Cair Paravel Lions
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A pair of athletes who played in the NFL, a Major League Baseball alum and a United States Olympian are part of the fourth installment of men's picks in TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 project.
TSN's latest group of 10 Top 100 honorees is headed by former Topeka High star Lamar Mady, who played for the Raiders before putting together a long and continuing career in professional indoor football, while Washburn Rural and Kansas State alum Will Cokeley also got a taste of the NFL with the Buffalo Bills while also playing in the United States Football League and Canadian Football League.
Picks No. 61 through 70 is top heavy with Topeka High products, including U.S. volleyball Olympian Chuck Nelson, Major League pitcher Ken "Hook'' Johnson, Trojan football stars Levi Lee and Troy Slusser and local softball legends Milo Mitchell and Joe Douglas.
Seaman grad and Washburn University baseball star J.P. Wright, a former NAIA Player of the Year, earned a spot in the Top 100 along with Washburn Rural product Luke Yarnell, who played Arena Football League for 10 seasons after starring at Coffeyville Community College and Southwestern Louisiana.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Five of the best known names in Shawnee County softball earned spots on TopSports.news' fourth group of Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 honorees while spots No. 61-70 also included three local soccer greats as well as swimming and golf stars.
Silver Lake product Brenda Stolle, who helped Emporia State capture a national softball title, earned the No. 61 spot on the Top 100 while the latest grouping also includes former Washburn Rural and ESU All-American Taylor Zordel, Silver Lake star and Washburn University Hall of Famer Kathy Mohler, Seaman state champ and Division I standout Hailey Reed and Rural multi-sport standout and Kansas pitcher Kasey Hamilton.
The group of honorees also includes former soccer national champion Leea Murphy of Shawnee Heights as well as Washburn Rural stars Kaira Houser and Darby Hirsch while Topeka West product Kadence Jeffries won six state swimming titles in as many tries and Topeka High grad Rachel Stous established herself as one of the area's top women's golfers.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 WOMEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A former world record-holder in track, two of Shawnee County's all-time tennis greats, a Major League Baseball alum, a top MLB draft pick, three Division I athletes in basketball and football and a pair of record-setting quarterbacks comprise the third group of men's picks in TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 project.
TSN's group of 10 Top 100 honorees in the No. 71 through 80 spots includes former American and world record-holder Clardy Vinson of Topeka High and Topeka West multi-sport star and Kansas Jayhawk C.B. McGrath as well as four-time state tennis champ Tommy Hunter of Hayden and three-time champ John Grantham of Topeka High.
Picks No. 71 through 80 also include former Division I athletes Bennie Simecka of Rossville and Theron Wilson of Highland Park, former MLB pitcher Rick DeHart and top draft pick David Proctor and former Silver Lake and Rossville stars Shannon Kruger and Tucker Horak.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A group of Shawnee County greats that excelled in five different sports earned spots No. 71-80 on the women's TopSports.news Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 list.
The third installment of the TSN women's picks is widely diverse, including college softball All-Americans Susan Punzo (Shawnee Heights) and Chris Torrez (Topeka West), tennis stars Danielle Knipp of Washburn Rural and Meg Griffin of Topeka West, who went on to excel at Division I Oklahoma and Maryland, respectively, as well as Topeka West star swimmer Kelli Dudley, who helped Truman State win three straight national swimming titles.
The group of honorees also includes Shawnee Heights product Stefine Pease, who put together a Hall of Fame volleyball career for Lipscomb, along with former T-Bird basketball standout Lori Roenbaugh, a 1,000-point career scorer for Washburn University, and former city tennis stars Tonna Rieger (Topeka West), Alex O'Neal (Hayden) and Zebbie Roberson (Hayden), who all won three state high school championships.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 WOMEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A national golfer of the year, a pair of baseball All-Americans, two of Shawnee County's all-time wrestling greats, an individual and state team-champion swimmer and multiple athletes who competed in NCAA Championships are included in the second group of men's picks in TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 project.
