Critical district game awaits South after loss

With their 31-6 loss to undefeated Lee's Summit West last Friday, the Park Hill South Panthers (3-3) saw their three game win streak snapped and will look to begin anew this week as they host St. Joe Central (3-3). Both teams have had similar seasons, having seen promising signs of momentum come and go. This game will be an opportunity for the winner to record a victory over a competitive opponent for their postseason resume.

While Coach Mark Simcox says his team didn't play as bad as the score may indicate, it was the big play ability of Lee's Summit West that had the most effect on the game. Having given up a punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter to put Park Hill South in an early 10-0 hole, Lee's Summit West found the end zone one more time before halftime to give the Titans a 17-0 lead.

Park Hill South's main focus coming into the game was on shutting down the Titan run game, which it did accomplish with some effectiveness, but this left the Panthers vulnerable to the deep pass as Lee's Summit West quarterback Thomas Ganaden would finish with 237 yards passing on the night.

Offensively, the Panthers struggled throughout the night. Other than a red zone threat in the third quarter which eventually ended with an interception, Park Hill South's only opportunity to score came when Carson Reid connected with Nick Griffith on a one-yard route for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to narrow the final margin to 31-7.

Park Hill focusing on task at hand after night they'll never forget

Few athletes are able to fulfill their dreams of playing professionally, but Park Hill soccer was afforded the unique opportunity to experience just what it would be like with a game at Livestrong Sporting Park against Northland rival Oak Park last Friday night. On the same night Sporting KC clinched a spot in the Major League Soccer playoffs, Park Hill and Oak Park would provide the closing act on a night that would live up to and exceed expectations for all those involved, providing memories which will last a lifetime.

“It was something they were jazzed up about all day,” Park Hill coach Josh Marchbank said. “Everyone was giddy and it was a phenomenal experience. I’ve been a (Sporting KC) season ticket holder for the last five years. I love coming out here so it’s a special moment for me and our guys to be able to sit on the bench and have all these fans out here.”

 While Sporting KC attracted a record breaking crowd to Livestrong for the main event earlier in the evening, about 1,000 fans between the two schools turned out for the high school game that followed. However, the circumstances of the contest were no random coincidence, but a testament to Oak Park senior Ray Saari, an all-state selection, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer as a sophomore and has battled through a recovery, all while continuing to play. His relationship with the stadium’s namesake organization, Livestrong, is what prompted the idea of hosting the first high school match to be played at the park. Saari and Oak Park selected Park Hill as their opponent because of the healthy rivalry between the two teams and, possibly even more important, the relationship Saari has with some of his Trojan counterparts.

“Playing with Ray, he’s a personal friend of mine and I love him so much. I want to thank him for picking us to play them here,” Park Hill senior Neal Sampson said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Oak Park and just being here with my team and family has been just awesome.”

The atmosphere had everything a professional game would. Players warmed up to stadium music anthems, were introduced by the public address announcer while their pictures were shown on the scoreboard, and sat on the comfortably designed chairs that traditionally are reserved for professionals only.

“I think the moment that got me was when we walked out of the tunnel for the first time. When these guys walked out to the FIFA anthem to play in front of 1000 fans, it’s a special experience,” Marchbank said. “It was incredibly loud. I looked at the guys faces and every set of eyes was popping out of their heads.

Excitement and anticipation were almost building to an unbearable point leading up to kickoff. It was so bad Marchbank says he thinks it was partially responsible for a tough 2-0 conference loss the night before to Lee’s Summit West. This night though would belong to the Trojans as Timmy Hay set up Keaton Anchors in the 13^th minute for the game’s only goal. Days and weeks of restlessness building up for the game were evident on the field as players competed with the desire and physicality of a state playoff game. The Trojans hope to use it as a building block for the rest of their season.

“We talked about it before the game that this can be a turning point in our season. It’s halfway through the season and we need to work out the fine things and really perfect things going into districts,” Marchbank said. “To get a win in an atmosphere like this is really going to give us the motivation to move forward and be successful.”

“We’ve been talking about this game every day. Came into this game excited, played well, and got a win,” Sampson said. “We have to take it one game at a time; this is a good place to start.”

The immediate task at hand has the Trojans, now 9-3 on the year, focusing on their appearance in the Park Hill South Panther Classic tournament this week, but the lasting memories of their Livestrong experience will remain for years to come.

“Great experience, great environment,” Marchbank said. “It’s awesome and I’ll never forget this night.”

Fall Round-up: Sept. 24-Oct. 1

Park Hill Girls Tennis
…concluded their regular season last week with a close 5-4 loss to a talented St. Joe Central team. Brooke Barnard, Kaylin Lake, and Abby Peoples won their singles matches early, but the Indians came back to win the match in the later rounds. The Trojans wrapped up their schedule with a record of 7-9 on the year.

Park Hill defeated NKC yesterday in the opening round of districts 7-2. They face #2 St. Theresa's today in semi's.

Park Hill South Girls Tennis

…clinched their second straight conference title last week with an 8-1 win over Lee’s Summit West. The Panthers finished their regular season with a 9-1 record and were competing in the Class 2, District 15 team semifinals as The Citizen went to press Tuesday evening. The individual portion of that tournament will be played over the weekend at Barry Park.

