By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

The Southeast of Saline boys basketball team hung tough with the defending 2A champs, but ultimately fell to Hesston in their season opener 49-32.

Behind strong first-quarter performances by Owen Bailey and Brenton Leeds, the Trojans held a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, but would trail by three at the half after scoring just six points in the second.

The Swathers pulled away in the third, outscoring the Trojans 17-6 and maintaining that advantage to the finish line for a 17-point victory.

After graduating nine seniors, including their whole starting five over the offseason, Southeast is still searching for consistency, something that should come as a slew of newcomers get to grips with the speed of the varsity floor.

“Until these guys are in it they can’t truly understand and Hesston has a brand of basketball that makes you work for so much,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “We took really quick shots and I didn’t love our shot selection. I hope we can learn from this and continue to get better.”

Hesston was led in scoring by Adrian Hernandez and Jackson Fry, who contributed 14 and 11 respectively.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Trojans got 11 from Bailey and 9 from Leeds, but received just 12 points from the rest of the team combined.

While the lack of raw offense was a real issue for SES, the Trojans will also have to get stronger on the glass this season to avoid a repeat of Friday night.

“This game was ugly on both ends but we were a little soft to close out the half,” Flax said. “We gave up a ton of second chance points and we were in spots to grab those rebounds, Hesston just wanted to go get it more than we did.”

Southeast will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Smoky Valley to battle the Vikings.

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 boys basketball team hung tough with the defending 2A champs, but ultimately fell to Hesston in their season opener 49-32.Behind strong first-quarter performances by Owen Bailey and Brenton Leeds, the Trojans held a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, but would trail by three at the half after scoring just six points in the second.The Swathers pulled away in the third, outscoring the Trojans 17-6 and maintaining that advantage to the finish line for a 17-point victory.After graduating nine seniors, including their whole starting five over the offseason, Southeast is still searching for consistency, something that should come as a slew of newcomers get to grips with the speed of the varsity floor.“Until these guys are in it they can’t truly understand and Hesston has a brand of basketball that makes you work for so much,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “We took really quick shots and I didn’t love our shot selection. I hope we can learn from this and continue to get better.”Hesston was led in scoring by Adrian Hernandez and Jackson Fry, who contributed 14 and 11 respectively.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Trojans got 11 from Bailey and 9 from Leeds, but received just 12 points from the rest of the team combined.While the lack of raw offense was a real issue for SES, the Trojans will also have to get stronger on the glass this season to avoid a repeat of Friday night.“This game was ugly on both ends but we were a little soft to close out the half,” Flax said. “We gave up a ton of second chance points and we were in spots to grab those rebounds, Hesston just wanted to go get it more than we did.”Southeast will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Smoky Valley to battle the Vikings.

SES Boys Fall to Defending 2A Champs 49-32

The Southeast of Saline girl's basketball team couldn’t overcome a slow night on offense, as they fell 53-39 in their season opener to Hesston.

Despite falling behind 13-4 at the end of the first, the Lady Trojans rode four second-quarter threes, including three by Brielle Ptacek, to even the halftime score at 24-all.&nbsp;

Unfortunately for Southeast, the run stopped there, as Hesston put up 18 third-quarter points and never looked back en route to the victory.

“They played us really fast and physical and we never really settled in,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “At the end of the day we have to put the ball in the basket.”

The Lady Swathers were led in scoring by a trio of double-digit scorers, with Abby Proctor (18), Kendal Brueggen (15), and Callie Yoder (11) all posting strong performances.

On the other side, the Southeast was led in scoring by Maddie Harris and Brielle Ptacek, who each chipped in 12, but got just 15 points of aid from the rest of the team.

Despite struggling to score, SES debuted a pair of promising newcomers, and the rotation for the Lady Trojans is starting to take shape.

“Suttyn Douglas and Regan Duran had some moments we got on them for but I thought they did a really good job and they’ll continue to get better and better every night,” Smith said.

Southeast won’t have to wait long for a potential bounce back as the Lady Trojans travel to Lindsborg to square off with Smoky Valley next Tuesday.

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 girl's basketball team couldn’t overcome a slow night on offense, as they fell 53-39 in their season opener to Hesston.Despite falling behind 13-4 at the end of the first, the Lady Trojans rode four second-quarter threes, including three by Brielle Ptacek, to even the halftime score at 24-all.&nbsp;Unfortunately for Southeast, the run stopped there, as Hesston put up 18 third-quarter points and never looked back en route to the victory.“They played us really fast and physical and we never really settled in,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “At the end of the day we have to put the ball in the basket.”The Lady Swathers were led in scoring by a trio of double-digit scorers, with Abby Proctor (18), Kendal Brueggen (15), and Callie Yoder (11) all posting strong performances.On the other side, the Southeast was led in scoring by Maddie Harris and Brielle Ptacek, who each chipped in 12, but got just 15 points of aid from the rest of the team.Despite struggling to score, SES debuted a pair of promising newcomers, and the rotation for the Lady Trojans is starting to take shape.“Suttyn Douglas and Regan Duran had some moments we got on them for but I thought they did a really good job and they’ll continue to get better and better every night,” Smith said.Southeast won’t have to wait long for a potential bounce back as the Lady Trojans travel to Lindsborg to square off with Smoky Valley next Tuesday.

Lady Trojans Can't Overcome Slow Scoring Night, Fall 53-39 in Season Opener

The Southeast of Saline basketball teams will open their 2023-24 campaigns on the road this Friday, as they travel to Hesston to square off with the Swathers.

This matchup has provided some electric basketball to tip off the season for the last three years on both sides, and this season should be no different.

Girls game (6:00): SE of Saline (0-0) vs. #5 Hesston (0-0)

The Lady Trojans are coming off of a second-straight 19+ win campaign, and will be eager to pick up where they left off against a Hesston squad that finished out the year 17-6.

These two foes have met four times in the last three years, splitting the series 2-2, with Southeast holding the last two wins, including a 49-36 victory in last year’s opener.

Despite losing several key pieces, the Lady Trojans return three senior starters in Maddie Harris, Brielle Ptacek, and Lexi Jacobson, who they will lean on early in the year as the rest of the rotation falls into place.

“Four of our girls have a ton of varsity experience and they’ve been in tough games before,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “Our size is still a concern though, and it could hurt us against a few big inside players for Hesston.”

The Swathers will likely lean on a pair of their own veterans in Kendal Brueggen and Abby Proctor, who gave opposing defenses trouble throughout their run last season.

“Hesston is always well coached and they’ve always had a winning program,” Smith said. “They’ll come out and compete hard and we know their two best players and we’ve seen both improve over the summer.”

In addition to solidifying a rotation and limiting the playmaking ability of Brueggen and Proctor, SES must convert the opportunities their good ball movement provides to avoid falling behind early.

“We need to run efficient offense and get good looks throughout,” she said. We’re good about getting good looks we just have to make the most of them.”

Boys Game: #3 SE of Saline (0-0) at #2 Hesston (0-0)

The Trojans are coming off of yet another impressive season themselves, having finished third at state with an overall record of 24-2.

While Southeast is in the midst of yet another dominant stretch as a team, they will be in search of new players to lead them, after losing their whole starting five, and several key rotation players, to graduation.

“We’ve progressed from day one to where we are now and that growth has been encouraging but we’re still far from where we need to be,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Around this time people want to start playing games and it’ll be nice to go out and compete.”

Hesston will once again represent a tall task for the Trojans to overcome, as the Swathers have won four of their last five matchups against Southeast, including last year’s 3A state semifinal.

One big piece back for Southeast comes in the form of Daniel Kejr, whose leadership will be invaluable this season.

“Daniel will have to be the level head of our group and he needs to be the one to run the show,” Flax said. “I don’t necessarily expect him to shoot a lot of shots but he has to facilitate and demand that guys are in the right spots.”

