Cair Paravel Lions
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Saturday was a special day all the way through for Hayden's boys track team at Cessna Stadium, but the Wildcats saved their best for last, setting a meet record in their final event of the day.
Hayden junior Finn Dunshee (left) crosses the finish line with the Class 4A state championship in the 100-meter dash. [Photo by Kyle Grunert/Special to TSN]
Hayden's Jake Muller (right) and Eudora's Conor Dunback run virtually even late in the Class 4A 300-meter hurdles event Saturday at Cessna Stadium. Muller won the state title in 38.41 seconds. [Photo by Kyle Grunert/Special to TSN]
Hayden sophomore Jensen Schrickel celebrates the Wildcats' victory at the end of Saturday night's Class 4x400 relay at Cessna Stadium. [Photo by Kyle Grunert/Special to TSN]
The Wildcats got individual Class 4A state championships from senior Jake Muller and junior Finn Dunshee, who also teamed with sophomores Jensen Schrickel and Liam Stegman to add a pair of relay wins as Hayden posted a top-five team finish.
Dunshee set the tone for the day when he was the top qualifier in the 4A 100-meter dash and followed that up with his first state championship in a time of 10.84 seconds.
"Based off my first run in our prelims I felt pretty good,'' Dunshee said. "I knew if I went out there and ran my race -- just didn't fall out of the blocks or false start -- I had an OK chance but it was my first time in the finals of the 100 so anything can happen.''
Dunshee was competing in his second state meet, making it to state as a freshman before spending his sophomore year at St. Martin's Academy in Fort Scott to play rugby.
"I'm definitely a lot faster than I was so I knew I had a better chance of doing something good,'' Dunshee said. "I think I was a lot more confident. This felt great.''
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
A year ago, Cair Paravel Latin made history as the smallest school in the state with a girls soccer team reached the Class 4-1A Final Four.
Due in part to an unfortunate draw, the Lions came one game short of matching that feat Tuesday, losing to defending state champion Bishop Miege 6-1 at Bettis Sports Complex.
Cair Paravel junior Katherine Keys (left) celebrates the Lions' lone goal with teammate Zahra Friess in Tuesday's 6-1 Class 4A-1A quarterfinal soccer loss to Biship Miege. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel sophomore Zahra Friess (3) races towards the ball in Tuesday's 6-1 Class 4A-1A state quarterfinal loss to Bishop Miege. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Bishop Miege towers over the 4-1A classification, winning every state championship since Hayden claimed the title in 2015. For Cair Paravel, finishing with the best record in the East Regional turned out to be a curse. It gave the Lions the top seed but forced them to face Miege in the quarterfinals.
Miege entered the playoffs with a record of just 9-7. But those losses were to 5A powerhouses St. James Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas and four 6A schools. Due to the number of losses they took during the regular season, the Stags entered the playoffs as the sixth seed.
“We were really hoping that we wouldn’t have to play them until state,” said Katherine Keys, who recorded the Lions’ lone goal 10 minutes into the second half. “But that’s how the cookie crumbled, I guess. We knew that was going to be a tough opponent and they proved themselves to be so.
“We were hopeful going into the game. We knew we were a good team, and we knew we had a chance. (Coach Doug) Woolery kept telling us that we’re the strongest team he’s ever coached, so we were hopeful.”
“Credit goes to them. Their level of play is pretty advanced,” Woolery said. “It makes sense when you have the toughest schedule in the state.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights senior Alex Valdivia and Topeka West junior Myles Alonzo are used to battling it out on the golf course, and Tuesday's Class 5A state tournament at McPherson was no exception.
Topeka West junior Myles Alonzo posted a 36-hole total of 143 to tie for 12th place in the Class 5A state golf tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Alex Valdivia tied for 12th place in the Class 5A state golf tournament with a 36-hole total of 143. [File photo/TSN]
Valdivia and Alonzo finished the state tournament with identical 36-hole scores of 143, tying for 12th place to earn state medals at the Turkey Creek Golf Course.
Valdivia carded a 70 Tuesday after an opening-round 73 while Alonzo followed his first-round 71 with a 72.
Bulldawgs finish fifth in 3A
Rossville posted a fifth-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament at Dodge City's Mariah Hills, carding a four-man two-day score of 671.
