​     Miami, here we come. Fifty years of being displaced from professional football’s top game is over for the Kansas City Chiefs. Super Bowl LIV (54) will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on February 2nd at 5:30pm.
     The last time the Chiefs were in the Super Bowl was on January 11th, 1970 during the fourth installment of the game named by Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt. Kansas City would defeat the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 23-7 to be world champions. Chiefs head coach Hank Stram’s offense was able to successfully matriculate the ball down the field under the guidance of “Lenny the Cool”, otherwise known as Len Dawson.
      Fast forward to 2020, and the Chiefs have their work cut out for them against the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers. They are led by head coach Kyle Shanahan.
     You are not alone if the last name Shanahan rings a bell. Kyle is the son of former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan. The elder Shanahan has two Super Bowl rings on his hand from consecutive victories in Super Bowl’s XXXII and XXXIII (32 and 33).
     Mike Shanahan has passed more on to his son Kyle than just being a winner. Kyle has learned from his father and mastered the art of the zone running scheme.
     Anyone who watched the NFC Championship game witnessed the San Francisco 49ers shred the Green Bay Packers front seven on defense with inside and outside zone runs. Shanahan’s team got off the ball up front with purpose as his offensive line shredded the Packers defensive line and got to the second level against Green Bay’s linebackers with ease.
     The 49ers would amass 285 rushing yards on 42 carries, leading to a robust 6.8 yards per carry average on their way to a 37-20 win over the Packers. San Francisco’s rushing performance was not far off their season average of 235.5 yards a game.  Good for best in the NFL during the 2019 season.
     The Chiefs, under the leadership of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, will likely be working on bringing an eighth man into the box during game preparation in the form of strong safety Tryann Mathieu to solidify themselves against the run. This worked against the Tennessee Titans during the AFC Championship game as the Chiefs defense held Derrick Henry, the 2019 NFL season rushing champion, to just 69 yards.
     San Francisco has countered against loaded eight man boxes by passing the ball in space to rookie wide receiver Deebo Samuel and All-Pro tight end George Kittle. The chess game of the Chiefs implementing their defensive game plan and making adjustments as the game unfolds would be aided by Patrick Mahomes and the offense scoring an abundance of points.
     Mahomes shared his thoughts after the AFC Championship game on the Chiefs making the Super Bowl and what it will take to win.
     “Being able to win the Lamar Hunt AFC Championship Trophy here and do it for the fans of Chiefs Kingdom was awesome. Last year we fell short and we learned from it and have built every single day. Now we have the chance to go Miami and get the ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl,” Mahomes said.
     “If teams are going to put their attention on Tyreek (Hill) or (Travis) Kelce, we have a guy in Sammy Watkins (at wide receiver) that can beat your best corner. It’s huge to have Coach Reid. Being in the game and knowing that there’s going to be adjustments made matters because we have coaches who have been there before.”
     Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid will be leading a team in the Super Bowl for the second time in his career. The last time Reid was at the summit of his sport was the 2004 season, when he took the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX (39), losing to the New England Patriots 24-21.
     Reid has since adopted and implemented vast characteristics of the spread offense that make his team a matchup nightmare. The Chiefs were third in total offense and second in passing yards per game during the 2019 regular season. Kansas City averaged 419 yards a game on offense while heaving the football through the air for a 304 yard per game average.
     Reid has indicated that the team will treat the week of January 20th as a full 49ers prep week and is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.
     “We know that San Francisco is a heck of a football team. With all the distractions that present themselves (with the Super Bowl), we have to focus in and get ready to play against a good football team. That starts here with getting most of the game plan in this week (the first of the two weeks leading up the Super Bowl) while you’re in your own environment and keep things as normal as possible prior to getting down there (Miami) and all the different media obligations you have and things going on,” Reid said.
     “Patrick’s legs help. They (defenses) have the ultimate respect for him. We are seeing one or two of our guys doubled as receivers on every down. If the defensive line misses or gets out of their lane a bit, then it opens up running space for number 15. I have confidence that our guys up front on the offensive line will rise up to the challenge this week with the quality of players they will be facing along San Francisco’s defensive front.”
     The defensive line of the 49ers boasts five former first round draft picks. They are loaded with talent. The group includes former Chief Dee Ford, along with Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, and Solomon Thomas.
