×
×
homepage logo

Chieftains, Bulldogs named to all-area teams

By Shawn Linenberger - | Dec 6, 2006

Athletes wearing Tonganoxie uniforms could be seen in several editions in last week’s Lawrence Journal-World sports sections.

All-area teams were announced for football, boys and girls cross country, soccer and volleyball, and several THS athletes were on those teams, along with a handful of McLouth High football players. In fact, one athlete was named player of the year.

Here is a look at all-area selections, along with reports on athletes who also received all-state recognition:

THS football

Jeff Hughes was named the Journal-World’s football player of the year for his abilities as a quarterback, defensive back and kicker. The senior rushed for 1,080 yards and 13 touchdowns, along with 803 passing yards on nine touchdowns. He also had 41 tackles and three interceptions on defense and connected on 27 of 31 point-after kicks and held a 37-yard punting average.

The Chieftains had four other players — all fellow seniors — on the Journal-World’s football Super 25 team.

Lineman Justin McDaniel registered 24 pancake blocks on offense and had 64 tackles — 11 for losses — as a defensive end.

Wide receiver/defensive back Tyler Miles had 21 catches for 370 yards as a receiver. That’s an average of 17.6 yards per catch. He also scored five touchdowns. Defensively, he intercepted three passes and registered 45 tackles and a fumble recovery as a defensive back.

Derek Parrett, another lineman, managed 28 pancake blocks on offense and made 73 tackles on defense, 12 of which were for losses.

Running back Daniel Volk also made the Super 25. The running back/defensive back rushed for 741 yards and 14 touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass and ran punt returns for more than 40 yards twice. Defensively, he made 55 tackles, snagged five interceptions and forced a fumble.

Tonganoxie players earned additional honors Sunday, when the Kansas Football Coaches Association named Hughes a first-team all-Class 4A selection as a kicker. Justin McDaniel (offensive line) and Derek Parrett (defensive line) were all-Class 4A honorable mention selections. Hughes also received that distinction as a quarterback.

McLouth football

The Bulldogs landed three players in the Super 25.

Trevor Keling, a senior running back/linebacker, rushed for 1,038 yards on 169 attempts and scored 12 touchdowns. Defensively, Keling had 37 solo tackles and returned an interception for a score. On special teams, Keling racked up 423 return yards.

Danny Crouse, a McLouth senior who was an offensive lineman and linebacker, was tied for the team lead in tackles with 21 before a broken arm sidelined him during district play. Crouse was the lead blocker for a Bulldog offense that was the lead blocker for a Bulldog offense that averaged 353 yards a game on the ground.

McLouth’s third Journal-World selection was Ryan Smith, a junior tight end/linebacker.

Smith was the team’s leading tackler with 51, while he also caught 13 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end.

THS volleyball

Senior Ali Pistora earned all-area accolades as a setter, although the all-purpose senior also was a top hitter for the Chieftains, who finished 30-9 in the fall.

Pistora racked up 211 assists, but also led the team in kills with 302 and blocks with 134. She also was named most valuable player at the Tonganoxie Invitational.

Other first-team selections were Eudora junior middle blocker Nikki Snider, Santa Fe Trail senior middle blocker Brooke Pryor and senior middle blocker Meagan Montis and senior outside hitter Bobbi Pearce, both of Wellsville.

Eudora senior Erin Kracl was named player of the year, while Eudora’s Jill Stutler was named coach of the year after guiding the Cardinals to Eudora’s first state title. EHS won the Class 4A crown with a 40-7 record.

Other Tonganoxie players were listed on the second team and as honorable mention.

Senior setter Rachel Bogard and junior outside hitter Sami Franiuk were second-team selections, while junior Tracie Hileman was named honorable mention.

THS girls cross country

Junior Christy Weller and freshman Andie Jeannin were named second-team all-area by the Journal-World.

Weller placed 25th at state, while Jeannin finished 41st. Both runners led THS to a third-place team finish at regionals and an eighth-place finish at state.

De Soto and Baldwin dominated the first team.

Baldwin junior Heather Garcia was named runner of the year after winning the Class 4A individual title. Also on the first team was Baldwin senior Kelsey Verhaeghe, De Soto freshman Carly Stanley, De Soto seniors Morgan Frehe and Lauren Karnitz, Eudora senior Brittney Graff and Mill Valley junior Kelsey O’Hara.

De Soto coach Chris McAfee was named coach of the year after helping guide the Wildcats to the 4A team crown.

THS boys cross country

Like Jeannin and Weller, Tonganoxie boys runners Matt Brock and Chris Price earned second-team all-area honors from the Lawrence Journal-World.

Brock placed 27th at state, while Price finished 34th. Colin Perkins, who finished 45th at the state meet, earned an all-area honorable mention. THS placed fifth at state as a team.

The first-team selections included Eudora seniors Cody Burns and Joey Chino, Wellsville sophomore Derek Poor, De Soto senior Tanner McNamara, Baldwin junior Aaron Karlin and Baldwin senior Caj Kueffer.

Chris Elniff, who also is a Baldwin senior, was named runner of the year. He finished second in Class 4A at state.

Baldwin’s Mike Spielman was named coach of the year after leading the Bulldogs to a second-place finish at state.

THS soccer

The Chieftains were represented on every level of the Journal-World’s all-area team

Senior Alex Nowasell, a sweeper for Tonganoxie, was a repeat all-area first-team pick. The defender stopped opponents’ scoring opportunities, but also made the transition to offense, as he scored four goals for THS.

Fellow senior Jake Poterbin, a midfielder, was a second-team selection, while senior Zach Mayse earned honorable mention honors as a forward.

The three Chieftain players also earned all-Class 4-3-2-1A honors. Nowasell was a first-team selection, while Mayse and Poterbin were second-team selections. The Kansas Soccer Coaches Association hands out the all-state honors.

As for the Journal-World’s all-area squad, Baldwin junior forward Dustin Schiller was the player of the year, while Baldwin’s Gus Wegner was named coach of the year for guiding BHS to a 12-5-1 record in just the program’s second season. Other first-team members were: Fernando Chuery, sr., forward, Baldwin; Blake Elliott, sr., goalie, Mill Valley; Zach England, jr., midfielder, De Soto; Ben Huff, jr., defender, Mill Valley; Erryn Kindle, sr., midfielder, Eudora; Spencer Nahs, jr., forward, Mill Valley; Brady Roberts, sr., midfielder, Perry-Lecompton; Kory Roberts, jr., defender, Perry-Lecompton; and Brady Seaman, sr., sweeper, De Soto.