By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

The Hays High Indians hosted undefeated Garden City on Friday night for homecoming at Lewis Field Stadium.  The Indians had just picked up their first win under coach Randall Rath one week before over Liberal.  Garden City went into the game at 3-0, winning each game by 14 points.

Garden City took the opening drive 13 plays, but was held to a 25 yard field goal to start the game.  The two teams would hold that score until the first play of the second quarter, when Maddux Winter intercepted a pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.  The Logan Clark extra point put Hays up 7-3.

The lead though was short lived.  Jared Koster ripped off a 82 yard run on the next play, giving Garden City a lead at 14-7.  It was a lead they wouldn’t give up.  Garden City scored on their next two series to close the half leading 24-7.

Highlights:

The Indians opened the second half with a drive into Garden City territory only to lose a fumble.  Garden City pounced on the chance go up 31-7.  The Indians did put together an impressive 12 play, 80 yard scoring drive that took 6:31 seconds.  The key play was a 35 yard halfback pass from Hunter Brown to Maddux Winter on fourth and eleven.  Isaiah Blackmon scored two plays later making the score 31-14.

Coach Randall Rath:

Jared Koster though doused any thoughts of a fourth quarter comeback, when he reeled off an 88 yard scoring run to put Garden City up 38-14.  That would be the final margin.

For Garden City, they are 4-0 behind the 254 yards and three scores from Jared Koster.  The Buffaloes are now 2-0 in the Western Athletic Conference.  Hays falls to 1-3 and 1-2.

The Indians are on the road next week to Wichita South.

By Dustin Armbruster

The Hays High Indians went on the road Friday night trying to find their first win of the year under head coach Randall Rath.  The Indians first destination of the season was Liberal, a team they had defeated six consecutive years.

The Indians opened the game with a 54 yard run by quarterback Kohlton Meyers and followed it up four plays later with a Hunter Brown seven yard score.  The Indians held Liberal to punts on their first two possessions, not allowing the Redskins to pass midfield.

Hays would score on their third possession of the game when Meyers hit Keith Dryden on a 35 yard touchdown pass to give Hays a 14-0 lead in the 2nd quarter.  Hays forced another Liberal punt but couldn’t capitalize in Redskin territory fumbling the ball.  Three plays after the Hays fumble, Maddux Winter picked up a Liberal fumble forced when Shane Berens ripped the ball from the quarterback. Hays would score four plays later on a Brown 21 yard run on third down.  A two-point conversion put the Indians up 22-0 at half time.

Highlights:

The second half featured just one touchdown.  Maddux Winter intercepted a pass and returned it to the 28 yard line.  That set up an Indian touchdown down just five plays later putting Hays up 29-0.  The Indians would hold that same score through the remainder of the game twice turning away Liberal on fourth down in Hays territory.

Coach Randall Rath:

Kohlton Meyers ran for 132 yards.  Hunter Brown rushed for 116 and three scores.

The Indians held Liberal to just 150 total yards.

Hays is 1-2 and 1-1 in the Western Athletic Conference.  Liberal drops to 1-2 and 0-1.  Hays will host Garden City next week for Homecoming.

By Dustin Armbruster

Hays High held their Maroon and Gold scrimmage on Friday night at Lewis Field Stadium.  The fall sports teams were introduced as were the cheer and dance teams.  The soccer team held a scrimmage and the evening was capped with the football scrimmage.

Coach Randall Rath had his varsity run 16 live plays on offense and 12 of defense.  Eight different players carried the ball for the varsity squad with touchdown runs by Kohlton Meyers, Keith Dryden and Maddux Winter.  Meyers also hooked up with tight end Shane Berens for a 22 yard touchdown pass.

The varsity continued to work on offensive plays while the freshmen and junior varsity scrimmage on the opposite end of the field.

Coach Rath liked what he saw out of his team on Friday night and felt that the combination of cooler weather, lights and crowd helped to raise the level of excitement in the team.

Coach Rath

The Indians now will turn their attention to the first game of the season September 4th.  Hays will host Olathe Northwest to open the season.  Game time is set for 7:00.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

Following a coaching change for a second consecutive year, the Hays High Indians got their first day of football practice completed on Monday.  Long time Oakley coach Randall Rath, took the Hays job after one year in Cimarron.   Rath opened his tenure with two practices on Monday with 60 kids reporting for practice.

