Rossville Bulldawgs
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twelve Rossville and Silver Lake football standouts have received All-Big East football recognition for the 2024 season, including four first-team selections.
Silver Lake junior Dayne Johnson earned All-Big East first-team honors on both offense and defense for the 7-3 Eagles. [File photo/TSN]
Rossville senior Tayson Horak, who has helped lead the Bulldawgs to the Class 1A sub-state round, earned All-Big East first-team honors as an all-purpose pick. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake junior Dayne Johnson received first-team honors at both wide receiver and defensive back while senior Braden Strausbaugh was a first-team pick as an offensive lineman and defensive end/outside linebacker for the 7-3 Eagles.
Rossville, which will play in a Class 1A sub-state game Friday at Centralia, is represented on the All-Big East first team by senior defensive lineman Leo Wehrli and senior all-purpose pick Tayson Horak. The Bulldawgs are 8-3 with eight straight wins entering Friday night's playoff game.
Silver Lake senior quarterback Dysen Schooler and senior defensive back Logan Cathcart were second-team all-league picks along with Rossville senior defensive end/outside linebacker Will Koch and senior linebacker Brock Bush.
Rossville juniors Jack Donovan and Conner Bush both received honorable mention as did Horak as a returner in addition to his first-team selection on offense, while Silver Lake senior Trent Rollenhagen and junior Grady Bergmann also received honorable mention.
2024 ALL-BIG EAST FOOTBALL TEAM
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Tayson Horak
TAYSON HORAK, Rossville
A senior quarterback, Horak had a hand in five Rossville touchdowns as the Bulldawgs rallied from a 17-point deficit with 5:30 remaining to advance to the Class 1A state football sub-state round with a 42-38 win over top seed and previously-unbeaten Jackson Heights on the road Friday night. Horak threw for touchdown passes of 17, 39, 35 and 25 yards and scored the game-winning TD on a 6-yard run as the Bulldawgs improved to 8-3 on the season with their eighth straight victory.
L.J. Minner Jr.
LJ MINNER Jr., Washburn University
A 6-foot, 205-pound sophomore linebacker out of Ferguson, Mo., Minner registered 14 tackles as Washburn ended its season with a 35-28 win at Northeastern State. Minner finished his season with 103 total tackles (59 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for the Ichabods.
Tre Richardson
TRE RICHARDSON, Washburn University
A 5-foot-10, 175-pound sophomore receiver, the former Highland Park multi-sport star scored the game-winning touchdown with 48 seconds remaining in Washburn's season-ending 35-28 road win at Northeastern State, hauling in a 10-yard pass from Sam Van Dyne. Richardson also set up an Ichabod touchdown with an 84-yard kickoff return. Richardson caught five passes for 52 yards and had 166 all-purpose yards in the win.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
State tournament teams Seaman, Washburn Rural and Hayden combined to put 10 players on the TopSports.news 2024 All-Shawnee County volleyball first team, led by Seaman two-time player of the year Maegan Mills.
Seaman senior Maegan Mills (23) has been named the TSN Shawnee County volleyball player of the year for the second straight season. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Seaman's Tatiana Dowling has been named the Shawnee County coach of the year for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman, which finished second in Class 5A this fall after winning the state title in 2023, put a county-high four players on the all-county first team, with Mills joined by fellow Viking seniors Campbell Chabot, Ava Esser and Kinley Wilhelm while Viking coach Tatiana Dowling, a Seaman grad, was named the coach of the year for the second straight season after leading her team to a county-best 41-3 record and a county-best state tournament finish.
Hayden freshman Hailey Schmidtlein has been named the Shawnee County co-newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Blakely Walter has been named the Shawnee County volleyball co-newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden, which placed third in the 4A state tournament, is represented on the first team by senior Reagan McGivern and freshmen Hailey Schmidtlein and Blakely Walter, who were named co-Shawnee County newcomers of the year. McGivern is a first-team all-county repeat pick after earning first-team honors at Seaman as a junior.
Washburn Rural is represented on the all-county first team by seniors Layla Collins and Kate Hinck and junior Karsyn Horyna after helping the Junior Blues win the Centennial League championship and advance to the 6A state tournament.
Collins is a first-team All-Shawnee County repeat pick after being a second-team pick as a sophomore.
Shawnee Heights put seniors Kaydence Torrez and Taylor Brees on the first team while Silver Lake is represented by senior Ella Bolan, Rossville by sophomore Nora Burdiek and Topeka High by senior Jo'Mhara Benning.
Torrez and Bolan are first-team repeat picks while Burdiek was named the county newcomer of the year as a freshman.
All-Shawnee County first-team capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Thirteen Shawnee County players have earned Kansas Volleyball Association All-State recognition, including four first-team picks.
