Topeka West Chargers
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior star Audrey Appuhn reached a career milestone in Friday's Topeka girls city swimming/diving championships at the Capitol Federal Natatorium as the Junior Blues stretched their city title streak to 23 straight seasons.
Appuhn was a double individual winner and four-event gold medalist to lead the way as Washburn Rural took the city crown by a 588-468 margin over Seaman.
Washburn Rural's girls swimming team celebrates in the Capitol Federal Natatorium pool Friday after Rural won its 23rd straight city team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And while the two biggest meets of the year -- Centennial League and Class 6A state -- are next up for Rural, coach Bob Burdick said the city championship will always be one that the Junior Blues circle on the schedule.
"Especially here in Topeka, we're all here in this together and the best part about this meet is not only the meet, the championship, but also that all these girls in the city all know each other, so they all get to compete with each other, cheer each other and it's just an amazing event,'' Burdick said.
Washburn Rural senior Audrey Appuhn won four gold medals in Friday's city meet as the Junior Blues captured their 23rd straight city team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Competing in her final city meet, Appuhn won the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 22.00 seconds and the 100-yard freestyle in 57.28 while teaming with Sophie Heinen, Resego Mackenzie and Kaci Hodgson to win the 200 medley relay (2:13.84) and with Heinen, Ava Von Lintel and Stella Berry to win the 400 free relay (4:20.97).
With her two individual wins Appuhn finished her four-year city career with eight individual victories in as many tries.
"It never really was a goal,'' Appuhn said. "I just realized, 'Oh, it happened.' ''
Appuhn also added seven career relay victories in eight starts to finish her city career with 15 gold medals.
Senior Rhiannon Good won the one-meter diving event with a score of 239.85 to account for Washburn Rural's fifth victory of the day while the Junior Blues posted top-three finishes in 11 of 12 events and had multiple top-three finishes in four events.
Rural began the season with several question marks, but Burdick said he's been very pleased with the Junior Blues' performance this spring.
"They've made the progress we need,'' he said. "We picked up 12 new swimmers this year that had never swam and moved them all along and they all contributed tonight, so that was great.''
Appuhn, Good, Heinen and Von Lintel all earned spots on the All-City first team while Mackenzie, Hodgson and Sophie Reffett were second-teamers.
Other highlights:
Hayden junior Kaelyn Gerdel won a pair of individual titles in Friday's city swimming meet. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Hayden junior Kaelyn Gerdel joined Appuhn as a double individual city champion, winning the 200-yard freestyle in 2:16.81 and the 100 backstroke in 1:19.12.
Gerdel was a first-team All-City pick while Hayden's Lilly Charvat finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:21.11) and was a second-team All-City pick.
Shawnee Heights' Kaitlyn Aldridge (left) won the 100-yard butterfly and finished second in the 200 individual medley in Friday's city championships at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Shawnee Heights got victories from Clara Sobba in the 50-yard freestyle (26.94) and Kaitlyn Aldridge in the 100 butterfly (1:10.52) while Aldridge finished second in the 200 individual medley (2:34.61) and Sobba was second in the 100 free (58.49).
Aldridge and Sobba also teamed with Jade Kinsch and Lainey Herrera in the 200 medley relay (2:14.60).
Aldridge and Sobba were All-City first-team honorees while Kinsch was a second-team pick.
Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo won the 100-yard backstroke in Friday's city championships at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Topeka High got city titles from Avery Skinner and Hara Del Castillo, with Skinner winning the 500 freestyle (6:01.47) and Del Castillo winning the 100 backstroke (1:10.55).
Skinner finished second in the 100 back (1:12.70) while Del Castillo was third in the 50 free (27.78) as both Trojans were first-team All-City selections.
• Team runnerup Seaman got a city title from the foursome of Ava Carlson, Gracie Scott, Isabelle Hahn and Riley Strother in the 200 free relay in 1:57.02 while the Vikings posted top-three finishes in five other events.
Seaman's Strother, Carlson, Scott and Megan Strobel finished second in the 400 free relay (4:26.64).
Strobel and Strother were both All-City first-team honorees while Jenna Zimmerman, Manuela Diaz, Marleigh Frazier, Jurnee Jessepe and Tenley Wessel made the second team.
• Cair Paravel Latin's Avery Rosenow finished second in diving to earn a spot on the All-City second team while Topeka West's Makenna Russell was also a second-team selection.
TOPEKA GIRLS CITY SWIMMING/DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman boys tennis continued its late-season run on Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, with the Vikings capturing their second tournament championship over three days.
Seaman captured a Class 5A regional championship Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center after winning the UKC title two days earlier. [Submitted photo]
After capturing the United Kansas Conference title on Thursday, Seaman won Saturday's Class 5A regional title by a 20-17 margin over Piper, advancing all six of its players to Friday's 5A state tournament at Andover.
"It was a gutsy effort from everybody,'' Seaman coach Jamie Robinson said. "They really came to play, so that was fun to watch as a spectator and a coach.
"This is the second year in a row we're going to take all six to state and I think we learned a lot from last year.''
After finishing second in the UKC tournament, sophomore singles player Camden Dutton added a runnerup regional finish to lead the Vikings.
The Vikings also got a third-place singles finish from Kenton Myrick and third and fourth-place doubles finishes from the teams of Owen Stewart and Dayton Schneider and Aaron Sampson and Cooper Hopeck.
Sophomore Camden Dutton led regional champion Seaman with a runnerup singles finish Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Dutton dropped a 6-1, 7-5 decision to Piper's Blake Taylor in the singles final while Myrick, a freshman, earned his first trip to state with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) win over Bonner Springs' Deion Cruse in the third-place match.
Dutton will take an 18-11 into state while Myrick is 22-7.
Seniors Schneider and Stewart (22-6) met teammates Hopeck and Sampson (23-9) in the third-place doubles match for the second straight tournament, with Stewart and Schneider taking a 6-4, 6-1 decision.
Topeka West sophomore Collin McGee earned a second straight state tournament berth with a runnerup regional doubles finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West junior Zander Rice teamed with Collin McGee to post a runnerup doubles finish in Saturday's Class 5A regional. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West got a runnerup doubles finish from Collin McGee and Zander Rice, who dropped a tight 6-4, 6-4 decision to Piper's Johnny Vogel and Baird Greenamyre in the title match after also playing the Pirates' duo in the UKC final.
McGee, a sophomore, earned his second straight 5A state berth and McGee and Rice, a junior, will take a 28-10 record into the state tournament.
CLASS 5A BOYS REGIONAL TENNIS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural rode its dominance in the distance events and superior depth to a sweep of the team titles in Friday's Joe Schrag City Championship at Hummer Sports Park.
Rural posted a total of 16 event wins on the night (eight girls, eight boys) and had top-three finishes in 25 events (13 girls,12 boys) en route to a 216-135.5 win over Silver Lake for the Junior Blue girls and a 200-131 victory over the Eagle boys in the team standings.
Washburn Rural track had eight individual wins and 12 top-three finishes en route to the boys city championship Friday at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural track and field had eight individual wins and 12 top-three finishes en route to the boys city championship Friday at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This is definitely the beginning of postseason and we want to perform well here at the city meet,'' Rural coach Keith Wetzel said. "We like to keep the city trophies in our case and use that to propel us into league and regional and state.
"We put an emphasis on this meet. We want to be the best in the city and we make it a goal that we want to continue to have success at this meet.''
Highlights for the Rural boys included a sweep of all three relays, along with wins in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters and second and third-place finishes in the 800.
Washburn Rural senior Brooks Kehoe won two gold medals and also posted a third-place finish in Friday's city meet. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Rural senior Brooks Kehoe won the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 26.64 seconds, teamed with Jackson Svaty, Everett Un and Christian Hartman-Babb to win the 4x400 relay (3:23.02) and posted a third-place finish in the 800 (2:00.51).
Hartman-Babb, a junior, won the 100-meter dash in 10.55 seconds before teaming with Paxton Johnson, Caleb Schwartz and Carter Frost to win the 4x100 (43.17) and ending the meet with the 4x400 victory.
Sophomore Henry Laubach won the city title in the 3,200 meters for team-champion Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Henry Laubach turned in a dominating win in the 3,200 (9:32.10) while the Junior Blues also got wins from Luke Deering in the pole vault (11 feet, 6 inches), Zachary Hancock in the discus (153-0) and the team of Everett Un, Wesley Meek, Julius Wood-Nichols and Eli Replogle in the 4x800 (8:36.89).
Senior Emily Graf won the 1,600 and 800-meter runs in Friday's city track and field meet as Washburn Rural's girls won the team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
On the girls side, Rural got a pair of individual wins from senior Emily Graf and junior Kailyn Petersen, with Graf winning the 1,600 (5:13.49) and the 800 (2:25.28) and Petersen winning the shot put (34-2) and discus (123-8) titles.
Rural's girls swept the throws and the distance races, with senior Morgan Ray winning the javelin title with a throw of 142-8 and senior Kenzie Maddox winning the 3,200 in 11:26.03.
The Junior Blues also picked up a win in the 4x800 relay (10:32.31) from the foursome of Quinn Nolte, Payton Rice, Morgan Munson and Clara Dillon while Natalie Ferguson finished first in the pole vault (8-0).
"It has been a solid day,'' Wetzel said. "We have some injuries so we've asked some people to step in, to fill in, to step up and we've been fortunate that they've done that for the most part and some young kids, both boys and girls have stepped in and given us a boost.''
Other top performances:
• Silver Lake, the smallest school in the field, turned in solid runnerup team finishes in both the girls and boys divisions.
The Eagle girls picked up three event wins and 11 top-three finishes while the Lake boys won a pair of events and placed top three in 13 of 18 events.
Silver Lake's Ali Gerber crosses the finish line for the win in the girls 4x400-meter relay in Friday's city meet. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Ali Gerber won the girls triple jump for the second straight season (34-10.25) and teamed with Kinley Weber, Jaiden Wise and Jaylie Whitehead for a win in the 4x400 relay (4:09.56), with Gerber running the anchor leg.
Addy Just notched the third win of the day for the Silver Lake girls in the long jump (16-9.25) while the boys got wins from Joel Miller in the 200 (22.65) and Bryson Burgos in the triple jump (40-7.50).
• Keimari Marshall and Marchayla White were both double individual champions for Topeka High's girls while Marshall also added a relay victory in her final city meet.
Marshall won the 100 (12.57) and 400 (59.07) and also ran on the Trojans' winning 4x100 relay (49.60) along with Kaeanna Copeland, Jayana Washington and Ciera Hartz.
