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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings two-thirds into the month:
• Quick one: What’s your favorite Halloween candy?
• This one sorta stumps me. One, because I don’t eat candy. Ha, fake news. I do.
• My favorite candy bar, though, is a Fifth Avenue. Tough to find. And, you rarely see the fun size bars.
• So, Butterfinger? Nope. Don’t mind them but I prefer other candy, including the nougat trifecta of Snickers, Milky Way and Three Musketeers.
• However, it’s a quinella for me since Three Musketeers is trash.
• All right, the point is we’ve all got our favorite. And I’m betting we all understand why the Neco Wafer, circus peanuts and jelly orange slices have never been branded to give to Trick or Treaters.
• But no Fifth Avenue fun-size bars? Come on, confectioners.
• Shout out to the Topeka Mars plant during this time of year.
• Hey, was that Kansas that I saw win a football game Saturday? In dominant fashion, no less.
• The Jayhawks ride on Jalen Daniels. When he’s on, look out. The KU receivers are good and Devin Neal loosens defenses.
• Hard sometimes to emerge from a tailspin and show the firepower that shaped high expectations in the preseason.
• Was it the breakthrough KU needed to be upset Kansas State?
• I already like the Jayhawks’ ability to keep games close. Finishing became a key issue.
• K-State, though, looks tough all around and will have a vociferous nighttime crowd in its favor. Also, there’s a 15-game series win streak to uphold.
• Seems, too, that Avery Johnson improves each week, even when limited to using his arm as a singular weapon.
• None of the K-State receivers will likely be all-conference picks, but they’re solid. Especially when opponents must contend with D.J. Giddens and Dylan Edwards out of the backfield.
• About halfway through the season, you get over players who moved on but for a few weeks I stared at the TV and missed K-State’s Cooper Beebe and KU’s Kenny Logan.
• Underrated quality for KU is the ability of their secondary to break on throws, as witnessed by Cobee Bryant’s three interceptions against Houston.
• For K-State, an underrated quality is the reconstruction of the offensive line into a competitive unit. That, and the Wildcats’ tacklers swarming to the ball.
• Picking K-State to beat KU, 38-30.
• After Saturday, the two most intriguing games for each team will be against Iowa State.
• For KU, it will be interesting to see how many ISU fans travel to Arrowhead for the Nov. 9 clash.
• For K-State, the Nov. 30 showdown in Ames could be for incredibly high stakes.
• The Cyclones are for real. Their late rally to avert an upset bid by UCF revealed the moxie possessed by quarterback Rocco Becht.
• The Big 12 is better than most national observers think, but when coverage tilts toward hyping the Big Ten and SEC, bias is king.
• And, in a year when the SEC looks balanced, down or both.
• We’re seeing Neal Brown’s final year at West Virginia, Willie Fritz’s worst year at Houston and, dare I write this, Matt Campbell’s best year at Iowa State.
• So, the league championship series to determine the World Series participants were on the other night. So, too was college football.
• Yet I found myself surfing to the WNBA finals and kept it there to watch a tight finish that sent the series to a decisive game.
• Credit Caitlan Clark for this. Rather than bully and berate her, opponents should be sending a percentage of their pay Clark’s way.
• Still, the fervor escalated among other fan bases, too.
• Is it fair to compare Clark’s rock star status to Michael Jordan in his prime?
• Well, she’s only played her rookie season but I’m willing to go there.
• My interest in the baseball playoffs wanes with big spenders such as the Yankees, Dodgers and Mets playing for league pennants.
• Drove with two buddies to the Wild Card series the Royals swept at Baltimore.
• Good time? Yes, but I root for the Orioles and was bummed about the outcome.
• Six straight postseason losses to the Royals for Baltimore. Not something many franchises get saddled with.
• One slight excursion we took on our own was getting in the truck and taking a limited tour of Baltimore filming locations for the HBO hit, The Wire.
• Topeka neighborhoods, you have it pretty good.
• As long as construction barrels don’t block your path.
