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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Audrey Appuhn
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
Appuhn, a freshman swimming standout, was a part of four victories in her first Centennial League meet last Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, helping lead Washburn Rural to its third straight league team championship. Appuhn won the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 11.39 seconds and the 500 free in 5:13.53 and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 medley relay (1:55.69) and 400 free relay (3:48.77).
Ian Cusick
IAN CUSICK, Topeka West
A senior, Ian and his twin brother, Miles, capped their high school tennis career with a second straight Class 5A state doubles championship Saturday at Arkansas City. The Cusicks, who earned state medals in all three of their state tournament appearances, led the Chargers to their first-ever 5A state boys team title by a 34-28 margin over Blue Valley Southwest. Ian and Miles took a 6-3, 6-4 win over Arkansas City's Oakley and Dawson O'Donnell in the final, avenging three losses earlier in the season.
Miles Cusick
MILES CUSICK, Topeka West
A senior, Miles and his twin brother, Ian, closed out their high school tennis career with a second straight Class 5A state doubles championship Saturday at Arkansas City. The Cusicks, who earned state medals in all three of their state tournament appearances, led the Chargers to their first-ever 5A state boys team title by a 34-28 margin over Blue Valley Southwest. Miles and Ian took a 6-3, 6-4 win over Arkansas City's Oakley and Dawson O'Donnell in the final, avenging three losses earlier in the season.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Junior Jackson Esquibel claimed two of Shawhee Heights' four wins on the night as the T-Birds captured the United Kansas Conference boys track and field team championship by a 111-105 margin over Basehor-Linwood Friday night at De Soto.
Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel won UKC titles in the 800 and 1,600 to lead the T-Birds to the team title while Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge won the 3,200 and was second in the 1,600. [File photo/TSN]
Esquibel won the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 20.46 seconds and followed that up with a win in the 800 in 2:00.67, while Shawnee Heights also got a win from junior Alex Dittman in the javelin (160-8) and from sophomore Tyler Wedl in the pole vault (11-6).
T-Bird senior sprint star Jeremiah Smith returned from a leg injury to make his season debut, finishing second in the 100-meter dash in a photo finish in 10.74 seconds and taking second in the 200 in 22.35.
Shawnee Heights also picked up a runnerup finish from senior Jordan Garvin in the 300 hurdles (40.26).
Seaman notched a win in the boys 4x800 relay in 8:21.89 while junior Aaron Merritt was second in the 110-meter hurdles (15.24) and senior Sean Miller finished second in the shot put at 49 feet, 7 inches.
Topeka West senior Lenny Njjoroge won the 3,200 in 9:33.69 after finishing second in the 1,600 in 4:21.51 while Charger sophomore Alesecio Batson won the triple jump in 45 feet, 9.50 inches and senior Zachary Hulse finished secon in the javelin at 154-4.
On the girls side, host De Soto claimed the team title by a 159-128.50 margin over Seaman.
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller won the UKC title in the girls 1,600, helping the Vikings finish second as a team. [File photo/TSN]
Freshman Ryin Miller won the 1,600-meter title in 5:24.05 while defending state champ Bethany Druse won the 800 in 2:19.49.
Seaman also won the 4x800 relay in 10:14.02 and took second in the 4x400 relay in 4:09.14.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West senior doubles stars Ian and Miles Cusick had only lost four times all season, but three of those losses had come against Arkansas City junior Oakley O'Donnell and sophomore Dawson O'Donnell.
Topeka West's Class 5A state championship tennis team -- From left: Shon Daniels (assistant coach), Carter Cool, Caden McGee, Miles Cusick, Ian Cusick, James Maag, Caleb Weybrew, Kurt Davids (head coach). [Submitted photo]
Topeka West senior twin brothers Miles and Ian Cusick exchange a hug Saturday after winning their second straight Class 5A state doubles title and leading the Chargers to the state team championship. [Submitted photo by Scott Ritter]
But when it mattered the most, the Cusick twins were up to the challenge, capturing their second straight Class 5A state championship with a 6-3, 6-4 win on the O'Donnell's home courts while leading the Chargers to their first-ever boys state team title by a decisive 34-28 margin over Blue Valley Southwest.
