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The familiar crack of a baseball bat and cheers from parents at ballfields around town are sounds that signal summer has arrived. While many student athletes spend the summer enjoying the sunshine and team comradery in Little League or competitive baseball and softball, Grain Valley’s Yard Baseball Club is in the business of training those in the area with emerging talent to take their skills to the next level. The Yard Baseball Club facility, located at 1460 NW Olympic Drive, opened in Grain Valley in November 2017 and shares space with Boost Physical Therapy. Coach Jeff Jolliffe, a former Iowa State baseball player, leads the Club, along with a team of experienced coaches who focus on guiding player development on and off the field. The Club boasts a number of athletes who have gone on to be recruited to college and professional play, including Pedro Alfonseca, who currently plays with the Cleveland Indians. In addition to 6 tunnels and 2 bullpens, the Club offers a number of diagnostic tools, including a HitTrax simulator which analyzes player mechanics. Sharing space with Boost Physical Therapy also benefits athletes through free screenings with therapists to identify issues and injuries that may arise. Memberships allow access to the facility 7 days a week, 8:00am – 10:00pm. The facility is also available for special event rentals, including birthday parties. Coach Jolliffe’s wife, Meghan Jolliffe, has the title of “Vice-President: Non Baseball Tasks”, and is a driving force behind the scenes. Meghan recently gave Valley News a tour of the Club’s facility and shared information on the facility’s newest effort, the Groundwork Athletic Performance Academy. Groundwork Athletic Performance Academy is a co-educational after school program that will teach students grades 3-8 the skills needed to be a well-rounded athlete. In addition to focusing on baseball and softball, the program will emphasize skills building in strength, speed, agility and nutrition. “A lot of kids don’t know how to train, and don’t know what to do. We really want to work with kids early to prevent injury, maintain a healthy mental focus, and stay active,” Jolliffe said. “We’re seeing childhood obesity increase, activity decrease, and kids not playing outside. Parents don’t always understand the nutrition needs of athletes. And, we are seeing a need to help students gain the skills to compete mentally.” The academy is offering an early enrollment special of $90/week if enrolled by June 1st. The after school academy is offered Monday – Friday until 6:00pm. A series of camps for student athletes will be held at the facility this summer to introduce the academy concept to athletes and their parents. Groundwork Camp, to be held June 10-12 from 9:00am – Noon, will be a co-ed camp designed for all athletes. Participants will be taught important fundamentals for all athletes, including strength, speed, and agility, as well as nutrition. The camp will focus on baseball and softball, but a variety of sports will be taught. Additional camps include a Pitcher/Catcher camp from June 24th—26th, a HitTrax camp from July 8th—10th, and an Infield/Outfield camp July 22nd—24th. Each of the Academy’s programs focus heavily on utilizing data to improve results, and each athlete will leave the camp with a report card to help improve their play. For more information on the Groundwork Athletic Performance Academy summer camps and programs, call 816-728-6024 or visit www.gapkc.com. For more information on the Yard Baseball Club and facilities, including special event rentals, contact Meghan Jolliffe at 816-728-6024, by email at meghan.jolliffe@icloud.com, or visit www.yardbaseballclub.com. The walls of the Yard Baseball Club are filled with the names of student baseball and softball athletes who have gone on to be recruited by colleges and professional baseball teams, including Pedro Alfonseca, who currently plays with the Cleveland Indians. Photo credit: Valley News staff The HitTrax machine is just one of the diagnostic tools Yard Baseball Club coaches use to analyze players’ swing and speed. Coaches use data to improve a player’s performance, and a partnership with Boost Physical Therapy ensures players reduce injury risk. Photo credit: Valley News staff
The Slydawgs 12U baseball team will be traveling to Cooperstown, New York, June 21-28, 2019. Ernie Cota, Head Coach, and coaches John Gorham, Aron Bunting, Jason Stump, and Spencer Albin will drive the team by bus to play at Cooperstown. The team has been together since the 2012-13 season. Three of the original members still play on the team. Team parent Corrie Wolff explained the trip has been a long-time goal of the team. “It has been a dream of the team to play in one of the most respected and sought-after baseball experiences in the nation. They had talked about it for years aiming to get there when they turned 12U which is the only age group that plays Cooperstown. We hope that this experience will give them memories that will last a lifetime and continue to grow the bond they have as teammates and friends,” Wolff said. The team has been actively fundraising, hosting pizza sales, gift card raffles, and other efforts, and welcomes any form of sponsorship, which could include monetary donations to offset some of the costs, or donations of snacks, drinks, and supplies for the road trip. Pictured back row to front row, left to right:
Zachary Cota, Cayton Stump, Garrett Madden, Mitchell Nipper, Ryan Rohr, Adin Bunting, Lukas Wolff, Logan Arp, Jack Miller, Jackson Madden, Hayden Albin, Tre Gorham. Photo credit: Rae Corn Heading up efforts to keep the City’s animals safe and neighbors at peace is Animal Control Officer Ken Tuttle. Tuttle previously held the role of animal control officer for the City and has recently returned to the role. Valley News recently sat down with Tuttle and Grain Valley Police Department Captain Scott Hedger, supervising officer over animal control, to learn more about their work in the community. One of the most well known duties of an animal control officer is managing the City’s lost and found animals. Tuttle explains that reports of lost pets increase in the spring for several reasons. Dogs are often frightened by storms and can run off in fear. Broken tree limbs can also damage fences and create an opportunity for dogs to escape their yard. Tuttle encourages owners to stay aware during bad weather and inspect their yards and fences for damage regularly. “Ken is really good about finding owners. He usually finds out who the owner is and gets back to them before they have to go to our housing,” Hedger said. The City contracts with Oak Grove Animal Clinic to house lost animals who cannot be immediately reunited with their owners. “We have a 5 day standard hold. After that period, we work with a number of rescues who help with foster homes and adoptions,” Tuttle said. Pet owners are required to license their pets annually with the City, and those registration tags can be helpful if a pet is found by animal control. Pet owners are also encouraged to microchip their pets and update the registration annually.. “We try to stress that with everyone, because it makes the process so much easier to get the animal back to their owners quickly. Often, a stray dog or cat manages to wriggle out of or lose their color and ID tags, so the microchip is the last line of defense to identify the animal,” Tuttle said. Tuttle monitors social media as well, but sees the tool as a mixed blessing. It is sometimes helpful when trying to locate a pet owner, but both Tuttle and Hedger warn against trying to approach or temporarily house an animal you do not know. “My recommendation to residents who find a dog is to first call animal control. The main reason is for safety. Even a social dog could give you an issue if you try to grab it. I would suggest giving Ken a call and having him handle the situation,” Hedger said. Grain Valley does not have any breed restrictions, but there are restrictions regarding the number of animals allowed per household. A maximum of four (4) animals above the age of 6 months are allowed. Outside of reuniting wandering pets with their owners, Tuttle spends a good portion of his time investigating and moderating complaints. “The biggest complaint we come across is the noise complaint or excessive barking complaint. It really is a grey area when it comes to that. Dogs bark – it’s what they do. It is more of a common courtesy among neighbors to monitor your pets and bring them in or distract them if they are excessively barking,” Tuttle said. As temperatures rise in the summer, Tuttle also fields many calls related to dogs who are outside without proper shelter or water. “Owners just need to be aware and plan ahead if they need to leave their dogs outside while they are at work or on an errand. Some dogs are better equipped for the climate. A double coated dog like a Husky or a Chow obviously won’t do well in the summer heat without proper shelter and plenty of water,” Tuttle said. Tuttle emphasizes that educating and moderating disagreements is his primary goal, not punishment. “Accidents happen. Someone leaves the gate open, or the kids forget to shut the door and an animal gets out. It is only when it becomes a routine or neglectful that we have an issue,” Tuttle said. “I’ts not about writing tickets and handing out fines,” Hedger said. “Those are the steps we take if all other efforts have failed, but our chief role is as an educator and diplomat.” “That’s right. There are times where my role is just to drop the tailgate down on the truck and have a discussion,” Tuttle said. “I’ve seen Ken sit on the tailgate of the truck with two neighbors who had a long standing disagreement and by the end they were able to peacefully co-exist,” Hedger said. To reach Officer Tuttle, call 816-847-6264 or email ktuttle@grainvalleypolice.org. For more information on the City’s Animal Control policies, visit https://www.cityofgrainvalley.org/departments/police/animal-control/. Animal Control Officer Ken Tuttle patrols Grain Valley, reuniting lost pets with owners and keeping the peace among neighbors. To reach Officer Tuttle, call 816-847-6264 or email ktuttle@grainvalleypolice.org.
