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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman senior Stella Appelhanz is a three-time All-Shawnee County pick for the Vikings. [File photo/TSN]
STELLA APPELHANZ, Seaman
A senior, Appelhanz is a three-time All-Shawnee County selection. Appelhanz placed seventh in the city meet, posted a third-place finish in the United Kansas Conference meet and was 13th in Class 5A regional competition. Appelhanz placed 36th in the Class 5A state meet and had a personal-best time five-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 37 seconds.
A three-time All-Shawnee County pick, Washburn Rural senior Payton Fink finished second in Class 6A last fall. [File photo/TSN]
PAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural
A senior, Fink posted top-two individual finishes in all four of the championship meet as a junior. Fink was the individual champion in the Centennial League and Class 6A regional meets and was the runnerup in the city and 6A state meets. Fink earned her third straight state medal and had a personal-best time of 17:33. Fink led Rural to city, league and regional team titles and a fourth-place finish at state.
Silver Lake sophomore Ali Gerber was a Class 3A state qualifier for the Eagles as a freshman. [Submitted photo]
ALI GERBER, Silver Lake
Gerber, a sophomore, medaled in seven meets as a freshman with six top-10 finishes en route to earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Gerber was a state qualifer for the Eagles in cross country and was a member of Silver Lake's Class 3A state championship 4x400-meter relay team in track this past spring.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson, a Seaman junior, is one of the city's top returning runners after earning All-Shawnee County recognition last season. [File photo/TSN]
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
Anderson, a junior, began his high school cross country career in impressive fashion last season, earning All-Shawnee County, All-United Kansas Conference and all-region honors. Anderson ran the fastest five-kilometer time in Seaman history at the city meet, clocking a time of 15 minutes, 50 seconds and eclipsing the previous record by seven seconds.
EVAN CARTER, Shawnee Heights
Carter turned in a solid junior season in 2023 as one of Shawnee Heights' top runners, placing in the top 19 throughout the year with a best finish of fifth and a time of 16:51. Carter finished strong with an 11th-place at city and a 12th-place showing in the United Kansas Conference meet. Carter will be counted on to be a strong leader for the T-Birds as a senior.
Silver Lake senior Aemon Coffman (744) medaled in seven of 10 meets last fall and qualified for the Class 3A state meet. [Submitted photo]
AEMON COFFMAN, Silver Lake
A senior, Coffman medaled in seven meets over the 2023 season, moving into the No. 12 spot on Silver Lake's all-time list. Coffman earned All-Mid-East League recognition as a junior was a state qualifier in Class 3A.
Junior Brooks Kehoe was a top runner for Washburn Rural last fall, earning All-Shawnee County recognition. [File photo/TSN]
BROOKS KEHOE, Washburn Rural
A junior, Kehoe posted a fourth-place finish in the city meet to help lead the Junior Blues to the team title and also finished fourth in the Centennial League and 16th in Class 6A regional competition to earn an individual berth in the state meet. Kehoe clocked a personal-best time of 16:10.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Rottinghaus name was already a familiar one in Washburn University volleyball lore before Taylor Rottinghaus ever stepped on campus, with her older sister Faith a five-time All-American, a national NCAA Division II runnerup and the Ichabods' all-time digs leader.
Taylor Rottinghaus
But in just one season Taylor is well on the way to carving out her own legacy at WU, earning All-MIAA Tournament and all-conference second-team honors in 2023 as a freshman defensive specialist/libero.
A former three-sport standout at Shawnee Heights, Taylor Rottinghaus played in all 28 matches (96 of 103 sets) for the 17-11 Ichabods last fall while leading the team in digs with 444 on the year (4.63 average per set) and also recording 78 assists with seven service aces.
If Taylor felt any pressure being the little sister an Ichabod legend, who played the same position, Rottinghaus said it quickly dissipated.
"Coming in I felt a little pressure, but I would say the pressure was gone within a week and nothing regarding Faith happened at all last year -- it was only Taylor,'' Rottinghaus said.
And although Faith was around for support if needed, Taylor said her sister remained in the background.
"She left me alone and she let me do my own thing, which I really appreciate,'' Taylor said.
Former Shawnee Heights multi-sport standout Taylor Rottinghaus earned second-team All-MIAA recognition as a freshman libero for Washburn volleyball last season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Rottinghaus, who received All-United Kansas Conference recognition in volleyball, basketball and track at Shawnee Heights and was a Class 5A state medalist in track, admitted that there were a few growing pains making the jump from high school to college, but said she was pleased with her season overall and is looking for bigger things for herself and her team this fall.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High senior Jo'Mhara Benning received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition the past two seasons. [File photo/TSN]
JO'MHARA BENNING, Topeka High
Benning, a senior, has received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition the past two seasons and was also a second-team All-Centennial League pick. Benning is also a softball standout for the Trojans, earning All-Shawnee County first-team honors.
ELLA BOLAN, Silver Lake
Bolan, a senior middle hitter/outside hitter, earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors and Kansas Volleyball Association All-Class 3A honorable mention last fall after helping Silver Lake post a third-place finish in the 3A state tournament, with the Eagles posting a 32-12 record on the year. An All-3A state tournament pick and second-team All-Mid-East League honoree, Bolan registered 317 kills with 62 blocks and 38 service aces.
TAYLOR BREES, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Brees was a second-team All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference selection last season for the T-Birds. Brees also earned first-team All-Shawnee County recognition in softball this past spring.
Silver Lake senior Alana Brewster, spiking the ball, earned second-team All-Shawnee County honors last season. [File photo/TSN]
ALANA BREWSTER, Silver Lake
Brewster, a senior, received second-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season after helping Silver Lake post a 32-12 record and a third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ANTONIO AGUIRRE, Highland Park
A senior, Aguirre has been one of the top players in the Meadowlark Conference for Highland Park the past two seasons, earning first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior. Aguirre received All-City honorable mention last fall after the Scots posted a 4-13-0 record.
Topeka High senior Jaime Alvarado earned first-team All-City and All-Centennial League recognition last fall. [File photo/TSN]
JAIME ALVARADO, Topeka High
A senior forward, Alvarado earned first-team All-City and All-City recognition last season for the Trojans, who posted a 7-10-0 record. Alvarado received All-City and All-Centennial League honorable mention as a sophomore in 2022.
Washburn Rural junior Draden Chooncharoen (23) was a second-team All-Centennial League selection last season for the 19-2 Junior Blues. [File photo/TSN]
DRADEN CHOONCHAROEN, Washburn Rural
A junior midfielder, Chooncharoen had four goals and four assists and received second-team All-Centennial League honors last fall as Washburn Rural (19-2) won its 29th straight Centennial League title (outright or shared) and finished third in Class 6A. A three-sport standout, Chooncharoen was a 4x400-meter relay state champion this past spring in track.
Hayden senior Cooper Grace (18) was a first-team All-City selection last fall for the Wildcats. [File photo/TSN]
COOPER GRACE, Hayden
A senior defender, Grace was a first-team All-Centennial League pick and earned All-City honorable mention last season for the 6-8-3 Wildcats. An All-Stater in baseball, Grace led the Wildcats to the Class 3A state title this past spring and has made an oral commitment to Nebraska.
