Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds vertTopeka West Chargers

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  • A game-by-game look at Friday night's Shawnee County prep football games

    Rick Peterson, Top Sports News Writer

    By RICK PETERSON
    TopSports.news

    (All games at 7 p.m.)

    FRIDAY GAMES

     BrantonDeWeese2023 5Washburn Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese and the Junior Blues will face a huge test Friday against defending Class 6A state champion Manhattan at Bowen-Glaze Stadium. [File photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

    MANHATTAN (3-0, 1-0 Centennial League) at WASHBURN RURAL (3-0, 0-0 Centennial League) 

    This figures to be one of the state's top matchups of the week, with Manhattan the defending Class 6A state champion and winner of 16 straight games dating back to 2021 while Washburn Rural is coming off back-to-back eight-win seasons and is off to a perfect start this fall. Washburn Rural notched a 51-15 non-league road win at Piper last Friday while Manhattan rolled to a 49-7 non-league win over Hays and has outscored its first three foes by a 137-45 margin. Friday's game will be the Centennial League opener for Washburn Rural.  

    FinnDunsheeSLake 1Hayden senior Finn Dunshee has rushed for 526 yards on just 25 carries for the 3-0 Wildcats while scoring eight total touchdowns. [File photo/TSN]

    HAYDEN (3-0, 0-0 Class 3A District 4) at JEFFERSON WEST (1-2, 0-0 Class 3A District 4)

    Hayden, which has outscored its opposition by a 146-37 margin, stayed unbeaten with a 49-23 non-league win at Rossville last week and will open Class 3A district play Friday night. Senior Finn Dunshee has rushed for 526 yards and seven touchdowns on just 25 carries and added an eighth touchdown on a pick six. Junior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier has completed 24 of 43 passes for 358 yards and four TDs while junior Jensen Schrickel has 10 catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Jeff West is coming off a 50-14 loss to Sabetha.  

    LYNDON (3-0, 0-0 Eight-Man-I District 2) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (2-1, 0-0 Eight-Man-I District 2)

    At Hummer Sports Park

    Cair Paravel has posted back-to-back lopsided victories that ended by way of the 45-point spread rule, including a 62-8 win over Marais de Cygnes Valley last Friday. The Lions have outscored their past two opponents by a 122-20 margin. Lyndon is undefeated on the season, including a 70-24 romp past Frankfort last week. Friday's game opens Eight-Man Division II district play for both schools. Jase Pavlik completed 9 of 11 passes for 132 yards, 3 touchdowns and two 2-point conversions in the CPLS win over Marais des Cygnes while Jesiah Bonura rushed for 69 yards and two TDs on just four carries and Evan Will had two carries for 65 yards and two TDs.

  • Lightning, rain push completion of city girls tennis meet to Monday

    Rick Peterson

     By RICK PETERSON

    TopSports.news b

    The annual Topeka City Girls Tennis Championships were in the home stretch Thursday before lightning and eventually rain caused the completion of the meet to be pushed back to Monday at Kossover Tennis Center.

    The city meet is scheduled to resume at 3 p.m. Monday.

    JetteGlasenappCity 3Shawnee Heights junior Jette Glasenapp was playing for the city championship in No. 1 singles Thursday when lightning and rain pushed back the tournament to Monday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

    CarolinaChedzoy2023 2Washburn Rural junior Carolina Chedzoy was playing for the city title in No. 1 singles when the tournament was postponed because of inclement weather. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

    The No. 1 singles and doubles championships were well under way, with Shawnee Heights junior Jette Glasenapp facing Washburn Rural junior Carolina Chedzoy in the No. 1 singles final and Hayden senior Lauren Sandstrom and junior Emily Sheetz taking on Seaman senior Katie Krumins and sophomore Molly Gorman in the No. 1 doubles final.

  • Viking volleyball dominates UKC triangular against city foes

    By Todd Fertig 

    TopSports.news

    Seaman volleyball cruised to two wins at the Vikings' home triangular Tuesday and added an important piece to their team in the process.