Photo courtesy of City of Grain Valley. by Peyton Jenkins, Branch Manager, Grain Valley Branch, Mid-Continent Public Library Here at the library, we love books. We loooove them. We love talking about them, sharing them, smelling them, and sometimes we even get around to reading them. We love books so much that I bet that’s the first thing that comes to mind when you picture the library.
Well, guilty as charged—but did you know how much more the library offers? Here are 12 things you can do at Mid-Continent Public Library besides check out books (although you’re always welcome to do that too!). Learn a foreign language. Whether you’re trying to fulfill that lifelong dream of learning Telugu or brushing up on your Swedish before summer vacation, the Library has you covered. We have a variety of foreign language databases for learners of all ages. My favorite is Mango Languages, which offers a bright, visual method of learning. You can even take a course in Pirate! Ahoy, matey! Earn your high school diploma. MCPL is proud to sponsor Career Online High School, which offers local adults the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma. This joint partnership with Kansas City Public Library and Literary KC recently graduated its second class of students! Certain eligibility requirements apply, but this is an excellent opportunity to advance your education. Tell your story. Have you been looking for a way to express yourself? MCPL will help you find the words. If you are an aspiring novelist, memoirist, poet, dramatist, or oral storyteller, MCPL’s Story Center offers a variety of programs and resources to help you hone your craft. If you would like to preserve your loved ones’ stories, explore the Tell Me a Story oral history program at the Midwest Genealogy Center. We all have stories to tell—let MCPL help you tell yours! Get published. Not only can The Story Center help you put pen to paper, it can help you publish your work! Woodneath Press is MCPL’s publishing imprint, which focuses on works of local interest. If you’d like to self-publish, the Espresso Book Machine (also part of The Story Center) is a print-on-demand service that can turn out a paperback book in minutes. If you are interested in either of these services, visit MyStoryCenter.org today! Start a business. You have the idea. You have the passion. You have the drive. Now what? Make an appointment with Square One Small Business Services, a free service that will help you discover the potential in your small business. Square One offers a variety of services, including expert-led classes and one-on-one consultations. Whatever your small business dream, Square One can help you achieve it. Research your past. Located in Independence, the Midwest Genealogy Center is MCPL’s state-of-the-art genealogical research facility full of handy resources and helpful staff. Whether you are a weekend genealogist or a hardcore researcher, MGC offers the help you’re looking for. Take a tour; take a class; take a look―your family history is just waiting for you to uncover it. Download or stream music. With Freegal Music―available with your Library card―your favorite songs and artists are at your fingertips. Download and keep five songs a week, or stream anytime―all for free! I personally may have gone a little overboard with the Dolly Parton downloads, but hey, they’re free! Print on the go. We’ve all been there―the mad rush out the door with lunch in one hand, dog leash in the other, keys in mouth (unsanitary, but you know you’ve done it!), and it hits you! You forgot to print that very important thing! Well, MCPL has you covered. Each of our branches offers mobile printing! Print from your phone, laptop, or other device with the easy PrinterOn app. Just send the document through the app and pay and print at your convenience! Also ask at your local branch about printing via email. Rub elbows with authors. MCPL offers many exciting opportunities to meet and chat with authors, both local and nationally recognized. Whether through The Story Center’s ongoing Speaker Series or special events such as the LitUp Festival or annual Legacy Luncheon, we are committed to providing you access to some of the most inspiring and talented writers of the decade. Past author visits include Alexander McCall Smith, Gillian Flynn, and Jacqueline Woodson. Visit mymcpl.org/SpeakerSeries to see who will visit next! Fix your car. For the mechanically minded of you, MCPL offers several automotive databases complete with diagrams, schematics, and step-by-step instructions. Find the fix you need, print, and go—your project is waiting! Some of these services are available in-branch only, but our friendly staff is always