Topeka West Chargers

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman's No. 4-ranked (Class 5A) girls basketball team might not have been quite as sharp at Topeka West Tuesday night as the Vikings had been in last Thursday's season-opener when they hung 82 points on Lansing while shooting 57 percent from the field.

Seaman junior Anna Becker, who scored a game-high 17 points, puts up a shot in the Vikings' 59-27 UKC win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

But the Vikings were still very good, improving to 2-0 overall and in the United Kansas Conference with a 59-27 win over the Chargers.

"We played hard,'' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "We played real hard, so I'm proud of the effort. Sometimes when you don't hit a shot you press a little bit and I told the girls, 'We've really got to get some step-in shots.'

"I thought we just settled too much and when the ball movement is better inside-out you can step into those shots and it's easier to shoot and hit and we did that as the game went on.''

Topeka West (0-2, 0-2) was still within four points after a bucket at the 2:37 mark of the opening quarter, but the Vikings ran off the final six points of the quarter to open up a 17-6 advantage and took a commanding 31-14 cushion to the locker room at halftime.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka West's boys basketball team may not have that one go-to guy that it can count on when it really needs a bucket.

Junior Kamoni Ford came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points in Topeka West's 69-49 UKC win over Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

The flip side is that after back-to-back impressive performances to open the 2023-2024 season it looks like veteran West coach Rick Bloomquist may have several guys that can fill that role.

Topeka West improved to 2-0 overall and in the United Kansas Conference Tuesday night, taking a 69-49 home win over Seaman as three Chargers scored at least 15 points and a fourth player added nine.

"We've got things we've got to shore up, no question, and we're not perfect by any means,'' Bloomquist said. "We just have to learn to play the game the way it's supposed to be played, but I'm very pleased.

"To come back on a team that shoots as well as Seaman does and is as well-coached as they are, it's a good win for us.''

Topeka West junior Jalen Foy (22), who scored 16 points, puts up a shot as Seaman's Bryer Finley defends. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Kamoni Ford, a 6-foot-5 junior, came off the bench to lead West with a game-high 17 points, including three 3-pointers, while junior Jalen Foy added 16 points and junior Ja'Vian Chambers 15 points.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

KaeVon Bonner

KAEVON BONNER, Seaman

A 6-foot-1 sophomore, Bonner opened his 2023-2024 basketball season with a 28-point performance in Seaman's 58-49 home United Kansas Conference victory over Lansing last Thursday. Bonner went nine of 16 from the field and hit four 3-pointers on the night as the Vikings built a game-high 18-point lead early in the fourth quarter on the strength of eight straight points by Bonner. 

Jalen Foy

JALEN FOY, Topeka West

Foy, a 6-foot-2 junior, scored a game-high 23 points as Topeka West opened its basketball season on Friday with a 52-37 home United Kansas Conference win over Basehor-Linwood, a Class 5A state tournament team last season. Foy connected on 10 of 16 field goal attempts on the night, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the Chargers pulled away down the stretch for their biggest lead of the game.

Norma Greco

 NORMA GRECO, Hayden

A 5-foot-6 junior, Greco led the way with a game-high 17 points in just three quarters of action as Hayden's girls, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, opened their season with a 74-12 non-league victory over Kansas City-Washington last Friday at Hayden.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Obviously, there were multiple factors that contributed to Topeka West's 61-31 season-opening girls basketball loss to United Kansas Conference rival Basehor-Linwood Friday night at West.

Sophomore Imani McGlory (5) led Topeka West with 15 points in Friday's 61-31 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

But the Chargers' early foul trouble and the Bobcats' success from 3-point range were at the top of the list.

Angie Ketterman's Topeka West team (0-1 overall, 0-1 UKC) got into foul trouble shortly after tipoff while Basehor-Linwood singed the nets for 12 3-pointers en route to forcing a running clock in the fourth quarter due to the 30-point spread rule.

"The foul trouble got us and Basehor was draining the 3s,'' Ketterman said. "We got in four trouble and our shots weren't falling early, but they hustled the entire time.''

