Volleyball ends, football continues-playoff run

In+the+top+left+corner%2C+junior+Patrick+Friess+goes+for+a+catch+thrown+by+senior+quarterback+Heath+Hilger.+In+the+top+right+corner%2C+junior+Lauren+Mercer+prepares+to+receive+a+serve+from+the+opposing+team.+In+the+bottom+left+corner%2C+senior+Karlie+Biehler+serves+to+the+visiting+team+as+the+game+comes+to+an+end.+In+the+bottom+right+corner%2C+freshman+Brayden+Kunz+takes+the+ball+in+for+a+Cardinal+touchdown.+

In the top left corner, junior Patrick Friess goes for a catch thrown by senior quarterback Heath Hilger. In the top right corner, junior Lauren Mercer prepares to receive a serve from the opposing team. In the bottom left corner, senior Karlie Biehler serves to the visiting team as the game comes to an end. In the bottom right corner, freshman Brayden Kunz takes the ball in for a Cardinal touchdown.

Written by Tatum Wykes, photo editor

With the start of the school year, sports started back up too. The volleyball teams started their season on Aug. 31, with the freshmen/sophomore team’s  first game, and Sept. 1 for JV and varsity’s first game. The football season started on Sept. 4 with the first game against Garden Plain. As the season progressed, many schools had to go into quarantine, canceling many of the games for volleyball. 

As the volleyball season came to an end, the freshman/sophomore team played their last game Oct. 19. The JV team ended their season on Oct. 20 and varsity volleyball played their last seasonal game on Oct. 20 ending with a 5-20 record. Varsity played their first round of sub-state on Oct. 24 and lost to Garden Plain in the first round. 

“As the season started I was scared for the future of it getting cancelled, but I was excited to at least get the chance to play,” senior and varsity player Kyla Echelberry said. 

With play-offs for football in process, Cardinal football took home District Champs against the Sedgwick Cardinals. 

“It felt good to be district champs, because as we were going in we were looked at as the underdogs,” senior Jonathan Wright said. “As long as we stay healthy it’s looking good for future games.”

The varsity team this season is undefeated in the league and only lost to Garden Plain in an extra game at the beginning of the season.

The 2020 season was a concern for me. We had the lowest number on the football team since I began coaching in 1998. We also had all the scare of Covid,” head football coach Matt Biehler said., “These players have worked very hard and are dedicated to doing the right thing. They deserve to have this season, and I want to do everything in my power to give them a full year. I hope we can continue all the way to the State Championship in Hays.”  

The football team will continue its run into playoffs with a game against Inman at 7 p.m. on Friday at home.