The biggest winner in Week 11 of college football didn’t touch the field this week. Despite being idle, Georgia Tech is set to reclaim the Atlantic Coast Conference lead after losses by No. 12 Virginia and No. 14 Louisville. Texas Tech defeated BYU 29-7, taking the lead in the Big 12. Indiana narrowly avoided a loss to Penn State with a last-minute win. Iowa played a tough game against Oregon but lost with a game-winning field goal. Memphis lost to Tulane, and Miami's big win over Syracuse could boost their rankings. Missouri lost to Texas A&amp;M, marking its third loss. James Madison's win over Marshall might help it crack the AP Top 25.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are three wins away from an MLS Cup title. Messi scored two goals and added two assists, leading Inter Miami to a 4-0 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night. Tadeo Allende scored twice in the second half, both set up by Messi. Inter Miami outscored Nashville 8-3 in the series, with Messi involved in all eight goals. Inter Miami will face FC Cincinnati in an East semifinal match on November 22 or 23. This is the first time Inter Miami has reached this stage in the MLS playoffs. Messi is a favorite for his second straight MLS MVP award.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Aaron Rai has won the Abu Dhabi Championship in a playoff over Tommy Fleetwood. The victory was Rai's first of the year and allows him to advance to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship next week in Dubai as the leading 50 players. Rai also beat Fleetwood in a playoff in the Scottish Open five years ago. He shot 67 at Yas Links and overcame missing a 3-foot par putt on the 14th hole. Fleetwood shot 66. Rory McIlroy matched his low score on the European tour with a 62. He tied for third, missing the playoff by one shot.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Atticus Sappington kicked a 39-yard field goal with 3 seconds left, and No. 6 Oregon escaped with an 18-16 win over Iowa on a rainy Saturday. Dante Moore led a 10-play, 54-yard drive to set up Sappington’s third field goal of the game. He connected with Malik Benson for 24 yards to get the Ducks into range for the winning kick. Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski’s 3-yard touchdown run capped a 12-play, 93-yard drive that gave the Hawkeyes their first lead, 16-15 with 1:51 to play. Gronowski’s 2-point conversion pass was incomplete. Noah Whittington had 118 rushing yards for the Ducks, who extended their road winning streak to 11 games.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Omar Cooper Jr. jumped to catch a pass from Fernando Mendoza in the back of the end zone, sweeping his inside foot within the field of play to save No. 2 Indiana from its first loss of the season. A downtrodden Penn State team almost denied the Hoosiers their first Happy Valley win in school history. Mendoza connected with the leaping Cooper with 36 seconds remaining to put Indiana ahead 27-24 on Saturday. Penn State rallied to take a 24-20 lead late in the fourth quarter after being down by 13 points in the third. The Nittany Lions couldn’t put together a response following Cooper’s touchdown.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Diego Pavia threw a 4-yard pass to Cole Spence in overtime, and No. 15 Vanderbilt rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat Auburn 45-38. The win keeps hopes of a College Football Playoff berth alive for Vanderbilt. The Commodores had left themselves with no room to spare after losing 34-31 last week at Texas. Auburn’s Ashton Daniels tied it up at 38-all by throwing a 23-yard TD pass to Cam Coleman before finding Coleman again for a 2-point conversion with 5:27 left. In overtime, needing to match Pavia’s TD, Daniels overthrew Coleman in the end zone on fourth-and-7.

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez indicated he was somewhat coerced by teammates into striking a Heisman Trophy pose in another dominating defensive performance by the ninth-ranked Red Raiders. The 6-foot-1, 235-pounder with a distinctive mustache should at least be in the conversation for college football’s highest individual honor. He had 14 tackles and two takeaways in the 29-7 win over previously undefeated No. 8 BYU on Saturday. Three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted on social media after attending the game to get Rodriguez to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Rodriguez is also the FBS leader with seven forced fumbles.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Marcel Reed throws for 221 yards and two touchdowns as No. 3 Texas A&amp;M defeats No. 19 Missouri 38-17. The Aggies remain undefeated, improving to 9-0. Rueben Owens II adds 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter on Saturday. Missouri freshman Matt Zollers struggles in his first start, completing just 7 of 22 passes for 77 yards. Despite strong rushing performances from Jamal Roberts and Ahmad Hardy, the Tigers fall short. Texas A&amp;M capitalizes on a key fumble late in the first half to build momentum. The Aggies will face South Carolina next, while Missouri hosts Mississippi State.

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Nebraska quarterback TJ Lateef stood out in his first college start, leading the Cornhuskers to a 28-21 victory over UCLA. Lateef completed 13 of 15 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns, filling in for Dylan Raiola, who went down with a season-ending injury last week. Playing near his hometown of Compton, Lateef impressed with his poise and skill, directing the team to scores on their first four possessions. Coach Matt Rhule praised Lateef's confidence and readiness. Running back Emmett Johnson also exceled, contributing 232 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. The win boosted Nebraska's hopes for a top-tier bowl game with two regular-season games remaining.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Freshman Cam Ward had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Coen Carr scored 15 points and soared for seven rebounds and No. 22 Michigan State beat No. 14 Arkansas 69-66 in a matchup of Hall of Fame coaches. The Spartans grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and converted them into 18 points, a staple of Tom Izzo’s program for 31 seasons. John Calipari has highly touted freshmen Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas in his second season with the Razorbacks. Acuff had 16 points on 5 of 16 shooting points. Thomas scored 16 on 5 of 15 shooting.

Final OT	Anaheim	4	Vegas	3 TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Final (3)Texas A&amp;M 38 (19)Missouri 17

Final (4)Alabama 20 LSU 9 TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Final (22)Michigan State 69 (14)Arkansas 66

Final (18)Tennessee 95 Northern Kentucky 56

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The biggest winner in Week 11 of college football didn’t touch the field this week. Despite being idle, Georgia Tech is set to reclaim the Atlantic Coast Conference lead after losses by No. 12 Virginia and No. 14 Louisville. Texas Tech defeated BYU 29-7, taking the lead in the Big 12. Indiana narrowly avoided a loss to Penn State with a last-minute win. Iowa played a tough game against Oregon but lost with a game-winning field goal. Memphis lost to Tulane, and Miami's big win over Syracuse could boost their rankings. Missouri lost to Texas A&amp;M, marking its third loss. James Madison's win over Marshall might help it crack the AP Top 25.FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are three wins away from an MLS Cup title. Messi scored two goals and added two assists, leading Inter Miami to a 4-0 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night. Tadeo Allende scored twice in the second half, both set up by Messi. Inter Miami outscored Nashville 8-3 in the series, with Messi involved in all eight goals. Inter Miami will face FC Cincinnati in an East semifinal match on November 22 or 23. This is the first time Inter Miami has reached this stage in the MLS playoffs. Messi is a favorite for his second straight MLS MVP award.ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Aaron Rai has won the Abu Dhabi Championship in a playoff over Tommy Fleetwood. The victory was Rai's first of the year and allows him to advance to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship next week in Dubai as the leading 50 players. Rai also beat Fleetwood in a playoff in the Scottish Open five years ago. He shot 67 at Yas Links and overcame missing a 3-foot par putt on the 14th hole. Fleetwood shot 66. Rory McIlroy matched his low score on the European tour with a 62. He tied for third, missing the playoff by one shot.IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Atticus Sappington kicked a 39-yard field goal with 3 seconds left, and No. 6 Oregon escaped with an 18-16 win over Iowa on a rainy Saturday. Dante Moore led a 10-play, 54-yard drive to set up Sappington’s third field goal of the game. He connected with Malik Benson for 24 yards to get the Ducks into range for the winning kick. Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski’s 3-yard touchdown run capped a 12-play, 93-yard drive that gave the Hawkeyes their first lead, 16-15 with 1:51 to play. Gronowski’s 2-point conversion pass was incomplete. Noah Whittington had 118 rushing yards for the Ducks, who extended their road winning streak to 11 games.STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Omar Cooper Jr. jumped to catch a pass from Fernando Mendoza in the back of the end zone, sweeping his inside foot within the field of play to save No. 2 Indiana from its first loss of the season. A downtrodden Penn State team almost denied the Hoosiers their first Happy Valley win in school history. Mendoza connected with the leaping Cooper with 36 seconds remaining to put Indiana ahead 27-24 on Saturday. Penn State rallied to take a 24-20 lead late in the fourth quarter after being down by 13 points in the third. The Nittany Lions couldn’t put together a response following Cooper’s touchdown.NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Diego Pavia threw a 4-yard pass to Cole Spence in overtime, and No. 15 Vanderbilt rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat Auburn 45-38. The win keeps hopes of a College Football Playoff berth alive for Vanderbilt. The Commodores had left themselves with no room to spare after losing 34-31 last week at Texas. Auburn’s Ashton Daniels tied it up at 38-all by throwing a 23-yard TD pass to Cam Coleman before finding Coleman again for a 2-point conversion with 5:27 left. In overtime, needing to match Pavia’s TD, Daniels overthrew Coleman in the end zone on fourth-and-7.LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez indicated he was somewhat coerced by teammates into striking a Heisman Trophy pose in another dominating defensive performance by the ninth-ranked Red Raiders. The 6-foot-1, 235-pounder with a distinctive mustache should at least be in the conversation for college football’s highest individual honor. He had 14 tackles and two takeaways in the 29-7 win over previously undefeated No. 8 BYU on Saturday. Three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted on social media after attending the game to get Rodriguez to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Rodriguez is also the FBS leader with seven forced fumbles.COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Marcel Reed throws for 221 yards and two touchdowns as No. 3 Texas A&amp;M defeats No. 19 Missouri 38-17. The Aggies remain undefeated, improving to 9-0. Rueben Owens II adds 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter on Saturday. Missouri freshman Matt Zollers struggles in his first start, completing just 7 of 22 passes for 77 yards. Despite strong rushing performances from Jamal Roberts and Ahmad Hardy, the Tigers fall short. Texas A&amp;M capitalizes on a key fumble late in the first half to build momentum. The Aggies will face South Carolina next, while Missouri hosts Mississippi State.PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Nebraska quarterback TJ Lateef stood out in his first college start, leading the Cornhuskers to a 28-21 victory over UCLA. Lateef completed 13 of 15 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns, filling in for Dylan Raiola, who went down with a season-ending injury last week. Playing near his hometown of Compton, Lateef impressed with his poise and skill, directing the team to scores on their first four possessions. Coach Matt Rhule praised Lateef's confidence and readiness. Running back Emmett Johnson also exceled, contributing 232 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. The win boosted Nebraska's hopes for a top-tier bowl game with two regular-season games remaining.EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Freshman Cam Ward had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Coen Carr scored 15 points and soared for seven rebounds and No. 22 Michigan State beat No. 14 Arkansas 69-66 in a matchup of Hall of Fame coaches. The Spartans grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and converted them into 18 points, a staple of Tom Izzo’s program for 31 seasons. John Calipari has highly touted freshmen Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas in his second season with the Razorbacks. Acuff had 16 points on 5 of 16 shooting points. Thomas scored 16 on 5 of 15 shooting.FinalsNATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal SO	New Jersey	2	Pittsburgh	1	Final OT	Ottawa	3	Philadelphia	2	Final	Dallas	5	Nashville	4	Final	Carolina	6	Buffalo	3	Final OT	Seattle	4	St. Louis	3	Final	N-Y Islanders	5	N-Y Rangers	0	Final	Montreal	6	Utah	2	Final	Tampa Bay	3	Washington	2	Final	Boston	5	Toronto	3	Final	San Jose	3	Florida	1	Final	Vancouver	4	Columbus	3	Final	Colorado	9	Edmonton	1	Final OT	Anaheim	4	Vegas	3 TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALLFinal (9)Texas Tech29 (8) BYU 7Final (3)Texas A&amp;M 38 (19)Missouri 17Final (5)Georgia 41 Mississippi St. 21Final (2)Indiana 27 Penn St. 24Final (1)Ohio St. 34 Purdue 10Final (7)Mississippi 49 The Citadel 0Final (18)Miami 38 Syracuse 10Final (6)Oregon 18 Iowa 16Final (15)Vanderbilt 45 Auburn 38Final Wisconsin 13 (24)Washington 10Final California 29 (14)Louisville 26Final Wake Forest 16 (12)Virginia 9Final (10)Notre Dame 49 Navy 10Final (4)Alabama 20 LSU 9 TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal (2)Houston 65 Towson 48Final (15)Alabama 103 (5)St. John's 96Final (6)Duke 95 Western Carolina 54Final (8)BYU 98 Holy Cross 53Final (22)Michigan State 69 (14)Arkansas 66Final (18)Tennessee 95 Northern Kentucky 56Final (21)Gonzaga 83 Oklahoma 68

Sunday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Caleb Wilson had 24 points, big man Henri Veesaar added 20 and No. 25 North Carolina dominated the second half to pull away from No. 19 Kansas 87-74 in Friday night's battle of college basketball bluebloods.

