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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 15-ranked Washburn University volleyball returns to Lee Arena for two MIAA matches this weekend, hosting Missouri Western at 6 p.m. on Friday and Northwest Missouri State at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Washburn, now 9-2 on the season and 3-1 in the MIAA, had its first conference road trip of the season last weekend, earning a split. The Ichabods defeated Missouri Southern 3-1 last Friday before falling to Central Missouri 3-0 last Saturday.
The Ichabods, who are undefeated at Lee Arena, are tied with Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney for second place in the conference.
Washburn junior Jalyn Stevenson leads the No. 15-ranked Ichabod volleyball team in kills. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Jalyn Stevenson registered a pair of double-doubles last weekend and led the Ichabods in kills in both matches. Against Missouri Southern she knocked down 13 kills with 14 digs and against Central Missouri she had a 17 kills while scooping up 11 digs.
Stevenson is fourth in the MIAA in kills per set at 3.37 as well as sixth in points per set with 3.84.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High junior volleyball standout Jo'Mhara Benning and Washburn Rural junior football player Wilson Miller 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 Benning and Miller over the past week:
Topeka High junior Jo'Mhara Benning (23) is the girls Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Star of the Week after helping the Trojans to volleyball wins over USD 501 rivals Highland Park and Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
JO'MHARA BENNING, Topeka High
A three-sport athlete for Topeka High, Benning played a major role Wednesday night as the Trojan volleyball team bested USD 501 rivals Highland Park and Topeka West to win the annual district triangular.
Benning, who also plays softball and basketball for the Trojans, helped Topeka High take a 25-8, 25-16 win over Highland Park before High avenged an earlier loss to Topeka West with a 26-24, 22-25, 25-18 win over the Chargers.
Benning was a key contributor for the Trojans as a setter and hitter and also chipped in several key points serving for Topeka High.
Washburn Rural junior defensive back Wilson Miller (2) is the boys Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Star of the Week after helping lead the Junior Blues to a 35-28 win over reigning Class 6A state champion Manhattan. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
WILSON MILLER, Washburn Rural
Playing his first season of high school football, the 6-foot, 190-pound defensive back/placekicker, recorded a pair of pass interceptions, including a 21-yard return for a touchdown, as Washburn Rural improved to 4-0 on the season with a 35-28 Centennial League win over reigning Class 6A state champion Manhattan last Friday night at Bowen-Glaza Stadium.
Miller, who previously played soccer for Washburn Rural, also went five of five on extra-point kicks for the Junior Blues, who snapped the Indians' 16-game winning streak, which dated back to 2021.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's volleyball team had its ups and downs, but the homestanding Trojans were at their best when it counted the most Wednesday night, pulling away down the stretch to take a three-set win over Topeka West and claim bragging rights in the annual USD 501 triangular.
Topeka High volleyball celebrates at the end of the Trojans' 26-24, 22-25, 25-18 win over Topeka West Wednesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High junior Jo'Mhara Benning reacts to a big Trojan point in Wednesday's USD 501 triangular at Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Trojans, who improved to 8-9 on the season, opened the night with a 25-8, 25-16 win over Highland Park and then avenged an earlier loss to Topeka West with a 26-24, 22-25, 25-18 win.
Topeka West, now 17-7 on the season, rolled to a 25-4, 25-15 win over Highland Park before the tough loss to Topeka High, the Chargers' first loss to the Trojans in four years.
"I think the difference was definitely how hard we tried and how we worked together as a team,'' said Topeka High junior Jo'Mhara Benning, who excelled as a setter and hitter while also having considerable success serving the ball for the Trojans. "We just tried our best to keep each other up.
"We have been playing really well as a team. We have our moments, but I think overall we're playing pretty good.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All games at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY'S GAME
LANSING (2-2, 2-2 United Kansas Conferance) vs. TOPEKA WEST (0-4, 0-4 United Kansas Conference)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka West fell to 0-4 last week with a 34-0 United Kansas Conference loss to Piper, while Lansing evened its record at 2-2 with a 28-21 UKC win over Seaman. Topeka West has been outscored 217-12 over its first four games, but the Charger defense allowed a season-low 34 points last Friday against Piper.
