Louisburg head football coach Drew Harding speaks to his players in the huddle during a practice this week. Harding is in his first year as head coach after serving as an assistant for several years.

It’s only four days into practice, but all four Louisburg High School fall coaches have liked what they have seen so far out of their teams.

Numbers have been steady as each program has high expectations for the upcoming 2022 season.

There are also plenty of new faces this year as the Wildcats will feature two first year coaches in Bobby Bovaird (boys soccer) and Drew Harding (football). Leanna Willer (volleyball) is in her second season, while cross country coach John Reece is entering his 20th season.

On the gridiron, the Wildcat football team is returning several starters from last year’s team that lost to St. James Academy in the first round of the playoffs.

Louisburg currently has 70 players out for football this season, including 15 seniors that will help lead the way.

“Practice has been going well so far,” Harding said. “We have a lot of competition for spots and competition brings out the best in everybody. We are very excited for the upcoming season.  We have a large senior class and a junior class that has gained lots of experience from last year so we are excited to see what we can do.”

Having a new head coach can bring a learning curve, but the Wildcats worked hard over the summer. Along with their annual team camp, they had several scrimmages, 7-on-7 competitions and skill sessions.

“The team did a good job picking up on our installs on both sides of the ball so we were able to get a lot of really good reps that will hopefully help us in this upcoming season,” Harding said.

As for the boys soccer team, the Wildcats will try and reach the state final four for the second time in three years after falling to Bishop Miege in the regional championship match a season ago.

Louisburg returns another experienced group as it enters the season with 15 seniors after earning the No. 1 seed in the playoffs a year ago. Numbers are once again high for the program as 40 players are out this year.

“Nine of them (seniors) saw some pretty solid varsity playing time last year, and five of them got playing time in the state tournament two years ago when we finished in 3rd place,” Bovaird said. “Practice has been running very smoothly. We’re getting a great look at the players during our tryouts this week, and we’re seeing lots of leaders emerge every day.”

The Wildcats also had a busy summer with camps and team workouts. It was a good way for Bovaird to get to know his players as a first-year head coach.

“Almost everyone was able to participate,” Bovaird said. “They were getting together for informal kick-arounds, they were either lifting weights with the school’s summer program or they were lifting together on their own, and I’m loving the buy-in that they’ve shown. We’re looking at the potential to have another outstanding season this year. Of course, conditioning is a factor and we’re working on improving that during practice. 

“This year, we’ve got the motto ‘United,’ which comes from the fact that many soccer clubs use that word with their club names — Manchester United, New Mexico United, etc. I chose that motto because we have kids with all sorts of experience, from those who play year-round club soccer to kids who only play in the fall. They’ve grown up playing all over the place, whether it’s a club up in the city, Louisburg Rec, or somewhere in another district or community. But we’re here right now, and we have to come together to be united as a soccer family if we want to achieve our goals. This group of seniors has had a taste of state success, and they’ve had a taste of falling short of the team’s goals. I think they have the hunger to buy into what the coaching staff is striving to provide for them and they are willing to make a commitment to get to the top this year.”

As for cross country, Reece has liked what he has seen from his runners so far after a successful season a year ago in which both teams qualified for state.

He currently has 25 runners out this season, while 18 are out on the middle school level. The girls team is already being thought of as one of the top squads in the state as they are ranked in the top five in Class 4A by Kansas MileSplit.

“We are down a little in numbers but return many state qualifiers,” Reece said. “Practices are going well and we are enjoying this stint of cooler weather. We are again focusing on the end of the season and are setting a goal to return both teams to state again. It is going to be an exciting year.”

Volleyball also has strong numbers out as they had 36 athletes out for tryouts for the first three days and have settled at 30 for the rest of the season between the three levels.

Despite losing four starters from last season’s team that fell one game short of reaching the state tournament, Willer is excited to see what this group can do.

“We’ve had a great first few days and are seeing really awesome things from our girls that have us excited about what we’ll be able to do at all three levels this year,” Willer said. “We see a lot of potential at all ages and we are hungry for the opportunities to keep improving and make some noise in the league.”

The squad had a busy summer with its team camp in early June, followed by summer league action for two months and the varsity traveled to the University of Nebraska team camp in July. Add in the normal open gyms and weight sessions, Willer is pleased with how her players have improved.

“This was a very busy summer of all sorts of crazy twists and turns with the high school being under construction and schedules constantly changing,” Willer said. “Those that were able to dedicate time and effort consistently throughout the summer improved, not only in skill, but also in confidence. The coaches and athletes were typically here working four days a week with weights, conditioning, and open gyms. 

“We love having these summer opportunities to get to know our team better and to start working on our team chemistry as much as possible. As a whole, we have grown a lot over the past couple months and we are looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish here in the next couple.”

Sophie McMullen, who is a 2018 Louisburg High School grad, transferred to Washburn from Northwest Missouri State after four years with the Bearcat program. (Photo courtesy of Northwest Missouri State)

Sophie McMullen thought she had played her final match last fall as she helped the Northwest Missouri State volleyball team to just its second NCAA tournament appearance.

