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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Two of the most recognizable names in Kansas high school sports ended up No. 1 and No. 2 on the TopSports.news Best of the Best Coaches list for men's basketball.
Former Hayden coach Ben Meseke, who led the Wildcats to six state basketball championships and a Shawnee County-high 12 state titles overall, earned the No. 1 spot by the narrowest of margins over former Silver Lake and Highland Park state championship coach Ken Darting, who coached the Eagles and Scots to five state basketball titles and six championships overall, and is still adding to his coaching legacy as the current Shawnee Heights coach.
Both Meseke and Darting are members of multiple halls of fame, including the Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Fame, as is the late Willie Nicklin, a Topeka High coaching legend who earned the No. 3 position on the Best of the Best list.
Current Seaman coach Craig Cox, who coached two state championship basketball and baseball teams at Shawnee Heights and added a third state basketball title at Seaman this past season, holds down the No. 4 spot while former Highland Park coach Randy Springs, who won a pair of state titles and a Grand State championship with the Scots, rounds out the top five.
Cox also earned the No. 1 spot in the Reader's Choice poll, edging out Darting and Nicklin in balloting by TSN readers.
Eight members of the Best of the Best Top 10 earned at least one state championship, with six winning multiple titles.
A five-person panel of current and past sports media professionals with more than 150 years of combined experience met to help determine the final Best of the Best Top 10.
The late Bob Bodenheimer, who led Shawnee Heights to back-to-back Class 5A state championships in the 1980s, ended up No. 6 on the Best of the Best Coaches list, followed by former Hayden coaches Ted Schuler and Ken Bueltel, former Washburn Rural coach Larry Longhofer and current Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist to round out the Top 10.
Here's a look at the Top 10 and Readers Choice Awards:
TSN TOP 10 BEST OF THE BEST MEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
OTTAWA -- Former Rossville football star Corey Catron was a late addition to the East roster for Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Pittsburg State University, getting the call earlier this month.
But it only took the two-time Class 2A state champion a matter of seconds to jump at the chance.
"I wouldn't miss this for anything,'' Catron said during Sunday evening's East practice session at Ottawa University. "This is great.
"I get to wear the Rossville helmet one more time and I wouldn't miss that chance for anything, honestly.''
A big bonus for the 5-foot-8, 166-pound Catron, who will play a slotback posision for the East, is that he gets to play one last time with former teammate and close friend Torrey Horak and his coach at Rossville, Derick Hammes, who is an assistant coach for the East.
"That's also going to be real fun, hanging out with those two one last time this week,'' Catron said.
Catron, who rushed for 1,315 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior, is counting on this week's East training camp to help get him ready to report to Bethel College in Newton, Kansas later this summer.
"Especially with these two and three-a-days it will help getting in shape because I haven't ran as much as I should have,'' Catron said with a smile. "It will help a lot, definitely, especially with the heat this week.''
Catron feels like Bethel, a member of the KCAC, will be a good fit for him.
"Hanging out with some of the players that were down there when I showed up was kind of cool, and just being at a smaller college, not a real big D-II or anything, just felt right for me,'' Catron said.
But before launching his college career, Catron is eager to add his name to Rossville's Shrine Bowl legacy.
"Having your name up there with all the great Rossville guys, that's awesome because there's been a lot of people who have gone through Rossville that's done a great job,'' said Catron, who was named the Topeka Shawnee County Most Inspirational Male Athlete earler this summer. "I'm real excited.''
Catron is one of four Shawnee Country products who will play for the East in Saturday night's game, which will kick off at 7 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Horak is playing quarterback for the East while Seaman grad Casen Stallbaumer is playing linebacker and Shawnee Heights grad Orrin Busenitz offensive center.
Horak will play his college football at Central Missouri while Stallbaumer is headed to Emporia State and Busenitz to Washburn.
Topeka High lineman Danny Saili was also selected to play in the game, but was a late withdrawal.
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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-month:
• Everyone knows Kid Rock is the headliner Saturday at Country Stampede.
• But have you heard about his leadoff act, Old Rubble?
• That best describes SE 77th Street (Gary Ormsby Drive), the washboard that leads to the entrance of Heartland Motorsports Park.
• Look, I don’t know which entity has jurisdiction of that pavement, city or county.
• I know both have had episodes with Heartland Park that did not end in warm and fuzzies.
• But good grief. Country Stampede and the NHRA pro drag racing are easily two of the primary events attracting people to our city and county.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The goal for Megan Lucas and Abby Glynn is to win every time they step on a golf course.
But although the former Washburn Rural state champions fell short of that Tuesday, they still left Topeka Country Club with their heads held high after posting top-five individual finishes in the Kansas Women's Amateur.
Lucas, a former Class 6A individual champion, a three-time medalist and two-time state team champ, finished third at 227 after shooting rounds of 77, 75 and 75 while Glynn, a three-time 6A state team champ and three-time individual medalist, tied for fifth at 229 after rounds of 75, 76 and 78.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn Rural teammates Abby Glynn and Megan Lucas have been closely intertwined for much of their golf careers and nothing changed Monday, with the duo just a stroke apart entering Tuesday's final round of the Kansas Women's Amateur at Topeka Country Club.
Glynn, a three-time Class 6A state team champ and three-time individual medalist, finished Monday's 36-hole day at 151 after rounds of 75 and 76 while Lucas, a former 6A individual champion, three-time medalist and two-time state team champ, is at 152 after shooting rounds of 77 and 75.