Cair Paravel Lions
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Myles Alonzo
MYLES ALONZO, Topeka West
Alonzo, a senior golf standout, set a Topeka West school record with a 4-under-par 66 in Monday's Class 5A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge, winning the individual title by five strokes. A two-time 5A state placer, Alonzo has now won city, United Kansas Conference and regional titles entering next week's 5A state meet at Newton.
Audrey Appuhn
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
The Washburn Rural sophomore swimming star posted individual victories in the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 12.08 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 5:18.23 and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 medley relay (2:00.94) and 400 free relay (3:58.46) to lead the Junior Blues to their fourth straight Centennial League championship last Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Drew Fay
DREW FAY, Cair Paravel Latin
A sophomore, Fay posted a city-high fourth-place singles finish in Saturday's Class 3A-1A state tennis tournament in Prairie Village. A two-time state qualifier, Fay won his first two state matches on Friday before losing to two-time state singles champ Caleb Bartels of Kansas City Christian in the semifinals and to Charlie Gentile of Wichita Collegiate in the third-place match.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Drew Fay posted a fourth-place finish in Class 3A-1A singles Saturday at Harmon Park Tennis Complex in Prairie Village, pacing eight city state medalists in three classes.
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Drew Fay posted a city-high fourth-place finish in Class 3A-1A singles Saturday in Prairie Village. [File photo/TSN]
Fay (23-11) posted two straight wins on Friday advance to the semifinals before dropping a 6-0, 6-1 decision to Kansas City Christian senior star Caleb Bartels.
Fay then dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to sophomore Charlie Gentile of team champ Wichita Collegiate in the third-place match.
Bartels went on to finish off a perfect 33-0 season, winning his second straight singles title and his third state crown overall, including a doubles title in 2021.
Hayden junior Chase Blaser (left) and senior Joseph Luke posted a fifth-place doubles finish in the Class 3A-1A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's doubles team of senior Joseph Luke and junior Chase Blaser (24-10) posted a fifth-place state finish, going 6-1 on the weekend.
Luke and Blaser finished off their state run with a 9-7 win over Smoky Valley juniors Gabriel and Ezekiel Baker in the fifth-place match.
Hayden finished seventh in the 3A-1A team standings with 12 points while Cair Paravel tied for eighth with 11 points.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore tennis standout Drew Fay, making his second straight Class 3A-1A state singles appearance, posted two straight victories on Friday at the Harmon Park Tennis Complex in Prairie Village, advancing to Saturday's state semifinals.
Cair Paravel sophomore singles player Drew Fay advanced to the Class 3A-1A state semifinals on Friday in Prairie Village. [File photo/TSN]
Fay (23-9) will square off against defending 3A-1A state singles champ Caleb Bartels of Kansas City Christian in the semifinal, a rematch of last week's regional final at Marysville. Bartels took a 6-1, 6-0 win in that match.
Bartels (31-0) is a two-time state champion, winning a 3A-1A doubles title as a sophomore in 2022 after finishing third in singles as a freshman in 2021.
Hayden's doubles team of senior Joseph Luke and junior Chase Blaser (21-10) will also compete on Saturday, putting themselves in position for a state medal with a 3-1 record on Friday.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Latin School girls soccer team rolled to a 6-2 victory over Maranatha Christian Academy – a Senior Night celebration punctuated by a Kaw Valley League championship.
Senior Katherine Keys (right) scored a pair of goals in Thursday's 6-2 Cair Paravel Senior Night win over Maranatha Academy. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Katherine Keys led the way with two goals while classmate Corinne Stapleton provided two assists and another goal for the Lions. Sophomore KellyAnn Chada also tallied two assists and a goal.
“A lot of people came out. That shows the kind of school community that we have and the love that school shows all of us,” senior Trinity Childs said prior to the Senior Night ceremony. “This group of seniors started playing together in seventh grade. So, we’ve been in the program for a very long time.
“These girls are amazing. I love this team. This is my favorite season of any I’ve played. We have so much talent on this team and they all love the sport.”
The victory lifted Cair Paravel to an 11-4-1 record. The Lions are bunched among several teams all vying for the top spot in the Class 4-1A East Regional.
Now the Lions can do nothing but wait to see how other teams finish and the playoff seedings shake out.
The specter of Bishop Miege – winners of every state title since 2016 – looms over the bracket. Because the Stags play a schedule packed with 5A and 6A foes, they enter postseason with a record of 9-7. They perennially receive a low seed, only to roll over higher-seeded opponents en route to the championship.
