The following are reported scores from April 16:

Kansas HS Baseball

Frontenac: 6 - Independence: 3

Cherryvale: 15 - Parsons: 3

Cedar Vale/Dexter: 12 - Central: 2 / CVD: 10 - Central: 0

Fredonia: 8 - Bluestem: 5 / Bluestem: 14 - Fredonia: 6

West Elk: 15 - Udall: 5 / West Elk: 2 - Udall: 0

Chanute: 6 - Labette County: 4

Oklahoma HS Baseball

Fairland: 12 - Oklahoma Union: 0

Bartlesville: 15 - Booker T. Washington: 1

Dewey: 5 - Muskogee: 2

Copan: 14 - Barnsdall: 2

KJCCC Baseball

Neosho: 20 - Fort Scott: 18

Fort Scott: 21 - Neosho: 5

Highland: 8 - Labette: 4

Highland: 14 - Labette: 1

KJCCC Softball

Neosho: 10 - Allen: 9

Allen: 9 - Neosho: 5

Independence and Field Kindley High School girls’ swimming competed in the Campus High School event this week. The Lady Bulldogs finished 11th, while the Nado’s managed 14th.

Both schools had high placers in the 50-yard freestyle. Indy’s Esme McAfee got the bronze with a sub-28-second time. Field Kindley’s Makenna Meek came sixth in 28 and a half seconds.

Independence also placed 8th in the 400-yard Freestyle Relay with McAfee, along with Kaylie Flenar, Morgan McLenon, and Katelyn Spencer.

Field Kindley’s Leighton Tatman was 13th in the 100-yard freestyle, and was 14th in the 200-yard medley relay with Tatman, Chloe Mund, Makenna Meek, and Wrenn Lunt.

Independence also had multiple PR’s during Tuesday’s meet. Their Athletic Director, Marcus Lanning, talks about the prospects of qualifying for state.

According to online schedules, Field Kindley girls swim competes next on Tuesday at KC Turner, while Independence is at the Labette County Invitational tomorrow.

Photo Courtesy: Independence High School Facebook

The Coffeyville Red Ravens Women’s Basketball team continued its run of success this past season under 7th-year head coach Tony Turner. They won 23 games, including a 16-8 fourth-place finish in the Jayhawk Conference.

Coach Turner talks about this past season.

The Lady Ravens graduated four players who are moving on to play at four-year schools, including All-American Aubrey Hishaw, who’s headed to Oral Roberts.

Fortunately for Coffeyville, its roster is looking good for next year as well. Six players are returning for the 2026-27 season, including their leading scorer, Esme Smith.

Smith averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds per game as a freshman, which earned her second-team All-Jayhawk honors.

She leads a returning group that includes Londyn Barrett, Mahogany Butler, Taylor Caron, and their two tallest players, 6'2 Carly Dameron and 6'3 Serena Smith.

This upcoming winter, Lady Ravens basketball will be in search of their first regular-season title since 2015 and its first Jayhawk tournament championship since 1998.

Photo Courtesy: Coffeyville Community College

Coffeyville Community College has named a new head volleyball coach. Yesterday, they announced Blair Wyrick as the new leader of the program.

This will be Wyrick’s first stop as a college coach; she previously worked at the high school level. She explains that college coaching wasn’t even on her radar.

While Wyrick competed as a volleyball player in her high school days, it was actually her basketball prowess that sent her to play at the next level.

She played basketball at NCAA Division-1 Belmont University. That means she’s new to the junior college level as well. This is how she sees JUCO's and the Lady Ravens program.

Wyrick is taking over a volleyball program that has gone dormant lately. They were just 13-24 last year and have not had a winning season since 2024.

Photo and Audio Courtesy: Coffeyville Community College

The following are reported scores from April 14:

Kansas HS Baseball

Cherryvale: 7 - Caney Valley: 5 / Cherryvale: 10 - Caney Valley: 3

Fort Scott: 20 - Parsons: 1

Oklahoma HS Baseball

Vinita: 6 - Locust Grove: 3

Dewey: 13 - Keys: 0

Ketchum: 9 - Afton: 0

Copan: 12 - Welch: 0

Bluejacket: 16 - Oaks Mission: 1

KJCCC Baseball

Neosho: 17 - Metropolitan: 6

KJCCC Softball

Labette: 10 - Highland: 2

Labette: 8 - Highland: 0

Independence High School Baseball is off to a dominant 6-2 start this season. The Bulldogs have been led by a steady veteran presence on the field, including future Red Ravens Kamen Sprague and Spencer Crain. Another aspect of their success might be the field itself on which IHS is playing.

