ACA Sportsmanship Award: Leoti-Wichita County & Ness City
Kpreps is please to bring back the A Class Athlete (ACA) weekly sportsmanship award for the 2021 season. We have teamed up with 'A Class Athlete' (ACA) to recognize those individuals or groups that demonstrate sportsmanship and high character during the heat of action. This award is open to students or student-athletes who goes above and beyond to demonstrate an act of kindness or sportsmanship.
This week we highlight the considerable support shown for Bowen Hoss, to his family, and the Ness City community from countless opposing teams, schools, and individuals.
Hoss, a 15-year-old sophomore at Ness city, suffered a brain aneurysm after a helmet-to-helmet hit in a JV game on September 20th.
Doctors discovered Bowen had an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) – a group of blood vessels that forms incorrectly usually before or shortly after birth. The impact of football hit is believed to have ruptured the AVM. Hoss had emergency surgery in order to relieve pressure from his brain. He remains in a coma at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.
The outpouring of support for the Hoss Family and the Ness City community has been widespread – even beyond state lines. Numerous communities have offered their support in the form of prayers, well wishes, and fundraisers.
A Facebook page entitled “Bow for Bowen” lists many of those offering support and includes a GoFundMe page. There have been tributes from communities such as South Gray, Lakin, La Crosse, and Kinsley, to name a few. The Ness City community has rallied with bake sales, t-shirt sales, and bracelet sales. Larned hosted a 'Blue for Bowen' fundraiser at their game last Friday night against Holcomb.
Ness City hosted Leoti-Wichita County on Friday and prior to the game, the visiting Indians presented a group of Bowen’s teammates, classmates, and younger brother, Brock, more than $8,000 from fundraising efforts conducted by their community and local businesses.
Wichita County players also wore a blue and white “BH” sticker on their helmets.
You can follow Bowen’s story through the Facebook page “Bow for Bowen” and use the social media hashtag #BH2 to view posts of support from several schools praying for Hoss’ recovery.
Throughout the season, we will recognize individuals or groups as recipients of this award.
Please help us by emailing your nomination stories, pictures, or videos to matt@kpreps.com and ACA@kpreps.com. You can also send to Kpreps via social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc). Please include the name of the person(s) involved and a description of the act or event that you are nominating. Nominations for the award will be accepted through Tuesday of each week, with the winners announced thereafter.
ABOUT A Class Athlete:
A Class Athlete was started in 2016 to encourage young athletes in all sports, to play hard, play to win, but also to play with class and dignity. Originally targeting youth sports, ACA quickly expanded to include middle school and high school sports, and beyond (coaches, cheerleaders, fans – everyone!). In recent years, participation in youth sports has continued to decline, and the #1 reason according to the kids: 'It's not fun anymore.' ACA is determined to bring the fun and the kids back!
Participating in sports is very beneficial in many areas. It helps build confidence and self-esteem, teaches respect, teamwork, and leadership skills, and improves communication and cooperation – all qualities needed to be successful in life. It is said that participation in sports reveals a persons’ character. But ACA believes, when sportsmanship is emphasized, it is a very important aspect in building a young person's character and integrity.
For more information, please visit www.aclassathlete.com.
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