By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Miles Cook
MILES COOK, Washburn Rural
The Junior Blues' senior goalkeeper came up huge on Saturday night at the Stryker Complex in Wichita, with Cook coming up with two saves in penalty kicks as Rural outscored Shawnee Mission East 4-2 in PKs to take a 3-2 win over the Lancers and earn its first Class 6A state soccer championship since 2012.
Connor Hanika
CONNOR HANIKA, Hayden
Hanika, a senior quarterback, completed 10 of 13 passes for 211 yards, including 62 and 63-yard touchdown passes to Kade Mitchell Friday night as 10-0 Hayden advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals with a 42-0 home romp past Wellsville in a regional final.
Leah Henke
LEAH HENKE, Washburn University
Henke, a former Bishop Carroll star, was named the MIAA Soccer Freshman of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors after the Washburn University forward scored a team-high nine goals for the Ichabods in an 11-2-5 regular season, including an 8-0-4 conference record.
Belle Kennedy
BELLE KENNEDY, Washburn University
Kennedy, a senior midfielder, was named the MIAA Soccer Defensive Player of the Year while earning all-conference first-team honors for the third straight season and her fourth All-MIAA honor overall. The former Washburn Rural star helped Washburn post an 11-2-5 regular-season record with 11 shutouts.
Canann Mitchell
CANANN MITCHELL, Rossville
Mitchell, a senior quarterback/defensive back, ran for four touchdowns and passed for a touchdown in the Bulldawgs' 53-18 home Class 1A regional playoff win over Jefferson County North. Mitchell scored on runs of 2, 7, 10 and 43 yards and threw for a 17-yard TD to senior Andre Johnson as Rossville improved to 9-1 on the season.
Kade Mitchell
KADE MITCHELL, Hayden
Mitchell, a senior running back/defensive back, gained 131 rushing yards on just seven carries and caught three passes for 149 yards in Friday night's 42-0 home Class 3A regional playoff win over Wellsville. The Wildcats improved to 10-0 on the season as Mitchell scored four touchdowns, on runs of 36 and 68 yards and 62 and 63-yard passes from quarterback Connor Hanika.
