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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Elijah Brooks has been a standout for Topeka West's boys basketball team from the time he stepped on campus, averaging more than 10 points as a freshman and averaging 14.8 points for his career while helping the Chargers post a 42-26 record, including a 36-11 mark (.766 percentage) over the past two-plus seasons.
But while the 6-foot-4 senior has been 'A' leader for West over the previous three seasons, he's taking on a new role this season as 'THE' leader for Rick Bloomquist's Chargers.
Brooks, who opened 2021-2022 season with a 32-point performance in a 69-57 win over Washburn Rural, has plenty of talented players around him, but he and Bloomquist both know that Brooks has to set the tone for West.
After learning from the seniors before him, including Shawnee County co-players of the year Trevion Alexander and Marque Wilkerson last season, Brooks is happy to take on the leadership mantle..
"I actually love that role,'' Brooks said. "Watching (last year's seniors) and especially Tre prepared me to take on this big role for my team,'' Brooks said. "Whatever I can do to help my team win, that's honestly what I'm going to do at the end of the day.''
Brooks and the Chargers got off to a impressive start in last Friday's win, with Brooks slamming home four first-half dunks as West opened up a commanding 24-8 lead and held off Rural, which played for the Class 6A title in 2019, the rest of the way.
Topeka West senior Elijah Brooks slams down one of his four first-half dunks on the way to a 32-point performance in Friday's 69-57 win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I think it gets the whole crowd involved and it gets my team hyped,'' Brooks said of the dunks. "I think we were all ready for this (first) game,'' Brooks said. "In practice and stuff we were just anxious for the game and the coaches could tell.''
After going 21-3 a season ago and making it to the 5A boys title game for only the third time in school history, the goal this winter is an obvious one, to make another run at what would be the Chargers' first state crown.
"Everybody on our team, we're like hungry pitbulls because we want to get back to the state tournament and get the same type of feeling and everything,'' Brooks said. "I think we're all just dogs, to be honest.''
One thing Brooks doesn't have to worry about is resting on his laurels, not as long as Bloomquist is around.
"When you've got a kid like Elijah you've got to go through him, you want to use him and make the best of his abilities,'' said Bloomquist, who has posted more than 500 career wins and has taken Emporia and West to state championship games
"He's got to learn to play more without the ball. There's a lot he's got to learn, because he's a focal point for this basketball team and he's got to make everybody else better besides himself.''
Brooks understands and accept those expectations.
"(Bloomquist) looks at me to set the example and when I don't he really gets on me and makes an example of me to everybody,'' Brooks said. "I'll take it though. I love it.''
A look at Tuesday's Shawnee County games:
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Fresh off its inaugural induction ceremonies last Saturday night, Hayden Catholic High School is accepting nominations for the 2022 Hayden Hall of Fame.
Hayden will recognize individuals in four categories -- alumni achievement, student athletic/activity achievement, staff achievement and contributor achievement.
These individuals will serve as role models and examples of achievement for future students, staff and supporters.
Hayden Catholic High School and the Hayden Catholic High School Foundation serve as the sponsoring organizations of the Hayden Hall of Fame.
Nominations for the 2022 will be accepted through July 15, 2022 and may be submitted by anyone.
Nominee notifications and announcements for the 2022 Hayden Hall of Fame will take place in September, 2022.
A Hall of Fame dinner will take place on Saturday, December 3, 2022.
Requests for a nomination form can be sent to
Ken McGarity, Ben Meseke, Rick Strecker, Mark Turgeon and the late Ken Bueltel became the first members of the Hayden Hall of Fame last Saturday.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Tickets went on sale Monday for the 2022 Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor, which will take place Aug. 12-14 at Heartland Motorsports Park as part of the upcoming NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
The race will be the 14th of 22 events during the 2022 campaign and the stop in Topeka will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including live action from eliminations.
Topeka’s “House of Speed” has delivered non-stop excitement and incredible racing since the facility opened in 1989, with the 2022 race marking the 33rd NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event to take place in Topeka.
To purchase tickets, visit www.nhra.com. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult.
“Heartland Motorsports Park has featured plenty of amazing moments in NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series history and we’re thrilled to return to the outstanding facility to put on another memorable event in 2022,” said Heartland Motorsports Park owner Chris Payne. “The track has always been regarded as one of the fastest on the NHRA circuit and the drivers love putting on a show in front of the passionate fans in the Midwest.”
Brittany and John Force celebrate their wins in the 2021 Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park in August. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Father and daughter John (Funny Car) and Brittany Force (Top Fuel) doubled up in the 2021 event in August while Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) won the Pro Stock title.
It was the first time the father and daughter shared the winner’s circle together and also marked the first time a father-daughter duo won on the same weekend in NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series history. It also gave John Force his 10th career win in Topeka, the most of any driver.
