Sixty-five athletes practicing for openers next week

The school gymnasiums are full of activity as the winter sports seasons are underway. Sixty-five high school athletes at Chase County Schools are competing for spots on the basketball and wrestling teams, which open their seasons next Thursday, Nov. 30. Above, Asst. Coach Jeff Rusher shows Kenyan Biesecker, foreground, and Mikael Kuhlmann how to best maneuver a wrestling move at practice Monday. There are 15 wrestlers on the roster this season. Middle, Chris Bartels, a first-year head coach for the boys’ basketball team, which has a roster of 26 this year, keeps an eye on Scott Wheeler and Braden Space during Monday drills. The girls’ basketball team, carrying a roster of 24, was working on passing and defense Monday afternoon, as Kora Weiss tries to move the ball past Allison Owings, while volunteer coach Ashley Boman observes, pictured below. (Johnson Publications photos)