Topeka High Trojans

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Monday was a night of firsts for the Shawnee Heights girls soccer team.

After a loss and a tie to open the season, the T-Birds picked up their first win of the year while scoring their first goals of 2026 in a 3-0 shutout over city rival Topeka High at Hummer Sports Park, while Heights assistant Josiah Juarez, filling in for veteran T-Bird coach Nic Simons, picked up win No. 1 as a head coach.

Shawnee Heights junior Morgan Robinson scored two goals Monday as the T-Birds picked up their first win with a 3-0 shutout over city rival Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] 

Juarez was running the show Monday while Simons missed the game to be with his wife and newborn child, born over the weekend.

"I was just a little bit nervous -- it comes with the game -- but that's the exciting part, especially with us needing a win,'' Juarez said. "And I'm just excited we got it done tonight.'' 

The T-Birds didn't miss a beat under Juarez, taking a 2-0 halftime lead on a pair of goals from junior standout Morgan Robinson and adding a third goal on a shot from junior Nina Bolanos in the second half.

Robinson scored the only goal the T-Birds would need 5:50 into the game off a corner kick from Bolanos.

Shawnee Heights junior Nina Bolanos (2) had a goal and an assist in Monday's 3-0 win over city rival Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Robinson scored her second goal with 19:39 left in the opening half to give the T-Birds their two-goal halftime advantage before Bolanos wrapped up the scoring with 8:33 remaining.

Senior MacKenzie Mertel picked up the shutout in goal for the T-Birds.

Shawnee Heights girls soccer assistant Josiah Juarez picked up his first win as a head coach in Monday's 3-0 T-Bird win over Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"I thought we were (solid) for the most part,'' Juarez said. "We kept our game plan and just executed it really well and continued to do it throughout the whole game.''

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

JURNEE COLE, Highland Park

Cole, a senior, was one of the city's top sprinters last spring, ranking second in the 100-meter dash (12.75 seconds) and fifth in the 200 (26.68). An All-Shawnee County honorable mention pick in 2025, Cole opened her 2026 season in last Friday's Topeka High Invitational with second-place finishes in the 100 (12.72) and 200 (27.34) and a third in the 400 (66.88). 

KARYS DEITER, Silver Lake

A sophomore state champion in volleyball and basketball for the Eagles, Deiter received All-Shawnee County first-team recognition last season after posting an eighth-place finish in the Class 3A state meet in the 100-meter hurdles in 16.74 seconds. Deiter ranked No. 3 in Shawnee County in the 100 dash and the 100 hurdles. Deiter also helped lead Silver Lake to the Class 3A volleyball title last fall and the state basketball championship this past season. 

RYLEE DICK, Rossville

Dick, a senior, was an All-Shawnee County first-team selection last season after finishing eighth in Class 2A in the 100-meter hurdles in 16.77 seconds. Dick ranked fourth in Shawnee County in the 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles. Dick was also a first-team all-county pick in basketball.    

ALI GERBER, Silver Lake

A junior, Gerber, earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors in track last spring and was an all-county pick in cross country last fall. Gerber teamed with Ellen Doty, Jaylie Whitehead and Ella Bolan to finish sixth in the Class 3A 4x400-meter relay last spring in track and placed 35th in state cross country last fall. Gerber was a member of Silver Lake's 3A state championship 4x400 relay team in the 2024 state meet (4:06.64).

EMILY GRAF, Washburn Rural

An All-Shawnee County selection in both cross country and track, Graf teamed with then-seniors Rylee Ismert, Brooklyn Nolte and Payton Fink finished second in the Class 6A 4x800 relay (9:29.84) in the 2025 state track meet. A three-time first-team All-Shawnee County pick in cross country, Graf garnered the individual city title last fall before finishing eighth in the Centennial League, fifth in a 6A regional meet and 30th at state. 

SOFIA HARPER, Hayden

Harper, a junior, is a three-time first-team All-Shawnee County pick in cross country and received all-county honorable in track last spring. Harper posted a seventh-place individual finish in the city cross country championships last fall, placed 16th in the Centennial League meet and 12th in Class 4A regional competition and was 44th at state. Harper opened her 2026 track season in Friday's Topeka High Inivitational with wins in the 200-meter dash (27.00) and 400 (62.39). 

ALYSON HINCK, Washburn Rural

The Washburn Rural freshman was the individual runnerup in the city cross country meet for the team-champion Junior Blues and placed sixth in the Centennial League, eighth in Class 6A regional competition and a team-high 25th in the state meet.

KENZIE MADDOX, Washburn Rural  

Maddox, a senior, is a two-time first-team All-Shawnee County pick in cross country and was an all-county first-team honoree in track last spring. Maddox finished fourth last fall in the city cross country meet before placing 14th in the Centennial League, 16th in a Class 6A regional and 49th in the 6A state meet.

Keimara Marshall, Topeka High

KEIMARA MARSHALL, Topeka High

A senior, Marshall has established herself as one of the area's top sprinters, earning first-team All-Shawnee County honors and sweeping the 100 and 200-meter dashes in the 2025 Joe Schrag City Championships. A former Class 6A state medalist, Marshall helped lead the Trojans to 6A state quarterfinals in basketball.

Ryin Miller, Seaman

RYIN MILLER, Seaman 

Miller, who has been recovering from an injury that limited her to just one cross country meet last fall, has won five Class 5A state track titles over the past two seasons, sweeping the  3,200 meters in 10 minutes, 19.53 seconds, the 1,600 meters in 4:57.33 and the 800 in 2:11.14 in the 2025 state meet and adding a fourth state medal when she anchored the Vikings' 4x400 relay to a fourth-place finish (4:03.44). Miller made her 2026 debut Thursday with a win in the 800 at Washburn Rural.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Shawnee Heights junior Clara Sobba posted a pair of individual wins to pace city swimmers in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.

Shawnee Heights' Clara Sobba posted a pair of individual victories in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational swimming meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] 

Sobba won the 50-yard freestyle in 28.04 seconds and captured the 100 freestyle in 1 minute, 01.65 while also helping the T-Birds finish second in the 200 free relay (2:04.55) and third in the 200 medley relay (2:22.16).

Shawnee Heights' Kaitlyn Aldridge (left) won the 100-yard butterfly and finished second in the 100 backstroke in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo won the 100-yard backstroke in Tuesday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Sobba was one of three city champions in Tuesday's meet, with Shawnee Heights junior Kaitlyn Aldridge winning the 100-yard butterfly in 1:11.46 and Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo winning the 100 backstroke in 1:09.81.

Del Castillo was the runnerup behind Sobba in the 50 free in 28.69 while Aldridge finished second to Del Castillo in the 100 backstroke in 1:10.77.

Aldridge and Sobba teamed with Gracelyn New and Jayde Kinsch for the runnerup finish in the 200 free relay and teamed with Kinsch and Lainey Herrera for the third-place finish in the 200 medley relay.

Topeka High's Mackenzie Caryl finished second in one-meter diving with a score of 138.70.

Manhattan ran away with the team title by a 677-454 margin over Junction City while Shawnee Heights placed third (213), Topeka High fourth (76) and Topeka West fifth (44). 

TOPEKA HIGH INVITATIONAL

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural baseball followed up a strong weekend in Kansas City with a home Centennial League doubleheader sweep of Topeka High Tuesday to improve its record to 5-0.

Senior Gavin Payne threw a three-hit shutout Tuesday in Washburn Rural's 14-0 first-game win over Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

The Junior Blues got a five-inning shutout from senior Gavin Payne in the opening contest, then rolled out three pitchers who one-hit the Trojans in the nightcap as Washburn Rural collected wins of 14-0 and 12-0, both of which lasted five innings.

Last Saturday Washburn Rural defeated Kansas City, Mo.-Rockhurst 8-1 and Olathe South 3-0. Junior Blues coach Jay Mastin complimented his team’s performance in those contests.

Mastin said Payne’s work against Topeka High was so good, the coach had to tweak his game plan.

“He did a great job. He did everything we asked from him today,” Mastin said of Payne. “Our plan was to throw two or three guys (in the first) game, but he was pretty efficient in his innings, so we just stuck with him.”

Payne permitted Topeka High a single in each of his first three innings. He was the beneficiary of inning-ending double plays in the fourth and fifth innings. His final line included three hits, three walks and four strikeouts.

“I was just working my pitches, working the zone,” Payne said. “I’ve got a great defense behind me, so I just throw strikes and they’ll back me up.”

Washburn Rural senior Drew Moore slides safely into base in Tuesday's double-header sweep over Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN] 

After a scoreless first inning to start the day, the Junior Blues put up four, four and six runs in their next three innings. Austin Ditch provided a bases-loaded double that plated three in the second. Drew Moore led off the third inning with a triple. Dominic Nimz collected two hits, including a fourth-inning double.

Payne admitted getting that kind of run support is a lift.

“Everything feels a lot better,” Payne said. “You’ve got more confidence going into each inning. It really helps out there.”

Washburn Rural junior Kyran Smith struck out five batters in two innings in Tuesday's double-header sweep over Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN] 

For the second game, Mastin ran out three pitchers, with dominating effect. Isaac Ansley started the game and recorded three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. He gave way to Kyran Smith, who struck out five in two frames. Cody Stafford slammed the door, striking out all three Trojans he faced in the fifth inning. Following a leadoff single to start the game, the Junior Blues allowed only a walk in the third inning.

“We like the momentum that we’ve got going,” Mastin said. “We couldn’t start the season better than this all the way around. Our pitchers have done a great job. Our defense has been solid, and offense has been putting the pressure on the other team by getting some big hits and being aggressive on the bases.”

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Brody Anderson 

BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman

Anderson, a returning Class 5A state medalist, opened his senior track season with a pair of dominating individual wins in Friday's Topeka High Invitational at Hummer Sports Park. Anderson posted a 24-second win in the boys 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 23.82 seconds and posted a 36-second win in the 3,200 in 9:27.73.

Brynn Anderson

BRYNN ANDERSON, Washburn Rural

A freshman multi-sport standout for the Junior Blues, the 6-foot Anderson was voted by Centennial League girls basketball coaches as the league newcomer of the year and a first-team all-league pick. Anderson averaged 14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals while hitting 41 3-pointers.

Carsyn Broxterman

CARSYN BROXTERMAN, Hayden

Broxterman, a senior soccer standout for Hayden, scored five goals and had an assist in Friday's season-opening 8-0 road victory over Cair Paravel Latin at the Bettis Family Sports Complex. As a junior Broxterman helped lead the Wildcats to a second-place finish in the Class 4A-1A state tournament.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

DRAYDEN ACCOSTA, Topeka High

A senior, Accosta earned second-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County recognition for the second straight season and was named to the All-Centennial League second team as a utility player.  

Isaac Ansley, Washburn Rural

ISAAC ANSLEY, Washburn Rural

A senior pitcher, Ansley earned first-team TSN All-Shawnee County recognition last season and was a second-team All-Centennial League pick after helping lead Washburn Rural to a 15-12 record and a Class 6A state tournament berth.

Mason Becker, Hayden

MASON BECKER, Hayden

Becker, a junior, earned second-team TSN All-Shawnee County and Centennial League recognition last season after helping the Wildcat post a 23-1 record.

Axton Brewer, Seaman

AXTON BREWER, Seaman

A junior, Brewer was a TSN All-Shawnee County first-team pick, earned All-United Kansas Conference first-team recognition as a pitcher and designated hitter and was a Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches All-Class 5A first-team honoree at designated hitter and a second-team pitcher.

BRADY DEUTSCH, Hayden 

Deutsch, a senior catcher, was a second-team All-Centennial League pick for the league-champion Wildcats, who went 23-1 last season. Deutsch receive All-Shawnee  County honorable mention.

Austin Ditch, Washburn Rural

AUSTIN DITCH, Washburn Rural

A senior infielder, Ditch was a first-team TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League pick last spring after helping Washburn Rural post a 15-12 record and advance to the Class 6A state tournament.

TYLER EDMISTON, Washburn Rural

Edmiston, a junior pitcher, was a second-team All-Centennial League and All-Shawnee County selection last season for the 15-12 Junior Blues, who earned a berth in the Class 6A state tournament.

 Cambren Floberg, Shawnee Heights

CAMBREN FLOBERG, Shawnee Heights

Floberg, a senior, was named the United Kansas Conference pitcher of the year last season after helping the 21-8 T-Birds advance to the Class 5A state tournament. Floberg received second-team All-Class 5A honors from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches.

CAEL HORGAN, Rossville 

A junior, Horgan was a first-team All-Big East pick last spring after helping Rossville advance to the Class 2A-1A state tournament in 2025.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

London Backman, Topeka High

LONDON BACKMAN, Topeka High

A sophomore infielder who attends Cair Paravel Latin and plays for the Trojans through a co-op agreement, Backman received TopSports.news All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League first-team recognition and was named the co-county and co-Centennial League newcomer of the year last season after helping 19-10 Topeka High advance to the Class 6A state tournament before dropping an 8-1 quarterfinal decisiont to 6A champ Olathe West. Backman received All-Class 6A honorable mention by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association.

Adda Boleski, Washburn Rural  

ADDA BOLESKI, Washburn Rural 

Boleski, a sophomore infielder, was an All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League second-team pick a year ago as a freshman after helping the Junior Blues post a 22-8 record and a second-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament, with Washburn Rural dropping an 8-7 decision to Olathe West in the championship game.    

Reagan Chapman, Washburn Rural

REAGAN CHAPMAN, Washburn Rural

A senior pitcher/third baseman, Chapman was named to the TSN All-Shawnee County first team for the third straight season after helping lead the Junior Blues to a 22-8 record and a runnerup finish in Class 6A last spring, with Rural dropping an 8-7 decision to Olathe West in the championship game. Chapman was a first-team All-Centennial League honoree.

JOSIE CARLGREN, Washburn Rural

Carlgren, a senior outfielder, is a top returner for Washburn Rural, which posted a 22-8 record and finished second in the Class 6A state tournament last season, dropping an 8-7 decision to Olathe West in the title game. Carlgren received All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honorable mention in 2025.

Falyn Clurman, Rossville 

FALYN CLURMAN, Rossville 

Clurman, a sophomore pitcher, was a second-team All-Shawnee County honoree last season as a freshman for the Bulldawgs, who posted a 17-12 record in 2025. The Bulldawgs were a Class 2A-1A regional runnerup to state champion Oskaloosa. 

ADDISON COOPER, Shawnee Heights

Cooper, a senior outfielder, was a first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection and a second-team All-Shawnee County pick last spring after helping Shawnee Heights post a 20-7 record and advance to the Class 5A state tournament in 2025. The T-Birds dropped a 3-2 state quarterfinal decision to eventual state champion St. Thomas Aquinas.

Campbell Dawson, Topeka High  

CAMPBELL DAWSON, Topeka High

A junior pitcher/outfielder, was a first-team All-Centennial League selection and second-team All-Shawnee County pick last spring after helping the 19-10 Trojans advance to the Class 6A state tournament before dropping an 8-1 quarterfinal decision to 6A state champ Olathe West. Dawson received All-Class 6A honorable mention by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association.  

LYDIA DREHER, Seaman

Dreher, a sophomore pitcher, was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection and a second-team All-United Kansas Conference pick as a freshman last season after helping the Vikings earn a berth in the Class 5A state tournament. Dreher helped Seaman post a 20-9 record last spring, with the Vikings dropping a 3-2 17-inning decision to Maize South in the state quarterfinals.

