Kansas

Blue Valley West Wins Kansas Girls’ 6A High School State Championships With Freshmen-Led Team

Published

2 months ago

May 25, 2026

Blue Valley West Wins Kansas Girls’ 6A High School State Championships With Freshmen-Led Team

Blue Valley West High School, located in Overland Park, KS, won the Kansas 6A Girls’ High School State Championships in a commanding 333 points, 44.5 points ahead of runners-up Shawnee Mission East (288.5 points). Blue Valley West’s team and the meet overall were highlighted by strong performances from underclassmen swimmers, particularly freshmen.

Blue Valley West kicked off the meet with a victory in the 200 medley relay, winning by over two seconds in 1:47.51. The team of freshman Sasha Weiner (27.09), sophomore Caitlyn Chopra (31.11), sophomore Avery Johnson (26.01), and freshman Anya Pivonka (23.30) was tied with Lawrence Free State at the 150-yard mark, only to see Pivonka pull away and post the fastest freestyle split by a margin of 1.14 seconds. Given the team’s youth, the State Record of 1:45.28, set by Blue Valley North in 2024, will be tested over the next few years.

Shawnee Mission East’s team of CoCo Reiser (25.17), Darcy Kroening (24.30), Georgia Boyd (24.79), and Teni Oyetunji (24.21) won the 200 freestyle relay in a 1:38.47. Blue Valley West’s quartet of sophomore Greta Reardon (25.42), Sophomore Johnson (25.19), freshman Amber Stringer (25.57), and freshman Hayden Benbow (24.21) took third in 1:40.39.

The last race of the day, the 400 freestyle relay, was won by an entirely freshman quartet from Blue Valley West. Stringer (54.49), Weiner (54.80), Pivonka (52.81), and Benbow (52.96) combined for a time of 3:35.06, more than three seconds ahead of runners-up Blue Valley North (3:38.42).

Stringer went on to become Blue Valley West’s only individual champion, winning the 500 freestyle in 5:05.68, recording a 4.32-second margin of victory in the process over fellow freshman Evie Boshart of Shawnee Mission Northwest. Benbow and Johnson placed fourth (5:16.34) and fifth (5:16.36), respectively, in the 500 freestyle, earning Blue Valley West 49 points in a single heat. Stringer also took second in the 200 IM 2:10.14. Both swims were off of Stringer’s lifetime bests of 5:01.54 and 2:09.03, respectively, both recorded in March at the 2026 Speedo Sectionals Region VIII Championships.

Lawrence Free State freshman Ella Marsh won the 200 IM in 2:02.80, shaving 1.40 from her prelims time and winning by 7.34 seconds. In March at the 2026 Speedo Sectionals Region VIII Championships, Marsh posted a 2:04.84 in the 200 IM to place 12th, which itself represented a 2.49-second drop from her previous lifetime best, meaning that Marsh has shaved a total of 4.53 seconds in the event in a 10-week time period. Marsh later recorded a runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly with a 57.23.

Senior Maggie Dahl of Blue Valley Southwest claimed both sprint freestyle titles, first winning the 50 freestyle in 23.14, making her the only swimmer to break the 24-second barrier in the field. Freshmen Anya Pivonka and Sasha Weiner of Blue Valley West placed second and third, respectively, in times of 24.12 and 24.55. Dahl later won the 100 freestyle in a similar fashion, posting a 50.77 to make her the only swimmer sub-53 in the field. Meanwhile, the duo of Pivonka and Weiner would switch places in the 100 backstroke, this time with Weiner placing second in 57.59 and Pivonka placing third in 58.46

Fia Boshart, a junior from Shawnee Mission Northwest, captured two individual state titles. First, in the 100 butterfly, Boshart posted a 55.22, more than two seconds clear of the next-fastest competitor. Later, in the 100 backstroke, Boshart posted a 57.28, still 0.31 clear of the runner-up. Boshart also contributed a 24.68 butterfly split on Shawnee Mission Northwest’s 7th-place 200 medley relay, as well as a 24.85 lead-off split on the 200 freestyle relay to earn fifth. Younger sister Evie Boshart placed second in the 500 freestyle with a 5:09.00 and picked up a third-place finish in the 200 freestyle with a 1:55.64. E. Boshart also contributed a 25.12 split on Shawnee Mission Northwest’s 5th-place 200 freestyle relay, and also led off the 200 medley relay in a 28.35.

