By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
A Washburn Rural sophomore swim star, Appuhn posted individual victories in the 200-yard freestyle in 2 minutes, 00.39 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 5:18.50 and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 400 free relay (3:56.74) to lead the Junior Blues to their 21st straight city championship on Friday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium by a 580.50-490 margin over Seaman. Appuhn also swam on Rural's second-place 200 medley relay (2:00.94).
JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights
The T-Birds' senior distance star captured titles in the 1,600 meters and 800 meters in Friday's Joe Schrag City Championship at Hummer Sports Park. A Class 5A state champion in both track and cross country, Esquibel won the city meet title in the 1,600 in 4 minutes, 20.63 seconds and came back later in the evening to win the 800 in 1:56.43. Esquibel has signed to run track and cross country at Kansas State.
LAWSEN LOBATOS, Washburn Rural
A senior tennis player, Lobatos teamed with Dylan Willingham to win Centennial League, City and Class 6A regional doubles championships over a five-day period, helping Washburn Rural capture team titles in all three tournaments. Lobatos and Willingham won the league championship with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Manhattan, took the city crown with an 8-6 victory over Topeka West and won the regional title with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Manhattan as Rural qualified its entire team for state.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By his own admission, Myles Alonzo's putting still needs some work.
But other than that, the Topeka West star, a two-time Class 5A state medalist, appears to be at the top of his game entering the biggest meets of his senior golf season.
The city champion added the United Kansas Conference individual title to his resume on Monday at Lake Shawnee, shooting a three-over-par 73 to take a four-shot victory over Basehor-Linwood's Carson Youngblood and Piper's Brody Cook.
"If I can just start putting better my scores would be a lot lower,'' Alonzo said. "I'm hitting my irons very well and my driver so I'm right on the edge. I just need to start making my putts and I'll be good.''
Alonzo has now won three of his last five tournaments heading into next Monday's 5A regional at Cypress Ridge.
"I'm hitting my irons better than I ever have and my driver very well and I think I'm good where I'm at,'' Alonzo said.
Host Shawnee Heights stayed in the hunt for the team crown down to the end of the day, with Basehor-Linwood prevailing by three strokes (327-330) over the T-Birds while Seaman finished third (340).
Senior Jensen Crawford tied for fourth place with a 78 to lead the T-Birds while junior Logan Hahn finished seventh with an 80, senior Zack Hohman tied for 11th with an 84 and sophomore Ayden Valdivia tied for 19th with an 88 to round out Shawnee Heights' top four.
Junior Alexander Flanagan paced third-place Seaman with a sixth-place 79, while sophomore Timothy Lister tied for ninth (83), junior Bradley Williamson tied for 15th (85) and Kaleb Mack rounded out the Vikings' top four scores with a 93.
Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will all compete in next Monday's regional meet at Cypress Ridge (9 a.m.), with competitors vying for berths in the 5A state tournament May 20-21 at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton.
Alonzo said he feels comfortable with both of the upcoming courses he'll be playing at.
"My confidence for regionals is very high and I expect myself to do really well because I play there almost every day and I played (at Sand Creek Station) twice last year and I love the course and I think I'll do very well there,'' Alonzo said.
UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.42
Kielyn McDonnell, Rossville 12.78
Alana Mitchell, Hayden 12.87
Ally Steiner, Seaman 12.91
Ava Rottinghaus, Silver Lake 13.02
200 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 26.32
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 26.88
Ally Steiner, Seaman 27.01
Miluv Cosey, Highland Park 27.04
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 27.12
400 METERS
Natalie Hillebert, Hayden 59.59
Ella Bolan, Silver Lake 61.69
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 62.46
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 62.61
Ava Rottinghaus, Silver Lake 63.15
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:10.25
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 2:25.13
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 2:27.20
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:28.40
Taylie Heston, Seaman 2:28.82
1,600 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 4:46.90
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 5:12.51
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 5:14.08
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:21.07
Sofia Harper, Hayden 5:33.50
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Aaron Merritt, Seaman 10.48
Finn Dunshee, Hayden 10.73
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 10.96
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 11.10
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 11.12
200 METERS
Finn Dunshee, Hayden 22.05
Aaron Merritt, Seaman 22.08
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 22.32
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 22.40
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 22.65
400 METERS
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden 49.17
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural 49.53
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 49.95
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 51.16
Shane Jueneman, Washburn Rural 51.26
800 METERS
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 1:56.43
Eli Ferguson, Silver Lake 1:58.12
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:59.81
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 2:00.15
Mark Wilkie, Topeka West 2:04.68
1,600 METERS
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 4:18.27
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:27.60
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:27.70
Eli Ferguson, Silver Lake 4:33.55
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 4:34.21
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly girls swimming and diving honor roll for Topeka high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
Seaman 1:55.71
Washburn Rural 2:00.94
Shawnee Heights 2:13.20
Hayden 2:13.49
Topeka High 2:15.52
200-YARD FREESTYLE
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 2:00.39
Ashtynn Landry, Shawnee Heights 2:03.30
Avery Walz, Seaman 2:03.60
Joslynn Grace, Seaman 2:04.96
Genevieve Miranda 2:12.50
200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Avery Walz, Seaman 2:11.82
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 2:12.54
Joslynn Grace, Seaman 2:12.97
Presley Green, Hayden 2:16.62
Tauren Walz, Seaman 2:19.25
50-YARD FREESTYLE
Tauren Walz, Seaman 25.16
Genevieve Miranda, Washburn Rural 25.87
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 26.93
Ashtynn Landry, Shawnee Heights 27.26
Molly Didde, Washburn Rural 27.55
ONE-METER DIVING
Rhiannon Good, Washburn Rural 239.80
Kaylee Gregg, Hayden 239.80
Natalee Grauberger, Washburn Rural 197.80
Maddie Gregg, Hayden 177.20
Giselle Soto, Washburn Rural 162.20
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman showed its outstanding quality in Friday's girls City Swimming and Diving Championships at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, winning eight of 12 events.
But in the end it was Washburn Rural's superior depth that ruled the day, with the Junior Blues winning their 21st straight team title by a 580.50-490 margin over the Vikings.
"We do have that depth,'' Washburn Rural coach Bob Burdick said. "I felt pretty good about today overall. I knew Seaman was going to walk in and try to take first place in as many events as they could and I would do that if I had those kids, too.
"But our depth pulled it out. We worked really hard this last week to drop times to make sure we came into this with time drops with everybody and that paid off.''
Burdick said that everyone on the team contributed to the Rural championship.
"Everybody did contribute and I'm really proud of the girls,'' Burdick said. "They worked hard and they earned this.''
Seaman got two individual wins apiece from Avery Walz (100-yard freestyle, 100 backstroke), Tauren Walz (50 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Joslynn Grace (200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke) and the Vikings' star trio teamed with Avery Samuelson to win the 200 medley and 200 free relays.
Washburn Rural, meanwhile, got individual victories from Audrey Appuhnn in the 200 freestyle and 500 free and Appuhn teamed with Sophie Heinen, Jella Belgardt and Genevieve Miranda to win the meet-ending 400 free relay while Rhiannon Good and Hayden's Kaylee Gregg shared the one-meter diving title, tying in that event in Thursday's diving competition.
The Junior Blues put Appuhn, Belgardt, Miranda, Good, Madeline O'Brien and Molly Didde on the All-City first team, while the Walz twins and Grace represent Seaman on the first team, along with Topeka High's Hara Del Castillo, Shawnee Heights' Ashtynn Landry and Kaitlyn Aldridge and Hayden's Gregg and Presley Green.
Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will compete in the United Kansas Conference meet at the Cap Fed Natatorium on Tuesday while Hayden, Topeka High and Washburn Rural will compete in the Centennial League meet, which will be held at Cap Fed on Thursday.
CITY SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Seaman Vikings swept a softball doubleheader with Shawnee Heights at Lake Shawnee Friday, holding on to win the first game, then blasting away in the second.
“We asked our kids today to have a standard of excellence,” said Seaman coach Jay Monhollon. “When you do that, everybody’s got to buy into that standard. When that happens, that expectation creates positive feelings and you’re able to do your job for the team.”
The first game wasn’t won without some tense moments for the Vikings.
After mounting an 8-2 advantage early, Seaman watched the T-Birds begin to steadily chip away. Shawnee Heights rallied in the bottom of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to narrow the deficit to 8-6.
The T-Birds would get no closer in the final inning. Relief pitcher Addison Sibley shut down the threat in the bottom of the seventh to close it out.
“All I’m doing is just pitching the ball,” Sibley said of holding off the surging T-Birds. “My defense has got my back and is making those great plays behind me. We weren’t nervous.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A total of 18 players representing seven city high schools will compete in state tennis tournments next Friday and Saturday at three sites.
Leading the city contingent for state is Centennial League and city team champ Washburn Rural, which added a Class 6A regional championship on Friday at Junction City by a 23-14 margin over Maize while qualifying all six players for the 6A state tournament at Wichita's Riverside Tennis Complex.
Rural senior Lawsen Lobatos and sophomore Dylan Willingham captured the regional doubles title with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Manhattan's Michael Hwang and Jack Spiegel while senior Dylan Dodge also advanced to the final, finishing second after a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Hayden Herrera of Maize.
Sophomore Keegan Knudtson posted a third-place regional finish for the Junior Blues, taking a 6-2, 6-2 win over Maize's Anvith Natarajan in the third-place match at regionals while sophomores Cale Deutscher and Brayden Kohls finished third in doubles with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 win over Topeka High senior Tate Hodges and junior Alex Raymond in the third-place matches.
Hodges and Raymond also punched their ticket to state, giving the city eight state qualifiers.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL AT EMPORIA
Topeka West, Seaman and Shawnee Heights will send a total of six players to the 5A state tournament at the Andover District Tennis Complex.
United Kansas Conference champion Topeka West, the 2023 5A state champion, will send three players to state, with seniors Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew finishing second at regionals in doubles while Charger senior James Maag finished third in singles.
McGee and Weybrew dropped a tough three-set decision in the finals to Blue Valley Southwest's Saket Jogannath and Vidhu Reddy, with the Southwest duo taking a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 win.
Maag finished third at regionals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Patrick Lacy of St. Thomas Aquinas in the third-place match as Topeka West finished third as a team.
Seaman senior Gavin Dutton qualified for state with a sixth-place regional finish in singles while Shawnee Heights seniors Roscoe Poyner and Alex Austin finished sixth in doubles.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A stellar pitching performance from senior Jaycee Ginter and a one-out walk-off single from junior Alexis Tanguma moved Washburn University softball into the MIAA Tournament semifinals with a 1-0, eight-inning win over Northwest Missouri at Pinkston Stadium in Edmond, Okla. on Thursday.
The Ichabods will face the top-seeded Rogers State Hillcats at 12 p.m. on Friday in the single elimination format.
In the bottom of the eighth, WU senior Marrit Mead reached on a single on a hot shot down the third-base line and then moved to third after Ginter's sac bunt was mishandled by the first baseman sending Mead to third with one out.
Tanguma then took a full-count pitch to left field for the game-winning run.
In the circle, Ginter improved to 17-7, striking out six with no walks while scattering five hits in the win. She threw 121 pitching in the game, outdueling the Bearcats' Jadyn Streigle who took the loss.
Tanguma finished with two hits in the game with Mead, Jaden LaBarge and Hailey Neira collecting the Ichabods' other hits.
Washburn improves to 37-14 on the season while the Bearcats end the year at 28-25.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Aaron Merritt, Seaman 10.48
Finn Dunshee, Hayden 10.73
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 11.10
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 11.12
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 11.24
200 METERS
Aaron Merritt, Seaman 22.08
Finn Dunshee, Hayden 22.25
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 22.32
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 22.40
Tyren Parker, Shawnee Heights 22.76
400 METERS
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden 49.17
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 49.95
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural 50.07
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 51.16
Shane Jueneman, Washburn Rural 51.26
800 METERS
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 1:58.46
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:59.81
Eli Ferguson, Silver Lake 2:00.77
Logan Townsend, Seaman 2:06.27
Mark Wilkie, Topeka West 2:07.11
1,600 METERS
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 4:22.45
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:31.11
Eli Ferguson, Silver Lake 4:33.55
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 4:34.21
Elijah Phelps, Topeka West 4:36.97
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.42
Kielyn McDonnell, Rossville 12.78
Alana Mitchell, Hayden 12.87
Ally Steiner, Seaman 12.92
Mi'Luv Cosey, Highland Park 13.10
200 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 26.32
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 26.88
Miluv Cosey, Highland Park 27.04
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 27.12
Ally Steiner, Seaman 27.17
400 METERS
Natalie Hillebert, Hayden 59.59
Ella Bolan, Silver Lake 61.69
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 62.46
Ava Rottinghaus, Silver Lake 63.15
Rae North, Hayden 64.21
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:10.25
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 2:25.13
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:28.40
Taylie Heston, Seaman 2:28.82
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 2:29.09
1,600 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 4:53.37
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 5:12.51
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 5:14.08
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:21.07
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 5:34.57
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Jaycee Ginter has earned first-team honors for the fourth straight year, leading five members of the the Washburn Ichabod softball team to receive All-MIAA recognition.
Ginter earned first-team All-MIAA honors as a pitcher/utility player after leading the Ichabods with a .401 regular-season batting average while collecting a team-high 55 hits, five home runs, 26 walks and 38 runs batted in.
Ginter, a former three-time Class 5A state champion at Shawnee Heights is fifth in the MIAA in batting average, second in on-base percentage, 10th in RBI and eighth in walks.
As a pitcher this season, she enters the MIAA Tournament with a 16-7 overall record with a 2.22 earned run average in 20 starts, striking out 152 batters and holding opponents to a .221 batting average. She is 10th in the MIAA in earned run average, ninth in opposing batting average, second in strikeouts and sixth in wins.
Ginter was also a first-team All-MIAA choice at pitcher/utility as a junior, sophomore and freshman, becoming the first Ichabod in program history to earn first-team All-MIAA honors all four years.
Senior Marrit Mead was a second-team All-MIAA selection at third base and was a Gold Glove Award winner. Sadie Walker was a second-team selection at pitcher while Alexis Tanguma received honorable mention at second base and Madi Moore was the recipient of the Gold Glove Award at catcher.
The Ichabods will be in action on Thursday at the MIAA Tournament, facing Northwest Missouri at 1:30 p.m. in Edmond, Okla.
Mead enters the MIAA Tournament with a .301 batting average, stealing a team-high 24 bases. Mead is second on the team with 46 hits and leads the team with 41 runs scored and tied for the lead with 11 doubles.
Mead has been a four-time All-MIAA selection, earning second-team honors as a junior and first-team All-MIAA honors as a sophomore and freshman. Mead has been the MIAA's Gold Glove selection at third base the last three seasons.
Walker was a second-team All-MIAA pick in the circle, leading the Ichabods with a 1.45 earned run average while going 20-7 in the circle with 16 complete games and six shutouts. Walker added three saves and struck out 148 batters.
Walker's 20 wins leads the MIAA as does her 159 innings pitched. She is also ranked third in strikeouts and fifth in saves.
Tanguma has hit .376 with 41 hits, seven doubles and 21 RBI. During MIAA play she batted .400 with 32 hits driving in 16 in 25 games. Her five sac flies is tied for second in the MIAA.
Moore was one of two freshmen named to the MIAA's Gold Glove team. In 218 chances, Moore had no errors and threw out seven of 17 would-be base stealers.
Emporia State senior Alexis Dial, a former Shawnee Heights standout, earned a berth on the All-MIAA first team as an outfielder.
Dial is batting .432 on the season with a .781 slugging percentage, 20 doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 38 runs and 60 RBI with 15 stolen bases.
She leads the MIAA and ranks ninth nationally in doubles while ranking third in the MIAA and 21st in the nation in RBI.
She is second in the conference in slugging percentage, and total bases, third in batting average, fourth in hits and triples, fifth in on- base percentage and eighth in home runs.
2024 MIAA Softball Postseason Awards
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's been a challenging but very successful last few days for Washburn Rural's boys tennis team.
The eventful stretch began with last Thursday's city meet being postponed by inclement weather and continued in Monday's Centennial League meet, which Brad Johnston's Junior Blues won despite playing without top singles players Dylan Dodge and Keegan Knudtson, who were out of state on a school-related trip.
City schools also had to deal with weather uncertainty again on Wednesday, with teams initially reporting to Plan B indoor venue Genesis before the weather conditions vastly improved and the city championships were able to go on as planned at Kossover Tennis Center.
And once city competitors got back to Kossover and were treated to near-perfect conditions, Washburn Rural did the rest, sweeping all four individual titles on the way to a perfect team score and a 36-26 win over 2023 city champ Topeka West.
"The boys obviously kept their heads and stayed level-headed and finished the job,'' Johnston said. "I feel like we're at the top of our game right now and I feel like they're going to keep performing at a high level.
"Obviously you just never know, but I'm proud of where they're at and proud of where they're working towards.''
Dodge, a senior, and sophomore Knudtson swept the No. 1 and No. 2 singles championships while senior Lawsen Lobatos and sophomore Dylan Willingham prevailed in No. 1 doubles and sophomores Brayden Kohls and Cale Duetscher completed the sweep with the title in No. 2 doubles.
The match of the day was the No. 1 doubles final, with Lobatos and Willingham avenging an earlier tiebreaker loss to Topeka West returning Class 5A medalists Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew, with the Rural duo taking a hard-earned 8-6 victory.
"You never want to lose to your city rivals, so losing in their invitational of course it gives us motivation to practice and try harder and go and play other, better guys afterwards to just prepare for it and then to come back and win is pretty nice,'' Lobatos said. "Winning and sweeping city as a team is great motivation and great momentum going into regionals.''
"It doesn't get any better,'' Willingham said. "Winning now is perfect because we have all the momentum going to regionals. I lost to them last year and I lost to them this year. I was tired of losing and I was so glad we got the win today.''
Dodge, who won a city title in No. 2 doubles as a junior, made it two city titles in a row with Wednesday's 8-4 win over Cair Paravel Latin sophomore Drew Fay.
"That was one of the things on the top of my list of goals,'' Dodge said. "To win city is a big achievement I feel like, especially in Topeka, because tennis has a very rich tradition here.
"This is a big confidence boost for regionals and hopefully I can carry this into regionals and state.''
Knudtson added the No. 2 singles crown with an 8-6 win over Topeka West's Mark Cianciarulo while Kohls and Duetscher took an 8-5 win over Seaman's Noah Andrews and Austin Bramlett in the No. 2 doubles final.
Hayden and Cair Paravel will begin two days of 3A-1A regional competition on Thursday in Marysville while the remaining six city teams will compete on Friday.
Rural and Topeka High will compete in a 6A meet in Junction City while Highland Park, Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will compete in a 5A meet at Emporia.
The top six regional finishers in singles and doubles will qualify for state tournaments on May 10-11.
The 6A state tournament will be played in Wichita, 5A in Andover and 3A-1A in Prairie Village.
CITY BOYS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sophomore Allie Schroeder, freshman Erika Bovell and junior Delaney Hill all scored two goals apiece Monday at Bettis Sports Complex as Washburn Rural's girls soccer team rolled to a 6-0 non-league decision over Shawnee Heights.
Washburn Rural, the No. 1 Class 6A West seed, improved to 9-2-0 on the season while extending its win streak to six games.
In addition to her two goals, Schroeder was credited with two assists while Bovell, senior Hayley Legg and junior Kate Hinck also had assists.
Senior Mackenzie Flood and junior Madison Lemke combined for the shutout in goal against the 7-5-0 T-Birds, the sixth straight shutout for the Junior Blues.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Two years, two United Kansas Conference titles for Topeka West tennis.
The Chargers, who won the 2023 UKC crown in their first year in the league on the way to the Class 5A championship, swept the singles and doubles titles in Tuesday's meet at Kossover Tennis Center on the way to a title repeat by a 65-61 margin over Piper.
"Today was a little bit tighter of a tournament than last year was,'' Topeka West coach Kurt Davids said. "Hats off to Piper, their first year of having a program and placing second in league and pushing us right to the end.''
Topeka West's senior trio of doubles players Caden McGee and Caleb Weybrew and singles player James Maag keyed the Chargers' title run, with McGee and Weybrew taking an 8-1 win over Piper in the doubles final while Maag took an 8-0 win over Piper's John Vogel.
Both McGee and Weybrew and Maag entered Tuesday's tournament as favorites and came through for the Chargers.
"They kind of did was expected of them,'' Davids said of McGee, Weybrew and Maag, all returning 5A state placers.
The Chargers also got a fifth-place finish from the doubles team of seniors Alex Engel and Cori Bidwell.
"My (No.) 2 doubles, players of the day guess,'' Davids said. "They were seeded 10th coming in and they finished fifth and their only loss on the day was to the team that finished second, so they really stepped up and come through for us. Without that we wouldn't have done it.''
McGee and Maag also reached career milestones on Tuesday, with both Charger standouts reaching the 100-win mark.
"It's a good milestone, and I didn't even know it was happening,'' Davids said. "I'm just kind of accustomed to those guys being successful and congrats to them and hopefully we'll add a few more than that.''
Seaman finished third as a team in Tuesday's meet while Shawnee Heights tied for fifth.
West, Seaman and Shawnee Heights are also scheduled to compete in the city championship at Kossover on Wednesday before competing in a 5A regional Friday at Emporia.
"I think we're picking at the right time and we're moving in the right direction,'' Davids said.
UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE TENNIS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly girls swimming and diving honor roll for Topeka high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
Seaman 1:58.69
Washburn Rural 2:04.07
Shawnee Heights 2:13.20
Hayden 2:13.49
Topeka High 2:18.14
200-YARD FREESTYLE
Avery Walz, Seaman 2:03.60
Joslynn Grace, Seaman 2:04.96
Ashtynn Landry, Shawnee Heights 2:11.03
Genevieve Miranda 2:12.50
Bailee Heincker, Seaman 2:19.92
200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Avery Walz, Seaman 2:11.82
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 2:12.54
Joslynn Grace, Seaman 2:15.40
Presley Green, Hayden 2:16.62
Tauren Walz, Seaman 2:19.25
50-YARD FREESTYLE
Tauren Walz, Seaman 26.11
Genevieve Miranda, Washburn Rural 26.70
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 26.93
Ashtynn Landry, Shawnee Heights 27.26
Kaylee Gregg, Hayden 27.70
ONE-METER DIVING
Kaylee Gregg, Hayden 223.05
Rhiannon Good, Washburn Rural 207.70
Natalee Grauberger, Washburn Rural 197.80
Maddie Gregg, Hayden 153.90
Giselle Soto, Washburn Rural 153.50
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Aaron Merritt, Seaman 10.52
Finn Dunshee, Hayden 11.11
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 11.12
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 11.24
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 11.29
200 METERS
Aaron Merritt, Seaman 22.08
Finn Dunshee, Hayden 22.31
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 22.32
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 22.40
Tyren Parker, Shawnee Heights 22.76
400 METERS
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden 49.17
Payton Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 49.95
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural 50.07
Shane Jueneman, Washburn Rural 51.26
Liam Benz, Shawnee Heights 51.60
800 METERS
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 1:58.46
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:59.81
Eli Ferguson, Silver Lake 2:01.04
Logan Townsend, Seaman 2:06.27
Mark Wilkie, Topeka West 2:07.11
1,600 METERS
Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 4:22.45
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:37.32
Eli Ferguson, Silver Lake 4:38.88
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 4:40.25
Mark Wilkie, Topeka West 4:41.35
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.77
Kielyn McDonnell, Rossville 13.03
Alana Mitchell, Hayden 13.13
Elly Sanders, Rossville 13.14
Ally Steiner, Seaman 13.15
200 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 26.32
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 26.88
Miluv Cosey, Highland Park 27.04
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 27.12
Ally Steiner, Seaman 27.20
400 METERS
Natalie Hillebert, Hayden 60.61
Ella Bolan, Silver Lake 62.04
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 62.46
Ava Rottinghaus, Silver Lake 63.15
Rae North, Hayden 64.21
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:10.25
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 2:25.13
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:28.40
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 2:29.09
Sofia Harper, Hayden 2:29.40
1,600 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 4:53.37
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 5:12.51
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 5:14.08
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:21.07
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 5:34.57
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Jaycee Ginter will go down in history as one of the best players in Washburn University softball history.
Entering the final stretch of her outstanding four-year Ichabod career, Ginter already holds WU career pitching records for wins (84), strikeouts (779) and appearances (142) and is the program leader for single-season wins (30), strikeouts (290) and appearances (45).
Ginter, who helped lead Shawnee Heights to three straight Class 5A state titles, also ranks among the top 15 all-time in numerouss offensive categories, with a career batting average of .337, 28 home runs and 166 runs batted in entering Saturday's MIAA twinbill at Emporia State.
"Jaycee is a unicorn -- one of one,'' Washburn coach Brenda Holaday said. "She is arguably the best to ever play at Washburn given what she has done at the plate and on the mound -- a rare combination of excellence.''
But all those accolades aside, Ginter may never get the credit she truly deserves for being able to overcome the multiple obstacles she's faced along the way.
Ginter, whose senior season at Heights in 2020 was wiped out by COVID-19, battled a forearm issue as a freshman at Washburn and overcame a concussion at the start of her sophomore campaign and her continuing forearm problem to earn first-team All-America recognition with a 30-7 pitching record (1.76 earned run average, 290 strikeouts) and a .385 batting average (10 homers, 57 RBI).
Ginter faced her biggest injury challenge, a torn labrum in her shoulder, midway through the 2023 season, but still posted a 24-10 record (1.72 ERA, 243 strikeouts) and hit .303 (7 homers, 41 RBI).
"She is a warrior and never even thinks about not playing when she is hurt or injured -- doesn't cross her mind,'' Holaday said. "She is the ultimate competitor and performs pretty stress free and without fear. Success and failure does not change her.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sophomore Audrey Appuhn led the way with four wins -- two individual events, two relays -- as Washburn Rural piled up more than 500 points to win the team championship by more than 200 points in Tuesday's 10-school Topeka West Invitational swimming and diving meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Appuhn won the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 12.29 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 5:18.81 while Appuhn teamed with Genevieve Miranda, Jella Belgardt and Molly Didde to win the 200 medley relay (2:04.40) and with Ella Bombardier, Ava Von Lintel and Madeline O'Brien to win the 400 free relay (4:08.67).
Rural swept the three relays, with Belgardt, Bombardier, Didde and Miranda to win the 200 free relay in 1:50.57 as the Junior Blues rolled to the team title by a 503.5 301.5 margin over Osawatomie/Paola/Louisburg/Spring Hill.
Hayden finished sixth in the team race (211.5 points), while Shawnee Heights was seventh (207), Topeka High eighth (130) and Topeka West ninth (66.5).
Belgardt finished second in the 200 IM (2:26.18) and the 100 freestyle (1:00.48) while Miranda was second in the 50 freestyle (26.70).
Miranda added a third-place finish in the 200 freestyle (2:12.50) while Natalee Grauberger was third in one-meter diving (191.50) and Didde placed third in the 100 breaststroke (1:21.38).
Topeka High got a second-place finishes from Hara Del Castillo in the 100 backstroke (1:07.08) and from Caroline Toland in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.22) and a third from Del Castillo in the 200 IM (2:26.48) while Shawnee Heights' Ashtynn Landry placed third in the 500 free (5:49.79) and Heights' Kaitlyn Aldridge was third in the 100 backstroke (1:10.97).
Hayden's foursome of Kaylee Gregg, Esa Herrera, Jenna Dernovish and Kaelyn Gerdel finished second in the 400 free relay in 4:21.30.