Silver Lake Eagles
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
State tournament qualifiers Silver Lake, Seaman, Shawnee Heights, Washburn Rural and Topeka High combined to earn 15 of 16 spots on the 2025 TopSports.news All-Shawnee County softball first team.
Silver Lake, the Class 3A runnerup for the second straight season, put four players on the first team, including Shawnee County player of the year Kendra Cook, while 5A state qualifiers Seaman and Shawnee Heights combined for six first-teamers and 6A state runnerup Washburn Rural and fellow 6A state qualifier Topeka High combined for five first-teamers.
Kendra Cook, Silver Lake
Topeka High freshman London Backman and Hayden freshman Blakely Walter were named the co-county newcomers of the year while Washburn Rural coach Joy Marie Galliart and Silver Lake coach Nick Hamilton share the county coach of the year award for the second straight year.
London Backman, Topeka High
Blakely Walter, Hayden
Cook is joined on the All-Shawnee County first team by Eagle seniors Taylor Zordel and Kira Lowrey and junior Kailyn Hanni after Silver Lake recorded a 25-7 record.
Taylor Zordel, Silver Lake
Kira Lowrey, Silver Lake
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake
Seaman put seniors Kaelyn O'Rourke, Raegan McConnell and Anna McLaughlin and junior Aubrey Warren on the first team after the Vikings posted a 20-9 record, including a 3-2 17-inning loss to Maize South in the opening round of the 5A state tournament.
Kaelyn O'Rourke, Seaman
Raegan McConnell, Seaman
Anna McLaughlin, Seaman
Aubrey Warren, Seaman
Washburn Rural, which went 22-8 and advanced to the 6A championship game before dropping an 8-7 decision to Olathe West, put Centennial League player of the year Olivia Koch, a sophomore, on the all-county first team along with juniors Henley Rapp and Reagan Chapman.
Olivia Koch, Washburn Rural
Reagan Chapman, Washburn Rural
Henley Rapp, Washburn Rural
Shawnee Heights, which posted a 20-7 record and dropped a 3-2 decision to eventual 5A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas in the first round of the 5A state tournament, is represented by seniors Taylor Brees and Grace Proctor.
Taylor Brees, Shawnee Heights
Grace Proctor, Shawnee Heights
State qualifier Topeka High put Backman and senior Jo'Mhara Benning on the all-county first team while Hayden senior Keira Carswell rounds out the all-county squad.
Jo'Mhara Benning, Topeka High
Keira Carswell, Hayden
2025 ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY SOFTBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Fourteen Shawnee County standouts have received All-State recognition from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association, including nine first-team picks.
Silver Lake put four players on the All-Class 3A first team after advancing to the state championship game for the second straight season while state qualifiers Seaman and Shawnee Heights combined for four first-team All-5A selections and state runnerup Washburn Rural put sophomore standout Olivia Koch on the All-6A first team.
Kendra Cook, Silver Lake
Kira Lowrey, Silver Lake
Taylor Zordel, Silver Lake
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake
Silver Lake is represented on the All-3A first team by senior pitcher Kendra Cook, senior infielders Kira Lowrey and Taylor Zordel and junior outfielder Kailyn Hanni.
Kaelyn O'Rourke, Seaman
Raegan McConnell, Seaman
Grace Proctor, Shawnee Heights
Taylor Brees, Shawnee Heights
Seaman put senior pitcher Kaelyn O'Rourke and senior catcher Raegan McConnell on the All-5A team while Shawnee Heights is represented by senior pitcher Grace Proctor and senior infielder Taylor Brees.
Olivia Koch, Washburn Rural
Washburn Rural's Koch made the All-6A team as an outfielder after being named the Centennial League player of the year this spring.
Seaman junior infielder Aubrey Warren and senior outfielder Anna McLaughlin were named to the All-5A second team.
Topeka High sophomore outfielder Campbell Dawson and freshman infielder Landon Backman received All-6A honorable mention after helping the Trojans make it to the state tournament.
Hayden senior catcher Keira Carswell received honorable mention in 4A.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden senior Cooper Grace and Shawnee Heights senior Deacon Pomeroy headline the TopSports.news 2025 All-Shawnee County baseball team.
Cooper Grace, Hayden
Deacon Pomeroy, Shawnee Heights
Grace has been named the co-county player of the year for the second straight season while Pomeroy is a four-time all-county first-team pick.
Grace, a pitcher and third baseman, helped lead Hayden to a county-best 23-1 record and the Centennial League championship this spring while Pomeroy, a pitcher and catcher, helped lead Shawnee Heights to the United Kansas Conference title and a Class 5A state tournament berth.
Grace was earlier named the player of the year in the Centennial League and the co-player of the year in 4A by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches while Pomeroy was named the UKC player of the year and a KABC All-5A first-team selection.
Hayden sophomore Caleb Menke, a first-team All-Centennial League pick at designated hitter, was named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year while Shawnee Heights' Jason Brown was named the county coach of the year after leading the T-Birds to a 21-8 record and a 5A state tournament berth in his first season as Heights' head coach.
