- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the Class 5A state tournament and returning a strong nucleus from its 2022 team, there was a certain amount of pressure on Seaman's volleyball team this season.
Seaman's volleyball team poses for a picture after winning Saturday's Class 5A sub-state tournament at Seaman. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
"At the start of the season there were a lot of expectations and I think we might have got down on ourselves for a little bit, but I think we've built our confidence back up,'' Seaman senior Brooklyn Gormley said.
And in the end, Tatiana Dowling's 33-6 Vikings were able to handle everything thrown at them, advancing to to their fourth straight state tournament with a 25-16, 25-15 win over Newton in the final of Saturday's 5A sub-state tournament at Seaman.
"We never discount any team when we're coming into this type of situation,'' Dowling said. "I felt like we came out flat (in the semifinals) against Eisenhower and it showed a little bit and then we picked it up throughout the game and definitely did a better job against Newton.
"I don't think that they have felt the burden of expectations. They come out and work hard every single day ... I think that they just meet every challenge and it's been really good.''
Seaman volleyball celebrates a point during Saturday's Class 5A sub-state tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman junior Campbell Chabot (3) sets the ball during the Vikings' sub-state final against Newton. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman was the No. 4 sub-state seed in the West and senior Brooklyn Gormley said the Vikings felt some nerves early in the day but that the butterflies quickly dissapated as the day went on.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's been an uncharcteristic 2023 season for the proud Washburn Rural volleyball program, with the Junior Blues dropping 10 matches, their most since 2016 season, after losing a total of three matches over the previous two seasons combined.
Washburn Rural's volleyball team celebrates after receiving the Class 6A sub-state championship trophy Saturday at Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural's volleyball team poses for a team picture Saturday after earning its 25th trip to the Class 6A state tournament in 29 seasons under coach Kevin Bordewick. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But Kevin Bordewiick's Junior Blues team is back in familiar territory, headed to the Class 6A state tournament, after a dominant performance in Saturday's sub-state tourney at Rural.
Washburn Rural topped Derby 25-9, 25-15 in the sub-state final and has now earned 25 state berths in 29 seasons under Bordewick with eight state championships, including the 2022 crown.
"I think we've worked all season for this,'' Rural senior standout Jada Ingram said. "From the start of the season to now you can definitely see how much we've improved and I think we have a really special group. A lot of people doubt us, but I think we're going to make a great run at state.''
The Junior Blues, now 28-10, will open their '23 state bid at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina and are the No. 5 seed in the eight-team field.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural junior Payton Fink won the individual title in Saturday's Class 6A cross country regional at Wichita while leading the Junior Blues to the girls team championship.
Washburn Rural junior Payton Fink won the individual championship in Saturday's Class 6A regional cross country meet at Wichita, leading the Junior Blues to the team title. [File photo/TSN]
Fink posted a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 01.20 seconds to win by nearly 10 seconds over Junction City senior Lorna Rae Pierce (18:11.00) while the Junior Blues put four runners in the top nine places individually to take the team title by a 43-62 margin over the Blue Jays.
Rural also got a fifth-place finish from sophomore Emily Graf (19:53.60), a sixth-place finish from junior Rylee Ismert (20:02.40) and a ninth from junior Brooklyn Nolte (20:21.00).
Sophomore Kenzie Maddox was the Junior Blues' No. 5 runner in 23rd place (21:25.10) while freshman Kate Muir (21:43.60) was 26th and sophomore Lacey Middleton (24:35.30) 43rd.
Freshman Juliahnna Savago led Topeka High with a 21st-place finish (21:15.20).
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After winning city and United Kansas Conference individual championships, Seaman sophomore cross country star Ryin Miller added a Class 5A regional title on Saturday at the Shawnee North Community Center, leading the Vikings to a team berth for next Saturday's 5A state meet.
Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller completed a sweep of city, UKC and Class 5A regional individual cross country titles Saturday at Shawnee North Community Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Running on her home course, Miller took control of Saturday's race from the outset, clocking a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 20.89 seconds to post a win by more than a minute over De Soto sophomore Addison Gillespie (19:28.79).
Now Miller, who finished fifth in 5A as a freshman, will turn her focus to next Saturday's state meet at Rim Rock Farm north of Lawrence and said she feels like she's where she needs to be to be ready to challenge for another strong state finish.
"My knee's kind of been bothering me a little bit, but other than that, yes,'' Miller said.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There's probably no other high school cross country runner in the state with more race experience than Shawnee Heights senior star Jackson Esquibel.
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel posted a 53-second win in Saturday's Class 5A regional cross country meet at Shawnee North Community Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
After all, Esquibel has been on the T-Birds' varsity team since he stepped on campus, has been a multi-time state qualifier and a two-time state Class 5A state medalist.
But Esquibel admits that he still gets nervous for each and every race.
"Of course,'' Esquibel said. "You get a little nervous but you get to the start line and you know what you're going to feel out there, you know that it's going to hurt, but I think once that gun goes off all the fear goes away.
"You've done it so many times throughout the four years that I just feel like it's fun now, you know. Being able to enjoy it a little bit more this year has been the best part about it.''
After the gun went off Saturday, Esquibel, also a state 3,200 meters champion in track, turned in another in a long line of dominating performance in the Class 5A regional meet at Shawnee North Community Center, posting a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 46:02 seconds to take the individual title by more than 53 seconds over De Soto junior Vance Krudwig (16:39.21).
