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Created: 30 June 2020

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Hayden graduate Desmond Purnell, a two-time All-City Top 11 selection and All-Class 3A first team as a senior, was honored Wednesday night as TopSports.news' Topeka Shawnee County Fall Male Athlete of the Year.

 "Desmond Purnell is a natural athlete with a team-oriented attitude that makes everyone around him better,'' Hayden football coach Bill Arnold said. "He's not only an outstanding athlete, but an even better person with a good heart.''

Desmond Purnell

Purnell was a four-year varsity letterman in football for the Wildcats and also played basketball and baseball during his high school career.

Purnell was named the Wildcats' Most Valuable Player and played for the East in last week's Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Purnell will play his college football at Kansas State and has already reported to the Wildcats to begin preseason preparations.

Other fall male nominees:

Eliseo Barreno

ELISEO BARRENO | Highland Park

PARENTS: Ruben and Yohanna Barreno

SPORT: Soccer | GPA: 4.36

Barreno was a standout player for Highland Park's boys soccer team while also establishing himself as a team leader. "Eliseo has always been a hard worker, both on and off the soccer field,'' Highland Park soccer coach Colin Moriarty said. "He is one who leads by example. He seeks excellence in all that he does. He always wanted to know how he was doing and what he could improve on. From a coach's perspective, you couldn't ask for more from a true student-athlete.'' Barreno, who plans to attend Wichita State University, also played tennis for the Scots and was a Class 5A state qualifier in doubles.

Ethan Hensyel

ETHAN HENSYEL | Washburn Rural

PARENTS: Brian and Sherri Hensyel

SPORT: Soccer | GPA: 4.31

Hensyel scored 23 goals as a senior last fall (second most in Washburn Rural history) and led the Junior Blues with 12 assists, earning first-team All-City, All-Centennial League and All-State (Class 6A) honors and being named the Centennial League player of the year as Rural posted a fourth-place state finish. "Ethan made more improvements as a player from his freshman year to his senior year than any player I've ever coached,'' Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "He was a good player, but no one expected the leap he made his senior year.'' Hensyel will play collegiate soccer at Baker University. 

Robbie Keys

ROBBIE KEYS | Cair Paravel Latin

PARENTS: Robert and Bev Keys

SPORT: Soccer | GPA: 3.98

Keys was the leading scorer for Cair Paravel in the Lions' first season as a full Kansas State High School Activities Associaiton member, earning All-City honorable mention. "Robbie is the type of leader that every coach desires to have on their team and lead their team,'' Cair Paravel soccer coach Doug Woolery said. "He not only was one of the hardest working players, but also led by example both on and off the field. I felt comfortable playing him in any position, knowing he would give his best effort no matter what. Keys was voted team captain as a junior and senior. He will attend John Brown University.

Mehrens Julien

JULIEN MEHRENS | Topeka West

PARENTS: Andre and Allison Mehrens

SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.29

Mehrens was a standout wide receiver as a senior in West's abbreviated 2020 season, catching 18 passes for 190 yards and 3 touchdowns. "Julien has displayed the characteristics and work ethic that we strive for our student-athletes at Topeka West to show,'' Charger football coach Ryan Kelly said. "Julien is an incredible teammate, has a contagious personality and leads both vocally and by example. He is an excellent young man and a joy to be around.''  Mehrens was also a member of West's basketball team that finished second in the Class 5A state tournament. He will attend Washburn University.

Jeron Poteete

JERON POTEETE | Seaman

PARENTS: NA

SPORT: Soccer | GPA: NA

Poteete turned in an outstanding senior season for the Vikings, earning All-City, All-Centennial League and All-Class 5A recognition. "Jeron has been a three-year starter for our program,'' Seaman coach Jacob Kirmer said. "He has been our leading scorer in his junior and senior seasons. He has an incredible gift of speed and intelligence. He is a leader by example and works relentlessly to play the best he can. He creates not only for himself, but for his teammates.'' 

Bo Reeves

BO REEVES | Rossville

PARENTS: Todd and Karol Reeves

SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.8

A four-year starter who played wide receiver and defensive back and kicked, Reeves helped lead the Bulldawgs to the Class 2A state championship last fall. Reeves was an All-2A selection and was also picked to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. "Bo had a tremendous presence on the football field as Rossville claimed its fourth state championship in the last seven years,'' Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. "In the hallways of Rossville High School, Bo is known for being polite, outgoing and respected by his peers and staff.'' Also a standout baseball player, Reeves will play his college football at Central Missouri. 

Addison Sigg

ADDISON SIGG | Topeka High

PARENTS: Chad Sigg and Michelle Criqui

SPORT: Cross country | GPA: 3.90

Sigg was a Class 6A state qualifier his senior cross country season and was a two-time All-City selection. "Addison trained religiously through the summer and the cross country season,'' Topeka High cross country coach Ken Bennett said. "He made the new people on the team feel like they were included. Addison worked hard to be the best in practice and in the meets. (He) was consistent in maintaining the No. 1 spot on the guys team for four years.'' Sigg also played for Topeka High's baseball team and plans to play college baseball at Highland Community College.