Last year, Bishop Miege ended the higher-seeded Lions’ season one game short of the state Final Four.
“I feel good about where we are, but I hesitate to say too much. I felt good last year, too,” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said. “But I feel like we’re right where we need to be. Everyone’s healthy. I feel like we have all the players where they help the team the most, so that makes us as strong as we can be.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A total of 18 players representing seven city high schools will compete in state tennis tournments next Friday and Saturday at three sites.
Washburn Rural senior Lawsen Lobatos (left) and sophomore Dylan Willingham won a Class 6A regional doubles championship Friday in Junction City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Leading the city contingent for state is Centennial League and city team champ Washburn Rural, which added a Class 6A regional championship on Friday at Junction City by a 23-14 margin over Maize while qualifying all six players for the 6A state tournament at Wichita's Riverside Tennis Complex.
Washburn Rural senior Dylan Dodge posted a second-place singles finish in the Junction City 6A regional, helping the Junior Blues claim the team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Rural senior Lawsen Lobatos and sophomore Dylan Willingham captured the regional doubles title with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Manhattan's Michael Hwang and Jack Spiegel while senior Dylan Dodge also advanced to the final, finishing second after a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Hayden Herrera of Maize.
Sophomore Keegan Knudtson posted a third-place regional finish for the Junior Blues, taking a 6-2, 6-2 win over Maize's Anvith Natarajan in the third-place match at regionals while sophomores Cale Deutscher and Brayden Kohls finished third in doubles with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 win over Topeka High senior Tate Hodges and junior Alex Raymond in the third-place matches.
Hodges and Raymond also punched their ticket to state, giving the city eight state qualifiers.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL AT EMPORIA
Topeka West, Seaman and Shawnee Heights will send a total of six players to the 5A state tournament at the Andover District Tennis Complex.
Returning Class 5A state placers Caden McGee (left) and Caleb Weybrew finished second in doubles at regionals to earn a state berth. [File photo/TSN]
United Kansas Conference champion Topeka West, the 2023 5A state champion, will send three players to state, with seniors Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew finishing second at regionals in doubles while Charger senior James Maag finished third in singles.
McGee and Weybrew dropped a tough three-set decision in the finals to Blue Valley Southwest's Saket Jogannath and Vidhu Reddy, with the Southwest duo taking a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 win.
Maag finished third at regionals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Patrick Lacy of St. Thomas Aquinas in the third-place match as Topeka West finished third as a team.
Seaman senior Gavin Dutton qualified for state with a sixth-place regional finish in singles while Shawnee Heights seniors Roscoe Poyner and Alex Austin finished sixth in doubles.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's been a challenging but very successful last few days for Washburn Rural's boys tennis team.
Washburn Rural's boys tennis team poses for a picture after winning Wednesday's city team championship at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The eventful stretch began with last Thursday's city meet being postponed by inclement weather and continued in Monday's Centennial League meet, which Brad Johnston's Junior Blues won despite playing without top singles players Dylan Dodge and Keegan Knudtson, who were out of state on a school-related trip.
City schools also had to deal with weather uncertainty again on Wednesday, with teams initially reporting to Plan B indoor venue Genesis before the weather conditions vastly improved and the city championships were able to go on as planned at Kossover Tennis Center.
And once city competitors got back to Kossover and were treated to near-perfect conditions, Washburn Rural did the rest, sweeping all four individual titles on the way to a perfect team score and a 36-26 win over 2023 city champ Topeka West.
"The boys obviously kept their heads and stayed level-headed and finished the job,'' Johnston said. "I feel like we're at the top of our game right now and I feel like they're going to keep performing at a high level.
"Obviously you just never know, but I'm proud of where they're at and proud of where they're working towards.''
Dodge, a senior, and sophomore Knudtson swept the No. 1 and No. 2 singles championships while senior Lawsen Lobatos and sophomore Dylan Willingham prevailed in No. 1 doubles and sophomores Brayden Kohls and Cale Duetscher completed the sweep with the title in No. 2 doubles.
Washburn Rural senior Lawsen Lobatos makes a return during Wednesday's city meet at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Dylan Willingham helped Washburn Rural post a perfect team score in Wednesday's city boys tennis championships at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The match of the day was the No. 1 doubles final, with Lobatos and Willingham avenging an earlier tiebreaker loss to Topeka West returning Class 5A medalists Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew, with the Rural duo taking a hard-earned 8-6 victory.
