Louisburg residents (from left) Ellen Moreland, Jean Carder and Janet York are among local players who will compete at the National Granny Basketball Tournament.

Miami County’s Granny Basketball players will be competing in the league’s national championship this weekend at the Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City, Mo.

Nine players from the Louisburg Tonics team will be joined by four players from the Wichita Aerobelles to
play as the Kansas Cougars in the 1920s-style basketball known as Granny Basketball. The tournament, which runs July 30-31 at the Hy-Vee Arena, will feature nearly 250 players ages 50 to 90 playing on 20 different teams.

The Cougars will play in pool play Saturday at 10:15 a.m., 1 and 3:30 p.m. Bracket play, based on seeding from the pool games, is on Sunday.

Representing the Tonics on the travel team are Becky Bowes, Janet York, Diana Moore, Ellen Morland, LaVonne Mize, Julie McKinley, Jayne Schommer, Helen McClain and Jean Carder.

The team to watch is the defending champion of the national tournament, the Harpers Ferry Fireflies hailing from a small town in northeast Iowa. Players travel from Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, and Wisconsin to test their skills in a 6-on-6 style of game that women played a century ago.

Fans are invited to come watch their local favorites. The $5 admission fee at the door will benefit Noah’s Bandage Project, as will donations generated through fun granny shot activities for players, volunteers and spectators. Noah’s Bandage Project also will be accepting donations of colorful, self-adhesive bandages for children with cancer.

The Granny Basketball League is a non-profit Iowa-based organization founded in 2005. Currently, 41 Granny Basketball teams are active in 10 states: Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and most recently, California.

Granny Basketball was created to provide women of a certain age a gentler form of the game, reminiscent of the 6-on-6 game that was played by young women a century ago.

For more information, visit www.grannybasketball.com and www.facebook.com/grannybasketball.

The spread of COVID-19 has turned the country upside-down, and it now it threatens schools and spring sports on the high school level. Will it prevent celebrations like this one from happening in 2020?

It is something we can’t see. We
can’t touch it. We can’t smell it. That is what makes this all the more scary.

COVID-19, better known as the Coronavirus, has flipped the country’s life upside-down in a matter of days. For many of us, this virus will be nothing more than a cold or flu-like disease if we contract it, which is great news for me and my family.

However, those aren’t the people I’m
too concerned about. I fear for the elderly, or those with underlying
conditions, that have a weakened immune system and that is when this virus becomes
deadly.

That is what made all the cancellations this week necessary. It isn’t to stop, but slow the spread of this disease, so that hospitals do not become overrun with patients and to limit casualties.

It is an unprecedented time we are
living in and many people are still unaware exactly what this virus is. If you
need proof, look at all the empty toilet paper shelves in stores. Still, don’t
get that one myself.

My heart goes out to all the
people who are affected by this disease, but I wanted to talk about something
that is more in my wheelhouse and something that is a lot less “important” in
the grand scheme of things.

As many of you already know,
sporting events and leagues across the country have been cancelled. The NCAA
basketball tournament being shutdown has given a different meaning to “March
Madness” these days.

You watch as athletes, who have
trained for years to reach a certain point, see their seasons cut short and may
never get that opportunity back again. I feel for the seniors who had no idea
they would never be able to play in their final game.

Then you look at the professional level and so many people are impacted by this. It is the people who work concessions, park cars, janitorial staff and others who depend on those paychecks to make a living and now don’t have one. Their lives are basically at the hands of this virus.

At the high school level, it was heartbreaking to read about the state basketball tournaments that were cancelled after the first round. Those players, who had hopes of a state title and had been working months for that moment, had it suddenly taken away from them. Those seniors won’t get another chance at it.

In the context of sports – not life
or death – these are all devastating.

As far as Louisburg and the rest of the state is concerned, it is a reasonable assumption to think the spring season – at the very least – could be delayed. Maybe not, and maybe things will calm down as the spring is scheduled to kick off on March 23 when the Wildcat girls soccer team travels to Harmon for their season opener.

The Wildcats are considered one of
the state’s best teams in Class 4A as they feature a team with 12 seniors that
have played multiple years on the varsity level. They are also back-to-back
state runners-up.

