Getting to cover so many great kids was an honor for me, including these guys as they were generous enough to let me in their group picture.
Eleven years ago, I was a nervous wreck.
I had just been laid off from my newspaper job, one where I had spent seven years covering Louisburg. Like so many others in this profession, I suddenly found myself staring at an uncertain future as newspapers continued to disappear. Jobs were scarce. Stability was gone. And I had a family to support.
I knew I was probably going to have to take a job I didn’t want — something far from journalism — just to make ends meet.
Then an idea hit me.
With news media shifting more and more online, I wondered: Would Louisburg support something like this? Would the community care enough about local sports to follow an independent site dedicated solely to their athletes?
As it turned out, the answer was an overwhelming yes.
Because of the relationships I had built during my first seven years here, there was an appetite from local businesses to support the idea — and many of them never wavered. Eleven years later, a lot of those same businesses were still standing beside Louisburg Sports Zone, believing it was an important piece of the community.
They were right — and I couldn’t agree more.
This past decade-plus has been some of the best years of my life. Through Louisburg Sports Zone, I formed incredible relationships with coaches, athletes, administrators, parents and community members. Even as a graduate of rival Paola, the Louisburg community adopted me as one of their own.
For those of you around my age or older, this might resonate.
I often felt like Norm from Cheers.
Every time I walked into a gym, stadium or field, I’d hear, “Hey Andy!” or “Thanks for coming!” or “We appreciate you.” So many people knew my name — even people I didn’t know — simply because they appreciated what I did.
Instead of an icy cold glass in my hand, I carried a camera. My barstool wasn’t at a counter — it was on the sideline, capturing moments as they happened. And there were plenty of them.
State championships. State tournament appearances. Individual champions and medalists. Record-breaking performances.
I was lucky enough to see it all.
But my favorite part was always watching kids grow — seeing freshmen mature into seniors and leave as confident, capable young adults. That transformation never got old.
My very first event as Louisburg Sports Zone was a home basketball game. I was only a couple months removed from being laid off and still unsure if this idea would work or if anyone would even care.
Those worries disappeared quickly.
As I walked into the gym, Natalie Moore, Kirstin Lowry and Kallie O’Keefe stopped their warmups to smile and wave. Coach Shawn Lowry walked clear across the court to shake my hand and welcome me back.
More than a decade later, I still get those same smiles from athletes and handshakes from coaches and parents alike. Those connections are what made this decision so difficult.
Was fortunate to interview so many student athletes these last 11 years.
Six months ago, I was offered a position with KSHSAA Covered and the Kansas High School Activities Association. Honestly, I never thought I’d have another writing job outside of Louisburg Sports Zone. I fully intended to keep doing this until the appetite for it simply wasn’t there anymore.
But the opportunity was too good to pass up — and it was the right move for my family.
I knew the connections wouldn’t be the same. Starting over is hard, especially when you know what you’re leaving behind. My favorite part of this job was feeling the appreciation from the community and knowing I was giving people something positive to read.
I wasn’t perfect. I made mistakes along the way. But this community allowed me to grow — as a writer, photographer and a person. I always tried to do the best I could and to cover every sport as fairly and equally as possible.
The last five or six years put me in an interesting position, as my own kids were playing varsity sports. How do you balance being a supportive dad and a journalist at the same time? I hope I did it right.
One of the biggest perks of this job was getting to write about my kids — their first varsity goal, first basket, first shutout or a big volleyball performance. I know how lucky I was to experience that.
None of this would have been possible without my family — especially my wife, Jennifer. I wasn’t home much in the evenings, especially with young kids, and that wasn’t easy. She never stopped supporting me.
It was awesome to have my family with me as I was surprised with Louisburg Citizen of the Year a few years ago.
To my kids — Jordan, Ally and Carter — thank you for understanding the crazy hours and for supporting me even when I couldn’t be at everything like other parents. I love you more than you know.
I also want to thank all of my advertisers, past and present. Louisburg Sports Zone doesn’t exist without you. Craig Holtzen and Edward Jones, Dixon Contracting Services, White’s Automotive, Prime Accounting Services, Amborn Stone, Wildcat Vet Clinic, Dr. Andy Hill, Destination Fun Travel, Vance Brothers, Go Brolly, First National Bank, First Option Bank, Landmark Bank, Dr. Laura’s Orthodontics, IronHorse Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Louisburg Family Dental, Vohs Pharmacy, Elliott Insurance, Magnum Equipment, Louisburg Athletic Club, Louisburg Library, Tri-County Pest, Midwest Collision — and so many others along the way.
I also wanted to give a big shoutout to a Louisburg graduate – Kenneth Sweeney. He has been my “web guy” this whole time. He helped design the site and has also been there to help me troubleshoot what problems have come up since then. I couldn’t have done it without him.
Thank you to every coach I’ve worked with. Getting to know you and promote your programs has truly been an honor. I appreciate you enduring my countless emails that I send out every week. You have helped make Louisburg Sports Zone what it is as well. I will miss you all.
And finally, the student-athletes — you are the reason this worked. Thank you for letting me into your lives and giving me so many incredible stories to tell. And consider this a long-overdue apology to anyone I ever did “dirty” with an unfortunate action photo.
So here I am, 11 years later, feeling some of those same nerves as I move into something new. The last six months with KSHSAA Covered have been great, and I’ve been welcomed with open arms.
Still, walking away from something I built was not easy.
I only hope that Louisburg Sports Zone has been as much of a blessing to you as it has been to me. These have been some of the best times of my life — and I will treasure them always.
Thank you, Louisburg.
Top 10 Louisburg Sports Stories of 2025
It was a successful, and eventful, year for Louisburg High School athletics and for those who are connected to the Wildcat program.
This past year created a lot of school history for LHS and a few programs made their way to state competition.
Below are the top stories from 2025, along with a brief explanation of each. Included in the writeup is the link to the actual story from the event.
When putting the list together, I took a lot of things into account – whether it was team vs. individual, popularity of the sport, historical achievements and the interest it drew on the web site.
