Former Piper football head coach Rick Pollard. (File photo)
by Brian Turrel
In an unexpected move, the Piper school district has decided not to renew the contract of head football coach Rick Pollard.
The well-regarded coach held a 21-19 record in his four seasons with the Pirates, including 7-4 and a regional championship in the 2021 season. This week he had been announced as a member of the coaching staff for the 2022 Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Pollard was informed of the decision Tuesday afternoon, and word spread quickly through the Piper football players and their families, many of whom reacted with shock and disappointment.
Junior quarterback Logan Ladish, in a social media statement, said, “I believe [the decision] was selfish and unnecessary in every way possible.”
Junior lineman Camden Beebe, also via social media, said, “We are saddened by the decision regarding the future of the Piper football program. Coach Pollard had this team going in the right direction. Winning our first regional championship since 2014 was only the start.”
Messages to the high school and district administration requesting comment were not returned.
Senior Jaron Briggs went up for a shot in the lane during the second half of Piper’s game against Mill Valley in the third round of the Huhtamaki Hardwood Classic tournament. Mill Valley won the game 58-53. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Piper Pirates lost to Mill Valley 58-53 in the third round of the Huhtamaki Hardwood Classic tournament. The Pirates came back from a 15-point deficit and tied the game with two minutes remaining, but the Jaguars held on for the win.
Mill Valley got the early jump in the first quarter thanks to 2 blocked shots, but by the end of the quarter the teams drew level at 11. Gannon Roth hit a 3-pointer, and Jaron Briggs had two baskets to help even the score.
The second quarter belonged to the Jaguars, who held Piper to 9 points while they posted 22 at the other end. Seven Mill Valley players scored in the quarter, and the height and pace of the Jaguars kept the Pirates off balance.
Piper had trouble finishing at the rim during the fast-paced action. The Pirates attempted nine more shots than Mill Valley, but hit five fewer. Piper’s shooting percentage was only 31 percent for the half, which closed 33-20 in the Jaguars’ favor.
Piper started cutting into the lead out of the halftime break. Briggs hit two 3-pointers, and Colin Vigil added another in the third quarter.
Fouls started to accumulate for Piper in the second half, and freshman Lantz Walton saw extended minutes off the bench. Walton earned three steals in 14 minutes of game action and his defensive intensity helped his team close the gap to five heading into the fourth quarter.
Piper continued its comeback into the fourth quarter, drawing level at 52 when Briggs was fouled and hit two free throws with just over two minutes remaining.
A late double-dribble turnover by the Pirates let Mill Valley get back out to a 3 point lead, and Piper missed two 3-point opportunities to tie the game in the closing seconds. Mill Valley’s Nen Matlock iced the game with two free throws, capping off a perfect 10-for-10 at the line.
Briggs led the Pirates in scoring with 24 points in the game. Aaron Simmons had 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Piper narrowly lost Tuesday’s tournament opener to Olathe Northwest (60-57) but came back to trounce Schlagle (62-23) in the second round.
The team will finish its busy December schedule with games next week against Shawnee Mission Northwest, Louisburg, and Shawnee Mission North before starting the Christmas break.
Senior Aaron Simmons tossed in a short-range jumper. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Freshman Lantz Walton switched directions on a dribble drive. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore Gannon Roth blocked a Mill Valley shot. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Blake Porter redirected around the defense of Mill Valley junior Dylan Blazer. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Freshman P.J. Moore drove along the left baseline. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Junior Colin Vigil went up for a finger roll. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore Gannon Roth went up for a short-range shot. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Jaron Briggs waited for Mill Valley senior Adrian Dimond to fly by before putting in a layup. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Aaron Simmons was defended by Mill Valley senior Adrian Dimond. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Mill Valley junior Nen Matlock pulled down a rebound to end Piper’s final scoring chance. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs sophomore Olivia Stean dragged Leavenworth’s Kennedie Miller to the mat in championship match of the 170-pound class at the Leavenworth Inaugural Girls Challenger tournament. Stean won the match by fall in the first round and went 4-0 in the tournament. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Bonner Springs girls’ wrestling team competed Saturday in the Leavenworth Inaugural Girls Challenger tournament. The team took 3rd place of 17 teams competing in the tournament.
Since KSHSAA voted in 2019 to sanction girls’ wrestling, Bonner Springs has rapidly built up its program.
Longtime youth club coach Dale Taylor is now the head coach of the Lady Braves team and has already recruited a roster with wrestlers in 10 of 12 weight classes. Taylor has a mix of successful club team veterans and rookies getting their first experience with competitive wrestling.
Nationally ranked sophomore Olivia Stean took 1st place in the 170-pound weight class in impressive style, winning all four of her matches by fall (that is, pinning her opponent) and averaging less than 36 seconds to do it.
Multi-sport athlete Jenna Knight placed 2nd in the 120-pound weight class. Kylie Enriquez placed 3rd in the 109-pound class. Sisters Haylie and Chloie Knapp took 3rd place in the 132- and 155-pound classes.
The Bonner Springs girls will face off in a dual meet against Manhattan on Thursday in Bonner Springs.
Turner High School also entered the meet, with a limited roster. Arianna Ortiz took 2nd place in the 101-pound class, and Daisy Chavez placed 7th in the 155-pound class. Turner placed 12th in the team competition.
Turner’s Arianna Ortiz defeated Raymore-Peculiar’s Courtney Stevens by fall in the first round of their 101-pound match. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
The referee signalled Jenna Knight’s win over Olathe South’s Meriel Brady. Knight won by fall in the first round. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs sophomore Chloie Knapp wrestled St. Joseph Lafayette’s Mati Womeldorff. Knapp won by decision 6-0. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Olivia Stean posed with her mom Laura after the awards ceremony. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Turner’s Arianna Ortiz, left, posed with 101-pound class winner Isa-Bella Mendoza of St. Joseph-Lafayette. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Turner’s Daisy Chavez wrestled against Leavenworth’s Jacqueline Goodman. Goodman won the match by fall in the first round. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs junior Jaycee Millison tried to pin Kendall Reid of Washburn Rural. Reid won the match by major decision (14-2). (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Jaycee Millison got some encouragement from coach Dale Taylor after a match. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs senior Haylie Knapp threw Lawrence Free State’s Ryan Turk in their 132-pound match. Knapp won by fall in the first round. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs junior Gina Acevedo defeated Mission Valley’s Jenna Grame by fall in the third round of their 191-pound match. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs freshman Kylie Enriquez dropped Raymore-Peculiar’s Ashland Kudron. Kudron won the match on a 9-7 decision. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
