SHS Black Bears

Following Sterling School Activities via Black Bear Broadcasting.

[CoachBillSnyderFamily/SunflowerChapterNFF @SunflowerNFF]

Congratulations to Sterling High School Head Football Coach, Brent Schneider, for being selected as the 2025-26 Don Fambrough Co-Coach of the Year!

[Kansas Sports Chatter @KSportsChatter]

KSHSAA Covered writer Andy Brown @AndyKSHSAA recapped a handful of State 🏀 championships won by Linn, Sacred Heart, Sterling and Hanover. @KSHSAA @LHSBulldogPower @SHSBlackBears @SterlingUSD376 @BballHanover

Watch the interview on YouTube⬇️
https://t.co/skr58Pzg4l

[Kansas Sports Chatter @KSportsChatter]

KSHSAA Covered writer Andy Brown @AndyKSHSAA noted it's a special group at Sterling, securing a 🏀 and 🏈 State championship this year. @KSHSAA @SHSBlackBears @SterlingUSD376

"There was a lot of pressure on them this year to duplicate that...they did so and did it perfectly."

Watch the full show on YouTube⬇️
https://t.co/zt79tg5WKh

[Brent Maycock @BrentKSHSAA]

The KSHSAA Covered Boys All-State Top 5

Top 15, Coach of year, features and All-Class teams coming later in the week.

@BHSBoys_Bball @cooper_carr1
@SHSBlackBears @bostonekart
@WCSKS @sebas_datguy5
@mvjaguars @reeceriedel5 @CoachBangle
@BSHSHoops @kelangruver45
@coacholerich

[Brent Maycock @BrentKSHSAA]

@SHSBlackBears @bostonekart

[Nic Nielsen @TheNielsenFile]

Great news!

The @SHSBlackBears Pep Band is back at Hutch.

One of my favorite parts of Hutch.

@NJCAATournament @NJCAABasketball @JUCOadvocate

[Gabriela Hernandez @KWCHGabriela]

☑️ Class 1A State Football Title
☑️ Class 2A State Basketball Title
☑️ Back-to-Back

The @SHSBlackBears win it over Berean Academy 59-49! Finishing a perfect season as 28-0.

@CatchItKansas @KWCH12

[Last of the Fullbacks @TheLastFullback]

Sterling High School (2025)

Kansas 1A State Champions
• First state title in 43 years

(35-34 W over Rossville)

- On the season, 451 out of 471 offensive plays were runs. (12-0 record)
- 48 carries, 347 yards rushing in Title game

Flexbone cutups: 🎥 🧵

[KSHSAA @KSHSAA]

All-State Top 11 Selection

Sterling's Zane Farney

6-foot, 185 pounds, Running back/Cornerback

Key stat: 2,326 yards, 42 TDs

Fun fact: Led Sterling to first state championship since 1982

https://t.co/bF6NNKWQp9

[Sports in Kansas @sportsinkansas]

🏆 Sports in Kansas 1A Coach of the Year
Brent Schneider, Sterling

Sterling head coach Brent Schneider delivered one of the most memorable championship runs in Kansas this fall, guiding the Black Bears to their first state football title since 1982. A Sterling College alum, Schneider brought a physical brand of football and a gritty identity that culminated in a 35-34 victory over traditional power Rossville in an unforgettable 1A title game.

The championship came down to two plays that will live forever in Sterling history: a blocked extra point by Kevin Ploutz that proved to be the difference, and a late passing touchdown from Logan Isaac to sophomore Jacob Lewis, which is remarkable considering Sterling had only attempted 17 passes all season. It was toughness, belief, and execution at the perfect moment.

How far have the Black Bears climbed? Sterling had back-to-back 6-4 seasons in 2024 and 2023, and before that, the program endured five straight losing seasons. Schneider built the foundation, developed experience, and gradually raised expectations year by year before the breakthrough came. This wasn’t an overnight story, it was a full program transformation.

Behind Schneider’s leadership, Sterling rode star senior Zane Farney, who erupted for 276 rushing yards in the title game and surpassed 2,300 total yards this season, earning a Sports in Kansas Top 11 selection. Fellow senior Wyatt Newberry added toughness on both sides of the ball, while Lewis, just a sophomore, became one of the state’s breakout young standouts with his defensive impact and title-winning catch.

It has been a remarkable nine months in Sterling, as the boys basketball team, coached by Brent’s brother, Derek Schneider, also claimed the 2025 2A state title, delivering multiple championships to the same community behind the Schneider name. Small-town pride and leadership have never been louder.

A dominant season and a long-awaited state title return to the Black Bears.
#sportsinkansas

[KSHSAA @KSHSAA]

Out of Hibernation: Sterling claws past Rossville for first football title since 1982

#KSHSAACovered x @CapFed

https://t.co/n918HKbbzP

[Kelly ®oss 🍀 @kelly_kross]

A few frames from the 1A and 3A State Championship games in Hutchinson. @RossvilleDawgs @AndaleFootball @AHS_INDIANS @RHS_DAWG_FB @SHSBlackBears

[Jason Lamb @JasonLambTV]

3 Kansas HS Football State Champions crowned Friday.
6 more will claim state 🏆 on Saturday!

1A @SHSBlackBears
3A @AndaleFootball
5A @SC_MustangFB

[Micaela Dea @MicaelaDeaTV]

STATE CHAMPS 🏆

The @SHSBlackBears beat Rossville 35-34 in a thriller to clinch their first state title since 1982.

[Brent Maycock @BrentKSHSAA]

@RHS_DAWG_FB @SHSBlackBears

[Brent Maycock @BrentKSHSAA]

@RHS_DAWG_FB @SHSBlackBears

[Brent Maycock @BrentKSHSAA]

@RHS_DAWG_FB @SHSBlackBears

[Trevor McNeal @TrademarkCasts]

The seniors of @SHSBlackBears - champions. #KSHSAA @HeartlandHuddle

[SHS Black Bears @SHSBlackBears]

2025 1A State Championship game. Watch live at https://t.co/sjgaAyCOiF, https://t.co/LSDSOh43D9, AdastraTV, or our Roku App/Device.

[SHS Black Bears @SHSBlackBears]

This time, with the help of Precision Engraving & Awards of Sterling, we have put together the current Kansas High School Mascots. We did our best to place them geographically 'close' to where they are located. If we got something wrong, feel free to message us and let us know.