Cair Paravel Lions
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Lions endured a test of their character Friday night, matched in just their third game of 11-man football with the ninth-ranked team in Class 2A.
Cair Paravel senior quarterback Jase Pavlik attempts a pass in Friday's 46-0 loss to Council Grove. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel senior Ben Roeder (5) carries the ball in Friday's 46-0 loss to Council Grove. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Lions survived a similar test a week earlier, hanging with even higher-ranked Osage City. But Friday’s battle with Council Grove – Cair Paravel’s first home game as an 11-man team – ended in a 46-0 defeat at Washburn University’s Yager Stadium.
The Braves suited up 46 players Friday to just 18 for Cair Paravel. Facing a difference in size at essentially every position across the field, the Lions looked for positives to take away following the defeat.
“(Opponents like this) definitely show your weaknesses,” said Cair Paravel coach Doug Bonura. “I told the guys I’m proud of them. We didn’t quite play the game that we wanted to play. I don’t know if that’s because of (Council Grove) or because of us yet. That’s what film tells us. But I’m proud of the way they played.”
“But we’ve got to figure some things out, because it’s not going to be easy this year. Nothing’s easy.”
The Braves came out firing to start the contest. But after surrendering two quick touchdowns, the Lions’ defense stiffened. The highlight of the first half for the home team was holding Council Grove out of the end zone on three consecutive series.
When it appeared the Lions might make it to halftime trailing just 13-0, a long Braves’ pass put them in scoring position with less than two minutes remaining. Ace Monihen blasted in for a 2-yard touchdown.
After two plays on the ensuing drive, Monihen scooped up an errant pitch in the Lion backfield and dashed 29 yards for the Braves’ fourth touchdown of the half to lead 27-0.
With a few key players hobbled in the first half, the Lions scrambled to hold things together after halftime. A running clock brought on a speedy end to the 46-0 defeat.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAMES
Seaman senior quarterback Max Huston has passed for 261 yards and three touchdowns this fall for the 1-1 Vikings. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA WEST (0-2, 0-2) at SEAMAN (1-1, 1-0)
Topeka West is coming off a 53-8 home United Kansas Conference loss to Shawnee Heights while Seaman dropped a 35-7 non-league decision to Shawnee Mission East last Friday. Seaman senior quarterback Max Huston has completed 23 of 48 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns while senior Bryer Finley has caught 10 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown and junior Kaden McKinney has caught five passes for 115 yards and a TD. McKinney leads the Vikings with 122 rushing yards and two TDs on 27 attemps. Topeka West senior Alesecio Batson scored the Chargers' lone touchdown against Shawnee Heights on a 20-yard reception from freshman Josiah Wilke while senior Treyvion Barr added a 2-point conversion.
Cair Paravel senior quarterback Jase Pavlik passed for 226 yards and two touchdowns in last Friday's 54-20 loss to Osage City. [File photo/TSN]
COUNCIL GROVE (2-0, 2-0) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-1, 1-1)
At Yager Stadium
Cair Paravel will play its first home game at Washburn University's Yager Stadium, with the Lions facing Council Grove in a Flint Hills League contest. Cair Paravel is coming off a 54-20 league loss to Osage City while Council Grove improved to 2-0 with a 50-13 league win over Mission Valley. Lion senior quarterback Jase Pavlik passed for 226 yards and two touchdowns last Friday while senior Ben Roeder had 13 catches for 165 yards and two TDs and junior Tobias Bonura carried the ball 13 times for 74 yards and caught six passes for 55 yards. Council Grove sophomore quarterback Luke Stewart has completed 28 of 38 passes for 419 yards and three TDs while senior Ace Monihen has rushed or 208 yards and seven TDs and senior Landon Dody has nine catches for 236 yards and a TD.
Hayden junior Kade Mitchell rushed for more than 100 yards and also scored on a 90-yard kickoff return in last Friday's 42-14 win over St. Michael The Archangel. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
KC-WARD (0-2) at HAYDEN (2-0)
After finishing second in Class 3A last season, Bill Arnold's Wildcats are off and running again this fall, improving to 2-0 with a 42-14 win over St. Michael The Archangel (Lee's Summit, Mo.) last Friday. Junior Kade Mitchell rushed for more than 100 yards in the Hayden while also returning a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier threw for three touchdowns against the Guardians.
