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Created: 21 May 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Hayden senior Tanner Newkirk turned in an individual distance sweep in Friday's Class 4A regional track and field meet at Eudora as the Wildcat boys qualified for next week's state meet at Wichita in 14 of 18 events.

Hayden senior Tanner Newkirk swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in Friday's Class 4A regional at Eudora. [File photo/TSN]

Newkirk won the 800 meters in 1 minute, 59.04 seconds, the 1,600 in 4:27.52 and the 3,200 in 9:39.51 as the Wildcats edged Louisburg for the team championship.

Hayden also got individual wins from senior Jake Muller in the 300 hurdles (39.39 seconds) and freshman Jensen Schrickel in the long jump (21 feet, 7.50 inches) while the Wildcats won the 4 x 400 relay in 3:28.50.

Hayden qualified for state in all three relays and all three throwing events, with multiple qualifiers in the shot put and discus.

CLASS 5A AT DE SOTO

Highland Park junior Tre Richardson, a double state medalist in last year's 5A state meet, posted three individual victories in Friday's regional meet at De Soto.

Highland Park junior Tre Richardson was a triple winner in Friday's 5A regional at De Soto, winning the 200-meter dash, the long jump and the triple jump. [File photo/TSN]

Shawnee Heights sophomore Jackson Esquiibel (3) won regional titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in Friday's 5A regional at De Soto. [Submitted photo]

Richardson won the 200-meter dash in 21.77 seconds and went 23-9 to win the long jump and 46-3 to win the triple jump.

The Scots also got a second-place finish from junior Tyrell Reed in the 100 (10.98) and from senior Kejuan Johnson in the 300 hurdles (40.48).

Shawnee Heights sophomore Jackson Esquibel posted a pair of individual victories, winning the 1,600 in 4:27.70 and the 3,200 in 9:37.31 while the T-Birds also got an individual victory from junior Jordan Garvin in the 300 hurdles (40.10).

Heights senior Ja'Laven January was the runner-up in the 200 (22.26) and junior Maddox Moten placed second in the discus (141-3) and third in the shot put (47-3.50).

CLASS 5A AT EMPORIA

Topeka West posted three individual wins in Friday's regional meet at Emporia's Welch Stadium, including a pair of victories from senior Zsamar Sipple.

Topeka West senior Zsamar Sipple won the long jump and the triple jump in Friday's Class 5A regional at Emporia. [File photo/TSN]

Sipple won the long jump with a best of 22.-9.25 and took the triple jump title with a leap of 45-1 while the Chargers also got a victory in the 3,200 meters from junior Lenny Njoroge in 9:50.50.

Njoroge added a second-place finish in the 1,600 (4:29.69) while West freshman Alesecio Batson was second to Sipple in the triple jump (43-5.50).

Seaman junior Branen Moore was the runner-up in the 800 meters (2:04.31) while senior Jace Moore placed second in the 3,200 (10:08.58).

The Vikings also qualified for state with second-place finishes in both 4 x 100 relay (43.90) and the 4 x 800 relay (8:29.21).

CLASS 3A AT ROYAL VALLEY

Silver Lake senior Brogan Renfro posted three individual wins in Friday's 3A regional at Royal Valley leading the Eagles to a second-place team finish behind Marysville (100.50-91).

Silver Lake senior Brogan Renfro won the 100, 200 and triple jump in Friday's Class 3A regional at Royal Valley [File photo/TSN]

Renfro won the 100 dash in 11.16 secords, the 200 in 22.90 and the triple jump at 41-11.50.

The Eagles also got an individual win from senior Carson Johnson in the 300 hurdles (41.17) and Silver Lake won the 4 x 100 relay in 44.86 and the 4 x 400 relay in 3:30.99.

Rossville got a second-place finish from junior Pedro Arantes in the 100 (11.33). 

Details

Created: 20 May 2022

By ISAAC DEER

TopSports.news

Topeka High’s rollercoaster soccer season came to an end in Friday's Class 6A regional championship match against Garden City, with the Trojans losing 2-0 at Hummer Sports Park.

Losing the regional championship certainly wasn’t the way the Trojans wanted to end the the year, but the journey to that point gave Topeka High cherished memories.

Topeka High senior Tae Thomas executes a header in Fridays 2-0 Class 6A regional loss to Garden City. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]

“I couldn’t be happier with the way the season turned out for us,” Topeka High coach Derek Snook said. “After the first couple of weeks, I was unsure about how the season was going to go. At one point of the season, we spent more time in the training room than we did on the practice field. But the fight, determination and the ‘never say die’ attitude carried us a long way.

“This is the best team I’ve ever coached.”

Topeka High was rolling coming into Friday night’s contest against Garden City, but the Buffaloes were playing great soccer as well.

As dominant as High’s backline was for its hot stretch in May, Garden City found ways to exploit the Trojans on Friday. 

Out of Garden City’s 21-player roster, only one senior was on the squad and that person is Destiny Rojo.

Rojo put a goal on the board for the Buffaloes with a penalty kick at the 31:10 mark in the first half. 

Topeka High’s backline booted a ball past midfield where Tae Thomas would have one of the slim opportunities to score in the first half. Garden City goalkeeper Laydaly Enriquez would throw her entire body in front of the charging Thomas to prevent Topeka High from scoring with 18:04 to go.

Garden City would bullrush Topeka High down in their own territory and collect a goal with 15:36 remaining in the first half. Ariel Martinez would fake out two Trojan defenders and would net it in with a light tap of the cleat.

The mauling Buffaloes' defense would be the main story of Friday night’s contest. Topeka High’s attackers would be dramatically halted by Garden City’s slide tackles and speed.

