Rembering Lance Lenard's Legacy

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) -- Running their way through K-State’s Ahearn Field House is this year's Northeast Kansas Track Club, all athletes of an organization founded and led by the late Lance Lenard.

"He passed in a car accident as well all know back in August,” said NEK Interim Head Coach, Perry Henault. “He left a legacy of kids left behind here who are trying to just keep things moving."

Since 2003, NEK has had 684 National Qualifiers, 1096 All-Americans, 203 National Champions, 4 Indoor Team Titles, as well as more than 130 athletes landing DI and D2 track scholarships.

"Lance was a big proponent of scholarships, he wanted kids to go to the next level and wants them to succeed in life, and this track club is an extension of that,” said Henault. “It teaches you to grow up become an adult and know how to become self-sufficient in hard times."

Many athletes who were coached by Lance throughout the years say his charisma and perseverance helped them succeed.

"He had a voice that you could hear no matter what,” said NEK Coach, Shannon Parr. “He had a way of encouraging any kid no matter their skill level, he just had the same passion and same enthusiasm for every kid no matter his skill level."

Two of his children, Keara and Kade, formed part of NEK, they say their father's integrity will be missed.

"He never treated me worse than other athletes because I was his son,” said Kade Lenard. “He always made it to where when we entered the field everybody was treated the same."

Aside from NEK, Lance also coached the Rossville Middle School and Wamego High School track teams, helped commission Sunflower State Games, officiated the Great Southwest Invitational and more.

"He was a really good coach and I think everyone is going to remember how good of a coach he was and all the times he put the club’s needs over his needs and things,” said Kade.

Now his friends and family including future generations of Lenard’s, are making sure his message of ‘Don't Stop Believing’ will never fade away.

"We're here for you brother, we're keeping it going as you want, and we will do our best we can,” said Henault.

If you’re interested in joining NEK Track you can go to their websitefor more information. 

There is a nice video that you should watch at:  http://www.wibw.com/content/news/Keeping-Lance-Lenards-dream-alive-403305006.html

Basketball Games of Dec. 2

Girls basketball game of Dec. 2, 2016

Rossville 48
Wamego 44

Boys basketball game of Dec. 2, 2016

Rossville 55 

Wamego 61

Other Mid-East League Teams
                        Boys     Girls
Wabaunsee     62           44 
Axtell               17            30

Rock Creek      63           27
Clay Center      34           51

Silver Lake       41          68
Frankfort           55          70

Dawgs Bites 3 Video by RGS Stidemts

RGS has an announcements video--Dawg Bites 3--for the month of December.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKnnvoUx7B4

They have a Halloween video at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=608s1TFT5CU

Their Dawg Bites 2 video is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgeldAeUjhU

The RGS Dawg Bites Beginning of School Year video of July 27, 2016 can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEaqeN8nnPw

The RGS Girls On The Run 2015-2016 video can be seen at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9qCaDPsX7w

BB Season Opens Dec. 2

    The basketball season begins on Friday,  Dec. 2, with the Wamego boys and girls teams visiting Rossville.   Games start at 4:45.
    After-Prom will be serving a meal of your choice between chicken and noodle soup or chili along with veggies, desert, and tea/lemonade for $5.

Girls Basketball Outlook

Coach: Michael Bell (4th year).

Last year’s record: 15-6 (6-4, 3rd in league).

Postseason: lost in 3A sub-state first round.

Returning starters: (1) Amanda Hill, G/F, 5-10, sr.

Other returners/newcomers: Sara Shinn, C, 5-11, sr.; Lora Shinn, F, 5-11, sr.; Maura Buhler, G, 5-6, jr.; Jalyn Porter, G, 5-9, jr.; Caila Hill, F, 5-9, so.; Kylee Badura, F, 5-7, jr.; Meg Kirk, 5-7, jr.; Avery Anderson, F, 5-7, fr.