here to help. Hold a meeting. Whether you’re hosting a small meeting or tutoring session, or a much larger community event, MCPL offers a range of spaces to accommodate your needs. Not all of the rooms are free, and there are specific limitations on the kinds of meetings you can host (no birthday parties or weddings, please), but for a convenient coworking space with a range of amenities, including high-speed Wi-Fi, look no further than your local Library! Win prizes. Let’s face it: everybody loves free stuff. And the Library loves to give you free stuff! In addition to our year-round free resources and services, we regularly have contests, drawings, reading challenges, and programs that offer prizes for all ages. With the help of generous community partners, we’ve given away Kindles, Beats headphones, tickets to sporting events, ballets, musicals, museums, and concerts, and even an all-expense-paid trip to the Dominican Republic! Obviously, prizes and contests will vary, but stop by soon—you never know what we’ll be giving away next. So there you have it. Twelve things you can do at your local Library without checking out a single book. So what are you waiting for? Come on down, and we’ll be glad to get you started. We can’t wait to see you! by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Recently at the Historical Society, we welcomed the American Literature classes from Grain Valley High School to the museum. The students visited after studying “Our Town,” written by the famous American writer and playwright Thornton Wilder. His play takes place between 1901 and 1913 in Grover’s Corner, a fictional town based on a real place, Peterborough, New Hampshire. At the Historical Society our goal is to introduce the students to their town —Grain Valley. Because “Our Town” is a play, I’ve spent some time compiling information about Grain Valley’s first theater. The Royal Playhouse, as it was called, was built by Jasper Newton “Newt” Sanders in 1910, during the era of “Our Town” in Grover’s Corner. Mr. Sanders came to Grain Valley from Kentucky and married a local girl, Anne Lee Herrington. Newt became a successful farmer, inventor and entrepreneur. He, along with his brother-in-laws, David C. Herrington, patented a cane mill used by many farmers in the area. Profits from farming and the cane mill allowed him to build the Playhouse. He also built three houses, one for each of his daughters, on the north side of today’s Walnut Street between Capelle and Gregg. In 1910, the front entrance to the Playhouse was on Walnut Street, today’s Main Street. I cannot determine when the street names changed. The entrance consisted of three doors. The door on the left opened into a chili parlor, and the one on the right opened into a mercantile. The center door opened into a hallway leading to the main portion of the building that served numerous functions as the social center of Grain Valley for many years. At the end of the hall was a counter where skates were rented on Saturday nights. On Friday nights they would put out the folding chairs for the silent movies where someone played the piano, usually my Aunt Opal Fristoe. Later talking pictures were featured on Friday nights. Before the first brick school burned in 1925, high school baseball games were played there. The “new school” had a gymnasium. My parents remembered dances held there in the 1930’s. It was during prohibition and there was sometimes a ruckus! Goldie (Russell) Montgomery, a teacher at the high school, taught the girls in her class the Charleston, and they performed on stage at the west end of the building, The building was sometimes referred to as the “opera” house, but no operas were performed there. There were occasionally operettas or plays, usually directed by my great Aunt Ruth (Sanders) Belford. Many of the cousins, along with other local people, played the parts. I do not know the exact date of the closing of the Playhouse, but my great-grandfather, Newt, died in 1941. Ray “Pop” Frantz operated a gasoline station there in the 1940s, and in the 1950s and 60s, Fred Roberts used the building and adjoining lot a salvage yard for WW II planes, tanks, jeeps and other war surplus vehicles. The Grain Valley Historical Society Museum is located at 510 Main Street. Visit the Historical Society’s website, www.grainvalleyhistory.com, and follow the Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@grainvalleyhistory). Top photo: The Royal Playhouse, Grain Valley’s first theater. Bottom photo: The stage curtain at The Royal Playhouse was actually a drop with a painting, perhaps of Sni Creek with Monkey Mountain in the background, and surrounded with advertisement from local businesses.
