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Donovan, Johnson, Hanni and Miller named Rising Stars of the Year for 2025
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's Dayne Johnson and Kailyn Hanni, Rossville's Jack Donovan and Seaman's Ryin Miller, who recently completed their junior years of high school, were honored Tuesday night at The Foundry as the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency 2025 Rising Stars of the year.
Silver Lake's Dayne Johnson and Rossville's Jack Donovan were named the Dan Key Farmers Agency 2025 co-male Rising Stars of the Year Tuesday night while Silver Lake's Kailyn Hanni and Seaman's Ryin Miller were named the co-female winners. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Donovan and Johnson were named the co-boys winners while Hanni and Miller shared the girls honor.
The four overall winners were picked from five girls and boys finalists chosen from weekly Rising Stars who were selected through the 2024-2025 school year.
Johnson was a football, basketball and baseball standout for the Eagles while Donovan was a football and basketball standout and a state golf medalist for the Bulldawgs.
Hanni helped lead Silver Lake to runnerup Class 3A state finishes in basketball and softball this past season and has been a state champion in basketball and golf while Miller won three individual 5A state track championships last weekend in Wichita, was the state runnerup in cross country and basketball and was a 5A state basketball champion as a sophomore.
All-UKC softball: Vikes' Warren named player of year, T-Birds' Proctor pitcher of the year
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
City schools Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West had 21 players receive All-United Kansas Conference softball recognition, led by junior player of the year Aubrey Warren of Seaman and senior pitcher of the year Grace Proctor of Shawnee Heights.
Seaman junior infielder Aubrey Warren has been tapped as the United Kansas Conference player of the year by conference coaches. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Grace Proctor has been named the United Kansas Conference pitcher of the year by conference coaches. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights' Tara Griffith was named the UKC coach of the year after leading the T-Birds to a 20-8 record on the season.
Shawnee Heights softball coach Tara Griffith has been named the United Kansas Conference coach of the year by conference coaches. [File photo/TSN]
Class 5A state tournment qualifiers Seaman and Shawnee Heights combined for eight of the 15 spots on the all-conference first team.
The Vikings led the UKC with five first-team selections -- infielder Warren, senior pitcher Kaelyn O'Rourke, senior catcher Reagan McConnell, senior outfielder Anna McLaughlin and junior designated player Avery Phelps.
Shawnee Heights is represented on the first team by Proctor, senior infielder Taylor Brees and junior outfielder Addison Cooper.
Seaman put freshman pitcher Lydia Dreher and senior infielder Kayleigh Neill on the second team while Shawnee Heights is represented by junior outfielder Shylee Harrington and senior utility player Dayana Miller.
Nine city players received All-UKC honorable mention, including junior Addaline Hall senior infielder Callie Jones, junior infielder Christina Briggs, junior infielder Isabelle Kutina, freshman outfielders Kendall Munoz and Mya Miller and freshman pitcher Jordyn White of Topeka West and sophomore infielder Natalee Simpson and junior utility player Addison Sibley of Seaman.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE SOFTBALL
Centennial League baseball: Hayden's Cooper Grace named player of the year
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden senior Cooper Grace has received Centennial League player of the year recognition from league coaches for the second straight season after helping lead the Wildcats to an undefeated league title and a 23-1 record overall.
Hayden senior Cooper Grace has been named the Centennial League baseball player of the year after helping lead the Wildcats to the undefeated league title. [File photo/TSN]
Grace, who shared the player of the year honor with Topeka High's Nate Plankinton in 2024, was one of five Hayden players to receive first-team honors.
Hayden's Bill Arnold has been named the Centennial League baseball coach of the year after the Wildcats won the undefeated league title. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's Bill Arnold was voted the Centennial coach of the year.
Grace was a first-team pick as a pitcher and is joined on the first team for the Wildcats by senior infielder Liam Annand, junior outfielders Kade Mitchell and Aiden Roberts and sophomore designated hitter Caleb Menke.
Washburn Rural, which posted a 15-12 record and advanced to Class 6A state tournament this spring, is represented on the first team by junior infielder Austin Ditch while Junior Blues junior pitcher Isaac Ansley, sophomore pitcher Tyler Edmiston and junior infielder Nate Selm all earned second-team honors.
Hayden junior pitcher Connor Hanika, sophomore infielder Mason Becker, senior outfielder Brady Heinen and junior catcher Brady Deutsch were second-team picks along with Topeka High junior utility player Drayden Acosta. .
A total of four city players received all-league honorable mention.
Manhattan freshman Asher Newton was named the league's newcomer of the year.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE BASEBALL