Although 2025 will be the last for Louisburg Sports Zone, I am looking forward to seeing, from a distance, what Louisburg athletics can accomplish in the future. Thank you all for the support in these last 11 years. I will never forget it.
Louisburg senior Sam Frederick carded an 87 during the May 19 regional tournament and earned a top 10 finish and a state bid, along with teammate Derek Frederick.
10. Wildcat golf qualifies two for state
A year ago, the Louisburg golf team suffered heartbreak when the Wildcats were completely shut out of the state tournament.
Not this year, however.
The Wildcats sent two golfers to the state tournament this past May as senior Sam Frederick and junior Derek Frederick both represented Louisburg after earning a spot following the May 19 regional tournament at the Independence Country Club.
Both players competed in their first state tournament, which was held May 27 at the Sand Creek Station Course in Newton.
Sam Frederick earned a regional medal with a top 10 performance as he led the Wildcat team. The Louisburg senior finished 10th with an 87 on a tough Independence Country Club course. Independence had the top three individual finishers, led by champion Ethan Small, who had a 75.
Derek Frederick was the final individual to qualify for the state tournament as he carded a 91 and took 17th overall.
9. Coaching changes as Brown, Crossley, Schoning take over volleyball, wrestling, girls soccer programs
There were some coaching changes in 2025 as three teams found new leaders to take charge of their respective programs.
Rich Brown (volleyball), Shawn Crossley (wrestling) and Dawson Schoning (girls soccer) were all hired new Louisburg head coaches.
Brown, who took over from Leanna Willer, helped the Wildcats to the sub-state championship game this past season.
Crossley takes over from long-time coach Bobby Bovaird, who resigned following the season earlier this year. Crossley, who is an LHS alum and former Wildcat wrestler, was an assistant coach the last several years.
As for Schoning, he takes over from former coach Jordan Roquemore who helped lead the Wildcats to a fourth-place state finish a year ago. Schoning, who is new to the district this year, was an assistant coach on the boys team this past fall.
Louisburg senior Sabra Brueggen swims the 200 individual medley on May 24 during the Class 5-1A Kansas State Swim and Dive Championships in Topeka.
8. Brueggen earns pair of state swim medals
TOPEKA — As Sabra Brueggen stepped onto the state swim podium for the final time, a flood of memories came rushing back.
Memories of when it all started, the friends she made and all her successes along the way. Brueggen has been one of the top swimmers in Class 5-1A the last four years and she proved it once again on May 24 during the Kansas State Swim and Dive Championships in Topeka.
The Louisburg senior ended her high school career with two state medals and a lifetime full of memories.
“Ending my high school career was a very sentimental moment for me,” Brueggen said. “It was the last time I would be racing some of the girls I have been swimming against since age six. Being able to share the podium with them one last time made it even more meaningful, making me very proud of how I performed at my final state meet.”
Brueggen had strong swims throughout 2-day meet that began on May 23 at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. In the prelims, she qualified for the finals in fifth in both the 200-yard individual medley and 100 backstroke.
In the finals, Brueggen found her way to the medal stand as she finished sixth in the 200 individual medley in 2 minutes and 14.42 seconds.
The 100 backstroke proved to be much of the same for Brueggen there as she also medaled sixth in a time of 58.81 seconds. It completed a string of four straight years of earning a state medal.
The Louisburg girls cross country team of (from left) Talen McMurray, Annie Hornberger, Karissa Williamson, Maddox McGhee, Hailey Shelton, Reese Smith and Felicity Allen won the program’s first regional title.
7. Wildcat girls make history with first regional cross country title
On a rainy, muddy Saturday at Riverside Park in Neodesha, the Wildcats powered through the slick conditions to win the Class 4A regional championship with 39 points — seven ahead of runner-up Paola. The victory also secured a state berth for the entire Louisburg squad.
“It was awesome and emotional to see the girls leave Neodesha as regional champs,” Louisburg coach John Reece said. “It has been a long time in the making as we have had multiple teams qualify for state but have never won a regional title. The rankings had us winning the meet, but those are just rankings. The girls showed up to compete and that is exactly what they did.”
It was a youthful lineup that led the Wildcats to history, featuring two freshmen, four sophomores and one junior — and the youngest runners set the tone. Freshman Karissa Williamson finished fourth overall in 22:40.26, just ahead of fellow freshman Maddox McGhee, who took fifth in 22:40.46. Sophomore Hailey Shelton placed sixth in 22:57, giving Louisburg three runners in the top 10.
Sophomore Reese Smith finished ninth in 23:50, junior Talen McMurray placed 16th in 24:16, and sophomores Felicity Allen and Annie Hornberger rounded out the lineup in 23rd and 27th, respectively.
The team went on to run at state along with Truman Ellison, Titus Ellison and Spencer Mattison, who qualified for state on the boys side.
Louisburg senior Ashton Moore wrestles in the 215-pound state championship in Salina. Moore finished second overall.
6. Moore state runner-up in wrestling, Wildcats qualify 7 for state
SALINA — In the final match of his wrestling career, Ashton Moore found himself competing for a state championship.
It was exactly the place he envisioned himself being, even before the season started. The result, however, was a different story.
Moore’s dreams of a state title were dashed Saturday at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament in Salina. Smoky Valley’s Parker Gardner ended his run with a 13-5 major decision at 215 pounds.
As disappointing as the loss was for Moore, looking back on his long wrestling career helped ease the pain — as did the second place state medal.
“It was tough taking that loss,” Moore said. “I was pretty down about it, but then I had a moment that put things more into perspective for me. After our practice on Friday, Coach (Bobby) Bovaird took us up to the top of the arena to talk about the tournament. Sitting there I remembered being in that same spot as a sixth grader watching the championship round there. At that age I thought those guys were amazing and the toughest people I’d ever seen.
“So after my loss I thought back to that moment being a sixth grader and I was able to realize how far I’ve come. To see myself at that level now made me very proud I was able to make it to that stage.”
The Wildcat program also had six other wrestlers compete at the state tournament, including two on the girls side.
