Beginning Friday, three of Hays’ most beloved annual traditions will combine into one busy Hays weekend.

<a target="_blank" href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d0efa892-5fcb-4849-95c6-ab79dd99c528">Hays High homecoming festivities began on Monday and will culminate with Hays High football facing Dodge City at 7 p.m. Friday on Fort Hays State University’s Lewis Field.</a>

<a target="_blank" href="https://hayspost.com/posts/421edd4a-0395-4d03-aa71-0931e910e2dc">FHSU homecoming activities are set to begin Thursday and will wrap up as FHSU football faces Washburn, with pregame ceremonies kicking off at 6:30 p.m.</a>

“There are lots of events on campus for the students and the campus community,” said Carolyn Tatro, FHSU Alumni Association alumni engagement strategist. “But I would definitely say a lot of Homecoming, really, it gets started on Thursday.”

The Homecoming Golf Tournament will begin the day at 8:30 a.m. at Smoky Hill County Club, 3303 Hall. Lunch with FHSU Football Head Coach Chris Brown follows at noon.

The Tiger Bonfire is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on the east lawn of the Robbins Center. Food trucks are planned to be available during the event.

On Friday, the Half-Century Luncheon, class reunions and the Alumni and Friends Banquet will bring FHSU alumni together.

“I think one of my favorite things about the Alumni Awards is that we're picking people that have done some really amazing things, some of them we've never heard about, but we're really impressed by them,” Tatro said. “We just don't talk about them a lot, and we're so impressed by their stories.”

<a target="_blank" href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2eb5c7ba-cedc-4f96-9e48-81646a047c1a">Honorees at the banquet include, John Allen Jr., Judith Sims Billings, Mike McCarthy, Donald Richardson, Tory Blew and Brandon Penny.</a>

As both academic institutions continue celebrating students and alumni, Hays’ annual celebration of history, heritage and homecoming — Oktoberfest — will present two full days of events.

This year’s Oktoberfest carries the special distinction of being the 50th anniversary.

“Not everybody is lucky enough to say that they've got any successful event that's been going 50 years,” Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Melissa Dixon said.

The festivities begin with the opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in Municipal Park at First and Main and the ceremonial tapping of the keg.

Until 7 p.m., attendees will have various activities and food options available that reflect the Volga German heritage, including a Stein Hoist, Deutsch Hops Contest and the OktoberFEAST Contest.&nbsp;

Music will also be featured throughout the day.

“Of course, we're gonna have the Joe Dolezal band doing polka,” Dixon said. “But we're also going to have some country bands so people can hang around and dance. Rice County Line will be there. And then also Jimmy D and the Fabulous Destinations.”

Area vendors and groups will also be a large part of the festivities.

“We do have a lot of student organizations that are gonna be down there doing fundraisers,” Dixon said. “And I like the fact that when Oktoberfest started, years and years and years ago, it was a big harvest celebration. All the villages came around all the church ladies made their goodies to raise money for their churches. And a lot of that is still in place.”

“Friday's vendors are reserved, their spots are reserved for nonprofits,” she continued. “So everything's really going to a good cause. You'll see some of your favorite civic organizations down there, and churches and student organizations raising funds. And then on the big picture, the Oktoberfest committee uses the funds raised Oktoberfest for scholarships for students who have Volga German backgrounds.”

Saturday’s family-friendly downtown events begin with the FHSU Homecoming Parade at 11 a.m., with an Oktoberfest Day 2 Welcome set for 11:45 a.m.

“Saturday, they really want to make it family-friendly,” Dixon said. “There are lots of games for kids that day. ... It really is for all ages.”

<a target="_blank" href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ca82a1d7-c587-4972-9812-a7c2f76ecb31">Then at noon, the “World’s Largest Bierock” will be presented.</a>

"We kicked around different items that may create some interest or fun, like a brat eating contest," Tom Bird, Oktoberfest vendor committee chair, said in June. "But when I started researching bierocks and found that it was more specific to the Volga Germans, in particular, western Kansas ... I thought, well, that would be unique."

He said the unique Volga German food is closely tied to the region and will be a draw to area residents.

“I'm excited to see how it goes,” Dixon said. “It has its own tent. The tent is already ready and it's really big.”

A cornhole tournament is planned at noon, along with children’s events, including Jammin Randy, a German Freeze Game, Pumpkin Pass and a Pumpkin Rolling Contest.

Oktoberfest will close at 6 p.m., just as FHSU Tailgating ramps up in the East Lawn of Lewis field after starting at 5 p.m.

“Then at halftime is when we will find out who our new homecoming king and queen will be,” Tatro said. “So, definitely stick around for that.”

🎙 Traditions combine for event-filled weekend in Hays

The Kansas Department of Transportation has started work on a road construction project in Thomas County.

Crews are first resurfacing the K-186 and K-188 spurs, then will be working on an 8-mile stretch of U.S. 24, starting at the U.S. 83 junction and ending at the Sheridan County line. Traffic in the work zones will be reduced to one lane and directed through by flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours. Delays up to 15 minutes should be anticipated.