After falling to Nebraska-Kearney in the first round, McMullen was all set to put the sport she loves, behind her.

The Louisburg High grad sat out the 2018 season with a medical redshirt and was also granted another year of eligibility due to COVID-19. Still, with two years remaining, McMullen was ready to move on.

“Volleyball is something that once you’re in it, it’s hard to say goodbye to,” McMullen said. “I was ready to say goodbye until this great opportunity fell into my lap and it was a no brainer from then on.”

That opportunity came unexpectedly from an MIAA conference rival.

McMullen transferred to Washburn University after earning a degree in elementary and special education from Northwest Missouri State.

She joins a national power in Washburn that finished as the national runner-up in the Division II Tournament and McMullen is familiar with the program.

“Washburn has always been a great program when I played against them at Northwest,” McMullen said. “They are a highly respected program and just made a great run at the National Championship tournament. My hope is that I am able to bring my passing, leadership, and experience to the program in a positive way since they just graduated 10 great athletes.”

The Ichabods will feature several new faces in their program including a pair of McMullen’s. Sophie’s younger sister, Corinna, who graduated from Louisburg High last spring, is one of the team’s setters.

Sharing the court with her sister is something Sophie has always wanted to do.

“Getting the opportunity to play with Corinna is unbelievable,” Sophie said. “It has been something that we have always dreamt about and we would always talk and go on and on about how much we wish we could have played together just once, and here we are, finally getting that opportunity. 

“We have supported each other through thick and thin and seeing her in the crowd at my games always brought a smile to my face, but now that we will be on the court together, the feeling is going to be so surreal. It’s hard to even put it into words.”

Washburn was very familiar with Sophie as she put together some of her best performances against the Ichabods while at Northwest.

In fact, Northwest defeated Washburn on three different occasions last season, including one where Sophie recorded a career-high 22 digs from her defensive specialist position when Washburn was ranked No. 1 in the country.

She finished her season second on the team with 297 digs and was fourth with 31 aces. Sophie also had 14 double-figure dig performances.

Changing to a back row player from an outside hitter while Louisburg was a change for her, but one she has grown into.

“Defense is something that I have always loved because it’s so fun,” Sophie said. “Digging an absolute rocket that nobody expects you to get close too is one of my favorite feelings in the world. Defense wins games and I believed that once I was able to get into the role and learn to really love it. 

“On the other side of being a DS, passing is my true love. I feel so comfortable in my abilities to pass and I truly enjoy passing so I felt really comfortable where I was at for my position. It takes awhile to get comfortable with getting balls smacked at you continuously but in the end it’s pretty fun when you see yourself start to grow and have the ability to really start touching a lot of untouchable hits.”

Sophie has also thrived in the classroom as she is a four-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. She is also pursuing her master’s degree in high incidence special education.

Now she is focusing on her time at Washburn as she tries to help the Ichabods get back into the national tournament and have a shot at a championship.

“My goals at Washburn are to make a positive impact and make memories with a new set of girls,” she said. “I am beyond excited for this opportunity and with two years left I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me and my sister.

“My last season with Northwest was amazing. We made history and I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with any other group of girls. Seeing the Northwest program grow from my freshman year to my senior was amazing and I happy that I was able to have that experience.”

For the past six years, Louisburg Sports Zone has given out Athlete of the Week awards during each of the three sports seasons. I do it to recognize special athletic achievements and to highlight the athletes.

For the fifth 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. They will then vote for their top 3 male and female athletes and then I will tabulate the results and determine the winner. The winner will be announced in the coming days.

Below are the nominees for the Female Athlete of the Year award in alphabetical order by last name. Congrats to all those who were nominated and best of luck!

Davis Guetterman, Senior, Volleyball and Track and Field

Davis made an impact on a pair of Louisburg athletic programs this past season. The Louisburg senior was a starting setter for the Lady Cats and she was also a thrower on the Wildcat track team.

On the volleyball court, Guetterman finished her year with a 138 kills, 436 assists, 184 digs and 58 aces as she helped the Lady Cats to the sub-state championship this season. In her four year career, she tallied 199 kills, 1,603 assists, 564 digs and 184 aces as she helped the Lady Cats to two state tournament appearances. She also earned honorable mention all-league honors this season as a setter and earned the AVCA Best and Brightest First Team Award and was chosen as the recipient of the 2021 Lady Cat Volleyball award.

In the spring, Guetterman was one of the top throwers on the team in the javelin and earned a state bid in 2021. She will continue her career in both volleyball and track and field at the University of Sioux Falls in the upcoming year.

Reese Johnson, Senior, Cross Country and Soccer

Reese played at a high level for two different Louisburg teams this past season. The Louisburg senior was one of the top runners on the Louisburg cross country team and a starter for the Wildcat soccer program.

In cross country, Johnson helped the Lady Cat team to the Class 4A state meet for the fifth consecutive time. The team finished fifth overall at state and Johnson earned her third state medal of her career as she finished 19^th overall in 21:08 at Wamego Country Club. She was also an honorable mention all-league selection as she finished 16^th at the league meet.

