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By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
After sweeping both matches the weekend prior, No. 1-ranked Washburn volleyball began another weekend at home with a match against Missouri Southern, which entered Friday winless in the conference and 3-12 overall.
Washburn's success has set high standards for the team each night out and although Friday's match was a somewhat suprising four-setter, the Ichabods remained undefeated in MIAA play, taking a 25-8, 25-8, 22-25, 25-14 victory at Lee Arena.
“We should have beat them in five more minutes and then gotten out of the gym,” said Head Coach Chris Herron.
Washburn senior Genna Berg had a match-high 18 kills in Saturday's 3-1 Ichabod home win over Missouri Southern. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
The first set was business as usual for Washburn as it jumped out to an early 8-1 lead and cruised from there to a 25-8 victory. Five Ichabods up front had at least three kills in the set while senior libero Faith Rottinghaus recorded 8 digs.
“We were just connecting really well with the setters, and I think confidence was really big,” said senior outside hitter Genna Berg, who recorded 5 kills in the first set.
There was more resistance early in the second set as it began 4-4 but Washburn took control from that point, going on a 21-4 run to win the set, 25-8. The Ichabod defense was stout, forcing the Lions to record six errors in the set compared to just three kills.
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By Kyle Manthe
The Washburn Review
Just like the last time the two played in 2019, Washburn football and Fort Hays State would need more than 60 minutes to settle the score Saturday.
This time around it would be the Ichabods who walked off with a 23-20 MIAA victory to move to 4-2 on the season and remain undefeated at Yager Stadium.
“That was fun, we haven’t had one of those in awhile, we haven’t had a walk-off in awhile so that was cool,” said Washburn coach Craig Schurig.
Washburn senior receiver James Letcher Jr. caught the game-winning touchdown pass in Saturday's 23-20 overtime win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn coach Craig Schurig gets out of the way as the Ichabods celebrate Saturday's 23-20 overtime win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
After scoring at least 24 points in each game, offense was hard to come by for Washburn in the Hall of Fame game.
The Ichabods' offense in the first half gained only 122 yards on the way to its first scoreless half of the year.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After an injury-riddled spring track season, Hayden senior Tanner Newkirk has been back in his happy place this fall, getting past his injuries and preparing himself for his Class 4A state cross country title defense.
Newkirk took a step in that direction Saturday at the Kanza Park Course, capturing his second straight city boys title with a dominating performance while helping the Wildcats to a solid second-place team finish behind Washburn Rural.
Newkirk clocked a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 22.0 seconds in the city meet, winning by nearly 20 seconds over Shawnee Heights junior standout Kory Sutton (15:41.8).
Hayden senior star Tanner Newkirk (1699) and Shawnee Heights junior Kory Sutton lead the pack early in Saturday's city cross country meet. Newkirk captured his second straight city title while Sutton finished second. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Newkirk has been dealing with a respiratory issue in recent weeks, but is just happy to be rounding back into form after missing the 2020 state track meet with an injury.
"In terms of injuries and everything I feel great, which is awesome,'' Newkirk said. "I obviously had a solid race here today and I'm happy for my teammates as well because I saw some really big (personal records) out here today.
"Today I just wanted to get the win and try to do all I can to help the team.''
Senior Alex Holmes finished fourth (16:51.1) to pace four Washburn Rural runners in the top 12 individually and five in the top 18 as the Junior Blues topped Hayden by a 47-60 margin.
Sophomore Hayden Keller placed sixth for Rural (16:47.2) while senior Spencer Haddock was seventh (16:56.7), junior Davin Johnson 12th (17:16.3) and junior Grayson Fink 18th (17:37.9) for the Junior Blues.
Washburn Rural coach Matt Swedlund said he is pleased with how his Junior Blues are coming together as a team.
"This is kind of what I anticipated,'' Swedlund said. "Alex Holmes was out early (offseason surgery) and our focus this entire year has been October.
"We think we can pull things together in October and make it interesting.''
Runner-up Hayden also got a top-10 finish from sophomore Aiden Amis (10th in 17:13.3) while senior Ryan Rochford was 14th (17:22.1), junior Jake Muller 15th (17:26.6) and junior Nick Lloyd 20th (17:44.1) to round out the Wildcats' top five runners.
Shawnee Heights and Seaman finished a close third and fourth in the team race, with sophomore Jackson Esquibel finishing third (16:06.4) and junior Andrew Emerson eighth (17:11.3) for the T-Birds and senior Jace Moore leading Seaman with a fifth-place finish (16:40.8).
