Sports

According to the last census, the population of Hepler, Kansas, is just 90. Despite its size, the community is home to a Fourth of July tradition that's lasted over half a century.

While Pittsburg State University softball standout Heather Arnett just wrapped up her collegiate career in May, her time playing isn’t over yet. She joined the development group for the new Professional Softball League (PSL) in June, and was then called up to play with the Florida Vibe for four games against the Kansas City Diamonds. A week later she was offered a spot on the team.

At the end of March, city commissioners approved the purchase of 23.7 acres of land for a new park, which will feature three soccer fields. The land was previously owned by Mercy Health Pittsburg and is on Centennial Drive between Hospital Drive and Springdale Street.

Nine members of the 1975-76 Pittsburg High School girls basketball team reunited on Dec. 6 for the Purple Dragons’ game against Shawnee Mission North. They celebrated the 50th anniversary of their season, which was the first season of girls basketball at PHS.

The Pittsburg State University women’s team posted an 85-82 win over Southwest Minnesota State University in the Central Regional Tournament championship. They’re now one of eight teams remaining in Division II and will play in the Elite Eight in Pittsburgh, PA, starting on March 24.

The Gorillas had to come from behind to get the win, trailing Minnesota State University-Mankato by 15 points at halftime. It took the entire third quarter and first few minutes of the fourth before PSU took the lead, and they had to battle until the last second to keep it.

Mark Stewart reached the pinnacle of football officiating in February, working Super Bowl 59 as a line judge. That same month, he was also officiating high school basketball games in southeast Kansas.

It was an all-hands-on-deck effort after the AFC Championship as team members from Sandlot Goods and Made in KC unloaded box after box of newly produced Super Bowl-ready apparel. They're among the businesses across Kansas City that are trying to savor — and capitalize on — this unusual moment.

After a tense win in the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will return to the Super Bowl for the third year in a row — and they'll face a familiar foe.

Historically, Missouri Southern football is 21-28-1 against Washburn. Last season's victory over the Ichabods snapped a seven-season losing streak. The last time MSSU football defeated Washburn in consecutive seasons was 1996 and 1997 when the Lions defeated WashU by a combined four points.