Sophomore Jonathan Hart finished fifth individually to lead the Bulldawgs, shooting a 71 on Tuesday after a first-round 79 to finish at 150.
Hart was followed by freshman Jack Donovan, who tied for 16th place with a 157 (80-77), while senior Kyser Lundin finished at 181 (88-93), freshman Paxton Willett at 183 (90-93), senior Manuel VanderPutten at 201 (102-99) and senior Aiden Baumchen at 216 (102-114)
Silver Lake junior Bryce Badsky earned his third 3A state medal, tying Donovan for 16th place at 157 (79-78).
Santa Fe Trail junior Lane Workman won the 3A state title by four strokes, posting a 36-hole total of 142 (72-70).
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2023 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Richardson, Highland Park 10.49
Smith, Shawnee Heights 10.74
Dunshee, Hayden 10.76
Peoples, Topeka High 10.96
Merritt, Seaman 10.99
200 METERS
Richardson, Highland Park 21.5
Murph, Topeka High 22.16
Cochran, Seaman 22.34
Smith, Shawnee Heights 22.35
Peoples, Topeka High 22.53
Hayden sophomore Jensen Schrickel is the Shawnee County leader in the 400-meter dash. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
400 METERS
Schrickel, Hayden 49.83
Roeder, Cair Paravel 50.70
Roney, Washburn Rural 51.72
Benz, Shawnee Heights 51.89
Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 51.96
800 METERS
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 1:59.55
Moore, Seaman 2:00.12
Johnson, Washburn Rural 2:00.55
Anderson, Seaman 2:01.30
Stuke, Seaman 2:01.5
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge (left) and Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel are the Shawnee County leaders in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
1,600 METERS
Njoroge, Topeka West 4:17.71
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 4:20.46
Dial, Washburn Rural 4:33.13
Johnson, Washburn Rural 4:33.46
Jowers, Seaman 4:43.66
3,200 METERS
Njoroge, Topeka West 9:20.08
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 9:25.23
Johnson, Washburn Rural 9:51.59
Dial, Washburn Rural 9:51.97
Jowers, Seaman 10:05.32
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden sits in fifth place after Monday's opening round of the Class 4A boys golf tournament at Quail Creek Golf Course in Winfield, earning a team berth for Tuesday's final round.
The Wildcats finished the first round with a four-man score of 339 to advance to the second round.
Hayden's golf team advanced to the final round of the Class 4A state tournament with a fifth-place standing after Monday's opening round. [Submitted photo]
Sophomore Tagen Rodriguez led Hayden with a first-round 82, followed by sophomore James Kuta with an 84, senior Garrett Borjon with an 89, sophomore Nick Gorman and senior Noah Haverkamp with 90s and sophomore Colin Scott with a 98.
Bulldawgs fifth in 3A team race
Rossville earned a team berth for Tuesday's final round in the Class 3A state tournament at Dodge City's Maiah Hills, currently sitting in fifth place with a four-man score of 337.
Sophomore Jonathan Hart led the Bulldawgs with a first-round 79, followed by freshman Jack Donovan with an 80, senior Kyser Lundin with an 88, freshman Paxton Willett with a 90 and seniors Aiden Baumchen and Manuel VanderPutten with a 102.
Silver Lake junior Bryce Badsky, a two-time state medalist shot a 79 to advance to Tuesday's final round as an individual.
Washburn Rural senior Bryan Tyrell (above) and junior teammate Hayden Glynn advanced to the final round of the Class 6A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Rural's Glynn, Tyrell advance in 6A
Junior Hayden Glynn and senior Bryan Tyrell earned invididual berths for the final 18 holes of competition in the Class 6A state tournament at Newton's Sand Creek Station.
Washburn Rural fell short of advancing as a team to Tuesday's round but Glynn shot a 77 and Tyrell a 79 to earn two of the 18 individual spots.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden senior Jake Muller and junior Finn Dunshee both earned a pair of gold medals to lead the way as Hayden's boys track and field team qualified in eight events for next week's state meet at Wichita in Friday's Class 4A regional at Shawnee Mission North.
