CLASS 5A 2024 State champion: St. Thomas Aquinas

2024 State runner-up: Hays

BY KSHSAA COVERED

While Mill Valley entered last season as the favorite in 5A – a distinction earned by entering the 2024 campaign on a streak of five straight state championships – nobody was sleeping on St. Thomas Aquinas, which returned to Class 5A after spending 2022 and 2023 in Class 4A, capturing the state championship in 2023. The two seemed on a collision course that couldn’t end in the state championship with both in the East bracket and when that collision occurred, it was epic. Aquinas went into their 5A quarterfinal clash undefeated while Mill Valley’s only loss came to Lee’s Summit North (Mo.). Mill Valley had ended Aquinas’ season three straight years prior to the Saints dropping to 4A and position

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