Shooting for State

The OCHS Boys’ Basketball team strives for big goals

Article by Hannah Mondragon

The OCHS boys are at it again this basketball season. There are 25 boys out for basketball this year, and many are new players or freshmen. The practices have been going well and a lot of hard work is being put in by everyone.

Senior Manuel Friedlein, a foreign exchange student here at OCHS, was asked about practice. He replied, “I like practicing with the team. It’s pretty hard, but I’m happy at the end of the day when practice is over.” He was also asked about how he plans to make this season a very memorable time while he is here in America.  He replied, “I just will practice as hard as I can and just do my best in all the games.” And Friedlein is not alone in wanting to do well this season. Players of all experience levels, from beginners like Friedlein to long-time veterans of the sport, are looking to succeed this year.

Freshman Tyson Wilkins was asked about how much experience he has in basketball and he replied, “I’ve been playing basketball for ten years.” Wilkins was asked about his motivation in the sport and he said, “My father played college ball and I want to be able to follow him.” However, before he can get to playing college ball he will have to become accustomed to playing in high school, which is a far cry from junior high basketball. Wilkins was asked about that and replied, “ High school ball is a lot more intense and because of the age difference it makes it harder, but I think that we put in a lot of effort and I think we can make it to state.”

Although there is a multitude of freshman and a foreign exchange student, there are also many returners.  Junior Ryan Haskins, the starting point guard on varsity last year, is planning on this season going in an even better direction than the previous one, in which the boys made it to the Sub-State championship game. He was asked about how far he thinks the team will push to meet excellence and said, “I think we have a good shot at state. At practice we work hard but we can’t overlook anybody.”

This year the boys are shooting for state. With hard work and dedication it’s possible for them to achieve their goal. They have started off the season with a win over Council Grove and a one point loss in overtime to Coffeyville.  They will look to get their second win of the season Thursday against Central Heights.

Rim Rock Gets Rocked by OCXC… Again

Lady Indians tear it up at the 3A State Cross Country meet

Article by Jake Butterfield

The last two weekends of their season, the Osage City cross country teams participated in their most competitive meets of the year.  First, they attended the regional meet in Burlington at John Redmond Reservoir.  Both the boys and girls ran well at regionals.  Despite giving it their all, the boys team placed fifth and failed to qualify for the state meet.  However, the entire Lady Indian team qualified for the third time in the last four years.

On Friday, October 31, hundreds of high school athletes and their families and friends gathered at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas for the class 3A, 5A, and 6A State Cross Country meets. The Lady Indian runners were honored to be part of such an important meet. When asked about the privilege to run at state, senior Maren Peterson answered, “The girls and I were honored and blessed to run at state and I’m so proud of us for making it as a team!”

The team consisted of a variety of different runners.  The Lady Indians were led by seniors and four-time state qualifiers Aundrea Koger and Sarah Peterson.  They were joined by senior Maren Peterson, along with first-year runners senior Tori Tomlinson, junior Lexi Allen, freshman Jessica Davis, and freshman Faith Long.   These runners were going up against some of the toughest competition they could face.  “State is the most nerve-racking meet of the season, but that I am able to run with such good athletes is really an honor,” Peterson commented about the state meet.   The Indians were one of twelve fortunate teams to be a part of the 3A State Cross Country meet.   First-year cross country coach James Bellinger noted, “There were fifty-two other teams in the state that would have loved to be exactly where we were at the end of the season.”

The Lady Indian runners ran respectively well at Rim Rock despite facing bone-chilling cold winds.  Koger finished sixth, trailed by Sarah Peterson, who finished thirty-eighth, and Davis, who finished eighty-fifth.  Maren Peterson and Tomlinson finished ninety-first and ninety-second respectively.  The remainder of the Lady Indian cross country team was brought in by Long and Allen.  Despite finishing twelfth, Sarah Peterson still believes they were the best team at the meet.  “We all supported one another.  Not one of us ran for ourselves, we all ran for each other.  We may not have been the best team there, but we were the closest team, which in my mind makes us the best!”       

Opposite Ends of the Spectrum

   Osage City High School has a Good Balance of State Competition-Worthy Individuals

Article by Kailyn Robert

Qualifying for state in any activity is an enormous accomplishment, whether with a team or individually. This winter Osage City High School was lucky enough to have two individuals qualify for state competition. What they qualified in are on opposite ends of the spectrum, which creates a nice balance of talent here at OCHS.

Senior Don Curtis, one of the two state qualifiers, made the cut for state band. It was held at the Century II Convention Center in Wichita. Although this was his second year qualifying for state, Curtis was unable to attend last year due to weather. Curtis enjoyed the experience, stating that his favorite part was, “Playing in a perfectly balanced band where everybody wanted to be there.” He had a very satisfying experience, and he believes that more OCHS band members should try it. So whether you enjoy activities like band, or sports like wrestling, there are great role models here at Osage City High that can help motivate you by their successes.

Drake Whalen, a senior wrestler who qualified for state, also enjoyed a similar experience. The state wrestling tournament was held in Hays, Kansas, and Whalen was excited to be going for the first time in his high school career. The competition to even get into state was difficult, but Whalen pulled through and placed second at the regional tournament. At state Whalen was also successful, going 2-2 and placing in the top eight. He was happy with the outcome, yet his favorite memory was just “getting to actually compete at state.”

Both Don Curtis and Drake Whalen are great role models, and their success stories can surely inspire all of us to reach our goals.