Hayden High School Wildcats

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Coming off a runnerup team finish in Class 5A a year ago, Seaman put itself in position for another run at the tiltle Friday as senior singles star Emma Sweeney and the senior doubles team Camryn Lux and Camryn Lux advanced to Saturday's state semifinals at the Andover District Tennis Complex.

Seaman senior tennis star Emma Sweeney improved to 30-0 on Friday while advancing to the Class 5A singles semifinals for the third straight season. [File photo/TSN]

Sweeney, the No. 1 seed, rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel's Juli Judkins in the quarterfinals to advance to Saturday's 9 a.m. semifinal against Andover sophomore Audrina Gjosa. 

Seaman seniors Cadence Speer and Camryn Lux improved to 30-4 Friday while advancing to Saturday's Class 5A doubles semifinals. [File photo/TSN] 

Lux and Speer, the No. 3 doubles seed, advanced to the semifinals with a 6-0, 6-0 quarterfinal win over Blue Valley Southwest seniors Anwita Golem and Ashley Grant and will now face Andover senior Rylie Nance and junior Kinsley Scholl, the No. 2 seed, in the semifinals. Lux and Speer are 30-4 on the season.

Seaman sophomore doubles players Brenna Prokop and Kallie Zurmely advanced to Saturday's consolation rounds and have assured themselves of state medals.

Rural's Katzer and Owen advance to Class 6A doubles semis

Washburn Rural's senior doubles team of Julia Katzer and Halle Owen advanced to Saturday's Class 6A state semifinals with a 6-0, 6-2 quarterfinal win over Shawnee Mission Northwest's Erin O'Neal and Nia Nightingale. 

Washburn Rural senior doubles players Julia Katzer and Halle Owen, now 30-4, advanced to Saturday's Class 6A semifinals with a pair of Friday wins. [File photo/TSN]

Katzer and Owen the No. 5 state seed, will now face top seed Chadana Vijaykumar and Siena Timperley of Blue Valley West in Saturday's 9 a.m. semifinal.

Now 30-4 on the season, Katzer and Owen have assured themselves of a top-four state finish.

Rural freshman Karmyn Faul advanced to Saturday's place matches and has assured herself of her first state medal.

Cair Paravel's Poole back in Class 3A-1A semifinals

Cair Paravel Latin senior singles standout Madilyn Poole, the No. 2 Class 3A-1A seed, advanced to the state semifinals for the second straight season after finishing third at state as a junior.

Cair Paravel senior Madilyn Poole improved to 23-1 with a pair of wins Friday in the Class 3A-1A state tournament, advancing to her second straight semifinal. [File photo/TSN]

Poole, now 23-1, is back in the semis after a pair of wins at the Kossover Tennis Center, including a 6-0, 6-1 quarterfinal win over Russell junior Anna-Marie Marsell.

Poole will now face sophomore Mila Simic of Hoisington in Saturday's 9 a.m. semifinal at Kossover.

Silver Lake junior Evelynn Thompson lost in the singles quarterfinals but advanced to Saturday's place matches. 

Hayden trio advances to Class 4A place matches

Hayden's junior doubles team of Hailey Caryl and Sophia Wichman and sophomore singles player Lana Hull had their Class 4A championship hopes dashed with quarterfinal losses Friday at Kossover Tennis Center, but the three players advanced to Saturday's place matches and have assured themselves of state medals..

The first round of state competition will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Related Stories and Videos

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

The Cair Paravel Latin boys soccer team improved its record to 9-5 Thursday at Hayden by blanking the Wildcats, 4-0.

All Cair Paravel’s goals came from freshmen and sophomores.

Freshman Ryker Davis (10) scored a pair of goals Thursday in Cair Paravel's 4-0 non-league road soccer victory at Hayden. [Photo courtesy of Jan Pabitzky]

Freshman Ryker Davis scored twice in the first half, and fellow freshman Zandar Christiansen added a third goal to give the Lions a 3-0 advantage at the half.

Sophomore Henry Sterling contributed a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-0 Cair Paravel soccer win at Hayden. [Photo courtesy of Jan Pabitzky]

Senior Judah Congdon contributed a pair of assists Thursday in Cair Paravel's 4-0 soccer win at Hayden. [Photo courtesy of Jan Pabitzky]

Sophomore Henry Sterling added a goal in the second half to go with an assist. Senior Judah Congdon provided assists on two of the Lions’ scores.

“We had a big class graduate last year, so at least half of our starters are brand new,” said Cair Paravel coach Mark Congdon. “We’ve got a couple of freshmen that have had to step up and contribute immediately and they’ve done a great job. This was probably their best game of the year.”

“It’s really fun to get to play against some opponents that we know, some friendly competition,” Sterling said of facing Hayden. “Our next two games are gonna be tricky, but we’re kind of up there in the peak of our season, so hopefully we can go into those games hard and be ready for postseason.”

By improving to 9-5, the Lions sit comfortably in the top half of the Class 4-1A West regional with a week left in the season. To complete their regular-season schedule, the Lions will travel to St. Mary’s Academy and Wichita’s Life Prep Academy, both teams that have beaten Cair Paravel this year.

“I think we’re in the driver’s seat to host a postseason game,” Congdon said. “These last two matches are both away games at some very stiff opponents. So, we’ve got an uphill battle these last two regular-season games, but I think even if we drop them, we’ll be in line to host.

“We’ve got a good senior class, great leadership, a good core of guys that know what they’re doing and are passionate about the game. So, we’re looking forward to seeing what happens in the next couple of weeks.”

The Lions were without two players Thursday, leaving just two men to come off the bench.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Already a three-time Class 5A state singles medalist, including a runnerup finish a year ago, Seaman senior star Emma Sweeney will be looking to close out her outstanding prep career with a state title in Friday and Saturday's state tournament at the Andover District Tennis Complex.

Seaman senior tennis star Emma Sweeney enters this weekend's Class 5A state tournament at Andover as the No. 1 singles seed with a perfect 28-0 record. [File photo/TSN]

Sweeney has put together a banner 28-0 campaign so far with a sweep of city, United Kansas Conference and 5A regional titles for the second straight season and earned the No. 1 seed for this weekend's state event.

"Obviously I'm nervous, but I'm just trying to switch my focus onto the right things and just focusing on the things I control, my ground strokes, my intensity, my footwork, my attitude and just go out there and give it my all,'' Sweeney said.

Sweeney said it seems like only yesterday that she was getting ready for her first state meet.

"It literally flies by every single year and with it being my last year with my teammates I just want to have fun and just leave it all out there,'' she said.  

As a team Seaman is coming off its fifth straight United Kansas Conference title as well as a regional team championships and will be aiming for a third straight 5A team trophy after finishing third in 2024 and second a year ago.

Seaman seniors Cadence Speer and Camryn Lux won a Class 5A regional doubles title last Saturday for the team-champion Vikings. [File photo/TSN] 

Three-time regional champ Sweeney and the regional championship doubles team of seniors Camryn Lux and Cadence Speer led the way last Saturday at Kossover as the Vikings topped St. James Academy for the regional crown.

Seaman also got third-place finishes from junior Lilli Wiens in singles and from sophomores Brenna Prokop and Kallie Zurmely in doubles.

Lux and Speer are 28-4 on the season and the No. 3 seed for state while Prokop and Zurmely are 22-7 and seeded seventh. Wiens is the No. 15 singles seed with a 22-12 record.

Not only will Seaman's three seniors be closing out their prep careers this weekend, but it will also be the final tournament for Viking coach Jamie Robinson, who is retiring from coaching after a highly-successful run at the school.

"He's been great,'' Sweeney said. "He just works with every single girl and what they need specifically as a player and he also just knows how to coach you and how to adjust for each girl.

"He just has really helped us grow and help us love the sport.''

Topeka West will be represented at state by the senior doubles team of Mariana Bernard and Kailyn Bidwell, who are 12-16 on the season and the No. 19 state seed after qualifying with a sixth-place regional finish.

The 5A state tournament will start at 9 a.m. Friday and continue on Saturday with a 9 a.m. start.

Class 6A at Wichita Riverside Tennis Complex

Washburn Rural enters Friday and Saturday's state meet at Wichita with a ton of momentum after sweeping city, Centennial League and Class 6A regional team championships.

Washburn Rural senior doubles players Julia Katzer and Halle Owen enter the state tournament with a 28-4 record after sweeping city, Centenial League and regional titles. [File photo/TSN]

Junior Blue seniors Julia Katzer and Halle Owen won Friday's regional doubles title after winning city and league titles and are 28-4 on the season, earning the No. 5 state seed.

Rural's doubles team of junior Annie Henderson and freshman Kinley Ladd (22-6) finished second to teammates Katzer and Owen at regionals and are the No. 7 doubles seed while sophomore singles player Bridget Hoopes (17-10) was the singles runnerup at regionals and is the No. 9 state seed.

Freshman Karmyn Faul (27-6) posted a third-place singles finish in the regional meet and is seeded 15th for state.

The first round of state competition will begin at 9 a.m. both Friday and Saturday.

Class 4A at Kossover Tennis Center

Hayden finished third in Class 4A last season after winning the state championship in 2024 and the Wildcats are coming off a regional team title Saturday at Chanute while qualifying their entire team for state at the Kossover Tennis Center.

Hayden juniors Sophia Wichman and Hailey Caryl are coming off a Class 4A regional doubles title for the team-champion Wildcats. [File photo/TSN]

Wildcat juniors Hailey Caryl and Sophia Wichman won the regional doubles championship and will take an 17-4 record into the state meet as the fourth seed.

Hayden sophomore Lana Hull, 20-4, is the No. 7 singles seed while sophomore Ava Scheer (5-4) is the No. 20 singles seed and the doubles team of senior Kaelyn Gerdel and sophomore Elliott Gould (14-10) is the 21st seed for this weekend's tournament.

Hull was the regional runnerup while Scheer finished fifth in singles and Gerdel and Gould placed fifth in doubles.  

The first round of state competition will begin at 8:50 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday.

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

THURSDAY'S GAME

(Kickoff at 7 p.m.)

MANHATTAN (4-2, 2-0 Centennial) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (1-5, 0-2 Centennial)

At Hummer Sports Park

Manhattan has won four straight games since an 0-2 start to the season while Topeka High is fighting a five-game losing streak. The Indians are coming off a 51-6 Centennial League win over Emporia while Topeka High dropped a 41-12 league decision to Junction City. Manhattan junior quarterback Mclain Aslin has completed 30 of 56 passes for 362 yards and six touchdowns and carried the ball 81 times for 576 yards and seven TDs. Senior Joseph Mortensen has carried the ball 32 times for 343 yards and six TDs.

