”

It was a youthful lineup that led the Wildcats to history, featuring two freshmen, four sophomores and one junior — and the youngest runners set the tone. Freshman Karissa Williamson finished fourth overall in 22:40.26, just ahead of fellow freshman Maddox McGhee, who took fifth in 22:40.46. Sophomore Hailey Shelton placed sixth in 22:57, giving Louisburg three runners in the top 10.

Sophomore Reese Smith finished ninth in 23:50, junior Talen McMurray placed 16th in 24:16, and sophomores Felicity Allen and Annie Hornberger rounded out the lineup in 23rd and 27th, respectively.

The team went on to run at state along with Truman Ellison, Titus Ellison and Spencer Mattison, who qualified for state on the boys side.

6. Moore state runner-up in wrestling, Wildcats qualify 7 for state

SALINA — In the final match of his wrestling career, Ashton Moore found himself competing for a state championship. 

It was exactly the place he envisioned himself being, even before the season started. The result, however, was a different story.

Moore’s dreams of a state title were dashed Saturday at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament in Salina. Smoky Valley’s Parker Gardner ended his run with a 13-5 major decision at 215 pounds. 

As disappointing as the loss was for Moore, looking back on his long wrestling career helped ease the pain — as did the second place state medal.

“It was tough taking that loss,” Moore said. “I was pretty down about it, but then I had a moment that put things more into perspective for me. After our practice on Friday, Coach (Bobby) Bovaird took us up to the top of the arena to talk about the tournament. Sitting there I remembered being in that same spot as a sixth grader watching the championship round there. At that age I thought those guys were amazing and the toughest people I’d ever seen. 

“So after my loss I thought back to that moment being a sixth grader and I was able to realize how far I’ve come. To see myself at that level now made me very proud I was able to make it to that stage.”

The Wildcat program also had six other wrestlers compete at the state tournament, including two on the girls side. 

Seniors Brayden Yoder (215), Canaan Clayton (120), Mika McKitrick (132) and sophomore Levi Cotter (106) each finished the tournament with an 0-2 mark.

On the girls side, Leola Eslinger and Brooklyn DeWeese became the first Wildcat girls to ever qualify for state.

5. Jazzy Cats take third at state dance

The Louisburg High School Jazzy Cats made their mark in program history on Nov. 21, earning a third-place finish in Class 4A at the State Game Day Spirit Showcase at the Stormont-Vail Events Center in Topeka.

In their first-ever trip to state competition, the Jazzy Cats not only reached the finals but left with some hardware.

Coach Sarah Alexander said the entire experience was meaningful, not only because of the results, but because it was all uncharted territory for the program.

“This was the first time the Jazzy Cats had ever attended state, so the entire experience was brand new for all of us,” Alexander said. “To come home with a state plaque was absolutely incredible. The girls were thrilled just to have the opportunity to compete, and bringing home a plaque made all of their hard work feel truly rewarding. It was such a special moment for the team and a huge milestone for our program.”

Louisburg scored 81.41 in the finals, just enough to edge Holton (81.23) by the slimmest of margins for the final spot on the podium. Ottawa won the state championship with a score of 90.13, while Bishop Miege secured second at 85.77.

4. Louisburg cheer earns Class 4A state runner-up

TOPEKA — The Louisburg High School cheer team added another trophy to its growing collection on Nov. 22, earning the Class 4A state runner-up title at the Game Day Cheer Championships at Stormont-Vail Events Center.

The Wildcats posted an 87.73 in the finals to take second place behind defending state champion Paola, which won with a 94.27. Holton finished third at 85.

For Louisburg, the return to the podium was nothing new. The Wildcats have now finished in the top three six times in the last seven seasons, cementing themselves as one of the state’s most consistent programs.

Louisburg entered the finals in fourth place, boosted by a Fight Song and Crowd Leading routine that ranked second among all teams. The Wildcats had roughly 20 minutes to review score sheets and adjust before stepping back onto the mat—pressure they handled with poise.

“It was truly a special day for all of us,” head coach Breanna Kostroske said. “From the moment we arrived, the athletes were focused, calm, and determined. They’ve poured so much into this season, so seeing them step onto the mat with confidence and joy made the entire experience incredibly meaningful.”

3. Wingfield wins state pole vault title; Meyer, Vohs earn three state medals to lead Wildcat track

For the last four years, Louisburg has dominated the pole vault on the boys side in Class 4A and had its fair share of success on the girls side.

