Welcome to Top Sports News
Kevin Haskin's mid-month musings for November, 2024
By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-week:
K-State just played its worst game in the Chris Klieman era.
I watched a few performances under Bill Snyder that could be deemed poor, but the loss to Arizona State reminded me of teams coached by Stan Parrish, Ellis Rainsberger and Doug Weaver.
A few other K-State coaches probably belong on that inglorious list, which brings us to this PSA: Ron Prince has not resurfaced since allegations of player abuse led to his 2019 dismissal at Howard.
Avery Johnson is going to go through a lean stretch as a first-year starter. The nature of the game is to undergo growing pains, especially at quarterback.
However, it seems coaching and play-calling could be contributing to Johnson’s dropoff.
But then K-State was horrible in all three phases last weekend as the Wildcats took themselves out of Big 12 title contention with a home defeat to Arizona State.
What’s that? They still could reach the Big 12’s big show in the Big D?
It would take a mighty rebirth for K-State to win its last two games. The Cats cannot even hike the ball assuredly.
Throwing this in: the last K-State receivers to crack the program’s all-time top 10 were Phillip Brooks and Malik Knowles in 2018 (pre-Klieman).
The lack of an all-conference-caliber receiver is a perpetual issue for K-State, and one that should not exist with a quarterback as promising as Johnson.
I sympathize with Klieman for whatever he is going through personally. I believe, still, that he’s a great fit for K-State.
However, in this era when fans legally assist with financial compensation for players and when big bucks for a few players can lead to locker room resentment, scrutiny has somehow intensified.
Careful what you wish for in heated moments.
KU suddenly looks like a Big 12 frontrunner in football, along with its Saturday opponent, Colorado.
Too many fourth-quarter funks clearly removed the Jayhawks from the title picture. Just rebounding to get a bowl bid would be astounding considering their difficult late-season schedule.
Two-time player of the year Mills, state qualifiers top All-Shawnee County volleyball
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
State tournament teams Seaman, Washburn Rural and Hayden combined to put 10 players on the TopSports.news 2024 All-Shawnee County volleyball first team, led by Seaman two-time player of the year Maegan Mills.
Seaman senior Maegan Mills (23) has been named the TSN Shawnee County volleyball player of the year for the second straight season. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Seaman's Tatiana Dowling has been named the Shawnee County coach of the year for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman, which finished second in Class 5A this fall after winning the state title in 2023, put a county-high four players on the all-county first team, with Mills joined by fellow Viking seniors Campbell Chabot, Ava Esser and Kinley Wilhelm while Viking coach Tatiana Dowling, a Seaman grad, was named the coach of the year for the second straight season after leading her team to a county-best 41-3 record and a county-best state tournament finish.
Hayden freshman Hailey Schmidtlein has been named the Shawnee County co-newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Blakely Walter has been named the Shawnee County volleyball co-newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden, which placed third in the 4A state tournament, is represented on the first team by senior Reagan McGivern and freshmen Hailey Schmidtlein and Blakely Walter, who were named co-Shawnee County newcomers of the year. McGivern is a first-team all-county repeat pick after earning first-team honors at Seaman as a junior.
Washburn Rural is represented on the all-county first team by seniors Layla Collins and Kate Hinck and junior Karsyn Horyna after helping the Junior Blues win the Centennial League championship and advance to the 6A state tournament.
Collins is a first-team All-Shawnee County repeat pick after being a second-team pick as a sophomore.
Shawnee Heights put seniors Kaydence Torrez and Taylor Brees on the first team while Silver Lake is represented by senior Ella Bolan, Rossville by sophomore Nora Burdiek and Topeka High by senior Jo'Mhara Benning.
Torrez and Bolan are first-team repeat picks while Burdiek was named the county newcomer of the year as a freshman.
All-Shawnee County first-team capsules:
Conner Bush, Emily Graf the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Rossville junior football standout Conner Bush and Washburn Rural junior cross country standout Emily Graf have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2024-2025 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Bush and Graf over the past week:
Rossville junior Conner Bush (5) has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency male Rising Star of the Week after helping lead the Bulldawgs to the second round of the Class 1A playoffs with a 47-13 win over Wabaunsee. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
CONNER BUSH, Rossville
A 5-foot-11, 176-pound running back, Bush scored three touchdowns last Friday night as Rossville advanced to the second round of the Class 1A football playoffs with a 47-13 win over Wabaunsee.
Bush scored TDs on runs of 51, 9 and 25 yards as the Bulldawgs improved to 6-3 on the 2024 season while posting their sixth straight victory.
Bush has carried the ball 54 times on the season for 551 yards and nine touchdowns.
Washburn Rural junior Emily Graf has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency female Rising Star of the Week after earning her second straight Class 6A state medal last Saturday at Rim Rock Farm. [File photo/TSN]
EMILY GRAF, Washburn Rural
Graf earned her second straight Class 6A state medal in last Saturday's state cross country meet at Rim Rock Farm as Washburn Rural tied Olathe West for the team championship and finished second on a tiebreaker.
Graf posted a career-best 14th-place state finish in a five-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 26.3 seconds.
Graf, who helped the Junior Blues sweep city, Centennial League and regional team titles this fall, placed 19th in the state meet as a sophomore.
