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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WAYNE, Neb. – Former Washburn Rural stars Belle Kennedy and Hailey Beck played a big role as the Washburn Ichabod soccer team earned its second straight road win with a 1-0 victory over the Wayne State College Wildcats on Sunday afternoon.
Washburn junior midfielder Belle Kennedy scored the lone goal in Sunday's 1-0 soccer win over Wayne State. [File photo/TSN]
Former Washburn Rural soccer standout Hailey Beck posted her second straight shutout in goal for Washburn University on Sunday. [File photo/TSN]
Kennedy, a junior midfielder, scored the game-winning goal for the 2-2 Ichabods, her first of the season, while sophomore goalkeeper Beck posted her second straight shutout.
Despite a scoreless first half, Washburn had several opportunities to get on the board. Early in the half, Rural product Mackinly Rohn found Lakin Rold in the center of the box, but Rold's shot attempt was saved by the Wildcat goalkeeper.
The Ichabods continued the offensive pressure, with Khloe Schuckman nearly adding a goal in the 19th minute on a shot attempt that went just wide. Washburn took seven shots in the half while holding the host Wildcats to one.
The Ichabods started the second half quickly, after Kennedy took the ball away from a Wildcat player and found an opening in the top left corner of the goal, giving Washburn the lead for good.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University golf star Andrew Beckler is now a professional champion after wrapping up the title in the 33rd Wells Fargo Nebraska Open Sunday in Columbus, Neb.
Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University golf star Andrew Beckler captured his first professional championship on Sunday in Columbus, Neb., posting a six-stroke victory in the Wells Fargo Nebraska Open. [Photo by Nebraska Open]
Topekan Andrew Beckler earned $13,200 for his victory on Sunday in the Wells Fargo Nebraska Open. [Photo by Nebraska Open]
Beckler shot a sizzling final-round 62 to finish at a tournament-record 19-under-par for the 54-hole event, posting a six-stroke victory over Zach Burry (Appleton, Wisc.), Luke Kluver (Norfolk, Neb.) and Robert Bell (Minneapolis, Minn.), who tied for second place at 13 under.
"Getting this win means I never gave up on myself,'' Beckler said. "I've had a lot of close calls and wondered if it would happen and today it did. To hoist a trophy and win in that fashion is quite satisfying.''
Beckler's 62 on Sunday came after an opening-round 65 and a second-round 67 in the event, sponsored by the Nebraska Section of the PGA.
"I have been hitting the ball well all season but the putter was a little cold,'' Beckler said. "My dad saw something in my stroke and I decided to switch the way I grip the putter for the first time ever this week, the day before the tournament.
"I made a few putts early in the round Friday and just kept building on that the rest of the tournament. Turned out I had the best putting week I've had all year.''
Ironically, Beckler's dominant performance came while he was battling a physical issue.
"I wasn't feeling the best physically,'' he said. "I was battling an eye infection this week. My left eye was almost swollen shut the morning of the final round. Fortunately, I'm right-eye dominant and found a way.''
Beckler won Class 6A individual and team state championships for Jared Goehring's Washburn Rural team, and after beginning his college career at Kansas State, transferred to Washburn, where he finished second in the NCAA Championship as a senior and was the recipient of the 2021 Jack Nicklaus Division II National Player of the Year Award.
Beckler qualified for the U.S. Open in 2022.
Beckler has been competing on the ATP All Pro Tour this summer and ranks second in earnings at $38,243.75 while posting a tour-best five top-10 finishes in nine starts.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
GUNNISON, Colo. -- Washburn University volleyball split its final two matches on Saturday in the Mountaineer Volleyball Classic, winning 3-1 over Western New Mexico before falling 3-2 to Texas A&M Kingsville in the nightcap.
Washburn senior Jalyn Stevenson (right) registered 29 kills on Saturday as the Ichabods split their final two matches in the Mountaineer Classic. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods head to Pittsburg next week for the PSU Regional Challenge.
In Saturday's first match of the day Washburn extended its set winning streak to 17 before falling in set three to the Mustangs.
In match two, the Ichabods fell for the first time this season in a five-set affair to the Javelinas.
Match one: Washburn 3, Western New Mexico 1
Washburn got off to a quick start in the first set with kills from Brynne Topolski and Alex Dvorak putting the Ichabods up, 9-3.
