By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Two years ago, T.J. Hawkins’ first discus throw hit the support cage.
Friday, less than two years after beginning his throwing career, the Goodland senior won the Colby 4A regional title and earned the No. 1 seed going into the Kansas State Track and Field Meet Friday and Saturday in Wichita.
Hawkins also earned a spot in the Goodland High School record book by passing up former Cowboy thrower Jordan Bedore’s record toss of 165-2.
The 6-foot-1, 245-pound Garden City Community College football signee also broke Cowboy head football and track coach Jonathan Dansel’s record throw of 164-feet, 3-inches.
“You are very proud as a coach and you are so excited for them to break a record,” Dansel told the Hutchinson News after watching his pupil better his mark.
Hawkins surpasses the school record on his final attempt with a throw of 169-4. Only Liberal’s Joe Bach (177-5) and Shawnee Mission South’s Justin Holmes (174-3) had better Kansas marks than Hawkins this season.
Boys Basketball: Mitchell Resigns at Wichita North
Wichita North boys basketball coach Ben Mitchell began preparations for becoming an administrator by resigning his post as head coach.
In his final season at North, Mitchell posted a 12-11 mark that ended a streak of three-straight losing seasons. He was 21-44 during his latest position and coached Wichita West to a 12-54 mark before that.
Mitchell did take West to the Class 5A state tournament in 2004.
Swimming: Bruce Gets Career Sweep in Two Events
Jamie Bruce completed her historical sweep of the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke at the Kansas State High School Swimming Meet last weekend.
During her four-year run at Wichita Trinity, the senior collected eight gold medals to equal the performances of her sister Caroline (2001-04) and Manhattan’s Amy Oberhelman (1991-94).
“I definitely didn’t expect this,” Bruce told the Wichita Eagle. “I thought I might win a few here and there, but especially looking back, I’m like, ‘Wow, how did I win that against some of those girls?’ It’s a big honor that I know not very many girls get to do, so I’m blessed.
“Those two have always kind of been my events,” Bruce said. “There is something about high school. We don’t train nearly as much, but we come to state and (getting best times is) like a miracle.”
Legako Betters Own School Record, Twice
Lindsey Legako was seeded 11th going into the 100-yard freestyle at last weekend’s Kansas State Swimming Meet. But she came through with an eighth place finish, and twice broke her own school record.
The Winfield senior first broke her own school mark in the preliminaries by racing to a time of 55.54-seconds. Legako finished eighth in the finals and re-established her school mark with a 55.17 clocking.
Legako finished 13th in the 50-yard freestyle, as well.
“Lindsey was less than a tenth of a second from ninth. It was a great race,” Winfield swimming coach Gene Snyder, who is retiring after this season, told the Winfield Daily Courier.
Volleyball: All-Star Teams Announced
The rosters for the Kansas Volleyball Association’s Senior All-Star Game have been announced. Here is a list of the players that will be participating in the match June 7 at Washburn University’s Lee Arena in Topeka;
Kayla Bader (Blue Valley West), Lindsey Larson (Maize), Meryl Loop (Circle), Nikki Snider (Eudora), Jordan Lockwood (Silver Lake), Sami Franiuk (Tonganoxie), Megan Lueger (St. Marys), Janelle Branch (Washburn Rural), Gina Hullet (Abilene), Shelly Kemper (Logan), Jordan Nettleingham (Hoisington), Corrine Stringer (Topeka-Hayden), Whitney Gillman (Silver Lake), Misty Powelson (Iola), Amanda Pfannenstiel (Silver Lake), Dana Loganbill (Moundridge), Crystal Blue (Circle), Bailea Phelan (Quivira Heights), Jamie Starling (Gardner-Edgerton), Camri Zwiesler (Newton), Debbie Ohl (Hutchinson Trinity), Laura Macek (Ellsworth), Tracie Hileman (Tonganoxie).
