BasehorInfo.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

Athletic Braves eager to battle for KVL championship: By Chris Wristen; August 26, 2010; The Bonner Springs High School football team is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-6 campaign in 2009 with an electrifying 2010 season.
State qualifier Tendick returns to lead BSHS tennis: By Chris Wristen; August 26, 2010; Sometimes a veteran coach just knows a good pair when he sees it.
Bonner Springs soccer squad looks for breakthrough in 2010: By Chris Wristen; August 25, 2010; Bonner Springs was on the verge of a soccer breakthrough in 2009, but the Braves simply struggled to put the ball in the back of the net enough.
Wristen: Braves ready to deliver breakout year: By Chris Wristen; August 19, 2010; Last fall launched the year of the Bobcat as Basehor-Linwood High School’s sports teams delivered one of the best all-around sports years in school history.
Home sweet home for BLHS baseball: New sod, bleachers and scoreboard among highlights at on-campus field; By Chris Wristen; August 19, 2010; Basehor-Linwood High School continued its baseball field renovations this summer, and coach David Svoboda said he believes the school might have one of the best fields in the Kaw Valley League.
Braves’ Puckett an All-American: Sophomore-to-be makes BSHS history at national tourney; By Chris Wristen; August 12, 2010; Bonner Springs wrestling coach Brandon Jobe knew he had a special group of freshmen to work with when he took over the Braves’ program last year.
Wristen: A moment of silence before fall sports begin: By Chris Wristen; August 12, 2010; This is it; the calm before the storm.
Former KU standout teaches football skills to youths at clinic: By Chris Wristen; August 5, 2010; It’d been about eight months since most Kansas University fans last saw Jake Sharp on the football field, but the former Jayhawk running back resurfaced to lead a youth clinic Saturday at David Jaynes Stadium.
New-look Kaw Valley League includes football coaching change at MVHS: By Chris Wristen; August 5, 2010; The Kaw Valley League will have a new look Aug. 16 when football season begins and the league debuts its eight-team format with the departure of Santa Fe Trail and Perry-Lecompton.
Kilimanjaro calling: Journey to the roof of Africa offers lesson in humility: By Chris Wristen; July 29, 2010; Sports Editor Chris Wristen spent June 6-12 climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The following is an excerpt from his travel journal.

Full story list

Recent photos

Ethan Hugeback, 6, participates in a tackling and fumble recovery drill during former Kansas University running back Jake Sharp's clinic on Saturday in Bonner Springs.

David Thomas, 6, takes a handoff from former KU running back Jake Sharp at a football clinic on Saturday in Bonner Springs.

Anthony Angelotti, 7, hops over the tackling dummies during a running back drill Saturday at former Kansas University running back Jake Sharp's football clinic.

Former Kansas University running back Jake Sharp hands off the ball to a camper during a running back drill on Saturday at Sharp's clinic at David Jaynes Stadium in Bonner Springs. The camp was conducted in affiliation with the Bonner Springs Family YMCA.