Wichita Northwest’s Phillip Bowers – Poll Winner – Presented by WSU Tech
By Blake Chadwick Wichita Northwest junior wrestler Phillip Bowers has become one of the city’s most respected and well-rounded athletes. Competing at 165 pounds, Bowers returns this season with championship expectations and the work ethic to back them up. “My biggest strength, far and away, is wrestling on top,” Bowers said. “Last year, I earned […]
Circle’s Keaton Bally – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Kathy Richard-Koenigsman State Farm
By Blake Chadwick Circle senior Keaton Bally heads into his second year of bowling with a mindset that has become his biggest strength. For Bally, everything revolves around staying calm, forgetting the lows, and performing at his best, even after making mistakes. Whether he is practicing or competing at tournaments, his focus stays the same: […]
Maize South’s Gavin Munoz – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Advanced Physical Therapy
By Ken Hansard Gavin Munoz, a senior wrestler at 120 pounds and captain for the Maize South Mavericks, has qualified for the KSHSAA state championships each year so far. Moving on to state is an exciting prospect for any competitor, and in his final season as a Maverick, Munoz is hoping for just a […]
Manhattan’s JJ Dunnigan named VYPE Kansas Football player of the year Sponsored by Shelter Insurance
Dunnigan’s versatility lands him commitment at Miami By Joanna Chadwick With senior JJ Dunnigan on the football field, there was a common impulse to start videoing – because there was always the expectation that you’d capture a highlight reel. Dunnigan, a two-way player who signed with Miami, is Shelter Insurance’s VYPE Kansas football player of […]
Shawnee Mission East’s John Gagen – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Preferred Physical Therapy Leawood
By Ken Hansard John Gagen, senior wrestler at 165 pounds for the Shawnee Mission East Lancers, has an interesting story to tell. In his own words, he “…was never an athletic kid. I really liked watching WWE when I was younger, so I started doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Because I really sucked at the wrestling […]
Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Steven Brown – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Preferred Physical Therapy Lenexa
By Ken Hansard Senior Steven Brown, a highly decorated wrestler at 285 for the Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougars, came from humble beginnings on the mat, but with a lot of sweat and effort, he now has some incredible accomplishments to build on during his final high school season. Brown finished last season with a 29-4 […]
Benefits of a Strong Core – Presented by Advanced Physical Therapy
Ask ten people what the “core” is, and you’ll get ten different answers.For some, it’s the abs. For others, it includes the hips, back, or eventhe shoulders. The confusion makes sense when you think about howoften the term gets tossed around in fitness, often without context orconsistency. What’s not confusing is that a strong core […]
Clay Center’s Thayne Pfizenmaier – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by Reed Seed
By Matt Browning Being ranked third at the 120 class in the preseason Class 4A rankings, Clay Center’s Thayne Pfizenmaier is already being tabbed as one of the wrestlers to beat for a state championship. But what if Pfizenmaier has a few new tricks up his sleeve? “In the offseason I have gone to a […]
Salina South’s Ledger Michel – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by H & M Saloon
By Cooper Chadwick As a leader for Salina South bowling junior Ledger Michel is very excited for the upcoming season. Michel spent a lot of his offseason not only improving himself but improving school team as well. “I have spent time during this offseason recruiting some new team members, helping my teammates become better, and […]
Chapman’s Alyssa Calovich – Athlete Spotlight – Presented by DK Sports & Fitness and Keating Chiropractic
By Cooper Chadwick Chapman high school senior Alyssa Calovich who wrestled at 125 pounds last year finished with a record of 34-5 and led the NCKL in takedowns and tech falls. She also was league champ, regional runner-up and placed fourth at state. This season Calovich is excited to make more bonds with her teammates […]