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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Earning induction into a hall of fame, any all of fame, is an honor in itself.
But the opporunity to enter The Topeka Tennis Association Hall of Fame class along with their late fathers was a special honor for 2022 inductees Greg Kossover and Charles Stearns.
Greg Kossover was inducted Saturday night at the Bettis Family Sports Complex along with his father, Harold, while Stearns was inducted along with his father, Gary.
Bob Keeshan (left), Charles Stearns (center) and Greg Kossover pose for a picture Saturday night before being inducted into the Topeka Tennis Hall of Fame at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
"It is more than a cherry on top,'' Greg Kossover said about sharing his HOF honor with his father. "That is the best part of the whole thing. How many sons would love to be doing something like this with their father?''
Greg Kossover was the top varsity player for Topeka West from 1979 to 1981, finishing his career with the most match victories in West history, including 30 wins as a senior for the Chargers. He went on to play for Emporia State from 1981 to 1985, playing No.1 one singles and doubles for the Hornets..
Kossover, who now lives in the Wichita area, was a CSIC singles and doubles champion.
Harold Kossover served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and helped forge growth in Topeka tennis in the 1960s. For 25 years, Kossover competed in every TTA adult tournament age, winning numerous titles.
Harold Kossover is the namesake for the Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.
Stearns, who now lives in Boise, Idaho, echoed Kossover's thoughts about sharing the hall of fame honor with his father.
"It's why I'm here,'' Stearns said. "It's not about me.''
Stearns said that his father and numerous others played a big role in cementing Topeka as a tennis town over the years.
"I wrote a tiny speech because I'm not really good at speeches, but as I'm writing it, it was all about who I call the originals,'' said Stearns, who was a top player for Topeka High and a four-year varsity player at Kansas, where he served as team captain for three years. "For me, it's about making sure we don't forget the history that got us here today and learn from what they taught us.''
Also inducted Saturday as part of the class of 2022 were Bob Keeshan, the late Jim Clark and the late Gail Johnson.
"It means a lot, and I really appreciate it.'' Keeshan said of his HOF induction.
A former standout player, Keeshan has spent 41 straight years on the Topeka Tennis Association board and is a four-time past president while also serving as vice-president, secretary and treasurer.
Like Stearns, Keeshan said he is proud of Topeka tennis' legacy and said the local hall of fame is a good way to honor past players while encouraging younger tennis players.
"It's good to let the next generation see what we've done and maybe pave the way,'' Keeshan said.
Hall of Fame capsules:
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By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Washburn softball’s weekend of play had it all, from a walkoff to a complete game,with the one commonality in all four that the Ichabods finished each game on top.
The perfect 4-0 weekend only accounts for a fourth of the team’s current 16-game winning streak, with the active streak the second-longest of the season for Washburn, which rattled off 17 in a row earlier.
“I see that stuff on social media and people ask but at least for me as a coach it really doesn’t mean anything to me,” said WU coach Brenda Holaday. “It’s nice to be towards the end of the season and realize that you are playing for something.”
Jaden LaBarge knocked in 10 runs on the weekend as Washburn prolonged its winning streak to 16 games. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Washburn star sophomore pitcher Jaycee Ginter improved to 23-3 with a pair of weekend victories. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Prior to the weekend games the Ichabods (36-11) received votes in the NFCA top-25 poll, landing at 33. Holaday is happy about the recognition but wants to focus on conference and regional rankings.
“I think it’s respect,” Holaday said. “I think our kids have earned that respect so I am happy for them. I don’t spend a lot of time on it but I do think it’s a message of respect for your team,”
The pair of sweeps moved Washburn to 18-2 in MIAA play and up to second in the conference, passing Rogers State which lost three straight.
“I knew we were good but it kind of surprised me,” said freshman Jaden LaBarge who had 10 runs batted in on the weekend. “I figured every team would have their ups and downs, I mean we have had ups and downs, but so far we have been pretty good at keeping it {going}.”
The Ichabods finished the weekend with a perfect 22-0 record at home after entering the weekend with one of the five longest home winning streaks in all of Division II.
Washburn was scoreless for six innings in Game 1 of the weekend Friday against Missouri Southern and former Shawnee Heights standout Jaycee Ginter allowed four runs in her seven innings of work.
A home run from Ashton Friend drove home Ginter to begin the comeback.
LaBarge started her big weekend with a two-run single to tie the game and Sante Fe Trail product Marrit Mead delivered the game-winning walk-off double to take the 5-4 win.
“We are a team that doesn’t give up until the end,” Mead said. “I was just trying to get it on the right side so that our runners could move and score.”
“I just let them play,” Holaday said. “As a coach I was sort of curious to see how they would respond with that much pressure on them in the last inning and they did really well.”
Ginter, who leads Division II with 23 wins, earned number 22 after the comeback.
The Ichabods jumped ahead and never looked back in Game 2 against Southern, getting third inning RBI from Paige Robbins, Ginter and Friend.
