The Grain Valley Eagles baseball team produced a run in every inning played except the first in route to a 10-0 spread rule victory over the William Chrisman Bears on April 9th. Grain Valley used a recipe of deft pitching, good defense, and timely hitting to produce a strong showing against a Suburban Conference opponent. The victory also leaves intact an undefeated record at home for the Eagles through the first month of the season.
     Starter Joel Palecek and reliever Parker Stone toiled on the mound to produce the shutout for Grain Valley. The duo scattered four base hits to combine with four strikeouts across five scoreless innings. The phrase “In Palecek We Trust” could be heard coming from the Eagles dugout after each of the first four frames. The junior starter continues to display calm body language in mixing his fastball, changeup, and curveball arsenal against opposing offenses. Stone was sharp as well in his one inning of relief.
     Senior catcher Cole Arndorfer was strong behind the plate defensively for Grain Valley. Arndorfer thwarted a steal attempt of second base with a solid throw in the top of the first inning that nullified the Bears chance of scoring. That was followed by Arndorfer assisting his teammates with where the baseball was headed after contact was made at the plate.
     Clear skies and a sunny afternoon left a “high sky” in baseball terminology for the Eagles to sort through. Arndorfer could be heard verifying location of the baseball in the top of the second inning by saying, “Up, no tag by runner.” The assistance by Arndorfer made the catch and knowing what to do with baseball afterwards easier for Eagles second baseman Avery Garmon.
    Big days at the plate were had by shortstop Parker Bosserman, right fielder Alex Snyder, and third baseman Riley Bown. The trio would produce 7 of the 10 runs batted in by Grain Valley. Bosserman would end up going three for three, with a stolen base, and 2 RBI’s. Snyder’s 2 RBI base hit in the bottom of the 4th inning broke the game wide open for the Eagles.
     Grain Valley’s approach of going the other way at the plate against William Chrisman’s southpaw starter Trey Kates paid dividends. The Eagles were determined to look the ball in as long as they could before triggering their swing to make sure they did not get fooled. The methodology worked and Grain Valley was rewarded for their patience.
     “I feel like I am seeing the ball well at the plate. It was a beautiful day outside and that did not hurt either. Focusing on staying back in my stance and hitting ball the opposite way paid off for me today,” Bosserman said.
     Snyder added, “I noticed in my first two at bats that I was way out in front. I changed my approach at the plate to hunt the fastball and make contact the other way in attempting to move runners over.”
     “This feels great in how we are coming together as a team. We are on a roll right now.”
     The growing confidence on display by the Eagles has head coach Brian Driskell content with where his team is headed. There is a new mix to the varsity roster this season with a decent number of seniors who graduated in 2020. It is always uncertain how a new group will gel and if team chemistry will result in support of one another. That has not been a worry for Driskell.
     “It has been a nice theme to see the clutch hitting we have done at the plate. On the opposite side we have also had timely pitching with two outs and not allowed the other team to do the same. Obviously, you do not want to put yourself on those positions defensively. Those are invaluable moments, so come the end of the season we’ll have experience in both comfortable and uncomfortable situations,” Driskell said.
     “Joel (Palecek) continues to throw strikes when he is on the mound for us. We talked as a team afterwards that we can give up five hits in three innings and work around that without the game getting away from us, or our defense getting tired or bored. It is exciting to play behind a pitcher that will keep the ball in play.”
     Driskell continued, “I am glad to see Cole (Arndorfer) be so vocal as a catcher. That is hard for him in that he is introverted. We have pressed him to speak up and support our defense and he has responded. I am happy he is showing comfort in finding his voice.”
     “Trey (Kates) did a good job for them (William Chrisman) pitching. I felt like he had us fooled early. He did a job mixing his pitches and missed in the middle of the plate a few times. We were able to advantage of that in those situations. I think he will be a solid pitcher for them moving forward.”
     Driskell finished, “I am encouraged by what I see from us. I like the temperament of this team. This has been as much fun as I have had coaching in thirteen years.”
     The win over William Chrisman and a subsequent 13-0 victory by the Eagles against North Kansas City in the Northland Baseball Tournament progresses Grain Valley’s record to 9-4 on the season.

