The Marysville Lady Bulldogs, Abilene Cowboys and Clay Center Tigers enter the 2011-2012 North Central Kansas League seasons as the defending NCKL champions, with action this season prepared to begin on Dec. 1 for both basketball and wrestling as Marysville basketball teams will play host to Sabetha, the Abilene wrestling team will compete at Smoky Valley High School and the Chapman and Clay Center wrestling teams will open with a triangular in Clay Center with Junction City comprising the third team.
In 2010-12, the Clay Center Tigers marched undefeated through the NCKL wrestling season as did the Marysville Lady Bulldogs and Abilene Cowboy basketball teams.
Concordia
The Panther wrestling team is coming back off a 13-4 dual record in 2010-2011 with seven key returners back in the mix. Leading the way for the Panther grapplers is a pair of wrestlers who are entering their senior seasons but already have twice placed in the class 4A state tournament. Brad Hake has placed fifth and sixth at state in his career while Taelor Mendenhall (126) has placed third and fourth in the previous two seasons. “I am very excited about our returning seniors,” Concordia head coach Kevin Brown said. “and the leadership they will provide for our team. I am confident these seniors will battle every day focusing on imporving and setting an example for our incoming freshman. … The Panther basketball team has four starters back from its squad that posted a 10-12 record last year and was 6-4 in the NCKL. “Our size and quickness will be our strengths,” said Concordia coach Brandon Rice. “Understanding our roles will be key.” … The Lady Panthers don’t have any returning starters from its 4-17 squad last year, but they do have six returning letterwinners, including three seniors for Michael Wahlmeier, who is in his first season as Concordia’s head coach. “With no returning starters and very little varsity experience we are going to be young,” Wahlmeier said. “Our success will depend greatly on the steepness of our learning curve and the quality of our senior leadership.”
Abilene
The Cowgirl basketball team is coming off a 17-6 campain with two returning starters in Karina Anderson, a 5-5 senior, and Kelsey Lacy, a 5-8 senior. “Our team strengths are that we are very athletic, strong and smart players,” Cowgirl coach Janelle Geist said. “We have two quality seniors that have a tremendous amount of varsity experience. We have good team chemistry.” … The Cowboy wrestling team enters its 9th season with James Stout serving as head coach with xxx “After graduating a very strong senior class of four varsity wrestliners, including a state champion and three other medalists in 2011, the Cowboys will have to reload their line up for the 2011-2012 season,” Stout said. “They will do that by matruing the remainder of the squad and adding a strong freshman class.” The Cowboys return sophomore Quad Bauh, Blake Anguiano and Jacob Hagedorn, juniors Junior Morgan, Brandon Rein, Nick Ward and Dathan Parks and seniors Slade Sare and Kane Kelly. … The Cowboy and Cowgirl basketball teams begin their season Dec. 2 when they play host to Smoky Valley High School. The Cowboys are coming off an 18-5 campaign, in which they went 10-0 in the NCKL, and have three returning starters back from that squad as Andy Wilson, a 6-3 junior, joins seniors Adrian Polk (6-3) and Collin Sexton (6-0) as returning starters for Abilene. Head coach Terry Taylor listed athleticism and depth as strengths for this yea’rs squad. “The team should be able to play pressure defense and press full court,” Taylor said.
Clay Center
The Clay Center wrestling team is coming off a season where it posted an 11-1 overall dual record and went 5-0 in the NCKL and won the Class 4A state championship. The Tigers return seven starters from its state champion squad including Ty Kolterman, who placed fouth at 119, Rusty Yarrow, who placed fifth at 152 and Gavin Grater, who placed fourth at 145 and Brett Rickley who qualified for state at 130. “Our team retuns a group of stable kids along with some tough kids looking to emerge as contenders for post season suvvess,” Clay Center coach Brandon Pigorsch said. “It will take consistent improvent in all aspects of being a student athlete for our team to reach top in 4A. Our goal and vision of becoming the best team in 4A is right there we just have to get it.” … The Tiger basketball team has two starters returning from its 5-16 squad a year ago. “We will need consistent effort on defens,” Clay Center head coach Zac Malcom said. “We need to run up and down as much as we can. We have athleticism but are young in may key spots.” … The Lady Tigers have four starters back from a squad that won nine games a year ago, including senior Vicki Hess and juniors Ally Bloom, Alyssa Steppe and Holly Cooper.
