By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The playing field was leveled for football, basketball, and baseball players around the state of Kansas in the annual KWCH 12 and Catch it Kansas 'Catchy' Awards competition that wrapped up earlier this month. Great Bend senior Ian Premer garnered headlines all football and basketball seasons long, and helped the Panther baseball team to a Class 5A state championship berth. His excellence in all three seasons kept him out of those three categories and made him a nominee for the state's best multi-sport athlete. With more than 3,000 votes cast around the state, Premer won the competition.
There were some upsets in the voting. Goodland's Linkon Cure, another of the nation's top tight end prospects and a state champion hurdler and state runner-up basketball player, was confined to the best football player category. He was upended by Goddard-Eisenhower's Carter Pabst, who caught 75 passes for 1,641 yards and 29 touchdowns last fall. Cure will play for the Kansas State football team this fall while Pabst moves on to Washington State.
Two Hesston basketball players won the best basketball player category. Multi-year standout Reed Friesen helped the Swather boys win three Class 3A titles in four years. Kendal Brueggen led the Hesston girls to a 25-1 record and third-place finish in Class 3A. Both players dominated in the Central Kansas League against the likes of Hoisington and Larned.
Ashley Lehman, another Hesston athlete, claimed the top track and field honors after setting several state meet records in the sprints. The top pole vaulter in Kansas, she won Class 3A in that event to make it seven gold medals in two years. Lakin's multi-sport standout Colter Oldham won the boys' vote for best track and field athlete. Two years ago at the Jack Bowman Invite, Oldham bounced a shot put throw out of the pit, and he won the 3A title last spring in dramatic fashion as one of the top throwers in Kansas.
Salina South's Tamia Cheeks, who participated as a track and field athlete, volleyball player, and basketball player in competitions at Great Bend High School, won the girls' vote for best multi-sport athlete.
McPherson's Addison Chapman and Brody Seidl won the honor of best softball and baseball player, respectively. Garden City's David Holguin was voted top wrestler, and the Lady Buffs were named the top 6A team. Ellis' Avery Boydston pulled the upset in the category of best cross country runner, beating Salina Central's Katelyn Rupe, who will continue her career at North Carolina.
Check out the rest of the winners HERE.