Both sides traded points until a 7-0 run for the Ichabods, starting with another kill from Dvorak, pushed the lead to double figures at 21-9.
Washburn held the Mustangs (2-5) to just six kills and an even zero hitting percentage in the first set to take it 25-12.
In the next set it was Western New Mexico that jumped ahead early, leading 7-4.
WU answered with a 3-0 run from the Ichabods that put them back in front on a block from Dvorak and Jalyn Stevenson.
The burst began what would be a 9-2 run to go in front 15-10. Washburn was outkilled 19 to 13 in the second set but were able to work a 25-19 win with four blocks and only two hitting errors in the set from the team in navy.
The Mustangs began the third set with a slight advantage until a 6-1 run put them in command up, 16-10.
A few errors from Western New Mexico let the Ichabods back into the set at 17-16, and a few points later they took the lead as Stevenson and Dvorak came up with a block again.
After hitting under .150 as a team the first two sets the Mustangs hit .324 in the third set, winning the next three points and claiming its first set, 25-23.
Both teams traded the first 20 points of the fourth set. Washburn created some separation with a three-point rally but it was quickly erased with three in a row from Western New Mexico.
After trailing by two at 17-15, the Ichabods won six straight points with the final three coming on kills assisted by Sydney Conner to go up, 21-17. The run kept the Ichabods ahead the rest of the way to hold on for a 25-21 win.
Washburn hit .313 as a team with 61 kills in the match. The Mustangs hit .160 with 48 kills and 23 errors across four sets. The Ichabods held a 58-42 advantage in assists and led in digs 62-55.
Stevenson led all players with 14 kills while hitting .343 and adding four blocks. Dvorak had seven blocks to go along with nine kills and a .474 hitting percentage. Corinna McMullen had 23 assists to go with nine digs while Taylor Rottinghaus had a team-high 12 digs.
Jazmyne Walker finished with 11 kills and 10 digs for Western New Mexico.
Match two: Texas A&M University Kingsville 3, Washburn 2
After trading points early on Washburn (6-1) used a service error to reel off four straight points and go up by three in the first set.
Another flurry of four points in a row, beginning with a kill from Stevenson put the first set out of reach as the Ichabods hit .344 as a team en route to a 25-?? win.
The Javelinas (6-2) responded with a 7-4 lead to open the second set before Washburn quickly rallied to tie it.
Three kills in a row put the Ichabods ahead and shortly after a four-point rally capped off by a kill from Austin Broadie put them ahead 18-14. The lead grew to as many as seven points before Texas A&M Kingsville reeled off seven of eight to pull within one.
Washburn reached set point at 24-22 but the next points went the other direction as the Javelinas took the second set, 26-24.
An ace from Stevenson put the Ichabods up 6-2 early in the third as they bounced back.
They extended the lead to six points on a block from Broadie before the Javelinas netted a few points to pull within three.
A three-point burst from Washburn that began with Stevenson and Bella Limback teaming up for a block gave them a cushion to finish off the set 25-17 and go up 2-1.
Through the first 18 points of the fourth set Texas A&M Kingsville remained in front but never by more than two points.
After a kill from Dvorak the Javelinas won six of the next seven points to build a five-point lead.
Kingsville hit just .029 as a team in the third set and raised it by almost 200 points, hitting .216 in the fourth with 16 kills.
The Ichabods came on strong late, winning three straight to pull within one. Down the stretch the Javelinas' offense forced a fifth set with a 25-22 victory.
Washburn began the fifth set with a 3-0 lead, and was in front 9-4 after a kill from Emery Keebaugh. Then Texas A&M Kingsville reeled off six straight, five coming on errors or blocks, to take the lead.
An ace from WU's Maddie Steiner tied things up at 13 and both sides split the next six points before the Javelinas knocked down two kills in a row to take the match.
The Ichabods outkilled TAMUK 60-59 and had one less error in the match. The Javelinas had a slight advantage with a .159 attack percentage to .147 for Washburn. Assists were close, going 54-52 to Texas A&M Kingsville, which also had a 72-58 advantage in digs.
Three players from the Ichabods finished with double-digit kills.
Stevenson had 15 while Limback and Dvorak had 12 and 11, respectively. McMullen had a 24-assist and 12-dig double-double.
