It took a little bit for the Louisburg girls soccer team to get on the scoreboard Tuesday in its home opener against Lansing, but once it did, the goals came in bunches.

The Wildcats scored five first half goals, and it was more than enough to get their first win of the season in a 5-0 victory over the Lions. 

“It definitely feels good to start with clear and decisive wins, both at the JV and varsity levels,” Louisburg coach Jordan Roquemore said. “There were a lot of great moments and we were able to play 19 different athletes over the course of the varsity game. It was good for building confidence and experience.”

Senior Rowan Yows had a big night for the Wildcats as she scored the game’s first goal and finished with two on the night to go along with an assist. In all, four different players found the back of the net.

Another senior, Baileigh Johnson, made it a 2-0 lead midway through the first half on a cross from Yows. Freshman Kahlan Harris followed with her first varsity goal to make it 3-0.

Just a couple minutes later, the Wildcats answered again when sophomore Briella Diehl battled for the ball near the net and snuck It past the Lansing goalie for her first varsity score and a gave the Wildcats a 4-0 advantage.

Right before halftime, Yows added her second goal of the night and all but sealed the win for the Wildcats.

“I loved seeing Rowan have a big game, but it was very encouraging to see how many other players scored or created opportunities,” Roquemore said. “We had 14 shots on goal from 10 different players, which shows exceptional diversity in players able to create and finish scoring chances.”

Defensively, the Wildcats limited the Lions’ chances as the back line of Jaden Bentz, Lila Edwards, Faith Sewell, Cora Roche and Caroline Apple kept the ball out of harms way. 

Senior goalie Ally Brown, who played her first-ever soccer game in the net, earned the clean sheet.

Defense was one of the many things that the Wildcat did well in, what they hope, is the first of many victories.

“We had some bright moments with our passing connections and our attack showed a lot of dynamism and potential,” Roquemore said. “However, we still have a lot to work on. Our passing consistency needs improvement and we have some gaps in our formation we need to tighten up. 

“Overall, I am very encouraged by what I saw. This team has incredible potential and solid depth at the varsity level. We will continue to improve and sharpen as we play more together and get comfortable in our positioning. Wins are great, but consistent improvement and growth from game to game is a goal I am more interested in achieving.”

Louisburg will try and make it two wins in a row today as the Wildcats travel to Leavenworth. Varsity is set to begin at 6 p.m.

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — It was a perfect start for the Louisburg baseball team Tuesday in Harrisonville — albeit a sweaty one.

The Wildcats swept Harrisonville in a pair of 7-6 victories in their season opener and did so by winning in different ways. Louisburg rallied from a 4-run deficit in game one, and held off a late Harrisonville rally in the nightcap to earn the sweep. 

“It is always great to leave the field with a sweep,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said. “We had some positives and some things that we need to clean up to take a step in the right direction for (today’s) game.”

Harrisonville took advantage of some opportunities in the opener as it forced Louisburg starter Alex Saad out of the game early. Harrisonville scored all six of their runs in less than three innings.

The Wildcats got good pitching from their bullpen, namely Evan Moreland. The Lousiburg junior pitched the final 4 and 2/3 innings and didn’t give up a hit. He also struck out seven and walked just one. 

“Evan threw really well for us,” Larson said,. “He did a great job of coming in and throwing a ton of strikes. He kept them off balance really well.”

Moreland’s performance allowed the Wildcat bats to play catch-up and they did that with a run in the fifth and sixth innings, and followed it up with three runs in the seventh to take the 7-6 lead.

Senior Meade Rutherford led the seventh inning off with a triple and later scored on a wild pitch. Moreland singled home Jayce Toms and then Ayden Spradling scored on a wild ptich to give the Wildcats the lead for good.

“We got down 6-2 and the guys didn’t flinch,” Larson said. “They knew what they needed to do and kept chipping away to get back in the game.”

Another senior, Luke Schultz, was big at the plate in both games for the Wildcats. Schultz had three hits in the opener, including a double and a home run, and had 3 RBIs.

