Ark Valley News - 2018 shaped future of local sports

The Valley Center High School tennis team, led by longtime head coach Dean Schulz, captured a state team title in 2018, Valley Center's first team championship in any sport since 1978.

2018 shaped future of local sports
By The News staff
Last Updated: January 03, 2019

The local sports landscape changed dramatically in 2018.

Valley Center High School captured its first team title in 40 years, the Hornets introduced two new varsity-level sports, the beloved Hornet Truck likely made its final appearance and the recreation commission board of directors fired its longtime director.

While there were many accomplishments and some disappointments, the year in local sports never lacked for stories.

Here's a look at the Top 10 local sports moments of 2018.

1. Team title

The Valley Center High School tennis team brought home a school team championship for the first time in 40 years. More astonishingly, it was Valley Center's first-ever boys team title.

Led by longtime coach Dean Schulz and assistant Matt Klusener, each of the team's entries finished in the Top 10 to edge perennial power Salina Central. Hayden Brauer placed third in singles, Garrett Rogers and Ian Clifton third in doubles, and Colby Swift and Brayden Ruble eighth in doubles.

"It's amazing," said Schulz, who was later chosen coach of the year.

The last time Valley Center had a state team title was in 1978, when the girls track team won in Class 3A.

2. New sports

In July, the Valley Center school district announced the addition of two swimming teams and a bowling team.

"We are always looking for ways to get more students connected with clubs, sports and activities as we know that being involved directly influences success in the classroom," said VCHS athletic director Caleb Smith.

The boys and girls swimming teams are coached by Abra Thieme. Danielle Savage is the girls assistant coach, while Bailey Chavez is the boys assistant coach. The boys swim season is during the winter, while the girls season is in the spring.

The new bowling team is led by Phil VanHorn, and Lee Owens is the assistant coach. The bowling season is during the winter.

3. Runners-up

It was a banner season for the Valley Center High School wrestling team. The Hornets were runners-up at both the regional and state tournaments. It was Valley's highest finish at a Class 5A state tournament.

"This is the second year we have brought home a state trophy, and it represents the foundation of what's going to come in the future," coach Tate Lowe said, referring to a third-place finish in 2016-17.

Of the 12 wrestlers who qualified for state, six of them ascended the medal podium.

Sophomore Devin Gomez at 138 pounds, senior Dallas Boone (145), senior Tyler Boone (170) and sophomore Tony Caldwell (285) each advanced to the finals where they all placed second. Senior Chase Ramirez (160) placed third, while senior Mike Turkali (126) was fifth.

4. The Truck

A staple at Valley Center High School football games for more than 40 years nearly came to an end in 2018. In August, Bill Arick, a local businessman who owns the Hornet Truck, said he was stepping down.

At the 11th hour, Arick's nephew, Ivan Moore, and a handful of other Hornet supporters — which included Spike Anderson, Greg Lehr and Nick Lewis — came to the rescue. They continued the tradition in 2018 by handling the driving and the additional work of getting the truck to home games. But its future is still up in the air.

"It just seems like there are a lot of people who would like to see this thing continue," Moore said. "I'd like to see it continue, too. I don't know what will happen next year."

5. New coach

Coming off one of Valley Center High School's most successful football seasons, Scott L'Ecuyer was named head coach of the Hornets. He replaced Caleb Smith, VCHS athletic director who stepped down from coaching after five years. L'Ecuyer spent the last two years as offensive coordinator for Smith.

Six Hornets received All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League II honors in L'Ecuyer's first season. Senior running back Larry Wilson was named the league's MVP. Valley Center lost its last four games of the season to finish 3-6.

"People look at the record," L'Ecuyer said. "I'm going to look at what they learned and how they're going to carry that through in life. I told them there at the end. I can't think of a single game that they ever quit. It didn't matter what the score was."

6. Champions

The Valley Center High School girls soccer team proved to be among the state's elite during 2018. The Hornets won the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail II championship and a Class 5A regional championship. But its season ended with a 2-1 state quarterfinal loss in penalty kicks to perennial state power Bishop Carroll.

"It was probably one of the most enjoyable teams I've ever coached," coach Steen Danielsen said of the Hornets, who finished 16-2-1.

Danielsen was named coach of the year in the AVCTL-II, while senior Sydney Martens was player of the year. Named first-team all-league were Martens, juniors Emily Breault and Kelsey Ray, senior Emma Girtz and freshman Kyrah Klumpp. Sophomore Vanessa Aguilar received honorable mention.

7. Best in state

Saying she was as surprised as anyone, Libby Schurle won the javelin at the Class 5A state track meet. She shattered a personal record by more than 9 feet on her first throw of the competition. Her toss of 137 feet, 6 inches stood up to give her the gold medal.

"I think it was the adrenaline because my hands were shaking after the throw," Schurle said. "And then when the announcer said my distance I was wondering if it was even right; I was so confused."

Larry Wilson and Zach Williams also scored points for the Hornets,

Wilson took second in the 200-meter dash and third in the 100-meter dash. Williams was sixth in the 110-meter hurdles and seventh in the long jump.

8. VCRC tussle

In a series of twists and turns, the Valley Center Recreation Commission was turned upside down in 2018.

It started when the Valley Center school board requested a financial audit of the rec commission's books. Board members said they wanted to be able to explain to constituents how tax money was being spent and how it was being monitored.

After an often contentious back and forth, the rec commission denied the request and then fired longtime director Steve Geddes for reasons unknown. Geddes was not accused of anything specific. The only reason any rec board member gave was that Geddes created a division between the rec commission and the school district. Geddes had been director for 33 years.

Now, the rec board has hired a consultant to review the rec commission's operations and make suggestions for improvements before the board begins looking for a new director.

9. Jr. commits

It's not every day a Valley Center High School athlete has the opportunity to play at the next level. Especially when that level is at an NCAA Division I school.

In November, junior Ellie Shank orally committed to play beach volleyball at LSU. Valley's last oral commit to a D-I school was in 2016.

Shank likes the relaxed environment of beach volleyball, which is entering just its fourth year as an NCAA sport.

"It's a more chilled environment," she said. "You're just playing on the beach with some music. … It's really cool. It's not that unusual for people to be jammin' while they're playing these games."

10. Studios

What started as a one-camera operation with a single microphone a couple of years ago took off in 2018. Hornet Studios has become a familiar sight at Valley Center High School athletic events, especially football and basketball games.

With the addition of high-tech equipment and an influx in student participation in the program, Hornet Studios is able to operate a mobile production studio with up to eight cameras, producing graphics and titles and even picture-in-picture during broadcasts.

The program has helped keep faithful Hornet fans plugged into the games as they happen.

The program also enabled Greyson Shain to earn an internship at KAKE news in Wichita.

"Shain has been able to bring knowledge from his internship back to the Hornet Studios program at Valley Center High School, the program that sparked his interest in the field," said VCHS internship coordinator Lee. "I give some credit to Gavin Couvelha for unlocking his potential."