In order to overcome a frustrating foe tonight and start the season with a big win, the Trojans must take care of the basketball, and quickly solve the mystery of where their points will come from this season.

“They’ve always been really good at creating live ball turnovers, that’s embedded in their program,” he said. “We’ll have to be intentional about not making soft passes or we’ll be made to pay for that.”

Broadcast Information - Radio: KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM) - Live Stream: Salina Post - Pregame: 5:30 PM

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 basketball teams will open their 2023-24 campaigns on the road this Friday, as they travel to Hesston to square off with the Swathers.This matchup has provided some electric basketball to tip off the season for the last three years on both sides, and this season should be no different.Girls game (6:00): SE of Saline (0-0) vs. #5 Hesston (0-0)The Lady Trojans are coming off of a second-straight 19+ win campaign, and will be eager to pick up where they left off against a Hesston squad that finished out the year 17-6.These two foes have met four times in the last three years, splitting the series 2-2, with Southeast holding the last two wins, including a 49-36 victory in last year’s opener.Despite losing several key pieces, the Lady Trojans return three senior starters in Maddie Harris, Brielle Ptacek, and Lexi Jacobson, who they will lean on early in the year as the rest of the rotation falls into place.“Four of our girls have a ton of varsity experience and they’ve been in tough games before,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “Our size is still a concern though, and it could hurt us against a few big inside players for Hesston.”The Swathers will likely lean on a pair of their own veterans in Kendal Brueggen and Abby Proctor, who gave opposing defenses trouble throughout their run last season.“Hesston is always well coached and they’ve always had a winning program,” Smith said. “They’ll come out and compete hard and we know their two best players and we’ve seen both improve over the summer.”In addition to solidifying a rotation and limiting the playmaking ability of Brueggen and Proctor, SES must convert the opportunities their good ball movement provides to avoid falling behind early.“We need to run efficient offense and get good looks throughout,” she said. We’re good about getting good looks we just have to make the most of them.”Boys Game: #3 SE of Saline (0-0) at #2 Hesston (0-0)The Trojans are coming off of yet another impressive season themselves, having finished third at state with an overall record of 24-2.While Southeast is in the midst of yet another dominant stretch as a team, they will be in search of new players to lead them, after losing their whole starting five, and several key rotation players, to graduation.“We’ve progressed from day one to where we are now and that growth has been encouraging but we’re still far from where we need to be,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Around this time people want to start playing games and it’ll be nice to go out and compete.”Hesston will once again represent a tall task for the Trojans to overcome, as the Swathers have won four of their last five matchups against Southeast, including last year’s 3A state semifinal.One big piece back for Southeast comes in the form of Daniel Kejr, whose leadership will be invaluable this season.“Daniel will have to be the level head of our group and he needs to be the one to run the show,” Flax said. “I don’t necessarily expect him to shoot a lot of shots but he has to facilitate and demand that guys are in the right spots.”In order to overcome a frustrating foe tonight and start the season with a big win, the Trojans must take care of the basketball, and quickly solve the mystery of where their points will come from this season.“They’ve always been really good at creating live ball turnovers, that’s embedded in their program,” he said. “We’ll have to be intentional about not making soft passes or we’ll be made to pay for that.”Broadcast Information - Radio: KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM) - Live Stream: Salina Post - Pregame: 5:30 PM

SES Travels to Hesston to Tip-Off New Seasons

Following another exceptional campaign that saw them finish 24-2 with a third-place trophy at state, the Southeast of Saline basketball team will look to reload ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Head coach Bryson Flax returns to Gypsum for his sixth season at the helm after leading the Trojans to a third-straight 20+ win result.

SES will have to overcome one of its biggest graduating classes, as the Trojans said goodbye to eight seniors last offseason, including a majority of its rotation, but will still have a trio of seniors leading the lineup.

G- Danny Kejr (Sr) W- Connor Casselman (Sr) F- Brenton Leeds (Sr)

The final two starting spots are currently up for grabs, with senior Kirby Davis, junior Owen Bailey, and sophomore Gannon Jacobson all battling it out in practice.

Beyond that, SES should still have a deep rotation thanks to senior Omar Calzada, junior Samuel Knopf, and a pair of sophomores in Isaiah Kejr and Grady Gebhardt.

Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Flax and get his thoughts on this year’s squad.

Q: When you had a chance to look back on it, what were your overall thoughts on last season?

A: We had one of the better groups in the state last season and it was an extremely successful season. Each class hits a coach a different way and that class was very special to me as the first class I had for four years.&nbsp;

Q: Entering this year, what would you say are the biggest known strengths of your team?

A: Our ability to shoot the ball consistently should be a strength. In years past we’ve had one or two guys that could hit shots when they got going but as a group we’re capable of knocking down open shots we just have to find them.

Q: What are the biggest looming questions or challenges that you’ll look to sort out in these first few weeks?

A: We’re going to have to find our way defensively. Last year’s group had a very high basketball IQ and could recover quickly if they were out of position. This group will really have to focus on being in the right spots at the right time and we’re getting better but it’s been a process.

Q: What are the biggest goals and expectations for this group heading into the new season?

A: We have a different roster but our expectations are the same. We expect to go out and compete every night and that may look or feel different but at the end of the day it’s about competing and giving ourselves opportunities to win games.

The Trojans open their season in Hesston with a road game against the Swathers this Friday.

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>Following another exceptional campaign that saw them finish 24-2 with a third-place trophy at state, the Southeast of Saline basketball team will look to reload ahead of the 2023-24 season.Head coach Bryson Flax returns to Gypsum for his sixth season at the helm after leading the Trojans to a third-straight 20+ win result.SES will have to overcome one of its biggest graduating classes, as the Trojans said goodbye to eight seniors last offseason, including a majority of its rotation, but will still have a trio of seniors leading the lineup.G- Danny Kejr (Sr) W- Connor Casselman (Sr) F- Brenton Leeds (Sr)The final two starting spots are currently up for grabs, with senior Kirby Davis, junior Owen Bailey, and sophomore Gannon Jacobson all battling it out in practice.Beyond that, SES should still have a deep rotation thanks to senior Omar Calzada, junior Samuel Knopf, and a pair of sophomores in Isaiah Kejr and Grady Gebhardt.Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Flax and get his thoughts on this year’s squad.Q: When you had a chance to look back on it, what were your overall thoughts on last season?A: We had one of the better groups in the state last season and it was an extremely successful season. Each class hits a coach a different way and that class was very special to me as the first class I had for four years.&nbsp;Q: Entering this year, what would you say are the biggest known strengths of your team?A: Our ability to shoot the ball consistently should be a strength. In years past we’ve had one or two guys that could hit shots when they got going but as a group we’re capable of knocking down open shots we just have to find them.Q: What are the biggest looming questions or challenges that you’ll look to sort out in these first few weeks?A: We’re going to have to find our way defensively. Last year’s group had a very high basketball IQ and could recover quickly if they were out of position. This group will really have to focus on being in the right spots at the right time and we’re getting better but it’s been a process.Q: What are the biggest goals and expectations for this group heading into the new season?A: We have a different roster but our expectations are the same. We expect to go out and compete every night and that may look or feel different but at the end of the day it’s about competing and giving ourselves opportunities to win games.The Trojans open their season in Hesston with a road game against the Swathers this Friday.

2023-24 Preseason Profile: SES Boys Basketball

Kansas Wesleyan’s Department of Music will host its traditional holiday concert, Christmas by Candlelight, on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m. The event will be held in downtown Salina at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, and admission is free.

“This is a great moment every year, and this year is no exception,” said Dr. Leonardo Rosario, director of strings at KWU and the leader of this year’s event. “We’re proud to give this performance to the community every year and hope to see the Stiefel Theatre full on Dec. 8!”

