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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabods will open their sixth NCAA softball postseason appearance with a familiar foe as the Ichabods will take on No. 12-ranked Central Oklahoma at 2 p.m. Thursday in Claremore, Oklahoma.
Marrit Mead, Washburn University
Jaycee Ginter, Washburn University
Washburn enters the postseason with a 37-15 record after going 1-1 at the MIAA Tournament in Edmond, Okla. last weekend.
The Ichabods and the Bronchos have not met since the opening weekend of MIAA play on March 8, with Washburn falling to UCO, 6-2 and 2-1.
Washburn trails the all-time series with UCO 30-17, losing the last nine games in a row.
The Ichabods' last win over the Bronchos was on April 20, 2019 in a 5-1 win in Edmond.
Washburn has secured its 19th season with at least 30 wins and its fourth under head coach Brenda Holaday.
Hitting the 30-win mark for the third straight season is the longest streak since the Ichabods won at least 30 games in six straight seasons from 2002-07.
Holaday is in her eighth season as the Ichabod softball head coach, recording a 252-147 overall record and 113-59 in MIAA contests. Holaday has led the Ichabods to two MIAA regular-season titles (2018, 2022) and NCAA Central Regional berths in those years as well. Holaday trails Lisa Carey as Washburn's all-time winningest coach by victories at 256.
Sophomore Sadie Walker is 28th in the nation in wins and leading the MIAA with 20 victories. She is 20th in games started (28) and 19th in shutouts (7) and 43rd in earned run average at 1.58.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Nearly 80 local football players took advantage of the opportunity to perform in front of college coaches on Tuesday, turning out for the 18th Topeka Area Football Coaches Association Junior Day Combine at Shawnee Heights.
"I think we had 77 out today and last year we had 73 so we're always in the ballpark between 70 and 85 and all the MIAA schools that are close by are here, the NAIAs from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska are here and junior colleges,'' Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said.
The combine was primarily geared towards next year's seniors interested in playing football at the collegiate level and players went through a series of activities, including the 40-yard dash, standing long jump, vertical jump, agility drills and bench press.
"What I told the kids is that this is an opportunity to do a combine here locally where you're going to get several colleges from all different levels to watch you compete,'' Swift said. "The kids don't have to travel far, it's low cost, so the benefit is being able to show off our talent without having to give a big commitment to travel and all of that.
"All we're trying to do is promote the great athletes we have in Shawnee County.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By its extremely lofty standards, Washburn Rural's girls soccer team got off to somewhat of a slow start Tuesday night against Topeka High.
But after getting a little talking to from coach Brian Hensyel, and some mass substitutions midway through the opening half, the Junior Blues turned on the after-burners, wrapping up the Centennial League championship with a 10-0 Senior Night win over Topeka High at McElroy Field.
Washburn Rural junior Kate Hinck (9) scored a three-goal hat trick in Tuesday's 10-0 Centennial League victory over Topeka High at McElroy field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This is a very, very talented team that we have,'' Hensyel said. "We are rolling right now. We haven't given up a goal since the end of March, nine straight wins. We've played really well and beat some good teams. But this team is all about just that consistent effort because they have the ability, they have the talent, they listen to coaching, so whatever we're trying to do their energy has to match whoever our opponent is.
"And if we're the harder working team and we're doing the things we want to do, it's going to be hard for someone to beat us because we've got a really good group. Early I just thought the energy was a little lax and that's been the case for us a few times this year, but when we get going and the girls kind of sense that, 'OK, we've got it rolling a little bit here,' then they're fun to watch.''
Washburn Rural, 12-2-0 overall, 5-0 in the league, scored the only goal it would need just 4:37 into the match on a shot from junior midfielder Destiny Higgs off an assist from senior Hayley Legg.
But the Junior Blues went nearly 20 minutes without another score before sophomore midfielder Brecken Murphy found the back of the net to put Rural up 2-0 at the 15:40 mark of the opening half.
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xBy Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Led by conference coach of the year Daryl Halsey, the Seaman girls placed second in the United Kansas Conference swim meet at Capitol Federal Natatorium Tuesday.
