Kansas.com: High School

Goolsby keeps on pumping

JONATHAN LONG — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:44 CDT

This was the ultimate way to give back for L.J. Goolsby.

The former Wichita State guard has been the coach of the Kansas City-area 17-and-under AAU basketball team K.C. Pump N Run for six years. In those years he's helped make it one of the most successful programs in the area.

"It was a way to stick around the game," Goolsby said. "But this isn't about me, my playing days are over. This is about helping these kids get exposure and hopefully that will lead to college scholarships."

Goolsby knows a little about college scholarships. A talent himself out of Dodge City High, multiple knee injuries derailed his collegiate career. After transferring from Mississippi, Goolsby played the 1996-97 season for the Shockers.

Before becoming known for the Pump N Run program, Goolsby ran the Kansas City Nets for two seasons. Though running his own program was fulfilling, he joined former Kansas Jayhawk Roger Morningstar, then linked up with Dana and David Pump of the California Double Pump organization.

Summer softball tournaments offer players a chance to show talents

JOANNA CHADWICK — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:06 CDT

Steve Goldring doesn't worry about whether his Kansas Blaze softball team wins championships, stating with a laugh that he has "enough plastic trophies on my shelf."

Now, helping his daughter, Jesi, and the rest of the Blaze players earn college scholarships, that's what is important to him.

"They share the same goal I do -- college is their goal," Goldring said. "Winning trophies isn't a big deal. If we compete and look good, it doesn't matter if we win or lose."

Summer is the time to earn those scholarships.

Last weekend's Kansas Amateur Softball Association's state tournament at Two Rivers Youth Club featured six games at once for most of the three days. Fans crowded into the stands watching games, players milled around snacking or talking.

Softball

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:38 CDT

Coaches All-State

Class 4A

First Team, Pitchers--Nikki Armagost, Andover Central; Starr McLeod, Girard; Karley Schneizer, Andale. C--Kayla Sears, Augusta; Jamie Voigts, Ottawa. IF--Alysha Poteat, Girard; Kaitlin Martin, Andale; Erin Carney, Andale; Kristin Harris, Paola. OF--Natalie Nelson, Paola; Mackenzie Salzman, Eudora; Lauren Himpel, Tonganoxie. Utility--Kylee Mader, Paola.

Second Team

P--Hallie Ray, Ottawa; Katie Logan, Clay Center; Erin Schmidt, Haven. C--Evan Folks, Eudora; Chelsea Eck, Andale. IF--Lindsay Doyle, Haven; Ariel Vinze, Girard; Alex Zordel, Baldwin; Rachael Aguirre, Augusta. OF--Heather Goetz, Pratt; Kelsee Farmer, Augusta. Utility--Lindsey Himpel, Tonganoxie.

All-State softball teams

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:18 CDT

Softball

Coaches All-State

Note: Class 4A and 3A all-state teams have not been released.

Class 6A

First team

Injury stops Mulvane's Tharp

JOANNA CHADWICK — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:43 CDT

When Mulvane's Huldon Tharp ran over a defender at the Pittsburg State team football camp earlier this month, it was the kind of tough play the running back has made many times.

This time, though, it ended his high school football career.

Tharp tore his left anterior cruciate ligament; he had surgery Wednesday.

"You hate to see any kid lose their senior year," Mulvane coach Dave Fennewald said. "It's crushing, not just to him but to his parents as well. Injuries are a part of football, but you hate to see anybody miss out on their senior year."

Tharp, a running back and linebacker, is one of the area's best players. Last year he was named Eagle All-Class 5A, Second 11, All-Metro and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division III, finishing with 1,922 rushing yards and 153 tackles.

Andover twins bring complementary skills

JONATHAN LONG — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:39 CDT

Kelsey and Kortney Clifton share the same youthful look and competitive spirit. That is where the similarities end.

The twin Andover senior soccer standouts are as identical as it gets in appearance aside from the glimmering shine from Kelsey's new nose ring and a tiny scar on her forehead from a childhood incident. Once you crack the outer shell, it doesn't take long to see their similarities are only skin deep.

"We have very different personalities," Kortney Clifton said. "She's the more outgoing, party-girl type. The social butterfly. I'm less outgoing and stay more to myself."

While that self-diagnosis might be accurate off the field, opposing coaches will attest to never having met that side of Kortney. She has put herself in a category all her own -- she owns the state's single season scoring record with 72 goals her sophomore season, and is continuing to build on the career mark she surpassed at the end of last season. She has 201 goals, including three Thursday night against Circle.

That scoring prowess has allowed Kortney to outshine Kelsey on the soccer field, though many of the goals she's scored have come via assists from her sister.

GIRL POWER: Strength, conditioning draw earlier emphasis

JOANNA CHADWICK — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:46 CDT

When Newton's Camri Zwiesler was a freshman, she got her first recruiting letter from a Division I volleyball program. While thrilled, it was also the moment she decided to improve her strength and physique.

"I knew Division I athletes were exceptional athletes, and basically I needed to get stronger and more agile," said Zwiesler, a senior at Newton who has signed to play at Arizona State.

Zwiesler is a perfect example of how female athletes have changed. The days of just placing a big girl in the paint in basketball or as a middle hitter in volleyball are disappearing.

Look around the Wichita area and you'll see more and more female athletes with toned, athletic bodies. That's thanks to an increased focus on strength and conditioning at the high school and college level.

More athletes, especially in volleyball and basketball, are more agile, powerful and quicker than those of even a decade ago.