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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Gavin Wilhelm played five different sports at Seaman, but didn't discover football until his senior year.
It's a decision that's paid immediate dividends for both Wilhelm and now the Washburn University football team.
Former Seaman multi-sport standout Gavin Wilhelm has earned playing time for Washburn football as a true freshman. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Wilhelm played soccer througout his high school career, earning All-City recognition, before also becoming the Vikings' place-kicker last fall at the urging of a teammate.
"I never played football in my life,'' Wilhelm said. "One of my best friends (Camden Barta) was the quarterback for Seaman and he knew I had a boot on me and I could kick a ball pretty far so he was like, 'Come out and see if you can kick an extra point.'
"The first day of practice I remember making consecutive extra points and actually made a 54 (yarder) in practice and from then on it was a breeze. Kicking a soccer ball and kicking a football is kind of the same for me, as I didn't use a kicking tee. I just kicked off the floor so everything was just kind of simple. It was never an intention of mine but I'm super glad that I did it.''
Wilhelm liked kicking so much that he decided to accept an offer from Washburn to kick and play golf for the Ichabods.
"After playing football I was like, 'This is maybe what I want to do,' but I also wanted to play golf,'' Wilhelm said. "Once this school gave me that opportunity I knew it was a no-brainer to come here.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
THURSDAY NIGHT
KANSAS CITY-HARMON (0-3, 0-3) at HIGHLAND PARK (3-0, 3-0)
At Hummer Sports Park
Highland Park senior star Tre Richardson has had a hand in 20 touchdowns for the 3-0 Scots. [File photo/TSN]
Highland Park improved to 3-0 overall and in the Meadowlark Conference with a 63-36 win over KC-Sumner last Friday at Hummer Sports Park. Scot senior star Tre Richardson had a hand in six touchdowns, giving him 20 on the season and also scored a pair of 2-point conversions and picked off a pass. Richardson and quarterback Kei'Juan Johnson combined for more than 400 rushing yards against Sumner. Highland Park will be facing a Harmon team that has been outscored 207-0 in its first three games, including a 72-0 loss to Atchison last week. The Scots are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since Nick McGrain's team won its first four games in 1995. Game time: 7 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT
JEFFERSON WEST (0-3) at HAYDEN (3-0)
Hayden sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored four touchdowns last Friday night in the Wildcats' 55-34 win over Rossville. [Photo by Sarah Carson/Special to TSN]
Hayden opens Class 3A District 4 competition Friday night after remaining unbeaten with a 55-34 home win over Rossville last week. Sophomore Jensen Schrickel scored four touchowns and 31 points for the Wildcats against Rossville. Schrickel returned the opening kickoff 74 yards for a TD and also scored on a 67-yard punt return, a 48-yard pass reception from sophomore quarterback Jett Wahlmeier, a 12-yard run on a reverse and kicked seven extra points. Senior JC Cummings rushed for 132 yards on 11 carries, including a 98-yard touchdown run, and junior Finn Dunshee added 83 yards on seven attempts. Jefferson West has been outscored 111-28, including a 57-0 loss to Sabetha last week. Game time: 7 p.m.
EMPORIA (1-2, 0-0) at TOPEKA HIGH (0-3, 0-1)
At Hummer Sports Park
Topeka High is coming off a 27-0 road loss at Liberal last Friday while Emporia is dropped a 56-24 decision to Salina Central. Emporia played Liberal in Week 2, dropping a 53-0 decision. The Spartans willl be playing their Centennial League opener while the Trojans fell at Manhattan in their second game of the season, 59-7. Topeka High senior quarterback Peyton Wheat and sophomore receiver Jayden Norman are key offensive weapons on offense for the Trojans. Game time: 7 p.m.
