The following students are nominees for the 2021 Sportscasters Club Scholarship for their respective school. The nominees were chosen by the faculty and staff at each of their schools. The winners are chosen by the Sportscasters Club members. Please thank these businesses for their support of local high school athletics!

Sportscasters Club Businesses

Abilene Termite & Pest
American Family Insurance – Scott Ausherman
American Family Insurance – Daran Neuschafer
Arne Reinert, CPA, LLC
At Stake Ministries
Auburn Pharmacy
Bank of Tescott
Bennington State Bank
Bethany College
Came Farms
Chuck’s Collision
Citizen’s State Bank & Trust
Coldwell Banker – Emma Bixby
Coldwell Banker – Jessica Kindlesparger
Coldwell Banker – Mari Loder
Commercial Tire
The Davidson Agency
Delphos Co-op
Don’s Tire & Supply
Doug Bradley Trucking
Eyecare Associates of Salina
Family Eye Care of Abilene
Farm Bureau Financial Services
Farm Bureau Financial Services – Julie Boggs
Farmers & Ranchers Cafe
Farmer’s State Bank of Lindsborg
First Bank Kansas
Fletcher & Associates
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Frisbie Construction
Gene’s Heartland Foods
Great Plains Federal Credit Union in Abilene
H&R Block
Harris Crop Insurance
Hemslojd
Hometown Outdoor Power Sports
Kansas Beach Hospitality & Events
Last Chance Graphics
Lindsborg Community Hospital
Lindsey Creek Feeders
Lumber House True Value
M&M Tire & Auto
Marshall Motors
Memorial Health System
Midwest Greyhound Supply
Minneapolis Jr./Sr. High School Lionbackers
Minneapolis Refuse Service
Mokas
New Horizon CBD
Nex-Tech Wireless
Oard’s Auto & Truck Repair
Ol Stuga
Patterson Healthcare Pharmacy
Peoples Bank & Trust
Pestinger Heating & Air
Phelps Seed
Pinnacle Park Nursing & Rehabilitation
Quarterback Club of Lindsborg
Reflections Retirement Resort
Robson Oil
Salina Ortho
Salina Regional Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Clinic
Salina Surgical Hospital
Scoular Company
Smart Insurance
Smoky Valley Chiropractic
State Farm Insurance – Amanda West
Vanderbilt’s
Wedel Financial Group – Robert Justus
West’s Country Mart
Zey’s Market

Abilene

Abi Lillard

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Basketball (4), Tennis (4)

College and major: Kansas State University, Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Communications

Parents: Kregg and Katie Kohman

Athletic Achievements

• All-state basketball honorable mention, NCKL basketball all-league and honorable mention
• Helped Abilene win sub-state championship and make state tournament appearance in 2019
• State tennis participant and medalist
• A part of the squad that finished as regional runner-ups

School Activities: FFA, Student Council, National Honor Society, FCA, Lone Rangers, German National Honor Society

Awards/Academic Achievements: DAR Good Citizen Award, Trinity Lutheran Church Confirmand, Academic Letter, AHS Principal’s Honor Roll, FFA Star Greenhand, FFA Greenhand and Chapter Degrees, Pat Sweeney FFA Jacket Award, FFA Fruit and Meat and BBQ top seller

Volunteer Activities: 4-H, community meal server, Dickinson County food pantry volunteer, NHS tutor, 48 hours of 4-H, blood drive volunteer, Trinity Lutheran Church Council, TLC worship helper, vacation bible school volunteer, community garden maintenance volunteer, CKFF swine barn superintendent helper

Kaden Coup

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Basketball (4), Baseball (4)

College and major: Kansas Wesleyan University, Physics

Parents: Kerry and Patti Coup

Athletic Achievements

• NCKL all-league utility player in 2019
• Received various team awards for baseball
• Played for state basketball team

School Activities: Scholars Bowl, German Club

Awards/Academic Achievements: 4.00 GPA throughout high school, German Seal of Bi-literacy, Silver Medal in National German Exam, academic letter all four years

Volunteer Activities: Baseball camp volunteer, Sunday school volunteer, youth baseball showcase volunteer, slam ball volunteer/coach

Autumn Fitzgeralds

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Volleyball (4), Softball (4)

College and major: Emporia State University, Elementary Education

Parents: Troy and Amanda Fitzgeralds, Angela and Lucas Geske

Athletic Achievements

• Volleyball captain
• 3x letter winner in volleyball and softball
• Travel softball state champion
• Played travel volleyball at national level for two years

School Activities: Yearbook, FBLA, FCA

Awards/Academic Achievements: N/A

Volunteer Activities: United Methodist Church of Enterprise, helped children with shooting at youth hunt, donated blood, run game at Pheasants Forever, helped with Abilene softball tournament

