High School

Christian Heritage Academy finally able to hang another state title banner with 3A championship

Crusaders defeat former coach who guided squad to four straight titles from 2014-17

Douglas Miles

YUKON, OKLAHOMA - Christian Heritage Academy has a proud volleyball tradition. 

Four banners hang in the Crusaders’ gymnasium to remind current players of the dominant string of state championships – four in a row, to be exact – from 2014-17.

It’s time to hang another.

“It’s a big deal,” CHA junior outside hitter Hannah Joy Nuthman said after the Crusaders swept Southwest Covenant, 25-22, 25-18, 25-19, for the Class 3A volleyball state championship Saturday at Yukon High School. “We looked forward to it all season.

Christian Heritage Academy junior outside hitter Hannah Joy Nuthman lunges over the net during the Class 3A volleyball state championship match at Yukon High School.
Christian Heritage Academy junior outside hitter Hannah Joy Nuthman lunges over the net during the Class 3A volleyball state championship match at Yukon High School

"We wanted it from the beginning of the season and it is just a joy to be able to come out here and accomplish winning a state championship.”

The previous four CHA state championships were all won under coach Heath Kufahl. On Saturday, Kufahl was on the opposite bench trying to win Southwest Covenant its first state championship in any sport.

One of Kufahl’s daughters is an assistant coach for him at SWC. Another daughter, Reese Kufahl, is a sophomore right-side hitter for, get this, CHA. Two of his nieces, senior Morgan Hale and sophomore Ashlynne Hale – also play for the Crusaders.

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It looks like the youngest of the Kufahl trio will have bragging rights at the dinner table for at least a year.

“It will probably be interesting,” Reese Kufahl said with a laugh. “I think he’ll be OK. I will try not to rub it in too bad, but I’m pretty excited.”

Kufahl had a significant hand in the outcome for CHA (23-17) with 10 kills and two blocks, including a pivotal point that gave the Crusaders a five-point cushion and brought them to the brink of the state championship.

“It just feels so good,” Kufahl said. “I have watched a lot of people win state, especially a couple of years ago when we won four times in a row. It just looked so fun and the fact that we won state, I don’t think I have processed it.

"It feels so good and it just makes everything feel so much better. All the hard work. All the hard practices and especially like this season, which has been so crazy and so much has happened, it just makes everything feel so worth it. We’re going out on a win.”

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For a collection of players that had never won a state championship, the Crusaders looked remarkably composed throughout the match.

In the first set, CHA flipped a 22-21 deficit by scoring the final four points. In Set 2, the Crusaders trailed, 13-12, before closing with a 13-6 surge.

Then in the clincher, CHA scored eight of the final 11 points.

“I am so proud of how we played this weekend,” CHA junior outside hitter Isabelle Harper said. “Because we went out there and played to the best of our ability and we played for God.

"There were absolutely no regrets on that court. No regrets whatsoever. We took care of the teams and we did what we needed to do.”

Christian Heritage Academy junior outside hitter Isabelle Harper readies her swing during the Class 3A volleyball state championship match at Yukon High School.
Christian Heritage Academy junior outside hitter Isabelle Harper readies her swing during the Class 3A volleyball state championship match at Yukon High School

Harper posted nine kills for CHA, while Nuthman led the Crusaders with 15 and added 16 digs. Sophomore libero Laynie Smith recorded 20 digs.

Setters Avery Whitmill and Harlee Peck distributed 17 and 14 assists, respectively

“They just knew that we could do it and so they focused on that,” third-year CHA Coach Heather Benedix said. “We just talked about playing steady through all the ups and downs and focusing on the Lord and playing for Him and playing to glorify Him, and we just hoped they would come out here and play strong and just do a good job.”

Incredibly, CHA graduates just one senior – middle blocker Morgan Hale – off the state championship team. It’s a group that was not deterred by a rugged regular season schedule full of highly-ranked teams from up to three classes above it.

Given their level of fortitude, talent and accomplishment, it is difficult to imagine anyone other than the Crusaders beginning next season at No. 1 in 3A.

“I can only see us going up from here,” Harper said. “The way that we played and how amazing our coaches have been this year. … I think that we could have won 4A this year. Seriously.”

Photos by Travis French

-- Douglas Miles | @SBLiveOK 

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Douglas Miles
DOUGLAS MILES

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