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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden senior Alex Sherer went a perfect 6-0 on the day to win the singles championship in Monday's 10-school Topeka West Invitational tennis tournament at Kossover Tennis Center, capping his perfect day with an 8-5 win over Caleb Bartels of Kansas City Christian in the title match.
Hayden senior Alex Sherer went a perfect 6-0 Monday to take the singles title in the 10-school Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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Freshman Jill Lenherr, winding up for a shot, scored three goals and had two assists in Hayden's 9-0 Centennial League victory over Junction City Monday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's girls soccer team doesn't always get things off to a quick start, but the Wildcats have a knack of picking up steam as the game rolls along.
That was the case again Monday as Hayden overcame a slow start to take a 9-0 home Centennial League victory over Junction City.
The Blue Jays held the Wildcats, who improved to 6-2, scoreless for more than 27 minutes at the start of the game, but Hayden scored three goals in a span of 2 minutes, 33 seconds to take a 3-0 lead at halftime and then dominated the second half to turn the game into a rout.
"Sometimes they need some direction and I think that's partly because of the fact that they're young,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said. "I don't have any problem with their work. Their work ethic is good, it's just their decision-making that we're really working on.
"When we do a little bit better we're making a little bit better decisions.''
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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]
