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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A lot of things change, but some things don't.
The Centennial League has gone through major changes, dropping from 10 schools to nine a few years ago and to six schools this fall.
But one thing that hasn't changed is Washburn Rural's league dominance in boys soccer.
The Junior Blues ran their incredible league championship streak (shared or outright) to 28 straight years Tuesday night, with Rural rolling to a 5-1 victory over Topeka High at McElroy Field.
Washburn Rural senior Easton Bradstreet (13) battles Topeka High junior Chris Gomez (18) for the ball Tuesday night at McElroy Field. Bradstreet had two goals and an assist in Rural's 5-1 win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Now 13-2-0 overall, Washburn Rural gave up an early Topeka High goal but dominated the rest of the game while capping a perfect 5-0 record in league play.
"The league has changed from 10 teams to nine teams to six teams, but you play who's on your schedule and this year the league had some good squads,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "Topeka High was tough and they got the early goal so we had to play well.
"Some of our better performances this year were in those league games, so that was a good thing.''
Topeka High (11-5-0, 2-3) drew first blood at the 33:26 mark of the first half on a shot from sophomore Jaime Alvarado off an assist from senior Thomas Schmidt, but Washburn Rural pulled even at 31:03 mark on senior Easton Bradstreet's goal off junior Devon Rutschmann's pass and Rutschmann put the Junior Blues ahead to stay with a goal at the 24:51 mark off Bradstreet's assist.
"We always talk about getting the early goal and they kind of took advantage -- a nice combination off passes and a good finish by them -- but what I liked is often times this year when we've given up a goal we haven't responded real well to that so what was nice was whatever momentum they could have got from 1-0 we took the lead back pretty quickly and kind of seized control, which was good.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden placed third in Class 4A to pace Shawnee County's girls golf teams in Tuesday's final day of state competition.
Led by individual state medalist Avery Grunert, the Wildcats finished with a 36-hole team score of 765 earn the third-place trophy by one stroke over Wellington (766) and three strokes behind runner-up Winfield (762). Wamego ran away with its second straight team title by 88 strokes with a four-person score of 674.
Junior Avery Grunert tied for 14th in the Class 4A state girls golf tournament, leading Hayden to a third-place team finish. [File photo/Kyle Grunert]
Grunert, a junior, tied for 14th with a two-day total of 185, shooting a 92 on Tuesday to follow up a first-round 93
Freshman Lauren Borjon was next in line for the Wildcats at 191 (98-93), earning a 20th-place medal, while junior Hannah Reynoldson finished in a tie for 21st at 192 (98-94).
Junior Kyleigh Johnson finished at 202 (106-96), freshman Izzy Glotzbach at 204 (101-103) and sophomore Addysen Baer at 223 (111-112) to round out the Wildcats' team.
Wamego freshman Addison Douglass won the individual championship at 150 with rounds of 74 and 76, earning medalist honors by 17 strokes over senior teammate Ashton Pierson (77-90).
CLASS 6A
Washburn Rural missed a 6A team trophy by the narrowest of margins, finishing fourth by one stroke to third-place Olathe West and just two strokes behind runner-up Shawnee Mission East.
The Junior Blues, who were second after the opening round, finished with a four-person 36-hole team score of 652 while Olathe West finished at 651 and SM East at 650. Olathe Northwest won the team title by 19 strokes at 650.
Senior Mallory Nelson finished 11th in 6A with a two-day total of 159 (82-77) while junior Raegan Petersen finished 15th at 163 (81-82) and freshman Lauren Cox in a tie for 18th at 166 (81-85).
Senior Mallory Nelson finished 11th in the Class 6A state golf tournament, helping Washburn Rural finish fourth as a team, just two strokes out of second. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Raegan Petersen placed 15th in the Class 6A state golf tournament with a 36-hole score of 163. [File photo/TSN]
Sophomore Reece Randall narrowly missed a state medal, finishing 22nd at 168 (81-87) while senior Avery Scott finished at 173 (90-83) and sophomore Natalie Peterson at 180 (88-92).
Topeka High junior Avery Zimmerman shot a 98 on Tuesday to finish at 183 after an opening 85.
CLASS 5A
Senior standout Lois Deeter completed her banner high school career with her third state medal, finishing seventh at 156 after a pair of 78s at Hesston Golf Course.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Particularly in the Wichita area, the name Schuckman is normally associated with football, with former Bishop Carroll coach Alan Schuckman, a highly-successful high school coach.
Schuckman, who now works with alumni relations at the school, posted a career record of 193-46 in 22 seasons as Carroll's head coach from 1995-2016, with a pair of Class 5A undefeated state championships.
Sophomore forward Khloe Schuckman (right) leads Washburn's soccer team with seven goals and three assists this fall. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But these days the Shuckmans are also a big soccer family, with 5-foot-7 sophomore forward Khloe Schuckman carving out a standout career for Washburn University.
