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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Seaman product Camryn Turner is set to play her junior year for the University of Kansas volleyball team with a growing leadership role this year after earning All-Big 12 second-team honors as a sophomore last season.
Camryn Turner
Turner has embraced the spotlight during the first two years with the Jayhawks, with her hard work with the Lady Vikings in high school significantly translating to the Division 1 level.
It was always a dream for Turner to wear the crimson and blue while representing its volleyball program. That spark of playing Division 1 volleyball and realizing that she is in rare company helps her have an extra pep in her step when she gets out of bed each morning.
“Sometimes you get caught up in what you’re doing, but I always take a step back and realize that this is what I’ve always wanted to do,” Turner said. “I’ve always wanted to play here, and now I am. Sometimes I forget that this is just amazing, and I’m living out a dream that I’ve always had growing up.
“That spark is still there for me. It’s honestly unreal to think about sometimes.”
In high school, Turner was regarded as one of the best players in Kansas. She left Seaman as the all-time leader in assists (1,433) and kills (1,316). In addition, she earned 1,065 digs in that time.
Before arriving on KU’s campus, the millions of different thoughts that ran through her head stressed her out. Every freshman student-athlete has a tight stomach and a head swirling with unknowns.
Turner went through the aches and pains mentally but realized that her hard work put her there for a reason, and her new teammates who had been through the same situation would pick her up when she needed support.
“Everybody that comes in to play at the college level is so anxious, but the older girls at KU made it easier for me because they made it such a welcoming environment,” Turner said. “The unknown of what my life would be like was different for me. But my older teammates assured me that it was going to be an easier environment to thrive in than I was thinking it was going to be.”
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
College underclassmen rarely have a breakout year like freshman Taryn Burkhardt had for the Johnson County Community College softball team in the 2023 campaign.
Taryn Burkhardt
The former Silver Lake standout compiled an outstanding 504 batting average, the third-best for the 33-8 Cavaliers.
Her breakout year earned her All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference D-II and Region 6/Plains District first-team honors.
Burkhardt’s older sister Torey also played for Johnson County Community College. The family ties played a part in her decision to attend JCCC, and her older sister made it easier for her to settle into the college game.
“My sister actually went to Johnson County from 2018-2019, so I’ve been around this environment before,” Burkhardt said. “Coming in, I knew Johnson County had high standards for its athletes. I didn’t need to adjust to that because when I was at Silver Lake, they also had high standards for everyone. Just knowing that I had to work hard for a spot motivated me.
“There are plenty of people around here that are great and that are here for a reason, so I knew what I had to do. I think understanding you have to work hard to maintain or earn a spot anywhere was the biggest thing for me that I realized before I got here.”
In addition to her .500-plus batting average, Burkhardt had seven doubles, three triples, a home run, 51 runs scored with 18 driven in and a team-high 37 stolen bases. Her 51 runs ranked fourth in the conference and she wasthird in stolen bases. Burkhardt’s 37 steals are the seventh-best season in Johnson County Community College history.
“I’m not too far away from home, but coming to Johnson County was a big adjustment for me because I am such a homebody,” Burkhardt said. “I love being at home, so that adjustment of being away was hard.
“But I never thought I put too much pressure on myself, which helped me. I just knew that’s what I had to do if I wanted to be here. When I finally got adjusted, everything became fun.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
OTTAWA -- A lot of high school athletes can't wait to spread their wings and leave their home state for their college careers.
Former Washburn Rural star Ty Weber (42), a freshman-to-be at Washburn University, will play for the East in Saturday night's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Hays. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Former Washburn Rural star linebacker Ty Weber opted to stay closer to home -- a lot closer -- signing with Craig Schurig's Washburn University program to play his college football.
"It's about 12 minutes,'' said Weber, who will play for the East in Saturday night's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Hays before reporting to the Ichabods.
Weber, the Shawnee County defensive player of the year as a junior and senior, said Washburn was always at the top of his list of prospective colleges.
"It's the community,'' Weber said. "It's an honor to be able to suit up in my hometown of Topeka and to stay and play in front of all the fans and all the people who have supported me along the way. It's really a great honor.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
OTTAWA -- Playing next to Notre Dame freshman to be Joe Otting throughout his Hayden football career, Ben Evans might have been overlooked by some college recruiters.
Former Hayden standout lineman Ben Evans (72) talks with his high school coach, Bill Arnold, during an East practice session for Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Hays. Arnold is coaching the defensive line for the East. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the 6-foot-2, 275-pound lineman said he wouldn't have traded the opportunity to play alongside Otting for anything.
"I loved being next to Joe on the offensive line and on defense,'' Evans said. "We're brothers. We've been playing together since sixth grade and I'm happy for him. That's awesome. I mean, he's living the dream.''
But now Evans, an All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick, is looking forward to showing what he can do, beginning with Saturday night's 50th Kansas Shrine Bowl at Hays and continuing this fall at Coffeyville Community College.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn senior-to-be right-handed pitcher Casey Steward was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday in the 19th round with the 583rd overall pick in the Major League Draft.
Washburn star pitcher Casey Steward was drafted Tuesday by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 19th round. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Steward was the first MIAA player to be picked in the draft this year.
"Casey Steward has been an impact player for Washburn baseball since the first day he stepped on campus," Ichabod head baseball coach Harley Douglas said in a Washburn Athletics release. "I am so happy for him and his family today!
"His commitment and dedication to his craft and being an Ichabod will be hard to replace. He was determined to make his mark in Washburn baseball history and it is safe to say he did it in a big way. What a tremendous day for Casey Steward, his family and all of Ichabod nation!"