Hayden junior Finn Dunshee (right) won the 100-meter dash title in Friday's Class 4A regional and also ran on the Wildcats' winning 4x100 relay. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Jake Muller won a regional title in the 300 hurdles and also ran on the Wildcats' winning 4x100 relay Friday at Shawnee Mission North. [File photo/TSN]
Dunshee won the boys 100-meter dash in 10.98 seconds and Muller won the 300 hurdles in 38.78 seconds while both also teamed with sophomores Liam Stegman and Jensen Schrickel to win the 4x100 relay in 43.00.
Stegman, Muller, Schrickel and Dunshee also qualified for state with a second-place regional finish in the 4x400 relay (3:23.92) while Muller also qualified in the 110 high hurdles with a third-place regional finish (16.01) and Shrickel finished third in the 400 dash (49.83).
Senior Joe Otting qualiied for state in a pair of field events, placing second in the discus at 148 feet, 3 inches and fourth in the javelin (173-6).
Hayden junior Natalie Hillebert won a Class 4A regional title on Friday in the 400-meter dash. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's girls also picked up a regional victory, with junior Natalie Hillibert winning the girls 400 in 58.15 seconds.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Latin girls soccer team took a big first step toward a return to the Class 4-1A state tournament by beating Eudora 4-0 Thursday at Bettis Sports Complex to claim a regional championship.
Cair Paravel sophomore Zahra Friess (3) is congratulated by teammates Trinity Childs (12) and Hemi Duehring (18) after scorinng the first goal in Thursday's 4-0 regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel junior Katherine Keys scored a goal for the Lions in Thursday's 4-0 Class 4A-1A regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel soccer poses for a team pictue after Thursday's Class 4A-1A regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Awarded a bye for compiling the best record in the 4-1A East regional, the Lions had to win just one game to advance to next week’s quarterfinals. The Lions took down the Cardinals with quick striking offense and a solid defensive effort.
“We maybe started off a little slower than I would like,” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said “Maybe (Eudora) was playing tough and made us look slower. But once we hit a groove, we started combining more. I thought we played better with possession and passing and movement in the second half.”
Sophomore Zahra Friess broke the ice at the 23:11 mark of the first half, scoring off a long pass. Then it was freshman KellyAnn Chada who contributed on the Lions’ three remaining goals. She recorded two assists on centering passes from the right wing in the first half. Midway through the second half she weaved through the Cardinal defense for an insurance goal.
“She could probably play anywhere on the field,” Woolery said of Chada. “She really helps us out on the wing. She’s got such great ball control, the ability to either take the shot or cross the ball in. She’s continually improving and seeking to improve.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Junior Rich Helmbold shot a 78 to win the individual championship as Cair Paravel Latin earned a 29-stroke victory in the team race in Monday's Class 2A boys golf regional at Fort Scott's Woodland Hills Golf Course.
Cair Paravel Latin golf is headed to the Class 2A state tournament at Hesston next week after winning a regional championship by 29 strokes. [Submitted photo]
All of the Lions' top four players finished in the top eight Monday, with junior Simon Everhart placing sixth with an 89, sophomore Jase Pavlik seventh with an 90 and freshman Caleb Cleverdon eighth with a 93.
Cair Paravel finished with a four-man score of 350 while St. Marys Colgan finished second at 379 and Lyndon third at 396.
Cair Paravel's players competed for Topeka High during the regular season as part of a co-op agreement before competing in 2A in postseason.
The Lions will compete in the state tournament next Monday and Tuesday in Hesston at the Hesston Golf Course.
Washburn Rural golf earned a team berth for next week's Class 6A state tournament in Newton with a runnerup team finish in Monday's regional at Manhattan. [Twitter/Washburn Rural golf]
Rural earns 6A berth with runnerup finish
Washburn Rural placed all of its top four players in the top 10 in Monday's Class 6A regional tournament at Manhattan Country Club en route to a second-place team finish and a berth in next week's state tournament at Newton.
Rural senior Bryan Tyrell tied for fourth with a 79 to lead the Junior Blues while senior Tyler Baumchen was a stroke back with an 80, tying for seventh individually.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West senior twin brothers Ian and Miles Cusick advanced to the Class 5A tennis doubles semifinals for the second straight season Friday in Arkansas City, continuing their bid for a state title repeat.
Topeka West seniors Ian Cusick (left) and Miles Cusick advanced to the Class 5A state doubles semifinals Friday at Arkansas City. [File photo/TSN]
The Cusicks posted 6-0, 6-2 and 6-1, 6-3 victories in their two matches on Friday and will face Newton seniors Otis Musser and Justin Franz in Saturday morning's semifinals.