 
     The Grain Valley Lady Eagles soccer team scored eight goals to move their record to 8-0 on the season against the Fort Osage Indians on April 12th. The contest only lasted a total of 49 minutes with the spread rule coming into effect upon Grain Valley’s final goal by Meghan Knust just 9 minutes into the second half. A Fort Osage Indian squad that was not at full strength due to COVID-19 related issues put forth their best effort with reduced numbers.
     A perfect record remains intact for a young Lady Eagles squad that has shown a propensity for scoring goals this season. Grain Valley has averaged 4.75 goals a game through timely passing and nifty shot selection. The unselfishness of head coach Tyler Nichol’s squad has reaped success for the Lady Eagles.
     Freshman Kylee Bragaw was a prime example of this in the Lady Eagles win. Fellow freshman Emma Thiessen crossed the ball to Bragaw who used her left foot to intentionally send the ball at a high trajectory on a lob shot over the outstretched arms of the Indians goalkeeper. Chants of “Bragaw Ball” emanated from the Grain Valley sideline following the crafty shot on goal thirty minutes into the first half.
     Bragaw would be followed by Sevreign Aumua and Annabelle Totta with goals at the 31 and 32 minute mark of the first half, respectively. The offensive outpouring in a three minute time span pushed the score to 6-0 and left the Lady Eagles on cruise control heading into the second half. The amount of respect exhibited for the freshman by upperclassmen has existed since the start of the season and surpasses the contributions made by the eight freshmen on the Grain Valley varsity roster.
     “My teammates started repeating the ‘Bragaw Ball’ saying after my first goal of the season against Staley. It was coined by Coach (Brett) Lewis and has stuck,” Bragaw said.
     “I think it is really cool the amount of respect given by my teammates. Our coaches have given us time on the field and encourage us to be ourselves when we play soccer. The lob shot was due to other players being in the way and that being the best shot I had. I tried it and it went in.”
     Totta added, “Tonight was great. That was due to us moving ball around and communicating extremely well. The depth on our team allows us to compete in waves. We trust each other to the point we do not have uncertainty regardless of who possesses the ball.
     Goalkeeper Camihle Williams produced her second shutout of the season in net for the Lady Eagles. Williams continues to become more vocal in directing her team with the pitch in front of them. A sign of the confidence that continues to grow for the sophomore goalie.
     “A shutout is always what you strive for and my team was affected by it in the best way possible. I continue to have open mindedness as a goalie in that your defense will not always do what you expect them to do. You have to adjust and avoid frustration if things do not go your way,” Williams said.
     The grin on Nichol’s face after a victory over a Suburban Conference opponent was unmistakable. The man at the helm will not be shy in telling you that the team’s performance has surpassed expectations thus far this season. The style and selflessness of play is what has Nichol the happiest as Grain Valley heads into a busy part of their schedule, playing three games the week of April 12th.
     “We were clean in our play tonight and moved the ball well against a quality opponent that was missing quite a few players. We know that it will not be this easy next time around against them (Fort Osage). We can only control what we can control. To see this many girls involved in our early season success has been very enjoyable,” Nichol said.
      “I hope it speaks volumes about our program -- the amount of care demonstrated by our team for each other in that they are a great group of human beings. This roster has not been mad in the sense that they are competing for spots with each other. It has been an environment that everyone is happy for each other regardless of who is putting the ball in net at the end of play.”
     Nichol finished, “I have to throw a shout out to Hannah Rast. She loved to throw her knee or foot at the ball the way Bragaw did tonight with the same result. The fun in that keeps me focused from thinking too much about our upcoming opponents. I am proud of this team.”

     Watching a Grain Valley Eagles boys tennis match this season may lead one to believe they are having double vision. That is not the case. It is probable one would be noticing the identical likeness of Carter and Kade Compton. The twins compete on the tennis court for the Eagles in both singles and doubles matches.
     The afternoon of April 9th brought 72 degrees and overcast skies with the Platte County Pirate tennis team paying a visit to Grain Valley High School. Perched on a bench or leaning against the fence was the watchful gaze of Eagles head tennis coach Randy Draper. A point is always made by Draper to consult with his varsity players after a match. Draper typically asks for reflection by the player and then provides guidance in the form of constructive feedback before moving on to ending with positive thoughts and a comment designed to draw a smile.