FRIDAY GAMES
Rossville quarterback Camden Horak has passed for 882 yards and nine touchdowns for the 2-2 Bulldawgs. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake's Tanner Martin is one of the top returning quarterbacks in the Class 2A ranks, leading the Eagles to a 3-1 start to the 2023 season. [File photo/TSN]
SILVER LAKE (3-1, 0-0 Class 2A District 3) at ROSSVILLE (2-2, 1-0 Class 2A District 3)
Both the Eagles and Bulldawgs tuned up for the storied War on 24 rivalry with big wins last Friday. Silver Lake outlasted Mid-East League foe Rock Creek, 38-35, while Rossville opened Class 2A District 3 play with a 70-0 rout at Atchison County. Friday will be Silver Lake's district opener. Rossville quarterback Camden Horak has completed 61 of 98 passes for 882 yards and nine touchdowns while Tayson Horak has caught 21 passes for 312 yards and two TDs and rushed for 179 yards and a TD on 16 attempts. Top players for Silver Lake include quarterback Tanner Martin, running back Blake Redmond and receiver Eli Barnes.
Hayden senior Finn Dunshee has rushed for 630 yards and 10 touchdowns on 28 carries for the 4-0 Wildcats. [File photo/TSN]
PERRY-LECOMPTON (1-3, 0-1 Class 3A District 4) at HAYDEN (4-0, 1-0 Class 3A District 4)
Hayden, which has outscored its opposition by a 210-37 margin, stayed red hot with a 64-0 rout win at Jefferson West last Friday to open Class 3A District 4 play. Senior Finn Dunshee has rushed for 630 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 28 carries while junior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 27 of 47 passes for 474 yards and five TDs and junior Jensen Schrickel has 11 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Perry-Lecompton is coming off a 32-12 loss to Holton.
BURLINGAME (4-0, 1-0 Eight-Man-I District 2) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (2-2, 0-1 Eight-Man-I District 2)
At Highland Park
Cair Paravel opened Eight-Man Division I District 2 play last week with a 58-30 loss to undefeated Lyndon and the Lions face an undefeated team for the second straight game Friday night. Burlingame is coming off a 53-0 rout over Chase County in the Bearcats' district opener. This will be Cair Paravel's final season in Eight-Man football before the Lions switch to the 11-man ranks next fall.
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Seaman girls claimed the United Kansas Conference golf championship at Village Greens by dominating the top of the leader board.
Seaman's girls golf team poses for a team picture after running away with its second straight United Kansas Conference championship Tuesday at Village Greens Golf Course. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
The top two finishers Tuesday were in familiar territory.
Seaman junior Jaycee Zimmerman shot a 79 to post a two-shot individual victory in Tuesday's United Kansas Conference girls golf tournament. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Jaycee Zimmerman, a junior from Seaman who finished second at the tournament a year ago, claimed the top prize and conference Golfer of the Year honors by improving her score by six strokes.
Zimmerman’s 79 was two strokes better than Topeka West junior Alex Baxter, who finished third last year.
The Vikings placed five golfers in the top seven of the conference tournament. Makenna Stuke, Avery Samuelson and Kaitlynn Frye finished third through fifth, respectively, and Riley Adams finished in seventh place.
Seaman ran away from second place Shawnee Heights by 48 strokes en route to a second league title in as many years in the league.
“This is pretty special,” said Seaman coach Julie McLaughlin. “Last year we had Lois Deeter, a player who is now playing in college and that was pretty exciting. But these girls really stepped up their game this year. I mean, they have had a phenomenal season. I am really proud of the work that they’ve put in. They have come so far in the last two or three seasons. This is well deserved.”
