Cair Paravel Lions
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Two-time defending Class 2A state champion Rossville ended a brief two-game losing streak with a 56-6 District 3 romp past Pleasant Ridge Friday night at Rossville.
Rossville junior quarterback Camden Horak (3) rushed for four touchdowns and also passed for a TD in the Bulldawgs' 56-6 win over Pleasant Ridge Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
With the win Rossville improved to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the district and can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Maur Hill-Mt. Academy next Friday.
The Bulldawgs put Friday's game away with a 21-point first quarter, went to the locker room with a commanding 35-0 advantage and led 49-0 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Rossville junior quarterback Camden Horak had a big night against the Rams, running for four touchdowns and also passing for a TD.
Senior Braiden Hensley got Rossville on the board at the 9:20 mark of the opening quarter with a 4-yard run and Horak followed with 18 and 32-yard TD runs to put the Bulldawgs up 21-0 at the 2:01 mark of the first stanza.
Horak added a 5-yard scoring run 50 seconds into the second quarter and he hit Hensley for a 66-yard touchdown pass to end Rossville's first-half scoring with 2:16 left before halftime.
C. Horak and sophomore Tayson Horak scored third-quarter touchdowns on 29 and 3-yard runs before Andre Johnson scored Rossville's final TD on a 15-yard run with 2:34 left to play.
Pleasant Ridge (2-5, 1-3) scored its only points of the night early in the fourth quarter.
Junior Cedric Leistenschneider went eight of eight on extra-point kicks for the Bulldawgs.
Washburn Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for three TDs and ran for a score in last Friday's 49-14 win over Emporia. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL 49, EMPORIA 14 --Washburn Rural improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Centennial League with Friday night's 49-14 league romp past Emporia at Bowen-Glaze Stadium, with the Junior Blues strengthening their position for the upcoming Class 6A West playoffs.
The Junior Blues put the Spartans (1-6, 0-3) away early, opening up a 37-0 first-quarter avantage.
Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese opened the scoring at the 8:13 mark with a 4-yard run and he also completed a pair of 18-yard TD passes to junior Titan Osburn before freshman TJ Minikwu and senior Ma'kenttis Adams added TD runs from 5 and 51 yards respectively to end the first-quarter onslaught.
Minikwu scored his second TD on a 1-yard run and DeWeese and Osburn hooked up for a 32-yard pass to give Rural a 49-0 halftime advantage.
A running clock was used throughout the second half, with Emporia scoring its two touchdowns on passes from Sheldon Stewart to Jaxon Dial and Parker Leeds.
Washburn Rural will wrap up the regular season at home next Friday against Topeka West while Emporia will host Junction City at Welch Stadium.
Highland Park senior star Tre Richardson scored six touchdowns in Friday night's 63-0 non-league romp at Kansas CityNortheast, Mo. as the Scots improved to 5-2. [File photo/TSN]
HIGHLAND PARK 63, NORTHEAST 0 -- Highland Park ended its two-game losing streak in resounding fashion Friday night, rolling to a 63-0 road win over Kansas City-Northeast, Mo.
Highland Park senior Trey Richardson scored six touchdowns, two on punt returns, two pass receiving and two rushing. Richardson has now had a hand in 40 touchdowns on the season.
Senior A'Ydren Drew-Gregory picked off three passes, with two going for touchdowns.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (3-3, 3-2 UKC) at TOPEKA WEST (1-5, 1-5 UKC)
At Hummer Sports Park
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) is 13 yards away from the 1,000-yard rushing mark entering Friday's game vs. Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Topeka West picked up its first win of the season last Friday at Kansas City-Turner, with the Chargers taking a 26-21 United Kansas Conference decision over the Bears. Shawnee Heights is coming off a 35-6 loss to undefeated Class 4A power Wamego. T-Bird junior Allen Baughman carried the ball 18 times for 84 yards against Wamego and enters Friday night with 987 yards and 10 touchdowns on 140 attempts.
Hayden sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier passed for 189 yards and four touchdowns in Friday night's 38-0 Class 3A district win over Royal Valley. [File photo/TSN]
HAYDEN (6-0, 3-0 district) at HOLTON (5-1, 2-0 district)
Hayden remained unbeaten with a 38-0 home district romp past Royal Valley last Friday while Holton posted a 48-17 non-district win over Rossville. Hayden sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier completed 10 of 12 passes for 189 yards against Royal Valley, including four touchdowns to sophomore Jensen Schrickel, who had five catches for 147 yards. Wildcat junior Finn Dunshee carried the ball six times for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Seaman senior Bryson Vawter rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 56-13 UKC win over Leavenworth last Friday. [File photo/TSN]
BASEHOR-LINWOOD (5-1, 4-1 UKC) at SEAMAN (4-1, 4-1 UKC)
Friday's game is an important one not only in the United Kansas Conference standings but also as far as seedings for the Class 5A East playoffs. Seaman is coming off a 56-13 UKC win over Leavenworth while Basehor-Linwood took a 32-26 league win over Lansing. Viking sophomore quarterback Max Huston completed 18 of 26 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 68 yards and three TDs on nine attempts. Senior Bryson Vawter carried the ball 21 times for 149 yards and two TDs while senior Jaxson Thomas had 14 carries for 140 yards.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After being idle the previous week, Seaman returned to action Friday night with a 56-13 United Kansas Conference road romp at Leavenworth.
Now 4-1 overall and in the UKC, took command early against the Pioneers to remain in contention for a top-four seed for the Class 5A playoffs.
Seaman sophomore quarterback Max Huston passed for 287 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 68 yards and three TDs in the Vikings' 56-13 UKC win over Leavenworth. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman senior Bryson Vawter rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 56-13 UKC win over Leavenworth last Friday. [File photo/TSN]
Sophomore quarterback Max Huston completed 18 of 26 pass attempts for 287 yards and three touchdowns against Leavenworth and carried the ball nine times for 68 yards and three TDs.
Senior running back Bryson Vawter rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries while senior Jaxson Thomas carried the ball 14 times for 140 yards.
Seaman will host Basehor-Linwood, 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the UKC, Friday night in a game with serious playoff implications.
Both the Vikings and Bobcats suffered their lone losses against Shawnee Heights, with Seaman dropping a 14-7 loss to the T-Birds and Basehor-Linwood falling to Heights, 27-0.
TOPEKA WEST 26, KANSAS CITY-TURNER 21 --Both teams entered last Friday night's United Kansas Conference contest looking for their first victory of the 2022 season and it was Topeka West that came out on top, posting a 26-21 road win.
With Friday's victory the Chargers (1-5 overall and in the UKC), gave coach Russell Norton his first win at West.
Topeka West will be at home Friday night to host city rival Shawnee Heights (3-3, 3-2) in a UKC game at Hummer Sports Park.
SILVER LAKE 41, PLEASANT RIDGE 6 --Silver Lake improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Class 2A district play with its 41-6 road win at Pleasant Ridge last Friday night.
Silver Lake jumped out to a 13-0 first-quarter advantage over Pleasant Ridge (2-4, 0-2) and added three second-quarter touchdowns to open up a 34-0 halftime advantage.
Silver Lake made the score 41-0 in the third quarer before Pleasant Ridge scored its lone points in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles will host Maur Hill-Mt. Academy (2-4, 0-2) Friday night in a district contest.
Highland Park senior star Tre Richardson ran for 290 yards and three TDs on 20 carries in last Friday's 70-56 loss at Atchison. [File photo/TSN]
ATCHISON 70, HIGHLAND PARK 56 -- Highland Park fell to 4-2 last Friday night, falling in a 70-56 scorefest at Atchison in a Meadowlark Conference showdown.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After finishing third in last year's city meet as as a freshman, Washburn Rural's Payton Fink had her sights set on a title Saturday at Rural and delivered a wire-to-wire win, leading the Junior Blues to a successful defense of their team championship.
Fink jumped out in front early en route to a decisive 30-second victory in a five-kilometer personal-record time of 18 minutes, 10.9 seconds to lead five Junior Blues in the top seven as Rural took the team title by a 21-35 margin over Seaman.
Washburn Rural sophomore Payton Fink won her first city individual cross country title Saturday, leading the Junior Blues to the team crown. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's girls cross country team poses with its team trophy after winning the city championship by a 21-35 margin over Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I've been working for this for awhile and it just feels great to finally be here,'' Fink said. "Honestly, I just wanted to come out and see what I could do. I didn't really expect to PR today but obviously a PR is always great.''
Seaman got a runner-up individual finish from freshman Ryin Miller (18:40.7) and a fifth from senior Bethany Druse (19:31.2), but Rural rode its depth to the championship, with sophomore Rylee Ismert finishing third (18:54.3), senior Madeline Carter fourth (18:55.4), freshman Vilde Tronstad sixth (19:44.9) and junior Sydney Laster seventh (19:54.9) to round out the Junior Blues' top five.
"Our team is incredible,'' Fink said. "We have so many girls that are just up there strong, work hard every practice and we all do our workouts together. Everyone is in great shape for a good end of the season.''
"That's the kind of day we hoped for and they all just came out and did it,'' Washburn Rural coach Matt Swedlund said.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Lenny Njoroge has posted some big wins in his high school cross country career and there definitely could still be more to come.
But Saturday's city boys championship at Washburn Rural was special not only for the Topeka West senior, but for his school as well.
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge won his first city cross country title and the Chargers' first since 1993 in Saturday's city meet at Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Njoroge, who posted his fourth straight individual win, clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 30 seconds en route to becoming the first Topeka West boys runner to win a city championship since former Charger great Winston Tidwell in 1993.
"City titles are nice, I'm telling you,'' Njoroge said. "They're fun and you're representing your school and especially because we haven't won one in a lot of years, it feels special.''
Njoroge won by 18 seconds over Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel (15:48.1), with T-Bird senior Kory Sutton third in 15:54.1.
For the second straight week, Esquibel pushed Njoroge early in the race, which the West star said was a benefit.
"It helps a lot so I don't have to run by myself the first mile,'' Njoroge said. "I like him pushing me.''
Washburn Rural runners nailed down the next three spots and placed all of their top five in the top 14 individually as the Junior Blues topped Shawnee Heights for the team championship by a 38-53 margin.
Washburn Rural boys cross country poses with the championship trophy after winning the city team title Saturday at Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The top 20 medalists in Saturday's city boys cross country championships at Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Davin Johnson finished a team-high fourth (16:01.6) for the Junior Blues while senior Easton Dial was fifth (16:30.8) and senior Grayson Fink sixth (16:36.4).
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel has put together an outstanding distance career for the T-Birds, winning a pair of state medals in cross country and posting a state title and a runnerup finish in track.
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel won his first city individual cross country title Saturday at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Esquibel added something new in Saturday's city boys championship at Kanza Park, winning his first city individual title.
Washburn Rural's Brooks Kehoe (740), Max Gutierrez (763) and Hayden Keller (765) helped the Junior Blues win their 17th straight city cross country title Saturday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Meanwhile, it was business as usual for Washburn Rural, which rolled to its 17th straight city boys team title by a 35-63 margin over Seaman.
Esquibel clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 16.7 seconds en route to winning by more than 33 seconds over Seaman sophomore standout Brody Anderson.
"It's my last time at Hummer and I've ran this course since freshman year so I just wanted to see what time I was capable of here and give it my all for myself and build confidence going into the big meets,'' Esquibel said.
"You have goals when you start the season and this is a big meet for me, running a 12-second (personal record), I believe it was. That really just kind of set the tone for the type of shape I'm in and the type of confidence that I have in myself.
:"My supporting cast is just great. They always push me to my limits.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
WASHBURN RURAL (3-2, 0-2 Centennial) at TOPEKA HIGH (1-4, 1-1 Centennial)
At Hummer Sports Park
Washburn Rural senior linebacker Ty Weber (32) is coming off a 20-tackle performance against Junction City last Friday. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Both teams will be looking to bounce back from losses, with Washburn Rural coming off a 24-6 Centennial League loss to Junction City last Friday and Topeka High dropping an 81-13 non-league decision to Wichita Northwest. Topeka High senior quarterback Peyton Wheat has completed 60 of 125 passes on the season for 978 yards and three touchdown while sophomore Jayden Norman has 30 receptions for 497 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Norman caught nine passes for 158 yards and a TD against Northwest. Washburn Rural struggled at times offensively against Junction City after an early touchdown, but senior linebacker Ty Weber registered 20 tackles (13 solos), Wyatt Conklin was in on 10.5 stops and Jaren Heim 10 tackles (seven solo).