Cianna Graves, Shawnee Heights  

CIANNA GRAVES, Shawnee Heights

A senior catcher, Graves received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition in 2025 after helping Shawnee Heights post a 20-7 record and advance to the Class 5A state tournament before the T-Birds dropped a 3-2 state quarterfinal decision to eventual 5A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas. Graves is also a 2026 5A state wrestling champion.

Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake                        

KAILYN HANNI, Silver Lake

Hanni, a senior left-fielder, earned first-team All-Shawnee County and first-team All-Big East League recognition last spring for the second straight season after helping Silver Lake post a 25-7 record and a runnerup finish in the Class 3A state tournament for the second straight season, with the Eagle falling 2-1 to Frontenac in nine innings. Hanni was named to the All-Class 3A first team by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association. Hanni also led Silver Lake to the 3A state basketball title this past season.

Oliva Koch, Washburn Rural

OLIVIA KOCH, Washburn Rural 

A junior pitcher/outfielder, Koch was named to the TSN All-Shawnee County first team and was named the Centennial League player of the year last season after helping lead Washburn Rural to a 22-8 record and a runnerup finish in the Class 6A state tournament, with the Junior Blues dropping an 8-7 decision to Olathe West in the state title game. Koch was named to the All-Class 6A first team by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association.

Carly McAllister, Hayden

CARLEY McALLISTER, Hayden

McCallister, a sophomore, received second-team TSN All-Shawnee County recognition a year ago as a freshman while also receiving All-Centennial League second-team honors.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Five city swimming and diving teams opened the 2026 season in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational, with a sweep of the top three places in one-meter diving pacing the local contingent.

Hayden's Avery Rosenow won the diving event with a score of 173.75, while Topeka High's Mackenzie Caryl placed second at 138.75 and Seaman's Madiylyn Typer was third at 105.40.

Shawnee Heights' Clara Sobba posted a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Another city highlight was turned in by Shawnee Heights' Clara Sobba, who posted a third-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 1:01.71, while Topeka High's Hara Del Castillo was fifth in 1:04.50.

Seaman's Riley Strother helped the Vikings finish fifth in the 200 medley relay in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Seaman's Riley Strother, Lizzie Gould, Jenna Zimmerman and Ava Carlson finished fifth in the 200 medley relay in 2:18.32.

Hayden's Kaelyn Gerdel posted a pair of top-five individual finishes in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Hayden's Kaelyn Gerdel placed fifth in the 200 freestyle (2:15.92) while Seaman's Strother was fifth (2:51.05) and Topeka High's Avery Skinner sixth (2:51.97) in the 200 individual medley.

Topeka High's Hara Del Castillo swims to a fifth-place finish in the 100 backstroke in Thursday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

High's Del Castillo added a fifth-place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:11.58) while Hayden's Gerdel placed fourth in the 100 breastroke (1:19.41) and the Wildcats' Lilly Charvat was sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:23.55).  

TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL

By Rick Peterson

TopSports.news

City schools swept All-Centennial League girls basketball individual honors, led by Topeka High junior player of the year Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton.

 Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High

Brynn Anderson, Washburn Rural

Washburn Rural freshman Brynn Anderson was picked by league coaches as the Centennial League's top newcomer and also earned first-team recognition while Hayden's Carvel Reynoldson was tapped as the league coach of the year after leading the Wildcats to the Class 4A state championship.

Rayton, who helped Topeka High win the Centennial League championship, is joined on the all-league first team by sophomore teammate Hailey Caryl while Hayden is represented by sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein.

Manhattan's Kat Ball and Delaney Larson round out the all-league first team.

Topeka High senior Keimara Marshall, Hayden sophomore Blakely Walter and Washburn Rural seniors Ella Hirschi and Josie Carlgren were all named to the All-Centennial second team while Hayden senior Ella Foster and Washburn Rural senior Hallie Walker received honorable mention.

ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE GIRLS BASKETBALL

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

More times than not over the last several years, the Centennial League softball title race has come down to the early-season doubleheader between Washburn Rural and Topeka High.

And while Washburn Rural coach Joy Marie Galliart would rather play the showdown against High later in the season than in the Junior Blues' Centennial League openers, Friday's 11-1, 7-3 wins at Hummer Sports Park gave Rural an early leg up in its quest for another league crown.

Washburn Rural softball celebrates after closing out a Centennial League sweep over Topeka High Friday night at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"I actually talked to (Washburn Rural athletic director Charlie Nimz) about trying to get this later in the year and it just wouldn't work from their end,'' Galliart said. "I'm not a fan of playing league games the first week you start playing, just because you're not sure of where you're going to be.

"But when you come out and you're able to get two wins it does give you a lot of confidence and a little bit of momentum rolling into the rest of your season.'

Washburn Rural, now 4-0 overall, jumped out in front 3-0 in the top of the first in the opener and added a run in the third, two in the fourth and and five in the top of the fifth en route to a five-inning win via the 10-run rule.

Senior Reagan Chapman pitched a five-inning four-hitter in Washburn Rural's 11-1 first-game win over Topeka High Friday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Senior Reagan Chapman pitched a complete-game four-hitter for the Junior Blues while senior catcher Henley Rapp and sophomore Emma Duran both tripled and Duran also had a double. 

Junior Campbell Dawson drove in the Trojans' lone run in the opener with a fourth-inning double.

The nightcap was tied 1-1 after the first inning and stayed that way through three innings before the Junior Blues scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth and three in the fifth to go up 6-1.

Topeka High (2-2) got back in the hunt with a pair of runs in the sixth, but Rural added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a run-scoring single from sophomore Adda Boleski and Junior Blue junior pitcher Oliva Koch ended the game with a one-two-three seventh.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman senior Brody Anderson is coming off an outstanding cross country season last fall, winning his second straight city and United Kansas Conference individual titles and finishing a strong second in Class 5A regional competition to qualify for his third straight state meet.

Seaman senior Brody Anderson posted individual wins in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in Friday's season-opening Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

However, the season didn't end the way the Viking star had envisioned, with Anderson putting himself in position for a state title before collapsing multiple times in the closing stages of the race and struggling to a 33rd-place finish.

But while that was a tough pill to swallow, it also made him even more determined entering his final high school track season, which he opened Friday with dominating victories in the boys 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in the Topeka High Invitational at Hummer Sports Park.  

"Rim Rock, my legs gave out for the second time at state, when I was in second, close behind with like 400 (meters) left to go,'' Anderson said. "It was disappointing, obviously, but it just creates more of a drive for me to pick myself back up and that's what running's about, honestly.

"You're going to have the lows, but it's how you pick yourself up from that. For the first couple of weeks it left a sour taste in my mouth but as I kept going I felt stronger in my training and I put together a lot of consistent weeks and that just helped with my mindset.''

Anderson said he couldn't wait to get another season under way on Friday.    

"I like to break the rust for sure and the first meet just backs all my training that I've done so I definitely always enjoy the first meet, cross country or track,'' he said. "But this one, being my last track season, is special.''

Anderson opened his day with a 24-second win in the 1,600 meters in a time of 4 minutes, 23.82 seconds and followed that up with a win by more than 36 seconds in the 3,200 in 9:27.73.

Both of those times were within seconds of the Seaman school records, which Anderson will be taking aim on in upcoming meets.

"I'm ready to get them and I'm fit enough to,'' Anderson said. "And when the right day comes it will happen. I'm positive. Coach (Luke) Wiens helps me a lot with that and to have the mindset to let things come natural.''

Other meet highlights:

• Highland Park junior Rayshon Pollard swept the titles in the boys 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 16.02 in the highs and 43.28 in the 300s.

Pollard also finished third in the long jump with a best of 20 feet, 5.50 inches.

Hayden junior Sofia Harper won the girls 200 and 400-meter dashes in Friday's Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

• Hayden junior Sofia Harper was a double champion in the girls division, winning the 200-meter dash in 27.00 seconds and the 400 in 62.39 seconds.

• Hayden junior Kelton Meier won the boys javelin championship by more than 49 feet, registering an outstanding throw of 197 feet, 2 inches.

Topeka High senior Adam Humphrey finished first in the boys discus with a throw of 131 feet, 3 inches.

• Hayden junior Alana Mitchell and Topeka High senior Jayana Washington went one-two in the girls long jump, with Mitchell winning the title by just three-quarters of an inch over Washington.

Mitchell jumped 16 feet, 3 inches while Washington had a best of 16-2.25.

Topeka West senior Jayden Lindsey won the 200 and finished second in the 400 in Friday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

• Topeka West senior Jayden Lindsey won the boys 200-meter dash in 22.50 seconds and finished second in the 400 in 52.40 seconds.

• Highland Park senior Jurnee Cole finished second in the girls 100-meter dash (12.72) and 200 (27.34) and third in the 400 (66.88).

• Topeka High freshman Marchayla White won the girls 100-meter hurdles (17.97) while Seaman sophomore Avery Villines won the 300 hurdles (58.40).

Hayden junior Brynn Spencer (5) posted second-place finishes in the girls 1,600 and 3,200 in Friday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

• Seaman junior Gage Geiger won the boys 800 meters (2:12.42) while Brynn Spencer finished second in the girls 1,600 meters (5:34.34) and the 3,200 (11:52.82). 

 TOPEKA HIGH INVITATIONAL

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Senior co-players of the year KaeVon Bonner of Seaman and Dayne Johnson of Silver Lake headline the 2026 TopSports.news All-Shawnee County boys basketball team.

KaeVon Bonner, Seaman

Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake

Bonner is a three-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick after leading the Vikings to a 23-5 record and a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament while Johnson was an all-county repeat pick after leading the Eagles to a second straight third-place state finish in 3A and ending his high school career as Silver Lake's all-time leading scorer, eclipsing the record previously held by the legendary Lon Kruger.

Rossville senior Jack Donovan is a three-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 honoree and is joined on the first time by Rossville senior point guard Jakoby McDonnell after the Bulldawgs advanced to the Class 2A state tournament for the second straight season.

Topeka West, which won the United Kansas Conference championship in a tiebreaker over Seaman and placed fourth in Class 5A is represented on the all-county top 10 by seniors Malakyah Duncan and Keimani Paul and junior Prince Lassiter.

Also earning Top 10 honors were Hayden senior Connor Hanika, Shawnee Heights junior Cam Ross and Topeka High senior Bryson McComas.

Quincy Dixon, Shawnee Heights

Shawnee Heights freshman Quincy Dixon was named the county newcomer of the year after averaging 12.4 points and helping the T-Birds advance to the Class 5A state tournament.

Chip Kueffer, Cair Paravel Latin

Robbie Sanders, Topeka High

Cair Paravel's Chip Kueffer and Topeka High's Robbie Sanders were named the Shawnee County co-coaches of the year after leading their teams to 12-win improvements in 2025-2026.

Kueffer led CPLS to a 22-3 record, including 19 straight wins and the Flint Hills League championship while first-year coach Sanders led Topeka High to a 13-11 record in '25-'26 after the Trojans posted just one win in the previous season. 

All-Shawnee County capsules:

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Silver Lake senior point guard Kailyn Hanni has been tapped as the TopSports.news 2026 All-Shawnee County girls basketball player of the year after leading the Eagles to their second Class 3A state championship in three seasons.

Silver Lake senior Kailyn Hanni has been named the TopSports.news Shawnee County girls player of the year after leading the Eagles to their second Class 3A state title in three seasons. [File photo/TSN]

A three-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick, Hanni helped lead Silver Lake to a 28-1 record and a third straight trip to the 3A state championship game, with the Eagles sandwiching titles in 2024 and this past season around a second-place finish in 2025.

Hanni is one of five repeat picks on the All-Shawnee County Top 10, including four-time honoree Maddie Gragg of Seaman, junior repeat selections KK Emmot of Shawnee Heights and Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton of Topeka High and sophomore repeat pick Hailey Schmidtlein of Hayden.

Schmidtlein helped lead Hayden to the 4A state championship while Emmot helped Shawnee Heights post a fourth-place state finish in 5A and Rayton helped Topeka High advance to the state quarterfinals in 6A.

Also earning All-Shawnee County Top 10 spots are Rossville senior Rylee Dick, Shawnee Heights junior Pearmella Carter, Topeka High sophomore Hailey Caryl, Silver Lake sophomore Karys Deiter and Washburn Rural freshman Brynn Anderson. 

Anderson was also named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year, while state-champion coaches Kyle Porter of Silver Lake and Carvel Reynoldson of Hayden were named the co-county coaches of the year.

All-Shawnee County capsules:

Brynn Anderson, Washburn Rural

BRYNN ANDERSON, Washburn Rural -- Anderson was named an All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick and the Shawnee County newcomer of the year for 2025-2026 after averaging 14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals and canning 41 3-pointers for the Junior Blues. Anderson was also a first-team all-county selection in volleyball. 

Pearmella Carter, Shawnee Heights

PEARMELLA CARTER, Shawnee Heights -- After starring for two seasons at Highland Park, the 5-foot-9 junior had a big season in her first year at Shawnee Heights, helping the 22-6 T-Birds win their first United Kansas Conference championship and post a fourth-place finish in Class 5A in Heights' first trip to state since 2011. Carter, a second-team all-county pick as a sophomore, averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds for Heights while shooting 56 percent from the field on two-point attempts. 

 Hailey Caryl, Topeka High

HAILEY CARYL, Topeka High -- A 5-foot-10 sophomore, Caryl moves up to the All-Shawnee County Top 10 this season after being a Second 10 pick as a freshman. Caryl averaged 14.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists this past season while shooting 57 percent from the field from two-point range, helping lead the Trojans to a 17-9 record, the Centennial League championship and a quarterfinal berth in the Class 6A state tournament. 

Karys Deiter, Silver Lake

KARYS DEITER, Silver Lake -- Deiter, a 5-foot-6 sophomore, helped Silver Lake post a 28-1 record and win the Class 3A state championship this past season. Deiter moves up to the All-Shawnee County first team this season after being a Second 10 pick as a freshman and also earned first-team All-Big East honors. Deiter was also an all-county pick in volleyball after helping Silver Lake win the 3A state title.   

Rylee Dick, Rossville

RYLEE DICK, Rossville -- Dick, a 5-foot-8 senior, helped lead the Bulldawgs to a Class 2A state tournament berth for the first time in 20 years this past season, averaging 20.6 points on the season. A unanimous All-Big East League selection, Dick finished her high school career with 1,578 points, which ranks No. 2 on Rossville's all-time list. Dick scored 31 points in Rossville's quarterfinal state loss to Ellinwood.  

KK Emmot, Shawnee Heights

KK EMMOT, Shawnee Heights -- Emmot, a 5-foot-8 junior, is a two-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick after earning second-team honors as a freshman. Emmot, who helped lead the T-Birds to a 22-6 record, the United Kansas Conference title and a fourth-place Class 5A finish, earned first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors for the second straight season after averaging 16.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 3.0 assists while connecting on 67 3-pointers and shooting 82 percent from the free throw line. 

Maddie Gragg, Seaman   

MADDIE GRAGG, Seaman -- A 5-10 senior, Gragg is an All-Shawnee County Top 10 selection for the fourth straight season. Gragg, also a four-time All-United Kansas Conference first-team pick, averaged 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.4 steals while hitting 32 3-pointers. Gragg helped the Vikings win the Class 5A state championship in 2024 and finish second in 2025.

 Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake

KAILYN HANNI, Silver Lake -- Hanni, a 5-7 senior, was named the Shawnee County player of the year after leading Silver Lake to a 28-1 record and the Class 3A state championship this past season. Hanni also played a major role in the Eagles' 26-0 state championship run in 2024 and a runnerup state finish in 2025. Hanni is a three-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 selection as well as an All-Big East first-team pick.

 Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High

AHSIEYRHUAJH RAYTON, Topeka High --Rayton, a 5-7 junior All-Shawnee County repeat pick, averaged a city-high 23.6 points on the season for the 17-9 Trojans while also averaging 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals and shooting 52 percent from two-point range and 37 percent on 3-point attempts. Rayton helped the Trojans win the Centennial League championship and advance to the Class 6A state tournament.

Hailey Schmidtlein, Hayden 

HAILEY SCHMIDTLEIN, Hayden --Schmidtlein, a 6-0 sophomore, earned first-team All-Shawnee County recognition for the second straight season after helping lead the Wildcats to a 22-6 record and Hayden's first Class 4A state championship since 2004. Schmidtlein averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.7 steals, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocked shots. 

2025 TSN ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Rick Peterson

TopSports.news

Hayden senior Connor Hanika and Topeka High senior Bryson McComas have been named to the 2026 All-Centennial League boys basketball team, selected by league coaches.

Connor Hanika, Hayden 

Bryson McComas, Topeka High

McComas moves up to the first team after being a second-team selection as a junior while Hanika was a first-team pick after receiving honorable mention in 2025. 

McComas averaged 15.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists this past season with 31 made 3-pointers while Hanika averaged 14.6 points and 6.3 rebounds. 

Earning second-team all-league honors were Topeka High senior Elisha Guest, Hayden junior Carter Compton and Washburn Rural senior John Hoytal, 

Washburn Rural's Brooks Ballard and Simon Rowley, Topeka High's Jalen Aldridge, Ajalon Ross and Octavian McFadden and Hayden's Mason Becker received all-league honorable mention.

ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE BOYS BASKETBALL

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights

KAITLYN ALDRIDGE, Shawnee Heights

A junior, Aldridge earned All-City first-team honors for the second straight season in 2025, winning the city title in the 500-yard freestyle, placing second in the 100 butterfly and helping Shawnee Heights win the 200 free relay and finish third in the 400 free relay. Aldridge placed fourth in the United Kansas Conference in the 100 fly and fifth in the 500 free and swam on the T-Birds' fourth-place 400 free relay. Aldridge competed in the Class 5A-1A state meet.

Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural

AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural

Appuhn, a senior three-time All-City honoree, placed in multiple events in the Class 6A state meet for the third straight season last spring, taking third in the 100-yard breaststroke and sixth in the 200 freestyle to lead Rural to an 11th-place team finish. Appuhn won four golds in the city meet (200 free, 100 breast, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay) as Rural won its 22nd straight team title and four golds in the Centennial League meet (200 free, 100 breast, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay). Appuhn was a second-team All-State honoree in 6A in 2025.

Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High

HARA DEL CASTILLO, Topeka High

A senior, Del Castillo earned All-City honors for the third straight season in 2025 as the Trojan junior finished second in the city meet in the 100-yard backstroke and third in the 100 freestyle. Del Castillo won Centennial League titles in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke and swam on the Trojans' fourth-place 200 medley relay. Del Castillo competed in the 6A state meet last season.

KAILYN GERDEL, Hayden

Gerdel, a junior was an All-City second-team pick last season after placing third in the city meet in the 200-yard freestyle and swimming on the Wildcats' runnerup 200 medley and 200 free relays. Gerdel finished third in the Centennial League in the 200 freestyle and swam on Hayden's second-place 200 medley and 200 free relays.

Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural

SOPHIE HEINEN, Washburn Rural

Heinen, a senior, finished second in the 500-yard freestyle in the city meet and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 medley and 400 free relays. Heinen finished second in the Centennial League in the 500 freestyle and swam on Rural's winning 200 medley and 400 free relays. Heinen swam on the Junior Blues' 11th-place 200 medley and 400 free relays at state.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Cale Deutscher, Washburn Rural

CALE DEUTSCHER, Washburn Rural

Deutscher, a senior, teamed with Dylan Willingham to finish seventh in Class 6A doubles last spring. Deutscher and Willingham won Centennial League and regional doubles championhips after finishing second in No. 1 doubles in the city meet. Deutscher was an All-City repeater in 2025, winning the city No. 2 doubles title as a sophomore.

Cole Fay, Cair Paravel Latin

COLE FAY, Cair Paravel Latin

A sophomore, Fay finished off his freshman season with a 10th-place singles finish in the Class 3A-1A state tournament last season. An All-City pick, Fay qualified for the state tournament with a regional championship, helping the Lions win the regional team title, and finished fourth in the city in No. 1 singles.

Drew Fay, Cair Paravel Latin

DREW FAY, Cair Paravel Latin

Fay, a senior, teamed with foreign exchange student Eric Buchenau to finish second in doubles in the 2025 Class 3A-1A state tournament. Fay and Buchenau, who went 29-2 on the season, captured the city championship in No. 1 doubles and also won a regional title. Fay is a three-time 3A-1A state qualifier, posting a fourth-place singles finish as a sophomore. He is a two-time All-City pick.

Greyson Jones, Washburn Rural

GREYSON JONES, Washburn Rural

Jones, a earned a spot on the 2025 All-City team with the No. 2 singles championship in the city tournament and also posted a fifth-place singles finish in the Centennial League tournament. Jones helped the Junior Blues capture team championships in city, Centennial League and regional competition.

Tres Lassiter, Topeka High 

TRES LASSITER, Topeka High

A senior, Lassiter captured the city title in No. 1 singles in his first season of high school tennis last spring. Lassiter also posted a runnerup singles finish in the Centennial League and Class 6A regional tournaments and posted a 2-2 singles record in his first Class 6A state tournament.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

AUSTIN BEAN, Hayden

A senior, Bean helped Hayden post a runnerup team finish in the Class 4A state tournament last season, earning second-team All-Shawnee County recognition. Bean finished 10th in the 2025 city championships with a 27-hole score of 127 and shot a 78 in the Centennial League tournament. He tied for 12th in 4A regional competition with an 81 as the Wildcats finished second as a team. 

CALEB CLEVERDON, Topeka High/Cair Paravel Latin

Cleverdon, a senior, competed for Topeka High during the regular season before competing for High's co-op partner, Cair Paravel, in postseason. Cleverdon tied for sixth in the Class 2A state tournament with a 36-hole total of 155 (76-79), leading the Lions to a fourth-place team finish. A second-team All-Shawnee County pick, Cleverdon finished 10th in a 2A regional (83) for team champion CPLS. 

Jack Donovan

JACK DONOVAN, Rossville

A senior, Donovan was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick for the second straight season last spring after earning a state medal for the second straight year with a tie for sixth in the Class 2A state event with a 36 hole score of 155 (76-79). Donovan was a 2A regional medalist, shooting a Rossville school-record 68 to win the individual championship by 12 strokes.

Peyton Goehring

PEYTON GOEHRING, Washburn Rural

Goehring is a top senior returner for Washburn Rural, which captured its 15th straight city team championship last season and advanced to the Class 6A state tournament as a team with a third-place team finish. Goehring carded a 27-hole score of 129 in the city tournament, missing the top 10 by two strokes and shot a 78 in the Centennial League tournament and finished 23rd at regionals.

Higgins Hawks

HIGGINS HAWKS, Washburn Rural

Hawks, a senior, earned his first All-Shawnee County first-team honor for the Junior Blues last season. Hawks tied for fifth in the city tournament with a 27-hole score of 124 as Rural won its 15th straight city championship. Hawks shot an 80 at regionals to tie for 10th as the Junior Blues earned a Class 6A team berth with a third-place finish and tied for 36th at state with a 36-hole score of 156 (75-81).

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural three-time Class 6A state champion and four-time finalist Landen Kocher-Munoz headlines the TopSports.news 2026 All-Shawnee County boys wrestling team.

TopSports.news' All-Shawnee County team is based on overall records, postseason results and city coaches' All-City selections.

Landen Kocher-Munoz, Washburn Rural [Photo by Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports]

Kocher-Munoz was named the Shawnee County wrestler of the year after winning the 144-pound championship to wrap up a 39-4 season as Washburn Rural a third-place team finish.

Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural [File photo/TSN]

Kocher-Munoz is one of eight Washburn Rural wrestlers to earn spots on the All-Shawnee County team, including junior 215-pound state champ Jadyn Baum, who went 29-4 on the season. 

Also earning all-county first-team honors for Rural were 106-pound freshman Hayden Broxterman (36-16), 113-pound freshman Andrew Peterson (26-11), 120-pound senior Ryder Harrison (28-7), 138-pound senior Cooper Stivers (34-7), 150-pound junior Brodye Kocher-Munoz (31-8) and sophomore 285-pounder Kaiden Marshall (19-4).

Harrison, Stivers, Brodye Kocher-Munoz, Landen Kocher-Munoz, Baum and Marshall are all first-team repeat picks.

Andrew Peterson, Washburn Rural [File photo/TSN]

Ryder Harrison, Washburn Rural [File photo/TSN]

Peterson, named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year, Harrison and Stivers all advanced to 6A championship matches and posted second-place finishes while Brodye Kocher-Munoz finished third and Broxterman and Marshall fifth in 6A.

Jude Krentz, Hayden [File photo/TSN]

 Paxton Willett, Silver Lake [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]

Hayden senior Jude Krentz (40-4) was the 4A runnerup at 190 pounds and is an all-county first-team repeat pick while Silver Lake senior Paxton Willett (41-11) was the 3A-1A state runnerup at 190 pounds.

 Krentz is joined on the all-county first-team by Wildcat junior 175-pounder Caleb Menke (41-5) while Silver Lake senior 120-pounder Bryce Cormier (33-10) joins Willett on the first team.

Cormier posted a third-place state finish in 3A-1A while Menke finished fourth in 4A.

Seaman put junior 150-pounder Deegan Frazier (38-12), senior 165-pounder Landen Miller (35-14) and junior 285-pounder Henry Reichart (41-14) on the All-Shawnee County first team, with Frazier and Reichart both posting third-place finishes in the 5A state tournament. 

Hayden coach Jacob Torrez was named the Shawnee County coach of the year after also being picked by his city coaching counterparts as the City Coach of the Year.

ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BOYS WRESTLING

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Class 5A senior state champion Cianna Graves headines the TopSports.news 2026 All-Shawnee County girls wrestling team while third-place teams Heights and Washburn Rural combined for 12 spots on the first team.

Cianna Graves, Shawnee Heights [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]

TopSports.news' All-Shawnee County team is based on overall records, postseason results and city coaches' All-City selections.

Graves, the Shawnee County wrestler of the year, is a four-time state medalist and capped her career with the state championship at 155 pounds, finishing off a 35-2 season.

Brinnley Morris, Shawnee Heights [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]

Olive Jones, Shawnee Heights [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]

Graves was one of three T-Bird state champions, with freshman Brinnley Morris (21-3) winning the 120-pound title title and sophomore Olive Jones (39-1) taking the 135-pound crown as Shawnee Heights earned the third-place team trophy for the second straight season.

Morris was tapped as the Shawnee County newcomer of the year.

Lacey Middleton, Washburn Rural [File photo/TSN]    

Emme Blanco, Washburn Rural [File photo/TSN] 

Elia Smith, Washburn Rural [File photo/TSN]

Washburn Rural put a county-high seven wrestlers on the TSN All-Shawnee County first team, led by the senior Class 6A state runnerup trio of 125-pounder Lacey Middleton (39-7), 145-pounder Emme Blanco (40-4) and 170-pounder Elia Smith (35-4), who led the Junior Blues to a third-place team finish for the second straight season in 6A after Rural won back-to-back state titles in 2023 and 2024.

In addition to the three second-place finishers, Rural also put freshman 105-pounder Aliyah Tangpricha, senior 140-pounder Madi Blanco, junior 190-pounder Lily Davis and sophomore 235-pounder Emma Mehl on the first team. 

Tangpricha (30-6) and Madi Blanco (40-5) both placed third in 6A while Davis (37-12) finished sixth and Mehl (25-16) was a state qualifier.

Madi Blanco and Smith are both three-time first-team all-county honorees while Middleton and Emme Blanco are repeat picks.

Shawnee Heights also put senior 145-pounder Olivia Stevens and sophomore 110-pounder Bianca Juarez on the all-county first team.

A multi-time state medalist, Stevens (33-6) finished third at 145 pounds and Juarez (26-14) was a state qualifier. 

Shawnee Heights' Chad Parks was named the county coach of the year after the T-Birds won the United Kansas Conference championship and finished second at regionals before their third-place finish at state.

Makayla Cadet, Highland Park [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/TSN]

Highland Park senior 190-pounder Makayla Cadet (23-3) is a first-team repeat all-county honoree, posting a runnerup 5A state finish this past season after winning the state championship as a junior.

Nora Mitchell, Rossville [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]

Rounding out the all-county first team are Rossville sophomore 105-pounder Nora Mitchell and junior 145-pounder Madelyn Wonnell.

Mitchell (37-12) was the 3A-1A runnerup and and Wonnell (38-6), a two-time state medalist, finished third this past season after finishing fifth as a sophomore.

ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY GIRLS WRESTLING

By JUSTIN BURKHARDT

TopSports.news

WICHITA -- The Topeka High Lady Trojans were experiencing the state tournament for the first time since 2022 Tuesday, but they certainly didn’t look like a team new to the stage.

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton led Topeka High with 17 points in Tuesday's 61-58 state tournament loss to Derby. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]

Topeka High gave No. 2 Derby a battle to the very end in the Class 6A quarterfinal at Koch Arena, dropping a 61-58 heartbreaker to finish its season 17-8.

The Trojans lost to Derby (22-3) for the second time on the season after dropping a 65-57 decision to the Panthers in the Capital City Classic back in January.

Both teams came out of the gate Tuesday struggling to find the basket.

Derby opened the scoring with a free throw to make it 1-0, but that would be the only point scored for nearly two minutes.

Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker called a 30-second timeout and the Trojans responded immediately.

Sophomore Hailey Caryl scored 15 points in Tuesday's 61-58 Topeka High state tournament loss to Derby. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]

Hailey Caryl scored inside, drew the foul, and completed the three-point play to give High an early 3-1 lead.

The teams traded baskets through the rest of the quarter. Derby tied the game at 10-10 with a shot at the rim before Caryl answered with another basket.

Topeka High’s leading scorer, Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, had been held scoreless for most of the opening period, but with 43 seconds left she knocked down a shot to give the Trojans a 16-12 lead.

At the end of the first quarter, Topeka High held a narrow 16-15 advantage.

Derby opened the second quarter with three quick points to take the lead, but Rayton responded with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 19-19.

Late in the quarter, with the Trojans trailing 30-26, Topeka High went on a run.

Sasha Gotru scored inside, Rayton added a basket and Caryl knocked down two free throws. Gotru then scored again with just 0.3 seconds left before halftime, capping an 8-0 run that gave the Trojans a 34-30 lead at the break.

Derby came out of the locker room on fire, opening the third quarter with a 6-0 run to reclaim the lead at 36-34.

Senior Keimara Marshall had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in Tuesday's 61-58 Topeka High state tournament loss to Derby. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]

High's Keimara Marshall answered with a basket in the paint to tie the game. The Trojans then responded with a 7-0 run to push their lead to 41-36.

Derby star Macayla Askew went to work, scoring five quick points to cut into the deficit.

Topeka High held on to a slim 48-46 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Derby opened the final period with five straight points to take a 51-48 lead.

The Trojans tied the game at 51-51 before Askew hit a 3-pointer to give the Panthers another advantage.

With 43.5 seconds remaining, Caryl attacked the rim and was fouled. She calmly sank both free throws to cut the deficit to 59-58.

Topeka High was forced to foul, and Derby knocked down both free throws to extend the lead to three, 61-58.