     The quintet has afforded San Francisco to have the number one overall defense in yards per game allowed this season in the NFL at 252.5. Furthermore, they have been stout against the run only allowing a paltry 41.5 yards a game, good for best in the league this season as well.
     The offensive arsenal that will attack the 49ers defense for the Chiefs is full of draft picks and acquisitions from the team’s former general manager. The same goes for the defensive side of the football.
     Somewhere, John Dorsey is smiling. The list of current players that become Chiefs under Dorsey’s watch as general manager is impressive.
     Starters Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz, Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Tanoh Kpassagnon, and Chris Jones round out the list. Dorsey definitely has an eye for the type of talent it takes to play in the National Football League. Hiring Brett Veach to work in the Chiefs front office also was not a bad move by Dorsey.
     Veach has added to Dorsey’s shrewd roster moves as the current general manager of the team. Trading for Frank Clark along with the free agent signings of Anthony Hitchens, Damien Wilson, and Tyrann Mathieu have fueled a quick turnaround for a team that has transitioned to a 4-3 defensive scheme this season under Spagnuolo.
     The Chiefs have shored up what use to be an Achilles Heel. Kansas City was ranked third in the league in rushing defense this season at 89.5 yards a game. Such seamless transitions are rare in the National Football League and typically take longer than one season; especially with the memory of Rex Burkhead of the New England Patriots running the ball across the goal line last year in overtime to end the Chiefs season in the AFC Championship game.
     The United States has seen nine Presidents since the last time the Chiefs appeared in a Super Bowl. Cell phones, Homeland Security, DVD’s, space shuttles, iPads, ATM’s, and American Idol have become a part of the American fabric since 1970. Kansas City will be the home team in this year’s Super Bowl and will get to dawn the same red jerseys they wore in Super Bowl IV (4). Las Vegas has pegged the Chiefs as 1.5 point favorites in the game. The team has an awesome opportunity to bring the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy back to Kansas City.
 

​     The Grain Valley Lady Eagles basketball team took an 11 point lead into halftime against a tough conference opponent in the Fort Osage Indians on Tuesday, January 21st. Grain Valley was initially unable to build a sizeable lead due to a Fort Osage team that played tough man to man defense and was efficient at moving the basketball for open looks with screens.
     Junior Forward Jordyn Weems started the third quarter determined to stretch her team’s lead while also drawing the assignment of defending the leading scorer for Fort Osage in Junior Guard Kiyley Flowers. Weems was up for both tasks.
     “My confidence is growing because Coach Draper gives me a job and I do it. Offense is not my special suit and I have been working to improve there. It seems like it’s starting to come together. Coming off my injury last year, I felt like a Freshman again at certain points early in this season,” Weems said.
     “The challenge tonight defensively for us was not losing the player we were assigned to guard. We had good help off the screens along with being quick to recover if we were screened. My favorite part of the game tonight was seeing us relax at the start of the second half due to us getting up and down the court in transition as well as creating turnovers. It provided a confidence that calmed us.”
     Weems would contribute 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 well timed steals. The decisiveness displayed with her passing, driving the lane, and stepping in front of passes to create turnovers fired up her teammates and Lady Eagles Head Coach Randy Draper.
     “I was really pleased tonight with the way we played defensively. We got a couple of kids in (Malia) Guttierrez and Weems that are tough and athletic players that match up well against the good scorers of our opponents. Sound rebounding allowed us to sprint out in transition and get a couple of easy ones. In this game every easy basket is valuable,” Draper said.
     “Weems is starting to figure out how to play to her strengths. She caught the basketball in places where she could hurt them and that got Grace (Slaughter) open more. It’s a bonus for us that teams are starting to have to worry about other people offensively when they play us.”
     Freshman Guard Grace Slaughter drove the lane and worked for position under the basket while showcasing a drifting shot with her left hand; quite an impressive feat considering Slaughter is right handed and learned to shoot efficiently with her left hand due to an injury in middle school.
     “I broke my right collar bone in sixth grade, and it required surgery. I now write with my left hand. For six months straight I was shooting the basketball left handed in the gym. It has allowed me to be comfortable finishing drives with my left hand along with drifting that direction shooting with my left hand,” Slaughter said.
     “We knew tonight that Fort Osage was an athletic team. Kiyley Flowers was going to handle the basketball and shoot a lot tonight. Coach Draper preached staying on her, crashing the middle, and hitting the boards to prevent them from having second chances. Seeing Jordyn take off tonight was awesome. She played lock down defense at times on Kiyley (Flowers).”
