- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PARK CITY -- There's obviously still work to be done, but Washburn Rural did what it needed to do Friday to put itself in position to win a second straight Class 6A wrestling championship.
Washburn Rural put six wrestlers in the semifinals and three in the state finals en route to opening up a 113-92 lead over Olathe East, with Derby third at 91.5 going into the final day of the tournament on Saturday at Hartman Arena.
"We felt all year that we're the best team in 6A,'' first-year Washburn Rural coach Josh Hogan said. "We went out there last week in the (Wichita Southeast) regional and we had the top six teams in the regional so it was like a microcosm of state itself and we've got all the confidence and all the belief that our guys can get it done.''
Not everything went the Junior Blues' way, with two-time state champ Jacob Tangpricha and returning state champ Jonathan Morrison being knocked off in the semifinals.
But senior 182-pound Austin Fager made it to the state finals for the second straight season and will be joined in the championship round by freshman 106-pounder Easton Broxterman and 160-pound senior Aidan Boline.
"I feel good,'' Hogan said. "We started with 11 kids today and we've still got 11 kids wrestling tomorrow. We dropped three of our six semifinal matches and we want to win them all, but this is the best competition that 6A has to offer so everybody was bringing their best shot against us today.''
And Hogan feels like if Washburn Rural wrestles like it can on Saturday, the Junior Blues could be celebrating another state title.
"If we can over-perform that would be a joy, but if we just wrestle like we're capable of, we should be in a good spot.''
Washburn Rural freshman 106-pounder Easton Broxterman gains the upper hand over Lawrence's Andrew Honas on the way to a 13-0 major decision in Friday's Class 6A semifinals. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Broxterman, now 39-5, got the semifinal round off to a good start for the Junior Blues, advancing to the 106 final with a 13-0 major decision over Lawrence sophomore Andrew Honas.
Broxterman has put together a storied Kids Wrestling career, but Friday was his first appearance in a high school state tournament.
"It was a different atmostphere, a lot more older kids,'' Broxterman said. "I'm just a freshman coming in. I'm younger, and just trying to show that I can be just as good as them even when they can be like three years older than me.''
Broxterman said he handled his state tournament jitters better than we thought he would.
"I thought I would be a lot more nervous,'' Broxterman said. "I used to get really nervous, but today was a lot less than I thought it would be.''
Broxterman will face Junction City sophomore Ezekiel Witt (39-1) in the state championship match.
Senior Aidan Boline moves into position to get a pin in Friday's Class 6A 160-pound semifinal against Liberal senior Easton Zapien Friday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Boline (40-7) earned his shot at a state title with a pin at the 1:04 mark of the first peiod over Liberal senior Easton Zapien.
After losing in the semifinals a year ago, Boline set the goal to get a chance to wrestle for a title this time around.
"This is what I've been working with coach (Travis) McBurney all offseason for,'' Boline said. "He's poured his heart into me and I wanted to give everything right back.
"He's believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and I owe it to him. I just want to go get that title for him.''
Bodine has also had to overcome multiple serious injuries to earn his title shot.
"In October (of 2020) I was in my living room crying with my dad forehead to forehead because I had just fractured my arm and its great to see it come full circle and give him a huge hug after this win and let him know I've still got one more and I'm going to get it for him. This one's not just for McBurney or my parents. This one's for all of Rural and everything that they've helped me with because it takes a village to raise someone.''
Boline will take on Olathe East senior Nick Carlson (40-7) in the 160-pound championship match Saturday.
Washburn Rural senior Austin Fager (top) dominates his Class 6A 182-pound semifinal against Junction City's Cooper Bogenhagen on the way to a 15-0 technical fall. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN
Fager (42-2) said that making it to the finals a year ago en route to a runner-up finish helped him relax for Friday and just concentrate on what he needed to do.
Fager dominated his semifinal against Junction City sophomore Cooper Bogenhagen from the outset on the way to a 15-0 technical fall.
"For sure I was at a comfort level I don't think he was in, I could see it in his eyes,'' Fager said. "I was calm and collected. Last year I got all the jitters out and this year I came out and I was prepared.
