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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University All-America volleyball player Faith Rottinghaus and All-America football player James Letcher Jr. will be honored as Washburn University's outstanding female and male athletes for 2021-2022 at the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Wednesday night at Washburn's Memorial Union (6 p.m. start).
Washburn All-American receiver/returner James Letcher Jr. will be honored Wednesday night as WU's male outstanding athlete for 2021-2022. [Photo by Phil Anderson/Special to TSN]
Former Shawnee Heights and Washburn volleyball star Faith Rottinghaus (left) will be honored Wednesday night as the Washburn Women's Athlete of the Year. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights product Rottinghaus, was named the Ken B. Jones MIAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year after leading the nation in digs and helping the Ichabods reach the NCAA Division II national championship match while Letcher earned five All-America awards last fall after leading Washburn to a 9-3 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II football playoffs.
TopSports.news will honor outstanding Washburn athletes for the second time in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
In 2021 Andrew Beckler and Tyler Geiman were named Washburn co-outstanding male athletes and Virgi Scardanzan was honored as female athlete of the year.
Washburn Athlete of the Year capsules:
JAMES LETCHER JR.
Letcher earned five All-America awards after a monster 2021 season for the Ichabods, who posted a 9-3 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Letcher earned first-team All-America honors on the Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America squad, the Associated Press and the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association All-American teams and was a second-team D2Football.com Elite 100 selection and a second-team pick on the American Football Coaches Association team. Letcher has received six All-America awards overall, earning honorable mention on the Football Gazette All-American team in 2019.
Last fall, Letcher led the team with 68 receptions, 927 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 starts. Letcher also rushed 19 times for 106 yards. He had a single-game high 10 receptions for 132 yards against Emporia State and earned All-MIAA first-team recognition as a wide receiver and a returner and was named the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year after taking 24 kickoffs for 685 yards and two touchdowns.
Letcher has appeared in 37 games overall, compiling 148 receptions for 1,916 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging 12.9 yards per catch. Letcher has scored three kickoff-return touchdowns, the most in program history and has averaged 27.2 yards per kickoff return, which is second all-time at Washburn for a career.
A Piper High School graduate, Letcher starred in football for the Pirates and also played basketball and ran track. As a senior Letcher earned all-league football recognition at running back, defensive back and kickoff returner. Letcher earned All-State recognition at running back and defensive back as a senior, recording 10 interceptions and rushing for 1,562 yards and scoring 27 touchdowns. Letcher was also a standout for the East in the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
FAITH ROTTINGHAUS
A Shawnee Heights graduate, Rottinghaus helped lead the Ichabods to a second-place finish in the NCAA Division II Volleyball Championships, leading the nation with 833 total digs and earning second-team All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association. Rottinghaus received the Ken B. Jones Award as the MIAA Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
Rottinghaus earned All-MIAA first-team honors for the third straight season and earned the NCAA Elite 90 Award, becoming the first Washburn student-athlete and MIAA volleyball player to receive the prestigious academic honor. She was named the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American Volleyball Team Member of the Year and received her third consecutive Academic All-America first-team honor.
Rottinghaus was voted to the all-tournament team in all five tournaments Washburn competed in and played in all 127 sets for the Ichabods. Rottinghaus became Washburn's all-time digs leader in the regular-season finale against Northwest Missouri. Rottinghaus scooped up 51 digs in a 3-1 victory at then-ranked No. 7 Central Missouri, tying Washburn's single-match record and setting the program record for most digs in a four set match. She had 24 matches with 20 or more digs and successfully received 394 service attempts, committing just eight errors for a .980 reception percentage. Rottinghaus led the team with 33 service aces and tallied 88 assists. Rottinghaus was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and also received MIAA Scholar Athlete and MIAA Academic Excellence honors, closing out her career with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
A four-year letter-winner in volleyball, basketball and softball at Shawnee Heights, Rottinghaus helped lead the T-Birds to three Class 5A volleyball tournament berths, including the 2016 state championship her senior year. Rottinghaus was a two-time All-State first-team selection as an outfielder in softball, helping the T-Birds win the school's first state softball title in 2017.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TopSports.news will honor outstanding Shawnee County high school senior student-athletes in 10 different categories at Wednesday's 17th annual Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards banquet, which will be presented in conjunction with the induction of the 2022 Hall of Fame class.
