Students from the Mill Valley High School girls' flag football team, Mill Valley High School cheer team, and district-wide orchestra program were recognized for excellence and achievement at the Board of Education meeting on January 12. 

MVHS Girls' Flag Football Team

In September 2025, Mill Valley High School became the first school in USD 232 to organize a girls' flag football team. The program, led by Head Coach Sarah Haub and Assistant Coach Darion Hillman, drew tremendous interest, with 30 student athletes earning roster spots. They embraced the challenge of learning a new sport, pushed through demanding practices, and grew together while learning valuable life lessons. 

Kansas Girls' Flag Football is new to the state, as 2025 was only its second season. The league is sponsored by the Kansas City Chiefs and had 29 Kansas high schools participate for the 2025 season.

Once competition began in September, the team quickly found its stride, starting the season 4–0 and showcasing both natural athletic ability and strong work ethic. That momentum carried them to an impressive 13–1 regular-season record, earning a berth in the state tournament. There the team won the state championship by defeating the undefeated Maize High School 34–13. For this accomplishment, the team received a certificate of achievement from the Board of Education.

MVHS Cheer Team

The 2025–26 Mill Valley High School cheer team, coached by Jennifer Ivey, Brittany Burdolski, and Katie Heffernon, kicked off the season with a total of 41 female athletes across the junior varsity and varsity teams. Both of these teams earned honors and recognitions at their summer camps — with junior varsity earning the top team at camp and varsity receiving the Team Top Leadership Award.   

The Mill Valley cheer program continues to support our athletic teams and activities around campus by providing a spirited environment at many school events, such as JV and Varsity Football games, girls and boys JV and Varsity Basketball games, and also select Varsity Soccer and volleyball games. The cheer team earned a 1 rating at the Blue Valley West High School Showcase, along with specialty awards, and also won a competitive UCA Regional title in Kansas City.

In November, the team traveled to Topeka to compete for the Kansas state title where they captured the Kansas Class 6A State Championship by a significant point margin, securing a third consecutive state title. For this accomplishment, the team received a certificate of achievement from the Board of Education.

The team will conclude its season by traveling to Orlando, Florida, to compete in the National High School Cheerleading Championship at Disney’s Wide World of Sports February 6–8. The competition will air on ESPN later this year.

Orchestra

To mark the inaugural year of the district-wide program, students from the orchestra were also recognized at the board meeting. Five students, one from each secondary school, were selected to perform a piece for the board, showcasing the talent and dedication growing across our district. 

The students in this ensemble were: 

• Graham Anderson, Mill Valley High School
• Lucy Anderson, Monticello Trails Middle School
• Ava Kiene, Mill Creek Middle School
• Hosanna Kiruthi, Lexington Trails Middle School
• Madison Merz, De Soto High School

Sincere appreciation was extended to the program’s instructor, Elena Kolbrek De Leon, whose leadership and passion has made the program flourish in only a few short months.

Together, these accomplishments reflect the talent, dedication, and growth taking place across USD 232. From the launch of new programs to championship performances, students and staff continue to raise the bar and create meaningful opportunities beyond the classroom. The district and Board of Education are proud of these achievements and remain committed to supporting programs that expand opportunities for students.