Catching up with Liberty North athletes
LIBERTY, Mo. — Liberty North Eagle graduate, Aaron Lewis, completed another outstanding season as a right-handed pitcher for the Class 6 state champion baseball squad, throwing fastballs regularly in the high 80s. He completed his high school career ranked as one of the top right-handed pitchers in the state. He was also a member of the Kansas City Royals’ Scout team. Lewis is now attending Division-I Western Kentucky to continue his education and baseball career with the Hilltoppers.
“Aaron was great on and off the field for us the last two years,” says Liberty North head baseball coach Ryan Stegall. “He was a huge part of our state championship run this past year on the mound. He took the ball in a lot of big games for us in the regular season and for sure down the stretch in the playoffs.”
Liberty North Eagle graduate, Kayley Lenger, is now attending the University of Missouri as a member of the Tiger’s softball team. She helped the Liberty North Eagles softball team to win a conference championship in 2019 and then a district championship in 2021.
Langer also finished the Spring track and field season with the #8 throw in the United States in the javelin, with an amazing throw of 151’-8.” She was the Suburban Gold Conference Champion and District 8 Champion, and Runner-up at the Class 5 state championship in the javelin.
Outside of sports, Lenger was a member of the National Honor Society, and she served on the student council. She lettered in softball, basketball, and track. In her spare time, she has served with the Special Olympics.
Liberty North Eagle Graduate, Ben Pritchett, overcame a broken neck, in August 2021, from a trampoline accident, to finish with an outstanding senior season in 2022 in the pole vault. After months of rehab, he was able to get back to vaulting right before the season started. He ended up being ranked #9 in Missouri Class 5, with a 4.27m (14 ft.) vault, by the end of the season. He was champion at the Suburban Gold Conference meet, and the District 8 Class 5 meet as well.
“Amazing that he has the courage and confidence to overcome this accident and actually vault again,” says Liberty North head track and field coach, Ken Peek.
Ben was recruited and signed with Pittsburg State University, to continue his education and compete for the Gorillas, which has an outstanding track and field program.
Liberty North Eagle sophomore, Caden Mickelson, helped lead the golf team to the state championship tournament as a freshman last Spring. The team finished in eighth place. In an outstanding and memorable freshman year, Mickelson broke several school records. He shot a lowest 18-hole record of 69, a 36-hole record 147. And the most birdies in a round of six, which tied the school record. Mickelson was part of a low team score record of 298. In seven tournaments played, Mickelson had one win and six top-5 finishes, with an 8-round tournament scoring average of 74.6, and a scoring average for all rounds of 37.6 (23 9-hole rounds.)
He capped off an All-Conference and All-District season, by earning All-State first team, with a 5th place finish at the Class 5 state championships.
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