Centralia Volleyball Team

If you’re associated with high school volleyball throughout the state of Kansas, you know all about the Centralia Panthers.

Entering this season, the Panthers had won two consecutive 1A State Championships and began the year on a 34-match win streak.

On Saturday afternoon Centralia pushed that win streak to 80, as the Panthers capped off a perfect 47-0 season with a third consecutive 1A State Championship and 15th state championship overall.

Perhaps the best part about the state title wasn’t about the win streak, wasn’t about repeating as champs, but instead it was the fact that the Panthers won for their legendary head coach Kimbrook Tennal who is currently battling cancer.

Because of Tennal’s fight the Panthers adopted the motto “Tennal Tough” which signified the strength of Coach Tennal who never gives up and continued to show up despite suffering through treatments.

Centralia sent Tennal out on top and battled through adversity over the weekend that they had rarely experience all season long.

The Panthers had no problem in pool play to open up the tournament on Friday, going a perfect 3-0 with three two-set wins.

Things weren’t all easy for Centralia though on Saturday, as the Panthers dropped just their third set all season to Moundridge in the semifinals before bouncing back and taking the final two sets to win the match.

That gave the Panthers all the momentum they needed going into the title match up against previously undefeated Spearville, which Centralia dominated in two sets.

The championship capped off what has been a remarkable run by the senior class of Maegan Koch, Beth Steinlage, Keaton Whetzal, Madison Lueger, Jenri Conley and Kate Elliot who end their careers with an overall record of 174-4 and three state championships.

The championship also sent Coach Tennal out on top, as the Hall of Famer announced his retirement following the tournament. Tennal ends his career with over 700 coaching wins, 19 total state titles including 13 at Centralia and forever as one of the top head coaches throughout Kansas high school history.