Seniors Brayden Yoder (215), Canaan Clayton (120), Mika McKitrick (132) and sophomore Levi Cotter (106) each finished the tournament with an 0-2 mark.
On the girls side, Leola Eslinger and Brooklyn DeWeese became the first Wildcat girls to ever qualify for state.
The Louisburg Jazzy Cats pose with their third place state plaque.
5. Jazzy Cats take third at state dance
The Louisburg High School Jazzy Cats made their mark in program history on Nov. 21, earning a third-place finish in Class 4A at the State Game Day Spirit Showcase at the Stormont-Vail Events Center in Topeka.
In their first-ever trip to state competition, the Jazzy Cats not only reached the finals but left with some hardware.
Coach Sarah Alexander said the entire experience was meaningful, not only because of the results, but because it was all uncharted territory for the program.
“This was the first time the Jazzy Cats had ever attended state, so the entire experience was brand new for all of us,” Alexander said. “To come home with a state plaque was absolutely incredible. The girls were thrilled just to have the opportunity to compete, and bringing home a plaque made all of their hard work feel truly rewarding. It was such a special moment for the team and a huge milestone for our program.”
Louisburg scored 81.41 in the finals, just enough to edge Holton (81.23) by the slimmest of margins for the final spot on the podium. Ottawa won the state championship with a score of 90.13, while Bishop Miege secured second at 85.77.
The Louisburg cheer team finished as the state runner-up at the 4A state competition on Nov. 22 in Topeka. It is the sixth top 3 finish for the Wildcats in the last seven years.
4. Louisburg cheer earns Class 4A state runner-up
TOPEKA — The Louisburg High School cheer team added another trophy to its growing collection on Nov. 22, earning the Class 4A state runner-up title at the Game Day Cheer Championships at Stormont-Vail Events Center.
The Wildcats posted an 87.73 in the finals to take second place behind defending state champion Paola, which won with a 94.27. Holton finished third at 85.
For Louisburg, the return to the podium was nothing new. The Wildcats have now finished in the top three six times in the last seven seasons, cementing themselves as one of the state’s most consistent programs.
Louisburg entered the finals in fourth place, boosted by a Fight Song and Crowd Leading routine that ranked second among all teams. The Wildcats had roughly 20 minutes to review score sheets and adjust before stepping back onto the mat—pressure they handled with poise.
“It was truly a special day for all of us,” head coach Breanna Kostroske said. “From the moment we arrived, the athletes were focused, calm, and determined. They’ve poured so much into this season, so seeing them step onto the mat with confidence and joy made the entire experience incredibly meaningful.”
Louisburg senior Cooper Wingfield won the Class 4A state pole vault title on May 30 at Wichita State University.
3. Wingfield wins state pole vault title; Meyer, Vohs earn three state medals to lead Wildcat track
For the last four years, Louisburg has dominated the pole vault on the boys side in Class 4A and had its fair share of success on the girls side.
Caden Caplinger and Maddy Carpenter-Ross earned back-to-back state titles during that span and now it was Cooper Wingfield’s opportunity.
Wingfield won gold in the pole vault in 2024 and was the favorite to win again this season — and he did it with ease. The Louisburg senior cleared 15 feet, 6 inches to win his second consecutive state championship during the Class 4A meet on May 30 at Wichita State University.
“It means a lot to win it back to back, not only for myself, but also to continue what Caden and Maddy had done before me,” Wingfield said. “This year made it four in a row that Louisburg had a state champion in the boys pole vault. It also made me the third back to back pole vault state champion for Louisburg in the last four years. I really wanted to continue that legacy and cement the dynasty we had and I am proud that I did.”
It had been a special year already for Wingfield as he broke his own school record earlier in the year with a clearance of 15-7.75 at the Kansas Relays.
Just like a year ago, his teammate Jacob Brown joined Wingfield on the state podium. Brown earned a fifth place medal after he cleared 14 feet as the Louisburg senior ended his Wildcat career as one of the best in the state.
Meyer cemented his place in the Wildcat track history books in one of those events. The Louisburg senior broke a 14-year-old school record in the 400-meter dash as he earned a fourth place finish in 48.83 seconds.
As for Vohs, he opened the state meet with a fifth-place finish in the long jump. Meyer, Vohs, along with Gavin Lohse and Caleb Feldkamp, finished sixth overall in in the 4×100 relay in 43.76 seconds.
Vohs, Meyer, along with Colton Blue and Emmett White, put together an all-senior 4×400-meter relay that took sixth in 3:27.
Another Louisburg senior, Jerynce Brings Plenty, ended his Wildcat track career with a state medal as well. Brings Plenty finished seventh in the 1,600-meter run in 4:39.78.
On the girls’ side, the Louisburg 4×100-meter relay, Kendall Crossley (100-meter dash) and McKenna Lohse (shot put) all found their way to the state podium.
Louisburg’s 4×100-meter relay team of senior Mackenzie Rooney, along with juniors Kendall Crossley, Addi Mallett and Suzanna Dansel finished fourth at state. The Wildcat group broke the school record during the regional meet and posted another fast time of 49.14 seconds during the prelims, which gave them the second fastest time heading into the finals.
That wouldn’t be the only time Crossley found her way to the medal stand.
The Louisburg junior qualified for the finals of the 100-meter dash earlier in the day, and then in the finals, medaled eighth overall in 12.82 seconds.
In the shot put, Lohse put herself in good position in the prelims. She recorded a throw of 37 feet, 1.25 inches in her first three attempts and was sitting in second place going into the finals, before taking fifth overall.
Louisburg junior Colin Brown celebrates after winning his prelim of the 100-yard butterfly at the Class 5-1A state championships in Lenexa.
2. Brown first Wildcat to win 2 state swim titles; Wildcats medal in 6 events
LENEXA — Colin Brown was all about making school history Saturday at the Class 5-1A Kansas State Swim and Dive Championships.
The Louisburg junior took to the water again in the 100 backstroke and won his second state title in a matter of minutes. It was also his fourth state medal of the day, which included a pair of relays.