FRIDAY'S GAMES

(Allkickoffs at 7 p.m.)

Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural

JUNCTION CITY (2-4, 2-1 Centennial) at WASHBURN RURAL (3-3, 2-0 Centennial )

Junction City is coming off a 41-12 Centennial League victory over Topeka High last Friday while Washburn Rural dropped a 14-7 decision at Millard West, Neb. Senior Jadyn Baum is one of the state's premier running backs for the Junior Blues.

Nas Williams-Brown, Topeka West

BASEHOR-LINWOOD (4-2, 4-2 UKC) vs. TOPEKA WEST (1-5, 1-5 UKC)

At Hummer Sports Park

Basehor-Linwood posted a 42-20 United Kansas Conference decision over Lansing while Topeka West dropped a 57-0 UKC decision to Spring Hill. Junior Nas Williams-Brown is a top player for the Chargers.

DE SOTO (6-0, 6-0 UKC) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-5, 1-5 UKC)

Shawnee Heights, which is in the midst of a five-game losing streak, dropped a 59-28 United Kansas Conference decision to undefeated Spring Hill last Friday while De Soto remained unbeaten with a 45-6 UKC win over Turner. Shawnee Heights senior quarterback Kolby Kutscher has completed 82 of 142 passes for 1,269 yards and 14 touchdowns while sophomore Fletcher Terrell has caught 35 passes for 757 yards and 11 touchdowns. T-Bird senior Trone Purvis has carried the ball 107 times for 562 yards and eight touchdowns.

CHASE COUNTY (4-2, 2-1 8-Man I District 3) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (4-2, 2-1 8-Man I District 3)

At Seaman

Cair Paravel is coming off a tough 54-50 district road loss at Lyndon while Chase County blanked district foe Northern Heights, 46-0. Cair Paravel senior Cole Haubold has carried the ball 53 times for 596 yards and 14 touchdowns and leads the Lions with 58 tackles (39 solo) with 11 tackles for loss. Junior quarterback Chase Hastert has completed 25 of 49 passes for 512 yards and nine touchdowns and carried the ball 46 times for 411 yards and four TDs.

Jairus Todwong, Hayden

HAYDEN (2-4, 2-0 3A District 3) at SANTA FE TRAIL (4-2, 1-1 3A District 3)

Hayden posted its second straight Class 3A District 3 win last Friday, a 42-13 romp past Perry-Lecompton, while Santa Fe Trail is coming off a 48-6 district loss to Baldwin. Sophomore Jairus Todwong leads Hayden with 494 yards and four touchdowns on 55 carries while senior Mason Becker has carried the ball 32 times for 279 yards and four rushing TDs. Junior quarterback Ryker Tetuan has completed 49 of 100 passes for 435 yards and senior Logan Power has caught 24 passes for 258 yards.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural cross country champion Duke Graf and the Hayden tennis doubles team of Hailey Caryl and Sophia Wichman have been selected as the Brandon Aldridge State Farm Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week.

The Brandon Aldridge Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

Here's a brief look at last week's accomplishments of Graf, Caryl and Wichman.

Duke Graf, Washburn Rural

DUKE GRAF, Washburn Rural

A junior cross country standout, Graf captured the boys individual title in Saturday's city championship at Shawnee Heights, leading Washburn Rural to the team crown.

Graf, who placed third in the city meet as a sophomore, clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 16 minutes, 42.6 seconds as the Junior Blues won the team championship by a 17-59 margin over Seaman.

Graf helped the Junior Blues win the Class 6A state team championship in 2025 by a single point over Blue Valley.

Hailey Caryl and Sophia Wichman, Hayden

HAILEY CARYL and SOPHIA WICHMAN, Hayden

Junior tennis standouts Caryl and Wichman claimed the doubles championship in Saturday's Class 4A regional at Chanute while leading the Wildcats to the team championship.

Caryl and Wichman earned the regional title with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Chanute in the doubles final.

Caryl plays tennis, basketball and soccer while Wichman splits time between tennis and volleyball in the fall and also plays basketball and soccer, helping the Wildcats win state titles in both of those sports as a sophomore.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Duke Graf

DUKE GRAF, Washburn Rural

A junior cross country standout, Graf captured the boys individual title in Saturday's city championship at Shawnee Heights, leading Washburn Rural to the team crown. Graf, who placed third in the city meet as a sophomore, clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 16 minutes, 42.6 seconds as the Junior Blues won the team championship by a 17-59 margin over Seaman.

Alyson Hinck

ALYSON HINCK, Washburn Rural

Hinck, a sophomore cross country standout, earned her first city girls individual title in Saturday's city meet at Shawnee Heights while leading the Junior Blues to the team championship. After finishing as the individual runnerup as a freshman, Hinck clocked a winning five-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 32.7 seconds as Washburn Rural won the team title by a 17-40 margin over runnerup Seaman.

Julia Katzer 

JULIA KATZER, Washburn Rural

Katzer, a senior tennis star, teamed with Halle Owen to win Centennial League and Class 6A regional doubles championships and cap a sweep of city, league and regional titles while leading the Junior Blues to a sweep of the team titles in the three meets. Katzer and Owen defeated teammates Annie Henderson and Kinley Ladd 6-0, 6-0 in the league meet and 6-1, 6-2 at regionals.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Hayden's girls golf team punched its ticket to next week's Class 4A state tournament with a third-place team finish in Monday's sub-state tournament at Coffeyville Country Club.

Hayden's Brooke Johnson was the individual runnerup in Monday's Class 4A sub-state tournament at Coffeyville, leading the Wildcats to a state team berth with a third-place finish. [File photo/TSN]

Brooke Johnson led the Wildcats with a runnerup individual finish, shooting an 85, as Hayden posted a team score of 393 to earn the final team berth behind Wamego (340) and Coffeyville (373).

Morgan Johnson finished 11th (95) for Hayden while Avery Becker (106) placed 19th and Emma Matthews tied for 20th (107) to round out the Wildcats' top four.

The 4A state tournament will be played next Monday and Tuesday at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson.

CLASS 4A GIRLS GOLF SUB-STATE

At Coffeyville 

Team scores

Wamego 340, Coffeyville 373, Hayden 393, Jefferson West 406, Independence 480, Ottawa 496, Chanute 503.

Individual results

1. Maizie Nickel, Wamego, 78; 2. Brooke Johnson, Hayden, 85; 3. (tie) Lillian Costa, Wamego, and Jessica Zimmerman, Coffeyville, 86; 5. Gentry McIntosh, Wamego, 87; 6. Addison Fechter, Jefferson West, 88; 7. (tie) Lydia Rossow, Wamego, and Avery Sells, Coffeyville, 89; 9. Madelynn Douglass, Wamego, 90; 10. Lacey Braley, Wamego, 93. 

Other Hayden -- 11. Morgan Johnson, 95; 19. Avery Becker, 106; 20. (tie) Emma Matthews, 107; 22. (tie) Maura Tolin, 109; 28. Esa Herarra, 115.

Silver Lake, Rossville place two-three in 3A-1A sub-state

Silver Lake and Rossville finished second and third in Monday's Class 3A-1A sub-state tournament at Spring Creek Golf Course, earning team berths for next week's state tournament at Tallgrass Golf Club in Wichita.

Silver Lake posted a four-person score of 379 to finish four strokes behind team champion Thomas More Prep-Marian while Rossville finished third at 410.

Zara Nilsson paced Silver Lake with a third-place individual finish, shooting an 88, while Morgan Ackerly finished seventh (96), Avenley Head eighth (97) and Savanah Wende with a tie for ninth (98) to round out the Eagles' top four.

Rossville got a sixth-place finish from Elley Sanders (95) while Maya Donovan narrowly missed a top-10 finish, tying for 12th (100).

The 3A-1A state tournament will be contested next Monday and Tuesday at Tallgrass.  

CLASS 3A-1A GIRLS GOLF SUB-STATE

At Spring Creek Golf Course 

Team scores

TMP-Marian 375, Silver Lake 379, Rossville 410, Holton 418, Osage City 421, Nemaha Central 425, St. Marys 441, Hiawatha 443, Heritage Christian 494, Maur Hill-Mt. Academy, 554. 

Individual results

1. (tie) Bree Barrow, Holton, and Brynn Schoepf, TMP-Marian, 87; 3. Zara Nilsson, Silver Lake, 88; 4. Hannah Flax, TMP-Marian, 91; 5. Emma Wasinger, TMP-Marian, 92; 6. Elley Sanders, Rossville, 95; 7. Morgan Ackerly, Silver Lake, 96; 8. Avenley Head, Silver Lake, 97; 9. (tie) Hannah Simmer, Hiawatha, and Savanah Wende, Silver Lake, 98.

Other Silver Lake -- 18. (tie) Ashley Hanna, 105.

Other Rossville -- 12. (tie) Maya Donovan, 100; 20. (tie) Reese Olejnik, 106; 25. (tie) Joan Pottorf, 109; 27. (tie) Nora Mitchell, 110; 39. Brooklyn Gama, 116.  

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Hayden's girls tennis team made the long trip to Chanute pay off, with junior doubles champions Hailey Caryl and Sophia Wichman leading the Wildcats to a Class 4A regional team title while all six Hayden players qualified for Friday and Saturday's state tournament at Kossover Tennis Center.

Hayden girls tennis poses for a team picture after winning the team championship in Saturday's Class 4A regional at Chanute. [Submitted photo]

Caryl and Wichman earned the doubles championship with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Chanute's Ashtyn Cummings and Sarah Uhner while the Wildcats also got a second-place singles finish from sophomore Lana Hull and fifth-place finishes from sophomore singles player Ava Scheer and the doubles team of senior Kailyn Gerdel and sophomore Elliott Gould.

Hull dropped a 6-0, 6-4 decision to Bishop Miege senior Ella Daniel in the singles final while Scheer topped Miege's Rose Maher 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) in the fifth-place match and Gerdel and Gould took a 6-0, 6-1 win over Paola's Bentley Stewart and Kendal Robinson in the fifth-place doubles match.

Hayden claimed the team championship by a 19-15 margin over host Chanute.

CLASS 4A GIRLS TENNIS REGIONAL

At Chanute

Team scores

Hayden 19,Chanute 15, Bishop Miege 14, Ottawa 5, Paola 3, Baldwin 1, Fort Scott 1. 

Individual results

Singles

Championship -- Daniel, Miege, def. Hull, Hayden, 6-0, 6-4.

Third --Burnett, Chanute, def. Boyd, Ottawa, 6-2, 6-2.

Fifth -- Scheer, Hayden, def. Maher, Miege, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4). 

Doubles

Championship -- Caryl/Wichman, Hayden, def. Cummings/Uhner, Chanute, 6-2, 6-1.

