By Ken Hansard 

Senior Kegan Bates, a wide receiver and free safety for the Labette County Grizzlies, is our VYPE Poll Winner for wide receivers in the Southeast Kansas region.  However, that is just the tip of the iceberg as far as Kegan’s sporting resume is concerned.  Many high school athletes are three sport athletes, but most are not nearly as accomplished.  Bates was named All-SEK and All-State in all three of his sports – football, basketball, and baseball. 

While Kegan obviously would like to garner similar accolades in his final year as a Grizzly, his main focus is on his team and the legacy that he will leave.  “I’m looking forward to playing one last time with my teammates and the brothers I’ve grown up with. We’ve worked extremely hard over the past few years.  Now, we are ready to go, and I’m looking forward to hopefully making a playoff run!” 

Bates also understands that, as a highly decorated senior, he possesses the kind of clout that encourages his younger teammates to take notice of his approach to life and to the game, “My role is to be a leader and someone my teammates can count on to give 100 percent day in and day out. I want to show our underclassmen what a true leader is.” 

Part of Bates’s legacy lies in his appreciation of his hometown.  He realizes that he has grown up in a very special place, “I’m really looking forward to our home games. There’s no place like Labette County.  We have the largest student sections, and our fans are always hyped up.” 

Bates and his teammates finished second in the SEK last season and had an overall record of 5-5, losing to state power Bishop Miege in the second round of the playoffs.  Regardless of his impressive accolades, Bates has dedicated himself to reach for even more ambitious goals, and he has inspired his teammates to do the same, with an end goal of making that deep postseason run, “We have lifted really hard this summer and focused on getting stronger and faster. Everyone fully bought in to improving.  They all lifted their tails off!” 
 

Bates is a model student in the classroom, also, boasting a stellar 4.0 GPA.  After high school, he plans to continue his education collegiately.  He plans to play baseball at the next level and will likely pursue a degree in Education.