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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Kansas State High School Activities Association is currently in the midst of its 50 for 50 project, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which opened the door for female athletes across the United States. As part of that project TopSports.news contributor Rick Peterson wrote the following story on former Shawnee Heights star Trisa Nickoley, a 17-time state champion in track and cross country.
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Since her record-setting Shawnee Heights track and cross country career ended in 2004, Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Famer Trisa Nickoley never completely got away from the sport.
Nickoley went on to a standout career at Missouri and her profession is helping to promote corporate wellness, but lately the 17-time Kansas state champion has started feeling like it may be time to get more involved with the sport she loves.
Nickoley, who a 17-month-old son, Armani, recently moved back to her old Topeka stomping grounds and has relatives that are getting in involved in sports, which has served to rekindle Nickoley's memories of her career.
"As I moved back here, I hadn't lived here since high school, so it does bring back memories,'' Nickoley said. "I have cousins now that are in track and it's cool to watch. My oldest nephew is 12 and he's in sports and I guess people are kind of recognizing the name a little bit and asking questions.
"Lately I'm like, 'Should I get involved in some coaching around the area?' I do miss that track world and I feel like maybe I'm being tugged backed into it, which is awesome. So we'll see what happens with that.''
Nickoley was one of the greatest female middle-distance runners in Kansas history, earning an amazing 17 Class 5A state championships in cross country and track while never losing an individual race in state competition in either sport.
Nickoley won four straight 5A state cross country titles from 2000-2003 and won titles in the 400, 800 and 1,600 meters four straight years at the state track and field meet in Wichita (’01-’04). She added a 17th state title in the 1,600-meter relay.
She is still Kansas’ all-time state leader in the 800 meters (2 minutes, 06.67 seconds) and was inducted into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame in 2018
Nickoley was a two-time Track and Field News high school All-American and was named the Gatorade Kansas track and field athlete of the year three times.
Nickoley, went on to become a 14-time All-Big 12 honoree, a four-time Big 12 champion and earned All-America honors in the 800 meters at Missouri. Nickoley competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials.
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Its no secret that Topeka High’s girls soccer team has been plagued by the injury bug.
But despite dealing with numerous injuries, Topeka High gave it everything it had in a 4-1 Centennial League loss to Manhattan Tuesday at Hummer Sports Park.
“Injuries have been a big part of the season so far,” Topeka High coach Derek Snook said. “We know it’s part of the game, but the girls are dealing with knees, ankles, injured hips and it’s hurt us some.
"We have a developing roster and bench, but it’s never beneficial when your starters are banged up.”
Topeka High knew that Tuesday night’s frigid temperatures and Manhattan’s bruising roster was going to be a challenge.
“We are still playing hard no matter the circumstance,” Snook said. “We are giving effort and the girls are leaving it all out on the field. As a coach, I’m proud of the way our team keeps fighting and competing.”
“Kudos to (High) for never giving up,” Manhattan coach Mike Sanchez said. “The way (High) fought against us is great for them. Their lineup is looking solid all around and they are the real deal.”
Topeka High’s one goal came from Molly McGuire. McGuire’s impressive goal came from a crowded goalie box swarmed by Lady Indian defenders, where she got a powerful kick in.
The McGuire goal would help build some momentum, but Manhattan’s defense would improve after the goal.
Manhattan forward Jada Dibbini would earn the “X-factor” title in Tuesday night’s contest.
Dibbini had two goals early in the first half that gave the Tribe separation and important momentum to carry with them for the rest of the game. Dibbini’s defense was also notable in helping the Lady Indians earn the victory.
“I thought it was really important that the two goals set the tone for the win,” Dibbini said. “Early goals help bring energy to our team and that’s what it’s all about. Helping the team.”
Defending a top-10 ranked team in Class 6A is difficult enough as is, but Manhattan appeared to get stronger the longer the game went on.
Manhattan’s four goals came from Dibbini, Emery Ruliffson and Morgan Turner.
