Washburn University - Top Sports News - The top sports news from Topeka & Shawnee County.

Ichabods to host Washburn Classic Friday and Saturday in newly renovated Lee Arena

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University women's basketball will play its first game inside the new Lee Arena at 7 p.m. Friday as the Ichabods host Southwest Baptist in the first day of the Washburn Classic.

Senior star Yibari Nwidadah and the 1-1 Washburn women will host the Washburn Classic Friday and Saturday in the new Lee Arena. [File photo/TSN]

"I think it really looks good,'' Washburn senior star Yibari Nwidadah said. "They've worked really hard over the last few months, so I'm excited to play on that court.''

Washburn will play Metropolitan State of Denver in Day 2 of the tournament at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Ichabods are 1-1 on the season after splitting games in the Central Region Challenge in Edmond, Okla. last weekend.

After falling 73-61 to St. Cloud on Friday, Washburn picked up its first win of the season on Saturday afternoon with a late comeback to knock off No. 18-ranked Southwest Minnesota State, 63-59.

Junior Britany Kogbara led the way with 15 points for WU while senior Nwidadah scored 14 points with a block and a steal and senior Payton Sterk also had 14 points along with four steals and junior Madelyn Amekporfor had nine points with a team-high seven boards.

"Obviously we bounced back. which was very very productive of us,'' Nwidadah said. "I think we know the team we can be and I think we showed that on Saturday, especially coming off that loss on Friday. Overall, I'm just really excited.''

"I think our first game we did a lot of really nice things, we just didn't pay attention to the details when we needed to,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said. "We just couldn't stack together enough quality possessions. Your biggest fear is you see stuff on film that you can't fix but everything we saw on tape we can fix and get better at and I was really proud of my team's response the second day.

"We got better from Day 1 to Day 2 and put a solid performance together with enough to work on that we're really excited moving forward.''

Southwest Baptist enters Friday's game with a 1-1 record while MSU Denver begins the weekend with an 0-2 record.

The Washburn Classic will be comprised of the Ichabods' two opponents, Southwest Baptist and Metropolitan State of Denver along with Northeastern State, also from the MIAA.

The 2025-26 season marks the 42nd season of play inside Lee Arena since the facility opened for the 1983-84 season. Washburn is 465-130 all-time inside Lee Arena.

Nwidadah leads the Ichabods with a 14.5 scoring average in just 22.5 minutes per game on the short season and also leads the team grabbing with 6.0 rebounds per game while also shooting 60.0 percent from the floor and swatting away 1.0 blocks per game.

With 233 career offensive rebounds Nwidadah is fourth in program history and she is 13th with 635 career boards.

Nwidadah's career field goal percentage of .581 is the second best in program history. In scoring she ranks 22nd with 1,021 career points.

Kogbara has provided a spark off the bench in both games, averaging 12.5 points in just 16.5 minutes per game. She is shooting 61.1 percent from the floor, second best on the team, while grabbing 4.5 rebounds per game and coming up with 1.5 steals a game. The junior has scored in double figures in both games.

Sterk is averaging 12.5 points while starting both games and playing 30.5 minutes, second most on the team. Sterk averages a team-high 2.5 steals and has connected from deep three times, also tops on the team. The senior ranks fifth in the MIAA in steals per game.

Amekporfor is averaging 8.5 points and logging a team-high 31.5 mpg. She is shooting 61.5 percent from the floor, tops on the team, while averaging 4.0 points. The junior is averaging a team-high 2.5 blocks, while also making 1.5 steals per game.

No. 4 seed Washburn soccer to open NCAA Central Region bid against Missouri Western

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University soccer will face MIAA foe Missouri Western at 10 a.m. Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Mankato, Minn.

Washburn soccer will open its NCAA Tournament bid at 10 a.m. Friday in Mankato, Minn. against Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

The 11-3-5 Ichabods are the No. 4 seed in the Central Region while 12-2-7 Missouri Western is the No. 5 seed.

"I'm very proud of this year's team and the journey that we have been on to earn the chance to compete on the national stage tomorrow,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "I'm excited for the ladies to execute our brand of soccer and continue to grow within our game model as we compete for a national championship.

"Missouri Western is a good team and well coached and it should be a really high-level college soccer game.''

Washburn enters the match after failing to win their past two matches, both against rival Emporia State, with a scoreless draw on Senior Day and a 3-2 loss in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.

Washburn and Missouri Western met earlier this year in St. Joseph, Mo., where the match ended in a 0-0 draw.

Washburn's defense has been its focal point, allowing just three goals during the MIAA regular season and scoring 20 during that span. The Ichabods allowed only 60 shots on goal all season, while they put 125 shots on goal.

Defenders Rilyn Snyder and Shaye Taylor are one-two in minutes played this season while senior Belle Kennedy anchors the Ichabods from the heart of the midfield.

The Washburn Rural alum earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-MIAA first-team honors.

Washburn is led in goals and points by freshman Leah Henke, who has nine goals on the year and has added an assist.

Sophomore Sam Searcey has five goals and four assists while freshman Kate Hinck has also found the back of the net five times this year and junior Mackinly Rohn has three goals and an assist. Hinck and Rohn are both former Washburn Rural stars.

The Griffons are coming off an MIAA Tournament title, which booked their place in the NCAA Tournament.

Washburn leads the all-time series with Western, 16-12-1. The Ichabods have won five of the last eight matches with the Griffons.

The Washburn-Missouri Western winner will advance to a 1 p.m. match on Sunday to face the winner between No. 1 seed Minnesota State-Mankato and No. 8 seed Harding.

No. 3 seed Washburn volleyball advances to MIAA Tournament semifinals with 3-1 win

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 3 seed Washburn University volleyball snapped a two-match MIAA Tournament losing streak on Thursday afternoon in St. Joseph, Mo., taking a 3-1 quarterfinal win over No. 6 seed Central Missouri.

Washburn volleyball is headed to the MIAA Tournament semifinals after a 3-1 win over Central Missouri Thursday in St. Joseph, Mo. [File photo/TSN]

The 25-3 Ichabods, who had been eliminated in the MIAA quarterfinals the previous two seasons, now move into the semifinal round where they will face No. 7 seed Pittsburg State at 5 p.m. on Friday.

A strong start for Washburn led to a 25-17 win in the opening set. The Jennies (20-8) took control early in the second set to win 25-11, but the Ichabods were able to bounce back, winning 25-17 in the third and closing out the match, 25-12.

An early four-point burst capped off by a block by Bella Limback and Austin Broadie gave Washburn a 4-1 lead. The lead grew to six points at 12-6 after three more points in a row by the three seed.

Natalie Hedlund found the floorboard for a kill that pushed the lead to 19-11 but was followed by a 6-2 run for Central Missouri to pull within four. The Ichabods closed out the set with the final four points, and final three on kills coming on passes from Corinna McMullen.

The Jennies got out to a 7-2 start in the second set, with the lead growing to 15-4 after an 8-1 run. Washburn didn't score consecutive points in the set as the Central Missouri offense hit a blazing .394 in the set.

After falling behind 3-1 early in the third set, a four-point run gave the Ichabods control of the set. The Jennies hung around and pulled within one point at 14-13 before Limback started a three-point burst with a kill. Washburn took control of the set with five more in a row, leading 23-15 after a Broadie and Brooklyn Morrisey block. They wrapped up the set to lead 2-1 in the match.

Davy Phillips becomes Washburn soccer's all-time wins leader in 2-0 Central Region win

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University soccer coach Davy Phillips became the school's all-time wins leader on Friday in Mankato, Minn. as the Ichabods advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 victory over Missouri Western.

Davy Phillips became Washburn soccer's career wins leader on Friday with a 2-0 NCAA Central Region win over Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

Freshman standouts Kate Hinck and Leah Henke scored Washburn's goals, one in each half, as the Ichabods improved to 12-3-5 and advanced to Sunday's 1 p.m. game to face No. 1 seed and regional host Minnesota State-Mankato.

Phillips picked up Washburn win No. 91 to take over the top spot on the school's career victory list.

"I thought they played really, really well,'' Phillips said. "I thought the girls brought a terrific mentality and put on a really good performance today. Really happy with what they could do on the field today."

The opening 10 minutes were controlled by the Griffons, who attempted two shots on goal in that span.

Freshman Kate Hinck scored the only goal Washburn would need in Friday's 2-0 Central Region win over Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]

It would be a back-and-forth game until the 33rd minute when Hinck took a pass from fellow freshman Henke and found the back of the net to give Washburn a 1-0 halftime advantage. Freshman goalkeeper Lili Everley made four saves in the opening 45 minutes.

Washburn would start the second half with three shots in the opening five minutes, with two of them being on goal.

Freshman Leah Henke scored her 10th goal of the season in Friday's 2-0 Washburn Central Region win over Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]

The Ichabods would continue to apply pressure and broke through in the 65th minute with Henke scoring off an assist from sophomore Sam Searcey.

Washburn, which battled Western to a 0-0 tie in the regular season, out-shot the Griffons 15-14, and both teams had eight shots on goal.

Everley made a career-high eight saves in the match.

Henke scored her 10th goal of the season, putting her fifth in Washburn history for most goals in a single season, and second-most by a freshman in a single season behind Jessica Mainz's 13 goals in 2005.

Hinck, the former Wasburn Rural star, recorded her sixth goal of her freshman campaign, tying her for 18th for the most goals for WU in a single season.

Broadie named MIAA Player of the Year as seven WU players earn all-conference VB recognition

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University volleyball had seven players named to the All-MIAA team released by Wednesday afternoon, led by senior Austin Broadie, the fourth MIAA Player of the Year in program history.

Washburn senior volleyball standout Austin Broadie was named the MIAA Player of the Year on Wednesday, one of seven Ichabods to receive all-conference recognition. [File photo/TSN]

Broadie, a fifth-year senior out of Wichita Trinity, becomes the first Ichabod to win the player of the year honor since Genna Berg was selected as the co-player of the year in 2019.

Washburn coach Chris Herron, who got the news about Broadie's award shortly before the Ichabods boarded their bus to travel to St. Joseph, Mo. for the MIAA Tournament, said he was thrilled for her.

"I'm so pumped,'' Herron said. "I can't wait to announce it on the bus here in just a little bit. I've got a whole thing planned for it. I'm excited for her.''

Broadie went through her Senior Night activities in 2024 before making the decision to come back for a fifth year with the Ichabods.

"She came back for reasons,'' Herron said. "Her and I had a personal one-on-one conversation and she ripped off about three or four reasons why she wanted to come back. They were all valid and this was one of them.''

Broadie led Washburn with 298 kills (3.31 per set) while hitting .330 across all 27 regular-season matches. She added 54 blocks to give her 325.5 total points (3.62 per set).

Broadie has 15 matches with double-digit kills, including two where she recorded more than 20 kills. She set a career-high with 25 kills against Ouachita Baptist in five sets while also hitting .373. Broadie finished third in the MIAA in hitting percentage while ranking fifth in both kills per set and points per set to earn first-team and player of the year honors.

Joining Broadie on the first team is fellow senior Bella Limback. Limback started all 27 matches, slashing 177 kills (2.01 per set) while hitting a team-high .469. On the defensive side Limback led the team with 102 blocks (1.16 per set) while adding 39 digs and serving 12 aces.

The Waverly, Mo. native had three matches with double-figure kills and 11 with five or more blocks. Limback led both the MIAA and the nation in hitting percentage while finishing fifth in the conference in blocks per set.

Seniors Alex Dvorak and Corinna McMullen, junior Taylor Rottinghaus and sophomore Brynne Topolski were all named to the All-MIAA second team.

No. 7-ranked Washburn volleyball set to open MIAA Tournament bid in balanced field

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn will open its postseason on Thursday in the MIAA Tournament against Central Missouri in St. Joseph, Mo. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn wrapped up its regular season with a 24-3 record overall and a 13-3 mark in the MIAA while Central Missouri enters the match 20-7 record overall and 11-5 in the MIAA.

The Ichabods are one of six teams in the field with at least 20 victories and Washburn coach Chris Herron said all six are capable of challenging for the championship.

"I think any of the six teams could be the champion,'' Herron said.

No. 2 seed Missouri Western (21-6, 13-3) will open the quarterfinals at 12 p.m. Thursday against No. 7 Pittsburg State (12-14, 6-10) while No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney (26-3, 13-3) will face No. 8 Fort Hays State (16-12, 5-11) at 5 o'clock and No. 4 Central Oklahoma (26-4, 12-4) will close out the day with a 7:30 match against No. 5 Emporia State (21-6, 12-4).

Washburn is coming off a 3-1 win over then-No. 7-ranked UCO last Friday and a 3-0 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday to earn a share of the MIAA regular-season championship along with Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Western.

MIAA Player of the Year Austin Broadie said the Ichabods know they'll need to be at their best to win this week's tournament.

"A thousand percent,'' Broadie said. "Even playing UCM tomorrow, they're good, and just coming out strong against them I think would help set the tone for the tournament.''

Herron agreed.

"From now on you have to (play your best) and that's OK,'' Herron said. "That's just the progression of your team and it should be the progression of your team. You've just got to go play loose, have fun and enjoy what you've been doing and just keep doing what you've been doing, just do it with a tiny bit more focus.''

Broadie, a fifth-year senior, leads the Washburn offense with 298 kills (3.31 per set) while hitting .330, third best on the team. She has started all 27 matches and had 54 blocks with 55 digs. Broadie has 15 double-digit kill matches and ranks third in the MIAA. She is fifth among conference players in points per set and kills per set.

Senior Bella Limback, a first-team All-MIAA pick, is slashing a team-high .469 with 177 kills (2.01 per set) while starting in all 27 matches. She has also added 102 blocks (1.16 per set), also a team-high, and served 12 aces. She has hit over .400 in all but nine matches this season with three double-digit kill efforts. She leads the nation in hitting percentage and is fifth in the MIAA in blocks per set.

