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Divers pace city schools in season-opening Topeka West Invitational
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Five city swimming and diving teams opened the 2026 season in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational, with a sweep of the top three places in one-meter diving pacing the local contingent.
Hayden's Avery Rosenow won the diving event with a score of 173.75, while Topeka High's Mackenzie Caryl placed second at 138.75 and Seaman's Madiylyn Typer was third at 105.40.
Shawnee Heights' Clara Sobba posted a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Another city highlight was turned in by Shawnee Heights' Clara Sobba, who posted a third-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 1:01.71, while Topeka High's Hara Del Castillo was fifth in 1:04.50.
Seaman's Riley Strother helped the Vikings finish fifth in the 200 medley relay in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman's Riley Strother, Lizzie Gould, Jenna Zimmerman and Ava Carlson finished fifth in the 200 medley relay in 2:18.32.
Hayden's Kaelyn Gerdel posted a pair of top-five individual finishes in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden's Kaelyn Gerdel placed fifth in the 200 freestyle (2:15.92) while Seaman's Strother was fifth (2:51.05) and Topeka High's Avery Skinner sixth (2:51.97) in the 200 individual medley.
Topeka High's Hara Del Castillo swims to a fifth-place finish in the 100 backstroke in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
High's Del Castillo added a fifth-place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:11.58) while Hayden's Gerdel placed fourth in the 100 breastroke (1:19.41) and the Wildcats' Lilly Charvat was sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:23.55).
TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL
Hayden soccer opens 2026 season with 8-0 win over Cair Paravel
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
The Hayden girls soccer team intends to make another run at a state title, a prize that was denied them in double overtime a season ago. The Wildcats took the first step in that long journey Friday by defeating Topeka foe Cair Paravel Latin 8-0 at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Senior Carsyn Broxterman (4) scored five goals in Hayden's 8-0 season-opening soccer win over Cair Paravel. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden fell to Bishop Miege 2-1 on a golden goal corner kick in the second overtime of the Class 4-1A state championship last June. The returners carried the pain of that defeat with them for nine months, anxious to take another crack at it.
They got that chance Friday and made the most of it. The Wildcats won the right to begin the game with the powerful north wind at their backs on a coin flip. Senior Carsyn Broxterman wasted no time, tallying three goals in the first nine minutes of the contest.
Senior Reese Huscher (14) scored two goals in Friday's 8-0 season-opening Hayden soccer win over Cair Paravel. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Fellow senior Reese Huscher joined the act with two goals in the next nine minutes. Then sophomore Sawyer Wrench put one in the net and the Wildcats led 6-0 at the half.
“Working all through last year, (the championship) was our goal,” Broxterman said. “And then not getting exactly what we wanted but knowing we can get there really kind of helped push us this year to work harder and push ourselves farther than we ever thought we could.
“I think this was a really good start. It was nice seeing all of us work really hard out there and really push ourselves. I think we’re all really excited for the season.”
To make sure no one thought the wind was the reason Hayden dominated the first half, Broxterman knocked home two more goals in less than five minutes of the second half to end the game on a mercy rule with 36:34 still showing on the clock.
Playing with a big lead allowed Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer to rotate players off the bench and see what they could do.
“We brought up two extra players and they got the opportunity to play. I think that’s worthwhile for them. I think it will motivate them in practice a little bit,” Kreutzer said. “I think offensively we looked for other players. I think we took care of opportunities when we had them and I think we finished well. I liked the effort. I liked the enthusiasm.”
Cair Paravel started the season shorthanded due to several starters missing school for an educational trip. The Lions had the misfortunate timing of starting the season with Bishop Miege – the defending state champs – and Hayden – the state runners up – in the same week. The Lions will try to build off those experiences now that they have their entire complement of players.
Kreutzer, meanwhile, had to deal with absences during the first few weeks as well. The Wildcat basketball team claimed the Class 4A state title less than two weeks ago.
“We haven’t had much in the way of practice since we had six starters who were still playing basketball,” the coach said. “The first week of soccer practice was over state. Then it’s spring break. And then we play (soccer). But it is what it is, and I think everybody else is in the same boat.
“But having said that, I think their work ethic has been pretty good. I like what I’ve seen.”
Trojans' Rayton named Centennial League girls player of the year
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
City schools swept All-Centennial League girls basketball individual honors, led by Topeka High junior player of the year Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton.
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High
Brynn Anderson, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural freshman Brynn Anderson was picked by league coaches as the Centennial League's top newcomer and also earned first-team recognition while Hayden's Carvel Reynoldson was tapped as the league coach of the year after leading the Wildcats to the Class 4A state championship.
Rayton, who helped Topeka High win the Centennial League championship, is joined on the all-league first team by sophomore teammate Hailey Caryl while Hayden is represented by sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein.
Manhattan's Kat Ball and Delaney Larson round out the all-league first team.
Topeka High senior Keimara Marshall, Hayden sophomore Blakely Walter and Washburn Rural seniors Ella Hirschi and Josie Carlgren were all named to the All-Centennial second team while Hayden senior Ella Foster and Washburn Rural senior Hallie Walker received honorable mention.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE GIRLS BASKETBALL
