Seaman Vikings
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake in Class 3A and Rossville in 2A opened volleyball postseason in impressive fashion on Monday, with both the Eagles and Bulldawgs going 3-0 to capture regional tournament titles and advance to sub-state competition on Saturday.
Silver Lake went 3-0 with three straight-set wins to win Monday's Class 3A volleyball tournament at Silver Lake. [Silver Lake volleyball]
Rossville went 3-0 with three straight-set wins to win Monday's Class 2A volleyball tournament at Atchison. [Rossville volleyball]
Silver Lake posted three straight-set wins to win the 3A regional it hosted while Rossville duplicated that feat in the 2A event at Atchison.
The 27-9 Eagles advanced to a Saturday 3A sub-state at Royal Valley while the 20-14 Bulldawgs will compete in a 2A sub-state at Maranatha Academy in Shawnee.
Silver Lake opened its regional bid with a 25-15, 25-15 win over Sabetha, followeed by a 25-10, 25-13 victory over Riley County and a 25-13, 25-18 win over Perry-Lecompton.
The Eagles are the No. 2 seed for Saturday's Royal Valley sub-state and will play the second match against No. 3 Santa Fe Trail (28-8).
The Silver Lake-Santa Fe Trail winner will take on the winner of the first match between No. 1 Royal Valley (29-7) and No. 4 Marysville (13-19) for the sub-state title, with the winner advancing to the 3A state tournament at Hutchinson Nov. 1-2.
Rossville took a 25-8, 25-17 win over Cair Paravel Latin in its first regional match before taking a 25-2, 25-11 win over Valley Falls and a 25-21, 25-21 win over Maur Hill Mt. Academy.
Cair Paravel went 1-2 on the day, posting a 25-15, 25-16 win over Valley Falls. The Lions dropped a three-set decision to Maur Hill-Mt. Academy, which took a 25-22, 15-25, 25-20 win.
Rossville is the No. 2 seed for the Maranatha Academy sub-state on Saturday and will play the second match of the day aganst No. 3 Pleasant Ridge (21-13).
The winner of that match will play for the sub-state title against the winner of the match between top seed Maranatha Academy (34-6) and No. 4 Jefferson North (16-20).
The sub-state champ will advance to the state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Dodge City.
Other Saturday sub-states involving local schools:
Class 6A at Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural (28-6) is the No. 1 6A West seed and will host a four-school sub-state Saturday.
The Junior Blues will face No. 16 West seed Liberal (4-29) in the 1 p.m. match, followed by a match between No. 8 seed Topeka High (16-18) and No. 9 Free State (13-17).
The two winners will face off at approximately 3 p.m. for the sub-state title, with the winner moving on to the 6A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Salina.
Class 5A at Seaman
Defending 5A champion Seaman will host a 5A sub-state Saturday, with the 35-2 Vikings the No. 1 West seed.
Seaman will play No. 16 Topeka West (13-21) in the first match of the tournament followed by the other semifinal between No. 8 Emporia (23-12) and No. 9 Maize South (23-13).
The two winners will advance to the sub-state final, with the tournament champion advancing to the 5A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Salina.
Class 5A at Blue Valley Southwest
Shawnee Heights (17-18) is the No. 8 East seed and will face No. 9 Basehor-Linwood (17-18) in the second match of the day.
The winner will advance to take on the winner between No. 1 seed Blue Valley Southwest (29-5) and No. 16 Kansas City-Turner (9-21).
The sub-state champ will move on to the 5A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Salina.
Class 5A at St. Thomas Aquinas
Highland Park is the No. 10 East seed (11-12) and will face No. 7 Spring Hill (19-17) in a sub-state semifinal.
The winner of that match will face the semifinal winner between No. 2 Aquinas (27-5) and No. 15 Leavenworth (11-20) for the sub-state title, with the winner advancing to the 5A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Salina.
Class 4A at Hayden
Hayden, the No. 3 East seed at 27-10, will host a 4A sub-state on Saturday (2 p.m. start).
The Wildcats will face No. 14 Baldwin (10-22) in a semifinal match while No. 6 Paola (21-12) will take on No. 11 Parsons (15-18) in the other semifinal.
The winner of those two matches will play for the sub-state title, with the winner advancing to the 4A state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Hutchinson.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Max Huston
MAX HUSTON, Seaman
A senior quarterback, Huston had a hand in all four Seaman touchdowns as the Vikings took a 28-14 home United Kansas Conference victory over previously-unbeaten Basehor-Linwood Friday night. Huston wnt 21 of 29 passing for 294 yards and a 76-yard touchdown to Bryer Finley and carried the ball 20 times for 67 yards with TDs of 2, 2 and 1 yard as Seaman improved to 6-1 overall and 6-0 in the UKC.
Rylee Ismert
RYLEE ISMERT, Washburn Rural
Ismert, a senior cross country standout and returning Class 6A state medalist, captured her first individual Centennial League championship on Saturday at Washburn Rural, clocking a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 02.9 seconds to win by more than 18 seconds as the Junior Blues defended their league team championship by a 28-54 margin over Manhattan.
Maegan Mills
MAEGAN MILLS, Seaman
A star senior hitter and returning All-Stater, Mills led Seaman volleyball to a perfect 9-0 record on the week, including wins over state powers Blue Valley West, St. James Academy and Washburn Rural and a tournament championship on Saturday in the Emporia Invitational as the defending Class 5A state-champion Vikings improved to 35-2 on the season.
The 2024 All-City girls tennis team -- Front, left to right: Madeline Deters, Topeka High, Sidney Chinn, Seaman; Camryn Lux, Seaman; Emma Sweney, Seaman; Kaylyn Hiebsch, Seaman; Ainzley Zulueta, Hayden; Emily Sheetz, Hayden; Avery O'Bray, Hayden; Grace Funk, Hayden. Back, left to right: Hailey Caryl, Topeka High; Ava Ritter, Topeka High; Peyton Henry, Seaman; Molly Gorman, Seaman; Emerie Catlin, Washbrn Rural; Isabelle Haggard, Washburn Rural; Carolina Chedzoy, Washburn Rural; Sophia Wichman, Hayden; Izzy Glotzbach, Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden three-time Class 4A state singles champion Ainzley Zulueta headlines the 2024 All-City girls tennis team, which includes 13 state medalists.
Zulueta capped her high school career with an undefeated senior season, going through the postseason without losing a game as the Wildcats won their second state team title in three seasons.
All six of Hayden's players earned 4A state medals while helping the Wildcats sweep city, Centennial League, regional and state championships.
The Wildcats got a runnerup 4A double finish from senior Emily Sheetz and freshman Sophia Wichman while junior Grace Funk placed ninth in singles and juniors Izzy Glotzbach and Avery O'Bray finished 11th in doubles..
United Kansas Conference and 5A regional team champion Seaman, which finished third at state, also put six players on the All-City team.
Viking sophomore Emma Sweeney placed fourth in 5A singles while junior Molly Gorman finished 10th in singles and senior Sidney Chinn and junior Kaylyn Henry placed 12th in doubles. Seaman sophomores Kaylyn Hiebsch and Camryn Lux were also state qualifiers in doubles.
