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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Seaman and University of Kansas pitching star Ryan Zeferhahn was called up to the Major Leagues by the California Angels on Friday.
Ryan Zeferjahn
The 26-year-old Zeferjahn was an All-Stater in baseball and the city co-basketball player of the year as a senior for Seaman before playing three seasons at Kansas.
Zeferjahn was recently picked No. 48 on TopSports.news' list of the Top 100 Athletes in Shawnee County history.
Zeferjahn was a third-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox after a standout career at KU and the right-hander was traded to the Angels organization in late July.
Zeferjahn was promoted from the Salt Lake Bees, the Angels' Triple-A affiliate, where he posted a 2.35 earned run average in 7.2 innings in five relief appearances.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news has finished its tour of preseason football practice at all 10 Shawnee County high schools and will post preview stories over the coming days leading into the opening games of the 2024 season on Sept. 6.
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Coming off its best season as a full member of the Kansas State High School Athletics Association, Cair Paravel Latin finds itself starting over in many ways this fall.
Doug Bonura's Cair Paravel football team will make the jump to 11-man this fall, competing in Class 1A. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Doug Bonura's Lions posted a 9-3 record and advanced to the Eight-Man Division I state semifinals a year ago, but CPLS graduated nine seniors and has only four returning lettermen and 19 total players as it begins its transition into the 11-man ranks this fall.
Cair Paravel's enrollment was two students above the limit for Eight-Man Football, prompting the move to Class 1A.
And although Bonura knows the Lions will face numerous challenges this fall, he said the focus will be on making steady improvement each and every day out.
"If you do everything right and grow and get better and you do the best that you can and you still lose, that's still successful,'' Bonura said. "If there's 100 guys on the other sideline and you've got 19 you still play your heart out and we may be able to win, we play to win. David can beat Goliath but the reality of it is if they're bigger and they're better and they're stronger we just say, 'You know what, hats off to you, you guys are better than us.' ''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Washburn University volleyball was picked to finished fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll released Friday by the conference.
Washburn University has been picked to finish fourth in the MIAA preseason volleybal poll. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods received one vote to finish first in the newly expanded 12-team conference, finishing with a total of 90 points.
Central Missouri was picked to repeat as the regular-season MIAA champion, receiving five first place votes and 113 total points.
Central Oklahoma was close behind with 110 points and three first place votes while Nebraska-Kearney also had three first-place votes to round out the top three coaches' picks.
Missouri Western was picked fifth, just behind Washburn, and Northwest Missouri was tabbed for a sixth-place finish.
Arkansas-Fort Smith was picked seventh in its inaugural season in the MIAA.
Washburn posted a 17-11 overall record last season with an 11-9 record in the MIAA, good for fifth in the conference.
The Ichabods will open their season on Thursday, Sept. 5, against Sioux Falls (S.D.) in Kansas City, Mo. at the Kansas City Classic.
2024 MIAA VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Barely a month into his adjustment to college football last season, Washburn University true freshman Sam Van Dyne was thrust into the QB-1 role for the Ichabods, starting the final nine games after starter Kellen Simoncic went down with a season-ending inury in the second game of the year.
Sam Van Dyne
And although the injury-plagued Ichabods struggled through a 2-9 campaign, Van Dyne is counting on the experiences of 2023, both good and bad, to pay dividends for himself and his teammates this fall.
"I definitely think the fastest way to learn is kind of sink or swim, getting thrown into the fire, and I definitely got thrown into the fire last year, but I feel like I learned a lot, so it will help me this year,'' said Van Dyne, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder. "It would have been nice, obviously, if Kellen hadn't got hurt, but I couldn't say no to playing college football as a true freshman.''
Washburn quarterback Sam Van Dine threw for 2,002 yards and 15 touchdowns last fall as a true freshman. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Van Dyne went through the growing pains that all young players go through, but had a solid year overall, passing for 2,002 yards and 15 touchdowns while completing 166 of 312 attempts.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kameron Badura
KAMERON BADURA, Rossville
A senior, Badura received TopSports.news All-Shawnee County and All-Mid-East League honorable mention recognition last fall for the 5-4 Bulldawgs. Badura is a returning starter for Rossville and is expected to play a key role as a skill player on offense and in the defensive secondary.