This is the first season Independence is playing at the new Central Park Sports Complex. IHS Athletic Director Marcus Lanning says the development was long in the making.

It was a timely outcome, as Lanning explains the situation with the Bulldogs previous baseball field.

The new facility uses artificial turf for the entirety of the infield, including the pitching mound and home plate area.

There are several benefits to this modern setup, mainly the frequency with which the field can be used. IHS Head Coach Paul Marquez mentions the team has been able to practice more consistently.

This means, of course, fewer games have been rained out. Lanning talks about how well the new field holds water.

Rain or not, the new playing surface is also much easier to prepare before each game. For Lanning, that has helped free him up for the rest of his duties as athletic director.

A new baseball home also means new dimensions. Coach Marquez believes his roster is well-suited for their new digs.

The Bulldogs have played well at their new field, winning four of their first five home games. They host two more times this month, both later this week.

IHS hosts Frontenac on Thursday and Labbette County on Friday. Both games start at 4:30 p.m.

The following are reported scores from April 13:

Kansas HS Baseball

Independence: 7 - Field Kindley: 2

Neodesha: 17 - Bluestem: 3 / Neodesha: 21 - Bluestem: 5

Cedar Vale/Dexter: 14 - Oxford: 3 / CVD: 12 - Oxford: 2

Sedan: 11 - Udall: 10 - Sedan: 11 - Udall: 1

South Sumner: 11 - West Elk: 8

Oklahoma HS Baseball

Bartlesville: 4 - Muskogee: 3

Vinita: 8 - Locust Grove: 0

Chelsea: 6 - Nowata: 5

Ketchum: 16 - Oklahoma Union: 0

Coffeyville Community College baseball completed a four-game sweep of Highland over the weekend. After blowout wins on Thursday, they came home to Walter Johnson Field on Saturday for the annual Conner Taylor Suicide Awareness Game.

The Ravens swept the twin bill Saturday, 6-to-4 and 12-2. It improves their conference record to 8-16, 6th best in the Jayhawks' eastern division.

Sophomore second baseman Ethan Foley was named this year's Conner Taylor Memorial Award winner. Foley is a reigning NJCAA Academic All-American with a 3.75 GPA and is batting .286 with 12 RBI this season.

Coffeyville has 10 regular season games remaining, starting with a doubleheader in Emporia against Cloud County on Wednesday. Head coach Jake Martin talks about what his team needs to do the rest of the way.

Nicholas Westendorp has also recently been used as a starting pitcher, tossing a complete-game victory on Thursday with 9 strikeouts.

As the Kansas High School Baseball season enters week four, let's take a look at where our area teams stand.

4A (Southeast Conference)

1) Independence (5-2)

2) Labette County (3-3)

3) Chanute (3-5)

4) Pittsburg (2-7)

5) Fort Scott (2-9)

6) Parsons (1-5)

7) Field Kindley (1-5)

3A (Tri-Valley Conference)

1) Caney Valley (9-1)

2) Humboldt (5-4)

3) Neodesha (3-2)

4) Cherryvale (3-6)

5) Fredonia (2-8)

6) Eureka (1-5)

7) Bluestem (1-7)

2A (Three Rivers Conference)

1) Cherokee Southeast (10-2)

2) Central Heights (8-0)

3) Marmaton Valley (7-3)

4) Uniontown (6-4)

5) Crest (6-4)

6) Jayhawk Linn (4-4)

7) Oswego (4-6)

8) Northeast (4-8)

9) Yates Center (3-7)

10) Pleasanton (3-7)

11) Erie (2-8)

12) St. Paul (0-10)

1A (South Central Standings)

1) Cedar Vale/Dexter (8-0)

2) South Sumner (5-1)

3) Flinthills (5-4)

4) Udall (3-4)

5) Oxford (3-4)

6) Sedan (3-6)

7) Central (2-5)

8) West Elk (1-8)

The Coffeyville Community College Red Raven baseball team will be holding the annual Conner Taylor game this weekend, raising awareness for suicide prevention and mental health.

