BOYS CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW: Park Hill South looks to build on success

Park Hill South will come into the 2011 boys cross country season with a conference title to defend. With standout runner James Bowlin graduated and now competing at Johnson County Community College, the Panthers come into this season with only a basic idea of what kind of athletes they’ll be throwing against the competition this fall.

Coach Brad Banning says his team has seen its share of highs and lows in recent years, but after last year he’s hoping they can build and continue the success.

“The past couple years have been kind of down, but now we’re hoping to be on the up,” Banning said.

Senior leadership will prove to be a foundation for what is otherwise considered a young team. Contributions will come from seniors Tim Albright, Barrett Hudson, Mitch McDonald, and Peter Thomas.

“A lot of the younger kids are probably going to be stepping up this year. We’re real young, but we’ve got a lot of numbers which is good. 50 runners is the most we’ve ever had,” Banning said.

Also returning are juniors Jacob Bowlin, Mason Homoly, and Lendon Calhoun.Young runners Banning sees promise from so far in the early days of the preseason from freshman Tucker Mellis and sophomore Keaton Murry. More individuals will emerge once the team gets into actual competition as the groups first event, the Liberty Invitational, usually serves as an official time trial and sets the teams for events moving forward.

“We are a younger team and I’d like to see us continue growing in numbers,” Banning said. “The future looks bright and I am excited to see what these young runners can accomplish this year.”

In addition to competing next to a strong Raytown team for the conference title, the Panthers would like to improve on last year’s sixth place finish to get into the top four. South’s key events they will focus in on are the Bishop Miege, the Joplin Invitational, and the KC Metro Classic.

Park Hill South head basketball coach resigns

Park Hill South High School varsity head basketball coach Anthony Perry has resigned from his coaching and physical education teacher positions with the school. He also served as an assistant coach on the track and field teams.

Park Hill South Athletic Director John Sedler confirmed the resignation earlier this week only saying it had been issued two weeks ago and at the time he had been on vacation. With this week being the first in a new school year, questions have arisen to the circumstances behind Perry's sudden departure and whether the resignation was on personal grounds or from a situation involving his responsibilities with the school. Calls to district administrators went unreturned as of Tuesday evening.

As far as the basketball program is concerned, Sedler said there were still some things to be sorted out, but indicated there would be a new head coach in place by the beginning of preseason workouts in November. He did not say whether a new coach had been decided upon, if a search was underway internally within the school, or if the position would be opened up to outside applicants. Sedler also did not rule out the possibility of an interim head coach filling the position for the 2011-2012 season until a more long-term replacement would be named.

Millenial generation brings change in attitude, philosophy

Most of you would probably agree that we need some good news. For most of the summer, we’ve seen and heard stories of how poorly the economy is doing, the dysfunction in government, natural disasters near and far, and several tragic losses of life on the local level. No, there sure hasn’t been much to celebrate recently, at least from a news standpoint.

The drug-out negotiations and debate on the debt ceiling resulted in an agreement to lower budget deficits on the back of $2.4 trillion in spending cuts over the next ten years. Unfortunately, this was only about half of the $4 trillion rating agencies like Standard & Poor’s had clearly said they were looking for. After all the media theatrics the politicians went through, they thought their agreement was reason to celebrate a touchdown when in reality they barely got past the 50-yard line. Not surprisingly, this resulted in a credit rating downgrade from AAA to AA+, further intensifying the finger pointing in Washington.

That paired with a ten percent drop in the stock market will likely be what the summer of 2011 will be remembered for in a political sense for the foreseeable future. Republicans blame President Obama and Democrats are blaming the tea party just as predictably as dogs bark at cats. I’ve previously gone into great length about the various broken parts of government, most specifically the kind of people who run it. Those same sentiments have been echoed again throughout the country recently.

I’m always astonished how our leaders regularly mention the need for tough choices now so our children and grandchildren are able to live in a nation free of the burdensome problems created in their past. Then, they repeatedly revert back to the same behavior that prevents exactly that from happening. So, let’s admit it, for the time being we’re not going to get the long-term governance towards the future we need. What’s that? We need to throw them all out? Well, maybe, but simply replacing our elected representatives with even stronger like-minded folks isn’t going to change much. It’s bigger than this though, it could be generational and possibly a matter of time. Those same children and grandchildren commonly used as political pawns are growing up in a different world than their parents and it’s had an effect on the way they view the world, the people in it, and the problems we face. The ones that should serve as the motivation for progress are more than likely the ones better equipped to actually see it through.

