Becker, a junior, carried the ball 14 times for 201 yards, including touchdown runs of 53 and 65 yards, as Hayden football earned its third straight trip to the Class 3A state championship game with a 46-0 home win over Santa Fe Trail. Becker also kicked a 25-yard field goal, went 3 of 3 on extra-point kicks to remain perfect on the season and passed for a 2-point conversion as the Wildcats improved to 12-0.
Austin Broadie
AUSTIN BROADIE, Washburn University
A fifth-year senior volleyball standout out of Wichita Trinity, Broadie was named the MIAA Player of the Year after helping lead the Ichabods to a 24-3 regular-season record and a share of the conference title. Broadie finished the regular season with 298 kills on .330 hitting while also contributing 54 blocks. Broadie had 15 matches with double-digit kills and two matches with 20-plus kills.
Leah Henke
LEAH HENKE, Washburn University
The MIAA Freshman of the Year, Henke had two goals and an assist on the weekend as Washburn University soccer advanced to the NCAA Soccer Sweet 16 with a pair of Central Region wins in Mankato, Minn. Henke, a Bishop Carroll product, had a goal and an assist in Friday's 2-0 win over Missouri Western and scored her 11th goal of the season in Sunday's 4-2 win in penalty kicks over top seed Minnesota State.
Aldridge, a 6-foot-1 senior, averaged a team-high 12.3 points for Topeka High last season, earning TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Aldridge shot 43 percent on two-point field goal attempts and connected on 26 3-pointers while averaging 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals and shooting 70 percent from the free throw line.
JA'VEON ALSTON, Shawnee Heights
A 5-10 senior point guard, Alston received All-Shawnee County and United Kansas Conference honorable mention last season after helping Shawnee Heights post a 19-4 record en route to a second straight trip to the Class 5A state tournament. A standout defender, Alston averaged 2.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists for the T-Birds as a junior.
Mason Becker, Hayden
MASON BECKER, Hayden
A 5-11 junior guard, Becker was named to the TSN All-Shawnee County Second 10 last season after averaging 10.1 points with 36 3-pointers, while shooting 36 percent from outside the arc. Becker also averaged 2.8 rebounds for the Wildcats. Becker will get a late start on preseason basketball practice after helping lead the Wildcats football team to their third straight Class 3A state championship game Saturday in Hutchinson.
KaeVon Bonner, Seaman
KAEVON BONNER, Seaman
Bonner, a 6-4 senior, is a two-time All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference first-team pick after being named the Shawnee County co-newcomer of the year and receiving honorable mention as a freshman. Bonner averaged 19 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.9 steals this past season for the 13-8 Vikings while hitting 49 3-pointers and shooting 77 percent from the free throw line.
CALEB CLEVERDON, Cair Paravel Latin
A senior, Cleverdon will be counted on heavily this winter as Cair Paravel looks to improve on last season's 10-11 record. Cleverson averaged 7.6 points last season while connecting on 33 3-pointers and shooting 35 percent from outside the arc. Cleverdon also averaged 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals as a junior.
JAI'MARION COOK, Shawnee Heights
Cook, a 5-9 senior guard, averaged 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists last season while helping Shawnee Heights post an 19-4 record and advance to the Class 5A state tournament for the second straight season. Cook connected on 30 3-pointers as a junior while shooting 38 percent from outside the 3-point line.
Jack Donovan, Rossville
JACK DONOVAN, Rossville
A 5-11 senior, Donovan made the All-Shawnee County Top 10 for the second straight season after averaging 18.7 points with 62 3-pointers while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range and 78.4 percent from the free throw line. Donovan helped lead the Bulldawgs to a 16-8 record and a Class 2A state tournament berth last season. Donovan, a first-team All-Big East League pick, is also a standout in golf and football, helping Rossville reach the Class 1A state football title game on Friday in Hutchinson.
Malakyah Duncan, Topeka West
MALAKYAH DUNCAN, Topeka West
Duncan, a 6-4 senior, received second-team All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference recognition last season after helping lead the Chargers to the Class 5A state tournament, where West lost in the quarterfinals to state champ Kapaun Mt. Carmel. Duncan averaged 11.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals as a junior while shooting 55 percent on two-point field goal attempts.
