Sports 360

Photo by Audrey Kesler

3 Key Players

Cross Country

Sophomore Griffin Keeter, varsity cross country runner, started his high school career promisingly. He finished in the top 50 in the state his freshman year, according to Kansas State High School Activities Association, or KSHAA results, with a time of 17:23.60, setting a personal best time. Keeter demolished his record by setting a new personal best of 16:40.69 on Sept. 10 at the Joe Schrag Invitational in Topeka.

Girls Golf

Senior and varsity golfer, Jessica Parker placed fourth at the state tournament last season. This season Parker has shot an 86 at the Shawnee Mission East invitational, placing ninth out of 61 golfers at Indian Hills Country Club on Sep. 12. She shot an 87 at the Shawnee Mission Northwest Invitational at Lake Quivira Country Club on Aug. 29, placing sixth out of 54.

“[Parker] pulls the team up when we’re not playing well and always picks up the team score,” Junior Marti Fromm said.

Soccer

Senior varsity soccer player, Oliver Bihuniak returned to Kansas City from Spain, where he had been playing for 16 months, and has been excelling in columbia blue. Bihuniak has already surpassed his goal total of two from last year with three goals and two assists this year in three games.

“He does a really good job of recognizing space and when and where to distribute the ball,” Coach Jamie Kelly said. “He is a fantastic passer and his composure on the ball is second to none.”

2 Rivalries

Football

This season East football will be challenged by rivals like Olathe North. In 2014, East defeated Olathe North on a two point conversion that sent East to the state championship game for the first time in school history. Olathe North is 1-1 this season while East is 2-0. The two schools will play on Sept. 23.

“They have top level athletes and have a great coaching staff which will make them tough to beat,” junior Milton Braasch said.

Volleyball

The volleyball team hopes to defeat Olathe Northwest. East is ranked in the top three with a record of 9-2, while Olathe Northwest is ranked just outside the top five, maintaining a record of 8-1. East will play against Olathe Northwest on Sept. 27 at Olathe Northwest High School. 

1 Moment

Senior Nigil Houston has rushed for two touchdowns in each of his first two games this season. He played alongside many of his current teammates in elementary school up to eighth grade but was forced to change schools and go to Shawnee Mission West when his mother decided to move.

“I’ve grown up with and known most of my teammates since elementary school; when we step on the field it will feel like old times again,” Houston said.