White swept the girls hurdles titles, winning the 100-meter event in 17.74 seconds and the 300s in 51.34.
Seaman freshman Baylee Ayres cleared a personal-record 5-foot-5 to win the girls high jump in Friday's city meet. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Seaman freshman Baylee Ayres made an impressive city meet debut, winning the girls high jump with a personal-record jump of 5 feet, 5 inches, winning the event by five inches.
Seaman senior Brody Anderson won the city title in the boys 800 meters by six seconds in 1:53.65 Friday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Brody Anderson continued his outstanding senior season for the Seaman boys, winning the 800 by more than six seconds in 1:53.65.
The Vikings also got victories from Kellan Parcaro in the 300 hurdles (43.14) and Jack Esser in the high jump (6-4).
• Other individual winners included Highland Park's Jurnee Cole in the girls 200 (26.32) and Rayshon Pollard in the boys long jump (20-5.25), Shawnee Heights' Jason Slay in the boys 400 (49.89), Heights' Amir Bass in the boys shot put (47-11), Hayden's Kelton Meier in the boys javelin (186-8) and Topeka High's De'sean Lunkins in the boys 110 hurdles (15.85).
JOE SCHRAG CITY CHAMPIONSHIP
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman didn't claim an individual title in Thursday's United Kansas Conference boys tennis championships at Kossover Tennis Center, but the Vikings took home the biggest prize.
Seaman captured the United Kansas Conference boys tennis championship Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Submitted photo]
Seaman advanced all six of its players to the tournament semifinals, including a second-place singles finish from Camden Dutton, en route to earning the team crown by a 67-62 margin over Piper.
In addition to Dutton's runnerup showing, the Vikings got a fourth-place singles finish from Kenton Myrick and third and fourth-place doubles finishes from the teams of Owen Stewart and Dayton Schneider and Aaron Sampson and Cooper Hopeck.
Camden Dutton led UKC team-champion Seaman with a runnerup singles finish Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Dutton advanced to the championship singles match with an 8-3 semifinal win over Basehor-Linwood's Trevor Christenson before dropping an 8-3 decision to Piper's Blake Taylor while Myrick lost in the semifinals to Taylor before dropping an 8-1 decision to Basehor-Linwood's Trevor Christenson in the third-place match.
Schneider and Stewart met teammates Hopeck and Sampson in the third-place doubles match, with Stewart and Schneider taking an 8-4 decision.
Topeka West finished third as a team with 54 points, getting a runnerup doubles finish from Collin McGee and Zander Rice.
Topeka West's Collin McGee (left) and Zander Rice posted a runnerup doubles finish in Thursday's UKC tennis tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. [Submitted photo]
McGee and Rice outlasted Seaman's Schneider and Stewart 8-6 in the doubles semifinals before dropping an 8-6 decision to Piper's Johnny Vogel and Baird Greenamyre in the title match.
Topeka West's Collin McGee (left) teamed with Zander Rice to finish second in doubles in Thursday's UKC tennis tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Wyatt Lindencrantz and Jordan Ward led Shawnee Heights with a fifth-place doubles finish.
Seaman, Topeka West and Shawnee Heights will also compete in a Class 5A regional tournament on Saturday at Kossover, vying for state tournament berths.
UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE BOYS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 10.43
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 10.91
Israel Edmonds, Washburn Rural 11.02
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 11.04
Jonel Tibbs, Topeka High 11.15
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural
200 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 21.78
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 22.30
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 22.38
Jonel Tibbs, Topeka High 22.60
Courtney Sanders, Topeka High 22.66
400 METERS
Draden Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 50.25
Jason Slay, Shawnee Heights 50.71
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 50.94
Xavier Fisher, Shawnee Heights 51.34
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 51.43
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:53.37
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 1:56.64
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 1:59.62
Everett Un, Washburn Rural 2:03.26
Mason Haas, Shawnee Heights 2:03.30
1,600 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:08.2 (mile converted to meters)
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:20.32
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 4:24.35
Nick Newkirk, Hayden 4:33.03
Duke Graf, Washburn Rural 4:33.71
3,200 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 9:11.63
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 9:23.61
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 9:24.34
Jaxson Adams, Washburn Rural 9:44.54
Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural 9:57.60
110-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 14.07
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 15.31
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 15.54
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 16.10
De'sean Lunkins, Topeka High 16.22
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
300-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 37.61
Kellan Parcaro, Seaman 42.03
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 42.09
Colin Miller, Silver Lake 43.41
Michael Ruelas, Seaman 43.46
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 42.92
Seaman 43.27
Washburn Rural 43.27
Topeka High 43.52
Silver Lake 43.77
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 3:21.82
Shawnee Heights 3:24.59
Silver Lake 3:30.04
Seaman 3:35.19
Topeka High 3:35.43
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 8:21.93
Seaman 8:34.58
Silver Lake 8:57.48
Topeka High 9:09.82
Topeka West 9:29.28
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news will compile a weekly girls swimming and diving honor roll for Topeka high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
Shawnee Heights 2:16.07
Seaman 2:18.07
Washburn Rural 2:18.75
Hayden 2:25.76
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden
200-YARD FREESTYLE
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden 2:11.68
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 2:25.97
Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural 2:31.01
Megan Strobel, Seaman 2:37.54
Stella Berry, Washburn Rural 2:43.23
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural
200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 2:23.15
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 2:34.07
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights 2:34.20
Riley Strother, Seaman 2:51.05
Avery Skinner, Seaman 2:51.97
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights
50-YARD FREESTYLE
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights 27.28
Riley Strother, Seaman 27.61
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 27.76
Ava Carlson, Seaman 28.56
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 28.90
Rhiannon Good, Washburn Rural
ONE-METER DIVING
Rhiannan Good, Washburn Rural 196.00
Avery Rosenow, Hayden/CPLS 176.40
Mackenzie Caryl, Topeka High 146.60
Abigail Culbertson, Topeka High 122.50
Madilyn Typer, Seaman 105.40
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Topeka High swept a softball doubleheader against USD 501 rival Topeka West Friday at Hummer Sports Park to extend its winning streak to 14 games.
Sophomore Adrianna Adame turned in solid relief pitching in both games of Topeka High's doubleheader sweep over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Trojans got big third-inning rallies in both games and utilized sophomore pitcher Adrianna Adame to close out both victories, winning 12-2 and 14-4 in two five-inning contests.
Topeka High has not lost since late March, with its only two losses coming against Washburn Rural, one of the top Class 6A teams in the state.
“I think we’re doing really well,” said Topeka High junior Campbell Dawson. “Our last loss was Washburn Rural, and I think we got to learn from that a lot, just seeing where we are at as a team and getting to grow from it. I think as we’ve played, we’ve gotten to play good competition, and also we’re learning our strengths and our weaknesses from playing different teams. So, I think we’re pretty confident going into postseason.”
Topeka High junior Campbell Dawson picked up the first-game pitching win and had a double and triple in Friday's doubleheader sweep over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Dawson pitched the first three innings of the opener, surrendering just one run and striking out six Chargers. She helped lead the Trojans to a doubleheader sweep at Eudora the night before.
“I was probably not at my best,” Dawson said. “I was a little tired from getting back late from Eudora last night, but I’ll do whatever I can to help the team.”
Dawson was relieved in the fourth inning by Adame, who allowed just one hit and one walk over the next two innings.
Topeka West senior Addaline Hall (left) tags out a Topeka High baserunner in a rundown in Friday's doubleheader loss to the Trojans. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Both of Topeka West’s runs in the first game came on triples by Charger senior Addaline Hall.
Kenslee Young started the second game for Topeka High, and like Dawson, left with a big lead after three innings. Adame pitched the fourth and fifth innings, again surrendering just one hit and one walk.
“She really hasn’t thrown a lot of innings this year,” Topeka High coach Shane Miles said of Adame. “We wanted to give her some work, and today was the time to get her some work. She threw two really good innings in the first game, and two more really good innings in the second game. She’s effective. She’s around the plate. She doesn’t strike a lot of people out, but she gets a lot of ground balls, fly balls.”
Miles said he did not restrict his starters to three innings each because of fatigue.
“Having played two days in a row is not an excuse for me,” Miles said. “You know, if these girls want to play at the state championship level, they’re going to have to play back-to-back days.”
With his Trojans hovering near the top of the Class 6A West standings at 16-2, Miles said his team is positioning itself for the postseason.
“After that (Washburn) Rural game, our girls have really locked in and we’re keeping the train rolling,” Miles said. “We’ve got two doubleheaders next week, so we control our own destiny. We can control where we’re at in the West (bracket) and see where it leads.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With the city, United Kansas Conference, Class 5A regional and state meets coming up over the next four weeks, Seaman senior track star Brody Anderson and Viking distance coach Luke Wiens decided to limit Anderson to one event in Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Relays at Seaman.
Seaman senior Brody Anderson set a meet record in the boys 1,600 meters in Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Relays at Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Anderson made the most of that one race, setting a meet record in the boys 1,600 meters in a time of 4 minutes, 10.66 seconds.
"Coach Wiens and I were talking earlier this week and we just wanted to keep the mind in a good space,'' Anderson said. "I feel good enough to race. It's just you don't want to overdo it and make something feel bad going into championship season here next week.
"I want to run my best then and do what I can do and I don't want to jeopardize anything.''
Wamego's Peyton Parker stayed right with Anderson for the first half of Friday's race before Anderson took control over the final two laps to win in more than four seconds, with Parker second in 4:15.24.
"I could feel him on my hip behind me, which kind of pushed me,'' Anderson said. "I saw my splits afterwards and I somewhat got lazy on the backstretch and that's something I need to work on.
It's very fixable. I went into the last lap having so much left in me and I just closed pretty hard.''
Next up for Anderson, who ran a 4:06 mile in a recent showcase meet, is next Friday's Joe Schrag City Invitational at Hummer Sports Park.
Other meet highlights:
• Washburn Rural senior Brooks Kehoe and sophomore Henry Laubach, who helped lead the Junior Blues to the Class 6A state cross country championship last fall, posted a one-two finish in the boys 3,200 meters.
Kehoe won the event in 9 minutes, 23.61 seconds while Laubach was right behind in 9:24.34.
Rural's Colin Thiessen finished third in the 800 meters in 1:59.62.
Washburn Rural senior Morgan Ray won the girls javelin title in Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Relays at Seaman with a throw of 147-5. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
• Washburn Rural senior Morgan Ray, a 6A state runnerup as a junior, turned in a dominating victory in the girls javelin.