This year’s theme is “Prince of Peace,” and five local schools – Salina South, Salina Central, Sacred Heart, Southeast of Saline and Coronado Elementary – will join KWU’s choral and instrumental ensembles in this celebration. Tickets are not required to attend.

More information about the 2023 edition of Christmas by Candlelight, including details on live streaming, can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwu.edu/cbcl23">www.kwu.edu/cbcl23</a>.

The event is sponsored by Long McArthur, Hajoca Salina, Landscape Consultants and Ryan Mortuary and Crematory.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701363554231.jpeg" alt="Kansas Wesleyan University's Christmas by Candlelight 2023. Graphic courtesy KWU" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Wesleyan University's Christmas by Candlelight 2023. Graphic courtesy KWU</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedKansas Wesleyan’s Department of Music will host its traditional holiday concert, Christmas by Candlelight, on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m. The event will be held in downtown Salina at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, and admission is free.“This is a great moment every year, and this year is no exception,” said Dr. Leonardo Rosario, director of strings at KWU and the leader of this year’s event. “We’re proud to give this performance to the community every year and hope to see the Stiefel Theatre full on Dec. 8!”This year’s theme is “Prince of Peace,” and five local schools – Salina South, Salina Central, Sacred Heart, Southeast of Saline and Coronado Elementary – will join KWU’s choral and instrumental ensembles in this celebration. Tickets are not required to attend.More information about the 2023 edition of Christmas by Candlelight, including details on live streaming, can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwu.edu/cbcl23">www.kwu.edu/cbcl23</a>. The event is sponsored by Long McArthur, Hajoca Salina, Landscape Consultants and Ryan Mortuary and Crematory.

KWU Music readies for Christmas by Candlelight at Stiefel on Dec. 8

6A Girls 1. OP-Blue Valley North 2. Shawnee Mission South 3. Topeka-Washburn Rural 4. Wichita Southeast 5. Olathe Northwest 6. Wichita South 7. Olathe North 8. OP-Blue Valley 9. Lawrence 10. Liberal

5A Girls 1. OP-St. Thomas Aquinas 2. Andover 3. Lenexa-St. James Academy 4. Topeka - Seaman 5. Wichita - Bishop Carroll 6. Emporia 7. Andover Central 8. Basehor-Linwood 9. Maize South 10. Topeka-Highland Park

4A Girls 1. Bishop Miege 2. McPherson 3. Wamego 4. Wellington 5. Parsons 6. Rock Creek 7. Independence 8. Louisburg 9. Altamont- Labette County 10. Clearwater

3A Girls 1. Silver Lake 2. Topeka - Hayden 3. Colby 4. Seneca-Nemaha Central 5. Hesston 6. Carbondale - Santa Fe Trail 7. Rossville 8. Halstead 9. Cheney 10. Goodland

2A Girls 1. Pittsburg-St. Mary's Colgan 2. Wathena - Riverside 3. Hillsboro 4. Hoxie 5. Leoti-Wichita County 6. Elbing - Berean Academy 7. Wichita-The Independent School 8. St. Mary's 9. Smith Center 10. Garden Plain

1A-Div 1-Girls 1. Little River 2. Frankfort 3. Clifton-Clyde 4. Montezuma-South Gray 5. Doniphan West 6. Olpe 7. St. John - Hudson 8. Central Plains 9. Centralia 10. Norwich

1A-Div 2- Girls 1. Hanover 2. Lebo 3. Bucklin 4. Beloit-St. John's /Tipton 5. Sharon Springs-Wallace County 6. Hutchinson -Central Christian 7. South Haven 8. McPerson-Elyria Christian 9. Attica 10. Ingalls

6A Boys 1. Wichita Heights 2. OP-Blue Valley Northwest 3. Shawnee Mission Northwest 4. Derby 5. Shawnee-Mill Valley 6. Olathe North 7. Lawrence 8. OP-Blue Valley North 9. Olathe West 10. Topeka-Washburn Rural

5A Boys 1. Maize South 2. Wichita- Kapaun Mt. Carmel 3. Topeka - Highland Park 4. Andover 5. De Soto 6. Topeka - Seaman 7. OP-Blue Valley Southwest 8. Wichita- Bishop Carroll 9. Topeka- West 10. Pittsburg

4A Boys 1. Hugoton 2. McPherson 3. Atchison 4. Bishop Miege 5. Eudora 6. Clay Center 7. Baldwin 8. Circle 9. Ottawa 10. Fort Scott

3A Boys 1. Wichita-Collegiate 2. Hesston 3. Southeast of Saline 4. Cheney5 Sabetha 6. Galena 7. Haven 8. Beloit 9. Marysville 10. Wellsville

2A Boys 1. Sterling 2. Wichita Independent 3. Hays -Thomas More Prep 4. Moundridge 5. Bennington 6. Meade 7. Pittsburgh-St. Mary's Colgan 8. Medicine Lodge 9. Lyndon 10. Oxford

1A-Div 1-Boys 1. Montezuma-South Gray 2. Coldwater-South Central 3. Olpe 4. Clifton-Clyde 5. Sylyan-Lucas 6. Centralia 7. Osborne 8. Macksville 9. Kinsley 10. Canton-Galva

1A-Div 2-Boys 1. Lebo 2. Axtell 3. Tribune-Greeley County 4. McPherson-Elyria Christian 5. Hanover 6. Beloit-St. John's/Tipton 7. Almena-Northern Valley 8. Dighton 9. Bucklin 10. Cunningham

GIRLS RANKINGS6A Girls 1. OP-Blue Valley North 2. Shawnee Mission South 3. Topeka-Washburn Rural 4. Wichita Southeast 5. Olathe Northwest 6. Wichita South 7. Olathe North 8. OP-Blue Valley 9. Lawrence 10. Liberal5A Girls 1. OP-St. Thomas Aquinas 2. Andover 3. Lenexa-St. James Academy 4. Topeka - Seaman 5. Wichita - Bishop Carroll 6. Emporia 7. Andover Central 8. Basehor-Linwood 9. Maize South 10. Topeka-Highland Park4A Girls 1. Bishop Miege 2. McPherson 3. Wamego 4. Wellington 5. Parsons 6. Rock Creek 7. Independence 8. Louisburg 9. Altamont- Labette County 10. Clearwater3A Girls 1. Silver Lake 2. Topeka - Hayden 3. Colby 4. Seneca-Nemaha Central 5. Hesston 6. Carbondale - Santa Fe Trail 7. Rossville 8. Halstead 9. Cheney 10. Goodland2A Girls 1. Pittsburg-St. Mary's Colgan 2. Wathena - Riverside 3. Hillsboro 4. Hoxie 5. Leoti-Wichita County 6. Elbing - Berean Academy 7. Wichita-The Independent School 8. St. Mary's 9. Smith Center 10. Garden Plain1A-Div 1-Girls 1. Little River 2. Frankfort 3. Clifton-Clyde 4. Montezuma-South Gray 5. Doniphan West 6. Olpe 7. St. John - Hudson 8. Central Plains 9. Centralia 10. Norwich1A-Div 2- Girls 1. Hanover 2. Lebo 3. Bucklin 4. Beloit-St. John's /Tipton 5. Sharon Springs-Wallace County 6. Hutchinson -Central Christian 7. South Haven 8. McPerson-Elyria Christian 9. Attica 10. IngallsBOYS RANKINGS6A Boys 1. Wichita Heights 2. OP-Blue Valley Northwest 3. Shawnee Mission Northwest 4. Derby 5. Shawnee-Mill Valley 6. Olathe North 7. Lawrence 8. OP-Blue Valley North 9. Olathe West 10. Topeka-Washburn Rural5A Boys 1. Maize South 2. Wichita- Kapaun Mt. Carmel 3. Topeka - Highland Park 4. Andover 5. De Soto 6. Topeka - Seaman 7. OP-Blue Valley Southwest 8. Wichita- Bishop Carroll 9. Topeka- West 10. Pittsburg4A Boys 1. Hugoton 2. McPherson 3. Atchison 4. Bishop Miege 5. Eudora 6. Clay Center 7. Baldwin 8. Circle 9. Ottawa 10. Fort Scott3A Boys 1. Wichita-Collegiate 2. Hesston 3. Southeast of Saline 4. Cheney5 Sabetha 6. Galena 7. Haven 8. Beloit 9. Marysville 10. Wellsville2A Boys 1. Sterling 2. Wichita Independent 3. Hays -Thomas More Prep 4. Moundridge 5. Bennington 6. Meade 7. Pittsburgh-St. Mary's Colgan 8. Medicine Lodge 9. Lyndon 10. Oxford1A-Div 1-Boys 1. Montezuma-South Gray 2. Coldwater-South Central 3. Olpe 4. Clifton-Clyde 5. Sylyan-Lucas 6. Centralia 7. Osborne 8. Macksville 9. Kinsley 10. Canton-Galva1A-Div 2-Boys 1. Lebo 2. Axtell 3. Tribune-Greeley County 4. McPherson-Elyria Christian 5. Hanover 6. Beloit-St. John's/Tipton 7. Almena-Northern Valley 8. Dighton 9. Bucklin 10. Cunningham

