Hayden High School Wildcats
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake in Class 3A and Rossville in 2A opened volleyball postseason in impressive fashion on Monday, with both the Eagles and Bulldawgs going 3-0 to capture regional tournament titles and advance to sub-state competition on Saturday.
Silver Lake went 3-0 with three straight-set wins to win Monday's Class 3A volleyball tournament at Silver Lake. [Silver Lake volleyball]
Rossville went 3-0 with three straight-set wins to win Monday's Class 2A volleyball tournament at Atchison. [Rossville volleyball]
Silver Lake posted three straight-set wins to win the 3A regional it hosted while Rossville duplicated that feat in the 2A event at Atchison.
The 27-9 Eagles advanced to a Saturday 3A sub-state at Royal Valley while the 20-14 Bulldawgs will compete in a 2A sub-state at Maranatha Academy in Shawnee.
Silver Lake opened its regional bid with a 25-15, 25-15 win over Sabetha, followeed by a 25-10, 25-13 victory over Riley County and a 25-13, 25-18 win over Perry-Lecompton.
The Eagles are the No. 2 seed for Saturday's Royal Valley sub-state and will play the second match against No. 3 Santa Fe Trail (28-8).
The Silver Lake-Santa Fe Trail winner will take on the winner of the first match between No. 1 Royal Valley (29-7) and No. 4 Marysville (13-19) for the sub-state title, with the winner advancing to the 3A state tournament at Hutchinson Nov. 1-2.
Rossville took a 25-8, 25-17 win over Cair Paravel Latin in its first regional match before taking a 25-2, 25-11 win over Valley Falls and a 25-21, 25-21 win over Maur Hill Mt. Academy.
Cair Paravel went 1-2 on the day, posting a 25-15, 25-16 win over Valley Falls. The Lions dropped a three-set decision to Maur Hill-Mt. Academy, which took a 25-22, 15-25, 25-20 win.
Rossville is the No. 2 seed for the Maranatha Academy sub-state on Saturday and will play the second match of the day aganst No. 3 Pleasant Ridge (21-13).
The winner of that match will play for the sub-state title against the winner of the match between top seed Maranatha Academy (34-6) and No. 4 Jefferson North (16-20).
The sub-state champ will advance to the state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Dodge City.
Other Saturday sub-states involving local schools:
Class 6A at Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural (28-6) is the No. 1 6A West seed and will host a four-school sub-state Saturday.
The Junior Blues will face No. 16 West seed Liberal (4-29) in the 1 p.m. match, followed by a match between No. 8 seed Topeka High (16-18) and No. 9 Free State (13-17).
The two winners will face off at approximately 3 p.m. for the sub-state title, with the winner moving on to the 6A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Salina.
Class 5A at Seaman
Defending 5A champion Seaman will host a 5A sub-state Saturday, with the 35-2 Vikings the No. 1 West seed.
Seaman will play No. 16 Topeka West (13-21) in the first match of the tournament followed by the other semifinal between No. 8 Emporia (23-12) and No. 9 Maize South (23-13).
The two winners will advance to the sub-state final, with the tournament champion advancing to the 5A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Salina.
Class 5A at Blue Valley Southwest
Shawnee Heights (17-18) is the No. 8 East seed and will face No. 9 Basehor-Linwood (17-18) in the second match of the day.
The winner will advance to take on the winner between No. 1 seed Blue Valley Southwest (29-5) and No. 16 Kansas City-Turner (9-21).
The sub-state champ will move on to the 5A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Salina.
Class 5A at St. Thomas Aquinas
Highland Park is the No. 10 East seed (11-12) and will face No. 7 Spring Hill (19-17) in a sub-state semifinal.
The winner of that match will face the semifinal winner between No. 2 Aquinas (27-5) and No. 15 Leavenworth (11-20) for the sub-state title, with the winner advancing to the 5A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Salina.
Class 4A at Hayden
Hayden, the No. 3 East seed at 27-10, will host a 4A sub-state on Saturday (2 p.m. start).
The Wildcats will face No. 14 Baldwin (10-22) in a semifinal match while No. 6 Paola (21-12) will take on No. 11 Parsons (15-18) in the other semifinal.
The winner of those two matches will play for the sub-state title, with the winner advancing to the 4A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Hutchinson.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Max Huston
MAX HUSTON, Seaman
A senior quarterback, Huston had a hand in all four Seaman touchdowns as the Vikings took a 28-14 home United Kansas Conference victory over previously-unbeaten Basehor-Linwood Friday night. Huston wnt 21 of 29 passing for 294 yards and a 76-yard touchdown to Bryer Finley and carried the ball 20 times for 67 yards with TDs of 2, 2 and 1 yard as Seaman improved to 6-1 overall and 6-0 in the UKC.
Rylee Ismert
RYLEE ISMERT, Washburn Rural
Ismert, a senior cross country standout and returning Class 6A state medalist, captured her first individual Centennial League championship on Saturday at Washburn Rural, clocking a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 02.9 seconds to win by more than 18 seconds as the Junior Blues defended their league team championship by a 28-54 margin over Manhattan.
Maegan Mills
MAEGAN MILLS, Seaman
A star senior hitter and returning All-Stater, Mills led Seaman volleyball to a perfect 9-0 record on the week, including wins over state powers Blue Valley West, St. James Academy and Washburn Rural and a tournament championship on Saturday in the Emporia Invitational as the defending Class 5A state-champion Vikings improved to 35-2 on the season.
The 2024 All-City girls tennis team -- Front, left to right: Madeline Deters, Topeka High, Sidney Chinn, Seaman; Camryn Lux, Seaman; Emma Sweney, Seaman; Kaylyn Hiebsch, Seaman; Ainzley Zulueta, Hayden; Emily Sheetz, Hayden; Avery O'Bray, Hayden; Grace Funk, Hayden. Back, left to right: Hailey Caryl, Topeka High; Ava Ritter, Topeka High; Peyton Henry, Seaman; Molly Gorman, Seaman; Emerie Catlin, Washbrn Rural; Isabelle Haggard, Washburn Rural; Carolina Chedzoy, Washburn Rural; Sophia Wichman, Hayden; Izzy Glotzbach, Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden three-time Class 4A state singles champion Ainzley Zulueta headlines the 2024 All-City girls tennis team, which includes 13 state medalists.
Zulueta capped her high school career with an undefeated senior season, going through the postseason without losing a game as the Wildcats won their second state team title in three seasons.
All six of Hayden's players earned 4A state medals while helping the Wildcats sweep city, Centennial League, regional and state championships.
The Wildcats got a runnerup 4A double finish from senior Emily Sheetz and freshman Sophia Wichman while junior Grace Funk placed ninth in singles and juniors Izzy Glotzbach and Avery O'Bray finished 11th in doubles..
United Kansas Conference and 5A regional team champion Seaman, which finished third at state, also put six players on the All-City team.