"You never want to lose to your city rivals, so losing in their invitational of course it gives us motivation to practice and try harder and go and play other, better guys afterwards to just prepare for it and then to come back and win is pretty nice,'' Lobatos said. "Winning and sweeping city as a team is great motivation and great momentum going into regionals.''
"It doesn't get any better,'' Willingham said. "Winning now is perfect because we have all the momentum going to regionals. I lost to them last year and I lost to them this year. I was tired of losing and I was so glad we got the win today.''
Washburn Rural senior Dylan Dodge won the city No. 1 singles championship on Wednesday after winning the No. 2 doubles title as a junior. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Dodge, who won a city title in No. 2 doubles as a junior, made it two city titles in a row with Wednesday's 8-4 win over Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Drew Fay.
"That was one of the things on the top of my list of goals,'' Dodge said. "To win city is a big achievement I feel like, especially in Topeka, because tennis has a very rich tradition here.
"This is a big confidence boost for regionals and hopefully I can carry this into regionals and state.''
Knudtson added the No. 2 singles crown with an 8-6 win over Topeka West's Mark Cianciarulo while Kohls and Duetscher took an 8-5 win over Seaman's Noah Andrews and Austin Bramlett in the No. 2 doubles final.
Hayden and Cair Paravel will begin two days of 3A-1A regional competition on Thursday in Marysville while the remaining six city teams will compete on Friday.
Rural and Topeka High will compete in a 6A meet in Junction City while Highland Park, Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will compete in a 5A meet at Emporia.
The top six regional finishers in singles and doubles will qualify for state tournaments on May 10-11.
The 6A state tournament will be played in Wichita, 5A in Andover and 3A-1A in Prairie Village.
CITY BOYS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
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 19th annual Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards/Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 26, 2024 at Washburn's Memorial Union.
For the fourth 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 2023-2024 school year along with the induction of the 2024 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. Overall outstanding male and female athletes for 2023-2024 will also be named.
Also recognized will be an outstanding female and male athlete from Washburn University.
The four-member 2024 Hall of Fame class and the '24 Washburn University Athletes of the Year will be announced on TopSports.news in the coming days.
The high school nominees for the 10 Shawnee County high schools will be announced in June after the conclusion of the spring sports season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Micah Williams continued her prolific freshman soccer season for Highland Park on Tuesday to lead the way as the Scots improved to 4-5 on the season with a 6-2 win over Meadowlark Conference foe Kansas City-Washington.
Highland Park freshman Micah Williams had four goals and an assist in the Scots' 6-2 Meadowlark Conference soccer win over Kansas City-Washington on Tuesday. [Submitted photo]
Williams scored four of Highland Park's six goals, raising her season total to 19, and was also credited with an assist in the win.
The Scots also got goals from Jazmin Bermudez-Morales and Melany Noj-Hernandez.
The Topeka High/Cair Paravel golf team posed for a team picture after winning the team title in the Topeka High Invitational Monday at Western Hills. [Submitted photo]
Cleverdon, host Trojans post wins in Topeka High Invitational
Host Topeka High/Cair Paravel Latin posted a 17-stroke victory in Monday's Topeka High Invitational golf tournament at Western Hills while sophomore Caleb Cleverdon shot a 78 to take individual honors.
Cair Paravel sophomore Caleb Cleverdon shot a 78 on Monday to take the individual win in the Topeka High Invitational at Western Hills. [Submitted photo]
Cleverdon posted a three-shot win over Shawnee Heights' Dylan Packard (81), while Heights' Evan Jones, Topeka High/CPLS's Rich Helmbold and Seaman's Hunter Gerhardt tied for third place with 82s.
Topeka High/CPLS also got an 84 from Jase Pavlik and a 93 from Luke Budden to round out its top four.
Shawnee Heights (354), Seaman (370) and Hayden (384), who all played split squads in the event, finished second, third and fourth in the six-school event.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's softball team ran its win streak to four games with Friday's 8-3, 15-4 non-league road doubleheader sweep over Olathe South, with the Junior Blues improving to 6-2 on the season.
Washburn Rural senior Makayla Ekis recorded her second straight complete-game pitching win in Friday's doubleheader sweep over Olathe South. [File photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Junior Naudia Wech sparked the Washburn Rural offense in the opener with a bases loaded triple while freshman Olivia Koch picked up the pitching win with a complete-game performance.
