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Created: 03 August 2026

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top city boys soccer players to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches.  

CARLOS ACOSTA-MARTINEZ, Topeka High

Acosta-Martinez, a senior midfielder, is a top returner for the Trojans after earning first-team All-City and All-Centennial League recognition last season as Topeka High posted a 9-6-2 record.

ALAN ARTEAGA, Shawnee Heights

A senior goalkeeper, Arteaga was a first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection last fall for the 15-3-0 T-Birds while also receiving All-City honorable mention.

Judah Congdon, Cair Paravel Latin [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]

JUDAH CONGDON, Cair Paravel Latin

A senior forward/midfielder, Congdon received All-City honorable mention last season after registering 14 goals and 24 assists for the 11-7-0 Lions, who advanced to the Class 4A-1A state quarterfinals.  

Valentin Del Real, Topeka West [File photo/TSN]

VALENTIN DEL REAL, Topeka West

Del Real, a junior midfielder, is a two-time All-City first-team honoree while also earning All-United Kansas Conference first-team recognition for the Chargers, who went 13-3-2 on the season.

BRAYAN DIAZ, Shawnee Heights

Diaz is expected to be a key contributor for the T-Birds this fall after missing the entire 2025 campaign with an injury. 

MYLES DIDDE, Washburn Rural

A senior midfielder, Didde scored the game-tying goal in last season's Class 6A state championship game before the 19-1-1 Junior Blues went on to win the state title in penalty kicks. Didde will serve as a Rural team captain this fall. 

Diego Gonzalez-Talavera, Topeka West [File photo/TSN]

DIEGO GONZALES-TALAVERA, Topeka West

A senior forward, Gonzales-Talavera is a two-time All-City and All-United Kansas Conference first-team honoree for Topeka West, which is coming off of a 13-3-2 record.

Mason Haas, Shawnee Heights [File photo/TSN]

MASON HAAS, Shawnee Heights

Haas, a senior midfielder, earned first-team All-City and All-United Kansas Conference recognition for the second straight season in 2025 for the T-Birds, 15-3-0 last season.

KALEB HOLMES, Seaman

A senior defender, Holmes is a key returner for the Vikings, 8-9-0 in 2025, after receiving All-City honorable mention as a junior.

Brodye Kocher-Munoz, Washburn Rural [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

BRODYE KOCHER-MUNOZ, Washburn Rural

Kocher-Munoz, a senior forward, helped lead Junior Blues to a 19-1-1 record and the Class 6A state championship last fall. A team captain, Kocher-Munoz was a first-team All-City and All-Centennial League honoree as a junior. 

Read more …

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Competing in what is arguably the premier conference in NCAA Division II, Washburn University football coach Zach Watkins knows that nothing will come easy this fall.

Zach Watkins officially begins Year 2 as Washburn's head football coach on Monday when the Ichabods report for the opening of fall camp. [File photo/TSN]

But Watkins feels like there's already been a big jump in comfort level across the board as he and his staff open Year 2 at the Ichabod helm.    

"All the things that we're doing now, it's not the first time we've done them,'' said Watkins, whose team will report for fall camp Monday. "Last year, from when we got the job through our first season, was the first time we did everything as a staff, as a program, these players, so now it's not the first time anymore.

"There's also a sense of urgency that the Year 2 jump has got to happen through this summer, in this fall, and that's just improving all the processes we do to make sure we have a much more successful season.''

The Ichabods are coming off a 3-8 season (2-7 in the MIAA), but five of Washburn's losses were by seven or fewer points, including an overtime defeat.

"We've talked about that with our team,'' said Watkins, a former All-American linebacker and a member of the Washburn Hall of Fame. "Year 1 you have those losses. Year 2 you hope those turn into close wins and Year 3, 4, 5 then it turns the other way. I think we're doing everything right to make sure that happens.

"The MIAA is the gauntlet that it is, so you have to play well each week to win those close games.''

Watkins said that the Ichabods have done everything he could ask over the offeason to get ready for the upcoming campaign.

"January, when we started meetings for the 2026 team, we laid out what it's going to take to win and the summer's the most important part of that,'' Watkins said.

"The guys bought into that. We had some freshmen join us, new transfers, and this summer will put us in a much better position moving forward to the season.''

Read more …

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County boys cross country runners to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches.

Jaxson Adams

JAXSON ADAMS, Washburn Rural 

 A junior, Adams earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the first time last fall after finishing fifth in the city meet, ninth in the Centennial League, 22nd in a Class 6A regional and 42nd at state as the Junior Blues captured the state team title by a point after earlier winning city and league championships and finishing second on a tiebreaker at regionals. Adams was a 6A state track qualifier in the 3,200 meters, posting a third-place regional finish.

Conner Bloom

CONNER BLOOM, Seaman

A senior, Bloom was a first-time member of the All-Shawnee County first team last fall after finishing ninth in the city meet and 11th in the United Kansas Conference meet for the runnerup Vikings. Bloom finished 24th in a Class 5A regional at Wichita and will be counted on to be a leader for the Vikings this fall. Bloom was a 5A state qualifier in track in the 4x800 relay this past spring. 

EASTON DAVIS, Topeka High 

Davis, a junior, has received All-Shawnee County honorable mention the past two seasons. Davis finished 17th in the city meet last fall and went on to earn an individual berth in the Class 6A state meet with a 14th-place regional finish.

Clayton Fink

CLAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural

A junior first-team All-Shawnee County first-team repeat pick, Fink placed fourth in the city championships and the Centennial League meet for the champion Junior Blues and finished seventh in a Class 6A regional and placed 26th in the state meet as Washburn Rural captured the team championship. Fink received all-county honorable mention this past spring in track.

Duke Graf

DUKE GRAF, Washburn Rural

Graf, a junior, earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the first time after finishing third in the city meet, 14th in the Centennial League, second in Class 6A regional competition and 28th in the Class 6A state meet as the Junior Blues won the team title by a point over Blue Valley. Graf also helped Rural win city and league titles.

Henry Laubach

 

HENRY LAUBACH, Washburn Rural

A junior All-Shawnee County first-team repeat pick, Laubach bounced back from an injury to post a team-best 22nd-place finish in the Class 6A state meet, helping lead Washburn Rural to the state title. Laubach placed seventh in the Centennial League and 12th in a 6A regional. Laubach received all-county honorable mention in track.

Nick Newkirk

NICK NEWKIRK, Hayden

Newkirk, a junior, posted a sixth-place finish in the city meet, was 18th in the Centennial League meet and earned a individual berth in the Class 4A state meet with a 14th-place finish at regionals. A first-team All-Shawnee County pick, Newkirk capped his season with a 34th-place finish at state. 

HUNTER ROOKS, Silver Lake

Rooks, a senior, is a multi-time Class 3A state qualifier, helping the Eagles qualify as a team last fall. Rooks posted a 60th-place finish in the state meet to pace Silver Lake.

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