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Wichita Sports Commission honors area athletes and coaches

By LAURA BIERY
CatchItKansas.com

Area high school athletes were honored at the 12th annual Greater Wichita Sports banquet on Friday evening at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The Sports Commission recognizes recent area high school graduates, college athletes and professional athletes each year. The best high school athletes are chosen based on their accomplishments on and off the field or court, and they are chosen by area athletic directors.

Matt Byers of Wichita East went home with the Barry Sanders High School Male Athlete of the Year award. Byers was a track and field standout who excelled in the javelin.

He threw a 213.1 at the Kansas Relays in April and finished second at the state tournament in May. Byers also played football and basketball for the Aces. He has signed a letter of intent to participate in track and field at the University of Iowa.

Other finalists for the award were Heights' Kendric Maple and Oxford's Bryce Mayes. Maple was a two-time state wrestling champion for the Falcons and also played safety for the football team. He will wrestle for the University of Oklahoma this fall.

Mayes was a four-sport star at Oxford, where he participated in football, basketball, baseball and track. Basketball was where he made his name, though. Mayes averaged 30 points, eight rebounds and 4.5 assists per game on the hardwood. He has signed to play for Wichita State University.

The Lynette Woodard High School Female of the Year award went to Derby's Joanna McFarland. McFarland led the state in both scoring and rebounding this year after averaging 28 points and 19 rebounds per game. She will suit up for Oklahoma this winter.

Nikki Armagost of Andover Central and Lindsey Keller of Goddard were the other finalists. Armagost was the ace pitcher of Andover Central's 5A state-championship team. She was 14-0 from the mound on the season and had 168 strikeouts and a 0.07 earned run average. Armagost also got it done from the plate as she batted .447 on the year. She has signed to play for Pacific University next year.

Keller was an all-state volleyball and basketball player for Goddard. Keller led her team to state in both sports and averaged 21.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in basketball. She will play for Oklahoma State University this winter.

The area's best high school coaches were not to be unnoticed. Andover Central softball coach Rita Frakes was named the female coach of the year after leading the Jaguars to a 23-2 record and a state title.

"Wow, this is awesome," Frakes said as she received the award. "The softball gods have been very good to me this year."

Frakes was quick to credit her team for the recent success of the program.

"I love my kids and they helped fulfill my dreams of winning a state championship this year," she said. "Thank you, kids, for giving me the dream I always wanted."

Joe Auer was recognized for his accomplishments as the Heights boys basketball coach. He was named male high school coach of the year.

Auer directed the Falcons to a 24-1 overall record and 6A state title in basketball - the school's first in 32 years.

"We finished second three times, so this was a special year for us," Auer said. "We had a tremendous group of kids this year."

The rest of the evening featured a silent and live auction, college and professional athlete and coach of the year awards, keynote speaker Gregg Marshall of Wichita State men's basketball and the Johnny Bench Award, which goes to the year's best college catcher. J.T. Wise of Oklahoma was the recipient of the Johnny Bench Award.