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Sun Sports Q & A: Tom Tietze, Metro Sports/KC Prep National Invitational; event tips off today in Shawnee

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Written by Mark Dewar   
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 00:00

The 9th Annual Metro Sports/KC Prep National Invitational brings some of the top high school-aged boys basketball talents in the nation to Shawnee this week.

Also included are some top homegrown talents, such as 2009-10 All-Sun second-team honoree A.J. Spencer, a senior-to-be at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, who plays for Kansas City Pump N Run.

The event tips off today and continues through Saturday at the Mid-America West Sports Complex, 20200 Johnson Drive.

Play begins at noon today and runs through 10 p.m. Thursday’s contests tip off at 9 a.m. and continue until 10 p.m. Friday’s session begins at 8 a.m. and lasts until 10 p.m.

Play concludes Saturday with games slated from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The 2010 version marks the first July NCAA certified basketball tournament ever played in Kansas City that will air on Metro Sports television.

The event will run on a tape-delayed basis Thursday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. According to a Metro Sports press release, there will be two games played at once with the television schedule posted on the Metro Sports Web site (kcondemand.com/Metrosports.aspx).

All of the games will include play-by-play coverage and player interviews.

Additionally, 610 Sports will air its morning show live from courtside from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday and Friday.

Late last week. The Sun asked Tom Tietze, the event's organizer, for his thoughts on those elements that have combined to make the Metro Sports/KC Prep National Invitational a showcase event through the collective eye of the nation’s top summer basketball programs.


Q. For the still uninitiated or youth basketball watchers new to town, Tom, what can fans expect at the 2010 Metro Sports/KC Prep National Invitational?

 

 

Shouldering greatness: SM South's vaunted senior javelin thrower Swanepoel sets all-time state record in event

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Written by Mark Dewar   
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 00:00

Kansas state high school javelin toss, thy name is Johannes Swanepoel.

altSwanepoel, a Shawnee Mission South High School senior headed to Kansas University to continue his throwing career next season, is the 2010 All-Sun Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, departing the Raiders program as the state’s all-time record holder in the event.

His memorably winning throw of 238-4 at this year’s Class 6A state meet at Wichita also proved good for third-best all-time in the nation for the current javelin.

Three-time All-Sun first-teamer Swanepoel is, Raiders coach J.J. Wannamaker notes, the first-ever SM South athlete to win the same event three times at the state track and field competition, having done so in the javelin in each of his final three prep seasons.

A two-time KU Relays champion in the event – in 2008 and 2010 – he holds records for the SM South Relays, SM North Relays, Topeka Seaman Relays and 6A state meet.

No wonder the post-season accolades have been flowing for this first-team All-Sunflower League selection in the event.

Swanepoel recently was awarded the Gatorade Kansas Track and Field Athlete of the Year for 2010 and earlier this month was named by USA Today among the nation’s top high school track and field performers.

“Johannes is a tremendous athlete who set marks that will be tough to equal,” Wannamaker said. “He worked extremely hard during this past off-season to achieve and surpass some lofty goals.”

Here now, listed alphabetically within their positions of distinction, are the members of the 2010 All-Sun Boys Track and Field Team.

The biographical information that appears along with each honoree has been supplied by his high school coach.

SPRINTS/HURDLES

Bay Abbott

St. James Academy

Abbott, a senior, placed third in the 400 meters at the Class 4A state meet with a season-best 49.47, which also marked a school record. He earlier won his regional in the event.

He also was a state qualifier in the 200 as well as the 1,600 relay. He qualified for the KU Relays in the 400 and 1,600.

In all, Abbott set school records in five events.

“Bay has surpassed all expectations of both himself and his coaching staff, on and off the track,” St. James Academy coach Rich Weitz said. “He has not yet reached his true potential, but with his work ethic, there are many great things in store for Bay.”

Antonio McFadden

Shawnee Mission South

This senior was the Sunflower League runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth-place finisher in the 300 hurdles.

He placed second at his Class 6A regional in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles.

At state, he secured second place in the 300 hurdles by virtue of his personal best time of 39.69.

He was a first-team All-Sunflower League selection in the event.

McFadden was an honorable-mention all-league choice in the 110 hurdles.

“Antonio was a great asset to the SM South program over the past four years,” Raiders coach J. J. Wannamaker said. “He turned into a very solid hurdler. He also sacrificed himself for relays and the good of the team.”

Mike Widrig

Blue Valley North

Widrig, a junior, claimed victories in the 400 meters and 800 at the East Kansas League competition, a pair of feats he duplicated at his Class 6A regional.

He gleaned second in the 400 at state and fourth in the 800.

“Obviously to go down and take second at state in the 400 shows Mike is an extremely talented runner,” Blue Valley North athletic director Mickey Masterson said. “But he is also a very intelligent runner, as well as very intelligent in the classroom and hallways.”

