KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and a touchdown,
Harrison Butker kicked four field goals, and the Kansas City Chiefs
held off the Denver Broncos 19-8. It was the Chiefs' 16th straight
win over their longtime AFC West rivals. Travis Kelce had nine
catches for 124 yards for Kansas City with Taylor Swift again
cheering him on from an Arrowhead Stadium suite. The Broncos' Russell
Wilson was held to 95 yards passing with a touchdown and a pair of
interceptions. Denver has not beaten the Chiefs since Sept. 17, 2015,
the year Peyton Manning led the Broncos to the Super Bowl.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Pop superstar Taylor Swift was back at Arrowhead Stadium on
Thursday night to watch Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs take
on the Denver Broncos. Her return came one day after Swift walked the
red carpet in Los Angeles for the premiere of her concert movie at
The Grove. Swift and Kelce have been in a budding relationship the
past few weeks, ever since the All-Pro tight end invited her to a
game when he failed to meet her during her Eras Tour. Thursday
night's game was the third that Swift has attended in four weeks.

HOUSTON (AP) —
Donovan Smith threw a 49-yard touchdown pass that was caught by
Stephon Johnson as time expired to give Houston a thrilling 41-39 win
over West Virginia. The teams combined to score 42 fourth-quarter
points. Smith finished with 253 yards passing and four touchdowns,
completed his final 16 passes, and added 2-yard TD run as Houston
earned its first Big 12 win. Trailing 35-24, West Virginia cut the
lead to three on an 8-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion
pass to Traylon Ray. After Houston was forced to punt, Garrett Greene
found Hudson Clement for a 50-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-10 to
give the Mountaineers a four-point lead with 12 seconds left. Greened
finished with 391 yards passing with two TDs and also ran for two
scores for WVU.

UNDATED (AP) — The
Oklahoma State Cowboys are preparing to face the backup Kansas
quarterback that beat them last year. The 23rd-ranked Jayhawks are
5-1 even while playing half of their games without injured star
quarterback Jalon Daniels because of back issues. Jason Bean likely
will start Saturday against the Cowboys. Bean had 296 total yards and
three touchdowns last year in a 37-16 win that snapped Kansas'
12-game losing streak in its series against Oklahoma State. Also in
the Big 12 this weekend, Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks puts his
streak of four consecutive 100-yard rushing games on the line against
Kansas State and the league's top rushing defense.

UNDATED (AP) —
Kansas has won five of its first six games for the second straight
year and wants to stay on track against Oklahoma State. Kansas star
quarterback Jalon Daniels has missed the past two games with a back
injury. The Jayhawks have a capable replacement in Jason Bean if
necessary. Kansas visits an Oklahoma State team coming off an
inspired 29-21 win over Kansas State. The Cowboys have settled on
quarterback Alan Bowman, and the offense has looked better in his two
starts. Oklahoma State could make a statement with back-to-back wins
against highly regarded teams.

UNDATED (AP) —
Texas Tech will try to win its third consecutive Big 12 game since a
disappointing 1-3 start to coach Joey McGuire’s second season. The
defending conference champion Kansas State Wildcats have a seven-game
winning streak in the series. They are on the road for the second
week in a row after losing 29-21 at Oklahoma State last week. Texas
Tech running back Tahj Brooks has four consecutive 100-yard rushing
games, including career highs with 31 carries for 170 yards in a win
last week at Baylor. Kansas State is the Big 12's best rushing
defense, allowing 93.4 yards rushing per game.

UNDATED (AP) — Big
12 newcomer BYU and TCU will meet for the first time since 2011. It
will be the third different conference in which they have played
games against each other. The Cougars and Horned Frogs previously
overlapped in the Western Athletic Conference from 1996-98, and were
also together in the Mountain West from 2005-10. They have split
their eight conference games against each other. The Cougars are
coming off an open date. TCU running back Emani Bailey is averaging
115 yards rushing per game. He'll be going against a BYU defense that
could be without leading tackler linebacker Ben Bywater because of a
shoulder injury.

UNDATED (AP) — New
Big 12 Conference foes Iowa State and Cincinnati are set to face off
for the first time Saturday. The Bearcats and first-year coach Scott
Satterfield look to end their three-game losing streak while securing
their first win in Big 12 play. A victory for the Cyclones would
equal their win total from a season ago and give them a 3-1 start in
conference play for the fifth time under eighth-year coach Matt
Campbell.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP)
— The Colorado Buffaloes will play another late game when they host
Stanford on Friday night at sold-out Folsom Field. The game won’t
start until at least 8 p.m. Mountain and doesn’t figure to finish
until at least 11:30 p.m. Coach Deion Sanders isn’t a big fan of
the late kickoffs, calling it the stupidest thing ever invented.The
only other time Colorado has played on a Friday the 13th was in
November 2015, when the Buffs lost 27-24 to Southern California.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Nick Castellanos became the first player to hit multiple homers in
consecutive postseason games, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a
3-1 win in Game 4 of their NL Division Series that knocked the
104-win Atlanta Braves out of the playoffs for the second straight
year. The Phillies head next week to the NLCS and will play the
Arizona Diamondbacks, making their first trip 2007. Game 1 is Monday
in Philadelphia. Trea Turner hit a solo homer in the fifth for a 2-1
lead as the Phillies make another run at the franchise’s first
World Series title since 2008.

LOS ANGELES (AP) —
The Los Angeles Dodgers were left wondering why they can’t win in
October after they were swept out of the NL Division Series. They’ll
spend all winter searching for answers while reliving their quick
exit for the second straight season. Three-time Cy Young Award winner
Clayton Kershaw has a major decision to make on whether he returns
for a 17th season or retires. He dealt with a lingering shoulder
injury over the final months of the season and got lit up by the
Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS opener. The Dodgers' rotation could
be bolstered next year by the return of Walker Buehler.

GENEVA (AP) — The
Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended by the IOC for breaching
the Olympic Charter by incorporating sports bodies in four regions in
eastern Ukraine. Russian Olympic officials provoked the dispute last
week by accepting the councils in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and
Zaporizhzhia as its members. The suspension does not immediately
affect any Russians who are returning to compete in international
sporting events as neutral athletes. The Russian Olympic Committee
can challenge the IOC decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport
in Lausanne, Switzerland.

DALLAS (AP) — Walt
Garrison, who led the Big 8 in rushing for the Oklahoma State
Cowboys, won a Super Bowl as a fullback with the Dallas Cowboys and
competed as a rodeo cowboy, has died. He was 79. The NFL team said on
its website Thursday that Garrison died overnight. It did not give a
cause of death. A fifth-round draft choice out of Oklahoma State, the
6-foot, 205-pound Garrison played nine years in Dallas and retired in
1974 as the No. 3 rusher and No. 4 receiver in franchise history. But
it was Garrison’s rodeo career — which he called his first love —
that made him the ultimate cowboy. He also was a longtime spokesman
for U.S. Tobacco and its Skoal smokeless brand.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697194107486.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and a touchdown,
Harrison Butker kicked four field goals, and the Kansas City Chiefs
held off the Denver Broncos 19-8. It was the Chiefs' 16th straight
win over their longtime AFC West rivals. Travis Kelce had nine
catches for 124 yards for Kansas City with Taylor Swift again
cheering him on from an Arrowhead Stadium suite. The Broncos' Russell
Wilson was held to 95 yards passing with a touchdown and a pair of
interceptions. Denver has not beaten the Chiefs since Sept. 17, 2015,
the year Peyton Manning led the Broncos to the Super Bowl.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Pop superstar Taylor Swift was back at Arrowhead Stadium on
Thursday night to watch Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs take
on the Denver Broncos. Her return came one day after Swift walked the
red carpet in Los Angeles for the premiere of her concert movie at
The Grove. Swift and Kelce have been in a budding relationship the
past few weeks, ever since the All-Pro tight end invited her to a
game when he failed to meet her during her Eras Tour. Thursday
night's game was the third that Swift has attended in four weeks.HOUSTON (AP) —
Donovan Smith threw a 49-yard touchdown pass that was caught by
Stephon Johnson as time expired to give Houston a thrilling 41-39 win
over West Virginia. The teams combined to score 42 fourth-quarter
points. Smith finished with 253 yards passing and four touchdowns,
completed his final 16 passes, and added 2-yard TD run as Houston
earned its first Big 12 win. Trailing 35-24, West Virginia cut the
lead to three on an 8-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion
pass to Traylon Ray. After Houston was forced to punt, Garrett Greene
found Hudson Clement for a 50-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-10 to
give the Mountaineers a four-point lead with 12 seconds left. Greened
finished with 391 yards passing with two TDs and also ran for two
scores for WVU.UNDATED (AP) — The
Oklahoma State Cowboys are preparing to face the backup Kansas
quarterback that beat them last year. The 23rd-ranked Jayhawks are
5-1 even while playing half of their games without injured star
quarterback Jalon Daniels because of back issues. Jason Bean likely
will start Saturday against the Cowboys. Bean had 296 total yards and
three touchdowns last year in a 37-16 win that snapped Kansas'
12-game losing streak in its series against Oklahoma State. Also in
the Big 12 this weekend, Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks puts his
streak of four consecutive 100-yard rushing games on the line against
Kansas State and the league's top rushing defense.UNDATED (AP) —
Kansas has won five of its first six games for the second straight
year and wants to stay on track against Oklahoma State. Kansas star
quarterback Jalon Daniels has missed the past two games with a back
injury. The Jayhawks have a capable replacement in Jason Bean if
necessary. Kansas visits an Oklahoma State team coming off an
inspired 29-21 win over Kansas State. The Cowboys have settled on
quarterback Alan Bowman, and the offense has looked better in his two
starts. Oklahoma State could make a statement with back-to-back wins
against highly regarded teams.UNDATED (AP) —
Texas Tech will try to win its third consecutive Big 12 game since a
disappointing 1-3 start to coach Joey McGuire’s second season. The
defending conference champion Kansas State Wildcats have a seven-game
winning streak in the series. They are on the road for the second
week in a row after losing 29-21 at Oklahoma State last week. Texas
Tech running back Tahj Brooks has four consecutive 100-yard rushing
games, including career highs with 31 carries for 170 yards in a win
last week at Baylor. Kansas State is the Big 12's best rushing
defense, allowing 93.4 yards rushing per game.UNDATED (AP) — Big
12 newcomer BYU and TCU will meet for the first time since 2011. It
will be the third different conference in which they have played
games against each other. The Cougars and Horned Frogs previously
overlapped in the Western Athletic Conference from 1996-98, and were
also together in the Mountain West from 2005-10. They have split
their eight conference games against each other. The Cougars are
coming off an open date. TCU running back Emani Bailey is averaging
115 yards rushing per game. He'll be going against a BYU defense that
could be without leading tackler linebacker Ben Bywater because of a
shoulder injury.UNDATED (AP) — New
Big 12 Conference foes Iowa State and Cincinnati are set to face off
for the first time Saturday. The Bearcats and first-year coach Scott
Satterfield look to end their three-game losing streak while securing
their first win in Big 12 play. A victory for the Cyclones would
equal their win total from a season ago and give them a 3-1 start in
conference play for the fifth time under eighth-year coach Matt
Campbell.BOULDER, Colo. (AP)
— The Colorado Buffaloes will play another late game when they host
Stanford on Friday night at sold-out Folsom Field. The game won’t
start until at least 8 p.m. Mountain and doesn’t figure to finish
until at least 11:30 p.m. Coach Deion Sanders isn’t a big fan of
the late kickoffs, calling it the stupidest thing ever invented.The
only other time Colorado has played on a Friday the 13th was in
November 2015, when the Buffs lost 27-24 to Southern California.PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Nick Castellanos became the first player to hit multiple homers in
consecutive postseason games, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a
3-1 win in Game 4 of their NL Division Series that knocked the
104-win Atlanta Braves out of the playoffs for the second straight
year. The Phillies head next week to the NLCS and will play the
Arizona Diamondbacks, making their first trip 2007. Game 1 is Monday
in Philadelphia. Trea Turner hit a solo homer in the fifth for a 2-1
lead as the Phillies make another run at the franchise’s first
World Series title since 2008.LOS ANGELES (AP) —
The Los Angeles Dodgers were left wondering why they can’t win in
October after they were swept out of the NL Division Series. They’ll
spend all winter searching for answers while reliving their quick
exit for the second straight season. Three-time Cy Young Award winner
Clayton Kershaw has a major decision to make on whether he returns
for a 17th season or retires. He dealt with a lingering shoulder
injury over the final months of the season and got lit up by the
Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS opener. The Dodgers' rotation could
be bolstered next year by the return of Walker Buehler.GENEVA (AP) — The
Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended by the IOC for breaching
the Olympic Charter by incorporating sports bodies in four regions in
eastern Ukraine. Russian Olympic officials provoked the dispute last
week by accepting the councils in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and
Zaporizhzhia as its members. The suspension does not immediately
affect any Russians who are returning to compete in international
sporting events as neutral athletes. The Russian Olympic Committee
can challenge the IOC decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport
in Lausanne, Switzerland.DALLAS (AP) — Walt
Garrison, who led the Big 8 in rushing for the Oklahoma State
Cowboys, won a Super Bowl as a fullback with the Dallas Cowboys and
competed as a rodeo cowboy, has died. He was 79. The NFL team said on
its website Thursday that Garrison died overnight. It did not give a
cause of death. A fifth-round draft choice out of Oklahoma State, the
6-foot, 205-pound Garrison played nine years in Dallas and retired in
1974 as the No. 3 rusher and No. 4 receiver in franchise history. But
it was Garrison’s rodeo career — which he called his first love —
that made him the ultimate cowboy. He also was a longtime spokesman
for U.S. Tobacco and its Skoal smokeless brand.THURSDAY SCORESNATIONAL LEAGUE
PLAYOFFSFinal	Philadelphia	3	Atlanta	1NATIONAL FOOTBALL
LEAGUE

