Centralia School

Yesterday’s weather wasn’t ideal, however, these track athletes didn’t let it stop them from competing hard. We did have a 20 minute lightning delay & then went back out and finished the few races left. Kambrie Rempe broke her own 100 meter hurdles record with a time of 18.13. She also set the 200 meter hurdles record for 8th grade girls with a time of 33.28. Kaden Franklin set the 8th grade boys record in the 200 meter hurdles with a time of 33.60. And check out our two miler runners!! We had five athletes volunteer to run the two mile to earn points as a team!! Way to go!! Junior high wraps up their track season next week with our home track meet on Monday and OTL on Thursday at Frankfort.

Written by Tava Gibbs Meet Oen Elise Deters, a proud member of the class of 2025. She was born on September 21, 2006, in Topeka, Kansas. Oen is the youngest of four; her older siblings are Braden, Gracie, and Avery. Her parents are Travis and Jessica Heinen Deters. They have been a constant source of support throughout her journey. A few of her interests include going to the lake, basketball, and hanging out with her friends. During her time at Centralia High School, Oen has made the most of it by excelling both on the court and in the classroom. She has participated in basketball and volleyball for four years, with basketball being her favorite. Her talent and passion for the game helped lead her team to a perfect, unforgettable season, ending with a state championship win in Dodge City her senior year. Oen states, “My favorite memory from high school would be my senior year at state basketball in Dodge City. This trip was extremely exciting and fun with all my friends and teammates. We won all three games at State and got the State Championship.” A big achievement of Oen’s is getting a full scholarship to Benedictine to further her basketball career as a Raven. She also participated in track for one year and softball for two. On top of her athletics, she is involved in many other extracurricular activities, including KAY, FCCLA, NHS, STUCO, Leadership Group, and SADD. After asking her what her favorite club is, she says, “My favorite club would have been FCCLA, as it was full of just girls, and it was very fun doing activities and holding fundraisers for our community and club.” When reflecting back on high school, Oen has a few tips for the underclassmen. One including “My advice for next year's senior class is to not stress about the little things because in the long run they don't matter as much as it seems at the moment. Enjoy your last year of high school with your friends and don't take one minute for granted.” The most influential teacher to Oen is Mrs. Jena Kramer. She says, “She is very laid back and always fun to be around. She also holds us accountable for the work we are doing, but at the end of the day, she is my favorite teacher to go to when I am bored.” High school has taught her many lessons, one being not to procrastinate because speedy work is not good work. After graduation, Oen plans to major in Business Management. Oen Deters has made her mark here at Centralia High School, both in and out of the classroom. She has excelled in multiple sports and was involved in many different clubs. A memory she will cherish forever is winning a basketball state championship her senior year. If Oen had to sum up her highschool experience in one word, she would use unforgettable which is a fitting way to describe the impact she has made here at Centralia high school.

Written by Quentin Alderfer In July 2006, Jerod and Cindy Flentie welcomed their youngest child, Jacob Flentie, into their lives. Jacob has three older siblings: Taylor, Trenton, and Abbie. Jacob is a member of Centralia High School’s graduating class of 2025. All through High School, Jacob took part in the following sections: Stuco, Kays, Football, Basketball, Track, and Baseball. But out of all these, his favorite has to be football. Jacob says, ''He had the most fun on his last ride as a Centralia football player this season,'' especially because he made it to the state game as his final game. When he turns to his favorite high school memory, he does not hesitate to say: beating Rossville. After this game, Jacob enjoyed the time spent with teammates and coaches during the celebrations. And when it refers to the memories during high school, the very obvious favorite for Jacob is again : Rossville. To him, it wasn't just a win in the win column, but " a good day to be proud about." He remembers walking back up to the school after the game, to celebrate with teammates and coaches, a memory he will carry with him for the rest of his life. One of the major impacts during high school for Jacob is Mr. Conley. Jacob states that this is due to the fact that Mr. Conley always inspires students to think for themselves and draw their own conclusions rather than follow the crowd. His consistent positive demeanor and love for teaching made a real difference in Jacob's school experience. Jacob is set for the next chapter in his life. After high school, he plans to enroll at Manhattan Area Technical College to complete a course in HVAC and plumbing. Now he is ready to get down and work on his future doing something that really excites him. Here's what Jacob has to say to the senior class of next year: "Have fun at all of your 'lasts' your last games, last dances, and last days of school; because that all happens really fast. Don't take any of it for granted."

