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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football assistant Mitch Schurig and wife Taylor probably wouldn't have chosen football season for the birth of their first child.
Mitch Schurig
But baby Palmer Schurig, born on Sept. 11, had her own plan.
"One might say we didn't plan too well,'' Mitch said. "It was definitely a happy surprise.''
Mitch, who coaches the Ichabods' offensive line after earning All-MIAA honors at quarterback for the Ichabods, may be getting a little less sleep these days, but he gives his wife, who he met at Washburn Rural, huge credit for handling the bulk of the baby duties.
"I'm back at home for the second shift and sleep when the baby sleeps,'' Schurig said. ".Taylor's doing a great job at the house and holding it down and I try to help out when I can and where I can.
"You never feel more kind of helpless, but I try to be supportive mentally. It's definitely a switchup.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No question, these are tough times for Topeka West's football program, with the Chargers 0-5 after an 84-14 home United Kansas Conference loss to Lansing Thursday night at Hummer Sports Park.
Topeka West senior Josh Nitschke rushed for 174 yards, including 72 and 91-yard touchdown runs, on just six carries against Lansing Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But after a long wait to get on the field for the Chargers, West wide receiver/defensive back Josh Nitschke is determined to make the most of his time at Topeka West.
"I moved in from East Texas,'' Nitschke said. "I moved here last year but my transcripts didn't go through from Texas, so I wasn't allowed to play but I did play (junior varsity) and I had a little bit of fun down there.''
Nitschke is finally getting his chance to play varsity football for West this fall and has been a definite bright spot for Trey Parker's Chargers.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's volleyball team improved to 20-4 on the season Thursday night, sweeping a non-league dual at Hayden.
Seaman's volleyball team celebrates a point during Thursday's dual sweep at Hayden. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Seaman junior Maegan Mills spikes the ball during Thursday's 3-0 dual sweep at Hayden. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
The Vikings topped the Wildcats, 25-16, 25-11, 25-16.
Hayden fell to 8-16 on the season with the loss to Seaman, fourth in the Class 5A state tournament the past two seasons.
Hayden senior Avery Grunert makes a diving return during Thursday's home volleyball dual against Seaman. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Hayden's volleyball team huddles up during Thursday's home dual against Seaman. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Hayden will compete in the Centennial League tournament on Saturday at Manhattan.
Seaman will return to action next Tuesday, facing United Kansas Conference foes De Soto and Leavenworth in a triangular at De Soto.
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Hayden and Seaman battled for 100 minutes on the Seaman soccer pitch Thursday night, both leaving with a 1-1 tie and thoughts of what might have been.
Seaman senior Jace Brake (center) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the Vikings' lone goal in a 1-1 double-overtime tie with Hayden Thursday at Seaman. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Preston Meitner converts a penalty kick for the Wildcats' lone goal in Thursday's 1-1 double-overtime tie at Seaman. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Seaman scratched out a 1-0 lead with three minutes left in the first half. A couple of Viking seniors teamed up for the game’s first goal, with Phoenix Cannon passing to Jace Brake, who managed to out-maneuver a defender and punch a shot past the Hayden goalkeeper.
But while the Vikings had the lead and some momentum to finish the first half, they felt they had let an opportunity slip away.
“We found a goal and we had opportunities to go up two, three to zero. It kind of felt like we left a win on the table tonight,” Seaman coach Tim Nussbaum said. “A tie’s a decent result, but I feel like we should have done better tonight.”
Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer praised the Wildcats for responding to the Seaman goal.
“That was tough because I thought we played a good first half, but we just had that one hiccup,” Kreutzer said. “To (the Hayden players’) credit, they kept their poise and stayed after it.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
From Day 1 after he was named head football coach at Topeka West, Trey Parker has preached positivity and emphasized that the Chargers need to appreciate each and every step they take, no matter how small.
Topeka West junior quarterback Kenton Tisdale attempts a pass in the Chargers' 84-14 UKC loss to Lansing Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West senior Jace Banks carries the ball in Thursday's 84-14 UKC loss to Lansing. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
And though it may been been hard for anyone looking at Thursday's 84-14 United Kansas Conference loss to Lansing and glean anything positive, Parker said there were bright spots the winless Chargers can take from that rout, particularly in the second half, as they move forward.
"We were down on the scoreboard, but I definitely saw that fight in the second half that I was looking for,'' Parker said. "That's what I always preach to these guys, that we know it's a long road ahead of us, but we just have to continue to fight.
"We can't give up. I tell them all the time, 'You either fight or you lay down,' and we definitely fought in that second half so I'm proud of that.''
