- Details
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Any doubt the Hayden baseball team would finish the regular season undefeated was removed in decisive fashion Thursday. The reigning Class 3A state champions cruised to a sweep of the Junior Blues at Washburn Rural, winning 5-1 and 14-1.
Hayden senior Cooper Grace twirled a complete-game one-hitter in Thursday's 5-1 Game 1 win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
While running the table on the regular season and collecting a Centennial League title are not insignificant, Hayden coach Bill Arnold made sure the focus was on the future.
“We haven’t even talked about being undefeated, and all of us could care less,” Arnold said. “The undefeated part comes from going 1-0. We’ve got a very mature group in the dugout here and they buy into it. They understand there’s bigger things on the mountain we’re trying to get to.”
The headliner of the matchup was Hayden pitcher Cooper Grace, a University of Nebraska commit. Grace dominated in the first game of the doubleheader, taking a perfect game into the fifth inning. He surrendered a walk in the fifth, but – with a 3-0 lead – still had the no-hitter intact.
Grace wavered a bit in the bottom of the sixth. After striking out the first two batters, he surrendered back-to-back walks and a couple of wild pitches that allowed the runners to advance. Grace then lost the no-hit bid on a slow dribbler the Wildcats’ shortstop was unable to field in time for a play on the batter.
Grace regained his stride in the bottom of the seventh, ringing up all three Junior Blues batters.
“I was just focused on getting one out after another. I wasn’t even thinking about the no-hitter,” said Grace, who said he has thrown no-hitters in the past, but prefers to keep track of wins rather than personal achievements. “It was a complete team effort. (The Junior Blues) are a good team, so we’re happy to get the win.”
Hayden junior Connor Hanika gave up just two hits and an unearned run in four innings in the Wildcats' 15-1 Game 2 win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
As dominant as Grace was in the first game, fellow Hayden pitcher Connor Hanika was equally effective in the second game. The junior gave up just two hits and permitted just one unearned run over four innings. With the offense racking up 14 runs in the nightcap, Arnold lifted Hanika for senior Jett Wahlmeier to finish off the final inning.
“I’m really pleased,” Arnold said of the pitchers. “We didn’t even get to (Liam) Annand tonight. We’ve got four quality starters. I like what each one of them can bring to the plate.”
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural swimming coach Bob Burdick would have loved it if his Junior Blues could have stretched their Centennial League winning streak to five straight titles Thursday.
But even though Rural fell just short of that goal with a narrow 465-441 loss to Manhattan, Burdick still walked out of Capitol Federal Natatorium proud of what his team did accomplish in its final tuneup for next weeked's Class 6A state meet.
Washburn Rural junior Audrey Appuhn won four gold medals in Thursday's Centennial League swimming and diving championships for the runnerup Junior Blues. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Genevieve Miranda captured four gold medals Thursday in her final Centennial League meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Audrey Appuhn and senior Genevieve Miranda both earned four gold medals -- two individual events, two relays -- on the day for the Junior Blues, who posted top-three finishes in nine of 12 events.
"We had a great meet,'' Burdick said. "We had gone four years in keeping the league title and that's the longest we've ever done it at Washburn Rural, which is great. Manhattan had waited five for this and congratutations to them.
"We've had a good year, we rebuilt the team this year and we've got it to where we want it to be. It wasn't quite strong enough to beat Manhattan. I projected it to be about a 12-point difference and it was 24 and I think our girls should be proud of themselves. Second at league is awesome.''
Appuhn won the 200-yard freestyle (1 minute, 55.60 seconds) and the 100 breastroke (1:06.95) and Miranda took the 50 freestyle (25.43) and the 100 butterfly (1:01.66) to account for Washburn Rural's four individual league titles.
Appuhn and Miranda also teamed with Sophie Heinen and Ava Von Lintel to win the 200 medley (2:02.16) and 400 free (4:02.90) relays.
Rural's Rhiannon Good finished second in one-meter diving (436.70) while Heinen was the runnerup in the 500 freestyle (6:19.61).
Topeka High junior Hara Del Castillo was a double Centennial League champion Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High junior Hara Del Castillo was also a double individual champion, winning the 200 individual medley (2:25.04) and the 100 backstroke (1:06.01) and High junior Caroline Toland finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.90).
Hayden's Esa Herrera, Lilly Charvat, Kaelyn Gerdel and Kaylee Gregg finished second in the 200 medley relay (2:07.79) and the 200 free relay (1:54.28).