Friday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes knows the Kansas City Chiefs' offense is still trying to put everything together.

It was evident in the way they struggled against Denver on third down Thursday night. The way they kept getting bottled up in short-yardage situations. And in how they failed time after time to turn red-zone trips into touchdowns.

“Luckily for us,” Mahomes said, “our defense is playing great."

So great that Mahomes' lone touchdown pass and Harrison Butker's four field goals were enough to squeak out a 19-8 victory over the Broncos, whose own woeful offense could only manage 197 yards behind a shaky performance from Russell Wilson.

“We have guys that are starters on other teams that are trying to find a way on the football field, and when they get on the field, they're making plays,” Mahomes said of the Kansas City defense. “And they're playing with confidence.”

Mahomes finished with 306 yards passing and an interception, and a big chunk of his production went to Travis Kelce, who had nine catches for 124 yards with Taylor Swift again cheering him on from an Arrowhead Stadium suite.

Still, the inability of the Chiefs (5-1) to score touchdowns rather than field goals nearly proved costly.

Butker's first three field goals helped them to a 16-0 lead, but Wilson's touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton — ruled incomplete but overturned upon review — with about six minutes remaining kept the Broncos (1-5) alive. And when Javonte Williams bulled into the end zone for the 2-point conversion, what had been a one-sided shutout was a one-possession game.

The Broncos' league-worst defense couldn't make a stop, though. Mahomes converted third-and-2 with a 28-yard pass to Rashee Rice, and that put Butker in position for a 52-yard field goal with 1:55 left that put the game away.

“Our defense was incredible tonight, as it has been,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “But we have to take care of business in the red zone. We had a lot of yards, positive yards, but you can't stall down there."

The Broncos have not beaten the Chiefs since Sept. 17, 2015, the year Peyton Manning led Denver to the Super Bowl. That was six head and interim coaches ago, and nothing changed with Sean Payton leading them Thursday night. In a league built for parity, their losing streak is the fourth-longest for any team against another in NFL history.

“I'm disappointed but I'm not discouraged,” Payton said. “Offensively we struggled throwing the ball. Our third-down numbers were poor. The turnovers, against a team like this, it's going to be tough to win the game, and yet we were still in it going into the fourth quarter. Sometimes you don't know how a game is going to unfold.”

As bad as the Broncos' defense has been this season, it was Wilson and their offense that kept dragging them down. He had 37 yards passing in the first half, and the only drive Wilson led past midfield ended on fourth down.

The Chiefs weren't doing a whole lot better.

Their first three forays into the red zone netted three points, thanks to an interception by Justin Simmons and a failed tush push out of a field-goal lineup on fourth down. Mahomes, who has struggled by his standards all season, only found his rhythm once in the first half, when he ended a 62-yard drive with a short touchdown pass to Kadarius Toney.

Butker made it 13-0 at the break when he drilled a 60-yard field goal as time expired.

The Chiefs' red-zone woes continued in the second half. They began by swiftly marching downfield and setting up first-and-goal at the Denver 8, but that soon turned into fourth-and-goal at the 7-yard line and Butker had to kick another field goal.

That was all Kansas City could muster until his clinching kick in the final minutes.

Thanks to the defense, that was all the Chiefs needed.

“I thought we did a lot of good things, just obviously red zone and some third downs we didn't execute at a high enough level,” Mahomes said. “I still think there were a lot of good things we can take from it.”

Swift watched Kelce and the Chiefs for the third time Thursday night. The two began a relationship a few weeks ago, when he invited Swift to a Chiefs game after failing to meet her during her Eras Tour. Swift flew in from Los Angeles, where she walked the red carpet on Wednesday night for the premiere of her concert film.

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones had a sack in his eighth straight regular-season game, which trails only his own 11-game streak in 2018 for the longest in franchise history. With at least one in his first five this season, Jones broke the club record to start the season held by Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas.

Broncos: TE Greg Dulcich, who had just come off injured reserve, left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. It's the same injury that landed Dulcich on IR after hurting it in Week 1 against the Raiders.

Chiefs: S Justin Reid, who had an interception earlier in the game, briefly left in the second half. WR Justin Watson left in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury sustained while trying to make a diving catch.

Chiefs: Host the Los Angeles Chargers the same day.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes knows the Kansas City Chiefs' offense is still trying to put everything together.It was evident in the way they struggled against Denver on third down Thursday night. The way they kept getting bottled up in short-yardage situations. And in how they failed time after time to turn red-zone trips into touchdowns.“Luckily for us,” Mahomes said, “our defense is playing great."So great that Mahomes' lone touchdown pass and Harrison Butker's four field goals were enough to squeak out a 19-8 victory over the Broncos, whose own woeful offense could only manage 197 yards behind a shaky performance from Russell Wilson.“We have guys that are starters on other teams that are trying to find a way on the football field, and when they get on the field, they're making plays,” Mahomes said of the Kansas City defense. “And they're playing with confidence.”Mahomes finished with 306 yards passing and an interception, and a big chunk of his production went to Travis Kelce, who had nine catches for 124 yards with Taylor Swift again cheering him on from an Arrowhead Stadium suite.Still, the inability of the Chiefs (5-1) to score touchdowns rather than field goals nearly proved costly.Butker's first three field goals helped them to a 16-0 lead, but Wilson's touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton — ruled incomplete but overturned upon review — with about six minutes remaining kept the Broncos (1-5) alive. And when Javonte Williams bulled into the end zone for the 2-point conversion, what had been a one-sided shutout was a one-possession game.The Broncos' league-worst defense couldn't make a stop, though. Mahomes converted third-and-2 with a 28-yard pass to Rashee Rice, and that put Butker in position for a 52-yard field goal with 1:55 left that put the game away.“Our defense was incredible tonight, as it has been,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “But we have to take care of business in the red zone. We had a lot of yards, positive yards, but you can't stall down there."The Broncos have not beaten the Chiefs since Sept. 17, 2015, the year Peyton Manning led Denver to the Super Bowl. That was six head and interim coaches ago, and nothing changed with Sean Payton leading them Thursday night. In a league built for parity, their losing streak is the fourth-longest for any team against another in NFL history.“I'm disappointed but I'm not discouraged,” Payton said. “Offensively we struggled throwing the ball. Our third-down numbers were poor. The turnovers, against a team like this, it's going to be tough to win the game, and yet we were still in it going into the fourth quarter. Sometimes you don't know how a game is going to unfold.”As bad as the Broncos' defense has been this season, it was Wilson and their offense that kept dragging them down. He had 37 yards passing in the first half, and the only drive Wilson led past midfield ended on fourth down.The Chiefs weren't doing a whole lot better.Their first three forays into the red zone netted three points, thanks to an interception by Justin Simmons and a failed tush push out of a field-goal lineup on fourth down. Mahomes, who has struggled by his standards all season, only found his rhythm once in the first half, when he ended a 62-yard drive with a short touchdown pass to Kadarius Toney.Butker made it 13-0 at the break when he drilled a 60-yard field goal as time expired.The Chiefs' red-zone woes continued in the second half. They began by swiftly marching downfield and setting up first-and-goal at the Denver 8, but that soon turned into fourth-and-goal at the 7-yard line and Butker had to kick another field goal.That was all Kansas City could muster until his clinching kick in the final minutes.Thanks to the defense, that was all the Chiefs needed.“I thought we did a lot of good things, just obviously red zone and some third downs we didn't execute at a high enough level,” Mahomes said. “I still think there were a lot of good things we can take from it.”SWIFT IN THE HOUSESwift watched Kelce and the Chiefs for the third time Thursday night. The two began a relationship a few weeks ago, when he invited Swift to a Chiefs game after failing to meet her during her Eras Tour. Swift flew in from Los Angeles, where she walked the red carpet on Wednesday night for the premiere of her concert film.SACK SITUATIONChiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones had a sack in his eighth straight regular-season game, which trails only his own 11-game streak in 2018 for the longest in franchise history. With at least one in his first five this season, Jones broke the club record to start the season held by Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas.INJURIESBroncos: TE Greg Dulcich, who had just come off injured reserve, left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. It's the same injury that landed Dulcich on IR after hurting it in Week 1 against the Raiders.Chiefs: S Justin Reid, who had an interception earlier in the game, briefly left in the second half. WR Justin Watson left in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury sustained while trying to make a diving catch.UP NEXTBroncos: Host Green Bay on Oct. 22.Chiefs: Host the Los Angeles Chargers the same day.

Mahomes throws TD pass, Kelce has big game as Chiefs beat Broncos 19-8

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

It was almost a perfect day for the top-ranked Lady Panther cross country team. Heavy favorites for a Western Athletic Conference title on a windy and warm Thursday evening at Lake Barton, Great Bend took five of the top six spots to finish with 19 points. Hays scored 67 points for second, and Dodge City placed third with 86 points.

The WAC has not changed its format so Thursday's girls' race was a 4K instead of the usual 5K. Senior Addy Nicholson and Hays' Arely Maldonado battled throughout the course. Nicholson took the title in 5:21.52, followed by Maldonado in 15:22.76. Lady Panther senior Makenzie Premer ran third in 15:26.75 as part of the front group.

Sienna Smith ran fourth overall in 15:47.49, followed by Marissa Boone in 15:57.30 for fifth, and Eliana Beckham in sixth with a time of 16:06.57 to complete team scoring. Teegan Guerra placed 10th in 16:33.98, and Morgan Beckwith finished 11th in 16:35.85. Kate Welcher crossed in 16:50.34 for 13th, and Bella Long ran 14th in 16:55.45. Teah King finished 22nd in 17:47.88.

The Garden City boys dominated their race with just 30 points. Dodge City finished second with 60 points, and Liberal placed third with 64 points. Great Bend beat Hays by a single spot for fourth with 103 points.

