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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kerry Darting's Darting Basketball Academy has continued to add new programs in its 10 years of existence, and the DBA will take another big step this summer with the addition of an international element.
Twenty-four high school aged players representing 11 different countries are scheduled to arrive in Topeka on July 2nd and stay through July 22nd to train.
Kerry Darting instructs young players during a Darting Basketball Academy event. DBA is celebrating its 10th season in 2024 and will add an international flavor this summer. [File photo/TSN]
Players from Australia, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Serbia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Dubai are scheduled to take part in the DBA program.
"These kids are coming here because they want to play college basketball, so there will be a lot of college coaches coming in to watch them for the whole three weeks at nights when we're scrimmaging and working out and practicing,'' Darting said.
In addition to helping the international contingent find a college home Darting said the program will also benefit up and coming players in the Topeka area.
"I think it's huge just for the local kids and the area because we'll have the better players coming in and scrimmaging with (the international players) every night, so it will give them the chance to play against some good competition,'' Darting said.
"The college coaches will come in to watch the international kids, but at the same time, if there's kids locally that want to play collegiately and are good, the college coaches will have a good opportunity to watch them play as well.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Taylin Stallbaumer has been a winner in four different sports since she stepped on the Seaman campus four years ago, including Class 5A state team championships in volleyball and basketball as a senior.
And Stallbaumer picked up a couple more wins Saturday as she closed out her high school career in the Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Washburn's Lee Arena.
Former Seaman star Taylin Stallbaumer (middle) is congratulated by her Red teammates after a kill in the KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Stallbaumer, who will play volleyball at Johnson County Community College this fall, helped the Red team take a 25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 25-14, 15-9 win over the Blue and was honored with the Joan Lundstrom Wells Award of Excellence at the conclusion of the match, one of the KVA's four individual awards.
"It means a lot because these girls here are really talented, really good,'' Stallbaumer said. "You've got girls going all over the country, so to be a part of that team and to be with all of them, that means a lot.''
Stallbaumer played in Saturday's all-star match less than two weeks after completing her high school soccer career in the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
"This past week I think I was at two practices,'' Stallbaumer said. "We were all a little rusty.''
The recent Seaman graduate had just three practices with her Red teammates but the team seemed to be a good fit from the outset, leading for the majority of the match en route to the 4-1 victory.
"I think it's really important when you're with a new team to get to know your teammates and I feel like we did a really good job of that,'' Stallbaumer said. "Going out to dinner, team practices, we had a lot of team bonding and I feel like we really just got to know each other.
"We care for one another and I feel like that showed on the court today.''
Taylin Stallbaumer receives a hug from her Seaman coach, Tatiana Dowling, during Saturday's pre-match introductions for the Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Stallbaumer led the Red with 44 assists and also had 19 digs.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twenty-three city soccer players earned All-United Kansas Conference recognition, incuding seven first-team picks.
Seaman is represented on the first team by sophomore defender Elle LaBin, sophomore forward Ryin Miller, junior midfielder Anna Becker and senior midfielder Marin Schuler while Shawnee Heights put junior defender Bayli Benson, junior forward Isabell Van Fleet, and freshman forward Morgan Robinson on the first team.
Ryin MIller, Seaman
Isabel Van Fleet , Shawnee Heights (12)
Morgan Robinson, Shawnee Heights (9)
Bayli Benson, Shawnee Heights (8)
Marin Schuler, Seaman
Anna Becker, Seaman
Elle LaBin, Seaman
Both Seaman and Shawnee Heights advanced to the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
Seaman put seniors Makena Schuler, Elinore Stallbaumer and Taylin Stallbaumer and freshman Julie Molleker on the second team while Topeka West is represented by junior Abigail Ray and freshman Brynlee Best.
Ten city players received All-UKC honorable mention.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE SOCCER
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Taylin Stallbaumer and Tatiana Dowling of Class 5A state champion Seaman will take part in Saturday's 4:30 p.m. 2024 Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Washburn University's Lee Arena.
Taylin Stallbaumer, Seaman
Tatiana Dowling, Seaman
Stallbaumer will play for the Red team in Saturday's match while Dowling will coach the Blue team after the duo helped lead the Vikings to their first-ever state volleyball title last fall in Salina.
All-Stars were nominated by their high school coaches, who must be KVA members.
