Mustang volleyball features veterans
MACKSVILLE — The Macksville Mustangs feature two starters — Libero Kinze Grizzell (476 serves received, 294 digs, 221 serves) and OH/RH Abagael Foster (34 winners), whose season ended prematurely with a fractured ankle.
Sophomores Heidy Ortiz (248 serves, 106 winners, 28 blocks), Daniela Reyes-Holguin (26 winners, 14 blocks) and Anilu Hernandez (209 serves, 167 serves received, 135 digs) were rotation varsity players who gained extensive playing time. All three will be relied on to contribute more.
The Mustangs (17-20) downed Fairfield 25-17, 25-16 and lost to Spearville 25-9, 25-5 and South Gray 25-20, 25-19 in postseason play.
"We're looking to return to sub-state, continue our string of Pawnee Heights Tournament victories and finish in the top half of the Central Prairie League," said Macksville volleyball coach Jennifer Gillespie.
The Mustangs will rely on a strong sophomore class to step up in a rugged Central Prairie League.
"Our success will be determined on our ability to fill the graduation of our 3 year varsity starter and all-league selection at setter, Isabela Ortiz," Gillespie said. "Team leaders Laney Butler and Morgan Sebes also graduated."
MUSTANG VOLLEYBALL
SENIORS—3—Kira Figger, 5-3, OH; 22—Abagael Foster, 5-9,HH/RH
JUNIORS—1—Ashtyn Foster, 5-5, OH; 2—Cecilia Brozek, 5-6, OH; 6—Kinze Grizzell, 5-3, Libero/S
SOPHOMORES—4—Daniella Reyes Holguin, 5-10, MH/RH; 8—Anilu Hernandez, 5-3, OH, 11—Heidy Ortiz, 5-8, OH/RH, 21—Charley Burr, 5-4, DS/S; 33—Tamara Burns, 5-8, OH
NINTH-GRADERS—5—Zoey Russell, 5-5, S/OH; 7—Makayla Trimble, 5-3, OH; 12—Essie Torres, 5-4, OH; 13—Blyss Burdine, 5-4, OH
MUSTANG SCHEDULE
8-28—at Larned Jamboree/Russell/Holcomb
8-29—at Stafford/Ness City
9-2—at Greensburg/Ingalls/Norwich
9-9—*Central Plains/*Ness City
9-11—at Kinsley/Deerfield
9-16—Burrton/Stafford
9-20—at Rozel-Burdett Tournament
9-23—*at La Crosse/*Otis-Bison
9-27—at Greensburg Tournament
9-30—at *St. John/*Kinsley/*Victoria
10-3—Macksville JV Tournament
10-7—*at Chase/*Ellinwood
10-11—Central Prairie League at Hoisington
10-21—at 1A regional
10-25—at 1A substate
Mustangs face rugged District
MACKSVILLE — First-year Macksville football coach Jordan Hackerott faces a tall challenge in a tough 8-Man Division 2 District with Victoria 9-2 (4-0), Hodgeman County 5-4 (3-1), Macksville 3-6 (1-4), Stafford 2-7 (0-4) and St. John 3-6 (1-3).
Macksville graduated offensive talent in QB Morgan Grippin (768 passing, 197 rushing) and RB Orion Guevara (435 rushing).
Two-way standout WR/DB Gavin Rose is the Mustangs' top athlete with 329 yards receiving, 243 yards rushing and 21 yards passing last year. Rose also led the Mustangs with 86 tackles. He'd led the Mustangs as a sophomore in interceptions.
Two-year defensive standout TE/DE Shain Granger had 54 tackles last year and averaged nine tackles as a sophomore.
Macksville must rely on speed and quickness on both sides of the football with zero players weighing more than 175 pounds.
MACKSVILLE ROSTER
SENIORS—24—Shain Granger, 6-3, 151, OL/DE; 81—Gavin Rose, 5-8, 167, WR/DB
JUNIORS—5—Joseph Marquez, 5-9, 138, QB/CB
SOPHOMORES—2—Omar Cardoza, 5-6, 145, QB/RB; 32—Sam Torres, 5-8, 165, WR/DE
OTHERS—7—Darey Holguin, 5-6, 145; 8—Brayden Lund, 5-7, 114; 14—Keaton Burns, 5-10, 147; 15—Kaleb Granger, 6-1, 160; 20—Brayton Ibarra, 5-5, 127; 21—Brandon Franklin, 5-9, 164; 55—Carson Neeland, 5-6, 161; 75—Alvaro Espino, 5-5, 166; 85—Layton Adams, 5-6, 172
MACKSVILLE SCHEDULE
8-MAN 2 DISTRICT 6—Victoria 9-2 (4-0), Hodgeman County 5-4 (3-1), Macksville 3-6 (1-4), Stafford 2-7 (0-4), St. John 3-6 (1-3)
9-5—Central Plains (0-48)
9-12—at Kinsley (20-16)
9-19—Ness City (34-14)
9-26—*Stafford (26-14)
10-3—at Bucklin (6-52)
10-10—*at Hodgeman County (0-46)
10-17—*Victoria (0-58)
10-24—*at St. John (28-30)
JV—9-8—Central Plains; 9-15—at Kinsley; 9-22—Ness City; 9-29—Stafford; 10-13—at St. John; 10-20—Victoria
Mustangs' Butler ready to run
MACKSVILLE — Macksville sophomore Kennedy Butler placed 31st (23:02.78) at the 1A state country meet at Wamego held in muddy conditions. Butler enjoyed superb freshman season with
fourth at the Central Prairie League and 11th at 1A regionals to qualify for state.
Mustang Ashley Barron placed 38th and Alycia Fulls finished 50th at regionals last year.
MUSTANG ROSTER
SENIOR—Alycia Fulls (R 50TH, CPL 17TH)
JUNIOR—Aiden Gandara
SOPHOMORES—Ashley Barron (R 38TH, CPL 14TH), Kennedy Butler (S 31ST, R 11TH, CPL 4TH), Daniele Reyes-Holguin, Khloe Ponce
MACKSVILLE SCHEDULE
9-5—at Pretty Prairie
9-14—at Pratt
9-19—at Stafford CC
9-26—at Larned
10-3—at Pratt
10-10—at Sterling
10-17—CPL at Ness City
10-26—at 1A regional
11-2—1A state, Wamego