The Trojans still had one last chance. Marshall brought the ball up the floor but didn’t have a clean look and passed to Trisha Short.

Short swung the ball to Rayton, who appeared ready to launch a potential game-tying three.

However, the buzzer sounded just before she could get the shot off, ending the Trojans’ season as Derby advanced to Thursday's semifinals.

Topeka High relied heavily on its starters throughout the game. Marshall and Caryl each played all 32 minutes, while Rayton and Short played 30 minutes apiece. Despite the heavy workload, they still had energy in the final moments.

“We have asked a lot of those five all year,” Slaymaker said. “They’ve had to play major minutes in every game because we are not deep.

"I'm very, very proud of their effort. I’ve been proud of them for 11 games in a row. We damn near got this one.”

Slaymaker reflected on the team’s journey throughout the season.

“We dug a hole early. We were 0-4 to begin the season, and Caryl had a pretty bad ankle sprain,” Slaymaker said. “A lot of teams start 0-4 and end up 0-8, thinking their season is over. But we didn’t think that way.

"After our tournament in January we had a meeting -- not a chewing type meeting -- just telling them we could still do this. And then we went on that 11-game run against some pretty good competition.''

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Eighty-nine year-old Kansas coaching legend Ron Slaymaker has stepped down after two seasons as the girls basketball coach at Topeka High, including a Centennial League title and a trip to the Class 6A state tournament this past season.

Kansas coaching legend Ron Slaymaker has stepped down as Topeka High's girls basketball coach after leading the Trojans to back-to-back winning seasons in his two years at the school. [File photo/TSN]  

Slaymaker had confirmed to TopSports.news several months ago that the 2025-2026 season would be his last, but declined to make that decision public, wanting the focus to remain on the Trojans throughout the season.

But after Topeka High's season ended Tuesday night with a 61-58 Class 6A state quarterfinal loss to Derby in Wichita, Slaymaker met with Topeka High principal Dustin Dick on Wednesday morning and with his team Wednesday afternoon to officially inform them of his retirement.

Slaymaker discussed his decision to step down Wednesday night while watching the Class 3A girls state tournament at White Auditorium, where the court is named in his honor.

"I explained to the girls, my old body is just wearing out,'' Slaymaker said. "My mind's still OK, I think, but my body just doesn't function.

"It's been two good years, and I feel good about it. Man, we could have won that game against Derby.''

Slaymaker, who led Topeka High to a 31-17 record in his two seasons at the school, is hopeful that the Trojans will also remember the past two years fondly.

"What I learned is that maybe five to 10 years from now that those girls will think of this pretty good,'' Slaymaker said. "Sometimes you look at a 17-year-old, 16-year-old and they're not grasping everything, but give them a little time and they will.''

Slaymaker was named TopSports.news' Shawnee County girls coach of the year in 2025 after guiding the Trojans to a 14-8 record and a nine-win improvement in 2024-2025. 

Slaymaker's Topeka High team followed that up with a 17-9 record this past winter, overcoming an 0-4 start to win the Centennial League championship and earn the school's first trip to the state tournament since 2022.

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

Ken Darting’s retirement plans are on hold, at least for a few more days.

Ken Darting, who has coached three high schools to state tournament berths, including five state champions, will close out its Hall of Fame career in this week's Class 5A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]

After back-to-back trips to the Class 5A state tournament in 2024 and 2025 and the graduation of significant players, you might not have expected Darting's Shawnee Heights T-Birds to be back in the dance this year.

“I know one that wouldn’t have expected that,” Darting said with a laugh after his T-Birds defeated Leavenworth Friday in the sub-state final game. The T-Birds survived graduations, injuries, suspensions and midseason player defections to punch their ticket for another state tournament.

Going to state has become a family tradition for the Dartings. This will be the 15th tournament for a Darting-coached team, spread across stints at Silver Lake, Highland Park and Shawnee Heights. Darting’s high school resume is interrupted by a decade spent coaching at Kansas State and Allen County Community College. But still, trips to state have been an important part of their lives. The Dartings cherish the memories from nine appearances in state title games, five which ended in championships.

This year’s state tournament will hold special significance as it will be Darting’s last. The tournament has been a place for him to reconnect with friends made during his lengthy career.

“Last year at the state tournament, we had just lost, and there’s 17 coaches from all over the state that came to our locker room,” Darting recalled. “I sat there and visited for an hour with them, those 17 different guys that came to talk. And that’s fun. I look forward to getting to do that again this year. You know, usually I want to go hide, to go out that hole and sneak out. But to see those former players and old coaches is a fun deal.”

Had his current T-Birds not qualified for the tournament, Darting said the sendoff given by the Shawnee Heights community was sufficient. But another trip to state will provide a chance to celebrate his retirement with other friends.

“Already this year, I’ve got calls from all over, from coaches that I knew 30 years ago,” Darting said. “And I’m proud of how many opposing coaches have sent me notes or come to see me for my last game. That means you did something.”

Still, Darting isn’t looking at the tournament as a farewell tour, but a business trip.

“You say, ‘Oh, it’s just another game.' But things like that, when you stop and think about it, when you get to this point, you’d like to go out as good as you can go out,” Darting said. “I’m not one that is holding myself hostage to a state championship. But whatever it is that we’re good enough to do, I want to do that.”

The tournament takes on a slightly different look this year. Rather than playing the quarterfinal round at the location of the semifinal and final games, KSHSAA has grouped teams in regional locations based on proximity for the higher-seeded teams, regardless of classification.

Shawnee Heights (17-8) will face top-seeded and two-time defending Class 5A state champion Kapaun Mt. Carmel at Koch Arena in Wichita at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The T-Birds face a tough task in the opening round, but Darting will remain dedicated to this year’s team until the final whistle. His feeling for this current group shows in his eyes.

“I think when they’re that age, yeah, celebrate, go on,” Darting said as he watched the current group celebrate their sub-state championship Friday. “They don’t even know it yet, but they’re gonna see in life, 10, 20 years from now, they’re gonna say, ‘Oh wow, was that fun?’ And when it’s a team that shouldn’t get it done and it gets done, that makes it even more special.”

Darting is invested not just in this current roster of T-Birds but what happens after he’s gone. He spoke passionately about freshmen Quincy Dixon, Fletcher Terrell and Sam Becker, each of whom played a significant role in reaching the tournament.

“I care so much about whoever takes over this job, because these kids deserve it,” Darting said. “There are a lot of good kids on the way up. I wanted to make sure that I left this program better for the next guy than I found it.”

TUESDAY'S OTHER STATE QUARTERFINALS

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Granted, my jury is still out on the state's new quarterfinal format, but this remains my favorite week of the high school sports season, and for what it's worth -- and it's not much -- here's my take on all 14 of this week's state basketball tournaments across the state.

If I didn't pick your team don't fret because it could bode well for you.

If I did pick the team/teams you root for, I hope it's not a jinx.

By Saturday evening we'll know, and win or lose it promises to be a fun week.

CLASS 6A BOYS

Finalists -- Shawnee Mission South (1: 24-1) vs. Mill Valley (2: 22-3).

Champion -- Shawnee Mission South. The Raiders' lone loss on the season was a 69-66 decision to Mill Valley and those two teams could meet again in Saturday's championship game. I give SM South a slight edge in a rematch.

Other contenders -- No. 3 seed Olathe North is 21-4 and is capable of beating any team in the field.

CLASS 6A GIRLS

Finalists -- Wichita Heights (1: 24-0) vs. Shawnee Mission South (2: 21-3).

Champion -- Shawnee Mission South. Wichita Heights has passed each and every test it has faced this season, but I give South a very narrow edge in a championship game matchup.

Kansas coaching legend Ron Slaymaker's Topeka High girls are on a roll entering their Class 6A quarterfinal matchup with Derby. [File photo/TSN]   

Other contenders --The winner of the quarterfinal game between No. 2 seed Derby (22-3) and No. 7 Topeka High (17-8) could mount a title charge. No. 5 seed Olathe South (20-5) has five losses to out-of-state teams and perennial 6A contender Blue Valley North (20-5), the No. 6 seed, also has a shot at the crown.

Senior Malakyah Duncan cuts down the nets after Topeka West's win over Bishop Carroll in a Class 5A sub-state final. [File photo/TSN]

CLASS 5A BOYS

Finalists -- Kapaun Mt. Carmel (1: 25-0) vs. Topeka West (3: 22-3).

Champion -- Kapaun Mt. Carmel. The Crusaders are the two-time defending champion and the team to beat again after running off 25 straight wins this winter, but Topeka West, which lost to KMC in the quarterfinals a year ago, has the firepower to challenge for the title.

Other contenders --The winner of the quarterfinal game between No. 4 seed Maize South (21-4) and No. 5 Seaman (21-4) could definitely make a run at the title as could perennial state contender Piper (18-7), which has split games with Topeka West this season.

CLASS 5A GIRLS

Finalists -- Andover (1: 23-1) vs. Hays (2: 23-1).

Champion -- Hays. The Indians' lone loss came against Class 3A power Silver Lake, the only blemish on a dominating season, while Andover will be looking for its first title under former Topeka High coach Hannah Alexander.

Other contenders -- No. 3 seed Shawnee Heights (21-4) is making its first state appearance since 2011 and has the talent to go all the way as could the winner of the quarterfinal game between No 4 seed Maize South (21-4) and No. 5 St. James Academy (20-5).  

CLASS 4A BOYS

Finalists -- Rock Creek (1: 25-0) vs. McPherson (7: 16-9).

Champion -- Rock Creek. The Mustangs have turned in a dominant season and there's no reason to believe they can't close out a perfect season. 

Other contenders -- No. 2 seed Atchison is also unbeaten in 25 games on the season while No. 5 seed Andale (18-5) is a longshot contender for the crown.

Sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein and the Hayden girls are the No. 4 seed for the Class 4A state tournament with a 19-6 record. [File photo/TSN]

CLASS 4A GIRLS

Finalists -- Wellington (1: 22-1) vs. Rock Creek (2: 22-3).

Champion -- Rock Creek. The Mustangs have put together a string of impressive victories this season, including a win over Class 3A contender Silver Lake.

Other contenders --You can never count out perennial state champion Bishop Miege, the No. 6 seed this season at 17-8. The quarterfinal winner between No. 4 seed Hayden (19-6) and No. 5 seed Andale (17-6) could also make a run at the championship.

CLASS 3A BOYS

Finalists -- Wichita Collegiate (1: 24-1) vs. Hesston (2: 24-2).

Champion -- Wichita Collegiate. Collegiate's lone defeat on the season came against two-time defending Class 5A state champ Kapaun Mt. Carmel, which is a perfect 25-0 on the season.

Other contenders -- The quarterfinal winner between No. 4 seed Holcomb (21-5) and No. 5 Silver Lake (20-6) is capable of winning the championship while No. 3 seed Pratt is an impressive 21-3.

Senior Kailyn Hanni and the Silver Lake girls enter the Class 3A state tournament with a 25-1 record after winning the state crown in 2024 and advancing to the championship game last season. [File photo/TSN]

CLASS 3A GIRLS

Finalists -- Halstead (1: 25-0) vs. Silver Lake (2: 25-1).

Champion -- Silver Lake. The Eagles won the championship in 2024 and were the runnerup a year ago. Halstead is a perfect 25-0 on the season, but it's hard to pick against Silver Lake.

Other contenders -- Holcomb, the No. 3 seed at 24-2, is likely to give Silver Lake a tough semifinal test if both teams get past their quarterfinal openers.

CLASS 2A BOYS

Finalists -- Sterling (1: 25-0) vs. Berean Academy (2: 22-2).

Champion -- Sterling. The Black Bears appear to be a good bet to close out a perfect season.

Other contenders -- No. 7 seed Rossville (17-7) has the talent and experience to knock off Berean in the quarterfinals and make a run at the crown. Other contenders include No. 5 seed St. Marys (19-7) and No. 6 St. Marys Colgan (18-7), a traditional state title contender.

CLASS 2A GIRLS

Finalists -- Eureka (4: 22-2) vs. Moundridge (2: 23-2).

Champion -- Moundridge. I give Moundridge a slight edge in a balanced field loaded with contenders.

Other contenders -- No. 8 seed Rossville (15-10) is capable of knocking off top seed and 25-1 Ellinwood in the quarterfinals while No. 3 seed St. Marys Colgan (23-2) and No. 6 Sacred Heart (22-4) are defintely title threats.

By JUSTIN BURKHARDT

TopSports.news

The Topeka High girls made the more than five-hour trip to Liberal to face the 3-seed Liberal Redskins Friday night with a trip to the Class 6A state tournament on the line.

Topeka High girls basketball is headed back to the Class 6A state tournament after a 65-58 sub-state win at Liberal Friday night. [Photo by Justin Burkhardt/TSN]

The Trojans entered the matchup riding a 10-game winning streak and continued their winning ways with a 65-58 win at No. 3 seed Liberal to earn a state berth.

Coming off a perfect February that saw them capture the Centennial League title for the first time since 2022 the Trojans advanced to the sub-state championship after defeating Maize in the first round, setting up the showdown with Liberal for a chance to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2022.

The Trojans reached this same stage a year ago when they traveled to Wichita Heights with a state berth on the line but came up short.

One year later, however, the story has a different ending.

In year two under legendary coach Ron Slaymaker, the Lady Trojans are going dancing.

Senior Keimara Marshall opened the scoring with the first basket of the game to give the Trojans an early lead, but Liberal quickly answered when Shamari Lewis scored to tie the game at 2–2.

Topeka High responded with a 5-0 run to take a 7–2 advantage before Liberal found the basket again.

Sophomore Hailey Caryl helped the Trojans create separation late in the first quarter, scoring six of her 16 points in the final minutes to help Topeka High take a 15-7 lead into the second quarter.

Caryl opened the second with another basket and completed the three-point play at the free-throw line to make it 18–9.

Topeka High junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, who was held to just two points in the first quarter, knocked down a 3-pointer as she began to find her rhythm offensively, pushing the lead to 23-13.

However, the Trojans became sloppy with the ball, allowing Liberal to go on a 7–0 run to cut the deficit to three at 23–20.

High senior Sasha Gotru stopped the run after drawing a foul and hitting the first free throw. On the second attempt, senior Trish Short grabbed the offensive rebound and put it back in to extend the Trojan lead to 26-20.

Rayton then knocked down two free throws late in the half to give Topeka High a 29–24 lead at the break.

Rayton had nine of her team-high 30 points by halftime.

“Shy will always show up. She could have the worst three quarters of her life, but she will show up in the fourth. She's absolutely a workhorse,” said Marshall about her teammate.

“We went into the locker room at halftime and I told myself I need to wake up and get going to help my team,” Rayton said.

The Trojans started the third quarter slowly as the Redskins opened with a 6-2 run to tie the game for the first time since it was 2-2 early in the first quarter.

But Topeka High quickly regained control.

Marshall attacked the basket for a layup, followed by another bucket from Gotru. Rayton then began to heat up, scoring on back-to-back possessions and knocking down consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the Trojan lead to 47-36.

“She was so far below what she normally plays, and I kept wondering what was going on with her,” Slaymaker said. “But I’m glad she got it going for us after halftime.”

Marshall added another basket late in the quarter as the Trojans carried a 49-40 lead into the fourth. Despite the nine-point advantage, foul trouble loomed large for Topeka High entering the f inal period, with three of the five starters carrying three or more fouls.

“We just kept saying that we need each other and that we can't play without one person,” Marshall said. “We need every single piece. So if somebody fouls out, we're in trouble.”