Recent Seaman graduate Aidan Polter (22), who played baseball and football for the Vikings, is nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards, which will be presented Wednesday night at Washburn's Memorial Union. [File photo/TSN]
Four-time state champ Tanner Newkirk of Hayden is a fall and spring candidate for the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards, which will be presented Wednesday night at Washburn's Memorial Union. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High graduate NiJaree Canady, who has led the Trojans to back-to-back Class 6A state softball titles, is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County Female Spring Athlete of the Year award. [File photo/TSN]
Recent Washburn Rural grad Emma Krueger helped lead the Junior Blues to a pair of Class 6A state basketball titles in her high school career. Krueger is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards. [Submitted photo]
TopSports.news, in partnership with the University of Kansas Health Systems St Francis Campus, A-1 Lock and Key and Washburn University, will host the 6 p.m. event at the Washburn University Memorial Union..
Awards will be presented to top female and male athletes in the fall, winter and spring seasons, as well as overall female and male athletes of the year and the most inspirational female and male.
A complete list of nominees is listed below.
To be eligible, an athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Athletes were nominated by their schools' athletic directors and coaches.
In addition to the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards, James Letcher Jr. and Faith Rottinghaus will be honored as Washburn University Athletes of the Year and Aaron Crow, Kaylee Manns and Dani (McHenry) Schmidt will be inducted as the 2022 Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Fame class.
A committee of local media members selected the 2022 high school winners, including the selection of overall female and male athletes of the year.
TOPEKA SHAWNEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS NOMINEES
FALL FEMALE — Kate Roeder, Hayden; Grace Unruh, Seaman; Camilla Ossola, Silver Lake; Anna Newcome, Topeka West; Khloi Bird, Washburn Rural.
FALL MALE — Carter Brian, Cair Paravel Latin; Tanner Newkirk, Hayden; Torrey Horak, Rossville; Jace Moore, Seaman; Jarin Sanders, Shawnee Heights; Tylan Alejos, Topeka High; Jaq'Son Birdwhistle-Bush, Topeka West; Porter Schafersman, Washburn Rural.
WINTER FEMALE — Jaley Barkley, Cair Paravel Latin; Macy Smith, Hayden; Celeste Gonzalez, Highland Park; Rylee Murray, Seaman; Talayah Thomas, Topeka High; Kendra Umscheid, Topeka West; Emma Krueger, Washburn Rural.
WINTER MALE — Noah Hastert, Cair Paravel Latin; Trent Duffey, Hayden; Juan'Tario Roberts, Highland Park; Ty Henry, Seaman; Brock Ferguson, Shawnee Heights; Richard Carter, Topeka High; Elijah Brooks, Topeka West; Nathen Trachta, Washburn Rural.
SPRING FEMALE — Carly Stuke, Hayden; Vanesa Quinones, Rossville; Gabby Grace, Seaman; Tatum Hoge, Shawnee Heights; Taryn Burkhardt, Silver Lake; NiJaree Canady, Topeka High; Kadence Jeffries, Topeka West; Campbell Bagshaw, Washburn Rural.
SPRING MALE — Tanner Newkirk, Hayden; Torrey Horak, Rossville; Dagen Brewer, Seaman; Caden Walker, Shawnee Heights; Daigan Kruger, Silver Lake; Zander Putthoff, Topeka West; Zach Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL FEMALE — Celeste Gonzalez, Highland Park; Drew Baxter, Seaman; Taryn Dial, Shawnee Heights; DayShauna Wiley, Topeka High; Trenna Whitmore, Washburn Rural.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL MALE — Corey Catron, Rossville; Aidan Polter, Seaman; Carter Olson, Shawnee Heights; Richard Carter, Topeka High; Aidan Boline, Washburn Rural.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When high school football practice begins in mid-August, linemen will go back to laboring in relative obscurity.
Shawnee Heights junior Rykan Carver, who finished second individually, competes in the obstacle course during Monday's Battle of the Bigs Lineman Challenge at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Monday's Battle of the Bigs Lineman Challenge at Shawnee Heights was all about the men in the trenches.
Fifty-nine linemen from Shawnee Heights, Topeka West, Washburn Rural, Basehor-Linwood, Blue Valley and Royal Valley took part in the Battle of the Bigs, competing in a variety of drills/activities while competing for individual and team prizes.