"I didn't have any nerves going in. I know what I have on the table this year. I won to win state as a team and individually as well, but more as a team.''
Fager will square off with Campus senior Aidan Williams (27-10) in the 182 final.
Shawnee Heights junior Sean Wunder advanced to the 5A 195-pound semifinal, losing a 20-5 technical fall to Goddard senior Kaden Glass (39-4).
Glass is a two-time 5A state runner-up.
Seaman, Highland Park and Topeka High also have at least one wrestler advancing to Saturday's competition, which starts at 9 a.m.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Zander Putthoff scored 17 points and hit five 3-pointers in Topeka West's 55-50 win over Highland Park on Tuesday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
TOPEKA WEST (18-1, 14-1) at TOPEKA HIGH (4-15, 4-11)
Topeka West clinched its second straight Centennial League championship with a 55-50 win at Highland Park on Tuesday. The Chargers will be looking for their 18th straight win in the regular-season finale. Senior Zander Putthoff led West with 17 points and five 3-pointers in the Chargers' win over Highland Park while senior Elijah Brooks added 12 points. Topeka High was off Tuesday after dropping a 66-57 league game to Hayden last Friday.
Senior Juan'Tario Roberts scored 18 points to lead Highland Park in Tuesday's 55-50 loss to Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL (8-11, 7-8) at HIGHLAND PARK (15-4, 12-3)
Washburn Rural dropped a 53-40 Centennial League decision at Junction City on Tuesday while Highland Park dropped a 55-50 decision to Topeka West in a league showdown. Senior Juan'Tario Roberts led Highland Park with 18 points against Topeka West while juniors Bo Aldridge and Jahmir Kingcannon added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Jack Bachelor led Washburn Rural with 13 points against Junction City.
EMPORIA (3-16, 2-13) at SEAMAN (12-7, 11-5)
Seaman ran its winning streak to five games with a 78-67 Centennial League win over Manhattan on Tuesday while Emporia dropped a 52-40 league decision to Hayden. Senior Ty Henry led Seaman with 25 points against Manhattan while seniors Mateo Hyman and Dreighton Griess added 18 and 12 points for the Vikings and junior Kaeden Bonner scored 11. Rivers Peters scored 12 points and Parker Leeds 11 for Emporia against Hayden.
Hayden senior Trent Duffey scored 16 points to tie teammate Joe Otting for game-high honors in the Wildcats' 52-40 win over Emporia Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
HAYDEN (6-13, 4-11) at MANHATTAN (7-12, 6-9)
Hayden continued its late-season turnaround with a 52-40 Centennial League win over Emporia while Manhattan dropped a 78-67 league decision to Seaman. Senior Trent Duffey and junior Joe Otting scored 16 points apiece to lead Hayden against Emporia while junior Jake Muller added 14 points.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (13-6, 5-4) at BASEHOR-LINWOOD (17-2, 9-0)
Shawnee Heights has more than doubled last season's six-victory total, with the T-Bird notching win No. 13 with a 62-43 United Kansas Conference win over Turner in a Wednesday makeup contest. Heights faces a tough test Friday against a Basehor-Linwood team which has clinched the UKC title and has won 14 straight games. The Bobcats are coming off an 80-49 win over Turner on Tuesday.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TOPEKA WEST (2-17, 2-13) at TOPEKA HIGH (17-2, 14-1)
Topeka High has already clinched a share of the Centennial League championship and can clinch the title outright with a win Friday. Topeka High is coming off a 59-53 non-league loss to perennial state power Bishop Miege while Topeka West is coming off a 47-36 league loss at Highland Park. Senior Tae Thomas led Topeka High with 17 points against Miege while junior Azaryah Duncan and sophomore Zoe Clark led Topeka West with 11 points each against Highland Park.