Garden City took the top two spots individually with Hayden Nemechek winning the WAC in 16:19.51. Kailyn Munoz won the silver in 16:30.03. Tavon Stroup paced the Panthers in ninth in 17:16.76 to miss eighth by five seconds. Ismael Ramirez finished 13th in 17:53.90, and Braylon Moore ran 27th in 18:40.80. Anthony Lawrence placed 30th in 19:14.51, and Bradon Suppes picked up the final team points in 35th in 19:42.13. Parker Coleman placed 36th in 20:29.92.

The Panthers return to Lake Barton next Saturday for Class 5A regional action.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697158741995.jpeg" alt="The Lady Panthers took five of the top six spots in Thursday's WAC Championship at Lake Barton to cruise to the conference title." />
 <figcaption>The Lady Panthers took five of the top six spots in Thursday's WAC Championship at Lake Barton to cruise to the conference title.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostIt was almost a perfect day for the top-ranked Lady Panther cross country team. Heavy favorites for a Western Athletic Conference title on a windy and warm Thursday evening at Lake Barton, Great Bend took five of the top six spots to finish with 19 points. Hays scored 67 points for second, and Dodge City placed third with 86 points.The WAC has not changed its format so Thursday's girls' race was a 4K instead of the usual 5K. Senior Addy Nicholson and Hays' Arely Maldonado battled throughout the course. Nicholson took the title in 5:21.52, followed by Maldonado in 15:22.76. Lady Panther senior Makenzie Premer ran third in 15:26.75 as part of the front group.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697158874014.jpeg" alt="Hays' Arely Maldonado broke up Great Bend's perfect day in second but Panther seniors Addy Nicholson (right) and Makenzie Premer finished first and third, respectively." />
 <figcaption>Hays' Arely Maldonado broke up Great Bend's perfect day in second but Panther seniors Addy Nicholson (right) and Makenzie Premer finished first and third, respectively.</figcaption>
 </figure>Sienna Smith ran fourth overall in 15:47.49, followed by Marissa Boone in 15:57.30 for fifth, and Eliana Beckham in sixth with a time of 16:06.57 to complete team scoring. Teegan Guerra placed 10th in 16:33.98, and Morgan Beckwith finished 11th in 16:35.85. Kate Welcher crossed in 16:50.34 for 13th, and Bella Long ran 14th in 16:55.45. Teah King finished 22nd in 17:47.88.The Garden City boys dominated their race with just 30 points. Dodge City finished second with 60 points, and Liberal placed third with 64 points. Great Bend beat Hays by a single spot for fourth with 103 points.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697158951170.jpeg" alt="Tavon Stroup led the Panther boys with a ninth-place finish." />
 <figcaption>Tavon Stroup led the Panther boys with a ninth-place finish.</figcaption>
 </figure>Garden City took the top two spots individually with Hayden Nemechek winning the WAC in 16:19.51. Kailyn Munoz won the silver in 16:30.03. Tavon Stroup paced the Panthers in ninth in 17:16.76 to miss eighth by five seconds. Ismael Ramirez finished 13th in 17:53.90, and Braylon Moore ran 27th in 18:40.80. Anthony Lawrence placed 30th in 19:14.51, and Bradon Suppes picked up the final team points in 35th in 19:42.13. Parker Coleman placed 36th in 20:29.92.The Panthers return to Lake Barton next Saturday for Class 5A regional action.

Lady Panthers nearly perfect for WAC title at Lake Barton


No. 23 Kansas (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (3-2, 1-1). The
Jayhawks have played half of their games without injured star
quarterback Jalon Daniels, but are the only continuing Big 12 team
currently ranked in the AP poll— fifth-ranked Oklahoma and No. 9
Texas are SEC-bound next season. Daniels missed the season opener and
then the last two games, including a loss at Texas, because of back
issues. He likely won't play again this week before an open date that
will provide more time to recover.


Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy fully anticipates that his team will
be facing Kansas backup quarterback Jason Bean, just like last year
in a 37-16 loss that ended the Cowboys' 12-game winning streak in the
series. That was one of four games Daniels missed in 2022 with a
shoulder injury. Bean completed 18 of 23 passes for 203 yards and two
touchdowns and ran four times for 93 yards with a 72-yard TD.


The Cowboys are coming off a 29-21 win over defending Big 12 champion
Kansas State, a year after a 48-0 loss to the Wildcats.


Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks against the Kansas State rushing
defense. Brooks has four consecutive 100-yard rushing games,
including career highs with 31 carries for 170 yards in a win last
week at Baylor. He is third in the Big 12 and fifth nationally
averaging 114.7 yards rushing per game for the Red Raiders (3-3,
2-1). The defending Big 12 champion Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) have allowed
only 93.4 yards rushing per game, best in the Big 12. Brooks has
faced K-State three times, and limited to 72 yards on 15 carries
combined in those three games.


Iowa State junior safety Beau Freyler is the only Big 12 player to
rank in the top 10 in the league in tackles (46) and interceptions
(3). Freyler is coming off his first career game with multiple
interceptions, in a win over TCU last Saturday when he had two picks
and a team-high 11 tackles. It was his fifth career 10-tackle game.
The Cyclones (3-3, 2-1) play at Cincinnati (2-3, 0-2) in a matchup of
two of the league's best defenses.


When Big 12 newcomer BYU (4-1, 1-1) plays TCU (3-3, 1-2) for the
first time since 2011, it will be the third different conference in
which they have played games against each other. The Cougars and
Horned Frogs previously overlapped in the Western Athletic Conference
(1996-98) and were also together in the Mountain West (2005-10). They
are nearly identical in scoring this season — both on offense and
defense. TCU averages 31.3 points per game, while BYU averages 31.0 a
game. The Frogs give up 22.0 points a game, and the Cougars 22.4.

By The Associated
PressGAME OF THE WEEK
No. 23 Kansas (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (3-2, 1-1). The
Jayhawks have played half of their games without injured star
quarterback Jalon Daniels, but are the only continuing Big 12 team
currently ranked in the AP poll— fifth-ranked Oklahoma and No. 9
Texas are SEC-bound next season. Daniels missed the season opener and
then the last two games, including a loss at Texas, because of back
issues. He likely won't play again this week before an open date that
will provide more time to recover.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy fully anticipates that his team will
be facing Kansas backup quarterback Jason Bean, just like last year
in a 37-16 loss that ended the Cowboys' 12-game winning streak in the
series. That was one of four games Daniels missed in 2022 with a
shoulder injury. Bean completed 18 of 23 passes for 203 yards and two
touchdowns and ran four times for 93 yards with a 72-yard TD.
The Cowboys are coming off a 29-21 win over defending Big 12 champion
Kansas State, a year after a 48-0 loss to the Wildcats.BEST MATCHUP
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks against the Kansas State rushing
defense. Brooks has four consecutive 100-yard rushing games,
including career highs with 31 carries for 170 yards in a win last
week at Baylor. He is third in the Big 12 and fifth nationally
averaging 114.7 yards rushing per game for the Red Raiders (3-3,
2-1). The defending Big 12 champion Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) have allowed
only 93.4 yards rushing per game, best in the Big 12. Brooks has
faced K-State three times, and limited to 72 yards on 15 carries
combined in those three games.IMPACT PLAYER
Iowa State junior safety Beau Freyler is the only Big 12 player to
rank in the top 10 in the league in tackles (46) and interceptions
(3). Freyler is coming off his first career game with multiple
interceptions, in a win over TCU last Saturday when he had two picks
and a team-high 11 tackles. It was his fifth career 10-tackle game.
The Cyclones (3-3, 2-1) play at Cincinnati (2-3, 0-2) in a matchup of
two of the league's best defenses.THIRD LEAGUE
When Big 12 newcomer BYU (4-1, 1-1) plays TCU (3-3, 1-2) for the
first time since 2011, it will be the third different conference in
which they have played games against each other. The Cougars and
Horned Frogs previously overlapped in the Western Athletic Conference
(1996-98) and were also together in the Mountain West (2005-10). They
are nearly identical in scoring this season — both on offense and
defense. TCU averages 31.3 points per game, while BYU averages 31.0 a
game. The Frogs give up 22.0 points a game, and the Cougars 22.4.INSIDE THE
NUMBERS

Things to watch in the Big 12 Conference in Week 7


Kansas has positioned itself for a special season. The Jayhawks are
ranked 23rd, with their only loss coming at Texas. But star
quarterback Jalon Daniels has missed the past two games with a back
injury, and Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said he doesn’t expect
to face him this week. Kansas visits an Oklahoma State team coming
off an inspired 29-21 win over Kansas State. The Cowboys have settled
on quarterback Alan Bowman, and the offense has looked better in his
two starts. Oklahoma State could make a statement with back-to-back
wins against highly regarded teams.

No. 23 Kansas
(5-1, 2-1 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (3-2, 1-1), Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET
(FS1)

Line: Kansas by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series record: Oklahoma State leads 41-30-2.


Kansas has positioned itself for a special season. The Jayhawks are
ranked 23rd, with their only loss coming at No. 9 Texas. But star
quarterback Jalon Daniels has missed the past two games with a back
injury, and Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said he doesn’t expect
to face him this week. Oklahoma State is coming off a 29-21 win over
Kansas State. The Cowboys have settled on quarterback Alan Bowman,
and the offense has looked better in his two starts. Oklahoma State
could make a statement with back-to-back wins against highly regarded
teams.


Kansas running game vs. Oklahoma State run defense. The Jayhawks rank
sixth nationally with 232.3 yards rushing per game. Devin Neal leads
the way with 593 yards and six touchdowns. He ranks fourth nationally
with 7.7 yards per carry. Oklahoma State ranks 86th in rushing
defense, allowing 154 yards per game.


Kansas: Defensive lineman Austin Booker. He leads the Jayhawks with
8.0 tackles for loss and five sacks. He had a sack and a forced
fumble in Kansas' 51-22 win over Central Florida.


Oklahoma State: RB Ollie Gordon II. He had 21 carries for 136 yards
and a touchdown against Kansas State. He has posted back-to-back
games with at least 100 yards rushing for the first time in his
career. He has 366 yards and three touchdowns on the ground this
season.

By The Associated
Press
Kansas has positioned itself for a special season. The Jayhawks are
ranked 23rd, with their only loss coming at Texas. But star
quarterback Jalon Daniels has missed the past two games with a back
injury, and Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said he doesn’t expect
to face him this week. Kansas visits an Oklahoma State team coming
off an inspired 29-21 win over Kansas State. The Cowboys have settled
on quarterback Alan Bowman, and the offense has looked better in his
two starts. Oklahoma State could make a statement with back-to-back
wins against highly regarded teams.No. 23 Kansas
(5-1, 2-1 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (3-2, 1-1), Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET
(FS1)
Line: Kansas by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Oklahoma State leads 41-30-2.WHAT’S AT
STAKE?
Kansas has positioned itself for a special season. The Jayhawks are
ranked 23rd, with their only loss coming at No. 9 Texas. But star
quarterback Jalon Daniels has missed the past two games with a back
injury, and Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said he doesn’t expect
to face him this week. Oklahoma State is coming off a 29-21 win over
Kansas State. The Cowboys have settled on quarterback Alan Bowman,
and the offense has looked better in his two starts. Oklahoma State
could make a statement with back-to-back wins against highly regarded
teams.KEY MATCHUP
Kansas running game vs. Oklahoma State run defense. The Jayhawks rank
sixth nationally with 232.3 yards rushing per game. Devin Neal leads
the way with 593 yards and six touchdowns. He ranks fourth nationally
with 7.7 yards per carry. Oklahoma State ranks 86th in rushing
defense, allowing 154 yards per game.PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas: Defensive lineman Austin Booker. He leads the Jayhawks with
8.0 tackles for loss and five sacks. He had a sack and a forced
fumble in Kansas' 51-22 win over Central Florida.
Oklahoma State: RB Ollie Gordon II. He had 21 carries for 136 yards
and a touchdown against Kansas State. He has posted back-to-back
games with at least 100 yards rushing for the first time in his
career. He has 366 yards and three touchdowns on the ground this
season.FACTS &amp;
FIGURES

No. 23 Kansas looks to add to strong start against Oklahoma State

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

Aya Saiki of the 7th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team has been named the week eight KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week.