Third -- Weber/Daniel, Miege, def. Brecheisen/Swiler, Chanute, 7-6, 6-4.

Fifth -- Gerdel/Gould, Hayden, def. Stewart/Robinson, Paola, 6-0, 6-1.

Cair Paravel senior Madilyn Poole won the singles championship in the Class 3A-1A regional tournament at Marysville. [File photo/TSN] 

Singles champ Poole powers Lions to runnerup 3A-1A regional finish

Cair Paravel Latin star Madilyn Poole won the singles title in Saturday's Class 3A-1A regional tournament at Marysville, leading the Lions to a runnerup team finish.

Poole topped Silver Lake junior Evelynn Thompson 6-2, 6-0 in the championship match while CPLS freshman Mia Poole finished third with a 2-0 default victory over Wabaunsee's Talen Orton.

CPLS also qualified the doubles team of senior Adri Leinwetter and freshman Charlotte Clutter for state, with Leinwetter and Clutter posting a 6-0, 6-1 win in the fifth-place match.

The 3A-1A state tournament will be played Friday and Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center.

CLASS 3A-1A GIRLS TENNIS REGIONAL

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural's cross country team turned in a dominating performance in Saturday's city championships at Shawnee Heights, sweeping the top three individual places in both the girls and boys events while rolling to the team titles.

Sophomore Alyson Hinck (right) captured her first city girls cross country title for team-champion Washburn Rural on Saturday at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn Rural junior Duke Graf reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the city boys cross country title Saturday at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"I'm happy with it for sure,'' Rural coach Matt Swedlund said. "City is a good start to championship racing. You kind of get in the mindset and this is when you start talking about trophies and wanting to be our best in October, so this is a nice start to that process.''

Rural sophomore Alyson Hinck won the girls title in a five-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 32.7 seconds while junior Duke Graf took control early in the boys race on the way to a win in 16:42.6.

Rural sophomore Morgan Munson (19:35.8) and junior Reese Beardslee (19:47.3) finished second and third behind Hinck in the girls race, while freshman Kenadee Booher (21:14.7) was fifth and freshman Avery Kennedy (21:32.3) sixth to round out the Junior Blues' top five as Rural captured the team title by a 17-40 margin over Seaman.

Hinck earned her first city individual girls title after finishing second as a freshman. She ran with the top four runners for much of the race before pulling away down the stretch to win by 3.1 seconds over teammate Munson.

"I just wanted to stick with the people in front and not to go out too hard,'' said Hinck, also a state medalist in the 800 meters in track as a freshman. "I definitely locate where I need to start to kick.''

Hinck said a highlight of the day was Rural's one-two-three finish.

"That's so much fun,'' she said. "I'm so happy to run with my teammates and finish with them. It was a blast.''

Juniors Jaxson Adams (16:57.2) and Clayton Fink (17:05.8) posted second and third-place finishes behind Graf for the Junior Blues in the boys race while sophomore Julius Wood-Nichols (17:15.4) finished fifth and senior Bennett Wells (17:19.5) sixth to complete the top five scoring runners for Washburn Rural, which won the title by a 17-59 margin over Seaman.

Graf, who had finished third in the city meet as a sophomore before helping Rural win the Class 6A title, took the lead early in Saturday's race and ended up winning by nearly 15 seconds.

"I kind of had the mentality of either come with me or don't,'' Graf said of his strategy. "It seemed to work pretty well. I went out pretty hard the first mile and got a good gap and kind of just held.

"I fell off a little bit towards the end, but overall, first place, I'm pretty happy with it.'' 

Seaman's girls got a fourth-place individual finish from senior Brynn Spencer (20:07.8) while senior Kinley Robinson (21:46.9) placed seventh, freshman Brinley Cochran (21:57.2) eighth, freshman Morgan Ranson (22:22.6) 10th and senior Hannah Wempe (22:59.5) 11th.

Freshman Charlotte Richards (23:12.1) led third-place Shawnee Heights with a 12th-place finish while junior Emily Womack (23:14.2) paced fourth-place Topeka High with a 13th-place finish. 

Sophomore Trindon Jones (17:10.7) paced the runnerup Seaman boys with a fourth-place finish while sophomore Weston Kennedy (17:23.6) finished seventh.

Hayden junior Nick Newkirk (17:43.3) finished 10th. 

Washburn Rural, Topeka High and Hayden will compete in the Centennial League meet next Saturday at Kanza Park while Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West will run in the United Kansas Conference meet at De Soto on Thursday and Highland Park will compete in the Meadowlark Conference meet at Atchison on Thursday.  

CITY CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

Hayden took another step in resurrecting its season from an 0-4 start by steamrolling visiting Perry-Lecompton 42-13 Friday.

Hayden junior quarterback Ryker Tetuan (8) threw for 61 yards in Friday's 42-13 home district win over Perry-Lecompton. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Rather than pack it in after a winless month of September, the Wildcats regrouped behind a backup quarterback to get in the win column against Baldwin last Friday. Utilizing two quarterbacks against Perry-Lecompton, the Hayden defense throttled the Kaws, and the offense took advantage of short fields to rack up points.

After a scoreless first period in which both teams put together long drives resulting in no points, Hayden’s defense clamped down in the second quarter. The Wildcats held Perry-Lecompton without a first down in the period and utilized good field position to post three touchdowns in quick succession.

The Wildcats started the game with sophomore Grant Lenherr at quarterback. Lenherr, who played the entire game against Baldwin the previous week in place of junior Ryker Tetuan, went up top for a 37-yard scoring strike to Logan Power to put Hayden on the board.

After forcing the Kaws to punt from deep in their own territory, Hayden had just 33 yards to go for another touchdown. Coach Bill Arnold inserted Tetuan for the drive, and the Wildcats marched quickly to a second score, this one on a 10-yard run by Evan Huntley to put Hayden up 14-0 halfway through the second period.

Senior Logan Power scored a pair of touchdowns in Friday's 42-13 Hayden district win over Perry-Lecompton. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Hayden held the Kaws to another three-and-out, and just three plays later, Power scored his second touchdown, this time on a 10-yard end around.

“I felt like we came out tonight a little flat, unfortunately. But then things got rolling there after we got that first touchdown,” Arnold said. “I thought we dominated up front, which is a good thing, because we’re still fairly young up there.”

Hayden senior Mason Becker rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown on six carries in Friday's 42-13 district win over Perry-Lecompton. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN[

Touchdown runs by Mason Becker and Jace Wolff padded Hayden’s lead in the second half.

Arnold said it was by design that Tetuan replaced Lenherr in the second quarter. Tetuan completed six of his eight throws in his return to the offense. Lenherr completed all three of his attempts, including the touchdown strike to open the game.

“That was the plan,” Arnold said. “Grant did a good job last week and Ryker’s coming off an injury and we wanted to get him worked back in there.”

“It never feels good to be on the sidelines. It never feels good to see your guys go out there without you,” said Tetuan, who was forced out by a shoulder injury. “But you always support them and want them to do their best whether you’re out there or not. And I was very proud of how Grant went out there and did his job.

“It felt great to be back out there with my guys. There’s no better feeling.”

What looked dismal two weeks ago suddenly appears hopeful for the Wildcats. They improved to 2-0, in a commanding position in the Class 3A District 3 race. Hayden travels to Santa Fe Trail next Friday, before hosting Bishop Ward on Oct. 23. Ward was recently forced to forfeit back-to-back games due to a lack of players.

Arnold said the Wildcats have stayed positive and made continuous improvement despite adversity this season.

“I think these guys have been making progress all year long,” Arnold said. “You don’t always see it on the scoreboard, but at the same time, they never folded their tents.”

“I know my guys,” Tetuan said. “I know we’re willing to put the hard work in, to do what we need to do. We just want to get better so we can win.”

For Perry-Lecompton, senior Kayden Baker produced several big plays in the losing effort. His 43-yard reception set up his two-yard scoring run. Then he hauled in a long pass from quarterback AJ Campbell for a 62-yard touchdown reception.

The Kaws dropped to 3-3, 1-2 in Class 3A District 3.

HAYDEN 42, PERRY-LECOMPTON 13

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

FRIDAY'S GAMES

(Allkickoffs at 7 p.m.)

Mason Becker, Hayden

PERRY-LECOMPTON (3-2, 1-1 3A District 3) at HAYDEN (1-4, 1-0 3A District 3)

Hayden picked up its first win of the season last Friday, opening Class 3A District 3 play with a 32-21 home win over Baldwin. Perry-Lecompton picked up a district win by forfeit over KC-Bishop Ward last Friday. Hayden senior Mason Becker scored 19 of the Wildcats 31 points against Baldwin and has rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns on 27 attempts on the season. Sophomore Jairus Todwong leads the Wildcats with 493 yards and four touchdowns on 54 carries. Junior quarterback Ryker Tetuan, who missed the Baldwin game with an injury, has completed 42 of 91 pass attempts for 376 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Landon Power has 18 catches for 174 yards.

Nas Williams-Brown, Topeka West

SPRING HILL (5-0, 5-0 UKC) at TOPEKA WEST (1-4, 1-4 UKC)

Topeka West dropped a 50-8 United Kansas Conference road decision at Leavenworth last Friday and faces another tough test this week against undefeated Spring Hill. Spring Hill stayed unbeaten last Friday with a 76-35 UKC win over Shawnee Heights. West junior Nas Williams-Brown has established himself as one of the top offensive threats in the conference. 

WABAUNSEE (2-3, 0-0 1A District 2) at ROSSVILLE (3-2, 0-0 1A District 2)

Rossville is coming off a big 47-20 Big East League win at Royal Valley last Friday and opens Class 1A District 2 play this week. Bulldawg junior Landen Lewis had a hand in six touchdowns against Royal Valley, running for four TDs and passing for a pair of scores. Lewis has completed 65 of 93 passes on the season for 831 yards and nine touchdowns and has carried the ball 84 times for 572 yards and 12 TDs. Cael Horgan has 21 catches for 296 yards and a TD while Cale Horak has 13 catches for 255 yards and three TDs and Dalen Dick has 17 catches for 177 yards and two TDs. Wabaunsee is coming off an 18-14 loss to Jackson Heights.

CAIR PARAVEL (4-1, 1-0 8-Man I District 3) at LYNDON (2-2, 1-0 8-Man I District 3)

Cair Paravel Latin is off to a quick start in its return to the Eight-Man ranks, improving to 4-1 on the season and 1-0 in Eight-Man I District 3 with last week's 54-6 romp past Pleasanton. Lyndon is coming off a 56-14 rout over Northern Heights. Cair Paravel senior Cole Haubold has rushed for 453 yards and 11 touchdowns on 38 attempts while junior quarterback Chase Hastert has completed 18 of 32 passes for 353 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 318 yards and four TDs on 36 attempts. Haubold has been in on 42 tackles (25 solo) with eight tackles for loss.

