Seaman VikingsBy RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake junior volleyball standout Kylie Hanni and Seaman sophomore football standout Quentin Moravec 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 2025-2026 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Hanni and Moravec over the past week:
Kylie Hanni, Silver Lake
KYLIE HANNI, Silver Lake
A 5-foot-3 setter, Hanni has helped lead Silver Lake to a 22-1 record and the No. 1 spot in the Kansas Volleyball Association Class 3A state rankings for the last three weeks.
Hanni, who is among the state's assist leaders for all classes, helped Silver Lake post a perfect 5-0 record last Saturday on the way to the championship in the Rossville Invitational, with wins over Holton, Jefferson West, Ottawa, Valley Falls and Wamego, including straight-set wins in four or its five matches on the day.
Hanni and the Eagles, whose lone loss came against 5A Shawnee Heights, followed up the tourney title with Big East League wins over Jefferson West and Sabetha.
Quentin Moravec, Seaman
QUENTIN MORAVEC, Seaman
Moravec, a 6-foot, 180-pound running back, carried the ball 17 times for 196 yards and two touchdowns last Friday night at Hummer Sports Park as Seaman notched its first victory of the season in a 61-0 United Kansas Conference win over Topeka West.
Moravec, who has given the Vikings a big lift after an opening-game injury to standout Kaden McKinney, scored on runs of 39 and 44 yards as the Vikings improved to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the UKC.
Through four games Moravec has carried the ball 58 times for 426 yards and six touchdowns.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(Allkickoffs at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY'S GAMES
Josiah Wilkie, Topeka West
LANSING (1-2, 1-1 UKC) vs. TOPEKA WEST (0-3, 0-3 UKC)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka West is coming off a 61-0 United Kansas Conference loss to Seaman while Lansing dropped a 40-15 non-league loss to Tonganoxie last week. Junior running back Damon Webb, senior wide receiver Gad Munganga and sophomore quarterback Josiah Wilkie are top players for Topeka West. Lansing junior quarterback Caden Garcia has completed 28 of 60 passes for 403 yards and 3 TDs while junior running back Jaxon Pollard has rushed for 362 yards and 8 TDs 59 attempts.
Kellan Roth, Washburn Rural
WASHBURN RURAL (2-1) at BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST (2-1)
Both Washburn Rural and Blue Valley Northwest suffered their first losses of the season last week, with Rural dropping a 60-28 non-league decision to Missouri state champion Platte County and Blue Valley Northwest falling to St. James Academy, 21-7. Northwest junior quarterback Aidan Ihm has completed 46 of 70 passes for 604 yards and 7 touchdowns while senior running back LJ Bowens has carried the ball 40 times for 268 yards and 3 TDs. Senior quarterback John Hoytal and senior wide receiver Kellan Roth are both off to hot starts this fall for Washburn Rural.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
WAMEGO (2-1) at HAYDEN (3-0)
Hayden will get the opportunity to avenge one of its two losses in the 2024 season Friday night against the visiting Red Raiders. Wamego is coming off a 34-8 win over Marysville last Friday while Hayden rolled to a 46-7 road win over Kansas-City Bishop Ward and has now outscored its three opponents by a 123-13 margin. Wamego junior quarterback Logan Fulton has completed 32 of 53 passes for 562 yards and 4 TDs. Seniors Connor Hanika and Kade Mitchell and junior Mason Becker have been key offensive threats for the Wildcats.
Ricardo Dowd, Topeka High
EMPORIA (2-1, 0-0 Centennial) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (2-1, 0-0 Centennial)
At Hummer Sports Park
Both Emporia and Topeka High will be opening Centennial League play Friday night. The Spartans have won their last two games by a 102-6 margin, including a 50-0 non-league romp past Coffeyville last week. The Trojans were shut out 6-0 by Wichita Southeast last Thursday. Topeka High will be looking for a big night from senior quarterback Zane Smith, while sophomore running back Ricardo Dowd has also been an offensive threat for the Trojans.
Cale Ketter, Seaman
KANSAS CITY-TURNER (0-3, 0-3 UKC) at SEAMAN (1-2, 1-1 UKC)
Seaman rolled to a 61-0 United Kansas Conference win over Topeka West last Friday while Turner dropped a 56-0 conference decision to Leavenworth. Seaman junior quarterback Cale Ketter has completed 53 of 81 pass attempts for 628 yards and 7 touchdowns, including five against West. Junior running back Quentin Moravec has carried the ball 58 times for 426 yards and 6 TDs while junior Josh Brown has 16 pass receptions for 207 yards and 4 TDs.
Aiden Scott, Shawnee Heights
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-2, 1-1 UKC) at LEAVENWORTH (2-1, 2-1)
Shawnee Heights dropped a 35-22 United Kansas Conference decision to Basehor-Linwood last Friday while Leavenworth rolled to a 56-0 UKC win over KC-Turner. T-Bird senior quarterback Aiden Scott has completed 69 of 116 passes for 921 yards and 9 touchdowns. Senior David Wakes has 217 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 56 attempts while senior AJ Gallegos has caught 19 passes for 234 yards and senior Tyren Parker has 10 catches for 245 yards and 2 touchdows.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls tennis team had put itself in position to win the city championship the previous two seasons, only to fall just short.