Viking sophomore Emma Sweeney placed fourth in 5A singles while junior Molly Gorman finished 10th in singles and senior Sidney Chinn and junior Kaylyn Henry placed 12th in doubles. Seaman sophomores Kaylyn Hiebsch and Camryn Lux were also state qualifiers in doubles.
Washburn Rural's senior doubles team of Emerie Catlin and Isabelle Haggard placed ninth in the Class 6A state tournament after sweeping city, Centennial League and 6A regional titles while Junior Blue singles state qualifiers Carolina Chedzoy also earned an All-City spot.
Topeka High junior Madeline Deters finished eighth in singles in the 6A state tournament and is joined on the All-City team by state doubles qualifiers Ava Ritter, a junior and freshman Hailey Caryl.
All-City selections are based on finishes in the city meet and the recommendations of city coaches.
All-City capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Defending Class 4A state girls golf champion Hayden will take a four-stroke lead into Tuesday's final day of the 2024 state tournament at Hesston Golf Course.
Hayden junior Lauren Borjon is tied for second place after Monday's opening round of the Class 4A state tournament at Hesston. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden finished Monday's opening round with a four-person score of 69 over par, while Wellington sits second at plus 73, followed by McPherson at plus 79.
Hayden junior Lauren Borjon finished Day 1 tied for second place individually with a 5-over-par 76, six strokes behind tournament leader Addison Douglas, who carded a 1-under 70.
Wildcat senior Addyson Baer is tied for 14th after a first-round 86 while junior Izzy Glotzbach is tied for 18th after an 89.
Brooke Johnson shot a 102, Nora Allphin a 107 and Kellyn Specht a 112 for Hayden.
The final round of the tournament is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.
Silver Lake senior Taylor Zordel, a three-time state medalist, is tied for fifth in the Class 3A-1A state tournament entering Tuesday's final round at Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake third in 3A-1A
Defending Class 3A-1A state champion Silver Lake will begin the final 18 holes of the state tournament at Emporia Municipal Golf Course in third place, seven strokes off the pace.
The Eagles finished Day 1 with a four-person score of 88 over par, seven strokes behind tournament leader Caney Valley and five strokes behind second-place Pittsburg Colgan.
Senior Taylor Zordel led Silver Lake with an opening-round of 86 and will begin Tuesday's round tied for fifth place.
Junior Kailyn Hanni is tied for 13th after a first-round 90 while Makenna Miller shot a 95, Savannah Wende a 101, Hope Thornton a 102 and Alyssa Streit a 113.
Rossville's Elley Sanders shot a first-round 94 and advanced to the second round of the tournament tied for 26th place.
The 3A-1A state tournament is set for a 10 a.m. start on Tuesday.
Class 6A, 5A state tournaments postponed
Neither the Class 6A state tournament at Hutchinson and the 5A event at Salina completed the opening round on Monday.
Both state tournaments are scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday, with the final round scheduled to begin after the competion of Day 1.
All six of Washburn Rural's players completed their first round, with senior Reece Randall shooting a 79, senior Natalie Peterson, junior Lauren Cox an 82 and senior Colbey Stead an 86 to lead the Junior Blues.
Rural was tied for fourth place and in a good position to advance to the final round of competition.
Three of Seaman's six players completed their first round in the 5A state tourney, with senior Anna McLaughlin leading the Vikings with a 91 while Chloe Schmidtlein shot a 97 and Molina Quintana a 105.
Competing as individuals, Shawnee Heights' Lyla Blair shot an 87, Topeka West's Alex Baxter a 94. Shawnee Heights' Lauryn Valdivia a 105 and West's Berlyn Kolean a 113.
The 5A field will be cut to the top six teams and the top individuals after the conclusion of the first round.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden two-sport athlete Izzy Glotzbach is already a 2024 state champion, helping the Wildcats run away with the Class 4A state tennis title Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center.
Hayden junior Izzy Glotzbach helped the Wildcats win the Class 4A tennis title on Saturday and will turn her attention to state golf on Monday in Hesston. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden junior Izzy Glotzbach will compete in the Class 4A state golf tournament on Monday after tying for ninth for the state-champion Wildcats as a sophomore. [Photo by Kyle Grunert/Special to TSN]
And the Hayden junior would like nothing more than to add another championship to her resume in Monday and Tuesday's state golf tournament at Hesston as the Wildcats attempt to successfully defend their 2023 state crown.
"I really hope we can get it done,'' Glotzbach said. "It would be really cool to win it in two sports.''
Glotzbach earned her first state individual tennis medal on Saturday when she teamed with junior Avery O'Bray for an 11th-place doubles finish and has now earned state medals in both of her fall sports after tying for ninth in state golf as a sophomore to lead the way as the Wildcats won the state title by 37 strokes.
Hayden's golf team began its title defense in last Monday's McPherson regional, tying the host Bullpups for the team title and winning on a tiebreaker.
Hayden posted a four-person score of 326 at McPherson, with all of the Wildcats' top four earning top-10 finishes.
Senior Addyson Baer shot a 79 to pace Hayden with a fifth-place individual regional finish while junior Lauren Borjon was seventh with a 79, Glotzbach eighth with an 82 and sophomore Brooke Johnson ninth with an 84.
The Wildcats also got a 19th-place finish from senior Nora Allphin (95) and a 39th-place finish from junior Kellyn Specht (120).
And Glotzbach feels like her team has put itself in position to challenge for a title repeat.
"I think it's going to be a tough battle against McPherson and Wellington, but I think we can get it done if we just play how we know how to play,'' she said.
Glotzbach admits that playing dual sports in the same season is a challenge.
"It's pretty tough,'' she said. "I just have to really focus on school and still do sports.''
But Glotzbach said it's well worth the time and effort.
"It's fun to just be around the team and have the experience of winning state and stuff like that.''
Glotzbach is one of three returning players off last year's state championship golf team, with Borjon, who placed 15th a year ago, and Baer also returning.
The 2024 state tourneys will get under way at 9 a.m. Monday.
Washburn Rural senior Natalie Peterson shot a 77 last Monday to place third individually in the Class 6A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Reece Randall shot a 78 last Monday to finish fourth in the Class 6A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
CLASS 6A
Coming off a fourth-place team finish last fall, Washburn Rural is back in the Class 6A state tournament Monday and Tuesday at Hutchinson's Carey Park after a solid second-place finish in last Monday's 6A regional at Cypress Ridge.
The Junior Blues shot a four-person score of 329 at regionals as Washburn Rural combined with regional champ Manhattan (315) to earn the first 11 individual places.
Seniors Natalie Peterson (77) and Reece Randall (78) finished third and fourth to pace Washburn Rural while junior Lauren Cox placed eighth (85) and sophomore Kailyn Petersen finished 10th (89).
Senior Colbey Stead finished 11th with a 96 for the Junior Blues while junior Ella Taggart tied for 17th with a 109.
Seaman junior Makenna Stuke posted a runnerup finish in last Monday's Class 5A regional golf tournament, helping the Vikings win the team title by a 19-stroke margin. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior Jaycee Zimmerman posted a third-place individual finish for the regional-champion Vikings last Monday at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
CLASS 5A
Seaman's girls golf team put all of its top four in the top five individual places in last Monday's Class 5A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge, winning the team championship by a 19-stroke margin while advancing to Monday and Tuesday's 5A state tournament at Salina Municipal Golf Course.