KBCA HS Hoops Rankings: Preseason

On the heels of another fantastic 19-4 campaign, the Southeast of Saline girl’s basketball team will look to reload and run it back ahead of what should be another strong season.

8th-year head coach Shauna Smith reprises her role as leader of the Lady Trojans for the upcoming 2023-24 slate.

Despite graduating several key players a year ago, this year’s Southeast squad returns three senior starters to build around, with a starting lineup that should look like this come Friday.

G- Maddie Harris (Sr) G- Brielle Ptacek (Sr) F- Lexi Jacobson (Sr) F- Adyson Rohr (Jr) F- Abigail Pearson (So)

The Lady Trojans will also look for big minutes off the bench out of junior Sarah Feldman and sophomore Suttyn Douglas.

Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Smith and get her thoughts on this year’s squad.

A: I knew we would be in a sub-state championship game but our league continues to get stronger and stronger and I thought going 19-4 was a big accomplishment for us.&nbsp;

A: We have three senior starters returning who have been playing for four years and they know what the expectations are. I think that can take you a long way and they know how to win.

A: Our size will be a question mark but we’ve battled that for years. Depth could also be a problem for us.

A: The entire school at SES has developed a culture that league titles and state tournament berths are the expectation. I feel that the work our program puts in during the offseason, in both the classroom and the weight room, as well as during the season has kept these expectations in the forefront for this year’s team.

The Lady Trojans open their season in Hesston with a road game against the Swathers this Friday.

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>On the heels of another fantastic 19-4 campaign, the Southeast of Saline girl’s basketball team will look to reload and run it back ahead of what should be another strong season.8th-year head coach Shauna Smith reprises her role as leader of the Lady Trojans for the upcoming 2023-24 slate.Despite graduating several key players a year ago, this year’s Southeast squad returns three senior starters to build around, with a starting lineup that should look like this come Friday.G- Maddie Harris (Sr) G- Brielle Ptacek (Sr) F- Lexi Jacobson (Sr) F- Adyson Rohr (Jr) F- Abigail Pearson (So)The Lady Trojans will also look for big minutes off the bench out of junior Sarah Feldman and sophomore Suttyn Douglas.Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Smith and get her thoughts on this year’s squad.Q: When you had a chance to look back on it, what were your overall thoughts on last season?A: I knew we would be in a sub-state championship game but our league continues to get stronger and stronger and I thought going 19-4 was a big accomplishment for us.&nbsp;Q: Entering this year, what would you say are the biggest known strengths of your team?A: We have three senior starters returning who have been playing for four years and they know what the expectations are. I think that can take you a long way and they know how to win.Q: What are the biggest looming questions or challenges that you’ll look to sort out in these first few weeks?A: Our size will be a question mark but we’ve battled that for years. Depth could also be a problem for us.Q: What are the biggest goals and expectations for this group heading into the new season?A: The entire school at SES has developed a culture that league titles and state tournament berths are the expectation. I feel that the work our program puts in during the offseason, in both the classroom and the weight room, as well as during the season has kept these expectations in the forefront for this year’s team.The Lady Trojans open their season in Hesston with a road game against the Swathers this Friday.

2023-24 Preseason Profile: SES Girls Basketball

Kansas Wesleyan Coachs&nbsp;Show&nbsp; 6 p.m. (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Chiefs Kingdom Show&nbsp; 7 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Kansas Wesleyan Basketball Pregame Show&nbsp; 5:40 p.m.&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Kansas Wesleyan VS McPherson College WBB&nbsp; 6 p.m.&nbsp; at McPherson College&nbsp; Mcpherson(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Kansas Wesleyan VS McPherson College MBB&nbsp; 8 p.m.&nbsp; at McPherson College Mcpherson (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Southeast of Saline Trojans Pregame Show&nbsp; 5:40 p.m.&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Southeast of Saline Lady Trojans VS Hesston Lady Swathers Basketball&nbsp; 6 p.m. at Hesston High School, Hesston, Ks&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>&nbsp;and video coverage on Salina Post)

Southeast of Saline Trojans VS Hesston Swathers Basketball&nbsp; 7:30 p.m.&nbsp; at Hesston High School, Hesston (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>&nbsp;and video coverage on Salina Post)

Sacred Heart Lady Knights VS Clifton Clyde Lady Eagles 6 p.m.&nbsp; at Clifton Clyde High School, Clyde, Ks&nbsp; (Video Coverage on Salina Post)

Sacred Heart Knights VS Clifton Clyde Eagles&nbsp; 7:30 p.m.&nbsp; at Clifton Clyde High School, Clyde Video Coverage on Salina Post)

MRN &nbsp;Nascar Live &nbsp;8am. &nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Kansas Wesleyan Basketball Pregame Show&nbsp; 4:40pm&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Kansas Wesleyan VS Bethany College WBB&nbsp; 5pm&nbsp; at Mabee Arena Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, Ks&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Kansas Wesleyan VS Bethany College MBB&nbsp; 7pm&nbsp; at Mabee Arena Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, Ks&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

PRN&nbsp; The Pit Reporters&nbsp; 9am&nbsp; (Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KIINA.COM</a>)