TSN's second group of 10 Top 100 honorees (No. 81 through 90) includes former NCAA Division II golfer of the year Andrew Beckler, a Washburn Rural product, as well as former wrestling greats Tagen Lambotte of Rossville and Bishop Murray of Washburn Rural, who combined for seven individual state titles, baseball All-Americans Chris Carlson of Seaman and Shane Wright of Hayden and former Seaman star Zeke Metz, who helped lead the Vikings to the city's first swimming state team championship.
Picks No. 81 through 90 also include former NCAA track and field qualifier Mikey Hoffer of Shawnee Heights, former Highland Park basketball star Lamont Austin, who won high school and national junior college titles and played in the NCAA basketball championships, and multi-sport stars and Division I standouts Rapheal Posey of Highland Park and Duane Zlatnik of Rossville.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seven of Shawnee County's most accomplished athletes in swimming and wrestling are among the second group of 10 women's honorees in TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 project.
Picks 81-90, which also includes three local volleyball greats, features five former swimmers who were multi-time state champions, including Hayden's Kristin Strecker, who went on to swim at Nebraska, and Washburn Rural alums Haley Molden and Sammie Schurig, who went on to become standouts at Kansas, as well as former Hayden stars Kristen Carlson and Katie Merriam.
Washburn Rural's Dajia Anderson and Addison Broxterman, who helped Rural establish itself as the state's most dominant girls wrestling program, also earned Top 100 berths along with former county volleyball stars Sandy Werner of Washburn Rural, Seaman's Breanna Lewis and Silver Lake's Alyssa Schultejans.
Both Werner and Schultejans played at Kansas State while Lewis earned All-America honors at Washburn University and is a member of the WU Hall of Fame.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 WOMEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Six former state champs, a pair of baseball All-Americans, a Major League Baseball alum and a current Division I football standout headline the opening men's picks in TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 project.
TSN's first group of 10 Top 100 honorees includes athletes who participated in seven different sports, including recent stars Tanner Newkirk of Hayden, Tre Richardson of Highland Park and Desmond Purnell of Hayden, who are currently participating at the college level.
The first men's Top 100 selections also include Washburn Rural product Austin Halsey, one of the city's most decorated soccer athletes, as well as former MLB pitcher Larry Miller, college baseball All-Americans Jordan Cooper (Shawnee Heights) and Ben Carlson (Seaman) and NCAA cross country qualifiers Jacob Morgan (Washburn Rural) and Rob Hays (Topeka West).
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A group of nine former Shawnee County standouts and one rising star who represent seven different sports kick off the TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 project.
From gymnastics, which is no longer offered at county high schools, to shooting, which was never a KSHSAA sport, to more traditional sports like volleyball, golf, track and field and cross country and the state's fastest growing sport of girls wrestling, TSN's first group of 10 Top 100 honorees includes seven individual state champions as well as three state champions, including four-time Class 6A team volleyball champ Kelsey Lewis of Washburn Rural.
The first group out of the gate also features the youngest Top 100 honoree, Seaman track and cross country star Ryin Miller, who has already earned her spot as one of Kansas' all-time bests in just two years of high school.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 WOMEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
On Tuesday, July 9, TopSports.news will kick off its three-week project picking its Top 100 greatest women's and men's athletes in Shawnee County history.
After receiving input from current and past media professionals with more than 100 years of combined experience, TSN will kick things off with its No. 91 through 100 picks on its all-time women's list and will continue posting women's and men's picks 10 at a time before culminating with the Women's Top 10 on July 27 and the Men's Top 10 on July 28.
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]
Former Topeka High star NiJaree Canady received national pitcher of the year and player of the year honors 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 and a member of the U.S. Under21 national team. [Kentucky Volleyball]
County athletes have made their mark in a variety of sports at the high school, collegiate, national amateur and professional levels over the years and TSN's goal is to recognize as many of those athletes as possible.
The only Top 100 requirement is that eligible candidates must have grown up in Shawnee County or attended one of the county's 10 high schools.
