By John Mesh
The Sterling Black Bears football team posted a 6-4 record in 2023, made the Kansas Class 1A playoffs and won a playoff game.
Black Bears’ coach Brent Schneider, in his sixth year at Sterling, said the Sterling team wants to improve from its solid 2023. Schneider’s record at Sterling is 17-29. His nine-year record is 32-51.
“We are looking to build off the success of last year,” Schneider said. “We were able to not only make the playoffs but win a playoff game on the road. Our numbers are higher than they have been in a long time. We are expecting 53 out next year and look forward to the possibility of adding some C games to our schedule.
“In my early tenure, we had to rely on underclassmen, but now we are getting to the point where we will be mostly upperclassmen on Friday nights. Our senior class has put in a lot of hard work waiting for this moment and I am excited to see them in action. They have been doing a lot of great things behind the scenes during the past few years and are ready for their shot.
“They will be supported by a very talented junior class that has a ton of experience for their age. More than half of our team is made up of sophomores and freshmen and they will be able to develop at the JV and C levels to build for their futures.”
Sterling running back Zane Farney is already a two-time All-State running back heading into his junior year. Last year, Farney had 1,506 yards rushing adding 16 touchdowns. Farney also is a two-time state finals hurdler and helped Sterling to a final four in basketball. Farney plays linebacker on defense and made 74 tackles. He had tackles for loss, forced two fulbles and intercepted our passes.
Wyatt Newberry rushed for 370 yards and three TDs on offense and made 63 tackles from his defensive back position. He had two tackles for loss, forced one fumble and intercepted two passes (including one for a TD).
Boston Ekart had 365 receiving yards and four TDs. As a defensive back, Ekart made 53 tackles, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble and four interceptions (one for a TD).
Dillan Burgess made 33 tackles at defensive back, including three tackles for loss, recovered one fumble and intercepted one pass.
Other returning starters are senior Teyton Savage and juniors Logan Isaac and Blake Smith. Sterling returns 23 letterwinners.
Sterling opens the season Sept. 6 at Sedgwick. The Black Bears host Moundridge on Sept. 13.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 6 @ Sedgwick
Sept. 13 Moundridge
Sept. 20 @ Inman
Sept. 27 Ellinwood
Oct. 4 @ Medicine Lodge
Oct. 11 Conway Springs
Oct. 18 South Sumner
Oct. 25 @ Hutch Trinity
No. 1 District @ TBD
Sterling girls tennis team returns four top players, including state qualifier Chelsie Brown
Sterling High School junior Chelsie Brown is listed as one of the top 15 Class 3-2-1A girls tennis players to watch in 2024 by KSHSAA Covered.
In addition to Brown, the Black Bears return three other varsity players from the 2023 season — senior Emily Wellman, junior Jaiden Jaeger and sophomore Danika Zimmerman.
Brown, Sterling’s lone returning state qualifier, made considerable strides in her second high school season, posting a seventh-place finish in Class 3-2-1A singles with a 35-9 record (31-7 at No. 1 singles) and placed third at regionals.
Brown ended the season with a 8-3 victory over Cimarron’s Emily Goetz, capping a 4-2 state tournament that included a 7-6, 6-0 victory over No. 7 seed Abby Holt of Larned to reach the quarterfinals.
Brown, 16-5 and a state qualifier as a freshman, won four tournaments last season. She’ll continue playing singles for the Black Bears.
Zimmerman posted an 18-9 record at No. 2 singles. Jaeger and Wellman posted a 20-4 record at No. 2 doubles.
In 2023, Sterling posted first-place finishes at Sterling, Wellington, Chaparral and Central Plains tournaments and placed second in tournaments at Great Bend, Ellsworth and Larned.
The Black Bears placed third at the Central Plains League meet.
Sterling’s head coach is Janae Ryan in her second season. The assistant coach is Sherla Proffitt.
“Our goal for the season is to get better everyday and be at our best at regionals and to get as many entries as possible into state,” Ryan said. “Chelsie will be looking to improve on her seventh-place finish at the 3-2-1A state tournament.”
Two state medalists lead Sterling cross country squad
The Sterling High School girls cross country team placed second at the Kansas Class 2A state meet in 2023 and return two state medalists in sophomore Katie Inwood and junior Julia Kilgore.
Junior Israel Kohl also returns the Black Bear girls, while the Black Bear boys return three letterwinners in junior Sebi Simpson-Eighmy and sophomores Ben Bierstedt and Isaac Welty.
The Black Bear runners are coached by Pamela Simpson, who is assisted by Abby Giles.
“The girls took 3rd at 2A State last October with Julia (15th) and Katie (10th) both earning medals,” Simpson said. “They are joined by freshman Kyler Larsen and Kyla Flickinger who ran in eighth grade and senior Lanae Welty, who is running for the first time. The girls plan to return to Wamego (state) as a team for the third year.
“The boys are focusing on individual improvement, team growth and post season recognition.”
The Sterling cross country season starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, with the Great Bend Invitational at the Lake Barton Course.
Sterling 2024 cross country schedule
Sept. 5 Great Bend (Lake Barton XC Course), 9 a.m.
Sept. 12 Hesston (High School only) Hesston Country Club, 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 St. John (Stafford County Country Club), 4 p.m.
Sept. 26 Larned (Golf Course), 3 p.m.
Oct. 1 Lyons (Lyons High School), starts on football field, 4 p.m.
Oct. 10 HOME Sterling Country Club, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 17 HOA League Meet (Hosted by Berean Academy), 4 p.m.
Oct. 26 Regionals (High School Varsity Only) Location/Time TBA
Nov. 2 Class 2A State Cross Country Meet Wamego (for those who qualify)