Senior Seth Trimble added 13 of his 17 after halftime, proving to be a catalyst for the Tar Heels (2-0) in taking control of the second-half tempo as UNC roared out of the break.

North Carolina made 18 of its first 23 second-half shots — including back-to-back push-the-tempo scores by Trimble that had Kansas coach Bill Self first waving his hands in frustration and then burning a quick timeout barely two minutes in.

Kyan Evans added 12 points after a scoreless first half for the Tar Heels, who went from shooting 33% before the break to making 24 of 36 shots (66.7%) after halftime to lead by as many as 16 on the way to scoring 58 second-half points.

That 58-point output was tied for the second-most allowed in any half by Kansas under its 23rd-year coach, according to SportRadar.

Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson had 22 points to lead the Jayhawks (1-1), who led by 10 in the first half and 37-29 at the break.

The Jayhawks entered Friday having won five straight meetings between programs with a combined 10 NCAA titles, including in the 2008 Final Four, the 2012 NCAA Elite Eight and the 2022 national championship game. The Jayhawks won last year's meeting at Allen Fieldhouse despite blowing a 20-point lead and were playing their first game in Chapel Hill.

Kansas: The Jayhawks return home to face Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday.

UNC: The Tar Heels continue a five-game homestand to open the season with Tuesday's visit from Radford.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762613559429.jpeg" alt="North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) defends against Kansas guard Elmarko Jackson, bottom, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)" />
 <figcaption>North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) defends against Kansas guard Elmarko Jackson, bottom, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)</figcaption>
 </figure>CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Caleb Wilson had 24 points, big man Henri Veesaar added 20 and No. 25 North Carolina dominated the second half to pull away from No. 19 Kansas 87-74 in Friday night's battle of college basketball bluebloods.Senior Seth Trimble added 13 of his 17 after halftime, proving to be a catalyst for the Tar Heels (2-0) in taking control of the second-half tempo as UNC roared out of the break.North Carolina made 18 of its first 23 second-half shots — including back-to-back push-the-tempo scores by Trimble that had Kansas coach Bill Self first waving his hands in frustration and then burning a quick timeout barely two minutes in.Kyan Evans added 12 points after a scoreless first half for the Tar Heels, who went from shooting 33% before the break to making 24 of 36 shots (66.7%) after halftime to lead by as many as 16 on the way to scoring 58 second-half points.That 58-point output was tied for the second-most allowed in any half by Kansas under its 23rd-year coach, according to SportRadar.Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson had 22 points to lead the Jayhawks (1-1), who led by 10 in the first half and 37-29 at the break.The Jayhawks entered Friday having won five straight meetings between programs with a combined 10 NCAA titles, including in the 2008 Final Four, the 2012 NCAA Elite Eight and the 2022 national championship game. The Jayhawks won last year's meeting at Allen Fieldhouse despite blowing a 20-point lead and were playing their first game in Chapel Hill.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansas: The Jayhawks return home to face Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday.UNC: The Tar Heels continue a five-game homestand to open the season with Tuesday's visit from Radford.

Wilson, Veesaar, Trimble power No. 25 North Carolina's 2nd-half push to beat No. 19 Kansas 87-74

The NCAA has revoked the eligibility of six men’s college basketball players for allegations of sports betting in three separate cases at New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State and Arizona State. The NCAA Committee on Infractions released findings Friday from an investigation that concluded Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavian Short, Jamond Vincent, Donovan Sanders, Alvin Stredic and Chatton “BJ” Freeman manipulated their performances to lose games, not cover betting lines, ensure certain prop bets were reached or provided information that enabled others to do so during the 2024-25 regular season. In September, the NCAA also banned three college basketball players for betting on their own games at Fresno State and San Jose State.

It’s OK to not be OK. Every conversation about mental health includes that important statement and a message that tough times don’t last, things will get better and help is available. The NFL and the rest of society have come a long way in dealing with mental wellness. The stigma surrounding it has changed. The “suck it up” and “tough it out” mentality are long gone. Players are encouraged to prioritize their mental well-being. They’re told to seek professional support if needed. They have more resources available to them now. The NFL and NFL Players Association in 2019 made it a requirement to have a licensed behavioral health clinician on the staff of each team.

Former NFL player Antonio Brown will return to Florida after deciding not to contest his extradition from a New Jersey jail on an attempted murder charge. Officials said Friday that Brown waived extradition at a brief court hearing and was awaiting transfer to Miami. He was brought to New Jersey after his arrest by U.S. Marshals in Dubai. Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a boxing match on May 16 and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier. Brown was an All-Pro wide receiver with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and other teams.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — No. 20 Southern California stayed in the College Football Playoff race with a 38-17 victory over Northwestern. Makai Lemon had a touchdown catch and a scoring run while making 11 receptions for a career-high 161 yards. Jayden Maiava passed for 299 yards and hit Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane for TDs as the Trojans remained unbeaten at the Coliseum this season. King Miller also rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown. Preston Stone passed for 150 yards and Caleb Komolafe rushed for 118 yards and a score for the Wildcats, who lost for just the second time in six games.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — No. 20 Southern California pulled off a remarkable fake punt against Northwestern by unexpectedly sending out third-string quarterback Sam Huard in the same uniform number as the Trojans’ punter. Huard came on the field with the punt team and completed a 10-yard pass to Tanook Hines for a first down in the second quarter. The trickery extended the Trojans’ second drive, which ended in a TD run by Jayden Maiava. Huard wore No. 7 earlier this season for the Trojans, but he is listed as No. 80 on the USC roster for this week after the team quietly made the change. USC punter Sam Johnson also wears No. 80.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jake Retzlaff threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns and Tulane held off No. 22 Memphis 38-32 on Friday night to stay in contention for the Group of Five’s spot in the College Football Playoff and dash the Tigers’ hopes. Tulane (7-2, 4-1 American Athletic) survived a furious fourth-quarter comeback attempt as the Tigers fought back from a 21-point third-quarter deficit. Memphis (8-2, 4-2) had won 11 in a row at home. Brendon Lewis passed for 317 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers. Cortez Braham Jr. caught 11 passes for 113 yards. The Green Wave scored on their first play from scrimmage — a 65-yard pass from Retzlaff to Shazz Preston — and found the end zone on four of their next five possessions.

MIAMI (AP) — Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has expressed gratitude for the support he received after a fire destroyed his home. The blaze broke out early Thursday, but fortunately, his children were not at home, and no one was injured. Spoelstra praised the first responders for their efforts, even though the house couldn't be saved. He declined time off offered by the Heat, saying his kids wanted to attend Friday's game. Spoelstra also thanked the Heat family for their support, noting that some players' families are helping his children. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia has shared the news that his daughter, Sterling, has died. Vesia and his wife, Kayla, expressed their grief and love for their daughter in an Instagram post. Vesia missed the World Series due to what the team initially described as a "deeply personal family matter." Both team's pitchers wore Vesia’s No. 51 on their caps in tribute. The Vesias thanked the medical staff and both teams for their support. The Dodgers won the World Series in seven games against Toronto.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has pardoned former New York Mets star Darryl Strawberry on past tax evasion and drug charges. Strawberry, an eight-time All-Star, struggled with legal and personal issues after his baseball career. He pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 1995 and went to prison on drug-related charges. A White House official said Trump approved the pardon, highlighting Strawberry's Christian faith and longtime, post-career sobriety. Strawberry expressed gratitude on Instagram. He emphasized that it wasn't about politics. Strawberry played for the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants from 1983 to 1999. He was 1983 National League Rookie of the Year and was on four World Series-winning teams with the Mets and Yankees.

OSAKA, Japan (AP) — Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto performed a near-flawless free skate to defend her title in what she says will be her final NHK Trophy. Sakamoto said in June she will retire from competition after next year’s Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. She landed seven triple jumps to score a Grand Prix season-high score among all competitors of 227.18. Combined with her second place finish at the Grand Prix de France, Sakamoto secured a slot in the Dec. 4-7 Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan. Teenager Sofia Samodelkina of Kazakhstan was second followed by Loena Hendrickx of Belgium.

Final (20) Southern Cal 38 Northwestern 17

Final	(17)Illinois	113	Florida Gulf Coast	70	

Final	(25)North Carolina	87	(19)Kansas	74	

Final	(24)Wisconsin	97	Northern Illinois	72

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The NCAA has revoked the eligibility of six men’s college basketball players for allegations of sports betting in three separate cases at New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State and Arizona State. The NCAA Committee on Infractions released findings Friday from an investigation that concluded Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavian Short, Jamond Vincent, Donovan Sanders, Alvin Stredic and Chatton “BJ” Freeman manipulated their performances to lose games, not cover betting lines, ensure certain prop bets were reached or provided information that enabled others to do so during the 2024-25 regular season. In September, the NCAA also banned three college basketball players for betting on their own games at Fresno State and San Jose State.It’s OK to not be OK. Every conversation about mental health includes that important statement and a message that tough times don’t last, things will get better and help is available. The NFL and the rest of society have come a long way in dealing with mental wellness. The stigma surrounding it has changed. The “suck it up” and “tough it out” mentality are long gone. Players are encouraged to prioritize their mental well-being. They’re told to seek professional support if needed. They have more resources available to them now. The NFL and NFL Players Association in 2019 made it a requirement to have a licensed behavioral health clinician on the staff of each team.Former NFL player Antonio Brown will return to Florida after deciding not to contest his extradition from a New Jersey jail on an attempted murder charge. Officials said Friday that Brown waived extradition at a brief court hearing and was awaiting transfer to Miami. He was brought to New Jersey after his arrest by U.S. Marshals in Dubai. Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a boxing match on May 16 and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier. Brown was an All-Pro wide receiver with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and other teams.LOS ANGELES (AP) — No. 20 Southern California stayed in the College Football Playoff race with a 38-17 victory over Northwestern. Makai Lemon had a touchdown catch and a scoring run while making 11 receptions for a career-high 161 yards. Jayden Maiava passed for 299 yards and hit Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane for TDs as the Trojans remained unbeaten at the Coliseum this season. King Miller also rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown. Preston Stone passed for 150 yards and Caleb Komolafe rushed for 118 yards and a score for the Wildcats, who lost for just the second time in six games.LOS ANGELES (AP) — No. 20 Southern California pulled off a remarkable fake punt against Northwestern by unexpectedly sending out third-string quarterback Sam Huard in the same uniform number as the Trojans’ punter. Huard came on the field with the punt team and completed a 10-yard pass to Tanook Hines for a first down in the second quarter. The trickery extended the Trojans’ second drive, which ended in a TD run by Jayden Maiava. Huard wore No. 7 earlier this season for the Trojans, but he is listed as No. 80 on the USC roster for this week after the team quietly made the change. USC punter Sam Johnson also wears No. 80.MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jake Retzlaff threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns and Tulane held off No. 22 Memphis 38-32 on Friday night to stay in contention for the Group of Five’s spot in the College Football Playoff and dash the Tigers’ hopes. Tulane (7-2, 4-1 American Athletic) survived a furious fourth-quarter comeback attempt as the Tigers fought back from a 21-point third-quarter deficit. Memphis (8-2, 4-2) had won 11 in a row at home. Brendon Lewis passed for 317 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers. Cortez Braham Jr. caught 11 passes for 113 yards. The Green Wave scored on their first play from scrimmage — a 65-yard pass from Retzlaff to Shazz Preston — and found the end zone on four of their next five possessions.MIAMI (AP) — Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has expressed gratitude for the support he received after a fire destroyed his home. The blaze broke out early Thursday, but fortunately, his children were not at home, and no one was injured. Spoelstra praised the first responders for their efforts, even though the house couldn't be saved. He declined time off offered by the Heat, saying his kids wanted to attend Friday's game. Spoelstra also thanked the Heat family for their support, noting that some players' families are helping his children. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia has shared the news that his daughter, Sterling, has died. Vesia and his wife, Kayla, expressed their grief and love for their daughter in an Instagram post. Vesia missed the World Series due to what the team initially described as a "deeply personal family matter." Both team's pitchers wore Vesia’s No. 51 on their caps in tribute. The Vesias thanked the medical staff and both teams for their support. The Dodgers won the World Series in seven games against Toronto.WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has pardoned former New York Mets star Darryl Strawberry on past tax evasion and drug charges. Strawberry, an eight-time All-Star, struggled with legal and personal issues after his baseball career. He pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 1995 and went to prison on drug-related charges. A White House official said Trump approved the pardon, highlighting Strawberry's Christian faith and longtime, post-career sobriety. Strawberry expressed gratitude on Instagram. He emphasized that it wasn't about politics. Strawberry played for the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants from 1983 to 1999. He was 1983 National League Rookie of the Year and was on four World Series-winning teams with the Mets and Yankees.OSAKA, Japan (AP) — Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto performed a near-flawless free skate to defend her title in what she says will be her final NHK Trophy. Sakamoto said in June she will retire from competition after next year’s Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. She landed seven triple jumps to score a Grand Prix season-high score among all competitors of 227.18. Combined with her second place finish at the Grand Prix de France, Sakamoto secured a slot in the Dec. 4-7 Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan. Teenager Sofia Samodelkina of Kazakhstan was second followed by Loena Hendrickx of Belgium.FinalsNATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal	Minnesota	5	N-Y Islanders	2	Final	N-Y Rangers	4	Detroit	1	Final	Chicago	4	Calgary	0	Final	San Jose	2	Winnipeg	1 TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALLFinal (20) Southern Cal 38 Northwestern 17Final Tulane 38 (22) Memphis 32 TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal	(1)Purdue	87	Oakland	77	Final	(4)UConn	110	UMass Lowell	47	Final	(9)Kentucky	107	Valparaiso	59	Final	(10)Texas Tech	98	Sam Houston	77	Final	(12)UCLA	74	Pepperdine	63	Final	(13)Arizona	93	Utah Tech	67	Final	(17)Illinois	113	Florida Gulf Coast	70	Final	(25)North Carolina	87	(19)Kansas	74	Final	(24)Wisconsin	97	Northern Illinois	72

