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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.
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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).
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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.
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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).
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin, in only its second season competing as a full KSHSAA member in football, finished off a 6-2 regular season with a 74-28 victory over Maranatha Academy.
The Lions, who finished second in Eight-Man I District 2 will host 4-4 Sedan, which finished third in District 1, in a first-round playoff game next Friday (site to be determined)
Cair Paravel senior Jesiah Bonura compiled 435 all-purpose yards in Friday's 74-28 victory over Maranatha Christian. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Jase Pavlik threw for five touchdowns and ran for a TD as Cair Paravel capped a 6-2 regular season with a 74-28 win over Maranatha Academy. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Jesiah Bonura had a huge game in the Lions' win over Maranatha, compiling 435 all-purpose yards.
Bonura caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, carried the ball five times for 193 yards and two TDs and had four kickoff returns for 195 yards and two scores.
CPLS junior quarterback Jase Pavlik completed nine of 14 passes for 86 yards and five touchdowns and carried the ball five times for 95 yards and a TD.
The winner of Cair Paravel's opening playoff game next week will advance to face the winner of the game between Central-Burden (8-0) and Goessel (1-7).
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 47, LEAVENWORTH 7 -- Shawnee Heights put the cap on a 6-2 regular season with a 47-7 United Kansas Conference road win at Leavenworth.