Ell-Saline

Eli Hopkins

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Football (4), Wrestling (3)

College and major: Hutchinson Community College, Fire Science

Parents: Jeremy and Angela Hopkins

Athletic Achievements

• Football captain and wrestling captain
• Football all-Saline County selection
• Second-team all-district at defensive line, honorable mention at offensive line

School Activities: FFA, BPA, National Honor Society, Student Council, Powerlifting

Awards/Academic Achievements: 4.0 GPA, Valedictorian, NHS President, STUCO President, FFA Officer, BPA National qualifier, senior class Vice President

Volunteer Activities: 40-plus hours of volunteer work at First Covenant Church, Angel Tree, community clean up

Brynna Rowley

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Softball (3)

College and major: University of Kansas, Business Management

Parents: Brian and Becky Rowley

Athletic Achievements

• 3x All-Saline County volleyball honorable mention, 2x All-Saline County basketball honorable mention
• 2x HOA all-league volleyball honorable mention
• Volleyball captain for two years, basketball captain senior year

School Activities: FFA, BPA, Yearbook, National Honor Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, PALS

Awards/Academic Achievements: BPA state champion in 2019, FFA chapter secretary in 2020-21, FFA state qualifier in Parliamentary Procedure, multiple FFA district CDE top 10 placings

Volunteer Activities: Brookville Youth Group, HOA club volleyball, American Quarter Horse Association

Jesus Calzada

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Football (4), Wrestling (2), Track & Field (4), Powerlifting (2)

College and major: Marines, Science

Parents: Rogaciano and Maria Calzada

Athletic Achievements

• 2020 all-Saline County honorable mention, all-state honorable mention
• 2020 all-league first team at offensive line, all-league honorable mention at defensive line
• 2019 all-league first team at defensive line, all-league honorable mention at offensive line
• Placed second in 220-pound division as senior, fifth at sub-state

School Activities: Basketball manager

Awards/Academic Achievements: National Honor Society

Volunteer Activities: Church community service

Minneapolis

Keyon Baccus

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Football (4), Wrestling (4), Track & Field (4), Trap Shooting (3), Powerlifting (2)

College and major: Kansas Wesleyan University, Sports Management

Parents: Kenny and Melissa Baccus

Athletic Achievements

• 2x NCAA all-league OL/DL, all-state team selection
• Sports in Kansas Top 100 senior, non-senior team pick in 2019
• Set Minneapolis High School record for sacks
• Two-time state wrestling qualifier, fourth-place medal at state
• Fourth in Class 3A at state powerlifting

School Activities: National Honor Society, FCA, Art Club, Robotics team, Superintendent Advisory Board, Student Council

Awards/Academic Achievements: Student body president as a senior, student body vice president as a junior, honor roll all for years

Volunteer Activities: Youth football and wrestling, food banks, helped elderly with house/yard work, Meals on Wheels, taught swimming lessons

Courtney Forte

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Track & Field (3)

College and major: Kansas State University, Interior Design

Parents: Brenda and Steve Forte

Athletic Achievements

• Honorable mention all-state in basketball, NCAA all-league pick, honorable mention one yar
• Minneapolis High School’s all-time career rebounder, also holds single game rebounding record
• State track qualifier freshman and sophomore year
• 2x all-league volleyball selection, honorable mention pick one season
• Minneapolis volleyball MVP

School Activities: FCA leadership team, National Honor Society, dance, Art Club, Student Council, MHS Musicals, Math Relays

Awards/Academic Achievements: Academic all-league, High honor roll, MHS Outstanding Artist, 2x MHS Citizenship Award winner

Volunteer Activities: Mission trip, church’s pancake feed and Easter breakfast, Monkey in My Chair, church youth group, children’s summer play

Trent Moeckel

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Football (4), Basketball (3), Baseball (4)

College and major: K-State Polytechnic, Mechanical Engineering Technology

Parents: Terry and Crista Moeckel

Athletic Achievements

• Baseball all-state honorable mention, NCAA all-league
• Minneapolis High School career record holder in on-base percentage and runs scored, single-season record holder in batting average and on-base percentage
• Basketball all-state honorable mention, NCAA all-league senior year, honorable mention junior season
• Sports in Kansas Top 100 senior football player, team captain
• All-senior all-state team as punter, Class 2A all-state as punter, honorable mention at quarterback, NCAA all-league first team as punter, second team as quarterback

School Activities: National Honor Society, student body vice president, student body treasurer, Student Council, Minni Cub Club

