Category: Bonner Springs

Cousins compete at Frontier League wrestling match

Olivia Stean posed before the tournament in a Bonner Springs wrestling T-shirt first won by her father (and former Bonner wrestler) Jeff Stean 32 years ago. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

A family feud decided the standings at the Frontier League girls’ wrestling tournament Wednesday evening at Bonner Springs.

Bonner standout Olivia Stean pinned her cousin, Tonganoxie sophomore Grace Stean, in the final match of the 170-pound weight class. Grace got an early takedown, but Olivia roared back for a pin with thirty seconds left in the first period.

The win pushed the Braves a slim half-point ahead of the Chieftains into second place to settle what had been a back-and-forth battle among four teams for second place behind runaway winner Baldwin.

Olivia Stean also hit the century mark for high school wins, earning her hundredth with a pin of Spring Hill’s Cali Claar early in the tournament. Stean is now 32-0 for the 2022-2023 season.

Bonner’s Jenna Knight won the title in the 115-pound class, pinning Ottawa’s Brooklyn Soman in the final after outlasting Eudora’s Kayleigh Miller in a 7-3 decision in the semifinal.

Bianca Keith placed second in the 155-pound class, while Kylie Enriquez (120), Neveah Brown (135), and Aaryn Krebs (235) earned third place in their classes. Brown won her third-place match with a takedown of Eudora’s Madelynn Arnold in sudden-victory (overtime).

The Braves’ wrestlers are looking ahead to their regional tournament in Topeka on Feb. 11 with the opportunity to win a spot at the state tournament in Wichita.

Team standings:

Baldwin 186.0
Bonner Springs 144.5
Tonganoxie 144.0
Paola 139.5
Spring Hill 137.0
Eudora 108.0
Ottawa  47.0

Hadley Hammerbacher tried to turn Ottawa’s Violet Parker in a 125-pound match. Hammerbacher won by 9-3 decision.  (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Autumn Ashford pinned Eudora’s Abby Fager in a 140-pound match. Ashford won by fall and went on to place 4th. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Bianca Keith threw Tonganoxie’s Kendall Smart in a 155-pound match. Keith won by fall and went 3-1 in the tournament. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Olivia Stean wrestled Spring Hill’s Cali Claar in a 170-pound match. Stean won the match by fall, the 100th win of her high school career. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Olivia Stean received congratulations from teammate Jenna Knight after getting her hundredth career victory. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Kylie Enriquez wrestled Tonganoxie’s Grae Vanderweide in a 120-pound match. Enriquez won the match by fall and took 3rd place in the class. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Emmalee Foya had a lock on Tonganoxie’s Brooklin Rich in the 130-pound consolation semi-final. Foya won the match by fall in the 2nd period and took 4th place in the tournament. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Jenna Knight wrestled Ottawa’s Brooklyn Soman in the 115-pound final. Knight won the match by fall in the first period. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Neveah Brown tossed Eudora’s Madelynn Arnold in the 135-pound third-place match. Brown won the match with a takedown in sudden-victory. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Aaryn Krebs wrestled Tonganoxie’s Anna Tochtrop in a 235-pound match. Krebs won the match by fall and took 3rd place in the class. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Olivia Stean wrestled Tonganoxie’s Grace Stean in a 170-pound match. Olivia Stean won the match by fall in the 1st period. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Tonganoxie’s Grace Stean got a small measure of revenge with a surprise cake to the face of her cousin Olivia Stean as they stood on the podium. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)

Two Wyandotte County students initiated into Phi Kappa Phi at KU

Two Wyandotte County students have been initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Kansas.


The students are Christa Bella Bizimana of Kansas City, Kansas, and Brook Rentz of Bonner Springs.


They are among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.