Success of Fall Sports

Kate Wollmering - 11

11/7/2018

Although the softball team’s record wasn’t on their side this year, they set out to accomplish the one goal they all had in mind: win a district game. Of the six seniors playing varsity softball from almost the start of their high school careers, they had more experience and comfort on the playing field. Senior Abbey Ranson states, “This was probably my favorite team I’ve ever been a member of.”

When this season’s districts came around the corner, they went above and beyond their first major goal and ended up winning the final district game against Chillicothe 8-4, placing first in the district.

“Golf is a rather selfish game. If you do well and your team does well as individuals, then you will do well as a team, but we all still support each other and care about how we all do,” says senior Madi Adkins. Girls’ golf set some mighty high goals and would stop at nothing until those goals were achieved.

At conference, the team took second place just behind Mexico, with two girls, Abby Boyer and Madi Adkins, making All-Conference. At districts, the team finished second to Chillicothe, with Abby Boyer placing second, and Madi Adkins placing tenth. At the state tournament, the Tigers scored seventh place out of eight teams, with Abby Boyer placing 17th overall.

For the KHS Color Guard, going into competition at Central Methodist University and Trenton, they knew they’d be up against some other tough guards. They also knew they needed to rise to the challenge and leave their best performance on the floor.

“This year, four minutes of music took around 30 hours of practice time,” says Coach Valerie Bolle. All of the hours of hard work were put in outside of normal school hours.

This was their second time competing at CMU, but their first time placing. They left with first place against four other teams with some Kansas City schools in the mix. At Trenton, they again placed first out of three guards in Class 5.

They also tied for first in the outdoor competition. Coach Bolle states, “They've seen what hard work accomplishes and as long as the section leaders and returners continue to be examples and set the bar high, I think you'll keep seeing great performances from these ladies.” She also thanks KHS students and staff for a great response at the homecoming pep assembly, and for supporting the guard in many ways.

After finishing second to cross country powerhouse Jeff City Helias, our boys’ cross country team found themselves at the State Championship for the first time since 1981. Sophomore Evan AuBuchon placed 29th, just four places away from being an All-State qualifier.

The team also won the conference meet in Mexico, Missouri, for the first time in 33 years. Evan AuBuchon, Kevin Dortch, Nolon Carter, and Spencer Davidson had All-Conference performances. The team brought home first place accolades from the Mexico Invitational, Centerville Invitational, Chillicothe Invitational, and the Moberly Invite.

When asked about the team’s rise to success, Junior Spencer Davidson said, “Running every morning in the summer helped our endurance for sure. It was definitely helpful when the races came around, because we pushed each other and became competitive with one another.”

Volleyball senior Haley Burchett says, “As a team we are all talented individually, but because of the sisterly bond we have created, that’s why we’ve been so successful.” This fall season, the KHS volleyball team will go down in history accomplishing the first banner season they have ever had.

Breaking records and taking names, this team got second in the Conference, won districts, and made an appearance at sectionals, all for the first time ever. Going into the district game, Coach Garlock said, “I believe that this team gave everything they had in every game. If they did that, I knew we would be successful.” And indeed, they were.