Washburn Rural's senior doubles team of Emerie Catlin and Isabelle Haggard placed ninth in the Class 6A state tournament after sweeping city, Centennial League and 6A regional titles while Junior Blue singles state qualifiers Carolina Chedzoy also earned an All-City spot.
Topeka High junior Madeline Deters finished eighth in singles in the 6A state tournament and is joined on the All-City team by state doubles qualifiers Ava Ritter, a junior and freshman Hailey Caryl.
All-City selections are based on finishes in the city meet and the recommendations of city coaches.
All-City capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Defending Class 4A state girls golf champion Hayden will take a four-stroke lead into Tuesday's final day of the 2024 state tournament at Hesston Golf Course.
Hayden junior Lauren Borjon is tied for second place after Monday's opening round of the Class 4A state tournament at Hesston. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden finished Monday's opening round with a four-person score of 69 over par, while Wellington sits second at plus 73, followed by McPherson at plus 79.
Hayden junior Lauren Borjon finished Day 1 tied for second place individually with a 5-over-par 76, six strokes behind tournament leader Addison Douglas, who carded a 1-under 70.
Wildcat senior Addyson Baer is tied for 14th after a first-round 86 while junior Izzy Glotzbach is tied for 18th after an 89.
Brooke Johnson shot a 102, Nora Allphin a 107 and Kellyn Specht a 112 for Hayden.
The final round of the tournament is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.
Silver Lake senior Taylor Zordel, a three-time state medalist, is tied for fifth in the Class 3A-1A state tournament entering Tuesday's final round at Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake third in 3A-1A
Defending Class 3A-1A state champion Silver Lake will begin the final 18 holes of the state tournament at Emporia Municipal Golf Course in third place, seven strokes off the pace.
The Eagles finished Day 1 with a four-person score of 88 over par, seven strokes behind tournament leader Caney Valley and five strokes behind second-place Pittsburg Colgan.
Senior Taylor Zordel led Silver Lake with an opening-round of 86 and will begin Tuesday's round tied for fifth place.
Junior Kailyn Hanni is tied for 13th after a first-round 90 while Makenna Miller shot a 95, Savannah Wende a 101, Hope Thornton a 102 and Alyssa Streit a 113.
Rossville's Elley Sanders shot a first-round 94 and advanced to the second round of the tournament tied for 26th place.
The 3A-1A state tournament is set for a 10 a.m. start on Tuesday.
Class 6A, 5A state tournaments postponed
Neither the Class 6A state tournament at Hutchinson and the 5A event at Salina completed the opening round on Monday.
Both state tournaments are scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday, with the final round scheduled to begin after the competion of Day 1.
All six of Washburn Rural's players completed their first round, with senior Reece Randall shooting a 79, senior Natalie Peterson, junior Lauren Cox an 82 and senior Colbey Stead an 86 to lead the Junior Blues.
Rural was tied for fourth place and in a good position to advance to the final round of competition.
Three of Seaman's six players completed their first round in the 5A state tourney, with senior Anna McLaughlin leading the Vikings with a 91 while Chloe Schmidtlein shot a 97 and Molina Quintana a 105.
Competing as individuals, Shawnee Heights' Lyla Blair shot an 87, Topeka West's Alex Baxter a 94. Shawnee Heights' Lauryn Valdivia a 105 and West's Berlyn Kolean a 113.
The 5A field will be cut to the top six teams and the top individuals after the conclusion of the first round.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden two-sport athlete Izzy Glotzbach is already a 2024 state champion, helping the Wildcats run away with the Class 4A state tennis title Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center.
Hayden junior Izzy Glotzbach helped the Wildcats win the Class 4A tennis title on Saturday and will turn her attention to state golf on Monday in Hesston. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden junior Izzy Glotzbach will compete in the Class 4A state golf tournament on Monday after tying for ninth for the state-champion Wildcats as a sophomore. [Photo by Kyle Grunert/Special to TSN]
And the Hayden junior would like nothing more than to add another championship to her resume in Monday and Tuesday's state golf tournament at Hesston as the Wildcats attempt to successfully defend their 2023 state crown.
"I really hope we can get it done,'' Glotzbach said. "It would be really cool to win it in two sports.''
Glotzbach earned her first state individual tennis medal on Saturday when she teamed with junior Avery O'Bray for an 11th-place doubles finish and has now earned state medals in both of her fall sports after tying for ninth in state golf as a sophomore to lead the way as the Wildcats won the state title by 37 strokes.
Hayden's golf team began its title defense in last Monday's McPherson regional, tying the host Bullpups for the team title and winning on a tiebreaker.
Hayden posted a four-person score of 326 at McPherson, with all of the Wildcats' top four earning top-10 finishes.
Senior Addyson Baer shot a 79 to pace Hayden with a fifth-place individual regional finish while junior Lauren Borjon was seventh with a 79, Glotzbach eighth with an 82 and sophomore Brooke Johnson ninth with an 84.
The Wildcats also got a 19th-place finish from senior Nora Allphin (95) and a 39th-place finish from junior Kellyn Specht (120).
And Glotzbach feels like her team has put itself in position to challenge for a title repeat.
"I think it's going to be a tough battle against McPherson and Wellington, but I think we can get it done if we just play how we know how to play,'' she said.
Glotzbach admits that playing dual sports in the same season is a challenge.
"It's pretty tough,'' she said. "I just have to really focus on school and still do sports.''
But Glotzbach said it's well worth the time and effort.
"It's fun to just be around the team and have the experience of winning state and stuff like that.''
Glotzbach is one of three returning players off last year's state championship golf team, with Borjon, who placed 15th a year ago, and Baer also returning.
The 2024 state tourneys will get under way at 9 a.m. Monday.
Washburn Rural senior Natalie Peterson shot a 77 last Monday to place third individually in the Class 6A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Reece Randall shot a 78 last Monday to finish fourth in the Class 6A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
CLASS 6A
Coming off a fourth-place team finish last fall, Washburn Rural is back in the Class 6A state tournament Monday and Tuesday at Hutchinson's Carey Park after a solid second-place finish in last Monday's 6A regional at Cypress Ridge.
The Junior Blues shot a four-person score of 329 at regionals as Washburn Rural combined with regional champ Manhattan (315) to earn the first 11 individual places.
Seniors Natalie Peterson (77) and Reece Randall (78) finished third and fourth to pace Washburn Rural while junior Lauren Cox placed eighth (85) and sophomore Kailyn Petersen finished 10th (89).
Senior Colbey Stead finished 11th with a 96 for the Junior Blues while junior Ella Taggart tied for 17th with a 109.
Seaman junior Makenna Stuke posted a runnerup finish in last Monday's Class 5A regional golf tournament, helping the Vikings win the team title by a 19-stroke margin. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior Jaycee Zimmerman posted a third-place individual finish for the regional-champion Vikings last Monday at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
CLASS 5A
Seaman's girls golf team put all of its top four in the top five individual places in last Monday's Class 5A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge, winning the team championship by a 19-stroke margin while advancing to Monday and Tuesday's 5A state tournament at Salina Municipal Golf Course.