Seaman senior Campbell Chabot earned KVA All-State first-team honors in Class 5A after helping the Vikings finish second in Class 5A this fall. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Seaman senior Maegan Mills earned first-team KVA All-State honors in Class 5A for the second straight season after helping lead the Vikings to a runnerup state finish. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Hayden senior Reagan McGivern earned a spot on the KVA Class 4A All-State first team after helping the Wildcats finish third in 4A. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Rossville sophomore Nora Burdiek was named to the KVA All-Class 2A All-State team. [Submitted photo]
Seniors Campbell Chabot and Meagan Mills, who helped lead Seaman to a runnerup finish in Class 5A, were named to the All-5A first team while Hayden senior Reagan McGivern earned first-team honors in 4A after helping the Wildcats post a third-place state finish and Rossville sophomore Nora Burdiek was a first-team pick in 2A after helping the Bulldawgs win a regional championship this fall.
Washburn Rural senior Layla Collins received second-team all-state recognition in 6A while Seaman senior Ava Esser was a second-team All-5A pick, freshmen Hailey Schmidtlein and Blakely Walter were second-team selections in 4A and Silver Lake senior Ella Bolan was a second-team honoree in 3A.
Rural senior Kate Hinck received All-6A honorable mention while Seaman seniors Maggie Moulden and Kinley Wilhelm received honorable mention in 5A and Hayden junior Ella Foster received honorable mention in 4A.
KANSAS VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION 2024 ALL-STATE
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
An eighth straight Rossville victory appeared highly unlikely on the road Friday night when the Bulldawgs trailed top seed and undefeated Jackson Heights 31-14 at the start of the fourth quarter and 38-21 with five and a half minutes remaining.
But three touchdowns over a span of just 1 minute, 27 seconds did the trick, with Rossville rallying for a dramatic 42-38 win to advance to next Friday's Class 1A sub-state (semifinal) round.
Rossville senior quarterback Tayson Horak passed for four TDs and ran for the game-winning score in Friday's 42-38 road win at Jackson Heights. [File photo/TSN]
Now 8-3 on the season, the Bulldawgs took their only lead of the night on a 6-yard run by senior quarterback Tayson Horak (Vincent Daniel kick) with 3:07 left and Rossville was able to keep the Cobras out of the end zone the rest of the way to close out the win.
Rossville will be on the road again next Friday, traveling to Centralia to face the 10-1 Panthers, a 46-14 winner over Pittsburg Colgan.
Jackson Heights (10-1) struck first against Rossville, just 18 seconds into the game, but a 4-yard Andre Johnson TD run (Daniel kick) knotted the score at 7-7 at the 7:21 mark of the opening quarter.
The Cobras took a 10-7 lead on a 25-yard field goal late in the first and scored back-to-back TDs to take a 24-7 lead with two minutes remaining in the first half.
Rossville junior Mahki Jackson (15) scored a pair of TDs in Friday's 42-38 come-from-behind playoff win at Jackson Heights. [File photo/TSN]
Rossville got back within 10 points on a 25-yard pass from Horak to Mahki Jackson (Daniel kick) with just 16 seconds left before the intermission but Jackson Heights scored the only touchdown of the third quarter late in the period to go back in front by 17.
Horak and Jackson hooked up again early in the fourth quarter, this time on a 35-yard TD (Daniel kick), but the Cobras answered with a 6-yard TD to go up 38-21 with 5:30 left.
That's when Rossville turned the tables in a big way.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
Seaman junior Kaden McKinney (9) has rushed for 932 yards and 12 TDs on 153 attempts for the 8-2 Vikings. [File photo/TSN]
Class 5A
SEAMAN (No. 3 West: 8-2) at EISENHOWER (No. 2 West: 8-2)
Seaman advanced to the Class 5A quarterfinals with a 43-15 win over Valley Center last Friday while Eisenhower moved on with a 37-26 win over Maize South. Seaman senior Max Huston has completed 138 of 219 passes for 2,352 yards and 27 touchdowns and has rushed for 740 yards and 13 TDs on 103 attempts. Senior Bryer Finley has 72 receptions for 1,499 yards and 21 TDs while junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 153 times for 932 yards and 12 TDs. Junior Cameron Brian leads the Vikings with 108 tackles (60 solo) with 10 tackles for loss. Eisenhower senior Derek Morgan has completed 129 of 189 passes for 2416 yards and 34 TDs. Senior Carter Pabst has caught 63 passes for 1,522 yards and 26 TDs. Junior Brayden Pappas has carried the ball 177 times for 1,082 yards and four TDs. The Seaman-Eisenhower winner will advance to the sub-state round to face the winner of Friday's game between No. 9 West seed Hays (6-4) at No. 4 seed Hutchinson (8-2).
Hayden senior Jensen Schrickel has 489 receiving yards, 398 rushing yards and has scored 14 touchdowns for the 9-1 Wildcats. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Class 3A
PERRY-LECOMPTON (No. 10 East: 5-5) at HAYDEN (No. 3 East: 9-1)
Hayden, second in Class 3A last fall, advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 3A playoffs with a 49-0 rout over Girard last Friday, while Perry-Lecompton upset No. 2 seed Frontenac on the road, 28-22. Hayden took a 50-16 district win over Perry-Lecompton on Oct. 18. Hayden senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 102 of 149 passes for 1,531 yards and 17 touchdowns while junior Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 83 times for 689 yards, caught 24 passes for 408 yards and scored 23 total touchdowns. Senior Jensen Schrickel has caught 32 passes for 489 yards, rushed for 398 yards on 31 attempts and scored 14 total TDs. Junior Jude Krentz
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake senior Ella Bolan earned a first-team spot on the All-Big East League volleyball team while seven Silver Lake and Rossville players earned all-league recognition.
