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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Fifth-year senior defender Josie Boyle had to wait her turn to crack the lineup for Washburn University's soccer team.
And now that she did, the former multi-sport star at Baldwin, wants to cherish every moment she has remaining with the Ichabods.
Josie Boyle
"For me, last year was kind of my first year making an impact on the field during a game, so I'm nowhere near wanting to be done,'' Boyle said. "It is my fifth year and my last year, but I am proud. I think I've achieved more than what I thought I ever could, honestly, and as a team, but I do have more individual goals that I want to reach this year and more to strive for.''
After Boyle's first season at Washburn was cancelled due to Covid, she saw action in just six matches as a freshman and 11 matches with one start as a sophomore before starting in 21 matches and playing a total of 1,849 minutes (seventh high in program history) last fall as the Ichabods advanced to the NCAA Division II championship game.
Baldwin product Josie Boyle, a fifth-year senior defender, has helped Washburn soccer post six straight shutouts. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"I didn't know how much I would be able to achieve, but I think I've gone beyond that and the girls I've been with for five years, I think us three (Boyle, Viviana Soto-Herrera and Cloe Quintana) are very happy with how it's all gone,'' said Boyle, who scored her first goal and earned All-MIAA honorable mention last season.
This season Boyle has helped 4-2-2 Washburn make school history with a six-game shutout streak entering Friday's 7 p.m. MIAA road contest at Nebraska-Kearney.
On Sunday against Newman the Ichabods set a school record for consecutive minutes played without allowing a goal. Washburn has played 568 minutes and 44 seconds since allowing its last goal, dating back to the 62nd minute of the game against Maryville on Sep. 7.
"The first weekend, allowing the goals that we did (four goals in 2-0 and 2-1 losses), it was a shocker because we didn't allow that many in lots of games last year, even in the national tournament,'' Boyle said. "So the first weekend it was like, 'Oh, we should not be letting in these goals,' but now we're on this six-game streak and it's the most minutes ever of no goals allowed so we're happy about that for sure.''
Washburn coach Davy Phillips said he has high expectations and a great deal of respect for Boyle and her fellow defenders.
"Within our game model our first priority is defending and being hard to break down and organized, '' Phillips said. "We want to attack out of that. I think you'll always have a chance to win the game if you defend well, so I think that's why we prioritize it. I think this particular back four especially is experienced, it's mature.
"It's three seniors and a junior and the junior has started every game of her career, so they've played a lot of soccer and I think that's a big part of college defending is recognizing the situations and seeing them before they develop. This group's played together, they've been around college soccer for a long time, they know what it should look like and they're kind of leading from the back. There's a lot of trust put in that back four right now.''
Now the goal for the Ichabods is to make another deep playoff run after last season's career year.
"The two words, pressure and expectations, have been thrown around a lot, but Davy has said a lot that he recruits girls that are competitors and have had a lot of success, in high school and before that, so a lot of us come from winning programs, championship teams, so pressure's not new to any of us,'' Boyle said.
"We had pressure even before coming to Washburn and I think having pressure is a privilege as well because there's a lot of teams that can go into weekends being like, 'Well, if we win we win, if we lose we lose, it's OK.' But for us, a tie is not good enough any more.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman junior cross country star Ryin Miller and Highland Park sophomore football standout G'Honi Montgomery have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2024-2025 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Miller and Montgomery over the past week:
Seaman junior Ryin Miller has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency female Rising Star of the Week after posting her fourth straight individual win of the season in last Saturday's Rim Rock Classic. [File photo/TSN]
RYIN MILLER, Seaman
Miller won her fourth individual championship in as many starts this fall last Saturday, posting a five-kilometer time of 17 minutes, 14.1 seconds to win the Gold Division title in the prestigious multi-state Rim Rock Classic at Rim Rock Farm, north of Lawrence.
Miller topped two-time Class 5A state champion Katelyn Rupe of Salina Central by just over three seconds (17:17.4).