Saturday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Kapaun Mount Carmel 62, Andover Central 0

Hutchinson Trinity 43, Republic County 14

Otis-Bison 54, Marais des Cygnes Valley 0

Peabody-Burns 54, Southern Coffey County 0

Class 6ADerby 28, Junction City 7Gardner-Edgerton 63, Olathe North 35Maize 58, Wichita East 34Manhattan 45, Wichita Southeast 6Olathe Northwest 38, BV West 14Olathe West 55, Olathe South 44SM Northwest 38, Lawrence Free State 31Wichita Northwest 58, Washburn Rural 22Class 5ABasehor-Linwood 35, De Soto 28Great Bend 49, Wichita Bishop Carroll 7Hays 27, Hutchinson 6Leavenworth 35, BV North 21Mill Valley 28, St. Thomas Aquinas 27Salina Central 62, Goddard 32Salina South 22, Liberal 16St. James Academy 26, Spring Hill 14Class 4AAugusta 35, Mulvane 20Bishop Miege 30, Tonganoxie 6Eudora 49, Paola 14Kapaun Mount Carmel 62, Andover Central 0Labette County 15, Chanute 7Ottawa 24, KC Piper 22Wamego 33, Buhler 27Wellington 21, Rose Hill 14Class 3AAndale 51, Clay Center 6Cheney 23, Holcomb 20, OTHolton 14, Frontenac 6Jefferson West 49, Prairie View 14Pratt 35, Hugoton 14, OTRock Creek 17, Hesston 13Santa Fe Trail 28, Girard 0Topeka Hayden 42, Wellsville 0Class 2ACaney Valley 48, Riverton 28Garden Plain 31, Beloit 14Hoisington 46, Hillsboro 6Nemaha Central 34, Council Grove 12Osage City 60, Atchison County 7Phillipsburg 52, Haven 22Sabetha 28, Silver Lake 16Southeast of Saline 44, Russell 12Class 1AHutchinson Trinity 43, Republic County 14Jackson Heights 21, Olpe 20, OTMoundridge 22, Inman 14Pittsburg St Mary’s-Colgan 56, Troy 0Riverside 41, Centralia 26Rossville 53, Jefferson North 18Smith Center 24, Hays-TMP-Marian 14Sterling 53, Marion 14Class 8-Player, Div IEll-Saline 58, Madison 6Hill City 50, Oxford 0Lincoln 62, Oswego 34Little River 52, Lyndon 20South Central 60, Oberlin-Decatur 48Sylvan-Lucas 62, Flinthills 14Trego 64, Kiowa County 18Wichita County 54, Meade 6Class 8-Player, Div 2Axtell 46, Rural Vista 0Frankfort 84, Marmaton Valley 74Hanover 64, Burlingame 6Hodgeman County 51, Minneola 6Hutchinson Central Christian 56, Logan 0Linn 46, Lebo 0Sharon Springs 52, Attica/Argonia 6Victoria 64, Dighton 14Class 6-PlayerCunningham def. Altoona-Midway, forfeitIngalls 51, Northern Valley 6Otis-Bison 54, Marais des Cygnes Valley 0Pawnee Heights 51, Cheylin 6Peabody-Burns 54, Southern Coffey County 0South Barber 54, Golden Plains 8Tescott 54, Chetopa 0Weskan 62, Moscow 12

Statewide Regional Playoff Scores

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Clear the schedule next Friday evening. Hays is coming to town. After a slow
first quarter, No. 2 Great Bend powered to a 28-0 halftime lead Friday night
against Bishop Carroll en route to a 49-7 win. Hays traveled to Hutchinson to
defeat the Salthawks 27-6 to set up Friday’s big state quarterfinal rematch.

“I think it’s something that everybody in the state, and
even us, kind of expected,” said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. “Here we go again
in round two, and it should be a fun one. It’s two great teams meeting in the playoffs.
What more could you ask for? Sounds like there might be a rivalry on the other
side with (Salina) South and Central. It’s an exciting time of the year on the
west side of the bracket.” 

The unbeaten Panthers have rarely faced adversity in the 2025
season. Yet the score remained locked at zero Friday night heading into the
second quarter. Carroll tried to strike first, but a 36-yard field goal attempt
came up a few feet shy of going through midway through the first quarter.

Then the Great Bend offense sprang to life. On the first
play of the third possession of the night, senior Ian Premer took a direct snap
and ran 81 yards largely untouched to put the Panthers on the board just 55
seconds into the period.

The Golden Eagles were forced to punt on their next
possession. Panther senior Daxton Minton took the next play from scrimmage 34
yards, then Premer capped a quick drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. Great
Bend pulled ahead 14-0 just two minutes into the second quarter.

“The first quarter was 0-0, and that’s something we haven’t
seen a lot of,” Beck said. “Our kids did a really nice job of establishing the
run game and ran the ball really well, especially cut back. We’re overplaying
the outside zone, and when you’ve got kids like Ian and Daxton, they can just
change the scoreboard really quick.”

After a mess of penalties that resulted in 1st-and-33
for Carroll, and a Koehn Ribordy interception and long return that was called
back on a penalty, the Golden Eagles were again forced to punt. Minton ran the
next play 59 yards to the house for a 21-0 Panther lead.

Carroll was moving the ball on the next drive behind back-up
quarterback Jonah Mull, who had just completed a 34-yard pass to senior Nick Wineland.
Panther junior Cooper Ohnmacht ended that drive on the next play by
intercepting a tipped ball. 

Great Bend strung together its best drive of the night to
end the half. Premer took another direct snap to the Eagle 1-yard line for the
final play of the half. Minton punched that in to give the Panthers a 28-0 cushion
heading into the break.

Behind Premer and Minton, the Panthers rushed for 241 yards
and four touchdowns on just 18 carries in the first half. The Great Bend
defense held Carroll to just 153 yards, and the Golden Eagles did not score against
the first-string defense. 

“They played outstanding, kind of what they’ve done all year
long," said Beck. "They came out with that fire and intensity. They played with a lot of
emotion tonight. Really, it was a Carroll team that we knew was going to run
the football a lot; inside power, counter, they were switching up quarterbacks.
The kid came back in who hadn’t played since week two. Our kids just did an
outstanding job all night long.”

Minton broke off another big 57-yard touchdown run on the
third play of the second half. Senior Conner Holladay took over from there with
touchdown runs of three and 43 yards. His biggest run set the clock into motion
for good with a 49-0 Panther lead with 11:19 to play. Carroll senior Wyatt
Sauber scored the final points of the night from a yard out in the final four
minutes.

A week after rushing for 131 yards and two scores on just
two carries, Minton piled up 174 more rushing yards and three scores on just
eight carries. He threw for another 55 yards on 6-of-11 passing. Premer added
142 yards and two touchdowns on his 10 carries, and Holladay added 63 yards and
a pair of scores on six attempts. Freshman kicker Giovanni Cruz went a perfect 7-for-7 on PAT attempts.

Mull threw for 74 yards with an interception on 8-of-12
passing. Senior John Corrigan added 53 yards on 5-of-13 passing in the first
half. Mull also led the Golden Eagles with 75 rushing yards on 13 carries.

Carroll ends a bounce-back season at 6-4. Great Bend moves
to 10-0 and plays host to Hays (8-2) next Friday at Memorial Stadium. The
Panthers defeated the Indians 43-19 on Oct. 17 in one of the biggest games in
Kansas this fall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762577319667.jpeg" alt="Panther junior Kale Kern after a sack of Carroll quarterback John Corrigan." />
 <figcaption>Panther junior Kale Kern after a sack of Carroll quarterback John Corrigan.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post
Clear the schedule next Friday evening. Hays is coming to town. After a slow
first quarter, No. 2 Great Bend powered to a 28-0 halftime lead Friday night
against Bishop Carroll en route to a 49-7 win. Hays traveled to Hutchinson to
defeat the Salthawks 27-6 to set up Friday’s big state quarterfinal rematch.“I think it’s something that everybody in the state, and
even us, kind of expected,” said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. “Here we go again
in round two, and it should be a fun one. It’s two great teams meeting in the playoffs.
What more could you ask for? Sounds like there might be a rivalry on the other
side with (Salina) South and Central. It’s an exciting time of the year on the
west side of the bracket.” The unbeaten Panthers have rarely faced adversity in the 2025
season. Yet the score remained locked at zero Friday night heading into the
second quarter. Carroll tried to strike first, but a 36-yard field goal attempt
came up a few feet shy of going through midway through the first quarter.Then the Great Bend offense sprang to life. On the first
play of the third possession of the night, senior Ian Premer took a direct snap
and ran 81 yards largely untouched to put the Panthers on the board just 55
seconds into the period.The Golden Eagles were forced to punt on their next
possession. Panther senior Daxton Minton took the next play from scrimmage 34
yards, then Premer capped a quick drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. Great
Bend pulled ahead 14-0 just two minutes into the second quarter.“The first quarter was 0-0, and that’s something we haven’t
seen a lot of,” Beck said. “Our kids did a really nice job of establishing the
run game and ran the ball really well, especially cut back. We’re overplaying
the outside zone, and when you’ve got kids like Ian and Daxton, they can just
change the scoreboard really quick.”After a mess of penalties that resulted in 1st-and-33
for Carroll, and a Koehn Ribordy interception and long return that was called
back on a penalty, the Golden Eagles were again forced to punt. Minton ran the
next play 59 yards to the house for a 21-0 Panther lead.Carroll was moving the ball on the next drive behind back-up
quarterback Jonah Mull, who had just completed a 34-yard pass to senior Nick Wineland.
Panther junior Cooper Ohnmacht ended that drive on the next play by
intercepting a tipped ball. Great Bend strung together its best drive of the night to
end the half. Premer took another direct snap to the Eagle 1-yard line for the
final play of the half. Minton punched that in to give the Panthers a 28-0 cushion
heading into the break.Behind Premer and Minton, the Panthers rushed for 241 yards
and four touchdowns on just 18 carries in the first half. The Great Bend
defense held Carroll to just 153 yards, and the Golden Eagles did not score against
the first-string defense. “They played outstanding, kind of what they’ve done all year
long," said Beck. "They came out with that fire and intensity. They played with a lot of
emotion tonight. Really, it was a Carroll team that we knew was going to run
the football a lot; inside power, counter, they were switching up quarterbacks.
The kid came back in who hadn’t played since week two. Our kids just did an
outstanding job all night long.”Minton broke off another big 57-yard touchdown run on the
third play of the second half. Senior Conner Holladay took over from there with
touchdown runs of three and 43 yards. His biggest run set the clock into motion
for good with a 49-0 Panther lead with 11:19 to play. Carroll senior Wyatt
Sauber scored the final points of the night from a yard out in the final four
minutes.A week after rushing for 131 yards and two scores on just
two carries, Minton piled up 174 more rushing yards and three scores on just
eight carries. He threw for another 55 yards on 6-of-11 passing. Premer added
142 yards and two touchdowns on his 10 carries, and Holladay added 63 yards and
a pair of scores on six attempts. Freshman kicker Giovanni Cruz went a perfect 7-for-7 on PAT attempts.Mull threw for 74 yards with an interception on 8-of-12
passing. Senior John Corrigan added 53 yards on 5-of-13 passing in the first
half. Mull also led the Golden Eagles with 75 rushing yards on 13 carries.Carroll ends a bounce-back season at 6-4. Great Bend moves
to 10-0 and plays host to Hays (8-2) next Friday at Memorial Stadium. The
Panthers defeated the Indians 43-19 on Oct. 17 in one of the biggest games in
Kansas this fall.