Saiki produced the program's 23rd nine-point effort in last week's lone contest for the Cougars in winning 7-0 on Wednesday over Coffeyville. The sophomore netted four goals on the day, three tallies and an assist in first half play leading to a 5-0 halftime advantage before scoring her fourth goal just six minutes into second half action.

Historically on the program's all-time list, Saiki's points was the 24th achievement of scoring nine or more points in Lady Cougar history. Moving into 14th all-time slot with 58 in a career, Saiki's four-goal achievement moved into the 11th all-time spot with 23 total with a now twelve assists to move into the 12th all-time slot.

Saiki's conference weekly award is the second for the Cougars this season, joining Nina Norshie's selection in the sixth week of voting.

The Cougars most recently picked up a 2-0 victory at Kansas City Kansas Community College, staying in the title race at 9-1-2 in league and overall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697134710521.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoAya Saiki of the 7th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team has been named the week eight KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week.Saiki produced the program's 23rd nine-point effort in last week's lone contest for the Cougars in winning 7-0 on Wednesday over Coffeyville. The sophomore netted four goals on the day, three tallies and an assist in first half play leading to a 5-0 halftime advantage before scoring her fourth goal just six minutes into second half action.Historically on the program's all-time list, Saiki's points was the 24th achievement of scoring nine or more points in Lady Cougar history. Moving into 14th all-time slot with 58 in a career, Saiki's four-goal achievement moved into the 11th all-time spot with 23 total with a now twelve assists to move into the 12th all-time slot.Saiki's conference weekly award is the second for the Cougars this season, joining Nina Norshie's selection in the sixth week of voting.The Cougars most recently picked up a 2-0 victory at Kansas City Kansas Community College, staying in the title race at 9-1-2 in league and overall.

Barton's Saiki named Week Eight KJCCC Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

- Great Bend Panther Football coach Erin Beck will be joined in studio by Senior's Dee'onn Jones and Cooper Liles to preview Friday's week 7 contest at Ulysses

- Larned Football coach Brady Keith will talk about Friday night's big District game at Hoisington

- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" with Great Bend girls Tennis coach Zach Bartel

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Thursday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Thursday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p1NEAbHeCYU?si=q9WoJMszy-t8fbG-" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Great Bend Panther Football coach Erin Beck will be joined in studio by Senior's Dee'onn Jones and Cooper Liles to preview Friday's week 7 contest at Ulysses- Larned Football coach Brady Keith will talk about Friday night's big District game at Hoisington- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" with Great Bend girls Tennis coach Zach Bartel- Thursday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Thursday on Sports Day (Watch)


Texas Tech will try to win its third consecutive Big 12 game since a
disappointing 1-3 start to coach Joey McGuire’s second season. The
defending conference champion Kansas State Wildcats have a seven-game
winning streak in the series. They are on the road for the second
week in a row after losing 29-21 at Oklahoma State last week. Texas
Tech running back Tahj Brooks has four consecutive 100-yard rushing
games, including career highs with 31 carries for 170 yards in a win
last week at Baylor. Kansas State is the Big 12's best rushing
defense, allowing 93.4 yards rushing per game.

Kansas State
(3-2, 1-1 Big 12) at Texas Tech (3-3, 2-1), 7 p.m. ET Saturday (FS1)

Line: Texas Tech by 1 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series record: Kansas State leads 14-9.


Texas Tech will try to win its third consecutive Big 12 game since a
disappointing 1-3 start to coach Joey McGuire's second season. The
defending conference champion Wildcats, who have a seven-game winning
streak in the series, are on the road for the second week in a row.
K-State is coming off a 29-21 loss at Oklahoma State, a team the
Wildcats beat 48-0 last season.

KEY MATCHUP Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks against the
Kansas State rushing defense. Brooks has four consecutive 100-yard
rushing games, including career highs with 31 carries for 170 yards
in a win last week at Baylor. He is third in the Big 12 and fifth
nationally averaging 114.7 yards rushing per game. The Wildcats have
allowed only 93.4 yards rushing per game, best in the Big 12. Brooks
has faced K-State three times, and was limited to 72 yards on 15
carries combined in those three games.

Kansas State: Senior linebacker Austin Moore leads the
Wildcats with 30 tackles. Those include 7 1/2 tackles for loss, and
he is third in the Big 12 with 1 1/2 per game.

Texas Tech: Sophomore quarterback Behren Morton has completed
68.7% of his passes (33 of 49) for 341 yards and five touchdowns
while starting the last two games for injured Tyler Shough. It is the
first time since 1999 that the Red Raiders have won consecutive Big
12 games when throwing for under 200 yards in each game.

By The Associated
Press
Texas Tech will try to win its third consecutive Big 12 game since a
disappointing 1-3 start to coach Joey McGuire’s second season. The
defending conference champion Kansas State Wildcats have a seven-game
winning streak in the series. They are on the road for the second
week in a row after losing 29-21 at Oklahoma State last week. Texas
Tech running back Tahj Brooks has four consecutive 100-yard rushing
games, including career highs with 31 carries for 170 yards in a win
last week at Baylor. Kansas State is the Big 12's best rushing
defense, allowing 93.4 yards rushing per game.Kansas State
(3-2, 1-1 Big 12) at Texas Tech (3-3, 2-1), 7 p.m. ET Saturday (FS1)
Line: Texas Tech by 1 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Kansas State leads 14-9.WHAT’S AT
STAKE?
Texas Tech will try to win its third consecutive Big 12 game since a
disappointing 1-3 start to coach Joey McGuire's second season. The
defending conference champion Wildcats, who have a seven-game winning
streak in the series, are on the road for the second week in a row.
K-State is coming off a 29-21 loss at Oklahoma State, a team the
Wildcats beat 48-0 last season.
KEY MATCHUP Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks against the
Kansas State rushing defense. Brooks has four consecutive 100-yard
rushing games, including career highs with 31 carries for 170 yards
in a win last week at Baylor. He is third in the Big 12 and fifth
nationally averaging 114.7 yards rushing per game. The Wildcats have
allowed only 93.4 yards rushing per game, best in the Big 12. Brooks
has faced K-State three times, and was limited to 72 yards on 15
carries combined in those three games.PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas State: Senior linebacker Austin Moore leads the
Wildcats with 30 tackles. Those include 7 1/2 tackles for loss, and
he is third in the Big 12 with 1 1/2 per game.
Texas Tech: Sophomore quarterback Behren Morton has completed
68.7% of his passes (33 of 49) for 341 yards and five touchdowns
while starting the last two games for injured Tyler Shough. It is the
first time since 1999 that the Red Raiders have won consecutive Big
12 games when throwing for under 200 yards in each game.FACTS &amp;
FIGURES

Kansas State seeks 8th consecutive win over Texas Tech

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

The 19th ranked Barton Community College volleyball team crossed off another big step on the conference schedule Wednesday night in Liberal earning its 9th straight win by defeating Seward County Community College in straight sets 25-20, 25-17, and 25-18.

The Cougars' victory not only earned their first regular season sweep over the Saints since 2011, but snapped a thirteen regular season match losing stretch at The Greenhouse.

Atop the conference standings by two matches with five to play, Barton improves to 10-1 and 20-3 overall while Seward County's second straight loss drops the Saints to 4-8 in league and 12-13 on the season.

Barton will hit the road again for its next contest coming Saturday in a 6:30 p.m. first serve at Cloud County Community College before hosting a trio of matches beginning on Monday with a 6:30 p.m. non-conference contest hosting Kansas Wesleyan University.

Phoebe Reyes reached double-digit kills for the 15th time of the year, racking up ten through the first two sets in finishing with a team high 13 kills on a .417 attack efficiency in twenty-four swings.

Mya Thompson knocked down half of her 10 total kills in the first set with fellow freshman Naya Danenberg getting five of her 9 total in the final frame on a team second best .300 efficiency. Danenberg also added a collegiate high four service aces as the Cougars pinned 11 points on the Saints' serve receive.

Overall the Cougars' attack finished at .229 marking the third straight match over the .200 level as the Cougars' lead the conference with a season .224 efficiency and 13.27 kills per set. Elena Stankovic's 20 assists led the first wave of the 6-2 with Maurin Reyes putting up 14 as both also added a service ace.

Clara Lindstrom's 14 digs led the backline defense while Anna Wierzbicki led the Cougars' six block night with a solo denial and four assisted, to go along with, 5 kills from the offensive end.

P. Reyes' two kills and Jada Coleman's first of two service aces in the match helped Barton grab the evening's first four points as the Cougars would never trail in the opener.

With the lead trimmed back to 6-5, Thompson's pair of kills and Danenberg's three aces including two in a row sparked a 6-0 spurt widening the lead. The Saints fired back out of a timeout with four straight leading to a 9-2 stretch in tying it at 14.

The set was tied again at 16 for the final time with Seward County service errors at both occurrences kept the Cougars in front.

Wierzbicki and P. Reyes' attacks pushed the last tiebreak to a three-point margin, with consecutive Danenberg kills ensuing after a Barton serve error widening the gap as Thompson would eventually close out the set on her fifth kill in the opener.

Seward County grabbed their first lead of the night at 2-1 in the second set and another lead at 4-3 before the Cougars went on a 6-1 stretch led by two kills and an assisted block by Thompson and a pair of Kassidy Nixon court punishers building a 10-5 lead.

Later still leading at 12-9, P. Reyes matched Thompson's earlier effort in leading a 6-0 run in doubling up the Saints. Seward County chipped away at the deficit in closing to within five only to be answered by consecutive Wierzbicki middle attacks shutting down the momentum as Barton would cruise on through the set for the eight point win.

Having played a five set thriller back on September 11 in Great Bend, Barton was in no mood to extend the match at The Greenhouse in scoring the first three points of the frame on the way to a 13-3 lead.

Danenberg accounted for five of the points from the spike line with Lindstrom and M. Reyes adding service aces.

However despite the hot Barton start, Seward County began its climb in drawing to within 16-12, shaving off four immediate points from the deficit before controlling a 5-1 stretch.

Nixon's kill and Stankovic's sneak attack from the setter position stemmed the tide with P. Reyes' swing and Lindstrom's second service ace helping Barton win the race to twenty at 20-13.

The Saints grabbed four of the next five points slicing the gap back to four but Thompson's attack sparked the Cougars' own 4-1 stretch in sealing the big road conference victory.

- Barton's first regular season sweep since 2011

- Barton snapped a three-match losing streak at The Greenhouse

- Barton's last win at The Greenhouse was in 2021 at the Region VI Championship

- Omitting the Region VI Championship victory, Barton had lost 13 straight at The Greenhouse

- Seward County leads the series at The Greenhouse 20-17

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697108088402.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoThe 19th ranked Barton Community College volleyball team crossed off another big step on the conference schedule Wednesday night in Liberal earning its 9th straight win by defeating Seward County Community College in straight sets 25-20, 25-17, and 25-18.The Cougars' victory not only earned their first regular season sweep over the Saints since 2011, but snapped a thirteen regular season match losing stretch at The Greenhouse.Atop the conference standings by two matches with five to play, Barton improves to 10-1 and 20-3 overall while Seward County's second straight loss drops the Saints to 4-8 in league and 12-13 on the season.Barton will hit the road again for its next contest coming Saturday in a 6:30 p.m. first serve at Cloud County Community College before hosting a trio of matches beginning on Monday with a 6:30 p.m. non-conference contest hosting Kansas Wesleyan University.Phoebe Reyes reached double-digit kills for the 15th time of the year, racking up ten through the first two sets in finishing with a team high 13 kills on a .417 attack efficiency in twenty-four swings.Mya Thompson knocked down half of her 10 total kills in the first set with fellow freshman Naya Danenberg getting five of her 9 total in the final frame on a team second best .300 efficiency. Danenberg also added a collegiate high four service aces as the Cougars pinned 11 points on the Saints' serve receive.Overall the Cougars' attack finished at .229 marking the third straight match over the .200 level as the Cougars' lead the conference with a season .224 efficiency and 13.27 kills per set. Elena Stankovic's 20 assists led the first wave of the 6-2 with Maurin Reyes putting up 14 as both also added a service ace.Clara Lindstrom's 14 digs led the backline defense while Anna Wierzbicki led the Cougars' six block night with a solo denial and four assisted, to go along with, 5 kills from the offensive end.P. Reyes' two kills and Jada Coleman's first of two service aces in the match helped Barton grab the evening's first four points as the Cougars would never trail in the opener.With the lead trimmed back to 6-5, Thompson's pair of kills and Danenberg's three aces including two in a row sparked a 6-0 spurt widening the lead. The Saints fired back out of a timeout with four straight leading to a 9-2 stretch in tying it at 14.The set was tied again at 16 for the final time with Seward County service errors at both occurrences kept the Cougars in front.Wierzbicki and P. Reyes' attacks pushed the last tiebreak to a three-point margin, with consecutive Danenberg kills ensuing after a Barton serve error widening the gap as Thompson would eventually close out the set on her fifth kill in the opener.Seward County grabbed their first lead of the night at 2-1 in the second set and another lead at 4-3 before the Cougars went on a 6-1 stretch led by two kills and an assisted block by Thompson and a pair of Kassidy Nixon court punishers building a 10-5 lead.Later still leading at 12-9, P. Reyes matched Thompson's earlier effort in leading a 6-0 run in doubling up the Saints. Seward County chipped away at the deficit in closing to within five only to be answered by consecutive Wierzbicki middle attacks shutting down the momentum as Barton would cruise on through the set for the eight point win.Having played a five set thriller back on September 11 in Great Bend, Barton was in no mood to extend the match at The Greenhouse in scoring the first three points of the frame on the way to a 13-3 lead.Danenberg accounted for five of the points from the spike line with Lindstrom and M. Reyes adding service aces.However despite the hot Barton start, Seward County began its climb in drawing to within 16-12, shaving off four immediate points from the deficit before controlling a 5-1 stretch.Nixon's kill and Stankovic's sneak attack from the setter position stemmed the tide with P. Reyes' swing and Lindstrom's second service ace helping Barton win the race to twenty at 20-13.The Saints grabbed four of the next five points slicing the gap back to four but Thompson's attack sparked the Cougars' own 4-1 stretch in sealing the big road conference victory.Series Notes:- Barton's first regular season sweep since 2011- Barton snapped a three-match losing streak at The Greenhouse- Barton's last win at The Greenhouse was in 2021 at the Region VI Championship- Omitting the Region VI Championship victory, Barton had lost 13 straight at The Greenhouse- Barton leads the overall series 61-46- Seward County leads the series at The Greenhouse 20-17

19th ranked Barton Volleyball wins 9th straight

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP)
— An independent panel has downgraded five Level I violations
lodged by the NCAA against Kansas and basketball coach Bill Self.
That effectively ends a long saga that began with a 2017 FBI
investigation into college basketball corruption. Kansas will be
required to remove its 2018 Final Four banner and vacate wins from
the 2017-18 season in which Silvio De Sousa, a player central to the
case, participated. The case against the Jayhawks hinged on whether
representatives of the apparel company Adidas were considered
boosters when two of them arranged payments to prospective recruits.
Self served a school-imposed four-game suspension last season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Denver Broncos will be trying to end a 15-game losing
streak to the Kansas City Chiefs when the longtime AFC West rivals
play Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium. The skid spans six head or
interim coaches for Denver, and it is one that new coach Sean Payton
will be out to end. The Broncos have lost four of their first five
games this season, including last week's loss to the Jets in which
they blew a halftime lead. The Chiefs have not lost since their
opener against Detroit. They are coming off a win in Minnesota in
which tight end Travis Kelce hurt his ankle. He is expected to play
against the Broncos.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)
— Kentucky coach Mark Stoops emphasized support for the fan base in
the wake of a comment during his weekly radio show in which he
appeared to challenge disgruntled Wildcats fans to “pony up” more
financially to attract players to his program. The 11th-year Wildcats
coach sparked scrutiny on Monday night in response to a caller’s
complaint about No. 24 Kentucky’s struggle to compete with SEC
powers Georgia and Alabama in light of Saturday night’s 51-13
blowout loss at top-ranked Georgia and raised the issue of NIL
opportunities for players. Stoops said during the SEC coaches
teleconference that one part of his comment was taken out of context
and that he loves Wildcats fans.

PHOENIX (AP) — The
hard-hitting Arizona Diamondbacks rode a record-setting barrage of
solo homers in the third inning to a 4-2 win in Game 3 of the NL
Division Series on Wednesday night, sweeping the 100-win Los Angeles
Dodgers out of the playoffs. The D-backs return to the NL
Championship Series for the first time since 2007, where they’ll
face either the Phillies or Braves. Arizona has won all five of its
games during the postseason, sweeping aside both the Brewers in a
best-of-three series and the Dodgers in a best-of-five. Arizona's
Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, Christian Walker and Gabriel Moreno all
hit solo homers in the third, setting a postseason record for homers
in an inning.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) —
José Abreu homered for the third time in two games for the Houston
Astros in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. The Astros reached
their seventh straight AL Championship Series and eliminated the
Twins in Game 4 of their AL Division Series. Abreu hit a two-run
rocket in the fourth inning off reliever Caleb Thielbar. Michael
Brantley also went deep as the Astros hit 10 homers in the series.
Abreu had eight RBIs. Houston will host Texas in Game 1 of the ALCS
on Sunday. Justin Verlander is scheduled to take the mound for his
36th career postseason start.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Bryce Harper hit a three-run homer and a solo shot to lead the
Philadelphia Phillies to a 10-2 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 3
of the National League Division Series. The Phillies took a 2-1 lead
and can advance to the NL Championship Series for the second straight
season with a win at home Thursday. Harper's homers answered ridicule
from Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia. Arcia had poked fun at Harper
after his baserunning blunder played a role in the Phillies' loss in
Game 2. Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh also homered
for the Phillies.

PHOENIX (AP) — The
Los Angeles Dodgers’ third straight 100-win season led to a third
consecutive postseason flop. A three-game Division Series sweep by
the Arizona Diamondbacks that ended with a 4-2 defeat highlighted how
much expanded playoffs have devalued the regular season. Los Angeles
has reached the playoffs in 11 straight years, the third-longest
streak in major league history. The Dodgers won the NL West in 10 of
those seasons, yet their only World Series in that span was following
the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

UNDATED (AP) — The
family of Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton says she is
“continuing to fight.” Retton is in intensive care at a Texas
hospital with a rare form of pneumonia. Retton's oldest daughter
Shayla Kelley Schrepfer says the family has been overwhelmed by the
outpouring of support for the 1984 Olympic gold medalist. The family
has received more than $275,000 in donations to a fund intended to
help Retton pay her medical bills. Schrepfer did not get into
specifics of Retton's condition, saying it's a “day to day
process.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696502488214.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP)
— An independent panel has downgraded five Level I violations
lodged by the NCAA against Kansas and basketball coach Bill Self.
That effectively ends a long saga that began with a 2017 FBI
investigation into college basketball corruption. Kansas will be
required to remove its 2018 Final Four banner and vacate wins from
the 2017-18 season in which Silvio De Sousa, a player central to the
case, participated. The case against the Jayhawks hinged on whether
representatives of the apparel company Adidas were considered
boosters when two of them arranged payments to prospective recruits.
Self served a school-imposed four-game suspension last season.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Denver Broncos will be trying to end a 15-game losing
streak to the Kansas City Chiefs when the longtime AFC West rivals
play Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium. The skid spans six head or
interim coaches for Denver, and it is one that new coach Sean Payton
will be out to end. The Broncos have lost four of their first five
games this season, including last week's loss to the Jets in which
they blew a halftime lead. The Chiefs have not lost since their
opener against Detroit. They are coming off a win in Minnesota in
which tight end Travis Kelce hurt his ankle. He is expected to play
against the Broncos.LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)
— Kentucky coach Mark Stoops emphasized support for the fan base in
the wake of a comment during his weekly radio show in which he
appeared to challenge disgruntled Wildcats fans to “pony up” more
financially to attract players to his program. The 11th-year Wildcats
coach sparked scrutiny on Monday night in response to a caller’s
complaint about No. 24 Kentucky’s struggle to compete with SEC
powers Georgia and Alabama in light of Saturday night’s 51-13
blowout loss at top-ranked Georgia and raised the issue of NIL
opportunities for players. Stoops said during the SEC coaches
teleconference that one part of his comment was taken out of context
and that he loves Wildcats fans.PHOENIX (AP) — The
hard-hitting Arizona Diamondbacks rode a record-setting barrage of
solo homers in the third inning to a 4-2 win in Game 3 of the NL
Division Series on Wednesday night, sweeping the 100-win Los Angeles
Dodgers out of the playoffs. The D-backs return to the NL
Championship Series for the first time since 2007, where they’ll
face either the Phillies or Braves. Arizona has won all five of its
games during the postseason, sweeping aside both the Brewers in a
best-of-three series and the Dodgers in a best-of-five. Arizona's
Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, Christian Walker and Gabriel Moreno all
hit solo homers in the third, setting a postseason record for homers
in an inning.MINNEAPOLIS (AP) —
José Abreu homered for the third time in two games for the Houston
Astros in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. The Astros reached
their seventh straight AL Championship Series and eliminated the
Twins in Game 4 of their AL Division Series. Abreu hit a two-run
rocket in the fourth inning off reliever Caleb Thielbar. Michael
Brantley also went deep as the Astros hit 10 homers in the series.
Abreu had eight RBIs. Houston will host Texas in Game 1 of the ALCS
on Sunday. Justin Verlander is scheduled to take the mound for his
36th career postseason start.PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Bryce Harper hit a three-run homer and a solo shot to lead the
Philadelphia Phillies to a 10-2 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 3
of the National League Division Series. The Phillies took a 2-1 lead
and can advance to the NL Championship Series for the second straight
season with a win at home Thursday. Harper's homers answered ridicule
from Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia. Arcia had poked fun at Harper
after his baserunning blunder played a role in the Phillies' loss in
Game 2. Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh also homered
for the Phillies.PHOENIX (AP) — The
Los Angeles Dodgers’ third straight 100-win season led to a third
consecutive postseason flop. A three-game Division Series sweep by
the Arizona Diamondbacks that ended with a 4-2 defeat highlighted how
much expanded playoffs have devalued the regular season. Los Angeles
has reached the playoffs in 11 straight years, the third-longest
streak in major league history. The Dodgers won the NL West in 10 of
those seasons, yet their only World Series in that span was following
the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.UNDATED (AP) — The
family of Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton says she is
“continuing to fight.” Retton is in intensive care at a Texas
hospital with a rare form of pneumonia. Retton's oldest daughter
Shayla Kelley Schrepfer says the family has been overwhelmed by the
outpouring of support for the 1984 Olympic gold medalist. The family
has received more than $275,000 in donations to a fund intended to
help Retton pay her medical bills. Schrepfer did not get into
specifics of Retton's condition, saying it's a “day to day
process.”WEDNESDAY SCORESAMERICAN LEAGUE
PLAYOFFSFinal	Houston	3	Minnesota	2	NATIONAL LEAGUE
PLAYOFFSFinal	Philadelphia	10	Atlanta	2

Thursday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer

Oklahoma is already piling up plenty of accolades in its final Big 12 season.

A year after their first losing season since 1998 and the week after a comeback Red River rivalry win over Texas, the fifth-ranked Sooners (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) are the league's only undefeated team. Oklahoma also has the top coach, top offensive player and best defensive player so far this season, according to a midseason vote of Associated Press writers who cover the league.

Second-year Sooners coach Brent Venables, quarterback Dillon Gabriel and linebacker Danny Stutsman were top picks revealed Tuesday. Oklahoma also had the top first-year freshman with strong safety Peyton Bowen.

“I think it goes without saying ... we’re better in every area. We’re not where want to be. But this is the next step,” Venables said after the 34-30 win over Texas. “This team is a very determined football team. There’s a lot of belief for having 63 new players on the squad, this is a team that’s close. There’s a lot of trust and respect. We have a very selfless football team.”

The Sooners already have a record 14 Big 12 championships, and this is their last season with an opportunity to add to that total before moving with the Longhorns to the Southeastern Conference next year.

The Sooners are 6-0 for the 10th time since 2000, when Venables was defensive coordinator for their last national championship. He was later part of two national titles with Clemson before returning to Norman last season. His 6-7 debut as Oklahoma's head coach included a humiliating 49-0 loss to the rival Longhorns, but all four losses after that last season were by three points.

Gabriel was the only unanimous choice among the midseason picks. The left-handed thrower from Hawaii is the Big 12 leader completing 72% of his passes for 313 yards per game with 16 touchdowns. The UCF transfer in his second Sooners season has a team-high five rushing touchdowns and ranks fourth nationally with 347.7 total yards per game.

Stutsman, a 6-foot-4, 236-pounder from Florida, is the Big 12's leading tackler with 9.7 per game, picking up where he left off last season when he topped the conference with 9.6. His 10 1/2 tackles for loss already match his 13-game total last year.

Bowen, a five-star recruit and early enrollee at Oklahoma last January, has 23 tackles and leads the Sooners with four pass breakups. He has blocked two punts this season, one for a safety, and forced a fumble.

Houston dual-threat quarterback Donovan Smith is no stranger in the Big 12 after accounting for 29 touchdowns in 23 games the past two seasons at Texas Tech. In his first season for the Cougars, Smith is second in the Big 12 behind Gabriel with 302 total yards per game.

West Virginia (4-1, 2-0) is the only team other than Oklahoma without a Big 12 loss. While that includes only two conference games, the Mountaineers have a four-game winning streak since a 38-15 loss at sixth-ranked Penn State to open the season.

Like his quarterback, Houston sophomore receiver Samuel Brown began his college career at another Big 12 school. The West Virginia transfer's 34 catches match Texas' Xavier Worthy for the most in the league, even though the Cougars have played one fewer game. Brown is the Big 12 leader with 6.8 catches and 103.6 yards receiving per game.

TCU was the national runner-up last season, making the four-team College Football Playoff after an undefeated regular season in coach Sonny Dykes' first year. The Frogs (3-3, 1-2) opened this season with a home loss to Colorado, then had a three-game winning streak before losing their last two games. And now quarterback Chandler Morris is injured.

West Virginiacoach Neal Brown likely has to keep the momentum going. He is 26-26 overall in his fifth season. The Mountaineers play Thursday night at league newcomer Houston (2-3, 0-2) and Dana Holgorsen, the coach Brown replaced at West Virginia.

Kansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels was the preseason Big 12 offensive player of the year, but has played in only three of six games for the No. 23 Jayhawks (5-1) because of back issues. He was also hurt last year, when Kansas was off to a 5-0 start and got in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2009 before he missed four games with a shoulder injury. The Jayhawks face Oklahoma State this week before a bye and a home date against the Sooners.

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports WriterOklahoma is already piling up plenty of accolades in its final Big 12 season.A year after their first losing season since 1998 and the week after a comeback Red River rivalry win over Texas, the fifth-ranked Sooners (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) are the league's only undefeated team. Oklahoma also has the top coach, top offensive player and best defensive player so far this season, according to a midseason vote of Associated Press writers who cover the league.Second-year Sooners coach Brent Venables, quarterback Dillon Gabriel and linebacker Danny Stutsman were top picks revealed Tuesday. Oklahoma also had the top first-year freshman with strong safety Peyton Bowen.“I think it goes without saying ... we’re better in every area. We’re not where want to be. But this is the next step,” Venables said after the 34-30 win over Texas. “This team is a very determined football team. There’s a lot of belief for having 63 new players on the squad, this is a team that’s close. There’s a lot of trust and respect. We have a very selfless football team.”The Sooners already have a record 14 Big 12 championships, and this is their last season with an opportunity to add to that total before moving with the Longhorns to the Southeastern Conference next year.TOP COACHThe Sooners are 6-0 for the 10th time since 2000, when Venables was defensive coordinator for their last national championship. He was later part of two national titles with Clemson before returning to Norman last season. His 6-7 debut as Oklahoma's head coach included a humiliating 49-0 loss to the rival Longhorns, but all four losses after that last season were by three points.TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERGabriel was the only unanimous choice among the midseason picks. The left-handed thrower from Hawaii is the Big 12 leader completing 72% of his passes for 313 yards per game with 16 touchdowns. The UCF transfer in his second Sooners season has a team-high five rushing touchdowns and ranks fourth nationally with 347.7 total yards per game.TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERStutsman, a 6-foot-4, 236-pounder from Florida, is the Big 12's leading tackler with 9.7 per game, picking up where he left off last season when he topped the conference with 9.6. His 10 1/2 tackles for loss already match his 13-game total last year.TOP FIRST-YEAR FRESHMANBowen, a five-star recruit and early enrollee at Oklahoma last January, has 23 tackles and leads the Sooners with four pass breakups. He has blocked two punts this season, one for a safety, and forced a fumble.TOP FIRST-YEAR TRANSFERHouston dual-threat quarterback Donovan Smith is no stranger in the Big 12 after accounting for 29 touchdowns in 23 games the past two seasons at Texas Tech. In his first season for the Cougars, Smith is second in the Big 12 behind Gabriel with 302 total yards per game.MOST SURPRISING TEAMWest Virginia (4-1, 2-0) is the only team other than Oklahoma without a Big 12 loss. While that includes only two conference games, the Mountaineers have a four-game winning streak since a 38-15 loss at sixth-ranked Penn State to open the season.MOST SURPRISING PLAYERLike his quarterback, Houston sophomore receiver Samuel Brown began his college career at another Big 12 school. The West Virginia transfer's 34 catches match Texas' Xavier Worthy for the most in the league, even though the Cougars have played one fewer game. Brown is the Big 12 leader with 6.8 catches and 103.6 yards receiving per game.MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAMTCU was the national runner-up last season, making the four-team College Football Playoff after an undefeated regular season in coach Sonny Dykes' first year. The Frogs (3-3, 1-2) opened this season with a home loss to Colorado, then had a three-game winning streak before losing their last two games. And now quarterback Chandler Morris is injured.HOTTEST SEATWest Virginiacoach Neal Brown likely has to keep the momentum going. He is 26-26 overall in his fifth season. The Mountaineers play Thursday night at league newcomer Houston (2-3, 0-2) and Dana Holgorsen, the coach Brown replaced at West Virginia.BIGGEST INJURYKansas junior quarterback Jalon Daniels was the preseason Big 12 offensive player of the year, but has played in only three of six games for the No. 23 Jayhawks (5-1) because of back issues. He was also hurt last year, when Kansas was off to a 5-0 start and got in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2009 before he missed four games with a shoulder injury. The Jayhawks face Oklahoma State this week before a bye and a home date against the Sooners.

Big 12 Mid-Season accolades

- Former Barton Baseball coach and Barton Hall-of-Famer Mike Warren joins the show to talk about the contributions of the "First Lady" of Barton Sports Dana Foss who passed away over the weekend.

- The "Voice of the Tigers" Gerard Wellbrock talks everything Fort Hays State sports.

- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther sports by talking with Great Bend Volleyball coach Shelly Duvall

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Wednesday show lineup with host Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark, and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday show lineup with host Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark, and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MnFyvRaEEpg?si=diZdhY_fpwzXb-Fn" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Former Barton Baseball coach and Barton Hall-of-Famer Mike Warren joins the show to talk about the contributions of the "First Lady" of Barton Sports Dana Foss who passed away over the weekend.- The "Voice of the Tigers" Gerard Wellbrock talks everything Fort Hays State sports.- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther sports by talking with Great Bend Volleyball coach Shelly Duvall- Sounds of the past 24-hours-Wednesday Sports Headlines

Wednesday on Sports Day (Watch)

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas men's basketball program was put on probation and ordered to take down its 2018 Final Four banner but escaped a postseason ban Wednesday, when an independent panel created by the NCAA to handle complex cases downgraded five Level I violations lodged against the Jayhawks.

The violations stem from a 2017 federal investigation into college basketball corruption, and hinged on whether representatives of the apparel company Adidas were considered boosters when two of them arranged payments to prospective recruits.

Kansas officials never disputed that payments were made, only that they had no knowledge of them, and they appealed the violations through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process. Their hearing took place in April and the ruling was announced less than a month before the start of the college basketball season in which the powerhouse Jayhawks will be a national championship contender.

“Today’s decision by the Independent Resolution Panel confirms what we’ve said since the beginning: the major infractions of which we were accused were unfounded,” Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod and athletic director Travis Goff said in a statement. “Most importantly, the panel decision unequivocally confirms our coaches were not involved in – or had knowledge of – payments to student-athletes."

The panel concluded the apparel company’s consultant “was a representative of Kansas’ athletics interests” beginning in August 2017, resulting in multiple Level II and Level III violations. But it found “no credible and persuasive information” to suggest that Kansas officials failed to cooperate, lacked institutional control or failed to monitor its men’s basketball program.

Among the penalties, the 2018 Final Four banner was ordered to be removed from Allen Fieldhouse, and any wins involving forward Silvio De Sousa — identified as “student-athlete No. 1” and central to the case — would be stripped from all records. The school also was given a variety of recruiting restrictions, which add to penalties that were self-imposed last year.

The panel made a point to avoid giving Kansas a postseason ban, though. The Jayhawks, led by Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson and with several key players returning, is expected to be preseason No. 1 when the AP poll is released next week.

"We have the penalties we’ve imposed, but we don’t want that to be a reflection on current student-athletes, or impose any limitations on current student-athletes,” said Christina Guerola Sarchio, the chief member for the Independent Resolution Panel hearing the case, said on a Zoom meeting to discuss the case.

Kansas won the 2022 national title while going through the IARP process. That championship is not affected.

The case against Kansas, which included minor infractions involving its football program, was the final one pending for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-southern-california-trojans-7e33fa9aa3436a92d6cf35fd3fab8681">soon-to-be disbanded IARP</a>&nbsp;after it sanctioned former LSU and current McNeese State men’s basketball coach Will Wade in June.

Kansas officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-basketball-mens-c7ece9b0614c9170849088f5391f55d3">suspended Self and top assistant Kurtis Townsend</a>&nbsp;for the first four games of last season, along with imposing several recruiting restrictions, potentially mitigating any penalties that IARP would hand down.

Along with barring the two coaches from off-campus recruiting last summer, the school self-reduced the number of official visits that it would allow during the 2023-24 academic year, reduced the total number of scholarships by three over a three-year span and reduced the number of recruiting days during the current year by 13 days.

“The NCAA membership has acknowledged the significance of these self-imposed penalties,” Sarchio said.

The case against Kansas stemmed from an FBI investigation that ensnared several schools, including Auburn, Arizona, LSU,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-basketball-mens-college-louisville-c33326925a9e27a742e05f0abc668f80">Louisville</a>&nbsp;and North Carolina State, and led to convictions of shoe company executives, a middleman and several assistant coaches.

Kansas initially was charged by the NCAA with five Level I violations, which are considered the most severe, including a charge of lack of institutional control and an allegation that Self had failed to keep the program in compliance.

Auburn received four years of probation through a traditional NCAA infractions process for a similar case, but Kansas joined others in appealing through the IARP, which was among the proposals made by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2018 to reform the sport. The panel was designed to work outside the purview of the NCAA and handle complex cases.