“It was a surreal experience and an incredible honor,” Brown said. “It was really cool to see all of the hard work and countless hours pay off. It also gave me a sense of pride knowing that I was representing the school while doing so.”
That was the some of the success the Louisburg swim team had at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center. The Wildcats medaled in six events and finished seventh in the team standings with just four swimmers.
Louisburg junior Andrew Jamison also tallied four medals as made his way to the state podium in the 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke and two relays. Senior Colton Prettyman and sophomore Noah Sharp joined the other Wildcats as state medalists in the relays.
The Louisburg girls soccer team took fourth at the Class 4-1A state tournament on May 31 in Wichita. Members of the team are (front row, from left) Brinley Ewy, Lila Edwards, Rylee Moore, Baileigh Johnson, Jaden Bentz, Ally Brown, Riley May, Rowan Yows, Merritt McIntire, Faith Sewell; (back row) assistant coach Lily McDaniel, Cortney Johnson, Ellia Gibbons, Sydney York, Caroline Apple, Cora Roche, Kahlan Harris, Juanina Schmidt, Briella Diehl, Mena Fercho, Faith Sewell and head coach Jordan Roquemore.
1. Wildcat soccer takes fourth at state for best finish since 2021
It may have been wet, muddy and just miserable weather for a day in late May, but for the Louisburg girls soccer team, all that didn’t matter.
For the Wildcats, it was a beautiful day. Nothing was going to dampen their spirits.
Louisburg faced off against Eudora in the Class 4-1A state quarterfinal game on May 25 as it played for a spot in the state final four.
For the first time since 2021, the Wildcats got it. Louisburg shutout Eudora, 2-0, to earn its first state quarterfinal win in four years.
“It is an amazing achievement to make it to the state final four and I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” senior captain Jaden Bentz said. “This really shows the amount of hard work we’ve all put in throughout the season and it’s nice knowing it has paid off. I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to play with. When the final whistle blew we all were filled with excitement and ran to each other, and that shows the tight sisterly bond our team has.”
Louisburg head coach Jordan Roquemore was an assistant the last time the Wildcats were in the state semifinals and he could tell his team wanted this one more than any game this season.
“I have never seen the team so jazzed about anything all season as when the game was over,” Roquemore said. “We are all really excited for the opportunity to compete in the Final Four this year.”
Louisburg squared off with Rose Hill in the third-place game of the Class 4-1A Kansas State Soccer Championships on May 31 at Wichita’s Stryker Complex. It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to get on the board.
The Wildcats struck first in the game’s opening minutes, but Rose Hill tied it in the first half and scored late in the second to hand Louisburg a 2-1 loss.
Louisburg was coming off a 2-0 loss in the state semifinals on May 28 as it hosted its first state semifinal game against Topeka-Hayden.
“Honestly, I was really proud of how we played this game,” Louisburg coach Jordan Roquemore said. “Rose Hill is an exceptional squad and we not only kept them at bay defensively, we were very successful in creating attack opportunities. We were nearly even with them for shots on goal and I thought it was a very well-matched game for us.”
Wildcat boys medal four at Randy Starcher tourney in Tonganoxie
The Louisburg boys wrestling team earned four medals at the Randy Starcher Memorial Tournament last Saturday in Tonganoxie.
The Louisburg boys wrestling team tested itself against a deep field last Saturday at the Randy Starcher Invitational in Tonganoxie, finishing tied for seventh place as the Wildcats balanced competition with an emphasis on health early in the season.
Louisburg scored 75.5 team points to tie Lincoln Northeast (Neb.) for seventh in the 11-team tournament. Savannah claimed the team title with 212.5 points, edging host Tonganoxie (206.0), while Lansing finished third with 179.5.
“It’s a tough, early season tournament,” Louisburg head coach Shawn Crossley said. “We erred on the side of caution with some of our athletes nursing some injuries, and held them out of the tournament. We have an extended break coming up with the holidays, so our goal is to get healthy. We understand that February is more important than late December.”
Individually, senior Vance Hahn delivered the Wildcats’ top performance, placing second at 190 pounds. Hahn went 5-1 on the day with four pins, advancing to the championship bout and anchoring Louisburg’s scoring effort.
“Obviously, Vance Hahn had a great day,” Crossley said.
Freshman Sylas Weichert continued to impress at 120 pounds, finishing third with a 3-2 record that included two technical falls and a major decision.
“Sylas Weichert continues to make an impact as a freshman,” Crossley said. “His wrestling style is a lot of fun to watch. He wrestles free, isn’t afraid to make mistakes, and is always looking to score points. Sylas is going to beat some kids this season that may surprise a lot of people, but it won’t be a shock to us.”
At 106 pounds, Brooks Rankin went 2-3 with two pins and earned a fourth-place finish, while Levi Cotter also placed fourth at 113 pounds with a 2-4 record and two pins.
“Brooks continues to get better every week,” Crossley said. “He was dominating his consolation finals match, but just got himself out of position and ended up giving that match away to a very talented wrestler. Brooks has a good mindset, and I know he’s already looking to see that kid again down the road. Levi wasn’t feeling well but still gave it everything he had. I was very proud of his efforts.”
Other Louisburg placers included Keegan Rogers (seventh at 126), Myke McKitrick (seventh at 132), Josiah Clayton (seventh at 150), James Langner (ninth at 175), while several Wildcats gained valuable mat time in a competitive bracket.
Louisburg girls take seventh at Effingham, medal three overall
The Louisburg girls wrestling team finished seventh overall last Saturday in Effingham
On Saturday, the Louisburg girls wrestling team traveled to Effingham to compete at the ACCHS Girls Invitational, where the Wildcats turned in their best team finish in the event’s history.
Louisburg placed seventh out of 17 teams with 62.5 points. Sabetha won the team title with 107.0 points, followed closely by Washburn Rural (104.0) and Royal Valley (92.0).
“It was our best team finish ever at this tournament,” Crossley said. “The girls are kind of in the same boat as the boys as far as regulating participation due to injuries, so again, we erred on the side of caution with a few of our girls.”
