One year ago, athletes and coaches were beginning practice for their spring sport, some practicing during spring break, others enjoying the break from school. Soon they found out their break was extended a week, some with great joy, others with apprehension. Then came the unfortunate news soon after that their season was cancelled due to COVID.
Today, athletes and coaches are excited about the upcoming season, but know the off season has been a long two years for them.
The jr. high track team of 45 students is coached by Steve McAllister and assisted by Megan Pope and Trudi Rash. They are preparing for their first meet in Johnson on April 1.
Coaching the 40 high school students is head coach Steve Navaro, coaching middle and long-distance runners. assistant Tregg Thomeczek, throwers, Jared Eddy, coaches sprinters and jumpers.
“We’re excited for the season and preparing for the unexpected because we have not competed for two years,” said Coach Navaro.
High school baseball is coached by Dustin Doze and assisted by Mark McNown and their 18-player team has 9 seniors. “We are a very inexperienced team, but we have a lot of potential,” said Doze. He knows pitching will the key to their success and the team will be led by Gunner Upson and Uriel Diaz in their pitching rotation. Their first game is March 29 at Lakin.
The high school golf team coached by Rick Mathias and assisted by Paul Zuzelski, has nine members with eight returning, three of which are seniors. Mathias, knowing they lost a year, is counting on his seniors, Austin Plunkett, Ryan Thompson and Braydon Wilson to be their foundation. “We will be leaning heavy on them,” said Mathias.
“This is a much-anticipated season and we are excited to get caught up after losing a year,” said Mathias. He appreciated Zulzelski’s expertise during practice, helping the guys with their swing. “They respond well to his help.”
The team will be missing an important part this year, their former assistant and Rick’s son, Jeff who resigned earlier as assistant due to his wife, Tori’s declining health.
Although Tori lost her battle to cancer, the senior boys wished to pay their respects to Jeff and Tori, choosing pink as the color for their tournament shirts. Rick allows the seniors to choose their tournament shirts and when he learned they were pink, his response was, “What? Pink?” He soon learned the meaning behind the color was respect for Jeff and Tori and was proud of his guys for honoring them in this way.
State golf on Monday had the Varsity Bulldogs miss playing in the finals as a team by one stroke. They finished seventh out of twelve teams. On Day 1, Brody Keller shot a 92 missing day two by two strokes. Ian Brummett shot a 95, Mason Scott and Johnny TeVelde shot... [More]
Junior High Boys Basketball A, B, and C teams travelled to Elkhart on Monday, November 21. The A team won 41-34, B team won 26-21, and C team lost to Elkhart 13-20. Head Coach Vance Keller said, “Elkhart was a tough win for both the A and B teams but both grinded... [More]
The Lady Bulldogs were undefeated during the Border Wars, defeating Eads on Friday, 42-7 and Walsh on Saturday 62-5, bringing their record to 3-1. But the winner wasn’t announced until Tuesday evening. Syracuse Athletic Director Josh Johnson explained, “It came down... [More]
Monday night at home at the Herndon Gym, the Junior High boys swept Lakin! Head coach Vance Keller said, “We’re a young team with only six eighth graders and 12 seventh graders. We’ve had six total that started the season with injuries so we haven’t had... [More]
Three Syracuse High School volleyball seniors were honored on Tuesday, October 5, during the volleyball tournament at Syracuse. Kaetlin Thomeczek, daughter of Joe and Dami Thomeczek has played volleyball since the third grade, playing with Syracuse Youth Activities Association... [More]
Head coach Steve Navarro said, “The coaching staff has really enjoyed working with this group of kids this year. They have been putting in hard work despite some less than stellar conditions for practice and meets. We are excited to see what they can do now that we are... [More]
Baseball: The Bulldogs faced the Goodland Cowboys at home on Thursday, April 8, losing game one, 2-22 and game two, 1-17. Head Coach Dustin Doze said the Bulldogs really struggled throwing strikes again and they had too many errors. We need to clean things up if we want to... [More]
Substate began and ended quickly but these Varsity teams left it all out on the court. In heartbreaking last second baskets, our basketball season was over. The boys lost by two points in the last five seconds and the girls lost by three. A wrap up of the season will come in... [More]
At the funeral of a friend’s father this week, the priest said something that has stuck with me. So often at funerals I think the focus is on the glory of Heaven and what joy there is. But it is rare we stop and discuss the emptiness that is left behind. During his... [More]
I am home from State Fair. A little excited, a little behind, a little tired, and a little sore. I walked almost eight miles the first day. I feel like that is worth noting. To all the show parents out there, I see you. When I got back, a few situations arose with... [More]
Here we are in September. I thought the summer flew by. Well, hang onto your hats, I feel like this week I was strapped into a rollercoaster speeding down the track. It’s not all bad but it is crazy. We spent a couple hours helping sort cattle this weekend... [More]
Here we are at the end of August. School is underway, the first home high school football game is tomorrow. Fall is in the air. It’s just an expression as temperatures are predicted to be in the upper 90s. I haven’t slept much lately. In the wee hours... [More]
A former owner and editor of the newspaper dropped by my office the other day. She is beautiful, smart, fun, and so vibrant. We talked about her life. She is busy. She is active. She is involved in her church, in her community, in having fun, and keeping active. It... [More]
Last week there was a New York Times article about farming in Syracuse Kansas. I read it and was impressed. The writing surpassed anything I am capable of at this time. It bruised my ego a bit. My confidence was taken down a couple notches. I took a breath... [More]
I’m writing this on my way to one last sheep show midweek before school starts here. At 5:30 AM we were on the road. For those who know me that is a rare occurrence. The air is cool. The sunrise is beautiful and I wonder why I don’t take the time to enjoy these... [More]
The pastor on Sunday mentioned suffering is good. Or I think I heard that. I was after fair tired and wanted some refreshment. But it turned out it was what I needed to hear. Sometimes suffering pushes us to do more. For the sake of small town and the public not knowing... [More]
Last Thursday, the Hamilton County Fire Department held their Fireman’s Appreciation Dinner. County Fire Chief Ed Baker and four other firefighters retired. Years of service awards were announced and those recognized were Ed Baker who has served Hamilton... [More]
The 2023 Kansas State Fair began September 8 and continues through September 17, 2023. If you are headed there this weekend, you may want to check out the 4-H building where many local 4-H youth will have their work on display. To be eligible to take non animal exhibits... [More]
Fall sports are in full swing and Bulldog fans had an opportunity to cheer on cross country, golf, cheer, junior high and high school volleyball and football, all in the same week. Junior high and high school cross country travelled to Goodland Thursday August 31,... [More]
How did you spend your summer? Swimming and bicycling? Working? For Syracuse High School Senior Jay Gould, he took the opportunity of a lifetime. He explored Spain for five weeks with foreign exchange student Inigo Moral. Moral hails from Valladolid, Spain. Last year, the... [More]
Pictured L to R - Carlos Huato, Antonio Banda, Sally Catlett, Griselda Sigala, Erica Rodriguez, Frank Garcia, Shelby Hernandez/photo by Michele Boy
Stella Simon wakes each morning in her bedroom to a wall of trophies, medals, and ribbons. Fourteen All-Around Champion trophies, 193 medals, and 6 ribbons. There is more if you count participation trophies and All-Around medals. The Syracuse Journal has been following... [More]
Country singer Clare Dunn will headline a benefit concert at the Prowers County Fairgrounds Arena on Saturday, September 2nd to help with recovery efforts after an EF-3 tornado destroyed the home of John and Myrna DuVall. Dunn who grew up in Two Buttes has plenty of Syracuse... [More]
1971 SHS graduate, Grace (Boy) Donecker, retired from a 32 year career in nursing, but the path was not a straight one. “I was never going to be a nurse. I hated needles!” Grace grew up just south of Syracuse where Dave and Jenny Schwieterman live. Gordon and Lois... [More]
A Memorial Service for Syracuse, Kansas resident, Jim Brucker will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 22, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church in Syracuse. Pastor Larry Alexander will officiate. James G. Brucker, known to most as Brucker, was born June 27,... [More]
Timothy J. “Tim” Haslett, 75, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away at home (after a fall) on September 13, 2023. Tim was born September 26, 1947, in Dodge City, Kansas. He was the oldest of seven children born to Floyd B. and Magdalene (Stegman) Haslett. Tim was a farm... [More]
Patricia Berniece Tyler of Denison, Texas, passed away on September 7, 2023, at the age of 82. She was born on November 3, 1940, in Cairo, Kansas, to Albert Alexander and Lois Aletha (Wilson) Clark. Patricia had a caring and nurturing spirit. She loved working as a nurse and... [More]
Robert "Bobby" Nelson Moore, 56, of Seward County, Kansas passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo, TX Bobby was born in Waynoka, Oklahoma on July 5, 1967, and was lovingly adopted by Jackson Nelson Moore... [More]
A Memorial Service for Kerri Lonnberg will be held Friday, September 8, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Holly School with Pastor Kathy Leathers officiating. Kerri Lynn Lonnberg departed this life September 1, 2023 in Denver, Colorado at the age of 44. She was born August 1,... [More]
Marvin (Babe) E. Graber passed away August 31, 2023 at the age of 89 at the Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, Kansas. Marvin was born at his family home in Kendall, Kansas on March 20, 1934. He was the youngest of six siblings born to John and Carrie Graber. Marvin graduated... [More]
A Memorial Service for Coolidge, Kansas resident, David Wagner will be held Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Holly, Colorado. Inurnment will take place at a later date. Per David’s request cremation has taken place and... [More]
Dr. Leo Russell Finkenbinder, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, university professor, and biologist passed away on August 8, 2023. His memorial service will be held on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 10:00am. Bethany First Church... [More]
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