State Weekend

The Bishop Carroll girls cross country team won its fourth state title in school history and its first since 1999 on Saturday, October 27, at Lawrence Rim Rock Farm. The 1999 state title had been the program's second in a row, and Carroll could headed for another repeat next year. Six of the team's top seven finishers were underclassmen. The Eagles' top finisher was freshman Alisa Sooter in eighth place. Kate Hamlin, the team's lone senior, placed twelfth. Sophomores Megan Walden and Kristen Sponsel and freshman Liz Carney placed in the top 25. On the boys side, Carroll senior Bryce Volz (pictured with this story) completed an undefeated season with a 5A state title run of 16:02.71, over 25 seconds faster than the second-place finisher. Volz' team placed fourth behind Emporia, St. Thomas Aquinas and Kapaun Mount Carmel. Kapaun's top individual finisher was senior Colin Hagan in third place. Mulvane took home the Class 4A state title at Wamego Country Club with an overwhelming team score of 42, 30 fewer than second-place Baldwin. Top runner junior David Roberts won the individual competition by nearly 22 seconds. Look for more on Mulvane cross country in the December issue of High School Sports The Magazine. Trinity Academy of Wichita placed second at the Class 3A boys state meet. Senior Matt Spurgeon was the Knights' top finisher in seventeenth place, but three runners, all seniors, medalled for Trinity. After coming back to upset Circle in the sub-state final last Saturday, the Andover volleyball team lost the Class 4A state semifinal on Saturday, October 27, in three games to St. James Academy of Lenexa. St. James ended the season undefeated, though the Trojans did win a game against them. Newton placed third at the Class 5A state tournament in Topeka, bettering their fourth-place finish the previous two seasons. Senior Camri Zwiesler (pictured with story) ended her high school career with a team win in the third-place game. The 6-2 volleyball phenom will play at Arizona State next year in college.