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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
TRUMAN BREDE, Shawnee Heights
Brede finished fifth in the 100-yard backstroke and seventh in the 200 freestyle in the season-opening Topeka West Invitational and also swam on the T-Birds' second-place 200 medley relay.
JAXON COWDIN, Topeka High
Cowdin is a standout one-meter diver for Topeka High and opened his 2021-2022 season with a third-place finish in last week's Topeka West Invitational, posting a score of 155.10.
CORDELL DIMICK, Washburn Rural
Dimick, a junior, was the city champion in the 100-yard breaststroke and placed third in the 200 individual medley last season, earning first-team All-City recognition. Dimick also swam on the Junior Blues' second-place 200 medley relay team at city before taking third in both the 100 breast and 200 individual medley in the Centennial League meet en route to earning all-league first-team honors. Dimick swam on Rural's winning 200 free relay in the season-opening Topeka West Invitational.
JALEN EILERT, Washburn Rural
The Washburn Rural senior was the runner-up in the 200 individual medley in last season's city meet and also finished third in the 100 butterfly. Eilert swam on the Junior Blues' 200 medley relay team that finished second in the city meet as Washburn Rural ran away with the city team title. Eilert took fifth in the 100 freestyle in the season-opening Topeka West Invitational.
DYLAN GREGG, Hayden
Gregg finished ninth in the 50 freestyle and swam on Hayden's ninth-place 200 medley relay in last week's Topeka West Invitational.
EVAN HOOBLER, Shawnee Heights
Hoobler finished fifth in the 200 freestyle in the season-opening Topeka West Invitational and also swam on Shawnee Heights' second-place 200 free relay.
GUILLAUME HUMBLET, Shawnee Heights
Humblet opened his 2021-2022 season with a win in the 100 freestyle and a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke in the Topeka West Invitational and also swam on the T-Birds' second-place 200 medley and 200 free relay teams.
BROGAN MEIER, Washburn Rural
A sophomore, Meier finished third in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 500 free in last season's city meet for the team-champion Junior Blues and he finished second in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 50 free in the the Centennial League meet. Meier also swam on the Junior Blues' fourth-place 200 medley relay in the league meet. Meier, who earned first-team All-City honors a year ago, opened the current season with a win in the 500 free at the Topeka West Invitational and swam on Rural's winning 400 free relay.
JACK MIRANDA, Washburn Rural
A sophomore, Miranda opened the 2021-2022 season in the Topeka West Invitational with an individual win in the 200-yard freestyle and Miranda also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 free and 400 relays. Miranda finished second in the 500 freestyle, helping lead Washburn Rural to a second-place team finish. Miranda was a second-team All-City selection as a freshman.
PERRY PAYNE, Topeka High
A junior, Payne's sophomore season included a runner-up finish in the city meet in the 100 breaststroke and he also finished fifth in the 200 individual medley. Payne swam on Topeka High's 400 freestyle relay team that finished fourth in the city meet and on the 200 free relay that took fifth. Payne placed fifth in the 100 breast and seventh in the 200 individual medley in the league meet. Payne was eighth in the 100 breaststroke in the season-opening Topeka West Invitational and swam on High's fifth-place 400 free relay.
Luke Perkins, a Shawnee Heights junior, is one of the city's top returning swimmers after earning multiple Class 5A-1A state medals a year ago. [File photo/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: Additional head shot pictures of the 15 wrestlers to watch will be added as they are received by TopSports.news. Pictures can be emailed to Rick Peterson at
EASTON BROXTERMAN, Washburn Rural
A freshman 106-pounder, Broxterman is a state junior wrestling champion and a national medalist. Broxterman is ranked second in Class 6A at 106 pounds and is top-ranked in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association All-Class 106-pound rankings.
Austin Fager
AUSTIN FAGER, Washburn Rural
Fager, a senior, is ranked No. 2 in the Class 6A state rankings and the KWCA All-Class rankings at 170 pounds after finishing second in the state and posting a 30-4 record for the state-champion Junior Blues a year ago. Fager earned first-team TSN All-Shawnee County honors last season.
Brock Ferguson
BROCK FERGUSON, Shawnee Heights
Ferguson, a senior, is fourth-ranked in Class 5A at 126 pounds and 10th in the KWCA All-Class rankings. Ferguson posted a 39-5 record last season and earned a fourth-place medal in Class 5A at 120 pounds for Shawnee Heights.