Junior Avery Rupp hit a grand slam in the second game, her first home run at the varsity level, while senior Makayla Ekis went the distance in the pitcher's circle for the victory.
Rural's sweep over Olathe South came on the heels of a 5-2, 10-1 Centennial League road sweep over Emporia.
Washburn Rural will be at home Tuesday to host Hayden (2-2) in a Centennial twinbill.
Seaman senior Paige Glasgow (left) congratulates sophomore teammate Aubrey Warren after Warren scored a run in Friday's softball triangular at Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Seaman softball bounces back from first loss with win over city rival Topeka High
After suffering a heartbreaking 10-inning 5-4 loss to Eudora in its first game, Seaman's softball team bounced right back to take a 19-9 win over city rival Topeka High in Friday's triangular at Seaman.
Junior Kaelyn O'Rourke and the Seaman Vikings are 5-1 on the season after a split in Friday's triangular at Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
With its second-game win the Vikings improved to 5-1 on the season.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Two girls soccer teams with high expectations for the season battled each other, and the elements, to a 0-0 double-overtime tie in their opening games Friday at the Sunflower Soccer Complex.
Hayden sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Borjon kept Cair Paravel soccer off the scoreboard as the Wildcats and Lions battled to an 0-0 double-overtime tie Friday. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Cair Paravel senior Katherine Keys (1) advances the ball as Hayden senior Mary Burenheide gives chase in Friday's 0-0 double-overtime tie between the Lions and Wildcats. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Hayden and Cair Paravel were both hampered by a 20-30 mile per hour wind from the north that didn’t provide any decisive impact on the game other than to produce a lot of goose bumps and cramps. In the end, both coaches found enough positives to be happy with the result.
“The conditions were kind of tough on offense,” said Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer. “The wind makes it more difficult, but we did some things to make it difficult for ourselves. I thought we looked good defensively. We just didn’t take enough shots on goal. We looked for layups instead of taking a jump shot.”
Cair Paravel started the game with the wind at its back but produced just one shot on goal in the first half. The Lions nearly knocked home a couple of shots in in the second overtime, but Hayden held on to preserve the tie.
Cair Paravel junior Zahra Friess controls the ball in Friday's 0-0 soccer tie with Hayden. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Hayden sophomore Ella Foster (1) advances the ball against Cair Paravel in Friday's 0-0 double-overtime tie. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
“It seemed like we played better against the wind than we did with it for whatever reason. We took a couple of good shots at the end of the game and were like, ‘Where were those in the first half,’ ” said Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery. “But I feel like we got lucky, too, because they had some missed opportunities.
“For our first game, I was very pleased with our play. It’s hard to play in the wind. I felt like Klaus did a good job of preparing his team to defend against us.”
NOTE: Final 2023-2024 statistics for city girls basketball teams were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley after receiving reports from city coaches.
SCORING
Name, school Gms. Pts. Avg
Carter, Highland Park 19 343 18.1
Highland Park freshman Pearmella Carter averaged a city-best 18.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in 2023-2024. [File photo/TSN]
Vickery, Washburn Rural 25 388 15.5
Rayton, Topeka High 20 302 15.1
Ramsey, Hayden 21 312 14.9
Becker, Seaman 23 340 14.8
Gowan-Britt, Highland Park 16 217 13.6
Emmot, Shawnee Heights 22 297 13.5
Canfield, Washburn Rural 22 291 13.2
I. McGlory, Topeka West 21 277 13.2
Gragg, Seaman 21 261 12.4
Sandstrom, Hayden 26 320 12.3
Meier, Hayden 25 318 12.2
T. Stallbaumer, Seaman 24 276 11.5
Broils, Highland Park 16 155 9.7
Vega, Shawnee Heights 22 207 9.4
Marshall, Topeka High 20 188 9.4
REBOUNDING
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Carter, Highland Park 19 193 10.2
Bearman, Topeka West 21 213 10.1
Ramsey, Hayden 21 191 9.1
NOTE: Final statistics for city boys basketball teams for the 2023-2024 season were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley after receiving reports from city coaches.