After such a rainy spring, many homeowners and business owners are unfortunately finding themselves with leaks in their ceilings — for many, this unwelcome sight is the first indication they notice of an issue with their roof. Rayne Storm Consulting, a trusted roofing contractor with more than 30 years experience serving the Kansas City area, has been busy working with homeowners and businesses to identify and repair these issues and set up ongoing inspections to prevent future problems. Justin Collins with Rayne Storm Consulting, encourages residents to contact a trusted roofing contractor first before calling their insurance company. “The first call you should always make is to the roofing company. The reason for that is that you might not have a problem serious enough to submit a claim to your insurance company. You may have no roofing issue or a simple issue that can be easily fixed. The roofing contractor will be able to help you. You want to have someone you trust to go with you through the entire claims process, if the repair does require a claim to be filed,” Collins said. Whether you have an issue or not, Collins suggests homeowners and business owners work with a trusted roofing contractor to schedule annual inspections of your roof. A quick inspection can identify any minor issues that could cause headaches in the future. “We try to help people stay ahead of these issues, and a yearly inspection is an important part of keeping your home or business maintained well,” Collins said. Rayne Storm Consulting LLC has HAAG certified and trained personnel on staff and are long time members of the NRCA. Rayne Storm has been listed as one of the top 100 roofing companies in the country. The company invests in the newest project management software available and is experienced in dealing with insurance companies on behalf of customers. Customers may call the office at any time for exact details on when materials will be delivered and when a job will start. Customers also receive before/after photos of each job along with a complete warranty package and registrations. Rayne Storm Consulting receives much of their work from referrals and are proud of the referrals they receive from previous customers. In addition to roofing, Rayne Storm Consulting’s general contractors also provide a variety of additional services, including: Storm Damage Restoration Siding and Windows Decks Remodeling Services Rayne Storm Consulting LLC is located at 1600 SW US Highway 40, Blue Springs. Their professionals can be reached by phone at 816-443-8580 or online at www.raynestormco.com. Sponsored advertisement. by Wayne Geiger Keys are a necessary evil. On one hand, they represent power and control. Keys allow and restrict access. On another level, carrying too many can be bulky. Losing your keys can be traumatic. It was an unusual day to say the least. I was officiating a funeral and a wedding on the same day. The funeral was in the morning and the wedding in the afternoon. My wife was helping out with the wedding which was at the church. She needed access to the church while I would be at the funeral and asked, “Can I borrow your keys to the church?” As a control freak, I swallowed hard and tried to maintain control. If she had asked for one of my kidneys, I would have quickly obliged and pulled out a pocketknife. Giving up my keys meant giving up control and access. I reluctantly agreed and turned over the keys. No words of caution needed to be shared. “It will be fine,” I reminded myself. Later that afternoon when I got to the church, my wife, who was in full wedding decorating mode, caught me in the hall and exclaimed, “Tell me that you saw your keys and grabbed them.” “No,” I said, cautiously, hoping she was just playing. I could tell by her eyes she wasn’t playing. “Please tell me you didn’t lose my keys” I pleaded. In defense she said, “I don’t know what happened to them. I know I had them, but then, I accidently dropped some stuff, but then later I could not find them.” As a pastor, and one who shares biblical advice to couples, on occasion, this was an opportunity for me to show grace and mercy, and to practice what I preach. This was not the time for “I knew it” or “I told you so!” That never solves anything and leads to more despair. For the next several hours, I internalized by emotions, but could think of nothing else but the keys. I prayed, “Lord, you know all things. Please reveal where my keys are.” Although we had scores of people searching the premises, they were nowhere to be found. As it grew later and later, I began to panic as lost keys might mean a host of other problems including