OK!

Leavenworth had a great run a few years ago as repeat-repeat-repeat-?????? state champs in girls track. Then the coach retired.

A couple of bright spots in individuals boys track over the years---do not recall a Leavenworth team title--state or conference.

Leavenworth has not had a winning boys soccer team since 1997 when they made it to the state quarter finals and were beat by Wasburn Rural.

A couple of competitive volley ball teams a few years ago--same coach as the womens track--and then she retired.

Girls BB state champs 20 years ago--good coach left--not a lot since.

Baseball--mid pack 6A at best over the years.

Softball ???????.

Golf, tennis, mumbly peg? ?????????

Wrestling. Do not recall either a Leavenworth conference or a state team championship---do remember some very good Leavenworth individuals/champs/college and international wrestlers, and now an MMA fighter.

Shawnee Mission South. Another school, another town, another situation. Probably a better overall sports history. Don't know but think South's 81 student enrollment drop was caused by some SM District internal boundary and feeder school changes. South will remain just as competitive in Sunflower sports as a 5A school. Doubt if the conference will boot them (or take in KC Wyandotte).

Why is/was Leavenworth not competitive year-after-year in more sports? 1) the military connected student population and their family transfers VS established student population in other towns and schools. Difficult to build a winning tradition in several sports when the coaches get the individual athletes for only a couple of years---always in a rebuild situation. 2) Student athletes in Johnson County (Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley, Olathe) specialize and play a lot more highly competitive off season club sports.

Expect better things at a 5A Leavenworth. Would like to see a new 5A conference with Leavenworth, Lansing, Turner, Mill Valley, maybe St. James Academy, perhaps Big 4A Bonner Springs, plus ??????.

NE KS 5A wrestling just got very tough(er). Should be a lot less regional byes, less state qualifers with only one or zero regional tournament win(s). Don't remember Topeka HP as being particuarily tough in wrestling. Now, if KSHSAA will subjectively balance the regional assignments (spread the weaker teams through out the regional tournaments), it could get very tough!

Never intended to denigrate Coach Jay or his wrestlers with my original posts. But at 5A, Leavenworth is where it should have been years ago. LHS will probably increase it number of state qualifers---probably not much change in the number of state placers.

Nuff said!!!!!