Senior golfer Calvin Dillon is
poised to get his fourth state medal this year and will try to capture the
school’s first individual state title. The Wildcats also has another great
chance to qualify for state as a team.

Louisburg track returns several
state medalists from a year ago and has the potential to do even more damage at
the state meet again this season. The school is also competing in girls swim
for the first time in school history, while the baseball and softball teams are
under new head coaches and having promising seasons in front of them.

If this season gets cancelled, I
cannot begin to fathom the amount of heartbreak this town would go through.
These are opportunities young athletes – especially the seniors – will never
able to get back.

Schools are currently being closed
around the country and USD 416 is in conversations with the state about what
the next step should be.

Luckily, Louisburg just started
Spring Break and will be out of school for the next 10 days. Still, this virus
still figures to linger for longer than that.

So what is the next step?

The news is constantly changing by
the hour and no one really knows what is next. All we can do right now is
follow the guidelines and hope for the best.

No, not hope – pray.

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week two of the winter sports season, sponsored by Elliott Insurance.

NOAH HILL, BOYS BASKETBALL, SENIOR

Louisburg senior Noah Hill was a big factor for the Wildcat boys basketball team last week as he helped them to a 1-1 record. Hill averaged a double-double in the two games with 11 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Burlington and an overtime loss to Anderson County.

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: Alyse Moore

Louisburg senior Kohl Vogel rises up for a shot around four Anderson County defenders Friday in Garnett. Vogel scored a game-high 27 points in the Wildcats’ loss to Anderson County

GARNETT – Friday’s game between Louisburg and Anderson County featured more twists and turns than your traditional soap opera.

Both teams went on big runs and went back and forth at each other on the scoreboard. Neither team could pull away, and one knocked down a shot in the final seconds in regulation to force overtime.

It was a contest where both teams had an opportunity to put the game away in their favor, but unfortunately for Louisburg, the Wildcats just ran out of time.

Anderson County went on a big run to start overtime and knocked off Louisburg, 80-74, and the Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season.

“The locker room is dead in there,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “They are hurting for sure. If you want to try and spin it as a positive, it is good to know that they care. As coaches, we know that they do because of the time that they put into this and the summer that they had. To be able to play well in this type of game is good to see.

“We are going to see these types of games in the Frontier League all season. We are going to continue to get better and use this as a momentum builder and not a step back. Our program took a step forward with how we played.”

The Wildcats (2-1) got big performances from several players throughout the game. Senior Kohl Vogel had his best game offensively as a Wildcat as he scored a game-high 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds.

Fellow senior Brayden Gage hit several big shots as he finished with 18 points and junior Madden Rutherford was big on the glass with a career-best 23 rebounds. Senior Noah Hill was also close to a double-double with seven points and nine rebounds.

However, the biggest moment came thanks to a sophomore.

With the Wildcats down by three points, and less than five seconds left, sophomore guard Weston Guetterman knocked down a 3-pointer to keep the Wildcats in it and sent the game to overtime.

“It was huge shot and it takes a lot of confidence for a kid to step up and shoot that shot,” Pfannenstiel said. “That is kind of kid that Weston is. Playing freshman basketball last year, he hit a half-court shot to win the game, so he is that big shot guy. It was a great job by our kids to get the ball to him and to execute that.”

After the opening tip, it appeared the Wildcats were going to run away with their third straight win. Louisburg jumped out to a 14-0 lead to start the game after big baskets from Vogel and Gage.

The lead didn’t last long,however, as Anderson County went on a 20-9 run the rest of the first quarter to cut the Louisburg lead to three.

“We started the game about as well as we have started a game since I have been here,” Pfannenstiel said. “We came out confident and were making plays. Hats off to Anderson County for responding and they made a little run themselves and got it to a back and forth basketball game. I am proud of our guys with how we competed in this type of environment. We were never in this type of game last year and for our kids to play that well in that big of an environment was good to see.”

The Wildcats encountered some foul trouble in the second quarter as Guetterman and Vogel both had to sit with three fouls. Louisburg was already without senior Dylan DeShazer, who was out with an injury, so its bench had to respond and it did.

Sophomore Ben Guetterman came off the bench to score 10 points, all of which came in the second quarter, to help give Louisburg a 43-37 lead at halftime.

