LINDSBORG, Kan. – The fall sports season has ramped up across the area and that’s no different for the Smoky Valley Vikings. The past week saw successes in multiple sports, highlighted by a season-opening win for the football team and high individual finishes in cross country and tennis.
FOOTBALL
The Vikings opened the season with a win over Larned in a low-scoring battle, 8-6. You can read the full story here: Vikings Win Low-Scoring Opener.
VOLLEYBALL
The Vikings battled tough competition at the Abilene Quad on Tuesday, September 4, going 1-2 on the night. Their win came over TMP Marian in straight sets, 25-21, 25-22. Against the host school Abilene, they fell in two sets, 25-20, 25-15 and a solid Rock Creek team was able to sweep Smoky Valley 25-9, 25-19. The Vikings will be on the court for two events this week as they head to the Hays High Triangular along with Nickerson on Tuesday night (9/9) and will compete in the Southeast of Saline Tournament on Saturday (9/13).
CROSS COUNTRY
Smoky Valley held their annual invitational on Thursday, September 4 at the Smoky Valley Country Club course.
In the Junior/Senior division, the Vikings took first as a team on the girls side. Hope Willems had the top finish individually for Smoky Valley, taking fourth place with a time of 21:28.04. Sophia Eyer and Emma Chaput were also in the top ten, with Eyer in 8th (22:59.48) and Chaput in 10th (23.01.59). In the Junior/Senior boys race, Kaden Bishop took sixth place with a time of 17:48.19. Isaiah Ayala was also in the top 20 with a 17th place finish.
In the Freshman/Sophomore girls division, the VIkings had two top ten finishers as Leyton Raush took 8th (23:36.02) and Ella Chaput was 9th (23:36.87). Henry Bowman was the top finisher for Smoky Valley in the Freshman/Sophomore boys race, taking 15th (20:56.73).
This week, Smoky Valley travels to the Hesston Invitational at 3:30 on Thursday.
GIRLS TENNIS
At the Ellsworth Invitational on Tuesday, September 2, the Vikings tied for fourth place as a team. Katelyn Leis was the top finisher as she went 3-1 and finished in third place in #1 Singles. She opened with a loss, but went 3-0 through the backside of the bracket, defeating Micah Wolke of Conway Springs 8-5 for the medal. In #2 Singles, Zora Carver finished fourth place with a 2-2 mark.
In doubles, the #1 team of Noelle Crouch and Layla Fleming finished in 5th Place with a 2-2 record for the day. In #2 Doubles, Addison Rojas and Kiera Showalter also went 2-2 and finished in 5th.
Smoky Valley has two events on the schedule this week as they host a home invitational on Thursday morning at 10:00 and travel to Hesston Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