Kansas City Chiefs VS Green Bay Packers&nbsp; 6pm&nbsp; at Lambeau Field Green Bay, Wi&nbsp; (Listen Live on KINA and KSKG)&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591971280271.jpeg" alt="KINA New logo Blue Black" />
 <figcaption>KINA New logo Blue Black</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Monday</h2>Kansas Wesleyan Coachs&nbsp;Show&nbsp; 6 p.m. (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)Chiefs Kingdom Show&nbsp; 7 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)<h2>Wednesday</h2>Kansas Wesleyan Basketball Pregame Show&nbsp; 5:40 p.m.&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)Kansas Wesleyan VS McPherson College WBB&nbsp; 6 p.m.&nbsp; at McPherson College&nbsp; Mcpherson(Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)Kansas Wesleyan VS McPherson College MBB&nbsp; 8 p.m.&nbsp; at McPherson College Mcpherson (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)<h2>Friday</h2>Southeast of Saline Trojans Pregame Show&nbsp; 5:40 p.m.&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)Southeast of Saline Lady Trojans VS Hesston Lady Swathers Basketball&nbsp; 6 p.m. at Hesston High School, Hesston, Ks&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>&nbsp;and video coverage on Salina Post)Southeast of Saline Trojans VS Hesston Swathers Basketball&nbsp; 7:30 p.m.&nbsp; at Hesston High School, Hesston (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>&nbsp;and video coverage on Salina Post)Sacred Heart Lady Knights VS Clifton Clyde Lady Eagles 6 p.m.&nbsp; at Clifton Clyde High School, Clyde, Ks&nbsp; (Video Coverage on Salina Post)Sacred Heart Knights VS Clifton Clyde Eagles&nbsp; 7:30 p.m.&nbsp; at Clifton Clyde High School, Clyde Video Coverage on Salina Post)<h2>Saturday</h2>MRN &nbsp;Nascar Live &nbsp;8am. &nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)Kansas Wesleyan Basketball Pregame Show&nbsp; 4:40pm&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)Kansas Wesleyan VS Bethany College WBB&nbsp; 5pm&nbsp; at Mabee Arena Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, Ks&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)Kansas Wesleyan VS Bethany College MBB&nbsp; 7pm&nbsp; at Mabee Arena Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, Ks&nbsp; (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)<h2>Sunday</h2>PRN&nbsp; The Pit Reporters&nbsp; 9am&nbsp; (Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KIINA.COM</a>)Kansas City Chiefs VS Green Bay Packers&nbsp; 6pm&nbsp; at Lambeau Field Green Bay, Wi&nbsp; (Listen Live on KINA and KSKG)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Weekly KINA radio sports schedule

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina Post

Temperatures plummeted this week in Salina, with the recorded temperature from Saturday, Nov. 18, at 70 degrees and this Saturday, Nov. 25, with an expected low of 23 degrees.

Randy Picking, 910 KINA Coffee Talk Co-Host, said during the morning talk show, "Four inches is what the models that I follow are forecasting. The good news is, wind is not going to be a problem."

Wind chills may not be a problem on Saturday while multiple inches of snow accumulates. Still, according to Saline County Emergency Management Deputy Director Natasha Cundy, Sunday morning would be frosty.

"Sunday, the windchill is going to be in the single digits, so be prepared to bundle up if you're going outside," Cundy said. "Remember, if you have to shovel snow, it will be heavy due to the wet snow conditions."

Current predictions from the Wichita National Weather Service show a few more inches of snowfall for the Salina region, with expected precipitation to accumulate quickly during the day.

Sunday and Monday will follow with single-digit wind chills during the early morning hours, followed by afternoon temperatures around 40 degrees.

According to Wichita NWS Meteorologist Vanessa Pearce, the predicted snowfall for Salina will be around five to seven inches.

Some parts of the state may see more of a wintery mix than snow, but snowpack is likely for north and western Kansas towns.

"We're thinking it'll be snow up there — you won't see that mix," Pearce said. "The mix will be more across South Central into Southeast Kansas, kind of closer to the Kansas turnpike."

Wichita NWS predicted that 3 p.m. would be the peak of Saturday's storm,  with a predicted high temperature of 33 degrees.

This storm will likely cause reduced visibility in the afternoon, and the thick snowfall will cause slick conditions for motor vehicles.

"It's falling during the daytime hours when people are out and about or trying to do different activities," Pearce said. "Especially with the rates that are going to be occurring — the snowfall rates are going to cause that accumulation."

Pearce warned against unnecessary travel during the afternoon storm, encouraging residents to push plans to Sunday when the snow will have entirely left the state.

The predicted temperatures for Sunday remain in the low 40s, but travel should be safer due to clear skies and drier driving conditions.

"If you can, adjust your travel plans to a different day or time," Pearce said. "That would be highly encouraged — avoid any kind of going out if you don't need to on Saturday."

● Saline County: Winter Storm ● Ellsworth County: Winter Storm Warning ● Ottawa County:&nbsp;Winter Storm Warning ● Lincoln County:&nbsp;Winter Storm Warning ● Russell County: Winter Storm Warning ● Dickinson&nbsp;County: Winter Storm Warning ● Mitchell&nbsp;County: N/A ● Clay&nbsp;County: Winter Storm Advisory ● Marion&nbsp;County: Winter Storm Warning ● Cloud&nbsp;County: Winter Storm Advisory

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700862631197.jpeg" alt="The season's first winter storm is set to impact the area early Saturday morning through late Saturday night. Graphic courtesy Wichita National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>The season's first winter storm is set to impact the area early Saturday morning through late Saturday night. Graphic courtesy Wichita National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina PostTemperatures plummeted this week in Salina, with the recorded temperature from Saturday, Nov. 18, at 70 degrees and this Saturday, Nov. 25, with an expected low of 23 degrees.Randy Picking, 910 KINA Coffee Talk Co-Host, said during the morning talk show, "Four inches is what the models that I follow are forecasting. The good news is, wind is not going to be a problem."Wind chills may not be a problem on Saturday while multiple inches of snow accumulates. Still, according to Saline County Emergency Management Deputy Director Natasha Cundy, Sunday morning would be frosty."Sunday, the windchill is going to be in the single digits, so be prepared to bundle up if you're going outside," Cundy said. "Remember, if you have to shovel snow, it will be heavy due to the wet snow conditions."Current predictions from the Wichita National Weather Service show a few more inches of snowfall for the Salina region, with expected precipitation to accumulate quickly during the day.Sunday and Monday will follow with single-digit wind chills during the early morning hours, followed by afternoon temperatures around 40 degrees.According to Wichita NWS Meteorologist Vanessa Pearce, the predicted snowfall for Salina will be around five to seven inches.Some parts of the state may see more of a wintery mix than snow, but snowpack is likely for north and western Kansas towns."We're thinking it'll be snow up there — you won't see that mix," Pearce said. "The mix will be more across South Central into Southeast Kansas, kind of closer to the Kansas turnpike."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700862690714.jpeg" alt="The season's first winter storm is set to impact the area early Saturday morning through late Saturday night. Graphic courtesy Wichita National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>The season's first winter storm is set to impact the area early Saturday morning through late Saturday night. Graphic courtesy Wichita National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita NWS predicted that 3 p.m. would be the peak of Saturday's storm, with a predicted high temperature of 33 degrees.This storm will likely cause reduced visibility in the afternoon, and the thick snowfall will cause slick conditions for motor vehicles."It's falling during the daytime hours when people are out and about or trying to do different activities," Pearce said. "Especially with the rates that are going to be occurring — the snowfall rates are going to cause that accumulation."Pearce warned against unnecessary travel during the afternoon storm, encouraging residents to push plans to Sunday when the snow will have entirely left the state.The predicted temperatures for Sunday remain in the low 40s, but travel should be safer due to clear skies and drier driving conditions."If you can, adjust your travel plans to a different day or time," Pearce said. "That would be highly encouraged — avoid any kind of going out if you don't need to on Saturday."<h2>Local Weather Advisories</h2>● Saline County: Winter Storm ● Ellsworth County: Winter Storm Warning ● Ottawa County:&nbsp;Winter Storm Warning ● Lincoln County:&nbsp;Winter Storm Warning ● Russell County: Winter Storm Warning ● Dickinson&nbsp;County: Winter Storm Warning ● Mitchell&nbsp;County: N/A ● Clay&nbsp;County: Winter Storm Advisory ● Marion&nbsp;County: Winter Storm Warning ● Cloud&nbsp;County: Winter Storm Advisory

NWS Meteorologist urges travelers to adjust plans for Saturday's winter storm

Joseph Alan Heinrich March 10, 1948 ~ November 21, 2023

Joseph Alan Heinrich, 75, passed away peacefully in his home in Salina, KS on November 21, 2023, after his private battle with cancer.&nbsp; He was born in North Platte, NE on March 10, 1948, to Ruby and Benjamin Heinrich where they resided on their family farm in Paxton, NE with his sister (Eileen) and his brothers (Harvey and Paul). &nbsp;

Joe attended school in Paxton through his graduation from Paxton High School in 1966, where he and his beloved wife, Kathy were high school sweethearts.&nbsp; While at Paxton High, Joe participated, and lettered in football, basketball, and track for four years. He was Student Council President, Annual Staff Co-Editor, and Homecoming King.&nbsp; &nbsp;

He was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church, beginning at Trinity Lutheran Church in Paxton, where he was baptized, confirmed, and participated in choir.&nbsp; Later he joined Redeemer Lutheran Church in Salina where he was involved in various roles, including church council, lector, usher, and altar guild.