Caden Caplinger and Maddy Carpenter-Ross earned back-to-back state titles during that span and now it was Cooper Wingfield’s opportunity.

Wingfield won gold in the pole vault in 2024 and was the favorite to win again this season — and he did it with ease. The Louisburg senior cleared 15 feet, 6 inches to win his second consecutive state championship during the Class 4A meet on May 30 at Wichita State University. 

“It means a lot to win it back to back, not only for myself, but also to continue what Caden and Maddy had done before me,” Wingfield said. “This year made it four in a row that Louisburg had a state champion in the boys pole vault. It also made me the third back to back pole vault state champion for Louisburg in the last four years. I really wanted to continue that legacy and cement the dynasty we had and I am proud that I did.”

It had been a special year already for Wingfield as he broke his own school record earlier in the year with a clearance of 15-7.75 at the Kansas Relays.

Just like a year ago, his teammate Jacob Brown joined Wingfield on the state podium. Brown earned a fifth place medal after he cleared 14 feet as the Louisburg senior ended his Wildcat career as one of the best in the state.

Aidan Meyer and Myles Vohs each recorded three state medals as they helped the Wildcats to a ninth-place finish with 32 points.

Meyer cemented his place in the Wildcat track history books in one of those events. The Louisburg senior broke a 14-year-old school record in the 400-meter dash as he earned a fourth place finish in 48.83 seconds.

As for Vohs, he opened the state meet with a fifth-place finish in the long jump. Meyer, Vohs, along with Gavin Lohse and Caleb Feldkamp, finished sixth overall in in the 4×100 relay in 43.76 seconds.

Vohs, Meyer, along with Colton Blue and Emmett White, put together an all-senior 4×400-meter relay that took sixth in 3:27.

Another Louisburg senior, Jerynce Brings Plenty, ended his Wildcat track career with a state medal as well. Brings Plenty finished seventh in the 1,600-meter run in 4:39.78.

On the girls’ side, the Louisburg 4×100-meter relay, Kendall Crossley (100-meter dash) and McKenna Lohse (shot put) all found their way to the state podium.

Louisburg’s 4×100-meter relay team of senior Mackenzie Rooney, along with juniors Kendall Crossley, Addi Mallett and Suzanna Dansel finished fourth at state. The Wildcat group broke the school record during the regional meet and posted another fast time of 49.14 seconds during the prelims, which gave them the second fastest time heading into the finals.

That wouldn’t be the only time Crossley found her way to the medal stand.

The Louisburg junior qualified for the finals of the 100-meter dash earlier in the day, and then in the finals, medaled eighth overall in 12.82 seconds.

In the shot put, Lohse put herself in good position in the prelims. She recorded a throw of 37 feet, 1.25 inches in her first three attempts and was sitting in second place going into the finals, before taking fifth overall.

2. Brown first Wildcat to win 2 state swim titles; Wildcats medal in 6 events

LENEXA — Colin Brown was all about making school history Saturday at the Class 5-1A Kansas State Swim and Dive Championships.

Brown became the first Louisburg swimmer in school history to win a state title and did so by winning the 100-yard butterfly. Some athletes would have been content with just the one, but not Brown.

The Louisburg junior took to the water again in the 100 backstroke and won his second state title in a matter of minutes. It was also his fourth state medal of the day, which included a pair of relays.

“It was a surreal experience and an incredible honor,” Brown said. “It was really cool to see all of the hard work and countless hours pay off. It also gave me a sense of pride knowing that I was representing the school while doing so.”

That was the some of the success the Louisburg swim team had at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center. The Wildcats medaled in six events and finished seventh in the team standings with just four swimmers. 

Louisburg junior Andrew Jamison also tallied four medals as made his way to the state podium in the 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke and two relays. Senior Colton Prettyman and sophomore Noah Sharp joined the other Wildcats as state medalists in the relays.

1. Wildcat soccer takes fourth at state for best finish since 2021

It may have been wet, muddy and just miserable weather for a day in late May, but for the Louisburg girls soccer team, all that didn’t matter.

For the Wildcats, it was a beautiful day. Nothing was going to dampen their spirits. 

Louisburg faced off against Eudora in the Class 4-1A state quarterfinal game on May 25 as it played for a spot in the state final four. 

For the first time since 2021, the Wildcats got it. Louisburg shutout Eudora, 2-0, to earn its first state quarterfinal win in four years.