Ray won with a top throw of 147 feet, 5 inches, winning by more than 14 feet.
Ray's junior teammate, Kailyn Petersen, finished second in the discus at 122-9.
• Topeka High's girls 4 x100-meter relay team of Caeanna Copeland, Keimara Marshall, Jayanna Washington and Marchayla White finished third in a time of 50.18 seconds.
Washington also finished third in the long jump with a leap of 17-10.
• Washburn Rural junior sprinter Christian Hartman-Babb posted a third-place finish in the boys 200-meter dash, clocking a time of 21.81 seconds.
BOB CAMIEN/CLAUDIA WELCH SEAMAN RELAYS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural swept the doubles championships in Thursday's city boys tennis tournament at Kossover Tennis Center to lead the Junor Blues to a third straight city team title.
Washburn Rural tennis swept the doubles titles on the way to its third straight city team title Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural seniors Cale Deutscher and Dylan Willingham captured the No. 1 doubles title with an 8-3 win over Topeka West's Collin McGee and Zander Rice while Junior Blues seniors Ben Tryhus and Kieffer O'Connor repeated as the No. 2 doubles champs with an 8-3 decision in the final as Rural captured the team championship by a 30-27 margin over Seaman.
Cair Paravel Latin swept the singles titles, with senior Drew Fay topping 2025 champion Tres Lassiter of Topeka High in the No. 1 final and freshman Jonah Arnold capturing the No. 2 crown in his first city meet.
Deutscher and Willingham's title came after a tiebreaker loss to Cair Paravel in the 2025 final.
Washburn Rural seniors Cale Deutscher (left) and Dylan Willingham won the city title in No. 1 doubles Thursday to lead the Junior Blues to their third straight city team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I think we just put in the work in the offseason and it just helped us to push through this year,'' Deutscher said about Thursday's win. "We played good tennis today.''
"Being a senior, you want to end it off on the right foot and we did it,'' Willingham said. "I think we've got some good momentum going forward and that's good because we're going into league and regionals and state.''
The Junior Blues also got a third-place finish in No. 1 singles from Greyson Jones and a runnerup finish in No. 2 singles from Jaxon Whitehead to outdistance Seaman, which posted four top-four finishes, including a second-place showing in No. 2 doubles.
Thursday's Rural title was a tuneup for next Monday's Centennial League tournament, followed by Class 6A regional and state meets.
"I think the team's definitely doing good,'' Deutscher said. "We put in a lot of work in practice every day and a lot of us stay after, too, after our regular time. We've all been coming together really well.''
Cair Paravel senior Drew Fay won the city title in No. 1 singles Thursday after winning the No. 1 doubles championship as a junior. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Fay captured his second straight city championship, with an interesting twist.
Fay teamed with Eric Buchenau to win the No. 1 city doubles title as a junior on the way to a runnerup Class 3A-1A state finish before switching back to singles this spring and earning the No. 1 singles crown with an 8-3 win over High standout Lassiter.
Fay said he got the day off to a somewhat slow start in the quarterfinals before picking up steam as the day went on.
"It was honestly my fault,'' said Fay, who has played 13 matches over the past three days. "I didn't warm up before this so I was slowly getting better as it went on.''
Fay admitted that going from doubles back to singles did take some time.
"Especially over the summer it took awhile to even remember how to play singles,'' Fay said. "It was like re-learning almost, so it's been kind of tough, but I feel like I've gotten back to it now.
"I think I've been progressing all season, so hopefully I hit my climax when state comes around and just keep improving.''
CITY BOYS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 12.46
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 12.60
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.72
Adriana Raub, Washburn Rural 12.75
Jaiden Wise, Silver Lake 12.83
200 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 26.11
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 26.81
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 26.82
Sofia Harper, Hayden 27.00
Julia Molleker, Seaman 27.23
400 METERS
Sofia Harper, Hayden 59.75
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 60.07
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 60.34
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 61.03
Brynn Scheid, Seaman 62.93
800 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:20.86
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 2:23.63
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:23.65
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 2:24.26
Clara Dillon, Washburn Rural 2:33.45
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural
1,600 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:14.21
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 5:17.54
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 5:26.49
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 5:28.35
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 5:39.04
3,200 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 11:06.46
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 11:36.26
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 11:36.97
Reese Beardslee, Washburn Rural 12:05.94
100-METER HURDLES
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 15.70
Rylee Dick, Rossville 16.77
Marchayla White, Topeka High 17.76
Ravaya Smith, Washburn Rural 18.88
Kennedy Gatewood, Seaman 19.13
300-METER HURDLES
Rylee Dick, Rossville 50.00
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake 54.13
Avery Villines, Seaman 55.36
Amy Hill, Silver Lake 56.03
Grace Funk, Hayden 56.44
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 50.77
Silver Lake 51.06
Washburn Rural 51.79
Seaman 52.03
Topeka West 52.33
4x400-METER RELAY
Silver Lake 4:11.03
Topeka High 4:13.96
Washburn Rural 4:18.21
Shawnee Heights 4:29.41
Seaman 4:31.03
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 10:47.80
Topeka High 11:13.01
Silver Lake 11:30.83
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 10.43
Israel Edmonds, Washburn Rural 11.02
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 11.04
Josh Brown, Seaman 11.18
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 11.21
200 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 22.02
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 22.30
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 22.50
Courtney Sanders, Topeka High 22.68
JaVeon Alston, Shawnee Heights 23.13
Jonel Tibbs, Topeka High 23.15
400 METERS
Draden Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 50.25
Jason Slay, Shawnee Heights 50.71
Xavier Fisher, Shawnee Heights 51.34
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 51.43
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 52.40
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:53.37
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 1:56.64
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 1:59.69
Everett Un, Washburn Rural 2:03.26
Mason Haas, Shawnee Heights 2:03.30
1,600 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:09.65 (mile) 4:11.94 (1,600)
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:20.32
Nick Newkirk, Hayden 4:33.03
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 4:33.08
Duke Graf, Washburn Rural 4:38.83
3,200 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 9:11.63
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 9:30.10
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 9:43.11
Jaxson Adams, Washburn Rural 9:54.63
Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural 9:57.60
110-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 14.07
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 15.43
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 15.54
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 16.10
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 16.41
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
300-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 37.61
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 42.09
Kellan Parcaro, Seaman 42.36
Michael Ruelas, Seaman 43.46
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 43.71
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 42.98
Seaman 43.27
Washburn Rural 43.27
Topeka High 43.52
Silver Lake 44.07
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 3:21.82
Shawnee Heights 3:24.59
Silver Lake 3:32.89
Seaman 3:35.19
Topeka High 3:35.43
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 8:38.13
Seaman 8:50.45
Silver Lake 8:58.57
Topeka High 9:28.74
Topeka West 9:29.28
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 12.36
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 12.60
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.59
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.72
Adriana Raub, Washburn Rural 12.75
200 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 25.83
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 26.04
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 26.82
Ciera Hartz, Topeka High 26.48
Sofia Harper, Hayden 26.88
400 METERS
Sofia Harper, Hayden 59.75
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 59.86
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 60.34
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 61.03
Brynn Scheid, Seaman 62.93
800 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:20.86
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 2:21.50
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 2:23.63
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:23.65
Clara Dillon, Washburn Rural 2:33.45
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural
1,600 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:14.21
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 5:17.54
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 5:22.98
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 5:25.93
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 5:28.35
3,200 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 11:06.46
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 11:18.36
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 11:33.69
Reese Beardslee, Washburn Rural 12:02.15
100-METER HURDLES
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 15.70
Rylee Dick, Rossville 16.77
Marchayla White, Topeka High 17.76
Ravaya Smith, Washburn Rural 18.88
Kennedy Gatewood, Seaman 19.13
300-METER HURDLES
Rylee Dick, Rossville 50.00
Marchayla White, Topeka High 51.68
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake 53.33
Avery Villines, Seaman 55.36
Amy Hill, Silver Lake 56.03
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 50.18
Silver Lake 50.64
Washburn Rural 51.79
Seaman 52.03
Topeka West 52.33
4x400-METER RELAY
Topeka High 4:10.27
Silver Lake 4:11.03
Washburn Rural 4:15.62
Seaman 4:21.03
Shawnee Heights 4:28.06
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 10:12.53
Topeka High 10:59.98
Silver Lake 11:18.38
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news will compile a weekly girls swimming and diving honor roll for Topeka high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
Shawnee Heights 2:16.07
Seaman 2:18.07
Washburn Rural 2:18.75
Hayden 2:25.76
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden
200-YARD FREESTYLE
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden 2:11.68
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 2:25.97
Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural 2:31.65
Megan Strobel, Seaman 2:37.54
Stella Berry, Washburn Rural 2:43.23
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural
200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 2:23.15
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 2:34.07
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights 2:34.20
Riley Strother, Seaman 2:51.05
Avery Skinner, Seaman 2:51.97
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights
50-YARD FREESTYLE
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights 27.39
Riley Strother, Seaman 28.15
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 28.26
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 28.90
Ava Carlson, Seaman 29.31
ONE-METER DIVING
Rhiannan Good, Washburn Rural 196.00
Avery Rosenow, Hayden/CPLS 176.40
Mackenzie Caryl, Topeka High 138.75
Abigail Culbertson, Topeka High 110.35
Madilyn Typer, Seaman 105.40
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights
100-YARD BUTTERFLY
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights 1:09.79
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 1:21.98
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 1:23.77
Sophie Reffett, Washburn Rural 1:27.54
Riley Strother, Seaman 1:31.54
100-YARD FREESTYLE
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 57.50
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights 59.15
Riley Strother, Seaman 1:02.04
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 1:03.11
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 1:03.71
500-YARD FREESTYLE
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 6:25.05
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 6:33.78
Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural 6:53.97
Megan Strobel, Seaman 7:11.52
Emily Groff, Hayden 7:15.29
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Topeka West girls soccer celebrated Senior Night Tuesday night with a 5-0 United Kansas Conference win over Leavenworth on a chilly night at Hummer Sports Park.
Topeka West junior Micah Williams had a three-goal hat trick in Tuesday's 5-0 UKC win over Leavenworth, giving her 26 goals on the season. [File photo/TSN]
“Our season has kind of been in waves and to start that upward trajectory now heading towards the end of the season and postseason, it’s a good feeling,'' Topeka West coach Josh Kutter said. "Our play is improving, we’re coming together at a good time.
“The confidence on the ball -- they're taking a touch, their eyes are up, they're looking to find their teammates and connect a pass and they're always looking for the dangerous one. They're looking to get the ball forward so that we can attack them.”
Topeka West which snapped a five-game losing streak in a 6-0 win over Junction City on Monday, improved to 7-5.
Charger junior and Northern Iowa commit Micah Williams continued to produce Tuesday as she has all season and throughout her whole career.
Williams got the Chargers on the board first at the 37:18 mark of the first half, notching her 24th goal of the year. Then, about six minutes later, she scored again from inside the middle of the box off her left foot, making it two-nil.
“Anytime she’s on the ball she’s dangerous … and when that first one goes in it lifts that confidence and the team is ready to go forward and we know that more are going to follow after that first one,” Kutter said.
Williams then earned a hat trick with 57 seconds before the half, scoring outside the box with her left foot, marking her 26th goal of the season.
But it was Senior Night after all and senior midfielder Adrian Romero scored on a penalty kick with 36 seconds remaining in the first half, making it a 4-0 West lead.
“I've been getting a lot of assists this season and I haven't had any goals and on Senior Night I finally got my two so, I think I'm set for the season,” Romero said
“I was really scared (on the first goal) but it was good and then the second goal, it was just out of nowhere but it made me really happy and it made my team really happy.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural had a lot to celebrate in Monday's city boys golf championship at Topeka Country Club.
The Junior Blues extended their city title streak to 16 straight seasons while sweeping the top three individual places and capping the day with a special father-son moment.
Washburn Rural boys golf ran its city championship streak to 16 straight Monday at Topeka Country Club. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural took the team championship by a 326-335 margin over Seaman while the Junior Blues put four players in the top 10, led by a one-two-three sweep from Peyton Goehring, Keaton Stoner and Wyatt Dean.
Senior teammates Goehring and Stoner both shot 77s to tie for the city individual title and force a playoff, with Goehring winning with a bogey on the first playoff hole.
Washburn Rural senior teammates Peyton Goehring (left) and Keaton Stoner exchange a hug after finishing one-two in a playoff in Monday's city tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Goehring admitted that it was tough going up against a teammate in the playoff.
"Obviously it's a team game and I really didn't want to beat him because he played tremendous, too,'' Goehring said. "I'd rather beat an opponent, but a win's a win I guess.''
Peyton Goehring is congratulated by his father and coach, Jared Goehring, after winning the city title Monday at Topeka Country Club. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Making Goehring's first city title even more special was the fact that it came in Peyton's final city tournament for his father, Jared Goehring, the longtime Washburn Rural coach.
"It means a lot,'' Peyton said. "He's obviously coached me my whole life and I had a goal this year to place top 10 in the city individually, but I guess I did a little bit better than that.
"It does mean a lot though to do it for my team and obviously my dad coaching.''
Dean finished third in the city meet with an 81 while Hayden's Austin Bean, Topeka West's Blake Schultz and Seaman's Hunter Gerhardt shot 82s to tie for fourth.
Rural's Michael Wilson and Seaman's Noah LaRosh tied for seventh with 83s while Topeka High's Caleb Cleverdon and Seaman's Evan Michalski tied for ninth with 84s.
Rural also got an 85 from Higgins Hawks and an 86 from Camden Ismert while Rural's Lane Witrock competed in the Topeka Country Club Invitational, held in conjunction with the city tournament, shooting an 80.
"I'm proud of all of them today because it got pretty tough there at stages in the round and I thought they put their heads down and really battled for one another,'' Jared Goehring said.
"This was a goal we had at the beginning of the season, to defend this title, and hat's off to this senior class for getting it done today.''
Blue Valley North won the team title in the Topeka Country Club Invitational by four strokes over Blue Valley West (293-297).
Drew Krystyn of Blue Valley North claimed the individual title in a playoff over Free State's Henry Thompson after both players carded 69s.
TOPEKA CITY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural boys tennis rode a balanced attack to the team championship in Tuesday's 10-school Topeka West Invitational at the Kossover Tennis Center.
Washburn Rural captured the team championship in Tuesday's 10-school Topeka West Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Rural tennis]
Seniors Dylan Willingham and Cale Deutscher came within a whisker of winning the doubles championship, with the Junior Blues duo dropping an 8-7, 7-3 tiebreaker decision to Piper in the title match.
Washburn Rural seniors Cale Deutscher (left) and Dylan Willingham posted a runnerup doubles finish to lead the Junior Blues to the team title in Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Greyson Jones finished third in singles to help Washburn Rural win the team title in Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior singles player Greyson Jones also mounted a strong bid for a title, losing on a tiebreaker in the semifinals before bouncing back to take an 8-4 win over Lawrence's Julian Bricker in the third-place match.
Rural juniors Ben Tryhus and Kieffer O'Connor posted a fifth-place finish in doubles while sophomore Jaxon Whitehead finished sixth in singles as Washburn Rural took the team crown by an 82-79 margin over Blue Valley Southwest.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 10.43
Israel Edmonds, Washburn Rural 11.02
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 11.04
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 11.20
Josh Brown, Seaman 11.21
200 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 22.02
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 22.50
Courtney Sanders, Topeka High 22.68
JaVeon Alston, Shawnee Heights 23.13
Jonel Tibbs, Topeka High 23.15
400 METERS
Draden Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 50.25
Jason Slay, Shawnee Heights 50.71
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 52.40
Thomas Fisher, Silver Lake 53.26
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 53.38
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:55.43
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 1:59.69
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 2:01.36
Everett Un, Washburn Rural 2:03.26
Mason Haas, Shawnee Heights 2:03.30
1,600 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:09.65 (mile) 4:11.94 (1,600)
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:20.32
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 4:33.08
Duke Graf, Washburn Rural 4:38.83
Connor Baldwin, Hayden 4:39.00
3,200 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 9:27.73
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 9:30.10
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 9:43.11
Jaxson Adams, Washburn Rural 9:54.63
Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural 9:57.60
110-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 14.07
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 15.43
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 15.54
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 16.10
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 16.44
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
300-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 37.61
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 42.09
Kellan Parcaro, Seaman 42.36
Michael Ruelas, Seaman 43.46
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 43.79
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 42.98
Seaman 43.27
Topeka High 43.52
Washburn Rural 43.69
Silver Lake 44.07
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 3:21.82
Shawnee Heights 3:24.59
Silver Lake 3:33.24
Seaman 3:35.19
Topeka High 3:35.43
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 8:38.13
Seaman 8:50.45
Silver Lake 9:09.46
Topeka High 9:28.74
Topeka West 9:29.28
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 12.61
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 12.66
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.72
Adriana Raub, Washburn Rural 12.75
JaidenWise, Silver Lake 12.83
200 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 26.11
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 26.81
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 26.82
Sofia Harper, Hayden 27.00
Ciara Hartz, Topeka High 27.27
Adriana Raub, Washburn Rural 27.27
400 METERS
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 60.23
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 61.03
Sofia Harper, Hayden 62.38
Clara Dillon, Washburn Rural 63.26
Brynn Scheid, Seaman 63.36
Ryan Miller, Seaman
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:23.65
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 2:24.26
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 2:31.07
Clara Dillon, Washburn Rural 2:33.45
Hazel Rondash, Shawnee Heights 2:36.40
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural
1,600 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:14.21
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 5:24.46
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 5:26.49
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 5:28.35
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 5:39.04
3,200 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 11:06.46
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 11:36.26
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 11:36.97
Reese Beardslee, Washburn Rural 12:09.09
100-METER HURDLES
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 16.14
Rylee Dick, Rossville 17.15
Marchayla White, Topeka High 17.76
Ravaya Smith, Washburn Rural 18.88
Kennedy Gatewood, Seaman 19.13
300-METER HURDLES
Rylee Dick, Rossville 50.00
Avery Villines, Seaman 55.36
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake 55.66
Grace Funk, Hayden 56.44
Kennedy Gatewood, Seaman 57.47
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 50.77
Silver Lake 51.19
Washburn Rural 51.92
Seaman 53.07
Topeka West 53.39
4x400-METER RELAY
Silver Lake 4:11.03
Topeka High 4:13.96
Washburn Rural 4:18.21
Shawnee Heights 4:29.41
Seaman 4:31.03
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 10:47.80
Topeka High 11:13.01
Silver Lake 11:38.44
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news will compile a weekly girls swimming and diving honor roll for Topeka high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
Seaman 2:18.32
Washburn Rural 2:19.41
Shawnee Heights 2:21.17
Hayden 2:48.67
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden
200-YARD FREESTYLE
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden 2:12.42
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 2:25.97
Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural 2:31.65
Megan Strobel, Seaman 2:37.54
Joanna Diehl, Washburn Rural 2:47.44
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural
200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 2:28.23
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights 2:35.70
Riley Strother, Seaman 2:51.05
Avery Skinner, Seaman 2:51.97
Mya Bucholtz, Hayden 3:09.89
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights
50-YARD FREESTYLE
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights 27.39
Riley Strother, Seaman 28.15
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 28.26
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 28.90
Makenna Russell, Topeka West 29.77
ONE-METER DIVING
Avery Rosenow, Hayden/CPLS 176.40
Mackenzie Caryl, Topeka High 138.75
Madilyn Typer, Seaman 105.40
Abigail Culbertson, Topeka High 89.55
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights
100-YARD BUTTERFLY
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights 1:09.79
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 1:21.98
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 1:23.77
Sophie Reffett, Washburn Rural 1:28.10
Riley Strother, Seaman 1:31.54
100-YARD FREESTYLE
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 57.50
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights 59.15
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 1:03.11
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 1:03.71
Gracie Scott, Seaman 1:07.72
500-YARD FREESTYLE
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 6:25.05
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 6:33.78
Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural 6:53.97
Sophie Reffett, Washburn Rural 7:57.80
Jurnee Jessepe, Seaman 8:18.59
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 12.61
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.72
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.85
Ciara Hartz, Topeka High 13.06
Adriana Raub, Washburn Rural 13.13
200 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 26.11
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 26.81
Sofia Harper, Hayden 27.00
Ciara Hartz, Topeka High 27.27
Adriana Raub, Washburn Rural 27.27
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
400 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 61.03
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 61.65
Sofia Harper, Hayden 62.38
Clara Dillon, Washburn Rural 63.26
Brynn Scheid, Seaman 63.36
Ryan Miller, Seaman
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:23.65
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 2:24.26
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 2:31.07
Clara Dillon, Washburn Rural 2:33.45
Hazel Rondash, Shawnee Heights 2:36.40
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural
1,600 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:14.21
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 5:24.46
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 5:26.49
Alyson Hink, Washburn Rural 5:28.35
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 5:39.04
3,200 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 11:25.73
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 11:36.26
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 11:36.97
Reese Beardslee, Washburn Rural 12:09.09
100-METER HURDLES
Rylee Dick, Rossville 17.15
Marchayla White, Topeka High 17.76
Ravaya Smith, Washburn Rural 18.88
Kennedy Gatewood, Seaman 19.13
Alana Mitchell, Hayden 19.18
300-METER HURDLES
Rylee Dick, Rossville 50.00
Avery Villines, Seaman 55.36
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake 55.74
Grace Funk, Hayden 56.44
Kennedy Gatewood, Seaman 57.47
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 50.77
Silver Lake 51.19
Washburn Rural 52.33
Seaman 53.07
Topeka West 53.39
4x400-METER RELAY
Silver Lake 4:11.03
Topeka High 4:13.96
Washburn Rural 4:18.21
Shawnee Heights 4:29.41
Seaman 4:31.03
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 10:47.80
Topeka High 11:13.01
Silver Lake 12:15.82
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 11.20
Josh Brown, Seaman 11.21
Quortay Hailey, Topeka High 11.30
Jonel Tibbs, Topeka High 11.31
Nas Williams-Brown, Topeka West 11.39
200 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 22.02
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 22.50
Courtney Sanders, Topeka High 22.68
JaVeon Alston, Shawnee Heights 23.13
Jonel Tibbs, Topeka High 23.15
400 METERS
Jason Slay, Shawnee Heights 50.71
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 52.40
Thomas Fisher, Silver Lake 53.26
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 53.38
Tyler Jakle, Washburn Rural 53.53
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:55.43
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 2:01.36
Everett Un, Washburn Rural 2:03.26
Mason Haas, Shawnee Heights 2:03.30
Duke Graf, Washburn Rural 2:06.72
1,600 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:11.94
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:20.32
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 4:33.32
Connor Baldwin, Hayden 4:39.00
Nick Newkirk, Hayden 4:39.76
3,200 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 9:27.73
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 9:30.10
Jaxson Adams, Washburn Rural 9:56.70
Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural 9:57.60
Max Esquibel, Seaman 10:20.82
110-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 14.32
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 15.43
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 15.54
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 16.44
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 16.60
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
300-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 37.61
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 42.09
Kellan Parcaro, Seaman 42.36
Michael Ruelas, Seaman 43.46
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 43.79
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 42.98
Seaman 43.27
Topeka High 43.52
Washburn Rural 44.02
Topeka West 44.21
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 3:21.82
Shawnee Heights 3:24.59
Silver Lake 3:33.24
Seaman 3:35.19
Topeka High 3:35.43
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 8:38.13
Seaman 8:50.45
Silver Lake 9:18.40
Topeka High 9:28.74
Topeka West 9:29.28
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Veteran tennis coaches Duane Pomeroy of Topeka High and Kurt Davids of Topeka West knew that the dual match between the Trojans and the Chargers in Tuesday's West quadrangular at the Kossover Tennis Center would be a close one.
Topeka High senior No. 1 singles player Tres Lassiter went 3-0 in Tuesday's Topeka West quadrangular, dropping just one game on the day. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West's Collin McGee (left) and Zander Rice went undefeated in No. 1 doubles in Tuesday's Topeka West quadrangular at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
It couldn't have been any closer, with High and West battling to a 2-2 tie in the final match of the day to earn a share of the top spot in the quad with 2-0-1 records on the day.
"Kurt and I have been coaching against each other over three decades and we take turns beating the other one in both girls and boys,'' Pomeroy said.
"That's why we played Topeka High last to have a grand finale kind of thing,'' Davids said. "They got the singles and we got the doubles. I'm happy with the results and happy with everybody's effort singles and doubles.''
Topeka High shut out Shawnee Heights 4-0 and beat Basehor-Linwood 3-1 while West beat Heights 4-0 and Basehor-Linwood 3-1 to open the day before the USD 501 rivals squared off in the finale.
High senior Tres Lassiter went a perfect 3-0 in No. 1 singles to lead the Trojans while West's Collin McGee and Zander Rice went 3-0 in No. 1 doubles and Isaac Bowers and George Davidson went undefeated in No. 2 doubles.
Lassiter, the reigning city champion in No. 1 singles, dropped just one game on the game while McGee and Rice rallied from a 3-0 deficit against Topeka High to take an 8-4 victory.
TOPEKA WEST TENNIS QUADRANGULAR
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Peyton Holmes, Seaman 10.73
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 10.82
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 11.13
Ben Roeder, Topeka High 11.17
Sean LeDuc, Washburn Rural 11.18
200 METERS
Bryce Cochran, Seaman 21.87
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden 21.92
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural 22.02
Evan Scheid, Silver Lake 22.22
Matthew Houser, Washburn Rural 22.37
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural
400 METERS
Isaiah Terry, Washburn Rural 48.20
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden 48.30
Bryce Cochran, Seaman 48.43
Liam Benz, Shawnee Heights 49.63
Ben Roeder, Topeka High 49.82
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:56.22
Mark Wilkie, Topeka West 1:57.23
Ben Buesing, Washburn Rural 1:58.87
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 1:59.08
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 2:00.38
1,600 METERS
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 4:18.07
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:18.55
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:19.77
Mark Wilkie, Topeka West 4:21.37
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 4:34.44
3,200 METERS
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 9:16.96
Adrian Lehman, Topeka West 9:16.98
Brody Anderson, Seaman 9:34.99
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 9:41.18
Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural 10:03.37
110-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 14.59
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 15.50
Desean Lunkins, Topeka High 15.80
Isaac Song, Shawnee Heights 15.84
Braylon Badger, Washburn Rural 15.93
300-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 38.83
Braylon Badger, Washburn Rural 40.60
Isaac Song, Shawnee Heights 41.07
Michael Hurla, Seaman 41.29
Kellan Parcaro, Seaman 41.86
4x100-METER RELAY
Silver Lake 43.16
Seaman 43.48
Topeka High 43.48
Washburn Rural 43.49
Topeka West 44.50
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 3:17.38
Topeka West 3:24.56
Topeka High 3:24.64
Hayden 3:25.32
Seaman 3:26.21
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 8:01.63
Shawnee Heights 8:31.70
Seaman 8:43.94
Topeka High 8:46.69
Silver Lake 8:54.17
HIGH JUMP
Jack Esser, Seaman 6-5
Blake Toyne, Seaman 6-2
Brooks Ballard, Washburn Rural 6-0
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 6-0
Cody Quy, Seaman 6-0
Rondell Harris, Hayden 6-0
Tad McGee, Seaman 6-0
Deondre Razzano, Silver Lake 6-0
Tyler Wedl, Shawnee Heights
POLE VAULT
Tyler Wedl, Shawnee Heights 12-6
Luke Deering, Washburn Rural 10-6
Desmond Grindol, Washburn Rural 9-6
Emery Kearney, Seaman 9-6
Caleb Schwartz, Washburn Rural 9-6
Quinton White, Seaman 9-6
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden
LONG JUMP
Jensen Schrickel, Hayden 22-7
Peyton Holmes, Seaman 22-6
Elijah Berg, Topeka West 21-8
Te'Vante Ewing, Topeka High 21-5
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 20-11
Ethan Surey, Washburn Rural 20-11
TRIPLE JUMP
Kaden Whitehurst, Seaman 42-8
Deondre Razzano, Silver Lake 42-5.5
Cody Quy, Seaman 41-11
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 41-8
Ethan Surey, Washburn Rural 40-7.50
SHOT PUT
Brogen Brown, Seaman 50-11
Amir Bass, Shawnee Heights 47-3.5
F. Anguiano, Hayden 44-10
Adrian Shuler, Shawnee Heights 44-9.5
Clayton Johnson, Seaman 44-5
DISCUS
Brogen Brown, Seaman 146-0
Myles Fisher, Silver Lake 144-5
Treyton Tetuan, Hayden 137-4
Samuel Scott, Washburn Rural 136-0
Zachary Hancock, Washburn Rural 135-11
JAVELIN
Kelton Meier, Hayden 162-5
Oliver Perez, Washburn Rural 155-2
Andre Johnson, Rossville 155-1
Jackson Haas, Hayden 153-7
Gabriel Taylor, Washburn Rural 148-10
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news will compile a weekly girls swimming and diving honor roll for Topeka high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
Seaman 2:18.32
Washburn Rural 2:19.41
Shawnee Heights 2:21.17
Hayden 2:48.67
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden
200-YARD FREESTYLE
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden 2:12.42
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 2:25.97
Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural 2:31.65
Megan Strobel, Seaman 2:37.54
Joanna Diehl, Washburn Rural 2:47.44
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural
200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 2:28.23
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights 2:43.29
Riley Strother, Seaman 2:51.05
Avery Skinner, Seaman 2:51.97
Mya Bucholtz, Hayden 3:09.89
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights
50-YARD FREESTYLE
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights 27.98
Riley Strother, Seaman 28.15
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 28.26
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 28.90
Makenna Russell, Topeka West 29.77
ONE-METER DIVING
Avery Rosenow, Hayden/CPLS 173.75
Mackenzie Caryl, Topeka High 138.75
Madilyn Typer, Seaman 105.40
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights
100-YARD BUTTERFLY
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights 1:11.39
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 1:21.98
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 1:23.77
Sophie Reffett, Washburn Rural 1:28.10
Riley Strother, Seaman 1:31.54
100-YARD FREESTYLE
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 57.50
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights 1:00.70
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 1:03.71
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 1:04.28
Makenna Russell, Topeka West 1:08.95
500-YARD FREESTYLE
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 6:33.78
Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural 6:56.95
Sophie Reffett, Washburn Rural 7:57.80
Jurnee Jessepe, Seaman 8:18.59
Meckenah Philpott, Seaman 8:19.26
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West junior girls soccer star Micah Williams has been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Star of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2025-2026 school year.
Here's a brief look at Williams' recent accomplishments.
Micah Williams, Topeka West [File photo/TSN]
MICAH WILLIAMS, Topeka West
Williams, an All-Shawnee County and Class 5A All-State pick last spring, has scored 15 goals in five games in her first season for Topeka West, leading the Chargers to a perfect 5-0 start.
Williams, a forward, opened the season with one goal against Kansas City-Washington, scored five goals against Highland Park, four against Salina Central, two against Great Bend and three goals against Kansas City-Turner.
Topeka West's 5-0 start has eclipsed the Chargers' win total in a 4-12 2025 campaign.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural girls swimming entered the 2026 season with a lot of question marks.