Seaman junior Makenna Stuke finished second individually with an 89, while senior Jaycee Zimmerman was third (93), sophomore Kaitlynn Frye fourth (95) and sophomore Chloe Schmidtlein fifth (97) as the Vikings won the team title by a 375-394 margin over De Soto.
The Vikings also got a tie for 12th place from junior Molina Quintana and senior Anna McLaughlin, who carded 108s.
Topeka West and Shawnee Heights both qualified a pair of individuals for state.
West senior Alex Baxter and Shawnee Heights senior Lyla Blair led the local individual qualifiers with a tie for seventh place (101), while Heights sophomore Lauryn Valdivia tied for 12th (108) and West junior Berlyn Kolean advanced with a 19th-place finish (119).
Silver Lake senior Taylor Zordel, a three-time state medalist, won the individual championship in last Monday's Class 3A-1A regional at Osage City, leading the defending state champions to the team title. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 3A-1A
After winning its first Class 3A-1A state golf championship by 22 strokes last fall, Silver Lake will be shooting for a second straight state crown Monday and Tuesday at Emporia Municipal.
Silver Lake posted a 38-stroke win over Jefferson West in the 3A-1A regional at Osage City, posting a four-person score of 356 as senior Taylor Zordel led a one-two-three individual finish for the Eagles.
Zordel carded an 81 for a one-stroke victory over junior teammate Kailyn Hanni (82) while senior Hope Thornton finished third (92).
The Eagles also got a tie for 11th place from sophomore Savannah Wende (101), a tie for 13th from senior Makenna Miller (102) and a 23-place finish from Alyssa Streit (109).
Rossville had a pair of individual state qualifiers, with senior Brinley Pottorf placing 15th (104) and senior Jaymee Woodward tying for 21st (108).
SHAWNEE COUNTY STATE QUALIFIERS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden senior tennis star Ainzley Zulueta capped one of the most dominant postseason runs in Kansas history on Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, capturing her third Class 4A singles championship while leading the Wildcats to their second team title in three seasons.
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta won her third Class 4A state singles title Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping the Wildcats win the 4A team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
In fact, although a rare player may equal it, no netter will ever surpass what Zulueta accomplished this fall, going through both regionals and the state tournament without dropping a single game while posting eight straight 6-0, 6-0 victories.
Zulueta finished off her undefeated season and amazing postseason run with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Buhler freshman Sofia Spies in Saturday's state championship match.
Zulueta admitted that a perfect run wasn't necessarily a goal when postseason began, but the deeper she went, particularly in the state tournament, the more realistic it became.
"That wasn't my main goal going into it, but once I started at regionals without dropping a game that was kind of my goal going into state,'' Zulueta said.
Spies came within a point of ending Zulueta's streak when she jumped out to a 40-0 lead in the first game of the final, but Zulueta battled back to win that game and was in control the remainder of the match.
"Once I got past that first game I was really set on just staying in the point and not thinking about what would happen afterwards, just so I could stop her from getting a game, I guess,'' Zulueta said. "That was my goal.''
After winning state titles as a freshman and sophomore, Zulueta had to sit out her junior high school season after attending a tennis academy in Texas.
But she said that just made her more determined to add title No. 3.
"I was way more determined to win it this year,'' Zulueta said. "I wasn't expecting to go 0 and 0 throughout the whole entire tournament, but that makes it a lot more memorable.''
Senior Ainzley Zulueta is congratulated by fellow Hayden students after winning her third Class 4A state singles title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta receives a hug from her father after winning her third Class 4A state singles title on Saturday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Zulueta, who will play collegiately at Ferris State (Mich.), said that winning multiple state titles became a goal before she ever got to Hayden after watching former Wildcat four-time champ Brooklyn Hunter.
"I would always look up to Brooklyn Hunter and I used to watch her when she was here, so my parents kind of instilled that goal in me. They were like, 'You could definitely do it,' so that kind of made it my goal going into high school,'' she said.
"That definitely kind of made me a lot more motivated throughout high school.''
All six members of the Hayden team earned state medals on Saturday, which made the weekend that much more memorable.
Hayden senior Emily Sheetz (right) and freshman Sophia Wichman posted a runnerup Class 4A state doubles finish Saturday, helping lead the Wildcats to the Class 4A state team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Emily Sheetz, a two-time state doubles champion and four-time state medalist, teamed with freshman Sophia Wichman to finish second in doubles while junior Grace Funk finished ninth in singles and juniors Izzy Glotzbach and Avery O'Bray posted an 11th- place doubles finish.
No. 2 seed Sheetz and Wichman dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision in the doubles final to Independence's top seeds Callie Schlorholtz, a senior, and junior Brooklyn Mattix.
Funk defeated Bishop Miege sophomore Ella Daniel 9-7 in the ninth-place singles match while Glotzbach and O'Bray took an 8-2 win over Miege's Mary Jeanne Thompson, a junior, and senior Shea Coughlan in the 11th-place match.
It all added up to the team championship by a 40-28 margin over McPherson, with Independence third with 26 points.
"It is a great weekend, and that was our whole goal,'' Hayden coach Christy Sheetz said of the team championship. "I knew going into it with Zulueta being back and Emily being strong at the doubles position that we had a great chance, especially because we were just very deep this year and the goal was always the team championship.''
By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
The United Kansas Conference Cross Country meet took place on a windy and cool Thursday afternoon with local teams Seaman, Shawnee Heights, and Topeka West competing at Pierson Park in Kansas City, Kan.
Seaman junior Ryin Miller won the girls individual title in Thursday's UKC cross country meet, leading the Vikings to the team championship. [File photo/TSN]
Girls Varsity
After finishing in second place behind the De Soto Wildcats last year, the Seaman Vikings flipped the result this year and are the United Kansas Conference champions.
Junior Ryin Miller continued her excellent season by winning the individual title with a time of 17 minutes, 58.96 seconcs. Miller commented on winning the team title and the difficulty of the course, saying, “The main goal today was to have our team win, which we did and I’m proud of that. The course was very hard, so I knew my time wouldn’t be great. I heard my two-mile time and it wasn’t normal. I still feel that I ran well and happy with how I pushed through the hills.”
Coach Rick Brading commented on the race, “The course was rough, but our kids competed well. Ryin ran the course well and everybody right down the line did what they were supposed to do and we got a little extra out of freshman Avery Villines today.”
The Lady Vikings finished with four girls in the top 10. Senior Stella Applehanz finished fourth in 20:56.52, sophomore Brynn Spencer was fifth in 21:54.43 and Villines 10th with a time of 22:58.87.
Topeka West’s only runner, senior Chloe Phelps, placed 14th in a time of 23:25.72. Sophomore Abigal Lewis was the top finisher for Shawnee Heights, in 26th place.
United Kansas Conference All-Conference Awards
First Team:Ryin Miller, Stella Applehanz and Brynn Spencer (Seaman).
Second Team:Avery Villines and Kinley Robinson (Seaman); Chloe Phelps (Topeka West).
Honorable Mention:Hannah Wempe (Seaman).
Final Team Standings: Seaman 33,De Soto 68, Basehor-Linwood 77, Lansing 95, Piper 105, Leavenworth 130.
