Fred Wehrli Passes Away

     Frederick Wesley Wehrli, 77, Rossville, died Monday, April 17, 2017, at Saint Francis Hospital, Topeka. 
     He was born August 28, 1939, in Holliday, Missouri, the son of Cloyd Henry and Georgia Pearl (Embree) Wehrli. Fred spent almost 32 years of service in the military, retiring as an E-8 from the Kansas Air National Guard. He farmed south of Rossville. He enjoyed Muskie fishing from Missouri to Canada and the Sprint Car Races at Knoxville, Iowa.
       He was married to Scherry Ann Brucker on August 15, 1969, in Topeka. She preceded him in death on May 10, 1992. He was also preceded in death by two daughters: Scherry Kimberly Wehrli on September 7, 1980, and Kelly Pearl Wehrli on October 25, 1985; and a granddaughter: Alyssa Anne Wehrli on March 29, 2005. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law: James Louis and Tanya Wehrli of Silver Lake; six grandchildren: Matthew Wehrli, Jessica Wehrli, Matthew Wagner, Ryan Wagner, Rebecca Wagner, and Sarah Wehrli; and a great-granddaughter: Raylee Engroff. 
      The Kansas Air National Guard will conduct military graveside honors at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 21, 2017, at Rossville Cemetery. Fred will lie in state after 3:00 PM, Thursday, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Avenue, Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the College of the Ozarks, P.O. Box 17, Point Lookout, MO 65726- 9986 or Muskies, P.O. Box 5, Hermitage, MO 65668. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com. Frederick Wesley Wehrli

Rock Creek Track and Field

Best performances on girls team.

Laura Gillum

4.  Discus

8.  Shot put

Danielle Mason

7.  Shot put

Mary Shults

5. Discus

Jordan Bittner

4.  100 M Hurdles

7.  300 M Hurdles

Taylor Bittner

1.  1600 M

2.  800 M

Megan Huston

5.  1600 M

Alice Sinnah

7.  3200 M

Best performances on the boys team.

Holden Hurla

6.  1600 M

6.  800 M

Ben Price

7.  400 M

Stephen Cooney

7.  800 M

Shinn Twins Lead Team

From the Capital-Journal

Sara (on left) and Lora Shinn lead the Lady Dawgs in batting.  
Sara has 7 home runs and Lora has be better batting average.

As sisters, there’s always been a natural competitiveness between Lora and Sara Shinn.

As twin sisters, that level of competitiveness really knows no limit.

“We’re beyond competitive,” Lora Shinn said, with Sara quick to back up that sentiment.

“I agree,” she said. “We’re just really competitive all the way around — in the classroom, on the field, everywhere.”

Everywhere?

“It can literally be competing for which twin looks better for dress-up day,” Lora said. “It can be anything. Which twin gets to the microwave first. It can be pretty bad.”

It can also be pretty good.

In trying to out-do the other, the Shinn sisters have been a driving force in a 10-0 start for the Rossville softball team. Hitting back-to-back in the Bulldawg lineup, the Shinns have put together an impressive start at the plate, each hitting well above .500 for a Rossville team averaging 12.1 runs.

“They really push each other and they’ve drug the underclassmen along with them,” Rossville coach Adam Roorbach said. “We have a really good senior class who felt like they kind of left some things on the table last year.”

In position to return to the Class 3A state tournament last year for the first time since 2013, Rossville was upset 4-2 in the regional title game by Council Grove, ending an 18-4 season in which the Bulldawgs went undefeated in Mid-East League play.

Both Shinns had solid junior seasons with Lora, a catcher, hitting .356 with 16 RBIs and Sara, a center fielder, hitting .352 with 19 RBIs. But each went into the offseason determined to have big senior seasons with the main motivation doing everything they could to try and get Rossville back to the state tournament.

“I wanted to get my team somewhere this year and I knew my batting would be a big part of that,” Lora said. “I really just wanted to be a leader and take my team back to Manhattan. I wanted to have a better batting average than I did last year — I kind of had a slump — and this year I’ve definitely surpassed it.”

Spending the offseason constantly working on the fundamentals of her swing, Lora has seen the fruits of her labor. Through eight games, she was leading Rossville with a .615 batting average hitting out of the No. 6 spot in the lineup. She already has 14 RBIs and might have more if Sara wasn’t being so productive in the No. 5 hole right ahead of her.

Entering this season, Sara had one career home run. Even that came as a bit of a shock, she admitted.

“It came in the regional game with Silver Lake and everyone was like, ‘Wow! Sara hit a home run!’” Sara said.

An offseason spent working on not only her fundamentals but also strengthening her upper body has paid dividends for Sara. Big time.

