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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Eight members of Washburn University's volleyball team have earned spots on the 2021 All-MIAA team, including five first-team selections.
The All-MIAA team was announced Tuesday afternoon, with Washburn's eight honorees an all-time program best.
The Ichabods will open postseason play at 6 p.m. Tuesday, hosting an MIAA Tournament quarterfinal match against No. 6 seed Pittsburg State (6 p.m.).
Washburn closed out the regular season with a record of 25-4 (17-3 MIAA) and was ranked No. 1 in the nation for four weeks and has been in the top five for the entire regular season.
Washburn standouts Genna Berg, Kelsey Gordon, Allison Maxwell, Faith Rottinghaus and Allison Sadler were all named to the All-MIAA first team, the second time in program history WU has placed five players on the all-conference first team, with the last time occurring in the 2018 season.
Genna Berg
Berg, a senior outside hitter from Blue Springs, Mo., received first team honors for the third straight season. She leads the team with 352 kills and is second in the MIAA with 3.59 kills per set and is third in the conference with 3.97 points per set. She has led the team or tied for a team-high in kills in 19 of Washburn's 29 matches this fall. On Oct. 26 at Emporia State, she became the 10th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
Allison Maxwell
Maxwell, a middle hitter from Jefferson City, Mo., is also a three-peat selection to the first team. She has hammered down 309 kills this year and is third in the nation with a .445 hitting percentage. She is also second in the conference with 1.08 blocks per set and her 3.15 kills per set ranks ninth in the league. This season, she has hit two major milestone as she notched her 1,000th career kill in the victory at then-ranked No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney and then on Oct. 19, she became the fifth player in Washburn's history to surpass 400 career blocks and 1,000 career kills.
Faith Rottinghaus
For the third time her career, Rottinghaus garnered first team honors. The libero from Berryton, has put up monster numbers defensively this year and is third in the nation with 6.50 digs per set. Last Saturday, Rottinghaus etched her name in Washburn's record book and broke the program career digs record that had stood for 14 years after scooping up 11 digs in the first set versus No. 5 Northwest Missouri. She currently has 2,480 in her Washburn career and is second in the record book with 5.41 digs per set. In the four set victory at No. 7 Central Missouri on Sept. 25, Rottinghaus tied Washburn's single-match digs record and broke the four set record after finishing with an astonishing 51 digs. She also has a .987 reception percentage after successfully passing 294 service attempts that have come her way with just four errors.
Allison Sadler
Sadler earned her third all-MIAA honors and second consecutive first-team nod. The setter from Parkville, Mo. has guided a Washburn offense that is hitting .301 on the year, which currently ranks third in NCAA Division II. Sadler is third in the MIAA with 10.55 assists per set and has 26 matches this season with 20 or more assists. She leads the team with seven double-doubles and is second with 2.29 digs per set. Earlier this season, she became one of five Washburn players to achieve 3,000 career assists.
Kelsey Gordon
Gordon earned first team honors for the first time in her career after being named to the second team in 2019. The senior right side hitter from Emporia, Kan., is third on the team with 236 kills and fifth in the MIAA with a .354 hitting percentage. She has knocked down eight or more kills in 17 matches this fall and has had 21 multi-block matches. In the victory over No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney, she landed 13 kills and was a part of eight blocks at the net.
Sydney Fitzgibbons, a senior middle blocker from Papillion, Neb., received her first All-MIAA selection and was named to the second team. She is second in the conference and seventh in the nation with a .410 attacking percentage and has tallied 206 kills on the year. Fitzgibbons has hit .400 or better in 19 matches this fall and has not committed more than three errors in any match. Against Northwest Missouri, she hit .441 and knocked down a career-high 17 kills.
Jalyn Stevenson and Taylor Antonowich both received honorable mention.
Stevenson is a true freshman outside hitter from Spring Hill and has made 22 starts in her first season. She leads the team with 28 service aces and has tallied 210 kills (2.23 kills/set) to go with 200 digs (2.13 digs/set). She led the Ichabods against No. 1 UNK with 16 kills and 16 digs.
Antonowich, a Newton native and outside hitter, received honorable mention for the second straight season. She has racked up 199 digs (2.05 kills/set) and 55 kills this season. Antonowich has also successfully passed 355 receptions for a .959 reception percentage. At Central Oklahoma last month, she registered 10 digs and seven kills.
