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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After earning NHRA Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 and posting a fourth-place points finish a year ago, Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley entered the current Camping World Drag Racing Series season with his confidence at an all-time high.
![Justin Ashley, currently third in Top Fuel points with a pair of 2022 victories, will compete in this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Ron Lewis]](/images/aa-images/JustinAshley1.jpg)
Justin Ashley, currently third in Top Fuel points with a pair of 2022 victories, will compete in this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Ron Lewis Photography]
And nothing has happened to change that, with Ashley a strong third in points with a pair of 2022 victories entering this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor at Heartland Motorsports Park.
"I felt really confident going into the season because I knew the kind of work that we put in in the offseason to be able to put us in the kind of position that we're in now,'' said Ashley, who has reached four final rounds and earned a No. 1 qualifier position in '22. "We knew how good the depth in the Top Fuel field was going to be, so we were really pro-active and took steps forward to make more power, bringing in guys like Tommy DeLago to work with Mike Green and take that next step forward.
"The expectations to perform well were there, and when you look at it from a broader view now that we're 13 races down, I think we're exactly where we expected to be and we're really happy with our performance. Obviously, we want to win every race and we expect to be No. 1 in the points but we also have to be realistic. We know how good the field is and we want to compete race-in and race-out and I think we've done a good job of doing that.''
Top Fuel star Justin Ashley will be looking to join his father, Mike, as a Topeka winner in this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo by Ron Lewis Photography]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Is Washburn University senior Hunter Browning a running back or a wide receiver?
Hunter Browning
Well, that kind of depends on the year and what the Ichabods' needs are that particular season.
And it doesn't matter to the former Washburn Rural standout where he plays as long as he's playing.
"I just want to be on the field,'' said the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder. "It doesn't matter where it is. As long as I'm playing with my brothers, that's all I can ask for.''
After redshirting in 2017, Browning played running back for the Ichabods in 2018 before switching to receiver in 2019 and 2021.
Now Browning will be back at running back when Washburn opens the 2022 season on Sept. 1 at Yager Stadium against Lincoln.
Former Washburn Rural product Hunter Browning makes a diving reception for Washburn against Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Browning has been productive at both positions, recording 428 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 92 carries and catchint 34 passes for 393 yards and two TDs.
A year ago Browning played in all 12 games for the 9-3 Ichabods, with 21 receptions for 271 yards and a TD.
"I definitely like finding the holes and bursting through them at running back and I also like those 20-yard post routes,'' Browning said. "They are two completely different positions, but I think being able to play both of them really gives me a more complete look at the defense.''
Now Browning is looking for another big year in his sixth and final season in the Ichabod program and said it was a no-brainer to take advantage of his last year of eligibility.
"It really feels like time's flown by so fast,'' Browning said. "I just love the togetherness of the guys, the teamwork. I feel like the coaches really make sure everybody's on the same page and really made it an easy decision to come back.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Camrie Caruso grew up around drag racing, with her father, Marc, and grandfather, Papa Joe, both veteran racers.
But Caruso's family didn't pressure her into the sport. They didn't have to.
"They never pushed it, it was always my choice,'' Caruso said.
Camrie Caruso has turned in a solid rookie season in the Pro Stock Car division, ranking eighth in points entering this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals. [Photo by Auto Imagery]
The 24-year-old Caruso competed in the Jr. Dragster, Super Comp, Top Alcohol Dragster and Mountain Motor Pro Stock ranks before making the jump to Pro Stock Car this season, becoming just the second woman to run a full season in the class.
"I've always wanted to do it, so it was always kind of the plan, in my head at least, to probably run either Pro Mod or Pro Stock,'' Caruso said in a phone interview. "I wasn't really too picky.''
Two-time Pro Stock world champ Jim Yates (left) is serving as crew chief for Camrie Caruso, helping Caruso reach a final round and earn a No. 1 qualiier position in her rookie season. [Photo by Auto Imagery]
Two-time world Pro Stock champ Jim Yates joined the family-run team over the winter as crew chief and Caruso has made an immediate impact, racing to a final round and earning a No. 1 qualifier in her rookie season while ranking in the top 10 in the extremely-competitive Pro Stock division all season.
"I feel like it's gone good,'' said Caruso, eighth in points entering the Menards NHRA Nationals Friday through Sunday at Heartland Motorsports Park. "We started really, really awesome. The first five races, six races were great. We kind of hit a struggle in the Western Swing and then at Seattle we started to come back from that.
"So honestly I think the team's doing really great together. It is a whole new team, so it does take some time to get used to each other and the way each other works and everything else, so I think we're pretty good. I think we're going to stay here for quite a long time.''
Pro Stock Rookie Camrie Caruso will make her racing debut at Heartland Motorsports Park this weekend in the Menards NHRA Nationals. [Photo by Auto Imagery]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
As a high school athlete, Dane Terry was almost always in the middle of the action for Shawnee Heights, leading the T-Bird football team in tackles as both a junior and a senior and earning Heights' Defensive Most Valuable Player award as a senior while also qualifying for the Class 5A state tournament in wrestling.
Dane Terry
Conversely, the 5-foot-9, 200-pound fifth-year junior linebacker has done a lot more watching than playing, at least on game days, during his Washburn University career, playing in a single game over his previous four years in the program.
And while other players might have abandoned their college football dreams a long time ago, Terry actually has embraced his situation.
"You go from the guy in high school, 'Well, Dane did this, Dane had a great game, he had a couple of sacks,' and then you come here and you're a nobody again, really,'' Terry said. "You start at base zero and that's something I actually appreciate because it taught me how to be humble and how to take everything in stride.
"It is what it is, and that's what I've learned. If I play in one game or if I don't, at the end of the day I'm still playing college football. I've still met all these awesome dudes that I'm going to have around for life and I've really enjoyed it.''
A three-time Ichabod defensive work team player of the week and a four-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, most of Terry's contributions for the Ichabods have come in practice, but he did get a chance to make his Washburn debut last fall.
"I think it was four plays maybe,'' Terry said.
A bigger role could be in the offing this fall, with Terry expected to be a contender for a spot on the Ichabods' special teams.
"That would be awesome, and that's really what I've hoped for this whole time I've been here is to get to a place where I have a role,'' Terry said. "For me right now that role is as a practice player, to get the offense ready, keep the guys in check, lead the younger guys, and if it gets bigger than that this year I'm all for it because it's my game, I love this game.
"Especially through COVID and everything that was uncertain, you've got to love it (to stick with it). It's not high school any more, it's college. It's a fulltime job basically and even if you're not playing you've just got to love what you're doing and I do. I love every second of it.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After two seasons at Johnson County Community College, former Seaman volleyball standout Addie Steiner did consider multiple schools to continue her college career.
Maddie Steiner
But given her family tree, it seemed almost inevitable that Steiner would end up at Washburn University.
"I've had my dad (Jeff) come play baseball here, my mom (Audra) came to finish her schooling and her master's degree here and then my brother (Nick) played baseball for four years, and here I am, transferring in,'' said the 5-foot-5 defensive specialist/libero.
"Coming out of Johnson County I had visits at Nebraska-Kearney, Ottawa and here, and here was by far my best choice. I love it here.''
A first-team NJCAA All-American and former national champion at Johnson County, Steiner made the switch to Washburn for the spring semester, using that time to start getting ready for the upcoming season.
"I think it really helped because I got to know the girls very well and and I really just bonded with them and got together as a team with them,'' said Steiner, who finished the 2021 season for JCCC with 663 digs, 43 service aces and 104 assists.
