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Memorial service set for former West, Central Missouri star Boomer Berry
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A memorial service for former Topeka West multi-sport standout and Central Missouri State national baseball champion Lane Allen "Boomer'' Berry has been set for Sept. 19 at 4 p.m., following a 2 p.m. visitation at Topeka Bible Church, 1101 Mulvane, Topeka, Ks.
Lane Allen "Boomer'' Berry
Berry, the son of Ken and Aleda Berry, was born Dec. 5, 1980, and passed away Aug. 16, 2026 at the age of 45 years old.
Boomer played tennis, soccer and baseball at Topeka West and received all-league, all-state and USA All-America baseball honors.
At Central Missouri State Berry played in the Division II College World Series four years, with the team winning the national championship his senior year.
Berry played minor league baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization as well as Independent Baseball for several seasons, taught at Free State High School and coached high school age baseball teams and gave private hitting instruction.
He is survived by his daughter, Raimey, parents Ken and Aleda Berry, brothers Brett Berry and Rick Berry, sister Alyson (Berry) Clark and many beloved family members and friends.
Complete obituary:
Layne Allen "Boomer'' Berry
Dec. 5, 1980-Aug. 16, 2026
Paola, Kansas
Layne Allen "Boomer'' Berry was born December 5, 1980, to Ken and Aleda Berry and passed away August 16, 2026.
He left for Spring Training in his car seat at 3 months old and so began his life of baseball. His early years were spent playing multiple sports and pouring love into his pets: Fat Albert his hamster, BunBuns the rabbit and Rosie the cocker spaniel. That love later continued to his 3 Bostons -- Rupert, Arya and Starkey.
Boomer attended West Avondale Elementary until mid-February when it was time for Spring Training, followed by the baseball season. So he and his sister attended 3 schools each year. He loved adventure, made friends easily and enjoyed new challenges.
Boomer's high school years were filled with sports and "The Firm," a tight group of friends who adhered to good times and lasting friendships. Boomer was the epitome of a loyal friend, but always happy to beat anyone in a ping pong game. He played tennis, soccer and baseball at Topeka West High School and was named to All-League and All-State baseball teams as well as the USA All-American baseball team. At Central Missouri State he played in the College World Series (Division II) 4 years, with the team winning the Championship his senior year. He graduated with a BS in Education. And left with a heart full of baseball friends and a million memories.
Boomer played minor league baseball with the White Sox for several years, a highlight being his Spring Training game with the Major League team where he went 3-for-3, scored 2 runs, drove in a run and stole 2 bases; and was named Player of The Game. Then after 3 seasons of playing Independent Baseball, Boomer taught at Free State High School in Lawrence and coached high school age baseball teams. He worked in special education where he and Andrea (Tomasino) Berry connected through their shared passion for helping students with special needs.
He and Andrea were married in 2014, moved to Pensacola for their work, and later relocated to Lawrence, KS and then Overland Park. Their daughter, Raimey, was born in 2017, bringing great joy to the family. Boomer was a devoted dad and Raimey was his absolute world. They loved hiking, exploring nature, swimming, playing games and riding roller coasters at Worlds of Fun. They also cherished quieter moments and creating things together. Raimey's favorite memories are his snuggles and big squeeze hugs.
Boomer had a variety of interests: quoting TV and movies, weaving song lyrics into conversations, music of all genres, singing karaoke and rescuing creatures in need. Nature brought him deep peace, and he became a deep thinker, seeking to understand the world around him. Although their marriage eventually ended, Boomer and Andrea remained close friends and devoted parents to Raimey. They continued to support and care for one another.
Prep parade: Tradition-rich Eagles looking to make run at 2A crown
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news will post preview stories for all 10 Shawnee County high school football programs over the coming days, leading into the opening games of the 2026 season on Sept. 3 and 4.
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Logan Pegram's Silver Lake football put together a second straight 7-3 season in 2025, but while a vast number of schools across the state would be thrilled with that accomplishment, anything less than a state tilte shot leaves the tradition-rich Eagles wanting more.
Logan Pegram's Silver Lake Eagles will be looking to make a run at a Class 2A state title this fall after going 7-3 a year ago. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And with a solid nucleus of players returning, the ultimate goal for Logan Pegram's team this fall is Silver Lake's ninth state championship.
"I think success is easily defined at Silver Lake across all sports, in the classroom, in the community,'' said Pegram, a former Silver Lake standout who is 28-11 in four seasons. "So we don't shy away from that and I think our kids approach that with an attitude of where they want to be at the end of the year, but they also understand that it's the daily deposits that are going to get you where you want to be at the end.''
"I think we have a very talented group and the football has been high quality over the first week. There's still a lot of factors that go into that but I think this team will be defined on how they respond to adversity because there's not a football season where you're not going to have any adversity, so I look forward to how they approach those obstacles as we get into the season.''
Senior Owen Rottinghaus, who earned first-team All-Big East League honors as a returner and received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season, agreed with his coach that the Eagles have the potential to make a run at a title.
"I feel like we have the group that can do it,'' Rottinghaus said. "We're pretty tight and real strong together, so I think we have what it takes.
"I feel like we've had good practices, pretty intense, and we're ready to get going.''
Prep parade: Trojan football looking to continue progress in year three under Filbeck
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news will post preview stories for all 10 Shawnee County high school football programs over the coming days, leading into the opening games of the 2026 season on Sept. 3 and 4.
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Topeka High football coach Jason Filbeck knows there's still work to be done to get the Trojans where he wants them to be.
Jason Filbeck begins his third season at Topeka High after leading the Trojans to a 3-6 mark last fall. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But as Filbeck starts his third season at the school, he knows High is making steady progress.
"You've got things that you just aren't where you want to be, but that's probably every coach,'' said Filbeck, whose Trojans went 3-6 a year ago after a 4-5 campaign in 2024. "I know coaches that win a state title and they're still stressing about how it's not where they want it to be, but there's a familiarity with the kids on the team, the coaches on the team.
"You're a little more established and not having to start from the beginning on the culture things and things like that. We're seeing growth in our kids.''
One of Filbeck's major concerns is trying to boost the Trojans' numbers moving forward.
"The ones that are here and were here all summer, it was great to see them make strides as individuals and get better,'' Filbeck said. "Our depth is an issue if we don't get more kids out of the hallways.
"Eleven on eleven we're going to be pretty tough. I think we've got the kids in the right places and we've got a scheme that's going to help us, but if you look at the last two years we're 4-0 and then lose five straight and 3-1 and lose five straight and that's indicative to me of a lack of numbers and when injuries happen it snowballs.''
Knowing that the Trojans' frontliners are going to need to play a lot of snaps, Filbeck and his coaching staff are doing everything they can in preseason to get them ready for what is always a tough Centennial League slate.
"We're trying to get tough and focus on toughness and discipline this year so that doesn't become a problem because we don't want to lose late games because we're lacking numbers,'' Filbeck said.
Courtney Sanders, a senior wide receiver, was a second-team All-Centennial League selection for the second straight season and received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall for the Trojans.
A junior running back, Ricardo Dowd was a second-team All-Centennial League selection last season as a sophomore while also receiving All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
Trey Lutz, a senior defensive lineman, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention for the second straight season and also received All-Centennial League honorable mention last season.
Other top returners for Topeka High include seniors Isaac Roman-Chavez, Art Jones and Devin Ponte and juniors Jones Erby and Marion Collins.