Khloe said while her dad isn't necessarily a soccer expert, but that he and the rest of her family have been very supportive.
"He's picked it up over the years, but he's definitely more of a football guy,'' Khloe Schuckman said. "He does just kind of leave me alone and let me do my own thing.
"Here and there he tries to give me pointers and stuff, but really I think he realizes that this is my sport and he has his sport. I think the competitive aspect is where we meet in the middle with it.''
Khloe Schuckman made an immediate impact for the Ichabod soccer team as a freshman last season, recording six goals and an assist while earning third-team All-MIAA recogition.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
All four Shawnee County schools that qualified their entire teams for girls state golf will move on to Tuesday's final day of competition, as well two of three individual qualifiers.
Washburn Rural, which finished second in the Class 6A state tournament a year ago, is in second place after the opening day with a four-person score of 325 at Salina Municipal Golf Course while Hayden, third as a team a year ago, is currently third in 4A at Emporia and Silver Lake third in the 3A-1A state meet at Hutchinson's Carey Park..
Regional champion Seaman is sitting fifth as a team in the 5A state event at Hesston Golf Course, with the top six teams in all classes advancing to Tuesday's final 18 holes.
The top 18 individuals also advanced to Tuesday's final round, with Topeka High junior Avery Zimmerman moving on in 6A and Shawnee Heights junior Karlyn Bowman advancing in 5A.
Here's a class-by-class look at the state tournaments involving Shawnee County schools:
CLASS 6A
The Junior Blues finished Monday's opening roud with a season-low team score of 325, currently sitting second behind Olathe Northwest (318). Shawnee Mission East is third at 326.
Junior Raegan Petersen was one of three Washburn Rural players to shoot 81s in Monday's Class 6A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Raegan Petersen, sophomore Reece Randall and freshman Lauren Cox all shot 81s Monday, tying for 12th individually.
"It was some underclassmen that had never experienced postseason golf before,'' Rural coach Jared Goehring said. "They had a great regional round and have now followed it up with a great first round in the state tournament on a difficult day with very difficult greens.''ti
Senior Mallory Nelson was right behind Petersen, Randall and Cox with an 82.while sophomore Natalie Peterson also shot in the 80s, carding an 88, and senior Avery Scott had a 90.
Goehring said the goal now is to relax and play another strong round on Tuesday.
"The pressure's not on us this year,'' Goehring said. "It's clearly an underdog that we've taken on and the whole team has really thrived on that, especially the younger ones. They've really developed the competitive style and the toughness that we like to see. They're taking it one shot at a time and doing their best to compete and try their hardest.''
Topeka High junior Avery Zimmerman, also a state qualifier as a sophomore, moved on to the final round with an 85.
CLASS 5A
Regional champ Seaman will begin the final day of competition in fifth place as a team at Hesston Golf Course.
Seaman senior Lois Deeter, who has posted a pair of top-five Class 5A state finishes in her career, shot a 78 on Monday and is in sixth place entering Tuesday's final round. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman senior star Lois Deeter shot a 78 Monday and is in sixth place individually entering the second round. Deeter has posted a pair of top-five 5A finishes in her previous two state appearances.
Sophomore Avery Samuelson shot an 85 Monday, while sophomore Jaycee Zimmerman shot an 88.
Riley Adams and Makenna Stuke both carded 96s while Anna McLaughlin had a 101.
Shawnee Heights' Karlyn Bowman had a first-round 93 to move on to the final round while Topeka West' Alex Baxter had a 107.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 12-ranked Washburn volleyball team will begin a five-match homestand with a Turnpike Tussle against Emporia State at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Lee Arena.
The Ichabods went 1-1 last week and are now 17-4 overall, 9-3 in the MIAA while the Hornets have lost nine in a row and are 4-18, 1-12.
No. 12-ranked Washburn volleyball is set to open a five-match homestand against Emporia State Tuesday night. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn swept the Hornets last month in Emporia.
Washburn and Central Missouri are tied for fourth place in the with a 9-4 MIAA record. The top eight teams will compete in the MIAA Tournament which will take place in St. Joseph, Mo. at the Civic Arena, Nov. 10-12.
For the second time this season, Washburn lost at then-ranked No. 15 Northwest Missouri on Friday by the set scores of 26-28, 15-25, 29-27, and 21-25.
In the four sets there were 16 lead changes, 38 ties and two of the sets went to extra points.
Washburn sophomore Jalyn Stevenson is 11th among conference hitters with 224 kills and 2.95 kills per set. She is also second on the team in aces (24) and third in digs (202), She has recorded 11 double-figure kill matches and six double-doubles.
Halle Meister is second on the team in kills with 182 and her .352 hitting percentage is third in the league. She is also the team leader in blocks with 59 and has registered at least four or more kills in 20 of the 21 matches she's played and had at least one block in 19 matches.
