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THE PENNANT PLAYER PROFILE
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
In some ways, the 2021 football season is one Washburn University junior linebacker Grant Bruner would love to forget.
In other ways, it's a year he'll cherish forever.
A nagging hamstring injury forced the 6-foot, 220-pound Bruner to spend a big chunk of the season on the sidelines, but the Gretna, Neb. native has bounced back to provide a defensive spark for the 8-2 Ichabods, who will take a five-game winning streak into Saturday's 1 p.m. Senior Day contest against Missouri Southern at Yager Stadium.
Grant Bruner
"This has probably been the toughest year sports-wise I've had in my life,'' said Bruner, who led the Ichabods with 73 in tackles in 2019 before the 2020 season was wiped out by COVID-19. "Coming into the season I had such high expectations for myself personally, and obviously the team, and then I think it was the fourth day of fall camp is when I got hurt and then it was one of those things that just kept lingering.''
Intent on returning to action as soon as he could, Bruner aggravated his injury in his first action of the season and is just now feeling close to 100 percent physically.
"It was just so frustrating because if it's anything besides a hamstring you can usually wrap it up and play, but the hamstring you've got to have it to run and I just wasn't able to go,'' said Bruner, who received All-MIAA honorable mention in '19. "The most frustrating part was physically you think you feel fine and you're ready to go and then you're not as good as you thought.''
The good news for Bruner and the Ichabods is that now he is finally able to flash the form that was expected out of him at the start of the fall.
"This last game was the best I've felt all year, I had no pain or anything,'' he said.
Bruner, who now has 39 total tackles in five games (20 solo), has been in on at least six tackles over the past three games and is coming off the best game of his career in last Saturday's 28-26 win at Pittsburg, registering 20 tackles, with 10 solo stops.
"I think even back in high school the most I had was upper teens,'' Bruner said. "They said after the game I had 20 tackles and I was like, 'Oh boy.' ''
And the game itself, which went down to the wire, is also one Bruner will never forget.
"I was telling people after the game, 'That was the most fun I've ever had playing football,' just being out there in a close game and the different swing of emotions that there was for both sides from penalties to big returns to turnovers.'' Bruner said. " It was just up and down and it was a blast. The most fun I ever had.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's hard to comprehend some of the numbers that senior quarterback Carter Brian and the Cair Paravel Latin football team have put up this season.
Cair Paravel has outscored its opposition by a 560-78 margin and not had a game closer than 42 points en route to a perfect 10-0 season, while Brian has ranked among the nation's best Eight-Man passers, throwing for 2,179 yards and 48 touchdowns.
Cair Paravel Latin senior quarterback Carter Brian has thrown for 2,179 yards and 48 touchdowns this season for the 10-0 Lions. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But while the Lions' incredible season might be a surprise to those outside the Cair Paravel program, Brian said it's not a big shock to his team.
"We worked hard all summer,'' Brian said. "We played 7 on 7, we were lifting and doing all the things we needed to do and we knew that it was possible for us to be undefeated and when it came to game time, we just executed.''
Now the goal is to cap off the dream season with a win in Saturday's 1 p.m. Kansas Christian Athletic Association title game against perennial KCAA power St. Mary's Academy at Highland Park.
The Lions handed the Crusaders their only loss of the season in a 54-8 home regular-season victory in Week 5, a win that Brian said was a big momentum-builder.
"That was definitely a big statement game,'' Brian said. "I think it proved to us we were better than we thought we were and that we could hang with any team.''
But Brian said the Lions also know things will be tougher the second time around.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's No. 2-ranked volleyball team will close out its regular season at Lee Arena Friday and Saturday, hosting Missouri Western and No. 5 Northwest Missouri in 6 p.m. matches.
Ten Ichabod seniors will be recognized on the court after the conclusion of Saturday's match.
Former Shawnee Heights star Faith Rottinghaus is one of 10 Washburn volleyball seniors who will be recognized Saturday at Lee Arena. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods have won five matches in a row and are 24-3 (16-2 MIAA) entering the weekend.
On Friday WU will face a Missouri Western team that has lost four of its last five matches and has a record of 14-13 (6-12 MIAA). On Saturday the Ichabods will face a Bearcat team that is coming off three sweep victories last week and is now 22-4 (15-3 MIAA) on the year.
Washburn faced both Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri earlier this season, falling at Northwest Missouri in five sets on Oct. 15 and then posting a sweep at Missouri Western the following day.
