The coming and going of Thanksgiving marks the start of the 2023-24 winter sports campaign for area high schools.
All area schools will begin their respective basketball seasons either Thursday or Friday, while wrestlers have a busy week with multiple competitions at the outset.
Iola High’s basketball teams open their season at Pioneer League rival Anderson County on Friday.
The basketball teams will be in Richmond the following week to take part in the Central Heights Preseason Tournament.
The IHS wrestlers, meanwhile, will be at the Wildcat Duals in Burlington Friday, before heading to Caney on Saturday for the Kan.-Okla.Invitational.
HUMBOLDT’S wrestlers will get an even earlier jump on things, with competitions in Erie on Tuesday, at Leon-Bluestem Thursday, then with girls and JV competitors going to Caney Fri
day and varsity grapplers in Caney Saturday.
The basketball season picks up the frenetic pace the following week with Humboldt’s preseason tournament.
MARMATON Valley, too, gets an early jump on the season Thursday, when the Wildcats host Hartford. Another round of home games follow the next week with Marmaton Valley’s preseason tournament.
CREST and Southern Coffey County renew their annual season-opening grudge match Friday in Le Roy. The Lancer teams will travel to Melvern the following week for the Marais des Cygnes Valley Preseason Tournament. Crest’s squads will be at Humboldt’s tourney.
YATES CENTER’S teams travel to Madison Friday to get things started before hosting the Wildcat Winter Classic the following week at home.
