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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Cianna Graves

CIANNA GRAVES, Shawnee Heights

A junior catcher, Graves had four doubles on the day Friday as Shawnee Heights' softball team swept a 17-2, 13-3 United Kansas Conference home twinbill from Kansas City-Turner. Graves doubled in all three of her at bats in the first game and added another double in the nightcap as the T-Birds improved to 6-2 on the season. Graves also placed third in the 2025 Class 5A state wrestling tournament.

Adrian Lehman

ADRIAN LEHMAN, Topeka West

Lehman, a senior distance runner, was a double individual winner in Friday's Bobcat Relays at Basehor-Linwood, winning the 1,600-meter run in 4 minutes, 24.40 seconds and the 3,200 meters in 9:56.79. Lehman also posted a third-place finish for the Chargers in the 800 meters in 2:02.10.

Keimara Marshall

KEIMARA MARSHALL, Topeka High

Marshall, a junior sprinter for the Topeka High track team, continued her red-hot start to the 2025 season, posting three individual victories in Friday's Lansing Invitational. Marshall won the 100-meter dash in 12.44 seconds, the 200 in 26.09 seconds and the 400 in 62.37 at Lansing and is the Shawnee County leader in the 100 and 200.

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Cair Paravel Latin's junior doubles team of Drew Fay and Eric Buchenau captured the No. 1 doubles championship in Friday's John Markham Invitational at Goddard, remaining undefeated on the season.

Cair Paravel junior Drew Fay and junior doubles partner Eric Buchenau are 13-0 after winning the championship in Friday's Goddard tournament. [File photo/TSN]

Fay and Buchenau went 5-0 in the tournament and are now 13-0 on the season.

The Lion duo opened its season with a 3-0 record in the Paola quadrangular before going undefeated in the Marysville Invitational.

Fay finished fourth in Class 3A-1A singles last season. 

Hayden baseball sweeps Nemaha Central

Hayden baseball, which won the Class 3A state championship last season, improved to 8-0 this spring with a 10-0, 12-3 non-league doubleheader sweep over Nemaha Central Friday at Hayden.

Hayden senior Jett Wahlmeier delivers a pitch in Friday's 12-3 second-game win over Nemaha Central. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Hayden senior Cooper Grace tags out a runner at third base in Friday's 12-3 second-game win over Nemaha Central. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Wildcats ended the first game by way of a 10-run spread in the fifth inning and scored the final nine runs of the second game after the game was tied 3-3.

Hayden will travel to Emporia on Tuesday for a Centennial League twinbill.

Hayden, Rossville battle to softball split 

Hayden held off Rossville to take a 3-2 first-game win before the Bulldawgs answered with a 12-0 victory in the nightcap of Friday's non-league softball twinbill at Hayden.

Sophomore Maura Valdivia delivers a pitch in Friday's 3-2 first-game softball win over Rossville Friday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Rossville sophomore Leni Lewis slides safely into third base in Friday's doubleheader softball split at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener and went up 2-0 in the third on a run-scoring single from sophomore catcher Emberly Connell before adding another run in the fourth.

Rossville's offense came to life in the top of the seventh, getting a run-scoring triple from sophomore Leni Lewis and a run-scoring hit from sophomore Nora Burdiek, but Hayden freshman pitcher Blakely Walter came on to record the final out and preserve the Wildcat victory.

Sophomore Maura Valdivia picked up the pitching win in relief of junior Emmy Jeffers while Walter was credited with a save.

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday the selection of the 10 individuals who will be inducted on Saturday, August 2, in Topeka as the HOF class of 2025.

The induction ceremony will be held at the Washburn University Memorial Union, beginning at 10 a.m., followed by a lunch/reception.

The class includes award-winning coaches, Olympians, national champions, All-Americans, and world and American-record holders.

“This is an accomplished group and one the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is extremely proud to recognize on behalf of the entire state,” Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Chairman Jim Dunning, Jr.  said. "The individuals represent the best of the state of Kansas and come from diverse backgrounds. Their stories provide inspiration to all Kansans.”

The honorees include:

● Larry Brown – 1972 NFL MVP running back for Washington who played at Dodge City Community College and Kansas State.

● Tim Jankovich – All-State basketball player from Manhattan who later led Kansas State to three NCAA Tournament appearances. He had a collegiate basketball head coaching record of 332-199.

● J.C. Louderback – Three-sport standout at Southwestern College. Was the Arkansas City High boys tennis coach for 36 years and longtime college football and basketball official.

● Bob Lutz – Wichita Eagle sports reporter and columnist for more than 40 years. He established the League 42 urban youth baseball organization in Wichita.

● Kendric Maple – State titlest in wrestling at Wichita Heights HS, and NCAA championship wrestler and three-time All-American at Oklahoma.

● Bobby Randall – Born in Norton, but attended high school in Gove. Played five years in MLB for the Minnesota Twins, and still ranks second in career batting average at Kansas State. Longtime Head Coach at Iowa State, University of Kansas and Manhattan Christian College.

● Laverne Smith – Set career and season rushing and touchdown records at Kansas and played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A track and football standout at Wichita Southeast and the University of Kansas, he still holds the KU 100-meter dash record.

● Deb (Pihl) Torneden – Running for Kansas State University, was the Most Outstanding Performer at the 1984 Big Eight Conference Indoor Championships. Was a four-time All-American and National Masters Champion. She holds 23 Kansas road race age group records.

● Clifford Wiley – 1980 U.S. Olympic Team sprint team member. Competing for the University of Kansas, was a world record holder, World Cup Champion, three-time U.S. national champion, NCAA Champion and 13-time All-American

● NOTE: Former Kansas State assistant football coach and Kansas head coach Mark Mangino was selected in 2024, but could not attend the induction ceremonies. He will be recognized at the 2025 event.

This year’s class brings the total number of Inductees to 349, with the first class in 1961 including such legends as Dr. James Naismith, Mike Ahearn, Glenn Cunningham, Walter Johnson and Jess Willard.

Created by the Kansas State legislature in 1961 during the state’s Centennial Celebration, the hall has operated for 64 years.

Tickets for the event are $50 and may be purchased online at kshof.org.

Inductee profiles:

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