Cair Paravel Lions

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]

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.”

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Nine days after a frustrating 1-0 home United Kansas Conference loss to Basehor-Linwood, Seaman's girls soccer team responded with one of its best performances of the season last Thursday, taking a 4-1 road win over the Bobcats to advance to the Class 5A quarterfinals.

Seaman celebrates its Class 5A regional soccer championship after last Thursday's 4-1 road win at Basehor-Linwood. [Seaman Athletics]

"We played a lot better,'' Seaman coach Kyle Seevers said. "We had probably our best overall game of the season. Every person that went in competed hard, connected, defended, won 50-50 balls. It was just a complete game.''

After dropping three straight one-goal games to end the regular season, the Vikings bounced back with a 10-0 win over Kansas City-Schlagle in its regional opener and never trailed in the regional final after Parker Ayres and Marin Schuler scored first-half goals to give Seaman a 2-0 advantage. 

Midway through the second half Basehor-Linwood cut its deficit to 2-1 but Seaman's Taylin Stallbaumer answered with a pivotal goal to put Seaman up 3-1 and Ryin Miller found the net less than a minute after Stallbaumer's goal to give the Vikings their final margin.

Miller had a pair of assists in the Seaman win while Schuler also had an assist.

Now the 12-4-1 Vikings will attempt to build off that win in Tuesday's 6 p.m. quarterfinal at Blue Valley Southwest (15-2-0).

Blue Valley Southwest probably has to be considered the favorite, particularly at home, but Seevers has no doubt his team will put up a fight.

"Anything can happen,'' Seevers said. "When we beat De Soto (1-0) it wasn't always pretty but sometimes you've just go to muddy the waters to get a catfish so that's kind of been our go to ever since the De Soto game, to muddy the waters. It may not be pretty but it gets done.''

Seaman will be looking to continue what has been a magical 2023-2024 school year, with the Vikings winning 5A state titles in volleyball and basketball and punching their ticket to the state tournament in softball.

"We've got such a great group of athletes right now,'' Seevers said. "Not always the best soccer players, but oh my God do we have winners that are great athletes.''

Also looking to extend its season will be 13-5-0 Shawnee Heights, which will be on the road to face 16-1-0 St. Thomas Aquinas in the other 5A East quarterfinal at 7 p.m.

By Todd Fertig

TopSports.news

The Cair Paravel Latin School girls soccer team is going back to state.

It may have come as a surprise when the Lions qualified for the Class 4-1A final four two seasons ago – the 1A program that had just recently earned KSHSAA membership.

Cair Paravel sophomore KellyAnn Chada scored three goals Tuesday as the Lions advanced to the Class 4A-1A semifinals with a 6-1 win over Baldwin. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Cair Paravel junior Zahra Friess (3) had two goals and an assist in Tuesday's 6-1 state quarterfinal win over Baldwin. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

This year, they left no doubt they belong, steamrolling Baldwin 6-1 in the quarterfinal round at Bettis Family Sports Complex Tuesday.

It took just 13 seconds for the Lions to set the tone. For the second game in a row, Cair Paravel struck for an early goal to put the opponents at a disadvantage.

“I said, ‘Let’s try to take advantage of our speed up top.’ We have a lot of it up there,” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said. “Zahra Friess is incredibly fast. I said, ‘Let’s put the ball down to the flag and let her beat ‘em to it.’ And it’s just worked great. She’s managed to score a couple of goals off of it.”

Senior Katherine Keys had a goal and two assists in Cair Paravel's 6-1 win over Baldwin. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

That was just the beginning of the scoring for Cair Paravel. KellyAnn Chada knocked home three goals, Friess added a second, and Katherine Keys scored a goal to go with two assists. Only a Baldwin goal with 1:20 left spoiled the shutout.

By Rick Peterson

TopSports.news

Cair Paravel Latin posted a third-place team finish in the Class 2A state tournament at Mariah Hills in Dodge City while Silver Lake senior Bryce Badsky finished third in 3A at Emporia to lead five local individual medalists.

Cair Paravel Latin golf posted a third-place team finish in the Class 2A state tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]

Cair Paravel finished third as a team, 13 strokes behind runnerup Ellinwood while perennial state champion Salina Sacred Heart earned the state championship by 19 strokes.

State medalist Rich Helmbold led the Lions with a sixth-place individual finish, shooting a 78 on Tuesday after an opening-round 76.

CPLS' Jase Pavlik tied for 26th place with a 36-hole total of 173 (83-90) while Caleb Cleverdon tied for 32nd (89-87), Luke Budden tied for 38th (86-96), Simon Everhart tied for 40th (90-93) and Ty Gossard finished in 50th place (101-103).

