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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's men's basketball team will be aiming to snap a two-game losing streak when the Ichabods host Ottawa on Saturday in a 2 p.m. non-conference game at Lee Arena.
Washburn will be looking to snap a brief two-game losing streak on Saturday when the 2-3 Ichabods host Ottawa in a 2 p.m. contest. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Ichabods are 2-3 this season after a 78-63 loss at Oklahoma Baptist on Tuesday, while Ottawa is 4-4 after an 87-85 overtime KCAC win over McPherson on Tuesday.
The Ichabods have won the last 23 meetings in the series and Washburn is 30-5 against the Braves in Topeka. Ottawa's last win came on Dec. 29, 1959 in an 85-68 win in Ottawa.
ball.
Junior Connor Deffebaugh leads Washburn with a 12.0 scoring average and sophomore Andrew Orr averages 11.6 points. Deffebaugh also leads the Ichabods in assists with 4.6 per game.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: The 15 boys swimmers/divers to watch are based on performances in the 2021-2022 season. TopSports.news is still in the process of receiving preseason information from local coaches and will update information as needed.
TRUMAN BREDE, Shawnee Heights
Brede, a junior, helped Shawnee Heights earn a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay in the Class 5A-1A state meet last season. Brede was part of Shawnee Heights' winning 200 medley relay team in the United Kansas Conference meet and he finished third in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 200 free as the T-Birds finished second as a team. Brede helped Shawnee Heights win the city title in the 200 medley relay and he finished third in the 100 backstroke. Brede received second-team All-City recognition.
JAXON COWDIN, Topeka High
A sophomore, Cowdin won the city diving championship as a freshman and finished third in the Centennial League meet. Cowdin made it to the finals in the 6A state meet, finishing 15th. Cowdin earned first-team All-City honors and All-Centennial League honorable mention last season.
CORDELL DIMICK, Washburn Rural
Dimick, a senior, was part of Washburn Rural's 200 medley relay team that finished 14th in the 2022 state meet in the B Final. Dimick helped the Junior Blues post a runner-up Centennial League finish in the 200 medley relay and he finished third in the 200 individual medley, earning second-team all-league recognition. Dimick finished third in the city meet in the 100 breaststroke and swam on Rural's runner-up 200 medley relay, receiving second-team All-City honors.
Seaman senior Adin Florence was a Centennial League champion last season for the Vikings and earned All-Centennial League and All-City first-team recognition. [File photo/TSN]
ADIN FLORENCE, Seaman
Florence, a senior, won the B Final in the 100 breaststroke in the 2022 5A-1A state meet and also competed in the 100 free at state. Florence was the Centennial League champion in the 100 breast, finished second in the 100 free and swam on the Vikings' second-place 200 free and third-place 200 medley relay teams, earning first-team All-Centennial League recognition. Florence was second in the 100 breaststroke in the city meet, third in the 100 freestyle and swam on the Vikings' third-place 200 medley and 200 free relay teams, receiving All-City first-team honors.
EVAN HOOBLER, Shawnee Heights
A sophomore, Hoobler swam on Shawnee Heights' 200 free relay team that posted a sixth-place finish in the 5A-1A state meet. Hoobler was a part of Heights' 200 free relay that finished second in the United Kansas Conference meet and he placed third in the 500 freestyle and third in the 100 breastroke in the UKC as the T-Birds finished second in the team standings. Hoobler was part of Heights' second-place 200 free relay team in the city meet and earned second-team All-City honors.
RYAN JOHNSON, Hayden
Johnson posted a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle in the 2022 city championships, helping Hayden finish fourth as a team and earning second-team All-City recognition. Johnson, a senior, competed in the 5A-1A state meet last season.
LUKE LEMKE, Washburn Rural
Lemke had a big freshman season for the Junior Blues, including a Centennial League title as part of team-champion Rural's 200 free relay team. Lemke helped Rural reach the 6A state B Final in the 200 free relay, with the Junior Blues finishing 12th. Lemke was a city champion as part of Washburn Rural's 200 free relay and earned second-team All-City honors.
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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Giblets on turkey week:
• Wait. Giblets are organ meats, right? Oh well, as long as stuffing cooks in its rightful cavity, I’m good.
• Doubt a breakthrough will happen Saturday for KU in the battle for John Brown’s Hatchet.
• Johnny Kaw’s Scythe?
• Golden Bushel of Wheat?
• Nothing against politicians, or everything against them: the Governor’s Cup is a poorly-named prize.
• Say what you want for Floyd of Rosedale or any other contested artifact among Big Ten rivals. They all have charm.
