- Details
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
It took just one season for Topeka High product and current Hutchison Community College defensive lineman Danny Saili to draw Power Five interest, and it also didn't take too much time for Saili to decide to commit to the Oklahoma Sooners to finish his college career.
Topeka High grad Danny Saili will head to Oklahoma after a final season at Hutchinson Community College. [Twitter photo]
It's been a dream for Saili to play Division I football and the 6-foot-2, 389-pound defensive tackle joined recently acquired defensive linemen Davon Sears, Jacob Lacey and Da'Jon Terry from the transfer portal to boost Brent Venables' defense after Saili plays his final season for Hutch this fall..
The visit to Oklahoma was eye-opening for Saili. Being a Sooner was a dream come true, and when he stepped on campus, he realized he could make it happen.
"I had to wait a couple of months to be recruited because that's the way things work with juco," Saili said. "Around the spring time, colleges started to hit me up and talk to me. When I went to Oklahoma, I had never seen anything like that anywhere else.
"All that money put into such a great program was cool to see. I met all of the coaches, and defensive line coach Todd Bates is a legend. So I just fell in love when I went down there."
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Local sports icons Kyle Weems and Michael Wilhoite will be back in Topeka Friday to host the second annual Big Kev Give Back Camp, a one-of-a-kind dual basketball/football camp, on fhe campus of Washburn University
Both Weems and Wilhoite graduated from Highland Park and Wilhoite was a standout at Washburn and Weems at Missouri State before both players went on to long-time professional careers.
Weems and Wilhoite, who were inducted into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021, will be joined by many other special guests to host the camp, in conjunction with Washburn, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday's camp, open to athletes 9 through 17, is named in honor of Kyle's late father, Kevin, a former Washburn University basketball player, who had a big impact on the athletic careers of both Weems and Wilhoite.
Athletes will have the option between all-day basketball or football camps or can split their time between half-day basketball and football camps. Athletes wishing to split their time between football and basketball are encouraged to attend the football camp in the morning session.
The cost of the camp is $20 and athletes are encouraged to register online at www.wusports.com. Go to the list of Washburn Football Camps and scroll down to the Big Kev Give Back Camp. Those interested in attending the camp can also go to www.bkgiveback.com and click the signup link.
The football portion of the camp will be held at Yager Stadium while the basketball camp will be held in Lee Arena.
- Details
TopSports.news
Fifty-three of Shawnee County's premier high school student-athletes from the class of 2023 will be recognized Wednesday night as part of the 18th annual Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards banquet.
Washburn Rural product and Washburn University football signee Ty Weber is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards, which will be presented Wednesday night at WU. [File photo/TSN]
Recent Seaman graduate Lois Deeter, a three-time Class 5A state golf medalist, is a nominee for the 2023 Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. [File photo/TSN]
TopSports.news, in conjunction with the University of Kansas Health Systems St Francis Campus, A-1 Lock and Key and Washburn University, will host the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the Washburn University Memorial Union (6 p.m. start).
TopSports.news will present awards to the top female and male athletes in the fall, winter and spring seasons, as well as overall female and male athletes of the year and the most inspirational female and male athletes. A complete list of nominees is listed below.
Brinley Dyche, who helped lead Rossville to the Class 3A state softball championship this spring, is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka West twin brothers Miles (left) and Ian Cusick won their second straight Class 5A state doubles championship this spring, leading the Chargers to their first boys 5A team title. [File photo/TSN]
To be eligible, an athlete must have compiled a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Athletes were nominated by their schools' athletic directors and coaches.
In addition to the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards, Grant Bruner and Jaycee Ginter will be honored as Washburn University Athletes of the Year and Chris Barnes, Kevin Bordewick, Crystal Kemp and Rick Peterson will be inducted as the 2023 Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Fame class.
A committee of local media members selected the 2023 high school winners, including the selection of overall female and male athletes of the year.