Shawnee Heights junior Tyren Parker has caught 11 passes for 185 yards and two TDs for the 1-1 T-Birds. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
BASEHOR-LINWOOD (2-0, 2-0) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-1, 1-0)
Shawnee Heights opened United Kansas Conference play with a 53-8 road win over Topeka West last Friday while Basehor-Linwood improved to 2-0 with a 48-14 win over Piper. T-Bird junior quarterback Aiden Scott completed 16 of 26 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns against West and has passed for 655 yards and five TDs on a 40 of 66 performance in two games. Junior David Wakes has carried the ball 32 times for 176 yards and two TDs while junior Tyren Parker has caught 11 passes for 185 yards and two TDs. Basehor-Linwood junior quarterback Carson Dixon has completed 23 of 41 passes for 215 yards and three TDs while senior Nick Doering has 183 rushing yards and five TDs on 29 carries and junior Noah Morrison has 10 receptions for 94 yards and two TDs.
Jamon Wilson has helped lead Highland Park to a 2-0 start this all, with the Scots outscoring their two opponents by a 94-0 margin. [File photo/TSN]
HIGHLAND PARK (2-0, 2-0) at KC-SCHLAGLE (1-1, 1-0)
Highland Park has outscored its two Meadowlark Conference opponents by a 94-0 margin, including a 42-0 win over Kansas City-Sumner Academy last Friday. KC-Schlaglee picked up its first win in a 48-0 win over KC-Wyandotte. Scot junior quarterback Dontrail Fox went 9 of 16 in the passing game for 112 yards and three touchdowns while Highland Park rushed for 231 yards on 37 attempts as sophomore G'honi Montgomery picked up 78 yards on 15 attemps and senior Jamon Wilson gaining 75 yards on nine carries. Wilson caught seven passes for 76 yards and also returned a punt return for a 59-yard touchdown, one of three punt-return TDs for the Scots. Highland Park also got an 80-yard punt return from senior CJ Brown and a 23-yard score from junior Genesis Cooper. Senior Ricky Crawford led the Highland Park with nine tackles, including five solo stops.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park improved to 2-0 overall and in the Meadowlark Conference with a 42-0 road rout over Kansas City-Sumner Friday night.
Scot junior quarterback Dontrail Fox went 9 of 16 in the passing game for 112 yards and three touchdowns while Highland Park rushed for 231 yards on 37 attempts as sophomore G'honi Montgomery picked up 78 yards on 15 attemps and senior Jamon Wilson gaining 75 yards on nine carries.
Highland Park senior Jamon Wilson had 151 rushing and receiving yards and returned a punt 59 yards for a TD in the Scots' 42-0 win over KC-Sumner. [File photo/TSN]
Wilson caught seven passes for 76 yards and also returned a punt return for a 59-yard touchdown, one of three punt-return TDs for the Scots.
Highland Park also got an 80-yard punt return from senior CJ Brown and a 23-yard score from junior Genesis Cooper.
Senior Ricky Crawford led the Highland Park with nine tackles, including five solo stops.
Highland Park will be back on the road next Friday against Meadowlark Conference foe KC-Schlagle.
SHAWNEE MISSION EAST 35, SEAMAN 7 --Seaman (1-1) and Shawnee Mission East (1-1) were tied at 7-7 before the Lancers took control of the non-league contest with the final 28 points of the night.
Seaman scored its lone touchdown on a touchdown pass from quarterback Max Huston to Kaden McKinney.
The Vikings will play their home opener next Friday, hosting Topeka West in a United Kansas Conference contest.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
A junior cross country star, Anderson opened his 2024 season with the boys individual championship in Saturday's Manhattan Invitational at Warner Park. Anderson, a returning Class 5A state qualifier, posted a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 35.77 seconds, taking the victory by 28 seconds.
Tevante Ewing
TEVANTE EWING, Topeka High
Ewing, a senior running back, scored three touchdwns in Topeka High's 52-19 season-opening non-league road victory over Wichita West on Friday. Ewing scored the Trojans' first touchdown on a 70-yard pass from Zane Smith and also scored on a pair of runs as Topeka High rolled to a win in Jason Filbeck's debut as High's coach.