Topeka West, which finished second as a team in the 2022 state meet, advanced its entire team to Saturday's final day of the state tournament.
West senior Carter Cool and junior James Maag went 3-1 in singles and juniors Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew went 3-1 in doubles and all of the Chargers can still finish as high as fifth place on Saturday.
State competition will continue at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Washburn Rural senior Mason Casebeer went 3-1 on Friday to clinch a state singles medal in the Class 6A state tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 6A
Washburn Rural senior standout Mason Casebeer and the doubles team of senior Kiefer Von Lintel and freshman Dylan Willingham clinched Class 6A state medals Friday at Kossover Tennis Center.
Casebeer, a regional champion, dropped his first match of the day but bounced back with 9-0 and 9-2 wins to advance to Saturday's competition.
Von Lintel and Willingham went 3-1 Friday and advanced with a 9-7 win in their final Friday match.
Both Casebeer, a former state doubles medalist, and Von Lintel and Willingham can still finish as high as fifth place in 6A.
Rural junior singles player Lawson Lobatos and the doubles team of junior Dylan Dodge and freshman Keegan Knudtson were eliminated from competition on Friday.
Saturday's competition will begin at 9 a.m.
Hayden senior Gus Glotzbach and junior Joseph Luke have clinched state doubles medals in the Class 4A state tournament at Pratt. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 4A
Hayden's doubles team of senior Gus Glotzbach and junior Joseph Luke advanced to Saturday's competition in the Class 4A state tournament at Pratt.
Regional champions Glotzbach and Luke won their first match of the day before dropping a 6-4, 7-6 quarterfinal decision to Parsons.
Glotzbach has clinched a 4A state medal for the third straight season while Luke has earned a state medal for the second straight season.
Hayden singles players Chris Hayes, a senior, and sophomore Evan George were eliminated from state on Friday.
State competition will resume at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
CLASS 3A-1A
Cair Paravel Latin freshman Drew Fay, making the Lions' first-ever appearance in state tennis, went 2-2 in singles on Friday in Wichita but was eliminated from competition with a tough 9-7 loss in his final match.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Entering Friday and Saturday's Class 5A state boys tennis tournament at Arkansas City, Topeka West has already swept city, United Kansas Conference and regional team championships and is considered one of the top contenders for the state title after finishing second a year ago.
Topeka West varsity tennis players Ian Cusick, Caleb Weybrew, Miles Cusick, Carter Cool, James Maag and Caden McGee are all members of the National Honor Society in addition to being city, UKC and Class 5A regional team champions. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West's top six varsity tennis players posed for a picture with head coach Kurt Davids and assistant coach Shon Daniels at the recent National Honor Soccer induction ceremony after winning the UKC team championship. [Photo courtesy of Katie Shiflett]
And that may not even be the Chargers' most impressive accomplishment.
Kurt Davids' team of seniors Ian Cusick, Miles Cusick and Carter Cool and juniors James Maag, Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew not only go into state with a combined 119-34 record on the season but all six have also earned the rare distinction of earning membership in the prestigious National Honor Society.
"I'm really impressed with my guys,'' Ian Cusick said.. "Sometimes they may act kind of dumb around me, but I'm really impressed that everybody was able to be in (NHS) at the same time.''
Miles Cusick agreed with his twin brother.
"We were talking about it at practice the other day and we're interested to see if you could find another team in the state of Kansas that has all six of their varsity in the National Honor Society, so it's definitely a cool thing that we all managed to do,'' said Miles, who teamed with Ian to win the Class 5A state doubles title in 2022.
While the Chargers' recent success on the tennis court has been well-documented, their academic success shows that the classroom is just as important to the team.
Cool, who will attend the University of Kansas next school year, is the valedictorian of the Topeka West graduating class of 2023 while the Cusicks rank in the top 10 and Maag, McGee and Weybrew are among the top students in the junior class.
"Actually, I take (academics) more serious than I do tennis,'' said Cool, a two-time city champ in No. 1 singles. "I'd say tennis comes second to my studies, but obviously I take that very serious.''