Grace and Silver Lake senior infielder Dysen Schooler are both three-time all-county first-team selections while Seaman senior catcher David Dobbs is a first-team repeater.
Dysen Schooler, Silver Lake
David Dobbs, Seaman
Axton Brewer, Seaman
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
Dobbs is joined on the all-county first team by sophomore pitcher/designated hitter Axton Brewer and Grace and Menke are joined on the first team by Wildcat senior infielder/pitcher Liam Annand and Hayden junior outfielder Kade Mitchell.
Logan Cathcart, Silver Lake
Silver Lake senior catcher Cooper Campidilli and senior pitcher Logan Cathcart join Schooler on the all-county first team after the Eagles advanced to the 3A state tournament.
Camdren Floberg, Shawnee Heights
Shawnee Heights junior Cambren Floberg, named the UKC pitcher of the year, was a first-team selection along with teammate Pomeroy while 6A state tournament qualifier Washburn Rural is represented on the first team by junior pitcher Isaac Ansley and junior infielders Austin Ditch and Nate Selm.
Isaac Ansley, Washburn Rural
Austin Ditch, Washburn Rural
Nate Selm, Washburn Rural
Rossville, a 2A-1A state tournament qualifier, is represented on the first team by junior pitcher Cameron Miller and junior infielder Canann Mitchell.
Cameron Miller, Rossville
2025 ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BASEBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman junior Ryin Miller, who has established herself as one of Kansas' all-time distance greats in three high school seasons, headlines the 2025 All-Shawnee County girls track and field team after sweeping Class 5A state titles in her three individual events last weekend at Wichita.
Ryin Miller, Seaman
Miller, who has now won five 5A state track titles over the past two seasons, won Friday's 3,200 meters in 10 minutes, 19.53 seconds before doubling up in Saturday's 1,600 meters in 4:57.33 and the 800 in 2:11.14 and adding a fourth state medal when she anchored the Vikings' 4x400 relay to a fourth-place finish (4:03.44).
Morgan Ray, Washburn Rural
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka HIgh
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural
Miller was Shawnee County's only state champion, but Washburn Rural junior Morgan Ray was the state runnerup in the 6A javelin (138 feet, 1 inch) and Topeka High sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh finished second in the 6A triple jump (37-4.25) and Rural senior Rylee Ismert, junior Emily Graf, senior Brooklyn Nolte and senior Payton Fink finished second in the 4x800 relay (9:29.84).
Fink also finished fifth in the 3,200 (10:59.39) and fifth in the 1,600 (5:09.90) while Rural sophomore Kailyn Petersen was fourth in the discus (124-6) and seventh in the shot put (36-6.75) and senior Molly Worley placed seventh in the long jump (17-2.75) and eighth in the high jump (5-2).
Seaman seniors Taylie Heston, Jaida Stallbaumer and Ally Steiner teamed with Miller for the fourth-place finish in the 5A 4x400 relay while the Vikings also put senior Grace Jowers and sophomores Kinley Robinson and Brynn Spencer on the all-county team.
Hayden senior Bella Reid, Rossville junior Rylee Dick and Silver Lake freshman all earned state medals in the 100-meter hurdles en route to earning all-county berths while also earning first-team spots were Topeka High junior Keimara Marshall, Highland Park senior Ke'Ahjahnae Rice, Silver Lake sophomore Ali Gerber and Rural junior Kenzie Maddox, who were all state qualifiers.
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
All-Shawnee County selections were picked on the basis of meeting minimum standards established by local coaches as well as coaches' recommendations and performances in postseason competition.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY 2025 GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Later this month former Seaman volleyball star Maegan Mills will report to Tulsa to kick off her Division I collegiate career.
Former Seaman volleyball star Maegan Mills (8) celebrates a point with her Blue teammates during Saturday's five-set KVA All-Star win over the Red. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But before that Mills got the opportunity to put an exclamation point on her outstanding high school career, helping lead the Blue team to a 26-24, 25-27, 19-25, 27-25, 15-11 win over the Red in Saturday's Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Washburn Rural.
"It's definitely a way to get a head start and get touches on balls,'' Mills said. "After club and high school it's hard to get touches on balls and when I was offered that position to play with such great people I couldn't pass it up.''
Mills was the most dominant player on the court on Saturday, contributing a match-high 23 kills on 0.417 hitting with a match-high six service aces. After the match Mills was named the winner of the Joan Lundstrom Wells Award of Excellence.
"Just coming in this morning all the girls are great, the energy was so good, and coming into this game it wasn't just about the playing it was about meeting new people and expanding,'' Mills said. "Even though you may not know these people you have to be a leader and I think that was my mindset, that I had to be a leader.''
Mills was one of seven Shawnee County players selected to play in Saturday's event, including a match-high four Seaman players.
Seaman product Kinley Wilhelm had a match-high 27 digs for the Blue in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Mills and Kinley Wilhelm, who recorded a match-high 27 digs, played for the winning Blue team while Campbell Chabot and Ava Esser played for the Red.
