Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Phil Frost has carved out an impressive golf career, starring at Shawnee Heights and Washburn University, where he also had a stint as the Ichabods' head coach, while also playing professionally on the Prairie Golf Tour.
Phil Frost captured his first TGA City Match Play championship Sunday at Cypress Ridge Golf Course. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Phil Frost topped Patrick Golden 4 and 3 in Sunday's TGA City Match Play championship at Cypress Ridge Golf Course. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And on Sunday Frost added another accomplishment to his resume, capturing his first Topeka Golf Association City Match Play championship at Cypress Ridge Golf Course with a 4 and 3 decision over Patrick Golden.
"It's just fun to get out and play a lot of golf,'' Frost said. "I haven't played much competitive golf in the last 20-some years and I just started getting back into it the last three years and it's fun to get out and feel the juices flowing again.''
Sunday's win capped a wire-to-wire run for Frost after he earned the top seed in qualifying last week.
"You know everyone's coming after the No. 1 guy, so it's difficult to go out there and play when that's the situation,'' Frost said. "For the most part I had a lot of good shots and luckily it was match play so we didn't have to keep score and that made it a lot easier.
"If you (hit a bad shot) you can just pick up and go on to the next hole.''
Patrick Golden was the runnerup in Sunday's TGA City Match Play championship at Cypress Ridge Golf Course. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Golden advanced to the championship match as the No. 10 seed after winning the championship in the President's Flight in 2024.
"It was obviously windy, as it has been the last couple of days, and Phil just hits it so solid down the middle,'' Golden said. "I struggled a little bit, we both did, but he was the better player today, so hat's off to Phil.''
And although he came up short in his title bid, Golden was proud of his tournament performance overallk.
"I had a good week,'' he said. "I was actually really happy with my whole week. I made a lot of birdies this week and today I just didn't when it mattered. But overall I had a great week.''
Jerry Kruger, the championship runnerup in 2024, won the President's Flight title with a 3 and 2 decision over Kevin Boyle.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which captured its first-ever Class 6A girls state championship this spring, put a city-high six players on the 15-member 2025 All-City girls soccer first team.
The All-City team is based on recommendations and voting from city coaches.
Rural is represented on the All-City first team by seniors Destiny Higgs, Kate Hinck, Addyson Kaberline, Zahra Friess and Madison Lemke and junior Dayne Shriver while Junior Blues coach Brian Hensyel was named the city coach of the year
Higgs, Hinck and Kaberline are all first-team repeat picks after helping Washburn Rural post a 19-2 rcord, capped by a 1-0 win over Mill Valley in penalty kicks (4-1).
Destiny Higgs, Washburn Rural
Kate Hinck, Washburn Rural
Addyson Kaberline, Washburn Rural
Zahra Friess, Washburn Rural
Madison Lemke, Washburn Rural
Dayne Shriver, Washburn Rural
Seaman, which advanced to the 5A state quarterfinals, is represented on the All-City team by seniors Anna Becker and Maegan Mills and junior Ava Golightley, with Becker a repeat pick and Mills receiving honorable mention in 2024.
Anna Becker, Seaman
Ava Golightley, Seaman
Hayden, which advanced to the 4A-1A championship game before losing in double overtime to Bishop Miege, put junior Carsyn Broxterman and senior Camryn McDonald on the All-City first team, with Broxterman a repeat selection and McDonald moving up to the first team after receiving honorable mention in 2024.
Carsyn Broxterman, Hayden
Camryn McDonald, Hayden
Shawnee Heights senior Izzy Van Fleet is a repeat first-team selection while T-Bird senior Bayli Benson was voted to the first team after receiving honorable mention a year ago.
Izzy Van Fleet, Shawnee Heights
Bayli Benson, Shawnee Heights
Rounding out the All-City first team are Highland Park sophomore Micah Williams and Topeka High junior Natalie Barnes.
Micah Williams, Highland Park
Natalie Barnes, Topeka High
Williams is a two-time All-City pick while Barnes earned All-City recognition for the first time after helping Topeka High reach the 6A quarterfinals.
ALL-CITY GIRLS SOCCER 2025
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
State tournament qualifiers Silver Lake, Seaman, Shawnee Heights, Washburn Rural and Topeka High combined to earn 15 of 16 spots on the 2025 TopSports.news All-Shawnee County softball first team.
Silver Lake, the Class 3A runnerup for the second straight season, put four players on the first team, including Shawnee County player of the year Kendra Cook, while 5A state qualifiers Seaman and Shawnee Heights combined for six first-teamers and 6A state runnerup Washburn Rural and fellow 6A state qualifier Topeka High combined for five first-teamers.