Seaman junior Makenna Stuke finished second individually with an 89, while senior Jaycee Zimmerman was third (93), sophomore Kaitlynn Frye fourth (95) and sophomore Chloe Schmidtlein fifth (97) as the Vikings won the team title by a 375-394 margin over De Soto.
The Vikings also got a tie for 12th place from junior Molina Quintana and senior Anna McLaughlin, who carded 108s.
Topeka West and Shawnee Heights both qualified a pair of individuals for state.
West senior Alex Baxter and Shawnee Heights senior Lyla Blair led the local individual qualifiers with a tie for seventh place (101), while Heights sophomore Lauryn Valdivia tied for 12th (108) and West junior Berlyn Kolean advanced with a 19th-place finish (119).
Silver Lake senior Taylor Zordel, a three-time state medalist, won the individual championship in last Monday's Class 3A-1A regional at Osage City, leading the defending state champions to the team title. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 3A-1A
After winning its first Class 3A-1A state golf championship by 22 strokes last fall, Silver Lake will be shooting for a second straight state crown Monday and Tuesday at Emporia Municipal.
Silver Lake posted a 38-stroke win over Jefferson West in the 3A-1A regional at Osage City, posting a four-person score of 356 as senior Taylor Zordel led a one-two-three individual finish for the Eagles.
Zordel carded an 81 for a one-stroke victory over junior teammate Kailyn Hanni (82) while senior Hope Thornton finished third (92).
The Eagles also got a tie for 11th place from sophomore Savannah Wende (101), a tie for 13th from senior Makenna Miller (102) and a 23-place finish from Alyssa Streit (109).
Rossville had a pair of individual state qualifiers, with senior Brinley Pottorf placing 15th (104) and senior Jaymee Woodward tying for 21st (108).
SHAWNEE COUNTY STATE QUALIFIERS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden senior tennis star Ainzley Zulueta capped one of the most dominant postseason runs in Kansas history on Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, capturing her third Class 4A singles championship while leading the Wildcats to their second team title in three seasons.
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta won her third Class 4A state singles title Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping the Wildcats win the 4A team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
In fact, although a rare player may equal it, no netter will ever surpass what Zulueta accomplished this fall, going through both regionals and the state tournament without dropping a single game while posting eight straight 6-0, 6-0 victories.
Zulueta finished off her undefeated season and amazing postseason run with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Buhler freshman Sofia Spies in Saturday's state championship match.
Zulueta admitted that a perfect run wasn't necessarily a goal when postseason began, but the deeper she went, particularly in the state tournament, the more realistic it became.
"That wasn't my main goal going into it, but once I started at regionals without dropping a game that was kind of my goal going into state,'' Zulueta said.
Spies came within a point of ending Zulueta's streak when she jumped out to a 40-0 lead in the first game of the final, but Zulueta battled back to win that game and was in control the remainder of the match.
"Once I got past that first game I was really set on just staying in the point and not thinking about what would happen afterwards, just so I could stop her from getting a game, I guess,'' Zulueta said. "That was my goal.''
After winning state titles as a freshman and sophomore, Zulueta had to sit out her junior high school season after attending a tennis academy in Texas.
But she said that just made her more determined to add title No. 3.
"I was way more determined to win it this year,'' Zulueta said. "I wasn't expecting to go 0 and 0 throughout the whole entire tournament, but that makes it a lot more memorable.''
Senior Ainzley Zulueta is congratulated by fellow Hayden students after winning her third Class 4A state singles title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta receives a hug from her father after winning her third Class 4A state singles title on Saturday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Zulueta, who will play collegiately at Ferris State (Mich.), said that winning multiple state titles became a goal before she ever got to Hayden after watching former Wildcat four-time champ Brooklyn Hunter.
"I would always look up to Brooklyn Hunter and I used to watch her when she was here, so my parents kind of instilled that goal in me. They were like, 'You could definitely do it,' so that kind of made it my goal going into high school,'' she said.
"That definitely kind of made me a lot more motivated throughout high school.''
All six members of the Hayden team earned state medals on Saturday, which made the weekend that much more memorable.
Hayden senior Emily Sheetz (right) and freshman Sophia Wichman posted a runnerup Class 4A state doubles finish Saturday, helping lead the Wildcats to the Class 4A state team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Emily Sheetz, a two-time state doubles champion and four-time state medalist, teamed with freshman Sophia Wichman to finish second in doubles while junior Grace Funk finished ninth in singles and juniors Izzy Glotzbach and Avery O'Bray posted an 11th- place doubles finish.
No. 2 seed Sheetz and Wichman dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision in the doubles final to Independence's top seeds Callie Schlorholtz, a senior, and junior Brooklyn Mattix.
Funk defeated Bishop Miege sophomore Ella Daniel 9-7 in the ninth-place singles match while Glotzbach and O'Bray took an 8-2 win over Miege's Mary Jeanne Thompson, a junior, and senior Shea Coughlan in the 11th-place match.
It all added up to the team championship by a 40-28 margin over McPherson, with Independence third with 26 points.
"It is a great weekend, and that was our whole goal,'' Hayden coach Christy Sheetz said of the team championship. "I knew going into it with Zulueta being back and Emily being strong at the doubles position that we had a great chance, especially because we were just very deep this year and the goal was always the team championship.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior Rylee Ismert has put together a very solid cross country career, including a Class 6A state medal as a junior and top-five finishes in city, league and regional competition.
Washburn Rural senior Rylee Ismert reacts at the finish line after winning the girls Centennial League cross country championship Saturday at Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But wins had been hard to come by for the Junior Blue standout, something she took care of Saturday with a decisive individual championship by more than 18 seconds in the Centennial League meet on Rural's home course.
Ismert clocked a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 02.9 seconds to lead the way as Washburn Rural placed three runners in the top five and all of its top five in the top 12 spots as the Junior Blues rolled to the league team title by a 28-54 margin over Manhattan.
Washburn Rural seniors Rylee Ismert (788) and Payton Fink run side by side in Saturday's Centennial League meet en route to a one-two finish for the team-champion Junior Blues. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Ismert said her pre-race goal was to stick as long as possible with senior teammate Payton Fink, the 2023 league champ.
"That was the plan because I knew that we would both push each other if we stayed together,'' Ismert said.
Ismert eventually took the lead about the two-mile mark and pulled away for the win while Fink finished second in 18:21.4.
"I guess I just kind of felt it,'' Ismert said. "I felt better than I thought I was going to, so I put a little surge into it and wanted to see what happened.''
Junior Emily Graf was fifth (18:52.6) for the Junior Blues while senior Brooklyn Nolte finished 10th (19:38.8) and junior Kenzie Maddox 12th (20:21.0) to round out the Junior Blues' top five.
