Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Two-time senior player of the year Ja'Corey Robinson headlines the 2025 TopSports.news All-Shawnee County boys basketball team.

Highland Park senior Ja'Corey Robinson has been named the TSN Shawnee County boys basketball player of the year for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN] 

Robinson was a repeat pick as the Shawnee County player of the year after leading the Scots to a 24-1 record and a second-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament, the Scots' third straight top-three state finish.

Robinson and senior teammate Mikey Williams are two of the five All-Shawnee County Top 10 repeat picks along with Shawnee Heights senior Jaret Sanchez, Seaman junior KaeVon Bonner and Rossville junior Jack Donovan.

Shawnee Heights senior Deacon Pomeroy, Washburn Rural senior Amare Jones and Silver Lake junior Dayne Johnson all moved up to Top 10 after being named to the Second 10 in 2024 while Hayden senior James Kuta and Washburn Rural junior Simon Rowley round out the all-county team.

 Washburn Rural junior Simon Rowley has been named the TSN Shawnee County boys basketball newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]

Rowley was also named the county newcomer of the year after helping 18-5 Washburn Rural win the Centennial League championship and advance to the Class 6A state tournament.

Highland Park coach Mike Williams has been named the Shawnee County boys coach of the year for the third straight season after leading the Scots to a 24-1 record and a runnerup state finish. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]

Highland Park's Mike Williams was named the county coach of the year for the third straight season, leading the Scots to a 71-4 record over the past three years.

All-Shawnee County capsules:

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman senior Anna Becker has been tapped as the TopSports.news 2025 All-Shawnee County girls basketball player of the year after helping lead the Vikings to back-to-back championship games in Class 5A.

Seaman senior Anna Becker, a four-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick, has been named the county player of the year after helping lead the Vikings to a second-place Class 5A state finish. [File photo/TSN]

A four-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick and three-time United Kansas Conference player of the year, Becker helped Seaman post a 24-1 record and a second-place finish behind St. Thomas Aquinas as a senior after the Vikings won the Class 5A state title in 2024.

Becker is one of five repeat picks on the All-Shawnee County Top 10 along with Hayden senior Millie Ramsey, Seaman junior Maddie Gragg, Silver Lake junior Kailyn Hanni and Washburn Rural sophomore Maddie Vickery.

Ramsey and Gragg are three-time all-county Top 10 selections.

Also earning All-Shawnee County Top 10 spots are Washburn Rural senior Kate Hinck, Topeka High junior Keimara Marshall, Trojan sophomore Ahsyierhuajh Rayton, Shawnee Heights sophomore KK Emmot and Hayden freshman Hailey Schmidtlein.

Hayden freshman Hailey Schmidtlein has been named the Shawnee County girls basketball newcomer of the year while also earning Top 10 honors. [File photo/TSN]

Schmeidtlein, who helped Hayden post a third-place state finish in Class 4A, was also named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year, while Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker was named the county coach of the year.

Topeka High's Ron Slaymaker has been named the Shawnee County girls basketball coach of the year after leading the Trojans to a nine-win improvement in his first season. [File photo/TSN]

The 88-year-old Slaymaker, a Kansas coaching legend and High's third coach in four seasons, led the Trojans to a nine-win improvement in the 2024-2025 campaign, with Topeka High posting a 14-8 record. 

All-Shawnee County capsules:

The 2025 All-City boys bowling team: From left -- Logan Glinka, Washburn Rural; Tyler Faurot, Washburn Rural; Kelton Meier, Hayden; Alex Prescott, Seaman; Henry Schattilly, Shawnee Heights, and Trey Donath, Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Class 4A-1A state team champion Kelton Meier of Hayden and first-team repeat picks Logan Glinka of Washburn Rural, Alex Prescott of Seaman and Trey Donath of Shawnee Heights headline the 2025 All-City boys bowling team, selected by city coaches.

Meier, a sophomore, helped Hayden win its first-ever state bowling championship by a 95-pin margin while Glinka, a senior four-time All-City pick, and sophomore Donath are both former state team champs and Prescott, a senior, is a two-time United Kansas Conference individual champion.

Rounding out the All-City first team are Washburn Rural senior Trey Faurot, a Class 6A state medalist and former 6A state team champ, and Shawnee Heights junior Henry Schattilly, a former 5A state team champ who moved up from the second team.

All-City capsules:

TREY DONATH, Shawnee Heights -- A sophomore first-team All-City repeat pick, Donath helped Shawnee Heights win its first-ever boys Class 5A team bowling championship in 2024 and helped the T-Birds return to state this past season. Donath rolled a 614 series at state to finish 28th as Heights finished fifth as a team. Donath shot a 542 series in regional competition as Heights advanced to state with a third-place team finish. Donath shot a 603 series in the city tournament as Shawnee Heights finished second as a team.

TYLER FAUROT, Washburn Rural --Faurot, a senior, finished his high school career with a 689 series to post a sixth-place individual finish as Washburn Rural finished fifth as a team. Faurot shot a 617 series in Class 6A regional competition to finish 13th as the Junior Blues won the team title by 123 pins. Faurot finished ninth in the Centennial League tournament with a 584 series as the Junior Blues finished third as a team. Faurot shot a 662 series in the city tournament to finish second individually as Rural won the city team championship. Faurot was a member of Rural's 6A state title team in 2023.