Although I’m biased because I fit into this group, there will soon be a new generation taking the reins of leadership from the aging Baby Boomers (born 1946-64) and members of Generation X (born 1964-80). They’ve been coined Millennials, the first generation to come of age in the new millennium. While eras such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, and other conflicts in the 60’s and 70’s caused what seemed to be life-long divisions between groups of people, Millennials find themselves growing up in the most diverse culture this country has ever seen. Kids and young adults are less divided on many of the issues that have caused separation among people in the past including race, gender, religion, and other social differences. This has led to a more tolerant and accepting group of Americans. In addition to personal experience, technology and social media has exposed to them multiple points of view and various opinions that help shape their own thoughts. In fact, the availability of those resources has not only made us more informed of the world around us, but also led us to be more flexible and avoid the type of purely absolute thinking so evident in our current leaders.

Millennials aren’t typically driven by traditional issues of contention because as the world becomes more complex they understand that most things aren’t as black and white as they’re commonly made out to be. Even outside of a political context, they tend to display the very characteristics you hear people clamoring for now. Things like compromise, open-mindedness, accepting differences without hostility, and disagreeing without being disagreeable.

Of course, this is just a broad view of the Millenial generation as a whole, not all individuals fit the bill exactly. They come with their own unique faults, which could be a column of its own someday. As my grandpa sometimes says “It’s darkest just before dawn”, and so may be the case now with public satisfaction in government at all-time lows. While many believe social and economic change is always just an election away, the long-term shift away from dysfunctional government may just come with the gradual changing of the guard from generations divided by their conflicts to a generation more adapted to find similarities among their growing differences.

Chubby's: Popular downtown KC diner opens Northland location

One of the great things about living in parts of Platte County is the bustling streets, tall skyscrapers, and swarms of people usually associated with Kansas City’s downtown can be as near or far away as you want.

Chubby’s on Broadway, which has grown into a Kansas City icon for many, recently brought the all-day breakfast menu and old-style cooked burgers associated with their long-time downtown location to the Northland. Not known to have a high supply of breakfast or diner-oriented restaurants, the Northland is now home to a 24-hour diner that has served Kansas City for 23 years and opened its first satellite location on May 23 in the Boardwalk Shopping Center at 6332 NW Barry Road.

Chubby’s, a spin-off name of the favorite hangout “Tubby’s Drive-in” from the 1980’s movie Hollywood Knights, was started by the LaBruzza family in a small diner on Independence Avenue in 1988. The business later moved to a storefront space on Broadway before eventually expanding to the location it’s now called home for ten years. Nick and Vito LaBruzza took over the family business a couple years ago from their father, also named Nick. However, the Northland location is owned and operated by Vito’s brother-in-law, Vince Frew, whose sister married into the family several years ago.

Frew, a lifelong Northlander, had thought about and talked through several different ideas for an expansion, one of which included a Gladstone location and smaller concept of a 6am-2pm Chubby’s Express. But when 54th Street Bar & Grill opted to move across the interstate into Zona Rosa in 2010, they left a location already fitted to serve another quality restaurant. Having worked in AmeriStar Casino’s restaurants for nearly 11 years, it was in 2009 that Frew started working with his brother-in-laws at their Broadway location to learn the business better.

“I wanted to learn how they did things. They’ve been in business for 23 years, obviously they’re doing something right,” Frew said. “We had talked about putting one up here (Northland), but that one (on Broadway) keeps them busy enough, so I just licensed the name from them.”

While the concept and menu are identical, Chubby’s on Barry hopes to capitalize on the area’s breakfast and late night voids not only by serving breakfast all-day, but also staying open 24-hours on the weekends to capitalize on the handful of bars in the area open until 3 a. m.

“There’s very limited breakfast around here. I’d like to think our food is better than IHOP or Waffle House,” Frew said. “In that regard, I don’t think anyone can compete with us in terms of portion size and quality of food in my opinion. With the overnight crowd, we’ve got the potential to do really well.”

One difference between the Broadway and Barry locations is that the Northland location will soon have a liquor license and carry a limited selection of wine and beer.

“Hopefully sometime in August, we’ll have beer and wine,” Frew said. “A limited selection, because this isn’t a bar and grill, but we’ll have it available for people that want it.”