Ella Bolan
Bolan helped lead the Eagles to a 28-10 record and a Class 3A regional champonship.
Silver Lake sophomores Jaylie Whitehead and Kylie Hanni and Rossville sophomore Nora Burdiek were named to the All-Big East second team while Silver Lake junior Jaiden Wise made the third team.
Rossville's Sydney Sumner and Silver Lake's Paige Heiman received honorable mention.
ALL-BIG EAST LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL
First team
Cali Honeyman, Nemaha Central; Samantha Klotz, Royal Valley; Hayden Heim, St. Marys; Ella Bolan, Silver Lake; Tinley Wilson, Holton; Hallie Holthaus, Nemaha Central.
Second team
Erin Boltz, Sabetha; Jaylie Whitehead, Silver Lake; Nora Burdiek, Rossville; Zoey Sudbeck, Nemaha Central; KiWe Miller, Royal Valley; Kylie Hanni, Silver Lake.
Third team
Addison Schwinn, Jefferson West; Macie Corcoran, Perry-Lecompton; Jaiden Wise, Silver Lake; Elizabeth Schuster, Holton; Kolbie Noel, Jefferson West; Maddy Simmons, Hiawatha.
Honorable mention
Reagan Gerety, Nemaha Central; Sadie Gross, Holton; Madison Blackwood, Royal Valley; Gracie Scofield, Riley County; Harriet Dean, Jefferson West; Hope Billings, Perry-Lecompton; Sydney Sumner, Rossville; Cami Dalinghaus, Nemaha Central; Isabel Hurla, St. Marys; Paige Heiman, Silver Lake.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Tayson Horak
TAYSON HORAK, Rossville
A senior quarterback, Horak scored three touchdowns as Rossville's football team advanced to the Class 1A state quarterfinals with a 42-0 win over McLouth Friday night. Horak scored on runs of 3, 55 and 28 yards as the Bulldawgs improved to 7-3 on the season with their seventh straight victory.
Max Huston
MAX HUSTON, Seaman
Huston, a senior quarterback, had a hand in five touchdowns Friday night as 8-2 Seaman advanced to the Class 5A football quarterfinals with a 43-16 home win over Valley Center. Huston rushed for 117 yards on 14 carries against the Hornets, scoring touchdowns on runs of 1, 51, 4 and 8 yards and completed 16 of 25 passes for 272 yards, including a 39-yard TD pass.
Andrew Orr
ANDREW ORR, Washburn University
A senior frontliner, Orr scored a total of 40 points as Washburn men's basketball opened the season with a pair of double-digit wins. Orr scored 21 points (9 of 11 shooting from the field) in the Ichabods' 89-71 win over Sioux Falls on Friday and scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds on Saturday as WU knocked off defending Division II national champion Minnesota State, 85-68.
The 2024 All-Shawnee County girls cross country team: Front row, from left -- Stella Appelhanz, Seaman; Kinley Robinson, Seaman; Ryin Miller, Seaman; Brynn Spencer, Seaman; Sofia Harper, Hayden; Elliot Wrench, Hayden. Back row, from left -- coach Matt Swedlund, Washburn Rural; Emily Graf, Washburn Rural; Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural; Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural; Payton Fink, Washburn Rural; Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A whopping nine first-team repeat selections and seven state medalists headline the 2024 All-Shawnee County girls cross country team.
Leading the way are top-five individual state finishers Ryin Miller of Seaman and Rylee Ismert and Payton Fink of Washburn Rural, with Miller, a junior, the Class 5A runnerup and seniors Ismert and Fink finishing third and fifth in 6A.
Hayden senior Elliot Wrench posted a sixth-place finish in 4A while junior Emily Graf placed 14th in 6A and Seaman senior Stella Appelhanz and sophomore Brynn Spencer finished 17th and 18th in 5A.
Miller, Ismert, Fink, Wrench, Graf, Appelhanz and Spencer are all first-team All-Shawnee County repeat picks along with Washburn Rural senior Brooklyn Nolte and Hayden sophomore Sofia Harper.
Earning first-team all-county honors for the first time are Washburn Rural junior Kenzie Maddox and Seaman sophomore Kinley Robinson.
Washburn Rural coach Matt Swedlund was named the girls Shawnee County coach of the year after his Junior Blues swept city, Centennial League and Class 6A regional team titles and tied for the 6A team championship, finishing second to five-time champion Olathe West on a tiebreaker.
All-Shawnee County girls capsules:
The 2024 All-Shawnee County boys cross country team: Front row, from left -- Evan Carter, Shawnee Heights; Bodie King, Washburn Rural; Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural; Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural; Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural; Brody Anderson, Seaman. Back row, from left -- coach Matt Swedlund, Washburn Rural; Connor Olsen, Washburn Rural; Connor Baldwin, Hayden; Max Esquibel, Shawnee Heights; Adrian Lehman, Topeka West; Mark Wilkie, Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Three state medalists and five first-team repeat picks headline the 2024 All-Shawnee County boys cross country team.