“It was a good performance from the team,” Sanchez said. “I was hoping we would ride some of the momentum Jada (Dibbini) created with her early goals, but I am happy with the way things turned out for us tonight.”
Manhattan’s successful day started early on in the first half.
Dibbini was on an island by herself being charged by a hoard of Topeka High players where she would take a risk and kick it near midfield in for a jaw-dropping goal in the first 1:37 of play.
Dibbini would follow her first goal with another one 14:26 later in the first half taking advantage of a crowded goalie box.
Manhattan’s early 2-0 lead halfway through the first half would get an extension exactly three minutes later.
Topeka High’s goalie, Amari Sharp, would decide to run for the ball near the penalty area where she would meet with Manhattan’s Morgan Turner. Turner would scoot past the Topeka High goalie and tap it in for the goal.
Shortly after the Turner goal, Topeka High would get on the board with McGuire's goal inside of the goalie box giving Topeka High some momentum.
“That goal from Molly (McGuire) was important for the team early on,” Snook said. “I thought it was a good set up and I thought that she executed the goal very well.”
Topeka High’s defense would have the physical edge after McGuire’s goal and it forced Manhattan to take some uncomfortable shots in the remainder of the first half.
Manhattan would sit with the somewhat comfortable two-goal lead at the end of the first half.
The Lady Trojans and the Lady Indians’ defensive efforts late in the first half would carry over for the remainder of the second half. A combined eleven shots to the goal were taken by both teams for 29:10 in the second half.
Em. Ruliffson would muscle in a late goal with 10:50 left on the game clock giving Manhattan High a sizeable lead.
Em. Ruliffson’s late goal would be all the Lady Indians needed to secure the victory.
Topeka High (5-3) will hit the road and take on Lawrence Free State Friday.
MANHATTAN 4, TOPEKA HIGH 1
Manhattan (6-3) 3 1 – 4
Topeka High (5-3) 1 0 – 1
Manhattan – Goals: Dibbini 2, Turner, Em. Ruliffson. Assists: Manhattan – Em
Topeka High – Goal: McGuire.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The 2022 high school tennis season didn't get off to the start Ian and Miles Cusick envisioned and the Topeka West junior doubles stars will take responsibility for that.
"I think it was almost possibly over-confidence,'' Miles Cusick said about the slow start. "We were going into it and we were like, 'OK, let's just play, we don't really have to do a ton,' and we learned the hard way that we can't do that.''
But after taking some early losses, the Cusick twins have recaptured the form that made them one of the state's top doubles teams a year ago, including an impressive performance in Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center.
"I feel like our energy has improved a lot and just our teamwork,'' Miles said. "Those are the biggest things that have improved.''
The Cusicks went undefeated on the day Tuesday to win the doubles championship, capped by an 8-7 (7-4 tiebreaker) victory over Salina Central's Phelps and Phelps to avenge an earlier 9-3 loss to the Mustang duo.
"Losing to them early in the season, that was almost a revenge kind of thing or us,'' Ian Cusick said. "We really wanted to come back and beat them and we got a break and we caught fire.''
"I was really, really happy with the way we played,'' Miles agreed. "They're a really good opponent, so to win that match means a lot, especially for seeding for state and stuff like that. It's really impactful.''
And although it took awhile, Ian Cusick said he feels like he and his brother are where they need to be heading into the biggest meets of the year.
The city championships are next week, followed by Centennial League, Class 5A regional and state tournaments.
"At the beginning of the year our shots weren't as good and we weren't really together, but especially this match was a really good match for us going forward,'' Ian said. "The teamwork was great, the energy was great, everything was great.''
Washburn Rural senior Mason Thieu (see related story on TopSports.news) claimed the singles championship with an 8-3 win over Kansas City Christian's Caleb Bartels in the championship match, leading the Junior Blues to the team title by an 86-76 margin over Topeka West and Kansas City Christian.
