Additional Article About Arica Ahlvers

From KSNT Web Site:

EMPORIA, Kan. – Emporia State Athletics mourns the passing of three-time All-American volleyball player and former Athletic Marketing Director Arica Shepherd Ahlvers who passed away on February 9.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cole, Collins and the rest of Arica’s family. It’s a tragedy to lose someone so young,” said Emporia State Athletic Director Kent Weiser. “Arica was an outstanding student-athlete and her positive personality was evident on the volleyball court and again when she worked with us as our marketing director.”

Alvers was a four-time All-MIAA performer for the Hornet volleyball team from 2006-09 and a three-time first-team selection. She was a three-time AVCA All-American and holds ESU single season and career records in kills, kills per set, double figure kills matches and 20+ kill matches. She led the Hornets to the MIAA Championship and the NCAA Regional Championship match in 2009.

After graduation she spent a year as a marketing and sales consultant for Country Legends 106.9 before returning to Emporia State as the Director of Athletic Marketing in 2011. Her primary duties at ESU revolved around generating sponsorships and advertising revenue for the athletic department as well as marketing and promotional efforts for the Hornets. She oversaw Emporia State’s game day atmosphere and assisted with all phases of event management and operations. After two and a half years in that position she left to take a position as an account manager for hibu in January of 2014.

A native of Rossville, Kan., Ahlvers graduated from Emporia State in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She married Cole Ahlvers, a former football player at Benedictine College, in August of 2011. They are the parents of a daughter Collins.

There will be a Memorial Service for Arica at 11 a.m. Friday at Christ the King Church, 25th and Wanamaker. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Collins Ray Ahlvers Fund at any Capital City Bank in Topeka or Lawrence. Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

ESU Mourning Arica's Death

From CJ Online

Emporia State athletics is mourning the recent death of Arica Shepard Ahlvers, a three-time All-American volleyball player and former director of athletic marketing for ESU.

Ahlvers, 28, died unexpectedly this past Thursday according to an ESU news release and Ahlvers’ obituary.

The Rossville native played at ESU from 2006-2009, putting together one of the better careers in program history.

Ahlvers was a three-time AVCA All-American and four-time All-MIAA selection for the Hornets. She holds ESU’s single season and career records in kills, kills per set, double-figure kill matches and 20-plus kill matches.

Ahlvers led the Hornets to an MIAA championship and the NCAA regional championship match in 2009.

Her twin sister, Ashley Shepard Spahn, played volleyball at Washburn.

Ahlvers returned to ESU as director of athletics marketing in September of 2011 and remained at ESU until December of 2013.

She married Cole Ahlvers, a former football player at Benedictine College, in August of 2011. They have a daughter, Collins.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cole, Collins and the rest of Arica’s family. It’s a tragedy to lose someone so young,” Emporia State athletic director Kent Weiser said. “Arica was an outstanding student-athlete and her positive personality was evident on the volleyball court and again when she worked with us as our marketing director.”

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Christ the King Church, 25th and Wanamaker.

Arica (Shepard) (06) Ahlvers Passes Away

Arica Noel Ahlvers, 28, Topeka, passed away Thursday, February 9, 2017.

Arica was born May 1, 1988, in Chanute, Kansas, the daughter of Todd and Beth Cooper Shepard. The family moved to the Rossville area when Arica was in second grade. She graduated from Rossville High School in 2006. Arica had a love for all sports and was a three time All-American in volleyball at Emporia State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with an emphasis in Marketing and was an account manager for hibu. 

Arica and Cole Michael Ahlvers were united in marriage on August 20, 2011, and are the proud parents of Collins Ray Ahlvers. Arica was a wonderful wife, daughter, sister and friend, but most of all a loving and devoted mother.

Arica loved life and wanted to have fun but she also wanted everyone around her to have fun as well. It was always about the people around her. Arica was carefree and confident, had a heartfelt, contagious laugh and a beautiful smile made even more so when she lookied at Collins.

Grateful to have shared Arica’s life are her husband, Cole and daughter, Collins; her parents, Todd and Beth Shepard; twin sister, Ashley Spahn; brother, Justin Shepard; grandmother, Ada Bishop; father-in-law and mother-in-law Keith and Patricia Ahlvers; Cole’s grandparents, Dianne Ahlvers and Grant and Barbara Speaks; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jamie, Whitney and Wade Ahlvers and Matthew Spahn; and many other family and friends. Arica was preceded in death by her grandparents, James and Marilynn Shepard, Floyd Bishop and Raymond Ahlvers.

There will be a Memorial Service for Arica at 11 a.m. Friday at Christ the King Church, 25th and Wanamaker. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Collins Ray Ahlvers Fund at any Capital City Bank in Topeka or Lawrence. 