John Hoytal
JOHN HOYTAL, Washburn Rural
A junior quarterback, Hoytal made his first career start in Friday's 42-21 non-league home win over Shawnee Heights. Hoytal completed 14 of 21 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 47 yards on 10 carries. Hoytal completed TDs of 2, 42 and 7 yards to Kellan Roth and16 yards to Brody Schwinn.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin and Topeka High head football coach Jason Filbeck both made a little bit of history with season-opening road victories Friday night.
Cair Paravel notched its first-ever 11-man victory in a 44-0 win at West Franklin while Filbeck posted his first victory at Topeka High in his debut with the Trojans as High rolled to a 52-19 win over Wichita West at Friends University.
CPLS dominated its 11-man debut from start to finish, using a 21-point second quarter to open up a 28-0 halftime advantage and adding its final two TDs in the fourth quarter.
Ben Roeder
The Lions scored the only points they would need midway through the opening quarter when senior Ben Roeder scored on a 4-yard run and CPLS standout senior quarterback Jase Pavlik ran for the 2-point conversion to give his team an 8-0 lead.
Roeder returned a punt return 73 yards for a TD to give Cair Paravel a 14-0 lead with eight minutes left in the first half and Chase Hastert added interception returns of 46 and 50 yards to put the Lions in control at the half.
Tobias Bonura added an 85-yard interception return and Pavlik hit Roeder for a 2-point conversion early in the fourth quarter before Roeder scored his third TD on a 3-yard rush (Pavlik run) to complete the Lions' scoring with six minutes left.
Topeka High rolled to a 52-19 road win over Wichita West Friday, giving Jason Filbeck a victory in his debut as the Trojans' head coach. [File photo/TSN]
The Trojans made sure Friday was a happy night Filbeck, who accepted the Topeka High job in the offseason after 10 years at Augusta, with High scoring the first 20 points and never looking back.
Topeka High never trailed after Zane Smith and Tevonte Ewing connected with a 7-yard TD pass with 7:33 left in the first quarter.
Smith threw his second touchdown pass with 4:31 left in the opening quarter and Ewing scored again to put the Trojans in front 20-0 early in the second quarter.
Later in the first half Ewing scored for the third time to give the Trojans a 26-6 lead and Smith hit Jayden Norman for a 90-yard TD to put High up 32-6 at the half.
Detrick Johnson put Topeka High up 46-6 at the 7:46 mark of the third quarter and the Trojans cruised the rest of the way.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
Rossville senior Tayson Horak (12) earned All-Shawnee County Second 22 and All-Mid-East League first-team honors last fall. [File photo/TSN]
Former Silver Lake football star Logan Pegram is starting his third season as the Eagles' head coach, leading Lake to a 14-5 record over the past two years. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
ROSSVILLE at SILVER LAKE
The Bulldawgs and Eagles open the 2024 season with one of the state's most storied rivalries. Rossville is coming off a 5-4 record a year ago while Silver Lake went 8-2. Rossville is playing its first season in the Class 1A ranks while the Bulldawgs and Silver Lake are both entering their first year in the new Big East League. Rossville senior Tayson Horak earned All-Mid-East League first-team recognition on offense and was a TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Second 22 pick last season while seniors Kameron Badura and Brock Bush and junior Jack Donovan received all-county honorable mention. Silver Lake senior Braden Strausbaugh, an offensive tackle and defensive end, earned All-Shawnee County Second 22 recognition last fall while seniors Logan Cathcart and Trent Rollenhagen and junior Dayne Johnson received all-county honorable mention.
Seniors King Leonard (1) is a top returner for Washburn Rural, intercepting nine passes last fall for the 11-1 Junior Blues. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior receiver/defensive back Tyren Parker has received Division I offers from Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. [File photo/TSN]
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS at WASHBURN RURAL
City rivals Washburn Rural and Shawnee Heights combined for 19 wins last season, with the 11-1 Junior Blues advancing to the Class 6A semifinals and the 8-3 T-Birds making it to the 5A quarterfinals. Rural senior safety King Leonard was among the state leaders with nine interceptions, including one pick six, and was also in on 75 tackles (47 solo) en route to earning All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors last fall. Senior cornerback Wilson Miller was named the Shawnee County defensive newcomer of the year and earned All-Centennial League defensive honors and All-Shawnee County Second 22 recognition last season. Shawnee Heights only returns defensive starters Parker Busenitz, a senior safety, and junior cornerback Tyren Parker from last year's team along with junior kicker Camden Granado. Parker has D-I offers from Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State.