Topeka West led 6-3 early in the opening quarter but Basehor-Linwood (1-0, 1-0) used six straight free throws followed by a 3-pointer to take a 14-6 lead and the Bobcats never looked back.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka West's boys basketball team combined outstanding defense with timely offense to open its 2023-2024 season with a home 52-37 United Kansas Conference decision over Basehor-Linwood.

West (1-0 overall, 1-0 UKC) held Basehor-Linwood (0-1, 0-1) to single-digit point totals in each of the final three quarters and just 13 points in the second half while juniors Jalen Foy and Ja'Vian Chambers combined for 38 points to lead the Chargers on the offensive end.

Junior Jalen Foy (22) scored a game-high 23 points as Topeka West opened its season with a 52-37 UKC win over Basehor-Linwood. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Junior Ja'Vian Chambers (21) scored 15 points in Topeka West's 52-37 UKC win over Basehor-Linwood Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"This time of year, in December, the defense better be ahead of your offense,'' veteran Topeka West coach Rick Bloomquist said. "I'm not saying it is, but it better be, and that was my big concern because I knew coming in we were going to play against a very well-disciplined team that's going to go inside-out and give us a lot of problems because they are big.

"I was very pleased with how when we changed defenses I thought we played it very well because I don't think we could have matched up with them too well man to man with the big guy (6-foot-6 junior Peyton Brown) inside. I'm very pleased with how we played defense against a good team.''

Basehor-Linwood, a Class 5A state qualifier last season, led 15-13 at the end of the first quarter but Foy canned a 3-pointer to open the second quarter and Chambers scored five straight points to put West in front 21-15 and the Chargers never trailed again.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Highland Park, hosting the first of back-to-back tournaments, claimed the girls team championship in Saturday's Highland Park Invitational by a 64-48 margin over city rival Topeka West.

Kylisha James won the 170-pound championship in last Saturday's Highland Park Invitational, helping the Scots capture the girls team championship. (Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Scots got individual championships from Kim Rodriguez at 105 pounds, Renea Easter at 125 and Kylisha James at 170.

Topeka West's Ziona Jackson (top) won the 135-pound championship in last Saturday's Highland Park Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN[

Runnerup Topeka West got a title from Ziona Jackson at 135 while Hayden got gold medals from Kylie Carswell (115), Kate Mead (120) and Natalie Hopper (140).

Topeka High posted a runnerup team finish in the boys division with 159 points while Hayden finished third with 139 points. De Soto won the team championship with 226.5 points.

The Trojans got individual titles from Luis Marones at 113 points and Jordan Stiner at 138 while Hayden's Jude Krentz claimed the 175-pound individual championships.

Highland Park will host the Melvin Douglas Invitational on Saturday.

Rural girls take Leavenworth Challenger title

Washburn Rural, the reigning Class 6A state girls team champion, rolled up 393 points to take the title in Saturday's season-opening 14-school Leavenworth Challenger.

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

It's only been a few short years ago that Janson Garman did everything he could to beat Washburn Rural's swimming team

Now, as the Junior Blues' first-year head coach, Garman is doing everything he can to help Rural win.

Washburn Rural's swimming team celebrates after being announced as the team champion in Wednesday's 13-school Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

When Garman starred at Seaman, helping the Vikings win the 2018 Class 5A-1A state team title, Washburn Rural was the Vikings' biggest city rival.

But when Garman, who coached Topeka West last season, got the opportunity to take over the Junior Blues' boys program this season, he realized it was too good of a chance to pass up, rival or not.

Washburn Rural's swimming team rallied late to give Jason Garman a team championship in his debut as the Junior Blues' coach Wednesday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"Let's just say I never thought I'd be coaching at Washburn Rural,'' Garman said. "If you would have asked me when I was in high school I would have said, 'Heck no,' but I'm very grateful. This is a great team, great guys that work hard and I'm happy to be in the position I am right now. 