Recent Seaman grad Campbell Chabot registered 20 assists for the Red in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Red team celebrates a kill from Seaman product Ava Esser (9) in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Esser led the Red with 15 kills and received the Don Bechard Memorial Award after the match while Chabot was credited with 20 assists.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which captured three Class 6A state championships, including a state-meet record, headlines the 2025 All-Shawnee County boys track and field team.
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
Matthew Houser, Liam Morrison, Draden Chooncharoen, Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural
Rural senior Isaiah Terry won the 6A state title in the 400-meter dash in 47.92 seconds and junior Liam Morrison won the 300 hurdles in 37.68 before Morrison and Terry teamed with senior Matthew Houser and junior Draden Chooncharoen for a 6A meet-record time of 3:16.23 in the 4x400 relay.
Peyton Holmes, Seaman
Bryce Cochran, Seaman
Brody Anderson, Seaman
Seaman senior Peyton Holmes was the 5A runnerup in the 100 dash (10.82) while Viking senior Bryce Cochran finished third in the 400 (48.85) and Seaman junior Brody Anderson placed third in the 800 (1:55.52).
Ben Roeder, CPLS/Topeka High
Senior Ben Roeder, who competed for Cair Paravel Latin in postseason after running for Topeka High in the regular season, finished third in the 2A 400 (49.37).
Silver Lake's foursome of seniors Trent Rollenhagen and Evan Scheid and juniors Joel Miller and Braxton Rupp posted a third-place finish in the 3A 4x100 relay (42.57).
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden
Despite missing the state meet after an injury at regionals, Hayden senior multi-time state champion Jensen Schrickel earned All-City honors for the fourth straight season.
In addition to its state champions, Washburn Rural put seniors Braylon Badger, Ben Buesing, Connor Olsen and Chris Quarles, junior Brooks Kehoe and sophomore Christian Hartman-Babb on the All-City team.
Adrian Lehman and Mark Wilkie, Topeka West
Topeka West is represented on the All-City team by senior distance standouts Adrian Lehman and Mark Wilkie, who were both 5A state medalists, while Shawnee Heights senior Liam Benz and Seaman sophomore Jack Esser were also state medalists.
All-Shawnee County picks were based on meeting minimum performance standards as well as coaches' recommendations and postseason performances.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY 2025 BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seven former Shawnee County high school standouts will play in Saturday's 5 p.m. Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Washburn Rural.
Campbell Chabot, Seaman
Ava Esser, Seaman
Maegan Mills, Seaman
Kinley Wilhelm, Seaman
Seaman, the Class 5A runnerup last fall after winning the title in 2024, had four players selected for Saturday's match -- Campbell Chabot, Ava Esser, Maegan Mills and Kinley Wilhelm.
Layla Collins, Washburn Rural
Kate Hinck, Washburn Rural
Ella Bolan, Silver Lake
Washburn Rural, a 6A state qualifier last fall, will be represented by Layla Collins and Kate Hinck while Silver Lake will be represented by Ella Bolan.
Players, all 2025 high school graduates,are picked off based off nominations from their coaches, who must be KVA members, and then recommended by a committee based on high school achievement, position, classifications, collegiate plans and availability for the event.
Bolan, Chabot, Collins, Esser and Hinck will play for the Blue while Mills and Wilhelm will play for the Red.
The Blue team will be coached by Halstead’s Diana Schutte (head), Ingalls’ Randy Rockhold and Blue Valley Southwest’s Austin Isham.
The Red team will be coached by Eudora’s Brooke Harper (head), Blue Valley West’s Jessica Horstick and Valley Heights’ Susan Steinfort.
KVA ALL-STAR MATCH
The 2025 All-Shawnee County boys golf team: From left -- Jack Donovan, Rossville; Higgins Hawks, Washburn Rural; Tadd Armstrong, Washburn Rural; Tagan Monasmith, Washburn Rural; Tagen Rodriguez, Hayden; James Kuta, Hayden. Not pictured: Mateo Garcia, Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
First-team repeat selections Tadd Armstrong of Washburn Rural, Jack Donovan of Rossville and Hayden's James Kuta and Tagen Rodriguez headline the 2025 All-Shawnee County boys golf team.
Seniors Armstrong and Kuta finished one-two in the city tournament, with Armstrong winning the title in a playoff, while Kuta and Rodriguez, a junior, both posted top-10 finishes in the Class 4A state tournament as Hayden finished second as a team and Donovan was a regional champion as a junior and earned a sixth-place tie in 2A-1A, his second straight state medal
Washburn Rural, which won its 15th straight city team championship, is also represented on the All-Shawnee County team by senior Tagan Monasmith and junior Higgins Hawks while Hayden also put junior Mateo Garcia on the first team.
All-Shawnee County capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Five Silver Lake and Rossville softball standouts earned first-team honors on the All-Big-East League softball team, led by Silver Lake senior Kendra Cook, a unanmous pick at pitcher after helping lead the Eagles to a second straight runnerup finish in the Class 3A state tournament.
Silver Lake senior pitcher Kendra Cook earned unanimous All-Big East League first-team honors after helping lead the Eagles to a second straight runnerup finish in Class 3A. [File photo/TSN]
Cook was joined on the first team by teammates Kailyn Hanni, a junior outfielder, and senior infielders Taylor Zordel and Kira Lowrey.
