By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ANDREW BECKLER, Washburn University
Beckler, who was earlier named the MIAA player of the year, ended his collegiate golf career with a runner-up individual finish among 84 competitors in the NCAA Division II National Championships in Palm Beach Springs, Fla., the highest national tournament finish by an Ichabod in program history. Beckler finished with a 54-hole total of 222 with rounds of 73, 74 and 75.
NiJAREE CANADY, Topeka High
Canady, a junior, pitched a one-hitter and struck out 16 batters to key the Trojans' 3-1 victory over Manhattan in a Class 6A regional championship softball game at Hummer Sports Park. With the win Topeka High improved to 22-0 on the season and advanced to Thursday's 6A state tournament.
Bethany Druse
BETHANY DRUSE, Seaman
Druse, a sophomore, captured a pair of Class 5A regional track titles at Mill Valley, winning the girls 1,600 meters in 5 minutes, 24.17 seconds and coming back to win the 800 in 2:23.02, earning berths for the 5A state meet Thursday at Wichita.
KADENCE JEFFRIES, Topeka West
A junior, Jeffries recorded dominating state championships in both the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.59) and the 500 freestyle (5:03.13) in Saturday's Class 5A-1A girls swimming championships at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. A two-time first-team All-State pick, Jeffries also won the 200 free and 500 free as a freshman in 2019.
Tanner Newkirk
TANNER NEWKIRK, Hayden
Newkirk, who is coming off an injury earlier this spring, swept the three distance events in last the Class 4A track and field regional in Tonganoxie, winning the 1,600 in 4:35.06, the 800 in 2:02.52 and the 3,200 in 10:11.19. A junior, Newkirk won the 4A cross country title last fall.
Carson Rosen
CARSON ROSEN, Washburn Rural
A junior pitcher, Rosen worked the final four innings in the Junior Blues' rain-postponed Class 6A regional baseball championship game against Dodge City, giving up just three hits and holding the Red Demons scoreless while striking out eight batters as Rural rallied for a 3-2 win to advance to the state tournament at Fort Scott..
