By Hayden Swope

Landon Kaufman, a basketball athlete from Moundridge, was chosen as the Advanced Physical Therapy Athlete of the Month. As a junior, Kaufman was a first team all-league athlete. 

“It’s a great accomplishment to be picked as one of the athletes for this magazine,” Kaufman said. “It is an honor to be chosen among the other athletes.”

Kaufman prepared for the season by getting out on the court and playing over the break. 

“The offseason consisted of many workouts, games with my AAU team, showcases, camps, casual pick up games, and school team practices,” Kaufman said. “As a point guard and one of the leaders of my high school team I’ve made a commitment to getting better and giving us the best chance at taking our team to the state tournament.”

With the state championship on his mind, Kaufman has set a goal to step up and be the leader his team needs to get them far into the postseason. 

“The main goal going into my senior season is to take the title as my father and his class did in coach Unrau’s first years of coaching,” Kaufman said. “I want nothing more than to win state in my coach’s last few years as well. I want to bring intensity and fun each day to practice and help the other guys be the best player in their roles. I will need to step up my scoring and give the other guys on my team the best opportunity to score as well.”

Kaufman is involved in a number of things at Moundridge, which he hopes to carry with him into his future. 

“Although I played football as a junior I was most involved in the cross country team as a freshman and sophomore,” Kaufman said. “I’ve been in track every year, I’m a part of three state relays and the first-ever 2A state boys track championship last season which was a super fun accomplishment with our team winning. I have also participated in band each year playing the french horn. I am also involved in SCA and our community’s youth ministry group.”