"I thought it was a great opportunity. I'd still be able to coach and do what I love to do, swimming, and still be able to finish my schooling up (in physical therapy). Rural has a great swim culture and I hope we can continue to grow and build on it.''

Garman made his debut as Rural's coach on Wednesday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium and his Junior Blues made it a happy occasion with a late rally, pulling out the team championship by a 405-396 margin over Centennial League rival Manhattan.

Manhattan got individual wins from freshman Daniel Allen in the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 04.56 seconds) and from senior Brogan Meier in the 100 backstroke (56.98) and the Washburn Rural foursome of Will Powell, Allen, Luke Lemke and Jack Miranda won the meet-ending 400 free relay (3:22.72).

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

Hayden, which advanced to the Class 3A state championship game, and 6A semifinalist Washburn Rural combined for 11 Top 22 spots on TopSports.news' 2023 All-Shawnee County football team while Seaman's Max Huston and Rural's JC Heim garnered the top individual honors.

Washburn Rural senior linebacker JC Heim has been named the TopSports.news All-Shawnee County defensive player of the year after registering 173 tackles for the 11-1 Junior Blues. [File photo/TSN]

Seaman junior quarterback Max Huston has been tapped as the TopSports.news Shawnee County offensive player of the year after passing for 3,257 yards and 39 touchdowns. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden, which posted a 12-1 record this fall, is represented on the Top 22 by seniors Carter Charvat, Finn Dunshee and Jude Konrade and junior Jensen Schrickel while Washburn Rural, 11-1 on the year, put seniors Packson Bettis, Jaren Heim, JC Heim, Branton DeWeese, Jamond Lane and Titan Osburn and junior King Leonard on the Top 22.

'Seaman quarterback Huston, who led the Vikings to a 6-5 season and the third round of the 5A playoffs, was named the Shawnee County offensive player of the year while Heim, a linebacker, was named the county defensive player of the year.

Huston, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior, completed 230 of 379 passes for 3,257 yards and 39 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. Huston also carried the ball 134 times for 706 yards and eight TDs.

Heim, a 6-3, 225-pounder, was in on 173 tackles (102 solos) with 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles (one for a touchdown), two blocked extra points and a blocked punt. Offensively, Heim rushed for 530 yards and 10 TDs on 90 carries.

Hayden coach Bill Arnold (right) has been named the TopSports.news 2023 Shawnee County coach of the year while sophomore quarterback Connor Hanika (3) was tapped as the co-offensive newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden's Bill Arnold, now 211-66 as a head coach, was named the Shawnee County coach of the year. 

Hayden sophomore Kade Mitchell (25) is the TSN Shawnee County co-offensive newcomer of the year after rushing for 764 yards and scoring 15 total touchdowns. [File photo/TSN]

Washburn Rural junior cornerback Wilson Miller (2) has been named the Shawnee County defensive newcomer of the year after helping the Junior Blues post an 11-1 record this fall. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden sophomores Connor Hanika and Kade Mitchell were named the county co-offensive newcomers of the year while Washburn Rural junior Wilson Miller was named the defensive newcomer of the year.

Hanika, 6-3, 165, took over as the Wildcats' quarterback after an injury to starter Jett Wahlmeier and completed 38 of 60 passes for 470 yards and seven touchdowns while MItchell, a 5-9, 165 running back, rushed for 764 yards on 79 attempts, caught 13 passes for 209 yards, had five kickoff returns for 174 yards and scored 15 total touchdowns.

Miller, a 6-0, 190 cornerback, was in on 48 tackles (40 solos) with five interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Miller also handled the Junior Blues' place-kicking duties for much of the season.

Shawnee Heights put seniors Allen Baughman, Rykan Carver and Christian Gonzales on the All-Shawnee County Top 22, while Seaman is represented by Huston and senior Callen Barta, Silver Lake by seniors Tanner Martin and Blake Redmond, Cair Paravel Latin by senior Jesiah Bonura, Highland Park by junior Adrian Burney, Rossville by senior Barrett Lietz and Topeka West by senior Kyrece Robinson.