Senior Jamon Wilson racked up 1,185 all-purpose yards and scored 63 points last fall for the 7-3 Scots. [File photo/TSN]
KC-WYANDOTTE at HIGHLAND PARK
At Hummer Sports Park
After snapping an eight-year losing streak early in 2022, Jermaine Monroe's Scots have posted back-to-back winning seasons, including a 7-3 mark last season when Highland Park won its first playoff game since 1991. Senior linebacker Ricky Crawford earned All-Meadowlark Conference first-team and Second 22 All-Shawnee County honors last season, leading Highland Park with 78 tackles, including 54 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, five sacks and 13 quarterback hurries. Junior defensive back TremaineSavage was a first-team All-Meadowlark Conference selection last season, recording 29 tackles, registering 15 pass breakups and forcing two fumbles, while senior wide receiver/defensive back Jamon Wilson racked up 1,185 all-purpose yards last season while scoring 63 total points and receiving All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Wyandotte is coming off a 1-8 season in 2023.
Hayden senior receiver/defensive back Jensen Schrickel is a two-time All-Shawnee County Top 22 selection. [File photo/TSN]
HAYDEN at EUDORA
Hayden went 12-1 and finished second in Class 3A last fall while Eudora is coming off a 5-5 season, losing to Atchison 50-27 in the second round of the 4A playoffs. Wildcat senior wide receiver/defensive back Jensen Schrickel is a two-time TSN All-Shawnee County Top 22 selection, catching 40 passes for 683 yards, carrying the ball 18 times for 268 yards and scoring 10 total touchdowns and three 2-point conversions. Junior running back Kade Mitchell was named the co-offensive newcomer of the year in Shawnee County last season after rushing for 764 yards on 79 carries, catching 13 passes for 209 yards and scored 14 touchdowns and 92 total points. Senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier completed 61 of 113 passing attempts for 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns last fall.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
High school football players who come off the field have traditionally made a trip to the water cooler, congregated near the coaches to watch the action on the field, or perhaps snuck a peak at their friends and family in the stands.
But increasingly, local players are gathering around large screen televisions on the sidelines or peering at hand-held devices on the bench.
The high school game is becoming more high-tech by the season. It’s not uncommon to see a drone buzzing just outside the field of play, filming the action and relaying those images to coaches as the game is going on.
For an old school football fan familiar with Vince Lombardi’s diagrams on a chalk board, it can all seem mind boggling. But to teenagers immersed in a high-tech world, it’s the best way to learn the game.
Highland Park football coach Jermaine Monroe said that ever-changing technology can provide big advantages for high school teams. [File photo/TSN]
“This is the way to communicate to students today,” said Highland Park coach Jermaine Monroe. “I think to be able to connect to students in the classroom and on the field, we need to stay up with the times. We have to be able to change and adapt. Technology in the game is not going anywhere, and it’s only going to get better and better.”
Monroe is one of several veteran coaches in the area who are working hard to adapt to the new technology. He said he no longer prints playbooks for his players to study. It’s all done on video.
“I’m 100% enjoying it,” Monroe said. “I was kind of stuck in the old school way of doing things, but when I learned how user-friendly these things are, it’s making things easier and I’m getting information to the boys faster, which is the most important thing.”
Shawnee Heights football coach Jason Swift said that the T-Bird coaching staff uses technology in a variety of ways to communicate with Heights' players. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said the T-Birds typically use a camera in or on top of the press box to send video instantly to a TV on the sideline.
“That enables us to, in between series, have a unit look at the video on the monitor which allows the coaches to teach what’s going on based on the past series,” Swift said. “It’s instant feedback.
“A lot of our kids play both ways and don’t come off the field long enough to look at film. But seven or eight might.”
Like many teams, Shawnee Heights uses a drone and mounts a camera on a tripod in one end zone to provide different angles of the action. While the T-Birds utilize footage strictly from the press box during the game, Swift said the other video footage is invaluable for teaching in practice.
“I love it,” Swift said. “It’s more time management on downloading film and getting it ready to show to kids. If you’re looking at a sideline view of a play and an end zone view of the play, you have to cut it up so that they match. It’s a little bit more time consuming, but the benefit of using it as a teaching tool outweighs the time.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news has finished its tour of preseason football practice at all 10 Shawnee County high schools and will post preview stories over the coming days leading into the opening games of the 2024 season on Sept. 6.