LOGAN GLINKA, Washburn Rural -- A senior four-time All-City selection, Glinka capped his high school career with an eighth-place individual finish with a 679 three-game series as Washburn Rural finished fifth as a team. Glinka shot a 650 series in Class 6A regional competition to finish seventh individually as the Junior Blues won the team title by 123 pins. Glinka finished 10th in the Centennial League tournament with a 579 series as the Junior Blues finished third as a team. Glinka posted a 734 three-game series to win the individual championship in the city tournament as Washburn Rural won the team title. Glinka helped lead the Junior Blues to the 6A team championship in 2023.

KELTON MEIER, Hayden --Meier, a sophomore, helped Hayden capture its first-ever state bowling championship, rolling a 604 three-game series to finish 21st as the Wildcats won the title by 95 pins. Meier shot a 633 series in 4A-1A regional competition to finish sixth as Hayden won the regional title by 213 pins. Meier captured the Centennial League individual title with a 675 series as the Wildcats finished second as a team. Meier finished ninth in the city meet with a 632 series.

The 2025 All-City girls bowling team: From left -- Kenzie Lawson, Washburn Rural; Megan Glinka, Washburn Rural; Addison Van Metre, Shawnee Heights; Paige Snyder, Seaman; Claire LaDuke, Seaman, and Leah Crawford, Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The future appears bright for city girls high school bowling, with the 2025 girls All-City first team comprised of six underclassmen, including a freshman and three sophomores.

The All-City team, selected by city coaches, includes first-team sophomore repeaters Paige Snyder of Seaman and Megan Glinka of Washburn Rural along with Seaman junior Claire LaDuke and Washburn Rural junior Kenzie Lawson, Shawnee Heights sophomore Addison Van Metre and Seaman freshman Leah Craword. 

LaDuke, Lawson and Van Metre all earned individual medals during the 2025 state meet.

Lawson and Glinka helped Washburn Rural finish third as a team in the Class 6A state tournament while LaDuke, Crawford and Snyder helped Seaman post a third-place finish in 5A.

All-City capsules:

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Through her first three seasons of high school swimming, Seaman's Joslynn Grace was surrounded by talented older teammates.

Seaman senior Joslynn Grace posted first and second-place individual finishes in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

But after the Vikings lost a talented senior class, including twin sisters Tauren and Avery Walz, from last year's team that posted a third-place finish in Class 5A-1A, Grace is being counted on to lead the way in the pool and as a leader as Seaman enters the 2025 campaign.

"I was a little nervous at first, but it's really fun to get to be with more of the team I feel like,'' Grace said. "I was really close to the twins and now I'm like branching out and I get to meet a lot of people and cheer them all on, so it's been a lot of fun.''

Grace got her season off to a solid start on Thursday in the 16-school Topeka West Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, posting a win and a second-place individual finish while also helping the Vikings to a pair of top-six relay finishes.

Grace, a returning multi-event 5A-1A state medalist, won the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2 minutes, 15.84 seconds and finished second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.72.

Grace also teamed with Reagan Greig, Lizzie Gould and Megan Strobel to finish fifth in the 200 medley relay (2:13.96) and with Greig, Gould and Strobel to finish sixth in the 200 free relay (2:05.02) as the Vikings finished fourth as a team with 234 points.

Seaman senior Joslynn Grace looks up at the scoreboard after her 200 IM victory in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"I thought today was pretty good,'' Grace said. "I wish my IM would have been a little bit faster, but I was pretty happy with it.''

Now Grace, who plans to swim collegiately at Nebraska-Kearney with older sister Gabby, is setting her sights on finishing her high school career with a bang.

"I definitely would like to medal in both my events again and maybe get like second-team All-State or first-team All-State,'' Grace said. "That would be really cool.''   

Seaman also got a third-place finish from Strobel in the 500 freestyle (7:10.03) and a third from Sydney Thoman in one-meter diving (152.75).

Hayden tied for fifth as a team with 191 points, led by Maddie Gregg and Kaylee Gregg, who finished one-two in diving. M. Gregg won with a score of 179.90 while K. Gregg was right behind her sister at 178.00. 

The Wildcats also got a fourth-place finish in the 400 free relay from Kaelyn Gerdel, Kelly Ann Chada, Lilly Charvat and Esa Herrera in 4:47.88.

Shawnee Heights senior Ashtynn Landry posted a pair of top-four finishes in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Shawnee Heights finished seventh as a team (164), getting a third-place finish from senior Ashtynn Landry in the 200 freestyle in 2:14.46.

Landry also finished fourth in the 100 freestyle (1:01.17) while sophomore Kaitlyn Aldridge was fourth in the 200 IM (2:35.22).   

TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka High senior Jo'Mhara Benning was a first-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League pick last season. [File photo/TSN]

JO'MHARA BENNING, Topeka High

A senior pitcher, Benning earned first-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County recognition last season after helping the Trojans post a 17-11 record. Benning also was a first-team All-Centennial League pick and earned All-Class 6A second-team recognition from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association.

TAYLOR BREES, Shawnee Heights

Brees, a senior infielder, was a first-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick last season while also earning All-United Kansas Conference first-team honors and being named to the Kansas Softball Coaches Association second team. Brees has signed a letter of intent with Washburn University.