Hunter Wohler

HUNTER WOHLER | Shawnee Heights

PARENTS: Brian and Jami Wohler

SPORT: Football | GPA: NA

Wohler, a quarterback, was a first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection as a senior and finished his career with 2,875 passing yards and 19 touchdown passes and 1,322 rushing yards and 24 TDs. Wohler, who also played baseball for the T-Birds, finished his career in the top five at Shawnee Heights in seven rushing and passing categories. Wohler was a three-year starter at quarterback for the T-Birds and was named the city offensive newcomer of the year his sophomore season. Wohler plans to attend Northwestern College in Iowa, where he will play football and possibly double up in baseball.

 

Details

Created: 30 June 2020

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Former Seaman volleyball star Camryn Turner, who will play at Kansas this fall, was named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Fall Female Athlete of the year during Wednesday's banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Maner Conference Center.

Camryn Turner

Turner was the city and Centennial League player of the year and earned All-Class 5A honors as the Vikings ended a lengthy state tournament drought last fall.

"Camryn Turner was an outstanding volleyball player for our program,'' Seaman coach Tatiana Dowling said. "She elevated the level of our program through her play in practice and in games. Cam .worked harder than anyone on the team and she did that all the time. She had a positive attitude and became a leader for our team, especially in her last season.''

Turner was also an All-City and All-Centennial League basketball player for the Vikings over her three seasons in that sport.

Other nominees:

Aubrey Bahner

AUBREY BAHNER | Silver Lake

PARENTS: Darwin and Antoinette Bahner

SPORT: Cross Country | GPA: 4.0

Bahner was a cross and track standout for Silver Lake, earning four varsity letters in both sports for the Eagles. In cross country Bahner was a three-time Class 3A state qualifier and a two-time state medalist, earning medals in all but one meet over those two seasons. She was also a state qualifier in multiple events in track. "Aubrey methodically works hard to get better every day,'' Silver Lake cross country coach Kevin Brokaw said. "She makes every team she is part of better. She is truly a quality individual.'' Bahner will attend Tabor College, where she plans to compete in both cross country and track.

Sara Eggenberger

SARA EGGENBERGER | Shawnee Heights 

PARENTS: Melinda Clemens

SPORT: Golf | GPA: 4.45

Eggenberger earned second-team All-City recognition as a senior. "Sara brings a positive level of energy and spirit to practice and meets,'' Shawnee Heights golf coach Jane Yi said. "Sara is focused and determined, often practicing many hours a week on her own time. She has a sense of friendliness and fair play, often treating people courteously especially when they are not doing so well. Sara's healthy perspective and cheerful demeanor have made her a wonderful “cheerleader'' on the team. Sara also puts the same positive and hard work attitude into her studies.'' 

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Details

Created: 30 June 2020

 By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Kyle McNorton was one of the greatest linebackers in University of Kansas football history, helping lead the Jayhawks to a major turnaround in the late 1970s and early '80s.

The former Seaman star still bleeds Jayhawk Blue and continues to hold out hope for a similar KU turnaround after its recent struggles. 

"We've had season tickets through all this, the good and the bad,'' said McNorton, inducted Wednesday into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame. "We went to the (2008) Orange Bowl, and at the time we joked about it, but now it might be true that it might have been the only chance I had to go to a big bowl game.''

Seaman graduate Kyle McNorton (right) is a member of the 2021 Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame class after starring for Kansas and playing two seasons in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs. [Submitted]

McNorton played at Kansas from 1978-81 and at the time was the all-time leading tackler in school history with 381 tackles.

He was named the Jayhawks' MVP and was a unanimous first-team All Big 8 selection and earned All-America recognition his senior season after KU earned a berth in the Hall of Fame Classic.

"We went 1-10 my first year under Bud Moore and then got better each year under Coach Fam (Don Fambrough) and our senior year we were a Top 20 team,'' McNorton said.

The Jayhawks have struggled off and on since then, particularly in recent seasons, but McNorton maintains optimism that things will get better.

"We still have season tickets and we tailgate with a lot of my old teammates, so it's fun,'' he said. "You keep hoping, right? It's disappointing, there's no doubt about that. You're disappointed in the fact that they can't do better than they are, but they are also in one of the top conferences, which makes it even harder.

"And football is such a team sport. You have to have all the pieces. It takes 11 or really 22 to be a really good team, so I think it's really harder for a football team to turn it around.''

After finishing up his career at Kansas, McNorton got the opportunity to play two seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs before knee injuries ended his NFL career.

"I got hurt both years, the same knee,'' McNorton said. "The first year it didn't tear it up. It was twisted or stretched or whatever, and then the next year in the second or third game I tore it up on an interception (against the Bengals).

"I should have dropped the ball. I was covering a guy out in the flat and made a one-handed grab and took off. Turk Schonert (the Cincinnati quarterback) was who it was and he had the angle on me and hit me and it just twisted and tore it all up. I got a fake knee out of that deal now.''

McNorton was cut loose by the Chiefs after the second injury and said he knew in his heart that his playing days were over.

"They called me in and told me they weren't re-signing my contract and you're free to go play for somebody else, but I was done,'' he said.

