The senior volleyball player says that she’s never officially had her vertical leap measured but that she cleared 23 inches just messing around one afternoon.

Poje is one of the leaders of this year’s team, providing an opportune block or a devastating kill from the outside at times when the team needs a lift.

But she’s not all about offense she likes to play defense in the middle of the back row and was named the best defensive player at the Tonganoxie Tournament earlier this season.

“I’d love to go D1,” Poje said of the future.

To further that dream, she plays volleyball year-round on club teams when she’s not competing for Tonganoxie.

LeAnn Bond, Tonganoxie volleyball coach, said she has heard from smaller schools who are interested in Poje. Bond said that she leaves the college decisions to her players, but that she hoped Poje and other players had the opportunity to play after high school if they wanted to do so.

Crowd rules at Basehor
What a difference the crowd can make.

Despite being outnumbered at least two to one, Tonganoxie fans made themselves heard Friday night at Basehor.

The Tonganoxie football team’s first win of the season would have been more difficult without the boisterous and noisy support from fellow students, family, friends and fans.

As the game went on and Tonganoxie’s lead grew, the fans grew increasingly louder, cheering their approval of a fine performance by the Chieftains.

I think I even heard, “Chieftains football rules.”
As the final minutes ticked off the clock, the crowd edged from the stands closer to the field.

And when the final horn sounded, Basehor’s homecoming had turned into a home field crowd and celebration by Chieftains football players and fans who ran on the field to congratulate the team.

Elementary Football
I made a mistake last week (it wasn’t my first, it probably won’t be my last).

I forgot to mention that the elementary football team won against Linwood at the Basehor Field of Dreams.

The 20-8 victory was the team’s first of the season.

Matt Drake had a touchdown, a fumble recovery, three tackles and an assist.

Justin McDaniel had six tackles and one assist.

B.T. Fleming ran for 37 yards and recovered a fumble.

Cody Sims, Zeb Kissinger, Jake Pickert, Justin White, Jess Breshears, Jacob Poterbin and A.J. Demaranville all played well.

Bob Koontz, team coach, is interested in finding additional volunteers to help coach more teams from Tonganoxie. He also needs people to donate equipment if they have extra pads, helmets, etc.

Cross Country Notes
The boys’ cross country winning streak is over.

Last week, at the Gardner Invitational, the boys finished second to Gardner-Edgerton. It was the first time this season the boys did not win the team competition.

The girls, paced by Laura Korb, placed second behind Anderson County in the team standings.

Korb won again, finishing 12:51.