Ed Fritz’s humble beginnings as a coach sprang a Blue Valley Northwest team that would take Kansas by storm this winter, cruising unblemished to the program’s first Kansas Class 6A title.
The Blue Springs girls basketball team endured some early-season mishaps but coach Mark Spigarelli made a change and the Wildcats once again proved the class of Kansas City. They finished 29-3 and placed third in the Missouri Class 5 tournament.
Blue Valley Northwest’s Clay Custer, SM South’s Josh Pedersen, Blue Springs South’s Justin Pitts, SM East’s Zach Schneider and Rockhurst’s Kyle Wolf lead The Star’s All-Metro boys basketball team.
Franklin Zhong is careful not to get too comfortable with his tennis game. As Lee’s Summit West’s top singles player, Zhong says he’s taken on added duties this season, even though he’s only a sophomore. At the top of that list, he says, is a responsibility to never stop improving.
The best girl pole vaulter ever to attend a Kansas high school has never won a state title in the event. She’ll get a final chance last month but says, “I’m not going to fall apart if I don’t get it.”
The senior lefty, who’s committed to play for Coastal Carolina, has struck out more than half of the hitters he’s faced this year — 65 of 128. No wonder big league scouts have become fixtures in the stands.
SCHOOL: Shawnee Mission East
Blue Springs 7, Blue Springs South 6
The three-day event will begin on Friday in locations in Olathe, Gardner and De Soto.
Willie Reed, a Kansas City native who has been on a rocky journey through high school and college, has gained a spot on the Memphis Grizzlies’ playoff roster.
High school junior wins the high jump, long jump and the 100 hurdles. In the process, she’s chosen by the news media as the female athlete of the meet.
On a cold and windy day in Lawrence, high school track and field athletes put forth some remarkable performances as the event closes out its decades-long run at venerable Memorial Stadium.
Bishop Ward 17, Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan 7
Madison Whisler, whose mother, Stephanie, was a fine athlete, is headed to the Kansas Relays this week, where she’ll compete in the hurdles. It’s an event in which her mom excelled, and a competition that her daughter uses to honor her memory.
The senior heavyweight, who is bound for Stanford, was 44-0 with 38 pins this season. But according to his coach, “For as good of a wrestler as he is, as a human being he’s even better. … He was a state champion, but he was also so humble.”
The high school portion of the Kansas Relays begins with the boys javelin at 8 a.m. today and continues through Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. It is annually one of the region’s largest and most elite high school meets.
Increasing awareness of football players sustaining concussions has mostly centered on health concerns. Liability lawsuits on the issue largely have come from current and former NFL players.
Rockhurst High’s Mark Nusbaum is retiring as basketball coach to spend more time with family.
Odessa 10, Van Horn 0, 5 inn.
Show-Me State boys get out of the gate early and pile up the points on the Sunflower Staters. Girls’ contest is closer, but Missouri closes with a flourish to win 86-77.
Change in tactics helped the Hawklets turn their season around.
Five things to watch at the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Challenge
