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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Needless to say, Bo Reeves and his Rossville teammates were over the moon with excitement after capping a perfect 13-0 football season with the Class 2A state championship last fall.
Some seven months later that excitement hasn't really waned. In fact, Reeves may appreciate that achievement more now than he did back in November.
"Lookng back at it now, it actually feels real,'' Reeves said. "We got our rings, we see it in the books and it seems a lot more real than it did back then because then it was such a surreal thing.
"It was about the best we could have asked for. It was a great year, it was fun.''
Former Rossville star receiver Bo Reeves (10) will play for the East in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Hutchinson. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University golf star Andrew Beckler was named TopNews.Sports' Washburn University Co-Male Athlete of the Year after earning the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year for Division II. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics}
ANDREW BECKLER
CO-MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The Ichabod senior golf star was named the 2021 Division II Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year to cap his outstanding college career with the highest individual honor in college golf. Prior to Beckler, Washburn had never had a finalist for the Nicklaus Award, nor had there ever been a golfer from the MIAA or the NCAA Division II Central Region to win it.
Beckler, a Washburn Rural graduate, was earlier named the 2021 MIAA Player of the Year after turning in a record season for the Ichabods this spring as he claimed five individual titles in 10 competitions and placed in the top three at the other five events. He lost to just seven total golfers the entire season. At the NCAA Golf National Championships, Beckler recorded the highest individual finish in program history as he tied for second place out of 84 total golfers.
Andrew Beckler
Beckler, a former Class 6A individual and team champion for Washburn Rural, finished his career with Washburn's best scoring average with a 72.00 in 67 rounds played and he holds the best season scoring average (70.4). Beckler joined the team in 2018 after beginning his college career at Kansas State and was named to the all-MIAA team twice and received the conference Men's Golf Athlete of the Week award three times this past season.
Off the course, Beckler excelled in the classroom as he earned a place on the MIAA Academic Roll three times and was an MIAA Scholar Athlete twice.
Tyler Geiman, a third-team NCAA Division II All-American for the Washburn men's basketball team, will be honored as WU's co-men's athlete of the year Wednesday in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County sports awards banquet. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
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MOST INSPIRATIONAL: OUTSTANDING FEMALE NOMINEES
JahnAsia Anderson
JAHNASIA ANDERSON | Seaman
PARENT: Kellum Ireland
SPORT: Basketball and track and field | GPA: 4.11
Anderson went out for track and field for the first time as a senior and became a Class 5A state champion in the shot put. "JahnAsia's work ethic is second to none.'' Seaman girls track coach Rick Brading said. "On most days she was the last one to come in from practice. For JahnAsia to win a state championship after being slowed by (an) elbow injury is just amazing.'' Anderson was also a four-year member of a Seaman basketball team that qualified for three straight state tournaments. "Although undersized as a post player, she wasn't afraid to bang around and do the dirty work,'' Viking baksetball coach Matt Tinsley said.
JaNeysha Hendricks
JANEYSHA HENDRICKS | Topeka High
PARENTS: Antwaun and Nicole Jones
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 3.4
The Trojans' point guard, Hendricks helped Topeka High post a pair of second-place finishes in the Class 6A basketball tournament as well as a semifinal berth in 2020 before the state tournament was canceled. "She is a true leader on and off the floor,'' Topeka High coach Hannah Alexander said. "She leads by example and is an amazing floor leader. Her stats are usually overlooked, but this girl makes everyone around her better. She has a knack for making passes that do not look like they should be there or be open.'' Hendricks, who averaged 4.5 assists her senior season, plans to attend Tabor College and play basketball for the Bluejays.
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MOST INSPIRATIONAL OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Dawson Adams
DAWSON ADAMS | Hayden
PARENTS: Ryan and Melissa Adams
SPORT: Cross country and track and field | GPA: 3.46
A two-time All-City pick in cross country, Adams was a Class 4A state placer in both cross country and track and field. "Without Dawson we don't accomplish what we did as a boys team this season,'' Hayden cross country and track coach DeJuan Gardenhire said. "Dawson would be the first one to practice and the last to leave. Dawson would always be there for everybody to cheer them on and made sure everybody had a positive mindset no matter if it was practice or a meet. Many of our newcomers would look up to Dawson and would ask him about race strategy, motivation or anything related.'' Adams plans to run in college at the University of Saint Mary's.
Kaiden Brown
KAIDEN BROWN | Rossville
PARENTS: Christopher and Michelle Brown
SPORT: Football | GPA: 3.3
Brown was an All-Class 2A linebacker for the state-champion Bulldawgs and a two-time state-champion powerlifter while also establishing himself as a leader in his school. "As a new administration took over at Rossville High School, students were sought for their leadership ability to establish a positive culture within our building,'' Brown's nomination form stated. "As a freshman, Kaiden was identified as a student who not only could lead, but would accept the responsibility to lead by example. With Kaiden you get the student who will stand up for what's right even when it isn't popular among his peers.''
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SPRING SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Lukas Brennan
LUKAS BRENNAN | Topeka High
PARENTS: Greg and Joy Brennan
SPORT: Baseball | GPA: 4.31
Brennan batted .405 and compiled a 3-2 pitching record with 37 strikeouts as the Trojans posted a breakthrough season, advancing to a Class 6A regional final. "It's difficult to truly define Lukas' impact on our program,'' Topeka High baseball coach Cody Miller said. "Lukas was our team captain this year and represented everything a leader should be. He was always incredibly positive, but he'd give the team a kick in the pants if we needed it. I'm very proud to have been his coach and am very grateful for his leadership in turning around a program that was 2-19 two years ago to what we are now.'' Brennan, who also played soccer for the Trojans, will continue his academic career at Kansas.