Johnson also played a vital role for the Wildcat soccer team that finished the season in the regional championship and a 13-5 record. She finished with nine goals and eight assists on the season and was a first-team all-league selection from her midfield spot.

Corinna McMullen, Senior, Volleyball and Track and Field

Corinna was a big part of two Wildcat programs this past season as she was a member of the volleyball and track and field programs. She was the starting setter for the volleyball team and threw the discus on the track squad.

In volleyball, not only was McMullen one of the team’s starting setters, she was also the team’s top hitter. McMullen led the Lady Cats to the regional championship and helped the program to two state tournament appearances. This season, she led Louisburg with 284 assists and 224 kills to go along with 194 digs and 35 aces. She was a first-team all-league selection as a hitter and an honorable mention selection as a setter. McMullen also earned all-state honors and was selected to play in the GKCVCA MO-KAN All-Star match. She was named as the team MVP for Louisburg and was given the AVCA Best and Brightest First Team Award.

On the track team, McMullen was the squad’s top discus thrower and earned her second consecutive state medal this past May. McMullen placed third at the Class 4A meet with a throw of 117-4. She threw a personal best of 127-3 to win a Frontier League title. She will be continuing her athletic career at Washburn University as a member of the volleyball team.

Delaney Wright, Senior, Basketball and Track and Field

Delaney was a part of the girls basketball program and track and field team for Louisburg High School this past season. She was a starting guard on the basketball team and competed in four events on the track team.

As a member of the Wildcat track program, Wright competed in the long jump, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and the 4×400 relay. She qualified for state in all four events and won three regional titles. At the Class 4A state meet she brought home three medals. Wright finished as the state runner-up in the 400 dash, took in the 200 dash and medaled fifth in the long jump. She ended her Wildcat career with 10 state medals, three state championships and holds school records in three events.

Wright was also a member of the Lady Cat basketball team and was a returning letter-winner off of last season’s third place finish at state. She was a starting guard on the Lady Cat team and was considered the team’s best defender, before an injury ended her season halfway through.  That injury also cost Wright part of her track season, as well. She will continue her track career at Kansas State University next season.

In 2020, like everyone else in the country, Anna Dixon had to face a lot of adversity.

Not only was Dixon moving on from the Kansas State volleyball program to Missouri, which is stressful enough, the idea of being able to play through the spread of COVID-19 brought its own level of stress.

Instead of letting that get to her, Dixon took full advantage of the opportunity presented to her in a difficult SEC schedule.

Dixon, an outside hitter for the Tigers, was named to the All-SEC team as sophomore. That performance guided her to being one of Missouri’s top hitters at the net as junior.

Most recently, Dixon received another honor added to her long list of achievements.

On Monday, the Louisburg High School graduate was named to the USA Volleyball Women’s Collegiate National Team, which includes 38 of the top players in the United States.

Dixon is no stranger to success with USA Volleyball as she was named to the Women’s Junior National Team in 2019.

“Earning a spot on the collegiate national team is a huge honor,” Dixon said. “I’m so excited to learn from some of the best athletes and coaches in the country.”

The 2022 Collegiate National Team will train June 19-25 at the National Team Training Center in Anaheim, Calif. Athletes will train among the best collegiate players in the country, watch the WNT (Women’s National Team) training sessions, study the USA systems, meet with Tokyo 2020 Olympians and be observed by the WNT staff.

It was welcome news for Dixon, who experienced a bumpy 2021 season on the team level. The Tigers, who had a young team in a difficult SEC, finished the year with five wins.

Still, Dixon is using it as a positive as she enters her senior campaign later on this fall.

“Our record was obviously not what we wanted this year, but this group of young girls has an unreal amount of potential,” Dixon said. “Having a losing season is so tough, but we made sure we came in every practice going 10 times harder and always strived to learn more. We focused more on growing and connecting together which allowed us to make tremendous strides. Our gym is full of so much talent and the future is so bright for this group.”

The Tigers relied on Dixon’s experience at the net throughout last season. She finished with 380 kills in 110 sets played. She also had 21 aces, 173 digs and 41 blocks on the defensive end.

It was a strong runner-up performance after earning All-SEC honors in her first year with program as a sophomore in 2020-21. That season, the SEC split up the season into fall and spring campaigns due to COVID-19.

She was second on the team that year with 273 kills and produced double-digit kills in 13 matches.

“My sophomore season was a long hard nine month season,” Dixon said. “I had the opportunity to learn from many older athletes and was pushed so much as a player. Keeping my play consistent for nine months was probably my biggest struggle and something I’m still working on changing. 

“Being named All-SEC with some awesome woman in our conference was a huge honor. I’m thankful for my teammates who pushed me everyday to be able to accomplish that.”

The jump from Big 12 competition from when she was at Kansas State, to Missouri and the SEC has been a noticeable one.

“SEC play was definitely something I had to adjust to,” Dixon said. “Every team you come up against has so much talent and I feel like the conference is just overall more competitive. My favorite part has been traveling to the different schools and seeing the campuses.”

After a tough junior season, Dixon is excited to see what her volleyball future holds. Although she is technically a senior, she has an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 if she choose to use it.