No. 2 Panthers run the clock again to set up state quarterfinal rematch with Hays

GREAT BEND SPORTS ON B104.3 THE POINT SPONSORED BY... GB TARP COMPANY, ADVANCE TRUCK &amp; DIESEL, KELLER REAL ESTATE &amp; INSURANCE, EQUITY BANK, INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES, THE FIELDHOUSE, MARMIE AUTO GROUP, MAGNA DRY CLEANING SERVICES, FREEDOM CLAIMS MANAGEMENT, GREAT BEND REC, ROSENBERG FAMILY DENTISTRY, CHRIS RAMSEY SHELTER INSURANCE, MITCH HANEY &amp; ASSOCIATES, FARMER'S BANK &amp; TRUST, SCOTT'S WELDING SERVICE, PEOPLE'S BANK &amp; TRUST, KERNS FLOOR SERVICE, NEX-TECH, COMFORT PRO, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEATH SYSTEM - GREAT BEND CAMPUS, SUTHERLANDS, AND THE 10TH STREEET EYECARE CENTER. STONE SAND COMPANY AND STONE WASTE MANAGEMENT, ADVANCED THERAPY &amp; SPORTS MEDICINE, DAMM PIPE TESTING, GREAT BEND REDI MIX, INSURANCE PLANNING, EDWARD JONES, DELGADOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT, MPIRE REALTY, AMERICAN PLAINS COOP, AND CODY CROOK RED CEDAR LAND COMPANY. GB TIRES, THE ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER, BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DR CHAD OHNMACHT DDS, AND WATKINS CALCARA CHARTERED.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673886602159.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend 49 Bishop-Carroll 7<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/lvwmtsep/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>GREAT BEND SPORTS ON B104.3 THE POINT SPONSORED BY... GB TARP COMPANY, ADVANCE TRUCK &amp; DIESEL, KELLER REAL ESTATE &amp; INSURANCE, EQUITY BANK, INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES, THE FIELDHOUSE, MARMIE AUTO GROUP, MAGNA DRY CLEANING SERVICES, FREEDOM CLAIMS MANAGEMENT, GREAT BEND REC, ROSENBERG FAMILY DENTISTRY, CHRIS RAMSEY SHELTER INSURANCE, MITCH HANEY &amp; ASSOCIATES, FARMER'S BANK &amp; TRUST, SCOTT'S WELDING SERVICE, PEOPLE'S BANK &amp; TRUST, KERNS FLOOR SERVICE, NEX-TECH, COMFORT PRO, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEATH SYSTEM - GREAT BEND CAMPUS, SUTHERLANDS, AND THE 10TH STREEET EYECARE CENTER. STONE SAND COMPANY AND STONE WASTE MANAGEMENT, ADVANCED THERAPY &amp; SPORTS MEDICINE, DAMM PIPE TESTING, GREAT BEND REDI MIX, INSURANCE PLANNING, EDWARD JONES, DELGADOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT, MPIRE REALTY, AMERICAN PLAINS COOP, AND CODY CROOK RED CEDAR LAND COMPANY. GB TIRES, THE ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER, BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DR CHAD OHNMACHT DDS, AND WATKINS CALCARA CHARTERED.

Great Bend 49 Bishop-Carroll 7

HOISINGTON SPORTS ON 100.7 EAGLE COUNTRY SPONSORED BY... EQUITY BANK, USD #431 HOISINGTON, EHLER CHEVROLET, CARDINAL PHARMACY, TOWN &amp; COUNTRY SUPERMARKET, SUPERIOR ESSEX, FIRST KANSAS BANK, INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES, MPIRE REALTY NIKKI HENDERSON, CLARA BARTON MEDICAL CENTER, HOISINGTON VETERINARY HOSPITAL, HOISINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB, AMERICAN LEGION POST 286, ROSENBERG FAMILY DENISTRY, HOISINGTON RECREATION COMMISSION, CENTRAL CHIROPRACTIC, DR. TYLER SCHREMMER, AND BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581739911992.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hoisington 46 Hillsboro 6<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/1q5abfsk/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>HOISINGTON SPORTS ON 100.7 EAGLE COUNTRY SPONSORED BY... EQUITY BANK, USD #431 HOISINGTON, EHLER CHEVROLET, CARDINAL PHARMACY, TOWN &amp; COUNTRY SUPERMARKET, SUPERIOR ESSEX, FIRST KANSAS BANK, INNOVATIVE LIVESTOCK SERVICES, MPIRE REALTY NIKKI HENDERSON, CLARA BARTON MEDICAL CENTER, HOISINGTON VETERINARY HOSPITAL, HOISINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB, AMERICAN LEGION POST 286, ROSENBERG FAMILY DENISTRY, HOISINGTON RECREATION COMMISSION, CENTRAL CHIROPRACTIC, DR. TYLER SCHREMMER, AND BARTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

Hoisington 46 Hillsboro 6

By JORDAN MOREY NFHS

Wrestling is making a comeback in high schools across the United States. After a decline in participation during the 1990s and unsteady growth throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the 2020s have seen a surge in high school wrestling participation, with the most recent school year reaching record numbers.

The annual NFHS Sports Participation Survey for the 2024-25 school year revealed that 374,278 students participated in high school wrestling nationwide, including 74,064 girls. The results marked the first time in the survey’s 56-year history that wrestling participation surpassed 370,000 total athletes and 74,000 girls.

Several leaders in high school wrestling say multiple factors have contributed to the sport’s rising popularity, but the rapid growth of girls wrestling programs has driven the most significant gains.

“The growth we’re seeing at the high school level, especially among young women, is one of the most exciting developments in our sport’s history,” USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender said. “It speaks to wrestling’s unique ability to welcome anyone willing to work hard and build character, confidence and community. More young people stepping onto the mat strengthens the foundation of our sport and ensures a bright and sustainable future for wrestling at every level.”

Due to a more sophisticated information gathering system figures beginning with the 1979 system are generally lower than surveys for the previous four years. No true comparisons can be made between the 1979 survey and surveys prior.

Girls Wrestling Growing at Record Speed

About five years ago, Krista Semkiv took a job as a social worker at Palatine High School in Illinois and joined the wrestling coaching staff after spending several years helping with junior high programs.

There was just one female wrestler on the high school team when Semkiv was hired, but that didn’t last long as the program began focusing on creating a girls-only team. Now, heading into the 2025-26 season, nearly 30 girls are signed up to participate.

Palatine’s growth in girls wrestling participation mirrors the trend seen at many high schools nationwide over the past decade and particularly the last five years.

Semkiv, entering her sixth season as head coach of Palatine’s girls team, said she believes several factors are driving participation increases in Illinois and beyond. Chief among them, she said, is that more schools are offering girls-only programs, and most states now hold state championships separate from the boys.

High school wrestling has been a male-dominated sport for decades. While some girls wrestled after Title IX passed in 1972, participation stayed low for years, as most girls were forced to practice and compete on boys teams – if they were even allowed to join at all. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that a significant number of girls-only programs began to emerge.

The Texas University Interscholastic League held the first girls-only state wrestling championship in 1998, and Hawaii followed in 1999. California (2011), Washington (2013), Massachusetts (2015) and Tennessee (2017) were next. By 2021, a total of 26 states offered state championships for girls.

During the 2024-25 school year, a record 40 girls state wrestling championships were held across the country, with 8,100 schools offering the sport. Just a decade ago, 11,496 girls participated in high school wrestling – compared to more than 74,000 last year – and there were only 1,806 girls teams.

With more high schools and state associations creating space for girls wrestling, participation has soared over the past five years — including an additional 9,807 participants from 2023-24 to 2024-25.

Semkiv said one of the main draws for girls to join her program is the inclusivity wrestling offers and the self-discipline that comes with being part of the team.

“It’s a very inclusive sport, which is one of the reasons I love it,” Semkiv said. “On our team, and a lot of teams in our area too, it’s a no-cut sport. So any girl, no matter your size, can join the team, which I think is huge. In girls wrestling, you start at 100 pounds, or even 90, and it goes up to 235. We almost need girls of all different sizes, which I think is really empowering for them.”

Semkiv, now in her second year on the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee, said goals for leaders in the sport moving forward include creating more girls-only tournaments and increasing the number of female coaches leading programs.

Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, said one of the NWCA’s priorities is helping former high school wrestlers stay involved in the sport after graduation.

“One of our priorities is getting to a point where we have separate, dedicated coaches for the boys’ and girls’ teams,” Moyer said. “We’ve got research that shows when you have separate, dedicated coaches, the health of the rosters is generally much greater. We need to do a lot more educating of school administrators to help them understand that if they really want to maximize these opportunities, this is the way to do it.”

Experts also said the rise of women’s wrestling in the Olympics, which was added to the Games in 2004, has played a significant role in the sport’s growth. Student-athletes can now follow and be inspired by their favorite athletes more easily than ever.

While wrestling hasn’t cracked the top-10 yet for most popular high school girls sports, it’s closing in on lacrosse, which had 99,292 participants last school year.

Boys Participation, Number of Wrestling Officials Rising, Too

High school boys wrestling participation also continued its upward trend over the last decade, recording a year-over-year increase of 8,340 to surpass 300,000 for the first time.

Around 40 years ago, the sport appeared to be moving in the opposite direction. From 1979 to 1995, the number of high school boys participating in wrestling dropped by more than 60,000 – all the way down to 216,453 male student-athletes in ’95.

Moyer said that between 1972 and 1999, more than 550 college wrestling programs were eliminated, which led to a downstream effect at the high school and youth levels. Since 2000, the NWCA has helped launch more than 466 men’s and women’s intercollegiate programs, fueling the sport’s resurgence, he said.

Over the past 20 years, participation from boys has continued to grow each year for wrestling. In 2024-25, it ranked sixth-most popular behind football, track and field, basketball, soccer and baseball.

While many high schools are struggling to find officials for contests, wrestling is a different story for many state associations.

An NFHS survey found there were 9,011 wrestling officials in 2024-25 — a 12% increase from 2023-24 and up 22% since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Beau Rugg, Ohio High School Athletic Association director of officiating and sport management, said wrestling has seen an uptick in the number of officials, unlike some other sports.

In Ohio, the NFHS survey showed 1,013 wrestling officials for 2024-25, up from a low of 680 during the 2020-21 school year.

Moving forward, Rugg said one of his goals is to recruit more female officials, noting that more than 200 schools in Ohio now offer girls wrestling. While there has been an increase in officials overall, he said there’s still plenty of work to do as the growth of girls’ programs and events.

Anthony “Tony” Clarke, Illinois High School Association wrestling rules interpreter and former chair of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee, said schools are figuring out how to make separate girls and boys programs work in terms of coaches, practices and competitions, and that the wrestling community remains uniquely close-knit.

With more individuals getting involved in wrestling, the hope is they come back as a coach or official in the future.