     Such was the case as junior Carter Compton finished his play for the day before visiting with Draper. Grain Valley was finishing up going 2-7 overall in their matchup against the Pirates. The loss would move the Eagles to a 1-4 season record. The bright spot against the Pirates would come in the form of Grain Valley winning the number one ranked singles match and number two ranked doubles match.
     “Since my freshman year, Coach Draper has taught me the fundamentals of tennis. I had never touched a racket before then. Coach Draper pushes us to win, just like I experience in soccer and basketball,” Compton said.
     “I split my matches today going 1-1. We won our doubles match, and I lost my singles match. I have close friends on this team though, and that makes being a part of the tennis program here a lot of fun.”
     Compton continued, “My brother (Kade) and I are remarkably close. We do not have to communicate about the typical stuff, we just know what’s up. That leads to us knowing what to do just by the looks we give each other.”
     The makeup of Draper’s squad is diverse. Some of the team is involved in other sports or activities. The rest simply play tennis out of the joy received from hitting a fluorescent ball with nylon strings on a racket. Brycen Crandall is another example of a multiple sport athlete like the Compton twins who enjoys competing in tennis.
     “I have five or six buddies on this team that I get to see every day for an hour and a half after school. Tennis also helps to keep me in shape. I notice the difference in my quickness and hand-eye coordination every summer when we start back up in football,” Crandall said.
     “Tennis is a lot of fun. I lost my doubles match but won my singles match to end up with a .500 record on the day.”
     Draper has shared with his team that the purpose of their non-conference schedule early in the season against larger schools in the Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs school districts was not meant to be friendly. Instead, it was intended to face good competition to make the team better heading into conference and district play. Draper is also aware of the unusualness in the circumstances of seeing players get caught up who did not have a tennis season last year.
     “We have been in matches. Two of three we have lost we were close. Hopefully, by the end of the season we will have improved enough to flip those outcomes. We continue to learn how to organize and win points. Players who win points are the ones who learn to do it on their terms,” Draper said.
     “We have the unusual circumstance of having two sets of twins in our top six players. I have been pleased with the Compton twins especially. They are two underclassmen playing our number two doubles and our three and four singles. I have been pleased with them and think they have a really high ceiling.”
     The week of April 12th will see the Grain Valley Eagles tennis team travel to Warrensburg and host Truman High School.

​     The Grain Valley Lady Eagles soccer team put their unblemished record on the line against the Park Hill South Panthers at Moody Murray Stadium on April 5th. A slight breeze and seventy one degrees with sunshine greeted both teams as they took to the field on a beautiful spring evening. The endzone facing the concession stand witnessed sophomore goalkeeper Camihle Williams practicing blocking fundamentals as Grain Valley head coach Tyler Nichol kicked an array of soccer balls in the direction of Williams prior to the start of the game.
     The focus on fundamentals would come in handy for Williams as she would play a solid second half in goal for the Lady Eagles. Seniors Sophie Broockerd, Raena Childers, and Valerie Holcomb would join Williams in putting forth a strong effort in helping secure the 2-1 win against a Suburban Conference opponent. The narrow victory let the Grain Valley sideline breathe a sigh of relief as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
     Nichol was upbeat in praising the effort of his team as they faced a strong opponent in what felt like a playoff atmosphere. The Lady Eagles had to overcome the Panthers high press and going into the wind in the first half. Furthermore, Park Hill South possessed the ball more as the game progressed, which led to a 19-10 shots on goal advantage for the Panthers. Nichol indicated the satisfaction garnered from watching his team compete during high leverage situations.
     “This was a great win. First thing after the game in our team huddle, one of the girls said, ‘that was tough, but fun.’ This was a postseason like game against a team that feels like they could possibly make a run this year in Class 4,” Nichol said.
     “We took advantage of the chances we had in the first half (to gain the lead) only to have a couple slip away from us in the second half. Overall, this was a different type of game tonight. Coach (Brett) Lewis said it best when he described this as a ‘gritty’ win for us.”
     Nichol continued, “We challenged the girls at halftime about being tougher on corner kicks and facing their (Park Hill South) set pieces. I was happy with how our team responded and the ‘grit’ they displayed. We got passed the initial feeling out period of two good teams who do not know each other that well.”