Rossville freshman Falyn Clurman was a first-team All-Big-East pick at utility/designated hitter.
Earning second-team recognition were Silver Lake sophomore outfielder Savanah Wende, Rossville sophomore outfielder Nora Burdiek and Bulldawg junior infielder Brooke Springer.
ALL BIG-EAST LEAGUE SOFTBALL
First team
Pitchers -- Kendra Cook, Silver Lake (unanimous);Reagan Gerety, Nemaha Central.
Outfielders --Samantha Klotz, Royal Valley (unanimous); Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake;Kylie Nelson, Hiawatha; Paxton Damme, Perry-Lecompton.
Infielders -- Taylor Zordel, Silver Lake;Macie Corcoran, Perry-Lecompton; Erin Boltz, Sabetha; Emmie Dean, Jefferson West; Kira Lowrey, Silver Lake.
Catchers -- Kenzie Nelson, Hiawatha; Faith Olberding, Holton
Utility/DH -- Falyn Clurman, Rossville; Ashley Moser, Jefferson West; Chloe Detweiler, Sabetha.
Second team
Pitchers --Addison Garrett, Jefferson West; Harriet Dean, Jefferson West.
Outfielders -- Nora Burdiek, Rossville;Olivia Meyer, Jefferson West; Savanah Wende, Silver Lake.
Infielders --Tinley Wilson, Holton; Harriet Dean, Jefferson West; Taylor Trimble, Perry-Lecompton; Brooke Springer, Rossville.
Utility/DH -- Alex Burkitt, Nemaha Central; Sadie Haverkamp, Nemaha Central.
Honorable mention
Nemaha Central --Ava McKinley. Riley County -- Gracie Schofield, Adalynn Zeller, Mara Schardien. St. Marys -- Emma Zemek.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Six Silver Lake and Rossville baseball standouts earned first-team honors on the All-Big-East League team after the Eagles and Bulldawgs both advanced to state tournaments this spring.
Silver Lake senior Logan Cathcart was one of six Shawnee County baseball players to earn first-team spots on the All-Big-East League first team. [File photo/TSN]
Rossville junior pitcher Cameron Miller was one of three Bulldawgs to earn first-team All-Big-East baseball recognition. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake, which competed in the Class 3A state tourney, is represented on the first team by senior catcher Cooper Campidilli, senior pitcher Logan Cathcart and senior infielder Dysen Schooler, with Campidilli and Cathcart both unanimous all-league picks.
Rossville, which advanced to state in 2A-1A, put sophomore pitcher Cael Horgan, junior pitcher Cameron Miller and senior outfielder Logan Kufahl on the first team.
Silver Lake junior outfielder Brady Hogle, Rossville junior infielder Canann Mitchell and Bulldawg junior utility player Conner Bush made the all-league second team while Silver Lake junior infielder Dayne Johnson received honorable mention.
ALL BIG-EAST LEAGUE BASEBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twelve Shawnee County standouts have received All-State recognition from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches, including four first-team picks.
Hayden senior Cooper Grace has been named the Class 4A co-player of the year by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Cooper Grace was named the co-player of the year in Class 4A and a first-team pick as a pitcher after helping the Wildcats to a 23-1 record this spring.
Shawnee Heights senior Deacon Pomeroy has been named to the All-Class 5A first team by the KABC. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Axton Brewer has been named to the KABC All-Class 5A first team as a designated hitter and was a second-team pick as a pitcher. [Seaman baseball]
Shawnee Heights senior pitcher and catcher Deacon Pomeroy made the All-5A first-team as utility player while Seaman sophomore Axton Brewer was named to the KABC All-5A first team as a designated hitter and was a second-team pick as a pitcher.
Silver Lake senior Logan Cathcart has been named first-team All-State in Class 3A by the KABC. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake senior pitcher Logan Cathcart earned first-team All-State honors in 3A after helping lead the Eagles to a state tournament berth.
Shawnee Heights junior pitcher Cambren Floberg was a second-team pick in 5A while Hayden junior outfielder Kade Mitchell was a second-team selection in 4A and Silver Lake senior catcher Cooper Campidilli and senior infielder Dysen Schooler were second-team honorees in 3A and Rossville junior infielder Canann Mitchell and senior outfielder Logan Kufahl were both second-team selections in 2A-1A.
Seaman senior infielder Bryer Finley and Rossville junior pitcher Cameron received honorable mention in 5A and 3A, respectively.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's Dayne Johnson and Kailyn Hanni, Rossville's Jack Donovan and Seaman's Ryin Miller, who recently completed their junior years of high school, were honored Tuesday night at The Foundry as the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency 2025 Rising Stars of the year.
Silver Lake's Dayne Johnson and Rossville's Jack Donovan were named the Dan Key Farmers Agency 2025 co-male Rising Stars of the Year Tuesday night while Silver Lake's Kailyn Hanni and Seaman's Ryin Miller were named the co-female winners. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Donovan and Johnson were named the co-boys winners while Hanni and Miller shared the girls honor.
The four overall winners were picked from five girls and boys finalists chosen from weekly Rising Stars who were selected through the 2024-2025 school year.
