By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Dylan Willingham, who helped lead Washburn Rural to the Class 6A state soccer championship last fall while earning Centennial League and 6A player of the year honors, has been selected as TopSports.news' Shawnee County fall boys senior athlete of the year for the 2025-2026 school year.
Dylan Willingham, Washburn Rural
Willingham, a star forward, was named the 2025-26 Gatorade Kansas Boys Soccer Player of the Year after helping lead the 19-1-1 Junior Blues to the 2025 Class 6A state championship.
Willingham set Washburn Rural's single-season scoring record with 37 goals and career record with 67 goals.
The two-time Centennial League Player of the Year was Kansas' only 2025-26 United Soccer Coaches All-American in addition to being recognized as the 6A forward of the year.
Willingham was also a four-time 6A state medalist in tennis.
Willingham will play Division I college soccer at Nebraska-Omaha.
Other fall boys athlete of the year finalists
Brody Anderson, Seaman
BRODY ANDERSON | Seaman
SPORT: Cross Country
A first-team All-Shawnee County pick in all three years he ran cross country, Anderson won his second straight city and United Kansas Conference individual titles last fall and was a Class 5A regional runnerup. He also won the prestigious Olathe Twilight Invitational, finishing ahead of runners from over 50 schools from multiple states. Anderson won the 5A 800 meters title in track while finishing second in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters.
Camden Granado, Shawnee Heights
CAMDEN GRANADO | Shawnee Heights
SPORT: Soccer/Football
Granado, a forward, was named the United Kansas Conference soccer player of the year last fall while also earning All-City first-team honors. A second-team All-State selection, Granado finished his career as Shawnee Heights soccer's all-time leading goal scorer. The T-Bird standout doubled up in football, handling place-kicking duties for Heights and earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
CONNOR HANIKA | Hayden
SPORT: Football
Hanika, a quarterback, helped lead the 12-1 Wildcats to their third straight Class 3A state championship game. Hanika completed 116 of 192 passing attempts on the season for 1,810 yards and 24 touchdowns and added 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Hanika was also a standout for Hayden's basketball team and helped lead the Wildcats to a runnerup finish in the Class 4A state baseball tournament.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
DAYNE JOHNSON | Silver Lake
SPORT: Football
Johnson, a wide receiver/defensive back, was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 repeat selection in 2025 after catching 75 passes for 1,053 yards and eight touchdowns and registering 59 tackles with two pass interceptions. Johnson, who earned first-team All-Big East League recognition on offense and second-team honors on defense in football, also helped lead the Eagles to a third-place Class 3A state finish in basketball and a runnerup finish in 3A baseball.
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural
BROOKS KEHOE | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Cross Country
A three-time All-Shawnee County first-team honoree, Kehoe helped lead Washburn Rural to the Class 6A state team championship by a single point. Kehoe was the Centennial League champion, placed second in the city meet, 19th in Class 6A regional competition and 25th at state. Kehoe, who helped the Junior Blues win city and league titles and finish second in a tiebreaker at regionals, finished as the 6A runnerup in the 1,600-meter run in track.
Jude Krentz, Hayden
JUDE KRENTZ | Hayden
SPORT: Football
A running back/linebacker, Krentz was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 repeat pick and was named the county defensive player of the year. Krentz led 12-1 Hayden with 120 tackles while recording six tackles for loss and picking off two passes. Krentz carried the ball 71 times for 414 yards and scored 11 total touchdowns for the Wildcats, who reached the Class 3A championship game for the third straight season. Krentz was also the 4A state runnerup in wrestling.
Canann Mitchell, Rossville
CANANN MITCHELL | Rossville
SPORT: Football
Mitchell was named the Shawnee County co-offensive player of the year last fall in his first season as the Bulldawgs' starting quarterback, helping lead Rossville to the Class 1A championship game and an 11-2 record. Mitchell rushed for 1,162 yards and 21 touchdowns on 167 carries and completed 123 of 184 passes for 1,771 yards and 19 touchdowns. Mitchell received All-Big East League honorable mention. Mitchell also received All-State recognition in baseball.
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
KADE MITCHELL | Hayden
SPORT: Football
A running back/defensive back, Mitchell was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 repeat pick last fall and was named the Shawnee County co-offensive player of the year. Mitchell carried the ball 106 times for 1,003 yards, caught 23 passes for 471 yards and scored 22 total touchdowns for the 12-1 Wildcats while being in on 34 tackles and compiling 372 return yards as Hayden advanced to its third straight Class 3A title game. Mitchell was also a standout in basketball and helped lead Hayden to a runnerup state finish in baseball.
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
LIAM MORRISON | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Soccer
Morrison, a defender, earned All-City, All-Centennial League and Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association Class 6A All-State honors last fall after helping lead Washburn Rural to a 19-1-1 record and its fourth state championship and first since 2012. A two-time All-City first-team pick, Morrison scored the game-clinching penalty kick in the Junior Blues' 3-2 win (4-2 PKs) over Shawnee Mission East in the 6A championship game. Morrison also captured three 6A state titles in track.
Editor's note: Over the coming week TopSports.news will name its 2025-2026 Shawnee County High School girls and boys senior athletes of the year from the fall, winter and spring seasons as well as the overall outstanding girls and boys athletes of the year and Washburn University athletes of the year. Next up: Winter Girls Senior Athlete of the Year.