JoJo Kingcannon, Highland Park

HIGHLAND PARK (1-4, 1-2 Meadowlark) at KC-HARMON (3-2, 1-1 Meadowlark)

Highland Park returns to Meadowlark Conference play Friday night and will be looking to bounce back after dropping a 52-0 non-league decision to Blue Valley Southwest last week. The Scots are led by senior quarterback JoJo Kingcannon, who has been forced to shoulder must of the offensive load after the loss of Shawnee County Top 22 running back G'Honi Montgomery in the second game of the season.

Cale Ketter, Seaman

SEAMAN (3-2, 3-2 UKC) at LEAVENWORTH (3-2, 3-2 UKC)

Seaman stretched its winning streak to three games last Friday with a 62-0 home United Kansas Conference romp past KC-Turner. Leavenworth is also coming off a win, taking a 50-8 UKC decision over Topeka West. Seaman senior quarterback Cale Ketter has completed 94 of 146 passes for 1,546 yards and 18 touchdowns while senior Coy Barta has 34 receptions for 747 yards and seven TDs. Junior Quentin Moravec has carried the ball 68 times for 521 yards and five TDs. 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural sophomore volleyball standout Brynn Anderson and Hayden sophomore football standout Jairus Todwong have been selected as the Brandon Aldridge State Farm Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week.

The Brandon Aldridge Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

Here's a brief look at last week's accomplishments of Anderson and Todwong.

Brynn Anderson, Washburn Rural

BRYNN ANDERSON, Washburn Rural

A 5-foot-11 leftside hitter, Anderson helped lead Washburn Rural to a 4-1 record and a second-place finish in Saturday's Centennial League tournament.

Anderson helped the Junior Blues post victories over Emporia (25-13, 25-20), Hayden (25-23, 25-15), Junction City (25-16, 25-8) and Topeka High (25-15, 25-14) while Rural's lone loss came against Manhattan (25-21, 25-17).

Anderson earned first-team All-Shawnee County honors in volleyball and basketball as a freshman while also earning a Class 6A state berth in track and field.

Jairus Todwong, Hayden 

JAIRUS TODWONG, Hayden

Todwong, a 6-foot, 180-pound running back/free safety, carried the ball 14 times for 123 yards in Friday's 31-21 Class 3A District 3 home football victory over Baldwin as Hayden picked up its first win of the season.

Todwong has rushed for a team-high 493 yards and four touchdowns on 54 attempts over the first five games of the season.

Todwong, who earned varsity playing time as a freshman, has also caught eight passes for 103 yards, returned four kickoffs for 77 yards and three punts for 84 yards.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Jadyn Baum

JADYN BAUM, Washburn Rural

A senior running back, Baum carried the ball 22 times for 183 yards and all three of Washburn Rural's touchdowns in Friday's 24-8 home Centennial League victory over Emporia. Baum scored touchdowns on runs of 20, 5 and 40 yards as the Junior Blues improved to 3-2 on the season and 2-0 in the league.

Mason Becker 

MASON BECKER, Hayden

Becker, a senior, scored 19 of Hayden's 31 points in Friday's 31-21 home Class 3A District 3 victory over Baldwin as the Wildcats picked up their first win of the season. Becker scored on runs of 58 and 11 yards and kicked a 30-yard field goal and four extra points. 

Landen Lewis 

LANDEN LEWIS, Rossville

A junior quarterback, Lewis had a hand in six touchdowns in Rossville's 47-20 Big East League road victory at Royal Valley. Lewis scored on runs of 1, 5, 35 and 20 yards and also threw for 17 and 57-yard TDs as the Bulldawgs improved to 3-2 on the season.

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

The Topeka High boys soccer team shook off a sluggish start to get by Hayden 4-1 Monday at Hayden, improving to 7-3 overall and 4-0 in the Centennial League while giving experience to a lot of players in the process.

Freshman Juan Lopez scored a pair of goals in Topeka High's Centennial League 4-1 road win over Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Hayden broke out early with a goal barely a minute into the contest – a redirection by Davin McDonald off a pass by Riley Bartley.

The score surprised the Trojans, who realized they needed to regroup. Topeka High responded quickly, with freshman Juan Lopez tying the score seven minutes later.

“That opening goal was a wakeup call because it shouldn’t have happened. We had to respond from that slow start,” said Topeka High coach Derek Snook.

The winless Wildcats kept the score tied 1-1 until halftime. Snook made no excuses, but noted his team had to adjust to a number of factors, including the weekend layoff, an earlier-than-normal game time, and the grass playing surface.

“Coming out of the weekend, we obviously weren’t together and we were a little sluggish,” Snook said. “I think we just weren’t focused on what we needed to do. Credit to (Hayden) for coming out ready. They did a really good job of putting the pressure on us and not allowing us to be comfortable there in the first half.

“Playing on grass instead of turf, it kind of slows us down a little bit and requires us to make some adjustments. We have to be a little bit more conscious of our touches. But all in all, a win’s a win at the end of the day.”

Sophomore Emyr Vargas (11) had a goal and an assist in Monday's 4-1 Topeka High win at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Lopez put the Trojans ahead just 1:38 after intermission. Topeka High continued to add on with goals by John Martinez and Emyr Vargas. By midway through the second half, Snook was shuttling in reserves.

“We came out of it and played a lot better in the second half, and that allowed us to play a lot of people. So that was good, kind of saving legs for the rest of the week,” Snook said. “We play two more times this week (Wednesday and Thursday), so we’ve got a loaded week.”

“It was not how we wanted to start, but we ended off the second half in a good way,” Vargas said. “It’s good for those that stepped up from JV and got to play varsity time. I’m proud of them. They’ve been working hard since summer workouts started. They been showing hard work and it’s paying off for them.”

With a number of returners from last year’s 9-6-1 team, Vargas hopes to make a playoff push this season.

“I have high hopes for us. I think we can make it farther than last year,” Vargas said. “We just need to keep our heads high and just keep going forward and looking to the next game. I think we communicate pretty good. We have good relationships off and on the field.”

TOPEKA HIGH 4, HAYDEN 1

Topeka High (7-3-0, 4-0-0) 1 3 -- 4

Hayden (0-11-0, 0-3-0)        1 0 -- 1

Topeka High -- Goals: Lopez 2, Vargas, J. Martinez. Assists: C. Accosta-Martinez, Vargas, Fielder.

Hayden -- Goal: McDonald. Assist: Bartley.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural won its 17th Centennial League girls tennis championship in 23 seasons Monday at Kossover Tennis Center, regaining the crown after a brief two-year absence.

Washburn Rural's tennis team poses for a picture after winning the Centennial League championship Monday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Junior Blues rode a one-two doubles finish from Julia Katzer and Halle Owen and Annie Henderson and Kinley Ladd to a 40-31 win over Junction City, with Hayden placing third with 29 points.

Katzer and Owen took a 6-0, 6-0 decision over teammates Henderson and Ladd in the doubles final while the Junior Blues also got a fourth-place singles finish from Bridget Hoopes and a fifth from Karmyn Faul.

"Overall, it's been a very fun, exciting day,'' Washburn Rural coach Michelle Rose said. "I've seen some of our players play with the courage and the desire and the belief in themselves and I think as a coach you always want your players to believe in themselves and when you actually see them do it, it's really satisfying.''

Washburn Rural seniors Julia Katzer (left) and Halle Owen captured the Centennial League doubles title Monday at Kossover Tennis Center, leading the Junior Blues to the team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Katzer and Owen won the Centennial Leagues doubles championship after earning their second straight No. 1 doubles title in the recent city tournament.

"It's really nice,'' Owen said of the league title. "We've put in a lot of hard work during this season and the offseason and I know that our (No.) 2 team has, too, so it's nice playing them in this final, which was really fun.''

"It's kind of building our confidence as we go into regionals and state,'' Katzer said. "It's really exciting. We've worked really hard for this moment and I can't wait to see how our season ends.''    

Junction City senior Hannah Micheel won the singles championship with a 6-0, 6-0 decision over Hayden sophomore Lana Hull.

Hayden sophomore Lana Hull posted a runnerup Centennial League singles finish Monday, leading the Wildcats to a third-place team finish. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

In addition to Hull's runnerup singles finish Hayden got a third-place doubles finish from juniors Hailey Caryl and Sophia Wichman.

Washburn Rural and Topeka High will compete in a Class 6A regional Friday at Kossover, vying for state berths.

"We're super excited to be hosting regionals at Kossover,'' Rose said. "We welcome anyone in the community to come out and watch. It's going to be a fun, great day of tennis.''

Hayden will travel to Chanute for a 4A regional Friday and Saturday.  

CENTENNIAL LEAGUE GIRLS TENNIS

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

Hayden broke into the win column with a much-needed 31-21 victory over Baldwin Friday night after starting the season winless in four tries.

Hayden senior Jace Wolff scored a pair of touchdowns and came up with a big fourth-quarter defensive play in Friday's 31-21 district win over Baldwin. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

The Wildcats avoided starting 0-5 for the first time since 1989 by holding off Class 3A District 3 foe Baldwin.

Hayden's backs were against the wall and it took a gritty effort on a sloppy field behind a backup quarterback to get the job done.

“You know, a lot of programs at 0-4 would just fold the tent and say, ‘We’re done.’ But these guys came out and they fought really hard tonight,” Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. “Now we’ve still got some mistakes to clean up, but I’m very proud of them tonight. It was hard fought. Baldwin is a good team.”

Senior Mason Becker scored 19 points in Hayden's 31-21 Class 3A district win over Baldwin Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Hayden got a 58-yard scoring run from Mason Becker to start the scoring. The junior followed that up with a 30-yard field goal to put Hayden up 10-0. But Baldwin responded with a touchdown just before half to cut the lead to 10-7.

A Logan Power interception early in the third period set up a short scoring run by senior Jace Wolff. But as before, Baldwin responded, this time with a 70-yard touchdown dash by quarterback Bryis Alford to go to the fourth quarter trailing 17-14.

Wolff scored his second short touchdown on the first play of the fourth period. The home team held onto the 24-14 lead until late in the game, but a Hayden fumble in Wildcat territory gave Baldwin renewed hope late.

On the first play after the fumble, Baldwin struck with a rare completed pass, shocking the Wildcats with a 30-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 24-21.

Hayden failed to move the ball and was forced to punt to Baldwin with 1:29 remaining. But the Wildcats’ Wolff had one more big play left in him. The Bulldogs’ quarterback dropped back to pass on third and long, but left the pocket, desperate to keep the drive alive. From his linebacker position, Wolff raced after him.