2021 All-MIAA Awards
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Washburn Rural junior Brooklyn DeLeye has been named the Class 6A player of the year by the Kansas Volleyball Association. [File photo/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural junior star Brooklyn DeLeye has been named the Class 6A player of the year by the Kansas Volleyball Association after leading the Junior Blues to a 41-2 record and a fourth-place finish in the 6A state tournament.
DeLeye, who was earlier named the All-Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year, finished the season with 586 kills on .438 kill efficiency, while also contributing 26 block kills, 259 digs and a 2.56 serve receive grade. DeLeye, who has committed to Kentucky, had 133 serving aces.
Taylor Russell
Jada Ingram
Rural junior Taylor Russell received second-team All-State recognition in 6A while sophomore Jada Ingram received honorable mention.
Russell had 242 kills with .282 kill efficiency on the season and also contributed 14 block kills and 224 digs while serving 93.4 percent with 54 aces.
Ingram finished the season with 198 kills on .320 kill efficiency while also contributing 54 block kills and serving 93.3 percent with 52 aces.
Drew Baxter
Seaman senior Drew Baxter earned second-team All-State honors after helping lead Seaman to a fourth-place finish in the 5A state tournament and a 27-13 record on the year.
Baxter registered 284 kills on the season to go with 20 blocks, 393 assists and 170 digs. Baxter served 93.6 percent with 39 aces.
Kansas Volleyball Association All-State teams
Class 6A
First team
Clara Benskin, sr., Blue Valley North; Brooklyn DeLeye, jr., Washburn Rural; Jasmine Dulan, sr., Blue Valley North; Brooke Leiker, sr., Blue Valley West; Logan Parks, fr., Blue Valley North; Skyler Pierce, so., Olathe Northwest; Taylor Stockman, sr., Blue Valley West.
Second team
Morgan Colangelo, sr., Blue Valley West; Elinor Engel, jr., Shawnee Mission Northwest; Janelle Green, so., Blue Valley North; Jillian Huckabey, so., Olathe Northwest; Vivian Kieffer, sr., Shawnee Mission Northwest; Alayna Pearson, jr., Blue Valley Northwest; Taylor Russell, jr., Washburn Rural.
Honorable mention
Jordyn Anderson, sr., Blue Valley West; Morgan DeBow, sr., Blue Valley North; Jada Ingram, so., Washburn Rural; Maliyah Johnson, jr., Hutchinson; Emmy Sher, jr., Olathe Northwest; Caiya Stucky, sr., Wichita Northwest; Lily Wedman, fr., Blue Valley West.
Player of the year – Brooklyn DeLeye, Washburn Rural.
Coach of the year – Matt Allin, Blue Valley North.
Class 5A
First team
Caitlin Bishop, sr., Lansing; Kamryn Farris, sr., Lansing; Betsy Goodenow, jr., St. Thomas Aquinas; Iyannah Jackson, sr., Lansing; Ava Martin, sr., St. Thomas Aquinas; Reese Messer, fr., St. James Academy; Olivia Mae Van Der Werff, sr., Lansing.
Second team
Reagan Anderson, jr., St. Thomas Aquinas; Drew Baxter, sr., Seaman; Mya Bolton, so., St. James Academy; Kate Frakes, sr., Spring Hill; Brylee Peterson, sr., Mill Valley; Ava Spachek, so., St. James Academy; Rachel Ziesman, sr., St. James Academy.
Honorable mention
Heidi Devers, so., St. James Academy; Lily Ebright, sr., Bishop Carroll; Tatum Grimes, so., St. Thomas Aquinas; Gracie Morrow, so., Maize South; Gracie Rains, sr., Newton; Taylor Roberts, sr., Mill Valley; Skylar Weaver, jr., Lansing.
Player of the year – Ava Martin, St. Thomas Aquinas.
Coach of the year – Lindsay Zych, Lansing.
Class 4A
First team
Annabeth Baalmann, sr., Andale; Jacqueline Corcoran, so., Circle; Kirsten Evans, sr., Ottawa; McKenzie Fairchild, jr., Andale; Emery Keebaugh, so., Ottawa; Maddie Schrandt, jr., Andale; Rhian Swanson, sr., McPherson.
