By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman multi-sport standout Taylin Stallbaumer, who helped lead the Vikings to their first Class 5A state volleyball championship, was named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Fall Female Athlete of the Year during Wednesday's awards banquet at Washburn University.
Recent Seaman graduate Taylin Stallbaumer was named the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards Fall Female Athlete of the Year Wednesday night. [File photo/TSN]
"Taylin was a three-sport athlete at Seaman, excelling in all of them,'' Seaman coach Tatiana Dowling said. "She is highly competitive and athletic. She makes people around her better, leads by example and is a great teammate.''
Stallbaumer ranks second on Seaman's all-time list in assists (1,394), fourth in aces (134), fifth in kills (663), sixth in digs (873), seventh in hitting percentage (.205) and ninth in blocks (91).
Stallbaumer also helped the Vikings win the 5A state basketball title and helped Seaman reach the state quarterfinals in soccer.
Stallbaumer will play volleyball at Johnson County Community College.
The daughter of Todd and Tonya Stallbaumer, Taylin compiled a 3.5 cumulative grade point average.
Other candidates:
FALL SPORTS: OUTSTANDING FEMALE NOMINEES
Addison Brooks
ADDISON BROOKS | Topeka West
PARENTS: Andy and Barbie Brooks
SPORT: Volleyball | GPA: NA
A four-year varsity player for the Chargers, Brooks earned first-team All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference honors as a senior after earning second-team recognition as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore. Brooks registered 238 kills as a senior with 139 digs and 39 service aces. "Addison showed leadership in the classroom and on the court,'' Topeka West coach Alyx Nash said. "She was a player that wants success for herself but would rather see success for the team and her teammates. When set the ball she could almost always find the open spot for the kill, but gave credit to the passer and setter.'' She will play collegiately at Saint Mary.
Madeline Fieger
MADELINE FIEGER | Silver Lake
PARENTS: Darin and Annette Fieger
SPORT: Golf | GPA: 4.0
Fieger was a four-time qualifier for the Class 3A-1A state golf tournament during her high school career and was a member of Silver Lake's state championship team as a senior. Fieger also helped Silver Lake, coached by Kelby Brown, capture three regional team championships. Fieger was a two-time member of the 3A-1A All-State team and helped the Eagles win the state team championship by 22 strokes last fall. Fieger tied for 34th place in the 2023 state tournament with a 36-hole total of 195.
Amirah Gibbs
AMIRAH GIBBS | Topeka High
PARENTS: Michael and Kandis Gibbs
SPORT: Volleyball | GPA: 3.9
Gibbs was the senior leader for a young Topeka High volleyball team coached by Bridget Bargmann in the 2023 season. An outstanding student who compiled a 3.9 cumulative grade point average, Gibbs was honored for her play on the volleyball court with honorable mention on the All-Centennial League team. Gibbs also received honorable mention on TopSports.news' All-Shawnee County team after helping the Trojans post a 10-24 record on the season.
Avery Grunert
AVERY GRUNERT | Hayden
PARENTS: Kyle and Heather Grunert
SPORT: Golf/volleyball | GPA: 3.687
Grunert was a four-sport athlete for Hayden in golf, volleyball, basketball and track and field and went to state in three of those sports. "Avery had an outstanding career, capped off by leading Hayden to the (Class) 4A state championship as a senior,'' Hayden golf coach Jayson Duncan said. "Avery always seemed to play her best golf when it mattered, becoming a two-time state medalist with her exceptional play at the state tournament.'' Grunert helped Hayden's basketball team qualify for state as a junior and senior, including a third-place finish this past season, and also competed at state during her high school track and field career. Grunert has signed a golf letter of intent with Newman.
Jada Ingram
JADA INGRAM | Washburn Rural
PARENTS: Lamar and Amanda Ingram
SPORT: Volleyball | GPA: 3.863
As a senior Ingram registered 578 kills on .272 hitting efficiency with 15 block kills, 91.5 percent serving, 29 aces and 232 digs. Ingram finished her Wasburn Rural career fifth all-time in kills with 1,188. "Jada has exhibited excellence in volleyball by her exemplary work ethic and her desire to be the best she can be,'' Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "She shows up every day to get better in the offseason and during the season. Jada has been very instrumental in maintaining the standards of our volleyball program and being that shining example for our younger players in maintaining those standards from season to season.'' Ingram will play collegiately at UNLV.
Kinley Porter
KINLEY PORTER | Rossville
PARENTS: Dusty and Jodi Porter
SPORT: Volleyball | GPA: 4.43
A multi-sport standout for the Bulldawgs, Porter helped lead Rossville's volleyball team to a 31-8 record last fall, earning first-team All-Shawnee County and All-Mid-East League recognition. Porter finished her high school career with 1,463 assists. "Kinley has played multiple sports throughout her high school career and has excelled in all of them,'' Rossville volleyball coach Dani Dodge said. "Kinley worked hard all four years and has won a few state titles (softball, dance, two-time cheer) out of the hard work. She has such a big heart and wants the best for her team. She brought her 'A' game to every game and practice and fought hard to the end. She is an athlete every coach would want on her team.'' Porter plans to attend Fort Hays State.
Sarah Wehrli
SARAH WEHRLI | Silver Lake
PARENTS: James and Tanya Wehrli
SPORT: Volleyball | GPA: 3.729
Wehrli helped lead Silver Lake to a third-place finish in the Class 3A state volleyball tournament, earning first-team All-Shawnee County, All-Mid-East League and All-3A State Tournament recognition and second-team All-3A honors while being voted Most Valuable Player by her teammates. "Sarah is an athlete that truly encompasses what that word means,'' Silver Lake coach Sarah Johnson said. "She took those talents and continued to grow and evolve into a fantastic volleyball player and student-athlete. She was always one on the court who knew her role and took it head on.'' Wehrli, who finished her career with 1,743 assists, had 873 assists, 30 aces and 258 digs as a senior. She will play collegiately at Neosho County Community College.