Kendra Cook, Silver Lake
Topeka High freshman London Backman and Hayden freshman Blakely Walter were named the co-county newcomers of the year while Washburn Rural coach Joy Marie Galliart and Silver Lake coach Nick Hamilton share the county coach of the year award for the second straight year.
London Backman, Topeka High
Blakely Walter, Hayden
Cook is joined on the All-Shawnee County first team by Eagle seniors Taylor Zordel and Kira Lowrey and junior Kailyn Hanni after Silver Lake recorded a 25-7 record.
Taylor Zordel, Silver Lake
Kira Lowrey, Silver Lake
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake
Seaman put seniors Kaelyn O'Rourke, Raegan McConnell and Anna McLaughlin and junior Aubrey Warren on the first team after the Vikings posted a 20-9 record, including a 3-2 17-inning loss to Maize South in the opening round of the 5A state tournament.
Kaelyn O'Rourke, Seaman
Raegan McConnell, Seaman
Anna McLaughlin, Seaman
Aubrey Warren, Seaman
Washburn Rural, which went 22-8 and advanced to the 6A championship game before dropping an 8-7 decision to Olathe West, put Centennial League player of the year Olivia Koch, a sophomore, on the all-county first team along with juniors Henley Rapp and Reagan Chapman.
Olivia Koch, Washburn Rural
Reagan Chapman, Washburn Rural
Henley Rapp, Washburn Rural
Shawnee Heights, which posted a 20-7 record and dropped a 3-2 decision to eventual 5A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas in the first round of the 5A state tournament, is represented by seniors Taylor Brees and Grace Proctor.
Taylor Brees, Shawnee Heights
Grace Proctor, Shawnee Heights
State qualifier Topeka High put Backman and senior Jo'Mhara Benning on the all-county first team while Hayden senior Keira Carswell rounds out the all-county squad.
Jo'Mhara Benning, Topeka High
Keira Carswell, Hayden
2025 ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY SOFTBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Fourteen Shawnee County standouts have received All-State recognition from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association, including nine first-team picks.
Silver Lake put four players on the All-Class 3A first team after advancing to the state championship game for the second straight season while state qualifiers Seaman and Shawnee Heights combined for four first-team All-5A selections and state runnerup Washburn Rural put sophomore standout Olivia Koch on the All-6A first team.
Kendra Cook, Silver Lake
Kira Lowrey, Silver Lake
Taylor Zordel, Silver Lake
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake
Silver Lake is represented on the All-3A first team by senior pitcher Kendra Cook, senior infielders Kira Lowrey and Taylor Zordel and junior outfielder Kailyn Hanni.
Kaelyn O'Rourke, Seaman
Raegan McConnell, Seaman
Grace Proctor, Shawnee Heights
Taylor Brees, Shawnee Heights
Seaman put senior pitcher Kaelyn O'Rourke and senior catcher Raegan McConnell on the All-5A team while Shawnee Heights is represented by senior pitcher Grace Proctor and senior infielder Taylor Brees.
Olivia Koch, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural's Koch made the All-6A team as an outfielder after being named the Centennial League player of the year this spring.
Seaman junior infielder Aubrey Warren and senior outfielder Anna McLaughlin were named to the All-5A second team.
Topeka High sophomore outfielder Campbell Dawson and freshman infielder Landon Backman received All-6A honorable mention after helping the Trojans make it to the state tournament.
Hayden senior catcher Keira Carswell received honorable mention in 4A.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden senior Cooper Grace and Shawnee Heights senior Deacon Pomeroy headline the TopSports.news 2025 All-Shawnee County baseball team.
Cooper Grace, Hayden
Deacon Pomeroy, Shawnee Heights
Grace has been named the co-county player of the year for the second straight season while Pomeroy is a four-time all-county first-team pick.
Grace, a pitcher and third baseman, helped lead Hayden to a county-best 23-1 record and the Centennial League championship this spring while Pomeroy, a pitcher and catcher, helped lead Shawnee Heights to the United Kansas Conference title and a Class 5A state tournament berth.
Grace was earlier named the player of the year in the Centennial League and the co-player of the year in 4A by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches while Pomeroy was named the UKC player of the year and a KABC All-5A first-team selection.
Hayden sophomore Caleb Menke, a first-team All-Centennial League pick at designated hitter, was named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year while Shawnee Heights' Jason Brown was named the county coach of the year after leading the T-Birds to a 21-8 record and a 5A state tournament berth in his first season as Heights' head coach.
Grace and Silver Lake senior infielder Dysen Schooler are both three-time all-county first-team selections while Seaman senior catcher David Dobbs is a first-team repeater.
