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All-Shawnee County boys cross country: Front, from left -- Hayden Keller, Washburn Rural; Alexander Holmes, Washburn Rural; Spencer Haddock, Washburn Rural; Jace Moore, Seaman. Back, from left -- Coach Matt Swedlund, Washburn Rural; Andrew Emerson, Shawnee Heights; Jackson Esquibel, Shawnee Heights; Aiden Amis, Hayden; Tanner Newkirk, Hayden; Louis Wilson, Topeka West. Not pictured: Kory Sutton, Shawnee Heights. [Picture by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Four-time Class 4A state medalist Tanner Newirk of Hayden headlines the 2021 All-Shawnee County boys cross country team.
The Wildcat senior, a former state champion, posted top-three state finishes his final three seasons after a 12th-place showing as a freshman.
Newkirk swept city, Centennial League and 4A regional individual titles this fall.
Newkirk, a four-time All-City/All-County pick, is one of four state placers on the All-Shawnee County boys team, with Shawnee Heights sophomore Jackson Esquibel finishing 13th in 5A, T-Bird junior Kory Sutton 20th in 5A and senior Alexander Holmes 13th in 6A.
Also earning first-team All-Shawnee County honors were state qualifiers Spencer Haddock, a senior, and sophomore Hayden Keller of Washburn Rural, senior Jace Moore of Seaman, senior Louis Wilson of Topeka West, junior Andrew Emerson of Shawnee Heights and sophomore Aiden Amis of Hayden.
Washburn Rural coach Matt Swedlund was named the All-Shawnee County boys coach of the year after his Junior Blues repeated as the city team champion and earned a state team berth in 6A, finishing eighth.
All-county cross country capsules:
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All-Shawnee County girls cross country team: Front, from left -- Payton Fink, Washburn Rural; Sydney Laster, Washburn Rural; Joslynn Grace, Seaman; Stella Appelhanz, Seaman; Bethany Druse, Seaman. Back, from left -- Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural; Madeline Carter, Washburn Rural; Anna Becker, Seaman; Emma Schultz, Seaman; Coach Rick Brading, Seaman. Not pictured: Khloi Bird, Washburn Rural. [Picture by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural junior Madeline Carter and Seaman junior Bethany Druse, who have posted back-to-back top-10 state finishes, headline the 2021 All-Shawnee County girls cross country team.
Carter finished seventh in the Class 6A state meet after winning city, Centennial League and Class 6A regional titles while Druse finished a city-best sixth in the 5A state meet. Carter finished eighth and Druse ninth at state in 2020.
Carter and Druse are three-time All-City/All-County picks along with Rural senior Khloi Bird, while Seaman senior Emma Schultz and Washburn Rural sophomore Sydney Laster are repeat selections. Bird placed 14th at state.
Washburn Rural's Payton Fink, who placed 19th in her first state meet, is one of five freshmen who earned All-Shawnee County recognition, along with teammate Rylee Ismert and Seaman's Stella Appelhanz, Anna Becker and Joslynn Grace.
Veteran Seaman coach Rick Brading was named the Shawnee County girls coach of the year after his Vikings captured a 5A regional team title and placed fourth in the 5A state meet.
All-county cross country capsules:
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake and Rossville had a combined seven players who received All-Mid-East League volleyball recognition.
Silver Lake, which posted a 28-9 record on the season, landed Taryn Burkhardt, Leah Cook and Camilla Ossola on the all-league first team while Rossville, 30-9 on the year, is represented by Brinley Dyche, Briar Gillum and Kinsey Perine.
Cook, Ossola, Dyche, Gillum and Perine were all unanimous selections.
Silver Lake's Lexis Berndt received all-league honorable mention.
ALL-MID-EAST LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL
First team
Taryn Burkhardt, Silver Lake; *Leah Cook, Silver Lake; *Brinley Dyche, Rossville; *Briar Gillum, Rossville; *Kara Hafenstine, Wabaunsee; *Sophia Haverkamp, Rock Creek; *Olivia Lubbers, Rock Creek; Bree Ann Miesner, Riley County; *Camilla Ossola, Silver Lake; *Kinsey Perine, Rossville; *Lauren Schutter, Wabaunsee; Brenna Smih, St. Marys.
Honorable mention
Lexis Berndt, Silver Lake; Lexi DeWeese, Rock Creek; Katelyn Hurla, St. Marys; Ayla Klingenberg, St. Marys; Colbi (CJ) Rignell, Riley County.
* -- Unanimous picks.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 3 -ranked Washburn University volleyball team finished with a .486 attacking percentage and landed 10 service aces as the Ichabods cruised to a three set win at Missouri Southern on Saturday evening.
Washburn won by the set scores of 25-8, 25-8, and 25-10 for its 17th sweep victory of the season. The Ichabods now hold an overall record of 24-3 and are tied with Central Missouri for first in the MIAA standings with a conference mark of 16-2.
Washburn's No. 3-ranked volleyball team improved to 24-3 with MIAA road wins at Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern Friday and Saturday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn opened the weekend with a 3-1 win at Pittsburg State Friday night, posting a 22-25, 25-12, 25-14, 25-20 victory.
The Ichabods got going right away in Saturday's match against Southern as they jumped out to an 8-1 advantage with three service aces during that run. An 11-1 scoring burst pushed Washburn's lead to 19-4 and the Ichabods went on to claim six of the final eight points to win the first set.
Washburn rattled off the first five points in the second set and put together a 10-1 run midway through the set to go up, 21-7. Allison Maxwell knocked down a kill to close out the 25-8 second-set victory.
Missouri Southern (4-24, 1-17 MIAA) held its first lead of the match at 2-1 in the third after back-to-back kills. The Lions' lead was short-lived, though, as Genna Berg recorded a kill to start a 5-1 run to put Washburn back in front, 6-3. Washburn continued to add to its lead and capped off the sweep with kills from Kelsey Gorgon and Berg.
The Ichabods recorded their second-highest hitting percentage of the season with .486 clip while the Lions hit .025. Washburn dominated offensively and led in kills, 41-16, and in aces, 10-2. The visiting Ichabods also led defensively in digs, 40-18, and in blocks, 4-3.
It was a balanced attack for Washburn as four Ichabods finished with seven or more kills and hit above .400. Berg hammered down a team-best nine kills on 11 swings with zero errors for a scorching .818 hitting percentage. Maxwell hit .583 and Gordon had a .538 attacking percentage as both contributed eight kills with just one error apiece. Jalyn Stevenson recorded seven kills and 10 digs.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University senior Jace Williams blocked a potential game-winning field goal with 30 seconds to play as the Ichabods survived 10 penalties and three turnovers in a 28-26 win over Pittsburg State Saturday at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Washburn improved to 8-2 on the season with the Ichabods stretching their winning streak to five games while winning their fourth straight game over the Gorillas and the fourth in a row in Pittsburg.
After the Ichabods moved the ball to the Pitt State 11, Washburn, nursing its 28-26 lead, lost a fumble with 3:24 to play and Pitt State (7-3) took over and drove down to the WU 16 before Cross Holmes 26-yard field was blocked by Williams, securing the win after one kneel down by the Ichabods.
Washburn University senior Jace Williams blocked a Pittsburg State field goal attempt with 30 seconds remaining, securing the Ichabods' 28-26 win over the Gorillas. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