KDOT expects the project to be completed by the end of November, weather permitting.

McCormick Excavation and Paving of Colby is the primary contractor for the nearly $2.1 million project.&nbsp;

Resurfacing work underway in Thomas County

Pet food drive will benefit Hays Humane Society

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Community Calendar

HaysMed’s annual drive-through flu shot clinic will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16. The event will offer free flu shots for all residents older than 6 months.&nbsp; &nbsp;

For the safety of the public and those working the flu drive, masks are encouraged for all people ages 2 years and up.&nbsp; In addition, physical distancing will be observed at all locations on campus.

It will be the 23rd year the hospital has offered the community service, and approximately 3,500 people are expected to be vaccinated during the free clinic.

People age 10 and up can receive their free flu shot without leaving their vehicles. HaysMed volunteers will direct traffic during the event.&nbsp; If you want to fill out the forms and bring them with you, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://haysmedfoundation.org/flu">haysmedfoundation.org/flu</a>&nbsp;and make copies to complete.

Children 6 months through 9 years of age will be vaccinated on the west side of the Center for Health Improvement.&nbsp; Adults attending with children can also receive their shots in the same location.

High-dose flu vaccine will not be available for 65 and over.&nbsp; The CDC has not expressed a preference for any flu vaccine indicated for people 65 years and older. It's most important for everyone to get the annual seasonal flu vaccine, whether it's a standard-dose or high-dose flu vaccine.

More than 100 volunteers will be on hand to help with the event. HaysMed partners with Fort Hays State University and NCK Tech as both facilities provide students to help with the shots.

There will be no nasal flu vaccine at the drive-through flu shot clinic.&nbsp; There will be no egg-free vaccines available at the drive-through flu shot clinic. People with a severe egg allergy will need to contact their local healthcare provider for their flu vaccine.&nbsp;

The event is sponsored by the Hays Medical Center Foundation. While there is no cost for flu shots, participants are asked to bring a canned food item to benefit the Community Assistance Center.

The vaccine also is available at HaysMed clinics for patients who are unable to attend the drive-through flu shot event. Charges will apply at regular clinic visits, though the vaccine is covered by most health insurance plans.

Drive-through flu shots available this month at HaysMed

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Donations being accepted now for Hays coat drive

St. Joseph Food Pantry has received a one-time fresh produce drop and will hold a special drive-through distribution for families in need on Thursday. 

This car-side service will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. or until supplies run out in the St. Joseph school parking lot near the Food Pantry doors. 

Each box includes white potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, acorn squash and grapes.

St. Joe food pantry will offer fresh produce Thursday

RUSSELL — Scared Silly will be sure to get you in the mood for Halloween. RCT’s 103rd production is a compilation of short plays dealing with the spooky and supernatural in a most comedic way.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Randyll Mauro is making her directorial debut with this production. Seven short plays have been selected from Scared Silly and RCT is sure this will be an audience favorite! The following individuals have been cast for various roles: Kiefer Craig, Nikki Kuntzsch, Debora Kreutzer, Teressa Roe, Todd Chance, Monica Harrison, Nakota Allen, Dalton Mauro, Brandon Fitzgerald, Sheila Lamb, Olivia Schreiner and Liberty Kuntzsch.&nbsp;

It’s You by Ian McWethy-The Brillmore Strangler is on the loose--and as a slasher-movie junkie, Lois couldn't be more excited. Her friends are less thrilled, especially when they hear she's tracked the killer to the very room they're in. As the bodies pile up, accusing the right guy (or girl!) proves harder than it looks in this loving send-up of slasher-movie mayhem.&nbsp;

The True Meaning of Halloween by Don Zolidis-On Halloween night, a couple opens their door to a find true monster: a teenager without a costume who demands candy anyway. While Alicia thinks they should just give Jordan a Butterfinger and call it a night, to Jonas, it's about the integrity of trick-or-treating. It's about effort. It's about America. But if there's more to Jordan than meets the eye, it just might also be a Halloween miracle.&nbsp;

The Midnight Club by Jonathan Dorf-It's hard enough for a group of students from different walks of life to get along in detention under the best of circumstances. Try midnight detention at a supernatural school where one kid spiked the punch with holy water and another is trying to slow down his transformation into a zombie. A reminder that in a way, each of us is a brain and an athlete . . . and a ghost . . . and a werewolf.&nbsp;

The Kev-Burger by Peter Bloedel-Even though Trisha's broken her glasses, she's excited to have a nice meal with her boyfriend Ned at the new burger place in town. But Ned can see clearly that something's suspicious here. Like the guy covered in blood lurking around. Or the gangsters delivering "steaks" in a body bag. Macabre farce is on the menu in this delicious comedy.&nbsp;

