Washburn University Ichabods
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University men's track and field team opened the 2024-25 season in the Washburn Alumni Invitational with nine school records and nine NCAA provisional marks on Saturday in the Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility.
Tre Richardson made his track and field debut for Washburn with a school record and an NCAA provisional qualifying time. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Former Highland Park state champ Tre Richardson picked up first and second-place finishes in his first action for the Ichabods since moving inside from the football field, winning the long jump with a mark of 7.09 meters (23 feet, 03.25 inches) and then in the 60m, he ran times of 6.73 seconds in both the preliminaries and finals for an NCAA provisional mark and a school record.
Ezekiel Seamster and Richardson tied with a school record time of 6.73 as Seamster finished fourth in the finals in a time of 6.74 for an NCAA provisional mark. The previous school record was 6.80.
Seamster also picked up a school record with a second-place finish in the 200m in a time of 21.00, besting the previous school record of 21.28.
Former Hayden star Jake Muller helped Washburn set a school record and record a NCAA provisional time in Saturday's indoor season-opener. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
In the 4x400-meter relay the squad of Tyler Mooney, Seamster, Jacob Herr and former Hayden state champion Jake Muller finished second, setting the school record in the event in a time of 3:15.43 for an NCAA provisional time. Washburn smoked the previous school record of 3:20.05.
Matthew Heckman won the high jump with a school-record jump of 2.14m (7-00.25) for an NCAA provisional mark and a meet record. The previous school record was 2.13m (6-11.75).
Making his collegiate debut, Adam Woldridge recorded a school record in the pole vault with a jump of 4.91m (16-01.25) to finish second. The mark was also an NCAA provisional mark.
• Chaney Martin finished third at the Boo Rogers combined events competition at Pittsburg State. Martin tallied 5,267 points, breaking the school record and recording an NCAA provisional mark in the process.
Drew McGilton also recorded a PR and an NCAA provisional mark with 4,850 points.
The Ichabods, who were picked seventh in the MIAA preseason coaches poll, will be back in action January 17th at the Washburn Rust Buster starting the spring semester.
The Washburn women's track and field team opened the 2024-25 season with three meet records and six NCAA provisional marks while adding seven individual champions on Saturday.
Alyssa Hutcherson won the 60m prelims and finals in times of 7.58 and 7.53, respectively. Both times are NCAA provisional times.
McKenzie Hayse won the long jump with a mark of 5.67m (18-07.25) in her collegiate debut and she also finished second in the 200m with a time of 24.61 for an NCAA provisional mark. Hayse also finished second in the 60m in a time of 7.55 for another NCAA provisional time.
Isabella Kupka won the 400m in a time of 58.28 and Katelyn Jones was third in the event.
Ashley Heavner won the 600-yard, setting a meet record of 1:28.51 and Lauren Cassaday finished fourth in a time of 1:29.92.
The 4x400m relay team of Kupka, Jones, Heavner and Kaylee James won the event in a time of 3:53.93, setting a meet record. James also finished second in the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.89.
The Ichabods went 1-2 in the high jump with Alex Hart picking up the individual title at a height of 1.75m (5-08.75) for a meet and an NCAA provisional mark and Paige Platt finished second with a mark of 1.65m (5-05.00).
Reagan Housley picked up the individual title in the pole vault, setting a PR in the event with a height of 3.95m (12-11.50) and recording an NCAA provisional mark.
The Ichabods, who were picked third in the MIAA preseason coaches poll, will be back in action January 17th at the Washburn Rust Buster starting the spring semester.
WASHBURN ALUMNI INVITATIONAL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- The 2024 season for Washburn University volleyball came to an end in the NCAA Central Region semifinals as the Ichabods fell 3-2 to No. 6-ranked Central Oklahoma on Friday afternoon.
Washburn University volleyball ended its season 21-8 after a five-set Central Region semifinal loss to Central Oklahoma on Friday. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods end the season with a 21-8 record and the program's 18th trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Washburn took the first set from the 32-2 Bronchos 25-20 before falling in each of the next two sets 25-21 and 25-18. The Ichabods forced a fifth set with a 25-19 win in the fourth but came up short in the fifth as Central Oklahoma won 15-8.
Both teams traded points to begin the match as they split the first 16 points.
A service error for Central Oklahoma began a 4-0 Ichabod run to put them ahead 12-9.
A kill by Jalyn Stevenson made it 19-15 but the lead never grew to more than four until Taryn Pridgett ended the set with a kill at 25-20. The Ichabods hit .283 in the set with 18 kills.
The second set began the same way with both teams splitting the first 20 points of the match to leave it tied at 10.
A three-point run by the Bronchos put them ahead 16-13 and created separation.
The lead remained intact even with a 3-0 burst by Washburn beginning with a kill from Austin Broadie to leave the score 20-19. After pulling within one once again Central Oklahoma ended the set at 25-21 with three straight kills.