    The Vikings handled Shawnee Heights and Topeka West, continuing their mission to return to the state tournament for the third consecutive season.

    BrooklynGormley2023 2Seaman senior Brooklyn Gormley serves the ball during the Vikings' UKC sweep over Shawnee Heights and Topeka West Tuesday at Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

    TaylinStallbaumer2023 1Seaman senior Taylin Stallbaumer sets the ball during Tuesday's UKC triangular at Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

    “I feel like we’re really progressing well. We’re still not completely flowing together, but I think it will come,” Seaman senior Brooklyn Gormley said. “We’ve got to just keep working and know that we can beat any team if we play together and play our game.”

    “I think we just need to put it all together all the time,” added Seaman coach Tatiana Dowling. “We do something really good one night, then something else really great the next night. We just need all the parts to come together and make it a whole.”

    Gormley said that the 25-13-, 25-11 victory over Shawnee Heights in particular demonstrated progress by the Vikings.

    “We’ve been really going at it lately in practice, working to keep our energy up,” Gormley said. “The last time we played Shawnee Heights we were kind of down and it was a back-and-forth match. This time I think we really stuck with it and pushed and made it our speed.”

  • Hayden, Topeka High's Zimmerman rule the day in city girls golf tourney

    Rick Peterson

     By RICK PETERSON

    TopSports.news

    Washburn Rural had ruled the city's girls golf roost for a full decade, but Monday's city tournament belonged to Hayden and Topeka High senior Avery Zimmerman, who earned the team and individual championships at Western Hills.

    HaydengirlsgolfCityHayden girls golf poses for a team picture after winning the city girls golf championship by a 322-335 margin over Washburn Rural Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

    AveryZimmerman2023 2Topeka High senior Avery Zimmerman won the city girls golf title Monday at Western Hills on the first playoff hole. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

    Hayden halted Washburn Rural's run of 10 straight city team titles by a 322-335 margin over the Junior Blues while Zimmerman won her first city individual title on the first hole (No. 1) of a sudden death playoff with Hayden sophomore Lauren Borjon after both players carded five-over-par 76s.

    Zimmerman will play soccer in college at Emporia State and said Monday's win was a good start towards finishing off her high school golf career with a bang.

    Zimmermans2023 3Kerry Zimmerman moves in to congratulate daughter Avery Zimmerman after her sudden death win in Monday's city girls golf tournament at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

    Zimmermans2023 2Kerry and Avery Zimmerman exchange a hug after Avery won the city girls golf title in a playoff Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

    "I'm so happy,'' Zimmerman said. "It just feels like all my hard work is finally playing off and I didn't have the best round last week so this week having a good round just makes me really happy. This is one of the most important ones.''

  • Girls champ Fink paces city runners in Shufelberger Top City Classic

    Rick Peterson

     By RICK PETERSON

    TopSports.news

    A change in racing strategy led to Washburn Rural cross country standout Payton Fink's first individual victory of the 2023 season in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic at Rural.

    PaytonFink2023 6Washburn Rural junior Payton Fink (600) runs with Junction City senior Lorna Rae Pierce (310) and Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller (498) in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic at Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

    Instead of jumping out in front early, the Rural junior held back a little in the early stages of the five-kilometer event before taking control over the final mile en route to a nine-second win in 18 minutes, 10.1 seconds, one of three runners in the top 10 for the second-place Junior Blues.

    "We talked about this before the race how the last meets I've kind of gone out too fast and then fallen behind so I just tucked myself behind and about the two-mile where all the uphills were I decided to make my move and tried my best to hold it,'' Fink said. 

    Junction City senior Lorna Rae Pierce was the individual runnerup in 18:19.6 while Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller finished third in 18:36.6.

    Fink said she felt comfortable with her new strategy.

    "I felt really relaxed about the two-mile,'' Fink said. "My legs felt good, like they had something left in them, so it was nice to have a little left for the last mile.''

  • Prep FB roundup: Rural stays perfect with 51-15 romp past Piper

    Rick Peterson

     By RICK PETERSON

    TopSports.news

    Undefeated Washburn Rural set up next week's Centennial League showdown with Manhattan with a 51-15 non-league road romp past Piper Friday night.

