Hutchinson Central Christian track team opens season April 8 at Haven Invitational

By John Mesh

The Hutchinson Central Christian High School track team opens the season Tuesday, April 8, at the Haven Invitational.

Top returners for the Cougars are seniors Belle Barnett, Jayden Linscheid and Keaton Miller and junior Jessa Losew.

CCHS track coach Camille Barnett said up-and-coming hopefuls include sophomore Cal Barnett and freshman Harper Newcome.

Miller placed fifth in the 1A boys state shot put competition with a toss of 49 feet, 2 1/4 inches.

Belle Barnett placed first in the Kansas Class 1A girls high jump in 2024 (5 feet, 6 inches) and Losew finished 11th (4-10).

Barnett was fifth at state in the 100-meter dash (12.79 seconds). It was her second straight fifth-place finish in the 100 at state. Losew was 16th in the 400-meter dash (1:08.76).

Losew has high jumped 5-7, posted a 26.38 time in the 200-meter dash, 59.18 in the 400 and triple jumped 37 feet, 6 inches.

She was a four-event Heart of the Plains League champion in the high jump (5-4), triple jump (36-0), 200 (26.39) and 400 (59.71).

Losew and Belle Barnett are listed by Sports in Kansas as two of the Top 10 returning girls high jumpers in the state at 5-7 and 5-6. Losew cleared 5-2 and finished second in the Class 1A state girls high jump in 2023. 

Central Christian swept the HOPL boys and girls track championships in 2024.

2025 Central Christian Track Meet Schedule

Tuesday, April 8 @ Haven (CKTL)

Friday, April 11 @ Marion

Tuesday, April 15 @ Sedgwick (CKTL)

Tuesday, April 22 @ Burrton (CKTL)

Thursday, April 24 @ Sterling

Tuesday, April 29 @ Fairfield (CKTL)

Tuesday, May 6 @ Moundridge

Thursday, May 15 @ South Barber (HOPL)

Thursday, May 22 @ (Regionals)

Friday, May 23 @ (Regionals)

Friday, May 30 @ Cessna Stadium (State)

Saturday, May 31 @ Cessna Stadium (State)

CCHS boys roster

Seniors: Keaton Miller, Jayden Linscheid, Brody Miller, Kaleb Sullivan.

Juniors: Hunter Franz, Piercen Huff, Konnor Sullivan.

Sophomores: Cal Barnett, Trey Miller.

Freshman: Aidan Burke,

CCHS girls roster

Senior: Belle Barnett.

Junior: Jessa Losew.

Sophomore: Whitney Miller.

Freshman: Stacy Rhoden, Harper Newcome, Townsly Huff, Addi Louderback, Taylor Newboies, Elyse Wyatt, Lainey Mencl, Sophie Graham.

Head coach: Camille Barnett.

Managers: Chloe Ratzlaff, Ella Graham.

Salthawks Kade Smith, Max Harris compete in national wrestling tournaments

Hutchinson High School senior Kade Smith traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to compete for Team Kansas at the Heartland Duals on Saturday and Sunday.

Salthawk sophomore Max Harris competed at NHSCA Nationals in Virginia Beach, Va., on Friday and Saturday.

Smith finished the dual tournament with a 7-0 record. He had 4 pins, 2 major decisions and 1 technical fall. He was voted as Most Valuable Wrestler and received All-American Honors.

In his first match of the day, Smith won 19-6 against the 165-pound Kansas state champion in Class 6A.

Harris dropped a hard-fought battle to a Kentucky wrestler on Sunday and finished 2-2. He won his first two matches of the tournament.

Trio from 2A state champion Sterling lead area boys all-state picks from Sports in Kansas

To the victors go the postseason spoils.

Sterling High School, the 2A boys state champions, placed three players on the Sports in Kansas Class 2A Boys First Team — Boston Ekart, Blake Smith and Derek Schneider.

Hutchinson Trinity Catholic High School senior Max Ryan was an honorable mention pick in Class 2A.

Hutchinson High School senior Terrell King was named Second Team in Kansas Class 5A.

Buhler’s Mitchel McDaniel and Jacob Miller were selected as honorable mention in Class 4A.

Haven’s Nash Wray was named to the Class 3A Second Team and teammate Gatlin Rinehart were named honorable mention. Halstead’s Braxton Creed and Kohen Corona and Lyons’ Xavier Solis also are honorable mention picks.

Creed signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Bethel College in North Newton.

Fairfield’s Connor Fowler, who set a school single-game scoring record with a 46-point performance during the season, was named to the Class 1A Division I Second Team.

Pretty Prairie’s Evan Young was an honorable mention pick in Class 1A DI.

Hutchinson Central Christian’s Piercen Huff and Jayden Linscheid were honorable mention picks in Eight-Man Division II.

Halstead state championship volleyball, girls basketball teams honored at state capital in Topeka

Kansas Sen. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, and the Kansas Legislature honored the Halstead High School volleyball and girls basketball teams March 25 at the state capital in Topeka for winning Kansas 3A state titles.

Owens, the District 31 state senator, represents Hesston, Halstead, Burrton, Newton, Sedgwick, Park City, Valley Center, Kechi, Bentley and Mount Hope.

“I had the pleasure to recognize the Halstead 3A championship basketball and volleyball teams today on the Senate Floor,” Owens said on his Instagram and Facebook pages. “I’m so proud of these young ladies. We have such a bright future in Kansas with these leaders.”

This proclamation was read in the state capital chambers in front of legislators:

“Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievement of the Halstead volleyball and basketball teams, who have both won their first-ever state championships in their respective sports. What makes this accomplishment even more special is the fact that the coaches of both teams, a husband and wife duo, have led their athletes to these historic victories. Seven of the girls played on both championship teams, showcasing their versatility and dedication. Every athlete on both teams are multi-sport athletes. The volleyball and basketball team had an average 3.7 GPA and earned All-State academic honors Despite facing teams with taller, more traditionally talented players, not a single girl on the Halstead teams is over 5-9, proving that heart, teamwork and determination can overcome any obstacle. These state titles mark a proud moment in Halstead’s sports history, and we couldn’t be prouder of their hard-earned success. The Halstead girls athletics program has had an exceptional year. The volleyball team finished with a remarkable 43-2 record, while the basketball team posted an equally outstanding 25-1 record. A 68-3 overall cumulative record has surpassed most teams in the state, showcasing the dominance and success of Halstead’s female athletes this year.”