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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
ROSSVILLE -- Rossville juniors Katie Spielman and Hailey Horton are first-year members of the state-bound softball team in 2023, and despite the battery tandem being brand new to the team this season, they've been key contributors to the Bulldawgs' success.
Junior pitcher Katie Spielman has been a standout for Rossville this spring after transferring from Clay Center. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Junior catcher Hailey Horton has made a smooth transition to Rossville after playing her first two seasons at Silver Lake. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Rossville (17-4) knocked off top-seeded Silver Lake, 4-1, in last Thursday's regional championship game to earn a berth in the Class 3A state tournament at Manhattan.
The win over its deeply rooted rival meant the world to the Rossville team.
The Bulldawgs have had their fair share of contributors pitch into their second straight regional championship win. Most of Rossville's crew has played with each other on the field and have been friends off the field since they could start playing sports.
Rossville pitcher Spielman and catcher Horton took different paths to contributing to the Bulldawgs' highly-successful 2023 campaign.
Spielman is originally from Clay Center, while Horton moved from right next door at Silver Lake to start the 2022-2023 school year. Spielman and Horton are three-sport athletes who had time to acclimate to their new homes before the softball season.
"The move wasn't hard," Horton said. "But getting to know everyone at (Rossville) was probably the hardest part. I feel like I clicked pretty quickly with most people since I just moved from the town over. I already knew most of the people. So I'd say it was easy to click with everyone."
"I'd say my situation was a bit different with me living an hour and a half away," Spielman said. "It was a lot different having to move here and get to know the community and everyone. Over the summer, it was hard. But once we started school and playing sports together, it got better."
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior All-American Brooklyn DeLeye has been selected to play in the Kansas Volleyball Association's 2023 All-Star Match on June 3 at Lee Arena.
Washburn Rural star Brooklyn DeLeye will play for the Red team in the KVA All-Star Match on June 3rd at Lee Arena. [File photo/TSN]
DeLeye, who will play collegiately at Kentucky, will play for the Red after helping lead Rural to four straight Class 6A state tournaments, including the state championship last fall.
Veteran Silver Lake coach Sarah Johnson will serve as an assistant coach for the Blue team.
Match time will be 4:30 p.m.
The players selected for the KVA All-Star Match are first nominated by their high school coaches (who must be KVA members), and then recommended by a committee to fill the squads.
Based on achievements, positions, classifications, collegiate plans and availability, the squads are determined and divided into the two teams.
KVA ALL-STAR MATCH
BLUE
Kori Arnold, Hillsboro; Brailee Bogle, Wichita Northwest; Lindsay Cure, Goodland; McKenzie Fairchild, Andale; Campbell Hague, Cheney; Bella Hedke, Marysville; Addyson Holthaus, Nemaha Central; Emery May, Andale; Josie McLean, Hutchinson; Sydney Swingle, Attica; Skylar Weaver, Lansing; Keala Wilson, Ell-Saline; Shelbi Wilson, Labette County.
Coaches -- Sandy Arnold, Hillsboro; Sarah Johnson, Silver Lake; Kayla Weidert, Andover Central.
RED
Payton Benoit, Wichita Northwest; Brooklyn Deleye, Washburn Rural; Massey Holle, Hanover; Kyra Johnson, Doniphan West; Maliyah Johnson, Hutchinson; Liana McGonigle, Sedgwick; Allie Paulsen, Andover Central; Heather Schemper, Phillipsburg; Maddie Schrandt, Andale; Ryleigh Stuhlsatz, Garden Plain; Megan Wright, Clay Center;
Coaches -- Kaylie Bergkamp, Andale; Amy Hoffsommer, Olathe West; Gina Peek, Lebo.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seven state medalists, led by second-place finishers Avery Walz of Seaman and Brianna Devlin of Topeka High headline the 2023 All-City girls swimming and diving team.
The 2023 All-City girls swimming and diving team -- Front, from left: Avery Walz, Seaman; Tauren Walz, Seaman; Joslynn Grace, Seaman; Kiersten Harris, Washburn Rural; Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High. Back, from left: Mara Bare, Washburn Rural; Ruby Knutson, Washburn Rural; Ashtynn Landry, Shawnee Heights; Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural; Lexi Herrera, Hayden; Makenna Pritchard, Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson.TSN]
Brianna Devlin, Topeka High
Walz earned first-team All-State honors in Class 5A-1A after posting four top-five finishes in last weekend's state meet, including a runnerup finish in the 200-yard individual medley, while Devlin finished second in the 6A one-meter diving event in only her second year in the sport.
Washburn Rural freshman Audrey Appuhn posted top-four finishes in a pair of 6A individual events, while Seaman junior Tauren Walz and Viking sophomore Joslynn Grace both earned four 5A-1A state medals and Washburn Rural seniors Makenna Pritchard and Mara Bare earned state medals in 6A.