While it's an impossible task to honor all the deserving individuals and not everybody will agree with TSN's selections, we hope that you enjoy this trip down memory lane that recognizes local athletes dating from those born in the 1800s to those just beginning to make their mark.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 ATHLETES TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
July 9 -- Women's No. 91 through 100.
July 10 -- Men's No. 91 through 100.
July 11 -- Women's No. 81 through 90.
July 12 -- Men's No. 81 through 90.
July 13 -- Women's No. 71 through 80.
July 14 -- Men's No. 71 through 80.
July 15 -- Women's No. 61 through 70.
July 16 -- Men's No. 61 through 70.
July 17 -- Women's No. 51 through 60.
July 18 -- Men's No. 51 through 60.
July 19 -- Women's No. 41 through 50.
July 20 -- Men's No. 41 through 50.
July 21 -- Women's No. 31 through 40.
July 22 -- Men's No. 31 through 40.
July 23 -- Women's No. 21 through 30.
July 24 -- Men's No. 21 through 30.
July 25 -- Women's No. 11 through 20.
July 26 -- Men's No. 11 through 20.
July 27 -- Women's No.10 through 1.
July 28 -- Men's No. 10 through 1.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn Rural swimming star Brogan Meier was named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Winter Male Athlete of the Year during Wednesday's awards banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Washburn University.
Former Washburn Rural star Brogan Meier was named the Topeka Shawnee County Winter Male Athlete of the Year Wednesday night at Washburn University. [File photo/TSN]
Meier capped an oustanding high school swimming career with the Class 6A 50-yard freestyle while helping lead Washburn Rural to a third-place team finish.
Meier was a four-time All-City and All-Centennial League honoree, helping the Junior Blues win four city team titles and three league championships.
"Brogan was a fantastic captain for our swim team, demonstrating great leadership and always being an encouraging teammate to all fellow swimmers,'' Rural coach Janson Garman said. "Brogan brought incredible talent, backed by a great work ethic, to our swim team and it really paid off for him in the end.''
Meier, the son of Kirk and Nicole Meier, compiled a grade point average of 4.11 at Washburn Rural.
He plans to attend Missouri State.
WINTER SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Caleb Annan-Noonoo
CALEB ANNAN-NOONOO | Topeka West
PARENTS: K.O. Noonoo and Anna Annan-Noonoo
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: NA
Annan-Noonoo was a three-year varsity player for the Chargers in basketball while also starring in the classroom, ranking as Topeka West's valedictorian for the class of 2024 and earning numerous academic scholarship offers. Annan-Noonoo turned in a solid senior season for the Chargers, shooting 55.9 percent from the field while ranking seventh in the city with a 5.5 rebounding average and leading the city with 1.4 blocked shots per game. He also averaged 1.6 steals on the season.
Rykan Carver
RYKAN CARVER | Shawnee Heights
PARENTS: Corey and Tricia Carver
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 4.53
A standout in football, wrestling and track and field for the T-Birds, Carver ended his high school wrestling career with the Class 5A 285-pound state title. Carver was a four-time letterman in wrestling, winning a pair of United Kansas Conference titles and qualifying for the 5A state tournament three times. "Rykan is a team leader and captain in all three of his sports and also thrives in the classroom, taking honors courses throughout high school and graduating with a 4.53 GPA,'' Shawnee Heights wrestling coach Chad Parks said. "This GPA and workload earned Rykan the distinction of being in the top one percent of GPAs for the entire state of Kansas.'' Carver will attend Kansas State to study engineering.
Cooper Colboch
COOPER COLBOCH | Hayden
PARENTS: Craig and Torri Colboch
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.166
Colboch helped lead the Wildcats to a Class 3A state tournament berth as a senior, averaging 8.2 points per games while hitting 39 3-pointers and shooting 81.3 percent from the free throw line. "Cooper had a great senior season,'' former Hayden coach Trey Brown said. "He was the voice of our team all year long and hit countless big shots for us. He is a great kid on and off the court and was a big reason we had success this season. Colboch also played football for Hayden before being sidelined midway through his senior season with an injury.
