Five local coaches named finalists for “Sports in Kansas” Coach of the Year

Four local coaches have been named finalists for the “Sports in Kansas” Coach of the Year in their respective classes.

4A – Clete Frazell (Chanute)

Frazell led the Blue Comets to an 8-2 overall record this season, including 8 consecutive wins from week two to week nine. There was a crazy stretch of five games from September 24th-October 22nd where Chanute only allowed six total points and posted four shutouts. Chanute’s season ended with a loss to Bishop Miege in the regional round of the Class 4A state bracket.

3A – Mark Smith (Frontenac)

Smith led Frontenac to one of their best finishes in school history this season. The Raiders finished the year as 3A state runner-up with a 10-3 overall record. Frontenac’s season ended with a loss to defending state champion Andale in the state championship game. Their playoff run was impressive, beating Columbus 26-6 in the first round, Galena 31-6 for a regional title, Rock Creek 42-26 in the state quarterfinals and undefeated Holton 32-13 in the state semifinals.

3A – Neal Philpot (Girard)

Girard was one of the best stories in southeast Kansas all season long. The Trojans finished off a perfect 8-0 regular season, including a 13-6 win over Frontenac in their regular season finale. Girard would go on to win a 3A regional championship after going 4-6 in 2020. Girard finished with a 10-1 overall record, with their season ending in the state quarterfinals with a loss to Holton.

3A – Jeff Schibi (Parsons) 

Schibi led a big time turnaround for Parsons this season in his second year as the program’s head coach. After going 3-6 in his first season last year, Schibi led the Vikings to a 7-3 overall record and their first playoff win since 2018. Their season ended with a loss to undefeated Girard in the regional round of the 3A state playoff bracket.

2A – Johnny Mallatt (Riverton) 

What Johnny Mallatt has done for Riverton football over the last few years has been fun to watch – and it starts with numbers. Mallatt told us earlier this season that when he returned to Riverton a few years ago, there were only 16 players on the roster. The Riverton roster was pushing 40 kids this season. Mallatt led the the Rams to an 8-3 overall record after finishing 4-4 last season. The Rams won two playoff games and a regional championship, before falling to Rossville in the state quarterfinals.

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Girard’s Smith, Cullen sign to Pittsburg State

GIRARD, Kan. – Girard seniors Kinley Smith and Olivia Cullen signed on Wednesday afternoon to continue their careers in college – both signing with Pittsburg State.

Smith will join the track and field program at PSU.

“I’ve always known I wanted to do track. They have a really great track program at PSU. I was super excited to receive an offer,” Smith says, “Just going and seeing their campus and the facilities and everything pretty much solidified my decision. ”

She will compete in the triple jump for the Gorillas – an event in which she finished 6th last season at the state championships.

“The coaching staff at Pitt State was great. They answered all my questions, and that also helped me make my decision,” Smith adds, “Hopefully they’ll push me to do my best and I can improve a lot and help out the team. I’m super excited. I think it will push me and I’m excited to be a part of the Pitt State program.”

As for Cullen, she signed Wednesday to play volleyball at Pittsburg State.

“It just feels like home. It feels like a great place to go to school. I don’t know if it’s because I lived around here and that makes me like it more, but that’s a big factor,” Cullen says, “Nothing else felt right. It just felt like it’s where I needed to be.”

Cullen was a 1st-team All-CNC player for the Trojans this fall. She’ll now hit the floor for Jen Gomez and the Gorillas – a program that seems to be on the rise in the MIAA.

“I really like her coaching style and the way she handles her team,” Cullen says of Gomez, “I’ve been around the team a little bit. They’re all nice and welcoming, and I really like them a lot. I’m excited to join a program that’s on its way up. I’m excited to get in and see if I can contribute to that. I just want to improve in my first year and continue to get better throughout my career.”

 

Girard prepares for showdown with Holton in state quarterfinals

GIRARD, Kan. – The Girard Trojans hit the road on Friday for the first time in more than a month – facing Holton in the state quarterfinals.

“I think we’re ready. Holton is a little ways out there,” says senior Alex Coester of the 3-hour road trip to Holton, “We’re just going to have to go up and get off the bus 100% just like we always do.”

“It’s been a nice home stretch, that’s for sure,” says Girard head coach Neal Philpot on playing the last four games at home,” We were on the road for three weeks before that. We have to be able to handle it. Travel plans won’t change too much. We’re going to stop and get out a little bit and stretch our legs, get back on the bus and get there. We hope to get off the bus well. That’s going to be important in a game like this that you don’t have that lull. We’ll try to make the best plans possible, and then hopefully care them out.”

Girard is 10-0 heading into Friday’s game against Holton. The Wildcats are also undefeated at 10-0.

