By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County golfers to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches.
KAITLYNN FRYE, Seaman
A senior, Frye earned second-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season after tying for 27th in the Class 5A state tournament with a 36-hole score of 188 (95-93). Stuke finished third in the United Kansas Conference with an 84 as the Vikings won their fourth straight conference title and tied for eighth in the city meet as Seaman won its first city team title by 14 strokes. Frye tied for seventh at regionals.
Avenley Head, Silver Lake
AVENLEY HEAD, Silver Lake
Head, a sophomore, was a second-team All-Shawnee County pick last fall as a freshman. Head posted a seventh-place finish in Class 3A-1A regional competition in 2025 before tying for 29th at state with a 36-hole total of 188 (99-89).
Brooke Johnson, Hayden
BROOKE JOHNSON, Hayden
A senior, Johnson helped Hayden post a fourth-place Class 4A team finish last fall after helping the Wildcats win the 4A state title by a 15-stroke margin as a sophomore. A second-team All-Shawnee County pick the past two seasons, Johnson tied for 23rd in the state tournament last fall with a 36-hole total of 178 (89-89).
Kailyn Petersen, Washburn Rural
KAILYN PETERSEN, Washburn Rural
Petersen, a senior, is the lone returning All-Shawnee County first-team honoree from the 2025 team after earning second-team all-county recognition as a sophomore. Petersen finished sixth in the city tournament, tied for ninth in the Centennial League and finished third in Class 6A regional competition with a 79 before placing 31st at state with a 177 36-hole total (87-90).
ELLEY SANDERS, Rossville
A senior, Sanders posted an eighth-place finish in Class 3A-1A regional competition last season, earning the top individual qualifying berth for the state tournament. Sanders tied for 36th at state with a 36-hole total of 193 (95-98).
CHLOE SCHMIDTLEIN, Seaman
A senior, Schmidtlein earned second-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season after earning a Class 5A state medal with a tie for 19th place at 183 (91-92). Schmidtlein finished seventh in the city meet as the Vikings won their first city team title by 14 strokes, tied for fourth in the United Kansas Conference as Seaman won its fourth straight team championship and finished 10th at regionals.
LAURYN VALDIVIA, Shawnee Heights
Valdivia, a senior, tied for seventh place in the United Kansas Conference last fall and earned an individual berth in the Class 5A state tournament with a 17th-place finish in 5A regional competition.
SAVANAH WENDE, Silver Lake
A senior, Wende tied for 21st place in the 2025 Class 3A-1A state tournament last season with a 36-hole score of 184 (93-91) after placing ninth in 3A-1A regional competition.
