Washburn Rural Junior BluesBy RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Following Saturday night's Kansas Shrine Bowl in Dodge City, Seaman products Kaden Jordan, Max Huston and Bryer Finley will all go their separate ways to pursue their college athletic careers.
Former Seaman standout Kaden Jordan will close out its high school football career in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Dodge City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And Jordan said it's very important for the three former Vikings to make the most of their final game together.
Jordan, a 6-foot-2, 305-pound defensive lineman, Finley (6-5, 195 wide receiver) and Huston (6-1, 185 quarterback) will all play for the East in Saturday's 7 p.m. all-star game while their high school coach, Jared Swafford, is an East assistant.
"The Shrine Bowl in general has been a goal for sure, to be able to prove that I was good enough to make it,'' Jordan said. "And playing with Bryer and Max and even coach Swaff is definitley a huge thing.
"I started playing football with Max in the fourth grade and Bryer in fifth, so it's kind of good to end little league and high school sports with them as well.''
Following Saturday's game, Jordan, the Shawnee County defensive player of the year for the 8-3 Vikings last fall, will turn his focus to getting ready for his freshman season at Hutchinson Community College.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Being a state-class athlete in three different sports has been a blessing for Seaman product Bryer Finley.
Seaman three-sport standout Bryer Finley will play wide receiver for the East in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Dodge City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But that versatality has also presented challenges for the football, basketball and baseball standout as he's tried to decide which sport he'll pursue at the collegiate level.
The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Finley, who will play wide receiver for the East in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl all-star football game at Dodge City, is leaning towards playing baseball in college, but that decision is not set in stone.
"I'm still basically undecided to where I'm going to go to college,'' Finley said this week before an East practice at Ottawa University.
Complicating Finley's college decision is the fact that a big senior year afforded him college opportunities in all three sports.
Finley was named the United Kansas Conference offensive player of the year and TopSports.news Shawnee County co-offensive player of the year last fall in football after catching 82 passes for 1,556 yards and 21 touchdowns as Seaman posted an 8-3 record and advanced to the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
Finley earned Second 10 all-county and second-team All-UKC honors in basketball and was a second-team all-county selection in baseball while receiving All-5A and All-UKC honorable mention.
"It's still hard to make the (college) decision because I love all three and played all three growing up,'' Finley said. "It's hard to make a commitment to one when I've been playing them my whole life, but if it's the right one hopefully I'll do good at that one.''
And if Saturday proves to be his final football game, Finley can't think of a better way to go out than in the state's premier all-star game while playing with former Seaman teammates Max Finley and Kaden Jordan.
"I get to play one more football game and it seems awesome to come out here with my two other teammates and get one more game with them,'' Finley said.
Huston (6-1, 185) is playng quarterback for the East while Jordan (6-2, 305) is a defensive lineman and Seaman coach Jared Swafford is an an East assistant coach.
Also playing for the East is former Washburn Rural standout offensive lineman Caden Estrada (6-2, 270).
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The college recruiting process can be hectic and a bit daunting for high school athletes.
But that wasn't the case for former Washburn Rural standout Caden Estrada, who basically needed just one visit to the Emporia State campus to know where he was headed.
Former Washburn Rural standout Caden Estrada (75) will play for the East in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Dodge City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I just love the culture there, so I had to do it,'' said Estrada, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound offensive lineman. "I went down there on my visit and really liked the coach (Garin Higgins), really liked the staff and it just felt like home.''
Estrada, who will play for the East in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Dodge City, got a jump start on his college career with the other Hornet recruits last week.
"I went down there last week for freshman camp and it was great,'' said Estrada, an All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick last fall and a three-time All-Centennial League selection for Rural. "I did the workouts, did some conditioning and got to hang out with my teammates, so it was a good time.''
Estrada, who helped Rural advance to the Class 6A state semifinals as a junior, said the Shrine Bowl experience will also help prepare him for what's ahead.
"I think it totally will,'' he said. "Obviously we're getting better athletically, but also leadership-wise and playing for something bigger than ourselves, playing for the kids and all that, puts the game to the side and helps you mentally.''
Estrada expects to redshirt this fall, which he also thinks will benefit him in the future.
"Most freshmen do redshirt and I think that will help in understanding the playbook and stuff like that,'' Estrada said. "I think that will help tremendously because college is a whole different game. I'm super excited.''
