Spring Roundup

Golf

The Lancer golf team began their season without senior varsity players Lucas Jones and Max Danner due to season-ending injuries. The two boys played an important role in the team winning State last year. The team relied on underclassmen to step up their performance. They did their job: the boys have a 15-shot lead going into the Sunflower League tournament on May 13. The team took second place in a majority of their tournaments this season. According to junior player Andy Spencer, the team had a solid year and is pleased by the turnout of the season.

“We should be able to compete for the State title, but Washburn Rural is most likely the favorite,” Spencer said.

Baseball

The Lancer boys baseball team is 13-3 and are on a 10-game winning streak as of May 11. The winning streak contributed to the team winning the Sunflower league title for the first time since 1986.

The team recently lost junior Joey Wentz due to an arm injury projected to put him out of sports for six weeks. Sophomore varsity player Luke Anderson said that their season is going in the right direction; winning the league title and on a winning streak. If the boys keep up their current performance, it will leave them as a top contender for the Kansas State baseball Title this year.

“We have a really special group of guys this year, and I think we have a great shot at state,” Anderson said.

Softball

The Lancer girls softball team knew that it would be a difficult season without their main pitcher, Shelby Harvey, who suffered an ACL tear last summer. Senior Hannah Nick explained that the team chemistry softball had this year made a tough season bearable, because even after a tough loss she had a full team of friends to lean on.

“This season has been different since we have a new coach, Chip Ufford,” Nick said. “He has been great this season and I think he is going to do really great things for this program.”

According to Nick, the games have been close between East and other Shawnee Mission schools, but Olathe schools are always tougher. Post season Ufford has gathered girls for a summer team who are interested in learning and practicing–preparing for next year.

Soccer

The Lady Lancers soccer team is currently 9-5-0 for their spring soccer season, although only two of the five losses have been in League. The team had a tough weekend early in the season on their annual St. Louis trip, where they lost to top schools in Missouri but gained experience and skill. From sophomore Tyler Lockton’s point of view, the season has been productive and rewarding so far.

“I think postseason could go very well,” Lockton said. “We are working hard and we want it.”

The Lancers are no longer contending for the League title, but are striving to earn a third seed in Regionals. The girls begin their playoff games on May 19.

Track

Track is an individual sport, but each individual performance counts towards the team score. All of the many components of the track and field team work hard and continue to put East as a top scoring school. Sophomore John Arnspiger believes that everyone is doing their part and working hard–their top athletes continue to succeed and the rest of the team as a whole continues to improve.

Arnspiger also recommends keeping an eye out for senior Will Moore. Moore has the fastest time for all three events. He adds girls to keep tabs on: Kaycee Mayfield, Hope Dunn and Phoebe Aguiar in their events. He says that the girl’s 1600 and 3200 is impressive this year as well. Arnspiger runs the two mile and the 4×800, with a time right behind Will Moore.

Lacrosse

In the league, the Lancer boys lacrosse team has had a season of big wins and close, hard fought games. The boys were undefeated in league until they recently lost to Olathe East. They had two out-of-town tournaments in Memphis and St. Louis, where they lost a total of four games to good competition. Junior lacrosse varsity player Tom Peters explains that if the team plays as they are expected to play, and are capable of playing, they will be able to win the LAKC (Lacrosse Association Kansas City) Title. With a win this season, it would make it the fourth consecutive year that the Lancer’s have brought home the title.

“We’ve played a few out of town games and performed well against good competition,” Peters said.

tennis

According to freshman varsity tennis player Billy Louiselle, the team has lost to teams they have been known to beat in previous years.

“We did well in the Plaza Invitational Tournament, but had a disappointing second place finish at the Sunflower League tournament,” Louiselle said.

On May 11, the Lancers went to Regionals and took home first place. Alongside a the team performance, all of the varsity tennis players individually qualified for state. The boys’ team has won the State title for the past three years.

“We have some tough competition, but we all compete our hardest,” Louiselle said.  “We are expected to win.”

swim

The swim team started the season out with practice every day after school, as well as three morning practices a week: two of which were weights and one swim. Freshman Emma Linscott knew that the team had to work hard as a whole to beat their biggest rivals and competitor, Lawrence Free State. The girls are all striving to get their state times; some getting theirs at the Olathe Invitational and others at league. Last chance for state cuts for the girls starts the week of May 12, with State following the week after.
“We are going [into State] as underdogs and it all comes down to beating the Free State girl next to us,” Linscott said.