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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Research is ongoing to determine if Hayden's girls had ever won a city tennis team title before Thursday's thrilling 26-25 win over Seaman at the Kossover Tennis Center.
Hayden sophomore Ainzley Zulueta returns a shot on the way to her second straight city No. 1 singles title Thursday at the Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden tennis coach Christy Sheetz (right) talks to Wildcat No. 1 doubles players Lauren Sandstrom (left) and Emily Sheetz during Thursday's city tournament. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden's tennis poses for a team picture after winning the city team title Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center by 26-25 margin over Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But it's a sure thing that if Hayden had ever won the championship it was a long, long time ago, probably before any of the current Wildcats were even born.
And that made Thursday's victory extra special.
Christy Sheetz's Hayden team got city titles in No. 1 singles from sophomore Ainzley Zulueta and in No. 1 doubles from junior Lauren Sandstrom and sophomore Emily Sheetz to lead the way as the Wildcats topped runner-up Seamann by the narrowest of margins
"That means so much to us, not only the team but it's our coach's first city win,'' Sandstrom said. "And it's huge for the team. Going forward it will be a big part of getting us motivated for our future meets.''
Emily Sheetz, daughter of the Hayden coach, said the city meet had been a major topic of conversation leading into Thursday.
"She talked about it a lot and we had to go in with a really positive mindset,'' Sheetz said. "Staying really positive helped the team.''
Zulueta, the defending Class 4A singles champ, captured her second straight city title with a 6-4, 6-3 win in the finals over Seaman senior Lauren Sweeney, a 5A state champion in doubles a year ago.
It was Zulueta's second hard-fought win over Sweeney in five days, with Zulueta taking an 8-6 win at Olathe last Saturday.
"At the last meet we had played like five matches beforehand,'' Zulueta said. "It was a long day and I'm glad I got to play her when she was like at her best so I could also give my best.''
After winning the city title as a freshman Zulueta said it was obviously a goal to repeat on Thursday.
"It does become a goal and I was really excited for this meet and I'm glad it ended the way I wanted it to,'' Zulueta said.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For some athletes it might seem strange to have a family member coaching them.
For Washburn University freshman volleyball player Sydney Conner, anything else would be the strange part.
Washburn University assistant volleyball coach Shayla Conner (left) is coaching younger sister Sydney, a freshman setter, this fall with the Ichabods. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Sydney Conner, a 5-foot-11 setter, starred for her mother, Kris, at Kearney (Neb.) Catholic High School and is now working alongside older sister Shayla Conner, an assistant coach at Washburn after earning All-America honors as a setter for the Ichabods.
"I always get a lot of questions, 'Is it weird having your sister as your coach?' '' Sydney Conner said. "I always say no because I'm just kind of used to it in the sense that family always comes first but we all grew up together in the gym, so it works great.''
Shayla Conner said that when she went into coaching she knew the odds were pretty good that she'd get the chance to coach her little sister in college.
"I honestly don't think we ever talked about it, but in a way I've kind of coached her her whole life and she's always watched me play as she grew up, so it just kind of worked out that way,'' Shayla said. "She wanted to play for me and obviously I wanted to coach her.''
After finishing her playing career at Washburn (2014-2018), Shayla was a student assistant at Missouri-Kansas City for the 2019-20 school year and then served as a graduate assistant at Nebraska-Kearney before being named the assistant coach at Missouri Western in January of 2021.
Sydney originally planned to join Shayla at Missouri Western, but when Shayla was named assistant coach to Chris Herron at Washburn in the summer of 2021, Sydney soon followed.
"Obviously Washburn has an incredible volleyball program and of course Shay playing volleyball here I always got to watch games and got to associate with the team and coach Herron, so as soon as she came over it was a no-brainer for sure,'' Sydney said.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Gavin Wilhelm played five different sports at Seaman, but didn't discover football until his senior year.
It's a decision that's paid immediate dividends for both Wilhelm and now the Washburn University football team.
Former Seaman multi-sport standout Gavin Wilhelm has earned playing time for Washburn football as a true freshman. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Wilhelm played soccer througout his high school career, earning All-City recognition, before also becoming the Vikings' place-kicker last fall at the urging of a teammate.
"I never played football in my life,'' Wilhelm said. "One of my best friends (Camden Barta) was the quarterback for Seaman and he knew I had a boot on me and I could kick a ball pretty far so he was like, 'Come out and see if you can kick an extra point.'
"The first day of practice I remember making consecutive extra points and actually made a 54 (yarder) in practice and from then on it was a breeze. Kicking a soccer ball and kicking a football is kind of the same for me, as I didn't use a kicking tee. I just kicked off the floor so everything was just kind of simple. It was never an intention of mine but I'm super glad that I did it.''
