Monday, April 20, 2009

Knox to conclude stellar sports career at Salina Central


Salina Central is completing its final high school sports season with Craig Knox as a Mustang.

Central no doubt will miss the senior (at left), who helped his soccer and basketball teams to third-place finishes in Class 5A this year. He and his doubles partner, Will Exline, are the defending state tennis champions.

Craig is part of another prominent pair; he and his frequent teammate, Blaine Knox, are twin brothers. Both played soccer for a successful Salina Central squad that finished the season 17-4, and both were named to the all-league first team. The Knoxes also received all-region honors, Blaine on the first team and Craig on the second.

The duo continued to shine for Salina Central in the winter. Craig scored 29 points and Blaine added 17 in the Mustangs’ third-place game at state. It was their last high school basketball game. Just like the soccer season, they ended their basketball careers with a win, even though it wasn’t a state championship.

On the tennis courts, however, it’s all Craig. As a sophomore, he and senior doubles partner Nic DeTurk placed third at state. Last year, he and fellow junior Will Exline earned the 5A title. They hope to duplicate that success this season.

Salina Central is the five-time defending state champion, and the Mustangs are the top-ranked team in 5A, according to the Kansas Tennis Coaches Association. Salina Central doesn’t shy away from tough competition. The team won the tough Goddard Invitational on April 11, when Craig and Will placed third in doubles. Most recently, Salina Central prevailed at the McPherson Invitational, which was April 18. Again, Craig and Will placed third.

Although Craig will close his high school sports career by competing without his brother, another twin duo takes the spotlight during tennis season: Connor and Spencer Brass. Spencer placed second in singles last year at state.

After graduation, Craig will attend Kansas State University and major in construction science. His twin brother will attend the school’s arch-rival, the University of Kansas.

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