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TopSports.news' 2026 Shawnee County girls swimmers to watch
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights
KAITLYN ALDRIDGE, Shawnee Heights
A junior, Aldridge earned All-City first-team honors for the second straight season in 2025, winning the city title in the 500-yard freestyle, placing second in the 100 butterfly and helping Shawnee Heights win the 200 free relay and finish third in the 400 free relay. Aldridge placed fourth in the United Kansas Conference in the 100 fly and fifth in the 500 free and swam on the T-Birds' fourth-place 400 free relay. Aldridge competed in the Class 5A-1A state meet.
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
Appuhn, a senior three-time All-City honoree, placed in multiple events in the Class 6A state meet for the third straight season last spring, taking third in the 100-yard breaststroke and sixth in the 200 freestyle to lead Rural to an 11th-place team finish. Appuhn won four golds in the city meet (200 free, 100 breast, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay) as Rural won its 22nd straight team title and four golds in the Centennial League meet (200 free, 100 breast, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay). Appuhn was a second-team All-State honoree in 6A in 2025.
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High
HARA DEL CASTILLO, Topeka High
A senior, Del Castillo earned All-City honors for the third straight season in 2025 as the Trojan junior finished second in the city meet in the 100-yard backstroke and third in the 100 freestyle. Del Castillo won Centennial League titles in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke and swam on the Trojans' fourth-place 200 medley relay. Del Castillo competed in the 6A state meet last season.
KAILYN GERDEL, Hayden
Gerdel, a junior was an All-City second-team pick last season after placing third in the city meet in the 200-yard freestyle and swimming on the Wildcats' runnerup 200 medley and 200 free relays. Gerdel finished third in the Centennial League in the 200 freestyle and swam on Hayden's second-place 200 medley and 200 free relays.
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural
SOPHIE HEINEN, Washburn Rural
Heinen, a senior, finished second in the 500-yard freestyle in the city meet and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 medley and 400 free relays. Heinen finished second in the Centennial League in the 500 freestyle and swam on Rural's winning 200 medley and 400 free relays. Heinen swam on the Junior Blues' 11th-place 200 medley and 400 free relays at state.
West soccer opens season with 3-0 shutout over KC-Washington
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West girls soccer is looking to make major strides forward this spring after a 4-12-0 season a year ago.
Junior newcomer Micah Williams (7) scored her first goal in a Topeka West uniform Monday, helping the Chargers take a 3-0 season-opening win over Kansas City-Washington. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And the Chargers took the first step towards that goal Monday at Hummer Sports Park, opening the 2026 season with a 3-0 non-league victory over Kansas City-Washington.
"We're definitely still getting to know each other,'' West coach Josh Kutter said. "We've got some new faces along with some returning players.
"I thought we moved the ball pretty well and we connected some passes. We've got to work on that finishing third and getting the ball in the back of the net.''
Senior Cecylia Boyd (10) scores Topeka West's first goal in Monday's 3-0 non-league win over Kansas City-Washington. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Cecylia Boyd scored the only goal the Chargers would need at the 23:26 mark of the first half and junior Highland Park transfer Micah Williams scored her first goal in a West uniform to put the hosts in command 2-0 at the half.
West junior Brynlee Best connected on a long shot with 29:49 remaining in the second half to account for the final margin.
Sophomore Sydney Baxter and junior Gabrielle Lopez combined for the shutout in goal for Topeka West.
"It's just one of those things where it's early in the season and once players start getting the hang of each other and getting to know each other then it will start clicking a little bit better and we're looking forward to it,'' Kutter said. "Nothing negative in the first game.''
The Chargers are scheduled to face city rival Highland Park on Thursday at Hummer Sports Park.
TOPEKA WEST 3, KC-WASHINGTON 0
KC-Washington (0-1) 0 0 -- 0
Topeka West (1-0) 2 1 -- 3
Topeka West -- Goals: Cecylia Boyd, Micah Williams, Brynlee Best. Shutout: Sydney Baxter, Gabrielle Lopez.
TopSports.news' 2026 Shawnee County boys tennis players to watch
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cale Deutscher, Washburn Rural
CALE DEUTSCHER, Washburn Rural
Deutscher, a senior, teamed with Dylan Willingham to finish seventh in Class 6A doubles last spring. Deutscher and Willingham won Centennial League and regional doubles championhips after finishing second in No. 1 doubles in the city meet. Deutscher was an All-City repeater in 2025, winning the city No. 2 doubles title as a sophomore.
Cole Fay, Cair Paravel Latin
COLE FAY, Cair Paravel Latin
A sophomore, Fay finished off his freshman season with a 10th-place singles finish in the Class 3A-1A state tournament last season. An All-City pick, Fay qualified for the state tournament with a regional championship, helping the Lions win the regional team title, and finished fourth in the city in No. 1 singles.
Drew Fay, Cair Paravel Latin
DREW FAY, Cair Paravel Latin
Fay, a senior, teamed with foreign exchange student Eric Buchenau to finish second in doubles in the 2025 Class 3A-1A state tournament. Fay and Buchenau, who went 29-2 on the season, captured the city championship in No. 1 doubles and also won a regional title. Fay is a three-time 3A-1A state qualifier, posting a fourth-place singles finish as a sophomore. He is a two-time All-City pick.
Greyson Jones, Washburn Rural
GREYSON JONES, Washburn Rural
Jones, a earned a spot on the 2025 All-City team with the No. 2 singles championship in the city tournament and also posted a fifth-place singles finish in the Centennial League tournament. Jones helped the Junior Blues capture team championships in city, Centennial League and regional competition.
Tres Lassiter, Topeka High
TRES LASSITER, Topeka High
A senior, Lassiter captured the city title in No. 1 singles in his first season of high school tennis last spring. Lassiter also posted a runnerup singles finish in the Centennial League and Class 6A regional tournaments and posted a 2-2 singles record in his first Class 6A state tournament.