When her time in college comes to an end, Dixon has her sights set to possibly continuing her career by possibly playing overseas.

As exciting as that possibility is for her, Dixon is focused on the upcoming year for the Tigers and is looking forward to seeing her team make a big jump.

“(Last season) was a huge growing year for me physically and mentally,” Dixon said. “Being one of the older girls on the court, I got to learn a lot about leadership skills and how to bring our team together while dealing with adversity. It was such a good learning experience for me and I am so excited to see what next fall will look like for us.”

Members of the 2022 Louisburg High School winter homecoming court are (from left) Aubryn Berck, Aiden Barker, Chase Kallevig, A.J. Arriola, Corinna McMullen, Carson Kern, Reese Johnson and Isaac Guetterman.

Homecoming week at Louisburg High School kicked off Monday and events are in full swing. With something going on every day this week, it will be a busy time for students. All of it is, of course, centered around the crowning of the 2022 winter king and queen. Eight students were selected as nominees and here are their names and profiles.

The crowning will take place on Friday during halftime of the Wildcat boys’ basketball game with Spring Hill. Tipoff for that game is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. Good luck to all the participants and make sure to come out on Friday to support both the Wildcat girls and boys basketball teams.

Aubryn Berck and Aiden Barker

Aubryn is the daughter of Dave and Amanda Berck. Aubryn has been involved with high school volleyball for three years, member of National Honor Society for two years, FCA for two years. She has been a part of FCCLA for one year, track for one year and volleyball manager for one year. Aubryn has played club volleyball for eight years, shown horses for 10 years and a leader in Life Church’s youth classroom for two years. Following graduation, Aubryn is planning to study nutrition sciences to become a registered dietician. She is undecided on her school at this time.

Aiden is the son of David and Gail Barker. Aiden has participated in football for four years, wrestling for four years and National Honor Society for two years. He is currently undecided on his plans following graduation.

Chase Kallevig and A.J. Arriola

Chase is the daughter of Eric and Kara Kallevig. Chase has participated in volleyball for four years, FFA for three year, National Honor Society for two years, FBLA for two years and basketball for one year. Chase is currently undecided on her plans following graduation.

A.J. is the son of Juan Arriola and Shelly Gibson. A.J. has participated in golf for four years, FCA for two years, musical for two years, choir for two years and FBLA for one year. A.J. plans to major in accounting in college, but is undecided on his destination.

Corinna McMullen and Carson Kern

Corinna is the daughter of Scott and Sarah McMullen. Corinna has participated in volleyball for four years, National Honor Society for two years, Interact Club for one year and FBLA for one year. After graduation, Corinna will attend Washburn University on a volleyball scholarship and major in nursing with a specialization in pediatrics.

Carson is the son of Matthew and Veronica Kern. Carson has participated in basketball for three years and golf for two years. After graduation, Carson plans to attend Pittsburg State University.

Reese Johnson and Isaac Guetterman

Reese is the daughter of Matthew and Tiffany Johnson. Reese has participated in soccer for four years, cross country for four years, National Honor Society for two years, band for two years and FFA for one year. Reese plans to attend the University of Central Missouri after graduation, but is undecided on a major.

Isaac is the son of Ted and Lisa Guetterman. Isaac has participated in FFA for four years, soccer for four years and basketball for four years. He has been a part of National Honor Society for two years and participated in track for one. Following graduation, Isaac plans to attend Iowa State University and major in Agricultural Engineering.

It was a successful, and eventful, 2021 for Louisburg High School athletics and for those who are connected to the Wildcat program. This past year created a lot of school history for LHS and several programs brought back state hardware.

Below are the top stories from 2021, along with a brief explanation of each. Included in the explanation is the link to the actual story from the event.

When putting the list together, I took a lot of things into account – whether it was team vs. individual, popularity of the sport, historical achievements and the interest it drew on the web site.

This year was a blast to cover and I am looking forward to seeing what 2022 will bring. Thank you to everyone for their support and can’t wait for it all to begin again.

10. Louisburg golf team qualifies for state

INDEPENDENCE — For the second time in as many seasons, the Louisburg boys golf team qualified for the state tournament.

Except this time, the Wildcat team is made up of a completely new roster.

The Louisburg group of Johnny Eberhart, A.J. Arriola, Johnny Thompson, Sam Wheeler, Dacey Wieland and Jackson Olson shot a 392 to finish third at the Class 4A regional meet at Independence Country Club. 

The Wildcats were just three strokes behind runner-up Field Kindley. Independence won the regional title with a 361.

Louisburg last went to state in 2019, but the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.

Eberhart led Louisburg with an 87 and finished fourth overall and was the lone Wildcat to make the cut for the second day.

9. Compliment steps back from volleyball program after 15 seasons.

When Jessica Compliment walked off the floor following her team’s semifinal sub-state loss to Bishop Miege back in October of 2020, the only thought on her mind was how that match was more like a state championship battle.s

It wasn’t your normal match as the two perennial state contenders had to square off so early in the postseason. She was proud of her team and was looking forward to another season of helping Louisburg volleyball get to another state tournament.

Little did she know, it would be the last time she would find herself on the Lady Cat sideline.