ONTARIUS EMMOT, Shawnee Heights
Emmot, a 6-4 senior forward, received TSN All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference honorable mention last season after helping Shawnee Heights post a 19-4 record and advance to the Class 5A state tournament for the second straight season. Emmot averaged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a junior while draining 29 treys on the season.
Elisha Guest, Topeka High
ELISHA GUEST, Topeka High
A 5-7 senior, Guest received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after averaging 11.6 points while connecting on 49 3-pointers and shooting 36 percent from outside the arc. Guest also averaged 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals for the Trojans last season.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
CONNOR HANIKA, Hayden
Hanika, a 6-5 senior, received All-Shawnee County second-team honors last season after averaging 10.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 48 percent on two-point field goals. Hanika is Hayden's starting quarterback in football, helping the Wildcats reach their third straight Class 3A state championship game.
John Hoytal, Washburn Rural
JOHN HOYTAL, Washburn Rural
A 6-foot-2 senior forward, Hoytal received All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honorable mention last season after helping the 18-5 Junior Blues win the Centennial League title and advance to the Class 6A state tournament. Hoytal averaged 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals last season while shooting 57 percent on two-point field goals and 73 percent from the free throw line.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
DAYNE JOHNSON, Silver Lake
Johnson, a 6-2 senior, helped lead the Eaglesto a 20-6 record and a third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament in 2024-2025. A first-team All-Big East League selection, Johnson moved up to the TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 last season after being a Second 10 pick as a sophomore. Johnson is a multi-sport standout for the Eagles, earning All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors as a junior.
Lucas Marichal, Cair Paravel
LUCAS MARICHAL, Cair Paravel
A senior, Marichal is a key returner for Cair Paravel Latin, which will by looking to improve on last season's 10-11 record. Marichal averaged 9.0 points a year ago while connecting on 28 3-pointers and shooting 80 percent from the free throw line.
Washburn University soccer advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen Sunday after outlasting top seed Minnesota State 4-2 in penalty kicks in Mankato, Minn.
Washburn soccer celebrates after Sunday's 4-2 penalty kick win over top seed Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"We have talked about the character in the team all year long, in overtime and the shootout, our character got to show a little bit,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "We get another chance to grow together, continue to train together, and to play in meaningful games together.''
The Ichabods would come out controlling the match with their pressing style of soccer and would open the scoring in the 12th minute of the match, with MIAA freshman of the year Leah Henke converting after a save from the Mavericks' goalie after a shot by Grace Peterson.
Both teams took seven shots in the half, and both goalies had two saves at the break.
The Ichabods would come out with four shots in the opening 12 minutes of the second half, looking for a crucial second goal, but in the 60th minute, the Mavericks would find the equalizer through Maille Mathis, tying things up at 1-1.
The last 30 minutes of the match were back and forth between the teams. The Ichabods would take 13 shots in the second half while Minnesota State took six, and both had three shots on goal.
In the two 10-minute periods of overtime, the Mavericks would be in control, but could not find the back of the net as Washburn freshman goalkeeper Lili Everley would make four saves over the two OT periods to force penalty kicks.
Washburn went up 1-0 in PKs on a conversion from Shaye Taylor, but Minnesota State pulled even on a shot from Maddix Archer.
Both keepers came up with saves before Lakin Rold put WU up 2-1.
After a Maverick miss, Mackinly Rohn put the Ichabods in front 3-1.
Courtney Kovacs converted for Minnesota State to cut the Maverick deficit to 3-2 but Washburn freshman Kate Hinck found the back of the net to end the match.
With the win, Washburn advances to the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in school history.
The Ichabods are now 2-2 in penalty kicks in the NCAA tournament.
Everley made nine saves, breaking her season/career high that she previously set on Friday in a 2-0 win over Missouri Western.
Henke scored her 11th goal of the season, moving into a tie for fourth with Khloe Schuckman, who scored 11 goals during the 2023 campaign when the Ichabods were NCAA finalists.
Washburn will take on the Huskies of St. Cloud State in the Sweet Sixteen at 1 p.m. Sunday in St. Joseph, Minn.
No. 7-ranked Washburn volleyball's MIAA Tournament run came to an end in the championship match on Saturday night in St. Joseph, Mo., with the Ichabods falling 3-0 to No. 3 Nebraska Kearney.
Washburn volleyball will find out its NCAA Tournament destination during Monday's NCAA selection show. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods' NCAA Tournament destiny will be determined on Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the selection show on NCAA.com.
The Lopers (29-3) jumped in front right away to win 25-14 in the first set. Washburn (26-4) made a run in the second set before falling just short, 25-22. Nebraska Kearney closed out the match, winning 25-15 in the third.
The first six points of the match all went to the Lopers, forcing the Ichabods to call timeout.
Shortly after that, a 5-1 Lopers run pushed the lead into double figures. Washburn held off set point twice with kills by Emery Keebaugh and Brooklyn Morrisey but Nebraska-Kearney got the final point to end the set.
Washburn got out to a quick start in the second set, leading 6-3 after Sydney Conner set up Brynne Topolski for a kill. The Lopers responded back with seven straight points to pull in front.
The lead reached seven points at 16-9 before the Ichabods started to chip away. Morrissey knocked down a kill that started a 8-1 burst, with Austin Broadie tying the match at 17 on a kill.
Nebraska Kearney won the next two points and didn't look back, going on to win 25-22.
In the third set Washburn fell behind 10-5 early. The Lopers offense hit an efficient .400 in the set, keeping the Ichabods down as the deficit reached double figures again before Nebraska-Kearney closed out the match winning 25-15.
Washburn finished the match hitting .194 with 36 kills, while the Lopers had 40 kills and hit .316. Both sides managed 34 assists while Nebraska Kearney led 11-2 in aces and 42-39 in digs.
Keebaugh came off the bench to lead the Ichabods with nine kills, hitting .316. Conner had a team-high 16 assists with four digs while Taylor Rottinghaus scooped up 11 digs.
Sydney Davis led Nebraska-Kearney with 10 kills and hit .600, while Peyton Neff had 32 assists in the match.
Washburn University women's basketball turned a tight first half into a commanding victory Saturday at Lee Arena, riding a dominant third-quarter burst to a 66-44 win over Metropolitan State Denver in the wrapup of the Washburn Classic.
Senior Gabi Giovannetti notched her first collegiate double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday's 66-44 Washburn win over MSU Denver. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Ichabods moved to 3-1 on the season with their third straight win, using a balanced offensive effort and the dominant third-quarter stretch.
After taking a 33-23 lead into halftime, the Ichabods blew the game open with an 18-0 run in the third stanza, outscoring the Roadrunners 25-7 in the quarter.
"We had a nice run there,'' Washburn coach Lora Westling said. "I thought Nia McKenzie had some unbelievably impactful minutes off the ball defending and getting us in sytem. She's plus-29 on the day in 17 minutes and I thought she was the steady hand we kind of needed.
"What's really special with this team is how high the ceiling could be. They want to get better every day, we got good momentum going and hopefully here comes the fun part.''
Washburn shot a blistering 66.7 percent (10 of 15) in the third while holding MSU Denver to just 2 of 13.
By the end of the quarter, the Ichabods had extended their advantage to 58-30, their largest lead of the game at 28 points.
Senior Gabi Giovannetti led all scorers with 17 points, including a pair of momentum-changing treys in the third quarter, and added 10 rebounds and three steals, recording her first collegiate double-double in the process.
Senior Payton Sterk finished with 14 points, connecting twice from long range, and Britany Kogbara delivered 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.
Senior Yibari Nwidadah added seven points and eight boards and was named to the all-tournament team along with Giovannetti.
"We're still building our character,'' Giovannetti said. "We've got a new point guard mixing in, so we're just trying to stay as sharp as we can, just to get to a championship level of play.
"We wanted to come out this weekend and defend our homecourt, especially with it being new, and there's just a lot of motivators.''
Washburn volleyball will find out its NCAA Tournament destination during Monday's NCAA selection show. [File photo/TSN]