Seaman :Ryin Miller (17:58.96, 1st); Stella Applehanz (20:56.52, 4th); Brynn Spencer (21:54.43, 5th); Avery Villines (22:58.87, 10th); Kinley Robinson (23:22.18, 13th); Hannah Wempe (23:45.90, 20th); Emma Gonzalez (24:41.12; 30th); Abigail Cooper (25:16.58, 32nd); Kennedy Gatewood (28:07.51, 45th).
Shawnee Heights:Abigail Lewis (24:17.30, 26th); Adelaide Davis (26:38.25, 42nd); Kinsley Mohan (26:53.83, 43rd); Elizabeth Hogan (30:07.10, 48th).
Topeka West:Chloe Phelps (23:25.72, 14th).
Seaman junior Brody Anderson won the boys individual title in Thursday's UKC cross country meet, leading the Vikings to a runnerup team finish. [File photo/TSN]
Boys Varsity
In the boys race, junior Brody Anderson of Seaman won the individual title in a time of 16:21.42 and the Vikings finished second as a team behind conference champion De Soto.
Senior Adrian Lehman of Topeka West finished third with a time of 16:52.72 and Shawnee Heights senior Evan Carter rounded out the top five in a time of 17:49.56.
On his fifth win of the season, Anderson shared his thoughts on the race, “It was really difficult and the first mile hill was tough. I had really good guys to race against, which was good. I was able to push through and was able to come home with the conference win.”
Seaman coach Luke Wiens commented on his team’s second place finish, “I really liked the team’s tactics and toughness. We knew that the course would be challenging and we have been a little over-aggressive in races earlier in the season, so we made an effort to pack together. They responded very well and I loved the way they approached the hills in later portions of the course. It was awesome to be right with De Soto, that is a really great program.”
Seaman finished with four in the top 15 -- senior Alex Newell in 13th (18:21.71), senior Corbin Murrow in 14th (18:25.57) and sophomore Conner Bloom in 15th (18:26.92).
Shawnee Heights placed one other runner in the top 15 -- junior Max Esquibel finished in 11th with a time of 18:18.11.
Topeka West had one other runner finish in the top 15 -- sophomore Tony Lloyd finished in ninth with a time of 18:16.83.
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
With a 28-14 home victory over Basehor-Linwood Friday night, the Seaman Vikings put themselves on the doorstep of a league championship, something they haven’t accomplished in 18 years.
Senior quarterback Max Huston (7) had a hand in all four touchdowns as Seaman clinched a share of the UKC title with a 28-14 win over Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Bryer Finley scored on a 76-yard TD pass in Seaman's 28-14 win over Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Seaman won a defensive struggle by winning the turnover battle and letting senior Max Huston grind out three touchdowns.
Technically, the Vikings locked up a share of the United Kansas Conference title Friday night. The Vikings improved to 6-0 in the conference and handed the visiting Bobcats their first loss of the season.
With a game to play, the worst that could happen is a three-way tie for the league crown, depending upon the outcome of the Vikings’ final regular season game. The Vikings finish with a home game against De Soto, the other team in the running for the title at 5-1.
“We’ve got a share (of the title), and right now we’re just proud of our kids to be able to get this one done because (Basehor-Linwood coach Rod) Stallbaumer and their group has one of the best coached teams you’re going to face,” said Seaman coach Jared Swafford. “They are one of the most aggressive and fundamentally well-coached teams. We knew what we were getting ourselves into. We just needed more points than them in the end.”
The Vikings struck first in a fashion that is becoming customary. Huston fired deep to senior Bryer Finley, who hauled in the throw and raced 76 yards for the game’s first touchdown.
Basehor-Linwood’s Austin Adair answered with two scores, first on a 26-yard reception, then on a 52-yard run on a reverse.
Seaman responded with a drive that culminated in a Huston 2-yard run up the middle with 4:33 left in the half.
Seaman held on defense and got the ball back with less than a minute remaining. A 61-yard catch-and-run by Finley put the Vikings at the doorstep with just seconds remaining. Huston rushed for a 2-yard score identical to his previous touchdown, sending the Vikings to the intermission leading 21-14.
Both defenses dug in in the second half. Early in the third period, Seaman drove to the Bobcat 1-yard line, only to see Huston turned back on three straight carries and denied a fourth-down pass play.
The Vikings finally broke the stalemate in the fourth period. The Vikings’ Josh Brown intercepted a pass to give his team the ball with 6:43 remaining. On a 3rd-and-19 play, Huston was hemmed in near the sideline but started breaking tackles one by one. He spun and darted through traffic and ultimately wound up 47 yards down the field.
“I was sitting in the pocket. It started to collapse. I was just moving around, didn’t see anyone open, so I just had to take off,” Huston said. “I made some stuff happen and made a big play.”
Milking the clock for the next several plays, Huston wound up in the end zone with 1:57 remaining in the game.
“Max is a warrior and a heck of a football player,” Swafford said. “He handles the big moments well. He’s shown that his entire time here, even back when he was a sophomore thrown into the fire really quick.”
Huston stressed the job is not done yet.
“We’ve still got a game. We don’t want to tie it,” Huston said. “This feels great. We just want it all. So, we’re going to go practice hard and get what we want. Win next week and then it’s ours.”
“We will talk about league when it’s all said and done, but right now we’ll just focus on us continually getting better,” Swafford added.
SEAMAN 28, BASEHOR-LINWOOD 14
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden girls tennis stars Ainzley Zulueta and Emily Sheetz kept their bids for a third Class 4A state championships on Friday at Kossover Tennis Cente while Seaman sophomore Emma Sweeney also advanced to the state semifinals in the 5A state tournament.
Zulueta, the two-time state singles champ and the No. 1 seed this weekend, went 2-0 on Friday without dropping a game and will face the No. 5 seed in a 9 a.m. semifinal while Sheetz, who won back-to-back doubles championships in 2022 and 2023 with '24 Hayden graduate Lauren Sandstrom and will try for a third crown on Saturday with freshman Sophia Wichman.
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta will be shooting for her third Class 4A state tennis championship Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Sophia Wichman (left) and senior Emily Sheetz are the No. 2 doubles seed in the Class 4A state tournament and advanced to Saturday's semifinals with two straight wins on Friday. [File photo/TSN]
Sheetz and Wichman, who are coming off a regional championship and are the No. 2 seed for state and went 2-0 Friday to advance to a 9 a.m. semifinal doubles showdown with No. 6 seed Circle.
Seaman sophomore Emma Sweeney, a state medalist as a freshman, advanced to Saturday's Class 5A singles semifinals. [File photo/TSN]
Sweeney, a state singles medalist as a freshman, went 2-0 in the 5A state tournament on Friday to advance to a 9 a.m. semifinal to face the No. 1 tournament seed.
Seaman junior Molly Gorman, a two-time state medalist in doubles, went 3-1 on Friday in her first state tournament in singles and can still finish as high as fifth place on Saturday.
Seaman's doubles team of senior Sidney Chinn and junior Peyton Henry also went 3-1 on Friday and can still finish as high as fifth in 5A.