Johnson was a football, basketball and baseball standout for the Eagles while Donovan was a football and basketball standout and a state golf medalist for the Bulldawgs.
Hanni helped lead Silver Lake to runnerup Class 3A state finishes in basketball and softball this past season and has been a state champion in basketball and golf while Miller won three individual 5A state track championships last weekend in Wichita, was the state runnerup in cross country and basketball and was a 5A state basketball champion as a sophomore.
By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Washburn Rural's boys claimed three state championships to highlight championship Saturday for the Shawnee County contingent in the state track and field championships at Wichita State.
Washburn Rural celebrates after setting the Class 6A state meet record in the 4x400 relay Saturday night in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's Matthew Houser, Liam Morrison, Draden Chooncharoen and Isaiah Terry set the Class 6A state meet record in the 4x400 relay Saturday night in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Isaiah Terry won the 400-meter dash, followed by junior Liam Morrison's win in the 300 hurdles and wrapping things up with a record-setting performance by senior Matthew Houser, Morrison, junior Draden Choonchareon and Terry in the 4x400-meter relay.
Terry started Rural's late-meet gold medal haul with his win in the 400 in 47.92 seconds.
Washburn Rural senior Isaiah Terry won the Class 6A state title in the 400-meter dash in 47.92. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"It felt great,'' Terry said. "I switched up my stride a little bit and decided to go back to my roots... and felt way better. I actually got off fast this time and the rest was history.
''I'm so ectstatic after last year when I absolutely did horrible and got fifth place, the worst day of my life. Ever since sophomore year when I said I would quit cross country and start running track all year around I've been dreaming of moments like this and it feels good for it to come true.''
Washburn Rural junior Liam Morrison (3779) ran on Rural's record-setting Class 6A 4x400 relay after winning the title in the 300 hurdles Saturday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Morrison followed with the state championship in the 300 hurdles with a time of 37.68. He also finished sixth earlier in the day in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.52.
“I feel great with the (personal record) in the state championship race,'' Morrison said. "The 110 didn’t go as I wanted, but I definitely knew it would be a great opportunity to show that I deserve to be here. I know what I can do and I’m happy that I was able to go out and do it.”
Houser, Morrison, Chooncharoen and Terry then went out and captured Rural's second straight state championship in the 4x400 in a meet record time of 3:16.23.
"After our league meet at Junction (City) we saw the time we got and we were like, 'We can definitely do this, we can get this record,' '' Chooncharoen said. "My teammates, we push each other every day. Everyone did their part and it was amazing.''
Houser came on board this season as Rural's leadoff runner, joining returners Morrison, Chooncharoen and Terry from the 2024 state winners.
"We've been training all season since the start so we could try to get this record because that was our mindset all year,'' Houser said. "I've been training all summer and winter with Isaiah so I could get better for this exact reason and I guess it helped out at the end.''
Saturday's other county medalists:
• Senior Peyton Holmes of Seaman finished second in the Class 5A 100 meters in a time of 10.82 seconds after placing sixth in Friday's long jump.
Seaman senior Peyton Holmes (3767) finished second in the Class 5A 100 dash Saturday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
“I was really hoping to get first,'' Holmes said. "Second is good and my goal was to get in the top three. I thought I had it for a little bit, but he (Jack Guthridge) is really tough.”
• Seaman junior Brody Anderson finished third in a tough 5A 800 meters field in a time of 1:55.52.
Seaman junior Brody Anderson (3760) posted a third-place finish in the Class 5A 800 meters Saturday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Anderson battled on the second lap and held on for the third-place finish.
“I don’t think I could have done it if I hadn’t prepared all week with the help of coach (Luke) Wiens,'' Anderson said. "Every rep this week, I simulated the race situation and it set me up to be where I wanted to be today.”
• Senior Bryce Cochran of Seaman finished third in the 5A 400 meters with a time of 48.85.
Seaman senior Bryce Cochran (3763) finished third in the Class 5A 400 while Shawnee Heights senior Liam Benz (3733) was seventh Saturday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
“I feel awesome and I got a little emotional after the race seeing that all the hard work pay off,'' Cochran said. "To do what I dreamed of after not even making it to state last year, I’m just appreciative of everyone that’s worked with me in the offseason to get me here. I’m just proud of myself.”
• Senior Adrian Lehman of Topeka West finished fourth in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:16.70.
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman (3785) posted a fourth-place finish and set a West school record in Saturday's Class 5A state meet in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Lehman broke the 50-year-old West school record of 4:17.7 set by Bill Myers in 1975.
"(That's) two school records this season, not bad for only his second season of high school track,'' West coach Donnie Palmer said of Lehman.
By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
WICHITA - On Day 1 of the KSHSAA State Track Meet at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium, several local boys competed in preliminary races in an attempt to qualify for the finals on Saturday. There were also some field event finals on Friday.
Qualifiers for Saturday’s Finals
Senior Ben Roeder of Cair Paravel qualified fifth in the Class 2A 400 meters with a time of 50.40 seconds.
