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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA -- In the recent city girls tennis tournament, Washburn Rural's senior doubles team of Kate Fritz and Meredith Kucera dropped a lopsided 8-1 semifinal decision to Hayden's Lauren Sandstrom and Emily Sheetz.
And for quite a while Monday it looked like Fritz and Kucera were on their way to another loss to the Hayden duo, with the Wildcats rolling to a 6-2 first-set win in the Centennial League doubles final.
Washburn Rural seniors Kate Fritz (left) and Meredith Kucera won the Centennial League doubles championship Monday at Emporia, leading the Junior Blues to a second-place team finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Fritz and Kucera slowly but surely turned the tables, rallying for a 2-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory at Emporia High.
Fritz said that she and Kucera, who placed third in the city meet, embraced the underdog role.
"We love it,'' Fritz said.
"They were the ones that had pressure on them,'' Kucera said. "We had two bad matches during that time, but we knew we could come out here today and finish what we started.''
"Our catch phrase today was, 'Play scrappy, simple tennis,' '' Fritz said.
Washburn Rural coach Brad Johnston said Fritz and Kucera played much better Monday than they had in the city meet.
"They just had more energy and it felt good to see them working together and to just have a little bit more confidence in playng them,'' Johnston said.
With the comeback victory, Fritz and Kucera led Washburn Rural to a second-place team finish, just one point behind league champion Manhattan.
Washburn Rural finished second as a team in Monday's Centennial League girls tennis tournament at Emporia, just one point behind Manhattan. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Junior Blues also got a fourth-place doubles finish from seniors Hailey Beck and Ciana Evans while Mena DiMarzio and Kayla Peter posted fifth and sixth-place finishes in singles.
Hayden's Lauren Sandstrom (left) and Emily Sheetz posted a second-place finish in doubles in Monday's Centennial League tournament at Emporia. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
City champion Hayden finished third as a team Monday, getting a runner-up finish in singles from sophomore Ainzley Zulueta in addition to the second-place doubles finish from Sandstrom, a junior, and sophomore Sheetz.
Zulueta, the defending Class 4A state champion, dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision to Manhattan's Jill Harkin in the championship match.
Monday's loss was only the second of the season for Zulueta, with both losses coming against Harkin, the defending 6A state champ.
Hayden sophomore singles standout Ainzley Zulueta finished second in Monday's Centennial League tennis tournament at Emporia. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"She was definitely a lot more physically prepared than I was,'' Zulueta said. "That was probably the most tired match I've had this past season. I was exhausted and on the verge of cramping, but I'm glad I got to play her again.''
Zulueta said playing Harkin will help get her ready for postseason.
"This definitely helps me prepare for the upcoming tournaments,'' Zulueta said. "It's just another step to help me be more prepared for regionals and state.''
Topeka High finished fourth in the team standings, led by a third-place doubles finish from seniors Haley Carpenter and Adisyn Caryl.
Washburn Rural, Hayden and Topeka High will all compete in regional tournaments later this week, vying for state tournament berths.
Washburn Rural and Topeka High will take part in a 6A regional on Friday at Kossover Tennis Center while Hayden will host a 4A tournament Saturday at Kossover.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE GIRLS TENNIS
Team scores
Manhattan 37, Washburn Rural 36, Hayden 30, Topeka High 24, Emporia 17, Junction City 12.
Individual results
Singles
Semifinals -- Harkin, Manhattan, def. Wiens, Manhattan, 6-0, 6-0; Zulueta, Hayden, def. Keough, Emporia, 6-1, 6-1.
Championship -- Harkin, Manhattan, def. Zulueta, Hayden, 6-2, 6-2.
Third -- Wiens, Manhattan, def. Keough, Emporia, 6-1, 6-1.
Fifth -- DiMarzio, Washburn Rural, winner by injury default over Peter, Washburn Rural.
Doubles
Semifinals -- Fritz/Kucera, Washburn Rural, def. Carpenter/Caryl, Topeka High, 6-1, 6-2; Sandstrom/Sheetz, Hayden, def. Beck/Evans, Washburn Rural, 6-4, 6-4.
Championship -- Fritz/Kucera, Washburn Rural, def. Sheetz/Sandstrom, Hayden, 2-6, 6-4, 10-8.
Third -- Carpenter/Caryl, Topeka High, def. Beck/Evans, 6-4, 6-3.
Fifth -- Craft/Robinson, Manhattan, def. Zhang/Evangelidis, Manhattan, 6-3, 6-4.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's powerhouse volleyball team had plenty to celebrate on Saturday in Junction City.
Washburn Rural rolled to a perfect 5-0 record in last Saturday's Centennial League volleyball tournament after opening the day with coach Kevin Bordewick's 1,000th career win as a volleyball coach. [Twitter]
Veteran Rural coach Kevin Bordewick reached the 1,000-victory mark for his volleyball coaching career in the first match of the Centennial League tournament while the Junior Blues went 5-0 on the day to win the league championship with a dominating performance.