Hayden junior Grace Funk in singles and the junior doubles team of Izzy Glotzbach and Avery O'Bray both went 2-1 in their first three matches on Friday.
Topeka High junior singles player Madeline Deters won her first two 6A singles matches on Friday before losing in the quarterfinals to the No. 2 seed.
Washburn Rural seniors Emerie Catlin and Izzy Haggard fell in the 6A doubles quarterfinals.
Both Deters and Catlin and Haggard can still finish as high as fifth place.
By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
After a sluggish start, the Washburn Rural Junior Blues boys soccer team exploded for six unanswered goals in a 6-1 win over Seaman on Thursday night at Seaman High School.
Brodye Kocher-Munoz (8) had two goals and an assist in Thursday's 6-1 Washburn Rural non-league soccer win over Seaman. [File photo/TSN]
The Junior Blues went on the attack from the opening kickoff, with Dylan Willingham just missing the mark on a shot attempt just seconds into the match.
Washburn Rural would get another opportunity a few minutes later, when a change in possession put the host Vikings in a poor defensive position. With Seaman goalkeeper Landon Geis caught several yards outside the six-yard box, the Junior Blues appeared to have an open net, but a Viking defender stopped a shot attempt to put an end to the threat.
Despite the Junior Blues having the momentum, the Vikings were able to move the ball down the field and take the lead in the 24th minute. A shot attempt from senior forward Blake Toyne was initially blocked, but the ball fell to the feet of Kaelon Taylor, whose chip shot went just over Washburn Rural goalkeeper Miles Cook and into the net to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
The Seaman lead would only last about eight minutes, when Washburn Rural’s Brodye Kocher-Munoz received a pass from Drew Moore and found the equalizer to put the Junior Blues back in the game.
Washburn Rural took the lead in the 35th minute, when Willingham’s corner kick bounced off the head of a Viking defender and into the net for an own goal, putting the Junior Blues up 2-1.
Washburn Rural would find its third goal in a span of five minutes courtesy of Draden Chooncharoen’s strike in the 37th minute, giving the Junior Blues a 3-1 lead heading into halftime.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)
THURSDAY'S GAME
Highland Park sophomore running back G'Honi Montgomery has helped lead the Scots to a 4-2 start to the 2024 season. [File photo/TSN]
KC-EAST, MO. (0-6) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (4-2)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park will be looking to bounce back with a big non-league victory Thursday night against winless Kansas City-East, Mo. after suffering back-to-back road losses at Wichita East and Meadowlark Conferference power Atchison. The Scots are coming off a 62-21 loss to Atchison and will be eyeing a big offensive game Thursday after being outscored 136-27 over its past two games. Highland Park has outscored its foes 201-136 on the eason while East has been outscored 353-43 on the year. Senior running back Jamon Wilson, junior quarterback Dontrail Fox and sophomore running back G'Honi Montgomery have turned in big years for the Scots.
FRIDAY'S GAMES
Hayden junior Kade Mitchell has rushed for 507 yards and scored 15 total TDs this fall. [File photo/TSN]
PERRY-LECOMPTON (2-4, 1-1 Class 3A District 4) at HAYDEN (5-1, 2-0 Class 3A District 4)
Hayden is coming off a big 31-7 Class 3A District 4 road win at Holton last week and is in control of the District 4 race. Perry-Lecompton is also coming off a win, taking a 43-14 decision over Jefferson West. Hayden junior Kade Mitchell has carried the ball 54 times for 507 yards and caught 17 passes for 251 yards while scoring 15 total touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 62 of 95 passes for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns while senior Jensen Schrickel has caught 17 passes for 295 yards and scored seven TDs. Sophomore Mason Becker is 32 of 32 on extra point attempts while senior Jude Krentz leads the Wildcats with 53 tackles (30 solo).
Seaman junior Kaden McKinney (9) has rushed for 574 yards and 10 TDs while senior quarterback Max Huston (7) has passed for 1,365 yards and 17 TDs. [File photo/TSN]
BASEHOR-LINWOOD (6-0, 5-0) at SEAMAN (5-1, 5-0 UKC)
Friday's game is likely to decide the United Kansas Conference championship, with both the Bobcats and Vikings entering the night 5-0 in the conference. Seaman took a 59-34 UKC win at Shawnee Heights last week while Basehor-Linwood took a 44-6 non-league win over Tonganoxie. Seaman has won four straight games since a non-league loss to Class 6A Shawnee Mission East. Viking senior quarterback Max Huston has completed 75 of 121 passes for 1,365 yards and 17 touchdowns and has rushed for 381 yards and four TDs on 51 attempts. Junior Kaden McKinney has carried the ball 84 times for 574 yards and 10 TDs while senior Bryer Finley has caught 43 passes for 879 yards and 13 touchdowns. Junior linebacker Cameron Brian leads Seaman with 60 tackles (31 solo), while recording five tackles for loss.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By this point in the 2024 high school tennis season, Seaman singles players Emma Sweeney and Molly Gorman have faced off against each other more than they can probably count.
Seaman sophomore Emma Sweeney is 27-3 and the No. 5 singles seed for Friday and Saturday's Class 5A state tennis tournament at Andover. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Molly Gorman is 25-4 on the season and the No. 11 singles seed for the Class 5A state meet Friday and Saturday in Andover. [File photo/TSN]
Sweeney and Gorman play each other most every day in practice and also faced each other in the championship matches of the United Kansas Conference and Class 5A regional tournaments.
Gorman, a junior, and sophomore Sweeney admit that constantly going up against a teammate and close friend can get old, but the Viking standouts would welcome another meeting in this Friday and Saturday's Class 5A state tournament at the Andover District Tennis Complex.
Sweeney, who placed 11th in 5A as a freshman, is the No. 5 state seed with a 27-3 record while Gorman, a two-time state doubles medalist, is the No. 11 seed at 25-4, with two of her losses coming against Sweeney.
"It's hard, especially because me and Molly are such good friends off the court that it's just so hard and upsetting always having to play and go against her,'' Sweeney said.
Gorman agreed.
"At practice yes (it gets old) and I don't like playing her when it comes to meets, but we've got to do it,'' Gorman said.
But both players agree that playing each other also makes them both better.
"She hits the ball super aggressive and she's good on moving me around,'' Sweeney said of Gorman. "It's either way at practice at the end of the day. Me and Molly just are always trying to push each other and make each other better each day.''
Said Gorman: "Even though it gets tiring, it benefits me and it should benefit her I think.''
The good news for both Sweeney and Gorman is that if they face each other this weekend it's likely to be a very good weekend for both of them, with the two players on opposite sides of the bracket and will only play if both players advance to the state final or end up facing off in a place match.
Seaman is coming off United Kansas Conference and regional team championships -- posting perfect team scores in both events -- and will be looking to take home a team trophy (top three) this weekend after qualifying its entire team for state.
Seaman senior Sidney Chinn and junior Peyton Henry won the regional doubles title last Saturday in Bonner Spring while topping sophomore teammates Kaylyn Hiebsch and Camryn Lux in the championship match.
Chinn and Henry are 23-5 on the season and the No. 10 seed for state while Hiebsch and Lux are 22-8 and seeded No. 13.