• Joined my wife for her craft exhibit at Baldwin’s Maple Leaf Festival.
• Pretty cool to see a small town come alive for that kind of thing. The two-day event debuted in 1958, just like me. The festival, however, remains vibrant.
• Oops, I’m late getting over there to help man the booth.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the second time in as many days Washburn University volleyball recovered from losing the first set to claim a victory, this time defeating Central Missouri 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg, Mo.
Washburn senior Jalyn Stevenson had 13 kills and 28 digs in the Ichabods' 3-1 MIAA win at Central Missouri on Saturday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The first set required an extra point, with the Jennies (7-11 overall, 3-6 MIAA) taking a 26-24 win, but Washburn (15-4, 6-3) controlled the match from there, winning 25-21 in the second, 25-22 in the third and closing out the match with a quick 25-12 fourth set.
Both sides went back and forth early on, with six ties in the first 14 points.
The Ichabods created separation first with a kill by Brynne Topolski starting an 8-1 run to put WU up 18-11.
Central Missouri responded right back, going on an 8-1 run of their own to pull within a point.
Washburn remained ahead, leading 24-23 after an Austin Broadie kill, kill but the host Jennies netted the final three points of the set to steal it.
The Ichabods bounced right back in the second set, taking the first three points, all on kills by Jalyn Stevenson.
The lead grew to 9-3 after back-to-back kills by Topolski. Central Missouri's deficit stayed within five until a 3-0 run for Washburn was capped off by a block from Alex Dvorak and Stevenson to go up 22-15.
The Jennies pulled within three after a 4-0 run late, but the Ichabods held on, finishing out the set with a kill by Bella Limback.
In the third set it was Central Missouri that got off to a quick start, leading 9-4.
Washburn battled back to tie the set up at 12 after Corinna McMullen assisted Dvorak on a kill.
Both sides traded rallies until the Ichabods went up for good with six straight points, ending with a kill by Emery Keebaugh to go up 21-17. The Jennies pulled within one on three occasions down the stretch, but Washburn had an answer each time, finishing off the set, 25-22.
Back-to-back kills by Dvorak in the fourth set put the Ichabods up 5-1.
Shortly after Washburn reeled off six in a row to go up, 13-5. The lead grew to double figures at 17-7 after Dvorak and Topolski combined for a block.
It was the defense that led the way in the fourth set as Central Missouri hit -.056 in the set with eight errors to just six kills.
Limback and Taryn Pridgett combined for a block to finish off the match.
Washburn hit .239 as a team with 59 kills while holding the Jennies to a .132 attacking percentage and 46 kills to 21 errors. The Ichabods had a big advantage in digs, 85-64, and also led in assists 56-43.
Stevenson, a senior, was all over the court, leading the way in both kills with 13 and making a season and team-high 28 digs.
McMullen passed out 30 assists while Taylor Rottinghaus made 20 digs from the back row. Both Broadie and Topolski had 11 kills in the match.
The Ichabods will return to action on Saturday when they take on Emporia State on the road at 3 p.m.
Friday recap: WU tops Lions, 3-2
Washburn bounced back from a slow start Friday night to come away with a five-set victory on the road over Missouri Southern.
The first set went quickly to the Lions (3-16, 1-7 MIAA) 25-15 before Washburn took each of the next two sets, 25-19 and 25-20. Missouri Southern forced a fifth set, winning 25-20 in the fourth before the Ichabods finished the match with a 15-8 win in the fifth set.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Rossville posted its fourth straight Class 1A District 2 win on Friday while improving to 4-3 overall with a 28-0-home win over Olpe.
The Bulldawgs were in control throughout the game, scoring the only touchdown they would need on a 28-yard run by senior quarterback Tayson Horak at the 7:23 mark of the opening quarter (Vincent Daniel kick).
Rossville senior quarterback Tayson Horak threw for a touchdown and ran for a TD in the Bulldawgs' 28-0 district win over Olpe Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Horak added a 10-yard passing touchdown to Kameron Badura (Daniel kick) with 3:26 left in the second quarter to give Rossville a 14-0 halftime advantage.
