- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Topeka West and Washburn University tennis standout Brad Johnston has been named the head girls and boys tennis coach at Washburn Rural, taking over for longtime head coach Kevin Hedberg, who is retiring after 32 years at the school.
New Washburn Rural boys and girls tennis coach Brad Johnston talks to his team Monday afternoon. Johnston is a former Topeka West and Washburn University standout. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Johnston was a four-time state medalist for Topeka West, graduating in 2004, and a two-time All-MIAA first-team selection for Washburn University, qualifying for the NCAA tournament four straight years.
Johnson, who most recently coached at Landon Middle School, holds a bachelor's degree from Washburn and a master's from Fort Hays State University.
"I'm proud for the opportunity to lead this tradition-rich program,'' said Johnston, who met with his new team Monday afternoon. "Following in coach Hedberg's footsteps will be challenging, but I'm ready to hit the ground running. Tennis has been my life for so long and to be given this opportunity makes my hard work feel complete.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kadence Jeffries
KADENCE JEFFRIES, Topeka West
Jeffries, a senior, swept the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events in last Saturday's Class 5A-1A state swimming and diving championships for the third straight season that the state meet was held, going six for six in state individual events. Jeffries, who has signed with Nebraska-Omaha, won the 200 free in 1:53.29 and the 500 free in 5:03.55 at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center.
Tanner Newkirk
TANNER NEWKIRK, Hayden
A senior, Newkirk swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in last Friday's Class 4A regional track and field championships at Eudora, helping the Wildcats edge Louisburg for the team championship. A Kansas signee, Newkirk ran the 800 in 1:59.04, the 1,600 in 4:27.52 and the 3,200 in 9:39.51 en route to pulling off the difficult distance triple.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
GIRLS
100 METERS
Nichols, Shawnee Heights 12.33 (12.2)
Reed, Highand Park 12.35
Brooks, Topeka West 12.60
Hillebert, Hayden 12.96
Rezac, Rossville 12.96
200 METERS
Nichols, Shawnee Heights 25.78
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 25.90
Reed, Highland Park 26.22
Brooks, Topeka West 26.29
Rezac, Rossville 26.79
400 METERS
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 58.18
Reed, Highland Park 58.22
Foster, Rossville 61.03
Hillebert, Hayden 61.78
Fredrickson, Washburn Rural 62.08
Seaman junior Bethany Druse is the Shawnee County leader in the girls 800 and 1,600 meters. [File photo/TSN]
800 METERS
Druse, Seaman 2:15.19
Carter, Washburn Rural 2:29.28
Bird, Washburn Rural 2:30.33
Ismert, Washburn Rural 2:30.47
Fink, Washburn Rural 2:31.86
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news compiles a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2022 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 9.8 (10.27)
January, Shawnee Heights 10.5
Reed, Highland Park 10.5
Richardson, Highland Park 10.5
Peoples, Topeka High 10.6
200 METERS
Richardson, Highland Park 21.77 (21.6)
Smith, Shawnee Heights 21.82
January, Shawnee Heights 22.26
Renfro, Silver Lake 22.40
Schrickel, Hayden 22.72
400 METERS
Richardson, Highland Park 50.54
Schrickel, Hayden 51.05
Blankenship, Topeka High 51.84
Renfro, Silver Lake 52.11
Wilkerson, Topeka West 52.58
800 METERS
Newkirk, Hayden 1:55.69
B. Moore, Seaman 2:00.72
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 2:03.14
Wilson, Topeka West 2:03.17
Njoroge, Topeka West 2:04.19
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West star Kadence Jeffries finished her prep swimming career the same way she started it, with a pair of state championships.
Jeffries burst on the state scene with Class 5A-1A state titles in the 200-yard freestyle and 500 freestyle as a freshman in 2019 and repeated that sweep again in 2021 after having her sophomore campaign wiped out by COVID-19..
Jeffries made it six individual state championships in as many tries on Saturday at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center.
Topeka West senior Kadence Jefffries earned her fifth and sixth Class 5A-1A state titles on Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Avery Walz won the 100 breaststroke and third in the 200 individual medley in Saturday's Class 5A-1A state swimming meet, helping lead the Vikings to a fourth-place team finish. [File photo/TSN]
Jeffries opened her day with a win in the 200 free in 1 minute, 53.68 seconds and then came back later to win the 500 free in 5:03.55.
Seaman sophomore Avery Walz joined Jeffries on top of the awards stand, winning the state title in the 100-yard breatstroke in 1:06.03, helping lead the Vikings to a fourth-place team finish.
A. Walz teamed with senior Gabby Grace, freshman Joslynn Grace and sophomore twin sister Tauren Walz for a third-place finish in the meet-opening 200 medley relay to get the Vikings' team bid off to a good start.
A. Walz and J. Grace finished third and fifth in the 200 individual medley, with Walz clocking a time off 2:10.93 and Grace a time of 2:18.50.
G. Grace finished fourth in the 100 freestyle (54.16) and the 100 backstroke (59.84), while T. Walz was fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:26.43) and posted a sixth-place finish in the 100 butterfly (1:00.39) before Seaman capped the day with a third-place finish in the 400 free relay, with T. Walz, J. Grace, G. Grace and A. Walz clocking a time of 3:41.10.
Seaman finished with 175.5 points, following team champion Andover (258), St. James Academy (202) and Bishop Carroll (193).
Topeka West finished 15th with 49 points.
HIGH'S DEVLIN FOURTH IN 6A DIVING, RURAL'S BARE, PRITCHARD EARNS MEDALS
Topeka High junior Brianna Devlin ended her first season of high school diving with a fourth-place finish in the Class 6A state meet.
Devlin was part of a tight four-person for the state title, with Blue Valley Northwest's Claire Garrelts taking first with a score of 395.80, followed by Derby's Ana Self (391.80), Blue Valley West's Rose Lawler (390.90) and Devlin (389.35).
Washburn Rural junior Mara Bare finished fifth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:58.48) and sixth in the 500 free (5:20.29) while junior Makenna Pritchard placed eighth in the 50 free (25.52) and seventh in the 100 free (56.63).
