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By RICK PETERSON

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KAITLYN ALDRIDGE, Shawnee Heights

A sophomore, Aldridge earned All-City first-team honors as a freshman, placing third in the city meet in the 100-yard backstroke and helping Shawnee Heights place third in the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay. Aldridge competed in the 2024 Class 5A state meet, helping the T-Birds post a 13th-place finish in the 'B' final of the 400 free relay.  

Washburn Rural junior Audrey Appuhn has won multiple Class 6A state medals two straight seasons. [File photo/TSN]

AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural

Appuhn, a junior, placed in multiple events in the Class 6A state meet for the second straight season, taking fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:12.72) and sixth in the 500 freestyle (5:17.70). Appuhn also helped Rural win the 'B' final (ninth place) in the 6A 200 medley relay. Appuhn won three golds in the city meet as Rural won its 21st straight title and four golds in the Centennial League meet as the Junior Blues won a fourth straight league title.

JELLA BELGARDT, Washburn Rural

Belgardt, a senior, was part of Rural's winning 400 relay team and three second-place finishes in the city meet as the Junior Blues won their 21st straight city team title. Belgardt won a pair of gold medals and also posted a second-place and third-place finish as Rural won its fourth straight Centennial League title. Belgardt swam on Rural's team that won the 'B' final (ninth place) in the 200 medley relay (1:59.01) in the 6A state meet.

Topeka High junior Hara Del Castillo was a Centennial League champion last season. [File photo/TSN]

HARA DEL CASTILLO, Topeka High

A junior, Del Castillo earned All-City honors for the second straight season, finishing second in the city meet in the 100-yard backstroke and 100 freestyle and helping High post a third-place finish in the 200 medley relay. Del Castillo won the Centennial League title in the 100 backstroke and was second in the 100 butterfly. Del Castillo competed in the 6A state meet.

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Hayden senior Chase Blaser (left) finished fifth in doubles in the Class 3A-1A state tournament last spring. [File photo/TSN]

CHASE BLASER, Hayden

A senior, Blaser teamed with then-senior Joseph Luke to post a 24-10 record and a fifth-place finish in Class 3A-1A state doubles last spring. An All-City honoree, Blaser and Luke posted a third-place finish in No 1 doubles in the city meet as well as a third in the Centennial League and a fifth-place showing at regionals. A three-sport standout, Blaser helped lead the Wildcats to the 4A-1A state bowling championship this past winter.  

Washburn Rural junior Cale Deutscher and doubles partner Brayden Kohls qualified for the Class 6A state tournament last season. [File photo/TSN] 

CALE DEUTSCHER, Washburn Rural

Deutscher, a junior, was a 2024 All-City honoree after teaming with Brayden Kohls to win the city title in No. 2 doubles. Deutscher and Kohls finished fourth in Centennial League doubles and third in Class 6A regional competition to earn a state tournament berth. Deutscher and Kohls went 1-2 at state to cap an 18-10 season.

A two-time state qualifier, Cair Paravel junior Drew Fay finished fourth in Class 3A-1A state singles last spring. [File photo/TSN]

DREW FAY, Cair Paravel Latin

Fay, a junior, is coming off a fourth-place singles finish in the Class 3A-1A state tournament a year ago, his second straight state tournament appearance. Fay, who posted a 23-11 record on the season, was an All-City honoree after finishing as the No. 1 singles runnerup in the city tournament and also finished second in 3A-1A regional competition.

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural senior Tadd Armstrong was a first-team All-Shawnee County selection last season. [File photo/TSN]

TADD ARMSTRONG, Washburn Rural

Armstrong, a senior returning All-Shawnee County first-teamer, helped Washburn Rural capture its 14th straight city team title and a team berth in the Class 6A state meet with a runnerup regional finish last season. Armstrong finished fourth in the city meet (126 for 27 holes), tied for fifth in the Centennial League (79) and tied for 11th at regionals (86).

CALEB CLEVERDON, Topeka High/Cair Paravel Latin

A junior, Cleverdon helped Cair Paravel earn the third-place team trophy in the Class 2A state tournament with a tie for 32nd place with a 36-hole score of 176 after competing for Topeka High in the regular season. A second-team All-Shawnee County pick last season, Cleverdon placed ninth at regionals (84) and placed 15th in the Centennial League (86).

JACK DONOVAN, Rossville

A junior, Donovan earned an individual medal in the Class 3A state tournament, placing 20th with a 36-hole score of 162. A first-team All-Shawnee County pick as a sophomore, Donovan finished third individually in the Mid-East League tournament with an 86 and placed fourth in 3A regional competition with a 74 to earn a state tournament berth.

Hayden senior James Kuta was a first-team All-Shawnee County selection last season after helping the Wildcats finish fourth in Class 3A. [File photo/TSN]

JAMES KUTA, Hayden

A senior, Kuta tied for 14th in the Class 3A state tournament with a 36-hole score of 159 (73-86), helping Hayden finish fourth as a team. A first-team All-Shawnee County selection in 2024, Kuta tied for eighth in the Centennial League meet (82), placed 10th in the city tournament (132 for 27 holes) and tied for 11th in 3A regional competition (83) as the Wildcats finished second as a team.

Washburn Rural senior Tagan Monasmith was a second-team All-Shawnee County pick in 2024. [File photo/TSN]

TAGAN MONASMITH, Washburn Rural

A senior, Monasmith was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection last season. Monasmith finished fifth individually in the city tournament (126 for 27 holes), was eighth at regionals as Washburn Rural qualified for the Class 6A state tournament as a team with a runnerup finish and finished 18th in the Centennial League (88).

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