     Slaughter would score 28 points, pull down 8 rebounds, and contribute 1 block. The strength of play by both Weems and Slaughter assured the 53-32 win for Grain Valley over Fort Osage. The Lady Eagles improve to 10-4 on the season.
     Up next for Grain Valley will be a chance at redemption when they host the Kearney Bulldogs on Thursday, January 23rd. Kearney is responsible for one of Grain Valley’s four losses. Draper provided insight on the importance of the upcoming game.
     “Kearney is next for us. That’s one of our four losses. They beat us by twenty points last time. We are looking forward to the matchup again, and it will be a lot of fun. I love how much we’ve improved. It will be a challenge for us as they (the Bulldogs) are a really good team as well,” Draper said.
 

​     One word can be used to sum up the Grain Valley Eagles win against the Clinton Cardinals on Tuesday, January 14th. That word is hustle. The Eagles Boys Basketball team would stretch a 16-10 lead at the end of the first quarter into a 66-39 victory in their opening game of the 95th annual Pleasant Hill Boys Basketball Invitational.
     The hustle that defined Grain Valley’s win was a team effort. Seniors AJ Salisbury, Caden Matlon, Josh Kilpatrick, Gavin Oyler, and Seth Dankenbring were all active in providing contributions in helping to assure the outcome. Salisbury is becoming a swiss army knife for the Eagles, capable of fulfilling many roles for the team.
     “All of us played our tails off tonight. Coming off the North Kansas City loss last week we wanted to turn the page and play our best. We as a team found a good rhythm tonight moving the basketball and finding who’s open,” Salisbury said.
     “My teammates have really good court vision. We were unselfish tonight in moving the basketball and it paid off. Doing that allowed us to have fun and win the game.”
     The tools that Salisbury is continuing to develop in his repertoire of shooting, passing, rebounding and defending are padding the stat sheet as well as his team’s confidence. Salisbury would score 17 points, contribute 9 rebounds, 5 steals, and 1 assist on a night that saw himself and the rest of Grain Valley’s starters head to the bench with four minutes left in the final quarter with the outcome secured.
     Eagles Boys Basketball Head Coach Andy Herbert is not surprised by Salisbury’s growth or the effort he put forth in the team’s win.
     “AJ is our band aid guy. He’s the one that not enough people talk about, but when you look, he’s typically doing something good. He doesn’t say much and he’s a tough nose kid that plays the game the right way,” Herbert said.
     “He’s (Salisbury) a great cutter without the basketball and our guys did a good job finding him in open spots tonight. That unselfish play was part of the formula for our win.”
     Matlon and Kirkpatrick were active in creating offense for the Eagles when screens and ball movement did not yield open shots against Clinton’s man to man defense. Matlon weaved through defenders driving the lane for contested layups. Meanwhile, Kirkpatrick would drift from the post to the arc in locating open looks at the basket. Both would finish with 14 points.
     “Matlon created a lot for us in the second half. He wasn’t his typical explosive self tonight. He got banged up in practice yesterday. His IQ allows him to see things happen before they develop on the court. We have guys that have played together for so long that they know what the other one’s going to do and that contributes to our success,” Herbert said.
     Dankenbring and Oyler divided five fouls among them in avoiding the Cardinals having easy scoring opportunities. Their hustle on the defensive end of the court for the Eagles allowed them to play sound man to man defense for much of the game.
     Herbert reflected on where his team is at during this point of the season.
     “I thought last Friday (against North Kansas City) we took a step. Every year there’s a game where you see things click for your team. I thought last Friday in our loss we figured some things out that we will need moving forward,” Herbert said.
     “The chemistry and comradery that have always been there were solidified through the adversity we faced. This is a good and tough group that like each other and that matters as it can’t be replaced. I don’t know as a coach if your ever completely where you want to be, but we are in a pretty good place right now moving forward.”
       
 

​     The Lady Eagles Basketball team turned in an impressive performance with their victory over the visiting Smithville Warriors on Monday, January 6th by a score of 53 to 34.
     Grain Valley used efficient and unselfish ball movement with their passes to find open post players, shooters, and cutters to the basket. This was attained primarily by the Lady Eagles attacking the third side of the defense with their crisp passes around the arc and to the post. The game plan worked, as it wore down Smithville in the second half and afforded Grain Valley to build a sizable lead.