The Ichabods have won five MIAA regular season titles, all under Herron, in 2002, 2005, 2010, 2011 and 2013. Washburn shared the regular season title with Central Missouri in 2010, 2011, and 2013. If the Ichabods win both matches this weekend WU and Central Missouri will be co-MIAA regular-season champions again.
As a team, Washburn leads the MIAA in nine of 12 statistical categories and is ranked in the top-three nationally in kills per set (15.17 kills/set - first in DII), assists per set (13.79 assists/set - second in DII), and hitting percentage (.304 percent - second in DII).
The Ichabods have also held their opponents to a conference-low .134 hitting percentage as well as the lowest in opponent assists (9.54 assists/set), kills (10.54 kills/set), service aces (0.80 aces/set), and blocks (1.37 blocks/set).
Allison Maxwell (.450) and Sydney Fitzgibbons (.422) are the only two hitters in the MIAA who currently hold an attacking percentage above .400.
Allison Sadler was named the MIAA Setter of the Week on Monday for the third time this season after she set up an offense that hit .386 and averaged 14.57 kills per set in a pair of road victories last week.
The Ichabods moved up one spot for the second straight week to No. 2 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. Washburn has been ranked in the top five in 25 of the last 26 official polls (excluding the 2021 spring season), dating back to the final rankings of 2018. The Ichabods were ranked No. 8 in this fall's preseason poll.
The MIAA continues to be well-represented in the nationall poll as Central Missouri checks in at No. 4, Northwest Missouri is No. 5, and Nebraska-Kearney is No. 12.
The second edition of the NCAA regional rankings were released on Wednesday, with Washburn moving up one place to No. 3 on the list. Eight of the top-10 teams in the final Central Region rankings will advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Washburn posted two road victories last week with a 3-1 win at Pittsburg State and a sweep at Missouri Southern.
Genna Berg leads the team with 330 kills and is second in the MIAA with 3.59 kills per set. She has recorded double-figure kills in 19 of the 27 matches played.
Allison Maxwell has 292 kills this year and is third in the nation with a .450 hitting percentage. She is also second in the conference with 1.10 blocks per set and her 3.17 kills per set ranks ninth in the league.
Faith Rottinghaus averages 6.49 digs per set (third in Division II) and has 597 total digs (eighth in Division II). She has had 20 or more digs in 17 matches.
Washburn has already clinched a place as one of the top-four seeds in the MIAA standings and will host a quarterfinal match next Tuesday. The official tournament bracket will be announced on Saturday evening.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer coach Davy Phillips has announced a signing class of six high school players who will join the Ichabods in the 2022-2023 school year, including Washburn Rural senior standouts Belle Kennedy and Hunter McWilliams.
Belle Kennedy
Hunter McWilliams
Kennedy and McWilliams were both All-Shawnee County and All-Class 6A picks last season after helping lead the Junior Blues to a third-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament.
Phillips also announced the signing of Shandon Carr (Lenexa), Lakin Rold (Lee's Summit, Mo.), Hailey Rogers (Maize) and Brooke Powell (Spring Hill).
Washburn signee capsules:
Shandon Carr, Lenexa, 5-6, Defender -- The St. Thomas Aquinas senior has lettered three times in high school heading into her senior season … she played at Olathe North High School her freshman year where she earned newcomer of the year … after a canceled sophomore year, Carr helped the Saint Thomas Aquinas win the 5A State Title her junior year … with the KC Fusion Club team, she won the NPL League in 2020 … daughter of Sheleah and John McPherson … has two sisters, Jaylyn and Jamya, and a brother, Jahron. Brother Jahron plays football at K-State … plans to major in pre-dental.
Hunter McWilliams, Topeka, 5-7, Midfielder -- McWilliams has been a three-year letter-winner for Washburn Rural ... earned first-team All-City and first-team All-State while leading the Junior Blues to a Centennial League championship and state runner-up finish her freshman year … sophomore season canceled due to COVID-19 … she earned First Team All-City and All-State again while ranking second in assists and third in goals during her junior year … her team was once again were Centennial League Champions … daughter of Heather and Scott McWilliams … two sisters, Harley and Hayden McWilliams … plans to major in nursing
Lakin Rold, Lee's Summit, Mo., 5-5, Defender -- In her senior season at Lee's Summit West High School … played soccer throughout high school … she was a two-time all-conference honorable mention and earned first-eam all-district her junior year … in her two seasons, the Titans were first in the conference and district both times and were third and fourth in the state … daughter of Tami and Ben Rold … plans to major in nursing
Haley Rogers, Maize, Forward -- Currently a senior at Maize High School and has lettered in soccer three seasons heading into senior year … also played volleyball in 2020 when the soccer season was canceled due to COVID-19 … in her junior year she earned first-team all-league and second-team all-city and all-state … she finished with 16 goals and six assists, leading the Eagles to a 15-0-1 record … daughter of Jessica Rogers … her mother, Jessica, played softball at Newman University … one sister, Ryley Rogers … plans to major in biology or health science.