Highland Park senior Aisya Taylor scored a game-high 15 points in the Scots' 47-36 win over Topeka West Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural sophomore Zoe Canfield scored 19 points in the Junior Blues' 61-14 romp past Junction City on Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL (17-2, 13-2) at HIGHLAND PARK (4-15, 2-13)
Washburn Rural is coming off a 61-14 Centennial League romp at Junction City while Highland Park has won back-to-back league games, including a 47-36 home win over Topeka West on Tuesday. Senior Aisya Taylor led Highland Park with 15 points against Topeka West while sophomore Victoria Reed and freshman Amelia Ramsey added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Sophomore Zoe Canfield paced Washburn Rural against Junction City with 19 points.
EMPORIA (15-4, 11-4) at SEAMAN (14-5, 12-4)
Seaman, which has won four straight games and seven of its last eight, faces a tough battle in it regular-season finale, with the No. 6-ranked Vikings (Class 5A) facing off against No. 4-ranked Emporia (5A). Seaman is coming off a 47-40 Centennial League win over Manhattan while Emporia took a 39-21 league win over Hayden in its last game. Sophomore Taylin Stallbaumer and freshman Anna Becker scored 21 and 15 points for Seaman against Manhattan. Gracie Gilpin scored 12 points to pace Emporia against Hayden.
TROY (8-12) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (11-7)
Cair Paravel is the first Shawnee County team to open postseason play, hosting Troy in a Class 1A Division I playoff opener. Cair Paravel wrapped up its regular season with a 45-24 win over Bishop Seabury and the Lions have won seven of their last eight games. Troy is coming off a 56-24 loss to Hanover.
HAYDEN (10-9, 7-8) at MANHATTAN (7-12, 6-9)
Both teams are coming off Centennial League losses, with Hayden dropping a 39-21 decision to Emporia and Manhattan falling to Seaman, 47-40. Hayden struggled on the offensive end against Emporia, with senior Macy Smith leading the Wildcats with six points.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (10-9, 4-5) at BASEHOR-LINWOOD (12-7, 7-2)
Both teams are coming off lopsided wins over Turner, with Basehor-Linwood taking a 57-8 United Kansas Conference win over the Bears on Tuesday and Shawnee Heights taking a 50-10 UKC win in a Wednesday makeup game.
- Details
By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Washburn women’s basketball was in action Thursday evening at Lee Arena against Missouri Southern for Senior Night.
A slow offensive night would spoil the senior ceremonies as the Ichabods fell 55-50 to the Lions.
Even in the loss Washburn coach Ron McHenry still saw a lot of the characteristics that kept the team competitive after starting 1-7, with the senior class leading by example.
“It’s a great group,” McHenry said. “They are a solid group of people and players and really for however many years they have been here have put in a lot of time and effort into this year trying to get us back and competitive in the league.”
Washburn women's basketball honored its six seniors Thursday on Senior Night at Lee Arena, with the Ichabods dropping a 55-50 decision to Missouri Southern. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Hunter Bentley, one of six seniors honored on Senior Night, will end her Washburn career as the program's career leader in minutes and games played. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
“It’s kind of crazy to think about how much I have grown as a player and a person. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience, I mean, all of my teammates throughout the five years and coach Mac, Brette (Herber) and Erika (Yoder),” said senior Hunter Bentley. “It’s just been awesome to get to know them and to be able to be a part of this program.”
The contest was the last at Lee Arena for the team's six seniors headlined by Bentley, the programs all-time leader in minutes and games played.
“It might take awhile for me to have that set in. It’s crazy, there have been so many good players that have gone into this program so to be one of those it’s really awesome and I couldn’t have asked for anything more out of my career,” Bentley said.
“She looked tired tonight but that’s my fault, I run her through a lot of stuff and put a lot on her plate and she handles it well,” McHenry said. “She is just a really complete player and a player that is hard for me to get off the floor for five years.”
The loss moved Washburn to 13-14 on the year and the Ichabods sit in eighth place in the MIAA.
Defense dominated the first quarter, with each team shooting 33 percent from the floor. A 12-6 rebounding advantage for Missouri Southern provided extra opportunities that the Lions capitalized on to take a 14-11 lead after 10 minutes.
Washburn’s offense continued to stay cold in the second quarter, with a 3-pointer from Bentley at the 6:36 mark the first score for the Ichabods in the quarter, ending a 7-0 Southern run.
Even at a size disadvantage, Washburn’s defense against the Lions remained strong to close the quarter, holding them to just 16.7-percent shooting in the frame.
The Ichabods shot under 20 percent themselves but two 3-pointers in the quarter and preventing turnovers cut the deficit to just two points as Missouri Southern led 24-22 at half.
- Details
By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Washburn men’s basketball held ceremonies for its six seniors before its game against Missouri Southern on Thurssday night.
The celebration continued into the night as the Ichabods rattled off a fifth straight win, defeating the Lions, 81-69.
“These guys have won a lot of games, MIAA tournament championship, NCAA tournament games and a lot of games in their time here, so they should be proud,” said Washburn coach Brett Ballard. “I am even prouder of just the people that they are, and what they are going to represent leaving, out of Washburn.”
Washburn honored six players on Senior Night and posted an 81-69 MIAA win over Missouri Southern Thursday at Lee Arena. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Among the group of six were three former all-conference selections, Jonny Clausing, Jalen Lewis and two-time first-team member Tyler Geiman.
“Definitely blessed to be a part of it (the program), and just the guys I have been here with the last five years has been awesome. I wouldn’t trade it for anything and I would do it again if I got the chance tomorrow,'' Geiman said.
Those leaving are the first group to have spent their entire careers with Ballard, including Geiman who is the lone member to join Ballard at Washburn five seasons ago.
“He was my first recruit really, and we felt like we were getting a good player but you never know and, man has he been terrific. One of the all-time greats to ever play here and it’s been an honor to play and coach him,” Ballard said.
“I love coach Ballard and my teammates, it’s awesome to come out here in Lee Arena and play so I definitely enjoyed it,” Geiman said.
Thursday's win moved the Ichabods to 18-9 and keeps them at fifth place in the MIAA.
Both teams were slow out of the gate offensively, with neither side creating more than four points of separation through 10 minutes.
Washburn was able to create some separation once Geiman began scoring, quickly getting into double figures with six free throw attempts and a few jump shots on his way to 17 first-half points.
That production coupled with eight turnovers for Missouri Southern in the first 15 minutes created some separation, with the Ichabods going ahead by double digits at the 4:49 mark.
“I really like where our defense is at, I think we are guarding and challenging and not giving up any easy baskets,” Ballard said.
The Lions reeled off a 9-2 run to pull within three points with just over two minutes left in the half. Washburn quickly responded, with scores by Geiman and Lewis to take a 36-28 lead into halftime.
Much like the first half, after five minutes of back-and-forth play the Ichabods made a run, growing the lead to 13 points and forcing a timeout at the 13:22 mark after back-to-back baskets from Lewis and Clausing.
The lead grew to 15 over the next six minutes of play with balanced offensive production on all levels for Washburn.
Freshman Avery Taggart led the Lions in scoring with 23, and two free throws from him at the 6:01 mark cut the lead to just nine points.
The lead remained a point north or south of 10 until Geiman and sophomore guard Connor Deffebaugh connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Ichabods back up by 13 with just over two to play.
The lead only grew from there, up to as many as 18, and with a strong defensive effort to finish Washburn claimed the win.
“I still think we can shoot it a little better, which I think we will, but I like the rhythm we are in, got some momentum now and we got some big ones coming up,” Ballard said.
Tyler Geiman scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Washburn's 81-69 Senior Night win over Missouri Southern. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
Geiman finished with 23 points and 8 rebounds, both pacing the team. Lewis added 18 points and seven rebounds. Deffebaugh and Clausing both finished in double figures with 15 and 11, respectively.
Washburn is now set up to face Emporia State to close the regular season on Saturday, and again in the first round of the MIAA tournament.
“It’s not ideal obviously but it is what it is. They are good and it will be tough,” Ballard said. “There will be a lot at stake because we got to win some games to get into the NCAA tournament.”
“We are healthy, practicing well and playing well,” Geiman said. “It’s time to go now, the train is rolling and let’s keep winning.”
Washburn’s first game against the Hornets will be on Saturday at White Auditorium.
WASHBURN MEN 81, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 69