After high school, Joe moved to Kearney, NE to attend Kearney State College, where he studied Business Administration.&nbsp; He was actively involved in his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon while he remained studious.&nbsp; He also enjoyed competing in Bridge tournaments, ultimately earning a 3rd place finish in the National Intercollegiate Pair Title tournament.&nbsp; While in Kearney, Joe and Kathy married in 1969 and later welcomed two sons, Bryan and Brett.&nbsp; Joe began working in the fire sprinkler industry at Bamford Inc, until relocating to Salina, KS in 1976.&nbsp; Here, they started Bamford Fire Sprinkler Company with humble beginnings out of their home, eventually expanding to Shawnee Mission, KS. In Salina, they also welcomed their favorite daughter, Andrea.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Joe became involved in the American Fire Sprinkler Association in 1982, serving on multiple committees and, since 2004, the board of directors.&nbsp; Eventually, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2013-2014.&nbsp; During his tenure on the board, Joe demonstrated leadership with integrity that included the vision and inception of the NextGen Initiative.&nbsp; He made many dear, life-long friends and remained actively involved in board meetings following his time as Chairman.

Joe’s passion for and involvement in youth activities, particularly baseball, in Salina allowed him to enrich the lives of thousands of youths through team sponsorships including the framing and construction of batting cages at many local schools and fields.&nbsp; In the words of Mike Garretson, “If you strike out, don’t blame Joe Heinrich!”&nbsp; He used his time and talents to support the American Legion, Babe Ruth, and many youth baseball programs.&nbsp; Most notably, he was co-director for the American Legion Grand Slam Tournament for approximately 17 years, beginning in the early 1990’s.&nbsp; He, along with good buddies, Kent Lambert and Larry “Doc” St. Clair, organized the tournament for many years after their own sons finished playing Legion baseball.

In his “spare time,” Joe could be found watching and listening to sports of nearly any variety and listening to talk radio.&nbsp; His favorite teams included the Nebraska Huskers, Royals, and Chiefs.&nbsp; Joe enjoyed bowling, playing rounds of golf during his travels for board trips, taking his grandchildren to the driving range, and spoiling his family - especially his grandkids.&nbsp; But his favorite pastime was attending his grandchildren’s sports and activities for Southeast of Saline, Chapman, and Manhattan.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Ruby, brother Harvey, and sister Eileen.&nbsp; He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, sons Bryan (Katie) Heinrich and Brett (Trina) Heinrich, daughter Andrea (Brandon) Van Meter, and brother Paul (Janet) Heinrich.&nbsp; He has seven grandchildren who were his pride and joy: Ben Heinrich, Isaac Van Meter, Reese Heinrich, Jacob Van Meter, Madilyn Heinrich, Zoey Van Meter, and Gabriella Heinrich, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He knew no strangers and made friends everywhere he went.&nbsp; Joe left a lasting impression on so many with his huge heart, authenticity, integrity and generosity.&nbsp; To his family, we knew him best for always doing what was right and honorable with humility and good cheer.&nbsp; Up to the end, he maintained his sense of humor, catching us off-guard at times with a well-timed wise crack.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 24, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (family present from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM) at Ryan Mortuary (137 N. 8th St. Salina, KS).&nbsp; His memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Redeemer Lutheran Church (743 E. Magnolia Rd. Salina, KS).&nbsp; Inurnment will follow the funeral service at Gypsum Hill Cemetery (2020 E. Iron St.).&nbsp; Following the burial, a celebration of life will be held at The Venue (638 Francis St.).&nbsp; Lunch and drinks will be served, and we invite everyone to join the family as we remember the Legend.

On behalf of the Joe Heinrich family, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude for all the calls, prayers, visits, meals, cards, and well-wishes provided to our family.&nbsp; Your love, kindness, and generosity are genuinely appreciated and have touched our hearts during Joe’s illness and final days.&nbsp;

To&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Joseph-Heinrich/sympathy-landing">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Joseph-Heinrich/1074854/memorial-tree">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Joseph Alan Heinrich, please&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Joseph-Heinrich/sympathy-landing">visit our floral store.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700839540650.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Joseph Alan Heinrich March 10, 1948 ~ November 21, 2023Joseph Alan Heinrich, 75, passed away peacefully in his home in Salina, KS on November 21, 2023, after his private battle with cancer.&nbsp; He was born in North Platte, NE on March 10, 1948, to Ruby and Benjamin Heinrich where they resided on their family farm in Paxton, NE with his sister (Eileen) and his brothers (Harvey and Paul). &nbsp;Joe attended school in Paxton through his graduation from Paxton High School in 1966, where he and his beloved wife, Kathy were high school sweethearts.&nbsp; While at Paxton High, Joe participated, and lettered in football, basketball, and track for four years. He was Student Council President, Annual Staff Co-Editor, and Homecoming King.&nbsp; &nbsp;He was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church, beginning at Trinity Lutheran Church in Paxton, where he was baptized, confirmed, and participated in choir.&nbsp; Later he joined Redeemer Lutheran Church in Salina where he was involved in various roles, including church council, lector, usher, and altar guild.After high school, Joe moved to Kearney, NE to attend Kearney State College, where he studied Business Administration.&nbsp; He was actively involved in his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon while he remained studious.&nbsp; He also enjoyed competing in Bridge tournaments, ultimately earning a 3rd place finish in the National Intercollegiate Pair Title tournament.&nbsp; While in Kearney, Joe and Kathy married in 1969 and later welcomed two sons, Bryan and Brett.&nbsp; Joe began working in the fire sprinkler industry at Bamford Inc, until relocating to Salina, KS in 1976.&nbsp; Here, they started Bamford Fire Sprinkler Company with humble beginnings out of their home, eventually expanding to Shawnee Mission, KS. In Salina, they also welcomed their favorite daughter, Andrea.&nbsp; &nbsp;Joe became involved in the American Fire Sprinkler Association in 1982, serving on multiple committees and, since 2004, the board of directors.&nbsp; Eventually, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2013-2014.&nbsp; During his tenure on the board, Joe demonstrated leadership with integrity that included the vision and inception of the NextGen Initiative.&nbsp; He made many dear, life-long friends and remained actively involved in board meetings following his time as Chairman.Joe’s passion for and involvement in youth activities, particularly baseball, in Salina allowed him to enrich the lives of thousands of youths through team sponsorships including the framing and construction of batting cages at many local schools and fields.&nbsp; In the words of Mike Garretson, “If you strike out, don’t blame Joe Heinrich!”&nbsp; He used his time and talents to support the American Legion, Babe Ruth, and many youth baseball programs.&nbsp; Most notably, he was co-director for the American Legion Grand Slam Tournament for approximately 17 years, beginning in the early 1990’s.&nbsp; He, along with good buddies, Kent Lambert and Larry “Doc” St. Clair, organized the tournament for many years after their own sons finished playing Legion baseball.In his “spare time,” Joe could be found watching and listening to sports of nearly any variety and listening to talk radio.&nbsp; His favorite teams included the Nebraska Huskers, Royals, and Chiefs.&nbsp; Joe enjoyed bowling, playing rounds of golf during his travels for board trips, taking his grandchildren to the driving range, and spoiling his family - especially his grandkids.&nbsp; But his favorite pastime was attending his grandchildren’s sports and activities for Southeast of Saline, Chapman, and Manhattan.Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Ruby, brother Harvey, and sister Eileen.&nbsp; He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, sons Bryan (Katie) Heinrich and Brett (Trina) Heinrich, daughter Andrea (Brandon) Van Meter, and brother Paul (Janet) Heinrich.&nbsp; He has seven grandchildren who were his pride and joy: Ben Heinrich, Isaac Van Meter, Reese Heinrich, Jacob Van Meter, Madilyn Heinrich, Zoey Van Meter, and Gabriella Heinrich, as well as many nieces and nephews.He knew no strangers and made friends everywhere he went.&nbsp; Joe left a lasting impression on so many with his huge heart, authenticity, integrity and generosity.&nbsp; To his family, we knew him best for always doing what was right and honorable with humility and good cheer.&nbsp; Up to the end, he maintained his sense of humor, catching us off-guard at times with a well-timed wise crack.Visitation will be held on Friday, November 24, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (family present from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM) at Ryan Mortuary (137 N. 8th St. Salina, KS).&nbsp; His memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Redeemer Lutheran Church (743 E. Magnolia Rd. Salina, KS).&nbsp; Inurnment will follow the funeral service at Gypsum Hill Cemetery (2020 E. Iron St.).&nbsp; Following the burial, a celebration of life will be held at The Venue (638 Francis St.).&nbsp; Lunch and drinks will be served, and we invite everyone to join the family as we remember the Legend.On behalf of the Joe Heinrich family, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude for all the calls, prayers, visits, meals, cards, and well-wishes provided to our family.&nbsp; Your love, kindness, and generosity are genuinely appreciated and have touched our hearts during Joe’s illness and final days.&nbsp;To&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Joseph-Heinrich/sympathy-landing">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Joseph-Heinrich/1074854/memorial-tree">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Joseph Alan Heinrich, please&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Joseph-Heinrich/sympathy-landing">visit our floral store.</a>