Kills by Stevenson and Broadie put the Ichabods in front 9-6 in the third set.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Andrew Orr hit the 1,000-point mark for his career as the No. 3-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team improved to 9-0 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play with a 71-57 win at Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon.
Washburn senior Andrew Orr went over the 1,000-point mark for his career in Saturday's 71-57 win at Fort Hays State. [File photo/TSN]
Jack Bachelor scored four of the Ichabods' first five points with a pair of layups in the first few minutes of the contest. The teams traded baskets for the next several minutes, but Jacob Hanna's layup gave Washburn a 15-14 lead that it would not relinquish with just over 11 minutes to play in the first half.
Hanna's basket sparked an 11-0 run for the visitors, which included two 3-pointers by Brayden Shorter. After the Tigers (4-3 overall, 1-1 MIAA) answered with a 3-pointer of their own, Shorter knocked down his third triple of the half to put the Ichabods up 27-17 with seven and half minutes to play in the half.
A minute later, Shorter took the ball away from Fort Hays State and found Michael Keegan for a dunk to give Washburn a 31-19 lead and force a Tigers timeout.
Sitting at 999 points for his career, Orr stepped to the free throw line with five minutes to play in the half.
Orr knocked down the first attempt to become the 28th Ichabod to join the 1,000-point club. The senior hit the second free throw to give the Ichabods a 15-point lead, its largest advantage of the day.
The Washburn offense cooled off at the end of the half, but the visitors still held a 37-29 lead entering the locker room. Shorter led all scorers with 16 points in the half.
The Tigers opened the second half of play with a 3-pointer, cutting the Ichabod lead to five.
Washburn did not let the hosts get any closer, with Orr and Shorter each finding the basket to put the Ichabods up 41-32 a minute and a half into the half.
After the Tigers hit two free throws to cut the lead to seven, Washburn outscored Fort Hays State 13-5 over the next few minutes to extend the lead to 15.
Following a six-point swing in favor of the Tigers, Shorter cleaned up a missed shot with a rebound and put-back to give Washburn another double-digit lead.
After giving up a 3-pointer, the Ichabods responded with a six-point swing of their own, giving the visitors a 62-48 lead with just over six minutes to play.
The Tigers were unable to cut the Ichabod lead below 10 points for the remainder of the contest as the Ichabods closed out the 14-point victory and their ninth straight win to open the season.
Sophomore Brayden Shorter scored 26 points as No. 3-ranked Washburn improved to 9-0 with a 71-57 win at Fort Hays State. [File photo/TSN]
Shorter led all scorers with 26 points to lead the Ichabods, while Orr added 10 points to conclude his milestone evening. Bachelor and Keegan each scored 11 points, while Bachelor chipped in six rebounds and six assists.
Kyle Grill led the host Tigers with 16 points.
Washburn shot 27 of 57 from the field for a 47 percent mark, while Fort Hays State ended the evening shooting 20 of 50 for a 40 percent clip. The Ichabods hit 6 of 23 shots from beyond the arc and 11 of 14 from the free throw line.
The Ichabods held a 34-29 advantage on the boards, while outscoring the Tigers 20-0 in fast break points.
The Ichabods will take a short break from conference play with a trip to San Antonio, Texas, facing St. Edward's University in the River City Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
No. 7 Tigers top Washburn women, 83-53
Washburn fell behind early after a quick start from No. 7 Fort Hays State and would fall 83-53 Saturday at Hays.
The Ichabods will put conference play on hold as they travel out of the country for the Puerto Rico Clasico beginning Dec. 16 as they face University of Puerto Rico Rio-Piedras.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 3-ranked Washburn University men opened MIAA play with a bang Thursday night, recording the largest margin of victory in the 50-game series with Nebraska-Kearney in an 87-52 road win.
Washburn sophomore Jack Bachelor scored 19 points to lead the way in the Ichabods' 87-52 win at Nebraska-Kearney Thursday night. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods (8-0 overall, 1-0 MIAA) trailed 3-0 after the Lopers (1-6, 0-1) hit a long jumper. Then, after a 3-pointer by WU's Jack Bachelor tied the score, the Lopers took a 5-3 lead, but the Ichabods used a 17-1 run over the next 6:07 of the contest to take a 20-6 lead as Washburn was 7 of 10 during the stretch while the Ichabod defense held the Lopers to 0-7 shooting from the field.
The Lopers used an 8-0 run to cut Washburn's lead to 28-10 with 7:17 to play in the first half before Washburn used another double-digit run, outscoring the Lopers 10-0 to go up 20 before taking a 44-26 lead into the break.
Bachelor hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the second half to push Washburn's lead to 23.
The Lopers connected on two more jumpers before the Ichabods ripped off another big run of 17-3, going up by 33 with 8:57 left.
After the final media timeout, Bachelor connected on another 3-pointer and Jake Schadegg hit two treys of his own 28 seconds apart, giving Washburn its 11th 3-pointer on the evening as the Ichabods rolled to the 35-point win.