Senior Libby Barney of Olathe East achieved victory in the 200 freestyle with a 1:53.11, adding slightly to her time of 1:52.80 from prelims. Barney also placed third in the 500 freestyle with a 5:09.71. Abby Stidham-Ebberts, a junior from Mill Valley, won the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.36, dropping nearly two seconds from her prelims time of 1:06.34. Sophomore Katharine Costello of Olathe East also dipped under the 65-second barrier, posting a 1:04.82 after registering a 1:06.13 to emerge as the top seed in prelims.

Irene Gettya, a junior from Olathe East, won the diving with 409.00 points, with senior Avery Metcalf of Olathe North coming in second with 311.95 points.

Top-10 Team Scores

Blue Valley West – 333 points
Shawnee Mission East – 288.5 points
Olathe East – 245 points
Blue Valley North – 209 points
Free State – 188 points
Wichita-East – 164 points
Shawnee Mission Northwest – 148 points
Blue Valley Northwest – 122 points
Olathe Northwest – 111 points
Mill Valley – 83 points

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 15, 2026

Published

3 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 15, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 15 drawing

02-07-18-29-38, Powerball: 16, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 15 drawing

Midday: 3-3-6

Evening: 0-9-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from July 15 drawing

Red Balls: 02-03, White Balls: 08-22

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from July 15 drawing

26-29-41-46-47, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Super Kansas Cash numbers from July 15 drawing

06-08-14-24-26, Cash Ball: 01

Check Super Kansas Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 15 drawing

01-05-18-23-33, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Kansas cases climb in ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreak

Published

15 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Press Room

Kansas cases climb in ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreak

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – As health officials gain insight into the nationwide outbreak of the intestinal illness, cyclosporiasis, data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment show a sharp increase in cases within the Sunflower State.

As of Wednesday, KDHE is reporting 55 cases of the “explosive diarrhea” outbreak for the year, including 25 this month. A breakdown of the Kansas cases shows a balance of cases among males and females. The state data doesn’t break down county-by-county numbers, but on Tuesday, Sedgwick County confirmed five cases for the year, a total that is likely to jump with the additional statewide confirmations.

Also on Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said it identified lettuce and other salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak.

Adding to the concern about produce, Taco Bell issued a statement saying it had “voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.

“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities,” the restaurant chain said.

Sedgwick County offered guidance on ways to protect yourself from cyclosporiasis and bacterial illnesses connected with produce:

Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or preparing them.
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
- Avoid bagged lettuce or salad mixes. When eating a whole head of lettuce, remove the first two or three layers of leaves and thoroughly wash the inner leaves under running water. Separate the leaves as you wash them.
Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite.
Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
Travelers to cyclosporiasis-endemic areas should follow food and water precautions, including avoiding foods and beverages that may be contaminated.
Be aware that Cyclospora is unlikely to be killed by routine chemical disinfection or sanitizing methods.
If you develop symptoms of cyclosporiasis, especially persistent watery diarrhea, contact a healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment recommendations.

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Grades for Chiefs’ offseason reset, from free agency haul to Taylor Swift aura

Published

1 day ago

July 15, 2026

Press Room

Grades for Chiefs’ offseason reset, from free agency haul to Taylor Swift aura

The Kansas City Chiefs entered the 2025 NFL season hoping to become the first team to earn a Super Bowl three-peat.

Instead, they sputtered to their worst-ever finish during Andy Reid’s 13 seasons in Kansas City.

The Chiefs posted just a 6-11 record in a season that was marred by a bevy offensive issues that led to the team struggle badly in one-score contests. Kansas City lost starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee in the game during which it was eliminated from playoff contention, adding injury to what was already an insulting season.

As such, Kansas City entered the offseason hoping for two things: get healthy and reshape its roster to better support Mahomes, especially with him returning from a significant injury.

Were the Chiefs able to accomplish those goals? Here’s a complete breakdown of Kansas City’s offseason and whether the team has the talent and pathway needed to be a contender in 2026.

Kansas City Chiefs offseason report card

Free agency: C

Free agency was a mixed bag for the Chiefs. On the one hand, they made a notable upgrade to their running game by signing Kenneth Walker to replace Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. The Super Bowl 60 MVP should help take pressure off Mahomes, which could prove critical as the 31-year-old quarterback returns from his significant knee injury.

