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Ichabod softball opens 2026 season with 4-1 record in season-opening Texas trip
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod softball team wrapped up a 4-1 weekend at the Lone Star Classic in Mansfield, Texas with a pair of run-rule wins on Sunday, 11-3 over Lubbock Christian and 10-2 over Texas A&M-Kingsville, both in five innings.
Senior Sadie Walker turned in a pair of strong relief performances Sunday as Washburn softball capped a 4-1 season-opening weekend. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods are scheduled to be in action next weekend at the Alvy Early Memorial Tournament in Bentonville, Ark.
Washburn exploded for a nine-run third inning and never looked back, powering past Lubbock Christian 11-3 in five innings Saturday morning.
The Ichabods pounded out 12 hits, capitalized on defensive miscues and got a steady effort in the circle to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Washburn struck first in the opening frame when Makenzie Sais singled, stole second and eventually scored as Dalaney Anderson reached on an error, giving the Ichabods a 1-0 lead.
Lubbock Christian answered in the third on an RBI triple from Alexis Clark and an RBI single by Ava Castillo to briefly move in front 2-1.
But the lead lasted only moments as Anderson tied the game with a solo home run to left-center to start the bottom half, igniting Washburn's decisive rally.
Maddie McGee delivered a two-run single up the middle, Sais added an RBI single and Erin Boles brought home another run on a fielder's choice. A wild pitch plated a run before Kate Ediger capped the outburst with a two-run single, pushing the margin to 10-2 by the end of the inning.
The Lady Chaps scratched across a run in the fifth on an RBI double from Brianna Chambers-Lee, but Washburn answered immediately. Anderson drew a walk and scored from first when Seaman product Aspen Burgardt ripped an RBI double to deep left, ending the game via run rule.
Anderson finished 2 for 3 with three RBI, a home run and three runs scored, while Sais went 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Ediger added two hits and four RBI and McGee drove in two as part of the Ichabods' balanced attack.
Manhattan grad Kierra Goos earned the win for Washburn, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts over four innings. Sadie Walker closed the final frame, striking out three while surrendering one run.
Washburn did not commit an error defensively and stole multiple bases.
Washburn erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning and rode a dominant relief outing from Walker to a 10-2 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sunday afternoon.
The Ichabods collected 12 hits in the victory, improving to 4-1 on the season.
Texas A&M-Kingsville grabbed the early lead in the first when Victoria Vargas doubled and later scored on an RBI single up the middle from Alexis Soliz.
Washburn pulled even in the third after former Shawnee Heights standout Taylor Brees singled, moved around the bases, and scored on Anderson's RBI single through the left side.
Midseason 2025-2026 city high school boys basketball statistics
NOTE: Statistics for city boys basketball teams were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley. The following stats are the second of three statistical reports which will be released during the 2025-2026 season, capped by the season-ending stats.
KaeVon Bonner, Seaman
SCORING
Name, school Gms. Pts. Avg
Bonner, Seaman 14 345 24.6
Kingcannon, Highland Park 14 274 19.6
Ross, Shawnee Heights 13 249 19.2
Compton, Hayden 15 239 15.9
Hanika, Hayden 15 230 15.3
Paul, Topeka West 14 202 14.4
Rowley, Washburn Rural 10 144 14.4
Duncan, Topeka West 14 196 14.0
McComas, Topeka High 14 196 14.0
Durbin, Cair Paravel 13 181 13.9
Lassiter, Topeka West 14 191 13.6
Marichal, Cair Paravel 13 177 13.6
Aldridge, Topeka High 14 172 12.3
Hastert, Cair Paravel 13 158 12.2
Ballard, Washburn Rural 12 145 12.1
Bryson McComas, Topeka High
REBOUNDING
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
McComas, Topeka High 14 111 7.9
Durbin, Cair Paravel 13 100 7.7
Fay, Cair Paravel 13 90 6.9
Hanika, Hayden 15 101 6.7
Hoytal, Washburn Rural 12 74 6.2
Hastert, Cair Paravel 13 78 6.0
Lassiter, Topeka West 14 83 5.9
Zuniga, Seaman 14 76 5.4
Schmidt, Washburn Rural 12 63 5.3
Scott, Shawnee Heights 13 66 5.1
Kidd, Hayden 15 76 5.1
Paul, Topeka West 14 64 4.6
Dixon, Shawnee Heights 12 45 4.5
Tourtillott, Hayden 15 60 4.0
Bonner, Seaman 14 56 4.0
Chase Hastert, Cair Paravel [Photo by Barry Benteman/Special to TSN]
ASSISTS
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Hastert, Cair Paravel 13 75 5.8
Bonner, Seaman 14 73 5.2
Fay, Cair Paravel 13 59 4.5
Hoytal, Washburn Rural 12 47 3.9
Guest, Topeka High 14 52 3.7
Duncan, Topeka West 14 49 3.5
Traylor, Topeka West 14 49 3.5
Paul, Topeka West 14 48 3.4
Mitchell, Hayden 15 47 3.1
Marichal, Cair Paravel 13 38 2.9
McComas, Topeka High 14 40 2.9
Cook, Shawnee Heights 13 34 2.6
Scott, Shawnee Heights 13 33 2.5
Nimz, Washburn Rural 12 30 2.5
Luarks, Topeka High 14 34 2.4
Hanika, Hayden 15 36 2.4
Topeka native Mark Turgeon to take reins of UMKC men's basketball in 2026-2027
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Hayden star and Kansas Jayhawk Mark Turgeon has been named the head coach of Kansas City men's basketball heading into the 2026-27 season, UMKC Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Dr. Brandon Martin announced on Sunday in a release from the school.