The 35-point win topped the previous series victory margin of 31 in an 89-58 win over the Lopers on Jan. 16, 2019 in Topeka.
Washburn snapped a three-game MIAA-opener losing streak with the win over the Lopers, recording its first win in its league lid-lifter since 2020.
Bachelor's 19 points was a game high as the Washburn Rural product finished 5 of 8 from 3-point range.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- Washburn University volleyball will continue to dance in the NCAA Tournament after knocking off No. 5 nationally ranked Nebraska-Kearney in five sets on Thursday in a Central Region quarterfinal.
No. 6 seed Washburn volleyball celebrates its final point in Thursday's five-set NCAA tournament win over No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn's bench takes the court to celebrate Thursday's win over Nebraska-Kearney with its teammates. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will face either Central Oklahoma or Southwest Minnesota State at 4 p.m. on Friday in the Central Region semifinals.
Thursday's win was WU's first of the season over Nebraska-Kearney after two regular-season losses to the Lopers, with the Ichabods taking a 20-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-18, 15-13 decision.
"It was fun, wasn't it,'' veteran Washburn coach Chris Herron said in the post-match press conference. "I'm sure it was fun if you were sitting in the stands, but I'm up here shaking.
"We played them that way last time, too. Last time we lost in five, 15-12, so I'm very excited for my team.''
The first set went in the 30-3 Lopers' favor, 25-20, before 21-7 Washburn flipped the score in the second to even the match.
Nebraska Kearney went back up, winning 25-21 in the third set, but the Ichabods forced a fifth set with a 25-18 win in the fourth.
After trailing 7-1 to begin the final set Washburn rallied to win 15-13 and knock off UNK.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball coach Lora Westling knows that her Ichabods face a tough challenge this weekend and beyond in the always tough MIAA.
But Westling also feels like a four-game winning streak, all by 22 or more points, has her team ready for the task ahead, beginning with Thursday's 5:30 p.m. game at Nebraska-Kearney followed by a 2 p.m. Saturday contest at Fort Hays State.
"This is a tough trip, I would argue one of the toughtest trips in the league, but I think this team is ready for it,'' Westling said. "We've got to see where we're at, so I'm excited to get them out there and get them back on the road with their heads up and see if we can do a little damage.''
Junior Gabi Giovannetti led three double-figure scorers for Washburn with 19 points last Saturday as the Ichabods posted their fourth straight victory, 98-65 over Sterling. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Veterans Yibari Nwidadah, Payton Sterk and Gabi Giovannetti have been solid over the first eight games of the season for the 4-4 Ichabods.
But Westling also feels like some of her younger players and newcomers have made big strides, particularly in last Saturday's 98-65 home win over Sterling, for a Washburn team that does not have a senior on its roster.
"I was proud of some of those freshmen that came in,'' Westling said. "Lauren Luebbert's doing a really good job of just doing what we're asking her to do. Willow (Gideon) has just got to find her confidence because she's a really good player and I thought when our point guards were going a little wild (junior transfer) Emajin (McCallop) did a good job of coming down and kind of calming us down.
"That's what a good team has, role players who are going to do their job, and I thought ours did a good job (Saturday).''
Nwidadah leads the Ichabods a with 17.3 scoring average while also shooting a team-high 70.2 percent from the field and grabbing a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game. The junior has shot over 50.0 percent in every game this season and has two double-doubles. She is third in the nation and first in the MIAA in field goal percentage.
Sterk, a junior transfer from Cal State East Bay is averaging 16.4 points and is shooting 43.0 percent from the floor and a team-high 40.8 percent from 3-point range while dishing out a team-high 2.9 assists per game and hitting a team-high 20 3-pointers, 15 in the last four games.
Giovannetti is averaging 13.1 points while shooting 45.3 percent from the floor and 100.0 percent at the free throw line. The junior is second on the team with 16 made triples and has scored at least nine points in four straight games.
Giovannetti led the way with 19 points against Sterling on 8-12 shooting while adding three steals and a block on the defensive end while Sterk scored 18 points, shooting 4-9 from deep, and Nwidadah had 15 points on 6-8 shooting with eight rebounds. Madelyn Amekporfor and freshman Brooke Gomez each chipped in nine points.
Nebraska-Kearney has won its last two games and enters MIAA play with a 6-2 record after defeating Chadron State 86-59 on the road last Saturday.
Meg Burns leads the Lopers with a 12.4 scoring average while hitting 22 3-pointers.
Samantha Moor is averaging 6.9 rebounds while also scoring 11.4 points.
Washburn will continue MIAA play on the road on Saturday against Fort Hays State.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Despite a 31-point night from Payton Sherk and a gutsy effort, the short-handed Washburn women's basketball team came up short in its conference opener Thursday evening, falling 66-61 on the road to Nebraska-Kearney.
Washburn junior Payton Sterk scored 31 points and hit five 3-pointers in Thursday's 66-61 MIAA loss at Nebraska-Kearney. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods played without injured starters Yibari Nwidadah and Madelyn Amekporfor, but were still within one possession of the Lopers until the final seconds.
