(<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fb7b59b9-bab0-4f62-947a-3bde9f838536?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">KCAC Bracket</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d507c275-2ee0-4881-8fe9-7439aed56c23?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">Tickets</a>)&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan Men's Soccer is the No. 3 seed in the 2023 KCAC Men's Soccer Championships and hosts No. 6 seed Tabor on Friday evening at 7 p.m. at JRI Hospitality Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.

Due to the match being a KCAC Postseason event, there will be admission charged to the game.&nbsp;Tickets MUST be purchased in advance on the KCAC website at&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e6a4ebaf-9b3e-422e-8c61-d71001a5ac5f?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">www.kcacsports.com</a>&nbsp;(<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9083a974-aa6b-4f3d-a6be-51d5f4a8c41f?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3SomlZY</a>).&nbsp;Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for seniors (55+) and faculty and staff, $3 for children (6-18). Students affiliated with KCAC schools are admitted free to the match by showing their school ID.

This will be KWU's first appearance in the KCAC postseason since the 2020-2021 split COVID season.

In the regular season meeting between the teams, KWU beat Tabor 2-1 on September 27 behind goals from&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e04e2790-5a94-4a30-bbb2-5c99c4af7680?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">Abaenya Nundu</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c4f18dc7-cd8a-400b-bf3c-a093b500b8f6?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">Kamille Kum</a>.

For those unable to attend Friday night's match, it will be streamed live on the KCAC Network at&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0af0b964-905e-4955-9d44-782ded255834?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">www.kcacnetwork.com</a>, and live stats will be available at&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cf630340-9766-4dcf-a192-fd5fe498dfcf?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">www.kwucoyotes.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary</a>.

The winner of the match will advance to the KCAC Semifinals next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in Wichita at Stryker Sports Complex against the winner between No. 2 seed Ottawa and No. 7 seed Sterling. The KCAC Championship is November 11 at 1 p.m. at Stryker.

The winner of the KCAC tournament will be one of two automatic berths to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship First and Second Rounds on November 16-18 at campus sites around the country. 

The 65th Annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship is November 27 - December 4, at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.

(<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fb7b59b9-bab0-4f62-947a-3bde9f838536?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">KCAC Bracket</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d507c275-2ee0-4881-8fe9-7439aed56c23?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">Tickets</a>)&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan Men's Soccer is the No. 3 seed in the 2023 KCAC Men's Soccer Championships and hosts No. 6 seed Tabor on Friday evening at 7 p.m. at JRI Hospitality Stadium at the Graves Family Sports Complex.Due to the match being a KCAC Postseason event, there will be admission charged to the game.&nbsp;Tickets MUST be purchased in advance on the KCAC website at&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e6a4ebaf-9b3e-422e-8c61-d71001a5ac5f?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">www.kcacsports.com</a>&nbsp;(<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9083a974-aa6b-4f3d-a6be-51d5f4a8c41f?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3SomlZY</a>).&nbsp;Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for seniors (55+) and faculty and staff, $3 for children (6-18). Students affiliated with KCAC schools are admitted free to the match by showing their school ID.This will be KWU's first appearance in the KCAC postseason since the 2020-2021 split COVID season.In the regular season meeting between the teams, KWU beat Tabor 2-1 on September 27 behind goals from&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e04e2790-5a94-4a30-bbb2-5c99c4af7680?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">Abaenya Nundu</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c4f18dc7-cd8a-400b-bf3c-a093b500b8f6?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">Kamille Kum</a>.For those unable to attend Friday night's match, it will be streamed live on the KCAC Network at&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0af0b964-905e-4955-9d44-782ded255834?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">www.kcacnetwork.com</a>, and live stats will be available at&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cf630340-9766-4dcf-a192-fd5fe498dfcf?elinkdata=2245" target="_blank">www.kwucoyotes.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary</a>.The winner of the match will advance to the KCAC Semifinals next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in Wichita at Stryker Sports Complex against the winner between No. 2 seed Ottawa and No. 7 seed Sterling. The KCAC Championship is November 11 at 1 p.m. at Stryker.The winner of the KCAC tournament will be one of two automatic berths to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship First and Second Rounds on November 16-18 at campus sites around the country. The 65th Annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship is November 27 - December 4, at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.

KWU Men's Soccer hosts Tabor on Friday in KCAC Quarterfinals

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/jerome-tang-press-conference-october-31-2023-/4849" target="_blank">Listen to Jerome Tang’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/kstate.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/10/31/MBB_Weekly_Media_Availability.pdf" target="_blank">Press Conference Quotes (.pdf)</a>

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head men’s basketball coach&nbsp;Jerome Tang&nbsp;met with the media on Tuesday morning (October 31) to preview the Wildcats’ exhibition game against Emporia State on Wednesday night (November 1) at Bramlage Coliseum. Links to the audio and a transcript of Tang’s availability are above.

K-State will welcome Emporia State for its lone exhibition game at 7 p.m., CT on Wednesday night. This will mark the sixth time the two programs have met in exhibition play with the Wildcats posting an 86-49 win in their last matchup on October 25, 2019.

K-State is 72-21 all-time in exhibition play, including 55-9 at home and 49-9 at Bramlage Coliseum.

The Hornets, under sixth-year head coach&nbsp;Craig Doty, return 6 players, including 4 starters, from a team that posted a 23-9 overall record and advanced to the second round of the Division II Tournament.

Tickets can be&nbsp;purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office by calling toll free at (800) 221.CATS (2287), by logging in online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>, and in-person at the main southwest Bramlage Coliseum ticket office.

<a></a><a></a><a>On what he wants to see from the team tomorrow night…</a>

“We were trying to develop consistency, right? Like I go to Chick-fil-A, do y’all go to Chick-fil-A? But why do we go? It's good. We know what we're gonna get, right? We know what we're gonna get. We know what it's gonna taste like, we know the kind of service we're gonna get, that lemonade is gonna be the same, and people pay for that. I tell them all the time, I'd rather have a guy who I know exactly what I'm getting from every day rather than one day I get 25 points and 15 rebounds the next day, I get 2 points and 5 fouls because you don't know what to expect. So, we're looking for our team, individuals on the team to give consistent effort and consistent production so that we can learn to depend and count on.”

On his excitement for playing in Bramlage Coliseum…&nbsp;

“Man, I'm fired up. I heard that the student tickets have sold [out] and so, man those are my people. We have the best students in the country and I'm so thankful for them. I'm so thankful for everything that they do, not just showing up in Bram, but how they impact our community and they raise money for so many different philanthropies and I'm happy that they allow me to be a small part of that.”

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/jerome-tang-press-conference-october-31-2023-/4849" target="_blank">Listen to Jerome Tang’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/kstate.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/10/31/MBB_Weekly_Media_Availability.pdf" target="_blank">Press Conference Quotes (.pdf)</a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head men’s basketball coach&nbsp;Jerome Tang&nbsp;met with the media on Tuesday morning (October 31) to preview the Wildcats’ exhibition game against Emporia State on Wednesday night (November 1) at Bramlage Coliseum. Links to the audio and a transcript of Tang’s availability are above.K-State will welcome Emporia State for its lone exhibition game at 7 p.m., CT on Wednesday night. This will mark the sixth time the two programs have met in exhibition play with the Wildcats posting an 86-49 win in their last matchup on October 25, 2019.K-State is 72-21 all-time in exhibition play, including 55-9 at home and 49-9 at Bramlage Coliseum.The Hornets, under sixth-year head coach&nbsp;Craig Doty, return 6 players, including 4 starters, from a team that posted a 23-9 overall record and advanced to the second round of the Division II Tournament.Tickets can be&nbsp;purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office by calling toll free at (800) 221.CATS (2287), by logging in online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>, and in-person at the main southwest Bramlage Coliseum ticket office.HEAD COACH JEROME TANG<a></a><a></a><a>On what he wants to see from the team tomorrow night…</a>“We were trying to develop consistency, right? Like I go to Chick-fil-A, do y’all go to Chick-fil-A? But why do we go? It's good. We know what we're gonna get, right? We know what we're gonna get. We know what it's gonna taste like, we know the kind of service we're gonna get, that lemonade is gonna be the same, and people pay for that. I tell them all the time, I'd rather have a guy who I know exactly what I'm getting from every day rather than one day I get 25 points and 15 rebounds the next day, I get 2 points and 5 fouls because you don't know what to expect. So, we're looking for our team, individuals on the team to give consistent effort and consistent production so that we can learn to depend and count on.”On his excitement for playing in Bramlage Coliseum…&nbsp;“Man, I'm fired up. I heard that the student tickets have sold [out] and so, man those are my people. We have the best students in the country and I'm so thankful for them. I'm so thankful for everything that they do, not just showing up in Bram, but how they impact our community and they raise money for so many different philanthropies and I'm happy that they allow me to be a small part of that.”

