Hayden High School Wildcats
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden took control in the fourth quarter to take a 42-33 Centennial League road win at Washburn Rural Friday night, wrapping up the league championship.
Hayden senior Millie Ramsey (left) scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in Friday's 42-33 Centennial League win over Washburn Rural while sophomore Maddie Vickery (right) led the Junior Blues with 12 points. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
No. 2-ranked (Class 4A) Hayden bounced back from a league loss at Manhattan on Monday while improving to 16-2 overall and 8-1 in the league while No. 5-ranked (6A) Washburn Rural fell to 13-5, 6-2 as the Wildcats finished off a season sweep over the Junior Blues.
"Monday when we played Manhattan, that was a really frustrating game,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "We didn't seem to have much energy and just couldn't get over the hump. So this week in practice we just emphasized absolutel intensity defensively and on the glass and then try to get into our offense and run stuff because Manhattan was just kind of running up and down the court like we were playing a pickup game.
"Tonight we needed to get into our offense and get the ball inside and we did.''
Freshman Hailey Schmidtlein (2) scored eight points and went four for four at the free throw line in Hayden's 42-33 win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Millie Ramsey, a 6-foot senior, posted a double-double with game-high totals of 17 points and 14 rebounds while Hailey Schmidtlein, a freshman, and senior Brylee Meier added eight points apiece for the Wildcats.
"This win was super huge,'' Ramsey said. "It was a good win and I'm proud of everybody. I'm really proud of our freshmen (Schmidtlein and Blakely Walter). They really stepped up.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Jaxon Cowdin got into diving almost by accident, but the Topeka High senior will end his high school career in this week's Class 6A state meet as the most accomplished one-meter diver in school, something he's very proud of.
Topeka High senior Jaxon Cowdin won his third straight Centennial League diving title last Thursday, the lone city champion. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
Cowdin credits older sister Maisie for helping getting him into the sport.
"She was a lifeguard over at one of the pools and I used to go there like all day and would dive off the diving boards and swim all the time, so she was like, 'Hey, you should probably go try dive,' Cowdin said. "So I came out for it and like the first two or three weeks I ended up breaking the school record and ended qualifying for state. So I'm pretty glad I did it.''
Fast forward to four years later and Cowdin has won four straight city diving titles and won his third straight Centennial League championship last Thursday.
"I think it's a cool thing for Topeka High School history,'' Cowdin said. "I think I've done something that very people can say that they've done, so I have a lot of pride in that.''
Now Cowdin is setting his sights this weekend at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatics Center on the one thing that's eluded him -- a state medal.
Cowdin, along with senior teammates Dominic and Malachi Delgado, will compete in the preliminaries and semifinals on Thursday, with the finals on Saturday.
"Probably the ultimate goal is going and getting a medal,'' Cowdin said. "I feel like I've come pretty close in the past three years but I've always been just short.
"I think I'm definitely more focused this year than I have been in past years and I think it's been especially good with the twins kind of riding up on me recently. I think that's definitely led to better competition.''
The three-day state meet will get under way with Thursday's diving prelims and semis, with the 6A event at 9:30 a.m. and 5A-1A at 4:30 p.m.
The 6A swimming preliminaries will start at 9 a.m. on Friday, with the 5A-1A prelims following at 4 p.m.
Championship 6A finals will get under way at 9 a.m. Friday, followed by the 5A-1A finals at 4 o'clock.
Senior Luke Lemke will compete in four events for Washburn Rural in the Class 6A state swimming meet. [File photo/TSN]
City champion and Centennial League runner up will be well-represented in the 6A state meet, with senior Luke Lemke (200-yard individual medley, 100 backstroke), sophomore Andres Morao-Jaspe (200 IM, 500 free) and freshman Thomas Appuhn (200 IM, 100 backstroke) all qualifying in two individual events while freshman Castle Wallace is qualified in the 100 breaststroke.
The Junior Blues are also qualified in the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay.
Shawnee Heights senior Truman Brede was the lone city gold medalist in last Tuesday's UKC swimming championships. [File photo/TSN]
In 5A-1A Seaman senior Peyton Holmes (50 free, 100 free) and sophomore Kinser Barbosa (200 free, 100 butterfly) are both qualified in two individual events, as are Shawnee Heights seniors Truman Brede (200 free, 100 backstroke) and Evan Hoobler (100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke).
Hayden senior Palmer Heskett is an individual qualifier in the 200 IM while both Seaman and Hayden are qualified in the 200 medley and 400 free relays.
STATE SWIMMING/DIVING SCHEDULE
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's boys outlasted Rossville Monday night for a 66-63 Big East League win on the Eagles' home floor, avenging an earlier loss to the rival Bulldawgs.
Junior Dayne Johnson led Silver Lake with 31 points in Monday's 66-63 win over Rossville. [File photo/TSN]
The game was tight throughout, with Rossville leading 15-13 at the end of the first quarter before Silver Lake used a 19-12 second quarter to go up 32-27 at the half.
It was still a five-point game at the start of the fourth quarter (47-42) before the Eagles held off the Bulldawgs down the stretch.