“We’re the oldest sport on the planet, so that helps,” Clarke said. “But really, with wrestling, people are a family. We’re a cohesive unit off the mat. And we’re very unique, because it’s not easy to wrestle. We accept everybody.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762519336371.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Jordan Morey is manager of communications and media relations at the NFHS" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Jordan Morey is manager of communications and media relations at the NFHS</figcaption>
 </figure>By JORDAN MOREY NFHSWrestling is making a comeback in high schools across the United States. After a decline in participation during the 1990s and unsteady growth throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the 2020s have seen a surge in high school wrestling participation, with the most recent school year reaching record numbers.The annual NFHS Sports Participation Survey for the 2024-25 school year revealed that 374,278 students participated in high school wrestling nationwide, including 74,064 girls. The results marked the first time in the survey’s 56-year history that wrestling participation surpassed 370,000 total athletes and 74,000 girls.Several leaders in high school wrestling say multiple factors have contributed to the sport’s rising popularity, but the rapid growth of girls wrestling programs has driven the most significant gains.“The growth we’re seeing at the high school level, especially among young women, is one of the most exciting developments in our sport’s history,” USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender said. “It speaks to wrestling’s unique ability to welcome anyone willing to work hard and build character, confidence and community. More young people stepping onto the mat strengthens the foundation of our sport and ensures a bright and sustainable future for wrestling at every level.”Due to a more sophisticated information gathering system figures beginning with the 1979 system are generally lower than surveys for the previous four years. No true comparisons can be made between the 1979 survey and surveys prior.Girls Wrestling Growing at Record SpeedAbout five years ago, Krista Semkiv took a job as a social worker at Palatine High School in Illinois and joined the wrestling coaching staff after spending several years helping with junior high programs.There was just one female wrestler on the high school team when Semkiv was hired, but that didn’t last long as the program began focusing on creating a girls-only team. Now, heading into the 2025-26 season, nearly 30 girls are signed up to participate.Palatine’s growth in girls wrestling participation mirrors the trend seen at many high schools nationwide over the past decade and particularly the last five years.Semkiv, entering her sixth season as head coach of Palatine’s girls team, said she believes several factors are driving participation increases in Illinois and beyond. Chief among them, she said, is that more schools are offering girls-only programs, and most states now hold state championships separate from the boys.High school wrestling has been a male-dominated sport for decades. While some girls wrestled after Title IX passed in 1972, participation stayed low for years, as most girls were forced to practice and compete on boys teams – if they were even allowed to join at all. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that a significant number of girls-only programs began to emerge.The Texas University Interscholastic League held the first girls-only state wrestling championship in 1998, and Hawaii followed in 1999. California (2011), Washington (2013), Massachusetts (2015) and Tennessee (2017) were next. By 2021, a total of 26 states offered state championships for girls.During the 2024-25 school year, a record 40 girls state wrestling championships were held across the country, with 8,100 schools offering the sport. Just a decade ago, 11,496 girls participated in high school wrestling – compared to more than 74,000 last year – and there were only 1,806 girls teams.With more high schools and state associations creating space for girls wrestling, participation has soared over the past five years — including an additional 9,807 participants from 2023-24 to 2024-25.Semkiv said one of the main draws for girls to join her program is the inclusivity wrestling offers and the self-discipline that comes with being part of the team.“It’s a very inclusive sport, which is one of the reasons I love it,” Semkiv said. “On our team, and a lot of teams in our area too, it’s a no-cut sport. So any girl, no matter your size, can join the team, which I think is huge. In girls wrestling, you start at 100 pounds, or even 90, and it goes up to 235. We almost need girls of all different sizes, which I think is really empowering for them.”Semkiv, now in her second year on the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee, said goals for leaders in the sport moving forward include creating more girls-only tournaments and increasing the number of female coaches leading programs.Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, said one of the NWCA’s priorities is helping former high school wrestlers stay involved in the sport after graduation.“One of our priorities is getting to a point where we have separate, dedicated coaches for the boys’ and girls’ teams,” Moyer said. “We’ve got research that shows when you have separate, dedicated coaches, the health of the rosters is generally much greater. We need to do a lot more educating of school administrators to help them understand that if they really want to maximize these opportunities, this is the way to do it.”Experts also said the rise of women’s wrestling in the Olympics, which was added to the Games in 2004, has played a significant role in the sport’s growth. Student-athletes can now follow and be inspired by their favorite athletes more easily than ever.While wrestling hasn’t cracked the top-10 yet for most popular high school girls sports, it’s closing in on lacrosse, which had 99,292 participants last school year.Boys Participation, Number of Wrestling Officials Rising, TooHigh school boys wrestling participation also continued its upward trend over the last decade, recording a year-over-year increase of 8,340 to surpass 300,000 for the first time.Around 40 years ago, the sport appeared to be moving in the opposite direction. From 1979 to 1995, the number of high school boys participating in wrestling dropped by more than 60,000 – all the way down to 216,453 male student-athletes in ’95.Moyer said that between 1972 and 1999, more than 550 college wrestling programs were eliminated, which led to a downstream effect at the high school and youth levels. Since 2000, the NWCA has helped launch more than 466 men’s and women’s intercollegiate programs, fueling the sport’s resurgence, he said.Over the past 20 years, participation from boys has continued to grow each year for wrestling. In 2024-25, it ranked sixth-most popular behind football, track and field, basketball, soccer and baseball.While many high schools are struggling to find officials for contests, wrestling is a different story for many state associations.An NFHS survey found there were 9,011 wrestling officials in 2024-25 — a 12% increase from 2023-24 and up 22% since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.Beau Rugg, Ohio High School Athletic Association director of officiating and sport management, said wrestling has seen an uptick in the number of officials, unlike some other sports.In Ohio, the NFHS survey showed 1,013 wrestling officials for 2024-25, up from a low of 680 during the 2020-21 school year.Moving forward, Rugg said one of his goals is to recruit more female officials, noting that more than 200 schools in Ohio now offer girls wrestling. While there has been an increase in officials overall, he said there’s still plenty of work to do as the growth of girls’ programs and events.Anthony “Tony” Clarke, Illinois High School Association wrestling rules interpreter and former chair of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee, said schools are figuring out how to make separate girls and boys programs work in terms of coaches, practices and competitions, and that the wrestling community remains uniquely close-knit.With more individuals getting involved in wrestling, the hope is they come back as a coach or official in the future.“We’re the oldest sport on the planet, so that helps,” Clarke said. “But really, with wrestling, people are a family. We’re a cohesive unit off the mat. And we’re very unique, because it’s not easy to wrestle. We accept everybody.”

High School Wrestling’s Comeback: Participation, Opportunity Reach All-time Highs

- Shelly Duvall, head coach of Great Bend Volleyball

- Conor Nicholl of Sunflower Sports Solutions

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756047315700.jpeg" alt="Friday Show Lineup with Host Brant Daughtry" />
 <figcaption>Friday Show Lineup with Host Brant Daughtry</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4p2DAWqvLs?si=E4GpHDPvGfvc_nkK" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Sounds of the Past 24 Hours- Shelly Duvall, head coach of Great Bend Volleyball- Conor Nicholl of Sunflower Sports Solutions

Friday on Sports Day(Watch)

Congratulations&nbsp;to the Ellinwood Girls Cross Country Team, taking 9th in the state. The girls jumped out in front of Marion and Oakley early. They put away Hillsboro in the last 1/3 of the race as they jumped up 22 places in the last mile.&nbsp; Eleanor Joiner led the way with a 4th-place, All-State finish. The girls all ran great races, with Eleanor Joiner , Clarisse Masset, and Karah Porter getting PRs again this week, and Jenna Borror, Ali Gonzalez, Madison Dombroski , and Leah Steffan all running their best Wamego times ever.

Congratulations&nbsp;to the Boys Cross Country Team, also taking 9th. The boys got out quickly to jump in front of Trego, Solomon, and Berean Academy and held them off late in the race. Ryan Pohlman led the way with his 19th-place, All-State finish. Ryan Pohlman and Caleb Herrman also hit PRs again this week. The boys all ran tough with Shae Hoskins, Ethan Robl, and Josh Zook clocking their best Wamego times and Joe Brauer seconds off of his.

Congrats&nbsp;to all, great season!&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762521870272.jpeg" alt="Ryan Pohlman / Eleanor Joiner - All State" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Pohlman / Eleanor Joiner - All State</figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations&nbsp;to the Ellinwood Girls Cross Country Team, taking 9th in the state. The girls jumped out in front of Marion and Oakley early. They put away Hillsboro in the last 1/3 of the race as they jumped up 22 places in the last mile.&nbsp; Eleanor Joiner led the way with a 4th-place, All-State finish. The girls all ran great races, with Eleanor Joiner , Clarisse Masset, and Karah Porter getting PRs again this week, and Jenna Borror, Ali Gonzalez, Madison Dombroski , and Leah Steffan all running their best Wamego times ever.Congratulations&nbsp;to the Boys Cross Country Team, also taking 9th. The boys got out quickly to jump in front of Trego, Solomon, and Berean Academy and held them off late in the race. Ryan Pohlman led the way with his 19th-place, All-State finish. Ryan Pohlman and Caleb Herrman also hit PRs again this week. The boys all ran tough with Shae Hoskins, Ethan Robl, and Josh Zook clocking their best Wamego times and Joe Brauer seconds off of his.Congrats&nbsp;to all, great season!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ellinwood Cross Country boys and girls both take 9th at state

LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;– No. 19 Kansas (1-0) will play at No. 25 North Carolina (1-0) on Friday, Nov. 7. The blueblood battle will tip from the Dean E. Smith Center at 6 p.m.&nbsp; (Central) and the game will be televised on ESPN with Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas calling the action.

Kansas ranks No. 2 in all-time victories with 2,415 wins, while North Carolina is No. 3 at 2,395.Kansas holds a 7-6 all-time series edge on North Carolina and KU has won the last five meetings, with four of those being in the NCAA Tournament. The last matchup was last season, a Kansas 92-89 win on Nov. 8, 2024, in Allen Fieldhouse. This will be the first meeting between the two schools played in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Kansas has won seven-straight games versus ACC opponents and 16 of its last 17 against the league dating back to 2012. The 16-1 mark includes wins versus Duke (5), UNC (4), NC State (3), Miami, Clemson, Wake Forest, and Syracuse.

Kansas opened the season with a 94-51 win against Green Bay on Nov. 3 in Allen Fieldhouse. For KU, it marked its 53rd consecutive home season-opening victory, a streak that started in 1973-74. North Carolina is also 1-0 after its 94-54 win against Central Arkansas on Nov. 3.

In the win against Green Bay, KU was led by sophomore&nbsp;Flory Bidunga&nbsp;who scored a career-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting with six rebounds and three blocked shots. Freshman guard&nbsp;Darryn Peterson&nbsp;scored 21 points in his collegiate debut on 7-of-11 shooting with three threes, three assists and two steals. Senior&nbsp;Melvin Council Jr.&nbsp;added 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting with a team-high four assists. The win marked KU's 53rd-consecutive home opening victory, a streak that started in the 1973-74 season. Additionally, Kansas allowed 51 points in the season opener against Green Bay, marking the fewest allowed in a season opener since allowing 50 to Western Michigan 69-50 in 1993.

UP NEXT Kansas returns home to host Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The game from Allen Fieldhouse will start at 7 p.m. (Central) and will broadcast on ESPN+.

Kansas leads the series with Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi, 1-0, as the Jayhawks defeated the Islanders, 82-41, on Nov. 23, 2010, in Allen Fieldhouse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762521714044.jpeg" alt="KUAthletics.com" />
 <figcaption>KUAthletics.com</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;– No. 19 Kansas (1-0) will play at No. 25 North Carolina (1-0) on Friday, Nov. 7. The blueblood battle will tip from the Dean E. Smith Center at 6 p.m.&nbsp; (Central) and the game will be televised on ESPN with Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas calling the action.Kansas ranks No. 2 in all-time victories with 2,415 wins, while North Carolina is No. 3 at 2,395.Kansas holds a 7-6 all-time series edge on North Carolina and KU has won the last five meetings, with four of those being in the NCAA Tournament. The last matchup was last season, a Kansas 92-89 win on Nov. 8, 2024, in Allen Fieldhouse. This will be the first meeting between the two schools played in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.Kansas has won seven-straight games versus ACC opponents and 16 of its last 17 against the league dating back to 2012. The 16-1 mark includes wins versus Duke (5), UNC (4), NC State (3), Miami, Clemson, Wake Forest, and Syracuse.Kansas opened the season with a 94-51 win against Green Bay on Nov. 3 in Allen Fieldhouse. For KU, it marked its 53rd consecutive home season-opening victory, a streak that started in 1973-74. North Carolina is also 1-0 after its 94-54 win against Central Arkansas on Nov. 3.In the win against Green Bay, KU was led by sophomore&nbsp;Flory Bidunga&nbsp;who scored a career-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting with six rebounds and three blocked shots. Freshman guard&nbsp;Darryn Peterson&nbsp;scored 21 points in his collegiate debut on 7-of-11 shooting with three threes, three assists and two steals. Senior&nbsp;Melvin Council Jr.&nbsp;added 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting with a team-high four assists. The win marked KU's 53rd-consecutive home opening victory, a streak that started in the 1973-74 season. Additionally, Kansas allowed 51 points in the season opener against Green Bay, marking the fewest allowed in a season opener since allowing 50 to Western Michigan 69-50 in 1993.UP NEXT Kansas returns home to host Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The game from Allen Fieldhouse will start at 7 p.m. (Central) and will broadcast on ESPN+.Kansas leads the series with Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi, 1-0, as the Jayhawks defeated the Islanders, 82-41, on Nov. 23, 2010, in Allen Fieldhouse.