Estrada is one of four city players on the East roster, along with Seaman quarterback Max Huston, wide receiver Bryer Finley (6-5, 195) and defensive lineman Kaden Jordan (6-2, 305).
Seaman coach Jared Swafford is an an East assistant coach.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Class 6A state champion Washburn Rural and Class 4A-1A runnerup Hayden combined to earn nine of 12 first-team berths on the 2025 All-Centennial League girls soccer team, selected by league coaches.
Kate Hinck, Washburn Rural
Senior player of the year Kate Hinck leads six Washburn Rural players on the all-league team, with seniors Destiny Higgs, Zahra Friess, Delaney Hill and Madison Lemke and junior Dayne Shriver also earning first-team berths while Junior Blues coach Brian Hensyel was named the coach of the year and Rural sophomore Emery Hall was named the league newcomer of the year.
Destiny Higgs, Washburn Rural
Zahra Friess, Washburn Rural
Madison Lemke, Washburn Rural
Dayne Shriver, Washburn Rural
Delaney Hill, Washburn Rural
Hayden, which dropped a double overtime decision to Bishop Miege in the 4A-1A final, put senior Camryn McDonald and juniors Carsyn Broxterman and Reese Huscher on the All-Centennial first team.
Carsyn Broxterman, Hayden
Camryn McDonald, Hayden
Reese Huscher, Hayden
Topeka High junior Natalie Barnes also earned a first-team All-Centennial League spot after helping lead the Trojans to the 6A state quarterfinals.
Natalie Barnes, Topeka High
2025 All-Centennial League girls soccer
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It hasn't been that long ago that it looked like Max Huston's college future would be on a baseball diamond.
But Seaman's former star quarterback is all about the gridiron these days, with the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Huston playing for the East in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Dodge City before beginning his college career this fall at Coffeyville Community College.
Former Seaman star quarterback Max Huston completes a pass during Sunday's East Kansas Shrine Bowl practice at Ottawa University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"Baseball was it my freshman year and I got a whole bunch of offers freshman year,'' said Huston, who committed to Kansas State in baseball early in his prep career before eventually changing course. "I played baseball my freshman season and played JV football.
"Sophomore year I got brought up to varsity (football) and played and we had an alright season. Junior year we had a pretty good season and did some good stuff and football's just more fun to me. I like it more, it's more enjoyable, so I de-committed, switched my recruitment to football and here we go.''
Huston earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 22 and All-United Kansas Conference first-team honors as a junior and senior and was named the county co-offensive player of the year after helping lead Seaman to the Class 5A state quarterfinals and an 8-3 record last fall while completing 170 of 266 pass attempts for 2,532 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushing for 779 yards and 13 TDs.
After mulling over his college options Finley eventually picked Coffeyville, where he has already begun preseason preparations.
"It (his commitment) was later than most people, just because I was trying to make sure that I went somewhere that fitted me, fitted my play style, fitted where I could go play and that's pretty much when I made that decision,'' Huston said.
"I've been down there for two weeks now, we went down on June 1st. It's hard. We work hard every day, but it's going pretty good right now.''
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
Fourteen city players have earned All-State recognition from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association, including nine first-teamers.
Kate Hinck, Washburn Rural
Madison Lemke, Washburn Rural
Leading the way was Class 6A state champion Washburn Rural with five first-team picks, including senior forward of the year Kate Hinck and senior goalkeeper of the year Madison Lemke.
Zahra Friess, Washburn Rural
Delaney Hill, Washburn Rural
Destiny Higgs, Washburn Rural
Also earning first-team honors for the Junior Blues were senior forward Zahra Friess and senior midfielders Delaney Hill and Destiny Higgs while Rural coach Brian Hensyel was selected as the 6A coach of the year.
Carsyn Broxterman, Hayden
Camryn McDonald, Hayden
Class 4A-1A runnerup Hayden put junior forward Carsyn Broxterman and senior defender Camryn McDonald on the 4A-1A first team while Wildcat coach Klaus Kreutzer was named the coach of the year.
Seaman, a state quarterfinalist, is represented on the All-5A first team by senior midfielder Anna Becker and senior goalkeeper Maegan Mills.
Anna Becker, Seaman
Washburn Rural junior defender Dayne Shriver received second-team All-State honors in 6A while Seaman junior forward Ryin Miller was a second-team pick in 5A and Hayden junior forward Reese Huscher was a second-team selection in 4A-1A.