Hayden sophomore Jett Wahlmeier completed 12 of 14 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in last Friday's 44-28 district win at Perry-Lecompton. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
ROYAL VALLEY (1-4, 0-1 district) at HAYDEN (5-0, 2-0 district)
Hayden remained unbeaten with a 44-28 Class 3A district win at Perry-Lecompton last Friday while Royal Valley dropped a 48-15 district decision to Holton in its district opener. Hayden sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier completed 12 of 14 passes for 188 yards against Perry-Lecompton and has completed 46 of 60 passes on the season for 744 yards and six touchdowns while sophomore Jensen Schrickel has 15 catches for 308 yards and three TDs. Finn Dunshee has carried the ball 31 times for 417 yards while JC Cummings has 40 carries for 345 yards. Schrickel has scored 67 total points.
MADISON (4-1, 2-0 district) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (2-3, 0-2 district)
At Highland Park
Cair Paravel Latin is coming off a 57-20 Eight-Man Division I district loss to undefeated Burlingame last week while Madison remained unbeaten in district play with a 40-26 win over Lyndon. Cair Paravel junior Evan Will has completed 35 of 54 pass attempts for 347 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 176 yards and two touchdowns on 23 attempts while Jase Pavlik is 25 of 38 passing for 400 yards and seven TDs. Jachin Bonura has caught 14 passes for 205 yards and six TDs while Jesiah Bonura has 14 catches for 194 yards and three TDs.
Highland Park senior Mackey James (33) leads the Scots with 50 tackles, including 33 solo stops. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park senior quarterback Kei'Juan Johnson has rushed for 389 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 660 yards and nine TDs. [File photo/TSN]
HIGHLAND PARK (4-1, 4-0 Meadowlark) at ATCHISON (5-0, 4-0 Meadowlark)
The winner of Friday night's game will be in the driver's seat to win the Meadowlark Conference championship. Atchison posted a 55-6 league win over Kansas City-Washington last week while Highland Park is coming off its first loss of the season, a 59-22 non-league loss at Lincoln College Prep. Highland Park senior Tre Richardson has carried the ball 54 times for 1,031 yards and 16 TDs and caught 21 passes for 555 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior quarterback Kei'Juan Johnson has completed 35 of 51 passes for 660 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 389 yards on 33 attempts with four TDs. Mackey James has been in on 50 tackles (33 solo).
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With the biggest cross country meets of the year rapidly approaching, Topeka West cross country star Lenny Njoroge is comfortable with every aspect of his career.
And that continues to show in Njororoge's results, with the West senior notching his fourth individual win in five races on the year in Saturday's Seaman Invitational at Shawnee North Community Park.
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge clocked a winning time of 15:45.96 in Saturday's Seaman Invitational at Shawnee North Community Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel finished second in the Seaman Invitational, leading the T-Birds to the boys team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Njoroge, who has not finished lower than second this fall, captured Saturday's title in a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 45.96 seconds, leading a one-two-three individual finish by city runners.
"This year I feel so comfortable,'' Njoroge said. "I'm in good shape and during that race I was just trying to cruise and push the pace when I could.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls the opened the championship month of the 2022 cross country season with a decisive win in Saturday's Seaman Invitational at Shawnee North Community Park.
Individual runner-up Ryin Miller led the way as the Vikings put all of their top five runners in the top 11 spots en route to a 34-59 team victory over city rival Washburn Rural.
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller finished second in Saturday's Seaman Invitational cross country meet, leading the Vikings to the girls team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Madeline Carter finished third in Saturday's Seaman Invitational, pacing the Junior Blues to a runner-up team finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller, a freshman, clocked a five-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 02.61 seconds to finish second behind Piper senior Grace Hanson, who won the race in 18:27.88.
Seaman also got a sixth-place finish from senior Bethany Druse (20:26.48) while senior Leah Spurlock (20:38.61), sophomore Stella Appelhanz (20:51.54) and junior Savannah Sampson (20:54.95) finished ninth, 10th and 11th.
Seaman sophomore Anna Becker added a 13th-place finish in 21:25.65.
"We ran well and I'm real happy about that,'' Seaman coach Rick Brading said. "Ryin Miller had a great day Leah Spurlock had a really good day today as our third runner.''
Brading was happy with the balance the Vikings displayed in Saturday's win.
"Our girls understand that as each individual runner runs better our team score's going to be better,'' Brading said. "Plus, kids compete against their own teammates, so that helps us.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
Washburn Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for a pair of TD passes in last week's 28-25 loss to unbeaten Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
JUNCTION CITY (3-1, 0-0 Centennial) at WASHBURN RURAL (3-1, 0-1 Centennial)
Washburn Rural suffered its first loss of the season last Friday, a 28-25 Centennial League decision at unbeaten Manhattan, while Junction City improved to 3-1 with a 28-21 non-league win over perennial Class 5A power Bishop Carroll. The Blue Jays will be making their league debut on Friday. Washburn Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for a pair of touchdown passes against Manhattan while senior running back Ma'kenttis Adams scored on a 76-yard touchdown run.
ROSSVILLE (2-2, 1-0 district) at SILVER LAKE (2-2, 0-0 district)
The Bulldawgs and Eagles will square off in the annual War on 24, regarded as one of the state's premier rivalries. Rossville opened Class 2A District 3 play with a 49-8 romp past previously-unbeaten Atchison County last week while Silver Lake is coming off a 44-28 loss to Mid-East League opponent Rock Creek. Junior quarterback Camden Horak and senior Braiden Hensley had big nights for the Bulldawgs against Atchison County, connecting on four touchdown passes. Rossville opened its scoring with a 48-yard TD pass from Horak to Hensley and also hooked up on 20, 58 and 13-yard TD strikes.
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) has rushed for 781 and 10 touchdowns for the 3-1 T-Birds. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
DE SOTO (3-1, 3-0 UKC) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (3-1, 3-1 UKC)
Shawnee Heights ran its winning streak to three games with a 27-0 shutout over Basehor-Linwood last Friday. The T-Birds have now outscored their past three opponents by an 87-30 margin since a season-opening loss to Piper. Allen Baughman, a junior running back, carried the ball 29 times for 284 yards and three touchdowns against Basehor-Linwood and has 781 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. De Soto's lone loss was a 28-21 loss to Washburn Rural in Week 2. The Wildcats are undefeated in United Kansas Conference competition, including a 57-16 win over Leavenworth last week.
Senior Tre Richardson has rushed for 896 yards and 15 TDs and has 453 receiving yards and eight TDs for 4-0 Highland Park. [File photo/TSN
HIGHLAND PARK (4-0) at LINCOLN COLLEGE PREP (4-1)
Highland Park remained unbeaten overall and in the Meadowlark Conference with a 74-0 romp past KC-Harmon last Thursday at Hummer Sports Park. Scot senior star Tre Richardson scored all six times he touched the ball as the Scots put the game out of reach with a 50-0 first quarter. Richardson has rushed for 896 yards and 15 touchdowns on 45 attempts, caught 13 pases for 453 yards and eight TDs and also passed for a TD. Highland Park, off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1995, will step outside its conference and state on Friday to face a Lincoln Prep team that is 4-1 after a 14-13 win over Van Horn, its third straight victory.
HAYDEN (4-0, 1-0 district) at PERRY-LECOMPTON (1-3, 0-1 district)
Hayden opened Class 3A District 4 competition last Friday with a 52-14 home win over Jefferson West last week while Perry-Lecompton opened district play with a 49-18 loss to Holton. The Wildcats put the Tigers away early, scoring the first 37 points by the 8:04 mark of the second quarter and leading 44-7 at the half. Senior JC Cummings opened Hayden's scoring with a 16-yard run and also scored on a 58-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier. Junior Finn Dunshee scored on a 29-yard pass from Wahlmeier and a 53-yard run. Hayden also got touchdowns from seniors Braydn Rose and Dylan Foster and junior Broderick Desch.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden continued its impressive start to the 2022 football season Friday night, improving to 4-0 with a 52-14 home romp over Jefferson West in the Class 3A District 4 opener for both schools.
Hayden senior JC Cummings takes a handoff from sophomore Jett Wahlmeier in Friday's 52-14 district win over Jefferson West. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Hayden quarterback Jett Wahlmeier (7) talks to Wildcat coach Bill Arnold during Friday night's 52-14 Class 3A district win over Jefferson West at Hayden. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
The Wildcats put the game away early on, scoring the first 37 points by the 8:04 mark of the second quarter and leading 44-7 at the half.
Senior JC Cummings opened Hayden's scoring with a 16-yard run and also scored on a 58-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier.
Junior Finn Dunshee scored on a 29-yard pass from Wahlmeier and a 53-yard run.
Hayden also got touchdowns from seniors Braydn Rose and Dylan Foster and junior Broderick Desch.
Jefferson West (0-4) scored both of its touchdowns on long pass plays.
SEAMAN 50, LANSING 32 -- Seaman bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 50-32 United Kansas Conference victory over Lansing on Homecoming night at Seaman.
Seaman's Gabe Hernandez got the Vikings off to a good start when he batted a Lansing pass in the air and intercepted at the goal line for a touchdown at the 9:21 mark of the first quarter.
Lansing tied the game later in the quarter on a 25-yard pass from Dalton Jorgensen to Lexton Grafke but the Vikings broke the tie with 18 seconds left in the first on a 1-yard run from Bryson Vawter.
Lansing cut its deficit to 14-10 on a 25-yard Casey Watkins field goal early in the second quarter but Seaman answered with a 63-yard touchdown pass from Max Huston to Adonis VanLeeuwen to boost its lead to 21-10.
Lansing got a 35-yard pick six from Ian Patton and converted the 2-point conversion to cut Seaman's lead to 21-18 with 4:13 left in the half, but Huston scored from 4 yards out with 23 seconds left in the half to give the Vikings a 28-18 halftime lead.
Huston opened the third-quarter scoring with a 4-yard TD run to put Seaman up 35-18 and Lansing got no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
Seaman also got a pair of second-half scores from Jack Bloom on 1-yard and 12-yard runs to take a 50-25 advantage before the Lions scored a TD in the final minute.
Huston completed 14 of 26 passes for 184 yards while Vawter carried the ball 29 times for 155 yards and Bloom had 132 yards on 12 attempts.
Jorgensen passed for 221 yards on an 18 of 40 night, but Seaman picked off the Lansing quarterback three times.
ROSSVILLE 49, ATCHISON COUNTY 8 -- Rossville opened Class 2A district play with a statement win, with the Bulldawgs rolling to a 49-8 District 3 decision over previously-unbeaten Atchison County at Rossville.
Junior quarterback Camden Horak and senior Braiden Hensley had big nights for the Bulldawgs, connecting on four touchdown passes.
Rossville opened its scoring with a 48-yard TD pass from Horak to Hensley and also hooked up on 20, 58 and 13-yard TD strikes.
Horak also scored on a 32-yard run while Kade Perine had a 1-yard TD and Tayson Horak scored Rossville's final TD on a 75-yard run.
Cedric Leistenschneider kicked five extra points while Perine had a 2-point conversion run.
With Friday's win Rossville evened its record at 2-2.
MANHTATTAN 28, WASHBURN RURAL 25 -- Manhattan outlasted Washburn Rural 28-25 Friday night at Cico Park in a key Centennial League battle between two of the top Class 6A teams in Kansas.
Manhattan improved to 4-0 overall while Washburn Rural fell to 3-1. The Indians are now 2-0 in the Centennial League while Washburn Rural is 0-1 with a key matchup with Junction City looming next Friday.
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams takes off on a 76-yard touchdown run in the opening minute of Friday's 28-25 Centennial League loss at Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Ty Weber and the Washburn Rural defense celebrate a big play in Friday's 28-25 Junior Blue loss at Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams put the Junior Blues in front with a 76-yard touchdown run in the opening minute, but Manhattan answered with a long touchdown pass from Keenan Schartz to Jaxon Bowles.
The Indians missed the extra point to leave Rural with a 7-6 lead but Manhattan got a scoring run from DeAndre Auckland and a 2-point conversion to go in front by a 14-7 margin.
A Dayten Smoot field goal and a TD pass from Branton DeWeese to Titan Osburn put Rural back in front 17-14 late in the opening half but Schartz scored with a half-minute remaining to give Manhattan a 21-17 halftime advantage.
An Auckland TD midway through the third quarter boosted Manhattan's advantage to 28-17 before Washburn Rural got a scoring pass from DeWeese to Amr Sabbarini and a 2-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter.
Washburn Rural had a late opportunity to pull out the win but Manhattan's third interception of the night clinched the win.
