- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twenty city boys soccer players have received recognition on the 2023 All-United Kansas Conference team, including five first-team selections.
Seaman senior Jacob Anderson (11) was one of five city soccer players to earn All-United Kansas Conference first-team honors. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka West senior Isaac Gonzalez-Talavera (right) represents the Chargers on the All-United Kansas Conference soccer first team. [File photo/TSN]
Jack Martin (7) was one of three Shawnee Heights soccer players to earn first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Jack Phillips (27) earned a first-team spot on the All-United Kansas Conference soccer team. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights senior Roscoe Poyner (1) earned a first-team spot on the All-United Kansas Conference soccer team. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights, a Class 5A regional champion, is represented on the first team by senior defender Jack Phillips, senior forward Jack Martin and senior midfielder Roscoe Poyner while Seaman senior defender Jacob Anderson and Topeka West forward Isaac Gonzalez-Talavera also earned first-team honors.
Shawnee Heights senior AJ Hamby, Topeka West junior defender Jafet Rodriguez, Seaman senior forward Jace Brake and Seaman senior midfielder Phoenix Cannon were named to the All-UKC second team while 11 city players received honorable mention.
Piper senior forward Carlos Renteria was named the UKC player of the year while De Soto's Drew Proctor, a Washburn Rural graduate, was named the conference coach of the year.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE SOCCER
| Position | 1st Team | School | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Mason Porter | Piper | 10 |
| Defender | Gibson Daise | De Soto | 12 |
| Defender | Robert (Harper) Foley | Lansing | 11 |
| Defender | Brady Johnson | Piper | 12 |
| Defender | Jacob Anderson | Seaman | 12 |
| Defender | Jack Phillips | Shawnee Heights | 12 |
| Forward | Carson Johnson | Basehor-Linwood | 12 |
| Forward | Jamie Kneebone | De Soto | 12 |
| Forward | Carlos Renteria | Piper | 12 |
| Forward | Jack Martin | Shawnee Heights | 12 |
| Forward | Isaac Gonzalez-Talavera | Topeka West | 12 |
| Midfielder | Andrew Powers | De Soto | 12 |
| Midfielder | Jeremy Quintanilla | De Soto | 12 |
| Midfielder | Connor Torres | Leavenworth | 12 |
| Midfielder | Roscoe Poyner | Shawnee Heights | 12 |
| Midfielder | Brandon Barrera | Turner | 11 |
| Position | 2nd Team | School | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Shawn Sullivan | Leavenworth | 12 |
| Defender | Kyan Rice | De Soto | 12 |
| Defender | Grant Paul | Piper | 12 |
| Defender | AJ Hamby | Shawnee Heights | 12 |
| Defender | Jafet Rodriguez | Topeka West | 11 |
| Defender | Jordi Salas | Turner | 11 |
| Forward | Brayden Conrad | De Soto | 12 |
| Forward | Dylan Narayan | De Soto | 10 |
| Forward | Yael Navarrete | Lansing | 11 |
| Forward | Jayden Henry | Piper | 12 |
| Forward | Jace Brake | Seaman | 12 |
| Midfielder | Mastin Burchyett | Lansing | 12 |
| Midfielder | Anh Tuan Do | Piper | 12 |
| Midfielder | Dave Thomas | Piper | 12 |
| Midfielder | Jacob Mena | Piper | 12 |
| Midfielder | Phoenix Cannon | Seaman | 12 |
| Position | Honorable Mention | School | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Joe Pate | Basehor-Linwood | 11 |
| Midfielder | Cayden Johnson | Basehor-Linwood | 12 |
| Midfielder | Michael Janouschek | Basehor-Linwood | 12 |
| Defender | Eli Boehm | De Soto | 12 |
| Goalkeeper | Lucas Porras | De Soto | 12 |
| Midfielder | Brady Lum | De Soto | 11 |
| Defender | Riley Dilka | Lansing | 9 |
| Forward | Xavier Perez | Lansing | 10 |
| Goalkeeper | CJ Yedlinski | Lansing | 11 |
| Midfielder | Andrew Ferguson | Lansing | 10 |
| Midfielder | Jacob Dennis | Lansing | 10 |
| Defender | Andrew Martin | Leavenworth | 11 |
| Defender | Brady Waters | Leavenworth | 12 |
| Forward | Joaquin Davila | Leavenworth | 12 |
| Midfielder | Matt Ayers | Leavenworth | 12 |
| Defender | Xavier Lee | Piper | 12 |
| Midfielder | AJ Ammons | Piper | 12 |
| Defender | Dalton Smith | Seaman | 11 |
| Defender | Ethan Geiger | Seaman | 11 |
| Forward | Blake Toyne | Seaman | 11 |
| Goalkeeper | Tyler Siverston | Seaman | 12 |
| Midfielder | Kaelin Loy | Seaman | 11 |
| Midfielder | Logan Townsend | Seaman | 11 |
| Forward | Camden Granado | Shawnee Heights | 10 |
| Midfielder | Juan Garcia | Shawnee Heights | 10 |
| Midfielder | Mason Haas | Shawnee Heights | 9 |
| Defender | Kyren Padilla | Topeka West | 12 |
| Midfielder | Brendan Komma | Topeka West | 12 |
| Defender | Nason Romero | Turner | 12 |
| Forward | Alex Cadena | Turner | 10 |
| Midfielder | Essai Morales | Turner | 12 |
Player of the year -- Carlos Renteria, Piper.
Coach of the year -- Drew Proctor, De Soto.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After putting together an outstanding four-year volleyball career for Cair Paravel Latin, Taryn Pridgett has had to wait her turn to make her mark for Washburn University.
