Smith, Ontjes, Wesslund pick up awards at WSC banquet

The 2024 Wichita Sports Commission’s Junior College Female Athlete of the Year award went to Blue Dragon women’s basketball’s Kiki Smith.

Smith received the award at the WSC Sports Banquet Wednesday night at Intrust Bank Arena.

Hutchinson Community College’s John Ontjes was named the commission’s Gene Stephenson Coach of the Year. HutchCC assistant women’s coach Phil Anderson received the award tonight on behalf of Ontjes.

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Hutchinson Blue Dragon baseball’s Cooper Wesslund was a finalist for the commission’s Junior College Male Athlete of the Year.

Other award winners were announced Wednesday night:

• The Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award went to Sam Houston State University’s Walter Janek.

• The Lynette Woodard High School Female Athlete of the Year Award was given to Elizabeth Tjaden, a multi-sport athlete from Clearwater High School.

• The Barry Sanders High School Male Athlete of the Year winner was Omari Elias, a running back from Wichita Kapaun-Mount Carmel High School.

• The Junior College Male Athlete of the Year Award was given to basketball guard Jeff Nwonkwo from Cowley Community College.

• The College Female Athlete of the Year Award was given to Wichita State University pentathlon athlete Destiny Masters.

• The College Male Athlete of the Year Award was given to Keegan Martin, an offensive lineman from Friends University.

• The Professional Athlete of the Year Award was given to Jay Dickman, a hockey player with the Wichita Thunder.

The 2024 Wichita Sports Commission’s Junior College Female Athlete of the Year award went to Blue Dragon women’s basketball’s Kiki Smith.Smith received the award at the WSC Sports Banquet Wednesday night at Intrust Bank Arena.Hutchinson Community College’s John Ontjes was named the commission’s Gene Stephenson

John Ontjes named WSC College Coach of the Year

Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball coach John Ontjes, who guided the Blue Dragons to the NJCAA Division I national championship and a 37-0 record, has been named College Coach of the Year by the Wichita Sports Commission.

Ontjes became the HutchCC women’s basketball coach in 2007 and led the Blue Dragons to their first Region VI championship since 1975.

Ontjes has led the HutchCC women’s program to 10 Jayhawk Conference championships. 11 NJCAA Tournament appearances, one NJCAA championship and three NJCAA Tournament second-place finishes.

Ontjes’ coaching record is 483-96 overall and 276-57 in Jayhawk Conference games.

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In addition to winning the national title, the 2023-2024 Blue Dragons won the Jayhawk Conference title and Region VI championship.

“Ontjes has made the Blue Dragon program a stepping stone to Division I,” said the WSC. “Ontjes has helped several players springboard to the next level. Ontjes now has 40 Division I signees and 69 overall four-year signees in his first 16 seasons. Ontjes is one of the most recognizable Blue Dragons in school history.”

The WSC named Wichita Bishop Carroll softball coach Steve Harshberger as the High School Girls Coach of the Year and Cheney football coach Shelby Wehrman as the High School Boys Coach of the Year.

Harshberger has a record of 226-14 during his 11 seasons as Bishop Carroll softball coach (in 2020, there was no season because of coronavirus/COVID-10).

His teams have won straight Greater Wichita Athletic League championships and qualified for the state tournament every season.

The Golden Eagles have competed in the state championship game six times during Harshberger’s tenure and have won four Class 5A state titles.

Prior to being named head football coach at Cheney High School, Wehrman played football at Kansas State University, was an assistant coach at Rose Hill and Clearwater and served as a coordinator in Derby.

Wehrman led the Cardinals to two wins over Andale (including ending the state’s longest winning streak), a 13-0 record and a Class 3A state championship.

Ontjes, Harshbeger and Wehrman will be honored at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday at the 26th annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet a Intrust Bank Arena.

The guest speaker is former Wichita Collegiate High School star Maurice Evans, who played college basketball at Wichita State and the University of Texas and played in the NBA.

Area players make Sports in Kansas state softball teams

Several area high school softball players received recognition on the Sports in Kansas All-State Teams released on Monday.

In Class 2-1A, Inman High School pitcher Lyle Levin and infielder Tyler Froese made the First Team.

Honorable mention selections were Addison Crockett, Hutchinson Trinity Catholic; Ellie Thimmesch, Marlee Ballard, Chensey Black, Savannah Smith and Alexis Noone, Inman; Blaine Locke, Sterling; Kinsley Wohletz, Jailyn Miller, Addie Strecker and Ella Stansbury, Little River.

In Class 3A, Haven outfielder Sadie Estill made the First Team and pitcher Avery Brawner made the Second Team.

Honorable mention selections were Kaci Young, Dallyn Devine and Brett Young, Halstead; and Mattie Warden, Haven.

In Class 4A, honorable mention selections were Sydney Quaint and Lily Horne, Buhler.

In Class 5A, Kohlbie Craft, Hutchinson, was an honorable mention selection.

Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball coach John Ontjes, who guided the Blue Dragons to the NJCAA Division I national championship and a 37-0 record, has been named College Coach of the Year by the Wichita Sports Commission.Ontjes became the HutchCC women’s basketball coach in 2007