LaBarge knocked in four runs in the game, two in the fifth and two in the sixth, Ginter and Friend each added one more and Patterson plated one in the fifth and sixth, the second one to finish the game after six innings with an 11-3 victory.
Washburn got a strong start from Ashlie Thissen, who threw 5.1 innings and allowed just three runs, improving her record to 4-0 on the year.
“I think that second game might be as well as we have played all year … we still had a couple of miscues on defense but I thought we were really tough at the plate,” Holaday said. “Ashlie was huge … I thought she was really a difference maker for us”
![Washburn's softball team celebrates a weekend victory at Gahnstrom Field. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/TSN]](/images/Team_4-15.webp)
Washburn's softball team celebrates a weekend victory at Gahnstrom Field. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/TSN]
On day two against Pittsburg State Saturday Ginter was strong in the circle, going all seven innings and allowing just five hits in a shutout win, and she also had three hits at the plate.
LaBarge had a sac fly and bases loaded walk to drive in two. Friend walked twice with the bases loaded and Mead completed the scoring with a fourth inning single in the 5-0 victory.
“I thought we played a really clean first game, I didn’t think it was our best game but I thought Jaycee handled it really well on the mound,” Holaday said.
The Gorillas led 2-0 in Game 2 Saturday before the Ichabods scored the next seven. Friend drove in one in the first and Hadley Kerschen tied the game in the second. Mead followed with an RBI single to take the lead.
Robbins knocked in three with a bases-loaded triple and Ginter brought her home with a sac fly to lead, 7-2.
The two runs against Thissen were unearned after two errors and she exited in the second inning, with Raegen Hamm replacing her.
Hamm allowed three runs in the third, two coming on a home run, cutting the deficit to two runs.
Kimi Patterson got one back for Washburn with a solo shot to right field. LaBarge drove in the next two with a double and single in the fourth and fifth inning, respectively.
“I kind of changed my mental approach this weekend compared to last weekend. Just trying to stay within myself and relaxing at the plate instead of trying to do too much,” LaBarge said.
The Gorillas plated one unearned run in the sixth to pull within four. Ginter got it back and more with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the inning, making it 12-6. Hamm finished the game in the seventh and earned the win after 5.1 innings of work.
“I also was proud of Raegen Hamm,” Holaday said. “Her and Ashlie gave us great innings the last two days which, this time of the season when people are tired, that’s important.”
“I thought we hit the ball a lot better the second game. We got hits up and down our lineup and I was proud of that.”
That home record will be put to the test next weekend with a pair of doubleheaders, first against Northeastern State University Friday, then with Rogers State Saturday, April 23.
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Seaman’s softball team scored 22 runs in 12 combined innings in Friday’s Centennial League doubleheader at Hummer Sports Park.
Seaman shut out Topeka West 11-0 in the first game and won 11-4 in the second game.
Seaman’s two-strike approach worked wonders for the Lady Vikes on Friday.
The Lady Vikes were walked 16 times in both games. Most of the walks were a result of the Vikings being patient when they were in a pitcher’s count.
Seaman senior Rylee Murray reached base eight times in Friday's doubleheader sweep over Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
“I thought our kids executed a lot of the things we were working on pretty well,” Seaman coach Jay Monhollon said. “They did well the baserunning and put themselves in good situations to keep advancing us. I was pleased with how our kids came out with great energy as well. Gordy (Ramos) does a great job with (West). They are developing fast and we knew that. (West) is making great strides.”
Seaman outfielder Rylee Murray had an impressive two games on Friday. Murray got on base eight times out of her nine plate appearances. Murray was even able to hit a two-run triple in Game 2, giving Seaman its first extra-base hit of the day.
“It was a battle every time I got up,” Murray said. “Credit to (West), I was down two strikes almost every single time. With the triple, it felt nice that I was able to hit my teammates in. None of this is possible without the people I’m surrounded by.”
Seaman senior Skylar Duncan starred in the pitching circle in both games Friday as the Vikings took a pair of Centennial League wins over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
One of the key contributors to Seaman’s Friday night success was pitcher Skylar Duncan. Duncan pitched a complete game shutout in Game 1 and sat down six straight batters in the second game, giving the Lady Vikes the sweep.
“I thought I could’ve done better today,” Duncan said. “My teammates were able to hit the ball great tonight. When my teammates are hitting like they did tonight, I really don’t feel any pressure to over-perform.”
In game one’s 11-0 shutout over Topeka West, Seaman kept the game plan simple. Get on base.
The Lady Vikes collected nine hits with 11 runs. Surprisingly, Seaman didn’t collect an extra-base hit in the five-inning effort. That wasn’t necessary.
Brilea Flott led Seaman with three hits, all singles. Murray got on base three times with two walks and a single.
