By Blake Spurney
Harvey County Now Staff
HESSTON—Lance Carter brought an athletic pedigree with him when he came from Troy, Ohio, to play basketball at Tabor College.
Hesston’s new recreation director met his wife, Holli, in college, and now the couple is looking for a residence in Hesston. He said he’d always enjoyed athletics, and his duties include overseeing the baseball and softball schedules, the swimming program, tennis camp, soccer, volleyball and flag football. He said his job was all about serving the community.
“Yeah, we’ve really enjoyed the people,” he said about residents he’d met since taking the job. “The people have been very welcoming. People have a heart for community and for rec sports.”
During Carter’s playing career, the Bluejays won four conference titles. He was a two-time Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the year, and he earned first team all-America honors in the NAIA his senior season. Carter earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in leadership at Tabor. He spent the last four years working as a graduate assistant coach for the Bluejays.
Carter said he didn’t know much about Hesston athletics other than it had a strong basketball tradition. He was a teammate of Scott Duerksen of Hesston, and he said he “chased” other Swathers on the recruiting trail. He will be serving as an assistant coach under new head coach Garrett Roth at Hesston High School.
“What Greg [Raleigh] did here was special,” he said. “I think Garrett is going to make his own way. The culture of Hesston basketball is alive and well. Yeah, we’re going to be pretty good this year.”
Carter arrived in the middle of Kansas, sight unseen, after an 18-hour ride on a bus. He credits God for the journey.
“I think he brought me to the middle of Kansas to grow up a little bit,” he said.
When not at work, Carter said he enjoyed spending time with his wife and their daughter, Kenna. He also enjoys fishing when he can find the time.
Carter comes from an athletic family. His half-brother, Cris Carter, is a NFL Hall of Famer at wide receiver. Another half-brother, Butch, played basketball for Bobby Knight at Indiana. His brother, Shane, played football at Wisconsin, and another brother, Alex, played football at Bowling Green State.