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman and Seaman junior Brody Anderson finished seventh and ninth individually in the Class 5A state meet while Washburn Rural freshman Henry Laubach finished 14th in 6A in his first state meet.
Lehman and Anderson are both all-county first-team repeat selections along with Shawnee Heights senior Evan Carter, Washburn Rural junior Brooks Kehoe and Rural senior Conner Olsen.
Washburn Rural, which won the city team championship, is also represented on the all-county team by senior Bodie King and freshman Clayton Fink, who helped the Junior Blues qualify for the 6A state meet as a team, while Rural coach Matt Swedlund was named the city boys coach of the year.
Topeka West's senior Mark Wilkie, Hayden junior Connor Baldwin and Shawnee Heights junior Max Esquibel were named to the all-county team for the first time.
All-Shawnee County boys capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Rossville rolled to its seventh straight win Friday night while advancing to the Class 1A quarterfinals with a 42-0 home shutout over McLouth.
Rossville senior quarterback Tayson Horak (12) scored three touchdowns Friday night as the Bulldawgs advanced to the Class 1A quarterfinals with a 42-0 win over McLouth. [File photo/TSN]
Now 7-3 on the season, the Bulldawgs scored the only points they would need on a 3-yard run from senior quarterback Tayson Horak with 4:13 left in the opening quarter (Vincent Daniel kick).
The Bulldawgs added a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 20-0 halftime advantage, with Horak scoring on a 55-yard run (Daniel kick) and a 5-yard run from junior Conner Bush (extra point failed).
Senior Seth Catron scored on third-quarter runs of 61 and 19 yards, with Canann Mitchell connecting on a 2-point conversion and Daniel kicking an extra point.
Horak completed Rossville's scoring with his third TD of the night early in the fourth quarter on a 28-yard run (Daniel kick), while the Bulldawg defense picked up its third shutout of the season.
With Friday's win the Bulldawgs advanced to a 1A quarterfinal next Friday, traveling to undefeated Jackson Heights to face the 10-0 Cobras, the No. 1 seed in the East.
COUNCIL GROVE 30, SILVER LAKE 8 --Council Grove avenged an earlier 17-point district loss to Silver Lake with a 30-8 road win over the Eagles in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Council Grove, the No. 13 East seed, improved to 7-3 on the season while advancing to next Friday's state quarterfinals while Silver Lake ended its season 7-3.
Council Grove will be back on the road next week, facing No. 1 East seed Humboldt (10-0).
The Cubs advanced with a 64-7 win over Riverton.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Rossville junior football standout Conner Bush and Washburn Rural junior cross country standout Emily Graf 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 Bush and Graf over the past week:
Rossville junior Conner Bush (5) has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency male Rising Star of the Week after helping lead the Bulldawgs to the second round of the Class 1A playoffs with a 47-13 win over Wabaunsee. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
CONNER BUSH, Rossville
A 5-foot-11, 176-pound running back, Bush scored three touchdowns last Friday night as Rossville advanced to the second round of the Class 1A football playoffs with a 47-13 win over Wabaunsee.
Bush scored TDs on runs of 51, 9 and 25 yards as the Bulldawgs improved to 6-3 on the 2024 season while posting their sixth straight victory.
Bush has carried the ball 54 times on the season for 551 yards and nine touchdowns.
Washburn Rural junior Emily Graf has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency female Rising Star of the Week after earning her second straight Class 6A state medal last Saturday at Rim Rock Farm. [File photo/TSN]
EMILY GRAF, Washburn Rural
Graf earned her second straight Class 6A state medal in last Saturday's state cross country meet at Rim Rock Farm as Washburn Rural tied Olathe West for the team championship and finished second on a tiebreaker.
Graf posted a career-best 14th-place state finish in a five-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 26.3 seconds.
Graf, who helped the Junior Blues sweep city, Centennial League and regional team titles this fall, placed 19th in the state meet as a sophomore.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
Seaman senior Max Huston has passed for 2,078 yards and 26 TDs and rushed for 627 yards and nine TDs for the 7-2 Vikings. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman senior Bryer Finley (1) has caught 67 passes for 1,404 yards and 21 TDs this fall for the 7-2 Vikings. [File photo/TSN]
Class 5A
VALLEY CENTER (No. 11 West: 3-6) at SEAMAN (No. 3 West: 7-2)
Seaman advanced to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs with a 65-7 win over Topeka West last Friday while Valley Center upset No. 6 West seed Goddard, 7-6. The winner of Friday's game will advance to play the winner of Friday's game between No. 2 West seed Eisenhower (7-2) and No. 7 Maize South (6-3). Seaman senior Max Huston has completed 122 of 194 passes for 2,078 yards and 26 touchdowns and has rushed for 627 yards and nine TDs on 96 attempts. Senior Bryer Finley has 67 receptions for 1,404 yards and 21 TDs while junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 126 times for 823 yards and 11 TDs. Junior Cameron Brian leads the Vikings with 100 tackles (56 solo) with eight tackles for loss. Valley Center senior Connor Brian has completed 63 of 166 passes for 655 yards and eight TDs. Junior Rylan Bailey has 401 rushing yards and three TDs on 173 attempts while sophomore Ray J Logan has caught 33 passes for 424 yards and five TDs. Senior Steel Schomaker leads Valley Center with 93 tackles.
