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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Local sports icons Kyle Weems and Michael Wilhoite will be back in Topeka July 7 to host the Darting Basketball Academy Youth Foundation's one of a kind Big Kev's Community Give Back Dual Basketball/Football camp at Shawnee Heights.
The two Highland Park graduates and longtime professional athletes will be on hand with other special guests to host the camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Athletes will have the option between all-day basketball or football camps or can split their time between half-day basketball and football camps. Athletes can register online at dartingbasketball.com.
One hundred percent of the camp profits will be donated to Topeka non-profit organizations.
Weems and Wilhoite played together at Highland Park before Weems went on to earn Missouri Valley Player of the Year basketball honors at Missouri State and Wilhoite became a football standout for Washburn University.
Wilhoite put together a seven-year NFL career as a linebacker with San Francisco and Seattle and is currently the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Weems continues to play professional basketball overseas and is currently playing in Bologna, Italy.
The July 7 camp is named in honor of Kyle's late father, Kevin, a former Washburn University basketball player, who had a big impact on the athletic careers of both Weems and Wilhoite, who were inducted into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
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Editor's note: Over the next few days, TopSports.news will take a look at all of the nominees for the 2022 Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. All nominees will be recognized at the June 22 awards banquet, which will be held in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame induction at Washburn University's Memorial Union.
FALL SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Tylan Alejos
TYLAN ALEJOS | Topeka High
PARENTS: Evan and Tia Alejos
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.10
A 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back/defensive back, Alejos was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 and All-Centennial League first-team selection after rushing for 1,327 yards on 202 carries and scoring 18 total touchdowns lat fall. Defensively Alejos recorded 40 tackles (16 solo) and had a pass interception. Alejos rushed for 400 yards and scored eight touchdowns in a Centennial League victory over Highland Park. Alejos will play his college football at the University of Kansas after accepting a preferred walk-on offer from the Jayhawks.
Jaq'Son Birdwhistle-Bush
JAQ'SON BIRDWHISTLE-BUSH | Topeka West
PARENTS Dr. Christopher and AliShia Bush
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.415
"Jaq'Son has been an excellent example of character, leadership and work ethic as a student-athlete at Topeka West,'' said Ryan Kelley, who coached Birdwhistle-Bush at West. "In four years of being his football coach, Jaq'Son never missed a workout or practice, summer or fall. Even through tough times where the program struggled to experience success in terms of wins and losses Jaq'Son remained positive and worked hard every day. We at Topeka West are extremely proud of Jaq'son.'' Birdwhistle-Bush caught 12 passes for149 yards and a touchdown as a senior. Birdwhistle-Bush will attend Kansas State University.
Carter Brian
CARTER BRIAN | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Tom and Susan Brian
SPORT: Football | GPA: 4.27
Brian was the Lions' quarterback as a junior and senior, leading Cair Paravel to a perfect season and the Kansas Christian Athletic Association state title last fall. "He is a determined individual who is not afraid of difficult possibilities and that effort created the building blocks for a very successful senior season,'' Cair Paravel coach Doug Bonura said. "Carter's leadership at the quarterback position helped secure his team's undefeated season. Brian earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honors, throwing for 2,515 yards and 51 touchdowns. Brian plans to play football at Ohio Northern University.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn Rural state champ and Washburn University Division II golfer of the year Andrew Beckler plans to enjoy every minute of next week's United States Open experience in Brookline, Mass.
U.S. Open qualifier Andrew Beckler talks to Pure Golf Topeka Summer Junior Camp participants Wednesday at Pure Golf Topeka. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University star golfer Andrew Beckler, a qualifier for the 2022 U.S. Open, poses for a picture with Pure Golf Topeka Summer Junior Camp participants Wednesday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Beckler also knows that first and foremost he has a job to do next week after qualifying for his first Open earlier this week.
"It's going to be a great experience and I'm gong to soak it in,'' Beckler said. "My family's coming so it's going to be a great experience for me, but it's still a golf tournament for me so I have a game plan going in for how I'm going to approach practice rounds and things like that and what I'm going to do to prepare for it.
"Then I'm just going to swing away and see what happens. My game's in good shape and I think I can compete out there.''
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Editor's note: Over the next eight days, TopSports.news will take a look at all of the nominees for the 2022 Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. All nominees will be recognized at the June 22 awards banquet, which will be held in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame induction at Washburn University's Memorial Union.
FALL SPORTS: OUTSTANDING FEMALE NOMINEES
Khloi Bird
KHLOI BIRD | Washburn Rural
PARENTS: Ricky Cole and Lezlie Oetting
SPORT: Cross country | GPA: 4.12
Bird transferred to Washburn Rural as a sophomore and has been a three-time All-City/All-Shawnee County selection in cross country while helping the Junior Blues win three straight city team titles, a Centennial Leaue championship and a Class 6A regional team title. Bird posted a 14th-place individual finish in the 6A state meet last fall. In track Bird was a state qualifier as a junior and senior, earning a state medal in the 4 x 800 relay as a junior. "Khloi has been an important part of our cross country and track programs the past three years,'' Rural cross country coach Matt Swedlund said. "Her consistent high-level performances were key contributions to our team's success.'' Bird plans to run cross country and track at Butler Community College.
Anna Newcome
ANNA NEWCOME | Topeka West
PARENTS: Scott and Patricia Newcome
SPORT: Tennis | GPA: 4.36
Newcome qualified for the Class 5A state tournament as a senior, posting a third-place finish in 5A regional singles competition. "Anna has an excellent work ethic,'' Topeka West coach Kurt Davids said. "She shows up to her commitments on time, every time with a positive attitude and an open mind. Anna was an accomplished leader as well, setting an impeccable example in the classroom as well as on the court. Anna's junior season was cut short by COVID restrictions. Beyond the initial disappointment, Anna became even more focused and determined to not be denied a trip to the state tournament.'' Newcome plans to attend the University of Nebraska.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Nine Shawnee County softball standouts have received first-team All-State honors from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association, including seven players in Class 6A
Two-time 6A state champion Topeka High put seniors NiJaree Canady and Elycia Joyce and juniors Alesia Alvarez and Adisyn Caryl on the All-6A first team while state runner-up Washburn Rural put seniors Campbell Bagshaw and Mikaila Herring and junior Emmerson Cope on the All-6A team.
An All-6A first-team repeat pick, Topeka High senior NiJaree Canady has helped lead the Trojans to back-to-back state softball championships. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High junior Adisyn Caryl received All-6A first-team honors for the second straight season after helping the Trojans win their second straight Classs 6A state title. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Emmerson Cope (midddle facing) earned All-6A first-team honors for the second straight season after leading the Junior Blues to a second-place state finish. [File photo/TSN]
Canady, Caryl and Cope area All-6A first-team repeat selections.
Rossville, which finished fourth in 6A, is represented on the All-3A first team by junior Brinley Dyche and sophomore Kinsey Perine.
Washburn Rural's Baylee Dial received second-team All-6A recognition while Topeka High's Quincy Smith received honorable mention.
Seaman, a 5A state qualifier, put seniors Skylar Duncan and Emma Smith and sophomore Rosalie Schneider on the All-5A second team while Shawnee Heights is represented by senior Ariah Durkes.
Seaman's Aspen Burgardt was a second-team selection.
Hayden's Carly Stuke received All-4A honorable mention.
Rossville's Vanesa Quinones and Emma Mitchell were second-team All-3A picks while Rossville's Caylee Douglas and Silver Lake's Taryn Burkhardt received honorable mention.
KANSAS SOFTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE TEAMS
