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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Shawnee Heights standout Christian Clark has found a home in Washburn University's defensive backfield, with the 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior playing in 21 games with 15 starts at cornerback.
Former Shawnee Heights standout Christian Clark (25) came up with a key interception for Washburn in last Saturday's 38-31 overtime win at Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But Clark hasn't forgotten his roots as a running back and would love to get a chance to re-live those days.
"I do miss being a running back, I' m not going to lie,'' Clark said. "I'm hoping I get to show off my running back skills at some point throughout the season on an interception or a fumble recovery, whatever it is, but I definitely miss being a running back and scoring touchdowns.''
However, Clark also embraces his role for the Washburn defense since joining the Ichabods for the 2019 season after a year at William Penn (Iowa).
"I think it just keeps me engaged every single play because playing corner, all it takes is one play to give up a touchdown so you've got to bring it every play, you can't take plays off,'' he said.
"Personally it just makes me have to become more of a competitor and really just have to embrace those one on one battles I have throughout the game.''
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
It’s no secret that the Shawnee Heights boys’ soccer team has been rolling through the United Kansas Conference this year.
The Thunderbirds advanced to 6-0 in United Kansas Conference play after a 3-0 shutout over Piper Tuesday night at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Shawnee Heights senior Jordan Garvin (9) scored a pair of goals in Tuesday night's 3-0 UKC win over Piper. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Jack Martin had a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Piper. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The six wins in the conference have all come in a row and Shawnee Heights has looked like a force to be reckoned with.
In the six-game win streak, Heights has shut out four opponents and has outscored its United Kansas Conference foes, 17-3.
Offensively, Shawnee Heights had stellar production from Jordan Garvin and Jack Martin in the win versus Piper. Garvin had two goals while Martin had a goal and an assist. Going into the contest, Piper had only allowed three goals in the previous four games.
“We knew coming into today that Piper was going to be a solid team with a dangerous attack,” Shawnee Heights coach Nic Simons said. “Piper at times made us look silly defensively in the first half. I think we did a good job of adjusting in the second half. Our center backs and outside backs did a great job in particular with making those adjustments.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- History. Seaman's girls golf team captured its first-ever league team championship Tuesday at Dub's Dread Golf Club and accomplished that long-awaited feat in dominating fashion, marking its first appearance in the United Kansas Conference tournament with a 51-stroke victory while putting four players in the top five individually.
Seaman's girls golf team won its first-ever league team title on Tuesday, winning the United Kansas Conference crown by 51 strokes. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior Lois Deeter makes an approach shot in Tuesday's United Kansas Conference tournament. Deeter shot an 85 to take a seven-shot individual win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Jaycee Zimmerman shot a 92 Tuesday to finish second in the United Kansas Conference tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior star Lois Deeter and sophomore Jaycee Zimmerman went one-two in the individual standings while sophomore Anna McLaughlin placed fourth and junior Avery Samuelson fifth.
"I'm thrilled for them,'' Seaman coach Julie McLaughlin said. "I thought we had a pretty good chance but we had to come out and play the game and see what would happen.
"It was a tough course, a great challenge, and the girls hung in there and they kept at it and they got it done.''
Deeter made a little history of her own, earning her second league championship in two different leagues in the only two league meets of her career. Tuesday's win followed Deeter's Centennial League title as a freshman in 2019.
Deeter didn't have one of her best days, but still shot an 85 to win by seven strokes over teammate Zimmerman, who carded a 92.
"I hadn't ever played this golf course,'' Deeter said. "It is tough. There's a lot of blind shots and I had no idea where I was going and there's a couple of holes where I found out that' not where the hole is.''
Deeter has two more regular-season tournaments remaining, including a return trip to Kansas City on Wednesday to play at Sunflower Hills, and said she'll use that time to get ready for Class 5A postseason.
"Hopefully I'll get my bad tournaments out of the way,'' Deeter said.
Fourth-place McLaughlin shot a 96 on Tuesday while Samuelson was right behind in fifth with a 97.
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By DR. KARISSA NIEHOFF, Chief Executive Officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations
and BILL FAFLICK, Executive Director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association
There’s an unfortunate trend continuing in Kansas and across the nation that must be stopped: the bad behavior of coaches, parents and fans at high school athletic events.
We’ve all seen it: the yelling, harassing, berating, disrespecting and even physically assaulting high school referees, umpires and other officials during and after games. And oftentimes, the harassment continues on social media. Perhaps you’ve witnessed it firsthand or even been one of those offenders yourself.
Not only is this behavior unacceptable and embarrassing, but it’s also having serious consequences on the future of high school sports.
That’s because another unfortunate trend is sweeping the nation: a critical shortage of high school officials in every state. The #1 reason? You guessed it: Coaches, parents and fans mistreating officials.
National surveys of officials report alarming statistics:
55% of officials say verbal abuse from coaches, parents and fans is the No. 1 reason they quit.
59% don't feel respected.
57% think sportsmanship is getting worse.
84% feel officials are treated unfairly by spectators.
46% have felt unsafe or feared for their safety due to spectator, coach, adminnistrator or player behavior.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High junior football player Isaiah Kincade and Hayden sophomore tennis standout Ainzley Zulueta have been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week for last week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Kincade and Zulueta last week:
![Topeka High junior Isaiah Kincade rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown and caught eight passes for 84 yardss as the Trojans picked up their first win last Friday, a 34-21 Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]](/images/aa-images/IsaiahKincade.jpg)
Topeka High junior Isaiah Kincade rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown and caught eight passes for 84 yards as the Trojans picked up their first win last Friday, a 34-21 Centennial League Homecoming victory over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
ISAIAH KINCADE, Topeka High
Kincade, a 6-foot, 190-pound junior, helped lead Topeka High to a 34-21 Centennial League win over Emporia last Friday at Hummer Sports Park, the 1-3 Trojans' first win of the season.
Kincade carried the ball 15 times for 104 yards, including a victory-clinching 61-yard touchdown run, and he caught eight passes for 84 yards.
Hayden sophomore state tennis champion Ainzley Zulueta won her second straight city singles title last Friday, helping lead the Wildcats to the city team championship by a 26-25 margin over Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
AINZLEY ZULUETA, Hayden
Zulueta, the defending Class 4A state singles champion, won her second straight city singles title last Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center, improving to 19-1 on the season and leading the Wildcats to the city team championship by a 26-25 margin over Seaman.
Zulueta took a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the championship match over Seaman senior Lauren Sweeney, a 2021 5A state champion in doubles.
