Cair Paravel Lions

By ISAAC DEER

TopSports.news

For the first time in Cair Paravel Latin's short history in the KSHSAA, the Lions' girls soccer team will take part in the Class 4A-1A state semifinals after knocking off Hayden in Tuesday's state quarterfinal game at the Bettis Family Sports Complex, 2-1.

Cair Paravel (14-3-0) has shown in the 2022 campaign that it deserves to be considered one of 4A-1A's top teams and on Tuesday, the Lions' victory proved that the moment wasn’t too big for its youthful squad. Out of its 22 players, only one player is a senior.

Cair Paravel freshman Zahra Lewis (3) celebrates the Lions' first goal with sophomore Katherine Keys in Tuesday's 2-1 state quarterfinal victory over Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Cair Paravel soccer celebrates Tuesday's 2-1 Class 4A-1A state quarterfinal win over Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Cair Paravel has now laid the foundation and is hoping that the state quarterfinal victory won’t be its last of the season.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Cair Paravel Latin and No. 7 Hayden captured Class 4A-1A regional girls soccer championships on Thursday, setting up a state quarterfinal matchup between the Lions and the Wildcats next Tuesday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.

Cair Paravel Latin hoists its Class 4A-1A regional championship trophy after Tuesday's 9-0 win over Bishop Seabury. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]

Hayden soccer poses for a team picture after winning a Class 4A-1A regional title with a 1-0 win at Louisburg on Thursday. [Photo/Hayden soccer]

Cair Paravel rolled to a 9-0 win over Bishop Seabury in its regional final Thursday at Bettis while Hayden earned a 1-0 road victory at Louisburg.

With the victory Cair Paravel improved 14-3-0 on the season.

Junior Sloane Sims scored the game's only goal in the first half and Hayden made it stand up the rest of the way.

Senior Abby Dodd was credited with the assist on Sims' goal as Hayden improved to 10-6-1 on the season.

Next Tuesday's quarterfinal will be played at 4:30 p.m. at Bettis.

The winner of that game will move on to the 4A-1A state tournament Mary 27-28 at Hummer Sports Park.

Other 4A-1A state quarterfinals will pit Bishop Miege (12-5-1) against Baldwin (10-5-2), Mulvane (14-3-1) against Buhler (10-7-1) and McPherson (14-3-1) against Circle (12-5-1).

ROSSVILLE SOFTBALL COMPLETES REGIONAL RUN

Rossville softball wrapped up its suspended Class 3A regional final on Thursday in Sabetha, taking a 9-3 win over Nemaha Central to earn a berth in next week's Class 3A state tournament at the Twin Oaks Complex in Manhattan.

Rossville softball poses for a team picture after earning a Class 3A state berth with a 9-3 win over Nemaha Central Thursday at Sabetha. [Submitted]

The Bulldawgs, now 20-3 on the season, will be the No. 6 seed in the state tournament and will open their state tournament bid at 7 p.m. next Thursday against No. 3 Council Grove (21-2).

Also on the same side of the bracket with Rossville and Council Grove are No. 2 Scott City (20-1) and No. 7 Prairie View (19-4).

On the other side of the 3A bracket, No. Hoisington/Central Plains (22-1) will face No. 8 Santa Fe Trail (19-4) and No. 4 Kingman/Norwich (21-2) will take on No. 5 Frontenac (20-3).

The state semifinals will be played at 11 a.m. next Friday, followed by the championship game at 1:30 p.m.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

TopSports.News, in conjunction with the University of Kansas Health System St Francis Campus, A-1 Lock and Key and Washburn University, will host the 17th annual Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards/Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 22, 2022 at Washburn's Memorial Union.

For the second straight year TopSports.news will serve as host for the sports awards/Hall of Fame banquet, a longstanding tradition for the Topeka and Shawnee County sports community.

The ceremony will highlight Shawnee County high school senior student-athletes’ achievements throughout the 2021-2022 school year along with the induction of the 2022 Topeka Shawnee
County Hall of Fame Class.

Schools have been asked to submit nominees with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average for both female and male candidates for the fall, winter and spring seasons as well as nominees for most inspirational athlete. Over-all outstanding male and female athletes for 2021-2022 will also be named.

Also recognized will be an outstanding female and male athlete from Washburn University.

The three-member 2022 Hall of Fame class and the '22 Washburn University Athletes of the Year will be announced on TopSports.news on Monday morning.

The high school nominees for the 10 Shawnee County high schools will be announced in June after the conclusion of the spring sports season. A  committee of local media members will select the 2022 winners, including the selection of overall female and male athletes of the year.

This year TopSports.news will also introduce a new award, along with the Topeka Officials Association, spotlighting the dedication and contribution of these men and women that are integral to high school athletics.

The June 22 event kicks off in the Memorial Union with a Hall of Fame reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the presentation of awards.

Each nominee will receive a complimentary ticket. Tickets are $26 per person, prior to June 18, 2022, and are required for admission. Tickets include dinner.

For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.TopSports.news or call 785-633-8448 

The 2021 Hall of Fame class included former NFL linebacker and current Chargers assistant coach Michael Wilhoite, former Missouri State and longtime professional basketball player Kyle Weems and Kyle McNorton, a former Kansas star linebacker and NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wilhoite and Weems are Highland Park graduates and McNorton a Seaman grad.

Silver Lake graduate Ellington Hogle receives her award as 2021 Shawnee County girls athlete of the year last June from 2021 Hall of Fame inductee Michael Wilhoite. [File photo/TSN]

Former Hayden football standout Desmond Purnell is interviewed by Bruce Steinbrock after being named the 2021 Shawnee County male athlete of the year last June. [File photo/TSN]

Silver Lake's Ellington Hogle and Hayden's Desmond Purnell were named outstanding female and male athletes in 2021.

Hogle is now playing softball at Washburn while Purnell is playing football at Kansas State.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Four Shawnee County teams earned spots in the latest Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association girls state rankings.

Washburn Rural, currently 9-2-0, is ranked No. 2 in Class 6A while Shawnee Heights, 9-1-0, is No. 8 in 5A.

Both Hayden and Cair Paravel Latin are ranked in 4A-1A, with Hayden (7-2-1) No. 3 and Cair Paravel (9-3-0) No. 5.

KHSSCA COACHES POLL

WEEK 5

Records as of April 27

CLASS 6A

1. Blue Valley West                     7-1-0

2. Washburn Rural                      9-2-0

By RICK PETERSON                                                                                                              

TopSports.news

Topeka West's boys tennis team won the team championship in Saturday's Salina Central Invitational, led by junior doubles champions Miles and Ian Cusick.

The Cusicks, who won their third tournament on the week, took an 8-3 win over Arkansas City in the championship match.

Topeka West's Miles Cusick returns a shot as Ian Cusick looks on Saturday in the Sallina Central Invitational. The Cusicks win the doubles title, leading the Chargers to the team championship. [Submitted]

Topeka West's Gavin Chavez (left) and Carter Cool finished third in doubles in Saturday's Salina Central Invitational, helping the Chargers win the team title. [Submitted]

Senior Gavin Chavez and junior Carter Cool posted a third-place finish, bouncing back from a semifinal loss to teammates Cusick and Cusick to win the third-place match.

Sophomore James  Maag added a fourth-place finish in singles for the Chargers.

• Topeka West finished second as a team to Wichita Classical in Friday's Emporia Invitational, with Miles and Ian Cusick claiming the championship in an all-West doubles final.

The Cusicks beat teammates Chavez and Cool 8-7 (7-4 in a tiebreaker) for first place.

Maag from Topeka West finished 4th in singles.

Senior Michael Sandstrom and junior Gus Glotzbach finished fifth in doubles for Hayden.

Maag from Topeka West finished 4th in singles.

NEWKIRK JOINS ALL-TIME DISTANCE ELITE

By RICK PETERSON                                                                                                              

TopSports.news

Former Shawnee Heights star point guard Trey Brown, who helped lead the T-Birds to the Class 5A state championship in 2017, had his heart set on becoming a basketball coach.

But even Brown is surprised that things have happened this quickly, with Cair Paravel Latin announcing the 23-year-old Brown as the Lions' new head boys coach Wednesday night.

TreyBrown

"It was actually pretty crazy,'' said Brown, who recently wrapped up his college career at MidAmerica Nazarene University. "Coaching is something I always really wanted to do and I was looking around and really didn't have any plans of being a head coach right away, but I saw the (Cair Paravel) opening on a website. It was where my mom (Kim) had gotten her first coaching job and I saw it and it was kind of a shot in the dark, but I thought I might as well try.

"I ended up meeting with Gary (Cleverdon, CPLS athletic director) and had a good meeting with him and then he offered me the job. Honestly it's just been a blessing. It's something I never expected to happen, and shocked me as well, but I'm happy it did. It's been pretty wild.''

By RICK PETERSON                                                                                                              

TopSports.news

Silver Lake senior pitcher Daigan Kruger threw his first career no-hitter Monday night in a 6-0 Mid-East League first-game win over Riley County.

 Daigan Kruger

The Eagles added an 8-5 victory in the second game to complete the sweep.

Kruger went seven innings with five strikeouts while issuing two walks in the Game 1 win and also went 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored.

