Lakin made quick work of host Scott City 25-8, 25-14 in the first match of the volleyball sub-state tournament. With the host out, crowds might be sparse, although I would expect more from Lakin to stream east and north as the tournament wears on.

The gym at Scott City is beautiful. There are individual seats on one side behind the scorer’s table, and there is a large scorer’s table for officials and media. There is also a nice media area above the opposite side, which is where I’m perched right now with the computer and camera.

Norton plays Southwestern Heights next. We don’t print the paper in Norton, but since I know a lot of people there, I’m going to take pictures for this match, and also it will be a backup in case Mr. Norton Bluejay himself, Norton Telegram sportswriter Dick Boyd, doesn’t show up.

Dick bleeds blue and yellow. He’s been at the Telegram since 1970, first as the co-owner with his wife, Mary Beth, from 1970 through 2002, and then in a reduced role as the beat writer for the Bluejays. Dick does not adhere to journalistic objectivity, and while I’m not in favor of cheering for any school I cover, I can’t fault Dick, because he’s certainly earned the right to do so. I just wish he would have won the Oscar Stauffer Award, the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s annual award for the top sportswriter and sports broadcaster, before I did. Dick had to wait two years after I did to finally earn the honor, even though he began at the Telegram six years before I was born and was covering high school sports in Kansas when my dad was still in the Navy and my mom in college.

We’re about ready to start. Back to work.