     “The offense we displayed in the first fifteen minutes of the game with the goals by Raena (Childers) and Valerie (Holcomb) provided enough momentum for us to be successful. It would also be easy to say that Camihle (Williams) had her best game of the young season in goal for us tonight as well. Sophie (Broockerd) was all over the place. She does not know any speed other than one hundred percent. Broockerd got her ankle taped at halftime and it did not affect her play.”
     Childers would score first for Grain Valley four minutes into the first half on a charge through the middle of the Panthers defense. Holcomb would follow suit thirteen minutes into the first half as well. A deflected shot by Park Hill South goalkeeper Lauren Longenecker off the right foot of Emma Thiessen would spin to the waiting foot of Holcomb to the right of the action for the goal. That would be all the offense Grain Valley would need.
     Williams would make three crucial stops for the Lady Eagles in goal at 22 and 28 minutes into the first half to combine with a crucial save made 30 minutes into the second half. Equally as impressive was the four stops made by Broockerd in the second half. Broockerd would square up each charge only to mirror her opponent before halting the soccer ball. The adoration was distinct from Grain Valley teammates and the sideline for Williams and Broockerd in the waning minutes of the contest.
     “Emma (Thiessen) and Raena (Childers) did a good job of getting the ball up and I was lucky to get the rebound. I did not even think about the shot, I just reacted. It has been great to start this season undefeated,” Holcomb said.
     Broockerd added, “We were all motivated to get our sixth win tonight against a big school. The second half tried us, but we were determined to keep our focus on the basics, and it paid off.”
     Childers concluded, “Our two goals early definitely established the pace of the game. I have always been told that a 2-0 lead is the hardest one to keep in a soccer game. It did give us the momentum needed to stay strong down the stretch. Starting the season 6-0 gives us extra motivation to keep this going.”
     Grain Valley will next travel to Blue Springs to face the Wildcats on April 9th.
 

​     Over the course of two or three years I have written several articles about streets and roads in and around Grain Valley and how they got their names. Early streets and roads were usually named for the families that lived along them. Some were named for geographical locations while others were named for their location, like Front Street which ran in front of the railroad station.
     In more recent years, I wonder? I do know that in the newer subdivisions, the names are chosen by the developer. Such is the case with the names in Greystone, north of town off Buckner Tarsney Road. The Greystone subdivision was developed by Roger Bennett and his sons. Roger married Margarette Elizabeth “Beth” Evans.
     Beth was the youngest daughter of William D. “Bill” and Jean Evans, and the God daughter of my parents, Charlie and Mildred Napier. As I drive through the subdivision, the names become obvious to me. They are the four nieces of Roger and Beth.  Stephanie’s daughters, Mary Court and Erin Court and  Tom’s daughters, Amanda Jean Way and  Jaclyn Drive. Hannah Way, Kim Court and Katie Court are named for great-grandchildren.
     When the Evans Family came to Grain Valley in 1949 there were only three members. Stephanie Sue, the new baby born on July 5, 1949; Jean, the new mother; and Bill, the father.
     They added son, Thomas Bowers Evans in 1952 and Beth in 1954.
     Bill was a recent graduate of Missouri Valley College, which he attended after time out as a U. S. Marine during World War II. He came to Grain Valley to teach history and coach football, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and boys’ and girls’ track. That’s right, he was the coach, the one and only coach at Grain Valley High School.
     Today, those same 5 sports have 5 head coaches and 21 assistants! And I should mention that he drove the school bus on the morning route and to most of the athletic events held out of town.
     The Evans family became part of the Grain Valley community for many years. Over the next fifteen years they lived in four different homes. They rented an apartment from Wayne and Orvella Minter, who owned one of the grocery stores in town.
     Next they moved to a home owned, at the time, by Keith and Elouise Shrout on the corner of R. D. Mize and Tyre Roads. In 1956 they moved into town and lived on Smith Street in the old Perkins house. Finally, they bought a home from F. L. and Grace Stillions at the corner of Yennie and Thieme streets.
     Before leaving Grain Valley in 1964, they left their mark. They were active in the Methodist Church and Bill often filled the pulpit when the minister was absent. Jean was active in WSCS (Women’s Society of Christian Service) and the PTA. Bill was a founding member of the Methodist Men and the Grain Valley Lion’s Club.