Leola Eslinger highlighted the girls’ effort with a strong performance at 155 pounds, going 3-0 with three pins to capture first place.
“Leola took first in dominant fashion,” Crossley said.
Brooklyn DeWeese placed second at 135 pounds with a 2-1 record in her season debut, while Maliya Collins continued her strong start by taking third at 125 pounds after going 3-1 with three pins.
“Brooklyn got second in what was just her first action of the year,” Crossley said. “Maliya continued the hot start to her season, and took third.”
With the holiday break approaching, Crossley said the focus now shifts to recovery and preparation for the stretch run.
“We’ll look to get healed up over the break, enjoy some down-time with family and friends, and be ready to hit the ground running on Dec. 29 when we get back to practice,” he said.
Week 3 Athlete of the Week: Vance Hahn
Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week three of the winter sports season, sponsored by Dr. Laura’s Orthodontics.
VANCE HAHN, SENIOR, WRESTLING
Louisburg senior Vance Hahn put together one of his better tournaments in his career last Saturday at the Randy Starcher Memorial Tournament at Tonganoxie High School. Hahn made it to the championship of the 190-pound bracket and finished second overall to improve his record to 10-5 on the season.
Hahn pinned his way to the championship as he tallied four falls, before losing to Royal Valley’s Cyrus Harding by a 6-0 decision. He helped the Wildcats to a seventh-place team finish in a very talented tournament field.
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the winter season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
However, this will be the final Athlete of the Week that will be given by me as Louisburg Sports Zone is closing on Dec. 31. Graciously, Louisburg High School has agreed to continue to give out Athlete of the Week awards in my absence.
I’ve had a chance to honor close to 300 student athletes since I started doing Athlete of the Week in 2016 with the help of some generous sponsors around the community. Hope it all meant a little something to you along the way.
Wildcat swimmers rack up state times in home opening win
Louisburg senior Andrew Jamison recorded two state qualification times Wednesday in the team’s home opener in Osawatomie.
OSAWATOMIE — The Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill boys swim team opened its home schedule in impressive fashion last Wednesday, winning a four-team meet with 387 points. Independence finished second with 281 points.
Louisburg swimmers played a major role in the victory, combining for eight state qualification times or improvements on existing state marks in a strong early-season showing.
Senior Colin Brown, a two-time state champion, led the way with multiple victories. Brown won the 200-yard freestyle and earned a state qualifying time of 1 minute, 52.96 seconds. He also bettered his state qualifying mark in the 100 freestyle on a relay leg and captured first place in the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.30 seconds.
Senior Andrew Jamison, who returns after winning state medals last season, also turned in a standout performance. Jamison won both the 100 backstroke and the 200 individual medley. He qualified for state in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.60 seconds and won the 200 IM in 2:07.97.
In his first meet competing with the Louisburg team, junior Casey Carpenter-Ross made an immediate impact. Carpenter-Ross won both sprint freestyle events and earned state qualification times in each, taking the 50 freestyle in 21.68 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 47.44 seconds.
Junior Noah Sharp finished second in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke. Sharp earned a state qualifying time in the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:13.37.
Louisburg senior Colin Brown won a pair of events, including the 100-yard butterfly.
Brown, Jamison, Sharp and Carpenter-Ross also combined for state qualification times in both relay events. The quartet won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:26.82 and followed that with a victory in the 200 medley relay in 1:40.35.
Other Louisburg swimmers also contributed key points. Bennett Mendez placed second in both the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle, while Brock Delmez finished third in the 200 individual medley and fifth in the 100 butterfly.
Head coach Mary Argeropoulos was pleased with the team’s performance in the home opener.
“We had a strong showing yesterday which is always satisfying to defend your home waters,” Argeropoulos said. “We didn’t have the rash of personal best times this meet but good solid quality swims across the board helped to seal the team victory.”
Argeropoulos noted the continued progress of the returning swimmers and the leadership they are providing.
Louisburg’s Casey Carpenter-Ross qualified for state in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles in his first meet with the program.
“The returning Louisburg swimmers have literally built on the way the ended last season—they have come in faster, stronger, and more determined than ever,” she said. “Times are dropping, state positions are being secured, and really they are continuing to build from their peak of last season at state. The younger Louisburg swimmers are pulling up right behind the leaders and benefitting from great team leadership and improving by leaps and bounds as well.”
She also praised the addition of Carpenter-Ross to the lineup.
“Casey is a great asset to our squad and we are thrilled to add him to our team this season,” Argeropoulos said. “He has big high school goals and helps to build the enthusiasm and quality of the Louisburg (and OzPaLouSpri) swim culture.”
Six Wildcats named to All-Frontier League football team
It may not have been the season the Louisburg football team had hoped for with a 3-6 record, but the Frontier League coaches still recognized several talented players when the all-league football team was released earlier this month.
Six Wildcats were selected to the All-Frontier League team and three players — Blaise Vohs, Johnny Hendrickson and John Guetterman — were selected on both sides of the ball.
“The Frontier League is always tough so to get any sort of recognition is a big honor,” Louisburg head coach Drew Harding said. “Overall, I thought our team was represented pretty well. We had good recognition on both sides of the ball as well as on special teams.”
Senior Blaise Vohs led the way, earning First Team All-Frontier League honors at kicker for the second consecutive season while also being named Second Team All-League at running back. Vohs rushed for 737 yards and eight touchdowns, providing a strong offensive presence while also handling kicking duties.
“Blaise is a phenomenal kicker,” Harding said. “This is back to back years being selected as first team all Frontier League. Blaise had another really good year kicking for us. He only missed one PAT and was key in pinning teams deep on kickoffs. Blaise was experiencing a lot more wear and tear as our running back and he still was able to be an extremely good kicker for us.”
As a runner, Vohs returned from injury to give the Wildcats a major lift.
“Blaise was a huge boost for our team when he came back from injury,” Harding said. “He had a knack for making big time plays. He had a heck of game against Ottawa which turned out to be our biggest win of the year. He was a tough runner that had good speed and had a really good year for us.”
