On Jan. 30, 2016, the North Platte Panthers boys basketball team slayed the Mid-Buchanan Dragons to win the North Platte Invitational. Just a day after the 10-year anniversary of the Panthers’ 2016 title, the Panthers finally reclaimed the tournament title. Little did they know it would take a decade of heartache before they returned to that summit.

The Platte County football team will be under new leadership next season for the first time in nearly two decades. On Jan. 29, Platte County head football coach Bill Utz told his team of his intention to step down from his position as head coach of the Pirates. On Feb. 2, the move became official as the Lansing Board of Education approved the hiring of Utz as Lansing High School’s next head football coach.

The Park Hill girls basketball team earned a hard-fought road win against Platte County on Jan. 29, never letting an early lead slip as they won 35-27.

The Park Hill South boys basketball team had four seniors reach double figures as they ran away with a 64-44 Senior Night victory against Liberty on Jan. 27.

North Platte and West Platte wrestlers tested themselves against some familiar competition in the KCI Conference championships. A formidable lineup and a pair of performances from North Platte standouts powered the North Platte/Mid-Buchanan girls to the KCI Conference team championship at the conference wrestling tournament held Jan. 27 in Lawson.

Platte County High School welcomed teams from 15 schools for the 54th annual Platte County Wrestling Invitational at Pirates Fieldhouse on Jan. 23.

On the 11th try, the West Platte boys basketball team finally got its first win against Bishop LeBlond, defeating them 43-41 on Jan. 19.

It was a shaky start for the Park Hill boys basketball team, but they eventually overcame the hostile road environment to defeat Winnetonka 69-49 on Jan. 22.

The West Platte girls basketball team held a narrow lead for most of the night on Jan. 19, closing out a 39-36 non-conference victory against Bishop LeBlond on home court.

The margin never felt safe, and by the time the final relay climbed onto the blocks, the outcome was still very much in doubt. Platte County did just enough to withstand a late surge from Park Hill, edging the Trojans 92-88 in a tightly contested girls swimming dual meet on Jan. 20 at the Park Hill Aquatic Center. The Pirates led wire to wire, but the gap narrowed repeatedly as Park Hill answered nearly every push with one of its own, turning the meet into a tug-of-war that came down to the final event.

There may not be another girls basketball team in the Greater KC White Division that has faced as much of a daunting non-conference schedule as Platte County.

The Park Hill boys and girls wrestling teams celebrated their 12 seniors on Jan. 14 before a dual against Park Hill South.

Park Hill South continued to separate itself from the rest of the metro field Jan. 16-17, capturing the KC Classic title at the Gladstone Community Center as they added yet another tournament title entering the final stretch of the season.

The No. 10 state-ranked North Platte boys basketball team took a critical step towards winning a KCI Conference championship on Jan. 9, when they went on the road in Weston to overcome a 12-point deficit for a 53-50 overtime win against West Platte.

The wrestlers of Park Hill South celebrated a senior night to remember on Jan. 7 on their home mat, with the girls and boys wrestling teams securing a conference dual win against Oak Park.

It was far from straightforward, but seven players scoring in multiple quarters for the North Platte girls basketball team helped the Panthers to a 12-point road win against West Platte on Jan. 9.

Platte County’s girls swimming and diving team turned in a strong all-around performance on Jan. 6, hosting a multi-school meet in Platte City and piling up points across nearly every event.

The Battle of the Hill has been a lopsided affair in girls basketball over the past four seasons, with Park Hill South winning eight of nine meetings against Park Hill. That pattern continued on Jan. 8, when the Panthers used a comeback effort to hand their district rival yet another defeat, this time on the Trojans’ home court.

The Park Hill boys basketball team took home a third-place plaque from the 46th annual William Jewell Holiday Classic on Dec. 30, overcoming a 21-point deficit in the first half to win 64-57 in overtime of their tournament finale in the Holley Division against Pembroke Hill.

The Park Hill South boys basketball team took home a fifth-place plaque in the Patterson Division from the William Jewell Holiday Classic after defeating Raytown 64-54 on Dec. 30.

Park Hill’s girls swim team turned in a competitive showing at a meet on Jan. 3 at Gladstone Community Center, finishing second overall behind Staley in a four-team field that also included Oak Park and North Kansas City.

The back-to-back state champion Park Hill South Panthers girls swim and dive team has their eyes set on a third consecutive state title, but new competition will pose some problems.

Platte County wrestling enters the new season with a blend of proven postseason pedigree, rising depth and a clear standard.

The boys basketball team at Park Hill High School is under new leadership for the first time in a decade with a brand new gym, but the team’s senior class has provided some experience and stability.

The defending conference champion Platte County girls swim team has their eyes set on another conference title, but they hope to do so by adding a unique community-focused tradition to their home swim meets.

A trio of seniors will lead a North Platte boys basketball team that has expectations of putting big numbers on the scoreboard this season.

After a pair of losing seasons, Park Hill South now has hope that it can compete for championships once again with the amount of quality depth they now have at their disposal.

Expectations around the North Platte girls basketball program are higher than most programs in the state, having celebrated 10 district titles since 2009. This season, the Panthers hope to continue building on a tradition-rich program.

The North Platte boys wrestling program enters the 2025-26 season continuing a decade-long cooperative with Mid-Buchanan while leaning on experienced leadership, a returning state medalist and a coaching staff that emphasizes steady growth from November through February.

Park Hill wrestling opens a new season with familiar expectations under the guidance of Jacob Beck for his ninth season as head coach.