Rayton delivered when it mattered most. With Caryl getting six of her seven assists in the fourth quarter, the junior Rayton exploded for 11 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.

With the win, Marshall will be heading to her first-ever state tournament in basketball.

“My team has a lot of heart and we definitely play for each other,” Marshall said. “As much as we might want to give up in hard games or when someone is struggling, we pick each other up and remember the bigger picture. Our turnaround is definitely something we did for each other.”

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After eking out a pair of one-point regular-season wins over city and Centennial League rival Washburn Rural, Topeka High coach Robbie Sanders knew his Trojans faced a tough task against the Junior Blues in Wednesday's Class 6A sub-state semifinal in The Dungeon.

Senior Bryson McComas shared team-high honors for Topeka High with 14 points in Wednesday's 57-50 sub-state win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Topeka High senior Elisha Guest had 13 points with four 3-pointers in Wednesday's 57-50 sub-state victory over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

But for the third time this season High was good enough to get the job done, taking a 57-50 victory to give the Trojans a three-game sweep over the Junior Blues by a total of just nine points.

"We gutted it out,'' Sanders said. "It was tough to beat those guys once, let alone three times.

"They're always so well-prepared and (John) Hoytal's such a physical presence and Cooper (Schmidt). It's just an interesting challenge that they give us, but I'm really proud of the way the guys handled it tonight.''

With the win No. 8 seed West seed Topeka High, now 13-11, is headed to a sub-state championship game Saturday at No. 1 seed Maize after winning only one game and failing to make into the 6A sub-state field in 2024-2025.

Washburn Rural, which finished the season 11-12, jumped out to a 5-0 advantage Wednesday, but Topeka High rallied to lead 18-13 by the end of the opening quarter.

The Trojans continued to fight off Washburn Rural in the second quarter en route to a 29-24 halftime advantage and led 40-35 at the end of the third stanza, ending the quarter with a 3-pointer from senior Ajalon Ross.

Topeka High got 13 points from senior Ajalon Ross in Wednesday's 57-50 Class 6A sub-state semifinal win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Ross's trey began a 9-0 run as the Trojans opened up their biggest lead of the night, 46-35, on two free throws from senior Jalen Aldridge with 5:31 remaining.

Topeka High eventually went up by 12 points (54-42) at the 2:03 mark on a free throw from junior Dae'Veon Campbell and the Junior Blues got no closer than the final margin the rest of the way.

Senior Bryson McComas led Topeka High with 14 points while senior Elisha Guest had 13 points with four 3-pointers and Ross also had 13 points, including a pair of traditional three-point plays and his 3-point basket.

"I didn't want my final game to be tonight,'' Ross said. "I wanted to go to practice tomorrow.''

"Ajalon's been through everything,'' Sanders said. "He had to wait his turn at Topeka West and he transferred over here. He started off really hot and he had some trials and tribulations but he never gave up.

"He shows up to work every day and he showed up when we needed it the most tonight.'' 

Senior John Hoytal scored a game-high 24 points in Wednesday's 57-50 Washburn Rural loss to Topeka High. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Hoytal, a senior, kept Washburn Rural in the hunt with a game-high 24 points, including a seven of eight performance at the free throw line.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural earned nine of 11 spots on the 2026 All-City boys swimming and diving team, led by Class 6A state champion Daniel Allen, after the Junior Blues capturned their seventh straight city team championship.

The 2026 All-City boys swimming first team -- Front, from left: Alexander Jeffries, Washburn Rural; Davin Potts, Washburn Rural; Braeden Montgomery, Washburn Rural; Benjamin Allen, Washburn Rural; Andres Morao-Jaspe, Washburn Rural. Back, from left: Kinser Barbosa, Seaman; Daniel Allen, Washburn Rural; Thomas Appuhn, Washburn Rural; Zain Chaudhry, Washburn Rural; Castle Wallace, Washburn Rural; Will Stewart, Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The 2026 All-City boys swimming and diving second team -- Front row, from left: Quenten Jessop, Washburn Rural; Henry Sterling, Cair Paravel/Hayden; William Toland, Topeka High; Wyatt Ratteree, Topeka High; Jackson Wills, Topeka High; Owen Gann, Shawnee Heights. Back row, from left: Patrick Luke, Hayden; Joseph Jensen, Washburn Rural; Miller Reid, Hayden; Camp LeDuc, Seaman; Theron Carlson, Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] 

Allen capped his junior season with the state title in the 100-yard butterfly while also placing third in the 100 backstroke and swimming on the Junior Blues' fourth-place 200 medley relay and seventh-place 200 free relay.

Sophomore Thomas Appuhn also earned four medals in the state meet, posting fourth-place finishes in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke and swimming on Rural's fourth-place 200 medley relay and seventh-place 200 free relay.

Junior Andres Morao-Jaspe and sophomore Castle Wallace also earned 6A state medals as Washburn Rural placed sixth as team and are joined on the All-City team by Benjamin Allen, Zain Chaudhry, Alexander Jeffries, Braeden Montgomery and Davin Potts. 

Appuhn, Morao-Jaspe and Wallace are all first-team All-City repeat honorees while D. Allen made the team as a freshman before sitting out his sophomore high school season.

Seaman's Kinser Barbosa and Topeka High's Will Stewart are also repeat first-team All-City selections.

All-City capsules:

By JUSTIN BURKHARDT

TopSports.news

The postseason is officially under way, and while Topeka High has been one of the hottest girls basketball teams in the state, the playoffs bring a new level of intensity where anything can happen.

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored 26 points to lead Topeka High to a 69-45 Class 6A sub-state win over Maize Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]

Sophomore Hailey Caryl scored 19 points for Topeka High in a Class 6A 69-45 sub-state win over Maize Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]

Ron Slaymaker's Trojans hosted Maize Tuesday in a Class 6A sub-state semifinal, and after a slow start, Topeka High took care of business, taking a 69-45 win.

Topeka High got off to a promising start when junior Ahsieryrhuajh Rayton knocked down a 3-pointer to open the scoring.

But the Eagles quickly responded with an 11-0 run to take an 11-3 lead, holding High scoreless for four minutes as the Trojans’ offense stalled.

Rayton helped spark life back into her squad by attacking the rim, drawing contact, and converting both free throws. She then forced a turnover and finished at the basket to cut the deficit to 11-7.

Despite the push, Maize held a 16-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Trojan senior Keimara Marshall made sure the momentum didn’t stay with the Eagles for long. She opened the second quarter with back-to-back steals, igniting an 11-0 High run.

Her first steal led to a breakaway layup, and the second turned into an assist to sophomore Hailey Caryl.

“Coach knew that we could play better than we were playing,” Caryl said. “But at the end of the the quarter, he just talked to us about how we just need to get our stuff together. Like, there's no reason we should be playing like this when this game is make it or break it. He just wanted to motivate us to get going.”

Marshall’s defensive energy fueled the comeback, giving the Trojans a 17-16 lead.

They kept building from there, finding Caryl for a layup before Rayton closed the half with five more points -- part of her game-high 26 -- to give High a 28-21 advantage at halftime.

“We changed our defense to be a little more aggressive and then things just started to roll,” Slaymaker said. “We got some loose balls and it was from the runouts and shots that go in -- and bingo. That’s why basketball is a really interesting game.”

The Trojans carried that momentum into the third quarter.

Senior Sasha Gotru got involved offensively, and Rayton went on a personal 7-0 run to stretch the lead to 37-21. Sophomore Sophia Brown made a big impact inside, scoring four straight points to push the lead to 47-31.

High maintained control throughout the third quarter, taking a 53-38 lead into the fourth quarter.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Junior Brecken Garrett shot a 739 three-game series to capture the individual championship in Tuesday's Class 6A bowling regional at Lawrence's Royal Crest Lanes, leading Washburn Rural to the team championship by a 3,614-3,341 margin over Mill Valley.

Washburn Rural's boys bowling team won the team title in Wednesday's Class 6A regional in Lawrence. [Photo courtesy of Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports]

Washburn Rural junior Brecken Garrett (left) captured the individual championship in Wednesday's Class 6A boys bowling regional at Lawrence. [Photo courtesy of Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports]

Garrett shot games of 216, 258 and 265 to take the individual crown by 26 pins over Olathe Northwest junior Carter Bloomcamp (713).

The Junior Blues also got a sixth-place finish from junior Andrew Faurot (674), an eighth-place showing from senior Cody Spangler (648), a 12th from senior Parker Dixson (636) and a 13th-place finish from sophomore Zachary Hancock (626), while senior Jackson Keller shot a 576 to round out Washburn Rural's lineup.

Topeka High finished 11th as a team, led by senior Jayden Wilson's 562 series.

Washburn Rural's girls also earned a team berth for next week's state tournament in Wichita, placing third behind Mill Valley (3,416) and Centennial League rival Junction City (3,099) with a score of 3,011. 

Junior Megan Glinka placed eighth in Wednesday's Class 6A girls bowling regional at Lawrence, leading the Junior Blues to a state berth with a third-place finish. [Photo courtesy of Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports]

Rural junior Megan Glinka tied for seventh and placed eighth on a tiebreaker with a 633 series, including games of 221 and 222.

The Junior Blues also got a 12th-place finish from Kenzie Lawson (591) while senior Camrynn Ahrens (556), freshman Peyton Lawson (503), senior Stella Gordon (487) and senior Ellen Austin (447) rounded out Rural's lineup.

Topeka High finished 12th as a team.

The 6A state tournament will be held next Friday, March 4, at Wichita's Bowlero Northrock.

Boys competition will get under way at 8:50 a.m., followed by the girls at 1:40 p.m. 

CLASS 6A REGIONAL BOWLING

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

By his own admission, Topeka High's Elisha Guest has been struggling with his 3-point shooting recently, and the 5-foot-7 senior guard got off to another tough start Tuesday night at Washburn Rural.

Topeka High celebrates Tuesday's 56-55 win at Washburn Rural. [Photo by Doug Walker/TSN]

But after that game-opening miss, Guest caught fire, scoring a game-high 25 points with seven 3s to lead Topeka High to a 56-55 win over the Junior Blues while High was able to clinch a winning regular-season record.

"My first shot was an air ball as everybody saw, but then I think I hit two or three in a row and I got rolling after that,'' Guest said.

"It's great to get it back. I've been struggling from the 3-point line but the rest of the team, they've kept my head up so I was able to hit a lot this evening.''

Topeka High's win was not secure until Rural senior John Hoytal's potential game-winning shot at the buzzer bounced around and out, but all that mattered to first-year High coach Robbie Sanders was that the Trojans found a way to pull out the victory after a five-point home loss to city rival Topeka West a night earlier.

"I told these boys that just look at my face and look at me from the beginning of the season until now, I've got a lot more gray hair and a lot less hair, but I'm happy we were able to find a way,'' Sanders said. "I think last night, even though we lost there were a lot more positives than negatives and just competing the way we did against Topeka West gave us a lot of confidence going into today.

"We started off strong and we had some lapses, but we were able to make enough plays in the end.''

Topeka High, now 12-11 overall and 5-5 in the league after winning just one game last season, led much of Tuesday's game, including an 18-9 advantage at the end of the first quarter and a 21-11 edge early in the second stanza.

But Washburn Rural (11-10, 4-5) battled back to take a 30-29 lead on a Brooks Ballard 3-pointer to end the first half and the game was tied 43-all at the start of the fourth.

Rural led 49-46 with five minutes remaining after a Zach Wright basket, but Topeka High scored seven straight points to go up 53-49 on a Jalen Aldridge trey and went in front 56-52 on a Guest 3.

Hoytal hit a 3-pointer to pull Rural within a point with 43.2 seconds left and Dominic Nimz came up with a steal with 20 seconds remaining to give the Junior Blues a change to pull out the win.

Washburn Rural missed a shot with 2.7 seconds on the clock, but Topeka High turned the ball over with two ticks left and Hoytal got a good look on his last-second miss.

Topeka High senior Bryson McComas backed Guest with 15 points while Aldridge had nine.

"It was a must win and 'E' really stepped up today, Bryson made some plays, Ajalon (Ross) got us started off hot after not being able to play yesterday because of illness,'' Sanders said. "I'm just happy with the guys.''

Washburn Rural senior John Hoytal scored 20 points in Tuesday's 56-55 loss to Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

Hoytal led Rural with 20 points while Ballard added 11.

Washburn Rural will close out its regular season Friday at home against Manhattan while Topeka High will await the postseason pairings.

 "We could potentially have a home game if things shake our way tonight and Friday,'' Sanders said. "If not we could potentially go to Wichita, but I think all the games and the teams that we could face will be pretty good competition but winnable games for us.''

TOPEKA HIGH BOYS 56, WASHBURN RURAL 55

Topeka High       18 11 14 13 -- 56

Washburn Rural   9 21 13 12 -- 55

Topeka High (12-11, 5-5) – Aldridge 2-6 3-4 9, Guest 9-14 0-0 25, McComas 5-12 3-4 15, Ross 2-4 0-0 5, McFadden 0-2 0-0 0, Carter 0-0 0-0 0, Wilkerson 0-0 0-0 0, Redmond 1-1 0-0 0, Luarks 0-1 0-0 0, Campbell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-40 6-8 56. 

Washburn Rural (?-?, ?-?) – Nimz 1-1 2-2 4, Ballard 5-11 0-0 11, Hoytal 7-11 4-5 20, Chooncharoen 1-3 0-0 2, Schmidt 2-5 0-0 4, Wright 3-5 0-1 6, O'Connor 3-6 1-1 8, Bradley 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-44 7-9 55.

3-point goals – Topeka High 12 (Guest 7, Aldridge 2, McComas 2, Ross), Washburn Rural 4 (Hoytal, Ballard O'Connor). Total fouls – Topeka High 10, Washburn Rural 10. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

With Topeka High's girls trailing Washburn Rural by eight points with six remaining Tuesday night, the Trojans' chance at a victory and any shot at a Centennial League championship looked pretty bleak.

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, shooting over Washburn Rural's Maddie Vickery (5), came up big down the stretch in Tuesday's 59-55 Topeka High win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

But a 15-3 game-ending run, including the final seven points, turned things around in a hurry, with the Trojans rallying for a 59-55 win to earn at least a share of the league title while stretching their winning streak to nine games. 

"Defense,'' Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker said. "We got a couple of interceptions there at a crucial time and we got the ball back and made the free throws and wow!

"From the get go we have emphasized defense. Defense is your offense and I think it maybe finally kicked in that we can score a lot of points if we're playing really good defense and the nine in a row here that's what's kicked in, that they've really bought in. We've been shooting high percentages, but a lot of it's been interceptions and layups and stuff like that.''

With Tuesday's come-from-behind victory, the Trojans, 15-8 overall and 8-2 in the Centennial League, now have a chance to win the league title if outright if Washburn Rural beats Manhattan Friday night at Rural.

"How about that?'' Slaymaker said. "This is not your chump change league and now we're yelling for Washburn Rural on Friday and that should be a good game.''

Tuesday's Rural-Topeka High game was close throughout, with Washburn Rural (15-7, 5-4) leading by two points after each of the first three quarters.

The Junior Blues opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run, taking a 52-44 lead with 6:23 remaining on a hoop from senior Hallie Walker.

But the Trojans fought back to tie the game at 52 on a Trish Short free throw with 4:23 left.

Then, after a 3-pointer from Washburn Rural junior Brooklyn Rutherford, Topeka High answered with a huge 3-pointer from junior star Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton to knot the game at 55 before senior Sasha Gotru put the Trojans ahead to stay with 1:29 left and Rayton clinched the win with two free throws.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After leading by as many as 12 points late in the first half, Topeka West had to withstand threat after threat from USD 501 rival Topeka High the rest of the way Monday night.

