Month: May 2019

With the Big Schools completing their State Track Meets this past weekend, the 2018-2019 high school sports seasons have come to a close for our area schools.

Just a few of the things that come to mind from what was another year for the books:

1. Izzy “Freaking” Erickson – The girl is nothing short of amazing.
2. What a year for Blue Eye Girls.  State Runners-Up in Cross Country, State Playoffs in Basketball, and capped off with a State Championship in Track
3. Speaking of Blue Eye… How bout the Arnold Sisters?  Awesome.  And, think two of them have three more years.  Better get a bigger trophy case.
4. The CofO women do what they do AGAIN.  Great, Great, group
5. Andrew Mitchell- so happy he is staying right here… part of a very good recruiting class for Steve Shepherd.
6. Priscilla Williams continues to show why she gets national recruiting attention
7. Bug Bailey was a great addition for Hollister and the area
8. Ben Moler- Flat out DUDE
9. Seth, Blake, Justin, Parker, Cole…  gonna miss you guys
10. Shelby Strailey, Craigon Bradley, Reagan Ulrich great high school careers, looking forward to what you all do at the next level
11. Thought basketball as a whole was better than expected.  Area coaches did a great job of getting the best of out of players.
12. Rich Adkins was a great hire for Hollister.  He already left marks his first year and gotta think that is only gonna get better
13. Forsyth Softball made noise and dont look for them to quiet down anytime soon.
14.   Reeds Spring football is gonna be different without Brian Moler on the sideline.
15. There will be a story published very soon about Scott Wenger leaving Hollister but I could not leave him off this list.

This list could easily be double the size.  And, thats not so say that anything on this list is any more important that some of the things I left off…  It was just another amazing year.  Glad I got to witness, and tell folks about a lot of it.

Another year has flown by.  A year ago I sat in front of my computer and typed about the special folks that I was going to see Graduate that night.  Well, 365 days has gone by.  A few things have changed.  I have attended a lot of Reeds Spring graduations, this will be my first as a member of the Board of Education.  But one thing that is the same…. some quality young men and women will be receiving diplomas tonight.

Just a few that have left lasting impressions on me:

Kalena Asbill- the little spark plug with an engine that does not quit.  Her hard work and competitive drive has earned her the opportunity to play college ball in Iowa.

Seth Stamps- everyone loves this dude.  He has been a pleasure to watch on the football and baseball fields.  But it has been even better watching him grow into the quality young man he has become.

Ben Moler- Because of this dad, I have probably been around he longer than any of the other graduates.  What he was able to do on the football field was always amazing.  As I have written previously, we are going to have faster football players, we are going to have more talented football players.  But it is going to be a tall order for the Wolves to have a BETTER football player.  He is a flat out dude.  He will succeed at whatever life has in store for him.

Justin Miller- The last sibling of a family that has meant a lot to Reeds Spring Sports.  I think even his brothers will admit that, they saved the best for last.  This guy is top notch and happy that we will only have to drive to Bolivar to watch him play in the future… Go Bearcats

Parker Maloney- Parker is a leader and a real inspiration.  Here is a dude that moved in as a Sophomore basketball player and ended up making a real difference on the football field and the tennis court.  I have said it before, I am not sure I have seen anyone make the improvement he did between his junior and senior years on the gridiron.  And, when he wasn’t playing he was there supporting his classmates.  Can’t wait to see what is ahead for him

Blake Gronvold- As tough as they come.  He is a flat out leader.  He has that “it” factor about him that makes people want to follow.  No doubt, gonna miss #2.

Troy Froeshle- seems like I watched him grow up on the court.  He just quietly went about doing his job…  Gonna miss that shot.

Cole Watson- guy has been a real threat, whether it was behind the plate on in the batters box he can do damage.  And, for that matter, he showed he could do the same to defensive backs on the football field.

I could go on… Shelby Strailey, Max Meilner, Courtney Scobee, Keeley Bauer, Cameron Essick..   You get the idea.

These young men and women have left their mark on Reeds Spring and are ready to do the same across our nation.  But always remember: no matter where you go, not matter how much success you achieve… Once a Wolf… Always a Wolf….  Congrats Class of 2019

There are a lot of reasons to make a trip over to Pittsburg, Kansas.  Its a nice drive, the scenery is great, oh, and we cant forget Chicken Annie’s (or Chicken Mary’s if you prefer).  But local folks will soon have another reason to make the drive.

On Friday, Hollister wide receiver, Logan Armitage, signed a national letter of intent to play football for the Pitt State Gorillas.

Armitage did not have the gaudy numbers, as a senior,  like a lot of players headed to college to play. But, that is, in part, due to the ball control offense that Hollister employs.  With his size and athleticism, he is a matchup nightmare for smaller defensive backs.

Coaches thought so much of his talents, that he was named All-Conference, All-Region, All-Area, and All-State.

He has been a big weapon for Tiger quarterbacks in his time in the program.  There is no doubt that he will be a tough one to replace.

He looks to see time as a receiver and possibly handle some punting duties for the Gorillas.

Pitt State was 8-3 a year ago.  But, historically they are one of the premier programs in all of NCAA Division II.  They compete in the MIAA

Signing (click on link or hear interview Jim Connell and I had with Logan)