Washburn University Ichabods
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
LIBERTY, Mo. -- Washburn University volleyball capped off an undefeated first week of the season with a 3-0 sweep over William Jewell on Saturday to finish off the Kansas City Classic.
Washburn volleyball wrapped up a 3-0 start to the 2024 season with a sweep over William Jewell on Saturday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
It was a consistent effort for Washburn (3-0), with the Ichabods winning each set over the Cardinals (0-4) by at least seven points. WU finished the match with final set scores of 25-15, 25-18 and 25-17.
It was a slow beginning for the Ichabods as William Jewell won the first four points on its home floor.
Washburn responded with five points in a row, taking the lead on a block by Jalyn Stevenson and Alex Dvorak.
Midway through the set a kill from Austin Broadie extended the Washburn lead to six at 16-10. The Cardinals were limited to just a .044 hitting percentage in the first set by the Ichabods. Down the stretch Washburn took four of the final five points to take the set.
Once again it was William Jewell out in front early in the second set. Seven straight points by the Ichabods, which began with a kill from Bella Limback, put the set back in their control at 9-4.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Washburn volleyball took the first four points of the match on Friday and never looked back, sweeping Winona State to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Corinna McMullen led Washburn with 19 assists and 11 digs in Friday's sweep over Winona State in the Kansas City Classic. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will wrap up the Kansas City Classic on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Liberty, Mo. against William Jewell.
Washburn never trailed on the day as the Ichabods hit .407 as a team en route to 25-10, 25-12 and 25-16 set victories over the Warriors (1-1) in the second match of the season.
After taking the first four points of the match the Ichabods kept their foot on the gas.
An ace from Taylor Rottinghaus put Washburn up 8-2 and the lead grew to double digits at 18-8 after a block from Jalyn Stevenson and Alex Dvorak, which was part of a six-point burst for Washburn to go up by 14.
A kill by Brynne Topolski would wrap up the first set and a 15-point victory.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Ella Dirks didn't know exactly what to expect when she reached out to Washburn University football coach Craig Schurig this past spring.
Ella Dirks, who grew up around football, joined the Washburn University coaching staff this fall as a student assistant. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But suffice it to say the Washburn freshman was blown away by Schurig's response, offering the 18-year-old the opportunity to break into coaching as a member of the Ichabods' coaching staff as a student assistant.
"My senior year of high school (at Blue Valley Northwest), around April, I contacted coach Schurig because I was still deciding on colleges and I was like, 'Can I be a manager? I would carry water or anything because I just want to be a part of football,' '' Dirks said. "And he came up to me with this opportunity and said, 'Hey, would you like to do this? Is this something you're interested in?'
"I was honestly shocked and I was like, 'Absolutely, I would love to do it,' so all props to coach Schurig for offering me the position. I'm very grateful for what I'm doing.''
Schurig's association with the Dirks family goes way back to 2000 and 2001 when Schurig was an assistant at Pittsburg State and Ella's father, the late Josh Dirks, was a standout offensive lineman for the Gorillas.
Schurig and the Dirks family re-connected in 2013 and 2014 when Josh came on board at Washburn as a volunteer assistant while Ella's mother, Tiffany, served as a WU professor.
Josh Dirks, then an assistant coach at Olathe North, passed away in November, 2021, at the age of 39 but Schurig maintained contact with the family, and when Ella contacted him, Schurig thought it was a natural to offer her a chance to be involved with a sport she loves.
Student assistant coach Ella Dirks cheers on Washburn during the Ichabods' season-opener against Emporia State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"I had seen Ella grow up and she was very athletic and she loved sports and loved football,'' Schurig said. "Her dad was a very good football player and a coach and all of that, so when she was coming to school here she approached me and wanted to see if there was anything she could do to help out the team. I was like, 'Well shoot, why don't you GA, why don't you coach?'
"Her dad was coaching at Olathe North, so she went to all of those games and she knows football and she loves athletics and loves to compete. And it worked out well because Mitchell (Schurig) is with the offensive line and he knows Ella well and we thought we might as well have her learn the offensive line because that's where her dad played. I thought that was a good fit and pretty cool.