Brooke Powell, Spring Hill, 5-6, Defender -- In her senior season at Spring Hill High School and lettered in soccer her first three seasons … helped the Broncos win the Northeast 5A Regional championship her freshman year … her sophomore year was canceled due to COVID-19 … earned first-team All-Frontier League and second-team All-State in 5A while winning the Northeast 5A Regional again her junior season … she also lettered in basketball for three years … daughter of Krys and Keenan Powell … two brothers, KJ and Cody Powell … KJ played men's soccer at Baker University for one year … plans to major in biology or environmental sciences or kinesiology.
Belle Kennedy, Auburn, 5-3, Midfielder -- Currently in her senior year at Washburn Rural High School and lettered in soccer throughout high school… she helped the Junior Blues to a state runner-up finish her freshman year … her sophomore campaign was canceled due to COVID-19 … in her junior year, she earned 6A midfielder of the year and first team All-State … daughter of Ashley Kennedy-Cooney and David Cooney … has one brother, Bradley Cooney … plans to major in biology or medicine.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The nationally-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team, coming off an MIAA Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance last season, will open its 2021-22 season at 12:45 p.m. Friday against Northern State in the first day of the Central Regional Challenge at historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
Brett Ballard's Ichabods, who went 20-7 a year ago and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, open the season ranked No. 11 in the NABC and No. 17 in D2/SIDA.
Friday's opener will be the first of back-to-back games for Washburn, which will play Augustana at 6 p.m. Saturday.
For the most part Ballard, who is 82-38 in four seasons at WU, said he has been pleased with his team's work in preseason, but said the bar is set very high after last season's success.
"Overall I've been pleased,'' said Ballard, whose Ichabods were picked second in both the MIAA Coaches and Media preseason polls. "I think our veteran guys have done a good job of picking up where we left off last year and as far as the intensity and energy level our practices overall have been pretty good.
"I would say though that we've still got to be much more consistent with our discipline and our attention to detail and our focus. On a daily basis I think we can still take some big steps from that point. I would say I've been pleased, but these guys will tell you, I've been on them. We still aren't anywhere near where we need to be.''
Washburn coach Brett Ballard said expectations will be high for his Ichabods in 2021-2022 after a 20-7 season and a NCAA Tournament berth a year ago. [File photo/TSN]
All-American point guard Tyler Geiman returns to lead Washburn's men's basketball team, which opens its season Friday in Kansas City, Mo. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods return 85 percent of their scoring, 67 percent of their rebounding, 84 percent of their field goals, 93 percent of their 3-pointers, 83 percent of their free throws and 89 percent of their minutes played from a season ago.
Washburn is led by by senior guard Tyler Geiman, who was a third-team D2CCA All-American and first-team All-MIAA after averaging 20.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists while starting all 27 contests.
The Ichabods also return honorable mention All-MIAA selection and MIAA Tournament Most Valuable Player Jalen Lewis, who averaged 13.4 points.
Jonny Clausing was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick after scoring 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 61 percent last season, but Clausing is expected to be sidelined early in the season while recovering from a foot injury.
Tyler Nelson averaged 11.0 points and 1.6 steals per game a year ago while former Hayden standout Levi Braun averaged 6.6 points and hit 54 3-pointers. Connor Deffebaugh averaged 5.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game last season while Rathen Carter averaged 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds.
"We'll have a pretty big target on our back because of the success we've had and we're going to get a lot of people's best shot so we're going to have to be ready to play every night and just because you had success in the past doesn't mean it's just guaranteed. You have to earn it.
"We've got to stay hungry and we've got to stay humble.''
Northern State enters Friday's game with a 1-1 record after falling to No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri 68-55 in St. Joseph, Mo. before topping Rockhurst 77-59 on Nov. 7.
The Wolves are ranked No. 15 in the NABC Preseason Coaches poll and received votes in the D2SIDA poll. Jordan Belka leads the Wolves in scoring at 19.5 points per game while Sam Masten is averaging 13.5 points and Jacksen Moni 11.5.
Augustana will open its season on Friday against Southern Arkansas at 6 p.m. in Kansas City.
