By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural sophomore soccer player Draden Chooncharoen and Seaman junior volleyball star Maegan Mills 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 2023-2024 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Chooncharoen and Mills over the past week:
Sophomore Draden Chooncharoen (23) scored the game-winning goal in Washburn Rural's 2-1 overtime win over Garden City in Tuesday's Class 6A state quarterfinal. [File photo/TSN]
DRADEN CHOONCHAROEN, Washburn Rural
A sophomore forward/midfielder, Chooncharoen scored the game-winning goal in overtime Tuesday night as Washburn Rural advanced to the Class 6A state semifinals with a 2-1 win over Garden City at McElroy Field.
Chooncharoen's goal, off an assist from senior Devon Rutschmann, came with 3:10 remaining in the first overtime period.
Chooncharoen helped Rural remain unbeaten against Kansas competition while improving to 18-1-0 on the season and earning the Junior Blues' fourth straight trip to the 6A final four.
Seaman junior Maegan Mills (13) earned All-State Tournament honors for the second time and was named the UKC offensive player of the year after helping the Vikings capture their first Class 5A state volleyball title. [File photo/TSN]
MAEGAN MILLS, Seaman
Mills, a 6-foot-1 junior outside hitter, helped lead Seaman to its first-ever Class 5A state volleyball championship last Saturday in Salina, with the Vikings capping a 38-6 season with a 25-19, 25-22 win over 2022 state champ St. Thomas Aquinas in the final at Tony's Pizza Events Center.
Mills was named to the All-State Tournament team for the second straight season was selected as the All-United Kansas Conference offensive player of the year.
Seaman won the state title after posting back-to-back fourth-place state finishes in 2021 and 2022.