"We've been training really hard this season and our coaches have been giving us really good workouts and it's paying off a lot for us,'' Ismert said.
Hayden got a seventh-place finish from senior Elliot Wrench (19:24.1).
Junction City senior Ethan Fontaine won the boys individual title in 15:49.4 to lead the way as the Blue Jays put five runners in the top 11 en route to winning the team championship by a 28-43 margin over Manhattan.
Washburn Rural freshman Henry Laubach finishes off a second-place performance in his first Centennial League meet Saturday at Rural, leading the Junior Blues to a third-place team finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural finished third with 61 points as Henry Laubach continued his outstanding freshman season with a second-place finish behind Fontaine in 15:49.4.
The Junior Blues also got a top-10 finish from junior Brooks Kehoe (16:25.6), who placed ninth.
Hayden finished fifth in the boys standings with 127 points whle Topeka High was sixth with 158 points.
Washburn Rural and Topeka High will be vying for state berths in a Class 6A state regional meet next Saturday at Kanza Park, with the girls race at 10:35 a.m. and the boys at 11:45.
Hayden will compete in a 4A regional next Saturday at Blue Valley Southwest, with the girls running at 10 a.m. and the boys at 11:10.
State competition will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, with 6A competing at Rim Rock Farm north of Lawrence and 4A competing at Wamego Country Club.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE CROSS COUNTRY
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden girls tennis stars Ainzley Zulueta and Emily Sheetz kept their bids for a third Class 4A state championships on Friday at Kossover Tennis Cente while Seaman sophomore Emma Sweeney also advanced to the state semifinals in the 5A state tournament.
Zulueta, the two-time state singles champ and the No. 1 seed this weekend, went 2-0 on Friday without dropping a game and will face the No. 5 seed in a 9 a.m. semifinal while Sheetz, who won back-to-back doubles championships in 2022 and 2023 with '24 Hayden graduate Lauren Sandstrom and will try for a third crown on Saturday with freshman Sophia Wichman.
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta will be shooting for her third Class 4A state tennis championship Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Sophia Wichman (left) and senior Emily Sheetz are the No. 2 doubles seed in the Class 4A state tournament and advanced to Saturday's semifinals with two straight wins on Friday. [File photo/TSN]
Sheetz and Wichman, who are coming off a regional championship and are the No. 2 seed for state and went 2-0 Friday to advance to a 9 a.m. semifinal doubles showdown with No. 6 seed Circle.
Seaman sophomore Emma Sweeney, a state medalist as a freshman, advanced to Saturday's Class 5A singles semifinals. [File photo/TSN]
Sweeney, a state singles medalist as a freshman, went 2-0 in the 5A state tournament on Friday to advance to a 9 a.m. semifinal to face the No. 1 tournament seed.
Seaman junior Molly Gorman, a two-time state medalist in doubles, went 3-1 on Friday in her first state tournament in singles and can still finish as high as fifth place on Saturday.
Seaman's doubles team of senior Sidney Chinn and junior Peyton Henry also went 3-1 on Friday and can still finish as high as fifth in 5A.
Hayden junior Grace Funk in singles and the junior doubles team of Izzy Glotzbach and Avery O'Bray both went 2-1 in their first three matches on Friday.
Topeka High junior singles player Madeline Deters won her first two 6A singles matches on Friday before losing in the quarterfinals to the No. 2 seed.
Washburn Rural seniors Emerie Catlin and Izzy Haggard fell in the 6A doubles quarterfinals.
Both Deters and Catlin and Haggard can still finish as high as fifth place.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Traditionally, Hayden football has been a run first offense.
But the Wildcats showed off their passing game Friday night on the way to wrapping up the Class 3A District 4 championship with a 50-16 romp past Perry-Lecompton on Senior Night at Hayden.
Senior Jett Wahlmeier threw for 240 yards and three TDs and also ran for a TD in Hayden's 50-16 win over Perry-Lecompton Friday night. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/TSN]
"I'm not going to let teams put eight guys in the box on us,'' Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. "I mean we've got way too many weapons that can catch the ball and we've got a quarterback that makes good decisions back there so we're going to take what they give us and that was pretty open.''
Hayden senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier completed 15 of 18 pass attempts for 240 yards and three touchdowns as the Wildcats improved to 6-1 overall and a perfect 3-0 in the district.
"We all get excited when we call a pass play in the huddle and they all rally around me to get them the ball,'' Wahlmeier said.
"We just want to get better as a team and we've got to round out some rough edges. Obviously, this (a district title) is our goal every year and this is the first step to getting a state championship.''
Junior Kade Mitchell caught four passes for 122 yards, including a 61-yard TD, in Hayden's 50-16 district win over Perry-Lecompton. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Senior Jensen Schrickel rushed for 59 yards on six carries and caught four passes for 54 yards, including a 24-yard TD, in Hayden's 50-16 win over Perry-Lecompton. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Wahlmeier hit junior Kade Mitchell for a 61-yard touchdown, senior Jensen Schrickel for a 24-yard TD and senior Treyton Tetuan for a 21-yard score while also connecting with Schrickel for a 2-point conversion and scoring on a 21-yard run to key the Hayden rout.
Hayden capped its game-opening drive with an 8-yard Broderick Desch run (Schrickel 2-point conversion from Wahlmeier) and made it a 15-0 game early in the second quarter on a 3-yard run by junior Jude Krentz before making it a three-score game on Wahlmeier's long TD to Mitchell with 8:03 left in the first half.
Perry-Lecompton (2-5, 1-2) got on the scoreboard late in the half on a disputed 3-yard TD run by junior quarterback Garrett Metcalfe.
Metcalfe fumbled on the play and after a long discussion the officials ruled that Metcalfe had crossed the goal line before the ball came loose.
Metcalfe hit senior Eli Dean for a 2-point conversion to cut the Kaws' deficit to 22-8 but Hayden answered with Wahlmeier's 24-yard TD strike to Schrickel (Becker kick) with 45.9 seconds left in the half to take a commanding 29-8 halftime lead.
Wahlmeier's TD run boosted Hayden's lead to 36-8 with 3:47 left in the third quarter (Becker kick).
Then, after Perry-Lecompton got its second touchdown on a 7-yard run from senior Bronzen Rush on the first play of the fourth quarter, Hayden pulled away to the final margin with Wahlmeier's TD pass to Tetuan and a 44-yard interception return from junior Xander Blasing.
"Offensively we still haven't hit our stride I don't think,'' Arnold said. "There's still room to get to the ceiling. Defensively, I thought we played hard and we played pretty good. They (the Kaws) put you in some bad situations because they spread you out so wide.''
Becker went six of six on extra-point kicks and is now 38 of 38 on the season.
Schrickel led Hayden's rushing attack with six carries for 59 yards while Mitchell caught four passes for 122 yards.
Hayden will close out its regular season next Friday night with a district game at Jefferson West.