Dysen Schooler, Silver Lake
David Dobbs, Seaman
Axton Brewer, Seaman
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
Dobbs is joined on the all-county first team by sophomore pitcher/designated hitter Axton Brewer and Grace and Menke are joined on the first team by Wildcat senior infielder/pitcher Liam Annand and Hayden junior outfielder Kade Mitchell.
Logan Cathcart, Silver Lake
Silver Lake senior catcher Cooper Campidilli and senior pitcher Logan Cathcart join Schooler on the all-county first team after the Eagles advanced to the 3A state tournament.
Camdren Floberg, Shawnee Heights
Shawnee Heights junior Cambren Floberg, named the UKC pitcher of the year, was a first-team selection along with teammate Pomeroy while 6A state tournament qualifier Washburn Rural is represented on the first team by junior pitcher Isaac Ansley and junior infielders Austin Ditch and Nate Selm.
Isaac Ansley, Washburn Rural
Austin Ditch, Washburn Rural
Nate Selm, Washburn Rural
Rossville, a 2A-1A state tournament qualifier, is represented on the first team by junior pitcher Cameron Miller and junior infielder Canann Mitchell.
Cameron Miller, Rossville
2025 ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BASEBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cooper Grace
COOPER GRACE, HAYDEN
Grace, a senior pitcher and third baseman, was named the Class 4A co-player of the year by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches for the 2025 season while also being named the Centennial League player of the year after helping Hayden post a perfect record in the league while the Wildcats went 23-1 overall.
Kate Hinck
KATE HINCK, Washburn Rural
Hinck, a senior forward, finished her outstanding high school soccer career with 82 goals, setting the Junior Blues' career scoring record. Also a volleyball and basketball standout for Washburn Rural, Hinck scored 28 goals as a senior as the Junior Blues capped a 19-2-0 season with the school's first Class 6A state title, taking a 1-0 (4-1 penalty kicks) decision over Mill Valley in the state final.
Ryin Miller
RYIN MILLER, Seaman
Miller, a junior track star, swept her three individual events in the Class 5A state track and field championships at Wichita, giving her five individual state titles for her career. Miller won the 3,200 meters in 10:19.53, the 1,600 in 4:57.33 and the 800 in 2:11.14. Miller also teamed with seniors Taylie Heston, Jaida Stallbaumer and Ally Steiner to finish fourth in the 4x400 relay in 4:03.44.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman junior Ryin Miller, who has established herself as one of Kansas' all-time distance greats in three high school seasons, headlines the 2025 All-Shawnee County girls track and field team after sweeping Class 5A state titles in her three individual events last weekend at Wichita.
Ryin Miller, Seaman
Miller, who has now won five 5A state track titles over the past two seasons, won Friday's 3,200 meters in 10 minutes, 19.53 seconds before doubling up in Saturday's 1,600 meters in 4:57.33 and the 800 in 2:11.14 and adding a fourth state medal when she anchored the Vikings' 4x400 relay to a fourth-place finish (4:03.44).
Morgan Ray, Washburn Rural
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka HIgh
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural
Miller was Shawnee County's only state champion, but Washburn Rural junior Morgan Ray was the state runnerup in the 6A javelin (138 feet, 1 inch) and Topeka High sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh finished second in the 6A triple jump (37-4.25) and Rural senior Rylee Ismert, junior Emily Graf, senior Brooklyn Nolte and senior Payton Fink finished second in the 4x800 relay (9:29.84).
Fink also finished fifth in the 3,200 (10:59.39) and fifth in the 1,600 (5:09.90) while Rural sophomore Kailyn Petersen was fourth in the discus (124-6) and seventh in the shot put (36-6.75) and senior Molly Worley placed seventh in the long jump (17-2.75) and eighth in the high jump (5-2).
Seaman seniors Taylie Heston, Jaida Stallbaumer and Ally Steiner teamed with Miller for the fourth-place finish in the 5A 4x400 relay while the Vikings also put senior Grace Jowers and sophomores Kinley Robinson and Brynn Spencer on the all-county team.
Hayden senior Bella Reid, Rossville junior Rylee Dick and Silver Lake freshman all earned state medals in the 100-meter hurdles en route to earning all-county berths while also earning first-team spots were Topeka High junior Keimara Marshall, Highland Park senior Ke'Ahjahnae Rice, Silver Lake sophomore Ali Gerber and Rural junior Kenzie Maddox, who were all state qualifiers.
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
All-Shawnee County selections were picked on the basis of meeting minimum standards established by local coaches as well as coaches' recommendations and performances in postseason competition.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY 2025 GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which captured three Class 6A state championships, including a state-meet record, headlines the 2025 All-Shawnee County boys track and field team.
