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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Topeka High boys soccer team continued to bolster its resume with a 9-1 win over Highland Park at Hummer Sports Park Monday night.
Senior Antonio Aguirre ripped through the Highland Park defense for four goals and fellow senior Ian Martinez added a hat trick to lead the Trojans.
Topeka High senior Antonio Aguirre scored four goals to lead the way as the Trojans rolled to a 9-1 win over city rival Highland Park at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Ian Martinez recorded a three-goal hat trick in Monday's 9-1 Topeka High soccer win over Highland Park. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The win, coupled with a 5-1 victory over Hayden last week, has the 2-1 Trojans on an upward trajectory. Their lone loss was a double- overtime decision at Lawrence.
“We’ve had three good performances for sure. Losing that tough game against Lawrence, we felt we played well enough to win,” said Topeka High coach Derek Snook. “Then coming out and playing well against Hayden, and this game is another step.
“We feel like we still have room to improve. We can be as good as we want to be. Moving forward, it’s just about getting better every day.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football coach Craig Schurig didn't necessarily want a bye week after the Ichabods' 2024 season-opener.
Former St. Marys star Keller Hurla (5) got his first start at quarterback for Washburn against Emporia State after an injury to Sam Van Dyne. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But after starting quarterback Sam Van Dyne went down with a knee injury less than a week before WU's Aug. 29 game against Emporia State -- forcing redshirt freshman Keller Hurla into a starting role -- everyone in the Ichabod camp is happy to have a total of 16 days to get prepared for Saturday's 1 p.m. home-opener against Colorado School of Mines, the 2023 national runnerup.
"When you first start out you're like, "Well, we really don't want a bye after Game 1, you kind of want to keep rolling,' but with the way everything transpired, this is perfect so we can get a week to just focus on us and not have to worry about Mines until (this week) and it gives us a chance to kind of re-set things that we want to do,'' Schurig said.
"It came at a good time and getting those guys (Hurla and backup quarterback Hayden Clark) playing experience is huge and then hopefully now we can get a lot more efficient.''
Hurla, the former St. Marys state champ, agreed.
"I think the bye week actually came at a great time, just with the situation that we're in, to just get reps with all the guys and get everyone on the same page,'' Hurla said. "If everyone's on the same page I think that's when good things are going to happen.
"I think this is a good time for us to get that down and make sure everyone's communicating. If everyone's on the same page every play, I think that's when good things are going to happen.''
Hurla, who saw spot duty as a freshman before redshirting, had just a few days to get ready for the first start of his college career and said he really didn't even have time to get nervous.
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By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
MANHATTAN -- The cross country season began for Highland Park, Seaman, Topeka, Topeka West and Washburn Rural Saturday on a beautiful “Chamber of Commerce” day in Manhattan.
Manhattan Invitational champion Ryin Miller congratulates Payton Fink, Rylee Ismert and Emily Graf, who finished second, third and fourth individually to lead Washburn Rural to the team title. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/Special to TSN]
BOYS VARSITY
Seaman junior Brody Anderson won the first race of the season with a personal best time of 15 minutes, 35.77 seconds. Following the race, Anderson commented on his preparation, “I really felt that all of the summer work was worth it and everything I’ve done leading up to this has paid off. I went out pretty fast and it was easy on my legs. When I reached the two-mile mark I heard I was a little under 10 minutes and the third mile I knew I had to hammer it home.”
Washburn Rural was the top team finisher of the city schools, finishing in fourth place with three runners finishing in the top 20. The Junior Blues were led by freshman Henry Laubach, who played fourth in a time of 16:29.33.
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman (right) posted a third-place individual finish in Saturday's Manhattan Invitational. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/Special to TSN]
Topeka West’s Adrian Lehman finished third overall with a time of 16:12.16. Stuart Campbell led Topeka High in a time of 18:10.11, finishing in 37th place.
Final Team Standings : Lawrence 67, Manhattan 69, Wamego 72, Washburn Rural 73, Olathe Northwest 134, Topeka West 138, Seaman 155, Topeka 207.
Seaman : Brody Anderson (15:35.77; 1st); Conner Bloom (17:44.33; 29th); Corbin Murrow (18:26; 45th); Drake Spurlock (18:43.10; 49th); Alex Newell (19:09.78; 52nd).
Topeka West : Adrian Lehman (16:12.16; 3rd); Tony Lloyd (17:40.87; 26th); Mark Wilkie (17:56.56; 34th); Jayden Sigle (18:21.09; 42nd); Ezra Phelps (18:56.51; 51st).
Topeka High : Stuart Campbell (18:10.11; 37th); Gregory Njorgoe (18:30.55; 46th); Easton Davis (18:37.18; 48th); Will Toland (18:45.42; 50th); Oliver Snethen (20:50.24; 55th); Tayleon Flores (21:50.53; 56th).
Washburn Rural : Henry Laubach (16:29.33; 4th); Christopher Quarles (17:03.16; 12th); Connor Olsen (17:07.39; 13th); Duke Graf (17:29.29; 23rd); Bodie King (17:41.77; 27th); Anderson Leinwetter (17:43.32; 28th); Wesley Meek (18:01.80; 36th).
Seaman junior Ryin Miller ran the fourth-fastest time in Kansas history on Saturday en route to the win in Manhattan Invitational. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/Special to TSN]
GIRLS VARSITY
Seaman junior star Ryin Miller opened her season with a personal-best time of 16:59.46. Her time was the fourth-fastest time in state history.
“The goal was to win and not really worry about the time,'' Miller said. "It’s a tough course and usually really hot because we run after the junior varsity races. The time was the cherry on top. Breaking 17 minutes was a goal, but I thought it would be at Kanza, didn’t think it was attainable here. To have that goal knocked out here, I feel good about it.”
Manhattan Invitational champion Ryin Miller congratulates Payton Fink, Rylee Ismert and Emily Graf, who finished second, third and fourth individually to lead Washburn Rural to the team title. [Photo by Charles Spurlock/Special to TSN]
The Washburn Rural girls won the team championship, with all five of their scoring runners finishing in the top 14, led by senior Peyton Fink, who finished second in a time of 18:14.98. Rylee Ismert finished third with a time of 18:57.35, followed by Emily Graf in a time of 19:21.99. Kenzie Maddox finished seventh with a time of 20:01.13.
Seaman sophomore Brynn Spencer finished sixth in a time of 19:54.64 and senior Stella Applehanz was ninth with a time of 20:10.38.
Peyton Rice led Topeka West by finishing in 19th place in a time of 21:09.06. Chloe Phelps finished in 37th with a time of 22:55.83.
Topeka High’s Victoria Reynaga finished in 45th in a time of 31:05.91.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
A junior cross country star, Anderson opened his 2024 season with the boys individual championship in Saturday's Manhattan Invitational at Warner Park. Anderson, a returning Class 5A state qualifier, posted a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 35.77 seconds, taking the victory by 28 seconds.
Tevante Ewing
TEVANTE EWING, Topeka High
Ewing, a senior running back, scored three touchdwns in Topeka High's 52-19 season-opening non-league road victory over Wichita West on Friday. Ewing scored the Trojans' first touchdown on a 70-yard pass from Zane Smith and also scored on a pair of runs as Topeka High rolled to a win in Jason Filbeck's debut as High's coach.
John Hoytal
JOHN HOYTAL, Washburn Rural
A junior quarterback, Hoytal made his first career start in Friday's 42-21 non-league home win over Shawnee Heights. Hoytal completed 14 of 21 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 47 yards on 10 carries. Hoytal completed TDs of 2, 42 and 7 yards to Kellan Roth and16 yards to Brody Schwinn.
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By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Friday was a beautiful evening to start the high school football season for the Highland Park Scots.
Highland Park senior Jamon Wilson scored three touchdowns in Friday's 52-0 win over KC-Wyandotte, including a 90-yard kickoff return. [File photo/TSN]
The Scots, who finished 7-3 a year ago, wanted to come out and make a statement to open their 2024 season and Highland Park accomplished that goal with a 52-0 Meadowlark Conference romp past Kansas City-Wyandotte at Hummer Sports Park.
“To have a group of players that I have had for four years and for them to really develop and mature and to the point where we can get everybody the ball with so many dynamic players on offense is really special,” Highland Park coach Jermaine Monroe said.
“The boys wanted to make a statement in the first game and wanted to be consistent, not just big plays but be respectful to the officials and other team and its just those little things that they are focusing on that makes it bigger then football.”
The Scots started the game off with a bang to get the season started, getting a 90-yard kickoff return from senior Jamon Wilson.
“Last year Jamon didn’t get the opportunity to play in this game and I told him you have to make a big statement the first time you get the ball and the first play he gets it and took off,” Monroe said.
“The game plan was for me to come out hot and I wanted to give my team the spark we needed and I feel like I did that on the first play.” Wilson said.
That isn’t all the senior would do for his team on the night as Wilson would add two huge touchdown runs with 60-yard and 30-yard touchdown runs, looking like another No. 5 of old for the Scots in former star running back Naji Shinskia.
Wilson would finish the night with 90 return yards, 90 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