SCORING
Name, school Gms. Pts. Avg
Robinson, Highland Park 25 545 21.8
Highland Park junior Ja'Corey Robinson (23) led the city in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double on the season. [File photo/TSN]
J. Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 19 366 19.3
Everhart, Cair Paravel 21 349 16.6
Dodge, Shawnee Heights 21 348 16.6
Williams, Highland Park 25 409 16.6
Bonner, Seaman 18 283 15.7
Foy, Topeka West 22 296 13.5
Anderson, Highland Park 23 291 12.7
Pavlik, Cair Paravel 21 265 12.6
Hales, Topeka High 20 244 12.2
Ballard, Washburn Rural 22 264 12.0
Durst, Washburn Rural 22 256 11.6
Finley, Seaman 21 234 11.1
Pomeroy, Shawnee Heights 21 233 11.1
Lyons, Topeka High 16 176 11.0
REBOUNDING
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Robinson, Highland Park 25 289 11.6
J. Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 19 171 9.0
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman junior Anna Becker and Silver Lake senior Makenzie McDaniel have been tapped as the TopSports.news 2024 All-Shawnee County co-girls basketball players of the year after helping lead their teams to state championships.
Seaman junior Anna Becker, a three-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick, has been named the county co-player of the year after helping lead the Vikings to the Class 5A state title. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Makenzie McDaniel, who helped lead Silver Lake to a 26-0 record and the Class 3A state title, has been named the Shawnee County co-player of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Becker helped Seaman post a 23-2 record on the way to the Class 5A state title while McDaniel helped lead Silver Lake to a perfect 26-0 record and the 3A crown.
The four Shawnee County teams that posted top-four state finishes in three different classes, including 6A state runnerup Washburn Rural and third-place Hayden in 3A, combined to earn every spot on the All-Shawnee County Top 10 while Seaman, Silver Lake and Washburn Rural combined to sweep the individual awards.
Matt Tinsley has been named the Shawnee County co-coach of the year after leading Seaman to the Class 5A state championship. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake coach Kyle Porter has been named the Shawnee County co-coach of the year after the Eagles went 26-0 and won the Class 3A state title. [File photo/TSN]
In addition to co-players of the year Becker and McDaniel, Seaman's Matt Tinsley and Silver Lake's Kyle Porter share the Shawnee County coach of the year award while Washburn Rural freshman Maddie Vickery has been named the county newcomer of the year.
Freshman Maddie Vickery has been named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year after helping lead Washburn Rural to a runnerup finish in the Class 6A state tournament. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Becker is joined on the All-Shawnee County Top 10 by Seaman senior teammate Taylin Stallbaumer and Viking sophomore Maddie Gragg after Seaman captured its first girls state championship since 1991 with a 54-41 win over Maize South Saturday night in Emporia.
Silver Lake also earned three Top 10 all-county spots with senior McKinley Kruger and sophomore Kailyn Hanni joining McDaniel on the team after the Eagles finished off their perfect run to the 3A title with a 66-61 win over Hesston.
Washburn Rural senior Zoe Canfield and Vickery were both named to the Top 10 along with Hayden senior Lauren Sandstrom and Wildcat junior Amelia Ramsey.
Canfield and Vickery helped lead the Junior Blues to their third straight 6A state final, where the Junior Blues dropped a 47-37 decision to Shawnee Mission South, while Ramsey and Sandstrom helped Hayden bounce back from a semifinal loss to Silver Lake to finish third with a 50-39 win over Goodland.
Becker, McDaniel and Kruger all earned Top 10 honors for the third straight season while Gragg and Ramsey are repeat picks.
Canfield and Stallbaumer also made the Top 10 for the second time, with both players also earning that honor in 2022.
All-Shawnee County capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights junior Lailah Benz (2) is a returning All-City and All-UKC pick. [File photo/TSN]
LAILAH BENZ, Shawnee Heights
A junior, Benz was a repeat first-team All-City honoree last spring as a sophomore for the 7-10-0 T-Birds and was also a first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection for the second straight season. Benz earned All-Class 5A honorable mention from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association last season.
Cair Paravel junior Zahra Friess (3) is a two-time All-City soccer pick. [File photo/TSN]
ZAHRA FRIESS, Cair Paravel Latin
A junior forward, Friess helped lead Cair Paravel to a 16-2-1 record last season, earning a spot on the All-City team for the second straight season. Friess earned All-4A-1A first-team honors from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association in 2023.