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Coming off its best season as a full member of the Kansas State High School Athletics Association, Cair Paravel Latin finds itself starting over in many ways this fall.
Doug Bonura's Cair Paravel football team will make the jump to 11-man this fall, competing in Class 1A. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Doug Bonura's Lions posted a 9-3 record and advanced to the Eight-Man Division I state semifinals a year ago, but CPLS graduated nine seniors and has only four returning lettermen and 19 total players as it begins its transition into the 11-man ranks this fall.
Cair Paravel's enrollment was two students above the limit for Eight-Man Football, prompting the move to Class 1A.
And although Bonura knows the Lions will face numerous challenges this fall, he said the focus will be on making steady improvement each and every day out.
"If you do everything right and grow and get better and you do the best that you can and you still lose, that's still successful,'' Bonura said. "If there's 100 guys on the other sideline and you've got 19 you still play your heart out and we may be able to win, we play to win. David can beat Goliath but the reality of it is if they're bigger and they're better and they're stronger we just say, 'You know what, hats off to you, you guys are better than us.' ''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kameron Badura
KAMERON BADURA, Rossville
A senior, Badura received TopSports.news All-Shawnee County and All-Mid-East League honorable mention recognition last fall for the 5-4 Bulldawgs. Badura is a returning starter for Rossville and is expected to play a key role as a skill player on offense and in the defensive secondary.
Alesecio Batson
ALESECIO BATSON, Topeka West
A senior, Batson is best known for his exploits in track and field, winning the Class 5A state triple jump championship at 48 feet, 4.25 inches as a sophomore in 2023. West football coach Trey Parker will try to take advantage of Batson's superb athleticism in a variety of roles this fall, including safety on defense.
Elijah Berg
ELIJAH BERG, Topeka West
Berg, a senior, will be counted on to provide talent and leadership for a Topeka West program that is looking to improve on back-to-back 1-8 seasons. Berg could see action in a variety of roles for the Chargers, including wide receiver, where he is West's top returner.
Tobias Bonura
TOBIAS BONURA, Cair Paravel Latin
As one of only four returning lettermen from last season's 9-3 Cair Paravel team, Bonura, a junior, will be counted on to be a team leader as the Lions make the jump to the 11-man ranks (Class 1A) for the first time in school history. With only 19 players on the roster, Bonura and the other Cair Paravel veterans will rarely leave the field.
Andrew Broughton
ANDREW BROUGHTON, Seaman
A 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior center, Broughton will anchor the offensive line for the Vikings after earning All-United Kansas Conference second-team honors and TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season. Broughton helped the Vikings post a 6-5 record and advance to the third round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
Parker Busenitz
PARKER BUSENITZ, Shawnee Heights
Busenitz, a senior, is a returning starter at safety, one of only two returning defensive starters for Shawnee Heights, which is coming off an 8-3 season last fall. Busenitz received All-Shawnee County honorable mention in 2023 after recording 40 tackles with three pass interceptions and is also expected to be an impact player at wide receiver for the T-Birds.
Brock Bush
BROCK BUSH, Rossville
A senior linebacker, Bush received All-Mid-East League and All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall for the 5-4 Bulldawgs after receiving second-team all-league recognition and all-county honorable mention as a sophomore. The three-year starter will be counted on for leadership as Rossville begins its first season in the Big East League and looks to be a Class 1A contender.
Conner Bush
CONNER BUSH, Rossville
A junior, Bush is a top defensive returner for Rossville, which is coming off a 5-4 season, and has also logged multiple offensive starts for the Bulldawgs. Bush, one of 18 returning lettermen, will be a key player as Rossville makes the transition to Class 1A and to the Big East League.
Logan Cathcart
LOGAN CATHCART, Silver Lake
A senior, Cathcart is a returning starter for the Eagles, 8-2 last season, at both wide receiver and safety and will be counted on to provide leadership as Silver Lake makes the transition to the Big East League. Cathcart is also a baseball standout for the Eagles, receiving All-Shawnee County honorable mention last spring.