No. 2-ranked Washburn men rally to christen new Lee Arena with 85-81 win over Rockhurst

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 2-ranked Washburn University men's basketball used a furious late-game rally Wednesday night to remain unbeaten with an 85-81 win over Rockhurst in the debut of the newly renovated Lee Arena.

Sophomore Tyson Ruud slams home a dunk in Washburn's 85-81 win over Rockhurst Wednesday night in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

The Ichabods turned a five-point deficit with 2:29 to play into the four-point win, improving to 5-0 on the season.

"I think when you have the year we had last year and you play really well early and you're ranked where you're ranked, I think the expectations are high and I think our guys felt a little bit of pressure and pressed a little bit in that game,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said.

"That happens, but I was proud of how we responded when we could have caved and handled those last couple of minutes. Ultimately, this is really good for us to play in these type of games and it's good for us if we can really learn from it.''

Washburn, which led for the bulk of the game, pushed its lead to a game-high 15 at 62-47 midway through the second half, but Rockhurst responded with its best stretch of the night, using an 11-0 run to quickly close the gap.

The Hawks (2-1) hit three 3-pointers in less than four minutes to take a 79-74 lead, but from that point on the Ichabods outscored the Hawks 11-2 the rest of the game.

Bryson Smith scored 22 points, including the go-ahead basket, in Washburn's 85-81 win over Rockhurst Wednesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Senior Bryson Smith's driving layup with 51 seconds remaining gave Ichabods an 81-79 lead.

Then, after a key defensive stop, sophomore Tyson Ruud stepped to the free throw line and hit one of two free throws to extend the Washburn edge to three.

The Hawks came up empty on the following trip, and when senior Sam Ungashick came up with a steal in the final seconds and sank two free throws with three seconds left, the Ichabods' comeback was sealed.

Smith led the Ichabods with 22 points, including 19 in the second half, on 7 of 11 shooting and a 7 of 9 showing at the free throw line.

"Coach Ballard kind of got on me at halftime and the first half I wasn't playing a good game and I felt like I had to turn it up as a senior and a leader on the team to make winning plays at the end,'' Smith said.

Jack Bachelor had 17 points with four assists as Washburn rallied for an 85-81 win over Rockhurst Wednesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Sophomore Dillon Claussen had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in Wednesday's 85-81 Washburn win over Rockhurst. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Junior Jack Bachelor added 17 points and four assists while Ruud came off the bench for a career-high 13 points and six rebounds and Dillon Claussen scored 12 points, with five rebounds and four assists.

Ruud has been hampered by injuries in his first two seasons at Washburn, but is now living up to the potential he showed out of Basehor-Linwood.

"It's so good to be healthy,'' Ruud said. "My prayers have been answered and it feels amazing to be out there finally.''

First-teamer Haverkamp leads 10 Ichabods on All-MIAA football team

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Washburn Ichabod placed 10 members on the All-MIAA football team announced on Tuesday, led by first-team defensive pick Kamble Haverkamp.

Kamble Haverkamp

The Ichabods also put two players on the second team and one on the third team, while six WU players received honorable mention.

Haverkamp, a senior safety, was a first-team pick after recording 76 tackles with a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss for 48 yards and a team-best 5.5 sacks for 37 yards. The Centralia product also led the Ichabods with four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.

Picking up second-team defensive honors were sophomore linebacker JC Heim and senior punter Jake Zeller.

The wait is over! Ichabod basketball teams set to christen newly-renovated Lee Arena

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

It's been a long wait, but Washburn University's basketball teams will finally get the opportunity to officially christen the newly-renovated Lee Arena this week as the Ichabods tip off the home portion of the 2025-2026 basketball season.

After seventh months of waiting, Lee Arena will be rocking Wednesday night when Washburn's men's basketball team hosts Rockhurst in a 7 p.m. contest. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

The Ichabod men will host Rockhurst at 7 p.m. Wednesday while the WU women will host back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday in the Washburn Invitational.

The $8 million dollar, seven-month-long renovation of Lee, which opened in 1984 and is the home for the Ichabod basketball and volleyball teams, necessitated major schedule changes, including the nationally-ranked WU volleyball team playing all of its regular-season matches in Whiting Fieldhouse.

But now its time to reap the rewards the new state of the art facility will provide.

"My office looks into the gym, so for the last six months every day you see it,'' Washburn men's basketball coach Brett Ballard said. "That's good and bad because it just feels like at first nothing's happening and then it's all come together.

"It looks amazing. I've always felt like we had a great atmosphere in Lee Arena, and I think this will just enhance it. I know our guys are really appreciative and excited about it. We're just ready to get that opportunity to play out there.''

Lee, which had not been used since the Washburn men captured the NCAA Division II regional championship in late March, features a new court and scoreboards, a new seating system and updated technology.

Both Washburn basketball teams will make their debuts in the newly-renovated Lee Arena this week. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

"You just walk down there and I don't know if you can feel energy in a place, but you can feel it in there,'' Washburn women's coach Lora Westling said. "It's fresh, it's clean, it's sharp and I just can't imagine a better venue in Division II in the country. We're just dying to get on it because they've done an exceptional job with the renovation.''

"I'm excited, it looks great,'' said Washburn women's senior standout Payton Sterk. "It's really going to be awesome in there.

"It was beautiful before, so it's really been cool to see what they've been doing and I'm really excited to play in it and have my family and friends and everyone be able to be in there and watch, too.''

Washburn men to put 4-0 record on the line in home-opener against Rockhurst

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After opening the 2025-2026 season with four straight win on the road, No. 2-ranked Washburn University men's basketball will open its home slate at 7 p.m. Wednesday, facing Rockhurst in the newly renovated Lee Arena.

Junior Jack Bachelor (14) is averaging 19.3 points and 5.0 assists for 4-0 Washburn. [File photo/TSN]

Sophomore Dillon Claussen is averaging 18.0 points and 8.8 rebounds with a pair of double-doubles for Washburn. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn picked up a pair of wins last weekend in the Central Region Challenge in Pittsburg, topping Minnesota-State Moorhead 95-63 and Winona State, 88-57.

Rockhurst is 2-0 this season after two wins in the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge, downing Davenport 82-72 and Purdue-Northwest, 85-78.

The Ichabods are 39-1 all-time in their home-openers. The lone loss was on Nov. 16, 1990 to Friends, 89-88. Since then the Ichabods have won 34 consecutive home-openers. The 2025-26 season marks the 121st season of Ichabod basketball.

Former Ichabod Levi Braun, a Hayden graduate, is in his second season as a graduate assistant for Rockhurst. At Washburn Braun played from 2019-2024 and is the school's all-time leader in 3-point percentage at .450, hitting 148 of 329 attempts and sits 14th on the all-time 3-pointer chart.

The Ichabods are second in scoring margin in the NCAA D-II ranks at plus-30.8 points, trailing Black Hills State (plus-32.0).

Washburn junior Jack Bachelor is eighth in the nation in assists (20/5.0) and sophomore Dillon Claussen is fourth in the nation in double-doubles with two in four games. Claussen is seventh in the nation in field goal percentage at 81.3 and 10th in total rebounds with 35.

Bachelor leads the Ichabods with a 19.3 scoring average while hitting 14 3-pointers and going 13 of 14 at the free throw line.

Claussen is averaging 18 points and 8.8 rebounds.

WU's Jeremiah Jones leads the nation in total steals with 17 and is ranked seventh in steals per game at 4.25 per contest.

A1 Lock & Key Performers Nov. 17, 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Jack Bachelor

JACK BACHELOR, Washburn University

A junior guard, Bachelor scored 23 points on 7 of 13 shooting with three 3-pointers and 6 of 6 free throws in an 95-63 win over Minnesota State-Moorhead and had 14 points with five assists and three 3s in an 88-57 in over Winona State as No. 2-ranked Washburn went 2-0 in the Central Regional Challenge at Pittsburg to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Mason Becker

MASON BECKER, Hayden

Becker, a junior, scored a 71-yard touchdown on a pass reception from Connor Hanika, rushed for 78 yards on 9 carries, went 5 of 5 on extra-point attempts to improve his season PAT streak to 61 and averaged 44.5 yards on two punts as Hayden improved to 11-0 with an 43-29 home Class 3A state quarterfinal win over Jefferson West.

Autumn Gibbs

AUTUMN GIBBS, Washburn University

A junior volleyball player, Gibbs came up big in Friday's 3-1 home MIAA win over Central Oklahoma. After Washburn, now No. 7-ranked, dropped a 25-23 first-set decision, Gibbs jump-started her team with six straight service points, including three aces, at the end of the second set to give WU a 25-22 win before it closed out the match with 25-19 and 25-16 wins. Washburn took a 3-0 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith the following day to earn a share of the MIAA regular-season championship.

Ichabod football ends 2025 season with 29-24 MIAA win at Missouri Southern

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Ichabod football closed out its 2025 season on Saturday with a come-from-behind 29-24 MIAA victory at Missouri Southern.

The Ichabods finished 3-8 overall and 2-7 in the MIAA, powered by a pair of late scoring drives, a defensive touchdown and two huge defensive stops on fourth down in the Lion redzone.

Sophomore cornerback Josh Grant returned a fumble 83 yards for a touchdown, helping spark Washburn's season-ending 29-24 MIAA win at Missouri Southern. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

"I don't care how you win a game in the MIAA,'' Washburn coach Zach Watkins told KTPK Radio. "It's tough to win and I'm so happy for these guys and these seniors and where this program's going moving forward.

"But to win the way we won it. We've lost that game all year (four losses between three and seven points), so to win it that way is hugely impressive and I'm proud of these guys.''

Washburn made the most of its opportunities despite being outgained 442-345, finishing four for four in the red zone and scoring 13 points off turnover, including the play of the game, an 83-yard fumble return touchdown by Josh Grant that flipped momentum early in the second half.

Washburn opened the scoring late in the first quarter when Keller Hurla capped an 80-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Henry Mohrmann with 32 seconds left in the quarter.

Missouri Southern responded quickly with a 54-yard touchdown pass and added a field goal to take a 10-6 lead midway through the second quarter.

Logan Madden then engineered a 64-yard Washburn scoring drive, hitting former Washburn Rural standout Ty Weber on a 16-yard scoring strike to put WU back in front, 13-10.

The Ichabods added a 26-yard field goal from Aidan Battle just before halftime for a 16-10 advantage.

Early in the third quarter, Missouri Southern drove inside the Washburn red zone before the Ichabod defense provided a massive turning point.

Keith Guidry forced a fumble that Grant scooped up and returned 83 yards for a touchdown, extending the Washburn lead to 23-10.

The Lions answered with consecutive touchdown drives to take a 24-23 lead late in the third quarter.

Trailing in the fourth, Washburn delivered its best drive of the day.

Starting at its own 18, Madden guided a 12-play, 82-yard march, featuring steady runs from Cam Robinson and efficient short passes.

Madden finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Mohrmann -- his second of the game -- with 4:16 remaining.

The Ichabod defense held from there, posting a fourth-down stop in the red zone to secure the victory. On a 4th and 2 from the Ichabod 9, the Lion running back was tackled by Washburn Rural product JC Heim and forced a fumble and Kamble Haverkamp recovered the ball at the Ichabod 7, ending the play.

Two kneel downs later, the Ichabods picked up the win.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Logan Madden threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns in Washburn's 29-24 MIAA win at Missouri Southern. [File photo/TSN]

Madden finished 21 of 26 passing for 186 yards and two touchdowns while Hurla added a 4-for-5 passing performance and a touchdown, along with 49 rushing yards.

Robinson led the ground attack with 82 yards on 17 carries.

Trey Harmison caught six passes for 72 yards and Nathan Lewis Jr. added five receptions for 32 yards.

Sophomore linebacker JC Heim registered 12 tackles and forced a fumble in Washburn's 29-24 MIAA road win at Missouri Southern Saturday. [File photo/TSN]

Defensively, JC Heim led Washburn with 12 tackles, while Jordan Finnesy and Jaren Heim added eight stops apiece.

Grant recorded the game-changing fumble return touchdown and had five tackles and Haverkamp added an interception.

Washburn totaled 147 rushing yards on 35 attempts and completed 25 of 31 passes for 198 yards. The Ichabods converted 7 of 12 third downs and 4 for 4 red zone chances while forcing two turnovers and scoring on both.

No. 2 Washburn men's basketball 4-0 after 88-57 rout in Central Regional Challenge

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 2-ranked Washburn Ichabods improved to 4–0 on the season Saturday with an 88-57 rout over Winona State in Pittsburg in their final game of the Central Regional Challenge.

Junior Jack Bachelor scored 14 points with five assists and three 3-pointers in Saturday's 88-57 win over Winona State in the Central Regional Challenge. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn returns to a renovated Lee Arena for its home opener against Rockhurst on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

After falling behind 2–0 on the opening possession, Washburn responded with a 10-0 run midway through the first half, sparked by threes from Bryson Smith and Jermiah Jones and a fastbreak layup from Dillon Claussen.

That surge flipped the momentum and gave Washburn a lead it would hold for the final 37 minutes.

The Ichabods shot 50 percent in the opening half and knocked down eight triples to build a 41-26 advantage at the break.

The second half was more of the same as Washburn opened with back-to-back transition buckets from Smith and Brady Christiansen, then extended the margin with a 7-0 spurt capped by a Marcus Glock 3-pointer.

The lead ballooned to 33 points in the final minutes, the Ichabods' largest cushion of the night.

No. 16-ranked Ichabod soccer earns No. 4 seed for third straight NCAA tourney berth

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

For the third straight season, the Washburn University soccer team is headed to the NCAA Tournament, this time as the No. 4 seed in the Central Region.

