Junction City native and former Blue Jay player Nick Heath, 24, has been promoted within the Kansas City Royals organization to the Double-A farm team, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Heath was drafted by the Royals and began his career with the organization in Idaho in 2016 and has now worked his way up to Double-A. That’s just two steps on the ladder away from the major leagues.
Heath will be a left fielder for the Naturals.
JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Junction City High School has selected Mr. Basil Nevill as the new Blue Jays Volleyball Coach. Basil is a kindergarten teacher at Eisenhower Elementary. In addition to his current teaching assignment at Eisenhower Elementary, Basil has served as an Assistant Volleyball coach for 5 years, Assistant Softball Coach, and Middle School Boys Basketball Coach.
Basil received his undergraduate degree in elementary education from Sterling College (2008) and his Masters in Athletic Administration from the University of Central Missouri (2016).
Coach Nevill is excited to begin this new assignment stating, “I’ve worked with the program for a few years now and we’ve had some success. We have a great foundation in place and I look forward to the opportunity to continue building the program and reach new heights.”
Posted by USD 475
A Junction City High School wrestler, Elisa Robinson, has been ranked number nine in the nation in the 180 pound weight class after the national Wrestling Hall of Fame. USA Wrestling and FloWrestling partnered to create national rankings to recognize the top high school girl wrestlers in the nation.
Robinson will be a junior at Junction City High School this fall. She is a member of the Blue Jay wrestling program and a two-time Girls state wrestling champion. In 2017 she won the state championship at 160 pounds, and then in 2018 the state title at 170 pounds.
JUNCTION CITY, KAN. – Junction City High School has selected Mr. Brian Sturges as the new Blue Jays B/G Golf Coach. Brian is a current teacher at JCHS. In addition to his current teaching assignment at JCHS, Brian has served as assistant principal at the Freshman Success Academy as well as coached football, basketball, track, and golf.
Brian received his undergraduate degree in secondary education from Kansas State University (2005) and his masters in educational leadership from Kansas State University (2012). Coach Sturges is eager to get started as the new Blue Jays B/G golf coach.
“I am excited to get the opportunity to take over the girls and boys golf programs at JCHS. I look forward to working with our student-athletes and helping them become better both on and off the playing field.” – Coach Sturges
The Junction City Shootout basketball tournament is Saturday in the Shenk and Fiffe Gyms at Junction City High School.
Blue Jay boys head coach Nick Perez said the varsity schedule in the Shenk Gym will include teams from Junction City, Topeka West, Chapman and Abilene. The Small Varsity schedule in the Fiffe Gym will include teams from Junction City, Wabaunsee, Abilene, Hanover and Topeka West.
Competition will begin at 8 a.m. in both gyms, with the final games scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Centennial League girls soccer all conference teams have been announced.
The Junction City Lady Jays did not have anyone on the first or second teams, but three players did receive honorable mention. They include Laura Campbell, Katelyn Craft and Mindy Lechuga.
Saturday results State Track Meet:
Boys:
The Junction City Blue Jays finished 7th in the Class 6A team competition with 34 points.
100 Meter Dash — Ian Sanchez, 5th place in preliminaries, 10.80, qualified for finals
100 Meter Dash –Izayiah Moore, 6th place in preliminaries, 10.82, qualified for finals
110 Meter High Hurdles — Jamarcus Plato, 3rd place, 14.92, 6 team points
100 Meter Dash FInals — Ian Sanchez, 6th place, 10.92, 3 team points
100 Meter Dash Finals — Izayiah Moore, 7th place, 10.94, 2 team points
4 x 100 Relay — Ian Sanchez, David Giddens, Javontez Brime, Izayiah Moore, 2nd, 41.94, 8 team points
300 Meter Hurdles — Jamarcus Plato, 3rd, 39.53. 6 team points
800 Meters — Juan Tovar, 13th, 2:05.63
200 Meter Dash — Ian Sanchez, 5th, 22.06
Girls:
Junction City Lady Jays finished 6th in the Class 6A Girls team competition with 41.5 points.
100 Meter Hurdles — Keiana Newman, 1st place Gold Medal winner, 14.75, 10 team points
HIgh Jump — Ayi-Lissa Dotson, tie for 7th place, 5,’ 1.5 team points
High Jump — Nyla Blagrove, 12th place, 4’10”
4 x 800 Relay — Kailey Koomen. Stephany Lechuga, Ashley Patterson, Jada Beck, 15th place, 10:39.43
Discus — Hannah Reynolds, 3rd place, 122’5,” 5 team points
1600 Meters – Alissa Sanchez, 9th, 5:16.98
Shotput — Savannah Adams, 2nd, 38’`10.50, 8 team points
Shotput — Hannah Reynolds, 6th, 37’1,”6th, 3 team points
Shotput — Sherrie Jones, 12th, 34’8.75″
300 Meter Hurdles — Keiana Newman, 2nd, 45.40, 8 team points
4 X 400 Relay — Lyric Holman, Janiah Nicholson, Tiara Smith, Keiana Newman, 4th, 4:03.97, 5 team points.
Friday results State Track Meet:
A lightning delay occurred in the meet from 8:20 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. Friday.