Preston Hartman
PRESTON HARTMAN, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Hartman is ranked fourth in Class 5A at 182 pounds and seventh in the KWCA All-Class rankings after posting a 37-8 record and posting a fourth-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament last season. Hartman was a first-team selection on TSN's All-Shawnee County team.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Additional head shot pictures of the 15 wrestlers to watch will be added as they are received by TopSports.news. Pictures can be emailed to Rick Peterson at
CARMEN ALSTON, Washburn Rural
A junior, Alston earned first-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County recognition last season for Washburn Rural at 138 pounds. Alston was the runner-up in the Centennial League meet and posted a top-four finish in regional competition.
Shawnee Heights senior Maranda Bell posted a third-place state finish a year ago and is ranked No. 2 at 191 pounds. [File photo]
MARANDA BELL, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Bell is currently second-ranked in Division I at 191 pounds by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association after placing third in the Division I state tournament last season and posting a 31-5 record on the season. Bell was named to the TSN All-Shawnee County first team as a junior.
Addison Broxterman
ADDISON BROXTERMAN, Washburn Rural
A junior, Broxterman advanced to the 120-pound Division I state final last season and is currently-ranked No. 1 by the KWCA. Broxterman went 22-7 on the season as a sophomore en route to her state runner-up finish, earning first-team TSN All-Shawnee County honors. She captured Centennial League and regional titles before taking second at sub-state.
ALEXANDRIA BUCE, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Buce is currently ranked third in Division I at 101 pounds by the KWCA after earning TSN All-Shawnee County first-team recognition last season. Buce posted a 24-6 record and was a state qualifier a year ago, finishing third at sub-state and second at regionals.
MOLLY BUSENITZ, Shawnee Heights
Busenitz, a junior, posted a 22-8 record last season, qualifying for the state meet and earning a second-team spot on the TSN All-Shawnee County team. Busenitz is currently ranked fifth in Division I by the KWCA at 115 pounds.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sincere Austin
Sincere Austin, Topeka West
A 6-foot-2 junior, Austin was inserted into Topeka West's starting lineup at midseason and played a major role as the Chargers advanced to the Class 5A state championship game, finishing second and posting a 21-3 record on the season. Austin hit 16 3-pointers on the season and earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
Jack Bachelor
Jack Bachelor, Washburn Rural
Bachelor, a 6-0 junior, earned All-Centennial League and TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention as a sophomore for the 14-7 Junior Blues, averaging 7.2 points and 2.0 assists while connecting on 20 3-pointers.
Kaeden Bonner
Kaeden Bonner, Seaman
Bonner, a 6-2 junior, received All-Centennial League and TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season for the 13-9 Vikings, averaging 11.7 points, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 59 percent on 2-point field goal attempts and hitting 24 3-pointers.
Elijah Brooks
Elijah Brooks, Topeka West
A 6-3 senior, Brooks was a first-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County selection as a junior after helping lead the Chargers to a 21-3 record and a second-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. A first-team All-Centennial League pick, Brooks averaged 15.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals a year ago.
BJ Canady
BJ Canady, Topeka High
Canady, 6-6, was a starter for the Trojans last season as a freshman, leading the team in rebounding with seven boards a game. Although just a sophomore, Canady will be counted on to be a leader for a Trojan team which is looking to improve on last year's 3-17 record.
Zachary Clark
Zachary Clark, Cair Paravel Latin
Clark, a 6-3 senior, received third-team recognition on the TSN All-Shawnee County team last season, averaging 16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals to help lead Cair Parvel to a 10-8 record on the season.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabods are ranked No. 24 in the latest American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll.
The ranking is the first appearance for the Ichabods in the national poll since Nov. 11, 2013.
The 8-2 Ichabods are coming off a 28-26 win over Pittsburg State on Saturday in Carnie Smith Stadium, where they won their fourth game in a row over the Gorillas.
Washburn, which has won five straight games, wraps up the regular season Saturday at home against Missouri Southern in a 1 p.m. Senior Day game at Yager Stadium.