LYNDON 28, CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 24 --Cair Paravel Latin took a 24-22 lead in the fourth quarter but Lyndon answered to pull out the 28-24 Eight-Man Division I District 2 decision.
Friday's game between Cair Paravel, in its first year as a full Kansas State High School Activities Association member, and undefeated Lyndon was close throughout, with a tie and four lead changes.
Lyndon, now 4-0 and 1-0 in district play, went on top 8-0 with a 27-yard run from Jalen Massey and a Massey conversion run, but Cair Paravel (2-2, 0-1) answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Evan Will to Jesiah Bonura and a Will conversion run to knot the game at 8-8 in the second quarter.
The Tigers took a 14-8 halftime advantage on a 29-yard TD pass from Jackson Biggs to Evan Feuerborn (conversion failed) but Cair Paravel led 16-14 entering the fourth quarter after a 4-yard Will rush and a 2-point conversion pass from Simon Everhart to to Ty Gossard.
Lyndon regained the lead on 44-yard pass from Biggs to Ethen Raney (Feuerborn run), but CPLS took the lead a final time on a 5-yard Will pass to Jachin Bonura and a 2-point conversion pass from Will to Bonura before the Tiger scored the game-winning TD on a 10-yard Biggs passs to Ben Detwiler.
Will completed 14 of 22 passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns and added 47 rushing yards on 14 attempts.
Jesiah Bonura caught seven passes for 50 yards while Jachin Bonura caught seven passes for 17 yards and Everhart four catches for 62 yards.
Noah Collins led Cair Paravel with seven solo tackles.
ROCK CREEK 44, SILVER LAKE 28 --Rock Creek improved to 3-1 on the season with a 44-28 home Mid-East League victory over Silver Lake Friday night.
Silver Lake fell to 2-2 on the season.
The Eagles will open Class 2A District 3 play at home next Friday against arch-rival Rossville, which is 1-0 in the district and 2-2 overall.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
THURSDAY NIGHT
KANSAS CITY-HARMON (0-3, 0-3) at HIGHLAND PARK (3-0, 3-0)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park senior star Tre Richardson has had a hand in 20 touchdowns for the 3-0 Scots. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park improved to 3-0 overall and in the Meadowlark Conference with a 63-36 win over KC-Sumner last Friday at Hummer Sports Park. Scot senior star Tre Richardson had a hand in six touchdowns, giving him 20 on the season and also scored a pair of 2-point conversions and picked off a pass. Richardson and quarterback Kei'Juan Johnson combined for more than 400 rushing yards against Sumner. Highland Park will be facing a Harmon team that has been outscored 207-0 in its first three games, including a 72-0 loss to Atchison last week. The Scots are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since Nick McGrain's team won its first four games in 1995. Game time: 7 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT
JEFFERSON WEST (0-3) at HAYDEN (3-0)
Hayden sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored four touchdowns last Friday night in the Wildcats' 55-34 win over Rossville. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Hayden opens Class 3A District 4 competition Friday night after remaining unbeaten with a 55-34 home win over Rossville last week. Sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored four touchowns and 31 points for the Wildcats against Rossville. Schrickel returned the opening kickoff 74 yards for a TD and also scored on a 67-yard punt return, a 48-yard pass reception from sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier, a 12-yard run on a reverse and kicked seven extra points. Senior JC Cummings rushed for 132 yards on 11 carries, including a 98-yard touchdown run, and junior Finn Dunshee added 83 yards on seven attempts. Jefferson West has been outscored 111-28, including a 57-0 loss to Sabetha last week. Game time: 7 p.m.
EMPORIA (1-2, 0-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (0-3, 0-1)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka High is coming off a 27-0 road loss at Liberal last Friday while Emporia is dropped a 56-24 decision to Salina Central. Emporia played Liberal in Week 2, dropping a 53-0 decision. The Spartans willl be playing their Centennial League opener while the Trojans fell at Manhattan in their second game of the season, 59-7. Topeka High senior quarterback Peyton Wheat and sophomore receiver Jayden Norman are key offensive weapons on offense for the Trojans. Game time: 7 p.m.
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams rushed for 179 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Junior Blues' 37-10 non-league win over Piper Friday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL (3-0, 0-0) at MANHATTAN (3-0, 1-0)
At Cico Park
Washburn Rural remained unbeaten with a 37-10 win over Piper last Friday while Manhattan topped Hays, 31-21. Senior Ma'kenttis Adams finished the night with 179 rushing yards and two TDs on 16 carries as Rural topped the 300-yard rushing mark as a team. Junior quarterback Branton DeWeese completed 13 of 20 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and added 79 rushing yards on 13 carries. Junior Titan Osburn caught three passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns while junior Calvin Hayes had four catches for 34 yards and senior Amr Sabarrini two catches for 31 yards. Game time: 7 p.m.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Locked in a three-point game at halftime Friday night, Washburn Rural dominated the second half on the way to a 37-10 non-league win over Piper at Bowen-Glaze Stadium.
Rural, which improved to 3-0 on the season, led by just a 13-10 count at the half but broke the game open with 21 third-quarter points while the Junior Blue defense pitched a second-half shutout.
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams rushed for 179 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Junior Blues' 37-10 non-league win over Piper Friday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural quarterback Branton DeWeese (5) celebrates a touchdown with Ma'kenttis Adams (2) in Friday's 37-10 Junior Blue win over Piper. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural's defense, gang-tackling a Piper ball-carrier, pitched a second-half shutout in the Junior Blues' 37-10 win Friday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Piper jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 77-yard fumble return but Rural pulled even on a 1-yard plunge by freshman TJ Minikwu.
Rural went in front to stay on an 11-yard touchdown pass from junior Branton DeWeese to junior Titan Osborn (extra point blocked) before Piper cut its deficit to 13-10 with a 20-yard field goal.
Senior Ma'kenttis Adams opened the second-half scoring with a 19-yard TD run and and DeWeese connected with senior Lukas Hanks for a 2-point conversion to give Rural a 21-10 advantage.
DeWeese then connnected with Osburn for a 46-yard TD strike (conversion failed) and Adams capped a big night with a 58-yard touchdown run.
Adams finished the night with 179 rushing yards and two TDs on 16 carries as Rural topped the 300-yard rushing mark as a team.
DeWeese completed 13 of 20 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and added 79 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Osburn caught three passess for 66 yards and two touchdowns while junior Calvin Hayes had four catches for 34 yards and senior Amr Sabarrini two catches for 31 yards.
Washburn Rural travels to Manhattan next Friday for a key Centennial League game.
HIGHLAND PARK 63, KANSAS CITY-SUMNER ACADEMY 36 --Tre Richardson had a hand in six touchdowns -- now 20 on the season -- and also scored a pair of 2-point conversions and picked off a pass as Highland Park improved to 3-0 overall and in the league with a 63-36 Meadowlark Conference victory over Kansas City-Sumner Academy at Hummer Sports Park.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
ROSSVILLE (1-1) at HAYDEN (2-0)
Hayden junior Finn Dunshee rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown and also had a pick-six on defense in the Wildcats' 43-10 wn at Silver Lake last Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden improved to 2-0 with a 43-10 at Silver Lake last Friday night while Rossville is coming off a 36-15 Mid-East League win over Riley County. Hayden scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams, all in the first half. Junior Finn Dunshee rushed for 151 yards and a 76-yard touchdown and also scored on a 33-yard interception return while senior JC Cummings rushed for 104 yards and a TD and sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored on a 48-yard punt return and an 82-yard pass reception from sophomore Jett Wahlmeier and also picked off a pass. After having its 26-game winning streak snapped a week earlier, two-time defending Class 2A champion Rossville bounced back with a big win. Senior Kade Perine led the Bulldawgs with 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns and Rossville never trailed after jumping out to a 14-0 first-quarter advantage. Rossville coach Derick Hammes is a former assistant coach at Hayden and was part of the Wildcats' undefeated 4A state championship team in 2004.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-1, 1-1) at SEAMAN (2-0, 2-0)
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win over Piper last Friday. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Seaman has outscored its first two United Kansas Conference opponents by a 128-14 margin, including a 70-0 win over Kansas City-Turner last Friday. Shawnee Heights picked up its first win in a 46-23 home UKC decision over Lansing. T-Bird junior Allen Baughman rushed for 222 yards on 22 carries and scored five touchdowns. Friday will be the first meeting for the longtime city rivals as members of the UKC, with Seaman joining the league this school year. Junior Jack Bloom leads a balanced Seaman rushing attack with 159 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries while senior Bryson Vawter has 147 yards and four touchowns on 17 attempts. Sophomore quarterback Max Huston is 9 of 14 passing for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
PIPER (1-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (2-0)
Washburn Rural is 2-0 on the season after last Friday's second straight come-from-behind victory, a 28-21 non-league win over De Soto. Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns while senior Ma'kenttis Adams carried the ball 26 times for 150 yards, junior Titan Osburn caught three passes for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns and senior Amr Sabbarini had four catches for 53 yards and a TD. Senior Ty Weber registered 24 tackles for the Junior Blues.
ST. MARYS (1-1, 1-1) at SILVER LAKE (1-1, 1-0)
Both teams will be looking to bounce back from their first losses of the season, with Silver Lake dropping a 43-10 decision to Hayden and St. Marys falling to Rock Creek, 41-20. Silver Lake junior quarterback Tanner Martin passed for 258 yards and a touchdown last week against Hayden while Trenton Rollenhagen caught three passes for 121 yards, including a 64-yarder. Friday will be a big night for the Silver Lake football family, with the Eagles honoring coaching legend CJ Hamilton, who retired following the 2021 season as the winningest coach in Kansas. Silver Lake's football stadium is named CJ Hamilton Field.
KANSAS CITY-SUMNER ACADEMY (1-1, 1-1) at HIGHLAND PARK (2-0, 2-0)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park senior Tre Richardson has had a hand 14 touchdowns in two games, leading the Scots to a 2-0 start to the season. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Highland Park improved to 2-0 in the Meadowlark Conference with a 48-29 road win at Kansas City-Schlagle last Friday. Highland Park senior Tre Richardson continued his monster 2022 season, scoring eight touchowns against Schlagle and has now had a hand in 14 TDs in just two weeks for the Scots. Highland Park will be facing a Sumner Academy team that is 1-1 in the league and overall after a 47-20 loss to Atchison last week. The Sabres opened the season with a 21-0 win over KC-Washington while Highland Park opened with a 60-47 win over KC-Wyandotte in Week 1, with the Scots snapping their 65-game, eight-year losing streak.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note:Shawnee County varsity coaches in all fall sports are encouraged to report their game/event results by email to
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Junior running back Allen Baughman turned in a career-best performance to lead the way as Shawnee Heights picked up its first win of the season Friday night at Wetter Field, with the T-Birds rolling to a 46-23 United Kansas Conference win over Lansing.
Baughman, a 5-foot-8, 180-pounder, carried the ball 22 times for 222 yards and five touchdowns for the T-Birds, who evened their record at 1-1 overall and in the UKC.
Shawnee Heights junior Allen Baughman (5) finds a huge hole to run through against Lansing Friday night. Baughman rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights, which finished with 343 total offensive yards, got a pair of field goals from senior Carson Christian.
Shawnee Heights senior Jaye Jones makes a diving interception in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win over Lansing Friday night. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Alex Dittman is mobbed by his teammates after scoring a defensive touchdown in the T-Birds' 46-23 UKC win over Lansing. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
The T-Birds also turned in a solid performance on defense, including interceptions from senior Jaye Jones and juniors Alex Dittman and Jayden Moore, who also forced a fumble.
Senior Sean Wunder was in on eight tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss, while senior Ben Penrod was also in on eight stops and junior Christian Gonzales six. Junior Taylen LeClere-Bryant recovered a fumble for the T-Birdss.
Shawnee Heights will travel to Seaman next Friday, with the city rivals meeting for the first time as UKC members.
WASHBURN RURAL 28, DE SOTO 21 --Washburn Rural rallied from behind for the second straight game, improving to 2-0 with a 28-21 road win at De Soto.
Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns on a 15 of 31 performance while senior Ma'Kenttis Adams rushed for 150 yards on 26 carries.
Junior Titan Osburn had three catches for 97 yards and a pair of touchowns while senior Lukas Hanks caught five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown and senior Amr Sabbarini had four grabs for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior linebacker Ty Weber was in on a whopping 24 tackles while junior JC Heim blocked a punt and senior Wyatt Conklin recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
Washburn Rural will play its home-opener next Friday against Piper.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's probably about time for Ryin Miller to re-evaluate her goals for the 2022 cross country season.
