Top 10 Sports Stories of 2011

1. Liberal’s Soccer Dream Comes True- For the first time since track and field in 2004, Liberal High School wins a KSHSAA championship. The Redskin soccer team won state over Blue Valley 3-1 November 5 in Kansas City. Eduardo Moreno and Isai Gutierrez were first team all state and Lori Navarro is up for a national coach of the year honor. The Redskins won the WAC for the 11th straight season and went to the final four of 5A for the eighth time in nine years.

2. Forgan Wins Gold Ball- One year after being eliminated in Areas, the Forgan Bulldogs won the 2011 Class B state basketball championship, the first boys basketball title in school history. Forgan beat Graham March 5 81-47.

3. Nobody Better than Beaver- The Beaver Dusters won the state cross country championship on October 22. Luis Chavez was the individual champion.

4. A Honey of a Deal for Guymon- Guymon won the school’s first state golf championship in May. Trey Fankhauser was the overall champion with a 72.

5. So Grand to be Green- The Seward baseball team won the Region 6 baseball championship 5-2 over Colby May 16 in Wichita. The Saints won a school record two games at the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado for sixth place. The Saints went 46-20 and also won the Jayhawk West for the ninth time in the last 11 years.

6. The Key to Cornelsen- Former LHS coach Gary Cornelsen returned September 30 as the football stadium, track, and weight room were named the Gary Cornelsen Sports Complex. Cornelsen won four state football championships with three runner-up finishes and a 118-17 record. His boys track teams won 14 state championships while his girls teams won 10 state titles. Cornelsen was given the key to the city during an afternoon pep assembly. He was the grand marshal for the homecoming parade. He was recognized during halftime of the football game as his former students lined the field behind him.

7. Abbott Looks to Construct Angry Red Football- Former Liberal High School standout and 1980 LHS graduate Cliff Abbott was introduced as head coach March 11 replacing Wade Standley. Abbott brought back many Angry Red traditions to a community starved for football success.

8. Saints Best in the West- On February 23, Seward clinched their second Jayhawk West title in four years under head coach Bryan Zollinger. Seward went 27-7 and 12-4 to win the conference by two games in a balanced league. The Saints lost the Region 6 championship game to Coffeyville in Wichita the night before Pancake Day.

9. Meade Marches On- The Meade Buffaloes were the number one ranked team in 2A all season after winning state in 2010. They went 10-1 and lost to Lacrosse in the second round of the 2A playoffs.

10. Justin Time at State Wrestling Meet- Liberal’s Justin McPhail won the state championship at 215 pounds in Wichita February 26. He beat a Gardner-Edgerton wrestler 4-3. He was the number one wrestler in the state at 215 pounds according to Wrestling USA magazine. Hugoton’s Colten Lissolo won state in 4A at 215 pounds. He was also the winner of Billy’s 10 Best scholarship during an awards ceremony at the Mid America Air Museum November 15. Jason Perez of Ulysses also won state at 103 pounds.