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

Who’s No. 1?: Bobcat boys begin quest for third straight KVL title, but coaches say league is tough; By Chris Wristen; November 26, 2008; The Kaw Valley League had its toughest boys basketball season in recent memory during the 2007-2008 campaign, but that may have been just a prelude to an even stronger season in 2008-2009, according to league coaches.
Mystery awaits us in Kaw Valley League: By Chris Wristen; November 19, 2008; It was a few minutes before 1 a.m. Monday when I left the Bonner Springs YMCA.
Wristen: ‘CityBall’ a must-see: By Chris Wristen; November 13, 2008; The Interscholastic League as I knew it in high school was the place where Central’s Derek Hood grabbed about 20 rebounds per game.
Wristen: Playoff success is critical for KVL: By Chris Wristen; November 6, 2008; For the second straight year the Kaw Valley League flexed its muscle in the district playoffs and sent six of its 10 teams to state.
Kaw Valley League has matured into a strong football conference: By Chris Wristen; October 16, 2008; Not long ago the Kaw Valley League was considered to be little more than a small-school conference lost in the shadows of the larger schools in the Kansas City area — power conferences such as the East Kansas League and Sunflower League.
Tendick faces the best, falls in regional quarterfinals: By Chris Wristen; October 16, 2008; Bill Scott calls Breanna Tendick the future of Bonner Springs girls tennis.
Bravettes fall at regionals: By Chris Wristen; October 10, 2008; Bonner Springs High School tennis coach Bill Scott knew his team would have its hands full on Thursday at the Class 5A regional tournament at Gardner-Edgerton High School.
Goal-happy Braves shut out Bobcats: By Chris Wristen; October 8, 2008; For the first 13 minutes Tuesday night the Bonner Springs and Basehor-Linwood boys soccer teams took turns stringing together pass combinations and setting up shots.
Homecoming heartbreaker: By Chris Wristen; October 1, 2008; On a rain-free night when arguably the three fastest guys in the Kaw Valley League squared off on a turf field, it was the defenses that stole the show.
Braves fall to Jaguars in defensive duel: By Chris Wristen; September 27, 2008; On a rain-free night when arguably the three fastest guys in the Kaw Valley League squared off on a turf field, it was the defenses that stole the show.

Full story list

Recent photos

Ethan Isaacs, Bonner Springs senior goalkeeper, was on the receiving end of a hard collision with a St. Thomas Aquinas player during the Class 5A regional championship game Thursday at STA. The Saints defeated the Braves, 9-0.

Bonner Springs' Conner Harrington tangles with St. Thomas Aquinas' Dan Woodward for possession during the first half Thursday. STA beat Bonner Springs, 9-0.

Brooks Ballou of Bonner Springs High School left all but one runner in the distance on Thursday at the Kaw Valley League Championships in Tonganoxie. Ballou placed second behind Lansing’s Brandon Craig.

Bonner Springs' D.J. Johnson competed Thursday at the Kaw Valley League cross country championships.

Bonner Springs' Isaac Mills, left, and Lansing's Pete LaMoe were side by side for most of the Kaw Valley League cross country championships. Mills placed fifth overall.

Full photo list