HAYDEN 50, PERRY-LECOMPTON 16
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY'S GAME
Highland Park sophomore running back G'Honi Montgomery has helped lead the Scots to a 4-2 start to the 2024 season. [File photo/TSN]
KC-EAST, MO. (0-6) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (4-2)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park will be looking to bounce back with a big non-league victory Thursday night against winless Kansas City-East, Mo. after suffering back-to-back road losses at Wichita East and Meadowlark Conferference power Atchison. The Scots are coming off a 62-21 loss to Atchison and will be eyeing a big offensive game Thursday after being outscored 136-27 over its past two games. Highland Park has outscored its foes 201-136 on the eason while East has been outscored 353-43 on the year. Senior running back Jamon Wilson, junior quarterback Dontrail Fox and sophomore running back G'Honi Montgomery have turned in big years for the Scots.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Hayden junior Kade Mitchell has rushed for 507 yards and scored 15 total TDs this fall. [File photo/TSN]
PERRY-LECOMPTON (2-4, 1-1 Class 3A District 4) at HAYDEN (5-1, 2-0 Class 3A District 4)
Hayden is coming off a big 31-7 Class 3A District 4 road win at Holton last week and is in control of the District 4 race. Perry-Lecompton is also coming off a win, taking a 43-14 decision over Jefferson West. Hayden junior Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 54 times for 507 yards and caught 17 passes for 251 yards while scoring 15 total touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 62 of 95 passes for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns while senior Jensen Schrickel has caught 17 passes for 295 yards and scored seven TDs. Sophomore Mason Becker is 32 of 32 on extra point attempts while senior Jude Krentz leads the Wildcats with 53 tackles (30 solo).
Seaman junior Kaden McKinney (9) has rushed for 574 yards and 10 TDs while senior quarterback Max Huston (7) has passed for 1,365 yards and 17 TDs. [File photo/TSN]
BASEHOR-LINWOOD (6-0, 5-0) at SEAMAN (5-1, 5-0 UKC)
Friday's game is likely to decide the United Kansas Conference championship, with both the Bobcats and Vikings entering the night 5-0 in the conference. Seaman took a 59-34 UKC win at Shawnee Heights last week while Basehor-Linwood took a 44-6 non-league win over Tonganoxie. Seaman has won four straight games since a non-league loss to Class 6A Shawnee Mission East. Viking senior quarterback Max Huston has completed 75 of 121 passes for 1,365 yards and 17 touchdowns and has rushed for 381 yards and four TDs on 51 attempts. Junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 84 times for 574 yards and 10 TDs while senior Bryer Finley has caught 43 passes for 879 yards and 13 touchdowns. Junior linebacker Cameron Brian leads Seaman with 60 tackles (31 solo), while recording five tackles for loss.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By this point in the 2024 high school tennis season, Seaman singles players Emma Sweeney and Molly Gorman have faced off against each other more than they can probably count.
Seaman sophomore Emma Sweeney is 27-3 and the No. 5 singles seed for Friday and Saturday's Class 5A state tennis tournament at Andover. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Molly Gorman is 25-4 on the season and the No. 11 singles seed for the Class 5A state meet Friday and Saturday in Andover. [File photo/TSN]
Sweeney and Gorman play each other most every day in practice and also faced each other in the championship matches of the United Kansas Conference and Class 5A regional tournaments.
Gorman, a junior, and sophomore Sweeney admit that constantly going up against a teammate and close friend can get old, but the Viking standouts would welcome another meeting in this Friday and Saturday's Class 5A state tournament at the Andover District Tennis Complex.
Sweeney, who placed 11th in 5A as a freshman, is the No. 5 state seed with a 27-3 record while Gorman, a two-time state doubles medalist, is the No. 11 seed at 25-4, with two of her losses coming against Sweeney.
"It's hard, especially because me and Molly are such good friends off the court that it's just so hard and upsetting always having to play and go against her,'' Sweeney said.
Gorman agreed.
"At practice yes (it gets old) and I don't like playing her when it comes to meets, but we've got to do it,'' Gorman said.
But both players agree that playing each other also makes them both better.
"She hits the ball super aggressive and she's good on moving me around,'' Sweeney said of Gorman. "It's either way at practice at the end of the day. Me and Molly just are always trying to push each other and make each other better each day.''
Said Gorman: "Even though it gets tiring, it benefits me and it should benefit her I think.''
The good news for both Sweeney and Gorman is that if they face each other this weekend it's likely to be a very good weekend for both of them, with the two players on opposite sides of the bracket and will only play if both players advance to the state final or end up facing off in a place match.
Seaman is coming off United Kansas Conference and regional team championships -- posting perfect team scores in both events -- and will be looking to take home a team trophy (top three) this weekend after qualifying its entire team for state.
Seaman senior Sidney Chinn and junior Peyton Henry won the regional doubles title last Saturday in Bonner Spring while topping sophomore teammates Kaylyn Hiebsch and Camryn Lux in the championship match.
Chinn and Henry are 23-5 on the season and the No. 10 seed for state while Hiebsch and Lux are 22-8 and seeded No. 13.
The 5A state tournament will start at 10 a.m. Friday.
Class 6A at Prairie Village Harmon Park Tennis Complex
Washburn Rural and Topeka High combined for seven state qualifiers for this weekend's Class 6A state meet at Harmon Park.
Washburn Rural seniors Emerie Catlin (left) and Izzy Haggard followed up their city doubles title with Centennial League and regional championships and are the No. 5 seed for the Class 6A state tournament. [File photo
Regional team champion Rural qualified the senior doubles team of Emerie Catlin and Izzy Haggard and senior singles player Carolina Chedzoy and sophomore Julia Katzer for state out of last Thursday's regional tournament at Wichita while Topeka High qualified junior singles player Madeline Deters and the doubles team of junior Ava Ritter and freshman Hailey Caryl.
Catlin and Haggard won the regional doubles title after earlier winning city and Centennial League titles while Chedzoy and Katzer finished second and fifth in singles.
Catlin and Haggard are 21-4 on the year and are the No. 5 state seed while Chedzoy, a returning state medalist, is 17-10 and the No. 9 singles seed while Katzer is 17-10 and the No. 20 seed.
Topeka High's Deters placed third at regionals and is the No. 10 state seed with a 24-6 record while Caryl and Ritter took fifth at reegionals and are the No. 18 doubles seed with a 22-8 record.
The first round of state competition will begin at 10 a.m. Friday.
Class 3A-1A at Wichita Riverside Tennis Complex
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Madilyn Poole finished second in singles in the Class 3A-1A regional tournament last Saturday at Marysville, becoming the school's first girls state tennis qualifier.
Poole is 19-6 on the season and has been installed as the No. 8 seed for Friday and Saturday's state meet at Wichita's Riverside Tennis Complex.
CITY STATE TENNIS QUALIFIERS
Class 6A
At Harmon Park, Prairie Village
Topeka High -- Singles: Madeline Deters, sr., 24-6. Doubles: Hailey Caryl, fr., and Ava Ritter, jr., 22-8.
Washburn Rural -- Singles: Carolina Chedzoy, sr., 17-10; Julia Katzer, so., 17-10. Doubles: Emerie Catlin, sr., and Izzy Haggard, sr., 21-4.