     Top offensive performers for Grain Valley included Senior Keely Hill and Freshman Grace Slaughter. Hill produced 9 points, 9 offensive rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in a strong showing. Slaughter was robust as well while pouring in 25 points, pulling down 4 offensive rebounds, and 2 assists of her own.
     Hill’s efforts were aided by her growing ability to box out in the paint, not giving up ground in the post defensively, and looking to pass first to open players when on the perimeter.
     “At practice we have worked on getting lower in our stance defensively, which allows you to be lower on their leg or knee when turning towards the basket and boxing out when a shot goes up. That has made it easier to be aggressive when rebounding,” Hill said.
     “Offensively it’s the best when I see an open teammate sneaking to the basket and get them ball to score. I have to hide my smile. I got two of those tonight while I was on the perimeter.”
     Slaughter is the tallest player listed on Grain Valley’s roster at 6’ 1” tall. The freshman is also listed as a point guard in the program but displayed versatility in both handling the basketball and being comfortable scoring around the goal in the post.
     “I was excited to play Smithville tonight because I know they are a conference opponent and a tough team. We were pumped to match up against them and played one of our best games of the season,” Slaughter said.
     “The key offensively tonight was we were unselfish. Hitting the open man and a willingness to cut and continually move has been an area of improvement for us.  On the defensive side, we talked and that helped us be aware.”
     The Warriors game plan included spreading the floor in trying to locate open three point shooters behind the arc and people motioning through the lane to force close outs by Grain Valley.
     Head Basketball Coach Randy Draper’s squad was up for the challenge. The Lady Eagles were vocal in calling out the needed switches in their man to man defense in thwarting much of Smithville’s game plan.
     Drawing perimeter assignments against the Warriors and not allowing easy looks at the basket were Juniors Jordyn Weems and Malia Guttierrez. The four fouls committed collectively by both players prevented easy shots and forced Smithville to try and earn points at the foul line instead.
     Draper was pleased with his team’s effort in picking up the win.
     “We talked after the game about how good the sharing of the basketball was offensively tonight. This team is starting to figure it out that you are hard to guard if you will share it all the time. We cut, we want to pass to our teammate, and that makes us fun to watch right now,” Draper said.
     “Our kids were on top of the needed switches defensively. We work on that every day but it’s really nice to see in a game and they didn’t keep secrets from one another. The communication came naturally. This was a great win.”
     Draper continued, “Keely is one of the best defensive rebounders that’s ever played here. She will box you out and is a tremendous outlet passer. If your open, number 4 is going to get you the ball. She’s also getting her shot rolling which will be huge for us.”
     “When people ask me about Grace and what position she plays, I just say yes. That’s due to her versatility. What’s neat is how her teammates are playing off that and what she can do for the good of our team.”
 

​     Grain Valley Eagles Boys Basketball beat the Kearney Bulldogs, a conference rival, in an overtime victory of 63-60 on Tuesday, December 17th.  Senior Josh Kilpatrick surpassed 1,000 career points during the game. The Eagles return home on December 20th to face Platte County and then face Oak Grove at home on December 28th.
 

     The Grain Valley Boys Wrestling team split their home Tri Meet Match on Tuesday, December 10th against Raytown South and Oak Park. The Eagles dropped their first dual against Oak Park by a score of 45-33 before coming back to defeat Raytown South in their second dual by a 60-6 margin.
     Overseeing the action is first year Boys Wrestling Head Coach Jeff Bowman. Preparing rosters, making sure things get mopped, and delegating the assembly of mats are just a few of the logistical items that come with hosting a meet.
     Bowman has prepared for this opportunity through his background in starting his educational and coaching career at Blue Springs South. Doug Black was his mentor and Bowman attributes him taking him under his wing when he was a young assistant coach. Bowman credits learning a lot of great wrestling technique due to the leadership and talented wrestlers he worked with at Blue Springs South.
     Bowman’s career continued upon his arrival to Grain Valley where he credits former Eagles Wrestling Coaches Jesse Whitson and James Evans with supporting his continued growth in the sport. Bowman is joined this season with longtime suburban area wrestling coach Matt Cox as one of his assistants.
     With any wrestling program comes changes with someone new at the helm. Bowman reflected on what the transition has been like for him.
