Sports

Cagers continue learning in summer league

HIGGINSIVLLE – The newcomers to the high school girls basketball program at Richmond are getting some tastes of competition a few months before their 202627 season begins. As the Richmond News reported June 5, the Spartans participated in a late-May shootout at Lawson.
BRYLEE CASTILLEJA (left) and her Richmond teammates get a look at Missouri River Valley Conference-East Division rival Lafayette County of Higginsville during summer-league play. SHAWN RONEY | Staff

Tharp eyes state titles after record-breaking season

After a record-breaking 2026 track and field season at Richmond, Malikiah Tharp is looking to 2027 – to a point. With fall sports practices set to kick off in August, Tharp said June 1 that he’s spending his summer break focusing on his fall sport – football.
MALIKIAH THARP (right), shown running in the 200-meter dash at districts, looks to be a state champion in 2027 after posting four runner-up finishes at the 2026 Class 3 meet, including two relay races. SHAWN RONEY | Staff

Gridiron glory celebrated at HOF ceremony

The 2003 varsity football team provided bookends for the 2026 Richmond Spartan Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Dan Lanning, a member of that squad, was the first of six individuals inducted during the June 6 event, held in the Richmond High School commons area.
FORMER VARSITY FOOTBALL COACH Rob Bowers reflects on his 2003 team during the Richmond Spartan Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. SHAWN RONEY | Staff

Girls hoopsters start offseason prep

Richmond’s varsity girls basketball squad will have plenty of new faces when the 2026-27 season tips off in November, according to coach Kaylee Vantrump. As of Monday, only four members of the 2025-26 squad had committed to return, Vantrump said after a team camp session in the high school gym.
BRYLEE CASTILLEJA (left) and Richmond varsity girls basketball coach Kaylee Vantrump help demonstrate a drill during an offseason camp session. SHAWN RONEY | Staff

The game’s on? Meh, who cares?

to PRO High heat, drop kicks, random observations and points that amuse are all part of the wide, wide world of sports at the community and national levels. My apathy as a sports fan is growing.
The game’s on? Meh, who cares?
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