However, the Chiefs also lost a lot of talent, particularly on defense. Notably, they lost three starters from their secondary, as cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook signed with the Rams and Bengals in free agency while star cornerback Trent McDuffie was traded to the Rams.

That overhaul, along with the loss of linebacker Leo Chenal, could prove a lot for the Chiefs to overcome on defense even after adding some solid veteran depth in the form of defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, safety Alohi Gilman and CB L’Jarius Sneed.

NFL draft: B+

The good news for the Chiefs? They had a rock-solid 2026 NFL Draft that helped shore up their defense. Kansas City spent its first three picks on that side of the ball, landing the draft’s top cornerback, Mansoor Delane, a potential-packed defensive tackle in Peter Woods and an explosive, high-motor edge rusher in R Mason Thomas.

The Chiefs also spent a seventh-round selection on quarterback Garrett Nussmeier – viewed by many as a Day 2 talent – after he slid due to injury. Having him to develop behind Mahomes and free-agent signee Justin Fields will be nice for Reid.

State of the roster: B-

This version of the Chiefs has more concerns than previous iterations. The cornerback group is particularly suspect, though Delane’s presence raises that unit’s ceiling. Elsewhere, the team is thinner than most would like at receiver while right tackle remains a question mark.

Still, Mahomes remains one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks even with the questions facing him in his return. Kansas City’s interior offensive line remains strong thanks to the Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith pairing while Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy could be a strong receiver duo, if all goes well.

Defensively, the Chiefs still look strong up the middle thanks to Chris Jones and the team’s newly-acquired interior depth as well as the Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill partnership at linebacker. It’s just a matter of whether they will be able to hold up in coverage with their new-look secondary.

All that’s to say that while the Chiefs still have an above-average roster, it has far more holes than many of its recent Super Bowl-winning units have.

Chance of contending in 2026: B

There are some factors working against the Chiefs this season. They play in the AFC West, which figures to once again be one of the toughest divisions in football, and will need to stay afloat early in the season either without Mahomes or with him still getting his injured left leg under him.

Kansas City is also undergoing a lot of changes on defense, so it may take a while before Steve Spagnuolo’s unit is playing at its peak.

Still, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that Reid and Co. will be able to turn this team into a playoff contender once again. He and Mahomes have three rings together, after all.

Long-term outlook and team direction: A-

The Chiefs still have a rosy outlook long-term. Realistically, that will remain as long as the Reid-Mahomes partnership is in effect. Sure, the team will have to get creative with its finances considering the quarterback’s record-breaking contract, but GM Brett Veach has shown an ability to navigate the cap well across his tenure.

This offseason is a great example of that. Veach had to play “Moneyball” with some portion of the team’s roster as expenses mounted, and he chose the secondary for that. That was an astute move considering Spagnuolo’s penchant for developing defensive back talent, and giving him a top prospect like Delane via a trade up was a sensible maneuver.

The biggest questions with which Kansas City will soon reckon are about how to replace Travis Kelce and whether to extend Rashee Rice. As long as they find suitable answers to those and fill any holes that develop during the 2026 season, the Chiefs should remain a contender.

Aura and vibes: B

Vibes around the Chiefs are generally good. Mahomes’ recovery from his late-season injury has inspired optimism, as he and the team has posted videos of him working out and throwing, while the antics surrounding Kelce’s wedding to Taylor Swift showed off the team’s strong-looking bond.

The lone negative? Rice has had a trying offseason during which he spent time in jail for a probation violation. Questions about his ability to stay on the field continue to persist, and he remains one of the team’s biggest short- and long-term question marks because of it.

Nonetheless, there seems to be a lot of belief that the Chiefs can re-establish themselves as a playoff contender during the 2026 NFL season. That’s great news for a team that endured a disappointing and shocking 6-11 campaign last year after back-to-back Super Bowl wins.

Overall offseason grade: B-

It’s hard to fault the Chiefs too much for the approach they took during the offseason. They suffered some key losses in free agency, but that was to be expected given how much they are paying to Mahomes and other stars on the roster.

Kansas City should still be a playoff contender, but questions remain whether this year’s iteration of the team can reach the Super Bowl ceiling of previous squads. It’s hard to categorically count out Mahomes and Reid, but given the holes Kansas City has, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it have to scratch and claw its way into the playoff race.

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