Washburn Rural junior Destiny Higgs was a first-team All-Centennial League pick last season. [File photo/TSN]
DESTINY HIGGS, Washburn Rural
Higgs, a junior, earned All-Centennial League first-team recognition last season as well as All-6A honorable mention from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Washburn Rural junior Kate Hinck (9) is a returning All-City and All-Centennial League first-team selection. [File photo/TSN]
KATE HINCK, Washburn Rural
A junior forward, Hinck earned first-team All-City and All-Centennial League recognition for the second straight season. Hinck, who received All-6A honorable mention from the KHSSCA, helped the Junior Blues post a 15-5-1 record en route to the Centennial title
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park junior Ja'Corey Robinson and Shawnee Heights senior repeat pick Brennon Dodge headline the 2024 TopSports.news All-Shawnee County boys basketball team.
Highland Park junior Ja'Corey Robinson has been named the Shawnee County player of the year after helping lead the Scots to a 23-2 record and a third-place finish in Class 5A. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Robinson was tapped as the Shawnee County player of the year after leading the Scots to a 23-2 record and a second straight third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament, posting double-doubles in all three of Highland Park's state tournament games.
Dodge, the lone all-county first-team repeat pick, helped lead Shawnee Heights to a 19-4 record and the T-Birds' first 5A state tournament berth since 2017.
The Scots, who dropped a three-point overtime loss in the semifinals to eventual state champion Kapaun Mt. Carmel, also put senior Tamir Anderson and junior Mikey Williams on the TSN Shawnee County Top 10.
Highland Park coach Mike Williams has been named the Shawnee County boys coach of the year after leading the Scots to a 23-2 record and a second straight third-place state finish. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]
Highland Park's Mike Williams was named the county coach of the year for the second straight season, leading the Scots to a 47-3 record over the past two years.
Dodge is joined on the all-county first team by junior teammate Jaret Sanchez while five other county schools put one player apiece on the Top 10.
That group includes seniors Simon Everhart of Cair Paravel Latin and Griffin Durst of Washburn Rural along with junior Jalen Foy of Topeka West and sophomores KaeVon Bonner of Seaman and Jack Donovan of Rossville.
Robinson and Sanchez both moved up to the Top 10 after being Second 10 picks in 2023 while Anderson, Bonner, Donovan, Everhart and Williams received honorable mention a year ago.
Hayden freshman Mason Becker has been named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year after helping lead the Wildcats to a Class 3A state tournament berth. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Mason Becker was selected as this season's Shawnee County newcomer of the year after helping the 8-16 Wildcats put together a strong postseason run to reach the 3A state tournament.
All-Shawnee County capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
DYLAN DODGE, Washburn Rural
A senior, Dodge earned a berth on the 2023 All-City team by teaming with Keegan Knudtson to win the city championship in No. 2 doubles. Dodge and Knudtson also posted a second-place finish in Class 6A regional competition last spring to help Washburn Rural win the team championship. Dodge and Knudtson competed the '23 6A state tournament.
Cair Paravel Latin Drew Fay was a Class 3A-1A state singles qualifier last spring as a freshman. [Submitted photo]
DREW FAY, Cair Paravel Latin
Fay, a sophomore, qualified for the 2023 Class 3A-1A state tournament last spring in Cair Paravel Latin's first season of fielding a tennis program. Fay posted a 21-12 record in singles competition as a freshman.
KEEGAN KNUDTSON, Washburn Rural
Knudtson, a sophomore, teamed with Dylan Dodge to win the city championship in No. 2 doubles last spring. Knudtson and Dodge posted a second-place finish in Class 6A regional competition to earn a berth in the 2023 6A state tournament while helping Washburn Rural win the regional team championship.
Hayden senior Joseph Luke is a returning Class 4A state doubles medalist. [File photo/TSN]
JOSEPH LUKE, Hayden
A senior, Luke earned All-City honors for the first time last season, teaming with Gus Glotzbach to finish fifth in the Class 4A state tournament. Luke and Glotzbach finished third in the city meet in No. 1 doubles and went on to finish second in the Centennial
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A whopping four local wrestlers garnered individual state titles in the 2024 state meet and that championship quartet headlines the TopSports.news 2024 All-Shawnee County boys wrestling team.
Washburn Rural junior 132-pounder Easton Broxterman has been named the Shawnee County boys wrestler of the year after winning his second straight Class 6A state title. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural junior 132-pounder Easton Broxterman was named the Shawnee County wrestler of the year after earning his second straight Class 6A state championship in his third straight trip to the state finals.