Earlier in the season the Seaman junior notched individual wins in the Manhattan Invitational, the Joe Schrag Invitational and the Shufelberger Top City Classic, setting an all-time girls state five-kilometer record in the Schrag meet at Kanza Park.
Highland Park sophomore G'Honi Montgomery has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency male Rising Star of the Week after rushing for 157 yards and scoring three touchdowns in a 48-0 Meadowlark Conference victory over KC-Harmon last Friday. [File photo/TSN]
G'HONI MONTGOMERY, Highland Park
Montgomery continued his outstanding sophomore season for the Scots in last Friday's 48-0 Meadowlark Conference victory over Kansas City-Harmon at Hummer Sports Park as Highland Park improved to a perfect 4-0 on the season.
Montgomery gained 157 yards on just six rushing attempts, including touchdown runs of 22, 26 and 62 yards.
Montgomery and the Scots posted their fourth straight shutout against Harmon and have now outscored their opponents by a 174-0 margin.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twelve matches into its 2024 season Washburn University volleyball will encounter a new experience Thursday night ... a home match.
After playing 12 straight matches away from home, Washburn volleyball will make its Lee Arena debut at 6 p.m. Thursday against Pittsburg State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will finally make their Lee Arena debut at 6 p.m. on Thursday against MIAA foe Pittsburg State, followed by a Friday night conference match against Newman.
"It's going to be fun, it's going to be cool,'' Washburn coach Chris Herron said. "I know our freshmen are looking forward to it. They've never been around it, so they get a chance to witness and feel the crowd and it's going to be really cool for us.
"I'm excited about the fact that we get to play at home finally.''
Freshman Brynne Topolski, a Lincoln, Neb. native, agreed.
"Since it is going to be our first home game, I'm super-excited to be able to see what the atmosphere is like,'' Topolski said. "I've heard it's great but I'm excited to see in person how the atmosphere is, how loud it gets in here and how excited everyone gets to be able to play at home.''
Washburn is 9-3 on the year after losing a pair of five-set matches last weekend on the road to both Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western in the opening weekend of MIAA play.
"I really liked our effort,'' Herron, in his 23rd season as the Ichabods' coach. "There was no letdown in effort or anything like that and if we play like that the rest of the year we're going to be good.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's volleyball team struggled for much of Wednesday night's USD 501 triangular at Topeka West.
But the Trojans came to life in time to earn district bragging rights, outlasting West in three sets in the final match of the night to cap a 2-0 record with a 16-25, 25-17, 25-20 win over the Chargers.
Topeka High senior Jo'Mhara Benning (23) celebrates a point with her teammates during Wednesday's USD 501 triangular at Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I think it's a really big deal and I'm glad that we could get the title back of being the top one in 501,'' Topeka High senior standout Jo'Mhara Benning said. "Last year we beat Topeka West at home but lost to them two out of three times.''
Topeka High, now 10-8, opened its night with a 25-13, 25-21 win over the Scots, who led 21-19 in the second set before the Trojans ran off six straight points.
"We were learning a new rotation, so we were getting comfortable with that,'' Topeka High senior standout Jo'Mhara Benning said. "I think that was what our problem was, we weren't used to playing with each other, so we just learned to talk and to know where you're at on the court ... just in time.''
Topeka High coach Bridget Bargmann agreed that Wednesday was an uphill battle, but she was proud of her team for finding a way to get the job done.
"I'm so proud of my girls,'' Bargman said. "That first set against West was a little scary but they dug deep and I'm so proud of them.
"I love the drive and the perseverance and everything else that goes along with it.''
Topeka High senior Jo'Mhara Benning reached the 100 milestone for service aces in Wednesday's USD 501 triangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Another highlight for the Trojans was a milestone-reaching performance by Benning, who recorded a service ace for the first point of the third set against Topeka West, reaching the 100-ace mark for her career.
The High multi-sport standout said she knew she was closing in on the milestone.
"It was supposed to be a surprise, but I knew,'' she said. "I'm just glad I can help my team out in any way I can.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY NIGHT'S GAME
BASEHOR-LINWOOD (4-0, 4-0 UKC) vs. TOPEKA WEST (0-4, 0-4 UKC)
At Hummer Sports Park
Still looking for its first win of the 2024 season, Topeka West faces another tough United Kansas Conference test Thursday night, with league-leading Basehor-Linwood visiting Hummer Sports Park to face the Chargers. Topeka West is coming off a 63-0 UKC loss to Lansing while Basehor-Linwood took a 21-7 league win over De Soto. Bobcat junior quarterback Carson Dixon has completed 37 of 74 passes for 496 yards and seven touchdowns while senior Nick Doering has carried the ball 76 times for 425 yards and seven TDs.
FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAMES
Topeka High senior Tevante Ewing rushed for 169 yards in last Friday's 47-14 Centennial League win over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL (1-3, 0-0 Centennial) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (4-0, 1-0 Centennial)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka High will be looking to extend its winning streak to five games while Washburn Rural, a Class 6A semifinalist last season, will be aiming to snap a three-game non-league losing streak to teams that are a combined 12-1 on the season. Washburn Rural, coming off a 49-23 loss to undefeated Blue Valley Northwest, will be playing its Centennial League opener Friday night while Topeka High opened league play last week with a 47-14 road win over Emporia. Topeka High senior Tevante Ewing rushed for 169 yards on 13 attempts while junior Zane Smith completed five of eight passes for 191 yards and Savon Carter caught two passes for 144 yards. Washburn Rural junior quarterback John Hoytal completed 23 of 32 throws for 235 yards against Northwest while junior receiver Kellan Roth hauled in 11 of Hoytal’s throws for 99 yards and a score. Sophomore Jadyn Baum exploded for an 80-yard touchdown run and junior TJ Minikwu blasted in from 10 yards out for another score.
Hayden junior Kade Mitchell (25) has rushed for 296 yards and scored six touchdowns this fall. [File photo/TSN]
HIAWATHA (1-3, 0-1 Class 3A District 4) at HAYDEN (3-1, 0-0 Class 3A District 4)
Hayden, the Class 3A runnerup a year ago, is coming off a 31-28 non-league loss at Wamego last Friday while Hiawatha opened Class 3A District 4 play with a 21-0 win over Jefferson West. Hayden will open district competition Friday night. Wildcat senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 41 of 57 pass attempts for 619 yards and seven touchdowns while junior running back Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 33 times for 296 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Jensen Schrickel has caught 13 passes for 220 yards and scored five touchdowns.
Seaman senior quarterback Max Huston has passed for 806 yards and 12 touchdowns this fall for the 3-1 Vikings. [File photo/TSN]
LANSING (3-1, 3-0 UKC) at SEAMAN (3-1, 3-0 UKC)
Friday's game will match up United Kansas Conference co-leaders Lansing and Seaman, who are both a perfect 3-0 in league play. Seaman is coming off a 49-0 win over Kansas City-Turner while Lansing rolled to a 62-0 win over Topeka West. Seaman senior quarterback Max Huston has completed 47 of 85 passes for 806 yards and 12 touchdowns while junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 40 times for 235 yards and five TDs while senior Bryer Finley has caught 21 passes for 382 yards and eight TDs. Lansing senior Reid Oakley has completed 46 of 93 passes for 798 yards while sophomore Jaxon Pollard has carried the ball 61 times for 379 yards and five TDs.
WABAUNSEE (1-3, 0-1 Class 1A District 2) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-3, 0-1 Class 1A District 2)
At Yager Stadium
Cair Paravel will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak after opening Class 1A District 2 play last Friday with a 46-22 loss to Mission Valley. Wabaunsee is also 1-3 and 0-1 in the district after a 14-7 loss to Olpe last week. Cair Paravel will be playing its second home game of the season at Washburn University's Yager Stadium. Top players for the Lions include senior quarterback Jase Pavlik and senior running back Ben Roeder.