In late January, Compliment submitted her resignation as head volleyball coach as she will be stepping away to spend more time with her growing family.

Compliment certainly left her mark on the Louisburg volleyball program as she finished her 15th season back in October and has an impressive resume to show for it.

In the decade-and-a-half as the Lady Cat coach, Compliment guided Louisburg to eight state tournament appearances and placed in the top four of seven of them.

She also finished nine wins shy of 400 as she posted a record of 391-226 and helped Louisburg to three state championship matches.

Shortly after, the district hired assistant coach Leanna Willer to take over the program.

8. Wildcat boys soccer wins Frontier League title, advances to regional title

It had the drama of a state championship match, but instead the No. 1 and 3 ranked teams in the state were playing for the Class 4-1A regional championship title.

Louisburg hosted Bishop Miege in hopes ending the Stags’ string of consecutive state championships.

Instead, the Wildcats once again saw their season come to a close after a 2-0 loss to the Stags at Wildcat Stadium and ended their season with a 12-5-1 record.

The loss was heartbreaking defeat for the Wildcats, who had their sights set on another state final four — and possibly — a state title. To make matters worse, it was to a Miege team that has handed Louisburg a loss in five of the last six postseasons.

Earlier in the season, the Wildcats were crowned as co-champions of the Frontier League with Spring Hill.

7. Wildcat wrestling medals two

SALINA — Cade Holtzen and Alec Younggren didn’t get to leave Salina with what they were hoping to earn.

Only a select few get to leave with the title of “state champion,” and both Louisburg seniors were close to reaching their goal. Despite that, both wrestlers helped the Wildcat team to their best state finish in nearly 11 years.

Younggren reached the championship match, only to finish second at 220 pounds, while Holtzen rallied back to medal third at 132 during the Class 4A Kansas State Wrestling Championships at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center. The two wrestlers combined to score 30 points, which put them 14th in the team standings.

Louisburg hadn’t finished that high since 2010, when Austin Hood won his first of three state titles and his brother Bryce, took second. The Wildcats were 10th that year.

6. Louisburg cross country qualifies both teams for state, medals four.

WAMEGO — It wasn’t the finish Louisburg wanted following the Class 4A state cross country meet, but the Wildcats left with more than their fair share of hardware.

Louisburg was awarded four state medals following the meet at Wamego Country Club, including three on the girls side for the second straight season.

The Lady Cats had hoped to earn a team plaque for the second year in a row, but took fifth overall with 144 points. Eudora won the girls championship with 56, Baldwin was second with 64 and Winfield was third with 93.

Sophomore Emma Vohs led the charge for Louisburg as she finished sixth overall. Sophomore Maddy Rhamy and senior Reese Johnson also medaled for the Lady Cats.

In his first year with the boys program, senior Jaden Vohs had a strong final run for the Wildcats as he medaled 12th overall.

5. Louisburg cheer finishes runner-up at state competition

TOPEKA — The Louisburg High cheer program knows a thing or two about being one of the last teams left standing at the Game Day Showcase.

Louisburg, which won a state title in 2019 and took third in 2020, found itself one of the two teams left standing.

When the final results were announced in November, the judges awarded the Wildcat cheer squad the state runner-up plaque. Paola won the state title, while Baldwin made it a Frontier League sweep as it took third.

4. Wildcat girls take fourth at state soccer

WICHITA — The Louisburg girls soccer team may have left the Class 4-1A Kansas State Girls Soccer Championships with a pair of losses, but the Wildcats took a lot of pride in what they accomplished.

For the fourth straight season, Louisburg advanced to the state final four and the Wildcats finished fourth in the state – a far cry where many people thought they would end up. The Wildcats lost a pair of 2-1 matches to Mulvane and then to McPherson in the third-place match at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.

Louisburg, which lost 12 seniors from a season that didn’t happen due to COVID, returned just three varsity players. Despite all that, they ended up being one of the top teams in the state.

3. Louisburg girls basketball snaps 47-year state drought, takes third at state

SALINA — The tears were abundant following Louisburg’s loss to McPherson in the Class 4A state semifinal game.

The Lady Cats saw their season come to an end after their 58-46 loss to the Bullpups in Salina, but as hard as the finality of it was to take, they know what is the bigger picture.

Before the game even started, Louisburg already wrapped up its best finish in program history and became the first Lady Cat team to place at state as it finished third.

A season that finished with a 19-5 record and a third place state trophy, is one that will always be remembered in Louisburg history.

“It means the world to me to finish third at state,” senior Megan Foote said. “Obviously it wasn’t how we wanted to finish, but that’s okay. I’m still beyond proud of this group and the accomplishments we have made. We are the best girls basketball team in Louisburg history. I’d say to be a part of that, is pretty awesome. I’m honored.”

For the last three quarters of the game, Louisburg actually outscored McPherson 43-37, but it was the first quarter that the Lady Cats weren’t able to overcome.

McPherson scored the first 15 points of the first quarter and took a 21-3 lead going into the second period.

2. Wildcat basketball advances to first-ever state title game, finish runner-up

SALINA — The result of the state championship game is not what the Louisburg boys basketball team will focus on several years from now.