Simon Everhart
SIMON EVERHART | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Dave and Rachel Everhart
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.17
Everhart was a Top 10 All-Shawnee County selection as a senior, averaging 16.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game while scoring 35 percent of the Lions' points. "Simon is consistent in his approach and very reliable to his teammates,'' Cair Parave coach Chip Kueffer said. "A leader by his actions, not just words. The team depended on him heavily to show up and there was never a moment during the year when Simon let a teammate down. Simon demonstrates humility and perseverance. Despite being one of the top players in Topeka, Simon was never 'too big time.' He consistently swept the court before practices started and led as a team captain with a servant's heart.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Forty-seven of Shawnee County's premier high school student-athletes from the class of 2024 will be recognized Wednesday night as part of the 19th annual Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards banquet.
TopSports.news, in partnership with A-1 Lock and Key, Washburn University, Capital Label, Peggy's Tax and Accounting and the Jamie Hornbaker State Farm Insurance Agency, will host the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and honor Washburn's athletes of the year at the Washburn University Memorial Union (6 p.m. start).
Recent Seaman graduate Taylin Stallbaumer has been nominated in two seasons for the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards after helping the Vikings win Class 5A volleyball and basketball titles. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake senior Makenzie McDaniel is a nominee for the 2024 Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards after helping the Eagles win the Class 3A state basketball title as a senior. [File photo/TSN]
A Class 6A state swimming champion as a senior, Washburn Rural's Brogan Meier is a nominee for the 2024 Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's Finn Dunshee (middle) was a three-time state champion in the 2024 state track championships and also helped lead the Wildcats to a Class 3A runnerup finish in football. [File photo/TSN]
TopSports.news will present awards to the top female and male athletes in the fall, winter and spring seasons, as well as overall female and male athletes of the year and the most inspirational female and male. A complete list of nominees is listed below.
To be eligible, an athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Athletes were nominated by their schools' athletic directors and coaches.
In addition to the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards, Khloe Schuckman and Braden Rose will be honored as Washburn University Athletes of the Year and Bob Benoit, Jim Golden, Kelsey (Chipman) Stringer and Nick Stringer will be inducted as the 2024 Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Fame class.
A committee of local media members selected the 2024 high school winners, including the selection of overall female and male athletes of the year.
TOPEKA SHAWNEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS NOMINEES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sixteen city girls soccer players have earned All-State honors from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association, including six first-team selections.
Kate Hinck, Washburn Rural
Hayley Legg, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural, which finished third in Class 6A, is represented on the All-6A first team by junior forward Kate Hinck and senior midfielder Hayley Legg while 4A-1A state runnerup Cair Paravel put senior forward Katherine Keys, sophomore forward KellyAnn Chada, junior forward Zahra Friess and senior defender Trinity Childs on the first team.
Katherine Keys, Cair Paravel Latin
KellyAnn Chada, Cair Paravel Latin
Zahra Friess, Cair Paravel Latin
Trinity Childs, Cair Paravel Latin
Keys was selected as the co-forward of the year in 4A-1A.
Washburn Rural juniors Destiny Higgs and Addyson Kaberline were named to the All-6A second team.
Shawnee Heights junior Isabel Van Fleet and freshman Morgan Robinson were named to the All-5A second team while Hayden sophomore Carsyn Broxterman was a second-team All-4A-1A pick and six city players received All-State honorable mention.
KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE TEAMS
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.
SPRING SPORTS: OUTSTANDING FEMALE NOMINEES
Rebecca Bearman
REBECCA BEARMAN | Topeka West
PARENTS: Alan and Shelly Bearman
SPORT: Track and field | GPA: NA
Bearman was a standout in track and field and girls basketball for Topeka West while also excelling in the classroom. Bearman finished fourth in the shot put in Class 5A regional competition as a senior, earning a berth in the state championships at Wichita. Bearman received All-Shawnee County honorable mention in track her senior season, ranking second on the Shawnee County Honor Roll in the shot put. In basketball Bearman received all-county honorable mention and also received honorable mention on the All-United Kansas Conference team. Bearman averaged 10.1 rebounds to finish second in the city and also averaged 7.6 points.