The Red Ravens host the Highland Scotties on Saturday, April 11th, at Walter Johnson Park. The game will serve as a platform to spotlight the importance of mental health and to remember the life and legacy of Red Raven athlete Conner Taylor. Head Coach Jake Martin says Taylor's impact goes far beyond the baseball field.

Immediately following the 1 p.m. game, the Ravens and Taylor's family will recognize the 2026 recipient of the Conner Taylor Memorial Award. Martin says this applies to a current baseball player who embodies Taylor's qualities and work ethic.

Red Raven Athletics, along with the Change4Conner Foundation, will have a table set up at the park with brochures, t-shirts, and other materials to help share Conner's story and continue raising awareness. Martin says there are ways to support the foundation and the cause year-round.

Sunflower Soda Fountain will also be providing their Homecookin' on Wheels food truck on site during the games.

Story and Photo Courtesy: Coffeyville Community College

Last night at Leclere Park, Independence High School Baseball drilled Field Kindley 19-3. Kamen Sprague, Brett Carroll and Bryor Botts each recorded three hits. Spencer Crain struck out nine batters in 5.2 innings pitched.

Bulldogs head coach Paul Marquez is in his sixth season, and he believes this 2026 squad might be the best team he's led.

Independence is 5-2 this spring, which is sixth-best in their division, 4A-East. Most of their wins have been lopsided, and their two losses came by one run, 4-3 to Caney Valley and 11-10  to Baxter Springs.

Coach Marquez touts the Bulldogs' experience and says the team has done a good job of gelling with the younger players, too.

Independence is back on the field Monday, at home against Field Kindley.

The following are reported scores from April 9:

Kansas HS Baseball

Independence: 19 - Field Kindley: 3

Caney Valley: 7 - Parsons: 0

Columbus: 12 - Cherryvale: 9 / Columbus: 1 - Cherryvale: 0

Oswego: 16 - Northeast: 6 / Northeast: 15 - Oswego: 3

Cedar Vale/Dexter: 12 - Udall: 0

Mickey Mantle Classic

Welch: 8 - Commerce: 7

Bluejacket: 8 - Welch: 3

Vinita: 9 - Labette County: 8

Rose Hill: 6 - Vinita: 5

Oklahoma HS Baseball

Copan: 10 - Pawhuska: 2

Nowata: 11 - Colcord: 10

KJCCC Baseball

Coffeyville: 8 - Highland: 2

Coffeyville: 12 - Highland: 0

Fort Scott: 10 - Labette: 0

Fort Scott: 10 - Labette: 6

Cowley: 17 - Neosho: 6

Cowley: 11 - Neosho: 8

KJCCC Softball

Labette: 5 - Coffeyville: 1

Labette: 8 - Coffeyville: 7

Cowley: 14 - Independence: 1

Cowley: 10 - Independence: 9

Coffeyville Community College Women's Basketball has its first NJCAA All-American since 2022, as sophomore forward Aubrey Hishaw was named a division-1 Honorable Mention.

Hishaw was second on the team in scoring with 14 points per game, and added 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest. Her 185 made field goals and 106 offensive rebounds each ranked third in the KJCCC.

She also ranked in the top 10 in the conference in rebounds (242, fourth), rebounds per game (fifth) and points per game (eighth).

Hishaw becomes the first Lady Raven to achieve the honor since Faith Simpson. She has signed to play for NCAA Division I Oral Roberts University next season.

Photo Courtesy: Coffeyville Community College

As part of Celebrate Independence – America 250, there will be a special celebration at the April 21 Independence High School baseball and softball games against Fort Scott.

In addition to a first-pitch ceremony honoring baseball history in Independence, there will also be free hot dogs and apple pie provided as supplies last.

It will be held at the Central Park Sports Complex in Independence. At 4:15, three local baseball legends, Jerry Webster, George “Rusty” Burns, and Toby Cook, will be honored before the game.

Webster, as Craig Nulls describes, was a National Baseball Congress champion and father of a major leaguer.

Burns was a Texas League hall of famer, but his hopes of the major leagues were dashed by World War II and, later, a back injury, as Nulls describes.

Finally, Cook was an IHS graduate who would go on to work for the Kansas City Royals for 15 years, Nulls says.

Each of the three men will either be there or have a family member represent them to throw the first pitch.