The Seaman freshman has started off her high school career with a pair of outstanding performances, including her first individual championship in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park while helping lead the Vikings to the team title by 27-45 margin over Lee's Summit West, Mo.
Seaman freshman Ryin Miller finishes off her win in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational, helping lead the Vikings to the team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller burst on the high school cross country scene with a third-place individual performance in the season-opening Manhattan Invitational on Sept. 3, blowing away her pre-race goal.
"I was shooting for like 15th place, so third definitely boosted my confidence,'' Miller said.
And Miller, who ran a five-kilometer time of 20 minutes, 32.6 seconds at Manhattan, took another big step forward on Saturday, knocking another 90 seconds off her personal-best with a winning time of 19 minutes, 01.22 seconds.
"My goal was to shoot for like 21 (minutes), so I'm definitely surprised,'' Miller said about her start to the season.
Miller ran second to Lee's Summit West senior Ella Cronhardt in the early stages of Saturday's race before taking the lead abut a mile and a half in en route to a 29-second victory.
"I was just going to stay where I could see her and within about like five feet,'' Miller said.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, the goal for Topeka West senior cross country star Lenny Njoroge is always going to be to win.
But Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park was one day when Njoroge could be proud of a second-place finish.
Lincoln Prep junior Isaac Rivera (left) and Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge finished one-two in Saturday's Joe Schrag Invitational at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
For one thing, it took an outstanding performance, by Lincoln College Prep junior Isaac Rivera, to beat him, and even in defeat, Njoroge ran the best five-kilometer time of his career.
Rivera clocked a 5K time of 15 minutes, 09.82, while Njoroge, running only his second race after missing the 2021 season with a broken leg, finished second in 15:24.61, 39 seconds in front of the third-place finisher.
"He ran a heck of a race, he's impresssive,'' Njoroge said of Rivera.
Njoroge admitted that the Missouri runner caught him somewhat by surprise.
"At the start of the race I was just like, 'OK, it's a home meet, it's probably going to just be me (out front),' and then the gun goes off and we get to 400 meters and I see somebody right next to me and I'm like, 'Where did he come from?' '' Njoroge said.
Njoroge and Rivera ran together for a good chunk of the race before Rivera pulled away late, but Njoroge wasn't disappointed with his performance.
"I felt awesome,'' said Njoroge, who doubles up in soccer for Topeka West. "As Donnie (Palmer, West coach) said I'm in the best shape of my life right now. And I'm having the best time of my life, too. It's incredible.
"I'll take this and move on.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
HAYDEN (1-0) at SILVER LAKE (1-0)
Hayden senior JC Cummings (38) celebrates his second-quarter touchdown in last Friday's 21-7 Wildcat victory over Olpe. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden is coming off of a 21-7 season-opening win over two-time defending Class 1A state champion Olpe, ending the Eagles' 26-game winning streak, while Logan Pegram made his debut as Silver Lake's coach with a 28-21 road win over Riley County. Hayden got pass interceptions from seniors JC Cummings and Dylan Foster while Cummings and senior Ethan Florence ran for touchdowns and sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier hit sophomore Jensen Schrickel for a TD pass. Junior quarterback Tanner Martin accumulated more than 250 total yards and had a hand in all four Silver Lake touchdowns in the Eagles' season-opening win.
LANSING (0-1, 0-1) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (0-1, 0-1)
Shawnee Heights fell 31-20 to new United Kansas Conference member Piper in its season opener on the road, while Lansing dropped a 27-21 UKC decision to De Soto. Piper built a 24-0 advantage over Heights before surviving a late T-Bird rally. Heights junior Allen Baughman rushed for 92 yards on 17 carries while senior Nick Freeland completed six of 11 passes for 45 yards and junior Jayden Moore caught five passes for 65 yards. Defensively, junior Alex Dittman was in on eight tackles and senior Jaye Jones was credited with seven stops.
LEAVENWORTH (1-0, 1-0) at TOPEKA WEST (0-1, 0-1)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka West standout senior quarterback Malachi Berg (left) and the Chargers will be looking to bounce back from a season-opening loss to Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West will be looking to bounce back from last Thursday's 58-14 United Kansas Conference loss to Seaman while Leavenworth is coming off a 61-0 UKC win over Kansas City-Turner. West senior quarterback Malachi Berg went 17 of 29 passing for 244 yards and two touchdowns while senior Xavier Alexander carried the ball 17 times for 102 yards and senior Kamen Jones caught five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Emporia State senior Hannah Woolery, a former Cair Paravel Latin standout, set one school record and tied another as the No. 14-ranked Hornets soccer team rolled to a 5-1 victory at Minot State on Sunday afternoon.
Former Cair Paravel Latin soccer standout Hannah Woolery (10) set one Emporia State school soccer record and tied another in Sunday's 5-1 win at Minot State . [Photo courtesy of Emporia State Athletics]
Woolery, who had a goal and three assists in the victory, broke a tie with Adie Hayden (14 assists from 2001-04) for Emporia State career assists records and now has 17 assists at ESU.
With Sunday's three assists, Woolery tied Wendy Dunn (three assists vs NWMSU on Sept 5, 2004 and vs Mo. S&T on Oct. 15, 2004) for the Hornets' single-game assist record.
Mackenzie Dimarco scored her 39th and 40th career goals on Sunday and is now Emporia State's career leader for goals..
The Hornets will take on Washburn at 6 p.m. Friday in Topeka for the first Turnpike Tussle of the season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note:Shawnee County varsity coaches in all fall sports are encouraged to report their game/event results by email to
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Hayden's football team got the test it expected from two-time defending Class 1A state champ Olpe in Friday night's season-opener, but the Wildcats combined some timely offense with stingy defense to end the Eagles' 26-game win streak with a 21-7 win at Hayden.
Hayden senior JC Cummings (38) celebrates his second-quarter touchdown in Friday's 21-7 Wildcat victory over Olpe. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden's defense brings down Olpe quarterback Truman Bailey in Friday's 21-7 Wildcat win at Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden got a pair of interceptions from seniors JC Cummings and Dylan Foster and also recovered a fumbled punt before taking a 7-0 halftime lead on a 20-yard touchdown run from Cummings to cap a three-play scoring drive with 31 seconds left in the opening half.
The Wildcats boosted their lead to 14-0 on their first drive of the second half, with sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier hitting sophomore Jensen Schrickel on a deep post pattern for the TD.
Hayden finished its scoring with an 83-yard scoring run from senior Ethan Florence with 8:56 left in the game.
Olpe used a long 14-play drive to get on the scoreboard late in the game on a 2-yard quarterback sneak from Truman Bailey.
Unofficially, Wahlmeier passed for 118 yards on a 10 of 12 performance with one interception while Hayden rushed for more than 230 yards.
Hayden's defense limited Olpe to 77 rushing yards while Bailey passed for 86 yards with two interceptions.
WASHBURN RURAL 49, WICHITA EAST 42 -- Both offenses ruled the night, combining for 91 points, but it was a late defensive stand that allowed Washburn Rural to escape with a hard-earned 49-42 non-league road win.
Washburn Rural trailed on four diffferent occasions, including 42-33 late in the contest, but the Junior Blues scored the final 16 points to pull out the victory.
Junior JC Heim blocked a punt and senior Walker Thompson pounced on the ball in the end zone to give Rural an early 6-0 advantage.
Junior quarterback Branton DeWeese hit senior Lukas Hanks for a touchdown pass and junior Titan Osborn caught a 2-point conversion pass to put Rural in front 14-8 at tne end of the first quarter.
The game was knotted at 22 at the half and the scorefest continued in the second half.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news finished its tour of preseason football practice at all 10 Shawnee County high schools on Friday and will post preview stories over the coming days leading into the opening games of the 2022 season Sept. 1-3.
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Cair Paravel Latin football coach Doug Bonura knows his team faces a big challenge in its first season as a full member of the Kansas State High School Athletics Association.
But its a challenge that Bonura and his Lions are excited to face.
Cair Paravel Latin football coach Doug Bonura talks to his team, 11-0 last season, during Thursday's practice session. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Cair Paravel, which is coming off a perfect 11-0 record and a Kansas Christian Athletic Association state championship, make the jump to KSHSAA this fall and will compete in the Eight-Man Division I ranks in District 2.
"We're going up against some really good programs and it's going to be a great test to see where we are, if we have been able to move in the direction we want to be able to compete,'' Bonura said. "In our district we have Madison-Hamilton, Burlingame, Chase County, and then Lyndon, which has come down out of 11-man, and all those teams have been deep in the playoffs over the years, so we're going against solid programs and we play (defending Eight-Man Division II state champion) Axtell out of the gate.
"We recognize that there's no gimme here and our boys are excited. We really don't know what to expect fully but we know it's going to be a lot of hard work and it's going to be competition.''
Cair Paravel graduated star quarterback Carter Brian and star tight end/defensive end Noah Hastert, who have moved on to play college football after earning TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors last fall.
The Cair Paravel Lions go through a drill at Thursday's practice session. The Lions are coming off an 11-0 season entering their first season competing in KSHSAA Eight-Man Division I. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the Lions' cupboard is far from bare.
"We lost a lot of athleticism and leadership from last year, but the nice thing was that it was a small (senior) class, so we're returning 11 starters,'' Bonura said. "Really, for all these guys it's just another year for them after playing last year.
"The big question for us this year is going to be quarterback -- who is going to step up and take that position -- but then as far as our backs I think we're just reloading this year.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's Logan Pegram and Washburn Rural's Brad Johnston, who are taking over retiring Kansas coaching legends C.J. Hamilton and Kevin Hedberg, are part of a group of 19 new varsity head coaches who have been announced by Shawnee County high schools for the 2022-2023 school year.
Brad Johnston will take over as Washburn Rural's tennis coach in 2022-2023, replacing Kevin Hedberg who retired after 32 years at the school. [File photo/TSN]
Logan Pegram
Alex Hutchins
Pegram, a former Silver Lake standout, takes over as the Eagles' head football coach for Hamilton, the state's winningest football coach, who retired after 47 years at the school, while Johnston is the new Washburn Rural girls and boys tennis coach, replacing Hedberg, who led the Junior Blues to five state team championships in 32 seasons and coached a total of 43 years at Seaman and Rural.
Joining Johnston as a new head coach for Washburn Rural is former Hays boys basketball coach Alex Hutchins, who is taking over as the Junior Blues' boys basketball coach from Kevin Muff.
By RICK PETERSON 
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize Shawnee County's all-time coaching greats in 14 sports as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July 15, with the Top 10 in all categories announced in July and August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best soccer coach click on https://linkto.run/p/2LH96HJB while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
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Hayden's Klaus Kreutzer and Washburn Rural's Brian Hensyel, who have led multiple teams to state championships, lead the list of contenders for the No.1 spot on the TopSports.news Shawnee County Best of the Best Coaches list in soccer while four other former and current local coaches have also notched state titles.
Longtime Hayden soccer coach Klaus Kreutzer has led the Wildcat boys and girls teams to five state championships. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural soccer coach Brian Hensyel has led the Junior Blues to a pair of Class 6A boys titles and seven total state runner-up finishes. [File photo/TSN]
Kreutzer has led the Hayden boys to Class 4A state championships in 2000 and '12 and added 4A-1A girls titles in 2012, '13 and '15 while Hensyel has led Washburn Rural's boys to 6A state crowns in 2009 and '12 while the Junior Blues have also posted seven state runner-up finishes (four girls, three boys), including seconds in both the boys and girls tournaments in 2021-2022.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Last summer TopSports.news took on the task of honoring hundreds of Shawnee County's all-time great athletes in more than 20 sports as part of our Best of the Best project.
As rewarding as that project was, however, there was something missing -- the high school coaches, both head coaches and assistants past and present -- who have helped hundreds if not thousands of county athletes achieve athletic greatness.
Washburn Rural's Kevin Bordewick has coached nine Class 6A state championship teams in volleyball and girls basketball. [File photo/TSN]
Current Seaman basketball coach Craig Cox has led five teams to state championships in basketball and baseball, including the Class 5A basketball title this past season. [File photo/TSN]
Former Hayden coach Ben Meseke (right), talking with former Wildcat coach and athletic director Jerry Simecka, coached Hayden to 12 state titles in basketball and cross country. [File photo/TSN
Brenda Holaday coached Washburn Rural to multiple Class 6A state softball championships before moving on to a successful career at Washburn University. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
This summer we will try to correct that ommision, with TopSports.news planning to publish Best of the Best coaches lists in 14 different sports.
