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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's been a hectic, but satisfying last few days for Seaman junior Gabby Grace.
Not only did Grace earn All-State second-team honors and four state medals in last Saturday's Class 5A-1A state swimming championships at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, but she is headed to Wichita for Thursday's 5A state track and field meet after qualifying in a pair of events at regionals.
The fact that postseason schedules in both track and swimming were altered due to COVID-19 protocols afforded Grace the opportunity to pull double duty.
"I would have had to skip the track regional meet if they overlapped, so I was really happy it worked out,'' Grace said.
Grace, a two-time All-City pick, has competed in cross country for Seaman three straight seasons and has sandwiched a pair of swimming seasons around the canceled 2020 campaign.
Seaman junior Gabby Grace (second from left) waits her turn to swim in last Saturday's 400-yard free relay in the Class 5A-1A state swimming championships. Grace helped the Vikings post a fifth-place finish, one of her four state medals on the day. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But even though she already had plenty to do, Grace decided to add track to her plate this spring, with some urging from Seaman girls cross country and track coach Rick Brading.
"Mr. Brading has been trying to get me to go out for track for awhile and I really enjoyed cross country this year so I was like, 'I should give track a go.' '' Grace said.
Juggling both sports has been a challenge, but one she was willing to take on.
"I did a lot of morning swim practices so I could get some running in in the afternoon and I ran on the weekends when I didn't have swim practice,'' Grace said. "I tried to get to my sport the day before I had a meet, so like if I had a swim meet I'd go to swim practice the day before and if I had a track meet I'd go to track practice the day before.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
GIRLS
100 METERS
Reed, Topeka West 12.23 (12.2)
Brooks, Topeka West 12.57
Hillebert, Hayden 12.69 (12.6)
200 METERS
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 25.98
Reed, Topeka West 25.99
Brooks, Topeka West 26.20
Hillebert, Hayden 26.82
Ingram, Washburn Rural 27.1
400 METERS
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 57.64
Reed, Topeka West 57.94
Foster, Rossville 59.91
Hillebert, Hayden 60.76
Ingram, Washburn Rural 61.23
800 METERS
Druse, Seaman 2:19.20
Carter, Washburn Rural 2:23.21
Wagner, Washburn Rural 2:24.63
Foster, Rossville 2:24.94
Bird, Washburn Rural 2:29.23
Seaman sophomore Bethany Druse (right) finished fifth in the 800 and the 1,600 meters in the Class 5A state track meet. [File photo/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news plans to compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2021 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 10.36
Rezac, Rossville 10.68
Renfro, Silver Lake 10.90
January, Shawnee Heights 10.92
Shawnee Heights sophomore Jeremiah Smith is the Shawnee County leader in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the 110-meter high hurdles. [File photo/TSN]
200 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 21.85
Rezac, Rossville 22.03
Richardson, Highland Park 22.28
Renfro, Silver Lake 22.50
January, Shawnee Heights 23.04
400 METERS
Dunshee, Hayden 51.35
Arnold, Shawnee Heights 51.68
Myers, Shawnee Heights 53.35
Blankenship, Topeka High 53.69
Kaniper, Silver Lake 53.75
800 METERS
Newkirk, Hayden 2:02.52
Mitchell, Washburn Rural 2:03.69
White, Washburn Rural 2:03.81
Adams, Hayden 2:06.53
Stuke, Seaman 2:06.66
Hayden junior Tanner Newkirk is the Shawnee County leader in the boys 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters this spring. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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Silver Lake senior Ellington Hogle, (15) who had a three-run homer and a run-scoring double, is congratulated by freshman Hailey Horton during last week's 11-6 win over Oskaloosa in a Class 3A reigonal final at Washburn. In addition to being softball standouts, both Hogle and Horton were also state medalists in girls wrestling. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Softball is Silver Lake senior Ellington Hogle's favorite sport and the one she'll play in college for the Washburn Ichabods.
But Hogle has never been afraid to test her athletic limits, something she proved her junior year when she tackled a new sport.
Already a standout for the Eagles' perennially strong vollleyball and softball teams, Hogle didn't necessarily need another activity to fill her time, but nevertheless decided to try wrestling in 2019-20, the first season it was an official Kansas State High School Activities Association girls sport.
After two successful seasons on the mat, including a fourth-place Division II state medal at 132 pounds this past winter, Hogle is glad she took the plunge.
"I was a (boys) manager my sophomore year and the coaches really pushed for me to try it out and I fell in love with it right away,'' said Hogle, the Eagles' standout shortstop in softball. "After the first season I was very motivated to place and very motivated to do the best I could and it was amazing.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ANDREW BECKLER, Washburn University
Beckler, who was earlier named the MIAA player of the year, ended his collegiate golf career with a runner-up individual finish among 84 competitors in the NCAA Division II National Championships in Palm Beach Springs, Fla., the highest national tournament finish by an Ichabod in program history. Beckler finished with a 54-hole total of 222 with rounds of 73, 74 and 75.
NiJAREE CANADY, Topeka High
Canady, a junior, pitched a one-hitter and struck out 16 batters to key the Trojans' 3-1 victory over Manhattan in a Class 6A regional championship softball game at Hummer Sports Park. With the win Topeka High improved to 22-0 on the season and advanced to Thursday's 6A state tournament.
