Sports

Panther Ali Bryan (shown above, at left) sets up teammate Macy Putnam (front right) for an attack during a recent practice. Both helped the team claim a third-place trophy at the 4A-DII state tournament last season and are part of the reason RVHS has its sights set on picking up some more hardware this fall.

Royal Valley volleyball aims to keep momentum rolling in 2015

Given the historic season the Royal Valley volleyball team put together last fall; setting a school record for wins (26), claiming the program’s first sub-state championship and making its first-ever state tournament appearance, the Panthers weren’t lacking for success. What the team was lacking...

The JHHS second string offense (shown above) runs through some plays on the first day of practice. While head coach Caleb Wick noted the Cobras have a strong group of upperclassmen to led the way, he said the progress of some of those young players could help them become a complete team and achieve some success on the football field in 2015.

Optimism is high for a Cobra football comeback this fall

Redemption may be a key theme for the Jackson Heights High School football team this season, considering how the 2014 campaign played out. After leading the Cobras to a playoff appearance and a league title in his first two seasons, JHHS coach Caleb Wick saw his team decimated by injuries last...

Area softball players to have new "Fall ball" option starting in September

If you organize it, they will come. At least, that’s what Holton High School softball coach John Deitrich is hoping for as he moves forward with plans for the “Lila Belle (LB) Fall Softball League” in Holton to begin competition this September. For the inaugural season, sign-up is open to...

Holton quarterback Justin Rieschick (shown above, middle) lobs a pass to a running back as the Wildcats worked on their routes during practice on Tuesday.

Veteran group looks to lead HHS football back to familiar heights in 2015

On the surface, last season seemed like a pretty typical one for the Holton High School football team. The Wildcats rolled to a 9-2 overall record, claiming league and district titles in the process, and they were only derailed in the playoffs by a team (Columbus) that eventually represented the...

Benedictine's Bryce Barnett (shown above, at left) and Ottawa's Christa Hill (right) were selected as the first ever recipients of the Riederer family college scholar athlete award.

Former Wildcats recognized with new scholarship for established college athletes

Participation in collegiate sports can be quite a balancing act along with a full academic load, something Holton native and former NFL strength and conditioning coach Russ Riederer knows all too well. That is why Riederer and his family have set up a scholarship in memory of his late mother,...

Holton High School football coach Brooks Barta (shown above, at right) stands with his son, Mason (left), in front of the field where the pair have had a lot of shared experiences. Another experience the two will share is playing college football for Kansas State, as Mason recently committed to KSU. Now, however, the two are preparing for their final season together on the HHS football field.

Barta's path to football success a familiar one

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The son of a highly regarded prep football coach in northern Kansas gets set to wrap up a sterling high school career before suiting up collegiately for the Kansas State University football team. Holton High School senior Mason Barta is in that position...

Symetra Tour returns to Firekeeper in September

Next month, the Symetra Tour (the Ladies Professional Golf Association feeder tour) will return to Firekeeper Golf Course just outside of Mayetta for the 2015 Prairie Band Casino and Resort Charity Classic. Like any event, growth is expected in the second year and that is something tournament...

JHHS coach Caleb Wick (shown above, standing) spots Wyatt Roles as he works on the bench press during a weight room session earlier this summer.

Weight room experiences help Jackson County high school athletes in various ways

While high school athletes get pulled in several different directions through the summer, one place they are all likely to congregate is in the weight room. That has been the case for the Holton, Jackson Heights and Royal Valley athletes since late May and the weight rooms have remained full and...

HHS wrestler Ethan Brownell (shown above, at left) tries to reverse out of a pin attempt by teammate Damon Ruckman as the young Wildcats fine-tuned their technique during the team camp held recently. Brownell and Ruckman are part of a young class that could be crucial to Holton’s success next winter after the departure of another strong group of senior wrestlers.

Offseason work paying dividends for Holton wrestlers once again

While it would be easy for a team with as much recent success as the Holton High School wrestling squad to rest on its laurels, the Wildcats have done anything but that the past few summers. After earning trophies (two firsts and a third in 2015) at the Class 4A state tournament the past three...

Royals feeling holly and jolly after deadline haul

Given it’s late July, it’s plenty hot enough as it is, but for baseball fans the temperature may get cranked up even further with the midseason trade deadline looming this Friday. The hot stove started heating up once again last Thursday when the Houston Astros nabbed pitcher Scott Kazmir in a...