The 5A state tournament will start at 10 a.m. Friday.
Class 6A at Prairie Village Harmon Park Tennis Complex
Washburn Rural and Topeka High combined for seven state qualifiers for this weekend's Class 6A state meet at Harmon Park.
Washburn Rural seniors Emerie Catlin (left) and Izzy Haggard followed up their city doubles title with Centennial League and regional championships and are the No. 5 seed for the Class 6A state tournament. [File photo
Regional team champion Rural qualified the senior doubles team of Emerie Catlin and Izzy Haggard and senior singles player Carolina Chedzoy and sophomore Julia Katzer for state out of last Thursday's regional tournament at Wichita while Topeka High qualified junior singles player Madeline Deters and the doubles team of junior Ava Ritter and freshman Hailey Caryl.
Catlin and Haggard won the regional doubles title after earlier winning city and Centennial League titles while Chedzoy and Katzer finished second and fifth in singles.
Catlin and Haggard are 21-4 on the year and are the No. 5 state seed while Chedzoy, a returning state medalist, is 17-10 and the No. 9 singles seed while Katzer is 17-10 and the No. 20 seed.
Topeka High's Deters placed third at regionals and is the No. 10 state seed with a 24-6 record while Caryl and Ritter took fifth at reegionals and are the No. 18 doubles seed with a 22-8 record.
The first round of state competition will begin at 10 a.m. Friday.
Class 3A-1A at Wichita Riverside Tennis Complex
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Madilyn Poole finished second in singles in the Class 3A-1A regional tournament last Saturday at Marysville, becoming the school's first girls state tennis qualifier.
Poole is 19-6 on the season and has been installed as the No. 8 seed for Friday and Saturday's state meet at Wichita's Riverside Tennis Complex.
CITY STATE TENNIS QUALIFIERS
Class 6A
At Harmon Park, Prairie Village
Topeka High -- Singles: Madeline Deters, sr., 24-6. Doubles: Hailey Caryl, fr., and Ava Ritter, jr., 22-8.
Washburn Rural -- Singles: Carolina Chedzoy, sr., 17-10; Julia Katzer, so., 17-10. Doubles: Emerie Catlin, sr., and Izzy Haggard, sr., 21-4.
Class 5A
At Andover District Tennis Complex
Seaman -- Singles: Emma Sweeney, so., 27-3; Molly Gorman, jr., 25-4. Doubles: Peyton Henry, jr., and Sidney Chinn, sr., 23-5; Kaylyn Hiebsch, so., and Camryn Lux, so., 22-8.
Class 4A
At Kossover Tennis Center, Topeka
Hayden -- Singles: Ainzley Zulueta, sr., 20-0; Grace Funk, jr., 8-3. Doubles: Emily Sheetz, sr., and Sophia Wichman, fr., 12-2; Izzy Glotzbach, jr., and Avery O'Bray, jr., 11-7.
Class 3A-1A
At Riverside Tennis Complex, Wichita
Cair Paravel Latin -- Singles: Madilyn Poole, so., 19-6.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden girls tennis stars Ainzley Zulueta and Emily Sheetz will be in familiar territory when they take the court Friday and Saturday at Topeka's Kossover Tennis Center to make their bids for their third Class 4A state championships.
Zulueta is a two-time state singles champ and back in the 4A field this weekend after not competing as a junior after attending a tennis academy in Texas while Sheetz won back-to-back doubles championships in 2022 and 2023 with '24 Hayden graduate Lauren Sandstrom and will try for a third crown with freshman Sophia Wichman.
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta will be shooting for her third Class 4A state tennis championship Friday and Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Sophia Wichman (left) and senior Emily Sheetz are the No. 2 doubles seed for the Class 4A state tournament, with Sheetz trying to become a three-time state champ. [File photo/TSN]
Zulueta has been installed as the No. 1 seed for this weekend's state meet and is a perfect 20-0 on the season after winning city, Centennial League and regional titles. Zulueta went 4-0 at regionals with four straight 6-0, 6-0 victories.
Zulueta, who played over the summer in California, said she is enjoying her final go-around in the high school ranks.
"I'm having fun, I'm enjoying it,'' Zulueta said. "I've enjoyed what we've done so far (including a state team title in '22) and I'm glad we're hosting it for my final year. I think it will be exciting.''
Zulueta, who plans to play collegiately at Ferris State (Mich.), said she is confident entering her final high school tournament.
"I don't really know the No. 2 seed (29-3 Buhler freshman Sophia Spies) but I think if I can just play my game I think I'll be fine, as long as I get over my nerves and don't think too much about the people watching me,'' she said.
Zulueta knows that playing in her home town is likely to mean bigger crowds, especially from the Hayden community, but she said she is happy to be playing on courts that she knows like the back of her hands.
"I love playing on the Kossover courts, so I think I like that,'' Zulueta said. "I think it helped that regionals was here. With some people watching I think that kind of helped me get over nerves and the expectation I think some people might have when watching me.
"I know they're will be a lot more people this time around, but I'm excited and I think I'll be ready.''
Sheetz played with Sandstrom her first three high school seasons before compiling a 12-2 record in her partial season with Wichman.
Sheetz and Wichman are coming off a regional championship and have been installed as the No. 2 seed for state.
"For state we're going in open-minded and we're ready,'' Sheetz said. "I feel like we know how to play the game, so whatever happens happens and I'm just trying to go out with a bang my senior year.
"There is no pressure. I know we know how to play and we'll finish strong.''
Hayden qualified its entire team for state while capturing last Saturday regional team title at Kossover.
The Wildcats also qualified junior Grace Funk in singles and the junior doubles team of Izzy Glotzbach and Avery O'Bray.
Funk (8-3) is a year ago and placed second in the regional tournament while Sexton (12-18) qualified for state with a sixth-place regional finish.
Funk is the No. 10 singles seed for state and Sexton the No. 24 seed.
Glotzbach and O'Bray (15-15) finished fourth at regionals and are the No. 15 seed in the state doubles field.
The first round of state competition will get under way at 10 a.m. Friday.
CITY STATE TENNIS QUALIFIERS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Night is always special for the athletes being honored.
And Seaman's volleyball team made it an extra special occasion for its six upperclassmen on Thursday at Seaman, with the Vikings taking wins over a pair of Kansas' most storied programs.
Seaman volleyball celebrates a kill from Maegan Mills (23) during the Vikings' Senior Night win over St. James Academy Thursday at Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The defending Class 5A state champs opened their night with a hard-earned three-set 23-25, 25-19, 25-23 win over nine-time 4A and 5A state champion St. James before taking a 25-14, 25-19 win over eight-time 6A state champion Washburn Rural.
Seaman, now 30-2 on the season, could have picked easier opponents for its Senior Night festivities but Viking coach Tatiana Dowling said her team welcomed the challenge.
"I feel really passionate that our girls are the right group and they can take it to whoever they want to as long as they play together and play as a team,'' Dowling said. "I'm really proud of them. I told them, 'Play with a lot of confidence tonight,' and I felt like they did and they believe in each other and in themselves.
"I've got to credit that to our captains and our seniors. They really run this team. They do a great job of making sure that everybody's always on the same page, that we're moving in the right direction and we're focused, so I'm really proud of them for that.''
