Someone told me the other day the Chiefs didn’t have a good draft, which is why I’m chuckling as I write this story. This person mentioned the only key player we picked up was Tennessee safety Eric Berry. I guess he turned the T.V off for the second day. Have you heard of Dante Hall, Devon Hester, or even Darren Sproles? The Kansas City Chiefs second round pick, Dexter McCluster out of Ole Miss, has the capability of all those guys. He is only 5’ 8”, but has the speed of Sproles. He can come in and be a huge factor as a slot-receiver, which the Chiefs lacked tremendously last year. Just think of a package with Jamal Charles, Thomas Jones, and McCluster all in the game at the same time. I would be going crazy if I was a defensive coordinator. There’s no possible solution to stopping all three of those guys.

The Chiefs also drafted Javier Arenas from the National Champion team Alabama. This guy finished second all-time in the NCAA for special teams returning punts and kickoffs. This is a position the Chiefs haven’t been consistent in for the last 3 years. Dante Hall was the last guy to come through and succeed as a returner for the Chiefs. Adding this guy will improve the offense’s starting field position incredibly this year. He is also said to be the best blitzing corner back in the draft, according to ESPN Analysis Mel Kiper Jr.

So, you might want to think twice before you talk smack on the Chiefs draft.

Another interesting event will be taking place this week as Tiger Woods plans to play golf again for the first time since his “incident” with his wife.  Woods had been a national icon and one of the top athletes in the world.  For me, I had always respected this guy and he was up on a pedestal to me as a top athlete and person.  The hugs with his dad after winning, playing on one leg after injuring his knee, and the story of his dad working with him when he was young all captured the attention of America and me.  I guess we will see if he is truly sorry and going to change his ways.  If fans decide  to forgive Woods hopefully it will be because he is remorseful and has changed his ways, not because he won the Masters.

Here is Haley’s Comet’s positive take on the outlook of KC’s sports teams.

Look at the Chiefs this year being aggressive.  Not only have we returned two proven Pro-Bowl offensive linemen, we have also added 2008-2009 fantasy wonder Thomas Jones.  The Chiefs are already five weeks ahead of where they were last year.  If the Chiefs can have a good draft to go along with their free agent pickups, then they might have a shot this year.

The Royal’s are 13-11-3 in spring training play.  They are sitting in the middle of the pack, ranked 6 out of 15 teams.  With 182 runs scored, most in the Cactus league, the Royal’s offense might be turning around this year.  Danny Duffy, one of Kansas City’s top pitching prospects pulled a Zach Greinke.  In late spring training he took a leave of absence.  If he turns out like Greinke I’m all for it!

This month  is Car Care Month.

(Drew Porter)

“I like being outside on nice days and practicing on my jumping,” Keri Tanking, freshman, said.

The girls track and field team is coming off a year where they won the Big 7 League Championship and had a strong showing in the state tournament.

“That’s always a goal for the team, to get to state, and we have a good shot this year,” Tanking said.

The boys team will be looking for their first Big 7 League Championship since 2006. The team has a lot of speed this year, especially in the distance category.

“The distance team has a lot of runners that could do really well in some meets, I’m really looking forward to see how we do,” Chance Caudle, freshman, said.

Due to the boy’s basketball team reaching state and the unspring-like conditions the team has only had a few practices with all 31 players present. The majority of the practices have been inside.

The first game was Tuesday, March 30 against league rival Jeff West. The Big 7 title usually comes down to either Holton or Jeff West. The first game was an ugly one for the Cats, who lost 14-1. The second game looked like the outcome would be about the same. After two and one- half innings, West built a 9-0 lead. In the fourth, the Cats made a run of their own to take the lead, 11-10. Jeff West responded with a 10 run inning and seemed to have control with the lead, 20-11. Once again, the Cats tied the game, 20-20. The Tigers pulled away in the seventh-inning to win 22-20.

Despite the first game, the team still has high expectations.

“We’re really hoping to win league and get better every game so we have a chance to win regional as well,” said Drew Porter, junior.

“Drew Porter, junior, and Chris McManigal, father of senior Carlene McManigal, make the games worthwhile. They provide entertainment by joking around and just having fun,” he said.

During Porter’s eighth-grade year, he was sitting in the bleachers when Chris McManigal approached him and asked him if he wanted to help work in the booth.

“He told me that if I would help him out, I would receive free food and get into the games for free,” Porter said.