Junior Dayne Johnson led the 14-4 Eagles to their fourth straight win with a game-high 31 points while Jared Johnson and Brody Deiter added 11 points each, with J. Johnson hitting three 3-pointers.
Junior Jack Donovan led 12-6 Rossville with 20 points (three 3-pointers) while Cameron Miller added 18 points with three 3s and Kameron Badura had 12 points.
Eagle girls roll to 38-point victory over rivals
Silver Lake's girls dominated the first half Monday night on the way to a 58-20 Big East League win over rival Rossville at Silver Lake.
The 16-2 Eagles outscored the 8-10 Bulldawgs 17-4 in the first quarter and then used a 20-2 second quarter to take a huge 37-6 cushion to the locker room at the half.
Silver Lake increased its advantage to 56-16 at the end of the third quarter, forcing a running clock the rest of the way.
Freshman Karys Deiter led the Eagles with a game-high 19 points while Taylor Zordel added 13 points and Ella Bolan 12.
Junior Rylee Dick led Rossville with 13 points.
Junior Simon Rowley scored a game-high 18 points Monday night as Washburn Rural posted a 65-39 road win over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
Rural boys clinch share of Centennial crown with 65-39 romp
Washburn Rural's boys rode a monster first half to a 65-39 Centennial League road win at Emporia Monday night, with the clinching at least a share of the league championship with three games remaining.
The Junior Blues put the game away by halftime, hitting 11 3-pointers en route to opening up a commanding 41-18 lead at the break after leading by as many as 29 points.
Rural cooled off a little in the second half but still connected on 13 of 28 3s on the night.
Junior Simon Rowley scored 16 of his game-high 18 points in the first half, going 4 of 4 from 3-point range.
Senior Kaden Ballard hit three 3-pointers in the first half on the way to a 12-point night while freshman Brooks Ballard canned a pair of first-half treys.
With Monday's win the Junior Blues improved to 13-4 overall and 7-0 in the league, holding a full three-game lead over Junction City in the league race.
Washburn Rural will be at home Friday to host Hayden in a Centennial League tilt.
By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Hayden's boys basketball had plenty to celebrate on Winter Royalty night at the Bueltel Activity Center.
Wildcat senior Cooper Zweisler was named King of the Court before Hayden went out and claimed a 51-37 Centennial League win over Emporia, Hayden's first win over the Spartans in three meetings on the year.
Senior Jacob Deister led Hayden with a game-high 18 points in Friday's 51-37 Centennial League win over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
This one would be all Wildcats as they would get hot early and shoot lights out from the field in the first quarter and take a 25-7 lead into the second quarter.
Wildcat senior Jacob Deister scored 11 of his game-high 18 points before halftime as the Wildcats would go into halftime up 32-17 and would cruise from there.
The Wildcats would get double-figure scoring nights from their two guards -- Deister 18 points and Mason Becker, who had 13 points -- as well as strong post play from Connor Hanika and James Kuta.
“I’m blessed these guys give their all, and it spreads to their teammates, you know Kuta looked like a madman on the boards, and I am starting to find Connor is very versatile,'' Hayden coach Dwayne Anthony said. "And we still just have to keep it one game at a time to keep getting better.
“I believe in Jacob, I think he is a very talented basketball player and sometimes it just takes getting into a rhythm, not trying to force so many things. He did a good job of running plays and then he gets this type of result.”
By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Friday was Winter Royalty at the Bueltel Activity Center and would be the third meeting of the season between the top-ranked Hayden girls and Centennial League rival Emporia.
Senior Brylee Meier shared game-high scoring honors with 15 points in Hayden's 66-25 win Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Freshman Hailey Schmidtlein tied for game-high honors with 15 points in Hayden's 66-25 Centennial League win over Emporia Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
And much like the earlier two matchups, Hayden took control early on the way to a 66-25 victory.
The Wildcats are led by experience and start four seniors while the Lady Spartans are led by newcomers and start three freshman, have zero returners from the varsity team a year ago and a new head coach.
Friday's game would be all Wildcats early as Hayden would get off to a 22-3 first-quarter lead and go into halftime up, 43-9.
The Wildcats would allow the Spartans to score 16 points over the final two quarters, with the Wildcats benching the starters after the third quarter. The Hayden role players would come out and shine for the Wildcats, led by junior Ella Foster, who would hit three 3-pointers to score nine points on the night.
“I was shooting good all day, so I was ready to get on the court and when I did and hit the first one, I knew to keep shooting,” Foster said.
Foster has seen a uptick in her minutes on varsity this season.
“Coach has done a really good job at helping us get confident with our thoughts and with just how we play, so its been really helpful to play more varsity, so I know how to play,” Foster said.