However, turnovers were a problem for Louisburg most of the evening, including the second half. The Wildcats committed 30 turnovers on the night, including ones in the fourth quarter and overtime that allowed Anderson County to come back and take the lead.

“Anderson County wants to speed you up and they want you to play fast, and to be honest that is how we like to play, but there are times where we would have had an advantage in the halfcourt,” Pfannenstiel said. “At the same time, it is hard for our kids to get out of that attack mode. We were out of control at times and I think we committed like (30) turnovers and you aren’t going to win many games doing that.

“Anderson County just made some plays there in the second half and overtime to get the win. We had opportunities too, but they just rimmed out and that is how the game of basketball goes sometimes.”

Louisburg will try and get back on the winning track tonight when it travels to Frontenac for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

LOU               23           20           9             15           7 – 74

AC                  20           17           13           17           13– 80

LOUISBURG (2-1): Kohl Vogel 10-19 5-7 27; Brayden Gage 7-12 1-4 18; Ben Guetterman 4-6 2-2 10; Noah Hill 2-7 3-4 7; Weston Guetterman 2-6 0-1 5; Madden Rutherford 2-9 1-2 5; Garrett Rolofson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 28-61 12-20 74. 3-point field goals: 6, (Gage 3, Vogel 2, W.Guetterman 1).

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week four of the winter sports season, sponsored by Edward Jones-Craig Holtzen.

THAD HENDRIX, WRESTLING, SENIOR

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week three of the winter sports season, sponsored by Elliott Insurance.

CADE HOLTZEN, WRESTLING, FRESHMAN

Louisburg freshman Cade Holtzen is off to a great start to his high school wrestling career and it continued Saturday in Tonganoxie. Holtzen went 5-0 with a pair of pins at 113 pounds to help the Wildcats to a third-place finish at the Randy Starcher Invitational. He is now 14-1 on the season.

Its name is just one of the many changes to the annual Louisburg 5-kilometer race.

Formerly Blazin’ The Burg, the Louisburg Chamber of Commerce is introducing a new version of the event and a collaboration with two other area 5K races.

The Louisburg Cider Run, which gets underway at 5 p.m. on Oct. 7 in downtown Louisburg, features four different courses for group of all ages. It will offer the traditional 5K course, along with a kids fun run, a 10K course and a newly added relay.

The relay will be a mile course that will include teams of four runners or less.

All participants 21 and over will get a souvenir cup and one pour of hard cider after completion of their event. The event will also feature an after party with food, music and drinks.

“We have two fun new additions that I think will bring more people and more excitement to this year’s run,” Jenny O’Brien, one of the event organizers, said. “The first is the addition of the Mile Hard Cider Relay that consists of a team of 4, with each team member running a quarter-mile. With our new race name, Louisburg Cider Run, the Hard Cider Relay is perfect and offers everyone a chance to get involved because it’s a distance that is attainable for those who do not run or walk regularly to achieve. The team concept also makes this more achievable and something that folks can gather a group of friends and enter for fun.”

For those runners that want to make a weekend out of it, they will have the opportunity to compete in the Fermentation Series. Louisburg Cider Run is one of three 5K races that will be held in a two-day period.

The Fall Fermentation Series is three 5K runs in 24 hours on Oct. 7 and 8. The Series kicks off on Oct. 7 at 8 a.m. at the No One Fights Alone 5K at Night Hawk Winery in Paola, and continues that evening with the Louisburg Cider Run.

The series finishes with the Oktoberfest 5K on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 8 a.m. in Martin City, Mo. Each race will provide shirts and swag and finishers of all three events will receive a Fall Fermentation Series medal upon completion of the Series.

“The second addition that will draw more runners is that the Cider Run is part of a running series of 5Ks this year called the Fermentation Series,” O’Brien said. “KC Running Company is awarding a medal to each runner who completes the series of races.”

For those that are just interested in the Cider Run, there will be plenty to do before and after the race is complete.

KC Deeyas, Burnt Offering BBQ, Pita for Good, Smoothie Wave and Kona Ice will be on hand for refreshments. Standard Beverage Corporation and Angry Orchard Tap Trailer will also be at the event.

Pre-race entertainment will be put on by the group, Happy Faces. After race music will be put on by Turner Blues Experiment.

