By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Over the coming weeks TopSports.news will take a look at all of the senior finalists for the 2025-2026 Shawnee County High School Sports Awards from the fall, winter and spring seasons, followed by the athletes of the year for all three seasons and the overall outstanding girls and boys athletes of the year.
Brody Anderson, Seaman
BRODY ANDERSON | Seaman
SPORT: Track and field
Anderson ended his high school career with a Class 5A state championship, winning the 800 meters in a 5A meet-record time of 1 minute, 52.08 seconds. A former state medalist in cross country, Anderson also posted second-place 5A state finishes in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters after winning the city title in the 800 and sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 titles in the United Kansas Conference meet.
Caleb Cleverdon, Cair Paravel/Topeka High
CALEB CLEVERDON | Cair Paravel/Topeka High
SPORT: Golf
Cleverdon, who competed for Topeka High in the regular season and Cair Paravel Latin in the postseason, posted a second-place individual finish in the Class 2A state tournament with a 36-hole total of 149 (73-76) after taking a four-shot individual win in the Flint Hills League tournament with a 73. A first-team All-Shawnee County pick, Cleverdon tied for third in the Centennial League (75) and tied for first in 2A regional competition (71), finishing second in a playoff.
Brody Cooper, Shawnee Heights [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]
BRODY COOPER | Shawnee Heights
SPORT: Baseball
A standout pitcher, Cooper helped lead Shawnee Heights to the 2026 Class 5A state championship game and a runnerup finish. A two-time United Kansas Conference first-team selection, Cooper was named the conference pitcher of the year as a senior and was also named to the All-Shawnee County first team.
Jack Donovan, Rossville
JACK DONOVAN | Rossville
SPORT: Golf
Donovan was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick for the third straight season after earning a state medal for the fourth straight year (two in Class 3A, two in 2A) with a fifth-place finish in the 2A state event with a 36 hole score of 155 (79-76). Donovan finished third in a 2A regional with a 76 and was the Big East League individual medalist with a 71. Donovan, who tied for sixth in the 2025 state tournament, received All-Shawnee County recognition in three sports.
Drew Fay, Cair Paravel Latin
DREW FAY | Cair Paravel Latin
SPORT: Tennis
Fay capped an outstanding four-year high school career with a city-high fifth-place finish in the 2026 Class 3A-1A state tournament. Fay was a four-year state qualifier and a three-time state medalist, with a high finish of second place in doubles in 2025. Fay captured the city championship in No. 1 singles this past spring and also won a regional title. Fay was a three-time All-City pick.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
CONNOR HANIKA | Hayden
SPORT: Baseball
An All-Shawnee County honoree in football, basketball and baseball, Hanika helped lead the Wildcats to Class 4A state runnerup finishes in football (Hayden's third straight) and baseball as a senior. A pitcher, Hanika received second-team All-State honors in 4A from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches and was also a first-team All-Centennial League pick.
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural
BROOKS KEHOE | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Track and Field
Kehoe, who helped Washburn Rural win the Class 6A cross country championship last fall, posted a second-place state finish in the 1,600 meters (4 minutes, 22.04 seconds) in the state track meet. Kehoe was a city champion in the 1,600 and 4x400 relay and swept the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in 6A regional competition. Kehoe was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick in cross country and track.
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
KADE MITCHELL | Hayden
SPORT: Baseball
Mitchell earned first-team All-Shawnee County honors in football and baseball as a senior, helping lead the Wildcats to Class 4A state runnerup finishes in football (Hayden's third straight) and baseball. An outfielder, Mitchell received second-team All-State honors in 4A from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches and was also a first-team All-Centennial League pick.
Aidan Newbery, Washburn Rural
AIDAN NEWBERY | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Baseball
Newbery, a catcher, was named the Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year after helping lead Washburn Rural to a its first state baseball championship since 1952, capped by a 4-3 win over Free State in the Class 6A state championship game. Newbery was also named to the 6A All-State second team by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches.
Drew Womack, Silver Lake [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
DREW WOMACK | Silver Lake
SPORT: Baseball
A first baseman, Womack helped lead Silver Lake to a runnerup finish in the Class 3A state tournament. A first-team All-Shawnee County selection, Womack was also named to the 3A All-State first team by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches as a senior for the Eagles.
Next up: Fall Girls Athlete of the Year.
