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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Dwayne Paul became intrigued with Hayden High boys basketball long before the Wildcats' coaching position opened up.
And when Torrey Head stepped down following the 2020-21 season, Paul knew that's where he wanted to be.
Dwayne Paul
"There were so many things that attracted me to the Hayden job -- the tradition, the history, the support that you get,'' said Paul, a former Emporia State assistant coach who most recently served as head coach and athletic director at Lebo. "I was at Emporia State and I was on my way to Southwest Baptist and I stopped in to watch Hayden play Emporia High. It was just such a great atmosphere and I was like, "This is crazy. I'm not even coaching a game, I'm just sitting here watching, and I'm sweating like I'm actually in the game.'
"I wanted to be a part of that and when the opportunity presented itself I had to go full force for it.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's softball team suffered a big blow in Monday's doubleheader sweep over Junction City when standout sophomore pitcher Alyssa Droge suffered a potentially-serious knee injury in the first game.
But the Wildcats responded with a couple of big blows of their own in Tuesday's home twinbill against Class 6A opponent Manhattan, rallying from behind in both games to stretch their winning streak to 10 games with a 6-5, 8-7 sweep over the Indians, taking an eight-inning victory in the nightcap.
"When Alyssa got hurt in the first game yesterday, it took the wind out of all of us,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "Today I felt like we had energy warming up, but when we were playing from behind we needed some sort of spark and we got it with some really good at-bats.''
Hayden begins its celebration as sophomore Maylee Burris (30) scores the winning run in the Wildcats' 8-7 eight-inning victory over Manhattan Tuesday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden celebrates its 8-7 eight-inning, second-game win over Manhattan Tuesday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's girls soccer team suffered through a long day Monday and had a short turnaround from that 7-0 loss to Spring Hill to get ready to face Class 6A foe Topeka High on Tuesday at Hummer Sports Park.
The Wildcats got the bounce-back Centennial League win they were looking for, however, dominating the second half to take a 3-1 victory over the Trojans.
"We did take a beating yesterday and I think we played better and I think (the girls) took it to heart,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said. "From a coaching standpoint it was good to see them doing things that we work on in practice.
"I think they had a lot more fun today and I think they're getting the idea.''
Topeka High's Avery Zimmerman (2) battles Hayden's Kate Roeder (15) for the ball in Tuesday's 3-1 Hayden win at Hummer Sports Park. Both players scored goals in the game. [Photo by Craig Strever/Special to TSN]
![Hayden sophomores Sloane Sims (5) and Piper Wrench (14) celebrate the Wildcats' 3-1 soccer win over Topeka High Tuesday at Hummer Sports Park. Wrench scored midway through the second half to put Hayden ahead to stay. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]](/images/aa-images/E0BtO3MXIAQq_pr.jpg)
Hayden sophomores Sloane Sims (5) and Piper Wrench (14) celebrate the Wildcats' 3-1 soccer win over Topeka High Tuesday at Hummer Sports Park. Wrench scored midway through the second half to put Hayden ahead to stay. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Zoe Caryl
ZOE CARYL, Topeka High
Caryl, a senior who will play collegiately at Illinois, went 9 of 11 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and 12 runs batted in as Topeka High's softball team remained unbeaten with a 10-0, 27-8 Centennial League doubleheader sweep over Emporia last Tuesday.
Bethany Druse
BETHANY DRUSE, Seaman
The Viking sophomore continued her dominating season in the girls 800 meters Monday at Lawrence, posting a win in the Free State Barrier Breakers track and field meet in 2 minutes, 21.02 seconds, winning by nearly two seconds. Druse ranks among the top 10 in the state (all classes) in the 800.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's boys golf team didn't quite get the day it was looking for in Monday's city boys tournament/Topeka West Invitational at Topeka Country Club, but there were two notable highlights for the Junior Blues.
Rural finished a disappointing fifth in the Topeka West tournament, held in conjuction with the city event, but the Junior Blues ran their streak of city team titles to 11 straight with a 32-stroke victory over runner-up Shawnee Heights while Rural junior Luke Leonetti turned in a dominating eight-stroke victory to claim his first city individual title despite fighting through a gusty wind all day.
"It was a battle out there today,'' Rural coach Jared Goehring said. "Luke gave us some spurts and we had some guys step up, but quite frankly we just weren't consistent enough today when it came to guys stringing some holes together. It would be one good hole and two bad holes and one good hole and three bad holes.
"Ultimately our goal was to come out and win the city today, which we accomplished and I'm proud of them for that, but the big goal was to win the Topeka West Invitational because we had won the previous two times. We didn't have enough in the tank and we didn't handle the conditions as well as we should have.''
Washburn Rural junior Luke Leonetti won the city golf title by eight strokes Monday at Topeka Country Club, leading the Junior Blues to their 11th straight city team championship. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Leonetti carded a 27-hole total of 114 strokes, while Seaman junior Tim Biggs placed second at 122 and Topeka West freshman Myles Alonzo was third at 124.
"It was interesting out there for sure,'' Leonetti said. "I didn't bring my best stuff ball-striking, but the short game was on today. The putter was hot. I got up and down from everywhere.''
In addition to Leonetti's win, Washburn Rural got fourth and fifth-place finishes from Cole Kucera and Joe Morse, who both finished at 125, while Giles Frederickson was seventh (126) and Turner Depperschmidt eighth (127).
![Washburn Rural won its 11th straight city boys golf team title Monday at Topeka Country Club. [Submitted]](/images/aa-images/Ez8KaiQXEAQjI6A.jpg)
Washburn Rural won its 11th straight city boys golf team title Monday at Topeka Country Club. [Submitted]
Leonetti said it was important for the Junior Blues to continue their string of success in the city tournament.
"City is a good event to win,'' Leonetti said. "Our guys usually do pretty well in this event and we know TCC pretty well. We get to practice out here pretty often. It was tough conditions, but the team was able to get it done today.
"City's always a good one to win. Coach loves it.''