"We do it because the skill guys get to have fun all summer and the linemen, all they do is push sleds and work in the weight room, so we see this as kind of a way to reward the linemen and kind of create that unity in their unit,'' Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said. "They always say they have a great time.''
Participating athetes took part in nine measured events:
• 40-yard scoop and score.
• Tractor tire flip.
• Pro agility drill.
• 10-yard sled pull.
• 185-pound bench press for reps.
• Medicine ball toss.
• 10-yard sled drive.
• Pursuit drill.
• Obstacle course.
"We wanted to do something fun for the linemen,'' Swift said. "Linemen are always like, 'How come we don't get to do 7 on 7, how come we don't get to do stuff?' So that's why we put this together: 'Let's make it a fun day, non-contact, but competitive. More importantly we want to help build that brotherhood inside the trenches.''
Top 8 Individuals
Zach Pombo – BVHS – 208
Rykan Carver – SHHS – 205
Lukas Hanks – WRHS – 202
Cooper Veit – BVHS – 197
Caleb Seelbach – SHHS – 196
Kyrece Robinson – TWHS – 196
Logan Gail – BLHS – 194
Lincoln Stueve – BVHS -193
Top 4 Teams
Blue Valley High School 984
Shawnee Heights High School 956
Basehor-Linwood High School 932
Washburn Rural High School 911
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MOST INSPIRATIONAL: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Aidan Boline
AIDAN BOLINE | Washburn Rural
PARENT: Darin and Sonya Boline
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 3.35
Boline overcame a string of injuries to post a 38-6 record as a senior, winning the Class 6A 160-pound state title and helpind lead Washburn Rural to its second straight state team championship. "Aidan sets an outstanding example of what one can attain through perseverance and dedication,'' Rural coach Josh Hogan said. Boline suffered an ACL injury as a freshman and a broken arm the summer before his junior season before suffering a second ACL injury late in the year. Boline was allowed to wrestle in the 2021 state tournament and posted a fifth-place finish while helping the Junior Blues win their first state championship. Boline had ACL surgery right after his junior season and worked his way back into position for his big senior campaign, going through the entire season without being pinned. Boline will wrestle at Lindenwood University.
Richard Carter
RICHARD CARTER | Topeka High
PARENTS: Richard and Margaret Carter
SPORT: Swimming | GPA: NA
Carter was a leader for the Topeka High boys swimming program, particularly as a senior. Carter was a varsity swimmer all four seasons at Topeka High, earning second-team All-City recognition two times. Carter competed in the Class 6A state tournament as a senior in the 400-yard free relay. Carter scored a total of 582 points during his swimming career for the Trojans. Carter competed primarily in the 50-yard freestyle, the 100 free, the 200 free and and the 100 butterfly. Carter plans to attend Grove City College, located in Grove City, Pa.
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MOST INSPIRATIONAL: OUTSTANDING FEMALE NOMINEES
Drew Baxter
DREW BAXTER | Seaman
PARENTS: Josh and Carrie Baxter
SPORT: Volleyball | GPA: 3.0
Baxter was the oncourt and offcourt leader for a Seaman volleyball team that posted a fourth-place finish in the 2021 Class 5A state volleyball tournament. "Drew is a very competitive athlete,'' Seaman coach Tatiana Dowling said. "She is one of the hardest workers when it comes to athletics and is willing to do whatever it takes to make herself better and to make her teammates better. She has the drive and dedication to lift up a program and the leadership to take her team to the top.'' Baxter was a first-team All-Shawnee County selection last fall and received second-team All-Class 5A honors from the Kansas Volleyball Association. Baxter plans to play college volleyball at William Jewell.
Taryn Dial
TARYN DIAL | Shawnee Heights
PARENTS: Scott Dial and Nicole Johnson
SPORT: Volleyball/wrestling/softball | GPA: NA
Dial was a three-sport athlete for Shawnee Heights in addition to being involved in multiple school clubs and activities. Dial was president of the Shawnee Heights Student Council, president of T-Birds Together, treasurer of Heights' Spirit Club and a member of the National Honor Society, LINC Crew and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Dial was a VA volunteer as well as a volunteer for Lulac, Special Olympics and Harvesters. Dial received Academic All-State recognition and will attend MidAmerica Nazarene on a volleyball and academic scholarship.