In addition to Thieu's title, Rural got a third-place singles finish from Mason Casebeer while Nick Luetje and Kyler Knudtson finished third in doubles.
James Maag posted a fourth-place singles finish for Topeka West while Carter Cool and Gavin Chavez finished sixth in doubles.
Shawnee Heights finished fourth as a team with 52 points, led by Jaden Rodriguez's fifth-place singles finish while Hayden finished sixth as a team, with Michael Sandstrom and Gus Glotzbach taking fifth in doubles.
TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL
Team scores
Washburn Rural 86, Topeka West 76, Kansas City Christian 76, Shawnee Heights 52, Lawrence 39, Hayden 38, Salina Central 37, Salina South 31, Blue Valley West 30.
Individual results
Singles
Championship -- Thieu, Washburn Rural, def. Bartels, Kansas City Christian, 8-3.
Third place -- Casebeer, Washburn Rural, def. Maag, Topeka West, 8-5.
Fifth place -- Rodriguez, Shawnee Heights, def. Gariss, Kansas City Christian, 8-2.
Doubles
Championship -- I. Cusick/M. Cusick, Topeka West, def. Phelps/Phelp, Salina Central, 8-7 (7-4).
Third place -- Luetje/Knudtson, Washburn Rural, def. VanderArk/Newman, Kansas City Christian, 8-3.
Fifth place -- Sandstrom/Glotzbach, Hayden, def. Chavez/Cool, Topeka West, 8-5.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There's no doubt that Washburn Rural senior tennis star Mason Thieu has the ability to play college tennis.
But after devoting most of his life to the sport, including a stint at a Florida tennis academy, he decided that probably wasn't for him.
Now he's content to play tennis simply for the love of the sport and is enjoying it as much -- maybe more -- than he ever has.
Thieu was an immediate standout for Kevin Hedberg's Junior Blues as a freshman in 2019, earning a Class 6A state medal with a ninth-place state singles finish.
But after losing his sophomore season to COVID-19, Thieu eventually made the decision to to attend the Celsius Tennis Academy in Sarasota, Fla. with the hopes of improving his game and garnering interest from Division I schools.
That approach paid off to a point, but also resulted in a revision of Thieu's priorities.
"I thought it went pretty good,'' Thieu said. "I trained a lot more than I did in Kansas so I got a lot better down there and I kind of grew up more as a person, too, because I was my own for a good amount of time. I did end up getting all the contact from colleges I was wanting but I was just playing so much and I honestly was a little burnt out before I even went down there.
"When I went down there it kind of helped because I was just so focused on playing it was cool, but then I came back here (last May) and I couldn't find the love of the sport as much as I used to.''
But once Thieu took a step back from the sport and decided -- at least for now -- against pursuing a college career, he ended up regaining that love.
"I'm feeling good now,'' said Thieu, who is still undefeated on the season after claiming the singles championship in Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center with an 8-3 win over Kansas City Christian's Caleb Bartels. "When I came back (to Topeka) I was still planning to play college, but then a few months into school I just didn't feel that that's what I wanted to do anymore.
"I'm enjoying it a lot more because I have so many good teammates that I'm really good friends with outside of tennis and I've been playing some of the best tennis I've played since I came back from Florida because I have no fear. I used to play really nervous but now I know it's my last season and I'm just trying to have a good time so I just play loose.''
Thieu said Hedberg, one of the most successful coaches in state history, has helped in that regard.
"He does a really good job of leading me in the direction of where I should go with the match but he doesn't control me to tell me what I have to specifically do,'' Thieu said. "He gives me control of what I need to do but helps guide me.''
Thieu also appreciates Hedberg's laid back coaching style.
Theiu fell behind 3-2 early against Bartels but neither Thieu or Hedberg showed any signs of panic and Thieu won six straight games to close out the win.