In the second game, Schultz came through again with two more doubles and 3 RBIs to help get the Wildcats out to a lead.

“Luke saw the ball well all night and really came up clutch when we needed him to,” Larson said. 

Junior Danny Napier, who caught both games for the Wildcats, had a single and an RBI, and walked twice. Toms also had an RBI single for Louisburg as the Wildcats built a 5-3 lead after four innings.

Rutherford started the game for Louisburg and gave up just one earned run in three innings and struck out six. Christian Owens came in for relief and pitched three innings and struck out seven.

With the Wildcats holding a one run lead in the bottom of the seventh, Max Amren pitched a scoreless final inning with a strikeout. 

“Christian and Meade threw really well for us in game two,” Larson said. “Both gave us some great innings on the mound.”

Louisburg will try and make it three straight wins as it hosts Spring Hill in its home opener. It is a single game and first pitch is set for approximately 6:15 p.m., at Lewis-Young Park.

This year’s version of the Louisburg softball team will look much different than the year before, and for good reason.

The Wildcats had to say goodbye to five senior starters, including both of their starting pitchers, who played on the varsity level since they were freshmen. 

It will be a difficult core to replace, but Louisburg coach Nick Chapman is optimistic about the group he has coming back, including four returning starters and 5-member senior class.

“I’m excited for this season,” Chapman said. “We lost some seniors with a lot of experience last year, but our seniors this year have taken on the leadership role and done a great job with it. They have been positive leaders and role models for our younger girls. Our team culture is fantastic right now. Every girl is bought in and they encourage each other to help our team grow.”

The Wildcats will be led by their four returning starters in seniors Addy Stohs, Katie McKain, Brynley Bauer and junior Shyloh Waite. All four saw a lot of varsity competition last season and Stohs is the team’s returning middle of the order bat.

McKain will start in centerfield for the Wildcats, while Bauer will resume her duties as the team’s starting catcher. Waite will move from her outfield spot a year ago and is the starting shortstop.

“I have high expectations for this group,” Chapman said. “We are still chasing a season of being .500 or better and I want us to win a regional game and find our way into the state tournament. The best part about this group is that they are in it for each other. They don’t come with drama. They want to get better at practice everyday and they help each other get better everyday.”

Brotherton, who is in her first year of varsity action, will start at third base, while Stohs will return as the team’s starting first baseman. Junior Raeya Keagle and Brotherton will share time at second base, while freshman Annabelle Hathaway could also see time at third.

Junior Paytyn Van Tyle, sophomore McKinley Harmon and freshman Lydia Copeland will share time in the corner outfield spots. Copeland will also catch alongside Bauer.

“We’ll be fairly young, but we will still have some good experience,” Chapman said. “Shyloh, Addy, Brynley and Katie have all been varsity starters for the last two or three years. Emily, Raeya, McKinley, and Paytyn all got a taste of varsity at times last year and then we are going to add in two freshmen to the mix this year with Lydia and Annabelle who have shown a lot of potential in practice.

“Offensively, I think we have a great mix of girls who can hit the ball hard anywhere and girls who can play small ball really well. It’s not going to be one girl who we are going to rely on. We are going to rely on 1-9 to make our offense move. Every girl in the lineup is important.” 

Louisburg will also feature some new faces on the mound. Keagle and Van Tyle will start for the Wildcats, while Harmon and Hathaway will also see some varsity innings.

“They each offer something a little different and they work hard to hone their craft,” Chapman said. “We are going to put a solid defense behind them and work together as a unit to have as clean of a defense as possible.”

The Wildcats will open their season Thursday when they travel to Frontenac for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

It was a memorable season in 2024 for the Louisburg girls soccer team after they captured their first regional title in three years and earned a spot in the state quarterfinals.

The Wildcats lost to the eventual state champion in Bishop Miege, but finished the season with a 13-5-1 record. As fun as the season was, this season will look a little different.

Not only did Louisburg lose four starters to graduation, but the Wildcats have a new leader in head coach Jordan Roquemore, as he replaced Ben York, who was the head coach the last two years. The transition has been a smooth one as he has served as the Louisburg assistant the previous five seasons.