“She is a good shooter,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said of Foster. "She does great in shooting drills every day, so I am not surprised.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Junior Octavian McFadden led Topeka High with 18 points in Tuesday's 65-60 Centennial League win at Hayden. [File photo/TSN]
MANHATTAN at TOPEKA HIGH
Topeka High, 1-15 overall, 1-5 in the Centennial League, picked up its first win of the season on Tuesday, posting a 65-60 road decision over No. 4-ranked (Class 4A) Hayden. Junior Octavian McFadden led the Trojans with a game-high 18 points while junior Elisha Guest added 15 points with three 3-pointers and junior Bryson McComas had 13 points. Manhattan (5-10, 2-3) is coming off a 74-45 loss at Washburn Rural on Tuesday. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Shawnee Heights senior Jaret Sanchez (3) has scored 39 and 38 points in his last two games for the 13-3 T-Birds. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
DE SOTO at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
Shawnee Heights, No. 8-ranked in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, is coming off a tough 68-66 United Kansas Conference loss at No. 7 Seaman Tuesday night, with the Vikings falling to 13-3 overall and 9-3 in the conference. Senior Jaret Sanchez scored 39 points against Seaman after scoring 38 points in his previous game. Senior Deacon Pomeroy added 13 points for the T-Birds. De Soto (9-6, 6-5) is coming off a 55-46 UKC win over Basehor-Linwood Tuesday. Game time: 7:15 p.m.
EMPORIA at HAYDEN
Hayden, ranked No. 4 in Class 4A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, is coming off a 65-60 Centennial League loss to Topeka High Tuesday night while Emporia, No. 9 in 5A, dropped a 69-66 overtime league decision to Junction City. Junior Connor Hanika led the Wildcats with 16 points against Topeka High. The Wildcats and Spartans will be playing for the third time this season, with Emporia taking 60-44 and 61-56 wins in the first two games. Game time: 7:45 p.m.
Shawnee Heights senior Jaret Sanchez (3) has scored 39 and 38 points in his last two games for the 13-3 T-Birds. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL at JUNCTION CITY
Washburn Rural is coming off a 74-45 home Centennial League romp past Manhattan on Tuesday, with the Junior Blues improving to 11-4 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the league. Junior John Hoytal led Washburn Rural with 18 points against Manhattan while senior Amare Jones and junior Simon Rowley added 14 points apiece. Junction City (10-5, 3-2) is coming off a 69-66 overtime league win over Emporia on Tuesday. Rural took a 59-56 home win over the Blue Jays on Jan. 30. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sophomore Maddie Vickery scored a game-high 27 points in Washburn Rural's 58-28 win over Manhattan Tuesday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL at JUNCTION CITY
Washburn Rural, ranked No. 6 in Class 6A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, is 11-4 overall and 4-1 in the Centennial League after a 58-28 home league win over Manhattan on Tuesday. Sophomore Maddie Vickery led Washburn Rural with 27 points, going 9 of 10 at the free throw line, while senior Kate Hinck had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Junction City dropped a 61-14 decision to league-leading Hayden last Friday. Game time: 6 p.m.
Sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored 19 points in Topeka High's 55-49 loss at Hayden Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
MANHATTAN at TOPEKA HIGH
Topeka High, 9-7 overall, 2-4 in the Centennial League, is coming off a 55-49 league loss at top-ranked (Class 4A) and league-leading Hayden on Tuesday, the Trojans' third straight loss, while Manhattan (10-5, 3-2) dropped a 58-28 league game at Washburn Rural. Sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton led Topeka High with 19 points while freshman Hailey Caryl added 10 points against Hayden. Game time: 6 p.m.
Shawnee Heights sophomore KK Emmot (1) scored 18 points in Tuesday's 64-54 loss to unbeaten Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
DE SOTO at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
Shawnee Heights is 11-5 overall and 8-4 in the United Kansas Conference after a 64-54 UKC road loss to undefeated and top-ranked (Class 5A) Seaman on Tuesday. Sophomore KK Emmot led Shawnee Heights with 18 points against Seaman while senior Kaydence Torrez added 13 points and junior Reianna Vega 12. De Soto is 11-4 overall and 7-4 after a 46-43 loss to Basehor-Linwood. Game time: 5:45 p.m.
Freshman Hailey Schmidtlein (2) scored 19 points in Hayden's 55-49 Centennial League win over Topeka High Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
EMPORIA at HAYDEN
Hayden, top-ranked in Class 4A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, improved to 14-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the Centennial League on Tuesday with a 55-49 league win over Topeka High. Freshman Hailey Schmidtlein led the Wildcats with 19 points against the Trojans while senior Millie Ramsey added 17 points and senior Brylee Meier 10. Emporia dropped a 62-29 league decision to Manhattan last Friday. Game time: 6:15 p.m.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The rebuilding of the Washburn Rural boys swim team took another step Thursday as it placed second in the Centennial League Championship at Capitol Federal Natatorium.
A loaded Manhattan team ran away with all three relays and eight of nine individual events to rack up 500 points. Washburn Rural finished second with 425.
Topeka High senior Jaxon Cowdin won his third straight Centennial League diving title Thursday, the lone city champion. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
The lone gold medal claimed by anyone not from Manhattan came in the one-meter diving competition, won by Topeka High senior Jaxon Cowdin.
Cowdin dominated Thursday's competition en route to a 428.75-299.50 victory over teammate Roland Weaver, with the Topeka High standout adding a third straight Centennial League title to his four city championships.
