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Articles by Andy Brown
Answering the Call: As flag football arrives, Kansas needs new team of officials
The whistle is about to blow on a new era in Kansas high school sports. This fall, girls flag football officially joins the Kansas State High School Activities Association lineup, bringing new opportunities for hundreds of student-athletes across the state. But as teams prepare to take the field for the inaugural sanctioned season, another roster is just as important — the one wearing black-and-white stripes. For longtime official Matt Renk, that need has never been more apparent.
Rural’s Kocher-Munoz ends career with third title, Baum breaks through for first | Class 6A Boys state individual champion recap
OVERLAND PARK — Washburn Rural senior Landen Kocher-Munoz has spent more than a decade preparing for moments like the one he experienced Saturday night. In the final match of his high school career, he made sure it ended the same way it began — with a state championship.
Third Time Golden: Junction City's Villanueva caps perfect career while Edgerton-Diaz rallies for dramatic first title | Class 6A Girls individual state champion recap
OVERLAND PARK — Bree Villanueva had done it twice before. Doing it a third time meant cementing her place in Junction City wrestling history. The Blue Jay senior capped an undefeated season Saturday night by capturing the Class 6A state championship at 115 pounds at AdventHealth Sports Park, becoming just the third wrestler in program history — boys or girls — to win three state titles.
Raise the Standard: Garden City repeats as 6A girls champion
OVERLAND PARK — For one day, the Class 6A girls wrestling team race looked like it might come down to the wire. Garden City made sure it didn’t stay that way for long, pulling away Saturday to capture its second straight state championship at AdventHealth Sports Park in Overland Park. Garden City finished with 226.5 points, distancing itself from runner-up Gardner-Edgerton (197) after entering the final day with only a three-point lead.
A Culture Shift, A State Record: Maize claims first 6A wrestling crown
OVERLAND PARK — The blueprint was drawn months ago in a Maize wrestling room that believed it was capable of more. On Saturday night at AdventHealth Sports Park, that belief became history. Maize crowned four individual champions, sent seven wrestlers to the finals and piled up a Class 6A-record 237 points to capture its first-ever 6A state championship.
A Four-midablle Trio: Manhattan's Hutchinson, Paola's Johnson and Beloit's Monty become latest four-time wrestling champions
The accomplishment of becoming a four-time state wrestling champion has become a more common occurrence in recent years with 31 of the 41 members of that club going into this season getting there in the last 25 years. Yet given the countless number of state champions crowned each season – 56 boys and 56 girls the past two seasons -- the feat is still one that carries that hallowed aura. And this year provided a rarity.
Maize surges ahead, sends seven to 6A finals | Class 6A Boys Wrestling Recap
OVERLAND PARK — Maize is closing in on history. The Eagles took a commanding step toward their first Class 6A state championship Friday at the AdventHealth Sports Park, building a sizeable lead after the semifinal round of the state wrestling tournament. Maize sits atop the team standings with 188.5 points, well ahead of Washburn Rural (143) and two-time defending champion Manhattan (115).
Garden City, Gardner-Edgerton separated by three points after day one | Class 6A Girls Wrestling Recap
OVERLAND PARK — If Friday night was any indication, the Class 6A state girls wrestling tournament is headed for a finish worthy of the stage. Defending champion Garden City and surging Gardner-Edgerton traded blows throughout the semifinal round at AdventHealth Sports Park and will enter Saturday separated by just three points in the team standings. Garden City sits atop the leaderboard with 168.5 points, while the Trailblazers are right behind at 165.5, setting up a dramatic final day.
Good to the End: Maize’s Rife repeats as double-gold champ, earns meet’s top honor | Class 6A individual swimming and diving champions
LENEXA – Maize coach Tedd Gibson’s affinity for his senior standout swimmer Zach Rife includes the swim cap story. Toward the end of the regular season, one of Gibson’s coaching counterparts from fellow Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I member Derby approached him to share the tale of Rife’s good deed. “The kids adore him,” Gibson said. “They think he’s just like a god. One of their kids came up to him with a raggedy cap and wants to trade his cap for a Rife cap.
Record-breaking relay, five golds power Louisburg to state podium with best-ever finish | Class 5-1A individual swimming and diving champions
LENEXA — They didn’t have the biggest roster and when the final event was called Saturday afternoon, they didn’t even have a lane in the pool. What Louisburg had was four swimmers, a stack of gold medals and a place in school history.
Built on Belief: Lancers bring state swim trophy back to Shawnee Mission East
LENEXA — For three years, Shawnee Mission East chased. On Saturday night, the Lancers caught — and passed — the field. After finishing runner-up each of the last three seasons, East climbed back to the top of Class 6A swim and dive, totaling 290.5 points to edge Blue Valley West (270) and captured the state title at the Kansas State Swimming and Diving Championship held at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center.
