Spring Edition
May 2015
KIAAA
Newsletter
President’s Message
Dear Kansas AD’s,
I am incredibly humbled and extremely appreciative of the opportunity to serve as
President of the KIAAA for the upcoming year. Recently we were able to put the
45th Annual State Conference behind us and plans are already underway for the
2015 Fall Workshop and the 2016 Spring Conference. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Past President, Curtis Conrad and Marc Haught, KIAAA Executive
Director, for all the work that went into planning the past year’s activities.
As you make plans for the upcoming 2015-16 school year, please add these important dates to your calendar.
Leadership Training Courses will be held on Sunday, November 8th at the KSHSAA offices in
Topeka, KS.
The KIAAA Fall Workshop will be held on Monday, November 9th at the KSHSAA offices in Topeka, KS.
The NIAAA Annual Conference will be held in Orlando, FL on December 11-15, 2015.
President
Terry Ostymer, CAA
Wheatland
1st Vice-President
Jason Herman, CAA
Olathe North
2nd Vice-President
J Means CAA
Wichita
Treasurer
Kim Lohman, CAA
Lakin
The 2016 KIAAA Annual Conference will be held in Wichita, KS on Sunday April 16th through
Tuesday April 19th at the Doubletree Airport Hotel in Wichita.
I have looked through the survey results and can assure you that the KIAAA Board of Directors, the Executive Board, Marc and I will make every effort to try to include as much as we can of your ideas in the
next spring conference. What I ask of each of you is again what I challenged you with at the business
meeting in Wichita. I am challenging each of you to get more of your league AD’s involved in the Fall
Conference and am asking you to try and get two new attendees to join you at the spring conference. There is an incredible amount of knowledge and ideas to draw upon at each of these events and
the more we can get there the better it will be for everyone.
I also want to add a friendly reminder to those that were unable to attend the conference to renew
your membership for the next year. Membership allows you access to the Games Wanted, Teams
Needed network that includes athletic directors from across our state. Your dues help us to continue
to provide a quality experience for the KIAAA members through our workshops, conference and training courses.
Please check our website (www.kiaaa.org) for many details of the organization as well as the many
documents that you may need. You can also find a list of our sponsors, award winners and much more.
(continued on page 2)
Secretary
Matt Westerhaus, CAA
Junction City
Executive Director
Marc Haught CMAA
Maize
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President’s message - (continued from page 1)
I am beginning my 16th year as an Athletic Director and am very proud to say I have been a KIAAA member for that entire time. In
fact when I was given the job as AD at Grinnell High School, my Superintendent at the time, Warren Schmidt, a past KIAAA Member himself, told me that I would be attending the conference that next spring and I am incredibly grateful for him getting me
started in the KIAAA. It has been a very rewarding time for me, culminating in this next year having the privilege of serving as
your president. When I said earlier that I am humbled by this opportunity, I indeed am just that. I would have never in my wildest
dreams ever thought that a guy from one of the smallest schools that attends the conference could ever serve as its president. I
am thankful for your trust and eager to lead this organization to new heights. For those of you who think you are too busy or
can’t find the time to get away, you are so very wrong. If you haven’t attended the Fall Workshop or Spring Conference you need
to. The ideas, strategies and continuing education that can you receive are incredible.
Since 1969, the KIAAA has been serving the Athletic Directors who in turn are serving thousands of student-athletes from all over
this great state. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we hope you can make plans to get involved in the KIAAA in 201516. If you have questions regarding the KIAAA or if I can be of assistance to you, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. I am hopeful that the rest of your school year goes as you had planned and equally hopeful that you will have
the opportunity to unwind with travel or summer break before the fall rush hits. If you are ever traveling in Northwest Kansas
and need a break let me know. I am just off I-70 at the Grinnell exit. Have a great Spring and Summer and I hope to see you all in
the 2015-16 school year.
Sincerely,
Terry Ostmeyer, CAA
Wheatland High School
KIAAA President
KIAAA Awards Committee Nominate Armstrong and Green for
NIAAA Recognition
Annually, state athletic director associations across the United States have the opportunity to nominate qualified
candidates for the NIAAA Distinguished Service Award (DSA) and the NFHS Citation. The KIAAA is proud to announce
that Eric Armstrong, CAA, from Hutchinson High School is this year’s nominee for the Distinguished Service Award
from Kansas. The KIAAA is equally proud to announce that Lane Green, CMAA, from the Blue Valley School District, is
this year’s Kansas nominee for the NFHS Citation Award.
The NIAAA DSA is presented to a limited number of individuals each year in recognition of their length of service, special
accomplishments and contributions to athletic administration at the local, state and national levels. States may
nominate qualified NIAAA members annually. State nominations for the DSA are then presented to the NIAAA Awards
Committee who then select one individual from each of the eight NIAAA sections to be presented the award at the
NIAAA Annual Conference Awards Banquet in December.
The NFHS Citation is presented to athletic administrators who have made significant contributions to the NFHS and/or
other national organizations which have impacted high school activities. Among the factors which are considered
include Individuals who have a long-standing and distinguished record of involvement with high school activities
programs at the local and state levels, and, Individuals who have been recognized as among the best in their profession
by their colleagues. Nominations from each state are then submitted to the Section Meeting for review and one
candidate from each section is submitted to the NIAAA Board of Directors to be recognized as Citation Award winners
at the NIAAA Conference Luncheon in December.
The nominations for Eric and Lane have been submitted to the appropriate committees for review. Congratulations to
Eric and Lane as representatives for Kansas and good luck to them as they move through the selection process.
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Happenings Around the State
-A Challenge Between Two Leaguesby J Means, Wichita Public Schools
I became the Wichita Public Schools District Athletic Director in the summer of 2011.
One of the first things I did was approach Marc Haught, the Maize District Athletic
Director, with an idea that had been brewing in my head for a few years. I asked him
what he thought of the idea of having a basketball challenge event between my
league, the Greater Wichita Athletic League, and the league Maize was in, the Ark
Valley Chisholm Trail League. Of course, this is not an original idea in the college ranks,
such as the Big 10-ACC challenge but I thought it would be a great event for high school
athletes. I feel very fortunate because Marc thought it was a great idea also and
jumped right in to help me bring in nine of the AVCTL schools to play our nine GWAL
schools.
Of course, in Wichita, we are very fortunate to have a very successful NCAA basketball program, Wichita State University, and
they have a wonderful facility in Koch Arena. I was able to secure the use of the Arena for three days so that our teams would
have a wonderful facility to participate in. Marc and I discuss how we could make this an event that was a first class event but we
knew that wouldn’t come without expenses. I am lucky that in our district we have two people who actually go out and sell
advertising for our high school facilities so I asked them to help me sell this concept to sponsors and with their help, we were
able to secure both a title sponsor and other lesser sponsors. We were able to in the first year of the event, January 2013, to get
enough sponsorship to cover all the events cost.
Our first year we just matched up one school from each league to play both a boys and girls game, not considering anyone’s
record. We did have some great competitive games but we also had some that to be honest, were not very good match ups. We
went back to the drawing board and decide the 2014 event would have match ups created right before Christmas break and
match up contests looking at teams records, so that a boys’ team might not play the same opponent as the girl’s team.
This decision took this event to another level. It created more very competitive games, no matter the records of the teams.
Along with that, with WSU’s new large scoreboard and video board we were able to make this event more like a college
atmosphere. Each school created a 90 second video about their school that would play during the warm ups before the game.
This gave each school the opportunity to promote whatever they wanted to about their school. The two leagues also created
video’s to promote their leagues. Also, one camera man was hired and the games were also put up on the large video boards so
fans could watch the action that way also. Along with that, Cox 22 televises the last four games on played on Saturday across the
state of Kansas.
This event has grown way beyond Marc and my original vision. This is an exciting event for all involved players, coaches,
administrators, students, and fans. We hope that we can continue to find support for this event and to continue to make it an
event that all look forward to.
“Happenings Around the State” is an ongoing section in each newsletter and will return in the next issue! If
something is happening in your school or district that you would like to share, please send it to Marc
Haught, [email protected].
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KIAAA Student Scholarship
Each fall KIAAA member submit nominations from their respective schools for the KIAAA Scholarships.
Candidates submit an application packet that includes a resume of their school activity participation, a transcript
of their academic achievement, and most importantly an essay about “What High School Athletics Has Meant to
Me”. Packets are evaluated by a KIAAA committee. The top male and female applicants are then submitted to
the NIAAA Section 5 meeting as nominees for that National NIAAA Student Scholarship Program. Below are the
two essays that will be submitted this year as the Kansas nominations to Sections 5. Congratulations to Brook
Armstrong from Hutchinson High School and Morgan Ediger from Cimarron High School.
For most high school athletes, athletics are a social time.
For some it's a way to college. I look at them in a different
light. I look at them as a way to shape me for the rest of
my life. The countless hours spent at practice, the bonds
made with teammates, and the general confidence gained
from a job well done are all reasons I believe high school
sports have impacted me in a positive way.
Essay by:
Brooks Armstrong
Hutchinson High School
My name is Brooks Armstrong and I run track and cross country at Hutchinson High School. have
run cross country for three years and track for four. Both sports have given me a chance to
develop sporting as well as personal relationships with teammates. For example, David, a
teammate of mine and I were running a cross country workout we call master blasters. It's a
relay race, you have one partner and each person runs four hundred meters tags the hand of the
other person. That process keeps going until each person has complete six laps. Not to mention
these are full speed. We've
reached about the fourth lap and I can see David slowing down and the team behind us is
catching up.
"David, quit thinking and run. If you don't go now you never will."
Now to a stranger that may sound like I'm being rude. However, through all ofthese grueling
practice days, David and I have become like brothers. I can coach him like that and I know that I
am going to receive the same. Not only have we grown together through the sport, but through
the sport our friendship has grown too. David and I never really had contact with each other
before cross country but, through one sport we became so close that he will forever remain a
brother, that I know I can count on for the rest of my life.
Finally, the work ethic gained from sports will stick with me forever. It has taught me that
even if you aren't superior right off the bat, that doesn't mean you fold and quit. You get up,
dust yourself off, and keep going. My first two years of high school I was not an incredible
talent on the track. However, I still went to practice every day knowing that if I kept working
eventually my time would come. That time came at regionals my junior year. Our mile relay
team qualified for state on which I
was the lead leg. The work I had to put in to get to state was grueling, but so worth it.
I plan on being a high school teacher and coach. When it gets difficult working with kids,I'll
remember that I can't give up on them because the reward of them succeeding will be worth
the hard work. As for coaching, I truly hope that I can help high school sports impact athletes
lives just as they have impacted mine.
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Essay by:
Morgan Ediger
Cimarron High School
High school athletics has impacted my life because they have taught me more
about life than any lesson in a classroom could. I enjoy competing in high
school athletics because of the opportunity to compete with my closest
friends, the competition, and the lessons that can be learned.
One of the biggest aspects of athletics in high school to me is the fact that I get
to compete with my close childhood friends. Every time I go out and play it is one of the biggest blessings. I get to
look down the line and see my best friends and I get to participate with them. I enjoy playing with and getting to
make memories with my closest friends.
The thing I enjoy the most in athletics is the competition. Being the competitor that I am I love having goals and
going out and working to achieve them. I never like to lose, and I want to win for my school and community. It
gives me a sense of pride to compete for them. Competing with my team and succeeding together is the
ultimate good feeling.
The lessons that can be learned in athletics are always applicable to life, but they aren't always easy. For example
losing to Holcomb two years in a row in the sub state championship was a tough pill to swallow. But it made our
team mentally strong and showed us that the little things matter. We came back stronger the next year and
won against Holcomb to go on to the state tournament. This lesson in particular applies to life because if you
lose a few times, you can't just give up. You have to look back and learn from it then move forward and beat it
the next time.
In conclusion, athletics has impacted my life greatly. They have helped shape me into the kind of person I am
today. When I graduate I will miss making memories
NIAAA Student Athlete National Scholarship Program
Purpose of Scholarship
In accordance with National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s (NIAAA) purpose to promote, facilitate and
increase the knowledge and understanding of the vital role of interscholastic athletics in the educational system, this scholarship program will foster and recognize the partnership between the NIAAA and secondary education. The scholarships will
recognize the distinguished scholastic, leadership and sportsmanship attributes of high school student-athletes, and the importance of high school athletics in each student’s life. Download the NIAAA Student Athlete Scholarship Application (2016
Application available in August, 2015). States are encouraged to recognize each student who applies by presenting them
with a certificate of recognition
Minimum Requirements