Washburn Rural junior Reagan Chapman is a two-time All-Shawnee County first-team pick. [File photo/TSN]

REAGAN CHAPMAN, Washburn Rural

A junior, Chapman earned second-team All-Class 6A honors from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association last season while also being named to the TSN All-Shawnee County first team for the second straight season after helping lead the Junior Blues to a 20-8 record and a third-place finish in 6A.

LAYLA COLLINS, Washburn Rural

Collins, a senior, received second-team TSN All-Shawnee County honors last season after helping Washburn Rural post a third-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament. Collins also earned second-team All-Centennial League recognition for the Junior Blues, 20-8 on the year.

Silver Lake senior Kendra Cook is a two-time All-Shawnee County first-team pick and earned All-Class 3A first-team honors last spring. [File photo/TSN]

KENDRA COOK, Silver Lake

A senior pitcher, Cook earned TSN All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the second straight season in 2024 after helping 24-3 Silver Lake post a runnerup state finish in Class 3A. A Washburn University signee, Cook, who compiled a 1.244 earned run average with 92 strikeouts, also received All-3A first-team honors from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association.

KAILYN HANNI, Silver Lake

Hanni, a left-fielder, earned first-team All-Shawnee County first-team recognition last season as a sophomore after helping Silver Lake post a 24-3 record and a runnerup finish in the Class 3A state tournament. Hanni, who hit .518 with 15 stolen bases, was also named to the Kansas Softball Coaches Association All-3A second team.

Washburn Rural sophomore Olivia Koch was named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year last spring. [File photo/TSN]

OLIVIA KOCH, Washburn Rural 

A sophomore, Koch was named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year last season and was named to the All-Centennial League first team and the Kansas Softball Coaches Association All-Class 6A second team after helping Rural post a 20-8 record and a third-place finish in the 6A state tournament. 

Silver Lake senior Kira Lowrey was an All-Shawnee County first-team pick last spring. [File photo/TSN]  

KIRA LOWREY, Silver Lake 

A senior third baseman/pitcher, Lowrey earned first-team All-Shawnee County first-team recognition last season as a sophomore after helping Silver Lake post a 24-3 record and a runnerup finish in the Class 3A state tournament. Lowrey, who hit .467 with 35 RBI, also received Kansas Softball Coaches Association All-3A honorable mention.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

DRAYDEN ACOSTA, Topeka High

A junior, Acosta earned second-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season after helping Topeka High advance to the Class 6A state tournament for the second straight season.  

LIAM ANNAND, Hayden

Annand, a senior, helped Hayden post an 18-12 record and capture the Class 3A state championship last season. Annand earned second-team All-Shawnee County honors as a junior.

ISAAC ANSLEY, Washburn Rural

A junior pitcher, Ansley will be counted on to fill a major role for a Washburn Rural team that posted a 13-10 record last spring but graduated six seniors who received first or second-team all-county recognition last season.

Hayden sophomore Mason Becker was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick and the county newcomer of the year last season. [File photo/TSN]

MASON BECKER, Hayden

Becker, a sophomore, earned first-team All-Shawnee County honors and was named the county newcomer of the year last season after helping lead the Wildcats to an 18-12 record and the Class 3A state championship. 

AXTON BREWER, Seaman

A sophomore, Brewer made an impact last season for the 18-7 Vikings as a freshman pitcher/designated hitter, receiving second-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition and All-Class 5A and All-Shawnee County honorable mention.  

COOPER CAMPIDILLI, Silver Lake

A senior catcher, Campidilli has been a second-team All-Shawnee County honoree for the last two seasons while also earning All-Mid-East League recognition for the Eagles. 

Seaman senior catcher David Dobbs was a first-team All-Shawnee County and All-Class 5A pick last season. [File photo/TSN]

DAVID DOBBS, Seaman

A senior catcher, Dobbs was named to the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches All-Class 5A first team last season while also earning All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference first-team recognition for the 18-7 Vikings.

Hayden senior Cooper Grace was named the Centennial League and Shawnee County co-player of the year last season. [File photo/TSN]

COOPER GRACE, Hayden

Grace, a senior, was named the Shawnee County and Centennial League co-player of the year last season while earning first-team All-Class 3A honors and all-county and Centennial League recognition for the second straight season. A Nebraska signee, Grace helped lead the Wildcats to an 18-12 record and the 3A state title in 2024.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman senior Anna Becker (9) was a first-team All-City and All-UKC soccer honoree last season. [File photo/TSN]

ANNA BECKER, Seaman

A Division I basketball signee with Drake, Becker also received All-City and All-United Kansas Conference first-team soccer honors last spring after helping the Vikings advance to the Class 5A state quarterfinals. 

Hayden junior Carsyn Broxterman (4) was a first-team All-City and All-Centennial League soccer honoree last season. [File photo/TSN]

CARSYN BROXTERMAN, Hayden

Broxterman, a junior forward, is a returning first-team All-City and All-Centennial League honoree for the Wildcats. Broxterman also received second-team All-4A-1A All-State recognition last spring from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Cair Paravel junior Kelly Ann Chada was a first-team All-Class 4A-1A soccer honoree last season. [File photo/TSN]

KELLY ANN CHADA, Cair Paravel Latin 

Chada, a junior forward, helped lead Cair Paravel to a runnerup finish in the Class 4A-1A state tournament last spring, earning All-City first-team recognition as well as first-team All-4A-1A All-State honors from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association. 