Washburn Rural senior Ma'kenttis Adams rushed for 179 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Junior Blues' 37-10 non-league win over Piper Friday night. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL (3-0, 0-0) at MANHATTAN (3-0, 1-0)
At Cico Park
Washburn Rural remained unbeaten with a 37-10 win over Piper last Friday while Manhattan topped Hays, 31-21. Senior Ma'kenttis Adams finished the night with 179 rushing yards and two TDs on 16 carries as Rural topped the 300-yard rushing mark as a team. Junior quarterback Branton DeWeese completed 13 of 20 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and added 79 rushing yards on 13 carries. Junior Titan Osburn caught three passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns while junior Calvin Hayes had four catches for 34 yards and senior Amr Sabarrini two catches for 31 yards. Game time: 7 p.m.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural junior golfer Raegan Petersen and Hayden sophomore football standout Jensen Schrickel have been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week for last week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Petersen and Schrickel last week:
Raegan Petersen
RAEGAN PETERSEN, Washburn Rural
Petersen delivered a breakout performance for Washburn Rural in Monday's city girls golf tournament, helping lead the Junior Blues to their 10th straight city team title by a 24-stroke margin.
Petersen shot an 18-hole score of 81 to tie Seaman senior star Lois Deeter for the individual championship, finishing second after a sudden death playoff.
Petersen was also a Class 6A state medalist this past spring in the discus and was a member of the All-Shawnee County track and field team.
Jensen Schrickel
JENSEN SCHRICKEL, Hayden
Schrickel, a 5-foot-9, 145-pound receiver/defensive back/returner/kicker, continued his outstanding start to his sophomore season after playing a significant role for the Wildcats as a freshman.
Schrickel scored four touchdowns and 31 points as Hayden improved to 3-0 with a 55-34 home win over Rossville last Friday night.
Schrickel, a state long jump champion in track and field as a freshman, returned the opening kickoff 74 yards for a TD and also scored on a 67-yard punt return, a 48-yard pass reception, a 12-yard run and kicked seven extra points.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman tennis standout Lauren Sweeney enjoyed a dream 2021 season, teaming with Grace Unruh to post a perfect 36-0 record en route to the Class 5A state doubles championship.
But with Unruh moving on to college, Sweeney is on her own this fall as a senior, playing No. 1 singles for the Vikings.
Seaman senior Lauren Sweeney went 5-0 to win the No. 1 singles title in Tuesday's Washburn Rural Invitational, helping the Vikings win the team championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
So far the switch has gone well, with Sweeney 16-2 on the season after a perfect 5-0 day in Tuesday's Washburn Rural Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center.
Sweeney capped her day with an 8-3 win over Maize's Rylee Frye in the championship match, helping lead the Vikings to the team title by a 44-35 margin over host Washburn Rural.
Sweeney last played singles the first half of her freshman season but said she's satisfied with her progress.
"Singles is a lot more mentally harder and it's more running, definitely,'' Sweeney said. "Doubles with Grace was just so fun and we just jived really well together. Singles is all on you. If you miss, it's your fault.''
Sweeney used her summer to get ready to make the switch and said the transition is still ongoing.
"I'm still adjusting,'' she said. "There's a lot of things I can still improve on, but during the summer I was playing USTA tournaments and when I was taking lessons I was focused on singles more.''
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By her own lofty standards, Seaman senior golf star Lois Deeter didn't have one of her better days in Monday's City Girls Golf Championship at Western Hills.
But with her second straight city individual title on the line, Deeter played her best hole of the day in a sudden death playoff with Washburn Rural junior Raegan Petersen, carding a birdie on the playoff hole to claim the title after both Deeter and Petersen shot identical 81s to force sudden death.
Seaman senior Lois Deeter (left) exchanges congratulations with Washburn Rural junior Raegan Petersen after Deeter won her second straight city title in a sudden death playoff with Petersen. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's golf team poses for a team picture after winning its 10th straight city team title as well as the Topeka West Invitational crown Monday at Western Hills. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Deeter came within a few feet of driving the 288-yard No. 1 playoff hole, hit perhaps her best approach shot of the day to within a few feet and canned the short putt for her only birdie of the day to win the playoff over Petersen, who parred the hole.
"It's just one of those things where it's like, 'OK, let's make these shots the best shots of the day,' and I just really focused in on muscle memory and said, 'Let's just go do it,' '' Deeter said.
"I probably should have stuck with that the whole day.''
Deeter said she was relaxed for the playoff after Petersen's 81 was one of the last scores to be posted.
"I was, actually,'' Deeter said. "I got up there and just went and did my thing and got a birdie.''
