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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Even though it may result in a few losses along the way, Silver Lake volleyball coach Sarah Johnson has never shied away from a tough schedule, banking on the tough tests to make the Eagles a better team in the long run.
Sarah Johnson's Silver Lake volleyball team will take a 28-11 record into this weekend's Class 3A state tournament at Hutchinson. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake, 28-11 on the season, suffered four of its 11 losses on the year in the big-school Seaman Invitational, but three of those four losses came against teams that are in the state tournament (Seaman and Spring HIll in 5A, Bishop MIege in 4A) and the fourth defeat came against 5A Bishop Carroll, which went 26-11 and lost to the top seed in 5A.
The Eagles also beat 6A state qualifier Manhattan in a quad while losing to Seaman and 5A Shawnee Heights.
And, as has been the case in the past, the earlier tests have paid off for the perennial state contender in crunch time, with nine-time state champion Silver Lake back in the Class 3A state field Friday and Saturday at Hutchinson after a three-year absence.
"I feel that losing to great teams during the season only puts us at an advantage when we get to postseason,'' Johnson said. "My girls know how to be in tough/tight situations and make adjustments accordingly. For as long as I've been here, these Silver Lake female athletes crave that tough competition.
"Because we see that caliber of teams, we're not in shock come postseason. One amazing kill from a stud athlete on the other side of the net won't get us rattled, but it will push us to learn and adapt.''
Silver Lake's volleyball team poses for a team picture after winning the Class 3A sub-state tournament last Saturday at St. Marys. [Silver Lake volleyball]
Silver Lake garnered its latest state berth by wading through a tough St. Marys sub-state with a senior-led team that includes a group of athletes who have been successful in multi-sports for the Eagles.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
An outstanding regular season gave Washburn Rural soccer a favorable homefield advantage for the Junior Blues' Class 6A playoff opener Tuesday night.
Washburn Rural soccer coach Brian Hensyel talks to his team after Tuesday's 10-0 regional romp past Campus in the rain at McElroy Field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And Rural, the No. 2 West seed, took took full advantage, rolling to 10-0 regional win on a rainy, windy night at McElroy Field in a game that was stopped at halftime due to the 10-goal spread rule.
"We got exactly what we wanted, which was homefield advantage and the best seed possible to give yourself the best road, and then you've got to take advantage of it,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "Our guys came out focused, even with the weather, and we were able to play everybody and rest some guys and we'll be ready to go Thursday night.''
It took Washburn Rural, now 16-1, just 2 minutes, 31 seconds to score the only goal it would need, with sophomore Draden Chooncharoen scoring off an assist from sophomore Drew Moore.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights cross country star Jackson Esquibel knows there's several runners capable of challenging for the Class 5A individual title in Saturday's state meet at Rim Rock Farm, north of Lawrence.
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel is one of the top contenders for the Class 5A state cross country title after posting a 53-second win in last Saturday's Class 5A regional. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But there's really only one runner that Esquibel is concerned about heading into his final race of an ultra-successfull high school cross country career.
"I think I worry about me more than I worry about other people,'' Esquibel said. "In this sport you can't really fear anyone or else they're going to get the best of you. They're going to get in your head a little bit, so you just have to believe in your game plan and commit to your game plan.
"And then once you're out there, it's just about competing. I feel like each week you keep finding something you can improve on, whether it's your first mile, whether it's how you use the hills, how you explode after the hills. Kind of through experience you learn through failures, you keep improving and you keep getting confidence in yourself.''
Esquibel, a state champ in track, is already a two-time state medalist in cross country, including an eighth-place finish a year ago, and he enters Saturday's meet on top of his game after sweeping city, United Kansas Conference and 5A regional individual titles. Esquibel was one of five underclassmen that posted top-10 finishes in 5A a year ago and one of 11 that finished in the top 20.
"I know that once I'm on a state start line you push until you have nothing left, so the goal is go out that first mile strong and then attack those hills and don't be afraid to push it when you are in the most pain,'' Esquibel said. "I think that is the most important part of that course.
"That course has a lot of hills, so it's all about believing that you're strong enough to persevere.''
The 5A boys race is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. Saturday.
Here's a class-by-class look at Saturday's state meets involving Shawnee County teams and individual qualifiers:
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There's a lot of volleyball teams across Kansas who would love to have back-to-back top-four state finishes on their resume.
But Seaman will be shooting for more in Friday and Saturday's Class 5A state tournament at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina.
Seaman volleyball celebrates a point during Saturday's Class 5A sub-state tournament on the Vikings' home court. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I think it just needs to be our drive to win,'' Seaman coach Tatiana Dowling said. "We've got to come out and want it and not be satisfied. I think that they're hungry and they're tired of getting fourth and they're excited to step up to the challenge.''
The Vikings earned their fourth straight state tournament berth with a 25-16, 25-15 win over Newton in last Saturday's sub-state final on their home floor.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural knows it enters Friday and Saturday's Class 6A state volleyball tournament at Salina in the unfamiliar role of an underdog.
But the Junior Blues also know that until somebody proves otherwise, they rule the 6A roost.
Washburn Rural's volleyball team celebrates after receiving the Class 6A sub-state championship trophy last Saturday at Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Jada Ingram spikes the ball during last Saturday's Class 6A regional volleyball tournament at Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural captured its eighth state championship a year ago and is determined not to give up its lofty perch without a fight.
"We're going to go in every game, play our hardest, and a lot of people aren't really expecting us to have a great run, but we're going to show them,'' senior Jada Ingram said.
And senior Zoe Canfield said there's no doubt that the Junior Blues are playing with a little bit of a chip on their shoulders.
"Heavy on that chip on the shoulder,'' Canfield said. "I think we're really excited to turn some heads and see what we can do at state. I think a lot of people have doubted us but we've been working hard this season and I think we can prove a lot of people wrong.''
The Junior Blues enter this weekend's state tournament at the Tony's Pizza Events Center as the No. 5 seed at 28-10 and will open their state bid at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Pool I play against No. 4 seed Blue Valley West (29-9).