Matt Barnes went 2 for 3 with a home run and three runs batted in for the Eagles in the opener while Luke Womack was 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBI and Kaden Walker was 1 of 3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Eli Barnes picked up the pitching win in the second game, throwing a complete game while allowing nine hits and three earned runs. Barnes stuck out three batters.

Walker went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI while E. Barnes was 2 for 4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored, Kruger 2 for 3 with a run scored and Womack 1 for 4 with an RBI.

With the sweep the Eagles improved to 7-3 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-East League.

Lions' Clark signs with McPherson College

Cair Paravel Latin senior basketball standout Zach Clark signed a college letter of intent with McPherson College on Monday.

Cair Paravel Latin senior Zach Clark, flanked by his parents Devon and Amy Clark, signed a basketball letter of intent with McPherson College on Monday. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]

Clark, a 6-foot-4 guard, earned second-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honors this past season and was also a first-team All-Kaw Valley League pick.

Clark helped lead the Lions to a 14-5 record.

Hayden improves to 7-0-1 with 4-1 win over Blue Jays

Senior Macy Smith scored two goals to lead the way as Hayden posted a 4-1 Centennial League girls soccer victory at Junction City Monday night.

Macy Smith

Junior Jenessa Broxterman and sophomore Jill Lenherr also scored goals for the Wildcats, now 7-0-1 on the season.

Senior Kate Roeder and junior Elaina Wolff were credited with assists.

HAYDEN 4, JUNCTION CITY 1

Hayden                2  2 -- 4

Junction City      1 0 -- 1

Hayden -- Goals: Smith 2, Broxterman, Lenherr. Assists: Roeder, Wolff.

Keys powers Cair Paravel to 7-0 soccer win

Sophomore Katherine Keys scored three goals and also recorded an assist as Cair Paravel Latin improved to 7-3-0 on the season with a 7-0 girls soccer romp past Kansas City Christian Monday.

Katherine Keys

Junior Sage Schwartz added two goals and two assists for the Lions, who also got goals from freshmen Zahra Lewis and Alexis Gonzalez.

Lewis was also credited with two assists while Sawyer Schwartz had an assist and picked up the shutout in goal for Cair Paravel. 

CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 7, KANSAS CITY CHRISTIAN 0

Cair Paravel 5 2 -- 7

KC Christian 0 0 -- 0

Cair Paravel -- Goals: Keys 3, Sage Schwartz 2, Lewis, Gonzalez. Assists: Sage Schwartz 2, Lewis 2, Keys, Sawyer Schwartz. Shutout: Sawyer Schwartz. 

Seaman golf runner-up in Hays tournament

Seaman's golf team finished second as a team in Monday's Bob Blazer/Hays Invitational on Monday while three city golfers posted top-five finishes.

Viking senior Gavin Wilhelm finished fourth individually with a 78 while Seaman's Tim Biggs and Topeka West's Myles Alonzo tied for fifth with 80s.

Garden City won the team championship by a 312-334 margin over Seaman, with the Buffaloes placing three players in the top seven individually, led by individual medalist Theo Juhl (67).

BOB BLAZER/HAYS INVITATIONAL

Team scores

Garden City 312, Seaman 334, Salina Sacred Heart 340, Dodge City 351, Hays 368, Salina South 371, Liberal 390, Junction City 398, Great Bend 405.

Individual results

1. Juhl, Garden City, 67; 2. Scheck, Dodge City, 76; 3. Koskal, Garden City, 77; 4. Gavin Wilhelm, Seaman, 78; 5. (tie) Tim Biggs, Seaman, and Myles Alonzo, Topeka West, 80; 7. Shook, Garden City, 82; 8. (tie) Elmore, Salina Sacred Heart, and Maddox Xaysongkham, Salina South, 83; 10. Robinson, Dodge City, 84.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Cair Paravel Latin got a pair of goals and an assist from sophomore Katherine Keys as the Lions rolled to a 5-0 win over Heritage Christian on Tuesday.

The Lions, who improved to 4-3, also got goals from Sage Schwartz, Zahra Lewis and Allison Schwarz.

Sawyer Schwartz got the shutout in goal for the Lions.

CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 5, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 0

Cair Paravel             2 3 -- 5

Heritage Christian  0 0 -- 0

Cair Paravel -- Goals: Keys 2, Sage Schwartz, Lewis, Allison Schwarz  Assists: Keys. Shutout – Sawyer Schwartz

Hayden soccer remains unbeaten 

Sophomore Jill Lenherr scored the game's only goal off an assist from senior Kate Roeder as Hayden improved to 5-0-1 with a 1-0 non-league victory over Baldwin.

Senior Macy Smith and junior Hannah Schmitz combined for the shutout in goal for the Wildcats.

