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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
No. 18-ranked Washburn University men's tennis qualified the NCAA National Championships for the first time since the 2017-18 season, defeating No. 24 Ouachita Baptist 4-1 Saturday afternoon.
Washburn men's tennis celebrates its 4-1 regional win Saturday at the Washburn Tennis Complex. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn men's tennis poses for a team picture Saturday after earning a berth in the NCAA National Championships. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will head to Orlando, Fla., with play beginning May 11.
Washburn (17-7), the No. 2 seed in the Central Region, knocked off the No. 3 seeded Tigers (12-11), for a second time this season, and avenged a 4-3 loss to Ouachita Baptist in the Central Region Tournament last season to advance to nationals for the seventh time in program history.
Doubles play started with Sebastian Pjontek and Miquel Perez, ranked No. 7, falling to the No. 6 nationally ranked pairing of Alex Blanchar and Phil Exner 6-4 at No. 1. No. 12 ranked Tim Hammes and Santiago Rendon evened the match back up with a 7-6(2) tiebreaking win at No. 2.
Yoshinobu Nakatsuji and Daniel Bird went back and forth early at No. 3 but were able to pull away late and win 7-5 and clinch the doubles point for Washburn.
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
As Game 2 of Saturday's Washburn softball doubleheader against Emporia State got into the later and eventually extra innings, Ichabod coach Brenda Holaday let sophomore Kaylee Wagner know that she might be called on as a pinch-hitter.
Washburn sophomore Kaylee Wagner gave the Ichabods a 3-1 second-game win over Emporia State with a ninth-inning walkoff two-run home run. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
And when that time came with two outs in the bottom of the ninth of a 1-1 game, Wagner came through with arguably the biggest hit of her career, a two-run walkoff home run to give Washburn a 3-1 win and a split of an MIAA twinbill which capped the regular season for both the Ichabods and Hornets.
"I was just thinking, look for a pitch I can drive and (Sydney Righi) gave me a pitch on the inner half and I went after it,'' Wagner said. "It's really exciting. I'm super happy and I'm happy for my team that we got that win.''
Wagner has struggled offensively off and on this spring, but Holaday said she had confidence in her.
"That's Kaylee's pitch, the pitches that that girl throws, and she was getting a little bit predictable I thought and I knew (Kaylee) was going to get a pitch inside,'' Holaday said. "I thought she had a chance to turn on it, if anybody did.
"She's got a lot of power and I just thought it was time to give her a chance.''
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
As Topeka West senior star Lenny Njoroge finished off a dominating win in Friday night's boys 3,200-meter run in the Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Invitational, another runner was announced as the race winner due to a mixup in hip numbers.
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge runs alone in the 3,200 in Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Invitational en route to a win in 9:20.08. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN].
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge (left) begins his move past Shawnee Mission Northwest's Henry Born en route to a win in Friday's 1,600 meters in the Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Invitational in 4:17.71. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But that temporary error, which was quickly fixed, was the only thing that went wrong for Njoroge in a banner night at Seaman.
"They said something Purvis, but that's OK, it's part of the process,'' Njoroge said. I'm not mad about that.''
Njoroge, who may be better known as a 3,200 meters and cross country runner, set the tone for his night when he bested a state-class field to win the 1,600 in a time of 4 minutes, 17.71 seconds, which was believed to earn Njoroge a share of the Topeka West school record in that event.
Shawnee Mission Northwest senior Henry Born finished second in 4:18.17 and Great Bend senior Kaiden Esfeld was third in 4:25.75.
"Freshman year coming in coach (Donnie Palmer) said, 'You're more of a two-miler than a miler,' but I just tell him that I love to do both -- mile for the speed, two-mile for the base,'' Njoroge said.
Njoroge came back later in the night to win the 3,200 by more than six seconds in 9:20.08 and admitted that Friday might have been the best performance of his prep career.
"Last fall in cross country (I was) asked, 'Is this your best race?' '' Njoroge. "Well now for four years this is my best race. I almost had two school records today.''
Shawnee Mission Northwest senior Evan Mitchell placed second in the 3,200 in 9:26.99 and Shawnee Mission North junior Micah Blomker was third in 9:30.66.
Njoroge said that Friday's double was just what he needed heading into the biggest meets of the spring -- city, United Kansas Conference, Class 5A regionals and the state meet at Wichita.
"The next four weeks it's championship season,'' Njoroge said. "The competition is going to get tougher and tougher every week leading up to state. I'm going to be facing some really good guys.''
Other boys meet highlights:
• Washburn Rural senior Josh Sulzen-Watson won the championship in the javelin by nearly seven feet with a top throw of 175 feet, 1 inch.
Senior Mathew Moeder of Great Bend finished second at 168-2 while Lawrence senior Jerron Shield was third at 167-8.
• Topeka West senior Jacob Reimer finished second in the discus with a best throw of 139 feet, 2 inches.
Lansing senior Jamale Williams won the event at 166-1.
• Highland Park senior Keijuan Johnson finished second in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 15.23 seconds.
Olathe North senior star Josh Parrish won the event inn 14.36.
• Seaman senior Sean Miller was the runner-up in the discus with a best throw of 50 feet, 2.75 inches.
Lansing's Williams won the event at 56-11.50.
• Seaman senior Branen Moore posted a third-place finish in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:00.12.
Wamego junior Harrison Cutting and senior Emery Wolfe went one-two, with Cutting winning in 1:56.81 and Wolfe second in 1:59.17.
• Seaman sophomore Peyton Holmes placed fourth with a personal-record effort in the long jump at 22 feet, 1 inch.