Hayden senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has passed for 1,448 yards and 16 TDs for the 8-1 Wildcats. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Hayden senior Jensen Schrickel has 426 receiving yards, 288 rushing yards and has scored 11 touchdowns for the 8-1 Wildcats. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Class 3A
GIRARD (No. 6 East: 6-3) at HAYDEN (No. 3 East: 8-1)
Hayden, which played for the Class 3A state championship last fall, advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a 56-6 win over Hiawatha last Friday, while Girard is coming off a 43-15 first-round win ovr Kansas City-Bishop Ward. The winner of Friday's game will play the winner of Friday's game between No. 2 East seed Frontenac (9-0) and No. 10 Perry-Lecompton (4-5). Hayden senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 96 of 139 passes for 1,448 yards and 16 touchdowns while junior Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 78 times for 696 yards, caught 23 passes for 398 yards and scored 21 total touchdowns. Senior Jensen Schrickel has caught 28 passes for 426 yards, rushed for 288 yards on 23 attempts and scored 11 total TDs. Junior Jude Krentz leads Hayden with 87 total tackles.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Conner Bush
CONNER BUSH, Rossville
A 5-foot-11, 176-pound junior running back, Bush scored three touchdowns Friday night as Rossville advanced to the second round of the Class 1A football playoffs with a 47-13 win over Wabaunsee. Bush scored TDs on runs of 51, 9 and 25 yards as the Bulldawgs improved to 6-3 on the 2024 season while posting their sixth straight victory.
Rylee Ismert
RYLEE ISMERT, Washburn Rural
Ismert, a senior cross country standout, earned her second straight Class 6A state medal in Saturday's state meet at Rim Rock Farm, posting a career-best third-place individual finish in a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 41.30 seconds as the Junior Blues tied Olathe West for the team championship, with the Owls winning their fifth straight state title on a tiebreaker. Ismert won Centennial League and regional titles this fall.
Adrian Lehman
ADRIAN LEHMAN, Topeka West
The Topeka West senior cross country standout posted a Shawnee County-best boys finish of seventh place in Saturday's Class 5A state meet at Rim Rock Farm. Lehman, a two-time state qualifier in his only two seasons of high school cross country, clocked a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 49.59 seconds after qualifying for the state meet as an individual.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Ryin Miller's biggest and toughest cross country meet of the season is on tap Saturday at Rim Rock Farm, but the undefeated Seaman junior star just wants to run her best and will accept the outcome.
Seaman junior cross country star Ryin Miller remained undefeated in last Saturday's Class 5A regional and will take aim on her first state cross country title Saturday at Rim Rock Farm. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller finished third in last year's state meet and the two runners who beat her in 2023, Salina Central senior two-time state champ Katelyn Rupe and sophomore Kaylie Shultz are both in the field for Saturday's 10 a.m. 5A race.
Miller, a two-time state champ in track, beat both Central standouts earlier this fall on the same course in the Rim Rock Classic.
"Honestly, I'm just going to go out there with full confidence in myself,'' Miller said about state. "I'm just going to run the best race that I have on that day and if (a title) happens, amazing. Obviously that's what everybody wants to happen for themselves, but if it doesn't happen I'm still going to be incredibly proud of my season regardless.''
Miller said she enjoys the challenge of racing against Rupe and Shultz.
"It's great racing against them,'' Miller said. "They're obviously great competition. It's fun running against them, it's fun to finally kind of have somebody there with you. Always fun, but always hard, too, so it really could be anybody's race. It's just whoever has the best race on the day.''
Seaman qualified its entire team for state with a second-place regional finish behind defending 5A team champ St. James Academy, with Viking sophomore Brynn Spencer and senior Stella Appelhanz finishing eighth and ninth while sophomore Kinley Robinson placed 16th and freshman Avery Villines was 22nd (21:16.6) to round out Seaman's top five.
Seaman's boys also turned in a solid regional performance, earning a state team berth with a third-place team finish and will compete in Saturday's 11:30 a.m. state race.
Seaman junior Brody Anderson finished second in Saturday's Class 5A regional cross county meet as the Vikings qualified as a team with a third-place finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Brody Anderson led the Vikings with a runnerup individual finish while Seaman also got an 18th-place showing from senior Alex Newell, a 20th-place finish from sophomore Conner Bloom, a 23rd from senior Corbin Murrow and a 25th-place finish from junior Drake Spurlock.
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman qualified for the Class 5A state cross country meet with a third-place finish in Saturday's 5A regional at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West qualified seniors Adrian Lehman and Mark Wilkie for state as individuals, with Lehman finishing third while Wilkie placed 12th.
The 5A girls race is scheduled for a 10 a.m. start Saturday while the boys race is set for 11:45 a.m.
CLASS 6A
Senior Rylee Ismert followed up her Centennial League individual cross country title with a Class 6A regional win last week while leading Washburn Rural to the team championship in the Junior Blues' tuneup for Saturday's state meet at Rim Rock Farm.
Washburn Rural senior Rylee Ismert enters Saturday's Class 6A state meet on a two-race win streak with Centennial League and regional titles . [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Ismert took individual honors in last Saturday's 6A regional, one of four Junior Blues in the top eight spots as Rural took the team title by a 45-55 margin over Lawrence Free State.
Washburn Rural senior Payton Fink, the Class 6A runnerup in the 2023 state meet, finished third in Saturday's Class 6A regional, helping the Junior Blues win the team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Rural senior Payton Fink finished third in the regional meet while junior Emily Graf was fifth, senior Brooklyn Nolte eighth and junior Kenzie Maddox 29th to round out the Junior Blues' top five.
Rural's girls have now swept city, league and regional team titles and are on the short list of state title contenders Saturday.
"That's where we want to be, that's the plan,'' Washburn Rural coach Matt Swedlund said at regionals. "We have a few things to figure out. We'll work on tweaking some stuff this week and want to be competing for that title (on) Saturday.''
The Junior Blue boys tied Manhattan for second place with 86 points and finished third on a tiebreaker to garner the final team berth for state.
Washburn Rural freshman Henry Laubach (1935) posted a third-place individual finish in last Saturday's Class 6A regional cross country meet, helping the Junior Blues earn a Class 6A state berth. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Freshman Henry Laubach finished third to pace Washburn Rural at regionals while junior Brooks Kehoe finished eighth, senior Bodie King 15th, freshman Clayton Fink 28th and senior Chris Quarles 32nd.
The 6A girls race is scheduled for an 11 a.m. Saturday while the boys race is the final race of the day at 12:30 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Hayden's boys earned a team berth for Saturday's Class 4A state meet at Wamego Country Club with a third-place regional finish, one point behind second-place Baldwin.
Junior Connor Baldwin led the Wildcats with a fifth-place regional finish, while freshman Nick Newkirk finished seventh, senior Jonah Stewart 13th, junior Luke Franklin 22nd and senior Derek Ahlstedt 31st to complete Hayden's scoring runners.
Hayden senior girls standout Elliot Wrench qualified for state as an individual, posting a fourth-place regional finish.
The 4A girls race is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday while the boys race is set for a 12:30 p.m. start.
CLASS 3A
Silver Lake will have a pair of runners in both the boys and girls Class 3A state events Saturday at Rim Rock Farm.
The Eagle boys will be represented by senior Aemon Coffman and sophomore Hunter Rooks in the 10:30 a.m. boys race, with Coffman finishing sixth at regionals while Rooks qualified 15th.
Silver Lake sophomore Alessandra Gerber and senior Tessa Gerber will compete in the 3A girls race at 12 p.m.
Alessandra Gerber posted a sixth-place individual finish at regionals while Tessa Gerber placed 13th to earn a state berth.
CLASS 2A
Rossville's boys posted a second-place regional team finish to punch its ticket for Saturday's Class 2A state meet at Wamego Country Club while Bulldawg sophomore Madelyn Wonnell qualified for the girls state meet as an individual.
Rossville's boys posted a regional team score of 70 points to finish nine points behind Solomon.
Junior Dalton Verschelden led the Bulldawgs with a 16th-place regional showing, while junior Torin Culbertson was 22nd and senior Logan Kufahl 27th to lead Rossville.
Wonnell qualified for state with a 14th-place regional finish.
The 2A girls race is set to start at 10 a.m., with the boys race scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
SHAWNEE COUNTY STATE QUALIFIERS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(Kickoffs at 7 p.m., unless noted)
THURSDAY'S GAME
Class 2A
Silver Lake senior quarterback Dysen Schooler threw for three touchdowns and ran for a TD in the Eagles' 29-12 win over Council Grove on Friday. [File photo/TSN]
GALENA (4-4) at SILVER LAKE (6-2)
6 p.m. kickoff
Silver Lake, the No. 5 Class 2A East seed, will host No. 12 seed Galena in a Halloween Night battle to open the post season. Silver Lake finished second in 2A District 3, ending its regular season with a 29-12 win over Council Grove (5-3) as senior quarterback Dysen Schooler threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a 31-yard TD. Galena ended its regular season with a 36-20 win over Baxter Springs.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Class 6A
TOPEKA HIGH (4-4) at JUNCTION CITY (4-4)
The Trojans and Centennial League rival Junction City will square off for the second time in four games in the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs. Topeka High was installed as the No. 9 West seed after a 49-24 non-league loss at Pittsburg Friday night while Junction City is the No. 8 seed in the West after a 38-0 league win over Emporia. Junction City took a 50-21 win over Topeka High in Week 6 of the regular season, also at Junction City.
WASHBURN RURAL (3-5) at MAIZE (4-4)
Washburn Rural is the No. 10 seed in Class 6A West and will travel to Maize to face the No. 7 West seed. The Junior Blues are coming off a 56-14 Centennial League road loss at unbeaten Manhattan Friday night. Washburn Rural will be facing a Maize team that has won four straight games, including a 50-0 win over Salina South in Week 8.
Class 5A
Seaman senior quarterback Max Huston (7) and the 6-2 Vikings are the No. 3 West seed for the Class 5A state playoffs. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
TOPEKA WEST (1-7) at SEAMAN (6-2)
Topeka West and Seaman will face off for the second time this season, with the Vikings taking a 53-6 United Kansas Conference win over the Chargers in Week 3. UKC champion Seaman is coming off a 42-28 conference loss to De Soto on Friday while West dropped 58-21 UKC decision to Piper. Seaman is the No. 3 Class 5A West seed while Topeka West is the No. 14 seed.
Jamon Wilson (5) and Highland Park capped a 6-2 regular season with a 38-28 win over KC-Washington and will open the Class 5A playoffs at home against Pittsburg Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
PITTSBURG (6-2) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (6-2)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park ended up as the No. 8 seed in Class 5A East and drew a tough opening round opponent in No. 9 seed Pittsburg, also 6-2. The Purple Dragons ended their regular season with a 49-24 home non-league decision over Topeka High. Highland Park capped its regular season on Thursday night with a 38-28 Meadowlark Conference victory over Kansas City-Washington.
Parker Busenitz (4) caught seven passes for 142 yards and two TDs in Friday's 69-30 UKC win over KC-Turner. [File photo/TSN]
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (2-6) at SPRING HILL (7-1)
Shawnee Heights picked up its second win of the season Friday night, taking a 69-30 United Kansas Conference road decision over Kansas City-Turner, while Spring Hill edged Louisburg, 14-13. Spring Hill is the No. 5 Class 5A East seed whlile Heights is the No. 12 seed. Junior quarterback Aiden Scott completed 23 of 28 passes fo 387 yards and six touchdowns against Turner while Parker Busenitz had seven catches for 142 yards and two TDs and Tyren Parker has six catches for 121 yards and two TDs.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY'S GAME
Highland Park senior Jamon Wilson has compiled 1,449 all-purpose yards this fall for the 5-2 Scots. [File photo/TSN]
KC-WASHINGTON (6-1, 4-1 Meadowlark) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (5-2, 4-1 Meadowlark)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park snapped a two-game losing streak with a 70-0 non-league rout over Kansas City-East, Mo. last Thursday at Hummer Sports Park while Kansas City-Washington is coming off a 20-6 Meadowlark Conference victory over KC-Schlagle. Thursday's game could have serious implications on seeding for the Class 5A playoffs, with Washington tied for the No. 2 East seed and Highland Park tied for the No. 7 East seed. The top eight seeds will host games in the first round of the playoffs next week. Scot senior Jamon Wilson has accumulated 1,449 all-purpose yards, including 510 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 45 carries, 16 receptions for 349 yards and three TDs and 565 kick/punt return yards. Sophomore quarterback G'Honi Montgomery has carried the ball 67 times for 590 yards and six TDs while junior Dontrail Fox has completed 48 of 100 passes for 899 yards and 10 TDs.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Seaman senior Max Huston has passed for 1,650 yards and 18 TDs and rushed for 443 yards and seven TDs for the 6-1 Vikings. [File photo/TSN]
DE SOTO (6-1, 5-1 UKC) at SEAMAN (6-1, 6-0 UKC)
Seaman clinched a share of the United Kansas Conference title with a 28-14 win over previously-unbeaten Basehor-Linwood last Friday and can clinch the outright championship with a win over De Soto. The Vikings are currently tied for the No. 2 West Class 5A seed. De Soto rolled to a 67-28 non-league win over Blue Valley Southwest last Friday and the Wildcats are tied for the No. 2 East 5A seed. Seaman senior Max Huston has completed 96 of 151 passes for 1,650 yards and 18 touchdowns and has rushed for 443 yards and seven TDs on 70 attempts. Senior Bryer Finley has 53 receptions for 1,069 yards and 14 TDs while junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 94 times for 598 yards and 10 TDs. Junior Carter Brian leads the Vikings with 75 tackles (42 solo) with seven tackles for loss.
PIPER (2-5, 2-4 UKC) vs. TOPEKA WEST (1-6, 1-6 UKC)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka West dropped a 57-0 United Kansas Conference decision to Leavenworth last week while Piper took a 51-16 UKC win over Kansas City-Turner. West enters the final game of the regular season tied for the No. 12 seed in Class 5A West.
COUNCIL GROVE (5-2, 1-2 Class 2A District 3) at SILVER LAKE (5-2, 2-1 Class 2A District 3)
Both Silver Lake and Council Grove will be looking to bounce back from losses, with the Eagles dropping a 35-21 Class 2A District 3 decision to undefeated Osage City while Council Grove lost a 22-6 district game to St. Marys. Silver Lake had a four-game win streak snapped by Osage City, which pulled away late in a game that was tied 14-14 at halftime.