Freestylers close gaps on meet records during Class 6A state preliminaries
Maize senior Zach Rife and Olathe Northwest senior Bryan Branstrom ended their preliminary session of the Class 6A swimming and diving championships with a cordial chat in the pool after their anchor legs of the 400-yard freestyle relay on Friday. The intensity figures to ramp up Saturday as the standout freestylers go head-to-head for the 100-yard freestyle state title.
Living in the Moment: Colgan’s Davis chasing 2,000 points and something greater
PITTSBURG — The net barely has time to settle these days. Every flick of Jakayla Davis’ wrist feels historic, and every basket put her deeper into St. Mary’s Colgan lore. And through it all — the records, the rankings, the roar of rival gyms — Davis rarely changes expression. She just lives in the moment.
Community rallies around Pleasanton's historic run | East/SE Kansas Boys Basketball Standouts
PLEASANTON — On a night that felt more like homecoming than a regular-season basketball game, the Pleasanton High School gymnasium was filled with energy. Blue and white streamers draped the walls, balloons floated above the student section and fans packed every inch of the stands. And when the final buzzer sounded, the Blu-Jays gave their town another reason to celebrate.
CapFed® True Blue® Student of the Week: From almost quitting to No. 1, Washington’s Reddi Johnson leads on the mat and beyond
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On a morning she planned to quit, Reddi Johnson woke up before her alarm. She had already decided the night before that wrestling wasn’t for her. It was too hard. Too demanding. Too uncomfortable. She wouldn’t set the alarm. She wouldn’t go back. But as she lay staring at the ceiling in her Kansas City bedroom, something shifted. “It just came over me that I should pack my wrestling bag,” Johnson said.
Tonganoxie’s Martin breaks school wins record, captures league crown | East/SE Kansas Wrestling Standouts
TONGANOXIE — In a program rich with wrestling tradition, Brady Martin just carved out his own place in Tonganoxie history. The Tonganoxie senior captured the Frontier League title at 165 pounds last weekend and surpassed every wrestler before him to become the program’s all-time wins leader with 153 career victories, doing so while defeating two state-ranked opponents in the process.
Shawnee Mission South boys remain unbeaten after emotional week of ranked wins | East/SE Kansas Basketball Standouts
SHAWNEE — By any measure, Shawnee Mission South’s boys basketball season has been special. By the Raiders’ standards, it’s just getting started. South sits at 18-0 and firmly atop the Class 6A rankings, but the past week may have defined the program’s championship credentials — and its heart — more than any other stretch this winter. The Raiders opened with an emotional, state-tournament-level showdown at No. 2 Olathe North, escaping with a dramatic 55-54 victory in a packed, roaring gym.
Crouse leads St. Thomas Aquinas to Newton tournament title | East/SE Kansas Girls Basketball Standouts
NEWTON — St. Thomas Aquinas left little doubt about its status as Kansas’ top Class 5A contender last week, rolling through the Newton Invitational with three convincing wins capped by a 48-24 championship victory over state-ranked St. James Academy. “Our girls were excited to win the tournament,” Aquinas coach Rick Hetzel said.
Bechard’s career built on ‘significance’ earns KSHSAA Hall of Fame honor
The moment that changed Richard Bechard's life didn't come during a game, a championship celebration, or in a packed gymnasium. It came quietly, during a conversation with a college basketball coach who saw something in him that he hadn't yet seen in himself. "Have you ever thought about going into coaching and becoming a teacher?" the coach asked. Bechard was more than a little taken aback. "I went to college and wanted to be a fish and game biologist," Bechard recalled.
GAME ON: Olathe West, Andover Central share first KSHSAA Esports state title in historic debut
OLATHE — The roar inside the Olathe Innovation Campus didn’t come from a packed gym or a buzzer-beating shot. Instead, it came from headsets, keyboards and controllers as Kansas officially entered a new era of high school competition. When the final matches wrapped up, Olathe West and Andover Central stood tied atop the standings with 17 points apiece, sharing the inaugural Kansas State High School Activities Association Esports state championship in a historic debut for the activity.
Milestone nice, but SM South's Segura gets even bigger victory in winning title at Washburn Rural | KC/Southeast Kansas Wrestling Standouts
TOPEKA – Winning her 150th career match was a pretty big deal for Stella Segura at Saturday’s Washburn Rural Invitational. The milestone victory came via a dominating 15-0 technical fall victory in the 110-pound semifinals over Sumner Academy’s Angie Mensah. But the victory that stood out the most for the Shawnee Mission South senior was her 151st.