The (Completely Inaccurate) Legend of the Mummy Witch House by Hillary DePiano-Three urban explorers venture into a haunted house to find proof of a legend, but when they come face-to-face with the creepy place's real residents, they're not quite what the trio expected. Turns out, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction--and way more fun.&nbsp;

Forever Friends by Becca Schlossberg-Ash is devoted to her stuffed animals, even though she's thirteen and people give her a hard time. Turns out someone else knows exactly how she feels--who happens to be a terrifying ghost who lives in her closet. A whimsical tale of friendship between the human, ghostly, and stuffed.&nbsp;

Attack of the Cafeteria Zombies by Ed Monk-Earth faces a peril unlike anything humanity has ever seen, and it looks like cafeteria corn dogs. When the principal and a school bully start acting strangely, a group of students discover that aliens are testing a mind control device on their school lunch. But the invaders have one weakness . . . and you can collect them all!&nbsp;

Performances will run October 18-22, 2022, at the RCT Playhouse (5th and Kansas, Russell). Show time is 8:00 pm. Admission is $12 or by season ticket. Scared Silly is presented by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.&nbsp; &nbsp; Russell Community Theater is a nonprofit theater company in Russell, Kansas. The sole purpose of RCT is to produce theater for the community and the surrounding area. Completely volunteer driven, RCT is supported financially solely through ticket admissions and gifts from those supportive of community theater. Since its inception in 1986, RCT has presented 102 full-scale theatrical productions. For more information, call 785-483-4057 or visit the group's Facebook page.

Russell theater group will present 'Scared Silly'

2022 United Way of Ellis County&nbsp; 4 Person Scramble

Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 at&nbsp;Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course

Grab your friends and join us for a fun 4 person scramble! We'll have: -Cash payouts to flighted winners -Hole prizes -Side Games -Lunch

<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgolfhub.golfgenius.com%2Fevents%2F295681e2-db92-4452-9ad0-ad08f0d24e62%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3SL55zWHYJlh6w7wYbXNjWpEcEfI0NHBcUavnQRyFYBh6OfslEYVLiZ1E&amp;h=AT2-MO3dIKDSuNuU4a3KqzpRTbt1yQgUq0btSWhnfxwPODMD0x_-LIao4vGC8qkdEPsCZ9en1biP1eKrpVjW_pw2L17s8BHEKuvId80y3EtAgmT0qyaX-qxdcgJUkTxrIQ9r&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT0FpRWlAWPxCQIANGJJeEWiBg37m2D5usgvtUStqQpwaD5rDhJUhh5GLzSPvplmnejqKq28RRoQ-RVCYaqAVffEfpknGLjNpq6emfKEHb2P8q_HUdkWonC8ALVCOo0C--w_Ev8YJ68xC0owe1zQa-tWkVYHXPr5cfkx0rxZw8IInUozsMyQhpPiTNhIQCfEw_QEC0fpXVQZZcT4RJHOfyMhMq93ndg6PIYuG0qy5pYITvb3kEjhXVRz8hSno7cFKLV8A9cIb7sFRSe3fNweBi_6D2SdCyybliOdn2WfxWfUypGGZQxlV-0p4RhPU_kkvPx69ZAgVQ" target="_blank">https://golfhub.golfgenius.com/.../295681e2-db92-4452...</a>

<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgolfhub.golfgenius.com%2Fevents%2F295681e2-db92-4452-9ad0-ad08f0d24e62%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3SL55zWHYJlh6w7wYbXNjWpEcEfI0NHBcUavnQRyFYBh6OfslEYVLiZ1E&amp;h=AT2-MO3dIKDSuNuU4a3KqzpRTbt1yQgUq0btSWhnfxwPODMD0x_-LIao4vGC8qkdEPsCZ9en1biP1eKrpVjW_pw2L17s8BHEKuvId80y3EtAgmT0qyaX-qxdcgJUkTxrIQ9r&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT0FpRWlAWPxCQIANGJJeEWiBg37m2D5usgvtUStqQpwaD5rDhJUhh5GLzSPvplmnejqKq28RRoQ-RVCYaqAVffEfpknGLjNpq6emfKEHb2P8q_HUdkWonC8ALVCOo0C--w_Ev8YJ68xC0owe1zQa-tWkVYHXPr5cfkx0rxZw8IInUozsMyQhpPiTNhIQCfEw_QEC0fpXVQZZcT4RJHOfyMhMq93ndg6PIYuG0qy5pYITvb3kEjhXVRz8hSno7cFKLV8A9cIb7sFRSe3fNweBi_6D2SdCyybliOdn2WfxWfUypGGZQxlV-0p4RhPU_kkvPx69ZAgVQ" target="_blank"></a>Must Prepay - Deadline Wednesday, Oct. 5. Please pay at the Pro Shop, Cash or Check - No Credit Card.