ZAHRA FRIESS, Washburn Rural

A forward, Friess will play her senior season at Washburn Rural after helping Cair Paravel Latin finish second in Class 4A-1A last season. Friess earned All-4A-1A first-team honors from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association in 2023 and 2024 and was a former two-time All-City pick for the Lions. 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

KAITLYN ALDRIDGE, Shawnee Heights

A sophomore, Aldridge earned All-City first-team honors as a freshman, placing third in the city meet in the 100-yard backstroke and helping Shawnee Heights place third in the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay. Aldridge competed in the 2024 Class 5A state meet, helping the T-Birds post a 13th-place finish in the 'B' final of the 400 free relay.  

Washburn Rural junior Audrey Appuhn has won multiple Class 6A state medals two straight seasons. [File photo/TSN]

AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural

Appuhn, a junior, placed in multiple events in the Class 6A state meet for the second straight season, taking fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:12.72) and sixth in the 500 freestyle (5:17.70). Appuhn also helped Rural win the 'B' final (ninth place) in the 6A 200 medley relay. Appuhn won three golds in the city meet as Rural won its 21st straight title and four golds in the Centennial League meet as the Junior Blues won a fourth straight league title.

JELLA BELGARDT, Washburn Rural

Belgardt, a senior, was part of Rural's winning 400 relay team and three second-place finishes in the city meet as the Junior Blues won their 21st straight city team title. Belgardt won a pair of gold medals and also posted a second-place and third-place finish as Rural won its fourth straight Centennial League title. Belgardt swam on Rural's team that won the 'B' final (ninth place) in the 200 medley relay (1:59.01) in the 6A state meet.

Topeka High junior Hara Del Castillo was a Centennial League champion last season. [File photo/TSN]

HARA DEL CASTILLO, Topeka High

A junior, Del Castillo earned All-City honors for the second straight season, finishing second in the city meet in the 100-yard backstroke and 100 freestyle and helping High post a third-place finish in the 200 medley relay. Del Castillo won the Centennial League title in the 100 backstroke and was second in the 100 butterfly. Del Castillo competed in the 6A state meet.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural senior Tadd Armstrong was a first-team All-Shawnee County selection last season. [File photo/TSN]

TADD ARMSTRONG, Washburn Rural

Armstrong, a senior returning All-Shawnee County first-teamer, helped Washburn Rural capture its 14th straight city team title and a team berth in the Class 6A state meet with a runnerup regional finish last season. Armstrong finished fourth in the city meet (126 for 27 holes), tied for fifth in the Centennial League (79) and tied for 11th at regionals (86).

CALEB CLEVERDON, Topeka High/Cair Paravel Latin

A junior, Cleverdon helped Cair Paravel earn the third-place team trophy in the Class 2A state tournament with a tie for 32nd place with a 36-hole score of 176 after competing for Topeka High in the regular season. A second-team All-Shawnee County pick last season, Cleverdon placed ninth at regionals (84) and placed 15th in the Centennial League (86).

JACK DONOVAN, Rossville

A junior, Donovan earned an individual medal in the Class 3A state tournament, placing 20th with a 36-hole score of 162. A first-team All-Shawnee County pick as a sophomore, Donovan finished third individually in the Mid-East League tournament with an 86 and placed fourth in 3A regional competition with a 74 to earn a state tournament berth.

Hayden senior James Kuta was a first-team All-Shawnee County selection last season after helping the Wildcats finish fourth in Class 3A. [File photo/TSN]

JAMES KUTA, Hayden

A senior, Kuta tied for 14th in the Class 3A state tournament with a 36-hole score of 159 (73-86), helping Hayden finish fourth as a team. A first-team All-Shawnee County selection in 2024, Kuta tied for eighth in the Centennial League meet (82), placed 10th in the city tournament (132 for 27 holes) and tied for 11th in 3A regional competition (83) as the Wildcats finished second as a team.

Washburn Rural senior Tagan Monasmith was a second-team All-Shawnee County pick in 2024. [File photo/TSN]

TAGAN MONASMITH, Washburn Rural

A senior, Monasmith was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection last season. Monasmith finished fifth individually in the city tournament (126 for 27 holes), was eighth at regionals as Washburn Rural qualified for the Class 6A state tournament as a team with a runnerup finish and finished 18th in the Centennial League (88).

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural three-time Class 6A state champion and four-time finalist Easton Broxterman headlines the TopSports.news 2025 All-Shawnee County boys wrestling team.

Shawnee County wrestler of the year Easton Broxterman ended his high school career with three Class 6A state titles and four straight trips to the 6A championship match. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]

County wrestler of the year Broxterman, who won the 144-pound championship to wrap up a 37-2 season, is joined on the All-Shawnee County team by two-time Washburn Rural state champions Kristjan Marshall and Landen Kocher-Munoz as the Junior Blues finished third as a team.

Washburn Rural senior Kristjan Marshall won his second straight Class 6A state title in 2025. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]

Washburn Rural junior Landen Kocher-Munoz won his second Class 6A state title in his third straight state final in 2025. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered] 

Marshall, a senior, won the 157-pound championship to cap a 33-5 season with his second straight title while junior L. Kocher-Munoz won his second state title in his third straight trip to the finals, winning the 138-pound crown with a 30-3 record.   

