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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A stellar pitching performance from senior Jaycee Ginter and a one-out walk-off single from junior Alexis Tanguma moved Washburn University softball into the MIAA Tournament semifinals with a 1-0, eight-inning win over Northwest Missouri at Pinkston Stadium in Edmond, Okla. on Thursday.
The Ichabods will face the top-seeded Rogers State Hillcats at 12 p.m. on Friday in the single elimination format.
Washburn senior star Jaycee Ginter recorded an eight-inning shutout in Thursday's 1-0 win over Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Alexis Tanguma delivered a walk-off single to give Washburn a 1-0 MIAA Tournament win over Northwest Missouri on Thursday in Edmond, Okla. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
In the bottom of the eighth, WU senior Marrit Mead reached on a single on a hot shot down the third-base line and then moved to third after Ginter's sac bunt was mishandled by the first baseman sending Mead to third with one out.
Tanguma then took a full-count pitch to left field for the game-winning run.
In the circle, Ginter improved to 17-7, striking out six with no walks while scattering five hits in the win. She threw 121 pitching in the game, outdueling the Bearcats' Jadyn Streigle who took the loss.
Tanguma finished with two hits in the game with Mead, Jaden LaBarge and Hailey Neira collecting the Ichabods' other hits.
Washburn improves to 37-14 on the season while the Bearcats end the year at 28-25.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's girls soccer team continues to build momentum for a strong postseason run, posting a 3-0 shutout non-league victory over Wichita Northwest Thursday night at McElroy Field.
With Thursday's win the Junior Blues pushed their winning streak to eight games, all by shutout.
Washburn Rural celebrates a goal from junior Kate Hinck (9) in Thursday's 3-0 non-league win over Wichita Northwest at McElroy Field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Now 11-2-0, Brian Hensyel's team is currently the No. 1 West seed for the Class 6A playoffs while putting itself in position for another Centennial League championship.
"We did well tonight,'' Hensyel said. "The defense has been really good. We had a couple of losses early (in the season) and some goals given up early but eight straight wins, eight straight shutouts, we're rolling on defense and we're doing the things we want to.
"What we've been working on a lot is moving the ball, keeping possession of the ball and trying to create opportunities and making teams defend us, finishing set plays and that kind of stuff. We created a lot of opportunities tonight and Northwest (8-6-0) made some nice plays to keep us out of the net but we were pretty happy with the game.''
Junior Destiny Higgs scored the game's first goal and also had an assist in Thursday's 3-0 Washburn Rural soccer win over Wichita Northwest. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Junior Blues needed only 5:36 to score the only goal they would need against the Grizzlies, with junior Destiny Higgs finding the back of the net to put Rural up 1-0.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Christian Ulsaker is well-versed on Topeka area high school basketball, beginning his coaching career with stints at Washburn Rural, Hayden and Shawnee Heights before landing his first head coaching opportunity at Wabaunsee.
Christian Ulsaker
As a result, the former Washburn University player knew from that first-hand knowledge that if and when the Topeka West boys basketball job opened up, he would be interested.
When veteran coach Rick Bloomquist announced in March that he was ending his successful 12-year stint with the Chargers to follow his sons' high school careers, Ulsaker knew it was time to take a run at the West vacancy.
And on Thursday night the former McPherson All-Stater was approved by the USD 501 School Board as Topeka West's new head coach after a five-year tenure at Wabaunsee.
"I know the heritage at Topeka West,'' Ulsaker told TopSports.news Thursday night. "I was fortunate to play them at state when I was in high school when Alex North and Tyrell Brown were on that team and it was a heck of a team, so they've always intrigued me as a (USD) 501 program and I had always told my friends, 'If there's a 501 program I'd want to coach at, I think it would be Topeka West.'
"I truly enjoy the administration there and I haven't heard anything but good things said about Topeka West from people that have either worked there or been a part of the program.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden junior Kaylee Gregg credits former Topeka High diving star Brianna Devlin for helping get her into the event two years ago as a freshman
Hayden junior Kaylee Gregg is ranked among the state's top divers entering the biggest meets of the 2024 season. [File photo/TSN].
And now that Devlin, second in Class 6A last season, has moved on to the University of the Ozarks, Gregg wants to follow in her friend's footsteps and continue to carve out her own niche in the sport.
"She's one of my best friends that I was doing gymnastics with and she did diving so I was like, 'Well, I guess I'll go try it,' '' Gregg said. "She's been a really big inspiration for me in diving. She's helped me a lot.''
Gregg has apparently learned her lessons well, turning in a solid sophomore season and continuing to make strides this spring.
Gregg, a junior, finished second in the 2023 city meet to earn second-team All-City status and placed third in Centennial League diving before capping her season with a 10th-place finish in the Class 5A-1A state meet.
This season Gregg is ranked No. 1 on the Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 5A-1A Top 25 Performance List for 11 dives with a score of 411.50 and is No. 3 for six dives with a score of 223.50.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2024 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
100 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.42
Kielyn McDonnell, Rossville 12.78
Alana Mitchell, Hayden 12.87
Ally Steiner, Seaman 12.92
Mi'Luv Cosey, Highland Park 13.10
200 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 26.32
Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton, Topeka High 26.88
Miluv Cosey, Highland Park 27.04
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 27.12
Ally Steiner, Seaman 27.17
Natalie Hillebert, Hayden
400 METERS
Natalie Hillebert, Hayden 59.59
Ella Bolan, Silver Lake 61.69
Shayla Rezac, Rossville 62.46
Ava Rottinghaus, Silver Lake 63.15
Rae North, Hayden 64.21
800 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:10.25
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 2:25.13
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:28.40
Taylie Heston, Seaman 2:28.82
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 2:29.09
Ryin MIller, Seaman
1,600 METERS
Ryin Miller, Seaman 4:53.37
Rylee Ismert, Washburn Rural 5:12.51
Payton Fink, Washburn Rural 5:14.08
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:21.07
Brooklyn Nolte, Washburn Rural 5:34.57