"In the really intense part of the match we were laughing and stuff because I missed such a bad ball,'' Thieu said. "It was kind of fun. I'm having a great time.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake senior pitcher Daigan Kruger threw his first career no-hitter Monday night in a 6-0 Mid-East League first-game win over Riley County.
The Eagles added an 8-5 victory in the second game to complete the sweep.
Kruger went seven innings with five strikeouts while issuing two walks in the Game 1 win and also went 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored.
Matt Barnes went 2 for 3 with a home run and three runs batted in for the Eagles in the opener while Luke Womack was 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBI and Kaden Walker was 1 of 3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Eli Barnes picked up the pitching win in the second game, throwing a complete game while allowing nine hits and three earned runs. Barnes stuck out three batters.
Walker went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI while E. Barnes was 2 for 4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored, Kruger 2 for 3 with a run scored and Womack 1 for 4 with an RBI.
With the sweep the Eagles improved to 7-3 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-East League.
Lions' Clark signs with McPherson College
Cair Paravel Latin senior basketball standout Zach Clark signed a college letter of intent with McPherson College on Monday.
Clark, a 6-foot-4 guard, earned second-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honors this past season and was also a first-team All-Kaw Valley League pick.
Clark helped lead the Lions to a 14-5 record.
Hayden improves to 7-0-1 with 4-1 win over Blue Jays
Senior Macy Smith scored two goals to lead the way as Hayden posted a 4-1 Centennial League girls soccer victory at Junction City Monday night.
Junior Jenessa Broxterman and sophomore Jill Lenherr also scored goals for the Wildcats, now 7-0-1 on the season.
Senior Kate Roeder and junior Elaina Wolff were credited with assists.
HAYDEN 4, JUNCTION CITY 1
Hayden 2 2 -- 4
Junction City 1 0 -- 1
Hayden -- Goals: Smith 2, Broxterman, Lenherr. Assists: Roeder, Wolff.
Keys powers Cair Paravel to 7-0 soccer win
Sophomore Katherine Keys scored three goals and also recorded an assist as Cair Paravel Latin improved to 7-3-0 on the season with a 7-0 girls soccer romp past Kansas City Christian Monday.
Junior Sage Schwartz added two goals and two assists for the Lions, who also got goals from freshmen Zahra Lewis and Alexis Gonzalez.
Lewis was also credited with two assists while Sawyer Schwartz had an assist and picked up the shutout in goal for Cair Paravel.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 7, KANSAS CITY CHRISTIAN 0
Cair Paravel 5 2 -- 7
KC Christian 0 0 -- 0
Cair Paravel -- Goals: Keys 3, Sage Schwartz 2, Lewis, Gonzalez. Assists: Sage Schwartz 2, Lewis 2, Keys, Sawyer Schwartz. Shutout: Sawyer Schwartz.
Seaman golf runner-up in Hays tournament
Seaman's golf team finished second as a team in Monday's Bob Blazer/Hays Invitational on Monday while three city golfers posted top-five finishes.
Viking senior Gavin Wilhelm finished fourth individually with a 78 while Seaman's Tim Biggs and Topeka West's Myles Alonzo tied for fifth with 80s.
Garden City won the team championship by a 312-334 margin over Seaman, with the Buffaloes placing three players in the top seven individually, led by individual medalist Theo Juhl (67).
BOB BLAZER/HAYS INVITATIONAL
Team scores
Garden City 312, Seaman 334, Salina Sacred Heart 340, Dodge City 351, Hays 368, Salina South 371, Liberal 390, Junction City 398, Great Bend 405.
Individual results
1. Juhl, Garden City, 67; 2. Scheck, Dodge City, 76; 3. Koskal, Garden City, 77; 4. Gavin Wilhelm, Seaman, 78; 5. (tie) Tim Biggs, Seaman, and Myles Alonzo, Topeka West, 80; 7. Shook, Garden City, 82; 8. (tie) Elmore, Salina Sacred Heart, and Maddox Xaysongkham, Salina South, 83; 10. Robinson, Dodge City, 84.