$30 cart rentals - Call Pro Shop to reserve 785-625-9949 **All carts brought onto course must have paid a $105 trail fee

Schedule:&nbsp; 9:00 am - Registration 10:00 am - Tee Off 12:00 pm - Grab and Go Lunch 3:00 pm - Awards

Check out our website for more information: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liveunited.us%2Fgolf-tournament%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0OV-yAbeS02WizxpJztuzB7BaTUFJoAFrftUrGSrrTsLQ733wZ3FwTNN0&amp;h=AT0cyEMaQIhCjmwjoD2YpzLnZZw1aKxiS8wADgY1FadLPBplY5jJ3JJXx7nW7JrtQSFcyLP26xbU2lYKqrU9u2J50AxXhv18SR9Fg7DVer_HgJRClUP2Cj6TCwQyJRMCarXt&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT0FpRWlAWPxCQIANGJJeEWiBg37m2D5usgvtUStqQpwaD5rDhJUhh5GLzSPvplmnejqKq28RRoQ-RVCYaqAVffEfpknGLjNpq6emfKEHb2P8q_HUdkWonC8ALVCOo0C--w_Ev8YJ68xC0owe1zQa-tWkVYHXPr5cfkx0rxZw8IInUozsMyQhpPiTNhIQCfEw_QEC0fpXVQZZcT4RJHOfyMhMq93ndg6PIYuG0qy5pYITvb3kEjhXVRz8hSno7cFKLV8A9cIb7sFRSe3fNweBi_6D2SdCyybliOdn2WfxWfUypGGZQxlV-0p4RhPU_kkvPx69ZAgVQ" target="_blank">https://www.liveunited.us/golf-tournament</a>

Sign up for United Way of Ellis County golf tourney fundraiser Oct. 9

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Lindsay H. Metcalf grew up on a Kansas farm, flew the coop for a career in the city, and migrated home to write downwind of the neighborhood cattle. The award-winning author of nonfiction picture books will give two presentations in the Schmidt Community Commons at the Hays Public Library on Oct. 15.&nbsp;

For the youngest readers, Metcalf will present a Storytime at 10 a.m., that will focus on agricultural literacy, sharing examples of grains commonly grown in Kansas and explaining how they are planted and harvested. She will give the audience a pictorial tour of her family's traditional farm near Concordia, and as a special bonus, she'll read from an exclusive sneak-peek at her forthcoming 2024 picture book,&nbsp;Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm, which compares rural, outdoor farms with indoor vertical farms found in cities.

At noon, kids and adults will have the opportunity to Touch a Tractor! Carrico Implement will park tractors in front of the library, giving the whole family the chance to touch, explore, ask questions, and climb inside. A free hotdog lunch will be provided.&nbsp;

Metcalf will return at 1 p.m. to discuss her book&nbsp;Farmers Unite!&nbsp;In the late 1970s, grain prices had tanked, farm auction notices filled newspapers, and people had forgotten that food didn't grow in grocery stores. So, on Feb. 5, 1979, thousands of tractors from all parts of the US flooded Washington, D.C., in protest. Metcalf’s book relays this rarely told story of grassroots perseverance and economic justice.&nbsp;

The day’s activities are made possible through a donation from the Schmidt Foundation.&nbsp;

Author, journalist Lindsay Metcalf to visit Hays Public Library

I saw a poster the other day that caught my eye. It was a tennis-themed poster that included life lessons from a tennis perspective.&nbsp;I smiled as I thought how applicable thetennis quotes&nbsp;were to&nbsp;the practice of&nbsp;leadership. Here&nbsp;are&nbsp;a couple: &nbsp;“Foot faults happen – you get a second chance;”&nbsp;“Commit to follow through;”&nbsp;“No matter how far down you are, there’s always hope for a comeback.”&nbsp;All of&nbsp;these examples offer great advice&nbsp;that is&nbsp;applicable&nbsp;in&nbsp;so many&nbsp;situations.

The poster also prompted me to check in with&nbsp;tennis&nbsp;coach Brian Flax.&nbsp;Coach&nbsp;Flax is in his 27th year as the head tennis coach&nbsp;at FHSU.&nbsp;He&nbsp;ranks as the all-time leader in coaching victories with 205.&nbsp;Brian&nbsp;is currently the longest-tenured head coach at Fort Hays State.&nbsp;We are so grateful for his dedication to our players and&nbsp;to&nbsp;Tiger Tennis.

This season&nbsp;we returned&nbsp;the majority of the roster.&nbsp;Several of our returning players will&nbsp;bring significant experience to the fall 2022&nbsp;season.&nbsp;Among those returning as sophomores are twin sisters Heidi and Hope Lubbers.&nbsp;Hope is majoring in English, secondary education,&nbsp;while Heidi is preparing for our medical diagnostic imaging program with an emphasis on&nbsp;ultrasound.

