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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Seaman track and field star Brody Anderson and Washburn Rural baseball star Aidan Newbery, who ended their high school careers with state championships, have been selected as TopSports.news' Shawnee County co-spring boys senior athletes of the year for the 2025-2026 season.

Brody Anderson, Seaman 

Anderson claimed the 2026 Class 5A state championship in the 800 meters in a 5A meet-record time of 1 minute, 52.08 seconds.

A former state medalist in cross country, Anderson also posted second-place 5A state finishes in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters after winning the city title in the 800 and sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 titles in the United Kansas Conference meet. 

Aidan Newbery, Washburn Rural 

Newbery, a catcher, was named the Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year after helping lead Washburn Rural to its first state baseball championship since 1952, capped by a 4-3 win over Free State in the 6A state championship game.

Newbery was also named to the 6A All-State second team by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches. 

 Other spring boys athlete of the year finalists 

 Caleb Cleverdon, Cair Paravel/Topeka High

CALEB CLEVERDON | Cair Paravel/Topeka High

SPORT: Golf

Cleverdon, who competed for Topeka High in the regular season and Cair Paravel Latin in the postseason, posted a second-place individual finish in the Class 2A state tournament with a 36-hole total of 149 (73-76) after taking a four-shot individual win in the Flint Hills League tournament with a 73. A first-team All-Shawnee County pick, Cleverdon tied for third in the Centennial League (75) and tied for first in 2A regional competition (71), finishing second in a playoff.

Brody Cooper, Shawnee Heights [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN] 

BRODY COOPER | Shawnee Heights

SPORT: Baseball

A standout pitcher, Cooper helped lead Shawnee Heights to the 2026 Class 5A state championship game and a runnerup finish. A two-time United Kansas Conference first-team selection, Cooper was named the conference pitcher of the year as a senior and was also named to the All-Shawnee County first team.

 Jack Donovan, Rossville

JACK DONOVAN | Rossville

SPORT: Golf

Donovan was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick for the third straight season after earning a state medal for the fourth straight year (two in Class 3A, two in 2A) with a fifth-place finish in the 2A state event with a 36 hole score of 155 (79-76). Donovan finished third in a 2A regional with a 76 and was the Big East League individual medalist with a 71. Donovan, who tied for sixth in the 2025 state tournament, received All-Shawnee County recognition in three sports.

Drew Fay, Cair Paravel Latin 

DREW FAY | Cair Paravel Latin

SPORT: Tennis

Fay capped an outstanding four-year high school career with a city-high fifth-place finish in the 2026 Class 3A-1A state tournament. Fay was a four-year state qualifier and a three-time state medalist, with a high finish of second place in doubles in 2025. Fay captured the city championship in No. 1 singles this past spring and also won a regional title. Fay was a three-time All-City pick.

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

EMPORIA -- The West put together several scoring threats in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl, out-gaining the East 277 yards to 218 and reaching East territory six times.

But the East defense had an answer for each and every test it faced, posting a 14-7 win in front of 6,035 fans at Welch Stadium while not allowing a West offensive score.

Washburn Rural product Brody Haas (42) celebrates a big defensive play in the East's 14-7 Shrine Bowl win Saturday in Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Former Washburn Rural star Brody Haas and Rossville product Andre Johnson both played key roles in the East's defensive effort, combining for 10 tackles (eight solo) and three pass breakups while Haas also registered a sack.

"We had a lot of good scout from the offense throughout the week and it felt like every formation was something we had already kind of seen so nothing really surprised us,'' Haas said. "We dominated the line of scrimmage and were able to cover our spaces very well, so they really couldn't do anything about it because everyone was doing their job and that's how you play good football.''

The West scored its lone touchdown when Houston Bowlin (Derby) recovered a first-quarter East fumble in the end zone while the East got touchdown passes from former Shawnee Heights star Aiden Scott and Kansas City-Washington product Savion Stone, which proved to be enough for the East to cut its deficit in the series to 30-19-2.

Former Rossville star Andre Johnson (24) registered five tackles for the East in Saturday's 14-7 Shrine Bowl victory over the West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN] 

"We were locked in the whole week,'' Johnson said. "We were ready for this West offense all week and we proved it today and made it a goose egg. It was fun.''

The East drew first blood at the 7:03 mark of the opening quarter when Scott connected with Alec Jett (St. James Academy) for a 24-yard touchdown pass (conversion failed) after Osage City product Quenten Stark picked off a pass deep in East territory and returned it 33 yards to the West 49-yard-line.