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
Matthew Houser, Liam Morrison, Draden Chooncharoen, Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural
Rural senior Isaiah Terry won the 6A state title in the 400-meter dash in 47.92 seconds and junior Liam Morrison won the 300 hurdles in 37.68 before Morrison and Terry teamed with senior Matthew Houser and junior Draden Chooncharoen for a 6A meet-record time of 3:16.23 in the 4x400 relay.
Peyton Holmes, Seaman
Bryce Cochran, Seaman
Brody Anderson, Seaman
Seaman senior Peyton Holmes was the 5A runnerup in the 100 dash (10.82) while Viking senior Bryce Cochran finished third in the 400 (48.85) and Seaman junior Brody Anderson placed third in the 800 (1:55.52).
Ben Roeder, CPLS/Topeka High
Senior Ben Roeder, who competed for Cair Paravel Latin in postseason after running for Topeka High in the regular season, finished third in the 2A 400 (49.37).
Silver Lake's foursome of seniors Trent Rollenhagen and Evan Scheid and juniors Joel Miller and Braxton Rupp posted a third-place finish in the 3A 4x100 relay (42.57).
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden
Despite missing the state meet after an injury at regionals, Hayden senior multi-time state champion Jensen Schrickel earned All-City honors for the fourth straight season.
In addition to its state champions, Washburn Rural put seniors Braylon Badger, Ben Buesing, Connor Olsen and Chris Quarles, junior Brooks Kehoe and sophomore Christian Hartman-Babb on the All-City team.
Adrian Lehman and Mark Wilkie, Topeka West
Topeka West is represented on the All-City team by senior distance standouts Adrian Lehman and Mark Wilkie, who were both 5A state medalists, while Shawnee Heights senior Liam Benz and Seaman sophomore Jack Esser were also state medalists.
All-Shawnee County picks were based on meeting minimum performance standards as well as coaches' recommendations and postseason performances.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY 2025 BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
The 2025 All-Shawnee County boys golf team: From left -- Jack Donovan, Rossville; Higgins Hawks, Washburn Rural; Tadd Armstrong, Washburn Rural; Tagan Monasmith, Washburn Rural; Tagen Rodriguez, Hayden; James Kuta, Hayden. Not pictured: Mateo Garcia, Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
First-team repeat selections Tadd Armstrong of Washburn Rural, Jack Donovan of Rossville and Hayden's James Kuta and Tagen Rodriguez headline the 2025 All-Shawnee County boys golf team.
Seniors Armstrong and Kuta finished one-two in the city tournament, with Armstrong winning the title in a playoff, while Kuta and Rodriguez, a junior, both posted top-10 finishes in the Class 4A state tournament as Hayden finished second as a team and Donovan was a regional champion as a junior and earned a sixth-place tie in 2A-1A, his second straight state medal
Washburn Rural, which won its 15th straight city team championship, is also represented on the All-Shawnee County team by senior Tagan Monasmith and junior Higgins Hawks while Hayden also put junior Mateo Garcia on the first team.
All-Shawnee County capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twelve Shawnee County standouts have received All-State recognition from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches, including four first-team picks.
Hayden senior Cooper Grace has been named the Class 4A co-player of the year by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Cooper Grace was named the co-player of the year in Class 4A and a first-team pick as a pitcher after helping the Wildcats to a 23-1 record this spring.
Shawnee Heights senior Deacon Pomeroy has been named to the All-Class 5A first team by the KABC. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Axton Brewer has been named to the KABC All-Class 5A first team as a designated hitter and was a second-team pick as a pitcher. [Seaman baseball]
Shawnee Heights senior pitcher and catcher Deacon Pomeroy made the All-5A first-team as utility player while Seaman sophomore Axton Brewer was named to the KABC All-5A first team as a designated hitter and was a second-team pick as a pitcher.
Silver Lake senior Logan Cathcart has been named first-team All-State in Class 3A by the KABC. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake senior pitcher Logan Cathcart earned first-team All-State honors in 3A after helping lead the Eagles to a state tournament berth.
Shawnee Heights junior pitcher Cambren Floberg was a second-team pick in 5A while Hayden junior outfielder Kade Mitchell was a second-team selection in 4A and Silver Lake senior catcher Cooper Campidilli and senior infielder Dysen Schooler were second-team honorees in 3A and Rossville junior infielder Canann Mitchell and senior outfielder Logan Kufahl were both second-team selections in 2A-1A.
Seaman senior infielder Bryer Finley and Rossville junior pitcher Cameron received honorable mention in 5A and 3A, respectively.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sixteen city soccer players earned All-United Kansas Conference recognition, including nine first-team picks.