Senior Evan Scheid of Silver Lake qualified second in the 3A 200 meters in a time of 22.32 seconds.
Silver Lake’s 4x100-meter relay team (Brandon Rupp, Evan Scheid, Joel Miller and Trent Rollenhagen) qualified fourth in 43.46 seconds.
Seaman senior Bryce Cochran qualified fifth in the 5A 400 meters in a time of 49.04 seconds.
Shawnee Heights senior Liam Benz qualified seventh in the 400 meters with a time of 49.86 seconds.
Washburn Rural senior Braylon Badger qualified fifth in the 300 meter hurdles in a time of 40.40 seconds.
Washburn Rural junior Liam Morrison qualified second in the 110 meter hurdles in a time of 14.64 seconds. He also qualified third in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 40.05 seconds.
Washburn Rural senior Isaiah Terry qualified fourth in the 400 meters in a time of 49.32 seconds.
Washburn Rural junior Draden Chooncharoen competes in the Class 6A 4x400 relay prelims Friday night in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural’s 4x400 meter relay team (Matthew Houser, Liam Morrison, Draden Choonchareon, Isaiah Terry) qualified second with a time of 3:22.61.
Medalists from Friday’s Finals
Seaman senior Peyton Holmes finished sixth in the Class 5A long jump Friday in Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior Peyton Holmes finished sixth in the 5A long jump with a distance of 22 feet, 1 inch.
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman finished fifth in Friday's Class 5A 3,200 meters at Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West senior Adrian Lehman finished fifth in the 6A 3,200 meters with a time of 9:18.60.
Washburn Rural junior Brooks Kehoe finished fifth in Friday's Class 6A 3,200 meters at Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Brooks Kehoe finished fifth in the 3,200 meters with a time of 9:20.97.
The remaining events will be contested beginning Saturday morning at 8:30 with the preliminaries for the 100 meters for girls and boys.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Seaman junior Ryin Miller entered the weekend with a dream and went out and made it a reality Friday and Saturday at Cessna Stadium.
Seaman junior Ryin Miller finishes off Saturday's Class 5A championship in the 1,600 meters at Cessna Stadium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
After coming from behind to top Salina Central senior star Katelyn Rupe in Friday night's Class 5A girls 3,200 meters Miller returned on Saturday to add championships in the 1,600 and 800, raising her career state victory total to five.
"I'm so excited,'' Miller said. "That probably was like unfathonable freshman year. Like even one would just be crazy to me but that definitely one of my season goals (this spring).
"I have a whiteboard and I write down all my goals and that was like the biggest one in all caps was 'Go three for three at state,' so I'm really happy with it.''
After winning her first 3,200 title in 10 minutes, 19.53 seconds Friday night to thwart Rupe's bid for a fourth title in the event, Miller and Rupe went one-two again in the 1,600, with Miller winning in 4:57.33, and the Viking star picked up her third straight win on Saturday, taking the 800 crown in 2:11.14 to finish her season undefeated individually.
Like she had in the 3,200, Miller ran second to Rupe for most of the 1,600 before taking the lead on the final lap.
Seaman junior Ryin Miller leads the field in Saturday's Class 5A 800 meters race. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Conversely, Miller took control of the 800 from the outset, with Leavenworth sophomore Kelsie Kudzia second in 2:12.99.
"I've had the opportunity to learn from one of my past teammates (Bethany Druse),'' Miller said. "She's a great runner and just one time didn't get out hard enough and got boxed in the 800, which is really easy to do. I think the 800 is probably one of the most tactical races in track and field so I was like, 'Just get out, don't get boxed and just push it and see what happens.' ''
By KYLE MANTHE
TopSports.news
For a second season in a row Silver Lake breezed to a Class 3A state softball championship game appearance.
Senior Silver Lake standout Kendra Cook holds the Class 3A runnerup trophy after Friday's 2-1 championship game loss to Frontenac. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But for a second year in a row they ran into winners of three of the last four state titles, Frontenac, on Friday evening as they fell 2-1 in nine innings.
The Eagles won an 8-0 semifinal game over No. 3 Burlington to begin the day and were tied 1-1 with the top-seeded Raiders after seven innings in the finale.
The game-winning run came in the ninth for Frontenac to knock off the No. 7 seed Silver Lake 2-1 and thwart the upset bid.
“They played hard. Like I said before everyone wants to win the title but if they leave it all on the field that’s all I can ask for and these seniors left it on the field,” said Silver Lake coach Nick Hamilton. “They’re (Frontenac) just disciplined, she (head coach Cassie Rhuems) obviously has a good process in place and they stick to it.”
Game 1 of the day for the Eagles was highlighted by a no-hitter from standout senior Kendra Cook in the 8-0 affair.
Silver Lake took advantage of a pair of errors by Burlington, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout by senior Kira Lowrey in the third inning.
Lowrey came through again in the fifth inning, blasting a two-out double, scoring Hanni to double to lead.
Back-to-back doubles from sophomore Savanah Wende and junior Taylor Swygert plated a pair in the sixth to make it 4-0. The lead doubled once again in the seventh, with Silver Lake scoring two runs on errors before junior Paige Heiman hit a no-doubter to left field to go up by eight.