Seaman's girls tennis team poses for a picture after winning the city championship Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And Jamie Robinson's Vikings had to sweat another down-to-the-wire finish again on Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center, but this time Seaman got the job done, earning its first city title since 2015 by a 32-28 margin over Washburn Rural.
"We're happy,'' Robinson said. "This is what our goal was at the beginning of the year, to win city. It kind of got to the point where we didn't want to talk about it. We didn't want to jinx ourselves because we were so pumped up to win city this year.
"We'd been snakebit in the past and were so close, so it meant a lot to the girls. Look at them, they're excited.''
Seaman junior Emma Sweeney won the city No. 1 singles title Thursday, posting three 8-0 wins on the day. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior Molly Gorman won the city No. 2 singles title Thursday for the city champion Vikings. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Viking junior Emma Sweeney rolled to the No. 1 singles title without dropping a game in her three matches on the day, including an 8-0 win over Topeka High's Madeline Deters in the finals, while senior Molly Gorman won her second straght No. 2 singles championship, outlasting Hayden freshman Lena Hull in the title match, 8-7 (7-2 in a tiebreaker).
Seaman also got runnerup doubles finishes from Peyton Henry and Camryn Lux in No. 1 doubles and from Kaylyn Hiebsch and Candace Speer in the No. 2 bracket.
Sweeney agreed with her coach that the city title meant a lot to the Vikings.
"We talk about it every year,'' Sweeney said. "We're always so close and our coach really wanted it because he'd never won city since he's been coaching. We always talk about it and we were ready.
"It means so much and we're all so excited.''
Washburn Rural put itself in the city title picture with a sweep of the doubles championships.
Washburn Rural's Julia Katzer teamed with Halle Owen to win the city No. 1 doubles title Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's Halle Owen (left) teamed with Julia Katzer to win the No. 1 doubles city title Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Julia Katzer teamed with Halle Owen to take an 8-3 win over Seaman's Henry and Lux in the No. 1 final while Alizah Chedzoy and Annie Henderson took an 8-3 win over Seaman's Hiebsch and Speer in the No. 2 title match.
Hayden, the 2024 city champion, finished third as a team with 23 points, one point ahead of fourth-place Topeka High, as the Wildcats posted top-four finishes in all four divisions.
CITY GIRLS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Seaman hit the pitch on a wet and rainy Tuesday night against United Kansas Conference foe Piper and the Vikings captured its third win of the campaign, 3-1.
Cody Quy (1) scored Seaman's first goal in Tuesday's 3-1 UKC win over Piper. [File photo/TSN]
Rylan Harris () scored Seaman's go-ahead goal in Tuesday's 3-1 UKC win over Piper. [File photo/TSN]
The Pirates would get started quickly as Chri Htoo scored from just outside the top of the box at the 3:04 mark of the match.
Coach Ty Hurla talked about how he didn't have to say much to his players about going down early, they knew the task at hand.
“When they scored that first goal, it was more so on them (players) because it was so early. It’s one of those things where you can’t let that get into your head, keep up the energy, bring our efforts up… when it’s that early it’s on them, you have to figure that out yourself,’ Hurla said.
After that, both teams had great opportunities to score but both goalkeepers made saves to keep the score 1-nil headed into halftime.
The Vikings came out a different group in the second half, attacking Piper early and often and it paid off. Seaman forward Cody Quy evened the score with 33:35 left in the match off a free kick just outside the right side of the box.
Senior forward Rylan Harris didn’t let that tie stand for too long, taking it long down the left side of the Piper bench and hitting the back of the net just about two minutes later with 31:47 left in the match.
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
A United Kansas Conference soccer tilt on Monday night between Shawnee Heights and Topeka West featured both teams coming into the match with one combined loss.
While it’s still early in the year, this game could hold title implications later down the road and Shawnee Heights knew that coming in.
The T-Birds then went out and took advantage of the opportunity, riding a three-goal hat trick from senior Camden Granado to a 4-1 win over the Chargers at Hummer Sports Park.
Senior Camden Granado (left) had a three-goal hat trick to lead Shawnee Heights to a 4-1 road win over Topeka West Monday night. [File photo/TSN]
“Our guys have been thinking and working all season toward not just tonight but just the idea of league championship wins and give it up to Topeka West, what an effort playing down a couple of guys, they’re a great team,” Shawnee Heights head coach Nic Simons said. “We are embracing this idea that we’re never satisfied... we are going to continue to have this championship mentality and I think our guys showed that, keeping their composure tonight and kept the pressure on and I think that’s what’s a great hallmark out of this group.
"They have learned their lessons early. We’ve scheduled (Washburn) Rural, (Lawrence) Free State, all of these good teams early so that we can be ready for a big stage like tonight.”
Granado said Monday was a statement win for the T-Birds.
“We had this match circled on our calendars for a long time and a couple of other matches before this. After we get past those first couple of matches, it’s all focused on this and coming out of this game with a win, knowing this game could determine the league,” Granado said.
The Chargers were issued two red cards in the game which made it 11 vs. 9.
Simons said when that happens, it changes the momentum and gameplan.
“It was super hard,” Simons said. “We talked to our guys before the game that this in many ways was like a playoff game… the first 25 to 30 minutes or so, it played out just like a postseason game. I think both teams were kind of playing like not to make a mistake rather than exploit opportunities.