Holmes was one of five jumpers in the event to reach the 22-foot mark.
Leavenworth senior Isaac Ativie won the event at 23-11.
BOB CAMIEN/CLAUDIA WELCH INVITATIONAL
At Seaman
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Seaman middle distance star Bethany Druse wasn't quite able to re-set her school 800 meters record in her final Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Invitational appearance Friday night.
Seaman senior Bethany Druse (middle) takes control early in Friday's 800 meters en route to a win in 2:16.51. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the future Kansas Jayhawk had zero complaints about how her day went after claiming three gold medals and helping the Vikings finish third in 24-school meet.
The defending Class 5A state champ posted a season-best time of 2 minutes, 16.51 seconds to win her specialty by nearly seven seconds and also ran on the Vikings' winning 4x800 and 4x400 relay teams.
After warming up with the leadoff leg on the 4x800 in the first event of the finals Druse had to endure a long break on a cold, windy night before returning in the 800.
"I'm not going to lie, before my race I didn't feel the best,'' Druse said. "I don't know, I was just tired. I think I stayed out in the wind too much and that kind of made me tired. But once I was running, I was fine.''
Druse then had a quick turnaround for the 4x400 and helped Seaman post its second relay win of the night.
Druse teamed with Savannah Sampson, Taylie Heston and freshman Ryin Miller to win the 4x800 in 10:06.22 and anchored the 4x400 relay, teaming with Anna Becker, Miller and Taylin Stallbaumer to win in 4:08.95.
"It's a big meet and it's a big deal to get first at the Seaman Relays, so it was just great to win,'' she said.
With the biggest meets of the 2023 schedule coming up, Druse feels good about where she is in her preparation as she gears up for another run at a state title.
"Even though I wasn't as fast (tonight) as I was last year at this time I still feel like I have more left in the tank,'' Druse said. "So I just want to improve and get my PR.''
Washburn Rural sophomore Riley Ismert (3) used a strong stretch run to win the girls 1,600 in Friday's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Invitational while senior Madeline Carter (right) finished a close second. [Photo by Rick Peterson//TSN]
Ismert bounces back from freak accident for 1,600 win
Wearing a battle wound from the previous week, Friday night's Bob Camien/Claudia Welch Invitational was a lot smoother sailing for Washburn Rural sophomore distance runner Rylee Ismert.
Ismert won the girls 1,600 in dramatic fashion at Seaman, coming from behind on the final lap to nip senior teammate Madeline Carter for the win in 5:21.39.
"I usually just try to stay up with the leaders because you know you'll always get a good time if you run with the leaders, and then just give it my all at the end,'' Ismert said.
The win helped Ismert put a scary accident from the Barier Breaker meet at Lawrence behind her.
Washburn Rural sophomore Rylee Ismert (3), Friday's 1,600-meter champ, is still healing from a racing injury (left shoulder) that required nine stitches. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
At Free State Ismert got tangled up early in the 3,200 and fell to the track, where she was spiked by another runner on the front of her left shoulder.
Ismert was able to get to her feet and finish her race, but realized later in the race that she was injured.
"I actually didn't feel it at first and then a couple of laps in I was like, 'What is that on my shoulder?' '' Ismert said. "I looked and I was like, 'Oh oh, that's not good.'
"I didn't really feel it for the rest of the race and then when I finished I felt all the emotions and it started hurting again.and my legs were in pain. It was kind of bad.''
The result of the mishap?
"I got nine stitches,'' she said.''
But Ismert was back at 100 percent Friday.
"I felt really good today,'' she said. "It was probably one of my best races this year, definitely.''
Other girls meet highlights:
• Topeka West senior Ala'Jah Brooks won the 400-meter dash in 59.47 seconds.
Bishop Carroll senior Evan Nordhus finished second in 60.63.
Brooks also posted a fourth-place finish in the long jump at 16 feet, 8 inches.
• Seaman senior Ally Trier and Silver Lake junior Ava Rottinghaus finished one-two in the javelin, separated by just three inches.
Trier, an Emporia State signee, won with a throw of 126 feet, 3 inches while Rottinghaus was second at 126-0.
• Seaman's Anna Domann finished third in the shot put at 35 feet, 11.50 inches.
• Seaman sophomore Jaida Stallbaumer posted a third-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles in 16.33.
BOB CAMIEN/CLAUDIA WELCH INVITATIONAL
At Seaman
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Hayden and Topeka High left Friday's Centennial League softball twinbill with a victory, with the Wildcats taking an opening 5-1 win and Topeka High securing the nightcap with a 7-4 victory at Hummer Sports Park.
Hayden senior Alyssa Droge turned in a complete-game pitching win in Friday's 5-1 first-game victory over Topeka High. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Hayden's Alyssa Droge hit a solo home run in the Wildcats' 5-1 Game 1 win over Topeka High. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Trojans and Wildcats facing different challenges this spring. But luckily both Centennial League squads saw some bright spots from their teams on Friday
In Hayden’s 5-1 first-game victory, senior pitcher Alyssa Droge had an enormous game that helped lead the Wildcats to victory. Droge earned the win in the circle tossing seven complete innings while punching out eight batters and giving up just one run on six hits.
Droge also went 2-2 at the plate, including a solo home run launched over centerfield to break a scoreless tie in the top of the third.
“Alyssa is amazing,” Hayden coach Cody Reynolds said. “I’m not sure where she is at in terms of strikeouts in the city, but she has to be close to the top. She’s been on fire for us. I’ve been really happy with the way that she’s played this year. Overall, I was glad with the amount of runs that we put up tonight.”