Seth Catron
SETH CATRON, Rossville
The Bulldawgs, coming off a 5-4 record a year ago, will be looking for Catron, a senior, to be one of Rossville's biggest weapons on offense as the team makes the transition to the Big East League and the Class 1A ranks this season. Catron, who has made multiple starts for the Bulldawgs, is one of 18 returning lettermen.
Ricky Crawford
RICKY CRAWFORD, Highland Park
Crawford, a 6-0, 180 senior linebacker, earned All-Meadowlark Conference first-team and Second 22 All-Shawnee County honors last season after helping lead the Scots to a 7-3 record and their first playoff win since 1991. Crawford led Highland Park with 78 tackles, including 54 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, five sacks and 13 quarterback hurries.
Hayden Cummings
HAYDEN CUMMINGS, Seaman
A 5-10, 205 senior linebacker, Cummings earned second-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition and All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping the Vikings post a 6-5 record and advance to the third round of the Class 5A state playoffs. Cummings was credited with 103 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles for the Vikings.
Broderick Desch
BRODERICK DESCH, Hayden
Desch, a 5-10, 205 senior fullback, earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after playing a key role on offense as the Wildcats posted a 12-1 record and advanced to the Class 3A state championship game. Desch rushed for 511 yards on 102 carries and scored 10 touchdowns in 2023.
Jack Donovan
JACK DONOVAN, Rossville
A junior wide receiver/defensive back, Donovan earned All-Mid-East first-team recognition on defense last season and earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Donovan is also a standout for the Bulldawgs in both golf and basketball, earning first-team All-Shawnee County recognition in both sports.
Caden Estrada
CADEN ESTRADA, Washburn Rural
A 6-2, 270 senior offensive tackle, Estrada has earned first-team All-Centennial League recognition the past two seasons and was a Second 22 All-Shawnee County selection last fall after helping Washburn Rural post an 11-1 record and advance to the Class 6A semifinals.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High senior Jo'Mhara Benning received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition the past two seasons. [File photo/TSN]
JO'MHARA BENNING, Topeka High
Benning, a senior, has received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition the past two seasons and was also a second-team All-Centennial League pick. Benning is also a softball standout for the Trojans, earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors.
ELLA BOLAN, Silver Lake
Bolan, a senior middle hitter/outside hitter, earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors and Kansas Volleyball Association All-Class 3A honorable mention last fall after helping Silver Lake post a third-place finish in the 3A state tournament, with the Eagles posting a 32-12 record on the year. An All-3A state tournament pick and second-team All-Mid-East League honoree, Bolan registered 317 kills with 62 blocks and 38 service aces.
TAYLOR BREES, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Brees was a second-team All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference selection last season for the T-Birds. Brees also earned first-team All-Shawnee County recognition in softball this past spring.
Silver Lake senior Alana Brewster, spiking the ball, earned second-team All-Shawnee County honors last season. [File photo/TSN]
ALANA BREWSTER, Silver Lake
Brewster, a senior, received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season after helping Silver Lake post a 32-12 record and a third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kansas basketball legend Ron Slaymaker and veteran soccer coach Tim Collins are part of a group of 12 new varsity head coaches who have been announced by Shawnee County high schools for the 2024-2025 school year.
Former Emporia State coaching legend Ron Slaymaker will take over as the new girls basketball coach at Topeka High in the 2024-2025 season. [File photo/TSN]
Slaymaker, the former longtime Emporia State men's basketball coach who most recently coached girls basketball at Olpe after a seven-year stint with the Chase County girls, takes over as the girls coach at Topeka High.
Former Augusta coach Jason Filbeck takes over as Topeka High's football coach this fall. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High has also added former Augusta head coach Jason Filbeck as the Trojans' new football coach.
Collins, who coached a state championship team at Topeka West and also coached the women's team at Washburn University, will coach the Seaman boys soccer team this fall.
Collins is one of three new coaches for the Vikings, with Madison Lamond taking over as Seaman's new girls swimming coach and former softball assistant Daniel Ruda moving up to the head coaching position to replace Jay Monhollon, who retired at the end of the 2024 season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the record, the No. 1 men's spot on TopSports.news' list of the Top 100 Athletes in Shawnee County history wasn't decided by a coin flip... but it was briefly considered.
Picking the top spot, and really the entire Top 10, was that tough of a task.
