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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After growing up in Colorado Springs and launching her college basketball career in California, 5-foot-10 junior guard Payton Sterk found her way to Washburn University, which has paid early dividends for both Sterk and the Ichabods.
Junior Payton Sterk (20) is averaging 16.1 points with 16 3-pointers for Washburn, which has won three straight games. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
After starring at Doherty High in Colorado Springs, Sterk played two seasons at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Calif., leading the California Collegiate Athletic Association in scoring as a sophomore with an 18.5 average and canning 83 3-pointers before making the decision to transfer and ending up with Lora Westling's Ichabods.
"Coach Wes did actually recruit me out of high school when she was at Western Colorado, but I really liked California, so I went,'' Sterk said. "It was a good time, but I was looking for people like my teammates now, who are more like-minded like me, and that kind of thing.
"I found coach again in the recruiting process and that's how I ended up here.''
Sterk moved to Topeka in July after making her decision to come to WU and used the late summer and early fall to get acquainted with her new teammates.
"That helped a lot, they were great,'' Sterk said. "They were a lot of the reason I ended up coming here. Just hanging out with them and that kind of thing was really cool.''
Junior Payton Sterk has become an immediate standout for Washburn, which has won three straight games. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sterk has made an immediate impact for 3-4 Washburn, which will be shooting for its fourth straight win in Saturday's 4 p.m. non-conference game against Sterling in Lee Arena.
Sterk enters Saturday's game with a 16.1 scoring average while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and hitting 16 3-pointers.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Jett Wahlmeier was extremely proud of the run his Hayden teammates made to the Class 3A state championship game last season.
Hayden senior quarterback Jett Wahlmeier (7) has passed for 1,890 yards and 21 TDs this fall while throwing just one interception. [File photo/TSN]
However, watching from the sidelines was zero fun for the 5-foot-9, 192-pound quarterback, who missed the final four games of the year after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
"It was Week 9 against Baldwin, the very first round of the playoffs,'' Wahlmeier said. "It was a draw up the middle for me and the corner came off the side and just got me really good with his helmet on my (left, throwing) shoulder.''
The injury required surgery on his labrum and relegated Wahlmeier to being a cheerleader for the remainder of the 2023 season as sophomore Connor Hanika took over at QB and helped the Wildcats win three straight playoff contests to reach the state final.
"It was torture, it was awful,'' Wahlmeier said about watching from the sidelines. "I obviously believe in Connor because he's able in every way, but you know you could help, you could just go in there and help.''
The hardest part was suffering through Hayden's 34-7 title-game loss to Cheney in a blizzard in Hutchinson.
"I was obviously happy we were winning games, but that last game watching my guys go out there, that second half was just brutal,'' Wahlmeier said.
As soon as he was cleared, Wahlmeier went to work to get prepared for his senior season.
"I got back in May to do all our camps and right when we started preparing for this season,'' Wahlmeier said. "It didn't feel 100 percent, but I was still pushing myself. June or July is when I really felt like myself again.''
Wahlmeier has responded with an outstanding '24 season, helping lead Hayden to an 11-1 record, including a 35-7 sub-state road victory over previously-unbeaten Wellsville last Friday.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Zach Watkins has spent much of his life involved with the Washburn University football program, as an All-American player, assistant coach, defensive coordinator and most recently as the associate head coach.
Former All-America linebacker and longtime assistant coach Zach Watkins was introduced Wednesday morning as Washburn's new head football coach. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And as of Wednesday morning Watkins officially took over the job he had long dreamed of as the Washburn Hall of Famer was introduced as the 38th head coach in Ichabod history and the first alum in more than 30 years to guide the WU program.
"I've wanted to be a head coach for a long time,'' Watkins said. "I've turned down some opportunities to stay here and never thought it would happen the way it's happened the last couple of weeks, but it was always a job that I coveted and a job that I knew was special to me and one that I always thought I could do well.''
"He's done an outstanding job and I'm excited about this hire,'' Washburn athletics director Loren Ferre said. "He brings the energy, the passion, knowledge and experience we were looking for. He has been great to work with over the past 11 years that he's been on staff and I'm truly excited about the future of Washburn football and what coach Watkins can bring to this position.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin senior Ben Roeder received All-Flint Hills League first-team football honors, one of eight Lions to receive all-league recognition.
Ben Roeder
Jase Pavlik
Roeder was named to the All-Flint Hills first-team offense as a utility player and also received all-league honorable mention at linebacker.
CPLS senior Jase Pavlik was a second-team selection at quarterback and defensive back while Billy Lanich was a second-team pick as both an offensive and defensive lineman while Tobias Bonura was a second-team selection at running back and James Osborne at receiver.
Bonura also received special teams honorable mention while Caleb Clevenger received honorable mention as an offensive lineman and Cole Haubold and Cole Stafford received honorable mention at linebacker.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University has named former Ichabod star and longtime assistant coach Zach Watkins as the school's new head football coach.
Zach Watkins
The former All-American linebacker and 11-year member of the Washburn coaching staff, who was iducted into the Washburn Hall of Fame in 2021, becomes the 38th head football coach in program history as well as the first Ichabod alum to fill the role in more than 30 years.
"Coach Watkins has a detailed plan to power the program forward,'' said Washburn athletics director Loren Ferre. "While the position attracted a lot of interest from other coaching candidates, we are confident the best candidate is already on our sideline."
"Zach brings a deep understanding of what it takes to win in the MIAA and is hitting the ground running. Having earned the respect and support of his players as well as other coaches in the conference, Zach is well prepared to take this program to the next level and keep it there."
Watkins began his coaching career at Northwest Missouri State and Fort Hays State University before returning to his alma mater.
As part of the Washburn coaching staff, Watkins has served as both associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.
He has coached 56 Ichabods to All-MIAA honors on the defensive side and directly coached 23 All-MIAA selections, including 10 linebackers, three punters, three place-kickers and seven defensive backs.
In 2017, Watkins was selected as one of 34 NCAA football coaches to attend the NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy – the only MIAA coach and one of only two from the Division II ranks.
"Coach Watkins is deeply committed to Washburn University and the Ichabod football program, striving to compete for championships each and every season," said Washburn president Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek. "I have full confidence in Zach's leadership abilities and his vision for the future.
"His strong relationships with current players as well as connections to incoming recruits will help to ensure we retain our talent and grow this program into a national Division II powerhouse."
Watkins was a four-year starter at linebacker for Washburn from 2006-09, compiling an impressive career of 100 or more tackles in each season as well as a school-record 473 stops throughout his four years.
At the time, that mark placed him third all-time in NCAA Division II history.
"I would like to thank president Mazachek and athletic director Ferré for this incredible opportunity," Watkins said. "I am humbled and excited to be chosen to lead the outstanding young men in this football program. Washburn helped shape me into the man I am today and I am grateful to pay that forward in the lives of our student-athletes."
Watkins, a native of Independence, Mo., graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Washburn University in 2009 and completed his master's degree in sports administration at Fort Hays State in 2013.
He and his wife Amanda have two children, a son, Parker, and daughter, Naomi.