3A Girls BB Ranking By CJ & KBCA

    Team                Record

1. Hugoton (1) … 16-0

2. TMP-Marian (2) … 15-1

3. Council Grove (3) … 16-1

4. Nemaha Central (4) … 14-2

5. Kingman (5) … 14-2

Others — Caney Valley 15-2, Cheney 14-3, Cimarron 13-4, Halstead 13-4, Hesston 13-4, Humboldt 15-2, Remington 14-3, Rossville 14-2, Russell 14-3, Wellsville 12-3.


Kansas Basketball Coaches Assn. rankings.
 3A Girls

1. Hugoton
2. Thomas More Prep
3. Kingman
4. Council Grove
5. Nemaha Central
6. Cheney
7. Caney Valley
8. Hesston
9. Cimarron
10. Rossville

Wabausee is ranked #2 in 2A.

KWCA Wrestling Rankings for 321A

Rossville maiintained their number 10 ranking for the week of Feb. 7.  Click on image to enlarge.

Mid-East League Wrestling Tournament

Mid East League Duals Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Silver Lake
2nd Place - Riley County
3rd Place - Rossville
4th Place - St. Marys
5th Place - Rock Creek
6th Place - Wabaunsee

Round 1
Riley County defeated Rock Creek 63-12.
Silver Lake defeated Rossville 46-24.
St. Marys defeated Wabaunsee 42-24.

Round 2
Riley County defeated Wabaunsee 51-28.
Rossville defeated St. Marys 39-20.
Silver Lake defeated Rock Creek 72-6.

Round 3
Riley County defeated St. Marys 48-24.
Rossville defeated Rock Creek 45-30.
Silver Lake defeated Wabaunsee 64-9.

Round 4
Silver Lake defeated Riley County 50-21.
Rossville defeated Wabaunsee 34-12.
St. Marys defeated Rock Creek 37-36.

Round 5
Riley County defeated Rossville 45-30.
Silver Lake defeated St. Marys 60-24.
Rock Creek defeated Wabaunsee 42-28

Recent Willard Bridge Photos

 Photos by George Brown

Mid-East League BB Standings

Mid-East League standings as of Feb. 11, 2017 

Boys          League … Overall

Rock Creek    6-2          14-3
Silver Lake    5-2 …      11-5
St. Marys       5-3           11-5
Wabaunsee   4-3           13-3
Rossville        2-5            7-9
Riley County  0-7           3-13

Girls          League … Overall

Wabaunsee    7-0           15-1
Riley County   5-2           10-6
Rossville         5-2          14-2
Silver Lake      3-4          10-6
St. Marys         2-6           9-7
Rock Creek      0-8          3-14

RHS Girls Get Easy Silver Lake Win

Rossville          16    9    9    18   =   52
Silver Lake         6    6    3    20   =   35

Rossville scoring:

Hill             4          4-4     12
Anderson  3 (1)     3-8     10
Hill            3 (2)     1-2       9
Shinn        3          2-3       8
Buhler       1 (1)     2-2       5
Kirk           2           0-0       4
Shinn        1           0-0       2
Badura      1           0-0       2 

Totals       18 (4)   12-19   52.

Silver Lake scoring:  
Bates         6 (3)     0-2       15
Burkhardt   2 (2)    1-2         7
Mountain    2 (1)    1-2         6 
Lane           0         4-5         4
Clark          1         1-2          3. 

Totals       11 (6)    7-15      35.

Other Mid-East League scores:
St. Marys        51
Rock Creek    34
Wabausee      57
Riley Co.         33

Eagles Defeat Dawgs in Boys BB

Rossville          7      8     10    14     =     39
Silver Lake     11    13     13    11     =     48

Rossville scoring:
Bradshaw                4 (1)      0-1     9
Quiett                       3 (3)     0-0     9
Hammes                  2          4-10    8
Anderson                 3          0-0      6
Schumacher            2          0-0      4
Morris                      1 (1)     0-0      3 
Totals                     15 (5)     4-11   39.

Silver Lake scoring:
Griffin                       8 (4)     4-5     24
Adams                     4           0-1       8
Baird                        2           3-7       7
Heiman                    1 (1)      2-2      5
Wagner                    1           0-2      2
Byrne                       0           2-3      2. 

Totals                     16 (5)    11-20   48.

Other Mid-Est League scores:
St. Marys     59  Rock Creek  41
Wabaunsee    54  Riley Co     51

Dudley Fryman (62) Passes Away

Dudley J. Fryman, 72, died Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City.

