FRONTENAC – By the time Louisburg reached the championship game of the Frontenac Invitational, the Wildcats were already pushed to the limit.

Louisburg played five previous matches to reach the title game against Chanute. The Wildcats put together their best effort, but fell short of the title to the Blue Comets in a 26-24 and 25-15 loss. In all, the Wildcats posted a 4-2 record on the day, which included a revenge win over Pittsburg in bracket play.

Those six matches were the end to what was as busy week for Louisburg as it played nine matches in a 5-day span.

“It was a major drain on the girls’ energy,” Louisburg coach Rich Brown said. “Playing 6 matches in a day isn’t a usual experience in the high school setting. We definitely found out where we need to build our endurance if we plan to go full speed in the last match of the day.

“I think what excited me the most at Frontenac was the girls’ ability to bounce back after the pool play loss to Pittsburg. We played a long 2 set match and lost to them, but turned right around and played them again in the bracket. We ended up winning that match and got some immediate payback.”

Louisburg opened pool play against Girard and put together an easy 25-15 and 25-20 victory over the Trojans and followed that up with a 25-12 and 25-19 win over St. Paul. The Wildcats dropped their final match of pool play in a 2-0 loss to Pittsburg.

The Wildcats bounced right back as they downed Pittsburg in the quarterfinals of bracket play and advanced with a 25-22, 24-26 and 25-17 win over the Purple Dragons. Louisburg then met Riverton in the semifinals and won another 3-set match, 25-18, 19-25 and 25-22, before falling to Chanute in the championship.

“Overall I thought we played well as a team,” Brown said. “I had 9 players who wanted to stay on the court all the time. I like that attitude and hope their goals and my goals can coexist. Our ability to receive serve started to drop around the third match of the day, but we recovered and passed better in the fourth and fifth match.”

Junior setter Adelyn Moore ran the offense for the Wildcats to the tune of 150 assists and set up a lot of strong attacks. She also led the team with six aces on the day and had 35 digs.

“I liked the way Adelyn distributed the ball and was able to take advantage of the one -on-one matchups with the blockers,” Brown said. “Getting our hitters to run first tempo every play is essential to us winning against teams with experienced blockers.”

Moore had a lot of options to choose from as several Wildcats made impacts at the net. Senior outside hitter Caileigh Kilgore paced the Louisburg attack with 49 kills on the day.

Senior Rylee Telken and junior Breck Nielsen had 33 and 31 kills, respectively, while seniors Delaney Nelsen and McKenna Lohse had 30 and 23.

Defensively, Kilgore was also busy on the back row with 44 digs and senior Addi Mallett had 36. Junior libero Regan Williams had 24 digs, while senior defensive specialist Stella Bohnenstiehl finished with 22. Nielsen and Lohse both had six blocks to lead the way at the net.

The Wildcats (7-3) will look to continue their strong play on Sept. 16 when they travel to Bonner Springs for a Frontier League dual.

Louisburg gets road win over Ottawa

Ottawa hasn’t been the easiest place to play for Louisburg in recent years, but the Wildcats took care of business last Thursday against the Cyclones.

Despite dropping the first set, the Wildcats roared back to win the next three in the 24-26, 25-17, 25-19 and 25-23 victory and moved to 2-0 in Frontier League play.

“The loss in the first set falls fully on my shoulders as I was trying a different lineup to give a player some recovery time,” Brown said. “When I finally figured it out, we played with much more trust and cohesiveness the other three sets. Ottawa pushed us with their great defense and we won some points by outlasting them.”

Cailiegh Kilgore had a big night at the net for the Wildcats as she tallied a team-high 19 kills. Breck Nielsen and Delaney Nelsen each finished with nine, while McKenna Lohse had eight kills to go along with a team-best six aces.

Junior Adelyn Moore ran the offense well with 49 assists on the night. Defensively, junior libero Regan Williams tallied a team-high 17 digs and senior defensive specialist Stella Bohnenstiehl had 13 in the win.