Outlook: Bulldawgs saw promising season come to premature end with 98-94 4OT loss to Royal Valley in sub-state opener, which set girls’ single-game combined scoring record for Kansas. … Hill averaged 19 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and shot 44 percent from 3-point range. … She was second-team All-3A pick and is 172 points from 1,000 in her career. … Sara Shinn averaged 4 ppg and 6 rpg, while Porter and Caila Hill each averaged 3 ppg and 3 rpg.

Boys Basketball Outlook

Coach: Derek Dick (9th year).

Last year’s record: 14-9 (6-4, 3rd in league).

Postseason: lost in 3A sub-state final.

Returning starters: (3) Cole Schumacher, G, 6-2, sr.; Dawson Hammes, F, 6-1, sr.; Jacob Bradshaw, G, 6-1, sr.

Other returners/newcomers: Wyatt Dyche, G, 5-10, sr.; Trey Anderson, F, 6-4, sr.; Caiden Musick, F, 6-6, jr.; Andrew Hudson, F, 6-1, sr.; Jared Morris, G, 5-10, jr.; Sheldon Hulbert, F, 6-1, jr.; Hunter Quiett, G, 5-10, jr.

Outlook: Bulldawgs’ bid to return to state tourney for first time since 2011 ended with sub-state championship game loss to eventual state champion Osage City. … Schumacher averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds per game despite missing time with thumb injury. … Hammes added 6 ppg and 6 rpg, while Bradshaw had 5 ppg, 3 rpg and 3 apg. … Morris averaged 5 ppg off the bench.

CJ Girls Basketball Pre-season Rankings

Team  (2015-16 record)

1. Hugoton (23-2)

2. TMP-Marian (23-3)

3. Garden Plain (21-3)

4. Council Grove (18-5)

5. Nemaha Central (19-4)

Others — Caney Valley 18-6, Cheney 15-8, Cimarron 14-7, Conway Springs 18-4, Hesston 18-5, Humboldt 14-7, Kingman 15-7, Neodesha 15-6, Northeast-Arma 15-6, Remington 14-8, Riley County 16-6, Rossville 15-6, Sabetha 24-2, Silver Lake 26-0, Sterling 23-3, Wellsville 14-9.

CJ Pre-season Boys Basketball Rankings

Team    (2015-16 record)

1. Hugoton  (23-2)

2. Garden Plain (20-6)

3. Hesston (20-3)

4. Norton (20-4)

5. Sterling (17-6)

Others — Beloit 15-7, Fredonia 21-3, Humboldt 18-5, Nemaha Central 18-5, Osage City 25-1, Rossville 15-8, Sabetha 24-2, Southeast-Saline 22-4, Wellsville 17-7.

Amanda Hill To Lead Team

      Amanda Hill, a 5-10 Senior, is one of 15 high school girl basketball players to watch according to the Capital-Journal.  Amanda has led Rossville in scoring each of her first three seasons. Last year she averaged 19 points per game. The guard-forward combo can get her points anywhere, shooting 44 percent from 3-point range and 50 percent overall. She also averaged a team-best 6.8 rebounds and was second-team All-3A and first-team All-Mid-East League last year.

      To read about the other 14 players,  go to:  http://cjonline.com/sports/2016-11-30/2016-high-school-tipoff-15-area-girls-players-watch

Mid-East League Basketball Schedule

Riley County

Dec. – 6. at Wamego; 9. Silver Lake; 13. at Clay Center; 15. at Axtell. Jan. – 3. Rock Creek; 6. Rossville; 10. at St. Marys; 13. at Silver Lake; 17-21. at Hillsboro Inv.; 27. Wabaunsee; 31. Marysville. Feb. – 3. at Rock Creek; 7. Concordia; 10. at Wabaunsee; 14. at Council Grove; 17. at Rossville; 23. St. Marys.