2021 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll
Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Week 10 Next Game
1. Ferris St. (Mich.) (25) 9-0 745 1 D. Davenport (Mich.), 50-14 Nov. 13 vs. Wayne St. (Mich.)
2. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (5) 9-0 724 2 D. North Greenville (S.C.), 31-21 Nov. 13 at No. 3 West Florida
3. West Florida 8-1 683 4 D. No. 23 West Alabama, 47-7 Nov. 13 vs. No. 2 Valdosta St. (Ga.)
4. Northwest Missouri St. 8-1 648 6 D. Missouri Southern, 49-7 Nov. 13 vs. Emporia St. (Kan.)
5. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 8-1 625 7 D. Wayne St. (Mich.), 62-13 Nov. 13 vs. Davenport (Mich.)
6. Notre Dame (Ohio) 9-1 591 8 D. North Carolina-Pembroke, 45-7 Nov. 13 vs. Alderson Broaddus (W.Va.)
7. Harding (Ark.) 9-1 563 10 D. Southwestern Oklahoma, 55-7 Nov. 13 at Arkansas Tech
8. Shepherd (W.Va.) 9-1 502 11 D. East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 55-7 Nov. 13 vs. Clarion (Pa.)
9. Colorado School of Mines 9-1 489 13 D. Colorado St.-Pueblo, 28-12 Nov. 13 vs. Adams St. (Colo.)
10. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 9-1 460 15 D. No. 3 California (Pa.), 38-26 Nov. 13 at No. 16 Kutztown (Pa.)
11. West Georgia 7-2 424 12 Idle Nov. 13 vs. Delta St. (Miss.)
12. Bowie St. (Md.) 9-1 410 14 D. Elizabeth City St. (N.C.), 79-6 Nov. 13 vs. Fayetteville St. (N.C.)
13. Henderson St. (Ark.) 9-1 372 16 D. Oklahoma Baptist, 36-34 Nov. 13 at No. 20 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
14. Western Colorado 9-1 330 18 D. Lincoln (Calif.), 72-6 Nov. 13 vs. Colorado St.-Pueblo
15. California (Pa.) 8-1 327 3 Lost to No. 15 Slippery Rock (Pa.), 38-26 Nov. 13 at Bloomsburg (Pa.)
16. Kutztown (Pa.) 9-1 311 19 D. West Chester (Pa.), 21-14 Nov. 13 vs. No. 10 Slippery Rock (Pa.)
17. Frostburg St. (Md.) 9-1 271 20 D. West Virginia Wesleyan, 55-14 Nov. 13 vs. West Liberty (W.Va.)
18. Albany St. (Ga.) 9-1 231 22 D. Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 57-0 Nov. 13 vs. Miles (Ala.)
19. New Haven (Conn.) 8-1 216 24 D. No. 9 Bentley (Mass.), 31-14 Nov. 13 at Franklin Pierce (N.H.)
20. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 8-2 172 5 Lost to Southeastern Oklahoma, 35-21 Nov. 13 vs. No. 13 Henderson St. (Ark.)
21. Bentley (Mass.) 8-1 164 9 Lost to No. 24 New Haven (Conn.), 31-14 Nov. 13 vs. Assumption (Mass.)
22. Nebraska-Kearney 8-2 131 25 D. Central Oklahoma, 37-22 Nov. 13 vs. Northeastern St. (Okla.)
23. Minnesota-Duluth 8-2 80 NR D. No. 17 Augustana (S.D.), 41-15 Nov. 13 vs. Northern St. (S.D.)
24. Washburn (Kan.) 8-2 72 NR D. Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 28-26 Nov. 13 vs. Missouri Southern
25. Augustana (S.D.) 8-2 39 17 Lost to Minnesota-Duluth, 41-15 Nov. 13 vs. Southwest Minnesota St.
Dropped Out: Midwestern St. (Texas) (21), West Alabama (23)
Others Receiving Votes: Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 33; Southeastern Oklahoma, 32; Angelo St. (Texas), 20; Lindenwood (Mo.), 20; Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 15; West Alabama, 11; Tiffin (Ohio), 8; Colorado Mesa, 7; Charleston (W.Va.), 5; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 5; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 4; Midwestern St. (Texas), 3; Newberry (S.C.), 3; Mars Hill (N.C.), 2; Savannah St. (Ga.), 2.
