By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Former Lawrence High School volleyball coach Joan Wells' induction into the National High School Activities Association's Hall of Fame capped off a career that few coaches will ever duplicate.
Not even new Lions' volleyball coach, and former Wells student, Stephanie Magnuson wants to take a shot at what Wells was able to accomplish during her 27-year career. Who can blame her? Wells' numbers are staggering.
"I'm not going to attempt to live up to her (Wells)," the first-year Lawrence coach said. "I don't think I can. I'm just going to use some of the things she has taught me, and build my own legacy. I'm going to do my own thing and build my own program."
After steering the Lion machine for 27 years, Wells and her student athletes put up an amazing 865-89 record. That's a .907 winning percentage, 17th best all-time in the nation according to the National High School Sports Record Book.
More impressively, Lawrence battled its way to 22 state title matches and won 15 championships. The Lions finished third or better in 24 of the 27 seasons Wells was head coach at the school.
During a six-year span, three teams coached by Wells (1990, 1992, 1995) were ranked in the top 25 nationally. The Lions lost in the sub-state championship, during Wells inaugural season, and then reeled off 26 straight sub-state titles.
The four-time Kansas Coaches Association Volleyball Coach of the Year also coached girls basketball for two years and softball for 16. In 1977, Wells guided Lawrence to its only 6A softball championship. Kansas Sports Magazine named her volleyball coach of the year twice. Following her final season in 1997, Wells was named the NFHS Coaches Association's National Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Not only did Wells get her teams to play at a high level, she was able to make individual players better -just look at her record for producing Division-I college volleyball players. In 1981, Betsy Lienhard became the first of 29 Lion volleyball players to continue their playing careers at the largest level in collegiate volleyball.
Magnuson said playing for her former mentor was serious business. It meant playing all out for her every second she was on the court, whether practicing or in a game. There was no room for holding back.
"If you lost, you lost because the other team was better than you," Magnuson said. "We gave nothing but 100 percent. It was all business all of the time. We played the game to learn the game, and to win games."
It was that drive and work ethic that elevated Wells and her program to the top. Or as Magnuson put it, "It was just Lion pride."
"We just tried to be the best," Wells said of her program's huge success. "We took it one year at a time and ran an uncomplicated system. We had a tradition built and the kids worked real hard to keep it that way."
Wells ran a 4-2 offense throughout her career, and she never really deviated from her bread and butter. In fact, she tried to one season, but she had to junk the plan when she discovered her Lion players were not into the change. Instead, Wells opted to adjust her offense, each season, to fit the players she had on the team.
Inducted into the hall of fame alongside Wells were well-known athletes like Jim Plunkett (California) and Terry Steinbach (Minnesota). Clyde Duncan (Iowa), Jim Johnson (Michigan) and Charlie Wedemeyer (Hawaii) also cemented their place in history with a bid. John Bagonzi (New Hampshire), Lewie Benitz (Wisconsin) and Rick Insell (Tennessee) coached their way into the hall of fame, while Jane Hansen (New Jersey) and Sam Short (Alabama) were selected as officials. North Carolina newspaper journalist Tim Stevens also made the short list.
Football: Johnson's Second Prep Field Goal Breaks Shrine Bowl Record
After being shutout during his brief one-season career, Drew Johnson was given one last chance at redemption Saturday at the Kansas East-West Shrine Bowl football game.
Shouldering the burden of having missed all of his field goal attempts last season at Valley Center, Johnson had a career day in Hays. Each of his final two tries, in the Shrine Bowl, were a step up from its predecessor.
After missing on his first try, Johnson was able to breathe a little easier when he connected from 25 yards out on his second attempt to give the West a 10-7 halftime advantage on the last play of the half. His third kick vaulted him into the Shrine Bowl record books.
Johnson's 57-yard field goal surpassed the previous mark of 52 yards set in 1997 by the West team's Weston Simoneau (who played his high school football at Hays), and it stretched the West's lead to 20-7 with 1:01 left in the third quarter.
"That's only the fifth field goal I've ever attempted in a game, and I never made a field goal before I came into this game," Johnson said of his record setter in a quote in the Topeka Capital Journal. "When I kicked it I thought it was good. It just felt good off the leg."
Johnson, who was a late addition to the team, also averaged 41.5 yards on four punts. Andale's Jason Robben ran for 86 yards on 16 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns to earn most valuable player honors for the victors. Robben scored the game's first points when he rambled over the goal line from two yards out in the first quarter. He then added a 3-yard plunge to boost his team's advantage to 17-7 on the West's opening drive of the second half.
Pittsburg's Kiara Jones turned in the big offensive play for the East when he latched onto a 50-yard strike from Shawnee Heights' Tyler Herl to tie the game at 7-7 with 2:45 left in the first half. That play went a long way toward netting Jones, who caught three passes for 79 yards, most valuable player honors for the East.
The East's Ryan Geist, who played for Topeka Hayden, led all defensive players with 12 tackles. The West defense was led by Wichita Carroll defensive end Andy Jonas and his eight tackles, two sacks and forced fumble. The West held the East to 179 total yards and 70 rushing yards on 31 carries. The West, meanwhile, managed 271 total yards.
The 19-point win gives the West a two game winning streak in a series that goes back 33 years. The West owns a 20-13 advantage in the series.
Volleyball: Frick, Williams Pace Blue's Route Over Red
A balanced attack helped the Blue team to a 30-18, 18-30, 30-23, 30-28, 15-12 win over the Red team in the 22nd annual Kansas Volleyball Association's All-star match at Silver Lake High School July 24.The heavy-hitters for the winners were Tina Frick (Hillsboro) and Sam Williams (Blue Valley West) with 10 kills apiece, while Tricia Dorshorst (Decatur Community) added nine. Blue teammate Haley Schrag (Moundridge) was credited with 18 set assists.
Williams displayed the defensive talents she will take to Northern Kentucky University in the fall by collecting three assisted blocks and a solo block. Meagan Montis (Wellsville) netted two solo blocks. Circle's Staci Wait managed a match high 20 digs.
Stefine Pease (Shawnee Heights) was credited with a match high four service aces. Kelsey Boyles (Salina South) and Dorshorst each had two service aces.
Caitlin Conley (Tecumseh Shawnee Heights) paced the way for the Red team with a match-high 11 kills and 16 digs, while Kansas State recruit Jenna Kaiser (Kapaun Mount Carmel) added nine kills. Moundridge's Amanda Stucky was credited with a match high 25 set assists. Paula Harris ((Conway Springs) had a match high three solo blocks.
Three individual awards were presented during the match. Sarah Waldorf (Augusta) won the 2007 Flo Hyman Scholarship. The Most Inspirational Player "Judy Bellomo" Award went to Pease. Conley was presented with the Joan Lundstrom Wells Award of Excellence.
The Kansas Volleyball Association also recognized the Programs of the Year, 2006 State Championship Teams, Victory Club Awards and Team Academic Awards.