Hayden's Dunshee and Schrickel, Rural's Bettis, DeWeese, JC Heim and Osburn, Shawnee Heights' Baughman, Rossville's Lietz and Silver Lake's Martin are All-Shawnee County Top 22 repeat picks.

All 10 Shawnee County high schools have representatives on either the Top 22 or Second 22 teams. Eight county teams posted winning records this fall, with seven winning at least one playoff contest.

TopSports.news selected the 2023 All-Shawnee County team after receiving input from all 10 county head coaches.

All-Shawnee County Top 22 capsules:

By RICK PETERSON             

TopSports.news

Tamir Anderson

TAMIR ANDERSON, Highland Park

A 6-foot-4 senior, Anderson earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping Highland Park post a 24-1 record and a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. Anderson was one of Shawnee County's top 3-point shooters, hitting 47 treys on the season. 

Kaden Ballard

KADEN BALLARD, Washburn Rural

Ballard, a 5-10 junior, was a key player off the bench for the 15-6 Junior Blues last season, averaging 6.1 points, 2.0 assists and 1.7 rebounds. Ballard received TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honorable mention as a sophomore.

KaeVon Bonner  

KAEVON BONNER, Seaman

Bonner, a sophomore, was named the TSN All-Shawnee County co-newcomer of the year as a freshman while also earning All-United Kansas Conference honorable mention. Bonner averaged 8.4 points for the 13-8 Vikings while canning 32 3-pointers and shooting 39 percent on 3-point attempts. Bonner shot 77.4 percent from the free throw line. 

Brennon Dodge

BRENNON DODGE, Shawnee Heights

A senior guard, Dodge was the lone underclassman on the TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 last season after helping lead Shawnee Heights to a 15-7 record. Dodge averaged 13.8 points a year ago to go with 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Dodge shot 52.5 percent on 2-point field goal attempts and hit 19 3-pointers on the season.

Jack Donovan

JACK DONOVAN, Rossville

Donovan, a sophomore, was named the TSN All-Shawnee County co-newcomer of the year and earned all-county honorable mention as a freshman for the Bulldawgs, who showed strides in a 7-14 season. Donovan also was named to the Valley Falls All-Tournament team and earned second-team All-Mid-East League recognition.

Malakyah Duncan

MALAKYAH DUNCAN, Topeka West

Duncan, a 6-4 sophomore, saw varsity action as a freshman for Rick Bloomquist's 14-8 Chargers and will be counted on to fill a more extensive role this season after Topeka West graduated several key players.  

By RICK PETERSON        
TopSports.news

LaDaysha Baird

LaDAYSHA BAIRD, Topeka High

A 5-foot-4 senior, Baird earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Second 10 recognition last season after helping Topeka High post a 16-6 record. Baird averaged 7.7 points as a junior and shot 50 percent from 3-point range with 32 made treys. Baird also averaged 1.3 assists for the Trojans. 

 Anna Becker

ANNA BECKER, Seaman

A 5-foot-10 junior point guard, Becker is a two-time TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 10 pick and was named the United Kansas Conference player of the year last season after helping lead Seaman to a 21-2 record and a Class 5A state tournament berth. Becker, who has made an oral commitment to Drake, averaged 12 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 3.7 assists last season.

 Breezy Canady

BREEZY CANADY, Shawnee Heights

Canady, a 5-5 senior guard, is a top returner for Shawnee Heights after helping the T-Birds post a 15-7 record last season. Canady averaged 6.7 points, 2.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals as a junior for the T-Birds, earning All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference honorable mention.  

Zoe Canfield

ZOE CANFIELD, Washburn Rural

A 5-foot-11 senior, Canfield's junior season was cut short after nine games by an ACL injury after helping lead the Junior Blues to the Class 6A state title as a sophomore. Canfield, who has signed with Kansas, averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, hit 18 3-pointers and shot 77.1 percent from the free throw line prior to her injury. As a sophomore Canfield earned TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 TSN recognition.

