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Created: 27 March 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Through her first three seasons of high school swimming, Seaman's Joslynn Grace was surrounded by talented older teammates.

Seaman senior Joslynn Grace posted first and second-place individual finishes in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

But after the Vikings lost a talented senior class, including twin sisters Tauren and Avery Walz, from last year's team that posted a third-place finish in Class 5A-1A, Grace is being counted on to lead the way in the pool and as a leader as Seaman enters the 2025 campaign.

"I was a little nervous at first, but it's really fun to get to be with more of the team I feel like,'' Grace said. "I was really close to the twins and now I'm like branching out and I get to meet a lot of people and cheer them all on, so it's been a lot of fun.''

Grace got her season off to a solid start on Thursday in the 16-school Topeka West Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, posting a win and a second-place individual finish while also helping the Vikings to a pair of top-six relay finishes.

Grace, a returning multi-event 5A-1A state medalist, won the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2 minutes, 15.84 seconds and finished second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.72.

Grace also teamed with Reagan Greig, Lizzie Gould and Megan Strobel to finish fifth in the 200 medley relay (2:13.96) and with Greig, Gould and Strobel to finish sixth in the 200 free relay (2:05.02) as the Vikings finished fourth as a team with 234 points.

Seaman senior Joslynn Grace looks up at the scoreboard after her 200 IM victory in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"I thought today was pretty good,'' Grace said. "I wish my IM would have been a little bit faster, but I was pretty happy with it.''

Now Grace, who plans to swim collegiately at Nebraska-Kearney with older sister Gabby, is setting her sights on finishing her high school career with a bang.

"I definitely would like to medal in both my events again and maybe get like second-team All-State or first-team All-State,'' Grace said. "That would be really cool.''   

Seaman also got a third-place finish from Strobel in the 500 freestyle (7:10.03) and a third from Sydney Thoman in one-meter diving (152.75).

Hayden tied for fifth as a team with 191 points, led by Maddie Gregg and Kaylee Gregg, who finished one-two in diving. M. Gregg won with a score of 179.90 while K. Gregg was right behind her sister at 178.00. 

The Wildcats also got a fourth-place finish in the 400 free relay from Kaelyn Gerdel, Kelly Ann Chada, Lilly Charvat and Esa Herrera in 4:47.88.

Shawnee Heights senior Ashtynn Landry posted a pair of top-four finishes in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Shawnee Heights finished seventh as a team (164), getting a third-place finish from senior Ashtynn Landry in the 200 freestyle in 2:14.46.

Landry also finished fourth in the 100 freestyle (1:01.17) while sophomore Kaitlyn Aldridge was fourth in the 200 IM (2:35.22).   

TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

ELLA BOLAN, Silver Lake

A senior, Bolan was a member of Silver Lake's Class 3A state championship 4x400 relay team in the 2024 state meet, with the Eagles posting a winning time of 4:06.64. Bolan also ranked No. 4 in Shawnee County last season in the 400-meter dash (61.69 seconds).  

Washburn Rural senior Payton Fink (1666) is a multiple Class 6A state placer in both track and cross country. [File photo/TSN]

PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural

A senior, Fink, a multiple time first-team All-Shawnee County pick, is one of Class 6A's premier distance runners. Fink finished fifth in 6A in the 3,200 (11:14.85) and seventh in the 1,600 (5:17.66) last season. A four-time state cross country medalist, Fink finished fifth in 6A last fall as the Junior Blues tied for first place in the team standings and finished second on a tiebreaker.

ALI GERBER, Silver Lake

Gerber, a sophomore, was a member of Silver Lake's Class 3A state championship 4x400 relay team in the 2024 state meet, with the Eagles posting a winning time of 4:06.64. Gerber ranked fifth in Shawnee County last season in the 400 (62.18) and fourth in the triple jump (34-0) and was also a state qualifier in cross country.

EMILY GRAF, Washburn Rural

A junior, Graf ran on Washburn Rural's 4x800 relay team that finished sixth in the Class 6A state meet last spring (9:47.16) and finished seventh in the 3,200 (11:20.57), earning All-Shawnee County first-team recognition. Graf is also a multi-time state placer in cross country, finishing in 14th place at state as the Junior Blues tied for the 6A team title and finished second on a tiebreaker.  

Seaman senior Taylie Heston was a Class 5A state medalist and an All-Shawnee County first-team pick last season. [File photo/TSN]  

TAYLIE HESTON, Seaman

A senior, Heston earned first-team All-Shawnee County recognition the past two seasons, earning a Class 5A state medal as a member of Seaman's second-place 4x800 relay team (4:02.39). A 5A state runnerup in wrestling, ranked No. 5 in Shawnee County last season in the 800 meters (2:28.82).

Washburn Rural senior Rylee Ismert was a multi-event Class 6A state medalist last spring, earning first-team All-Shawnee County honors. [File photo/TSN] 

RYLEE ISMERT, Washburn Rural

A senior distance runner, Ismert helped Washburn Rural post a sixth-place finish in Class 6A in the 4x800 relay (9:47.16) in the 2024 state meet and also placed sixth in the 1,600 (5:17.31). Ismert, a two-time first-team All-Shawnee County team pick, ranked among the county leaders in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters last spring. Ismert placed second individually in the 6A cross country meet last fall as Rural tied for the team title and finished second on a tiebreaker.

