![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
Former Lawrence High School baseball coach Brad Stoll has excelled with his new team coaching minor league baseball.
Stoll’s career began at the University of Kansas coaching program, which led to over ten years coaching LHS baseball. He has been recognized by students and teachers for his talent as a sports educator, receiving the Special Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2023.
“I’m a Lawrence High grad, so it meant a lot to me to come back to the high school I went to,” Stoll said. “There’s a lot of pride, a lot of tradition, and that means a lot to me to carry that on.”
During his time at Lawrence High, Stoll coached baseball for an array of athletes, including his two sons, Jack and Sam. He describes his experience coaching his sons fondly.
“It was something that I’ll never ever forget,” Stoll said. “The memories will last forever.”
His relationship-focused coaching style sets him apart, as stated by colleague Adam Green, with whom Stoll has worked for over 20 years.
“He was a really good coach, and he gave us a really good instruction,” junior and former baseball athlete Lou Elsten said. “He was an all-around good person.”
Stoll’s personalized coaching style continues throughout his transition to the minor leagues, despite the different environment and new responsibilities. To prepare, he spent September of 2024 in Florida working at an instructional camp with the Braves.
“I’ve been talking to several organizations and they were the first ones to offer me a job, so I took the opportunity immediately,” Stoll said. “They told me to talk with my family first, but I told them I don’t need to because we’ve been talking about it for a long time.”
His former LHS student-athletes and colleagues say they will miss him, but wish him the best.
“He cared outside of baseball–how you were doing mentally, academically, and all that,” former LHS baseball player Isaiah Edmonds said. “If you had an issue, you could go to him no matter what. He wasn’t just there to coach baseball, he’s there to help with everything.”
Stoll has been coaching the Braves for about three months now and is looking forward to his future of coaching infielders and base runners.
“I would like to see different parts of the country and coach in different areas,” Stoll said. “Be exposed to as many great players as possible.”
Green also looks brightly at Stoll’s future, expressing that his coaching style will work well in a professional sports environment.
“When you get to professional baseball, it becomes more of a job. The players are paid to do it,” Green said. “I think that the missing link sometimes is to not forget that they’re human. People always respond best when they feel like they’re cared for, and he definitely does a good job of expressing that.”
In general, Stoll says he will miss the ‘Chesty Lion Spirit’ and culture at LHS, but is enjoying his newfound community with the Atlanta Braves.
“I’ll definitely miss wearing the Lawrence High jersey,” Stoll said.“I’ve already worn some Chesty Lion shirts under my Braves outfit.”
This story was originally published on The Budget on January 22, 2025.