Park Hill South Softball

….went 2-1 in the final week of the regular season last week with wins over Lee’s Summit West (4-2) and Park Hill (4-0). Sandwiched in between those two victories was a 3-0 loss to Truman.

Alyx Hagen recorded both victories from the mound.

Park Hill South clinched a number one seed in the Class 4, District 16 tournament this week and will face the winner of the Oak Park/St. Joe Central game in the semifinal Thursday evening.

Park Hill South Volleyball

…kept rolling last week with a big win over Blue Springs South as the Panthers took the first game in overtime 26-24 before clinching the match in the second game with a 25-20 win. Now 19-1 on the season, Park Hill South looks to a rematch against Lee’s Summit West, the only team to have beaten the Panthers this season.

“It was a great match and our kids came so ready to play.  I can’t tell you how proud of them I am.  Blue Springs South is an awesome team and we so love that kind of competition. We have to get up again because Lee’s Summit West is coming to South on Thursday,” Park Hill South coach Debbie Fay said.

Park Hill Volleyball

…split their two matches last week with a convincing win over Ruskin in two games with wins of 25-2 and 25-4. They fell to conference leader Lee’s Summit West to end the week with losses of 25-13 and 25-18. The Trojans are now 10-8-3 on the season will have some time off with their next scheduled match at Raytown on October 8^th. Lindsey Grace continues to lead the team in kills (123) and blocks (40). While Olivia Nowakowski leads in digs with 211 and Kelsey Bearce in assists with 143.

Park Hill South Boys Soccer

…dropped a competitive conference game to Lee’s Summit West to start last week with a 2-1 loss as the Titans scored a late second half goal to earn the win. Brian Kissee scored the Panthers lone goal. Park Hill South win their remaining two games with a Brody Bouillon goal secured a 1-0 win over Truman followed by a 7-0 win over St. Joe Central where Kissee recorded three goals. Daniel Herrjon (2), Adam Weatherly, and Jordan Lindsey also contributed goals in the victory.

Kissee who had previously only had two goals on the year, now leads the Panthers’ in goals with six this season.

Park Hill South, who is now 12-3 on the year, is hosting their annual tournament this week and will play Smithville Thursday with the title game scheduled for Saturday. 

Park Hill Boys Cross Country

…finished 25^th out of 37 teams at the KC Metro Classic over the weekend. Kainen Utt led the Trojans as he came in 20^th in the packed field of runners. Nate Thomas (90^th), James Adams (174^th), Cain Winebrenner (193^rd), Graham England (206^th), Carter Barajas (216^th), and Riley Fahrenholz (243^rd) competed for the Trojans. Park Hill will run in the conference meet this weekend in St. Joe.

Park Hill South Boys Cross Country

…finished 20^th out of 37 teams competing at the KC Metro Classic over the weekend. Tucker Melles came in 16^th as the Panthers top finisher. Keyan Lunders (97^th), Lendon Calhoun (132^nd), Eli Williams (167^th), Jacob Bowlin (192^nd), and Isaac Frieden (201^st) rounded out the Panther field. Park Hill South will run in the conference meet this weekend in St. Joe.

Park Hill Girls Cross Country

…took 27^th out of 33 teams at the KC Metro Classic last week. Merecedes Robinson came in 61^st place while Kim Rau (70^th), Emma Gaiser (154^th), Brooke Bischof (195^th), and Gianna Tutorino (204^th) also competed for the Trojans. Park Hill will run in the conference meet this weekend in St. Joe.

Park Hill South Girls Cross Country

…18^th out of 33 teams in the KC Metro Classic last weekend. Erica Guzman finished in 76^th place for the Panthers with Lizzy Jurries shortly behind in 78^th. Other Panthers competing included Margaret McKeon (89^th), Audrey Rother (116^th), and DeDe O’Toole (191^st).

 Park Hill South Girls Golf
...finished fourth at the district tournament Monday afternoon. Lindsey Gile led the way for the Panthers with her sixth place score of 91. Sydney Sanders and Laiya Smith, who shot 101 and 102 respectively, joined Gile in qualifying individually for the state sectional tournament. Other scores for Park Hill South included Ashley Kildow's 118 and Tarah Patneau's 123.

Park Hill Girls Golf

...had a historic week last week culminating in a district title Monday. In their final dual of the regular season, the Trojans posted a all-time low score of 184 as a team. Bailey Warlen, medalist, and Adrianna Elliott led the way with their first and second place scores of 40 and 42. That performance set the stage for their first-ever district title win Monday afternoon when Elliott posted a third place score of 88 with Warlen not far behind with her fifth place score of 90. Elliott, Warlen, and Sydney Paulak, who shot a 103, all qualified individually for the state sectional tournament prior to clinching the team title, which allows the Trojans to compete all five of their varsity golfers. The closest Park Hill has been to winning a district title in recent years came last year when they placed second. Elliott and Warlen were honored as Applebee's Athletes of the Week for their performances.