As was the case a year ago, TSN will rely heavily on our readers for their input in rating the best coaches in the history of the county.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Rossville star Torrey Horak, who helped lead the Bulldawgs to back-to-back Class 2A state football championships, was named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Fall Male Athlete of the Year during Wednesday's awards banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Washburn University.
Former Rossville star Torrey Horak, the TSN Fall Male Athlete of the Year, helped lead the Bulldawgs to back to back undefeated Class 2A state football championships. [File photo/TSN]
A star quarterback and defensive back, Horak was a four-year starter for the Bulldawgs, helping lead Rossville to 13-0 records as a junior and senior.
Horak was the TopSports.news Shawnee County co-offensive player of the year as a senior after completing 85 of 132 pass attempts for 1,337 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushing for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs on 102 attempts despite missing time with a shoulder injury.
"Torrey will go down as an all-time great performer in is a rich football history at Rossville,'' Bulldawg football coach Derick Hammes said. "However, Torrey's personal attributes may outshine his onfield accomplishments. Torrey has displayed an uncanny maturity throughout his career.''
Horak has signed a football letter with Central Missouri.
Horak had a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.8.
Other candidates:
Tylan Alejos
TYLAN ALEJOS | Topeka High
PARENTS: Evan and Tia Alejos
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.10
A 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back/defensive back, Alejos was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 and All-Centennial League first-team selection after rushing for 1,327 yards on 202 carries and scoring 18 total touchdowns lat fall. Defensively Alejos recorded 40 tackles (16 solo) and had a pass interception. Alejos rushed for 400 yards and scored eight touchdowns in a Centennial League victory over Highland Park. Alejos will play his college football at the University of Kansas after accepting a preferred walk-on offer from the Jayhawks.
Jaq'Son Birdwhistle-Bush
JAQ'SON BIRDWHISTLE-BUSH | Topeka West
PARENTS Dr. Christopher and AliShia Bush
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.415
"Jaq'Son has been an excellent example of character, leadership and work ethic as a student-athlete at Topeka West,'' said Ryan Kelley, who coached Birdwhistle-Bush at West. "In four years of being his football coach, Jaq'Son never missed a workout or practice, summer or fall. Even through tough times where the program struggled to experience success in terms of wins and losses Jaq'Son remained positive and worked hard every day. We at Topeka West are extremely proud of Jaq'son.'' Birdwhistle-Bush caught 12 passes for149 yards and a touchdown as a senior. Birdwhistle-Bush will attend Kansas State University.
Carter Brian
CARTER BRIAN | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Tom and Susan Brian
SPORT: Football | GPA: 4.27
Brian was the Lions' quarterback as a junior and senior, leading Cair Paravel to a perfect season and the Kansas Christian Athletic Association state title last fall. "He is a determined individual who is not afraid of difficult possibilities and that effort created the building blocks for a very successful senior season,'' Cair Paravel coach Doug Bonura said. "Carter's leadership at the quarterback position helped secure his team's undefeated season. Brian earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honors, throwing for 2,515 yards and 51 touchdowns. Brian plans to play football at Ohio Northern University.
Jace Moore
JACE MOORE | Seaman
PARENTS: Russ and Jana Moore
SPORT: Cross country | GPA: NA
"Jace led our cross country team in every competition of his senior year,'' Seaman coach Luke Wiens said. "Jace is a fiery and passionate leader and an intense competitor who chose to compete in our sports (cross country and track) despite having the skills and athleticism to contribute in a variety of other sports.'' Moore was an All-Shawnee County pick in cross country last fall and was the Centennial League champion in the 3,200 meters in track as a senior. Moore plans to compete in track and cross county for Washburn University.
Tanner Newkirk
TANNER NEWKIRK | HAYDEN
PARENTS: Kevin and Nealy Newkirk
SPORT: Cross country | GPA: 3.84
Newkirk was a four-time state medalist in Class 4A cross country for the Wildcats, including top-three finishes his final three seasons. Newkirk finished second in 4A as a sophomore, won the state title as a junior and finished third individually his senior season. A two-time city champ in cross country, Newkirk also won three state championships and set two Class 4A state meet records as a senior in track and field. Newkirk will run track and cross country at the University of Kansas. "Tanner Newkirk is a one of a kind athlete,'' Hayden cross country and track coach DeJuan Gardenhire said. "What makes Tanner so special is his ability to want to get better. Tanner is always trying to find a way to get better at some thing and is never satisfied.''
Jarin Sanders
JARIN SANDERS | Shawnee Heights
PARENTS: Robbie and Courtney Sanders
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.7
Sanders was a star running back for the T-Birds as a senior, cracking Shawnee Heights' top five in several rushing categories. Sanders ran for 1,142 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and also caught 31 passes for 240 yards and four TDs. Sanders carried the ball more than 30 times in big wins over De Soto and Blue Valley Southwest. Sanders was a team captain and earned first-team All-Shawnee County and United Kansas Conference honors. Sanders was also a two-year starter at point guard for Shawnee Heights' basketball team, earning All-United Kansas Conference honorable mention.
Porter Schafersman
PORTER SCHAFERSMAN | Washburn Rural
PARENTS: Scott and Autumn Schafersman
SPORT: Soccer| GPA: 3.53
Schafersman helped lead Washburn Rural to a second-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament, scoring 23 goals on the season, which tied for second in school history, en route to earning first-team All-City, All-Centennial League and All-6A recognition. Schafersman, who also had 13 assists, was the Centennial League player of the year and the 6A forward of the year. "Porter had one of the best individual seasons in Washburn Rural soccer history, which was instrumental in one of the best seasons in school history,'' Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. Schafersman registered five three-goal hat tricks as a senior, all in Centennial League play, as the Junior Blues recorded just their second-ever undefeated regular season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn Rural basketball standout Emma Krueger was named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Winter Female Athlete of the Year Wednesday at Washburn University during the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Washburn Rural product Emma Krueger (right) was named the Topeka Shawnee County Winter Female Athlete of the Year during Wednesday's awards banquet at Washburn. [File photo/TSN]
Krueger was a four-year starter for Washburn Rural, winning Class 6A state championships as a freshman and senior.
"Emma has a work ethic second to none,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "She is one of a handful of athetes that truly plays hard all the time. Emma is a great leader. She leads by her example and holds teammates accountable to the same work ethic.
"She took pride in being our defensive stopper and did whatever it took for our team to succeed.''
As a senior Krueger averaged 8.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.6 steals.
Also a soccer standout, Krueger will play college basketball at Grand Canyon University.
Krueger finished high school with a 4.15 grade point average.
Other candidates:
Jaley Barkley
JALEY BARKLEY | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Shane and Valerie Barkley
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.53
"Jaley is a fantastic leader and worker,'' Cair Paravel coach Brian Ewing said. "She knew my expectations for her senior year and led the team through her dedication and desire. Jaley has always been a hard worker during the season but out of season as well. She put up tens of thousands of shots during COVID, which showed up in her stats this past season. Jaley loves to interact with, and encourage, the younger kids, especially the girls. She knows that eyes are on her for not only how she plays on the court but how she leads throughour her school day and practice.'' Barkey will play college basketball next season for Sterling College.
Celeste Gonzalez
CELESTE GONZALEZ | Highland Park
PARENTS: Raul Gonzalez and Clara Caro
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 4.2
Gonzalez posted a 17-7 record as a senior and was a two-year letter-winner for Highland Park's girls wrestling team. Gonzalez won the Centennial League indiviual championship at 191 pounds her senior season, qualified for the Class 6A-5A state meet with a runner-up regional finish and earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention. "She had a desire to demonstrate dominance on the mat but was friendly to everyone off the mat,'' Highland Park coach Shannon Keller said. Gonzalez, who also earned All-City honorable mention in soccer, plans to attend college at Washburn University.
Rylee Murray
RYLEE MURRAY | Seaman
PARENTS: TJ and Sonya Murray
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 3.34
Murray was Seaman's first Centennial League girls wrestling champion as a junior and the first Viking to secure her place on the state podium in her final season of wrestling, finishing fifth in Class 6A-5A. Murray posted a two-year record of 40-10, with 29 wins coming by pin. Murray is also a softball standout for the Vikings and will play softball at North Central Missouri College. "Rylee is a multi-sport athlete who gives absolutely nothing but her best in everything she does,'' Seaman girls wrestling coach Jordan Best said. "Her commitment to leadership is second to none and she gained respect by pushing everyone to be their best while keeping a smile on her face and lifting the spirits of her teammates as well.''
Macy Smith
MACY SMITH | Hayden
PARENTS: Rob and Cindi Smith
SPORT: Basketball | GPA 3.86
Smith missed most of her junior season with an ACL injury, but returned to turn in a solid senior season for the Wildcats. "Macy was the primary ball-handler for our team and was relied heavily upon to score for us,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "She tore her ACL her junior year so she had a comeback season of sorts. As the knee got stronger she played a bigger role and improved defensively.'' Smith averaged 12 points and was also a team leader in assists. Smith earned All-Shawnee County Top 10 honors and was a second-team All-Centennial League pick, Smith was also a soccer standout for Hayden.
Talayah Thomas
TALAYAH THOMAS | Topeka High
PARENTS: Tobian and Stephanie Thomas
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 3.71
Thomas was a three-sport standout for Topeka High, handling place-kicking duties for the Trojans in football and starring as point guard in basketball and as a forward in soccer. "She has made some historical memories at Topeka High,'' said Hannah Alexander, Thomas' basketball coach at High. "She has led our girls basketball program to the state tournament all four years of high school. She has an 88-8 record overall. She is a true leader on and off the floor. She is destined for greatness.'' A first-team All-Shawnee County selection, Thomas averaged 14.5 points, 2.9 assists and 2.9 steals as a senior. Thomas will play college basketball at Northwestern Oklahoma.
Kendra Umscheid
KENDRA UMSCHEID | Topeka West
PARENTS: Kevin and Shelly Umscheid
SPORT: Bowling | GPA: 3.725
Umscheid helped Topeka West reach the Class 5A-1A state bowling tournament as a senior. "Kendra is a great team player,'' Topeka West coach Alyx Nash said. "She sets high goals for herself and those around her. She creates a positive mindset and a supporting environment to motivate herself and team to their goals. She represents herself on the lanes, in the classroom and in her everyday actions to the best of her abilities. Her accomplishments are and will continue to be a reflection of this.'' Umscheid plans to study computer science at Wichita State University.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Recent Topeka West graduate Elijah Brooks, honored as the 2021-2022 Mr. Kansas Basketball by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association after a record-setting 2021-2022 season, was named the Topeka Shawnee County Winter Male Athlete of the Year Wednesday night at Washburn.
Former Topeka West star Elijah Brooks was named the Topeka Shawnee County Winter Male Athlete of the Year Wednesday night after a record-setting senior season. [File photo/TSN]
Brooks averaged 25.3 points during his senior season and put together a string of 30-point games with a high of 43 points.
Brooks, the TopSports.news Shawnee County and Centennial League Player of the Year, led the Chargers to back-to-back Class 5A state tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2021.
Brooks is West's single-season record-holder (581 points) and career leading scorer (1,450 points).
"Elijah has shown enthusiasm and work ethic that has been commendable and sincere,'' West coach Rick Bloomquist said.
Brooks will play his college basketball at Division I North Dakota.
Other candidates:
Richard Carter
RICHARD CARTER | Topeka High
PARENTS: Richard and Margaret Carter
SPORT: Swimming | GPA: NA
Carter was a varsity swimmer all four seasons at Topeka High, earning second-team All-City recognition two times. Carter competed in the Class 6A state tournament as a senior in the 400-yard free relay. Carter scored a total of 582 points during his swimming career for the Trojans. Carter competed primarily in the 50-yard freestyle, the 100 free, the 200 free and and the 100 butterfly. Carter plans to attend Grove City College.
Trent Duffey
TRENT DUFFEY | Hayden
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TopSports.news will honor outstanding Shawnee County high school senior student-athletes in 10 different categories at Wednesday's 17th annual Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards banquet, which will be presented in conjunction with the induction of the 2022 Hall of Fame class.
Recent Seaman graduate Aidan Polter (22), who played baseball and football for the Vikings, is nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards, which will be presented Wednesday night at Washburn's Memorial Union. [File photo/TSN]
Four-time state champ Tanner Newkirk of Hayden is a fall and spring candidate for the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards, which will be presented Wednesday night at Washburn's Memorial Union. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High graduate NiJaree Canady, who has led the Trojans to back-to-back Class 6A state softball titles, is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County Female Spring Athlete of the Year award. [File photo/TSN]
Recent Washburn Rural grad Emma Krueger helped lead the Junior Blues to a pair of Class 6A state basketball titles in her high school career. Krueger is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards. [Submitted photo]
TopSports.news, in partnership with the University of Kansas Health Systems St Francis Campus, A-1 Lock and Key and Washburn University, will host the 6 p.m. event at the Washburn University Memorial Union..
Awards will be presented to 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, James Letcher Jr. and Faith Rottinghaus will be honored as Washburn University Athletes of the Year and Aaron Crow, Kaylee Manns and Dani (McHenry) Schmidt will be inducted as the 2022 Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Fame class.
A committee of local media members selected the 2022 high school winners, including the selection of overall female and male athletes of the year.
TOPEKA SHAWNEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS NOMINEES
FALL FEMALE — Kate Roeder, Hayden; Grace Unruh, Seaman; Camilla Ossola, Silver Lake; Anna Newcome, Topeka West; Khloi Bird, Washburn Rural.
FALL MALE — Carter Brian, Cair Paravel Latin; Tanner Newkirk, Hayden; Torrey Horak, Rossville; Jace Moore, Seaman; Jarin Sanders, Shawnee Heights; Tylan Alejos, Topeka High; Jaq'Son Birdwhistle-Bush, Topeka West; Porter Schafersman, Washburn Rural.
WINTER FEMALE — Jaley Barkley, Cair Paravel Latin; Macy Smith, Hayden; Celeste Gonzalez, Highland Park; Rylee Murray, Seaman; Talayah Thomas, Topeka High; Kendra Umscheid, Topeka West; Emma Krueger, Washburn Rural.
WINTER MALE —Noah Hastert, Cair Paravel Latin; Trent Duffey, Hayden; Juan'Tario Roberts, Highland Park; Ty Henry, Seaman; Brock Ferguson, Shawnee Heights; Richard Carter, Topeka High; Elijah Brooks, Topeka West; Nathen Trachta, Washburn Rural.
SPRING FEMALE — Carly Stuke, Hayden; Vanesa Quinones, Rossville; Gabby Grace, Seaman; Tatum Hoge, Shawnee Heights; Taryn Burkhardt, Silver Lake; NiJaree Canady, Topeka High; Kadence Jeffries, Topeka West; Campbell Bagshaw, Washburn Rural.
SPRING MALE — Tanner Newkirk, Hayden; Torrey Horak, Rossville; Dagen Brewer, Seaman; Caden Walker, Shawnee Heights; Daigan Kruger, Silver Lake; Zander Putthoff, Topeka West; Zach Sulzen-Watson, Washburn Rural.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL FEMALE — Celeste Gonzalez, Highland Park; Drew Baxter, Seaman; Taryn Dial, Shawnee Heights; DayShauna Wiley, Topeka High; Trenna Whitmore, Washburn Rural.
MOST INSPIRATIONAL MALE — Corey Catron, Rossville; Aidan Polter, Seaman; Carter Olson, Shawnee Heights; Richard Carter, Topeka High; Aidan Boline, Washburn Rural.
WINTER SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Elijah Brooks
ELIJAH BROOKS | Topeka West
PARENTS: Peter Brooks and Katesheius Anderson
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 3.75
Brooks was named Mr. Kansas Basketball by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association after a record-setting 2021-2022 season. Brooks averaged 25.3 points on the season after putting together a string of 30-point games with a high of 43 points. Brooks, the TopSports.news Shawnee County and Centennial League Player of the Year, led the Chargers to back-to-back Class 5A state tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2021. Brooks is West's single-season record-holder (581 points) and career leading scorer (1,450 points). "Elijah has shown enthusiasm and work ethic that has been commendable and sincere,'' West coach Rick Bloomquist said. Brooks will play his college basketball at Division I North Dakota.
Richard Carter
RICHARD CARTER | Topeka High
PARENTS: Richard and Margaret Carter
SPORT: Swimming | GPA: NA
Carter was a varsity swimmer all four seasons at Topeka High, earning second-team All-City recognition two times. Carter competed in the Class 6A state tournament as a senior in the 400-yard free relay. Carter scored a total of 582 points during his swimming career for the Trojans. Carter competed primarily in the 50-yard freestyle, the 100 free, the 200 free and and the 100 butterfly. Carter plans to attend Grove City College.
Trent Duffey
TRENT DUFFEY | Hayden
WINTER SPORTS: OUTSTANDING FEMALE NOMINEES
Jaley Barkley
JALEY BARKLEY | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Shane and Valerie Barkley
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.53
"Jaley is a fantastic leader and worker,'' Cair Paravel coach Brian Ewing said. "She knew my expectations for her senior year and led the team through her dedication and desire. Jaley has always been a hard worker during the season but out of season as well. She put up tens of thousands of shots during COVID, which showed up in her stats this past season. Jaley loves to interact with, and encourage, the younger kids, especially the girls. She knows that eyes are on her for not only how she plays on the court but how she leads throughour her school day and practice.'' Barkey will play college basketball next season for Sterling College.
Celeste Gonzalez
CELESTE GONZALEZ | Highland Park
PARENTS: Raul Gonzalez and Clara Caro
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 4.2
Gonzalez posted a 17-7 record as a senior and was a two-year letter-winner for Highland Park's girls wrestling team. Gonzalez won the Centennial League indiviual championship at 191 pounds her senior season, qualified for the Class 6A-5A state meet with a runner-up regional finish and earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention. "She had a desire to demonstrate dominance on the mat but was friendly to everyone off the mat,'' Highland Park coach Shannon Keller said. Gonzalez, who also earned All-City honorable mention in soccer, plans to attend college at Washburn University.
Emma Krueger
EMMA KRUEGER | Washburn Rural
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Ten city girls soccer standouts have earned All-State recognition from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association, led by Washburn Rural co-midfielder of the year Belle Kennedy and Junior Blue All-Class 6A first-team midfielder Reagan Allen.
Washburn Rural senior Belle Kennedy has received Class 6A midfielder of the year recognition for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Reagan Allen received first-team All-Class 6A honors from the KHSSCA. [File photo/TSN]
Kennedy, who earned midfielder of the year honors for the second straight season, and Allen, both seniors, helped lead Washburn Rural to a runner-up finish in the 6A state tournament.
Rural seniors Hunter McWilliams and McKenna Merrick both received second-team All-6A honors while Rural junior Mackinly Rohn, Topeka High senior Luxanna Sands and High sophomore Avery Zimmerman earned All-6A honorable mention.
Shawnee Heights senior goalkeeper Tatum Hoge received second-team All-Class 5A recognition while T-Bird freshmen Isabell Van Fleet and Lailah Benz earned All-5A honorable mention.
Cair Paravel Latin freshman Zahra Lewis was named to the All-4A-1A first team after helping lead the Lions to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament.
Coaches have to be members of the KHSSCA to have players nominated and selected.
CLASS 6A
Editor's note:Over the next few days, TopSports.news will take a look at all of the nominees for the 2022 Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. All nominees will be recognized at the June 22 awards banquet, which will be held in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame induction at Washburn University's Memorial Union.
FALL SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Tylan Alejos
TYLAN ALEJOS | Topeka High
PARENTS: Evan and Tia Alejos
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.10
A 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back/defensive back, Alejos was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 and All-Centennial League first-team selection after rushing for 1,327 yards on 202 carries and scoring 18 total touchdowns lat fall. Defensively Alejos recorded 40 tackles (16 solo) and had a pass interception. Alejos rushed for 400 yards and scored eight touchdowns in a Centennial League victory over Highland Park. Alejos will play his college football at the University of Kansas after accepting a preferred walk-on offer from the Jayhawks.
Jaq'Son Birdwhistle-Bush
JAQ'SON BIRDWHISTLE-BUSH | Topeka West
PARENTS Dr. Christopher and AliShia Bush
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.415
"Jaq'Son has been an excellent example of character, leadership and work ethic as a student-athlete at Topeka West,'' said Ryan Kelley, who coached Birdwhistle-Bush at West. "In four years of being his football coach, Jaq'Son never missed a workout or practice, summer or fall. Even through tough times where the program struggled to experience success in terms of wins and losses Jaq'Son remained positive and worked hard every day. We at Topeka West are extremely proud of Jaq'son.'' Birdwhistle-Bush caught 12 passes for149 yards and a touchdown as a senior. Birdwhistle-Bush will attend Kansas State University.
Carter Brian
CARTER BRIAN | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Tom and Susan Brian
SPORT: Football | GPA: 4.27
Brian was the Lions' quarterback as a junior and senior, leading Cair Paravel to a perfect season and the Kansas Christian Athletic Association state title last fall. "He is a determined individual who is not afraid of difficult possibilities and that effort created the building blocks for a very successful senior season,'' Cair Paravel coach Doug Bonura said. "Carter's leadership at the quarterback position helped secure his team's undefeated season. Brian earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honors, throwing for 2,515 yards and 51 touchdowns. Brian plans to play football at Ohio Northern University.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which went undefeated against city competition en route to a Centennial League championship and a runner-up finish in the Class 6A state tournament, put a city-high five players on the 2022 All-City girls soccer team, selected by city coaches.
Washburn Rural senior Belle Kennedy (left), a first-team repeat pick, is one of five Junior Blues named to the 2022 All-City girls soccer team. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior goalkeeper Tatum Hoge earned first-team All-City soccer honors for the second straight season after helping lead the T-Birds to a 13-5-0 record in 2022. [Submitted photo]
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Katherine Keys (1) earned All-City girls soccer first-team recognition for the second straight season after helping lead the Lions to a fourth-place finish in the Class 4A-1A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Hunter McWilliams (left) earned first-team All-City girls soccer honors for the second straight season after helping the Junior Blues post a second-place finish in Class 6A. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High sophomore Avery Zimmerman (2) and Hayden senior Kate Roeder (15) are both first-team All-City girls soccer repeat picks. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High senior Luxanna Sands (right) earned a spot on the All-City soccer first team for the second straight year after helping lead the Trojans to a 12-6-0 season this spring. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman junior Brooklyn Yingling (near) earned first-team All-City soccer honors for the second straight year after helping the Vikings post an11-6-1 record this spring. [File photo/TSN]
The Junior Blues, who went 17-3-1 on the season, are represented on the first team by seniors Reagan Allen, Belle Kennedy, McKenna Merrick and Hunter McWilliams and freshman Kate Hinck while Junior Blues coach Brian Hensyel was named the city coach of the year.
Cair Paravel Latin, which posted a fourth-place finish in the 4A-1A state tournament, put sophomore Katherine Keys and freshman Zahra Lewis on the first team after the Lions posted a 15-5-0 record and earned their first final four berth.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
All 10 Shawnee County high schools have nominated multiple senior athletes for the 17th annual Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards, which will be presented on June 22 along with the induction of the 2022 Hall of Fame class.
TopSports.news, in conjunction with the University of Kansas Health Systems St Francis Campus, A-1 Lock and Key and Washburn University, will host the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the Washburn University Memorial Union.
Topeka High star NiJaree Canady, who helped lead the Trojans to back-to-back Class 6A softball state titles, has been nominated for the 2022 Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards, which will be presented June 22 at Washburn University's Memorial Union. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden product Tanner Newkirk, a three-time state champion in the 2022 state track meet, is a nominee for the 2022 Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards, which will be presented on June 22 at Washburn University. [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, James Letcher Jr. and Faith Rottinghaus will be honored as Washburn University Athletes of the Year and Aaron Crow, Kaylee Manns and Dani (McHenry) Schmidt will be inducted as the 2022 Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Fame class.
A committee of local media members will select the 2022 high school winners, including the selection of overall female and male athletes of the year.
General admission tickets for the Topeka Shawnee County sports awards banquet are $26 per person and include dinner.
Ticket information is available at topsports.news.
TOPEKA SHAWNEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS NOMINEES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's always tough paring down a whole year of sports stories to the top two or three.
Do team accomplishments get the edge over individual accolades and does one particular sport get the edge over any of the others?
My answer to both those questions is no. All accomplishments and sports should be judged on their own merit while realizing that no matter how many of these lists you put together you're not always going to be right.
That was especially true when looking at the 2021-22 sports year for Shawnee County high school boys teams, but after changing the order a time or two or 12 here's my version of the Top 10 Shawnee County boys prep stories of '21-'22:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's girls soccer team advanced to the Class 6A state championship game for the fourth time in school history, taking a 3-2 semiinal decision over Olathe Northwest on Friday at the College Boulevard Activity Center.
The Junior Blues, who improved to 17-2-1, got goals from Belle Kennedy, Reagan Allen and Hunter McWilliams while Kennedy also picked up an assist.
