By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Over the coming days TopSports.news will take a look at all 10 Washburn University women's and men's finalists for the 2025-2026 school year, followed by the Ichabod athletes of the year.
Jack Bachelor, Washburn University [File photo/TSN]
JACK BACHELOR | Basketball
The former Washburn Rural star has started 76 consecutive games and 78 of 97 as an Ichabod, averaging 13.6 points for his career. Bachelor ranks 14th on Washburn's career scoring chart with 1,319 points, third in career assists (455), sixth all-time in steals (143) and seventh in career 3-pointers (207). Bachelor is a two-time first-team all-MIAA and NABC all-district selection. He averaged 15.5 points while hitting 95 3-pointers and dishing out 151 assists as a junior. Bachelor was named the MIAA Tournament most valuable player with games of 24, 27 and 14 points while also dishing out 22 assists.
Dillon Claussen, Washburn University [File photo/TSN]
DILLON CLAUSSEN | Basketball
Claussen played in 64 games with 29 starts for WU, averaging 11.3 points and 4.9 rebounds, adding 68 blocks and 55 steals. Claussen ranks No. 3 all-time at Washburn in career field goal percentage at .641. Led the Ichabods in scoring with a 15.6-point average last season, earning first-team NABC All-District, and All-MIAA honors. Claussen scored a career-high 27 points at Nebraska-Kearney hitting 11 of 16 shots including 3 of 5 3-pointers and adding eight rebounds.
Justin Forde, Washburn University [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
JUSTIN FORDE | Track and field
Forde was the 2026 NCAA Indoor national champion in the triple jump and finished third in the NCAA Outdoor championships. Forde was a three-time MIAA individual champion in the triple jump, winning two outdoor titles and one indoor title. Forde was a three-time all-region selection and is Washburn's school record- holder in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump. A Norwalk, Conn. native, Forde became Washburn's first NCAA individual champion when he won the indoor triple jump at 16.29 meters (53 feet, 5.50 inches.). Forde jumped a school-record 54-07.25 outdoors.
Jacob Fratzel, Washburn University [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
JACOB FRATZEL | Golf
The former St. James Academy star was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year and was a PING All-Region and first-team All-MIAA pick after leading the Ichabods with a 72.5 stroke average in 34 rounds. Fratzel posted six top-10 finishes, including one top-five placing. He recorded 14 rounds under par and finished in a tie for 18th at the NCAA National Championship with a 5-under 211.
Kamble Haverkamp, Washburn University [File photo/TSN]
KAMBLE HAVERKAMP | Football
The Centralia product was an All-MIAA first-team selection as a senior, while also being named second-team All-Region. Haverkamp was a four-year member of the Ichabods, playing in 28 games and recording 109 tackles. Haverkamp started all 11 games at safety, recording 76 tackles with 56 solo stops. He registered11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
JC Heim, Washburn University [File photo/TSN]
JC HEIM | Football
A former Washburn Rural star, Heim has posted 171 career total tackles with 84 solo stops and eight tackles for loss in his first two seasons at Washburn. Heim started all 11 games in the 2025 season, compiling 142 total tackles which led the MIAA and was second in the nation. Heim had a career-high 17 tackles against Colorado Mines. A second-team All-MIAA pick, Heim ranked third in the nation in solo tackles with 71 and had seven tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Donald Kibet, Washburn University [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
DONALD KIBET | Cross country/track
Kibet was Washburn's first three-time cross country All-American in cross country, earning the honor as a sophomore, junior and senior, including a 16th-place finish at the NCAA National Championships last fall. He was also an all-region honoree after placing third at the NCAA Central Region meet and was All-MIAA after finishing third at the MIAA Championships. Kibet owns the Ichabod program record in track in the indoor 3,000 meters and is the school record holder in the indoor and outdoor 5,000 and 10,000.
Ian Luce, Washburn University [File photo/TSN]
IAN LUCE | Baseball
Luce, a former Manhattan star, was an All-Region first-team and All-MIAA second- team honoree in 2026, starting all 51 games in the outfield and hitting a team-best .417 with a .502 on-base percentage, nine home runs, five triples, 20 doubles and 51 runs batted in. Luce led the Ichabods with 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts and had 87 putouts with two assists in the field. Luce had 29 multi-hit games with three four-hit games.
Jake Muller, Washburn University [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
JAKE MULLER | Track and field
The former Hayden multi-time state champ holds the Washburn school record in the 600-yard run indoors and the 400-meter hurdles outdoors, with seven of the top 10 times in school history. Earned All-American honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this past spring with a fifth-place finish in the 400 hurdles. He placed fourth at the MIAA Outdoor Championships in the 400 hurdles and earned All-MIAA honors in the 600-yard run at the MIAA Indoor Championships with a third-place finish.
Pavlos Parson, Washburn University [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
PAVLOS PARSON | Tennis
A native of Larnaca, Cypress, Parson was named the MIAA/GAC Player of the Year this past spring while also being named the ITA Central Region Most Improved Player. Parson won the ITA Central Region Singles Championship last fall and has received All-MIAA/GAC first-team recognition twice. He posted a 23-14 record in singles and compiled a 24-8 record in doubles.
Next up: Washburn University women's athlete of the year.