Alesecio Batson
ALESECIO BATSON, Topeka West
A senior, Batson is best known for his exploits in track and field, winning the Class 5A state triple jump championship at 48 feet, 4.25 inches as a sophomore in 2023. West football coach Trey Parker will try to take advantage of Batson's superb athleticism in a variety of roles this fall, including safety on defense.
Elijah Berg
ELIJAH BERG, Topeka West
Berg, a senior, will be counted on to provide talent and leadership for a Topeka West program that is looking to improve on back-to-back 1-8 seasons. Berg could see action in a variety of roles for the Chargers, including wide receiver, where he is West's top returner.
Tobias Bonura
TOBIAS BONURA, Cair Paravel Latin
As one of only four returning lettermen from last season's 9-3 Cair Paravel team, Bonura, a junior, will be counted on to be a team leader as the Lions make the jump to the 11-man ranks (Class 1A) for the first time in school history. With only 19 players on the roster, Bonura and the other Cair Paravel veterans will rarely leave the field.
Andrew Broughton
ANDREW BROUGHTON, Seaman
A 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior center, Broughton will anchor the offensive line for the Vikings after earning All-United Kansas Conference second-team honors and TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season. Broughton helped the Vikings post a 6-5 record and advance to the third round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
Parker Busenitz
PARKER BUSENITZ, Shawnee Heights
Busenitz, a senior, is a returning starter at safety, one of only two returning defensive starters for Shawnee Heights, which is coming off an 8-3 season last fall. Busenitz received All-Shawnee County honorable mention in 2023 after recording 40 tackles with three pass interceptions and is also expected to be an impact player at wide receiver for the T-Birds.
Brock Bush
BROCK BUSH, Rossville
A senior linebacker, Bush received All-Mid-East League and All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall for the 5-4 Bulldawgs after receiving second-team all-league recognition and all-county honorable mention as a sophomore. The three-year starter will be counted on for leadership as Rossville begins its first season in the Big East League and looks to be a Class 1A contender.
Conner Bush
CONNER BUSH, Rossville
A junior, Bush is a top defensive returner for Rossville, which is coming off a 5-4 season, and has also logged multiple offensive starts for the Bulldawgs. Bush, one of 18 returning lettermen, will be a key player as Rossville makes the transition to Class 1A and to the Big East League.
Logan Cathcart
LOGAN CATHCART, Silver Lake
A senior, Cathcart is a returning starter for the Eagles, 8-2 last season, at both wide receiver and safety and will be counted on to provide leadership as Silver Lake makes the transition to the Big East League. Cathcart is also a baseball standout for the Eagles, receiving All-Shawnee County honorable mention last spring.
Seth Catron
SETH CATRON, Rossville
The Bulldawgs, coming off a 5-4 record a year ago, will be looking for Catron, a senior, to be one of Rossville's biggest weapons on offense as the team makes the transition to the Big East League and the Class 1A ranks this season. Catron, who has made multiple starts for the Bulldawgs, is one of 18 returning lettermen.
Ricky Crawford
RICKY CRAWFORD, Highland Park
Crawford, a 6-0, 180 senior linebacker, earned All-Meadowlark Conference first-team and Second 22 All-Shawnee County honors last season after helping lead the Scots to a 7-3 record and their first playoff win since 1991. Crawford led Highland Park with 78 tackles, including 54 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, five sacks and 13 quarterback hurries.
Hayden Cummings
HAYDEN CUMMINGS, Seaman
A 5-10, 205 senior linebacker, Cummings earned second-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition and All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping the Vikings post a 6-5 record and advance to the third round of the Class 5A state playoffs. Cummings was credited with 103 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles for the Vikings.
Broderick Desch
BRODERICK DESCH, Hayden
Desch, a 5-10, 205 senior fullback, earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after playing a key role on offense as the Wildcats posted a 12-1 record and advanced to the Class 3A state championship game. Desch rushed for 511 yards on 102 carries and scored 10 touchdowns in 2023.
Jack Donovan
JACK DONOVAN, Rossville
A junior wide receiver/defensive back, Donovan earned All-Mid-East first-team recognition on defense last season and earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Donovan is also a standout for the Bulldawgs in both golf and basketball, earning first-team All-Shawnee County recognition in both sports.
Caden Estrada
CADEN ESTRADA, Washburn Rural
A 6-2, 270 senior offensive tackle, Estrada has earned first-team All-Centennial League recognition the past two seasons and was a Second 22 All-Shawnee County selection last fall after helping Washburn Rural post an 11-1 record and advance to the Class 6A semifinals.
