BY JIM MISUNAS
OTIS – Two-time state qualifiers Jayce Kohls, Cristen Trapp and Maddie Wiltse headlined the 2020 Otis-Bison track team. The Cougars did not compete in the spring when the Kansas State High School Activities Association canceled the season due to fear about the coronavirus.
The Otis-Bison girls had not started track practice because of a 1A state basketball appearance at Dodge City.
“Some of the athletes took it harder than others,” said Otis-Bison coach Travis Starr. “They miss the competition aspect and the social aspect of being with friends. The boys had been practicing really well. We looked forward to watching them compete and develop. We went on spring break following the state basketball tournament, so I didn’t have the chance to talk to many of the students other than through our online learning program.”
Kohls placed 10th in the 1A state long jump (19-91/2) after a first-place in the Central Prairie League (19-5) and a third-place regional finish (20-91/2). Kohls competed with state 400-meter and 1,600-meter relays with 1,600-relay qualifier Kaden Foust. Kohls and Martin Lopez competed for the fifth-place CPL 400 relay. Kohls and Kaden Foust ran on the sixth-place CPL 1,600-relay.
“Jayce Kohls was definitely ready to get back to state and compete in the long jump,” Starr said. “He is a great competitor. He gets the chance to compete one more year. We’re excited about his potential.”
Trapp was a CPL triple jump runner-up (32-11/2) and a fourth-place CPL long jump placer (14-0). Zoe Gilpin was a CPL high jump runner-up (4-6). Cora Anderson placed fourth in the CPL shot put (32-31/4).
“Cristen Trapp was looking to qualify for state in her last year in triple jump,” Starr said. “She had a great career at Otis-Bison as a three-sport athlete, excelling in volleyball, basketball, and track. Cristen will succeed after high school with her strong work ethic.”
Anderson will continue her athletic career as a basketball player at Barton Community County.
“Cora Anderson had a great career at Otis-Bison,” Starr said. “She was a three-sport athlete, We look forward to watching her compete locally the next couple years.”
Hoopingarner was expected to be a league and regional javelin contender.
“We were excited to see what Seth Hoopingarner could’ve thrown in the javelin,” Starr said. “He battled shoulder issues that hampered him late his junior year after having some great throws early on. We wish Seth well with his future endeavors in college.”
Starr said the athletes who return next year will more determined after missing the track season.
“It’ll make the kids compete harder after seeing what it was like to be without sports,” Starr said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to get back to working out soon and start to gear up for the upcoming seasons. They will have time to get back in shape after missing out on conditioning for a couple of months.”
2020 OTIS-BISON ROSTER
SENIORS—Cora Anderson (shot, discus), Ike Bahr, Bevan Gradig (shot, discus), Seth Hoopingarner (javelin), Martin Lopez (relays), Cristen Trapp (long jump, triple jump, 800, relays), Maddie Wiltse (relays)
JUNIORS—Trenton Hasenfratz, Jayce Kohls (long jump, relays)
SOPHOMORES—Tom Bahr, Kaden Foust (relays), Dalton Regan, Christian Roth, Sedonah Schad, Logan Thille
NINTH GRADE—Kyra Ball, Derrick Bishop, Ethan Graff, Halee Morrison, Alex Jones, Juan Lopez, Chloe Schenck, Ky Schwartz, Macie Wiltse