Azarion Perkins
AZARION PERKINS | Highland Park
PARENT: Linda Perkins
SPORT: Tennis | GPA: 3.26
Perkins capped his high school tennis career with an appearance in the Class 5A state tournament after posting a fifth-place finish in doubles in regional competition. "Azarion Perkins showed excellence as a leader throughout his senior year with boys tennis team and school,'' Perkins' nomination form stated. "Azarion showed selflessness as he progressed his own tennis skills by not only applying what he learned to advance his own skills but he used what he learned to instruct the novice players on the team so that they, too, could advance their skills. Azarion is a true leader both on and off the tennis courts.''
Connor Pruyser
CONNOR PRUYSER | Silver Lake
PARENTS: Curtis Pruyser and Colleen Dewey
SPORT: Baseball | GPA: 3.6
Pruyser was an All-Class 3A first-team pick this season after posting a 6-1 record with a 2.5 earned run average and 49 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched for the Eagles. "Connor exhibits excellence on and off the baseball diamond,'' Silver Lake coach Tyler Seele said. "Connor is a very respectful young man that treats everyone he encounters in a positive manner. Connor has a good attitude and demeanor when he competes on the diamond. He is a great leader for the younger guys in our program to look up to and to learn from. Connor is a good teammate, a positive role model and a fierce competitor.''
Ethan Rottinghaus
ETHAN ROTTINGHAUS | Shawnee Heights
PARENTS: Michael and Theresa Rottinghaus
SPORT: Golf | GPA: 4.16
Rottinghaus compiled an average score of 86 as a senior for the T-Bird golf team, earning first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors after helping Heights win the UKC team championship and earn a berth in the Class 5A state tournament with a second-place team finish in regional competition. Rottinghaus carded rounds of 86 and 82 to finish 28th in the state meet. "Ethan excelled for the Shawnee Heights golf program as a three-year letterman,'' Shawnee Heights golf coach Jason Swift said. Rottinghaus plans to continue his academic career at Wichita State.
Marquel Russell
MARQUEL RUSSELL | Washburn Rural
PARENTS: Jason Russell and Shanna Bigler
SPORT: Track and field | GPA: NA
Russell capped an outstanding career as a hurdler for Washburn Rural with the Class 6A state championship in the 110-meter hurdles in a career-best time of 14.79 seconds, his third state medal in the 110s in as many state appearances. Russell was a two-time city and Centennial League champion and was the state runner-up as a freshman and took fourth in 6A as a sophomore. "Marquel was a major contributor on a boys team that has been city champs four years in a row, won a league championship for the first time in 27 years and finished fourth at this year's state meet,'' Washburn Rural coach Keith Wetzel said.
Alex Sherer
ALEX SHERER | Rossville
PARENTS: Jesse and Julie Sherer
SPORT: Tennis | GPA: 3.6
Sherer got his first opportunity to play high school tennis as a senior, playing for Hayden as a co-op player during the regular season before representing Rossville in the postseason, with his father, Jesse, serving as his coach. Sherer made the most of his opportunity, winning the Class 3A-1A state singles title to give Rossville its first-ever state tennis champion. He posted a 36-2 record on the season and will play college tennis at Kansas Wesleyan University. Sherer was also the "Voice of the Bulldawgs,'' broadcasting many Rossville sports events.
Skyler Specht
SKYLER SPECHT | Hayden
PARENTS: David and Megan Specht
SPORT: Baseball | GPA: 4.0
Specht was a standout in both baseball and football for the Wildcats, earning postseason recognition in both sports. Specht hit nearly .400 this spring for the Wildcats, helping lead Hayden to a berth in the Class 4A state tournament. "Skyler is a hard-working student-athlete both in the classroom and on the fields,'' Hayden baseball and football coach Bill Arnold said. "He has great hand-eye coordination and is a great team player. Very competitive.'' Specht plans to attend Benedictine College this fall and play baseball.
Triston Speaker
TRISTON SPEAKER | Topeka West
PARENTS: Randy and Colleen Speaker
SPORT: Baseball | GPA: 3.64
Speaker batted .419 as a senior for the Chargers with six doubles and a triple and stole 23 bases in as many attempts while compiling a .903 fielding percentage at shortstop. "Triston has been a leader on our team since he was a freshman,'' former Topeka West coach John Tetuan said. "He started every game at shortstop for us for three years. We could always count on him as a vocal leader and a great leader by example. He loved to work hard to better himself every day, always wanting to do extra work. He has hit consistently over .400 over his career. Triston is the player every coach wants on their team.''
Cadin Worcester
CADIN WORCESTER | Seaman
PARENTS: Casey and Cassey Worcester
SPORT: Track and field | GPA: 3.82
Worcester earned a pair of state medals in the Class 5A state championships this spring, placing third in the high jump and running on the Vikings' sixth-place 4x100-meter relay. Worcester received All-Shawnee County first-team honors. Worcester tied for the seventh-best high jump in Seaman history at 6-foot-4. "Cadin is genuinely a competitor and always rises to the occasion,'' Seaman track and field coach Scott Petersen said. "He was a model of consistency and improved all year steadily from his effort in practice.'' Worcester also was a soccer standout for the Vikings, earning first-team All-City and All-Centennial League honors after recording 12 goals and seven assists.