A veteran of the food service industry, Frew says they’ve gone through the same things any new restaurant goes through which explains his cautious approach to opening the business. He wanted all the kinks worked out before aggressively marketing the new location.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but that’s expected and why we’ve gone light on our advertising with a softer opening. I’m a little more comfortable now and we’ll probably start advertising more soon,” Frew said.

Even with a presence that spans over two decades in Kansas City, Frew says there are as many people exciting about the opening of their restaurant as there are those who aren’t as familiar.

“There are a lot of people that were excited to get one up north after going to the one downtown, but we still get a lot of people that don’t know we’re here yet,” Frew said. “For as long as Chubby’s has been in Kansas City, there are still some people who’ve never heard of it.”

As far as menu items, Chubby’s will feature their old-style hamburgers, which are cooked on a flat-top, not on a grill, so as Frew says “all the juice stays in the burger, not a drop of seasoning on it like it has been all along.” To go with it, chocolate shakes and malts. And of course, the all-day breakfast menu features omelettes, biscuits and gravy, and other traditional morning choices.

Special session called after legislators fail to address jobs

Republican members of the Missouri House and Senate along with Governor Jay Nixon proved last week it isn't just the political divide between the parties that leads to an inability to accomplish some things; it's politicians themselves in general. Unable to pass any kind of legislation addressing the state’s economic situation with a jobs bill, also known as an economic development package, during the nearly five month period allotted to them by the Missouri Constitution, legislators must now convene a special session to meet what most Missourians agree is currently the state’s most pressing issue. Not only have our elected representatives wasted the resources and time given to them, they’ve asked for more to accomplish what they promised to voters was their top priority.

Partisan gridlock is something we’ve sadly become familiar with in Washington with Republicans and Democrats in a constant struggle for the upper-hand. In Jefferson City though, the situation is very different after the November 2010 elections gave Republicans historically wide majorities in both the House and Senate. To demonstrate, there are now as many freshmen Republicans in the House of Representatives as there are in the entire Democratic caucus. They could virtually run the mill on any issue they felt was a priority without Democrats being able to do much other than serve as an annoyance to stop it. The only thing standing between them in the legislative process is the Democratic Governor, Jay Nixon. To the dismay of many in his party, Nixon has made some very politically calculating decisions in his first term to avoid hot button issues that could be potentially harmful to his re-election. This includes being cautious when it comes to vetoing legislation sent to his desk from the Republican legislature.

With these factors in their favor, Republicans should have finally been able to put together their vision of a comprehensive agenda to strengthen a fragile economy, right? Wrong. Squabbles between the Senate and House are normal in the legislative process, but the Senate, which has traditionally leaned towards the more mature of the two as it usually holds more mild-mannered and veteran lawmakers, seems to have shifted away from that tendency recently to find itself just as likely to be an obstacle to pending legislation as the more populated House.

It may seem like forever ago, but the election of November 2010 was only nine months ago. One thing you won't forget is the message that rang true then and even truer now. Missouri and the United States need jobs. “Jobs, jobs, jobs” were the slogans repeated over and over again by candidates across the country. It’s now been seven months since many of those same candidates were sworn into office and the state of Missouri still has nothing to show for it.

Unlike members of Congress at the federal level, our state legislators serve part-time. January through May, for only a little over three days a week, they travel to Jefferson City to bring solutions to our state’s biggest problems. When the state constitution was established it wasn't thought there was a need for full-time legislators. It was thought they could easily meet their civic duties and have time to pursue other activities whether it was to establish a career, provide for a family, etc. At least that was the thought.

So with such limited time, most of us would feel compelled to dig in immediately and begin discussing, developing, and considering solutions to the state’s problems. In reality, what ends up happening is the first couple weeks of each session are mostly wasted. Any votes that do take place are procedural while much the rest are non-binding resolutions to serve as ideological benchmarks to cite in political mailers for the next election campaign. The majority of the rest of session centers on establishing a balanced state budget. Of course, there are other bills discussed and eventually passed, but many of the serious negotiations and time is spent on the budget. This is a problem as much attributed to the institution as it is the individual lawmakers.

The 10th Amendment to the Constitution and the principle of federalism are based in part on the ability for states to implement their own creative and unique ideas within their borders. This is the task state representatives and state senators are assigned. It is not to constantly grandstand and scold the federal government on issues in Washington D.C. of which they have no control, but to craft programs and policies on a state level that have the opportunity to succeed. This should be done even if it is, as they see it, in spite of obstacles presented by federal government; not to serve as an excuse for inaction. Elections have consequences most of which are rewarding, but with it also comes a burden of responsibility to do what voters were told you would do.