“It is an amazing achievement to make it to the state final four and I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” senior captain Jaden Bentz said. “This really shows the amount of hard work we’ve all put in throughout the season and it’s nice knowing it has paid off. I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to play with. When the final whistle blew we all were filled with excitement and ran to each other, and that shows the tight sisterly bond our team has.”

Louisburg head coach Jordan Roquemore was an assistant the last time the Wildcats were in the state semifinals and he could tell his team wanted this one more than any game this season.

“I have never seen the team so jazzed about anything all season as when the game was over,” Roquemore said. “We are all really excited for the opportunity to compete in the Final Four this year.”

Louisburg squared off with Rose Hill in the third-place game of the Class 4-1A Kansas State Soccer Championships on May 31 at Wichita’s Stryker Complex. It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to get on the board.

The Wildcats struck first in the game’s opening minutes, but Rose Hill tied it in the first half and scored late in the second to hand Louisburg a 2-1 loss.

Louisburg was coming off a 2-0 loss in the state semifinals on May 28 as it hosted its first state semifinal game against Topeka-Hayden. 

“Honestly, I was really proud of how we played this game,” Louisburg coach Jordan Roquemore said. “Rose Hill is an exceptional squad and we not only kept them at bay defensively, we were very successful in creating attack opportunities. We were nearly even with them for shots on goal and I thought it was a very well-matched game for us.”

OSAWATOMIE — The Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill boys swim team opened its home schedule in impressive fashion last Wednesday, winning a four-team meet with 387 points. Independence finished second with 281 points.

Louisburg swimmers played a major role in the victory, combining for eight state qualification times or improvements on existing state marks in a strong early-season showing.

Senior Colin Brown, a two-time state champion, led the way with multiple victories. Brown won the 200-yard freestyle and earned a state qualifying time of 1 minute, 52.96 seconds. He also bettered his state qualifying mark in the 100 freestyle on a relay leg and captured first place in the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.30 seconds.

Senior Andrew Jamison, who returns after winning state medals last season, also turned in a standout performance. Jamison won both the 100 backstroke and the 200 individual medley. He qualified for state in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.60 seconds and won the 200 IM in 2:07.97.

In his first meet competing with the Louisburg team, junior Casey Carpenter-Ross made an immediate impact. Carpenter-Ross won both sprint freestyle events and earned state qualification times in each, taking the 50 freestyle in 21.68 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 47.44 seconds.

Junior Noah Sharp finished second in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke. Sharp earned a state qualifying time in the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:13.37.

Brown, Jamison, Sharp and Carpenter-Ross also combined for state qualification times in both relay events. The quartet won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:26.82 and followed that with a victory in the 200 medley relay in 1:40.35.

Other Louisburg swimmers also contributed key points. Bennett Mendez placed second in both the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle, while Brock Delmez finished third in the 200 individual medley and fifth in the 100 butterfly.

Head coach Mary Argeropoulos was pleased with the team’s performance in the home opener.

“We had a strong showing yesterday which is always satisfying to defend your home waters,” Argeropoulos said. “We didn’t have the rash of personal best times this meet but good solid quality swims across the board helped to seal the team victory.”

Argeropoulos noted the continued progress of the returning swimmers and the leadership they are providing.

“The returning Louisburg swimmers have literally built on the way the ended last season—they have come in faster, stronger, and more determined than ever,” she said. “Times are dropping, state positions are being secured, and really they are continuing to build from their peak of last season at state. The younger Louisburg swimmers are pulling up right behind the leaders and benefitting from great team leadership and improving by leaps and bounds as well.”

She also praised the addition of Carpenter-Ross to the lineup.

“Casey is a great asset to our squad and we are thrilled to add him to our team this season,” Argeropoulos said. “He has big high school goals and helps to build the enthusiasm and quality of the Louisburg (and OzPaLouSpri) swim culture.”

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week two of the winter sports season, sponsored by IronHorse Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.

NOAH SHARP, JUNIOR, SWIMMING

Louisburg junior Noah Sharp put together a strong start to his 2025-26 swim season. At the Topeka-Hayden Invitational on Dec. 10, Sharp qualified for state in two different events — the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Sharp won the 50 freestyle in a personal best time of 22.82 seconds and helped the Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill boys swim team to a second place finish in the 9-team meet.

Sharp also went on to finish runner-up in the 100 butterfly in a new personal best time of 57.54 seconds. Sharp, along with teammates Colin Brown, Bennett Mendez and Landen Terflinger took second in the 200 medley relay. Sharp also joined with Mendez, Tag Solberg and Philip Hebert to finish runner-up in the 200 freestyle relay.