The IARP has been slow, though, and former NCAA President Mark Emmert acknowledged last year that the process was taking “way too long.” That is part of the reason the panel will be eliminated now that the Kansas case has been completed as the NCAA attempts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-basketball-122d93498e4876995ca842b191bda6dd">modernize its infractions process</a>&nbsp;and make it move more efficiently.

In the meantime, many alleged infractions from the 2017 investigation would no longer be against the rules. Name, image and likeness guidelines allow NCAA athletes in all sports to earn money from endorsements and other off-the-field business arrangements.

“That has been something we have been very conscientious about, in terms of the allegations of this case spanning an incredibly long time, and the resolution to get to where we are today took a number of months and years,” Sarchio said. “This case was not dormant. There was activity going on. It took this long to render a decision because it was an incredibly thorough record.”

The panel also has been criticized for inconsistent penalties. Arizona, LSU, Louisville and North Carolina State were given minor penalties and no postseason ban, while Oklahoma State was barred from postseason play for relatively minor violations.

Sarchio said that all of those cases were considered in rendering judgment in the Kansas case.

“What we looked at was the conduct, the fact that there were no Level I findings — there were some Level II and Level III — and compared to what the self-imposed penalties were,” she said. “That led us to reach the conclusion that we disclosed today.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649033652138.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy University of Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy University of Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas men's basketball program was put on probation and ordered to take down its 2018 Final Four banner but escaped a postseason ban Wednesday, when an independent panel created by the NCAA to handle complex cases downgraded five Level I violations lodged against the Jayhawks.The violations stem from a 2017 federal investigation into college basketball corruption, and hinged on whether representatives of the apparel company Adidas were considered boosters when two of them arranged payments to prospective recruits.Kansas officials never disputed that payments were made, only that they had no knowledge of them, and they appealed the violations through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process. Their hearing took place in April and the ruling was announced less than a month before the start of the college basketball season in which the powerhouse Jayhawks will be a national championship contender.“Today’s decision by the Independent Resolution Panel confirms what we’ve said since the beginning: the major infractions of which we were accused were unfounded,” Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod and athletic director Travis Goff said in a statement. “Most importantly, the panel decision unequivocally confirms our coaches were not involved in – or had knowledge of – payments to student-athletes."The panel concluded the apparel company’s consultant “was a representative of Kansas’ athletics interests” beginning in August 2017, resulting in multiple Level II and Level III violations. But it found “no credible and persuasive information” to suggest that Kansas officials failed to cooperate, lacked institutional control or failed to monitor its men’s basketball program.Among the penalties, the 2018 Final Four banner was ordered to be removed from Allen Fieldhouse, and any wins involving forward Silvio De Sousa — identified as “student-athlete No. 1” and central to the case — would be stripped from all records. The school also was given a variety of recruiting restrictions, which add to penalties that were self-imposed last year.The panel made a point to avoid giving Kansas a postseason ban, though. The Jayhawks, led by Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson and with several key players returning, is expected to be preseason No. 1 when the AP poll is released next week."We have the penalties we’ve imposed, but we don’t want that to be a reflection on current student-athletes, or impose any limitations on current student-athletes,” said Christina Guerola Sarchio, the chief member for the Independent Resolution Panel hearing the case, said on a Zoom meeting to discuss the case.Kansas won the 2022 national title while going through the IARP process. That championship is not affected.The case against Kansas, which included minor infractions involving its football program, was the final one pending for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-southern-california-trojans-7e33fa9aa3436a92d6cf35fd3fab8681">soon-to-be disbanded IARP</a>&nbsp;after it sanctioned former LSU and current McNeese State men’s basketball coach Will Wade in June.Kansas officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-basketball-mens-c7ece9b0614c9170849088f5391f55d3">suspended Self and top assistant Kurtis Townsend</a>&nbsp;for the first four games of last season, along with imposing several recruiting restrictions, potentially mitigating any penalties that IARP would hand down.Along with barring the two coaches from off-campus recruiting last summer, the school self-reduced the number of official visits that it would allow during the 2023-24 academic year, reduced the total number of scholarships by three over a three-year span and reduced the number of recruiting days during the current year by 13 days.“The NCAA membership has acknowledged the significance of these self-imposed penalties,” Sarchio said.The case against Kansas stemmed from an FBI investigation that ensnared several schools, including Auburn, Arizona, LSU,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-basketball-mens-college-louisville-c33326925a9e27a742e05f0abc668f80">Louisville</a>&nbsp;and North Carolina State, and led to convictions of shoe company executives, a middleman and several assistant coaches.Kansas initially was charged by the NCAA with five Level I violations, which are considered the most severe, including a charge of lack of institutional control and an allegation that Self had failed to keep the program in compliance.Auburn received four years of probation through a traditional NCAA infractions process for a similar case, but Kansas joined others in appealing through the IARP, which was among the proposals made by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2018 to reform the sport. The panel was designed to work outside the purview of the NCAA and handle complex cases.The IARP has been slow, though, and former NCAA President Mark Emmert acknowledged last year that the process was taking “way too long.” That is part of the reason the panel will be eliminated now that the Kansas case has been completed as the NCAA attempts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-basketball-122d93498e4876995ca842b191bda6dd">modernize its infractions process</a>&nbsp;and make it move more efficiently.In the meantime, many alleged infractions from the 2017 investigation would no longer be against the rules. Name, image and likeness guidelines allow NCAA athletes in all sports to earn money from endorsements and other off-the-field business arrangements.“That has been something we have been very conscientious about, in terms of the allegations of this case spanning an incredibly long time, and the resolution to get to where we are today took a number of months and years,” Sarchio said. “This case was not dormant. There was activity going on. It took this long to render a decision because it was an incredibly thorough record.”The panel also has been criticized for inconsistent penalties. Arizona, LSU, Louisville and North Carolina State were given minor penalties and no postseason ban, while Oklahoma State was barred from postseason play for relatively minor violations.Sarchio said that all of those cases were considered in rendering judgment in the Kansas case.“What we looked at was the conduct, the fact that there were no Level I findings — there were some Level II and Level III — and compared to what the self-imposed penalties were,” she said. “That led us to reach the conclusion that we disclosed today.”

KU escapes postseason ban, major penalties; panel downgrades basketball violations

Class 5A 1. Kapaun (5-1) 2. Mill Valley (5-1) 3. Blue Valley Southwest (5-1) 4. Goddard-Eisenhower (6-0) 5. De Soto (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Goddard (4-2), Hays (4-2), Hutchinson (4-2), Liberal (6-0), Maize South (5-1), Salina Central (5-1), Spring Hill (5-1), Valley Center (4-2) Class 2A 1. Nemaha Centeral (6-0) 2. Sabetha (6-0) 3. Hoisington (6-0) 4. Southeast of Saline (6-0) 5. Ellsworth (6-0) Others considered:&nbsp;Garden Plain (5-1), Humboldt (5-1), Kingman (5-1), Norton (6-0), Osage City (5-1), Riley County (3-3), Rossville (3-3), Silver Lake (5-1)

Class 1A 1. St. Mary's Colgan (6-0) 2. Marion (6-0) 3. St. Mary's (6-0) 4. Conway Springs (4-2) 5. Smith Center (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Centralia (5-1), Hutch Trinity (3-3), Jackson Heights (5-1), Jayhawk-Linn (6-0), Jefferson Co. North (5-1), Medicine Lodge (4-2), Olpe (4-2), Sedgwick (5-1), Valley Heights (5-1), Wabaunsee (4-2)

8-Man DI 1. Wichita County (6-0) 2. Lyndon (6-0) 3. Moundridge (6-0) 4. Rawlins County (6-0) 5. Central Burden (6-0) Others considered:&nbsp;Argonia-Attica (5-1), Cair Paravel (4-2), Chase County (4-2), Ell-Saline (5-1), Hoxie (5-1), Little River (4-2), Meade (5-1), South Sumner Co. (6-0), West Elk (5-1)

8-Man DII 1. Axtell (6-0) 2. Victoria (4-1) 3. Canton-Galva (5-1) 4. Frankfort (5-1) 5. Minneola (6-0) Others considered:&nbsp;Hodgeman County (5-1), Kinsley (5-1), Marmaton Valley (5-1), Osborne (5-1), Sharon Springs-Wallace Co. (3-3), South Barber (5-1), South Central (3-3), Sylvan-Lucas Unified (6-0), Thunder Ridge (4-2) 6-Man 1. Cheylin (6-0) 2. Ashland (5-1) 3. Cunningham (5-1) 4. Waverly (5-0) 5. Northern Valley (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Chetopa (5-1), Deerfield (4-1), Ingalls (5-1), Peabody-Burns (4-2), Tescott (4-2)

Class 3A 1. Andale (6-0) 2. Cheney (6-0) 3. Topeka Hayden (6-0) 4. Clay Center (5-1) 5. Wichita Collegiate (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Frontenac (5-1), Holcomb (4-2), Hugoton (5-1), Parsons (6-0), Rock Creek (4-2), Santa Fe Trail (5-1), Scott City (5-1), Wellsville (6-0)

Class 4A 1. Bishop Miege (5-1) 2. St. Thomas Aquinas (4-2) 3. Louisburg (6-0) 4. Tonganoxie (4-2) 5. Buhler (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Abilene (5-1), Andover Central (3-3), Atchison (6-0), Basehor-Linwood (4-2), Chanute (5-1), Eudora (3-3), Wamego (4-2), Wellington (4-2) Class 6A 1. Gardner-Edgerton (6-0) 2. Olathe North (5-1) 3. Washburn Rural (6-0) 4. Wichita Northwest (5-1) 5. Manhattan (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Blue Valley Northwest (3-3), Blue Valley West (3-3), Derby (5-1), Lawrence (4-2), Lawrence Free State (6-0), Olathe East (4-2), Olathe South (4-2), Wichita East (4-2), Wichita Heights (5-1)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697025050341.png" alt="Kpreps.com High School Football Poll - Week 6" />
 <figcaption>Kpreps.com High School Football Poll - Week 6</figcaption>
 </figure>Class 5A 1. Kapaun (5-1) 2. Mill Valley (5-1) 3. Blue Valley Southwest (5-1) 4. Goddard-Eisenhower (6-0) 5. De Soto (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Goddard (4-2), Hays (4-2), Hutchinson (4-2), Liberal (6-0), Maize South (5-1), Salina Central (5-1), Spring Hill (5-1), Valley Center (4-2) Class 2A 1. Nemaha Centeral (6-0) 2. Sabetha (6-0) 3. Hoisington (6-0) 4. Southeast of Saline (6-0) 5. Ellsworth (6-0) Others considered:&nbsp;Garden Plain (5-1), Humboldt (5-1), Kingman (5-1), Norton (6-0), Osage City (5-1), Riley County (3-3), Rossville (3-3), Silver Lake (5-1)Class 1A 1. St. Mary's Colgan (6-0) 2. Marion (6-0) 3. St. Mary's (6-0) 4. Conway Springs (4-2) 5. Smith Center (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Centralia (5-1), Hutch Trinity (3-3), Jackson Heights (5-1), Jayhawk-Linn (6-0), Jefferson Co. North (5-1), Medicine Lodge (4-2), Olpe (4-2), Sedgwick (5-1), Valley Heights (5-1), Wabaunsee (4-2)8-Man DI 1. Wichita County (6-0) 2. Lyndon (6-0) 3. Moundridge (6-0) 4. Rawlins County (6-0) 5. Central Burden (6-0) Others considered:&nbsp;Argonia-Attica (5-1), Cair Paravel (4-2), Chase County (4-2), Ell-Saline (5-1), Hoxie (5-1), Little River (4-2), Meade (5-1), South Sumner Co. (6-0), West Elk (5-1)8-Man DII 1. Axtell (6-0) 2. Victoria (4-1) 3. Canton-Galva (5-1) 4. Frankfort (5-1) 5. Minneola (6-0) Others considered:&nbsp;Hodgeman County (5-1), Kinsley (5-1), Marmaton Valley (5-1), Osborne (5-1), Sharon Springs-Wallace Co. (3-3), South Barber (5-1), South Central (3-3), Sylvan-Lucas Unified (6-0), Thunder Ridge (4-2) 6-Man 1. Cheylin (6-0) 2. Ashland (5-1) 3. Cunningham (5-1) 4. Waverly (5-0) 5. Northern Valley (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Chetopa (5-1), Deerfield (4-1), Ingalls (5-1), Peabody-Burns (4-2), Tescott (4-2)Class 3A 1. Andale (6-0) 2. Cheney (6-0) 3. Topeka Hayden (6-0) 4. Clay Center (5-1) 5. Wichita Collegiate (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Frontenac (5-1), Holcomb (4-2), Hugoton (5-1), Parsons (6-0), Rock Creek (4-2), Santa Fe Trail (5-1), Scott City (5-1), Wellsville (6-0)Class 4A 1. Bishop Miege (5-1) 2. St. Thomas Aquinas (4-2) 3. Louisburg (6-0) 4. Tonganoxie (4-2) 5. Buhler (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Abilene (5-1), Andover Central (3-3), Atchison (6-0), Basehor-Linwood (4-2), Chanute (5-1), Eudora (3-3), Wamego (4-2), Wellington (4-2) Class 6A 1. Gardner-Edgerton (6-0) 2. Olathe North (5-1) 3. Washburn Rural (6-0) 4. Wichita Northwest (5-1) 5. Manhattan (5-1) Others considered:&nbsp;Blue Valley Northwest (3-3), Blue Valley West (3-3), Derby (5-1), Lawrence (4-2), Lawrence Free State (6-0), Olathe East (4-2), Olathe South (4-2), Wichita East (4-2), Wichita Heights (5-1)