Highland Park sophomore forward Micah Williams and Seaman junior defender Addyson Shipp received All-5A honorable mention.
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
City softball players earned seven of the 11 spots on the 2025 All-Centennial League team while sweeping the individual awards.
Olivia Koch, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural sophomore Olivia Koch was named the Centennial League player of the year after helping lead the Junior Blues to a runnerup finish in the Class 6A state tournament while Topeka High freshman London Backman and Hayden freshman Blakely Walter were named the league's co-newcomers of the year and Hayden coach Cody Reynolds was selected by league coaches as the coach of the year.
London Backman, Topeka High
Blakely Walter, Hayden
Topeka High, which advanced to the 6A state tournament, put a league-high three players on the all-league first team -- Backman, senior Jo'Mhara Benning and sophomore Campbell Dawson.
Washburn Rural is represented on the first team by Koch and junior Reagan Chapman while Hayden put senior Keira Carswell and Walter on the first team.
Manhattan put junior Kat Ball and senior Isabelle Peabody on the all-league first team while Junction City is represented by senior Cassidy Miller and Emporia by junior Alivia Barrett.
Washburn Rural put senior Layla Collins, junior Henley Rapp, sophomore Justice McBurney and freshman Addalyn Boleski on the second team while Topeka High is represented by sophomore Madilyn Poole and Hayden by junior Emily Peterson and freshman Carley McAllister.
Nine city players earned all-league honorable mention.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE 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
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
Later this month former Seaman volleyball star Maegan Mills will report to Tulsa to kick off her Division I collegiate career.
Former Seaman volleyball star Maegan Mills (8) celebrates a point with her Blue teammates during Saturday's five-set KVA All-Star win over the Red. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But before that Mills got the opportunity to put an exclamation point on her outstanding high school career, helping lead the Blue team to a 26-24, 25-27, 19-25, 27-25, 15-11 win over the Red in Saturday's Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Washburn Rural.
"It's definitely a way to get a head start and get touches on balls,'' Mills said. "After club and high school it's hard to get touches on balls and when I was offered that position to play with such great people I couldn't pass it up.''
Mills was the most dominant player on the court on Saturday, contributing a match-high 23 kills on 0.417 hitting with a match-high six service aces. After the match Mills was named the winner of the Joan Lundstrom Wells Award of Excellence.
"Just coming in this morning all the girls are great, the energy was so good, and coming into this game it wasn't just about the playing it was about meeting new people and expanding,'' Mills said. "Even though you may not know these people you have to be a leader and I think that was my mindset, that I had to be a leader.''
Mills was one of seven Shawnee County players selected to play in Saturday's event, including a match-high four Seaman players.
Seaman product Kinley Wilhelm had a match-high 27 digs for the Blue in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Mills and Kinley Wilhelm, who recorded a match-high 27 digs, played for the winning Blue team while Campbell Chabot and Ava Esser played for the Red.
Recent Seaman grad Campbell Chabot registered 20 assists for the Red in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Red team celebrates a kill from Seaman product Ava Esser (9) in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Esser led the Red with 15 kills and received the Don Bechard Memorial Award after the match while Chabot was credited with 20 assists.
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
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seven former Shawnee County high school standouts will play in Saturday's 5 p.m. Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Washburn Rural.
Campbell Chabot, Seaman
Ava Esser, Seaman
Maegan Mills, Seaman
Kinley Wilhelm, Seaman
Seaman, the Class 5A runnerup last fall after winning the title in 2024, had four players selected for Saturday's match -- Campbell Chabot, Ava Esser, Maegan Mills and Kinley Wilhelm.
Layla Collins, Washburn Rural
Kate Hinck, Washburn Rural
Ella Bolan, Silver Lake
Washburn Rural, a 6A state qualifier last fall, will be represented by Layla Collins and Kate Hinck while Silver Lake will be represented by Ella Bolan.
Players, all 2025 high school graduates,are picked off based off nominations from their coaches, who must be KVA members, and then recommended by a committee based on high school achievement, position, classifications, collegiate plans and availability for the event.
Bolan, Chabot, Collins, Esser and Hinck will play for the Blue while Mills and Wilhelm will play for the Red.
The Blue team will be coached by Halstead’s Diana Schutte (head), Ingalls’ Randy Rockhold and Blue Valley Southwest’s Austin Isham.