     Mr. Evans eventually became the high school principal and remained with the school until 1957. He moved on to become a guidance counselor, and later principal at Westport, Southwest, and Van Horn in the Kansas City School District.  He retired in the early 1990s as assistant director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association in Columbia, MO.
     His granddaughter and great-grandchildren will forever live on in the streets of Grain Valley!
 

     Shortstop Parker Bosserman sprinted to his right deep in the hole before picking up the baseball with his glove hand. A smooth exchange would follow prior to the senior launching the ball across the diamond towards first base. Bosserman would trade force on his throw for accuracy in the hope first baseman Parker Stone would be able to pick the ball out of the dirt at first base. The calculated risk paid off for Bosserman as Stone plucked the baseball out of the dust to record the final out of the game for Grain Valley.
     The final sequence in the bottom of the seventh inning put the icing on the cake for the Eagles. The defensive jewel mustered by Bosserman and the strong pitching of Riley Bown would propel the Eagles to a 3-2 victory over the Lee’s Summit Tigers on April 2nd. Making the victory that much sweeter was the double hitter sweep of a Suburban Conference opponent on the diamond by Grain Valley. A success that led to an abundance of postgame handshakes in the dugout and moves the Eagles to a 6-4 record on the young season.
     Bown would relieve starter Cole Keller in the second inning and compile four and one-third scoreless innings for Grain Valley. Lee’s Summit would produce at least one baserunner each frame that Bown was on the mound. The senior pitcher would work around trouble each inning to defend the Eagles lead. Making the contribution more noteworthy was that Bown was called on to close out the game prior during the first matchup of the double hitter.
     “When I go to the mound, it is to throw strikes and let my defense make plays behind me. That permits me to fill up the zone and avoid pressure getting to me,” Bown said.
     “My fastball tends to get better as the game progresses. That was the case again today. Winning two games on a Friday puts a sunny outlook for the pace we are on headed into next week. This puts a good taste in your mouth.”
     Bosserman has worked hard during the first ten games of the season to avoid being out in front while at the plate. A common misstep that hitters battle in keeping their weight balanced through their swing. The senior would adjust his approach to produce a base hit in the third inning and a no doubt home run that cleared the left field fence in the fifth inning. Bosserman exhibited strong hands and wrists to pull the ball as a right handed hitter on his homer that would deliver two runs batted in for the Eagles. The outcome would lead to the difference in victory for Grain Valley in a one run game.
     “The home run in the fifth came on a 2-0 pitch. I was looking for an inside fastball and got one. I struggled to be on time today. I was determined to see that one in and I did,” Bosserman said.
     “I got a good read off the bat with the sharp grounder in the seventh inning. Once I got to the ball, I put faith in (Parker) Stone that he would deliver because the throw was so hurried. It turned out great.”
     Bosserman finished, “This is a new set. Hanging out with the guys has been fun since we graduated a good number of seniors last season. The new faces have been good to get to know.”
     The Eagles have produced five runs per game on average so far this season. The team has been involved in four games that have been decided by a one run margin. Learning to be competitive in those circumstances toughens teams for pressure cooker situations that arrive as the campaign unfolds in late April and May. A fact not lost on Eagles head baseball coach Brian Driskell. A humble Driskell spoke to the determination his team displayed following back to back wins over the Tigers.
     “This is a fun team be around. We talked after the previous game about our persistence, even when throwing strikes has fallen away for us. Bown finished out the first game and only threw twelve (pitches). I knew he was going to be the first guy I called upon in the second game if needed. Bown’s ability to get outs with runners on base was Houdini like. It speaks to how invaluable it is to throw strikes,” Driskell said.
     “Parker (Bosserman) had a big hit for us today. He drew the praise of the opposition and their head coach. Bosserman’s play late in the game in getting rid of it quick was special, and man, Parker Stone who has been dealing with an injury, made a great pick at first and saved the game for us.”
     Driskell continued, “When you have a three run lead, you are not always aware you will need every bit of that to come out on top. It is a massive advantage to have a leadoff hitter like Bosserman who can bunt for a base hit or put one over the left field fence.”
     Grain Valley will face Oak Park, Staley, and William Chrisman the week of April 5th prior to competing in the Northland Baseball Tournament the week of April 12th.

     Sound pitching and timely hitting adorned the Grain Valley Eagles baseball team as the Lee’s Summit Tigers came calling on April 2nd. Eagles starting hurler Joel Palecek dealt a gem on the mound to team with the clutch effort at the plate of first baseman Kaden Jeffries. Grain Valley would carry the first game of the double hitter on Good Friday against Lee’s Summit by a score of 3-2.
     Palecek gained command of his fastball after the first inning and paired it with an effective changeup to stymy the Tigers offense. The junior hurler for the Eagles would strike out five and only give up one earned run across six and one-third innings. Palecek received a robust round of applause from the crowd upon exiting the game in the top of the seventh inning.
     “I was able to hit my spot with the fastball. I thank my catcher (Blake Prewitt) for that. He provided a stable target behind the plate and called a good game,” Palecek said.
     “During warmups I typically struggle with my changeup. It felt good getting started and I had a feel for it today. Everything was taken care of by our team that allowed us to win the first game of this double hitter.”
     Jeffries showed good eye discipline at the plate for the Eagles. The junior clean up hitter would draw a walk to couple with a double and single in getting on base three times consecutively. Jeffries would wait on both balls struck hard to center and right center field, respectively. The latter hit would yield two key runs batted in for Grain Valley in the bottom of the fifth inning.
     “I picked out two good pitches at the plate and got the bat on them. It feels good to win and make contact like that for my team,” Jeffries said.
     Grain Valley Eagles head baseball coach Brian Driskell was determined to manufacture a run with Jeffries first hit in the bottom of the fourth inning. A scoreless game witnessed Driskell call time and summon pinch runner Logan Pratt out of the dugout to take over for Jeffries at second base. The move paid dividends for the Eagles as Pratt would use his speed to make it home during the frame. The junior sprinter who has put together a solid track season thus far provides a swift option off the pine that opposing defenses cannot ignore.
     The Eagles were encouraged to stay hungry by their skipper between games. A speech that preceded raking and watering the infield by Grain Valley’s head coach to prevent dust from flying on a breezy spring afternoon. Driskell was encouraged by what he saw out of his squad during the first tilt of the double hitter.
     “Joel (Palecek) has been an excellent surprise for us this season. He has pounded the strike zone and that permits our defense to handle baseballs that are put in play. We have been able to scratch a couple of runs across at the plate that has fueled some wins for us at this point in the season,” Driskell said.
     “Depending on the day, we may or may not have some additional speed on the bench (due to their track commitment). We have three of the four by one hundred and four by two hundred sprinters on our roster. This was (Logan) Pratt’s first game that he could be at today. I gave him the heads up before the start of the fourth inning to be ready. He got stretched, scored an important run for us, and it worked out.”
     Driskell finished, “Jeffries had some big at bats today. That is going to be massive for him as the season progresses for his confidence. We talk all the time about comfortable and uncomfortable situations. Both of his hits today were uncomfortable situations, and he came through for us.”
     Senior Riley Bown would come in during the top of the seventh inning for the save in relief of Palecek. The victory moved Grain Valley to one game above .500 baseball with a 5-4 record.

​     Grain Valley High School’s Scholar Bowl team has had a successful season, recently winning the White Division Scholar Bowl conference championship.
     The four person team of seniors Carter Barnes, Teej Hayes, Lath Hicks, and junior Alex Brooks, led by Head coach Jordan Henson and assistant coach John York, are modest about the talents that have brought them to post-season play.
     Henson has worked with the team since they began high school, and is quick to praise their hard work and dedication.
     “This is a faithful crew. This is my fourth year teaching in the district, so I’ve worked with our seniors since they were freshman and now they’re about to graduate. We’re excited to see how the season concludes,” Henson said.
     In a style similar to the beloved quiz show Jeopardy, teams compete by answering questions from a variety of disciplines, buzzing in to answer and earn points. While each member studies to answer every question, they identified a few of the member’s strong suits.
     Barnes is especially valuable when it comes to science and mythology; Brooks is the go-to person for religion, world and natural history. Hayes can be counted on when a pop culture question “pops” up.
     This year, most of the competitions have been held via Zoom with online buzzers for competitors. The team has taken the changes in stride,
     “There are always the random moments where the connection might not be particularly clear, but they’ve adjusted well,” Henson said.
    With most of the team graduating at the end of the year, the program is focused on rebuilding and recruiting new members, which has been a challenge in a year with virtual and hybrid school.
     The team members all agreed that Scholar Bowl is  a great opportunity to compete with a close-knit group in an activity that allows for its members to participate in other activities at school and in the community. When asked what they enjoyed most about Scholar Bowl, the consensus was clear—winning. This is an experience the team has enjoyed quite a bit this year as they enter post-season play. Next up is MSHSAA District competition April 17th, and if the team is successful, they look forward to sectional competition in late April and state competition in early May.
     The team members are planning to pursue careers as diverse as the topics they face in competition. Hicks is heading to Missouri S&T to study engineering. Barnes will head to UMKC to study biology, and Hayes plans to study cyber security. Brooks is looking at studying to become a veterinarian or vet tech.
     Current GVHS students and incoming freshmen looking to continue the winning tradition of this current team may reach out to Mr. Henson or Mr. York.
 

 
     The Grain Valley Lady Eagles soccer team has had an impressive first week of the season. Pleasant Hill, Kearney, and Staley all fell to the Lady Eagles during the Platte County Girls Soccer Tournament. Grain Valley outscored their opponents by a total of 12-3 during the week of March 22nd, winning the championship matchup against Staley by a score of 5-2 on March 26th.
     The Lady Eagles would put together a winning formula of turning on balls to gain offensive momentum, accurate passing, beating their opponent to most loose balls, and accurate shooting to secure the victory against Staley in the final game. An impressive feat considering the youth of Grain Valley’s roster. A fact not lost on Lady Eagles head soccer coach Tyler Nichol.
     “This has been a great start to the season for us. A little unexpected with the mix of veteran players along with starting five freshmen, but it has been huge for our confidence going forward,” Nichol said.
     “This group is very coachable. An example would be Meghan Knust in particular, as a holding midfielder, that is the starting point for our attack. She has been so confident on the ball, receiving it, turning, even under pressure to sneak through a defense and find our attacking players.”
     Nichol concluded, “The smiles on the faces of this team says a lot. Watching freshmen score goals, exhale, and get the nerves out to be able to say they can play at this level leaves us ready to attack the rest of the season.”
     Grain Valley narrowly held the advantage in shots on goal against Staley by a 15-14 margin. Center midfielder Raena Childers was impressive for the Lady Eagles in compiling a hat trick during the first half. Equally as impressive to the precision of the senior’s shots on net was the speed displayed in getting open and past Staley defenders. Childers put on full display the reason why she is verbally committed to play soccer at the University of Kansas next season.
     Childers was not selfish offensively either, an example being her smooth assist to freshman Emma Thiessen along the left wing that resulted in Thiessen’s shot finding the back of the net with 28:02 left to go in the second half. This would be Thiessen’s reward for sprinting pass the Staley defense while remaining onside before displaying nifty footwork to set up the kick on goal.
     Rounding out the Lady Eagles scoring would be freshman Kylee Bragaw. The opening goal of the game would come off Bragaw’s foot with 27:27 remaining in the first half. An accomplishment that would lead to a plethora of hugs from teammates at midfield prior to the resuming of play. Grain Valley seized that momentum and did not let up for the duration of the contest.
     “My teammates did a good job tonight opening space for me. I really respect them for that, especially with them being freshmen,” Childers said.
     Thiessen added, “I got really good passes and through balls from our center mids. My job is to make sure that I am not offsides to then create chances for our forwards. It was nice to get the pass for the tap in late in the game.”
     Bragaw finished, “We passed well tonight due to us getting wide. Raena (Childers) dribbled to get open and laid it off to me for the goal.”
     Childers and Thiessen were rewarded for their strong effort by Nichol in getting summoned to the bench with 4:08 remaining in the second half. Nichol would proudly receive the box of Soccer Tournament Champion t-shirts after the game. The Lady Eagles proudly donned them and posed for celebratory pictures before heading towards the bus.
     The Grain Valley Lady Eagles soccer team (3-0) will next face St. Michael the Archangel at home on March 29th.