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Details: Created: 16 May 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The battle for the top spots in Monday's Class 5A boys golf regional couldn't have been any closer, with Topeka West's Myles Alonzo and Seaman taking individual and team honors by the narrowest of margins.

Alonzo, a sophomore, canned a 30-foot putt on the first playoff hole to take medalist honors over Shawnee Heights junior Alex Valdivia while Seaman and Heights tied for first place in the team race at 333 before the Vikings prevailed as a result of a lower fifth score.

Topeka West sophomore Myles Alonzo took medalist honors in Monday's Class 5A golf regional at Lake Shawnee, winning on the first playoff hole. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Topeka West sophomore Myles Alonzo is congratulated by older brother Addison and Charger coach Richard Mariani after winning the individual title in Monday's Class 5A golf regional with a long birdie putt on the first playoff hole. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Both Alonzo and city champion Valdivia shot 6-over-par 76s to tie for first place before engaging in a brief but memorable one-hole playoff.

After encountering problems early on the playoff (No. 10) hole, Valdivia put pressure on Alonzo when he holed a 35-foot putt for par, but Alonzo one-upped his city rival when he sunk his long-range birdie putt.

"I just really dissected that putt and made sure I was making it because I watched Alex drill his putt and it was unbelievable,'' Alonzo said. "I was like, 'Man, he drilled it and I've really got to look over this putt now.' I picked a spot in front of my ball and I just hit it and before I knew it, I looked up and it was in.''

Alonzo, playing in the same group with Valdivia, opened the door when he three-putted on his final hole of regulation and Valdivia holed a shot from about 75 yards out to force the playoff.

Alonzo, third at regionals as a freshman, said Monday's win gave him a boost of confidence heading into next week's state meet at Winfield.

"Hopefully I can win state, that's what I'm going for,'' Alonzo said. "I'm going to try my hardest.''

Valdivia was happy that he was able to force the playoff, but said Monday wasn't one of his best days.

"I did everything I could the last two holes we played but pretty much anything that could go wrong went wrong today,'' Valdivia said. "It was not a good day. I missed a couple of real short putts and wasn't striking the ball well. I really wasn't doing anything well for most of the round.''

Seaman's golf team poses with its Class 5A regional championship trophy Monday at Lake Shawnee. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Senior Gavin Wilhelm tied for third place with a 78 to lead regional team champion Seaman, which also got an eighth-place finish from freshman freshman Bradley Williamson (84), a ninth from senior Tim Biggs (85) and a 10th-place showing from sophomore Zach Weir (86).

The Vikings ended up deadlocked with Heights for the title, but took the win on senior Jake Moss's 90.

"It was a scary day for sure,'' Seaman coach Rick Rineberg said. "There was a couple of kids that really came up big for us. Brad Williamson shot an 84 today and I think that's his personal record, so when you PR at regionals, that's pretty awesome.

"The other kid that I really give kudos to is Jake Moss. He played bad on his front nine and I talked him at his turn and I said, 'Jake, just go make a score, make the turn, salvage the round,' and his round is what ended up winning it for us. I'm proud of Gavin, I'm proud of all the kids.''

Shawnee Heights junior Aiden Jones finished sixth with an 80 while Tyler Lincoln was 11th with an 88 and junior Tanner Zerger tied for 12th with an 89.

The 5A state tournament will be played next Monday and Tuesday at Winfield.

CLASS 5A REGIONAL GOLF

At Lake Shawnee

Team scores

Seaman 333 (first on fifth score), Shawnee Heights 333, De Soto 343, Basehor-Linwood 357, Piper 369, Lansing 378, Leavenworth 471.

Individual results

1. Alonzo, Topeka West, 76 (won playoff); 2. Valdivia, Shawnee Heights, 76; 3. (tie) Wilhelm, Seaman; Bakerink, De Soto, and Strah, Basehor-Linwood, 78; 6. Jones, Shawnee Heights, 80; 7. Baechle, De Soto, 83; 8. Williamson, Seaman, 84; 9. Biggs, Seaman, 85; 10. Weir, Seaman, 86.

Other Seaman -- 14. (tie) Moss, 90; 27. (tie) Tenpenny, 96.

Other Shawnee Heights -- 11. Lincoln, 88; 12. (tie) Zerger, 89; 17. Crawford, 91; 33. Hohman, 101.

Other Topeka West -- 40. Schimmel, 117.

RURAL POSTS RUNNER-UP FINISH

Washburn Rural qualified for next week's Class 6A state tournament at Dodge City with a second-place regional finish Monday at Rolling Meadows.