HAYDEN 1,  BALDWIN  0

Hayden   0 1 -- 1

Baldwin  0 0 -- 0

Hayden -- Goal: Lenherr. Assist:  Roeder. Shutout: Smith/Schmitz.

Topeka West Myles Cusick (right) and Ian Cusick won the doubles championship in last Saturday's Goddard Invitational. [Submitted]

Cusicks win doubles title at Goddard

Topeka West juniors Ian and Myles Cusick captured the doubles championship in the Goddard Invitational, topping Andover Central in the championship match.

Senior Gavin Chavez and junior Carter Cool beat McPherson to take third place in doubles for the Chargers.

West sophomore James Maag placed ninth in singles.

The Chargers' next meet is the Topeka West Invitational on April 19 at Kossover Tennis Center.

By ISAAC DEER

TopSports.news

The heavy wind gusts couldn’t blow away Tae Thomas as the Topeka High senior had two goals that helped the Lady Trojans defeat Cair Paravel Latin 4-1 at Hummer Sports Park on a frigid Thursday night.

Thomas’ goals were Houdini-like -- a goal from near the Northeast corner and a goal short of midfield -- that had a huge impact on the victory.

Tae Thomas

“I’m pretty proud of myself today,” Thomas said. “Of course, I have some things to work on. I need to play a bit quicker and find the open teammate more often, but I’m proud of myself for the good things I did do during the game.

“I’m always looking for the open teammate and the open shot.”

The three-sport athlete scored her first goal with 7:49 to go in the first half and her second goal came with 3:09 remaining in the second half.

“(Thomas) just brings so much energy to this team,” Topeka High coach Derek Snook said. “We moved her around in different positions today, just so we could put her in the best situation possible. She’s not a big talker, but her play and energy she brings to the field is something that everyone feeds off of.

“She’s a fantastic leader and today was fantastic for her.”

Besides Thomas’ two goals, midfielders Avery Zimmerman and Haley Carpenter contributed one goal each in the three-goal victory.

In the last two games, the trio of Thomas, Zimmerman and Carpenter have a combined 11 goals. The Lady Trojans as a team in the two-game span have outscored Highland Park and Cair Paravel, 16-1.

Thomas would stand before her teammates after Thursday’s victory and let everyone know how proud she is of the energy everyone played with.

“We knew (Cair Paravel) was going to be a tough game for us,” Thomas said. “I felt like we were more mentally prepared for this game than others. I felt like going against a tough team brought our energy up. We expected everyone to hustle, carry a heavy amount of energy and play our best. I think the energy was a big part of our win.”

Snook agreed with Thomas and thinks this team can go far if the tge Trojans play the way they did on Thursday night.

It took the Lady Trojans 1:01 to get on the board, with Zimmerman converting a penalty kick to give Topeka High the 1-0 lead.

“The early penalty kick gave us a nice advantage since it was so early,” Snook said. “We’ve had an issue so far this year with our shots just barely missing or having other things not go our way early in games. It was nice for us to be in a good situation like that early.

“Having momentum a minute into the game is nice.”

The strong defense for both teams would prevent anyone from coming close to scoring for 29:25 after Zimmerman’s goal.

Cair Paravel would answer back after the early 1-0 Topeka High lead. Freshman Zahra Lewis was able to separate herself from a group of Trojans and win the battle by kicking in the Lions' first goal of the night.

Topeka High regained the lead as Thomas scored her first goal that would slide over defenders' heads far away from where the goalie was.

Carpenter would end the first half with a goal giving the Lady Trojans a two-goal lead heading into the half.

After halftime, goals were harder to come by. The defense by both teams was exceptional and it made it hard for the offense to come up with anything.

Thomas would drill in her second goal from the deep Northeast corner with 3:09 left in the game.

That final goal from Topeka High would be the dagger in an impressive win.

Topeka High (3-2) will face Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park next Tuesday.

TOPEKA 4, CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 1

Cair Paravel 1 0 – 1

Topeka High 3 1 – 4

Goals: Topeka High – Thomas 2, Zimmerman, Carpenter. Cair Paravel – Lewis.

WasRelated Stories and Videos

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Five Shawnee County high school soccer teams received mention in the Week 2 Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association girls state rankings.

Freshman Delaney Hill (left), senior Emma Krueger (right) and the Washburn Rural girls soccer team are ranked No. 4 in Class 6A by the KHSSCA. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn Rural is ranked No.4 in Class 6A after getting the 2022 season off to a perfect 5-0-0 start while Hayden is No. 3 in 4A-1A after starting the year 3-0-1 and Cair Paravel Latin is No. 8 in 4A-1A at 3-2-0.

Topeka High received votes in the 6A poll while Shawnee Heights received votes in 5A.

KHSSCA COACHES POLL WEEK 2