Senior profiles
toni gordon
Toni has been a member of the Marion High School basketball and volleyball teams since her freshman year. After not participating in track and field her freshman season, she picked up the sport the next year and has been an integral part of the team ever since.
Toni experienced success at each sport being named to all-league teams in both volleyball and basketball, and qualifying for the state track meet in the discus this past year.
Although she could have a bright future in any of the three sports, Toni has decided to play basketball at Hutchinson Community College this fall.
Her future plans also include becoming a PE teacher and basketball coach.
gavin moore
Gavin has been a part of three sports teams at MHS, although not always in succession.
He played football his sophomore year, cross country senior year, and competed in track and field and wrestling his freshman, sophomore, and senior years.
While all sports require hard work and dedication, Gavin played sports that required commitment.
His hard work paid off with a trip the state wrestling tournament this past winter, and a few first-place finishes In the 3200-meter run this track season.
One time his mind did slip however at a track meet when he ran over the starting line with the 1A and 2A schools who ran a separate race than the 3A and 4A schools.
Right now he is undecided what to do for college, but once regional and state track ends, he his hoping to be signed by a school to run track or cross country.
Emalee Versch
Emalee has been a three-sport athlete almost her entire career at MHS participating in track and volleyball all four years, and basketball three years.
As a junior Emalee was named MVP of a junior varsity volleyball tournament at Marion. She will always remember that tournament for her individual achievement, and the fact she helped her team to a second-place finish.
Volleyball always has been her favorite sport whether it's playing or watching her dad Jim, who won a 2A state title at MHS in the '90s, coach. She would enjoy coaching volleyball in the future, and surely will always keep in the back of her mind her most embarrassing sport moment.
During her sophomore year Emalee said she "got too excited" during a hitting drill while she was close to the net and close-lined herself into the net, falling hard to the floor.
She will have all her memories, good and bad, as she leaves MHS and heads to Hutchinson Community College this fall. She will study pre-dental hygiene and is planning to be a manager on the Dragons volleyball team.
Russell Ploutz
Russell has competed in a sport every semester of his MHS career. He began every year on the football team as a wide receiver and defensive back, switched gears to play forward for the basketball team, and in the spring was a jumper on the track team.
His best sports memory actually takes place during two seasons. After moving to Marion from Ellinwood during elementary school, Russell wanted to beat his old team. After moving to the same league as Ellinwood his junior year, he got his wish by defeating the Eagles twice in each sport.
Russell has been an integral part of the MHS track team as one of the leading triple and long jumpers on team. But for one embarrassing long jump he remembers wiping out and falling into the sand.
The soon-to-be graduate will attend Kansas State University in the fall to major in architecture and will remain active in sports by playing intramurals.
