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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The ultimate goal is always to finish first, but Seaman girls tennis still had plenty to celebrate in Saturday's Class 5A state tournament at Kossover Tennis Center.
Andover ruled the day, sweeping the singles, doubles and team championships, but Seaman junior Emma Sweeney posted a runnerup singles finish to lead the way as the tournament-host Vikings finished second as a team, just six points behind the champion Trojans (39-33).
Seaman junior Emma Sweeney earned her third straight Class 5A singles medal Saturday with a career-best runnerup finish as the Vikings finished second as a team. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"A great weekend,'' Seaman coach Jamie Robinson said. "Of course that's why we wanted to host is we wanted to give an advantage to a team that we thought was going to be one of the best teams in the state, and we were. We proved it.''
And it was a day of breakthroughs for the Vikings, with Sweeney advancing to the title match after finishing fourth as a sophomore, while senior Molly Gorman finished sixth in singles after a 10th-place finish as a junior and the Viking doubles team of senior Peyton Henry and junior Camryn Lux finished seventh to cap their first season as a doubles team.
Sweeney, who captured her third straight 5A state medal, finished her season 30-2, with both losses coming against Andover senior Mia Jaramillo, who took a 6-4, 6-3 decision in Saturday's championship match.
Jaramillo, who beat Sweeney in the third-place match in 2024, jumped out to 3-0 and 5-2 leads in the first set before Sweeney rallied to within 5-4 and Jaramillo went up 5-1 in the second set before Sweeney cut her deficit to 5-3.
"We did the same thing in Olathe, so I was kind of expecting it, but I feel like I pushed through,'' Jaramillo said. "She's a great player, so she did good.
"I felt I had a lot of pressure, but we have a great team, so we all pushed through.''
While obviously upset with her near miss, Sweeney knows that someday soon she'll be proud of her accomplishment.
"I'll be pleased after a little bit,'' Sweeney said. "The goal after last year, and I was surprised I made it (to the semifinals), I made it my new goal to try and win, but it's okay and I'll come back next year even harder.
"This gives me more experience and it gives me the experience of playing in front of a big crowd in a big situation, so I think I'm just going to take what I learned today and it will help me grow and make me work even harder in the offseason.''
"Runnerup is so impressive,'' Robinson said of Sweeney's performance. "She's lost to one person this year and that was Mia, so credit to her. She came to play.
''Emma had a couple of runs, but it just wasn't quite enough, so hey, let's learn from it and grow from it.''
Seaman senior Molly Gorman captured her fourth Class 5A state medal Saturday, finishing sixth in singles at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Gorman, who dropped an 8-1 decision to Eisenhower sophomore Quinn Scheideman in the fifth-place match, capped her prep career with her fourth state medal in as many tries -- two singles, two doubles.
Henry and Lux finished off state with a win, taking an 8-6 win over Bishop Carroll senior Macy Wetta and freshman Leah Jackson in the seventh-place match.
Wildcats earn third-place 4A team trophy
Hayden singles players Lana Hull and Grace Funk and the doubles team of Sophia Wichman and Avery O'Bray all earned Class 4A state medals on Saturday at Harmon Park in Prairie Village, leading the Wildcats to a third-place team finish.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball worked a seventh straight sweep and extended its set winning streak to 21 with a 3-0 takedown of Missouri Southern on Friday night in Whiting Fieldhouse.
Washburn volleyball stretched its winning streak to 21 straight sets in Friday's 3-0 home win over Missouri Southern. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods, now 19-1 overall and 8-1 in the MIAA, have a full week off before returning to action facing Emporia State on Friday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. in Whiting.
Both the first and second sets went long, but both went to Washburn, which posted a 28-26 come-from-behind victory followed by a 27-25 win in the second over the Lions (8-11, 2-6). The third set was not as dramatic, with the Ichabods taking a 25-18 decision to close out the match.
Early in the first set Washburn jumped out to a 5-1 lead after Emery Keebaugh took a pass from Sydney Conner for a kill.
