Stephen Montemayor | Shawnee Dispatch

Stephen Montemayor is community sports editor for The World Company's weekly newspapers and websites in Northeast Kansas. Stephen previously worked as a reporter and photographer for The Shawnee Dispatch. Prior to joining the company, Stephen served as editor-in-chief, sports editor and a reporter during five semesters with The University Daily Kansan at Kansas University. You can follow Stephen on Twitter at @smontemayor.

Recent stories

Kansas Turnpike fatal crash truck driver asleep at wheel, manager says: By Stephen Montemayor; April 2, 2014; The 30-year-old Aurora, Colo., man who died when his tractor-trailer crashed into a Kansas Turnpike toll plaza early Saturday morning appeared to be asleep in photos taken just before the crash, his manager said Tuesday from California.
Shawnee woman one of 2 arrested at Lawrence Walmart on suspicion of theft, criminal damage: By Stephen Montemayor; November 11, 2013; A 23-year-old Shawnee woman and a 27-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man were arrested at a Lawrence Wal-Mart Friday and were in Douglas County Jail on Saturday on suspicion of theft and criminal damage.
Fall sports previews: Maranatha, SM North, St. James Academy: By Stephen Montemayor; September 3, 2013; The Dispatch sent questionnaires to fall sports coaches at Maranatha Christian Academy, Shawnee Mission North and St. James Academy in addition to those at Mill Valley and SM Northwest. Here’s a look at some of the Shawnee-area’s fall sports teams’ 2013 prospects.
Fall sports preview: Unfinished business for SM Northwest seniors: By Stephen Montemayor; September 3, 2013; Shawnee Mission Northwest’s fall sports teams are coming off a year in which one, the boys cross-country team, took home a state championship and others (boys soccer and cross-country) came up just short of making state tournament runs of their own.
Fall sports preview: 2012 a stellar act to follow for Mill Valley teams: By Stephen Montemayor; September 3, 2013; Mill Valley’s strong fall campaign in 2012 kicked off the best year in sports in school history. From cross-country winning another pair of league titles and finishing two girls runners in the top 10 at state to the volleyball team advancing to its first state title, highlights were plentiful last year.
Sunflower League boasts 6A state football title contenders, D-I talent: By Stephen Montemayor; 04:39 p.m., August 26, 2013 Updated 01:39 p.m.; Free State, alongside SM West, has been picked by several writers to be on the short list for 6A title contention one year after advancing to the state semifinals. On its preseason top-five list for 6A, Kpreps.com has SM West second and Free State fourth.
Turnover at Mill Valley spices up Kaw Valley League football title race: By Stephen Montemayor; August 26, 2013; For the second straight season, the previous year’s Kaw Valley League champions begin their defense of the league crown minus several key offensive stars, including a prolific quarterback.
SM Northwest seniors aim high in Hibbs’ second year as football coach: By Stephen Montemayor; 04:30 p.m., August 26, 2013 Updated 10:18 a.m.; The hope is that the Cougars can avoid last year’s predilection to score in the single digits — going 0-4 each time and only scoring 25 points or more twice on the season, both victories. The ground game was also an emphasis in 2012, but perhaps more so out of necessity: the Cougars passed for just 643 yards all year with two touchdowns and nine interceptions. Meanwhile, SM Northwest finished with 1,513 yards rushing at a 4.3 yards per carry clip.
Mill Valley football must replace bulk of historic 2012 offense: By Stephen Montemayor; August 26, 2013; The decision as to who will succeed Skyler Windmiller as the Mill Valley football team’s next gunslinger is coming down to the wire after a three-headed competition remained virtually a dead heat all summer.
Bond of brothers: SMNW alum forges friendship in N.C. during summer baseball league: By Stephen Montemayor; August 13, 2013; Rader returned to Coffeyville Community College this month, where he will play his second season of college baseball after playing for the Fayetteville (N.C.) SwampDogs this summer. He returned with clippings of a profile of him in the Fayetteville Observer and a newfound experience with having played in front of thousands. But what Rader may remember most, perhaps this summer’s most enduring impression, is an unexpected addition to his family.

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Recent photos

Mill Valley senior Hannah Billings will play volleyball at Emory University in Atlanta next year. This year, however, she plans to help the Jaguars return to the 5A state tournament.

SMNW's Colleen Freeman returns after advancing to the 6A state girls tennis tournament last season.

Mill Valley’s Hannah Billings (5) and Taylor Cowan (11) return to try to lead the Jaguars’ volleyball team back to the 5A state tournament, one year after reaching the stage for the first time in school history.

SMNW senior Jake Gilliam takes a hand-off from junior Clay Drouillard during the Cougars’ June team camp. SMNW seeks to improve on 2012’s 2-7 record.

Mill Valley’s football team must defend the Kaw Valley League title without most of the players responsible for more than 4,000 yards of offense and 64 touchdowns in 2012.

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