Photo Courtesy: Independence Chamber of Commerce

Coffeyville Community College hosts the annual Conner Taylor Suicide Awareness Baseball Game this weekend at Walter Johnson Park.

The Red Ravens take on Highland Community College this Saturday at 1:00pm and will honor the life of former CCC baseball player Conner Taylor, who died in 2016. The game serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and suicide prevention. With support from Conner’s family and the Change4Conner Foundation, CCC became the first community college in Kansas to establish a campus organization with the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Following the first game, the 2026 Conner Taylor Memorial Award will be presented to a sophomore student-athlete who reflects Taylor’s work ethic, academic success and compassion. Information and awareness materials will also be available at the park throughout the event.

The following are reported scores from April 7:

Kansas HS Baseball

Labette County: 5 - Field Kindley: 0

Independence: 12 - Baxter Springs: 2 / Baxter: 11 - Independence: 10

Caney Valley: 18 - Eureka: 3 / Canvey Valley: 17 - Eureka: 2

Neodesha: 21 - Fredonia: 7 / Neodesha: 12 - Fredonia: 2

Chanute: 11 - Parsons: 0

Oklahoma HS Baseball

Deer Creek: 9 - Bartlesville: 5

Dewey: 5 - Victory Christian: 3

Copan: 8 - Chouteau-Mazie: 0

Jay: 12 - Vinita: 9

Fairland: 6 - Ketchum: 2

Colcord: 4 - Bluejacket: 3

KJCCC Baseball

Crowder: 13 - Neosho: 1

KJCCC Softball

Connors State: 12 - Coffeyville: 10

Connors State: 5 - Coffeyville: 3

Cloud County: 15 - Neosho: 0

Cloud County: 13 - Neosho: 3

Butler: 10 - Labette: 9

Yesterday afternoon at Byers Field, Coffeyville Community College Softball a doubleheader with Connors State. With 16 games left in the regular season, the Lady Red Ravens already have their most wins in a season since 2018.

Behind this resurgence is one of the most dynamic offenses in the Jayhawk Conference. In just her second season, head coach Ashton Friend has the Ravens logging the fifth-best batting average and third-best slugging percentage in the eleven-team league.

Coach Friend says the key is getting the hitters to understand they get to control each at-bat.

One of Coffeyville's hitters who has exemplified that the best is sophomore third baseman Kaylee Henderson. She mentions the importance of making adjustments.

Henderson has hit eight home runs, the third most in the conference. She has already surpassed her home run total from last season, six, in half the at-bats.

The Ravens have begun conference play with a 2-2 record. They will play a Jayhawk opponent for the first time in nearly two weeks tomorrow, when they host Labette Community College at 1 p.m.

Photo and Audio Courtesy: Coffeyville Community College

The following are reported scores from April 6:

Kansas HS Baseball

Uniontown: 10 - Oswego: 0 / Unionton: 13 - Oswego: 7

Cedar Vale/Dexter: 16 - Sedan: 0 / CVD: 19 - Sedan: 0

West Elk: 7 - Flinthills: 2 / Flinthills: 14 - West Elk: 0

Erie: 10 - Pleasanton: 8 / Pleasanton: 15 - Erie: 0

Jayhawk Linn: 15 - St. Paul: 5 / Jawhawk Linn: 18 - St. Paul: 4

Oklahoma HS Baseball

Barnsdall: 16 - Oklahoma Union: 4

Victory Christian: 6 - Dewey: 4

Wyandotte: 10 - Caney Valley: 0

Nowata: 14 - South Coffeyville: 2 / Nowata: 13 - South Coffeyville: 5

Deer Creek: 7 - Bartlesville: 2

Vinita: 9 -  Jay: 3

KJCCC Softball

Metropolitan: 10 - Independence: 5

Metropolitan: 9 - Independence: 0

A fourth player from the 2025-26 Coffeyville Community College Women's Basketball team has made a commitment to a four-year school. Recently, the school announced sophomore guard Hallie Kitchen has committed to play at Southern Arkansas University next season.

This season in Coffeyville, Kitchen played in 32 games and recorded the seventh most assists in the Jayhawk Conference with 113. According to her coach, Tony Turner, staying focused on the task at hand was the key to her recruitment.

The Broken Arrow native started 52 of the 63 games she played during her two years as a Red Raven. Coach Turner says her basketball IQ is perhaps her strongest trait.