"It was a shame that some stuff outside of our control changed the dynamic of the game. I don’t want anything to take away from what otherwise would’ve been an incredible game, come down to a photo type finish at the end. I got to give our guys a lot of credit because they held their composure in obviously a tough situation and I think for that, they earned the victory.”
The Chargers had allowed just four goals on the season but gave up three in the first half alone to the Thunderbirds.
Shawnee Heights moved to 6-1 on the campaign and are winners of six in a row.
After a free kick that hit a Chargers hand in the box, a penalty kick followed from Granado scoring the game's first goal with 19:36 left in the first half.
Almost five minutes after that, the T-Birds had a great presence, attacking in Topeka West territory and Nick Prater booted one in the back of the net, making it 2-nil.
Granado would strike again off his right foot into the left side of the goal off another penalty kick with 8:29 left in the first half.
Topeka West junior Diego Gonzalez-Talavera put the Chargers on the board with a penalty kick of his own with 34 minutes left in the match.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Austin Broadie, Washburn University
AUSTIN BROADIE, Washburn University
A 6-foot senior outside hitter, Broadie helped lead No. 9-ranked Washburn volleyball to a perfect 3-0 record in the Central Missouri tournament on Friday and Saturday in Warrensburg, Mo. as the Ichabods improved to 11-0 on the season. Broadie registered a career-high 25 kills in Washburn's final match of the weekend, a five-set thriller over Ouachita Baptist.
Dayne Johnson
DAYNE JOHNSON, Silver Lake
Johnson, a senior standout on both sides of the ball for the Silver Lake football team, helped lead the way Friday night as the Eagles picked up their first win of the season, a 19-6 home Big East League decision over Perry-Lecompton. A multi-sport standout, Johnson caught 17 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown from freshman quarterback Kipton Kruger against the Kaws.
Cale Ketter
CALE KETTER, Seaman
Ketter, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior quarterback, completed 12 of 15 passes for 278 yards and five touchdowns Friday night as Seaman picked up its first win of the season, a 61-0 United Kansas Conference romp past Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park. Ketter hit Josh Brown for 18 and 32-yard touchdown, Noah Kobuszewski for a 78-yard score, Jayden Evans for a 39-yard strike and Coy Barta for a 27-yard TD.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman girls golf is the three-time defending United Kansas Conference champion and has produced multiple Class 5A state medalists over the years, but entering Monday's City Championships at Western Hills the Vikings had never won a city team title in the 13-year history of the event.
Julie McLaughlin's Vikings made up for lost time on Monday as senior individual champion Elise Eckert powered Seaman to a 14-stroke victory over Hayden (341-355) while 11-time city champ Washburn Rural finished third (361).
Seaman girls golf poses for a team picture Monday at Western Hills after winning its first-ever city team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This is pretty special, this is something,'' McLaughlin said of the city title. "I had hoped last year we would make a run for it and we just came out and didn't play very well.
"We've come in second a few times and that was exciting, that was great, but this is something I've wanted to see them do for a long time now.''
Seaman senior Elise Eckert shot a two-under-par 68 to win the city girls golf title by eight strokes Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Eckert, a three-time 5A state medalist at Emporia before transferring to Seaman this fall, shot a sizzling two-under-par 68 to take the city individual title by an eight-stroke margin over Hayden senior Lauren Borjon.
"I felt pretty comfortable all day,'' Eckert said. "I started off my round with a double (bogey), so it was kind of rough, but I feel like I was able to quickly pick it up and get myself back in competition.''
Eckert said McLaughlin pointed out to the Vikngs that Seaman had never won the city meet, which made Monday's title run special.
"My coach went over that in the van before we came here,'' Eckert said. "It feels great to help them out with that. I like that I am able to be a part of this team, and with some good girls, too.''
Eckert said she was able to fit in quickly with her new team this fall.
"It didn't really take long because I knew most of the girls beforehand,'' Eckert said. "I had played with them before and they just really accepted me and it was amazing.''
Makenna Stuke finished fifth with an 89 to help Seaman win its first city team title Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Vikings also got top-10 finishes from Makenna Stuke, fifth with an 89, Chloe Schmidtlein, seventh with a 91, and Kaitlynn Frye, who tied for eighth with a 93.
Hayden senior Lauren Borjon shot a 76 Monday to finish second in the city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Izzy Glotzbach shot an 82 Monday to finish third in the city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Borjon's 76 was good enough for her second career runnerup finish in the city meet while her Hayden senior teammate, Izzy Glotzbach, finished third with an 82. Borjon also finished second in 2023, leading the Wildcats to the city team championship.
Senior Lauren Cox finished fourth with an 85 to lead Washburn Rural in Monday's city tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Third-place Washburn Rural was led by senior Lauren Cox, who placed fourth with an 85, while Kailyn Petersen was sixth with a 90 and Briley Miles and Ella Taggart tied for eighth with 93s.
Seaman also won the championship in the Topeka West Invitational, held in conjunction with the city tournament, by a five-stroke margin over Baldwin.
Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will compete in next Monday's UKC meet at Shawnee Country Club while Hayden and Washburn Rural will compete in next Monday's Centennial League tournament at Junction City.