Zoe Clark

ZOE CLARK, Topeka West

A 5-7 senior, Clark received TSN All-Shawnee County Second 10 and All-United Kansas Conference second-team honors last season for Topeka West, which posted a five-win improvement in the 2022-2023 campaign. Clark, who has played varsity basketball since her freshman year will be counted on to provide leadership for the Chargers this winter.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka West interim girls basketball coach Angie Ketterman is playing catch-up after being tapped to take over the program about two weeks before the start of preseason practice.

But very few people know Topeka West better than Ketterman, and the veteran coach will count on that institutional and athletic knowledge to make up for lost time.

Zoe Clark (35), a four-year varsity player and second-team All-Shawnee County pick last season, will be counted on to provive leadership for Topeka West's girls basketball team. [File photo/TSN]

Ketterman is a Topeka West graduate and played and served as an assistant coach for West coaching legend Mike Goehring and was on the staff of former Charger coach Becky Svaty while also serving as the Chargers' head softball coach.

The goal now for Ketterman, West's third head coach since March, is to provide some stability for the Chargers.

Jeff Skar resigned following the 2022-2023 season and his replacement, Brent Reese-Hackett, was relieved of his duties last month for undisclosed reasons after being named as Skar's successor in July.

West's administration quickly turned to Ketterman to get things back on an even keel for the West program.

"I was open to it,'' Ketterman said. "Svaty contacted me and then Laura Nichols (a former West coach and current administrator) did,'' Ketterman said. "They said, 'You've got the weekend to decide.'

"It took me about 24 hours and I'm like, 'Let's do it.' ''

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural, which captured its 29th straight Centennial League boys championship (outright or shared) and finished third in the Class 6A state tournament, leads the 2023 Topeka All-City boys soccer team with four first-team picks.

Griffin Heinen, Washburn Rural

Cohen Nimz, Washburn Rural

Devon Rutschmann, Washburn Rural

Ethan Uhlrig, Washburn Rural

The Junior Blues are represented on the 13-member first team, selected by city coaches, by seniors Griffin Heinen (midfielder), Cohen Nimz (defender), Devon Rutschmann (forward) and Ethan Uhlrig (goalkeeper) while Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel was named the city co-coach of the year with Topeka West's Josh Kutter.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Twenty city boys soccer players have received recognition on the 2023 All-United Kansas Conference team, including five first-team selections.

Seaman senior Jacob Anderson (11) was one of five city soccer players to earn All-United Kansas Conference first-team honors. [File photo/TSN]

Topeka West senior Isaac Gonzalez-Talavera (right) represents the Chargers on the All-United Kansas Conference soccer first team. [File photo/TSN]

Jack Martin (7) was one of three Shawnee Heights soccer players to earn first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights senior Jack Phillips (27) earned a first-team spot on the All-United Kansas Conference soccer team. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights senior Roscoe Poyner (1) earned a first-team spot on the All-United Kansas Conference soccer team. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights, a Class 5A regional champion, is represented on the first team by senior defender Jack Phillips, senior forward Jack Martin and senior midfielder Roscoe Poyner while Seaman senior defender Jacob Anderson and Topeka West forward Isaac Gonzalez-Talavera also earned first-team honors.

Shawnee Heights senior AJ Hamby, Topeka West junior defender Jafet Rodriguez, Seaman senior forward Jace Brake and Seaman senior midfielder Phoenix Cannon were named to the All-UKC second team while 11 city players received honorable mention.

Piper senior forward Carlos Renteria was named the UKC player of the year while De Soto's Drew Proctor, a Washburn Rural graduate, was named the conference coach of the year.

ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE SOCCER

Player of the year -- Carlos Renteria, Piper.

Coach of the year -- Drew Proctor, De Soto. 

