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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Veteran Washburn University volleyball coach Chris Herron would be happy any time the Ichabods are able to show the grit to rally from a 2-0 deficit and pull out a victory.
The fact that No. 2-ranked WU was able to make that happen Saturday at Lee Arena against Nebraska-Kearney, one of the MIAA's most storied programs, made the occasion extra special.
Washburn celebrates a point in Saturday's thrilling come-from-behind five-set win over Nebraska-Kearney. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Washburn Athletics]
No. 7 Nebraska-Kearney jumped out in front 2-0 with 26-24 and 25-22 wins, but the Ichabods anwered with 25-17, 25-18 and 16-14 wins to improve to 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA while handing the Lopers (10-1, 1-1) their first loss of the season.
"It's a huge win,'' Herron said. "Look, Kearney's Kearney, man. Every year they're Kearney so what are you going to say. They're awesome. (Rick Squiers) is a great coach, he's got a great program and we're fortunate to be able to play with them.''
With Saturday's win the Ichabods have now won three matches in a row against the Lopers, marking just the second time that has happened in program history and the first since 1983-85.
The Lopers jumped out to a 5-2 advantage to start the match before the Ichabods went in front 10-6 on an 8-1 run that included seven kills, four by Jalyn Stevenson.
Nebraska-Kearney slowly chipped away at Washburn's lead and tied the game at 12 and then pulled within one point on three occasions before the Ichabods created a little breathing room and got back-to-back kills to reach set point at 24-21.
The Ichabods were unable to close out the win, however, as the Lopers poste five unanswered points to take the two-point first-set win. The Ichabod offense knocked down 19 kills while the Lopers recorded 13 kills.
Nebraska-Kearney won the opening point of the second set and quickly built a 13-5 advantage, benefitting from eight Washburn errors during that stretch.
The Ichabods put together 5-0 and 5-1 runs to pull within three at 19-16.
With Washburn trailing 23-18, the Lopers committed three errors in the midst of a 4-0 Ichabod spurt to make it a one point affair, 23-22. UNK was able to get the last two points with back-to-back kills from Emersen Cyza to take a 2-0 lead.
Washburn came out firing on all cylinders in the third set and took the first five points with four kills and a UNK attacking error.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, the goal for Topeka West senior cross country star Lenny Njoroge is always going to be to win.
But Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park was one day when Njoroge could be proud of a second-place finish.
Lincoln Prep junior Isaac Rivera (left) and Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge finished one-two in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
For one thing, it took an outstanding performance, by Lincoln College Prep junior Isaac Rivera, to beat him, and even in defeat, Njoroge ran the best five-kilometer time of his career.
Rivera clocked a 5K time of 15 minutes, 09.82, while Njoroge, running only his second race after missing the 2021 season with a broken leg, finished second in 15:24.61, 39 seconds in front of the third-place finisher.
"He ran a heck of a race, he's impresssive,'' Njoroge said of Rivera.
Njoroge admitted that the Missouri runner caught him somewhat by surprise.
"At the start of the race I was just like, 'OK, it's a home meet, it's probably going to just be me (out front),' and then the gun goes off and we get to 400 meters and I see somebody right next to me and I'm like, 'Where did he come from?' '' Njoroge said.
Njoroge and Rivera ran together for a good chunk of the race before Rivera pulled away late, but Njoroge wasn't disappointed with his performance.
"I felt awesome,'' said Njoroge, who doubles up in soccer for Topeka West. "As Donnie (Palmer, West coach) said I'm in the best shape of my life right now. And I'm having the best time of my life, too. It's incredible.
"I'll take this and move on.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's probably about time for Ryin Miller to re-evaluate her goals for the 2022 cross country season.
The Seaman freshman has started off her high school career with a pair of outstanding performances, including her first individual championship in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park while helping lead the Vikings to the team title by 27-45 margin over Lee's Summit West, Mo.
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller finishes off her win in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational, helping lead the Vikings to the team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller burst on the high school cross country scene with a third-place individual performance in the season-opening Manhattan Invitational on Sept. 3, blowing away her pre-race goal.
"I was shooting for like 15th place, so third definitely boosted my confidence,'' Miller said.
And Miller, who ran a five-kilometer time of 20 minutes, 32.6 seconds at Manhattan, took another big step forward on Saturday, knocking another 90 seconds off her personal-best with a winning time of 19 minutes, 01.22 seconds.
