The chance at a historic three-peat title came to a disappointing end on Tuesday, May 14 for the McPherson High School baseball team, as the Bullpups fell 3-1 to Rose Hill in the regional championship at Grant Sports Complex.At the end of the past two seasons, McPherson was the final team standing in class 4A after winning back-to-back state championships in 2022 and 2023.
LENEXA, Kansas – A season full of top placements and state qualifications culminated into a 11th-place finish at the class 5A-1A girls state swim meet for the McPherson High School girls swim team on Saturday, as the Lady Pups turned in 83 team points to cap off a historic season.McPherson, who ended with four first-place finishes and four second-place finishes throughout the season, entered the class 5A-1A state swim meet with four different swimmers qualifying for individual events and two different relay teams making the cut as well.Danica Brunk, Bree Pickerell, Adyson Wiens, Rachel Fischer, Clarea Williams, Gracy Hubbard and Claire Schmidt all represented McPherson at state, but it was Brunk’s school record in the 100-yard freestyle (0:52.77) that earned her first place in the event to become McPherson’s first state swim champion across any event.On top of taking first in the 100-yard freestyle by beating out Topeka-Seaman’s Avery Walz by 0.40 seconds, Brunk was also voted first-team all-state and the Athlete of the Year by coaches.“Danica Brunk was our first individual girls swim state champion and was honored by coaches who voted for her as athlete of the year,” McPherson head girls swim coach and Brunk’s mother Angela Brunk said about her daughter’s and team’s performance at state.
SCOTT CITY, Kansas – In what turned out to be one of the toughest regionals across all of class 4A, the McPherson High School track and field teams managed to punch 20 tickets to state last Thursday as the Bullpup boys finished fifth and the Bullpup girls took third.Fresh off the AVCTL Division III meet where both McPherson teams finished in second place, the Bullpups traveled to Scott City to compete alongside Andale, Clearwater, Buhler, Concordia, Hugoton, Pratt, Scott Community and Ulysses for a right to be a part of the biggest high school track and field meet in the country this upcoming weekend.Despite the stiff competition, McPherson will be sending over 20 athletes to the state meet as four relay teams and 16 individuals turned in qualifying performances.Three of the four relay teams came from the girls’ side in the form of a second-place finish in the 4x100 relay, a first-place finish in the 4x400 relay and a fourth-place finish in the 4x800 relay.
As the 2024 spring season comes to an end with state meets this week, the six McPherson County area smaller schools scored state track/field qualifications in 56 individual events and by 36 athletes along with several relay teams to go along with the Inman softball team making the state tournament in Pratt.Fifty-six individual events are impressive, especially when just 36 individuals cover it.Several schools will have impressive contingents at the state meet beginning on Friday, May 24 in Wichita at Cessna Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University.Moundridge will have 11 individuals competing for state titles including Kaden Elmore and Cammi Unruh each competing in three events while Haylee Jantz and Hattie Hecox will be in two.Breanne Peters will again lead Smoky Valley as she won four regional individual events.A breakdown of each school and their regional performances as well as who will carry the team banner at state will follow.In softball and baseball, just one are team survived and that was the Inman Lady Teuton softball team who scored wins over Sedgwick, Canton/Galva, and Whitewater/Remington at regionals to make the state tournament where they will play Thomas More Prep/Marion of Hays on Thursday.Here is a brief rundown of last week’s events involving the six McPherson County area smaller schools.CANTON/GALVA EAGLES > Softball – After getting a 10-0 shutout win on Tuesday, May 14 at regionals over Hutchinson Trinity, the Lady Eagles came up short against eventual regional champion Inman, losing 1-6 to finish their 2024 season at 13-9.Track/Field – Lane McMannis found success at the Class 1A state regionals on Thursday as he was the lone Eagle to score any state qualifications.McMannis finished fourth and third in the 110-, and 300-meter hurdles, respectively, while falling short of a state qualification in the javelin where he finished fifth, earning the only team points for either the Eagles or Lady Eagles on the day.ELYRIA CHRISTIAN EAGLES > Track/Field – At the Class 1A regionals on Thursday the Elyria Christian track/field teams ran sixth for the Lady Eagles with 36 points while the Eagle boys finished fifteenth with 11 points.Individually the Lady Eagles were led by Laney Reiff who earned a regional title in the 1,600 meters while also qualifying for state in both the 800 and 3,200 meters for finishing second in both events.Kenna Cass and Brooke Davidson scored state qualification in the field events as Cass finished fourth in the discus and Davidson was fourth in the shot put.For the Eagle boys, Blake Robertson scored a trip to the state meet in a pair of events for finishing third in the discus and third in the shot put.INMAN TEUTONS > Softball – The Lady Teuton softball team scored three wins at their Class 2-1A regionals, earning themselves a trip to the state softball tournament beginning on Thursday, May 23 in Pratt.At regionals on Tuesday, May 14, Inman hammered Sedgwick 16-1 before taking down Canton/Galva 6-1 to put themselves in the championship matchup with Whitewater/Remington.
The McPherson College Bulldogs football schedule is set.
The Kettle Queens met Wednesday, May 15 at 2pm at the Moundridge Library.
Kansas State University continues its commitment as the university for Kansans.K-State President Richard Linton and a team of K-State faculty, staff and students spent the past two years engaging with Kansans across the state through the presidential regional community visit initiative.
The Inman Food Pantry provides much-needed food to those who lack an adequate supply.
Unofficial Minutes May 13, 2024The council met Monday, May 13, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
A Celebration and Dedication was held this week for the Eagle Scout project of Brooke Henry, a member of Scout Troop 1000, which meets at First Presbyterian Church, 1400 N Main in McPherson.