Sports

Excelsior Springs is off to a near-perfect start in varsity boys wrestling – at least where duals are concerned. The Tigers were 3-1 in duals following Tuesday’s home quadrangular with Cameron, Maysville and Pleasant Hill.

Excelsior Springs opened the varsity girls basketball season a winner. And then, Excelsior Springs dropped its next two.

Excelsior Springs girls wrestling coach Scott Schwab probably won’t have to worry about having open weight classes this season. Schwab and his staff are working with 22 athletes – the largest turnout in girls program history.

Excelsior Springs coach Cody Beck and his Tigers have high expectations for this varsity boys wrestling season. Beck returns all but one grappler from last season’s lineup.

Excelsior Springs varsity girls basketball coach JD Biermann likes the work ethic he has seen from his Tigers leading into this season. That work ethic might have been fueled by the way the 2022-23 season ended.

Excelsior Springs will have a new look in varsity boys basketball, starting with its coach. Ian Burch takes the helm after spending four seasons as an assistant to Chad Wright, who resigned during the offseason and changed school districts.

Alyssa Betts knows she’ll miss high school athletics when she graduates in May 2024 from Excelsior Springs. And she’ll especially miss wrestling.

Excelsior Springs coaches, studentathletes and fans are making the transition from fall sports into winter sports. Winter sports practices began recently at Excelsior Springs High School, per Missouri State High School Activities Association regulations.

On Nov. 15, Excelsior Springs put a cap on its varsity softball season.

Excelsior Springs High School’s club bowling team is back on the lanes. With members who include Olivia Smith, Quinlynn Davis, Brian Meek, Kylor Meek, Brody Hurla and Brighton Hibschle, the team has competed in three tournaments this season, placing fifth twice and sixth once.