"My goal was to shoot for like 21 (minutes), so I'm definitely surprised,'' Miller said about her start to the season.
Miller ran second to Lee's Summit West senior Ella Cronhardt in the early stages of Saturday's race before taking the lead abut a mile and a half in en route to a 29-second victory.
"I was just going to stay where I could see her and within about like five feet,'' Miller said.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Shawnee County varsity coaches in all fall sports are encouraged to report their game/event results by email to
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Junior running back Allen Baughman turned in a career-best performance to lead the way as Shawnee Heights picked up its first win of the season Friday night at Wetter Field, with the T-Birds rolling to a 46-23 United Kansas Conference win over Lansing.
Baughman, a 5-foot-8, 180-pounder, carried the ball 22 times for 222 yards and five touchdowns for the T-Birds, who evened their record at 1-1 overall and in the UKC.
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) finds a huge hole to run through against Lansing Friday night. Baughman rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights, which finished with 343 total offensive yards, got a pair of field goals from senior Carson Christian.
Shawnee Heights senior Jaye Jones makes a diving interception in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win over Lansing Friday night. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Alex Dittman is mobbed by his teammates after scoring a defensive touchdown in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win over Lansing. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
The T-Birds also turned in a solid performance on defense, including interceptions from senior Jaye Jones and juniors Alex Dittman and Jayden Moore, who also forced a fumble.
Senior Sean Wunder was in on eight tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss, while senior Ben Penrod was also in on eight stops and junior Christian Gonzales six. Junior Taylen LeClere-Bryant recovered a fumble for the T-Birdss.
Shawnee Heights will travel to Seaman next Friday, with the city rivals meeting for the first time as UKC members.
WASHBURN RURAL 28, DE SOTO 21 -- Washburn Rural rallied from behind for the second straight game, improving to 2-0 with a 28-21 road win at De Soto.
Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns on a 15 of 31 performance while senior Ma'Kenttis Adams rushed for 150 yards on 26 carries.
Junior Titan Osburn had three catches for 97 yards and a pair of touchowns while senior Lukas Hanks caught five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown and senior Amr Sabbarini had four grabs for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior linebacker Ty Weber was in on a whopping 24 tackles while junior JC Heim blocked a punt and senior Wyatt Conklin recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
Washburn Rural will play its home-opener next Friday against Piper.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden and Silver Lake's football teams hadn't squared off in 78 years, long before any of the Wildcat players, or their parents, were born.
But Hayden senior JC Cummings said his team was well aware of Silver Lake's proud tradition and knew the Wildcats would need to be at their best to take care of the Eagles in a showddown between the two perennial state powers.
Hayden senior JC Cummings (38) celebrates a big defensive play in Friday's 43-10 win at Silver Lake. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden was up to the task and then some, improving to 2-0 with a 43-10 romp at Silver Lake's CJ Hamilton Field.
"We were very worried and we came very prepared and felt like we have a bunch of tradition on both sides of the ball and we felt like we needed to come out and play the best we can and I think we did that,'' said Cummings, who starred on both sides of the ball. "
Silver Lake (1-1) actually drew first blood on a 31-yard Dysen Schooler field goal set up by a 64-yard pass play from Tanner Martin to Trenton Rollenhagen at the 9:48 mark of the first half.
But the rest of the half belonged to Hayden, which scored on offense, defense and special teams to open up a 21-3 halftime advantage.
Hayden's first offensive posssession ended with a turnover deep in Silver Lake territory after the Wildcats had a 52-yard Finn Dunshee touchdown run wiped out by a penalty.
But a Jensen Schrickel interception in the end zone prevented Silver Lake from adding to its lead and two plays later Dunshee, who replaced injured senior Ethan Florence in the Hayden backfield, rambled 76 yards to put the Wildcats ahead to stay at the 4:08 mark of the opening quarter. Schrickel tacked on the extra point to put Hayden in front, 7-3.
Hayden junior Finn Dunshee rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown and also had a pick-six on defense in the Wildcats' 43-10 wn at Silver Lake Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden sophomore Jensen Schrickel is congratulated after returning a punt for a touchdown in Friday's 43-10 win over Silver Lake. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden boosted its margin to 14-3 when Schrickel returned a Silver Lake punt 48 yards for a touchdown with 8:25 left in the half and the Wildcats scored again on the Eagles' next possession, with Dunshee picking off a pass and returning it 33 yards for a TD. Schrickel kicked both extra points.