"I think I probably take my grades more serious than I do tennis to some extent,'' said Ian Cusick, who will attend KU. "They always say you're a student before an athlete and you have to make the grades if you want to play, so grades are pretty important to me.''
Miles Cusick said academic success is also important to his family.
"I think it's aways been emphasized in the Cusick household that we are student-athletes and even though we're very dedicated to tennis, we're also very dedicated to grades,'' said Miles, who will attend Kansas State.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Latin girls soccer team’s three seniors remember when seventh-graders were needed to field a full team. They recall competing for championships in leagues that received little to no media recognition.
Cair Paravel seniors Eva Rollenhagen, Audrey Smith and Sage Schwartz were honored Wednesday on Senior Night after the Lions' 3-0 win over Heritage Christian. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Katherine Keys (1) and Zahra Friess both scored goals and had assists in Cair Paravel's 3-0 weather-shortened win over Heritage Christian Wednesday. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Cair Paravel's KellyAnn Chada scored a goal in the Lions' 3-0 weather-shortened win over Heritage Christian on Wednesday. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
They also remember advancing to KSHSAA’s Class 4-1A state Final Four last spring, the smallest school in the state with a soccer team reaching the biggest stage.
With a 3-0 weather-shortened win over Heritage Christian Academy at the Sunflower Soccer Association on Wednesday, CPLS assured itself of a top-two position in the 4-1A East Region and sewed up a bye in the first round of the regional playoffs that kick off next week.
To the seniors who remember where the program came from, that’s further confirmation that they belong.
“It’s so nice to be able to play (in KSHSAA) these past couple of years,” said Sage Schwartz. “I feel like it really showcases our school’s skill because we’re so small we don’t usually get recognized.”
“The amazing part is that, even before we got to KSHSAA, we worked just as hard and really the style of our play hasn’t really changed,” Audrey Smith said. “We just had more opportunities to show people what we could do.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Audrey Appuhn
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
Appuhn, a freshman swimming standout, was a part of four victories in her first Topeka City Championship Friday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, helping lead Washburn Rural to its 20th straight city team championship. Appuhn won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 57.72 seconds and the 500 free in 5:11.08 and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 medley relay (1:54.84) and 400 free relay (3:40.49).
Ala'Jah Brooks
ALA'JAH BROOKS, Topeka West
A senior track and field standout, Brooks won three individual titles in Friday's Joe Schrag City Championship at Hummer Sports Park. Brooks won the long jump with a best of 16 feet, 7.50 inches, won the 400-meter dash in 57.26 seconds and won the 200 in 25.65 seconds. Brooks was the only athlete to win three individual events in the city meet.
Mason Casebeer
MASON CASEBEER, Washburn Rural
A senior tennis standout, Casebeer captured a pair of singles championships last week, including earning his third Class 6A state tournament berth Friday at Wichita. Casebeer opened his week with a Centennial League title, earning a 6-0, 6-1 win over Manhattan's Advith Nataraja in the final. Casebeer followed up his league title with a regional championship Friday at Riverside Tennis Center, taking a 6-1, 6-1 win over Wichita East sophomore Bo Lu to help Rural win the regional team title by a 19-15 margin over Manhattan.
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin's girls soccer team won its 11th straight match with a convincing 10-0 mercy-rule victory over Maranatha Christian Academy on Monday evening at the Sunflower Soccer Complex.
Katherine Keys scored a three-goal hat track Monday as Cair Paravel Latin pushed its win streak to 11 games with a 10-0 win over Maranatha Christian Academy. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Cair Paravel's Zahra Friess (3) slides into the goal for the first of her two goals in the Lions' 10-0 win over Maranatha Christian Academy. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Sage Schwartz is congratulated by her teammates after scoring a goal in Cair Paravel's 10-0 win over Maranatha Christian Academy. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Cair Paravel's last and only loss was a 3-2 overtime loss to Class 5A Seaman back on March 28th, but the Lions have dominated every school since the one-goal loss in the third game of the 2023 campaign.
The Lions have outscored the opposition 85-8 this season and are seeded No. 1 in the 4-1A east side of the regional standings after seven weeks.
Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery believes that the Lions are playing their best soccer as CPLS approaches the end of the regular season.
