Kearney Parks Announces Return of Pickleball Leagues

Kearney Parks and Recreation is excited to announce the return of its popular Pickleball Leagues for 2025. The program will feature a six-week league schedule, followed by a seventh-week double-elimination tournament.

The leagues will run on weeknights from 6 pm to 10 pm, with a special Ladies Morning League on Tuesdays from 8 am to noon.

All league divisions will be played on courts 1-7 at the Kearney Pickleball Complex, located at 619 E 19th Street. The leagues cater to a variety of skill levels, from true beginners to advanced players. The divisions include:

Beginner's League: Designed for newcomers to the sport who want to learn and improve through gameplay.

Social League: For beginner to intermediate players seeking a fun, lightly competitive environment.

Advanced Social League: For experienced players looking for a more relaxed yet skilled competition.

The program offers several league options, including mixed doubles (two female players, or one male and one female player). The minimum age for participation is 18.

The program is designed to provide a fun and competitive experience for players of all skill levels. Participants can look forward to both friendly competition and the chance to improve their skills.

Kearney Parks and Recreation is also offering one day Youth Pickleball camps. The camps are designed to teach the fundamentals of Pickleball, including the rules of the game, the different parts of the court, serving, scoring and basic shots used in a game.

Participants will need to supply their own paddle, a water bottle, and proper court shoes. Water will be available at the courts to fill bottles as needed and there is also a restroom onsite.

Participants should contact Joe Landewee at KearneyPickleball@gmail.com for paddle and shoe recommendations along with any other questions.

For more details and to register for leagues or camps, residents are encouraged to visit KearneyParks.com.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Students to Host School Board Candidate Forum

Kearney School District residents have an opportunity to learn more about this year’s Board of Education candidates during a public forum hosted by student leaders from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18 in the auditorium at Kearney High School.

This public forum is being sponsored by the school’s Student Advisory Board, Student Council and National Honor Society. Kearney High School seniors Jacob Dillon and Emmy Gates will emcee the event. The school is located at 715 E. 19th St. in Kearney.

Voters will make their selections to fill two spots on the school board during the April 8, 2025, municipal election. Those positions are currently held by John Kern and Meredith Cole, neither of whom are seeking reelection.

All four school board candidates have been invited to participate in the high school’s public forum:

• Christina Lindsay

• Michael Joe Hickey

• Justin Paul Cook

• Jason Klindt

At the public forum, the candidates will be given a brief opportunity to introduce themselves and then the moderators will ask questions submitted by their fellow students. The candidates will be given an equal amount of time to respond to each question. The questions will not be shared ahead of time.

In Missouri, school boards are composed of seven non-partisan, volunteer elected officials who each serve three-year terms. The primary job of the school board is to employ the superintendent and set the strategic goals and policies for the district, according to the Missouri School Board Association (MSBA). The board’s other roles include facilitate public engagement in order to help meet stakeholder expectations, oversee the Superintendent of Schools, who in turn is solely responsible for district management and operations, monitor district progress toward meeting the Board goals, and govern itself effectively, efficiently and with transparency.

Residents must be registered by Wednesday, March 12 in order to cast their votes in the April 8 election. Visit the Missouri Secretary of State’s website for more information.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Clay County Offers Free Civic Academy for Residents

Clay County is giving residents a unique opportunity to learn more about their local government with its free six-week Civic Academy. The program, which will run in both the spring and fall, is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of how county government operates, including decision-making processes and budget management.

The Civic Academy is open to all Clay County residents who can commit to two hours per week for the six-week course. Sessions will take place on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the Spring and Fall terms. Participants will gain insights into the workings of county departments, the role of elected officials, and how the county is adjusting to becoming a Constitutional County. They will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to Clay County commissioners and department heads.

This program is aimed at fostering greater communication between local government and the community, ensuring residents have a clear understanding of how county operations function.

Applications for the upcoming Spring 2025 session are now open, with the following dates scheduled:

• Wednesday, April 2, 2025 – 6 to 8 pm

• Wednesday, April 9, 2025 – 6 to 8 pm

• Wednesday, April 16, 2025 – 6 to 8 pm

• Wednesday, April 23, 2025 – 6 to 8 pm

• Wednesday, April 30, 2025 – 6 to 8 pm

• Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – 6 to 8 pm

There are only 20 spots available for the Spring session, and applicants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Those chosen will be notified of their acceptance upon submission.