Class 5A
At Andover District Tennis Complex
Seaman -- Singles: Emma Sweeney, so., 27-3; Molly Gorman, jr., 25-4. Doubles: Peyton Henry, jr., and Sidney Chinn, sr., 23-5; Kaylyn Hiebsch, so., and Camryn Lux, so., 22-8.
Class 4A
At Kossover Tennis Center, Topeka
Hayden -- Singles: Ainzley Zulueta, sr., 20-0; Grace Funk, jr., 8-3. Doubles: Emily Sheetz, sr., and Sophia Wichman, fr., 12-2; Izzy Glotzbach, jr., and Avery O'Bray, jr., 11-7.
Class 3A-1A
At Riverside Tennis Complex, Wichita
Cair Paravel Latin -- Singles: Madilyn Poole, so., 19-6.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden girls tennis stars Ainzley Zulueta and Emily Sheetz will be in familiar territory when they take the court Friday and Saturday at Topeka's Kossover Tennis Center to make their bids for their third Class 4A state championships.
Zulueta is a two-time state singles champ and back in the 4A field this weekend after not competing as a junior after attending a tennis academy in Texas while Sheetz won back-to-back doubles championships in 2022 and 2023 with '24 Hayden graduate Lauren Sandstrom and will try for a third crown with freshman Sophia Wichman.
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta will be shooting for her third Class 4A state tennis championship Friday and Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Sophia Wichman (left) and senior Emily Sheetz are the No. 2 doubles seed for the Class 4A state tournament, with Sheetz trying to become a three-time state champ. [File photo/TSN]
Zulueta has been installed as the No. 1 seed for this weekend's state meet and is a perfect 20-0 on the season after winning city, Centennial League and regional titles. Zulueta went 4-0 at regionals with four straight 6-0, 6-0 victories.
Zulueta, who played over the summer in California, said she is enjoying her final go-around in the high school ranks.
"I'm having fun, I'm enjoying it,'' Zulueta said. "I've enjoyed what we've done so far (including a state team title in '22) and I'm glad we're hosting it for my final year. I think it will be exciting.''
Zulueta, who plans to play collegiately at Ferris State (Mich.), said she is confident entering her final high school tournament.
"I don't really know the No. 2 seed (29-3 Buhler freshman Sophia Spies) but I think if I can just play my game I think I'll be fine, as long as I get over my nerves and don't think too much about the people watching me,'' she said.
Zulueta knows that playing in her home town is likely to mean bigger crowds, especially from the Hayden community, but she said she is happy to be playing on courts that she knows like the back of her hands.
"I love playing on the Kossover courts, so I think I like that,'' Zulueta said. "I think it helped that regionals was here. With some people watching I think that kind of helped me get over nerves and the expectation I think some people might have when watching me.
"I know they're will be a lot more people this time around, but I'm excited and I think I'll be ready.''
Sheetz played with Sandstrom her first three high school seasons before compiling a 12-2 record in her partial season with Wichman.
Sheetz and Wichman are coming off a regional championship and have been installed as the No. 2 seed for state.
"For state we're going in open-minded and we're ready,'' Sheetz said. "I feel like we know how to play the game, so whatever happens happens and I'm just trying to go out with a bang my senior year.
"There is no pressure. I know we know how to play and we'll finish strong.''
Hayden qualified its entire team for state while capturing last Saturday regional team title at Kossover.
The Wildcats also qualified junior Grace Funk in singles and the junior doubles team of Izzy Glotzbach and Avery O'Bray.
Funk (8-3) is a year ago and placed second in the regional tournament while Sexton (12-18) qualified for state with a sixth-place regional finish.
Funk is the No. 10 singles seed for state and Sexton the No. 24 seed.
Glotzbach and O'Bray (15-15) finished fourth at regionals and are the No. 15 seed in the state doubles field.
The first round of state competition will get under way at 10 a.m. Friday.
CITY STATE TENNIS QUALIFIERS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No player or coach necessarily likes a tie and Hayden's soccer team found itself in that situation for the second straight game Tuesday at Hayden.
Shawnee Heights junior Camden Granado (6) had a three-goal hat trick in Tuesday's 4-4 soccer tie with Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Preston Meitner advances the ball in Tuesday's 4-4 double-overtime soccer deadlock with Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But after letting a 3-0 lead get away against visiting Shawnee Heights and needing a goal with 95 seconds left in regulation to avoid a loss, veteran Wildcat coach Klaus Kreutzer was't going to complain about Tuesday's 4-4 double-overtime non-league deadlock.
"I tell you, staring at that 4-3, I'll take a tie,'' Kreutzer said. "I feel pretty good about it.''
Shawnee Heights junior Jack Hall (2) races Hayden junior Uriel Cruz for the ball during Tuesday's 4-4 soccer tie at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden (4-6-4) played an 0-0 double OT game at Bonner Springs on Monday before the Wildcats ended their scoreless streak on a free kick from junior Uriel Cruz with 20:20 left in the first half against the T-Birds.
Less than four minutes later (16:25) Hayden doubled its advantage on a goal from junior Aiden Roberts and the Wildcats made it a 3-0 game at the 25:15 mark of the second half on a goal from junior Lane Neuman.
Shawnee Heights sophomore Brayan Diaz (24) and Hayden senior Trevor Christy (20) battle for a loose ball in Tuesday's 4-4 soccer tie at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights (6-5-1) turned the tables on the Wildcats at that point, however, with sophomore Brayan Diaz getting Heights on the board with 23:54 left in regulation before junior Camden Granado scored three straight goals in a nine-minute span, giving the T-Birds a 4-3 lead on a penalty kick with 2:54 left.
Hayden answered with a goal of its own at the 1:35 mark to force OT, with the ball finding the back of the net after a srum in front of the Heights goal and senior Preston Meitner credited with the goal for the Wildcats.
Neither team could find the net in the two 10-minute extra sessions, resulting in the 4-4 deadlock.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
Anderson, a junior cross country standout, captured his first city boys individual championship in Saturday's city meet at Kanza Park, clocking a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 36 seconds. Anderson's win followed up a second-place city finish in his first season of high school cross country in 2023.
Tayson Horak
TAYSON HORAK, Rossville
A senior quarterback, Horak had a hand in five touchdowns Friday night as Rossville evened its record at 3-3 and improved to 3-0 in Class 1A District 2 play with a 71-24 home victory over Cair Paravel Latin. Horak scored on an 80-yard kickoff return, a 47-yard punt return, a 42-yard run, a 30-yard pass to Mahki Jackson and a 47-yard pass to Jack Donovan.
Ryin Miller
RYIN MILLER, Seaman
Miller, a junior girls cross country star, won her second staight individual city championship on Saturday at Kanza Park, clocking a five-kilometer time of 17 minutes, 08.3 seconds. Miller remained undefeated on the 2024 season with her sixth straight victory. Miller won Saturday's city title by a margin of 1 minute, 13 seconds.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Defending state champions Hayden and Silver Lake earned a shot to defend their titles with regional championships on Monday.