No. 19 Kansas Plays at No. 25 North Carolina in a Battle of Bluebloods Friday

D. Scott Fritchen KStateSports.com&nbsp;

On a day that preseason All-American guard PJ Haggerty garnered another preseason Player of the Year watch-list accolade, the junior transfer issued a memorable opening statement in a Kansas State jersey — with new teammate&nbsp;Nate Johnson&nbsp;close behind. Haggerty scored a game-high 27 points and Johnson nearly reached a triple-double as the Wildcats overcame a halftime deficit to thump UNC Greensboro, 93-64, at Bramlage Coliseum.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Haggerty, who on Tuesday was named to the 2025-26 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year award, averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists en route to consensus Second Team All-America honors last season at Memphis.

At times, it appeared that the 6-foot-4, 195-pounder hardly broke a sweat in his No. 4 K-State jersey.

"I wouldn't say it was easy," Haggerty said. "My teammates and coaches put me in a great position to be great on the court, whether I'm scoring of making plays. It just allows me to be myself and have fun.

"Amazing feeling out there. I love the fans and my teammates and coaches. It's always great to get a win. Winning is hard. It was a great feeling."

Johnson went to the bench with 2 minutes, 50 seconds remaining after posting 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Johnson, who plays larger than his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame, muscled for points inside the post and sizzled from long range. Johnson shot 8-of-11 from the floor and made 6-of-7 3-pointers — the most 3-pointers by a K-State player in a season opener in more than 20 years.

"I played off my teammates," Johnson said. "Guys like PJ go downhill and make plays. They have confidence in me to shoot the ball."

As for narrowly missing out on a triple-double?

"I'm just going to keep playing hard," Johnson replied. "I'm glad I didn't know because I would've tried to strive to get it. I wasn't mad."

There didn't seem to be any anger, either, as K-State went to the locker room facing a 34-33 deficit after a first half that featured two ties and seven lead changes. K-State led for less than three minutes in the first half. The Wildcats calmy regrouped to outscore the Spartans 60-30 the rest of the way to improve to 31-3 all-time in Bramlage Coliseum openers.&nbsp; 

"I don't know if there was anything I said at halftime as much as just trying to get them to relax," K-State head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2683">Jerome Tang</a>&nbsp;said. "I just thought we were tight and pressed. We just told them to play together. We had eight turnovers at the 10-minute mark and most of our points were unassisted. You're not playing good basketball if you're scoring a lot of unassisted buckets. It's a lot of one-on-one, and we didn't want to do that."&nbsp;&nbsp;

K-State shot 40% in the first half and 59.5% in the second half. K-State shot just 30% on 3-pointers in the first half and 64.7% in the second half. The Wildcats finished with 22 assists on 34 made field goals, finished with a 42-31 advantage on the boards, and forced UNC Greensboro into 18 turnovers.&nbsp; 

"We saw the mistakes we made and overcame them and came out with the win," Johnson said. "We came together and rallied together. First-game jitters. For some people, this is a different scene for them. We talk about adversity all the time."&nbsp; 

While Johnson made the Spartans pay with a long-range touch that could cause problems nightly for opponents, junior transfer Abdi Bashir, Jr., who ranked No. 2 in Division I basketball with 127 3-pointers last season at Monmouth, shot 4-of-8 from beyond the arc in his first game with the Wildcats, who finished shooting 14-of-27 from long range.&nbsp; 

Haggerty earlier stated that the Haggerty-Johnson-Bashir trio could be the best backcourt in college basketball this season.

"I agree that they're one of the best backcourts in the country," Tang said. "I believe the other three guys that they play with add to that. I have six of them that can play anywhere. Now we just have to help them play together better.

"What we did in the second half wasn't an anomaly. I believe we can play like that all the time."&nbsp; 

Johnson transferred to K-State after three seasons at Akron, where he averaged 14.0 points his junior season, and posted five 20-point games and one 30-point contest in his 92-game career with the Zips.&nbsp; 

Johnson hadn't ever approached a triple-double, though. Until now.&nbsp; 

"He did a lot of everything," Tang said. "He was like a plus-47 when he was on the floor. It probably wasn't a very good sub by my having him on the bench during that one stretch there. Nate, PJ and Abdi are really good guards."&nbsp; 

Tang called Haggerty's debut performance "OK."

"It's nice to have a guy who can go get his shot at any time," Tang continued. "PJ wants to be a point guard, and point guards are judged just like pitchers, on wins and losses. That's what he'll be judged on, not if he scores 27. It's did we win, or did we lose? Is he leading us and helping us get better? He's going to continue to learn how to manage the game a little bit different. There were some times where he forced some things that he didn't need to. My evaluation of his game isn't on the stat sheet. It's on the film."&nbsp; 

Meanwhile, Haggerty couldn't get over the efforts by his new teammate, Johnson, who he smiled with and whispered with while sitting at the podium at the postgame news conference.

"He was hooping," Haggerty said. "Almost a triple-double. I expect nothing less. He has a feel for the game on defense and offense. He had a great game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762521596169.jpeg" alt="KStateSports.com" />
 <figcaption>KStateSports.com</figcaption>
 </figure>D. Scott Fritchen KStateSports.com&nbsp; On a day that preseason All-American guard PJ Haggerty garnered another preseason Player of the Year watch-list accolade, the junior transfer issued a memorable opening statement in a Kansas State jersey — with new teammate&nbsp;Nate Johnson&nbsp;close behind. Haggerty scored a game-high 27 points and Johnson nearly reached a triple-double as the Wildcats overcame a halftime deficit to thump UNC Greensboro, 93-64, at Bramlage Coliseum.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Haggerty, who on Tuesday was named to the 2025-26 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year award, averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists en route to consensus Second Team All-America honors last season at Memphis.At times, it appeared that the 6-foot-4, 195-pounder hardly broke a sweat in his No. 4 K-State jersey."I wouldn't say it was easy," Haggerty said. "My teammates and coaches put me in a great position to be great on the court, whether I'm scoring of making plays. It just allows me to be myself and have fun."Amazing feeling out there. I love the fans and my teammates and coaches. It's always great to get a win. Winning is hard. It was a great feeling."Johnson went to the bench with 2 minutes, 50 seconds remaining after posting 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Johnson, who plays larger than his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame, muscled for points inside the post and sizzled from long range. Johnson shot 8-of-11 from the floor and made 6-of-7 3-pointers — the most 3-pointers by a K-State player in a season opener in more than 20 years."I played off my teammates," Johnson said. "Guys like PJ go downhill and make plays. They have confidence in me to shoot the ball."As for narrowly missing out on a triple-double?"I'm just going to keep playing hard," Johnson replied. "I'm glad I didn't know because I would've tried to strive to get it. I wasn't mad."There didn't seem to be any anger, either, as K-State went to the locker room facing a 34-33 deficit after a first half that featured two ties and seven lead changes. K-State led for less than three minutes in the first half. The Wildcats calmy regrouped to outscore the Spartans 60-30 the rest of the way to improve to 31-3 all-time in Bramlage Coliseum openers.&nbsp; "I don't know if there was anything I said at halftime as much as just trying to get them to relax," K-State head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2683">Jerome Tang</a>&nbsp;said. "I just thought we were tight and pressed. We just told them to play together. We had eight turnovers at the 10-minute mark and most of our points were unassisted. You're not playing good basketball if you're scoring a lot of unassisted buckets. It's a lot of one-on-one, and we didn't want to do that."&nbsp;&nbsp;K-State shot 40% in the first half and 59.5% in the second half. K-State shot just 30% on 3-pointers in the first half and 64.7% in the second half. The Wildcats finished with 22 assists on 34 made field goals, finished with a 42-31 advantage on the boards, and forced UNC Greensboro into 18 turnovers.&nbsp; "We saw the mistakes we made and overcame them and came out with the win," Johnson said. "We came together and rallied together. First-game jitters. For some people, this is a different scene for them. We talk about adversity all the time."&nbsp; While Johnson made the Spartans pay with a long-range touch that could cause problems nightly for opponents, junior transfer Abdi Bashir, Jr., who ranked No. 2 in Division I basketball with 127 3-pointers last season at Monmouth, shot 4-of-8 from beyond the arc in his first game with the Wildcats, who finished shooting 14-of-27 from long range.&nbsp; Haggerty earlier stated that the Haggerty-Johnson-Bashir trio could be the best backcourt in college basketball this season."I agree that they're one of the best backcourts in the country," Tang said. "I believe the other three guys that they play with add to that. I have six of them that can play anywhere. Now we just have to help them play together better."What we did in the second half wasn't an anomaly. I believe we can play like that all the time."&nbsp; Johnson transferred to K-State after three seasons at Akron, where he averaged 14.0 points his junior season, and posted five 20-point games and one 30-point contest in his 92-game career with the Zips.&nbsp; Johnson hadn't ever approached a triple-double, though. Until now.&nbsp; "He did a lot of everything," Tang said. "He was like a plus-47 when he was on the floor. It probably wasn't a very good sub by my having him on the bench during that one stretch there. Nate, PJ and Abdi are really good guards."&nbsp; Tang called Haggerty's debut performance "OK.""It's nice to have a guy who can go get his shot at any time," Tang continued. "PJ wants to be a point guard, and point guards are judged just like pitchers, on wins and losses. That's what he'll be judged on, not if he scores 27. It's did we win, or did we lose? Is he leading us and helping us get better? He's going to continue to learn how to manage the game a little bit different. There were some times where he forced some things that he didn't need to. My evaluation of his game isn't on the stat sheet. It's on the film."&nbsp; Meanwhile, Haggerty couldn't get over the efforts by his new teammate, Johnson, who he smiled with and whispered with while sitting at the podium at the postgame news conference."He was hooping," Haggerty said. "Almost a triple-double. I expect nothing less. He has a feel for the game on defense and offense. He had a great game."We're just going to keep capitalizing."

A Season-Opening Display by the Backcourt

The No. 4 Barton Community College men's soccer team opened play at the newly renovated Cougar Soccer Complex in winning fashion Wednesday afternoon, advancing to its third consecutive Plains District/Region 6 Championship with a 2-0 semifinal victory over Crowder College.

Held scoreless entering the later stages, the Cougars finally broke through with two goals in a two-minute span to pull away for the victory and set up a familiar postseason rematch against No. 5 and top-seeded Cowley College in the Plains District/Region 6 Championship, after the Tigers edged Garden City Community College 4-3.

The 10th straight win moves Barton to 16-3-2 on the season, while the loss ends the Region 16 champion Roughriders' campaign at 8-6-4. Saturday's championship will mark the latest installment in Barton and Cowley's postseason rivalry, with the Cougars seeking their first Plains District title since the 2020-21 season, when they defeated the Tigers 4-1.Kickoff for Saturday's championship match is slated for 4:30 p.m. at the KCKCC Soccer Field in Kansas City, Kansas, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the 2025 NJCAA National Tournament, held November 16-22 at Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Despite battling against a 20-mile-per-hour south wind in the opening half, the Cougars controlled possession for much of the period, outshooting the Roughriders 17-4 but unable to capitalize on multiple opportunities. Barton's best chance came on a penalty kick with 22:06 remaining, but Crowder keeper Pablo Exposito denied the attempt, keeping both teams scoreless at the halftime break.

