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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Rottinghaus name was already a familiar one in Washburn University volleyball lore before Taylor Rottinghaus ever stepped on campus, with her older sister Faith a five-time All-American, a national NCAA Division II runnerup and the Ichabods' all-time digs leader.
But in just one season Taylor is well on the way to carving out her own legacy at WU, earning All-MIAA Tournament and all-conference second-team honors in 2023 as a freshman defensive specialist/libero.
A former three-sport standout at Shawnee Heights, Taylor Rottinghaus played in all 28 matches (96 of 103 sets) for the 17-11 Ichabods last fall while leading the team in digs with 444 on the year (4.63 average per set) and also recording 78 assists with seven service aces.
If Taylor felt any pressure being the little sister an Ichabod legend, who played the same position, Rottinghaus said it quickly dissipated.
"Coming in I felt a little pressure, but I would say the pressure was gone within a week and nothing regarding Faith happened at all last year -- it was only Taylor,'' Rottinghaus said.
And although Faith was around for support if needed, Taylor said her sister remained in the background.
"She left me alone and she let me do my own thing, which I really appreciate,'' Taylor said.
Rottinghaus, who received All-United Kansas Conference recognition in volleyball, basketball and track at Shawnee Heights and was a Class 5A state medalist in track, admitted that there were a few growing pains making the jump from high school to college, but said she was pleased with her season overall and is looking for bigger things for herself and her team this fall.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
JO'MHARA BENNING, Topeka High
Benning, a senior, has received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition the past two seasons and was also a second-team All-Centennial League pick. Benning is also a softball standout for the Trojans, earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors.
ELLA BOLAN, Silver Lake
Bolan, a senior middle hitter/outside hitter, earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors and Kansas Volleyball Association All-Class 3A honorable mention last fall after helping Silver Lake post a third-place finish in the 3A state tournament, with the Eagles posting a 32-12 record on the year. An All-3A state tournament pick and second-team All-Mid-East League honoree, Bolan registered 317 kills with 62 blocks and 38 service aces.
TAYLOR BREES, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Brees was a second-team All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference selection last season for the T-Birds. Brees also earned first-team All-Shawnee County recognition in softball this past spring.
ALANA BREWSTER, Silver Lake
Brewster, a senior, received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season after helping Silver Lake post a 32-12 record and a third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ANTONIO AGUIRRE, Highland Park
A senior, Aguirre has been one of the top players in the Meadowlark Conference for Highland Park the past two seasons, earning first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior. Aguirre received All-City honorable mention last fall after the Scots posted a 4-13-0 record.
JAIME ALVARADO, Topeka High
A senior forward, Alvarado earned first-team All-City and All-City recognition last season for the Trojans, who posted a 7-10-0 record. Alvarado received All-City and All-Centennial League honorable mention as a sophomore in 2022.
DRADEN CHOONCHAROEN, Washburn Rural
A junior midfielder, Chooncharoen had four goals and four assists and received second-team All-Centennial League honors last fall as Washburn Rural (19-2) won its 29th straight Centennial League title (outright or shared) and finished third in Class 6A. A three-sport standout, Chooncharoen was a 4x400-meter relay state champion this past spring in track.
COOPER GRACE, Hayden
A senior defender, Grace was a first-team All-Centennial League pick and earned All-City honorable mention last season for the 6-8-3 Wildcats. An All-Stater in baseball, Grace led the Wildcats to the Class 3A state title this past spring and has made an oral commitment to Nebraska.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMERIE CATLIN, Washburn Rural
A senior, Catlin teamed with Izzy Haggard to advance to the Class 6A state tournament last fall with a second-place regional finish. Catlin and Haggard won the city championship in No. 2 doubles and finished second in doubles in the Centennial League meet. Catlin and Haggard went 22-9 on the season, helping the Junior Blues sweep city, Centennial League and regional team titles and tie for fifth as a team at state.
CAROLINA CHEDZOY, Washburn Rural
Chedzoy, a senior, capped her first season at Washburn Rural with an eighth-place singles finish in the Class 6A state tournament. Chedzoy, who went 23-11 on the season, won a regional championship after finishing second in the city and Centennial League tournaments. Chedzoy helped lead the Junior Blues to city, Centennial League and regional team championships before Rural tied for fifth in 6A.
SIDNEY CHINN, Seaman
A senior, Chinn helped Seaman capture United Kansas Conference and Class 5A regional team championships last fall and was a state qualifier in singles. Chinn posted third-place finishes in regional and city competition and finished fifth in the UKC championships.
MADELINE DETERS, Topeka High
Deters, a junior, will be counted on to be a leader for Duane Pomeroy's Trojans this season. Deters qualified for the Class 6A state tournament in singles as a freshman in 2022 and is likely to play No. 1 singles for Topeka High in 2024.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ALEX BAXTER, Topeka West
Baxter, a senior, was a Class 5A individual state qualifier last fall, tying for 29th with a 36-hole score of 184 (88-96). Baxter was the United Kansas Conference runnerup with an 18-hole score of 81 after finshing third in the UKC meet as a sophomore. She tied for 20th in the regional tournament.
LAUREN BORJON, Hayden
Borjon, a junior, helped Hayden win the Class 4A state title by a 37-stroke margin, finishing 15th individually with a 165 36-hole score (85-80). Borjon tied for first for the team-champion Wildcats in the city tournament with a 76, finishing second in a playoff, tied for seventh in regional competition (88) and shot an 89 in the Centennial League tournament.
IZZY GLOTZBACH, Hayden
A junior, Glotzbach shot a team-low 161 at state (79-82) to tie for ninth in Class 4A, helping Hayden post a runaway 37-stroke win in the team standings. Glotzbach finished third in the city tournament (81) to help Hayden win the city team title and tied for ninth at regionals (88). Glotzbach was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick after earning second-team recognition as a freshman.
NATALIE PETERSON, Washburn Rural
A senior, Peterson has received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition the past two seasons. Peterson posted a 27th-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament last fall, finishing with a 36-hole score of 171 (89-82) to help Rural place fourth as a team. Peterson was eighth in the city meet (84), tied for sixth in the Centennial League (82) and tied for 10th at regionals (86).
REECE RANDALL, Washburn Rural
A senior, Randall earned second-team All-Shawnee County recognition in 2022 and 2023. Randall tied for 25th in the Class 6A state tournament with a 36-hole total of 170 (87-83) for fourth-place Rural. Randall tied for fourth in the Centennial League tournament with an 81, took ninth in the city tournament (85) and tied for 14th place at regionals (88).
MAKENNA STUKE, Seaman
Stuke, a junior, helped Seaman win a Class 5A regional team title with a fifth-place finish (89) and tied for 29th in the 5A state tournament with a 36-hole score of 184 (91-93). Stuke finished third in the United Kansas Conference tournament with an 83 as the Vikings won the championship by 48 strokes. She carded an 87 in the city meet.
JAYCEE ZIMMERMAN, Seaman
Zimmerman, a senior, is a two-time All-Shawnee County second-team pick and shot a 79 to win the United Kansas Conference individual title last fall after finishing second as a sophomore. Zimmerman helped the Vikings post a 48-stroke win in the UKC meet and placed eighth in Class 5A regional competition as Seaman captured the team title.
TAYLOR ZORDEL, Silver Lake
Zordel, a senior, earned her third straight Class 3A-1A state medal while helping Silver Lake win its first state girls golf championship in school history by a 22-stroke margin. Zordel placed fourth at state with a 36-hole score of 163 (83-80) after posting a third-place regional finish (80) for the regional-champion Eagles. Zordel was a first-team All-Shawnee County repeat selection.