Washburn junior Mackinly Rohn (24) and the Ichabod soccer team will compete in their third straight NCAA Tournament on Friday. [File photo/TSN]

It is the fifth-ever appearance in the national tournament for the Ichabods, who will square off against No. 5-seed Missouri Western in the first round at 10 a.m. Friday in Mankato, Minn.

Washburn is 11-3-5 heading into the tournament while Missouri Western is 12-2-7 overall and was an automatic qualifier for the tournament after it won the MIAA Conference Tournament on Saturday.

The MIAA Conference had four teams get into the tournament, with Washburn being the highest seeded, along with No. 5 Missouri Western, No. 6 Pittsburg State and No. 7 Central Missouri.

Host and No. 1 seed Minnesota State-Mankato will play No. 8 seed Harding on Friday, with that match starting at 1 p.m.

The winners of each matchup will face off on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Washburn women's basketball uses late rally to pick up first win, 63-59 over No. 18 Mustangs

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn women's basketball picked up its first win of the 2025-2026 season on Saturday afternoon, riding a late comeback to knock off No. 18-ranked Southwest Minnesota State 63-59 in the Ichabods' final game of the Central Region Challenge in Edmond, Okla.

Britany Kogbara

The Ichabods will return to action inside of renovated Lee Arena against Southwest Baptist at 7 p.m. next Friday at 7 p.m.

Now 1-1 on the young season, Washburn led early Saturday thanks to points in the paint from Yibari Nwidadah and Britany Kogbara. The Ichabod lead reached six points at 15-9 after a driving basket by Brooke Gomez as WU led the Mustangs (2-2) 17-12 after the opening quarter.

Kogbara got the first basket of the second quarter but after that Southwest Minnesota State took over, scoring the next nine points to lead by two. The deficit reached double figures at 33-22 as the Mustangs connected on five 3-pointers in the quarter. Washburn battled through the hot shooting with five more points from Kogbara in the final 90 seconds to give her 15 in the half and cut the Southwest Minnesota State lead to 35-29 at the break.

After the first two points of the half went to Southwest Minnesota State the next 10 points went to the Ichabods as they tied the game with a bucket by Nwidadah and went in front on a pair of free throws by Payton Sterk. Southwest Minnesota State answered right back, going in front by five to end the third quarter leading 47-42.

The Mustangs' lead reached nine with under eight minutes to play. At the 5:36 mark Sterk drilled a 3-pointer to make it 53-49 and start the Ichabod rally. Washburn got within three in the final three minutes and finally came all the way back to tie it up at 59 after Madelyn Amekporfor hit a jumper at the 1:53 mark. She followed with a fastbreak layup to put Washburn in front. The Ichabods forced three straight turnovers and sank free throws on the other end in the final minute to take the four-point win.

No. 8-ranked Ichabod volleyball sweeps Arkansas-Fort Smith to earn share of MIAA title

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 8-ranked Washburn University volleyball claimed a share of its seventh MIAA title and sixth MIAA regular-season championship with a 3-0 Senior Day sweep of Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday afternoon in Whiting Fieldhouse.

Washburn volleyball celebrates Saturday after earning a share of the MIAA regular-season championship in Whiting Fieldhouse. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn volleyball poses for a team picture after earning a share of the MIAA regular-season title Saturday at Whiting Fieldhouse. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

The Ichabods share the regular season title with Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Western and head to the MIAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed to take on No. 6 Central Missouri at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday in St. Joseph, Mo. at the Civic Arena.

While Washburn coach Chris Herron's long-term focus is on earning an NCAA Tournament berth, he said earning a share of the regular-season conference championship was also big for his team.

"It was one of their big goals,'' Herron said. "One of their five goals this year was to win the conference championship, so I'm happy for them.

"It's the first time in a long time we've won the conference championship, so I couldn't be more happy with them.''

Washburn, which improved to 24-3 overall and 13-3 in the MIAA, breezed through the first two sets with 25-14 and 25-9 wins over the Lions. The Ichabods were slowed in the third set before pulling away late to sweep the Lions (13-16, 3-13) with a 25-23 win.

Shawnee Heights product Kali Henry (right) is congratulated by her Washburn teammates during a long service run in Saturday's 3-0 MIAA sweep over Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Prior to the match seniors Austin Broadie, Sydney Conner, Alex Dvorak, Kali Henry, Bella Limback and Corinna McMullen were recognized.

The Ichabods got to work right away in the first set, leading 8-3 after Limback and Natalie Hedlund combined for a block. Later on McMullen served an ace that capped off a 3-0 run to put Washburn up 18-10. The offense went on to hit .333 in the set as they eased to the 11-point first-set win.

After Arkansas-Fort Smith took the first point in the second set, the next seven came from the Ichabods with the run wrapped up on a kill by Broadie on a pass from McMullen. Shortly after that a 6-0 run pushed the lead to double figures at 14-3. Washburn led by as many as 16 points, including the final margin.

No. 8-ranked Ichabod volleyball takes 3-1 win over No. 7 UCO, earns shot at share of MIAA title

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The outlook for a victory by No. 8-ranked Washburn volleyball over No. 7 Central Oklahoma didn't look particularly promising late in the second set Friday night in Whiting Fieldhouse.

Washburn celebrates one of three service aces from junior Autumn Gibbs (1) late in the second set that sparked the No. 8-ranked Ichabods to a 3-1 win over No. 7 Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn junior Autumn Gibbs (right) celebrates her set-ending ace that gave the Ichabods a 25-22 win in the second set in Friday's 3-1 win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

After dropping a 25-23 first-set decision to the Bronchos and trailing most of the second set, six straight service points from junior Autumn Gibbs, with three aces including the final two points of the set, turned the tide as the Ichabods went on to post a 3-1 win to keep its MIAA regular-season championship hopes alive.

"Autumn turned the entire match around,'' Washburn coach Chris Herron said. "We were down and she goes six in a row, so it completely turned the match around.''

"I feel confident being able to serve aggressively because I know my teammates have got my back and I feel like I can go out there and no matter how I perform they're going to have my back,'' Gibbs said.

"I had a run like that at MSU and that was pretty exciting, but it's awesome when it happens because it doesn't happen often. This is a huge win and we're super excited. We've got another one tomorrow, but it's a great win.''

After rallying for the 25-22 second-set win, Washburn (23-3 overall, 12-3 MIAA) closed out the win with 25-19 and 25-16 wins over the Bronchos (26-4, 12-4).

Washburn will close out its regular season with a 2 p.m. home match against Arkansas-Fort Smith Saturday and the Ichabods can earn a share of the MIAA regular-season championship with a win.

Both sides went back and forth early in Friday's first set, with nine ties in the first 22 points of the match.

The Ichabods went in front with a 3-0 run that started and ended with kills by Brynne Topolski, making the score 14-11.

Central Oklahoma answered right back, going on an 8-2 run. Washburn pulled back within one point at 24-23 after two more kills from Topolski but the Bronchos held on to take the first set.

The Bronchos carried the momentum into an early 7-3 lead in the second set. The Ichabods came alive going on a 4-1 run to pull within one after Keilah Rivers landed an ace.

Central Oklahoma came right back with three in a row and kept the lead between four and five points late in the set before Gibbs and Co. took control to even the match.

Washburn quickly jumped in front in the third and led 12-6 after a 5-1 run that included three kills by Natalie Hedlund. The Bronchos came back to pull within two but were turned away with three straight kills from the Ichabod offense that hit .459 in the set on the way to taking a 2-1 lead.

The rally continued into the fourth set, with Washburn leading 11-5 after Taylor Rottinghaus set up Hedlund for a kill.

Central Oklahoma never got closer than five the rest of the set, with the Ichabod defense holding the Bronchos to .103 hitting as WU closed out the nine-point decision to cement the come-from-behind victory.

No. 2 Washburn men's basketball rolls to 95-63 win in Central Regional Challenge

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 2-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team put together an outstanding offensive performance on Friday night in its first of two games in the Central Region Challenge at Pittsburg State, shooting 61.4 percent from the field and scoring 53 second-half points in a 95-63 win over Minnesota State-Moorhead.

Junior Jack Bachelor led the way with 23 points Friday as No. 2 ranked Washburn improved to 3-0 with a 95-63 win over MSU-Moorhead. [File photo/TSN]

The 3-0 Ichabods took control early with balanced scoring and a surge midway through the first half, then broke the game wide open after halftime with an 18-6 burst that pushed the margin to over 20.

After trailing 5–0 in the opening minutes, Washburn responded with an 8-2 run, capped by a Bryson Smith fast-break layup.

Washburn Rural product Jack Bachelor provided a spark throughout the period, scoring 13 first-half points, highlighted by a pair of transition layups and 6-for-6 shooting at the free throw line.

A late stretch in which Washburn scored 11 of 13 points gave the Ichabods a 42-33 halftime lead.

Washburn shot 46.9 percent in the opening half while scoring 26 points in the paint, turning eight Moorhead turnovers into nine fast-break points.

The Ichabods came out firing in the second half, putting together a 7–0 run in the first 70 seconds thanks to a Brady Christiansen corner 3-pointer and a pair of fastbreak scores from Bachelor and Smith.

That stretch ballooned the lead to 49-33 and forced an early MSU-Moorhead timeout.

Another 9-2 run, capped by a step-back Smith three and a transition layup from Bachelor, extended the margin to 61–38.

The Washburn advantage reached 32 points with 6:20 left as the Ichabods continued to pile up transition points and dominate the paint.

The second-half numbers were staggering as Washburn shot 80 percent from the field (20 of 25) and 70 percent from three (7 of 10) while scoring 53 points on just 25 shot attempts.

At one point in the second half the Ichabods were 18 of 19 from the field.

Bachelor led the way with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line.

Smith delivered a highly efficient 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with a pair of threes. Christiansen added 11 points and seven rebounds, while Dillon Claussen was a force inside with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Jeremiah Jones added 11 points, five assists and two steals.

For the game, Washburn shot 35-of-57 overall (61.4 percent), 9-of-17 from three (52.9 percent) and 16-of-24 at the line while scoring 52 points in the paint, 22 points off turnovers, 20 fast-break points and 27 points from the bench.

Moorhead was held to 40 percent shooting and outrebounded 38–26.

Washburn will face Winona State on Saturday in Pittsburg.

Ichabod women drop 73-61 in Central Region Crossover

Washburn women's basketball led for the majority of the first half Friday but was unable to overcome a second-half run from St. Cloud State in the season-opener, falling 73-61 in day one of the Central Region Crossover in Edmond, Okla.

The Ichabods will wrap up the tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m., facing No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State.

In the opening minutes it was all Washburn (0-1) as the Ichabods led 6-0, beginning with a 3-pointer from Gabi Giovannetti in the opening minute. The Huskies (1-0) did not get on the board until the 6:54 mark, but quickly tied the game at 6-6. Back-to-back baskets inside by WU senior Yibari Nwidadah in the final three minutes of the quarter put the Ichabods in front, 18-17.

The first four points of the second quarter came from Washburn as it held St. Cloud State scoreless until the 6:31 mark in the quarter. The Ichabods led by as many as six before the Huskies turned around their offensive output, shooting 7-15 in the quarter to lead 32-31 going into the break on a last-second 3-pointer.

Coming out of the break Nwidadah got a layup to fall, putting Washburn back in front. The Ichabods held the lead until an 8-0 run by St. Cloud State midway through the quarter put them in front by five. The Ichabods were held to 6-19 (31.6 percent) shooting in the third as the Huskies expanded the lead to nine heading to the fourth.

Washburn began the fourth quarter on a 6-3 run to stay in the game. Another 3-pointer by Giovannetti with 3:01 remaining made it a four-point contest but that was as close as the Ichabods could get. St. Cloud State scored the next eight points and went on to post the 12-point win.

Both teams shot under 40.0 percent in the contest with the Ichabods at 37.7 and the Huskies at 39.7. Both teams also shot under 25.0 percent from deep, with Washburn making three triples to five for St. Cloud State.

Rebounding was dead even at 40 each, with St. Cloud State leading 16-8 in assists and using a 25-18 advantage in second-chance scoring to gain an advantage.

Nwidadah led Washburn with 15 points on 6-9 shooting while adding eight rebounds, a team-high. Payton Sterk scored in double figures with 11 points and Britany Kogbara had 10 off the bench in her Washburn debut.

Jada Eggebrecht and Alana Zarneke had 19 points each to lead the Huskies.

Ichabod football looking to end 2025 season on high note at Missouri Southern

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

There's no doubt that the 2025 season has been a tough one for the Washburn University football team, with the 2-8 Ichabods suffering four one-possession losses, including a pair of three-point defeats and an overtime heartbreaker.

Senior Jordan Finnesy (1) is one of 15 Washburn seniors who will play their final collegiate game for the Ichabods Saturday at Missouri Southern. [File photo/TSN]

But Washburn will have the opportunity to finish off the season on a high note in Saturday's 1 p.m. MIAA contest at Missouri Southern.

"We want to do whatever we can this week to get that win,'' said Washburn standout senior safety Jordan Finnesy. "Not just for the seniors but for the guys who will be going through the offseason. It just leaves a better taste in your mouth and gives you a little bit of momentum going into the offseason and then into next season.

"So it would be big to get a win this week and go out that way.''

The Ichabods, 1-7 in the MIAA, are coming off a 45-17 loss to Emporia State while Missouri Southern is 3-7 overall and has a matching 1-7 record in the conference after a 44-17 loss at Central Oklahoma last Saturday in Edmond.

Sophomore JC Heim leads the MIAA and is second in the national rankings in tackles per game with 12.9 per contest while L.J. Minner Jr. is third in the conference with 9.9 tackles per game, ranking 16th in the NCAA D-II national rankings.

