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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The celebration may be a lot more low key, but the Kansas Jayhawks aren't the only ones in the Sunflower State basking in the glow of a recent national championship.
Washburn Rural senior debaters Jiyoon Park and Zach Willingham recently made some history of their own, winning the National Debate Coaches Association national championship on April 11.
"We're the first fully public and Kansas school to win this one, which was good,'' said Park.
Park and Willingham, who previously won a state championship, still have two other national debate tournaments coming up, but before that the Rural duo will turn its attention back to its other love, playing No. 2 doubles for Kevin Hedberg's Junior Blues' tennis team.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Legendary Silver Lake coach CJ Hamilton has announced his retirement as a teacher and the Eagles' head football coach, ending a 47-year career as the winningest coach in Kansas high school football history.
Hamilton's retirement was announcted in a statement by the Silver Lake school district on Monday.
Hamilton started his coaching career in 1973, spent the 1977-78 seasons at Washburn University and returned to his alma mater in 1979.
Hamilton is continuing to recover from a leg injury that occurred during a farming accident two years ago and an injury that hampered his ability to fully engage in the Eagles' football program during the 2021 season.
“Coach Hamilton has impacted the lives of countless students and athletes over his tenure at Silver Lake,” Silver Lake superintendent Brad Womack said in Monday's statement. “He embodies everything it means to be a Silver Lake Eagle and the commitment he has made to our district and our community will be felt for generations to come.
:To say we are thankful for the time, effort and love coach Hamilton has given to our students and our community, doesn’t even begin to express the gratitude we have for him.”
Hamilton finishes his career at Silver Lake as the all-time winningest coach in school and state history with a 447-98 record.
Under Hamilton’s leadership, the Silver Lake football program has played for the state title 18 times, winning eight of those games.
The Eagles have played in the post season 40 of his 47 years and won the Mid-East League championship 39 times.
During his tenure, Hamilton also served as the baseball coach, first-ever softball coach in 1989 and the assistant coach to many different sports.
In addition to the many accomplishments on the field, Coach Hamilton also received the Coach Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower Chapter of the National Football Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award this past summer.
Hamilton is a member of the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
GIRLS
100 METERS
Reed, Highand Park 12.6
Nichols, Shawnee Heights 12.7
Rezac, Rossville 12.96
Benz, Shawnee Heights 13.06
Anderson, Shawnee Heights 13.15
200 METERS
Reed, Highland Park 26.5
Rezac, Rossville 26.79
Fredrickson, Washburn Rural 27.29
Nichols, Shawnee Heights 27.1
Benz, Shawnee Heights 27.44
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 27.2
400 METERS
Reed, Highland Park 59.98
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 61.43 (61.3)
Becker, Seaman 63.37
Foster, Rossville 63.89
Fredrickson, Washburn Rural 64.0
800 METERS
Druse, Seaman 2:19.70
Ismert, Washburn Rural 2:32.5
Fink, Washburn Rural 2:32.6
Farmer, Silver Lake 2:35.17
Foster, Rossville 2:36.73
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news plans to compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2022 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 10.27
Reed, Highland Park 10.5
Richardson, Highland Park 10.5
Peoples, Topeka High 10.6
Lee, Topeka West 10.94
200 METERS
Richardson, Highland Park 21.6
Smith, Shawnee Heights 21.8
January, Shawnee Heights 22.4
Renfro, Silver Lake 22.67
Schrickel, Hayden 23.18
400 METERS
Richardson, Highland Park 50.54
Blankenship, Topeka High 52.3
Newkirk, Hayden 53.31
January, Shawnee Heights 53.4
Stegman, Hayden 54.19
800 METERS
Newkirk, Hayden 1:57.99
B. Moore, Seaman 2:05.9
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 2:07.0
Haddock, Washburn Rural 2:07.9
Wilson, Topeka West 2:08.88
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMMERSON COPE, Washburn Rural
Cope, a junior, had a big day last Tuesday as Washburn Rural took a 1-0, 8-1 Centennial League softball sweep over defending Class 6A state champion Topeka High. Cope posted a pair of complete-game pitching victories while recording a total of 15 strikeouts. At the plate Cope hit a pair of home runs and two doubles and knocked in four runs in the second game.
JAYCEE GINTER, Washburn University
Ginter, a sophomore pitcher/outfielder, helped the Ichabod softball team boost its winning streak to 16 straight games with weekend MIAA sweeps over Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State as the Ichabods improved to 36-11. Ginter boosted her pitching record to 23-3 with a pair of wins, including a 5-0 shutout victory over Pittsburg State. At the plate the former Shawnee Heights star and multi-time state champ had eight hits in the four games with five runs batted in.
MAKINSEY JONES, Topeka West
A junior, Jones posted individual wins in the girls high jump and the triple jump in last Friday's Manhattan Invitational track and field meet. Jones won the high jump with a clearance of 5 foot, 4 inches and won the triple jump at 34-7. Jones is the Shawnee County leader in both events this spring.
TANNER NEWKIRK, Hayden
A senior, Newkirk broke the Hayden school record in the boys 1,600-meter run in last Wednesday's Little KU track and field meet at Lawrence, clocking a winning time of 4 minutes, 14.43 seconds. Newkirk also posted a second-place finish in the 800 meters, running a Shawnee County-best time of 1:57.99. Newkirk is the boys Shawnee County leader in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs.
KINSEY PERINE, Rossville
Perine, a sophomore, hit three home runs in last Monday's 10-1, 9-8 doubleheader softball sweep over rival Silver Lake. Perine accounted for three of the Bulldawgs' six total homers on the day and also added a double for Rossville. The Bulldawgs finished the week with a sweep over St. Marys, improving to 12-0 on the season.
ALEX VALDIVIA, Shawnee Heights
A junior, Valdivia captured the individual championship in last Monday's United Kansas Conference tournament at Lake Shawnee, carding an 18-hole score of 69. Valdivia led the way as Shawnee Heights won the team championship by a 18-stroke margin over runner-up De Soto. Valdivia is a returning All-Shawnee County pick and Class 5A individual state medalist.