Roquemore will be joined by assistant coach Lily McDaniel, who is an LHS alum and former member of the Wildcat program.

“My experience as an assistant coach over the last four years has been a huge help in making the transition to head coach,” Roquemore said. “Knowing the girls, the culture, and the history of the program has been invaluable. I have a lot of appreciation for the time and effort coach (Kyle) Conley and coach York have put into the program. Working with them has taught me a lot. 

“Also, bringing Lily back into the program as my assistant and JV coach has been great. She is an excellent addition and has my full confidence.”

With a new coach comes a few changes, including a new formation. Louisburg will play a 4-2-3-1, which puts four defenders in the back, two defensive midfielders, three attacking midfielders and a lone forward up top.

“This formation is dynamic and adaptable, but it’s not easy to master,” Roquemore said. “It is going to require a lot of mental and physical work from the players, but they are absolutely up for the challenge.”

The Wildcats return experience all over the field, including in the midfield as they bring back a pair of all-league players in senior Rowan Yows and junior Mena Fercho.

Yows, who was a first team all-league and all-state selection, had 12 goals scored and a team-high 17 assists last year. As for Fercho, she was an honorable mention all-league player a year ago with seven goals and seven assists.

They will be joined by returning starter in senior Riley May, who gave the Wildcats big minutes last season.

“You will probably see a mixture of returners and new faces in our midfield this year,” Roquemore said. “You will see Mena out there along with Riley. Rowan has also been a big contributor over the last three seasons, but has struggled with some physical ailments affecting her longevity on the field. She is coming into this season healthier than ever and I believe you will see her best season yet this spring.”

Senior Baileigh Johnson returns as the team’s starting striker after earning all-league and all-state honors season a year ago. She tallied 15 goals on the year with four assists and several underclassmen could also see time at the position.

Defensively, the Wildcats return most of their back line and should be a strength of the team. They will be led by senior Jaden Bentz, who earned all-league honors a season ago.

Joining Bentz will be juniors Lila Edwards and Faith Sewell, who are both returning starters.

The Wildcats, however, will have a new face in the net as senior Ally Brown will start in goal in her first year with the program.

“We had a really fantastic season on defense last year and we are bringing back three of our four back-line starters in Jaden, Faith Sewell and Lila. Everywhere else on the field, you will be seeing a mixture of returners and new faces. 

“Having Ally step up as a goalkeeper this year will be huge for us. She may be inexperienced in the goal, but her athleticism and intelligence have made her a quick, effective study. Ultimately, the entire team is responsible for preventing goals, not just our goalkeeper. Playing smart possession and defense all over the field will help keep our new goalie out of bad situations.”

Louisburg knows it will have a difficult schedule as it tries for another regional title. Not only do the Wildcats have to make their way through a difficult Frontier League slate, but also tough non-league opponents including Basehor-Linwood and De Soto.

The Wildcats will open their season today as they host Lansing. Varsity is set to begin at 6 p.m.

“I have very high expectations for this group,” Roquemore said. “They are a talented, hard-working group with mixture of grades and skill-sets. We have our work cut out for us this season with a new formation and opponents who are consistently improving each season, but I am really excited to see what we can do. This program has had tremendous success since its inception and we will continue to do so.”

The loss was a difficult one to take for the Louisburg baseball team.

Despite having an historic season a year ago that resulted in the Wildcats’ first league title in 22 years and first state appearance in 15 years, Louisburg suffered a close loss to rival Paola in the first round of the state tournament.

As disappointing as the loss was, the Wildcats are hungrier than ever to get back to state for the 2025 season.

“I think confidence is high going into this season, but we all know we have to show up and play tough every game,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said. “The momentum from last season can definitely carry into this one and the guys have been practicing like they’re ready to build off of last season.”

Louisburg did lose a few key pieces from that historic 2024 team, especially on the offensive side, but the Wildcats return a bulk of their pitching staff that hopes to take another step forward.