“I was dropping back (in coverage), I saw him roll out, started chasing him,” Wolff said. “He steps up and I wrapped him and punched it. When I got up, I saw the ball on the ground and started celebrating.”

Becker added an 11-yard touchdown to put the game on ice.

Sophomore Jairus Todwong rushed for 123 yards in Friday's 31-21 Hayden win over Baldwin. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Jairus Todwong led Hayden with 123 yards rushing while Becker and Wolff added 90 and 82 yards, respectively.

Sophomore quarterback Grant Lenherr helped lead Hayden to a 31-21 win over Baldwin in his first varsity start. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Sophomore Grant Lenherr was called on to fill in for injured starting quarterback Ryker Tetuan. Lenherr avoided any costly mistakes and executed Arnold’s Wing T offense smoothly despite the wet field conditions.

“I thought Grant did a good job,” Arnold said. “He managed the game well, ran the plays the way they’re supposed to go. He was in a tough situation on a couple of those pass plays out there, throwing a ball that’s probably double the weight and wet. But that’s kind of what (Baldwin was) giving us, so we were going to give it a shot. I’m very proud of him.”

The Wildcats got off the mat after the 0-4 start to insert themselves in the District 3 race. Arnold wasn’t surprised his team responded to adversity.

“They’ve been around enough they understand it’s a one-week thing,” Arnold said. “I’m looking for some enthusiasm at practice. You know, you get a W,’ maybe they come out a little more excited about going to practice and doing the extra conditioning.”

“We knew we could do better,” said Wolff. “It was one of those where we know we can go out and win. We just had to do it. We’re the only ones holding ourselves back. Now we’ve got some momentum going into next week. The belief was always there. This just gives us some confidence that we definitely needed.”

The Wildcats face a familiar foe in Perry Lecompton next Friday after playing two teams from Missouri, plus Tonganoxie, a team Hayden hadn’t faced since 2005.

“It’s always weird playing different teams each year because (they have) new tendencies and new players, but I mean, it was nothing we shouldn’t have been able to handle,” Wolff said. “We just weren’t getting the job done.”

HAYDEN 31, BALDWIN 21

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

(Allkickoffs at 7 p.m.)

FRIDAY'S GAMES

Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural (26) 

EMPORIA (2-2, 0-1 Centennial) at WASHBURN RURAL (2-2, 1-0 Centennial)

Washburn Rural opened Centennial League play with a 34-7 win over city rival Topeka High at Hummer Sports Park last Friday while Emporia dropped a 32-6 Centennial League game against Junction City. Washburn Rural senior star running back Jadyn Baum carried the ball 34 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns against the Trojans. Emporia sophomore quarterback Cael Claibourn has completed eight of 18 passes for 234 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 289 yards and five TDs on 26 attempts. Spartan senior Ben Collins has 414 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 75 attempts.

Jairus Todwong, Hayden

BALDWIN (3-1, 1-0 3A District 3) at HAYDEN (0-4, 0-0 3A District 3)

Hayden, which has advanced to the Class 3A state championship game three straight seasons, will open Class 3A District 3 competition Friday night. The Wildcats are coming off a 49-28 loss to St. Mary's South Side, Mo. last Friday while Baldwin opened district play with a 28-0 shutout victory over Perry-Lecompton. Hayden sophomore Jairus Todwong carried the ball 18 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns against St. Mary's while senior Logan Power had seven catches for 88 yards. Bulldawg senior quarterback Bryis Alford has completed 28 of 48 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns and carried the ball 40 times for 345 yards and eight TDs.

Cale Ketter, Seaman

TURNER (0-4, 0-4) at SEAMAN (2-2, 2-2)

Seaman has won two straight games since an 0-2 start, including a 41-17 United Kansas Conference victory over Lansing last Friday, while Turner is still looking for its first win of the season after a 56-7 non-league loss to Leavenworth. Seaman senior quarterback Cale Ketter has completed 80 of 130 passes for 1,322 yards and 12 touchdowns while senior Coy Barta has caught 30 passes for 685 yards and five TDs. Junior running back Quentin Moravec has carried the ball 59 times for 418 yards and four TDs. Bryson Fehr has 50 tackles for the Vikings (30 solo), with six tackles for loss.

BV SOUTHWEST (0-4) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (1-3)

At Hummer Sports Park

Highland Park dropped a 12-6 Meadowlark Conference nailbiter on the road to Kansas City-Sumner Academy last Friday while Blue Valley Southwest remained winless with a 41-28 loss to traditional state power Bishop Miege. Senior JoJo Kingcannon has been the go-to guy for Highland Park, which lost senior star G'Honi Montgomery to a season-ending injury in the second game of the season. Blue Valley Southwest junior quarterback Michael Dunn has completed 64 of 129 passes for 824 yards.

Trone Purvis, Shawnee Heights 

SPRING HILL (4-0, 4-0 UKC) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-3, 1-3 UKC)

Shawnee Heights will be looking to bounce back from a 58-40 United Kansas Conference road loss to Topeka West while Spring Hill remained unbeaten with a 24-0 conference win over Basehor-Linwood. T-Bird senior quarterback Kolby Kutscher has completed 46 of 85 passes for 760 yards and eight touchdowns while sophomore Fletcher Terrell has caught 17 passes for 366 yards and six TDs. Senior Trone Purvis has carried the ball 74 times for 413 yards and five touchdowns. 

CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (3-1, 0-0 8-Man-I District 3) vs. PLEASANTON (2-2, 1-0 8-Man-I District 3)

At Veritas Christian, Lawrence

Cair Paravel surpassed is 2025 win total with a 54-8 romp past Rural Vista last Friday and will host Pleasanton in a Eight-Man Division I District 3 contest at Veritas Christian School in Lawrence. Pleasanton is coming off a 38-36 win over Northern Heights. Cair Paravel senior Cole Haubold has carried the ball 21 times for 331 yards and seven touchdowns while leading the Lions with 32 tackles (20 solo) and seven tackles for loss. Junior quarterback Chase Hastert has completed seven of 18 passes for 215 yards and four TDs and has 234 rushing yards and four TDs on 24 carries. 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

On Monday night Hayden's volleyball team, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, felt like it let a win get away in a five-set home dual loss to Kansas City-St. Pius X, Mo.

Facing another tough test in the second set of Thursday's Senior Night match against 3A No. 2 Holton, the 16-6 Wildcats showed their grit in a 27-25 come-from-behind win before closing out the 3-0 sweep with their second 25-17 win of the night.

Mallory Tanking, Hayden's lone senior, receives Senior Night gifts from Wildcat teammates Hailey Schmidtlein (22), Sophia Wichman (3) and Clare Chisham (21) Thursday night in the Bueltel Activity Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Mallory Tanking exchanges hugs with her Hayden teammates after being introduced on Senior Night Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Hayden led St. Pius 2-1 in Monday's match but was unable to close out the win and coach Corrinne McGreevy said her Wildcats, the 2025 4A state runnerup, did a much better job of handling the pressure-packed situation against Holton, the 3A state runnerup a year ago.

"(St. Pius) was a great team, but we got complacent and we're too good of a team to not kick teams while they're down and not finish matches,'' McGreevy said. "We called a time out (tonight) and we said, 'Hey girls, this kind of feels like Monday night. We've got to flip the switch, but we're going to go up and not down.' ''

Holton (21-7) led 25-24 before Hayden ran off three straight points, ending the set on a kill from sophomore Clare Chisham.

"They flipped the switch up, they stuck together and they played as a team,'' McGreevy said. "They fought through it and we found a way to win in front of our crowd. It was really cool.''

Mallory Tanking, Hayden's lone senior, agreed with McGreevy that the Wildcats played much better against Holton. 

"I feel like we realized that we didn't play to our full potential on Monday and we didn't play Hayden volleyball,'' Tanking said. "So I feel like we came in today wanting to show our full potential.

"We knew we had a lot of people coming to watch us today and it's our last regular-season home game, so we had to give it our all.'' 

 After the Wildcats rallied for the second-set win, Hayden honored Tanking.

"I look to her all the time,'' McGreevy said. "She is not only an incredible volleyball player, she's an incredible person, and the thing I love about her is that she stuck with me from Day 1.

"We came in together and she trusted in the process, she trusted me as her coach and she's been thriving the last four year because of that. And she has my back and I have her back.''

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After losing three of its previous four games, Seaman soccer bounced back Monday with a 2-0 non-league road win over rival Hayden.

Junior Oscar Serrano (16) scored Seaman's first goal in Monday's 2-0 non-league soccer shutout at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Vikings scored a goal in each half on Monday en route to improving to 4-5 on the season while Hayden fell to 0-8.

"We've been a little up and down and just had a lot of tough opponents we've been up against,'' Seaman coach Ty Hurla said. "We've dealt with some injuries and it's just been one of those years that we've dealt with that, so it's just been an up and down roller-coaster season for us.''

Seaman came up empty on some early scoring opportunities, but got the only goal it would need at the 14:59 mark of the opening half when junior Oscar Serrano found the back of the net off an assist from junior David Budge.

Budge then scored a big insurance goal with 9:41 remaining in the game to account for the final margin.

Sophomore Brady Jowers picked up the shutout in goal for the Vikings.

"They know players over on that side so it's one of those games they definitely want to be up for and come out and compete,'' Hurla said.

And Hurla was pleased overall with his Vikings' performance.

"Any time you can get a shutout and two goals in the game, we'll take that any time we can get it,'' he said. "It's definitely a different playing surface (grass) for us, but we're alright with that.'' 

Both Seaman and Hayden will be back in action Tuesday, with the Vikings hosting Leavenworth in a United Kansas Conference contest while Hayden will be on the road at Ottawa for a non-league tilt.

SEAMAN 2, HAYDEN 0

Seaman (4-5) 1 1 -- 2

Hayden (0-8)  0 0 -- 0

Seaman -- Goals: Oscar Serrano, David Budge. Assist: David Budge. Shutout: Brady Jowers.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

A week after posting a nine-stroke victory in the city tournament Seaman senior Chloe Schmidtlein added the United Kansas Conference individual title by two strokes Monday at Painted Hills Golf Course in Kansas City, Kan.

Seaman senior Chloe Schmidtlein shot a 79 to win the UKC individual title by two strokes. [File photo/TSN]

Schmidtlein carded a 79 while De Soto's Mckenzie Laster and Basehor-Linwood's Aubrey Ziolo tied for second with 81s.

The Vikings finished second as a team, with Spring Hill ending Seaman's UKC championship reign by a 367-378 margin.