Washburn Rural wrestling coach Josh Hogan has been named the Shawnee County coach of the year after three Rural wrestlers won state titles and Rural finished third as a team. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]

Washburn Rural, which finished third in the 6A team standings, put a county-high nine wrestlers on the all-county first team, while Rural's Josh Hogan was named the county coach of the year and freshman 215-pounder Kaiden Marshall was selected as newcomer of the year.

The TopSports.news all-county team is based in part on selections made by the seven Topeka head coaches as well as at large selections for county schools Rossville and Silver Lake.

Also earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors for Rural in addition to the three state champions were 120-junior Ryder Harrison (27-15), senior 126-pounder Walker Doyal (28-14), junior 132-pounder Cooper Stivers (26-8), sophomore 150-pounder Brodye Kocher-Munoz (16-7), sophomore 190-pounder Jadyn Baum (28-6) and K. Marshall (17-11).

Topeka High and Hayden both put two wrestlers on the all-county first team.

Topeka High is represented by 106-pound sophomore Jose Gomez (24-13) and 165-pound senior Nick Davis (40-7) while Hayden is represented by 175-pound junior Jude Krentz (42-2) and 285-pound senior Hunter Diederich (24-10). 

Shawnee Heights is represented on the first team by 113-pound sophomore Jacob Reyes (15-14).

ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BOYS WRESTLING

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Class 5A state champion Makayla Cadet of Highland Park headines the TopSports.news 2025 All-Shawnee County girls wrestling team while third-place teams Washburn Rural and Shawnee Heights combined for 13 spots on the first team.

TopSports.news picked the All-Shawnee County team based in part on city coaches' picks for the All-City team while also adding at-large selections.

Highland Park junior Makayla Cadet has been named the Shawnee County wrestler of the year after winning the Class 5A 190-pound state title. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]

County wrestler of the year Cadet, a junior, won the Class 5A state championship at 190 pounds, becoming Highland Park's first-ever girls state champion while posting a 23-4 record on the season.   

Washburn Rural senior Molly Spader posted a runnerup Class 6A state finish for the second straight season, leading Rural to a third-place team finish. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn Rural put seven wrestlers on the TSN All-Shawnee County first team, led by senior Molly Spader (37-6), who posted a runnerup Class 6A state finish for the second straight season to lead the Junior Blues to a third-place team finish in 6A after winning back-to-back state titles. 

In addition to Spader, Washburn Rural is represented on the all-county team by senior 115-pounder Maddy Blow (35-11), junior 120-pounder Lacey Middleton (37-9), junior 135-pounder Madison Blanco (30-8), junior 140-pounder Emme Blanco (35-10), junior 170-pounder Elia Smith (36-8) and sophomore 235-pounder Justice McBurney (15-7).

Smith placed third in 6A while Blow, Middleton, M. Blanco and E. Blanco all placed fourth at state and McBurney posted a sixth-place finish.

Spader and Blow are three-time first-team all-county selections while M. Blanco and Smith are first-team repeat picks and Middleton and E. Blanco moved up from the second team.

Shawnee Heights senior Isabel Reyes posted a second-place Class 5A state finish at 130 pounds, helping the T-Birds finish third as a team. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights, which earned the third-place team trophy in 5A, is represented on the all-county first team by senior Isabel Reyes (37-3), the 5A runnerup at 130 pounds, along with freshman 100-pounder Ava Gutierrez (19-13), senior 125-pounder Reece Taylor (37-4), senior 140-pounder Madison Freeland (32-7), junior 145-pounder Olivia Stevens (35-10) and junior 155-pounder Cianna Graves (39-3).

Taylor, Freeland and Graves finished third in 5A while Stevens finished fourth.    

Shawnee Heights' Chad Parks was named the county coach of the year after the T-Birds posted a program-best third as a team.

Seaman senior Taylie Heston was the 120-pound runnerup in Class 5A. [File photo/TSN]

Seaman senior Koti Best was the 125-pound runnerup in Class 5A. [File photo/TSN]

Seaman put senior state 120-pound runnerup Taylie Heston (32-8) and senior 130-pound runnerup Koti Best (20-3) on the All-Shawnee County first team, along with 110-pound senior Natalie Smith (28-11).

Best was a two-time state finalist will Heston is an all-county first-team repeat pick.

Rounding out the all-county first team are Silver Lake senior 110-pounder Karley Holmes (40-12) and Rossville 145-pounder Madelyn Wonnell (34-11).

Holmes posted a third-place finish in 4A while Wonnell finished fifth in 3A-1A after helping the Bulldawgs win the 3A-1A state team championship in 2024.  

ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY GIRLS WRESTLING

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Three-time conference player of the year Anna Becker of Seaman leads three city players on the All-United Kansas Conference girls basketball first team while Viking coach Matt Tinsley is a repeat pick as the UKC coach of the year.

 Seaman senior Anna Becker has received UKC player of the year recognition for the third straight season. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]

Seaman coach Matt Tinsley, who led the Vikings to a third straight UKC title and a second-place finish in Class 5A, has been named the conference coach of the year. [File photo/TSN]

Becker, a senior, was named co-player of the year with De Soto senior Makenzie Farmer and is joined on the first team by junior teammate Maddie Gragg, a first-team repeater.