Applicant must be a senior in high school

Applicant must have achieved at least two (2) of the following: (a) minimum of B+ average; (b)ranked in the top 25% of
class; (c) ACT score of 24 or an SAT score of 1500 (Verbal, Math and Writing)

Applicant must have participated in two sports for at least two years in each sport

Applicant must have earned at least one varsity letter in each of two sports

Applicant must complete attached scholar/essay application

Applicant must have a letter of recommendation from the high school athletic administrator/director

School athletic administrator/director must be an NIAAA member and a member of their respective state athletic administrators association

The principal or athletic administrator/director must sign the application to ensure that the academic information submitted is accurate

All hard copy materials must be postmarked or electronic materials sent to the NIAAA Liaison in your respective state by
your states deadline. (select your state below to see your state due date and liaison contact information)
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KIAAA Conference Awards Banquet
Congratulations to the 2015 KIAAA Award Winners!
District Athletic Directors of the Year
District 1 – Will Burton, Abilene
District 2 – Matt Self, LaCygne Prairie View
District 3 – Jay Novacek, Olathe Northwest
District 4 – Mark Lamb, Wichita Southeast
Middle School – Chad Cramer, Maize Middle
Will Burton
Art Newcomer Promising Athletic Director Award
Matt Johnson, Shawnee Mission School District
Kansas Athletic Director of the Year
Mark Lamb, Wichita Southeast
Matt Self
Jay Novacek
NIAAA State Award of Merit (Sponsored by Daktronics)
J. Means, Wichita School District
Mark Lamb
Sportswriter of the Year
Harold Bechard, VYPE Magazine
Sportscaster of the Year
Dave Stewart, Time Warner Sports KS
Chad Cramer
Elmer “Carp” Carpenter Award
Vicky Gegen Family
KIAAA Jack Dresslar Scholarship Recipients
District 1 – Morgan Ediger, Cimarron
District 2 – Jake Robinson, Paola
District 3 – Elizabeth Gregory, Sumner Academy
District 4 – Kylie Fox, Wichita Southeast
Matt Johnson
J Means
Vicky Gegen Family
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46th Annual KIAAA Conference summary
By Curtis Conrad, Immediate KIAAA Past President
This year’s KIAAA Annual Conference was held at the DoubleTree Inn by Hilton
in Wichita from the evening of March 21st to the afternoon of March 24th. The
conference opened and closed with t six different Leadership Training courses.
Thirty AD’s took a total of 48 sections of LTI. On Sunday, 40 AD’s, KSHSAA
staff, and vendors participated in the annual golf tournament. Daktronics,
Royal Publishing, Jostens, Pioneer and BSN Sports were tournament sponsors
and provided for a great team building experience. Keynote speaker Dr.
Lumpkin presented an invaluable session on “Keeping the FUN in Sports”. Dr Krob’s FCA message
brought me back to the good old days when I was getting his messages every day! Forty-nine vendors
were on hand Monday morning to provide information about their goods and services to the athletic
departments of Kansas. We are very thankful to our vendors for their participation in our conference each
year as they help to fund a large part of our programing expenses. The KSHSAA staff was on hand to
provide current topics/rules in each of their areas of supervision and we are appreciative of their wiliness
to be part of our annual meeting. Mark Lamb had a packed agenda for the Classification Forum with over
twenty items addressing the future of KSHSAA activities. Clint Albers has a summary of that session on
proceeding pages, and KIAAA President Terry Ostymeyer took those items passing the forum process to the KSHSAA Executive Board
April meeting. A variety of topics were addressed in the six workshop sessions, but maybe the most “practical” information was shared
by veteran AD’s Will Burton, Matt Self, Jay Novacek, Mark Lamb and Chad Cramer during the Voices of Success. And as always, a
highlight of the conference is the Awards Banquet honoring our members of the Kansas athletic community for outstanding
accomplishments. Again, another great job by long time KIAAA member and Past President Gary Carson who served as emcee. To
those 150 who were in attendance, I look forward to seeing you next year. To those who were not in attendance, hopefully you have
gotten a sense of what goes on at the conference and you are already starting to make plans to attend next year. It truly is a great
value. Next year’s conference will be April 16, 2016 thru April 19, 2016.
So the year for me as KIAAA President is over! It just seems that I just started my year as your KIAAA
President. Maybe it went by so fast because without Vicky, I did not have a great deal of time to think
about it! I want to thank Marc Haught for all the hard work that he put in to help the success of the
conference. I want to congratulate all the award winners, all of you were very deserving. One last time, I
want to thank Vicky Gegen for all of her years of service to the KIAAA. To all the AD’s that are retiring,
have a blessed future. So it is over; Terry good luck! To the organization, thanks for letting me be your
president and I wish the KIAAA continued growth.
So… Why the DoubleTree by Hilton???
by Marc Haught, KIAAA Executive Director
KIAAA executive board members frequently get asked how/why a particular venue is chosen as a location for the Annual KIAAA
Conference. This causes me to reflect back to when I was KIAAA president some eight years ago. Back then we were in
Hutchinson. Prior to that we had been at the Holidome in Manhattan for many years. When I was elected as 2nd vice-president
I thought like many; let’s just move this thing around annually and hit everyone’s “neck of the woods”. Then as president, and
becoming involved in the negotiations for conference locations, my eyes were opened regarding what is involved in securing a
conference site. And now as Executive Director, I have developed an even better understand of the complexities of the process.
I think that most everyone that attended this years KIAAA Conference is in agreement that the event is well worth the $175
enrollment fee. The opportunities for professional growth, collaboration, input to the KSHSAA, and the comradery are more
available here than in any other conference you might attend. A hosting site must have the right particulars in order to
accommodate such a packed three day agenda like the one offered by the KIAAA.
Most of us have planned a variety of meetings and events at third party locations. In the process we contact the venue and
