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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Two seasons, two United Kansas Conference championships for the Seaman girls tennis team.
After winning the UKC title in their first season in the conference a year ago, the Vikings defended their title by a 69-61 margin over De Soto on Tuesday at Kossover Tennis Center, with Seaman placing all four of its entries in the top five places in the eight-school meet..
"It was a very good day,'' Seaman coach Jamie Robinson said. "I think we're peaking as a team.''
Senior Katie Krumins and sophomore Molly Gorman won the UKC doubles title for the second straight year, taking an 8-2 win over De Soto to cap a 5-0 day while winning 40 of 42 games.
"You feel like you have to defend your title and it's like, 'We've really got to do this,' '' Krumins said. "Especially because it's a new team and that doesn't guarantee you the same thing every year, so you keep trying to do your best. We've all had some tough losses and I think that has really helped our mentality, knowing that we know what to do when we're under pressure.''
Gorman agreed with Krumins that it was very important for the duo to be at their best Tuesday.
"Personally, for me, it was like, 'We've got to keep it up,' '' Gorman said. "I want to win this all throughout high school. I'm already halfway there so might as well keep it going. We were just on our 'A' game today, compared to previous tournaments.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After winning the city championship last week, Washburn Rural's depth paid off again Monday, with the Junior Blues adding the Centennial League team championship at Kossover Tennis Center.
Brad Johnston's Junior Blues notched four top-three finishes en route to winning the team championship by a 42-26 margin over Manhattan and Emporia, who tied for second.
"We had a few slipups and it's king of hard playing your own team in the semifinals (singles and doubles) so we started kind of slow in the third round for third place, but they fought back and won,'' Johnston said. "Going back to city, our depth just comes through.
"When you can have your whole team in the semifinals it really changes the team score.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Reigning Class 6A volleyball champion Washburn Rural rolled to the Centennial League championship Saturday at Manhattan, posting a perfect 5-0 record in the round-robin event to stretch its winning streak to seven matches.
The Junior Blues, now 13-7 on the season, lost just one set on the day while posting victories over league foes Emporia (25-16, 25-15), Junction City (25-16, 25-8), Manhattan (25-14, 23-25, 25-14), Topeka High (25-15, 25-12) and Hayden (25-20, 25-22).
"We are making pretty good strides in what we need to do and how we are playing,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "We didn't necessarily play our best on Saturday, but we are getting better at all aspects of the game.
"We really just need to be more consistent and maybe understand game situations better.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
JAREN HEIM, Washburn Rural
A 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior outside linebacker, Heim scored a pair of defensive touchdowns as Washburn Rural football improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial League last Friday night with a 28-7 road win over Junction City. Heim recovered a Blue Jay fumble in the end zone for a touchdown and also scored a touchdown off a blocked punt by his brother, JC.
JC HEIM, Washburn Rural
Heim, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior outside linebacker, was a defensive force throughout Friday night's 28-7 Centennial League football win at Junction City as Washburn Rural improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial League. Heim, who also plays running back for the Junior Blues, blocked a punt that his brother, Jaren, returned for a touchdown and he returned a fumble 77 yards for a touchdown after a Packson Bettis sack.
TANNER MARTIN, Silver Lake
Martin, Silver Lake's 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior quarterback, had a hand in five touchdowns in the Eagles' 42-28 Class 3A District 3 road football victory over rival Rossville. Martin carried the ball 20 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 134 yards and a pair of TDs. Martin also helped Silver Lake successfully convert three 2-point conversions as the Eagles improved to 4-1 on the season.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer posted a program-record eighth straight win on Sunday at Yager Stadium, with the Ichabods taking a 2-0 MIAA win over Northeastern State.
Ichabod coach Davy Phillips said the work that led to Sunday's achievement started a long time ago.
"I think it's been a couple of years now,'' Phillips said. "Last year we started 7-1-1 and we got up to No. 4 in the region. The year before that we were 6-1-1 I think, so it's been growing for years. It's the program that's building, I think.
"It's been positive and I expect to win every game. I did when I arrived, so for me it's not a surprise. I'm glad they're getting the rewards of their work, but this is what we strive for every year.''
Now 9-1-0 overall and 3-0-0 in the MIAA, Washburn made first-half goals from Mackinly Rohn and Ana Muruzabal stand up for the win while Raegan Wells recorded the shutout in goal for the Ichabods.
"I think (the streak) just solidifies the work we've put in this whole season,'' said Wells, the winningest goalkeeper in program history. "It's just one step closer to bringing home a conference championship
"This team just has a different type of mentality. We show up to practice ready to fight every day. We show up to games and we're just really confident and we trust each other.''
The goal for the Ichabods now is to use their hot start as motivation to keep it going over the remainder of the year.
"One of the things we talk about is the competitive callouses you build up, when you know what it takes to win and you're willing to go and put that work in because you know results will come from it,'' Phillips said. "I think we're just developing some really good callouses through these results, and it's good. I'm excited to watch the group keep growing.''
Rohn, a Washburn Rural product, continued her outstanding freshman season with her second goal of the year just 8:14 into Sunday's match and Muruzabal, a junior, added WU's second goal with 7:13 left in the half off passes from junior Jadyn Allen and senior Riley Painter, who were both credited with assists.
Wells picked up her third straight shutout and sixth of the season (five solo, one shared), and thanks in large part to the work of her teammates, had to make just one save on the afternoon.
"My favorite kind of game,'' Wells said.
On defense junior Josie Boyle and junior Jordan Tenpas played all 90 minutes to help hold Northeastern State in check across the board.
Rebecca Partyka played all 90 minutes in goal for Northeastern State, recording six saves in the match.
Washburn will go on the road for a Friday MIAA match at Missouri Western (6 p.m.) and a match at Northwest Missouri State next Sunday (1 p.m.).
WASHBURN 2, NORTHEASTERN STATE 0
Northeastern State (2-4-4, 0-3-1) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn (9-1-0, 3-0-0) 2 0 -- 2
Washburn -- Goals: Mackinly Rohn, Ana Muruzabal. Assists: Riley Painter, Jadyn Allen. Shutout: Raegan Wells.