Hayden senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has passed for 1,175 yards and 14 TDs for the 6-1 Wildcats. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
HAYDEN (6-1, 3-0 Class 3A District 4) at JEFFERSON WEST (1-6, 0-3 Class 3A District 4)
Hayden clinched the Class 3A District 4 championship last Friday with a 50-16 district win over Perry-Lecompton while Jefferson West posted its first win of the season, taking a 29-6 non-district win over Atchison County. Wildcat senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 78 of 114 passes for 1,175 yards and 14 touchdowns while junior Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 60 times for 546 yards, caught 21 passes for 374 yards and scored 16 total touchdowns. Senior Jensen Schrickel has caught 22 passes for 356 yards and scored nine total TDs. Junior Jude Krentz leads Hayden with 68 total tackles (38 solo) while sophomore Mason Becker is 38 of 38 on extra-point attempts.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the second time in two weeks Rossville rolled to a decisive victory over Wabaunsee Friday night, posting a 47-13 home win in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs.
No. 4 East seed Rossville will be back at home Friday, hosting No. 5 McLouth (7-2), a 64-20 winner over Pleasanton Friday night.
Rossville junior Conner Bush scored three touchdowns in the Bulldawgs' 47-13 Class 1A playoff win over Wabaunsee Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Rossville, which is now 6-3 and in the midst of a six-game win streak, jumped out on top 14-0 in the first quarter Friday night over the Chargers, getting 51 and 9-yard touchdown runs from junior Conner Bush (Vincent Daniel kick).
Rossville senior quarterback Tayson Horak rushed for three touchdowns in Friday's 47-13 Class 1A playoff win over Wabaunsee. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Rossville junior Andre Johnson (1) celebrates a second-quarter touchdown in Friday's 47-13 Class 1A playoff win over Wabaunsee. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Bulldawgs then tacked on three more TDs in the second quarter to open up a commanding 34-6 halftime advantage. Senior quarterback Tayson scored a pair of TDs in the period on 13 and 17-yard runs while junior Andre Johnson scored from 3 yards out. Daniel kicked a pair of extra points.
Bush scored his third touchdown of the game on a 25-yard run in the third quarter and Horak finished Rossville's scoring midway through the fourth quarter with his third TD, a 27-yard run (Daniel kick).
HAYDEN 56, HIAWATHA 6 -- Hayden, which improved to 8-1,took the lead for good with a touchdown on its opening possession and scored on four of its five first-half drives on the way to a dominating 56-6 home win over Hiawatha in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs.
Defensively, Hayden recovered two Hiawatha fumbles and picked off two passes.
Wildcat senior quarterback Jett Walmeier was 10 of 13 passing for 190 yards and a touchdown while senior Jensen Schrickel had three receptions for 41 yards and had six carries for 110 yards and two TDs.
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
Hayden's girls golf team put itself in position to win a second straight Class 4A state championship in Monday's opening round and left no doubt on Tuesday, pulling away for a 15-stroke victory at Hesston Golf Course.
Hayden took a four-stroke lead over Wellington on Monday and finished the 36-hole event with a four-person score of 698 while Wellington was a distant second at 713 and McPherson finished third at 727.
Hayden's girls golf team poses with its championship trophy after winning the Class 4A state tournament by 15 strokes Tuesday at Hesston. [Submitted photo]
Junior Lauren Borjon led the Wildcats with a third-place individual finish with a 36-hole total of 157, following up her first-round 76 with an 81 on Tuesday.
Hayden junior Izzy Glotzbach and senior Addyson Baer also earned 4A state medals, with Glotzbach finishing 12th at 171 (89-82) and Baer tying for 16th at 174 (86-88).
Brooke Johnson placed 34th at 196 (102-94), Nora Allphin was 46th at 213 (107-106) and Kellyn Specht finished 52nd at 226 (112-114).
Wamego's Addison Douglass took the individual state championship with a 36-hole total of 142 (70-72).
Silver Lake girls golf poses for a team picture after finishing second in the Class 3A-1A state tournament on a tiebreaker Tuesday at Emporia. [Silver Lake Athletics]
Silver Lake suffers heartbreaking tiebreaker loss in 3A-1A
Silver Lake, which started Tuesday's final round in third place, rallied to give itself a chance at a second straight Class 3A-1A state championship before finishing second to Pittsburg Colgan on a tiebreaker.
Both the Eagles and Panthers finished with four-person scores of 718, but Colgan won its third state title in four seasons by virtue of a lower fifth score on the second day of the tournament. Goodland finished third at 734.
Senior Taylor Zordel led Silver Lake with a fourth-place individual finish at 164 (86-78), earning her fourth straight state medal, while Kailyn Hanni posted a 13th-place finish at 180 (90-90) and Makenna Miller also earned a state medal with a 14th-place finish at 181 (95-86).
Savannah Wende finished 36th for the Eagles at 193 (101-92), Hope Thornton was 45th at 202 (102-100) and Alyssa Streit placed 54th at 221 (113-108).
Rossville's Elley Sanders, competing as an individual, tied for 38th with a 36-hole total of 197 (94-103).
Washburn Rural girls golf poses for a team picture after its third-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament Tuesday at Hutchinson. [Washburn Rural golf]
Seniors Randall, Peterson lead Rural to third-place 6A finish
Seniors Reece Randall and Natalie Peterson ended their high school careers with Class 6A state medals, leading Washburn Rural to a third-place team finish at Hutchinson's Carey Park.
Randall finished with a 36-hole total of 154 (79-75) to tie for 10th place individually while Peterson tied for 12th at 157 (81-76).