Kitchen joins teammates Aubrey Hishaw (Oral Roberts), Isabella Pehrson (Emporia State) and Karliey Parker (Rogers State) as Lady Ravens moving on to four-year programs from this year's team.

As the Kansas High School Baseball season enters week three, let's take a look at where our area teams stand.

4A (Southeast Conference)

1) Independence (3-1)

2) Pittsburg (2-2)

3) Labette County (1-1)

4) Parsons (1-2)

5) Chanute (1-5)

6) Fort Scott (1-6)

3A (Tri-Valley Conference)

1) Caney Valley (5-1)

2) Cherryvale (3-4)

3) Fredonia (2-4)

4) Neodesha (1-2)

5) Eureka (1-2)

6) Bluestem (1-3)

7) Humboldt (1-3)

2A (Three Rivers Conference)

1) Crest (6-0)

2) Central Heights (6-0)

3) Cherokee Southeast (6-2)

4) Uniontown (4-2)

5) Marmaton Valley (4-2)

6) Oswego (3-3)

7) Jayhawk Linn (2-4)

8) Yates Center (2-4)

9) Northeast (2-6)

10) Pleasanton (1-5)

11) Erie (1-7)

12) St. Paul (0-6)

1A (South Central Standings)

1) Cedar Vale/Dexter (4-0)

2) South Sumner (4-0)

3) Flinthills (3-3)

4) Sedan (3-3)

5) Udall (2-2)

6) Central (1-3)

7) Oxford (1-3)

8) West Elk (0-7)

The University of Tulsa’s men's basketball team fell to Auburn in last night’s National Invitational Tournament Final, 92-86. The Golden Hurricane trailed by as many as 21 points in the first half, but stormed back with a 24-to-2 run in the second half. 

Tulsa led by five with a minute to go, but a couple of Auburn three’s and a Tulsa turnover on a five-second violation sent the game to overtime.

Auburn took that momentum at the end of regulation into the extra period and won its first NIT Championship. Tulsa was previously 2-0 in the NIT’s final game.

It concludes just the second 30-win season ever for Tulsa. This was their head coach, Eric Konkol, after the game.

The last time Tulsa basketball won this many games, Bill Self was the head coach back in 1999-2000.

An Independence High School pitcher passes a career milestone in a 14-6 win over Caney.

Senior Pitcher Kamen Sprague passed 100 career strikeouts in his second win of the season. The Bulldogs beat the Bullpups 14-6 with Sprague striking out five. On the season, Sprague has nine strikeouts and is 2-0 with a 3.39 ERA.

Sprague didn't just make an impact on the mound in the win against Caney he helped himself out offensively as well. He went 2-2 and had three RBIs. Independence is 3-1 to start the season.

The Kansas City Royals lost their series finale to the Twins yesterday, 5-1. Making headlines around the sports world was the Royals' rookie catcher and top prospect, Carter Jensen, who was a late scratch from the lineup.

After the game, Royals manager Matt Quatraro revealed it was because Jensen overslept for the afternoon game.

Salvador Perez had caught the night before and was supposed to serve as the designated hitter yesterday afternoon, but the 35-year-old was forced back into the field.

Perez committed an error in the second inning that allowed the Twins' first run to score. Jensen did not enter the game until the ninth inning as a defensive replacement.

After the game, the 22-year-old Jensen answered for his rookie mistake.

The Royals continue their opening homestand tonight, beginning a series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Pregame coverage starts at 6 p.m. on the Mighty 690.

The University of Tulsa Basketball is headed to the NIT Championship game. 

They defeated New Mexico last night in the semifinal 74-69. Four of the five Golden Hurricane starters scored in double figures. 

They were strong defensively too, notching seven steals and blocking seven shots.

It was Tulsa’s 30th win this season, and they’ll advance to play Auburn in Sunday night’s championship game.

Tipoff is at 7 on Sunday, the Golden Hurricane is looking for its third NIT Championship win in as many tries, having captured titles in 1981 and 2001.

The 2026-27 Coffeyville Red Ravens Basketball team gets a boost, as forward Jeremiah Ibeziako has signed a letter of intent to return for his sophomore season.

The 6'8 Nigerian native played in 31 games for the Ravens last season. All of his appearances were off the bench, and he averaged nearly 9 points and 5 rebounds per game.