Ava Delgado
AVA DELGADO | Hayden
PARENTS: Richard and Alisha Delgado
SPORT: Softball | GPA: 3.125
Delgado compiled a .400 batting average over her four-year career for the Wildcats with an .800 fielding percentage. "Ava is an exceptional athlete and an outstanding individual as a teammate,'' Hayden softball coach Cody Reynolds said. "I know she will do great things on and off the field as she moves on to her collegiate career at Bethel. I'm lucky to have coached her and will miss her infectious smile. She will be missed on both sides of the ball as well as in the dugout.'' As a senior Delgado received All-Centennial League first-team honors and was a second-team All-Shawnee County pick.
Katherine Keys
KATHERINE KEYS | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Robert and Bev Keys
SPORT: Soccer | GPA: 4.83
Keys turned in an outstanding soccer career for the Lions, including two trips to the Class 4A-1A state semifinals and a state runnerup finish this spring. A two-time All-City first-team pick, Keys also received All-State recognition and was a three-time all-league honoree, earning league player of the year honors this past season. Keys scored 21 goals with 14 assists as a senior and finished her CPLS career with 100 goals and 52 assists. "Katherine was a team captain and as a leader she helped her teammates be better by encouraging them, challenging them and by continually demonstrating for them what hard work looks like,'' Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said. Keys, the CPLS Class of 2024 valedictorian, will play college soccer at John Brown University.
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 MALE NOMINEES
Caleb Annan-Noonoo
CALEB ANNAN-NOONOO | Topeka West
PARENTS: K.O. Noonoo and Anna Annan-Noonoo
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: NA
Annan-Noonoo was a three-year varsity player for the Chargers in basketball while also starring in the classroom, ranking as Topeka West's valedictorian for the class of 2024 and earning numerous academic scholarship offers. Annan-Noonoo turned in a solid senior season for the Chargers, shooting 55.9 percent from the field while ranking seventh in the city with a 5.5 rebounding average and leading the city with 1.4 blocked shots per game. He also averaged 1.6 steals on the season.
Rykan Carver
RYKAN CARVER | Shawnee Heights
PARENTS: Corey and Tricia Carver
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 4.53
A standout in football, wrestling and track and field for the T-Birds, Carver ended his high school wrestling career with the Class 5A 285-pound state title. Carver was a four-time letterman in wrestling, winning a pair of United Kansas Conference titles and qualifying for the 5A state tournament three times. "Rykan is a team leader and captain in all three of his sports and also thrives in the classroom, taking honors courses throughout high school and graduating with a 4.53 GPA,'' Shawnee Heights wrestling coach Chad Parks said. "This GPA and workload earned Rykan the distinction of being in the top one percent of GPAs for the entire state of Kansas.'' Carver will attend Kansas State to study engineering.
Cooper Colboch
COOPER COLBOCH | Hayden
PARENTS: Craig and Torri Colboch
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.166
Colboch helped lead the Wildcats to a Class 3A state tournament berth as a senior, averaging 8.2 points per games while hitting 39 3-pointers and shooting 81.3 percent from the free throw line. "Cooper had a great senior season,'' former Hayden coach Trey Brown said. "He was the voice of our team all year long and hit countless big shots for us. He is a great kid on and off the court and was a big reason we had success this season. Colboch also played football for Hayden before being sidelined midway through his senior season with an injury.
Simon Everhart
SIMON EVERHART | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Dave and Rachel Everhart
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.17
Everhart was a Top 10 All-Shawnee County selection as a senior, averaging 16.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game while scoring 35 percent of the Lions' points. "Simon is consistent in his approach and very reliable to his teammates,'' Cair Parave coach Chip Kueffer said. "A leader by his actions, not just words. The team depended on him heavily to show up and there was never a moment during the year when Simon let a teammate down. Simon demonstrates humility and perseverance. Despite being one of the top players in Topeka, Simon was never 'too big time.' He consistently swept the court before practices started and led as a team captain with a servant's heart.''
