Author Archives: Chet Kuplen

Basketball In Kansas: SIK staff delivers favorite, runner-up and dark horse picks for each girls’ basketball classification at state

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
Goodland and leading scorer Talexa Weeter are back at state for the first time since 2006. Goodland is a strong 3A state contender. (Photo credit: Jaycee Dale)

Girls State Picks

In addition to state coverage, Read Story

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Basketball in Kansas: “We were not going to be afraid to make a big change” – key sub-state rematches, class by class notes, undefeated teams, state trends

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
Solomon boys scored eight points in the last 22 seconds to win 53-50 in the sub-state title game and reach state for the first time ever under new coach Kyler Stein. (Photo by Solomon athletics)
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American Implement Western Kansas Team of the Week: “Put in the work, put in the hours,” How Goodland girls qualified for state for the first time since ’06; part of loaded 3A field

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
Goodland’s veteran girls’ team defeated Phillipsburg in the sub-state title game and is back to state for the first time since 2006. (Conor Nicholl/SIK)

By CONOR NICHOLL

GOODLAND – A couple of months ago, entertainer Read Story

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Basketball in Kansas: “Our league is tremendously competitive” – How the high-octane Centennial led Topeka Seaman, others to big sub-state wins Friday; plus recap across state

Posted on March 5, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
Topeka Seaman boys’ basketball won a 5A West sub-state game at Hays High, part of a banner night for the Centennial League. (Photo: Conor Nicholl, SIK)

By CONOR NICHOLL

HAYS – Last winter, Topeka Seaman Read Story

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Nex-Tech Wireless Western Athlete of the Month: “He has eyes everywhere” – Hays High’s Carson Kieffer sets school’s all-time assist mark; Indian teams into sub-state title games

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
Hays High School senior point guard Carson Kieffer launches his alley-oop pass to senior Jordan Dale in Tuesday’s win against Ark City. Kieffer is HHS’ all-time assist leader. The Indians are looking for its first
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Posted in Basketball | Comments Off on Nex-Tech Wireless Western Athlete of the Month: “He has eyes everywhere” – Hays High’s Carson Kieffer sets school’s all-time assist mark; Indian teams into sub-state title games

Travis Keal announces retirement, longtime coach who started Mill Valley program built it to a state power

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
Travis Keal (center) with his twin sons after the 2020 state championship.

By Austin Keal for Sports in Kansas

Following the conclusion of 2022 state tournament, Mill Valley head coach Travis Keal announced his retirement Read Story

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Craw-Kan Southeast Kansas Team of the Week: SE-Cherokee boys enjoying strong season

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Chet Kuplen

By CONOR NICHOLL

Southeast-Cherokee boys’ basketball has enjoyed its best record in years, including 11-0 in the Three Rivers League. On Feb. 22, the Lancers completed their regular season with a 53-29 win at Pleasanton. Read Story

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American Implement Western Kansas Team of the Week: Spearville girls dark horse postseason candidate; Pedigo among state assist leaders

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
Spearville junior Taegen Pedigo is top-5 in assists per game each of the last two seasons. (Photos by Spearville Athletics).

By CONOR NICHOLL

On Jan. 29, Spearville girls’ basketball entered the Southern Plains Iroquois midseason Read Story

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Labette Bank Southeast Kansas Athletes of the Month: Columbus wrestling earns first team plaque for Titan girls’ sports in 23 years

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Chet Kuplen

By CONOR NICHOLL

The 4-1A girls’ wrestling tournament had a prohibitive favorite in Pratt and a likely runner-up in Hoisington. However, the third place finisher and final team trophy was expected to be a close Read Story

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Wrestling in Kansas: “The best wrestler in America – she has got a shot at that this year” – How Free State’s Madyson Gray went 95-0 and won four titles

Posted on February 27, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
Lawrence Free State’s Madyson Gray celebrates the 5-6A state championship. She went 95-0 and won four titles against girls in her career. (Photo submitted by Gray family).

By CONOR NICHOLL

On Monday, two days before Read Story

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2022 Sports in Kansas All-State Wrestling

Posted on February 26, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
4A State Wrestling Tournament in Salina -photo: Bethany Bowman

6A Sports in Kansas All-State Wrestling

attention/parents athletes: Order your 2022 wrestling all-state patches, individual state qualifier patches & regional wrestling champion patches by emailing sportsinkansas@gmail.com Read Story

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Wrestling in Kansas: “Loves wrestling more than anything” – Family ties yield success for West Elk, Hoxie, Norton, Ellis at Day 1

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Chet Kuplen
West Elk’s Creyo Koop is the lone undefeated 3-2-1A wrestler left after Friday’s semifinals. He looks to follow in his Dad’s footsteps.

By CONOR NICHOLL

West Elk’s Creyo Koop follows Dad’s lead, enters finals undefeated Read Story

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