BonnerSprings.com / Chris Wristen

Chris Wristen is the sports editor for The Shawnee Dispatch, Bonner Springs Chieftain and Basehor Sentinel. Prior to this appointment, he helped launch The Lansing Current, a weekly newspaper in Lansing, Kan. He spent 3 1/2 years there as the sports editor and helped The Current become an award-winning publication on the state and national levels. The Current finished second in the Inland Press Association's Nation's Best Non-Daily Newspaper Competition in the under-5,000 circulation division in 2007. Chris also has been a sports reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal and the Lawrence Journal-World. Chris is a Kansas native. He earned his bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas in Spring 2002 and completed his Masters Degree in Sports Administration at KU in December 2003. While at KU, his in-depth feature "Players get the hollers, KU keeps the dollars," placed third nationally in the William Randolph Hearst Sportswriting Competition. Chris was recognized numerous times by the Kansas Press Association for his work at The Lansing Current. He has been a frequent winner in the KPA's Awards of Excellence competition. His KPA honors in the Nondaily Division 2 category include: 2005 First place - Sports feature story, "The rise of Logan Ryan." 2006 First place - Sports column writing. 2006 Third place - Sports feature story, "Remembering a legend." 2006 Honorable mention - Sports story, "Nietzke ignites Lions." 2006 Honorable mention - Youth story, "Lansing band in spotlight." 2007 First place - Sports column writing. 2007 First place - Headline writing. 2007 Third place - Sports story, "A day for Sean." 2007 Honorable mention - Sports feature story, "Kroll intentions." 2008 Third place - Sports column writing. 2008 First place - Sports photography for "A family affair." Chris also was recognized by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association as a 2005-2006 Wrestling Media of the Year award winner for his coverage of Lansing High wrestling. In addition, Chris is a regular contributor to KUsports.com.

Recent stories

Wristen: It’s great to be a fan of local college teams: By Chris Wristen; March 17, 2010; My suitcase is already packed, and I’m counting the hours until departure to Oklahoma City.
Wristen: Preparation for next year starts now: By Chris Wristen; March 11, 2010; Basketball season is finished in Bonner Springs.
Puckett ‘tough as nails’ in first year: By Chris Wristen; March 11, 2010; State runner-up Jonathan Blackwell wasn’t the only Bonner Springs freshman to overachieve at the Class 5A state wrestling tournament.
Blackwell blindsides state bracket: Bonner Springs freshman is state runner-up at 130 pounds; By Chris Wristen; March 4, 2010; Jonathan Blackwell entered the Class 5A state wrestling tournament with the goal of placing in the top six.
Wristen: 1st-year coach made impact on the mat: By Chris Wristen; March 4, 2010; With his team’s matches complete, Brandon Jobe kicked back in the upper deck of Intrust Bank Arena Saturday night to watch the remaining championship matches at the Class 5A state tournament.
Olympics Blog: A look back at memorable moments: By Chris Wristen; March 1, 2010; The flame has been extinguished, and NBC is airing the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics one last time.
Bonner Springs state wrestling Day 2 updates: Blackwell takes 2nd: Puckett, Seaton finish 4th; By Chris Wristen; 11:47 a.m., February 27, 2010 Updated 08:01 p.m.; Live updates from the Class 5A state wrestling tournament.
Olympics Blog: Apolo, Reutter deliver the drama: By Chris Wristen; February 26, 2010; After being disqualified for a slight bump during the final turn of his final individual race of the Vancouver Olympics, Apolo Ohno came right back with another unbelievable final-curve rally.
Olympics Blog, Day 9: USA beats Canada! But what does it really mean?: Hockey victory was thrilling, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet; By Chris Wristen; February 22, 2010; Plenty has been made about the youth of the United States hockey team, as well as the historical significance of the victory.
Olympics Blog, Day 8: Ohno does it again: By Chris Wristen; February 20, 2010; Apolo Ohno isn’t exactly Michael Phelps in terms of the magnitude of his Olympic medal collection, but the excitement when Ohno steps onto the ice is comparable to that when Phelps prepared to dive into the pool two summers ago.

Full story list

Recent photos

Bonner Springs freshman Jonathan Blackwell gathers himself moments after finishing second in the state finals at 130 pounds.

Bonner Springs freshman Jonathan Blackwell squared off with Emporia sophomore Brandon Charbonneau in the state finals at 130 pounds. Charbonneau won the match, 6-3.

Teammates and fans were fired up as Bonner Springs freshman 130-pounder Jonathan Blackwell prepared to compete in the state finals.

Bonner Springs first-year wrestling coach Brandon Jobe wore a smile on his face prior to coaching freshman 130-pounder Jonathan Blackwell in the state finals.

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