The Class 6A and 5A-1A state meets will be contested May 22-24 at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE SWIMMING/DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After Micah Williams had a 23-goal breakout soccer season as a freshman in 2024, it's no surprise that opposing teams have concentrated their defensive efforts on the Highland Park star this season.
Highland Park sophomore Micah Williams scored seven goals in Tuesday's 8-0 win over KC-Harmon, giving her 36 goals on the season. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But that game plan hasn't exactly been successful, with Williams scoring at an even more prolific pace this spring, including seven goals in Tuesday's 8-0 Senior Night win over Meadowlark Conference foe Kansas City-Harmon at Hummer Sports Park.
"I feel like coming into the season all the other teams already know of me, so every single team that we've played this year has already adjusted their back line to me,'' Williams said. "They already knew that they had to put double on me, they already knew all that, so I just came in and adjusted back.
"I made sure I could get around them and played to my team and they played back and we could still get past them.''
Williams' seven-goal explosion against the Hawks came on the heels of a six-goal performance a night earlier in a 6-3 Highland Park win over Ottawa.
Williams now has 36 goals on the season for the 5-9-1 Scots and 59 goals in her two high school campaigns.
The Scot star was quick to give her teammates credit for doing everything they can to create scoring opportunities for her.
"We've been practicing it in practice,'' Williams said. "We've been talking about it in games. We've been talking about it before games, in halftimes, after games. We've really been working on it.
"We've been doing through balls and give-and-gos. We've been watching other teams do it on us and we just take it back and do it on them, too.''
Williams is closing in on the goal for 2025 she set before the season.
"Last season I had 23 goals and this season I'm aiming for 40 goals,'' she said.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2025 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Peyton Holmes, Seaman 10.73
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 10.94
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 11.13
Ben Roeder, Topeka High 11.17
Tremaine Savage, Highland Park 11.22
200 METERS
Bryce Cochran, Seaman 21.87
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural 22.07
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 22.22
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 22.43
Matthew Houser, Washburn Rural 22.48
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural
400 METERS
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural 48.20
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden 48.30
Bryce Cochran, Seaman 49.06
Ben Roeder, Topeka High 49.82
Matthew Houser, Washburn Rural 50.27
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:56.22
Mark Wilkie, Topeka West 1:57.23
Ben Buesing, Washburn Rural 2:00.10
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 2:00.38
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 2:02.10
1,600 METERS
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 4:18.07
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:18.55
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:19.77
Mark Wilkie, Topeka West 4:22.29
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 4:34.44
3,200 METERS
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 9:16.96
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 9:16.98
Brody Anderson, Seaman 9:34.99
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 9:41.18
Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural 10:03.37
110-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 14.64
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 15.50
Desean Lunkins, Topeka High 15.80
Isaac Song, Shawnee Heights 15.84
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 16.18
300-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 38.83
Braylon Badger, Washburn Rural 40.62
Isaac Song, Shawnee Heights 41.07
Michael Hurla, Seaman 41.29
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 42.25
4x100-METER RELAY
Silver Lake 43.28
Seaman 43.48
Washburn Rural 43.49
Topeka High 43.87
Topeka West 44.50
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 3:19.01
Topeka West 3:24.56
Topeka High 3:24.64
Seaman 3:26.21
Hayden 3:27.06
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 8:01.63
Shawnee Heights 8:31.70
Seaman 8:43.94
Topeka High 8:46.69
Silver Lake 8:54.17
HIGH JUMP
Jack Esser, Seaman 6-5
Blake Toyne, Seaman 6-2
Brooks Ballard, Washburn Rural 6-0
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 6-0
Cody Quy, Seaman 6-0
Rondell Harris, Hayden 6-0
Tad McGee, Seaman 6-0
Deondre Razzano, Silver Lake 6-0
Tyler Wedl, Shawnee Heights
POLE VAULT
Tyler Wedl, Shawnee Heights 12-6
Luke Deering, Washburn Rural 10-6
Desmond Grindol, Washburn Rural 9-6
Caleb Schwartz, Washburn Rural 9-6
Quinton White, Seaman 9-6