City and Centennial League champion Washburn Rural, which won its 20th straight city title, put a city-high five swimmers on the All-City first team, which is determined by performances in the city meet, while Seaman, which finished fifth in the 5A-1A team standings, has three first-teamers..
Washburn Rural put Appuhn, Bare, Pritchard, Kiersten Harris and Ruby Knutson on the first team while Seaman is represented by the Walz twins and Grace.
Devlin, a two-time state medalist, is joined on the All-City first team by freshman teammate Hara Del Castillo, while Hayden's Lexi Herrera and Shawnee Heights' Ashtynn Landry also earned first-team recognition.
The 2023 All-City girls swimming and diving second team -- Front, from left: Ella Bombardier, Washburn Rural; Isabelle Gomez, Shawnee Heights; Avery Samuelson, Seaman; Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural; Genevieve Miranda, Washburn Rural. Back, from left: Georgia Cole, Shawnee Heights; Amelia Ostaszewska, Shawnee Heights; Lizzie Gould, Seaman; Jenna Dernovish, Hayden; Kaylee Gregg, Hayden; Maddie O'Brien, Washburn Rural. Not pictured; Gorata Mackenzie, Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
All-City first-team capsules:
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural -- Appuhn capped her freshman season with a pair of top-four individual finishes in the Class 6A state meet, taking third in the 200-yard individual medley and fourth in the 500 free while also helping Rural win 'B' finals (ninth place) in the 200 medley and 400 free relays. Appuhn won four golds (two individual, two relays) in the city meet as the Junior Blues won their 20th straight team title and also won four golds in the Centennial League meet, earning all-league recognition, as Rural won its third straight title.
MARA BARE, Washburn Rural -- A senior, Bare placed fifth in the 6A 200-yard freestyle and 10th in the 100 backstroke as well as swimming on the Junior Blues' 'B' final champion 200 medley and 400 free relays. Bare helped lead Washburn Rural to its 20th straight city team title, winning three gold medals, and also helped the Junior Blues win their third straight Centennial League team championship, earning first-team all-league honors after winning three gold medals in that meet.
HARA DEL CASTILLO, Topeka High -- Castillo earned All-City honors as a freshman, finishing second in the 200-yard individual medley and third in the 100 backstroke in the city meet. Del Castillo also earned first-team All-Centennial League recognition, placing second in the 100 backstroke and third in the 200 individual medley for the Trojans. Del Castillo competed in the 6A state meet in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley.
BRIANNA DEVLIN, Topeka High -- Devlin, a senior, swept the city and Centennial League one-meter diving championships for the second straight season before posting a second-place finish in the 6A state meet. Devlin, who holds the Topeka High school records for the six-dive and 11-dive events, placed fourth in the 6A state meet as a junior in her first year of diving after switching over from gymnastics..
- Details
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Washburn University men's golf will begin its eighth trip to the NCAA Men's Golf Championship on Monday at the Avalon Lakes Golf Course in Warren, Ohio.
Washburn's men's golf team will compete in the NCAA Men's Golf Championship Monday in Ohio after finishing fourth in the regional tournament. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The three-round stroke play portion of the tournament will last until Wednesday before the field is cut.
The championship event will begin at 7:30 a.m. Monday as each competing team and the individual qualifiers will play three rounds of stroke play
The Ichabods will be represented by Cade Uhlenhake, Dawson Wills, Jack Baker, Kade Prentice and Max Ullan.
There will be 20 total teams competing with a total of eight individuals, four from each regional tournament, for a total of 108 players
Following Wednesday's third round the championship field will be cut to eight teams for the medal-match play rounds.
The quarterfinals will be played on Thursday morning, with the semifinals following on Thursday afternoon as the field will be cut to four
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2023 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Senior Ta'Mijha Nichols of Shawnee Heights is the Shawnee County leader in the girls 100-meter dash. [File photo/TSN]
Nichols, Shawnee Heights 11.96
Marshall, Topeka High 12.74
Steiner, Seaman 12.84
Torres-Hill, Topeka High 13.07
Ross, Silver Lake 13.22
Topeka West senior Ala'Jah Brooks is the Shawnee County leader in the girls 200 and 400-meter dashes. [File photo/TSN]
200 METERS
Brooks, Topeka West 25.39
Nichols, Shawnee Heights 25.88
Hillebert, Hayden 26.53
Marshall, Topeka High 26.70
Steiner, Seaman 26.76
400 METERS
Brooks, Topeka West 57.26
Hillebert, Hayden 58.15
Fredrickson, Washburn Rural 60.01
Foster, Rossville 60.27
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 60.57
Returning senior state champion Bethany Druse of Seaman is the Shawnee County leader in the 800 and 1,600-meter runs. [File photo/TSN]
800 METERS
Druse, Seaman 2:15.46
Carter, Washburn Rural 2:25.99
Foster, Rossville 2:27.33
Fink, Washburn Rural 2:27.51
Ismert, Washburn Rural 2:28.92
