By RICK PETERSON 
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize Shawnee County's all-time coaching greats in 14 sports as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July 15, with the Top 10 in all categories announced in July and August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best tennis coach click on https://poll-maker.com/poll4394502x2b20465E-138 while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
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The list of contenders for the No.1 spot on the TopSports.news Shawnee County Best of the Best Coaches tennis list includes some of the most recognizable names in the sport in Kansas.
Retiring Washburn Rural tennis coach Kevin Hedberg led the Junior Blues to five state team championships over a legendary 43-year high school coaching career. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden tennis coach James Sandstrom has led the Wildcats to multiple Class 4A state team titles. [Submitted]
Topeka West tennis coach Kurt Davids has established the Chargers as a consistent city and Class 5A contender. [File photo/TSN]
Retiring Washburn Rural coach Kevin Hedberg, former Hayden coach Connie Robertson and the late Larry Reid, who coached at Topeka High and was a staple in the local tennis community, are all members of the Topeka Tennis Association Hall of Fame, while current Hayden coach James Sandstrom, former Topeka West coach Corey Wilson and former Rural coach Bob Gladfelter have all coached multiple state championship teams.
The list of tennis candidates also includes current Topeka West coach Kurt Davids, who has established the Chargers as a consistent city, Centennial League and Class 5A contender, and current Hayden girls coach Christy Sheetz, who has coached multiple state singles champions for the Wildcats.
Davids coached West to a second-place finish in the 5A state tournament this past spring while Sheetz has coached former Hayden star Brooklyn Hunter and current 4A state singles champ Ainzley Zulueta.
Other candidates include longtime Topeka High boys and girls coach Duane Pomeroy, former Shawnee Heights coach Mike Bass and former Seaman coach Greg Lutz, while several other current and former city coaches could merit consideration as write-in candidates, including current Seaman's Jamie Robinson, who coached the Vikings' Grace Unruh and Lauren Sweeney to the 5A state doubles crown last fall.
Candidates are listed at https://poll-maker.com/poll4394502x2b20465E-138 while readers also have the option of writing in a name.
Vote as many times as you wish, with the only requirement that eligible candidates must have served as a head coach or assistant at one of Shawnee County's high schools.
Final selections will be based on reader vote as well as input from TSN contributors and current and past local sports media professionals.
Votes will be accepted through July 15 before TSN publishes our Best of the Best lists in July and August.
NEXT UP: Track and field (Ballot will be posted on July 8).
