By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Audrey Appuhn
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
Appuhn, a freshman swimming standout, posted two individual top-four finishes in her first Class 6A state meet Saturday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, helping lead Washburn Rural to an eighth-place team finish. Appuhn finished third in the the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 10.16 seconds and fourth in the 500 free in 5:14.45. Appuhn also swam on the Junior Blues' 200 medley relay (1:55.03) and 400 free relay (3:45.72), which won 'B' finals..
Jackson Esquibel
JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights
A junior track and field star, Esquibel pulled off the distance triple in last Thursday's Class 5A regional at the Olathe District Athletic Complex. A returning state medalist, Esquibel won the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 23.42 seconds and followed that up with a win in the 800 in 1:59.55 and a victory in the 3,200 in 9:42.42 to qualify for Friday and Saturday's 5A state meet at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium.
Grace Proctor
GRACE PROCTOR, Shawnee Heights
Proctor, a sophomore, pitched a complete-game one-hitter and recorded 13 strikeouts last Tuesday as Shawnee Heights earned a berth in Thursday and Friday's Class 5A state softball tournament at Wichita State's Wilkins Stadium with a 3-0 win over United Kansas Conference rival De Soto in a regional final at Piper. Proctor allowed only a sixth-inning double as Shawnee Heights improved to 15-7 with its third win of the season over the Wildcats.
Tre Richardson
TRE RICHARDSON, Highland Park
Richardson, a senior, posted four individual wins in last Thursay's Class 5A track and field regional at the Olathe District Athletic Complex. Richardson won the league title in the long jump at 23 feet, 3.50 inches, the triple jump at 45-8.50, the 100-meter dash in 10.49 seconds and the 200 dash in 21.83. A multi-sport standout for the Scots, Richardson is the defending 5A state champ in the 200 and is a returning state placer in the long jump and triple jump.
Bryson Vawter
BRYSON VAWTER, Seaman
A senior, Vawter picked up the pitching victory in a 4-2 win over Lansing last Tuesday in a Class 5A regional baseball final at Seaman as the Vikings set a state record with their 19th straight state tournament berth. Seaman, which will compete in the 5A state tournament Thursday and Friday at Wichita State's Eck Stadium, broke a tie with Kansas City-Wyandotte for the state record as Vawter allowed just two hits in his six innings of work while striking out nine and issuing two walks.
Avery Walz
AVERY WALZ, Seaman
The junior swimming star earned first-team Class 5A-1A All-State honors after posting four top-five finishes in Saturday's state meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium while leading Seaman to a top-five team finish for the third straight season. Walz posted a second-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 04.22 seconds and a third in the 100 freestyle in 52.77 and teamed with junior twin sister Tauren Walz, junior Avery Samuelson and sophomore Joslynn Grace for a third-place finish in the 200 free relay (1:44.65) and a fifth-place finish in the 200 medley relay (1:44.23).