The Lopers (7-2 overall, 1-0 MIAA) scored the first five points of the contest as Washburn (4-5, 0-1) was held scoreless until Emporia Rebecca Snyder got free for a layup at the 7:10 mark of the first quarter.
A pair of 3-pointers, first from Aniah Wayne and then Sterk, put the Ichabods in front 10-7 with 4:03 to play in the quarter.
In the final minutes Nebraska Kearney finished on a 10-2 run to lead 17-12 after one.
The first four points of the second quarter came from Washburn to pull within one.
WU was able to tie the game up at 19 after Snyder connected on a triple.
The Ichabods briefly went up in the final minute before half as Sterk scored two of her 15 first-half points on a jumper. A late bucket from the Lopers tied the game at 31 going into the break.
After Washburn scored the first two points out of the break the next nine went to Nebraska Kearney.
The lead reached as high as nine points as the Lopers shot 8-15 (53.3 percent) in the quarter before Sterk had the final seven points of the quarter for the Ichabods as they trailed 51-43 with 10 minutes to go.
Washburn was scoreless for the first two minutes of the first quarter but quickly went on a 10-2 run and tied the game at 53 after Sterk knocked down a triple with 5:48 to play.
Brooke Gomez connected on a pair of free throws to tie things back up under the five-minute mark but the next five points went to the Lopers.
Defense created opportunities, as UNK shot just 3-13 in the quarter, and Sterk drained two more 3-pointers in the final three minutes to pull within two each time.
Nebraska-Kearney was able to respond each time, as the Lopers held onto the lead, shooting 8-12 at the line in the quarter to take the five-point victory.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University volleyball will begin its 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament as the No. 6 seed in the Central Region, facing No. 3 seed and MIAA rival Nebraska-Kearney at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. Cloud, Minn. in a tournament quarterfinal.
Washburn volleyball will take a 20-7 record into its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance on Thursday in St. Cloud, Minn. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods begin the national tournament with a 20-7 record while Nebraska-Kearney is 30-2.
Thursday's match will be the third of the season between WU and UNK, with the Lopers taking a 3-0 win at home and a 3-2 win over the Ichabods in Lee Arena.
Washburn was knocked out of the MIAA Championship Tournament with a 3-1 quarterfinal round loss to Northwest Missouri on Nov. 21 while the Lopers went 15-1 in the MIAA regular season and came up short in the MIAA Championship Tournament final, falling to Central Oklahoma 3-1 on Nov. 23.
Washburn, which had made all 18 of its NCAA tournament appearances under coach Chris Herron, is 20-17 all-time in the national tournament and 8-9 in the opening round.
With a win in the first round the Ichabods would take on the quarterfinal winner between No. 2 seed Central Oklahoma and No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State at 4 p.m. on Friday.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When Andrew Orr first stepped on the basketball court for Washburn University in 2021, his career goals were pretty simple.
"I wanted to play, I wanted to be a contributor,'' Orr said. "It was really about having a good college experience when I first came here and basketball was a bonus.''
Washburn senior Andrew Orr scored 14 points in Saturday's 82-56 win over Peru State and is on the verge of becoming the 28th member of the Ichabods' 1,000-point club. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Fast forward to his senior season for the Ichabods and the 6-foot-8 frontliner is just nine points away from becoming 28th member of the Ichabods' coveted 1,000 point club entering Thursday's 7:30 p.m. MAA opener at Nebraska-Kearney.
"I was just happy I was getting to come here, so to be even close to something like that is more than a dream, it's awesome,'' Orr said.
Obviously, Orr's main focus is on doing whatever he can to help the 7-0 and No. 3-ranked Ichabods continue their success and the former Blue Valley North Class 6A state champ said the 1,000-point club is probably something he'll appreciate down the road after his playing days are done.
"One of my friends was talking to me about this the other day and it's like you don't realize how good something is until it's already happened,'' Orr said. "So I'm going to try to appreciate it when it happens, hopefully the next game or two, but I think I'll definitely appreciate it more when I come back here when I'm older and I'm watching Washburn play and I can undertand that I was part of that culture and part of that legacy.''
Washburn coach Brett Ballard said that reaching the 1,000-point milestone will be a great accomplishment for Orr.
"You score 1,000 points in college in four years and that says you've been very good, and he didn't really play much his freshman year,'' Ballard said. "I knew what his family was about, I knew he was well-coached in high school, I knew he was a great kid with a great motor and those young men usually figure it out. Not always, but usually, so I thought he could be very solid for us.
"You always hope they take that jump and he's continued to work and his body has really filled out so physically he's gotten better and he's just an every day guy with a great attitude.''
Washburn senior Andrew Orr (24) enters Thursday's game at Nebraska-Kearney with 991 career points after scoring 14 points in the Ichabods' 82-56 win over Peru State Saturday [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Ichabods are coming off an 82-56 non-conference win over Peru State last Saturday and continue to be ranked No. 3 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 poll and fourth in the latest D2CIDA poll.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the second straight game No. 3-ranked Washburn University men's basketball allowed an opponent to remain within striking distance in the first half Saturday against Peru State in Lee Arena.
And, for the second straight contest, the Ichabods came out smoking after the break, opening the second half with a 12-0 run and a 31-7 start over the first 10 minutes en route to an 82-56 non-conference win over the Bobcats in WU's final home game of 2024.
Washburn senior Andrew Orr (24) paced five Ichabods in double figures with 14 points in the Ichabods' 82-56 win over Peru State Saturday in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Like it had a week earlier against William Jewell, Washburn never trailed against NAIA school Peru State, but the Bobcats were still within four points well into the first half and trailed by just eight (42-34) at halftime.
But after being reminded by WU coach Brett Ballard that they needed to step it up, the Ichabods did just that, turning in a dominating 40-22 scoring edge over the final 20 minutes.
"Stern is a good word to use,'' senior Andrew Orr, who led five Ichabod double-figure scorers with 14 points, said about Ballard's halftime chat. "He wasn't as turned up as he sometimes is because he knew that we would come out second half and take care of business and that's what we did.''
"I wasn't too animated,'' Ballard said. "These guys are mature and they understood we just didn't play really worth a flip in that first half, so a lot of things we needed to clean up and I was much more pleased with our defensive effort in the second half.
"I was glad they responded. They came out the second half and I thought the first 10 minutes we were very good.''
During the second-half run, eight different Ichabods scored and the Washburn defense held the Bobcats (7-3) to 1 of 13 shooting as the Ichabods turned the game into a rout.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Things are about to get tougher for the red-hot Washburn women's basketball team, beginning with next Thursday's MIAA opener at Nebraska-Kearney.
Junior Gabi Giovannetti led three double-figure scorers for Washburn with 19 points Saturday as the Ichabods posted their fourth straight victory, 98-65 over Sterling. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But Lora Westling's Ichabods tuned up for what will be a six-game road trip covering more than a month in the best possible way, posting a fourth straight win in Saturday's 98-65 romp past Sterling in Lee Arena.
"That's a good team,'' Westling said of the Warriors. "I know they're an NAIA team, but they were 7-1 and obviously No. 12 (Korynn Classon) can really play and we knew they were going to be able to do some things, so a great win and exactly where we want our head going into conference.''
All four of WU's wins during its current streak have been by at least 22 points, with Saturday's 38-point victory the Ichabods' biggest margin of the season.
Washburn, now 4-4, outscored the Warriors in all four quarters while all 12 Ichabods that saw action cracked the scoring column, including seven with at least seven points.
Junior Gabi Giovannetti paced three double-figure scorers for Washburn with 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting overall and 3 of 7 from 3-point range while also adding a game-high three steals.
Junior Payton Sterk scored 18 points and hit four 3-pointers in Saturday's 98-65 Washburn win over Sterling in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Payton Sterk was right behind Giovannetti with 18 points, hitting 4 of 9 3-pointers, while junior Yibari Nwidadah added 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Washburn built a 24-19 first-quarter lead over the Warriors and used a 26-15 second quarter to take a 50-34 halftime advantage.
The Ichabods followed that up with 32-17 third quarter to open up a commanding 82-51 advantage and finished off the rout with a 16-14 fourth quarter.
Washburn shot 53.6 percent from the field for the game while out-rebounding Sterling 37-25 and committing eight fewer turnovers than the Warriors (22-14).
Clason led Sterling with a game-high 25 points whle Alissa Heskamp and Kayla Morris added 10 points apiece.
WASHBURN WOMEN 98, STERLING 65
Sterling 19 15 17 14 -- 65
Washburn 24 26 32 16 -- 98
STERLING (7-2)
Young 2-7 2-4 6, Briar 1-6 0-0 2, Clason 11-17 3-3 25, Heskamp 4-7 2-2 10, Bearup 3-3 0-0 6, Gill 0-1 0-0 0, Morris 4-6 2-2 10, Terverbaugh 2-4 0-0 4, Jacobs 0-2 2-2 2, McCormick 0-1 0-0 0, Galliher 0-0 0-0 0, Spencer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-55 11-13 65.
WASHBURN (4-4)
Amekporfor 4-10 0-0 9, Nwidadah 6-8 3-4 15, Gomez 4-5 1-1 9, Giovannetti 8-12 0-0 19, Sterk 6-15 2-2 18, Snyder 0-1 1-2 1, Davison 2-4 3-4 8, McCallop 1-3 0-0 2, McKenzie 2-3 1-2 5, Gideon 2-3 2-2 7, Boyd 2-5 0-0 4, Luebbert 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 37-69 14-19 98.
3-point goals -- Sterling 0-6 (Briar 0-4, Heskamp 0-1, McCormick 0-1), Washburn 10-27 (Sterk 4-9, Giovannetti 3-7, Amekporfor 1-5, Gideon 1-2, Davison 1-1, Gomez 0-1, McCallop 0-1, Snyder 0-1). Rebounds -- Sterling 25 (Young 9), Washburn 37 (Nwidadah 8). Assists -- Sterling 12 (Briar 3, Clason 3), Washburn 23 (Amekporfor 7, Gomez 7). Turnovers -- Sterling 22, Washburn 14. Total fouls -- Sterling 17, Washburn 16. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After growing up in Colorado Springs and launching her college basketball career in California, 5-foot-10 junior guard Payton Sterk found her way to Washburn University, which has paid early dividends for both Sterk and the Ichabods.
Junior Payton Sterk (20) is averaging 16.1 points with 16 3-pointers for Washburn, which has won three straight games. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
After starring at Doherty High in Colorado Springs, Sterk played two seasons at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif., leading the California Collegiate Athletic Association in scoring as a sophomore with an 18.5 average and canning 83 3-pointers before making the decision to transfer and ending up with Lora Westling's Ichabods.
"Coach Wes did actually recruit me out of high school when she was at Western Colorado, but I really liked California, so I went,'' Sterk said. "It was a good time, but I was looking for people like my teammates now, who are more like-minded like me, and that kind of thing.
"I found coach again in the recruiting process and that's how I ended up here.''
Sterk moved to Topeka in July after making her decision to come to WU and used the late summer and early fall to get acquainted with her new teammates.
"That helped a lot, they were great,'' Sterk said. "They were a lot of the reason I ended up coming here. Just hanging out with them and that kind of thing was really cool.''
Junior Payton Sterk has become an immediate standout for Washburn, which has won three straight games. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sterk has made an immediate impact for 3-4 Washburn, which will be shooting for its fourth straight win in Saturday's 4 p.m. non-conference game against Sterling in Lee Arena.
Sterk enters Saturday's game with a 16.1 scoring average while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and hitting 16 3-pointers.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 3-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team will host Peru State in a non-conference contest at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Lee Arena.
Senior Jacob Hanna (5) leads a balanced Washburn offense with a 16.3 scoring average. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods moved to 6-0 on the season with an 81-73 home win over William Jewell last Saturday and were ranked No. 3 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 poll and fourth in the latest D2 College Information Directors Association poll.
The ranking is the highest by an Ichabod team since earning a No. 2 ranking on Dec. 18, 2012. The last time the Ichabods were ranked No. 3 in the nation was on Nov. 30, 2004.
Peru State is 7-2 after falling at Baker 87-64 on Tuesday and the Bobcats are receving votes in the latest NAIA poll. Peru State won the last meeting with the Ichabods, taking a 76-72 win over Washburn in Lee Arena on Jan. 2, 2017. Washburn leads the all-time series 14-2.
Senior Jacob Hanna led five double-figure scorers for the Ichabods against William Jewell with 19 points and added eight rebounds and six assists while finishing 9 of 10 from the free throw line.
Sophomore Brayden Shorter had 18 points, Jack Bachelor 14 and Andrew Orr and Brady Christiansen 12 apiece for WU, with Christiansen also grabbing seven rebounds.
Washburn senior Andrew Orr (24) is 23 points away from reaching the 1,000-point mark for his Ichabod career. [File photo/TSN]
Orr needs 23 points to become the 28th member of the Ichabod 1,000 point club.
Senior Michael Keegan has 826 career points as an Ichabod and he has moved into sixth all-time at Washburn in career blocks with 83.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Zach Watkins has spent much of his life involved with the Washburn University football program, as an All-American player, assistant coach, defensive coordinator and most recently as the associate head coach.
Former All-America linebacker and longtime assistant coach Zach Watkins was introduced Wednesday morning as Washburn's new head football coach. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And as of Wednesday morning Watkins officially took over the job he had long dreamed of as the Washburn Hall of Famer was introduced as the 38th head coach in Ichabod history and the first alum in more than 30 years to guide the WU program.
"I've wanted to be a head coach for a long time,'' Watkins said. "I've turned down some opportunities to stay here and never thought it would happen the way it's happened the last couple of weeks, but it was always a job that I coveted and a job that I knew was special to me and one that I always thought I could do well.''
"He's done an outstanding job and I'm excited about this hire,'' Washburn athletics director Loren Ferre said. "He brings the energy, the passion, knowledge and experience we were looking for. He has been great to work with over the past 11 years that he's been on staff and I'm truly excited about the future of Washburn football and what coach Watkins can bring to this position.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University has named former Ichabod star and longtime assistant coach Zach Watkins as the school's new head football coach.
Zach Watkins
The former All-American linebacker and 11-year member of the Washburn coaching staff, who was iducted into the Washburn Hall of Fame in 2021, becomes the 38th head football coach in program history as well as the first Ichabod alum to fill the role in more than 30 years.
"Coach Watkins has a detailed plan to power the program forward,'' said Washburn athletics director Loren Ferre. "While the position attracted a lot of interest from other coaching candidates, we are confident the best candidate is already on our sideline."
"Zach brings a deep understanding of what it takes to win in the MIAA and is hitting the ground running. Having earned the respect and support of his players as well as other coaches in the conference, Zach is well prepared to take this program to the next level and keep it there."
Watkins began his coaching career at Northwest Missouri State and Fort Hays State University before returning to his alma mater.
As part of the Washburn coaching staff, Watkins has served as both associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.
He has coached 56 Ichabods to All-MIAA honors on the defensive side and directly coached 23 All-MIAA selections, including 10 linebackers, three punters, three place-kickers and seven defensive backs.
In 2017, Watkins was selected as one of 34 NCAA football coaches to attend the NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy – the only MIAA coach and one of only two from the Division II ranks.
"Coach Watkins is deeply committed to Washburn University and the Ichabod football program, striving to compete for championships each and every season," said Washburn president Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek. "I have full confidence in Zach's leadership abilities and his vision for the future.
"His strong relationships with current players as well as connections to incoming recruits will help to ensure we retain our talent and grow this program into a national Division II powerhouse."
Watkins was a four-year starter at linebacker for Washburn from 2006-09, compiling an impressive career of 100 or more tackles in each season as well as a school-record 473 stops throughout his four years.
At the time, that mark placed him third all-time in NCAA Division II history.
"I would like to thank president Mazachek and athletic director Ferré for this incredible opportunity," Watkins said. "I am humbled and excited to be chosen to lead the outstanding young men in this football program. Washburn helped shape me into the man I am today and I am grateful to pay that forward in the lives of our student-athletes."
Watkins, a native of Independence, Mo., graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Washburn University in 2009 and completed his master's degree in sports administration at Fort Hays State in 2013.
He and his wife Amanda have two children, a son, Parker, and daughter, Naomi.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It took awhile Monday night for Washburn University women basketball to prove it was the dominant team against former MIAA rival Lincoln.
Washburn junior Yibari Nwidadah (middle) posted game-high totals of 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Ichabods stretched their winning streak to three games with Monday's 80-55 in over Lincoln. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But there was no doubt who the most dominant player on the floor was, with 6-foot-2 junior center Yibari Nwidadah turning in a huge performance with 25 points and 12 rebounds as Washburn took control in the second half for an 80-55 win over the Blue Tigers in WU's home opener in Lee Arena.
"We like Bari against almost anybody,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said. "We liked Bari against the Big 12 teams (Kansas State and Kansas in exhibitions). She does the work and she's coming along, she's getting more confident, and she's going to be dominant for us.''
Nwidadah said she's worked at being more aggressive on the court.
"Coach has talked to me a lot about being dominant and stepping up into that dominant mindset and just going out and going after everyone,'' Nwidadah said. "It's just like no matter who's in front of me I'm going to go out and be the same person every time.''
Washburn, which has now posted three straight wins by at least 22 points, struggled early against the Blue Tigers, trailing 21-16 after one quarter and trailing much of the second quarter before rallying late behind Nwidadah to take a 32-29 lead at the half.
But the Ichabods, who played without guard Aniyah Wayne due to an injury, took control with a 25-11 third quarter and a 23-15 fourth stanza to record their most lopsided win of the season.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Broderick Desch
BRODERICK DESCH, Hayden
Desch, a senior fullback, put Hayden ahead to stay with a 12-yard touchdown run to open the scoring and added a 1-yard TD later in the game as the 11-1 Wildcats advanced to their second straight Class 3A state football championship game with a 35-7 sub-state road win over No. 1 East seed Wellsville. Unofficially, Desch finished with 58 yards on 14 carries.
Jacob Hanna
JACOB HANNA, Washburn University
Hanna, a 6-foot-3 senior out of Maize, scored 39 points in two games on the week as No. 5 nationally-ranked Washburn men's basketball improved to 6-0. Hanna scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds in an 89-71 home win Tuesday over Pittsburg State and had 19 points with eight rebounds, six assists and 9 of 10 free throws in Saturday's 81-73 home win over William Jewell.
Kade Mitchell
KADE MITCHELL, Hayden
Mitchell, a junior running back, scored touchdowns on runs of 5 and 18 yards and unofficially had 72 rushing yards on 11 attempts as Hayden earned a second straight trip to the Class 3A state football championship game with a 35-7 road win over No. East seed and previously-unbeaten Wellsville Friday night.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University volleyball was selected to its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance on Monday evening, earning the sixth seed in the Central Region.
The Ichabods will head to St. Cloud, Minn. to face No. 3 seed Nebraska-Kearney in the first round on Dec. 5.
Washburn volleyball will make its 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Dec. 5 in St. Cloud, Minn. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods are back in the tournament after a one-year hiatus. Washburn earned the No. 6 seed, where the Ichabods were slotted in the previous two NCAA Regional Rankings.
WU is 20-7 overall overall and posted a fourth-place finish in the MIAA regular season with an 11-5 mark.