Mark Turgeon (right), who has been named head basketball coach at UMKC for the 2026-2027 season, visited with Hayden athletic director Bobby Taul during a Hayden Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2022. [File photo/TSN]
Turgeon, a member of the Topeka Shawnee County, Hayden and Kansas Sports hall of fames, becomes UMKC's ninth head coach since the program elevated to NCAA Division I in 1987-88.
"We are delighted to welcome Coach Turgeon and his wife Ann to the Roo family. It's exciting to have them both back home in the Midwest," Martin said in the UMKC release. "Coach Turgeon brings a wealth of credibility and success for our fan base, alumni, donors and key stakeholders throughout Kansas City.
"This will undoubtedly be an exciting and rewarding era for our Roo basketball program."
Turgeon was a two-time Class 4A state champion at Hayden and helped lead Ben Meseke's Wildcats to a perfect 25-0 record as a senior in 1983.
Turgeon was a four-year letter-winner for the Kansas men's basketball program and the first Jayhawk to qualify for four NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four run in 1986.
Turgeon also spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Kansas and seven years as the head coach at Wichita State.
"It is an honor to be returning home and to be trusted to build a winning tradition with Kansas City men's basketball," Turgeon said in the UMKC release. "It was obvious through our initial conversations that I could build a strong partnership with Dr. Martin and chancellor (Mauli) Agrawal. I've always had a great love for Kansas City, and I believe that this city deserves a team that reflects its championship culture.
"There is so much untapped potential and with the full strength of the Kansas City community behind us, we will be able to elevate this program to new heights."
Turgeon brings 24 years of head coaching experience and a career winning percentage of .634 between stops at Maryland, Texas A&M, Wichita State and Jacksonville State.
"We are thrilled to welcome a new leader for Kansas City's Division I basketball program at such an exciting time for our university and city," Agrawal said in the UMKC release. "Coach Turgeon brings the vision, record and competitive drive that align perfectly with our commitment to excellence – on the court, in the classroom and in the community.
"His hiring is part of our broader investments in elevating the university and strengthening programs that bring pride and momentum to our campus. We believe this is the start of a new chapter will raise the profile of our program and make our university community proud."
Across his 24 seasons as a head coach, Turgeon has amassed a 476-275 overall record, which puts him in the top 30 in career wins among active NCAA Division I head coaches.
He has taken teams to the NCAA Tournament 10 times with a pair of Sweet 16 appearances and winning records in 21 of his 24 years on the sidelines.
Turgeon's most recent head coaching tenure was spent at the University of Maryland from 2011-21, finishing with a winning record in all 11 seasons. His 2015-16 squad finished 27-9, advancing to the Sweet 16, and in 2019-20, the Terrapins compiled a 24-7 record and won the Big Ten regular-season title.
From 2007-12 Turgeon manned the sidelines at Texas A&M, compiling a 97-40 overall record and finishing top four in the Big 12 in each of his final three seasons. His squads earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament all four years.
Turgeon took over a Wichita State program in 2000-01 season that had posted just two winning seasons in the previous 11 years and went .500-or-better in 6 of his 8 seasons at the helm, compiling three 20-win seasons.
In 2005-06 the Shockers won the Missouri Valley regular-season championship and qualified for program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly 20 years. Wichita State went on to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1981.
