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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Despite losing senior returning state medalist and team leader Molly Busenitz to a season-ending knee injury earlier in the year, Saturday resulted in another United Kansas Conference team championship for Shawnee Heights' girls wrestling team.
Shawnee Heights, which has now won all four UKC girls titles that have been contested, had three individual champions crowned Saturday at Seaman, but it was the T-Birds' depth that made the difference in a 78-52 win over runner-up Seaman, with Heights adding eight runner-up finishes.
Shawnee Heights' girls wrestling team won its fourth straight United Kansas Conference team title Saturday at Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights sophomore Madison Freeland celebrates her 135-pound United Kansas Conference championship Saturday at Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Heights coach Chad Parks admitted that losing Busenitz was a blow for the team but said that Busenitz and the T-Birds have done a great job of handling that setback.
"They've responded well,'' Parks said. "One thing is Molly had ACL surgery and literally was at practice that afternoon. She's still there, the girls love her, they look up to her, so she's still in there supporting them and cheering them on.
"They were all upset but then just jumped right back into business, which is what she wants.''
Shawnee Heights got individual titles from sophomore 135-pounder Madison Freeland (27-5 on the season), senior 155-pounder Cianna Graves (13-4) and senior 190-pounder Lilly Blair (16-9) while freshman Connie Burns (100 pounds), junior Odessa Schmidt (110), freshman Anissa Gonzales (115), freshman Addison Cooper (120), sophomore Reece Taylor (125), sophomore Isabel Reyes (130), senior Hannah Sixkiller (140) and junior McKenna Haltom (145) posted runner-up finishes and junior Emberlynn Phillips (105) finished third.
"Our girls battled,'' Parks said. "We know Seaman's really good and they're really good in a lot of weights we're good at, but we have depth. The thing I love about our girls is they come out and battle every single time no matter what and they're supporting each other. And to see their work ethic in the room pay off on the wrestling mats is big.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A few weeks ago, a boys wrestling dual between Seaman and Shawnee Heights went down to the final match of the night before Viking standout senior 285-pounder Jaxon Thomas gave his team the win with a pin.
It was deja vu all over again Saturday at Seaman, with Thomas' final-match win giving the host Vikings their first Uniited Kansas Conference team title by a scant 184.5-179 margin over Shawnee Heights, which had won every UKC boys wrestling title since the league's inception.
Seaman's boys wrestling team poses for a team picture after winning the UKC team title by 5.5 points over Shawnee Heights Saturday at Seaman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman senior 285-pounder Jaxson Thomas gives the Vikings their first UKC wrestling championhip with a pin in the final match of the tournament. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN
Seaman entered the 285-pound match trailing Shawnee Heights by a half point, but Thomas didn't know exactly what the team title situation was, just that the race was close. He got an idea of just how close when Viking coach Tony Pena said a few words to him right before he went out on the mat.
"I didn't know it was the full league tournament that was on the line,'' Thomas said. "I knew that we were really close. I didn't know who was up but I like the pressure of having that last match being on me.
"A couple of seconds before the match coach was like, 'This is on you, we're close. Finish the deal.' ''
Seaman standout 285-pound wrestler Jaxson Thomas is congratulated by Seaman coach Tony Pena, the UKC coach of the year, after Thomas gave the Vikings the team title with a pin. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls, the top-ranked team in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, dug themselves a hole Friday night against De Soto before fighting back to take a 43-35 United Kansas Conference road victory.
Matt Tinsley's Seaman girls rallied for a 43-35 UKC win over De Soto Friday night, improving to 13-1 on the season. [File photo/TSN]
The Vikings, who improved to 13-1 overall and 9-1 in the UKC, trailed 13-4 at the end of the opening quarter and Seaman still trailed by nine at the half, 23-14.
Seaman rallied to take a 30-28 lead by the end of the third quarter and the Vikings outscored the Wildcats (9-6, 7-5) by a 13-7 margin over the final eight minutes to take their seventh straight win.
Seaman will return to action on Tuesday, hosting Kansas City-Turner in a UKC contest.
DE SOTO BOYS 68, SEAMAN 39 -- Eighth-ranked (Class 5A) De Soto jumped on short-handed Seaman early Friday night and cruised to a 68-39 home United Kansas Conference decision.
Seaman, which fell to 7-7 overall and 4-6 in the league, played without standout seniors Kaeden Bonner and Aron Davis due to injuries.
De Soto (13-2, 11-1) led 17-9 at the end of the first quarter and 31-15 at the half before using a 23-8 third quarter to force a running clock over the final eight minutes.
Seaman will be at home Tuesday to host Kansas City-Turner in a UKC game.
Topeka High senior Kiki Smith had 22 points in Friday's 62-25 Centennial League win at Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS 62, JUNCTION CITY 25 -- Topeka High, fifth-ranked in Class 6A, ran its winning streak to five games with a 62-25 Centennial League romp at Junction City.
The Trojan, who improved to 12-3 overall and 3-2 in the league, were never seriously threatened by the Blue Jays, opening up a 16-11 first-quarter advantage and using a 19-6 second quarter to take command at halftime, 35-17.
High outscored Junction City (3-12, 1-5) in the third quarter by a 14-5 margin to take a 49-22 lead and the Trojans forced a running clock down the stretch.
Trojan senior Kiki Smith scored a game-high 22 points while junior Ladaysha Baird continued her hot streak, adding 14 points.
Topeka High will be at home Tuesday to face Manhattan.
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Class 4A No. 8-ranked Hayden (9-4) has played a stellar brand of basketball in its last three weeks, becoming a team that has found the identity they've been looking for this season.
The Lady Wildcats gained one of itheir most impressive victories over 6A Manhattan (7-8) on Friday night, winning convincingly, 57-41.
Junior Lauren Sandstrom scored a game-high 19 points in Hayden's 57-41 Centennial League win over Manhattan. {Hayden girls basketball]
Four Hayden players ended their night in double figure as junior Lauren Sandstrom had a game-high 19 points, sophomore Kaliya Fulton 15, sophomore Brylee Meier 12 points and sophomore Norma Greco 11.
"I thought that our girls did a really good job of breaking (Manhattan's) defense down," Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "We broke it down just a bit to where they needed help and we were able to get it to Lauren and Brylee in spots where they could really do something with it."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Defense and physicality reigned supreme in a low-scoring battle in which Hayden held off a pesky Manhattan team, 51-48.
There was no clear runaway favorite between Manhattan and Hayden in Topeka on Friday evening.
Hayden junior Jacob Padilla came up big at the free throw line as the Wildcats edged Manhattan Friday night, 51-48. [File photo/TSN]
In the four-quarter contest, the most significant lead of the game was a 6-point advantage by Hayden in the second half.
The game came down to Hayden guard Jacob Padilla's free throws, in which he nailed five of six free opportunities.
"Jacob has shot it well all year," Hayden coach Dwayne Paul said. "You can go back and see – it doesn't matter which game it was, (Padilla's) been like that. (Padilla's) a gamer. Jacob likes the moment. There wasn't anyone I'd rather have on the line. I know (Padilla) wanted the moment. I didn't hesitate when (Padilla) went to hit the free throws."