The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the winter season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.

Previous Winners:

Week 1: Herschel Strumberger

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

Although I am giving out the award, I wanted the process to be subjective, so I asked the head coaches at LHS to help me out. I asked each coach to send me nominations of who they thought exemplified the Athlete of the Year honor. Then I sent the nominations back to the coaches and they voted for their top 3 male and female athletes. The recipient will be announced in the coming days.

(Editor’s Note: Normally, the coaches send me their votes and I tabulate the winner. However, due to a conflict of interest, I handed those duties to LHS AD Ty Pfannenstiel this year and he graciously gathered all the votes from the coaches and I was not a part of the process.)

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

Ally Brown – Senior – Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer

Ally was a 3-time letterwinner this past season in volleyball, basketball and soccer. In volleyball, Brown earned honorable mention all-league honors for her work as a defensive specialist as she helped the Wildcats to the sub-state championship game. She finished with 228 digs, which was second on the team and was also second in aces with 47. She led Louisburg in serve attempts and points scored while she was serving.

On the basketball court, Brown was a starter for the Wildcat basketball team and averaged four points a game. She also led the team in assists (35) and steals (24).

Brown joined the Wildcat soccer team for the first time in the spring and made the most of her opportunity. She started in goal and finished with 12 shutouts on the season as she helped the Wildcats to a fourth-place finish at the Class 4-1A state tournament and finished with a 16-5 record. Brown was also named second team All-Frontier League goalie as she had more than 80 saves on the year and had an 87 percent save percentage.

Sabra Brueggen – Senior – Basketball, Swim

Sabra was a letterwinner for the Louisburg basketball and swim team this year. On the basketball court, Brueggen was a starter for the Lady Cats as she was third on the team with 85 rebounds on the year and averaged five points a contest.

Brueggen really made her mark in the pool as she earned two medals at the Class 5-1A state swim meet this spring. She medaled sixth in both the 200-yard individual medley and 100 backstroke. Throughout the season, Brueggen earned state qualifying times in all of the individual events and she also qualified in three relays.

She swam in two of those relays at the state meet as she helped the 200 freestyle relay to victory in the consolation finals and finished ninth overall. Brueggen also swam the 400 free relay as they took 13^th. Overall, Brueggen earned at least one state medal in each of her four years with the program.

Addy Stohs – Senior – Basketball, Softball

Addy was a letterwinner for the Louisburg basketball and softball teams. It was in softball where Stohs made her biggest mark. The Louisburg senior was named to the All-Frontier League first team after strong season as the team’s first baseman.

Stohs had a big year at the plate for Louisburg as she had a .435 average, which included 27 hits, four doubles and a home run, to go along with 13 RBIs. Stohs also had a .950 fielding percentage and only had 3 errors on the year.

On the basketball court, Stohs was a forward for the Wildcats as she had 23 rebounds on the year to go along with 10 blocked shots.

TOPEKA — As Sabra Brueggen stepped onto the state swim podium for the final time, a flood of memories came rushing back.

Memories of when it all started, the friends she made and all her successes along the way. Brueggen has been one of the top swimmers in Class 5-1A the last four years and she proved it once again on May 24 during the Kansas State Swim and Dive Championships in Topeka.

The Louisburg senior ended her high school career with two state medals and a lifetime full of memories.

“Ending my high school career was a very sentimental moment for me,” Brueggen said. “It was the last time I would be racing some of the girls I have been swimming against since age six. Being able to share the podium with them one last time made it even more meaningful, making me very proud of how I performed at my final state meet.”

Brueggen had strong swims throughout 2-day meet that began on May 23 at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. In the prelims, she qualified for the finals in fifth in both the 200-yard individual medley and 100 backstroke.

In the finals, Brueggen found her way to the medal stand as she finished sixth in the 200 individual medley in 2 minutes and 14.42 seconds.

The 100 backstroke proved to be much of the same for Brueggen there as she also medaled sixth in a time of 58.81 seconds. It completed a string of four straight years of earning a state medal.

“I was very happy with how I swam in my personal events last weekend,” Brueggen said. “I was right up next to my previous best times and I was able to stay consistent with my performances during both prelims and finals. I had high hopes, and although I didn’t completely reach my goal times, I am still very grateful with how the meet ended.”

Brueggen also swam in a pair of relays, including the 200 freestyle relay that won the consolation finals. The team of Ella Bockelman, Janie Harth, Cadence Weichert and Brueggen won in a season-best time of 1:48.21 and finished ninth overall — missing a medal by one spot.

