North Central https://northcentral.ksvype.com A VYPE Kansas site Fri, 08 Mar 2024 18:11:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Salina Regional Sports Medicine Dotted Line Tour – Marion https://northcentral.ksvype.com/marion/salina-regional-sports-medicine-dotted-line-tour-marion/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 18:11:25 +0000 https://northcentral.ksvype.com/?p=8973 Congratulations to the following Marion athletes who are signing to continue their athletic careers: Jack Lanning – Coffeyville CC football and Calleigh Soyez – Allen County CC livestock judging.

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Cheney’s Kylee Trego – Athlete Spotlight Presented By KTA https://northcentral.ksvype.com/featured/cheneys-kylee-trego-athlete-spotlight-presented-by-kta/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:41:22 +0000 https://northcentral.ksvype.com/?p=8969

Cheney’s Kylee Trego bowled her best series last season when it mattered the most – at regionals. Trego’s 554 was good enough to qualify for the 5-1A Tournament, but she is hungry for more in 2024.

“In the offseason I have been putting in a lot of work,” Trego said. “During the summer I did two different leagues at two different bowling alleys as well as practicing two times a week up until school started in August. In August, I switched to three times a week to prepare for the season. I have bowled at several alleys around the city to get used to different lanes and oil patterns.”

In order for Trego to take her game to another level, she understands she has to improve some areas.

“This year I would like to improve on consistently picking up spares,” Trego said. A closed frame can make or break a game and if I can’t get a strike, I need to be able to close the frame and get a spare.”

Believe it or not, Trego did not have a ton of confidence last season, even though she made the state tournament. She feels like she can make a bigger impact at state if her mindset is in a different place.

“Individually my goal is setting a higher average and getting to the state tournament again,” Trego said. “I want to go to state as a more confident bowler. For the team I hope that we can encourage each other and be the team that is open and friendly at every tournament we go to. I want to see us all do well and achieve our goals.”

All of her hard work throughout the offseason has Trego excited to see the growth she has made and how that will translate into results.

“I am most excited about seeing how I’ve grown as a bowler, I’ve been putting in a lot of time practicing since last season, I’ve gotten a few new bowling balls, and I can’t wait to see how it translates into meets,” Trego said.

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Eisenhower’s Kaitlyn Newell – Athlete Spotlight Presented By KTA https://northcentral.ksvype.com/featured/eisenhowers-kaitlyn-newell-athlete-spotlight-presented-by-kta/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:36:56 +0000 https://northcentral.ksvype.com/?p=8966

Last season at the 5-1A bowling tournament, the Eisenhower Tigers took sixth as a team, over 400 pins behind first place.

Returning sophomore Kaitlyn Newell, who had the third best series average last season for Eisenhower, wants to do everything in her power to see that place increase in 2024.

“My goals for this year is to get over 150 each game and to help my teammates make State and place better than we did last year,” Newell said.

There were many aspects to Newell’s game that she honed in on during the offseason.

“I want to improve my ending formation and work on increasing my overall scores as well as learning the different oil patterns and figuring out what ball to use,” Newell said. “During the offseason I worked alongside my coach. He showed me the proper way to approach the lane and helped me correct the way I throw the ball down the lane.”

As a freshman, Newell’s highest game was 209, her highest series was 570 and her average was 170. She alongside four other returners have the Tigers excited about their season’s prospects.

“What I am most excited about for the upcoming season is bowling with my new teammates and participating in the different tournaments,” Newell said.

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Cheney’s Cameron Eastman – Athlete Spotlight Presented By Salina Tech https://northcentral.ksvype.com/featured/cheneys-cameron-eastman-athlete-spotlight-presented-by-salina-tech/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:33:18 +0000 https://northcentral.ksvype.com/?p=8963

No matter the tournament, whether it’s a tournament in the summertime or the 4-1A Tournament in February, Cheney’s Cameron Eastman is in it to win.

“If I’m going to bowl I’m going to try to win,” Eastman said. “So why not just take home a state title? The ultimate team goal is to win state and just be a dominant force on the lanes.”

Eastman thinks the Cardinals have the team that can win the whole thing. With the right combination of talented returners and promising freshmen, a state title is a possibility for Cheney.

“I think we’re going to have a really good team this year,” Eastman said. “We have a lot of freshman that have a lot of potential and our returners are solid as well. It’s going to be a really fun year. We bring a lot of energy to the lanes.”

Last season, Eastman took third at regionals, which earned him a spot in the state tournament, where he took 27th.

With the obvious goal of improving on those places in 2024, Eastman challenged himself throughout the offseason at various lanes that offered a multitude of challenges.

“I have practiced a lot this summer just by myself trying new things,” Eastman said. “I like figuring out what works and what doesn’t and what to do in certain situations. In the off-season, I like to practice on lanes that are torched and in terrible condition so in actual meets I can be prepared for whatever the lanes may throw at me.”   

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Eisenhower’s Zeke Schroeder – Athlete Spotlight Presented By Salina Tech https://northcentral.ksvype.com/featured/eisenhowers-zeke-schroeder-athlete-spotlight-presented-by-salina-tech/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:29:15 +0000 https://northcentral.ksvype.com/?p=8960

Last season, Zeke Schroeder and the Eisenhower bowling team took sixth at the 5-1A Tournament, which did not meet their expectations. So Schroeder only has one hope for the 2024 season.

“Going into my senior year of high school bowling I can only think of going out with a bang,” Schroeder said. “As a team we also fell short of a top three finish in state at sixth. So we are going to keep that goal and hopefully exceed it.”

While they fell short of what they wanted to accomplish, Schroeder was still proud of the effort of the Tigers.

“I wouldn’t trade that season for anything,” Schroeder said. “So if I had to choose what I look forward to the most, I would have to choose making memories one last time with my teammates.”

