- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High product Teven Jenkins had to wait longer to hear his name called in the 2021 NFL Draft than most draft forescasters thought he would.
But when the Chicago Bears traded up to pick the Oklahoma State star offensive lineman in Friday's second round with the 39th overall selection, Jenkins made history in his hometown, easily becoming the highest-ever NFL draft pick from Topeka or Shawnee County.
Most draft prognosticators had Jenkins going in Thuesday's first around, with some 11 mock drafts predicting that the Bears would pick Jenkins with the 20th overall pick, but his name was not called until early second.
"You know coming into yesterday my agent let me know there's a strong possibility for the first, but he made sure I definitely wouldn't get my hopes up for everything because there was a strong possibility of going second also," Jenkins said in a teleconference.
Topeka High graduate and former Oklahoma State standout Teven Jenkins (73) became Shawnee County's highest-ever NFL Draft selection on Friday when the Chicago Bears picked Jenkins with the No. 39 pick overall. [Photo/okstate.com]
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kurt Davids has put together an impressive list of accomplishments in his 28 years as Topeka West's boys tennis coach, coaching state champions in both singles and doubles and leading the Chargers to top-three state team finishes.
But one thing had always eluded the veteran coach ... until Thursday that is.
Sweeping the No. 1 singles and doubles titles and adding a pair of runner-up finishes in No. 2 singles and doubles, Topeka West edged perennial city champ Washburn Rural by a single point (28-27) for the team crown.
Topeka West sophomore Carter Cool won the city title in No. 1 singles Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping lead the Chargers to the city team title. [Photo by Rick Pet
"It was our goal coming into the season to get coach a win because he hadn't ever won since he's been here and that was our goal, to get him the win,'' said city No. 1 singles champion Carter Cool, a sophomore. "It was great to come in as a team and do what we wanted to.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news plans to compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2021 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Reed, Topeka West 12.2
Hillebert, Hayden 12.69 (12.6)
Brooks, Topeka West 12.6
Topeka West's Victoria Reed and Ala'jah Brooks are ranked among the Shawnee County leaders in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, with Reed ranking No. 1 in both events. [File photo/TSN]
200 METERS
Reed, Topeka West 25.99
Brooks, Topeka West 26.77
Hillebert, Hayden 26.82
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 26.82
Ingram, Washburn Rural 27.1
400 METERS
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 59.55
Reed, Topeka West 6135
Foster, Rossville 61.77
Bray, Washburn Rural 63.97
Seaman sophomore Bethany Druse ranks No. 1 on the TopSports.news Shawnee County track and field honor roll in the girls 800 and 1,600 meters. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
800 METERS
Druse, Seaman 2:21.0 (2:21.02)
Bird, Washburn Rural 2:30.23
Wagner, Washburn Rural 2:31.07
Foster, Rossville 2:31.44
Rezac, Washburn Rural 2:31.58
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news plans to compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2021 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 10.36
Rezac, Rossville 10.68
Renfro, Silver Lake 10.90
January, Shawnee Heights 10.92
Shawnee Heights sophomore Jeremiah Smith is the Shawnee County leader in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the 110-meter high hurdles. [Submitted]
200 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 21.85
Rezac, Rossville 22.03
Renfro, Silver Lake 22.50
January, Shawnee Heights 23.04
400 METERS
Arnold, Shawnee Heights 51.97
Mitchell, Washburn Rural 54.3
Kaniper, Silver Lake 54.80
Rochford, Hayden 54.85
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Dwayne Paul became intrigued with Hayden High boys basketball long before the Wildcats' coaching position opened up.
And when Torrey Head stepped down following the 2020-21 season, Paul knew that's where he wanted to be.
Dwayne Paul
"There were so many things that attracted me to the Hayden job -- the tradition, the history, the support that you get,'' said Paul, a former Emporia State assistant coach who most recently served as head coach and athletic director at Lebo. "I was at Emporia State and I was on my way to Southwest Baptist and I stopped in to watch Hayden play Emporia High. It was just such a great atmosphere and I was like, "This is crazy. I'm not even coaching a game, I'm just sitting here watching, and I'm sweating like I'm actually in the game.'
"I wanted to be a part of that and when the opportunity presented itself I had to go full force for it.''
