By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights junior cross country standout Jackson Esquibel and Silver Lake sophomore girls golfer Taylor Zordel have been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week for last week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Esquibel and Zordel last week:
JACKSON ESQUIBEL, Shawnee Heights
The Shawnee Heights junior cross country standout posted a second-place individual finish in last Saturday's Class 5A regional championships at Kanza Park, helping lead the T-Birds to the team title by a 53-61 margin over Lansing.
Esquibel, who also posted runner-up finishes in the city and United Kansas Conference meets, clocked a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 47.09 seconds at regionals and will compete in Saturday's 5A state meet at Rim Rock Farm, north of Lawrence.
As a sophomore Esquibel earned a state medal with a 13th-place finish.
TAYLOR ZORDEL, Silver Lake
Zordel, a Silver Lake sophomore, earned a state medal for the second straight season in the Class 3A-1A state golf tournament last Monday and Tuesday at Carey Park in Hutchinson.
Zordel shot 88s both days to earn a tie for seventh place with a 36-hole total of 176.
Zordel, who was named the TopSports.news Shawnee County softball newcomer of the year last spring, tied for 16th as a freshman in the 3A-1A state golf meet.