Heim's 6.6 solo tackles per game also leads the MIAA and is second nationally. Heim's 130 tackles this season ranks fifth on the Ichabod single-season chart, trailing Derrick McGreevy (131), Grant Bruner (137), current Washburn coach Zach Watkins (143) and Bill Guidetti (152).

Finnesy's253 career tackles rank 15th on the NCAA D-II active chart and he is 15th on the D-II active solo tackles chart with 158 and 15th on the Ichabod career tackles chart.

Senior Jake Zeller is fifth on the NCAA D-II active punting average chart at 42.2 and he is seventh in total punt yards (7,047). Zeller is second in the MIAA and ninth in the national rankings in punting average at 43.5. Zeller is second on the Ichabod all-time punting average chart at 42.2 and ninth in total yards at 7,047.

Washburn women's basketball enters 2025-2026 campaign with high expectations

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University women's basketball will head to Edmond, Okla. to tip off the 2025-26 season Friday and Saturday in the Central Region Crossover.

The Ichabods will face St. Cloud State at 5 p.m. on Friday and will take on No. 18-ranked Southwest Minnesota State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with both games on the campus of Central Oklahoma.

Senior Yibari Nwidadah averaged 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds last season for Washburn, earning second-team All-MIAA honors. [File photo/TSN]

Senior Payton Sterk averaged 15.7 points with 62 3-pointers last season for 18-13 Washburn, earning second-team All-MIAA recognition. [File photo/TSN]

WU coach Lora Westling, whose team went 18-13 last season and returns all five starters, said the Ichabod coaches and players are excited to get the season under way.

"It's time,'' Westling said. "We get those three scrimmage dates to break it up, but it's hard to simulate actual game play. Our players have been working hard, it's just we've got to figure out who we are and you can't do that until you compete.''

Ichabod standout senior guard Payton Sterk agreed that it's time to face off against another team.

"We've only played each other for however long it's been, so we're really excited to play someone else and use what we've been working on against someone else,'' Sterk said. "Both of these teams we're playing this weekend beat us last year, so we'd all like to get some revenge and want to be able to beat them and show that we've gotten better.''

Westling admits that she hasn't always been pleased with her team's practices over the past four weeks, but understands that some of that is because of the high hopes for this year's team.

"I think part of that is because my expectations are so high for this team, which they should be,'' Westling said. "They're capable of doing some really special things. We have great people, we have talented players, so it's going to be very hard to please me this year and I think they've earned that.

"You want higher expectations and I think we've gotten better out of every scrimmage situation we've had, but the bar's high for this group.''

Sterk said the Washburn players also have extremely high hopes for the season.

"We have a unique opportunity this year and I think that having everyone basically returning and then adding key people, I think we all expect a lot and I think we all know that we should do a lot,'' Sterk said. "I think everyone on our team expects greatness and is striving for greatness.''

Washburn finished fifth in the MIAA regular season last winter with an 11-8 record and advanced to the MIAA Tournament semifinals. The Ichabods were picked to finish second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and were tabbed third by the media. Washburn received votes in the first WBCA Poll of the year.

Washburn is 41-15 all-time in season openers after falling 82-72 to Southwest Minnesota State last season.

Washburn returns 10 letter-winners from last season's roster while adding four new faces in the form of three transfers and one freshman.

The experienced Ichabod roster consists of four seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and one freshman.

Yibari Nwidadah is back for year four with the Ichabods as a senior, earning All-MIAA second-team and MIAA All-defensive team recognition as a junior after starting in 29 games and logging 28.4 minutes per game.

Nwidadah led Washburn in scoring with 16.8 points per game on 62.6 percent shooting from the floor while averaging 8.0 rebounds. The Olathe North product had 12 scoring efforts of 20-plus points and had eight double-doubles on the year. She finished first in the MIAA and third nationally in field goal percentage.

Sterk also earned All-MIAA second-team honors as a junior and was named the MIAA co-newcomer of the Year. Sterk started in all 31 contests, logging a team-high 31.1 minutes per game while averaging 15.7 points on 41.5 percent shooting overall. She led the team with 62 3-pointers while also shooting a team-best 38.0 percent from deep.

The Colorado Springs, Colo. native grabbed 3.4 rebounds per game and averaged 2.3 assists, second most on the team. She had 10 20-plus scoring games, including three 30-plus point games. She finished second in the MIAA with 84.6 percent shooting at the free throw line and was third in the MIAA and 25th in the nation in 3-point percentage. She was also eighth in the conference in points per game.

Gabi Giovannetti enters her senior season with Washburn after being one of two players to start in all 31 games last season. She logged 27.3 minutes per game and was third on the team with an 11.6 scoring average on 41.7 percent shooting from the floor and 32.0 percent from deep with 47 made 3s, second most on the team. The Bishop Miege product also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals. Giovannetti delivered 18 double-digit scoring efforts and finished 11th in the MIAA in total 3-pointers made.

Madelyn Amekporfor returns for her junior season after playing in 30 games and making 29 starts last season and logging 26.7 minutes per game. She averaged 7.8 points on 47.0 percent shooting from the floor while grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game, second most on the team. Defensively the Andover product averaged a team-high 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks and had nine games with 10-plus points and seven games with either three steals or blocks.

Sophomore Brooke Gomez played in all 31 games and made 30 starts as a freshman, averaging 4.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and a team-high 2.7 assists. The Northglenn, Colo. native had five games with 5-plus assists, tops on the team.

No. 2 Washburn men's basketball on the road for back-to-back tests in Central Regional Challenge

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After an impressive start to the 2025-2026 season with a pair of double-digit wins in Florida, No. 2-ranked Washburn University men's basketball will end a layoff of nearly two weeks when it plays back-to-back games in the Central Regional Challenge Friday and Saturday at Pittsburg State.

Sophomore Dillon Claussen is averaging 22.5 points and 12.5 rebounds through Washburn's first two games entering this weekend's Central Regional Challenge in Pittsburg. [File photo/TSN]

The Ichabods will face Minnesota State-Moorhead at 7 p.m. Friday before taking on Winona State at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Both WU foes advanced to the NCAA Central Regional Tournament last season, with the Ichabods taking a 93-65 win over the Dragons in the NCAA Central Regional Championship in Lee Arena to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight.

Washburn opened the current season in impressive fashion in Lakeland, Florda, taking a 101-53 win over Augusta, Ga. before rallying from an 11-point deficit in the first half to take an 89-77 win over No. 3-ranked Dallas Bapist.

"Going 2-0 was definitely the goal,'' said Washburn 6-foot-8 sophomore standout Dillon Claussen. "We wanted to come back 2-0 and against Dallas Baptist we got down early, but our coaches preach that it's a 40-minute fight, so we stayed with it and got the job done.

"Augusta was a litle short-handed, but DB is definitely a super good team and to be able to beat them like that is big.''

Washburn coach Brett Ballard also felt that the Florida trip was a solid showing for the Ichabods.

"Augusta was great because we got out to a great start and then didn't let our foot off the gas and got to play a lot of guys, so that was awesome,'' Ballard said. "And then Dallas Baptist, although you don't want to dig yourself a hole, it was a really good opportunity for us to see how we were going to react to that with a new team.

"I thought we didn't really ever flinch and loved how we had some guys off the bench come in and help us and then how we just responded to that challenge and rose to the moment. It's early, but I think that's a really positive sign for this team.''

In Washburn's win over Augusta Ichabod junior newcomer Jeremiah Jones had eight steals and he followed that performance with seven steals against Dallas Baptist, setting a Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic record.

Washburn also set a team record at the event with 103 rebounds in two games, recording 53 against Augusta and 50 against Dallas Baptist.

Following the conclusion of the Hall of Fame Classic, Claussen, Jones and junior Jack Bachelor were named to the 10-person all-classic team.

Junior Jack Bachelor is averaging 20 points with eight 3-pointers and 13 assists for 2-0 and No. 2-ranked Washburn. [File photo/TSN]

Claussen is averaging 22.5 points and 12.5 rebounds to lead the Ichabods, while Bachelor is averaging 20 points with eight 3-pointers and 13 assists.

No. 8-ranked Ichabod volleyball looking to build momentum in final regular-season matches

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 8-ranked Washburn University volleyball will be looking to build momentum for postseason this weekend when the Ichabods cap the regular season with a pair of home matches, hosting No. 7 Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m. on Friday and at 2 p.m. Saturday against Arkansas-Fort Smith for Senior Day.

"That's basically what you're trying to do right now,'' Washburn coach Chris Herron said. "Any momentum that you have you try to keep and then build on it.

"This weekend has huge implications all throughout the conference. You say you've played in big games, but this is truly two big games.''

No. 8-ranked Washburn volleyball will close out its regular season this weekend with a pair of matches in Whiting Fieldhouse. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn is 22-3 overall and 11-3 in the MIAA while Central Oklahoma enters the week on a six-match winning streak and is 25-3 on the year and Arkansas-Fort Smith is 13-14 overall after losing its last eight matches.

This weekend's matches are the Ichabods' final tuneup for the MIAA Tournament, which will begin on Friday, Nov. 20, in St. Joseph, Mo.

Before the match on Saturday Washburn will recognize its six seniors -- Austin Broadie, Sydney Conner, Alex Dvorak, Kali Henry, Bella Limback and Corinna McMullen.

Broadie is a five-year member of the Ichabods, playing in 114 total matches. She has 938 career kills, a .265 career hitting percentage and 232 total blocks in her career.

McMullen has been with the Ichabods for four years, playing in 114 career matches. She has tallied 2,664 assists with 1,057 digs and served 153 aces.

A four-year member of the WU program, Limback has played in 102 career matches. She has 548 career kills while hitting .327 and has made 294 career blocks.

Conner is in year four with the Ichabods, playing in 112 total matches. She has dished out 1,866 career assists, served 74 aces and scooped 765 total digs.

Henry is a four-year member of the Washburn program, appearing in 65 career matches with 42 total digs, 16 aces and 12 assists.

Dvorak has been with the Ichabods for two seasons, playing in 51 career matches. She has 377 kills while hitting .396 and made 223 total blocks as an Ichabod.

Broadie leads the Washburn offense with 273 kills (3.29 per set) while hitting .334, third best on the team. She has started all 25 matches and also has logged 52 blocks with 53 digs. The senior has 13 double-digit kill matches and is third in the MIAA in hitting percentage and third in the conference in points per set and fourth in kills per set.

Limback is slashing a team-high .472 with 162 kills (2.00 per set) while playing and starting in all 25 matches. She has added 95 blocks (1.17 per set), also a team-high and served 12 aces. She has hit over .400 in all but eight matches this season with three double-digit kill efforts. She leads the nation in hitting percentage and is fourth in the MIAA in blocks per set.

Dvorak, sidelined for the season with a knee injury, ranks second on the team with 74 blocks (1.07 per set) while starting in all 22 matches she played in. Offensively she recorded 137 kills (1.99 per set) along with hitting .462, second best on the team. She recorded five or more blocks in nine matches. The senior ranks second in the nation and second in the MIAA in hitting percentage among qualified hitters. She is also seventh in the MIAA in blocks per set.

McMullen has started all 25 matches this season and leads Washburn with 527 assists (6.43 per set). She has also chipped in a team-high 29 service aces while ranking second on the team with 219 digs (2.67 per set). McMullen has delivered 14 matches of 20-plus assists with 10 double-doubles. She ranks eighth in the conference in assists per set.

Junior libero Taylor Rottinghaus leads the team with 344 digs (4.14 per set). She has chipped in 99 assists while serving 26 aces, second most on the team. Rottinghaus has three matches with at least 20 digs. She ranks seventh in the MIAA in digs per set and 11th in total digs.

Freshman Brooklyn Morrisey has played in 10 matches, including two starts in WU's past two outings after the injury to Dvorak. She has made 18 kills (1.06 per set) while hitting .229. She has added 14 blocks and seven digs.

Dillon Claussen off to torrid start with pair of double-doubles for No. 2 Washburn men

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Dillon Claussen probably could have started for a lot of college basketball programs accoss the country last season as a freshman.

But on a Washburn University team that was loaded with veterans, the 6-foot-8, 215-pounder knew he would have to wait his turn to crack the lineup and was perfectly content with his role off the bench while making an immediate impact for a 30-4 Ichabod team that made it all the way to the NCAA Division II semifinals.

Sophomore Dillon Claussen is averaging 22.5 points and 12.5 rebounds for 2-0 Washburn. [File photo/TSN]

"Oh man, it was amazing,'' Claussen said. "I like to say that was probably the best freshman year I could have imagined. We went to the Final Four and I got to play with a bunch of other experienced players.

"As a senior, Andrew Orr had a lot of experience in the league so he taught me a lot and then I still got to play in the games, so I was super happy with it and it definitely taught me a lot and prepared me for this year when I have a bigger role.''

Claussen played an average of 15.4 minutes per game last season and averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds with 25 blocked shots while shooting 67.4 percent from the field and 70.2 percent from the free throw line.

And Claussen gives a lot of credit to last year's veterans for helping him adjust to the college game.

"Coming in as a freshman you don't know totally what it's like to be a college player and they'd been on top of their leagues,'' said Claussen, an Omaha, Neb. native. "Michael Keegan had been playing forever, Andrew Orr had been on the top of the (MIAA), really since his sophomore year.

"He'd had a huge role and (Jacob) Hanna was a super good player in his conference, so taking tips from all of them on and off the court they taught me how I could be a better person and player.''

Washburn coach Brett Ballard agreed that the season Claussen had playing behind Orr and with the other veterans was a big factor in his progress.

"I think it's really beneficial when you come into a program with great leadership and maturity,'' Ballard said. "I think Dillon would have gone a lot of places and been successful later on, but I do think it just helped elevate him and accelorated that process a little bit because he got thrown in the fire with guys that showed him how to do it.