"You're seeing these women in the NFL and major college football and everywhere, and if she really likes it she could get involved in coaching and there's always a way you can do that. So she kind of got excited about it and then we wanted to see if it would fit and it fit well.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
As a fifth-year senior for the Washburn University volleyball team, Taryn Pridgett feels a certain responsibility to help out the seven freshmen in the Ichabod program.
Cair Paravel product Taryn Pridgett is entering her senior season for Washburn after recording 108 kills a year ago. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
After all, it wasn't that long ago that the former Cair Paravel Latin standout was in that same position.
"Honestly, I really just want to provide support for the young ones, especially because it's hard coming into a program,'' said Pridgett, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter. "You're away from home for the first time, there's a lot of changes and coach (Chris Herron) is intense, so it can be a difficult change.
"So I think right now it's just prioritizing the young ones and making sure they're comfortable and making sure they feel confident in practices because they're still learning. They don't necesssarily have all the drills down and are making mistakes, but it's just reminding them that it's all part of the process and everyone has been there at some point, so we're all here for you.''
Pridgett made the jump from Cair Paravel, which was just starting to make the transition from the Kansas Christian Athletic Conference to the Kansas State High School Athletic Association, to Washburn during the COVID-cancelled 2020 season and admitted that it took multiple seasons before she felt truly comfortable at the college level.
"I think honestly it was probably until about my junior year when I finally started grasping how different it all is,'' Pridgett said. "Obviously you can kind of see it more on the sideline and when you're playing a little bit, but I think as you mature you kind of see little things that you kind of missed early on in your career.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Finishing second at the highest level of Class 6A high school and NCAA Division II soccer is a fine accomplishment, but frankly Washburn University standout Belle Kennedy is sick of it.
Former Washburn Rural soccer star Belle Kennedy is a returning All-MIAA first-team pick for Washburn, which will open its 2024 season at 6 p.m. Thursday at Yager Stadium against Missouri-St. Louis. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"Incredibly,'' Kennedy said.
Kennedy helped Washburn Rural post a runnerup finish in the 6A state tournament as a freshman. Then, after having the 2020 season cancelled by COVID-19 and finishing third as a junior, the two-time 6A Midfielder of the Year helped lead Rural to another second-place state finish to close out her high school career.
The All-MIAA first-teamer came tantalizingly close to a championship again last fall as a Washburn sophomore, but again the title ended up just out of reach of her and her teammates.
And now, with Davy Phillips' Washburn team returning a wealth of experience from last year's 21-4-1 NCAA Division II runnerup team, Kennedy and her teammates are setting their sights on another run at the crown, beginning their quest with Thursday's 6 p.m. season-opener against Missouri-St. Louis at Yager Stadium.
"I really want our team to be first, no matter what,'' Kennedy said. "That's our hope every single year and even though we don't always get the result that we want, to know how far we came last year is a big accomplishment in itself. But we need to get better this year.
"You're still not satisfied with (second), that is true, but I've come to embrace it and realize that we have two more years left at least in my eligibility to get it done and our team, we have one more year with 11 of our great players that are going to be graduating after this fall, and I think we still have the chance to do it.''
Kennedy, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, has seemingly made a smooth transition to college soccer, but she said it has been an adjustment.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Washburn University volleyball began the 2024 season down two sets to none to Sioux Falls Thursday before winning the next three sets and outscoring the Cougars 65-41 to open the season in the win column.
Washburn earned the season-opening victory by set scores of 23-25, 28-30, 25-13, 25-17 and 15-11.
Washburn rallied from an 0-2 deficit to take a season-opening 3-2 win over Sioux Falls Thursday in the Kansas City Classic. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
After the score was tied at two to begin the match Sioux Falls took the next four points to take command early.
Washburn landed six straight points, capped off by an ace from Seaman product Maddie Steiner to take a 12-11 lead. After the set was tied at 14 all the Cougars scored three straight and wouldn't relinquish the lead the rest of the way.
Kills from WU's Alex Dvorak and Jalyn Stevenson pulled the Ichabods within 24-23 before Sioux Falls finished off the set with the next point.
The Cougars carried the momentum into the next set, taking the first five points before two kills from Stevenson put the Ichabods on the board.
Washburn pulled within one point twice before climbing fully back on a 5-0 run capped off by kills from Emery Keebaugh and Brynne Topolski in their collegiate debuts.