Seaman also got a tie for eighth from Kaitlynn Frye with a 91 while Penelope Kruesi (99) and Cara Beaton (109) rounded out the Vikings' top four.

Shawnee Heights finished sixth as a team, led by Lauryn Valdivia' tie for eighth (91).   

UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

At Painted Hills 

Team scores

Spring Hill 367, Seaman 378, Basehor-Linwood 387, De Soto 387, Piper 399, Shawnee Heights 413, Turner 578.

Individual results

1. Chloe Schmidtlein, Seaman, 79; 2. (tie) Mckenzie Laster, De Soto, and Aubrey Ziolo, Basehor-Linwood, 81; 4. (tie) Claire Fitzgerald, Basehor-Linwood, and Emily Taylor, De Soto, 84; 6. Lydia Herthel, Spring Hill, 85; 7. Kinsley Miller, Spring Hill, 90; 8. (tie) Kaitlyn Frye, Seaman; Addison Nichols, Spring Hill, and Lauryn Valdivia, Shawnee Heights, 91.

Other Seaman -- Penelope Kruesi 99, Cara Beaton 109, Lauren Glasgow 115, Leah Crawford 125.

Other Shawnee Heights -- Elsie Willmann 101, Avery Domme 101, Ashlyn Mattox 120. 

Senior Kailyn Petersen finished second in Monday's Centennial League tournament to lead Washburn Rural to a runnerup team finish. [File photo/TSN]

Petersen, Junior Blues post runnerup Centennial League finishes

Washburn Rural finished second as a team to defending Class 6A state champion Manhattan in Monday's Centennial League tournament at Stagg Hills in Manhattan while Junior Blues senior Kailyn Petersen was the individual runnerup.

Individual champion Maddie Myers shot a sizzling 69 to take medalist honors by 12 strokes over Petersen (81) while the Indians won the team title by a 346-362 margin over the Junior Blues.

Rural's Reese Elliott finished fifth individually (89) while Liz Halstead finished ninth (95) and Emery Hall and LynnLee Mullins tied for 10th (97). 

Senior Brooke Johnson paced Hayden with a third-place individual finish (85) as the Wildcats finished third as a team. 

CENTENNIAL LEAGUE GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

At Stagg Hill 

Team scores

Manhattan 346, Washburn Rural 362, Hayden 387, Emporia 418, Junction City 458.

Individual results

1. Maddie Myers, Manhattan, 69; 2. Kailyn Petersen, Washburn Rural, 81; 3. Brooke Johnson, Hayden, 85; 4. Taylen Koch, Emporia, 87; 5. Reese Elliott, Washburn Rural, 89; 6. Lilly Nelson, Manhattan, 91; 7. (tie) Gabby Fehr, Manhattan, and Addy Crouch, Manhattan, 93; 9. Liz Halstead, Washburn Rural, 95; 10. (tie) Emery Hall, Washburn Rural; LynnLee Mullins, Washburn Rural, and Emily Hartung, Manhattan, 97.

Other Washburn Rural -- Brynley Scott 99.

Other Hayden -- Avery Becker 100, Morgan Johnson 101, Emma Matthews 101, Esa Herarra 104, Maura Tolin 106.

Topeka High -- Braylin Selk 139, Riley McMillian 148.

Host Eagles win title in invitational

Silver Lake posted an 11-stroke team win in Monday's Silver Lake Invitational at Cypress Ridge, winning by a 384-395 margin over Holton.

 The Eagles' Zara Nilsson shot an 85 to finish a stroke behind medalist Addison Fechter of Jefferson West while Silver Lake's Avenley Head finished third with an 89.

Rossville finished fifth as a team but the Bulldawgs got a sixth-place finish from Elley Sanders (97), an eighth from Maya Donovan (99) and a tie for 10th from Gloria Stebbins (102).

SILVER LAKE INVITATIONAL GIRLS GOLF 

At Cypress Ridge

Team scores

Silver Lake 384, Holton 395, Jefferson West 401, Osage City 403, Rossville 413, Silver Lake 'B' 469.

Individual results

1. Addison Fechter, Jefferson West, 84; 2. Zara Nilsson, Silver Lake, 85; 3. Avenley Head, Silver Lake, 89; 4. Bree Barrow, Holton, 91; 5. Brynlee Harmon, Osage City, 93; 6. Elley Sanders, Rossville, 97; 7. Alyssa Stich, Holton, 98; 8. Maya Donovan, Rossville, 99; 9. Adalie Alley, Holton, 101; 10. (tie) Gloria Stebbins, Rossville, and Sawyer Serna, Osage City, 102.

Other Silver Lake -- Ashley Hanna 105, Savanah Wende 105, Morgan Ackerly 110, Ali Gerber 116, Alissa Thomas 116, Addy Just 117, Addison Beyer 117, Ciara Hall 119.

Other Rossville -- Joan Pottorf 115, Reese Olejnik 118. 

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

The Hayden Wildcats outlasted a field full of ranked teams to win the Seaman Invitational volleyball tournament on Saturday, besting Lansing in the championship match.

Hayden's volleyball team poses for a team picture after winning Saturday's Seaman Invitational. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

Hayden volleyball celebrates its Seaman Invitational championship Saturday. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]

Although the Wildcats fell to Class 4A rival Bishop Miege in pool play, they got by Seaman 25-22, 25-23 in their semifinal match. The Wildcats then took down the fifth-ranked team in Class 5A, Lansing, 25-20, 25-22 to take home the trophy.

“I’m so proud of them. Overall, they played so awesome,” said Hayden coach Corrinne McGreevy.” “This team plays so hard. They always have grit. Whenever they get faced with adversity, they stick together.”

The adversity McGreevy alluded to was the defeat at the hands of Bishop Miege, 25-17, 22-25, 25-13.

“They’re a fantastic team,” McGreevy said of the Stags. “It’s always a really good match between us. We competed well against them, especially in that second game. In the third game, I think we got a little bit in our own way, and sometimes that happens.

“I told the girls (after the loss to Miege) that you just gotta shake it. And they did. We take second, we come over here and win it. With sports, that’s the beauty of it.”

Mallory Tanking (11), Hayden's lone senior, helped lead the Wildcats to the championship in Saturday's Seaman Invitational. [Photo by Brent Maycock/TSN]

“This is so fun! I love playing with these girls,” Hayden’s lone senior, Mallory Tanking, said of winning the tournament. “We love each other and we play for each other, no matter what.”

The tournament featured Bishop Miege and Hayden, Class 4A’s first- and second-ranked teams; Garden City, the fifth-ranked team in 6A; and Bishop Carroll and Lansing, 5A’s fourth- and fifth-ranked teams.

“This tournament is awesome,” McGreevy said. “There are so many really, really good teams here and its really good volleyball all day. It just helps us prepare for sub-state and then hopefully on to state.”

Tanking is one of several Wildcats who return from the 2025 4A state runners-up. She said the Seaman Invitational proved the team has a high ceiling once again.

“I feel like this was really good experience for the postseason,” Tanking said. “This told us we can compete with anyone and we can come back from anything.”

Seaman surprised the field by emerging from its pool on top of Garden City, Lansing and Kansas City’s Maranatha Christian Academy. The Vikings lost a three-set fight with Maranatha but emerged ahead of the other 2-1 teams.

After falling to Hayden in the semifinal battle, Seaman lost to Bishop Miege, 25-18, 25-14 in the third-place match.

Seaman junior Lydia Dreher (left) sets the ball in Saturday's Seaman Invitational while freshman teammate Kamryn Carlson (13), an all-tournament pick, stands by. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]

“I feel like we really battled today, and I think we made a lot of strides in the right direction,” said Seaman coach Tatiana Dowling. “Obviously, there is still plenty to work on, but that’s exactly where you want to be in this part of the season: battling, starting to put some things together, and understanding what you need to work on so that you can get better for future games.

“We battled some of the best teams in the state out there, and we’ve got two freshmen, three sophomores and a senior on the floor at one time. This should tell them that they can play with anybody.”

Junior Hailey Schmidtlein (right) was named to the Seaman Invitational all-tournament team after helping lead the Wildcats to the tournament championship. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]

Hayden and Seaman each placed a player on the All-Tournament Team. Representing Hayden was junior Hailey Schmidtlein. For Seaman, freshman Kamryn Carlson won tournament honors.

SEAMAN INVITATIONAL

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Traditional state football power Hayden is in very unfamiliar territory after dropping a 49-28 Homecoming decision to St. Mary's South Side, Mo. on Friday night to fall to 0-4 on the season.

Hayden sophomore Jairus Todwong rushed for 97 yards and scored two TDs and a 2-point conversion in Friday's 49-28 loss to St. Mary's South Side. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

But with the start of Class 3A district play looming next week, the Wildcats long-term goals are still very much within reach and veteran Hayden coach Bill Arnold said that's what his team has to hang its hat on moving forward.

"I thought our kids played hard and we didn't quit, and that bodes well because a couple of weeks ago I didn't feel like we finished the game,'' Arnold said. "So our seniors have stepped up and they understand where we're at.

"And at the same time I really don't like being on this end of the stick, but if you look at it, it's a new season and I'll be honest with you, we're making improvements.'' 

Because of transporation issues that St. Mary's South Side experienced traveling from St. Louis, Mo. Friday's game was 75 minutes late starting, but those issues didn't faze the Dragons, who turned in a dominating performance once they arrived in Topeka.

St. Mary's, which improved to 3-2, never trailed after scoring the first 14 points of the game and scored on four pass plays of between 22 and 54 yards while also forcing four Hayden turnovers, including returning a pair of interceptions for touchdowns.

"We're our own worst enemy,'' Arnold said of the Wildcats' miscues. "Those are things you've got to shore up. Otherwise you're probably not going to be in too many games.

"We've got some individuals who have got to grow up at a faster rate than what they probably should.''

St. Mary's freshman quarterback Jakhori Battle connected with senior Greg Hollis on 22 and 52-yard touchdown strikes while also hitting senior Caleb Harris for a game-opening 48-yard score and sophomore Ric'Khy McCaw for a 54-yard TD, finishing the night 10 of 16 for 209 yards.

The Dragons also got a 26-yard touchdown run from junior Milano Mitchell while McCaw scored on a 60-yard interception return and sophomore Montelle Lomax Jr. had a 23-yard pick six.

Sophomore Jairus Todwong had a big night for Hayden, carrying the ball 18 times for 97 yards and scoring on 13 and 2-yard runs while also catching a 2-point conversion pass from junior Ryker Tetuan.

Hayden junior quarterback Ryker Tetuan (8) threw for 128 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 49-28 home loss to St. Mary's South Side. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Hayden also scored on a 21-yard pass from Tetuan to senior Mason Becker and a 1-yard TD plunge from senior Jace Wolff.