Awards/Academic Achievements: Kansas Honor Scholar, Homecoming King, Citizenship Award, High honor roll, Adolph Rupp Tournament All-Academic team, Dane Hansen Scholarship recipient

Volunteer Activities: SRL All Breed Dog Rescue, King’s Kids Church leader, baseball field revitalization project, Blues summer baseball, Meals on Wheels, community blood drive, Love Inc. food bank, highway clean-up

Sacred Heart

Mason Richards

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Football (4), Basketball (4), Baseball (4)

College and major: Pittsburg State University, Construction Management

Parents: Shane and Kelsi Richards

Athletic Achievements

• Best Teammate Award, 2x football captain, basketball captain, 2x baseball captain
• Football all-Saline County pick, all-state honorable mention, all-district honorable mention, NCAA all-league honorable mention
• NCAA basketball all-league honorable mention
• VYPE Community Athlete of the Month, VYPE Salina Area Athlete Spotlight

School Activities: Houses and community leader, Junior Civitan, S.A.F.E., Relay for Life, National Honor Society

Awards/Academic Achievements: Honor roll all four years, community service letterman

Volunteer Activities: Meals on Wheels, Little Knights Basketball Club, prayer and auction volunteer, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton mass server, Junior Leadership of Salina

Teghan Slagle

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Volleyball (4), Basketball (4), Softball (2)

College and major: Fort Hays State University, Business Marketing

Parents: Robin Slagle

Athletic Achievements

• Volleyball all-Saline County selection, first team all-league
• Basketball all-Saline County honorable mention, all-league honorable mention

School Activities: Culture Club, S.A.F.E., Yearbook

Awards/Academic Achievements: 2x academic all-league, National Honor Society

Volunteer Activities: Helped with a little kids basketball camp, Relay for Life

Jacob Gormley

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Football (3), Basketball (4), Baseball (4)

College and major: Kansas Wesleyan University, Kinesiology

Parents: Brian and Sherri Gormley

Athletic Achievements

• 2x all-Saline County honorable mention in basketball
• Basketball all-state honorable mention
• NCAA all-league selection in basketball

School Activities: Junior Civitan, S.A.F.E.

Awards/Academic Achievements: National Honor Society

Volunteer Activities: Prayer and auction alter server

Salina Central

Brooks Burgoon

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Football (4), Wrestling (4), Tennis (4)

College and major: Kansas State University, Business Administration

Parents: Pam and Darrell Burgoon

Athletic Achievements

• Dave Antrim “Every Play Matters” Award – presented to a senior football player who positively impacts the football program on the field and off through their outstanding leadership and character
• Football captain, wrestling captain
• Sub-State wrestling qualifier

School Activities: National Honor Society, set construction for theatre productions

Awards/Academic Achievements: Four-year HS Honor Roll, academic excellence all four years, 2x KWCA all-academic first team, Most Influential Senior, Homecoming candidate

Volunteer Activities: Relay for Life, Ark Church member, Grocery Giveaway through Ark Church, football youth camp, Trunk or Treat

Makenzie Maring

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Volleyball (4), Basketball (2), Softball (4)

College and major: Kansas State University, undecided

Parents: Greg and Jennifer Maring

Athletic Achievements

• Softball all-AVCTL first team, all-league honorable mention
• Volleyball all-AVCTL honorable mention, all-Saline County honorable mention
• Hays Maroon/Gold all-tournament team

School Activities: Yearbook Editor-in-Chief, National Honor Society, Mustang Media anchor, Link Leaders

Awards/Academic Achievements: Journalism Education Education (JEA) Spring National Student Media Contests (NSMC) Superior National Award – Yearbook Cover and Endsheets Design, JEA/National Student Press Association Fall NSMC Superior National Award – Yearbook Cover and Endsheets Design, 2020 Kansas Student Press Association Journalism state champion, Kansas Honor Scholar, Central High School Influential Senior, I DARE You Award – Outstanding Junior, American Youth Foundation National Leadership Award, honor roll all four years

Volunteer Activities: Salina Youth Relay for Life, volleyball youth camp, Meals on Wheels

Dakota Hogan

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Baseball (4), Football (3)

College and major: Unknown, Health Science

Parents: Steve Hogan and Dana Hogan

Athletic Achievements

• Captain of football team
• Football all-league second team, all-league honorable mention
• Baseball all-state honorable mention, 3x second team all-league
• Hays High all-tournament team

School Activities: Relay for Life, Mustang Media

Awards/Academic Achievements: Three-year honor roll, health science competition

Volunteer Activities: Church group, helped church serve food to elders, little kids baseball

Salina South

Lizzy Franco

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Tennis (4), Basketball (4), Soccer (2)

College and major: Kansas State University, Mass Communications

Parents: Mary and Bobby Franco

Athletic Achievements

• Basketball all-AVCTL honorable mention, all-Saline County honorable mention
• Soccer all-AVCTL first team, second team all-league
• 4x letter winner for tennis

School Activities: Student Council, editor of newspaper, co-editor of Yearbook, National Honor Society, S.A.F.E.