Another ace from Steiner set up match point at 24-22 for Washburn before three straight points from Siuox Falls put them in the driver's seat. The Ichabods reached set point once more until the Cougars took two points to win, 30-28.
Washburn began the third set trailing 6-4 before going on a 7-0 run to take control of the set.
After hitting just .115 in the second set, the Ichabods flipped the switch, hitting .394 in the third with just two errors. A 5-0 burst capped off on the defensive end with a block by Dvorak and Austin Broadie put Washburn up by eight. The Ichabods stayed up by at least seven points the rest of the way until Keebaugh finished off the set with a kill to end it at 25-13.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University volleyball will open the 2024 season at the Kansas City Classic with three matches in three days Thursday through Saturday.
Washburn volleyball opens its 2024 season with three matches over three days in the Kansas City Classic. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods' first two matches will be played at Rockhurst University, with the final match on Saturday against the co-host, William Jewell.
Washburn, which is coming off a 17-11 season, will open the season against Sioux Falls (S.D.) at 4 p.m. Thursday before facing Winona State at 10 a.m. on Friday, with both matches played at Mason-Halpin Field House on the campus of Rockhurst University. WU wraps up the weekend at 11 a.m. on Saturday against William Jewell in Liberty, Mo.
Washburn junior setter Sydney Conner ranked No. 2 for the Ichabods in assists last season with 484. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"We are eager to play,'' said junior setter Sydney Conner, who ranked second for WU in assists last fall with 484 while playing in all 28 matches. "We've been playing the last two weekends (scrimmages against Rockhurst and Central Missouri) but now that it counts we're really ready to go, geared up for that point that's going to be shown on our record.''
The 2024 Kansas City Classic will be made up of six teams -- Washburn and Emporia State from the MIAA, Rockhurst and William Jewell from the GLVC and Winona State and Sioux Falls representing the NSIC.
Washburn is 39-15 all-time in season-openers and 27-6 since joining the NCAA and MIAA in 1989.
The Ichabods were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, just behind Nebraska-Kearney. Washburn received one first-place vote in the poll after finishing fifth in the 2023 MIAA regular-season standings with an 11-9 record.
The 2024 roster is the most balanced by class in the Chris Herron era, with at least four players from each class on the roster.
The Ichabods have 13 returners with 12 letter-winners from a season ago, with the returning roster including five seniors, three juniors and five sophomores.
Washburn senior Jalyn Stevenson (10) is a returning two-time first-team All-MIAA pick for the Ichabods. [File photo/TSN]
Senior two-time All-MIAA first-team pick Jalyn Stevenson, an outside hitter, returns for her senior year after leading the Ichabods with 342 kills (3.32 per set) last season. She recorded 338 digs (3.28 per set), served 33 aces and was a part of 31 total blocks. Stevenson was the only player to start in all 28 matches a season ago. She finished second in the MIAA in points per set (3.81), fourth in kills per set and sixth in total kills.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Like most coaches in all sports, Washburn University soccer coach Davy Phillips really appreciates the practice aspect of coaching.
But after multiple weeks of practice, Phillips knows his Ichabod players are ready for the real thing and will get that chance with a pair of non-conference battles Thursday and Saturday at Yager Stadium.
Davy Phillips' Washburn soccer team, coming off a runnerup finish in the 2023 NCAA national tournament, opens its season Thursday night at Yager Stadium. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
No. 2 nationally-ranked Washburn, the 2023 NCAA Division II runnerup, will make its 2024 debut at 6 p.m. Thursday against Missouri-St. Louis before hosting Maryville at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
"The players definitely are ready,'' Phillips said. "I like coaching and teaching the game to be honest but there's a reason we keep score and games matter. For a variety of reasons we didn't get a preseason scrimmage in, so (Thursday) is really, truly the first time out against someone else, so the girls are anxious, eager to play.
"We've been kind of building up what it means to play games, what it means to play the season, so the whole buildup is, I think, leading the girls into a very excited spot about tomorrow.''
WU is fresh off a run to the NCAA title game in 2023, compiling a 21-4-1 record and winning the MIAA regular-season championship.