Eagles' Badsky third, Hayden fourth in 3A

Silver Lake senior Bryce Badsky earned his fourth straight Class 3A individual medal on Tuesday at Emporia Municipal, placing third with a 36-hole total of 151.

Bryce Badsky, Silver Lake

Badsky shot a 75 on Tuesday after an opening-round 76.

Hayden finished fourth as a team, four strokes behind third-place Wichita Collegiate. Hesston and Sabetha went one-two in the team race, with the Bluejays winning by four strokes.

James Kuta finished with a two-day total of 159 (73-86) to tie for 14th place and earn a state medal.

 James Kuta, Hayden

By Rick Peterson

TopSports.news

Two Shawnee County teams and six individuals advanced to Tuesday's final day of boys state golf tournaments accross the state.

Leading the local contingent are Hayden in Class 3A and Cair Paravel Latin in 2A, with both the Wildcats and Lions qualifing as a team for Day 2 of state.

Cair Paravel is sitting in third place in the 2A state tournament after Monday's round at Dodge City's Mariah Hills, three strokes behind second-place Ellinwood. Perennial state champion Salina Sacred Heart is well on its way to another title, entering Tuesday's final round with a 41-stroke lead.

Rich Helmbold, Cair Paravel Latin

Rich Helmbold shot an opening-round 76 to lead the Lions and is tied for seventh place in 2A.

CPLS' Jase Pavlik is tied for 23rd place after an 83 while Luke Budden is tied for 35th (86), Caleb Cleverdon is tied for 38th (89), Simon Everhart is tied for 41st (90) and Ty Gossard tied for 50th (101).

Hayden enters the final round of the 3A tournament at Emporia Municipal in fourth place, but just seven strokes behind first-day leader Hesston.

The Wildcats are three shots behind third-place Sabetha and five strokes behind second-place Wichita Collegiate.

 James Kuta, Hayden

James Kuta is tied for second place individuall after shooting a 73 in Monday's first round.

By Todd Fertig

TopSports.news

The Cair Paravel Latin School girls advanced from the regional round of the soccer playoffs with a 6-0 win over Eudora Thursday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.

Sophomore KellyAnn Chada (11) is congratulated by her Cair Paravel teammates after scoring one of her four goals in Thursday's 6-0 win over Eudora in a Class 4A-1A regional. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]

Senior Katherine Keys (left), who had three assists, congratulates sophomore KellyAnn Chada after a goal in Cair Paravel's 6-0 regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]

Sophomore KellyAnn Chada accounted for four of the Lions’ six goals, including one in the opening minutes of the contest.

“It was crazy,” Chada said. “I definitely couldn’t have done it without my team. They had some great assists. I got the first one and that just started the game off on the right foot and then they just kept coming.”

“She is a goal-scoring machine” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said of Chada. “She is one of those players who always seem to put themselves in the right spot.”

Zahra Friess and Clare Everhart added goals for the Lions while Katherine Keys tallied three assists.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Due to weather-related postponements on Monday, several area golf regionals were pushed back a day until Tuesday.

But having to wait an extra day didn't seem to faze local golfers, with three teams earning team berths for next Monday and Tuesday's state events.

Here's a class-by-class look at Tuesday's tournaments involving Shawnee County teams:

Washburn Rural's golf team poses for a picture after finishing second in Tuesday's Class 6A regional at Junction City. [Washburn Rural golf]

Washburn Rural earns runnerup 6A finish

Led by top-10 finishes from senior Camden Zimlich and junior Tagan Monasmith, the Junior Blues finished second as a team behind Centennial League rival Manhattan in the Class 6A regional at Rolling Meadows in Junction City to advance to next week's Class 6A state tournament at Garden City.

Zimlich shot an 82 to tie for sixth place while Monasmith shot an 83 to tie for eighth to lead Washburn Rural while Hayden Glynn and Tadd Armstrong tied for 11th with 86s to round out the Junior Blues' four-man team score of 337.

Tanner Kasprznk added a 93 and Michael Wilson a 94 for Washburn Rural.

Manhattan won the team championship at 320 while Rural out-distanced Wichita East by 22 strokes for second place.

Hayden's golf team poses for a picture after earning a Class 3A state tournament berth with a runnerup regional finish on Tuesday in Seneca. [Hayden Golf]

Hayden posts second-place finish in 3A regional

Hayden finished second in Tuesday's Class 3A regional at Seneca's Spring Creek Golf Course to advance to next week's state tournament at Emporia.

Sabetha won the regional title with a four-man score of 310 while Hayden was second at 322 to earn the final team berth for state.

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.”