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! It's a new adventure for us, and there will be some wrinkles to iron out, but we'll do our best to let you know what's going on in our world (which can represent the calf scramble in the rodeo, at times!).

Due to expected heat index values, the football jamboree portion of Friday's Fall Sports Preview Night has been pushed back to 7:00 p.m.

Volleyball will still scrimmage at 5:30, and the movie on the Baseball Field is still scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.

Don't forget your Gatorade donation!

After a hiatus of nearly five years, 5th Quarters will be making their return to the Russell Community thanks to Stephanie Cross, and the RHS Booster Club. The idea behind 5th Quarters is to provide RHS students with a fun activity that is both safe, and drug- and alcohol-free. The events are free to RHS students.

The first 5th Quarter of the 2021-22 school year will feature a class Dodgeball competition at the Memorial Park Sports Complex following the RHS vs. Ellis football game on Sept. 3.

Food donations, and financial assistance is needed and appreciated to make these events happen. Please contact Stephanie Cross at (785) 324-2995, or download the flyer linked below.

The RHS Booster Club 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!

Athletic and activity events taking place at Shaffer Field and Amos Morris Gym will sound completely different, and much better this year. Parr Sound and Lighting (Great Bend) recently completed an upgrade of the sound systems at both venues.

Shaffer Field

The four speakers mounted to the scoreboard have been replaced with long-throw, Community speakers mounted to each light pole on the east side of the field. Two speakers are aimed toward the visitor's bleachers, and two are aimed toward the main grandstand. We have also added a large, long-throw speaker that will provide added sound coverage to the jumps and throws area for track and field meets.

Amos Morris Gym

Six new speakers have been added to Amos Morris Gym to provide added audio coverage to dead areas in the facility. Some of the existing speakers have been relocated and repurposed to increase the effectiveness of the upgrade.

St. John Lutheran Church recently welcomed Teresa Sutherlin as its new Pastor. Pastor Teri was welcomed to Russell by a group of Russell High School boys' basketball players, who helped her unload her moving truck and get settled into her new home in Russell.

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.

Jesse is a senior on the RHS football team, and is the only returning All-MCL selection for the Broncos.

Coach Baldwin on Jesse...

"Jesse gets up every day and puts in the work required to be a better athlete, and an overall better person."

What Makes Jesse a B.R.O.N.C.O.?
"Jesse is a down-to-earth young man who wants to see his teammates and classmates have success in everything they do, both on and off the field. He is an outstanding teammate, and makes my job easier as a coach."

If you love to sing, and crowds don't bother you, we need to talk! RHS is looking for National Anthem singers for the upcoming sports season. Anybody interested should contact Scott Nuss, USD 407 Activities Director, at snuss@usd407.org.

Name: Tyler Schiffelbein

Hometown: Perryton, Texas

What's Your Day Job (i.e. What do you teach?):

Physical Education, Weights. Health, I also serve as the Activities Coordinator for the middle school.

How long have you been in Russell?:

Since 2017

What is something others may not know about you?:

I coached and taught at the college level for nine years before taking the job here at RMS, and I am hoping to pursue my doctorate in education in the future.

What's the best coaching quote you've ever heard?
"Players will never care how much you know about your sport until they know how much you care about them." - John Wooden

Why do you love coaching?

I have wanted to be a coach since I was five years old, sports has always been a part of my life and I love helping others, I could not imagine doing anything else and hope that I never have to find out.

Email: tschiffelbein@usd407.org
Website: https://www.usd407.org/o/russell-usd-407/teacher_pages/3198/bio
Location: Russell High School, State Street, Russell, KS, USA
Phone: (785) 483-3174

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