Wichita, United States (Local)
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Mike Courson's local focus on high school sports in Kansas, particularly basketball, football, wrestling, and cross country makes him a prime target for coaches, players or administrators involved in these events. Given the emphasis on event coverage and announcements related to regional titles and unbeaten teams, those with insights into upcoming games or noteworthy achievements should reach out.
As Mike regularly covers season previews and game recaps within specific regions of Kansas such as Wichita and Topeka areas among others; anyone associated with local teams from these regions would likely find their pitches well-received by this journalist.
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By: Mike Courson
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Everything played out as predicted last fall. Almost. In the west, Victoria handled Hodgeman County to advance to the 8-Man, Div. II title game. In the east, Hanover and Axtell met in the state semifinals, but it was Hanover ending Axtell’s bid for a fifth-straight title. Hanover outlasted Victoria 28-20 for the championship.
By: Mike Courson
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - With eight different champions over the last eight seasons, 8-man, Div. I has been one of the least predictable football classifications in Kansas. Some key losses to reigning champion South Central and some classification moves will once again make the division wide open for the 2026 season.
By: Mike Courson
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The state’s smallest classifications saw a number of changes from last year. Class 1A is right in the heart of those changes with five schools moving up to Class 2A, six schools moving into Class 1A from Class 2A, and nine 1A schools moving into the 8-man ranks for the 2026 season.
By: Mike Courson
Nemaha Central tops Southeast of Saline in 2A State Championship
By: Mike Courson
WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - Cunningham, for once, will not play for a 6-man state title in 2026. The Wildcats advanced to four consecutive state championship games, winning in 2022 and 2025, but they will play up a classification in the 8-man ranks this fall.
By: Hoisington Edge, Mike Courson
WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - Andale, Hayden, Cheney, Pratt, Hesston, Holcomb, Collegiate and Scott City. And now, Hoisington and Nemaha Central. For the past several years, those teams have turned out successful runs in their respective classifications. For the 2026-27 seasons, all will play under the Class 3A banner.
By: Mike Courson
WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - Class 4A has been a tough one for the public schools. Andover Central, to much fanfare, won the class in 2024. Beyond that, three private schools move in and out of the class. Kapaun Mt. Carmel won last year, St. Thomas Aquinas won in 2023, and St. James Academy won in 2020 and 2021. Class 4A mainstay Bishop Miege has won three more titles since 2018, making private schools winners of seven of the last eight 4A titles. Miege also won four straight titles when 4A was split into two divisions between 2014 and 2017.
Things were different Friday night in Great Bend. After being one of the dominant Class 5A programs in recent years, the Panthers dropped back down to Class 4A for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Great Bend opened the season with a largely new roster and even a different kickoff time as Friday’s game was moved back 30 minutes due to heat. None of it mattered. The Panthers scored just three minutes into the season and never faltered in a 47-28 win against Scott City.
By: Mike Courson
WICHITA, Kan. (Catch It Kansas) - Between Mill Valley and St. Thomas Aquinas, the East dominated Class 5A for seven seasons. The tide turned last year with the likes of Great Bend, Hays, and eventual state champion Salina Central rising back to the top. Mill Valley moves back to Class 6A, Great Bend and Aquinas drop to 4A, and the last two 4A champions in Andover Central and Kapaun Mt. Carmel complete the shake-up with a move to 5A.
GREAT BEND, Kan. - Great Bend and McPherson have met in the last three season openers on the gridiron. Friday night, the schools met in week two of the season, this time both as Class 4A competitors. Great Bend moved its win streak to four games over the Bullpups, and moved its regular-season win-streak to 18 games with a 21-3 win.
