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Chinstraps and Mouthpieces: Winning this year’s Linnys . . . .

By Shawn Linenberger - | Jul 7, 2004

Roll out the red carpet, the Linnys again have arrived.

Forget Oscar and the ESPYs, the Linnys recognize superior performances in the Tonganoxie and McLouth athletics departments.

Unfortunately, Linny winners do not receive trophies, nor can they give acceptance speeches.

After all, this is only the second year of the contest’s existence. The budget still isn’t where it needs to be, and neither Bravo nor NBC has made a call asking to carry the show. However, the awards show has expanded somewhat. Instead of one column, it will require a sequel next week.

So without further adieu, here is the first installment of this year’s winners:

Greatest game/event

And the nominees are:

Tonganoxie 2, Eudora 1 (substate volleyball). No. 3 Tonganoxie and No. 2 Eudora met in the Class 4A substate in Lansing. Tonganoxie took game one, complete with eight ties. Eudora won game two by four points before THS won game three, which also had eight ties.

Tonganoxie 67, Jeff West 65 (boys basketball). Tonganoxie had to rally three times — once in regulation, and twice in overtime — for a heart-stopping double overtime win in Meriden. The game, with so many highlights, included a Justin Walker buzzer beater and a Luke McCarty three-pointer at the top of the key with no time left that sent the game into its first OT.

Eudora 48, Tonganoxie 42 (girls substate basketball). This was a rematch of sorts after the postseason volleyball meeting. Tonganoxie frustrated Cardinal standout Lauren Kracl for much of the game. She also sat on the bench with four fouls through much of the third quarter, but came back and scored nine of her 18 points in the final quarter. THS had a 37-30 lead heading into the fourth, but couldn’t hold on.

Tonganoxie 29, Bonner Springs 25 (football). With 4:43 left in the ball game, Tonganoxie trailed, 25-21. THS, however, assembled a late touchdown drive that at one point stood at second and 16 from their own 14-yard-line.

And the Linny goes to:

Tonganoxie 67, Jeff West 65.

For the Chieftain fans who braved the cold weather and the non-league trip to Meriden, it was a game they likely never will forget.

Greatest moment in an event

And the nominees are:

Chad Starcher battles injury to make trip back to state wrestling. With a partial bicep tear in his left arm he sustained earlier in the season, the senior again battled pain from the nagging injury. A reversal with 36.6 seconds left in the consolation quarterfinals ensured Starcher a state berth despite the intense pain.

Jeff Schwinn takes first snap as a K-State starting quarterback. The former McLouth standout was the talk of his hometown when word got out he would be filling in for injured starter Ell Roberson. Schwinn’s shot against UMass last September was one many Sunflower State youngsters can realize only in dreams.

Bo Pursel wins national youth wrestling title. The 9-year-old became Tonganoxie’s only state champion and weeks later the only national wrestling champion after winning USA wrestling championships in his weight class.

And the Linny goes to:

Jeff Schwinn. The K-State senior spent much of his years in purple contributing on the scout team, but he finally got his shot on a team that eventually won its first Big 12 title.