Though eight games, Sara already had seven home runs and 20 RBIs, easily eclipsing her previous bests.

“I didn’t expect seven home runs in the first eight games and I don’t think anyone did,” said Sara, who is hitting .542. “I’m excited to see how many more I end up with.”

So the question begs to be asked: Who is the better hitter?

Lora quickly raised her hand, but then qualified her reaction.

“I’ll say it’s me because I have a better batting average — though that doesn’t always mean you’re better,” she said.

Given their competitiveness, one would have expected Sara to jump in and argue her case. Instead, she somewhat deferred to Lora’s assertion.

“She hits the ball really hard and gets a lot of runs for us,” Sara said. “For me, it’s usually one or the other, a little dinker or a home run. But she constantly hits the ball really hard. I agree actually.”

Even Roorbach couldn’t really pick between the two.

“They each have similar things about their swings,” he said. “Lora makes a little more contact; Sara has a little more power. But it’s kind of splitting hairs with each of them hitting as well as they are this year.

“We’ve talked about moving them up in the lineup, but they’re pretty comfortable there. I think there’s a lot to be said for getting settled in and we’re scoring a lot of runs that way. That’s not to say we won’t change things later, but right now it’s clicking pretty good for us.”

The twins do have moments where they clash. Take early in their softball careers.

Lora began her career playing third base while Sara played other positions. That soon changed, however.

“Here’s where the competitiveness comes into play,” Lora said. “I started at third and Sara was like, ‘I want to try that.’ She ended up kicking me out (of the position) and I became a catcher. She thought that was too hard.”

Sara moved from third to the outfield last year and both Shinns will continue their playing careers at Highland Community College next year, even though that wasn’t the original plan.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to go to the same place,” said Sara, who recently committed to Highland after Lora had previously done so. “But I knew I couldn’t do it without her. She’s my support system and she’s pretty much my backbone.”

Their bond has helped form the backbone for Rossville’s unbeaten start. Now the Bulldawgs are looking for the special finish.

“I think we’re both very encouraging of each other and all the girls,” Sara said. “We just want the best out of all of us. The girls have really stepped up. We lost some really good players from last year, but the young ones have stepped up and done well.

“We’re really driven to get farther than we did last year. Last year came to kind of a sudden halt. We want to get back to Manhattan, that’s the ultimate goal. We know we’re a pretty good team, but it’s more than just saying it. It’s showing it.”

Horton Invitational Golf

Horton Invitational Results

Team Placings
1.  Rossville     185
2.  MH-MA       190
3.  St. Marys    201
4.  Horton        215
5.  Atchison     223
6.  Onaga         249

Individuals from Rossville High
Andrew Hudson 2nd
Cory Hadsall 3rd
Fred Schuler 10th
Nathan Dohrman 11th

Hill On List For Athlete Of Week

  Rossville pitcher Amanda Hill was one of the Capital-Journal nominees for Athlete Of The Week this week.  Amanda picked up victories in three of the Bulldawgs’ six wins last week. The senior hurler began the week with her second no-hitter of the season in an 11-0 win over Riley County. She followed with a complete-game win against 6A Manhattan and finished with a win against St. Marys. Hill struck out 38 in 17 innings.

Latest Willard Bridge Photos

Sharon Silversmith Passes Away

      Sharon Silversmith, 77,  Rossville, Kansas, died Tuesday, April 11, 2017 in a Topeka Nursing Home.  Sharon was born November 16, 1939 in Lake Forest, Illinois, the daughter of Charles and Mildred Ann (Trott) DeHaan. 
      She grew up in Lake Forest until the death of both her parents at the age of 12.  Sharon moved to Great Bend, Kansas with her 2 younger brothers to live with her Paternal Aunt and Uncle.  Sharon finished High School in Great Bend and attended Emporia State University.  During much of her adult life she lived in California returning to Kansas in 1978. 
      She is survived by her 2 brothers: Charles (Sherry) DeHaan and Ronald (Shannon) DeHaan.  Sharon is also survived by her 5 children:  Lori Ann Bleidissel Wallace (Larry),  Tanya Jo Silversmith, Denise Robinson, Braelund L. Silversmith and J.A. Silversmith Jr.  28 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.  Sharon was cremated.      Memorial Services will be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 3916 SW 17, Topeka, KS on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 11:00 am.    Memorial contributions can be made in Sharon’s name to the American Kidney Foundaion

Softball Team At 10-0

    The RHS softball team picked up wins 9 and 10 this week against St. Marys.  The scores were 4-3 and 6-0.

Baseball Team Loses Two

    The RHS baseball team lost two games to St. Marys on April 13,  5-1 and 15-11.