The Centralia High School track team travels to Washington today. Field Events start at 3:00 pm, the 2 mile will run at 3:30 pm and all other running events will start at 4:30. Go Panthers!

Fantastic job by the Panther Golfers today in some very tough conditions! The wind was howling all day! In the JV side we did a 2 man random scramble and Allison Domann and her partner shot a 50, and got third place. Our varsity shot a personal best on the year and scored a 368, placing third! Landon Heller shot his best score of the year with a 94! Gage Wimberly placed 5th, shooting an 89! Tyler Jones placed 3rd, shooting an 87!

By Abbi Stallbaumer Jason and Ann Stallbaumer welcomed their youngest child Mason Charles Stallbaumer to their lives in August 2006. He lives on his family farm outside of Centralia. Mason has three older siblings Mayda, Matthew, and Monica. After high school Mason plans to join the agriculture workforce. Throughout high school, Mason has been very involved in FFA, 4-H, football, and the school play. His favorite experiences came through football and FFA, two places where he built lasting friendships and a strong sense of brotherhood. One of Mason’s favorite memories was grilling hamburgers with his friend Wyatt at the junior concession stand. But if he could relive one memory, it would be this year’s sub-state football game against Rossville. Mason said, “ I had a lot of fun going out with my boys to battle a tough team. But the best thing about that game to me was the fact that nobody in the state expected us to make it to that game.” Mason credits his teachers, especially Roger Holthaus, for pushing him to be his best and helping prepare him for the future. Junior year brought its challenges, but he powered through by taking it one day at a time and making sure you still hang out with your friends. To next year’s seniors, Mason offers some advice, “Don’t wish it away. It’s your last hoorah with your friends. You’ll make a lot of memories and have a lot of fun.” When asked to sum up his high school experience in one word, Mason chose a rollercoaster, a ride full of ups and downs, but it all ended up ok. Mason is ready to take on the next chapter of his life by working in the ag field. He’ll take everything he learned at Centralia with him not only skills but also the memories, friendships, and life lessons that have shaped him along the way.

By Jaysa Becker and Jacie Koch MaKenna Marie Akin-Schober was born on August 7, 2007. She was welcomed into the world by her parents, Lindsay Schober and Archie Akin, and is also a stepdaughter to Paul Egner Jr. MaKenna is a positive role model for her five younger siblings, Liam, Madyson, Kiera, Grayson, and Gunner. After her graduation this May, MaKenna plans to attend Bellus Academy in Manhattan, Kansas, to receive her license to practice cosmetology. Throughout high school, MaKenna has been involved in many extracurricular activities. Some of these activities include FCCLA for four years, Vocal for three years, Cheerleading for two years, and FBLA for one year. Her favorite activity is Cheerleading, and she was cheer captain this past school year. MaKenna says cheer has taught her many important life skills, including teamwork, leadership, and confidence. MaKenna says these activities have impacted her by helping her get more involved with her school and community. One of her favorite high school memories also comes from cheerleading: “My favorite memory from high school would be cheering my junior year at state basketball because I enjoyed getting the opportunity to travel and spend a few days with my team, which brought us closer together.” However, her dedication to her other activities has paid off. Being only her first year in FBLA, MaKenna worked with some of her classmates and competed in an event called Partnership with Business. This event took dedication and hours of preparation. But after all their hard work, MaKenna and her team qualified for nationals as first-year members, which isn’t easy. Her advisor, Mrs. Misty Poe, states, “I have been impressed with MaKenna's quiet leadership that she exhibits in my business class, in FBLA, and within the school. Placing 1st at the State FBLA contest is a big feat, and MaKenna was the backbone of the Partnership with Business project. She had a goal (make it to Nationals in Anaheim), and she nailed it with her work ethic, attention to detail, and determination. This was MaKenna's first year in FBLA, and I could not be more proud of all that she accomplished.” This alone shows MaKenna’s work ethic and dedication that lies behind the scenes. She uses her quiet, yet strong, leadership skills to push other members and students to always be their best. Following up with cheerleading, MaKenna’s biggest and most influential mentor was her coach, Sara Kramer. MaKenna says that even though Sara was the only coach she had during her two years of high school cheer, Sara taught her great leadership skills and helped her grow out of her comfort zone and into the person she is today. When asked about MaKenna's role on the team, Sara explains, “MaKenna developed into an outstanding captain for our squad this year. She was highly motivated, well organized, and set an excellent example for the rest of the squad to follow. She was always willing to try new things and was determined to perfect them. She will be greatly missed next year, but I know she will do big things. Congrats MaKenna!” Learning how leadership and confidence can help any high school student grow, MaKenna’s advice to younger students and upcoming seniors is to take in every moment. She also says that high school goes by fast, so taking the time to be with your friends, teammates, and teachers is very important. Lastly, she reminds everyone not to be afraid to step out of their comfort zone and embrace every opportunity given to them. High school has not only been challenging while trying to manage everything she’s involved in, but MaKenna stayed organized, and she said that this helped her overcome many of her challenges. Although high school is filled with many amazing memories, the one moment MaKenna would choose to relive would be cheering at the state basketball championship. Being the last time she would cheer in a Centralia uniform, it was a great experience for her and her team. Winning the last game of her cheer journey was the best outcome for the school. Additionally, high school prepared her for the future by setting up real-world challenges for her to work to overcome. It pushed her to manage her time and communicate better with other people. Although MaKenna will be leaving Centralia High School this spring, she will leave a lasting and positive impact on upcoming students and athletes to follow. She has shown through the last four years that leadership, confidence, and dedication can come from anywhere, even from the people and places you least expect it.