Sophomore John Guetterman earned Second Team All-League honors on both offense and defense, being named at wide receiver and linebacker. Guetterman led Louisburg in receptions with 244 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while also pacing the defense with 92 total tackles.
“John played several spots for us on defense and did a good job at all of them,” Harding said. “John plays with a good motor and has a knack for getting to the ball. He was our leading tackler as a sophomore and we are certainly excited to have him again for the next two years.”
Offensively, Guetterman was a focal point in the Wildcats’ passing attack.
“John was a guy we wanted to get the ball to and we did that in a variety of ways,” Harding said. “He was our leading receiver this year and was also a good perimeter blocker for us.”
Senior Johnny Hendrickson was honored as a Second Team All-League selection at both offensive line and defensive end, reflecting his impact on both sides of the ball. Hendrickson anchored the offensive front as a three-year starter while also contributing 42 tackles and 2.5 sacks on defense.
“Johnny always played with tremendous effort,” Harding said. “He did a great job communicating and helping get others aligned properly. Johnny was a really good football player for us and getting recognized as a DE in our league is tough to do.”
Hendrickson’s leadership up front was equally valuable on offense.
“Johnny was our best lineman on the year and he was also our leader up front,” Harding said. “He has been a 3 year starter for us and is truly a selfless football player. Johnny had a really good year for us and we are certainly going to miss not only his skill but his leadership abilities as well.”
Junior Cole Heinrich earned Second Team All-League honors at defensive back, finishing the season with 39 tackles, seven pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles while playing both safety and corner.
“Cole had a really good year for us,” Harding said. “He played both safety and corner. Cole is just a football player and did a good job of picking up on everything in the secondary and was a good communicator for us. We are excited to have Cole coming back to help lead that group again.”
Senior Gage Feldkamp received Honorable Mention All-League recognition at defensive back after totaling 34 tackles and an interception, while routinely drawing the opposing team’s top receiving threat.
“Gage generally rotated to the team’s best WR and we put him on an island most times,” Harding said. “Gage really stepped up for us the last two years and I am glad he got some recognition for his play.”
Sophomore Mathias Wright rounded out the Wildcats’ honorees as an Honorable Mention All-League returner, highlighted by a kickoff return touchdown against Paola.
“Mathias had a really good year for us as a kickoff returner,” Harding said. “He was fearless and would hit the hole running full speed every time,” Harding said. “He started the game off against Paola with a kickoff return for a touchdown which was really cool to experience. He is just a sophomore and we are excited to see him continue to get better over the next two years.”
FIRST TEAM ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE
Offense
QB: Haydon Hull, Sr. – Ottawa
RB: Grayson Moody, Jr. – Eudora
RB: Bohdi Shay, So. – Paola
RB: Hank Kotchaver, Sr. – Spring Hill
WR: Jayce Mourning, Jr. – Ottawa
WR: Sasha Pichnenko, Sr. – Paola
WR: Jacob Morenz, Sr. – Tonganoxie
TE: Aiden McCullough, Sr. – Ottawa
OL: Cage Crabill, Sr. – Eudora
OL: Leland Bradshaw, Sr. – Eudora
OL: Luke Anderson, Sr. – Paola
OL: Duncan Pinkham, Sr. – Spring Hill
OL: John Golba, Sr. – Tonganoxie
Defense
DL: Leland Bradshaw, Sr. – Eudora
DL: Carson Martin, Sr. – Paola
DL: Mason Harvey, Jr. – Spring Hill
DE: Brooks Bayer, Jr. – Spring Hill
DE: Jax Troutman, Jr. – Paola
LB: Newt Schreiner, Jr. – Eudora
LB: Liam Marler, Sr. – Ottawa
LB: Brody Latto, Sr. – Paola
DB: Dez Hoobler, So. – Eudora
DB: Jayce Mourning, Jr. – Ottawa
DB: Syler Stewart, Sr. – Spring Hill
DB: Brady Martin, Sr. – Tonganoxie
Specialists
K: Blaise Vohs, Sr. – Louisburg
P: Martin Guerra, Jr. – Bonner Springs
RET: Jayce Mourning, Jr. – Ottawa
Multi-Position Offense (MPO)
Maysen Dodson, So. – Spring Hill
Keelyn Duncan, So. – Eudora
Multi-Position Defense (MPD)
Kyle Stewart, Sr. – Spring Hill
SECOND TEAM ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE
Offense
QB: Jordan Miller, Sr. – Spring Hill
RB: Blaise Vohs, Sr. – Louisburg
RB: Armoni Velez, Jr. – Ottawa
RB: Blake Riedel, Jr. – Tonganoxie
WR: Jackson Rood, Sr. – Baldwin
WR: Preston White, Jr. – Eudora
WR: John Guetterman, So. – Louisburg
WR: Cameron Wells, Jr. – Spring Hill
TE: Colton Collum, Sr. – Baldwin
TE: Brady Martin, Sr. – Tonganoxie
OL: Ethan Winton, Sr. – Eudora
OL: Johnny Hendrickson, Sr. – Louisburg
OL: Tobias Thompson, Sr. – Ottawa
OL: Jack Boetel, Sr. – Ottawa
OL: Jax Troutman, Jr. – Paola
OL: Tucker Wingerter, Sr. – Spring Hill
Defense
DL: Ty Daly, Jr. – Baldwin
DL: Teagan Manning, Sr. – Ottawa
DL: John Golba, Sr. – Tonganoxie
DE: Chase Myers, Sr. – Ottawa
DE: Garrett Golay, Jr. – Eudora
LB: Brenden O’Connor, Sr. – Baldwin
LB: Kayne Smith, Sr. – Bonner Springs
LB: Elijah Clobes, Jr. – Eudora
LB: John Guetterman, So. – Louisburg
LB: Brayden Bell, Jr. – Spring Hill
DB: Cole Heinrich, Jr. – Louisburg
DB: Gavin Seaton, Jr. – Ottawa
DB: Blake Costlow, Jr. – Paola
DB: Mikey Beck, So. – Spring Hill
Specialists
K: Cody Lobb, So. – Tonganoxie