For those interested in signing up for the Louisburg Cider Run, please click here.

If you are interested in entering the Fermentation Series, you can click here.

To purchase Cider Run race merchandise, please click here.

Louisburg High School freshman Lakin Cunningham, and her goat-tying horse Easy, fared well at a pair of national rodeos this summer and earned marks that were some of the best in the world on the junior high level. 

Lakin Cunningham lives and breathes rodeo.

It is her passion and one that she works day and night improving her skills. Life in the rodeo world isn’t an easy one as it features long trips, countless hours of practice and several weekends of competition a year.

All that hard work has paid off for Cunningham as she competed in two nationals rodeos in the last month and is now considered one of the best in the world in the realm of goat-tying.

The Louisburg High School freshman recorded a top 3 finish in goat tying in the National Junior High Rodeo Finals in Tennessee in June and later finished in the top 20 at the National Little Britches Rodeo Finals in Oklahoma earlier this month.

Cunningham was among 2,000 competitors at the National Junior High Rodeo Association Finals (NJHRA) that included participants from 42 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia and she more than held her own.

In the goat tying competition, Cunningham had the fastest time in the finals as she won the jackpot with a 7.1 second run. In the first go-round, she won with a 7.7 second run. She later finished fifth in the short round and placed third overall in the world.

For her efforts, Cunningham won two belt buckles, a horse blanket, a shirt, a framed picture and money. The NJHRA is a division of the National High School Rodeo Association, which is the biggest youth rodeo association in the world.

Cunningham has qualified for the national rodeo the last three years and has been a Kansas Reserve Champion for two of those seasons.

“I was hoping to be either the world champion in goat tying or the Reserve World Champion,” Cunningham said. “I won the first go-round of the rodeo and the jackpot, so I was set up for a world or reserve championship. Due to a slower run in the second go-round I ended up third at that finals by less than two-tenths of a second.  I drew a goat that was a runner in that round and it kept me from my ultimate goal. I also made the junior high national finals in the Barrel Racing, but due to injuries with my horse I did not do well.”

Lakin Cunningham finished third in goat-tying at the National Junior High Rodeo Finals in Tennessee.

She continued her success a couple weeks later when Cunningham traveled to the National Little Britches Rodeo Finals (NLBFR) in Guthrie, Okla., which is the oldest youth rodeo in the world.

Cunningham was one of 3,000 competitors from 33 states and Canada that range from age five to 18. To qualify, she had to place in the top 7 in four rodeos through the year and qualified for the third year in a row in multiple events.

This season, she earned a spot in goat tying, barrel racing and ribbon roping. In goat tying, Cunningham placed ninth in the world and also placed in the top 20 in ribbon roping.

“I did okay but I was again going for a world title,” Cunningham said. “I placed fifth in the Goat Tying and Ribbon Roping in the first go-round. In the second go-round I did not place and had a no time due to a goat getting up to place in the round. I did make it back to the short go and placed third in the goat tying in the short round. Had my goat not gotten up in round two, I would have been a Reserve World Champion.

“The second go-rounds at both nationals cost me the titles. This is an event where the stock that you draw can affect the outcome and in my case it definitely did.  I also ended up 20th in the world in the ribbon roping with my partner Chancy Johnson, from White City. I was also in Barrel Racing at this finals to, but struggled with horse issues here as well. My barrel horse spent part of national finals week at a vet in Oklahoma so I’m hoping she is on the mend and will be ready for next year.”

Cunningham and her goat-tying horse, Easy, found a lot of success in the last month. After her former horse, Trigger, had to be retired, Cunningham trained Easy, who was bred, born and raised on her grandparents farm in Louisburg.

Easy was a retired race horse, but Cunningham started training him for goat-tying and the two seemed to be a perfect match. She started hauling Easy to Kansas junior high rodeos in April.

“We didn’t know how he’d do or if he’d even work,” Cunningham said. “Suprisingly, he did work and took my goat tying to the next level, shaving half to a full second off my times. I was a late 7-second to early 8-second goat tier on Trigger. Once Easy found his groove, we started clocking early 7s in May and June. My fastest times of 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 have been using this unexperienced horse I trained. I can’t wait to see what Easy and I accomplish in high school. My goal is now to start clocking 6-second runs in high school. With Easy, I know it’s possible.”