Seaman is represented on the first team by junior forward Ryin Miller, senior midfielder Anna Becker, senior goalkeeper Maegan Mills, junior forward Ava Golightley, and junior defender Addyson Shipp while Shawnee Heights put senior defender Bayli Benson, senior forward Izzy Van Fleet, senior midfielder Lailah Benz and sophomore midfielder Nina O'Neill-Bolanos on the first team.
Ryin Miller, Seaman
Anna Becker, Seaman
Izzy Van Fleet, Shawnee Heights
Bayli Benson, Shawnee Heights
Miller and Becker are first-team All-UKC repeat picks for Seaman while Benson and Van Fleet are first-team repeaters for Shawnee Heights.
Seaman, a Class 5A quarterfinalist, put senior defender Kinley Wilhelm, junior forward Savannah Nelson and junior midfielder Maya Martin on the second team while four city players earned honorable mention.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE SOCCER
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Conference champion Shawnee Heights swept the 2025 All-United Kansas Conference individual baseball honors, led by senior Deacon Pomeroy , who wasnamed the UKC player of the year by conference coaches for the second straight season.
Shawnee Heights' Deacon Pomeroy was named the UKC player of the year for the second straight season. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights junior Cambren Floberg has been named the UKC pitcher of the year by conference coaches. [File photo/TSN]
T-Bird junior Cambren Floberg was named the conference pitcher of the year while first-year Heights coach Jason Brown was tapped as the coach of the year after leading the T-Birds to a Class 5A state tournament berth.
Pomeroy, a standout pitcher and catcher, was named to the All-UKC team as a utility player, and is joined on the first team by junior pitcher Brody Cooper and junior outfielder Makade Orton.
Seaman is represented on the first team by sophomore Axton Brewer, who was named to the UKC team at pitcher and designated hitter.
Shawnee Heights and Seaman combined to put six players on the All-UKC second team, with the T-Birds represented by Floberg and senior infielders Braeden Johnston and Carson Garner while the Vikings put senior catcher David Dobbs, junior infielder Cooper Hayes and senior infielder Max Huston on the second team.
Five city players earned All-UKC honorable mention.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE BASEBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's Dayne Johnson and Kailyn Hanni, Rossville's Jack Donovan and Seaman's Ryin Miller, who recently completed their junior years of high school, were honored Tuesday night at The Foundry as the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency 2025 Rising Stars of the year.
Silver Lake's Dayne Johnson and Rossville's Jack Donovan were named the Dan Key Farmers Agency 2025 co-male Rising Stars of the Year Tuesday night while Silver Lake's Kailyn Hanni and Seaman's Ryin Miller were named the co-female winners. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Donovan and Johnson were named the co-boys winners while Hanni and Miller shared the girls honor.
The four overall winners were picked from five girls and boys finalists chosen from weekly Rising Stars who were selected through the 2024-2025 school year.
Johnson was a football, basketball and baseball standout for the Eagles while Donovan was a football and basketball standout and a state golf medalist for the Bulldawgs.
Hanni helped lead Silver Lake to runnerup Class 3A state finishes in basketball and softball this past season and has been a state champion in basketball and golf while Miller won three individual 5A state track championships last weekend in Wichita, was the state runnerup in cross country and basketball and was a 5A state basketball champion as a sophomore.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
City schools Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West had 21 players receive All-United Kansas Conference softball recognition, led by junior player of the year Aubrey Warren of Seaman and senior pitcher of the year Grace Proctor of Shawnee Heights.
Seaman junior infielder Aubrey Warren has been tapped as the United Kansas Conference player of the year by conference coaches. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Grace Proctor has been named the United Kansas Conference pitcher of the year by conference coaches. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights' Tara Griffith was named the UKC coach of the year after leading the T-Birds to a 20-8 record on the season.
Shawnee Heights softball coach Tara Griffith has been named the United Kansas Conference coach of the year by conference coaches. [File photo/TSN]
Class 5A state tournment qualifiers Seaman and Shawnee Heights combined for eight of the 15 spots on the all-conference first team.
The Vikings led the UKC with five first-team selections -- infielder Warren, senior pitcher Kaelyn O'Rourke, senior catcher Reagan McConnell, senior outfielder Anna McLaughlin and junior designated player Avery Phelps.
Shawnee Heights is represented on the first team by Proctor, senior infielder Taylor Brees and junior outfielder Addison Cooper.
Seaman put freshman pitcher Lydia Dreher and senior infielder Kayleigh Neill on the second team while Shawnee Heights is represented by junior outfielder Shylee Harrington and senior utility player Dayana Miller.
Nine city players received All-UKC honorable mention, including junior Addaline Hall senior infielder Callie Jones, junior infielder Christina Briggs, junior infielder Isabelle Kutina, freshman outfielders Kendall Munoz and Mya Miller and freshman pitcher Jordyn White of Topeka West and sophomore infielder Natalee Simpson and junior utility player Addison Sibley of Seaman.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE SOFTBALL
By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Washburn Rural's boys claimed three state championships to highlight championship Saturday for the Shawnee County contingent in the state track and field championships at Wichita State.