Topeka West junior Prince Lassiter had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds in Monday's 78-73 win at Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

But the Chargers had an answer for everything the Trojans threw at them, holding on for a 78-73 win in the Dungeon.

"I felt we were getting high percentage shots and we were doing everything we could to stop those streaks, but they were lights out,'' Topeka West coach Christian Ulsaker said of the Trojans. "And it was a playoff atmosphere, and that's what you want. I love to see it.'' 

Topeka High got a career-high 30-point game, including six 3-pointers, from Trojan senior Jalen Aldridge and canned 14 3-pointers as a team, but the Chargers exhibited plenty of firepower themselves, with 6-foot-6 junior Prince Lassiter recording a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead four West players in double figures.

"We always have to deal with adversity, so it's really nothing new for us and we always battle through it,'' Lassister said. "There's definitely going to be a lot of teams that are able to shoot that three-ball really good and T-High, they're a good team that can shoot the 3, so that's a good look for what we're going to come up against in sub-state and state.''

Lassiter got West off to a fast start with 11 points in the first quarter and also came up big late, scoring six points in the fourth quarter, including a hoop inside the final minute that put the Chargers up by eight points.

"I appreciate that my teammates are always feeding me the ball so I can go to work,'' Lassiter said.

Topeka West also got 20 points from senior Malakyah Duncan, 17 from senior Keimani Paul and 10 from senior Jay'Veon Traylor en route to improving to 18-3 on the season.

Monday's win was the Chargers' second of the season over the rival Trojans, with Topeka West also topping High in the championship game of the Topeka Invitational Tournament in mid-January.

Topeka High senior Jalen Aldridge (1), battling Topeka West senior Malakyah Duncan for a loose ball, scored a game-high 30 points with six 3-pointers Monday night, while Duncan had 20 points. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

In addition to Aldridge's big night, Topeka High, now 11-11, got 21 points and four 3-pointers from senior Bryson McComas and 10 points and a pair of 3s from senior Octavian McFadden.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Playing its first of two back-to-back games, Topeka High girls basketball did exactly what Trojans coach Ron Slaymaker wanted to see Monday night, tuning up for Tuesday's Centennial League road game at Washburn Rural with a 74-35 win over USD 501 rival Topeka West on Senior Night at High.

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton came off the bench to score a game-high 22 points Mondsay night in Topeka High's 74-35 win over Topeka West [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Topeka High, which improved to 14-8 on the season, took control early which allowed the Trojans to work on different aspects of their game while Slaymaker was able to empty his bench, playing 14 different players.

"We've got a pretty big game tomorrow night and we tried do some different things tonight that we would have done in practice and we got to do that in game conditions and that's kind of what we wanted,'' Slaymaker said.

Slaymaker said he's not worried by the fact that the Trojans are playing on back-to-back nights.

"The conditioning factor, most kids this time of year, they can play two games in a row,'' Slaymaker said.  "Three, that's a stretch, but two in a row I've never worried about.''

The Trojans, who have now won eight straight games, jumped out to 20-8 first-quarter lead and were in command 41-14 at the half.

Topeka High led by as many as 42 points (65-23) late in the third quarter and took a 65-26 advantage into the fourth quarter, forcing a running clock.

The Trojans started all five of their seniors Monday night, with High junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton coming off the bench to score a game-high 22 points and lead four Trojans in double figures.

Seniors Keimara Marshall and Sasha Gotru backed Rayton with 14 and 12 points while sophomore Hailey Caryl had 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Topeka West was short-handed for Monday's game, playing without injured senior Addaline Hall and lost junior Aveah McGlory to an injury in the second half.

Junior Sydney VanDyke paced the Chargers (5-16) with 10 points while junior Patience Allen added eight points.

Topeka West will also play back-to-back nights, hosting Turner in a United Kansas Conference contest on Tuesday.

TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 74, TOPEKA WEST 35

Topeka West   8 6 12 9  -- 35

Topeka High 20 21 24 9 -- 74

Topeka West (5-16) – Allen 4-9 0-0 8, Gonzales 0-7 0-0 0, VanDyke 3-9 4-6 10, Kutina 0-3 0-0 0, McGlory 2-4 0-0 4, Ogles 3-6 2-4 8, Perkins 1-2 3-4 5, Robinson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-48 6-10 50.

Topeka High (14-8) – Short 1-3 0-0 2, Triplett 1-2 0-0 2, Whayne 0-0 0-0 0, Marshall 6-12 2-2 14, Gotru 5-6 1-1 12, Hartz 2-4 0-0 4, Rayton 10-19 0-0 22, Caryl 5-10 1-2 11, Brown 1-1 0-0 2, Marshall 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 1-3 0-0 3, Conley 1-3 0-0 2, Robbins 0-1 0-0 0, Cortez 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-64 4-5 74. 

3-point goals – Topeka High 4 (Rayton 2, Gotru, Martin). Total fouls – Topeka West 4, Topeka High 8. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural led the way with 12 state qualifiers for the Class 6A state wrestling tournament as all nine Shawnee County teams qualified at least one competitor for state, with 11 individual regional champions.

Leading Rural to a third-place 6A regional team finish were regional champions Landen Kocher-Munoz, a senior 144-pounder, and junior 215-pounder Jadyn Baum.

Silver Lake led the Shawnee County contingent with a county-high five regional champions and a county-best runnerup regional team finish in 3A-1A, with the Eagles getting regional titles from senior 120-pounder Bryce Cormier, senior 138-pounder Garret Holmes, senior 157-pounder Jayden Waterer, senior 190-pounder Paxton Willett and sophomore 285-pounder Carter Spreer.

Shawnee Heights qualified 10 wrestlers for the 5A state tournament, led by freshman 113-pound regional champion Jacob Bonebrake and 150-pound junior champ Brody Brown while Hayden got 4A regional titles from junior 175-pounder Caleb Menke and senior 190-pounder Jude Krentz.  

Here's a look at Saturday's regional tournaments involving Shawnee County high schools:

Washburn Rural senior 144-pounder Landen Kocher-Munoz, a two-time Class 6A state champion and a three-time state finalist, won a regional title Saturday at Wichita North. [File photo/TSN]

Kocher-Munoz, Baum power Rural to third-place regional showing

Regional champions Landen Kocher-Munoz and Jadyn Baum led 12 Class 6A qualifiers for perennial state contender Washburn Rural, which finished third as a team in the 6A West regional at Wichita North.

Kocher-Munoz, a senior two-time state champion and three-time state finalist, won the regional title at 144 pounds to improve to 35-4 on the season.

Kocher-Munoz, a defending state champion, capped his regional title run with a 13-5 major decision over Manhattan senior Cameron Coonrod (42-5).

Baum, a junior 215-pounder, improved to 25-4 on the season with a 16-1 technical fall over Wichita South senior Jayden Kirk (28-5). Baum posted a third-place state finish in 2025 as a sophomore. 

Washburn Rural got runnerup regional finishes from 113-pound freshman Andrew Peterson (23-10), 120-pound senior Ryder Harrison (25-6), 138-pound senior Cooper Stivers (31-6) and junior Brodye Kocher-Munoz (27-7) while Rural senior Brenner Beninga (175) qualified fourth for state, freshman Hayden Broxterman (106), junior Gavin Homeyer (190) and sophomore Kaiden Marshall (285) placed fifth, sophomore Owen Dowell (132) was sixth at regionals and sophomore Caleb Schwartz (165) seventh.

Topeka High will be represented at state by senior 157-pounder Jordan Stiner and junior 175-pounder Landon Snyder, who both posted eighth-place regional finishes.

Maize won the team title in the 6A West Regional with 272.5 points, followed by Manhattan with 251 points and Rural with 223.5 points. Topeka High placed 16th as a team with 29 points.

The 6A state meet will be contested Friday and Saturday at the Advent Health Sports Park in Overland Park.

T-Birds qualify 10 for 5A state meet

Shawnee Heights placed fourth as a team in Saturday's Class 5A East regional at Lansing while qualifying 10 wrestlers for this weekend's state tournament in Park City.

The T-Birds got regional championships from 113-pound freshman Jacob Bonebrake and 150-pound junior Brody Brown.

Bonebrake improved to 17-1 with a 3 minute, 37-second pin over Blue Valley Southwest junior Caden Magdefran (19-8) in the 113-pound regional final while Brown improved to 33-6 with a 5:27 win by fall over De Soto junior Eli Anderson (27-15).

Evan Johnson, a 175-pound senior (32-8) posted a runnerup regional finish while sophomore Mason Moore (126), freshman Markis Owens (157) and junior Jaiden Converse (165) qualified for state with sixth-place regional finishes, junior Dallas Owens (138) and sophomore Carter Kamanda (144) placed seventh and sophomore Reid Niedfeldt (132) and junior Landyn Bafford (285) qualified eighth.

Highland Park will be represented at state by senior 175-pounder Philiciono Rice (14-19) and junior 165-pounder Joshua Hernandez-Torres (15-15), with Rice placing seventh and Hernandez-Torres eighth at regionals.

Basehor-Linwood won the 5A East regional team crown with 266 points while Heights was fourth with 156.5 points and Highland Park 16th with 17 points.

The 5A state tournament will be held Friday and Saturday in Park City.

yBy TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

The Topeka High girls shook off a sluggish start Friday to defeat Emporia 58-40 and remain in the Centennial League race with two games remaining in the regular season.

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton led Topeka High with 20 points in Friday's 58-40 Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Emporia, with just one league win to its credit, led the Trojans three minutes into the second period, 15-14. Topeka High responded with a 10-0 run and went to the locker room leading 27-21 at the half. But when the Trojans returned for the second half, their faces showed the effect of a Ron Slaymaker halftime lecture.

“I get pretty fired up. I try to be positive, but I wasn’t real positive about halftime. And they deserved it,” Slaymaker said. “But we played really well for seven games in a row. And hey, somewhere down the line in sports, you take a little dip. You know you don’t want to. Don’t plan on it. But you do. And we did.

“They got gnawed on a little bit a halftime. As a coach, you can’t do that very often. And I hope I don’t have to again.”

Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, the city’s leading scorer at about 23 points per game, scored just three points in the first half. But the junior went to work, racking up 14 points in the third period. The Trojans blitzed the Spartans 22-9 in the third quarter and ran away with their eighth straight win.

Topeka High senior Trish Short scored 13 points Friday, helping the Trojans take a 58-40 Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

“I feel like we started out slow because we didn’t know Emporia would run as much as they did,” senior Trish Short said. “The first game we played against them (a 63-38 win at Emporia), they weren’t running as much. In the past few games, we’ve been winning. So, this game we’re thinking ‘Ok, we’re gonna go in, win easily.’ But no, Emporia came out with a good fight. We had to really step it up in the second half.”

Rayton finished with 20 points, followed by Short’s 13 and Sasha Gotru’s 11.

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

Topeka High shot the lights out for three quarters, then held on desperately to upset Emporia, ranked seventh in Class 5A, 73-69 Friday.

Senior Bryson McComas led a balanced Topeka High attack with 19 points in Friday's 73-69 Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Topeka High scorched the nets for 16 three-pointers in the first three periods to build a 60-46 lead. The Spartans mounted a furious rally, outscoring the Trojans 23-13 in the final period, but couldn’t overcome the Trojans’ sharpshooting.

“This was a very, very big win for us,” said Topeka High coach Robbie Sanders. “We were on a four-game losing streak, and just needed to win desperately. So, I’m just happy for the guys.

“We’ve got to clean up our late-game execution. I dang near had a heart attack over there. But, like I told the guys, I don’t complain about winning.”

Sanders admitted the Emporia rally might have done in previous iterations of the Topeka High team.

“I see a lot of growth,” Sanders said. “Emporia is a tough bunch of kids. They’re strong, they’re physical and they’re well-coached. We knew they would make a run. I was just glad we were able to make enough plays to hold on.

“I just want our guys to believe that we can beat anybody. We’ve got a competitive bunch of guys that can play ball, and we can play with some of the best teams in the state.”

Senior Jalen Aldridge scored 16 points with four 3-pointers in Friday's 73-69 Centennial League win over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Senior Ajalon Ross scored 14 points with four 3-pointers in Friday's 73-69 Topeka High win over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

The Trojans took turns displaying the hot hand. Seniors Jalen Aldridge and Ajalon Ross hit crucial 3-pointers in the first half. Bryson McComas tossed in 12 points in the first half.

Senior Octavian McFadden scored 18 points with four 3-pointers in Topeka High's 73-69 Centennial League win over Emporia Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Then, after intermission, Octavian McFadden – crowned Homecoming King prior to the game – caught fire. The senior hit six shots in a row, four of them 3-pointers, to tally 16 points in the third period.

“Every shot I took was catch-and-shoot, so all credit goes to my teammates who were finding me open,” McFadden said. “Every day at practice, every game, I’m ready for that opportunity.”

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural junior Daniel Allen, a multiple event city and Centennial League individual and relay gold medalist. leads the city contingent for the state swimming championships Friday and Saturday at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatics Center.

Washburn Rural junior Daniel Allen is the top Class 6A seed for the 100 butterfly and the No. 2 seed for the 100 backstroke. [File photo/TSN] 

Allen, a multiple Class 6A medalist as a freshman in 2024 before sitting out the '25 high school season, is the No. 1 seed for the 100-yard butterfly (51.39 seconds) and the No. 2 seed in the 100 backstroke (52.82).

City and Centennial League team champion Washburn Rural will be well-represented in the 6A state meet, with sophomore Thomas Appuhn (200 individual medley, 100 backstroke), junior Andres Morao-Jaspe (200 individual medley, 100 backstroke) and freshman Braeden Montgomery (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle) all qualifying in two individual events while sophomore Castle Wallace is qualified in the 100 breaststroke, sophomore Quenten Jessop is qualified in the 50 freestyle and freshman Benjamin Allen is qualified in the 100 butterfly.

Washburn Rural sophomore Thomas Appuhn is the No. 4 seed in Class 6A for the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 backstroke. [File photo/TSN]

Appuhn is the No. 4 seed in the 200-yard individual medley (2:01.27) and the No. 4 seed in the 100 backstroke (55.50).

The Junior Blues are also qualified in the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay.

Topeka High senior Will Stewart is qualified in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle.

Seaman junior Kinser Barbosa is the No. 5 Class 5A-1A seed in the 100 freestyle and the No. 7 seed in the 50 freestyle. [File photo/TSN]

In 5A-1A Seaman junior Kinser Barbosa is the No. 5 seed in the 100 freestyle (49.23) and the No. 7 seed in the 50 free (22.41).

Hayden sophomore Patrick Luke is an individual qualifier in the 50 free while Seaman is qualified in the 200 medley, 200 free and 400 free relays and Hayden is qualified in the 400 free relay.  

The three-day state meet will get under way with Thursday's diving prelims and semis, with the 5A-1A event at 10 a.m. and 6A at 4:30 p.m., but the city does not have a qualifier in either of those events.

The 5A-1A swimming preliminaries will start at 10 a.m. on Friday, with the 6A prelims following at 4 p.m.

Championship 5A-1A finals will get under way at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by the 6A finals at 4 o'clock. 

STATE SWIMMING/DIVING SCHEDULE 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Shawnee Heights' girls wrestling team turned in a strong performance in Saturday's Class 5A East regional at Bonner Springs, posting a runnerup team finish while advancing all 14 competitors to the state tournament Feb. 27-28 at Park City.