determine the rental rate and open dates. If food is involved, we contact a caterer and tell them how many we have in
attendance. However, with a multi-day conference involving multiple meeting rooms, various meal times, and vendor displays,
this job is not just picking up the phone and picking a date. While the KIAAA conference is certainly not the biggest ticket in
town, it still involves 150 attendees, 10-15 presenters, and 70-80 participating vendors. In order to facilitate the program
schedule. we use eight different meeting locations that are set up in a variety of different ways from LTI classrooms with
screens, to banquet seating for awards, to vendor set-up with 100 tables and curtain backdrops. There are 34 different room
set-ups that take place during the conference, each having a folio of description (and charge). The bill that treasurer Kim
Lohman and I receive at the end conference is about 40 pages in length. Each room, meal, and set-up is broken out individually.
(Continued on next page)
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(Continued from previous page)
When we consider a venue to host the conference, every site has a different type of pricing structure for rooms, set-ups, meals,
etc. Food is the number one cost associated with conferences of this type. By the way, we get charged for EVERY SINGLE ORDER
we place, whether someone eats the meal or not. This is why we are so diligent about documenting the meals that you will be
participating in on your registration (if you indicated that you will be at a meal, and you choose not to attend, we still pay that $23/
plate at the vendor luncheon). Because of all these pieces of a conference puzzle, most sites that we would consider as
appropriate book these kinds of events two, three, and four years in advance. If we didn’t already have a contract for next
spring and were trying to find a location, we would probably be out of luck! Because of that, the executive board is always
working 2-4 years ahead on conference negotiations.
In summary, to host the conference we need a venue to be large enough to handle the agenda that we offer, yet not so big that
various meetings would be distance from one another. And affordability has to be paramount to keep our registration costs at a
minimum. Finding that middle ground limits the options. If we were to travel throughout the entire mid-west (not just Kansas)
there likely would be many options. The executive board is constantly reviewing potential conference locations across the state.
We want to continue to be offer the quality of program that our current conference provides without having to raise the
registration fee any more than to cover inflation. We all enjoy new scenery and locations, but ultimately we need to select a site
that provides the best value. Our current site has certainly fit that bill over recent years. The relation that with currently have
with the Wichita DoubleTree goes far beyond the surface. We are very grateful to have a site like the Wichita DoubleTree and a
staff that truly bends over backwards to make the KIAAA feel at home. The current conference site has the space we need (due
to high enrollment we did experience a few crowed sessions this year but we already have some solutions for that) and yet we
still get the “family” feel. Remember that we assess conference locations every year in an effort to provide the best experience.
Thanks to the members of the executive committee for the diligence.
KIAAA Spring Conference Classification Forum
By Clint Albers, KIAAA Past President, Olathe South High School Assistant Principal/AD
The KIAAA Spring Conference is a great opportunity for Athletic Directors to network with peers, gain useful knowledge that can
be implemented in their own school, and a time for one to hear how others deal with the challenges we all face in our jobs on a
daily basis. Honestly, it is also the professionally responsible thing to do – we encourage all of our coaches and employees to be
involved in professional development and improve themselves professionally so as to be able to provide a better experience for
our students. We should expect nothing less from ourselves other than to also take advantage of the professional development
opportunity that is the KIAAA Conference and the KIAAA in general. One part of the conference that you may or may not be
familiar with is the Classification Forum. Even if you have participated in the forum before, you may not be entirely familiar with
how it works and the total process from beginning to end.
The beginning step in the Classification Forum process is a communication sent to AD’s well in advance of the conference that
solicits topic items to be presented at the forum. Once topic items have been submitted by the deadline, these items are
compiled and sent back out to AD’s for them to take to their league meetings and discuss as leagues prior to attending the
conference. At the actual classification forum meeting, proposals that affect all classifications are introduced and briefly
described to the general assembly by the individuals that submitted the respective proposal so that any questions or clarifications
can be made. Proposals that are class specific are not introduced in the general assembly but are elaborated upon by those
responsible for the proposal once the group is broken up into their individual classification rooms. Once all of the AD’s are split
into their individual classification rooms, it is very common for some spirited discussion to take place and information discussed
regarding the rule change proposals. It’s very valuable discussion as it often brings to light issues and ideas that were not
previously clear or evident regarding the proposal – often changing the way people feel about the issue as opposed to prior to
the discussion. Once discussion on the item has concluded, the issue is voted upon by those AD’s in attendance at the forum. For
proposals affecting all classes, those voting results are collected from each class and compiled across classifications. For class
specific proposals, those results are compiled as well. Any proposal receiving support from 75% or more of those voting in the
forum are then forwarded to KSHSAA for consideration on behalf of KIAAA as a rule change recommendation.
Several proposals that were brought forward to this year’s conference received considerable discussion and addressed rather
large scale and important issues. The proposals that received the 75% or above approval and will go on as recommendations from
KIAAA to KSHSAA are as follows:
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Should the KSHSAA:

change 4A Division 1 and Division 2 classification sub-state basketball tournaments to be exactly like 5A and 6A sub-state
basketball tournaments where schools are placed into four 8 team pods? (89% approval)

consider changing the cross country girls’ race distance from 4K to 5K? (87% approval)

change their procedure for qualifying 5A/6A teams for the playoffs in football. All teams will play an 8 game regular season
and will be guaranteed a 9th game as all teams are placed in the 1st round of the playoffs in week 9. (100% approval)

change rule 3.A.3 for 4A Division 1 and 4A Division 2 football play-off brackets to read exactly like Class 5A and Class 6A
football play-off brackets rule 3.A.1. (100% approval)

change 4A Division 1 and 4A Division 2 classification volleyball sub-states to be exactly like 5A and 6A. (100% approval)
The above proposals will be voted upon at the KSHSAA level and some may eventually become official rule changes. The
classification forum is our opportunity as schools, representing our students, to make rule changes and have a voice in the rules
adoption process. Obviously, when someone is not happy with a rule or the situations it may create, this is an opportunity for
schools to become part of the solution instead of being content just to complain about it. As you finish out your current school
year and start another year in the fall, be cognizant of situations that may be helped or addressed by a tweak in the rules and use
your opportunity of the classification forum to bring them forward to explore whether other AD’s feel the same way or have
encountered the same situations. I encourage every Athletic Administrator to attend the KIAAA Spring Conference every year so
that they may participate in the classification forum and help facilitate and be a part of the change process! It’s only through this
professional collaboration and the sharing of ideas that we can improve the high school athletic experience for our students and
community.
-KIAAA BriefsOn May 30th the KIAAA Board of Directors will have its end of the year meeting. The following items are included on the
meeting’s agenda:

KIAAA Conference Evaluations– the information that you submit in the post-conference evaluation is vital to the future
conference planning. Several themes emerged in those evaluations and KIAAA President Terry Ostmeyer will lay out his plan
for the conference program and format for 2016.

Dual Membership– currently KIAAA and NIAAA memberships are done as two separate applications. The annual KIAAA
membership is $40 ($25 if enrolled with conference registration) and the NIAAA membership is $80. We have approximately
250 KIAAA members. Of those, approximately 100 are also NIAAA members. The KIAAA BOD is considering providing only
one membership option. The membership would be a dual KIAAA/NIAAA membership with the appropriate fees. Kansas is
one of the minority states that currently has separate state and national membership enrollments.

Meeting details will be provided for the upcoming NIAAA Section 5 meeting held this year in Kansas City on June 17-18th.
President Ostmeyer will be submitting the list of attendees at the conclusion of the May BOD meeting.

The Annual KIAAA Fall Workshop program with be considered. This year the workshop will be held November 9th at the
KSHSAA offices in Topeka. Al Sersland will provide a listing of LTI courses that will be offered on November 8th.

The BOD will look to form two ad hoc committees. One committee will be comprised of KIAAA classification reps, past
presidents, and the executive director to begin work on the first KIAAA Strategic Plan. This project will identify specific
goals/directions and develop a five year plan for the KIAAA. The second committee to be appointed will consist of the KIAAA
district representatives and the purpose of the committee will be to review the current awards program and recommend any
changes in the designation or categories of our awards.
Contact any classification of district representative of the BOD if you have thoughts on any of the items listed
above or if you have other business that you would like the KIAAA to consider.
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SECTION V NEWSLETTER
March 2015
Mark Armstrong Named NIAAA President-Elect
Mark Armstrong is the President-Elect of the NIAAA for 2015 Mark will serve as the President of
the NIAAA in 2016 culminating in the National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Mark is another in a long line of outstanding NIAAA Presidents from Section 5.
2015 Section 5 Meeting:
The Section 5 Meeting will be in Kansas City, Kansas and will begin mid-afternoon on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. We will break in the late
afternoon and head out to Kauffman Stadium to watch the Kansas City Royals take on the Milwaukee Brewers for a 7:00 p.m. game.
We will then finish the Section 5 meeting on Thursday, June 18 and be done by 11:30. Contact KIAAA President Terry Ostmeyter if you
plan on attending the Section 5 meeting.
NIAAA NEWS AND INFORMATION
NIAAA Fourth Strategic Plan
At our Section Meeting in June, Rich Bechard, Mark Armstrong and Lane Green will be reviewing the Fourth Strategic Plan. As many of
you know, Rich Bechard, Missouri, led the NIAAA’s Strategic Plan Process. The Strategic Plan has a Vision to “Cultivate Education-Based
Athletics” and a Tag Line of “Showing the Way”. Section Representatives will lead the discussion on the recommendations of the Strategic Plan at the Section meetings. Your input will be a vital part of the 4th Strategic Plan. .
Secretary Election December, 2015
The election for NIAAA Secretary will be held in December of 2015. If interested in the position, please contact the NIAAA for applications. All materials must be in prior to July 1, 2015. This is a 6 year commitment, starting July 1, 2016 and ending December of 2021.
2015 NIAAA Board Goals
New Initiatives
Adopt, communicate and initiate the implementation of the Fourth Strategic Plan.
Enhance and promote the expansion of relationships with key educational and governmental partners.
Educate the membership on the use of current technologies as a tool for conducting NIAAA business.
Evaluate and continue to monitor the Grant and Outreach Programs for possible expansion.
Ongoing Initiatives
Promote the value of NIAAA membership, including the benefits of dual membership.
Enhance efforts to promote two-way connection with the membership.
Utilize the NIAAA advocate to inform, develop and enhance collaborative relationships with other professional organizations.
Continue to support and promote the work of the NIAAA Professional Development Academy.
Other NIAAA Information
Check out the 2014 Scholarship Award Essays on the NIAAA Web Page along with the winners’ pictures. Please remember that states
can download a certificate of recognition for all applicants. A reminder that each state orders the plaques for your scholarship winners
from: Larry King at Awards Unlimited. His email address is: [email protected].
The NIAAA encourages ALL states to apply for the various Endowment programs.
The NIAAA remains in strong financial health as we begin 2015. The NIAAA Endowment reached the $1,000,000.00 and continues to
grow. Thank you for all of those who have participated in giving to the NIAAA Endowment Fund.
The NIAAA is looking to eventually take the IAA Magazine digitally in the future.
Dual membership continues to be a focal point for all states. Statistics show that states that have gone to dual membership actually see
an increase in state membership.
Membership for the NIAAA is up for 2014-2015. The new Membership Profile is outstanding. You have the opportunity to put YOUR
PROFILE on the NIAAA Web-site. Go to niaaa.org and set up your own profile on the NIAAA portal.
All states should continue to promote applications for NIAAA Committee appointments. If you want to be a committee member, please
fill out the committee application form found on the NIAAA web-site and send it back to the NIAAA. The forms are good for three
years.
12
Ideas That Work
Angelo Giacalone, athletic director at Shawnee Mission Northwest, shares his bi-weekly “Positive
Posts” that he sends to his coaches. Each one focuses on a different topic that is relative to coaching. Athletics is a vital component is supplementing the overall education of students. It is believed
that athletics are an extension of the classroom, and that coaches truly are educators. As a result the
following are important within the development of a program (1) the development of a cooperative
attitude in working with others (coaches, athletes and parents) and (2) to develop a sense of pride in
achievement and success within the program and the individuals who participate within the team
concept. We attempt to offer coaches a resource in educating their staffs, and parents to assist in
developing the following characteristics in our athletes: loyalty, unselfishness, responsibility and
teamwork to
take precedence
over a “win at all
costs” attitude.
It is our hope
that as a result of
the athletic experience our athletes will someday become
good husbands/
wives, parents
and productive
members of society by understanding the development of a
positive work
ethic and being
accountable for
your own actions. Ultimately
by being productive members for
our family, our
team, our school
and our community. Attached is
an example of
one issue of the
“Positive Post.”
13
