Nine local football players earn KFBCA All-State honors

Nine local players have earned All-State recognition from the Kansas Football Coaches Association.

The All-State teams consist of senior football players nominated and selected by KFBCA members who watched film of nominees and voted on All-State selections. The KFBCA is composed of only 11-man football coaches. The 8-man coaches operate a seperate Kansas Eight-Man Football Coaches Association.

The nine local athletes earning All-State honors are below.

Class 5A

K/P Jackson McKechnie (Pittsburg)

Class 4A

ATH Ty Leedy (Chanute)

DL Dagen Dean (Chanute)

Class 3A

ATH Mario Menghini (Frontenac)

Class 2A

OL Maddox Johnson (Humboldt)

K/P Trey Sommer (Humboldt)

Class 1A

OL Brody Kannarr (Colgan)

WR Colin Hite (Colgan)

LB Carter Jacquinot (Colgan)

 

 

 

Chanute falls to KC-Piper in regional championship thriller

CHANUTE, Kan. – (WATCH) Chanute falls to KC-Piper 48-47 in double overtime Thursday night in the 4A regional round.

The Blue Comets finish the season with a 9-1 overall record.

PIGSKIN PODCAST: Ep. 10 with Pitt State safety Brandon Mlekus

Check out Episode 10 of the KOAM Presents: Pigskin Podcast (LINKS BELOW). On THIS episode:

  • Girard/Frontenac regional championship (2:09)
  • Undefeated Chanute aims for regional championship (7:24)
  • Galena/Columbus regional championship (9:38)
  • Carthage, Webb City return from byes (11:17)
  • Seneca on playoff opener vs. Hollister (12:59)
  • Interview with Pitt State safety Brandon Mlekus (16:16)

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/koam-presents-pigskin-podcast-ep-10/id1610196188?i=1000584812747

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uVRk3OExeJWy0DC6ylHW9?si=wIAhksZtT3-c75I-dJJf6w

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spize9AQTKQ

WEB: https://www.koamnewsnow.com/pigskin/koam-presents-pigskin-podcast/

PIGSKIN PODCAST: Ep. 8 with Colgan HC Shawn Seematter

Check out episode 8 of the KOAM Presents: Pigskin Podcast (links below).

On THIS episode:

  • Hudson Moore is a problem (2:05)
  • Chanute aims for undefeated regular season (3:22)
  • Frontenac and Galena district championship (5:45)
  • Why I like Girard (6:43)
  • Seneca looks to go 9-0 (8:36)
  • Quapaw and Miami impressive seasons (10:47)
  • Interview with Colgan HC Shawn Seematter (15:23)
  • Pitt State offensive weapons (29:28)

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5AYf2JvFN2TIrvJADg7hMm?si=BafkMu9jT862T8WOAAU6RA

APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/koam-presents-pigskin-podcast-ep-8/id1610196188?i=1000583182343

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qkHHT_8dR0

WEB: https://www.koamnewsnow.com/pigskin/koam-presents-pigskin-podcast/

Chanute’s Cleaver competes at NHSGA Nationals in North Carolina

CHANUTE, Kan. – Chanute High School’s Drayton Cleaver had the chance to compete this week with more than 330 of the best high school golfers in the United States – playing at the NHSGA National Invitational in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

The tournament is invitation only – featuring players who have won their respective state championships as a team or as an individual.

Cleaver finished as the KSHSAA 4A State Champion for Chanute back in May.

This week’s tournament was a three-day, 54-hole tournament. Cleaver shot a 75 (+3) on day one and a 77 (+5) on day two – before finishing up with his best round of the week – posting a 73 (+1) on Wednesday.

His final-round score moved him 20 spots up the leaderboard in the final day, giving him a T-34th finish.

“Overall, this week was definitely a tough week from a golf standpoint,” Cleaver says, “The first day I had a terrible day on the putting green. On the second day, I had a quadruple bogey and a double bogey. The last day I struck the ball absolutely awfully. However, it feels really good to be able to score decent without having my best stuff and place 34th out of 333 state champions.”

“It was definitely a cool experience to get to play in the National Invitational again,” Cleaver finishes, “Pinehurst is an amazing place with some great golf, and it’s great to experience it in a tournament format.”

Cleaver graduated from Chanute High School in May, and will continue his golf career in college at Division II Ferris State – located in Big Rapids, Michigan.

14 local softball players earn Kansas All-State recognition

14 local softball players have been named All-State by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association – including five from 3A state champion Frontenac.