Second team
Brette Doile, sr., McPherson; Jenna Hayes, sr., Abilene; Lauren Lopez, fr., Bishop Miege; Ava Martin, so., Bishop Miege; Ella Mullins, sr., Circle; Ali Olson, jr., Bishop Miege; Jacey Schurle, sr., Clay Center.
Honorable mention
Fisayo Afonja, so., Baldwin; Joy Clemence, sr., Abilene; Anna Dean, sr., Labette County; Marissa Holt, sr., Circle; Corinna McMullen, sr., Louisburg; Tommie Schaffner, sr., Augusta; Laurel Streit, sr., Clearwater.
Player of the year – McKenzie Fairchild, Andale.
Coach of the year – Kaylie Bergkamp, Andale.
Class 3A
First team
Olivia Albers, sr., Cheney; Addison Budke, fr., Beloit; Cy Rae Campbell, so., Olathe Heritage Christian; Emilee Lane, sr., TMP-Marian; Abby Rose, sr., Smoky Valley; Rachel Van Gorp, so., Olathe Heritage Christian; Brooklyn Wewe, sr., Cheney.
Second team
Mylie Brown, so., Beloit; Addy Holthaus, jr., Nemaha Central; Ava Jones, jr., Nickerson; Madison Ronnebaum, sr., Marysville; Jessa Rose, sr., Olathe Heritage Christian; Jacy Thomasson, jr., Riverton; Madi Tolle, sr., Smoky Valley.
Honorable mention
Alex Bittner, so., Cheney; Taylor Damme, so., Perry-Lecompton; Olivia Lehman, jr., Goodland; Sarah Madsen, sr., Hiawatha; Maggie Miller, jr., Eureka; Makenzie Travis, sr., Beloit; Kassidi Yost, sr., TMP-Marian.
Player of the year – Rachel Van Gorp, Olathe Heritage Christian.
Coach of the year – Tom Slaughter, Olathe Heritage Christian.
Class 2A
First team
Brooke Hammond, sr., Garden Plain; Camryn Hutchinson, so., Smith Center; Ashlyn Long, sr., Smith Center; Adison Manville, sr., Jefferson County North; Tallon Rentschler, sr., Smith Center; Sammie Saunders, sr., Hillsboro; Lauren Schutter, sr., Wabaunsee.
Second team
Kori Arnold, jr., Hillsboro; Reagan Brake, sr., Inman; Naomi Dooley, sr., Garden Plain; Gabby Jacobs, jr., Ellinwood; Talya Simpson, so., Sedgwick; Zaylee Werth, so., Hillsboro; Emma Yungeberg, sr., Valley Heights.
Honorable mention
Bella Baker, jr., Ellinwood; Kate Eichelberger, sr., Moundridge; Grace Hett, so., Marion; Bennie Horsch, sr., Sterling; Madison Piva, sr., Maranatha; Sydney Puetz, jr., Garden Plain; Savannah Shahan, so., Hillsboro.
Player of the year – Tallon Rentschler, Smith Center.
Coach of the year – Nick Linn, Smith Center.
Class 1A-Division I
First team
Raegan Becker, jr., Centralia; Lily Boughfman, sr., Little River; Tawney Krominga, jr., Spearville; Cameron Offerle, jr., Spearville; Kassi Weber, sr., Victoria; Daelyn Winters, sr., Burlingame; Aubrey Young, sr., Pretty Prairie.
Second team
Lauren Brummet, so., Lakeside; Avery Deters, sr., Centralia; Kaleigh Guhr, sr., Goessel; Keeli Knobbe, jr., Sylvan-Lucas; Brooke Lewis, sr., Burlingame; Darby Smith, sr., St. John; McKenna Vogl, sr., Pretty Prairie.
Honorable mention
Attison Clark, sr., South Gray; Addi Heinson, sr., Kiowa County; Kayla Hermreck, so., Colony-Crest; Yolaine Luthi, jr., Madison; Jaiden Taylor, sr., Doniphan West; Kaitlyn Windholz, sr., Victoria; Bailey Young, jr., Pretty Prairie.
Player of the year – Cameron Offerle, Spearville.
Coach of the year – Syble Thompson, Spearville.
Class 1A-Division II
First team
Ceegan Atkins, jr., Hanover; Madison Bruna, sr., Hanover; Saige Hadley, fr., Lebo; Brooklyn Jones, jr., Lebo; Kassidy Nixon, sr., Central Plains; Abby Peek, sr., Lebo; Livia Schultz, sr., Wheatland-Grinnell.
Second team
Avery Behrends, sr., Hanover; Anna Godek, sr., Wheatland-Grinnell; Allison Jueneman, sr., Hanover; Audrey Peek, so., Lebo; Samantha Ramsey, sr., Hutchinson Central Christian; Riley Thompson, sr., Central Plains; Josie Weers, jr., Southern Coffey County.
Honorable mention
Sophia Bott, jr., Linn; Traci Cramer, sr., Dighton; Massey Holle, jr., Hanover; Tamara Lozoya, sr., Attica; Madison McGuire, sr., Central Plains; Kassie Miller, sr., Golden Plains; Karoline Schroeder, so., Wheatland-Grinnell.
Player of the year – Kassidy Nixon, Central Plains
Coach of the year – Melissa Holle, Hanover
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Five Shawnee Heights seniors earned first-team honors on the All-United Kansas Conference football team.
Lineman Orrin Busenitz and running back Jarin Sanders were first-team picks on offense while lineman Matthew Etzel, linebacker Rusty Ullery and defensive back Ja'Laveyn January were honored on defense.
Running back Jarin Sanders (4) is one of five Shawnee Heights seniors who earned All-Kansas Conference first-team honors. [File photo/TSN]
T-Birds seniors Diego Ruiz, Garrett Peery and Carter Olson and sophomores Jacob Malcom and Jayden Moore were second-team picks on offense and senior Harlan Watson and sophomore Alex Dittman were second-team defensive picks along with Etzel at kicker and senior Braeden Brown at punter.
Basehor-Linwood senior running back Zack Sisemore was named the UKC offensive player of the year while Lansing senior linebacker Caden Crawford was named the defensive player of the year.
Basehor-Linwood's Rod Stallbaumer was named the UKC coach of the year.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE FOOTBALL
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Line -- Levi Cooley, jr., Basehor-Linwood; Manny Vazquez, sr., Basehor-Linwood; Austin Mills, sr., De Soto; Chayce Chadwick, sr., De Soto; Orrin Busenitz, sr., Shawnee Heights. Tight end -- Chants Nelson, sr., Basehor-Linwood. Receivers -- Brant Wilson, jr., Basehor-Linwood; Ethan Schultze, sr., De Soto. Quarterback -- Tyler Schultze, sr., DeSoto. Backs -- Zach Sisemore, sr., Basehor-Linwood; Jarin Sanders, sr., Shawnee Heights. All-purpose -- Gage Greer, jr., Basehor-Linwood.
Defense
Line -- Dalton Harris, sr., Basehor-Linwood; Drake Courtney, sr., Basehor-Linwood; Zach White, sr., De Soto; Matthew Etzel, sr., Shawnee Heights. Linebackers -- Sam Hicks, sr., Basehor-Linwood; Ben Longren, sr., De Soto; Caden Crawford, sr., Lansing; Rusty Ullery, sr., Shawnee Heights. Backs -- Tommy Lally, sr., Basehor-Linwood; Cole Heitman, so., De Soto; Richie Patrick, sr., Lansing; Ja'Laveyn January, sr., Shawnee Heights.
Returner -- Ethan Schultze, sr., De Soto.
Kicker -- Luke VanBooven, sr., De Soto.
Punter -- Liam Zell, sr., Lansing.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Line -- Pete Best, sr., Basehor-Linwood; Sam Lough, so., Basehor-Linwood; Dylan Murphy, sr., Leavenworth; Diego Ruiz, sr., Shawnee Heights; Garrett Peery, sr., Shawnee Heights. Tight end -- Carter Olson, sr., Shawnee Heights. Receivers -- Jacob Malcom, so., Shawnee Heights; Jayden Moore, so., Shawnee Heights. Quarterback -- Brady Garrison, sr., Basehor-Linwood. Backs -- Tyrone Butler, so., Lansing; Ty Cole, sr., Turner. All-purpose -- Amarion Green, so., De Soto.
Defense
Line -- John Johnson, sr., De Soto; AJ Shields, sr., Lansing; Riley Frederickson, sr., Leavenworth; Harlan Watson, sr., Shawnee Heights. Linebackers -- Aidan Ingram, sr., Basehor-Linwood; Sam Torline, jr., De Soto; Trenton Harper, sr., Leavenworth; Alex Dittman, so., Shawnee Heights. Backs -- Kaleb Scott, so., Basehor-Linwood; Jacob Robinson, jr., Leavenworth; Willie George, sr., Leavenworth; David Taylor, sr., Turner.