Topeka High junior Keimara Marshall was a Class 6A state medalist in the last spring. [File photo/TSN]

KEIMARA MARSHALL, Topeka High

A junior, Marshall has established herself as one of the area's top sprinters, earning first-team all-county honors. Marshall ranked No. 1 in the county in the 100 (12.41) and 200 (26.25) in 2024 and capped her season with a 6A state medal in the 100, finishing seventh in 12.41.

Seaman junior Ryin MIller has been named Gatorade Kansas Athlete of the Year in both track last spring and in cross country this past fall. [File photo/TSN]

RYIN MILLER, Seaman 

Miller, a junior, won a pair of Class 5A state titles last spring, winning the 1,600 (4:51.58) and the 800 (2:10.80), and also finished second in the 3,200 (10:13.97) and anchored Seaman's second-place 4x400 relay (4:02.39. Miller is also the Kansas state record-holder in cross country and was the 5A runnerup this past fall

BROOKLYN NOLTE, Washburn Rural

A senior, Nolte earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors last spring after running on Washburn Rural's 4x800 relay team that finished sixth in Class 6A (9:47.16). Nolte is also a three-time all-county pick in cross country and ran on the Junior Blues' cross country team that tied for first and finished second in the 6A state meet last fall, posting a 1st-place state finish.

Topeka High freshman Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton was a two-time Class 6A medalist as a freshman in 2024. [File photo/TSN]

AHSIEYRHUAJH RAYTON, Topeka High

A sophomore, Rayton had a big freshman season for Topeka High, earning first-team All-Shawnee County recognition after placing second in the Class 6A triple jump (38-5.25) and fourth in the long jump (17-5.75). Rayton was the Shawnee County leader in both jumps and also ranked No. 5 in the 200 (26.78). 

Senior Jaida Stallbaumer ran on Seaman's second-place 4x400 relay in the Class 5A state meet last spring and also led Shawnee County in the 100-meter hurdles. [File photo/TSN]

JAIDA STALLBAUMER, Seaman

Stallbaumer, a senior, was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick in 2023 and 2024 and ran on the Vikings' second-place 4x400 relay (4:02.39). Stallbaumer ranked No. 1 in Shawnee County last season in the 100 hurldes (15.85).

ALLY STEINER, Seaman

A senior sprinter, Steiner ran on the Vikings' second-place 4x400 relay (4:02.39) in last spring's Class 5A state meet, earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors. Steiner ranked No. 3 in Shawnee County in the 100 (12.86) and the 400 (60.92). 

ELLIOT WRENCH, Hayden

A senior, was a Class 3A state qualifier in the 1,600 and 4x400 relay last season and is coming off a big cross country season last fall. Wrench set a school five-kilometer record with a time of 19 minutes, 20 seconds, surpassing last year’s record of 20:01 and finished sixth in the 4A state meet after finishing sixth in the city meet, seventh in the Centennial League and fourth at regionals.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman junior Brody Anderson won city and UKC cross country titles last fall and is a returning All-Shawnee County pick in track. [File photo/TSN]

BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman

A junior distance standout, Anderson was an All-Shawnee County first-team pick in track last spring and in cross country in the fall. Anderson won city and United Kansas Conference individual titles in cross country before posting a ninth-place finish in the Class 5A state meet. Anderson finished his sophomore track season ranked No. 2 in Shawnee County in the 800 (1:57.78) and the 1,600 (4:27.60).

PAYTON BERRY-BRIGGS, Shawnee Heights

Berry-Briggs, a senior sprinter, was a first-team All-Shawnee County honoree last season, placing third in the Class 5A 200-meter dash (22.27). Berry ranked No. 2 in the county in the 200 (21.79), third in the 100 (10.80) and third in the 400 (49.95). 

DRADEN CHOONCHAROEN, Washburn Rural 

Chooncharoen, a junior, is a returning Class 6A state champion, running on the Junior Blues' winning 4x400 relay team (3:19.56) and earning a spot on the 2024 All-Shawnee County first team.

BRYCE COCHRAN, Seaman

A senior, Cochran earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the second straight season in 2024 after a solid spring for the Vikings in the sprints and jumps. Cochran ran on Seaman's 4x100-meter relay team that finished second in the Class 5A state meet in a time of 42.50 seconds. He also ranked fourth in the county last season in the triple jump (40-9). 

PEYTON HOLMES, Seaman

Holmes, a senior, earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition in 2023 and 2024 and ranked No. 1 in Shawnee County in the long jump with a season-best of 23 feet, 4.50 inches. Holmes placed sixth in Class 5A in the long jump and also ran on Seaman's 4x100-meter relay team that finished second in the Class 5A state meet in a time of 42.50 seconds.

Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman is a standout distance runner, placing seventh in Class 5A cross country last fall. [File photo/TSN]

ADRIAN LEHMAN, Topeka West

Lehman, a senior, is a standout distance runner for Topeka West and coming off a breakout cross country season this past fall. Lehman posted a city-best seventh-place finish in the Class 5A boys state meet after finishing second in the city meet and third in the United Kansas Conference. Last track season Lehman ranked third in the county in the 3,200 (10:02.36) and fifth in the 1,600 (4:34.21).

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