Topeka High would have four opportunities in the first half and six in the second half to score against the Buffaloes but fell short.

Enriquez would have a career-type of day in the box for Garden City.

Topeka High wouldn’t be able to net a goal against Garden City and finished the season with a 12-6-0 record.

The Trojans improved from previous years and High hopes this season will help next year’s team going forward.

“This team will reflect on all of our different programs here at Topeka High,” Snook said. “These girls’ ‘never say die’ attitude this season has set the standard for what we want to accomplish down the road. If the underclassmen learned anything it was to never quit and give up on your teammates.

“No matter what the score or the outcome of the game is, as long as you never gave up on each other, you will take that with you. It wasn’t the way we wanted to end the season, but I’m glad that they gave it their all.”

GARDEN CITY 2, TOPEKA HIGH 0

 Garden City  (12-5-1) 2 0 – 0

Topeka High (12-6-0)  0 0 – 0

Garden City – Goals: Rojo, Martinez. Assist: Rojo. Shutout: Enriquez.

Details

Created: 20 May 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

It took awhile for Washburn Rural's girls soccer team to get going Friday night.

But once the Junior Blues got untracked the goals came in bunches, with Rural rolling to the Class 6A state quarterfinals with an 8-0 romp past Wichita East at McElroy Field.

Washburn Rural, which improved to a 15-2-1 with its regional championship, will be back at home next Tuesday for a quarterfinal contest. Pairings will be released at the conclusion of all regional finals.

Washburn Rural soccer celebrates its Class 6A regional championship after Friday's 8-0 win over Wichita East at McElroy Field. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

Washburn Rural senior Belle Kennedy, executing a header in Friday's Class 6A regional final, scored a goal in the Junior Blues' 8-0 win over Wichita East. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

"At the end of the day we're very capable,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "We've had flashes this year where we've done some really great things. We've kind of had some ups and downs a little bit with consistency and playing hard and doing the right things but our best is as good as anybody out there.

"We've just got to find a way to put that on the field every single time, so it was nice in the second half to see us have a really good performance.''

The Junior Blues scored the only goal they would need on a penalty kick from junior Mackinly Rohn at the 23:50 mark of the opening half and senior Emma Krueger gave Rural a 2-0 halftime advantage with 3:15 remaining in the first half.

Rural quickly turned the game into a rout in the second half, starting with a goal from senior Belle Kennedy just 54 seconds after halftime.

The Junior Blues also got second-half goals from senior Alandra Bailey (35:50), freshman Katelyn Hinck (21:24), sophomore Hayley Legg (8:29), Hinck (5:49) and junior Brianna Jones (0:26) while Wichita East (10-8-0) never mustered a serious scoring threat.

Legg also contributed a pair of assists for Rural, which also got assists from Hinck, Rohn, senior Hunter McWilliams, freshman Delaney Hill and freshman Madison Lemke while junior Hailey Beck and sophomore Mackenzie Flood combined for the shutout in goal.

After finishing third in the state tournament a year ago, Hensyel said the Junior Blues are setting their goals higher this time around.

"You've got a senior class who their freshman year made it to the championship game, missed a year and then got third last year,'' Hensyel said. "They've been all over the end of it so it's been buiilding to this moment for us all year and we can't wait for Tuesday.''

WASHBURN RURAL 8, WICHITA EAST 0

Wichita East (10-8-0))       0 0 -- 0

Washburn Rural (15-2-1)  2 6 -- 8

Washburn Rural -- Goals: Hinck 2, Rohn, Krueger, Kennedy, Bailey, Legg, Jones. Assists: Legg 2, Hinck, Rohn, Hunter McWilliams, Hill, Lemke. Shutout: Beck, Flood.

 

Details

Created: 20 May 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Former Topeka High standout Brittney Redmond is coming home to take over the Trojans' girls basketball program.

Redmond, a 2011 High graduate, was approved as the Trojans' new head coach by the USD 501 school board Thursday night to replace Hannah Alexander, who resigned in April to accept a job at Andover High.

Brittney Redmond, a 2011 Topeka High graduate, has been named the Trojans' new head girls basketball coach. Redmond was approved by the USD 501 School Board Thursday night. [Submitted photo]

Redmond has served as an assistant coach at four junior colleges, including her most recent stop at Clarendon College, but said she had always had an interest in returning to her alma mater at some point to coach.

"If I was going to coach high school it was definitely going to be at Topeka High,'' Redmond said. "I didn't think it would be this soon but I did want to come back and give back to the community and possibly coach.''

Redmond takes over a Trojan program that has made four straight appearances in the Class 6A state tournament, with a pair of state runner-up appearances. 

Topeka High posted a 20-3 record this past season and dropped a 33-32 decision to Blue Valley in the opening round of the state tournament.

Redmond said she knows the bar is set high at Topeka High and is eager to get started in her new position.

"Just coming from the college world I'm pretty up to speed with how practices are run and preparing for games, so I would say I'm ready,'' Redmond said.

Following her Topeka High career, Redmond played two seasons at Allen County Community College and then played at the University of West Alabama.

Redmond began her coaching career at Southwestern Oregon Community College and then coached at Colby and Garden City before coaching last season at Clarendon College in Texas.

Redmond said she'll take advantage of the summer to get to know her new team and get prepared for the 2022-2023 season.

The Trojans return several key players this year's team, including Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year Kiki Smith, who will be a senior.

"We're going to hit the ground running as soon as we're able to do so,'' Redmond said. "I feel like a lot of people believe in me and they know I'm going to keep the ball rolling at Topeka High.''