"And then he had to go against a guy like Andrew Orr every day. So I think that competition for Dillon in practice was really beneficial, too. You saw it last year. Andrew Orr was great and there were games the last month and a half where it was basically 50-50 because we just felt like Dillon had earned that right to play. That just showed you where he was at last year and he's taken some steps this year.''

Claussen demonstrated that in Washburn's season-opening trip to Florida on Nov. 1st and 2nd while making the first-two starts of his college career.

Claussen scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Washburn's 101-53 season-opening win over Augusta, Ga. and followed that up with 23 points and 12 rebounds in an 89-77 win over No. 3-ranked Dallas Baptist.

A1 Lock & Key Performers Nov. 10, 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Miles Cook

MILES COOK, Washburn Rural

The Junior Blues' senior goalkeeper came up huge on Saturday night at the Stryker Complex in Wichita, with Cook coming up with two saves in penalty kicks as Rural outscored Shawnee Mission East 4-2 in PKs to take a 3-2 win over the Lancers and earn its first Class 6A state soccer championship since 2012.

Connor Hanika

CONNOR HANIKA, Hayden

Hanika, a senior quarterback, completed 10 of 13 passes for 211 yards, including 62 and 63-yard touchdown passes to Kade Mitchell Friday night as 10-0 Hayden advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals with a 42-0 home romp past Wellsville in a regional final.

Leah Henke

LEAH HENKE, Washburn University

Henke, a former Bishop Carroll star, was named the MIAA Soccer Freshman of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors after the Washburn University forward scored a team-high nine goals for the Ichabods in an 11-2-5 regular season, including an 8-0-4 conference record.

Hornets rally past No. 16-ranked Ichabods for 3-2 MIAA quarterfinal win

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 16-ranked Washburn University soccer team looked like it was headed to the MIAA Tournament semifinals after jumping out to a 2-0 lead over Emporia State in the opening 18 minutes Sunday in Yager Stadium.

Washburn junior Mackinly Rohn (24) scored her third goal of the season in Sunday's 3-2 MIAA Tournament loss to Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Freshman Kate Hinck scored goal No. 5 on the season Sunday in Washburn's 3-2 MIAA Tournament loss to Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

But the No. 7-seeded Hornets answered with three unanswered goals to advance with a 3-2 win over the No. 2-seeded Ichabods.

Now Washburn will look forward to the NCAA Division II Soccer Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 17th, at 5:30 p.m. to see where the Ichabods will play in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Washburn got off to a hot start when junior Washburn Rural product Mackinly Rohn scored on a corner kick in the second minute to give Washburn an early 1-0 advantage.

Another former Rural star, freshman Kate Hinck, added a second Washburn goal in the 18th minute off a Sam Searcey assist to put the Ichabods in front, 2-0.

But Hinck's goal would end WU's scoring on the day, opening the door for the Hornets' comeback.

ESU got on the board in the 34th minute on a goal from Ella Favot and Washburn took a 2-1 advantage into the halftime break.

No. 6-ranked Ichabods complete regular-season road slate with sweep over Tigers

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After dropping a four-set MIAA match Friday night at No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, No. 6 Washburn University volleyball bounced back on Saturday afternoon to finish its regular-season road schedule with a 3-0 sweep over Fort Hays State.

Washburn sophomore Brynne Topolski (3) posted a match-high 13 kills in Saturday's 3-0 MIAA sweep at Fort Hays State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

The Ichabods will return to Whiting Fieldhouse next Friday to face Central Oklahoma in a 6 p.m. ranked matchup.

Washburn, 22-3 overall and 11-3 in the MIAA, started hot against the Tigers with a 25-12 win in the first set and built a 2-0 advantage in the match with a 25-23 win in the second set over the Tigers (15-11, 4-10).

The Ichabods then closed out the match with a 25-17 win in the third set to surpass last season's win total.

After Fort Hays State opened the match with a quick start, Washburn used a 5-0 run to lead 8-5 after a kill from sophomore Brynne Topolski. The Ichabods created separation with four points in a row, starting with a kill by senior Austin Broadie.

Defensively, the Ichabods held the Tigers to a minus-.024 hitting percentage while winning the final seven points to take the 13-point first-set victory.

Washburn trailed briefly in the second set before using an early run to go in front, this time with a 6-0 burst capped off by an ace from junior Taylor Rottinghaus to make it 9-4.

Fort Hays State pulled within two with a 5-1 run that was answered by four in a row for the Ichabods.

The Tigers scored six in a row to tie things up at 21-all, but kills from Broadie and Topolski gave Washburn an advantage and three points later sophomore Keilah Rivers ended the set with a kill.

In the third set the Ichabods jumped out to a 10-5 lead with three kills by Topolski in a 5-0 run.

The score got within two points before Washburn scored four straight starting with senior Corinnna McMullen sneaking over a kill. The Ichabods hit a clean .400 in the set to finish off the sweep.

Washburn finished the match hitting .280 overall with 52 kills while Fort Hays State registered 30 kills and an .098 hitting percentage. The Ichabods led in digs 65-45 and had a 40-28 advantage in assists.

Topolski led the Washburn offense with 13 kills while hitting .458 and adding five digs. Rivers added 10 kills and hit .364 with six scoops.

McMullen delivered a double-double with 18 assists and 14 digs while Rottinghaus had a team-high 15 digs in the back row.

Gracie Rains led the Tigers with 10 kills and Kirsten Evans had a match-high 17 digs.

Hornets finish with 28 unanswered points to top Ichabods in Turnpike Tussle, 45-17

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After rallying from a 14-0 deficit to forge a 17-17 halftime tie with Emporia State Saturday at Yager Stadium, Washburn University football had a golden opportunity to take its first lead of the game early in the third quarter after driving to a 1st-and-goal situation.

Washburn sophomore Cam Robinson (middle) rushed for a team-high 70 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 45-17 MIAA loss to Emporia State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

But after the Ichabods (2-8 overall, 1-8 in the MIAA) had an apparent 3-yard Keller Hurla touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty and missed a 34-yard field goal, Emporia State took control with 28 unanswered points to take a 45-17 MIAA victory.

"Having the ball 1st and goal, you've got to punch it in,'' Washburn coach Zach Watkins said. "And whether it's penalties or execution, you've got to be able to punch it in and being up seven with a windy day it's a whole different game. But you're forced to kick a field goal and then you miss a field goal.''

Emporia State (5–5 overall, 4–4 MIAA) took an early lead with a 13-yard blocked punt return from Kingsley Bennett and a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jamison Sarver to Diego Cearns, but Aidan Battle got the Ichabods on the board with a 36-yard field goal late in the first quarter to cut the Hornets' lead to 14-3.

Lucas Oitker capped an 81-yard drive early in the second quarter with a 16-yard touchdown run and Cam Robinson powered in from 3 yards out just before halftime to tie the game.

But the Hornets regained control in the second half, scoring 28 unanswered points, including a pair of pick sixes, to pull away.

Emporia State broke the 17-17 tie with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Sarver to Bennett with 4:42 left in the third quarter and tacked on 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Sarver scored on a 2-yard run before Landon Boss returned an interception 43 yards for a score and Kaliel Boyd had a 29-yard pick six to close out the scoring with 4:27 remaining.

"I felt like we needed to stop being our own worst enemy,'' Emporia State coach Garin Higgins said of the Hornets' second-half rally. "I felt like we had kind of lost the momentum there at halftime and we needed to get it back.

"So that was kind of the message at half, we're got one more half, we've got 30 minutes and we need to quit shooting ourself in the foot and start executing better on both sides of the football.''

Washburn finished with 336 yards of total offense, including 137 rushing and 199 passing yards.

Robinson led the way with 101 all-purpose yards (70 rushing, 24 receiving, 7 punt return), while Oitker added 94 total yards (63 rushing, 31 receiving) and his third rushing touchdown of the season.

Washburn quarterback Logan Madden passed for 156 yards in Saturday's 45-17 loss to Emporia State in Yager Stadium. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Quarterback Logan Madden completed 14 of 34 passes for 156 yards, with Nathan Lewis Jr. catching two passes for a team-best 51 yards, including a 37-yard grab. Aden Canty added two receptions for 39 yards.

Defensively, the Ichabods were led by JC Heim, who tallied 13 tackles, and Kamble Haverkamp, who added 10 stops. L.J. Minner Jr. also contributed 10 tackles and had an interception to set up Washburn's first touchdown drive.

Washburn punter Jake Zeller averaged 51.2 yards on five punts, including a 63-yarder.

Emporia State's defense shut out Washburn in the second half Saturday on the way to a 45-17 MIAA victory in Yager Stadium. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Emporia State held a 447-336 edge in total yardage, with Sarver throwing for 219 yards and the two TDs while Cearns rushed for 136 yards on 26 attempts.

Boss led the Hornets with 12 tackles.

The Ichabods will wrap up the season next week at Missouri Southern while Emporia State will be at home to host Fort Hays State.

EMPORIA STATE 45, WASHBURN17

No. 16-ranked Ichabod soccer to host rival Hornets in MIAA quarterfinal

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 16-ranked Washburn University soccer team will face Emporia State for the second time in five days Sunday, with the Ichabods and Hornets squaring off in a 1 p.m. MIAA Tournament quarterfinal in Yager Stadium.

Washburn, 11-2-5 overall, 8-0-4 in the MIAA, and Emporia State, 8-5-5, 5-2-5, battled to an 0-0 deadlock Wednesday at Yager Stadium, setting up Sunday's rematch.

Belle Kennedy

Leah Henke

Washburn extended its unbeaten streak to 14 games with Wednesday's tie and the Ichabods finished second in the MIAA regular-season standings while Emporia State is the No. 7 tournament seed.

The Ichabods only allowed three goals in the MIAA regular season and only three goals during their current unbeaten run.

WU freshman Lili Everley has nine shutouts on the year, which is tied for 13th in the nation.

Emporia State comes into Sunday's match after having postec scoreless draws in its last three games.

Emporia State is led in goals by freshman Ella Favot with six goals. Hornets goalkeeper Mackenzi Goen made seven saves against the Ichabods on Wednesday.

Washburn leads the all-time series 20-18-5.

The winner of Sunday's game will advance to Thursday's MIAA semifinals at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita against the quarterfinal winner between No. 3 seed Central Missouri and No. 6 Central Oklahoma.

Ten Ichabods earn All-MIAA recognition

Washburn senior midfielder Belle Kennedy has been named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year while freshman forward Leah Henke was named the conference Freshman of the Year as 10 members of the Ichabods earned all-conference recognition.

Kennedy, a Washburn Rural product, was also named to the All-MIAA first team for the third straight season while Henke and junior defender Lindsey Maul were also first-team picks.

Ichabods hoping to bounce back in Senior Day Turnpike Tussle against Hornets

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Coaches and athletes in all sports have had to deal with tough defeats, something Zach Watkins' 2025 Washburn University football team is very familiar with after suffering four one-possession losses, including back-to-back three-point decisions, one coming in overtime.

Centralia product Kamble Haverkamp is one of 15 seniors who will be recognized Saturday before Washburn's Senior Day game against Emporia State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

But last week's 27-24 MIAA road loss at Missouri Western was probably the toughest to take due to the way it ended.

After taking a 24-20 lead in the fourth quarter Washburn fell behind 27-24 after a Missouri Western touchdown with 1:44 remaining, but the Ichabods took over at their own 20 and converted four third-down conversions to reach the Griffon 13 with 14 seconds left.

But an incomplete pass on first down and an intentional grounding penalty on second down forced a 10-second runoff as the Ichabods were without any more timeouts, ending the game without Washburn getting the opportunity to force overtime with a relatively short field goal attempt.

"It was definitely one of the more heartbreaking losses I've been a part of,'' Washburn senior safety Kamble Haverkamp said. "It's unfortunate. Nobody wants to lose and to lose that way was pretty tough. Everybody sees the way it ends and thinks, 'Aw, we lost because of that,' but there's a lot of plays up to that point that a lot of people don't see -- long punt returns, the defense had a 4th and 5 we didn't stop and then a 4th and 2 on the 2-yard-line. If we just get a stop we kneel it out and it doesn't matter.

"One play doesn't define the game. There's a lot of plays in there you wish you could have back, but that's the game that we play.''

And by early this week all of the Ichabods' focus was on Saturday's 1 p.m. Senior Day game in Yager Stadium against rival Emporia State.

"The attitude's are always good,'' Haverkamp said. "We haven't had a Tuesday practice that was lackadaisical and still caught up in a loss, which I think is good. That shows good resilence on our team and the guys still want to win. We're all competitors and no matter what, we want to go win every Saturday.

"This one means a little more because it's Senior Day and it's the Turnpike Tussle, so mix Senior Day with a rivalry game there will be a lot of juice in our locker room come Saturday. We won't lack that for sure.''

Watkins agreed with Haverkamp that the Ichabods' positivity has been a constant throughout the season.

"I'm really proud of this team for that exact reason,'' he said. "This team practices extremely well, we prepare extremely well. We're very close with really good team bond, team closure.

"The execution on Saturday just hasn't always been there as much as it needs to be to be able to win the game, but our guys are the ultimate professionals in how they practice and how they've lived up to the standard we've created and that's going lead to really good things down the road.''

The Ichabods enter Saturday's game 2-7 overall and 1-6 in the MIAA while the Hornets are 4-6 and 3-4 in the MIAA this season after falling to then-No. 14-ranked Northwest Missouri, 41-14.

Sophomore linebacker JC Heim leads the MIAA and is third in the national rankings in tackles per game with 12.9 per contest and junior L.J. Minner Jr. is third in the MIAA with 9.9 tackles per game, ranking 15th in the NCAA D-II national rankings.

Jordan Finnesy's 246 career tackles rank 15th on the NCAA D-II active chart and he is 15th on the D-II active solo tackles chart with 152.

