By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

ANDREW BECKLER, Washburn University

Beckler, who was earlier named the MIAA player of the year, ended his collegiate golf career with a runner-up individual finish among 84 competitors in the NCAA Division II National Championships in Palm Beach Springs, Fla., the highest national tournament finish by an Ichabod in program history. Beckler finished with a 54-hole total of 222 with rounds of 73, 74 and 75. 

NiJAREE CANADY, Topeka High

Canady, a junior, pitched a one-hitter and struck out 16 batters to key the Trojans' 3-1 victory over Manhattan in a Class 6A regional championship softball game at Hummer Sports Park. With the win Topeka High improved to 22-0 on the season and advanced to Thursday's 6A state tournament.

By RICK PETERSON

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Kadence Jeffries

 KADENCE JEFFRIES, Topeka West

Jeffries, a senior, swept the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events in last Saturday's Class 5A-1A state swimming and diving championships for the third straight season that the state meet was held, going six for six in state individual events. Jeffries, who has signed with Nebraska-Omaha, won the 200 free in 1:53.29 and the 500 free in 5:03.55 at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center.

Tanner Newkirk

TANNER NEWKIRK, Hayden

A senior, Newkirk swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in last Friday's Class 4A regional track and field championships at Eudora, helping the Wildcats edge Louisburg for the team championship. A Kansas signee, Newkirk ran the 800 in 1:59.04, the 1,600 in 4:27.52 and the 3,200 in 9:39.51 en route to pulling off the difficult distance triple.

 By RICK PETERSON

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Audrey Appuhn

AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural

Appuhn, a freshman swimming standout, posted two individual top-four finishes in her first Class 6A state meet Saturday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, helping lead Washburn Rural to an eighth-place team finish. Appuhn finished third in the the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 10.16 seconds and fourth in the 500 free in 5:14.45. Appuhn also swam on the Junior Blues' 200 medley relay (1:55.03) and 400 free relay (3:45.72), which won 'B' finals..

Jackson Esquibel

JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights

A junior track and field star, Esquibel pulled off the distance triple in last Thursday's Class 5A regional at the Olathe District Athletic Complex. A returning state medalist, Esquibel won the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 23.42 seconds and followed that up with a win in the 800 in 1:59.55 and a victory in the 3,200 in 9:42.42 to qualify for Friday and Saturday's 5A state meet at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium.

Grace Proctor

GRACE PROCTOR, Shawnee Heights

Proctor, a sophomore, pitched a complete-game one-hitter and recorded 13 strikeouts last Tuesday as Shawnee Heights earned a berth in Thursday and Friday's Class 5A state softball tournament at Wichita State's Wilkins Stadium with a 3-0 win over United Kansas Conference rival De Soto in a regional final at Piper. Proctor allowed only a sixth-inning double as Shawnee Heights improved to 15-7 with its third win of the season over the Wildcats.

By RICK PETERSON

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 Ian Cusick

IAN CUSICK, Topeka West

A junior, Cusick teamed with his twin brother, Miles, to win the city tennis championship in No. 1 doubles for the second straight season.in last Thursday's city tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. The Cusicks took an 8-1 win over Washburn Rural's Kyler Knudtson and Nick Luetje in the championship match, helping the Chargers win a share of the city team title with Rural.

Miles Cusick

MILES CUSICK, Topeka West

Cusick, a junior, teamed with his twin brother, Ian, to win the city tennis championship in No. 1 doubles for the second straight season.in last Thursday's city tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. Miles and Ian beat  Washburn Rural's Kyler Knudtson and Nick Luetje in the championship match, 8-1, helping the Chargers win a share of the city team title with Rural.

Bethany Druse

BETHANY DRUSE, Seaman

A junior, Druse set the Seaman school record in the girls 800 meters in last Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Invitational at Seaman, winning the event in a time of 2 minutes, 15.19 seconds. Druse's time was the best girls 800 meters clocking in the state this spring.

Marrit Mead

MARRIT MEAD, Washburn University

Mead, a sophomore, went 4 for 8 in last Saturday's 5-1, 13-3 doubleheader sweep at Emporia State, helping the Ichabods clinch the MIAA regular-season championship while extending their winning streak to 22 games. Mead, a Santa Fe Trail grad, went 1 for 3 with a run and a run batted in in the first game and went 3 for 5 in the second game with a double and a home run, scoring three runs with five RBI.

Mason Thieu

MASON THIEU, Washburn Rural

Playing his first city tennis tournament since his freshman season, the Washburn Rural senior captured the No. 1 singles championship last Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center with an 8-2 win over Topeka West's James Maag in the final match. Thieu helped lead the Junior Blues to a share of the team title with Topeka West.

Alex Valdivia

ALEX VALDIVIA, Shawnee Heights

Valdivia, a junior, followed up his United Kansas Conference individual golf title with the city championship last Monday at Topeka Country Club. Valdivia, a returning Class 5A state medalist, shot a 27-hole score of 116 to take city medalist honors by two strokes over 2021 city champ Luke Leonetti of Washburn Rural.

By RICK PETERSON

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Kadence Jeffries

KADENCE JEFFRIES, Topeka West

A junior, Jeffries posted a pair of dominating wins in last Thursday's Centennial League girls swimming championships, winning the 200-yard freetyle in 1 minutes, 54.18 seconds and the 500 free in 5:02.60, posting a career-best time in the 500. Jeffries, the 2019 state champion in both events, will compete in the Class 5A-1A state meet on Saturday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Ian Cusick

 IAN CUSICK, Topeka West

A junior, Cusick teamed with his twin brother, Miles, to win the Class 5A state doubles championship last Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping lead the Chargers to a second-place team finish. The Cusicks took a 6-3, 6-2 win over Maize South in the title match, completing a sweep of city, Centennial League, regional and state championships.

Miles Cusick

 MILES CUSICK, Topeka West

Cusick, a junior, teamed with twin brother Ian to win the Class 5A state doubles championship last Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping the Chargers post a second-place team finish. The Cusicks took a 6-3, 6-2 win over Maize South in the title match, completing a sweep of city, Centennial League, regional and state championships.

Gabby Grace

GABBY GRACE, Seaman

A senior leader for the Vikings' swimming team, Grace  was the Centennial League champ in the 100-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke and swam on Seaman's winning 200 medley and 400 free relays in last Thursday's Centennial League meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.

Michael Sandstrom

GUS GLOTZBACH, Hayden

Glotzbach, a junior, teamed with Michael Sandstrom to finish second in doubles in last Saturday's Class 4A state tennis tournament at Winfield for the second straight season, helping lead the Wildcats to a third-place team finish. Glotzbach and Sandstrom dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision to Independence in the state final.

Michael Sandstrom

MICHAEL SANDSTROM, Hayden

A senior three-time state medalist, Sandstrom teamed with Glotzbach to post a state runner-up finish in doubles in last Saturday's Class 4A state tennis tournament at Winfield for the second straight season, helping lead the Wildcats to a third-place team finish. Sandstrom and Glotzbach dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision to Independence in the state final.

Tae Thomas

TAE THOMAS, Topeka High

Thomas, a senior three-sport standout for the Trojans, recorded a three-goal hat trick in Topeka High's 7-1 Centennial League Senior Nigh soccer romp past Emporia at Hummer Sports Park as High capped an 11-5-0 regular season to earn a home berth for the Class 6A regional playoffs.

 By RICK PETERSON

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Audrey Appuhn

AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural

Appuhn, a freshman swimming standout, was a part of four victories in her first Centennial League meet last Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, helping lead Washburn Rural to its third straight league team championship. Appuhn won the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 11.39 seconds and the 500 free in 5:13.53 and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 medley relay (1:55.69) and 400 free relay (3:48.77).

Ian Cusick

IAN CUSICK, Topeka West

A senior, Ian and his twin brother, Miles, capped their high school tennis career with a second straight Class 5A state doubles championship Saturday at Arkansas City. The Cusicks, who earned state medals in all three of their state tournament appearances, led the Chargers to their first-ever 5A state boys team title by a 34-28 margin over Blue Valley Southwest. Ian and Miles took a 6-3, 6-4 win over Arkansas City's Oakley and Dawson O'Donnell in the final, avenging three losses earlier in the season.

Miles Cusick

MILES CUSICK, Topeka West

A senior,  Miles and his twin brother, Ian, closed out their high school tennis career with a second straight Class 5A state doubles championship Saturday at Arkansas City. The Cusicks, who earned state medals in all three of their state tournament appearances, led the Chargers to their first-ever 5A state boys team title by a 34-28 margin over Blue Valley Southwest. Miles and Ian took a 6-3, 6-4 win over Arkansas City's Oakley and Dawson O'Donnell in the final, avenging three losses earlier in the season.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Olivia Bruno

OLIVIA BRUNO, Washburn Rural

A senior, Bruno had a monster week as Washburn Rural's softball team rolled to doubleheader sweeps over Centennial League foes Seaman, Manhattan and Junction City. Bruno hit seven home runs with 13 runs batted in on the week and had three-home run days against Manhattan and Junction City. Bruno, who will play collegiately at Kansas, also went 4-0 as a pitcher with 34 strikeouts while not allowing a run.

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Carter Cool

CARTER COOL, Topeka West 

A senior tennis standout, Cool won his second city championship in No. 1 singles last Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping Topeka West win its third straight city team title (outright or shared). Cool clinched his individual title with an 8-5 win over Washburn Rural senior standout Mason Casebeer in the final.

Ian Cusick

IAN CUSICK, Topeka West

Cusick, a senior, teamed with his twin brother, Miles Cusick, to win their third straight city tennis title in No. 1 doubles last Thursday while helping the Chargers win their third consecutive city team championship (outright or shared) by a 30-26 margin over Washburn Rural. The Cusicks, defending Class 5A state champs, took an 8-0 win over Rural in the final.

Miles Cusick

MILES CUSICK, Topeka West

A senior, Cusick teamed with his twin brother, Ian Cusick, to win a third straight city tennis title in No. 1 doubles last Thursday while helping Topeka West win its third straight city team championship (outright or shared) by a 30-26 margin over Washburn Rural. The Cusicks, defending Class 5A state champs, took an 8-0 win over Rural in the final.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Elijah Brooks

ELIJAH BROOKS, Topeka West

A 6-foot-3 junior, Brooks shared game-high scoring honors with 22 points and also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds as Topeka West earned its first Class 5A boys state tournament berth since 2010 with a 55-52 win over Seaman in Saturday's sub-state championship game. With the win the Chargers improved to 19-2 and advanced to a Tuesday night state quarterfinal game at Hays.

NiJaree Canady

NiJAREE CANADY, Topeka High

Canady, a 6-foot junior, recorded game-high totals of 21 points and 12 rebounds as Topeka High's girls earned their third straight Class 6A state basketball tournament berth with a 72-52 win over Washburn Rural. With the win the 21-2 Trojans set up a Tuesday night state quarterfinal matchup with Wichita Heights at Topeka High.

KAITLYN DOYAL, Washburn Rural

Doyal, a junior, finished seventh individually in Friday's Class 6A state girls bowling tournament at Northrock Lanes at Wichita with a 631 three-game series to help Washburn Rural earn a team trophy with a third-place finish. Doyal had a high game of 242 for the Junior Blues. 

Tyler Geiman

TYLER GEIMAN, Washburn University

A senior guard, Geiman hit a three-quarters-court buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give Washburn a dramatic 69-68 win over Northwest Missouri in Saturday night's MIAA Tournament championship game, Geiman finished with 23 points on the night after being named a first-team All-MIAA pick and all-defensive team selection earlier in the week. Geiman is a two-time All-MIAA first-teamer. 

Jalen Lewis

JALEN LEWIS, Washburn University

Lewis, a junior guard, was named the MIAA Tournament Outstanding Player after helping lead Washburn to the tournament championship for the first time since 2012. Lewis scored 29 points in a 101-72 win over Missouri Western in the semifinals and had 26 points in the Ichabods' 69-68 win over No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri in the championship game. Lewis received All-MIAA honorable mention earlier in the week.

Makenzie Millard

MAKENZIE MILLARD, Seaman

Millard, a junior, placed a city-high fourth-place finish in last Thursday's Class 5A-1A state bowling tournament at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, bowling a 612 series with a high game of 232. Millard, who finished fifth individually at state as a sophomore, led the Vikings to a fourth-place team finish.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

 Bo Aldridge

BO ALDRIDGE, Highland Park

The Highland Park junior basketball standout scored 54 points in two games last week as the Scots advanced to the Class 5A boys state tournament for the second time in three seasons. Aldridge scored 27 points in a 78-65 sub-state semifinal victory over St. Thomas Aquinas last Tuesday and followed that up with another 27-point performance in Friday's 89-52 romp past Piper in the sub-state championship game. 

Malachi Berg

MALACHI BERG, Topeka West

A junior, Berg turned in a pair of big performances as Topeka West advanced to the Class 5A boys state basketball tournament for the second straight season. Berg scored 16 points in last Tuesday's 78-46 sub-state semifinal win over Goddard Eisenhower and then followed that up with a career-high 23-point game in Friday's 73-59 victory over Andover in the sub-state final as the Chargers improved to 21-1 with their 20th straight victory.

Ethan Burns

ETHAN BURNS, Seaman

A junior bowler, Burns rolled a three-game series of 668 in last Friday's Class 5A-1A state bowling tournament at Wichita's Northrock Lanes, tying for ninth place and finishing 10th on a tiebreaker as Seaman captured the state 5A-1A team championship by a 3,483-3,472 margin over Goddard Eisenhower. Burns, who finished 13th at state as a sophomore, bowled a high game of 257 in his first game at state.

Kaitlyn Doyal

KAITLYN DOYAL, Washburn Rural

Doyal capped her high school career with a fourth-place finish in last Thursday's Class 6A state bowling tournament at Wichita's Northrock Lanes, helping lead the Junior Blues to a third-placer team finish. Doyal bowled a 616 series with a high game of 235 to crack the top five after finishing seventh individually as a junior. Doyal helped Washburn Rural finish third in the 6A state meet for the second straight season.

Makenzie Millard

MAKENZIE MILLARD, Seaman

Millard, a senior bowler, earned her third Class 5A-1A girls state medal last Friday at Wichita's Northrock Lanes, posting a career-best second-place finish while leading Seaman to the state team championship. Millard bowled a 697 three-game series, including a first-game 279, after finishing fifth at the state meet as a sophomore and fourth as a junior. Millard led the Vikings to the team championship by a 3,173-3,144 margin over Bishop Carroll. 

Kiki Smith

KIKI SMITH, Topeka High

A junior guard, Smith scored 33 points with three 3-pointers as Topeka High's girls advanced to the Class 6A state basketball tournament for the fourth straight season with a 67-46 victory over Liberal last Friday at Topeka High. Smith will be playing in her third straight state tournament, helping the Trojans post a runner-up state finish last season and helping lead High to a perfect 23-0 record as a sophomore before the tourney was cut short due to COVID-19.

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

 Bo Aldridge

BO ALDRIDGE, Highland Park

Aldridge, a senior, scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as undefeated Highland Park earned its second straight Class 5A state tournament berth with an 80-52 romp past St. James Academy in Saturday's sub-state championship game at Highland Park. The Scots have won 22 straight games dating back to last year's first-round state tournament loss to Maize.

Logan Glinka

LOGAN GLINKA, Washburn Rural

A sophomore, Glinka posted a seventh-place individual finish with a 696 series as Washburn Rural dominated the Class 6A state bowling tournament last Friday at Wichita's Northrock Lanes, winning the team championship by a 3,711-3,576 margin over Olathe Northwest. Glinka, one of two underclassmen in Rural's lineup, bowled games of 205, 254 and 237.

Avery Grunert

AVERY GRUNERT, Hayden

Grunert, a junior, only made one basket in Saturday night's 42-40 Class 4A sub-state overtime victory at Fort Scott, but it was the shot of the year for the 15-7 Wildcats. With Hayden trailing 40-39, the Wildcats inbounded the ball with 3.3 seconds remaining and Grunert banked in the game-winning 3-pointer as time ran out, sending Hayden to this week's state tournament in Salina.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Andrew Beckler

ANDREW BECKLER, Washburn University

Beckler, a Washburn Rural graduate, tied the Topeka Country Club amateur record with a 64 last Monday and the senior went on to win the individual championship in the Washburn Invitational by 13 strokes with a 13-under-par 54-hole score of 200 as the Ichabod golf team won the team title by nine strokes.

Jaycee Ginter

JAYCEE GINTER, Washburn University

A freshman, the former Shawnee Heights softball star pitched a no-hitter in the Ichabods' 2-0 MIAA win over Fort Hays State last Friday and Ginter also picked up the pitching win in Sunday's 7-6 win over Nebraska-Kearney while going 3 for 5 at the plate and knocking in the winning run.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Dagen Brewer

DAGEN BREWER, Seaman

A senior infielder/catcher, Brewer helped Seaman's baseball team open its 2022 season with a 3-2, 3-1 non-league doubleheader sweep of Basehor-Linwood last Saturday at the Optimist Field. Brewer doubled for the Vikings' first hit of the season in the fifth inning of the first game and reached base six times on the day with three hits.

Jaycee Ginter

JAYCEE GINTER, Washburn University

Ginter, a former Shawnee Heights star, picked up both pitching victories in Saturday's Washburn softball doubleheader MIAA sweep at Central Missouri, raising her season total to a nation-best 17 wins. Ginter hurled a complete game in the Ichabods' 10-2 first-game win, giving up seven hits while striking out eight batters. Ginter came on in relief in the second game, throwing 6.2 innings and striking out 10 hitters while allowing just one run in Washburn's 5-3 12-inning win as the Ichabods improved to 24-11 overall and 6-2 in the MIAA. Ginter also had a two-run double in the opener and a run-scoring double in the second game.

Kadence Jeffries

KADENCE JEFFRIES, Topeka West

Jeffries, who has never lost an individual race in Class 5A-1A state competition, opened her senior swimming season with a pair of dominating victories in last Thursday's Topeka West Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. The four-time state champion, who has signed a letter of intent with Nebraska Omaha, picked up decisive victories in the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 56.59 seconds and the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.57. Jeffries was a double state champ in both 2019 and 2021, with the '20 season canceled due to COVID-19.

 Belle Kennedy

BELLE KENNEDY, Washburn Rural

Kennedy, who was named the Class 6A midfielder of the year last season as a junior, scored a pair of goals last Friday at Washburn Rural's girls soccer team, third in 6A last season, opened its 2022 season with a 4-0 non-league road victory at Kapaun Mt. Carmel. Kennedy has signed a letter of intent with Washburn University.

Tanner Newkirk

TANNER NEWKIRK, Hayden

Newkirk, who has signed a letter of intent with Kansas, opened his senior track and field season with a dominating performance in the boys 3,200-meter run in last Friday's Free State Early Bird Invitational in Lawrence. Newkirk clocked a winning time of 9 minutes, 18.14 seconds in the event, winning by just over 40 seconds. Newkirk's time in his first race of the season eclipsed his best time of the 2021 campaign, whiich was the best in Shawnee County. by 20 seconds.

Jeremiah Smith

JEREMIAH SMITH, Shawnee Heights

A three-time Class 5A state track champion last spring as a sophomore, Smith made his junior debut with a big win in the boys 110-meter hurdles in last Friday's Free State Early Bird Invitational. Smith, who won state titles last season in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the 110-meter hurdles, posted a season-opening win in the 110 hurdles in 14.45 seconds, winning by more than two seconds.Smith's time Friday night was just off his season-best of 14.34 seconds in 2021.

 By RICK PETERSON

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Reagan Chapman

REAGAN CHAPMAN, Washburn Rural

A freshman, Chapman, Washburn Rural softball's leadoff hitter, opened the bottom of the first of Friday's Centennial League doubleheader against Topeka High with a solo home run. Chapman added a pair of doubles in the opener while knocking in a pair of runs and scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh in Rural's 4-3 win. In the nightcap, Chapman tripled and broke the game open with a three-run home run in the Junior Blues' 8-3 victory.

Jaycee Ginter

JAYCEE GINTER, Washburn University

Ginter, a junior, picked up three pitching wins as No. 21-ranked Washburn University softball swept MIAA foes Lincoln and Central Missouri Friday and Saturday. Ginter pitched five innings of no-hit ball with 10 strikeouts in a 5-0 win over Lincoln on Friday and picked up both wins on Saturday as the Ichabods took a pair of 2-1 wins over UCM. Ginter pitched a three-hitter with six strikeouts while allowing only an unearned run in the first game against the Jennies and pitched three innings of shutout ball with five strikeouts in the second game, improving to 19-2 on the season.   

Lenny Njoroge

LENNY NJOROGE, Topeka West

A returning Class 5A state medalist, Njoroge opened his senior track season with a pair of victories in last Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. Njoroge won the 1,600 meters by nearly 14 seconds in 4 minutes, 29.84 seconds and came back later in the evening to win the 3,200 by nearly 14 seconds in 9:45.51. Njoroge is also a three-time Class 5A state cross country medalist, including a fourth-place finish last fall.

By RICK PETERSON

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Trevion Alexander

TREVION ALEXANDER, Topeka West

A 6-foot-4 senior, Alexander was named tri-Centennial League boys basketball player of the year after leading Topeka West to a 21-3 record in the Class 5A state tournament, only the third time in Topeka West history the Chargers advanced to the state championship game.

Joe Berry

JOE BERRY, Washburn Rural

Berry, a 6-3 senior, was named tri-Centennial League boys basketball player of the year after being named co-league player of the year as a junior. Berry led Washburn Rural to a 14-7 record this past season and received all-league recognition for the third straight year..

By RICK PETERSON

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Kaeden Bonner

KAEDEN BONNER, Seaman

Bonner, a junior, scored a total of 43 points in the Class 5A state tournament, helping lead Seaman to the first boys state basketball championship in school history. Bonner scored 10 points with 4 assists and 3 steals in the No. 8-seeded Vikings' 54-43 first-round win over top seed Kapaun Mt. Carmel. He scored 18 points on six 3-pointers in the Vikings' 66-54 semifinal win over 2021 champion Maize with 5 assists and 2 steals and scored 15 points and hit 3 of 3 3-point attempts in Seaman's 66-47 win over De Soto in Saturday's state championship game.

Zoe Canfield

ZOE CANFIELD, Washburn Rural

A sophomore, Canfield scored 41 points in the Class 6A girls state basketball tournament as Washburn Rural captured its second state title since 2019 with a 40-23 win over Derby in Saturday's championship game. Canfield scored 23 points and hit six of seven 3-pointers and five of six free throws in the Junior Blues' 66-43 first-round win over Dodge City. Canfield scored six points on two 3-pointers and added 2 assists and 3 steals in Rural's 44-43 semifinal win over Olathe North and had 12 points with two 3s in the state championship game.

 By RICK PETERSON

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 Bo Aldridge

BO ALDRIDGE, Highland Park

Aldridge, a 6-foot-4 senior, scored 47 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in Highland Park's three Class 5A state tournament games, helping the Scots cap a 24-1 season with a third-place state finish. Aldridge scored 24 points with four 3-pointers and grabbed eight rebounds in Hi Park's 55-54 semifinal loss to eventual state champion Andover and scored 16 points with six rebounds in Saturday's 79-46 win over Hutchinson in the third-place game.

Anna Becker

ANNA BECKER, Seaman

Becker, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, earned the girls player of the year honor in the United Kansas Conference after leading Seaman to the UKC championship and a berth in the Class 5A state tournament. Becker had eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in the Vikings' first-round state loss to St. James Academy, with Seaman finishing its season with a 21-2 record.

Brooklyn DeLeye 

BROOKLYN DE LEYE, Washburn Rural

De Leye, a 6-foot-2 senior, scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Washburn Rural's 35-34 loss to Blue Valley North in Saturday's Class 6A girls state championship game. De Leye, who helped Rural win the 6A state basketball title as a junior and the 6A volleyball title as a senior, scored 43 points and grabbed 37 rebounds in the Junior Blues' three state tournament contests.

By RICK PETERSON

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Jack Bachelor

JACK BACHELOR, Washburn Rural

A 6-foot-2 senior Bachelor scored a total of 36 points and went 18 of 19 at the free throw line on the week as Washburn Rural opened 2023 with a pair of Centennial League victories. Bachelor scored 21 points and hit 10 of 11 free throws in a 64-58 win over Junction City on Tuesday and scored 15 points and went eight of eight at the free throw line in the fourth quarter on Friday in a 46-36 victory at Hayden. 

Malachi Berg

MALACHI BERG, Topeka West

Berg, a 6-3 senior, scored 18 points, including the game-winning free throw with 1.6 seconds remaining, as No. 7-ranked (Class 5A) Topeka West rallied for a 51-50 United Kansas Conference road victory over No. 6-ranked De Soto. Berg also had seven rebounds, three assists and four steals as 6-1 Topeka West moved into a tie for the UKC lead with its sixth straight victory.

Koti Best

KOTI BEST, Seaman

A sophomore 130-pound wrestler, Best was named the outstanding wrestler in last Friday's Lady Vikes Dual Tournament at Seaman. Best went 5-0 in the tournament, posting four wins by fall, including three first-period pins before picking up a win by forfeit in her final match of the day. Best helped lead Seaman to a third-place team finish with wins over Lawrence, Shawnee Mission Northwest and Lansing.

Kaeden Bonner

KAEDEN BONNER, Seaman

Bonner, a 6-3 senior, scored 25 points and went five of five from the free throw line last Thursday night as Seaman returned from the holiday break with a 60-45 home United Kansas Conference victory over Leavenworth. Bonner helped Seaman, the defending Class 5A state champion, snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 2-3 on the season.

 Makenzie McDaniel

MAKENZIE McDANIEL, Silver Lake

McDaniel, a 6-1 junior, scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds last Tuesday as No. 2-ranked (Class 3A) handed No. 9-ranked Rossville its first loss of the season in the Eagles' 63-50 Mid-East League road victory. Silver Lake added a 59-30 league win over Rock Creek on Friday to improve to 6-0 on the season as McDaniel contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Saint Mildren

SAINT MILDREN, Rossville

A 6-4 sophomore, Mildren scored a game-high 17 points last Tuesday as Rossville topped rival Silver Lake 50-43 in a home Mid-East League victory. Mildren helped the Bulldawgs push their winning streak to three straight games with a 52-33 league win over Riley County Friday night as Rossville improved to 3-4 on the season.  

 By RICK PETERSON

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Addison Broxterman

ADDISON BROXTERMAN, Washburn Rural

Broxterman, the Junior Blues' star senior 125-pounder, became Kansas' girls wresting record-holder for career pins and career wins in last Saturday's 34-school Washburn Women's Invitational at Washburn Rural. Broxterman went 5-0 on the day with four pins to earn the 125-pound title and helped lead the Junior Blues to the team championship by a 443-255.5 margin over Columbus. Broxterman now has 119 career pins and 127 career victories.  

Brooklyn DeLeye

BROOKLYN DeLEYE, Washburn Rural

DeLeye, a 6-foot-2 senior, scored 59 points in Washburn Rural's three games in the Thunderbird Classic girls basketball tournament, surpassing 1,000 points and 500 rebounds for her career. DeLeye had games of 21, 20 and 18 points as the third-ranked (Class 6A) Junior Blues went 2-1 on the week to finish third in the tournament and improve to 9-3 on the season.

Brylee Meier

BRYLEE MEIER, Hayden

A 6-foot sophomore, Meier scored 16 points as No. 10-ranked (Class 4A) Hayden claimed the tournament championship in the Top Gun Tournament with a 48-39 victory over Spring Hill on Saturday in Wellsville, with the Wildcats improving to 8-4 with their fourth staight victory. Meier scored 11 points in the semifinals as Hayden upset No. 3-ranked (3A) Nemaha Central, 46-40, the Thunder's first loss of the season. Meier was named to the Top Gun Tournament All-Tournament team.

Luke Perkins

LUKE PERKINS, Shawnee Heights

The senior swimming standout captured a city-best four gold medals in last Thursday's city boys swimming championships at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. A multiple time state medalist three straight seasons, Perkins won individual city titles in the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 01.12 seconds) and 100 butterfly (52.63) and swam on the T-Birds' winning 200 medley relay (1:44.44) and the 200 free relay (1:33.71) teams.

Kiki Smith 

KIKI SMITH, Topeka High

Smith, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, scored 73 points in the Trojans' three games in the Firebird Classic girls basketball tournament at Free State, helping lead the No. 7-ranked (Class 6A) to the tournament championship. Smith scored 21 points in a 69-34 first-round win over Wichita Northwest, scored 36 points in just three quarters in High's 69-37 semifinal win over Eisenhower and had 16 points in the Trojans' 56-51 win over Blue Valley in the championship game, with High avenging a loss to the Tigers' in the 2022 state tournament.

Taylin Stallbaumer

TAYLIN STALLBAUMER, Seaman

A 5-foot-6 junior, Stallbaumer hit the game-winning 3-point shot as time ran out, giving No. 1-ranked (Class 5A) Seaman a 46-43 win over tournament host Emporia and the championship in the Glaciers Edge Tournament. Stallbaumer scored 15 points in the championship game, including three 3-pointers, as Seaman improved to 11-1 on the season.