Avery Walz, Seaman
Tauren Walz, Seaman
The Walz twins – seniors Avery and Tauren – accounted for four first-place individual medals for the Vikings to lead the team. They also led relay teams that placed first and second.
Junior Joslynn Grace added two firsts and two seconds and senior Avery Samuelson claimed a first and a second-place medal.
Seaman swimmers placed first in five of the eight individual events, but the Vikings’ 218 points fell a distant second behind Lansing’s 287.
“All of the Seaman swimmers were on fire today,” Halsey said. “They all swam their best times of the year. I think regardless of what the final scores say, they all did excellently and I’m proud of every single one of them.”
The Vikings are a senior-led team with Avery Walz taking both the 50 and 100 freestyle races and Tauren Walz winning the 100 butterfly and the 100 breaststroke. Samuelson contributed to first- and second-place finishes in relays.
“They really build the team up,” Grace said of the team’s senior leaders. “They make the environment fun and they’re really motivating. Having them do so well raises the energy of the team.”
Grace qualified for state in two different events as a sophomore and hopes to build on that performance this year.
“She is right up there with the seniors on the team not only on her performance in the water, but in the leadership that she provides to the team,” Halsey said of Grace.
Shawnee Heights chased the leaders and finished in sixth place in the nine-school league with 114.50 points. The T-Birds were led by Ashlynn Landry, who placed third in the 200 freestyle. She also helped Shawnee Heights place fourth in two relays.
Halsey was announced coach of the year for the United Kansas Conference in his second year as Seaman head coach. He shared the honor with two other coaches in his first season.
“The only reason that I got it is because of the swimmers on the team and the success that they’ve had,” Halsey said.
The Vikings placed second in the City Championships last Friday, trailing only Washburn Rural. Halsey said he believes the team is trending in the right direction.
“We had such a good city meet last week that I was a little worried that they might be peaking a little too early,” Halsey said. “But they came out today and swam even better. I think they are peaking at the right time. We have a week and a half until state and I’m really excited to see what they’re going to do at state.”
UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By his own admission, Myles Alonzo's putting still needs some work.
Topeka West senior Myles Alonzo chips onto the 18th green in Monday's UKC tournament at Lake Shawnee. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN[
But other than that, the Topeka West star, a two-time Class 5A state medalist, appears to be at the top of his game entering the biggest meets of his senior golf season.
The city champion added the United Kansas Conference individual title to his resume on Monday at Lake Shawnee, shooting a three-over-par 73 to take a four-shot victory over Basehor-Linwood's Carson Youngblood and Piper's Brody Cook.
"If I can just start putting better my scores would be a lot lower,'' Alonzo said. "I'm hitting my irons very well and my driver so I'm right on the edge. I just need to start making my putts and I'll be good.''
Alonzo has now won three of his last five tournaments heading into next Monday's 5A regional at Cypress Ridge.
"I'm hitting my irons better than I ever have and my driver very well and I think I'm good where I'm at,'' Alonzo said.
Host Shawnee Heights stayed in the hunt for the team crown down to the end of the day, with Basehor-Linwood prevailing by three strokes (327-330) over the T-Birds while Seaman finished third (340).
Senior Jensen Crawford tied for fourth place with a 78 to lead the T-Birds while junior Logan Hahn finished seventh with an 80, senior Zack Hohman tied for 11th with an 84 and sophomore Ayden Valdivia tied for 19th with an 88 to round out Shawnee Heights' top four.
Junior Alexander Flanagan paced third-place Seaman with a sixth-place 79, while sophomore Timothy Lister tied for ninth (83), junior Bradley Williamson tied for 15th (85) and Kaleb Mack rounded out the Vikings' top four scores with a 93.
Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will all compete in next Monday's regional meet at Cypress Ridge (9 a.m.), with competitors vying for berths in the 5A state tournament May 20-21 at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton.
Topeka West senior Myles Alonzo reacts after sinking a par putt on the ninth hole of Monday's UKC tournament at Lake Shawnee. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Alonzo said he feels comfortable with both of the upcoming courses he'll be playing at.
"My confidence for regionals is very high and I expect myself to do really well because I play there almost every day and I played (at Sand Creek Station) twice last year and I love the course and I think I'll do very well there,'' Alonzo said.
UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