Jerome Tang Previews Exhibition Opener

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;For the first time in the 10-year history of the College Football Playoff (CFP), Kansas has earned a spot in the CFP’s Top 25 ranking, it was announced Tuesday. The Jayhawks are ranked No. 21 in the first edition of the 2023 CFP ranking,&nbsp;which was revealed live on ESPN.

Since 2014, the CFP has served as the postseason event to determine college football’s national champion on the field. The selection committee releases five rankings during the regular season, ranking teams based on the members’ evaluation of the teams’ performance on the field. Metrics taken into consideration include strength of schedule, head-to-head results and comparison of results against common opponents. The final CFP selections will be made on Sunday, Dec. 3.

Kansas (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) is the Cheez-It National Team of the Week following a 38-33 victory over No. 6 Oklahoma last Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The win clinched bowl eligibility for the Jayhawks for the second consecutive season and improved the Jayhawks to 5-0 at home this season. It was also KU’s first victory over a top 10 team since the Jayhawks defeated No. 5 Virginia Tech in the 2008 Orange Bowl.

Following the win, Kansas returned to the AP Top 25 poll at No. 22 and the USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 23, earning a national ranking for the third time this season. Head coach Lance Leipold, who was named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week on Monday, has guided Kansas into the national rankings for five weeks in the past two seasons. Prior to his arrival, the Jayhawks had not received a Top 25 national ranking since 2009.

Next up for the Jayhawks is a trip to Ames, Iowa, to face Iowa State on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Jack Trice Stadium. Kickoff between KU and ISU is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. Two home games remain in the 2023 season, with Kansas set to host Texas Tech on Nov. 11 and Kansas State on Nov. 18. Fans can purchase single-game tickets in advance of game day by clicking&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetGroupList?groupCode=FB&amp;linkID=kansas&amp;shopperContext=&amp;caller=&amp;appCode=" target="_blank">here</a>.

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;For the first time in the 10-year history of the College Football Playoff (CFP), Kansas has earned a spot in the CFP’s Top 25 ranking, it was announced Tuesday. The Jayhawks are ranked No. 21 in the first edition of the 2023 CFP ranking,&nbsp;which was revealed live on ESPN.Since 2014, the CFP has served as the postseason event to determine college football’s national champion on the field. The selection committee releases five rankings during the regular season, ranking teams based on the members’ evaluation of the teams’ performance on the field. Metrics taken into consideration include strength of schedule, head-to-head results and comparison of results against common opponents. The final CFP selections will be made on Sunday, Dec. 3.Kansas (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) is the Cheez-It National Team of the Week following a 38-33 victory over No. 6 Oklahoma last Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The win clinched bowl eligibility for the Jayhawks for the second consecutive season and improved the Jayhawks to 5-0 at home this season. It was also KU’s first victory over a top 10 team since the Jayhawks defeated No. 5 Virginia Tech in the 2008 Orange Bowl.Following the win, Kansas returned to the AP Top 25 poll at No. 22 and the USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 23, earning a national ranking for the third time this season. Head coach Lance Leipold, who was named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week on Monday, has guided Kansas into the national rankings for five weeks in the past two seasons. Prior to his arrival, the Jayhawks had not received a Top 25 national ranking since 2009.Next up for the Jayhawks is a trip to Ames, Iowa, to face Iowa State on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Jack Trice Stadium. Kickoff between KU and ISU is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. Two home games remain in the 2023 season, with Kansas set to host Texas Tech on Nov. 11 and Kansas State on Nov. 18. Fans can purchase single-game tickets in advance of game day by clicking&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetGroupList?groupCode=FB&amp;linkID=kansas&amp;shopperContext=&amp;caller=&amp;appCode=" target="_blank">here</a>.

Kansas Receives First-Ever College Football Playoff Ranking

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Thank you for joining us this morning. This is an exciting, historic week for the Chiefs franchise as we prepare to play our first regular season game in Germany this Sunday against the Dolphins in Frankfurt. We are really looking forward to the trip and the chance to showcase the best of Chiefs Kingdom on the global stage. Sunday’s game in Frankfurt is a culmination of several years of work by a great team of people and it’s also a testament to our commitment to expanding the Chiefs Kingdom around the world. This game also provides us with another opportunity to bring global attention to Kansas City, which is something we are really proud of. With that I will open up to questions.”

Q:&nbsp;Looking back, was the trade sending Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins worth it?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I think that was a trade that worked out well for both parties. Obviously, (Dolphins WR) Tyreek (Hill) is an incredible player and has done very well in his time with the Dolphins. I also think it benefited the Chiefs, the draft compensation that we received, a lot of that draft capital was used to improve our defense and I think this year we are seeing that it did indeed work out well. We have a number of really talented young defensive players, many of whom were part of that trade.”

Q:&nbsp;How confident are you that the passing game will get going more in the second half of the season?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I think one of the things we talk about every year at these mid-season updates is the importance of the team improving through the course of the season. In recent years most of that improvement has been on the defensive side, where we’ve seen the defense around the middle of the season improve significantly through the playoffs. This year I think that story is much more on the receiver room. We have a young group of receivers and I think we have watched them grow each week. I know we obviously had a disappointing performance in Denver this past weekend, but it looks like to me those receivers are coming along. I know (Head Coach) Andy (Reid) and his coaching staff are very focused on that. I would expect them to play better as we head towards the playoffs.”

Q:&nbsp;What is the broader significance of playing the game in Germany this coming Sunday?

HUNT:&nbsp;“This is a very important initiative for the NFL and that really goes back to the ‘90s when the NFL was supporting NFL Europe. Germany was one of the best markets in terms of support for NFL Europe and I think that helped cultivate the fan base there. From a long-term perspective for the League, it’s important for the Chiefs to grow the brand on an international basis. There are only so many fans that can be had in North America. I think we are seeing it with other professional sports, both in the U.S. and in Europe, everybody is focused on growing their global fan base. It’s something that is much easier to do now because of social media, because of the digital delivery of games. It’s only something I think you’ll see grow, not only for the Chiefs and the National Football League, but for the other sports in the U.S. as well.”

Q:&nbsp;Did you go on the trip when the Chiefs played in Germany during the 1990 preseason? What do you know about the significance of that trip?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I know you’re referring to the preseason games that the NFL staged, mostly in the ‘90s. The Chiefs played twice in Tokyo, once in Mexico and then once in Berlin in 1990. I did go on that trip. Of course, the takeaway form that trip that no one will ever forget is the (Berlin) Wall coming down. Just what a huge moment that was in global and European history. For the Chiefs to be there playing an American football game was very special. That was during (Chiefs RB) Christian Okoye’s heyday. I’ve heard that Christian is going to be in Frankfurt this weekend, we’re glad to have him there helping represent the Chiefs.”

Q:&nbsp;On the process of getting international marketing rights in Germany vs. when the team played in London in 2015.

HUNT:&nbsp;“You’re exactly right, a big difference between now and 2015 is that the NFL has allowed the franchises to bid on, and market, in certain markets around the world. The Chiefs have the rights to Germany, Austria and Switzerland in addition to Mexico. When we went to London in 2015, that was a great opportunity to bring the (Chiefs) Kingdom to the United Kingdom. It was a home game, one of the things I remember from the game is how being in&nbsp;Wembley Stadium felt a little like being at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Which I was amazed by that, it was really red, the fans for the most part were wearing red. This of course is also a home game for us in Frankfurt, we will be utilizing our gameday production, so I expect it to have a similar feel on game day. The big difference is the fact that we have been in the market for a year and a half marketing. We have sponsors, we have done a number of activations, we’ll have the ChampionShip available to fans throughout the week as a way to introduce them to what it means to be a Chiefs fan. It’s a much more comprehensive and broad approach than we had in 2015.”

Q:&nbsp;What is the final vision for Germany going into the future?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I think the vision in the short to intermediate term is growing our fanbase in Germany, that’s something that we have done. If you look at any of the metrics that the League follows, whether it’s social media, merchandise sales, etc., we are right at the top of NFL teams in that regard. We’ll just want to continue growing that, we’re hopeful the new fans we attract will want to watch the Chiefs and the NFL on a weekly basis. From a long-term standpoint, I don’t know where this possibly goes. Some have talked about the NFL having franchises based in Europe, I don’t know that we’ll ever get there. I do know the game is growing in Germany and our presence there and the other NFL teams who are marketing in the region are going to do nothing but accelerate that.”

Q:&nbsp;Since you are the team giving up a home game did you get any say in who the opponent was?