"Every coach, no matter where at the end of the season, wants their team to get better and better. I feel like the girls here have done that," Woolery said. "It seems like the combination of where everybody's playing right now is great. After the Seaman game, I said I didn't have the pieces in the right place. I feel like I have that now. It's just a matter of the girls continuing to gel with each other."
Cair Paravel (12-1-1) ran the pace of play against Maranatha on Monday. Not many of the passes from the Lions were disrupted, challenged or intercepted. Instead, Cair Paravel consistently made clean passes, opening the contest early.
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Freshman tennis player Drew Fay made Cair Paravel Latin school history Wednesday at Rock Chalk Park, earning the school's first Class 3A-1A state tournament berth.
Cair Paravel freshman singles player Drew Fay poses for a picture with his medal after earning a Class 3A-1A state tournament berth with a fifth-place regional finish. [Submitted photo]
Cair Paravel freshman singles player Drew Fay will compete in the Class 3A-1A state tennis tournament after qualifying for state with a fifth-place regional finish. [Submitted photo]
Fay posted a 3-1 record in Wednesday's Class 3A-1A regional to post a fifth-place singles finish for Cair Paravel, which is fielding a boys tennis program for the first time.
Fay beat Bishop Seabury's Gabe Rinnert in the fifth-place match, with the top six in both singles and doubles advancing to the 3A-1A state meet May 12-13 at the Riverside Tennis Complex in Wichita.
Joey Thoennes also represented Cair Paravel in singles at the regional meet while Seth Arnold and Oliver Ellis competed in doubles.
Sophomore Destiny Higgs (24) scored four goals in Washburn Rural's 8-0 Centennial League win over Emporia Tuesday night. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Higgs' four goals power Rural soccer to 8-0 win over Emporia
Washburn Rural sophomore Destiny Higgs scored four goals as the Junior Blues clinched at least a share of the Centennial League title with an 8-0 home win over Emporia Tuesday night.
Rural can clinch the title outright with a win over Topeka High next Monday at Hummer Sports Park.
Washburn Rural senior Addi Broxterman scored a pair of goals in Tuesday's 8-0 Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
In addition to Higgs' four goals, the 9-4-0 Junior Blues got two goals from senior Addi Broxterman and a goal apiece from sophomore Kate Hinck and senior Bri Jones.
Senior Mackinly Rohn was credited with a pair of assists while Hinck, junior Savannah Tuffley, senior Maya Hoge and junior Hayley Legg also had assists.
Senior Hailey Beck (0) and junior Mackenzie Flood (00) combined for the shutout in goal in Tuesday's 8-0 Washburn Rural Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Senior Hailey Beck and junior Mackenzie Flood combined for the shutout in goal.
Rural will travel to Wichita Northwest for a non-league game Thursday night.
Seaman senior Katie Price (center) signed a bowling letter of intent with Peru State on Wednesday. Price was joined at her signing by former Seaman teammate Makenzie Millard (right) and former Washburn Rural standout Kaitlyn Doyal. [Submitted photo]
Seaman bowling standout Price signs with Peru State
Seaman senior bowler Katie Price, the Class 5A-1A state runnerup in the 2023 state tournament, signed a letter of intent with Peru State College on Wednesday at Seaman.
Price helped the Vikings win the 5A-1A state team championship in 2022 and led Seaman to a third-place finish in '23.
Price will join former teammate Makenzie Millard and former Washburn Rural standout Kaitlyn Doyal at Peru State.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TopSports.News, in partnership with the University of Kansas Health System St Francis Campus, A-1 Lock and Key and Washburn University, will host the 18th annual Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards/Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 28, 2023 at Washburn's Memorial Union.
For the third 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 2022-2023 school year along with the induction of the 2023 Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Fame Class.
Schools have been asked to submit nominees with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average for both female and male candidates for the fall, winter and spring seasons as well as nominees for most inspirational athlete. Over-all outstanding male and female athletes for 2022-2023 will also be named.
Also recognized will be an outstanding female and male athlete from Washburn University.
The four-member 2023 Hall of Fame class and the '23 Washburn University Athletes of the Year will be announced on TopSports.news on May 1.
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
Alesecio Batson
ALESECIO BATSON, Topeka West
Batson, a sophomore track and field standout, posted a victory in the boys triple jump in last Friday's Free State Barrier Breaker Invitational at Lawrence, jumping a winning distance of 46 feet, 8.25 inches for the Chargers.
