Olathe News from Olathe, Kansas • 9

Wednesday December 4 2002 wwwolathedailynewscom Classifieds Who could have picked this one First oft let's get one thing straight I care who you are I care how much of the inside scoop you had There is no way you could have predicted that Jim Bouknight was going to be named the best high school football player in Kansas Gty Even he was laughing at the notion that he had predicted two years ago he would be the winner of the Thomas A Simone Award as the top foot- A ball player in fcr Kansas City EgSll Sure he told his dad he was going to win the award blithe was It was pie-in-the-sky thinking Ileck 1 wanted to go to the moon when I was a child That meap that I would (For the record I Well not yet at least) If anyone honestly can say with 100 percent conviction that they knew Bouknight would rush for 2793 yards and 34 touchdowns on his way to the Simone Award give me a call because I would like to run some lottery numbers by you No one could have known this was coming knew Jim was going to get some yards but I didn't know was going to be like North quarterback Dallas Browning said halfway through the season I knew our line was that good and Jim would get his yards and he did" But to the tune of 215 yards and nearly three touchdowns a game that was a bit much That's what makes the third-straight Olathe North running back to win the Simone Award so special Bouknight never has been too tongue tied never been one to boost too much either He has the perfect mix of moxie and modesty But even Bouknight was speechless after being showered with adoration at Oiathe North Tuesday morning when he made his way through a I throng of cheerleaders and drill teamers from one end of the gymnasium to the next The smile on Bouknight's face showed pride shock amazement and excitement Some of the best high school players from the last few i decades were on hand to help celebrate accom-i plishments When the season began the Olathe North coaching staff knew they had a player who could carry some of the offensive load but they had no idea how much of the load could be put on the shoulders of an untested running back It was the first time in more than a decade the Eagles have a bona fide tailback in training waiting in the wings knew Browning said were the only ones that knew In that first game when he broke off those runs We knew he was going to be good People tried to scheme around him and stop him and they Three months ago opposing defenses were wondering how they were going to stop the Eagles' backfield They had no idea who it would be but they knew it would be someone Someone named Bouknight Jim Bradford's column appears regularly in the sports section He can be reached at 764-2211 Ext 138 or at Jay Soldner77w Oiathe News ABOVE: Gtottw North's Jhn Bouknight was aH smiles Tuesday after being named the winner of the Thomas A Simone Award which is given to the top high school football player in the Kansas City area BELOW: Olathe North head coach Gene Wier was named the Kansas coach of the year at the ceremony Tuesday morning at North Bouknight' big year lands high school football's top prize Nearly two years to the day Bouknight canted that huge trophy around the gymnasium as the 2002 Simone Award winner as the new rushing king at North It may have been a pipe dream in the fall of 2000 when he told his dad he would win the award but after the season Bouknight had there was no question that he deserved of the honor of being the top player in the Kansas Gty area After leading the Eagles to a 13-0 record and a third-straight state title on the heels of a 2793 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns Bouknight became the third-straight Olathe North running back to win the prestigious honor In winning this Simone Award Bouknight helped North become the only school with five See BOUKMGHTS 4B Jim Bradford jbradkxdolathedailynewscom Two years ago Jim Bouknight sat in the crowd at Olathe North and watched the most prolific running back in Olathe North history stroll around the gymnasium with the Thomas A Simone Award Bouknight sat back watched and marveled at what Darren Sproles had lust done and how cool it was that he nad been named the top high school football player in the Kansas Gty area He went home one night later that week and started some pie-in-the-sky dreaming with his lather told my dad that next year Maurice is going to win it and then I am going to win it Bouknight said Tuesday "Alia it Swimming season gets off to quick start MNU women win opener The Olathe News sports staff LAMONI Iowa It the prettiest of wins but it was effective and a perfect way to open up the conference season The MidAmerica Nazarene University basketball team battled back from a five-point deficit midway through the second half to open the Heart of America Athletic Conference season with a 56-47 win over Grace-land Tuesday on the road Lacole Hook led the Pioneers with 19 points 15 in the second half Kristen Jennings added nine for MNU which improved to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in IIAAC play "It was an ugly game in some MNU head coach Bill Olin said "But we battled through it We were down 35-30 with 10 minutes to play and made a good run at them a great way to open up conference play" Ben Husband bhusbandolalhedailynewsxom Despite the fact the final results were way off because of a system error the annual Olathe City swimming meet was a success Tuesday Olathe East North and South competed in the season-opening meet Tuesday at Chisholm frail Junior High School and a handful of athletes made quite a splash in the season opener beginning with Olathe South's Joe Lawton and Olathe Cameron McKay as they got their invitations to the Class 6A state meet in February out of the way Lawton a junior returning state aualifier from last year qualified for state in the 200 individual medley with a personal best time of 2 minutes 1254 sec-See SWMMERS 2B Jv Soumer77 Olathe New a Matt Easts Cameron McKay qualified for state in the 500-yard freestyle by 23 seconds In Tuesdays Olathe triangular tea.