Shawnee Heights sophomore Olive Jones (top) won the 135-pound championship in Saturday's Class 5A East regional. [File photo/TSN] 

Shawnee Heights senior Cianna Graves won the 155-pound championship in Saturday's Class 5A East regional. [File photo/TSN]

The T-Birds, ranked No. 3 in 5A by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, got individual regional championships from 135-pound sophomore Olive Jones and 155-pound senior Cianna Graves and put four other wrestlers in the finals, finishing second to top-ranked Basehor-Linwood by a 275-212.5 margin.

Jones improved to 35-1 on the season with a 1 minute, 25-second win by pin over Basehor-Linwood sophomore Willow Rademacher (30-10) in the 135 final while Graves improved to 31-2 with a 5-1 decision over Bonner Springs senior Addison Vogel (25-3) at 155.

The T-Birds got second-place finishes from freshman 120-pounder Brinnley Morris (17-3), junior 125-pounder Audrey Hinkly (25-12), senior 145-pounder Olivia Stevens (29-5) and junior 190-pounder Brooklyn Binkley (20-11) while sophomore Bianca Juarez (110 pounds) posted a third-place finish.

Freshmen Makynzie Allen (100) and Stella Engel (235) qualified with fourth-place regional finishes while freshman Raelyn Kelly (130) finished fifth, senior Shelby Watson (170) sixth, sophomores Halle Hill (115) and Evelyn Ruby (140) seventh and freshman Carmarra Smith (105) eighth.

Highland Park senior Makayla Cadet, the defending 5A state champion at 190 pounds, earned a shot to defend her title with a third-place regional finish. Cadet is 20-2 on the season.   

Washburn Rural senior Emme Blanco won the Class 6A West 145-pound regional title Saturday at Wichita South, helping Rural finish third as a team. [File photo/TSN]

 Washburn Rural senior Elia Smith won the 170-pound title in Saturday's Class 6A West regional at Wichita South for the third-place Junior Blues. [File photo/TSN]

Rural regional champs Blanco, Smith lead 13 Junior Blues 6A qualifiers

Washburn Rural seniors Emme Blanco and Elia Smith captured individual regional championships in the Class 6A West regional Saturday at Wichita South, powering the Junior Blues to a third-place team finish with 13 state qualifiers.

Blanco, now 37-3 on the season, won the 145-pound title with a 5:35 pin in the finals over Garden City freshman Aria Cordes while Smith, 32-3, earned a 4-1 decision over Derby senior Chloe Spears (36-6) in the 170-pound regional final.

The Junior Blues got third-place regional finishes from 125-pound senior Lacey Middleton (36-6), 140-pound senior Madi Blanco (35-4) and freshman 155-pounder Raella Ebanez (31-8) while freshman 105-pounder Aliyah Tangpricha (25-5), freshman 135-pounder Alea Estep (21-16), 190-pound junior Lily Davis (33-10) and sophomore Emma Mehl (24-14) placed fourth.

Junior Dixie Day (120) qualified for state with a sixth-place regional finish while freshman Ashlyn Johnson (110) finished seventh and freshman Hadley Rosenbaum (100) and junior Rylee-Jade Ebanez (130) placed eighth.

Topeka High freshman 235-pounder Kya Dawkins qualified for state with a seventh-place regional finish while senior 170-pounder Taniza Huggins advanced with an eighth-place finish.

The 6A state tournament will be contested Feb. 27-28 at the AdventHealth Sports Park in Overland Park.

By VINCE LOVERGINE

TopSports.news

The turnovers the Topeka High girls create night in and night out to create points on the offensive end have been a huge part in their success this year, and that was the story again Tuesday night, as the Trojans knocked off Centennial League rival Junction City, 66-33.

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored a game-high 30 points Tuesday night in Topeka High's 66-33 win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]

“No question the defense turned into offense,'' Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker said. "We had 50 something points at the half? That’s a lot on any level. We’re not interested in how badly we can beat somebody, that’s not what this is all about. At halftime, I really tried to slow us down and that’s so hard.

"Any coach will tell you it just doesn’t work from going to go, go, go and then woah woah woah… I was so proud of that first half.''

With this seven-game winning streak the 12-8 Trojans are on, Slaymaker said it’s a great time to start doing this and he’s hoping that continues on as they’ve shot the ball very well and are playing good defense.

The Trojans started the game up 6-2 after junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton drilled a triple and then pushed it to a 12-4 lead after another three from Rayton.

It just kept raining from the floor for T-High, as sophomore Hailey Caryl had herself another stellar performance, going coast-to-coast off a turnover to put the Trojans up 21-5 and Topeka High would lead 32-5 at the end of one. 

The clinic continued as Rayton started the second quarter with another tray to give High a 35-5 lead and the Trojans stretched their lead to 43-7. After senior Trish Short and Rayton scored a quick five points, it was 50-12. The Trojans took a commanding halftime lead of 56-18.

From then on, Topeka High would not relinquish the advantage. Slaymaker emptied his bench with 1:35 left in the third quarter and the starters sat the rest of the game.

Rayton led all scorers with 30 points.

Sophomore Hailey Caryl set Topeka High's single-season assist record Tuesday night in the Trojans' 66-33 win over Junction City. [File photo/TSN]

Caryl accomplished a milestone feat, setting the Topeka High single-season assist record at 115 and counting.

“There’s no question she has a really good basketball IQ,'' Slaymaker said. "We’re constantly talking about what’s next… where’s the next pass going, the next dribble, is there going to be a shot and she’s really good at seeing that. She’s a really good all-around player and that's her value. She plays smarter than a lot of other players.''

By VINCE LOVERGINE

TopSports.news

Topeka High boys basktball dropped a 61-59 Centennial League heartbreaker to Junction City Tuesday night on a buzzer-beater.

Senior Bryson McComas scored 26 points Tuesday night but Topeka High dropped a 61-59 Centennial League heartbreaker to Junction City. [File photo/TSN]

 The Trojans led by six points (57-51) with about two minutes left in the game, but the Blue Jays pulled to within two (57-55) with 55.6 seconds left.

Senior Lovell Autry, who had a team-high 26 points, put his team on his back in the final ticks of the game, scored four straight to put the Blue Jays up 59-57 with 9.5 seconds left, forcing Topeka High coach Robbie Sanders into a timeout.

T-High inbounded and called another timeout to advance the ball with six seconds.

Trojan senior Bryson McComas, who had a stellar 26-point performance, drove to the bucket for a layup, but a Blue Jays player smacked the backboard, prompting the referees to call a goaltend, tying the game at 59-all.

With just 1.5 seconds left on the clock in regulation, Autry got open down the sideline, a hail mary pass fell right in his arms and he scored the game-winning lay-up, stunning Topeka High, 61-59.

A dejected Sanders in the locker room took a few seconds to gather his thoughts on what happened.

“In the month of January we found ways to win and this month we’ve consistently found ways to lose,” he said. “We’ve been in every game. Four game losing streak. We haven’t been able to step up and make the necessary plays to get some victories.

"I think it’s a little bit of nerves, a little bit of coaching mistakes and possibly having the wrong people in the game. This one is on me. I have to make adjustments. I have to figure out some ways to get another win.”

 It was a back and forth contest between the league rivals and the Blue Jays had the last answer. Sanders said the last player he wanted the ball in the hands of was Autry.

“I don’t understand how we allowed that to happen but things happen,'' Sanders said. "What I said to them in the locker room is, 'I’m trusting you guys to make plays but sometimes you have to be able to step up and make that play.'

"Trust is a two-way street and me placing my trust and belief in them, you got to give me something to trust and believe in. We’ll get back to work and we’ll fight and scrap and try to get a win on Friday.''

By VINCE LOVERGINE

TopSports.news

Topeka High girls basketball coach Ron Slaymaker told his players said before the season started that defense had to be a big identity of this team, leading to points in transition and the fastbreak.

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored a game-high 26 points in Thursday's 61-36 Topeka High win at Seaman. [File photo/TSN]

That was the case Thursday night as the Trojans stayed hot, avenging an earlier double-digit loss to Seaman with a 61-36 romp on the Vikings' home floor.

“I’ll tell you what we were hot on and that’s defense,” Slaymaker said. “Our defense created so much of our offense. That’s what we needed to win this game because they (Seaman) are a good team.”

Slaymaker said one big adjustment Topeka High made Thursday was how to break the zone, something they did not do against Seaman the last time these two teams met. And Slaymaker said he faults himself for not having them prepared, but did for Thursday night’s slate.

Topeka High started the game up 8-2 and started the game in a 2-3 zone, giving the Lady Vikings problems finding easy baskets. Seaman junior Jaydin Frickey hit a three to make it an 8-6 game, but that’s the closest Seaman would get the rest of the evening.

After a 7-0 run, Topeka High senior Keimara Marshall finished off a layup in transition, forcing a Seaman timeout at 15-6. Topeka High led 19-6 after one quarter.

In the second quarter, it was no different as junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton used her speed in transition and the fastbreak to get easy baskets off Seaman turnovers, scoring 18 first-half points. She helped the Trojans to a 13-0 run, dating back to the first quarter at 21-6.

“A driving force in this game was Coach Slay said at practice to look up the court and that’s what we did in this game and make that extra pass, looking inside and out and that’s what Slay harps on a lot,” Topeka High sophomore Hailey Caryl said.

Seaman senior Maddie Gragg converted an and-one and knocked down a three to cut the Viking deficit to 24-12 with 6:05 left in the half, but the Trojans just kept scoring after a three from senior Trish Short.

Seaman called another timeout a minute later, down 18, 30-12, and the Lady Trojans took a 20-point lead into halftime, 38-18.

In the second half, the third quarter saw both teams combine for 11 points, but the fourth quarter was nothing but the clinic the Trojans put on in the first two quarters. Topeka High had its biggest lead of 28 in the game thanks to Caryl’s big quarter and continuing to force those turnovers.

By VINCE LOVERGINE

TopSports.news

Seaman boys basketball, ranked No. 6 in Class 5A, has won seven of its last eight games after taking down city rival Topeka High on Thursday night at Seaman, 62-55.

Senior KaeVon Bonner scored a game-high 24 points in Thursday's 62-55 Seaman win over Topeka High. [File photo/TSN]

“I thought our defense was outstanding in the first half to hold them to 19 points,'' Seaman coach Craig Cox said. "They’re a team that’s capable of getting hot and getting on a run. Unfortunately, we didn’t do enough offensively to take advantage of that and build a bigger margin other than the six points … knowing they would respond, and they did. I knew it was going to be a battle and this was a good win for our guys.''

“One thing about this team this year is we have pretty good chemistry,” Viking senior Matthew McConnaughey said after finishing with 10 points.

The Trojans began the game with a 4-2 lead but then Seaman went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead and force a timeout for Topeka with 2:47 left in the first quarter, as the Vikings led 12-5.

It took a while for Topeka High to score its first field goal in the second quarter, scoring just three points on free throws as the Trojans trailed by eight, 16-8. They slowly crept their way back off a couple of 3-pointers from senior Bryson McComas and Elisha Guest, making it a 23-19 game.

But then Seaman senior Kae’Von Bonner converted a floater off the window as time expired for halftime, as the Vikings took a six-point lead, 25-19.

Bonner had a game-high 24 points, with 11 of them coming in the fourth quarter.

In the third quarter, Topeka High would re-take the lead for the first time since 4-2 thanks to a 9-2 run to begin the half, led by McComas, Guest (who had a team-high 19 points) and senior Jalen Aldridge as the Trojans went in front, 28-27.

Both teams would trade buckets but then Seaman built a little cushion off a Griffin Zuniga triple, making it 34-30, and the Vikings led 40-35 heading into the fourth.

The Vikings led by eight at one point, but the Trojans trimmed the deficit to two after Octavian McFadden drilled a three making it 47-45.

Seaman built a six point lead again off a Bonner bucket, but then McComas brought High within three (54-51).

But then Seaman got in the bonus early and made crucial free throws when needed.

Zuniga iced the game off a Trojans turnover with under 20 seconds remaining, putting home a layup as Seaman nabbed its 16th win on the year. Zuniga had 14 points for the Vikings.

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

After a year’s absence, the Centennial League boys swimming championship trophy will return to the Washburn Rural trophy case. The Junior Blues took revenge on last year’s champion, Manhattan, in the league meet at the Capitol Federal Natatorium Thursday.

Washburn Rural poses for a team picture after winning the 2026 Centennial League swimming championship Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

Manhattan and Washburn Rural have taken turns with the trophy since 2022, and this year was the Junior Blues’ year to take the title, scoring 511 points to Manhattan’s 421.

The Junior Blues demonstrated their depth by winning all three of the meet’s relay races. Washburn Rural and Manhattan also displayed their dominance on the all-league teams. Of the 24 swimmers and divers to receive first- or second-team All-Centennial League recognition, 12 were from Washburn Rural and eight were from Manhattan.

“It means a lot to the boys for (the trophy) to be in our trophy cabinet, for them to be able to walk by every day and see it and know that they earned it back,” Washburn Rural coach Bob Burdick said. “It leaves kind of a hollow spot when it goes away. But Manhattan’s a great competitor. Great team, great coach. So, it makes it special when you earn it.”

Junior Daniel Allen won four gold medals for team-champion Washburn Rural in Thursday's Centennial League swimming meet. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Leading the Junior Blues was junior Daniel Allen, who placed first in two individual events and was part of two first-place relays. Other top scorers included freshman Braeden Montgomery and sophomore Thomas Appuhn, both of whom were part of two winning relays and took home a first and a second in individual events.

Sophomore Thomas Appuhn was part of three victories for team-champion Washburn Rural in Thursday's Centennial League swimming meet. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Freshman Braeden Montgomery helped lead Washburn Rural to the Centennial League swimming title Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN] 

“Winning the league trophy feels great,” Appuhn said. “The team is doing really good this year and it was a team effort to get the trophy back. Getting it back was one of the key ambitions this year, so we made sure we had a diverse team that was able to swim all the events that we needed in order to get it.

“We had a developmental season last season, just trying to get more swimmers to practice and swim year round instead of just during the high school season. So this feels great.”

The only Topeka school to take home a medal was Topeka High, whose senior Will Stewart placed third in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka High girls basketball took control early Tuesday night and never looked back, avenging an earlier 11-point Centennial League loss to Hayden with a 59-47 league romp past the Wildcats at The Dungeon.

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored a game-high 23 points in Tuesday's 59-47 Topeka High win over Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Trojans, who topped the .500 mark for the first time this season, only trailed once on the night, at 3-2, and there was just one tie, at 6-6, before Topeka High, now 9-8 overall and 4-2 in the league, scored the final eight points of the opening quarter to go up 14-6.

Topeka High went on to open up a 14-point advantage (27-13) before Hayden (13-5, 4-2) scored the final seven points of the half to cut its deficit to 27-20.

But the Trojans scored the first four points of the third quarter to go back in front by double-digits and led by 14 twice before taking an 11-point (45-34) advantage at the end of the third quarter and led by as many as 17 early in the fourth.

"It's always nice to get a good start,'' Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker said. "Every coach would say that, but if you don't you don't fold your tent, but it's nice to get it and I thought we played with energy and all the things you want to play with in any game.

"And we just kept it going, pretty much through the whole game.'' 

Sophomore Hailey Caryl (40) scored 15 points Tuesday as Topeka High improved to 9-8 with a 59-47 win over Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton paced the Trojans with a game-high 23 points while sophomore Hailey Caryl added 15 points and all seven Topeka High players that saw action cracked the scoring column as High won its third straight game.

"They're playing really well right now,'' Slaymaker said.

Sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein led Hayden with 14 points in Tuesday's 59-47 loss at Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Hayden sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein overcame a slow start to lead the Wildcats with 14 points while senior Ella Foster and sophomore Blakely Walter added 11 each.

