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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Hayden star Joe Otting, who will play his college football at Notre Dame, was named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Fall Male Athlete of the Year during Wednesday's awards banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Washburn University.
Recent Hayden graduate Joe Otting, a freshman at Notre Dame, has been named the TSN Topeka Shawnee County Fall Male Athlete of the Year for the 2022-2023 school year. [File photo/TSN]
Otting, a three-sport standout for the Wildcats, was a consensus All-State Top 11 selection as a senior, starring as an offensive and defensive lineman as Hayden posted a 10-2 record and advanced to the Class 3A state football semfiinals.
Otting led an offense that rushed for 3,032 yards and averaged 8.54 yards per carry.
Defensively, Otting was in on 81 tackles (42 solo) with three tackles for loss.
"Joe was a great example of a student-athlete,'' Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. "He participated in three sports and was an honor roll student.
"He was a great role model to the younger kids and never passed up an opportunity to make them feel special.''
Otting also received numerous postseason honors in basketball and was a state medalist in track and field.
Otting, the son of Eric and Debbie Otting, compiled a 3.625 grade point average in high school.
Other candidates:
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural volleyball All-American and two-sport Class 6A state champion Brooklyn DeLeye was named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Fall Female Athlete of the Year during Wednesday's awards banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Washburn University.
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]
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.''
DeLeye also helped the Junior Blues win a 6A state basketball title and was a standout in soccer.
DeLeye will play volleyball at Kentucky.
The daughter of John and Janel DeLeye, Brooklyn compiled a 4.167 cumulative grade point average.
Other candidates:
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
After spending two years at Barton County Community College, Washburn Rural product Shawn Marquis settled nicely into MIAA competition with Newman University’s baseball program in the 2022-2023 campaign.
Shawn Marquis
For Marquis, experiencing a new city and culture in the Sunflower State intrigued him. With the junior being raised in Topeka and spending two years in Great Bend, he liked the idea of spending the rest of his collegiate career in Wichita.
With a stellar supporting cast around him, a comfortable situation in Wichita and helpful coaching, Marquis achieved a milestone by hitting over 300 for the first time in his collegiate career.
“Newman was always a nice option for me, and with Wichita not being too far from home was great,” Marquis said. “It was also another area I’ve never been to a lot before, and I wanted that new experience. In terms of comfort, the coaches were great and really helpful every step of the way. Moving in was awesome.”
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
It took just one season for Topeka High product and current Hutchison Community College defensive lineman Danny Saili to draw Power Five interest, and it also didn't take too much time for Saili to decide to commit to the Oklahoma Sooners to finish his college career.
Topeka High grad Danny Saili will head to Oklahoma after a final season at Hutchinson Community College. [Twitter photo]
It's been a dream for Saili to play Division I football and the 6-foot-2, 389-pound defensive tackle joined recently acquired defensive linemen Davon Sears, Jacob Lacey and Da'Jon Terry from the transfer portal to boost Brent Venables' defense after Saili plays his final season for Hutch this fall..
The visit to Oklahoma was eye-opening for Saili. Being a Sooner was a dream come true, and when he stepped on campus, he realized he could make it happen.
"I had to wait a couple of months to be recruited because that's the way things work with juco," Saili said. "Around the spring time, colleges started to hit me up and talk to me. When I went to Oklahoma, I had never seen anything like that anywhere else.
"All that money put into such a great program was cool to see. I met all of the coaches, and defensive line coach Todd Bates is a legend. So I just fell in love when I went down there."
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Local sports icons Kyle Weems and Michael Wilhoite will be back in Topeka Friday to host the second annual Big Kev Give Back Camp, a one-of-a-kind dual basketball/football camp, on fhe campus of Washburn University
Both Weems and Wilhoite graduated from Highland Park and Wilhoite was a standout at Washburn and Weems at Missouri State before both players went on to long-time professional careers.
Weems and Wilhoite, who were inducted into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021, will be joined by many other special guests to host the camp, in conjunction with Washburn, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday's camp, open to athletes 9 through 17, is named in honor of Kyle's late father, Kevin, a former Washburn University basketball player, who had a big impact on the athletic careers of both Weems and Wilhoite.
Athletes will have the option between all-day basketball or football camps or can split their time between half-day basketball and football camps. Athletes wishing to split their time between football and basketball are encouraged to attend the football camp in the morning session.
The cost of the camp is $20 and athletes are encouraged to register online at www.wusports.com. Go to the list of Washburn Football Camps and scroll down to the Big Kev Give Back Camp. Those interested in attending the camp can also go to www.bkgiveback.com and click the signup link.
The football portion of the camp will be held at Yager Stadium while the basketball camp will be held in Lee Arena.