“They know what they want to do. They know their identity. They want to be double-tight wish bone and run the ball,” Philpot says, “It’s a handful of plays they believe in and they do well. It’s an offense that can maul you and make it a long day for you. They’re a good team. They’re backfield is strong and they have some nice players on the offensive line. It will be a challenge for us,” Philpot continues on the Holton defense, “They do a little more on defense. We’re going to have to prepare for a lot of things from their defense. It’s kind of what we’ve done all year, so I feel good about our kids being ready to go.”

The Trojans have momentum heading into Friday.

They obviously haven’t lost a game yet this season – and they’ve picked up three big wins the last three weeks – beating Frontenac for a district title, topping Caney Valley in their playoff opener and beating Parsons for a regional championship last week.

“I thought the Caney game was a big game for us, coming back from an emotional win for a lot of guys against Frontenac,” Philpot says, “To not have a letdown and get out to a good start on both sides showed some signs of maturity on our team. Last week against Parsons, they did some things and we had to handle adversity early and settle in. I think we’ve got a relatively mature group as far as preparation goes. I think that starts with our captains and our leadership there, our seniors and upper-classmen.”

Girard’s game against Holton kicks off at 7 PM Friday night in Holton.

Frontenac aims for district title against undefeated Girard

FRONTENAC, Kan. – It already feels like playoff time for the Frontenac Raiders.

“This is one of those games where you wake up Saturday morning and you know it’s here,” says Frontenac head coach Mark Smith, “You’re excited for it. You wake up the next morning and it’s all you think about all week.”

“We want to be the top dog,” says Frontenac senior Dawson Lapping, “It’s a big deal to us.”

Frontenac hits the field against Girard in the final game of the regular season Friday – with the winning earning the KSHSAA Class 3A District 2 title.

“It’s one of the first goals every year. With our new district the last couple years, we don’t get to play every league school, so this kind of became our number one goal to start the season,” Smith adds, “We want to win the district, and we feel like our district is very good.”

Girard has been one of the best in southeast Kansas this season, heading into Friday with a perfect 7-0 record.

Like the Raiders, the Trojans are 4-0 against district opponents.

“They have great speed and great athleticism,” Lapping says of Girard, “but I think we’re a lot more physical and it should be a great game to watch.”

“Explosive plays on offense,” Smith says of what he sees on tape from Girard, “They have some speed. Their quarterback has done a great job getting the ball to their weapons. They’re very aggressive on defense and have a tremendous linebacker. They’re just great ball players over there. Coach Philpot has done a tremendous job. Girard plays extremely hard. They don’t beat themselves. They’ve just played well all season.”

Frontenac has been hot themselves, winning 5 in a row.

So the winner Friday will not only be district champion – but will ride momentum into the post-season.

“They’re a great team,” Lapping says, “We’re just trying to get prepared for them and keep rolling for the first round of the playoffs.”

“That’s the good part about this game, it’s going to be great for both teams, just with the intensity of the week and the importance of winning a district championship for both teams,” Smith finishes, “It’s going to have a playoff atmosphere. Both teams are going to get something out of this and it should be a great game.”

Friday night’s game will be in Girard at 7 PM.

Girard aims for 3-0 start against CNC rival Columbus

GIRARD, Kan. – The last time Girard and Columbus were on the field together, the Trojans knocked the undefeated Titans out of the playoffs in the first round – after Columbus had previously beaten Girard in the regular season.

“Going into it…I’m sure we’re circled on the calendar for them knowing that we knocked them off last year in the playoffs,” says Girard head coach Neal Philpot, “I’m sure they’re eager to play us, but we have to understand that last year’s game has no bearing on what this year is and we have to go take care of business.”

Girard is on a roll to start the season – blowing out both Colgan and Baxter Springs in their first two games.

“We got a chance to get a lot of people in. I think we took the opportunity last week to see how we can get better from week one to week two,” Philpot adds ,”There’s some things that we did, but there are still some things that we need to get improved. We’re excited to get back to work and get those things fixed this week.”

Girard’s defense has been impressive, allowing just 7 total points through two games.

“I think technique has been the biggest thing for us,” says QB/DB Luke Niggemann, “We’re a little smaller up front. Technique is a big thing for us right now.”

“We’ve got a good group there. We’ve kept a lot of the stuff we had a year ago, so the guys are familiar with it,” Philpot says of his defense, “We’ve got some athletes who can fly around a little bit. The guys have been doing a good job of getting to the ball and tackling. They’re being unselfish in what they do, making the plays they’re supposed to make and letting their teammates make the plays they they’re supposed to make.”

While Girard knows they can get the job done Friday – they know it’s an important game for Columbus and the Titans will be ready to play.

“They’re a good team. They have a lot of guys back from a year ago,” Philpot says of Columbus, “They do things very, very soundly. They know their identity on both sides of the ball. Like us, they know what they’re doing. Defensively, they know what their responsibilities are. They go play hard and they go play fast. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”

Columbus is 1-1 on the season, falling to Frontenac in their season opener before beating Field Kindley in week two.

Friday’s game kicks off at 7 PM in Girard.