- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Reigning Class 6A volleyball champion Washburn Rural rolled to the Centennial League championship Saturday at Manhattan, posting a perfect 5-0 record in the round-robin event to stretch its winning streak to seven matches.
The Junior Blues, now 13-7 on the season, lost just one set on the day while posting victories over league foes Emporia (25-16, 25-15), Junction City (25-16, 25-8), Manhattan (25-14, 23-25, 25-14), Topeka High (25-15, 25-12) and Hayden (25-20, 25-22).
"We are making pretty good strides in what we need to do and how we are playing,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "We didn't necessarily play our best on Saturday, but we are getting better at all aspects of the game.
"We really just need to be more consistent and maybe understand game situations better.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
JAREN HEIM, Washburn Rural
A 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior outside linebacker, Heim scored a pair of defensive touchdowns as Washburn Rural football improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial League last Friday night with a 28-7 road win over Junction City. Heim recovered a Blue Jay fumble in the end zone for a touchdown and also scored a touchdown off a blocked punt by his brother, JC.
JC HEIM, Washburn Rural
Heim, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior outside linebacker, was a defensive force throughout Friday night's 28-7 Centennial League football win at Junction City as Washburn Rural improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial League. Heim, who also plays running back for the Junior Blues, blocked a punt that his brother, Jaren, returned for a touchdown and he returned a fumble 77 yards for a touchdown after a Packson Bettis sack.
TANNER MARTIN, Silver Lake
Martin, Silver Lake's 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior quarterback, had a hand in five touchdowns in the Eagles' 42-28 Class 3A District 3 road football victory over rival Rossville. Martin carried the ball 20 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 134 yards and a pair of TDs. Martin also helped Silver Lake successfully convert three 2-point conversions as the Eagles improved to 4-1 on the season.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer posted a program-record eighth straight win on Sunday at Yager Stadium, with the Ichabods taking a 2-0 MIAA win over Northeastern State.
Ichabod coach Davy Phillips said the work that led to Sunday's achievement started a long time ago.
"I think it's been a couple of years now,'' Phillips said. "Last year we started 7-1-1 and we got up to No. 4 in the region. The year before that we were 6-1-1 I think, so it's been growing for years. It's the program that's building, I think.
"It's been positive and I expect to win every game. I did when I arrived, so for me it's not a surprise. I'm glad they're getting the rewards of their work, but this is what we strive for every year.''
Now 9-1-0 overall and 3-0-0 in the MIAA, Washburn made first-half goals from Mackinly Rohn and Ana Muruzabal stand up for the win while Raegan Wells recorded the shutout in goal for the Ichabods.
"I think (the streak) just solidifies the work we've put in this whole season,'' said Wells, the winningest goalkeeper in program history. "It's just one step closer to bringing home a conference championship
"This team just has a different type of mentality. We show up to practice ready to fight every day. We show up to games and we're just really confident and we trust each other.''
The goal for the Ichabods now is to use their hot start as motivation to keep it going over the remainder of the year.
"One of the things we talk about is the competitive callouses you build up, when you know what it takes to win and you're willing to go and put that work in because you know results will come from it,'' Phillips said. "I think we're just developing some really good callouses through these results, and it's good. I'm excited to watch the group keep growing.''
Rohn, a Washburn Rural product, continued her outstanding freshman season with her second goal of the year just 8:14 into Sunday's match and Muruzabal, a junior, added WU's second goal with 7:13 left in the half off passes from junior Jadyn Allen and senior Riley Painter, who were both credited with assists.
Wells picked up her third straight shutout and sixth of the season (five solo, one shared), and thanks in large part to the work of her teammates, had to make just one save on the afternoon.
"My favorite kind of game,'' Wells said.
On defense junior Josie Boyle and junior Jordan Tenpas played all 90 minutes to help hold Northeastern State in check across the board.
Rebecca Partyka played all 90 minutes in goal for Northeastern State, recording six saves in the match.
Washburn will go on the road for a Friday MIAA match at Missouri Western (6 p.m.) and a match at Northwest Missouri State next Sunday (1 p.m.).
WASHBURN 2, NORTHEASTERN STATE 0
Northeastern State (2-4-4, 0-3-1) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn (9-1-0, 3-0-0) 2 0 -- 2
Washburn -- Goals: Mackinly Rohn, Ana Muruzabal. Assists: Riley Painter, Jadyn Allen. Shutout: Raegan Wells.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
City schools swept all four championships in Saturday's Seaman Invitational at Shawnee North Community Center.
Host Seaman swept the girls titles, with sophomore Ryin Miller leading a 1-2-3-5 Viking finish as Seaman won the team championship by a 21-47 margin over Lawrence.
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel won the boys individual title while Washburn Rural and Seaman went one-two in the team standings, with the Junior Blues winning by a 58-69 margin over the Vikings.
Miller won the girls individual title in a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 31.76 seconds while freshman Brynn Spencer was second in 20:02.43, junior Stella Appelhanz third in 20:39.44 and senior Savannah Sampson fifth in 21:10.46.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabods fell 27-21 at Nebraska-Kearney Saturday, with a combined 28 points being scored in the final 15 minutes of the game.
The Ichabods (1-4 overall, 0-4 MIAA) trailed 6-0 at halftime.
After a scoreless first quarter the Lopers took a 6-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
In the third quarter, the Lopers (2-3, 2-3) blocked a Washburn punt and one play later UNK went up 13-0 with 8:42 to go in the period.
Washburn answered with a score on its next possession when freshman Sam Van Dyne hit Connor Searcy for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 3:56 to go in the third, trimming the Loper lead to 13-7.