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.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's Anna Becker, Silver Lake's Taylor Zordel and Highland Park's Ja'Corey Robinson, who recently completed their junior years of high school, were selected Thursday night at The Foundry as the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency girls and boys 2024 Rising Stars of the year.
![Rising Stars of the Year Taylor Zordel, Ja'Corey Robinson and Anna Becker pose with Dan Key of the Farmers Insurance Agency after being honored Wednesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]](/images/BeckerZordelRobinson-1.jpg)
Rising Stars of the Year Taylor Zordel, Ja'Corey Robinson and Anna Becker pose with Dan Key of the Farmers Insurance Agency after being honored Wednesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Becker and Zordel shared the girls honor and boys winner Robinson were picked from five girls and boys finalists chosen from weekly Rising Stars who were selected through the 2023-2024 school year.
Silver Lake's Taylor Zordel and Seaman's Anna Becker were named the co-girls Rising Stars of the Year Wednesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Becker was a basketball and soccer standout for Seaman, helping lead the Vikings to the Class 5A state basketball championship and the 5A state quarterfinals in soccer while Zordel helped lead Silver Lake to the 3A-1A golf title and was a member of the Eagles' 3A state championship basketball team and state runnerup softball team.
Ja'Corey Robinson of Highland Park was named the 2024 boys Rising Star of the Year Wednesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Robinson helped lead Highland Park to a second straight third-place finish in the 5A state basketball tournament and also helped the Scots' football team advance to the second round of the 5A football playoffs.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which finished third in the Class 6A state tournament, and Cair Paravel Latin, the 4A-1A state runnerup, combined to put eight players on the 17-member 2024 All-City girls soccer first team.
The All-City team was based on recommendations and votes from city coaches.
Mackenzie Flood, Washburn Rural
Hayley Legg, Washburn Rural
Destiny Higgs, Washburn Rural
Kate Hinck, Washburn Rural
Addyson Kaberline, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural is represented on the All-City first team by seniors Mackenzie Flood and Hayley Legg and juniors Destiny Higgs, Kate Hinck and Addyson Kaberline after the Junior Blues posted a 17-4-0 record on the season, capped by a 3-0 win over Maize in the third-place game after a 1-0 double overtime loss to Blue Valley Northwest in the semifinals.
The 2024 All-Shawnee County boys golf team, from left -- Myles Alonzo, Topeka West; Tagen Rodriguez, Hayden; James Kuta, Hayden; Rich Helmbold, Cair Paravel/Topeka High; Jack Donovan, Rossville; Cam Zimlich, Washburn Rural; Tadd Armstrong, Washburn Rural. Not pictured: Bryce Badsky, Silver Lake; Ayden Valdivia, Shawnee Heights; Zach Weir, Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Four-time first-team selections Myles Alonzo of Topeka West and Bryce Badsky of Silver Lake headline the 2024 All-Shawnee County boys golf team.
Alonzo, who swept city, United Kansas Conference and Class 5A regional titles, capped his high school career with his third individual medal in the 5A state tournament while Mid-East League champ Badsky earned his fourth straight medal in the 3A state meet.
Bryce Badsky, Silver Lake
Washburn Rural, which won its 14th straight city team championship, is represented on the All-Shawnee County team by senior Cam Zimlich and junior Tadd Armstrong while Hayden put juniors James Kuta and Tagen Rodriguez on the first team after finishing fourth in the 3A state tournament.
Also named to the all-county first team were Cair Paravel Latin/Topeka High senior Rich Helmbold, whch led CPLS to a third-place team finish in 2A, Rossville sophomore 3A state medalist Jack Donovan, Shawnee Heights 5A sophomore state qualifier Ayden Valdivia and Seaman senior 5A state participant Zach Weir.
All-Shawnee County capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Eleven athletes who had a hand in 10 state titles, including three multiple-event state champs, headline the 2024 All-Shawnee County boys track and field team.
