By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Lailah Benz
LAILAH BENZ, Shawnee Heights
Benz, a sophomore midfielder, recorded a three-goal hat track for Shawnee Heights in last Tuesday's 5-0 non-league girls soccer victory over Ottawa at the Bettis Family Sports Complex. Benz helped lead the T-Birds to a 2-1 start to the 2023 season with their second straight win.
Bethany Druse
BETHANY DRUSE, Seaman
A senior, Druse, the defending Class 5A 800 meters champion, posted individual wins in the 1,600 and 800 in last Thursday's Jerry Beardslee Invitational track and field meet at Washburn Rural and also anchored the Vikings' 4x400 relay team to a come-from-behind victory. Druse won the 1,600 by more than nine seconds in 5 minutes, 37.00 , won the 800 by more than 10 seconds in 2:25.28 and helped Seaman win the 4x400 relay in 4:20.01.
Alexis Fredrickson
ALEXIS FREDRICKSON, Washburn Rural
Fredrickson, a senior, opened her senior track and field season with two wins and two runnerup finishes in last Thursday's Jerry Beardslee Invitational at Washburn Rural. Fredrickson won the 100-meter dash in 14.00 seconds and the 200 in 28.26 while also finishing second in the 400 (62.0) and the pole vault (8 feet, 6 inches). Fredrickson was a three-time Class 6A-5A state medalist and two-time state team champion for Rural's wrestling team.
Max Huston
MAX HUSTON, Seaman
A sophomore baseball standout, Huston helped lead Seaman to a 3-0 record on the week. Huston had three hits, including a three-run homer, and four runs batted in for the Vikings in a 13-3 United Kansas Conference win over Shawnee Heights last Tuesday and picked up a pitching victory and had four hits on the day Friday as Seaman improved to 5-0 with 17-7 and 10-9 non-league wins over Washburn Rural.
V'Ante Peoples
V'ANTE PEOPLES, Topeka High
Peoples, a senior, swept the 100 and 200-meter dashes for Topeka High in last Thursday's Jerry Beardslee Invitational at Washburn Rural and also ran a leg on the Trojans' winning 4x100 relay team. Peoples clocked a winning time of 11.61 seconds in the 100 and 23.74 in the 200 and helped Topeka High post a winning time of 43.10 in the 4x100 relay.
Marin Schuler
MARIN SCHULER, Seaman
A junior, Schuler scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in Seaman's 3-2 non-league girls soccer victory over Cair Paravel Latin last Tuesday at the Sunflower Soccer Complex. Schuler also helped the Vikings post a 2-0 non-league win over Lawrence on Thursday, with Seaman improving to 4-0 on the season.
