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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PARK CITY -- Star Seaman wrestler Jaxson Thomas knew he was taking a chance when he decided to jump up two weight classes for his senior season.
That gamble paid off with a state title celebration that isn't likely to end any time soon.
Seaman senior Jaxson Thomas beams after ending his Class 5A 285-pound state championship match with a second-period pin. [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
Seaman senior Jaxson Thomas (right) went wire to wire for the Class 5A 285-pound state title, opening up a 9-3 lead over Blue Valley Southwest's Torin Forsyth before recording a second-period pin. [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
"I don't think it's actually set in yet,'' Thomas said. "I shared some tears with my family right when it happened, but I don't think it will set in until I'm at home and realize what I achieved. It will be nice when I'm sitting at home in the bed and not aching.
"It definitely brought on some confidence, realizing I could make that move and I could still compete at a different level, a different weight and realizing it's not about how big the dude is I'm facing, it's about who wrestles longer, who's faster and who's more prepared.''
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Topeka West boys basketball coach Rick Bloomquist most likely slept easier on Friday night after his Chargers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 53-48 home overtime victory over United Kansas Conference rival Leavenworth.
It's been a while since Topeka West (13-7) has experienced a draught as it had experienced recently. The Chargers are missing two integral pieces to its successful starting lineup, and the younger guys have had to learn how to play like veterans quickly.
Topeka West freshman Keimani Paul puts up a shot in Friday's 53-48 overtime win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West senior Xavier Alexander led the Chargers with 13 points in Friday's 53-48 overtime win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Underclassmen such as freshmen Keimani Paul and Malakyah Duncan and sophomores Mason Jones and Ja'Vian Chambers played like poised veterans in the crucial overtime win against the Pioneers (7-13).
"Obviously, I'm pleased with this win," Bloomquist said. "I'm pleased because of a lot of the intangibles that happened. We missed some easy shots and had unnecessary turnovers, but the thing is when you're playing two freshmen and two sophomores with juniors that didn't play much last year, you have to grow. Usually, it takes a season to grow. We don't have that much time. I saw my young kids really mature with how the game is supposed to be played.
"Leavenworth is a really nice and athletic team, especially on the perimeter. As long as we are and as young as we are, it's sometimes hard to guard the perimeter. But I'm really proud of the (underclassmen's) progression in the last week and a half. It's been a big-time progression."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The last time the Topeka West girls basketball team defeated Leavenworth, the game went down to the wire in a 38-37 Charger win.
However, Friday night's 54-40 victory over Topeka West's United Kansas Conference foe was a different story.
Freshman Imani McGlory (5) led Topeka West with 14 points in Friday's 54-40 UKC win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Jazmyn Ford (44) celebrated Senior Night with 14 points in Friday's 54-40 UKC win over Leavenworth. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
For Topeka West coach Jeff Skar, sweeping Leavenworth in the regular-season series felt great. And despite a collectively good Leavenworth third quarter, Topeka West took complete control of the contest right away.
"I was pleased," Skar said. "Our goal is to win every quarter, and I think we were close to doing that tonight. The last time we played them, we had to survive a last-second 3-point attempt to beat them. And (Leavenworth) looks a lot like us at times.
"They got some athletes and kids that can play. So for us to get the win, it's good for the kids. It's a reward for all of their hard work."
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
After coming up short of a Class 6A team berth last season, the Washburn Rural boys bowling team took a runner-up finish in Friday's Class 6A regional at West Ridge Lanes, qualifying the Junior Blues for next Friday's state meet at Northrock Lanes in Wichita.
Washburn Rural's boys bowling team finished second in Friday's regional to earn a team berth in next week's Class 6A state tournament at Wichita. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural knew it had to earn the right to bowl for a state title in a highly-competitive regional field.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” Washburn Rural coach Jo Ricard said. “We’ve been with Olathe South sometimes, and we know what they’ve done. We always know Olathe North has it in their back pocket as well. Junction (City) battled us hard last week, and they’ve battled us in Wichita. It’s up to who’s on and who’s able to make the adjustments the correct way.
“We had some strong points, and we had some struggle points. There was a stress point coming into this today, knowing where we are coming in with the season going the way it has gone for us. But we still had good, quality games, and that’s what it takes. We knew there would be a battle on our hands with all of the schools that were here, knowing how well that they have done throughout the season.”
Josh Hammons and Logan Glinka led the way for Washburn Rural in its quest for a state title, posting top 10 finishes.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PARK CITY -- Technically, Seaman senior wrestling standout Jaxson Thomas is not a true 285-pounder.
But there's a lot of foes that Thomas has outclassed in a 45-5 season that would probably disagree with that.
Seaman senior Jaxson Thomas gets in a position for a pin in a 285-pound Class 5A semifinal Friday at Hartman Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And now, despite giving up nearly 60 pounds in some matches, Thomas is one win away from being the best in the state after advancing to Saturday's Class 5A championship match with three straight pins Friday at Hartman Arena.
Thomas competed at 195 pounds as junior, winning a Centennial League title and advancing to the state tournament, but went to Viking coach Tony Pena with the idea of jumping not just one but two divisions this winter.
"He said, 'Coach I want to play football in college so I don't want to cut weight this year,' '' Pena said. "I said, 'OK, then we need to get big.' We've been constantly feeding him and just trying to get him up there.''
That project has only been partially successful, with Thomas getting bigger, but not coming close to the 285 limit.
"On a good day when he weighs in, he's 227,'' Pena said.
But Thomas has proven time and time again that he can hold his own, and then some, in the state's biggest weight class.
On Friday Thomas was out to prove that point yet another time, posting pins in 45 seconds, 1 minute, 47 seconds and 1:34 over Arkansas City senior Derek Honeycutt in the semifinals.
"I wanted to get it done, not just to get off the mat but to prove a point, that I'm supposed to be here and that I deserve my spot up there,'' Thomas said.