the possibility of having to rekey the premises. The wedding ceremony was beautiful, and thankfully, my mind was focused on the event. But, by the time of the reception, they still were not found. In true Indiana Jones-like fashion, I continued my search leaving no stone unturned. I decided to enjoy the reception with the wedding party, my wife, and now my five-year-old grandson who came to stay the night. As the reception began to wind down, it was agreed upon that I would take our grandson home and my wife would help the breakdown crew put stuff away and begin the cleaning process. She assured me that when things got picked up, she would probably find the missing keys. I appreciated her optimism. That’s what I figured too. At about 10:20 PM, she came home exhausted and said, “Okay, can you go make sure everything looks good?” Her entrance was somewhat anticlimactic. I expected her to say, “Good news! We found the keys!” But, there was no such remark. I had to ask, somewhat sheepishly, “Did you find my keys?” “Nope” was the reply without explanation or emotion. I headed back to the church and said farewell to the wedding party. I visited every single room that was used, straightened up a bit, and picked up a few small items. Extremely exhausted, both physically and emotionally, I headed for the outside door and my awaiting pillow. Unfortunately, my forward progress was halted as I noticed one room that had a few empty boxes, an overflowing trashcan, and some loose trash that needed to be thrown away. There was also a dustpan and broom. Although there were probably two loads, like the typical man, I decided to do it in one trip. With both hands and arms full, I headed for an external door to the dumpster. I reminded myself, “Make sure to prop the door open or you’ll be locked out.” I tightly clutched the items in my arms and hands and found a small piece of wood that I could use to block the door open. I was so proud of myself that, like a multitasking soccer player, I was able to position the block with my foot between the door and frame without setting anything down. Although my mind said, “Be careful,” my exhaustion and unwillingness to expend any additional energy said, “I got this.” Then, almost in slow motion, I was horrified as I watched the door swing shut, pushing the piece of wood out of the way. I lunged for the door, but it was too late—click. “Are you kidding me!” I said aloud. I thought to myself, “It’s now 10:40pm and I’m locked out of the church with no keys. I have a bunch of trash, a trashcan, and dustpan and broom that need to be put back in!” Keeping my cool, I just decided to do what needed to be done and I’d deal with it tomorrow. I could bring the extra stuff home. I threw the boxes and loose trash away. Then, I emptied the garbage can. All of a sudden, I heard a familiar, tingling sound echoing from the dumpster. It sounded like keys. Not just any keys, but my keys! I was able to decipher the message. They were crying out in pain for me to rescue them. In the darkness of night, dressed in my suit pants and shirt, I climbed onto the side of the dumpster and felt around. I had a renewed burst of energy. Somewhere below me, I heard the jingling sound, but it was too dark to see and I couldn’t find the source. My fear now was that they would fall to the bottom. I decided to be extremely cautious, but by this point, I was prepared to go dumpster diving to rescue some of my closest friends. Who knows what other treasures I might find, as well? I needed light. Since I didn’t have my phone with me, I ran home to get my trusty flashlight. Once back in position, I shined the light into the dumpster and began digging through the trash. And, alas, I saw a metallic reflection, glimmering like the moon. My keys! They were just out of reach. I hunched my body over the side and, like an American Ninja Warrior, I was able to snatch them before they, or I, fell into the abyss. “Praise the Lord,” I said triumphantly! I felt an immediate sense of relief, joy, and thankfulness. I quickly thanked God for His provision and put the keys in my pocket. I was whole again. As I thought about the experience, many thoughts and lessons came to mind. First, in case you’re wondering, I will continue to loan my wife my keys without question. Second, I’m thankful that God gives me opportunities to grow in my faith and cry out to Him for a solution to my problems. He reminds me that I am not alone, nor do I need to be. Finally, I was reminded that everyone and everything has a home. God is the finder of lost things—both me and my keys. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Church Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech at Johnson Country Community College, and a freelance writer. Grain Valley High School Boys Tennis performed well in District play on Saturday, May 11th. “Our singles players, Brady Slater and Tristin Whitton each went 1 and 1. Both played well, but got beat by the first and second seeded players. Our doubles teams played tremendous all day,” Head Coach Randy Draper said. The doubles team of Dean Mobley and Trent Tarrants took 3rd place at the District tournament. The doubles team of Joel Florida and Bryson Martin won the District knocking off the top seeded team in the final in 3 sets. “They were down 5-2 in the second set, a game away from defeat, and came back and won that set in a tie breaker and went on to win the 3rd set. A great accomplishment for them,” Draper said. Florida and Martin continued to Sectional play at the Plaza Tennis Center on Tuesday, May 14th. Grain Valley High School Boys Tennis performed well in district play on Saturday,
May 11th. Photo courtesy of Mike Tarrants. Despite gloomy and cool spring weather on Saturday, May 11th, Grain Valley Eagles Track and Field shined at the District meet. The girls team finished first in the Class 4 District 7 Championships held at William Chrisman High School. The boys team finished second with a team score of 139.5. “We had some really great performances from a lot of people. Junior Royce Fisher is moving on with a great day running the 800, 1600, and 3200-meter runs. A pretty impressive day with a lot of mileage,” Head Track Coach Marc Cleveland said. Fisher finished 2nd in the 1600 Meter with a time of 4:33.83, and Mason McCain finished 4th at 4:46.49. Both will advance to Sectionals. “The sprinters had a terrific day in a very tough district for sprints, led by senior Tyler Luke and junior Mason Rogers who set a school record in the 100-meter dash. Luke and Rogers went 1-2 in the 100 before teaming up with Nate Booker and Logan Pratt to win the 4x100 relay. Luke later won the 200 m dash,” Cleveland said. Senior Cole Hayes continued his impressive run at pole vault, placing first with a mark of 13-00.00. “Hurdlers Jaiden Yarber and Willie Lanear have also been posting impressive runs in both the 110 high hurdles and 300 intermediates,” Cleveland said. The girls team edged out a talented Warrensburg team, taking the team championship with a score of 132.5. “We knew that we were going to be in a battle with Warrensburg for the team title. They are a very talented, deep team who is extremely well coached, and we knew that they would be ready. So, our coaching staff tried to spread our girls around into events that would help the team score the most points, that meant a few of them doing events they had never even done before, but they were very good about it and wanted to do what was best for the team,” Girls Track Coach Brian Winckler said. Highlights included a first place finish for the 4x800 relay team of Annalynn Early, Valerie Holcomb, Lilly Ogle, and Morgan Scott, who finished with a time of 10:23.64. The 4x400 relay team of Avery Huffman, Gracelyn LaForge, Kailey Larson, and Jayonna Perry also finished first with a time of 4:07.2h. “While we had a lot of girls perform very well, sophomore JayOnna Perry and senior Morgan Scott really had great days for us. JayOnna helped score 32 points for the team and Morgan contributed 30 points of her own. Both of those girls have tremendous work ethics and have been willing to do whatever it took to help the team win. Coach Stone, our hurdle coach, has done a great job with both, and has really helped JayOnna come into her own this season. JayOnna broke the school record again in the 300m hurdles, and I have no doubt that she is not done breaking that record this season,” Winckler said. Leadership by the senior members on the team has been instrumental to the girls team’s success, according to Winckler. “Our seniors have done a great job this year of leading the younger generation and taking care of business in their own races, as well. Morgan and Gracie LaForge have been invaluable to this team for the past 4 years, and both are key members on our 4x4 and 4x800m relays that I think will place very well at State. However, they will be missed as much or more for their leadership as they will be for their outstanding athletic ability,” Winckler said. Grain Valley High School Girls Track and Field are 2019 Class 4 District 7 Championships, beating Warrensburg with a score of 132.5. Photo credit: GVHS Track and Field Mason Rogers ran a 10.72 in the 100-meter dash at Districts on Saturday, May 11th, breaking a school record.