"I think it's a cool thing for Topeka High School history,'' Cowdin said of Thursday's accomplishment. "I think I've done something that very few people can say they've done, so I have a lot of pride in that.''
Last year’s Washburn Rural team, which placed third in in Class 6A, was dominated by seniors. The team is rebuilding this season, with a number of freshmen and sophomores swimming in key positions.
“We put people into events they’d never been in before, hoping to find some slots where we could beat (Manhattan),” Washburn Rural coach Bob Burdick said. “But they had a really good night tonight, and (Manhattan coach Alex Brown) had some time drops that even he didn’t expect. So, they took away some of those points. They ended up beating us by 75, which is sort of like a touchdown and a field goal.
“But I’m OK with this, second place this year. It was good experience, and we had an opportunity to build for next year.”
Washburn Rural senior Luke Lemke finished second in four events in Thursday's Centennial League swimming meet, helping Rural post a runnerup team finish. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Andres Morao-Jaspe helped lead Washburn Rural to a runnerup team finish in the Centennial League meet. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Castle Wallace finished second in the 100 breaststroke for Centennial League runnerup Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
While no Washburn Rural swimmers took home gold medals, they claimed several silvers. Luke Lemke led the Junior Blues by taking second in the 200 yard individual medley and the 100 yard backstroke. He also anchored two Washburn Rural relay teams that took second. Andres Morao-Jaspe took second in the 500 yard freestyle. Castle Wallace placed second in the 100 yard breaststroke.
Topeka High's Dawson Blankenship posted a second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly in Thursday's Centennial League meet. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High’s Dawson Blankenship took second in the 100 yard butterfly.
Washburn Rural has qualified just one senior – Lemke – for individual events at the state meet. It has also qualified sophomore Morao-Jaspe and freshmen Wallace and Thomas Appuhn. Additionally, several seniors will swim on the relay teams that Washburn Rural sends to state.
“This was really powerful that we’ve come so far as a team,” Lemke said. “I was quite scared going into this year because we lost all of our heavy hitters. We pulled through and I’m extremely proud of all my men.”
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE SWIMMING/DIVING
By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
It might have been cold outside, but it definitely was not cold inside the Ken Bueltel Center Tuesday as the Class 4A No. 1-ranked Hayden girls would go up against Topeka High.
Freshman Hailey Schmidtlein (2) tied for game-high honors with 19 points in Hayden's 55-49 win at Hayden Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Millie Ramsey had 11 of her 17 points in the second half in Hayden's 55-49 win over Topeka High. [File photo/TSN]
And although the Wildcats would trail much of the game, Hayden took control down the stretch to pull out a 55-49 Centennial League victory.
The Trojans would get off to a hot start by going up 15-11 to end the first and the game would go back and fourth but ending the first half would be all Trojans.
The Trojans were led by sophomore guard Ahsieryrhuajh Rayton, who scored 11 of her 19 in the first half.
After making some changes at halftime Hayden would finish the third quarter still trailing 42-40 but would out-score the Trojans 14-13 in the third and 15-7 in the fourth to pull out the 6-point win.
The Wildcats got big nights from freshman Hailey Schmidtlein, who would tie for game-high scoring honors with Rayton with 19 points, and senior Amelia Ramsey, who would score 17 points with 11 of those coming after halftime.
“This was a hard fought game, they have a lot of talent and their two guards were hot and they have added some things down low,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "They will be a tough out for anybody come postseason. I was really proud of our girls for coming back and getting the win.
“Hailey allowed us to get out in transition, Millie did what Millie does. She is a force in the paint, gets offensive and defensive rebounds, has a soft touch around the rim. Brylee (Meier), Norma (Greco) and Bella (Reid), all our seniors played really well tonight.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls and Washburn Rural's Logan Glinka earned bragging rights in Friday's Topeka Shawnee County Bowling Championships at Gage Bowl for the second straight season, with the Vikings repeating as the girls team champion and Glinka winning his second straight individual boys title.
Seaman's girls bowling team won its second straight city team title on Friday at Gage Bowl. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's boys bowling team won the 2025 city team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman freshman Kayla Duncan and sophomore Paige Snyder went one-two in the girls individual race and Glinka's Rural boys team rounded out the city champions.
Seaman's girls won the team title by a 3,000-2,949 margin over Washburn Rural, including the four Baker format games, as Duncan won the individual championship with a 623 series while 2024 champion Snyder was second with a 607 series.
Washburn Rural, third as a team in 2024, took the boys team title by a 3,505-3,398 margin over Shawnee Heights, including the Baker games.
Glinka led the way for the Junior Blues, riding a first-game 278 to a 734 series and the individual title by a 72-pin margin over teammate Tyler Faurot, who rolled a 662 series.
Glinka's winning total on Friday was five pins better than his winning series of 729 in the 2024 city meet, following up his 278 with 232 and 224 games.
"I had a good look all day,'' Glinka said. "The third game I struggled in the end, but I'm really happy how I bowled. Obviously I wanted to go back to back.''
Glinka was also thrilled that Rural could claim the team crown.
"I was proud of our team,'' he said. "Last year I felt like I did well, but the rest of my team struggled a little bit, but I felt like this year the whole team did great.
