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WINTER SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Elijah Brooks
ELIJAH BROOKS | Topeka West
PARENTS: Peter Brooks and Katesheius Anderson
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 3.75
Brooks was named Mr. Kansas Basketball by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association after a record-setting 2021-2022 season. Brooks averaged 25.3 points on the season after putting together a string of 30-point games with a high of 43 points. Brooks, the TopSports.news Shawnee County and Centennial League Player of the Year, led the Chargers to back-to-back Class 5A state tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2021. Brooks is West's single-season record-holder (581 points) and career leading scorer (1,450 points). "Elijah has shown enthusiasm and work ethic that has been commendable and sincere,'' West coach Rick Bloomquist said. Brooks will play his college basketball at Division I North Dakota.
Richard Carter
RICHARD CARTER | Topeka High
PARENTS: Richard and Margaret Carter
SPORT: Swimming | GPA: NA
Carter was a varsity swimmer all four seasons at Topeka High, earning second-team All-City recognition two times. Carter competed in the Class 6A state tournament as a senior in the 400-yard free relay. Carter scored a total of 582 points during his swimming career for the Trojans. Carter competed primarily in the 50-yard freestyle, the 100 free, the 200 free and and the 100 butterfly. Carter plans to attend Grove City College.
Trent Duffey
TRENT DUFFEY | Hayden
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Ten city girls soccer standouts have earned All-State recognition from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association, led by Washburn Rural co-midfielder of the year Belle Kennedy and Junior Blue All-Class 6A first-team midfielder Reagan Allen.
Washburn Rural senior Belle Kennedy has received Class 6A midfielder of the year recognition for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Reagan Allen received first-team All-Class 6A honors from the KHSSCA. [File photo/TSN]
Kennedy, who earned midfielder of the year honors for the second straight season, and Allen, both seniors, helped lead Washburn Rural to a runner-up finish in the 6A state tournament.
Rural seniors Hunter McWilliams and McKenna Merrick both received second-team All-6A honors while Rural junior Mackinly Rohn, Topeka High senior Luxanna Sands and High sophomore Avery Zimmerman earned All-6A honorable mention.
Shawnee Heights senior goalkeeper Tatum Hoge received second-team All-Class 5A recognition while T-Bird freshmen Isabell Van Fleet and Lailah Benz earned All-5A honorable mention.
Cair Paravel Latin freshman Zahra Lewis was named to the All-4A-1A first team after helping lead the Lions to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament.
Coaches have to be members of the KHSSCA to have players nominated and selected.
CLASS 6A
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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-month:
• Happy for Topeka’s Andrew Beckler to qualify for the U.S. Open.
• Seems like he should pick up some points for that to help with qualifications for, oh, the Korn Ferry Tour.
• At the very least, maybe some exemptions could be in order when your first event on the PGA Tour happens to be the U.S. Open.
• Glad Andrew could escape being known primarily as the son of Kevin Haskin’s dentist.
• Kidding. His exploits for Washburn made him a top player in Division II and again proved that the level of talent is deep in golf.
• Enough that we now have the LIV Tour.
• Of course, Scottie Scheffler put it best when he said he didn’t notice that start-up robbing the PGA Tour of anyone consequential except Dustin Johnson.
• The point is valid. The LIV Tour seems like a place for the 40-somethings to kick around and make incredible money before joining the senior circuit.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's been right at 15 months since former Missouri Southern All-American Cam Martin played a college basketball game, making the decision to sit out the 2021-2022 season as a redshirt after transferring to Kansas.
But although the long layoff has been hard on the 6-foot-9 super senior forward, he feels confident that his decision is going to pay dividends this coming season.
Kansas super senior forward Cam Martin assists campers during Tuesday's Washburn Basketball Camp at Lee Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Kansas super senior forward Cam Martin signs an autograph for a fan during Tuesday's Washburn Basketball Camp at Lee Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"It was definitely mentally tough just because I love the game so much,'' Martin said during a Tuesday appearance at Washburn University's basketball camp. "I think it was a unique situation, redshirting so late in your career and it was something that was never really on my mind, but everything happens for a reason and I take the best of every situation and I'm just excited to be able to have basketball back and I'm ready for this next year.
"It was a great decision I think for the team this upcoming year but also for me individually. I think it was a really good decision for me and I'm glad I made it.''
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WINTER SPORTS: OUTSTANDING FEMALE NOMINEES
Jaley Barkley
JALEY BARKLEY | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Shane and Valerie Barkley
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.53
"Jaley is a fantastic leader and worker,'' Cair Paravel coach Brian Ewing said. "She knew my expectations for her senior year and led the team through her dedication and desire. Jaley has always been a hard worker during the season but out of season as well. She put up tens of thousands of shots during COVID, which showed up in her stats this past season. Jaley loves to interact with, and encourage, the younger kids, especially the girls. She knows that eyes are on her for not only how she plays on the court but how she leads throughour her school day and practice.'' Barkey will play college basketball next season for Sterling College.
Celeste Gonzalez
CELESTE GONZALEZ | Highland Park
PARENTS: Raul Gonzalez and Clara Caro
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 4.2
Gonzalez posted a 17-7 record as a senior and was a two-year letter-winner for Highland Park's girls wrestling team. Gonzalez won the Centennial League indiviual championship at 191 pounds her senior season, qualified for the Class 6A-5A state meet with a runner-up regional finish and earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention. "She had a desire to demonstrate dominance on the mat but was friendly to everyone off the mat,'' Highland Park coach Shannon Keller said. Gonzalez, who also earned All-City honorable mention in soccer, plans to attend college at Washburn University.
Emma Krueger
EMMA KRUEGER | Washburn Rural