TOPEKA SHAWNEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS NOMINEES
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
All-America football player Grant Bruner and All-America softball player Jaycee Ginter will be honored as Washburn University's outstanding male and female athletes for 2022-2023 at the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Wednesday night at Washburn's Memorial Union.
Grant Bruner (43) earned a pair of first-team NCAA D-II All-America awards as a senior for Washburn after leading the nation in tackles. [File photo/TSN]
Jaycee Ginter has earned All-MIAA first-team honors three times as well as first-team All-America recognition for Washburn's softball team. [File photo/TSN]
Bruner, a native of Gretna, Neb., capped his Ichabod career with a monster season for 7-4 WU last fall, leading the nation in tackles and earning Associated Press Division II and Conference Commissioners Association first-team All-America honors.
Shawnee Heights product Ginter, a junior, was a first-team Division II All-American and the MIAA Player of the Year in 2022 and ended the 2023 season with a 23-8 pitching record and 1.69 earned run average for the 36-14 Ichabods.
TopSports.news will honor outstanding Washburn athletes for the third time in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
In 2022 Faith Rottinghaus and James Letcher Jr. were named Washburn outstanding female and male athletes of the year.
Washburn Athlete of the Year capsules:
- Details
By VINCE FRYE, Chairman
Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee
Chris Barnes, Kevin Bordewick, Crystal Kemp and Rick Peterson will become the newest members of the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame in a Wednesday night induction ceremony.
TopSports.news, in partnership with University of Kansas Health Systems St Francis Campus, A-1 Lock and Key and Washburn University, will host the induction and Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards ceremonies at the Washburn University Memorial Union.
Chris Barnes was a state basketball champion at Topeka High before embarking on a Hall of Fame career in the Professional Bowlers Association. [Submitted photo]
Kevin Bordewick has coached Washburn Rural to eight Class 6A state volleyball championships and 10 state titles as a head coach overall. [File photo/TSN]
Crystal Kemp was an All-State basketball player and state discus champion at Topeka High and an All-Big 12 basketball pick at Kansas. [Submitted photo]
Rick Peterson is in his fifth decade as a sportswriter, covering high school sports throughout his career. [The Topeka Capital-Journal]
A 1988 Topeka High graduate, Barnes was a member of the Trojans' 1986 Class 6A state championship boys basketball team and went on to become an All-American bowler at Wichita State before embarking on a Hall of Fame career in the Professional Bowlers Association, which continues today.
Bordewick has carved out a legendary coaching career at Washburn Rural, leading the Junior Blues to 10 Class 6A state championships in volleyball (eight) and girls basketball (two). Bordewick surpassed the 1,000 win mark in volleyball last fall on the way to the 2022 state title.
A 2002 Topeka High graduate, Kemp was an All-State pick in basketball and a state champion in track and field for the Trojans before going on to an outstanding four-year career at the University of Kansas, where she earned first-team All-Big 12 recognition as a senior.
Peterson is in his 44th year as a sportswriter, covering primarily high school sports throughout his career. Peterson spent 31 years as a sportswriter for the Topeka Capital-Journal before retiring in 2020 and is currently a contributing writer for TopSports.news.
Shawnee County's top senior high school student-athletes and Washburn University athletes of the year Jaycee Ginter and Grant Bruner will be also be honored on Wednesday night.
Shawnee County high schools Cair Paravel Latin, Hayden, Highland Park, Rossville, Seaman, Shawnee Heights, Silver Lake, Topeka High, Topeka West and Washburn Rural were asked to nominate female and male candidates with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average as outstanding student-athlete nominees for the fall, winter and spring seasons. County high schools have also been asked to nominate a female and male candidate for most inspirational athlete.
A committee of local media members selected the 2023 winners, including the selection of overall female and male athletes of the year.
Hayden's Tanner Newkirk and Topeka High's NiJaree Canady were named the overall athletes of the year in 2022.
Bruner earned first-team All-America football honors last fall for the Ichabods while Ginter has received first-team All-America honors in softball.
Hall of Fame Class of 2023 capsules:
