Fun in the Valley
Winter Homecoming
The High School Student Council will be hosting the Winter Homecoming from January 25th through the 31st. Visit the Winter Homecoming webpage for more information and event details.
Talent Show
The second annual Maple Valley Talent Show was held on January 15th, and it was truly a night to remember. Students signed up to showcase their amazing talents, filling the auditorium with music, confidence, and school spirit.
The talent show, started last year by the Class of 2026 as a fundraiser for the Senior Trip, continues to grow in excitement each year. Students competed in two categories: the High School Division and the Junior High Division.
High School Division winners:
1st Place: Kain Holton, performing “Feeling Good” by Michael Bublé
2nd Place: Sully Braden, playing “Rock Bottom” by UFO on electric guitar
3rd Place: Ash Storrs, singing “Love in a Bottle” by Keith David
Junior High Division winners:
1st Place: McKenzie Lawless, singing “Once Upon a December” from Disney’s Anastasia
2nd Place: Cooper Thomason, singing “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
3rd Place: Hannah Primm, singing a cappella
We were honored to have the show MC’d by junior Evan Leatherman and judged by Dr. Bertolini, Mrs. Catchick, and Mrs. Rose. A big thank you goes out to everyone who participated and helped make the event such a success.
Sports
For sports schedules, please visit the Athletics Website: Upcoming Sporting Events
On January 14th, the 7th and 8th Grade Girls Basketball teams traveled to Bronson.
On January 12th, the JV & Varsity girls basketball teams traveled to St. Philip Catholic Central for a road matchup. The JV team took on Jackson Christian and fell 13–25, while the Varsity team faced St. Philip Catholic Central and battled hard before dropping a 37–48 decision.
On January 16th, the JV & Varsity girls basketball teams traveled to Reading High School for an away contest. The JV team dropped a close game 13–19, while the Varsity team fought hard but fell 30–40.
On January 13th, the JV & Varsity boys basketball teams traveled to Reading High School and came away with a strong sweep. The JV team earned a decisive 63–25 win, while the Varsity squad followed with a solid 64–48 victory on the road.
On January 15th, the JV & Varsity boys basketball teams traveled to Bronson High School for a road matchup. The JV team battled hard but came up short with a 35–44 loss, while the Varsity team also fell on the road by a score of 36–59.
On January 17th, the JV & Varsity boys basketball teams hosted Colon. The JV team earned a victory 40–31, while the Varsity team fell 41–71.
On January 15th, the Wrestling team traveled to Concord for a Big 8 Quad.
At the 2026 Shawn Cockrell Memorial Tournament, the Maple Valley wrestling team had some strong performances across multiple weight classes.
Joe Long captured 1st place in the 285-pound class, earning 26 team points.
Jackson Burpee placed 2nd at 190 pounds, scoring 19 team points.
Tyrese Robinson also took 2nd place at 215 pounds, adding 20 team points.
Roman Schliz had a solid showing with 4th place at 126 pounds, contributing 9 team points.
Gavin Swift placed 4th at 157 pounds, scoring 11 team points.
Trapper Wawiernia (113 pounds) and Sawyer Wawiernia (113 pounds) competed hard but did not place.
Quincy Page (144 pounds) also scored 3 team points.
The team showed determination and skill throughout the tournament, with several wrestlers earning podium finishes and contributing to Maple Valley’s strong overall performance.
Staff Highlight
This week, we are highlighting Mr. Landon Wilkes, the Athletic Director & Dean of Students at the Jr/Sr High School, who has been with the district for 26 years.
Mr. Wilkes has been a cornerstone of Maple Valley for more than two decades. He first became interested in working at Maple Valley after attending college with several people who were already on staff. Their positive experiences encouraged him to apply, and once he joined the district, the students quickly became the reason he knew he had found the right place. To this day, he says that the students are what keep him feeling blessed to be part of Maple Valley.
His favorite part about working at Maple Valley is, without question, the students. Mr. Wilkes enjoys watching them grow, graduate, and go on to become productive members of society. He also values the opportunity to work alongside so many great colleagues who make each day enjoyable.
Outside of school, Mr. Wilkes loves spending time with his family—whether that’s chasing his kids around at sporting events or simply hanging out together.
When asked what advice he would give students, Mr. Wilkes keeps it real: “Grind. Life can be difficult, and you will have bad days, but keep grinding. Not every day will be your day, but do the best you can. Try to find common ground with people; you do not have to agree with everyone, but you need to listen to their opinions.”
Maple Valley is grateful for the years of dedication, leadership, and commitment to students that Mr. Wilkes has given.
