After controversy ended his burgeoning prep running career, Akech Aye is making the most of his second chance.

The Sudan native and 2009 Central graduate — along with his half-brother, Yout Aye — has excelled at the collegiate level as a member of the cross country team at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa. Thus far, Aye has led the Spartans in all but one race and routinely has finished in the top quarter of the field.

Last fall, Aye was disallowed from competition by the Missouri State High School Activities Association because of an age dispute that robbed him of his senior season.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Central cross country coach Roger Price said. “When I found out they were running up there, I was so pleased.

“It makes it worth being a coach knowing he’s making something out of his running.”

After joining the cross country team his junior year, Aye rapidly improved and took over the Indians’ role as No. 1 runner by the end of the year, when he finished 67th at the Class 4 state meet. But the state wouldn’t let him compete after he turned 19 shortly before the start of the school year.

Neither Aye nor his family knows his exact age, however. His official birth date — May 30, 1989 — was created in order for Aye and his family to leave Sudan nearly six years ago.

Though Akech didn’t compete last year, Yout — an individual state qualifier, as well — caught the eye of Southwestern cross country coach Bill Huntington. The Spartans’ coach was stunned to learn about Akech’s situation and successfully recruited both runners to the two-year school in Creston, Iowa.

“I think he really missed it last year. You can tell he really enjoys running every day again,” Huntington said of Akech. “He has just really matured here the last two weeks, and we’ve been really pleased with him, with both of them.

“They’re having outstanding years, and I think it’s been a very smooth transition.”

Southwestern opened the season ranked 14th nationally, and Huntington already believes both of the Ayes can compete at a higher level when they complete their time with the Spartans.

Indians winning

dramatically

Most teams prefer not to sweat out a down-to-the-wire match. Central’s tennis team doesn’t seem to mind a few close calls.

Earlier this month, the Indians squeaked out consecutive 5-4 victories against conference opponents Raymore-Peculiar and Lee’s Summit to stay above .500. Each time, a different pair of players played the hero for Central.

Against Ray-Pec, the doubles team of Lauretta Myers and Sara Verduzco won the pivotal match, while Marisa Deming and Kody Nelson did the same against the Tigers.

After tinkering with the doubles pairings in the early part of the season, second-year coach Kim Schank believes she’s finding the best combinations throughout the line-up.

“They’re all pretty compatible, and they’re willing to step up whenever we ask them to to get the job done,” Schank said. “They’re ready to battle no matter what the score is.”

Deming has played especially well from her No. 2 singles spot, while sophomore Logan Taylor has been competitive against some of the best competition in the region as the team’s No. 1 player.

Despite a loss to Liberty on Tuesday, Central (4-3) leaps back into action this weekend during the conference tournament and continues to prepare for the district tournament, which begins Oct. 9.

Schank hopes to find the right combination of players and send a representative to state for the first time since Megan Liechti and Nisha Sheth advanced to state in 2006 in the Class 2 doubles competition.

“We’re still figuring out some things, but the girls are willing to do what we ask and getting better as a team,” Schank said.

Playing for a good cause

Two conference rivals will be playing for more than a victory next week.

Platte Valley Conference foes DeKalb and Jefferson will participate in a “Play for the Cure” event during their softball game Tuesday at DeKalb in order to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation — a breast cancer awareness organization.

Players for both schools will sport pink socks, and various clothing items — including T-shirts — also will be available for purchase at the event. All proceeds will be donated.

“The coaches just kind of thought it might be a good idea, and it’s something that’s important and has impacted both of our communities,” DeKalb coach Cori Elms said.

The teams renew their pink-tinged rivalry during basketball season, as well, and will have a similar fundraising event Feb. 19 during the game at Jefferson.

Changing his feathers

Benedictine’s basketball program recently benefitted from the return of a familiar face.

George Ross Jr. — who led Atchison’s boys basketball team the past eight years — will make the cross-town trip and join Benedictine’s men program as an assistant coach under Joe Brickner. Ross, who graduated from the school in 1995, compiled a .537 winning percentage and a long list of accolades during his tenure with the Redmen.

His teams appeared in the postseason four times, including back-to-back appearances in 2006 and ’07, and made a pair of runs to the Class 4A semifinals in 2004 and ’06. He also helped produce several hardwood standouts, including J.J. Seymore — the 2007 News-Press Player of the Year.