     “Things are both hectic and relaxed in a positive way. I am laid back and relaxed with my personality. I also have responsibilities that need to get done that can make things hectic at times. The kids miss Coach Whitson. We talk about our legacy as a program due to that as well as how we prepare and bring intensity to continue that legacy. I’m excited with what the future holds for all of us,” Bowman said.
     “I enjoy that wrestling is one on one competition. You get to truly test yourself by seeing who the better wrestler is in this sport. There’s no way to hide in these contests. It’s a celebration if you win. If you lose, you have to look at yourself and how you can improve to get better.”
     The allure of coaching to Bowman is the desire to help people reach their goals while working to build a positive rapport with young men (as well as young women with the addition of the girls wrestling program). Happiness through watching student athletes grow is another element of why Bowman is in his current profession.
     There are several wrestlers Bowman has been impressed with regarding their leadership and ability at the outset of the season.
     “Drake Tipton, Trent Starr, Jayden Jacobson, Drew Azcona, and Hunter Newsom are a few guys that have put forth a lot of effort so far to go along with their ability. However, wrestling is a team sport and it takes a lot to get this thing going. I’m proud of our team,” Bowman said.
     “This season I want to see strong young men, who encourage one another and show what’s needed to get past boundaries that prohibit growth. As far as we can get towards state and having as many wrestlers get to state is also at the forefront.”
     The Eagles Boys Wrestling Team will next be in action on December 13th-14th at the Helias Catholic Tournament as well as December 17th with their next Tri Meet at home.
    
 

​     The Grain Valley Eagles Boys Basketball team was off and running in their home opener on Wednesday, December 11th as they defeated the Smithville Warriors by a score of 77-46.
     The transition game was paramount as the night progressed with Eagle rebounds leading to the ball being pushed up court to find open cutters to the hoop. Grain Valley was opportunistic in finding open shooters at the elbow and three point arc as well on the rare occasions when the basketball was stopped.
     Senior Point Guard Caden Matlon was an ace at ball handling and identifying cutters to pass to when he wasn’t finishing the scoring himself. Matlon finished with 11 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals.
     His knowledge of the offense and confidence to push the ball in the open court helped the Eagles to break away after only leading by five points after the first quarter.
     “I noticed early on that they intended to pressure me at the point. Josh (Kilpatrick) was able to get the basket with ease tonight and I knew we needed to start feeding him. His scoring also opened up the offense for other people to contribute,” Matlon said.
     “Us working on our transition game last night at practice helped us tonight. They are a pressing team and we like to get out and run as much as we can.”
     It is easy to tell that the game has slowed down for Matlon in how he handles the basketball and knowing where he wants it to go when passing.
     “My confidence has improved a lot over the past year and getting to play with Josh for three years now of varsity ball is special. Once one of us starts to score and get going it just eases everything else and we smile and feed off one another,” Matlon said.
     To say that Senior Forward Josh Kilpatrick fed off Matlon during the game would be an understatement. Kilpatrick had a superb night with a career high 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist.
     Just as impressive is how seamlessly Kilpatrick has transitioned from a wing player last year to a post player this season. Kilpatrick was solid at establishing his pivot foot and turning to the basket with ease while getting separation from the defender. No small task for someone who’s newer to the role of mixing it up in the paint.
     Kilpatrick credited the Eagles coaching staff in his post-game comments all while holding back a wry smile when asked about his performance.
     “We played good defense at the beginning of the game tonight. That lead to easy fast break points that got us going. My teammates were unselfish in passing the ball and putting me in a spot where I could score for the team and that boosted us throughout the game,” Kilpatrick said.
     “This offseason I worked on playing more inside because of some of the players that graduated and Cole (Keller) being injured right now. I’m trying to do as much as I can for my team and teammates. Coach Quintrell was a post guy and he pushes us to do our best and he’s been an inspiration to me. It’s definitely helped my game.”
     Grain Valley’s formula for victory also included effective rebounding due to boxing out under the basket. The confidence in understanding angles of approach to the basket as well as where other team members were on the floor helped the team’s efficiency in scoring.
          The Eagles mainly stayed in man defense throughout the game. Smithville tried to take advantage of that strategy by stretching the floor in looking to take open three point shots and identifying cutters to the bastket. The strategy did not yield the results Smithville wanted in the outcome of the game.