Seth Catron scored on a 15-yard run with 1:21 left in the third quarter (Daniel kick) to put the Bulldawgs in front 21-0 and Mahki Jackson added a 5-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter (Daniel kick) to give Rossville its final margin.
Rossville goes on the road to face district foe Wabaunsee (3-4, 2-2) on Friday.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 74, MARANATHA ACADEMY 6 -- Cair Paravel Latin snapped its five-game losing streak in resounding fashion Friday night at Yager Stadium, rolling to a Class 1A District 2 victory over Maranatha Academy.
The Lions improved to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the district.
CPLS will close out its regular season Friday night at Olpe (5-2, 3-1).
Washburn Rural's Jordy Heim and the Rural defense come up with a touchdown-saving stop to end the first half Friday night against Junction City. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
JUNCTION CITY 17, WASHBURN RURAL 0 -- Junction City entered the game giving up 35 points a game before blanking the Junior Blues 17-0 in a Centennial League game at Bowen-Glaze Stadium.
The Blue Jays took advantage of a Rural turnover to go up 7-0 in the first quarter on a 2-yard run by junior Justice Fonoti.
The Blue Jays added a 31-yard field goal from senior Ethan Hileman to take a 10-0 halftime advantage, forcing two Rural turnovers and three punts in the opening half.
Junction City used a nine-play, 80-yard drive to get its final score of the night on a 6-yard TD run by junior Jamarcus Tyson.
Junction City improved to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the Centennial League while Rural fell to 3-4 and 2-1.
The Junior Blues will close out the regular season at undefeated Manhattan Friday night.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior Rylee Ismert has put together a very solid cross country career, including a Class 6A state medal as a junior and top-five finishes in city, league and regional competition.
Washburn Rural senior Rylee Ismert reacts at the finish line after winning the girls Centennial League cross country championship Saturday at Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But wins had been hard to come by for the Junior Blue standout, something she took care of Saturday with a decisive individual championship by more than 18 seconds in the Centennial League meet on Rural's home course.
Ismert clocked a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 02.9 seconds to lead the way as Washburn Rural placed three runners in the top five and all of its top five in the top 12 spots as the Junior Blues rolled to the league team title by a 28-54 margin over Manhattan.
Washburn Rural seniors Rylee Ismert (788) and Payton Fink run side by side in Saturday's Centennial League meet en route to a one-two finish for the team-champion Junior Blues. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Ismert said her pre-race goal was to stick as long as possible with senior teammate Payton Fink, the 2023 league champ.
"That was the plan because I knew that we would both push each other if we stayed together,'' Ismert said.
Ismert eventually took the lead about the two-mile mark and pulled away for the win while Fink finished second in 18:21.4.
"I guess I just kind of felt it,'' Ismert said. "I felt better than I thought I was going to, so I put a little surge into it and wanted to see what happened.''
Junior Emily Graf was fifth (18:52.6) for the Junior Blues while senior Brooklyn Nolte finished 10th (19:38.8) and junior Kenzie Maddox 12th (20:21.0) to round out the Junior Blues' top five.
"We've been training really hard this season and our coaches have been giving us really good workouts and it's paying off a lot for us,'' Ismert said.
Hayden got a seventh-place finish from senior Elliot Wrench (19:24.1).
Junction City senior Ethan Fontaine won the boys individual title in 15:49.4 to lead the way as the Blue Jays put five runners in the top 11 en route to winning the team championship by a 28-43 margin over Manhattan.
Washburn Rural freshman Henry Laubach finishes off a second-place performance in his first Centennial League meet Saturday at Rural, leading the Junior Blues to a third-place team finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural finished third with 61 points as Henry Laubach continued his outstanding freshman season with a second-place finish behind Fontaine in 15:49.4.
The Junior Blues also got a top-10 finish from junior Brooks Kehoe (16:25.6), who placed ninth.
Hayden finished fifth in the boys standings with 127 points whle Topeka High was sixth with 158 points.