Wildcats split with Wichita-Trinity, Piper

Louisburg hosted Wichita-Trinity and Piper on Sept. 9 and the Wildcats earned a split in the triangular.

After falling to Trinity in three sets (25-16, 23-25 and 25-22), Louisburg responded with a 25-14 and 25-16 victory over the Piper.

Senior Caileigh Kilgore paced the Wildcats with a team-high 17 kills and four aces on the night, while Rylee Telken and Delaney Nelsen had 13 and 11 assists, respectively. Setter Adelyn Moore led the way with 48 assists.

Defensively, Moore and Kilgore each led the way with 16 digs each and libero Regan Williams finished with 13. Telken led the way at the net with four blocks.

The Louisburg volleyball team has high hopes and goals this season and the Wildcats took their first step in accomplishing those on Sept. 2 when they hosted Baldwin in their season opener.

Despite a shaky start, the Wildcats took the match 27-25, 25-27, 25-20 and 25-17. Louisburg leaned on a balanced attack and a solid defensive effort to outlast the Bulldogs in a match full of momentum swings, especially early on.

“It was a nice win for us,” Louisburg coach Rich Brown said. “Honestly, we were getting tired of playing against ourselves when we know all our tendencies. Making adjustments to the competition is going to be a necessary skill for this group if they want to succeed in the long run.

“I think having strong club seasons helped us keep the long-term goals in sight. With younger players, they might have put too much pressure on each point. I’m lucky I have so much experience with this group.”

Senior Caileigh Kilgore led the way for the Wildcats with a standout all-around performance. She tallied 10 kills, fired in five aces, and was second on the team with 15 digs.

“Caileigh got off to a rough start with some hitting errors because she puts a lot of pressure on herself to try and get kills every time she swings,” Brown said. “When she settled down for the third set, the blocks opened up and she let the game come to her. That’s a problem a lot of the girls had against Baldwin. We will get better at that as the season progresses.”

The Wildcats got strong production in the middle from senior McKenna Lohse and junior Breck Nielsen, who each finished with nine kills. Lohse also added four aces in a dominant showing at the net and behind the service line.

Senior Rylee Telken chipped in with seven kills, giving Louisburg a well-rounded offensive threat across the board.

Running the offense was junior setter Adelyn Moore, who dished out 38 assists and added three aces of her own. Moore also reached double figures defensively with 11 digs.

On the back row, junior libero Regan Williams anchored the defense with a team-high 25 digs, while Addi Mallett (12) and Delaney Nelsen (10) all reached double digits in digs to help frustrate Baldwin’s attack.

“I really liked the way our defense worked,” Brown said. “We looked like we had been playing together a long time and really understood our roles. I think we pursue out of system balls better than we did last year.”

With the win, Louisburg gains momentum heading into a home triangular on Sept. 9, where the Wildcats will host Piper and Wichita-Trinity. Matches begin at 4:30 p.m.

The Louisburg volleyball team found itself just one victory away from another trip to the state tournament last season before falling in the sub-state championship to eventual state runner-up Rock Creek.

However, despite losing a 5-member senior class, the Wildcats are loading up for another state run as they return six seniors under new head coach Rich Brown, who replaced former coach Leanna Willer.

It is an experienced group as five of the six played crucial varsity minutes a season ago and the Wildcats are excited for what the season has in store.

“I think we have a very experienced group this year, not just from playing in high school but also playing in some very high level clubs,” Brown said. “Some of the court responsibilities are different from what they experienced all winter, but they are accepting the necessary changes without complaint.”

Louisburg’s experience will show at the net as they return five hitters with varsity experience and it starts with seniors McKenna Lohse and Caileigh Kilgore.

Lohse was a starting middle blocker for the Wildcats and did several things well as she led the team in four different categories. She led the way with a team-high 211 kills, along with a team-best 56 aces and a hitting percentage of .236 and was tops in blocks in league matches.