"We were really positive, had a lot of energy. I was extremely proud of my team.''
Snyder improved her 2024 winning score of 606 by a pin on Friday, but Duncan stole the show in her first city meet, putting together scores of 203, 235 and 185 to take individual honors and lead the Vikings to the team repeat.
"I think its going pretty well,'' Duncan said about the 2025 season. "We really are good at keeping each other's spirits up, especially if one gets down, and I just think it's just a good team overall.
"We're very happy overall.''
City girls bowling medalists, right to left: Kayla Duncan, Seaman; Paige Snyder, Seaman; Addison VanMetre, Shawnee Heights; Claire LaDuke, Seaman; Claire LaDuke, Seaman; Ashley Lee, Hayden. Not pictured: Ashley Billups, Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights' Addison VanMetre finished third individually with a 570 series, followed by Seaman's Claire LaDuke (569), Rural's Ashley Billups (562) and Hayden's Ashley Lee (554) to round out the top six girls finishers.
City boys bowling medalists, right to left: Logan Glinka, Washburn Rural; Tyler Faurot, Washburn Rural; Henry Schattilly, Shawnee Heights; Donovan Davis, Shawnee Heights; Jackson Keller, Washburn Rural; Dylan Hunt, Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Boys runnerup Shawnee Heights got third and fourth-place finishes from Henry Schattilly (658) and Donovan Davis (657) while Washburn Rural's Jackson Keller finished fifth (650) and Seaman's Dylan Hunt finished sixth (649).
TOPEKA SHAWNEE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS
By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
EL DORADO -- The championship game of the 32nd annual Lady Cat Classic was everything and more in a game that matched up 12-0 and Class 4A No. 1 Hayden vs. 11-1 Class 5A No. 5 Maize South.
Hayden poses for a team picture after finishing second in the Lady Cat Classic. [Photo by Justin Burkhardt/TSN]
Hayden senior Amelia Ramsey was named the MVP in the Lady Cat Classic. [Photo by Justin Burkhardt/TSN]
Both teams would trade blows shot for shot before Maize South ended up with a 50-48 win.
Maize South took an 18-17 lead at the end of the first quarter before the Wildcats went on a run of their own in the second quarter and found freshman Hailey Schmidtlein for a layup to go up 31-26 late in the half.
The Mavs' Rylan Chandler would get fouled trying to make a 3-pointer at the buzzer, which would put her at the line where she would make one out of the three charities to let Hayden go into halftime with the 31-27 lead.
The third quarter would be the worst quarter on the season for the Wildcats as they would be outscored 16-3, as they were 0-10 from the field and going 3-6 from the free throw line.
Senior Norma Greco rolled her ankle and Schmidtlein picked up her fourth foul of the game in the third quarter and the Wildcats turned the ball over six times and they would leave the third quarter chasing the Mavs, 43-34 with one timeout left to use in the game for the Wildcats.
At the start of the fourth quarter Greco would check back into the game with her ankle taped up and Schmidtlein would check back in with four fouls and the Wildcats would go on a run, outscoring the Mavs 14-7 in the fourth.
Greco would drain a 3 and a Schmidtlein steal and layup cut the Maize South lead to 50-48 with 15 seconds left in the game. But the Wildcats only had two fouls and still needed three more to force the Mavs to the line.
And that was all it would take for the Mavs to pull off the 50-48 victory.
By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Rewind to a year ago and the Hayden boys where in the same position as Topeka High found itself in Tuesday night as the Wildcats entered the game on a 12-game losing streak and would leave by beating the Trojans 57-42.
Junior Elisha Guest scored 15 points with three 3-pointers in Topeka High's 65-60 Centennial League win over Hayden. [File photo/TSN]
Fast forward to Tuesday as Topeka High would be the team needing a win and the Trojans would find just that, picking up their first win of the season with a 65-60 road Centennial League victory over Class 4A No. 4-ranked Hayden .
The start of the game would be in favor of the Wildcats as they would get off to the hot start with a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and take a 33-27 lead into halftime, led by junior Connor Hanika, who would have 12 of his team high 16 points at halftime.
High would come out of halftime fighting as they would be down 54-47 at the end of three with a huge momentum swing right at the buzzer when junior Elisha Guest would hit a 3 to end the third and help his team get hot going into the fourth.
The Trojans would out-score the Wildcats 18-6 in the fourth to rally for the 5-point victory.
The Trojans would get a big night from Topeka West transfer Guest, who would score 15 points.
Guest, who spent the last 2 seasons at West made the move to High over the summer and has been a huge help for coach Geo Lyons and the Trojans.
“He is a basketball junkie, he is a gym rat, he is the kid I talk to the most,'' Lyons said. "He watches a lot of film, he is a sponge and wants to absorb as much as he can. We do a lot of film sessions one on one, and he has came in and helped push the guys that where here before he got here. He has been a great spark for us coming over from West.''
“It has been crazy,'' Guest said. "The pressure, the challenge of coming in and starting, I am glad to be doing it. I love basketball.”