Washburn Rural and Topeka High will be vying for state berths in a Class 6A state regional meet next Saturday at Kanza Park, with the girls race at 10:35 a.m. and the boys at 11:45.
Hayden will compete in a 4A regional next Saturday at Blue Valley Southwest, with the girls running at 10 a.m. and the boys at 11:10.
State competition will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, with 6A competing at Rim Rock Farm north of Lawrence and 4A competing at Wamego Country Club.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE CROSS COUNTRY
Zulueta caps dominating postseason run with third Class 4A state title as Hayden rolls to team crown
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden senior tennis star Ainzley Zulueta capped one of the most dominant postseason runs in Kansas history on Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, capturing her third Class 4A singles championship while leading the Wildcats to their second team title in three seasons.
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta won her third Class 4A state singles title Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping the Wildcats win the 4A team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
In fact, although a rare player may equal it, no netter will ever surpass what Zulueta accomplished this fall, going through both regionals and the state tournament without dropping a single game while posting eight straight 6-0, 6-0 victories.
Zulueta finished off her undefeated season and amazing postseason run with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Buhler freshman Sofia Spies in Saturday's state championship match.
Zulueta admitted that a perfect run wasn't necessarily a goal when postseason began, but the deeper she went, particularly in the state tournament, the more realistic it became.
"That wasn't my main goal going into it, but once I started at regionals without dropping a game that was kind of my goal going into state,'' Zulueta said.
Spies came within a point of ending Zulueta's streak when she jumped out to a 40-0 lead in the first game of the final, but Zulueta battled back to win that game and was in control the remainder of the match.
"Once I got past that first game I was really set on just staying in the point and not thinking about what would happen afterwards, just so I could stop her from getting a game, I guess,'' Zulueta said. "That was my goal.''
After winning state titles as a freshman and sophomore, Zulueta had to sit out her junior high school season after attending a tennis academy in Texas.
But she said that just made her more determined to add title No. 3.
"I was way more determined to win it this year,'' Zulueta said. "I wasn't expecting to go 0 and 0 throughout the whole entire tournament, but that makes it a lot more memorable.''
Senior Ainzley Zulueta is congratulated by fellow Hayden students after winning her third Class 4A state singles title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta receives a hug from her father after winning her third Class 4A state singles title on Saturday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Zulueta, who will play collegiately at Ferris State (Mich.), said that winning multiple state titles became a goal before she ever got to Hayden after watching former Wildcat four-time champ Brooklyn Hunter.
"I would always look up to Brooklyn Hunter and I used to watch her when she was here, so my parents kind of instilled that goal in me. They were like, 'You could definitely do it,' so that kind of made it my goal going into high school,'' she said.
"That definitely kind of made me a lot more motivated throughout high school.''
All six members of the Hayden team earned state medals on Saturday, which made the weekend that much more memorable.
Hayden senior Emily Sheetz (right) and freshman Sophia Wichman posted a runnerup Class 4A state doubles finish Saturday, helping lead the Wildcats to the Class 4A state team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Emily Sheetz, a two-time state doubles champion and four-time state medalist, teamed with freshman Sophia Wichman to finish second in doubles while junior Grace Funk finished ninth in singles and juniors Izzy Glotzbach and Avery O'Bray posted an 11th- place doubles finish.
No. 2 seed Sheetz and Wichman dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision in the doubles final to Independence's top seeds Callie Schlorholtz, a senior, and junior Brooklyn Mattix.
Funk defeated Bishop Miege sophomore Ella Daniel 9-7 in the ninth-place singles match while Glotzbach and O'Bray took an 8-2 win over Miege's Mary Jeanne Thompson, a junior, and senior Shea Coughlan in the 11th-place match.
It all added up to the team championship by a 40-28 margin over McPherson, with Independence third with 26 points.
"It is a great weekend, and that was our whole goal,'' Hayden coach Christy Sheetz said of the team championship. "I knew going into it with Zulueta being back and Emily being strong at the doubles position that we had a great chance, especially because we were just very deep this year and the goal was always the team championship.''