Interested residents can apply now at ClayCountymo.gov to secure their place in this exciting opportunity to learn more about their local government and engage with county officials.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

DePrenger Earns Prestigious FFA Degree

Kearney High School senior Stella DePrenger has earned the prestigious Missouri State FFA Degree, an honor reserved for the top FFA members in the state.

State FFA Degrees are awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to agricultural education, leadership, and community service. According to KHS FFA Sponsor Erica Hart, recipients must meet rigorous qualifications, including maintaining an exemplary work-based learning project, proving themselves as leaders in their FFA chapter and school, and giving back to the community through service projects.

“This is a tremendous achievement for Stella,” Hart said. “She has worked incredibly hard to grow as a leader and make a positive impact in our school and community.”

The Missouri State FFA Degree is the highest honor the organization bestows at the state level, recognizing students who go above and beyond in their agricultural education and leadership development.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Girls Pin Down Three-Peat at State Wrestling

The Kearney High School Girls Wrestling team earned a third-straight state championship on Thursday, February 27.

The Bulldogs captured the title during the 2025 MSHSSA wrestling tournament at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. The tournament began Wednesday, and the team built a nine-point lead by the end of day one, which they maintained for most of Thursday. Though there was a brief moment of uncertainty, a late surge of clutch bonus-point wins in the medal rounds secured the championship over second-place Brookfield by an eight-point margin.

“This title was a total team effort,” Head Coach Nick Ward said. “Someone stepped up whenever we needed a big performance, just as they have in all three championship runs.”

All eight KHS qualifiers won matches, contributing critical points in another intense team tournament. Bailey Martin took 2nd at 115 lbs, Riley Walker took 3rd at 120, Myla Woolridge took 5th at 105, and Carli Vargas took individual gold at 190.

Individual Highlights:

Myla Woolridge – The freshman continued her successful debut season, going 4-2 and securing a fifth-place finish with a pin. Myla consistently delivered in high-pressure moments throughout the season and came up big again when it mattered most.

Ella Herndon – The senior went 2-2 and fell just one win short of a podium finish. A key contributor in the past two state title runs, Ella’s leadership and impact on this team will be greatly missed.

Bailey Martin – The senior made history, pinning her way to the championship finals for a rematch with Delanie Smith of Mid-Buchanan. Though she finished as the runner-up, Bailey became Kearney’s first four-time female state medalist, finishing 5th, 3rd, 1st, and 2nd. Her pin in the semifinal round also marked her 150th career victory. Bailey has been a cornerstone of all three title runs.

Riley Walker – After a tough quarterfinal loss to the eventual state champion, Riley put together a dominant run through the consolation bracket, pinning everyone in her path to secure third place. Along the way, she avenged losses from districts, including pinning a previous opponent who had beaten her by 15 points in January. Now a three-time state medalist, Riley is a major contributor to this program’s success.

Aida Appenfeller – The sophomore made her state tournament debut after an impressive district performance. Though she finished 1-2, her key bonus-point victory in the consolation bracket played a crucial role in the team race.

Bella Wenzel – On her first trip to the state tournament, Bella faced a tough draw, meeting a state finalist in the opening round. After a hard-fought loss, she bounced back in the consolation bracket to secure a vital team victory, finishing 1-2 as a freshman.

Carli Vargas – The sophomore and returning state finalist dominated her bracket, pinning all but one opponent on her way to the state championship. She ended the season with just one loss to the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the country from Oklahoma. A two-time state finalist and now state champion, Carli continues to be a driving force behind this championship run.

Ella Chavez – As a first-year wrestler, freshman Ella Chavez could have been satisfied with simply qualifying for the state tournament. Instead, she stepped up when it mattered most, avenging a prior loss to a ranked opponent and securing a critical pin in the consolation rounds. She finished 1-2 but made her presence felt in the team standings.

“This championship is a testament to Kearney Girls Wrestling’s culture,” Coach Ward said. “From seasoned veterans to first-time qualifiers, every wrestler played a crucial role in bringing home the title. Thanks to our coaching staff, families, and fans for their unwavering support. The three-peat is complete, but the standard remains the same. The future is bright, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!”

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.