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Washburn names Brendan Dzwierzynski director of broadcasting
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University athletic department has announced a broadcast network location change for the upcoming school year, with Brendan Dzwierzynski leading Ichabod broadcasts on the free Varsity Network through the Learfield Network.
Brendan Dzwierzynski has been named the director of broadcasting for Washburn University. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Dzwierzynski, who has served as the voice of the Ichabods in football and basketball, is moving to a full-time position in the athletic department as the director of broadcasting.
Dzwierzynski will handle play-by-play duties for Ichabod football, soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball. He will also write athlete profiles for wusports.com and will host the athletic department's coaches shows and podcasts.
"I'm thrilled to be joining Washburn Athletics full-time as the director of droadcasting, Dzwierzynski said. "This is an incredible opportunity to not only expand our play-by-play broadcast offerings but also to help tell the stories of the incredible teams, players and coaches at Washburn.
"This school has been so good to me since taking over as the voice of the Ichabods in 2023, and I can't wait to see where this new adventure goes."
Prior to Washburn, Dzwierzynski spent nine years as a play-by-play broadcaster and sports talk host for WIBW Radio in Topeka including the last two-plus seasons as the voice of the Ichabods. During that time, he has won nine awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, including two first-place honors for best large market play-by-play.
Originally from LaGrange Park, Illinois, Dzwierzynski graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas in 2017. He lives in Topeka with his wife, Abbey, and daughter, Alexandria.
"We're excited for this new adventure," Washburn athletic director Loren Ferré said. "We now have the ability to promote and tell the stories of our teams and great student-athletes through new avenues. The Varsity Network gives our fans a location to listen to Washburn Athletics wherever they go."
The Varsity Network is the official app for live and on-demand college sports broadcasts. Owned by Learfield, it is designed to be the ultimate hub for fans to hear their favorite school's hometown radio calls, coaches' shows, and original podcasts.
All links to broadcasts will be available through a mobile app as well as through the schedule pages on wusports.com.
With the app, Ichabod fans will be able to listen to Ichabod games and other content around the world and in their vehicles through the Varsity app using the car's entertainment center with CarPlay and all content will be archived as well.
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Willingham gets nod as TSN Shawnee County fall boys athlete of the year
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Dylan Willingham, who helped lead Washburn Rural to the Class 6A state soccer championship last fall while earning Centennial League and 6A player of the year honors, has been selected as TopSports.news' Shawnee County fall boys senior athlete of the year for the 2025-2026 school year.
Dylan Willingham, Washburn Rural
Willingham, a star forward, was named the 2025-26 Gatorade Kansas Boys Soccer Player of the Year after helping lead the 19-1-1 Junior Blues to the 2025 Class 6A state championship.
Willingham set Washburn Rural's single-season scoring record with 37 goals and career record with 67 goals.
The two-time Centennial League Player of the Year was Kansas' only 2025-26 United Soccer Coaches All-American in addition to being recognized as the 6A forward of the year.
Willingham was also a four-time 6A state medalist in tennis.
Willingham will play Division I college soccer at Nebraska-Omaha.
Other fall boys athlete of the year finalists
Brody Anderson, Seaman
BRODY ANDERSON | Seaman
SPORT: Cross Country
A first-team All-Shawnee County pick in all three years he ran cross country, Anderson won his second straight city and United Kansas Conference individual titles last fall and was a Class 5A regional runnerup. He also won the prestigious Olathe Twilight Invitational, finishing ahead of runners from over 50 schools from multiple states. Anderson won the 5A 800 meters title in track while finishing second in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters.
Camden Granado, Shawnee Heights
CAMDEN GRANADO | Shawnee Heights
SPORT: Soccer/Football
Granado, a forward, was named the United Kansas Conference soccer player of the year last fall while also earning All-City first-team honors. A second-team All-State selection, Granado finished his career as Shawnee Heights soccer's all-time leading goal scorer. The T-Bird standout doubled up in football, handling place-kicking duties for Heights and earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
CONNOR HANIKA | Hayden
SPORT: Football
Hanika, a quarterback, helped lead the 12-1 Wildcats to their third straight Class 3A state championship game. Hanika completed 116 of 192 passing attempts on the season for 1,810 yards and 24 touchdowns and added 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Hanika was also a standout for Hayden's basketball team and helped lead the Wildcats to a runnerup finish in the Class 4A state baseball tournament.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
DAYNE JOHNSON | Silver Lake
SPORT: Football
Johnson, a wide receiver/defensive back, was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 repeat selection in 2025 after catching 75 passes for 1,053 yards and eight touchdowns and registering 59 tackles with two pass interceptions. Johnson, who earned first-team All-Big East League recognition on offense and second-team honors on defense in football, also helped lead the Eagles to a third-place Class 3A state finish in basketball and a runnerup finish in 3A baseball.
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural
BROOKS KEHOE | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Cross Country
A three-time All-Shawnee County first-team honoree, Kehoe helped lead Washburn Rural to the Class 6A state team championship by a single point. Kehoe was the Centennial League champion, placed second in the city meet, 19th in Class 6A regional competition and 25th at state. Kehoe, who helped the Junior Blues win city and league titles and finish second in a tiebreaker at regionals, finished as the 6A runnerup in the 1,600-meter run in track.
T-Birds' AJ Gallegos quick to answer late Shrine Bowl call
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
OTTAWA -- When the East team needed a late -- very late -- replacement player for this week's Kansas Shrine Bowl, the call went out to former Shawnee Heights football star AJ Gallegos.
Former Shawnee Heights standout AJ Gallegos (while jersey) will play for the East in Saturday night's Kansas Shrine Bowl in Emporia. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And without hesitation, the 2025 All-Shawnee County Top 22 and All-United Kansas Conference first-team pick was on his way to Ottawa University.
"It was the same day that we were supposed to be down here,'' Gallegos said. "It was 11 o'clock (Sunday) morning and I got right out of church when I got the call and they were like, 'Hey, we want you to head down there.'
"I dropped everything and just came straight to Ottawa. It was pretty cool.''
Gallegos said he jumped at the opportunity to be a part of Kansas' premier all-star game.
"For sure,'' Gallegos said. "It's the Shrine Bowl! Why would I not want to play in this type of game?''
Former Shawnee Height standout AJ Gallegos (center) was an All-Shawnee County Top 22and All-UKC first-team pick last fall. [File photo/TSN]
Gallegos, a two-way starter for the 4-5 T-Birds, caught 66 passes for 935 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior and joins former Heights quarterback Aiden Scott on the East roster.
"I'm going to play with my QB, so I'm excited,'' Gallegos said. "We've had four years together and now we get one more game together.
"We thought we had our last game in October, but we're promised one more game now, so it's nice.''
Scott will play quarterback and Gallegos defensive back in Saturday's game at Emporia State's Welch Stadium, but Gallegos is hopeful of getting an opportunity to play at least one play with his former teammate.
"Maybe I'll get an opportunity to get in and play some receiver and maybe get one more post play or something,'' Gallegos said with a smile.