Leading the way will be seniors Alex Saad and Meade Rutherford, who were both all-league players from a season ago. 

Saad also earned second team honors as the Wildcats’ No. 1 pitcher. He led the Wildcats with 45 strikeouts and had a 4.20 ERA. Saad also had seven wins on the season, which was the third most in Louisburg history.

Offensively, the Wildcats return two first team all-league selections in senior Luke Schultz and junior Danny Napier. 

As for Rutherford, he was the Wildcats’ No. 2 starter and had a successful season on the mound. He tallied 26 strikeouts on the season with a 4.51 ERA in six starts.

“We lost some really good players to graduation last year, but we bring back some great players, as well,” Larson said. “We have a majority of our pitching staff returning and some key bats. We will definitely have a few spots to fill, but I think we have a great group to step into those roles. We have five starters returning and three more that have had quite a bit of varsity experience. Alex and Meade were our leaders on the mound last year and they look to do so again.”

Joining them on the mound will be senior Jayce Toms and junior Bristol Barbour, who both have varsity pitching experience. Juniors Christian Owens, Evan Moreland and Ayden Spradling will also join the Louisburg staff.

Napier, who was the first team selection at catcher, will continue to work with the Wildcat pitching staff in his third year as a varsity starter.

He was behind the plate for all 26 games and was the workhorse behind the Louisburg pitching staff that recorded a program record 172 strikeouts.

He also provided the Wildcats with a big bat in the middle of the lineup. Napier had a .367 average, to go along with 29 hits, 12 doubles and two home runs. He also finished with 26 RBIs.

As for Schultz, who earned first team infield for his work at third base and with his bat. He had five home runs, a .381 average, 32 hits, 26 RBIs, and 32 runs scored.

Barbour and Rutherford both also had big hits at different points throughout the season and Barbour is a returning all-league player at shortstop. 

“Danny and Luke will be some big bats returning for us this season,” Larson said. “Meade had some really clutch hits for us down the stretch last year, as well. I think we have a chance to be solid at the plate but might have to find new ways to produce runs compared to last year.”

Schultz, Barbour, Saad, along with seniors Rylan Carty, Carter Willey and Moreland will all compete for time in the infield. 

Rutherford, Willey, Owens, Spradling and Max Amren will all be battling for a spot in the outfield. 

Louisburg opens its season Tuesday when it travels to Harrisonville for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m., as the Wildcats begin another run at a state tournament. 

“This group has some high expectations coming off a great season last year,” Larson said. “We will take it one game at a time and do everything we can to win every time we step on the field.”

It was a tough season at times for the Louisburg basketball teams, but one Wildcat did get recognized by the Frontier League coaches.

All-Frontier League lists were released Sunday following the conclusion of the state tournament and senior Ashlyn Kuhlman earned a spot among the league’s best.

Kuhlman was an all-league honorable mention selection for the second year in a row as she led the Wildcats in three different statistical categories. 

The Louisburg senior averaged 10.3 points per game to lead the Wildcats and recorded a team-high five rebounds a contest. Kuhlman, who played mainly the guard spot, also tallied a team-best 41 blocks.

Baldwin led the way with five all-league spots. Spring Hill, who finished second in the Frontier League and fourth overall at the Class 5A state tournament, had four selections. Frontier League champion Eudora had three all-league honorees.

Spring Hill senior Sydney Buscher and junior Isla Herman, Eudora sophomore Brynn Deterding and freshman Avah Dye, along with Tonganoxie’s Alyssa Schoeneck were all named to the all-league first team.

As for the boys, Louisburg did not have a player selected to the 18-member all-league team. 

Ottawa, who took third at the Class 4A state tournament and was the Frontier League champion, led the way with four all-league selections.

Baldwin juniors Cooper Carr and Leo Schoenberger, Ottawa junior Aiden McCullough and sophomore Caleb Hepner, Bonner Springs junior Kelan Bruver and Spring Hill sophomore Jackson Bruce were all named to the first team. 

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE GIRLS BASKETBALL

FIRST TEAM

Isla Herman, Spring Hill, junior

Brynn Deterding, Eudora, sophomore

Avah Dye, Eudora, freshman

Alyssa Schoeneck, Tonganoxie, junior

Sydney Buscher, Spring Hill, senior

SECOND TEAM

Leah Askins-Dieterich, Ottawa, sophomore

Brylynn Wicker, Paola, senior

Izzy Brunkow, Eudora, sophomore

Chloe Neufeld, Baldwin, junior

Nya Anderson, Bonner Springs, junior

HONORABLE MENTION

Addy Thompson, Bonner Springs, junior

Chasitee Sambol, Bonner Springs, junior

Emmerson Nigh, Baldwin, sophomore

Lauren Berg, Baldwin, senior

Natalie Price, Ottawa, sophomore

Peyton Wright, Baldwin, sophomore

Addie Bond, Spring Hill, senior

Amaya Burris, Bonner Springs, junior

Aubrey Meder, Spring Hill, junior

Ashlyn Kuhlman, Louisburg, senior

Audrey Searl, Baldwin, sophomore

Addy Schooler, Tonganoxie, sophomore

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE BOYS BASKETBALL

FIRST TEAM

Cooper Carr, Baldwin, junior

Leo Schoenberger, Baldwin, junior

Kelan Gruver, Bonner Springs, junior

Aiden McCullough, Ottawa, junior

Caleb Hepner, Ottawa, sophomore

Jackson Bruce, Spring Hill, sophomore

SECOND TEAM

Jason Jones, Bonner Springs, junior

Carter Hepner, Ottawa, senior

Caden Cohee, Paola, senior

Ryan Osburn, Eudora, sophomore

Cash Schneider, Eudora, freshman

Lachlan McRae, Tonganoxie, junior

HONORABLE MENTION

Colton Collum, Baldwin, junior

Jaiden Jones, Bonner Springs, freshman

Errol Siemon, Eudora, senior

Jayce Mourning, Ottawa, sophomore

Micah Sanders, Paola, senior

Talon Langford, Tonganoxie, senior

EUDORA — The task was never going to be an easy one for the Louisburg girls basketball team.

The Wildcats, the No. 15 seed, had to travel to Frontier League champion, Eudora, for the first round of sub-state action. Louisburg held strong in the first half, but a difficult third quarter ended the Wildcats’ season in a 56-26 loss to the Cardinals. 

Eudora went on to defeat Wamego for the sub-state championship Saturday and advanced to the state tournament.

“Eudora is a great team and I wish them the best of luck at the state tournament,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “I felt like we played hard against them and we never gave up.”

Louisburg battled in the first half, despite getting down 11 after the first quarter. The Wildcats were outscored just 12-9 in the second period and trailed 27-13 at halftime.

“We face-guarded two of their players and I thought the girls who face-guarded played their roles well,” Lane said. “The other 3 girls who were not face-guarding did a great job helping and playing man to man on the remaining players. Overall the girls did a great job playing a different defense and played together.”

Eudora found a way past that defense in the third quarter as it outscored Louisburg 20-4 to all but seal the win. The Cardinals helped get that lead thanks to their defense.

Eudora forced 20 Wildcat turnovers and turned those mistakes into 22 points. The Cardinals also shot 47 percent from the floor compared to just 25 for Louisburg.

Louisburg senior Ashlyn Kuhlman led the Wildcats in scoring with nine points to go along with eight rebounds. Junior Morgan Latham finished with six points.

It was also marked the end for seven Wildcats seniors as Jillian Asher, Ally Brown, Sabra Brueggen, Ashlyn Kuhlman, Sami Lane, Addy Stohs and Shylar Whiting all played their final game in a Louisburg uniform.

“This season was a fun season for the girls and our program,” coach Lane said. “I thought we played hard and battled in every game. Losing 7 seniors will be tough moving forward, but I know the seniors will all work hard to in their futures and I am excited to see where they go in life.

“The underclassmen I know will put in the work this summer and next fall to be ready to battle next year. I am excited to see what next year brings and excited for the younger girls to show their skills.”

LOU 4 9 4 9 — 26

EUD 15 12 20 9 — 56

LOUISBURG (5-16): Ashlyn Kuhlman 3-8 0-0 9; Morgan Latham 2-5 2-2 6; Sabra Brueggen 2-6 0-0 4; Ally Brown 1-7 0-0 3; McKenna Lohse 1-4 0-0 2; Sami Lane 1-5 0-0 2. Totals: 10-39 2-2 26. 3-point field goals: 4, (Kuhlman 3, Brown)

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.”

Moore, who finished the season with a 41-3 record, had a successful first day on Friday.  He opened with a pin of Hiawatha’s Gabrial Johnson in the first round.

In the quarterfinals, Moore earned a 4-2 decision over Augusta’s Devin Carroll. Then, in the semifinals, Moore faced off with a familiar Frontier League foe in Ottawa’s Seth Ferguson. 

Moore took care of business as he won an 8-4 decision over Ferguson to advance to the championship against Gardner.

Gardner got on the board early against Moore as he registered three takedowns of the Louisburg senior to build a big lead.

“That championship match was a tough one,” Moore said. “I hadn’t seen that kid at any other tournaments, so I didn’t know a ton about him. He had a quick single leg and you don’t see that much at heavier weights like 215.

“Overall I really enjoyed this year. I was lucky enough to have a full season and be able to finish out my season healthy. It was a very bittersweet moment when that last match was over, but I’m very grateful I got to spend these last four years with such great teammates and coaches.”

Despite the loss, it was a still a successful season for Moore who recorded his second straight state medal and became the ninth Wildcat to wrestle for a state crown.

“Watching Ashton earn his way to the state championship match was incredible,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “He put in so much work throughout the season and he’s been an outstanding leader for our program. Being able to sit in his corner at that level on the biggest stage was really special. 

“Finishing as the state runner-up is a huge accomplishment, and I couldn’t be prouder of how he competed and represented our program. This is the seventh straight year our program has had a state semifinalist, and Ashton is now one of nine Louisburg wrestlers who have earned the title of state finalist.”

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

Louisburg senior Brayden Yoder went 1-1 on Friday at 190 pounds after a close 3-2 loss to Mulvane’s Cameron Hagerman in the first round, but Yoder bounced back to get a 11-3 major decision over Goodland’s Logan Franz.

In his first match on Saturday, Yoder was eliminated by Abilene’s Pierce Casteel. Yoder lost by a 4-1 decision ending his season with a 35-12 record.

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

On the girls side, sophomore Leola Eslinger went 1-1 on the first day at 145 pounds. After she was pinned in her first match by Marysville’s Ella Johnson, Eslinger responded with a pin of her own against Prairie View’s Kimberlee Eastwood in the first round of consolation to earn the program’s first state win.

Eslinger (23-19) saw her season come to a close in her first match Saturday after she was pinned in the second period by Pratt’s Miranda Webb.

Freshman Brooklyn DeWeese (31-13) went 0-2 at 115 pounds in what was her first state tournament.

“It’s always tough when you see kids put in the time, the effort, and the sacrifice, only to come up just short of their goal,” Bovaird said. “In that way, wrestling can be a pretty brutal sport. Thursday night after we had our last practice, I talked to the team about the idea of competitive greatness, inspired by the great John Wooden. I told them that they needed to be prepared, to be disciplined, and to be focused. 

“This one tournament will not define their season or who they are as competitors; they’ve accomplished great things already and they’ve prepared themselves for something much bigger than just a single tournament like state. Each of them grew and improved, and that’s what really matters in the long run.”

The state tournament ended what was a successful season for the Wildcat program as they try and build for the future.

“It has definitely been a season of growth for our program, and we’ve made a ton of huge milestones,” Bovaird said. “I’m especially proud of how this group of wrestlers has contributed to the foundation of our program. We had wrestlers pushing themselves to new levels, we had a strong presence at the state tournament, and we continued to make an impact in our sport. While we always aim for more, I’m proud of the work these athletes put in. The young men and women in this program are building something special, and this season was definitely another major step forward for us, for a lot of reasons. We had our first girls state qualifiers with Brooklyn and Leola. We boasted our biggest numbers ever (65 total, with 54 boys and 11 girls). We had our first ever girls dual. We had another winning dual season, and we finished in the top 3 at Frontier League after several seasons toward the bottom. 

“The season motto was ‘Carpe Diem’ (Seize the Day), and from day one, that’s what we asked our kids to do. They learned to step up and face adversity, take on opportunities, and be fearless in the face of challenges. In the bigger scheme of things, that’s what it’s all about. Not winning matches, medals, or trophies, but learning how to be champions in life. I’m proud to say that the young athletes who stick it out through our tough sport will emerge much better prepared for being successful beyond the mat.”

After 14 years as the head coach of the Louisburg High School wrestling program, Bobby Bovaird has resigned from his position.

He made the announcement Wednesday (Mar. 5) in a post on social media and it was a decision he didn’t make lightly.

“Wrestling has been a major part of my life for 33 years,” Bovaird said. “First as a competitor, then as an assistant coach, and then as a head coach. However, coaching three programs—boys’ soccer, boys’ wrestling, and girls’ wrestling—has been a tremendous commitment, and I know when it’s time for a change. This choice is about doing what’s best for the program, my family, and myself.

“Before this season began, I knew it would be my last, and now that it has come to an end, I feel it’s the right time to hand the reins over to someone new.”

Bovaird took over the Wildcat wrestling program during the 2011-12 season and has coached multiple state qualifiers and medalists during that span. He also helped start the Wildcat Wrestling Club.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have built together,” Bovaird said in his post. “From the Wildcat Wrestling Club to the middle school and high school teams, Louisburg wrestling has never been stronger. This year’s season motto, Carpe Diem, was no coincidence—I wanted our wrestlers to embrace the importance of stepping up, seizing opportunities, and tackling challenges head-on. And that’s exactly what you have done. 

“More than the wins, medals, and trophies, my greatest hope is that the lessons you’ve learned—the resilience, discipline, and fearless mindset—will stay with you far beyond the mat.”

Bovaird, who will stay on as the boys soccer coach next season, went on to thank those who have helped better the Wildcat program.

“To my wrestlers, past and present—you are the heart of this program, and I can’t thank you enough for your hard work, dedication, and belief in what we’ve built,” Bovaird said. “The class of 2025 will be the last senior class I coach in wrestling, and I have no doubt they—and the wrestlers who follow—will continue to push this program forward.

“I don’t yet know who the next head coach will be, but that doesn’t matter. The foundation is strong, the culture is set, and the future of Louisburg wrestling is bright. Keep working, keep believing, and keep competing. While I am stepping away from wrestling, I will continue to teach at LHS and coach boys’ soccer. Louisburg is home, and I am grateful for every athlete, family, and supporter who has been part of this journey.”

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week 11 of the winter sports season, sponsored by Edward Jones and Craig Holtzen.

LUKE SCHULTZ, SENIOR, BASKETBALL

Louisburg senior Luke Schultz had a strong season for the Wildcat boys basketball team. Schultz led the team in scoring and rebounding for the 2024-25 campaign as one of the Wildcat post players. He averaged more than 10 points a game to go along with more than seven rebounds a contest. Schultz also scored 27 points during the Wildcats’ 3-game week to end their season.

During the season, Schultz recorded a 30-point performance in a win in January and also pulled down a team-high 18 rebounds in another contest. He shot 37 percent from the floor for the year.

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

Previous winners:

Week 1: Gavin Lohse

Week 2: Colin Brown

Week 3: Jay McCaskill

Week 4: Brayden Yoder

Week 5: Andrew Jamison

Week 6: Ashlyn Kuhlman

Week 7: Ashton Moore

Week 8: Brooklyn DeWeese

Week 9: Leola Eslinger

Week 10: Colton Prettyman