Atchison stays undefeated as Phoenix win Tonganoxie Invitational | East/SE Kansas Boys Basketball Mid-Season Tournament Champions
TONGANOXIE — Atchison added another chapter to an already impressive season last Friday, capturing the Tonganoxie Invitational title with a 74-64 victory over Eudora in the championship game. The Phoenix, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, improved to 13-0 on the season and defeated the Cardinals for the second time this year to claim the crown in a tournament that is in its 68th year.
Bishop Miege's Grant nails game-winner to help Stags to KA-MO championship | East/SE Kansas Girls Mid-Season Tournament Champions
OVERLAND PARK — Bishop Miege saved its best for last — and Mary Grant made sure of it. The senior point guard delivered the decisive moment Saturday night, knocking down a contested jumper on a broken play with five seconds remaining to lift No. 3 Bishop Miege past host and defending Class 6A state champion Blue Valley North, 51-50, in the championship game of the KA-MO Classic at Blue Valley North High School.
Louisburg's Carpenter-Ross off to fast start as he joins experienced Wildcat squad hoping for big postseason | East/SE Kansas Swimming Standouts
LOUISBURG — Despite being less than a decade old, the Louisburg boys’ swim team knows what it takes to make noise at the state meet. Now, the Wildcats believe they have what it takes to take another step forward. After finishing seventh at last season’s Class 5-1A state meet with just four swimmers, Louisburg is looking to build on that performance this winter — and the arrival of junior Casey Carpenter-Ross has given the program an immediate and significant boost.
Basehor-Linwood wrestling thrives at home Bobcat Classic | East/SE Kansas Wrestling Standouts
The Bobcat Classic has a way of revealing exactly who a program is. Over two days and dozens of bouts last weekend, the noise inside Basehor-Linwood High School rose and fell with every takedown, scramble and pin. By the time the final whistle sounded Saturday afternoon, the host Bobcats had matched their best finish ever at their home meet. Basehor-Linwood placed third overall in the 43-team Bobcat Classic, finishing with 187.5 points behind Missouri powers Hickman (242.5) and St. Pius X (219).
Dragon tale: Halstead’s Metoyer, Nedich lead 1-2 finish in 3-2-1A | Two-Speaker Debate Championship Roundup
Halstead juniors Parker Metoyer and Onnyka Nedich once wondered if a debate partnership might have an adverse affect on their longtime friendship. The results of the Class 3-2-1A 2-Speaker State Debate Championships suggest otherwise.
Scoring record, big rivalry win all in a day's work for Olathe South's Long | East/SE Kansas Basketball Standouts
For a program still carrying the sting of last season, Olathe South junior Eve Long made sure Friday night felt different. Long delivered a dominant, statement performance with 37 points and 15 rebounds as the No. 6 Falcons earned a 62-56 victory over No. 7 Olathe North last Friday at Olathe North High School, avenging a pair of losses to the Eagles a year ago, including a heartbreaking defeat that ended their season.
CapFed® True Blue® Student of the Week: Partee sets the standard for success at Pittsburg
By the time the final bell rings at Pittsburg High School, De’Marus Partee has already lived several days’ worth of accomplishments. He has tackled ballcarriers on Friday nights, pinned opponents on wrestling mats and cleared hurdles at record-breaking speeds. Somewhere in between, he’s earned straight A’s, volunteered with Special Olympics athletes and helped give his peers a voice as a leader in the school’s athletic community.
Back on top: Driven Washburn Rural reclaims 6A 4-Speaker state title after having streak broken in 2025 | Four-Speaker Debate Championship Roundup
Almost immediately after the conclusion of last year’s Class 6A State Debate Championships, Washburn Rural coach Tim Ellis got a text from the lone underclassman on the Junior Blues’ four-speaker team. Campbell Hight’s message to her coach? “I guess I have a goal for next year,” Hight texted.
Chanute's Dillow continues historic win streak with pair of titles | East/SE Kansas Girls Wrestling Standouts
CHANUTE — Chanute senior Kiley Dillow didn’t grow up dreaming of state titles or win streaks. Most nights, she was the little sister on the gym floor — coloring in the corner, wandering the bleachers, or watching her two older brothers wrestle. Now, the same gyms she once roamed have become stages for history.
Winter Has Arrived: Blue Valley North freshman leads defending champs to fast start | East/SE Kansas Girls Basketball Standouts
A year removed from a state championship powered by two senior Division I forwards, there are those who thought Blue Valley North would probably take a step back. Instead, the Mustangs have surged behind a freshman who is already being talked about among the best in the country. Freshman Harper Winter has quickly helped dispel any notion of a step back.