New KIAAA Officers Assignments for 2015-16
KIAAA President—Terry Ostmeyer, Wheatland HS
“My goal for the upcoming year is to continue to grow the KIAAA. If all those that attended the fall conference, can encourage
others in their league to attend and if all that attended the spring conference can get two new attendees to join them next year,
imagine the amount of knowledge and expertise that will be there for all to tap into.”
KIAAA 1st Vice President—Jason Herman, Olathe North HS
“As the first vice president I am here to support Terry as he moves through his presidency. I plan on attending the KIAAA Fall
Workshop, NIAAA National Convention, and the KIAAA Spring Conference to grow my knowledge and ability to lead this organization. I support dual membership and hope to increase our NIAAA membership at the National level. I also want to increase
the knowledge across the state of what the KIAAA stands for and represents”.
KIAAA 2nd Vice President - J Means, Wichita Public Schools
“I look forward to working with Terry and Jason to help strengthen the vision and mission of the KIAAA”
Additional Board Elections
District 1 rep - Shane Bakhus, McPherson HS and Ken Stonebraker, Salina South HS
District 3 rep - Jay Novacek, Olathe Northwest HS and Mickey Masterson, Blue Valley North HS
New Appointments
District 4 rep (to replace J Means) - Todd Hague, Cheney
Class 5A rep - Aaron Bucher, Arkansas City HS
Class 6A rep - Clint Albers, Olathe South HS
Returning BOD Members for 2015-16
Title
Name
School
Email
Secretary
Matt Westerhaus, CAA
Junction City HS
[email protected]
Treasurer
Kim Lohman, CAA
Lakin HS
[email protected]
Executive Director
Marc Haught, CMAA
Maize HS
[email protected]
District 2 Representative
Rod Hasenbank, CAA
Topeka HS
[email protected]
District 2 Representative
Penny Lane
Topeka Washburn Rural HS
[email protected]
District 4 Representative
Jim Linot
Rose Hill HS
[email protected]
District 4 Representative
Todd Hagg
Cheney
[email protected]
1A Representative
Bruce Gunter
Frankfort HS
[email protected]
2A Representative
Marty Lehman, CAA
Syracuse HS
[email protected]
3A Representative
David Ediger, CAA
Cimarron HS
[email protected]
4A Representative
Bob Mellen, CAA
Clearwater HS
[email protected]
5A Representative
Aaron Bucher
Arkansas City HS
[email protected]
6A Representative
Clint Albers
Oltha South
[email protected]
Women's Representative
Cindy Roach, CAA
Blue Valley West HS
[email protected]
Middle School Representative
Brandon Simmelink
McPherson MS
[email protected]
Retired ADs Representative
Art Newcomer, CAA
Retired
[email protected]
KSHSAA Liaison
David Cherry
KSHSAA
[email protected]
NIAAA Liaison
Marc Haught, CMAA
Maize
[email protected]
Immediate Past President
Curtis Conrad, CAA
Goddard Eisenhower HS
[email protected]
Past President Representative
Greg Rosenhagen
Cheney HS
[email protected]
14
A Trip Down Memory Lane at KIAAA
by Dave Stewart
(reprinted from the Time Warner Regional Website with permission from Dave Stewart)
Did you ever walk in a room where it felt like you knew everybody, even if you didn't? That was the case Monday
night in Wichita for the 46th annual Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administration Association (KIAAA) State Conference & Meeting.
Oh sure, I was surrounded by familiar faces at our table. Art Newcomer was the legendary athletic director at SM
East from 1965-1995 and a National Hall of Famer. Charlotte Davis was also in my Rolodex for nearly two decades
as Wyandotte's long-time athletic director. Turns out, she did her student teaching at SM South the year before I
arrived as a sophomore. Davis spoke proudly of Wyandotte's amazing basketball venue that intimidated nearly
every visiting team.
I sat next to Lane Green, the Director of School Administration for the Blue Valley schools. Lane was the presenting speaker for my Sportscaster
of the Year award. Green was like many in the crowd, still woozy after KU's loss in the Round of 32 to Wichita State. He was a student-manager
on the end of the Jayhawks' bench in 1981 when the Shocks beat his Hawks for the first time in the battle of New Orleans at the Superdome.
That NCAA tournament classic was decided on a late, long jumper by Mike Jones.
The hang-over from Kansas' most recent defeat may have been the reason he was able to "steal" another Jayhawk shirt in the silent auction for
the night's lowest bid. Even the questionable beef jerky raised more money.
Turns out, these were my people. Dedicated professionals in high school athletics who get it. Their job, their mission, their passion is to serve
the students and their school community, whether it's Garden Plain (the jewel of Western Sedgwick County!) or Lawrence-Free State. Most of
'em share the same concerns and challenges, like running an athletic department while dealing with limited dollars from the state and parents
who are missing the point.
The night's master of ceremonies, Gary Carson, praised the media for understanding how to cover high school events. He said it was far more
likely for a journalist to write that Olathe North committed a costly turnover as opposed to calling out a 16-year-old by name. These aren't millionaires in Bentleys or Division-1 kids in Escalades. There's still a purity that remains in high school sports, no matter what you think of AAU influences.
Like any good athletic director would do, Carson started the banquet on time, ended it two minutes early and he recognized the wait staff inbetween for all their hard work. Every AD understand it's the assistants who handle the heavy lifting and typically don't get enough credit.
None of the award winners were given the chance to speak which was too bad. I really wanted to hear from Harold Bechard, Sportswriter of the
Year. He's done a great job covering high school athletics for VYPE magazine after successful newspaper runs in Salina and Hutch. His family's
been entrenched in Kansas athletics for years, helping keep Grinnell (population 259-ish) on the map. It's east of Oakley and south of Hoxie as
the crow flies. Brother Richard, who's District Athletic Director for Lee's Summit R-7 Schools, handled his introduction. Naturally, Richard was
ridiculed for leaving a similar job in Blue Valley and crossing the state line. Another brother, Ray, is KU's long-time and accomplished volleyball
coach. The Bechard driveway was surely a place for knockdown, drag-out basketball games. Only the strong survived at the dinner table.
Had I been able to whip an impromptu speech together in 60 seconds or less, I would've told the group how I recently went through the guest
book from my wedding. Some of the names that stuck out included Bill McDonald, John Davis and Verlyn Schmidt. Absolute coaching studs in
baseball, football and track/cross country. All three were influential high school coaches from the past who I never let get too far away. McDonald showed me the value of being organized, prepared and a good listener when it came to baseball and real life. I never heard him cuss. Ever.
But man, did we try to make him. Davis taught me never to judge a book by its cover. All of the cheerleaders swore they knew what a sweet
man he was while every high school boy walked the hallways in fear. Papa was a pussycat, we just didn't see it. No coach ever pushed my buttons like Schmidt but he always made me work harder and push myself to new limits. His home was always open and we wandered in and out,
unannounced, a lot. We also left flaming pizza boxes on his front porch but that's another story.
The point to all of the coaches and athletic directors is simple: what you do makes a difference. It's always gonna be more than "just" high
school soccer or tennis or golf. There's somebody like me who you touched a week ago, a year ago, a decade ago, somebody who was changed
by your an act of kindness or compassion or incredible coaching. It matters. So don't be surprised when a former student seeks you out years
later to say how you impacted their life, at a difficult time, and made it better.
Your dedication to high school kids is powerful and long-lasting. Thank you for making us part of your family. It matters and for that, we're
grateful.
15
Games Wanted
Join the NIAAA
The “games wanted” emails containing
requests to fill open dates and/or tournaments from other Kansas ADs are sent to
all Kansas ADs.
However, to have your request forwarded
to all ADs, you must be a member of the
KIAAA as the forwarding of the emails is a
KIAAA members-only service.
KIAAA
membership forms are available on the
KIAAA website.
Congrats to
New CAA’s
At the KIAAA Conference the
following AD’s completed their CAA
requirements:
Richard Elliott
Gary Howard
J. Means
Brett Mohr
Don Perkins
Membership Benefits
 Interscholastic Athletic Administration, a quarterly professional
journal written by and for athletic administrators
 High School Today, a monthly NFHS publication includes
information on national issues affecting interscholastic athletics
and activity programs
 $2,000,000 liability insurance while performing the duties of an
athletic administrator
 $2500 term life insurance
 Ability to purchase Long Term Health Care at discount rates
 Ability to purchase excess Cancer Insurance and Accident
Insurance at discount rates
 Discount on registration fees for the NIAAA/NFHS National
Conference for high school directors of athletics
 Opportunities to serve on national committees
 Exclusive $10 per year subscription to receive online From the
Gym to the Jury publication that includes current legal rulings
related to athletics (Subscribe at www.gym2jury.com and select
"Subscribe Now" - Subscription code is NIAAA)
 Opportunity to nominate students from your school for the
NIAAA Scholarship annually
 Opportunity for national recognition through the NIAAA Awards
Program
 $80 annual dues
How Do I Become a Member of the KIAAA
To become a member of the KIAAA, simply fill out the membership form and mail it with your check to
the address on the bottom of the form.
Membership coincides with the school year and runs from August through July. You may join the KIAAA
at any time. If you attended the 2013 spring conference, membership dues were collected as part of the
registration. The dues paid as part of the registration are for the following school year.
Along with other membership benefits, only current KIAAA members are able to submit nominations
for student scholarships, athletic director of the year awards, and all other awards given by the KIAAA
as part of the spring conference. We do not want to exclude deserving candidates, so please consider
joining your state professional organization!
16
Thank you to our corporate sponsors!
Send potential sponsors to:
Eric Armstrong, Corporate Sponsor Representative, [email protected]
17
Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association
Visit us on the Web: www.kiaaa.org
Email: [email protected]
11600 W 45th N, Wichita, KS 67101
316.655.8929
Got Articles or Photos? We welcome articles or photos for future issues.
Send articles or photos to:
Marc Haught, CMAA, [email protected]
Upcoming
Dates
2015-2016
May 30th
Board of Directors Meeting - Wichita
November 8th
Fall NIAAA LTI Courses - Topeka
November 8th
Board of Directors Meeting - Topeka
November 9th
Fall Workshop - Topeka
December 12-15
NIAAA Conference - Orlando, Florida
April 17th
NIAAA LTI Courses - Wichita
April 16th
Board of Directors Meeting - Wichita
April 16th - 19th
KIAAA Conference and Annual Meeting
The purpose of the KIAAA is to:
Promote and maintain an activities program that will encourage the widest possible participation with the highest possible standards.
Assist and cooperate with the Kansas State High School Activities Association in carrying out its objective.
Improve activities understanding and relationships throughout Kansas.
Present an opportunity for exchange of ideas on problems and practices.
Improve the educational aspects of interscholastic activities in the total educational program.
Establish and implement standards for the professional preparation of interscholastic activities administrators.