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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn Rural state golf champ and Washburn University Division II player of the year Andrew Beckler earned a berth in the United States Open in Monday qualifying.
Beckler, who finished his Washburn career in 2021 and turned pro last summer, tied for third with a 3-under-par 36-hole total of 141 in qualifying at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. to earn one of four qualifying berths out of 72 players for the 2022 Open, which will be contested June 16-19 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
Beckler shot a first-round 69 before finishing with a 72.
Beckler was named the Division II Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year in 2021 in his final season for Washburn.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University volleyball star Faith Rottinghaus has been named the female winner of the MIAA's prestigious Ken B. Jones Award.
Rottinghaus was announced as the Ken B. Jones winner Monday night at the MIAA Award Celebration. The award recognizes the MIAA's top female and male student-athlete.
Nebraska-Kearney wrestler Matt Malcom was named the men's winner.
Rottinghaus, a Shawnee Heights graduate, completed her Ichabod volleyball career last fall, helping lead Washburn to the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship Match, with WU finishing as the national runner-up with an overall record of 31-6 an 17-3 the MIAA.
Rottinghaus led NCAA Division II with 833 total digs and ranked third in the nation with 6.56 digs per set. She also led the Ichabods with 33 service aces and posted a service reception percentage of .980.
Rottinghaus concluded her career as Washburn's all-time dig leader with 2,676 career digs.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Although Cooper Woestendick lives in Olathe, he has strong ties to Topeka.
The 15-year-old tennis phenom returned to his family roots for the 82nd annual Jayhawk Open and put on a show, claiming the Men's Open Singles championship with a 6-2, 6-3 win over University of Nebraska player Rudra Dixit Sunday at the Kossover Tennis Center.
Woestendick is the grandson of the late Delvy Lewis, a Topeka basketball legend and former Kansas Jayhawk star, and the son of Kristi (Lewis) Woestendick, who played basketball at Washburn Rural and Washburn University.
Cooper Woestendick said he welcomed the chance to compete in the Jayhawk, one of the Midwest's longest-running and most respected tournaments.
"I always love playing in Topeka,'' Woestendick said. "We've got family here and it's always nice to come back where I was born. And it's a great tournament with great players."
Although he was a youngster in the Men's Open Singles field and playing in his first Jayhawk, Woestendick said he entered the weekend with high hopes.
"I basically always expect to win and then if my opponent plays too good they play too good,'' Woestendick. "But I expected to win this tournament.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Saturday's Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match gave Katelynn Brogan the opportunity to make some new friends, get acquainted with a family member and close out her high school career with a victory.
Overall it was a good couple of days for the former Washburn Rural standout.
"It was fun,'' said Brogan, who helped the Red team take a 25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 15-10 win over the Blue Saturday at Lee Arena. "I came in knowing nobody. I knew of people, but I had never talked to any of them. They were very welcoming and it was fun to get to know people.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Class 6A state tournament qualifier Washburn Rural and 5A qualifiers Seaman and Shawnee Heights combined to earn 12 first-team berths on the TopSports.news 2022 All-Shawnee County baseball team.
Washburn Rural, which earned a share of the Centennial League championship and finished third in the Class 6A state tournament, is represented on the all-county team by seniors Robby Bolin, Brock Howard and Carson Rosen, junior Ty Weber and sophomore Kyle Walker while Centennial tri-champion Seaman put seniors Dagen Brewer, Maclane Finley and Mason McConnaughey and junior Bryson Vawter on the first team and United Kansas Conference champ Shawnee Heights is represented by seniors Trevor Schattilly and Caden Walker and freshman Deacon Pomeroy.
Seaman's Brewer was tapped as the Shawnee County player of the year while the Vikings' Bryson Vawter earned the pitcher of the year award and Rural's Jay Mastin and Seaman's Trent Oliva were named co-county coaches of the year.
Rural's Walker was named the county newcomer of the year.
Also earning spots on the all-county first team are senior Torrey Horak of Rossville, senior Daigan Kruger of Silver Lake and senior Max Colombo of Topeka High.
Brewer, Vawter and Finley earned first-team All-Class 5A recognition from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches while McConnaughey and Shawnee Heights' Walker earned All-5A honorable mention.
Rural's Bolin was an All-6A second-team pick by the KABC while Rosen, Weber and Walker earned All-6A honorable mention.
Rossville's Horak and Silver Lake's Kruger were first-team All-3A picks by the KABC.