The Junior Blues posted five straight-set victories on the day while not allowing more than 17 points in a set.
Washburn Rural opened the day with a 25-6, 25-9 win over Junction City, followed by a 25-15, 25-12 victory over Hayden, a 25-7, 25-17 triumph over Topeka High, a 25-8, 25-13 win over Manhattan and a 25-6, 25-9 decision over Emporia.
Emporia finished second in the league tournament with a 4-1 record.
The Junior Blues improved to 20-1 on the season while pushing their winning streak to 19 matches.
Rural will travel to Olathe Northwest on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. dual match. Northwest and Rural finished third and fourth in the Class 6A state tournament last season.
Zoe Canfield
Junior Blues' Canfield commits to Kansas basketball
Washburn Rural junior volleyball and basketball standout Zoe Canfield has made an oral commitment to the Kansas women's basketball program.
As a sophomore Canfield averaged 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounts, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals for the Class 6A state-champion Junior Blues while shooting 47.5 percent from 3-point range and 84.8 percent from the free throw line.
Canfield is also a standout setter for the Washburn Rural volleyball team, which is currently 20-1 on the season.
Silver Lake's volleyball team poses for a team picture after posting a perfect 5-0 record on Saturday to win its Silver Lake Invitational tournament. [Twitter]
Silver Lake volleyball claims tournament crown
Silver Lake's volleyball team posted a perfect 5-0 record to claim the tournament championship in Saturday's Silver Lake Invitational.
Sarah Johnson's Eagles, now 21-8 on the season, survived a pair of three-set matches to win the title.
Silver Lake took a 25-12, 21-25, 26-14 win over Royal Valley, a 25-13, 25-17 victory over Jefferson West, an 18-25, 25-19, 25-23 triumph over Rossville, a 25-9, 25-17 victory over Sabetha and a 25-15, 25-16 win over St. Marys.
Hayden sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier passed for 188 yards and a touchdown in Friday night's 44-28 Class 3A district win at Perry-Lecompton. [File photo/TSN]
Friday football: Hayden moves to 5-0
Hayden, which is Shawnee County's only undefeated football team, improved to 5-0 on Friday night with a 44-28 road win at Perry-Lecompton in Class 3A district competition.
Wildcat sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier completed 12 of 14 pass attempts for 188 yards and a touchdown in Friday's win.
Junior Finn Dunshee added a 100-yard-plus rushing night for the Wildcats while sophomore Jensen Schrickel caught five passes for just under 100 yards.
The Wildcats will be at home Friday for a 3A district game against Royal Valley.
In Friday night's other Shawnee County games:
• Silver Lake rallied for a 22-21 Class 2A district win over rival Rossville in the annual War on 24.
Silver Lake junior quarterback Tanner Martin threw for a TD and the game-winning 2-point coversion in overtime to give the Eagles a 22-21 win over Rossville Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Eagles scored two late fourth-quarter touchdowns to force overtime and junior Tanner Martin completed a touchdown pass and a 2-point conversion pass to senior Troy Heiman in overtime to give the 3-2 Eagles the victory over the Bulldawgs.
• Undefeated Burlingame took a 57-26 Eight-Man Division I district win over Cair Paravel Latin despite a big night from the Lions' Evan Will.
Burlingame took command with a 35-6 halftime advantage, jumping out to a 35-0 lead.
CPLS's Will threw for 143 yar and three touchdowns and also scored on a 4-yard run while recording 10 tackles on defense.
Jesiah Bonura caught eight passes for 137 yards and a touchdown.
• De Soto ended Shawnee Heights' three-game United Kansas Conference winning streak with 28-0 win at Wetter Field.
The score was 0-0 at the end of the first quarter and Heights trailed by just a 7-0 margin at the half before De Soto pulled away after halftime.
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) is 97 yards away from the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season after a 122-yard night against De Soto. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman rushed for 122 yards on 27 attempts and now has 903 yards and 10 touchdowns on 122 attempts this season for the 3-2 T-Birds.
• Junction City pulled away in the second half for a 24-6 Centennial League win at Washburn Rural.
• Highland Park suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a 59-22 non-league road decision at Lincoln College Prep.
• Topeka West is still looking for its first win of the season after a 42-0 United Kansas Conference loss to Lansing. The Chargers will face winless Turner on the road Friday.
• Topeka High fell to 1-4 with an 81-13 non-league loss at Wichita Northwest, which improved to 4-1 with its fourth straight victory.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Lois Deeter
LOIS DEETER, Seaman
A senior, Deeter shot an 85 to win the individual title by seven strokes in last Tuesday's United Kansas Conference girls golf tournament at Dub's Dread Golf Club in Kansas City, Kan. Deeter captured the second individual league title of her career while leading Seaman to its first-ever league girls golf team championship by a 51-stroke margin.