Pro Stock Motorcycle will also compete at the 2022 race in Topeka, marking the first race at the facility for the two-wheeled category in 25 years.
Three-time world champ Angelle Sampey won the race in 1997 and is the only active rider in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a win at the facility. The Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor will also feature standouts in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
In Pro Stock, reigning world champ Greg Anderson leads all active drivers with four Topeka wins, but it was NHRA Rookie of the Year Dallas Glenn who ruled the weekend in 2021, posting a perfect .000 reaction time in the final round to win the race. It was just the sixth time in Pro Stock history a perfect reaction time was recorded in the final round.
With its August date, the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor also comes at a critical time during the regular season, as only two events follow it before the Countdown to the Championship. The race will also count toward the Funny Car All-Star Shootout that takes place just a few weeks later at the Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indy.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Elijah Brooks
ELIJAH BROOKS, Topeka West
Brooks, a returning All-Shawnee County first-team pick, opened his senior season with a game-high 32-point performance, including four first-half dunks, as Topeka West's boys basketball team took a 69-57 Centennial League victory over Washburn Rural last Friday night at West.
Connor Deffebaugh
CONNOR DEFFEBAUGH, Washburn University
Deffebaugh, a 6-3 sophomore guard from Fayetteville, Ark., scored a career-high 19 points, including the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining, as Washburn University edged Nebraska-Kearney, 79-77, last Saturday at Lee Arena. Deffebaugh also was credited with five assists and two steals as Washburn evened its record at 4-4.
BRENNON DODGE, Shawnee Heights
A sophomore guard, Dodge scored a game-high and career-high 33 points and hit seven 3-pointers as Shawnee Heights opened its 2021-2022 boys basketball season with a 74-37 non-league victory over Bishop Seabury last Friday at Heights.
Allison Maxwell
ALLISON MAXWELL, Washburn University
A senior middle hitter, Maxwell registered 14 kills with a scorching .500 hitting percentage and was a part of eight blocks, including two solos, as Washburn earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight with a 25-22, 25-20, 25-19 win over Concordia-St. Paul in last Saturday's Central Region championship match in Warrensburg, Mo. Maxwell earned All-Central Region honors.
Allison Sadler
ALLISON SADLER, Washburn University
Sadler, a senior setter, recorded 39 assists and six digs as fifth-seeded Washburn advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight with a 25-22, 25-20, 25-19 win over Concordia-St. Paul in last Saturday's Central Region championship match at Warrensburg, Mo. Sadler earned All-Central Region honors.
Jacob Tangpricha
JACOB TANGPRICHA, Washburn Rural
A two-time Class 6A state champion, Tangpricha opened his senior season with the 126-pound championship in last Saturday's Leavenworth Challenger tournament, helping Washburn Rural win the team title by a 351.5-278 margin over Free State. Tangpricha went 4-0 on the day, including a pin over Lawrence senior Kevin Honas in the championship match.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's volleyball team has been installed as the No. 3 seed for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament, which will get under way Thursday in Tampa, Fla.
The Central Region champions will face No. 6 seed West Texas A&M in a national quarterfinal match at 11 a.m. (Topeka time) on Thursday at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center on the campus of the University of Tampa..
The Ichabods are ranked sixth in the nation and will take a 29-5 record into their quarterfinal match.
Washburn celebrates its NCAA Division II Central Region volleyball championship Saturday night in Warrensburg, Mo. The Ichabods are the No. 3 seed for the Elite Eight tournament in Tampa, Fla. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn claimed the NCAA Central Region title with wins over No. 10-ranked Winona State and No. 1 Central Missouri in four sets and a sweep over No. 15 Concordia-St. Paul in Saturday night's championship match.
Washburn has faced West Texas A&M six times since 1989 and WU leads the series, 4-2.
The two teams last met on Sept. 14, 2019, with the Ichabods sweeping the Lady Buffs, 25-22, 25-22 and 25-14.
West Texas A&M (26-4) earned a trip to the NCAA national tournament with wins over No. 8 Colorado School of Mines, No. 22 Texas-Tyler and No. 3 Metropolitan State-Denver.
In the regional championship match, the Lady Buffs completed the reverse sweep over the Roadrunners, winning 18-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18 and 15-8.
Washburn is 2-2 all-time in the national tournament and advanced to the semifinals in 2007 and 2018.
All four national quarterfinals will be played on Thursday, followed by the semifinals on Friday and the championship match on Saturday.
Other quarterfinal matches will pit No. 7 Daemen vs. No. 2 Western Washington at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by No. 4 Hillcrest vs. No. 5 Gannon at 4 p.m. and No. 8 Augusta vs. No. 1 Tampa at 6:30 p.m.