But the next seven points were all scored by Missouri Southern. The lead grew to five points at 15-10 after three more in a row by the visitors.
The Ichabods chipped away, finally tying it on a Kali Henry ace and going in front 18-17 with a Brynne Topolski kill.
A 4-1 run by the Lions put them back in front, 22-20, but Washburn came right back to tie it up. There were four more ties after the 22-22 knot. Finally, kills by Alex Dvorak and Keilah Rivers ended the set at 28-26.
Both sides traded runs to begin the second set, eventually splitting the first 20 points. Missouri Southern went in front 12-10 after a three-point burst and stayed in front over halfway through the set.
A kill by Keebaugh began a five-point rally by the Ichabods to put them in front, 19-16. Washburn led 23-19 before the Lions went on a 5-0 run to go in front and force set point. The Ichabods navigated with two points in response.
After one more tie Dvorak got a kill and then teamed with Austin Broadie on a block to end the set.
In the third set Washburn used a five point burst at the beginning to go in front 10-5. It turned into a 8-1 run after Broadie slammed a kill.
Missouri Southern got within four points after scoring five in a row, but the Ichabod offense didn't let up down the stretch, hitting .375 in the final set to win, 25-18.
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By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
JUNCTION CITY -- Centennial League title implications were on the line Friday night as the Washburn Rural Junior Blues traveled west to take on the Junction City Blue Jays, who posted a 35-20 win.
Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural
Junction City (5-2 overall, 3-0 in the league) took the opening kickoff and methodically drove the ball down the field with a mixture of the run and pass. In the wildcat formation, junior linebacker Khaliel Walker took the snap and handed off to senior wide receiver Lovell Autry who ran it in for a 4-yard touchdown, giving the Blue Jays a 7-0 lead with 6:20 left in the opening quarter.
While Junction City’s drive took almost six minutes, the Junior Blues (5-2, 2-1) answered in a little over a minute when Jadyn Baum scored on a 51-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 7.
The Blue Jays' next possession was a little over five minutes and on the first play of the second quarter, senior Conrad Gomez threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Autry, giving Junction City a 14-7 lead.
The Junior Blues were able to drive the ball into Blue Jay territory, but Ryan Austin’s 37-yard field goal attempt was wide left. Rural’s defense stiffened and forced a Junction City punt about halfway through the second quarter.
Washburn Rural’s next possession changed the complexion of the game. On a third down play, senior quarterback John Hoytal wasn’t able to maintain a high snap from center, fumbled and Junction City recovered the fumble at midfield. Hoytal was injured on the play, requiring him to be placed on a stretcher and taken off the field on a cart.
The teams traded possessions to complete the second quarter and Junction City took a 14-7 lead to the locker room.
Washburn Rural had the first possession of the second half and junior Gavin Vantuyl took over at quarterback, led the Junior Blues down the field and tied the game at 14-14 on a 31-yard touchdown run.
The game remained tied for only 14 seconds as senior Kingston Timms took the ensuing kickoff down the left sideline, cut across the field and scored on a 95-yard return, giving the Blue Jays a 21-14 lead.
Rural’s next possession ended in a failed fake punt, giving Junction City excellent field position with a little over six minutes left in the third quarter. The Blue Jays capitalized on the turnover and scored another touchdown on a 19-yard pass from Gomez to junior Brody Boeckman, extending their lead to 28-14.
In the final twelve seconds of the third quarter, Junction City scored their third touchdown of the stanza. From the wildcat formation, Walker took the snap and scored on a 5-yard run. The Blue Jay lead was now 35-14, heading into the fourth quarter.
Washburn Rural had the only score of the final quarter on a 10-yard pass from Vantuyl to senior Nate Selm. The extra point was blocked, accounting for the final score of 35-20.
With the win, Junction City will claim the Centennial League title and will host Emporia next Friday night to finish the regular season.
Washburn Rural will return home to face Manhattan on Friday night.
JUNCTION CITY 35, WASHBURN RURAL 20
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn soccer continued its hot streak Friday night in Yager Stadium, stretching its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 4-0 shutout MIAA victory over Northeastern State.