 

2010 All-Sun Boys Track and Field Team

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Written by Mark Dewar   
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 00:00

2010 ALL-SUN BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

 

US Youth Soccer National Championships crown 2010 champions

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Written by Mark Dewar   
Sunday, 25 July 2010 16:32

From the original cast of 60 vaunted teams that qualified for the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships, 12 walked away with titles in tow.

Play concluded on Sunday at the Overland Park Soccer Complex with seven teams - including three from the state of California - earning championships.

Those seven teams joined the five who claimed championships on Saturday.

Here is a complete listing of the teams that earned championships at this year's event:

 

AJGA's 12th annual Lockton Kansas City Junior tees off Monday through Thursday

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Written by Mark Dewar   
Sunday, 25 July 2010 16:23

Play at the American Junior Golf Association’s 12th annual Lockton Kansas City Junior golf tournament begins Monday and continues through Thursday at Kansas City Country Club.

This year marks the third time in the event’s history it will tee off at Kansas City County Club, which also played host in 2000 and 2005.

Only one Kansas native – Ryan Morgan of Lawrence in 1999 – has won either the boys or girls division title.

This year the 54-hole stroke play event will feature 99 players who hail from 16 states, Canada and Thailand.

Here is the complete tournament field:

BOYS DIVISION

Justin Andrade...................................... Olathe, Kan.

Skyler Arbuckle............................. Greenwood, Mo.

Dylan Baker.............................. Eden Prairie, Minn.

Blake Basham..................... Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Brandon Bowman.............................. Parkville, Mo.

Andrew Buchanan................ Los Altos Hills, Calif.

William Byrne.......................... Overland Park, Kan.

 

 

Best of the Brand: SM Northwest repeat state discus champ Erica Brand tops All-Sun Girls Track and Field

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Written by Mark Dewar   
Wednesday, 21 July 2010 00:00

When Erica Brand continues her career as a thrower collegiately at Duke University, she will do so with the confidence of a high school standard bearer.

Not in one event, but two.

Brand exited Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in May as a seven-time state qualifier spread between her work in the discus and shot put. She departs with school records in both events in tow.

altThe 2010 All-Sun Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year earned a pair of high school state championships in the discus.

Her throw of 156-6 won this year’s Class 6A discus honors. She also claimed second at state in the shot put this season with a heave of 41-10 1/2.

Earlier, the senior earned second place in both events at the Sunflower League meet after earning second in the discus and sixth in the shot put at the KU Relays.

She went on to win her region in the discus and was runner-up in the shot put.

At Northwest, she earned a Peggy Rose Award. The honor is presented to girls within the track and field program who excel at the highest level.

Brand also has been, on multiple occasions, an AAU and USA Track and Field national champion in the discus.

“Erica,” Shawnee Mission Northwest coach Mike Cooper said, “was a consistent performer at the highest levels of competition.”

Here, in alphabetical order within specialties, is a look at the 14 standout performers who join Brand to comprise the 2010 All-Sun Girls Track and Field first team.

The girls’ coaches have provided the biographical information that appears along with each honoree.

SPRINTS/HURDLES

Janessa Clay

Shawnee Mission North

Late highlights in the season of Clay, a junior, included victories in the 300-meter hurdles as well as the 400-meter dash at the Sunflower League meet.

At her Class 6A regional, she gleaned another title in the 400.

She earned victories in both events again at the state meet. In so doing, she eclipsed Shawnee Mission North’s school record in the 400 with her time of 57.16.

“Janessa,” SM North coach Ryan Colburn said, “is a workhorse. It is extremely difficult to run both of the races due to the fact they are back-to-back. So the fact she can even do it, let alone win both of them, is amazing.

“We are very excited to see what Janessa can do her senior year.”

Abby Dunn

Shawnee Mission East

Tenth-grader Dunn posted runner-up finishes in the 400-meter dash at the Sunflower League meet, as well as her Class 6A regional and state competitions.

The 58.27 she turned in at state was her personal record.

 

2010 All-Sun Girls Track and Field Team

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Written by Mark Dewar   
Wednesday, 21 July 2010 00:00

2010 ALL-SUN GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

SPRINTERS/HURDLERS

Janessa Clay                      Junior                   Shawnee Mission North

Abby Dunn                           Sophomore         SM East

Kim Martin                           Junior                    Blue Valley West

Allison Walter                     Senior                   Bishop Miege

DISTANCE

Anna Church                      Sophomore         Bishop Miege

Lisa Imgrund                     Senior                   SM Northwest

 

Youth tournament notes: 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships kick off today; KC Prep Invitational hoops on tap July 28-31

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Written by Mark Dewar   
Wednesday, 21 July 2010 00:00

The 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships convene today through Sunday at the Overland Park Soccer Complex, located at 13700 Switzer Road.

A listing of the complete 60-team field is available at www.sunpublications.com.

Additional information on the championships and US Youth Soccer is available at the organization’s Web site, www.usyouthsoccer.org.

* * * *

Top national high school basketball talent is set to converge in Shawnee Wednesday through Saturday, July 28-31 for the 9th Annual Kansas City Prep Invitational.

 
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