Bulldog Sports Recap

Fall sports are winding down, here’s how your Kearney Bulldogs have been doing this week.

Boys Soccer

The Bulldog boys soccer team defeated Raytown South on Monday, October 9, with a final score of 8-0. Tucker Jones finished the game with 5 assists. On Wednesday, the bulldogs won 6-0 against Oak Park. Liam Ridle had a goal and 2 assists. This brings the team's record to 9-6.

Boys Swimming

On Tuesday, October 10, the boys swim team traveled to Park Hill to take on Summit Christian and Park Hill South. The boys finished in second place. Here are the highlights:

Whitaker Steward, Bennett Freeman, Parker Bartlett, and Reid Salmonson swam fast enough for a 3rd place finish in the 200 Medley Relay.

Parker Bartlett swam a lifetime best of 1:59.14 in the 200 Freestyle to earn a state consideration time and a 2nd place finish. Parker Mendel finished in 3rd place.

Whitaker Steward swam a season best of 23.07 in the 50 Freestyle to finish in 3rd place.

Parker Bartlett swam a lifetime best of 1:00.53 in the 100 Butterfly to earn a state consideration time and a 3rd place finish. Zach Bergerhofer swam a lifetime best of 1:17.75 and finished in 5th place.

Reid Salmonson finished just shy of his lifetime best to earn a 2nd place finish in the 100 Freestyle.

Reid Salmonson, Parker Bartlett, Parker Mendel, and Whitaker Steward swam a season best of 1:39.14 to earn a 3rd place finish in the 200 Freestyle Relay.

Parker Mendel swam a season best of 1:10.53 in the 100 Backstroke to earn a 5th place finish.

Whitaker Steward swam a lightning-fast time of 1:06.45 in the 100 Breaststroke to earn a 2nd place finish. Landon Morrill dropped 7 seconds for a lifetime best and a 7th place finish.

The boys travel to Gladstone next Wednesday for senior night where they will celebrate Kearney’s lone senior, Finn Simmons.

Volleyball

On Monday, October 9, the volleyball team hosted a conference match against Raytown South. All teams won: C Team 25-7 and 25-10, JV Team 25-6 and 25-4, and Varsity 25-8, 25-9 and 25-12. 

Kate Martens had 20 assists and 5 ace serves. Mallory Jury had 5 ace serves. Addie Andrew had 8 kills and hit .538. Madison Browning had 12 kills, hit .474 and added 6 ace serves. Brook Llewellyn had 8 kills and hit .538.

Softball

On Monday, October 9, the varsity softball team travelled to Fort Osage to take on the Indians. The Bulldogs were down early in the game, but battled back and won the game 8-4.

Macy Morrow went 2-4

Ryleigh Van Emmerik went 1-3 with 1 RBI

Brooke Paalhar went 1-4 with 2 RBIs

Morgan Pennington went 1-4 with 1 RBI

Alyssa Quick went 2-4 with 1 RBI and a home run!

Ella Herndon went 2-4

Savannah McDowell went 1-4

Bri Reynolds went 1-4 with 1 RBI

Alyssa Quick started on the mound. She went 4 innings, allowed 2 hits, and struck out 2. Kate Landewee pitched for 2 innings, allowed 3 hits, and struck out 4. Sela Lowrance closed out the game, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1. This brings Varsity's record to 22-5. 

Girls Golf

The Varsity Girls Golf Team competed in the Class 3 District 4 Tournament at Jefferson City Country Club. Two Bulldogs punched their ticket to the State Tournament. Freshman Jessi Kutch shot a 98 and Senior JoJo Kutch finished her round with a 99. Both scores were in the top 10 earning Jessi and JoJo All-District honors.

This was a very difficult course and the conditions changed as the weather became cold and windy. The cut line ended up being 106. 

Scores:

Jessi Kutch 98

JoJo Kutch 99

Kayla Resler 112

Emily Stauffer 123

Malia Fairchild 127

Jessi and JoJo will compete in the Class 3 State Tournament at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington on Monday and Tuesday, October 16th and 17th.

Cross Country

Forty schools and almost 1,000 athletes competed in the Kearney Cross Country Invitational this past weekend. The Kearney girls team finished 4th and the boys finished 12th in the team standings.

Varsity girls results:

Olivia Brock 15th in 21:17, Daisy Burnam 24th in 21:48, Liela Murphy 28th in 22:00, Delaney Thurston 42nd in 22:56, Gracie Bomar 48th in 23:10, Avery Morgan 53rd in 23:24, Josie Masters 65th in 24:00.

Varsity boys results:

Isaac Smith 39th in 18:00, Max Morehouse 56th in 18:27, Rylee Johnson 60th in 18:35, Carter Smith 73rd in 19:03, Alex Gustafson 81st in 19:24, Cameron Daniel 82nd in 19:25.

