Wichita Sports Commission

11/04/2026

The fastest girls 5K in Kansas history was run right here in Wichita! 🏃‍♀️💨

Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior Ava Claassen set the all-time state record (16:20.74) at Brown Thrush Park this fall. That’s about 5:16 per mile for 3.1 miles. Then she went undefeated, won the 5A state title with a new Rim Rock course record, and earned the Bob Timmons Award for the fastest girls time at state. Nobody in the entire state field finished within 56 seconds of her.

Next up: Nike Cross Regionals on Nov. 15, with a shot at Nationals in Portland. Wichita’s behind you, Ava! 💛

Shoutout to Blue Valley Northwest’s Jacob D’Souza, who earned the boys award with a 15:27.56. 👏

11/03/2026

From intern to earning his spot as Events Coordinator, the Wichita Sports Commission couldn’t be more excited to welcome Colin Crowell back to our team! 🎉

Colin first joined us as an intern, where he jumped in on the Wichita Corporate Challenge and quickly became a go-to part of our events crew. Now he’s back to help make our events even better!

Be sure to say hi to Colin at our next event, and join us in welcoming him back! 👋

11/02/2026

Sports at their best are about the people who show up for one another. Following the Oct. 17 tragedy at Stryker Sports Complex that took the lives of 6-year-old Cole Adrian and Nicholas Schafer, the McPherson High School boys soccer team rallied around Coach Chris Adrian and his family, winning a Class 4-1A regional championship along the way. Opponents prayed with them at midfield, fed them, and sent messages from across the region.

The Wichita Sports Commission joins the region in supporting the Adrian and Schafer families. Taylor Eldridge’s full story in The Wichita Eagle is linked below, along with ways to help through the Cole Adrian Memorial Fund and the McPherson County Community Foundation.

https://www.kansas.com/sports/varsity-kansas/varsity-soccer/article317879400.html

11/02/2026

Best catcher in college ➡️ Best glove in the minors. 🧤🏆

Congrats to 2025 Buster Posey Award winner Caden Bodine on being named the 2026 Minor League Gold Glove winner at catcher!

Bodine’s first full professional season was historic. He became just the third Tampa Bay Rays prospect since 2009 to play at Single-A, High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A in one season, and he was named the Rays’ 2026 Minor League Co-Player of the Year. Across four levels he posted a .988 fielding percentage while hitting .342.

Wichita was proud to honor Caden as the nation’s top collegiate catcher, and seeing him shine at the next level is what this award is all about. Congrats, Caden! 👏

10/30/2026

This will be great one! 👀 Who wants to see some Halloween weekend hoops?! 🏀

ALMOST HOOPS TIME! 🏀

Butler men’s basketball hosts #16 Midland on Sunday at noon! Admission is FREE!

🐻

10/27/2026

An undefeated season. A running back kicking a buzzer-beater. And a playoff seed decided by…a coin flip?! 🪙😳

Andover needed a big margin over Salina Central to pass Kapaun for 5A West’s top seed. Up 7 with under a minute left, they skipped the victory formation and drove for one more score. RB/kicker Pete Vega hit a 34-yard FG at the horn to win 24-14. 🏈

The tiebreaker went to a coin flip, and Andover won it. 8-0, league champs, and the road to state runs through Andover. 🏆

10/27/2026

When Goddard High School’s cross country team was stranded by a bus breakdown on the way to the Class 5A regional championship, parents, meet officials in Great Bend, and a family from rival Eisenhower stepped in to make sure every runner reached the starting line.

Stories like this truly are a reminder that youth sports in our region are built on community! ❤️ Congratulations to sophomore Benji Kouns on qualifying for the state championship, and thanks to Taylor Eldridge and The Wichita Eagle for telling it!

10/26/2026

Wichita basketball royalty has spoken. 🏀👑

Shocker legend Cheese Johnson has a message for you: It’s time to show up, Wichita!

🎟️ Get your tickets and be part of the action! Available everywhere now: https://shorturl.at/3pS4U

10/23/2026

Wichita just got a new home for championship tennis, and we couldn't be more excited! 🎾🏆

Wichita State has officially broken ground on the Regine Feilmeier Tennis Complex, built to NCAA championship specs:

🎾 12 outdoor courts
🏟️ 6 indoor courts
👥 Seating for up to 1,500 fans

It will host NCAA and conference championships, junior tournaments, camps and clinics, and of course, bring more visitors to see our great city! Congrats to Go Shockers, the Feilmeier family and Family Destination Development! 👏

10/22/2026

On Wednesday evening, more than 1,500 people gathered at Stryker Sports Complex for a community vigil honoring 6-year-old Cole Adrian and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer of McPherson, and the 10 others injured in last weekend's tragedy. 🕯️❤️ Players, coaches, families and neighbors came together, many of them wearing red for McPherson City FC.

Our sports community is a family, and this week it showed. The Wichita Sports Commission joins everyone across our city in holding these families close. We're grateful to Stryker Sports Complex for opening its doors so our community could grieve and heal together.