The Wildcats tied tournament host McPherson for the team title in the Class 4A regional at Turkey Creek and won on a tiebreaker while Silver Lake posted a 38-stroke win over Jefferson West in the 3A-1A regional at Osage City.
Hayden posted a four-person score of 326 at McPherson, with all of the Wildcats' top four earning top-10 finishes.
Senior Addyson Baer finished fifth individually with a 79 as Hayden won Monday's Class 4A regional at McPherson on a fifth-player tiebreaker. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden junior Lauren Borjon finished seventh in Monday's Class 4A regional tournament at McPherson, helping the Wildcats win the team title on a tiebreaker. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Addyson Baer shot a 79 to pace Hayden with a fifth-place individual finish while junior Lauren Borjon was seventh with a 79, junior Izzy Glotzbach eighth with an 82 and sophomore Brooke Johnson ninth with an 84.
The Wildcats also got a 19th-place finish from senior Nora Allphin (95) and a 39th-place finish from junior Kellyn Specht (120) as Hayden punched its ticket to next Monday and Tuesday's 4A state championships at Hesston Golf Course.
Silver Lake senior Taylor Zordel won the individual championship in Monday's Class 3A-1A regional at Osage City, leading the Eagles to the team title. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake dominated the 3A-1A regional at Osage City, posting a four-person score of 356 as senior Taylor Zordel led a one-two-three individual finish for the Eagles.
Zordel carded an 81 for a one-stroke victory over junior teammate Kailyn Hanni (82) while senior Hope Thornton finished third (92).
The Eagles also got a tie for 11th place from sophomore Savannah Wende (101), a tie for 13th from senior Makenna Miller (102) and a 23-place finish from Alyssa Streit (109).
Rossville had a pair of individual state qualifiers, with senior Brinley Pottorf placing 15th (104) and senior Jaymee Woodward tying for 21st (108).
The 3A-1A state tournament will be played next Monday and Tuesday at Emporia Municipal Golf Course.
CLASS 4A REGIONAL
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Twelve new members were added to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Sunday evening before a crowd of about 350 at the Hotel Topeka City Center in Topeka.
Former Hayden great Mark Turgeon was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Sunday night in his home town of Topeka. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Former Fort Hays State star Annette Wiles, currently the director of Hummer Sports Park, was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday night. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
The 2024 class of inductees to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame took the stage to discuss their careers, their connections to Kansas, and the people who helped them succeed.
Two-time Olympian Melvin Lister (left) visits with 1964 Olympic champion Billy Mills during Sunday's Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Billy Mills welcomed the crowd to the Maner Conference Center after watching highlights of his thrilling run for the gold medal in the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
“They continue to elect a selection of high achievers to the hall of fame,” Mills said. “You’re the best of the best, and I’ve been inspired by your magnificent performances. Your stories, your passion and your dedication will inspire generation after generation of youth of the Sunflower State and beyond.”
Topeka received high marks for its performance as the host of the ceremony.
“In order to tell our story, we have to have some support and the financial support of sponsors to step forward,” said Richard Konzem, Executive Director of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. “Topeka was remarkable about that, particularly Capitol Federal and Noller Auto Group, who served as our title sponsors.”
Named the new executive director of the hall of fame just a few weeks earlier, Konzem said he was pleased with the turnout and the ceremony.
“I’m elated,” Konzem said. “I thought there was a great amount of excitement in the room, and nothing brought that to the front more than the 13 people who had been previous inductees who showed up tonight to honor this class. That, to me, was the single biggest highlight of the evening.”
Topeka connections bookended the evening.
Annette Wiles, director of Hummer Sports Park, was the first inductee, honored for her playing and coaching career that included leading Fort Hays State University to the national title in 1991.
Hayden High School took center stage at the end of the evening when Mark Turgeon was introduced. On hand to celebrate his induction were members of the Hayden basketball teams that claimed back-to-back state titles in 1982 and 1983 as well as other members of the Hayden community.
“This is extra special,” Turgeon said. “I’ve been driving around town with my four kids, telling them all the things that happened while I was growing up. Topeka was really good to me. It was a great place to grow up.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Saturday was business as usual for Washburn Rural's boys cross country team, which rolled to its 18th straight city boys team title at Kanza Park.
Seaman junior Brody Anderson captured his first city boys individual cross country championship Saturday at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But there was also some new in the city championships, with Seaman junior standout Brody Anderson winning his first city individual crown after finishing second in 2023 while freshman Henry Laubach made an immediate impact in his first city meet with a third-place finish to pace the perennial-champion Junior Blues.
Matt Swedlund's Washburn Rural team used its pack mentality to produce a decisive 30-79 margin over Topeka West in the team race, with Laubach leading the way as Junior Blues put three runners in the top five and all of their top five in the top 10 places.
Anderson clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 36.7 seconds in his second city meet, winning by a 21-second-plus margin over Topeka West senior standout Adrian Lehman (15:58.3).
"It was good,'' Anderson said. "I went out pretty fast. I knew the course changed beforehand (approximately 80 meters longer) and I went out and walked it. It was good to see something a little extra on Kanza and I still ran a great time.
"It's championship season and I've been looking forward to it all season. I came out guns a blazing I feel like and it's paid off and I keep seeing some great times.''
Freshman Henry Laubach finished a team-high third in Saturday's city meet as Washburn Rural won its 18th straight boys team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Laubach continued his outstanding rookie campaign for the Junior Blues with a third-place time of 16:17.0.
"He's so natural,'' Swedlund said. "He's just a natural talent and having the middle school right there and being ablt to watch him compete and seeing him in the summers and stuff, he's where we thought he'd be.''
Junior Brooks Kehoe finished fourth (16:38.0) for the Junior Blues while senior Bodie King was fifth (16:42.8), senior Connor Olsen eighth (16:59.0) and freshman Duke Graf 10th (17:17.2) to complete Rural's top five.
"I was happy,'' Swedlund said. "Our two through four, five, that's right where we wanted them to be so I was happy with that.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural won its sixth straight girls team championship in Saturday's city cross country meet at Kanza Park while Seaman junior star Ryin Miller won her second straight individual title.
Seaman junior Ryin Miller remained undefeated on the season while winning her second straight city title Saturday at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seniors Payton Fink (left) and Rylee Ismert finished second and third individually on Saturday to lead Washburn Rural to its sixth straight city girls cross country team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller, who set a state record at at Kanza earlier in the fall, won the individual title by a minute and 13 seconds with a five-kilometer time of 17:08.3 on the newly-reworked course while Matt Swedlund's Junior Blues went 2-3-4 and put all of their top five in the top nine places as Rural took the team title by a 24-31 margin over Seaman.
Undefeated on the season, Miller said she didn't feel completely comfortable on Saturday, but was just pleased to get the job done.
"I'm not sad, but I'm not happy either,'' Miller said. "I was hoping to PR (personal record). Obviously they added a little onto the course (approximately 80 meters) and I think that had something to do with it and it was a little hotter than we anticipated I think.