Marysville
The Lady Bulldogs are the defending NCKL champions after a 9-1 campaign in 2010-2011 and have four returning starters from that squad, which also posted a 16-6 overall record. “We have to play team ball,” Marysville coach Jim Heiman said. “At some point all four of those senior girls have started during their first three years. They have plenty of experience and all were key to last year’s team. The tough NCKL and our challenge non-conference schedule will definitely prepare us for post season.” … The Marysville boys, meanwhile, have three starters back from a squad that did not win any NCKL games last season, but did earn three non-conference victories and finished the season at 3-18 overall.
Wamego
The Red Raider wrestling team has nine starters back for the 2011-2012 season, including Jacob Christie , who was a regional runner-up a year ago, and Kyle Wilson, who was a regional champion last season. … The Red Raider boys basketball team is coming off a campaign that saw them post a 15-6 overall record and 7-2 mark in the NCKL. … The Lady Raiders have four starters back from a squad that posted a 7-12 overall and 4-6 NCKL record last year. Among those returners is Kaylee Page, who was named all-NCKL and all-state last year for the Lady Raiders.
Chapman
The Chapman wrestling team is beginning its 11th season under the helm of head coach Jeff Sheets, who guided Chapman to a 3-12 dual record last season. “My team is very young with mainly freshman and sophomores,” Sheets said. “It will take a lot of determination from these young men. This year will be a building process and will be a learning year. We have several tough kids and will be competitive in most of their matches. It will be exciting to see these young men grow and become better as the season goes on.” … The Fighting Irish Men are coming off a 5-16 campaign with head coach Tony Ingram. Ingram and the Irish have three returning starters this season. “With three starters returning, who were also leading scorers, we are looking to improve our teams success,” Ingram said. “With the addition of 6-5 Kyl Anderson to 6-6 Zach Heiman being the third leading rebounder in the NCKL last year, also with floor leadership of firt team All League guard Jordan Bauman we look to improve and batles for a league title. … The Lady Irish are coming off a 12-9 campaign and are once again under head coach Sara Cook, who is entering her fifth season at Chapman’s helm. “As a coaching staff we are going to be looking for those girls that work the hardest and are the most consistent in practice,” Cook said. “One key to our success this season is going to be our defensive intensity. If we can be tough defensively and not give up second chance opportunities we will have a successful season.
In 2010-12, the Clay Center Tigers marched undefeated through the NCKL wrestling season as did the Marysville Lady Bulldogs and Abilene Cowboy basketball teams.
Concordia
The Panther wrestling team is coming back off a 13-4 dual record in 2010-2011 with seven key returners back in the mix. Leading the way for the Panther grapplers is a pair of wrestlers who are entering their senior seasons but already have twice placed in the class 4A state tournament. Brad Hake has placed fifth and sixth at state in his career while Taelor Mendenhall (126) has placed third and fourth in the previous two seasons. “I am very excited about our returning seniors,” Concordia head coach Kevin Brown said. “and the leadership they will provide for our team. I am confident these seniors will battle every day focusing on imporving and setting an example for our incoming freshman. … The Panther basketball team has four starters back from its squad that posted a 10-12 record last year and was 6-4 in the NCKL. “Our size and quickness will be our strengths,” said Concordia coach Brandon Rice. “Understanding our roles will be key.” … The Lady Panthers don’t have any returning starters from its 4-17 squad last year, but they do have six returning letterwinners, including three seniors for Michael Wahlmeier, who is in his first season as Concordia’s head coach. “With no returning starters and very little varsity experience we are going to be young,” Wahlmeier said. “Our success will depend greatly on the steepness of our learning curve and the quality of our senior leadership.”
Abilene
The Cowgirl basketball team is coming off a 17-6 campain with two returning starters in Karina Anderson, a 5-5 senior, and Kelsey Lacy, a 5-8 senior. “Our team strengths are that we are very athletic, strong and smart players,” Cowgirl coach Janelle Geist said. “We have two quality seniors that have a tremendous amount of varsity experience. We have good team chemistry.” … The Cowboy wrestling team enters its 9th season with James Stout serving as head coach with xxx “After graduating a very strong senior class of four varsity wrestliners, including a state champion and three other medalists in 2011, the Cowboys will have to reload their line up for the 2011-2012 season,” Stout said. “They will do that by matruing the remainder of the squad and adding a strong freshman class.” The Cowboys return sophomore Quad Bauh, Blake Anguiano and Jacob Hagedorn, juniors Junior Morgan, Brandon Rein, Nick Ward and Dathan Parks and seniors Slade Sare and Kane Kelly. … The Cowboy and Cowgirl basketball teams begin their season Dec. 2 when they play host to Smoky Valley High School. The Cowboys are coming off an 18-5 campaign, in which they went 10-0 in the NCKL, and have three returning starters back from that squad as Andy Wilson, a 6-3 junior, joins seniors Adrian Polk (6-3) and Collin Sexton (6-0) as returning starters for Abilene. Head coach Terry Taylor listed athleticism and depth as strengths for this yea’rs squad. “The team should be able to play pressure defense and press full court,” Taylor said.
Clay Center
The Clay Center wrestling team is coming off a season where it posted an 11-1 overall dual record and went 5-0 in the NCKL and won the Class 4A state championship. The Tigers return seven starters from its state champion squad including Ty Kolterman, who placed fouth at 119, Rusty Yarrow, who placed fifth at 152 and Gavin Grater, who placed fourth at 145 and Brett Rickley who qualified for state at 130. “Our team retuns a group of stable kids along with some tough kids looking to emerge as contenders for post season suvvess,” Clay Center coach Brandon Pigorsch said. “It will take consistent improvent in all aspects of being a student athlete for our team to reach top in 4A. Our goal and vision of becoming the best team in 4A is right there we just have to get it.” … The Tiger basketball team has two starters returning from its 5-16 squad a year ago. “We will need consistent effort on defens,” Clay Center head coach Zac Malcom said. “We need to run up and down as much as we can. We have athleticism but are young in may key spots.” … The Lady Tigers have four starters back from a squad that won nine games a year ago, including senior Vicki Hess and juniors Ally Bloom, Alyssa Steppe and Holly Cooper.
Marysville
The Lady Bulldogs are the defending NCKL champions after a 9-1 campaign in 2010-2011 and have four returning starters from that squad, which also posted a 16-6 overall record. “We have to play team ball,” Marysville coach Jim Heiman said. “At some point all four of those senior girls have started during their first three years. They have plenty of experience and all were key to last year’s team. The tough NCKL and our challenge non-conference schedule will definitely prepare us for post season.” … The Marysville boys, meanwhile, have three starters back from a squad that did not win any NCKL games last season, but did earn three non-conference victories and finished the season at 3-18 overall.
Wamego
The Red Raider wrestling team has nine starters back for the 2011-2012 season, including Jacob Christie , who was a regional runner-up a year ago, and Kyle Wilson, who was a regional champion last season. … The Red Raider boys basketball team is coming off a campaign that saw them post a 15-6 overall record and 7-2 mark in the NCKL. … The Lady Raiders have four starters back from a squad that posted a 7-12 overall and 4-6 NCKL record last year. Among those returners is Kaylee Page, who was named all-NCKL and all-state last year for the Lady Raiders.
Chapman
The Chapman wrestling team is beginning its 11th season under the helm of head coach Jeff Sheets, who guided Chapman to a 3-12 dual record last season. “My team is very young with mainly freshman and sophomores,” Sheets said. “It will take a lot of determination from these young men. This year will be a building process and will be a learning year. We have several tough kids and will be competitive in most of their matches. It will be exciting to see these young men grow and become better as the season goes on.” … The Fighting Irish Men are coming off a 5-16 campaign with head coach Tony Ingram. Ingram and the Irish have three returning starters this season. “With three starters returning, who were also leading scorers, we are looking to improve our teams success,” Ingram said. “With the addition of 6-5 Kyl Anderson to 6-6 Zach Heiman being the third leading rebounder in the NCKL last year, also with floor leadership of firt team All League guard Jordan Bauman we look to improve and batles for a league title. … The Lady Irish are coming off a 12-9 campaign and are once again under head coach Sara Cook, who is entering her fifth season at Chapman’s helm. “As a coaching staff we are going to be looking for those girls that work the hardest and are the most consistent in practice,” Cook said. “One key to our success this season is going to be our defensive intensity. If we can be tough defensively and not give up second chance opportunities we will have a successful season.