Senior Logan Power had seven catches for 88 yards.

Hayden officially re-named its football stadium Tom Stringer Family Stadium Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Family members gathered on the football field Friday for the dedication of Tom Stringer Family Stadium. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

At halftime Hayden officially re-named its stadium Tom Stringer Family Stadium in honor of its legendary coach, who passed away in 2025.

The Wildcats will be back at home next Friday to host Baldwin in their district opener.

ST. MARY'S SOUTH SIDE 49, HAYDEN 28

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After a two-year absence, Washburn Rural re-claimed the Topeka city girls tennis team championship Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center.

Washburn Rural poses for a team picture after winning the city girls tennis championship by a 32-28 margin over Seaman Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Two-time city No. 1 doubles champs Julia Katzer and Halle Owen led the way as the Junior Blues won three of four divisions on the way to a 32-28 victory over 2025 champion Seaman while 2024 champ Hayden finished third with 24 points.

Washburn Rural seniors Halle Owen (left) and Julia Katzer won their second straight city title in No. 1 doubles Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] 

Katzer and Owen, both seniors, earned their repeat city title with an 8-3 win over Hayden juniors Hailey Caryl and Sophia Wichman and said their biggest thrill of the day was helping the Junior Blues win the team championship.

"We didn't win as a team last year, so I just really wanted to come through with that win so we could help the team out,'' Katzer said.

"It was a goal going in,'' Owen said of the team title. "I know we have a lot of strong players and we have a lot of strong underclassmen coming up, so I think that with a lot of the hard work that we've put in it's been good and it's paying off to win as a team.''

Washburn Rural also got city titles in No. 2 singles from Karmyn Faul and in No. 2 doubles from Annie Henderson and Kinley Ladd.

Faul topped Cair Paravel Latin's Mia Poole 8-6 in the No. 2 singles final while Henderson and Ladd took an 8-4 win over Seaman in the No. 2 doubles title match.

"The girls stayed patient, they remembered to play their game and stayed focused, and when you have a lead keep that gas pedal down and don't let up because these girls at these other schools are relentless and they're not going to stop,'' Washburn Rural coach Michelle Rose said.

Seaman senior Emma Sweeney won her second straight city title in No. 1 singles Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center, remaining undefeated on the season. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Undefeated Seaman senior star Emma Sweeney won her second straight No. 1 singles championship to pace the runnerup Vikings, taking an 8-0 win over Cair Paravel's Madelyn Poole in the final.

Sweeney, the Class 5A singles runnerup as a junior, lost just one game on the day after receiving a first-round bye, improving to 13-0 on the season.

"I think I've been playing pretty loose so far and that's always the goal, just to play better each day,'' Sweeney said. "I think I can always do better and work harder but so far I think I've been putting my all into each match and not taking anyone easy and just playing loose. That's the whole point.

"We've been working really hard as a team and we talk every single day about how we're going to put it all out there this year. Getting second in singles and as a team last year it was a big hurt, but we're coming back and we're all just ready to leave it out there.''

TOPEKA CITY GIRLS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

(Allkickoffs at 7 p.m.)

THURSDAY'S GAME

Fletcher Terrell, Shawnee Heights [File photo/TSN]

SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-2, 1-2) vs. TOPEKA WEST (0-3, 0-3)

At Hummer Sports Park

Shawnee Heights is coming off a 62-7 United Kansas Conference road loss at Seaman last Friday while Topeka West dropped a 42-14 UKC decision at Lansing. Shawnee Heights senior quarterback Kolby Kutscher has completed 39 of 68 passes for 673 yards and six touchdowns while sophomore Fletcher Terrell has caught 15 passes for 537 yards and five TDs. Senior Trone Purvis has carried the ball 45 times for 229 yards and two TDs. Junior Malachi Lee leads the T-Birds with 27 tackles (20 solo). Topeka West junior quarterback Josiah Wilkie has completed 33 of 63 passes for 372 yards and two TDs. Junior Nas Williams-Brown has rushed for 269 yards and two TDs on 25 carries while senior Micah Emerson has 11 catches for 197 yards and three TDs. Sophomore Payson Skelton leads the Chargers with 22 tackles.

FRIDAY'S GAMES

Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural [Photo by Doug Walker/TSN]

TOPEKA HIGH (1-2, 0-0) vs. WASHBURN RURAL (1-2, 0-0)

At Hummer Sports Park

The Trojans and Junior Blues will square off Friday in the Centennial League opener for both schools. Both the Trojans and Junior Blues will be looking to bounce back from losses, with Topeka High dropping a 46-19 road decision at Wichita Southeast and Washburn Rural falling at home to undefeated Wichita Bishop Carroll, 34-23. The Junior Blues were within five points in the fourth quarter despite losing both of their senior quarterbacks, Gavin Vantuyl and Gabriel Taylor,  to injuries. Rural star senior running back Jadyn Baum finished the night with 208 rushing yards and 74 and 70-yard TDs on 23 carries. Senior Courtney Sanders is a top player for Topeka High.

ST. MARY'S SOUTH SIDE, Mo. (2-2) at HAYDEN (0-3)

After three straight games on the road, Hayden wil play its home-opener against its second straight out-of-state opponent. At halftime Hayden will officially re-name its stadium Tom Stringer Family Stadium in honor of the Wildcats' legendary football coach, who passed away in 2025. Hayden is coming off a 57-12 loss at Missouri power St. Pius X, 4-0 on the season. South Side, located in St. Louis, is coming off a 42-7 loss to undefeated Jackson, Mo. 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural junior cross country standout Clayton Fink and Hayden junior volleyball standout Hailey Schmidtlein have been selected as the Brandon Aldridge State Farm Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week.

The Brandon Aldridge Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

Here's a brief look at last week's accomplishments of Fink and Schmidtlein.

Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural (510) [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

CLAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural

Fink placed fifth among 99 runners in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic at Washburn Rural, leading the Junior Blues to the team championship by a 50-77 margin over Blue Valley Northwest.

Fink clocked a five-kilometer time of 16 minutes, 29.49 seconds to pace three Rural runners in the top 10 individually.

As a sophomore Fink helped lead Washburn Rural to the Class 6A state team championship by a single point.

Hailey Schmidtlein, Hayden [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]

HAILEY SCHMIDTLEIN, Hayden

A three-sport athlete, Schmidtlein has helped lead Hayden volleyball to a 10-3 start to the 2026 season, including a sweep of the Wildcats' home-opening triangular last Thursday.

Schmidtlein played a big role as Hayden, No. 2-ranked in Class 4A by the Kansas Volleyball Association, took a 25-12, 25-21 victory over Ottawa and a 25-22, 25-17 win over city rival Shawnee Heights.

As a sophomore in 2025-2026, Schmidtlein helped the Wildcats win state championships in basketball and soccer while Hayden posted a runnerup state finish in volleyball.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Hayden Catholic High School will rename its football stadium Tom Stringer Family Stadium at halftime of Friday's 7 p.m. home-opener against St. Louis, Mo.-St. Mary's South Side, honoring the memory of the school's legendary football coach, who passed away in 2025.

Hayden coaching Legend Tom Stringer, who passed away in 2025, chatted with friends during his Hayden Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2023. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The 1979 Hayden grad, who passed away on Nov. 28, 2025 at the age of 64, was inducted into the Hayden Catholic Hall of Fame in 2023.

"It's really special because you get to re-live one of the best parts of your life,'' Stringer said on the night of his induction. "You don't know how bad you liked something until you get away from it, so this is good. I'm very proud and very grateful that I got selected to do this. It's been 17 years since I've been here and every day I think about this place. Every day.''

Tom Stringer visited with John Tetuan, the star quarterback on his undefeated 1998 Class 4A state championship team, during Stringer's Hayden Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2023. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Stringer coached football at Hayden from 1992-2006, leading the Wildcats to the school's first Class 4A state championsip in 1998 with a 13-0 record and adding a second undefeated state title in 2004.

Stringer's Hayden teams won the Centennial League championship seven times and he achieved a career record of 131-35 during his 15 years as the Wildcats' head coach.

Stringer coached in the Kansas Shrine Bowl four times, serving twice as the East head coach.

Stringer, a former All-American lineman at Pittsburg State, is also a member of the PSU Athletic Hall of Fame and the Kansas Football Coaches Assocation Hall of Fame.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Monday's city high school girls golf championship at Cypress Ridge was marked by something old and something new.

Washburn Rural poses for a team picture after posting a 29-stroke victory in Monday's city girls golf tournament at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] 

After a one-year absence, Washburn Rural regained its traditional place atop the city ladder, capturing its 12th city team championship in the 14-year history of the event by 29 strokes over Hayden as Hayden Beck won his first city title as the Junior Blues' head coach.

But Monday also saw Seaman senior Chloe Schmidtlein win her first city individual title by nine strokes with a 78 after finishing seventh in 2025.

Seaman senior Chloe Schmidtlein shot a 78 Monday to win her first city individual title by nine strokes at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn Rural rode its balance to the team crown, with the Junior Blues putting all of its top four players in the top eight individually.

Washburn Rural senior Kailyn Petersen shot an 87 to tie for second place in Monday's city girls golf tournament at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] 

Washburn Rural sophomore Reese Elliott tied for second in Monday's city golf tournament with an 87. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Senior Kailyn Petersen and sophomore Reese Elliott tied for second behind Schmidtlein with 87s while Brynley Scott and LynnLee Mullins shot 95s to tie for seventh place.

"I think that we're getting where we need to be, and I think it's a testament to the work they've put in,'' Beck said. "We've been inside because it's been a rough year with the weather. All teams are dealing with it, but our girls have shown up every practice that we've had to move inside and they've got a lot of good work in.

"We've been pounding the short game and I'm starting to see a little bit of a difference from where we were at the start of the year to where we are now, so it's awesome to see us be able to put four scores together and kind of be where we're supposed to be.''

Schmidtlein, who helped Seaman win the city team title as a junior, used a red-hot start to her decisive individual victory, shooting under par over her front nine and holding a comfortable lead for the remainder of her round despite cooling off a bit.

Schmidtlein said that winning the city title was a goal entering Monday's tournament. 

"I talked to my dad about it before the round and I was like, 'It would be really cool to go win city today, I think I could do it,' '' Schmidtlein said.

"But I didn't get too focused on it because if I set a goal and focus too much on it then I sometimes just go completely downhill.''

And now that she did win the city title, Schmidtlein is hoping to ride that momentum into the United Kansas Conference, regional and state meets.

"I feel like I can go perform well,'' she said.

