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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-month:
• Much was made about the missing pieces on Kansas City’s defense when the Chiefs lost to Buffalo.
• The defense actually held up pretty well in the three-point defeat; better than a leaky offensive line.
• One question: As bad as the Chiefs secondary has looked at times, will it matter that much when starting cornerbacks return?
• Still like the Chiefs to advance as AFC West champs but isn’t that a given anymore?
• In a season when the division supposedly could be the best in football, rivals have disappointed.
• The Broncos are unwatchable. But can they get on some kind of roll by December when they first play the Chiefs?
• Happy for San Diego to see the Padres advance to the National League championship series.
• Especially after the Chargers moved to Los Angeles to play before hostile crowds the entire season.
• Didn’t count on the road to a Big 12 football breakthrough running through TCU for both KU and K-State.
• Of course, none of us saw the rise of the Jayhawks, who will become bowl eligible.
• That requires one more victory. They’ll get it.
• Jalon Daniels means a lot to that team but not quite everything.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 12-ranked Washburn volleyball used an efficient offensive attack to cruise to a 3-0 MIAA victory over Emporia State on Tuesday evening at Lee Arena.
The Ichabods won by the set scores of 25-12, 25-23, and 25-14 to improve their record to 18-4 overall and 10-4 in the MIAA.
Washburn volleyball celebrates a point in Tuesday's 3-0 home MIAA sweep over Emporia State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn's Halle Meister (16) and Sophie McMullen block an Emporia State kill attempt in Tuesday's 3-0 WU sweep.[Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn led from start to finish in the opening set. The Ichabods used a 9-1 run midway through the frame to go up, 17-8, and then pushed the lead to double-figures with a 6-1 run to make it 23-11.
The Ichabods won, 25-12, claiming the last two points with a kill from Sophie McMullen and a Hornet attacking error.
The second set saw three lead changes and nine ties during the game. Emporia State (4-19, 1-13 MIAA) took its largest lead of the night at 14-10 after five unanswered points.
Washburn slowly closed the gap and leveled the score at 20-all with a 3-0 mini run.
The teams took turns scoring over the next six points before the Ichabods won three in a row to close out the 25-23 set victory, capped off by Chloe Paschal's service ace to go up 2-0 in the match.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A lot of things change, but some things don't.
The Centennial League has gone through major changes, dropping from 10 schools to nine a few years ago and to six schools this fall.
But one thing that hasn't changed is Washburn Rural's league dominance in boys soccer.
The Junior Blues ran their incredible league championship streak (shared or outright) to 28 straight years Tuesday night, with Rural rolling to a 5-1 victory over Topeka High at McElroy Field.
Washburn Rural senior Easton Bradstreet (13) battles Topeka High junior Chris Gomez (18) for the ball Tuesday night at McElroy Field. Bradstreet had two goals and an assist in Rural's 5-1 win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Now 13-2-0 overall, Washburn Rural gave up an early Topeka High goal but dominated the rest of the game while capping a perfect 5-0 record in league play.
"The league has changed from 10 teams to nine teams to six teams, but you play who's on your schedule and this year the league had some good squads,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "Topeka High was tough and they got the early goal so we had to play well.
"Some of our better performances this year were in those league games, so that was a good thing.''
Topeka High (11-5-0, 2-3) drew first blood at the 33:26 mark of the first half on a shot from sophomore Jaime Alvarado off an assist from senior Thomas Schmidt, but Washburn Rural pulled even at 31:03 mark on senior Easton Bradstreet's goal off junior Devon Rutschmann's pass and Rutschmann put the Junior Blues ahead to stay with a goal at the 24:51 mark off Bradstreet's assist.
"We always talk about getting the early goal and they kind of took advantage -- a nice combination off passes and a good finish by them -- but what I liked is often times this year when we've given up a goal we haven't responded real well to that so what was nice was whatever momentum they could have got from 1-0 we took the lead back pretty quickly and kind of seized control, which was good.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden placed third in Class 4A to pace Shawnee County's girls golf teams in Tuesday's final day of state competition.
Led by individual state medalist Avery Grunert, the Wildcats finished with a 36-hole team score of 765 earn the third-place trophy by one stroke over Wellington (766) and three strokes behind runner-up Winfield (762). Wamego ran away with its second straight team title by 88 strokes with a four-person score of 674.
Junior Avery Grunert tied for 14th in the Class 4A state girls golf tournament, leading Hayden to a third-place team finish. [File photo/Kyle Grunert]
Grunert, a junior, tied for 14th with a two-day total of 185, shooting a 92 on Tuesday to follow up a first-round 93
Freshman Lauren Borjon was next in line for the Wildcats at 191 (98-93), earning a 20th-place medal, while junior Hannah Reynoldson finished in a tie for 21st at 192 (98-94).
Junior Kyleigh Johnson finished at 202 (106-96), freshman Izzy Glotzbach at 204 (101-103) and sophomore Addysen Baer at 223 (111-112) to round out the Wildcats' team.
Wamego freshman Addison Douglass won the individual championship at 150 with rounds of 74 and 76, earning medalist honors by 17 strokes over senior teammate Ashton Pierson (77-90).
CLASS 6A
Washburn Rural missed a 6A team trophy by the narrowest of margins, finishing fourth by one stroke to third-place Olathe West and just two strokes behind runner-up Shawnee Mission East.
The Junior Blues, who were second after the opening round, finished with a four-person 36-hole team score of 652 while Olathe West finished at 651 and SM East at 650. Olathe Northwest won the team title by 19 strokes at 650.
Senior Mallory Nelson finished 11th in 6A with a two-day total of 159 (82-77) while junior Raegan Petersen finished 15th at 163 (81-82) and freshman Lauren Cox in a tie for 18th at 166 (81-85).
Senior Mallory Nelson finished 11th in the Class 6A state golf tournament, helping Washburn Rural finish fourth as a team, just two strokes out of second. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Raegan Petersen placed 15th in the Class 6A state golf tournament with a 36-hole score of 163. [File photo/TSN]
Sophomore Reece Randall narrowly missed a state medal, finishing 22nd at 168 (81-87) while senior Avery Scott finished at 173 (90-83) and sophomore Natalie Peterson at 180 (88-92).
Topeka High junior Avery Zimmerman shot a 98 on Tuesday to finish at 183 after an opening 85.
CLASS 5A
Senior standout Lois Deeter completed her banner high school career with her third state medal, finishing seventh at 156 after a pair of 78s at Hesston Golf Course.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Particularly in the Wichita area, the name Schuckman is normally associated with football, with former Bishop Carroll coach Alan Schuckman, a highly-successful high school coach.
Schuckman, who now works with alumni relations at the school, posted a career record of 193-46 in 22 seasons as Carroll's head coach from 1995-2016, with a pair of Class 5A undefeated state championships.
Sophomore forward Khloe Schuckman (right) leads Washburn's soccer team with seven goals and three assists this fall. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But these days the Shuckmans are also a big soccer family, with 5-foot-7 sophomore forward Khloe Schuckman carving out a standout career for Washburn University.
Khloe said while her dad isn't necessarily a soccer expert, but that he and the rest of her family have been very supportive.
"He's picked it up over the years, but he's definitely more of a football guy,'' Khloe Schuckman said. "He does just kind of leave me alone and let me do my own thing.
"Here and there he tries to give me pointers and stuff, but really I think he realizes that this is my sport and he has his sport. I think the competitive aspect is where we meet in the middle with it.''
Khloe Schuckman made an immediate impact for the Ichabod soccer team as a freshman last season, recording six goals and an assist while earning third-team All-MIAA recogition.
