It’s definitely not in Jamie Stanclift’s competitive nature to take it easy at any time on the volleyball court.

She’s being asked to do just that, though, advice that was passed down thanks to a worn-out shoulder that’s starting to nag the Free State High senior.

“When she swings, she can’t swing easy,” Free State volleyball coach Nancy Hopkins said. “She wants to hit it as hard as she can, but that’s been injuring her.”

Stanclift said her right shoulder gradually deteriorated because of constant use during softball and volleyball seasons. In addition to suiting up for the Free State volleyball, basketball and softball teams, Stanclift plays an extensive summer softball schedule.

She also hopes to play softball in college, and Hopkins said she preferred Stanclift didn’t damage the shoulder more playing a sport she doesn’t even see as her future one.

The injury likely will force Hopkins to use Stanclift as less of an attacker, so she doesn’t hurt it even more.

But to sit her out? Stanclift won’t hear any of that talk.

“I told coach, any way that I can help, I’m willing to try anything,” Stanclift said. “I’ll probably be doing a lot of passing, a lot of back-row stuff and maybe some blocking, since that doesn’t hurt it.”

Free State should be fine, anyway. It returns six starters from last year’s 20-19 team, and another, junior Banaka Okwuone, should step in and provide another option of attack from the outside.

¢

Cross country rankings out: The Kansas preseason cross country coaches rankings were released this week, and local representation is abundant.

Most notably, the Baldwin boys and girls teams both are ranked atop the Class 4A poll, which shouldn’t surprise too many people. The Bulldogs are loaded on both teams, with returning talent four and five deep.

Other local teams ranked:

• Free State’s boys team is ranked third in 6A, behind Shawnee Mission Northwest and Emporia. Lawrence received votes, but didn’t crack the top eight.
• Lawrence High’s girls are ranked sixth in 6A; Free State received votes.
• Wellsville’s girls are ranked eighth in Class 3A, McLouth’s boys are ranked seventh in 2A and Eudora’s girls are seventh in 4A.

¢

Schedule changes: A couple of schedule changes to make note of:

• The Lawrence High boys soccer team’s season opener against Manhattan, the one that was washed out by the thunderstorm Friday, will be played today at 7 p.m. at Youth Sports Inc. fields.
• The Veritas Christian football team will play Wichita Sunrise Academy at 7 p.m. Friday at Westwick Rugby Complex. The game originally was scheduled to be played in Wichita, but was moved to Lawrence due to facility conflicts.

¢

Klingler, Beneventi sign: Recent city graduates Rachael Klingler and Kirby Beneventi have joined the women’s basketball team at Garden City Community College.

Beneventi, a 2004 Free State graduate, and Klingler, a 2004 Lawrence High graduate, join a Lady Broncbuster squad that finished 14-16 last year.

It’s the second and third city basketball players to join GCCC in the last year — 2003 Free State grad Bijai Jones was a reserve on the men’s team this past season.