Joseph Alan Heinrich

The Southeast of Saline Trojans battled their hearts out on Friday night, but another magical undefeated season came to an end in the quarterfinals, this time at the hands of Hoisington 49-42.

The Cardinals (11-0) will advance to the 2A semifinals to take on Norton (11-0), while Southeast’s campaign comes to a close at 10-1.

This game was a shootout from the very beginning, as the two teams traded punches early and often, with Hoisington holding a 16-14 lead at the end of the first, and a 35-28 lead at the intermission.

Both defenses tightened the screws a bit in the second half, with each side scoring just one time in the third quarter, including an explosive 37-yard touchdown connection from Daniel Kejr to Grady Gebhardt to make it 42-36 after three.

It didn’t take long for Hoisington to respond however, as the Cardinals punched in another touchdown run, their sixth of the day, to take a 49-36 lead early in the fourth.

The Trojans would cut that deficit back down to seven on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Boyd in the final five minutes, but their defense couldn’t get off the field and the Cardinals were able to waste away the clock to secure the quarterfinal victory.

All told, the #1 scoring offense in Class 2A ran for 280 yards as part of a night that saw them rack up over 430 yards of total offense, and 49 points, all high watermarks against the SES defense.

In his final game for the purple and white, Daniel Kejr was excellent, completing 20-33 for over 400 yards and five touchdowns despite two picks.

This game also marks the end of a remarkable run for yet another stellar senior class, who put together a four-year stretch that saw SES go 41-4 with four trips to the state quarterfinals, and a trip to the state semis in 2022.

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 Trojans battled their hearts out on Friday night, but another magical undefeated season came to an end in the quarterfinals, this time at the hands of Hoisington 49-42.The Cardinals (11-0) will advance to the 2A semifinals to take on Norton (11-0), while Southeast’s campaign comes to a close at 10-1.This game was a shootout from the very beginning, as the two teams traded punches early and often, with Hoisington holding a 16-14 lead at the end of the first, and a 35-28 lead at the intermission.Both defenses tightened the screws a bit in the second half, with each side scoring just one time in the third quarter, including an explosive 37-yard touchdown connection from Daniel Kejr to Grady Gebhardt to make it 42-36 after three.It didn’t take long for Hoisington to respond however, as the Cardinals punched in another touchdown run, their sixth of the day, to take a 49-36 lead early in the fourth.The Trojans would cut that deficit back down to seven on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Boyd in the final five minutes, but their defense couldn’t get off the field and the Cardinals were able to waste away the clock to secure the quarterfinal victory.All told, the #1 scoring offense in Class 2A ran for 280 yards as part of a night that saw them rack up over 430 yards of total offense, and 49 points, all high watermarks against the SES defense.In his final game for the purple and white, Daniel Kejr was excellent, completing 20-33 for over 400 yards and five touchdowns despite two picks.This game also marks the end of a remarkable run for yet another stellar senior class, who put together a four-year stretch that saw SES go 41-4 with four trips to the state quarterfinals, and a trip to the state semis in 2022.Photo courtesy of Macy Bunch

Trojan Run Comes to a Close at Hands of Hoisington

The Saline County Commission met on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and discussed multiple action items in the week's agenda but focused primarily on one line item — an appeal extension for Plus Power.

County Commissioners at the Tuesday meeting included Rodger Sparks, James Weese, Joe Hay and Monte Shadwick via Zoom. County Commission Chairman Robert Vidricksen was absent from the meeting.

Mountain Peak Energy Storage, LLC, conducting business as Plus Power, approached the Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission in May with a battery-based electric storage and distribution facility project.

The project would be on farmland designated by the Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission, so Plus Power requested a conditional use permit, or CUP.

By Sept. 26, the project was ready for a vote from the Planning and Zoning Commission, with six of the nine voting members present.

The Planning and Zoning Commission ultimately denied the 40-acre project at the southwest corner of McReynolds and Simpson roads west of Gypsum.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/439b7aeb-f828-4694-a743-8505a299e296">Proposed Saline County Battery Energy Storage System denied</a>

Plus Power appealed the decision, and at the Nov. 7 meeting, they requested to move the appeal hearing to sometime in February 2024.&nbsp;

According to County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes, the commission set to hear the appeal during the Tuesday, Nov. 14 County Commission meeting.

"That's not a magical date," Smith-Hanes said. "That was simply the first time that we thought that we would have five commissioners in attendance."

The appeal extension is due to the confusing nature of the Planning and Zoning Commission vote.

The initial vote in September ultimately denied the request with three in favor, two against, and one abstention vote. The Planning and Zoning Commission clarified the vote at its Oct. 24 meeting.

"Two points contained in the letter (from Plus Power) essentially are that their attorney is not available next Tuesday," Smith-Hanes said. "Secondly, although they're appealing a decision from September, it was really Oct. 24 the Planning Commission went back and made their findings, so they need a little bit of additional time to react to that."

The Planning and Zoning meeting on Oct. 24 acted as the final meeting on the issue, and later, Plus Power filed an appeal.

After Smith-Hanes provided additional information about the continuance of the appeal, the County Commissioners deliberated.

County Commissioner Joe Hay spoke first, "We've had four meetings on this item," Hay said. "The planning commission made it perfectly clear that they denied. I just have a hard time continuing with this — I don't know why we just don't go ahead and quit kicking this dead horse."

"I just think we just need to put this to bed and get done with it and continue with our county business."

County Commissioner James Weese spoke next, expressing concern with due process and allowing applicable time for the appellant, Plus Power.

Weese said he attended a few of the four meetings about this item and witnessed the interactions between Planning and Zoning Commissioners and the community.

"I was confused over some of their meetings myself — it didn't seem as cut and dry as what you're explaining," Weese said. "I don't see a problem with... moving it back to give them the chance to do it correctly, so it doesn't come back to haunt us in a court of law."