And three meets into the year, Junior Blues coach Bob Burdick has seen steady progress.
Now the key for Rural is to continue taking strides as the city, Centennial League and state meets get closer and closer.
"We are making progress, but we have a lot more to go,'' Burdick said. "Our pool was actually broken down for five days, which took us out a whole week and set us back, but the new kids are coming on great and the older kids are pulling their weight and starting to get back down to the times they should be at, which is great.''
Washburn Rural senior Audrey Appuhn (left) and Shawnee Heights junior Clara Sobba congratulate each other after the swimmers went one-two in the 100-yard freestyle Wednesday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Led by a victory and runnerup finish from senior Audrey Appuhn, as well as a runnerup relay finish, the Junior Blues finished Wednesday's Topeka High Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium with 284 points, finishing third behind Lawrence Free State (536 points) and Hays (337).
"Silly little mistakes tonight may have cost us second place, but that's OK,'' Burdick said. "There were just some DQs (disqualifications) for just simple little things, technical things, and we're working on them and it helps when we're consistently in the pool.
"The girls are doing great though and the team's coming together. I'm really happy with everybody and it's a lot of fun.''
Appuhn won the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 57.50 seconds and finished second in the 100 breaststroke in 1 minute, 15.99 seconds while the foursome of Sophie Heinen, Kaci Hodgson, Resego Mackenzie and Ava Von Lintel finished second in the 400 freestyle in 4:46.87.
Heinen was the runnerup in the 500 freestyle in 6:33.78 while Von Lintel finished third in 6:56.95.
Other meet highlights:
Hayden junior Kailyn Gerdel posted second and third-place finishes in Wednesday's Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Hayden junior Kailyn Gerdel finished second in the 200 freestyle in 2:12.42 and was third in the 100 breaststroke in 1:18.26.
Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo had a pair of second-place finishes in Wednesday's Topeka High Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
• Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo posted a second-place finish in the 50 freestyle in 28.26 and second in the 100 backstroke in 1:11.35 while High's Mackenzie Caryl finished third in one-meter diving with a score of 137.85.
• Shawnee Heights junior Clara Sobba placed second in the 100 freestyle in 1:00.70 and third in the 50 freestyle in 28.32.
• Seaman's Riley Strother finished third in the 100 backstroke in 1:12.84.
TOPEKA HIGH INVITATIONAL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Topeka Tennis Association will add Greg Lutz, Kurt Reid, John Waltz and Corey Wilson into its Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Greg Lutz
Kurt Reid
John Waltz
Corey Wilson
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Barring a big upset, Seaman baseball was going to sweep Wednesday's United Kansas Conference home doubleheader against city rival Topeka West.
Seaman junior Axton Brewer had a big day at the plate in Wednesday's UKC sweep over Topeka West, including a home run and a three-run double. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But there were still things, in addition to a pair of wins, that Viking coach Steve Bushnell wanted his team to accomplish.
And Seaman was able to achieve each and every one of Bushnell's goals in a 12-0, 20-0 sweep over the Chargers as the Vikings improved to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the UKC while stretching their winning streak to five games.
Wednesday's routs came on the heels of a 15-0, 11-0 UKC sweep over Turner on Tuesday.
"The big thing was just an opportunity to get on the field and being early in our season, just having an opportunity to run some situational offense and get back in tune with verbal commands and baserunning and things that you work on in practice, but it's not always a live situation,'' Bushnell said.
"So having an opportunity to run bases and just let the hitters get some on-field hacks was important over the last two days and last four games that we've played.''
Senior Cale Rosenberger (8) had a pair of doubles in Seaman's 12-0 first-game win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Michael Dobbs and sophomore Carson Anspaugh combined to throw a five-inning no-hitter in the first game while the Vikings lashed out 12 hits and seven extra-base hits, including a home run from junior Axton Brewer.
Senior Cooper Hayes and junior Bryson Fehr combined for a one-hitter in the second game while Seaman batted around twice in the first inning en route to a 14-run first inning and tacked on six runs in the second inning, ending the game after two and a half innings by way of the 15-run spread rule.
Junior Beau Jessop and Fehr tripled in the game while Brewer had a three-run double and Dobbs delivered a two-run double.
"Our pitchers were outstanding for the most part, just throwing strikes and pitching to contact,'' Bushnell said.
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 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
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 VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Seaman softball opened its 2026 season with two convincing run-rule United Kansas Conference wins over city rival Topeka West Thursday at Hummer Sports Complex.
From start to finish Thursday the Vikings came out swinging early and often, taking the first game 14-1 and the nightcap 16-1 in three innings.
Seaman began the first game up 2-0 and the Vikings started a rally with no outs in the top of the second.
Senior Addison Sibley had a run-scoring single, senior Kinsley Smith had a two RBI triple and then the Vikings would score another run on a fielder’s choice from junior Acey Thompson, with the Vikings leading 6-0 after two.
Seaman would score another four runs in the top of the third, thanks to a two RBI double from junior Natalee Simpson, followed by an RBI double by senior Claire Watkins. Seaman led 10-0 at that point.
Topeka West couldn’t get much going against sophomore Kynnedi Kitzman in the circle. The Chargers did get runners at second and third, but Kitzman got out of the jam. Kitzman finished with six strikeouts on 88 pitches.
The Chargers would get on the board after a bases loaded walk to senior Samantha Stegman, but that would be it for Topeka West.
In the top of the fifth Seaman would score four more runs on five hits, ending the game by way of the mercy rule.
“I knew we brought back a lot of a lot of kids in the lineup from last year’s team and so I kind of knew what we could do, but you always have those first-game jitters and what are we going to be like and how are we going to fit together and are we where we need to be in the lineup,'' Seaman coach Daniel Ruda said.
"Tonight hopefully answered some questions but it was the best I could ask for, for a start to the season.''
In game two the Vikings put up six runs in the first inning. Seaman got five walks, two hit-by-pitches and a two-RBI triple from Kitzman that started the scoring and the rout was on.
Seaman scored seven more runs in the second inning on a variety of hits, including a sac fly, leading 13-0.
The Vikings combining for 29 runs and allowed just one run in eight combined innings.
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
Topeka West girls soccer is looking to make major strides forward this spring after a 4-12-0 season a year ago.
Junior newcomer Micah Williams (7) scored her first goal in a Topeka West uniform Monday, helping the Chargers take a 3-0 season-opening win over Kansas City-Washington. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And the Chargers took the first step towards that goal Monday at Hummer Sports Park, opening the 2026 season with a 3-0 non-league victory over Kansas City-Washington.
"We're definitely still getting to know each other,'' West coach Josh Kutter said. "We've got some new faces along with some returning players.
"I thought we moved the ball pretty well and we connected some passes. We've got to work on that finishing third and getting the ball in the back of the net.''
Senior Cecylia Boyd (10) scores Topeka West's first goal in Monday's 3-0 non-league win over Kansas City-Washington. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Cecylia Boyd scored the only goal the Chargers would need at the 23:26 mark of the first half and junior Highland Park transfer Micah Williams scored her first goal in a West uniform to put the hosts in command 2-0 at the half.
West junior Brynlee Best connected on a long shot with 29:49 remaining in the second half to account for the final margin.
Sophomore Sydney Baxter and junior Gabrielle Lopez combined for the shutout in goal for Topeka West.
"It's just one of those things where it's early in the season and once players start getting the hang of each other and getting to know each other then it will start clicking a little bit better and we're looking forward to it,'' Kutter said. "Nothing negative in the first game.''
The Chargers are scheduled to face city rival Highland Park on Thursday at Hummer Sports Park.
TOPEKA WEST 3, KC-WASHINGTON 0
KC-Washington (0-1) 0 0 -- 0
Topeka West (1-0) 2 1 -- 3
Topeka West -- Goals: Cecylia Boyd, Micah Williams, Brynlee Best. Shutout: Sydney Baxter, Gabrielle Lopez.
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 RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Four city players earned spots on the All-United Kansas Conference girls basketball first team, led by senior three-time first-team pick Maddie Gragg of Seaman and Shawnee Heights junior repeat honoree KK Emmot.
Maddie Gragg, Seaman
KK Emmot, Shawnee Heights
Pearmella Carter, Shawnee Heights
Sydney VanDyke, Topeka West
Also earning All-UKC first-team recognition were Shawnee Heights junior Pearmella Carter and Topeka West junior Sydney VanDyke. Carter was a first-team pick in her first season at Heights after previously being named the Meadowlark Conference player of the year at Highland Park while VanDyke received All-UKC honorable mention as a sophomore.
Bob Wells, Shawnee Heights
Shawnee Heights coach Bob Wells was named the UKC coach of the year after leading the T-Birds to the conference championship and a fourth-place finish in Class 5A in his final season before retiring.
Shawnee Heights senior Imani McGlory was a second-team All-UKC pick.
Seaman junior Cara Beaton and Brynn Spencer received all-conference honorable mention along with Shawnee Heights junior Sami Baum and senior Reianna Vega and Topeka West junior Patience Allen.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE GIRLS BASKETBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
City players earned four of the seven spots on the All-United Kansas Conference boys basketball first team, led by Seaman UKC player of the year KaeVon Bonner.
Seaman senior KaeVon Bonner was named the UKC player of the year while earning all-conference first-team honors for the third straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Bonner, a senior, led the Vikings to a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament, earning All-UKC first-team honors for the third straight season.
Malakyah Duncan, Topeka West
Keimani Paul, Topeka West
Cam Ross, Shawnee Heights
Bonner is joined on the first team by Topeka West seniors Malakyah Duncan and Keimani Paul and Shawnee Heights junior Cam Ross.
Duncan moved up to the first team after earning second-team recognition in 2025 while Paul received honorable mention a year ago.
Duncan and Paul helped lead Topeka West to a fourth-place finish in 5A while Ross helped Heights advance to the 5A state tournament for the third straight season.
Christian Ulsaker, Topeka West
Second-year Topeka West coach Christian Ulsaker was picked as the UKC coach of the year after his Chargers won the conference championship on a tiebreaker over Seaman.
Seaman senior Landon Wiltz, West junior Prince Lassiter and Heights freshman Quincy Dixon earned second-team honors while Viking senior Griffin Zuniga, T-Bird seniors Ja'Veon Alston, JaiMarion Cook and Aiden Scott and West senior Jay'Veon Traylor all earned honorable mention.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE BOYS BASKETBALL
By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- In what marked the final game of his tenure as Seaman boys basketball coach, Craig Cox saw his team deliver a strong performance Friday, defeating city rival Topeka West 66-50 in the Class 5A third-place game at Koch Arena.
