- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Jason Buessing led a strong field with a 66 Friday at Shawnee Golf Club in the opening round of the 54-hole Topeka Golf Association City Stroke Play Tournament.
Buessing chalked up seven birdies to go with two bogeys en route to a 5-under-par round, which included a 32 on the back nine.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn University star Cary Williams has a football resume that includes All-American laurels for the Ichabods and a nine-year career in the NFL, including a Super Bowl championship for the Baltimore Ravens in 2013.
Still, Williams was caught off guard when he got the call that he would be part of the MIAA'S 2022 Hall of Fame class, which was inducted last month in Kansas City, Mo.
Former Washburn All-American and nine-year NFL veteran Cary Williams puts campers through a drill in Thursday's DBA Big Kev Community Give Back Camp at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I was definitely surprised, it was an honor,'' said Williams, who was back in Topeka Thursday to help out former WU teammate Michael Wilhoite with the Big Kev's Community Give Back Camp at Shawnee Heights. "It's a privilege to even to play this game. I played with some great guys and some great opponents as well and just to be a part of something that's so historic and so monumental, it's just a blessing and I'm very grateful and thankful for the opportunity.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON 
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize Shawnee County's all-time coaching greats in 14 sports as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July 15, with the Top 10 in all categories announced in July and August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best volleyball coach click on https://linkto.run/p/BCEKB1UY while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
-------------------------------------------------------
The list of contenders for the No.1 spot on the TopSports.news Shawnee County Best of the Best Coaches volleyball list includes some of the state's all-time winningest coaches, which is sure to make voting interesting.
Six county coaches have led teams to state championships, including five with multiple titles and four with four or more championships.
Washburn Rural volleyball coach Kevin Bordewick has led the Junior Blues to seven Class 6A state titles. [File photo/TSN]
Former Hayden volleyball coach Jesica Farmer-Walter coached the Wildcats to five state championships. [Submitted photo]
Angie Bittner
Sarah Johnson
Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick leads the way with a whopping seven Class 6A championships while former Hayden coach Jesica Farmer-Walter and former Silver Lake coach Angie Bittner notched five titles apiece and current Silver Lake coach Sarah Johnson is right behind with four titles.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former NFL linebacker and current Los Angeles Chargers assistant coach Michael Wilhoite didn't move to Topeka until his senior year at Highland Park, but by the end of that one year, it was home.
Michael Wilhoite (left) and former Highland Park teammate and close friend Kyle Weems talk to campers during Thursday's DBA Big Kev's Community Give Back Camp at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Michael Wilhoite demonstrates a drill during Thursday's DBA Big Kev's Community Give Back Camp at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Kyle Weems helps a young camper lace up his sneakers during Thursday's DBA Big Kev's Community Give Back Camp at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"The people, the community, I was accepted by everybody,'' said Wilhoite, who was back in Topeka Thursday to co-host the Darting Basketball Academy Youth Foundation Big Kev's Community Give Back Dual Basketball/Football Camp at Shawnee Heights wirh former Scot teammate and fellow Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Famer Kyle Weems "Coach D (Ken Darting), Karen (Darting), Kyle and the Weems family, Miss (Monica) Augusto and everybody in the school of Highland Park, everybody in the community, it was like open arms, 'Come on in, dive into our culture and we're going to love you.'
"I instantly dove into the culture, saw the way people were moving, talking, dressing and stayed myself but then added a little bit of that flavor to myself as well and it was just beautiful, man. Everybody accepted me.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize Shawnee County's all-time coaching greats in 14 sports as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July 15, with the Top 10 in all categories announced in July and August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best track and field coach click on https://poll-maker.com/poll4398959x83e04eA7-138 while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
-------------------------------------------------------
Eleven candidates are listed as possible contenders for the No.1 spot in the TopSports.news Shawnee County Best of the Best Coaches project for track and field, and there could have been twice that many.
All 11 suggested candidates had a hand in at least one state team championship with nine winning multiple titles.
Joe Schrag
Mike Nash
Brad Nicks
Jerry Beardslee
Local track and legend Joe Schrag, a member of multiple halls of fame, won multiple championships at Topeka West in both outdoor and indoor track while former Shawnee Heights coaches Brad Nicks (three) and Mike Nash (two) combined for five boys/girls state titles while establishing the T-Birds as a perennial state power.