P: Brooks Bayer, Jr. – Spring Hill
RET: Dez Hoobler, So. – Eudora
Multi-Position Offense (MPO)
Prince Donnell, Jr. – Bonner Springs
Multi-Position Defense (MPD)
Keelyn Duncan, So. – Eudora
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE
Offense
QB: Bryis Alford, Jr. – Baldwin
RB: Kreyton Frost, Jr. – Baldwin
RB: Mason Stein, So. – Paola
RB: Bodee Masiak, So. – Tonganoxie
WR: Prince Donnell, Jr. – Bonner Springs
WR: Trace Metcalf, Sr. – Paola
WR: Kipton Harder, So. – Tonganoxie
OL: Brenden O’Connor, Sr. – Baldwin
OL: Jake Stevanus, Sr. – Baldwin
OL: Devin Fleischer, Sr. – Bonner Springs
OL: Paxton Summers, So. – Tonganoxie
OL: Max Jones, Sr. – Paola
OL: Benny Ragan, Sr. – Spring Hill
OL: Clayton Meek, Sr. – Spring Hill
Defense
DL: Devin Fleischer, Jr. – Bonner Springs
DL: Reilly Neis, Jr. – Eudora
DL: Cole Penhallow, Sr. – Spring Hill
DE: Hunter Barnhart, Sr. – Baldwin
LB: Landry Quick, Jr. – Baldwin
LB: Brayden Marx, Sr. – Eudora
DB: Kasey Hamrick, Sr. – Baldwin
DB: Wrigley Hamrick, So. – Baldwin
DB: Dalton Caldwell, Sr. – Bonner Springs
DB: Spencer Meis, Sr. – Bonner Springs
DB: Bryce Mulvihill, Sr. – Eudora
DB: Gage Feldkamp, Sr. – Louisburg
Specialists
K: Caden Dunback, Jr. – Eudora
P: Max Harvey, Jr. – Baldwin
RET: James McConico, Jr. – Bonner Springs
RET: Mathias Wright, So. – Louisburg
Multi-Position Defense (MPD)
Carter Raney, So. – Spring Hill
Week 2 Athlete of the Week: Noah Sharp
Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week two of the winter sports season, sponsored by IronHorse Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.
NOAH SHARP, JUNIOR, SWIMMING
Louisburg junior Noah Sharp put together a strong start to his 2025-26 swim season. At the Topeka-Hayden Invitational on Dec. 10, Sharp qualified for state in two different events — the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Sharp won the 50 freestyle in a personal best time of 22.82 seconds and helped the Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill boys swim team to a second place finish in the 9-team meet.
Sharp also went on to finish runner-up in the 100 butterfly in a new personal best time of 57.54 seconds. Sharp, along with teammates Colin Brown, Bennett Mendez and Landen Terflinger took second in the 200 medley relay. Sharp also joined with Mendez, Tag Solberg and Philip Hebert to finish runner-up in the 200 freestyle relay.
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the winter season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
Louisburg boys lose pair of home games to Leavenworth, Ottawa
Louisburg senior Derek Frederick drives to the basket last Friday against Leavenworth.
Louisburg boys basketball endured a tough week at home, dropping a pair of close, hard-fought contests to Leavenworth and Ottawa.
The Wildcats were edged by Leavenworth, 51-48, last Friday despite building a double-digit second-half lead. Louisburg got off to a strong start and led 30-17 midway through the third quarter, but struggled to handle the Pioneers’ pressure defense down the stretch. Leavenworth forced 23 Louisburg turnovers and converted them into 16 points while catching fire offensively in the second half.
Louisburg still held a 35-33 lead entering the fourth quarter, but Leavenworth outscored the Wildcats 18-13 in the final frame to complete the comeback.
Lance Callahan led Louisburg with 12 points, while Herschel Strumberger added 10 points and eight rebounds. Parker Stanfield also pulled down eight rebounds, and Owen Marsh finished with eight points and five steals. Louisburg hit four 3-pointers in the game but was limited by the Pioneers’ defensive pressure after halftime.
Louisburg (2-2) followed that loss with a 67-53 setback to Ottawa last Tuesday, facing one of the top teams in the Frontier League. The Wildcats stayed competitive in the first half, trailing just 28-28 at the break, but Ottawa took control in the third quarter by outscoring Louisburg 27-7.
Louisburg’s Fletcher Viterna goes up for a rebound last Friday against Leavenworth.
Despite the lopsided third quarter, Louisburg continued to battle behind a strong perimeter shooting effort, knocking down 10 3-pointers.
Callahan connected on five from beyond the arc and finished with a team-high 19 points, while Derek Frederick was perfect from deep at 4-for-4 and scored 15 points. John Guetterman chipped in eight points, and Strumberger led the Wildcats on the boards with 10 rebounds.
Louisburg outscored Ottawa 18-12 in the fourth quarter but could not overcome the decisive third-quarter run.
LOUISBURG: Lance Callahan 6-13 2-2 19; Derek Frederick 5-7 1-2 15; John Guetterman 2-5 4-5 8; Fletcher Viterna 2-4 0-1 5; Owen Marsh 1-10 1-2 3; Herschel Strumberger 0-3 2-4 2; Parker Stanfield 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 16-43 11-18 53. 3-point field goals: 10, (Callahan 5, Frederick 4, Viterna)
Wildcat girls drop home contests to Leavenworth, Ottawa
Louisburg junior Ellia Gibbons drives to the basket last Friday at home against Leavenworth.
Louisburg watched a late lead slip away last Friday as Leavenworth used a decisive fourth-quarter run to pull out a 50-37 win in a non-league matchup at Louisburg.
The Wildcats carried a 30-25 advantage early in the fourth quarter, but the Pioneers caught fire from the perimeter, knocking down four 3-pointers in the final period after shooting just 1-of-17 from beyond the arc through the first three quarters. Leavenworth outscored Louisburg 25-7 over the final eight minutes to seal the win.