Wilhelm liked kicking so much that he decided to accept an offer from Washburn to kick and play golf for the Ichabods.
"After playing football I was like, 'This is maybe what I want to do,' but I also wanted to play golf,'' Wilhelm said. "Once this school gave me that opportunity I knew it was a no-brainer to come here.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
THURSDAY NIGHT
KANSAS CITY-HARMON (0-3, 0-3) at HIGHLAND PARK (3-0, 3-0)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park senior star Tre Richardson has had a hand in 20 touchdowns for the 3-0 Scots. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park improved to 3-0 overall and in the Meadowlark Conference with a 63-36 win over KC-Sumner last Friday at Hummer Sports Park. Scot senior star Tre Richardson had a hand in six touchdowns, giving him 20 on the season and also scored a pair of 2-point conversions and picked off a pass. Richardson and quarterback Kei'Juan Johnson combined for more than 400 rushing yards against Sumner. Highland Park will be facing a Harmon team that has been outscored 207-0 in its first three games, including a 72-0 loss to Atchison last week. The Scots are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since Nick McGrain's team won its first four games in 1995. Game time: 7 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT
JEFFERSON WEST (0-3) at HAYDEN (3-0)
Hayden sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored four touchdowns last Friday night in the Wildcats' 55-34 win over Rossville. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Hayden opens Class 3A District 4 competition Friday night after remaining unbeaten with a 55-34 home win over Rossville last week. Sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored four touchowns and 31 points for the Wildcats against Rossville. Schrickel returned the opening kickoff 74 yards for a TD and also scored on a 67-yard punt return, a 48-yard pass reception from sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier, a 12-yard run on a reverse and kicked seven extra points. Senior JC Cummings rushed for 132 yards on 11 carries, including a 98-yard touchdown run, and junior Finn Dunshee added 83 yards on seven attempts. Jefferson West has been outscored 111-28, including a 57-0 loss to Sabetha last week. Game time: 7 p.m.
EMPORIA (1-2, 0-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (0-3, 0-1)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka High is coming off a 27-0 road loss at Liberal last Friday while Emporia is dropped a 56-24 decision to Salina Central. Emporia played Liberal in Week 2, dropping a 53-0 decision. The Spartans willl be playing their Centennial League opener while the Trojans fell at Manhattan in their second game of the season, 59-7. Topeka High senior quarterback Peyton Wheat and sophomore receiver Jayden Norman are key offensive weapons on offense for the Trojans. Game time: 7 p.m.
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams rushed for 179 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Junior Blues' 37-10 non-league win over Piper Friday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL (3-0, 0-0) at MANHATTAN (3-0, 1-0)
At Cico Park
Washburn Rural remained unbeaten with a 37-10 win over Piper last Friday while Manhattan topped Hays, 31-21. Senior Ma'kenttis Adams finished the night with 179 rushing yards and two TDs on 16 carries as Rural topped the 300-yard rushing mark as a team. Junior quarterback Branton DeWeese completed 13 of 20 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and added 79 rushing yards on 13 carries. Junior Titan Osburn caught three passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns while junior Calvin Hayes had four catches for 34 yards and senior Amr Sabarrini two catches for 31 yards. Game time: 7 p.m.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural junior golfer Raegan Petersen and Hayden sophomore football standout Jensen Schrickel have been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week for last week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Petersen and Schrickel last week:
Raegan Petersen
RAEGAN PETERSEN, Washburn Rural
Petersen delivered a breakout performance for Washburn Rural in Monday's city girls golf tournament, helping lead the Junior Blues to their 10th straight city team title by a 24-stroke margin.
Petersen shot an 18-hole score of 81 to tie Seaman senior star Lois Deeter for the individual championship, finishing second after a sudden death playoff.
Petersen was also a Class 6A state medalist this past spring in the discus and was a member of the All-Shawnee County track and field team.
Jensen Schrickel
JENSEN SCHRICKEL, Hayden
Schrickel, a 5-foot-9, 145-pound receiver/defensive back/returner/kicker, continued his outstanding start to his sophomore season after playing a significant role for the Wildcats as a freshman.
Schrickel scored four touchdowns and 31 points as Hayden improved to 3-0 with a 55-34 home win over Rossville last Friday night.
Schrickel, a state long jump champion in track and field as a freshman, returned the opening kickoff 74 yards for a TD and also scored on a 67-yard punt return, a 48-yard pass reception, a 12-yard run and kicked seven extra points.