Missouri-St. Louis went 8-6-3 in 2023 with a 7-4-1 record in the GLVC, falling in the GLVC tournament quarterfinals while Maryville went 14-3-4 with a 10-1-2 record in the GLVC. The Saints fell in the semifinals of the GLVC tournament, but earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, where they advanced to the second round.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA -- Opening week for Washburn University football got off to a rough start when Ichabod starting sophomore quarterback Sam Van Dyne, who passed for 2,002 yards and 15 touchdowns last fall, was ruled out for Thursday night's season-opener and the foreseeable future with a knee injury.
Washburn junior Jordan Finnesy (1) moves in for the tackle on Emporia State quarterback Gunnar Gundy Thursday night. Gundy passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns while Finnesy was in on seven tackles and had an interception in ESU's 30-14 win. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But the Ichabod defense gave Washburn a chance at an upset when WU held Emporia State without a touchdown until the final play of the third quarter, but the Hornets scored three touchdowns in a span of 8 minutes, 37 seconds to take control in a 30-14 MIAA win at Welch Stadium.
"Defensively, the first half and really the first three quarters, we stiffened when we had to and showed some real toughness and some clutch plays and hit hard,'' Washburn coach Craig Schurig said. "It was good football and then we kind of had some brain lapses in the fourth quarter.
"But we just could never get on track offensively, so we were sputtering around.''
Washburn limited Emporia State, 9-3 a year ago, to just two Caden Dodson field goals -- 29 and 38 yards -- in the opening half and Dodson made it a 9-0 game on Dodson's third field goal of the game at the 12:19 mark of the third quarter after a Washburn turnover.
The Ichabods, looking to bounce back from last fall's 2-9 record, scored the first touchdown of the night with 7:14 left in the third quarter on a 4-yard run from freshman Cam Robinson (Trenton Brehm kick) to cut the Hornets' lead to 9-7, but Emporia State scored the next 21 points of the game to put the game out of reach.
"We had that nice drive and got a touchdown and got it to 9-7 and we felt pretty good but they drove down and scored and we just could never get anything going on offense,'' Schurig said. "We'd have a good play and a bad play and nothing consistent.''
Oklahoma State junior transfer quarterback Gunnar Gundy hit All-American receiver Tyler Kahmann for a 3-yard TD on the final play of the third quarter and hit Ethan Schultze for a 27-yard score with 12:45 remaining and hit Trenden Collins for a 57-yard strike with 6:23 left to put the Hornets in front 30-7. Dodson added the extra point on all three ESU scores.
"We got it done,'' Emporia State coach Garin Higgins said. "We've got a lot of room for improvement, but our kids kept battling and we felt good. Hats off to Washburn. They played their tails off and I knew they would. It was the first game for them, too, as well and it's a good win for our players. I'm proud of them.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Turnpike Tussle is a big game no matter when it's played.
But the fact that Thursday's 7 p.m. Washburn-Emporia State showdown at Welch Stadium is the 2024 season-opener for both schools adds a little extra lustre to the 120th meeting between the two rivals.
Craig Schurig, the winningest football coach in Washburn University history, will begin his 23rd season Thursday night at Emporia State. [File photo/TSN]
"You could play anyone on opening night and you're excited, but Emporia adds excitement and then Emporia's a good football team and they return a lot from last year's team that was one of the best in the conference so you're also anxious for that, too,'' Washburn coach Craig Schurig said. "You put all those things together and it certainly adds to the enthusiasm and that's what these guys want to be involved in so this is exactly what you want.''
Washburn senior defensive back Caeden Spencer agreed that playing the Hornets in the opener adds a different aspect to the rivalry.
"It does feel a little weird,'' Spencer said. "Usually it's midseason -- Week 5, Week 6 -- but starting out with them first it's a pretty exciting first game for us.
"I don't think that there's really a better way to start than to have them first. I haven't beaten Emporia yet in my career and this is the final one, so we've got to get it done.''
Emporia State coach Garin Higgins said that ESU-WU is a highligh no matter when the game is played.
"Whether it's the first game of the year or the 10th game of the year it's still the same,'' Higgins said. "At the beginning of the year, the first game, you're going to get a lot of college students all coming back and they're looking for something to do, 'Well go to the game on Thursday night.' I think there's little added excitement there.