Rock Creek

Dec. – 2. at Clay Center; 6. at Abilene; 9. Council Grove; 13. at St. Marys; 16. Wabaunsee. Jan. – 3. at Riley County; 6. Silver Lake; 10. Rossville; 13. at Wabaunsee; 17-21. at Burlington Inv.; 27. Wamego; 31. Centralia. Feb. – 3. Riley County; 7. at Marysville; 10. St. Marys; 14. Chapman; 17. at Silver Lake; 23. at Rossville.

Rossville

Dec. – 2. Wamego; 6-10. at Chapman Inv.; 16. at Frankfort; 20. at Perry-Lecompton. Jan. – 3. Silver Lake; 6. at Riley County; 10. at Rock Creek; 13. St. Marys; 17-21. at Oskaloosa Inv. (B); 24-28. at Jefferson North Inv. (G); 31. at St. Marys. Feb. – 3. Wabaunsee; 7. Osage City; 10. at Silver Lake; 14. at Wabaunsee; 17. Riley County; 23. Rock Creek.

Silver Lake

Dec. – 1. Frankfort; 6. Council Grove; 9. at Riley County; 13. Royal Valley; 16. St. Marys. Jan. – 3. at Rossville; 6. at Rock Creek; 10. Wabaunsee; 13. Riley County; 16-21. at Tonganoxie Inv. (G); 17-21. at Nemaha Central Thunder Classic (B); 24. at Santa Fe Trail; 27. Atchison; 31. at Osage City. Feb. – 3. at St. Marys; 10. Rossville; 14. at Wellsville; 17. Rock Creek; 23. at Wabaunsee.

St. Marys

Dec. – 6. Mission Valley; 8. Onaga; 9. Northern Heights; 13. Rock Creek; 16. at Silver Lake. Jan. – 6. at Wabaunsee; 10. Riley County; 13. at Rossville; 17-21. at Nemaha Central Thunder Classic (B); 20. Jacson Heights (G); 24-28. at Hiawatha Inv. (G); 27. Jackson Heights (B); 31. Rossville. Feb. – 3. Silver Lake; 7. Lyndon; 10. at Rock Creek; 14. Osage City; 17. at Centralia; 21. Wabaunsee; 23. at Riley County.

Wabaunsee

Dec. – 2. Axtell; 6. at Chase County; 13. Onaga; 16. at Rock Creek; 20. Frankfort. Jan. – 10. at Silver Lake; 13. Rock Creek; 19-21. at Royal Valley Panther Classic; 27. at Riley County; 31. at Lyndon. Feb. – 3. at Rossville; 7. at Mission Valley; 10. Riley County; 14. Rossville; 17. Herington; 21. at St. Marys; 23. Silver Lake.

Schumacher Expected To Lead Team

     Cole Schumacher is one of 15 high school players to watch this season according to the Capital-Journal.  Schumacher, a 6-3 Senior,  was on his way to a huge junior season, averaging 21 points before a thumb injury sidelined him for three games and affected his performance the rest of the year. He still averaged a team-high 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds, shooting 44.2 percent from 3-point range. A standout receiver for the state-champion football team, Schumacher can score from anywhere on the court.
      You can read about the other 14 players at:  http://cjonline.com/sports/2016-11-30/2016-high-school-tipoff-15-area-boys-players-watch

Excellent Video of Hesston-RHS Game

This is the best video of the 3A championship game that I know of.  Expand to "full-screen" for best viewing.
http://www.catchitkansas.com/content/news/VIDEO-Hesston-vs-Rossville-403170716.html

Coach Hammes Interview

    This is a WIBW radio interview with Rossville coach Derick Hammes about the championship game last Saturday.
http://www.wibwnewsnow.com/dawgs-bring-home-third-straight-3a-title/

321A Wrestling Rankings

Rossville is currently ranked # 8 in 321A wrestling.  The team is led by #1 ranked Bryce Gfeller in the 126 lb. class and Isiah Luellen who is ranked #1 in the 160 lb. class.  Click on image to read the details.