By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Quivira Heights High School football field was once the site of some classic games. Now, football is returning to Bushton. Monday evening, the USD 112 Central Plains Board of Education voted 6-0 to move junior high football and volleyball practices to the former QHHS, now owned by the city as Bushton Plaza. The board heard from four junior high coaches, including head volleyball coach Kyrstyn Price.
"Our athletes wouldn't be where they are if it wasn't for the support behind them," she said. "That comes from their families, teachers, peers, coaches, and the community. I believe going through with this proposal shows community and being able to support each other. Why not allow a community that is part of our district to feel a part of it again?"
Price, and Jessie Habiger, a Bushton resident and the assistant volleyball coach, spoke with Bushton Rec officials and city council members. All supported the idea.
"The football field, gym, locker rooms, and commons area are exceptional," Habiger said. "Why not help a community in our school district feel a part of the district again? I think it is a positive thing for everyone involved. With everything going on now, we need to find ways to come together and keep our communities feeling included as best as we can."
Football coach Jeff Donecker and basketball coach Allen Hurley shared those sentiments, saying practice schedules can be difficult to maneuver. Donecker said using the Bushton football facilities would give his athletes a place to call their own. Volleyball and football practices and games will move to Bushton in the fall, and the junior high boys' basketball team will practice in Bushton during the winter. The junior high girls will continue to practice in Holyrood. Both junior high basketball teams will play home games in Bushton.
"For basketball purposes, there are so many teams practicing when there are boys and girls, then you're looking at the high school having boys and girls practice," Habiger said. "In order to have a gym for everyone to have their own practice after school, it would need to be that the junior high boys would practice in Bushton, the girls' junior high would practice in Holyrood, and that would allow the boys' and girls' high school teams to practice in Claflin at the rec gym and the high school gym."
Superintendent Bill Lowry pointed out a paragraph in the proposal that stated the Bushton Rec Commission would continue to provide janitorial services, maintenance, upkeep, and markings on the football field. The board agreed the move would help stabilize practice and game schedules and save the district money.