Topeka West senior Louis Wilson placed ninth (17:12.6) to lead the Chargers while Topeka High junior Michael Christopher narrowly missed a top-10 finish, taking 11th (17:15.6).
CITY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the second straight week, Washburn Rural's girls cross country team posted a 1-2-3 individual finish and for the second straight week that was enough to enable the Junior Blues to edge Seaman for a team champioship.
After taking a close win over the Vikings in last week's Seaman Invitational, Rural and Seaman also waged a tight battle in Saturday's city championships at the Kanza Park Course, with the Junior Blues taking the city title by a 24-33 margin.
Junior Madeline Carter was the ring leader for the Junior Blues, repeating as the city individual champion in a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 14.9 seconds, while senior Khloi Bird finished second in 18:29.1 and freshman Payton Fink was third in 18:42.3.
"You can't complain about that,'' Washburn Rural coach Matt Swedlund said. "We were very happy.
"We knew it was going to be a battle and you couldn't just show up and expect to win today. You were going to have to run a good race.''
Washburn Rural's Madeline Carter (left), Khloi Bird and Payton Fink set the pace in Saturday's city cross country meet en route to a 1-2-3 finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Sydney Laster finished eighth for the Junior Blues (20:11.6) while freshman Rylee Ismert was 10th (20:26.0) to round out Washburn Rural's top five.
"That's the goal,'' Swedlund said. "We're working on making sure our 4 and 5 are not far behind.''
Carter ran with her teammates, Bird and Fink, and Seaman's Bethany Druse early on before pulling away as the race went on.
"I was definitely feeling the nerves this morning because it's been a goal of mine all season to come back and defend, so it was really good to get that and I'm feeling good about the work I put in,'' Carter said.
Druse, a junior, finished fourth individually (18:48.7) to lead runner-up Seaman, while freshman Joslynn Grace was fifth (19:39.0), senior Emma Schultz sixth (19:50.8), freshman Stella Appelhanz seventh (19:58.4), freshman Anna Becker 11th (20:42.9) and junior Leah Spurlock 12th (20:47.9) for the Vikings.
Hayden freshman Elliot Wrench led the Wildcats to a third-place team finish, taking ninth (20:19.6).
CITY GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West junior quarterback Malachi Berg is regarded as a very capable passer and he did throw for a pair of touchdowns and a 2-point conversion Friday night against Highland Park.
But Berg and his Charger teammates did a lot more damage with their legs against the Scots, rushing for 517 yards and nine touchdowns in Topeka West's 80-48 Centennial League win at Hummer Sports Park.
Berg rushed for a career-high 238 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Chargers' potent ground attack while senior JaVion Lee added 179 yards and two TDs on just nine carries.
"Our game plan was just to shove it down their throat,'' Berg said. "They couldn't stop it, so that was our game plan.''
Topeka West junior quarterback Malachi Berg had a huge night for the Chargers in Friday's 80-48 win over Highland Park. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
West coach Ryan Kelly agreed with his QB that Friday was all about the power game.
"We made a couple of changes in how we play up front and it's starting to benefit us,'' Kelly said. "We just felt like we could move the ball on the ground tonight.
"It's a ground and pound philosophy. I know it's a little more play in the phone booth-type offense, but it does open up some opportunties.''
And on the few occasions West did go to the air the Chargers were successful, with two of Berg's three completions going for TDs and the other setting up a score.
"Once we shoved it down their throat it was way easier for me to pass,'' Berg said. "We only threw the ball four times, but when we did we connected on them.''
Junior fullback Xavier Alexander had a productive night for West, running for an 8-yard touchdown and three 2-point conversion runs and scoring on 12 and 47-yard passes from Berg as the Chargers improved to 2-4 overall and in the Centennial League.
Highland Park, which fell to 0-6 with its 62nd straight loss dating back to 2014, drew first blood with 1:54 left in the first quarter on a 15-yard TD pass from senior Kellan Spruce to junior A'Ydren Drew-Gregory and a 2-point conversion run from former Charger Tyrell Reed.
Topeka West rallied for a 22-14 halftime advantage, but Highland Park tied the game at 22 with 9:46 left in the third on a 46-yard pass from Spruce to Richardson (Reed conversion run), before West took control with a 30-point third quarter.
The Chargers scored 24 straight points to take a 46-22 lead with 2:24 left in the third quarter and took a 60-34 lead early in the fourth quarter and went up 80-40 with 3:04 remaining.
Reed, a junior, rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries while junior Tre Richardson rushed for 87 yards and a TD on seven carries and caught six passes for 99 yards and three touchdowns.
