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Kansas Sports Hall of Fame announces 10-member 2025 induction class
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday the selection of the 10 individuals who will be inducted on Saturday, August 2, in Topeka as the HOF class of 2025.
The induction ceremony will be held at the Washburn University Memorial Union, beginning at 10 a.m., followed by a lunch/reception.
The class includes award-winning coaches, Olympians, national champions, All-Americans, and world and American-record holders.
“This is an accomplished group and one the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is extremely proud to recognize on behalf of the entire state,” Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Chairman Jim Dunning, Jr. said. "The individuals represent the best of the state of Kansas and come from diverse backgrounds. Their stories provide inspiration to all Kansans.”
The honorees include:
● Larry Brown – 1972 NFL MVP running back for Washington who played at Dodge City Community College and Kansas State.
● Tim Jankovich – All-State basketball player from Manhattan who later led Kansas State to three NCAA Tournament appearances. He had a collegiate basketball head coaching record of 332-199.
● J.C. Louderback – Three-sport standout at Southwestern College. Was the Arkansas City High boys tennis coach for 36 years and longtime college football and basketball official.
● Bob Lutz – Wichita Eagle sports reporter and columnist for more than 40 years. He established the League 42 urban youth baseball organization in Wichita.
● Kendric Maple – State titlest in wrestling at Wichita Heights HS, and NCAA championship wrestler and three-time All-American at Oklahoma.
● Bobby Randall – Born in Norton, but attended high school in Gove. Played five years in MLB for the Minnesota Twins, and still ranks second in career batting average at Kansas State. Longtime Head Coach at Iowa State, University of Kansas and Manhattan Christian College.
● Laverne Smith – Set career and season rushing and touchdown records at Kansas and played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A track and football standout at Wichita Southeast and the University of Kansas, he still holds the KU 100-meter dash record.
● Deb (Pihl) Torneden – Running for Kansas State University, was the Most Outstanding Performer at the 1984 Big Eight Conference Indoor Championships. Was a four-time All-American and National Masters Champion. She holds 23 Kansas road race age group records.
● Clifford Wiley – 1980 U.S. Olympic Team sprint team member. Competing for the University of Kansas, was a world record holder, World Cup Champion, three-time U.S. national champion, NCAA Champion and 13-time All-American
● NOTE: Former Kansas State assistant football coach and Kansas head coach Mark Mangino was selected in 2024, but could not attend the induction ceremonies. He will be recognized at the 2025 event.
This year’s class brings the total number of Inductees to 349, with the first class in 1961 including such legends as Dr. James Naismith, Mike Ahearn, Glenn Cunningham, Walter Johnson and Jess Willard.
Created by the Kansas State legislature in 1961 during the state’s Centennial Celebration, the hall has operated for 64 years.
Tickets for the event are $50 and may be purchased online at kshof.org.
Inductee profiles:
T-Bird soccer posts second straight win, 3-2 over Hayden
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
The Shawnee Heights girls soccer team hopes to jump start its season with back-to-back wins during a busy stretch of the season.
Shawnee Heights senior Lailah Benz (21) scored the game's first goal in Monday's 3-2 soccer win over Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The T-Birds picked up their second win of the year Monday, defeating Hayden at the Bettis Family Sports Complex, 3-2.
After an 0-3-1 start to the season, they notched their first victory at Piper last Thursday. The Shawnee Heights girls are in the middle of a stretch of six games in two weeks that they hope could turn their season around.
“Our last win (at Piper) definitely turned it around for us,” said Shawnee Heights senior Lailah Benz, who scored the game’s first goal just 42 seconds into the contest. “We came in knowing that we were going to win instead of having doubt.”
Shawnee Heights sophomore Brylee Garner (14) celebrates her first-half goal with teammates in the T-Birds' 3-2 win over Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The T-Birds added to their 1-0 lead in the middle of the first period on a score by Brylee Garner off a corner kick.
Hayden junior Carsyn Broxterman (4) and sophomore Avery Becker (3) scored the Wildcats' goals in Monday's 3-2 soccer loss to Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But Hayden demonstrated it wasn’t going away when the Wildcats got on the board with 49 seconds remaining in the first half off a goal by Carsyn Broxterman.
Shawnee Heights picked up an insurance goal by Izzy Van Fleet at the 20:54 mark of the second period. Moments later, that goal proved to be the game winner as Hayden responded with a strike by Avery Becker at 20:20.
TSN Shawnee County high school girls track honor roll April 13
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2025 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.44
Morgan Robinson, Shawnee Heights 12.80
Ally Steiner, Seaman 12.98
Ciara Hartz, Highland Park 13.14
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 13.08
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
200 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 26.09
Morgan Robinson, Shawnee Heights 26.58
Molly Worley, Washburn Rural 26.93
Ally Steiner, Seaman 27.30
Emme Blanco, Washburn Rural 27.39
400 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 57.65
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 61.57
Madison Blanco, Washburn Rural 61.65
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 63.81
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 65.07
Ryan Miller, Seaman
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:11.87
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 2:23.09
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 2:28.61
Sofia Harper, Hayden 2:31.14
Taylie Heston, Seaman 2:36.22
1,600 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 4:51.22
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 5:17.92
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 5:25.99
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 5:36.25
Sofia Harper, Hayden 5:41.39
