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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West tennis standouts Ian and Miles Cusick faced off against a familiar foe in Monday's Centennial League doubles final, taking on Emporia's Brenden Kienholz and Taylor Moorman for the second time in three days.
But the Cusick twins were.up to the challenge, surviving a Spartan rally to claim the league title with an 8-6 victory to lead city-champion West to a second-place team finish behind Manhattan, which won its sixth straight championship.
Topeka West sophomores Miles Cusick (left) and Ian Cusick followed up their city doubles title with the Centennial League championship Monday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Ian and Miles Cusick, who had taken an 8-4 win over Emporia on Saturday in the finals of the Emporia tournament, jumped in front 4-1 Monday but Keinholz and Moorman were down just 7-6 before the Chargers closed out the win.
"I think (Emporia) played extremely well today,'' Miles Cusick said. "It was a tough match, especially seeing them two days ago. I think we both tried not to take that for granted that we beat them last time.''
"(Emporia) really stepped it up in the second half (of the match),'' Ian Cusick added. "Those close matches are hard and it's really good that we can win close matches going forward.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Carter Cool
CARTER COOL, Topeka West
Cool, a sophomore, won the No. 1 singles championship in his first city tennis tournament last Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping the Chargers win the city team title. Cool took an 8-2 win over Shawnee Heights' Jaden Rodriguez in the final, clinching Topeka West's 28-27 win over Washburn Rural. Cool added second-place finishes in Saturday's Emporia tournament and Monday's Centennial League meet.
Ian Cusick
IAN CUSICK, Topeka West
A sophomore, Cusick teamed with his twin brother, Miles, to win the No. 1 doubles championship in last Thursday's city tournament at Kossover Tennis Center, helping lead West to the city team crown. The Cusicks took an 8-1 win over Nick Luetje and Mason Casebeer of Washburn Rural in the final. The Cusicks also won a tournament title last Saturday in Emporia and claimed the Centennial League doubles crown with an 8-6 win on Monday.
Miles Cusick
MILES CUSICK, Topeka West
Cusick, a sophomore, teamed with twin brother Ian, to win the No. 1 doubles championship in last Thursday's city tournament at Kossover Tennis Center, helping West win the city team championship by a point. The Cusicks took an 8-1 win over Nick Luetje and Mason Casebeer of Washburn Rural in the final. The Cusicks also won a tournament title last Saturday in Emporia and claimed the Centennial League doubles crown Monday with an 8-6 win.
Bethany Druse
BETHANY DRUSE, Seaman
Druse, a sophomore, posted a pair of girls distance wins in last Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Seaman Relays to remain undefeated, winning the 1,600 meters in a personal-best time of 5 minutes, 19.90 seconds and returning later in the evening to take the win in the 800 in 2:22.64.
Luke Leonetti
LUKE LEONETTI, Washburn Rural
Leonetti, a junior, followed up his city boys golf championship with the individual title in Monday's Centennial League tournament at Village Greens Golf Course, shooting a 74 to win by two strokes. Leonetti led the Junior Blues to the Centennial team crown by 11 strokes (312-323) over Emporia.
Sam Shonka
SAM SHONKA, Washburn Rural
Shonka, a senior, claimed the boys high jump title in last Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Seaman Relays, posting a five-inch improvement over his previous season-best with a clearance at 6 foot, 6 inches.
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![Topeka West freshman Victoria Reed is the Shawnee County leader in thee girls 100 and 200-meter dash and ranks No. 2 in the 400. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]](/images/aa-images/DSC_4147.jpg)
Topeka West freshman Victoria Reed (middle) is the Shawnee County leader in the girls 100 and 200-meter dash and ranks No. 3 in the 400. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news plans to compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2021 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Reed, Topeka West 12.2
Hillebert, Hayden 12.69 (12.6)
Brooks, Topeka West 12.6
200 METERS
Reed, Topeka West 25.99
Brooks, Topeka West 26.77
Hillebert, Hayden 26.82
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 26.82
Ingram, Washburn Rural 27.1
400 METERS
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 58.67
Foster, Rossville 59.91
Reed, Topeka West 59.99
Wright, Washburn Rural 63.85
Bray, Washburn Rural 63.97
800 METERS
Druse, Seaman 2:21.0 (2:21.02)
Foster, Rossville 2:24.94
Bird, Washburn Rural 2:29.23
Wagner, Washburn Rural 2:31.07
Rezac, Washburn Rural 2:31.58
Seaman sophomore Bethany Druse (right) leads Shawnee County girls in the 800 and 1,600 meters. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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Shawnee Heights sophomore Jeremiah Smith is the Shawnee County boys leader in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the 110 hurdles. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news plans to compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2021 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 10.36
Rezac, Rossville 10.68
Renfro, Silver Lake 10.90
January, Shawnee Heights 10.92
200 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 21.85
Rezac, Rossville 22.03
Renfro, Silver Lake 22.50
January, Shawnee Heights 23.04
400 METERS
Arnold, Shawnee Heights 51.68
Kaniper, Silver Lake 54.04
Mitchell, Washburn Rural 54.35
Myers, Shawnee Heights 53.41
Rochford, Hayden 54.85
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Anyone who has a sibling knows it's nearly impossible to get along ALL the time, especially when you're together ALL the time, and Topeka West twin brothers Ian and Miles Cusick admit there's been instances where they haven't always necessarily been on the same page this spring as doubles partners for West's tennis team.
But those times have been far outweighed by an impressive run of success by the sophomore pair, who rolled to the No. 1 doubles championship in last Thursday's city meet at the Kossover Tennis Center, helping lead Kurt Davids' Chargers to their first city team crown.
Topeka West sophomore twin brothers Miles Cusick (left) and Ian Cusick have put together a banner season in doubles this season, winning the No. 1 city title and helping lead the Chargers to the team crown. [File photo/TSN]
"I think we try to get along well,'' Miles Cusick said. "There's some times it's a little bit tougher than others, but I think we definitely manage it very well. That's obviously one of the things we've worked on is making sure we're communicating with each other.
"If we get mad it doesn't help the team and there's nothing you can really do about it. Just get rid of it.''
Ian Cusick agreed there are challenges at times, but he said he feels he and Miles are growing as a doubles team, and brothers.
"Sometimes it's actually really hard to play with him because we're brothers and we have that bond, but you're more comfortable so it's easier to get mad at him,'' Ian Cusick explained. "You can't brush it off like you would with someone you're not as close with.
"We have lost a couple of hard matches this season and you get a little upset, but we're definitely getting closer.''
