High school sports notebook

Pigskin Prognosticator

Lawrence High football coach Dirk Wedd made good on a pregame prediction Friday night.

When mapping out the opening series of the Lions’ 31-21 victory over Shawnee Mission North in the locker room before the game, Wedd drew up a running play on first down, a play-action pass to Jared Vinoverski on second down and told his extra-point team to be ready for the third snap.

That’s exactly how it went down, as Clifton Sims ran for four yards on first down, Clint Pinnick hit Vinoverski for a 61-yard touchdown on second down and Rex Hargis and the PAT team lined up for the kick on the third play.

Hargis hit the kick, and the Lions went on to victory.

Team Unity

If chemistry’s worth anything in high school volleyball, the Lawrence High Lions might be on the brink of a sensational season.

The seven seniors on the LHS varsity roster all have played volleyball together since they were fourth-graders at St. John’s Elementary School. That includes a set of twins and a pair that has known each other since kindergarten.

Frigid Firebirds

Free State’s cross country teams weren’t feeling too hot at Baldwin City Golf Course Saturday morning. When the Firebirds arrived at the race the temperatures were in the mid 40s. “The tent was horrible. It was freezing cold,” freshman runner Logan Sloan said. “My muscles tightened, but it was pretty fun.”

Junior Kyra Kilwein said the weather made it tough, but said she and her teammates came ready to compete because they want to be ready for the state cross country meet at the end of the season.

The Free State girls won the team title and Kilwein finished fifth, but she said watching the girls who finished in front of her would drive her in the future.

Lions Show Determination

Six out of the seven varsity boys on the Lawrence High cross country team set personal records at their meet at Shawnee Heights on Saturday.

“They just really got it into their heads that they were going to run the best meet they could,” LHS coach Brian Anderson said.

The six were: Dylan Hedges, Ben Wilson, Jonathan Gabler, Cody Jones, Nicholas Shump and Calvin Morgan.

I Wanna Be Like Mike

Shawnee Mission North football coach Ryan Majors has an unusual approach to coaching on the sideline.

Rather than sporting team attire, Majors favors the classier look of slacks and a tie a la San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan. Friday, at Haskell Stadium, the SMN coach went with gray slacks, a white button-up shirt and a red tie.

FSHS Golfer Takes Tumble

Grace Brahler, Free State’s No. 1 girls golfer, broke a bone in her foot at cheerleading practice last week and is out indefinitely.

Free State coach Craig Hershiser said the team would miss her and support her throughout her recuperation.

Yet Another Weapon

Free State junior Marcus Holman broke onto the scene during the Firebirds’ 41-0 rout of Leavenworth last Thursday.

Holman, one of the fastest Firebirds, caught three balls for 51 yards and provided coach Bob Lisher and quarterback Craig Rosenstengle with another dangerous offensive weapon.