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By RICK PETERSON 
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize Shawnee County's all-time coaching greats in 14 sports as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July 15, with the Top 10 in all categories announced in July and August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best tennis coach click on https://poll-maker.com/poll4394502x2b20465E-138 while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
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The list of contenders for the No.1 spot on the TopSports.news Shawnee County Best of the Best Coaches tennis list includes some of the most recognizable names in the sport in Kansas.
Retiring Washburn Rural tennis coach Kevin Hedberg led the Junior Blues to five state team championships over a legendary 43-year high school coaching career. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden tennis coach James Sandstrom has led the Wildcats to multiple Class 4A state team titles. [Submitted]
Topeka West tennis coach Kurt Davids has established the Chargers as a consistent city and Class 5A contender. [File photo/TSN]
Retiring Washburn Rural coach Kevin Hedberg, former Hayden coach Connie Robertson and the late Larry Reid, who coached at Topeka High and was a staple in the local tennis community, are all members of the Topeka Tennis Association Hall of Fame, while current Hayden coach James Sandstrom, former Topeka West coach Corey Wilson and former Rural coach Bob Gladfelter have all coached multiple state championship teams.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Andrew Beckler is hopeful that there will be many more U.S. Opens in his professional golf future.
But whatever happens down the road, the former Washburn Rural and Washburn University star will never forget the thrill of his first Open.
Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University star Andrew Beckler signs autographs Wednesday at Pure Golf Topeka for participants in PGT's Summer Junior Camp. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Andrew Beckler, who recently competed in his first U.S. Open, works with a junior golfer Wednesday at Pure Golf Topeka. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"It was just kind of above and beyond what I thought, just how well the USGA takes care of you and how well the tournament's run,'' Beckler said. "I knew it was going to be great but I didn't realize how awesome it is to be out there playing the U.S. Open. It was really special.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Darting Basketball Academy wrapped up Year No. 3 of its six-week 3 on 3 tournament for elementary and middle school players Tuesday night, with more than 120 players taking part at Shawnee Heights.
Kerry Darting (middle) poses with Darting Basketball Academy 3 on 3 tournament middle school MVPs Brecken McGuire (left) and KK Emmot (right) Tuesday night at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Kerry Darting poses with Darting Basketball Academy 3 on 3 Tournament elementary school MVPs Ryder Valdivia (left), Kamryn Carlson (middle) and Hudson Heim (right) Tuesday night at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The tournament has a unique format, with players rotating from team to team each game to give players an opportunity to team up with players of varying talent levels.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize Shawnee County's all-time coaching greats in 14 sports as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July 15, with the Top 10 in all categories announced in July and August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best swimming/diving coach click on https://linkto.run/p/DKXJ2JDD while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
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Former Seaman state champion boys coach Rod Garman and longtime former Washburn Rural coaches Elaine Pardee and Jeff Handley lead the list of contenders for the No.1 spot on the TopSports.news Shawnee County Best of the Best Coaches list in swimming and diving.
Rod Garman
Elaine Pardee
Jeff Handley
Garman, now an administrator with the Kansas State High School Activities Association, led Seaman to the 2018 Class 5A-1A boys state team championship while Pardee launched the highly-successful boys and girls swimming/diving programs at Washburn Rural and Handley continued Rural's tradition as a city and Centennial League power before turning the reins over to current coaches Jordan Metz and Bob Burdick, who won city titles this past season.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize Shawnee County's all-time coaching greats in 14 sports as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July 15, with the Top 10 in all categories announced in July and August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best softball coach click on https://poll-maker.com/poll4394141xa696cF21-138 while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
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It was easy to come up with deserving softball candidates for TopSports.news' Best of the Best Coaches project.
In fact, cutting down the list of suggested candidates to just 11 was the hard part.
Topeka High softball coach Shane Miles has led the Trojans to back-to-back Class 6A state championships. [File photo/TSN]
Tara Griffith coached Shawnee Heights to back-to-back Class 5A state softball championships in 2018 and 2019 and a state berth in 2021. [File photo/TSN]
Brenda Holaday coached Washburn Rural to multiple Class 6A state softball championships before moving on to a successful career at Washburn University. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
After all, Shawnee County softball teams have captured an amazing 25 state championships, including at least one title in the past nine seasons.