Girls Track At Royal Valley

    The  RHS girls competed in the Royal Valley Invitational track and field meet on April 11 coming in 9th of the 10 teams competing.
     Those Dawgs with at least one top ten finish are as follows;

Jordan Bittner
4    100 M Hurdles
4    300 M Hurdles

Taylor Bittner
4    800 M
3    1600 M

Laura Gillum
4    Shot Put
9    Discus

Mary Shults
5    Discus
9    Shot Put

Kaytlin Dohrman
3 3200 M

Danielle Mason
8    100 M Hurdles
14  100 M

Maura Buhler
7    Javelin
14  Triple Jump

Kylee Badura
9    400 M

Meagan Hurla
8    1500

Golf Team 2nd At Osage

    The Rossville boys golf team had a good outing at the Osage City Invitational coming in second with a 366 stroke total just behind  Jeff West's 357 total and ahead of West Franklin's 367.
    Rossville had five players in the top half of the field.  They were:
Andrew Hudson      3rd    85
Cory Hadsall           7th    88
Nathan Dohrman    14th   95
Fred Schuler           15th   98
Trey Anderson        17th   98

Softball Stat Leaders

Softball Stat Leaders

HITTING

Average

Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, .917; Shryock, Tonganoxie, .909; Van Ausdall, Holton, .826; Pope, McLouth, .714; G. Folks, Perry-Lecompton, .705; Bond, Holton, .667; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, .667; Gray, Tonganoxie, .667; Lee, Atchison, .667; O’Connor, Perry-Lecompton, .667; Schraad, Nemaha Central, .667; Robertson, Perry-Lecompton, 642; Deters, Nemaha Central, .636; Hettinger, Central Heights, .619; Phillips, Holton, .615; L. Shinn, Rossville, .615; Bassett, Oskaloosa, .600; Hawkins, Riverside, .600; Miller, Tonganoxie, .600; Murray, Rossville, .591; Mead, Santa Fe Trail, .588; Lowe, Oskaloosa, .583; Stringfield, Wellsville, .583; Willson, Tongnanoxie, .583; Perkins, Riverside, .579; Lundin, Rossville, .577; Beam, Royal Valley, .571; Seager, Atchison, .571; Orender, Osage City, .552; S. Shinn, Rossville, .542; Hughes, Sabetha, .538; Shue, Riverside, .533; Porras, Holton, .529; Downard, Marysville, .526; Morgan, Riverside, .526; Carlson, Council Grove, .520; Migliorini, Rossville, .520; Anderson, Rossville, .500.

Home runs

S. Shinn, Rossville, 7; Stringfield, Wellsville, 5; Lundin, Rossville, 4; Morgan, Riverside, 4; Downard, Marysville, 3; Harrison, St. Marys, 3; Swift, Chase County, 3; Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, 2; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 2; D. Hess, Burlington, 2; R. Hess, Burlington, 2; Migliorini, Rossville, 2; Robertson, Perry-Lecompton, 2; L. Shinn, Rossville, 2; Vandegrift, Chase County, 2.

RBI

Lundin, Rossville, 20; Orender, Osage City, 20; S. Shinn, Rossville, 20; Honas, Council Grove, 19; R. Hess, Burlington, 15; Stringfield, Wellsville, 15; Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, 14; Morgan, Riverside, 14; L. Shinn, Rossville, 14; Bassett, Oskaloosa, 13; Brintle, Council Grove, 13; Hodges, Council Grove, 12; Migliorini, Rossville, 12; Filkin, Council Grove, 11; Harrison, St. Marys, 11; Miller, Council Grove, 11; Bond, Holton, 10; Klamm, Wellsville, 10; MIller, Tonganoxie, 10; Carlson, Council Grove, 9; Murray, Rossville, 9; Perkins, Riverside, 9; Van Ausdall, Holton, 9; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 8; Hawkins, Riverside, 8; D. Hess, Burlington, 8; Pacha, Marysville, 8; Allen, Council Grove, 7; Anderson, Rossville, 7,

Stolen bases

Mead, Santa Fe Trail, 7; Myers, Holton, 7; Nordhus, Nemaha Central, 7; Orender, Osage City, 7; Kippes, Rossville, 6; McDaniel, Wellsville, 6; Bolyard, Osage City, 5; Burson, Central Heights, 5; Carlson, Council Grove, 5; Deters, Nemaha Central, 5; Kunkel, Rock Creek, 5, Nordhus, Nemaha Central, 5; Pacha, Marysville, 5; Pryor, Oskaloosa, 5; Sage, Osage City, 5; Schraad, Nemaha Central, 5; Stevens, Osage City, 5; Whalen, Osage City, 5; Hettinger, Central Heights, 4; Hultgren, Osage City, 4; Leonard, Nemaha Central, 4; Miller, Council Grove, 4; Perkins, Riverside, 4; Ricklefts, Riverside, 4; L. Shinn, Rossville, 4.

