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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights junior Clara Sobba posted a pair of individual wins to pace city swimmers in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Shawnee Heights' Clara Sobba posted a pair of individual victories in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational swimming meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sobba won the 50-yard freestyle in 28.04 seconds and captured the 100 freestyle in 1 minute, 01.65 while also helping the T-Birds finish second in the 200 free relay (2:04.55) and third in the 200 medley relay (2:22.16).
Shawnee Heights' Kaitlyn Aldridge (left) won the 100-yard butterfly and finished second in the 100 backstroke in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo won the 100-yard backstroke in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sobba was one of three city champions in Tuesday's meet, with Shawnee Heights junior Kaitlyn Aldridge winning the 100-yard butterfly in 1:11.46 and Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo winning the 100 backstroke in 1:09.81.
Del Castillo was the runnerup behind Sobba in the 50 free in 28.69 while Aldridge finished second to Del Castillo in the 100 backstroke in 1:10.77.
Aldridge and Sobba teamed with Gracelyn New and Jayde Kinsch for the runnerup finish in the 200 free relay and teamed with Kinsch and Lainey Herrera for the third-place finish in the 200 medley relay.
Topeka High's Mackenzie Caryl finished second in one-meter diving with a score of 138.70.
Manhattan ran away with the team title by a 677-454 margin over Junction City while Shawnee Heights placed third (213), Topeka High fourth (76) and Topeka West fifth (44).
TOPEKA HIGH INVITATIONAL
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By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
A cold windy night at the Bettis Family Sports Complex Tuesday night did not fare too well for the Shawnee Heights baseball team, as the bats went cold in a 6-2 United Kansas Conference loss to Basehor-Linwood.
Basehor-Linwood jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a couple of RBI singles but Heights also hurt itself, committing two errors in the inning and four total in the game.
In the first two innings Shawnee Heights went three up, three down, including three strikeouts.
The Bobcats led 3-0 in the top of the third inning and began the inning reaching base with an error that opened the door to score two more runs, pushing the advantage to 5-0.
SHHS made a pitching change in the middle of the inning, replacing starter Cambren Floberg for Keaven Ortiz.
“I told Cam, 'You come out here and there’s just days you don’t have it. It happens to all of us. Let it go and it’s about the next time you go on the mound. It’s over with and you can’t fix it,' ” Heights coach Jason Brown said. “He threw strikes, a little unlucky behind him, a lack of focus there but I think he’ll be fine come his next outing.”
The T-Birds went one-two-three in the third despite starting inning with an infield hit. After a double play and a strikeout, any momentum vanished.
Basehor-Linwood took a 6-0 lead in the fourth, and yet again, Heights went one-two-three, ending the inning with a double play.
Through five innings the T-Birds had just two hits, but in the sixth they were able to scratch one across the board as Makade Orton ripped an RBI single into right before being thrown out trying to advance to second base.
Thomas Smith for Shawnee Heights came in at the top of the sixth and retired all six batters he faced to give the T-Birds some hope.
After Steven Zimbelman completed six innings, striking out seven, allowing two walks and one earned run, his brother Colin Zimbelman came on in relief.
The T-Birds loaded the bases with no outs, giving Heights some life at a comeback.
Cayden Lindsay grounded into a double play to push across one run, making it 6-2, and Michael Lilly couldn’t keep the rally going, striking out swinging to end the game.
“We walked on here and we were sleep walking and you can’t do that,” Brown said. “You have to show up and be ready to go every time you step on the field. We tell our players there are three facets to the game, you swing it well, you pitch it well and take care of it behind our pitcher and two of those three we did not do.
“The good thing about this game is the two guys that we brought in relief, we hadn’t thrown them yet this year and us as a coaching staff we found out that some of them are ready. So that was a positive to take something out of this game. We have a lot of baseball left and I think this will wake them up and when you step on the field, you can’t take any days off.”
BASEHOR-LINWOOD 6, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 2
Basehor-Linwood (3-3) 212 100 0 -- 6 5 1
Shawnee Heights (4-2) 000 001 1 -- 2 4 4
W -- S. Zimbelman L -- Floberg. 2B – Basehor-Linwood: Kiernan.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden girls soccer's second game of the season proved to be a lot tougher than its opener, an 8-0 road romp past Cair Paravel Latin last Friday.
Sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein (19) celebrates her second-half goal, off a corner kick from senior Grace Funk (2), in Tuesday's 3-2 Hayden non-league win over Lawrence Free State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the Wildcats got the job done, going wire to wire for a 3-2 win over Class 6A Lawrence Free State in Tuesday's home-opener.
"It was a pretty physical game and I think that caught us a little bit unaware to begin with,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said. "It took us 15, 20 minutes to get untracked and give (Free State) credit, I think they're a good team.
"But I think we held our own at the end. I think it gives us momentum for the team and I think it's good for them because we've got some new players, and after that first game, this was probably a good result and a good team to play because we're going to play some physical teams and the sooner we learn the better off we're going to be.''
Senior Carsyn Broxterman scored her sixth goal of the season in Hayden's 3-2 home non-league win over Free State Tuesday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 14:11 mark of the first half on a goal from senior Carsyn Broxterman, who now has six goals on the season.
The Wildcats, who got a shutout first half in goal from senior Lauren Borjon, were still nursing that one-goal advantage into the second half before sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein scored off a corner kick from senior Grace Funk with 30:12 remaining to put Hayden up 2-0.
Free State (1-2-1) got back within a goal at the 22:20 mark of the second half on a shot from senior Madeleine Landry, but Hayden picked up some insurance on an own goal with 11:28 remaining.
Free State converted a penalty kick from senior Cara Jeffries with 1:18 remaining to cut its deficit to 3-2, but the Wildcats were able to run out the clock to finish out the win.
The Wildcats will be back in action Wednesday, traveling to Lansing for a non-league game.
HAYDEN 3, LAWRENCE FREE STATE 2
Free State (1-2-1) 0 2 -- 2
Hayden (2-0) 1 2 -- 3
Free State -- Goals: Madeleine Landry, Cara Jeffries.
Hayden -- Goals: Carsyn Broxterman, Hailey Schmidtlein, own goal.
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By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural baseball followed up a strong weekend in Kansas City with a home Centennial League doubleheader sweep of Topeka High Tuesday to improve its record to 5-0.
Senior Gavin Payne threw a three-hit shutout Tuesday in Washburn Rural's 14-0 first-game win over Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
The Junior Blues got a five-inning shutout from senior Gavin Payne in the opening contest, then rolled out three pitchers who one-hit the Trojans in the nightcap as Washburn Rural collected wins of 14-0 and 12-0, both of which lasted five innings.
Last Saturday Washburn Rural defeated Kansas City, Mo.-Rockhurst 8-1 and Olathe South 3-0. Junior Blues coach Jay Mastin complimented his team’s performance in those contests.
Mastin said Payne’s work against Topeka High was so good, the coach had to tweak his game plan.
“He did a great job. He did everything we asked from him today,” Mastin said of Payne. “Our plan was to throw two or three guys (in the first) game, but he was pretty efficient in his innings, so we just stuck with him.”
Payne permitted Topeka High a single in each of his first three innings. He was the beneficiary of inning-ending double plays in the fourth and fifth innings. His final line included three hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
“I was just working my pitches, working the zone,” Payne said. “I’ve got a great defense behind me, so I just throw strikes and they’ll back me up.”
Washburn Rural senior Drew Moore slides safely into base in Tuesday's double-header sweep over Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
After a scoreless first inning to start the day, the Junior Blues put up four, four and six runs in their next three innings. Austin Ditch provided a bases-loaded double that plated three in the second. Drew Moore led off the third inning with a triple. Dominic Nimz collected two hits, including a fourth-inning double.
Payne admitted getting that kind of run support is a lift.
“Everything feels a lot better,” Payne said. “You’ve got more confidence going into each inning. It really helps out there.”
Washburn Rural junior Kyran Smith struck out five batters in two innings in Tuesday's double-header sweep over Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
For the second game, Mastin ran out three pitchers, with dominating effect. Isaac Ansley started the game and recorded three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. He gave way to Kyran Smith, who struck out five in two frames. Cody Stafford slammed the door, striking out all three Trojans he faced in the fifth inning. Following a leadoff single to start the game, the Junior Blues allowed only a walk in the third inning.