The fact that the 2020-21 Wildcats recorded the best finish in school history, will be more than enough for them to fondly reminisce about.

Louisburg, which played in its first-ever state championship game in Salina, fell to state power Bishop Miege, 94-40. As disappointing as the result was, many of the Wildcats were looking bigger picture.

“We will forever live in history with this senior class and with this team,” senior Weston Guetterman said. “Until someone wins it at least, we are going to be the bar that everyone looks to. It is a proud moment for all of us.”

In the state semifinal, the Wildcats got a revenge victory with a come-from-behind 58-55 win over Augusta to advance to the state title game.

1. Wildcat track wins second state championship; Wright wins three state titles.

WICHITA — On the 10th anniversary of the Louisburg boys’ first state track championship, this year’s team wanted to do something to commemorate the historic event.

The Wildcats decided they wanted to win one of their own.

Louisburg edged out Andale for the state championship Friday during the Class 4A Kansas Track and Field Championships at Cessna Stadium in Wichita.

It is just the second track championship for Louisburg and just the fourth team state championship in school history. 

The first one was a golf title in 1977, and then football won its first state title in 2010. The track team followed with its first later that school year in 2011 and the Louisburg cheer squad won a state title in 2019.

“There are no words to describe how incredibly proud I was of the entire team,” Louisburg coach Andy Wright said. “It was a total team effort. It was a moment I will never forget as a coach, and how exciting that it came down to the final race.  Everyone gave it their all, and I just couldn’t happier as a coach to see all of that hard work pay off for them with the greatest reward.”

Tom Koontz led the Wildcats with four state medals, including a state championship in the 110-meter hurdles.

On the girls side, Delaney Wright made some history of her own. 

Wright was the favorite to win state titles in her three events at the Class 4A State Track and Field Championships.

She didn’t disappoint. 

Wright not only won three state championships, but she won them in convincing fashion, breaking two school records in the process. The Louisburg junior won the long jump, 400-meter dash and the 200-meter dash on her way to an historic day in Wichita.

“My experience at state track this year was amazing,” Wright said. “The people competing there were super nice and my teammates made it more fun. It meant a lot to pull off winning three state titles.”

Wright became the first female Wildcat athlete to win three state titles in the same year as she helped the Lady Cats to a fifth place finish in the team standings – also the highest finish for Louisburg girls track and field.

“I can’t say enough how awesome of a competitor Delaney is,” Louisburg girls coach John Reece said. “I know she went to state with one thing on her mind – win.  She did just that and truly performed to her best. Winning three different events is an incredible feat.”

Louisburg senior Davis Guetterman is looking forward to her next stop as a member of the University of Sioux Falls volleyball team.

Davis Guetterman always had faith that everything would work out when it came to volleyball.

The Louisburg senior had always wanted to play college volleyball, but going through the recruiting process had its worries and challenges at times. Through it all, it was Guetterman’s faith in God that helped lead her to her future desitnation.

After some different options, one become abundantly clear that she was going to call home for the next few years.

At a signing ceremony on Dec. 8 at Louisburg High School, Guetterman made it official as she signed her letter of intent to play at the University of Sioux Falls, a Division II program in Sioux Falls, S.D.

“Any interview or recruitment is a learning journey,” Guetterman said. “God had in mind that USF was the right place for me and it was for me to find that out. Obviously with COVID it was more challenging to connect with college coaches, but Sioux Falls had an immediate interest in my passion for the game. Previous coaches and my parents have always told me that skill can vary from day to day, but effort is completely controllable. That has stuck with me in any game or practice I have been in. 

“I knew USF was right for me when I got to meet all of the players and coaches on my visit. I also loved that the college was a Christian university and I could grow in my faith as well as my athletic and academic skill. I plan to study biology and chemistry at USF with the intent of going to medical school afterward.”

Guetterman shared the setting duties at Louisburg with teammate Corinna McMullen as both were the starting setters for the last four years in the Lady Cats’ 6-2 offense.

Moving up to the collegiate ranks, Guetterman knew she wanted to grow in that position and she found the person to help her do that in USF head coach Dan Mathews.

“The only setters on the roster for the 2022 season are freshmen,” Guetterman said. “Other teams might see this as a downfall, but I think it shows how much trust and respect that Coach Mathews has in the athletes he has recruited. I am also very excited that Coach Mathews was a Division 1 men’s setter and has extreme experience in the position. 

“The freshmen will report in early summer and I intend to compete for the starting setting spot the day that I step on campus. I predict that multiple setters will have the chance to play because of the high level that USF plays at and the necessity for height and attackers in the front row.”

Guetterman had a lot of success for the Lady Cats as she helped Louisburg to two state tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish as a freshman and a fourth place finish as a sophomore.

This past season, Guetterman was an All-Frontier League selection as she played all six rotations, along with her setter duties.

The Louisburg senior led the team with 436 assists and a team-high 58 aces. She also added 184 digs and had 146 kills.

She hopes to take the experience she had in Louisburg and grow to an even better player at USF.