Troy Heiman
TROY HEIMAN, Silver Lake
Heiman, a 6-foot-2, 165-pound senior, caught a 10-yard touchdown pass and 2-point conversion pass from Tanner Martin in overtime to give 3-2 Silver Lake a 22-21 overtime victory over rival Rossville in the annual War on 24 last Friday night at Silver Lake. Heiman caught nine passes for 112 yards on the night as the Eagles won their Class 2A district opener.
Tanner Martin
TANNER MARTIN, Silver Lake
A 6-foot, 178-pound junior quarterback, Martin completed 18 of 35 pass attempts for 276 yards and three touchdowns in Silver Lake's 22-21 home overtime win over Rossville last Friday night in the Eagles' Class 2A district opener. Martin threw for a 10-yard TD and a 2-point conversion to Troy Heiman in overtime to give Silver Lake the victory.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the second straight season Emporia State opened up a big lead over Washburn University and for the second year in a row the Ichabods mounted a furious late-game rally that came up short.
Emporia State, which has now won eight of its past 10 games against Washburn, jumped out to a commanding 42-14 advantage early in the fourth quarter on Saturday before holding on for a 42-35 MIAA victory at Yager Stadium.
Emporia State quarterback Braden Gleason passed for 300 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday's 42-35 win at Washburn. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Former Topeka High standout Corey Thomas (4) tries to get past Washburn defenders Brent Peavler (33) and Christian Clark (25) in Saturday's 42-35 Hornet win over the Ichabods. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn, 3-2 overall and in the MIAA, cut its deficit to seven with 1:54 remaining on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Kellen Simoncic to James Letcher Jr., but the Hornets, also 3-2, 3-2, recovered the ensuing onsides kick attempt and were able to run out the clock.
"We fought hard at the end, but we let them get too far ahead,'' Washburn coach Craig Schurig said. "They're a good team. They can frustrate you and they definitely frustrated us.''
The Hornets took a 7-0 lead with an 11-play, 78-yard scoring drive, capped by a 7-yard Braden Gleason touchdown pass to Tommy Zimmerman with 7:21 left in the first quarter.
Emporia State made the score 14-0 on a 16-yard TD pass from Gleason to Tyler Kahmann with 6:16 remaining before halftime, but Washburn responded with a 14-play, 75-yard drive to get on the board with a 1-yard run from Simoncic with 1:06 left in the half.
Washburn received the second-half kickoff but the Ichabods muffed the kickoff and started their drive at the 3-yard-line.
The Hornets forced a three and out and then took advantage of the short field for a 31-yard touchdown drive, getting an 8-yard touchdown run from Billy Ross Jr. with 11:46 left in the third quarter.
Emporia State made the score 28-7 on a 17-yard Gleason pass to Jaylen Varner before Washburn got back in the game with a 77-yard TD pass from Simoncic to Peter Afful.
The Hornets scored back-to-back TDs to open up a 28-point advantage, with Canaan Brooks scoring on a 15-yard run and Gleason connecting with former Topeka High standout Corey Thomas on a 28-yard scoring pass that proved to be the difference with 13:16 left in the fourth quarter.
Thomas, who had four catches for 60 yards, said it felt good to come back to Topeka and help the Hornets get a second straight win over the Ichabods.
"It's a great feeling, honestly,'' Thomas said. "I have a lot of respect for Washburn and they have a great team over there. They're a lot like us in a lot of ways so it's a great win.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls the opened the championship month of the 2022 cross country season with a decisive win in Saturday's Seaman Invitational at Shawnee North Community Park.
Individual runner-up Ryin Miller led the way as the Vikings put all of their top five runners in the top 11 spots en route to a 34-59 team victory over city rival Washburn Rural.
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller finished second in Saturday's Seaman Invitational cross country meet, leading the Vikings to the girls team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Madeline Carter finished third in Saturday's Seaman Invitational, pacing the Junior Blues to a runner-up team finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller, a freshman, clocked a five-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 02.61 seconds to finish second behind Piper senior Grace Hanson, who won the race in 18:27.88.
Seaman also got a sixth-place finish from senior Bethany Druse (20:26.48) while senior Leah Spurlock (20:38.61), sophomore Stella Appelhanz (20:51.54) and junior Savannah Sampson (20:54.95) finished ninth, 10th and 11th.
Seaman sophomore Anna Becker added a 13th-place finish in 21:25.65.
"We ran well and I'm real happy about that,'' Seaman coach Rick Brading said. "Ryin Miller had a great day Leah Spurlock had a really good day today as our third runner.''
Brading was happy with the balance the Vikings displayed in Saturday's win.
"Our girls understand that as each individual runner runs better our team score's going to be better,'' Brading said. "Plus, kids compete against their own teammates, so that helps us.''
