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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No matter what happens from here on out, former Highland Park and Missouri State basketball star Kyle Weems has put together a long, successful international professional career that he's very proud of.
Kyle Weems was in Topeka Friday to co-host the Big Kev Give Back Camp at Washburn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the 34-year-old Topekan, who has been part of multiple championship teams, feels like there still plenty left in the tank as he gets ready to return to Italy for his 13th pro season later this summer.
"I'm unbelievably blessed,'' said Weems, who was in Topeka Friday to co-host the third annual Big Kev Give Back Camp at Washburn University with close friend Michael Wilhoite, an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos. "I've been blessed with good health. I've had good trainers on and off the court, in the weight room, and I've had people like Mike who have shown me the way of how to train your body and just be a pro.
"I've been blessed with a lot of people like that, people like Mike and my uncle Kris (Weems, Golden State Warriors assistant) and so on and so forth, so it's been a great recipe for success and I have to give a lot of credit to those type of people.''
Weems will play his second season in 2024-2025 for Derthona Basket, located in Tortona, Italy, after earlier stints in Germany, France and Turkey.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park and Washburn University alum Michael Wilhoite probably knows a little more what to expect and what's expected of him as he embarks on his second season as a member of Sean Payton's Denver Broncos coaching staff.
Denver Broncos outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite gives instructions during Friday's third annual Big Kev Give Back Camp at Washburn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the former seven-year NFL veteran, who coaches the Broncos' outside linebackers, said he never wants to feel too comfortable in his coaching skin, believing that the journey to being a successful coach is never completely finished.
"No, and I don't think it's a bad thing,'' said Wilhoite, who co-hosted Friday's Big Kev Give Back Camp at WU with pro basketball veteran Kyle Weems. "I don't think that I'm uncomfortable, I just feel like I'm urgent right now, like there's more to be done, there's more work to go and there's more to learn. I want to just be great for my players.
"I know my players right now have probably already worked out twice to three times (today) and now I have to match that. I can't match that any more with running and lifting. I can only match that with time in the film room, with finding new ways to help them become better players, calling outside resources and saying, 'How do you teach this? How can I be a better coach? How can I simplify this message?' ''
Wilhoite, a 2021 inductee into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame, played in the NFL for the 49ers and Seahawks, including a Super Bowl appearance, and said the same competiveness that drove him as a player is also his biggest motivator as a coach.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Multi-sport stars Finn Dunshee of Hayden and Taylin Stallbaumer of Seaman were named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Athletes of the Year Wednesday night in ceremonies at Washburn University.
Dunshee was a multi-event state champion in track and a state runnerup in football for the Wildcats while Stallbaumer helped lead Seaman to Class 5A state titles in volleyball and basketball and the state quarterfinals in soccer as a senior.
Hayden product Finn Dunshee won three Class 3A state gold medals in the 2024 Kansas State Track and Field Championships at Wichita and plans to run collegiately at TCU. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden product Finn Dunshee (33) helped lead the Wildcat football to a runnerup finish in Class 3A as a senior. [File photo/TSN]
Dunshee swept the 3A titles this spring in the 100-meter (10.60 seconds) and 200-meter (21.99) dashes and helped the Wildcats win the 4x400 relay (3:26.01) and post a runnerup finish in the 4x100 relay (42.52).
In football Dunshee fought back from a torn MCL to help 12-1 Hayden advance to the 3A title game last fall. Despite missing five full games, Dunshee rushed for 844 yards and 14 touchdowns on 60 attempts and caught 17 passes for 229 yards and three TDs.
Dunshee earned All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors for the second straight season.
Seaman product Taylin Stallbaumer helped lead Seaman to its first Class 5A state volleyball championship last fall. [Submitted photo]
Recent Seaman graduate Taylin Stallbaumer was named the Topeka Shawnee County Female Athlete of the Year after helping the Vikings win Class 5A state titles in volleyball and basketball. [File photo/TSN]
Stallbaumer finished her high school volleyball career second on Seaman's all-time list in assists (1,394), fourth in aces (134), fifth in kills (663), sixth in digs (873), seventh in hitting percentage (.205) and ninth in blocks (91).
In basketball Stallbaumer received first-team All-United Kansas Conference and All-Shawnee County recognition, finishing her prep career as the Seaman record-holder for career 3-pointers.
She also ranks in the top five in school history in points, assists, steals, free throw percentage and 3-point percentage. Stallbaumer finished her career with 978 points, 201 assists and 199 steals.
Stallbaumer will play volleyball at Johnson County Community College.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights three-sport standout Rykan Carver was named the Topeka Shawnee County Most Inspirational Male Wednesday night at Washburn University.
Recent Shawnee Heights graduate Rykan Carver was named the Topeka Shawnee County Most Inspirational Male Wednesday night at Washburn University. [File photo/TSN]
Carver was an All-United Kansas Conference offensive tackle in football, the Class 5A 285-pound state champion in wrestling and a state qualifier in track in the shot put.
Carver was a three-year starter on offense and a two-year starter on defense in football and was a four-year letterman in wrestling.
Academically, Carver ranked No. 1 in a graduating class of 251 while compiling a grade point average of 4.53.
Carver was a Kansas Governor's Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society, ranking in the top one percent of GPAs for the entire state of Kansas. Carver will study engineering at Kansas State.
Rykan is the son of Corey and Tricia Carver.
SPRING SPORTS: MOST INSPIRATIONAL MALE NOMINEES
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Class 5A state track champions Jackson Esquibel of Shawnee Heights and Aaron Merritt of Seaman were selected as the Topeka Shawnee County Co-Spring Male Athletes of the Year Wedneday night at Washburn University.
Shawnee Heights product Jackson Esquibel (left) was named the Co-Shawnee County Spring Male Athlete of the Year Wednesday night. [File photo/TSN]
Recent Seaman graduate Aaron Merritt (middle) won the Class 5A 100-meter and 110 hurdles championships as a senior. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
As a senior Esquibel won his second straight 5A 3,200 meters state championship after winning the 5A state cross country title last fall. Esquibel set school records in the 3,200 (9 minutes, 13.85 seconds), 1,600 (4:15.26) and 800 (1:56.43). Esquibel finished second in the 5A 1,600 meters as both a junior and senior.
"Jackson has been a leader in both sports, always being a great mentor and teammate,'' Shawnee Heights track and cross country coach John Oshel said.
Esquibel will compete collegiately in cross country and track at Kansas State. As a junior Esquibel was selected as the male Rising Star of the Year for Shawnee County.
Esquibel, the son of Scott and Amy Esquibel, carried a 3.96 grade point average at Shawnee Heights.
Merritt was a double 5A gold medalist in track and field as a senior, winning the 110-meter hurdles and the 100-meter dash. Merritt also anchored the Vikings' 4x100 relay to a second-place finish at state.
"Aaron is very dependable, talented, and has an incredible work ethic,'' Seaman track coach Scott Petersen said. "He has been fantastic to coach and deserves all the success he earned this spring. As great of an athlete as he is, with all of his accolades, he’s an even better person.''
Merritt's winning times in the 110 hurdles and 100 dash in the state meet were the fastest in all classes.
The ton of Toby and Robin Merritt, Aaron compiled a 3.6 grade point average in high school.
SPRING SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