Freshman Kate Hinck scored the only goal Washburn would need 10 minutes into Friday's 4-0 home win over Northeastern State. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods improved to 8-2-2 overall and 5-0-1 in the MIAA, while Northeastern State fell to 6-5-1, 1-4-1.
"The ladies did an amazing job executing our game plan tonight,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "I'm so proud of the fight and intentionality of the team tonight. We were organized defensively and had a few really good finishes.
"I feel growth in every game, and we have to look forward to a tough test on Sunday vs. Rogers State.''
Washburn opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a goal from freshman Kate Hinck, with the former Washburn Rural star finding the bottom left corner for her fourth goal of the season.
Rilyn Snyder would take a free kick in the 21st minute, which found the back of the net for her first career goal.
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By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Silver Lake is known as a team that throws the ball all over the yard, putting up points in flashy style. But when a game with immense playoff implications was on the line, the Eagle defense was the star. The Eagles turned back an Osage City drive to win 28-21 Friday at CJ Hamilton Field.
Freshman Kip Kruger passed for 200 yards and three touchdowns in Silver Lake's 28-21 district win over Osage City. [File photo/TSN]
Osage City took possession of the ball with 7:17 remining, trailing by one score. The Indians mounted an 11-play drive that chewed up nearly six minutes. With 1:20 remaining in the game, the Indians faced fourth and two at the Eagle seven-yard line.
Reed Silver, the Indians’ quarterback, had already carried eight times on the drive. He crashed over the right tackle on his ninth carry and was stopped cold by junior Myles Fisher and sophomore Dom Monhollon, effectively ending the contest.
“We figured they would try to run it outside because they got us on a few plays before,” said senior Grady Bergmann. “Our D-line made a great play, our linebackers made a great play, and our safety came up and tackled him. It was a great play all around.”
“People think we’re an offensive school, but to go out in the red zone and stop them…(Osage City is) a good team, they’re big. So proud of those kids,” said Silver Lake coach Logan Pegram “We got up 14 and it kind of got the momentum back on their side. To see our kids respond with the goal-line stop was something that, as a coach that’s focused on offense, it was awesome to see.”
Bergmann was the star of the first half, hauling in two touchdown passes and intercepting a pass to squelch an Osage City drive.
“Last year, (Osage City) beat us down there, and with them coming up here, we felt like we had to make a statement against an undefeated team, and we did that tonight on Senior Night,” Bergmann said.
Bergmann’s two first half-touchdowns were matched by the Indians, sending the teams to halftime tied, 14-14. Silver Lake grabbed the lead early in the third period on a long pass from Kip Kruger to Owen Rottinghaus. The Eagles then went up 28-14 late in the third period on a 31-yard dash by Monhollon.
Osage City quickly took back the momentum, however. A long catch-and-run by the Indians cut the lead to 28-21 early in the fourth period. Silver Lake was unable to respond, leaving plenty of time for Osage City to finish the comeback. Only the heroic stop on fourth down saved the Eagles.
Monhollon provided 152 yards rushing on just eight carries. Rottinghaus exploded for long receptions of 78 and 42. Bergmann and Dayne Johnson produced 58 and 52 yards receiving from quarterback Kruger, who completed 18 of 22 throws for 200 yards.
Silver, one of the Indians’ leading receivers this season, was forced to step into the quarterback position in place of injured starter Kasen Parsons. Silver passed for 183 yards and rushed for 84 yards. The Indians put the ball in his hands when the game was on the line.
“We looked him up and saw (Silver) was going to have to play (quarterback) and I was very impressed,” Pegram said. “He’s a heck of an athlete. He’s a junior so we’ll get to play him again next year in district.”
For this year, Silver Lake is now in command of Class 2A District 3.
“It gives us the driver’s seat without knowing what happened around the state,” Pegram said. “We don’t measure success by district championships, but it’s always nice when you’re the one seed and you get to hopefully keep playing at home.”