4A All-State

INF Brinly Bancroft (Chanute) – 2nd team

P Kam Naff (Chanute) – Honorable Mention

C Grace Thompson (Chanute) – Honorable Mention

3A All-State

P Avery Johnson (Frontenac) – 1st team

INF Heather Arnett (Frontenac) – 1st team

INF Hattie Pyle (Frontenac) – 1st team

OF Abi Beaman (Frontenac) – 1st team

OF Blayze McNemar (Galena) – 1st team

P Graci Major (Columbus) – 2nd team

INF Annie Lee (Frontenac) – 2nd team

INF Mia Sarwinski (Galena) – 2nd team

OF Katie Simpson (Columbus) – Honorable Mention

2A All-State

UT Morgan Collins (Yates Center) – 1st team

OF Alexa Fuhrman (Uniontown) – 2nd team

22 local baseball players named KABC All-State

The Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches has released its All-State teams for the 2022 season. 22 local players have earned All-State honors from the KABC, with two local coaches earning Coach of the Year awards.

5A All-State

3B Tyler Sutton (Pittsburg) – Honorable Mention

4A All-State

3B Jarrett Herrmann (Iola) – 1st team

OF Brandon McKarnin (Iola) – 1st team

DH Ryker Curry (Iola) – 1st team

P Korbin Cloud (Iola) – 2nd team

DH Lars Koester (Chanute) – Honorable Mention

3A All-State

Coach of the Year – Mick Tedlock (Columbus)

INF Kameron Williamson (Baxter Springs) – 1st team

OF Wyatt Foley (Girard) – 1st team

P Seth Stover (Columbus) – 2nd team

1B Mario Menghini (Frontenac) – 2nd team

INF Drake Brooks (Girard) – 2nd team

UT Landin Midgett (Columbus) – 2nd team

P Trevor Amershek (Girard) – Honorable Mention

INF Kyler Harper (Riverton) – Honorable Mention

OF Jeremy Raio (Frontenac) – Honorable Mention

2-1A All-State

Coach of the Year – Roland Weir (Crest)

INF Stetson Setter (Crest) – 1st team

DH Holden Barker (Crest) – 1st team

P Kysen Bennett (Colgan) – 2nd team

P Trevor Church (Crest) – 2nd team

1B Jack White (Crest) – 2nd team

OF Easton Renn (Southeast) – Honorable Mention

OF Trevor Church (Crest) – Honorable Mention

You can check out the complete KABC All-State awards HERE.

Pittsburg moves into 1st in SEK with shutout win over Chanute

PITTSBURG, Kan. – (WATCH) Pittsburg tops Chanute 7-0 Monday night to take over 1st place in the SEK.

Jackson Turnbull throws 5 shutout innings for Pittsburg with 10 strikeouts. Turnbull was also 2-3 with 3 RBI at the plate, while Braden Benson adds 2 RBI.

Four local wrestlers advance to Saturday’s state championship round

SALINA, Kan. – (WATCH) Four local wrestlers advance to the state finals in their respective brackets Friday night.

Chanute’s Kolton Misener (4A, 113 lb), Frontenac’s Dawson Lapping (4A, 152 lb), Erie’s Drayton Kennedy (3-2-1A, 106 lb) and Jayhawk-Linn’s Corbin White (3-2-1A, 120 lb) will all wrestle for individual state championships on Saturday.

Lapping is 39-0 this season with his semifinal win Friday night.

Six local players selected to play in 2022 Kansas Shrine Bowl

PITTSBURG, Ks. – The rosters for the Kansas Shrine Bowl were released on Saturday. Six local players have been selected to play in the game and will represent the East team in this year’s game in Pittsburg.

Galena’s Brett Sarwinski has been selected to play as a defensive back. He’s the third Sarwinski brother to represent Galena and play in the Shrine Bowl.

“I was very excited,” Sarwinski says. “I have two older brothers that got to play in it and when I found out I got to play in it, that was awesome. I get to carry on the tradition for the Sarwinski family. It’s going to be awesome.”

Sarwinski’s  looking forward to the game being played at Carnie Smith Stadium.

“PJ and Nick both play at Pitt State. I go up there every chance I get to watch them play. Playing on that field is going to be awesome. I’ll have support from my community. I know they’ll be behind my back. It’s going to be a fun time.”

Brett was initially selected to the team, whereas his brothers were both late add-ons.

“Finding out that I was initially selected is something I can joke around with them about forever now,” Sarwinski says with a smile.

From Frontenac, Cruz Blair will play as a lineman in the game.

Blair is a three-time all-state player and helped lead the Raiders to a state runner-up finish this past season.

“I found out when Coach Smith and some of my other coaches told me congratulations,” Blair says. “It’s always been a goal. I’ve always wanted to play in the Shrine Bowl. I’m glad I get to.  I wish there were other guys out there with me from the team, but I’m happy to be there.”

Joining Sarwinski and Blair on the roster is lineman Kody Schalk from Columbus.

Schalk is an all-state player and is committed to Pitt State.

Linebacker Brecken Troike from Girard will also play defense for the East team. He had over 100 tackles this season and was an all-state selection.

Kolten Lacrone will represent Chanute in the game. Lacrone is a first-team all-state player as a defensive lineman.

Lastly, Independence’s Davis Merrick will be the East team’s kicker.

The Shrine Bowl will take place on Saturday, July 23rd in Pittsburg, Kansas.