     Eagles Head Basketball Coach Andy Herbert was pleased with his team’s 31 point margin of victory while also identifying opportunities for improvement with his team moving forward.
     “We are at our best in transition when we get out and run. We haven’t got to do that much this year mostly because we haven’t been getting the ball in quick enough. Seth (Dankenbring) and Caden (Matlon) did a good job tonight of getting it going by being willing passers who understand the angles of the game. Compound that with getting the taste of if I sprint, I might get to score, and things become easier,” Herbert said.
     “The second half I was disappointed with how easy it was for Smithville to drive to the basket at times. We have plenty still to work on with our on the ball defense. Our rotation at times has also left us four on five defensively with a free runner to the rim if we don’t box out across the board.”
     Herbert continued with his thoughts on Kirkpatrick’s outstanding individual effort of scoring a career high 35 points.
     “Josh is such a relentless cutter without the basketball. He’s in constant movement. As a defender if you relax or don’t have the will to chase him all night, he’s open. That also makes him hard to block out if you are out of position as a defender. He’s worked extremely hard and I am obviously happy for him,” Herbert said.
     The Eagles will face their next opponent at home on Friday, December 13th when the Harrisonville Wildcats pay a visit.
 

     While many students are just rolling out of bed to get ready for school, Grain Valley High School’s Girls Swim and Dive team were hard at work at 6:00am on December 3rd, practicing for their first swim meet in St. Joseph on December 4th.
     Head Coach Kara Liddle is excited to start the season and is pleased with how the team looks going into their second season.                 
     “We have a lot of returners, a couple of freshman, and a couple of new sophomores out as well,” Liddle said.
There are seventeen swimmers and six divers out for this year’s team.
     “We have a really good group of girls. They’re just really awesome people. You get this many girls together and you can worry about drama. But, there’s none of that,” Liddle said.
     The closing of the Blue Springs YMCA has not impacted the team and their ability to practice.  “Blue Springs has been really supportive in honoring our current contract, and for the foreseeable future until we have our own pool,” Liddle said.
     After a successful inaugural season, the team is even more prepared to face opponents this season.
     “We’re starting ahead of the game compared to where we were last year. Last year, 80% of our team was brand new to the sport of swimming and diving, whereas this year, most of our team is returning.  I’m excited to see where we start. I think this season’s going to be really good,” Liddle said.
     Sophomore Diver Hayden Meyer is returning after a successful first year on the team. Meyer placed 5th at State last year.
     “My goal is to make it back to state again this year. Learning new dives is always a goal, and I also have the goal of placing higher at State than I did last year,” Meyer said.
     Meyer was new to the sport last year, which makes her State visit even more impressive.
     “I did gymnastics for 10 years before this, and had about 9 months of previous diving experience before  my freshman year, “ Meyer said.
     The challenge of early practices aren't’ an issue for Meyer. She emphasizes the mental toughness it takes to dive as the biggest challenge she faces.
     “Having to get over smacking really hard on the water and having to go again is probably the hardest part. It’s hard to tell yourself you can do it again. Once you know how to get off the board, you can really do any dive as long as you are mentally prepared to do so,” Meyer said.
     Senior swimmer Rachel Turpin is also coming back after a visit to State and has her eyes on a return trip.
     “My biggest challenge is trying to keep all my motivation for my last season. My goal is to return to State this year,” Turpin said.
     Turpin plans to head to Metropolitan Community College after graduation and then transfer to a four-year school.
     Turpin competes in the 200 IM, 100 Fly, and 400 Free Relay in St. Joseph on December 5th.
     As Turpin heads into her final year of swimming, she encourages younger students to enter the sport.
     “Swimming is not like any other sport. If you’re looking to try something new, you’ll never experience anything like swimming. And, we have a really good environment on the team,” Turpin said.
 

​     The Kansas City Royals recently chose not to tender Major League contracts to pitcher Jesse Hahn, infielders Cheslor Cuthbert, Humberto Arteaga, and Erick Mejia. This leaves the club’s 40-man roster at 36. It is not uncommon for Major League clubs to reduce their rosters at this point in the offseason in preparation for opening spots meant for additions that may occur through trade, free agent signing, or Rule 5 Draft selections.
     The Non-Tender candidates for the Royals are not surprising.  However, they are of note as two of the players were developed within the organization and the other two were acquired via trade.
