This blog is for posting all news of Rossville residents and Rossville High alumni. Bookmark this page and send any appropriate news (births, deaths, engagements, marriages, anniversaries, job changes, honors, etc.) items to: Frank.Ruff@juno.com . Feel free to add comments to any of the articles. Check this site often because I sometimes delete items. There are SEARCH (top left of page) and LINK (bottom of page) features. For photos, see link at bottom.
Friday, September 1, 2023
Rossville 30. St. Marys 22
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Benjamin Gockel Passes Away
Benjamin Gockel of Manhattan, formerlay of St. Marys has passed away at the age of 53. He used to woirk at the Gockel Grovery Stoore in St. Marys. You can read his obituary at:
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Burlington Volleyball Tournament
The Rossville girls volleyball team finished second in the Burlington Tournament on Aug 26, losing the championship match to Baldwin in three sets.The Lady Dawgs finished 3-0 in pool play including wins over Prairie View and Humbolt.
Monday, August 28, 2023
RHS Art Teacher Creates Delia Artwork
RHS Art Teacher haa created a number of murals and sculptures in Delia using former students for inspiration. The below linked WIBW video shows off much of tht artworkin Delia.
TopSports.News Features RHS Volleyball
KINLEY PORTER, Rossville
Porter, a senior, earned second-team All-Shawnee County and All-Mid-East League recognition last season after helping the Bulldawgs post a 34-6 record.
KINSEY PERINE, Rossville
A senior, Perine was a unanimous All-Mid-East League first-team selection for the third straight year in 2022 and was an All-Shawnee County first-team repeater after helping lead the Bulldawgs to a 34-6 record. Perine finished her junior season with 568 kills, 40 total blocks and 327 digs. A three-sport standout for the Bulldawgs, Perine helped lead Rossville to the Class 3A state softball title this past spring.
Dawgs Ready For 2023 Season
Below is a link to a WSNT video about Rossville football and their expectations for this year.
Sunday, August 27, 2023
Preseason 2A Football Rankings
Kansas Prep Football has the 2023 2A teams ranked:
1. Sabetha
2. Nemaha Central
3. Hoisington
4. Beloit
5. Ellsworth
Catch It Kansas and MAX PREPS have the 2A top ten as:
1. Sabetha
2. Kingman
3. Nemaha Central
4. Hoisington
5. Silver Lake
6. Ellsworth
7. Beloit
8. Rossville
9. Southeast of Saline
10. Russell
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Michael Perry Passes Away
Michael C. Perry, 60, passed away Sunday, August 20, 2023 at his home in Topeka.
Mike was born July 31, 1963, in Topeka, the son of George J. and Nadine M. Kolde Perry. Mike was raised in St. Marys and graduated from St. Marys High School in 1982.
He entered the Kansas Army National Guard in in 1982 and retired as a Master Sergeant after 38 years. Mike worked full time with the guards as a Senior Maintenance Analyst. He was an AVID KU and Chief’s Fan.
Mike and Tammy Engelken were united in marriage on Nov. 28, 1992. They later divorced. Mike was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include a daughter Kylie (Cody) Lyda, Gardner, son Mitchell Ralph, Topeka; his brother, William (Trina) Perry, Topeka; sisters, Judy (Roy) Muckenthaler, Sandy (Clay )Winters, Nancy Lister all of St. Marys, Mary Kaye Siebert, Olathe, and Lori Westerdale, Rossville; and a grandson, Dorian, his many cherished nieces and nephews along with his close friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Friday, August 25, 2023, at Piper Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas National Guard Museum and sent in care of the funeral home.
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
2023 Cross Country Roster
Boys Name and grade
Mason Broce 12
Logan Kufahl 11
Nate Fund 10
Wyatt Carey 10
Dalton Verschelden 10
Torin Culbertson 10
Eden Thompson 10
Jed Wood 10
Spencer Verschelden 9
Girls Name and Grade
Audrie Davis 12
Keera Lacock 12
Makenna Hensley 10
Kinsley Kufahl 10
Madelyn Wonnell 9
Presley Thompson 9
Pamela Berkey (63) Passes Away.
Pamela “PJ” Berkey, 78 died at her home in Kansas City, MO on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
A Celebration of life will be held on 8/26/23 from 1:30-3:30 at 1801 McGee St, suite 100 KC, Mo 64108.