Kilgore was another weapon at the net for the Wildcats as she was the top hitter from the outside and was second on the team with 205 kills. Both players were second team All-Frontier League selections a year ago.

Senior Delaney Nelsen will also return at the net after being limited to just back row play a season ago as she was recovering from an injury. Senior Addi Mallett, who played all six rotations at times in 2024, will also be a threat at the net for the Wildcats.

Another senior, Rylee Telken, will also see time on the right side as she returns for her second year on the varsity level.

“I am honestly struggling to get used to how well this group works together and celebrates each other’s success,” Brown said. “Caileigh and Kenna have been healthy and helpful to the rest of the group. Delaney is much better than last season and has had a little bit of a setback with an ankle injury last week. But she should be healthy again by the Frontenac tournament.

“Rylee has had a good summer and winter club ball where she has improved on her blocking and passing. It’s shown so far this season and I hope everyone will be able to see the difference in our matches. Addi has improved her consistency and we have been working with her on her defense as well.”

Along with all those returning hitters, will be an experienced returning setter as junior Adelyn Moore is back for her third year as a starter.

Moore earned second team All-Frontier League honors and will be one of the best in the league again this year. She led the Frontier League in assists a season ago with 743 and had 31 aces and 186 digs.

It is on defense where the Wildcats will see some new faces as they lost two starters from the back row a season ago, including a pair of all-league players.

Junior Regan Williams will step in to help lead the defense and serve as the team’s libero, while senior Stella Bohnenstiehl is the team’s defensive specialist. Junior Breck Nielsen is the team’s second middle blocker behind Lohse.

“Defensively, we are using Regan as libero and I’ve been happy with what I have seen from her this season,” Brown said. “The addition of Regan, Stella and Breck have been pretty seamless so far, I think because those 3, along with Addi sometimes, have been with me on JV and know my expectations.  We’ve emphasized playing a style of defense that is more aggressive than before. Hopefully that will pay off when game day gets here.”

Louisburg will open its season on Sept 2 when the Wildcats host Baldwin for a Frontier League dual. The Wildcats are hoping the mix of experience and new faces will help them take a step forward this season.

“We haven’t talked much about team goals and season expectations so far,” Brown said. “I think we will have to take a look at where we are after our Baldwin dual to see what our goals will be. I know these players were not happy how the season ended at Rock Creek. I hope I can do my part to get us into a better mental state when substate gets here.”

As Katie McKain got older, it became apparent to her that she wanted volleyball to become an important part of her life.

McKain wanted a chance to play volleyball in college and so she began the journey of making that happen. Her hard work and dedication to the sport presented her with an opportunity that she wasn’t about to pass up.

Earlier this year, McKain signed her letter of intent to play volleyball at Neosho County Community College and it was an eye-opening moment for the Louisburg graduate.

“I’ve wanted to play college volleyball ever since I was around 13-14 years old,” McKain said. “It was very surreal to be able to sign. I started playing volleyball when I was 7 years old, and I have loved it ever since, and it’s been a huge part of my life.”

McKain spent most of the winter trying to find the best landing spot for her, and after a few visits, it became apparent that Neosho was the play for her.

“The thing that stuck out to me here was the group of girls on the team that automatically became friends the second I talked to them,” McKain said. “Everyone was so welcoming, along with the coaches, and that’s not something I got from other schools I visited.”

She was a part of a Louisburg team this past season that reached the sub-state championship, before falling to the state runner-up in Rock Creek. McKain played the right side for the Wildcats and the coaches see her playing a similar role for the Panthers.

“When I first did a visit and practice with them the coach had me playing multiple different positions to just see where she wanted to put me, and she told me she sees me as a right side hitter,” McKain said.

McKain reported to the Neosho team in late July and practice has already begun for the upcoming season. She is excited to get going with her new team.

“My goals are to further my ability on the court and just see where these two years here take me,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for me.”

As her basketball season was nearing an end, Ally Brown thought her Louisburg playing career was as well.

