Longhorn Proud

Kimball Public Schools and Longhorn Nation proudly salute this winter's student-athletes with the special tribute due to Senior Parents' Night being canceled during severe weather. Presented here are the Senior Parents' Night program and coaches' remarks about the students.

WRESTLING

Connor Cluff has wrestled all four years of his high school career. When Connor came into the program he had a lot to learn like many of the others in the program. Connor however rose to the challenge and worked hard to better himself. There were ups and downs through his first two years and times that he questioned whether or not he wanted to continue, but in the end, he decided that he wanted to continue to work hard and prove to himself and others that he could be good enough to make it to the State wrestling tournament. Connor came in his junior year with a different attitude and work ethic which paid off for him as he qualified for his first state tournament. He followed that year up with another great year of practice and work even with the ups and downs of COVID and again has qualified for the state tournament. Connor has been a great kid to have in the wrestling program and I wish him nothing but the best in his run at the state tournament.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Sydney Biesecker

Sydney is one of those players that once she has her eyes set on something, she will work for it until she gets it. She has displayed passion and great work ethic for our team this year. She has grown a lot as a person and young adult and has helped lead our team. She was our go to player in the paint this year and really developed her skills underneath the basket.

7.5 PPG 3.5 RPG

Ashlynn Guzman

Ashlyn is someone who brought enjoyment to practices. When we would have a hard practice, she would crack a joke to lighten the mood or make her teammates smile. She is an extremely hard worker and never gave up her entire career as an athlete at KHS. I enjoyed teaching her the game and I will miss her smile and laughter very much next year.

Megan Spicer

People know how great of an athlete Megan is, but I hope they got to see what a great leader she has become this year. She displayed mental toughness and really embraced her role as team captain. She played hurt over half the season and powered through the pain. Megan's really tried to focus on developing her skill as a guard this year and it showed on the court. She was a joy to coach and help develop as a young adult.

10.7 PPG 4.0 RPG

I am going to miss these seniors very much and I am so sad they did not get the senior parent night they deserved and worked so hard for. They have had to persevere through a lot of uncertainties these last two years and the community should be enormously proud of the young ladies they have become.

Jaclyn Burks

BOYS BASKETBALL

This year's 2020-2021 Boys' Basketball team wants to congratulate our 4 seniors on a "job well done." Each one of them made a decision and commitment to join this year's team knowing full well that winning games would be hard to come by. However, because of their leadership and a "never give up" attitude our team and players were able to win something much more important than any one game, the RESPECT of many. This respect was not given because of superficial outcomes but was earned through their leadership and effort. A leadership that involves putting aside personal comfort and predictability for an environment that involves uncertainty and discomfort, not only in an effort to better themselves but to better the ones they surround themselves with as well. Each one of these 4 seniors provided a unique quality of leadership:

Chris Barker – Chris provided us with height and speed. When available he was able to provide valuable minutes to help rest our starters and crash the boards when we needed a spark rebounding. When he seemed to be enjoying the game everyone seemed to have a smile on their face. Unfortunately a knee injury cut his playing season short but we appreciate his willingness to join our team his senior year.

Cole Henton – Cole provided us with the most experience and understanding of the game on this year's team. Although he is a little softer spoken than others, his leadership can still be felt in his actions on the court. Cole never gives up on a play and his ability to slash to the basket has given us a boost with offensive rebounds and defensive strategies that we may not have been able to implement without his skill sets. Cole currently leads our team in scoring and can always be counted on when needing an effort play. His game with 8 steals is indicative of just how much he is willing to never give up on a play regardless of score or circumstance. We are very grateful for Cole's efforts not only for this season but also the other 3 seasons that he decided to join the basketball team and he will truly be missed next year.

Ethan Ratzlaff – Ethan has been one of our most vocal leaders in the locker-room in an effort to keep everyone motivated to improve and work harder. He has provided us with strength underneath the rim and never shies away from contact. Whether bringing up the ball, going hard to the basket, or dishing out an assist in the last seconds Ethan is always looking to make the right play. He has worked hard to improve himself not only on the court but off of it as well and we are very appreciative that he chose to be a part of this year's team.

Christian Allen Van-Pelt – Christian is another one of those "lead by example" players. Everything he does he seems to do with poise and effort. He never seems rattled by the situation and he gives others around him an example of how to respond to difficult situations. Christian on the court has also led us in rebounding most of the season and field goal percentage. As the season has progressed he has learned to be more assertive and confident in his shot selection and has also led us in scoring a few times. Christian is just one of those players that seem to know what he wants and is willing to work hard to achieve those goals that he has set out for himself, and that is probably what we will miss most about his leadership next season.

All 4 of these seniors have worked hard this season to improve themselves and their teammates in an effort to be as competitive as possible and give this community and school a team to get behind and support. Without individuals such as these 4 seniors and our other players our school would have been in jeopardy of losing our sport for a while and another opportunity for our community to come together in a setting that we can all show support and school pride in. For everyone that was able to show your support by attending one of our games or watch online we appreciate your continued support. And for the 4 seniors that showed us what leadership is all about.....RESPECT!

Coach Miller & Coach Mohr

CHEER

Melai Casimio is the daughter of Patrick and Melanie Casimiro. During her time at Kimball High School she has participated in Show Choir, Speech, and especially excelled in cheer and dance to which she has dedicated 4 years. Her passion for dance and her gift for learning choreography have helped lead the team to multiple state championships during her time on the team. Her coaches would like to thank her for all her hard work and accomplishments and wish her the best of luck in the future! 

Samantha Bemis is the daughter of Michael Bemis and Andrea Bemis. Her time at Kimball has led her to discover many of her passions including basketball and cheer all while holding a job at Kimball Manor.  In the middle of a crazy year, Sam has brought smiles, laughter, and positivity to all that she does. She is a free spirit who helps everyone find the good in life. Her coaches would like to thank her for her hard work this year. And wish her nothing but the best for her future! 

Raven Johnson is the daughter of Kyle and Laura Johnson. In her time at Kimball she has dedicated many efforts to show choir, track, and the cheerleading team. Raven's determination to succeed and her ability to learn quickly has made her an asset to all she puts her mind to. She is a dedicated teammate and a kind heart to those who need it. Her leadership over the last two years have been a major contribution to the success of this team. Her coaches would like to thank her for her hard work and wish her the best of luck in all she does in the future.