HUNT:&nbsp;“The home team does have a say in who they play overseas. It’s really more of an opportunity to block certain games, then the League takes it from there. Something that has worked against the Chiefs playing overseas in recent years has been that teams always block us; they want to keep the Chiefs as a home opponent in the States. That’s one of the reasons we haven’t gone as a visiting team in recent years. That’s how the mechanism worked. I think it’s really exciting for the NFL that we ended up with this great match-up between two of the best teams, two of the teams at the top of the AFC.”

Q:&nbsp;Will the gameday experience be fairly generic, or will it feel more like a normal home game presentation wise?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I mentioned earlier that we will be using our gameday production so the music, the celebrations will be very similar to it being a home game. I’m obviously hopeful that most of the fans will be wearing red. We’ll have KC Wolf there, our cheerleaders, etc. That part of it should feel very similar. Obviously, when you’re in a new stadium like we’ll be it’s hard to know exactly what the atmosphere is going to be like. I mentioned how I was personally surprised by the atmosphere at Wembley (Stadium) a few years ago.”

Q:&nbsp;What is the role of the Chiefs in expanding the NFL’s presence globally considering the stars you have on your team?

HUNT:&nbsp;“It’s certainly facilitates growing your brand, not only on a local or domestic basis, but when you have the face of the League in Patrick (Mahomes), and you mentioned Travis (Kelce) who certainly has an incredible brand, that makes it a lot easier. I think that’s one of the things the League realized when they put the local marketing program in place to allow teams to market internationally is that it is hard for the League to do that marketing without the assistance of the teams and the players. The teams really have the opportunity to showcase the players. Obviously, the best way to do that is to play a game in the market like we will be doing this weekend. That really facilitates it. Patrick – one of his key sponsors, Adidas, is based in Germany, so that’s another great tie that I’m sure Adidas will be using in their marketing – the fact that they have one of their global starts coming to play in Frankfurt.”

Q:&nbsp;On flag football being part of the Olympics in Los Angeles and if NFL players should be on Olympic flag football rosters.

HUNT:&nbsp;“You’re right that flag football is a great way to grow the sport internationally. It’s low cost, relatively easy to learn, it’s safe and can be played in small-sided games. The League has really leaned in, in terms of growing flag football both in the United States and internationally. While I’m in Frankfurt I’m actually going to attend a youth flag football game, that’s one of the things I’m going to be doing there. That’s also something the Chiefs are supporting in Germany, the growth of flag football. I was really excited when I heard the news of flag football being approved for the Los Angeles Olympic games that are coming up. I think that will really help mainstream the sport. I think we have seen that with the Olympics over time, (there are) a lot of sports that may be secondary in nature for the American audience (that) you really dial in and pay attention to them during the Olympics. I only think it is natural that the NFL is going to have a lot of players that will want to play in that tournament. It will be a very interesting question for a lot of general managers and head coaches as to whether they are going to allow that to happen. I wouldn’t be surprised that we might have some players that are interested in doing it.”

Q:&nbsp;Can you tell us anything about the games you blocked from going to Germany this year?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I think I’m going to stay away from that. One of the great benefits we have had in recent years is that all of our games sell out. So, it was not a big consideration for us. I think some teams are trying to make sure they keep games they know they can sell out at home. That was not really an issue for us.”

Q:&nbsp;Where are you on planning for the future with the stadium? Has anything changed?

HUNT:&nbsp;“It really hasn’t. Our priority continues to be trying to figure out a way to renovate GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and extend its life. We’ve been in communication with the Royals, we’ve been waiting for them to make a decision as to whether they are going to stay in Jackson County or whether they are going to go to Clay County. Once they make a decision, that will help us with our process as we move forward. Our thinking has not changed, I’m sorry to say we have not made a lot of progress since the start of the season, but it is something we are focused on.”

Q:&nbsp;There has been some reporting that the Royals are looking for a longer lease than you would like. Where does that stand?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I have heard that the Royals are focused on a longer lease. I think that makes sense, particularly if they are in a new building. For us if we go the renovation route, we really think the shorter lease is more appropriate – GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is 51 plus years old at this point already and we would be talking about a lease that would not start until five or six years from now. So, 25 (years) we think would be a better fit for us. If the Royals decide to stay in Jackson County that is going to be an issue we have to resolve, we have to figure out how to make that work for both teams.”

Q:&nbsp;What is the end game for the NFL internationally?

HUNT:&nbsp;“I don’t know what the ultimate destination is going to be. I do think that the League will continue to expand the series. We’ve had games in Mexico, the UK, Germany. I’m on the International Committee and I know the League is actively looking at other markets in Europe as well as South America and Asia to stage games. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next five or so years we saw more games played and also different geographic locations than where the League has been before.”

Q:&nbsp;There have been a lot of events that have featured Kansas City on the national and global stage recently like the NFL Draft and that are also planned like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Why is showcasing Kansas City so important to you?

HUNT:&nbsp;“We really have a special opportunity during this time period in Chiefs football to not only grow the Chiefs brand, but also grow recognition of the city of Kansas City. You left out those Super Bowl parades which have been pretty special as well. But you’re exactly right – the combination of the Super Bowl parades, the Draft, the Chiefs playing in Frankfurt and the World Cup coming in two and a half years – all of that puts a lot of eyeballs on Kansas City and indirectly is really positive for the economy. One of the things that we have talked about in the context of the World Cup is that we really need to showcase that Kansas City is a great place to live, work and play and I think we’ll have that opportunity. In some ways going to Germany this weekend is sort of full circle for me because my first introduction to Germany came in 1974 attending World Cup games in West Germany. I did go to Frankfurt on that trip and saw West Germany play Poland in what I think was a quarterfinal game. That’s something that’s in the back of my mind and I know when fans come to Kansas City in 2026, they are going to have the same kind of experience and hopefully want to come back as a result.”

