Hillsboro prepares for 5 spring sports
Staff writer
Hillsboro will field tennis, track and field, baseball, and softball teams this spring.
Track
Hillsboro’s track team is poised for a strong showing with a dedicated group of returners who coach Demetrius Cox describes as standout leaders.
“Last year, these athletes contributed to a state appearance, set a new boys’ 4x100 school record, and a girls’ 4x800 school record, among other achievements,” Cox said.
Three boys and seven girls are returning for the Trojans — Aaron Hein, Preston D’Albini, and Peter Farha on the boys’ side and Emily Gilkey, Jaidyn Frantz, Mackenzie D’Albini, Daisy Klein, Addison Jost, Quinly Funk, and Riley Richert for the girls.
“Our senior class brings valuable experience, setting the tone for our underclassmen both on and off the field,” Cox said.
Among six seniors, five — Gilky, Frantz, Hein, Jost, Funk — are returners. The sixth is Nora Hein.
“Our junior class has been in the program for three years and continues to show impressive improvement,” Cox said. “Our sophomore boys are a group with tremendous potential, though limited experience; they will be called on to step up as key contributors this season.”
Sophomore D’asia Cox will be back in the lineup after missing last year with injury.
“She will add valuable depth as a sprinter to an already talented girls’ team,” the coach said.
Cox will be fielding the largest freshman class he has seen as head coach — 17 in all.
“We look forward to their contributions and the depth they’ll bring to both our boys’ and girls’ teams,” he said.
The Trojans have two mottos for the season.
The first is a quote from Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
The other is TEAG, Together Everyone Achieves Greatness.
“This mindset turns a group of athletes into a true program, highlighting that individual success is built within a team environment,” Cox said.
He is keeping the team’s goals high this season.
He is planning to build on last year’s success and continue to foster a positive and inclusive team culture while pushing athletes to reach their peak.
Hillsboro’s first track and field meet will be Tuesday at Moundridge.
“With this group’s chemistry and determination, I’m optimistic about a standout season — in great team success and in the growth we’ll see across the roster,” Cox said.
Tennis
State qualifier senior Casen Steinert is back to build on his accomplishments from last season.
He is teamed up with returning senior Jace Forkner and sophomore Trevin Rogers.
Hillsboro’s boys’ tennis team has five players this season.
“We have two newcomers in Elijah Holmes and Ethan Rempel,” coach Grant Shewey said. “Ethan Rempel has practiced a lot, so I’m excited to see how that shapes up as he starts into competition.”
The Trojan tennis team will have its annual invitational April 9. Before that will be a junior varsity meet Thursday at Clay Center.
“All these guys are excited to work hard and compete each day in practice,” Shewey said.
Golf
Five players from last year’s 2A state qualifying team are returning this season — juniors Braxton Hiebert, Nathan Hill, Peyton Miller, Jake Sibayan, and Senior Reese Duerksen.
“We will have a big void to fill with the graduation of 2024 2A state placer Lincoln Wichert, who was our No. 1 golfer the past two seasons,” coach Scott O’Hare said. “However, this team does have several who have gained quality competition experience over the past couple of years.”
A long list of junior varsity players returning from last year are looking to compete for remaining varsity spots.
Key junior varsity players are Nate Oelke, Karson Whiteley, Daniel Blackmon, Jay Yarmer, and Kyson O’Hare.
“With some potential depth and a large group vying for varsity playing time,” the coach said, “I am hoping some of the golfers returning from last season push each other to work hard to improve as the season progresses.”
The Trojans will take their first swings of the season on the road Tuesday in Salina.
“Overall, the team learned a lot and improved tremendously last season, and we hope to see that trend continue,” O’Hare said.
Baseball
Peabody-Burns athletes join Hillsboro athletes in fielding a joint team with fourth-year coach Daniel Moss leading the way.
He brings with him returning athletes Dalton Philpott, Aiden Hurst, Zayne Haslett, Jaeten Loewen, and Kyson Gawith.
“We only graduated two seniors last year and only have two this year,” Moss said. “So while we will still be young, our juniors will lead us and have two years of experience on the varsity level.”
The Trojans started their season March 24 against Canton-Galva. Hillsboro won the both games, 12-2 and 11-1.
“Last season, we were in a lot of games and somehow found ways not to finish them on the winning side,” Moss said. “We did, however, win seven games.
“This year we are looking to be competitive in the Central Kansas League and learn how to close out those close games while focusing on getting 0.01% better every day.”
Moss has a list of goals involving being more aggressive at the plate, winning the “free bases” war, and having at least 65% of all at bats be high quality.
“Our biggest challenge will be pitching depth,” he said. “We graduated our No. 1 guy, and our No. 2 guy got hurt in football and will not be back until mid-April. However, we have a bunch of new freshmen this year that all have pitching experience and are looking to contribute to the team right away.”
The Trojans’s next game will be at home Thursday against Haven.
Softball
Hillsboro is fielding a softball team with no seniors this year, but the team is seasoned with a lot of juniors and sophomores with experience.
Second-team all-league from last season Cheyanne Plenert returns to pitching this year.
Another second-team returner, junior Khloe Funk, will be in the outfield along with honorable mentione short stop, junior Abby Beavers.
“We have varsity experience but lack the ability to lead,” coach Alyssa Kroeker said. “There will need to be a junior or sophomore to step up and lead when needed this season.”
Also making their return from last season are Brooklyn Thiessen, Makenaa Fenske, Chloe Dirks, Machenzie Schultz, Kinsley Watts, and Rylee Voran.
“We have a few junior girls and one freshman who have played club during the offseason,” Kroeker said.
The Trojans opened their season Thursday at home against Inman, losing 13-0 and 17-1.
“Our goal for this season is to build, build, build,” Kroeker said. “Everything we put in for this year will carry over to next year so we take every failure and obstacle as a learning experience and a chance to get better.”
Hillsboro will be back at home Thursday against Haven.
“I’m excited to build with this team and to see the juniors step into that leadership role and focus on improvement all season,” Kroeker said. “Every success and failure can help us grow not only this season but also next season.”