Coach Randall Rath on his first practice

Rath has plenty to replace after most of last year’s starters were seniors or didn’t return this season.  But first and foremost he has to get kids acclimated to the way a new coach wants his practices to run, along with installing his offensive and defensive strategies.  To some extent the first week of practice is feeling out what the athletes need from the coach.  “You can see it in their eyes when I came this summer.  ‘Are you going to be here?’  You can tell that is the question their asking.  They’ve bought in and I couldn’t be any happier than what they’ve done.”

Rath’s expectations are simple through this first week of practice.  Be better today than you were yesterday.

Rath and the Indians will take the field for the first time this season on September 4th.  They will open the season at home versus Olathe Northwest.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

After seven seasons at the helm of the Hays High softball program, coach Abby Maska has resigned her coaching position. Maska coached the Indians to the 5A state tournament on three occassions. The Indians went to state in back to back seasons in 2011 and 2012, finishing fourth in ’11. During those two seasons, Maska’s team compiled a 42-6 record. The Indians also went to state in 2014 and finished the season 18-5. Over her seven seasons the Indians went 101-54.

Abby Maska said for her “it was just the right time” to step down as head coach and take on some other responsibilities within the school.

Abby Maska

A former collegiate player herself (Fort Hays State University) Maska sent a number of players on to compete in the college ranks. Among some of the them, Katelyn Schumacher is currently at the University of Kansas and most recently this season Kaylie Schoendaller signed with Dodge City Community College and Hannah Herald signed to play for FHSU.

Maska will remain in the school district as a teacher, while also being involved in other aspects of education.

Maska who currently teaches AP Government and Sociology, which are both concurrent classes through Barton County Community college, as well as World Geography and Government was also an assistant girls basketball coach and resigned that position as well. Maska is also on the NEA Negotiating Team and pending board approval will be the department chair for Social Studies.

Maska said more than wins and losses, her best memories stem from the relationships she built with the teams and how softball has helped so many girls in different ways and “feels really blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of their lives.”

Athletic Director Chris Michaelis said that a search for a replacement will begin immediately.

By Dustin Armbruster

The remaining games of the Western Plains Diamond Classic have been cancelled for Saturday. Weather concerns altered the schedule on Thursday and Friday already, and the threat of severe weather today forced the cancellation of the remainder of the tournament.

By Dustin Armbruster

Monday, Hays High senior Ashlyn Parrish signed her letter of intent to compete in track and field at Cloud County Community College. Parrish said she instantly fell in love with everything about the school including the coaches and the teachers in reference to her decision to attend college in Concordia, Kansas.

Parrish is coming off a sweep of the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at the McPherson meet last week. Her time of 16.19 in the 100 hurdles should put her just inside the top 20 reported times in the state among all classes, according to a list compiled by track and field expert Carol Swenson.

Parrish also said that her favorite and strongest even right now is the 100 hurdles and her goal is to make the podium at the state meet in late May.

Ashlyn Parrish:

Ashlyn Parrish

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

Sometimes it takes one good year to make everybody take notice. In the spring of 2014, that is exactly what Mattie Schlaefli did in javelin. A year ago she placed second in the 5A State Javelin Throw, uncorking a throw of 128′-11″. It wasn’t her best throw of the year, having thrown 130′-9″ earlier in the year, just three inches short of the Western Athletic Conference meet record. All of that was enough to put collegiate coaches on alert of her ability. On Monday the senior signed her National Letter of Intent to compete at Fort Hays State University.

Mattie Schlaefli

The Tigers are well known in NCAA D-II for their javelin throwers. Current FHSU freshman Estefania Lopez has the best throw in the nation by over nine feet. Sophomore Madison Wolf is third in the nation, trailing second place by two inches. And sophomore Megan Honas currently ranks 13th in the nation.

Coach Kirk Maska

Schlaefli has only thrown in one meet this season after suffering an ankle injury in the next to last regular season game of basketball season. Her event coach Kirk Maska said he expects Mattie to be back to the 130′ mark or better by the regional and state competition, now that she has been cleared to participate again.

By Dustin Armbruster

Lexie Schaben didn’t know for sure if she wanted to play golf competitively past high school. Then Schaben realized, she just couldn’t see herself not playing. On Wednesday, the Hays High Senior signed her National Letter of Intent to play for Fort Hays State University.

Lexie Schaben

Coach Mark Watts

Schaben took home a medal in 8 of the 10 meets her senior year, including a pair of wins and a runner up finish. Schaben won the Liberal Invitational with a season best 37 in a nine hole event. Schaben also won the Regional Tournament before finishing fifth at 4A State. During her senior season, Schaben was part of a team that placed now lower that fourth in any tournament and won six. The Indians won four of their final five tournaments of the season, including the 4A State Tournament in Kansas City.