"I like it and I think it's good for Division II football.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Washburn University volleyball was picked to finished fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll released Friday by the conference.
Washburn University has been picked to finish fourth in the MIAA preseason volleybal poll. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods received one vote to finish first in the newly expanded 12-team conference, finishing with a total of 90 points.
Central Missouri was picked to repeat as the regular-season MIAA champion, receiving five first place votes and 113 total points.
Central Oklahoma was close behind with 110 points and three first place votes while Nebraska-Kearney also had three first-place votes to round out the top three coaches' picks.
Missouri Western was picked fifth, just behind Washburn, and Northwest Missouri was tabbed for a sixth-place finish.
Arkansas-Fort Smith was picked seventh in its inaugural season in the MIAA.
Washburn posted a 17-11 overall record last season with an 11-9 record in the MIAA, good for fifth in the conference.
The Ichabods will open their season on Thursday, Sept. 5, against Sioux Falls (S.D.) in Kansas City, Mo. at the Kansas City Classic.
2024 MIAA VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Barely a month into his adjustment to college football last season, Washburn University true freshman Sam Van Dyne was thrust into the QB-1 role for the Ichabods, starting the final nine games after starter Kellen Simoncic went down with a season-ending inury in the second game of the year.
Sam Van Dyne
And although the injury-plagued Ichabods struggled through a 2-9 campaign, Van Dyne is counting on the experiences of 2023, both good and bad, to pay dividends for himself and his teammates this fall.
"I definitely think the fastest way to learn is kind of sink or swim, getting thrown into the fire, and I definitely got thrown into the fire last year, but I feel like I learned a lot, so it will help me this year,'' said Van Dyne, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder. "It would have been nice, obviously, if Kellen hadn't got hurt, but I couldn't say no to playing college football as a true freshman.''
Washburn quarterback Sam Van Dine threw for 2,002 yards and 15 touchdowns last fall as a true freshman. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Van Dyne went through the growing pains that all young players go through, but had a solid year overall, passing for 2,002 yards and 15 touchdowns while completing 166 of 312 attempts.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior outside hitter Jalyn Stevenson is the unquestioned veteran for the 2024 Washburn University volleyball team, playing in 97 career matches with 89 starts for the Ichabods.
Jalyn Stevenson
And the two-time All-MIAA first-team pick and former All-American still has vivid memories of how it all started.
"I was terrified,'' Stevenson said during WU's Volleyball Media Day. "My high school coach (Erica Cowhick Book) played for Coach (Chris) Herron so I kind of had an idea and I had been to a few practices and I had watched them, but you never really know what you're getting yourself into until you're here and then you're like, 'Oh gosh, here we go.'
"In experience I feel like I've been here 10 years already but in time I feel like it was just yesterday that I was doing this exact same thing, my first Media Day, and we did it right here (in Whiting Fieldhouse).''
Stevenson made 30 starts with 253 kills as a true freshman and played in the NCAA Division II championship match, surrounded by former WU All-Americans Allison Maxwell, Genna Berg and Faith Rottinghaus.
Senior outside hitter Jalyn Stevenson (10) is a two-time All-MIAA first-team pick and a former All-American for Washburn volleyball. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Now the former Spring Hill star wants to do everything she can in her final Washburn season to be that kind of a leader for an Ichabod team that includes eight freshmen.
"Obviously I have a lot of experience and I've played in some high level games, so I think my job is to just kind of help them understand what we're doing, what we're aiming towards and keep the team on track,'' said Stevenson, who recorded 342 kills and 338 digs as a junior.
"Also I just want to try to keep them comfortable and show them that it's OK to make errors and show them a positive attitude and a good outlook on the game and things like that.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The NCAA Transfer Portal doesn't always produce the result college athletes, envisioning greener pastures, are looking for.
Jordan Tenpas
But Jordan Tenpas' decision to test the transfer waters after the 2022 soccer season has paid amazing dividends for both Tenpas and the Washburn University women's soccer program.
After playing three collegiate seasons at Minot State, N.D., including the 2020 Covid-shortened season, the standout defender made the tough decision to enter the portal, eventually choosing to join Davy Phillips' Ichabods for her junior year.
The result was an All-American season for Tenpas and the most successful season in Washburn soccer history, capped by an appearance in the NCAA Division II championship game.