Hayden senior Finn Dunshee and junior Jensen Schrickel took home three Class 3A gold medals apiece, posting two individual wins to go with a relay victory, while also running on a runnerup relay.
Finn Dunshee, Hayden
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden
Dunshee won the 100-meter dash in 10.60 seconds and the 200 in 21.99 while Schrickel took the 3A gold in the long jump at 23 feet, 1 inch and won the 400 dash in 48.73 while Dunshee and Schrickel teamed with juniors Liam Stegman and John Strickland to win the 4x400 relay in 3:26.01 and with Stegman and sophomore Jackson McGivern to finish second in the 4x100 relay (42.52).
Aaron Merritt, Seaman
Seaman senior Aaron Merritt was a double individual gold medalist in 5A and also helped the Vikings post a second-place relay finish.
Merritt won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.48 seconds and the 100 dash in 10.32 seconds and teamed with juniors Peyton Holmes and Bryce Cochran and senior Jacob Anderson to finish second in the 5A 4x100 relay (42.50 seconds).
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel won the 5A state title in the 3,200 meters for the second straight season, with Esquibel also recording a second-place finish in the 1,600 as both a junior and senior.
Esquibel won Friday's 5A 3,200 in 9:21.31 and was second in the 1,600 in 4:19.11.
Josh Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural senior Josh Sulzen-Watson won the 6A state championship in the javelin with a throw of 188-7 after finishing third in the discus at 162-3 while the Junior Blues' foursome of senior Shane Jueneman, sophomores Liam Morrison and Draden Chooncharoen and junior Isaiah Terry sat through a weather delay before winning the title in the 4x400 relay in 3:19.56 in the final event of the 2024 state meet.
Esquibel is joined on the all-county team by senior teammate Alex Dawkins, third in the 5A discus (164-9), and by T-Bird junior Payton Berry-Briggs, third in the 200 (22.27).
Blake Redmond, Silver Lake
Silver Lake senior Blake Redmond placed third in the 3A long jump (22-3.75) while Eagles junior Evan Scheid was a four-event state medalist in the 100, 200, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay. Redmond also ran on the 4x100 relay.
Also earning berths on the All-Shawnee County boys first team were Seaman sophomore distance standout Brody Anderson and sophomore sprinter Malachi Murph, a two-time all-county pick.
All-Shawnee County picks were based on meeting minimum performance standards as well as coaches' recommendations and postseason performances.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY 2024 BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA – Cair Paravel Latin fought off a barrage of scoring chances from powerhouse Bishop Miege for 92-plus minutes in Saturday’s Class 4-1A championship game at Stryker Sports Complex.
Cair Paravel's Zahra Friess battles for possession with Miege's Rose Lopez during the Lions' 1-0 double-overtime loss in Saturday's Class 4-1A championship game. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
Cair Paravel's Veronica Ignoto boots a goal kick during Saturday's Class 4-1A championship game. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
But Miege finally broke the dam with less than eight minutes in the second overtime.
On Miege’s 16th corner kick of the game, Dory Latenser headed home a perfectly-placed kick from Isabella McGaugh for the golden goal with 7:38 left in the second OT, securing a 1-0 win and the Stags’ state-record eighth consecutive championship.
Junior goalkeeper Veronica Ignoto and the Lions’ back line worked tirelessly to keep it scoreless, but offensive opportunities were scarce for Cair Paravel (15-4-1). The Lions weren’t officially credited with a shot on goal while Miege had 10.
“Really proud of my girls. That was an amazing show of courage against a tough team, perennial state champs,” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery told KSHSAA Covered. “We just couldn’t get our offense generated. We were on our heels most of the game.
“I knew my girls had it in them, but we just couldn’t seem to get the break that we had last time we played them (2-1 loss). We had a couple through balls to capitalize on and even had a couple missed opportunities in that game, and today those just didn’t show themselves. At the end of the day, they finally got one in the net and we didn’t.”
