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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
From Day 1 after he was named head football coach at Topeka West, Trey Parker has preached positivity and emphasized that the Chargers need to appreciate each and every step they take, no matter how small.
Topeka West junior quarterback Kenton Tisdale attempts a pass in the Chargers' 84-14 UKC loss to Lansing Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West senior Jace Banks carries the ball in Thursday's 84-14 UKC loss to Lansing. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
And though it may been been hard for anyone looking at Thursday's 84-14 United Kansas Conference loss to Lansing and glean anything positive, Parker said there were bright spots the winless Chargers can take from that rout, particularly in the second half, as they move forward.
"We were down on the scoreboard, but I definitely saw that fight in the second half that I was looking for,'' Parker said. "That's what I always preach to these guys, that we know it's a long road ahead of us, but we just have to continue to fight.
"We can't give up. I tell them all the time, 'You either fight or you lay down,' and we definitely fought in that second half so I'm proud of that.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer will take a six-match winning streak into its second consecutive weekend of home matches, with the Ichabods hosting Rogers State on Friday and Northeastern State on Sunday at Yager Stadium.
Washburn University soccer will put its six-game win streak on the line in a pair of weekend matches at Yager Stadium. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods, who have won six straight games for the first time since 2008, will face Rogers State at 6 p.m. on Friday and Northeastern State on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Washburn is 7-1-0 on the 2023 season after posting an 11-6-2 record, when the Ichabods finished sixth in the MIAA.
Two wins this week would give WU the longest winning streak in program history.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 15-ranked Washburn University volleyball returns to Lee Arena for two MIAA matches this weekend, hosting Missouri Western at 6 p.m. on Friday and Northwest Missouri State at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Washburn, now 9-2 on the season and 3-1 in the MIAA, had its first conference road trip of the season last weekend, earning a split. The Ichabods defeated Missouri Southern 3-1 last Friday before falling to Central Missouri 3-0 last Saturday.
The Ichabods, who are undefeated at Lee Arena, are tied with Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney for second place in the conference.
Washburn junior Jalyn Stevenson leads the No. 15-ranked Ichabod volleyball team in kills. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Jalyn Stevenson registered a pair of double-doubles last weekend and led the Ichabods in kills in both matches. Against Missouri Southern she knocked down 13 kills with 14 digs and against Central Missouri she had a 17 kills while scooping up 11 digs.
Stevenson is fourth in the MIAA in kills per set at 3.37 as well as sixth in points per set with 3.84.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High junior volleyball standout Jo'Mhara Benning and Washburn Rural junior football player Wilson Miller have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2023-2024 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Benning and Miller over the past week:
Topeka High junior Jo'Mhara Benning (23) is the girls Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Star of the Week after helping the Trojans to volleyball wins over USD 501 rivals Highland Park and Topeka West. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
JO'MHARA BENNING, Topeka High
A three-sport athlete for Topeka High, Benning played a major role Wednesday night as the Trojan volleyball team bested USD 501 rivals Highland Park and Topeka West to win the annual district triangular.
Benning, who also plays softball and basketball for the Trojans, helped Topeka High take a 25-8, 25-16 win over Highland Park before High avenged an earlier loss to Topeka West with a 26-24, 22-25, 25-18 win over the Chargers.
Benning was a key contributor for the Trojans as a setter and hitter and also chipped in several key points serving for Topeka High.
Washburn Rural junior defensive back Wilson Miller (2) is the boys Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Star of the Week after helping lead the Junior Blues to a 35-28 win over reigning Class 6A state champion Manhattan. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
WILSON MILLER, Washburn Rural
Playing his first season of high school football, the 6-foot, 190-pound defensive back/placekicker, recorded a pair of pass interceptions, including a 21-yard return for a touchdown, as Washburn Rural improved to 4-0 on the season with a 35-28 Centennial League win over reigning Class 6A state champion Manhattan last Friday night at Bowen-Glaza Stadium.
Miller, who previously played soccer for Washburn Rural, also went five of five on extra-point kicks for the Junior Blues, who snapped the Indians' 16-game winning streak, which dated back to 2021.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's volleyball team had its ups and downs, but the homestanding Trojans were at their best when it counted the most Wednesday night, pulling away down the stretch to take a three-set win over Topeka West and claim bragging rights in the annual USD 501 triangular.
Topeka High volleyball celebrates at the end of the Trojans' 26-24, 22-25, 25-18 win over Topeka West Wednesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High junior Jo'Mhara Benning reacts to a big Trojan point in Wednesday's USD 501 triangular at Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Trojans, who improved to 8-9 on the season, opened the night with a 25-8, 25-16 win over Highland Park and then avenged an earlier loss to Topeka West with a 26-24, 22-25, 25-18 win.
Topeka West, now 17-7 on the season, rolled to a 25-4, 25-15 win over Highland Park before the tough loss to Topeka High, the Chargers' first loss to the Trojans in four years.
"I think the difference was definitely how hard we tried and how we worked together as a team,'' said Topeka High junior Jo'Mhara Benning, who excelled as a setter and hitter while also having considerable success serving the ball for the Trojans. "We just tried our best to keep each other up.
"We have been playing really well as a team. We have our moments, but I think overall we're playing pretty good.''
