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By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights outlasted Topeka West in a wild romp Friday at Heights that saw 16 touchdowns and 111 total points scored. The T-Birds picked up their first victory of the season, 76-35 over the Chargers.
Senior quarterback Aiden Scott threw for three touchdowns and ran for two TDs in Shawnee Heights' 76-35 UKC win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Every time Shawnee Heights appeared to gain a commanding lead, the Chargers seemed to hit for a big play that kept the fires burning on both sides. The T-Birds continued to attack, even once reserves were inserted in the lineup. Eight different T-Birds found the end zone in the game.
“The whole sideline was going crazy as some of those guys who don’t get to play got out there,” senior quarterback Aiden Scott said. “Just seeing their faces light up when everyone scores. It’s amazing – our team atmosphere. We’re all for each other.”
David Wakes scored the first two touchdowns of the night in Shawnee Heights' 76-35 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights took a 22-0 lead in the first period. But the Chargers took to the air in the second period and made things interesting. Quarterback Josiah Wilkie directed a touchdown drive to cut the T-Bird lead to 22-8. Later in the quarter, Topeka West took advantage of an interception deep in Shawnee Heights territory to convert a second touchdown drive, making the score 28-14.
Shawnee Heights junior Christian Labrador scored two touchdowns, including a 50-yard interception return, in Shawnee Heights' 76-35 UKC win over Topeka West Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights responded with 20 unanswered points in the final 3:16 of the period to go up 48-14 at the intermission. But even then, the Chargers didn’t fold. Wilkie hit on two long scoring passes to receiver Jayden Lindsay, and Nas Williams-Brown scored on a 72-yard scamper.
Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift praised the Chargers for their effort, and said there was plenty for his team to like as well.
“I saw a lot of kids get a chance to play,” Swift said. “We had some injuries coming into tonight. So, a lot of kids were, hey, this is your first night playing Friday night football. And I thought they did well. Did we make some mistakes? Yeah, we did. That’s part of being a kid. On Friday nights, the game goes a lot faster than it does on any other day. But our kids never quit. So, sure, we can improve on some stuff, but, you know, anytime you win a football game, it’s great.”
The T-Birds, who never punted, were only prevented from reaching the end zone on two possessions. Scott threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more.
For the Chargers, Wilkie completed 19 of 46 passes for 323 yards. Lindsay accounted for 155 yards receiving while Gad Munganga added 125 yards receiving.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman football never led in Friday's non-league home game against Shawnee Mission East but Jared Swafford's Vikings also never quit battling in a 41-21 loss.
SM East, which improved to 2-0, jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter, but 0-2 Seaman got as close as seven points twice and was still fighting late in the game, getting within 14 after trailing by 21 at the start of the fourth.
Sophomore running back Quentin Moravec rushed for 112 yards and a TD in Seaman's 41-21 loss to Shawnee Mission East. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I'm really proud of our kids and I'm proud of our staff,'' Swafford said. "These guys are never going to give up. It doesn't matter what it says on the scoreboard and I truly believe that.
"I know our guys are going to give us everything they've got and we're showing a lot of improvement in a short amount of time. I know we're going to continue to do that and it's on myself and the staff to continue to work on that and demand those things out of them because I know our kids are going to come ready to work on Monday.''
East senior Jack Reeves, who split time between quarterback and tailback, rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries and also passed for 100 yards and a TD to pace the Lancers.
Senior Vince Kopp, who split time at quarterback with Reeves, rushed for 64 yards and a pair of TDs on 13 attempts.
"Shawnee Mission East and what they do, they're just so disciplined and they challenge you the entire game and you've got to continue to answer the bell,'' Swafford said. "I thought our kids did that. A couple of plays here or there and it is what it is, but Shawnee Mission East is phenomenal.
"That's an outstanding challenge in Week 2 and I know we'll grow from it and we'll be better.''
Junior quarterback Cale Ketter threw for 160 yards and two TDs in Seaman's 41-21 loss to SM East Friday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Seaman, meanwhile, got 112 rushing yards and a 33-yard touchdown run on 21 carries from sophomore running back Quentin Moravec while junior quarterback Cale Ketter passed for 160 yards and two TDs.
Junior wide receiver Josh Brown caught three passes for 72 yards, including 14 and 19-yard touchdown catches.
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By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
A good serve in a high school volleyball match can travel 50 miles per hour or faster. A good spike at the net can move even faster. Advanced players put spin on the ball to make it move in the air similar to a baseball pitcher. During each play, the volleyball is passed around to players darting in different directions to execute plays designed to hammer the ball at the opponent.
Cair Paravel senior Karsyn Hastert has become a multi-sport star for the Lions despite losing the sight in her left eye as a two-year-old. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
You better have your eye on the ball and your head on a swivel if you’re going to excel.
The nature of the sport makes what Cair Paravel Latin School’s Karsyn Hastert does remarkable.
Before her second birthday, the CPLS senior was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer that tends to plague small children. She had a surgery as a two-year old that cost her the sight in her left eye. She spent a lot of her earliest years in hospitals and doctors’ offices.
But from the minute she was old enough to play with her peers, Hastert was determined to not let the impairment slow her down.
“I don’t have a lot of memories of it. I think I was always trying to prove myself, that I wanted to just be normal when I was younger,” Hastert recalled. “I wanted to be as good as everyone else. So, I never really thought of it as a disadvantage because I was always telling myself 'I’m normal. I’m normal. I’m normal.’ ”
Cair Paravel senior volleyball star Karsyn Hastert listens to Lions coach Craig Congdon during Thursday's Topeka West quadrangular. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Hastert is not normal on the volleyball court. She is a standout for the Lions, a middle hitter who leads with intensity and positivity. Last year, she was one of just four players to receive unanimous all-conference honors from the Flint Hills League. Cair Paravel coach Craig Congdon said he is often asked by opposing coaches about Hastert’s eyes.