Junior Octavian McFadden led Topeka High with a game-high 18 points in Tuesday's 65-60 Centennial League win at Hayden. [File photo/TSN]
The Trojans also got a big night from junior Octavian McFadden, who would lead all scorers with 18 points.
“I am proud of my teammates, all my points came off of assists from my teammates,'' McFadden said. "Coach just kept telling us we were right there and remained calm and kept telling us we were right there. Every game we’ve been there and then we slipped, but this one we started slipping and big guys came in and made big plays, and defense led to offense.”
By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
El Dorado -- In the first round of the 32nd annual Lady Cat Classic, the top-seeded and Class 4A No. 1 Hayden Wildcats went up against the host El Dorado, rolling to the tournament semifinals with a 64-15 win Thursday.
Freshman Hailey Schmidtlein scored a game-high 21 points in Hayden's 64-15 win over El Dorado on Thursday. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden started the game on a 13-0 run before El Dorado would answer with a floater to make it 13-2.
The Lady Cats would go on to out-score El Dorado 51-13 over the final three quarters of play to take a 64-15 decision and advance to play in the 7:45 p.m. semifinal Friday against (6-4) Gardner-Edgerton, which beat Goddard, 48-46.
The Wildcats had a near perfect night from there 6-foot freshman, Hailey Schmidtlein, who went 10-12 from the field to lead all scorers with 21 points.
“She went all out tonight, got some points off our defense and did a really nice job finishing,” Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldon said.
“I can’t thank my teammates enough,'' Schmidtlein said. "They were finding me when I was out ahead, seeing me, giving me those great passes. I didn’t do much but run up the court and get the ball and score.”
By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
EL DORADO -- The top-ranked team in Class 4A, the Hayden Lady Wildcats, would go up against 6A Gardner-Edgerton in the semifinal round of the 32nd annual Lady Cat Classic Friday night at El Dorado, with Hayden advancing to Saturday's championship game with a 57-49 victory.
Senior Amelia Ramsey (facing) led Hayden with 19 points and 10 rebounds in Friday's 57-49 win over Gardner-Edgerton. [File photo/TSN]
The Wildcats would go up 15-7 at the end of the first quarter and then the second quarter would see Gardner outscore the Wildcats 18-9 and take a 25-24 lead into halftime.
“I told the girls to stay the course and make sure we stay together,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "It wasn’t the same type of game that we have been used to, where Brylee Meier gets hot and helps us get on a run.”
The senior was 2-9 from the field but would contribute with eight assists on the night.
“Coach told us we have to keep fighting and to stay positive, stay together and don’t yell at each other and don’t get mad at each other, keep fighting and being aggressive,” Hayden senior Amelia Ramsey said.
The Blazers would come out of halftime and take a 33-29 lead in the third quarter and then the Wildcats would go on a 15-0 run en route to outscoring the Blazers 20-8 in the third quarter and leading the rest of the game.
The Wildcats got a big night from their 6-foot senior Ramsey, who would score 19 points and grab 10 rebounds to secure a double-double and help her team advance to the championship game.
“I have been working hard and staying positive,'' Ramsey said. "I feel like this game was pretty tough and we faced a lot of adversity, but overall we stayed positive and after halftime we came out with more energy.”
"She carried us through today, she was our rock and she got put backs,'' Reynoldson said of Ramsey. "We continued to feed her, and she is a very solid player and does what she needs to do for her teammates.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden sophomore boys basketball standout Mason Becker and Silver Lake junior girls basketball standout Kailyn Hanni have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2024-2025 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Becker and Hanni over the past week:
Hayden sophomore Mason Becker has been named as the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency male Rising Star of the Week after helping lead the Wildcats to the Baldwin Invitational championship. [File photo/TSN]
MASON BECKER, Hayden
Becker scored 20 points with five 3-pointers last Saturday as the Wildcats won the tournament championship in the Baldwin Invitational with a 63-49 win over the host Bulldogs. Becker helped Hayden cap a 3-0 run in the tournament, also scoring 16 points in a 63-50 win over defending Class 3A state champion Wellsville.
Silver Lake junior Kailyn Hanni has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency female Rising Star of the Week after leading the Eagles to the Burlington Invitational title. [File photo/TSN]
KAILYN HANNI, Silver Lake
A junior guard, was named the Most Outstanding Player in last week's Burlington Invitational after helping lead Silver Lake to the tournament championship. Hanni scored 22 points in the Eagles' 70-60 win over Labette County in the championship game and scored 64 points in the tournament for the Eagles. Hanni followed that up with 16 points in the Eagles' 50-49 win over Rock Creek on Tuesday.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
As has become tradition, Washburn Rural finished first in the Topeka City Boys Swimming Championships Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Andres Morao-Jaspe captured four gold medals to help lead Washburn Rural to the city team title Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But the gap was narrower than in many previous years, with other city schools claiming higher point totals.
Sophomore Andres Morao-Jaspe had the only perfect day, finishing first in two individual events and helping two Washburn Rural relay teams to firsts as well. Morao-Jaspe won the 200-yard individual medley and the 500 freestyle.
“I feel like a great sense of satisfaction coming out of this with the whole team,” Morao-Jaspe said. “I've been working a lot for this, for these moments.”