Jake Zeller is fifth on the D-II active punting average chart at 41.92 and he is seventh in total punt yards (6,791). Zeller is second in the MIAA and 11th in the national rankings in punting average at 42.8. Zeller is second on the Ichabod all-time punting average chart at 41.92 and ninth in total yards at 6,791.

No. 6-ranked Ichabods determined to keep building momentum for postseason despite key loss

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Coach Chris Herron knows that No. 6-ranked Washburn University volleyball is going to miss senior middle hitter Alex Dvorak, out for the season with a knee injury.

And Herron said the Ichabods feel even worse for Dvorak, who will end her All-American career on the sidelines.

Washburn star middle hitter Alex Dvorak will miss the remainder of the 2025 season with a knee injury, forcing other Ichabods to pick up the slack. [File photo/TSN]

"It's awful,'' Herron said. "When she broke the news to our team (Tuesday), a lot of tears were shed.''

But Herron also knows that the Ichabods can't afford to dwell too long on the injury to their friend and teammate and have to focus on continuing to build momentum for their late-season push.

"It's tough, because when something like this happens, you want the world to like stop for just a second and be sorry with you, but life goes on and even though you say it's not fair, it's just what it is, so we've got to go on,'' Herron said.

"We're going to do a lot of reminding them that you've got to pick up that slack and somebody's got to fill that position, so we're trying to figure that out this week.''

Herron said that the rest of the team, and particuarly the middle hitters, have embraced the task of stepping up their game in the absence of Dvorak, who was injured in last Friday's loss at Missouri Western.

"We've already had the other middles come in and get extra work,'' Herron said. "Everybody feels that they need to pick up that slack and I've seen evidence of that.''

Washburn is 21-2 overall, equaling last season's win total, and 10-2 in the MIAA.

The Ichabods wrap up their two-week road swing this weekend, facing No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Kearney at 6 p.m. on Friday, and Fort Hays State on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the final regular-season matches.

Nebraska-Kearney enters the week on a five-match winning streak and is 23-2 overall and 10-2 in the MIAA while Fort Hays State is 15-9 overall and 4-8 in the MIAA.

Senior Austin Broadie leads the Washburn offense with 251 kills (3.30 per set) while hitting .344, third best on the team. She has started all 23 matches and also has logged 50 blocks with 49 digs. The senior has twelve double-digit kill matches and ranks third in the MIAA in hitting percentage. Broadie is third among conference players in kills per set and points per set.

Bella Limback is slashing a team-high .493 with 147 kills (1.99 per set) while playing and starting in all 23 matches. She has also added 85 blocks (1.15 per set), also a team-high, and served 12 aces. She has hit over .400 in all but six matches this season with three double-digit kill efforts. Limback leads the nation in hitting percentage and is fourth in the MIAA in blocks per set.

Corinna McMullen has started all 23 matches this season and leads Washburn with 482 assists (6.43 per set). She has also chipped in a team-high 29 service aces while ranking second on the team with 196 digs (2.61 per set). The senior has delivered 13 matches of 20-plus assists with nine double-doubles. She ranks sixth in the conference in aces per set and seventh in assists per set.

McMullen needs seven more aces to become the all-time program leader.

Taylor Rottinghaus leads Washburn with 311 digs (4.09 per set) and has chipped in 95 assists while serving 25 aces, second-most on the team. The junior has three matches making at least 20 digs. She ranks seventh in the MIAA in digs per set and 11th in total digs.

Washburn leads the nation with a .297 team hitting percentage as a team.

The Ichabods are 14th nationally and third among MIAA teams with 2.49 blocks per set.

On the defensive side Washburn is limiting opponents to a .129 hitting percentage, good for 11th nationally and No. 1 in the MIAA.

The Ichabods are dishing out 13.68 assists per set on offense, good for seventh in the nation and second in the MIAA.

Washburn knocks down 14.57 kills per set to rank ninth in D-II and second among MIAA programs.

Serving up 1.95 aces per set, the Ichabods are first in the MIAA.

No. 16-ranked Washburn soccer battles Hornets to 0-0 Senior Night tie

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 16-ranked Washburn University soccer team battled Emporia State to an 0-0 Senior Night deadlock Wednesday night at Yager Stadium.

And the two rivals will do it all over again at 1 p.m. Sunday in Yager Stadium in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament.

Washburn freshman Kate Hinck (7) advances the ball in Wednesday night's 0-0 MIAA tie as Emporia State's Abby Bachman defends. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Wednesday was a back-and-forth opening 45 minutes, with Washburn (11-2-5 overall, 8-0-4 MIAA) taking five shots in the half with one on target from senior Shaye Taylor in the 43rd minute.

Freshman Lili Everley would make three saves on attempts by ESU (8-5-5, 5-2-5) to keep the game level at the break.

The Ichabods would have two shots on goal saved in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Senior Aubrey Tanksley would put a shot off the crossbar in the 59th minute and in the 73rd minute junior Rilyn Snyder would take a free kick that would be saved off the crossbar.

Washburn took 10 shots in the second half, with six on target and saved by Hornets goalkeeper Mackenzi Goen.

The Ichabods finished second in the MIAA regular-season standings with 28 points while Pittsburg State won its first-ever MIAA regular-season championship.

No. 16-ranked Washburn soccer set to host Hornets in Senior Night clash

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 16-ranked Washburn University soccer team hosts rival Emporia State at Yager Stadium at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening for Senior Night, looking to wrap up the MIAA regular-season title.

Washburn, 11-2-4 overall and 8-0-3 in the MIAA, can clinch the championship with a win over the Hornets (8-5-4, 5-2-4).

Multi-time MIAA pick Belle Kennedy (12) is one of 10 Washburn soccer seniors who will be recognized before Wednesday's Senior Night match against Emporia State in Yager Starium. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn will recognize seniors Sydney Achilles, Shandon Carr, Londyn Furnish, Alli Harrington, Belle Kennedy, Hunter McWilliams, Lakin Rold, Brooke Powell, Aubrey Tanksley and Shaye Taylor.

"I'm excited that our ladies have earned the chance to compete for something really special on Senior Night,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "This senior class has been an incredible class for our program. They're the winningest class in WU soccer history (with 57 wins), they played for a national championship, and now get the chance to earn a third MIAA trophy.

"It's a really special class that I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach. Thank you, ladies."

Washburn extended its unbeaten streak this past weekend to 13 with a 2-0 win last Friday at Northwest Missouri and a scoreless draw against Missouri Western on Sunday.

"We are looking forward to the opportunity to continue to grow into our DNA in pursuit of another MIAA title,'' Phillips said. "Emporia is a good team and well-coached, and it's always a battle."

During their unbeaten streak, the Ichabods have only allowed three goals.

Washburn moved up three spots to No. 16 in the USC national poll and remained second in the USC Central Region poll.

Depth powers Washburn soccer to 11-2-4 record, top spot in MIAA race

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University soccer coach Davy Phillips puts a talented starting lineup on the field every time the Ichabods take the field.

But the talent doesn't stop there, and Phillips credits the Ichabods' depth for being a big factor in the Ichabods' 11-2-4 start, including a league-leading 8-0-3 MIAA record and 13-match unbeaten streak, entering Wednesday's 6 p.m. regular-season finale against Emporia State in Yager Stadium.

Junior Kylie Hinrichs (19) scored her first career goal, the game-winner, in Washburn's recent 2-1 soccer win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn sophomore Sam Searcey has five goals and three assists on the season for the MIAA-leading Ichabods, [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"The strength is in the collective in this group, truly,'' Phillips said. "We've said it for a couple of years, but I just feel like we got deeper this year. Our depth is definitely a strength of ours.''

Washburn players who primarily come off the bench have accounted for nine of the Ichabods' 28 goals on the season while providing six of the team's 13 assists.

Washburn freshman Bricelyn Betts is mobbed by her teammates after scoring a goal in the Ichabods' 2-1 MIAA win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Sophomore Sam Searcey (Lincoln, Neb.), who has come off the bench in 13 of 17 games, ranks second on the team with five goals and has also contributed a team-leading three assists, while freshman Jules Wardlaw (Olathe West) has a pair of goals, freshman Bricelyn Betts (Raymore, Mo.) has a goal and two assists and junior Kylie Hinrichs (Elkhorn, Neb.) has one goal, a game-winner, for the Ichabods.

"There's zero dropoff and it makes for really hard conversations as a coach explaining to players how fine that line is and why certain players get to start versus not, but if you can get past that and just concentrate on the strength it gives our team being that deep at every position, it's an incredible strength for us,'' Phillips said.

A perfect example of that bench strength was on display in Washburn's most recent home game, a 2-1 win over Fort Hays State, as Betts and Hinrichs both recorded their first career goals while Searcey provided the assist on both goals.

"It's kind of crazy how we have such a good second lineup that it's almost like you barely see a dropoff when we go in, which is really unique at this level,'' Hinrichs said.

Betts said the key for the players coming off the bench is to provide energy and a spark when possible.

"It's just like there'a already momentum going and we just want to keep it going,'' Betts said. "Energy coming out and making a difference is definitely what we really strive to do and something that Davy emphasizes really heavily.''

A1 Lock & Key Performers Nov. 3, 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Jadyn Baum

JADYN BAUM, Washburn Rural

A junior running back, Baum sailed over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season Friday night, picking up 182 yards and scoring three touchdowns on 15 carries as 6-3 Washburn Rural advanced to the second round of the Class 6A football playoffs with a 37-0 win over Wichita South at Bowen-Glaze Stadium. Baum scored TDs on 8, 8 and 46 yards against the Titans.

Dillon Claussen

DILLON CLAUSSEN, Washburn University

A 6-foot-8 sophomore, Claussen registered a pair of double-doubles as the No. 2-ranked Washburn men's basketball team opened the season with a pair of wins in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Fla. The Omaha, Neb. native scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Saturday's 101-53 win over Augusta (Ga.) and had 23 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday's 89-77 win over No. 3-ranked Dallas Baptist.

Henry Laubach

HENRY LAUBACH, Washburn Rural

A sophomore, Laubach led a balanced Washburn Rural cross country team with a 22nd-place individual finish in a five-kilometer time of 16 minutes, 40.66 seconds Saturday at Rim Rock Farm as the Junior Blues captured the Class 6A team championship by a single point, 100-101 over Blue Valley.

No. 19-ranked Washburn soccer battles to 0-0 tie at Missouri Western

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 19-ranked Washburn University soccer team tied Missouri Western 0-0 on the road Sunday afternoon, extending its unbeaten streak to 13 straight matches.

Freshman goalkeeper Lili Everley recorded three saves in MIAA-leading Washburn's 0-0 tie Sunday at Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]

"The ladies put in another really solid performance today,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "We performed really well this entire weekend, and I'm very proud of our team.

"We are continuing to grow and are getting better with every game. Wednesday night (against Emporia State) will be a lot of fun vs. another good MIAA team."

Washburn improved to 11-2-4 overall and 8-0-3 in the MIAA with Sunday's deadlock.

Washburn controlled the opening 45 minutes and recorded eight shots as eight different Ichabods took a shot in the half, with five of them being on goal.

In the secnd 45 minutes, it was more of a back-and-forth game as Washburn recorded five shots while the Griffons took four, with three on goal and saved by Washburn freshman goalkeeper Lili Everley.

Junior Mackinly Rohn led Washburn with three shots.

The Ichabods stayed atop of the MIAA standings with 27 points heading into the final match of the regular season at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Yager Stadium against Emporia State. Pittsburg State is in second in the conference with 26 points.

No. 2 Washburn men's basketball tops No. 3 Dallas Baptist 89-77 to cap Florida trip

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Washburn's 89-77 win over Dallas Baptist Sunday in Lakeland, Fla. [File photo/TSN]

The Ichabods, who improved to 2-0, rallied from an 11-point deficit in the first half to take control in the second half

Down 43-41 at the half, the Ichabods dominated the second half, shooting 50 percent from the floor and 46 percent from 3-point range while outscoring DBU 48-34 to secure the victory.

Dillon Claussen powered the Washburn attack with career-highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds while shooting a scorching 9 of 11 from the field to record his second straight double-double to start the season.

Junior Jack Bachelor, a former Washburn Rural star, added 15 points and a team-best seven assists while drilling three 3-pointers, including a pair that helped spark the second-half run.

Jeremiah Jones scored 13 points with six rebounds and seven steals after registering eight steals on Saturday in the season-opener.

No. 2-ranked Washburn men's basketball rolls to 101-53 win in Hall of Fame Classic

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 2-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team made its 2025-26 season debut Saturday, charging past Augusta 101-53 in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Fla.

Junior Jack Bachelor tied a career high with 25 points, including five 3-pointers, in Saturday's 101-53 Washburn win over Augusta. [File photo/TSN]

The Ichabods never trailed and leding for 39:51 of the 40 minutes.

The defensive energy set the tone early as the Ichabods forced 16 first-half turnovers, converting them into 15 fast-break points and sprinting to a 56-25 halftime advantage.

Washburn completely suffocated Augusta in the paint, holding the opponents to just six points inside the lane in the first 20 minutes while pouring in 34 of their own around the rim.

On the offensive end, Washburn shot 53 percent from the field (41-77) for the game while drilling eight 3-pointers.

Meanwhile, the defense frustrated Augusta into 30 percent shooting overall, including just 6-for-30 from beyond the arc.

Junior Jack Bachelor drilled five 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 25 points, tying a career high, while adding six assists.

Sophomore Dillon Claussen delivered a dominant double-double, scoring a career-high 22 points and adding 13 rebounds and two blocks.

Late Missouri Western TD spoils Ichabods' fourth-quarter comeback, 27-24

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

A determined fourth-quarter comeback gave Washburn University a late lead, but Missouri Western delivered the final blow as the Ichabods dropped a 27–24 MIAA road decision on Saturday.