"I just didn't feel my best today, but I still ran a good time so I'll take it.''
Fink, a former city champion, finished second for Washburn Rural in 18:21.2 while senior Rylee Ismert finished third (18:43.8) and junior Emily Graf was fourth (19:15.2).
Senior Brooklyn Nolte finished eighth (19:55.9) and junior Kenzie Maddox ninth (20:28.7) to round out Rural's top five.
Swedlund said he appreciated the tough team battle the Junior Blues got from Seaman.
"That's kind of been the story the last several city meets, you've got Seaman and Washburn Rural up there battling it out,'' Swedlund said. "Our girls are fast but their girls are fast so you've got to get it done on the day.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Hayden and Seaman girls tennis teams will be out in full force next Friday and Saturday for state tournaments after qualifying their entire teams and capturing regional team championships on Saturday.
Two-time Class 4A state singles champion Ainzley Zulueta won a regional title Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Emily Sheetz, a two-time state champion, won a Class 4A regional doubles championship Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta captured the regional singles title in the Class 4A regional at Kossover Tennis Center while senior Emily Sheetz and freshman Sophia Wichman won the doubles championship as the Wildcats topped Bishop Miege for the team title.
Zulueta and Sheetz earned their shot at their third state titles with Saturday's regional championships.
Zulueta, undefeated on the season, rolled through her four regional matches will dropping a game, posting four straight 6-0, 6-0 victories, including a 6-0, 6-0 win over Bishop Miege sophomore Ella Daniel in the championship match.
Sheetz and Wichman won the doubles title with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Chapman juniors Avery Baer and Meredith Kuntz.
Hayden also got a third-place singles finish from junior Grace Funk and a fifth-place doubles showing from senior Avery O'Bray and junior Izzy Glotzbach.
Funk's lone regional loss came in the semifinals to teammate Zulueta.
Hayden will be back at Kossover for the 4A state meet next Friday and Saturday.
Seaman pulled off the rare feat of compiling a perfect team score for the second straight tournament Saturday at Bonner Springs.
The Vikings, who were perfect in last Monday's United Kansas Conference tournamet, repeated that performance at regionals, with sophomore Emma Sweeney and junior Molly Gorman going one-two in singles and senior Sidney Chinn and junior Peyton Henry winning the doubles championship in an all-Seaman final against sophomores Kaylyn Hiebsch and Camryn Lux.
Seaman sophomore Emma Sweeney captured the singles championship in Saturday's Class 5A regional tennis tournament at Bonner Springs. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman senior Sidney Chinn (right) and junior Peyton Henry won the doubles title in Saturday's Class 5A regional tennis meet at Bonner Springs. [File photo/TSN]
Sweeney, now 27-3 on the season, took a 6-1, 6-1 win over Gorman (26-4) in the singles final while Chinn and Henry (24-5) took a 6-4, 6-0 win over Hiebsch and Lux (6-4, 6-0) as Seaman won the regional team title by a 26-14 win over Piper.
Seaman will compete in the 5A state tournament next Friday and Saturday at the Andover District Tennis Complex.
Lions' Poole qualifies for 3A-1A state meet
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Madilyn Poole finished as the singles runnerup in the Class 3A-1A regional tournament at Marysville on Saturday, becoming the Lions' first-ever girls state qualifier.
Sophomore Madilyn Poole finished second in Saturday's Class 3A-1A regional at Marysville to qualify for state. [File photo/TSN]
Poole, 19-6 on the season, dropped a 6-4, 6-1 decision to Kansas City Christian senior Lauren Seitz (24-4) in the regional championship match.
Poole scored all six of Cair Paravel's team points as the Lions finished fifth.
Sophomore Madilyn Poole became Cair Paravel's first girls tennis state qualifier Saturday in Marysville. [File photo/TSN]
Poole will compete in the 3A-1A state tournament next Friday and Saturday at Wichita's Riverside Tennis Complex.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Seaman senior Bryer Finley had three touchdown receptions in last Friday's 43-22 UKC win over Lansing. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
SEAMAN (4-1, 4-0 UKC) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-4, 1-3 UKC)
Seaman is coming off a 43-22 United Kansas Conference victory over Lansing last Friday while Shawnee Heights dropped a 69-57 UKC scorefest to De Soto. Seaman senior quarterback Max Huston has completed 62 of 104 passes for 1,155 yards and 15 touchdowns while senior receiver Bryer Finley has 33 receptions for 680 yards and 11 TDs. Viking junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 64 times for 357 yards and scored eight TDs. Shawnee Heights junior quarterback Aiden Scott has completed 110 of 188 passes for 1,752 yards and 16 TDs. Junior AJ Gallegos has 35 catches for 520 yards and six touchdowns while junior Tyren Parker has 28 catches for 513 yards and five TDs. T-Bird junior David Wakes has 452 rushing yards on 91 attempts with three TDs.
Junior TJ Minikwu rushed for 149 yards and scored three touchdowns in Washburn Rural's 49-21 Centennial League win over Topeka High last Friday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
EMPORIA (0-5, 0-2 Centennial) at WASHBURN RURAL (2-3, 1-0 Centennial)
Washburn Rural snapped a three-game non-league losing streak with a 49-21 win over Topeka High last Friday in the Junior Blues' Centennial League opener. Junior TD Minikwu carried the ball 24 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns against Topeka High while sophomore Jadyn Baum added 70 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts. Emporia is still looking for its first win of the season after taking a 59-0 league loss to Manhattan last week. The Spartans have been outscored 249-67 on the season.
KC-TURNER (0-5, 0-4 UKC) vs. TOPEKA WEST (0-5, 0-5 UKC)
At Hummer Sports Park
Either the Chargers or the visiting Bears will pick up a much-needed victory in Friday's United Kansas Conference matchup. Topeka West is coming off a 59-6 UKC loss to undefeated Basehor-Linwood last week while Turner remained winless with a 34-6 loss to KIPP Legacy. Topeka West's lone win the past two seasons has come against Turner. The Chargers scored their lone touchdown against Basehor-Linwood last week on a 79-yard pass play from Jacob Brewster to Alesecio Batson.
Hayden senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has passed for 684 yards and eight TDs for the 4-1 Wildcats. [File photo/TSN]
HAYDEN (4-1, 1-0 Class 3A District 4) at HOLTON (3-2, 2-0 Class 3A District 4)
Hayden will be on the road to face Holton in a battle between teams who are unbeaten in Class 3A District 4. Hayden is coming off a 49-0 district win over Hiawatha while Holton took a 48-9 win over Jefferson West. Hayden junior Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 41 times for 432 yards and scored 14 total touchdowns while senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 47 of 66 passes for 684 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Jensen Schrickel has 13 catches for 220 yards and has scored five TDs. Holton senior Kyler Jackson has 406 yards and five touchdowns on 76 carries while senior Bodie Dillon has carried the ball 32 times for 253 yards and five TDs and junior Korban Wilson has 255 yards and five TDs on 47 attempts.