With the wind at their backs and the breeze reduced to 5-10 mph over the second half, the Cougar attack finally broke through in the 81st minute on their 17th corner kick.&nbsp;Rafael Calmon's delivery found an unmarked&nbsp;Kotaro Kimura&nbsp;just outside the 18', with the freshman quickly dialing up a far-post missile for his first collegiate goal gifting Barton a 1-0 lead.

Just two minutes later, the Cougars added insurance from the penalty line. After being denied from the mark in the opening half,&nbsp;Masaki Tsuji&nbsp;calmly regrouped and converted on his second attempt after being taken down inside the box, notching his team leading 15th goal of the season to seal the 2-0 result.

Barton's defense stifled the Crowder attack throughout the afternoon, limiting the Roughriders to just six total shots with three on frame. Goalkeeper&nbsp;Gabriel Bergamin&nbsp;turned away each attempt, including a crucial save midway through the second half to keep the match scoreless.

The shutout marked the Cougars' seventh of the season and Bergamin's third solo clean sheet.

BARTON SCORING SUMMARY 79:36:&nbsp;Kotaro Kimura&nbsp;(1); Assist:&nbsp;Rafael Calmon&nbsp;(4) 81:36:&nbsp;Masaki Tsuji&nbsp;(15)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762521204022.jpeg" alt="BartonSports.com" />
 <figcaption>BartonSports.com</figcaption>
 </figure>The No. 4 Barton Community College men's soccer team opened play at the newly renovated Cougar Soccer Complex in winning fashion Wednesday afternoon, advancing to its third consecutive Plains District/Region 6 Championship with a 2-0 semifinal victory over Crowder College.Held scoreless entering the later stages, the Cougars finally broke through with two goals in a two-minute span to pull away for the victory and set up a familiar postseason rematch against No. 5 and top-seeded Cowley College in the Plains District/Region 6 Championship, after the Tigers edged Garden City Community College 4-3.The 10th straight win moves Barton to 16-3-2 on the season, while the loss ends the Region 16 champion Roughriders' campaign at 8-6-4. Saturday's championship will mark the latest installment in Barton and Cowley's postseason rivalry, with the Cougars seeking their first Plains District title since the 2020-21 season, when they defeated the Tigers 4-1.Kickoff for Saturday's championship match is slated for 4:30 p.m. at the KCKCC Soccer Field in Kansas City, Kansas, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the 2025 NJCAA National Tournament, held November 16-22 at Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, Florida.Despite battling against a 20-mile-per-hour south wind in the opening half, the Cougars controlled possession for much of the period, outshooting the Roughriders 17-4 but unable to capitalize on multiple opportunities. Barton's best chance came on a penalty kick with 22:06 remaining, but Crowder keeper Pablo Exposito denied the attempt, keeping both teams scoreless at the halftime break.With the wind at their backs and the breeze reduced to 5-10 mph over the second half, the Cougar attack finally broke through in the 81st minute on their 17th corner kick.&nbsp;Rafael Calmon's delivery found an unmarked&nbsp;Kotaro Kimura&nbsp;just outside the 18', with the freshman quickly dialing up a far-post missile for his first collegiate goal gifting Barton a 1-0 lead.Just two minutes later, the Cougars added insurance from the penalty line. After being denied from the mark in the opening half,&nbsp;Masaki Tsuji&nbsp;calmly regrouped and converted on his second attempt after being taken down inside the box, notching his team leading 15th goal of the season to seal the 2-0 result.Barton's defense stifled the Crowder attack throughout the afternoon, limiting the Roughriders to just six total shots with three on frame. Goalkeeper&nbsp;Gabriel Bergamin&nbsp;turned away each attempt, including a crucial save midway through the second half to keep the match scoreless.The shutout marked the Cougars' seventh of the season and Bergamin's third solo clean sheet.BARTON SCORING SUMMARY 79:36:&nbsp;Kotaro Kimura&nbsp;(1); Assist:&nbsp;Rafael Calmon&nbsp;(4) 81:36:&nbsp;Masaki Tsuji&nbsp;(15)

No. 4 Barton surges late, top Crowder 2-0 to reach Plains District Championship for third straight year

Police in a Dallas suburb say 24-year-old Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead of an apparent suicide after evading authorities in his vehicle and fleeing the scene of an accident on foot. Police said Kneeland didn’t stop for Texas Department of Public Safety troopers over a traffic violation on Wednesday night. Kneeland was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound early Thursday morning, about three hours after the crash, police said. According to police dispatch recordings from Broadcastify, people were concerned for Kneeland after he had sent a group text “saying goodbye.”

Former NFL star Antonio Brown has been arrested on an attempted murder charge stemming from a shooting after a celebrity boxing event in Miami. Police confirmed Thursday that the 37-year-old Brown was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Dubai. Police spokesman Mike Vega said Brown was initially flown to Essex County, New Jersey, where he's being held pending extradition to Miami. An arrest warrant says Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with after the amateur boxing event in May. It was unclear from court documents whether Brown has an attorney.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — More than 20,000 Barcelona fans have filled a part of the modernized Camp Nou stadium to watch the team practice there for the first time since it was closed for a major facelift over two years ago. Fans cheered Friday as Lamine Yamal and teammates ran onto the field. Club president Joan Laporta said this week he hopes to have games at the stadium later this month. Barcelona last played at Camp Nou in May 2023. But it was also clear how much work is still left to be done before the new Camp Nou is entirely finished. The entire upper deck appears mostly a skeleton without any seats and massive cranes loomed overhead.

Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been recalled by England coach Thomas Tuchel for the team’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. The attacking midfielders were left out of England’s last squad with Tuchel stressing the need to have a strong team spirit in the camp and warning there would be “no guarantees” for his superstar players. Bellingham has started all five of Real Madrid’s games since the last international break and looks to be fully recovered after missing the start of the season because of shoulder surgery. Foden is back to his best form with Manchester City and scored twice against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday. There was no place for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Pep Guardiola's coaching career started on September 2, 2007, in a Spanish fourth-tier game against Premia in front of around 2,000 spectators. Eighteen years later, he will reach 1,000 games as a coach when he leads Manchester City into one of the biggest games in world soccer against Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. His first job was with Barcelona ‘B’ before trophy-laden stints with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City. This is a by-the-numbers look at Guardiola’s remarkable coaching career that has changed the face of soccer.

BERLIN (AP) — Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris has prepared a video to show his players in case they need to get up to speed on Jesse Owens’ accomplishments at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.. Owens, who was Black, won four gold medals in front of Adolf Hitler to thwart Nazi claims of Aryan racial supremacy at the same stadium where the Falcons will face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Morris was speaking Friday at a press conference at the training center of Bundesliga soccer club Union Berlin. He says he'll show the video to the team on Friday night. He hopes players get a “good prideful feeling of Jesse Owens and what he was able to accomplish.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool striker Alexander Isak will return to training with the senior squad on Friday after three weeks out and could feature in the blockbuster Premier League meeting with Manchester City on Sunday. Isak, who joined Liverpool for a reported $170 million as the British record signing in the summer transfer window, has missed Liverpool’s last four games because of a groin problem. That continued his slow start to life at Anfield. He has scored just one goal in eight games in all competitions for his new club. Liverpool manager Arne Slot says Isak’s latest injury issue has set back his attempt to regain full sharpness after a disrupted preseason.

DENVER (AP) — Denver's defense bailed out the Broncos in a 10-7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. The Broncos sacked Geno Smith six times to make up for their spotty performances on offense and special teams. They barely outplayed the Raiders, who just traded away top receiver Jakobi Meyers. Wil Lutz's 32-yard field goal in the third quarter broke a 7-7 tie. After Daniel Carlson missed a 48-yarder to tie it, the Broncos chewed up the rest of the clock with a methodical drive. The game was a flag-fest with neither team able to find an offensive rhythm.

NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges he profited from rigged poker games and provided sports bettors with non-public information about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Jones, a onetime teammate of James, said little Thursday during back-to-back arraignments in federal court in Brooklyn, letting his court-appointed lawyer enter not guilty pleas in a pair of cases stemming from last month’s federal takedown of sprawling gambling operations. Jones acknowledged he read both indictments and that he understood the charges and his bail conditions, which include his mother and stepfather putting up their Texas home as collateral for a $200,000 bond that will allow him to remain free pending trial.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Olivier Rioux became the tallest person to ever play college basketball when he made his debut in third-ranked Florida's 104-64 victory over North Florida. Rioux, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from Canada and the world’s tallest teenager, checked with 2:09 to play and with the home crowd chanting “We Want Ollie.” He drew so much attention from the Ospreys that he didn’t even touch the ball. When asked about making history, Rioux quipped: “It’s another day, I guess.”

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Final OT	New Jersey	4	Montreal	3	 Final	St. Louis	3	Buffalo	0	 Final OT	Boston	3	Ottawa	2	 Final	Carolina	4	Minnesota	3	 Final	Pittsburgh	5	Washington	3	 Final	Anaheim	7	Dallas	5	 Final	Philadelphia	3	Nashville	1	 Final	Florida	5	Los Angeles	2	 Final	Tampa Bay	6	Vegas	3

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Final	Denver	10	Las Vegas	7

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Final	(3) Florida	104	North Florida	64	 Final	(11) Louisville	106	Jackson State	70	 Final	(16) Iowa State	102	Grambling State	62	 Final	(20) Auburn	95	Merrimack	57

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Police in a Dallas suburb say 24-year-old Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead of an apparent suicide after evading authorities in his vehicle and fleeing the scene of an accident on foot. Police said Kneeland didn’t stop for Texas Department of Public Safety troopers over a traffic violation on Wednesday night. Kneeland was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound early Thursday morning, about three hours after the crash, police said. According to police dispatch recordings from Broadcastify, people were concerned for Kneeland after he had sent a group text “saying goodbye.”Former NFL star Antonio Brown has been arrested on an attempted murder charge stemming from a shooting after a celebrity boxing event in Miami. Police confirmed Thursday that the 37-year-old Brown was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Dubai. Police spokesman Mike Vega said Brown was initially flown to Essex County, New Jersey, where he's being held pending extradition to Miami. An arrest warrant says Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with after the amateur boxing event in May. It was unclear from court documents whether Brown has an attorney.BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — More than 20,000 Barcelona fans have filled a part of the modernized Camp Nou stadium to watch the team practice there for the first time since it was closed for a major facelift over two years ago. Fans cheered Friday as Lamine Yamal and teammates ran onto the field. Club president Joan Laporta said this week he hopes to have games at the stadium later this month. Barcelona last played at Camp Nou in May 2023. But it was also clear how much work is still left to be done before the new Camp Nou is entirely finished. The entire upper deck appears mostly a skeleton without any seats and massive cranes loomed overhead.Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been recalled by England coach Thomas Tuchel for the team’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. The attacking midfielders were left out of England’s last squad with Tuchel stressing the need to have a strong team spirit in the camp and warning there would be “no guarantees” for his superstar players. Bellingham has started all five of Real Madrid’s games since the last international break and looks to be fully recovered after missing the start of the season because of shoulder surgery. Foden is back to his best form with Manchester City and scored twice against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday. There was no place for Trent Alexander-Arnold.Pep Guardiola's coaching career started on September 2, 2007, in a Spanish fourth-tier game against Premia in front of around 2,000 spectators. Eighteen years later, he will reach 1,000 games as a coach when he leads Manchester City into one of the biggest games in world soccer against Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. His first job was with Barcelona ‘B’ before trophy-laden stints with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City. This is a by-the-numbers look at Guardiola’s remarkable coaching career that has changed the face of soccer.BERLIN (AP) — Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris has prepared a video to show his players in case they need to get up to speed on Jesse Owens’ accomplishments at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.. Owens, who was Black, won four gold medals in front of Adolf Hitler to thwart Nazi claims of Aryan racial supremacy at the same stadium where the Falcons will face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Morris was speaking Friday at a press conference at the training center of Bundesliga soccer club Union Berlin. He says he'll show the video to the team on Friday night. He hopes players get a “good prideful feeling of Jesse Owens and what he was able to accomplish.”LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool striker Alexander Isak will return to training with the senior squad on Friday after three weeks out and could feature in the blockbuster Premier League meeting with Manchester City on Sunday. Isak, who joined Liverpool for a reported $170 million as the British record signing in the summer transfer window, has missed Liverpool’s last four games because of a groin problem. That continued his slow start to life at Anfield. He has scored just one goal in eight games in all competitions for his new club. Liverpool manager Arne Slot says Isak’s latest injury issue has set back his attempt to regain full sharpness after a disrupted preseason.DENVER (AP) — Denver's defense bailed out the Broncos in a 10-7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. The Broncos sacked Geno Smith six times to make up for their spotty performances on offense and special teams. They barely outplayed the Raiders, who just traded away top receiver Jakobi Meyers. Wil Lutz's 32-yard field goal in the third quarter broke a 7-7 tie. After Daniel Carlson missed a 48-yarder to tie it, the Broncos chewed up the rest of the clock with a methodical drive. The game was a flag-fest with neither team able to find an offensive rhythm.NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges he profited from rigged poker games and provided sports bettors with non-public information about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Jones, a onetime teammate of James, said little Thursday during back-to-back arraignments in federal court in Brooklyn, letting his court-appointed lawyer enter not guilty pleas in a pair of cases stemming from last month’s federal takedown of sprawling gambling operations. Jones acknowledged he read both indictments and that he understood the charges and his bail conditions, which include his mother and stepfather putting up their Texas home as collateral for a $200,000 bond that will allow him to remain free pending trial.GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Olivier Rioux became the tallest person to ever play college basketball when he made his debut in third-ranked Florida's 104-64 victory over North Florida. Rioux, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from Canada and the world’s tallest teenager, checked with 2:09 to play and with the home crowd chanting “We Want Ollie.” He drew so much attention from the Ospreys that he didn’t even touch the ball. When asked about making history, Rioux quipped: “It’s another day, I guess.”FinalsNATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Final OT	New Jersey	4	Montreal	3	 Final	St. Louis	3	Buffalo	0	 Final OT	Boston	3	Ottawa	2	 Final	Carolina	4	Minnesota	3	 Final	Pittsburgh	5	Washington	3	 Final	Anaheim	7	Dallas	5	 Final	Philadelphia	3	Nashville	1	 Final	Florida	5	Los Angeles	2	 Final	Tampa Bay	6	Vegas	3NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Final	Denver	10	Las Vegas	7TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Final	(3) Florida	104	North Florida	64	 Final	(11) Louisville	106	Jackson State	70	 Final	(16) Iowa State	102	Grambling State	62	 Final	(20) Auburn	95	Merrimack	57