Bockelman, Makayla Ellis, Harth and Brueggen also swam in the 400 freestyle relay consolation finals and placed 13th in 4:07.31.

“The success that came through our relays this past weekend was very exciting,” Brueggen said. “Although we did not make ‘A’ final in the 200 free relay during the first day of the meet, our performance during the second day was truly an unforgettable experience. We all swam our best times at the same time, and would’ve medaled had we been top 8 the first day.”

On the first day of competition, the Wildcats also competed in the 200 medley relay as Bockelman, Ellis, Harth and Weichert missed out on the finals as they took 24th in 2:10.80.

Last weekend marked the end of the high school careers for Brueggen, Harth and Weichert. This won’t be the end for Brueggen in the pool, however, as she will continue to swim at the University of Northern Iowa next season.

“Ending this chapter of life has been very difficult but I know that there are bigger things to come,” Brueggen said. “I look forward to being able to just focus on one sport, for the first time in my life, at the collegiate level. I am super excited to see what I can bring to the swim team at the University of Northern Iowa and I can’t wait to become a part of the amazing culture they have created.

“My love for the water started at a very young age, and I know that little me would be super proud of how far I’ve come and how far I will go in the future.”

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week nine of the spring sports season, sponsored by Landmark National Bank.

SABRA BRUEGGEN, SENIOR, SWIMMING

Louisburg senior Sabra Brueggen ended her high school swim career on a positive note Saturday at the Class 5-1A Kansas State Swim and Dive Championships in Topeka. Brueggen captured a pair of state medals and helped a relay win their consolation finals race.

Brueggen earned a sixth place medal in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2 minutes and 14.42 seconds. The Louisburg senior also medaled sixth in the 100 backstroke with a season-best time of 58.81 seconds. Brueggen, along with Ella Bockelman, Janie Harth and Cadence Weichert, won the consolation finals of the 200 freestyle relay in a season-best time of 1:48.21.

The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the spring season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.

Previous winners

Week 1: Luke Schultz

Week 2: Faith Sewell

Week 3: Meade Rutherford

Week 4: Brynley Bauer

Week 5: Rowan Yows

Week 6: Kendall Crossley

Week 7: Bristol Barbour

Week 8: Aidan Meyer

OSAWATOMIE — It has already been a good season for the Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill girls swim team — one that included several top finishes and state qualification times.

It got even better on May 14 as the Miami County team hosted the InterLeague Championship at the OZone is Osawatomie. 

Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill won the league title going away with 477 points. Independence was second with 384 in the 9-team meet.

“It was extremely satisfying for the girls to be able to bring the league championships back to OzPaLouSpri,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said. “We’ve been building this program for many, many years and the depth, strength, and talent that has built this team is amazing. The athletes worked hard and really took the team mindset to heart to accomplish this goal.”

The team recorded 39 personal best times and won four events on the day — including three on the Louisburg side. 

Louisburg senior Sabra Brueggen led the way with three league championships of her own, including two individual events and another on a relay. 

Brueggen won the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2 minutes and 23.93 seconds. Later on in the meet, she went on to win the 100 backstroke in 1:03.40.

Louisburg’s Cadence Weichert, Makayla Ellis, Brueggen and Spring Hill’s Alicia Hager won the league title in the 200 medley relay in a time of 2:05.01.

Wildcat sophomore Ella Bockelman finished as the league runner-up in the 200 freestyle in a new personal best time of 2:30.42. Bockelman also took third in the 100 backstroke in another personal best of 1:13.

Weichert finished third in both the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke, while Louisburg senior Janie Harth took third in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 freestyle.

Ellis finished fourth in the 200 individual medley and fifth in the 100 butterfly. Sophomore Talen McMurray was fourth in the 100 breaststroke.

In the relays, Harth, Weichert, Brueggen and Spring Hill’s Camden Strickland finished as league runner-up in the 200 freestyle in 1:54. Harth, Hagar, Bockelman and Strickland took second in the 400 freestyle relay in 4:33.

Now the team prepares for the state meet that begins on May 23 and lasts through the 24th at the Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka.

Brueggen, who has medaled at state the last three seasons, will try for a fourth straight. The Wildcats will also compete in all three relay events.

“We are looking forward to state competition with a base of work ethic and teamwork,” Argeropoulos said. “The girls have pushed each other to prepare for this weekend and we can’t wait to see what they can accomplish in the water.”