Washburn Rural junior Kristjan Marshall has his hand raised as the 150-pound Class 6A state champion. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Brody Byrne (right) won the Class 6A 157-pound state title. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Broxterman, who went 49-1 on the season, was joined on top of the 6A awards stand by junior 150-pounder Kristjan Marshall (39-4) and senior 157-pounder Brody Byrne (37-3), who both won their first state titles after posting fourth-place finishes in 2023.
Shawnee Heights senior 285-pounder Rykan Carver won a Class 5A state title in his final state meet, taking a 4-3 overtime decision in the championship match. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Rykan Carver (38-8) capped his high school career with a bang, winning the 5A state 285-pound championship in overtime to capture his first state medal.
Washburn Rural wrestling coach Josh Hogan has been named the Shawnee County coach of the year after three Rural wrestlers won state titles and finished third as a team. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural, which finished a close third in the 6A team standings, put a county-high eight wrestlers on the all-county first team, while Rural's Josh Hogan was named the county coach of the year and freshman 144-pounder Brodye Kocher-Munoz was selected as newcomer of the year.
The TopSports.news all-county team is based in part on selections made by the seven Topeka head coaches as well as at large selections for county schools Rossville and Silver Lake.
Also earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors for Rural in addition to the three state champions were sophomore 106-pounder Ryder Harrison (17-14), junior 120-pounder Walker Doyal (27-23), sophomore 126-pounder Cooper Stivers (11-5), sophomore 138-pounder Landen Kocher-Munoz (36-5) and senior 165-pounder Chase Calhoon (28-15).
Seaman and Shawnee Heights both put three wrestlers on the All-Shawnee County first team.
Seaman is represented by 144-pound senior Colin Little (40-10), 190-pound junior Deyton Mentzer (24-12) and 215-pound senior Hunter Reno (44-12) while Heights is represented by Carver, 138-pound senior Andrew Bonebrake (34-8) and 175-pound senior Allen Baughman (30-8).
Bonebrake and Baughman are both first-team repeat picks.
Rossville is represented on the first team by Class 3A-1A 215-pound senior state runnerup Barret Lietz (36-9) while Topeka High put 113-pound sophomore Luis Morones (19-10) on the first team.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BOYS WRESTLING
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Highland Park got off to somewhat of a slow start in Tuesday's Class 5A boys sub-state semifinal against Kansas City-Turner, but opened up a double-digit advantage by halftime and turned the game into a rout with a 33-point third quarter on the way to an 85-43 win at Topeka High.
Highland Park senior Amari Taylor (0) scored 25 points in the Scots' 85-43 Class 5A sub-state win over KC-Turner Tuesday night. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Highland Park senior Mikey Williams scored 21 points as the Scots improved to 20-1 with an 85-43 sub-state win over KC-Turner. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
The Scots led the Bears by just a 19-18 advantage at the end of the opening quarter but used a 20-9 second quarter to take a 39-27 advantage at the halftime break and outscored Turner 33-9 in the third quarter to take a 72-36 lead and force a running clock throughout the fourth quarter.
Senior Amari Taylor led Highland Park, now 20-1, with 25 points, followd by junior Mikey Williams with 21 points, junior Ja'Corey Robinson with 16 points and senior Tamir Anderson with 12 points on four 3-pointers.
Highland Park junior Ja'Corey Robinson slams down a dunk in Tuesday's 85-43 sub-state win over KC-Turner. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Tamir Anderson scored 12 points on four 3-pointers in Highland Park's 85-43 sub-state win over KC-Turner Tuesday night. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Highland Park advanced to Friday's sub-state championship game to face the winner of the semifinal between Kansas City-Washington and Bonner Springs.
The sub-state championship game will be played at Topeka West, with the sub-state winner advancing to next week's Class 5A state tournament at Emporia's White Auditorium.
WASHBURN RURAL GIRLS 61, WICHITA NORTHWEST 24
The ‘second season’ began on Tuesday night with the first round of the sub-state tournament. The Grizzlies of Wichita Northwest
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Parirings have been finalized for this week's sub-state high school basketball tournaments, with 11 Shawnee County teams earning home court advantage for at least the first round of sub-state competition, which begins Monday and continues through Saturday.
Both Highland Park teams, Seaman's girls and Shawnee Heights' boys could all stay at home through both rounds of sub-state competition.