The Missouri legislature and state government in general don’t get the deserved coverage it needs to keep its citizens up to date on progress made on the state’s challenging issues. That’s why it’s easy for decisions made (or lack thereof) to go unnoticed by most taxpayers. One thing certain is while the opportunity to bring an economic development package forward was wasted earlier this year, unlike other issues that are continuously kicked down the road, Missouri will hopefully and finally have a jobs plan to carry out come September that both the wide Republican majority and Governor Nixon will praise. While politically slow and inconvenient for politicians, the wait is nothing compared to the people of Missouri and unemployed job seekers who need its contents the most.

Why most qualified are hesitant to run for office

The classic Greek philosopher Plato once referred to what happens when the wisest people in our community, state, and country sit on the sidelines of democracy, “The punishment of wise men who refuse to take part in the affairs of government is to live under the government of unwise men." Those words, spoken over two thousand years ago, still relate on a basic level to our own present-day government. If some of our most capable and knowledgeable members of society choose not to go into public service we are left with the consequences of being led by those who've mastered the art of political gamesmanship and use of exhaustive talking points, instead of those with applicable experience in the subjects at hand and even the most visible hint of humble common sense.

At first thought it’s completely understandable why people are reluctant to participate in government, whether it’s running for office or simply holding a position on a board or committee. Even before considering the internet and 24-hour news cycle, drawbacks can include the potential for continuous scrutiny, unfair misrepresentations, and to the frustration of taxpayers and elected officials alike, agonizing gridlock. Now, with advancements in technology, civic progress and individuals’ reputations can be held ransom at the mercy of a Twitter, Facebook, or blog post that can be sent to thousands with the simple click of a mouse. Even if you’re able to escape all of that, with the simple declaration of a party affiliation, a percentage of the public will likely automatically caste you to the extreme as a right-wing, Conservative Republican or a leftist, Liberal Democrat whether it’s deserved or not.

This, all in addition to the actual problems needing to be addressed by the position. The most enduring and long-standing politicos might say you can’t handle the heat or don’t have the backbone upon which to guide your service. When in reality, it doesn’t mean you lack the courage of your convictions; it simply means you value the life you’ve built for yourself along with the relationships you’ve developed too much for them to be trashed by those who enjoy rolling in the mud of public character assaults. Yes, it’s easy to understand why the ‘wise’ may choose to take their ambitions to the private sector and use philanthropy as their way of leaving a mark on their community.

But as quickly as we can come up with the list of reasons not to participate in government on a personal level, it takes a little more to realize what the implications of non-participation are to our community as a whole. While a simple answer to the gridlock, scandals, and non-solutions we witness everyday is to go on with our lives independently and write the entire lot of politicians off as phony, incompetent, and self-serving; that mind of thought won’t solve the problems we face any better. As Plato stated, it’s the consequences of not participating we must consider, where inaction leaves us with the same unsatisfied results we had previously. At least with active engagement, those who envision a better way can say they put forward the effort.

The wise may consider staying away from government participation, but it is also the wise with the most potential to prove to us again public service is a noble undertaking. After all, it is the wise in settings outside of government whose actions are based on the situation at hand, not a pre-determined political philosophy established decades in the past. It is the wise that consider the long-term, big picture and not what many times are the insignificant pieces of the whole when making substantial decisions. And yes, it is the wise that refrain from the common acts among politicians and their associates that make us hesitate when the opportunity for public participation presents itself.

So while we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day this week in our own unique ways whether it be enjoying a parade, festival, cookout, day at the lake, or a simple chance to relax, remember 235 years ago it was a collective group of ‘wise’ men who didn’t refuse to participate in their government, but did refuse to live under the rule of the unwise.

Turn complacent apathy into participation and we, like them, can also set the course for generations to come. We get the government we deserve and many times it starts with who decides to throw their hat into the ring in the first place.

Park Hill grad killed in action on eighth combat tour

The first words of the United States Army Ranger Creed include “Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of my Ranger Regiment.” Those are the first that begin to embody and form a picture of the kind of solider Staff Sergeant Jeremy Katzenberger was. The 26 year-old Weatherby Lake native, in his eighth tour of duty oversees, was conducting a mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan’s Paktika Province last week when he died of wounds suffered in a heavy firefight from an insurgent attack on his unit.

