Blue Springs winter previews

Boys Basketball
By BILL ALTHAUS
bill.althaus@examiner.net

There are two kinds of pressure when it comes to coaching at the high school level.
One kind of pressure is the kind first-year Blue Springs girls coach Mark Spigarelli is facing.
The team he inherited was 25-3 last year and played undefeated Suburban Big Seven ball.
All Spigarelli and the lady Wildcats have to do to keep everyone happy is to improve on those lofty numbers and win a state championship.
Then, there is the kind of pressure boys coach Frank Wheeler is facing.
He doesn’t return five starters off a loaded team that ran through conference opponents like a hot knife through margarine.
His squad was 10-15 overall and just 6-6 in conference play.
And they don’t return their starting leaders in any category.
So why is Wheeler smiling?
He enjoys a challenge.
In the world of high school basketball, you play the hand you’re dealt. Although Wheeler doesn’t have much size, depth or firepower, he’s looking forward to this season.
“We have very few returning players, so we need to find a starting lineup,” Wheeler said.
“We don’t have great size, but I like our kids and I know they will work hard.”
The two returning letter winners are 5-11 senior guard Greg Wisner and 6-3 sophomore forward Jordan Nubine.
Newcomers are 5-9 senior guard Daniel Sherman, 5-8 junior guard Drew Moore, 6-3, senior forward Luke Meyer and 6-6 senior forward David Farmer.
“As you can see, we don’t have great size and right now, we need to find a starting lineup,” Wheeler said. “We’re going to be all right.”

Girls Basketball
By BILL ALTHAUS
bill.althaus@examiner.net

Can you say, “Loaded?”
Blue Springs girls coach Mark Spigarelli certainly can, as his lady Wildcats are loaded with talent, spirit and the type of gritty determination that comes when a season ends before a dream is fulfilled.
“I still think about that (58-52 sectional) loss to Hickman Mills that ended our season last year,” said reigning Examiner Player of the Year and leading Wildcat scorer, senior guard Drew Roberts.
“We have some unfinished business this year.”
To man leading the Wildcats on their quest to a state championship is legendary former Pembroke Hill coach Spigarelli, who takes over the reigns from Tony Armstrong.
Armstrong left the cupboard full as the Wildcats return every starter from last year’s 25-3 squad that wen\t 10-0 in the Suburban Big Seven.
Spigarelli won 12 district titles and four state championships during a stellar 15-year career at Pembroke Hill.
He won Class 2 state titles in 1995 and 1999 and Class 3 crowns in 2005 and 2006. His career record is 343-84.
He is a three-time winner of the Eddie Ryan Award, given to the top basketball coach in the metro area, a two-time winner of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award and was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in Springfield in 1999.
 “For me to leave Pembroke Hill, I had to find the perfect situation,” Spigarelli said, “and I’ve done that here at Blue Springs.
“Before I came here, I knew about Tony’s girls and how much talent they had. But once I got here, I found out that the girls were as great off the court as they were on the court. They’re fun to be around, they work hard and they are determined to have a great season.”
Joining Roberts are fellow guards Jocelyn Price and Mackenzie Sykes, center Bryonna Snow – who has made a commitment to attend the University of Cincinnati – and forwards Cee Cee Burris and Shelby Wittmeyer.
“A lot of talent,” Spigarelli said, when asked about the team. “They were undefeated in conference, district champs and great kids.
“It was great to be able to work with them this summer to see what they can do. And we’re all looking forward to practice really getting under way.”

Wrestling
By JASON TARWATER
jason.tarwater@examiner.net

Last year’s Blue Springs wrestling team finished one point out of second place.
And despite losing two individual state champions, the Wildcats are aiming even higher this season.
“Our goal is to try to be the top team in the state,” Wildcats coach Mike Hagerty said.
And the key to the Wildcats success will be the experience in the lower weights.
Blue Springs returns a large number of wrestlers from 103-140 with state experience from last year.
Included in that list are sophomore Keenan Hagerty, senior Luke Greco, senior Tyler Thompson and junior Josh Howk, all of them all-state performers a year ago.
Also, Mauricio Garcia returns to the lower weights after going to state a year ago.
There is also a large number of sophomores Blue Springs will be counting on this season.
“We’ve got a great mix,” Mike Hagerty said. “This is the best mix we’ve ever had of youth and experience.”
In the heavier weights, the Foutz brothers both return, junior Billy and sophomore Lewis. Also, heavyweight Drew Kerber will be back. All three qualified for state last year.
But Mike Hagerty is expecting a big impact from senior Daniel Levy, who returns after leaving the team last season.
Levy is hoping to have an impact similar to Michael Toon last year – who returned after a year away from the team to nearly earn all-state honors.
“No disrespect to Michael, but Daniel’s impact is going to be huge,” Mike Hagerty said. “He has a different attitude now. And when you throw him in the mix with Greco, Keenan, Thompson, you don’t know what you’re going to get. There’s an old saying, steel sharpens steel. And our guys are battling in the room to make each other better.”

Girls Swimming

By JASON TARWATER
jason.tarwater@examiner.net

The class that helped Blue Springs win three state titles in four years is gone.
But don’t think the Wildcats’ chances for a state title left with those seniors.
A strong senior class returns to lead the Wildcats in what should be a reloading year rather than a rebuilding one.
“I think this class was kinda covered up by those three (graduates),” Wildcats coach Bill Shalley said. “This is their chance to show what they can do.”
Part of that class is all-stater Eleanor Prewitt-Thomas, as well as sprinter Ashlan Higgins. Junior all-state distance swimmer Shelby Bolin also returns, as does backstroker Abby Stanley.
The Wildcats should also be strong in diving with three state qualifiers returning, including senior all-stater Molly Menefee.
And coach Robert Sturman said the Wildcats may add another diver who could score points at the state meet.
The Wildcats also have a strong group of freshmen coming in this season, lead by Ibby Simcox, who should compete in the backstroke and the butterfly, and is expected to compete for a state medal right away.
“Their impact is going to be big,” Shalley said. “But we don’t know where they’ll be just yet. When you lose three great swimmers, you don’t replace them with three people. You replace them with six or nine or more.”