May 2024

A whopping 24 Crusaders qualified in various events for the 4A State Track Meet held this past weekend, and four of those athletes (Kylan Gregory, Dru Zeka, Isabelle Cullens, and Cooper Hatfield) earned a total of seven medals in their individual events.

Dru Zeka, a freshman, is the 2024 4A STATE CHAMPION in both High Jump and the 400m Dash, and she earned 5th place in Long Jump.  Senior Isabelle Cullens is the Runner-Up in Triple Jump and took 6th Place in Pole Vault.  Sophomores Kylan Gregory and Cooper Hatfield earned 6th in High Jump and 7th in the 400m Dash, respectively.  

After taking 3rd place in the Wellington-hosted regional tournament, the WHS Boys Golf Team advanced to 4A State hosted in McPherson on May 20-21.  The boys eked out a first day result good enough for the second 18 holes the next day.  Their combined results placed the team at 6th in the tournament, and junior Derek Rausch tied for 11th place, which earned him a State medal!

Congratulations to these Crusaders for qualifying for State, and to Derek Rausch for his state medal!

WHS held its commencement last Sunday, May 12.  The graduation ceremony was planned for the high school main gymnasium this year due to the ongoing football field improvements.  Senior Class President Derrick Lowe presented the "senior thoughts," the Crusader Singers performed James Taylor's "That Lonesome Road" arranged Julie Knowles, and the band was on-hand to perform "Pomp and Circumstance," etc.

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The following local scholarships were awarded: 

The Wellington Crusader Softball Team finished their season with a 6-16 record with wins over Ark City, Buhler (twice), Augusta, Belle Plaine, and El Dorado.  Returning assistant coach Millie Angleton was joined by new coaching hires Ashley Shuck, Delaney Miller, and Hannah Lawlis (head coach).  The team is fairly young and only graduated four seniors from the program this year: Madison Baker, Anika Fairbanks, Addison Fox, and Kate Haines.  

Freshman Alara Wilson followed in the footsteps of fellow Crusaders Jensen Lynnes, Ralph Cornejo, and Rome Hunt this season by joining the cooperative agreement with Winfield High School to compete in high school swimming this spring season.  The cooperative allows Wellington swim athletes to compete as a Winfield Viking during the regular season, participating in both individual and relay events until league when the Wellington athletes compete under their own banner as Crusaders.  Wilson battled a shoulder injury all season, but throughout her run she garnered state consideration times in

A PLETHORA of scholarship and awards were handed out last Wednesday night at Wellington High School's annual Class Night!  The event also included recognition of the newest WHS Crusader Wall of Recognition inductee, Kim Rutledge.  

Mrs. Linda Chase and Mrs. Rane Case announced many pathway completers of the CTE programs in addition to the recipients listed below!  Congratulations to all!

WALL OF RECOGNITION INDUCTEE - Kim Rutledge

Senior Hunter Worley represented Wellington as the sole Crusader this year to advance to 4A State on May 10-11.  After a 3rd place finish at Regionals where his younger teammates Maverick Peterson, John Summers, Brodee Lough, Trevan Hernandez, and Solomon Ledesma ended their seasons, Hunter advanced to the Topeka-hosted state tournament as the #7 with a first round bye.  He put away Luca Marrello of Bishop Miege 6-1, 6-1 in his first matchup but fell to Davian Spies of Buhler who would go on to take the title for the second time in his high school career (State Singles Champion 2022, 2024).