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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hall of Famer Ron Slaymaker didn't really know what to expect when he recently took over as Topeka High's girls basketball coach.
But whatever Slaymaker's expections were, the Trojans have already surpassed them in just a little over a week of summer workouts.
Hall of Fame basketball coach Ron Slaymaker has been impressed with his Topeka High girls team in early summer workouts. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High went through four days of practice as a team last week and went through a controlled scrimmage against USD 501 rival Topeka West Tuesday at The Dungeon.
"I tell you what, I've been coaching girls for 10 years -- seven years over at Chase County and three years at Olpe -- and I walk in here not having a clue and I am excited,'' said the 87-year-old Slaymaker, best known for a successful 28-year run as Emporia State's men's coach.
"Their attitude is awesome. Walking in here with not too much in terms of expectations, their attitude has just been really good.''
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Editor's note: Over the coming days, TopSports.news will take a look at all of the nominees for the 2024 Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. All nominees will be recognized at the June 26 awards banquet, which will be held in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame induction at Washburn University's Memorial Union.
WINTER SPORTS: OUTSTANDING FEMALE NOMINEES
Zoe Canfield
ZOE CANFIELD | Washburn Rural
PARENTS: Jordan and Eileen Canfield
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.46
Canfield helped Washburn Rural win Class 6A state championships in both basketball and volleyball during her high school career and the University of Kansas signee capped her prep career with a second-place state finish in the 6A basketball tournament in March. "Zoe has exhibited excellence in every aspect of her career, both in and out of the classroom,'' Rural volleyball and basketball coach Kevin Bordewick said. "On the court, as an All-State two-sport athlete, her leadership, work ethic and toughness, especially in fighting through injuries, were exemplary examples of what excellence really is. Zoe has set a standard for future Washburn Rural athletes and what they should aspire to be.''
McKenna Haltom
McKENNA HALTOM | Shawnee Heights
PARENTS: Tressa and Jamey Haltom
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 4.27
Haltom was a three-year letter-winner for Shawnee Heights' wrestling team, advancing to the United Kansas Conference finals two times and earning a Class 6A-5A state medal as a senior while posting a career record of 80-27 with 62 pins. "McKenna is a multi-sport athlete, participating in cross country, wrestling and track,'' Heights wrestling coach Chad Parks said. "She is also a team leader and captain in all three sports. McKenna thrives in the classroom, taking honors courses throughout high school and graduating with a 4.27 GPA. She is the student council president, a member of National Honor Society and the school newspaper editor and chief.'' Haltom will wrestle collegiately at Baker University.
Kendra Hurla
KENDRA HURLA | Rossville
PARENTS: Chris and Angie Hurla
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: .4.0
Hurla joined a very elite group of high school athletes when she won her fourth straight Class 4A-1A state wrestling championship in February while helping the Bulldawgs win their first wrestling team championship. "Kendra is the definition of a leader,'' Rossville coach Bryce Gfeller said. "Throughout the year she was constantly the one setting our practice pace and making sure that everyone was following her lead. She has inspired many of our younger girls to try wrestling for the first time after watching her compete.'' Hurla posted a career wrestling record of 127-3 with more than 100 career pins, including a 38-0 record as a senior. Hurla also competed in volleyball, track, cheer and dance and will cheer at Washburn University.
Makenzie McDaniel
MAKENZIE McDANIEL | Silver Lake
PARENTS: Lucas and Kelli McDaniel
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: NA
McDaniel capped an outstanding high school basketball career with a Class 3A state championship. McDaniel finished her prep career with 1,493 points, 952 rebounds and 155 blocked shots while ranking No. 1 on Silver Lake's all-time career list in two-point field goals made, defensive rebounds and offensive rebounds and ranking No. 2 in career points and career blocks. McDaniel holds the single-season school record in total points, two-point field goals made, points per game, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds. A four-year starter, the Emporia State signee was named the co-Shawnee County player of the year as a senior after averaging 19.8 points and 10.4 rebounds. McDaniel was also a standout in volleyball, softball and track and field for the Eagles.
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Editor's note: Over the coming days, TopSports.news will take a look at all of the nominees for the 2024 Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. All nominees will be recognized at the June 26 awards banquet, which will be held in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame induction at Washburn University's Memorial Union.
FALL SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Callen Barta
CALLEN BARTA | Seaman
PARENTS: Jerry Barta and Jeni Sloan
SPORT: Football | GPA: NA
A receiver/defensive back, Barta caught 77 passes for 1441 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior while recording 36 tackles and intercepting five passes, returning one for a touchdown. "Callen is a great example of hard work paying off,'' Seaman coach Jared Swafford said. "During his time in our program I had the privelege of watching him grow and mature as a young man. He is a young man that took a lot of pride in working hard on his craft and that ultimately paid off. I am very proud of Callen and all that he has achieved, although he is not done yet.'' A Kansas Shrine Bowl selection, Barta will play collegiately at Kansas State.