Seaman's Peyton Holmes won three gold medals in Thursday's city meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Seaman’s Peyton Holmes claimed first in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle events and was part of two relay teams that placed first and second. He did it despite sinus surgery a week ago, having practiced little since the procedure.
“It was hard to come back into it, but I believed I could win both my events,” Holmes said. “Competing in this city meet is really fun because my whole family could come, and just being in Hummer is fun.”
Washburn Rural placed first with 532 points while Topeka High’s 418.5 points edged Seaman and was cause for celebration for the Trojans.
“I’m really proud of my boys and feel like we had a great day,” Trojan coach Ken Bennett said.
He said Topeka High’s strong upper classes are bolstered this year by a group of freshmen who are contributing to varsity success.
“They came in raw, so to speak, and they stepped up,” Bennett said. “The older swimmers are bonding with the freshmen and showing them the way.”
Topeka High senior Jaxon Cowdin won his fourth city diving title on Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High's Dawson Blankenship helped lead the Trojans to a second-place team finish in Thursday's city swimming championships. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
One of the most impressive performances of the day was turned in by Topeka High senior swimmer/diver Jaxon Cowdin.
Cowdin won the city dive competition for the fourth consecutive year. But he also took fifth in the 50 freestyle and helped two Trojan relay teams to second and third-place finishes.
“Jaxon came in as a freshman and wanted to swim and dive,” Bennett said. “We told him to focus more on diving. As a senior he came out and was like, ‘I’m going to swim.’ It’s rare for someone to be able to do both because you have to practice so much to be a good diver.”
For the second year in a row, Washburn Rural won the city meet behind a first-year head coach. Bob Burdick replaced Janson Garman and had to rebuild the Washburn Rural roster.
“Last year, we lost a whole lot of really fast guys. We took third at state last year and we graduated a whole bunch,” Burdick said. “When I took over, we had about 18 guys.
“We had seven guys who couldn't swim before they got to us, and we made them into swimmers. We had a couple of guys who just popped out of the woodwork and they had a little bit of swim background. They came back and they're just hammering it, and so we're building well. Success breeds success.”
2025 TOPEKA CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High senior diving star Jaxon Cowdin has been playing a little bit of catchup while working through a lingering ankle injury he suffered last summer.
Topeka High senior Jaxon Cowdin won the diving title in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational. [File photo/TSN]
But with his bid for a fourth straight city title coming up on Thursday, followed by Centennial League and Class 6A state competition, Cowdin served notice in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium that he's rounding into form just in time for his stretch run.
In his first 11-dive competition of the season, Cowdin bested the field of nine divers with a score of 394.00, while Free State's Gavin McIntosh was second with a score of 351.75.
"It's more like a test of for one, stamina, and two, consistency, and three, who's got all their stuff put together,'' Cowdin said. "You see a lot of dudes crash and burn on 11 dives. I felt pretty decent, but there's still a lot to clean up.''
Cowdin hurt his ankle back on July 3rd, but his recovery from that injury has last a lot longer than he ever expected.
"It was not healing and it was bad for like a couple of months and then I finally started doing stuff on it, rehabbing it and everything like that and it's almost back to 100 percent now,'' Cowdin said.
Cowdin felt like he was a little bit behind at the start of the season, but is feeling good about where he is now.
"I think (the injury) definitely played a factor, but now that I'm starting to really kind of get into my groove of things, everything's getting better,'' he said.
Nex up is Thursday's city meet and Cowdin's shot at a perfect four for four city run.
"I really try not to think about it a whole lot,'' Cowdin said. "I try not to psych myself up or make myself nervous and I don't think I'm going to be nervous going into it at all.
"We're going to see what happens and obviously I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure I don't get beat, but if I do, hopefully it's by one of my teammates.''
Topeka High's Dawson Blankenship posted a win in the 100-yard butterfly in Tuesday's 12-school Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High also got a win from Dawson Blankenship in the 100-yard butterfly in 59.04 seconds while Blankenship posted a third-place finish in the 200 individual medley (2:25.96).
Lawrence Free State won the team championship by a 538-339 win over Lawrence, with Seaman third with 243 points.
Peyton Holmes anchors Seaman's 200-yard free relay to a win in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman's foursome of Kinser Barbosa, Jeremiah Moylan, Theron Carlson and Peyton Holmes posted a win in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:36.03 while Barbosa finished third in the 100 freestyle (51.96) and third in the 100 backstroke (1:03.33).
Hayden finished sixth as a team, one point ahead of Topeka High (188-187).
Palmer Heskett finished fourth for the Wildcats in the 200 IM (2:29.52) while Ryan Carson was fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:03.79).
Thursday's city meet at Cap Fed will get under way at 1:30 p.m.with the diving competition, followed by swimming competition at 5 p.m.
TOPEKA HIGH INVITATIONAL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kameron Badura
KAMERON BADURA, Rossville
A senior, Badura scored 21 points Saturday as Rossville downed Perry-Lecompton 49-41 to cap off its championship run in the Valley Falls Invitational. Badura averaged 17 points in the tournament as the Bulldawgs went 3-0 on the week to improve to 8-3 on the season.