Hayden will compete in the Class 3A Royal Valley sub-state while Silver Lake and Rossville will both compete in the Class 3A Riley County sub-state and Cair Paravel Latin will compete in the 2A Jefferson County North sub-state
Here's a look at sub-state tournaments involving Shawnee County teams:
CLASS 6A GIRLS
West sub-state No. 3 -- Topeka High (5-14) is the No. 11 West seed and will be on the road Tuesday for a 7 p.m. Tuesday game at Centennial League rival Manhattan (10-10).
The Topeka High-Manhattan winner will advance to a Friday night sub-state final to face the semifinal winner between No. 3 seed Liberal (14-6) and Wichita North (3-17).
Senior Zoe Canfield and the Washburn Rural girls will be at home Tuesday to open Class 6A sub-state play against Wichita Northwest. [File photo/TSN]
West sub-state No. 4 -- Washburn Rural, second in 6A a year ago after winning the title in 2022, is the No. 5 West seed at 13-7 and will host Wichita Northwest (5-15) at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The Washburn Rural-Wichita Northwest winner will advance to a Friday sub-state championship game to face the semifinal winner between No. 3 seed Wichita South (13-7) and Dodge City (5-15).
CLASS 6A BOYS
West sub-state No. 1 -- Washburn Rural, the No. 9 West seed at 10-10, will go on the road Wednesday for a 6 p.m. sub-state semifinal against No. 8 Wichita Southeast (11-9).
The winner of that game will advance to a Saturday final to meet the winner of the semifinal between No. 1 seed Wichita Heights (19-1) and Liberal (5-15).
Senior Taylin Stallbaumer and the No. 1-seeded Seaman girls will be at home Wednesday to open Class 5A postseason. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 5A GIRLS
East sub-state No. 1 -- Seaman is the No. 1 East seed at 18-2 and will be at home for a 7 p.m. Wednesday semifinal to face No. 16 Kansas City-Harmon (1-15).
The winner of that game will advance to a Saturday final to face the winner of the semifinal between No. 8 seed Basehor-Linwood (12-8) and No. 9 KC-Sumner (10-9).
East sub-state No. 2 -- Shawnee Heights, the No. 7 East seed at 14-6, will host No. 10 seed Piper (10-10) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, with the T-Birds and Pirates meeting for the second straight game. Piper upset United Kansas Conference foe Heights last Friday in the regular-season finale.
The Heights-Piper winner will move on to a Saturday sub-state final to face the winner of another UKC matchup between No. 2 West seed De Soto (17-3) and Lansing (2-18).
Rob Brown's Highland Park girls, 14-5 on the season, will be at Topeka High for Wednesday's Class 5A sub-state semifinal against Pittsburg. [File photo/TSN]
East sub-state No. 3 -- Highland Park (14-5) is the No. 3 East seed and will be looking for its second straight Class 5A state tournament berth.
HIghland Park will face No. 14 seed Pittsburg (5-15) in a 6 p.m. semifinal on Wednesday at Topeka High. The Highland Park-Pittsburg winner will advance to a Saturday sub-state final to face the semifinal winner between No. 6 Spring Hill (14-6) and Blue Valley Southwest (10-10).
West sub-state No. 3 -- Topeka West is the No. 14 West seed at 8-12 and will travel to No. 3 seed Emporia (19-1) for a 7 p.m. Wednesday semifinal.
The winner will advance to Saturday's sub-state final to face the winner of the semifinal between No. 6 Great Bend (14-6) and No. 11 Salina Central (10-10).
CLASS 5A BOYS
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
When Hayden's boys faced Kansas City-Bishop Ward back on Dec. 15th, the Wildcats needed overtime before escaping with a one-point victory over the Cyclones.
Senior Cooper Colboch paced Hayden with 21 points in Monday's 65-47 sub-state quarterfinal win over KC-Bishop Ward. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Dom Ridley scored 15 points, with four 3-pointers, in Hayden's 65-47 Class 3A sub-state win over KC-Bishop Ward Monday night. [File photo/TSN]
Monday's rematch, which came in a Class 3A sub-state quarterfinal, was a different story with Hayden, the No. 6 seed in the Royal Valley sub-state, rolling to a 65-47 win over No. 3 seed Ward in a game that was played at Kansas City-Turner.
With Monday's victory the 6-15 Wildcats advanced to a 7:30 p.m. Thursday night sub-state semifinal at Royal Valley to face No. 2 seed Perry-Lecompton, which took a 57-51 overtime win over Royal Valley.