Kpreps High School Football Poll

The Lady Panther volleyball team finally made it into the Kansas Volleyball Association's Class 5A top 10 list. That was with an 18-1 record before a busy week that included a pair of losses and seven straight wins, including against a pair of ranked teams. Great Bend extended that win streak to eight matches Tuesday night in Phillipsburg before falling to N0. 2 Smith Center (2A) 15-25, 25-14, 25-21. The Lady Panthers move to 26-4 on the season ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale WAC tournament in Dodge City.

Great Bend opened the evening with a 25-18, 25-13 win against the other Panthers. The offensive attack was again balanced as junior Kara Feist led the way with seven kills, followed by Cassie Ellegood and Sadie Spray with six each, and Kya Behr with five. Behr also served up three of the team's four aces in the match. Ellegood had four blocks to lead the team. Senior Macy Nachtigal paced the back row with 15 digs, followed by senior Paige Thexton with 13, and Behr with 12. Behr had 17 assists and Spray finished with eight.

Great Bend remains in the No. 3 spot in the Class 5A West standings.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697028478970.jpeg" alt="Lady Panther senior Lauryn Davis." />
 <figcaption>Lady Panther senior Lauryn Davis.</figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Post SportsThe Lady Panther volleyball team finally made it into the Kansas Volleyball Association's Class 5A top 10 list. That was with an 18-1 record before a busy week that included a pair of losses and seven straight wins, including against a pair of ranked teams. Great Bend extended that win streak to eight matches Tuesday night in Phillipsburg before falling to N0. 2 Smith Center (2A) 15-25, 25-14, 25-21. The Lady Panthers move to 26-4 on the season ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale WAC tournament in Dodge City.Great Bend opened the evening with a 25-18, 25-13 win against the other Panthers. The offensive attack was again balanced as junior Kara Feist led the way with seven kills, followed by Cassie Ellegood and Sadie Spray with six each, and Kya Behr with five. Behr also served up three of the team's four aces in the match. Ellegood had four blocks to lead the team. Senior Macy Nachtigal paced the back row with 15 digs, followed by senior Paige Thexton with 13, and Behr with 12. Behr had 17 assists and Spray finished with eight.Great Bend remains in the No. 3 spot in the Class 5A West standings.&nbsp;

Lady Panther volleyball splits at Phillipsburg

People rarely get it right on the first run. Great Bend High School graduate Eric Vazquez literally did just that. In his first-ever marathon Sunday in Chicago, Vazquez finished 27th overall out of some 47,000 men and women runners (25th overall in men). By finishing faster than two hours, 18 minutes, he also met the U.S. Olympic qualifying standard.

"For this marathon, I just wanted to have fun," Vazquez said. "It's crazy to say that when you're running 26.2 (miles). I just wanted to have fun when I started it. A few weeks into my build, I thought maybe I could break the 2:20 mark."

Vazquez was part of a world-record event as Kenyon Kelvin Kitpum drew the human race closer to the once impossible two-hour marathon by winning in two hours and 35 seconds. Since 2014, just three men have finished faster than two hours and three minutes.

Vazquez, who will turn 25 years old in January, got his start as a runner in the seventh grade. With no cross country at Great Bend Middle School, he also wrestled and played football. As a self-described unathletic kid, he liked the individual challenge of running.

"It's one of those sports where you get exactly out of it what you put into it," he said. "Getting to see my ability as a runner and a competitor improve over the years was great. No one could tell me you can't do this."

Vazquez ran 88th at the state cross country meet as a freshman, then helped the Panther 4x800m relay team finish 13th at state later that year. He qualified for three state cross country meets, peaking with an 11th-place finish his senior year. He helped the Panther 4x800m team win three state medals, including the silver medal his senior season. He led off the relay that year and the Panthers had a sizeable lead into the final two laps before Blue Valley Southwest stole the gold by 0.19 seconds. 

After graduating from GBHS in 2017, Vazquez ran for the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, earning All-American status every season. He was part of a distance medley relay national title team, earned All-American honors in the mile, and was part of a national runner-up team at cross country nationals.

Vazquez double majored in mathematics and chemistry, graduating from St. Marys in 2021. And he never stopped running. Last year, he moved to Chicago to continue his education at Northwestern University. He joined the Second City Track Club filled with like-minded runners who enjoy the personal side of the sport.

"It's a great way to push myself, to see the limits of what I can do," he said. "In today's day and age, when you do some hard work it's hard to maybe get the results you want in the corporate or academic world. In the running world, I can attempt to at least control what I can from the work I put into it. The results I get out are just amazing."

As part of the buildup to Sunday's Chicago Marathon, Vazquez ran two half marathons in the past calendar year. Even with no racing experience beyond those 13 miles, he began to eye the U.S. Olympic qualifying standard of 2:18, which was a minute faster than the standard for the 2020 Olympics. He went out with his team, and after crossing the midway point around 69 minutes Sunday, he knew he might be able to beat the standard by a second or two.

"At that point, I thought maybe I could start to squeeze like a toothpaste tube," he said. "Start squeezing from the bottom up on the pace."

Vazquez needed to keep a pace of one mile every five minutes, 16 seconds to meet the standard. By finishing in 2:17.04, he beat the standard by 56 seconds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696944255601.jpeg" alt="Eric Vazquez, a 2017 Great Bend High School graduate, finished 27th overall out of approximately 47,000 runners at the Chicago Marathon Sunday. Vazquez also met the U.S. Olympic qualifying standard. (photo by Josh Ruggio Photography)" />
 <figcaption>Eric Vazquez, a 2017 Great Bend High School graduate, finished 27th overall out of approximately 47,000 runners at the Chicago Marathon Sunday. Vazquez also met the U.S. Olympic qualifying standard. (photo by Josh Ruggio Photography)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostPeople rarely get it right on the first run. Great Bend High School graduate Eric Vazquez literally did just that. In his first-ever marathon Sunday in Chicago, Vazquez finished 27th overall out of some 47,000 men and women runners (25th overall in men). By finishing faster than two hours, 18 minutes, he also met the U.S. Olympic qualifying standard."For this marathon, I just wanted to have fun," Vazquez said. "It's crazy to say that when you're running 26.2 (miles). I just wanted to have fun when I started it. A few weeks into my build, I thought maybe I could break the 2:20 mark."Vazquez was part of a world-record event as Kenyon Kelvin Kitpum drew the human race closer to the once impossible two-hour marathon by winning in two hours and 35 seconds. Since 2014, just three men have finished faster than two hours and three minutes.Vazquez, who will turn 25 years old in January, got his start as a runner in the seventh grade. With no cross country at Great Bend Middle School, he also wrestled and played football. As a self-described unathletic kid, he liked the individual challenge of running.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696951663311.jpeg" alt="Vazquez averaged 5 minutes, 13-second miles for 26.2 miles to meet the standard. (photo by Josh Ruggio Photography)" />
 <figcaption>Vazquez averaged 5 minutes, 13-second miles for 26.2 miles to meet the standard. (photo by Josh Ruggio Photography)</figcaption>
 </figure>"It's one of those sports where you get exactly out of it what you put into it," he said. "Getting to see my ability as a runner and a competitor improve over the years was great. No one could tell me you can't do this."Vazquez ran 88th at the state cross country meet as a freshman, then helped the Panther 4x800m relay team finish 13th at state later that year. He qualified for three state cross country meets, peaking with an 11th-place finish his senior year. He helped the Panther 4x800m team win three state medals, including the silver medal his senior season. He led off the relay that year and the Panthers had a sizeable lead into the final two laps before Blue Valley Southwest stole the gold by 0.19 seconds. After graduating from GBHS in 2017, Vazquez ran for the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, earning All-American status every season. He was part of a distance medley relay national title team, earned All-American honors in the mile, and was part of a national runner-up team at cross country nationals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696953049200.jpeg" alt="Vazquez ran the first leg of the 4x800m relay at state in 2017. The Panthers missed the state title by 0.19 seconds." />
 <figcaption>Vazquez ran the first leg of the 4x800m relay at state in 2017. The Panthers missed the state title by 0.19 seconds.</figcaption>
 </figure>Vazquez double majored in mathematics and chemistry, graduating from St. Marys in 2021. And he never stopped running. Last year, he moved to Chicago to continue his education at Northwestern University. He joined the Second City Track Club filled with like-minded runners who enjoy the personal side of the sport."It's a great way to push myself, to see the limits of what I can do," he said. "In today's day and age, when you do some hard work it's hard to maybe get the results you want in the corporate or academic world. In the running world, I can attempt to at least control what I can from the work I put into it. The results I get out are just amazing."As part of the buildup to Sunday's Chicago Marathon, Vazquez ran two half marathons in the past calendar year. Even with no racing experience beyond those 13 miles, he began to eye the U.S. Olympic qualifying standard of 2:18, which was a minute faster than the standard for the 2020 Olympics. He went out with his team, and after crossing the midway point around 69 minutes Sunday, he knew he might be able to beat the standard by a second or two."At that point, I thought maybe I could start to squeeze like a toothpaste tube," he said. "Start squeezing from the bottom up on the pace."Vazquez needed to keep a pace of one mile every five minutes, 16 seconds to meet the standard. By finishing in 2:17.04, he beat the standard by 56 seconds."I felt like the entire time I was going to hit the standard," he said. "I don't think there was a single moment where I doubted my ability to do it. Running a 2:18 marathon is pretty hard. I think my final pace was 5:13 average, which is kind of crazy for me to think."Vazquez was still feeling the effects of 26.2 miles of hard running the day after the marathon but said the recovery has been quick."My legs are feeling a bit heavy, but I do think they’re in better shape than most people post-marathon," he said. "I’m in a training program where we emphasize running through the fatigue and I think it has helped with the day after. But walking back to the American Development Program tent afterward was over a half-mile walk and it was nearly harder than the race itself."By meeting the standard, Vazquez automatically qualifies for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Orlando on February 3, 2024. The top six finishers in that race would make the U.S. Olympics team but will also have to meet the world standard of 2:08.10 to compete in Paris later that summer. Just three Americans have met the world standard so far this year."I don't think I'll quite be in the top six," Vazquez said, "but I just want to go out and see how I can lineup against some of the best marathoners in the United States."Vazquez currently lives in Lawrence where he is seeking his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Kansas. Once complete, he hopes to share his knowledge as a teacher