PITCHING

Wins

Orender, Osage City, 5; Downard, Marysville, 4; Hill, Rossville, 4; Allen, Council Grove, 3; Carlson, Council Grove, 3; Hammett, Rock Creek, 3; Kippes, Rossville, 3; Bond, Holton, 2; Crawford, Chase County, 2; Davis, Central Heights, 2; Fast, Perry-Lecompton, 2; Fluderer, Wellsville, 2; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 2; Hamm, Oskaloosa, 2; Harrison, St. Marys, 2; Koranda, Riverside, 2; Lutz, Holton, 2; Roll, Central Heights, 2.

Earned run average

Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 0.00; Hamm, Oskaloosa, 0.00; Harrison, St. Marys, 0.00; Bassett, Oskaloosa, 0.70; Hill, Rossville, 1.16; Crawford, Chase County, 1.33; Hammett, Rock Creek, 1.50; Hammes, Nemaha Central, 1.75; Rettele, Nemaha Central, 2.00; Bond, Holton, 2.25; Carlson, Council Grove, 2.43; Kippes, Rossville, 2.44; Davis, Central Heights, 2.45; Downard, Marysville, 2.76.

Strikeouts

Hill, Rossville, 40; Downard, Marysville, 37; Davis, Central Heights, 34; Orender, Osage City, 34; Crawford, Chase County, 30; Hammett, Rock Creek, 26; Bond, Holton, 25; Harrison, St. Marys, 24; Hamm, Oskaloosa, 19; Pemberton, Wellsville, 19; Carlson, Council Grove, 18; Kippes, Rossville, 14; Lafferty, Royal Valley, 13; Emmons, Nemaha Central, 11; Lutz, Nemaha Central, 11; Schreiner, Wabaunsee, 11; Allen, Council Grove, 10; Bassett, Oskaloosa, 10; Butts, Riverside, 10; Fast, Perry-Lecompton, 10.

Band Excells At State

The Rossville Senior High Band had a successful day at the State Large Group Music Festival, held at Louisburg High School on Wednesday, April 12th.  The band received three Division I-Ratings, which are "Superior," for an overall rating of 1.  After arrival to the festival location, bands are given 20 minutes in the warm up room before taking the stage before three judges.  Once on-stage, bands are allocated 20 minutes to play their contest pieces.  These pieces can be any number of songs, but at least one must be selected from the KSHSAA Published Music List for bands.  This list is comprised of hundreds of songs, and of varying difficulties, rated from grade level 1(very easy) to grade level 6 (very difficult).  Class 3A-4A schools are required to select at least one piece that is at minimum grade level 3, then the other selection(s) can be anything the group decides to play.  Most groups play two contrasting style pieces, and Rossville's selections for this year were "Air for Band," by Frank Erickson (grade 3), which is a beautiful, slow ballad that is a classic in the high school band world, followed by "Covington Square," by James Swearingen (also grade 3), which is overall a very brisk and energetic piece, with a big, flashy finish.

The 25-piece band, under the direction of Mr. Garrett Jones, consists of the following members:

Daniel Borcherding - Alto Saxophone
Paul Borcherding - Flute
Edward Brockamp - Trombone
Alexandra Broughton - F Horn
Madison Brown - Flute
Marvin Cummings - Percussion
Trevor Cunningham - Alto Saxophone
Dylan Ditch - Percussion
Abigail Escobar - Flute
Colton Hadsall - Tuba
Bryson Hase - Trombone
Erika Hatina - Trumpet
Meagan Huston - Clarinet
Nathan Lekanoff - Percussion
Shawn Lekanoff - Percussion

Jonah Mercer - Tenor Saxophone
Taylor Morelli - Clarinet
Hana Parkhurst - Percussion
Jonas Rewerts - Euphonium
Dawson Schaefer - Trumpet
Tristan Shepherd - F Horn
Mary Shults - Baritone Saxophone
William Stillion - Percussion
Ava Stipp - Clarinet
Ella Terliesner - Clarinet

Southern Lyon Co. Golf

    The boys golf team came in 9th of 13 teams at the Southern Lyon Co. Invitational.  Fredonia was the winning team with a 330 stroke total.  Rossville had a 396 total,  well ahead of Osage City (#12-438) and Silver Lake (#13-441).
    Andrew Hudson lead the Dawgs (#17-88) followed by Fred Schuler (#32-98)