While the bats came alive in the final innings, Cook continued to cook on the mound.
Silver Lake senior standout Kendra Cook pitched a no-hitter in an 8-0 semifinal victory over Burlington. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Washburn signee extended her scoreless streak at the state tournament to 16.0 innings. She finished striking out 13 with just three walks in the no-hit effort.
“She’s confident. There are times there where she gets that full count and she’s confident in her teammates making plays behind her... when you trust your fielders behind you then you can throw a lot easier,” Hamilton said.
It was more of the same for Cook in the title game with two scoreless innings. Her first run allowed of the tournament came in the third on a solo home run from the Raiders' standout senior pitcher Avery Johnson.
That was the games only run until Silver Lake loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. Singles from Kailyn Hanni and Lowrey put two on and Zordel was hit to juice the bases. Cook grounded back on the infield but the throw home was bobbled, allowing Hanni to score and tie the game.
With no outs the Eagles were unable to scratch across a second run and take the lead.
Cook sent the game to extras with a 1-2-3 seventh. In the eighth Silver Lake had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out but hit into an inning-ending double play.
A one-out walk from Frontenac in the ninth moved to 2nd on a passed ball before coming around to score on a walk-off single by Raider senior Ella Sullivan to left field.
“It’s incredible what this group has done because everybody in our lineup 1-9 has produced something big for us all season and that’s what’s so special about this group,” said Frontenac coach Cassie Rhuems after winning her fifth title with the Raiders, all coming since 2016. “It’s great to go win one but when you go back-to-back you’re really making a statement about your team and your program.”
Silver Lake ended the game out-hitting Frontenac 8-1 while the Raiders led in errors 2-1. Cook finished with five strikeouts while at the plate Lowrey had three hits in the game and Wende had two.
By KYLE MANTHE
TopSports.news
It took nine innings to get on the board but Silver Lake softball kept its season alive with a 2-0 win over No. 2- seeded Trinity Academy in the quarterfinal round of the Class 3A State Tournament on Thursday afternoon in Topeka.
Silver Lake softball celebrates its 2-0 nine-inning win over No. 2 seed Trinity in the Class 3A state tournament. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
“Trinity had a heck of a defense. That’s been the first team to be able to take that kind of pressure this year against us,” said Silver Lake coach Nick Hamilton. “I just knew our girls, not only can they play small ball but we can big ball and eventually we got those hits.”
Those hits for the Eagles came off the bats of sophomore Savanah Wende and junior Kailyn Hanni in the ninth inning. The late-game offense was coupled with a shutout two-hit effort from senior pitcher Kendra Cook in the circle to punch a ticket to the final day of the season.
Silver Lake senior pitcher Kendra Cook twirled a nine-inning two-hitter in Thursday's 2-0 win over Trinity. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
“That’s just Kendra in a nutshell. She’s just worked so hard having confidence because there’s not a lot that’s going to shake her,” Hamilton said. “I told her before she started no regrets so there’s no doubt in my mind that she’s going to leave it on the field.”
Cook breezed through the opening of the game with four strikeouts in the first two innings. The first baserunner of the game reached in the third on a walk, the second Knight to reach came on the first hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights baseball has a new coach in Jason Brown but the T-Birds' legacy of winning and state tournament appearances remains intact.
Shawnee Heights baseball celebrates its Class 5A regional championship last Tuesday night at the Bettis Family Sports Complex. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Longtime T-Bird coach Ryan Schmidt, who led Heights to two Class 5A state titles, retired after appearance in last year's state tournament, but the T-Birds haven't missed a beat in Brown's first season at the helm and will take a 21-7 record into Thursday and Friday's state event at Wichita State's Eck Stadium.
Shawnee Heights, which won United Kansas Conference and regional titles, will the state tournament as the No. 4 seed at will open its state bid at 1:15 p.m. Thursday against No. 5 seed Hays (18-8).
Heights punched its latest ticket to state with a 5-2 regional win over United Kansas Conference rival De Soto last Tuesday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
With a win Thursday Shawnee Heights will advance to an 11 a.m. semifinal on Friday to face the winner of the first-round game between No. 1 seed St. Thomas Aquinas (24-4) and No. 8 Valley Center (17-11).
On the other side of the bracket No. 2 seed Great Bend (23-5) will face No. 7 Piper (17-10) and No. 3 seed Blue Valley Southwest (21-6) will face No. 6 Eisenhower (18-10).
The 5A state championship game is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Friday, following the 3:30 third-place game.
Rural back in 6A field
Washburn Rural is headed to the Class 6A state tournament for the first time since a third-place finish in 2022.
The Junior Blues earned their state bid with a 1-0 win over Campus in last Thursday's regional final at Campus.
Washburn Rural, the No. 8 seed for state, is now 15-11 on the season and will face top seed Free State (25-2) at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hoglund Stadium in Lawrence.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After coming up just short of a Class 3A state championship in a runnerup finish last season Silver Lake softball will take another shot at the title in Thursday and Friday's state tournament at the Envista Softball Complex at Lake Shawnee.
