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Blue Springs, MO —
For the second year in a row, a football team from Blue Springs has received the MaxPreps Tour of Champions National Rankings trophy.
Coach Kelly Donohoe’s Blue Springs High School football team, which finished with a 13-1 record and claimed a 42-3 victory over Francis Howell in the Class 6 state championship game, finished the season as the No. 33-ranked team in the United States and received the Tour of Champions award at halftime of Tuesday night’s home boys basketball game against Lee's Summit North.
“This is really special,” Donohoe said. “Blue Springs South won this award last year and we won it this year. I just wonder how many communities in the country have two such competitive programs that close to each other. It's really pretty remarkable.”
Missouri National Guard Sgt. Michael Nold, who lives in Blue Springs, presented the trophy to the Wildcats.
“There are 16,000 high schools in the United States that could have won this award, and for the second year in a row it goes to a team from Blue Springs,” Nold said. “It makes me proud to live in Blue Springs and to be a part of this ceremony.”
Wildcats defensive lineman Jason Young was overwhelmed by the honor.
“This is a blessing, a true blessing,” Young said. “Our coaches have such a positive effect on our lives – on the playing field and in the community. They don't just make us great players, they make us great men. And to receive an honor like this is very, very special.”
Defensive lineman Elijah Lee, who won the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top large school lineman or linebacker in the metro area, agreed with his teammate.
“When I heard that 16,000 schools could have won this award and we were one of them, that's just unbelievable,” Lee said.
The award is given to one school in each state. MaxPreps uses the Freeman Rankings computer program to determine the top programs in the nation.
For the second year in a row, a football team from Blue Springs has received the MaxPreps Tour of Champions National Rankings trophy.
Coach Kelly Donohoe’s Blue Springs High School football team, which finished with a 13-1 record and claimed a 42-3 victory over Francis Howell in the Class 6 state championship game, finished the season as the No. 33-ranked team in the United States and received the Tour of Champions award at halftime of Tuesday night’s home boys basketball game against Lee's Summit North.
“This is really special,” Donohoe said. “Blue Springs South won this award last year and we won it this year. I just wonder how many communities in the country have two such competitive programs that close to each other. It's really pretty remarkable.”
Missouri National Guard Sgt. Michael Nold, who lives in Blue Springs, presented the trophy to the Wildcats.
“There are 16,000 high schools in the United States that could have won this award, and for the second year in a row it goes to a team from Blue Springs,” Nold said. “It makes me proud to live in Blue Springs and to be a part of this ceremony.”
Wildcats defensive lineman Jason Young was overwhelmed by the honor.
“This is a blessing, a true blessing,” Young said. “Our coaches have such a positive effect on our lives – on the playing field and in the community. They don't just make us great players, they make us great men. And to receive an honor like this is very, very special.”
Defensive lineman Elijah Lee, who won the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top large school lineman or linebacker in the metro area, agreed with his teammate.
“When I heard that 16,000 schools could have won this award and we were one of them, that's just unbelievable,” Lee said.
The award is given to one school in each state. MaxPreps uses the Freeman Rankings computer program to determine the top programs in the nation.