Carr's record run continues for Baldwin in rivalry win over Eudora | East/SE Kansas Boys Basketball Standouts
BALDWIN CITY — Cooper Carr’s name already sits atop the Baldwin High School record book, but the senior guard keeps finding new ways to add to his legacy. Carr, who broke the Bulldogs’ all-time scoring record just before the holiday break, delivered again Friday night as Baldwin edged rival Eudora 59-56 in a dramatic home win. He scored the game-winning basket with 21 seconds remaining. The Baldwin senior broke the school’s all-time scoring mark on Dec.
Aquinas legend, Ewing, headed to United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame
On a fall night decades ago, Craig Ewing stood on a sideline with more curiosity than certainty, still learning a sport he hadn’t grown up playing, still figuring out how to turn a handful of students into a team. Next week in Philadelphia, that same coach will walk into the United Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame — the first inductee from Kansas since the hall began in 1991 — carrying with him not just a résumé of championships, but a lifetime of relationships.
Gardner-Edgerton girls wrestling dominates in big Iowa Tournament | East/SE Kansas Wrestling Standouts
Gardner-Edgerton’s girls wrestling team made a statement on the road Dec. 13, traveling to Iowa and dominating the 38-team Council Bluffs Wrestling Classic with a convincing tournament championship. The Trailblazers finished first by 105 points over second-place Raccoon River, the defending Iowa state champion and currently the No. 1-ranked team in Iowa.
Tough schedule doesn't stop Piper boys from winning home tournament title | East/SE Kansas Basketball Standouts
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — It has been a challenging schedule to say the least for the Piper boys basketball program as the Pirates have squared off with four state-ranked teams in their first give games of the season. Piper, which is ranked No. 8 in Class 5A, had a chance to put its talent on full display on Dec. 5-6 during the first-annual Piper Tournament of Legends, which is a 4-team tournament.
CapFed® True Blue® Student of the Week: Basehor-Linwood's Izzy Renfro lives the life of a leader
BASEHOR — When the stadium lights flick on at Basehor-Linwood High School, Izzy Renfro raises her arms and the band follows. When the gym lights glare down months later, she lowers her stance, grips the mat and waits for the whistle. Different uniforms. Different stages. Same heartbeat. Renfro, a senior at Basehor-Linwood, lives comfortably between two worlds — one guided by tempo and harmony, the other by strength and grit.
Carroll caps St. Thomas Aquinas career as one of program’s most dominant linemen
Every championship team has its stars, its playmakers, its headline-grabbers. But for St. Thomas Aquinas over the last four years, the most reliable presence was the one fans rarely noticed until he buried a defender into the turf. That was Stephen Carroll. Now, with his high-school career complete, the 6-foot-1, 280-pound senior right guard exits as one of the most decorated linemen in Kansas.
Decades in the making: Schartz wins first title and guides Kapaun Mt. Carmel to first state championship since 1987
EMPORIA — Weston Schartz waited 43 years for this moment. A career filled with playoff runs, heartbreaks and near-misses finally delivered the one thing missing from his résumé — a state championship. And when it came, it arrived in the most convincing fashion imaginable. In his sixth season leading Kapaun Mt. Carmel, the veteran head coach guided the Crusaders to their first state title since 1987, powering past Bishop Miege 56-21 in Saturday’s Class 4A championship at Emporia State.
Redemption complete: Manhattan leaves no doubt as Indians put together dominant performance to win 6A title.
EMPORIA — One year after heartbreak, Manhattan finally got its redemption. Fueled by last season’s narrow championship loss to Gardner-Edgerton, the Indians returned to the Class 6A title game with purpose — and left no doubt. Behind a dominant defensive performance and a standout outing from quarterback Finn Watson, Manhattan rolled past Olathe Northwest 27-0 on Saturday at Emporia State University to claim its first state championship since 2022.
CapFed® True Blue® Student of the Week: Blue Valley Northwest's Juhl combines love for sports and robotics to thrive for Huskies
There are days when Blue Valley Northwest senior Rowan Juhl looks at his schedule and wonders how it all fits. Four sports. High-level coursework. Robotics. Passion projects that involve building real-time object-recognition software “just for fun.” He laughs about the chaos, but he thrives in it. “At times the academics sneakily pile up,” Juhl said. “You’ll be fine and then all of a sudden you have a couple deadlines coming up.