Senior pitcher Kendra Cook and Silver Lake softball are back in the Class 3A state tournament after a runnerup finish a year ago. [File photo/TSN]
The Eagles punched their ticket to this year's state tournament with a hard-earned 4-3 win over Southeast Saline in its regional final at Osage City and 23-6 Silver Lake is the No. 7 seed in a loaded 3A field.
Silver Lake will begin its title bid with Thursday's 3 p.m. first-round game against No. 2 seed Wichita Trinity (24-3).
With a win Thursday Silver Lake will advance to an 1 p.m. semifinal on Friday to face the winner between No. 3 seed Burlington (25-4) and No. 6 Jefferson West (22-5).
On the other side of the bracket No. 1 Frontenac (27-1) will face No. 8 Colby (17-6) in the first round and No. 4 Riverside (21-4) will take on No. 5 Minneapolis (21-4).
The 3A title game is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, following the 3 p.m. third-place game.
Washburn Rural softball celebrates its 8-6 win over Campus in last Thursday's Class 6A regional final. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Rural, Topeka High earn 6A state tournament bids
Washburn Rural will be making its seventh straight trip to the Class 6A state tournament this week while Topeka High is back in the 6A field after winning back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022.
Topeka High, 19-9 on the season, is the No. 8 seed and will open its state bid at 11 a.m. Thursday at Arrocha Ball Park in Lawrence against top seed Olathe West (25-1).
The Trojans advanced to state with a 15-9 win over Maize in a regional final at Hummer Sports Park.
With a first-round win, Topeka High will move on to an 11 a.m. semifinal on Friday to face the winner between No. 4 Blue Valley North (21-6) and No. 5 Derby (21-7).
Rural (20-7) is the No. 6 state seed and will face off with No. 3 Garden City (19-5) at 5 p.m. Thursday in the final first-round game.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2025 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.43
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.75
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 12.76
Ciarra Hartz, Highland Park 12.77
Morgan Robinson, Shawnee Heights 12.80
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
200 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 25.72
Molly Worley, Washburn Rural 26.10
Ally Steiner, Seaman 26.20
Morgan Robinson, Shawnee Heights 26.58
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 26.68
400 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 56.81
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 59.96
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 60.91
Madison Blanco, Washburn Rural 61.65
Sofia Harper, Hayden 61.81
Ryan Miller, Seaman
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:09.28
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 2:21.21
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 2:21.99
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 2:24.07
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:24.19
1,600 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 4:41.47
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 5:08.00
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:08.24
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 5:09.15
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 5:20.69
3,200 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 10:17.74
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 10:51.62
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 11:20.40
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 11:28.78
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 11:32.65
100-METER HURDLES
Bella Reid, Hayden 15.83
Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman 15.84
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 16.45
Rylee Dick, Rossville 16.87
Kelcie Schneider, Washburn Rural 17.61
Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman
300-METER HURDLES
Jaida Stallbaumer, Seaman 47.63
Ke'Ahjahnae Rice, Highland Park 47.96
Rylee Dick, Rossville 50.33
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 51.27
Kelcie Schneider, Washburn Rural 51.39
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 50.15
Washburn Rural 50.36
Seaman 50.93
Silver Lake 51.06
Topeka West 53.17
4x400-METER RELAY
Seaman 4:01.58
Washburn Rural 4:13.32
Silver Lake 4:13.34
Shawnee Heights 4:37.27
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 9:35.40
Seaman 10:13.11
Hayden 11:10.63
Shawnee Heights 11:33.41
HIGH JUMP
Molly Worley, Washburn Rural 5-4
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake 5-2
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 5-0
Alexis Burns, Washburn Rural 5-0
Tahtionna Broils, Highland Park 4-8
Klara Wilson, Washburn Rural 4-8
Jaiden Wise, Silver Lake 4-8
POLE VAULT
Grace Jowers, Seaman 11-0
Emme Blanco, Washburn Rural 8-9
Taylor Hanshaw, Shawnee Heights 8-0
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka HIgh
LONG JUMP
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 18-6
Molly Worley, Washburn Rural 17-7.75
Jayana Washington, Topeka High 17-5
Maddie Blanco, Washburn Rural 16-6.50
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake 16-3.5
TRIPLE JUMP
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 38-3.25
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 34-3.75
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake 33-4
Grace Funk, Hayden 32-7.75
Brinley Pottorf, Rossville 32-7.50
SHOT PUT
Kailyn Petersen, Washburn Rural 35-1
Alexis Rutherford, Hayden 33-6
Kayleigh Kruger, Silver Lake 33-5
Kylie Hanni, Silver Lake 32-3.5
Eve Luea, Washburn Rural 31-6
DISCUS
Kailyn Petersen, Washburn Rural 126-5
Kayleigh Kruger, Silver Lake 112-7
Eve Luea, Washburn Rural 109-3
Rayleigh Alonso, Silver Lake 104-10
Alexis Rutherford, Hayden 103-6
JAVELIN
Morgan Ray, Washburn Rural 135-10
Peyton Henry, Seaman 110-6
Payton Alexander, Seaman 105-8
Jillian Goetz, Shawnee Heights 105-1
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake 100-0