McNorton still feels that if not for the injuries he could have put together an extended NFL career.

"Being there and playing in a few games and practicing, I really do,'' McNorton said. "Now it wouldn't have been a Tom Brady career, but I think it was very reasonable to think I could have made it.''

As is the case with KU, McNorton continues to be a big fan of the Chiefs.

"I've watched them and been just as loyal as I have been to KU through every game throughout the years,'' he said. "It's a lot more furn watching now than it had been.''

And although his playing career ended a lot sooner than he would have liked, McNorton has no complaints with how things turned out.

McNorton went back to school and got his college degree from Kansas. Then, after going through a few other jobs, he hooked on with Topeka's Capital City Oil 27 years ago.

"It's been a good run,'' he said. "This has been a good fit. When I started here I was the fifth employee and we've got 35 now, so we've grown a lot. We've done a lot of good things and its been through the hard work that everybody here has put in. It's a team effort.''

 Hall of Fame Class of 2021 capsules:

Seaman graduate Kyle McNorton, who starred at Kansas before playing for the Kansas City Chiefs is a member of the 2021Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame class. [Submitted}

KYLE McNORTON

McNorton attended Northern Hills Junior High and graduated from Seaman, where he was student council president, Homecoming King and participated in football, basketball, wrestling and track.

McNorton qualified for the state meet in his one season of wrestling while in track McNorton ran sprints, setting the school record in the 440-yard dash, and competed in various field events.

He started all three years as a running back and linebacker for the Vikings in football and led the city of Topeka in yards per carry as a senior while earning all-league and All-City recognition. McNorton earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Kansas Shrine Bowl the summer following his high school graduation.

McNorton started the last three games of his freshman season at linebacker for Kansas and started the next three seasons as the Jayhawks improved from 1-10 his freshman season to a nationally-ranked Top 20 team his senior year.

McNorton ended his career with 381 tackles, at the time the all-time leading tackler in school history. He was named the Jayhawks' MVP and was a unanimous first-team All Big 8 selection and earned All-America recognition.

McNorton signed a professional contract with the Chiefs and was selected the MVP of a game against New Orleans Saints game before his NFL career was cut short due to knee injuries.

Former Highland Park and Missouri State star and current European standout Kyle Weems is a member of the 2021 Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame class. [Twitter]

KYLE WEEMS

Weems earned All-State basketball honors as a senior at Highland Park after the Scots became only the second boys team in city history to post anundefeated season en route to the Class 5A state championship.

Weems went on to put together one of the most outstanding college careers in Missouri State history. He was named the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year and an NCAA Division I All-American following the 2010-11 season.

Weems averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds as a junior as the Bears won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title.

Weems finished his college career No. 2 on Missouri State's career scoring list with 1,868 points, tied for No. 4 in rebounds with 844 and No. 6 in blocks with 114.

A 6-foot-6 forward, Weems has played professional basketball overseas since 2012, playing in Germany, France, Turkey and Italy.

Weems, who played in the NBA Summer League in 2012 and 2013 for the Warriors, Raptors and Hawks, is currently playing for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A, helping the team win the Italian title earlier this spring.

Highland Park and Washburn star Michael Wilhoite, who played six seasons in the NFL and is an assistant coach for the Chargers, is a member of the 2021 Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame class. [Ninersnoise.com]

MICHAEL WILHOITE

Wilhoite was a football and basketball standout at Highland Park before becoming a football standout for Washburn University and playing in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

Wilhoite played quarterback at Highland Park and was used at six different positions for Washburn before playing linebacker and becoming a special teams standout in the NFL.

Wilhoite, 6-foot, 245 pounds, earned a spot on the 49ers practice squad in late 2011 and was promoted to the active roster late in the 2012 season, helping San Francisco make a run to Super Bowl XLVII.

"We were battling to be the cellar-dweller. My freshman year they beat us out there and I can remember the game. The crowd rushed the field with about a minute to go and they were trying to tear down the goal post and the game was still going on. It was crazy.

After playing five seasons for the 49ers, Wilhoite finished his playing career with the Seahawks in '17.

Wilhoite played in 79 NFL games with 45 starts, recording 298 tackles with four pass interceptions.

Wilhoite spent the '19 and '20 seasons as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Saints and is currently the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Details

Created: 28 June 2020

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The 2020-21 basketball season was so much fun that Washburn University star point guard Tyler Geiman jumped at the chance to do it all over again.

Geiman, who will be honored Wednesday night as TopSports.news' Washburn Co-Male Athlete of the Year, has already earned his bachelor's degree and had several other options he could have explored.

There were other Division II stars who opted to transfer to the Division I level while Geiman could have also looked into playing professionally, but for Geiman the choice to return to the Ichabods for one last go-around was an easy one.

"I'd say it was pretty much a done deal,'' the 6-foot-1 Geiman said. "I wanted to get my masters so I was like, 'I don't want to be working on that and not still play basketball,' so it worked out really well actually because now I can still do both.''

Washburn star point guard Tyler Geiman will be honored Wednesday night as TopSports.news' Washburn University Co-Male Athlete of the Year. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

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