Washburn Rural will play for the state championship at 2 p.m. Saturday against four-time defending 6A champion Blue Valley West (15-3-1), a 5-1 win over Manhattan.
Manhattan (15-4-1) will face Olathe Northwest (14-5-1) in the third-place game at 12 p.m.
Cair Paravel Latin celebrates its goal in Friday's 2-1 Class 4A-1A semifinal loss to Buhler on Friday at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel freshman Zahra Lewis attempts a shot in Friday's Class 4A-1A state soccer semifinal against Buhler. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
LIONS TO PLAY FOR THIRD
Cair Paravel Latin, making the first final four appearance in school history, dropped a tough 2-1 semifinal decision to Buhler in Friday's Class 4A-1A state tournament at Hummer Sports Park.
The Lions, 15-4-0, will now play play McPherson (15-4-1) in the 12 p.m. third-place game Saturday.
Buhler (12-7-1) will play state power Bishop Miege (14-5-1) for the 4A-1A championship at 2 p.m.
Bishop Miege advance with a 2-1 semifinal win over McPherson, taking a 5-3 decision in penalty kicks.
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
For the first time in Cair Paravel Latin's short history in the KSHSAA, the Lions' girls soccer team will take part in the Class 4A-1A state semifinals after knocking off Hayden in Tuesday's state quarterfinal game at the Bettis Family Sports Complex, 2-1.
Cair Paravel (14-3-0) has shown in the 2022 campaign that it deserves to be considered one of 4A-1A's top teams and on Tuesday, the Lions' victory proved that the moment wasn’t too big for its youthful squad. Out of its 22 players, only one player is a senior.
Cair Paravel freshman Zahra Lewis (3) celebrates the Lions' first goal with sophomore Katherine Keys in Tuesday's 2-1 state quarterfinal victory over Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel soccer celebrates Tuesday's 2-1 Class 4A-1A state quarterfinal win over Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel has now laid the foundation and is hoping that the state quarterfinal victory won’t be its last of the season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin and No. 7 Hayden captured Class 4A-1A regional girls soccer championships on Thursday, setting up a state quarterfinal matchup between the Lions and the Wildcats next Tuesday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Cair Paravel Latin hoists its Class 4A-1A regional championship trophy after Tuesday's 9-0 win over Bishop Seabury. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
![Hayden soccer poses for a team picture after winning a Class 4A-1A regional title with a 1-0 win at Louisburg on Thursday. [Photo/Hayden soccer]](/images/aa-images/Haydensoccerregional.jpg)
Hayden soccer poses for a team picture after winning a Class 4A-1A regional title with a 1-0 win at Louisburg on Thursday. [Photo/Hayden soccer]
Cair Paravel rolled to a 9-0 win over Bishop Seabury in its regional final Thursday at Bettis while Hayden earned a 1-0 road victory at Louisburg.
With the victory Cair Paravel improved 14-3-0 on the season.
Junior Sloane Sims scored the game's only goal in the first half and Hayden made it stand up the rest of the way.
Senior Abby Dodd was credited with the assist on Sims' goal as Hayden improved to 10-6-1 on the season.
Next Tuesday's quarterfinal will be played at 4:30 p.m. at Bettis.
The winner of that game will move on to the 4A-1A state tournament Mary 27-28 at Hummer Sports Park.
Other 4A-1A state quarterfinals will pit Bishop Miege (12-5-1) against Baldwin (10-5-2), Mulvane (14-3-1) against Buhler (10-7-1) and McPherson (14-3-1) against Circle (12-5-1).
ROSSVILLE SOFTBALL COMPLETES REGIONAL RUN
Rossville softball wrapped up its suspended Class 3A regional final on Thursday in Sabetha, taking a 9-3 win over Nemaha Central to earn a berth in next week's Class 3A state tournament at the Twin Oaks Complex in Manhattan.
Rossville softball poses for a team picture after earning a Class 3A state berth with a 9-3 win over Nemaha Central Thursday at Sabetha. [Submitted]
The Bulldawgs, now 20-3 on the season, will be the No. 6 seed in the state tournament and will open their state tournament bid at 7 p.m. next Thursday against No. 3 Council Grove (21-2).
Also on the same side of the bracket with Rossville and Council Grove are No. 2 Scott City (20-1) and No. 7 Prairie View (19-4).
On the other side of the 3A bracket, No. Hoisington/Central Plains (22-1) will face No. 8 Santa Fe Trail (19-4) and No. 4 Kingman/Norwich (21-2) will take on No. 5 Frontenac (20-3).
The state semifinals will be played at 11 a.m. next Friday, followed by the championship game at 1:30 p.m.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Four Shawnee County teams earned spots in the latest Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association girls state rankings.
Washburn Rural, currently 9-2-0, is ranked No. 2 in Class 6A while Shawnee Heights, 9-1-0, is No. 8 in 5A.
Both Hayden and Cair Paravel Latin are ranked in 4A-1A, with Hayden (7-2-1) No. 3 and Cair Paravel (9-3-0) No. 5.
KHSSCA COACHES POLL
WEEK 5
Records as of April 27
CLASS 6A
1. Blue Valley West 7-1-0
2. Washburn Rural 9-2-0
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West's boys tennis team won the team championship in Saturday's Salina Central Invitational, led by junior doubles champions Miles and Ian Cusick.
The Cusicks, who won their third tournament on the week, took an 8-3 win over Arkansas City in the championship match.
Topeka West's Miles Cusick returns a shot as Ian Cusick looks on Saturday in the Sallina Central Invitational. The Cusicks win the doubles title, leading the Chargers to the team championship. [Submitted]
Topeka West's Gavin Chavez (left) and Carter Cool finished third in doubles in Saturday's Salina Central Invitational, helping the Chargers win the team title. [Submitted]
Senior Gavin Chavez and junior Carter Cool posted a third-place finish, bouncing back from a semifinal loss to teammates Cusick and Cusick to win the third-place match.
Sophomore James Maag added a fourth-place finish in singles for the Chargers.
• Topeka West finished second as a team to Wichita Classical in Friday's Emporia Invitational, with Miles and Ian Cusick claiming the championship in an all-West doubles final.
The Cusicks beat teammates Chavez and Cool 8-7 (7-4 in a tiebreaker) for first place.
Maag from Topeka West finished 4th in singles.
Senior Michael Sandstrom and junior Gus Glotzbach finished fifth in doubles for Hayden.
Maag from Topeka West finished 4th in singles.
NEWKIRK JOINS ALL-TIME DISTANCE ELITE
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Shawnee Heights star point guard Trey Brown, who helped lead the T-Birds to the Class 5A state championship in 2017, had his heart set on becoming a basketball coach.
But even Brown is surprised that things have happened this quickly, with Cair Paravel Latin announcing the 23-year-old Brown as the Lions' new head boys coach Wednesday night.
TreyBrown
"It was actually pretty crazy,'' said Brown, who recently wrapped up his college career at MidAmerica Nazarene University. "Coaching is something I always really wanted to do and I was looking around and really didn't have any plans of being a head coach right away, but I saw the (Cair Paravel) opening on a website. It was where my mom (Kim) had gotten her first coaching job and I saw it and it was kind of a shot in the dark, but I thought I might as well try.
"I ended up meeting with Gary (Cleverdon, CPLS athletic director) and had a good meeting with him and then he offered me the job. Honestly it's just been a blessing. It's something I never expected to happen, and shocked me as well, but I'm happy it did. It's been pretty wild.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake senior pitcher Daigan Kruger threw his first career no-hitter Monday night in a 6-0 Mid-East League first-game win over Riley County.
Daigan Kruger
The Eagles added an 8-5 victory in the second game to complete the sweep.
Kruger went seven innings with five strikeouts while issuing two walks in the Game 1 win and also went 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored.
Matt Barnes went 2 for 3 with a home run and three runs batted in for the Eagles in the opener while Luke Womack was 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBI and Kaden Walker was 1 of 3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Eli Barnes picked up the pitching win in the second game, throwing a complete game while allowing nine hits and three earned runs. Barnes stuck out three batters.
Walker went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI while E. Barnes was 2 for 4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored, Kruger 2 for 3 with a run scored and Womack 1 for 4 with an RBI.
With the sweep the Eagles improved to 7-3 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-East League.
Lions' Clark signs with McPherson College
Cair Paravel Latin senior basketball standout Zach Clark signed a college letter of intent with McPherson College on Monday.
Cair Paravel Latin senior Zach Clark, flanked by his parents Devon and Amy Clark, signed a basketball letter of intent with McPherson College on Monday. [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
Clark, a 6-foot-4 guard, earned second-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honors this past season and was also a first-team All-Kaw Valley League pick.
Clark helped lead the Lions to a 14-5 record.
Hayden improves to 7-0-1 with 4-1 win over Blue Jays
Senior Macy Smith scored two goals to lead the way as Hayden posted a 4-1 Centennial League girls soccer victory at Junction City Monday night.
Macy Smith
Junior Jenessa Broxterman and sophomore Jill Lenherr also scored goals for the Wildcats, now 7-0-1 on the season.
Senior Kate Roeder and junior Elaina Wolff were credited with assists.
HAYDEN 4, JUNCTION CITY 1
Hayden 2 2 -- 4
Junction City 1 0 -- 1
Hayden -- Goals: Smith 2, Broxterman, Lenherr. Assists: Roeder, Wolff.
Keys powers Cair Paravel to 7-0 soccer win
Sophomore Katherine Keys scored three goals and also recorded an assist as Cair Paravel Latin improved to 7-3-0 on the season with a 7-0 girls soccer romp past Kansas City Christian Monday.
Katherine Keys
Junior Sage Schwartz added two goals and two assists for the Lions, who also got goals from freshmen Zahra Lewis and Alexis Gonzalez.
Lewis was also credited with two assists while Sawyer Schwartz had an assist and picked up the shutout in goal for Cair Paravel.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 7, KANSAS CITY CHRISTIAN 0
Cair Paravel 5 2 -- 7
KC Christian 0 0 -- 0
Cair Paravel -- Goals: Keys 3, Sage Schwartz 2, Lewis, Gonzalez. Assists: Sage Schwartz 2, Lewis 2, Keys, Sawyer Schwartz. Shutout: Sawyer Schwartz.
Seaman golf runner-up in Hays tournament
Seaman's golf team finished second as a team in Monday's Bob Blazer/Hays Invitational on Monday while three city golfers posted top-five finishes.
Viking senior Gavin Wilhelm finished fourth individually with a 78 while Seaman's Tim Biggs and Topeka West's Myles Alonzo tied for fifth with 80s.
Garden City won the team championship by a 312-334 margin over Seaman, with the Buffaloes placing three players in the top seven individually, led by individual medalist Theo Juhl (67).
BOB BLAZER/HAYS INVITATIONAL
Team scores
Garden City 312, Seaman 334, Salina Sacred Heart 340, Dodge City 351, Hays 368, Salina South 371, Liberal 390, Junction City 398, Great Bend 405.
Individual results
1. Juhl, Garden City, 67; 2. Scheck, Dodge City, 76; 3. Koskal, Garden City, 77; 4. Gavin Wilhelm, Seaman, 78; 5. (tie) Tim Biggs, Seaman, and Myles Alonzo, Topeka West, 80; 7. Shook, Garden City, 82; 8. (tie) Elmore, Salina Sacred Heart, and Maddox Xaysongkham, Salina South, 83; 10. Robinson, Dodge City, 84.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin got a pair of goals and an assist from sophomore Katherine Keys as the Lions rolled to a 5-0 win over Heritage Christian on Tuesday.
The Lions, who improved to 4-3, also got goals from Sage Schwartz, Zahra Lewis and Allison Schwarz.
Sawyer Schwartz got the shutout in goal for the Lions.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 5, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 0
Cair Paravel 2 3 -- 5
Heritage Christian 0 0 -- 0
Cair Paravel -- Goals: Keys 2, Sage Schwartz, Lewis, Allison Schwarz Assists: Keys. Shutout – Sawyer Schwartz
Hayden soccer remains unbeaten
Sophomore Jill Lenherr scored the game's only goal off an assist from senior Kate Roeder as Hayden improved to 5-0-1 with a 1-0 non-league victory over Baldwin.
Senior Macy Smith and junior Hannah Schmitz combined for the shutout in goal for the Wildcats.
HAYDEN 1, BALDWIN 0
Hayden 0 1 -- 1
Baldwin 0 0 -- 0
Hayden -- Goal: Lenherr. Assist: Roeder. Shutout: Smith/Schmitz.
