By GARY VAN CLEAVE
Special to Great Bend Post
Life, as recent Hoisington High graduate Josiah Ball says, is about getting better for yourself and God.
“I am a person who would do anything to see a teammate or classmate succeed. I’m always there to assist and help others achieve their goals,” Ball said. “Every day, I strive to get at least 1% better as a person, athlete and man of God.”
That man of God will continue the sports excellence his older brothers established. He signed a track scholarship with Fort Hays State.
“Fort Hays is getting a good athlete and a great student. My approach to athletics is hard work and dedication,” Ball said. “Simple commitments such as showing up to practice, working hard while at practice, and taking care of the body and soul in the interim are some of my crucial elements to my success.”
Ball will take his pole vault talents to the next level. HE may possibly compete in the 110 and 60-meter hurdles.
“As a student, I am respectful in the classroom. I work hard to understand and comprehend the curriculum, and I am willing to take steps outside of the classroom to ensure my success,” Ball said. “I am also actively involved in my local church. I have gone on several mission trips and camps geared toward serving others and serving God. I understand that life is more than sports, education and entertainment. As such, I want to give back to others and build up my community.”
“He’s a really hard worker and is very consistent,” classmate Tony Moore said.
The Tigers are getting the latest Ball brother as the family that prays together, wins together.
“I am the youngest of five brothers, three of whom were college athletes at Fort Hays (I will be the fourth),” Ball said. “My oldest brother was particularly good at wrestling. He became a three-time All-American in college and broke the FHSU win-to-loss rate. My brothers were also grateful students, all doing very well in high school and college.”
Similarly, Josiah is a successful student with a 3.8 GPA and involvement in National Honor society, Scholars Bowl, vocal music, FBLA and the mental health club called Zero Reasons Why.
Ball won state in pole vault his junior and senior years and finished sixth his freshman season. He placed third in the 110 meter high hurdles the past two years and fourth his sophomore year. He added a fourth place finish in the 300 meter hurdles the past two seasons after qualifying for state the first two years.
His well-rounded contributions as a student carried over to his musical talents where he medaled for a solo at state vocal his senior year and went to state for a solo junior year. Ball took first at state wrestling his senior year, second as a junior and fifth as a freshman.
“Winning state this past year has been my lifelong goal,” said Ball, who was 23-1 at 138 pounds after a 30-5 mark as a junior at 132. “I started wrestling when I was three. And have been trying to keep up with my brothers ever since. I watched my brothers win numerous state titles, learning what I needed to do if I wanted to reach my goal of winning one for myself.”
That goal that was spurred from watching oldest brother Brandon compete with some of the best wrestlers in the nation.
“My brother took fourth at nationals, not quite reaching the big goal of being a national champion,” Josiah said. “I saw him come back from competing to instantly training for his senior year in college to reach his big goal. That year was covid, he was ranked #1 in the nation for D2 and they canceled nationals on him and countless other wrestlers. I learned that day that it’s hard to get a second chance.”
Pole vault is his favorite sport and will be the one he’s focused at Hays.
“It's an event like no other. I get to fly in the air, experiencing one of the best thrills anyone could ever dream of,” Josiah said. “I also get the opportunity to learn hundreds of life lessons. Some of which include being patient, understanding that you're never going to be perfect but that you can get back up and try again and again. Always knowing in the back of your head that you could get seriously hurt if you don't keep a focused mind. In many ways, I feel like this sport has provided me with a strong outlook on life. This outlook will help me continue my career as an athlete, work hard as a student, and reach others with the gospel.”
His gold medal vaults at state have been 14 feet (junior) and 15 feet (senior). His career best leap is 15-7 1/2.
“When I won pole vault for my second time jumping 15ft to capture state, it became another blessing God gave me,” Josiah said.
Track, Josiah said, is important to him in two different ways.
“First, it allows me to continue the goals I set for myself when I was younger. This occurred when I saw my oldest brother, Brandon Ball, win state four times in wrestling and once in pole vault and then continue his career, still being incredibly successful in college,” Josiah said. “Second, it's going to allow me to have an outreach to others so I can share the gospel with them. I believe God has provided this platform for me so I can point others toward Him, so I am very mindful of how I conduct myself in public and private.”
“I see how far he has come and how he continues to live up to the expectations put in place by his 4 older brothers,” Cardinal teammate Ethan Grubb said. “I’m just proud to say I know him and his family is some of the nicest people I have ever met.”
“I participated in track, cross country and wrestling with Josiah, and through all three of them he was a leader,” teammate Eli Lewis said. “He naturally leads people to become the best they can be in a sport, whether it benefits him personally or not. A big part of his leadership comes from his faith, which he puts second to nothing. Pointing people towards athletic excellence and toward God are the two biggest things that impressed me about Josiah's athletic career that I saw.”
Josiah fielded offers in all divisions, including schools from California, Missouri, Iowa, New Mexico and South Dakota.
“I wasn't very proactive in my search for colleges because I knew what I was looking for,” he said. “FHSU effectively offered all the things I cared about. I have had three of my four older brothers pursue sports in college and they all chose Fort Hays. I chose Fort Hays because it's close to home, affordable and the environment is awesome. I feel like it will give me great opportunities in the workplace, provide an avenue to get an affordable education, and all for plenty positive interactions with family and friends.”
It also continues what his brothers started in their Tiger careers.
“To me, it gives me the opportunity to try and keep up with my older brothers' accomplishments and continue the name on the back of our shirts in college,” Josiah said. “Also, this is another platform for me to speak the truth of Christ's life to others.”
“Josiah is a born leader and has a work ethic that is unmatched by anyone I’ve met,” Wichita State vaulter Shellamae Farmer said. “He’s done an outstanding job leading this team and being a role model for the younger athletes on our team. Josiah has been my training partner since the beginning and has been one of my biggest supporters and inspirations.”
How does he want to be remembered at Hoisington?
“The last of the Ball’s, also some of Coach Schmidt's work. As well as the accomplishments we had as a family and individually,” Josiah said. “I also want to be remembered as a good teammate, truthful friend, someone respectable, hardworking, and accomplished, serving and loving others.”