The West took its only lead of the night on Bowlin's fumble recovery in the end zone and an extra-point kick from Brody Haskell (Augusta) with 2:54 left in the opening quarter and the West reached the 4-yard-line after recovering a fumble before Hayden Heller (Mill Valley) recorded the East's second interception of the night on the third play of the second quarter to thwart the threat.

The East scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with 1:13 left in the opening half on a 27-yard pass from Stone to Blake Jay (Mill Valley) after Austin Zeller (Jackson Heights) recoverd a West fumble.

Stone, who was named the East Most Valuable Player, then ran for the two-point conversion to account for what proved to be the final margin after a scoreless second half.

"During halftime our coach was saying how we were doing such a good job with if we let a bad play happen we wouldn't let two happen right in a row and we didn't stack bad plays one after the other,'' said Haas, who is headed to Benedictine.

Shawnee Heights product Aiden Scott (20) was named the East's Most Inspirational Player after Saturday's 14-7 Shrine Bowl win. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Scott, who was voted the East's Most Inspirational Player, split time with Stone throughout the game, with Scott, a Washburn signee, completing 5 of 7 passes for 62 yards and Stone going 6 of 7 for 54 yards.

"The team had confidence in both of us back there in the backfield,'' Scott said. "The bond that we have definitely helps out. We helped each other and would could come to the sidelines and see what the other person sees and just go to work out there.

"We've both got talent, we both work hard, so it works out.'' 

Former Nemaha Central star Carter Hajek, who will play at Emporia State, led the East with 59 rushing yards on 13 attempts.

Salina Central product Cooper Reves was named the West MVP after rushing for a game-high 91 yards on 14 carries.

Rossville's Johnson plans to enlist in the Marines in the near future and said Saturday night's win was the perfect way to cap his football career.

"A great way to go out,'' he said. "I wanted to end it on a win. I ended on a win at the All-America Game and it's way better to go 2-0 to end my career after losing at state. It's way better.''      

EAST 14, WEST 7  

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Carsyn Broxterman, who helped lead Hayden to a perfect 21-0 record and the Class 4A-1A state soccer championship has been selected as TopSports.news' Shawnee County spring girls senior athlete of the year for the 2025-2026 season.

Carsyn Broxterman, Hayden 

A forward, Broxterman was named the city and Centennial League player of the year as a senior and was also named the forward of the year in 4A-1A by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Broxterman scored the game-winning goal in the Wildcats' 1-0 victory over Rose Hill in the state championship game.

Broxterman will play collegiately at Kansas City Kansas Community College. 

Other springs girls athlete of the year finalists 

Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 

AUDREY APPUHN | Washburn Rural

SPORT: Swimming

Appuhn won four gold medals (two individual, two relays) to lead Washburn Rural to its 23rd straight city team title and earned three golds (two individual, one relay) in the Centennial League meet. Appuhn went 8 for 8 in individual events over her career in the city and league meets and earned multiple Class 6A state medals as a freshman, sophomore and junior. 

Ella Foster, Hayden

ELLA FOSTER | Hayden

SPORT: Soccer

A midfielder, Foster helped Hayden go wire to wire with 21 straight victories for the 2026 Class 4A-1A state championship, capped by a 1-0 win over Rose Hill in the state final. A Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State first-team pick, Foster was also a second-team All-Centennial League and All-City honoree. As a senior Foster also helped the Wildcats win the 4A championship in basketball and post a runnerup state finish in volleyball. 

Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake

KAILYN HANNI | Silver Lake

SPORT: Softball/Track and Field

A four-sport standout, Hanni helped lead Silver Lake to the Class 3A state softball championship and also doubled up in track and field, placing third in the 3A javelin hours after the Eagles' 4-0 win over Southeast of Saline in the state softball final. Hanni, who was also a state medalist in golf and led Silver Lake to its second state basketball championship in three seasons, was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick in both softball and track and earned All-Class 3A first-team honors in softball.

Reese Huscher, Hayden 

REESE HUSCHER | Hayden

SPORT: Soccer

Huscher was named the Class 4A-1A midfielder of the year by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association and also earned first-team All-City and All-Centennial League honors after helping lead the Wildcats to a perfect 21-0 record and the 4A-1A state title this past spring. Huscher also helped Hayden win the 4A championship in basketball and post a runnerup state finish in volleyball.

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