Emmerson Cope
EMMERSON COPE, Washburn Rural
A senior softball standout, Cope piicked up the pitching victory and also had a home run and a double in Washburn Rural's 14-4 first-game victory over Seaman last Friday. The Nebraska signee also helped the 12-2 Junior Blues complete the sweep with a 10-0 shutout in the second game.
Zahra Friess
ZAHRA FRIESS, Cair Paravel Latin
A sophomore, Friess scored four goals and was also credited with four assists in the Lions' 10-0 win over Kaw Valley Conference foe Kansas City Christian last Monday. Cair Paravel added a 10-0 league win over Kansas City-Bishop Ward on Thursday, improving to 9-1-1 with its eighth straight victory.
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin’s soccer team knew it had its work cut out for it in facing Topeka High, but the Lions were able to ride their first-half offensive attack and backline success to a 5-2 victory at Sunflower Soccer Complex on Thursday.
Cair Paravel Latin soccer coach Doug Woolery talks to his team after Thursday's 5-2 non-league win over Topeka High. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
After a perfect weekend at the Titan Classic in Wichita, where the Lions won the Red Bracket championshi and a 10-0 win on Monday against Bishop Ward, their win streak was extended to four matches with the victory against Topeka High.
In its latest win streak, Cair Paravel has shown glimpses of last year’s team that made a run to the Class 4A-1A state tournament.
“I was happy with how we performed against (Topeka High),” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said. “I feel like we are getting better every single game because they’re doing things better that need to get done. Today, I thought there were more of those moments where the small ball developed into making scoring opportunities. We didn’t always capitalize on those moments, but I felt like we put ourselves in a position where more of those scoring opportunities were prevalent.
“Topeka High is always a tough game for us. Derek (Snook) does a great job with his girls. We knew it was going to be a physical, tough game. A win is good, but a win against a tough team like Topeka High is even sweeter.”
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Seaman’s girls soccer team is off to an undefeated 3-0-0 start, with two of its early regular-season wins coming from teams that were in state tournaments a year ago.
Seaman junior Marin Schuler (22) scored two goals Tuesday as the Vikings improved to 3-0 with a 3-2 non-league win over Cair Paravel Latin. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Seaman's soccer team celebrates a goal by Viking junior Marin Schuler in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Cair Paravel at the Sunflower Soccer Complex. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
In Seaman’s home opener last Tuesday, the Lady Vikings knocked off Class 6A Manhattan. 3-1. Manhattan finished fourth in the state last year. Then on Thursday, Seaman defeated former Centennial League foe Emporia, 6-0.
Seaman started the second week of the season on the right foot Tuesday with a 3-2 city defeat over Cair Paravel Latin.
The Lions return a nearly identical team from last season after their fourth-place finish in the 4A-1A state tournament.
It hasn’t been the most leisurely start to the season with Seaman’s high-quality opponents, but the Vikings are happy with how they have found a way to handle the challenges.
“It’s been a great start,” Seaman coach Tim Nussbaum said. “We just want to keep getting better every day, and we want to keep this thing going.”
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Before Friday the last time the Hayden and Cair Paravel Latin girls soccer teams had met was for a trip to the Class 4A-1A semifinals last spring.
Cair Paravel ended the Wildcats season a year ago after a strenuous and physical 2-1 winning effort in the 4A-1A state quarterfinal.
Cair Paravel sophomore Zahra Friess (3) tries to get past Hayden's Lauren Sandstrom in Friday's 2-2 tie game. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Hayden senior Briahna Barnett (7) advances the ball as Cair Paravel sophomore Amania Vincent gives chase. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Hayden and Cair Paravel hooked up again Friday afternoon and slugged it out through two overtime before ending up in a 2-2 deadlock.
"It's early in the season, and we've improved since our last game," Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said. "We are still collecting our lineup and putting all of our moving parts together. We have new players that are settling into the system, maybe used to playing differently with their club teams. I'm not unhappy with the way that we are playing. It's Hayden, so I anticipated this would be a tough game."
Friday's non-league contest was a physical match between the two programs. No team had a clear, runaway advantage but both schools that could return to the 4A-1A hunt again this year knew precisely what Friday would bring.
