By NICHOLAS KIMBALL

Staff writer

Football

Looking for a bounce-back season, Coach Demetrius Cox has been diligently preparing his team, both physically and mentally, for the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead.

“The sweat, the drills, and the late-night practices have all been building up to this moment – a chance to showcase the results of our hard work and dedication,” Cox said.

“We are looking forward to being more than just players on a field; we are developing a family bond by a shared goal: which is to leave it all on the turf and rise to the occasion with resilience and grace.”

The Trojans opened up the season with a 40-38 victory at home over Haven.

Hillsboro will be on the road Friday at Hesston for its second game of the season.

Volleyball

The Lady Trojans have reached the state tournament the past three years, finishing second in 2021 and winning Class 2A in 2022 – their first state title since 2013. Hillsboro has a strong volleyball tradition, winning five state championships since its first title back in 1987.

Can they do it again this season?

“We lost some key players from our 2022 team,” coach Sandy Arnold said.

Arnold will be entering her 20th year coaching at Hillsboro.

“We graduated our setter and our libero. They were responsible for the pass-set combination that allowed our hitters to be successful,” Arnold said. “So our first job is to look at filling these positions.”

Returning letter-winners and starters are Zaylee Werth, Savannah Shahan, Anslee Brewer, and Kingzley Ratzlaff.

The Trojans have two sophomores, Lauryn Vogt and Talia Jost, who saw some time on the varsity floor and practiced with the team every day, as well as traveled with the team to the state tournament in Dodge City.

“Ultimately we would hope to be a strong, cohesive and competitive unit by the time postseason rolls around,” Arnold said.

The Trojans will be traveling to Saline this Saturday for a Southeast of Saline Tournament.

Cross County

After the Trojan girls team made it to the state meet last season placing eighth overall, Coach Brielle Loewen is hoping to make it back as a team with the seven varsity girls on the squad.

Quinlyn Funk, who finished ninth at state with a time of 21:08:46, leads four state returners, including

Trudy Hein, Grace Hein, and Nora Hein.

Casen Steinert will be the lone returner for the boys this year.

The Trojans have already competed in their first event this season. They were in Clearwater last Thursday.

“It was a good start to the season to see where we are at and where to go from here,” Loewen said.

Steinert led the boys side with a 25:36:69 finish and Funk led the girls side with a 23:26:00 finish.

Cross country will be traveling to Wamego this Saturday for a 9a.m. start time.

Girls Tennis

Coach John Ruder will be coaching his fourth year in girls tennis, 40th year overall coaching, and all five of his players this year are returning from last year.

Veterans Annalise Jorgenson (in her thirdseason), Violet Klein (fourth), Cassidy Bernhardt (third), lead the way, with Clair Morey and MayleeHardeyeach playing their second season.Jorgenson will play singles this year and has been working hard and showing great improvement.

Klein and Bernhardt will play doubles as they are working well together.

Morey and Hardey will play doubles for a second year as a team.Hillsboro hosted an invitational on Thursday, finishing fifth.

“It was our home tournament and rather than stacking it so that our team faced the weaker teams, I placed us against what I considered to be the second and third best teams in the tourney,” Ruder said.

Trojan tennis will be playing again Thursday atLindsborg against Smoky Valley. They will be at the the Hesston Invitational, beginning at 9 a.m.