• The mythically mighty Johnny Kaw had two pets, Wildcat and Jayhawk. They got into a tussle so fierce it started the Dust Bowl.
• Do something with that and leave the governors, their opponents and their inept political parties to send mailers with recycled lies destined for the recycle bin.
• Our in-state football rivalry could get interesting real soon, perhaps by Saturday if Jalon Daniels displays all his complete talents.
• I scratch my head at repetitive barbs lobbed by opposing fans.
• K-State supporters go to great lengths to take shots at their KU rivals when any response about football should simply be the number 13. Soon to be 14, I predict.
• KU fans go to great lengths to indicate they live rent-free in K-Stater’s heads. Yet if you truly reside rent-free, do you have to constantly remind everyone?
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Wednesday was a hectic day for first-year Washburn University women's basketball coach Lora Westling, but it ended with a 63-51 non-conference victory over Haskell Indian Nations University at Lee Arena.
Washburn freshman Natalia Figueroa (23) scored a team-high 13 points with three three-pointers in the Ichabods' 63-51 win over Haskell Wednesday night at Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Lauren Cassaday scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Washburn's 63-51 win over Haskell Wednesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Westling found out at about 10:30 a.m. that Washburn's scheduled opponent, Central Christian College, would be unable to play Wednesday due to COVID protocols.
The Ichabods' two options were either to not play on Wednesday or find a fill-in opponent and Haskell answered the call to come to Topeka with seven available players.
"Our A.D., Loren (Ferre') told me at 10:30 and I said, 'Can I have 15 minutes just to see if we can find somebody?' '' Westling said. "There's a reason we really wanted to play it here. We had a lot of kids with family in town and it's a great last tuneup before we start conference play.
"It was just a really ideal time for us to play and fortunately Haskell was able to make the trip. We knew they were going to be pretty challenging but it's a lot of respect and we're really grateful that they made the trip.''
Coming off a 52-47 loss to Rockhurst last Saturday, junior Lauren Cassaday said it was important to be able to play and get a win on Wednesday.
"It was good to have a win, especially going into conference play,'' Cassaday. "It's good to be able to take some confidence in, but we still have a high ceiling that we've still got to fill. I think we have a lot of potential on this team and we've just got to find it.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ANDREW BONEBRAKE, Shawnee Heights
Bonebrake, a junior 132-pounder, posted a 35-11 record last season, won a United Kansas Conference championship and was a Class 5A state qualifier, earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Bonebrake is ranked No. 3 at 132 pounds in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association preseason 5A state rankings.
Washburn Rural's Easton Broxterman is one of Shawnee County's top returners, placing second in Class 6A at 106 pounds as a freshman. [File photo/TSN]
EASTON BROXTERMAN, Washburn Rural
A sophomore, Broxterman advanced to the 6A state championship match at 106 pounds as a freshman, finishing second for the state-champion Junior Blues and posting a 39-6 record. Broxterman, a Centennial League champion, was named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year and was a first-team all-county pick. He is currently ranked No. 2 at 106 pounds in the KWCA's 6A and All-Class preseason rankings.
TRISTAN BUCE, Shawnee Heights
Buce is being counted on to be an immediate contributor as a freshman for Shawnee Heights at 106 pounds. Buce has extensive Kids Wrestling experience, placing in multiple state tournaments.
BRODY BYRNE, Washburn Rural
Byrne, a junior, won a Centennial League championship last season and was a first-team All-Shawnee County selection after posting a 27-14 record. Byrne is No. 6-ranked in the KWCA preseason 6A state rankings at 157 pounds.
Rossville senior Jacob Carver posted a runner-up finish in Class 3A-1A at 285 pounds last season. [File photo/TSN]
JACOB CARVER, Rossville
A two-time TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick in football, Carver was a 3A-1A regional champ and finished second in the state tournament at 285 pounds last season as a junior. Carver, a first-team All-Shawnee County wrestling pick last season, is top-ranked at 285 pounds in the KWCA's 3A-1A preseason rankings and is No. 6 in the All-Class rankings.
RYKAN CARVER, Shawnee Heights
Carver, a 285-pound junior, was a United Kansas Conference champion and a 5A state qualifier last seaon while posting a 17-11 record. Carver received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season and is ranked No. 3 at 285 in the KWCA's 5A preseason rankings.
NICK FREELAND, Shawnee Heights
Freeland, a senior 150-pounder, was a United Kansas Conference champion and a 5A state qualifier last season, posting a 35-15 record. Freeland was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection as a junior.