PJ was born on May 20, 1945 in Topeka, KS to Donald and Mary Jane (Nicholson) Berkey. She graduated from K-state with a communications degree and then went on to get a Masters in mass communications. Professionally, she worked in advertising and eventually landed in University Development at Baker University and The Kansas City Art Institute. She grew up in Rossville, Kansas and graduated from Rossville High in 1963.
When she became a mother, she became not only a mother, but a friend, confidant, sounding board and supporter to so many more than just her children. Our house was always a safe space where you could get a delicious meal and an open ear. She was always the biggest supporter of her children and grandchildren, and dedicated her life to us.
Her strength, loyalty, perseverance, independence, kindness, compassion, open mindedness, unfailing love, and sage advice live on in all the lives she touch. She leaves a palpable emptiness in all our lives.
She is preceded in death by her parents Mary Jane, and Donald, her brother Curtis, and her son-in-law Jason.
Survivors include her children, Tiffany Shepherd (Barry), Shana Coppedge ( Dec-Jason) and Erick Sibert (Kim); her grandchildren Cheyanna, Riley, Carter, Piper, and Weston.
Memorial contributions may be made to https://safehome-ks.org/donate/
Monday, August 21, 2023
Volleyball Roster 2023
# Name Grade
1 Leni Lewis +9
1 Ryan Leathers 12
2 Kinsey Perine 12
3 Kendra Hurla 12
4 Emma Mitchell 12
4 Lilly Miller 11
5 Rylee Dick 10
6 Maggie Sanders 10
7 Kinley Porter 12
7 Shayla Rezac 11
8 Katie Spielman 12
10 Quinlin Gentry 11
10 Brooke Springer 10
11 Emily Dohrman 12
12 Sydney Sumner 11
13 valentina Mammi 12
14 Lilly Mitchell 10
15 Madelyn Kenney 11
15 Emma Bruning 10
19 Kellyn Foster 11
20 Hailey Horton 12
21 Shailee Hubbell 10
22 Lilly Rumsey 10
23 Nora Burdeik 9
25 Ady Henry 9
26 Grace Olejnik 9
28 Tatum Miller 9
29 LeAnne Cox 10
31 Isela Wehrli 9
33 Cassidy Wade 9
36 beya Boumaiza 12
37 Payton Dick/Shaddox 9
41 Karleigh Frost 10
40 Isabelle Verschelden 12
44 Madelyn Berggman 9
Michael Perry Passes Away
Michael C. Perry
July 31, 1963 — August 20, 2023
Funeral Services and Obituary are Pending
KSNT Football Article
ROSSVILLE, K.S. (KSNT) – The Rossville Dawgs won the 1A state title in 2021, but last season left much to be desired. (Rossville is 2A not 1A
The Dawgs lost core players up front on both sides of the ball after last season, including three skilled offensive linemen. The quest to replace them is already underway, but luckily for the Rossville, head coach Derick Hammes said there are plenty of new Dawgs in the house this year.
“We’ve got a lot of names that maybe folks aren’t familiar with yet,” Hammes said. “We’re trying to develop those guys and develop depth around them.”
Coach Hammes told 27 News the story of this year’s team is that several offensive assets are returning this season; and many of them are taking on leadership roles. Senior quarterback Camden Horak and senior offensive/defensive lineman Barrett Lietz are two of those returners. They’ve been tasked with integrating the younger players into the system and helping the squad gel during camp.
“You’ve got to lead by example and also kind of guide the other guys into what they need to be doing,” Lietz said.
Both Lietz and Horak started for the Dawgs last season.
“You’ve just got to step into that role,” Horak said. “[I] followed up my cousin Torrey [Horak]. He was a big leader; it was a big class. We just had to fill spots.”
In 2023, all eyes are on bouncing back from last season. After finishing 2022 with a 5-5 record and a playoff loss at the hands of the Nemaha Central Thunder, Lietz and Horak agreed on one goal for this year: posting a better record.
Whether they’re veterans like Lietz and Horak, or rookies like other members of Rossville’s team, one thing always remains the same each season.
“End goal is always state,” Lietz said.
Horak said he thinks the Dawgs have the guys to go the distance this season.
“This year, expectations are high, high at Rossville,” Hammes said. “And that never changes with the group that we have. That’s what for, that’s what we’re excited about with this group and we’re just eager to keep working at it and see how far we can get this group to go.”
The Dawgs face the St. Marys Bears in their season opener at home on Sep. 1.