Junction City:
Boys:
110 Meter High Hurdles — Jamarcus Plato, 2nd in preliminaries, 14.74, qualified for finals
Triple Jump — Antonio Porter, 14th, 40’4″
300 Hurdles — Jamarcus Plato, 3rd in preliminaries, 39.06, qualified for finals
200 Meters — Ian Sanchez, 7th in preliminaries, 22.40, qualified for the finals
400 Meters — Leslie Etheridge, 14th in preliminaries, 51.25, did not qualify for the finals
Shotput — Xavier Cason, 4th, 50’3″
4 x 100 Relay — Ian Sanchez, David Giddens, Javontez Brime, Izayiah Moore, 4th in preliminaries, 42.29, qualified for finals
4 x 400 Relay, Allen Romero, Leslie Etheridge, Matthew Harley, Jamarcus Plato, 15th in preliminaries, did not qualify for the finals
Girls:
100 Meter Hurdles — Keiana Newman, 1st in preliminaries, 14.65, qualified for finals
4 x 100 Relay — Keiana Newman, Tiara Smith, Nyla Blagrove, Ayi-Lissa Dotson, 10th, 50.33 in preliminaries, did not qualify for finals
400 Meters — Tiara Smith, 10th, 1:02.17 in preliminaries, did not qualify for finals
300 Meter Hurdles — Keiana Newman, 1st in preliminaries, 46.09, qualified for finals
4 x 400 Relay — Lyric Holman, Janiah Nicholson, Tiara Smith, Keiana Newman, 7th in preliminaries, 4:06.40, qualified for finals
Saturday results State Track Meet:
Chapman:
Girls:
The Chapman girls finished 7th in the Class 4A competition with 30 points.
1600 Meters, Taylor Briggs, 1st, 5:09.06, Gold Medal winner, 10 team points
Boys:
The Chapman boys finished 23rd in Class 4A competition with 11 points.
1600 Meters — Aaron Modrow, 6th, 4:39.93, 3 team points
Friday results State Track Meet:
Chapman:
Boys:
3200 Meters –Aaron Modrow, 7th, 9:49.05, 2 team points
200 Meters — Malik Watson, 15th in preliminaries, 23.32, did not qualify for the finals
4 x 400 Relay — Anthony Wasylk, Izek jackson, Christopher Vercher, Malik Watkins, 5th in preliminaries, 3:24.75, qualified for finals
Girls:
3200 Meters — Taylor Briggs, 1st, Gold Medal winner, 11:03.78, 10 team points
Triple Jump — McKenna Kirkpatrick, 9th, 34′ 3.75″
Saturday results State Track Meet:
Wakefield:
100 Meter Dash — Sammy Finnegan, 8th place in preliminaries, 11.65, qualified for finals
100 Meter Dash Finals — Sammy FInnegan, 7th place, 11.95, 2 team points
Friday results State Track Meet:
Wakefield:
Boys:
400 Meters — Justin Carver, 10th in preliminaries, 53.83, did not qualify for the finals
The Junction City Lady Jays claimed the team title in the Class 6A Regional meet at Lawrence Free State. The Blue Jays boys finished third in the team standings.
JCHS results included Hannah Reynolds, Savannah Adams and Sherrie Jones qualifying for the state meet in the shotput, and Reynolds set a new JCHS record in the discus with a throw of 135’7.”
Some other athletes also qualifying for state were Keiana Newman, won the 300 hurdles and the 110 hurdles, the Lady Jay 4 x 400 relay and 4 x 100 relay teams, Michelle Smith third in the 1600 meters and Tiara Smith third in the 400 meters. For the Blue Jay boys they included Ian Sanchez, who finished third in the 200 meters, Juan Tovar third in the 800 meters, Jamarcus Plato who won the boys 300 hurdles and the 110 high hurdles, , Leslie Etheridge third in the 400 meters, Antonio Porter fourth in the triple jump, Izayiah Moore and Ian Sanchez in the 100 meters, Xavier Cason third in the shotput, the boys 4 x 400 relay finished second and the boys 4 x 100 finished second.
Standout Lady Jay sprinter Lyric Holman has been excelling in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dash events this season, and running on the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay teams. According to Coach Randall Zimmerman in the finals of the 100 meter dash at regional Holman pulled a hamstring. As a result she was unable to qualify for state in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dash events. She has been listed as an alternate for the two relay teams, meaning if she is able to recover in time she could still run at state in those races. Holman is a senior at JCHS.
The state track meet is next Friday and Saturday in Wichita.
Blue Jay Wrestling Camp will be held at the Junction City High School wrestling room from June 25-30.
The sessions for 9th through 12th grade wrestlers will run from 10 a.m. to noon each day. The cost is $25. Former Blue Jay and current Fort Hays State wrestler Aryus Jones will serve as a clinician.
The sessions for 1st through 8th grade age wrestlers will run from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. The cost is $25. Jones will also serve as a clinician for those sessions.
Xavier Cason was named the recipient of the Bert McKinsey Award at the annual Senior Awards Night at Junction City High School. He was a participant in football, basketball and track during his four years at JCHS.
The award goes to the senior male athlete who has contributed the most to the overall athletic program during his high school career. Cason stated, “It’s one of the highest honors in the high school. And I’m glad that the coaches and whoever thought that I should receive the award. It means a lot.” Cason will play football at Emporia State.
Hannah Reynolds received the Kim Kilpatrick Award, which goes to the senior female athlete who has contributed the most to the overall athletic program during her high school career. The award meant a lot to her. “I really know Kim Kilpatrick on a personal level and I was very shocked. I enjoyed receiving it and I will represent her, the family, very well.”
Reynolds was also named a Mike Champ Scholar Athlete Award recipient along with Max Bazan. Leah Ervin, Max Bazan, Hannah Reynolds, Devante King and Xavier Cason were also Rob Smith Loyal Blue Jay Award recipients.