Before Katzenberger committed himself to his country, he had a love for being on the water. As a young boy he could be found every summer at Weatherby Lake’s C-Point where he took up sailing and fishing. He passed his passion on when he taught other young sailors and lifeguarded at the local pool. Naturally this led him onto the swimming, diving, and water polo teams at Park Hill High School. He was also active in track, Young Life, Junior Assembly, and 4H Character Council before graduating in 2003.

Jeremy was the youngest of four boys, two of which are also in the Army, and growing up was a favorite among their friends and neighbors around the lake with a welcoming smile.

“We are so proud of these boys, and prayed this sad day would never come,” former neighbor Shawn-Marie Simmons said. “The Katzenberger family has always had our utmost respect for their amazing patriotism, with three of their boys in the Armed Forces.

Katzenberger had previously served four tours in Iraq before embarking on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan. After enlisting in October 2004 he was assigned to Company B, 1st Ballion, 75th Ranger Regiment based just outside Savannah, Georgia. A highly decorated soldier, he advanced through the enlisted ranks to Staff Sergeant and was leading his squad in the June 14th mission that claimed his life. Staff Sergeants are often said to be the elements of which the backbone of the Army is made and that their success, more than any other grade of the non-commissioned officer rank, lead the path to the Army’s success.

Hundreds of members of the Patriots guard participated in Katzenberger's funeral procession which stretched nearly a mile long down 64th Street on June 26th (via http://www.shadesofgray.com/)

In a release, 75th Ranger Regiment commander Col. Michael E. Kurilla talked about Katzenberger’s deep commitment to his country.

"I wish the American people could truly understand the dedication and sacrifice that Staff Sgt. Jeremy Katzenberger made for his country. Since early 2005, Jeremy has either been in combat or training for combat. This was his eighth combat deployment. He was the epitome of a Ranger squad leader; he is a hero to our nation, the Army and his family."

He is survived by his wife, Colleen, seven-month old son Everett, both of Richmond Hill, Georgia, outside Savannah, GA, parents Robert and Peggy Katzenberger of Weatherby Lake, MO, and three brothers. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Special Operations Warriors Foundation.

Former Park Hill South star gets the call-up

When Park Hill South baseball won their conference title earlier this spring, it was the first time they had done so since the Panthers’ inaugural graduating class won their first over ten years ago. That team was led by one of the area’s most successful and talented athletic products in recent memory, Tommy Hottovy, who still holds strikeout, earned run average, and batting average records at South.

Nearly eleven years after walking out the doors of Park Hill South High School to pursue a baseball scholarship at Wichita State in what he hoped at the time would be a chance to later accomplish his dream of playing professional baseball, he was able to see it come true earlier this month when he made his major league pitching debut for the Boston Red Sox. It was a journey that faced obstacles, but the 29 year-old rookie now finds himself a member of a storied baseball franchise at the top of the standings and sure to be eying another playoff run come October.

The standout Panther football, basketball, and baseball player helped hang some of the school’s earliest title and championship banners when all three teams made deep runs into the playoffs including football and basketball final four appearances. Hottovy, who attended Park Hill his freshman and sophomore years before Park Hill South opened in 1998, found it bittersweet to leave Park Hill, but was also energized to be a part of the first group of seniors at the new school.

“It was exciting, but also kind of sad because you had a lot of friends that were now expected to be your rivals. When you get the chance to be the first class at a new school, you get to set your own history and traditions. Having a brand new school was a really neat experience,” Hottovy said.

A highly decorated, all-everything multi-sport athlete, Hottovy had several options to choose from before finally deciding he wanted his future to be in baseball. What tipped the scale was not only his love for the game, but also the chance to play it everyday.

“What it boiled down to was what I had the best chance in making it. Football would have taken me to a bigger school, but I loved baseball and the game. I loved Friday night games, but didn’t like practicing all week for just one game. I would rather play every day and have multiple games in a week. I wanted to be a big league baseball player which is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid.”

Although talented since an early age, there was certainly no lack of commitment or hard work put into the game. Hottovy family vacations often revolved around out of town baseball tournaments or were scheduled in the offseason, but the pitcher who was also an all-state centerfielder in high school says that making it such a high priority led him to where he is.

“There was definitely a lot of good development in high school. I had a really good curveball at a young age. My velocity and command came along as I got older. I became more consistent in college,” Hottovy said. “In high school, it was about growing stronger and learning things. When you get to college, you’re polishing things up and in the minors you add even a little more.”