Photo credit: GVHS Track and Field Graduation ceremonies are always exciting events to celebrate student achievement and embrace the promise of a bright future. For students graduating from Sni Valley Academy, Grain Valley High School’s alternative program, their path to commencement was not a smooth one, but the end result is just as exciting.. “There are a variety of reasons why students come to Sni Valley. Some are behind in credits or have attendance or discipline issues, some come to us with anxiety and medical issues. Even though the reasons they come to us are different, the end goal remains the same. To graduate high school with a plan in place for the future,” Ryan Adams, teacher at Sni Valley Academy said. The program at Sni Valley is individualized for each student. The state accredited program allows students to gain 15 hours work experience and complete 15 school hours weekly toward the goal of completing credits to graduate. Gaining the student’s trust and determining what barriers are preventing them from moving toward graduation is a key initial step according to Adams. “Our number one goal is to establish a relationship with a student. Once we do that, we can talk about what’s going on outside school. Our teachers have to wear a lot of hats, but watching our students go from not such great shape academically to getting their diploma is very satisfying. Our students battle so much adversity. The perseverance they show is amazing,” Adams said. Two students received scholarships through the Bright Futures program to continue their education, including a student who plans to pursue a nursing degree. Adams and fellow teacher Jill Maxon both addressed students during the May 9th commencement ceremony. “Your path to this stage tonight was a lot different than other students graduating high school this year. As a student of the alternative program at Grain Valley, you have taken the road less traveled. Many of you have faced situations that many of your other classmates could not comprehend. But in the end, you’ve been able to meet your challenges and achieve success,” Adams said. “You have already done something to change your life. So keep going. Don’t stop here. Keep looking for new ways to challenge yourself. Keep pushing yourself to accomplish goals that people say are not yours to accomplish. Keep pushing to be the best person you can be,” Maxon said. The excitement of the event was overwhelming for graduate Carey Ross. “I’m just very happy. I have a lot of family here to support me, and I am overwhelmed,” Ross said. Carey’s father, James Ross, beamed as he talked about his daughter’s accomplishments. I’m just so proud of her. She’s had a lot of support from her teachers, and it is just awesome to see her accomplish this,” Ross said. Graduate Aaron Van Eck celebrated after graduation with his family and infant daughter Aurora.. Van Eck was able to transfer from Grain Valley High School to Sni Valley to complete work toward earning his diploama in just a few weeks. Van Eck is continuing his education in the construction trades. “I had a lot of help from teachers at Sni Valley, who made the process easier,” Van Eck said. The 2019 graduates of Sni Valley Academy: Jackson Christopher Boland Bailey Jane Brown Adam Joshua Edwards Alexis Lynn Freeman Alice DuMoria Fromdahl Stacia Ann Godden Antonio DeJesus Gomez Cristo Antonio Gomez Perriona La’Nay Grace Rachel Kaitlyn Grafton Sarah Elizabeth Hicks McKenna Elise Holland Victoria Angelika Holloway Spencer Braydon Howerton Alyssa Sabashtianne LaRocco Robert Lee Lowe Sawyer Grace Lukenbill Sydney Nicole Marlow Bethany Victoria Mills Hannah Ann Mullins Carey Lynn Ross Jared Dean Schupp Ashlynn Faye Sheets Jacob Richard South Lauren Elizabeth Sullivan Hailey Christine Thompson Aaron Christopher Van Eck Sydney Marie Walters Zoe Alexa Yardley Sni Valley Academy graduates received their high school diplomas during a commencement ceremony at Grain Valley High School on May 9th. Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools “Your path to this stage tonight was a lot different than other students graduating high school this year. As a student of the alternative program at Grain Valley, you have taken the road less traveled. Many of you have faced situations that many of your other classmates could not comprehend. But in the end, you’ve been able to meet your challenges and achieve success.”
Ryan Adams, teacher Sni Valley Academy Photo credit: Valley News staff |
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