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Individual champ Madi Blanco powers Rural to runnerup team finish in 20-school home tourney
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior wrestling star Madi Blanco admitted that she was fighting some butterflies before Saturday's 140-pound championship match in the sixth annual Washburn Women's Invitational.
Washburn Rural senior Madi Blanco reacts after winning the 140-pound title in Saturday's Washburn Women's Invitational with a 37-second pin in the finals. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But it certainly didn't show as Blanco, No. 3-ranked in Class 6A and No. 5 in the All-Class rankings by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, needed just 37 seconds to clench her tournament championship with a win by pin over Gardner-Edgerton sophomore Camila Vasquez, No. 5-ranked in 6A and No. 8 in the All-Class rankings.
"Me and my coach had a conversation about energy and to be grateful for where I am, how much I've gone through to get here and that really helped me and put me in the right mindset to get into that final round,'' Blanco said. "I felt really good.''
Blanco, who placed fourth in 6A at 135 pounds and is a two-time state placer, posted three straight pins on Saturday, with her win in the finals following pins in 1:31 and 2:14.
And Blanco said she continues to gain confidence as the Junior Blues get ready for the biggest three tournaments of the season -- Centennial League, regionals and state.
"The steps I took to get here are what really helped me grow,'' Blanco said. "My coaches, my teammates, they're encouragers and I think that really helps. It's just a process.
"I thank the Lord that I have my parents (Evie and Anthony), that raised me so well. They taught character, mental strength, all of it, so I think that my confidence came from them and my coaches.''
Parker said Blanco has earned all the success she's had for the Junior Blues.
"She is as intentional about everything she does as any kid that I've ever coached, and the fact that she wrestles with gratitude,'' Parker said. "She's just happy for the opportunity to be here and do this and I think that goes a long way in this sport.''
Blanco helped lead perennial state contender Washburn Rural to a runnerup finish to Gardner-Edgerton (273-194) in Saturday's 20-school tournament, with Shawnee Mission South (159.5) third and Clay Center (156.5) fourth.
Washburn Rural was ranked No. 4 in 6A in last week's KWCA rankings, with Gardner-Edgerton No. 2 behind top-ranked Garden City.
Freshman 105-pounder Aliyah Tangpricha (top) posted a runnerup finish for Washburn Rural in Saturday's Washburn Women's Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural 125-pound senior Lacey Middleton (right) finished second Saturday as the host Junior Blues posted a runnerup team finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
In addition to Blanco's title, the Junior Blues got runnerup finishes from 105-pound freshman Aliyah Tangpricha (17-3), 125-pound senior Lacey Middleton (29-4) and 170-pound senior Elia Smith (23-3) while 145-pound senior Emme Blanco (29-3), 190-pound junior Lily Davis (26-7) and 235-pound sophomore Emma Mehl (18-9) all posted third-place finishes.
Seaman finished in the upper half of the field with a ninth-place finish (74 points), with four Vikings finishing in the top six, led by junior fourth-place 170-pound placer Isabel McClintock (19-12).
Washburn Rural will be back at home next Saturday to host the Centennial League girls and boys tournament (9 a.m start).
Top-ranked Washburn men improve to 22-0 with 89-67 MIAA road romp past Lopers
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Top-ranked Washburn University men's basketball pushed its unbeaten streak to 22 games Saturday afternoon, taking an 89-67 road win at Nebraska-Kearney.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored a career-high 27 points in Washburn's 89-67 MIAA road win at Nebraska-Kearney Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
Now 22-0 overall and 12-0 in the MIAA, the Ichabods had to navigate a competitive opening stretch that featured six lead changes and four ties in the first 10 minutes.
UNK grabbed an early 6-3 edge, but Washburn answered with a transition-heavy surge keyed by sophomore Dillon Claussen and Jack Bachelor to regain control.
A 9-0 Washburn run late in the first half created separation, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Claussen and senior Brady Christiansen that pushed the margin to double digits.
Washburn closed the half on a 17-5 run overall and carried a 44-29 lead into the break after shooting 44 percent from the floor and forcing 10 Loper turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
Claussen opened with the second half with a three and senior Bryson Smith followed with a layup to ignite another push that ballooned the WU lead to 20 at 53-33 with 15:34 left.
Nebraska-Kearney countered with its best stretch of the afternoon, trimming the deficit to eight behind Ja'Bryant Hill and Clayton Moore during a 9-0 Loper run midway through the half.
But each time UNK threatened, Washburn responded.
Smith attacked the rim for consecutive scores, Bachelor knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and Claussen controlled the paint to steady the lead.
The Ichabods eventually built their largest cushion at 22 points with 2:46 remaining and closed out the win from the free throw line.
Claussen led four Ichabods in double figures with a career-high 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting, adding eight rebounds and two assists.
Smith finished with 19 points, 18 in the second half, while Bachelor added 17 points and six boards, and Christiansen chipped in six points and four rebounds.
Durbin, Rayton the Dan Key Farmers Agency Rising Stars of the Week
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin sophomore boys basketball standout Blaine Durbin and Topeka High junior girls basketball standout Ahsieyrhuajh have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars 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 the recent accomplishments of Durbin and Rayton.
Blaine Durbin, Cair Paravel Latin [Photo by Jan Pabitzky/Special to TSN]
BLAINE DURBIN, Cair Paravel Latin
Durbin scored a total of 60 points in three wins last week week as No. 7-ranked (Class 2A) Cair Paravel won the championship in the Flint Hills League Tournament at Emporia. Durbin scored 17 points in a 64-30 win over West Franklin, had 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 60-45 win over Lyndon and scored 13 points in the Lions' 64-47 win over Osage City.
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High [File photo/TSN]
ASHIEYRHUAJH RAYTON, Topeka High
Rayton scored 33 points in Tuesday's 71-33 non-league win over Atchison and followed that up with a 37-point performance in Thursday's 65-57 loss to state-ranked Derby in the opening round of the Capital City Classic, surpassing the 1,000-point milestone for her career. Rayton connected on three 3-pointers against Atchison and four against Derby.