"It feels so good,'' Tenpas said during WU's Soccer Media Day. "Going into the transfer portal is a scary thing. You never know what's going to happen -- if you're going to get picked up or if you're not, if you're going to regret it, if you're not.
"And oh my gosh, I could not be happier with my decision.''
A native of Placentia, Calif., Tenpas started in 21 matches for a total of 1,860 minutes, the sixth most minutes played in a season in program history, while helping the 21-4-1 Ichabods record 11 shutouts on defense.
Washburn senior defender Jordan Tenpas (left) was a first-team All-American and the MIAA Defender of the Year last fall for the national-runnerup Ichabods. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Tenpas was named the MIAA Defender of the Year and was a first-team all-conference pick before earning first-team United Soccer Coaches and Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America honors and being named to the NCAA National Championships All-Tournament Team.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the first time in five seasons Washburn University soccer will have a new goalkeeper this fall, with four-year starter Raegan Wells graduating after a record-setting career, capped by a trip to the national championship game last fall.
Hailey Beck
Now former Washburn Rural standout Hailey Beck wants to do everything she can to earn the chance to help fill that spot for the Ichabods.
Beck was one of Wells' two backups during the 2023 season and said she tried to learn everything she could from the Washburn veteran.
"I was able to pick up a ton from her,'' Beck said during Monday's Washburn Media Day. "It was just amazing, getting to watch her do her thing and being able to apply things that she does in a game to my own style of play and how I play so I got to learn a lot of really great lessons from her.''
Beck said the key now is to put what she learned as a freshman to good use as she tries to earn to the starting job in net for Washburn.
"I've just got to stick to what I know and what I can do and allow others to help build me up along the way and just take notes along the way and help myself grow,'' said Beck, who was a standout in both soccer and tennis for Washburn Rural.
Former Washburn Rural standout Hailey Beck is starting her second soccer season at Washburn University. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
As she begins her second season at Washburn, Beck said she knows she made the right decision when she opted to sign with the home-town Ichabods.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Washburn University, the defending Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association regular-season champion, has been picked to finish at the top of the league again this season in the 2024 MIAA Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released Friday.
The Ichabods totaled 137 points and nine first-place votes to secure the top spot after advancing all the way to the NCAA Division II National Championship match in Matthews, North Carolina last season before suffering a 1-0 loss to Point Loma Nazarene University. The defending national runnersup ended the season with an overall record of 21-4-1 and clinched the 2023 MIAA regular-season title with a league record of 9-1-1. It was the Ichabods' first MIAA championship crown since 2006. After three consecutive regular-season titles, the Jennies finished second in the league last season with an MIAA record of 8-1-2. Central Missouri finished 16-5-2 overall last season, concluding the year in the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 3-2 overtime loss to Washburn. Following the Griffons were Central Oklahoma at No. 7 with 82 points, Northeastern State No. 8 with 77 points, Rogers State No. 9 with 58 points and Nebraska-Kearney No. 10 with 46 points. In Pittsburg State’s inaugural season, the Gorillas were selected 11th with 39 points, followed by Newman and Missouri Southern. The 2024 MIAA women’s soccer season officially kicks off Thursday, Sept. 5. The MIAA Women’s Soccer Championship is scheduled to begin Sunday, Nov. 10 with the top four seeds hosting quarterfinal matches. The four remaining seeds will travel to Wichita for the championship’s final matches set for November 14 and 16 at the Stryker Sports Complex. Taylor Rottinghaus quickly carving out her own niche with Washburn University volleyball
By RICK PETERSON TopSports.news The Rottinghaus name was already a familiar one in Washburn University volleyball lore before Taylor Rottinghaus ever stepped on campus, with her older sister Faith a five-time All-American, a national NCAA Division II runnerup and the Ichabods' all-time digs leader.
