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Trent Oliva steps down as Seaman baseball coach after five seasons
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Trent Oliva has stepped down as Seaman's baseball coach after posting a 93-27 record with three trips to the Class 5A state tournament in five seasons.
Oliva confirmed to TopSports.news that he resigned last week, but declined further comment.
Oliva compiled a winning percentage of .775 at Seaman, including 5A state berths in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and a Centennial League title in 2022.
Oliva's Vikings posted a 20-3 record in 2022 and did not win fewer than 18 games during his Seaman tenure, including an 18-8 record this past spring.
Oliva was named the Centennial League coach of the year and the TSN Shawnee County co-coach of the year in 2022.
Prior to taking over as Seaman's head coach, Oliva had a 12-year stint as a Viking assistant under Steve Bushnell and also served as Royal Valley's head boys baseball coach for three seasons and as the Panthers' boys basketball coach for two seasons.
Former Seaman, KU star Camryn Turner to join Ichabod volleyball coaching staff
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Seaman and University of Kansas volleyball star Camryn Turner will join Chris Herron's Washburn University coaching staff as a part time assistant coach beginning August 1.
"Cam is first an outstanding person who also happens to be a two-time D-I All-American,'' Herron said in a Washburn media release. "We are very excited to have her join our program. She will bring her own ideas and energy and fits right into the culture here.
"We will also have her set the 'B' Side this fall to help her in her preparations for her own upcoming season."
Turner will join the WU staff in the fall after most recently completing her first professional season with the Grand Rapids Rise in the Pro Volleyball Federation, where she was selected 22nd overall in the third round of the 2024 draft.
Turner appeared in 22 matches for the Rise, recording 569 assists with eight double-doubles. Turner will continue playing in the PVF in 2026 after the Ichabod season.
Prior to the beginning of her professional career, Turner completed a standout four-year career at Kansas, where she was an AVCA All-American in each of her final two seasons (2023, 2024).
She tallied 3,758 assists, 1,067 digs and 279 kills in her career and was named the Big 12 Setter of the Year in 2023.
Linemen get their day in the limelight in eighth annual Shawnee Heights Battle of the Bigs
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When high school football practice for the 2025 season kicks off across Kansas on August 18, linemen will go back to laboring in relative obscurity.
But Tuesday's eighth annual Battle of the Bigs lineman challenge at Shawnee Heights was all about the men in the trenches.
Approximately 70 linemen representing six city and area high schools took part in the Battle of the Bigs, competing in nine non-contact drills/activities while vying for individual and team prizes.
"I love it,'' Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said of the annual event. "The most unappreciated players on a football team are the linemen and we do this solely to celebrate the linemen for everything they do.
"They play a sport that they don't get noticed in unless something bad happens, so tonight we want to make it where we get to watch them do great things. It's good for them for unity and coming together as a team and having fun.''
Washburn Rural senior Ayden Crosswhite won the individual championship with 224 points, while Blue Valley seniors Chase Blandi (212 points) and Samuel Kiles (207) finished second and third and Shawnee Heights seniors Royce Daniels and Blake Coffman tied for fourth place (206 points).
Blue Valley won the team title with 1,015 points while Washburn Rural was second (991) and Shawnee Heights third (987).
Top 10 individuals
1. Ayden Crosswhite, sr., Washburn Rural, 224 points
2. Chase Blandi, sr., Blue Valley, 212 points
3. Samuel Kiles, sr., Blue Valley, 207 points
4. (tie) Royce Daniels, sr., Shawnee Heights, 206 points
4. (tie) Blake Coffman, sr., Shawnee Heights, 206 points
6. Austin Jordan, jr., Eudora, 204 points
7. Marx Marx, sr., Eudora, 203 points
8. Chase Metz, jr., Blue Valley, 202 points
9. Steven Cantrell, jr., Washburn Rural, 201 points
10. Ethan Winter, sr., Eudora, 200 points
Team standings (top three)
1. Blue Valley, 1,015 points
2. Washburn Rural, 991 points
3. Shawnee Heights, 987 points.