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THE PENNANT PLAYER PROFILE
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It was the kind of conversation that children have with their parents all the time, expressing their hopes and dreams for the future.
But it's starting to look like what Washburn University receiver Jace Williams promised his father, Jason, some 15 years ago could actually come true.
"Growing up I remember telling my dad before bed, 'Dad, I'm going to be a professional football player, I'm going to be a professional athlete,' '' Williams said. "At the time I didn't know which sport I was going to play, but I knew I wanted to be a pro athlete and my dad would just be like, 'OK, work hard and we'll see.' ''
With a big senior season what was once a pipe dream could be well within reach for the 6-foot-5, 235-pounder, who has already caught the eye of NFL scouts.
Washburn senior receiver Jace Williams has received attention from NFL scouts heading into the 2021 season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"He's just a phenomenal athlete, a very fast learner, and I think he can truly play on at the next level,'' Washburn coach Craig Schurig said of Williams. "He just needs to get a shot at it.
"That's kind of a hot position right now, that H-back, tall receiver, and he's got a unique skill set.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
According to Emporia State football coach Garin Higgins, former Rossville star Dawson Hammes approaches everything he does on the football field with passion and dedication.
And Higgins has no doubt that Hammes is going to treat his new role as a Hornet captain the same way.
Former Rossville star Dawson Hammes will serve as a team captain for Emporia State's football team this fall. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"It starts with his work ethic,'' Higgins said. "He's one of those guys that he's going to lead through his actions first because he practices the same way every day. He lifts weights the same way and it could be a jog through and he's going to be focused and he's going to give great effort.
"If you just watch him in practice and you turn the film on you're going to see relentless effort. Does his speed change ever? Never.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: Additional players could be added as more Shawnee County volleyball programs submit 2021 information.
Drew Baxter
Drew Baxter, Seaman
A senior, Baxter received first-team All-City and All-Centennial League honors in 2020 after helping lead the Vikings to a 28-8 record, the Centennial League championship and Seaman's first berth in the Class 5A state tournament since '04. Baxter, second-team All-City as a sophomore, recorded 212 kills, 424 assists and 117 digs while contributing 44 service aces.
Laynee Brown
Laynee Brown, Seaman
Brown, a junior libero, was a first-team All-City and All-Centennial League selection last season, helping Seaman post a 28-8 record while claiming the Centennial League title and advancing to the 5A state tournament for the first time since 2004. Brown finished the '20 season with 873 points, 324 digs and 39 service aces.
Zoe Canfield
Zoe Canfield, Washburn Rural
Canfield turned in an oustanding freshman season for Rural in 2020, earning All-City and All-Centennial League first-team honors and All-6A honorable mention while being selected as the city newcomer of the year. Canfield helped the Junior Blues post a 35-6 record and a third-place finish in the 6A state tournament, contributing 626 assists and serving at 92.6 percent with 46 aces.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For 46 seasons C.J. Hamilton has been hands on with every aspect of Silver Lake's highly-successful football program.
Coaching remotely is not something the winningest football coach in Kansas history ever envisioned as the Eagles prepare for the start of the 2021 season, but Hamilton also realizes he has no choice.
A health battle that is now closing in on 18 months began when Hamilton was seriously injured when kicked by a cow in his right knee while working on the family farm in April of 2020.
C.J. Hamilton
The 70-year-old Hamilton, who has posted a 438-95 record at Silver Lake with eight state championships and 18 championship-game berths, has faced a series of challenges since then, including battling debilitating infection over the past several months.
"I got kicked last April, but then this infection started in February this year,'' Hamilton said. "I was back for a while in school and coaching until February when I got sick. When I got sick I just thought I had flu or COVID or something and then they tested my blood and they said, 'Man, you've got a major infection and we've got to get you taken care of now.' In February they took out my knee joint and put in an antibiotic spacer and they took out my shoulder joint and put in an antibiotic spacer.
"I was feeling pretty good in July and I thought, 'Good, I'm going to be ready to go.' I was moving around a lot more, but all of a sudden my knee swelled up and I went in to Dr. (Michael) Tilley and he drew some blood and it was all (infected) and everything else so at that point, at the end of July, he took the total knee out and put a rod in. I've got metal everywhere.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Wyatt Arnold
Wyatt Arnold, Washburn Rural
A senior team captain, Arnold is in his fourth season as the Junior Blues' starting goalkeeper, helping 16-4-1 Rural post a fourth-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament last fall, recording 11 shutouts. A first-team All-City and All-Centennial League pick as a junior, Arnold is No. 3 on Rural's all-time list with 28 career shutouts.
Kyson Evans
Kyson Evans, Seaman
Evans, a senior, will be counted on as a leader this fall for the Vikings, who are coming off a 7-7-1 season in 2020, advancing to a 5A regional final. Evans earned All-City and All-Centennial League honorable recognition as a junior.
Jordan Garvin
Jordan Garvin, Shawnee Heights
Garvin was a first-team All-City and All-United Kansas Conference first-team selection and earned second-team All-Class 5A honors last season as a sophomore. Garvin scored 18 goals and recorded six assists as Shawnee Heights posted a 14-5-1 record and finished third in the 5A state tournament.