Coach Flax shared that Heidi and Hope Lubbers come from a long line of&nbsp;tennis-playing&nbsp;family members.&nbsp;Their grandpa taught them,&nbsp;their sisters, uncles, and their mom&nbsp;the play and love the game.&nbsp;As soon as&nbsp;Heidi and Hope&nbsp;could&nbsp;hold a racquet, they&nbsp;were on the court too.&nbsp;In fact,&nbsp;their grandpa loved tennis so much&nbsp;that&nbsp;he built a court in his&nbsp;backyard.&nbsp;Older twin sisters Nicole and Natalie&nbsp;Lubbers&nbsp;played for the Tigers&nbsp;several&nbsp;years ago.&nbsp;Yup – two sets of twins; a&nbsp;double-double!

Heidi and Hope&nbsp;played for Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita,&nbsp;where they&nbsp;dominated the 5A doubles circuit,&nbsp;placing&nbsp;second&nbsp;at state their senior year.&nbsp;Their most memorable moment&nbsp;was&nbsp;winning the doubles semi-finals in the state tournament in that senior year. That match helped their team achieve enough points to win the state championship title. “I can still remember how proud our family and coach looked when we walked off that court,” shared Hope. I am sure that was&nbsp;the realization of a lot of dreams in a family where&nbsp;the passion for the game spans&nbsp;generations.&nbsp;

From my perspective, I&nbsp;love that this tennis family has such a strong legacy connection to FHSU. In fact, that connection to FHSU &nbsp;became&nbsp;even&nbsp;more apparent&nbsp;when I learned that Heidi and Hope&nbsp;made attending&nbsp;FHSU&nbsp;their first priority-above tennis. I think that is&nbsp;incredible!&nbsp;

“Having come often to visit our sisters here at Hays, Hope and I grew to love the campus,”&nbsp;shared Heidi. “From the homey feel of the town to the beautiful buildings that are all walking distance from the residential halls, this college was always our top choice.”

Heidi and Hope’s aspirations of attending FHSU slipped somewhat when they didn’t receive an offer to play tennis due to the low number of team members graduating, which would have opened spots for the duo.&nbsp;“That hit us&nbsp;hard,” Heidi said.&nbsp;“But after talking it over, we were willing to put down our rackets for good and come just as students, but not student-athletes.”

The twins’ commitment to FHSU paid off in their senior year of high school when two spots opened on the tennis team. Coach Flax knew exactly who to call.

Heidi said that she and Hope have been grateful for the opportunity the coach gave them to play. Additionally, the twins are glad that the team&nbsp;comprises young players&nbsp;they can work with throughout their undergraduate careers. “College tennis teams like ours are composed of players who play at different skill levels.&nbsp;This would seem to cause a lot of drama in a competitive sport, but during my time here,&nbsp;there has been no drama or fights&nbsp;over&nbsp;a limited number of starting spots. All the girls respect Coach’s decisions.”&nbsp;Heidi said.

I was curious&nbsp;whether the twins&nbsp;felt they had an advantage when playing doubles. The answer&nbsp;was a definitive “Yes!”

“Heidi and I were meant to be doubles partners,” Hope&nbsp;shared.”&nbsp;As fraternal twins, our older sisters, Nicole and Natalie, never really got along on the court, so it was a no-brainer that they would not be doubles partners. Heidi and I, however,&nbsp;are identical twins,&nbsp;and we think that helps us&nbsp;work very well together,”&nbsp;

The twins point out that they have a connection most of their teammates don’t have. They continue to support and coach each other without judgment or holding back.&nbsp;

Hope and Heidi also mentioned&nbsp;how tennis has helped them grow in other ways. From Hope’s&nbsp;perspective,&nbsp;being&nbsp;a part of the FHSU tennis team has allowed&nbsp;her&nbsp;to take on roles&nbsp;she&nbsp;wouldn’t have&nbsp;had&nbsp;outside of the sport.&nbsp;She&nbsp;steps&nbsp;in to play leader when&nbsp;theteam captain&nbsp;or the coaches need&nbsp;her.

“Most of the time, I&nbsp;work hard to support&nbsp;the other girls, whether before, during, or after a tough match,&nbsp;or simply during a time of struggle in their personal lives, Hope said.“Everyone on the team&nbsp;must be flexible&nbsp;and be ready to take on different&nbsp;roles&nbsp;when necessary.&nbsp;Only when all the roles are filled can a team succeed and each player become a champion.”

Heidi also&nbsp;shared&nbsp;thoughts on&nbsp;being a champion: As a sophomore,&nbsp;she has&nbsp;seen howimportant it is to be a team leader to the freshman because they&nbsp;are aware of upperclassmen’s&nbsp;attitudes&nbsp;on and off the court.

“In order to be a champion, you should want your teammates to be champions before yourself.&nbsp;If&nbsp;I am not at the top of the lineup,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I am not performing my best, as long as the rest of the team is&nbsp;ready to step in and perform, everyone can be a champion.”&nbsp;Heidi said.

From Coach Flax’s&nbsp;perspective, Heidi&nbsp;and Hope&nbsp;are a&nbsp;dream&nbsp;to coach,&nbsp;and they&nbsp;are&nbsp;among the best overall&nbsp;teammates&nbsp;he has worked with&nbsp;in&nbsp;his&nbsp;27 years&nbsp;of&nbsp;coaching.&nbsp;He believes they are&nbsp;excellent ambassadors for the sport&nbsp;and&nbsp;constantly&nbsp;remind&nbsp;him&nbsp;of the&nbsp;essential&nbsp;intersection between athletics and leadership.&nbsp;

Diving back into tennis-inspired life lessons, it is said that every&nbsp;set in tennis&nbsp;begins with “Love,”&nbsp;and each point&nbsp;offers&nbsp;a new opportunity&nbsp;to win.&nbsp;Tiger Tennis is definitely a winner thanks to the community of care modeled by the coaching staff and&nbsp;embraced by the Lubbers sisters and their Tiger Tennis teammates. &nbsp;

If you would like to support the Tiger Tennis program, please consider two new sponsorship options. The first is a court sponsorship. For a $500 donation, you can have the name of your choice posted on a sign on one or more of the six tennis courts where the Tigers compete. If you wish to make a financial donation of any kind to support Tiger Tennis, the name of your choice will be placed on a new “Tiger Advantage Backers” sign at the tennis complex. Learn&nbsp;more and make your donations on the&nbsp;<a href="https://foundation.fhsu.edu/support-fhsu-tennis/?bbeml=tp-hf8wJfoouUSxi7AQP3Blmw.joixybNBdike6WQzDWwHkbw.rxqxaxTmsAkGB2AtiBd6xGg.lb0ESIFdyAkSHPSuEclIUBg">Support Tiger Tennis web page</a>&nbsp;hosted by the FHSU Foundation.

Heart of a Tiger: A tennis double-double

Is Ellis County losing millions of dollars each year? Proponents of&nbsp;Obamacare&nbsp;expansion have recently&nbsp;suggested that&nbsp;this is the case. However, I know that isn’t true.&nbsp;How? Because I&nbsp;expanded&nbsp;Obamacare&nbsp;in Colorado.&nbsp;

During the 2013 Colorado legislative session I worked for a Colorado trade association that represented physicians before the state legislature. I was tasked with creating arguments that supported an expansion &nbsp;of&nbsp;Obamacare.&nbsp;The arguments we made then are the same ones being used now, and they simply do not live up to scrutiny.&nbsp;

For example, one of the biggest arguments made in favor of expansion is the “federal government picks up 90% of the cost”.&nbsp;However, I&nbsp;would ask ourselves if&nbsp;ever&nbsp;increasing federal spending has been benefiting us recently? With record inflation, soaring costs, and no relief in sight to energy prices I would argue the last thing we need is hundreds of millions in new federal spending&nbsp;which will only lead to further inflation and even higher costs in our daily lives.&nbsp;

Another argument is&nbsp;“expansion” is&nbsp;actually “budget neutral”.&nbsp;In other words, Kansas should spend hundreds of millions of dollars to hopefully save a few million.&nbsp;This&nbsp;claim is based on the concept of “budget offsets”, which is a fancy lobbyist term for&nbsp;what amounts to a&nbsp;shell game.&nbsp;For example,&nbsp;proponents&nbsp;argue that one way to “offset” the cost is&nbsp;putting prisoners on government insurance. By doing this,&nbsp;the state “saves money” because the federal government is paying for a significant portion of the cost, and thus saves Kansans money.&nbsp;If that seems confusing,&nbsp;it is supposed to.&nbsp;Proponents do not want us to look behind the hood of their proposal, rather just accept their arguments at face value.&nbsp;

Let me be clear. As a person who has an ongoing illness that nearly killed me,&nbsp;and has had more surgeries than&nbsp;I can remember, I support&nbsp;affordable&nbsp;access to healthcare for&nbsp;every single person in our community. However, the idea that more government spending will fix the problem has been proven to be untrue&nbsp;every single time it has been tried. That is why I appreciate&nbsp;our local state&nbsp;Representative&nbsp;Barb Wasinger&nbsp;looking for real solutions to the cost and availability of healthcare. Simply put, we do not&nbsp;need&nbsp;special interest groups controlling healthcare in Kansas,&nbsp;we need dedicated people whose best interests&nbsp;are&nbsp;our community.&nbsp;

LETTER: The true cost of Obamacare

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred were fired by the Kansas Cty Royals on Wednesday night, shortly after the struggling franchise finished the season 65-97 with a listless 9-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.

The Royals had exercised their option on Matheny's contract for 2023 during spring training, when the club hoped it was turning the corner from also-ran to contender. But plagued by poor pitching, struggles from young position players and a lackluster group of veterans, the Royals were largely out of playoff contention by the middle of summer.

The disappointing on-field product led owner John Sherman last month to fire longtime front office executive Dayton Moore, the architect of back-to-back American League champions and the 2015 World Series title team. He was replaced by one of his longtime understudies, J.J. Picollo, who made the decision to fire Matheny hours after the season ended.