Awards/Academic Achievements: Chairman of Activities for STUCO, NHS Treasurer, four-year academic letter winner, 3x Journalism regional placer, 3x Journalism state qualifier, second place in Yearbook sports writing at state, Digital Media pathway

Volunteer Activities: Event lead for Relay for Life, four-year committee member for Relay for Life

Devon Junghans

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Basketball (4), Track & Field (3)

College and major: Coffeyville Community College, Biology

Parents: Monica Junghans

Athletic Achievements

• All-time career three-point makes leader in Salina South High School history
• All-Saline County first team in 2020-21
• 2x Sports in Kansas all-state honorable mention, Wichita Eagle all-state honorable mention in 2020-21

School Activities: Student Council, Relay for Life

Awards/Academic Achievements: 3x Citizenship Award winner

Volunteer Activities: Hospital volunteer, new community volunteer for auction night

Reese Altman

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Volleyball (4), Softball (4)

College and major: Kansas State University, Kinesiology

Parents: Cory and Jayme Altman, Ray and Amy Kahmeyer

Athletic Achievements

• Softball all-AVCTL first team
• Softball Sports in Kansas all-state honorable mention
• 3x letter winner in volleyball

School Activities: Student Council, Relay for Life Leadership Team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Business Professionals of America, HughMath Relays

Awards/Academic Achievements: STCUO President, Governor’s Scholar, Kansas Honor Scholar, senior class Citizenship Award, Kansas ACT Scholar, President’s Academic Excellence Award, KSHSAA Citizenship Award, American Legion Outstanding Student, senior class Representative Award, four-year academic letter winner

Volunteer Activities: Volunteer at First Covenant Church, volunteer at Salina Regional Health Center, member of First Covenant Church youth group

Smoky Valley

Ryan Heline

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Cross Country (4), Basketball (4), Track & Field (4)

College and major: University of Saint Mary, Exercise Science

Parents: Greg and Erica Heline

Athletic Achievements

• Helped Smoky Valley cross country place second and third at state
• Placed third, sixth and seventh at state cross country
• Helped track team finish second at state
• Placed eighth in 3200 at state
• Kansas High School Prep All-Star

School Activities: KAYS, National Honor Society, Viking Mentors

Awards/Academic Achievements: Honor roll, 3.7 GPA

Volunteer Activities: Brunch Brigade summer cross country training program, church service work, volunteer at St. Bridgets Preschool

Belle Peters

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Volleyball (4), Track & Field (4), Wrestling (1), Cheer (4)

College and major: Pittsburg State University, Exercise Science

Parents: Chuck Peters and Robyn Peters

Athletic Achievements

• Steve Malm Outstanding Athlete Award
• Class 3A state pole vault record holder
• Helped Smoky Valley take first and third in Class 3A state, 12 state track medals, including four golds, silver, and fourth place
• 3x Most Inspirational Player for volleyball, helped Smoky Valley take second at state
• Three state powerlifting medals, four gold medals at state powerlifting, girls power-weight lifter of the meet

School Activities: National Honor Society, Student Council, Kansas Association for Youth Club, Pep Club, Vocal, Drama Club

Awards/Academic Achievements: Top 15 in class, 3.97 GPA, Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association all-academic first team, 2x Kansas Volleyball Association all-academic first team

Volunteer Activities: St. Bridget’s Catholic Church alter server, Tailwind Pole Vault Club, t-shirt making for clubs and sports

Jake Lucas

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Football (4), Basketball (4), Tennis (4)

College and major: Gustavus Adolphus College, Business and Music

Parents: Mark Lucas and Jeanne Lucas

Athletic Achievements

• Placed fourth in singles at state tennis in 2021
• Placed third and seventh in doubles at state tennis
• League champion at No. 1 singles in tennis
• All-league quarterback
• Basketball all-league selection

School Activities: Band, National Honor Society, FCA, Jazz Band, Choir, Drama

Awards/Academic Achievements: Owen Odell Best Teammate Award, Kansas Honor Scholar, KBCA academic all-state, 4.0 GPA

Volunteer Activities: Summer tennis coach, NHS volunteer opportunities, church youth group, Messiah Festival Orchestra/Choir, Lindsbord Swedish Folk Dancers, church praise band, community orchestra, church choir

