Sports
SLIDESHOW: PHS GIRLS TENNIS INVITE
The Parsons High School girls tennis team hosted the season-opening invitational on Thursday at the Forest Park courts. Included in the slideshow are: Malina Kipp in number-one singles action; Sammie Ford in number-two singles action; Bree Rogers and Kelsey Jump in number-one doubles action; and Bailey Foster and Kinzie Rea in number-two doubles action. Photos by Jason Peake, Parsons Sun.
full story
PHS Volleyball: New faces all-around
By Jason Peake jpeake@parsonssun.com There’s no other way to put it — the Parsons High School volleyball team is in a rebuilding mode. As the 2012 season arrives, the Vikings have just two returning letterwinners back from a team that went 26-13. Led by a strong senior class, the Vikings advanced to the sub-state semifinals a year ago and finished fourth in the final SEK League standings. But eight seniors that led the way a year ago have gr...
full story
Fuentez wins age division at Chanute triathlon
By Jason Peake jpeake@parsonssun.com Buster Fuentez turned 50 this year. Why not celebrate with a grueling triathlon? After passing the milestone birthday earlier this year, Fuentez decided to compete in a triathlon again for the first time in a decade. “I’m trying to make a comeback at age 50,” he said with a laugh. A longtime resident of Parsons, Fuentez took first place in his age group at the Journey Through the Jungle triathlon in Chanu...
full story
PHS Volleyball holds scrimmage
The Parsons High School volleyball team held a Blue-Gold scrimmage match on Tuesday night. Parsons Coach Hillary Lott talks to her team during a timeout on Tuesday night during the Blue-Gold scrimmage game. The varsity defeated the JV in two-straight sets. The JV team also took on the freshmen. Shannon Dunlay passes to a teammate on Tuesday. Dunlay is a junior setter for the Vikings’ varsity team. Syvanna Mitchell returns a serve. The V...
full story
Numbers low, but talent high for PHS cross country
By Jason Peake jpeake@parsonssun.com The Parsons High School cross country team won’t have many runners this year. But the runners they do have are dedicated ones. Vikings Coach Mike Krull has just five athletes out for the sport this fall. But Krull noted that all five are solid, dedicated runners. “The ones that are out, they all like running,” Krull said. Parsons’ most accomplished distance runner is Kaylee Krull. Krull had a standout sea...
full story
Solid trio will lead Parsons girls tennis team
By Jason Peake jpeake@parsonssun.com An experienced trio will lead the way for the Parsons High School girls tennis team this fall. Vikings Coach Jane Posch has three returning starters — Malina Kipp, Breanne Rogers and Kelsey Jump — from last year’s stellar squad that won a league championship and finished eighth at the state tournament. “We’ve got three returning starters and the rest of the girls are unproven,” Posch said. “We’ve got three...
full story
AREA FOOTBALL: CHERRYVALE CHARGERS
Chargers scrimmage in Thayer Cherryvale’s High School football team hit the field Saturday morning in Thayer for a scrimmage game. Like all of the area football teams, the Chargers are now preparing for the 2012 season. Coach Harry Hester has 53 athletes on the roster this year. The Chargers went 2-7 last year and will look to get back into the playoffs this season. ABOVE: Cherryvale senior running back Drew Housel looks to break free from...
full story
PHS scrimmages are next week
The Parsons High School volleyball team will hold a Blue vs. Gold scrimmage match on Tuesday night at 5 p.m. Also of note, the Parsons football team will have their Blue-Gold scrimmage game on Friday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. Look for more on the PHS fall sports teams next week in the Parsons Sun.
full story
Parsons area represented at Babe Ruth Classic
Several area baseball players recently represented the area in the Kansas Babe Ruth Classic. The Kansas Babe Ruth Classic originated as an idea of State Commissioner Gary Kuntz in 1999 as a way to showcase the 36 most talented 15-year-old baseball players participating in the state Babe Ruth program.  Players are selected during District Tournament competitions and managers are determined by State Commissioner Gary Kuntz. Vince Yanez was sele...
full story
AREA FOOTBALL: GRIZZLIES HIT THE FIELD
The Labette County High School football team is now preparing for the 2012 season. ABOVE: Chandler Carson throws a pass while under pressure on Friday afternoon during the LCHS football practice. LEFT: LCHS Head Coach Jesse Ybarra talks to his Grizzlies during a break in practice. Labette County went 1-8 last year, but has 19 seniors back this season. Ybarra said he’s been impressed with how hard his team has been working. Look for more on...