“They come up and say ‘Wait, does she have a visual impairment?’” Congdon recounted. “And they all say, ‘We can’t believe it.’ Usually, the other teams don’t realize it until they’re shaking hands and then suddenly they go, ‘Wait a second, that girl just killed us.’”
Congdon says there isn’t much he could do to prevent Hastert’s vision from being a problem. He says even if he could, the senior leader wouldn’t need the help.
“I don’t have to do anything to put her in positions to fight. She’s always going to do that herself,” Congdon said. “She is such a fierce competitor. I don’t know if, growing up, she felt like she had to make up for something. What she does is just incredible.”
Congdon admits he wasn’t always sure Hastert would play at such a high level.
“I’ve coached Karsyn for all of her high school career, so freshman year was the first time I interacted with her,” Congdon said. “It was then that I noticed something different about that eye, so I asked her dad, and he said she had a disease when she was a kid and lost it. I thought, ‘Oh, well, she’s surely not going to be able to judge balls in the air.’ And boy, she tracks the ball better than any of the other players I’ve had.”
“It’s all I’ve ever known,” Hastert said. “It’s not like I randomly lost it. I’ve always seen like this, so for me it’s just normal. When I don’t make a play, I never blame it on my eyes. I just think ‘I should have got there quicker.’ ”
The 5-foot-10 senior admits the visual impairment probably causes her more problems on the basketball court, where she is a post player. Volleyball has always been her best sport. She has not made decisions about college yet, but is open to the thought of playing at the next level.
Prior to this season, Hastert was hesitant to let others know about her visual impairment. But as a senior, she has decided to share her story.
“I’m more open to people knowing about it now than before, because when I was younger, I was really insecure about it,” Hastert said. “Before this year, I probably, just because of embarrassment, didn’t want people to think about it. But now I can say I wouldn’t want it any other way. I think it’s who I am and it’s part of my testimony, so I am willing to talk about it.
“I hope that, if someone has a story that’s similar, I can be an encouragement that they can be able to play. There are so many kids out there who have cancer or disabilities that don’t have to let that be a restriction. I think (my message to others) would be ‘You don’t need to worry about being normal. You can embrace who you are.’ ”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural junior football standout Jadyn Baum and Rossville junior volleyball starNora Burdiek have been selected by the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Agency as the Rising Stars of the Week.
The Dan Key Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the bulk of the 2025-2026 school year.
Here’s a brief look at the accomplishments of Baum and Burdiek over the past week:
Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural
JADYN BAUM, Washburn Rural
A running back, Baum carried the ball 12 times for a game-high 84 yards and two touchdowns in Washburn Rural's season-opening 51-41 non-league road win over city rival Shawnee Heights last Friday.
Baum scored on 12 and 39-yard touchdown runs in the second half and also caught four passes for 60 yards.
Baum is also a standout wrestler for the Junior Blues, placing third in Class 6A as a sophomore.
Nora Burdiek, Rossville
NORA BURDIEK, Rossville
Burdiek turned in a dominating performance at the net last Saturday as the Bulldawgs posted five straight-set wins to capture the championship in the Rossville Invitational.
Burdiek, a multi-sport standout, registered double-digit kills in all five matches, with 11 kills against Waverly, 15 against Baldwin, 14 versus Iola, 12 against Wellsville and 12 kills in the Bulldawgs' final-match win over Burlington.
Burdiek finished the week with 90 kills for the Bulldawgs after posting 26 kills in a pair of Big East League wins over Sabetha last Tuesday.
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By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Latin volleyball team took down two Topeka public school teams and then measured itself against the defending Class 2A champion Thursday at the Topeka West quadrangular.
Cair Paravel volleyball celebrates its victory over Topeka West in Thursday's Topeka West volleyball quadrangular. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Cair Paravel junior Karsyn Hastert prepares to spike the ball in Thursday's Topeka West volleyball quadrangular. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Maranatha Christian Academy from Shawnee, winners of the 2A title a year ago, swept through the field Thursday night, never giving up more than 16 points in a game.
Cair Paravel won what wound up being the tightest battle of the evening in their opening match with Topeka West. The Lions edged the Chargers, 25-19, 25-22.
“We’re a young team. We start two freshmen,” Cair Paravel coach Craig Congdon said. “I saw some girls grow in ways that I haven’t seen them play. I saw them compete. And it’s fun playing against local teams. Highland Park has really improved. They’re coming out with a lot more fire than in past years.”
Coach Isaach Johnson talks to his Highland Park volleyball team during Thursday's Topeka West quadrangular. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Highland Park did not win a game, but it received a lot of praise for how competitive the Scots were in each match.
“Having more competitive teams to play against really helps us to be able to outshine the other teams in (the Meadowlark) League, which is our first goal,” said second-year coach Isaach Johnson. “Ultimately, we don’t want Highland Park to just stay at the same level forever. For the last two years, we’ve tried to continue to include more competitive teams (on the schedule). And it’s already shown that, whereas two years ago against a team like Topeka West where Highland Park was losing 25-0, now we’re actually having competitive games. So, this is a great way for us to be prepared against high level of play.”
Topeka West defeated Highland Park in their final match of the evening, sending the Chargers home on a high note.
Topeka West junior Sydney VanDyke serves the ball during Thursday's Topeka West quadrangular. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
“This is always a very fun home quad for us to kick off on,” said Charger coach Alyx Nash. “I’m kind of sad the way we competed tonight. That was definitely not the team that you will usually see in purple and the way we are expecting to play this year. But we had a lot of good competition tonight and saw some good things to build on.”