Topeka High baseball legend Mike Torrez and former Shawnee Heights basketball and golf star Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, had both been selected No. 1 in previous Top 100 projects and were both worthy candidates this time around as were several other nationally and world-renowned local greats.
In the end Torrez, a World Series champion and 20-game winner over an 18-year year Major League career, got the nod by the slightest of margins over Woodland, a two-time state basketball champ for the T-Birds and a four-time winner on the PGA Tour.
Former American League All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner Ken Berry holds down the No. 3 position on the TSN list followed by two-time Olympic wrestler Melvin Douglas and Silver Lake and Kansas State basketball icon Lon Krugeer.
The second five on the Top 10 include PBA Hall of Famer Chris Barnes, Olympic long-jumper Preston Carrington (Syed Abdul-Mutfi), former NFL veterans and Super Bowl participants Troy Wilson and Tom Dinkel, and two-time state high school and NAIA national basketball champion Tom Meier.
All of the Top 10 honorees are members of the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The most impressive thing about NiJaree Canady is that she still may have not hit her peak just two college seasons into an already prolific softball career.
But the former two-time state champion at Topeka High, college freshman of the year and national player of the year for Stanford and future Texas Tech Red Raider has already accomplished enough to get the nod for the No. 1 spot on TopSports.news' list of the Top 100 Athletes in Shawnee County history.
Canady, who also helped lead Topeka High to three straight Class 6A state berths in basketball, headlines a top five that that also includes Olympic silver medalist Margaret Murdock, former NCAA national softball champion Lisa Carey, current Kentucky and USA Volleyball Under 21 star Brooklyn DeLeye and multi-time state champ, Arizona State All-American and pro tennis player Sheri Norris.
Former Cair Paravel Latin star Peyton Williams, an All-Big-12 honoree in basketball and volleyball for Kansas State, earned the No. 6 spot on the Top 100, followed by K-State hoops star Nadira Hazim, Washburn University record-setter Brenda Shaffer-Dahl, Iowa State volleyball star Kaylee Manns and Nebraska national volleyball champ Jazz Sweet.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 WOMEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seven Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Famers, two current NFL players who continue to add to their legacy, and a baseball great who made his mark more than a century ago comprise men's picks No. 11 through 20 on TopSports.news' list of the Top 100 Athletes in Shawnee County history.
The late Fred Slaughter and Steve Tilford, who graduated from Topeka High, Highland Park's Michael Wilhoite, Kyle Weems and James Patrick, Washburn Rural's Aaron Crow and Topeka West's Warren Seitz are all members of the Topeka Shawnee County shrine while former Topeka High star Teven Jenkins and Shawnee Heights/Washburn University great Corey Ballentine have carved out successful NFL careers and the late Elwood "Bingo'' DeMoss made his professional baseball debut in 1905 before going on to an outstanding career in the Negro Leagues as a player and a manager.
Slaughter played on the legendary John Wooden's first national basketball championship team at UCLA, while Tilford was a world renowned cyclist.
Wilhoite put together a seven-year NFL career, including a Super Bowl appearance, while Weems helped lead Highland Park to a perfect 25-0 season basketball season before starring at Missouri State and embarking on a long and continuing professional career while Patrick helped the Scots capture the only Grand State championship in Kansas history.
Crow was an All-American at Missouri and an American League All-Star for the Kansas City Royals while Seitz was a multi-sport standout at Topeka West, quarterbacked the Missouri Tigers and had a stint in the NFL.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
We're down to the top 20 women's picks for TopSports.news' list of the Top 100 Athletes in Shawnee County history and the achievements just keep getting more and more impressive.
Selections No. 11 through 20 include a United States Olympian and a 17-time individual state high school champion as well as a pair of NCAA Division I team champions and a D-I individual champ.
The latest group of picks also includes a multi-sport star who racked up seven state crowns in two sports along with a Final Four participant, an all-time Washburn great and two early trailblazers for local women's athletics.
Here's a look at No. 11-20:
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 WOMEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Men's picks No. 21-30 on the list of TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 Athletes features two local basketball legends, a pair of players who made it to the Major Leagues, five of the county's most recognizable names in football and one of the most accomplished multi-sport athletes in local annals.
The late Ron Paradis and Delvy Lewis led Washburn Rural to a state basketball championship before going on to standout careers at Kansas State and Kansas, respectively, while Duff "Sir Richard' Cooley and former Hayden and Washburn standout Jerad Head made it to the Major Leagues in baseball.
