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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural soccer coach Brian Hensyel knows that his Junior Blues face a tough road to the Class 6A state championship, with the other three schools in the semifinals a combined 51-3-3.
Washburn Rural soccer celebrates after Monday's 4-2 win over Liberal in the Class 6A state quarterfinals. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But with Rural in the midst of a strong late-season run, including a 15-2 scoring advantage over its three playoff wins, Hensyel is confident that the Junior Blues have the firepower to get the job done.
Washburn Rural, now 14-2-3 on the season, earned a fifth straight trip to the 6A Final Four with Monday's 4-2 quarterfinal win over Liberal and will now face 17-1-1 Shawnee Mission East in a 6 p.m. semifinal Wednesday at the Shawnee Mission Soccer Complex.
Washburn Rural will be facing a Shawnee Mission East team that advanced to the state semifinals with a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Mill Valley. Dodge City (19-0-0) will host Shawnee Mission West (15-2-2) in the other semifinal. Dodge City beat Wichita East 5-1 while SM West topped Blue Valley West 3-2 on penalty kicks (4-3).
"Shawnee Mission East has had an awesome season and the other teams that are left, we've seen on and off the last couple of years and we've played pretty much everybody,'' Hensyel said. "On a given night we've got the players to go toe to toe with anybody.
"We can create offensive chances and we've got great goalkeeping and defending. We gave up a couple (Monday), but we've been pretty solid across the board in that area. It's soccer, you never know what's going to happen, but we can be right there with anybody.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 16-ranked Washburn University women's soccer team will close out the 2024 regular season with a Turnpike Tussle clash at Emporia State at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Washburn senior Josie Boyle (7) receives a hug from teammate Ana Muruzabal after scoring the game-winning goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over No. 15-ranked Missouri Western. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And although the ESU game is not technically a playoff game, WU coach Davy Phillips is approaching Wednesday's contest and every remaining game with that mindset.
"We're competing for a conference championship on Wednesday, then we're in the conference tournament for playoffs and the national tournament, so from here on out we're in must-win situations in a lot of different ways,'' Phillips said.
The Ichabods can claim the MIAA regular-season title with a victory or a share of the title with a draw. The Ichabods remain in a tie with Central Missouri for second place in the MIAA, one point behind Missouri Western. The Jennies and Griffons have completed their regular season.
Washburn is 12-3-2 overall and 9-1-1 in the MIAA while Emporia State is 6-7-3 overall and 4-5-2 in the conference.
Washburn earned two big home wins this past weekend, defeating Northwest Missouri 2-0 before knocking off Missouri Western, 1-0.
After a scoreless first half against Northwest Missouri last Friday, senior Khloe Schuckman scored two goals to give Washburn the victory. Schuckman scored her seventh and eighth goals of the season against Bearcats, extending her team lead. Schuckman now has 33 goals for her career.
On Senior Day, Washburn and Missouri Western played 78 scoreless minutes before senior Josie Boyle gave the Ichabods the lead with a header off of a corner kick from Aubrey Tanksley. Boyle was named the MIAA defensive player of the week.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seven city volleyball standouts received All-State Tournament recognition from the Kansas Volleyball Association in their respective classifications.
Seaman senior Maegan Mills (right) was named to the All-State Tournament team in Class 5A after helping the Vikings finish second in the state tournament. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Seaman senior Campbell Chabot (3) was named to the All-State Tournament team in Class 5A. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman senior Ava Esser earned a spot on the Class 5A All-State Tournament team for the runnerup Vikings. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Class 5A runnerup Seaman put seniors Campbell Chabot, Ava Esser and Maegan Mills on the 5A team after the Vikings capped a 41-3 season with a three-set loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the state championship match.
Seaman posted a top-four state finish for the fourth straight season, including a state title in 2023.
Hayden senior Reagan McGivern earned a spot on the Class 4A All-State Tournament team for the third-place Wildcats. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Blakely Walter (10) earned a spot on the Class 4A All-State Tournament team after helping the Wildcats post a third-place finish. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Hayden freshman Hailey Schmidtlein was named to the Class 4A All-State Tournament team for the third-place Wildcats. [Photo by Selena Favela/TSN]
Hayden, which finished third in Class 4A, is represented on the All-4A state tournament team by senior Reagan McGivern and freshmen Hailey Schmidtlein and Blakely Walter. After dropping a three-set decision to Rock Creek in the semifinals, Hayden bounced back to take a three-set win over McPherson in the third-place match.