full story
AREA FOOTBALL: CHETOPA HORNETS
The Chetopa High School football team is now preparing for the 2012 season. This is the first week of practice for high school teams in Kansas. Thursday was the first day teams can work out in full pads. Above, Chetopa quarterback Dylan Price passes to Austen Sanders during Thursday morning’s practice. Price threw for more than 1,900 yards last year for the Hornets. Hornets Coach Sean Price said the goals are set high for his team this year. ...
full story
Jordan looks to rebuild LCC volleyball program
By Jason Peake jpeake@parsonssun.com Marisa Jordan knows the Jayhawk Conference extremely well. Entering her first season as head coach of the Labette Community College volleyball team, Jordan played in the conference herself. She’s also been an assistant coach in the conference, too. Now, Jordan’s leading the LCC program with hopes of turning things around. “I’m very excited about rebuilding the program,” Jordan said. “I want to start a v...
full story
AREA FOOTBALL: OSWEGO INDIANS
The Oswego High School football team is now preparing for the 2012 season. This is the first week of practice for high school teams in Kansas. LEFT: New Oswego Head Football Coach Travis Burk gives his players instructions during a drill on Wednesday afternoon at the school’s practice field. Burk said this year’s team motto is B.I.G. — “Believe in Greatness.” BELOW: Oswego senior Ethan Spore passes to a teammate during Wednesday’s practic...
full story
Vikings QB Beachner doesn't mind underdog role
By Jason Peake jpeake@parsonssun.com Craig Beachner doesn’t mind being the underdog. It’s nothing new to him or his team. The returning quarterback of the Parsons High School football team, Beachner is one of only three returning starters for the Vikings this season. After losing a solid senior class to graduation, Parsons didn’t get much respect from the rest of the league’s coaches. In the SEK League preseason poll, the Vikings were picked ...
full story
Indians hope to avoid injuries this year
By Jason Peake jpeake@parsonssun.com ST. PAUL — All they could do was stand and watch. During the last game of the 2011 football season, five St. Paul athletes, all of whom had started earlier in the season, were forced to stand on the sidelines. They were not in uniform. They were now spectators. Simply put, injuries decimated the St. Paul lineup last season. “The injury bug just kept hitting us,” Coach Doug Tuck said Tuesday morning. The In...
full story
AREA FOOTBALL: ERIE RED DEVILS
Erie senior Justin Hartzell passes to a teammate during a drill during the team’s football practice on Tuesday afternoon. Despite constant rain, the Red Devils hit the field for practice under the direction of new coach Rick Horton. Hartzell is expected to be a key performer for the Red Devils this season. Look for more on the Erie football team later this month in our football preview special section. Jason Peake/Sun photo
full story
Parsons football hits the field
Football season is here! The Parsons High School football team hit the field on Monday for the first day of practice. ABOVE: Parsons Head Coach David Pitts gives his Vikings instructions during Monday’s afternoon practice. Pitts said there were approximately 45 athletes out for football this year. The team practiced on Monday morning, as well, with cooler temperatures greeting the team. LEFT: Craig Beachner (7) looks to avoid a tackle ...
full story
Area football notes: Ybarra back in charge of LCHS football program
By Jason Peake jpeake@parsonssun.com Jesse Ybarra is no stranger to Labette County football. Yes, it’s been nearly two decades since he last led the LCHS football program, but the new head coach of the Grizzlies has been close by all along. A longtime fixture at the school, Ybarra is taking over the football program after Shane Holtzman resigned following a disappointing 2011 season that saw the Grizzlies go 1-8. Ybarra’s first stint as the G...
full story
Vikings, Grizzlies picked at bottom of preseason football coaches poll
By Jason Peake Parsons Sun PITTSBURG — Parsons and Labette County occupied the bottom two spots in the 2012 Southeast Kansas League preseason football coaches poll. The poll was released on Thursday at the eighth annual SEK High School Football Media Day at Watco Cos. Defending league champ Pittsburg was picked first with 32 points. There was tie for second, with Coffeyville and Fort Scott both receiving 29 points. The league's coaches picked ...
full story
LCHS to have fall sports parents meeting Thursday
Labette County High School will have a fall sports parents meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the LCHS cafeteria. The meeting will be for parents of students participating in cross country, golf, tennis, volleyball and football. The parents meeting for cheerleading was last week, and the meeting for the dance team will be scheduled later. After the meeting, there will be breakout sessions for each sport.
full story