Porter said it took him to his second year of working in the booth to get used to Chris’s personality. Porter hasn’t always been the star though. His first year in the booth Mark Bowser was a senior and was the one who did the stats at the game. Porter was considered the waterboy, getting food and candy for the people working in the booth. After Bowser graduated, Porter took more responsibilty and was in charge of taking stats and finding who made the tackle.

“Working in the booth is a lot of fun, but it also takes a lot of hard work. If you don’t do your job it makes Chris look bad. which would definitely be a bad thing,” Porter said.

For the four years Drew Porter and Chris McManigal have been the announcers at Holton Middle School, freshman and JV football games, they have become known for their comical conversations and halftime trivia questions.

Porter says the trivia question is usually an NFL question. The winner gets a miniature football signed by THE Drew Porter. People know when it’s time for the question because they play the “Hey Porter” song by Johnny Cash.

McManigal finds enjoyment in poking fun at Porter, pointing out that Porter is “vertically challenged” any chance he gets.

“We’re tight, man.  He does pick on me, but when push comes to shove he loves me,” Porter said.

Community members Kevin Alford, Bob Miller, and Perry Moore also help in the booth. They keep track of the yards per game, who makes the tackle, and running the scoreboard.

“These guys are really the guys the make the show happen. A lot of people may think Chris does it all, but without these guys, the announcing wouldn’t be nearly as good,” Porter said.

Working in the booth has strengthened the relationship of Porter and McManigal. Porter says he really looks up to Chris. Chris gives Porter tips on his sporting events also.

“After every game I play, the first two people I talk to about it are my dad and Chris. I like talking to Chris because he tells it how it is, so when he compliments a person, it means a lot,” Porter said.

Kellen Brandt, sophomore, has high hopes for this year’s team.

“I think we will be pretty good. Sabetha lost a few good golfers and Nemaha Valley will be a tough competitor this year but I really like our chances to win the Big 7,” he said.

The varsity is very young, consisting of three freshmen: Cameron Karns, Tavin Dugan and Jaxon Wright and three sophomores: Zach Fate, Kellen Brandt, and Garrett Holaday. Zach Fate and Kellen Brandt played varsity last year.

“The biggest challenge for the team this year will be maintaining a constant six golfers that can play at a high level consistently,” said Fate.

The team’s goals this year consist of winning the league and going to state as a team.

“I think if we can maintain a high level of play all year and stay healthy, we will have a very good shot to go far into the season,” he added.

Coach Don Swisher said that this was one of the youngest teams he’s ever taken into a meet.

“The team works really hard during practice. They do a lot of 100-yard shots and in working on their chipping and putting. That is where most of the scoring comes from,” he said.  “The hardest meet we will play in this year will be the rolling medals meet at Junction City. There will be about 14 schools at this meet and it’s always filled with good competition.”

When asked about the budget cuts and how they are going to affect the team this year Coach Swisher wasn’t too worried.

“The only real change we made was that we did not purchase any golf balls this year. We always try to be as self-supporting as we can each year, meaning the players pay for everything including their team bags, and their pullovers. We always do one big fundraiser at the end of the season, which is the Holton Golf benefit tournament. There is always a good turn out. About a hundred golfers come and compete on a 9- hole tournament. All money is contributed to the players’ equipment. We auction off our team to players in the benefit tournament as caddies. This fundraiser plays a big part in the purchasing of equipment for the team and it is always a good time.”

The team will be playing in eight meets this year, plus the regional which is on May 17. Holton is holding it this year. If the team wins their regional, they will have the opportunity to compete at state, adding up to 10 possible meets.

At the meet at Washington County on Tuesday, April 6, the varsity team took fourth.  Four golfers placed in the top 10 including Kellen Brandt, who took first; Jaxon Wright who placed third; Zach Fate, who placed fourth; and Cameron Karn, who placed eighth. Garrett Holaday took eighteenth and Tavin Dugan took twenty-first.

“It was a great start to the year,” Wright said.

The Wildcats took fourth as a team and hope to improve as the year progresses.

The Holton Softball team started practicing on March 1. They finished last season off with an 18-5 record, and were the regional runner-up to Abilene.

Varsity has won the Big 7 league champs the past two years and looks forward to taking on another title.This season they are looking forward to playing 13 league games and in the St. Thomas Aquinas Tournament on April 23. Varsity’s first game was against ACCHS on April 5.

“I think Topeka West will be our toughest game this year, because of how they have been in the past,” said, Justine Powls, sophomore.

JV and varsity both play at Topeka West on April 13.