Commissioner Monte Shadwick agreed with Weese initially, stating it would be proper to allow ample time for the appellant.

Even though the Nov. 14 date is not a "magical date" for the commission, it seemed to be for the citizens once the meeting moved to public comment.

The first to stand at the podium was Gypsum resident William Desilvey, who expressed concern over the possible risks to the Gypsum residents.

Desilvey said he believed it was time the commission followed the citizens of Gypsum's preferences on the matter, with many of the citizens declaring a resounding "no."

"We have told you no, we will not give our consent, and we will not be screwed by anybody," Desilvey said.

After Desilvey finished his comment, Wade Waddle, an impacted resident near the project site, spoke to the commission about the lack of communication and awareness surrounding this decision.

Waddle said since the project proposal, he has received a one-page flyer about the battery storage facility and two notifications about County Planning and Zoning Commission meetings.

"Not a single person has checked to see if I'm available or when I'm available as an affected person," Waddle said. "We're catering to a company that has had multiple opportunities and paraded several people in this room to make their case."

"Nobody's taking into account anybody's schedule except the applicant at this point, and that's kind of insulting to me."

Trish Voth, a representative for Plus Power, also spoke at the podium, encouraging the commission to take their time with the matter and allow the extension so all parties had enough time for consideration.

Voth said the record required for the appeal would include 300 pages, and she encouraged the commission to take their time preparing and allow for ample notices for the community.

Gary Olson, another Gypsum resident, spoke at the podium next and told the commission his thoughts from the commission and community meetings held about the battery storage facility.

"Where I started having lots of questions was when we had the discussion one day that this was going to have a $2 million community impact," Olson said. "The next time we talked about it, it was going to be a $1 million impact with them asking Saline County folks for some tax abatements, so I started wondering, 'well, maybe they're going to ask for tax abatements for the whole thing,' and Southeast of Saline won't get anything."

Olson continued his concerns, expressing to the commission his beliefs that Plus Power did not have the community's best interest in mind.

"I think the commission is ready to make their decision, and I think we need to leave the date where it's at," Olson said.

Another Gypsum resident, Tammy Waddle, agreed with Olson and expressed that the commission "needs to take care of this."&nbsp;

In total, five Gypsum residents, one Assaria resident and one Salina resident spoke in opposition to moving the date, with many citing the need to take off work to appear during the Saline County Commission meetings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697467290838.jpeg" alt="The Saline County and Salina City building at 300 West Ash Street in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>The Saline County and Salina City building at 300 West Ash Street in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina PostThe Saline County Commission met on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and discussed multiple action items in the week's agenda but focused primarily on one line item — an appeal extension for Plus Power.County Commissioners at the Tuesday meeting included Rodger Sparks, James Weese, Joe Hay and Monte Shadwick via Zoom. County Commission Chairman Robert Vidricksen was absent from the meeting.Mountain Peak Energy Storage, LLC, conducting business as Plus Power, approached the Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission in May with a battery-based electric storage and distribution facility project.The project would be on farmland designated by the Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission, so Plus Power requested a conditional use permit, or CUP.By Sept. 26, the project was ready for a vote from the Planning and Zoning Commission, with six of the nine voting members present.The Planning and Zoning Commission ultimately denied the 40-acre project at the southwest corner of McReynolds and Simpson roads west of Gypsum.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/439b7aeb-f828-4694-a743-8505a299e296">Proposed Saline County Battery Energy Storage System denied</a>Plus Power appealed the decision, and at the Nov. 7 meeting, they requested to move the appeal hearing to sometime in February 2024.&nbsp;According to County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes, the commission set to hear the appeal during the Tuesday, Nov. 14 County Commission meeting."That's not a magical date," Smith-Hanes said. "That was simply the first time that we thought that we would have five commissioners in attendance."The appeal extension is due to the confusing nature of the Planning and Zoning Commission vote.The initial vote in September ultimately denied the request with three in favor, two against, and one abstention vote. The Planning and Zoning Commission clarified the vote at its Oct. 24 meeting."Two points contained in the letter (from Plus Power) essentially are that their attorney is not available next Tuesday," Smith-Hanes said. "Secondly, although they're appealing a decision from September, it was really Oct. 24 the Planning Commission went back and made their findings, so they need a little bit of additional time to react to that."The Planning and Zoning meeting on Oct. 24 acted as the final meeting on the issue, and later, Plus Power filed an appeal.After Smith-Hanes provided additional information about the continuance of the appeal, the County Commissioners deliberated.County Commissioner Joe Hay spoke first, "We've had four meetings on this item," Hay said. "The planning commission made it perfectly clear that they denied. I just have a hard time continuing with this — I don't know why we just don't go ahead and quit kicking this dead horse.""I just think we just need to put this to bed and get done with it and continue with our county business."County Commissioner James Weese spoke next, expressing concern with due process and allowing applicable time for the appellant, Plus Power.Weese said he attended a few of the four meetings about this item and witnessed the interactions between Planning and Zoning Commissioners and the community."I was confused over some of their meetings myself — it didn't seem as cut and dry as what you're explaining," Weese said. "I don't see a problem with... moving it back to give them the chance to do it correctly, so it doesn't come back to haunt us in a court of law."Commissioner Monte Shadwick agreed with Weese initially, stating it would be proper to allow ample time for the appellant.<h2>A magical date for the community</h2>Even though the Nov. 14 date is not a "magical date" for the commission, it seemed to be for the citizens once the meeting moved to public comment.The first to stand at the podium was Gypsum resident William Desilvey, who expressed concern over the possible risks to the Gypsum residents.Desilvey said he believed it was time the commission followed the citizens of Gypsum's preferences on the matter, with many of the citizens declaring a resounding "no.""We have told you no, we will not give our consent, and we will not be screwed by anybody," Desilvey said.After Desilvey finished his comment, Wade Waddle, an impacted resident near the project site, spoke to the commission about the lack of communication and awareness surrounding this decision.Waddle said since the project proposal, he has received a one-page flyer about the battery storage facility and two notifications about County Planning and Zoning Commission meetings."Not a single person has checked to see if I'm available or when I'm available as an affected person," Waddle said. "We're catering to a company that has had multiple opportunities and paraded several people in this room to make their case.""Nobody's taking into account anybody's schedule except the applicant at this point, and that's kind of insulting to me."Trish Voth, a representative for Plus Power, also spoke at the podium, encouraging the commission to take their time with the matter and allow the extension so all parties had enough time for consideration.Voth said the record required for the appeal would include 300 pages, and she encouraged the commission to take their time preparing and allow for ample notices for the community.Gary Olson, another Gypsum resident, spoke at the podium next and told the commission his thoughts from the commission and community meetings held about the battery storage facility."Where I started having lots of questions was when we had the discussion one day that this was going to have a $2 million community impact," Olson said. "The next time we talked about it, it was going to be a $1 million impact with them asking Saline County folks for some tax abatements, so I started wondering, 'well, maybe they're going to ask for tax abatements for the whole thing,' and Southeast of Saline won't get anything."Olson continued his concerns, expressing to the commission his beliefs that Plus Power did not have the community's best interest in mind."I think the commission is ready to make their decision, and I think we need to leave the date where it's at," Olson said.Another Gypsum resident, Tammy Waddle, agreed with Olson and expressed that the commission "needs to take care of this."&nbsp;In total, five Gypsum residents, one Assaria resident and one Salina resident spoke in opposition to moving the date, with many citing the need to take off work to appear during the Saline County Commission meetings.<h2>The date stays the same</h2>After hearing the public outcry from Gypsum residents, the Saline County Commission turned to a motion for the action item.&nbsp;Commissioner Weese motioned to approve the extension for Plus Power's appeal, but no other commissioner provided a second on the motion.The commission determined that the date for the appeal would remain the same — Tuesday, Nov. 14.