Returner -- Brant Wilson, jr., Basehor-Linwood. Kicker -- Matthew Etzel, sr., Shawnee Heights. Punter -- Braeden Brown, sr., Shawnee Heights.
Shawnee Heights Honorable mention
Offense
Line -- Gavin Zuperku, jr. Receiver -- Jayden Holly, so.
Defense
Line -- Christian Gonzales, so. Linebacker -- Dawson Block, sr.; Sean Wunder, jr. Backs -- Jason Ward, sr.; Jaye Jones, jr.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which earned a share of the Centennial League championship and went 8-2 on the season, earned eight first-team spots on the All-Centennial League football team.
Rural sophomore quarterback Branton DeWeese, junior tight end Lukas Hanks, senior receiver Robby Bolin and senior lineman Shane Sexton earned berths on the all-league first-team offense while junior linebacker Ty Weber and senior defensive back Landon MacEwan were first-team selections on defense.
Washburn Rural quarterback Branton DeWeese was the lone sophomore to earn first-team honors on the All-Centennial League football team. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Giles Frederickson was named the all-league kicker while junior Dayton Smoot got the nod as the all-league punter.
Topeka High senior Danny Saili was one of only two players to earn All-Centennial League first-team honors on offense and defense. [File photo/TSN]
A total of 13 city players earned first-team All-Centennial League honors, including Topeka High senior Danny Saili, who earned first-team spots on the offensive and defensive lines.
Senior receiver Brody Gormley and senior defensive back Casen Stallbaumer represent Seaman on the all-league team while Topeka High senior Tylan Alejos earned a first-team berth at running back and Highland Park junior Tre Richardson was named the all-league returner.
Saili was one of only two players who earned first-team honors on offense and defense while DeWeese was the only sophomore to earn all-league first-team recognition,
Manhattan senior Vinny was named the Centennial League offensive player of the year while Junction City senior Keghan McConnell was named the defensive player of the year.
Manhattan's Joe Schartz was named the league coach of the year.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE FOOTBALL
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback -- Branton DeWeese, so., Washburn Rural. Backs -- Vinny Smith, sr., Manhattan; Tylan Alejos, sr., Topeka High; TJ Jones, jr., Junction City. Tight end -- Lukas Hanks, jr., Washburn Rural. Receivers -- Robby Bolin, sr., Washburn Rural; Brody Gormley, sr., Seaman. Line -- Cade McIlvaine, sr., Manhattan; TJ Osa, sr., Junction City; Danny Saili, sr., Topeka High; Shane Sexton, sr., Washburn Rural; Talique Houston, sr., Manhattan.
Defense
Line -- Talique Houston, sr., Manhattan; Danny Saili, sr., Topeka High; Rudy Vargas, sr., Junction City; Elijah Clarke-Boyd, jr., Junction City. Linebackers -- Keghan McConnell, sr., Junction City; Jaxon Vikander, jr., Manhattan; Ty Weber, jr., Washburn Rural; Bobby Trujillo, jr., Emporia. Backs -- Colby Klieman, sr., Manhattan; Casen Stallbaumer, sr., Seaman; Landon McEwan, sr., Washburn Rural; Chaz Ruffin, sr., Junction City.
Returner -- Tre Richardson, jr., Highland Park.
Kicker -- Giles Frederickson, sr., Washburn Rural.
Punter -- Dayton Smoot, jr., Washburn Rural.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback -- Camden Barta, sr., Seaman. Backs -- MaKenttis Adams, sr., Washburn Rural; Randall Banks, sr., Junction City; JaVion Lee, sr., Topeka West. Tight end -- Elliott Cooper, sr., Topeka West. Receivers -- Tre Richardson, sr., Highland Park; Joe Hall, sr., Manhattan; Casen Stallbaumer, sr., Seaman. Line -- Logan Cox, jr., Seaman; Petren Batolome, fr., Junction City; Zach Franco, jr., Washburn Rural; Kobe Jordan, sr., Seaman; Sean Miller, jr., Seaman.