    BrantonDeWeese2023 5Washburn Rural senior quarterback Branton DeWeese had a big passing night in the Junior Blues' 51-15 non-league romp past Piper. [File photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

    The Junior Blues, who improved to 3-0, will host Manhattan, also 3-0, next Friday night at Bowen-Glaze Stadium.

    Manhattan, the reigning Class 6A state champion, stayed unbeaten with a 49-7 win over Hays.

    Washburn Rural built a 30-15 halftime advantage over the Pirates and added three second-half touchdowns, all on TD passes from senior quarterback Branton DeWeese.

    DeWeese connected with senior Titan Osburn for a pair of touchdowns and also connected with senior Rylan Armstrong for the Junior Blues final score of the night.

    JamonWilson2023 1Junior running back Jamon Wilson and the Highland Park football team are 3-0 on the season after Friday's 26-13 win over KC-Sumner. [File photo/TSN]

    HIGHLAND PARK 26, KC-SUMNER ACADEMY 13 --Highland Park is off to a 3-0 start for the second straight season after Friday night's 26-13 Meadowlark Conference road victoryover winless Kansas City-Sumner Academy.

    The Scots will return to action next Friday night, traveling to Kansas City-Harmon.

    CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 62, MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY 8 --Cair Paravel Latin won its second straight game Friday night, rolling to a 62-8 road victory over Marais des Cygnes Valley.

    The game was stopped by way of the 45-point spread rule, CPLS's second straight mercy rule victory. as the Lions improved to 2-1 on the season.

    The Lions will host Lyndon next Friday night at Highland Park.

    SILVER LAKE 29, ST. MARYS 28 -- Silver Lake rallied from a 12-7 halftime deficit to earn a 29-28 Mid-East League decision at St. Marys.

    Tanner Martin, Eli Barnes and Logan Cathcart all had big games for the Eagles, who bounced back from a Week 2 loss to Hayden.

    Silver Lake, 2-1 on the season, will host Rock Creek next Friday.

    DE SOTO 59, TOPEKA WEST 0 -- De Soto bounced back from a Week 2 non-league loss to Washburn Rural with a 59-0 United Kansas Conference victory over Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park.

    The Chargers, 0-3 on the year, will play a UKC game at Piper next Firday.

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  • A game-by-game look at this week's Shawnee County prep football

    Rick Peterson, Top Sports News Writer

    By RICK PETERSON
    TopSports.news

    (All games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

    THURSDAY'S GAME

    LIBERAL (2-0) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (0-2)

    At Hummer Sports Park

    Topeka High is coming off a 55-19 loss to reigning Class 6A state champion Manhattan in the Trojans' Centennial League opener last Thursday while Liberal improved to 2-0 with a 47-14 win over Emporia. Topeka High scored its first touchdowns of the season in the Manhattan loss, with Isaiah Kincade catching a 70-yard TD pass from Zane Smith, Malachi Murph scoring on a 99-yard pick-six and Jayden Norman catching a 26-yard TD pass from CJ Ross. 

    MaxHuston2023TW 2Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston has thrown for 12 touchdowns in two games for the 2-0 Vikings, including seven TDs in last week's 59-6 UKC win over KC-Turner. [File photo/TSN]

     FRIDAY GAMES

    SEAMAN (2-0, 2-0) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (2-0, 2-0) 

    Seaman posted its second straight lopsided United Kansas Conference decision last Friday, a 59-6 home win over Kansas City-Turner, while Shawnee Heights improved to 2-0 with a 26-25 UKC win at Lansing. Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston threw for seven touchdowns in the Vikings' win over Turner and now has 12 TD passes on the year, while Shawnee Heights senior quarterback Ryeki Tuley threw for 343 yards and two touchdowns on a 24 of 37 performance and also ran for a TD in the T-Birds' win over Lansing.