The varsity squad has many returning players including three seniors: Elizabeth Dunn, Carlene McManigal, and Taylor Wells. Other returning players include Chatley Lovvorn, Kaylee Mick, Colby Wilson, Lindsey Yonke, juniors, and Justine Powls, sophomore. Two girls added to the mix are Audra Nelson, junior, and Christa Merriman, freshman. The total number of girls to go out this year on both the Varsity and JV level are 24.

The JV girls began their season against Royal Valley on April 1. The Team consists of the players Megan Hale, Aliza McGuffin, Kenley Stauffer, juniors; Kelsey Helus, and Caitlin Longhoffer, sophomores; and Brylee New, Megan Clark, Hannah Coverdale, Jordan Barber, Megan Lovvorn, Lindsay Havercamp, Elizabeth Allen, and Emily Montgomery, freshmen.

The Holton JV and varsity teams both have goals of a winning season, and hope to continue to improve throughout the year.

“The team is really playing well and I am looking forward to the tournament,” Cameron Karn, freshman, said.

After losing their first two games against Wamego and Nemaha Valley, the team has not lost another game and is on a ten-game win streak.

“I think the Nemaha Valley game really woke us up and we are playing a lot better now,” Ryan Haefke, freshman, said.

The league tournament starts today at the better seed’s school. After that it is continued on Thursday and finishes on Saturday at Holton High School.

The boys will be a #2 seed in the tournament and will face Jeff West at 6 p.m. in the new gym today.

It is league tournament time for the girls team too.  This basketball season, the freshman girls have been unbeatable! They are currently 15-0.

As a team, they constantly push each other to give their best.

“It’s challenging, but it’s a great way to stay in shape,” Megan Clark, freshman, said.

For their first high school season, they are off to a great start. With all 13 girls contributing their part to the team, it looks as if the streak will continue.

However, the girls have more on their minds than basketball. During the season, fellow freshman classmate Spencer Determan, was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and was taken out of school for treatment. So the girls put their heads together. To pay respect to him, they came up with the idea of making T-shirts in his honor to show how much he is loved and missed by each of them. The idea got other people interested in buying a shirt too, so they decided to sell them with all proceeds going to Spencer and his treatments.

As the #1 seed, the  girls will play the league tournament here at Holton this week. The tournament runs Monday through Saturday.

The wrestling team has many bright spots. Including the Dynamic Lovvorn Duo (Drake and Kane Lovvorn), who have a combined record of 60-4. Adam Luthi also has a good record this year, with a 22-5 record. Other outstanding performers include Micah Harmon, Richard Iverson, Justin Briner, and Logan Mosier.

The senior class has done a good job leading the mat-cats to what is arguably their best season in some years. The wildcats have a very good chance to send multiple people to state.

“I think our team is doing a good job in practice, and I think if we keep working hard we have a good chance of taking a few people to state.” said Drake Lovvorn, junior.

“We have been working hard and are finally getting some recognition,” Taylor Smith, senior, said.

Holton’s 10-6 record so far has them at a third seed in the Royal Valley sub-state tourney. Hiawatha and Pleasant Ridge are ahead of them in the sub-state standings. The Wildcats are hoping to defeat them and travel on to make their first state appearance since 1990.

Holton right now is one game back of first place in the Big 7 league. They have reached 60 points in 6 of the 10 games and are planning to keep that going.

“We have been really balanced as a team and I believe if we continue to get better, and play like we are now, there’s a great chance we will be in Salina,” Taylor Smith, senior, said.

The junior varsity is also having a great year. The JV is 15-1 with their only loss suffered by Hayden. The JV has reached 50+ points in most of their games and even reached 75 points last week against Jeff West. Winning the mid-season tournament in Riley County was what they had their minds and goals set on. After defeating Blue Valley-Randolph, the Wildcats faced Riley County in the championship. The game was dramatic and ended up going into overtime. Tyler Burdiek’s game winning shot in overtime helped the Wildcats reach their goal with a 1^st place finish.

“JV basketball. Where dreams are made of…and accomplished,” Jaxon Wright, freshman, said.

Varsity Scorebaord

Holton 26, Wamego 57

Holton 43, Royal Valley 27

Holton 36, Nemaha Valley 37

Holton 49, Jeff West 47

Holton 53, Silver Lake 33

Holton 37, Hiawatha 38

Holton 64, Maur Hill 22

Holton 55, Sabetha 29

Holton 63, ACCHS 52

Holton 48, Basehor-Linwood 65

Holton 62, Pembroke Hill 49

Holton 49, Park Hill 60

Holton 52, Hayden 64

Royal Valley @ Holton 63-24

Nemaha Valley @ Holton 65-43

Holton @ Jeff West 61-48