Carter Charvat
CARTER CHARVAT | Hayden
PARENTS: Matt and Sarah Charvat
SPORT: Football | GPA: 4.33
A three-sport athlete, Charvat helped lead Hayden's football team to the Class 3A state championship game last fall, earning All-Shawnee County Top 22 and All-3A recognition. A Kansas Shrine Bowl selection, Charvat was in on 117 tackles as a senior, including 71 solo stops and registered eight sacks and four tackles for loss while intercepting two passes. Charvat also helped the Wildcats advance to the 3A state tournament in basketball and was a standout thrower in track and field, qualifying for the 3A state meet. Charvat will play college football at Benedictine.
Christian Gonzales
CHRISTIAN GONZALES | Shawnee Heights
PARENTS: Ritchie and Angel Gonzales
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.0
Gonzales, a three-year starter as a defensive lineman, was a first-team All-United Kansas Conference pick as a junior and senior and an All-Shawnee County Top 22 selection as a senior, compiling 70 tackles with eight tackles for loss and four sacks. Gonzales finished his high school career with 149 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks and was selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. "A leader and fierce competitor, Christian dominated the trenches for the T-Birds,'' Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said. Gonzales has signed a letter of intent to play college football at Washburn University.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee County athletes have starred in a variety of sports at the high school, collegiate, national amateur and professional levels over the years, with county high schools producing Super Bowl and World Series champs, national individual and team champions, Olympians, local and national Hall of Famers and even U.S. Open champs.
Topeka sports legend Mike Torrez was a world champion with the New York Yankees and won 185 games as a Major League pitcher in an 18-year career. [File photo]
Former Shawnee Heights star Gary Woodland won the 2019 U.S. Open and continues to compete on the PGA Tour. [PGA Tour]
Topeka High grad Chris Barnes is a PBA Hall of Famer, who also helped the Trojans win a state basketball title. [PBA Tour]
Topeka West state champion Sheri Norris was an All-American tennis player at Arizona State before playing on the pro tennis tour. [File photo]
And while some of the county greats are probably household names among local sports fans, there are others who have carved out impressive careers that you may not be as familiar with, including some you've probably never head of.
This summer TopSports.news will try to change that.
Beginning in July and continuing throughout the summer, TopSports.news will post its selections for the Top 100 greatest athletes in Shawnee County.
Former Topeka High star NiJaree Canady has received national pitcher of the year and player of the year as a sophomore pitcher for Stanford. [Stanford Athletics]
Former Washburn Rural multi-sport star Brooklyn DeLeye is currently a star for Kentucky's volleyball team. [Kentucky Volleyball]
Past Top 100 and Top 125 lists, which I had the pleasure of helping select, combined men's and women's athletes, but, quite frankly, that is unfair in 2024, with female athletes very deserving of their own Top 100 list as athletes like NiJaree Canady and Brooklyn DeLeye continue to make their own mark on sports' biggest stages.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For one day anyway, Kossover Tennis Center was the home of the Huskers.
University of Nebraska players Nikolay Sysoev and Colson Wells finished one-two in the men's open singles division while the Huskers' Maria Taranova captured the women's open singles championship.
Nebraska tennis standout Nikolay Sysoev won the men's single championship in the Jayhawk Open Sunday at Kossover Tennis Center, topping Husker teammate Colson Wells, 6-4, 6-2. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Maria Taranova, a sophomore to be at Nebraska, captured the Jayhawk Open women's singles title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Wichita State's Theodora Chantava. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sysoev, who recently finished his sophomore season for Nebraska, took a 6-4, 6-2 win over teammate Wells, a redshirt freshman, in the men's open final while Taranova, who just finished her freshman season for the Huskers, took a 6-4, 6-3 win over Wichita State's Theodora Chantava in the women's final.
Sysoev added a second title later on Sunday, teaming with Nebraska teammate Henry Bilicic to take a 6-4, 6-2 win over Graham Faris and Matthew Earle in the men's open doubles final.
"Huskers! Go Big Red,'' Sysoev said.
"It's definitely a special one,'' Sysoev, a native of Moscow, Russia who now calls Sarasota, Fla. home, said about the all-NU men's final. "We play each other at practice all the time so we know each other's game pretty well. Today I just got lucky and played a little better.''
Wells, a native of Okemos, Mich., jumped out in front 2-0 in the opening set but Sysoev won the next four games and survived a late rally from Wells.
