The Class 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championship is my favorite KSHSAA event throughout the yaer. Right up there in a close second is the 6-5-4-3-2-1A track & field championshipsl, scheduled for this weekend at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium.
A two-day long event, the Track & Field Championships highlight the best all-around athletes the state has to offer all in one place, competing for the right to be called a state champion.
Aside form soaring temperatures and a seemingly inevitable thunderstorm delay or two, the weekend is a much-anticipated workloaded for myself and like-minded reporters. We get a chance to see up close and personal the triumph and heartbreak of winning a prestiguous state title as an individual competitor. Once in a while, we get the opportunity to share in the glory of an area school claiming a team title as well, like we did last season with both the boys and girls from Atwood.
This year, there are several stories on the agenda to be told. Both reporter Conor Nicholl and I are hard at work this week, compiling a list and filtering through all of our area’s qualifiers to find the best stories to be told for this Thursday’s preview edition of the HDN.
That being said, I had the opportunity to watch the Class 1A regional competition in Hays over the weekend and was more than impressed with what I saw heading into the finale. There were also a few surprises thrown in that I didn’t expect.
No. 1 — I haven’t seen a runner in a while like Ness City sophomore Colton McNinch. While his times aren’t the greatest in the area in both the 1,600 and the 3,200, they are best or among the best in Class 1A heading in. His win in the 1,600-meter run (the worst of his two events) was nothing short of awesome as he made a charge at the end that not many runners would have left in the tank. On top of that, I made the comparison to Fort Hays All-American and current track & field/cross country coach Jason McCullough. To me, he looked an awful-lot like the former Tiger runner. While McCullough didn’t agree in the phsyical similarity, he didn’t argue McNinch’s running ability, and was equally as impressed.
No. 2 — The Ness City boys’ team win was a bit of a shocker as they earned some points from some non-qualifiers to earn the regional title. Congrats to the Eagles, though a team trophy in Wichita is a little out of reach without a couple more. Still, expect McNinch to claim at least one crown.
No 3 — Victoria freshman Taylor Kisner got her prep career started off on the right foot by qualifying for state in three events, three of which were among some solid competition in Class 1A. Probably the most impressive was Kisner’s run in the 100m dash, right up there with Triplains senior Kara Gfeller, last year’s fifth-place finisher in Class 1A.
No. 4 — Expect another state javelin championship for Palco senior Rachel Belisle. Belisle made it look easy by tossing her season best throw of 134 feet, 1 inch on her first attempt on a gorgeous day outside Lewis Field Stadium.
No. 5 — St. Francis senior Ted Crabtree has the best vault out of all the 1A regionals heading into the finale, and the second best ouf of all the regionals, regardless of class. His attempt at 14-6 in Hays just missed, but look for Crabtree to be right back up there in Wichita, provided a good weather day.
Other thoughts on the upcoming meet
It never fails. For all the reporters and workers heading to the meet, remember this. The elevator at Cessna Stadium will no doubt fail about two hours into the first day, and we will be braving the long stair climb for a couple days. It’s the only time of year when you’ll see old, out-of-shape reporters looking a little more tired than the athletes on the track.
Thunderstorms are of course in the forecast for this weekend, so don’t forget your umbrellas and possible a change of a shirt or two, and expect some delays. Last year’s 2-hour delay or so probably is the worst, but is no match for the weather taking a title away from Hays High School (assumption) a few years back.
See you all in Wichita.
Check this out. Anyone who is that big a Brett Favre fan is fine by me. Among recent active NFL stars, you won’t find a better role model than Brett Favre.
I was saddened by his retirement, but appreciative off all the years of great football that came out of Green Bay.
Weather permitting:
There is nothing like waking to the sound of thunder at 7 a.m. as I did this morning. Over my years (few by some people’s standards), I have seen my fair share of hail stones, twisters (a couple on videotape), and ear-blowing thundercracks. While I have always been a huge fan of the weather, I’ll admit it has its down side, like wreaking havoc on the spring sports seasons.
Currently, Mother Nature seems as though it will contend with the Hays High Indian baseball team, as it did with Friday’s surprise showing of wintery weather, forcing a postponement to an almost tropical Saturday (Go Figure). But, weather across the state this week could put a damper on the Indians’ hopes of hosting a Class 5A sub-state at Indian Field. The Indians will need all four games this week (Tuesday’s home doubleheader against Dodge City and Friday’s makeup doubleheader at Liberal), to keep their hopes for a host alive. Hays High will likely need McPherson, another four-loss team, to trip against Wichita-Campus, traditionally a contender in Class 5A.
If nothing more, the Indians just need to get back on track after “tripping” against Salina Central on Saturday at home, thus ending their run of four straight Western Plains Diamond Classic titles. Against Dodge City (weather permitting) on Tuesday, winning a pair of games shouldn’t be a problem. Liberal, however, has been playing good baseball and will probably give Hays High everything it can handle.
The Redkins are 10-6 and are fighting for a sub-state host themselves with Valley Center. Liberal has a doubleheader Tuesday with Colby before hosting the Indians at the end of the week. While the Indians aren’t overlooking Dodge City, a pair of wins at Liberal will certainly take a better defensive effort than they had against Salina Central, a team that pushed its record to .500 with Saturday’s win.
Kelton Rule had a solid game going, but the Indians were just not that sharp defensively (4 errors, three of which came with two outs). On two of the errors, runs ended up scoring, probably not a good feeling on the mound. On the plus side, a newcomer in sophomore Dan Moritz provided a great spark.
Here’s what would be nice, though, for the Indians — play these four games, get it together, and host McPherson for the sub-state championship next week — Logan Downing picks up win No. 7 or 8 (depending on his need this week) — the Indians get Taylor Pfannenstiel back and put up solid numbers heading into the state tournament. The lineup missed Pfannenstiels’ bat against Salina Central, but the way the defense was playing — it might not have made a difference.
Ellis adds some flair:
Kudos to Ellis for the start of a varsity baseball program. Not only did the Railers bring a competitive team to this year’s Diamond Classic, but it added to a very competitive atmosphere. Though the game ended in a run-rule Indian victory, the Railers’ spirit and will to win couldn’t be denied. Having Ellis make the short trip was a nice addition to an already-great baseball tournament.
Speaking of Ellis:
HDN sports reporter Conor Nicholl conorscorner.hdnews.net and I had the opportunity to partake in an afternoon golf outing at Ellis Country Club, and the course is an immaculate condition — even though my game wasn’t. My only hope is that the club can get its money situation worked out, and the course will eventually turn into an 18-hole. Though its not quite clear who is in charge, the result of the past work is a great-looking and well-groomed 9-hole. Now, if only my game was up to par.