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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University softball stars Jaycee Ginter and Marrit Mead have a lot in common.
In fact, the pair probably has more in common than not.
Washburn University softball stars Marrit Mead (left) and Jaycee Ginter are teammates, classmates, roommates, co-workers and now both All-Americans. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights product Ginter and Santa Fe Trail grad Mead have played club softball together since middle school, are roommates, take most of the same classes at WU as nursing majors and even have the same part-time job.
"I wouldn't say we were as close as ever from the start, but when you start playing sports together and are always on the field together you build a connection,’’ Mead said. “Obviously from eighth grade till now that's a lot of years and that's a lot of time spent together, on the softball field, on the volleyball court and just hanging out.
”All those things you just build so many connections and I think (our closeness) has just built up over time.''
Ginter agreed.
"I think we started playing club softball together in seventh or eighth grade and then we also joined the same volleyball team, so we also played volleyball together and kind of just were always hanging out,’’ Ginter said.
Recently the two added one more element to their unbreakable bond – sharing the title of NCAA Division II All-American as sophomores – after helping lead Brenda Holaday’s Ichabods to the MIAA regular-season championship, an NCAA Tournament berth and a 45-15 overall record.
A pitcher/outfielder, Ginter earned first-team All-America accolades from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association while Mead, a third baseman, earned All-America honors for the second straight season, earning third-team recognition from the NFCA and honorable mention from D2CCA.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which went undefeated against city competition en route to a Centennial League championship and a runner-up finish in the Class 6A state tournament, put a city-high five players on the 2022 All-City girls soccer team, selected by city coaches.
Washburn Rural senior Belle Kennedy (left), a first-team repeat pick, is one of five Junior Blues named to the 2022 All-City girls soccer team. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior goalkeeper Tatum Hoge earned first-team All-City soccer honors for the second straight season after helping lead the T-Birds to a 13-5-0 record in 2022. [Submitted photo]
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Katherine Keys (1) earned All-City girls soccer first-team recognition for the second straight season after helping lead the Lions to a fourth-place finish in the Class 4A-1A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Hunter McWilliams (left) earned first-team All-City girls soccer honors for the second straight season after helping the Junior Blues post a second-place finish in Class 6A. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High sophomore Avery Zimmerman (2) and Hayden senior Kate Roeder (15) are both first-team All-City girls soccer repeat picks. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High senior Luxanna Sands (right) earned a spot on the All-City soccer first team for the second straight year after helping lead the Trojans to a 12-6-0 season this spring. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman junior Brooklyn Yingling (near) earned first-team All-City soccer honors for the second straight year after helping the Vikings post an11-6-1 record this spring. [File photo/TSN]
The Junior Blues, who went 17-3-1 on the season, are represented on the first team by seniors Reagan Allen, Belle Kennedy, McKenna Merrick and Hunter McWilliams and freshman Kate Hinck while Junior Blues coach Brian Hensyel was named the city coach of the year.
Cair Paravel Latin, which posted a fourth-place finish in the 4A-1A state tournament, put sophomore Katherine Keys and freshman Zahra Lewis on the first team after the Lions posted a 15-5-0 record and earned their first final four berth.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Local sports icons Kyle Weems and Michael Wilhoite will be back in Topeka July 7 to host the Darting Basketball Academy Youth Foundation's one of a kind Big Kev's Community Give Back Dual Basketball/Football camp at Shawnee Heights.
The two Highland Park graduates and longtime professional athletes will be on hand with other special guests to host the camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Athletes will have the option between all-day basketball or football camps or can split their time between half-day basketball and football camps. Athletes can register online at dartingbasketball.com.
One hundred percent of the camp profits will be donated to Topeka non-profit organizations.
Weems and Wilhoite played together at Highland Park before Weems went on to earn Missouri Valley Player of the Year basketball honors at Missouri State and Wilhoite became a football standout for Washburn University.
Wilhoite put together a seven-year NFL career as a linebacker with San Francisco and Seattle and is currently the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Weems continues to play professional basketball overseas and is currently playing in Bologna, Italy.
The July 7 camp is named in honor of Kyle's late father, Kevin, a former Washburn University basketball player, who had a big impact on the athletic careers of both Weems and Wilhoite, who were inducted into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
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Editor's note: Over the next few days, TopSports.news will take a look at all of the nominees for the 2022 Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. All nominees will be recognized at the June 22 awards banquet, which will be held in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame induction at Washburn University's Memorial Union.
FALL SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Tylan Alejos
TYLAN ALEJOS | Topeka High
PARENTS: Evan and Tia Alejos
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.10
A 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back/defensive back, Alejos was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 and All-Centennial League first-team selection after rushing for 1,327 yards on 202 carries and scoring 18 total touchdowns lat fall. Defensively Alejos recorded 40 tackles (16 solo) and had a pass interception. Alejos rushed for 400 yards and scored eight touchdowns in a Centennial League victory over Highland Park. Alejos will play his college football at the University of Kansas after accepting a preferred walk-on offer from the Jayhawks.
Jaq'Son Birdwhistle-Bush
JAQ'SON BIRDWHISTLE-BUSH | Topeka West
PARENTS Dr. Christopher and AliShia Bush
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.415
"Jaq'Son has been an excellent example of character, leadership and work ethic as a student-athlete at Topeka West,'' said Ryan Kelley, who coached Birdwhistle-Bush at West. "In four years of being his football coach, Jaq'Son never missed a workout or practice, summer or fall. Even through tough times where the program struggled to experience success in terms of wins and losses Jaq'Son remained positive and worked hard every day. We at Topeka West are extremely proud of Jaq'son.'' Birdwhistle-Bush caught 12 passes for149 yards and a touchdown as a senior. Birdwhistle-Bush will attend Kansas State University.
Carter Brian
CARTER BRIAN | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Tom and Susan Brian
SPORT: Football | GPA: 4.27
Brian was the Lions' quarterback as a junior and senior, leading Cair Paravel to a perfect season and the Kansas Christian Athletic Association state title last fall. "He is a determined individual who is not afraid of difficult possibilities and that effort created the building blocks for a very successful senior season,'' Cair Paravel coach Doug Bonura said. "Carter's leadership at the quarterback position helped secure his team's undefeated season. Brian earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honors, throwing for 2,515 yards and 51 touchdowns. Brian plans to play football at Ohio Northern University.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn Rural state champ and Washburn University Division II golfer of the year Andrew Beckler plans to enjoy every minute of next week's United States Open experience in Brookline, Mass.
U.S. Open qualifier Andrew Beckler talks to Pure Golf Topeka Summer Junior Camp participants Wednesday at Pure Golf Topeka. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University star golfer Andrew Beckler, a qualifier for the 2022 U.S. Open, poses for a picture with Pure Golf Topeka Summer Junior Camp participants Wednesday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Beckler also knows that first and foremost he has a job to do next week after qualifying for his first Open earlier this week.
"It's going to be a great experience and I'm gong to soak it in,'' Beckler said. "My family's coming so it's going to be a great experience for me, but it's still a golf tournament for me so I have a game plan going in for how I'm going to approach practice rounds and things like that and what I'm going to do to prepare for it.
"Then I'm just going to swing away and see what happens. My game's in good shape and I think I can compete out there.''
