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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Like just about everybody else I know, I was ecstatic to put 2020 in the rearview mirror and get started on a new year.
But it’s also important that we remember those that we lost over the past year, including four men who had a lasting impact on high school sports in Topeka and the state of Kansas.
Topeka High coaching legend Willie Nicklin, 92, and longtime Kansas State High School Activities Association administrator Kaye Pearce, 85, both passed away over the final month of 2020 (Nicklin on Dec. 10, four days after Pearce) while Washburn Rural fixture Ray Glaze, 85, and former KSHSAA and National Federation of State High School Associations executive director Brice Blaine Durbin (92) passed early last year -- Durbin on Jan. 4, Glaze on Feb. 8.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn men's basketball coach Brett Ballard isn't exactly sure how his No. 5-ranked Ichabods came out of Saturday's game at Northeastern State with a victory.
But Washburn did just that, battling back from a 12-point second-half deficit to take an 85-84 overtime decision over the Riverhawks at the NSU Events Center in Tahlequah, Okla. and improve to 7-0 overall and in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Washburn senior guard Tyler Geiman scored a career-high 29 points in the Ichabods' 85-84 OT win at Northeastern State. [Photograph by Rex Wolf]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's Desmond Purnell and Rossville's Bo Reeves have been selected to play for the East team in the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl all-star football game, which will be played at 7 p.m. June 26 in Hutchinson at Gowans Stadium.
Purnell is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound running back/defensive back who is headed to Kansas State. Purnell helped lead Hayden to a 7-2 record as a senior, rushing for 811 yards on 74 attempts, catching 34 passes for 469 yards, recording 80 tackles and scoring 22 total touchdowns.
Reeves, 6-4, 205, was an All-Mid-East League selection at receiver and defensive back and helped lead Rossville to an undefeated season and the Class 2A state championship. Reeves has orally committed to Central Missouri.
The East and West rosters for the 48th annual game were announced by the Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors on Saturday. The East will be coached by DeSoto's Brian King while the West will be coached by Norton's Lucas Melvin.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University’s men’s basketball team has a lot to feel good about as the Ichabods prepare to open the 2021 portion of their schedule.
The Ichabods are a perfect 6-0 in the always-tough Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and have climbed to No. 5 in the most recent National Association of Basketball Coaches Poll, the Ichabods’ highest ranking since being ranked No. 2 in the 2012-13 season.
![Washburn senior Tyler Geiman (12) is averaging 15.3 points, 6.7 assists and 6.3 rebound for the 6-0 Ichabods, ranked No. 5 in Division II. [Photograph by Rex Wolf]](/images/site/article-photos/TylerGeiman2.jpg)
Washburn senior Tyler Geiman (12) is averaging 15.3 points, 6.7 assists and 6.3 rebound for the 6-0 Ichabods, ranked No. 5 in Division II. [Photograph by Rex Wolf]
But while Washburn coach Brett Ballard, whose team is scheduled to return to action at 2 p.m. Saturday at Northeastern State (Okla.), is proud of what his team has accomplished thus far, he may be just as proud of the attitude the Ichabods have displayed throughout their early-season success.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who isn’t chomping at the bit to start a brand new year and put the disappointment and struggles of 2020 behind them.
That includes athletes, coaches and teams at all athletic levels who have dealt with the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus for nearly 10 months.