After graduating from Wichita State in 2004, the Red Sox drafted Hottovy in the fourth round. He began what was considered a fast progression through the minor leagues. By 2006 he had already made it to the AA level in Boston’s system where he won pitcher of the week awards twice that season. But it was 2007 when Hottovy’s arm started giving him trouble. Trying to work through the pain, he found himself on the disabled list several times. Rehab wasn’t working, so if his dreams of one day making it to the big leagues were to remain within reach he would have to have Tommy John surgery, an arm operation requiring nearly a year of rest and rehab. Before making the decision to move forward in 2008, there was a moment of reflection on whether baseball was something he and his family should continue pursuing.

“I was 26, about to turn 27 right after surgery. I was getting married that year. I called my (soon-to-be) wife and asked her if this was something we wanted to do because it was going to be a long road to get back. She said, ‘I think you owe it to yourself to get healthy and see what you can do. You’ve put so much time into this game to just be done.’ It would’ve been very unsatisfying to walk away. She was 100% behind me and we haven’t looked back,” Hottovy said.

With 2008 and 2009 spent rehabbing at the team’s spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, Hottovy is said to have taken a part-time job at a pizza restaurant to fill the time he had available with his absence from baseball. The fresh start that 2010 brought was more than just jumping back into the game. His fully rehabbed arm essentially had to be retooled and the over-the-top motion Hottovy had grown up using didn’t feel comfortable the way it had before. This led Red Sox coaches to begin working with him on a side-armed motion that, as a left-hander is especially helpful against left-handed hitters, his specialty focus.

“I’ve dropped down to more of a side-arm. Being left handed allows me to be effective against left-handed hitters. I knew that in order to make it I had to get lefties out and be effective. That was my goal, to get as good as I could and make that my number one focus,” Hottovy said.

Hottovy was playing once again at the familiar AA-level to start the 2011 season, but was feeling the best he had since 2006 and confident he was back on the right track to the majors. That opportunity would come at the detriment of friend and fellow side-armed pitcher, Rich Hill, who after considerable early season success tore a ligament and will now require the same Tommy John surgery Hottovy was forced to undergo three years ago.

“It was more of a surprise, but I had a good feeling it could happen. I was feeling good and pitching really well. I was doing what I needed to do to be successful. When I saw he got hurt, it was in the back of my mind that this could be a really good opportunity,” Hottovy said.

His first appearance came in Boston against Oakland’s David DeJesus on June 3 in the top of the sixth inning with a runner in scoring position. It only took three pitches to get him to ground into an inning ending put-out. Oddly enough it was DeJesus again in a similar situation the next day that Hottovy forced into an inning ending double play. This will become a familiar scenario for Hottovy who says he will be asked to come into games late for a batter or two at a time.

“The role I’m going to be in is when they need to get an out or two against lefties with runners on to set it up for our late inning guys. My job is to bridge that gap. Most of the time I’ll just face one or two hitters, so I’ll have a lot of appearances, but not a lot of innings,” Hottovy said.

While he says it’s impossible to ignore the amplified stage the major leagues offer, the game is the same he’s been playing his whole life.

“Right away you notice you’re in a different situation. You’re in front of a bigger crowd, better hitters, everything’s bigger and better,” Hottovy said. “We try to stay focused on the scouting report, what works for you, how to approach them. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know who I was facing, but once the first pitch is thrown it all goes away. You have to stay positive and focused on what you need to do. You can’t get caught up with who you’re facing and where you’re at.”

Hottovy’s spot on the roster isn’t permanently in stone yet as he says there will likely be times where he’ll be optioned to the AAA level in order for the organization to respond to certain needs caused by injuries and to see how other prospects perform, but it’s a positive confirmation his hard work has produced dividends that are now paying off. The long road to the big leagues required perseverance for the former Park Hill South Panther, but the Parkville native who had a dream can now be seen dueling against some of baseball’s best hitters on the game’s highest stage.

Royle, Smith took PHS tennis to new heights with fifth place finish at state

Although the swinging rackets, squeaking courts, and blazing tennis balls have been silenced and the books closed on the high school tennis season for a little over a week now, Park Hill South senior Griffin Smith and sophomore Zack Royle’s fifth place finish in the Missouri Class 2 state doubles tournament will go down as the best finish in Panther history. The two all-state selections defeated Parkway Central in their opening round with a 6-3, 6-1 victory before falling to Kirkwood in three matches. The loss eliminated them from title contention, but didn’t dampen their aspirations. In fact, Smith and Royle went on a tear to win their next three matches in route to their fifth place finish.

Sophomore Zack Royle (left) and senior Griffin Smith (right)

“One of my goals was to go undefeated as long as possible and I only ended up with three losses which is pretty good,” Smith said of his singles season. “Being paired up with Zack (in doubles), we trained together at the same place so we have been working together all year. We knew we had a really good chance to do well at state and we did, it was a great season.”

“As a coach, the satisfaction I take in these accomplishments is secondary to the pride I take in seeing their personal development and the quality of their character. During the season, they have had to serve as role models to the team and cope with the weight of extremely high expectations. They did so with a maturity well beyond their years,” Coach Ian Cunliff said.

A clear picture can be developed of the pair that went undefeated in doubles this season and has been a major part of the establishment of Park Hill South tennis as one of the more formidable programs in the metro over recent years; one of both power and precision.

“He’s a lot better at the net than I am. We’re strongest when I’m serving and he’s at the net, that’s where we try to start matches,” Royle said of the pairing. “He’s left handed so he can get different spins than I can. There aren’t that many righty-lefty combos out there. He’s probably the best lefty in the state.”

“I have more of a placement game where I can put the ball somewhere and Zack is more of a power player. So it really works well together,” Smith said when comparing their styles.

While Smith was a state qualifier in doubles last year, Royle was a freshman on the varsity stage for the first time. Both Smith and Cunliff said Royle’s development between then and now played a huge role in the pair’s success.

“Over the past year, Zack really matured and that was a big thing. Last year as a freshman, he didn’t have as much power and wasn’t as consistent as he is now,” Smith said.

“…he underwent a personal metamorphosis,” Cunliff said. “As a freshman, Zack was frequently visibly overwhelmed by the pressure of an individual sport. This year, he exuded a persona of positive energy that overwhelmed his opponents.”

Having the calming influence of Smith play the role of experienced veteran was also a positive factor in the pair’s success. While the duo came into their own this season, they’ve had a friendship in place since they were first introduced to the sport.

“Griffin and I met when I was about eight or nine years old. We played together at Old Pike (Country Club),” Royle said.

With the conclusion of their season, both will assume different roles moving forward. Smith, with his diploma in hand, will be attending Truman State University next year where he’ll be continuing his tennis career joining friend and local Park Hill graduate Mike Merchant along with Liberty's Jake Olhhausen on the courts in Kirksville. He’s proud of his accomplishments at Park Hill South while also being excited for the future of his former partner.

“I got to do it with a lot of my friends and I’m real happy about it. I’m sure Zack can get it (all-state) again, but it was pretty awesome to a part of and solidifies ourselves in Park Hill South athletic history,” Smith said.

“Though it is cliché, I learned more about the importance of determination and tenacity over natural ability than he ever learned about tennis from me,” Cunliff said of his departing senior. “The future holds wonderful things for Griffin. I know that he will have success at whatever he chooses to do.”

As for Royle, he’ll assume the role of upperclassman when he comes back for his junior season. His summer will include a busy schedule of weekend tournaments and simultaneously preparing for Panther football in the fall on the weekdays when he’ll attend early morning football workouts followed by hours of tennis trying to play against as many styles and opponents as possible. With two more years to look forward to, Royle sees an opportunity to add more to the Panther trophy case.

“I’d like to qualify for state and make all-state again. I’d love to win a state championship. Coach Ian (Cunliff) thinks Justin (Geary) and I have a great chance at doing some damage in doubles next year,” Royle said.

Trojans, Panthers see mixed results at state track

Park Hill Boys Track & Field
Nick Smith provided the most consistent results for the Park Hill Trojans track team at the state meet last weekend, just as he had all season. His seventh place finish in the shot put and twelfth place finish in the discus were the highest finishes for Park Hill at the state's highest level. The 4x800 team of Nathan Koehler, Riley Farenholz, Cain Winebrenner, Joseph Walton finished 15th with their time of 8:11. Dondrell Hardiman was unable to advance to the finals of the 300 hurdles as well as the 4x200 relay team.

Park Hill South Boys Track & Field
James Bowlin finished sixth in 800 meter dash capping off a successful senior year and accounting as the Panthers top finisher and only athlete to compete in a final race.