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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When Washburn University soccer got a penalty kick opportunity with just over 10 minutes left in Thursday's season-opener against Oklahoma Baptist, Ichabod coach Davy Phillips wanted Vivian Soto-Herrera to take the shot.
It turns out that Soto-Herrera's teammates and the sophomore midfielder herself wanted that, too, and Soto-Herrera delivered, snaking the PK past OBU goalkeeper Mia Pendleton to give Washburn a 1-0 non-conference victory at Yager Stadium.
Viviana Soto-Herrera (middle) is congratulated by her Washburn soccer teammates after converting a penalty kick to give the Ichabods a 1-0 season-opening win over Oklahoma Baptist Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I told my assistant (Jessica Hillebert), 'I want Viv on it,' and she said, 'Viv already has it, she already stepped to the spot,' '' Phillips said. "I think everybody knows that Viv is a fantastic finisher, so we felt confident in her.''
"The whole team just pointed at me and I was like, 'OK, I'll take it,' '' Soto-Herrera said.
Soto-Herrera admitted she likes being in that role.
"I do,'' she said. "I have trust in myself.''
Soto-Herrera's penalty kick was the only goal of the night, but the Ichabods took 15 shots to just two by the Lady Bison and WU held an 8-2 edge in shots on goal.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news has finished its tour of preseason football practices at all 10 Shawnee County high schools and will post preview stories over the coming days leading into the opening games of the 2022 season Sept. 1-3.
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You might think that new Silver Lake football coach Logan Pegram would have been fighting some butterflies when he walked out onto CJ Hamilton Field for the start of fall practice on Aug. 15.
After all, Pegram is taking over for a living legend in Hamilton, the winningest coach in Kansas history, and is the Eagles' first new head coach since Hamilton returned from a short stint at Washburn University in 1979.
First-year Silver Lake football coach Logan Pegram, a former Eagle standout, puts his team through a drill during a preseason practice. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the Silver Lake graduate, who said he benefitted from having all summer to get to know his new team, said all he was feeling was excitement to get started in his new role.
"So much goes into it with the preparation throughout the summer that the relationships with the kids are there and you know what to expect and they know what to expect, and I have five rock-solid assistant coaches,'' Pegram said.
"The only thing I got a little nervous about is when I came out and they weren't warming up like we told them to warm up, but it was awesome coming out here. It's like the start of a good school year and I was ready to rock and roll.''
Pegram, who was a star lineman for Hamilton at Silver Lake before playing collegiately at Northern Illinois, said he wants to embrace the Eagles' rich tradition, which includes eight state championships and 18 championship game appearances under Hamilton, moving forward.
Pegram's coaching staff includes multiple holdovers from last year's staff and he also added a couple of other coaches very familiar with the program to complete his staff this season.
"I was able to hire two Silver Lake alums, Brit Dewey, who had a really good career here and was a Shrine Bowl guy, and then we got Jace Lowe, who was also an ex-Shrine Bowl guy here,'' Pegram said. "So all of us played in the program and all of us understand 'IT.' ''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Jalyn Stevenson was the newbie for Washburn University volleyball a year ago, surrounded by a veteran senior group, including four All-Americans, that led the 31-6 Ichabods to a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II national tournament.
Jalyn Stevenson
But although she's still only a sophomore, the 5-foot-10 outside hitter knows that as Washburn's most experienced returner she'll need to step up as a leader for the Ichabods this fall, a role she's ready to embrace as WU gets set to open the 2022 season Friday and Saturday in the Nebraska-Kearney Fall Classic.
"I feel like I need to step up my leadership because I do have that play experience,'' said Stevenson, a former Spring Hill standout. "With the seniors that I had last year I will say they did a fantastic job of helping me through (last season) and even when I had no clue of what was going on they helped me through that, so I want to be that kind of person for the team and be able to help them through the tough times when when they don't necessarily understand what's going on and during game play when everything changes and everything starts going faster, slowing it down for the younger kids.''
Washburn sophomore outside hitter Jalyn Stevenson (10) celebrates a point with her teammates during the 2021 season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Stevenson earned All-MIAA honorable mention as a freshman when she played in all 37 matches with 30 starts, finishing fourth on the team in kills with 263, third in digs at 259 and second in service aces with 32 on the year.
Stevenson, one of eight WU returners, said she feels like she picked up some valuable tips from last year's seniors that will help her this season.
"I did,'' Stevenson said. "It also helps this year that with Genna (Berg, an All-American hitter) still being here as our (graduate asssistant) I still get to pick up the tips that I didn't last year because I am still only a sophomore and I am still getting more experience as I go.''
Stevenson, who played for former Washburn standout Erica (Cowhick) Book at Spring Hill, said she needs to make sure she just plays her game this season while trying to continue to take steps forward.
"I can't put too much pressure on myself,'' she said. "I just want to play my game and I just want to play as hard as I can and do the best I can without putting any undue pressure on myself.''
Washburn University's volleyball team will open the 2022 season in this weekend's Nebraska-Kearney Fall Classic. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Stevenson and the Ichabods, who have 10 freshmen on their roster, will begin the 2022 campaign with four matches at the UNK Fall Classic this weekend.
On Friday, the Ichabods will face Central Washington (10 a.m.) and Minot State (4 p.m.) before wrapping up the tournament on Saturday against Midwestern State (10 a.m.) and Sioux Falls (4 p.m.).
The Ichabods, who lost 14 players off last year's team, will begin the new season right where they finished 2021, as the No. 2-ranked team in the nation. Washburn was voted No. 2 in the AVCA Coaches Preseason Poll that was released on Aug. 17.
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TopSports.news
Aiden Amis, Hayden
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Mason Brokaw
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A senior, Brokaw was a state medalist as a freshman and a state qualifier as a sophomore. Brokaw helped the Eagles finish second as a team in the Mid-East League meet last fall, earning all-league honors. Brokaw has also been a Class 3A state track medalist the past two seasons.
Michael Christopher
Michael Christopher, Topeka High
Christopher, a senior, earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention recognition in 2020 and 2021. Chriistopher was an individual Class 6A state qualifier last fall after taking 11th in the city meet and 21st in 6A regional competition.
Andrew Emerson
Andrew Emerson, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Emerson earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors last fall after helping the T-Birds finish seventh in the Class 5A state meet. Emerson placed 12th in the United Kansas Conference and 11th at in 5A regional competition.
Jackson Esquibel
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Stella Appelhanz
Stella Appelhanz, Seaman
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Anna Becker
Anna Becker, Seaman
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Madeline Carter
Madeline Carter, Washburn Rural
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Bethany Druse
Bethany Druse, Seaman
Druse, a senior, is a three-time All-Shawnee County selection and a two-time All-Stater. Druse had a solid junior season, improving her best time by 20 seconds and establishing a new Seaman five-kilometer record of 18 minutes, 48 seconds. Druse placed fifth at Rim Rock, fourth in the city meet, second in a a Class 5A Regional and sixth in the 5A state championships, leading the Lady Vikes to a fourth-place team finish. Druse was the 5A state 800 meters champion in track.
Mariah Farmer
Mariah Farmer, Silver Lake
Farmer was a Class 3A state medalist as a freshman and sophomore before missing all of her junior cross country season due to stress fractures. Famer has qualified for the state track meet the past two seasons.
Payton Fink
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural
Fink turned in an outstanding freshman season for the Junior Blues, finishing third in four straight races, including city, Centennial League and Class 6A regional meets. Fink earned her All-Shawnee County, all-league and All-State honors, finishing the year with a 19th-place state finish.