The matchup marked the third meeting of the season between the city and United Kansas Conference foes, but this time Seaman controlled the game early and never fully relinquished its advantage.
Seaman senior KaeVon Bonner (33) had 9 points and 10 assists in the Vikings' 66-50 win over Topeka West in Friday's Class 5A third-place game. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]
Seaman jumped out to a quick start behind senior KaeVon Bonner, who scored four of the Vikings’ first six points to give his team a 6-0 lead.
Topeka West eventually got on the board when junior Prince Lassiter converted a basket, but Seaman quickly responded with a 7-0 run to stretch the lead to 13-4.
Chargers guard Keimani Paul knocked down a 3-pointer late in the quarter, but the Vikings answered with four more points to take a 17-8 lead into the second period.
Topeka West found momentum early in the second quarter, opening the period on a 10-1 run to pull within two points. However, Viking senior Landon Wiltz halted the Chargers’ surge with a timely 3-pointer.
Seaman regained control from there, closing the half with a flurry of outside shooting.
The Vikings connected on three 3-pointers down the stretch, including one at the buzzer, to push their lead to 11 heading into halftime.
Seaman senior Landon Wiltz (5), defending Topeka West's Keimani Paul, led all scorers with 23 points in Friday's 66-50 win in the Class 5A third-place game. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]
Wiltz led all scorers with 11 first-half points and was 3 for 4 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm to start the third quarter, but Topeka West closed the period strong with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to seven.
Cox emphasized patience and ball movement during the break between quarters.
“We had moved the ball again and were just kind of settling for some shots and missing them,” Cox said. “It’s like, make the extra pass and it’ll be fine. I thought we moved the ball a lot better, got it to the middle and played a little bit from the inside out.
"With these guys having confidence, it makes it easy to not panic when a good team like Topeka West makes a run.”
“(Cox0 just told us to finish the game out,” Bonner said. "We just kept letting them back in. It’s the last game of the season, just have fun.”
Seaman responded with its strongest stretch of the game to open the fourth quarter.
After the Chargers scored five quick points to pull within four, the Vikings erupted on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 52-39.
Paul briefly halted the surge with a 3-pointer for Topeka West, but Seaman answered with three consecutive 3-pointers of its own to effectively put the game out of reach.
The Vikings were particularly efficient from long range, shooting 13 of 26 from 3-point range, while Topeka West struggled from deep, converting just 3 of 19 attempts.
Wiltz finished with a game-high 23 points, while Bonner impacted the game in other ways. Though held to nine points, the standout guard recorded 10 assists.
“I know scoring is one of my main things, but if my shot’s not falling, I’ll go out and get my teammates involved,” Bonner said. “Landon was hitting his shots, so I just drove and found him. He did his job of shooting for me.”
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- The Topeka West Chargers were knocked off balance early and never recovered Thursday, losing to Bonner Springs 76-61 in the Class 5A state semifinal round at Wichita State's Koch Arena.
Junior Prince Lassiter led Topka West with 21 points in Thursday's 76-61 Class 5A semifinal loss to Bonner Springs. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]
The third-seeded Chargers fell quickly into foul trouble and found themselves in a 19-8 hole in the opening period. The Chargers played the Braves essentially even on the scoreboard the rest of the way, but never challenged. The closest Topeka West ever came to catching the Braves was eight points.
“We came out flat,” said Topeka West coach Christian Ulsaker. “Bonner Springs was ready to play. We were not ready to play. Too many turnovers for us. We didn’t make the 50-50 plays, and they did.”
Topeka West won a grueling double-overtime quarterfinal over rival Piper on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals. Ulsaker admitted the Chargers might have been dealing with a hangover effect.
“It could be. But I think Bonner Springs just has a lot of guys who are pretty good basketball players, and we just weren’t ready for it,” Ulsaker said. “They do the same things we’ve been seeing all year. They hedge ball screens and we didn’t make the right reads to get the ball inside. I think (our) guys were hunting shots they shouldn’t have been hunting for and didn’t stick to the game plan.”
Chargers guard Malakyah Duncan spent a good portion of the first half on the bench in foul trouble. He scored just one basket prior to halftime, by which time Bonner Springs led 37-25.
Senior Gad Munganga, who scored 15 points, reacts during Thursday's 76-61 Class 5A semifinal loss to Bonner Springs. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]
Prince Lassiter led the Chargers with 21 points, followed by Gad Munganga with 15.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA -- After splitting a pair of knockdown, dragout regular-season United Kansas Conference regular-season matchups with Piper, Topeka West basketball coach Christian Ulsaker knew that Tuesday's Class 5A quarterfinal was going to be another fierce battle.
Senior Keimani Paul scored 28 of his game-high 30 points in the second half and OTs, leading Topeka West to an 86-78 Class 5A state tournament win over Piper Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But not even Ulsaker could have predicted what transpired at White Auditorium, a double-overtime thriller that had momentum swing after momentum swing and big play after big play before No. 3 seed Topeka West took control in the second extra session to outlast No. 6 Piper, 86-78, and advance to the state semifinals.
"That's what winners do,'' Ulsaker said. "Give (Piper) coach (Steve) Wallace and DJ (Derrick Jackson) and that team all the credit. They didn't want to go home, you could tell, and we didn't want to go home, so it's fun to see two teams battle it out to get a chance at Wichita.''
Topeka West, now 23-3 on the season, advances to an 8 p.m. Thursday night semifinal matchup with No. 2 seed Bonner Springs (25-1), which topped Kansas City-Washington, 68-49.
The stage for Tuesday's Topeka West-Piper marathon was set when Topeka West jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, only to see Piper (18-8) battle back to forge ties at 10-10 and 14-14 before before the Pirates ended the opening quarter with a 5-0 run to take a 19-14 advantage.
Piper went up 21-14, its biggest lead of the night, early in the second stanza, but this time it was West that battled back, with the Chargers tying the game at 23 and eventually going in front 28-23 before the game was tied at 28 and 30.
Piper got the final bucket of the half, on a Cooper Crawford dunk, to take a 32-30 lead at the break.
The back and forth affair continued in the second half, with four lead changes in the third quarter before Piper took a 48-45 advantage into the fourth.
Topeka West almost immediately tied the game on a Malakyah Duncan 3-pointer, one of four ties in the period, including a 59-59 deadlock to force overtime.
West went up 58-56 on a Paul hoop before Jasper Phillips hit a free throw to give the Chargers a 59-56 lead with 7.5 seconds left in regulation before Piper star Jackson drained a clutch 3-pointer at the buzzer.
There were four ties and four lead changes in the first OT and West again had a late lead, at 71-69, before Jackson scored with 8.2 seconds left to send the game to a second extra four-minute period.
But this time the Chargers were able to put the Pirates away after scoring the first nine points of the second OT to open their biggest lead of the night at 80-71 with 1:11 left.
Piper battled all the way back to get within 81-78 with 26 seconds remaining before West ended the game with a 5-0 run.
Senior Malakyah Duncan scored 17 points in Topeka West's 86-78 Class 5A state tournament win over Piper Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Paul scored 28 of his game-high 30 points in the second half and overtimes while Duncan scored 17 points, Prince Lassiter 13, Jay'Veon Lassiter 11 and Gad Munganga 10 points for the Chargers.
"The first half (Paul) was pretty frustrated, 1 for 2 in the first half,'' Ulsaker said. "He was kind of like, 'Give me the ball, give me the ball,' and I just went in there (the locker room) and said, 'I gave your the ball, OK.' You wanted it, we gave it to you and that's what seniors do. They want the big moments.
"Gad had them, Lok (Duncan) had them, Kei had them. That's a team that wants to win a basketball game.''
"I was mad I wasn't getting (many) touches and they were hounding me first half, but I know that I did not want my season to end today, so I got after it,'' Paul said.
"We took control. We knew the shot that (Jackson) hit to turn it into overtime, we knew that wasn't supposed to happen, so we knew we needed to seal the game with free throws, stay poised and mature, and that's what we did.''
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 RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West's boys basketball team is known for its explosive offense, with the Chargers scoring 70 or more points in 15 wins, including three in the 80s.
Senior Malakyah Duncan, who led Topeka West with a game-high 15 points, holds up the Class 5A sub-state trophy after Friday's 60-46 win over Bishop Carroll. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But to a man, the Chargers agreed that defense was the difference in Friday's 60-46 win over Bishop Carroll in a Class 5A sub-state championship game on West's home court.
"Absolutely,'' West coach Christian Ulsaker said. "I thought our defense kind of went up a notch or two, just in terms of the physicality and the tenaciousness we played with on defense.
"That just leads to our offense kind of getting going. You can have off nights shooting it, but your defense has to be there every night.''
Now headed to the 5A state tournament for the second straight season, the 22-3 Chargers trailed 16-8 Bishop Carroll 25-20 at halftime and fell behind 28-22 at the 6:09 mark of the third quarter after a 3-pointer from Carroll senior Brody Kreutzer.
But it was at that point that the Chargers' defense really kicked in, with West ending the third quarter on a 16-0 run to build a 38-28 advantage thanks to the 18-3 quarter.
Topeka West senior Jay'Veon Traylor cuts down the nets after the Chargers' 60-46 Class 5A sub-state win over Bishop Carroll Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"We went into the locker room at halftime, knowing we needed to get more intensity and more rebounds,'' West senior Jay'Veon Traylor said. "The intensity got up, we started playing better defense and just won the game.''
Senior Malakyah Duncan agreed.
"We get defensive stops, we get out on the fastbreak and we just went on from there,'' Duncan said. "Our defensive stops really got our energy up.
"Their defense was suffocating, but we just had to figure out a way to put the ball in the hoop and that's what we did in the second half. We just played defense and do what we do and put the ball in the hoop.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Underdog Hutchinson got Topeka West's attention with a strong first quarter in Tuesday's Class 5A West sub-state semifinal.
But that proved to be the Salthawks' undoing, with the No. 2-seeded Chargers outscoring No. 15 seed Hutch 34-10 over the middle two quarters en route to a 55-32 win at West.
Senior Keimani Paul scored a game-high 16 points in Topeka West's 55-32 Class 5A sub-state win over Hutchinson Tuesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"We came out a little bit slow the first quarter and we just knew that our defense was going to keep us in the game,'' said Topeka West senior Keimani Paul, who scored a game-high 16 points. "If we're not making shots, the defense was going to keep us in the game for sure.''