Turnovers also proved costly for Louisburg, which committed 23 miscues. Leavenworth capitalized with 20 points off those turnovers.
McKinley Harmon led Louisburg with nine points and three steals. Kinley Scott added seven points and five rebounds, while freshman Tatum Battle made a strong impression in her varsity debut, scoring seven points and collecting a team-high three steals. McKenna Lohse chipped in six points for the Wildcats.
“The Leavenworth game was a hard game to lose, they made some big shots down the stretch and we could not finish in the fourth quarter,” Louisburg head coach Adrianne Lane said. “The girls have been practicing hard and we are getting better. I’m excited for this week to see how we do against two more league teams.”
Louisburg freshman Tatum Battle goes up for a basket last Friday at home against Leavenworth.
Louisburg fell to 1-3 on the season with the loss.
Earlier in the week, Ottawa jumped out to an early lead and never looked back last Tuesday night, handing Louisburg a 66-37 home loss.
The Cyclones led 15-4 after the first quarter and continued to build their advantage behind a dominant performance from Leah Askins-Dieterich, who finished with 28 points, 10 steals and four assists.
Louisburg was led by Kinley Scott, who turned in a strong all-around effort with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Scott was efficient around the basket and played aggressively on both ends of the floor.
“Kinley had a great game against Ottawa scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds,” Lane said. “I thought she did a good job finishing in the lane, and she played super hard.”
Ella Bockelman added six points, while Ellia Gibbons scored five for the Wildcats. McKinley Harmon chipped in four points as Louisburg continued to gain experience against a tough schedule.
Despite the loss, Lane said the Wildcats are showing signs of improvement as they prepare for upcoming league contests.
The Louisburg boys wrestling team went 4-2 at the Fort Scott Dual Tournament took third overall.
The Louisburg Wildcats used grit and late-match heroics to secure a third-place finish at the Fort Scott Dual Tournament last Friday at Fort Scott High School.
Louisburg went 4-2 on the day, opening the tournament with three straight victories.
The Wildcats started fast, edging Anderson County 42-37 in the opener — a dual that came down to the final match. Heavyweight Owen Ebenstein delivered the decisive blow, pinning his opponent to clinch the team victory.
“The boys showed up and wrestled like I know they are capable of,” Louisburg coach Shawn Crossley said. “Before we started I told them there were three ranked teams we would wrestle and we had a chance to make a statement early in the season.”
Louisburg made another statement in round two, earning a tight 39-36 win over 3-2-1A No. 6 Jayhawk-Linn, again sealed in the final match — this time with heavyweight Hunter Brotherton, who closed the dual with a pin.
Crossley said one of the day’s most memorable performances came earlier in that dual, when freshman Sylas Weichert (120) battled the state’s No. 3 ranked wrestler, Tanner Holt, to the wire.
“Sylas wrestled him to a very close match,” Crossley said. “We had a team meeting after that dual and I could tell they were hyped. They were starting to see that if they wrestled up to their potential, we could wrestle with some of the best.”
Louisburg rolled into its third dual and handled host Fort Scott 54-27 to improve to 3-0. That dual — and the moment of the day — belonged to Tristan Weller (150).
Weller trailed 12–5 when his opponent bit him to stop the action. The officials ruled the bite incidental.
“Tristan was rightfully angry and upset,” Crossley said.
Entering the final period still down seven, Weller insisted on choosing the top position.
“He told me he wanted to choose top and he knew he could turn the kid,” Crossley said. “Coach (Shea) Cox and I liked his confidence and Tristan pinned him like he said he was going to. I was very impressed with how he handled himself — gathering himself and hitting the reset button.”
Louisburg’s momentum was halted in round four with a 56-22 loss to 3-2-1A No. 2 Atchison County, but the Wildcats still found bright spots.
At 190 pounds, Vance Hahn pushed the state’s No. 2–ranked wrestler, Elijah Webb, to the ultimate tiebreaker before falling by an escape point.
“Vance came up just short, but I think he looked strong,” Crossley said. “He understands what he could have done differently next time.”
Louisburg bounced back with a 54-27 win over Prairie View before closing with a 50-25 loss to No. 6 in 5A, Blue Valley Southwest.
Despite the tough closing matchup, Crossley said the Wildcats proved plenty.
“All in all, the positives we took away from the Fort Scott duals is that the hard work we’ve been putting in at practice is paying off,” he said. “We are young but experienced. The team continues to buy in and it’s paying dividends. This was an early-season measuring stick, and I think we exceeded some expectations. I was extremely pleased with how we performed.”
Wildcat girls compete at Olathe West
The Louisburg High School girls wrestling team stepped into one of the state’s toughest early-season environments Friday, finishing 15th as a team at the Wild West Classic hosted by Olathe West.
Despite injuries and several wrestlers still settling into weight classes, the Wildcats turned in a gritty performance highlighted by multiple individual honors.
Maliya Collins led the way with a 3-2 record and three pins to place seventh at 125 pounds. At 155, Leola Eslinger also secured seventh place with a 2-2 day.
Other notable efforts included Alina Wojciechowski (120) and Brianna Caraway (140) going 2-3 for 10th, Allison Martin (145) finishing 2-2 with two pins for ninth, and freshman Mya McKitrick placing 11th at 100 with a pin. Nora Smith earned her first career pin while wrestling up a weight class at 170.
Louisburg totaled 115 points to finish 15th in a loaded 21-team field topped by Manhattan, Staley and Kearney.
Head coach Shawn Crossley said he was proud of the resilience his squad showed throughout a demanding day.
“It’s a tough early season tournament,” Crossley said. “Going into it, the girls were still trying to determine what weights they were wrestling. When the dust settled, they all made the weights they said they would that afternoon.
“We were a little banged up going into the tournament, but the girls gutted it out and battled all day long. Maliya and Leola both took seventh, one short of the podium. Maliya had a good day, going 3-2 with three pins. Nora Smith got her first career pin, and she was wrestling up a weight, so I was very excited for her. Mya McKitrick, as a freshman, continues to impress with her mental and physical toughness.”