The 2023 All-Shawnee County girls cross country team: Front row, from left -- Sofia Harper, Hayden; Elliot Wrench, Hayden; Savannah Sampson, Seaman; Stella Appelhanz, Seaman; Payton Rice, Topeka West; Juliahnna Savago, Topeka High. Back row, from left -- coach Matt Swedlund, Washburn Rural; Emily Graf, Washburn Rural; Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural; Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural; Payton Fink, Washburn Rural; Brynn Spencer, Seaman; Ryin Miller, Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural, which swept city, Centennial League and Class 6A regional championships, put four runners on the 2023 All-Shawnee County girls cross country team, which includes top-three state finishers Payton Fink of Rural and Seaman's Ryin Miller and four state medalists overall.

Fink, a junior, was the 6A individual runnerup after winning Centennial League and regional titles and is joined on the all-county team by Rural state medalists Rylee Ismert and Emily Graf and first-team repeat pick Brooklyn Nolte.

Rural coach Matt Swedlund was named the girls Shawnee County coach of the year for 2023.

Miller, a sophomore, finished third in the 5A state meet after sweeping city, United Kansas Conference and 5A regional titles and is joined on the all-county first team by fellow Seaman all-county repeat pick Stella Appelhanz, senior Savannah Sampson and freshman standout Brynn Spencer.

Also earning All-Shawnee County first-team recognition are Hayden state qualifiers Elliot Wrench and Sofia Harper, Topeka West two-time state qualifier Payton Rice and Topeka High freshman standout Juliahnna Savago.

All-Shawnee County girls capsules:

 The 2023 All-Shawnee County boys cross country team: Front row, from left -- Max Gutierrez, Washburn Rural; Evan Carter, Shawnee Heights; Elijah Phelps, Topeka West; Jack Walker, Seaman; Brody Anderson, Seaman; coach Luke Wiens, Seaman. Back row, from left -- coach John Oshel, Shawnee Heights; Higgins Hawks, Washburn Rural; Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural; Conner Olsen, Washburn Rural; Adrian Lehman, Topeka West; Aiden Amis, Hayden. Not pictured: Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Shawnee Heights senior star Jackson Esquibel headlines the 2023 All-Shawnee County boys cross country team after winning his first Class 5A state XC title this fall after winning a state track championship last spring.

Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel headlines the 2023 All-Shawnee County cross country team after winning the Class 5A state title. [File photo/TSN]

Esquibel, a four-time state qualifier and three-time state XC medalist, won the 5A title in a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 34 seconds at Rim Rock Farm to complete a sweep of the city, United Kansas Conference, regional and state individual titles as a senior.

Washburn Rural, which won the city team championship, is represented on the all-county team by senior Max Gutierrez, junior Conner Olsen and sophomores Brooks Kehoe and Higgins Hawks, with Kehoe and Olsen qualifying as individuals for the state meet. .

Seaman, which qualified as a team for the 5A state meet, put sophomores Brody Anderson and Jack Walker on the all-county team while Topeka West is represented by senior Elijah Phelps and junior Adrian Lehman and Shawnee Heights by junior Evan Carter.

Hayden senior Aiden Amis, a 3A state qualifier, represents the Wildcats on the All-Shawnee County team.

Shawnee Heights coach John Oshel and Seaman coach Luke Wiens were named the boys co-coaches of the year for 2023.

All-Shawnee County boys capsules:

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman, which won its first Class 5A state championship, put four players on the TopSports.news 2023 All-Shawnee County volleyball team, led by player of the year Maegan Mills.

Seaman junior Maegan Mills has been named the Shawnee County volleyball player of the year after heping lead the Vikings to a 38-6 record and the Class 5A state title. [File photo/TSN]

Seaman coach Tatiana Dowling was named the TSN Shawnee County coach of the year after leading the Vikings to the Class 5A state volleyball title. [File photo/TSN]

Mills, a junior, is joined on the all-county first team by Viking seniors Brooklyn Gormley and Taylin Stallbaumer and junior Reagan McGivern while Seaman's Tatiana Dowling, a Seaman grad, was named the coach of the year after leading the Vikings to a 38-6 record, including five straight-set wins in the state tournament.

Mills and Gormley are first-team repeaters while Stallbaumer and McGivern move up to the first team after being second-teamers in 2022.

Silver Lake, which placed third in the 3A state tournament, is represented on the first team by seniors Mckinley Kruger and Sarah Wehrli and junior Ella Bolan, with Kruger and Wehrli earning all-county honorable mention a year ago.

Washburn Rural seniors Jada Ingram and Zoe Canfield and junior Layla Collins are first-team selections after helping the Junior Blues win the Centennial League championship and advance to the 6A state tournament.

Ingram and Canfield are both first-team All-Shawnee County repeat picks while Collins moves up from the second team.

Rossville, which posted a 31-8 record, is represented on the first team by seniors Kinsey Perine, a three-time All-Shawnee County first-teamer, and Kinley Porter, who moves up from the second team. 

Cair Paravel Latin is represented by senior Mayah Pridgett while Topeka West senior Addison Brooks, Shawnee Heights junior Kaydence Torrez and Hayden sophomore Ella Foster also earned all-county first-team recognition.

Pridgett has been a second-team all-county pick the last two seasons while Brooks received honorable mention the past two seasons and Foster and Torrez received honorable mention a year ago.

Rossville freshman Nora Burdiek was selected as the county newcomer of the year after compiling 312 kills and 181 digs in her first season of high school volleyball.

All-Shawnee County first-team capsules:

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman junior Maegan Mills has been named the United Kansas Conference volleyball offensive player of the year while Viking coach Tatiana Dowling has been named the UKC coach of the year.

Seaman junior volleyball standout Maegan Mills (13) has been named the United Kansas Conference offensive player of the year. [File photo/TSN]

Seaman volleyball coach Tatiana Dowling has been named the United Kansas Conference volleyball coach of the year. [File photo/TSN]

Mills was one of four city players named to the All-United Kansas Conference first team, with Seaman senior Brooklyn Gormley, Shawnee Heights junior Kaydence Torrez and Toeka West senior Addison Brooks also earning first-team honors.

Lansing senior Tabor Scanlon was named the UKC defensive player of the year and also was a first-team pick, along with De Soto senior Aubrey Scott, Lansing senior Anna Laincz and Piper junior Abbie Roth.

Seaman senior Taylin Stallbaumer and junior Campbell Chabot were second-team All-UKC honorees while Shawnee Heights junior Taylor Brees and Topeka West senior Siana Sanchez also were named to the second team.

ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL

By CHARLES SPURLOCK

TopSports.news

Shawnee Heights senior star Jackson Esquibel captured the Class 5A boys individual cross country championship Saturday to pace a large contingent of local competitors in the 6A, 5A and 3A state meets which were held on a cold, overcast day at Rim Rock Farm, just north of Lawrence.

Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel captured his third Class 5A state XC medal and first individual title Saturday at Rim Rock Farm. [File photo/TSN]

Esquibel, a three-time 5A state medalist, won his first state title on Saturday to go with the 3,200 meters championship he won in track in May.

Esquibel was one of three local runners to post top-three finishes, with Washburn Rural junior Payton Fink earning a runnerup finish in the 6A girls race to four-time state champ Anjali Hocker Singh of Olathe North while Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller posted a third-place finish in the 5A girls race.

Here's a race-by-race look at Saturday's state races:

CLASS 6A BOYS 

Micah Blomker of Shawnee Mission North won the individual title in a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 18.2 seconds.

Gardner-Edgerton won the team title with 76 points, followed by Olathe East in second place with 93 points. Shawnee Mission North rounded out the top three with 102 points.

Washburn Rural had two runners competing in the race, with Brooks Kehoe finishing 83rd in a time of 17:36.24 seconds and Connor Olsen placing 86th place in 17:43.11.

Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller posted her second straight top-five Class 5A cross country finish Saturday, finishing third. [File photo/TSN]

CLASS 5A GIRLS

The 5A girls race saw the defending champion, Katelyn Rupe of Salina Central, win her second title with a winning time of 17 minutes, 36.11 seconds.