Mason Becker
MASON BECKER, Hayden
Becker, a sophomore, scored 20 points with five 3-pointers on Saturday as the Wildcats won the tournament championship in the Baldwin Invitational with a 63-49 win over the host Bulldogs. Becker helped Hayden cap a 3-0 run in the tournament as the Wildcats improved to 7-5 on the season.
Kailyn Hanni
KAILYN HANNI, Silver Lake
A junior guard, was named the Most Outstanding Player in last week's Burlington Invitational after helping lead Silver Lake to the tournament championship. Hanni scored 22 points in the Eagles' 70-60 win over Labette County in the championship game and scored 64 points in the tournament for the Eagles, No. 3-ranked in Class 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association.
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights' boys wrestling team bested a 21-school field on Saturday to win the team championship in the Gerald Sadowski Tournament at Holton.
Hayden junior Jude Krentz remained undefeated on the season while earning the 175-pound title in the Gerald Sadowski Tournament at Holton. [File photo/TSN]
The T-Birds got a title from sophomore Brody Brown and six top-three finishes on the way to winning the title by a 188.5-177 margin over Spring Hill.
Brown, now 24-6 on the season, clinched the 138-pound championship with a second-period pin (3:54) over Colton Ball of Chapman.
Shawnee Heights also got third-place individual finishes from freshman Mason Moore (126), sophomore Dallas Owens (132), junior Gavin Hartman (150), junior Evan Johnson (157) and senior Kael Westgate (165).
Topeka High finished sixth as a team with 124 points, getting an individual title from senior Nick Davis at 165 pounds. Davis, now 21-2, recorded a 17-1 technical fall over Brodie Pipkin of Spring Hill.
The Trojans also got third-place finishes from sophomore Jose Gomez (106) and senior Cooper Martin (190).
Hayden posted an eighth-place team finish (76.5 points), led by junior 175-pounder Jude Krentz.
Krentz, now a perfect 29-0 on the season, earned the 175 title with a pin at the 2:30 mark over Nick Allen of Rock Creek.
--By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Topeka West will host the 2025 Capital City Classic girls basketball tournament Thursday through Saturday, with Highland Park, Shawnee Heights, Topeka West and Washburn Rural all taking part in the event.
Sophomore Pearmella Carter and the 7-1 Highland Park girls will compete in this week's Capital City Classic at Topeka West. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights (6-4 on the season) will open the tournament at 3:15 p.m. Thursday against Blue Valley (3-7).
City rivals Highland Park (7-1) and host Topeka West (1-8) are on the same side of the bracket with Heights and Blue Valley and will play a first-round game at 6:30 p.m.
The Highland Park-West and Shawnee Heights-Blue Valley winners will play a 6:30 p.m. semifinal on Friday.
On the other side of the bracket, Lawrence (5-4) will take on Shawnee Mission West (1-6) in a 4:45 p.m. first-round game while Washburn Rural (5-3) will face Lawrence Free State (3-6) at 8 o'clock.
Rural is ranked No. 6 in Class 6A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association while Lawrence is No. 10 in 6A.
The Lawrence-SM West winner will face the Washburn Rural-Free State winner in an 8 o'clock Friday night semifinal.
The tournament will conclude on Saturday, starting with the third and seventh-place games at 10 a.m. in separate gyms, followed by the fifth-place and championship contests at 11:30 a.m. in separate gyms.
CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC
At Topeka West
Thursday
3:15 p.m. -- Shawnee Heights vs. Blue Valley.
4:45 -- Lawrence vs. Shawnee Mission West.
6:30 -- Highland Park vs. Topeka West.
8 -- Washburn Rural vs. Free State.
Friday
3:15 p.m. -- Lawrence-SM West loser vs. Washburn Rural-Free State loser.
4:45 -- Highland Park-Topeka West loser vs. Shawnee Heights-Blue Valley loser.
6:30 -- Highland Park-Topeka West winner vs. Shawnee Heights-Blue Valley winner.
8 -- Lawrence-SM West winner vs. Washburn Rural-Free State winner.
Saturday
10 a.m. -- Third place (main gym); Seventh place (auxiliary gym).
11:30 -- Championship (main gym); Fifth place (auxiliary gym).
Senior Millie Ramsey and 10-0 Hayden will compete this week in the Lady Cat Invitational at El Dorado. [File photo/TSN]
Undefeated Hayden to compete in El Dorado
Hayden, No. 3-ranked in Class 4A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association and 10-0 on the season, is the top seed for the 32nd annual Lady Cat Classic in El Dorado Thursday through Saturday.
Hayden will open its tournament bid at 6 p.m. Thursday against the host team, El Dorado, which is 1-7 on the season.
With a win the Wildcats will advance to a 7:45 p.m. semifinal on Friday to face the first-round winner between Gardner-Edgerton (5-4) and Goddard (4-6).
On the other side of the bracket Kapaun Mt. Carmel (7-3) will play a first-round game against Mill Valley (5-5) while Maize South (8-1) will face Augusta (3-5). Those two winners will play a 6 p.m. semifinal on Friday.
