Winter sports big hit on LJW All-Area teams

Photo by John Young, Lawrence-Journal World

Photo by John Young, Lawrence-Journal World

Of the three winter sports at BHS, 13 Bulldogs were honored as All-Area First Team and Honorable Mention by the Lawrence Journal-World.

The wrestling team honored three All-Area wrestlers and five Honorable Mention selections. Senior Jon Pratt was chosen as Wrestler of the Year and LJW All-Area team, leading the team with the most wins (48), and most takedowns (70), second most falls (21), nearfalls-3 (36), reversals (18), tech falls (5), nearfalls-2 (13), escapes (40), and third most team points (246). Pratt was the 4A state champion in the 152 lb. weight class.

Sophomore Thomas Lisher was also a state champion, he won the 138 lb. weight class and another pick for the LJW All-Area First Team. Lisher lead the team with the most falls (27) and team points (259). Lisher also had the third most wins (43), major decisions (3) and takedowns (66).

Senior Joel Halford made the LJW All-Area team. Halford had the teams third most nearfalls-3 (29), reversals and tech falls (3). Halford also had the fourth most major decisions (3) and team points (159).

“I am humbled to be selected for such a prestigious accomplishment, I am overjoyed that all my hard work finally paid off,” Halford said. “I know I couldn’t do it without God all the glory goes to him.”

Sophomore Levi Green, and juniors Jake Katzer, Joel Katzer, Owen Tuckfield and Ben Morgenstern were the Honorable Mention selections.

The Bulldogs won the 4A state championship first place at the 4A State Tournament with seven wrestlers placing in the top six in their weight class.

The girls basketball team honored one All-Area player, and four honorable mention selections. Senior Maddie Ogle was selected to the LJW all area team. Ogle lead the team with the best points per game average (13.4), offense rebounds (3.1), and rebounds (6.7). Throughout the season Ogle scored 335 points leading the team with the most overall points scored. In the state championship game, Ogle scored a personal best 22 points.

“I felt so honored to be named All-Area. I was glad that my hard work paid off,” Ogle said. “I also couldn’t have gotten it without the help of my teammates. We always pushed each other to become better players”

Junior Madeline Neufeld, senior Alexia Stein, junior Kyna Smith and freshman Abby Ogle were this year’s girls basketball Honorable Mention selections.

The Bulldogs ended the season 21-4 and taking second at the 4A Division II State Championship Tournament.

The boys basketball team honored one BHS student to the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital Journal honorable mention. Senior Christian Gaylord was named to the Honorable Mention team. Gaylord led the team with the best points per game average (19.0), defensive rebounds (5.7), rebounds (7.3), and blocks (1.7).

“I think it was a really nice award for Christain from both of those newspapers, he was our only player this year to receive that,” head coach Paul Musselman said. “It’s good to know he is getting the recognition after deciding to come out and probably being our most valuable player.”

The boys basketball team ended with a 3-18 season.