Rupe's teammate, freshman Kaylie Shultz, finished second in 17:58.88 while Seaman's Ryin Miller improved on her fifth-place finish as a freshman by placing third in a time 18:36.73.

The top three team finishers were state champion St. James Academy with 68 points; Great Bend with 78 points and St. Thomas Aquinas third with 103 points. 

Ryin Miller led the Seaman girls teams to a sixth-place team finish.

Viking freshman Brynn Spencer finished 32nd in 20:18.07 while Stella Applehanz was 38th (20:35.64), senior Savannah Sampson 56th (21:16.93) and senior Elinore Stallbaumer 78th (22:11.89). The remaining two Seaman runners were freshmen, with Hannah Wempe 79th (22:15.38) and Alex Richardson 81st (22:18.89).

Payton Rice of Topeka West, competing as an individual, finished 51st in 21:05.43.

CLASS 3A BOYS

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Hayden remained undefeated with a 49-0 Class 3A home playoff rout past Baldwin Friday night.

Hayden sophomore Kade Mitchell rushed for 251 yards and four touchdowns in the Wildcats' 49-0 Class 3A playoff win over Baldwin Friday night. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden's Dom Ridley rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown in the Wildcats' 49-0 Class 3A playoff win over Baldwin. [File photo/TSN]

The 9-0 Wildcats advanced to a second-round game next Friday at Hayden against Santa Fe Trail (7-2), which advanced with a 56-40 win over Royal Valley.

Hayden scored the only points it would need on the second play from scrimmage, with junior Jensen Schrickel bursting 62 yards for a touchdown (conversion failed) to put the Wildcats up 6-0 with 11:41 left in the opening quarter.

Sophomore Kade Mitchell started off his big night with a 5-yard TD run that capped an eight-play, 74-yard scoring drive (conversion good) to give Hayden a 14-0 lead with 2:01 left in the first quarter.

Hayden broke the game open in the second quarter, with Dom Ridley scoring on a 9-yard run (Mason Becker kick), Mitchell scoring on a 21-yard run (Becker kick) and Conner Hanika completing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Makhi Kidd (Becker kick) with 2:53 left in the half to give the Wildcats a commanding 35-0 halftime lead.

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Shawnee Heights cross country star Jackson Esquibel knows there's several runners capable of challenging for the Class 5A individual title in Saturday's state meet at Rim Rock Farm, north of Lawrence.

Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel is one of the top contenders for the Class 5A state cross country title after posting a 53-second win in last Saturday's Class 5A regional. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

But there's really only one runner that Esquibel is concerned about heading into his final race of an ultra-successfull high school cross country career.

"I think I worry about me more than I worry about other people,'' Esquibel said. "In this sport you can't really fear anyone or else they're going to get the best of you. They're going to get in your head a little bit, so you just have to believe in your game plan and commit to your game plan.

"And then once you're out there, it's just about competing. I feel like each week you keep finding something you can improve on, whether it's your first mile, whether it's how you use the hills, how you explode after the hills. Kind of through experience you learn through failures, you keep improving and you keep getting confidence in yourself.''

Esquibel, a state champ in track, is already a two-time state medalist in cross country, including an eighth-place finish a year ago, and he enters Saturday's meet on top of his game after sweeping city, United Kansas Conference and 5A regional individual titles. Esquibel was one of five underclassmen that posted top-10 finishes in 5A a year ago and one of 11 that finished in the top 20.

"I know that once I'm on a state start line you push until you have nothing left, so the goal is go out that first mile strong and then attack those hills and don't be afraid to push it when you are in the most pain,'' Esquibel said. "I think that is the most important part of that course.

"That course has a lot of hills, so it's all about believing that you're strong enough to persevere.'' 

The 5A boys race is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. Saturday.

Here's a class-by-class look at Saturday's state meets involving Shawnee County teams and individual qualifiers: