CRUSADER CLUB held their first luncheon on Monday, Aug. 28th at the "HOME OF CRUSADER CLUB - BIG CHEESE PIZZA" in downtown Wellington. THE CLUB NEEDS YOU! Every year Wellington's CRUSADER CLUB uses funds it raises through various events to improve and enhance the surroundings and experiences of our student-athletes here in Wellington. The CLUB hopes many of you reading this will get on board, come to the luncheons or assist in other ways...in the end, it's all for the students! Memberships are available - print off the form directly below and return it with your membership $$ to Colby Zeka's Ins. Office located at 7th & Washington.

2017-2018 CRUSADER CLUB MEMBERSHIP FORM
Print and return to Colby Zeka Ins. Agency - 7th & Washington 

Let's ALL be a part of this TOGETHER!! Colby is the Crusader Club President - other members of the BOARD are:  Jared Brown (Vice-President), Anne Zeka (Secretary), Jared Nance (Treasurer), Matt Barton (Trustee), J.C. Long (Trustee), Mary Long (Trustee), Sammie Brown (Trustee) and Brett Wright (Trustee).

The first meeting of the school year is always a treat - it's a chance to hear from ALL the coaches and the WHS Athletic Director, all at one event so a lot of good info can get shared in a short period of time!

WHS Athletic Director Luke Smith lead off with a welcome and a big thank you to Crusader Club for all their work with the Crusader Club Hamburger Scrimmage last week, feeding the players, etc..very much appreciated! The Crusader Club does a lot of things throughout the year, often without a lot of fanfare, to help kids in Wellington in other ways as well. Colby Zeka is the President of the Club and keeps things moving along. Fall Sports kick in this week for everyone except Cross Country who's season at both the WMS and WHS level gets underway on Sep. 5th in Valley Center. 

The first coach to speak was Head Footbal Coach Zane Aguilar. Coach Aguilar reported there were almost 50 freshmen through seniors out this season for football and nearly 40 of them are underclassmen. Coach is super pleased with the attitudes and the excitement his team is showing as the first game of the season approaches this Friday @ Clearwate - KICKOFF @ 7PM! His SENIOR LEADERS are most impressive, both in their attitudes on the field and their work in the classroom. "They are very smart young men", Coach stated...they and the others have "bonded well" over the summer. Wellington went 7 on 7 this summer with Clearwater at a PADS CAMP and Coach reported the boys in red held their own. "They are fun to be around and keep each other amped up all the time" (paraphrased) Coach Aguilar said in closing. He's excited about the season, about getting some "W's" in the IRONDUKE column as well. Everyone is in good shape Coach indicated - "a few bruises and strains here and there but everyone will be 100% come kickoff time at Clearwater this Friday!"

Next up was new 1st year Head Volleyball Coach Blake Brewster who was the only coach present today who's season had already begun. The Lady Crusaders were in Winfield on Saturday for the Viking Early Bird Tournament and ended up 1-4 on the day. Coach pointed out that many of the "set losses" were by just 2 points, the young Lady Crusaders battled hard throughout the day and he feels they are right in there with the rest of them. "5" of their "9" set losses Saturday were by just 2 points. Had those gone the other way, what a completely different outcome! The Lady Crusaders head to Triangular action at McPherson (w/ Mulvane) (both Varsity and JV) on Tuesday for their 2nd road trip of their very young season!

Coach James Ginter, Co-Head Coach along with Vanessa Sawyer spoke next. This of course is the first season for our Girls Golf Team. In the past, any girl interested in the sport would play with the boys in the Spring. The interest level has grown considerably at the WMS level over the past couple years and now a WHS Girls Team in the Fall as well. Just "5" girls out for this PIONEERING TEAM and they are all young. (4 freshmen and 1 soph).

Lauren Bales, Payton Ginter, Taylor Heasty, Katy Kreifels (all Freshmen) and Alisa Walter (Soph). 

Next up, Coach Charles Wallace, the Cross Country Head Coach. Mitch Day is Coach Wallace's assistant and the two have been at the helm for quite some time. This year marks Coach Wallace's 50th, maybe 51st year in coaching at Wellington...he is an institution in and of himself!! They have a lot of kids out between 6th grade and Seniors - 59 all together and more young than old. 35 are WMS age and 24 are WHS age but of those, mostly 9th & 10th graders but some upper classmen as well. Their annual meet at Hargis Creek isn't this weekend but next, and around 600 runners from 15 high schools and 17 middle schools will be here for the action. Coach Wallace says the greatest thing about Cross Country is EVERYONE participates and what makes it unique from most other sports, there are NO time-outs. When the race starts it's on 'til it's over. The team this year has considerably more boys than girls. Their first meet is Tuesday Sept. 5th at Valley Center.

Last but not least, Coach Brian Aufdengarten, Head Girls Tennis Coach took to the stage (figuratively speaking) to talk about his squad and their preseason 4A ranking of 5th State-Wide! There are 4 seniors on the squad this year and all 4, (Mekenna Adams, Lexi Saffell, Avery Rusk and Abby Lowe) along with Kylie Aufdengarten made it to State last year. There are some up and coming Freshmen as well.  In varsity tennis, each girl is allowed to participate in 8 varsity meets but 11 are on the schedule so some rotating does occur to accomodate that. Wellington will host 2 home varsity meets this year, the first tomorrow (TUE AUG 29th) vs Eisenhower, Conway Springs and Buhler. Conway is ranked 3rd in 3A and Buhler 8th in 4A so a tough meet to start off with. On TUE, the line up will be: #1 Singles: Abby Lowe, #2 Singles Jacelyn Buck, #1 Doubles Mekenna Adams and Kylie Aufdengarten and #2 Doubles Avery Rusk and Rylee Rusk. Some quality players for the Lady Crusaders but a tough Regional awaits them in October Coach Aufty indicated.

Crusader Club meets every Monday at NOON at BIG CHEESE PIZZA in downtown Wellington (on Monday's school is in session) - there will be no meeting this coming Monday (Labor Day) but will resume the following Monday, Sep. 11th! Hope to see ya there!! 

CRUSADER CLUB SCHEDULE
2017-2018