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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The NCAA Transfer Portal doesn't always produce the result college athletes, envisioning greener pastures, are looking for.
Jordan Tenpas
But Jordan Tenpas' decision to test the transfer waters after the 2022 soccer season has paid amazing dividends for both Tenpas and the Washburn University women's soccer program.
After playing three collegiate seasons at Minot State, N.D., including the 2020 Covid-shortened season, the standout defender made the tough decision to enter the portal, eventually choosing to join Davy Phillips' Ichabods for her junior year.
The result was an All-American season for Tenpas and the most successful season in Washburn soccer history, capped by an appearance in the NCAA Division II championship game.
"It feels so good,'' Tenpas said during WU's Soccer Media Day. "Going into the transfer portal is a scary thing. You never know what's going to happen -- if you're going to get picked up or if you're not, if you're going to regret it, if you're not.
"And oh my gosh, I could not be happier with my decision.''
A native of Placentia, Calif., Tenpas started in 21 matches for a total of 1,860 minutes, the sixth most minutes played in a season in program history, while helping the 21-4-1 Ichabods record 11 shutouts on defense.
Washburn senior defender Jordan Tenpas (left) was a first-team All-American and the MIAA Defender of the Year last fall for the national-runnerup Ichabods. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Tenpas was named the MIAA Defender of the Year and was a first-team all-conference pick before earning first-team United Soccer Coaches and Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America honors and being named to the NCAA National Championships All-Tournament Team.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the first time in five seasons Washburn University soccer will have a new goalkeeper this fall, with four-year starter Raegan Wells graduating after a record-setting career, capped by a trip to the national championship game last fall.
Hailey Beck
Now former Washburn Rural standout Hailey Beck wants to do everything she can to earn the chance to help fill that spot for the Ichabods.
Beck was one of Wells' two backups during the 2023 season and said she tried to learn everything she could from the Washburn veteran.
"I was able to pick up a ton from her,'' Beck said during Monday's Washburn Media Day. "It was just amazing, getting to watch her do her thing and being able to apply things that she does in a game to my own style of play and how I play so I got to learn a lot of really great lessons from her.''
Beck said the key now is to put what she learned as a freshman to good use as she tries to earn to the starting job in net for Washburn.
"I've just got to stick to what I know and what I can do and allow others to help build me up along the way and just take notes along the way and help myself grow,'' said Beck, who was a standout in both soccer and tennis for Washburn Rural.
Former Washburn Rural standout Hailey Beck is starting her second soccer season at Washburn University. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
As she begins her second season at Washburn, Beck said she knows she made the right decision when she opted to sign with the home-town Ichabods.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman senior Stella Appelhanz is a three-time All-Shawnee County pick for the Vikings. [File photo/TSN]
STELLA APPELHANZ, Seaman
A senior, Appelhanz is a three-time All-Shawnee County selection. Appelhanz placed seventh in the city meet, posted a third-place finish in the United Kansas Conference meet and was 13th in Class 5A regional competition. Appelhanz placed 36th in the Class 5A state meet and had a personal-best time five-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 37 seconds.
A three-time All-Shawnee County pick, Washburn Rural senior Payton Fink finished second in Class 6A last fall. [File photo/TSN]
PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural
A senior, Fink posted top-two individual finishes in all four of the championship meet as a junior. Fink was the individual champion in the Centennial League and Class 6A regional meets and was the runnerup in the city and 6A state meets. Fink earned her third straight state medal and had a personal-best time of 17:33. Fink led Rural to city, league and regional team titles and a fourth-place finish at state.
Silver Lake sophomore Ali Gerber was a Class 3A state qualifier for the Eagles as a freshman. [Submitted photo]
ALI GERBER, Silver Lake
Gerber, a sophomore, medaled in seven meets as a freshman with six top-10 finishes en route to earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Gerber was a state qualifer for the Eagles in cross country and was a member of Silver Lake's Class 3A state championship 4x400-meter relay team in track this past spring.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson, a Seaman junior, is one of the city's top returning runners after earning All-Shawnee County recognition last season. [File photo/TSN]
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
Anderson, a junior, began his high school cross country career in impressive fashion last season, earning All-Shawnee County, All-United Kansas Conference and all-region honors. Anderson ran the fastest five-kilometer time in Seaman history at the city meet, clocking a time of 15 minutes, 50 seconds and eclipsing the previous record by seven seconds.
EVAN CARTER, Shawnee Heights
Carter turned in a solid junior season in 2023 as one of Shawnee Heights' top runners, placing in the top 19 throughout the year with a best finish of fifth and a time of 16:51. Carter finished strong with an 11th-place at city and a 12th-place showing in the United Kansas Conference meet. Carter will be counted on to be a strong leader for the T-Birds as a senior.
Silver Lake senior Aemon Coffman (744) medaled in seven of 10 meets last fall and qualified for the Class 3A state meet. [Submitted photo]
AEMON COFFMAN, Silver Lake
A senior, Coffman medaled in seven meets over the 2023 season, moving into the No. 12 spot on Silver Lake's all-time list. Coffman earned All-Mid-East League recognition as a junior was a state qualifier in Class 3A.
Junior Brooks Kehoe was a top runner for Washburn Rural last fall, earning All-Shawnee County recognition. [File photo/TSN]
BROOKS KEHOE, Washburn Rural
A junior, Kehoe posted a fourth-place finish in the city meet to help lead the Junior Blues to the team title and also finished fourth in the Centennial League and 16th in Class 6A regional competition to earn an individual berth in the state meet. Kehoe clocked a personal-best time of 16:10.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Rottinghaus name was already a familiar one in Washburn University volleyball lore before Taylor Rottinghaus ever stepped on campus, with her older sister Faith a five-time All-American, a national NCAA Division II runnerup and the Ichabods' all-time digs leader.
Taylor Rottinghaus
But in just one season Taylor is well on the way to carving out her own legacy at WU, earning All-MIAA Tournament and all-conference second-team honors in 2023 as a freshman defensive specialist/libero.
A former three-sport standout at Shawnee Heights, Taylor Rottinghaus played in all 28 matches (96 of 103 sets) for the 17-11 Ichabods last fall while leading the team in digs with 444 on the year (4.63 average per set) and also recording 78 assists with seven service aces.
If Taylor felt any pressure being the little sister an Ichabod legend, who played the same position, Rottinghaus said it quickly dissipated.
"Coming in I felt a little pressure, but I would say the pressure was gone within a week and nothing regarding Faith happened at all last year -- it was only Taylor,'' Rottinghaus said.
And although Faith was around for support if needed, Taylor said her sister remained in the background.
"She left me alone and she let me do my own thing, which I really appreciate,'' Taylor said.
Former Shawnee Heights multi-sport standout Taylor Rottinghaus earned second-team All-MIAA recognition as a freshman libero for Washburn volleyball last season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Rottinghaus, who received All-United Kansas Conference recognition in volleyball, basketball and track at Shawnee Heights and was a Class 5A state medalist in track, admitted that there were a few growing pains making the jump from high school to college, but said she was pleased with her season overall and is looking for bigger things for herself and her team this fall.