“We like the momentum that we’ve got going,” Mastin said. “We couldn’t start the season better than this all the way around. Our pitchers have done a great job. Our defense has been solid, and offense has been putting the pressure on the other team by getting some big hits and being aggressive on the bases.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson, Seaman
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
Seaman senior Brody Anderson placed third in the Class 5A 800 meters in 1 minute, 55.52 seconds last spring, earning All-Shawnee County first-team recognition. Also a three-time all-county pick and former 5A state medalist in cross country, Anderson opened his 2026 track season with a sweep of the 1,600 (4:22.82) and 3,200-meter runs (9:27.73) in Friday's Topeka High Invitational.
DRADEN CHOONCHAROEN, Washburn Rural
Chooncharoen, a senior, is a two-time Class 6A state champion, running on the Junior Blues' winning 4x400-meter relay team as a sophomore and a junior and earning a spot on the 2024 and 2025 All-Shawnee County first team. The Junior Blues set a 6A state meet record in the 4x4 last season, clocking a time of 3:16.23. Chooncharoen also helped lead Rural to the 6A state soccer championship last fall.
JACK ESSER, Seaman
A junior, Esser earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors last season after tying for fourth in the Class 5A high jump at 6-foot-2. Esser finished second in a 5A regional at 6-2 and won the city high jump championship with a personal-record jump of 6-5.
CHRISTIAN HARTMAN-BABB, Washburn Rural
Hartman-Babb, a junior, was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick last season after turning in a solid season for the city-champion Junior Blues in the sprints and high hurdles. Hartman-Babb ranked second in the county in both the 100-meter dash and the 110 hurdles in 2025.
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural
BROOKS KEHOE, Washburn Rural
Kehoe, a senior, is a returning Class 6A state medalist, placing fifth in the 3,200 meters in 2025 in a time of 9:20.97 and earning All-Shawnee County first-team recognition. A three-time all-county pick in cross country, Kehoe helped lead the Junior Blues to the 6A state team title by a single point (100-101) over Blue Valley last fall. Kehoe won the Centennial League individual title and finished second in the city meet before posting a 25th-place finish at state.
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural
HENRY LAUBACH, Washburn Rural
Laubach, a sophomore, had a breakout season as a freshman in both cross country and track before returning from an injury to help lead the Junior Blues to the Class 6A state cross country championship last fall by a 100-101 margin over Blue Valley. Laubach led Washburn Rural with a 22nd-place individual finish. Laubach is a two-time All-Shawnee County honoree in cross country and received honorable mention in track last spring.
KELTON MEIER, Hayden
A junior, Meier earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after leading Shawnee County in the javelin. Meier was the city champion in 2025 and opened his 2026 season with an outstanding winning throw of 197 feet, 2 inches in Friday's Topeka High Invitational, winning the event by more than 49 feet. Meier is also a bowling standout for the Wildcats, placing sixth in Class 4A-1A with a 717 series.
JOEL MILLER, Silver Lake
Miller, a senior, earned a spot on the 2025 All-Shawnee County first team after teaming with then-seniors Trent Rollenhagen and Evan Scheid and then-junior Braxton Rupp to post a third-place finish in the Class 3A 4x100-meter relay in 42.57 seconds.
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
LIAM MORRISON, Washburn Rural
Morrison won the Class 6A championship in the 300-meter hurdles in 37.68 seconds before teaming with then-seniors Isaiah Terry and Matthew Houser and then-junior Draden Chooncharoen for a 6A meet-record time of 3:16.23 in the 4x400 relay. A three-time All-Shawnee County pick, Morrison also helped win the state 4x4 title as a sophomore in 2024. Morrison placed sixth in the 6A 110 hurdles (14.52) last spring.
BRAXTON RUPP, Silver Lake
A senior, Rupp earned a spot on the 2025 All-Shawnee County first team after teaming with then-seniors Trent Rollenhagen and Evan Scheid and then-junior Joel Miller to post a third-place finish in the Class 3A 4x100-meter relay in 42.57 seconds.