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Thank you for joining us this morning. This is an exciting, historic week for the Chiefs franchise as we prepare to play our first regular season game in Germany this Sunday against the Dolphins in Frankfurt. We are really looking forward to the trip and the chance to showcase the best of Chiefs Kingdom on the global stage. Sunday’s game in Frankfurt is a culmination of several years of work by a great team of people and it’s also a testament to our commitment to expanding the Chiefs Kingdom around the world. This game also provides us with another opportunity to bring global attention to Kansas City, which is something we are really proud of. With that I will open up to questions.”Q:&nbsp;Looking back, was the trade sending Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins worth it?HUNT:&nbsp;“I think that was a trade that worked out well for both parties. Obviously, (Dolphins WR) Tyreek (Hill) is an incredible player and has done very well in his time with the Dolphins. I also think it benefited the Chiefs, the draft compensation that we received, a lot of that draft capital was used to improve our defense and I think this year we are seeing that it did indeed work out well. We have a number of really talented young defensive players, many of whom were part of that trade.”Q:&nbsp;How confident are you that the passing game will get going more in the second half of the season?HUNT:&nbsp;“I think one of the things we talk about every year at these mid-season updates is the importance of the team improving through the course of the season. In recent years most of that improvement has been on the defensive side, where we’ve seen the defense around the middle of the season improve significantly through the playoffs. This year I think that story is much more on the receiver room. We have a young group of receivers and I think we have watched them grow each week. I know we obviously had a disappointing performance in Denver this past weekend, but it looks like to me those receivers are coming along. I know (Head Coach) Andy (Reid) and his coaching staff are very focused on that. I would expect them to play better as we head towards the playoffs.”Q:&nbsp;What is the broader significance of playing the game in Germany this coming Sunday?HUNT:&nbsp;“This is a very important initiative for the NFL and that really goes back to the ‘90s when the NFL was supporting NFL Europe. Germany was one of the best markets in terms of support for NFL Europe and I think that helped cultivate the fan base there. From a long-term perspective for the League, it’s important for the Chiefs to grow the brand on an international basis. There are only so many fans that can be had in North America. I think we are seeing it with other professional sports, both in the U.S. and in Europe, everybody is focused on growing their global fan base. It’s something that is much easier to do now because of social media, because of the digital delivery of games. It’s only something I think you’ll see grow, not only for the Chiefs and the National Football League, but for the other sports in the U.S. as well.”Q:&nbsp;Did you go on the trip when the Chiefs played in Germany during the 1990 preseason? What do you know about the significance of that trip?HUNT:&nbsp;“I know you’re referring to the preseason games that the NFL staged, mostly in the ‘90s. The Chiefs played twice in Tokyo, once in Mexico and then once in Berlin in 1990. I did go on that trip. Of course, the takeaway form that trip that no one will ever forget is the (Berlin) Wall coming down. Just what a huge moment that was in global and European history. For the Chiefs to be there playing an American football game was very special. That was during (Chiefs RB) Christian Okoye’s heyday. I’ve heard that Christian is going to be in Frankfurt this weekend, we’re glad to have him there helping represent the Chiefs.”Q:&nbsp;On the process of getting international marketing rights in Germany vs. when the team played in London in 2015.HUNT:&nbsp;“You’re exactly right, a big difference between now and 2015 is that the NFL has allowed the franchises to bid on, and market, in certain markets around the world. The Chiefs have the rights to Germany, Austria and Switzerland in addition to Mexico. When we went to London in 2015, that was a great opportunity to bring the (Chiefs) Kingdom to the United Kingdom. It was a home game, one of the things I remember from the game is how being in&nbsp;Wembley Stadium felt a little like being at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Which I was amazed by that, it was really red, the fans for the most part were wearing red. This of course is also a home game for us in Frankfurt, we will be utilizing our gameday production, so I expect it to have a similar feel on game day. The big difference is the fact that we have been in the market for a year and a half marketing. We have sponsors, we have done a number of activations, we’ll have the ChampionShip available to fans throughout the week as a way to introduce them to what it means to be a Chiefs fan. It’s a much more comprehensive and broad approach than we had in 2015.”Q:&nbsp;What is the final vision for Germany going into the future?HUNT:&nbsp;“I think the vision in the short to intermediate term is growing our fanbase in Germany, that’s something that we have done. If you look at any of the metrics that the League follows, whether it’s social media, merchandise sales, etc., we are right at the top of NFL teams in that regard. We’ll just want to continue growing that, we’re hopeful the new fans we attract will want to watch the Chiefs and the NFL on a weekly basis. From a long-term standpoint, I don’t know where this possibly goes. Some have talked about the NFL having franchises based in Europe, I don’t know that we’ll ever get there. I do know the game is growing in Germany and our presence there and the other NFL teams who are marketing in the region are going to do nothing but accelerate that.”Q:&nbsp;Since you are the team giving up a home game did you get any say in who the opponent was?HUNT:&nbsp;“The home team does have a say in who they play overseas. It’s really more of an opportunity to block certain games, then the League takes it from there. Something that has worked against the Chiefs playing overseas in recent years has been that teams always block us; they want to keep the Chiefs as a home opponent in the States. That’s one of the reasons we haven’t gone as a visiting team in recent years. That’s how the mechanism worked. I think it’s really exciting for the NFL that we ended up with this great match-up between two of the best teams, two of the teams at the top of the AFC.”Q:&nbsp;Will the gameday experience be fairly generic, or will it feel more like a normal home game presentation wise?HUNT:&nbsp;“I mentioned earlier that we will be using our gameday production so the music, the celebrations will be very similar to it being a home game. I’m obviously hopeful that most of the fans will be wearing red. We’ll have KC Wolf there, our cheerleaders, etc. That part of it should feel very similar. Obviously, when you’re in a new stadium like we’ll be it’s hard to know exactly what the atmosphere is going to be like. I mentioned how I was personally surprised by the atmosphere at Wembley (Stadium) a few years ago.”Q:&nbsp;What is the role of the Chiefs in expanding the NFL’s presence globally considering the stars you have on your team?HUNT:&nbsp;“It’s certainly facilitates growing your brand, not only on a local or domestic basis, but when you have the face of the League in Patrick (Mahomes), and you mentioned Travis (Kelce) who certainly has an incredible brand, that makes it a lot easier. I think that’s one of the things the League realized when they put the local marketing program in place to allow teams to market internationally is that it is hard for the League to do that marketing without the assistance of the teams and the players. The teams really have the opportunity to showcase the players. Obviously, the best way to do that is to play a game in the market like we will be doing this weekend. That really facilitates it. Patrick – one of his key sponsors, Adidas, is based in Germany, so that’s another great tie that I’m sure Adidas will be using in their marketing – the fact that they have one of their global starts coming to play in Frankfurt.”Q:&nbsp;On flag football being part of the Olympics in Los Angeles and if NFL players should be on Olympic flag football rosters.HUNT:&nbsp;“You’re right that flag football is a great way to grow the sport internationally. It’s low cost, relatively easy to learn, it’s safe and can be played in small-sided games. The League has really leaned in, in terms of growing flag football both in the United States and internationally. While I’m in Frankfurt I’m actually going to attend a youth flag football game, that’s one of the things I’m going to be doing there. That’s also something the Chiefs are supporting in Germany, the growth of flag football. I was really excited when I heard the news of flag football being approved for the Los Angeles Olympic games that are coming up. I think that will really help mainstream the sport. I think we have seen that with the Olympics over time, (there are) a lot of sports that may be secondary in nature for the American audience (that) you really dial in and pay attention to them during the Olympics. I only think it is natural that the NFL is going to have a lot of players that will want to play in that tournament. It will be a very interesting question for a lot of general managers and head coaches as to whether they are going to allow that to happen. I wouldn’t be surprised that we might have some players that are interested in doing it.”Q:&nbsp;Can you tell us anything about the games you blocked from going to Germany this year?HUNT:&nbsp;“I think I’m going to stay away from that. One of the great benefits we have had in recent years is that all of our games sell out. So, it was not a big consideration for us. I think some teams are trying to make sure they keep games they know they can sell out at home. That was not really an issue for us.”Q:&nbsp;Where are you on planning for the future with the stadium? Has anything changed?HUNT:&nbsp;“It really hasn’t. Our priority continues to be trying to figure out a way to renovate GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and extend its life. We’ve been in communication with the Royals, we’ve been waiting for them to make a decision as to whether they are going to stay in Jackson County or whether they are going to go to Clay County. Once they make a decision, that will help us with our process as we move forward. Our thinking has not changed, I’m sorry to say we have not made a lot of progress since the start of the season, but it is something we are focused on.”Q:&nbsp;There has been some reporting that the Royals are looking for a longer lease than you would like. Where does that stand?HUNT:&nbsp;“I have heard that the Royals are focused on a longer lease. I think that makes sense, particularly if they are in a new building. For us if we go the renovation route, we really think the shorter lease is more appropriate – GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is 51 plus years old at this point already and we would be talking about a lease that would not start until five or six years from now. So, 25 (years) we think would be a better fit for us. If the Royals decide to stay in Jackson County that is going to be an issue we have to resolve, we have to figure out how to make that work for both teams.”Q:&nbsp;What is the end game for the NFL internationally?HUNT:&nbsp;“I don’t know what the ultimate destination is going to be. I do think that the League will continue to expand the series. We’ve had games in Mexico, the UK, Germany. I’m on the International Committee and I know the League is actively looking at other markets in Europe as well as South America and Asia to stage games. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next five or so years we saw more games played and also different geographic locations than where the League has been before.”Q:&nbsp;There have been a lot of events that have featured Kansas City on the national and global stage recently like the NFL Draft and that are also planned like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Why is showcasing Kansas City so important to you?HUNT:&nbsp;“We really have a special opportunity during this time period in Chiefs football to not only grow the Chiefs brand, but also grow recognition of the city of Kansas City. You left out those Super Bowl parades which have been pretty special as well. But you’re exactly right – the combination of the Super Bowl parades, the Draft, the Chiefs playing in Frankfurt and the World Cup coming in two and a half years – all of that puts a lot of eyeballs on Kansas City and indirectly is really positive for the economy. One of the things that we have talked about in the context of the World Cup is that we really need to showcase that Kansas City is a great place to live, work and play and I think we’ll have that opportunity. In some ways going to Germany this weekend is sort of full circle for me because my first introduction to Germany came in 1974 attending World Cup games in West Germany. I did go to Frankfurt on that trip and saw West Germany play Poland in what I think was a quarterfinal game. That’s something that’s in the back of my mind and I know when fans come to Kansas City in 2026, they are going to have the same kind of experience and hopefully want to come back as a result.”

Chairman & CEO Clark Hunt Quotes  October 31, 2023

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22805&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Watch Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-press-conference-october-31-2023/4850" target="_blank">Listen to Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/player-breakout-interviews-october-31-2023/4851" target="_blank">Listen to Player Breakout Interviews</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://we.tl/t-OYPC0EgXDp" target="_blank">Media Download</a>

<a href="https://we.tl/t-OYPC0EgXDp" target="_blank"></a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Tuesday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex as the Wildcats travel to Austin this Saturday morning to take on Texas inside Memorial Stadium. Links to video and audio of Klieman’s press conference – which was streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ – are above in addition to an audio link of player breakout interviews. A transcript of Klieman’s opening statement is below.

