Embracing, senior Peyton Fowler and junior Annie Shew share a moment on the mat at the first home meet in three years on Sept. 24, 2022.
Photo by Maison Flory
Gymnastics team rallies after potential program loss
When I got my first-ever assignment, I was intimidated by the fact that it was a sports story.​
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However, I quickly found out this story was about so much more than the start of the gymnastics season. It was about athletes rallying for the first time since the district threatened to end their program.
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While I interviewed students about being excited to return to their sport, I also interviewed the coach, who shared an in-depth account of fighting to keep their program alive.​​
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First Place KSPA news writing, August/September 2022
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Girls wrestling team makes their mark on the mat
After years of wrestling being an exclusively male program, coaches and students from both Lawrence high schools came together to change that.
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Female wrestlers from the city's two high schools united in the arena to push themselves and participate in the first girls wrestling team.
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With a hand on her opponent's neck, junior Zuzia Gratkowska attempts to push her opponent down. “I won, which I am super proud of,” Gratkowska said.
Photo by Maison Flory
Girls basketball success takes them to state tourney
This story was needed at the last minute during spring break to help finalize the yearbook.
As girls’ basketball players wrapped up one of their most successful seasons in years, I followed their journey during state tournament to document their success.
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Sophomore Brynnae Johnson guards in the game against Spring Hill. The Lions won, 63-46. "Last year, I felt a lot more pressure coming in as starting point guard,” Johnson said. “I’ve kind of gotten used to the pressure.” Photo by Maison Flory
Celebrating a win, Susie Micka and Unified Sports participants gather at Pack the House in 2023. They celebrated their National Unified Champion School for the years 2022-2026.
Photo by Maison Flory
Lawrence High athletics become more unified than ever
After gaining national recognition, the Unified Sports teams of bowling and basketball started their seasons with rising enrollment.
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Unified Sports is important for so many reasons but especially for the inclusion of people of all abilities.
After our school was nationally recognized, I thought it was important to celebrate having such a successful and unique program.
Girls tennis finds strength in numbers
After I got a taste for sports writing, I began to write yearbook sports stories.
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During the fall of 2022, the tennis team saw record numbers of participation on their roster.​
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The team united to have a successful season driven by teamwork and collaboration.
Mid game, sophomore Channing Saint Onge rallies. Saint Onge described her favorite part of playing as “the team and the environment.” Photo by Maison Flory