Author: John Kurtz

Two students at Junction City high school are getting the word out about a great comeback story from this past winter. Auh’shay Sanchez and Dominic Jones produced the documentary “The Comeback Kid” about Blue Jay junior Aryus Jones’ journey back from a gruesome leg injury to a state wrestling championship. Aryus Jones broke his tibia and fibula in football practice and was expected to miss the entire winter sports season after the injury. He was able to come back to the wrestling mat just a month after his injury. His season ended with an undefeated record and a 6A state title…

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Two Manhattan High basketball players have signed to play at the next level. Forward Grant Musnen is headed to McPherson College and guard Robbie Ostermann to Pitt State. Both players were key parts of the Indians back-to-back Centennial League championships and 36 wins over the last two seasons. Munsen averaged over seven points and four rebounds per game as a starter this past season. Ostermann shot 37% from three-point range on the season and chipped in four points per game off the bench.

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K-State football opens spring practice Wednesday in Manhattan. There are far more questions on offense than defense right now for the Wildcats. Only four starters from the Liberty Bowl loss to Arkansas return on offense, including just one offensive lineman. The quarterback job is up in the air despite Joe Hubener starting 11 games last season. Jesse Ertz and Alex Delton are expected to be available after suffering knee injuries last season. Ertz had won the job before getting hurt on the first series of the season. Talented freshman Skylar Thompson is already enrolled for the spring and should compete,…

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Manhattan High’s Tarrah Bammes put pen to paper Tuesday at MHS and signed to play college basketball at Kansas Wesleyan. Bammes was a part of the Indians’ 14-8 season that ended in a substate final loss to Derby. She was a starter as a senior and averaged almost five points per game. Bammes contacted Barton Community College as well, but ultimately felt at home with the Coyotes.

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Both the Manhattan High boys and girls are off to 4-0 starts after winning at Dodge City. The boys final score of 67-49 was a little bit deceiving. The Indians built a 19-12 after one quarter and led by as many as nine in the second quarter, but things got tough in the second half. Guards Gabe Awbrey and Tommy Ekart both battled serious foul trouble in the third quarter while the Red Demons stormed back to take the lead. The Indians had a one point lead and were holding for the last shot of third quarter when things turned around. Zach…

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K-State sophomore cornerback Cre Moore was arrested at 3:26 A.M. Sunday morning by Riley County police on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of a depressant. Police responded to a single vehicle collision at Poyntz and Evergreen Ave. in Manhattan at 2:55 A.M. Moore’s 2014 Ford F150 had hit a light pole and a privately owned stone stairwell. The front driver’s side sustained major damage, including the front driver’s side wheel becoming detached. Moore didn’t have any injuries. He was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol after an investigation into the accident. During the…

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Manhattan High offensive lineman Colton Wagner will play for the West team in the Kansas Shrine Bowl on Saturday in Hays. Wagner was a starter at right tackle for the Indians in 2014 and was a first-team all-league selection. The Indians have a rich tradition of sending players to the Shrine Bowl. Wagner was the 59th Manhattan High player all-time to be selected to play in the game. The only Kansas high school with more is Wichita Southeast. Manhattan’s Brandon Nowlin was picked to play in the 2014 Shrine Bowl. Other Centennial League players in the game include Tony Barksdale…

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Two local stars will play in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game Saturday in Salina. Manhattan’s Caroline Ballard and Wamego’s Lanie Page will play against eachother during the KBCA All-Star game at Kansas Wesleyan. Ballard averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. She leaves MHS as the 4th all-time leading scorer in school history. She’ll play college basketball next season at Washington University in St. Louis. Page was a three-time all-state pick in high school and averaged over 20 point per game this season. She’s headed to K-State to play with her sister Kaylee for Jeff Mittie next season.…

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Former Manhattan High boys basketball coach Tim Brooks has been hired as the head coach at Cimarron. Brooks spent ten years as the Indians head coach before resigning on February 14th, 2014. He won 115 games during his time at Manhattan High. Previously, Brooks spent 16 seasons as an assistant to Dennis Hamilton at Dodge City. Cimarron is located about 19 miles away from Dodge City.

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Rock Creek head coach Shane Sieben was named the 4A-Division II coach of the year in his first season with the Mustangs, and five Rock Creek players were named to the all-state teams. Pitcher Caleb Rogge, infielders Jackson Goodmiller and Shilo Schaake and outfielder Nick Beyer all were first team selections. Rogge was also named the pitcher of the year. Catcher Alex Feldkamp was named to the second team. Earlier this week, the Mustangs won their first state championship with a win over Concordia.

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