Cougars feature three veterans
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
OTIS-BISON — After a 6-4 record and a pair of playoff games, Otis-Bison discovered the gap against a state runner-up 6-man football team.
The Cougars downed Marais Des Cygnes 65-33 and lost to state runner-up Cunningham 52-6 and 50-0. Weskan edged Cunningham 49-48 for the 6-man state title. The Cougars play Cunningham, Tescott and Chase in District 2.
Veteran Otis-Bison coach Marc Cowles (110-105) starts his 23rd football season with a trio of reliable starters with assistant coach Anton Foust.
RB/CB Gavin Alloway rushed for 570 yards and eight scores and caught 15 passes for 126 yards and two scores. He accounted for 29 tackles. Center/defensive tackle Kelson Juno is the Cougars most versatile athlete. He caught 19 passes for 413 yards and 10 scores with a rushing scores. Juno contributed 23 tackles and two defensive scores.
RB/LB Aiden Ochs-Lohrey made a dazzling defensive debut with 84 tackles, 54 solo stops, six for loss with two interceptions.
"We have a nice balance of players from each grade that allows us to develop younger guys without having to throw them into the competitive ring," Cowles said. "Our depth should produce quality competition for starting spots. Navigating the schedule successfully is important. We plan to be competitive. It's important to stay healthy for small roster teams."
Maddox Firebaugh will likely see the first shot at quarterback.
"We need to have a young player to get established at quarterback," Cowles said. "I like the development I've seen during team activities. We're excited to embrace the 6-man classification. Our players understand how the 6-man game is played and what it takes to win."
OTIS-BISON COUGARS
SENIORS—7—Gavin Alloway, 5-9, 155, RB/CB; 90—Konner Schenk, 6-1, 250, G/DT; 95—Kelson Juno, 6-3, 255, C/DT
JUNIORS—3—Maddox Firebaugh, 5-5, 130, QB/FS; 25—Travis Ross, 5-11, 170, 11, RB/OLB; 43—Tyler Gradig, 5-10, 230, 11; 45—Ricardo Martinez, 6-2, 345, G/DE
SOPHOMORES—15—Aiden Ochs-Lohrey, 6-0, 175, RB/LB; 55—Marcus Starr, 5-9, 215; 56—Kolton Cory, 6-2, 200
NINTH-GRADERS—2—Brooke Elsen, 5-4, 130; 22—Dylan Richardson, 5-4, 166; 57—Brayden Vanpelt, 5-6, 260
OTIS-BISON (6-4, 2-2)
DISTRICT 2—Cunningham 10-1 (4-0), Tescott 8-3 (3-1), Otis-Bison 6-4 (2-2), Chase 1-9 (1-3), Ashland/Bucklin
9-5—at Western Plains (48-0)
9-12—South Barber (19-37)
9-19—at Pawnee Heights (40-19)
9-27—at Ashland/Bucklin
10-3—*at Cunningham (0-58)
10-10—*Tescott (20-27)
10-18—*Ashlnd/Bucklin
10-24—*Chase (62-6)
Cougar volleyball features experience
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
OTIS-BISON — Veteran Otis-Bison volleyball coach Janelle Maier features five experienced players from a 24-16 Class 1A Division 2 state qualifier.
Emma Bahr (342 assists, 323 serves, 169 digs, 130 serves received), Grace Smith (415 serves received, 218 digs, 200 serves), Lily Schwindt (302 serves, 94 winners, 45 blocks, 38 digs, Allie Smith (101 winners, 42 blocks) and Shalee Richmeier (51 serves received, 10 winners) bolster the Cougars (24-16, 5-4 CPL).
The Cougars defeated Logan-Palco 25-13, 25-12, Minneola 25-8, 25-15 and Bucklin 25-15, 25-20 to qualify for the state tournament. Otis-Bison upset Central Prairie rival Victoria 24-26, 25-12, 25-23 and lost to Lebo 25-11, 25-16 and Ingalls 25-16, 25-16 at the Div. 2 state tournament.
"We're restructuring as we are moving some players around to different positions," Maier said. "Grace Smith is moving from Libero to an outside hitter. Madyson Chapman is working on being an outside hitter as well. Lily Schwindt and Allie Smith are returning as middle hitters. Emma Bahr is our setter. We have lost some experience and are relying on our underclassmen to pick up the pace."
Besides the always competitive Central Prairie League, the Cougars will compete at the high-level Norton Tournament.
"We've built a solid schedule to help develop our skills in being competitive" Maier said. "We're still looking to compete with our league."
COUGAR ROSTER
SENIORS—4—Madyson Chapman, 5-6; 6—Grace Smith, 5-5; 7—Emma Bahr, 5-6; 13—Peyton Reever, 5-5
JUNIORS—3—Lily Schwindt, 6-0
SOPHOMORES—1—Jade Holman, 5-1; 5—Shaelyn Richmeier, 5-4; 8—Brooklyn Roth, 5-0; 11—Allie Smith, 5-7
NINTH-GRADERS—0—Caitlin Ficken; 20—Rowyn Juno
COUGAR SCHEDULE
8-26—Otis Jamboree (Central Plains, Spearville)
8-30—at Norton (Ulysses/Beloit/Colby/Norton/ Ellsworth)
9-2—Stafford/Cunningham
9-4—Macksville/La Crosse
9-13—at Otis-LaCrosse Tournament
9-16—Quinter/Ness City
9-22—at Dighton
9-23—at *LaCrosse/Macksville
9-27—at Hoisington Tournament
9-30—at *Central Plains/*Chase
10-7—at *Kinsley/Ness City/*St. John
10-3—at *Macksville/*Ness City
10-11—Central Prairie at Hoisington
10-12—Central Prairie League at Hoisington
10-14—*Ellinwood/*Victoria
10-21—at 1A regional
10-25—at 1A substate