Brown, a senior, was a starter on the volleyball and basketball teams and was preparing for her life after sports. However, something happened that changed all of that.

At the time, Louisburg soccer coach Jordan Roquemore asked Brown if she would consider trying out for the soccer team — more specifically — goalie. It left her a little taken aback.

“I laughed at first and told him I’d think about it, fully intending on saying no,” Brown said. “Then the other soccer seniors kept talking to me about it and my parents said I should take the chance and do it. So I did and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.”

That decision turned into a fourth-place state medal as she helped the Louisburg program to a state final four appearance. It was a memorable ending for Brown in her Wildcat career. She was the lone senior athlete to play three sports, which led her to earn the 2025 Louisburg Sports Zone Female Athlete of the Year award.

The award was given based on a vote by Louisburg High School coaches as Brown was recognized for her achievements on the volleyball and basketball courts, along with her time with the soccer program.

“Being honored with Female Athlete of the Year means so much to me,” Brown said. “I truly see it as an honor because there are so many amazing female athletes around me. It fills me with a sense of pride knowing that four years of hard work got me to this moment. The support of my family and friends through my athletic journey allowed me to succeed so this award is not only for me, but all of the people who helped me along the way.”

On the volleyball court, Brown was a first-year varsity player this year and was one of the top defensive players — not only on the team, but in the Frontier League. 

As a team captain, Brown was an honorable mention all-league defensive specialist and was second on the team with 228 digs and was also second in aces with 47. She also led the team in serve attempts and points scored while serving. 

“Ally was largely the heart and soul of the volleyball team as a really strong leader, and I have no doubt that she helped lead her teammates in other sports the same way,” former Louisburg volleyball coach Leanna Willer said. “She is the girl who always shows up for her teammates. She is reliable, dedicated, and she truly understands the balance of encouraging/motivating her teammates and holding them accountable. She works her butt off and made some incredible plays in each season. Her dig numbers were right up there close to a lot of the Liberos while only being on the court half the time, and that speaks volumes about what she was able to do for our team.

“She is the voice of reason that we all turn to in times of trouble, and she is also the one who hypes up every single one of her teammates. Ally took on her roles in each sport this year with pride and made the most of every opportunity. Each of our three teams were undoubtedly better because she was a part of them.”

As a member of the basketball team, Brown did a little bit of everything. She was a starter for the Wildcats and averaged four points a game. She also led the team in assists (35) and steals (24).

“Ally is a very hard worker, she always has a positive attitude, and she is a great role model to the younger players,” Louisburg basketball coach Adrianne Lane said. “This season I felt that Ally stepped up her game. She had a streak in the middle of the season where it seemed like she didn’t miss a shot. I know whatever Ally chooses to do in life she will be great at.”

Then came the soccer program, where she started in goal for the Wildcats. In her first year playing high school soccer, Brown thrived as she helped Louisburg to a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs and a fourth-place state finish.

As the team’s starting goalie, she made a big impact in the back of the Wildcat defense. She finished with 12 clean sheets and had 91 saves on the year. For that effort, she was named to the All-Frontier League second team. 

“For a first time goalkeeper, that save rating is exceptional,” Roquemore said. “She faced far fewer shots than the average keeper because of our team defense, but when she does get them, she does a great job.

“Ally has always been a humble leader, a voice of reason, a positive influence, and has a determined work ethic. She balances a good sense of humor with a focused and sincere way of approaching athletics. She’s hard on herself but never gives up and is constantly willing to take feedback and apply it. I can’t imagine this season without her.”

Although it was a successful experience for her, it was about more than just wins and losses for Brown. 

“Yes I got a fourth place state medal out of it, but I got so much more than that,” Brown said. “I gained girls who will be sisters for life and a sense of girlhood that is unmatched. I will never forget my one year in the LHS girls soccer program and will be forever grateful that I chose to take a chance.”

In her four years at Louisburg High School, Brown was a 3-sport athlete in two of them. Playing multiple sports in high school is something she believes was an important and rewarding experience for her.

