Girls Are Swim & Dive Conference Champs

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The Kearney High School Girls Swim & Dive team earned its second-consecutive Suburban Blue Conference championship during the 2025 meet Feb. 6-8 at the Gladstone Community Center.

The girls won the meet by 80 points. They earned six event championships, swept all four top spots in the 500 freestyle, improved across the board and had numerous personal records.

“There were incredible performances throughout the three-day meet!” Head Coach Trevor Woehrman said. “If you know any of the girls on the team, please congratulate them on an incredible season.”

Conference Meet Highlights:

Diving:

  • Anna Williams – CONFERENCE CHAMP

200 Medley Relay:

  • Braylon Stegall, Ava Gablek, Kaylie Gerber & Eva Cox – 2nd-place finish

200 Freestyle:

  • Jaycie Davis – A new Personal Record (PR) and CONFERENCE CHAMP

  • Alex Kinstler – A new PR and a 2nd-place finish

  • Elizabeth Demers – A new PR and a 3rd-place finish

200 IM:

  • Eva Cox – 2nd-place finish

  • Eden Roling – A new PR and a 4th-place finish

  • Halle Wright – A new PR and a 5th-place finish

50 Freestyle:

  • Olivia Burgard – A new PR and a 2nd-place finish

  • Adelynn McCourt – A new PR and a 4th-place finish

  • Avreigh James – A new PR

  • Braylon Stegall – A new PR

100 Butterfly:

  • Kaylie Gerber – CONFERENCE CHAMP

  • Eva Cox – A 4th-place finish

  • Brienne Bonderer – A new PR and a 5th-place finish

  • Olivia Burgard – A new PR and a 6th-place finish

100 Freestyle:

  • Ava Gable – A new PR and CONFERENCE CHAMP

  • Adelynn McCourt – A new PR and a 2nd-place finish

  • Halle Wright – A new PR

500 Freestyle:

  • Eden Roling – A new PR and CONFERENCE CHAMP

  • Jaycie Davis – A 2nd-place finish

  • Alex Kinstler – A new PR and a 3rd-place finish

  • Elizabeth Demers – A new PR and a 4th-place finish

100 Backstroke:

  • Braylon Stegall – A new PR and a 3rd-place finish

  • Avreigh James – A new PR and a 4th-place finish

  • Emelyn Kane – A new PR

100 Breaststroke:

  • Brienne Bonderer – A new PR and a 3rd-place finish

  • Brylee Stegall – A 6th-place finish

400 Freestyle Relay:

  • Alex Kinstler, Jaycie Davis, Eden Roling & Olivia Burgard – CONFERENCE CHAMPS

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Girls Wrestling Pins Down Third-Straight Conference Title

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The Bulldog girls secured their third consecutive conference title after defeating the Smithville High School Warriors on the road 48-36 on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Beating their Highway 92 rivals made winning the conference title even sweeter, according to Head Coach Nick Ward.

“This dual is always a back-and-forth scrap where every single point matters,” Coach Ward said. “I’m so proud of the work our girls put in this season and am looking forward to what they accomplish in the postseason.”

The following Bulldogs earned wins against Smithville:

  • Myla Woolridge

  • Ella Herndon

  • Bailey Martin

  • Riley Walker

  • Bella Wenzel

  • Emma Schaetz

  • Carli Vargas

  • Ella Chavez

The girls finish this regular season with a 5-0 record in the Greater Kansas City Suburban Blue Conference. They host the Class 1-District 4 tournament on Feb. 14-15.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Double Header Domination for Bulldogs

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The Kearney Bulldogs boys and girls basketball team both grabbed a win in a double header matchup against the Excelsior Springs Tigers on Friday, January 24. Both teams started strong and kept the Tigers on their heels throughout the game.

The lady Bulldogs came out swinging in the first quarter with a 10-0 run on the Tigers from Brooke Paalhar and Addie Taylor. Kennedi Casey and Mallyrie Schwab-Wetzel also contributed to the first quarter, putting Kearney up 16-5 to start the second quarter.

In the second quarter, Kayla Resler put her name in the scorebook, along with Ryleigh Van Emmerik and Addi Smith. The girls’ squad spread out the scoring stats in the second half with Kennedi Casey, Maggie Lakin, Jocelyn Lincoln, and Josie Masters.

The Bulldog girls team won over the Tigers, 54-20. They are 5-9 on the season.

Carter Brock leaps to advance the Bulldogs’ lead 11-4 early in the first half.

Kearney boys came out fighting in a similar way, outscoring the Tigers 21-4 in the first quarter. There was a lot of excitement from Andrew Way getting three big dunks from pass assists from his guards, as well as a Brad Doll 3-point bomb from half court at the first half buzzer.

Not only was the offense hot throughout the game but the defense was a huge factor with great blocks and easy transitions which led to offensive points.

The Bulldogs did a great job sharing the scoring responsibilities around the team. Trey Smith led the scoring with 16 points. Drew Wilson followed closely with 15 and Brad Doll had 10 points. Andrew Way scored 9 points, Sal DiBenedetto made 7, Brock Scott scored 6, Carter Brock made 5, Ty Smith had 4 and Trent Fritz had 2.

The Bulldog boys team dominated over the Tigers, 74-31. They are 10-4 on the season.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.