Seaman junior Maddie Gragg has received All-UKC first-team recognition for the third straight season. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]

Shawnee Heights sophomore KK Emmot has been named to the All-UKC first team. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights sophomore KK Emmot also earned a spot on the first team after being a second-team selection as a freshman. 

Seaman seniors Ava Esser and Kinley Wilhelm were named to the All-UKC second team along with Shawnee Heights junior Reianna Vega and Topeka West junior Imani McGlory.

Seaman senior Jaida Stallbaumer received all-conference honorable mention as did Shawnee Heights seniors Kaydence Torrez and Taylor Brees and Topeka West sophomore Sydney VanDyke.

ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE GIRLS BASKETBALL

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

 Anna Becker

ANNA BECKER, Seaman

Becker, a senior guard, capped her banner four-year high school basketball career with a game-high 28 points in Saturday's 68-61 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 5A girls state championship game. Becker, a Drake signee, hit 4-7 3-pointers and dished out five assists as the Vikings finished a 24-1 season. Becker had 49 points in the tournament.

Kailyn Hanni

KAILYN HANNI, Silver Lake

Hanni, a junior guard, scored a game-high 19 points and hit 7 of 8 free throws in Saturday's 48-45 loss to Halstead in the Class 3A girls state championship game. Hanni's big game in the finals came after she scored 28 points (15 made free throws) with 6 assists and 4 rebounds in the Eagles' 65-58 semifinal victory over Hesston.

Dayne Johnson

DAYNE JOHNSON, Silver Lake

A junior, Johnson registered a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds in Saturday's Class 3A boys third-place game, leading the Eagles to a 63-51 win over Galena. Johnson scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds on Friday as Silver Lake fell 66-60 to Goodland in the state semifinals.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

City players earned three of the seven spots on the All-United Kansas Conference boys basketball first team, led by Shawnee Heights co-UKC player of the year Jaret Sanchez.

 Shawnee Heights senior Jaret Sanchez has been named the UKC co-player of the year. [File photo/TSN]

Sanchez, a senior who helped Shawnee Heights advance to the Class 5A state tournament for a second straight season, shares the player of the year honor with Piper senior PJ Moore.

Sanchez and Seaman junior KaeVon Bonner are first-team All-UKC repeat picks while Shawnee Heights senior Deacon Pomeroy moves up to the first team after being a second-team selection in 2024.

Seaman junior KaeVon Bonner is a repeat pick on the All-UKC first team. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights senior Deacon Pomeroy has been named to the All-UKC first team. [File photo/TSN]

Topeka West junior Malakyah Duncan and Seaman senior Bryer Finley earned second-team recognition while Shawnee Heights juniors Jaeveon Alston and Ontarius Emmot and Topeka West seniors Kamoni Ford and Jalen Foy and Charger junior Keimani Paul all received honorable mention.

Piper coach Steve Wallace, whose Pirates finished third in 5A, was named the conference coach of the year.

ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE BOYS BASKETBALL

By Rick Peterson

TopSports.news

EMPORIA -- Top seed and undefeated Highland Park got everything it wanted from No. 8 Andover Central in Thursday's Class 5A boys state tournament opener at White Auditorium, but senior Mikey Williams made sure that the Scots lived to see another day.

Senior Mikey Williams scored a game-high 33 points in Thursday's 65-56 Class 5A state tournament win over Andover Central. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Williams scored a career-high 33 points, including an amazing 7 of 7 performance from 3-point range as Highland Park advanced to Friday's 4 p.m. semifinal with a 65-56 win over Central.

"I just knew going into it I had to step up,'' Williams said. "We know we rely on Ja'Corey (Robinson) and Jamon (Wilson) and all our other guys to step up, but I know in every game I can't just rely on another guy I know I've got to step up and do it for myself and do it for my team and do whatever it takes to get us to the next round and that's what I had to do.''

The Jaguars trailed by just a 24-22 margin at the end of the first quarter and led 35-33 at halftime before the Scots rallied in the third stanza for a 61-56 advantage.

Hi Park went up by 10 (56-46) on a Williams hoop with 6:19 remaining, but the Jaguars cut their deficit to two (58-56) at the 3:20 mark before the Scots ended the game with a 7-0 run.

The Scots also got 14 points (7 of 9 shooting) and a game-high eight rebounds from senior Isaiah Kelley.

Andover Central, which stayed in the hunt with a 10 of 21 performance from 3-point range, was led by Jayden Brown with 17 points (4 of 8 3s) while Jace Jefferson added 12 points on four treys and Jason Adler also had 12 points.

Highland Park advanced to the state semifinals for the third straight season to face last year's runnerup, Piper, a 70-52 winner over Shawnee Heights.    

HIGHLAND PARK  BOYS 65, ANDOVER CENTRAL 56

Andover Central 22 13 11 10 -- 56

Highland Park     24 9 18 14 -- 65

Andover Central (14-9) -- Brown 5-13 3-6 17, Degarmo 1-5 0-0 3, Jefferson 4-7 0-0 12, Meschke 1-2 1-2, Adler 5-10 2-4 12, Neal 0-0 0-0 0, Archibald 0-0 0-0 0, Balke 1-5 0-0 2, Stupka 3-7 0-0 7, Inslee 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-49 6-12 56.

Highland Park (23-0) -- Wilson 0-4 1-2 1, Hales 0-2 0-0 0, Kelley 7-9 0-1 14, Williams 12-14 2-6 33, Robinson 1-5 5-6 7, Brown 0-0 2-2 2, Jones 1-2 0-1 2, Kingcannon 3-4 0-0 6, Montgomery 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-40 10-18 65.

3-point shots -- Andover Central 10-21 (Brown 4-8, Jefferson 4-6, Degarmo 1-1, Stupka 1-3, Balke 0-3), Highland Park 7-10 (Williams 7-7, Robinson 0-2, Hales 0-1). Total fouls -- Andover Central 21, Highland Park 17. Fouled out -- Degarmo, Adler. Technical fouls -- Robinson.

Shawnee Heights senior Jaret Sanchez led the T-Birds with 16 points in Thursday's 70-52 Class 5A state tournament loss to Piper. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

PIPER BOYS 70, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 52 --After spotting Piper a 13-point halftime advantage, Shawnee Heights gave itself a chance to win Thursday's first-round game before a disasterous start to the fourth quarter ended the T-Birds' hopes.

No. 5 seed Piper, now 20-3, opened up a 21-12 first-quarter advantage and boosted its lead to 39-26 at the halftime break.

But Shawnee Heights (19-4) came to life in the third quarter, outscoring the Pirates 22-11 to get within two points (50-48) at the beginning of the fourth period.

The T-Birds then had an opportunity to take the lead, but missed back-to-back 3-pointers and turned the ball over on its next possession as the Pirates scored the first 15 points of the quarter to put Shawnee Heights away.

"We went out and we fought and 'O' (Ontarius Emmot) was shooting a wide open three to go ahead and misses it and gets a rebound and shoots it again and gets it blocked and they go down and hit a three, so instead of being up one, we're down five,'' Heights coach Ken Darting said. "And when you've played that hard to get back in it... we just got emotionally drained and tired, physically tired.

"But you can't spot a good team that much and come back.''

Heights went scoreless over the first five minutes of the quarter and was outscored 22-4 over the final eight minutes as Piper took its third straight win over the T-Birds this season and fourth straight dating back to last year's first-round state game.

Phillip Moore led Piper with 18 points while Isaiah Sayles added 16 points and Derrick Jackson 10 as the Pirates shot 60.9 percent from the field, including a nine of 15 performance from 3-point range.

By RICK PETERSON 

TopSports.news

It's been an outstanding 2024-2025 high school basketball season for Shawnee County teams, with 10 of 20 making it to state tournaments in five different classifications.

Now we wait to see how many of those teams can achieve the ultimate goal of a state championship on Saturday.

For what it's worth -- and it's not much -- here's my take on what we could see in all 14 of this week's state  tournaments across the state.

If I didn't pick your team don't fret because it could bode well for you.

If I did pick the team/teams you root for, good luck.

By Saturday night we'll know, and win or lose, it promises to be a fun week. Enjoy!

CLASS 6A BOYS

Finalists -- Shawnee Mission Northwest (4: 19-3) vs. Wichita Heights (3: 20-2).

Champion -- Wichita Heights. I give Heights, the 6A runnerup the past two seasons, a very slight edge in what could be a repeat of the 2024 title game, won by Northwest to cap a 25-0 season.

Other contenders -- Shawnee Mission South is the top seed at 21-1, with its lone loss coming against SM Northwest, while Derby is also 21-1 and the No. 2 seed. Washburn Rural (6: 18-4) is certainly capable of knocking off Wichita Heights while Derby could get a big test from No. 7 Olathe North (16-6). 

CLASS 6A GIRLS

Finalists -- Blue Valley North (3: 18-4) vs. Olathe South (4: 18-4). 

Champion -- Blue Valley North. It's worth noting that although North has lost four times, but none of those four losses came against Kansas teams. The Mustangs finished third last season after winning the championship in 2023.

Other contenders -- It's been an up and down season for Washburn Rural (6: 16-6) but never count out a Kevin Bordewick team in postseason. The Hall of Fame coach has led Washburn Rural to three straight 6A championship games (title in 2022, runnerup in 2023 and 2024) and the Junior Blues have won a pair of championships since 2019. Derby is the top seed at 19-3 and the pre-tournament team to beat.

Highland Park standout Ja'Corey Robinson and the 22-0 Scots will be looking for a Class 5A state title this week after back-to-back third-place finishes. [File photo/TSN]

CLASS 5A BOYS

Finalists -- Highland Park (1: 22-0) vs. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (2: 19-3).

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Highland Park's boys basketball team has put together an amazing run of success over the past three seasons, advancing to the Class 5A state tournament all three years while posting a 65-8 overall record, including a 47-3 mark over the past two campaigns.

Highland Park boys basketball celebrates its Class 5A sub-state championship after Saturday's 53-35 win over Bashor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

But there's a feeling of emptiness that remains for those closest to the Scot program after back-to-back heartbreaking semifinal losses to the eventual state champions the past two years.

Two years ago Highland Park led virtually the entire game against Andover before the Trojans pulled out a 55-54 win with a late 7-0 run. The drama continued last season when Kapaun Mt. Carmel outlasted the Scots in overtime, 67-64.

Highland Park bounced back both seasons for dominating wins in the third-place game, but that provided little consolation to the Scots.