“Playing sports in Louisburg is such an exciting experience,’” Brown said. “The feeling of the Louisburg community rallying behind you while you’re on the court or field is indescribable. You are playing next to the same girls that you grew up with. Even you are doing the horrible weights and conditioning, it’s ok because the girl next to you is making you laugh. Playing competitive high school sports isn’t easy, but at Louisburg when you have people rallying around you every step of the way, succeeding is that much easier.”

Previous winners:

2018: Isabelle Holtzen

2019: Carson Buffington

2020: Reilly Ratliff-Becher

2021: Alyse Moore

2022: Delaney Wright

2023: Adyson Ross

2024: Hailey Sword

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.

Rich Brown has spent close to four decades around the sport of volleyball and has held several different positions during that time. 

It is a sport that has consumed much of his life, including the past 15 years as an assistant coach at different levels in the Louisburg school district. Now, Brown will focus on a new role for the upcoming season — as head coach.

Brown was approved to be the next leader of the Wildcat program following the most recent USD 416 Board of Education meeting. He takes over from former head coach Leanna Willer, who resigned to take the same position at Olathe East.

“I’m both excited and nervous, which is pretty much my MO anytime I start something new,” Brown said. “I think I’m fortunate in that I’ve been in the program for more than 15 years as an assistant at all levels. I know there is a culture of success the volleyball program has and I will do what I can to continue that.”

Brown has most spent of his time at Louisburg as an assistant coach under Willer and former head coach Jessica Compliment, who both had state tournament runs during their tenures.

It is that experience working with both coaches that Brown believes will help him with the upcoming season and those moving forward.

“Working with Willer and Compliment helped me immensely,” Brown said. “I have always gone into every job as a learner, and that attitude hasn’t changed even as I get older. Compliment has taught me how important routine is to a team as the season reaches its end. She has also taught me that there is no limit to the amount of things she can fit in her backpack. She could give lessons to the Army. 

“Willer has really helped bring back my love for the game. I feel that she always is looking ahead at what will give the team the best chance at success. And I have never worked with anyone as organized as her. It’s going to be a challenge to try to be 50 percent as organized as she is.”

This won’t be Brown’s first head coaching experience, however. He has spent time as head coach at Ottawa, Central Heights, Lyndon and Topeka West. He also has some collegiate experience as he served as the first assistant at Ottawa University.

“Well I think I started coaching just a couple of years after the sport was invented,” Brown joked. “It feels that way sometimes. I graduated college in ’85 and started coaching in’ 86 when the game was very different when there was side-out scoring and no libero. College matches between good teams could last 3 hours or more.”

Although Brown will have a new title, he is a familiar face around the program as he has coached most of the upcoming varsity players on the junior varsity level.

Despite losing five seniors from last season, the Wildcats will bring back a core group of players from a team that reached the sub-state championship. 

With a new head coach comes some changes, but Brown is looking forward to working this group of athletes. 

“I am very fortunate to come to the head coaching position with a very experienced group of players,” Brown said. “I am hoping to use that experience to allow players to work from a variety of positions and try to open up the offense with better communication between the kids on the court. There are a couple of places where we have made changes in the schedule so we don’t end up playing the same teams three or four times a season. 

“I also want our team to learn to treasure the team attitude and limit the amount of time we are dividing our attention between the court, and the things that happen in the stands. So there will be a little more isolated approach when it comes to competition time.”

With summer workouts approaching in the next couple of months, Brown wants to make sure his team is prepared and ready to go when the season starts.

“This season will have a different feel for the players in many ways,” Brown said. “There are new KSHSAA restrictions on 2-a-days, and length of practices will make the beginning of the season feel a bit frantic in those first 2 weeks of practices. But I also think that will help the players understand just how important it is to be ready to work each day.”

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.

After spending eight years with Louisburg volleyball, including the last four years as head coach, Leanna Willer is saying goodbye to the program.