Seaman’s ace, Duncan, only allowed one hit to the Chargers in the first game. Duncan allowed a small number of free passes and trusted her defense by pitching to contact. Duncan didn’t fill up the scorebook with strikeouts, she got the job done by doing the simple things right.
“Offensively and on defense, we struggled in the first game,” Topeka West's Ramos said. “We gave up too many walks and it put a lot of pressure on our defense to do everything perfectly. It wasn’t our best effort in the first game.”
The defense was rock solid from Seaman again in the nightcap, with Aspen Burgardt was in the circle for the Lady Vikes.
Burgardt’s outing lasted five innings. In the five innings, Burgardt allowed four runs and seven hits and only gave up one walk. Like fellow teammate Duncan, Burgardt let her teammates behind her work. Burgardt only struck out two batters, but the outing was still successful.
Although Topeka West lost by seven runs, pitcher Amia Alexander-Sims showed serious poise in the effort. Sims pitched the entire seven-inning game and was able to fan 11 Seaman batters.
A few wild pitches, walks and a few basehits allowed Seaman to get a comfortable seven-run lead before the third inning concluded. Topeka West needed to mount an offensive attack to chip at the large deficit.
Sophomore shortstop Siani Sanchez was a bright spot for Topeka West in Friday's Centennial League twinbill against Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Things were slow for Topeka West until the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore shortstop Siani Sanchez would bring in two runners with a hard hit triple that landed in the centerfield warning track.
“(Sanchez) has improved a lot,” Ramos said. “She is just a sophomore. She does everything we ask her to do. She didn’t have as many hits as we would’ve liked today, but every hit that she did make had an impact on us.
“The sky is truly the limit for that girl.”
Seaman was able to shut the door on Topeka West’s short-lived success with solid pitching from Burgardt and Duncan.
“We have things we want to carry over from tonight and we also have plenty of things to work on,” Monhollon said. “I’d like for us to be even more patient with our plate appearances and we have some stuff to clean up on defense.”
First game
SEAMAN 11, TOPEKA WEST 0
Seaman 320 06X X – 11 9 0
Topeka West 000 00X X – 0 1 4
W – Duncan. L – Stafford.
Second game
Seaman 223 202 0 – 11 6 1
Topeka West 100 030 0 – 4 7 2
W – Burgardt. L – Alexander-Sims. 2B -- Topeka West: Sanchez. 3B -- Seaman: Murray. Topeka West: Sanchez.
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By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
New Washburn University women’s basketball coach Lora Westling kept it brief in her introductory press conference Friday as the sixth head coach in program history in the McPherson Booster Room of Lee Arena.
“It’s a little surreal to be standing on this side of Lee Arena,” Westling said. “It’s an honor to have been selected as the next head coach at Washburn. Obviously huge, huge, shoes to fill, if that’s even possible. But (I am) looking forward to the challenge and just really thrilled to be here.”
Former Washburn standout Lora Westling was introduced Friday as the Ichabods' new women's basketball coach. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/TSN]
The former national championship-winning player for the Ichabods, then Lady Blues, was presented with her old number 42 jersey and signature headband by Athletic Director Loren Ferré when she was introduced.
A member of the women’s basketball team from 2001-05, Westling cited the people around Washburn as a big reason why the decision to come back was so easy.
The Casper, Wyoming native thanked her parents and family for coming down for the conference. She also gave thanks to the players, coaches and staff at Western Colorado where she spent the past six seasons.
Westling gave praise to previous head coach Ron McHenry, who coached Westling in her time at Washburn, as well as assistant coaches Brette Herber and Erika Lane Yoder for the culture that had been built.
“That’s a gift, sometimes you don’t always walk into that situation. So we got great players here, great players coming in, and a great foundation to build from so I am very grateful for that,” Westling said.
Westling’s playing career ended with the 2005 national championship run, one she hopes to repeat, this time on the sidelines.
“The expectations are the same,” Westling said. “We want to win championships, we want to have great people, and we want to make the community better in every way we can.”
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By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Baseball is a game of slumps and struggles which is why Washburn University was just happy to be back in the win column with a 7-5 mid-week win over Northwest Missouri State (14-23).
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, Northwest has been playing well,” said WU coach Harley Douglas. “Overall I thought our guys fought really well, early on especially and didn’t let us get that turtle in a shell look.”
The victory comes on the heels of two home losses to Central Oklahoma by a combined 17 runs. The Ichabods (25-13) relied on its bullpen going five deep to throw 5⅔ scoreless innings to close the game.
“I thought we did a good job of coming out. We kind of lulled there in the middle, didn’t swing as well as we needed to at certain points,” Douglas said. “But they did a good job against us.”
Connor Scott (left) celebrates a home run with his Ichabod teammates in Wednesday's 7-5 MIAA win over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Washburn senior Trevor Marrell pitched a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 7-5 MIAA win over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
The stand alone match with the Bearcats counted as a conference game, with Washburn moving to 15-9 in MIAA play as the Ichabods get set for seven straight games on the road.