Topeka West Myles Cusick (right) and Ian Cusick won the doubles championship in last Saturday's Goddard Invitational. [Submitted]
Cusicks win doubles title at Goddard
Topeka West juniors Ian and Myles Cusick captured the doubles championship in the Goddard Invitational, topping Andover Central in the championship match.
Senior Gavin Chavez and junior Carter Cool beat McPherson to take third place in doubles for the Chargers.
West sophomore James Maag placed ninth in singles.
The Chargers' next meet is the Topeka West Invitational on April 19 at Kossover Tennis Center.
By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The heavy wind gusts couldn’t blow away Tae Thomas as the Topeka High senior had two goals that helped the Lady Trojans defeat Cair Paravel Latin 4-1 at Hummer Sports Park on a frigid Thursday night.
Thomas’ goals were Houdini-like -- a goal from near the Northeast corner and a goal short of midfield -- that had a huge impact on the victory.
Tae Thomas
“I’m pretty proud of myself today,” Thomas said. “Of course, I have some things to work on. I need to play a bit quicker and find the open teammate more often, but I’m proud of myself for the good things I did do during the game.
“I’m always looking for the open teammate and the open shot.”
The three-sport athlete scored her first goal with 7:49 to go in the first half and her second goal came with 3:09 remaining in the second half.
“(Thomas) just brings so much energy to this team,” Topeka High coach Derek Snook said. “We moved her around in different positions today, just so we could put her in the best situation possible. She’s not a big talker, but her play and energy she brings to the field is something that everyone feeds off of.
“She’s a fantastic leader and today was fantastic for her.”
Besides Thomas’ two goals, midfielders Avery Zimmerman and Haley Carpenter contributed one goal each in the three-goal victory.
In the last two games, the trio of Thomas, Zimmerman and Carpenter have a combined 11 goals. The Lady Trojans as a team in the two-game span have outscored Highland Park and Cair Paravel, 16-1.
Thomas would stand before her teammates after Thursday’s victory and let everyone know how proud she is of the energy everyone played with.
“We knew (Cair Paravel) was going to be a tough game for us,” Thomas said. “I felt like we were more mentally prepared for this game than others. I felt like going against a tough team brought our energy up. We expected everyone to hustle, carry a heavy amount of energy and play our best. I think the energy was a big part of our win.”
Snook agreed with Thomas and thinks this team can go far if the tge Trojans play the way they did on Thursday night.
It took the Lady Trojans 1:01 to get on the board, with Zimmerman converting a penalty kick to give Topeka High the 1-0 lead.
“The early penalty kick gave us a nice advantage since it was so early,” Snook said. “We’ve had an issue so far this year with our shots just barely missing or having other things not go our way early in games. It was nice for us to be in a good situation like that early.
“Having momentum a minute into the game is nice.”
The strong defense for both teams would prevent anyone from coming close to scoring for 29:25 after Zimmerman’s goal.
Cair Paravel would answer back after the early 1-0 Topeka High lead. Freshman Zahra Lewis was able to separate herself from a group of Trojans and win the battle by kicking in the Lions' first goal of the night.
Topeka High regained the lead as Thomas scored her first goal that would slide over defenders' heads far away from where the goalie was.
Carpenter would end the first half with a goal giving the Lady Trojans a two-goal lead heading into the half.
After halftime, goals were harder to come by. The defense by both teams was exceptional and it made it hard for the offense to come up with anything.
Thomas would drill in her second goal from the deep Northeast corner with 3:09 left in the game.
That final goal from Topeka High would be the dagger in an impressive win.
Topeka High (3-2) will face Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park next Tuesday.
TOPEKA 4, CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 1
Cair Paravel 1 0 – 1
Topeka High 3 1 – 4
Goals: Topeka High – Thomas 2, Zimmerman, Carpenter. Cair Paravel – Lewis.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Five Shawnee County high school soccer teams received mention in the Week 2 Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association girls state rankings.
Freshman Delaney Hill (left), senior Emma Krueger (right) and the Washburn Rural girls soccer team are ranked No. 4 in Class 6A by the KHSSCA. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural is ranked No.4 in Class 6A after getting the 2022 season off to a perfect 5-0-0 start while Hayden is No. 3 in 4A-1A after starting the year 3-0-1 and Cair Paravel Latin is No. 8 in 4A-1A at 3-2-0.
Topeka High received votes in the 6A poll while Shawnee Heights received votes in 5A.
KHSSCA COACHES POLL WEEK 2
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Rossville's softball team ran its record to 6-0 Tuesday night with an 11-0, 17-0 Mid-East League doubleheader sweep over Riley County.
Sophomore Kinsey Perine homered in both games while sophomore Ryan Leathers also had a pair of homers on the day.
Rossville sophomores Kinsey Perine and Ryan Leathers hit a pair of home runs in Tuesday's doubleheader sweep over Riley County. [Submitted]
Rossville softball celebrates after Tuesday's Mid-East League doubleheader sweep over Riley County. [Submitted]
Perine homered and had two runs batted in for the Bulldawgs in the 11-0 first-game victory while sophomore Emma Mitchell went 2-2 with two RBI.
Vanesa Quinones improved to 3-0 on the season with the shutout pitching performance, recording five strikeouts.
The Lady Dawgs wrapped up the sweep with a 17-0 win in the nightcap.
Mitchell went 4 for 5 with a double and a triple while Perine went 4 for 5 with her homer and a triple.
Brinley Dyche moved to 3-0 with the pitching victory, recording five strikeouts.
Hayden soccer blanks Tonganoxie, 6-0
Hayden improved to 3-0-1 on the season with a 6-0 non-league road romp Tuesday at Tonganoxie.
The Wildcats opened up a 2-0 halftime advantage and turned the game into a rout with four second-half goals.
Hayden junior Sloane Sims (5) scored a pair of goals in the Wildcats' 6-0 soccer win over Tonganoxie on Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden got a pair of goals from junior Sloane Sims while junior Jenessa Broxterman, senior Macy Smith and sophomore Jill Lenherr also scored goals. The Wildcats' sixth goal came on a Tonganoxie own goal.
Sophomore Mary Burenheide contributed a pair of assists while seniors Riley Schmidtlein, Elizabeth Dunshee and Kate Roeder were also credited with assists.
Smith and sophomore Hannah Schmitz combined for the shutout in goal.
HAYDEN 6, TONGANOXIE 0
Hayden 2 4 -- 6
Tonganoxie 0 0 -- 0
Hayden -- Goals: Sims 2, Broxterman, Smith, Lenherr, own goal. Assists: Burenheide 2, Schmidtlein, Dunshee, Roeder. Shutout: Smith, Schmitz.
Lions' Everhart signs with Baker
Cair Paravel Latin soccer standout Ethan Everhart signed a college letter of intent with Baker University on Tuesday.
Cair Paravel Latin senior Ethan Everhart signs a soccer letter of intent with Baker University on Tuesday as his parents, Rachel and David, and Baker assistant men’s soccer coach Sean McAllister look on. [Photo courtesy of Jan Pabitzky]
Everhart received first-team All-City recognition last fall and also received All-Shawnee County honorable mention in basketbal this past season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's boys golf team put five players in the top 10 en route to winning the Salina Central Invitational by 27 strokes Monday at Salina Municipal.
Seniors Gavin Wilhelm, Jake Moss and Tim Biggs placed 3-4-5 individually to pace the Vikings while sophomore Zach Weir finished seventh and senior Taylor Tenperry ninth.
Gavin Wilhelm
Wilhelm shot a 72, followed by Moss with a 74, Biggs with a 76, Weir with a 79 and Tenpenny with an 81.
Freshman Bradley Williamson rounded out Seaman's lineup with an 89, tying for 18th place.
SALINA CENTRAL INVITATIONAL
Team scores
Seaman 301, Hutchinson 328, Salina South 331, Emporia 332, Newton 362, Salina Central 368, Hays 385.
Individual resullts
1. Adkins, Hutchinson, 64; 2. Sauder, Emporia, 68; 3. Wilhelm, Seaman, 72; 4. Moss, Seaman, 74; 5. (tie) Biggs, Seaman, and Sauder, Emporia, 76; 7. Weir, Seaman, 79; 8. Perry, Salina South, 80; 9. (tie) Tenpenny, Seaman, and Xaysongkham, Salina South, 81.
Other Seaman -- T18. Williamson, 89.
CAIR PARAVEL SOCCER BLANKS WARD, 10-0
Sophomore Katherine Keys scored four goals to lead the way as Cair Paravel Latin stretched its winning streak to three games with a 10-0 romp past Bishop Ward.
Katherine Keys
The Lions, who improved to 3-2, also got two goals apiece from junior Sage Schwartz and freshman Clara Boyd while sophomore Emma Keller and sophomore Corinne Stapleton also scored goals for the Lions.
Keller and freshman Zahra Lewis were credited with two assists each while Stapleton and freshman Shay Lowery also had assists and freshman Sawyer Schwartz picked up the shutout in goals.
Cair Paravel took a 7-0 lead in the first half added three goals in the second hallf to end the game.
CAIR PARAVEL 10, BISHOP WARD 0
Bishop Ward 0 0 -- 0
Cair Paravel 7 3 -- 10
Cair Paravel -- Goals: Keys 4, Sage Schwartz 2, Boyd 2, Keller, Stapleton. Assists: Lewis 2, Keller 2, Stapleton, Lowry. Shutout – Sawyer Schwartz
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West's Elijah Brooks a 6-foot-4 senior, and Seaman 6-5 senior Ty Henry have been named to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association All-Class 5A first team.
Brooks, the Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year, helped lead the Chargers to a 5A state tournament berth and a 21-2 record overall, while Henry helped lead the Vikings to an 18-7 record and Seaman's first-ever boys state basketball championship.
Topeka West senior Elijah Brooks has been named to the KBCA All-5A first team after leading the Chargers to a 21-2 record and a 5A state tournament berth. [File photoTSN]
Seaman senior Ty Henry has received All-Class 5A first-team honors from the KBCA after helping lead the Vikings to the 5A state championship. [File photo/TSN]
Brooks and Henry were two of nine Shawnee County boys players to receive all-state recognition from the KBCA, including six players in 5A.
Highland Park senior Juan'Tario Roberts earned second-team All-5A recognition after helping the Scots advance to the 5A state tournament while Highland Park junior Bo Aldridge, Seaman junior Kaeden Bonner and Viking senior Mateo Hyman received honorable mention.
Hayden junior Joe Otting earned second-team All-4A honors after helping lead the Wildcats to a fourth-place finish in the 4A state tournament while Wildcat senior Trent Duffey received honorable mention.
Cair Paravel Latin senior Noah Hastert received second-team recognition in 1A Division I.
KBCA BOYS ALL-STATE BASKETBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin's girls soccer team cruised to its second straight victory on Thursday, taking a 7-0 decision over Maranatha Academy at the Sunflower Soccer Complex.
Sophomores Katherine Keys and Corinne Stapleton and freshman Zara Lewis all scored two goals for the Lions, who evened their record at 2-2, while senior Sage Schwartz also had a goal for Cair Paravel.
Sage Schwartz was also credited with two assists and Keys one assist.
Freshman Sawyer Schwartz posted the shutout in goal for Cair Paravel.
Cair Paravel Latin freshman goalkeeper Sawyer Schwartz, making a save in an earlier game against Hayden, posted the shutout in goal for the Lions in Thursday's 7-0 victory over Maranatha Academy. [File photo/TSN]
Cair Paravel opened up a 3-0 lead at the half before adding four games after the break to turn the game into a rout.
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 7, MARANATHA ACADEMY 0
Cair Paravel (2-2) 3 4 -- 7
Maranatha 0 0 -- 0
Cair Paravel -- Goals: Keys 2, Lewis 2, Stapleton 2, Sage Schwartz. Assists: Sage Schwartz, Keys. Shutout: Sawyer Schwartz.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There's a long way to go in the 2022 high school girls soccer season, but Hayden certainly can't complain about its start.
The Wildcats played for the second time in three days Friday at the Sunflower Soccer Complex, with Hayden improving to 2-0 with a 2-0 shutout victory over Cair Paravel Latin.
"It makes me really optimistic for the rest of the season,'' Hayden senior Elizabeth Dunshee said. "I have high hopes and it gives me a lot of confidence to have two wins under our belt.
"I think it's just working together as a team and connecting passes. I think we have the talent. We just have to make sure we're using it and finishing on the opportunities we get in front of the goal.''
Hayden senior Kate Roeder (15) goes airborn over a Cair Paravel player to try to get to the ball in the second half of the Wildcats' 2-0 win over the Lions Friday at the Sunflower Soccer Complex. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