Once the high school season concluded last February, that didn’t stop Schroeder. He just kept bowling.

“I was in four leagues a week trying to prepare for junior gold,” Schroeder said. “After a disappointing performance at junior gold, I came back and continued by joining two more leagues.”

Consistency is key in any sport and bowling is no different. Schroeder made that a focus in his season preparations.

“I really would like to get consistent on my right side spares specifically the ten pin,” Schroeder said. “This off-season I did a lot of days where I’d only go bowling to shoot at the ten pin and often would play purgatory games.”

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Winfield’s Brandon Kendall – Athlete Spotlight Presented By WSU Tech https://northcentral.ksvype.com/featured/winfields-brandon-kendall-athlete-spotlight-presented-by-wsu-tech/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:23:44 +0000 https://northcentral.ksvype.com/?p=8957

Last season, Winfield’s Brandon Kendall finished ranked 14th in the 100 fly, which really is quite the accomplishment. But not for Kendall. He has big plans for 2024 and it includes a much-improved time in that event and others.

“My personal goal is to break a school record in the fly, as well as help break our relay school records,” Kendall said. “This year the goal for the whole team is to take home league champs for the first time ever. I cut over six seconds last year in the 100 fly, and I finished the season 14th in the state, my hope is to be in the top 10 this year.”

Kendall had a busy offseason, that included team camps and individual competitions.

“This off-season, I went to the KU swim camp and the Mizzou stroke and turn camp,” Kendall said. “I swam for my summer club, the Winfield Seahorses. I also swam for my year-round club team, the South Kansas Storm.”

While Kendall has focused on improving his times and being ranked by season’s end, there is an increased focus by he and his teammates to make this season a memorable one for Winfield swimming.

“I’m most excited for all of the potential growth for the team this upcoming season,” Kendall said. “We have a young team, and a lot of possible time cuts from every swimmer on the team.”

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Derby’s Jared Hays – Athlete Spotlight Presented By WSU Tech https://northcentral.ksvype.com/featured/derbys-jared-hays-athlete-spotlight-presented-by-wsu-tech/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:18:31 +0000 https://northcentral.ksvype.com/?p=8953

Over the past few swimming seasons, Derby’s Jared Hays has been so close to being an individual school record breaker. He has been a part of some record breaking relay teams, but now he wants to be by himself, too.

There is no better time than the present for Hays.

“My dad told me that they deserve to know who the first name of that ‘Hays’ kid is on that relay, and I want to show them my full potential,” Hays said. “I’m seeking to beat the 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and hopefully the 500 freestyle all within the next two years.”

Working on his breaststroke was a focal point of Hays’ offseason workouts with the South Kansas Storm swimming club.

“If you ask my coaches and teammates, they all say that I’m horrible at breaststroke,” Hays said. “They always joke about how I could be so fast in the IM if I just worked on my breaststroke. Fortunately I’ve been surrounded with great breaststrokers to take advice from, and technique coaches to really get a look at what’s been pulling me down.”

Endurance is important to Hays, considering all of the events he swims in. So that was another area he was seeking improvement in.

“I specialize in the 200 freestyle, which many say is the longest sprint event out there,” Hays said. “In order to be fast at the 200, you have to keep a sprint pace and hold it for the rest of the race. I can come out quickly, but fail to hold on to my pace.”

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Wellington’s Aubrey Hunter – Athlete Spotlight Presented By Hutchinson Community College https://northcentral.ksvype.com/featured/wellingtons-aubrey-hunter-athlete-spotlight-presented-by-hutchinson-community-college/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:14:47 +0000 https://northcentral.ksvype.com/?p=8949

It was so close for Wellington wrestler Aubrey Hunt last season, as she took third at regionals and then second at state.

Her season was still a huge success, as she had a 37-7 record and 24 pins, with wins at five tournaments and a runner-up at another tournament. But it is easy to see what will make the 2023-2024 season better than last year.

“My personal goal is to win a state title,” Hunt said. “My goal for my team is to take the majority of Wellington High School team to state.”

There were two areas that Hunt thought she needed to improve in order for to reach her goals this season.

“I really wanted to work on my strength and speed, so I took extra strength training from my school and personal trainer,” Hunt said. “I’ve been working with a personal trainer at my local gym and taking a PSQ class at my school.”

While Hunt is looking forward to her individual goals and aspirations, those two things aren’t what she is most excited about.

“I’m excited about going to tournaments with my teammates and watching them win and succeed,” Hunt said.

 

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Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s Taylor Barringer – Athlete Spotlight Presented By Hutchinson Community College https://northcentral.ksvype.com/featured/kapaun-mt-carmels-taylor-barringer-athlete-spotlight-presented-by-hutchinson-community-college/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:08:35 +0000 https://northcentral.ksvype.com/?p=8946

Kapaun Mount Carmel’s Taylor Barringer has a unique way to get herself mentally and physically prepared for the rigors of the high school wrestling season.

“I just finished my cross country ceason, and I believe that cross country has helped me with my mental strength and my physical endurance for the upcoming wrestling season,” Barringer said. “I am excited to start competing again, and to see how I have improved since last season.”

Barringer went 29-7 as a freshman last season, won her weight class at the GWAL Tournament, took second at regionals and fifth at state.

With all of that success, there is one area where Barringer is focused on improving during her sophomore campaign.

“I would like to improve on my shots and takedowns,” Barringer said. “In the offseason, I attended several takedown clinics to improve my skills.”

Barringer was one of two Crusaders ranked in the preseason, but she thinks Kapaun girls wrestling can be a team to reckon with in Class 6-5A.

“My goal for this season is to improve my skills and place at state,” Barringer said. “I hope most of my team will qualify for state this year, and that we will have a strong finish as a team.”

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