“We’ve got a really good Texas team that we’re going down to Austin to try to compete with. I think they’re playing really well. I know that they had their quarterback injured maybe a week or so ago, but they’re playing at a really high level. They are really physical up front on both sides want to scrimmage, (they have) really good skill kids on both sides as well. Their special teams is the first thing I always look at. They just jump out as far as their coverage units getting down to their speed, not being blocked, and then having returners like they do. They had a big win against BYU last week. So, we’ve got a big challenge ahead in all three phases this week. The guys are confident and excited coming off another big win on Saturday. Great crowd. Great homecoming win. I think we’re getting better in all three phases. There's some things that we need to work on for sure in all three phases, but when you shut a team out and haven’t allowed a touchdown for a handful of quarters, you’re doing some really good things on defense. Then on offense, our ability to run the football has been really good, and our ability to hang on to it. Third-down conversions have been good. One of the emphases that we’ve had all year is red-zone success and getting touchdowns in the red zone. We were 5-for-5 on Saturday, which was awesome to see. We’re excited about where we’re at. We know we have to play better and know that we can play better because it’s going to be a big challenge down in Austin.”

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22805&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Watch Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-press-conference-october-31-2023/4850" target="_blank">Listen to Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/player-breakout-interviews-october-31-2023/4851" target="_blank">Listen to Player Breakout Interviews</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://we.tl/t-OYPC0EgXDp" target="_blank">Media Download</a><a href="https://we.tl/t-OYPC0EgXDp" target="_blank"></a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Tuesday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex as the Wildcats travel to Austin this Saturday morning to take on Texas inside Memorial Stadium. Links to video and audio of Klieman’s press conference – which was streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ – are above in addition to an audio link of player breakout interviews. A transcript of Klieman’s opening statement is below.CHRIS KLIEMAN, HEAD COACHOpening Statement…“We’ve got a really good Texas team that we’re going down to Austin to try to compete with. I think they’re playing really well. I know that they had their quarterback injured maybe a week or so ago, but they’re playing at a really high level. They are really physical up front on both sides want to scrimmage, (they have) really good skill kids on both sides as well. Their special teams is the first thing I always look at. They just jump out as far as their coverage units getting down to their speed, not being blocked, and then having returners like they do. They had a big win against BYU last week. So, we’ve got a big challenge ahead in all three phases this week. The guys are confident and excited coming off another big win on Saturday. Great crowd. Great homecoming win. I think we’re getting better in all three phases. There's some things that we need to work on for sure in all three phases, but when you shut a team out and haven’t allowed a touchdown for a handful of quarters, you’re doing some really good things on defense. Then on offense, our ability to run the football has been really good, and our ability to hang on to it. Third-down conversions have been good. One of the emphases that we’ve had all year is red-zone success and getting touchdowns in the red zone. We were 5-for-5 on Saturday, which was awesome to see. We’re excited about where we’re at. We know we have to play better and know that we can play better because it’s going to be a big challenge down in Austin.”

K-State Previews Texas Game at Weekly Press Conference

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas junior tight end Jared Casey has been announced as one of 73 college football players nominated for the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy. Now in its 14th year, the Burlsworth Trophy is presented to the most outstanding player in FBS football who began his career as a walk-on.

The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, the former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Burlsworth walked on at the Arkansas in 1994, became a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.

Casey walked on at Kansas in the fall of 2020 following a standout three-sport prep career in Plainville, Kansas. He redshirted during the 2020 season and appeared in nine games in 2021, primarily on special teams before KU visited Texas late in the season. In overtime at UT, Casey hauled in the game-winning two-point conversion as Kansas upset the Longhorns 57-56 for the program’s first-ever road win at Texas.

Since that time, Casey has been an offensive staple for the Jayhawks. He closed out the 2021 season with eight receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns, one in each of KU’s final two games. Casey was placed on scholarship in the spring of 2022 and then started seven games for the Jayhawks in the 2022 season, recording 18 receptions for 224 yards and four touchdowns.

This fall, Casey has started five games at tight end and hauled in five receptions for 57 yards, including a five-yard touchdown in KU’s 34-23 win over Illinois on Sept. 8. He’s also a valued blocker from his tight end position and widely regarded as having the best pass-catching hands on the team.

The Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2023 winner will be on December 4, at 7:00pm CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas junior tight end Jared Casey has been announced as one of 73 college football players nominated for the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy. Now in its 14th year, the Burlsworth Trophy is presented to the most outstanding player in FBS football who began his career as a walk-on.The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, the former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Burlsworth walked on at the Arkansas in 1994, became a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.Casey walked on at Kansas in the fall of 2020 following a standout three-sport prep career in Plainville, Kansas. He redshirted during the 2020 season and appeared in nine games in 2021, primarily on special teams before KU visited Texas late in the season. In overtime at UT, Casey hauled in the game-winning two-point conversion as Kansas upset the Longhorns 57-56 for the program’s first-ever road win at Texas.Since that time, Casey has been an offensive staple for the Jayhawks. He closed out the 2021 season with eight receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns, one in each of KU’s final two games. Casey was placed on scholarship in the spring of 2022 and then started seven games for the Jayhawks in the 2022 season, recording 18 receptions for 224 yards and four touchdowns.This fall, Casey has started five games at tight end and hauled in five receptions for 57 yards, including a five-yard touchdown in KU’s 34-23 win over Illinois on Sept. 8. He’s also a valued blocker from his tight end position and widely regarded as having the best pass-catching hands on the team.The Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2023 winner will be on December 4, at 7:00pm CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Jared Casey Nominated for Burlsworth Trophy

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas Football Head Coach Lance Leipold was selected as the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week on Monday. The award is presented by PNC Bank, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation, and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.

Leipold led Kansas to a 38-33 victory over No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday, marking the Jayhawks’ first victory over the Sooners since 1997. The win also marked Kansas’ first regular season win over a top-10 opponent since 1995, and the first win over a top-10 opponent in Lawrence since defeating No. 2 Oklahoma in 1984.

The Jayhawks rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 218 yards from quarterback Jason Bean through the air. Junior Devin Neal scored the game-winning touchdown with 55 seconds remaining, while rushing for 112 yards on 25 carries.

Kansas also scored its third defensive touchdown of the season on a 37-yard interception return on for Kansas’ first touchdown of the game, before shutting down the Sooners on the final play of the game on an Oklahoma shot at the endzone.

The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week honor is Leipold’s first of his career, as Leipold has the Jayhawks 6-2 through the first eight games, marking Kansas’ best start since 2007. The Jayhawks are now bowl eligible in back-to-back years for the second time in school history.

A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2023 season. The winner of the 2023 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas Football Head Coach Lance Leipold was selected as the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week on Monday. The award is presented by PNC Bank, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation, and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.Leipold led Kansas to a 38-33 victory over No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday, marking the Jayhawks’ first victory over the Sooners since 1997. The win also marked Kansas’ first regular season win over a top-10 opponent since 1995, and the first win over a top-10 opponent in Lawrence since defeating No. 2 Oklahoma in 1984.The Jayhawks rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 218 yards from quarterback Jason Bean through the air. Junior Devin Neal scored the game-winning touchdown with 55 seconds remaining, while rushing for 112 yards on 25 carries.Kansas also scored its third defensive touchdown of the season on a 37-yard interception return on for Kansas’ first touchdown of the game, before shutting down the Sooners on the final play of the game on an Oklahoma shot at the endzone.The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week honor is Leipold’s first of his career, as Leipold has the Jayhawks 6-2 through the first eight games, marking Kansas’ best start since 2007. The Jayhawks are now bowl eligible in back-to-back years for the second time in school history.A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2023 season. The winner of the 2023 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Kansas’ Lance Leipold Named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week

Game 9 (25/rv)&nbsp;K-State at (7/6)&nbsp;Texas Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023 Kickoff: 11 a.m. Location: Austin, Texas Stadium: Memorial Stadium (100,119) Series: Texas Leads, 13-10 TV: FOX (<a href="https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/kansas-state-wildcats-vs-texas-longhorns-nov-04-2023-game-boxscore-38990" target="_blank">watch</a>) Gus Johnson (Play-by-Play) Joel Klatt (Analyst) Jenny Taft (Sidelines)

Radio: K-State Sports Network;&nbsp;<a href="http://k-statesports.com/" target="_blank">k-statesports.com</a>&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Live=5602&amp;type=Live" target="_blank">Listen</a>) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Stan Weber (Analyst) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Matt Walters (Sidelines)

SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 109 or 200; SXM App 954

THE TOP 51)&nbsp;Following two dominating home wins over TCU and Houston, Kansas State heads back out on the road as the 25th-ranked Wildcats travel to Austin, Texas, to square off against the seventh-ranked Longhorns. The game will kick at 11 a.m. and be televised nationally on FOX with Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Jenny Taft (sidelines) calling the action.

2)&nbsp;The Cats are one of six Power 5 teams to rank in the top 15 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense. They enter play this week ranked 13th by scoring 37.4 points per game. Since Collin Klein took over as offensive coordinator for the 2021 Texas Bowl, K-State is averaging 34.5 points per game, which includes five games this season of 40 or more points.

3)&nbsp;K-State's ground game has led the way as it checks in at No. 5 in the country with 226.0 rushing yards per game. Senior Will Howard and freshman Avery Johnson have both directed a K-State offense over the last three weeks that has averaged 40 points and 472 yards per game. Howard has thrown for five touchdowns with no interceptions, while Johnson has five rushing touchdowns and two passing scores.

4)&nbsp;Last week against Houston, the Kansas State defense blanked the Cougars, 41-0, as the Wildcats have not given up a touchdown since the 7:31 mark of the third quarter in the Texas Tech game, yielding only three points during that stretch (142:31). Over the last two seasons, K-State has held 14 of its 15 Big 12 opponents under its season scoring averaging entering the game.

5)&nbsp;The K-State defense enters the week ranked in the top 25 nationally in third down defense (6th – 28.9%), scoring defense (14th – 15.9 ppg), pass efficiency defense (16th – 114.14) and rushing defense (23rd – 109.4 yds/gm). Since the Cats switched to a 3-3-5 alignment to start the 2021 season, K-State has allowed just 20.2 points per game to tie for 15th in the nation and first in the Big 12.

STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHTS226.0&nbsp;– Rushing yards per game this season by K-State, which ranks fifth nationally and second among Power 5 programs.

82.5&nbsp;– Red-zone touchdown percentage by the Wildcats this season (33-of-40), which ranks second nationally (Rice – 83.3%).

75.5&nbsp;– Career winning % by Chris Klieman, which ranks fourth nationally among FBS coaches with at least 10 years experience.

74.1&nbsp;– Percentage of third downs converted by the Wildcat offense in the last two games (20-of-27).

3&nbsp;– Number of total points given up by K-State in the last nine quarters (outscored opponents, 89-3)

• K-State dominated in all three phases in a 41-0 shutout win over Houston. Will Howard started the game 12-for-12 through the air and finished 15-of-17 for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while&nbsp; DJ Giddens rushed for 96 yards and two scores.

• Defensively, the Cats shut out the Cougars while forcing two turnovers. It was the first time a Houston team had been kept off the scoreboard since 2000. Houston had been averaging 28.9 points per game entering the contest.

• Prior to that, the Cats recorded a 41-3 win over TCU. Howard and Avery Johnson both engineered a Wildcat offense that generated 406 total yards in the first half and 587 for the game. The Cats ran for a season-high 343 yards on the ground as nine different Wildcats carried the ball, the most ball carriers since nine players also logged a rush at Kansas in 2021.

• Defensively, the Cats kept the Frogs out of the end zone for the first time this season and held them to three total points. TCU averaged more than 33 points per game entering the contest.

• In K-State's last road game, the Wildcats earned a 38-21 victory at Texas Tech for their eighth-straight win in the series.

• K-State rushed for 272 yards and forced three Red Raider turnovers. Johnson ran for five scores, while running back Treshaun Ward had a big night with 118 yards on 15 carries.

• Defensively, Kobe Savage picked off two Tech passes en route to Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.

• Kansas State has been dominant during its current three-game winning streak. Since Texas Tech took a 21-17 lead over the Cats with 7:31 left in the third quarter of the October 14 contest, the Cats have outscored their opponents, 103-3.

• Other notables from the last three games include: 40 points scored per game, 472.0 average total yards and perhaps most importantly, a plus-5 margin in turnovers.

• Prior to the Texas Tech game, K-State ranked 105th nationally in turnover margin (minus-3) but has since flipped that script as it currently ranks 47th nationally with a +2 margin.

• In the last three contests, K-State has forced six turnovers while only committing one.

• Kansas State has historically been one of the best teams in the Big 12 in road game success. Since the conference's formation in 1996, the Wildcats rank third in Big 12 road wins with 57 victories, behind only Oklahoma (70) and Texas (67).

• On its way to a Big 12 Championship last season, K-State went 4-1 in road Big 12 games.

• K-State has a total of 219 victories since 1996, which ranks 23rd nationally. Among current Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fifth behind Oklahoma (269), Texas (236), BYU (228) and TCU (228). Over the last 13 seasons, the Wildcats have won at least seven games 11 times.

•&nbsp;Kansas State has a strong history of being in the postseason, as the Cats will advance to their 24th bowl game since 1993 at the end of this season, including their 12th in the last 14 years.

• Entering the season, K-State’s 23 bowl trips since 1993 were tied for fourth among current Big 12 teams.

• In an era when over 80 teams play in a bowl game each year, the Cats were one of just 19 Power 5 teams to play in a bowl game 11 times in the previous 13 years.

• Kansas State has been one of the best Big 12 teams since the inception of the conference in 1996. The Wildcats are third with 137 conference victories, trailing only Oklahoma and Texas.

• The Wildcats are also third in the conference in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011. They sit at 60.2% (68-45), trailing only Oklahoma (77.7%; 87-25) and Oklahoma State (65.5%; 74-39), and that trio of teams are the are the only ones with a league winning percentage greater than 60.0% over the last 13 years.

• During that stretch, the Wildcats are 38-19 (66.7%) at home in Big 12 play and 30-26 (53.6%) on the road.

• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds a 108-35 career record, as his 75.5% career winning percentage ranks fourth among current FBS coaches that have led programs for at least 10 seasons.

• Klieman, who is 36-22 since arriving at K-State prior to the 2019 season, is also one of just 15 current Power 5 head coaches with at least 100 wins.

• He also holds a 7-7 record against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including a 5-3 mark against top-10 teams.

• K-State is the nation’s best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 24 seasons as it has 129 since 1999, five more than the next closest team (Alabama – 124).

• Of the 129 non-offensive scores since 1999, 44 have been punt returns, 40 interception returns, 33 kickoff returns, 10 fumble returns and 2 missed/blocked field goal returns.

OFFENSIVE NOTESSCORING SURGE• K-State has scored at least 38 points in eight of its last 10 regular-season contests dating back to last season, its most in a 10-game stretch since doing so nine times over the 2002 and 2003 seasons

• Included in that stretch was a three-game streak of Big 12 regular-season games with at least 40 points, the longest by the Wildcats since 2012 when they had 55 points against both West Virginia and Texas Tech, and 44 points against Oklahoma State.

• Since Collin Klein started calling plays for the 2021 Texas Bowl, K-State’s offense has averaged 34.5 points per game.

• The Cats currently rank 13th nationally and second in the Big 12 with 37.4 points per game this season, a figure that ranks sixth in school history.TOTAL OFFENSE• K-State has totaled at least 375 yards in 13 of 14 games against Big 12 foes dating back to last season, including the Big 12 Championship. During that stretch, the Wildcats held a 10-game conference game streak, the longest in school history.

• The 2023 opener against SEMO saw the Cats total 588 yards, the fifth-most in school history, most ever in a season opener.

• The Cats enter this week’s game ranked 15th nationally by averaging 464.6 yards per game, a mark that currently ranks second in school history. They also currently rank second in school history with 6.39 yards per play.500 CLUB• The latest 500-yard output for the Wildcats came against TCU, a 587-yard effort that included 406 yards in the first half, which was the most by K-State in a half since at least 1999.

• It was the sixth-most yards in a game in school history but the most ever against a conference opponent.

• This is the first year K-State has at least three 500-yard games since 2003 (535 vs. California; 503 at Iowa State; 561 at Nebraska; 519 vs. Oklahoma) and the first time with at least two in Big 12 play since 2014 (505 vs. Kansas and 535 vs. Texas Tech).TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

• K-State has steadily been one of the top rushing attacks in the country this season as it ranks fifth nationally and second among Power 5 programs with 226.0 rushing yards per game.

• The Wildcats are also tied for fifth nationally and rank first in the Big 12 with 23 rushing touchdowns.

• As of late, the Wildcats have rushed for 200 or more yards in four of the last five games, their most in a five-game Big 12 stretch since doing so in six-straight games in 2016.

• A staple of K-State football over the past decade has been committing very few turnovers, as the Wildcats rank second in the nation among Power 5 teams in fewest turnovers since 2012 with 174.

• That figure leads returning Big 12 teams, as the Wildcats are 16 better than the next closest program (Oklahoma, 190).

• The Wildcats finished the 2022 season tied for eighth nationally and tops in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+0.86 / game) and head into this week's game ranked 42nd (+0.25 / game).

PUTTING IT WHERE ONLY OUR GUY CAN GET IT• Since Collin Klein took over coaching the quarterbacks in 2017, K-State has only thrown 50 interceptions, equating to 0.60 per game.

• K-State’s 50 total interceptions thrown the last six-plus seasons are the fewest in the Big 12 and tied for sixth in the nation.

PRODUCING A CLEAN POCKET• K-State has excelled in pass blocking since offensive line coach Conor Riley arrived in 2019, as the Cats have allowed fewer than 2.0 sacks per game each of the last four seasons. It is the Wildcats’ first four-year stretch under 2.0 sacks allowed per game since 1997 to 2000.

