The disappointment in Randall Zimmerman’s voice was evident following Junction City’s last-second loss at Manhattan on Friday. To lose to arch-rival Manhattan High is never easy; that his team — which entered Friday undefeated at 5-0 and ranked No. 5 in Class 6A — did itself no favors made i…

The nippy night in Hiawatha didn’t bother Wamego High’s football team. The Red Raiders were white hot, taking a 49-6 victory Friday night.

An improved short-game, some confidence and practicing until it’s dark outside made a difference for the Manhattan girls golf team in its second-place finish with a score of 371 at the school’s invitational at Stagg Hill Golf Club on Monday.

WAMEGO — The track at the USD 320 Sports Complex officially was renamed “Rick Patton Track” during halftime of Friday’s homecoming football game.

JUNCTION CITY —Junction City High improved to 5-0 in dominating fashion Friday.

RANDOLPH — Long before Blue Valley-Randolph coach Matt Schreiber guided his team into a home matchup with Frankfort Friday night, he knew what to expect from the Wildcats.

WAMEGO — In the immediate aftermath, Weston Moody couldn’t think of a single positive to take out of Friday’s game. For more than 43 minutes of game time Friday night, Moody’s Wamego team either led or stood even with Marysville, the No. 1 team in Class 3A.

FLUSH — If Shane Sieben didn’t preach humility or value relationships or use both of those traits to establish himself as a winner in the Rock Creek sports scene, perhaps you would be tempted to doubt one trope he’s been returning to as his first season as head football coach marches on.

FLUSH — Rossville didn’t have to disguise it or delay it. The Bulldogs never did, really.

Wabaunsee High picked up its first win of the season Friday, topping Central Heights 31-6.

Rock Creek ended the worst kind of streak on Friday night with a 44-6 road win over St. Marys.

If Shane Sieben ever hesitates, he isn’t showing it now, especially not after his Rock Creek football team dropped its first game of the season Friday night.

Expectations have been elevated at Wamego in Weston Moody’s second season as the head coach. One week in and the Red Raiders look sharp.

RILEY — Seconds after he made a crucial interception early in the fourth frame of his Riley County club’s season-opener against Rock Creek Friday night, senior Avrey Brockenicky collapsed in a heap in front of the Falcons’ sideline.

Joe Schartz pointed out how late high school football is starting in 2019. Green Bay and Chicago open the NFL season Thursday night, and as Schartz said, it’s pretty rare the pros get going before high school. Manhattan has its first game 24 hours later, Friday night at Olathe Northwest.

The girls tennis team at Manhattan High has nearly tripled in numbers since head coach Tony Ingram’s first season in 2016. Back then, the team had 13 players. The numbers steadily grew from year to year as Ingram more responsibility and ownership to his players, but this year was a leap.

FLUSH — Rock Creek’s football program didn’t win a single game in 2018, going 0-9. But the Mustangs did land a big name in the offseason that could mean a turnaround is in the offing. Shane Sieben already led Rock Creek to a baseball state title. He even returned to the championship series i…

In a perfect world, Matt Schreiber would have 17 or 18 players on his football team at Blue Valley High School in Randolph. Realistically, that number will be at around 15 this fall, and that’s still exciting considering the circumstances in 2018, when the Rams has nine players on the roster…

RILEY — Steve Wagner isn’t going to speak in absolutes regarding the Riley County football team this early. He said nobody really can know how good their team can be in August, but there are some solid indicators. For one, Wagner said the team still had strong leadership over the summer.

BLUE RAPIDS — Tony Trimble doesn’t have the same worries for his Valley Heights football team other high school coaches sometimes battle. The start of football season is fast-moving and exciting, but there’s always question marks paired with the hype. Teams lose their seniors and look for ne…

ALMA — Jess Rutledge still remembers when Wabaunsee football played Rossville in the fall of 2014. The result was as ugly as his memory of the game against a team about to go on a three-year streak of winning the state title. The Chargers had 15 defensive plays in the first half, and eight o…

WAMEGO — Mount Mitchell is less than 5 miles outside Wamego. In a summer with lots of rain, such as this one, there are colorful wildflowers, bright sunsets and birds resting in the tall, red grass.

FRANKFORT — The joys of coaching and teaching at Frankfort High School come to fruition in years like this for head coach Nick Anderson. He teaches business at the school. A Frankfort alum, he’s entering his 14th year at the school.

Kansas State soccer played to a draw on the road against Omaha on Sunday at Caniglia Field, marking the third time in four seasons the team has played in an overtime match in the opening weekend.

The Manhattan Track Club sent seven youth athletes to compete in the Junior Olympics in Greensboro, N.C., in late July. The kids represented several local schools, including Manhattan High School, Woodrow Wilson Elementary, Marlatt Elementary and Rock Creek Elementary.

Jerry Johnson received numerous coaching accolades during his time leading Wamego High’s baseball program. After recently retiring from the post in July, he said the accomplishment that brings him the greatest sense of gratification can’t be measured in wins and losses.

The Next Level Elite Track Club had eight local youth athletes travel to Greensboro, N.C., to compete in the 2019 AAU Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships from July 29 to Aug. 3. Facing other youth athletes from around the country, six of the eight athletes from Next Level…

The Kansas State High School Athletics Association’s decision to sanction girls wrestling in April was nearly unanimous, with 63 of 65 votes in favor of Kansas becoming the 15th state to add the sport.

Going toe to toe against a fearsome competitor can be intimidating — even more so when your competitor is several hundreds of pounds heavier than you and equipped with two large, pointed horns.

This year’s Kaw Valley Rodeo bull-riding title is staying in the state of Kansas

JUNCTION CITY — On Friday night, the Junction City Brigade officially set their sights on defending their Cowdin Cup Championship that they conquered a year ago.

It wasn’t long ago — a month, actually — that Kansas State alum Kyle Eike was having to balance college, competing with the Wildcats rodeo team at the National College Finals in Casper, Wyo., and being a professional steer wrestler.

The 44th annual Kaw Valley Rodeo starts up Thursday at CiCo Park. The rodeo, which runs through Saturday, begins at 8 p.m. each night.

JUNCTION CITY — Rodeo action came to town for the 26th year in a row Friday night. The Junction City rodeo is largely recognized as one of the biggest open rodeos in the state of Kansas, with contestants from across Kansas coming to try their hand in the various events.

Mathias Dahl thought about putting away the clubs for good last winter. It wasn’t about a lack of will power; it was more about doubting whether he could ever make enough money to keep up with the expenses he had every tournament.

The Manhattan Optimist Prime 12U softball team finished its season tied for ninth in the USA Softball State tournament last weekend in Salina.