Senior Turner Depperschmidt tied for third with a 77 to pace the Junior Blues, who shot a four-man score of 321 to finish second to Manhattan (311).

Senior Giles Frederickson tied for sixth with 79 while junior Andrew Burdett tied for 10th with an 82 and senior Luke Leonetti tied for 12th with an 83.

Manhattan freshman Tate Reid took individual honors with a 74.

CLASS 6A REGIONAL GOLF

At Rolling Meadows

Team scores

Manhattan 311, Washburn Rural 321, Free State 338, Hutchinson 365, Wichita Heights 399, Junction City 412, Wichita Northwest 437.

Individual results

1. Reid, Manhattan, 74; 2. Randall, Free State, 75; 3. (tie) Depperschmidt, Washburn Rural, and Adkins, Hutchinson, 77; 5. Braxmeyer, Manhattan 78; 6. (tie) Snowden, Manhattan, and Frederickson, Washburn Rural, 79; 8. Wefald, Manhattan, 80; 9.Kandt, Manhattan, 81; 10. (tie) Sauder, Manhattan, and Burdett, Washburn Rural, 82.

Other Washburn Rural -- 12. (tie) Leonetti, 83; 17. Hight, 91; 27. Armstrong, 99.

Topeka High -- 39. Evenson, 135.

Details: Created: 16 May 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka West senior star Kadence Jeffries of Topeka West, undefeated on the season in individual races and a six-time state champ, headlines the 2022 All-Shawnee County girls swimming team.

The 2022 All-City girls swimming and diving team -- Front, from left: Ashtynn Landry, Shawnee Heights; Tauren Walz, Seaman; Blanca Espinosa, Topeka West; Avery Walz, Seaman; Joslynn Grace, Seaman; Brianna Devlin, Topeka High. Back, from left: Kiersten Harris, Washburn Rural; Mara Bare, Washburn Rural; Makenna Pritchard, Washburn Rural; Kadence Jeffries, Topeka West; Gabby Grace, Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Jeffries turned in a dominating senior campaign, including city, Centennial League and Class 5A-1A sweeps in the 200-yard freestyle and 500 freestyle events.

Jeffries earned first-team All-State honors for the third time in as many seasons.

Seaman put a city-high four swimmers on the All-City first team, which is determined by performances in the city meet, while 19-time defending city team champ Washburn Rural has three first-teamers.

Seaman is represented by Avery and Tauren Walz and Gabby and Joslynn Grace while Washburn Rural put Makenna Pritchard, Mara Bare and Kiersten Harris on the first team.

Avery Walz joined Jeffries as an individual state champion in last Saturday's 5A-1A state meet while T. Walz, G. Grace and J. Grace all had big meets as Seaman finished fourth as a team.

G. Grace and A. Walz earned first-team All-State honors while T. Walz was a second-team All-Stater in 5A-1A and Bare earned second-team All-State recognition in 6A.

Jeffries is joined on the All-City team by Topeka West teammate Blanca Espinosa, while Shawnee Heights' Ashtynn Landry and Topeka High diver Brianna Devlin also earned first-team recognition.

Devlin finished fourth in the 6A one-meter diving event.

The 2022 All-City girls swimming and diving second team -- Front, from left: Gorata Mackenzie, Washburn Rural; Olivia Ndungu, Washburn Rural; Molly Didde, Washburn Rural; Caroline Toland, Topeka High. Back, from left: Shelby Schmutzler, Washburn Rural; Gwen VanLeeuwen, Seaman; Tyler Lemke, Washburn Rural; Maddie O'Brien, Washburn Rural. Not pictured; Alexis Vu, Hayden; Lexi Herrera, Hayden; Kaylee Gregg, Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

All-City capsules:

MARA BARE, Washburn Rural -- A junior, Bare helped lead Washburn Rural to its 19th straight city team title, placing second in the 200 freestyle and the 500 free and swimming on Rural's runner-up 200 medley and 400 free relays. Bare also helped the Junior Blues win the Centennial League team championship, taking second in the 200 free and 500 free and earning first-team all-league honors. Bare placed fifth in the 200 free and sixth in the 500 free at state, earning second-team All-State honors.

BRIANNA DEVLIN, Topeka High -- Delvin, a junior, has turned in an outstanding season in her first year as a high school one-meter diver, sweeping the city and Centennial League diving championships while setting Topeka High school records for the six-dive and 11-dive events. Devlin placed fourth in the 6A state meet.