The Ichabods advanced to the MIAA Tournament quarterfinals where they fell to Northwest Missouri State, 3-1.
A time for Washburn's NCAA Tournament match against Nebraska-Kearney will be determined later.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball will make its long-awaited home debut on Monday, with the Ichabods facing Lincoln in a 6 p.m. contest in Lee Arena.
Washburn women's basketball will make its home court debut at 6 p.m. Monday against Lincoln. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Lora Westling's Ichabods opened the 2024-2025 season with six straight road contests but will come home on a two-game winning streak after a pair of 22-point wins last week.
Washburn is 2-4 on the year after an 81-59 win over Truman State on Friday. The Ichabods posted an 80-58 win at William Jewell last Tuesday.
Lincoln will enter Monday's game 1-0 on after defeating Harris Stowe 58-42 in Jefferson City, Mo. on Nov. 13.
The contest between former MIAAs foes WU and Lincoln will be the 38th meeting between the two teams all-time.
Junior Yibari Nwidadah leads the Ichabods offensively with a 16.5 scoring average on 69.4 percent shooting from the field and leads the team with a 7.0 rebounding average.
Junior Payton Sterk is second on the team in scoring at 15.8 points per game while starting all six contests and playing a team-high 30.2 minutes per game. She is shooting 44.2 percent from the floor and a team-high 41.2% from 3-point range while dishing out a team-high 3.2 assists. She has a team-high 14 3-pointers with nine coming over the last two games where she averaged 23.5 points.
Gabi Giovannetti is averaging 12.0 points while shooting 42.0 percent from the floor and 100.0 percent at the free throw line. The junior has started all six games playing 28.5 minutes per game. She is second on the team with 11 made 3-pointers, five in the last two games.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 5-ranked Washburn University men's basketball team never trailed in Saturday's home non-conference game against William Jewell, with just one tie on the afternoon.
Washburn senior Jacob Hanna scored a game-high 19 points with eight rebounds and six assists in the Ichabods' 81-73 win over William Jewell. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But the 6-0 Ichabods had to withstand several Cardinal threats before taking control late in an 81-73 win in Lee Arena, the Ichabods first game that was closer than 17 points.
"It was ugly and we probably needed that,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said. "We haven't had many of those where there were a lot of meaningful possessions in the second half, so it was good for us in a way, but a lot of self-inflicted wounds today.''
After trailing by 12 points (24-12) William Jewell used a 12-0 run over a 5:37 span to forge a 24-all deadlock with three minutes left in the first half and trailed by just a 29-26 margin at the break.
The Cardinals got within a point twice early in the second half and were still within three points midway through the half (49-46) before a William Jewell technical foul seemed to ignite the Ichabods.
A Jack Bachelor free throw on the technical followed by a Jacob Hanna 3-pointer on the same possession put WU up by seven and Brady Christiansen scored 30 seconds later to put the Ichabods back in front by nine (55-46).
Hanna added a pair of free throws to put Washburn up by double-digits at 57-46 and the Ichabods went on to lead by 15 points on four different occasions and cruised in for the win, avenging a 15-point road loss to the Cardinals last seaon.
"We got the job done and that's a good team,'' Ballard said. "And they're missing some guys. They're going to get better and are well-coached and they make you earn it.
"I was happy with how we responded at times in the second half, but we've definitely got to learn from this and get better.''
Washburn put 52 points on the board in the second half while shooting 71 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from 3-point range.
Hanna, a senior, led the Ichabods with 19 points and added eight rebounds and six assists while finishing nine of 10 from the free throw line and doing most of his damage in the decisive second half.
"It was tough in the first half with two fouls and kind of being limited minutes-wise, but I just tried to give the team whatever we needed to win the game,'' Hanna said.
Washburn sophomore Brayden Shorter scored 18 points with four 3-pointers in Saturday's 81-73 win over William Jewell. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hanna paced five Ichabods in double-digits as starters Brayden Shorter had 18 points, Bachelor 14 and Andrew Orr 12 while Christiansen gave the Ichabods a big lift off the bench with 12 points (6 of 7 from the field) and seven rebounds.
"Brady was good,'' Ballard said. "He got some baskets and defensively he's so solid and you can rely on him to be in the right spots defensively and can guard multiple guys and he's a great rebounder. He does all those things and definitely gave us that spark and I thought Jacob Hanna was really good in the second half as well.''
Washburn junior Brady Christiansen (1), guarding William Jewell's Kanukayi Gudza, had 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench in Saturday's 81-73 home win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
A junior, Christiansen started 28 of 30 games as a sophomore before coming off the bench this season, but he said his role hasn't really changed.
"At the end of the day it's just what's best for the team,'' Christiansen said. "And it's really the same role as last year, just being a man on the glass and doing what's best for my teammates and then making the right plays when I'm open.
"That's just what my role is and if everyone does their role we're going to win pretty much all the games. Not many teams will beat us.''