     Cuthbert was signed by the Royals as an international free agent from Nicaragua in 2009 for a $1.35 million signing bonus. The lifetime .250 major league hitter has struggled to stay healthy in recent years since debuting with the team in July of 2015. The club had high hopes for Cuthbert based on his swing, positive attitude, and athleticism.
     Arteaga also signed as an international free agent from Venezuela with the Royals in 2010. The utility player has been impressive with his glove and defensive acumen during his rise through the Royals minor league system. It’s likely the club did not view him as a piece of the puzzle moving forward due to his .197 batting average during the 2019 season.
     Hahn was acquired along with pitcher Heath Fillmyer from the Athletics in January of 2018 for Royals infielder Brandon Moss and pitcher Ryan Buchter. Hahn was once a promising prospect prior to experiencing UCL discomfort in his elbow with the Royals in the spring of 2018. The right handed starter battled back to appear in six games for the Royals down the stretch in 2019 showing good velocity on his fastball.
     Mejia was part of the three team trade in January of 2018 that sent Royals pitchers Joakim Soria to the White Sox and Scott Alexander to the Dodgers. Mejia was valued for his switch hitting ability and defensive versatility in being able to play both second base and the outfield. The Royals apparently did not think enough of his bat and his .227 major league average during the 2019 season to keep him onboard.
     The Royals no doubt will turn their sights to filling out at least part of the four openings on their 40-man roster with Rule 5 Draft selections that will occur on December 12th. Team General Manager Dayton Moore has gone on record with saying he’s enamored by the affordability of cheap pitching talent that can be had during the Rule 5 process.
     Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller would be the most recent example of success had by the team with a Rule 5 selection. The 6-foot-5, 230 pound right hander was originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in December of 2017 as a Rule 5 selection out of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization prior to being traded to the Royals for cash considerations.
     Keller produced some eye popping stats as a 24 year old during his second year as a starter for the Royals. The team ace would start 28 games across 165 innings before being shut down late in the season for precautionary measures as to not risk too much wear and tear on his arm. Keller would go on to strike out a respectable 122 batters with a 4.19 earned run average during the 2019 season.
     Not too shabby for someone who was pitching in Double A minor league baseball during the 2017 campaign. Keller highlights the low risk, high reward scenario of the Rule 5 Draft process.
     According to Major League Baseball policy, any club with a spot on their 40 man roster is eligible to make a selection. Teams pick in reverse order of their record. Furthermore, baseball players on a team’s 40-man major league roster are protected from the Rule 5 Draft. To be eligible for selection, a player must either have spent four seasons in professional baseball after signing at 19 or older or spent five seasons in pro ball after signing at 18 or younger.
     A team that makes a selection pays a player’s previous team $100,000 and places the player on its 40-man roster. They must then keep the player on their 25-man roster or disabled list for the whole season. If the acquiring team removes the player from the big league roster, it must offer the player back to the former team for $50,000.
     The afore mentioned value that can be had in the Rule 5 Draft is apparent with the recent free agent signing of relief pitcher Jake Diekman. The southpaw reliever who will turn 33 next month just signed a two-year contract with the A’s good for $7.5 million guaranteed. He spent most of 2019 season with the Kansas City Royals before being traded to the A’s for two minor leaguers.
     Any big league team that could select a player in the Rule 5 Draft that might be able to fill the role of a player like Diekman walk away winners. Both financially and with a young player under team control for the foreseeable future.
     The following are three Rule 5 Draftees that the Royals could either select or trade for with another team. It’s not surprising that all three players are pitchers as the Royals need rotation depth and good young arms in their bullpen, which was one of the worst in Major League Baseball last season. The player notes were compiled from Major League Baseball’s Prospect Pipeline and Scouting Tools.
     Eduard Bazardo, RHP- Boston Red Sox
     Bazardo has been transitioned to a pure reliever at this point in his young career. His mid-90’s fastball and strong curveball are both becoming plus pitches for the young right hander. They were good enough to earn him a 2.78 ERA and 9.7 K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings) this past season in Double-A.
     Thomas Burrows, LHP- Atlanta Braves
     Burrows is not an untypical minor league success story as a pitcher. He’s struggled with his command while missing bats (11.6 K/9 to go with 4.0 BB/9). The 6-Foot-1, 205 pound southpaw has something else going for him. He’s given left-handed hitters fits so far in his professional career. He’s a potential left handed specialist for someone’s bullpen.