But in just one season Taylor is well on the way to carving out her own legacy at WU, earning All-MIAA Tournament and all-conference second-team honors in 2023 as a freshman defensive specialist/libero. A former three-sport standout at Shawnee Heights, Taylor Rottinghaus played in all 28 matches (96 of 103 sets) for the 17-11 Ichabods last fall while leading the team in digs with 444 on the year (4.63 average per set) and also recording 78 assists with seven service aces. If Taylor felt any pressure being the little sister an Ichabod legend, who played the same position, Rottinghaus said it quickly dissipated. "Coming in I felt a little pressure, but I would say the pressure was gone within a week and nothing regarding Faith happened at all last year -- it was only Taylor,'' Rottinghaus said. And although Faith was around for support if needed, Taylor said her sister remained in the background. "She left me alone and she let me do my own thing, which I really appreciate,'' Taylor said.
Rottinghaus, who received All-United Kansas Conference recognition in volleyball, basketball and track at Shawnee Heights and was a Class 5A state medalist in track, admitted that there were a few growing pains making the jump from high school to college, but said she was pleased with her season overall and is looking for bigger things for herself and her team this fall. Former Trojan star Tylan Alejos focused on making impact for Washburn football this fall
By RICK PETERSON TopSports.news After rarely leaving the field as a two-way starter for Topeka High as a senior in the 2021 football season, Tylan Alejos has done a lot of watching the past two years.
The 5-foot-9, 200-pound sophomore running back is hoping to change that this fall in his second season for Washburn University. "I would say that this is the most prepared I came into a football season and I should be seeing the field a lot this year,'' Alejos said. Alejos earned All-Shawnee County Top 22 and All-Centennial League first-team honors as a senior at High after rushing for 1,327 yards on 202 carries with 18 total touchdowns, including a 400-yard, eight-touchdown game in a Centennial League victory over Highland Park, and recording 40 tackles (16 solo) with a pass interception.
Alejos opted to walk on at the University of Kansas as a freshman and redshirted the '22 season before transerring to Washburn last fall. But even though he never got on the field at KU, he believes his time with the Jayhawks was a valuable experience. "I'd say it was the best situation for me because I got to play against some of the best players in the country at the Power 5 level and saw every day what it takes to get to that next level,'' Alejos said. Switch from diamond to gridiron pays big dividends for Tyce Brown, Ichabods
By RICK PETERSON TopSports.news Former Shawnee Heights three-sport standout Tyce Brown once had his heart set on being a college baseball player, committing to Division I Xavier before his junior season in high school.
But after one college season Brown made the decision to come home to Washburn, first as a dual sport athlete in baseball and football before deciding to concentrate on football. It's a decision the 6-foot, 185-pound senior wide receiver will never regret. "It's definitely been a journey,'' Brown said. "I've learned so many things along the way and just thankful to be in the place I am today and to meet the people I've met and just want to keep striving to be better. "They welcomed me in with open arms -- Coach (Craig) Schurig and Coach (Jeff) Schwinn and Coach Wat (Zach Watkins) -- and I just fell in love with the bond here and the chemistry. I started to struggle a little bit in baseball and I was just happy every time I came out here for practice and just wanted more and more and that's kind of just how I ended up here today.''
Schurig knew of Brown's athletic abilities from his high school days at Shawnee Heights and said he was a perfect fit for the Ichabods. "I was thinking he'd be a safety, to be honest, but we had depth there and moved him to receiver and he stepped right in and made plays right off the bat,'' Schurig said. "He's got a great feel, great ball awareness, all of those things, is a very good athlete and he's had a really good career.'' Ichabods' Tre Richardson looking to deliver for hometown on, off the football field
By RICK PETERSON TopSports.news Tre Richardson is extremely grateful for all the people in his life who have helped him become the athlete and person he is today.
And now the former multi-sport Highland Park star, who is beginning his first season with the Washburn University football team, is determined to do whatever he can to help others in the Hi Park and Topeka community. Richardson announced last week on X (formerly Twitter) that he plans to launch a scholarship program to benefit a pair of seniors (one male and one female) from his alma mater. "I just wanted to give back to the community after they have given so much to me,'' Richardson said. "Me and my mom (Kawanda) talked about it and thought about making it for Highland Park kids and just helping a little bit.'' Richardson's plans are to begin accepting applications through his LockedIn Mentality Foundation Oct. 1 through Jan. 1, 2025, with the scholarship winners to be announced next April 1. "It's a start and that's why we're going to start with HP and then we want to expand it to other schools and make it bigger and for everybody to to get a chance to win it,'' Richardson said. Top Sports News Team
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