The year started out in great fashion. Without Bri Porter, the girls basketball team defended their state title outlasting St. Joseph’s Academy 45-38 in a nail biting competition. The boys team lost to Hickman High School in the district finals but showed a strong character throughout their whole season. The Bruin Girls won their state competition and performed well in the nationals, also. Wrestling had a successful season. Taking senior Kyle Johnston and juniors Sam Crane, Quinn Smith, Cody Maly and Jason Kiehne, three placed in the top five at state.  As for girls swimming and diving, after sending 13 individual qualifiers to compete alone and as a team, the girls took 15th in the state out of 48 teams competing and gained a state champion in the 200 meter freestyle. No one could have asked for a better start to 2013.

Spring Sports:

The success continued as the boys golf team packed with talented youngsters took fourth at state. It was almost an underachievement for the boys tennis team. Missing Ford Zitsch and Jack Fay, the Bruins lost to Rockhurst, their long time rivals, in the state championship game. The baseball team performed well also as they ended their season on a high note after losing in the state quarter final match. Track and Field was no different as both the boys and girls team reached the sectionals tournament. The girls soccer team may have lost in the district tournament against their cross-town rivals, HHS, but they performed well as a unit which was evident in their season.

Fall Sports:

All of the fall sports teams started practicing in the scorching heat during summer. The practice paid dividends as Bruins continued to persevere through their seasons. Starting out with cheerleading, the varsity cheerleaders placed second in their state competition. After losing in both the Providence Bowl and the district semifinal game to HHS last season, the football team exacted revenge in the Providence Bowl against the Kewpies shutting them down 27-10. The girls tennis team fell to Lee’s Summit North in state, but there were many positives in their dominating season which will make them hungry for a state title next year. The Lady Bruins volleyball team had a season filled with pride and unity even though they lost to the Hannibal Pirates in the districts. Five boys swimmers raced their way through to state which produced an outstanding season for the swimming and diving team. Falling just short of their goals, the boys and girls cross country team gave it their all when they placed in the top five at state. Senior Evan Schulte finished out his high school running career finishing 60 in the cross country nationals meet. Schulte did something that no RBHS runner had done before. The boys soccer team looked unbeatable their whole season until losing a heartbreaker in the state quarterfinals to the Glendale Falcons by one goal. Finally, perhaps the most unprecedented highlight of 2013, the Bruins football team earned a place in the state championship match against Blue Springs High School. It was a football season that every Bruin will remember.

Filled with sweat, tears, and joy, 2013 has been an unforgettable journey for the Bruins. It has been a year piled with dedication, hard work, and success for every RBHS team. There has been no giving up and no letting down. The Bruins competed full-throttle against every one of their opponents and their reward has been prosperity with pride and some bragging rights. 2013 is a year to remember.
By Harsh Singh
What do you think the highlights were?