2004 in review: A year for all seasons years ago
10 Anything but soft
Despite not having one of its most successful seasons, the 2004 Marion High School Warriors softball team placed six of its 10 members on all-league squads. In the last year of the Cottonwood Valley League three Warriors earned first team honors: senior Caitlin O'Dell and juniors Leann Thomas and Sarah Williams. Sophomore Kara Holt and senior Emmy Bowers were named to the all-CVL second team, and junior Whitney Wear earned honorable mention honors.
9 Flyin' high in Coffeyville
2004 MHS graduate Steven Boone rushed for 1,545 yards and 19 touchdowns to lead the Warrior football team to the second round of the state playoffs. Boone, also an all-state wrestler at MHS, signed with junior college powerhouse Coffeyville last spring. An injury and a good sophomore class limited his playing time, but he rushed for 41 yards in eight carries and played on the special teams unit in 10 of the Ravens' 12 games. The Red Ravens finished 10-2, with both losses coming at the hands of national runner-up Butler County. Coffeyville did however defeat Scottsdale Community College, 33-14, Dec. 4 in the Valley of the Sun Bowl.
8 Family affair
MHS's 2004 golf team relied heavily on the shoulders of two brothers, Nickolas and Travis Hett. Nickolas, a senior, and Travis, a freshman, teamed up to win the CVL two-man team championship. The duo shot a 156, with Nickolas finishing second individually and Travis fifth. While Travis missed qualifying for individual state competition by one stroke, he still received a medal for finishing eighth. Nickolas finished fifth at regionals to qualify for the state tournament, where he shot an 83 and capped his career with a 17th-place finish.
7 Iron-Warrior
Marion Warrior football player Dale Vogel racked in award after award for his performance on both sides of the ball in 2004. Vogel, who played both offensive and defensive line, was named to the Wichita Eagle's 3A all-class offensive first team. The Eagle also named him to the honorable mention defensive team. The senior recorded 56 tackles, three sacks, and an interception all while anchoring one of the best offensive lines in the Mid-Central Activities Association league. He also was named to the league's offensive and defensive first teams.
6 Combining Warriors
Marion USD 408 decided last spring in order for MHS baseball and softball programs to survive, they must combine with students from Peabody-Burns High School to form one team. People around town were upset when talk of MHS losing its programs due to lack of numbers began to surface. The situation cooled when the announcement of the merger was made.
The 2005 season should be off without a hitch. That is, until the team begins regional play as a 4A school instead of its usual 3A status once enrollment numbers are combined. However, both activities director Tod Gordon and coach Sean Spoonts don't see that being a problem since almost half of the MCAA is compiled of 4A schools. The Warriors name was easy to agree on, considering the two school share the same mascot. In the end, the team will be officially named Marion Peabody-Burns Warriors.
5 Marion 19, Hillsboro 0
It was a cold and windy night Oct. 22 when the Marion Warriors took on their cross-county rival Hillsboro Trojans. It didn't seem to bother Marion. The Warriors stuffed the Trojans on their opening drive. Junior quarterback Josh Kelsey scored from two yards out on Marion's first possession, and the rout was on. Kelsey would throw a touchdown pass, and junior Casey Nelson scored another to seal the shutout victory on the Trojans' home field. It was the first victory for Marion against Hillsboro since 1997, although the two teams don't play every year. Now that they are in the same league, the rivalry should grow stronger, and Marion can always say it defeated Hillsboro in their first MCAA clash.
4 First and last
Finishing tied for first in the CVL for the MHS boys' basketball team also meant they were last — the last ever champions of the now defunct league. The Warriors tied Wichita Independent with a 10-2 league record. They handed Independent its only two losses, but league rules state the teams were co-champs. Nevertheless, Marion can call themselves the final champions of the CVL.
3 New kids on the block
While the MHS boys' basketball team ended the CVL with a co-championship, the football team began MCAA play with a co-championship. Marion and Hoisington joined 10 other teams to form the two-division league. The Warriors finished 4-1 in the mid-division with their only loss an early season trip-up at home against Halstead. Similar to basketball, Marion finished tied for first. This time with the Ellinwood Eagles, but they too handed their co-champs their only loss. While the league recognized it a tie, the Warriors knew who the better team was after they spanked the Eagles 32-14 in early October.
2 Just one of the guys
MHS senior Chelsea Arnhold used to turn heads at wrestling meets. Not anymore. Now, everyone knows who she is. That's because she became the first girl in the state of Kansas to advance to the state wrestling tournament three times. During her freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons Arnhold won more than 70 matches, all but one against guys. Although she has never won a match at state, she has already proven the doubters wrong. She started this season with a bang by claiming the silver medal in her weight class at the Hesston Invitational. If she can advance to state this season she will extend her record, and will have competed in state competition every year of her high school career.
1 End of an era
After 75 years of CVL competition, MHS sports teams joined the Mid-Central Activities Association. The 12-team league (Hoisington joined in 2004 along with Marion) features four 4A schools, and competition above that of the CVL.
The move was effective for all sports at the high school. Not only did the competition change, so did the driving distance to each school.
Farther travel caused the school district to start the "spirit bus" again which is a free ride to away games for fans.
When the football season began, no one knew what to expect. The Warriors lost just one league game to claim a co-championship.
Basketball is finding out how tough the league is early on, and the wrestling team has split its four matches in the new league.
Everyone from players to athletic directors to parents have been affected by the switch.
In the end it should prove to be a good move for MHS. The better competition will heighten intensity during games, and should make for better overall play.
— Mike Norris
Sports reporter
