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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Four Washburn University football players received recognition on the All-MIAA team released Tuesday by the MIAA after a vote of the league's coaches.
Washburn senior Andrew Funk has been named to the All-MIAA second team, his third all-conference honor. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn true freshman D.J. Bell (8) received All-MIAA recognition at two positions. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Senior offensive lineman Andrew Funk and freshman return specialist D.J. Bell were second-team All-MIAA selections and Bell repeated as an honorable mention selection as a wide receiver along with defensive linemen Chase McCoy and Patrick Altenor.
Funk helped the Ichabods average 348 yards of total offense per game this season. He started 43 games on the offensive line as an Ichabod and has been a three-time All-MIAA selection, earning first-team honors last season.
Bell led the Ichabods in all-purpose yards averaging 120.3 per game and averaged 23.1 yards per kickoff return on 24 attempts including a 100-yard return against Missouri Southern in the home opener en route to second-team return specialist honors.
Bell was also an honorable mention selection as a wide receiver. The true freshman led the Ichabods in receiving yards with 44 catches and 563 yards adding five touchdowns and while averaging 12.8 yards per catch and 51.2 yards per game.
Altenor led the Ichabods in tackles this season with 52 including 25 solo stops. His 8.0 tackles for loss were a team-high and he added three sacks as well as a forced fumble.
McCoy, a fellow defensive lineman, had 21 tackles with six solo stops adding five tackles for loss for 29 yards and 3.5 sacks for 25 yards with a fumble recovery.
2023 MIAA POSTSEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year – Zach Zebrowski, Quarterback – Central Missouri
Defensive Player of the Year – Dakari Streeter, Defensive Lineman – Missouri Western
Special Teams Player of the Year – Ross Brungardt, Punter/Kicker – Emporia State
Freshman of the Year – Seth Cromwell, Running Back – Missouri Western
Coach of the Year – Josh Lamberson – Central Missouri
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
In their first time to qualify for the Eight-Man football playoffs (and just their second year of eligibility as a KSHSAA member), the Cair Paravel Lions advanced to the state semifinals with a 48-23 road victory over Chase County Friday night.
Cair Paravel junior quarterback Jase Pavlik scores one of his four touchdowns in Friday's 48-23 playoff win at Chase County. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
Cair Paravel senior Jesiah Bonura, who rushed for 159 yards on 31 carries, picks up a first down in Friday's 48-23 playoff win at Chase County. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
To describe the significance of the accomplishment was a test for Cair Paravel coach Doug Bonura.
“I don’t know how to sum it up. I’m really speechless in that aspect. In some ways, this doesn’t feel real,” Bonura said. “We just focus so much on what it takes to get to the next step. But I’m really proud of the boys for their focus on ‘What do we got to do to get the job done?’ ”
The Lions got the job done Friday by hammering the running game at Chase County. The Lions ran the ball 55 times for 344 yards. Typically a dynamic team through the air, the Lions attempted just 15 passes, netting 63 yards.
Chase County, which lost earlier in the season 52-16, muddied up the game and forced the Lions into a few turnovers and penalties.
“It’s hard to beat a team twice. We knew they were going to come out and fight,” Bonura said. “Chase County is always scrappy, and they never give up. That’s what causes mistakes. So, kudos to them. They pushed us. I’m not disappointed that it was a bad game. You know, this is the state playoffs. So, it’s a relief to get through it.”
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[Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Even though Washburn University junior volleyball star outside hitter Jalyn Stevenson had already earned All-MIAA recognition two straight seasons, including first-team honors in 2022, she wasn't taking a third all-conference award as a certainty.
But the MIAA put any worries Stevenson might have had to rest on Wednesday, with Stevenson a first-team repeat pick and one of four Washburn players to earn all-conference laurels.
"I was getting a little worried there for a second,'' Stevenson said. "I try not to look at stats because it gets into my head and I'm like, 'Oh, I'm not where I'm supposed to be. But with All-American stuff and with MIAA it's all about your team. If your team doesn't win you don't win.
"It feels great. It gives you a lot of confidence and especially knowing that other teammates got it, too.''
Both Stevenson and Rachel Schwensen were first team selections while Shawnee Heights product Taylor Rottinghaus and Corinna McMullen earned second-team honors.
Stevenson, who received honorable mention as a freshman before the back-to-back first-team honors, leads Washburn in kills with 324 (3.27 per set) and is hitting .217. She has played in every set and started all 27 matches for Washburn and is fourth in the conference with 3.76 points per set. Stevenson has 32 service aces this season, is second on the Ichabods with 408 digs (3.08 per set) and has helped out on 30 blocks.
Schwensen joins Stevenson on the first team in her first season with Washburn after transferring from Northern Colorado. The graduate student rightside hitter finished the regular season second on the Ichabods with 247 kills (2.81 per set) and was second in hitting percentage at .297. Schwensen played in 24 matches making starts in 19 and was second on Washburn with 60 blocks on the year and also made 53 digs. Her 23 kills against Northwest Missouri State are the most by any Ichabod in a match this season.