“My goals are to grow the USF program and create relationships at the highest level of Division 2 competition in the country,” Guetterman said. “USF has consistently been ranked in the middle of the NSIC conference; however, with the instruction of new Head Coach Dan Mathews and his vision for the program, I envision large strides for the team. 

“The University of Sioux Falls has the facilities, the coaches, and the recruited athletes to be a NCAA D2 tournament contender. This year the team beat three ranked opponents, giving great insight to the type of play that USF is capable of.”

Playing collegiate volleyball is something Guetterman has always strived for, but there were always doubts at different times in her life. Still, she never lost sight of her goals.

“I wanted to play college volleyball since middle school,” Guetterman said. “My club volleyball team, PVA, strongly encouraged us to reach out to college coaches whether we desired to play or not. Since I was so young I hadn’t really considered playing, but once coaches started contacting me I realized it could become reality. When I was younger I dreamed of playing on the big stage, but never really thought I would get the chance.”

Guetterman is getting the chance she has always wanted and she has the Louisburg volleyball program to thank for that. It is where her love for the sport began.

“Volleyball has been a part of my life since I was in the third grade,” Guetterman said. “I have all of the Louisburg volleyball alumni to thank for the love of the game that I found. I remember in elementary school I was that nerd who found the volleyball schedule in the newspaper, cut it out and taped it in my school binder. 

“I envied to be like those girls and I eventually got the opportunity to carry on the winning tradition. I have been able to establish and volunteer at youth volleyball camps, where I hope I am instilling this love of the game for the girls in the Louisburg community.”

Corinna McMullen has always found herself around volleyball.

Whether it was shadowing her older sister, Sophie, to all her volleyball events or just playing the sport herself, volleyball was quick to consume Corinna’s life — but in a good way.

Since she was young, McMullen has always wanted the opportunity to show what she could do on the college stage. Now she is going to get that opportunity. 

Last month, the Louisburg senior signed her letter of intent to play at Washburn University, and on Nov. 21, made it official in front of family and friends during a signing ceremony at LHS.

“I knew from the very beginning that it was my dream to play college volleyball,” McMullen said. “Whether that be for falling in love for the sport or watching my siblings do the same and it become an expectation for me, it was always been a realistic goal that I was determined to achieve. I had a tough time inviting everyone that has helped me get to the place where I am today because there are too many too count. 

“I was so grateful for everyone that could make it, but no hard feelings to the people who couldn’t because I know they helped me become who I am deep down inside. My parents also tried their very best to make sure my moment was special and I am forever blessed to not only have them, but the Louisburg community around me.”

McMullen was a four-year starter for the Lady Cat volleyball team and helped Louisburg to a state runner-up season and a fourth place finish during her time with the program.

She has earned All-Frontier League and all-state honors during that time as the team’s setter and McMullen ran the offense, along with teammate Davis Guetterman, for all four years.

All those accolades provided McMullen with a few different options on the college level, but it was Washburn that made the most sense.

“My decision to commit to Washburn was not a tough one,” she said. “My goal was to stay close to home to continue to watch my siblings grow, while also having my family and friends support me with a one hour drive. Another goal was to go somewhere where I could make an impact and leave my mark as I did with Louisburg volleyball. Family has always been a big part of my life and so is volleyball, so I got the best of both world when committing to Washburn.

“Coach Chris Herron is very successful, while also caring for every one of his players. I know he will be a perfect fit for me and will push me to be my very best as did all my coaches in the past. The decision was definitely stressful and took weight off my shoulders due to the fact that volleyball recruiting starts freshman year. Making highlight videos, emailing coaches, playing your very best at all moments is very stressful for all players, making committing the best feeling in the world. I put all my marbles into Washburn because I knew it was the place for me.”

The Washburn program took notice of McMullen early on and the Ichabods believe she is a great fit for their team.

“Corinna has had extensive training with the USA High performance program,” Herron said. “She is an outstanding competitor and very good defender as well as setter. She is the type of player you just want on your side of the net.”

This year’s Ichabod team found themselves as one of the two teams left standing in Division II. Washburn advanced to the national championship match, before losing to Tampa in three sets.

That recent success, along with academic success, has made McMullen excited to get started.

“Washburn has a very successful volleyball program along with an amazing academic program,” McMullen said. “They also have an outstanding nursing program for which I will study under to become a Pediatric Nurse. My goal was to get my school paid for and I am thankful that they can help through athletic and academic scholarships. The whole coaching staff is a great fit for me and the campus is beautiful.”

Louisburg senior Corinna McMullen played in the GKCVCA All-Star Match last month and she also earned all-state honors from the Kansas Volleyball Association.

Corinna McMullen has seen a lot of postseason honors come her way since the end of her volleyball season and she earned two more honors last month. 

McMullen was named as a Class 4A honorable mention all-state selection by the Kansas Volleyball Association.

The Louisburg senior had a strong season despite missing a few matches due to injury. McMullen led the Lady Cats with 224 kills and was also second on the team with 284 assists. She also had 194 digs and 35 aces on the year after playing all six rotations.

McMullen was also first-team all-league selection. She guided the Lady Cats to a sub-state finals appearance despite the team having to deal with an injury-plagued year.