"I couldn't wait to play (Cair Paravel) because we lost to them in the (quarterfinal)," Hayden coach Klause Kreutzer said. "They're a good team, and I'd rather play a good team. I have to give them credit; they worked hard.
"They've got a lot of young players, and so do we. I'm satisfied with our effort. The execution wasn't what I like it to be, but they're a good team, and a tie isn't bad at all."
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior standout Brooklyn DeLeye was tapped as the TopSports.news 2023 All-Shawnee County girls basketball player of the year after helping lead the Junior Blues to a second straight appearance in the Class 6A state title game.
A three-time All-Shawnee County first-team pick, the 6-foot-2 DeLeye helped the Centennial League champions post an 18-6 record and come within an eyelash of winning a second straight 6A state championship, with the Junior Blues dropping a 35-34 heartbreaker to Blue Valley North in the title game.
DeLeye is joined on the all-county Top 10 by 6-foot senior teammate Chloe Carlgren while Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick, who has led the Junior Blues to a pair of state titles and a runner-up finish since 2019, was named the county coach of the year.
Washburn Rural senior Brooklyn DeLeye has been named the TSN Shawnee County girls player of the year after helping lead the Junior Blues to a second straight appearance in the Class 6A title game. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Chloe Carlgren has been named to the All-Shawnee County first team after helping the Junior Blues win the Centennial League championship and finish second in Class 6A. [File photo/TSN]
Veteran Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick, who has led Rural to two Class 6A state basketball titles and 10 state crowns overall, has been named the TSN Shawnee County girls basketball coach of the year. [File photo/TSN]
DeLeye averaged 16 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals, shot 59.7 percent from 2-point range and 38.5 percent on 3-point attempts as a senior while Carlgren averaged 9.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, shot 35 percent from 3-point range and was the Junior Blues' defensive stopper.
Like DeLeye. Topeka High senior star Kiki Smith earned TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 honors for the third straight season after leading the Trojans to a 16-6 record this past season.
Topeka High senior star Kiki Smith (23) earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the third straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Smith, a 5-8 senior, helped the Trojans reach the Class 6A state tournament her first three high schools seasons, including a state runnerup finish in 2021.
As a senior Smith averaged a city-high 20.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.1 steals while connecting on 50 3-pointers.
Seaman, which posted a 21-2 record and won the United Kansas Conference title, is represented on the first team by 5-10 sophomore Anna Becker and 5-9 freshman Maddie Gragg, who was also named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year. Becker is a Top 10 repeat pick and was named the United Kansas Conference player of the year.
Seaman sophomore Anna Becker has been named to the All-Shawnee County Top 10 after helping lead the Vikings to a 21-2 record. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman's Maddie Gragg earned All-Shawnee County Top 10 honors as a freshman while also being named the county newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Becker averaged 12 points, 3.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 steals this past season while Gragg averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 60.2 percent from the field on 2-point attempts and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Silver Lake junior Makenzie McDaniel earned a spot on the TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 after helping lead the Eagles to a 23-3 record and a third straight trip to the Class 3A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake junior McKinley Kruger (12) is a repeat pick on the All-Shawnee County Top 10 after helping lead the Eagles to a fourth-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament this past season. [File photo]
Silver Lake, which went 23-3 on the season en route to a fourth-place finish in the 3A state tournament, put sophomores McKinley Kruger (5-7) and Makenzie McDaniel (6-1) on the All-Shawnee County first team for the second straight season.
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby moved up to the All-Shawnee County Top 10 this season after earning Second 10 recognition as a junior. [File photo/TSN]
Rossville junior Kinsey Perine was tapped for the 2023 TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10, moving up from the Second 10 as a sophomore. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park sophomore Amelia Ramsey earned a berth on the All-Shawnee County Top 10 after leading the Scots to a 19-4 record and their first berth in the Class 5A state tournamet in 11 seasons. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Emari Doby (5-9) and Rossville junior Kinsey Perine (5-8) move up to the Top 10 this season after earning Second 10 honors last season while Highland Park sophomore Amelia Ramsey (6-0) earned first-team recognition this season after receiving honorable mention a year ago.
Doby averaged 12.5 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior while Perine averaged 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 5.8 steals and Ramsey averaged 19.8 points and 15.8 rebounds while shooting 65.2 percent from two-point range.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL
