Details

Created: 02 May 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

 Ian Cusick

IAN CUSICK, Topeka West

A junior, Cusick teamed with his twin brother, Miles, to win the city tennis championship in No. 1 doubles for the second straight season.in last Thursday's city tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. The Cusicks took an 8-1 win over Washburn Rural's Kyler Knudtson and Nick Luetje in the championship match, helping the Chargers win a share of the city team title with Rural.

Miles Cusick

MILES CUSICK, Topeka West

Cusick, a junior, teamed with his twin brother, Ian, to win the city tennis championship in No. 1 doubles for the second straight season.in last Thursday's city tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. Miles and Ian beat  Washburn Rural's Kyler Knudtson and Nick Luetje in the championship match, 8-1, helping the Chargers win a share of the city team title with Rural.

Bethany Druse

BETHANY DRUSE, Seaman

A junior, Druse set the Seaman school record in the girls 800 meters in last Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Invitational at Seaman, winning the event in a time of 2 minutes, 15.19 seconds. Druse's time was the best girls 800 meters clocking in the state this spring.

Marrit Mead

MARRIT MEAD, Washburn University

Mead, a sophomore, went 4 for 8 in last Saturday's 5-1, 13-3 doubleheader sweep at Emporia State, helping the Ichabods clinch the MIAA regular-season championship while extending their winning streak to 22 games. Mead, a Santa Fe Trail grad, went 1 for 3 with a run and a run batted in in the first game and went 3 for 5 in the second game with a double and a home run, scoring three runs with five RBI.

Mason Thieu

MASON THIEU, Washburn Rural

Playing his first city tennis tournament since his freshman season, the Washburn Rural senior captured the No. 1 singles championship last Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center with an 8-2 win over Topeka West's James Maag in the final match. Thieu helped lead the Junior Blues to a share of the team title with Topeka West.

Alex Valdivia

ALEX VALDIVIA, Shawnee Heights

Valdivia, a junior, followed up his United Kansas Conference individual golf title with the city championship last Monday at Topeka Country Club. Valdivia, a returning Class 5A state medalist, shot a 27-hole score of 116 to take city medalist honors by two strokes over 2021 city champ Luke Leonetti of Washburn Rural.

 

Details

Created: 30 April 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn baseball scored seven runs in the first inning and never trailed as the Ichabods evened the series with a 10-8 home victory in Game 2 against Pittsburg State on Saturday afternoon.

Washburn (29-17, 19-13 MIAA) will close out the regular season on Senior Day Sunday at 1 p.m.

Former Washburn Rural standout Dalton Huggins was the winning pitcher in Washburn's 10-8 win over Pittsburg State on Saturday, improving to 5-1 on the season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
 
Pittsburg State (28-18, 21-11 MIAA) drew a leadoff walk to start the game and reached third after a couple of wild pitches, but Ichabod starter John Cross got three consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.

Washburn's offense wasted little time getting on the scoreboard and showed its power in the bottom of the first as Brett Ingram hit a one-out solo shot over the fence in left center field.

Parker Dunn drew a five-pitch walk before Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli cleared the bases with a long two-run homer to left field.

Quinn Waterbury singled to right and moved up to second on a fielding error. A wild pitch allowed him to move up to third and then score on Easton Bruce's RBI groundout to put the Ichabods in front, 4-0.

A walk, single, and another walk loaded the bases and forced the Gorillas to change pitchers. With the wind blowing strong, Cal Watkins' hit to the outfield fell for a double that drove in two more runs. Washburn's seventh run of the frame was scored by Otto Jones on a wild pitch.
 
The Gorillas scored two runs in both the third and fourth innings to make it a 7-4 game.
 
In the bottom of the fourth with one runner on and two outs, Waterbury hit a monster home run to right field to increase WU's lead to 9-4.
 
Pittsburg State answered with two runs of its own the following inning, but Washburn Rural product Dalton Huggins took over on the mound and got all three outs to leave the bases loaded and end the inning without further damage.
 
After both teams were retired in order in the sixth, the scoring got started again in the seventh. The Gorillas scored two runs, one unearned, to pull within one, 9-8.
 
Washburn added some insurance in the home half of the seventh. With runners on first and second, Jones laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both Ichabods into scoring position. Pittsburg State brought in a new pitcher and the first pitch got away, allowing Scott to score and push Washburn's lead to 10-8.
 
Huggins got three quick outs in the eighth and returned to close out the ninth. After a leadoff walk, Huggins got a strikeout and then induced a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.
 
The Ichabods out hit the Gorillas, 13-9, and recorded three home runs, a double, and a triple on the afternoon. Ingram was 3 for 5 and notched his 11th homer of the season. Waterbury and Clark-Chiapparelli were both 2-5 with a two-run home run and two runs scored. Scott went 2-3 with a walk at the plate and scored twice.
 
Huggins earned the win and improved his record to 5-1 after throwing five innings in relief and allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks to go with six strikeouts.

Cross went four innings and surrendered six runs on seven hits with three walks while achieving a season-high nine strikeouts. Additionally, after the leadoff walk, he retired the next six batters on strikeouts.

Details

Created: 30 April 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn softball rolled to a doubleheader sweep at Emporia State on Saturday, and coupled with Central Oklahoma's loss to Pittsburg State, the Ichabods clinched their third MIAA regular- season championship and second since 2018 under coach Brenda Holaday while winning their 22nd game in a row.

With Saturday's 5-1, 13-3 sweep, Washburn finished off the regular season 42-11 and 24-2 in the MIAA and will be the No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament next weekend in Edmond, Okla. 

Washburn softball swept Emporia State Saturday to wrap up the MIAA regular-season championship. [Washburn Athletics]

The Ichabods started the first game with three runs in the top of the first after Marrit Mead drew a walk and then, after a single by Paige Robibins and a walk by Jaycee Ginter, Ashton Friend grounded out, scoring Mead. Hadley Herschen's two-out single scored both Robbins and Ginter as Washburn went up,3-0.

The Hornets came back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first cutting the lead to 3-1.

After scoreless at bats in the second and third for the Ichabods, Kerschen led off the fourth with a walk and Autymn Schreiner singled to right, moving Kerschen to second. Kaylee Wagner came in as a pinch-hitter and her sacrifice fly scored Kerschen and then Mead's single up the middle scored Schreiner as the Ichabods went up 5-1 to wrap up the scoring.

Ginter moved to 27-3, scattering six hits and allowing an earned run while striking out five.

Friend and Schreiner each had two hits and Kerschen drove in two runs.

The Ichabods scored nine runs in the first three innings in Game 2, cruising to the 13-3 win.

Mead started off the game with a homer and then, after Friend walked, Jaden LaBarge doubled to left, scoring Friend as the Ichabods went up, 2-0.

In the second, Washburn scored a pair of runs with two outs when Mead doubled, scoring Stipsits who walked, as the Ichabods went up, 4-0.

The Ichabods added to their lead in the third when LaBarge hit a homer to center and then after singles from Kerschen and Schreiner and a walk from Stipsits loading the bases, Mead singled through the left side, scoring Schreiner and Kerschen. After Robbins' single and Ginter came up and singled to left scoring both Mead and Stipsits as the Ichabods pushed their lead to 9-0.

The Hornets added two runs in the bottom of the fourth cutting the lead to 9-2.

In the sixth, Washburn added four more runs when Stipsits cleared the bases with a triple, scoring Schreiner, Kerschen and Moore after all three singled. Mead then drove in her career-best fifth RBI of the game scoring Stipsits with a single as Washburn went up, 13-3.

ESU scored a run in the bottom of the sixth making the final margin 10 for the 13-3 run-rule win.

Mead finished 3 for 5 with her 5 RBI and scored three runs and LaBarge also had three hits driving in two. Stipsits also scored three runs.

Ginter picked up her second win of the day as she finished the regular season with a 28-3 record.

 

Details

Created: 30 April 2022

By ISAAC DEER

TopSports.news

The Shawnee Heights boys shined the brightest at their home track and field invitational on a windy Friday afternoon.

The T-Bird boys racked up six first-place medals, leading to a first-place team finish with a score of 156.

Shawnee Heights junior Jeremiah Smith won three gold medals in Friday's Shawnee Heights Invitational, leading the T-Birds to the team title. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Junior speedster Jeremiah Smith led Shawnee Heights with three first-place medals, while the strength of Maddox Moten earned him two first-place finishes.

“I thought our day went well despite the elements outside,” Shawnee Heights coach John Oshel said. “Our team has competed well and the meet has been moving along perfectly. It’s hard telling with the 30 MPH winds who has specifically stood out, but I thought the team did a great job competing today.”

 Shawnee Heights took first place by the slimmest of margins, edging Emporia by a single point.

“Under the conditions, I thought we competed well,” Emporia coach Randy Wells said. “The wind has had a factor in the events today. I think adapting and dealing with the adversity will benefit our team, especially with state around the corner. The events moving as quick as they are today is a benefit to the teams competing today.”

Hayden's Jadyn Paige-Falley finished second in the shot put (above), won the discus title and finished second in the javelin in Friday's Shawnee Heights Invitational. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Hayden senior distance star Tanner Newkirk posted a 29-second win in the 3,200 meters in Friday's Shawnee Heights Invitational. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

The Hayden boys and girls were both able to take third-place finishes on Friday night. Jadyn Paige-Falley, Joe Otting, Jensen Schrickel, Jake Muller and Tanner Newkirk were able to take gold in various events.

“Overall, it’s been a pretty good day,” Hayden coach DeJuan Gardenhire Jr. said. “I thought we handled ourselves well with the speed of the meet. Today was a pretty fast meet. A lot of kids are doing four events today with only about five or 10 minutes to truly recover.

“I’m proud of how well they have handled the events.”

The Shawnee Heights girls posted a fourth-place team finish. 

The sprinters did particularly well for the T-Birds. Taylor Rottinghaus took a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash and Ta’Mijha Nichols earned the gold in the 100.

 Shawnee Heights alumnus Ryan Hahn has been a key in the turnaround for West Franklin High School, which competed in the invitational.

West Franklin, a 3A school, was considered the underdog in the invitational. While the boys finished fifth, the girls took a second-place finish.

“It’s neat to come here and see the competition,” Hahn said. “We really wanted this meet today. We were anxious when the meet was in question because of the weather. We want to be the ones to step up and face the big schools with faster athletes. I’m proud of our team and the way we’ve competed with the best today.”

Shawnee Heights Invitational

GIRLS

Team scores

Emporia 158.50, West Franklin 113, Hayden 105, Shawnee Heights 96.50, Bishop Miege 92, Ottawa 89.

Individual results

Shot put -- 1. Olson, Bishop Miege, 35-08.00, 2. Paige-Falley, Hayden, 33-10.00, 3. Keebaugh, Ottawa, 32-09.00.

Pole Vault – 1. Bailey, West Franklin, 9-00.00, 2. Gajewski, Bishop Miege, J9-00.00, 3. Busenitz, Shawnee Heights, 9-06.00.

Discus -- 1. Paige-Falley, Hayden, 108-03, 2. Calahan, Bishop Miege, 105-07, 3. Dials, Ottawa, 92-06.

Javelin -- 1. Ficken, Ottawa, 120-11, 2. Paige-Falley, Hayden, 106-05, 3. Emperley, Shawnee Heights, 104-05.

Long jump -- 1. Keebaugh, Ottawa, 16-10.00, 2. Shivley, Emporia, 16-00.00, 3. H. Walters, West Franklin,15-09.00.

High jump -- 1. Telfer, Emporia, 4-10.00, 2. Coffman, Shawnee Heights, J4-10.00, 3. Jordan, West Franklin, 4-08.00.

Triple jump – 1. Keebaugh, Ottawa, 37-04.00, 2. Shivley, Emporia, 34-11.50, 3. Telfer, Emporia, 32-03.50.

4 x 400 relay – 1. Shawnee Heights, 4:24.47, 2. West Franklin, 4:30.10, 3. Bishop Miege, 4:31.17.

100 hurdles -- 1. Key, Bishop Miege, 15.70, 2. Crabtree, West Franklin, 17.22, 3. Eng, Emporia, 17.53.

100 -- 1. Nichols, Shawnee Heights, 12.13, 2. McCallop, Bishop Miege, 12.17, 3. Hillebert, Hayden, 12.88.

1,600 -- 1. Bailey, West Franklin, 5:50.09, 2. Willhite, Emporia, 5:55.78, 3. Sheffy-Harris, Emporia, 5:56.92.

4 x 100 relay -- 1. Bishop Miege, 51.61, 2. Hayden, 52.90, 3. West Franklin, 53.17.

400 -- 1. Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights, 1:00.24, 2. Hillebert, Hayden, 1:04.81, 3. Haltom, Shawnee Heights, 1:05.54.

300 hurdles -- 1. Crabtree, West Franklin, 49.53, 2. Cooper, Emporia, 51.61, 3. Reid, Hayden, 53.77.

800 -- 1. Bailey, West Franklin, 2:36.78, 2. Bird, Ottawa, 2:40.63, 3. Willhite, Emporia, 2:43.63.

200 -- 1. McCallop, Bishop Miege, 27.12, 2. Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights, 27.18, 3. Nichols, Shawnee Heights, 27.88.

3,200 – 1. Sheffy-Harris, Emporia, 12:38.08, 2. Curtis, Emporia, 13:40.79, 3. Huffman, Ottawa, 13:52.52.

BOYS

Team scores

Shawnee Heights 156, Emporia 155, Hayden 139.5, Bishop Miege 93.5, West Franklin 81, Ottawa, 58.

 Individual results

Shot put -- 1. Moten, Shawnee Heights, 50-10.00, 2. Etzel, Shawnee Heights, 47-05.00, 3. Otting, Hayden, 46-08.00.

Discus -- 1. Moten, Shawnee Heights, 141-03, 2. McConnell, Hayden, 139-07, 3. Saleshi, Bishop Miege, 134-11.

Javelin -- 1. Otting, Hayden, 143-04, 2. Cummings, Hayden, 142-00, 3. Clevinger, Ottawa, 138-07.

Long jump -- 1. Schrickel, Hayden, 21-08.50, 2. Funk, Hayden, 20-10.50, 3. Faulkner, Bishop Miege, 20-04.50

High jump -- 1. Abarca, West Franklin, 5-10.00, 2. Proehl, Emporia, 5-08.00, 3. Anderson, Emporia, 5-08.00.

Triple jump – 1. Leeds, Emporia, 40-05.50, 2. Cole, Bishop Miege, 38-07.75, 3. Abarca, West Franklin, 38-03.25.

4 x 800 relay -- 1. Shawnee Heights, 9:03.35, 2. Bishop Miege, 9:15.20, 3. Hayden, 9:31.39.

110 hurdles -- 1. Smith, Shawnee Heights, 14.23, 2. Muller, Hayden, 15.30, 3. Obermeyer, Emporia, 15.69.

100 -- 1. Smith, Shawnee Heights, 9.72, 2. January, Shawnee Heights, 10.50, 3. McDaniel, Shawnee Heights, 10.85.

1,600 -- 1. True, Emporia, 4:50.62, 2. Bailey, West Franklin, 5:06.88, 3. Amis, Hayden, 5:14.39.

4 x 100 relay -- 1. Bishop Miege, 45.23, 2. Hayden, 45.39, 3. Emporia, 45.51.

400 -- 1. Jackson, Emporia, 53.87, 2. Spellman, Emporia, 54.44, 3. Rech, Emporia, 54.47.

300 hurdles -- 1. Muller, Hayden, 40.95, 2. Garvin, Shawnee Heights, 41.93, 3. Obermeyer, Emporia, 44.40.

800 -- 1. True, Emporia, 2:11.38, 2. Benz, Shawnee Heights, 2:11.40, 3. Staniec, Shawnee Heights, 2:11.63.

200 -- 1. Smith, Shawnee Heights, 21.82, 2. January, Shawnee Heights, 23.10, 3. McCallop, Bishop Miege, 23.65.

3,200 – 1. Newkirk, Hayden, 9:34.30, 2. Esquibel, Shawnee Heights, 10:03.40, 3. Rochford, Hayden, 10:51.78.

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