The Cusicks, who went 4-0 at state to finish off a 38-4 season, advanced to the championship match with a 7-6 (7-5 tiebreaker), 6-2 semifinal win over Newton seniors Otis Musser and Justin Franz Saturday morning.
It was a huge weekend for Kurt Davids' Topeka West team overall, with all six Chargers taking home state medals as West completed a sweep of city, United Kansas Conference, 5A regional and state championhips.
Topeka West, which finished second as a team in the 2022 state meet, got seventh and 11th-place singles finishes from senior Carter Cool and junior James Maag while juniors Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew added a ninth-place doubles finish.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Retired Washburn Rural coaching legend Kevin Hedberg was back in familiar territory at Kossover Tennis Center on Friday for his induction into the Kansas Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Retired Washburn Rural coaching legend Kevin Hedberg receives his Kansas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame plaque from longtime Topeka High coach Duane Pomeroy, a former high school teammate. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural coaching legend Kevin Hedberg speaks to those in attendance at Kossover Tennis Center Friday after being inducted into the Kansas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame. [Photo by
Hedberg, who retired at the conclustion of the 2021-2022 school year after a 43-year teaching and coaching career, was inducted prior to the start of the Class 6A state tournament.
After coaching at Seaman for 11 years, Hedberg moved to Washburn Rural for 32 seasons, where he led the Junior Blues to a Class 6A girls state title in 1993 and boys state championships in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
Hedberg coached singles and doubles champions in both boys and girls tennis while coaching 24 teams (boys and girls combined) to top-three state team finishes.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West senior twin brothers Ian and Miles Cusick advanced to the Class 5A tennis doubles semifinals for the second straight season Friday in Arkansas City, continuing their bid for a state title repeat.
Topeka West seniors Ian Cusick (left) and Miles Cusick advanced to the Class 5A state doubles semifinals Friday at Arkansas City. [File photo/TSN]
The Cusicks posted 6-0, 6-2 and 6-1, 6-3 victories in their two matches on Friday and will face Newton seniors Otis Musser and Justin Franz in Saturday morning's semifinals.
Topeka West, which finished second as a team in the 2022 state meet, advanced its entire team to Saturday's final day of the state tournament.
West senior Carter Cool and junior James Maag went 3-1 in singles and juniors Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew went 3-1 in doubles and all of the Chargers can still finish as high as fifth place on Saturday.
State competition will continue at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Washburn Rural senior Mason Casebeer went 3-1 on Friday to clinch a state singles medal in the Class 6A state tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 6A
Washburn Rural senior standout Mason Casebeer and the doubles team of senior Kiefer Von Lintel and freshman Dylan Willingham clinched Class 6A state medals Friday at Kossover Tennis Center.
Casebeer, a regional champion, dropped his first match of the day but bounced back with 9-0 and 9-2 wins to advance to Saturday's competition.
Von Lintel and Willingham went 3-1 Friday and advanced with a 9-7 win in their final Friday match.
Both Casebeer, a former state doubles medalist, and Von Lintel and Willingham can still finish as high as fifth place in 6A.
Rural junior singles player Lawson Lobatos and the doubles team of junior Dylan Dodge and freshman Keegan Knudtson were eliminated from competition on Friday.
Saturday's competition will begin at 9 a.m.
Hayden senior Gus Glotzbach and junior Joseph Luke have clinched state doubles medals in the Class 4A state tournament at Pratt. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 4A
Hayden's doubles team of senior Gus Glotzbach and junior Joseph Luke advanced to Saturday's competition in the Class 4A state tournament at Pratt.
Regional champions Glotzbach and Luke won their first match of the day before dropping a 6-4, 7-6 quarterfinal decision to Parsons.
Glotzbach has clinched a 4A state medal for the third straight season while Luke has earned a state medal for the second straight season.
Hayden singles players Chris Hayes, a senior, and sophomore Evan George were eliminated from state on Friday.
State competition will resume at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
CLASS 3A-1A
Cair Paravel Latin freshman Drew Fay, making the Lions' first-ever appearance in state tennis, went 2-2 in singles on Friday in Wichita but was eliminated from competition with a tough 9-7 loss in his final match.