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden
LONG JUMP
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden 22-7
Peyton Holmes, Seaman 22-6
Elijah Berg, Topeka West 21-8
Te'Vante Ewing, Topeka High 21-5
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 20-11
Ethan Surey, Washburn Rural 20-11
TRIPLE JUMP
Kaden Whitehurst, Seaman 42-8
Cody Quy, Seaman 41-11
Deondre Razzano, Silver Lake 41-11
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 41-8
Ethan Surey, Washburn Rural 40-7.50
SHOT PUT
Brogen Brown, Seaman 50-11
Amir Bass, Shawnee Heights 45-6
F. Anguiano, Hayden 44-10
Clayton Johnson, Seaman 44-5
Dorian Rhoten, Topeka West 44-3
Sam Scott, Washburn Rural 44-3
DISCUS
Brogen Brown, Seaman 146-0
Myles Fisher, Silver Lake 144-5
Treyton Tetuan, Hayden 137-4
Samuel Scott, Washburn Rural 136-0
Zachary Hancock, Washburn Rural 135-11
JAVELIN
Kelton Meier, Hayden 162-5
Oliver Perez, Washburn Rural 155-2
Andre Johnson, Rossville 155-1
Jackson Haas, Hayden 153-7
Gabriel Taylor, Washburn Rural 148-10
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2025 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.43
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.75
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 12.76
Ciarra Hartz, Highland Park 12.77
Morgan Robinson, Shawnee Heights 12.80
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
200 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 25.72
Molly Worley, Washburn Rural 26.10
Ally Steiner, Seaman 26.20
Morgan Robinson, Shawnee Heights 26.58
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 26.68
400 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 56.81
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 59.96
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 61.05
Madison Blanco, Washburn Rural 61.65
Sofia Harper, Hayden 61.81
Ryan Miller, Seaman
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:09.28
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 2:21.21
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 2:21.99
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 2:24.07
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:24.19
1,600 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 4:41.47
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 5:08.00
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:08.24
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 5:09.15
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 5:20.69
3,200 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 10:17.74
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 10:51.62
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 11:20.40
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 11:28.78
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 11:32.65
100-METER HURDLES
Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman 15.84
Bella Reid, Hayden 16.07
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 16.45
Rylee Dick, Rossville 17.21
Kelcie Schneider, Washburn Rural 17.61
Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman
300-METER HURDLES
Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman 47.63
Ke'Ahjahnae Rice, Highland Park 47.96
Rylee Dick, Rossville 50.33
Kelcie Schneider, Washburn Rural 51.39
Elliot Wrench, Hayden 52.68
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 50.15
Washburn Rural 50.36
Silver Lake 51.06
Seaman 51.06
Topeka West 53.40
4x400-METER RELAY
Seaman 4:04.86
Washburn Rural 4:13.32
Silver Lake 4:13.34
Shawnee Heights 4:37.27
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 9:35.40
Seaman 10:21.42
Hayden 11:10.63
Shawnee Heights 11:33.41
HIGH JUMP
Molly Worley, Washburn Rural 5-4
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake 5-2
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 5-0
Alexis Burns, Washburn Rural 4-10
Tahtionna Broils, Highland Park 4-8
Klara Wilson, Washburn Rural 4-8
Jaiden Wise, Silver Lake 4-8
POLE VAULT
Grace Jowers, Seaman 11-0
Emme Blanco, Washburn Rural 8-9
Taylor Hanshaw, Shawnee Heights 8-0
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka HIgh
LONG JUMP
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 18-6
Molly Worley, Washburn Rural 17-7.75
Jayana Washington, Topeka High 17-5
Maddie Blanco, Washburn Rural 16-6.50
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake 16-3.5
TRIPLE JUMP
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 38-3.25
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 33-8
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake 33-4
Grace Funk, Hayden 32-7.75
Kylie Podlena, Silver Lake 32-6
SHOT PUT
Kailyn Petersen, Washburn Rural 35-1
Alexis Rutherford, Hayden 33-6
Kayleigh Kruger, Silver Lake 33-5
Kylie Hanni, Silver Lake 32-3.5
Izzy Davis, Washburn Rural 31-0
DISCUS
Kailyn Petersen, Washburn Rural 126-5
Kayleigh Kruger, Silver Lake 112-7
Eve Luea, Washburn Rural 109-3
Rayleigh Alonso, Silver Lake 104-10
Alexis Rutherford, Hayden 103-6
JAVELIN
Morgan Ray, Washburn Rural 135-10
Peyton Henry, Seaman 110-6
Payton Alexander, Seaman 105-8
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake 100-0
Rhys Brading, Seaman 96-1