Willer informed her team last Thursday that she has resigned her post as head coach and will be accepting a new position as the head coach at Olathe East High School.

“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.”

Willer was an assistant under head coach Jessica Compliment her first four years, before taking over the program in 2021. She went on to lead the Wildcats to two sub-state championships during that time, including two fourth-place finishes at the Class 4A state tournament.

“I had a very difficult time making this decision, and the Louisburg volleyball family is a huge reason why,” Willer said in the email. “Over the last eight years, I have grown close with many of you and your families, and I feel incredibly grateful that Louisburg welcomed me with open arms so many years ago. The outpouring of love and support from the community that I have felt as part of this program has been overwhelming, and I could not have asked for a better place to begin my career. Louisburg is truly a special place that I will always hold close to my heart.”

She was hired by Louisburg as a graduate out of Washburn University, where she excelled on the volleyball court. Willer earned All-MIAA honors all four years and was a 2-time unanimous selection. She twice earned Academic All-American honors, was a two-time All-American and was the team MVP on two different occasions. 

The Wildcats will have several returning starters next season and Willer knows they will accomplish great things with whoever the new coach will be.

“I know that the Louisburg volleyball program is set up for success, and I know our upperclassmen heading into next year are ready to accomplish some amazing things,” Willer said “I will continue to be Louisburg’s biggest fan and will always celebrate Wildcat victories. I intend to do everything in my power to set up the next head coach to make this transition as smooth as possible.

“I just want to thank the Louisburg staff and administrators for taking a chance and hiring a college girl back in 2017 and providing the mentorship and opportunities for me to grow during my time at LHS. I have been challenged and supported in becoming a better teacher and coach, and I will never forget what being a Louisburg Wildcat has meant to me.”

The Louisburg volleyball team saw its season come to an end in the sub-state championship to the eventual state runner-up in Rock Creek, but the Wildcats still put together another successful season.

It was one that caught the eye of some of the Frontier League coaches as they honored several Wildcat players when the all-league teams were released last week. 

Five Wildcats were honored, including four second team selections in senior Aspen Coulter, juniors McKenna Lohse and Caileigh Kilgore and sophomore Adelyn Moore. Senior Ally Brown was named as an honorable mention.

“Overall, we were well-represented,” Louisburg coach Leanna Willer said. “This is the first time in a while that we were able to get multiple girls recognized at a higher level than honorable mention, so I was of course happy to see that. Our team is sometimes difficult to vote for as we are very well-balanced. We don’t necessarily have 1-2 major studs that everyone knows and recognizes immediately as the player that hurt them the most. Throughout the season we had different girls stepping up at different times and different players who led us through those matches. 

“When league coaches vote, they are looking at the season stats that I put in front of them but they are also remembering back to the time(s) that we played against each other and who stood out to them, so it’s encouraging to see so many girls get recognized. I think arguments could be made about other players as well, but to have five players be selected to the all-league team is pretty great.”

Lohse was a starting middle blocker for the Wildcats and did several things well as she led the team in four different categories. She led the way with a team-high 211 kills, along with a team-best 56 aces and a hitting percentage of .236 and was tops in blocks in league matches.

“Kenna was the player for us that needed to get going, and if we could get Kenna going, everyone else seemed to follow,” Willer said. “She also seemed to have very little fear when playing against our tougher opponents this season. In fact, one could argue that her best games were those against the tougher teams. She truly rose to the occasion in those big moments and we are excited to see what we will be able to get from her in her senior season.”

Kilgore was another weapon at the net for the Wildcats as she was the top hitter from the outside and was second on the team with 205 kills.

“Caileigh was a strong hitter for us and led us in attempts as she had the responsibility of getting not only the good sets to put it away, but also a lot of the out-of-system sets as is common with outside hitters,” Willer said “We love that she is not afraid to take a rip at a ball. Her presence was big for us as her kills were often the most impactful for team momentum. She was in the top 10 in the league for kills, which earned her a place on the all-league team. We are looking forward to seeing what Caileigh will bring to our team next year.”

