- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Triple gold medalist Tanner Newkirk is one of three state champions on the TopSports.news 2022 All-Shawnee County boys track and field team.
All-Shawnee County track and field picks, from left: Jake Muller, Hayden; Jensen Schrickel, Hayden; Tanner Newkirk, Hayden; Aaron Merritt, Seaman; Zach Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural; Alex Holmes, Washburn Rural, and Tre Richardson, Highland Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Jeremiah Smith missed the 2022 state meet with an injury after winning three state Class 5A titles in 2021. [File photo/TSN]
Newkirk, a Shawnee Heights sophomore, turned in a dominating performance in his final Class 4A state meet at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium, going three for three in his individual events with wins in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs and setting 4A state meet records in the 1,600 and 3,200.
And while Newkirk was undoubtedly the biggest star of Shawnee County's state boys contingent, he wasn't the only star, with Highland Park junior Tre Richardson and Hayden freshman Jensen Schrickel also making it to the top of the podium and 15 members of the All-Shawnee County team earning state medals.
Richardson won the 5A 200-meter dash, finished second in the triple jump and fith in the long jump while Schrickel won the 4A long jump and was a three-time state medalist.
Hayden junior Jake Muller was the runner-up in the 4A 300-meter hurdles, finished seventh in the 110 high hurdles and was part of the Wildcats' third-place 4 x 400 relay team along with Schrickel.
Silver Lake senior Carson Johnson was the 3A runner-up in the 300 hurdles while Washburn Rural senior thrower Zach Sulzen-Watson finished second in the 6A discus and added a third-place finish in the shot put.
Topeka West senior Zsamar Sipple finished third in the 5A long jump and fourth in the triple jump while Charger junior Lenny Njoroge took fourth in the 3,200.
Silver Lake senior Brogan Renfro captured four 3A state medals for the second straight season, placing fourth in the 200-meter dash, sixth in the 100, seventh in the triple jump and sixth as part of the Eagles' 4 x 400 relay. Johnson was also part of the Eagles' 4 x 400 relay and the Eagles' seventh-place 4 x 100 relay.
Highland Park junior Tyrell Reed finished seventh in the 5A 100 while Scot senior Keijuan Johnson placed seventh in the 300 hurdles.
Shawnee Heights junior Jordan Garvin finished fourth in the 5A 300 hurdles while senior Ja'Laven January took fourth in the 200 and sophomore Jackson Esquibel was sixth in the 3,200. T-Bird star junior sprinter and hurdler Jeremiah Smith missed the state meet with an injury after winning three events in the 2021 state meet.
Washburn Rural senior Alex Holmes joined teammate Sulzen-Watson on the all-county team for the Junior Blues while sophomore hurdler Aaron Merritt represents Seaman on the all-county team.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn Rural state golf champ and Washburn University Division II player of the year Andrew Beckler earned a berth in the United States Open in Monday qualifying.
Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University star golfer Andrew Beckler has earned a berth in the 2022 U.S. Open, which will be played June 16-19 in Brookline, Mass. [Twitter]
Beckler, who finished his Washburn career in 2021 and turned pro last summer, tied for third with a 3-under-par 36-hole total of 141 in qualifying at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. to earn one of four qualifying berths out of 72 players for the 2022 Open, which will be contested June 16-19 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
Beckler shot a first-round 69 before finishing with a 72.
Beckler was named the Division II Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year in 2021 in his final season for Washburn.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University volleyball star Faith Rottinghaus has been named the female winner of the MIAA's prestigious Ken B. Jones Award.
Washburn volleyball star Faith Rottinghaus has been named the female winner of the MIAA's Ken B. Jones Award, honoring the conference's top student-athlete. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Rottinghaus was announced as the Ken B. Jones winner Monday night at the MIAA Award Celebration. The award recognizes the MIAA's top female and male student-athlete.
Nebraska-Kearney wrestler Matt Malcom was named the men's winner.
Rottinghaus, a Shawnee Heights graduate, completed her Ichabod volleyball career last fall, helping lead Washburn to the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship Match, with WU finishing as the national runner-up with an overall record of 31-6 an 17-3 the MIAA.
Rottinghaus led NCAA Division II with 833 total digs and ranked third in the nation with 6.56 digs per set. She also led the Ichabods with 33 service aces and posted a service reception percentage of .980.
Rottinghaus concluded her career as Washburn's all-time dig leader with 2,676 career digs.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Although Cooper Woestendick lives in Olathe, he has strong ties to Topeka.
Cooper Woestendick returns a shot in Sunday's singles final of the Jayhawk Open Tennis Tournament. The 15-year-old Woestendick won the title with a 6-3, 6-2 win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/
The 15-year-old tennis phenom returned to his family roots for the 82nd annual Jayhawk Open and put on a show, claiming the Men's Open Singles championship with a 6-2, 6-3 win over University of Nebraska player Rudra Dixit Sunday at the Kossover Tennis Center.
Woestendick is the grandson of the late Delvy Lewis, a Topeka basketball legend and former Kansas Jayhawk star, and the son of Kristi (Lewis) Woestendick, who played basketball at Washburn Rural and Washburn University.
Cooper Woestendick said he welcomed the chance to compete in the Jayhawk, one of the Midwest's longest-running and most respected tournaments.
"I always love playing in Topeka,'' Woestendick said. "We've got family here and it's always nice to come back where I was born. And it's a great tournament with great players."
Although he was a youngster in the Men's Open Singles field and playing in his first Jayhawk, Woestendick said he entered the weekend with high hopes.
"I basically always expect to win and then if my opponent plays too good they play too good,'' Woestendick. "But I expected to win this tournament.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Saturday's Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match gave Katelynn Brogan the opportunity to make some new friends, get acquainted with a family member and close out her high school career with a victory.
Former Washburn Rural standout Katelynn Brogan serves the ball for the Red team in Saturday's Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Lee Arena. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
Overall it was a good couple of days for the former Washburn Rural standout.
"It was fun,'' said Brogan, who helped the Red team take a 25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 15-10 win over the Blue Saturday at Lee Arena. "I came in knowing nobody. I knew of people, but I had never talked to any of them. They were very welcoming and it was fun to get to know people.''
