- Details
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.''
- Details
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
-------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------
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.
- 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 soccer coach click on https://linkto.run/p/2LH96HJB while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
-------------------------------------------------------
Hayden's Klaus Kreutzer and Washburn Rural's Brian Hensyel, who have led multiple teams to state championships, lead the list of contenders for the No.1 spot on the TopSports.news Shawnee County Best of the Best Coaches list in soccer while four other former and current local coaches have also notched state titles.
Longtime Hayden soccer coach Klaus Kreutzer has led the Wildcat boys and girls teams to five state championships. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural soccer coach Brian Hensyel has led the Junior Blues to a pair of Class 6A boys titles and seven total state runner-up finishes. [File photo/TSN]
Kreutzer has led the Hayden boys to Class 4A state championships in 2000 and '12 and added 4A-1A girls titles in 2012, '13 and '15 while Hensyel has led Washburn Rural's boys to 6A state crowns in 2009 and '12 while the Junior Blues have also posted seven state runner-up finishes (four girls, three boys), including seconds in both the boys and girls tournaments in 2021-2022.
