Here are 10 Wichita-area high school teams that were set to make a splash this spring
On Wednesday, we featured the top 25 Wichita-area high school spring athletes we wished we could have seen compete in 2020.
Today, it’s the top 10 teams. The Wichita-area was bound to produce multiple team state champions from baseball to track and everything in between.
1. Campus baseball
Following the vibe around Haysville created by an undefeated boys basketball season, the Colts’ baseball team was poised to keep it going.
Last year, the Colts won their first state baseball championship since 1991. It was their second in school history. They put three players on The Eagle’s All-Metro team, and two of them were ready for their senior seasons.
Tanner Leslie, the Class 6A Player of the Year, and Jackson Hartley, a two-time All-Metro selection, were set to lead Campus coming off a 23-2 campaign. But coach Bryan Clasen said they weren’t alone; all nine starters had college baseball potential.
2. Andale girls track and field
There have been some outstanding Andale track teams through the years, but the 2020 girls squad might have been the best.
The Indians scored 97 team points last year and won the Class 4A crown for the third straight year, beating KC Piper by 41.
Andale had seven top-five finishes, three runners-up and three gold medalists last year. The Indians were going to return all but three of those athletes. Andale coach Tyler Ryan said the 2020 team could have cracked 100 team points.
3. Bishop Carroll girls swimming and diving
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There are 12 events at the state swim meet, and Bishop Carroll won seven of them last year with one senior in the pool.
It was the Golden Eagles’ first girls swim state championship, and they were poised to grab another in 2020. Sophomore Zoe Winter is already one of the best in Kansas, and Lexie Shelton was looking for her third All-Metro selection.
The rivalry with City League rival Kapaun would have been fun to watch, as the Crusaders finished just seven points behind the Eagles.
4. Andover Central boys golf
The Jaguars were the only boys team in the Wichita area going for four straight state championships this spring.
Andover Central bumped up from Class 4A to 5A last year, and it didn’t matter. The Jags beat defending champion St. Thomas Aquinas by four strokes to finish with a 293-stroke team total and make it three straight.
Senior Cooper Schultz is pledged to Kansas State and was seeking his third All-Metro bid and fourth team title with the help of juniors Austin Goodrum and Cooper Ward.
5. Andale/Garden Plain softball
Heading into last year’s Class 4A state championship game, Andale/Garden Plain and Augusta each had one loss — to each other.
The Indians lost 5-2 to one of the most dominant pitchers in Kansas, Gracie Thompson. Andale/Garden Plain did it with just one, albeit outstanding, senior and returned stars like junior Kyla Eck, senior Abby Gordon, senior Rachel Choate and senior Madison Grimes.
The rivalry with Augusta would have lived on, but on paper, the Indians likely had the edge.
6. Bishop Carroll girls soccer
With experience across the pitch, Carroll was almost without question going to be the best team in the Wichita area this season.
The Golden Eagles had All-Metro-caliber players at every position, including forward Khloe Schuckman and defender Taylor Bockover pledged to Washburn, and goalkeeper Madi Wingler and midfielder Taryn Lubbers pledged to K-State.
Last year, Carroll went 18-2, losing to St. Thomas Aquinas 2-0 in the Class 5A semifinals.
7. Augusta softball
Pitcher Gracie Johnston might have been the most valuable player in the Wichita area across all sports last year.
Augusta leaned on the Division I signing to win each of the Orioles’ three state tournament games, and she did it with an injury. Augusta was set to return a strong roster in 2020, including All-Metro catcher Sophie Johnston, but replacing Gracie would have been a challenge.
Augusta is also under the direction of first-year coach Rhett Mallon.
8. Bishop Carroll boys track
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Carroll was seeking its third straight boys track title, and the Golden Eagles were confident it was going to happen.
Last year, Carroll had three state champions — all of whom graduated — a runner-up, in pole vaulter Brian Simon, who is pledged to K-State, and four other top-five finishes. Hurdlers Tommy Harter and Justin Powell were set to lead the way.
In 2019, the Eagles hit 64 team points and held off De Soto by 12.
9. Garden Plain girls track and field
The Owls were going to be built on speed.
Sophomore Brooke Hammond won the Class 2A 100- and 200-meter dashes. Junior Allison Catlin won the 100-meter hurdles. And senior Claire Clark was part of the champion 4x100-meter relay team.
Garden Plain on the 2A title with 71.5 points, beating Bennington by 14.5.
10. Bishop Carroll softball
Runner-up the past two years to Shawnee Heights, Bishop Carroll was ready to get over the hump for its first state championship since 2015.
Two-time All-Metro pitcher Reagan Smith was going to be almost without question the top pitcher in the Wichita area, and with college-caliber players across the diamond, the Golden Eagles were looking to improve from a 22-3 season.
Honorable mention
Maize softball
Maize has been one of the Wichita area’s top teams in recent history and didn’t graduate any seniors last season.
Mulvane baseball
Mulvane captured the hearts of the area as a underdog group that went from 7-11 in the regular season to state semifinalists.
Wichita East girls swimming and diving
East is always prime with talent, but this year’s team had a shot at the 6A title with college-caliber swimmers across the lineup.
Bishop Carroll baseball
Carroll went undefeated into the state semifinals but lost to two-time defending champion Topeka Seaman to finish 22-1.
Valley Center girls soccer
The Hornets were 5A state semifinalists in 2019 with three All-Metro selections, including junior goalkeeper Kyrah Klumpp.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we ranked these teams
Preps reporter Hayden Barber has accumulated data from across the high school sports landscape and used his own evaluation from seasons past and present to create these rankings of teams in the Wichita area.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 1:18 PM.