It is no secret that 2020 was a year unlike any other because of COVID-19. That much was true in every aspect of our lives. For the high school sports world, it resulted in athletes having their season impacted on a regular basis or even losing their season altogether in some cases. Yet there ...
Coach of the year: Jon Orndorff, Tonganoxie In a year with many quality soccer squads in the area, Orndorff’s Chieftains were one of two local programs (along with Baldwin) to win a regional title this fall. The Chieftains went 11-5 under Orndorff before losing to eventual state champion ...
Coach of the year: Mike Spielman, Baldwin Under Spielman, Baldwin’s girls cross-country team bounced back to the top of Class 4A in 2020 after not winning a state title a year ago. The Bulldogs had five runners finish inside the top 17 this year to earn a state crown. Baldwin has won three ...
Coach of the year: Steve Heffernan, Free State Heffernan’s Firebirds made history this season by winning their first state title in boys cross-country. Free State bought into a team-first mentality this year under Heffernan, who has been at the helm since 1998. Athlete of the year: Ben ...
Coach of the year: Kyle Billings, Perry-Lecompton In just his first season at the helm, Billings helped guide the Kaws to their first substate title since 1996. Perry-Lecompton cracked the top 10 in Class 3A for the first time in decades despite having to face some elite squads in the Big ...
First-year head coach Chris Linner really hasn’t had much of an adjustment period with his team before the Free State girls basketball squad is scheduled to begin the 2020-21 campaign. Free State will start things off with a road matchup against Blue Valley Northwest at 1:30 p.m. ...