The Centralia Baseball & Softball teams are back in action today at home versus Onaga. Both teams start their double headers at 4:30 at the Centralia Ball Fields.

Centralia Junior High track travels to Valley Heights for a meet starting at 1:00 pm. The 3200 meter run will begin at 2:45 and all other running events will start at 3:15. Good Luck Panthers!

Change in Golf Schedule Today: Due to predicted weather, today's Golf meet at Seneca has been moved up 12:30 p.m.

***TIME CHANGE*** The start time has been moved up to 12:30 pm The Centralia Golf team hosts a golf tournament today at Spring Creek Golf Course in Seneca. The meet starts at 12:30 pm Good Luck Panthers!

On Saturday, 5 students participated in State Solos and Ensembles in Hesston. They all performed extremely well. Congratulations to the following students on their accomplishments at state! Outstanding Rating (1) Parker Koch- Tenor Saxophone Solo Excellent Rating (2) Hunter Schober- Trombone Solo Jacie Koch- Flute Solo Jayce Schmitz- Vocal Solo Jayden Heideman- Flute and Vocal Solo

Good Luck to Parker Koch, Hunter Schober, Jacie Koch, Jayden Heideman & Jayce Schmitz as they compete at State Music today at Hesston College!

The softball game vs D-West tonight has been canceled. The make up date is still undetermined at this time.

***2025 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT*** Written by Isaac Reinecke Wyatt Koch, a proud member of the Class of 2025, was born on July 28, 2006, to Tracy and Myron Koch. He is the youngest of five children and has four older sisters: Kaitlyn, Kendra, Rachel, and Clarissa. Throughout high school, Wyatt has been actively involved in FFA, where his favorite competition was Ag Mechanics. “It was something I already had a good understanding of,” Wyatt says, “but I also gained a lot of new skills through it.” His passion for hands-on work extends beyond school activities. Wyatt has spent countless hours working on vehicles, from engine swaps to full rebuilds. One of his most memorable moments from high school was during junior year, grilling hamburgers with his friend Mason Stallbaumer. “We had a lot of fun just grilling and spending time together,” he recalls. That same year, however, proved to be the most challenging. “There was so much going on: homework, school responsibilities, and working the concession stand. It felt nonstop,” Wyatt explains. Despite the busyness, he found ways to stay focused and manage his time effectively. If given the chance to relive one high school experience, Wyatt says it would be harvesting and soil sampling at the Highland Western Center as part of Precision Ag. “It was great hands-on work, and I enjoyed doing it with my classmates.” When asked who has had the biggest impact on him throughout high school, Wyatt names Mr. Conley. “He has taught me so much and has always supported our class as a senior sponsor,” he says. After graduation, Wyatt plans to enter the workforce, seeking a position in the agriculture industry while also continuing to help on his family’s farm. He feels high school has done a great job preparing him for the future by teaching him essential life skills that will serve him well in adulthood. A fun fact that not many people know about Wyatt? He has a deep interest in automotive work, and he enjoys taking on complex projects like rebuilding engines. If he had to describe his high school experience in one word, Wyatt chooses “Memorable.” “I’ve made a lot of great memories with my friends,” he says. His advice for the Class of 2026 is to “Enjoy your last year, it goes by quickly, and you’ll look back on the memories you make.”