Sophomore linebacker JC Heim registered 15 tackles in Saturday's 27-24 Washburn MIAA loss at Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]

After the Griffons took a 27-24 lead with 1:44 to go, the Ichabods took over at their own 20 and converted four third-down conversions to reach the Griffon 13 with 14 seconds left, but an incomplete pass on first down and an intentional grounding on second down forced a 10-second runoff as the Ichabods were without any more time outs, ending the game with a three-point loss for the second week in a row.

Missouri Western controlled the opening quarter and was first on the board when Brandon Hall capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run at the 6:28 mark.

Washburn responded with a drive of its own, as Aidan Battle drilled a 28-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter.

The Ichabods then grabbed their first lead in the second quarter thanks to a defensive spark.

After Jordan Finnesy forced a fumble that Kamble Haverkamp recovered at the Griffon 27, quarterback Logan Madden connected with Weston Ropp on a 13-yard touchdown strike for a 10–7 advantage with 5:24 left before halftime.

Missouri Western answered just before the break with a 33-yard Latrell Armstrong field goal to send the game tied 10–10 into the locker room.

Missouri Western pushed back in front in the third quarter behind Armstrong's 44-yard field goal and Hall's second rushing touchdown, a 33-yard burst that extended the lead to 20-10 heading to the fourth. Hall finished with 130 rushing yards as part of the Griffons' 215-yard team ground effort.

Keller Hurla entered at quarterback and engineered a 75-yard scoring drive early in the fourth stanza, finding Henry Mohrmann for a 10-yard touchdown to pull the game back within 20-17.

On the next possession, Finnesy swung momentum again with a 43-yard interception return to set up Hurla's one-yard keeper that put Washburn back on top 24–20 with 10:55 remaining.

No. 2-ranked Ichabod volleyball bounces back from loss with sweep over Bearcats

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 2-ranked Washburn University volleyball got back to its winning ways on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Northwest Missouri State in a road matchup.

Natalie Hedlund led Washburn with 10 kills in Saturday's 3-0 MIAA sweep at Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn (21-2 overall, 10-2 MIAA) battled through a tight first set to win 25-23 before cruising to wins in the next two sets, 25-12 and 25-13, to secure a regular-season series sweep of the Bearcats (8-13, 2-10).

After falling behind 4-1 the Ichabods took control of the first set with a 5-0 run that turned into an 8-1 burst capped off by a kill for Natalie Hedlund.

Northwest Missouri battled back to pull within one and eventually tie the set at 16. That was the only tie the rest of the set with the Bearcats pulling within one while Washburn was at match point before Austin Broadie finished the set with a kill.

A three-point burst for the Ichabods gave them an early advantage in the second set before the lead expanded to seven at 14-7 after Taylor Rottinghaus landed an ace.

It turned into a 6-1 run after Brynee Topolski took a pass from Rottinghaus to the floor to go up 18-8. Washburn hit .333 as a team in the set while holding the Bearcats to just a .029 hitting percentage. Corinna McMullen served an ace to wrap up the second set 25-12 and go up 2-0 in the match.

In the third set a kill by Bella Limback started a 4-0 run that put the Ichabods in front, 11-5. Northwest Missouri pulled back within three at 14-11 before Washburn went on a 7-0 run to push the lead to double figures.

The Ichabods held on down the stretch, winning the final three points to take the set and the match 3-0.

Ichabod soccer takes 2-0 road win over Bearcats, protects MIAA lead

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University soccer posted a 2-0 road win over Northwest Missouri State Friday to protect its lead in the MIAA title race.

Junior Mackinly Rohn scored her second goal of the season in Friday's 2-0 Washburn soccer win over Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]

."It was a total team effort today,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "I thought we did a really good job establishing the tempo of the game early and staying committed to it until the goals came.

"I loved the competitive energy from our team today.''

No. 19-ranked Washburn improved to 11-2-3 overall and 8-0-2 in the MIAA while extending its unbeaten streak to 12 games (10 games, two ties).

Washburn came up empty in the first 45 minutes despite multiple chances before finally getting on the scoreboard in the 66th minute on a goal from freshman Jules Wardlaw after the ball bounced around in the box.

Washburn would record a crucial second goal in the 77th minute on a shot from junior Mackinly Rohn, a former Washburn Rural star.

With the win the Ichabods stayed atop the MIAA Conference standings with 26 points with two matches to play.

Washburn outshot Northwest Missouri 14-2 and held the Bearcats to zero shots in the second half.

Wardlaw and Rohn both scored their second goals of the season.

Washburn will be back on the road Sunday to face Missouri Western in a 1 p.m. contest.

Ichabod soccer on the road Friday to face Bearcats in key MIAA battle

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 19-ranked Washburn University soccer team is on the road for a pair of MIAA contests this weekend at Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western, beginning with a Friday game with the Bearcats that has MIAA title implications.

Washburn junior Kylie Hinrichs is congratulated by her teammates after scoring the game-winning goal in Sunday's 2-1 win over Fort Hays State. [File photo/TSN[

The Ichabods will face Northwest Missouri in a 3 p.m. game Friday before playing a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday at Missouri Western.

Washburn is 10-2-3 overall and 7-0-2 in the conference and currently atop the MIAA regular-season standings with 23 points with three games left to play.

Northwest Missouri is 10-4-0, 7-2-0, and is tied for second in the conference with 21 points, while the Griffons are 9-2-4, 5-2-2 entering a Friday contest with Emporia State.

"We're looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves against really good competition this weekend,'' Ichabod coach Davy Phillips said. "(Northwest) is always well coached and a good team, and will be another good MIAA test for our group.

"I really love coaching this group, and I'm excited that our ladies continue to get the chance to play in important games this late in the season. It's so fun to be a part of."

Washburn is unbeaten in 11 straight matches and is coming off a successful two-week homestand with three wins and a tie, including a 1-0 victory over then-No. 12 Central Missouri.

Washburn had three different goal scorers this past weekend, all scoring their first goals of the season.

Former Washburn Rural star Mackinly Rohn, a junior, scored the game-winner against Central Missouri last Friday, while freshman Bricelyn Betts and junior Kylie Hinrichs scored their first career goals in Sunday's 2-1 win over Fort Hays State.

Washburn has outscored opponents 26-12 and outshot them as well 203-113.

Northwest Missouri has outscored its opponents 23-8, but has been outshot 179-172. In conference play, the Bearcats have losses to Central Missouri (2-1) and Pittsburg State (1-0).

Washburn leads the all-time series 16-10-5, and the series is split in Maryville 7-7-2.

No. 2-ranked Washburn men's basketball to kick off season in Hall of Fame Classic

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Saturday's Nov. 1 season-opener against Augusta (Ga.), followed by a Sunday game against Dallas Baptist in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Fla., marks the earliest that Washburn University men's basketball coach Brett Ballard has ever had a team open its season.

And by Monday Ballard will know if the early start was more of a good or bad thing for the No. 2-ranked Ichabods, who are coming off a 30-4 season and an NCAA Division II semifinal appearance.

Junior guard Jack Bachelor is a top returner for Washburn men's basketball after earning first-team All-MIAA recognition last season. [File photo/TSN]

"If we go win two games, absolutely I'll be really happy about this scheduling,'' Ballard said. "If we don't, I'll be wishing we had more practices.

"This Hall of Fame event has always been early. It's the first time we've played in it and it's a great opportunity. I would prefer probably another week or so of practice to really put our best product out there, but everybody's in the same boat, everybody got the same amount of practices.''

Both Augusta and Dallas Baptist were NCAA Regional teams last season and DBU, like the Ichabods, reached the NCAA Final Four in Evansville. Dallas Baptist was ranked No. 3 in the NABC preseason poll.

Ballard feels like his team has done a good job in preseason to get ready for the early tests.

"We've had good practices and we're close to where we need to be and this will be a good opportunity to see where we're at,'' he said. "Big picture, if you win great, you learn from it. If you lose, you learn a lot from it.''

The No. 2 preseason ranking is the highest for the Ichabods since being picked No. 2 in the 2012-13 preseason poll.

The Ichabods are coming off one of the best seasons in program history with the NCAA Final Four appearance, an NCAA Central Regional Championship and an MIAA regular season title with a 30-4 overall record after going 17-2 in MIAA play.

Washburn was ranked No. 1 in the nation last season for five consecutive weeks and finished tied for fourth in the 2025 NABC final poll after spending the entire season ranked in the top 10.

The Ichabods were picked atop the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls. In the MIAA Coaches Poll, Washburn received 13 of 14 first-place votes and the Ichabods received 23 of 25 first-place votes in the Media Poll.

Junior Jack Bachelor has started 45 of 64 career games as an Ichabod, averaging 12. 6 points. The former Washburn Rural star ranks third all-time at Washburn in assist average at 4.8, fourth in career free throw percentage at .828 and seventh in career assists with 304.

Bachelor started all 34 games last season, averaging 13.6 points and earning NABC second-team all-district honors, first-team All-MIAA and All-MIAA defensive honors.

Senior Sam Ungashick has started 30 of 55 career games as an Ichabod, averaging 8.1 points for his career. Ungashick is a career 34 percent shooter from 3-point range, hitting 57 of 170 attempts.

Senior Brady Christiansen has played in 93 career games with 31 starts, averaging 6.6 points and 6.2 rebounds. Christiansen ranks 11th in career rebounds in program history with 577.

Dillon Claussen played in 34 games last season as a freshman, averaging 7.4 and 3.9 rebounds while adding 25 blocks and 15 steals. Claussen tied a career-high with 17 points against Lenoir-Rhyne in the NCAA national quarterfinal on 7 of 7 shooting.

The Ichabods will have to replace starters Andrew Orr, Jacob Hanna, Brayden Shorter and Michael Keegan off last year's team, but along with the returners, Washburn has added four experienced transfers.

Bryson Smith averaged 11.4 points with a team-high 131 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game for Northeastern State last season while starting all 29 games. Smith previously averaged 14.8 points at Dallas College North Lake where he helped his team claim the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Championship.

Isaiah Saams-Hoy started all 28 games at Alaska Fairbanks in 2024-25, leading the team in points (455), points per game (16.3), assists (99), steals (44) and blocks (29).

Jeremiah Jones led Mary (S.D.) in scoring in 2024-25, averaging 11.9 points while recording 85 steals, including eight steals in a single game to set a school record.

Marcus Glock is a transfer from Northwest Missouri, where he started 19 of 28 games and averaged 9.1 points and 2.5 rebounds while hitting a team-high 51 3-pointers and shooting 42 percent from deep.

Smith, who came in over the summer to work with his new teammates, said he feels like that has helped him jell with his fellow Ichabods.

"That helped a lot, actually,'' Smith said. "Just coming to a new team can be very nerve-wracking. There's a lot of new faces and new personalities and I feel like that month of us being here practicing built the team bond better and we got closer together.

"So when we came back on campus for school we already knew each other, so it definitely helped.''

Washburn football looking to rebound against Griffons after OT heartbreaker

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Washburn Ichabod football team will hit the road on Saturday to take on Missouri Western, looking to bounce back from a 13-10 heartbreaking overtime loss to Fort Hays State last week.

"We talk about our seven-day season and the game is the end of that,'' Washburn coach Zach Watkins said. "We close the chapter after the game and Sunday we move on to the next opponent and try to get better from the film and learn, but this one was a little bit harder to move on from.

"You have some games that are easy to move on from, win or loss, and some are tough to move on from. This is one of the tougher ones, but the guys have done a great job of responding this week and are ready to go against another good opponent but another game that we've got to play well to win.''

Topekan Ky Thomas (8) rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's 13-10 overtime loss to Fort Hays State. [File photo/TSN]

Former Topeka High star Ky Thomas, who rushed for 95 yards and scored the Ichabods' lone touchdown against the Tigers, agreed with his coach that WU's focus has to be on bouncing back.

"We have to take what we can from that game and learn from it and move on to the next seven-game season as coach Watkins says,'' said Thomas, who has scored four touchdowns over the past three games. "We'll take it one day at a time and get just get better as the season goes on.''

Washburn will take a 2-6 overall record and 1-5 MIAA mark into Saturday's 2 p.m. game while the Griffons are also 2-6 and 1-5.

Saturday's game will mark the second season in a row the Ichabods and Griffons have played in St. Joseph, with the Ichabods winning last year's matchup, 24-16.

The Griffons are coming off a 19-12 road win over Missouri Southern last Saturday.

Sophomore linebacker JC Heim leads the MIAA and is third in the national rankings in tackles per game with 12.6 stops while junior L.J. Minner Jr. is fourth in the MIAA with 9.6 tackles per game.

Senior Jordan Finnesy's 239 career tackles rank 16th on the NCAA D2 active chart and he is 16th on the D2 active solo tackles chart with 146.

Senior punter Jake Zeller is fifth on the NCAA D2 active punting average chart at 41.8 and he is seventh in total punt yards (6,479).

Zeller is second in the MIAA and ninth in the national rankings in punting average at 42.6 and Zeller is second on the Ichabod all-time punting average chart at 41.8 and ninth in total yards at 6,479.

No. 2 Ichabod volleyball has eight-match win streak snapped by Griffons in five-set thriller

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 2-ranked Washburn University volleyball had its eight-match winning streak snapped on Friday night in a 3-2 road loss to No. 23 Missouri Western.

Senior Austin Broadie had 12 kills for Washburn in Friday's five-set MIAA road loss at Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]

The Ichabods will look to bounce back on Saturday in Maryville, Mo. against Northwest Missouri, with first serve set for 3 p.m.

Friday's match marked the first time in conference play that Washburn (20-2 overall, 9-2 MIAA) played five sets.

