After nearly 10 years, the Liberty sports cooperative agreement with Stratton is no more.
Reportedly, there are only eight students in Liberty’s high school this year. They are now “free agents” so to speak, as they can play for neighboring schools that offer the sports in which they want to play.
The Pioneer has been told two boys are playing football for Idalia this season, while one girl is playing volleyball in Stratton.
Toby Kechter resigned as football coach last spring after a great run of success with the Stratton/Liberty Knighted Eagles. He is now the head coach at Idalia.
Liberty fielded athletic teams for five decades and produced some great athletes through the years. The Black Knights won the 6-man football championship against Idalia in 1999, with Kechter being one of the main players.
Dwindling enrollment led to the sports cooperative with Stratton earlier last decade, which produced some state qualifying teams, including two 6-man football championships and a few other championship game appearances. The volleyball team twice qualified for the state tournament, including this past season.
Liberty is not done with having teams, however, as it is currently fielding a boys golf team and will have wrestling in the winter sports season.
Golf
Liberty does have one team to call its own this fall sports season, boys golf.
The Knights played in Akron on August 13, shooting a 394 team score. Kale Morris shot a 113, Cade Richards 138 and Kaden Drager 143.
They were back at it again on August 17 at the Burlington Invitational, shooting a 387 team score. Morris shot a 117, Tyler Hall 132, Richards 138 and Drager 146.
Liberty went to the Cheyenne Wells Invitational at Smoky River Golf Club, last Friday, August 20. The Knights shot a 376 team score. Morris led the way with a 119, while Hall had a 128, Drager 129 and Richards 130.