And now the Scots' main focus -- really their only focus -- is on doing everything they can to wipe that bad taste out of their mouths with a state title run this week in Emporia's White Auditorium.

"I feel like the last three or so years we get down there and I'm not saying we were playing bad but I feel like we could have played a little better,'' Highland Park coach Mike Williams said. "So we are really, really focused on wanting to get to state and kind of show a little bit of the essence that we saw tonight.

"I like our prep, I like what we're doing going into it and we're looking forward to next week.''

Scot senior standout Ja'Corey Robinson agreed.

"We've got some fire under us,'' Robinson said. "We're trying to go out with a win. We're tired of getting third place. We're trying to finish it all out and win a state championship.''

Highland Park, which has had only three single-digit games all season, enters this year's state tournament as the top seed with a perfect 22-0 record and will face off with No. 8 Andover Central (14-8) at 2 p.m. Thursday in the opening game of the 5A boys event.

Highland Park made it back to the state tournament with a 53-35 romp past Basehor-Linwood in Saturday's sub-state final at Hi Park.

Senior Mikey Williams led the Scots with a game-high 18 points, including three 3-pointers, against the Bobcats, while Robinson added 15 points.

The Highland Park-Andover Central winner will advance to a 4 p.m. semifinal on Friday to face the first-round winner between No. 4 seed Shawnee Heights (19-3) and No. 5 Piper (19-3).

"We're just making it a point to come out every day in the state tournament with the same fire and the same juice and the same fire that we've had throughout this whole season so we can end up hoisting the state championship trophy,'' Mikey Williams said. "

The Shawnee Heights-Piper first-round contest at 4 p.m. Thursday is a rematch of last year's first-round game that saw Piper close with a 14-1 run to pull out a 72-71 win on the way to a runnerup state finish.

Heights and Piper will be playing for the third time this season, with the Pirates winning the first two games. 

Shawnee Heights earned its second straight state berth under Ken Darting with a 49-42 sub-state win over St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 seed and defending champion Kapaun Mt. Carmel (19-3) will play a 6 p.m. first-round game against No. 7 Topeka West (14-8) and No. 3 Andover (19-3) will face No. 6 Bonner Springs (18-4) at 8 o'clock, with the winners playing an 8 p.m. Friday semifinal.

Topeka West is making its first state tournament appearance under coach Christian Ulsaker after making it to state with an 81-54 home win over Valley Center in Saturday's sub-state final. 

Here's a team-by-team glance at the other first-round games involving Shawnee County teams:

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Trevor Christy

TREVOR CHRISTY, Hayden

Christy, a senior, posted a third-place individual finish in last Thursday's Class 4A state bowling championships at Wichita's Bowlero Northrock, helping lead Hayden to its first-ever state bowling team title. Christy finished third with a 698 series, bowling games of 244, 239 and 215 as the Wildcats won the team championship by 95 pins (3,666-3,571) over Mulvane.

Jalen Foy  

JALEN FOY, Topeka West

A senior guard, Foy scored 40 points in two Class 5A sub-state victories on the week as Topeka West boys basketball advanced to the Class 5A state tournament. Foy scored 19 points with a pair of 3-pointers in a 69-63 overtime semifinal win over Bishop Carroll and had 21 points while hitting 8 of 10 free throws in Saturday's 81-54 home win over Valley Center in the sub-state championship game.

Emily Lee

EMILY LEE, Hayden 

Lee, a senior bowler, earned her second straight Class 4A-1A state medal last Thursday at Wichita's Bowlero Northrock, bowling a 551 series to place fourth individually. A regional champion, Lee bowled games of 188, 203 and 160 as the Wildcats finished sixth as a team. Lee posted an 11th-place state finish as a junior in 2024. 

By Todd Fertig

TopSports.news

The Shawnee Heights boys survived a knock-down-drag-out Class 5A sub-state battle with St. Thomas Aquinas 49-42 Saturday night to earn a return trip to the Class 5A state tournament.

Shawnee Heights senior standout Jaret Sanchez cuts down the nets after Saturday's 49-42 Class 5A sub-state win over St. Thomas Aquinas. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

Shawnee Heights poses for a team picture after Saturday's 49-42 Class 5A sub-state win over St. Thomas Aquinas. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

The T-Birds utilized a new defense to stymie the Saints in the first half. In a low scoring struggle, Shawnee Heights held the visitors scoreless for all but 2.7 seconds of the second period to build a 16-10 halftime lead.

The T-Birds led by as many as nine points in the third period, and as many as 10 midway through the fourth period. But the Saints wouldn’t fold. They closed to within three points with just under two minutes remaining. But Shawnee Heights held on to punch their ticket for the state tournament, which tips off next Wednesday at Emporia’s White Auditorium.

“We’re feeling great. We know that hard work pays off,” said Shawnee Heights senior Jaret Sanchez. “But now it starts over here. The new season has begun.”

Shawnee Heights coach Ken Darting prepared his team for just such a moment as this.

“This is the first time we played zone all year,” Darting said. “It might be about the fifth time in the history of my 50 years, but we’ve been practicing it all year for this game and for the state.”

“Coach (Darting) said back at Christmas break that the 3-2 and 2-3 zone is going to win us the state,” said Sanchez. “We saw that in the first round, (Aquinas) struggled against zone. So, we just knew that we were going to come out here and play it to the best of our ability.”