OSAWATOMIE — It had been more than a month since the Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill girls swim team had a chance to compete in its home pool.

It was like it never left. 

The Miami County team put together another strong performance in its regular season finale on May 7 as it took first place with 563 points in the 4-team meet. Independence was second at 509.

It posted 40 personal best times on the day and won five events.

“The home meet was a big success,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said. “We swim well at home typically and these ladies defended their home pool really well.  It was fun and rewarding for them to see the display of hard work, talent, and depth of the team achieve their first place team finish.”

It was also Senior Night, and for the Louisburg side, it was an emotional one. Sabra Brueggen, Janie Harth and Cadence Weichert were all honored for their contributions to the program. 

All three swimmers have been important parts to the Louisburg program and they have participated in the state meet. Brueggen has medaled at state the last three seasons.

“Our 3 Louisburg seniors have really been the backbone of the team for the last four years,” Argeropolous said. “They came in with enthusiasm and a love of the sport that translated into an infectious draw to the program. It has been a journey to watch them grow and develop both in and out of the pool.  

“Cadence, Janie and Sabra will all be greatly missed and could never be replaced, but they have left a swimming legacy in our community that will inspire others to pick up where they have left off.”

Brueggen continued her strong season as she qualified for state in two more individual events — the 50 and 500 freestyle. She has now qualified in every event and will later choose two to compete at state.

She won the 500 freestyle in 5 minutes and 36 seconds and took second in the 50 freestyle in 25.99 seconds.

As for Harth, she won the 100 freestyle in 1:03.85 and also took fourth in the 50 freestyle with a time of 28.05. Weichert won the 200 individual medley in 2:50 and was third in the 100 free in 1:06.

Louisburg sophomore Ella Bockelman finished second in both the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke, while sophomore Talen McMurray was runner-up in the 200 and 100 freestyle. 

Another sophomore, Makayla Ellis, was third in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 50 free.

The Miami County team also captured all three relay titles. In the 200 medley, Brueggen, Harth, Weichert and Bockelman won in 2:08.72.

Brueggen, Ellis, along with Spring Hill’s Alivia Hagar and Camden Strickland, took first in the 200 free relay in 1:54. Strickland, Ellis, Hagar and Harth won the 400 free relay in 4:27.

The team is back in action on May 14 as it hosts the Independent League meet at the Ozone in Osawatomie. Events begin at 4 p.m.

OVERLAND PARK — The Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill girls swim team faced one of its toughest tests of the season on May 3 as it traveled to the Timberwolf Invitational at Blue Valley Southwest High School.

The 14-team meet provided a lot of obstacles, but the Miami County team had its best showing at the meet in program history as it took third with 128 points. Southwest won with 263 and Lansing was second at 244.

“Blue Valley Southwest is one of the biggest, most competitive meets we attend currently and the ladies stepped up to the mark,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said. “Attitudes and outlooks were positive and those turned into quality swims and a solid team performance.”

It was a strong showing from the Louisburg side as the Wildcats qualified for state in four more events, including a pair of relays. 

Sabra Brueggen Janie Harth, Ella Bockelman and Makayla Ellis qualified in both the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays. In the 200, the Wildcats took fourth in a state qualifying time of 1 minutes and 51.43 seconds

In the 400 relay, the Louisburg quartet did much of the same as they finished fourth in 4:10.94 and the Wildcats have now qualified all three relays for the state competition. 

“The Louisburg relays have been capable all season to throw down those state times, it was just a matter of all 4 athletes putting in the efficient swim at the same time,” Argeropoulos said. “There was a little shake up in personnel and everyone performed admirably. 

“There is a friendly, fierce competition going for many slots in all three relays so it will be exciting to see what the make-up of each race holds. I’m sure the athletes, and I know the coaches, were relieved to put those qualifying times onto paper and now we are ready to charge to state with all three relays.”

Brueggen also added two more individual state times to her resume. The Louisburg senior finished second in the 100 breaststroke in a state time of 1:14 and also took fifth in the 100 butterfly in a qualifying time of 1:04.

Harth also had a pair of top 10 finishes for Louisburg as she was seventh in the 50 freestyle and ninth in the 100 freestyle. Weichert took ninth in the 100 butterfly. 

Louisburg is back in action on May 7 as the Miami County team will host its final regular season meet of the year at the Ozone in Osawatomie. Events begin at 4 p.m. 

It is also Senior Night as Brueggen, Harth and Weichert will all be honored with their families during the meet.