Rossville wins physical matchup on the road over previously unbeaten Colgan | East/Southeast Kansas Quarterfinal Roundup
PITTSBURG — Before quarterback Canaan Mitchell talked about touchdowns, defensive stands or the long bus ride home, the Rossville senior wanted to talk about the people in the stands. “This is awesome,” Mitchell said. “We live three hours away and we have all these people here supporting us. The stands were full and it is awesome to have a fanbase like this and it is good to get a win for them.” That win was a big one.
2025-26 Boys Swimming and Diving Preview
CLASS 6A 2024-25 STATE CHAMPION: Blue Valley North 2024-25 STATE RUNNER-UP: Shawnee Mission East 2024-25 REVIEW: Blue Valley North made it three straight state championships as the Mustangs cruised to another title with 302 points and did so — just like the year prior — without having an individual win a state title. The Mustangs did win the 400-yard freestyle relay to cap off what was an impressive team performance under the direction of head coach Rob Cole.
Woodruff’s five touchdowns power Shawnee Mission Northwest to regional title | East/Southeast Kansas Football Standouts
SHAWNEE MISSION — When Shawnee Mission Northwest quarterback Trai Woodruff took the field Friday night, there was no doubt he had another big game in him. After shredding Lawrence for over 300 rushing yards and six touchdowns a week earlier, the Cougar senior followed it up with another memorable playoff performance.
Historic sweep: Enriquez wins gold as Kapaun boys end 44-year drought
LAWRENCE — For 20 long minutes, the Kapaun Mt. Carmel boys cross country team thought their season had ended in heartbreak. After crossing the finish line at Saturday’s Class 5A state championship, the Crusaders gathered near the electronic scoreboard and saw it flash a score of 45-47 — appearing to give Blue Valley Southwest the victory. Some runners cried. Others stared in disbelief. But when the official results were released minutes later, the heartbreak turned into pure joy.
Kapaun Mt. Carmel girls end 22-year drought with dominant 5A state title run
LAWRENCE — The wait was worth it. For the first time in 22 years, the Kapaun Mt. Carmel girls cross country team stood atop the state podium — and did so in commanding fashion. The Crusaders captured the Class 5A state championship Saturday at Rim Rock Farm with 58 points, pulling away from rival Bishop Carroll to complete a storybook season. Kapaun’s victory wasn’t just a return to glory — it was a redemption run years in the making.
New Runners, Same Goal: Manhattan Girls Rise to 6A State Crown
LAWRENCE — A changing of the guard took place Saturday at Rim Rock Farm — and the Manhattan girls made sure it was decisive. With a lineup that barely resembled last year’s, the Indians didn’t just rebuild; they reloaded. Behind a mix of talented underclassmen and a standout transfer, Manhattan captured the Class 6A state cross country championship with 61 points, ending Olathe West’s five-year title streak and claiming the program’s first crown since 2015.
Passing the Torch: Trinity’s Coleman claims 3A crown as Hein finishes runner-up in emotional finale
LAWRENCE — For a few moments on the hills of Rim Rock Farm, Wichita-Trinity’s past and future ran side by side. Freshman Tylee Coleman — the newcomer who spent all fall learning from her teammates— surged ahead toward her first state title. Just behind her, senior Emily Hein, the two-time defending champion whose season had nearly been erased by illness, fought to the finish in her final high school race.
Leavenworth advances as best season since 1972 rolls on | East/Southeast Kansas standouts
LEAVENWORTH — For the first time in more than half a century, Leavenworth football is moving into the second round of the state playoffs with serious momentum. The Pioneers used a dominant defensive effort and a bruising second-half ground game to earn a 32-22 victory over Pittsburg in their Class 5A playoff opener Friday night at Pioneer Stadium. The win pushed Leavenworth to 8-1 — its best start since 1972 — and continued a season that’s rewriting the program’s recent history.
Redemption run: Shawnee Mission East's Hardy captures 6A championship, leads Lancers to runner-up finish
LAWRENCE — A year ago, Shawnee Mission East’s Charlotte Hardy was just three seconds away from being a state champion. On Saturday, the junior didn’t let anyone stand in her way. Hardy stormed to the Class 6A girls state cross country title at Rim Rock Farm, clocking in at 18 minutes, 23.50 seconds to win by 14 seconds and cap off a dominant season — one in which she broke the school record and led the Lancers nearly all fall.
Back-to-Back and Better: Hesston Girls Cruise to Second Straight 3A State Title
LAWRENCE — There would be no suspense this time. No anxious glances at the scoreboard. No waiting to see if a single point would decide it all. The Hesston girls cross country team made sure their second straight Class 3A state championship was clear and convincing. A year removed from a one-point thriller over Wichita-Trinity, the Swathers dominated the field Saturday at Rim Rock Farm, cruising to a 20-point victory with 64 points to once again stand atop the podium.
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