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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- It's not really a secret that Highland Park senior star Tre Richardson has never been a big fan of track and field.
In fact, he considers track his No. 4 sport behind football, basketball and baseball.
Highland Park senior Tre Richardson (center) won the Class 5A boys 100-meter dash Saturday at Cessna Stadium, the first of his two state titles on the day. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Highland Park senior Tre Richardson won the Class 5A long jump, finished second in the triple jump and scored 33 total points in the state meet. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But like the sport or not, Richardson will be remembered as one of Highland Park's all-time greats track greats after capping his final appearance with a pair of state titles, a second-place finish and an injury-affected fourth in the Class 5A state meet at Cessna Stadium.
Richardson was a multiple-time state medalist for the third straight season and a state champ for the second straight year.
Richardson scored 33 points on the weekend, outscoring 22 other 5A schools that cracked the scoring column by himself as HIghland Park finished ninth as a team.
"I took my senior season out good,'' Richardson said
After finishing second to Topeka West's Alesecio Batson in Friday's triple jump with a best of 46 feet, 5.75 inches, Richardson won the 100-meter dash in 10.73 seconds and the long jump at 23-4.50 before limping to a fourth-place finish in the 200 in 22.49 on Saturday.
"I hurt myself doing long jump earlier on my last jump, pulled my groin,'' Richardson said. "That's why I didn't use blocks to get down. I just did enough to get in the top places.''
Richardson still threatened to win the event until coming up short at the end
"Without the injury I feel like I would have had three golds, one silver,'' said Richardson, who won the 200 in 2022.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Obviously, Shawnee Heights junior distance star Jackson Esquibel went into Friday night's Class 5A boys 3,200 meters run thinking about what a state championship would mean to him.
Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel flashes the No. 1 sign as he crosses the finish line for the Class 5A 3,200 meters state championship Friday night at Cessna Stadium. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel and Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge run with the leaders on the way to a one-two finish in the Class 5A boys 3,200 meters Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Esquibel was also thinking about setting a good example for the entire Shawnee Heights track and field team.
"I've had a lot of teammates who have called me a leader on the team and I really wanted to give a good performance to start off state,'' Esquibel said.
Esquibel did that and then some, winning his first state title in a personal-record time of 9 minutes, 18.67 seconds as Esquibel and friendly city rival Lenny Njoroge of Topeka West posted a one-two finish.
"My goal was to break my PR, which was 9:25,'' Esquibel said. "I've had some struggles PRing in the two-mile this year so I really focused on this race being a race that I could get out quick, not get boxed in and give myself my best chance and I got it done. Thank goodness!''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After a tough 1-0 semifinal loss to eventual Class 6A state champion Mill Valley on Friday, Washburn Rural soccer ended its ninth straight trip to the 6A Final Four with Saturday's 4-1 win over Centennial League rival Manhattan in the third-place game at the Stryker Complex.
Washburn Rural senior Mackinly Rohn (center) is congratulated by her teammates after scoring the game's first goal in Saturday's 4-1 win over Manhattan in the Class 6A third-place game. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
"Our goal every year is to be in the Final Four and just lay it on the line,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "(Friday night) we played one of the best teams in the state, Mill Valley, and went toe to toe with them. They found a way to get a goal and we didn't. We have nothing to be ashamed of.
"You want to finish your season on a win. We've been lucky enough to come here and win a game each time for a long time. We'll keep knocking on the door and hopefully in the next few years we'll kick it down and get a first place. But I'm proud that they came back today and got a win against our rival."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
DE SOTO -- On Friday, Hayden's state championship hopes were halted by powerhouse Bishop Miege, but on Saturday, the Wildcats' girls soccer team was able to end its season on a high note with a 2-0 shutout win in the Class 4-1A state tournament, claiming third place against Baldwin.
Hayden hoists the Class 4A-1A third-place trophy Saturday at De Soto after beating Baldwin, 4-0. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Hayden senior Sloane Sims (5) scored the only goal the Wildcats would need in Saturday's 2-0 win over Balwin in the Class 4A-1A third-place game. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Hayden junior Jill Lenherr (10) scored the Wildcats' second goals in a 2-0 win over Baldwin in Saturday's Class 4A-1A third-place game. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
On some occasions, teams playing in a third-place game come out on the pitch a little sluggish, but Hayden was on top of its game despite battling the heartache of a loss the night before against Miege for its third-place victory on Saturday.
After Hayden's 4-1 loss to Bishop Miege on Friday, Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer confirmed that they would play the six-time defending 4-1A state champion next season in the regular season. Kreutzer is confident in what he saw with his younger players and is excited to play Miege in the 2024 season.
Hayden (12-6-2) has had a potent mix of upper, first- and second-year students, making the 2023 campaign a success.
"The season was very exciting," Kreutzer said. "It was exciting with our six seniors and seven freshmen. The mix of our younger players and older players worked out well. Often times that doesn't happen. But this team was special, and it was a good trip."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
LAWRENCE -- After winning a physically and emotionally demanding Class 6A semifinal game against Olathe Northwest, Washburn Rural’s softball team couldn’t overcome the exhaustion in a 10-0 loss to Olathe West in the 6A championship game on Friday night at Arrocha Park.
As Washburn Rural saw its season come to a close against Olathe West in the state championship, the Junior Blue dugout was filled with tears, smiles and hugs. The Junior Blues made it to the biggest game of the year for a second straight year, but couldn’t quite get over the hump after a very long tournament.
Washburn Rural senior star Emmerson Cope and JuniorBlues softball coach Elizabeth Stover exchange a hug after Friday' 10-0 loss to Olathe West in the Class 6A championship game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural softball huddles up after receiving its second-place trophy in Friday's Class 6A state tournament. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural poses for a team picture with its Class 6A second-place trophy Friday at Lawrence. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The seniors leave Washburn Rural with a COVID-19 canceled freshman year, a first-round exit in the state tournament their sophomore years and back-to-back trips to the 6A state championship games their junior and senior years.
Washburn Rural coach Elizabeth Stover leaves the program after five successful years, the last two as head coach. Right out of college, Stover took a job that was a dream scenario for her. Stover is heading closer to home to take a job as Shawnee Mission South, but the legacy she left behind at Washburn Rural will be remembered by everyone involved.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better place to work right out of college,” Stover said. “This was my first place, and it was my dream job that just kind of fell (into) my lap. I didn’t realize where I was applying to when I first got out there. So just to have the opportunity from Ed Raines, Penny Lane, who was the one that hired me, and Charlie Nimz this last year (was great).
“And then all of the girls and their families to put their trust in me in the last five years has been just phenomenal. So I am really proud of that, and it’s been a great jumpstart to my career.”