• K-State is the only Big 12 program – including the four new programs in 2023 – to currently hold a streak of at least four years allowing less than 2.0 sacks per game each season, and the Wildcats are only one of 10 FBS programs to lay that claim.

• Midway through the 2023 season, K-State ranks 28th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 by allowing just 1.38 sacks per game.KEEPING IT 100• Those that produced the clean pocket for the Wildcats last year all return as K-State brought back 100% of its 70 starts along the offensive line from a year ago.

• To open the 2023 campaign, the Wildcats brought back a nation-leading 116 starts from their starting unit from last season. K-State also ranked 12th nationally in total returning games played among all offensive linemen with 204.THIRD DOWN SUCCESS• Kansas State has been one of the best teams in the nation in terms of converting on third down, as the Wildcats lead the Big 12 and rank fourth nationally with a 55.0% success rate. That figure includes a 74.1% mark the last two weeks, nearly 10% higher than any other team in the country.

• Through eight games, K-State has converted on 61-of-111 third downs, which included 10-of-13 conversions against TCU and 10-of-14 against Houston. It was the third time this season the Wildcats converted 10 third-down attempts (Troy).

• This is the first season K-State has been successful on at least 10 third-down attempts in three different games since at least 1999.

• The Wildcats have not finished over 50% on third downs in a season since 1998 (50.6% – 84-of-166).RED ZONE SUCCESS• Kansas State has been one of the best teams in the nation in turning red-zone trips into touchdowns, as the Wildcats lead the Big 12 and rank second nationally by finding paydirt on 82.5% percent of their red-zone possessions (33-of-40). Rice leads the nation by converting on an 83.3% clip (25-of-30).

• K-State's 33 red-zone touchdowns this year are second nationally to USC (34) and four more than the next closest Big 12 team (Oklahoma – 29).

• This year is a continuation of red-zone success under head coach Chris Klieman, as the Wildcats rank first in the Big 12 by scoring on 91.2% of their overall red-zone trips since 2019. The only other team to go over 90.0% is Oklahoma (90.6%).RANKING HIGH ON THE CHARTS• Playing in 30 career games with 23 starts, Will Howard has started to enter career top-10 lists in K-State history.

• The Downingtown, Pennsylvania, native ranks fourth in school history in career passing touchdowns (38), while he is seventh in passing yards per game (159.0), completions (376) and passing efficiency (134.7), eighth in passing yards (4,771), total offense (5,654) and TDs responsible for (54), and tied for eighth in attempts (637).

• Howard has 14 passing touchdowns this season, three shy of entering the school's single-season top-10 list.

THEY COME IN THREES• Will Howard produced his third game this year with three touchdown passes when he hit the mark against TCU en route to being named the Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week.

• Howard, who also had three passing touchdowns against Troy and Missouri, is the first K-State signal caller with at least three games throwing three or more passing touchdowns since Jake Waters against West Virginia, Oklahoma and Michigan in 2013.

FIVE FOR THE FRESHMAN• True freshman quarterback Avery Johnson rushed for five touchdowns at Texas Tech to tie the school record with current K-State offensive coordinator Collin Klein (2011 vs. Texas A&amp;M) and Jonathan Beasley (2000 vs. North Texas).

• It is the most rushing touchdowns nationally in a game this year, while it is the most by any true freshman since Oklahoma's Samaje Perine had five against Kansas in 2014.

• Johnson's five rushing scores are also the most by any true freshman quarterback in the nation since at least 1995, which makes it the most by a true freshman quarterback in Big 12 history. It was also the first time any Big 12 player had at least five rushing touchdowns since 2016.

• For his effort at Texas Tech, Johnson was named the National True Freshman of the Week by 247Sports and On3 in addition to being named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.

• Avery Johnson has six rushing touchdowns this season, which is tied for third in school history among freshmen. He is two shy of the record held by then-redshirt freshman fullback Ayo Saba in 2002 and one shy of tying the school's true freshman record held by running back Deuce Vaughn in 2020.

• Johnson's six rushing touchdowns this year are the second most nationally among true freshmen, just two behind UNLV running back Jai'Den Thomas.

GIDDENS GETTING IT DONE• Sophomore running back DJ Giddens has rushed for 722 yards and seven touchdowns this year in addition to 240 receiving yards on 21 catches, as his 962 yards from scrimmage this year ranks fifth in the Big 12.

• He has been efficient when he touches the ball, ranking third in the Big 12 with 7.0 yards per touch (minimum 100 touches).

• Giddens enters this week tied for 10th nationally with 26 carries that have gone for at least 10 yards.

• A native of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens' 6.22 yards per rush this year currently ranks third in school history, while he has 6.05 yards per rush in his career to rank second behind Darren Sproles (6.11 yds/rush – 2001-04).

HAVE A GAME, DJ• DJ Giddens' best game this year came against UCF when he produced the first 200-yard, four-touchdown rushing performance in school history en route to Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors.

• It is one of only three 200-yard, four-touchdown rushing performances in the nation this year and one of just 23 in the 28-year history of the Big 12.

CONTINUED SUCCESS• Ben Sinnott burst onto the scene last season, and that has continued in 2023 as he is tied for seventh nationally and ranks first in the Big 12 among tight ends with 45.5 receiving yards per game.

• Included in that total is a career-high 100-yard effort against SEMO, the first K-State tight end with a 100-yard receiving game since Jeron Mastrud at Kansas in 2006 (103 yards).

• Sinnott enters this week's game with seven career receiving touchdowns to rank second in school history by a tight end (Henry Childs, 10, 1971-73). He also has 60 career catches and 826 career receiving yards to rank fourth in both categories.

SWISS ARMY KNIFE• Ben Sinnott’s skill set allows him to line up in many different spots. Thus far in 2023, the Waterloo, Iowa, product has lined up 305 times as an inline tight end, 95 times in the slot, 68 times in the backfield and 17 times as a true wide receiver.

DEFENSIVE NOTESA BIG TURNAROUND• The K-State defense switched from a four-man front to a 3-3-5 alignment in 2021, and the change has paid off.

• In the 35 games since the defensive switch, the Cats are allowing just 20.2 points per game, which ranks 15th in the nation and tops in the Big 12.

• The Wildcats surrendered just 21.0 points per game in 2021 and 21.9 points per game last year. It marked the first time K-State allowed less than 22.0 points per game in consecutive seasons since going 13-straight years from 1991 to 2003.

• K-State enters the week ranked 14th nationally and first in the Big 12 by allowing 15.9 points per game. The last time the Wildcats allowed under 20.0 points per game in a season was 2003 (16.3).

UNDER AVERAGE• K-State held all of its Big 12 opponents last season – and four of the first five in 2023 – under its season averages. Oklahoma State went over its season scoring average this season, but did so with only one offensive score, a pick-six and five field goals.

K-State Hits the Road to Take on Texas

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;&nbsp;This week’s Cheez-It National Team of the Week, the No. 22 Kansas Jayhawks will travel to Jack Trice Stadium to take on the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, November 4.

The game will kick off at 6 p.m. on ESPN with Mike Monoco (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline) on the call.&nbsp;Game action can also be heard across the Jayhawk Radio Network with Brian Hanni (Play-by-Play), David Lawrence (Analyst) and Brandon McAnderson (Sideline) calling the action.

Kansas (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) is coming off a 38-33 victory over No. 6 Oklahoma on October 28, which was its first win over an AP Top-10 opponent since 2008 (Orange Bowl vs. No. 5 Virginia Tech). The win over Oklahoma was KU’s first against the Sooners since 1997 and made the Jayhawks bowl-eligible in back-to-back years for the second time in school history.

The Jayhawks compiled 443 total yards against Oklahoma as Neal rushed for 112 yards and the winning with 55 seconds remaining in the game. KU’s Daniel Hishaw Jr. added 51 rushing yards with two touchdowns and quarterback Jason Bean rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown. Kwinton Lassiter deflected a pass out of the end zone on the final play of the game to preserve the win. Kansas remained undefeated (5-0) at home this season and became bowl-eligible for a second consecutive season.

The Jayhawks’ 6-2 start is the best over the first eight games of the season since 2007, while the Jayhawks are 5-0 in games played at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium this season. Through eight games, Kansas is averaging 35.8 points per game, to go along with 38 total touchdowns, three of which have come defensively.

Iowa State (5-3, 4-1 Big 12) enters as winners of its last three games, all of which were against Big 12 opponents. Last week, the Cyclones came away with a 30-18 victory at Baylor and the Cyclones are now part of a four-way tie at the top of the Big 12 Conference standings.

The series between Kansas and Iowa State dates back to 1898, with Kansas leading the all-time series at 51-45-6, while Iowa State holds an advantage of 25-23-3 in games played in Ames. The Jayhawks came out victorious in the last meeting between the two schools, as Kansas won a defensive battle, 14-11, on October 1, 2022.

Following the road trip to Iowa State, the Jayhawks will return home to host the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday, November 11. The meeting will be the 25th in the series history, with Texas Tech holding a 22-2 advantage all-time.

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;&nbsp;This week’s Cheez-It National Team of the Week, the No. 22 Kansas Jayhawks will travel to Jack Trice Stadium to take on the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, November 4.The game will kick off at 6 p.m. on ESPN with Mike Monoco (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline) on the call.&nbsp;Game action can also be heard across the Jayhawk Radio Network with Brian Hanni (Play-by-Play), David Lawrence (Analyst) and Brandon McAnderson (Sideline) calling the action.Kansas (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) is coming off a 38-33 victory over No. 6 Oklahoma on October 28, which was its first win over an AP Top-10 opponent since 2008 (Orange Bowl vs. No. 5 Virginia Tech). The win over Oklahoma was KU’s first against the Sooners since 1997 and made the Jayhawks bowl-eligible in back-to-back years for the second time in school history.The Jayhawks compiled 443 total yards against Oklahoma as Neal rushed for 112 yards and the winning with 55 seconds remaining in the game. KU’s Daniel Hishaw Jr. added 51 rushing yards with two touchdowns and quarterback Jason Bean rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown. Kwinton Lassiter deflected a pass out of the end zone on the final play of the game to preserve the win. Kansas remained undefeated (5-0) at home this season and became bowl-eligible for a second consecutive season.The Jayhawks’ 6-2 start is the best over the first eight games of the season since 2007, while the Jayhawks are 5-0 in games played at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium this season. Through eight games, Kansas is averaging 35.8 points per game, to go along with 38 total touchdowns, three of which have come defensively.Iowa State (5-3, 4-1 Big 12) enters as winners of its last three games, all of which were against Big 12 opponents. Last week, the Cyclones came away with a 30-18 victory at Baylor and the Cyclones are now part of a four-way tie at the top of the Big 12 Conference standings.The series between Kansas and Iowa State dates back to 1898, with Kansas leading the all-time series at 51-45-6, while Iowa State holds an advantage of 25-23-3 in games played in Ames. The Jayhawks came out victorious in the last meeting between the two schools, as Kansas won a defensive battle, 14-11, on October 1, 2022.Following the road trip to Iowa State, the Jayhawks will return home to host the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday, November 11. The meeting will be the 25th in the series history, with Texas Tech holding a 22-2 advantage all-time.

No. 22 Kansas Travels to Iowa State for Big 12 Clash on Saturday

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

The Sacred Heart girl’s cross-country team rose to the challenge on Saturday, conquering the rest of their class in Wamego to claim this year’s 2A state title.

This marks the fourth state championship in the history of the program, and the first since a back-to-back in 2003-04.

The Lady Knights overcame several strong challengers for this year’s crown, posting a team score of 85 to beat out Whitewater-Remington by 21 points.

Sacred Heart was led by freshman Mia Hamilton, whose time of 20:49.2 was good enough for 14th place.

The Lady Knights had two more finishers inside the top 30, with Gracy Dorzweiler coming home in 27th, and Lauryn Mikkelson finishing 30th.

It was a strong run for the back of the Sacred Heart lineup as well, as Eva Matteucci took 31st, Bethany Campa took 36th, and Caroline Stone and Libby Kierscht took 42nd and 49th, putting the whole team inside the top 50.

On the boy’s side, junior Brady Wells competed as an individual, and finished inside the top 25, with a time of 17:20.8

The Lady Knights will graduate a trio of seniors in Dorzweiller, Mikkelson, and Matteucci, but should return a strong team to defend their throne in 2024.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Sacred Heart girl’s cross-country team rose to the challenge on Saturday, conquering the rest of their class in Wamego to claim this year’s 2A state title.This marks the fourth state championship in the history of the program, and the first since a back-to-back in 2003-04.The Lady Knights overcame several strong challengers for this year’s crown, posting a team score of 85 to beat out Whitewater-Remington by 21 points.Sacred Heart was led by freshman Mia Hamilton, whose time of 20:49.2 was good enough for 14th place.The Lady Knights had two more finishers inside the top 30, with Gracy Dorzweiler coming home in 27th, and Lauryn Mikkelson finishing 30th.It was a strong run for the back of the Sacred Heart lineup as well, as Eva Matteucci took 31st, Bethany Campa took 36th, and Caroline Stone and Libby Kierscht took 42nd and 49th, putting the whole team inside the top 50.On the boy’s side, junior Brady Wells competed as an individual, and finished inside the top 25, with a time of 17:20.8The Lady Knights will graduate a trio of seniors in Dorzweiller, Mikkelson, and Matteucci, but should return a strong team to defend their throne in 2024.

Lady Knights Cross Country Claims 4th State Title 

The Southeast of Saline cross-country teams added another championship to their legacy on Saturday, as the Lady Trojans cruised to a fourth-straight 3A state title.

This one was never in doubt, as the Southeast girls took home four of the top 20 spots, finishing with a team score of 52, more than double that of the runner-up finishers from Wichita Trinity (113).

“I was very pleased with our girls,” SES cross country coach Wade Caselman said. “Throughout the season we had five different number-one runners and I think that’s amazing, it really shows off the depth of our team. We were packed together again on Saturday and there was less than a 1:00 time gap between our first and fifth runner, that’s exactly what we needed to do.”

Sophomore Breckyn Alderson led the way for the Lady Trojans with an 11th-place finish, just ahead of Piper Brown in 14th, Abby Commerford in 16th, and Anna Jackson in 19th.

Cali Augustine, Regan Duran, and Sadie Franklin rounded out the runners on the girl’s side in 31st, 35st, and 50th respectively.

On the boy’s side, the Trojans fought hard to reclaim their crown but fell as the runners-up to Wichita Trinity, who staked a third-straight 3A title.

Despite finishing second, the Trojans ran valiantly against a state power that brought back every single runner from its 2022 title-winning team.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Southeast of Saline cross-country teams added another championship to their legacy on Saturday, as the Lady Trojans cruised to a fourth-straight 3A state title.This one was never in doubt, as the Southeast girls took home four of the top 20 spots, finishing with a team score of 52, more than double that of the runner-up finishers from Wichita Trinity (113).“I was very pleased with our girls,” SES cross country coach Wade Caselman said. “Throughout the season we had five different number-one runners and I think that’s amazing, it really shows off the depth of our team. We were packed together again on Saturday and there was less than a 1:00 time gap between our first and fifth runner, that’s exactly what we needed to do.”Sophomore Breckyn Alderson led the way for the Lady Trojans with an 11th-place finish, just ahead of Piper Brown in 14th, Abby Commerford in 16th, and Anna Jackson in 19th.Cali Augustine, Regan Duran, and Sadie Franklin rounded out the runners on the girl’s side in 31st, 35st, and 50th respectively.On the boy’s side, the Trojans fought hard to reclaim their crown but fell as the runners-up to Wichita Trinity, who staked a third-straight 3A title.Despite finishing second, the Trojans ran valiantly against a state power that brought back every single runner from its 2022 title-winning team.“I’m very happy with the boy's team,” Caselman said. “We had several personal bests on a very difficult and challenging course. These boys have worked hard all season to accomplish their goals and I’m nothing but happy with what they did.”On the girl’s side, the Lady Trojans will graduate just two seniors in Sadie Franklin and Brookelyn Adams, returning their whole top six to compete for a fifth-straight 3A crown.“We’ll be a young team again next year with just two seniors and we have some good eighth graders that we think can add even more depth to our girl's team next year,” Caselman said.The boy’s team will be harder hit by graduation this spring, as the Trojans lose their top two runners in Cayden Walker and Levi Allen, as well as their fifth runner in Ben Grauerholz.Despite the losses on both sides, the culture surrounding SES cross country is one that has been built to stand the test of time, and with interest at an all-time high, there is little doubt that both teams will continue to find success for years to come.“The kids here at Southeast want to be successful and they’re willing to do the things that are necessary to earn that success,” Caselman said. “It’s all about attitude and culture and that’s something that the programs here at SES have.”While the upcoming track and field season means that SES won’t have to say goodbye to all of its seniors just yet, this does mark an annually bittersweet time for the program, as each and every departing senior played some role in a combined five state titles between the two teams.“Watching our seniors come up and continue to develop through the junior high ranks and all the way up onto our varsity teams was so special,” he said. “I’ve been privileged to watch them for six years and they were just babies when they started running for me but to see them finish this season as young men and women, I know that they will go on and be successful in life and that means the world to me.” Photo Courtesy of Ben Heinrich