Temporary Increase Extended for WIC Participants

Missouri WIC announces the extension of the temporary increase of the Cash Value Benefit for Fruit and Vegetable Purchases (CVB) starting October 2023 and lasting through September of next year. The new monthly amounts will be $26 for child participants, $47 for pregnant and postpartum participants, $52 for breastfeeding participants, and $78 for women exclusively breastfeeding multiples. Previous CVB values range from $9-11. WIC is the Department of Health and Senior Services Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

Eligible participants must contact their WIC local agency immediately to schedule an appointment to load the additional benefits on their eWIC card before redeeming any October benefits. Participants who redeem any October benefits before receiving the increase will not receive the increase until November and must return to the local agency prior to November to update their eWIC card.

Missouri WIC provides additional healthy fruits and vegetables for up to 60,000 women and children per month. WIC families have the opportunity to shop for nutritious foods at approximately 600 authorized WIC retailers throughout Missouri and can receive services at any of the 115 local agencies. WIC serves financially eligible women, infants and children under the age of five. Fathers, stepparents, foster parents, grandparents and guardians are also encouraged to apply for WIC benefits for any children in the household under the age of five.

Missouri WIC provides quality nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, nutritious foods and referrals to health services. It is also one of the most successful, cost-effective and important nutrition intervention programs in the country.

Missourians interested in learning about the benefits of WIC may visit wic.mo.gov or call TEL-LINK at 1-800-835-5465 to find the WIC local agency closest to them.

Kearney K-9 Unit Hosts Pickleball Fundraiser

The Kearney Police Department K-9 Unit will be hosting its first pickleball tournament and family fun day this month. The K-9 Unit is primarily supported through grants, fundraisers and generous donations by businesses and individuals in the community.

The K-9 Unit is primarily supported through grants, fundraisers and generous donations by businesses and individuals in the community.

The pickleball tournament will take place Saturday, October 21, and begins at 8 am, at the new Kearney pickleball and skate park complex, 619 E. 19th Street. The entry fee for the tournament is $50 per team and all proceeds will go towards the police department’s K-9 Unit.

The family fun day will also take place on Saturday, October 21, from 11 am – 2 pm at the Kearney High School at 715 E. 19th Street.

The K-9 Unit’s family fun day will have emergency vehicles on display, free kids’ games, bounce houses, BBQ, event t-shirts, Life Flight Eagle, K-9 demonstrations, and a meet and greet with K-9 Joran.

Business sponsorships are still available for this event. Gold level sponsorship is $500, silver level is $250 and bronze level is $100. For more information email jgarton@kearneymo.us or jparton@kearneymo.us.

Kearney Rotary Hosts Bowling Fundraiser

The Rotary Club of Kearney is hosting its annual bowling fundraiser Friday, November 3, from 7 – 10 pm, at Tiger Bowl, 1729 W. Jesse James Road in Excelsior Springs.

The Rotary Club of Kearney is hosting its annual bowling fundraiser Friday, November 3

The event also includes a 50/50 cash raffle. All funds raised go to send students to Rotary Youth Leadership Academy and for their high school scholarship awards.

Entry fee is $125 per team of five and the cost includes shoe rental. Lane sponsorships for businesses are also available for $50 each.

Prizes will be awarded for the highest team score, highest individual score and lowest team score. There will also be a 50/50 raffle.

To learn more or to sign up, call Debbie Holt or Terri Wright. Debbie can be reached at 816-694-1426 or email her at dholt@remax.net. Terri can be reached at 704-617-1978.

Zaborac Retires from County Health Department

After a 38-year career in public health, including 20 years of service to Clay County Public Health Center, Director of Public Health Gary E. Zaborac has announced his retirement at the end of 2023. Zaborac’s twenty years of service as health director mark the longest term of service by any health director in CCPHC’s 70-year history.

Clay County Public Health Center, Director of Public Health Gary E. Zaborac

When Zaborac was appointed director by the Board of Trustees in 2004, he was immediately tasked with moving the department into an updated and more efficient building. The new, and current, building at 800 Haines Drive in Liberty opened in 2007. Other milestones for CCPHC during Zaborac’s tenure include becoming one of the first 100 accredited health departments in the nation in 2015, being a key part of the founding of the Northland Health Alliance, and most recently, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine administration.

“Gary is an influential and collaborative leader who has made numerous contributions to public health during his expansive career. He has led with grace through numerous challenges,” said Kathy Ellermeier, chairperson of the CCPHC Board of Trustees. “Gary is leaving lasting and indelible fingerprints on the public health system and he will be greatly missed.”

Zaborac graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in microbiology, but as his career pivoted into public health, he also earned his master’s in health services administration from the University of St. Francis. His first role in public health was as an environmental health sanitarian at Peoria City/County Health Department doing restaurant inspections, private sewage disposal systems, private water wells, lead abatement program, and rodent control. However, his desire to make an impact on a larger policy and systems level led Zaborac to later become health director at two local public health departments in Illinois before eventually landing in Clay County, Missouri.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve the people of Clay County as the Director of Public Health at Clay County Public Health Center for the last 20 years,” said Zaborac. “My family and I remain extremely grateful for the opportunity.”

 Zaborac will continue serving in his role through December 31, 2023. A celebration of Director Zaborac’s career will take place at Clay County Public Health Center on Thursday, Dec. 14 from 4-5:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.