Washburn Rural celebrates after setting the Class 6A state meet record in the 4x400 relay Saturday night in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's Matthew Houser, Liam Morrison, Draden Chooncharoen and Isaiah Terry set the Class 6A state meet record in the 4x400 relay Saturday night in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Isaiah Terry won the 400-meter dash, followed by junior Liam Morrison's win in the 300 hurdles and wrapping things up with a record-setting performance by senior Matthew Houser, Morrison, junior Draden Choonchareon and Terry in the 4x400-meter relay.
Terry started Rural's late-meet gold medal haul with his win in the 400 in 47.92 seconds.
Washburn Rural senior Isaiah Terry won the Class 6A state title in the 400-meter dash in 47.92. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"It felt great,'' Terry said. "I switched up my stride a little bit and decided to go back to my roots... and felt way better. I actually got off fast this time and the rest was history.
''I'm so ectstatic after last year when I absolutely did horrible and got fifth place, the worst day of my life. Ever since sophomore year when I said I would quit cross country and start running track all year around I've been dreaming of moments like this and it feels good for it to come true.''
Washburn Rural junior Liam Morrison (3779) ran on Rural's record-setting Class 6A 4x400 relay after winning the title in the 300 hurdles Saturday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Morrison followed with the state championship in the 300 hurdles with a time of 37.68. He also finished sixth earlier in the day in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.52.
“I feel great with the (personal record) in the state championship race,'' Morrison said. "The 110 didn’t go as I wanted, but I definitely knew it would be a great opportunity to show that I deserve to be here. I know what I can do and I’m happy that I was able to go out and do it.”
Houser, Morrison, Chooncharoen and Terry then went out and captured Rural's second straight state championship in the 4x400 in a meet record time of 3:16.23.
"After our league meet at Junction (City) we saw the time we got and we were like, 'We can definitely do this, we can get this record,' '' Chooncharoen said. "My teammates, we push each other every day. Everyone did their part and it was amazing.''
Houser came on board this season as Rural's leadoff runner, joining returners Morrison, Chooncharoen and Terry from the 2024 state winners.
"We've been training all season since the start so we could try to get this record because that was our mindset all year,'' Houser said. "I've been training all summer and winter with Isaiah so I could get better for this exact reason and I guess it helped out at the end.''
Saturday's other county medalists:
• Senior Peyton Holmes of Seaman finished second in the Class 5A 100 meters in a time of 10.82 seconds after placing sixth in Friday's long jump.
Seaman senior Peyton Holmes (3767) finished second in the Class 5A 100 dash Saturday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
“I was really hoping to get first,'' Holmes said. "Second is good and my goal was to get in the top three. I thought I had it for a little bit, but he (Jack Guthridge) is really tough.”
• Seaman junior Brody Anderson finished third in a tough 5A 800 meters field in a time of 1:55.52.
Seaman junior Brody Anderson (3760) posted a third-place finish in the Class 5A 800 meters Saturday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Anderson battled on the second lap and held on for the third-place finish.
“I don’t think I could have done it if I hadn’t prepared all week with the help of coach (Luke) Wiens,'' Anderson said. "Every rep this week, I simulated the race situation and it set me up to be where I wanted to be today.”
• Senior Bryce Cochran of Seaman finished third in the 5A 400 meters with a time of 48.85.
Seaman senior Bryce Cochran (3763) finished third in the Class 5A 400 while Shawnee Heights senior Liam Benz (3733) was seventh Saturday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
“I feel awesome and I got a little emotional after the race seeing that all the hard work pay off,'' Cochran said. "To do what I dreamed of after not even making it to state last year, I’m just appreciative of everyone that’s worked with me in the offseason to get me here. I’m just proud of myself.”
• Senior Adrian Lehman of Topeka West finished fourth in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:16.70.
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman (3785) posted a fourth-place finish and set a West school record in Saturday's Class 5A state meet in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Lehman broke the 50-year-old West school record of 4:17.7 set by Bill Myers in 1975.
"(That's) two school records this season, not bad for only his second season of high school track,'' West coach Donnie Palmer said of Lehman.
By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
WICHITA - On Day 1 of the KSHSAA State Track Meet at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium, several local boys competed in preliminary races in an attempt to qualify for the finals on Saturday. There were also some field event finals on Friday.
Qualifiers for Saturday’s Finals
Senior Ben Roeder of Cair Paravel qualified fifth in the Class 2A 400 meters with a time of 50.40 seconds.