KANSAS VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION ALL-STAR ROSTERS
Saturday, June 1, 4:30 p.m. at Lee Arena
BLUE
Jordyn Bird, Maize; Ales Bittner, Cheney; Jacqueline Corcoran, Circle; Alaina Eck, Little River; Camryn Hutchinson, Smith Center; Carly Koster, Maize South; Cora Miller, Holton; Audrey Peek, Lebo; Alex Romero, McPherson; Talya Sampson, Sedgwick; Brynn Stowell, Olathe West; Tatum Tindall, Manhattan.
Coaches – Tatiana Dowling, Seaman (head); Kylie Corneliusen, Mill Valley; Sam Soliday, Maranatha Academy.
RED
Seenane Brewer, Lawrence; Mylie Brown, Beloit; Kaitlyn Burke, Mill Valley; Hope Duncan, Smoky Valley; Mia Fox, Circle; Emery Keebaugh, Ottawa; Emily Langley, Jefferson County North; Nina Mitchell, Wichita Northwest; Riley Ourth, Olathe West; Grace Rowland, Andale; Dominique Schutte, Halstead; Taylin Stallbaumer, Seaman.
Coaches – Tom Slaugher, Heritage Christian (head); Kim Rolfs, Little River; Leanna Willer, Louisburg.
Hayden state champ Grace, Topeka High's Plankinton, Heights' Pomeroy top All-Shawnee County baseball
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden junior Cooper Grace and Topeka High senior Nate Plankinton, who were named the co-players of the year, and Shawnee Heights junior three-time first-team pick Deacon Pomeroy, headline the TopSports.news 2024 All-Shawnee County baseball team.
Grace helped lead Hayden to the Class 3A state championship while Plankinton helped lead Topeka High to a second straight 6A state tournament berth.
Junior Cooper Grace has been named the Shawnee County co-player of the year after helping lead Hayden to the Class 3A state title. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High senior Nate Plankinton has been named the Shawnee County co-player of the year after helping the Trojans earn back-to-back Class 6A state tournament berths. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights standout junior catcher and pitcher Deacon Pomeroy (left) earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the third straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Grace and Plankinton were earlier named the co-players of the year in the Centennial League and both earned All-State first-team recognition from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches while Pomeroy was named the UKC and KABC 5A player of the year.
Hayden freshman Mason Becker has been named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year after helping lead the Wildcats to the Class 3A state title. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee County baseball coach of the year Bill Arnold (left) congratulates county first-team pick Brady Heinen earlier this season. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's Bill Arnold was named the county coach of the year after leading the seventh-seeded Wildcats the 3A state championship with an 18-12 record, while Hayden freshman Mason Becker was named the newcomer of the year.
Arnold has coached Hayden to three state baseball titles while also leading the Wildcats to a state football championship.
Topeka High senior Isaiah Kincade (21) has been named to the All-Shawnee County first team for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Kyle Walker is a repeat first-team pick on the All-Shawnee County baseball team. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake junior Dysen Schooler earned a berth on the All-Shawnee County first team for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]
In addition to three-time pick Pomeroy, Grace and Plankinton are both All-Shawnee County repeat first-team picks along with Topeka High senior Isaiah Kincade, Washburn Rural senior Kyle Walker and Silver Lake junior Dysen Schooler.
Senior Evan Lenherr (11) helped Hayden win the Class 3A state title this spring, with Lenherr earning all-county recognition. [File photo/TSN]
First-team All-Shawnee County pick Matt Genrich helped lead Topeka High to back-to-back Class 6A state tournament berths. [File photo/TSN]
Grace and Becker are joined on the all-county first team by junior Brady Heinen and senior Evan Lenherr, while Topeka High senior Matt Genrich joins Kincade and Plankinton on the first team.
Washburn Rural senior Colin Redeker is a member of the All-Shawnee County baseball first team. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake senior Tanner Martin earned a first-team berth on the All-Shawnee County baseball team. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Jordan Armbruster was a first-team selection along with teammate Pomeroy while Washburn Rural is represented on the first team by Walker and senior Colin Redeker and Silver Lake senior Tanner Martin joined teammate Schooler on the first team.
Senior junior David Dobbs (10) earned a spot on the All-Shawnee County first team for Seaman. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman put junior David Dobbs and senior Zach Wilson on the all-county team while Rossville is represented by senior Camden Horak.
2024 ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BASEBALL