    FinnDunsheeSLake 1Hayden senior Finn Dunshee (33) rushed for 154 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Wildcats' 56-7 win over Silver Lake last Friday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

    JudeKonrade2023 2Hayden senior Jude Konrade (52) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a defensive touchdown in Friday's 56-7 win over Silver Lake. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

    HAYDEN (2-0) at ROSSVILLE (1-1)

    Hayden rolled to a 56-7 home win over traditional state power Silver Lake last Friday while Rossville dropped a 26-20 decision to Riley County, with the Falcons scoring the game-winning touchdown with three and a half minutes left at Rossville. Hayden senior Finn Dunshee rushed for 154 yards and three TDs on just eight carries against Silver Lake, scoring on runs of 7, 56 and 29 yards, while senior Jude Konrade scored a defensive touchdown on a 24-yard fumble return. Rossville rallied from a 12-0 deficit to knot the game at 20 before Riley County pulled out the win. 

  • From Germany with talent: T-Birds get big lift from Jette Glasenapp

    Rick Peterson

     By RICK PETERSON

    TopSports.news

    Jette Glasenapp came a long way to make a major impact for Shawnee Heights' girls tennis team this fall.

    Jette3German foreign exchange student Jette Glasenapp, a junior at Shawnee Heights, rolled to the No. 1 singles title in Wednesday's Topeka High Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

    Glasenapp, a junior foreign exchange student from Berlin, Germany, arrived in the United States on Aug. 5th and has been a very welcome addition for first-year Shawnee Heights coach Phil Hamilton's T-Birds.

    Glasenapp has lost just one match in a 14-1 start to the season and went a perfect 4-0 in Wednesday's Topeka High Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center, capped by a 6-0, 6-0 win over Junction City's Hannah Micheel in the championship match. Glasenapp lost just four games on the day.

    "My dad studied in the U.S. and he always told me it was going to be fun, so my dad gave me the idea and also some of my friends came here so I kind of always wanted to do it since I was 10,'' Glasenapp said.

    Glasenapp said she has enjoyed her short time in America and at Shawnee Heights.

     "It's really cool,'' Glasenapp said. "It's been a great experience -- the school, the host family. I really like it.''

  • Seaman soccer gets offense cranked up in 6-0 UKC romp past Topeka West

    Rick Peterson

    By RICK PETERSON

    TopSports.news

    After scoring just three goals over its first four games, Seaman's boys soccer team doubled that total Wednesday night, rolling to a 6-0 shutout victory over United Kansas Conference foe Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park.

    JaceBrake2023Jace Brake (12) scored Seaman's first goal and also had a pair of assists in the Vikings' 6-0 soccer win over UKC foe Topeka West Wednesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

    BlakeToyne2023Blake Toyne celebrates one of his two goals in Seaman's 6-0 soccer win over Topeka West Wednesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

    The Vikings, who won their second straight game to improve to 2-3, got the only goal they would need from Jace Brake just 7:42 into the game and held a 2-0 advantage after a goal from Blake Toyne with 14:13 left in the first half.

    The score remained 2-0 at halftime before Seaman added four goals in the second half to turn the game into a rout.

    "We had a couple of games where the score was lopsided against us,'' Seaman coach Tim Nussbaum said. "It's kind of nice to have a game where we got the score a little lopsided.

    "We defended very well first off and after we defended well then you can create opportunities and I thought we created a lot of good opportunities tonight.''

  • Lane's goal gives West soccer first win over rival Trolans since 2020, 1-0

    Rick Peterson

    By RICK PETERSON

    TopSports.news

    Every win is big, especially for a Topeka West boys soccer team that has struggled in recent seasons.

    But a win over USD 501 rival Topeka High is extra special for the Chargers, who took a 1-0 victory over the Trojans Monday night at Hummer Sports Park, West's first win over High since 2020.

    TWestsoccer 1Topeka West's soccer team leaves the field Monday at Hummer Sports Park after taking a 1-0 win over USD 501 rival Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

    "Every time we play HIgh it is a whole different game to us,'' said senior Harrison Lane, who scored the game-winning goal midway through the second half. "It means more and to get this win tonight it means so much to our seniors and our incoming freshmen.

    "It really shows them how how good we can be and shows them how good we are.''