Senior Evan Scheid of Silver Lake qualified second in the 3A 200 meters in a time of 22.32 seconds.
Silver Lake’s 4x100-meter relay team (Brandon Rupp, Evan Scheid, Joel Miller and Trent Rollenhagen) qualified fourth in 43.46 seconds.
Seaman senior Bryce Cochran qualified fifth in the 5A 400 meters in a time of 49.04 seconds.
Shawnee Heights senior Liam Benz qualified seventh in the 400 meters with a time of 49.86 seconds.
Washburn Rural senior Braylon Badger qualified fifth in the 300 meter hurdles in a time of 40.40 seconds.
Washburn Rural junior Liam Morrison qualified second in the 110 meter hurdles in a time of 14.64 seconds. He also qualified third in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 40.05 seconds.
Washburn Rural senior Isaiah Terry qualified fourth in the 400 meters in a time of 49.32 seconds.
Washburn Rural junior Draden Chooncharoen competes in the Class 6A 4x400 relay prelims Friday night in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural’s 4x400 meter relay team (Matthew Houser, Liam Morrison, Draden Choonchareon, Isaiah Terry) qualified second with a time of 3:22.61.
Medalists from Friday’s Finals
Seaman senior Peyton Holmes finished sixth in the Class 5A long jump Friday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior Peyton Holmes finished sixth in the 5A long jump with a distance of 22 feet, 1 inch.
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman finished fifth in Friday's Class 5A 3,200 meters at Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman finished fifth in the 6A 3,200 meters with a time of 9:18.60.
Washburn Rural junior Brooks Kehoe finished fifth in Friday's Class 6A 3,200 meters at Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Brooks Kehoe finished fifth in the 3,200 meters with a time of 9:20.97.
The remaining events will be contested beginning Saturday morning at 8:30 with the preliminaries for the 100 meters for girls and boys.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman and Shawnee Heights softball and Heights' baseball team all gave themselves a chance to advance to Friday's Class 5A state tournament semifinals on the Wichita State campus.
But at the end of the day all three city powers had suffered heartbreaking one-run losses, including a 17-inning setback for the Viking softball team, and all were eliminated from state competition.
Seaman opened the 5A softball tournament and dropped a 3-2 decision to top seed and undefeated Maize South in the 3 hour, 35-minute marathon which set a record for the longest game (for innings) in Wilkins Stadium history while Shawnee Heights suffered a 3-2 walkoff loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the final softball game of the day and T-Bird baseball dropped a 7-6 decision to Hays.
Seaman senior Kaelyn O'Rourke celebrates an out against Maize South in Thursday's Class 5A state softball tournament. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Seaman, which finished its season at 20-9, was locked in a scoreless deadlock with 29-0 Maize South through five innings before the Vikings took a 1-0 lead on an RBI double from junior Aubrey Warren.
Seaman senior Anna Mclaughlin scores against Maize South in the sixth inning of the Class 5A state softball tournament.
Maize South answered with a run in the bottom of the inning and the score remained 1-1 until the top of the 16th when Seaman went up 2-1 when senior pinch-runner Phoebe Brodine scampered home after singles from senior Raegan McConnell and sophomore Lauren Glasgow.
The Mavericks answered again in the bottom of the 16th when senior Sophie Stockam knocked in the tying run with a run-scoring flyball.
Maize South, which was playing Seaman in the first round for the second straight season (also a 3-2 South win), pushed across the winning run when junior Kinley Davis singled, stole second and third and scored when the ball got away from Seaman after the throw to third.
Seaman coach Daniel Ruda said that in a game like Thursday's there were plays throughout the 17 innings that could have been difference-makers.
"One bounce here, one bounce there and it's a different game,'' Ruda said. "That's what I told the girls. I'm so proud of them, how hard they played. There were some great plays that we made on defense to stop some of their rallies and it seemed like every time they had runners on we locked in and we made the play. Just one ball got away from us and that was the difference today.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights baseball has a new coach in Jason Brown but the T-Birds' legacy of winning and state tournament appearances remains intact.
Shawnee Heights baseball celebrates its Class 5A regional championship last Tuesday night at the Bettis Family Sports Complex. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Longtime T-Bird coach Ryan Schmidt, who led Heights to two Class 5A state titles, retired after appearance in last year's state tournament, but the T-Birds haven't missed a beat in Brown's first season at the helm and will take a 21-7 record into Thursday and Friday's state event at Wichita State's Eck Stadium.
Shawnee Heights, which won United Kansas Conference and regional titles, will the state tournament as the No. 4 seed at will open its state bid at 1:15 p.m. Thursday against No. 5 seed Hays (18-8).
