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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Joshua Hogan, director of the Topeka Blue Thunder Wrestling Club for the past nine years, has been named head boys wrestling coach at Washburn Rural, the reigning Class 6A state champion.
Hogan takes over for Damon Parker, who stepped down as the Junior Blues' boys coach following the 2020-21 season. Parker, who led Rural to a unprecedented girls-boys title sweep this past season, will continue to coach the Junior Blues' girls team, which has won two straight state titles.
Hogan is a 2007 Washburn Rural graduate and holds an associate's degree in psychology from the University of Kansas.
Hogan was a four-year wrestling letterman at Rural and was a three-time state medalist.
"We are very pleased to have coach Hogan join the Junior Blues' coaching staff as our next head boys wrestling coach,'' Washburn Rural athletic director Penny Lane said. "He will be able to continue the tradition of excellence at Rural and provide the necessary leadership for our young men in this outstanding program.''
Hogan will take over as the Junior Blues' head coach this summer for offseason training.
Parker led Rural to the school's first-ever boys state team championship in February after the Junior Blues had posted second-place finishes two out of the previous three years.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A year ago at this time, Marrit Mead was a senior at Santa Fe Trail waiting for her chance to play softball after her final high school season was wiped out by COVID-19.
Washburn University has given Mead that opportunity from Day 1 and the third baseman has responded with a monster freshman season for the Ichabods, who took a 21-6 record into Monday's home MIAA twinbill against Lincoln.
Mead, who had a team-high .484 batting average through Sunday, said that it was difficult having her senior season canceled, but said she had to concentrate on her future at Washburn.
“It definitely took some time to adjust because it was sad at first, but then you look at all the things coming forward and you can’t be sad anymore and you just have to move on,'' Mead said Sunday after going 5 for 7 with a double and two home runs in WU's doubleheader sweep over Newman.
Mead admitted she was surprised when veteran Washburn coach Brenda Holaday inserted her into the Ichabods' lineup for the season-opener in early February, but she has delivered ever since, leading WU in most offensive categories.
“It was a shock at first, but as soon as I was given my opportunity, I knew I had to take it and run with it and do the best I could for my team,'' Mead said. “It’s not something I was expecting, but every day everyone works hard at practice and everyone makes each other better.
"Each and every day the lineup could be different because everyone is good enough to play on the field.’’
Freshman third baseman Marrit Mead leads Washburn in most offensive categories while starting every game for the Ichabods, 21-6 through Sunday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's baseball team clinched its second straight MIAA series win with an 11-4 first-game victory over Rogers State Sunday at Falley Field, but the Hillcats avoided a weekend sweep with a 10-8 win in the second game.
Washburn, now 12-18 overall and 11-13 in the MIAA, got big days at the plate from Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli, Zion Bowlin and Brett Ingram while pitcher Brock Gilliam continued his strong season for the Ichabods in the opener, improving to 5-2.
Washburn's Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli homered in both games as the Ichabods clinched a series win over Rogers State in a doublheader sweep on Sunday. [File photo/TSN]
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Senior Andrew Beckler will lead Washburn's golf team into the MIAA Championships Monday and Tuesday in Oklahoma. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Atlhletics]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 18-ranked Washburn University golf team opens postseason play in the MIAA Championship Monday and Tuesday at the Shangri-La Country Club in Monkey Island, Okla.
Competitors will play 27 holes on Monday, beginning at 8:30 a.m., and finish the remaining 27 holes Tuesday (8:30 a.m. start).
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's softball team didn't have to wait long to wipe away the sour taste left by Saturday's doubleheader loss to nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma.
Returning to action 24 hours later, the Ichabods bounced back to take a 5-4, 11-1 MIAA twinbill sweep over Newman Sunday at Gahnstrom Field, improving to 21-6 overall and 7-3 in the conference.
Freshman Marrit Mead had a big day at the plate, including a pair of home runs, as Washburn swept Newman Sunday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Ichabods got complete-game pitching performances from Raegen Hamm and Jaycee Ginter while Marrit Mead had a huge day at the plate to spearhead Washburn's 19-hit, nine extra-base hit attack.
"We challenged our kids yesterday to bounce back and play the way we can play,'' said Washburn coach Brenda Holaday said, whose team had returned to action Saturday for the first time in three weeks due to COVID-19 protocols. "There's still a lot of room for improvement, but I thought we took a step today.''