     Sterling Sharp, RHP- Washington Nationals
     Sharp has been touted the best athlete in Washington’s minor league system. He made nine starts in Double-A ball last season prior to continuing to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. Sharp’s appeal to teams is his ability to get outs and strikeouts while easily repeating his delivery. He has the strong potential to provide flexibility as a starting pitcher or bullpen depth.
 

​     The Grain Valley Eagles Football team could not maintain the early momentum they seized against the Platte County Pirates in the Class 4 State Quarterfinal Playoff game on Friday, November 22nd. The Eagles would force the Pirates to punt after a three and out on their first possession prior to Junior Quarterback Parker Bosserman’s 29 yard touchdown run on a quarterback mesh read with 3:40 left in the first quarter.
     The 7-0 lead would be the last for the Eagles despite a valiant effort through all four quarters. Platte County would go on to win the contest by a score of 38-21 in advancing to the semi final round of the playoffs.
     Eagles Head Football Coach David Allie was proud of his team as he reflected on their efforts against the Pirates and throughout the season.
     “We started like gangbusters tonight. A couple of plays here and there after that including a turnover that wasn’t good, along with some three and outs offensively and we gave up the score right before half. That’s not what we wanted,” Allie said.
     “It was a great season for these guys. The legacy that this group of seniors will leave as far as work ethic and winning the day with their efforts and where that got us is special. There are no words that I can say now to make anyone feel better in this moment. We will look back and say this was a pretty good year.”
     Key offensive contributors for the Eagles in the game included Senior Running Back Jamore Goulden, Sophomore Wide Receiver Logan Pratt, and Senior Running Back Seth Dankenbring.
     Goulden would produce 64 hard fought yards between the tackles on 15 carries. Pratt would haul in three passes good for 43 yards and a touchdown. Dankenbring would end his career with a flurry on offense that yielded 51 yards on seven carries, including a 23 yard touchdown run off an option pitch from Bosserman with :23 seconds left in the third quarter.
     Dankenbring worked hard to hold back the emotion in conveying his thoughts on the game. The Eagles vocal leader expressed thanks to his teammates and coaches.
     “We pounded read option tonight pretty good. It was successful for us three or four times. Bosserman fought to the edge against their defensive end on my touchdown and made a great pitch that allowed me to score. Gavin (Oyler) had a terrific block on the edge that allowed me to walk in untouched,” Dankenbring said.
     “We’ve been playing football now for six months and I couldn’t be happier with the guys. I love all of them. We’re a family, and I’m going to miss this. I’ve grown bonds with these coaches since I was a freshman. I’m close with all of them. I mean they are my best friends and have taught me all I know about football. They are great leaders and people.”
     The Eagles defense worked hard to hold down an explosive Pirates offense. Grain Valley was able to force three punts that all occurred after three and out stands. However, Junior Quarterback Christopher Ruhnke and Junior Wide Receiver Colby Rollins proved to be a strong tandem.
     The duo would combine for three touchdowns through the air. The Pirates would utilize four and five wide receiver sets to get Rollins isolated in coverage on successful post and vertical patterns. Ruhnke’s display of uncanny touch permitted the Pirates to take advantage of small windows in coverage.
     Among the Eagles looking forward to next season is Junior Quarterback Cole Keller. Grain Valley’s signal caller has been active on the sidelines interacting with his teammates and coaches since his injury.
     “Eagles football has produced a lot of good relationships for me. The bonds you make in the grind of this game with only 10 games guaranteed is special,” Keller said.
     “This coaching staff is always pushing us. They’ve taught me about being coachable. I’m understanding how to apply that in life in that if you make a mistake, you learn from it and don’t do that again. Accepting criticism from wise people and applying it makes you better.”
     The Eagles finish with a 9-4 record on the season. Grain Valley produced 336 points on offense while only giving up 211. Furthermore, post season honors are rolling in for the Eagles with Suburban Blue All-Conference Football selections.
     First Team Honorees include Linebacker Seth Dankenbring, Defensive Back Willie Lanear, Wide Receiver Gavin Oyler, Offensive Lineman Jack Bailey, and Defensive Lineman Donovan McBride.
     Second Team Honorees include Offensive Lineman Landen Hinton, Defensive Lineman Steele Blackmon, Wide Receiver Parker Bosserman, and Running Back Jamore Goulden.