The Red team will be coached by Eudora’s Brooke Harper (head), Blue Valley West’s Jessica Horstick and Valley Heights’ Susan Steinfort.
KVA ALL-STAR MATCH
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
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
Hayden senior Cooper Grace has received Centennial League player of the year recognition from league coaches for the second straight season after helping lead the Wildcats to an undefeated league title and a 23-1 record overall.
Hayden senior Cooper Grace has been named the Centennial League baseball player of the year after helping lead the Wildcats to the undefeated league title. [File photo/TSN]
Grace, who shared the player of the year honor with Topeka High's Nate Plankinton in 2024, was one of five Hayden players to receive first-team honors.
Hayden's Bill Arnold has been named the Centennial League baseball coach of the year after the Wildcats won the undefeated league title. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden's Bill Arnold was voted the Centennial coach of the year.
Grace was a first-team pick as a pitcher and is joined on the first team for the Wildcats by senior infielder Liam Annand, junior outfielders Kade Mitchell and Aiden Roberts and sophomore designated hitter Caleb Menke.
Washburn Rural, which posted a 15-12 record and advanced to Class 6A state tournament this spring, is represented on the first team by junior infielder Austin Ditch while Junior Blues junior pitcher Isaac Ansley, sophomore pitcher Tyler Edmiston and junior infielder Nate Selm all earned second-team honors.
Hayden junior pitcher Connor Hanika, sophomore infielder Mason Becker, senior outfielder Brady Heinen and junior catcher Brady Deutsch were second-team picks along with Topeka High junior utility player Drayden Acosta. .
A total of four city players received all-league honorable mention.
Manhattan freshman Asher Newton was named the league's newcomer of the year.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE BASEBALL
By RICK PETERSON JR.
KSHSAA Covered
The Washburn Rural girls soccer team left no stone unturned in prepping for every scenario during its pursuit of the program’s first state title.
Washburn Rural soccer rushes the field at the end of Saturday's win over Mill Valley in the Class 6A championship game. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]
Washburn Rural soccer celebrates Saturday's win over Mill Valley in the Class 6A championship game. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]
That included meticulous work on penalty kicks throughout this playoff run.
“I learned my lesson about a decade ago,” Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. “Our boys got into a shootout in 2015. We hadn’t practiced penalty kicks at all, and we lost. Every playoff run, boys or girls, for the last 10 years, we do (penalty kicks) every practice.”
So after 100 minutes of scoreless soccer in Saturday’s Class 6A state championship game against Mill Valley at Stryker Sports Complex, Hensyel felt reasonably confident about his team’s chances.
“It’s random,” Hensyel said of PKs. “But if you have a great goalkeeper, which we do, and you have confident kids who practice it and put in the time, you feel as good as you can in that situation.
“I told them: ‘Madison Lemke is going to save two. All we have to do is make our shots and this is over.”
Indeed, Rural was nearly flawless in the shootout, beating Mill Valley 4-1 on penalty kicks to break through for its long-awaited championship with a 1-0 win.
As Hensyel predicted, Lemke made two saves, and the Junior Blues converted on all four kicks with goals from Dayne Shriver, Kate Hinck, Delaney Hill and Bristol Karr.
“I come at it with confidence, because there’s no way you’re going to do well without confidence,” Lemke said. “There’s so much adrenaline and I’m trusting my team to do their part. All I can do is just do mine and make some saves.”
“That’s as good as you can do in a shootout,” Hensyel said. “We did a lot of drills to see who’s the most accurate and who hits the most shots, and who wanted to take it – that’s part of the mental aspect. The practice paid off. We picked the right group.”
Washburn Rural senior Madison Lemke comes up with a save in Saturday's win over Mill Valley in the Class 6A championship game. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
Washburn Rural senior Bristol Karr scored the game-clinching penalty kick in Saturday's win over Mill Valley in the Class 6A championship game. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
Ava Edwards scored on Mill Valley’s first attempt to knot it at 1-1 but Lemke blocked the Jaguars’ next two attempts. Karr’s goal was the clincher.
“I can just kind of feel where it’s going,” Lemke said. “Once I saved the (second attempt) I was like, ‘Ok, I got this.’ I heard the whole crowd cheering behind me. It’s just amazing to have that much support.”
“Madison is amazing," Rural senior forward Kate Hinck said. “She's out of this world.”
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.