Seaman will close out their regular season in Saturday's Emporia tournament before beginning defense of their 5A title in postseason and Dowling said matches like Thursday will help the Vikings to continue building momentum.
"I think it's really good to play tough teams at the end of the season because it prepares you for your ultimate goal, which is a state championship,'' Dowling said. "St. James and Washburn Rural are consistently tough teams that do that for you.''
By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
On Tuesday evening, the Seaman Vikings volleyball team hosted a triangular with fellow United Kansas Conference member Shawnee Heights and the top-ranked team in Class 6A, Blue Valley West.
Seaman volleyball survived three-set tests from Blue Valley West, Shawnee Heights to sweep home triangular. [File photo/TSN]
In the first match, the Seaman Vikings faced the Blue Valley West Jaguars. The Vikings were coming off their first defeat since early in the season to St. Thomas Aquinas last Thursday.
Viking coach Tatiana Dowling discussed the team’s preparation for another highly ranked opponent in Blue Valley West.
“I’m proud of the way we bounced back after the Aquinas game,'' Dowling said. "We had intense practices and held each other accountable to make sure we improved before tonight.”
In Set 1, Seaman jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, with all six service points from junior Kinsley Smith.
Blue Valley West battled back to tie the set at 23. After trading points, Seaman senior Maegan Mills had two kills to win the set, 26-24.
In Set 2, both teams traded points, with Seaman having a lead no larger than two points and Blue Valley West went ahead 15-12, leading to Seaman’s first timeout. The Jaguars increased their lead to 21-15 and they closed out the set, winning 25-16.
In the deciding set, each team traded points until the Jaguars stretched the lead to 11-7, causing the Vikings to call a timeout.
Seaman battled back to take the lead, 17-15, which led to the Jaguars using their first timeout. Blue Valley West came back to tie the set at 19. In a repeat of the first set, the teams traded points until it was tied at 24 before Mills duplicated the first set with two kills to win the set and the match, 26-24.
“Our intensity showed in our defense which was really nice to see,” Dowling said.
The Vikings were led by Smith in service points. Mills and senior Campbell Chabot led the team in kills. Chabot and junior Harper Hafenstine led the team in assists while senior Kinley Wilhelm and Chabot were the leaders in digs.
In the second match of the evening, the Thunderbirds of Shawnee Heights played Blue Valley West. The Jaguars were in control from the beginning of the first set, winning 25-14. The second set began with both teams trading points until the Jaguars went on a 4-0 run to take an 18-12 lead. Blue Valley West continued to extend the lead and won the set, 25-14.
The T-birds were led by juniors Jaidyn Euwer and Avery Willey in kills. Senior Taylor Brees and Willey led the team in digs. Senior Kaydence Torrez led in blocks.
In the last match, Seaman took on their UKC rival, Shawnee Heights. The Vikings jumped out to a quick 9-3 lead. The Vikings extended their lead throughout the remainder of the set, winning 25-12.
Set 2 began with the T-Birds taking the lead 14-9, causing the Vikings to take a timeout. Shawnee Heights continued their inspired play, stretching out the lead to 19-13, which led to Seaman taking their final timeout of the set.
The Lady Vikings charged out of the timeout and cut the lead to 21-17, but Shawnee Heights scored four of the final six points of the set, winning 25-19.
The third and deciding set began with both teams trading points until Seaman pulled ahead 11-7. Seaman continued their run by outscoring Shawnee Heights 14-8 to win the set and the match, 25-15.
“The Shawnee Heights match was a little frustrating because we were such a rollercoaster,'' Dowling said. "Great teams play tough all the time, so we will work on making sure we stay intense and focused regardless of the team we are facing.”
Seaman was led by Kinsley Smith with 10 service points; Maegan Mills totaled 22 kills while senior Ava Esser and Campbell Chabot both had nine kills apiece. Chabot and Hafenstine led with 16 and 14 assists, respectively.
Shawnee Heights was led in kills by juniors Reianna Vega and Euwer as well as Torrez. Brees led the T-Birds in digs and Torrez led in blocks.
In the Seaman-Shawnee Heights match, Seaman senior Kinley Wilhelm reached 1,000 digs for her career.
Match results
Seaman def. Blue Valley West 26-24, 16-25, 26-24; Blue Valley West def. Shawnee Heights 25-14, 25-14; Seaman def. Shawnee Heights 25-12, 19-25, 25-15.
By NICHOLAS GAINEY
Special to TopSports.news
In a battle of city rivals, the Topeka High School boys soccer team overcame a halftime deficit to earn a 2-1 victory over Seaman on Tuesday night at Hummer Sports Park.
Antonio Aguirre scored the game-winning goal Tuesday night in Topeka High's 2-1 soccer win over city rival Seaman. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High senior Jaime Alvarado (13) scored the Trojans' first goal in Tuesday's 2-1 soccer win over Seaman. [File photo/TSN]
The Trojans put pressure on the visiting Vikings in the opening minutes, with Antonio Aguirre receiving a through pass and taking the ball down the left side of the penalty box. Aguirre did not get enough power on the ensuing shot attempt, resulting in a save for freshman goalkeeper Landon Geis.
After the initial scare, the Vikings settled in and the two teams traded possession and offensive opportunities.
The momentum shifted in favor of Seaman in the 18th minute, when the Vikings broke away from the Trojan back line and earned a one-on-one opportunity with goalkeeper Billy Lutz, who fouled a Viking attacker outside the box while attempting to clear the ball.
Lutz was initially shown the red card for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity, but the card was downgraded to yellow after further discussion by the referees.
Despite being denied a numerical advantage, Seaman still earned a free kick in a dangerous location.
Kaelin Loy initially approached the ball, but faked a shot attempt to distract the Trojan wall, while Logan Townsend came in and put a powerful strike on the ball to put the Vikings up 1-0.
After trailing at halftime, Topeka High opened the second half with a renewed offensive push.
The Trojans finally equalized the match in the 47th minute, when Ian Martinez played a through ball to Jaime Alvarado, who used his speed to track down the ball near the left post and score on a close-range attempt.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
Anderson, a junior cross country standout, captured his first city boys individual championship in Saturday's city meet at Kanza Park, clocking a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 36 seconds. Anderson's win followed up a second-place city finish in his first season of high school cross country in 2023.
Tayson Horak
TAYSON HORAK, Rossville
A senior quarterback, Horak had a hand in five touchdowns Friday night as Rossville evened its record at 3-3 and improved to 3-0 in Class 1A District 2 play with a 71-24 home victory over Cair Paravel Latin. Horak scored on an 80-yard kickoff return, a 47-yard punt return, a 42-yard run, a 30-yard pass to Mahki Jackson and a 47-yard pass to Jack Donovan.
Ryin Miller
RYIN MILLER, Seaman
Miller, a junior girls cross country star, won her second staight individual city championship on Saturday at Kanza Park, clocking a five-kilometer time of 17 minutes, 08.3 seconds. Miller remained undefeated on the 2024 season with her sixth straight victory. Miller won Saturday's city title by a margin of 1 minute, 13 seconds.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls golf team put all of its top four in the top five individual places in Monday's Class 5A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge, winning the team championship by a 19-stroke margin while advancing to next Monday and Tuesday's 5A state tournament at Salina Municipal Golf Course.