McMullen is a second-team All-MIAA selection in her sophomore year after earning honorable mention honors as a freshman. The setter from Bucyrus has played in all 27 matches, making 23 starts and leading Washburn with 593 assists (5.99 per set). McMullen was third on the Ichabods with 271 digs (2.74 per set) while also leading WU and the MIAA in aces, serving up 49 this season. She recorded a team-high 13 double-doubles on the year while also chipping in 17 kills.
Rottinhaus lands on the All-MIAA second team in her freshman season after making appearances in all 27 matches. The libero led Washburn with 408 digs (4.43 per set) and also dished out 78 assists on the year with seven aces. She finished the regular season reaching the 20 dig mark in five straight matches and reached 26 digs three times, the most for any Washburn player in a match this season.
Former Washburn Rural standout Taylor Russell, who helped lead the Junior Blues to the 2022 Class 6A state championship, earned second-team All-MIAA honors for Missouri Western.
Washburn, 17-10 overall and 11-9 in the MIAA, begins postseason play as the No. 5 seed in the MIAA Championship Tournament on Thursday facing No. 4 Missouri Western at 7 p.m. at the Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo.
2023 MIAA Volleyball Postseason Awards
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden came up with big performances in all three phases of the game Friday night, advancing to the Class 3A state semifinals with a 64-19 road romp past Parsons.
The Wildcats, who improved to 11-0 on the season, will host familiar rival Holton, a 35-22 winner over Frontenac, next Friday night.
Hayden sophomore Kade MItchell had a pair of touchdowns, including a 99-yard kickoff return, in the Wildcats' 64-19 Class 3A playoff win over Parsons. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's defense set the tone for the night when it forced a missed field goal attempt by Parsons after the Vikings recovered a Wildcat fumble on the opening kickoff at the Hayden 25-yard-line.
Hayden's offense then responded with a six-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped by a 42-yard touchdown run from sophomore Kade Mitchell (Mason Becker kick).
Parsons got within a point at 7-6 after a 75-yard, seven-play drive that produed a 19-yard TD pass from Tra Mack to Cade Brown (kick failed) but Hayden answered with a seven-play, 80-yard scoring match, with senior Finn Dunshee scoring on a 6-yard run (Becker kick) that put the Wildcats up 14-6 with 1:48 left in first quarter.
After forcing a Parsons punt, Hayden drove 57 yards in 11 plays for a Dom Ridley 5-yard run (Becker kick) as the Wildcats went in front, 21-6.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news (Games at 7 p.m.)
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Class 6A
Senior Branton DeWeese threw for three touchdowns in Washburn Rural's 27-20 Class 6A playoff win over Junction City last Friday. [File photo/TSN]
WICHITA EAST (8-2) at WASHBURN RURAL (10-0)
Washburn Rural, the No. 1 West seed, is coming off a 27-20 home playoff win over Junction City last Friday while Wichita East advanced with a 48-28 win over Wichita Northwest. Rural has won 10 straight games for the first time since a perfect 12-0 season in 1989 and has won 10 games in a season for the first time since 1992. Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for three touchdowns against Junction City, including a 69-yard game-winning strike to senior Calvin Hayes with 6:15 left in the game. Senior JC Heim scored a pair of TDs and starred defensively for the Junior Blues in last week's win while junior King Leonard had a pair of pass interceptions. Washburn Rural will be playing a Wichita East team that it faced in the opening game of the 2023 season, with the Junior Blues taking a 26-25 win in that game at Bowen-Glaze Stadium. The winner of Friday's game will advance to the 6A sub-state round to face the winner of Friday's game between Manhattan (9-1) and Derby (9-1) at Manhattan. With a win Friday Rural will be at home for the sub-state contest.
Class 5A
Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston helped lead the Vikings to a 31-28 upset win over No. 1 Class 5A seed De Soto last Friday. [File photo/TSN]
SEAMAN (6-4) at MILL VALLEY (8-2)
Seaman, the No. 9 seed in the 5A East, posted its second straight Class 5A road playoff win over a higher seed last Friday, knocking off No. 1 East seed De Soto 31-28 on junior Ethan Geiger's 25-yard field goal with 7:08 remaining. Four-time defending state champion Mill Valley advanced with a 56-7 win over Spring Hill. Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston ran for two touchdowns and threw for two TDs in the win over De Soto. Huston has completed 188 of 309 passes for 2,774 yards and 34 touchdowns while senior Callen Barta has caught 63 passes for 1,254 yards and 16 TDs and junior Bryer Finley has 43 receptions for 529 yards and nine TDs and senior Holden Finley has 41 catches for 548 yards and six TDs. Huston is also Seaman's leading rusher with 581 yards and seven TDs on 115 attempts. Mill Valley senior Tristan Baker has carried the ball 161 times for 1,132 yards and 16 touchdowns while