TOPEKA CITY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After graduating several talented senior off last season's 8-3 team and losing returning standout running back Kaden McKinney in the opening game for an extended period with an injury, Seaman football has had to rely on several newcomers to step up this fall.
Junior quarterback Cale Ketter threw for five first-half TDs in Seaman's 61-0 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Quentin Moravec rushed for 196 yards and two TDs in Seaman's 61-0 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
A couple of those first-year varsity starters, junior quarterback Cale Ketter and sophomore Quentin Moravec, filled that bill in a big way Friday night, leading the way as the Vikings picked up up their first win of the season in a 61-0 United Kansas Conference romp past Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park.
Ketter completed 12 of 15 passes for 278 yards and five first-half touchdown passes while Moravec carried the ball 17 times for 196 yards and a pair of TDs.
Ketter set the stage for the night with his first-half TD barrage as the Vikings opened up a 34-0 first-half cushion.
"I counted up the first two and then I didn't lose track, but I just stopped thinking about it and just played ball after that,'' Ketter said.
Senior tight end Noah Kobuszewski caught a 78-yard TD pass in Seaman's 61-0 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Ketter, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, connected with junior Josh Brown for 18 and 32-yard scores and also hit senior Noah Kobuszewski for a 78-yard touchdown, junior Coy Barta for 27 yards and senior Jayden Evans for 39 yards as Seaman got back on track after losses to Piper and Shawnee Mission East to open the season.
"It feels great,'' Ketter said. "We had a rough couple of weeks, but we all know the team and I love these guys to death and we just keep coming back every week and getting better every week. Tonight's a great confidence boost and we've just got to carry it into next week.''
Moravec, 6-foot, 180, scored touchdowns on 39 and 44-yard runs and was just under the 200-yard mark for the night.
"I just want to thank the guys on the line for helping me through all of this,'' Moravec said. "I also want to thank Kaden for building me up to this point and getting me to where I am right now.
"I would not be in this situation without him. He taught me so much over the summer and I just want to thank all the coaches, the O-line, Kaden and everybody. I want to thank this whole organization.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
THURSDAY'S GAME
(Kickoff at 7 p.m.)
Zane Smith, Topeka High
WICHITA SOUTHEAST (1-1) at TOPEKA HIGH (2-0)
Topeka High will be playing its second Thursday night game in the first three weeks of the season and will be looking to start the season 3-0 after beginnning the 2024 season 4-0. The Trojans are coming off a 28-20 come-from-behind road win over Wichita Heights while Wichita Southeast lost 33-6 to Bishop Carroll last week. Senior quarterback Zane Smith is off to a hot start this fall for Topeka High while sophomore running back Ricardo Dowd is in the midst of a breakout season.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
(Highland Park-KC Schlagle kickoff at 4 p.m.)
(All other kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
G'Honi Montgomery, Highland Park
KC-SCHLAGLE (1-1, 1-0) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (2-0, 2-0 Meadowlark)
At Hummer Sports Park
The undefeated Scots will play the first game of a city doubleheader at Hummer Sports Park, kicking off at 4 p.m. Highland Park has yet to be tested thus far, rolling to Meadowlark Conference wins over Kansas City-Wyandotte and last week's 44-16 victory over KC-Sumner. Schlagle is coming off a 44-0 win over Wyandotte last week. Scot junior JoJo Kingcannon has rushed for 247 yards on just nine carries while junior G'Honi Montgomery has rushed for 187 yards on 26 carries. Montgomery scored three touchdowns last week, including a pair of kickoff returns for TDs.
SEAMAN (0-2, 0-1) vs. TOPEKA WEST (0-2, 0-2)
At Hummer Sports Park
Seaman and Topeka West will play the second game of Friday's twinbill at Hummer Sports Park, with the Vikings and Chargers both looking for their first victories in the United Kansas Conference contest. Seaman is coming off a 41-21 non-league loss to Shawnee Mission East while Topeka West dropped a 76-35 UKC decision to Shawneee Heights. Seaman junior quarterback Cale Ketter has completed 41 of 66 passes for 348 yards and two TDs while sophomore Quentin Moravec has carried the ball 40 times for 227 yards and four scores. West sophomore quarterback Josiah Wilkie completed 19 of 46 passes for 323 yards and three TDs against Shawnee Heights. Jayden Lindsay accounted for 155 yards receiving while Gad Munganga added 125 yards receiving.
Kellan Roth, Washburn Rural
PLATTE COUNTY, MO. (3-0) at WASHBURN RURAL (2-0)
Washburn Rural is coming off a thrilling 31-30 come-from-behind non-league win over Blue Valley last Friday while Platte County rolled to a 46-7 win over Fort Osage, Mo. The Pirates went 14-0 and captured a Missouri state title in 2024 and have outscored their first three opponents by a 156-37 margin this season. Rural quarterback John Hoytal threw for four TDs last week, including three to senior Kellan Roth. Junior Ryan Austin kicked a 31-yard field goal and the game-winning extra point against Blue Valley.
Canann Mitchell, Rossville
NEMAHA CENTRAL (2-0, 1-0) at ROSSVILLE (2-0, 2-0)
Rossville pulled out its second straight nail-biting Big East League win last Friday, edging St. Marys, 40-34, while Nemaha Central topped Big East League foe Silver Lake, 42-7. Rossville senior quarterback Canann Mitchell has completed 26 of 45 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns and carried the ball 33 times for 219 yards and three TDs. Senior Cameron Miller has caught 11 passes for 152 yards and two TDs.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High tennis came up short in its three Topeka High Invitational championship matches Wednesday at Kossover Tennis Center en route to a third-place team finish.
Topeka High senior Madeline Deters finished second in No. 1 singles in Wednesday's Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hailey Caryl (left) celebrates Topeka High's No. 1 doubles semifinal victory with teammate Ava Ritter in Wednesday's Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And although Trojan coach Duane Pomeroy would have loved for his team to claim a title or two or three, he had zero complaints about High's performance.
"I was really happy with how we worked today,'' Pomeroy said. "All of them did a great job.''
Topeka High's Madeline Deters dropped an 8-5 decision to Emporia's Kali Keough in the No. 1 singles final, while High's Hailey Caryl and Ava Ritter also dropped a close match in the No. 1 doubles final, with Emporia's Peyton Chanlee and Kinsley Hines prevailing, 8-6.
Topeka High's No. 2 doubles team of Astra Fizell (left) and Sasha Gotru finished second in Wednesday's Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Trojans' No. 2 doubles team of Sasha Gotru and Astra Fizell also advanced to the championship match, falling 8-2 to Emporia's Alexa Tovar and Chelsea Mendez.
"It's amazing that we've got Sasha, that had never played tennis before the first day of practice,'' Pomeroy said.
Caryl and Ritter rallied from a 7-2 deficit to win their semifinal match over Junction City in a tiebreaker.
"My one doubles, the way they came back was the best they've ever played, that five-game stretch plus the tiebreaker, each game they just got more and more confident,'' Pomeroy said.
Deters showed her mettle in the singles final, rallying from 4-1 and 7-3 deficits to challenge Keough late.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With the Topeka City Golf Championships on tap next Monday, four city schools got a tuneup for that event on Tuesday in the Hayden Invitational at Shawnee Country Club.
Washburn Rural senior Lauren Cox shot a personal-record 77 Tuesday to tie for second in Tuesday's Hayden Invitational at Shawnee Country Club. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior Elise Eckert shot a 77 to tie for second in Tuesday's Hayden Invitational at Shawnee Country Club. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural was second as a team with a four-person score of 343, while short-handed Seaman was two strokes back in third at 345, host Hayden was fifth at 355 and Topeka West had a pair of individual competitors.
Washburn Rural will enter the city meet at Western Hills as the defending champion while Hayden captured the title in 2023 to end a decade-long run by the Junior Blues and Seaman could be the pre-tourney favorite after the addition of three-time Class 5A state medalist Elise Eckert this fall.
"It should be a fun day next week for the city championship,'' Washburn Rural coach Jared Goehring said. "It will definitely be a competitive round of golf. Obviously, Seaman's proven that they're kind of the frontrunners this year so far so we'll have our work cut out for us, but with a one-day setting you just never know. Anything can happen.''
Rural earned city bragging rights on Tuesday as senior Lauren Cox tied Seaman's Eckert for second place individually with 77s.
Hayden's Izzy Glotzbach and Seaman's Makenna Stuke tied for fourth with 79s while Hayden's Lauren Borjon and Rural's Kailyn Petersen tied for sixth with 81s.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights volleyball has faced an uphill battle in the early stages of the 2025 season while wading through a tough schedule, including a matchup with defending Class 5A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas.
Shawnee Heights volleyball celebrates a point in Tuesday's UKC volleyball sweep at Topeka West. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
But T-Bird coach Sami Kearney is pleased with the progress her team has made, including Shawnee Heights' first sweep of the season in Tuesday's Topeka West triangular.
Shawnee Heights senior Avery Willey goes up for a kill in Tuesday's UKC volleyball sweep at Topeka West. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Now 6-6 on the season, the T-Birds dominated their first two United Kansas Conference matches of the year, rolling to a 25-12, 25-15 win over Seaman and a 25-13, 25-13 victory over Topeka West.
"I feel like we're moving in the right direction,'' Kearney said. "We've just played some tough teams, and I don't think you'll get better as a team if you don't play good teams, so I want that challenge and they accept that challenge and we're just getting better every week it feels like, so I just want to keep moving up with them.
"It's always about records, but at the same time we've got to go play good teams to make it to state, so we might as well get started and see what we need to get to and it's a good goal for us to try to reach.''
Senior Avery Willey, who had a big night Tuesday, agreed with her coach that the T-Birds are improving all the time.
"I think we've played some great teams and the losses are fine because we played great volleyball and we're just going to get better from it,'' Willey said. "Playing bad teams all year is not going to help us get better so I'm glad we get to play those really good teams.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West's boys soccer team went 3-0 on the week to claim the championship in the Salina South Invitational.
The Chargers, now 4-0, finished off their title run with a 3-2 win over tournament host Salina South in Saturday's championship game.
Diego Gonzalez-Talavera was named the tournament Most Valuable Player after helping lead Topeka West to the championship in the Salina Invitational. [File photo/TSN]
West got goals from JP Ayella, Valentin Del Real and Morris Blick against Salina South, while Ayella, Makaly Martinez and Giancarlo Valenzuela were credited with assists.
The Chargers scored all three of their goals in the opening half and West held on for the win despite two second-half goals by the Cougars.
West reached the final with an 8-0 first-round win over Salina Central on Tuesday and a 1-0 win over Hays in Thursday's semifinal.
Diego Gonzalez-Talavera scored four goals with one assist against Central while Blick had a brace with two goals. Camilo Garcia and D'Ante Smith-Dilone both had a goal and an assist for the Chargers while additional assists were provided by Ayella and Del Real.
Gage Kindred-Noragon was in goal behind Valenzuela Kameron Ortiz, Navi Lopez, Martinez and Neko Juarez for the shutout.
Ortiz scored the game-winning goal against Hays on a corner kick from Del Real. Kindred-Noragon was in goal for a team effort in another shutout.
Gonzalez-Talavera was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament while Del Real and Valenzuela were named to the all-tournament team.
Eckert, Vikings claim titles in Seaman Invitational
Elise Eckert carded a 74 to win the individual championship by five strokes in Thursday's Seaman Invitational girls golf tournament at Village Greens, leading the Vikings to the team championship by 22 strokes.
Elise Eckert, Seaman
Eckert was a three-time Class 5A state medalist for Emporia before moving to Topeka for her senior year.
The Vikings won the team title with a four-person score of 328 as Makenna Stuke finished fourth with an 84 and Chloe Schmidtlein and Kaitlynn Frye both shot 85s to tie for fifth place.
Hayden senior Izzy Glotzbach finished second with a 79 while Wildcat senior Lauren Borjon was third with an 81 as Hayden finished third as a team.
Washburn Rural finished second in the team standings, with Lauren Cox tying for fifth individually with an 85 while Kailyn Petersen placed eighth (86), Briley Miles ninth (89) and Peyton Merrick 10th (90).
Hayden's volleyball team poses for a team picture after winning Saturday's Baldwin tournament and improving to 12-0 on the season. [Hayden volleyball]
Hayden volleyball rolls to Baldwin Invitational championship
Top-ranked (Classs 4A) Hayden is 12-0 on the season after capturing the championship in Saturday's Baldwin Invitational.
Hayden finished third in 4A last season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
A senior, Anderson won his second straight boys individual championship of the season in Saturday's Olathe Twilight cross country meet that drew 50 schools from five states. A Class 5A state medalist in cross country and track, Anderson clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 11.40 seconds.
Austin Broadie, Washburn University
AUSTIN BROADIE, Washburn University
A 6-foot senior outside hitter, Broadie was named the Most Valuable Player in the Washburn Invitational after helping lead No. 12-ranked Washburn volleyball to a perfect 4-0 record on the weekend with four three-set sweeps. Broadie registered 43 kills in the tournament, including 17 kills with a .607 hitting percentage against William Jewell.
Elise Eckert, Seaman
ELISE ECKERT, Saaman
A senior golf standout, Eckert shot a 74 last Thursday to win the individual title by five strokes in the Seaman Invitational at Village Greens Golf Course as the Vikings captured the team championship by 22 strokes. Eckert was a three-time Class 5A state medalist for Emporia before transferring to Seaman for her senior year.
By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
On a warm Saturday afternoon and evening, Washburn Rural and Seaman competed in the Olathe Twilight Cross Country meet at the Olathe District Activity Center.
Washburn Rural and Seaman competed against 48 other schools from five states with a total of 10 high school races and two middle school races.
Seaman cross country senior star Brody Anderson captured his second straight individual win of the season Saturday in Olathe. [File photo/TSN]
The junior varsity and varsity were divided into two heats and ran the traditional five kilometer distance. The C team races were run at a 3K distance due to the heat throughout the day.
Washburn Rural's Kenzie Maddox earned an individual medal in Saturday's Twilight event in Olathe. [File photo/TSN]
In the varsity girls race, Washburn Rural finished in ninth place and had one medalist, senior Kenzie Maddox, who finished 16th in a time of 18 minutes, 47.90. Seaman’s lone runner in the race, junior Brynn Spencer, ran a time of 19:50.30 for a 48th-place finish.
In the varsity boys race, Seaman senior Brody Anderson won his second straight race to start the season, finishing in a time of 15:11.40. The Viking team finished in 18th place overall.
This was a race Brody attended last season as a spectator and hoped to compete in his senior year.
“The field was great with some of the best in the state and out of state and I wanted to come out and prove that I could hang with and compete with the best,” Anderson said.
Anderson made the decision following a false start (one of the runners tripped) to go out and lead from the beginning. “I pushed the pace and it was rough because I ran out of fuel over the last 200 meters. I gutted it out and was fired up and excited to get the win.”
Anderson also recognized that the work in the off season is paying off.
“I had some great people to run with this summer -- Huey Counts from Salina and Coach (Luke) Wiens (Seaman coach) are both great coaches, I owe a lot to them and they’ve helped me.”
Washburn Rural, which finished sixth as a team, was led by sophomore medalist Henry Laubach, who ran 15:32.10 and finished sixth overall.
This week, both schools will be running at the Scott Shufelberger Invitational hosted by Washburn Rural on Saturday morning.
Team Scores & Individual Results
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Hall of Famer is back.
Steve Bushnell, who led one of Kansas' most dominant baseball programs for more than two decades at Seaman, will be back on the field in the spring for his second stint after his hiring was approved by the USD 345 school board last week.
Hall of Fame coach Steve Bushnell has been named Seaman's head baseball coach and will begin his second stint next spring. [File photo/TSN]
Bushnell last coached Seaman in 2019, leading the Vikings to their second straight Class 5A state championship and their ninth state title in his tenure before the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Bushnell moved into the Seaman athletic director's position for four years through 2023-2024 before retiring in the spring of 2024.
"When I left teaching and coaching and decided to go into administration, that was the most difficult decision that I had made to that time as far as my career and that side of it,'' Bushnell told TopSports.news. "It was definitely hard to step away and to go into the A.D.'s position.
"I learned a lot and had a great time as our athletic director for four years, but I always felt like baseball was part of me and it was always there.''
Trent Oliva stepped down as Seaman's head coach after the 2025 season and Bushnell, a member of six hall of fames, eventually made the decision to pursue the opening.
"I think you're always trying to analyze and see how things fit and I was pretty thorough in that regard,'' Bushnell said. "When it all went down late mid-summer and July, the opportunity to come back was not anything that I ever thought that I would be presented and it was somewhat of a surprise.
"But it definitely was intriguing and I threw my name in and went through the process.''
In his first Seaman stint Bushnell led the Vikings to 18 state tournament appearances, the nine state championships and four runner-up finishes in his 21 seasons.
Bushnell culminated a 401-103 record (.796) which included a record of 42-9 in the state tournament. Seaman won at least 20 games for 10 consecutive years during the Bushnell era.
In 2018 he was named the American Baseball Coaches Association High School Division III National Coach of the Year.
Steve Bushnell was inducted into the Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Fame this past spring, one of the six hall of fames he's a member of. [Photo courtesy of KSHSAA Covered]
Bushnell was inducted into the Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Fame this past spring and is also a member of the Ban Johnson Baseball, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Emporia State, Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches and the Seaman baseball shrines.
Bushnell said the Vikings will continue to strive to be a state contender moving forward.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman football never led in Friday's non-league home game against Shawnee Mission East but Jared Swafford's Vikings also never quit battling in a 41-21 loss.
SM East, which improved to 2-0, jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter, but 0-2 Seaman got as close as seven points twice and was still fighting late in the game, getting within 14 after trailing by 21 at the start of the fourth.
Sophomore running back Quentin Moravec rushed for 112 yards and a TD in Seaman's 41-21 loss to Shawnee Mission East. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I'm really proud of our kids and I'm proud of our staff,'' Swafford said. "These guys are never going to give up. It doesn't matter what it says on the scoreboard and I truly believe that.
"I know our guys are going to give us everything they've got and we're showing a lot of improvement in a short amount of time. I know we're going to continue to do that and it's on myself and the staff to continue to work on that and demand those things out of them because I know our kids are going to come ready to work on Monday.''
East senior Jack Reeves, who split time between quarterback and tailback, rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries and also passed for 100 yards and a TD to pace the Lancers.
Senior Vince Kopp, who split time at quarterback with Reeves, rushed for 64 yards and a pair of TDs on 13 attempts.
"Shawnee Mission East and what they do, they're just so disciplined and they challenge you the entire game and you've got to continue to answer the bell,'' Swafford said. "I thought our kids did that. A couple of plays here or there and it is what it is, but Shawnee Mission East is phenomenal.
"That's an outstanding challenge in Week 2 and I know we'll grow from it and we'll be better.''
Junior quarterback Cale Ketter threw for 160 yards and two TDs in Seaman's 41-21 loss to SM East Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman, meanwhile, got 112 rushing yards and a 33-yard touchdown run on 21 carries from sophomore running back Quentin Moravec while junior quarterback Cale Ketter passed for 160 yards and two TDs.
Junior wide receiver Josh Brown caught three passes for 72 yards, including 14 and 19-yard touchdown catches.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
FRIDAY'S GAMES
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
Shawnee Heights senior quarterback Aiden Scott threw for 428 yards and four touchdowns in last Friday's 51-41 loss to Washburn Rural. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka West junior Damon Webb is one of the area's top running backs. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA WEST (0-1, 0-1 UKC) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (0-1, 0-0 UKC)
Topeka West opened its season with a home 47-12 United Kansas Conference loss to De Soto while Shawnee Heights dropped a 51-41 home non-league decision to city rival Washburn Rural. Heights senior quarterback Aiden Scott completed 30 of 52 passes for 428 yards and four touchdowns against Rural while senior David Wakes carried the ball 21 times for 67 yards, senior Tyren Parker caught seven passes for 172 yards and two TDs and senior AJ Gallegos caught 10 passes for 113 yards. Top players for Topeka West include senior lineman Logan Hunninghake, senior wide receiver Gad Munganga and junior running back Damon Webb.
Junior running back G'Honi Montgomery rushed for 113 yards in Highland Park's 32-6 win at KC-Wyandotte last Friday. [File photo/TSN]
KC-SUMNER (0-1, 0-1 Meadowlark) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (1-0, 1-0 Meadowlark)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park opened its quest for a fourth straight winning season with a 32-6 Meadowlark Conference road win at Kansas City-Wyandotte while KC-Sumner is coming off a 62-20 Meadowlark loss to KC-Washington. Highland Park junior running back G'Honi Montgomery rushed for 113 yards on 12 carries while junior JoJo Kingcannon had 103 yards on just four attempts and senior quarterback Dontrail Fox threw for a TD. Defensively junior Rayshon Pollard had seven tackles with two sacks.