After qualifying for both national events the last three years, Cunningham has seen a lot of good competitors over that span, and each year it gives her extra motivation to top her previous performance.

“The competition is definitely difficult, since it is on a national or international level,” she said. “I seem to push myself more when I compete with more and better competition. I used to compete on the regional level and when I advanced to the state and then national levels I began to push myself more and set more goals. I think that is because I know I have to do better when there is more competition.”

Cunningham will see a lot more competition in the coming years as she graduates from the junior high level to the high school division. Still, Cunningham is proud of what she accomplished during her last three years.

“I think they are all special to me in their own way,” she said. “In sixth grade it was special because I didn’t think I’d even make the NJHFR but I did qualifying as Reserve Champion Goat Tier in the state of Kansas. That year was my first year attending the NLBFR and I won the National Princess title that year and also placed in a go-round in barrels, which was very special as it made me set higher goals for the next year.

“In seventh grade it was special because my goal was to qualify for the NJHFR in barrel racing, too, which I did. At the NLBFR I set a goal to make the short go in one of my events and I ended up making it in all three. This year, my goal was to make it to the short go at the NJHFR and I more than did that with my third place finish. My NLBFR goal was to be in the Top 7 in the world in goats and barrels. I didn’t quite make either of those goals due to my barrel horse being hurt and that goat getting up.

“It just makes me want it even more next year. My goals are now to make it to the 2018 National High School Rodeo Finals and to again go for Top 7 in the world in my events at the NLBFR. One day, I hope to achieve my world champion goal.”

Lakin is the daughter of Kara Cunningham and granddaughter to Jim and Sandy Lowe in Louisburg.

“We’re off our rockers.” That’s the slogan of Granny Basketball and it’s coming to Miami County.

Granny Basketball is for women over 50 and follows girls’ rules from the 1920s. That means the court is divided into three sections, a player has to stay in her designated section and oh, by the way, she can’t run or jump. Hurry up is allowed and so is the granny shot, which is worth three points.

The first Miami County Granny Basketball game will match up the Louisburg Tonics vs the Kansas Grayhawkers and the Kansas Gray Tornadoes on Sunday afternoon. The two-game shootout begins at 3 p.m. at the Wildcat Activity Center (former West Gym), 7 S. Peoria St., Louisburg. The event is free and open to the public.

Local organizers Jean Carder and Becky Berg encourage the community to come check out the fun.

“Granny basketball is a hoot for the players and the fans,” Carder said. “And it’s a lot harder than it looks. My son teases me that I don’t have a vertical jump but I’ve been called for jumping. I’ve also been whistled for a flesh foul. Come to the gym Sunday and see what that’s all about,” she said.

The local team has 11 players and there is always room for more.  “We’d like to invite any ‘granny’ over 50 who is looking for a little physical activity and a lot of fun to come check us out,” Carder said. “I’d like to get some gals from the other Miami County towns to join the fun and form a team.”

Granny Basketball started in Iowa in 2005 as a one-time fund-raising activity. The ladies had so much fun they decided to start a Granny Basketball league. There are 27 teams across the nation divided into three divisions. The two Lawrence teams will be traveling to Louisburg for the games Sunday. There is also a new team just forming in Olathe. The Tonics are part of the Granny Basketball southern division which has 10 teams located in Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana and Virginia. The eastern and western divisions feature teams mostly from Iowa but also Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Members of the Miami County Granny Basketball team are Jean Carder, Becky Berg, Janet York, Ellen Morland, LaVonne Mize, Susan McKeever, Mary Cromer, Mary Schmale, Jan Berg, Lisa Berg, Carolyn Williams and Kathy Musgrave.

For more information on Granny Basketball, check out the website at www.grannybasketball.com or the Kansas teams’ Facebook page, www.facebook.com/kansasgbb or call Carder at 913-837-5719.