Heights punched its latest ticket to state with a 5-2 regional win over United Kansas Conference rival De Soto last Tuesday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
With a win Thursday Shawnee Heights will advance to an 11 a.m. semifinal on Friday to face the winner of the first-round game between No. 1 seed St. Thomas Aquinas (24-4) and No. 8 Valley Center (17-11).
On the other side of the bracket No. 2 seed Great Bend (23-5) will face No. 7 Piper (17-10) and No. 3 seed Blue Valley Southwest (21-6) will face No. 6 Eisenhower (18-10).
The 5A state championship game is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Friday, following the 3:30 third-place game.
Rural back in 6A field
Washburn Rural is headed to the Class 6A state tournament for the first time since a third-place finish in 2022.
The Junior Blues earned their state bid with a 1-0 win over Campus in last Thursday's regional final at Campus.
Washburn Rural, the No. 8 seed for state, is now 15-11 on the season and will face top seed Free State (25-2) at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hoglund Stadium in Lawrence.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After coming up just short of a Class 3A state championship in a runnerup finish last season Silver Lake softball will take another shot at the title in Thursday and Friday's state tournament at the Envista Softball Complex at Lake Shawnee.
Senior pitcher Kendra Cook and Silver Lake softball are back in the Class 3A state tournament after a runnerup finish a year ago. [File photo/TSN]
The Eagles punched their ticket to this year's state tournament with a hard-earned 4-3 win over Southeast Saline in its regional final at Osage City and 23-6 Silver Lake is the No. 7 seed in a loaded 3A field.
Silver Lake will begin its title bid with Thursday's 3 p.m. first-round game against No. 2 seed Wichita Trinity (24-3).
With a win Thursday Silver Lake will advance to an 1 p.m. semifinal on Friday to face the winner between No. 3 seed Burlington (25-4) and No. 6 Jefferson West (22-5).
On the other side of the bracket No. 1 Frontenac (27-1) will face No. 8 Colby (17-6) in the first round and No. 4 Riverside (21-4) will take on No. 5 Minneapolis (21-4).
The 3A title game is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, following the 3 p.m. third-place game.
Washburn Rural softball celebrates its 8-6 win over Campus in last Thursday's Class 6A regional final. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Rural, Topeka High earn 6A state tournament bids
Washburn Rural will be making its seventh straight trip to the Class 6A state tournament this week while Topeka High is back in the 6A field after winning back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022.
Topeka High, 19-9 on the season, is the No. 8 seed and will open its state bid at 11 a.m. Thursday at Arrocha Ball Park in Lawrence against top seed Olathe West (25-1).
The Trojans advanced to state with a 15-9 win over Maize in a regional final at Hummer Sports Park.
With a first-round win, Topeka High will move on to an 11 a.m. semifinal on Friday to face the winner between No. 4 Blue Valley North (21-6) and No. 5 Derby (21-7).
Rural (20-7) is the No. 6 state seed and will face off with No. 3 Garden City (19-5) at 5 p.m. Thursday in the final first-round game.
The 2025 All-City girls swimming and diving team -- Front, from left: Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights; Joslynn Grace, Seaman; Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High; Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights. Back, from left: Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural; Ashtynn Landry, Shawnee Heights; Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural; Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural; Caroline Toland, Topeka High. Not pictured: Kaylee Gregg, Hayden, and Genevieve Miranda, Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Multi-time state placers Audrey Appuhn of Washburn Rural, Joslynn Grace of Seaman and Kaylee Gregg of Hayden headline the 2025 All-City girls swimming and diving team.
Appuhn, a junior, earned a pair of Class 6A individual medals for the third straight season while Seaman senior Grace was a multiple-event individual 5A-1A medalist for the second straight season and Hayden senior Gregg finished fifth in the 5A-1A state meet in one-meter diving for the second straight year.
Hayden senior Kaylee Gregg finished fifth in Class 5A-1A diving for the second straight season last Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Genevieve Miranda was a 2025 Class 6A state medalist in the 100-yard butterfly. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Genevieve Miranda was also a state medalist in 6A in last Saturday's state meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Rural, which won its 22nd straight city title, put a city-high four swimmers on the All-City first team, which is determined by performances in the city meet, while Shawnee Heights has three first-teamers.
Washburn Rural put Appuhn, Miranda and juniors Sophie Heinen and Ava Von Lintel on the first team while Heights is represented by senior Ashtynn Landry and sophomores Kaitlyn Aldridge and Clara Sobba.
Topeka High junior Hara Del Castillo is a three-time first-team honoree and is joined on the All-City team by senior teammate Caroline Toland.
Washburn Rural junior diver Rhiannon Good headlines the 12-member All-City second team and finishing third in Class 6A in one-meter diving.
All-City first-team capsules:
