By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior Mason Thieu and Topeka West juniors Ian and Miles Cusick followed up their city titles with Centennial League tennis championships Tuesday at Emporia, while Rural edged Topeka West for the team crown.
Washburn Rural senior Mason Thieu (left) poses with Junior Blues coach Kevin Hedberg after Tuesday's Centennial League tennis tournament at Emporia. Thieu went 5-0 without dropping a game to claim the singles title while Hedberg, who will retire at the end of the season, coached Rural to the team title in his final league meet. [Photo by Kamla Cusick/Special to TSN]
Topeka West juniors Miles Cusick (left) and Ian Cusick won the Centennial League doubles championship Tuesday at Emporia, topping teammates Gavin Chavez and Carter Cool 8-5 in the final. [Photo by Kamla Cusick/Special to TSN]
Thieu went through five matches on the day without dropping a single game, capped by an 8-0 win over Emporia's Brenden Kienholz in the singles final while West's Cusick twins emerged victorious in an all-Topeka West doubles championship match, taking an 8-5 decision over senior Gavin Chavez and junior Carter Cool.
In addition to Thieu's singles title, Washburn Rural got a third-place singles finish from junior Mason Casebeer, a fourth-place doubles finish from seniors Nick Luetje and Kyler Knudtson and a sixth-place doubles showing from seniors Kiyoon Park and Zach Willingham as the Junior Blues edged Topeka West for the team title, 86-83.
Along with West's one-two finish in doubles the Chargers got a fourth-place singles finish from James Maag and a ninth-place singles placing from sophomore Caden McGee.
Hayden tied Manhattan for third place in the team standings, led by senior Michael Standstrom and junior Gus Glotzbach, who posted a third-place doubles finish.
Seaman finished fifth as a team, led by Justin Kruse's fifth-place finish in doubles.
All seven city schools will compete in regional tournaments on Friday, vying for state tournament berths.
Washburn Rural and Topeka High will compete in a Class 6A regional at Kossover Tennis Center, while Highland Park, Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will take part in a 5A regional at De Soto and Hayden will compete in a 4A regional hosted by Bishop Miege.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE TENNIS
Team scores
Washburn Rural 86, Topeka West 83, Manhattan 65, Hayden 65, Seaman 49, Junction City 46, Emporia 43, Topeka High 31, Highland Park 18.
Individual results
Singles
Championship -- Thieu, Washburn Rural, def. Kienholz, Emporia, 8-0.
Third place -- Casebeer, Washburn Rural, def. Maag, Topeka West, 8-4.
Fifth place -- Kruse, Seaman, def. Linderer, Manhattan, 8-3.
Doubles
Championship -- I. Cusick/M. Cusick, Topeka West, def. Cool/Chavez, Topeka West, 8-5.
Third place -- Sandstrom/Glotzbach, Hayden, def.. Luetje/Knudtson, Washburn Rural, 8-1.
Fifth -- Karr/Ivester, Manhattan, def. Park//Willingham, Washburn Rural, 8-3.