Southeast of Saline

Luke Gleason

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Cross Country (4), Basketball (3), Track & Field (3)

College and major: Emporia State University, Health and Human Performance

Parents: Nicholas and Meredith Gleason

Athletic Achievements

• Helped Southeast of Saline win three state cross country championships and state title in track
• 4x all-state in cross country, 2x all-state in 1600m
• 2x NCAA league 3200m champion, NCAA league champion in 1600m

School Activities: Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Awards/Academic Achievements: N/A

Volunteer Activities: Salina Burn Track & Field

Dorothy Ann Sparacino

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Volleyball (4), Softball (4), Cheer (1)

College and major: University of Kansas, Biology/Biochemistry

Parents: Dorothy Sparacino and Jeff Sparacino

Athletic Achievements

• Volleyball all-league, all-Saline County honorable mention
• 4x volleyball letter winner
• 2x softball letter winner

School Activities: Student Council, Community Leaders of America, National Honor Society, Choir, Forensics, Speech and Drama

Awards/Academic Achievements: 2x all-academic volleyball award winner, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Student of the Year candidate, STUCO Vice President, NHS Treasurer, 4x academic letter winner, FCCLA national qualifier, 4x honor roll student, FCCLA Secretary, FCCLA VP of STAR Events, FCCLA Representative, Forensics state qualifer, VFW Voice of Democracy second-place winner

Volunteer Activities: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraising campaign, evaluation and training of service dogs, Kanakuk Church Camp, First Covenant Church youth group, Numana Project food packaging event, Salina Junior Leadership program, Ashby House, Salina Food Bank, Salvation Army, Prairie Patch Craft Show

Jaxson Gebhardt

Sports participated in high school and number of years: Football (4), Basketball (4), Baseball (4)

College and major: Dodge City Community College, Agricultural Business

Parents: Mitch and Angie Gebhardt

Athletic Achievements

• Kansas Football Coaches Association/Wichita Eagle/Topeka Capital Journal first-team defensive back as senior
• Wichita Eagle/Topeka Capital Journal first-team defensive back as junior, all-state honorable mention as sophomore
• 2019 Circle of Stars 2A Player of the Year
• Sports in Kansas Top 100 seniors, second-team all-class defensive back for non-seniors, 2x all-Saline County pick
• Basketball all-state honorable mention, all-Saline County honorable mention
• Baseball all-state honorable mention

School Activities: National Honor Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, FFA, Science Club

Awards/Academic Achievements: High honor roll all four years

Volunteer Activities: Color run, Salina Food Bank, Gypsum Fall Fest, football little kids camp, basketball little kids camp, church Fall Fest

Previous Scholarship Winners

2020
Abilene – Beth Holmes
Ell-Saline – Noah Hopkins
Minneapolis – Derek Freel
Sacred Heart – Hannah Goetz
Salina Central – Cooper Chard
Salina South – Victoria Maxton
Smoky Valley – Cade Schneider
Southeast of Saline – Meredith Tillberg

2019
Abilene – Sydney Burton
Ell-Saline – Nick Davenport
Minneapolis – Kaden McCullick
Sacred Heart – Trace Leners
Salina Central – Taylon Peters
Salina South – Camdyn Schreiber
Smoky Valley – Tim Lambert
Southeast of Saline – Molly Chitty

2018
Abilene – Jensen Roth
Ell-Saline – Lexington Kochanowski
Minneapolis – Dalton Wilson
Sacred Heart – Kelsey Doll
Salina Central – Elisa Backes
Salina South – Carson Harris
Smoky Valley – Nick Reinert
Southeast of Saline – Morgan Thaxton

2017
Abilene – Parker Base
Ell-Saline – Sydney Omli
Sacred Heart – Stratton Brown
Salina Central – Emma Cain
Salina South – Justin Sullivan
Southeast of Saline – Kendall Schlesener

2016
Abilene – Andrew Schwarting
Ell-Saline – Dakota Came
Sacred Heart – Makenzie Kack
Salina Central – Jetta Greene
Salina South – Jacob Yarochowicz
Southeast of Saline – Allison Stutterheim

2015
Abilene – Tanner Hoekman
Ell-Saline – Emma Drees
Sacred Heart – Maggie Doll
Salina Central – Marysa Bradshaw
Salina South – Alison Rassette
Southeast of Saline – Linzy Kaniper

2014
Abilene – Jesse Patrick
Ell-Saline – Paige Johnson
Sacred Heart – Tracie Thibault
Salina Central – Shaelyn Martin
Salina South – Marisa Mitchell
Southeast of Saline – Lindsay Poague