Ayanna Jackson had 12 kills for the Javelinas while hitting .320.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Longtime Silver Lake volleyball coach Sarah Johnson doesn't sit around counting victories.
Silver Lake volleyball coach Sarah Johnson watches her Eagles during last Thursday's quadrangular at Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
If she did, Johnson probably wouldn't consistently put together one of the state's toughest schedules for her Class 3A Eagles.
"I talk to the girls about that,'' Johnson said. "We've got to get uncomfortable so we're comfortable in uncomfortable situations in game time.''
Throughout her tenure at Silver Lake, the only head coaching job she's ever held, Johnson has loaded up with Class 6A, 5A and 4A opponents, figuring those tests will help get the Eagles ready for crunch time.
"I love playing these high caliber girls and great coaches and schools,'' Johnson said after Silver Lake faced reigning 5A state champion Seaman, former 6A champ Manhattan and former 5A champ Shawnee Heights last Thursday at Seaman.
"It gets us in those crummy situations and we've got to figure it out early in the season so we know how to handle it come sub-state, state time.''
It's an approach that's made Johnson one of the state's most successful coaches and the Eagles one of the state's most successful programs over her 17-year tenure.
Despite the perennially challenging schedule, Johnson surpassed the 500-win career milestone with last Tuesday night’s home Big East League sweep of Jefferson West and Hiawatha while Silver Lake has won 3A championships in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018 during her tenure while making nine state appearances.
And being ready for postseason has always been more of priority for Johnson than having a glossy regular-season record.
"I feel like we're shifting with KSHSAA with how we're setting up postseason,'' Johnson said. "We're changing things this year. We're taking baby steps to hopefully get to a better postseason format but until then give me all the losses you can. I don't care because it's going to make us a better team and we're going to be able to finish strong at the end of the season.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football took No. 5-ranked Colorado School of Mines down to the final seconds Saturday in a 31-28 loss at Yager Stadium.
Highland Park product Tre Richardson had 168 all-purpose yards, including an 85-yard touchdown reception, in Washburn's 31-28 loss to No. 5-ranked Colorado School of Mines on Saturday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
And while the loss was tough to take for the 0-2 Ichabods, WU coach Craig Schurig felt like his team took major steps from its season-opening loss to Emporia State.
"I felt like we were more consistent on the offensive side of the ball,'' Schurig said. "We got a nice running game going and we got the ball in the hands of people who can do something with it and had some other near misses, too.
"I thought we showed some resiliency and we're dangerous if we can get some first downs and keep getting touches to guys. We saw that, and we didn't get enough points but we moved the ball much better and more consistently and defensively we toughened up when we had to and that was good to see. We gave ourselves a chance.''
WU quarterback Hayden Clark agreed.
"It was a close game,'' Clark said. "That's a good team and we played better than we did last week. We're improving each week and we've just got to connect on the little things and it will just make a big difference. This was a 3-point difference game.''
The Ichabods trailed 24-21 at the half after the Orediggers, the national runnerup the past two seasons, connected on a 47-yard field goal from Matthew Eich as time expired in the second quarter.
Colorado School of Mines went up 31-21 with a nine-play 80-yard drive in the third quarter but Washburn got back in the hunt with 10:43 left to play on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Keller Hurla to Maury Sullivan.
The Orediggers advanced the ball into Washburn territory on its ensuing possession but the drive stalled on a fourth-down pass incompletion, with Braylon Alexander breaking up the attempt.
Washburn was forced to punt the ball back away with 3:28 left in the game and CSM picked up one first down before being forced to punt after Jordan Finnesy and C.J. Callaghan combined to make a stop on a 3rd-and-3 play for only a 1-yard gain.
The Ichabods took over on their own 19 and moved the ball into Oredigger territory with a pair of 20-yard-plus passes from Clark to Keller and Sullivan.
A key play came when Clark connected with Sullivan for what potentially could have been the game-winning TD after the Orediggers jumped offsides, but the officials blew the play dead before the score.
"He said if (the defender's) unabated they try to protect the quarterback,'' Schurig said. "But we would have liked for it not to be (blown dead). You do the hard count, you want them to jump, you want the free play. Every offense has it, but (the official) felt like he was unabated.''
With time running out, the Ichabods' Trenton Brehm attempted a 44-yard field goal attempt which came up low and short and the Orediggers were able to take a kneel down on the final play to close out the victory.