High School Track returned to Frankfort on Thursday and the CHS Track & Field did a fantastic job proving how hard work in practice pays off at the meets. Many of our athletes hit personal or season records in their events and we are very proud of them! The girls scored first out of six teams and the boys took fourth. Next week we have two meets, Tuesday in Washington and Friday in Marysville. Go Panthers!

***2025 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT*** Written by Hayden Kramer and Malayna Becker On December 27, 2006, Jim and Renee welcomed their daughter Tatum Jane into the world. Tatum has two older siblings, Morgan and Brock, and three younger siblings: Hayden, a sophomore; Harper, a freshman; and Bo, a kindergartener. Tatum is part of the graduating class of 2025. Throughout Tatum’s high school career, she has been very successful in volleyball, basketball, track, and softball. Her freshman year, they got third place at state volleyball, second at state basketball, and she placed at the state track meet in the 400 and 100. She placed in the 400 at the state track meet in her sophomore year. In Tatum’s junior year, their volleyball and basketball teams both placed third in the state tournament. She returned to the State Track Meet, placing second in the 400 and her 4x8 team placing seventh. In Tatum’s senior year, her team placed second at state volleyball, and they placed first at state basketball. She is continuing dual sports with track and softball in the Spring. She is also involved in KAY, FCCLA, SADD, NHS, StuCo, and is on the yearbook staff. Tatum says her favorite activity would have to be either volleyball or basketball. She has made so many memories and friendships that will stick with her forever. Tatum has made a lot of great memories throughout high school, but her favorite was “Winning the basketball state championship my senior year. Being a part of that was an amazing experience and one of the best feelings!” Tatum was asked, “If you could relive one moment from high school, what would it be and why?” Tatum’s response was, “If I could relive one moment from high school, I would go back to the state championship game. I would give anything to play with my teammates, especially my sister, again. That moment and feeling were unforgettable, and I would love to go back and feel it all over again.” Tatum’s advice to the seniors next year is to have fun and not stress too much. Senior year goes by so fast, so take in every moment and enjoy it. Tatum lived her high school career to the fullest, making memories she will cherish forever. The teacher who influenced Tatum the most throughout high school was Tom Crowther. She said, “He always had a positive attitude and gave great advice.” After high school, Tatum plans on attending Kansas State University to continue her major in Business Accounting. Even though Tatum is going to miss seeing her friends every day, she is excited to start this new chapter in her life.

Centralia JV Golf plays in a tournament hosted by Valley Heights at Waterville Community Golf Course today starting at 1:00 pm Good Luck Panthers!

*Updated-Results are included this time!* Another great weather day for a track meet..a lot of PRs were made at the Junior High Track Meet on Tuesday! JH track & field is back in action on Monday at Valley Heights.

***2025 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT*** Written by Benji Puvogel Parker Koch was born to his parents, Jason and Marcie Koch on July 21, 2006. He is the only son and oldest out of six children. His sisters' names are Jacie, Taige, Piper, Halle, and Kinley. Parker lives on his family farm, just outside of Centralia. Parker has been involved in a lot of activities, like Band, Basketball, Choir, FFA, FBLA, Football, Forensics, Leadership Group, NHS, Scholar’s Bowl, Track, and Wrestling. For him, the activities he enjoyed the most were Football, Band, and Scholar’s Bowl. When asked what his favorite memory from high school was, he said, “It was probably going to activities with my classmates and having fun.” Parker is still undecided about which college he will attend, but he plans to pursue a degree in the financial industry and eventually work toward earning a law degree. Reflecting on his high school experience, he shared, “The most challenging part of high school was probably just scheduling things during junior and senior year. I overcame it by using reminders and to-dos on my phone and talking through what I had to do with my mom.” These challenges, he explained, helped prepare him for the future. “I think high school prepared me by holding me responsible and accountable for myself—whether it was grades or behavior, I was pushed to be my best while still having to put in the work.” When asked to sum up his high school journey in one word, Parker replied, “Fleeting. It all seemed to go by so fast.” He had a few words of advice for his sisters once he left home: “Respect everyone, and never make yourself more important than any other person. Try new things and push yourself. Stay close to God, and stick with your friends and family.” He also had advice for the freshman class and the upcoming senior class. To the freshman, “ Any freshman reading this should get involved and spend time with their classmates.” His advice to the next year's seniors, “Please do as much as you can with your classmates. Next year will go by so much faster than you think.”. Those were some great words from a senior leader, who is proud to be in the class of 2025. And we all wish him the best of luck on his college choice and all his future endeavors.