"Managing the Royals has been a true privilege,” Matheny said in a statement. “I’m thankful to so many, primarily Dayton Moore, and the coaches and players I’ve worked with. I would like to thank Mr. John Sherman and the ownership group for the opportunity to manage their team, and everyone involved in this great organization.

"I came to the Royals knowing it was an organization of excellence and care, and was shown that care every single day. Royals fans should be excited about this group of players, and I look forward to watching them continue to grow.”

Matheny spent parts of seven seasons managing the St. Louis Cardinals, finishing each with a winning record and winning the National League pennant in 2013. But after his firing midway through 2018, he was hired by the Royals in an advisory role, and then tapped to succeed longtime manager Ned Yost when he retired before the 2020 season.

Put in charge of a rebuild in the works, Matheny went 26-34 during a COVID-19-shortened first season, then appeared to show progress last season, when the Royals ushered forward a slew of young prospects and finished 74-88.

The expectation was another step forward this season, but the Royals instead spent September fighting off 100 losses.

Matheny finished 165-219 during his time with the Royals, though the number that perhaps is more important to the future of the club is 29 — the number of players that made their Major League debut during his tenure.

"We are grateful to Mike for leading us through some unusual times these last three seasons,” Picollo said in a statement. “He met those challenges head on and helped us move forward in a positive manner. We thank him for his leadership and know his influence will have a positive impact moving forward.”

Matheny became the fifth big league manager to be fired this year.

Philadelphia's Joe Girardi was replaced on June 3 by Rob Thomson, who engineered a miraculous turnaround to get the Phillies into the playoffs. The Angels replaced Joe Maddon with Phil Nevin four days later, Toronto's Charlie Montoyo was succeeded by John Schneider on July 13 and the Rangers' Chris Woodward by Tony Beasley on Aug. 15.

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa left the team on Aug. 30 for medical tests and said Monday he will not return for 2023.

In addition, Miami's Don Mattingly said late last month that he will not return next season.

While he was well-liked in the Kansas City clubhouse, it seemed unlikely Matheny would be granted another season when Moore was fired last month. Sherman indicated at the time the change in the leadership of the baseball operations department was only the start of what was expected to be widespread shifts throughout the organization.

The Royals have struggled for years to develop pitching — they had the fourth-worst ERA and the worst WHIP by far of any staff in the majors this season. And the continued struggles by their latest wave of young arms was a big reason for letting go of Eldred, the pitching coach since 2018.

“The bottom line here is it's time for change,” Sherman said last month. “There is a gap right now between where we are and where we expected to be. ... I felt like in 2021 we did make progress, and in 2022, that's not how I feel. There have been some bright spots — I love seeing the young players — but in 2022, we are not where we expected to be.”

⚾ Royals fire manager Mike Matheny after 65-97 end to season

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramirez drove in two runs and had four hits, Aaron Civale pitched six solid innings and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Kansas City Royals 9-2 on Wednesday in their final tune-up for the postseason.

Cleveland opens the wild-card round against Tampa Bay on Friday at Progressive Field.

The AL Central champions are 24-6 since Sept. 5 and finished the regular season 92-70. The youngest team in baseball had 17 players make their major league debuts this season. Cleveland finished 80-82 last season.

Ramirez had run-scoring singles in the second and sixth, and ends the regular season with 126 RBIs. Ramirez doubled in the eighth and received a loud ovation from the 12,983 fans when he was removed for a pinch-runner.

The fact Ramirez hustled into second for a double in his final at-bat of the regular season with his team ahead by six runs came as no surprise.

“He’s the heart and soul of the team and everyone would tell you that same thing,” Civale said. “There’s a lot of pieces involved, but he is that supreme piece. It’s extremely fun to watch. It’s great that we get to do it from the same dugout and not across the way.”

Rookie Steven Kwan ended the regular season batting .298. His chance to hit .300 ended when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh.

“I thought it was fitting that Josey finished on a hustle double and Kwan, who’s trying to hit .300, alerts the umpire that he gets hit because he’s playing the game,” manager Terry Francona said “That, to me, means we’re going in a good direction. ”

Civale (5-6) struck out nine and is 3-0 since returning from his third stint on the injured list. The right-hander gave up solo homers to Vinnie Pasquantino and Kyle Isbel. Civale will be Cleveland’s starter in Game 1 of the AL Division Series, if the wild-card round goes three games.

Kansas City starter Jonathan Heasley (4-10) allowed six runs and nine hits in five innings.

Kansas City (65-97) finished last in the AL Central. The Royals were 74-88 last season. Kansas City hasn’t reached the postseason since winning the World Series in 2015.

Five players drove in runs for the Guardians. Josh Naylor had three RBIs, including a two-run single when the Guardians scored four times in the first. Myles Straw had a sacrifice fly in the second and an RBI single in the seventh.

Rookie Will Brennan and Luke Maile also had RBIs in the first.

