Seaman High School entered the United Kansas Conference (UKC) last year and have already distinguished themselves as a leader amongst the nine schools in the league. SHS was awarded the United Kansas Conference Cup championship for the 2022-23 school year.
Seaman High School Athletic Director Steve Bushnell presented the UKC Cup at the September Board Meeting. "Finishing 15 points ahead of second place is quite an accomplishment," Bushnell said. "We challenged our student body at the beginning of the school year to be the champions and compete, and we certainly did that."
The Conference Cup championship is determined by the school that accumulates the most points overall in the KSHSAA sponsored activities that include 21 boys & girls sport programs, debate, forensics and scholars bowl competitions.
The UKC has been in existence for six years, beginning in 2018-19. Original UKC league members included Shawnee Heights, Basehor-Linwood, DeSoto, Lansing, Leavenworth and Kansas City-Turner. Seaman was one of three schools added in 2022-23, increasing the size to it’s current membership of nine schools.
Seaman was originally asked to consider UKC membership in 2018-19, but declined and decided to remain in the Centennial League. However, the Centennial League quickly began changing, leaving Seaman and Emporia the only 5A schools remaining with three 6A schools.
“All nine UKC members schools are in the 5A classification,” Bushnell said. “So from a size and enrollment standpoint, we all have a similar demographic. Seven of the nine schools are single high school districts like us. It has been an extremely competitive conference and the travel distance to the east is comparable to the Centennial League with our longest trip for league play being just over an hour drive.” Competitive balance, school size and travel were big considerations for school officials when considering the league change.
Switching leagues did come with its challenges, including moving away from relationships formed over the last 60 years as a charter member of the Centennial League. While SHS still competes against former leagues schools in many sports and activities, they do miss those rivalries, like Hayden & Washburn Rural in football and basketball.
“The biggest challenge is always change,” said Bushnell. “As difficult of a decision as it was to leave the Centennial League, I believe advantages to position our students and community for long-term success was to join the UKC. We still compete against our city schools and former Centennial League opponents in non-conference competition and remain competitive and prepared for post-season play and success.”
Congratulations to all SHS students, athletes, coaches and sponsors on winning the 2022-23 United Kansas Conference Cup Championship.