Kyle McNorton (Seaman) was an All-Big 8 linebacker for Kansas and played in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs, Trey Lewis (Washburn Rural) was an All-American for Washburn and played for the Falcons, Will Geary (Topeka High) and Wyatt Hubert (Shawnee Heights) were multiple-time All-Big 12 picks for Kansas State and Ky Thomas (Topeka High) finished his prep career as the No. 2 all-time rusher in state history before going on to a Division I career.
Mark Elliott was a multiple sport standout for Silver Lake, was a pick in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, played quarterback at Washburn and is one of the area's most successful golfers.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The latest women's selections for TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 encompasses a group of athletes who are probably household names for most any local household that has a sports fan.
The group of 10 include a national player of the year (Stacey Slavens), an MIAA player of the year (Jessica Mainz), an All-Big 12 honoree (Crystal Kemp), seven total college All-Americans in five different sports (Slavens, Mainz, Dani McHenry, Shannon Suddarth, Laura Klamm, Latisha Yarnell, JaNelle Wright) and three of Kansas' best ever in high school track and field (Jocelyn Bentley, Lori Green, Wright).
Here's a look at picks No. 21 through 30:
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 WOMEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The latest men's picks in TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 Athletes (No. 31-40) are a vastly varied group, featuring All-Americans in three different sports as well as the most successful Paralympic athletes in county history.
Shawnee Heights wrestling great Tanner Gardner went on to become Stanford's first three-time NCAA All-American while Hayden two-sport state champ John Tetuan was an All-American pitcher for Wichita State and Highland Park star Dale Cushinberry was a two-time basketball All-American for Emporia State.
Tetuan had a stint as a minor league pitcher while Topeka High product Ted Evans and former Highland Park All-Stater Jahmal McMurray both played professional basketball.
Picks No. 31-40 also include local legends Mark Turgeon and Dan Davis, who helped lead Hayden to undefeated state championships in basketball and football, as well as former Seaman hoops star Johnny Johnson, who put together a Hall of Fame career at Washburn University, and world-renowned Paralympic athletes Dan Cnossen (Shawnee Heights) and Austin Hanson (Seaman).
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The latest men's picks in TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 are not only a testament to some of the county's all-time greats in six different sports but also provide a bit of a history test for even the most seasoned of local sports fans.
TSN's latest group of 10 Top 100 honorees (picks No. 41-50) includes athletes who achieved the bulk of their athletic greatness in seven different decades covering more than 100 years.
Included are "Dink'' Mothell, who made his professional baseball debut in 1914, while Highland Park's Ed Delk excelled in the 1950s, Seaman and Washburn star Dode Lesser and Washburn Rural grad Tom Bunger made their mark in the '60s, Silver Lake and Shawnee Heights legends Tony Leiker and Marcel Carter ruled the '80s and Seaman's Justin Glasgow was a multi-sport state champ in the 1990s.
Highland Park's Jared Huske was one of the nation's best hurdlers in the opening decade of the 21st century while Hayden's Nick Stringer celebrated an undefeated state football title before going on to an All-Big 12 career at Kansas State.
For fans that prefer more contemporary achievements, Seaman and Kansas star pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn is still blazing his path, currently pitching at the AAA level for the Boston Red Sox.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Five All-Americans, including a national player of the year, headline women's picks No. 41-50 on TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 list.
The late Arica Shepard, a volleyball star at Rossville and a three-time All-American for Emporia State, earned the No. 41 berth on the Top 100 while former Topeka High basketball star Kiki Smith was named the national player of the year in her first college season after helping Hutchinson Community College win the national junior college championship.
Washburn University basketball All-Americans Nikki Olberding (Seaman) and Kelly Jennings (Topeka High) and Fort Hays State All-American Tatyana Legette (Seaman) also earned spots in the latest installment of Top 100 selections as did four-time Class 6A volleyball state champion Alexa Bordewick of Washburn Rural and multi-sport standouts Cierra Ceazer (Shawnee Heights) and Erika Lane (Washburn Rural).
Lauren Mills was a state softball champion at Seaman before a standout career at Wichita State while Ceazer, Jennings, Lane and the late Tisharria Huggins (Topeka West) also won state titles at the high school level.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 WOMEN’S ATHLETES