"The main goal was accomplished, we won,'' Seaman coach Julie McLaughlin said. "We've still got things to work on. We've got a week left and we're going to work hard this week.''
Seaman junior Makenna Stuke posted a runnerup finish in Monday's Class 5A regional golf tournament, helping the Vikings win the team title by a 19-stroke margin. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior Jaycee Zimmerman posted a third-place individual finish for the regional-champion Vikings on Monday at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman junior Makenna Stuke finished second individually with an 89, a stroke behind De Soto sophomore McKenzie Laster, while senior Jaycee Zimmerman was third (93), sophomore Kaitlynn Frye fourth (95) and sophomore Chloe Schmidtlein fifth (97) as the Vikings won the team title by a 375-394 margin over De Soto.
"I'm really proud of our sophomores, they played well today,'' McLaughlin said. "It was a great day for them and we have four in the top five, so you can't argue with that.''
The Vikings also got a tie for 12th place from junior Molina Quintana and senior Anna McLaughlin, who carded 108s.
Stuke went to her final hole with a shot at the individual title and was pleased with her day.
"I felt good,'' Stuke said. "I was really confident going into today. It was pretty smooth sailing.''
Topeka West and Shawnee Heights both qualified a pair of individuals for state.
Topeka West senior Alex Baxter qualified for her second straight Class 5A state berth Monday at Cypress Ridge, tying for seventh place. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
West senior Alex Baxter and Shawnee Heights senior Lyla Blair led the local individual qualifiers with a tie for seventh place (101), while Heights sophomore Lauryn Valdivia tied for 12th (108) and West junior Berlyn Kolean advanced with a 19th-place finish (119).
Julie McLaughlin said the goal for next week will be for Seaman to be one of the top six 5A teams to advance to Tuesday's final day of the state event.
"If we can put it all together, we can do it,'' McLaughlin said. "I firmly believe that we can get four really good scores out of these girls. We've just got to dial in and stay focused. That will be what we're working on this week.''
"I think we're starting to get better as a team together and I think we have a chance as a team to make it to Day 2,'' Stuke said.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural won its sixth straight girls team championship in Saturday's city cross country meet at Kanza Park while Seaman junior star Ryin Miller won her second straight individual title.
Seaman junior Ryin Miller remained undefeated on the season while winning her second straight city title Saturday at Kanza Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seniors Payton Fink (left) and Rylee Ismert finished second and third individually on Saturday to lead Washburn Rural to its sixth straight city girls cross country team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Miller, who set a state record at at Kanza earlier in the fall, won the individual title by a minute and 13 seconds with a five-kilometer time of 17:08.3 on the newly-reworked course while Matt Swedlund's Junior Blues went 2-3-4 and put all of their top five in the top nine places as Rural took the team title by a 24-31 margin over Seaman.
Undefeated on the season, Miller said she didn't feel completely comfortable on Saturday, but was just pleased to get the job done.
"I'm not sad, but I'm not happy either,'' Miller said. "I was hoping to PR (personal record). Obviously they added a little onto the course (approximately 80 meters) and I think that had something to do with it and it was a little hotter than we anticipated I think.
"I just didn't feel my best today, but I still ran a good time so I'll take it.''
Fink, a former city champion, finished second for Washburn Rural in 18:21.2 while senior Rylee Ismert finished third (18:43.8) and junior Emily Graf was fourth (19:15.2).
Senior Brooklyn Nolte finished eighth (19:55.9) and junior Kenzie Maddox ninth (20:28.7) to round out Rural's top five.
Swedlund said he appreciated the tough team battle the Junior Blues got from Seaman.
"That's kind of been the story the last several city meets, you've got Seaman and Washburn Rural up there battling it out,'' Swedlund said. "Our girls are fast but their girls are fast so you've got to get it done on the day.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Hayden and Seaman girls tennis teams will be out in full force next Friday and Saturday for state tournaments after qualifying their entire teams and capturing regional team championships on Saturday.
Two-time Class 4A state singles champion Ainzley Zulueta won a regional title Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Emily Sheetz, a two-time state champion, won a Class 4A regional doubles championship Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta captured the regional singles title in the Class 4A regional at Kossover Tennis Center while senior Emily Sheetz and freshman Sophia Wichman won the doubles championship as the Wildcats topped Bishop Miege for the team title.
Zulueta and Sheetz earned their shot at their third state titles with Saturday's regional championships.
Zulueta, undefeated on the season, rolled through her four regional matches will dropping a game, posting four straight 6-0, 6-0 victories, including a 6-0, 6-0 win over Bishop Miege sophomore Ella Daniel in the championship match.
Sheetz and Wichman won the doubles title with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Chapman juniors Avery Baer and Meredith Kuntz.
Hayden also got a third-place singles finish from junior Grace Funk and a fifth-place doubles showing from senior Avery O'Bray and junior Izzy Glotzbach.
Funk's lone regional loss came in the semifinals to teammate Zulueta.
Hayden will be back at Kossover for the 4A state meet next Friday and Saturday.
Seaman pulled off the rare feat of compiling a perfect team score for the second straight tournament Saturday at Bonner Springs.
The Vikings, who were perfect in last Monday's United Kansas Conference tournamet, repeated that performance at regionals, with sophomore Emma Sweeney and junior Molly Gorman going one-two in singles and senior Sidney Chinn and junior Peyton Henry winning the doubles championship in an all-Seaman final against sophomores Kaylyn Hiebsch and Camryn Lux.
Seaman sophomore Emma Sweeney captured the singles championship in Saturday's Class 5A regional tennis tournament at Bonner Springs. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman senior Sidney Chinn (right) and junior Peyton Henry won the doubles title in Saturday's Class 5A regional tennis meet at Bonner Springs. [File photo/TSN]
Sweeney, now 27-3 on the season, took a 6-1, 6-1 win over Gorman (26-4) in the singles final while Chinn and Henry (24-5) took a 6-4, 6-0 win over Hiebsch and Lux (6-4, 6-0) as Seaman won the regional team title by a 26-14 win over Piper.
Seaman will compete in the 5A state tournament next Friday and Saturday at the Andover District Tennis Complex.
Lions' Poole qualifies for 3A-1A state meet
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Madilyn Poole finished as the singles runnerup in the Class 3A-1A regional tournament at Marysville on Saturday, becoming the Lions' first-ever girls state qualifier.
Sophomore Madilyn Poole finished second in Saturday's Class 3A-1A regional at Marysville to qualify for state. [File photo/TSN]
Poole, 19-6 on the season, dropped a 6-4, 6-1 decision to Kansas City Christian senior Lauren Seitz (24-4) in the regional championship match.
Poole scored all six of Cair Paravel's team points as the Lions finished fifth.
Sophomore Madilyn Poole became Cair Paravel's first girls tennis state qualifier Saturday in Marysville. [File photo/TSN]
Poole will compete in the 3A-1A state tournament next Friday and Saturday at Wichita's Riverside Tennis Complex.