Setting them up for all those kills was Moore, who was in her second year as the setter after sharing those responsibilities last year as a freshman. As a sophomore, all Moore did was lead the Frontier League in assists with 743.

She made her presence known all over the court as he also had 98 kills, 26 blocks, 31 aces and 186 digs.

“Adelyn ran our team and she proved herself to be one of the best setters in the league,” Willer said. “She is an all-around athlete who works hard non-stop. She plays good defense, leads the team with our offense, and has done a great job of making her presence known at the net despite her height. 

“She is the type of kid who puts her head down and gets to work during a match. You’ll never see her complain or get angry with her teammates, and she is always finding a way to get the job done. As she is only a sophomore, we are so excited that she will be back for two more years and can’t wait to see what she can accomplish.”

Coulter earned a spot on the second team for her defense as the team’s libero. As a team captain, Coulter led the team with 301 digs, which was second in the league. 

She was also aggressive from behind the service line with 34 aces and had 65 assists on the season.

“Aspen held down the back court as our libero this year and she did a great job for us defensively,” Willer said. “Additionally, she was our most consistent server and also aggressive from behind the line. She was second in the league in digs this year and made some notably awesome plays on defense, which led to her earning a spot on the all-league team. 

“Her willingness to just go for it on defense as she’s not afraid to hit the floor helped our team on the defensive end all year. Furthermore, she expanded her range to play not only left back but also middle back this season and we are proud of her for taking on a change in her role to help the team.”

Another team captain, Brown earned honorable mention from her defensive specialist spot. She made an impact defensively and from behind the service line. 

Brown was second on the team with 228 digs and was also second in aces with 47. She also led the team in serve attempts and points scored while serving. 

“Ally was largely the heart and soul of this team as a really strong leader,” Willer said. “She was always the one to speak up with words of wisdom, motivation, encouragement, or tough love when needed. She was a defensive specialist for us this year and accepted that role wholeheartedly.

“Her stats earned her a place on the all-league team because coaches recognized the spirit that she brought to the court as well as the great defense she played. Her dig numbers were right up there close to a lot of the Liberos while only being on the court half the time, and that speaks volumes about what she was able to do for our team.”

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL

First Team

Sydney Buscher, Spring Hill, senior

Adalyn Hemphill, Eudora, senior

Braydee Miller, Eudora, freshman

Finley Rieke, Tonganoxie, junior

Brylynn Wicker, Paola, senior

LIBERO: Haedyn Lynnes, Spring Hill, freshman

SETTER: Miranda Kuntz, Eudora, senior

Second Team

Leah Askins-Dietrich, Ottawa, sophomore

Brooke Beashore, Spring Hill, sophomore

Caileigh Kilgore, Louisburg, junior

McKenna Lohse, Louisburg, junior

Emily Paget, Baldwin, senior

LIBERO: Aspen Coulter, Louisburg, senior

SETTER: Adelyn Moore, Louisburg, sophomore

Honorable Mention

Lauren Berg, Baldwin, senior

Ally Brown, Louisburg, senior

Cami Collum, Baldwin, freshman

Avery Gallagher, Spring Hill, sophomore

Avery Hemphill, Eudora, sophomore

Kamryn Love, Bonner Springs, junior

Indigo Pruitt, Eudora, senior

Kayleigh Rohr, Ottawa, junior

Addy Schooler, Tonganoxie, sophomore

Ellie Trachsel, Paola, sophomore

Olivia Walters, Ottawa, senior

LIBERO

Claire Baker, Baldwin, senior

Caylee Crawford, Paola, junior

Kaitlyn Dale, Tonganoxie, junior

Bailey Hammerschmidt, Eudora, junior
Addison White, Ottawa, senior

SETTER

Ava Anderson, Bonner Springs, senior

Kalea Baldock, Tonganoxie, junior

Kinzley Meinig, Paola, sophomore

Logan Scoby, Baldwin, freshman