Defense
Line -- Austin Fager, sr., Washburn Rural; Kelonnie Patterson, jr., Manhattan; Brody Gormley, sr., Seaman; Josh Adeniji, sr., Manhattan. Linebackers -- Braden Colley, sr., Seaman; EJ Whitfield, sr., Manhattan; Connor Conklin, sr., Washburn Rural; Bryson Vawter, jr., Seaman. Backs -- Joe Hall, sr., Manhattan; Robby Bolin, sr., Washburn Rural; Terrence Tedder, sr., Junction City; Camden Barta, sr., Seaman.
Returner -- Vinny Smith, sr., Manhattan. Kicker -- Grant Snowden, sr., Manhattan. Punter -- Brody Gormley, sr., Seaman.
Honorable mention
Offense
Quarterback -- Malachi Berg, jr, Topeka West; Keenan Schartz, jr., Manhattan; Xavion Felton, jr., Junction City; Cam Geitz, sr., Emporia. Backs -- JC Heim, so., Washburn Rural; Xavier Alexander, jr., Topeka West; Tyrell Reed, jr., Highland Park. Tight end -- Jaxon Bowles, jr., Manhattan; Logan Nabus, jr., Junction City. Receivers -- Tyree Holloway, jr., Junction City; JaqSon Bush, sr., Topeka West; Amr Sabarrini, jr., Washburn Rural; Parker Leeds, jr., Emporia; Kyler Hahn, sr., Manhattan. Line -- Jacob Jackson, sr., Topeka High; Jaxson Thomas, jr., Seaman; Nate Thomas, jr., Emporia; Jay Orozco, sr., Emporia; Morgan Dean, sr., Highland Park; Robert Allaman-Wesley, fr., Emporia.
Defense
Line -- Elliott Cooper, sr., Topeka West; BJ Canady, so., Topeka High; Jaxson Thomas, jr., Seaman; Mackey James, jr., Highland Park; Thai Iverson, so., Emporia; Kobe Le, fr., Emporia; Packson Bettis, so., Washburn Rural; Jamal Shahid, sr., Topeka West; Kasen Hasenkamp, jr., Seaman; Rodney Coleman, jr., Junction City; Kyrece Robinson, so., Topeka West. Linebackers -- Jaylen Holloway, sr., Junction City; Logan McDaniel, sr., Topeka High; JC Heim, so., Washburn Rural; Quaveon Gilmore, sr., Junction City; Wyatt Conklin, jr., Washburn Rural; Kyle Obermeyer, Emporia. Backs -- Tylan Alejos, sr., Topeka High; Dante Walters, jr., Manhattan; Zac Hirschev, sr., Manhattan; Kellan Spruce, jr., Highland Park; Isiah Kincade, so., Topeka High; Callen Barta, so., Seaman; Kaden Woydziak, sr., Emporia; Michael Boganowski, so., Junction City; Donque Williams, jr., Junction City; Kason Williams, jr., Washburn Rural; Fred Jackson, jr., Emporia; Kadyn Galbreath, sr., Emporia.
Kicker -- Aiden Field, jr., Junction City; Gavin Wilhelm, sr, Seaman.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There was a lot of back and forth and more than a few tears, but Topeka High star NiJaree Canady has made the decision to bypass her senior basketball season to concentrate on her softball future.
The two-sport All-Stater made an oral commitment to Stanford's softball program earlier this fall and said it was a hard decision to give up basketball after helping the Trojans reach the Class 6A state semifinals three straight seasons, including a pair of runner-up state finishes.
"I told the girls in the locker room like last week and there were a lot of tears,'' Canady told TopSports.news Monday. "I talked to my family a lot and my coaches, of course, and then back to my family and we all decided that Stanford is Power 5 softball and Pac-10 softball is one of the hardest conferences to play in, so we all thought it would be just easier to focus on softball and really zone in.
"The past three years I'd devote myself 100 percent to basketball during the winter and this year especially I can't afford to do that.''
Stanford-bound NiJaree Canady has opted to bypass her senior basketball season at Topeka High to concentrate on her future in softball. [File photo/TSN]
Canady does plan to play for Topeka High's softball team next spring after helping lead the Trojans to a perfect 25-0 record and the school's first 6A softball title as a junior. Canady was named the Gatorade Kansas Softball Player of the Year as a junior
Canady compiled a 21-0 record in the pitching circle with a miniscule 0.26 earned run average while striking out 226 batters in 107.2 innings. Canady hit .478 on the season with 13 home runs and 49 runs batted in.