With the win the 21-3 Chargers advanced to a 6 p.m. sub-state final on Friday at West to face No. 7 seed Bishop Carroll (16-7). The Eagles advanced with a 62-53 win over Andover.
Hutchinson, which finished its season 7-16, led through most of the opening quarter and the game was tied at 12-all at the start of the second period.
"Their coach (Bryan Miller) did a great job,'' West coach Christian Ulsaker said. "I felt like they knew our offense better than we did at times. He was calling out everything, so our guys did a great job of adjusting to that and defensively we threw some different things at them to try to confuse them a little bit and get out and run.''
But at that point Topeka West took control, outscoring the Salthawks 18-6 in the second quarter to take a 30-18 lead at the half.
The Chargers then put the game away with a dominant 16-4 third quarter, taking a 46-22 lead into the fourth stanza and forcing a running clock at 55-24 with 4:44 remaining on a 3-pointer from senior Malakyah Duncan.
"We just wanted to get this game out of the way, quick, easy, and get ready for Bishop Carroll,'' Paul said.
"The guys came out a little jittery in the first quarter, but I feel like they settled in and did what they needed to do to get the win and move on to a team (Carroll) that we've kind of had circled now for about a week and a half,'' Ulsaker said.
"We knew this was a possiblity that we'd meet up with Bishop Carroll. They're very well-coached and will be ready to play.''
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 RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls bowling team added a Class 5A regional team title to its city and United Kansas Conference crowns Tuesday at Gage Bowl, with the Vikings taking the regional championship by a 2,958-2,904 margin over Emporia.
Claire LaDuke (facing) celebrates a strike with her Seaman teammates during Tuesday's Class 5A regional at Gage Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights also earned a berth for next week's state tournament at Wichita, finishing third as a team at 2,831.
Highland Park will also have a competitor in the girls state tournament, with Ra'Lynn Divers qualifying as an individual.
Claire LaDuke led the champion Vikings with a third-place individual finish, shooting a 565 three-game series while Seaman also got a sixth-place individual finish from Paige Snyder, who shot a 555 series.
The Vikings also got a 12th-place individual finish from Laci Cole (521), a 13th showing from Leah Crawford (516) and a 16th from Kayla Duncan (493) while Ava Carlson shot a 448.
Shawnee Heights bowling coach Scott Mercer talks to his girls team during Tuesday's Class 5A regional at Gage Bowl. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Addison VanMetre shot a 544 series to pace third-place Shawnee Heights with a seventh-place individual finish while the T-Birds' Lauryn Valdivia placed 11th (522), Emma Wederski was 14th (509), Tatum Simpson was 18th (482) and Bailey Liby was 19th (459). Reese Bell rounded out the T-Bird lineup with a 441 series.
Highland Park's Divers shot a 456 series to garner the fifth individual qualifying berth for state.
The city boys 5A contingent will also be well-represented at state, led by Shawnee Heights, which finished second as a team by a 3,417-3,275 margin to United Kansas Conference rival De Soto while Seaman and Highland Park combined for three individual qualifiers.
Evan Jones finished fifth with a 650 series to lead Shawnee Heights to a second-place team finish in Tuesday's Class 5A bowling regional at Gage Bowl. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Evan Jones shot a 650 series to pace Shawnee Heights with a fifth-place individual finish while the T-Birds also got a seventh-place finish from Braden Evans (637), a ninth from Trey Donath (622), and a 14th-place showing from Henry Schattilly (637). Chevy Stallbaumer added a 581 and Kaden Evans a 523 for Heights.
Seaman's Garrett Shaw shot a 666 series to tie for second and finish third on a tiebreaker in Tuesday's Class 5A regional at Gage Bowl. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman finished fourth as a team to miss a state team berth by one spot, but the Vikings got a second-place tie (third on a tiebreaker) from Garrett Shaw, who shot a 666 to earn the second individual qualifying berth.
Highland Park earned a pair of individual state berths, with Kayden King shooting a 638 to earn the third individual qualifying spot for staate and Isaac Barnes shooting a 617 to place 10th and earn the fourth individual qualifying berth.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL BOWLING
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Despite playing short-handed, the Topeka West girls picked up their sixth win of the season by racing past Turner 63-30 Tuesday.
Junior Sydney VanDyke scored a game-high 25 points in Topeka West's 63-30 win over Turner Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Patience Allen scored 14 points in Topeka West's 63-30 win over Turner Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Charger coach Angie Ketterman dug even deeper into her program for players Tuesday as two injured seniors played to be recognized on Senior Night and others missed the game entirely.
Senior Breonnah Keeling made her first appearance for the Chargers since the season opener, in which she injured her knee. Wearing a brace, she received a pass off the opening tip and laid it in to get in the scorebook in her final game.
Addaline Hall, one of the team’s most productive players all season, also started the game to be recognized on Senior Night, then promptly checked out. Keeling said Hall has an injury that may prevent her from playing the rest of the season.
“It was good to get a win, but we have so many players injured right now,” Ketterman said. “We could only play with six tonight.
“It was good to see (Keeling) back on the floor tonight. She played two minutes against Highland Park and tore her ACL. So, it was nice to get her back out there to be recognized.”
The Chargers were led by junior Sydney VanDyke’s 25 points. Fellow junior Patience Allen added 14 on 7-11 shooting.
Freshman Aniyah Perkins scored 13 points in Topeka West's 63-30 win over Turner Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Kettering praised Aniyah Perkins, a freshman who stepped in and scored 13 points.
“She’s got great moves around the basket,” Kettering said of Perkins. “She’s aggressive and plays hard and she’s got a lot of speed.”
Kettering said she thought the players who played increased minutes Tuesday responded well. She expects to rely on the same mix of players in the regular-season finale Friday at Lansing.
“If we’re going to have to play these young kids (in the playoffs), it’s good to have one more game,” Kettering said. “Playing these young girls is only going to help us for the future. They’re great players. They’ve just got to get used to playing that fast-paced game.”
Allen said that although the team is digging deep for players, the Chargers expect to play hard and compete.
“We were just playing aggressive and playing as a team tonight,” Allen said. “It changes things a little bit (to be using new players), but we all practice together. I think they are a little bit nervous, but they know what they’re doing and they’re going to do good.”
TOPEKA WEST GIRLS 63, TURNER 30
Turner 8 11 9 2 -- 30
Topeka West 25 12 15 11 -- 63
Turner (3-18, 0-15) – Chavez 2-13 1-2 3, Olsen 1-6 0-0 2, Henderson 0-3 0-0 0, Benson 1-5 1-4 3, Ollie 4-11 2-6 10, Beery 1-1 0-0 2, High 0-0 0-0 0, Pollard 2-3 4-4 8. Totals 11-42 8-18 30.
Topeka West (6-16, 3-12) – Gonzales 2-15 0-0 5, VanDyke 9-13 7-13 25, Keeling 1-1 0-0 2, Hall 0-0 0-0 0, Kutina 1-7 0-0 2, Allen 7-11 0-3 14, Perkins 6-14 0-2 13, Traylor 1-4 0-0 2, Smith 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-66 7-18 63.
3-point goals – Turner 0, Topeka West 2 (Gonzales, Perkins 1). Total fouls – Turner 12, Topeka West 12. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Just 24 hours after the Chargers outlasted rival Topeka High in a grueling battle at The Dungeon, Topeka West withstood a challenge Tuesday from Turner 72-54 to draw within one game of a United Kansas Conference crown.
Malakyah Duncan scored a game-high 16 points to help lead Topeka West to a 72-54 Senior Night win over Turner. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Keimani Paul scored 13 points to help lead Topeka West to a 72-54 Senior Night win over Turner. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Golden Bears didn’t go down willingly. They led 21-20 early in the second period and stayed within reach the entire first half. An 8-0 run to start the third quarter gave the Chargers some breathing room.
As the Chargers slowly built a lead Tuesday, Topeka West coach Christian Ulsaker went deeper into his bench to rest his starters and allow others to get minutes. Coming off the bench on Senior Nigh, regular junior starter Prince Lassiter scored 12 points and junior J.J. Doby added eight.
“Second game in as many days, I thought we started fast last night,” Ulsaker said. “So, trying to replicate that two nights in a row might be a little bit challenging with how high intensity the game last night was. I’m just proud of our boys for just battling, getting the win.”
The Chargers, ranked fourth in the final ranking of Class 5A teams by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, improved to 18-3, 13-2 in the United Kansas Conference. A win Friday at Lansing would guarantee that they will at least share the crown, if not win it outright.
Ulsaker started all five of his seniors Tuesday and saw them combine for 48 points. Leading the seniors was Malakyah Duncan with 16 and Keimani Paul with 13. Gad Munganga added eight, Jay’Veon Traylor at six and Trey Ware tossed in five.
“It was good to honor the seniors tonight. (Senior Night) is fun to see and it’s also sad at the same time.” said Ulsaker, who came to Topeka West from Wabaunsee two seasons ago. “These guys have been in the program for four years, I’ve had the great opportunity of coaching them for two. I can’t tell you how great of a class this is. You have certain groups and senior groups that you just wish you could have more, and this is definitely one of them.”
After the game, Duncan reflected on his career at Topeka West.
“I feel good. I’m ready for sub-state, hopefully make it to state,” Duncan said. “I have great confidence in my team. We are balanced, talented. I think we can take it all the way. We’ve got the potential to do something this team has never done, to win state for the first time in history. We’ve just got to go do it.”
TOPEKA WEST BOYS 72, TURNER 54
Turner 16 12 14 12 -- 54
Topeka West 20 16 18 18 -- 72
Turner (4-18, 0-15) – Marshall 4-8 0-0 9, Scott 1-3 0-0 2, McBride 1-4 1-2 3, McGee 6-11 2-2 14, Bryant 2-3 0-0 5, Hamilton 5-9 1-2 13, Thomas 3-4 0-0 6, Solido 0-1 0-0 0, Ramanis 0-0 2-2 2, Springer 0-0 0-0 0, King 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-43 6-8 54.
Topeka West (18-3, 13-2) – Munganga 2-6 4-4 8, Ware 2-6 0-0 5, Traylor 2-5 2-4 6, Duncan 7-12 1-1 16, Paul 5-8 2-2 13, Phillips 1-2 0-2 2, Lassiter 5-6 2-5 12, Doby 3-3 1-2 8, Fox 1-5 0-0 2, Lloyd 0-1 0-0 0, Emerson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-54 12-20 72.
3-point goals – Turner 4 (Hamilton 2, Marshall, Bryant), Topeka West 4 (Ware, Duncan , Paul, Doby). Total fouls – Turner 14, Topeka West 10. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
