Tonganoxie High boys soccer has special Senior Night despite loss to Seaman; team awaits postseason pairings
Landon Cory/Mirror photo
Gavin Shupe kicks the ball Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, against Seaman at Beatty Field. SHS won, 3-0, on Senior Night. Shupe is one of 10 seniors on this year's squad.The Tonganoxie High boys soccer team hoped to close out its seniors’ final match at home with a victory, but the Chieftains couldn’t generate any goals Tuesday at Beatty Field.
Seaman and Tonganoxie were scoreless for a half, but the Vikings connected for a goal a few minutes into the second half (35:36) and would go on to win, 3-0.
The Vikings scored some 3 minutes later (33:20) and then a final time with 10:40 remaining. Seaman’s Jace Brake actually pulled off the hat trick in scoring all three goals.
THS finished up the regular season at 7-8-1. The Chieftains now await their postseason draw. As of Wednesday they were the No. 9 seed in the Class 4-1A East Bracket. Chanute is 7-7-1 with a final match Thursday at home against Coffeyville (10-5). If Chanute loses Thursday, the Blue Comets would have the same record as the Chieftains, so it could come down to tiebreakers to determine which team has the higher seed and a home match for the first round of the playoffs next week.
Senior Night activities
Tonganoxie will have Seniors on this year’s squad are Jackson McWilliams, Wyatt Garvey, Aiden Van Middlesworth, Andrea Columbano, Caedmon Albert, Lachlan Bond, Gavin Shupe, Brendan Bowlin, Gannon Sonntag and Luka Gvaaramadze.
The inflatable Chieftain tunnel that is used for pregame at THS football games and some wrestling events was positioned at midfield on the east sideline for each of the seniors and their family to walk through as they were announced. Per tradition, a special staff member in each senior’s life is recognized alongside the player and family.
The seniors also were introduced during the starting lineups with some extra pizzazz.
Sporting Kansas City in-stadium host Hartzell Gray pumped up the crowd encouraging “Tonga, make some noise” again and again before rattling off names of the 10 seniors.
Some THS soccer players and managers are THS choir members and performed the National Anthem before the match.
A very Mary sendoff
After THS principal Cody Witte went through extended senior introductions, he announced that the team would be recognizing one more person.
Mary Welsh, longtime secretary at the high school, was at her final Senior Night as a staff member, as she plans to retire at the end of the year.
THS coach Jon Orndorff and each soccer senior greeted an emotional Welsh with flowers and a hug on the track in front of the home stands.