He was born June 22, 1944 in Topeka, KS to Jess and Maxine (Marney) Fryman. The family moved to Casper, Wyoming in 1947 and he spent his childhood through age 15 there until the family returned to Rossville, KS where he then finished high school.

After high school, Dudley attended Fort Hays State Teachers College in Hays, KS where he majored in Physical Science and played for the Fort Hays State Division II football team. He graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor’s of Science and a Master’s of Science in 1976.

Dudley spent 40 years as an educator in the state of Kansas. He began his career in McCracken, KS teaching high school science including General science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. After two years, he moved to Paola, KS where he taught science at Paola Middle School for two years and then transferred to Shawnee Mission School District where he spent two years teaching at Milburn Junior High School. In 1974, Dudley joined the western Kansas community of Garden City and continued his career with USD 457. He spent the next 31 years serving the community as a physical science and math teacher at both Abe Hubert and Kenneth Henderson. In addition to his classroom duties, Dudley coached football, basketball, track and baseball as well as sponsoring numerous activities and groups including Science Olympiad. He served as the District Science Fair coordinator as well as Science Curriculum Department Head. After retiring from USD 457 in 2005, Dudley wasn’t quite done with the classroom and moved to Ingalls High School where he taught General Science and Biology until fully retiring from education in 2008.

Dudley was a member of professional organizations including Garden City Educators Association (GCEA), Kansas National Educators Association (KNEA), National Education Association (NEA), and Kansas Association for Teachers of Science (KATS) where he held the office of President.

Outside of education, he was a member of Kansas Western Horsemen Association (KWHA). He served as parent, board member, judge, and two terms as President in the early 1980’s. He continued to follow his children’s interests by coaching in Garden City baseball leagues from 1992-2002.

In retirement, he found enjoyment in photography and combined it frequently with his avid love of fishing always coming home with more photos than fish. He was a proud supporter of area parks and facilities. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

He married Pansy Callaway in 1968 at Protection, KS.

Survivors include his wife of the home, daughter Sherry Robertson of Elkhart, KS; daughter Lynnlea Anderson (Jason) of Garden City, KS; son Kirby Fryman (Ashley) of Wichita, KS; and son Kenyon Fryman of Wheat Ridge, CO. Grandchildren include Rhett and Shea Robertson; Rylan and Brody Anderson; Hudson, Weston, and Colton Fryman. He is also survived by nieces, a nephew, and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents and sister.

Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 18th at the First United Methodist Church. Memorials are suggested to FHSU Foundation with Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) listed in the memo in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home 620 N. Main St. Garden City, Kansas 67846.

Eva (Davis) (38) Graves Passes Away

Eva Louise Graves, 96, of Brunswick, OH, died Friday, February 3, 2017, at Plum Creek Senior Living. She was born September 20, 1920, the daughter of Denny Morgan and Grace Lucinda (Alexander) Davis.    She graduated from Rossville High School in 1938


Surviviors include her husband, Corbin H. Graves, of the home.

Graveside services will be at 11:00 AM, Thursday, February 9, 2017, at Rossville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, Thursday, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Avenue, Topeka.

Charles Martin (46) Passed Away(U[dated)

      Charles Charlie Martin Charles Charlie Martin, 88, of Silver Lake, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 10, 2017.
      He was born December 11, 1928, on a farm in Willard, KS, one of ten children of Henry Martin and Edith Burns. He attended Rossville High School. Charlie was a Navy veteran, a member of the American Legion and the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and enjoyed many outdoor activities. In the early days he coached the girls softball teams, enjoyed fishing, camping and skiing at the lakes. He so enjoyed being with his family, playing cards, and watching grandkids sports.
       Charlie married Mary Krasny on August 30, 1951. He worked on the family farm and retired from Goodyear after 37 years. He is survived by his wife, Mary, his sister, Betty Gibson, and his four girls : Peggy, Karen, Diane and Nancy, ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and father, and excelled at being a grandfather.
      A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday February 13, 2017 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Prairie Home Cemetery, Topeka. A visitation will be held at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, 708 Citizen Cir, Rossville, from 3:00 until 6:00 P.M. Sunday, February 12, 2017. Memorial contributions may be made to the Silver Lake Senior Center or Midland Hospice and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536. To leave an online condolence please go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

Mid East League Basketball Standings

 Boys          League … Overall

Rock Creek    6-1          14-2
Silver Lake    4-2 …      10-5
St. Marys       4-3           10-5
Wabaunsee   3-3           12-3
Rossville        2-4            7-8
Riley County  0-6           3-12

Girls          League … Overall

Wabaunsee    6-0           14-1
Riley County   5-1           10-5
Rossville         4-2          13-2
Silver Lake      3-3          10-5
St. Marys         1-6           8-7
Rock Creek      0-7          3-13