“I gave up the run in the first inning and Naylor, of course, says, ‘Don’t worry, we got you’ and we put up four in the first and then one in the next, one in the next,” Civale said. “It never stops. We’ve said all year we’re never out of a game.”

Pasquantino finished his rookie season with 10 home runs, while Isbel batted .308 over his final 11 games after snapping an 0-for-21 slump.

“Good for both of them, getting a little reward in a long year, do a little damage,” said Matheny, who became the fifth big league manager to be fired this year.

Cleveland drew 1,295,870 in 76 dates fans this season. Cleveland had an attendance of 1,738,642 fans in 2019, the last season before COVID-19 restrictions.

The last thing a postseason team needs is an injury in the final game of the regular season, but Andrés Giménez and Oscar Gonzalez caused the Guardians brief concern Wednesday.

Giménez was hit by a pitch for an AL-leading 25th time this season in the fourth when he took one on the right knee. He limped out of the box, but stayed in the game after talking to manager Terry Francona and a team trainer.

Gonzalez's slide into third base got the attention of Cleveland’s dugout in the first. After drawing a walk, he slid headfirst into the bag on Brennan’s single to right, but appeared to land on his nose as he slid in safely.

Gonzalez stayed on the ground for a couple of moments as third base coach Mike Sarbaugh retrieved his helmet. Gonzalez slowly got to his feet and stayed in the game.

Royals: C Salvador Perez (left thumb soreness) missed the final four games of the six-game series. He had surgery on his thumb earlier this season and felt soreness during Saturday’s game when he went 4 for 4. Perez homered in his final at-bat Saturday for his 1,274th career hit, passing Billy Butler for eighth place on the Royals’ all-time list.

Royals: Kansas City plays Texas on Feb. 24 in the spring training opener.

Guardians: RHP Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA) will start Friday’s series opener. He reached the 200-inning mark in his final regular-season start against Kansas City on Sunday. Bieber hasn’t lost since Sept. 1 and is 5-0 over his last six starts. His only postseason start came in 2020, when he won the AL Cy Young Award, but was the losing pitcher in Game 1 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees. Bieber allowed seven runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

⚾ Royals close out season with loss in Cleveland

The entire Major League Baseball playoff picture is now set. 

The four matchups in the wild-card round were locked in Tuesday night, right before the last day of the regular season. Every series starts Friday and is a best two of three. Plus, the higher seed will host every game. In the National League, the San Diego Padres visit the New York Mets while the Philadelphia Phillies play at the St. Louis Cardinals. In the American League, the Seattle Mariners visit the Toronto Blue Jays while the Tampa Bay Rays play at the Cleveland Guardians. The postseason was expanded from 10 teams last year to 12 this season.

Albert Pujols taking his final swings in October, Julio Rodríguez stepping in for the first time. Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom facing Manny Machado and Juan Soto.

Bryce Harper, back at last. José Ramírez and his Cleveland teammates trying to break a long drought — with a new name.

And Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts and other top stars looming next week.

The entire Major League Baseball playoff picture came into focus Tuesday night. The matchups were finally set, right before the last day of the regular season.

The postseason, expanded from 10 teams last year to 12 this season, begins Friday with a newly created wild-card round. All four series are best two of three — three days in a row, no breaks, with the higher seed hosting every game.

In the National League, it's Padres-Mets and Phillies-Cardinals. In the American League, it's Mariners-Blue Jays and Rays-Guardians.

At Citi Field, New York figures to throw aces Scherzer and deGrom at San Diego, featuring big-hitting Machado and Soto. The Mets' bid to win the NL East ended when they were beaten out by the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves, so New York wound up as the top NL wild-card team.

"We have to go on the road and play against a tough team and beat some of the best pitchers in the game," Machado said. "It is about going out there and enjoying the moment."

At Busch Stadium, soon-to-be retired St. Louis stars Yadier Molina and Pujols host Harper and Philadelphia. The Cardinals won the NL Central, but as the No. 3 seed don't get the benefit of an early bye.

A two-time champion with the Cardinals, the 42-year-old Pujols has looked like a 24-year-old version of himself down the stretch, topping 700 career home runs and passing Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time RBIs list.

A two-time MVP, Harper makes his first playoff appearance since 2017 with Washington. He missed two months in the middle of the season because of a broken thumb but is ready to swing away for the Phillies.

In Cleveland, Ramírez leads a young team that includes rookie sparkplug Steven Kwan and hard-throwing closer Emmanuel Clase as the AL Central champs host Tampa Bay.

This will be Cleveland's first postseason appearance as the Guardians. The team hasn't won the World Series since 1948. Randy Arozarena, already established as a playoff star, will try to boost the Rays to the first championship in franchise history.

The Guardians went 4-2 against the Rays this year, winning two of three last week at Progressive Field. All three games in the series were decided by one run, with two going to extra innings.

"It will be a good environment," Tampa Bay second baseman Taylor Walls. "It's a good thing that we just went there. ... I know the guys are amped up. We're ready to be there."

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