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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It probably doesn't come as a big surprise to anyone who has followed local sports over the past several years, but a long and growing list of athletes who starred at Topeka/Shawnee County schools have continued to make a big impact at the college level over the winter and spring seasons.
Here's a look at just some of the stars who continue to make their high school alma maters and fans proud:
Campbell Bagshaw
CAMPBELL BAGSHAW, Washburn Rural/Kansas -- After seeing spot for Kansas softball in 2023 as a freshman, Bagshaw has fueled a breakout season for the No. 18-ranked Jayhawks (22-8-1) while putting together a big sophomore season. An infielder, Bagshaw leads the Jayhawks with a .317 batting average while compiling a .500 slugging percentage and a .380 on-base percentage. The former Washburn Rural multi-sport standout has five doubles, two triples and two home runs on the season while also compiling a .995 fielding percentage.
Olivia Bruno
OLIVIA BRUNO, Washburn Rural/Kansas -- A junior, Bruno has teamed with former Washburn Rural teammates Bagshaw and Kasey Hamilton to help No. 18-ranked Kansas get off to a 22-8-1 start on the season. Bruno, who earned All-Big 12 second-team honors as a freshman, has made 23 starts this season for the Jayhawks with a home run and nine runs batted in while compiling a .338 on-base percentage. Bruno is 1-1 in the pitching circle in 2024 with a 1.95 earned run average and 12 strikeouts in 14.1 innings.
NiJaree Canady
NiJAREE CANADY, Topeka High/Stanford -- After being named the NCAA Division I National Freshman of the Year in 2023, the former Topeka High star has continued to establish herself as arguably the most dominant pitcher in college softball as a sophomore this spring. Canady is currenty 10-2 on the season for the No. 9-ranked Cardinal (25-5) while compiling an 0.59 earned run average with 152 strikeouts in 95.1 innings pitched. In 18 appearances Canady has thrown eight complete games while also earning three saves and holding opponents to a .126 batting average. As a freshman Canady helped lead Stanford to the College World Series with a 17-3 record and led the nation with an 0.57 ERA and 11.3 strikeouts for every seven innings pitched.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly girls swimming and diving honor roll for Topeka high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
Seaman 1:58.69
Washburn Rural 2:07.69
Shawnee Heights 2:13.79
Hayden 2:19.71
Topeka High 2:35.89
Avery Walz, Seaman
200-YARD FREESTYLE
Avery Walz, Seaman 2:03.60
Madeline O'Brien, Washburn Rural 2:21.80
Bailee Heincker, Seaman 2:23.56
Ella Bombardier, Washburn Rural 2:30.35
Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural 2:30.97
Joslynn Grace, Seaman
200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Joslynn Grace, Seaman 2:15.94
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 2:21.88
Presley Green, Hayden 2:37.76
Lizzie Gould, Seaman 2:41.95
Georgia Cole, Shawnee Heights 2:46.59
Tauren Walz, Seaman
50-YARD FREESTYLE
Tauren Walz, Seaman 26.11
Ashtynn Landry, Shawnee Heights 27.26
Jella Belgardt, Washburn Rural 28.04
Kaylee Gregg, Hayden 29.03
Caroline Toland, Topeka High 29.24
Kaylee Gregg, Hayden
ONE-METER DIVING
Kaylee Gregg, Hayden 202.30
Rhiannon Good, Washburn Rural 183.05
Natalee Grauberger, Washburn Rural 171.90
Giselle Soto, Washburn Rural 130.55
Maddie Gregg, Hayden 113.90
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After being held scoreless for the first 151 minutes of the 2024 girls soccer season, a brief two-goal scoring flurry was enough to push Hayden to a 2-1 non-league victory over Free State Monday at Hayden.
Hayden senior Lauren Sandstrom (right) chasing Free State's Kate Foust for the ball, scored the Wildcats' first goal of the season in Monday's 2-1 home non-league win over Free State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Jill Lenherr scored the game-winning goal in Hayden's 2-1 win over Free State Monday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden was held scoreless in a 0-0 double-overtime stalemate against Cair Paravel Latin on Friday and fell behind Free State 1-0 in Monday's home-opener before turning the tables with two second-half goals in a span of 1 minute, 46 seconds.
Senior Kate Foust scored at the 28:46 mark of the first half to put Free State up 1-0, a lead that held up through the first half and 11 minutes into the second half, before Hayden senior Lauren Sandstrom connected on a long shot to tie the game at 1-1 with 28:33 remaining.
Wildcat senior Jill Lenherr then broke the tie at the 26:47 mark off an assist from sophomore Reese Huscher.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Jackson Esquibel
JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights
Esquibel, who has won Class 5A state titles in track and field and cross country, opened his senior track season with a sweep of the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in last Friday's Free State Early Bird Invitational. Esquibel, a Kansas State signee, won the 1,600 in 4 minutes, 36.23 seconds and took the 3,200 win in 9:44.51.
Joslynn Grace
JOSLYNN GRACE, Seaman
Grace opened her junior swimming season with four gold medals in last Thursday's Topeka West Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natorium. Grace won the 200-yard individual medley (2:15.94) and the 100 breaststroke (1:11.27) and swam on the Vikings' winning 200-yard medley relay (1:58.69) and 200 free relay (1:49.24).
Ashley Heavner
ASHLEY HEAVNER, Washburn University
Heavner, a sophomore from Frisco, Texas, broke a 44-year-old Washburn University track and field program record at the Fort Hays State Spring Invitational in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1 minute, 3.21 seconds. Heavner broke her own personal best in the event while breaking Pam Blackwell's WU record of 1:03.64.
- 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 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Merritt, Seaman 10.77
Murph, Topeka High 11.18
Barr, Topeka West 11.59
Hailey, Topeka High 11.85
Osburn, Washburn Rural 11.90
Aaron Merritt, Seaman
200 METERS
Merritt, Seaman 22.08
Murph, Topeka High 23.05
Parker, Shawnee Heights 23.27
Batson, Topeka West 23.37
Cochran, Seaman 23.41
400 METERS
Roeder, Topeka High 52.68
Benz, Shawnee Heights 52.79
Terry, Washburn Rural 53.14
Batson, Topeka West 53.64
Roney, Washburn Rural 54.31
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Anderson, Seaman 1:59.81
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 2:00
Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 2:08.43
Quarles, Washburn Rural 2:09.89
Olsen, Washburn Rural 2:11.40
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights
1,600 METERS
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 4:22.45
Lehman, Topeka West 4:48.72
Leinwetter, Washburn Rural 4:51.67
Carter, Shawnee Heights 4:52.44
Moore, Hayden 4:56.13