“Earning another all state honor really surprised me, but also made me feel so grateful to feel that all of my hard work has paid off to be recognized,” McMullen said. “I thought because of the injury that I wouldn’t get many awards, but thankfully the coaches saw past that and saw me for the player and person I truly am on and off the court. 

“Our season was unlike any season I have ever been apart of with all of the injuries and modifications during the season, but it was a growing moment for Louisburg volleyball. The four seniors this year played a major role in not only the team’s performance, but the team’s leadership and teamwork. I am super excited to watch all of the younger players grow into the role they choose to be next year and only hope that I was a role model for them to look up to.”

McMullen was also chosen to participate in the Greater Kansas City Volleyball Coaches Association All-Star match on Nov. 21 at Avila University.

She competed in the small class all-star match which pitted some of the best seniors on each side of the state line. Although McMullen and Team Kansas fell 2-1, she was happy to be chosen to represent the area.

“The MOKAN All Star team was an amazing and rewarding honor to achieve,” McMullen said. “I have been looking forward to qualifying for that game ever since I watched my older sister, Sophie, in the stands when I was in eighth grade. To think that I am not done playing with Louisburg volleyball is beyond me. 

“It was so fun to work with other girls and to learn how to play together without having a single practice. Instead of rivals, they were teammates and we all were so grateful to represent Kansas’ small class.”

For a team that battled injuries most of the season, Louisburg found itself one win away from a trip to the state tournament.

Although it was an up and down year for the Lady Cats with a 20-17 record, a few players caught the eyes of league coaches. When the All-Frontier League Volleyball teams were released last week, Louisburg had three players on the list.

Senior Corinna McMullen was a first-team selection and was also an honorable mention setter. Senior Davis Guetterman was an honorable mention setter and another senior, Chase Kallevig, was named as an honorable mention libero.

“We have a very strong league with some very talented players,” Louisburg coach Leanna Willer said. “With the structure of our all-league teams I feel that it was tough to give every girl the recognition she deserves. I firmly believe that we had more than one first or even second team caliber player this season. That being said, I am happy that we landed three of our outstanding seniors on the all-league list.”

McMullen had a strong senior campaign for the Lady Cats as she led the team with 284 kills and was also second on the team with 284 assists. She also had 194 digs and 35 aces on the year after playing all six rotations.

“Corinna ended the year as our leading hitter with a 0.250 hitting percentage,” Willer said. “She was our go-to and we could count on her to put the ball away even with her small size in the front row. She provided our team with a spark and energy that carried us through many tough matches.”

Guetterman was the Lady Cats’ other setter as they ran a 6-2 offense for most of the season. The Louisburg led the team 436 assists and a team-high 58 aces. 

She also added 184 digs and had 146 kills as she played all six rotations as well.

“Davis led our team in assists and aces,” Willer said. “She is our resounding source of leadership and the ultimate hype woman for every single one of her teammates. She was willing to do whatever was asked of her, all for the good of the team.”

Kallevig was in her second straight season as the team’ libero and was one of the best in the league at her spot. She had a team-high 340 digs and was also strong from behind the service line with 37 aces.

“Chase held down our back row with consistent serve receive and defense, and she pushed other teams by being aggressive behind the serving line,” Willer said. “Unfortunately, all three of these seniors had to miss six or more matches due to injuries and we missed them tremendously on the court. They have truly left their mark on this program and we will not be the same without them next year.”

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL

First Team

Fisayo Afonja, Baldwin, sophomore

Kate Frakes, Spring Hill, senior

Rylee Serpan, Spring Hill, senior

Corinna McMullen, Louisburg, senior

Emery Keebaugh, Ottawa, sophomore

SETTER: Daphne Gardner, Spring Hill, junior

LIBERO: Cate Milroy, Spring Hill, senior

Second Team

Chaney Barth, Baldwin, junior

Mariyah Noel, Bonner Springs, junior

Harper Schreiner, Eudora, senior

Sophia Ewy, Eudora, senior

Sofia Ficken, Ottawa, senior

SETTER: Kirsten Evans, Ottawa, senior

LIBERO: Alexis Morscher, Bonner Springs, senior

Honorable Mention

Mikayla White, Paola, senior

Mackenzie Kuehl, Paola, senior

Maggie Kauk, Paola, junior

Maddie Pitzer, Paola, junior

Mercedes Madlock, Bonner Springs, senior

Alyssa Reichard, Baldwin, sophomore

Lucy Reike, Tonganoxie, sophomore

Shannon Frakes, Spring Hill, sophomore

Kaia Cordill, Piper, senior

SETTER

Maddie Pitzer, Paola, junior

Mercedes Madlock, Bonner Springs, senior

Sophie Baker, Baldwin, senior

Corinna McMullen, Louisburg, senior

Davis Guetterman, Louisburg, senior

Emma Durr, Eudora, senior

LIBERO

Taryn Marcum, Paola, sophomore

Chase Kallevig, Louisburg, senior

Emma Stottlemire, Ottawa, senior

Kylie Vandervoort, Tonganoxie, junior