OSAGE CITY (1-0, 0-0 Flint Hills) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-0, 1-0 Flint Hills)
At Yager Stadium, Washburn University
Cair Paravel rolled to a 60-14 Flint Hills League win over West Franklin in its 2025 opener at Washburn's Yager Stadium while Osage City opened with a 41-13 non-league win over Olpe. The Lions opened up a 20-0 first-quarter lead, led 26-8 at halftime and 52-8 at the start of the fourth quarter. Cair Paravel is one win away from equaling its win total in a 2-7 season last fall in its first season in the 11-man ranks.
SM EAST (1-0) at SEAMAN (0-1)
Seaman dropped a 33-22 United Kansas Conference home decision to Piper in its 2025 season-opener and will go outside league play to host Class 6A Shawnee Mission East Friday night. The Lancers are 1-0 after a 31-28 win over Olathe Northwest. Seaman junior quarterback Cale Ketter completed 30 of 42 passes for 192 yards against Piper while sophomore Quentin Moravec rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries and junior Josh Brown caught 10 passes for 74 yards.
Junior Jadyn Baum (26) rushed for 84 yards and scored two touchdowns in Washburn Rural's 51-41 season-opening win over Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]
BLUE VALLEY (1-0) at WASHBURN RURAL (1-0)
Washburn Rural outlasted city rival Shawnee Heights 51-41 at Heights last week while Blue Valley opened with a 28-21 win over Blue Valley Southwest. Rural senior quarterback John Hoytal completed 11 of 20 passes for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns while senior TJ Minikwu was 28 for 77 yards rushing and junior Jadyn Baum picked up a game-high 84 yards on 12 attempts. Minikwu and Baum scored two TDs apiece, while senior Nate Selm also had two TDs, including a 47-yard return of an onsides kick attempt.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Veteran Silver Lake volleyball coach Sarah Johnson was happy with the way her Class 3A Eagles battled in five of six sets in Thursday's Shawnee Heights quadrangular against the 5A T-Birds, 6A Manhattan and 5A Seaman.
Silver Lake senior Paige Winsor spikes the ball in Thursday's match against Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
And Johnson was even happier with the way her Eagles bounced back after hitting their only stumbling block of the night.
After dropping a tight 25-23 decision in its first set of the night against Shawnee Heights, Silver Lake got steamrolled 25-12 by the T-Birds in the match-clinching second set.
But that was the top-ranked (3A) Eagles' only loss, with Silver Lake, now 10-1, rebounding to take a 25-20, 25-23 win over Seaman and a 25-16, 25-19 win over Manhattan, handing the seventh-ranked (6A) Indians their lone loss.
Silver Lake senior Paige Heiman (15) blocks a spike attempt in Thursday's match against Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"Overall, I'm very pleased,'' Johnson said. "There were a couple of moments at the beginning of the night that didn't go our way and we weren't playing like ourselves. We were a completely different team that Shawnee Heights match, especially that second set, than we were against Manhattan.
"I was really happy to see these girls just like level up. They were ready for the competition and they gave it their all and it was all of them on the court. I couldn't find a weakness, a weak girl, and I was really proud of all of them on the court. They didn't get down on themselves and I really see this crew as that kind of team. They're going to have errors, we're okay with it, and then we rally back.''
Junior setter Kylie Hanni was also proud of her team's performance, particularly after the loss to Heights.
"We did a good job of forgetting our mistakes and we just really pushed through it and I'm really happy with how it ended,'' Hanni said.
"This (playing bigger schools) really gives us a challenge and it always makes us better because we learn what we need to work on and just facing good competition is really good for us.''
Shawnee Heights senior Jadyn Euwer makes a return in Thursday's Shawnee Heights volleyball quadrangular. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Host Shawnee Heights also went 2-1 in the quadrangular and came within a third-set Manhattan rally of a perfect night.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the first time this season Topeka West's soccer team trailed in a game Thursday night at Hummer Sports Park.
But after falling behind visiting Seaman 2-1 in the opening half, Topeka West scored the final three goals of the night to take a 4-2 United Kansas Conference win over the Vikings.
Junior Diego Gonzalez-Talavera is congratulated by his Topeka West teammates after scoring the final goal in Thursday's 4-2 UKC win over Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior JP Ayella had a goal and an assist in Topeka West's 4-2 UKC win over Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I think they reacted well,'' Topeka West coach Josh Kutter said of his team's comeback. "You could tell the disappointment initially, but once they got over themselves they came back and continued to stay the course and played our game.
"We know they can score.''
Senior Rylan Harris scored Seaman's first goal in Thursday's 4-2 UKC loss to Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] L
Topeka West, now 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the UKC, took a 1-0 lead just 2:57 into the game on an own goal, but Seaman got goals from senior Rylan Harris and senior Cody Quy to go up by a goal with 22:30 left in the first half.
But West tied the game 2:12 later on a goal from senior JP Ayella and took the lead for good at 3-2 on a shot from sophomore Camilo Garcia with 3:42 left in the half.
