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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Highland Park football picked up a much-needed victory Thursday night, ending a two-game skid and improving its playoff prospects with a 36-0 non-league win over Kansas City-Northeast, Mo. at Hummer Sports Park.
Highland Park senior Amari Taylor scored two first-half touchdowns to stake the Scots to a 16-0 lead in Thursday's 36-0 win over KC-Northeast. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Jamon Wilson scored two touchdowns and threw for a TD in Thursday's 36-0 Highland Park win over KC-Northeast, Mo. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The visiting Vikings gave the Scots trouble in a sloppy first half, but senior Amari Taylor’s two long scoring receptions gave Highland Park a 16-0 cushion at the break.
“They were sitting on our offense for a little bit, but we just had to make a couple of adjustments,” Taylor said. “We had some new plays we put in and I got great blocks by the team to take it home.”
The Scots cleaned up their sputtering offense in the second half and built enough of a lead to trigger a running clock in the final period.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It wasn't exactly ideal conditions for Thursday's United Kanas Conference cross country meet at the Shawnee North Community Center, with competitors having to deal with not only a tough course but a stiff wind.
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel won his first UKC boys cross country individual title Thursday after finishing second in the conference meet as a junior. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But that was no problem for Shawnee Heights senior boys star Jackson Esquibel, who won his first UKC title by 42 seconds after finishing second in the conference meet as a junior.
Esquibel clocked a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 40.0 seconds while Seaman sophomore Brody Anderson finished second in 16:22.0.
"It's a little challenging, especially with the wind today,'' Esquibel said. "That was a little difficult, but I told myself to enjoy it, smile through the pain and push on the parts that are the most difficult.
"Going into regionals and running this course next week I really wanted to get the small details down so next week I can just feel comfortable out here.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman sophomore girls cross country star Ryin Miller ran alone for virtually all of Thursday's United Kanas Conference meet at the Shawnee North Community Center.
And that suited Miller, who added the UKC championship on the heels of last Saturday's city title, just fine.
Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller cruised to her first UKC individual title Thursday, winning by 1:43 at Shawnee North Community Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Even though Miller had zero competition up front, winning by 1 minute and 43 seconds, she pushed herself to an outstanding five-kilometer time of 17 minutes, 54.7 seconds while De Soto junior Addison Gillespie finished second in 19:37.8.
"Honestly, I feel like I maybe do better alone,'' Miller said. "I feel like running with other people, it's pressure and it makes me nervous, but alone I just feel better I guess.''
Miller claimed her first UKC title on Thursday after finishing second to former Piper star Grace Hanson as a freshman.
Thursday's win continued what has been an outstanding sophomore year for Miller, who placed fifth in Class 5A in the 2022 state meet.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden girls tennis stars Lauren Sandstrom and Emily Sheetz are sure to feel at least a few butterflies when they take the court Friday and Saturday in Winfield to defend their Class 4A state doubles championship.
Hayden's Lauren Sandstrom (left) and Emily Sheetz are the defending Class 4A state doubles champions and the No. 1 seed for this weekend's state meet at Winfield. [File photo/TSN]
But there's also a definite comfort level for Sandstrom, a senior, and junior Sheetz, who are playing together at state for the third straight season and shooting for their third straight state medal. The Hayden stars finished seventh in 2021 before winning the state title last fall as the Wildcats claimed the 4A team championship.
Sandstrom, who also qualified for state as a freshman in singles, said she expects the duo's state experience to pay off this weekend at the T.H. Vaughan Tennis Center.
"I think we'll go in pretty comfortable the first day, knowing that we have that No. 1 seed and we know what that looks like from last year, but going into that second day it's going to be like, 'We've got to win this. We've got to get that repeat.' '' Sandstrom said. "There are some nerves, but I think we'll get past it and I think we'll be OK.''
Sandstrom and Sheetz take a 29-3 record into the state meet and have been installed as the No. 1 seed.
Sandstrom said her biggest emotion at state may come from the fact that she knows this is her final year of tennis and this weekend is her final tournament with Sheetz.
"It's been in back of my mind all season and these past two weeks it's been kind of sad,'' Sandstrom said. "I don't want to stop playing tennis but I'm just hoping that we get to go out with a bang.''
Sheetz agreed.
"I'm a little nervous because it's Lauren's senior year and I just don't want to disappoint her,'' Sheetz said. "It's our last time playing together this weekend, so I think I'm a little nervous about that but I'm pretty confident in both of us that we'll have a good weekend and end strong.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden sophoore dual sport athlete Izzy Glotzbach and Topeka West freshman soccer player Diego Gonzalez-Talavera 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 Glotzbach and Gonzalez-Talavera over the past week:
Izzy Glotzbach
IZZY GLOTZBACH, Hayden
Glotzbach qualified for the Class 4A state tournament in both girls tennis and golf as Hayden qualified its entire team for state in both sports.
Glotzbach and sophomore doubles partner Avery O'Bray placed fourth in last Saturday's 4A regional tennis tournament at Kossover Tennis Center as the Wildcats won the team title by a 19-18 margin over Bishop Miege. Glotzbach is competing in the 4A state tournament, which is being played in Winfield Friday and Saturday.
Glotzbach finished ninth individually in Monday's 4A golf regional at Wamego Country Club with an 89 as Hayden finished second as a team to Wamego, qualifying for the 4A state tournament next Monday and Tuesday at Salina Municipal Golf Course.
Diego Gonzalez-Talavera
DIEGO GONZALEZ-TALAVERA, Topeka West
A forward for the Charger soccer team, Gonzalez-Talavera returned from an injury to play a big role in Monday's 3-1 non-league win over Junction City.
Gonzalez-Talavera scored two of Topeka West's three goals in the game as the Chargers improved to 6-8-0 on the season.
Monday's sixth win of the season doubled Topeka West three-win victory total from the 2022 season.
