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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, it was a blow when Michael Wilhoite found out in mid-January that he was losing his job as linebackers coach with the Los Angeles Chargers as part of a staff shakeup.
Michael Wilhoite, outside linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos, talks with his fellow camp coaches during last Friday's Big Kev Give Back Camp at Washburn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Former NFL linebacker Michael Wilhoite, who played quarterback at Highland Park, participates in a passing drill during last Friday's Big Kev Give Back Camp at Washburrn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And nobody has to tell the former Highland Park and Washburn University standout how fortunate he was to land a job with new Denver head coach Sean Payton as the Broncos' outside linebackers coach barely a month later.
"It's been like that my whole life and I can't explain it in any other way than God,'' said Wilhoite, in town last Friday for the Big Kev Give Back Camp. "That's just him putting me around the right people and giving me the right words and ways to communicate with people, so I'm just thankful and I feel blessed that I've had the opportunities that I've had and I am where I am right now.''
Wilhoite, the former 49ers and Seahawks linebacker, did his best to keep a positive attitude in the wake of his firing from the Chargers after two seasons, realizing that it was just part of sports.
"It's the same thing as Michael Jordan getting cut,'' Wilhoite said. "It's the same thing as Sean Payton losing a job. Jon Gruden's been fired, Tony Dungy's been fired, but what I know is that with the great ones there's growth. You learn and you improve and you see things differently and that's what I'm focused on is the growth I can make from one place to another and how I can be better at everything that I did and impove the things that I didn't do well.
"It can't be that I go from one situation to the other and I don't learn anything and I still think that I know everything and I still think that I'm right. You can't do that. There's got to be growth there and I have growth, and it's humbling.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When Topeka sports icons Kyle Weems and Michael Wilhoite launched their inaugural Big Kev Give Back Camp in 2022, they were thrilled with the results of the dual basketball/football event.
But Weems and Wilhoite also knew the camp could get bigger and better, something they saw first-hand on Friday.
Kyle Weems exchanges a hug with Ken Darting, his basketball coach at Highland Park, during Friday's second annual Big Kev Give Back Camp at Washburn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Mike Wilhoite partcipates in a passing drill with campers during Friday's Big Kev Give Back Camp at Washburn University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Weems and Wilhoite, who are both Highland Park graduates and members of the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame, made the decision to move the 2023 camp from Shawnee Heights to the more centrally-located Washburn University campus and Friday's event drew more than 150 young athletes.
"It's unbelievable,'' said Weems, who just completed his 11th pro basketball season after starring at Highland Park and Missouri State. "Mike and I wanted to connect more with the inner city as well as the suburban kids. We wanted them from all over.
"We felt we had a good turnout last year but still wanted to get the inner city kids in here and give back because that's where we came from. That's what we know, that's who we are.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Multi-sport stars Brooklyn DeLeye of Washburn Rural and Tre Richardson of Highland Park were named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Athletes of the Year Wednesday night in ceremonies at Washburn University.
DeLeye was a standout in volleyball, basketball and soccer for the Junior Blues while Richardson starred in football, basketball and track and field and also played baseball for the Scots.
Former Washburn Rural multi-sport star Brooklyn DeLeye was selected as the Shawnee County Fall Female Athlete of the Year Wednesday night at Washburn. [File photo/TSN]
Recent Highland Park graduate Tre Richardson was named the Topeka Shawnee County Male Athlete of the Year after starring for the Scots in football, basketball and track. [File photo/TSN]
DeLeye was a two-time Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and two-time Class 6A player of the year in volleyball while being named to the all-state first team four straight years.
DeLeye led Washburn Rural to the 6A state championship last fall and finished her high school career as Rural's career leader in kills (2,090), most hit attempts (4,086), most hits completed (3,496) and ace serves (277).
"Brooklyn is one of the most dominant game changers that has ever graced the volleyball courts in Kansas,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Bordewick said. "People came to our matches to watch her, and little kids idolize her.
"With all of that she is very humble. A better role model for our younger kids cannot be found. A truly once in a coaching lifetime player for us.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Topeka West track and cross country star Lenny Njoroge was named the Topeka Shawnee County Most Inspirational Male Athlete Wednesday night at Washburn University.
Recent Topeka West graduate Lenny Njoroge was named the Topeka Shawnee County Most Inspirational Male Athlete of the Year Wednesday night at Washburn. [File photo/TSN]
Njoroge ended his high school career as a multi-time Class 5A state medalist in both cross country and track, bouncing back from a serious leg injury as a sophomore to finish fourth in cross county and post second and fourth-place state finishes in track as a senior.
"Lenny broke both bones (tibia and fibula) of his lower leg during track his sophomore year playing club soccer,'' Topeka West cross country/track coach Donnie Palmer said. "Lenny had to go through rehabilitation for seven to eight months before he could return to running.
"Lenny worked hard and came back stronger and faster for track his junior year. He continued his hard work last summer in preparation for his senior year (of cross country and soccer). Lenny is a true inspiration to our school, program and the community.''
Njoroge will run cross country and track at Kansas.
The son of Kimani Franci, Njoroge compiled a grade point average of 3.776 at Topeka West.
Other candidates:
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By RICK PETERSONTopSports.news
Recent Hayden graduate Alyssa Droge was named the Topeka Shawnee County Most Inspirational Female Athlete Wednesday night at Washburn University.
Recent Hayden graduate Alyssa Droge was named the Topeka Shawnee County Most Inspirational Female Wednesday night at Washburn. [File photo/TSN]
Droge battled through three knee surgeries and a cancer fight to put together an outstanding softball career for Hayden.
Droge suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries as a freshman and sophomore and and had a third injury (slight ACL tear/meniscus) in July of 2022.
In August of 2021 Droge was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, resulting in six months of chemotherapy.
Droge officially began remission in January, 2022.
"Alyssa is not only a leader on the field but also serves as a constant inspiration for the entire progam,'' Hayden softball coach Cody Reynolds said. "I get goosebumps and it makes me emotional because I'm really close with Alyssa and I'm really close to her family and I can't say enough about how strong she is.
"It's unbelievable to see her out here and I can't say enough about her.''
The daughter of Tony and Paula Droge, Alyssa compiled a high school grade point average of 4.05.
Other candidates:
