Sports
Erie girls aiming to be competitive in Tri-Valley
Brian McDowell Sports Editor Erie girls basketball coach Brianna Volmer hopes that the success that she achieved helming the school’s volleyball team this year can carry over onto the basketball court. Most of the impactful volleyball players are part of this squad. “They know my expectations, and they know how hard we have to work to attain those goals,” Volmer said, “and they know how hard we had to work in volleyball to get those goals, a...
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Royster wrestlers win medals at Labette
The Royster wrestling team competed at the Labette Community College tournament on Tuesday, an event at which no team scores were kept. Several Royster wrestlers won medals, including Jack Richard, Matt DeVoe, Braden Robinson, Huntyr Schwegman, Gage Matlock, Zack Dean, Trystan Pringle, Gage Leedy, Brodey Silcox, Logan Cook, Jake Fiscus, Preston Bogle and Dawson Taylor. The final event for the Royster wrestling team will be at home today, as t...
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New coach aims to make St. Paul boys competitive
Brian McDowell Sports Editor Keith Wiatrak watched the St. Paul Indians boys basketball team last year as its assistant coach. St. Paul got off to a 1-6 start, and racked up a few injuries before Christmas. The Indians turned things around somewhat late in the season, improving the record to 9-13. Now, as he takes over the team’s head coaching position for the first time, Wiatrak wants the Indians to be competitive right away. “We had a long...
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Senior leadership and defense to carry Chanute boys
Brian McDowell Sports Editor There is an old basketball maxim that says ‘If you can’t talk it, you can’t guard it.’ So far, the wisdom of this advice has given confidence to Chanute boys basketball coach Max Ruark, who praised the way this year’s Comets squad has talked while working on defense on the court during its first two weeks of practice. “There were a lot of times last year when we were pretty quiet on the floor,” Ruark said, “and th...
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Eighth grade basketball steps up in Parsons
The Royster 8th grade girls A team had to juggle its lineup due to injury and illness this week, and lost a match-up with Iola 28-6. Coach Steve Slane said this game was ‘not pretty.” However, the coach said he was really proud of the girls at their next match-up, on Monday afternoon in Parsons. “We stayed in the game until the last few minutes and some girls really stepped up,” Slane said. In the Parsons A game, Royster came back within 5...
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Seventh grade A team 2nd at Iola tourney
The 7th grade girls basketball team from Royster traveled to Iola on Saturday to play in the Pony Stampede tournament. The 7th Grade A team took 2nd place at the event, and the B team took 3rd place. In their first game, the Rockets A team defeated Iola 20-14, assisted greatly by 10 points scored by Kaitlyn Newton. Madisyn Thompson contributed five points to the effort, while Keeley Tallent had three and Carlie Almond ended up with two. Th...
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View from the sports desk: Things to be thanful for
It is almost Turkey Day, so I’m sure we are all anxiously anticipating spending a whole evening with our relatives. Thanksgiving is traditionally set up to give Americans the chance to say thanks for the occasional joy that sneaks into our lives. So, I thought I would use this occasion to make a list of things that I am thankful for. I am thankful for the exciting fall sports season that we experienced in this community. All Chanute fall spor...
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Lady Panthers’ improvement continues in victory over Penn Valley
Brian McDowell Sports Editor The NCCC Lady Panthers basketball team still has a lot to learn, but has made some big strides since starting the season two weeks ago. That is what Coach Kelley Newton said after a 69-64 home victory over Penn Valley on Saturday afternoon brought his NCCC Lady Panthers’ record to 3-3. This marks the first time a Newton-helmed NCCC women’s squad has ever been at .500 or better this late in the season. “We’ll take...
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CCA boys gearing up for season
Brian McDowell Sports Editor Chanute Christian Academy boys basketball coach Dave Yarnell is expecting the Warriors to have a “pretty good year.” CCA finished with a 9-7 record last year and ended up earning second place at State. Yarnell brings back a lot of experience from that squad. “Our guards really stepped it up last year,” Yarnell said, “and I expect that to really, pretty much, be most of our team.” The Warriors are changing offenses...
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Victory over Tabor demonstrates Lady Panthers’ continuing improvement
Brian McDowell Sports Editor For the last couple of seasons, the NCCC women’s basketball squad struggled offensively, averaging about 45 points a game. However, this year, so far, the team is putting up an average of 60 points a game. “The way we play defense, you can win games scoring 60 points,” Coach Kelley Newton said, “so, that is refreshing. That is good. We definitely need to make more shots, because we get some really good looks, and...
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CCA girls ready to compete this year
Brian McDowell Sports Editor The players on the Chanute Christian Academy girls basketball teams are older and more mature than they were during their struggles last season. This gives head coach Mark Childers hope that the Warriors’ games can be more competitive than some of last year’s contests. “We didn’t win any games last year,” Childers said. “I’m just looking to get better each game, and have my girls get better.” He has already note...
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Flowers sisters and three other Comets selected All-SEK
Chanute sisters Mallory and Macy Flowers were both selected as first team all-SEK volleyball players, in rosters that were released on Thursday morning. Mallory, a senior, and Macy, a 6-3 sophomore, both shined in front of the net for the Comets this season. Both siblings were unanimously picked as first team selections by coaches in the conference. Senior Libero Brenna Olson and junior setter Katie Martin were picked for the second team, an...
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Panthers men off to best start in eight years
Brian McDowell Sports Editor The NCCC men’s basketball squad currently has a 4-0 record, which is the Panthers’ best start since 2004. This statistical mark came courtesy of a 92-74 home victory over the JV team from Ottawa University on Monday night. The Panthers’ JV opponents featured a face that is familiar to many fans that followed the Panthers last year; sophomore Bryan Newton, a graduate of Colony High School, transferred to Ottawa af...
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Chanute football players named All-SEK
The Chanute Blue Comets football team made it further in the post-season than any other SEK squad, and made it as far as any team from this school ever has. In honor of the squad’s achievements this season, senior Cody Howell was named the SEK Defensive MVP for this season. Also, the following players on the team were chosen All-SEK: 1st Team: QB – Brock Gilmore OL – Cody Howell WR – Seb Fairchild DL – Jack Martin DB – Evan Hale LB – Cody How...
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Free softball clinic offered in Iola
A softball clinic for area girls aged 7-19 will be held on the campus of Allen County Community College in Iola. The clinic will occur every Sunday from 1-3 p.m. at the red barn building next to the campus softball field. This clinic will run from November to April, and will offer instruction in basic and advanced softball skills. Hitting, fielding and pitching will all be covered. There is no charge for this clinic, and it is open to all gir...
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Chanute girls second, boys sixth in preseason SEK polls
Brian McDowell Sports Editor PITTSBURG — The Chanute Blue Comets girls basketball team was picked second in the SEK preseason coaches’ poll released Monday, while the school’s boys team was picked sixth. The rankings were unveiled at a luncheon for the SEK coaches Monday in Pittsburg. The girls squad, which qualified for state last year, received three first place votes from conference coaches in the preseason balloting. Chanute finished only...
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No NCCC wrestlers place at Central Missouri Open
WARRENSBURG — The NCCC Panther Wrestling team competed in the large University of Central Missouri Open tournament on Sunday and came away with no place finishers. “We have a lot to work on after our performance this past week,” Head Coach Wayne Petterson said. “When you go against the quality we have the past two meets, in order to be successful, one must be completely on top of their game. Obviously we are not there yet.” Both sophomore ...
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Humboldt players honored as All-League
The huge turnaround experienced by the Humboldt Cubs football team this season, under the leadership of returning head coach K.B. Criss, inspired several of the team’s players to be named to the Tri-Valley All-League teams this year. Here are the players who received this honor. OFFENSE: Quarterback Nathan Whitcomb: The quarterback had an outstanding year completing 54.8 percent of his passes (152/277) for 2,773 yards and 34 TDs. Whitcomb al...
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Eighth grade falls twice at Parsons tourney
The Royster eighth grade basketball team traveled to Parsons on Saturday for a tournament. Despite developing an early lead, the Rockets fell to Pittsburg 24-14. According to coach Steve Slane, Pittsburg is a very good team, but the first quarter of the Saturday game was the best he has seen his team play so far. “Our defense was pretty good throughout the game,” Slane said. Due to the loss, Royster had to play back to back contests. The Rock...
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Comets’ playoff run ends with nailbiter at Piper
Brian McDowell Sports Editor KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Plenty of sweat and tears were spilled by Chanute football players on the field at Piper High School on Friday night. After a successful year that saw the Comets overcome a 2-3 start and go on a 5-1 run, the Chanute Blue Comets’ season came to an end in the third round of post-season play. The Comets suffered a 24-22 loss in the sectional championship showdown on the road in the western Kansa...
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