The Wildcats, who were making their first state tournament appearance since 2019, finished the season 32-12.
Washburn Rural senior Layla Collins was named to the Class 6A All-State Tournament team. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Layla Collins was named to the all-state tournament team in 6A after the Junior Blues went 1-2 at state. The Junior Blues finished the season 31-8.
CLASS 6A
Bailey Busch, so., OH, Manhattan; Layla Collins, sr., OH, Washburn Rural; Ryann Daggett, so., MH, Wichita North; Ella Florez, jr., S, Mill Valley; Brookelyn Hatton, sr., L, Blue Valley West; Peyton Kubik, so., OH, Blue Valley West; Leilah Perry, jr., MB, Mill Valley; Riley Riggs, so., OH, Mill Valley; Cami Sher, jr., MH, Olathe West; Ella Stowell, jr., OH, Olathe West; Logan Parks, sr., S/RS, Blue Valley North; Lily Wedman, sr., S, Blue Valley West.
CLASS 5A
Campbell Chabot, sr., S/RS, Seaman; Ava Esser, sr., OH, Seaman; Alea Goolsby, sr., OH, St. Thomas Aquinas; Mya Lee, fr., OH, St. James Academy; Grace Martin, jr., OH, St. Thomas Aquinas; Reese Messer, sr., S/MB, St. James Academy; Maegan Mills, sr., OH, Seaman; Mason Palace, jr., MB, Kapaun Mt. Carmel; McCoy Phister, jr., RS/S, Kapaun Mt. Carmel; Taylor Stanley, jr., OPP, Blue Valley Southwest; Kaylee Tingey, sr., L, Blue Valley Southwest; Kate Wells, jr., MH, St. Thomas Aquinas.
CLASS 4A
Brooke Doile, jr., MH/OH, McPherson; Ayla Klingenberg, sr., MH, Rock Creek; Raimee Lipker, so., OH, Clay Center; Lauren Lopez, sr., OH, Bishop Miege; Kenzy McArtor, sr., OH, Clearwater; Reagan McGivern, sr., MB, Hayden; Delaney Morrison, sr., L, Bishop Miege; Hailey Schmidtlein, fr., MB/RS, Hayden; Olivia Stevens, so., OH, Bishop Miege; Trinniti Stevens, sr., MB, Bishop Miege; Blakely Walter, fr., S, Hayden; Brynna Zoeller, jr., S, Rock Creek.
CLASS 3A
Bailey Bernal, so., OH, Halstead; Addison Budke, sr., OH, Beloit; Katharine Engel, jr., OH, Halstead; Hallie Holthaus, sr., S, Nemaha Central; Cali Honeyman, sr., OH, Nemaha Central; Samantha Klotz, sr., OH, Royal Valley; Prayer Roebuck, sr., RS/S, Neodesha; Piper Schroeder, so., L, Halstead; Dalaina Schutte, sr., S, Halstead; Sofia Simic, so., OH, Hoisington; Zoey Sudbeck, sr., MH, Nemaha Central; Sophia Thompson, sr., MH, Beloit.
CLASS 2A
Kennedy Behnke, sr., MH, Ellinwood; Taylor Froese, so., S/RS, Inman; Suttyn Harris, jr., OH, Inman; Katie Johnson, sr., MH, Doniphan West; Macy Karlin, so., L, Maranatha; Kyndal Moore, jr., MH, Ellinwood; Kalyn Sampson, jr., S/OH, Sedgwick; Tate Sher, sr., OH, Maranatha; Ava Smith, jr., OH, Valley Heights; Mia Vermetten, jr., OH, Valley Heights; Regan Widener, jr., RS, Ellinwood; Kenna Woods, jr., OH, Inman.
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
Oen Deters, sr., L, Centralia; Arika Feldman, jr., MH/OPP/S, Little River; Hayden Kramer, so., OH, Centralia; Avery Jensen, jr., OH, St. Francis; Mia Meyer, jr., MB, St. John; Havana Olander, jr., OH/MH, Little River; Saelyn Raleigh, jr., OH/MH, Little River; Harlee Randall, sr., MH, Flinthills; Allie Reed, sr., OH, South Gray; Lillian Steinbrock, sr., OH, Clifton-Clyde; Adelynne Strecker, jr., L, Little River; Sevy Wurtz, jr., OH/S, Clifton-Clyde.
