By Ken Hansard
Jake Flessner, a senior at Neodesha High, is ready to lead the Bluestreaks for one final go-around. A versatile athlete who contributes as a catcher, pitcher, and outfielder, Flessner embraces the responsibility that comes with being a senior leader.
Jake says this season carries extra meaning as he takes the field with his classmates for the final time. “I’m really looking forward to playing with the rest of the seniors for one last season. We’ve played together for a long time, so it’s special to finish out as a group.” As one of the team’s primary leaders, Flessner hopes to guide the Bluestreaks both on and off the field. “I see my role as being one of the main leaders. I want to set the tone, both in how I play and how I prepare every day.”
Individually, Flessner has set high expectations for himself. After posting a strong 2.71 ERA and batting .310 last season, he hopes to build on that success. “Last year meant a lot to me because it showed I could be one of the best pitchers and hitters on the team. This season, my goal is to help us reach the regional championship and to finish with a sub-2.00 ERA.”
One matchup already circled on his calendar is the rivalry game against Caney. “Playing Caney is always exciting because they’re our biggest rivals. Those types of games always bring out the best competition.”
Jake was also a two-time Caney Invitational medalist in cross country, and he received multiple player of the game honors for the Bluestreaks’ basketball team. He is impressive in the classroom, as well, boasting a 4.0 GPA. After graduation he plans to join the Army and then attend Pitt State to study informational technology.