After the Griffons (17-5, 9-2) took the first set 25-21 it snapped a 24-set winning streak for the Ichabods going back to the Sept. 27 meeting with Missouri Western, which has handed Washburn both its losses this season.

Set two went in the Ichabods favor, 25-19, with the next two split each way 25-13 for Western and 25-17 for Washburn. The decisive fifth set was won by Missouri Western 15-12 to take the match.

The first set was taken control of by the Griffons as they went on a 6-1 run to lead 9-6. Washburn battled back, tying the match at 13 on a kill by Keilah Rivers and going ahead briefly at 15-14. Another 6-1 burst by Missouri Western pushed them in front 22-18 and the Ichabods were unable to overcome the late deficit, falling by four points.

In the second Washburn got out to an early 6-3 lead, capped off by a Sydney Conner ace. Both teams traded 5-0 runs in the middle of the set, ending with a 15-13 Ichabod lead on an Austin Broadie kill. Washburn finished the set with three straight points and the final two coming on aces by Bella Limback to even up the match.

Missouri Western responded quickly, leading 13-4 in the third set after an 8-0 rally. The Ichabods won four points in a row, two coming on kills by freshman former Washburn Rural standout Layla Collins before the Griffons went on another 8-0 run pushing the lead into double figures. The Griffons would go on to take the set by 12 points.

No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball on road to face No. 23 Griffons, Bearcats

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball hits the road this weekend for a 6 p.m. Friday MIAA match at No. 23-ranked Missouri Western and a 3 p.m. Saturday match at Northwest Missouri.

No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball will go on the road this weekend to face No. 23 Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]

Missouri Western is the only team that has beaten Washburn in the Ichabods' 21 matches on the season, but WU coach Chris Herron said his team's full focus is on continuing to play well and not even talking about trying to avenge the earlier 3-1 loss to the Griffons in Whiting Fieldhouse.

"We don't look at that in any way, shape or form,'' Herron said. "I don't talk about it like that and we don't address it like that. We just address it as this is how we're going at this game, this is what we've got to do against this person and so on and so forth. There's none of that (revenge factor) for us because here's the deal. If you're looking at it like that with them you forget you play the next day, too, so then you use all your energy on that one and not save some for the next one.

"Here's what we know. Every team that we play from now on is good, so we're going to have to play well and if we don't play well we're going to get beat. I just think that you have to take that approach.''

The Ichabods enter the week with a 20-1 record overall and a 9-1 mark inside the MIAA while riding an eight-match and 24-set winning streak after sweeping No. 25 Emporia State last Friday.

But Herron said the streaks are another non-topic for the Ichabods.

"I haven't mentioned it once,'' he said. "I don't talk about a winning streak, I don't talk about sweeps. That's never a conversation that we have in our gym because then that becomes the focus instead of getting better.

"I think individually every kid can get better and if you get better as an individual our team gets better.''

Missouri Western enters Friday's match with a seven-match winning streak and a 16-5 record overall while Northwest Missouri is 8-11 after losing last time out.

Washburn remains ranked No. 2 in the AVCA poll, the highest ranking for the program since Sept. 18, 2022 when the Ichabods were also ranked No. 2.

Austin Broadie leads the Washburn offense with 231 kills (3.40 per set) while hitting .361, third best on the team. She has started all 21 matches and also has logged 45 blocks with 47 digs. The senior has 11 double-digit kill matches.

Bella Limback is slashing a team-high .521 with 135 kills (2.05 per set) while playing and starting in all 21 matches. She has also added 73 blocks (1.11 per set), also team high, and served 10 aces. She has hit over .400 in all but four matches this season with three double-digit kill efforts. She leads the nation in hitting percentage.

Alex Dvorak is second on the team with 72 blocks (1.09 per set) on the season while starting all 21 matches. Offensively she has made 136 kills (2.06 per set) along with hitting .467, second best on the team. The senior ranks third in the nation and second in the MIAA in hitting percentage.

Corinna McMullen has started all 21 matches this season and leads Washburn with 442 assists (6.60 per set). She has also chipped in a team-high 27 service aces while ranking second on the team with 176 digs (2.63 per set). The senior has delivered 12 matches of 20-plus assists and seven double-doubles.

Libero Taylor Rottinghaus leads the team with 277 digs (4.07 per set). She has chipped in 85 assists while serving 24 aces, second most on the team. The junior has two matches making at least 20 digs. double-figure dig matches.

Washburn leads the nation with a .307 team hitting percentage, the only team in the nation hitting over .300.

The Ichabods are 11th nationally and second among MIAA teams with 2.52 blocks per set.

On the defensive side Washburn is limiting opponents to a .126 hitting percentage, good for 11th nationally and first in the MIAA.

A1 Lock & Key Performers Oct. 27, 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Elise Eckert

ELISE ECKERT, Seaman

A senior, Eckert captured her fourth straight Class 5A state girls golf medal in Emporia, tying for fifth with a 36-hole total of 161 (77-84). Eckert, who won city and United Kansas Conference individual championships and finished second at regionals, led the Vikings to a tie for fifth in the team standings.

Izzy Glotzbach

IZZY GLOTZBACH, Hayden

Glotzbach, a senior, finished her high school girls golf career with a tie for fifth in the Class 4A state tournament at Hutchinson's Carey Park. Glotzbach, who helped Hayden win the 4A team title as a sophomore and junior, had rounds of 85 and 79 to finish at 164 and lead the Wildcats to a fourth-place team finish.

Connor Hanika

CONNOR HANIKA, Hayden

Hanika, a senior quarterback, completed 14 of 21 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers last Friday as the 8-0 Wildcats wrapped up the Class 3A District 4 championship with a 42-0 home victory over Jefferson West. Hanika has now completed 75 of 127 passes for 1,117 yards and 16 touchdowns while throwing just one interception on the season.

Bricelyn Betts, Kylie Hinrichs notch first career goals in Ichabods' 2-1 MIAA win over Fort Hays State

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University soccer showed off its resiliency and depth Sunday in Yager Stadium as the Ichabods stretched their unbeaten streak to 11 games with a 2-1 MIAA victory over Fort Hays State.

The Ichabods, now 10-2-3 overall and 7-0-2 in the conference, never trailed after freshman Bricelyn Betts scored her first career goal with 11:49 left in the opening half off an assist from sophomore Sam Searcey, but the Tigers (3-10-1, 1-7-1) squared the match just 1:39 into the second half on a goal from Chaley French.

The game remained tied for just over 30 minutes until junior Kylie Hinrichs recorded her first career goal for the game-winner, with Searcey again providing the assist, and the Ichabods were able to hold on the rest of the way.

Washburn freshman Bricelyn Betts is mobbed by her teammates after scoring the Ichabods' first goal in Sunday's 2-1 win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn freshman Kylie Hinrichs delivers the game-winning goal in the Ichabods' 2-1 win over Fort Hays State Sunday in Yager Stadium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

For the second straight game Washburn scored the game-winning goal in the final 15 minutes.

"The resiliency of this group, they just stay so committed to the process day-in and day-out, training, games,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "Teams have to beat us. They truly have to beat us and there'll be a moment here and there in games where they might get a goal, but takes a lot to beat us.

"Credit the girls, they find a way. We are going to need that down the stretch here. We're going to need big moments late in games and knowing they can produce them is comforting and should give us confidence in these tight games down the stretch."

Washburn football drops 13-10 overtime heartbreaker to Tigers

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University football did a lot of good things, particularly in the first half, in Saturday's Homecoming game against Fort Hays State in Yager Stadium.

Senior Ky Thomas had 95 rushing yards and Washburn's lone touchdown in Saturday's 13-10 overtime loss to Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

But in the end, WU coach Zach Watkins felt like the Ichabods let a win get away, with Fort Hays State scoring the final 13 points to escape with a 13-10 overtime MIAA victory.

"We did a great job in the first half, but it's a two-half game, a four-quarter game and we didn't finish,'' Watkins said.

"The mark of a really good team in the MIAA is how you finish and we didn't finish today.''

The Ichabods (2-6 overall, 1-5 MIAA) struck first when Ky Thomas scored on a 3-yard run (Aidan Battle kick) midway through the first quarter after Braiden Lagafuaina's interception return to the Fort Hays State 20-yard-line.

Washburn extended its lead when Battle drilled a 32-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 12:37 to go before halftime and ending the first-half scoring.

Fort Hays (5-4, 4-3) finally broke through in the third quarter, taking advantage of a Washburn turnover on an interception to score on an 18-yard keeper from Tiger quarterback Caleb Heavner.

The Tigers tied the game later in the period with a 25-yard field goal by Zane Hall.

Neither team managed points in the fourth quarter as both defenses forced turnovers and traded punts in increasingly wet conditions.

Washburn got the ball first in overtime and reached the red zone, but missed a 41-yard field goal attempt in overtime before the Tigers' Michael Polley connected from 34 yards out to seal the win.

"You're not defined by one game, but those are the type of games that you have to win to make the leaps in this conference that we want to make and know we can make and are capable of making,'' Watkins said. "But that's a game you have to win to take the next step.

"We'll get back to work tomorrow and we'll improve and get better from there.''

Former Topeka High star Thomas, a senior, powered the Ichabods' ground game with 95 yards on 16 carries, averaging 5.9 per attempt, and added 16 receiving yards.

Washburn freshman quarterback Logan Madden had 101 passing yards in Saturday's 13-10 overtime loss to Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Freshman quarterback Logan Madden went 16 for 29 for 101 yards, with redhirt freshman Henry Mohrmann catching three passes for 26 yards and Jaden Abongo Jr. adding 21 yards receiving and 38 on kickoff returns.

Late Mackinly Rohn goal pushes Ichabod soccer past No. 12 Jennies, 1-0

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Washburn University soccer team posted a statement MIAA win Friday night in Yager Stadium, topping No. 12-ranked Central Missouri 1-0 on a late goal from junior Mackinly Rohn.

Junior Mackinly Rohn scored the game's only goal in the 85th minute in Friday's 1-0 Washburn soccer win over No. 12-ranked Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

"I'm so proud of the team for their effort and ability to compete against a really good team in UCM,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "They executed things we talked about throughout the week at a really high level.

"Sunday will provide another really tough test that we will need to be our best for, but tonight is a really good night for our team."

In the 85th minute, Rohn, a former Washburn Rural star, found the bottom right corner of the net for what would be the game's only score.

It was a back-and-forth opening 45 minutes, with both teams having two shots each. Washburn forced the UCM goalie to make a save. The Ichabods had five corners to the Jennies' two.

Coming off big MIAA win, Washburn football set to host Tigers in Homecoming tilt

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Fresh off its first MIAA win of the season last week in a 37-17 decision over Central Missouri last weekend, Washburn football team will host Fort Hays State at 1 p.m. Saturday in Yager Stadium as part of WU's Homecoming Week.

First-year Washburn coach Zach Watkins picked up his first MIAA win as a head coach last week in the Ichabods' 37-17 win over Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn is now 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the MIAA after snapping a four-game losing streak while the Tigers are 4-4 and 3-3 in the MIAA after suffering a 52-3 loss at No. 19 Northwest Missouri last Saturday.

"We keep talking about the fact that we have a very good process that we're implementing and we're running the program in the right way, but you have to see some tangible evidence that are wins to really back that up,'' Washburn coach Zach Watkins said. "Even without the wins for the last few weeks the players and coaches knew we were doing it the right way and kept working, but when you get a win it does validate it and it does give you some positivity that, 'Hey, we are on the right track.' ''

Ichabod sophomore linebacker JC Heim, a former Washburn Rural star, leads the nation in tackles per game with 13.6 stops per contest and junior L.J. Minner Jr. is third in the MIAA with 9.6 tackles per game, ranking 19th in NCAA D-II.

Senior safety Jordan Finnesy, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the win over UCM, has 239 career tackles to rank 16th on the NCAA D-II active chart and he is also 16th on the active solo tackles chart with 146.

Senior Jake Zeller is fifth on the D-II active punting average chart at 41.9 yards per punt and he is seventh in total punting yards (6,196). Zeller is second in the MIAA and ninth in the national rankings in punting average this fall at 43.0 yards and is second on the Ichabod all-time punting average chart at 41.9 and ninth in total yards at 6,196.

Junior Chase Allen-Jackman's seven touchdown receptions lead the MIAA and rank 12th in the nation.

The Ichabod defense is 11th in turnovers gained in the national rankings and second in the MIAA and the Ichabods lead the MIAA in turnover margin and rank 14th in the nation.

The eight turnovers forced by the Ichabods last weekend against Central Missouri was a school record, as were the six interceptions, tying the six pickoffs recorded at Missouri Southern on Oct. 8, 2016.

Making his first career start, redshirt freshman Logan Madden completed 20 of 31 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns against Central Missouri while adding 14 rushing yards and a TD.

Former Topeka High star Ky Thomas posted 87 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards with two total touchdowns, and Allen-Jackman caught seven passes for 73 yards and a TD.

Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown was an assistant at Washburn as the defensive coordinator for nine years while another former Ichabod coach on the Tiger staff, defensive coordinator Cooper Harris, was at Washburn from 2002-11, serving as linebackers coach and one season as the defensive coordinator before joining Brown in Hays.

Brown is in his 14th season as head coach at Fort Hays State, leading the Tigers to an MIAA Championship in 2017 and a co-championship in 2018 as well as their first NCAA postseason games since 1995.

Watkins has a great deal of respect for both Brown and Harris.

"Coach Brown was my D-Coordinator the whole time I played, coach Harris was my linebacker coach the whole time I played and then coach Brown hired me at Fort Hays for my first full-time coaching job,'' Watkins said. "I coached with him and coach Harris out there for three years after playing under them.

"So this week is not about me of course, but it's a special week to play your mentors in the head coaching role for the first time. We have the utmost respect for everybody we play, but especially guys you know on a personal level like those guys.''

Washburn University Ichabods

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