The Northeast is Tough To Beat

The story isn't new. Northeast Kansas' dominance of state soccer has been steady since the inauguration of the state soccer championships in 1986. Teams from the Kansas City area west to Topeka have accounted for 40 of 50 state soccer titles awarded. Even in Class 4-3-2-1A soccer, in which south central Kansas teams have been most competitive since the class separated from 5A in 2000, Kansas City Christian has won four of the past seven titles.

Much is the same in upper-class state volleyball. Other than Bishop Carroll, which placed fourth at 5A state this fall, being a consistent state competitor over three decades, the Northeast has had a grip on things over the past decade. Even in 4A, south central Kansas has been locked out the past four seasons since Andover High won the title in 2004. If St. James Academy out of Lenexa is in 4A to stay, then that trend will continue.

A statewide level playing field seems to exist in the lower classes, though programs such as Silver Lake, Centralia and St. Marys, concentrated more closely toward northeast Kansas, have had big success. However, Garden Plain won the Class 3A state title in November, following a string of title wins by Conway Springs which ended in 2005.

What's going in the upper classes? Washburn Rural has won four of the past five 6A state volleyball titles, and after that just take a pick of several schools from Shawnee Mission, Overland Park and Olathe, and there's a title-caliber team. In soccer, Overland Park, led by St. Thomas Aquinas which has won six consecutive 6A and 5A state titles, and Olathe seem to have an outrageous wealth of great soccer teams.

Northeastern Kansas is home to a dense concentration of top year-round clubs and coaches in these two sports. For soccer, the presence of the MLS' Kansas City Wizards pro soccer team makes a difference. This team offers increased instruction to high school coaches and talent development programs for players. Also, the game of soccer has a much deeper history in Kansas City. They've been playing it longer than south central Kansas.

Volleyball is a little more complicated. There's no pro team in the Kansas City area, and they haven't been playing longer than the rest of the state. But the level of play in off-season club volleyball in Kansas City is off the charts. While the Wichita area has one team, the Shockwave, which is competitive outside the state, Kansas City has the most clubs and the best. Proof: Despite being from this area, Newton High's Camri Zwiesler, the state's best player in 2007 and who is now at Arizona State, played on a club team made up of players from the Northeast.

Good luck next year, south central Kansas.