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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Topeka High’s rollercoaster soccer season came to an end in Friday's Class 6A regional championship match against Garden City, with the Trojans losing 2-0 at Hummer Sports Park.
Losing the regional championship certainly wasn’t the way the Trojans wanted to end the the year, but the journey to that point gave Topeka High cherished memories.
Topeka High senior Tae Thomas executes a header in Fridays 2-0 Class 6A regional loss to Garden City. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
“I couldn’t be happier with the way the season turned out for us,” Topeka High coach Derek Snook said. “After the first couple of weeks, I was unsure about how the season was going to go. At one point of the season, we spent more time in the training room than we did on the practice field. But the fight, determination and the ‘never say die’ attitude carried us a long way.
“This is the best team I’ve ever coached.”
Topeka High was rolling coming into Friday night’s contest against Garden City, but the Buffaloes were playing great soccer as well.
As dominant as High’s backline was for its hot stretch in May, Garden City found ways to exploit the Trojans on Friday.
Out of Garden City’s 21-player roster, only one senior was on the squad and that person is Destiny Rojo.
Rojo put a goal on the board for the Buffaloes with a penalty kick at the 31:10 mark in the first half.
Topeka High’s backline booted a ball past midfield where Tae Thomas would have one of the slim opportunities to score in the first half. Garden City goalkeeper Laydaly Enriquez would throw her entire body in front of the charging Thomas to prevent Topeka High from scoring with 18:04 to go.
Garden City would bullrush Topeka High down in their own territory and collect a goal with 15:36 remaining in the first half. Ariel Martinez would fake out two Trojan defenders and would net it in with a light tap of the cleat.
The mauling Buffaloes' defense would be the main story of Friday night’s contest. Topeka High’s attackers would be dramatically halted by Garden City’s slide tackles and speed.
Topeka High would have four opportunities in the first half and six in the second half to score against the Buffaloes but fell short.
Enriquez would have a career-type of day in the box for Garden City.
Topeka High wouldn’t be able to net a goal against Garden City and finished the season with a 12-6-0 record.
The Trojans improved from previous years and High hopes this season will help next year’s team going forward.
“This team will reflect on all of our different programs here at Topeka High,” Snook said. “These girls’ ‘never say die’ attitude this season has set the standard for what we want to accomplish down the road. If the underclassmen learned anything it was to never quit and give up on your teammates.
“No matter what the score or the outcome of the game is, as long as you never gave up on each other, you will take that with you. It wasn’t the way we wanted to end the season, but I’m glad that they gave it their all.”
GARDEN CITY 2, TOPEKA HIGH 0
Garden City (12-5-1) 2 0 – 0
Topeka High (12-6-0) 0 0 – 0
Garden City – Goals: Rojo, Martinez. Assist: Rojo. Shutout: Enriquez.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It took awhile for Washburn Rural's girls soccer team to get going Friday night.
But once the Junior Blues got untracked the goals came in bunches, with Rural rolling to the Class 6A state quarterfinals with an 8-0 romp past Wichita East at McElroy Field.
Washburn Rural, which improved to a 15-2-1 with its regional championship, will be back at home next Tuesday for a quarterfinal contest. Pairings will be released at the conclusion of all regional finals.
Washburn Rural soccer celebrates its Class 6A regional championship after Friday's 8-0 win over Wichita East at McElroy Field. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
![Washburn Rural senior Belle Kennedy, executing a header in Friday's Class 6A regional final, scored a goal in the Junior Blues' 8-0 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]](/images/aa-images/BelleKenneyWE1.jpeg)
Washburn Rural senior Belle Kennedy, executing a header in Friday's Class 6A regional final, scored a goal in the Junior Blues' 8-0 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
"At the end of the day we're very capable,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "We've had flashes this year where we've done some really great things. We've kind of had some ups and downs a little bit with consistency and playing hard and doing the right things but our best is as good as anybody out there.
"We've just got to find a way to put that on the field every single time, so it was nice in the second half to see us have a really good performance.''
The Junior Blues scored the only goal they would need on a penalty kick from junior Mackinly Rohn at the 23:50 mark of the opening half and senior Emma Krueger gave Rural a 2-0 halftime advantage with 3:15 remaining in the first half.
Rural quickly turned the game into a rout in the second half, starting with a goal from senior Belle Kennedy just 54 seconds after halftime.
The Junior Blues also got second-half goals from senior Alandra Bailey (35:50), freshman Katelyn Hinck (21:24), sophomore Hayley Legg (8:29), Hinck (5:49) and junior Brianna Jones (0:26) while Wichita East (10-8-0) never mustered a serious scoring threat.
Legg also contributed a pair of assists for Rural, which also got assists from Hinck, Rohn, senior Hunter McWilliams, freshman Delaney Hill and freshman Madison Lemke while junior Hailey Beck and sophomore Mackenzie Flood combined for the shutout in goal.
After finishing third in the state tournament a year ago, Hensyel said the Junior Blues are setting their goals higher this time around.
"You've got a senior class who their freshman year made it to the championship game, missed a year and then got third last year,'' Hensyel said. "They've been all over the end of it so it's been buiilding to this moment for us all year and we can't wait for Tuesday.''
WASHBURN RURAL 8, WICHITA EAST 0
Wichita East (10-8-0)) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn Rural (15-2-1) 2 6 -- 8
Washburn Rural -- Goals: Hinck 2, Rohn, Krueger, Kennedy, Bailey, Legg, Jones. Assists: Legg 2, Hinck, Rohn, Hunter McWilliams, Hill, Lemke. Shutout: Beck, Flood.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Topeka High standout Brittney Redmond is coming home to take over the Trojans' girls basketball program.
Redmond, a 2011 High graduate, was approved as the Trojans' new head coach by the USD 501 school board Thursday night to replace Hannah Alexander, who resigned in April to accept a job at Andover High.
Brittney Redmond, a 2011 Topeka High graduate, has been named the Trojans' new head girls basketball coach. Redmond was approved by the USD 501 School Board Thursday night. [Submitted photo]
Redmond has served as an assistant coach at four junior colleges, including her most recent stop at Clarendon College, but said she had always had an interest in returning to her alma mater at some point to coach.
"If I was going to coach high school it was definitely going to be at Topeka High,'' Redmond said. "I didn't think it would be this soon but I did want to come back and give back to the community and possibly coach.''
Redmond takes over a Trojan program that has made four straight appearances in the Class 6A state tournament, with a pair of state runner-up appearances.
Topeka High posted a 20-3 record this past season and dropped a 33-32 decision to Blue Valley in the opening round of the state tournament.
Redmond said she knows the bar is set high at Topeka High and is eager to get started in her new position.
"Just coming from the college world I'm pretty up to speed with how practices are run and preparing for games, so I would say I'm ready,'' Redmond said.
Following her Topeka High career, Redmond played two seasons at Allen County Community College and then played at the University of West Alabama.
Redmond began her coaching career at Southwestern Oregon Community College and then coached at Colby and Garden City before coaching last season at Clarendon College in Texas.
Redmond said she'll take advantage of the summer to get to know her new team and get prepared for the 2022-2023 season.
The Trojans return several key players this year's team, including Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year Kiki Smith, who will be a senior.
"We're going to hit the ground running as soon as we're able to do so,'' Redmond said. "I feel like a lot of people believe in me and they know I'm going to keep the ball rolling at Topeka High.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin and No. 7 Hayden captured Class 4A-1A regional girls soccer championships on Thursday, setting up a state quarterfinal matchup between the Lions and the Wildcats next Tuesday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Cair Paravel Latin hoists its Class 4A-1A regional championship trophy after Tuesday's 9-0 win over Bishop Seabury. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
![Hayden soccer poses for a team picture after winning a Class 4A-1A regional title with a 1-0 win at Louisburg on Thursday. [Photo/Hayden soccer]](/images/2024/08/Haydensoccerregional.jpg)
Hayden soccer poses for a team picture after winning a Class 4A-1A regional title with a 1-0 win at Louisburg on Thursday. [Photo/Hayden soccer]
Cair Paravel rolled to a 9-0 win over Bishop Seabury in its regional final Thursday at Bettis while Hayden earned a 1-0 road victory at Louisburg.
With the victory Cair Paravel improved 14-3-0 on the season.
Junior Sloane Sims scored the game's only goal in the first half and Hayden made it stand up the rest of the way.
Senior Abby Dodd was credited with the assist on Sims' goal as Hayden improved to 10-6-1 on the season.
Next Tuesday's quarterfinal will be played at 4:30 p.m. at Bettis.
The winner of that game will move on to the 4A-1A state tournament Mary 27-28 at Hummer Sports Park.
Other 4A-1A state quarterfinals will pit Bishop Miege (12-5-1) against Baldwin (10-5-2), Mulvane (14-3-1) against Buhler (10-7-1) and McPherson (14-3-1) against Circle (12-5-1).
ROSSVILLE SOFTBALL COMPLETES REGIONAL RUN
Rossville softball wrapped up its suspended Class 3A regional final on Thursday in Sabetha, taking a 9-3 win over Nemaha Central to earn a berth in next week's Class 3A state tournament at the Twin Oaks Complex in Manhattan.
Rossville softball poses for a team picture after earning a Class 3A state berth with a 9-3 win over Nemaha Central Thursday at Sabetha. [Submitted]
The Bulldawgs, now 20-3 on the season, will be the No. 6 seed in the state tournament and will open their state tournament bid at 7 p.m. next Thursday against No. 3 Council Grove (21-2).
Also on the same side of the bracket with Rossville and Council Grove are No. 2 Scott City (20-1) and No. 7 Prairie View (19-4).
On the other side of the 3A bracket, No. Hoisington/Central Plains (22-1) will face No. 8 Santa Fe Trail (19-4) and No. 4 Kingman/Norwich (21-2) will take on No. 5 Frontenac (20-3).
The state semifinals will be played at 11 a.m. next Friday, followed by the championship game at 1:30 p.m.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The home stretch was a home run for Washburn Rural freshman distance standout Payton Fink in Thursday's Class 6A track and field regional at Hummer Sports Park.
Fink rallied from behind in both the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters to edge teammates Rylee Ismert and Madeline Carter as the Junior Blues went 1-2 in both events on the way to a second-place team finish.
Washburn Rural freshman Payton Fink (1) runs alongside teammate Rylee Ismert (3) in the girls 1,600-meter run in Thursday's Class 6A regional. Fink and Ismert finished one-two in a close finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Fink finished with a flourish in the 1,600 to win the race in a time of 5 minutes, 35.01 seconds, while Ismert was second in 5:35.02 in a photo finish.
Later in the evening Fink used the same formula to double up in the 3,200 in 11:45.98 while Carter was a strong second in 11:47.01.
"It was a race strategy,'' Fink said with a chuckle. "I think sometimes at the finish it's kind of easier to see your competition (from behind) and drive for that.
"I feel like you just have to go and not think about how much you have left and just let your body take you.''
Fink thought she won the 1,600, one of the closest races of the regional meet, but wasn't 100 percent sure until she found out the final results.
"Barely,'' Fink said. "I didn't know for sure and she's my teammate, she's awesome. My goal was just to qualify and then do what I can at state.''
Fink, Ismert and Carter also helped Washburn Rural quality in the 4 x 800 relay for the May 27-28 state meet in Wichita, teaming with Khloi Bird to post a second-place finish in that race in 10:01.22.
Bird also qualified in the 800 meters with a fourth-place finish in 2:31.30.
"I'm excited (for state),'' Fink said. "I just want to try and get a PR (personal record) and maybe a medal.''
Washburn Rural qualified for state in six events overall, with sophomore Raegen Petersen adding a third regional championship for the Junior Blues with a win in the discus at 120 feet, 9 inches.
Petersen also finished fourth in the javelin (101-60, while Rural teammate Ashley Fitzhugh was third at 102-10.
CLASS 6A REGIONAL TRACK AND FIELD
Girls