The Louisburg fifth- and sixth-grade cheerleaders finished first in cheer and second in dance at the FCCJC cheer and dance competition on Nov. 20 in Olathe. Members of the team are (front row, from left) Sophie Katzer, Brinley White, Ali Marie Dubinick, Jenna Cauthon; (second row) Darci Stone, Bronwynn Williams, Dannah Knipp, Audrey Anderson, Sophie Goode, Ava Halbert; (third row) Ava Bilyeu, Julia Arriola, Isabel Bond, Maddie O’Keefe, Anna Poe, Ashley Bell; (back row) Izzy Moreland, Brooklyn Harmon, Rylee Hickey, Ashleigh Moore, Riley Haas, Maggie Madison, Taylor Curry and Jolie Hendrickson. Not pictured are Maddy Carpenter-Ross and Bria McMahon.

Whether it was in the youngest division or the oldest, the Louisburg cheerleading teams made a statement during the Football and Cheerleading Club of Johnson County (FCCJC) cheer and dance competition.

All three Louisburg squads earned top marks during the Nov. 20 competition at Olathe North High School.

The fifth- and sixth-grade team, which is coached by Jackie Bond, Nicole Bruner and Becki Madison, performed well as it finished in the top two in both the dance and cheer categories.

The group of Sophie Katzer, Brinley White, Ali Marie Dubinick, Jenna Cauthon, Darci Stone, Bronwynn Williams, Dannah Knipp, Audrey Anderson, Sophie Goode, Ava Halbert, Ava Bilyeu, Julia Arriola, Isabel Bond, Maddie O’Keefe, Anna Poe, Ashley Bell, Izzy Moreland, Brooklyn Harmon, Rylee Hickey, Ashleigh Moore, Riley Haas, Maggie Madison, Taylor Curry, Jolie Hendrickson, Maddy Carpenter-Ross and Bria McMahon came in first in the cheer contest and went on to take second in dance.

“We are so proud of these girls,” coach Bond said. “They started practicing this past July.  In August they tried out for advanced stunting certification and passed.  This allowed them to cradle and log-roll. This was a big accomplishment especially for a squad this large with so many new members.

“As we entered the hallway right before we competed, they were so nervous.  Much more nervous than I have ever seen them.  But once they took the mat the magic started. They came out as the largest squad performing that day and really nailed their performances.  So many told me after they performed that they had this one. We could not be more proud of what they accomplished this year and for their determination to not only win but to work hard to achieve their dreams.  We asked a lot of them this last month and they not only rose to the challenge but made us extra proud in the process.”

The Louisburg kindergarten through second grade cheerleading team finished first in cheer and second place in dance during the FCCJC Cheer and Dance Competition on Nov. 20 in Olathe. Members of the team are (front row, from left) are Evalyn Cannon, Afton Stuteville, Brianna Curry, Bella Pickman; (back row) Leah Burk, Emersynn Deere, Allison Bell, Kimmie Powls, McKinley Harmon and Reese Anderson.

Louisburg’s kindergarten, first- and second-grade group of Evalyn Cannon, Afton Stuteville, Brianna Curry, Bella Pickman, Leah Burk, Emersynn Deere, Allison Bell, Kimmie Powls, McKinley Harmon and Reese Anderson also finished first in the cheer competition and went on to take runner-up in dance.

The team, which was coached by Mindy Bell and Becky Harmon, put together a strong performance at the best possible time.

“The girls worked very hard this year on their routines and it paid off,” coach Bell said. “Coach Becky and myself are very proud of how much they learned this season.”

Members of the Louisburg third- and fourth-grade cheerleading team are (front row, from left) coach Gracie Waite and coach Kim Burk; (middle row) Jessica Felder, Maddie Hughes, Kylie Knight, Kaylee Crooks; (back row) Jocelyn Burk, Shyloh Waite and Keelie Spillman. The team finished in third place in both the cheer and dance competition on Nov. 20

Success also followed the third- and fourth-grade team as the Wildcat group of Keelie Spillman, Shyloh Waite, Kaylee Crooks, Jocelyn Burk, Maddie Hughes, Kylie Knight and Jessica Felder brought home third place trophies in both cheer and dance.

Coaches Gracie Waite and Kim Burk led the group of girls all season and both were happy to see the girls’ hard work pay off.

“We had an incredible squad of girls,” coach Waite said. “Every time they came to practice they worked hard and didn’t quit. I could not be more proud of them and everything we accomplished as a team this season.”

For those interested in joining the cheer squads for next season, sign-ups will begin in February. For more information, contact Jackie Bond at louisburgcheer@outlook.com.