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
Gretchen Bott, so., S, Linn; Drew Bruna, so., MH, Hanover; Autumn Coleman, jr., OH, Argonia; Lindsay Coleman, fr., OH, Argonia; Siara Crouch, sr., OH, Lebo; Saige Hadley, sr., OH, Lebo; Katie Holle, jr., S, Hanover; Abi Jones, sr., S, Lebo; Anna Jueneman, sr., OH, Hanover; Ally Scheele, jr., L, Hanover; Jill Schmeeckle, jr., S, Ingalls; Olivia Stein, jr., OH, Ingalls.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden Catholic High School is pleased to announce its 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, with the five-member class to be inducted in a Dec. 7 ceremony at Hayden.
Scheduled to be inducted are Mark Burghart, the late Jessica Mae Carpenter, Shannon (Suddarth) Wisne, Judy Cucciniello and Jack McGivern.
Hall of Fame capsules:
Hayden Alumni Achievement
MARK BURGHART
Burghart began his career as a research analyst in the Kansas Legislative Research Department before becoming General Counsel for the Kansas Department of Revenue, where he served for seven years.
During that time, he was responsible for litigating state and use tax cases for local, multi-state, and international businesses. Mark played a key role in developing important tax incentive programs, such as the Job Expansion and Investment Credit Act and the Enterprise Zone Act, and won a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. He also chaired the Attorney's Section of the Federation of Tax Administrators from 1989-1990.
Burghart's professional career has been centered around helping those in need. He has coached student-athletes, served on the Hayden Catholic High School Board and is currently an usher at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, he is a member of the Church Restoration Committee and has contributed to various parish initiatives as a lifelong member of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph’s Parish.
Hayden Alumni Achievement
JESSICA MAE CARPENTER
The late Carpenter dedicated her life to education and was honored as the namesake of the Jessica Carpenter Elementary School in Pflugerville, Texas.
Born in Topeka, Jessica attended St. Matthew Catholic Grade School, Hayden Catholic High School and earned her degree in Elementary Education from Kansas State University in 2001.
Her 20-year teaching career spanned from St. Matthew Catholic grade school in Topeka to Brookhollow Elementary in Texas, where she was a Special Education Resource Teacher and a district leader. Carpenter's dedication to her students, even through her four-year battle with cancer, earned her the respect of her community. In 2011-2012, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year by the Pflugerville Independent School District (ISD) and was instrumental in bringing innovative teaching methods into the classroom. Her passion for helping students with special needs, her involvement in school activities, and her commitment to education left a lasting impact on countless lives.
In 2020, after her passing, the Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees honored her legacy by naming a new elementary school after her, following an overwhelming community vote.
Hayden Student Athletic/Activity Achievement
SHANNON (SUDDARTH) WISNE
During her career at Hayden, Suddarth was a six-time state swimming champion and went on to become a nine-time All-American at the University of Notre Dame. During her time at Hayden, Suddarth dominated the 100-yard breaststroke, winning three consecutive state titles and setting state records, one of which stood for eight years.
In addition to her swimming achievements, Suddarth was an integral member of three state championship cross country teams and the individual state runnerup in cross country. At Notre Dame, she continued her success, earning first-team All-American honors in 1998 with an eighth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA Division I national championships. She set Big East records in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, which remained unbroken for 11 years.
Shannon’s dedication to her faith, family and community, along with her excellence in athletics, has earned her a well-deserved place in Topeka’s rich history of outstanding athletes. She ranks 66th on the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Top 100 Topeka High School Athletes list.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the second time this season Washburn University sophomore Taylor Rottinghaus has been named the MIAA Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week by the conference.
Washburn sophomore Taylor Rottinghaus has been named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after helping the Ichabods post a pair of 3-0 MIAA sweeps. [File photo/TSN]
The former Shawnee Heights multi-sport standout recorded two 20-plus dig matches to help Washburn post home sweeps over Northwest Missouri State and No. 23-ranked Missouri Western last week.
The Ichabods held both opponents to hitting percentages of under .140.
In the three-set victory over the Griffons she registered 26 digs across three sets while serving an ace and holding the nationally-ranked opponent to a .103 hitting percentage in the match.
For the week she tallied 46 digs across six sets (7.66 per set).
Washburn will round out its home schedule this week with matches against Nebraska Kearney on Friday for Alumni Day and against Fort Hays State on Saturday for Senior Day. First serve for both matches is set for 6 p.m.
