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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West senior Kadence Jeffries captured the fifth and sixth Class 5A-1A state swimming championships of her high school career last Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
KADENCE JEFFRIES, Topeka West
Jeffries, a senior, won the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events in last Saturday's Class 5A-1A state swimming and diving championships at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center, sweeping the two events for the third straight season that the state meet was held.
Jeffries, who has signed with Nebraska-Omaha, won the 200 free in 1 minute, 53.29 seconds and the 500 free in 5:03.55 completing an undefeated career in individual events at the state meet.
The Topeka West star earned All-Class 5A-1A first-team All-State honors for the third time.
Highland Park junior Tre Richardson won three individual events in last Friday's Class 5A regional track and field championships at De Soto. [File photo/TSN]
TRE RICHARDSON, Highland Park
Richardson, a junior, was a triple gold medalist in last Friday's Class 5A regional track and field meet at De Soto, quallifying for this week's state meet at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium in all three events.
Richardson, a double state medalist as a sophomore, won the regional title in the 200-meter dash in 21.77 seconds, the long jump at 23 feet, 9 inches and the triple jump at 46-3.
Entering the state meet Richardson ranks No. 2 in Kansas (all classes) in the long jump and triple jump and fifth in the 200.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee County golfers Bryce Badsky of Silver Lake, Tim Biggs of Seaman and Myles Alonzo of Topeka West earned medals in weather-shortened state boys golf tournaments.
Bryce Badsky
Silver Lake sophomore Bryce Badsky picked up his second straght Class 3A state medal, finishing 10th in the Class 3A state tournament at Salina Municipal.
Seaman senior Tim Biggs placed 12th in the Class 5A state tournament at Quail Creek Golf Course in Winfield while Topeka West sophomore Myles Alonzo tied for 17th.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's golf team assured itself of a top-six team finish in the Class 6A state tournament Monday, advancing to the second round of the tournament at Mariah Hills in Dodge City.
Washburn Rural senior Luke Leonetti is tied for sixth in the Class 6A state tournament after an opening-round 73 at Mariah Hills in Dodge City. [File photo/TSN]
The top six teams after the opening 18 holes moved on to Tuesday's final round, with the Junior Blues earning the final qualifying berth with a four-man score of 311, edging Shawnee Mission East by a stroke. Blue Valley West was the first-day leader at 299.
Senior Luke Leonetti paced the Junior Blues with an opening round of 2-over-par 73 and enters the second round tied for sixth place.
Senior Giles Frederickson added a 76 for the Junior Blues, followed by Maddox Hight with an 80, Tadd Armstrong and Andrew Burdett with 82s and Turner Depperschmidt with an 83.
Tuesday's second round is scheduled to get under way at 10 a.m.
FOUR CITY PLAYERS ADVANCE IN 5A
Regional team champ Seaman and runner-up Shawnee Heights came up short of team berths for the second round of the Class 5A state tournament at Winfield's Quail Creek Golf Course, but four city players remained alive for individual state medals.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Topeka West and Washburn University tennis standout Brad Johnston has been named the head girls and boys tennis coach at Washburn Rural, taking over for longtime head coach Kevin Hedberg, who is retiring after 32 years at the school.
New Washburn Rural boys and girls tennis coach Brad Johnston talks to his team Monday afternoon. Johnston is a former Topeka West and Washburn University standout. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Johnston was a four-time state medalist for Topeka West, graduating in 2004, and a two-time All-MIAA first-team selection for Washburn University, qualifying for the NCAA tournament four straight years.
Johnson, who most recently coached at Landon Middle School, holds a bachelor's degree from Washburn and a master's from Fort Hays State University.
"I'm proud for the opportunity to lead this tradition-rich program,'' said Johnston, who met with his new team Monday afternoon. "Following in coach Hedberg's footsteps will be challenging, but I'm ready to hit the ground running. Tennis has been my life for so long and to be given this opportunity makes my hard work feel complete.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kadence Jeffries
KADENCE JEFFRIES, Topeka West
Jeffries, a senior, swept the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events in last Saturday's Class 5A-1A state swimming and diving championships for the third straight season that the state meet was held, going six for six in state individual events. Jeffries, who has signed with Nebraska-Omaha, won the 200 free in 1:53.29 and the 500 free in 5:03.55 at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center.
Tanner Newkirk
TANNER NEWKIRK, Hayden
A senior, Newkirk swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in last Friday's Class 4A regional track and field championships at Eudora, helping the Wildcats edge Louisburg for the team championship. A Kansas signee, Newkirk ran the 800 in 1:59.04, the 1,600 in 4:27.52 and the 3,200 in 9:39.51 en route to pulling off the difficult distance triple.
