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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Former Topeka High standout and University of Kansas running back Tylan Alejos recently returned home, signing with backyard school Washburn University's football program for the next four years, allowing the redshirt freshman to perform at a high level in his hometown.
Immediately after graduating from Topeka High, Alejos felt the best opportunity to grow was to walk on and make a name for himself at KU.
According to the former Trojan, it was a great decision.
“At the time, it was my best decision,” Alejos said. “KU gave me the best possibility to put my name out there. I got exposed and showed that I could play at any level. I knew I could play at the next level, and I wanted to prove to myself that I could.”
It took a lot of confidence for Alejos to take a route with no guarantees of walking on at the Division I level. But that edge and belief have been with him since his high school days at Topeka High.
“I’ve always been good at sports, and I know that I’ve had that confidence since little league,” Alejos said. “I felt like I got shook when I first got to KU because there were so many talented backs. Eventually, as the year (went by), I started to get my confidence back; I got more reps and things like that. I started to get more comfortable in the offense.
“I felt like I had a very good spring at KU. I got the most reps I ever had there. I thought it was the perfect time to try and look for another program for some playing time.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which went undefeated in Centennial League competition, put a ;league high five players on the all-league girls soccer first team, led by senior co-player of the year Mackinly Rohn.
Rohn, who helped lead Washburn Rural (15-5-1) to a third-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament, is joined on the first team seniors Hailey Beck and Addi Broxterman and sophomores Destiny Higgs and Kate Hinck.
Junior Blue freshman Emma Wong was named the Centennial League newcomer of the year while Rural's Brian Hensyel was selected as the league coach of the year.
Hayden, which finished third in the Class 4A-1A state tournament, put senior Noelia Cruz and junior Jill Lenherr on the first team after the Wildcats went 12-6-2 on the season while Topeka High junior Avery Zimmerman represents the Trojans on the all-league first team.
Manhattan, which finished fourth in 6A, put three players on the first team, led by junior co-player of the year Reese Snowden. Also representing the Indians on the all-league team are junior Emery Ruliffson and sophomore Jada Dibbini.
Junction City senior Sophia Holloway and Emporia junior Emeil Bennett round out the first team.
2023 ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE GIRLS SOCCER
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When high school football practice begins in August, linemen will go back to laboring in relative obscurity.
But Monday's Battle of the Bigs lineman challenge at Shawnee Heights was all about the men in the trenches.
Appoximately 85 linemen representing seven city and area high schools took part in the Battle of the Bigs, competing in a variety of drills/activities while vying for individual and team prizes.
"We do it because the skill guys get to have fun all summer and the linemen, all they do is push sleds and work in the weight room, so we see this as kind of a way to reward the linemen and kind of create that unity in their unit,'' Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said. "They always say they have a great time.
"We wanted to do something fun for the linemen. Linemen are always like, 'How come we don't get to do 7 on 7, how come we don't get to do stuff?' So that's why we put this together: 'Let's make it a fun day, non-contact, but competitive. More importantly, we want to help build that brotherhood inside the trenches.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By his own admission, Gavin Wilhelm didn't have his best putting performance in the 2023 Topeka Golf Association City Match Play tournament at Western Hills Golf Course.
But the former Seaman standout and current Washburn University golfer made his biggest putt of the week, draining a clutch 8-footer on the 18th hole Sunday to claim a 1-up victory over recent Washburn Rural graduate Bryan Tyrell.
Wilhelm, who plays football and golf for the Ichabods, also drained big putts on the 15th and 16th holes to protect his slim lead over Tyrell but the 2022 Seaman graduate also missed a relatively short putt on No. 17 to open the door for Tyrell, a Class 6A state qualifier this spring.
Wilhelm, the No. 8 tournament seed, also had to punch the ball back into the fairway after getting too far left on his final drive, but he executed his punchout perfectly and then hit his approach close before sinking the championship-winnning par putt.
"I felt like I hadn't made too many putts throughout this tournament so being able to capitalize on those in the very end of the match was really cool,'' Wilhelm said.
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MOST INSPIRATIONAL: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
MASON BROKAW | Silver Lake
PARENTS: Kevin and Shannon Brokaw
SPORT: Cross country/track | GPA: 3.855
Brokaw ran varsity track and cross country throughout his high school career. "He has contributed to some very good teams all years,'' Silver Lake cross country coach Kevin Brokaw said. "He has grown into a leader of the team and always led by example. As a senior he decided to double in football as well as cross country after not playing football since sixth grade. He was a varsity letter-winner in both fall sports. He is a great teammate in every sport he participates in and always gives 100 percent. He is a mentor to young runners that look up to him.'' Brokaw received All-Mid-East League recognition all four years in high school and was a state cross country medalist as a freshman and a state medalist in track as a sophomore and junior.
NICK FREELAND | Shawnee Heights
PARENTS: Chad Freeland and Jessica Busby
SPORT: Football/wrestling | GPA: 3.4
Freeland was a standout in football and wrestling for Shawnee Heights. "Nick had a fantastic football season as the quarterback,'' Shawnee Heights football coach Jason Swift said. "He got there by his hard work, commitment and mental toughness. Nick attended 101 football opportunities in the summer, where the average players made 62. The 101 is a new school record. Nick had a big game leading the T-Birds to victory over Lansing in the playoffs, plus big wins vs. Seaman, Basehor, Topeka West and Lansing for a second time.'' Freeland was a regional champion and placed sixth in Class 5A for Shawnee Heights' wrestling team and will wrestle collegiately at Hastings College in Nebraska. Freeland received first-team All-Shawnee County honors in wrestling and all-county honorable mention in football.