His best performance as a freshman came against Independence, where he logged 29 points and eight rebounds in the November 22 win.

Ibeziako played some of his best basketball down the stretch as well, scoring 21 points on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting in the regular season finale against Fort Hays Tech.

He is expected to be one of the top contributors on next year's team.

Photo Courtesy: Coffeyville Community College

Last night's rain has affected several baseball and softball games in our area.

Kansas HS Baseball

Field Kindley's game with Columbus has been rained out.

Neodesha's games with Fredonia have been rained out.

NJCAA

Coffeyville Baseball moved its doubleheader to Fort Scott, starting at 4 p.m.

Coffeyville Softball rescheduled today's doubleheader with Highland for April 28.

Coffeyville Community College Baseball hopes April is kinder to them than March.

The Red Ravens were 5-14 last month and have begun conference play 3-13.

The Jawhawk league is perhaps the most competitive in the country. This week's NJCAA poll has three teams in the conference ranked in the national top 12.

As coach Jake Martin explains, there are no soft spots on the schedule.

Nationally top-ranked Johnson County swept them in a four-game series in March. The Ravens held their own with #12 Hutchinson in February, going 2-2 in that series. On April 15, #4 Cloud County awaits for two games in Emporia.

The Ravens will play a doubleheader at Fort Scott today at 4 p.m.

The Field Kindley High School baseball team drop both games of a doubleheader to Cherryvale, falling 8-4 in game one and 15-5 in game two.

In the opener, Cherryvale struck first in the bottom of the first and broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth with a two-run single, followed by a fielder’s choice to extend the lead. The Nado tied the game earlier in the third on a groundout, but couldn't regain momentum.

Game two saw Cherryvale break out with nine runs in the second inning to take control. The Nado scored three in the first, helped by two hit batters and a fielder’s choice, but couldn't keep pace. The Chargers add five more runs in the third to seal the win. Cherryvale finishes with nine hits in game two and capitalizes on multiple walks and errors.

Field Kindley returns to action tomorrow against Columbus.

The following are reported scores from March 31:

Kansas HS Baseball

Cherryvale: 8 - Field Kindley: 4 / Cherryvale: 15 - Field Kindley: 5

Chanute: 16 - Pittsburg: 9

Oklahoma HS Baseball

Hominy: 11 - Caney Valley: 10

Oologah: 9 - Vinita: 3

Tulsa NOAH HomeSchool: 7 - Ketchum: 3

Dewey: 10 - Rejoice Christian: 5

NJCAA Softball

Eastern Oklahoma State: 6 - Coffeyville: 3

Eastern Oklahoma State: 12 - Coffeyville: 7

Labette: 6 - Hutchinson: 4

Labette: 6 - Hutchinson: 5

Oswego's domination of the 2026 Kansas State Archery Championships last weekend in Hutchinson saw them win their third straight middle school and fourth straight elementary team championship.

To learn more about their program, we sat down with their head coach, Neal Cruse. He began shortly after the program's inception in 2011, with the help of Ray Huff and Theresa Farris at Service Valley Charter Academy.

They began with the middle school team, then expanded to the elementary and later the high school teams, all part of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP).

The NASP has guidelines, which include 10 hours of instruction during the school year. Neal and his coaches typically begin in November, and the season can go as late as June.

Oswego archers also practice outside of school hours, including on weekends.

As in any sport, skill is built on good foundations. The NASP includes specific instructional steps that come in handy when teaching kids as young as elementary school age.

Some kids are interested in archery because they like hunting, but Coach Cruse explains that there is a strong appeal for those who do not compete in other traditional sports.

Oswego's success in local tournaments frequently qualifies them for national tournaments. This year, the NASP holds Eastern Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, May 7-9.

There is no school funding to supply these trips, which leaves fundraising and difficult decisions to each family.

Cruse has a vision for what the program can achieve beyond state competitions.

Cruse, who is also the P.E. Teacher at Service Valley Charter Academy and Neosho Heights, and the cross country coach at Oswego High School, credits the team's other five coaches, four of whom are unpaid.

Over the years, Cruse has also coached football, basketball, and track. But he talks about what makes coaching archery special.

It takes a village, and Cruse also thanks the school's administration and the community for their support.

Finally, he encourages other schools to consider adding archery programs. They can do so by reaching out to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, who offer the necessary training and grant funding.