Foster helped keep the Wildcats in the hunt with three 3-pointers while Schmidtlein and Walter both connected on two treys.

Topeka High will go on the road Thursday for a non-league game against Seaman, which handed the Trojans a 75-60 loss in the final round of the Capital City Classic on Jan. 31.

Hayden will return to action Friday with a Centennial League game at Emporia.

TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 59, HAYDEN 47

Hayden          6 14 14 13  -- 47

Topeka High 14 13 18 14 -- 59

Hayden (13-5, 4-2) – Walter 4-9 1-2 11, Schmidtlein 5-12 2-2 14, Foster 3-5 2-2 11, Huscher 0-2 0-0 0, Watts 0-1 0-0 0, Wichman 1-1 0-0 2, Mitchell 0-4 1-2 1, Borjon 1-3 0-0 3, Connell 2-7 1-2 5. Totals 16-44 7-10 47. 

Topeka High (9-8, 4-2) – Short 3-4 0-0 6, Marshall 1-3 0-0 2, Rayton 8-21 6-7 23, Caryl 6-7 2-4 15, Gotru 2-3 2-2 6, Triplett 1-2 1-1 3, Whayne 1-2 1-2 4. Totals 22-42 12-16 59.

3-point goals – Hayden 8 (Foster 3, Walter 2, Schmidtlein 2, Borjon), Topeka High 4 (Rayton 2, Marshall, Short). Total fouls – Hayden 6, Topeka High 9. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- none.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

For three quarters Tuesday night at Topeka High, Hayden's boys basketball team played as well as it has in Dwayne Anthony's two seasons at the school.

Senior Connor Hanika scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Hayden's 64-59 Centennial League win at Topeka High Tuesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

And over the final seven minutes or so, the Wildcats gave their coach plenty of things to address when they return to practice.

But after letting a 21-point advantage early in the fourth quarter get down to a one-possession game in the closing seconds, Hayden escaped with a 64-59 Centennial League sweep over Topeka High, with the Wildcats completing a season sweep over the Trojans.

"It got crazy, thank God for timeouts,'' Anthony said. "My guys are just learning how to play basketball, and I mean at a level that we want to play. And it doesn't always look pretty.

"We did good for the first three quarters and then that fourth quarter we get a little shaky, then the intensity comes up, and we've got to go back and talk about it tomorrow and just to continue to level up.'' 

Hayden, which had taken a 16-point win over High earlier in the season, took it to the Trojans again in the rematch, with the Wildcats never trailing en route to improving to 9-9 overall and 2-4 in the league.

But after using a 20-9 second quarter to open up a 29-17 halftime behind a big 14-point, eight-rebound first half from senior Connor Hanika, Hayden boosted its lead to 21 points late in the third quarter and led 48-29 at the start of the final period.

"The guys came out and executed what we planned,'' Anthony said. "I tell the guys that it's a simple game, and when they embrace that and give their energy, it's a lot of fun for us.

"But sometimes the energy wanes or the thought process wanes and that's where we have to get better.''

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Leah Crawford

LEAH CRAWFORD, Seaman

A sophomore bowler, Crawford shot a 661 three-game series to capture the girls individual title in Friday's city championships at Gage Bowl. Crawford rolled games of 224, 211 and 226 to take individual honors by 36 pins as Seaman rolled to its third straight city team championship by a 3,293-2,970 margin over Washburn Rural.

Cianna Graves

CIANNA GRAVES, Shawnee Heights

Graves, a senior girls wrestling star, won the United Kansas Conference championship at 155 pounds while also recording the 100th pin of her career on Saturday at Piper as No. 3-ranked (Class 5A) Shawnee Heights claimed the team championship by a 179.5-163 margin over top-ranked Basehor-Linwood. Now 28-2 on the season, Graves went 3-0 on the day with three pins.

Caleb Menke

CALEB MENKE, Hayden

Menke, a 175-pound junior wrestling standout, reached the 100-win milestone on Thursday at Royal Valley, a rare accomplishment for an underclassmen, and followed that up with the 175-pound championship in Saturday's Centennial League tournament at Washburn Rural, posting a 5-0 record on the day, including a 55-second pin and a 15-0 technical fall.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural's girls and boys wrestling teams were unable to keep pace with Manhattan in Saturday's Centennial League tournament at Rural, with the Indians sweeping the team championships.

But both Junior Blues teams had plenty to celebrate, and Rural girls coach Damon Parker and girls coach Josh Hogan plan to use the league meet as a primer to get ready for upcoming Class 6A regional competition.

Washburn Rural's girls, ranked No. 5 in Class 6A by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association rolled to wins in its first three duals of the day -- 66-16 over Emporia, 45-33 over Junction City and 84-0 over Topeka High -- before the No. 3  Indians built a huge early lead and held off the Junior Blues down the stretch for a 45-32 win.

"Manhattan's loaded for bear,'' Parker said. "(Shawn) Bammes and those guys have done a great job over there. We knew going into that one that there were going to be a couple of key swing matches and we'd have to pull an upset. We had a couple of opportunities and they didn't go our way.''

Washburn Rural freshman Aliyah Tangpricha (right) won the 105-pound Centennial League girls wrestling title and was named the league girls newcomer of the year. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] 

Washburn Rural senior Emme Blanco won the Centennial League girls 145-pound title with four straight pins Saturday at Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

 Washburn Rural senior Elia Smith won the 170-pound Centennial League championship and reached the 100-win milestone Saturday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn Rural junior Lily Davis won the 190-pound title in Saturday's Centennial League tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn Rural got league individual titles from 105-pound freshman Aliyah Tangpricha, 145-pound senior  Emme Blanco, 170-pound senior Elia Smith and junior 190-pounder Lily Davis, who all went 4-0 on the day.

E. Blanco posted four straight pins while Smith recorded three pins and a 16-1 technical fall and Davis recorded three straight pins after receiving a first-round forfeit.

Smith, 125-pound senior runnerup Lacey Middleton and 140-pound senior runnerup Madi Blanco were all recognized Saturday for reaching the 100-win milestone for their careers while Tangpricha was voted the Centennial League girls newcomer of the year. 

Now the Junior Blues will turn their sights on Saturday's 6A regional tournament at Wichita South.

"We got film and we're ready to game plan,'' Parker said. "We don't learn a lot if we come out and thump everybody. The best opportunity to learn is when somebody takes it to you and (Manhattan) took to us today. Tip of the top hat to them.'' 

The No. 3-ranked Rural boys went 4-0  to open the tournament -- 44-36 over Emporia, 40-38 over Junction City, 52-27 over Topeka High and 46-33 over Hayden -- before the No. 2-ranked Indians took a 58-18 win over the short-handed Junior Blues, who were missing four starters.

Despite the loss to the Indians, Hogan was proud of the way his Junior Blues wrestled Saturday.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka High boys basketball was faced with two tests in Friday night's Centennial League home matchup with city rival Washburn Rural.

Senior Elisha Guest scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as Topeka High edged Washburn Rural, 68-67. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

The Trojans' first test was finding a way to rally from a double-digit deficit late in the first half to get back in the hunt.

Then, after battling all the way back to lead by six points late in the game, the task facing the Trojans was holding off the Junior Blues down the stretch. 

Robbie Sanders' Topeka High team passed both those tests, holding on for a hard-fought 68-67 win at "The Dungeon.''

"It's a resilient bunch of guys,'' Sanders said. "Like I told them in the locker room, I'm just so proud of them. We had every opportunity to quit when things weren't going our way. I wasn't happy with the body language or the effort in the first half. I challenged them at halftime and they really responded.

"These kids are starting to believe they can beat anybody. And that's all I've been waiting on because I believe in their talent, I believe in the work we've put in, and we have good players so if they just keep believing and keep trusting each other we can keep this streak going.''  

Now 10-6 overall and 3-2 in the league, Topeka High trailed by 11 points (29-18) late in the first half and eight points (29-21) at the break and still faced an eight-point deficit (38-30) with two and a half minutes left in the third stanza and by six (46-40) in the fourth before rallying to take a 64-58 advantage inside the final two minutes.

But the game still went down to the final seconds, with the Junior Blues, trailing by three points, forcing a Topeka High turnover to give themselves an opportunity to force overtime, but Rural ran out of time as the Trojans were able to run out the clock after a Simon Rowley driving layup that cut the Blues' deficit to the final margin.

Senior Bryson McComas (4) scored a game-high 22 points Friday as Topeka High edged Washburn Rural, 68-67. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Seniors Bryson McComas, Jalen Aldridge and Elisha Guest combined for 59 of the Trojans 68 points, with McComas scoring a game-high 22 points, Aldridge 19 and Guest 18 for High.

Guest came up huge in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his 18 points in the final 7:41 of the game, including three 3-pointers and a five of five performance at the free throw line.

"I've been battling a sickness for awhile,'' Guest said. "I've been coughing and my coughing's messing with me, so I just had to push through it.

"My teammates believed in me, so I was able to help us come in clutch and win the game.''

Senior Simon Rowley led Washburn Rural with 19 points in Friday's 68-67 loss to Topeka High. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

Rowley, who returned for the Junior Blues after missing multiple games with an injury, led Rural (9-7, 2-2) with 19 points off the bench while 6-foot-10 junior Cooper Schmidt had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, sophomore Brooks Ballard 12 points and senior Kieffer O'Connor and junior Zach Wright 10 apiece.

Washburn Rural suffered its second one-point heartbreaker in three nights, dropping a 55-54 home loss to Blue Valley on Wednesday.

The Junior Blues will travel to Manhattan on Tuesday while Topeka High will be back at home to face Hayden.

 TOPEKA BOYS 68, WASHBURN RURAL 67

Washburn Rural 15 14 11 27 -- 67

Topeka High       12 9 17 30 -- 68

Washburn Rural (9-7, 2-2) – Ballard 3-7 5-7 12, Wright 5-8 0-0 10, O'Connor 3-6 4-4 10, Chooncharoen 0-2 0-0 0, Schmidt 7-11 0-0 14, Rowley 7-15 4-4 19, Nimz 1-2 0-0 2, Bradley 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 26-55 13-15 67.

Topeka High (10-6, 3-2) -- Aldridge 6-10 5-8 19, Guest 5-12 5-5 18, McComas 9-17 2-2 22, Ross 2-3 2-2 7, McFadden 0-3 0-0 0, Carter 1-3 0-0 2, Redmond 0-0 0-0 0, Luarks 0-2 0-0 0, Campbell 0-4 0-0 0, Villegas 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-54 14-16 68.   

3-point goals – Washburn Rural 2 (Ballard, Rowley), Topeka High 8 (Guest 3, Aldridge 2, McComas 2, Ross). Total fouls – Washburn Rural 14, Topeka High 15. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls -- McComas.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After dropping a disappointing 16-point decision to Seaman on its home floor in the final round of the Capital City Classic Topeka High girls basketball bounced back with a solid win at Emporia on Tuesday and followed that up with its best performance of the season Friday night, going wire to wire for a 45-26 Centennial League win over Washburn Rural.

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored a game-high 19 points for Topeka High in Friday's 45-26 victory over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

"No question that we played really well from beginning to end, that's what was nice,'' Topeka High coach Ron Slaymaker said. "That's what I just told them, 'It wasn't the win, the win was wonderful, but the way you got the win was pretty good because it was good defense from beginning to end.' '' 

The Trojans jumped out to a 9-2 first-quarter lead over the No. 10-ranked (Class 6A) Junior Blues and pushed their advantage to 15 points (19-4) late in the first half before taking a 12-point (19-7) cushion to the locker room at halftime.

Topeka High continued to roll in the second half, opening up a 34-15 advantage and led by as many as 22 points down the stretch en route to the decisive 19-point victory.

Sophomore Hailey Caryl scored 12 points for Topeka High in Friday's 45-26 victory over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Junior Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton led the Trojans with a game-high 19 points while sophomore Hailey Caryl added 12 points and senior Keimara Marshall nine for Topeka High.

Washburn Rural freshman Brynn Anderson scored all seven of the Junior Blues' points in the first half and finished with 10 points while senior Hallie Walker added six points and not other Rural players scored more than four.

NOTE: Statistics for city girls basketball teams were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley. The following stats are the second of three statistical reports which will be released during the 2025-2026 season, capped by the season-ending stats. Topeka West statistics were not available.

Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High

SCORING

Name, school                    Gms.  Pts.    Avg

Rayton, Topeka High           13      307     23.6

Schmidtlein, Hayden            13      230     17.7

Emmot, Shawnee Heights    16      275     17.2

Caryl, Topeka High                10      152     15.2

Anderson, Washburn Rural   13       190    14.6

McGlory, Shawnee Heights   15       194    12.9

Gragg, Seaman                      13       163    12.5

Marshall, Topeka High           14       158    11.3

Carter, Shawnee Heights       15        163   10.9

Kincade, Highland Park          13        137   10.5

Beaton, Seaman                     11        114    10.4

Jones, Highland Park              13        134    10.3

Carlgren, Washburn Rural      14        143    10.2

Hirschi, Washburn Rural         14        130      9.3

Backman, CPLS                        13        115     8.8

REBOUNDING

Name, school                    Gms.   Total    Avg.

Caryl, Topeka High                10      116       11.6

Walker, Washburn Rural        14      124         8.9

Gragg, Seaman                      13      105         8.1

Schmidtlein, Hayden              13        92         7.1 

Carter, Shawnee Heights        12        84         7.0

Jones, Highland Park              13        88         6.8

Dreher, Seaman                      13        83         6.4

Vega, Shawnee Heights          13       74          5.7

Gotru, Topeka High                13        72         5.5

Anderson, Washburn Rural     13        71         5.5

Marshall, Topeka High             14       76          5.4 

Watts, Hayden                          13       70         5.4                  

Carlgren, Washburn Rural        14        74         5.3

Barnett, Highland Park             12        60         5.0 

Walter, Hayden                         13        60        4.6

Baum, Shawnee Heights            13       60        4.6

Hailey Caryl, Topeka High

ASSISTS

Name, school                     Gms.   Total    Avg.

Caryl, Topeka High                10          69       6.9

Jones, Highland Park             13          42       3.2

Beaton, Seaman                    11           35      3.2

Gragg, Seaman                      13           41     3.2

Marshall, Topeka High           14           42      4.0

Emmot, Shawnee Heights      13           35      2.7

Baum, Shawnee Heights         13          34      2.6

Foster, Hayden                        13          30      2.3

Cosey, Highland Park              13          30      2.3

Anderson, Washburn Rural     13          29      2.2

Schmidtlein, Hayden               13          28      2.2

Vega, Shawnee Heights           13          28     2.2

Rayton, Topeka High                13          28     2.2

Rutherford, Washburn Rural     13          28     2.2

Watts, Hayden                           13          26     2.0

Kincade, Highland Park             13          26     2.0

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Junior individual champion Megan Glinka led the way Thursday as Washburn Rural's girls captured the team title in the Centennial League bowling tournament at Manhattan's Little Apple Lanes.

The Junior Blues also got a 499 series from Kenzie Lawson, a 471 from Ellen Austin, a 463 from Camrynn Ahrens and a 359 from Peyton Lawson.

Washburn Rural's boys finished second as a team to Junction City, with the Blue Jays winning by a 3,276-3,236 margin over the Junior Blues.

Rural was led by Andrew Faurot's 598 series, followed by Zachary Hancock (592), Cody Spangler (565), Jackson Keller (564), Parker Dixson (540) and Brecken Garrett (529).

Hayden's Reece Renyer led the city boys contingent with a 624 series, placing third individually.   

CENTENNIAL LEAGUE BOWLING