Friday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Class 6A West
bracket 
 Wichita East (5-4)
at Maize (9-0) Wichita Southeast
(7-2) at Manhattan (7-2) Washburn Rural (6-3)
at Wichita Northwest (8-1) Derby (6-3) at
Junction City (7-2)

Class 5A West
bracket Bishop Carroll
(6-3) at Great Bend (9-0) 
Hays (7-2) at
Hutchinson (7-2) 
 Goddard (6-3) at
Salina Central (8-1) 
 Salina South (2-7)
at Liberal (7-2)

Class 4A West
bracket 
Andover Central
(5-4) at Kapaun Mt. Carmel (8-1) 
 Rose Hill (6-3) at
Wellington (7-2) Augusta (4-5) at
Mulvane (8-1) Buhler (6-3) at
Wamego (7-2) 
 Class 3A West
bracket Clay Center (6-3) at
Andale (9-0) Hugoton (8-1) at
Pratt (8-1) Hesston (6-3) at
Rock Creek (9-0) Cheney (6-3) at
Holcomb (9-0)

Class 2A West
bracket Russell (7-2) at
Southeast of Saline (9-0) Haven (7-2) at
Phillipsburg (6-3) Hillsboro (6-3)
at Hoisington (8-0) Beloit (6-3) at
Garden Plain (8-1)

Class 1A West
bracket 
Marion (7-2) at
Sterling (9-0) Hutchinson Trinity
(7-2) at Republic County (8-1) Thomas More Prep
(6-2) at No. 2 Smith Center (9-0) Moundridge (7-2) at
No. 3 Inman (8-1)

8-man Division I
bracket 
Top Bracket Flinthills (5-4)
at Sylvan-Lucas (8-1) Little River
(8-1) at Lyndon (8-0) 
 Madison (8-1) at
Ell-Saline (8-1) Oswego (7-2) at
Lincoln (8-1) 
 Bottom bracket Decatur County (7-2)
at South Central (8-0) Wichita County (7-2)
at Meade (7-2) Kiowa County
(5-4) at WaKeeney-Trego (9-0) Oxford (7-1) at Hill
City (8-1) 
 8-man Division II
 
Top bracket Frankfort (5-4) at
Marmaton Valley (8-1) Axtell (8-1) at
Rural Vista (8-1) Burlingame (6-3) at
Hanover (9-0) Lebo (6-3) at Linn
(6-3) 
 Bottom bracket Logan-Palco (7-2) at
Hutchinson Central Christian (9-0) Dighton (3-6) at
Victoria (8-0) Hodgeman County
(8-1) at Minneola (7-2) Argonia-Attica (6-3)
at Wallace County (9-0) 
 6-man 
Top bracket Southern Coffey
County (2-7) at Peabody-Burns (7-2) Chetopa (4-5) at
Tescott (7-2) 
 Cunningham (8-1)
receives bye Otis-Bison (4-5)
at Marais des Cygnes Valley (6-2) 
Bottom bracket Golden Plains (4-4)
at South Barber (8-1) Pawnee Heights
(5-4) at Cheylin (4-4) Moscow (3-5) at
Weskan (8-1) Northern Valley
(4-4) at Ingalls (8-1)

Class 6A West
bracket 
 Wichita East (5-4)
at Maize (9-0) Wichita Southeast
(7-2) at Manhattan (7-2) Washburn Rural (6-3)
at Wichita Northwest (8-1) Derby (6-3) at
Junction City (7-2)Class 5A West
bracket Bishop Carroll
(6-3) at Great Bend (9-0) 
Hays (7-2) at
Hutchinson (7-2) 
 Goddard (6-3) at
Salina Central (8-1) 
 Salina South (2-7)
at Liberal (7-2)Class 4A West
bracket 
Andover Central
(5-4) at Kapaun Mt. Carmel (8-1) 
 Rose Hill (6-3) at
Wellington (7-2) Augusta (4-5) at
Mulvane (8-1) Buhler (6-3) at
Wamego (7-2) 
 Class 3A West
bracket Clay Center (6-3) at
Andale (9-0) Hugoton (8-1) at
Pratt (8-1) Hesston (6-3) at
Rock Creek (9-0) Cheney (6-3) at
Holcomb (9-0)Class 2A West
bracket Russell (7-2) at
Southeast of Saline (9-0) Haven (7-2) at
Phillipsburg (6-3) Hillsboro (6-3)
at Hoisington (8-0) Beloit (6-3) at
Garden Plain (8-1) 
Class 1A West
bracket 
Marion (7-2) at
Sterling (9-0) Hutchinson Trinity
(7-2) at Republic County (8-1) Thomas More Prep
(6-2) at No. 2 Smith Center (9-0) Moundridge (7-2) at
No. 3 Inman (8-1)8-man Division I
bracket 
Top Bracket Flinthills (5-4)
at Sylvan-Lucas (8-1) Little River
(8-1) at Lyndon (8-0) 
 Madison (8-1) at
Ell-Saline (8-1) Oswego (7-2) at
Lincoln (8-1) 
 Bottom bracket Decatur County (7-2)
at South Central (8-0) Wichita County (7-2)
at Meade (7-2) Kiowa County
(5-4) at WaKeeney-Trego (9-0) Oxford (7-1) at Hill
City (8-1) 
 8-man Division II
 
Top bracket Frankfort (5-4) at
Marmaton Valley (8-1) Axtell (8-1) at
Rural Vista (8-1) Burlingame (6-3) at
Hanover (9-0) Lebo (6-3) at Linn
(6-3) 
 Bottom bracket Logan-Palco (7-2) at
Hutchinson Central Christian (9-0) Dighton (3-6) at
Victoria (8-0) Hodgeman County
(8-1) at Minneola (7-2) Argonia-Attica (6-3)
at Wallace County (9-0) 
 6-man 
Top bracket Southern Coffey
County (2-7) at Peabody-Burns (7-2) Chetopa (4-5) at
Tescott (7-2) 
 Cunningham (8-1)
receives bye Otis-Bison (4-5)
at Marais des Cygnes Valley (6-2) 
Bottom bracket Golden Plains (4-4)
at South Barber (8-1) Pawnee Heights
(5-4) at Cheylin (4-4) Moscow (3-5) at
Weskan (8-1) Northern Valley
(4-4) at Ingalls (8-1)

Friday West Regional Playoff Pairings

- Erin Beck, head coach of Great Bend Football

-Nathan Broekelman, head coach of Barton Community College Wrestling

- Jim Cartisser, head coach of Barton Community College Volleyball

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756047315700.jpeg" alt="Thursday Show Lineup with Host Brant Daughtry" />
 <figcaption>Thursday Show Lineup with Host Brant Daughtry</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qi_J68GwwK8?si=-lqA_v-h1fgmAdZc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Erin Beck, head coach of Great Bend Football-Nathan Broekelman, head coach of Barton Community College Wrestling- Jim Cartisser, head coach of Barton Community College Volleyball

Thursday on Sports Day(Watch)

The No. 18 Barton Community College men's basketball team suffered its first blemish of the 2025-26 season Wednesday evening, falling 70-66 to receiving votes Mineral Area College inside the Bob Sechrest Field House in Park Hills, Missouri.

The Cougars drop to 2-1 on the season, while the Cardinals notch their first victory of the year to move to 1-2 overall. Barton will have the weekend off before returning home Tuesday for its 2025-26 home opener, hosting State Fair Community College in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off inside the newly renovated Fleske Fieldhouse.

Barton jumped out of the gates quickly, racing to a 17-7 advantage by the 11:04 mark of the first half. Mineral Area countered with an 11-0 stretch to grab its first lead, but the Cougars closed the half strong, finishing on an 11-2 run over the final 2:40 to take a 33-26 lead into the locker rooms.

The Cardinals regained control midway through the second half, using a 12-2 surge to go ahead 40-37. Barton clawed back behind a perimeter flurry, stringing together four straight three pointers over a two-minute stretch, the sequence starting by&nbsp;Blake Rucker's first triple, followed by&nbsp;Pavel Ivanov's and capped by Rucker's third in that span to draw the Cougars even at 53-53 with 7:22 remaining.

Following an&nbsp;Aris Rodriguez&nbsp;bucket to knot it back up at 57-all,&nbsp;Noah Williams&nbsp;gave Barton the lead twice with back-to-back baskets, the final coming at 61-59 with 1:55 to play. However, a decisive 8-0 Mineral Area response in a 45-second span generated the separation needed at 67-61. The Cougars trimmed it to two with 2.8 seconds remaining, but a pair of Cardinal free throw tosses spoiled one final Barton rally.

The No. 18 Barton Community College men's basketball team suffered its first blemish of the 2025-26 season Wednesday evening, falling 70-66 to receiving votes Mineral Area College inside the Bob Sechrest Field House in Park Hills, Missouri.The Cougars drop to 2-1 on the season, while the Cardinals notch their first victory of the year to move to 1-2 overall. Barton will have the weekend off before returning home Tuesday for its 2025-26 home opener, hosting State Fair Community College in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off inside the newly renovated Fleske Fieldhouse.Barton jumped out of the gates quickly, racing to a 17-7 advantage by the 11:04 mark of the first half. Mineral Area countered with an 11-0 stretch to grab its first lead, but the Cougars closed the half strong, finishing on an 11-2 run over the final 2:40 to take a 33-26 lead into the locker rooms.The Cardinals regained control midway through the second half, using a 12-2 surge to go ahead 40-37. Barton clawed back behind a perimeter flurry, stringing together four straight three pointers over a two-minute stretch, the sequence starting by&nbsp;Blake Rucker's first triple, followed by&nbsp;Pavel Ivanov's and capped by Rucker's third in that span to draw the Cougars even at 53-53 with 7:22 remaining.Following an&nbsp;Aris Rodriguez&nbsp;bucket to knot it back up at 57-all,&nbsp;Noah Williams&nbsp;gave Barton the lead twice with back-to-back baskets, the final coming at 61-59 with 1:55 to play. However, a decisive 8-0 Mineral Area response in a 45-second span generated the separation needed at 67-61. The Cougars trimmed it to two with 2.8 seconds remaining, but a pair of Cardinal free throw tosses spoiled one final Barton rally.