Welcome to The Bucking Chute, the weekly online newsletter for athletic and activity programs at Russell County USD 407. In a rodeo, the moments before the gate on the bucking chute opens can be some of the most suspenseful moments of the entire event. The moments that follow, when the Bronco is turned loose, can provide some of the most exciting moments of the rodeo. We feel the same way about our Russell Broncos. We will send this out weekly as we lead up to the events of the coming week!

The annual KSHSAA Buffer Week is Nov. 8-14, 2021.

KSHSAA Handbook - Rule 9 (Moratoriums)

Art. 1: There shall be no athletic practice, offseason conditioning, informal basketball shooting, working out on wrestling mats, etc., in school-owned facilities during the Fall Athletic Buffer Week, commencing on Monday of Standardized Calendar Week (SCW) #19, through Sunday, SCW #20. Athletic activities of this nature may not be held under the supervision of a school staff member in non-school facilities. This means a moratorium on all school-sponsored athletic activities during this week. 28 2021-2022 Gymnasiums shall not be open to the students during the Fall Athletic Buffer Week for the purpose of shooting baskets, working out with weights, etc., outside of school hours. Noon hour and physical education classes are considered part of the school day.

Winter Sports practices will begin Monday, Nov. 15. Those interested in participating in fall sports should sign up in the RHS office.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Ruppenthal Middle School Auditorium November 12, 13 and 14 for the Russell High School Music Department's production of The Wizard of Oz.

Based on the famous books by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz takes us from a farm in Kansas to the magical Land of Oz.

Led by Glenda, the Good Witch of the North (Sydney Kraus), journey over the rainbow with Dorothy (Elsie Holland), the Scarecrow (Regan Betts), the Tin Man (Thomas Pummel) and the Cowardly Lion (Zach Martinez and Harlee Donovan) as they seek out the Great and Powerful Oz in the hopes of getting their hearts' desires, while trying to avoid the Wicked Witch of the West (Kylie Richardson) and her gang of flying monkeys. Special guests this year include students from Bickerdyke Elementary School as the Munchkins.

Performances are November 12 and 13 at 7 PM and November 14 at 2 PM. Tickets are available at the door.

RHS Senior Rylan Reeves put an exclamation point on her volleyball career by earning Honorable Mention All-MCL honors.

Reeves finished her senior season with 219 digs, and a team-best 178 kills and 27 aces. She recorded a season-high 11 kills in a win over Oakley on Sept. 21, and served a season-best four aces in a win over Wallace County on Sept. 11. Her 16 digs against Lyons on Oct. 5 was also a season-high.

As many of you know, my last day as Activities Director for USD 407 is Monday, Nov. 15. As I reflect on the last 3 1/2 years, there are several thoughts and emotions that come to mind, and there is so much I could include in this note. I'll try to keep it brief, but I may get windy...you've been warned! :)

Anything and everything that has been accomplished from this chair in the last four years has been for the betterment of our kids. Sometimes it has taken a couple of tries, but as I reflect, a lot of good has happened during that time. We have re-positioned our programs into a highly-competitive league of schools in the Mid-Continent League, schools that better match our demographic profile. That move has also cut down on the amount of class time our students have missed due to travel. We have an outstanding coaching staff in place, and I feel like the coaching longevity we've been searching for is well within reach. Our athletes are now being led by professional men and women who have their best interests in mind, and our best days are in front of us. Of course, we have also increased and improved our ability to connect with the community through social media, websites, and this newsletter, too. Lastly, Russell has become a place that the KSHSAA knows they can count on to host outstanding post-season events. If KSHSAA has a map, we're on it!

I don't know what the district's plan is as they seek to fill the vacancy I am creating, but regardless of what that plan is, my hope is that you, the parents, athletes, fans, and supporters of our athletic and activity programs, will continue to support our students and coaches. I hope you will trust them to do their jobs to the best of their abilities, even when what they're doing may not align with how you might do things. I hope our coaches will be allowed the time it takes to continue building their programs. To do it right takes time, and a lot of it. But I can assure you that we have the coaches it takes to allow the building process to happen. They know what they are doing, but they can't do it alone. I truly believe that Russell's best day on the field/court (or any other competitive arena) may be on the horizon, but stability will be the key to that. So, parents, our teams need your kids. Our kids need their coaches, and our coaches need your trust. And we need the support of the community as we bring it all together.

Finally, I'd like to say "Thank you." Thank you for welcoming me, and my family, to your community. Thank you for giving me the chance to work with your students, and the coaches that work with them as they pursue their athletic dreams. If I've been able to positively-impact just one student, then it's been time well-spent.

I know it's cliche, but Russell truly will always have a piece of my heart. Thank you, again. God Bless, and Go Broncos!

The RHS Booster Club has new leadership, and is accepting membership applications for the 2021-22 school year. Download the file below, or stop by the RHS office to pick up a form! The Broncos can't do what they do without the Booster Club's support!

The Kansas State High School Activities Association is cracking down on poor fan behavior at athletic and activity competitions this season, and Russell is doing the same. KSHSAA has its own set of rules, but lets the local district have the first opportunity to enforce their own rules. So here's what you need to know as we jump into the 2021-22 season...

Fan Ejections: Any member of a Russell crowd, who is ejected from a game (by an official or an administrator) for unsportsmanlike conduct toward an official, or a participant, will face a one-game suspension. To be clear, they will not be able to attend the next game, whether it's at home or on the road.

Additionally, any member of a Russell crowd, who prompts an "If I hear one more word, that person will need to leave" scenario, from an official or an administrator, will be removed from that contest as a proactive measure. Quite simply, there is no reason for this behavior to reach that point.

A new KSHSAA rule offers a similar consequence.
"Any participant (player, coach, spectator) who is ejected for making contact with an official, or who is ejected for unsporting behavior directed toward an official, shall be subject to a non-appealable suspension from the next contest at that level, and for all contests at any level (in that activity) until the suspension has been served. Local school leadership may levy additional sanctions as they deem appropriate

It's very simple...please let the officials do their jobs, and leave them alone. KSHSAA has lost more than 500 officials across the state in the last year. We need to take care of the officials who work our contests.

Email: snuss@usd407.org
Website: https://www.usd407.org/athletics
Location: 565 State Street, Russell, KS, USA
Phone: (785) 483-5631
Twitter: @Russell_Broncos