After having her freshman season at WU wiped out by COVID-19, the 5-foot-8 junior outside hitter saw only spot duty the past two seasons, seeing action in a combined total of 26 matches and 43 sets while compiling 41 kills and six total blocks.
Washburn junior Taryn Pridgett, a Cair Paravel product, tied her career-high with 13 kills in Monday's 3-1 MIAA win over Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Cair Paravel product Taryn Pridgett (center) is congratulated by her Washburn teammates after a kill in Monday's 3-1 MIAA win over Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Pridgett's time has finally come for Chris Herron's Ichabods this fall and she's making the most of it.
Pridgett has already set a career-high with 19 matches and 51 sets played this season and her 89 kills and 25 blocks have more than doubled her totals for the previous two seasons combined heading into Saturday's regular-season finale at Newman.
"It's really exciting to see the growth personally, just being in practice and getting reps in,'' Pridgett said after Monday's 3-1 home MIAA win over Emporia State. "It's always fun to see the work have a high result. It's fun.
"I love being out there and I love building trust with my teammates. I think that's been the most important thing is just slowly building trust through practice and in games.''
- Details
The 2023 All-Shawnee County boys cross country team: Front row, from left -- Max Gutierrez, Washburn Rural; Evan Carter, Shawnee Heights; Elijah Phelps, Topeka West; Jack Walker, Seaman; Brody Anderson, Seaman; coach Luke Wiens, Seaman. Back row, from left -- coach John Oshel, Shawnee Heights; Higgins Hawks, Washburn Rural; Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural; Conner Olsen, Washburn Rural; Adrian Lehman, Topeka West; Aiden Amis, Hayden. Not pictured: Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights senior star Jackson Esquibel headlines the 2023 All-Shawnee County boys cross country team after winning his first Class 5A state XC title this fall after winning a state track championship last spring.
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel headlines the 2023 All-Shawnee County cross country team after winning the Class 5A state title. [File photo/TSN]
Esquibel, a four-time state qualifier and three-time state XC medalist, won the 5A title in a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 34 seconds at Rim Rock Farm to complete a sweep of the city, United Kansas Conference, regional and state individual titles as a senior.
Washburn Rural, which won the city team championship, is represented on the all-county team by senior Max Gutierrez, junior Conner Olsen and sophomores Brooks Kehoe and Higgins Hawks, with Kehoe and Olsen qualifying as individuals for the state meet. .
Seaman, which qualified as a team for the 5A state meet, put sophomores Brody Anderson and Jack Walker on the all-county team while Topeka West is represented by senior Elijah Phelps and junior Adrian Lehman and Shawnee Heights by junior Evan Carter.
Hayden senior Aiden Amis, a 3A state qualifier, represents the Wildcats on the All-Shawnee County team.
Shawnee Heights coach John Oshel and Seaman coach Luke Wiens were named the boys co-coaches of the year for 2023.
All-Shawnee County boys capsules:
- Details
The 2023 All-Shawnee County girls cross country team: Front row, from left -- Sofia Harper, Hayden; Elliot Wrench, Hayden; Savannah Sampson, Seaman; Stella Appelhanz, Seaman; Payton Rice, Topeka West; Juliahnna Savago, Topeka High. Back row, from left -- coach Matt Swedlund, Washburn Rural; Emily Graf, Washburn Rural; Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural; Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural; Payton Fink, Washburn Rural; Brynn Spencer, Seaman; Ryin Miller, Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which swept city, Centennial League and Class 6A regional championships, put four runners on the 2023 All-Shawnee County girls cross country team, which includes top-three state finishers Payton Fink of Rural and Seaman's Ryin Miller and four state medalists overall.
Fink, a junior, was the 6A individual runnerup after winning Centennial League and regional titles and is joined on the all-county team by Rural state medalists Rylee Ismert and Emily Graf and first-team repeat pick Brooklyn Nolte.
Rural coach Matt Swedlund was named the girls Shawnee County coach of the year for 2023.
Miller, a sophomore, finished third in the 5A state meet after sweeping city, United Kansas Conference and 5A regional titles and is joined on the all-county first team by fellow Seaman all-county repeat pick Stella Appelhanz, senior Savannah Sampson and freshman standout Brynn Spencer.
Also earning All-Shawnee County first-team recognition are Hayden state qualifiers Elliot Wrench and Sofia Harper, Topeka West two-time state qualifier Payton Rice and Topeka High freshman standout Juliahnna Savago.
All-Shawnee County girls capsules:
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After going through a very un-Washburn-type stretch, Chris Herron's Ichabod volleyball team has served notice with two wins over the past three days that it may be turning the corner just in time for posteason.
Washburn celebrates a point in Monday's 3-1 MIAA win over Emporia State at Lee Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn snapped a four-match losing streak in Saturday's win over Pittsburg State and followed that up with a 3-1 MIAA home decision over rival Emporia State Monday night, taking a 25-15, 21-25, 25-16, 25-18 win at Lee Arena.
"We were in that funk, we were in a huge funk, a funk we've never been in since I've been here,'' Herron said. "It seems like we've got that nasty taste out of our mouth and we're going to go in (to postseason) we hope with a three-game win streak and feeling good about ourselves.''
Washburn, which improved to 16-10 overall and 10-9 in the MIAA, completed a regular-season sweep of the Turnpike Tussle with a strong offensive performance on Monday night against the Hornets (12-15, 6-13) as the the Ichabods closed out their home schedule.
The Ichabods will finish the regular season at Newman on Saturday (3 p.m. start) before competing in the MIAA Tournament next week.
