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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Washburn University's men's basketball team was picked fourth in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Preseason Media polls announced Tuesday by the conference at the annual Basketball Media Day held at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City.
Washburn will take the court on Nov. 1 to take on Kansas State in an exhibition game before opening the 2022-23 regular season at the Central Regional Challenge in Municipal Auditorium on Nov. 11 against Henderson State and then Augustana the following day.
The Ichabods reached their fourth NCAA postseason in five years under head coach Brett Ballard last season, posting a 22-11 record.
Defending NCAA Division II Champion Northwest Missouri was tapped first in both polls, receiving 11 first-place votes and 167 points in the coaches poll while Central Oklahoma was second with three first-place votes and a total of 158 points.
Fort Hays State was third in both polls with 137 points in the coaches poll followed by the Ichabods with 131 points sitting fourth in both listings.
Washburn was followed in the coaches poll by Emporia State, Northeastern State, Missouri Western, Missouri Southern, Central Missouri, Pittsburg State, Rogers State, Nebraska-Kearney, Lincon and Newman.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's girls golf team garnered the fourth and final team berth out of Monday's Class 3A-1A regional at Lake Shawnee and will compete in the state tournament next Monday at Hutchinson's Carey Park.
Eagle sophomore Taylor Zordel tied for sixth individually with a 90 to lead the Eagles.
Silver Lake junior Madeline Fieger finished 16th (104), senior Tristyn Boxberger in a tie for 21st (108), senior Jaiden Whitehead 29th (112), junior Avri Broxterman in a tie for 36th (119) and junior Kate Osterhaus 39th (120).
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, the ultimate goal for Hayden's girls golf team is always to win.
But in Monday's Class 4A regional tournament at Shawnee Country Club, the Wildcats' primary goal was to extend their season for one more week.
Needing a top-four team finish to punch its ticket to next week's 4A state tournament at Emporia Municipal, Hayden achieved that objective with a solid second-place finish behind regional champ Wamego.
"Our scores have been pretty solid throughout the year and they were steady again today,'' Hayden coach Jayson Duncan said.
The Wildcats got a ninth-place finish from junior Hannah Reynoldson, who carded an 88, while junior Avery Grunert was right behind, tying for 10th with an 89.
"I think I could have done better, especially on the back, but I think it's OK,'' Reynoldson said of her round.
Freshman Izzy Glotzbach tied for 12th with a 90 while freshman Laureen Borjon rounded out the Wildcats' top four, shooting a 97 to finish 16th.
"I think we all had some bad holes but we also had some really good holes so that helped us a lot,'' Reynoldson said.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After being idle the previous week, Seaman returned to action Friday night with a 56-13 United Kansas Conference road romp at Leavenworth.
Now 4-1 overall and in the UKC, took command early against the Pioneers to remain in contention for a top-four seed for the Class 5A playoffs.
Sophomore quarterback Max Huston completed 18 of 26 pass attempts for 287 yards and three touchdowns against Leavenworth and carried the ball nine times for 68 yards and three TDs.
Senior running back Bryson Vawter rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries while senior Jaxson Thomas carried the ball 14 times for 140 yards.
Seaman will host Basehor-Linwood, 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the UKC, Friday night in a game with serious playoff implications.
Both the Vikings and Bobcats suffered their lone losses against Shawnee Heights, with Seaman dropping a 14-7 loss to the T-Birds and Basehor-Linwood falling to Heights, 27-0.
TOPEKA WEST 26, KANSAS CITY-TURNER 21 -- Both teams entered last Friday night's United Kansas Conference contest looking for their first victory of the 2022 season and it was Topeka West that came out on top, posting a 26-21 road win.
With Friday's victory the Chargers (1-5 overall and in the UKC), gave coach Russell Norton his first win at West.
Topeka West will be at home Friday night to host city rival Shawnee Heights (3-3, 3-2) in a UKC game at Hummer Sports Park.
SILVER LAKE 41, PLEASANT RIDGE 6 -- Silver Lake improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Class 2A district play with its 41-6 road win at Pleasant Ridge last Friday night.
Silver Lake jumped out to a 13-0 first-quarter advantage over Pleasant Ridge (2-4, 0-2) and added three second-quarter touchdowns to open up a 34-0 halftime advantage.
Silver Lake made the score 41-0 in the third quarer before Pleasant Ridge scored its lone points in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles will host Maur Hill-Mt. Academy (2-4, 0-2) Friday night in a district contest.
ATCHISON 70, HIGHLAND PARK 56 -- Highland Park fell to 4-2 last Friday night, falling in a 70-56 scorefest at Atchison in a Meadowlark Conference showdown.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural
A sophomore, Fink won her first individual city girls cross country title last Saturday at Washburn Rural after finishing third as a freshman, leading the Junior Blues to the team championship by a 21-35 margin over Seaman. Fink clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 10.9 seconds, setting a personal record.
KATE FRITZ, Washburn Rural
A senior, Fritz teamed with Meredith Kucera to win a pair of doubles championships last week. Fritz and Kucera won the Centennial League doubles title last Monday and followed that up with a win in last Friday's Class 6A regional win on Friday at Kossover Tennis Center, leading the Junior Blues to the regional team title. Fritz and Kucera posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Topeka High in the regional final.
MEREDITH KUCERA, Washburn Rural
Kucera, a senior, partnered with Kate Fritz to win Centennial League and Class 6A regional titles last week. After winning the league title with a three-set win over Hayden last Monday, Kucera and Fritz won a regional champioship last Friday at Kossover Tennis Center, leading the Junior Blues to the regional team title. Kucera and Fritz posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Topeka High in the regional final
LENNY NJOROGE, Topeka West
The Topeka West senior won his first city crosss country championship in last Saturday's city championship at Washburn Rural, clocking a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 30 seconds to win by 18 seconds. Njoroge became the Chargers' first city boys champion since Winston Tidwell in 1993 and has now won five individual titles in six races this fall.
LAUREN SWEENEY, Seaman
A Class 5A state doubles champion as a junior, Sweeney earned an opportunity to try to win a second straight state title with last Saturday's Class 5A regional singles championship at Emporia. Now 29-5 on the season, Sweeney will compete in the 5A state tournament Friday and Saturday at Andover after taking a 6-0, 6-0 win in her regional final, helping the Vikings win the regional team title.
AINZLEY ZULUETA, Hayden
Zulueta, who won the Class 4A state singles championship last season as a freshman, earned the chance to defend her title with last Saturday's regional championship. Zulueta, now 24-2 on the season, took a 6-1, 6-1 win in her regional final, leading the Wildcats to the regional team championship. Zulueta will compete in the 4A state tournament at Harmon Park Friday and Saturday.