Brooke Johnson tied for second with an 87 to lead Hayden to a runnerup team finish in Monday's city golf tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Brooke Johnson tied for second with an 87 for team runnerup Hayden while Morgan Johnson finished sixth with a 92 and Emma Matthews placed 10th with a 103.

In addition to Schmidtlein's individual victory, third-place Seaman got a fifth-place finish from Kaitlynn Frye, who carded 90.

Shawnee Heights' Lauryn Valdivia earned an individual medal with a ninth-place finish for the T-Birds, shooting a 97.   

Baldwin won the championship in the Topeka West Invitational, held in conjunction with the city tournament, by a 32-stroke margin over Washburn Rural (332-364) as Peyton Wright shot a 73 to post a five-stroke individual win for the Bulldawgs. 

TOPEKA CITY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Defending Class 6A boys state cross country champion Washburn Rural is off and running again, including a team title in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic at Rural.

Junior Clayton Fink (510) posted a fifth-place individual finish to lead Washburn Rural to the boys team title in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn Rural sophomore Alyson Hinck turned in a fourth-place girls individual finish in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic as Rural finished third as a team. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Junior Blues put three runners in the top nine spots on the way to a decisive 50-77 victory over Blue Valley Northwest while Rural's girls also turned in a banner day, with three runners placing in the top eight individually en route to a third-place team finish behind Shawnee Mission East and Mill Valley.

"Both the boys and girls teams ran great,'' Rural coach Matt Swedlund said. "It's always fun to host and show off our beautiful home course.''

Saturday's meet is named in honor of former longtime Washburn Rural coach Scott Shufelberger, who Swedlund ran for in high school.

Junior Clayton Fink paced Rural's boys in Saturday's meet with a fifth-place individual finish among 99 runners in a five-kilometer time of 16 minutes, 29.50 seconds.

Junior Duke Graf (511) placed seventh in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic for the team-champion Washburn Rural boys. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Rural, which captured the 2025 6A team championship by a single point, also got a seventh-place finish from Duke Graf (16:48.40) and a ninth-place showing from junior Jaxson Adams (16:53.30) while sophomore Julius Wood-Nichols placed 13th (17:04.90) and senior Cohen Thiessen 16th (17:13.90) to round out the Junior Blues' top five.

"The boys ran solid and are progressing nicely,'' Swedlund said.

Seaman finished ninth as a team with 186 points, led by sophomore Trindon Jones, who placed 14th (17:09.00).

Shawnee Heights got a 29th-place finish from sophomore Miles Hadley (17:40.40) on the way to an 11th-place team finish while Topeka West finished 12th as a team, getting a team-high 66th-place finish from senior Ezra Phelps (18:40.10).

Washburn Rural junior Reese Beardslee (547) finished sixth in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]  

Sophomore Alyson Hinck led Washburn Rural's girls with a fourth-place individual finish among 85 competitors in 19:26.40 while junior Reese Beardslee was two spots back in sixth place (19:31.20) and sophomore Morgan Munson finished eighth (19:41.80).

Sophomore Quinn Nolte finished 29th (21:05.10) and freshman Kenadee Booher 34th (21:21.30) to round out Rural's scoring runners as Rural finished with 81 points to finish third behind SM East (58) and Mill Valley (68).

Seaman senior Brynn Spencer (496) finished ninth in Saturday's Shufelberger Top City Classic. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Seaman senior Brynn Spencer, a returning 5A state medalist, placed ninth (19:43.00) for the seventh-place Vikings. 

SHUFELBERGER TOP CITY CLASSIC

GIRLS

Team scores

Shawnee Mission East 58, Mill Valley 68, Washburn Rural 81, Olathe North 101, Olathe West 105, Gardner-Edgerton 177, Seaman 185, Olathe South 197, Blue Valley Northwest 206, Junction City 225.

Individual results

1. Charlotte Hardy, SM East, 18:11.80; 2. Audrey Howard, Mill Valley, 18:22.10; 3. Lyla Speicher, SM East, 18:52.20; 4. Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural, 19:26.40; 5. Hailey Hanna, Mill Valley, 19:30.20; 6. Reese Beardslee, Washburn Rural, 19:31.20; 7. Molly DeGregorio, Olathe West, 19:34.90; 8. Morgan Munson, Washburn Rural, 19:41.80; 9. Brynn Spencer, sr., Seaman, 19:43.00; 10. Karsyn Hitchcock, Olathe North, 19:43.60.

Other Washburn Rural -- 29. Quinn Nolte, 21:05.10; 34. Kenadee Booher, 21:21.30; 47. Avery Kennedy, 22:35.20; 69. Clara Dillon, 23:38.30;  

Other Seaman -- 33. Morgan Ranson, 21:18.90; 40. Kinley Robinson, 21:56.10; 48. Brinley Cochran, 22:39.90; 64. Hannah Wempe, 23:27.30; 78. Jaydin Frickey, Seaman, 24:44.70; 80. Avery Villines, 25:07.20.

Shawnee Heights -- 79. Claudia Memmet, 24:51.40; 84. Hazel Rondash, 25:51.20; 85. Piper Geil, 28:05.60.

BOYS

Team scores

Washburn Rural 50, Blue Valley Northwest 77, Shawnee Mission East 84, Mill Valley 113, Olathe West 156, Gardner-Edgerton 158, Olathe South 163, Shawnee Mission West 172, Seaman 186, Junction City 214, Shawnee Heights 302, Topeka West 338.

Individual results

1. Jacob D'souza, Blue Valley Northwest, 15:35.20; 2. Graham Anderson,  Mill Valley, 15:58.20; 3. Kallan Horveath, SM West, 16:14.60; 4. Anthony Testa, Junction City, 16:15.90; 5. Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural, 16:29.50; 6. George Clifford, SM East, 16:30.30; 7. Duke Graf, Washburn Rural, 16:48.40; 8. Andrew Kennedy, Blue Valley Northwest, 16:51.40; 9. Jaxson Adams, Washburn Rural, 16:53.30; 10. Asher Yager, Mill Valley, 16:54.50.

Other Washburn Rural -- 13. Julius Wood-Nichols, 17:04.90; 16. Cohen Thiessen, 17:13.90; 24. Bennett Wells, 17:33.50 

Seaman -- 14. Trindon Jones, 17:09.00; 31. Conner Bloom, 17:41.50; 41. Emmanuel Armstead, 17:53.70; 57. Maddox Moore,  18:15.80; 62. Tate Oliva, 18:33.10; 74. Camden Dutton, 19:06.30; 78. Cody Miller, 19:10.80; 82. Nick Horton, 19:24.80; 97. Weston Kennedy, 21:14.00.

Shawnee Heights -- 29. Miles Hadley, 17:40.40; 67. Andrew Schulte, 18:41.50; 83. Deyton Coufal, 19:29.00; 95. Carter Vincent, 20:49.30; 99. Marcus Folger, 21:19.20.

Hayden -- 32. Nick Newkirk, 17:42.50. 

Topeka West -- 66. Ezra Phelps, 18:40.10; 85. Westin Soto, 19:31.80; 89. Cameron Parrett, 19:43.20; 91. Rhys Green, 19:49.00; 94. Elijah Hernandez, 20:30.40; 98. Mason Gore, 21:15.70. 

Gerber, Kraus pace Eagles at Hiawatha

Silver Lake senior girls standout Alessandra Gerber placed eighth individually among 64 runners in Thursday's Hiawatha Invitational, leading the Eagles to a sixth-place team finish.

Gerber clocked a five-kilometer time of 22:25.89 while Silver Lake also got a top-20 finish from freshman JessiLyn Mohler (23:59.35).

Silver Lake junior Cason Kraus placed 10th individually in the boys race (19:32.70), leading the Eagles to a runnerup team finish behind Nemaha Central (29-85).

The Eagles also got a 16th-place finish from senior Lane Ray (20:03.52) and a 19th-place showing from freshman Dayton Uhl (20:08.36).

Dawg trio posts top-20 finishes at Wabaunsee meet

Rossville seniors Payton Shaddux and Madelyn Wonnell and freshman Raiden Pollock posted top-20 individual finishes in Saturday's Jason McKinney Memorial meet, hosted by Wabaunsee.

Shaddux (25:08.79) placed 12th and Wonnell 14th (25:21.90) in the girls race while Pollock (21:40.92) finished 17th in the boys race as Rossville finished fifth as a team.

Trojans' Davis top 10 at Baldwin

Topeka High junior Easton Davis placed ninth among 66 runners in Saturday's Baldwin Invitational.

Davis clocked a time of 17:56.53 to lead the Trojans to a sixth-place team finish.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Silver Lake continued its red-hot start to the 2026 season Friday night, improving to 3-0 with a 55-21 home Big East League romp past previously-unbeaten Jefferson West.

Silver Lake sophomore quarterback Kipton Kruger (8) threw for 364 yards and five TDs in Friday's 55-21 romp past Jefferson West. [File photo/TSN]

Jeff West, now 2-1, led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, but the rest of the night belonged to Silver Lake, which outscored the Tigers 48-7 over the final three quarters.

Silver Lake outscored Jeff West 14-0 in the second quarter to take a 21-14 halftime advantage and then broke the game open with two unanswered TDs in the third quarter and outscored the Tigers 20-7 in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Kipton Kruger completed 22 of 34 passes for 364 yards and five touchdowns for Silver Lake, which improved to 3-0 in the Big East League race.

Eagle senior Owen Rottinghaus had seven catches for 121 yards and three TDs.

Senior JoJo Kingcannon (3) rushed for 345 yards Friday night, leading Highland Park to a 50-34 Meadowlark Conference win over Atchison. [File photo/TSN]

Kingcannon powers Scots to first win

Senior quarterback JoJo Kingcannon rushed for 345 yards on 29 carries Friday night, leading Highland Park to a 50-34 Meadowlark Conference victory over Atchison as the Scots improved to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Kingcannon also passed for 31 yards while Highland Park got 146 rushing yards on 13 carries from Rashon Pollard.

Highland Park will travel to Kansas City-Sumner Academy for a Meadowlark matchup next Friday.

Dawgs fall to Falcons in 20-15 thriller

Rossville took a 15-14 lead over Big East League foe Riley County with 7:05 remaining in Friday's home game before the Falcons scored the game-winning touchdown with 4:09 left to take the 20-15 win.

After a scoreless first quarter Riley County took a 7-0 lead with 7:58 left before halftime.

The Bulldawgs cut their halftime deficit to 7-3 on a 27-yard Julian Goj field goal with 1:14 left before the break.

The score remained that way until the two teams combined for 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Rossville took a brief 9-7 advantage with 10:03 remaining on a 13-yard run from senior Cael Horgan (kick failed), but Riley County answered 1:21 later on a 35-yard run to go up 14-9.

The Bulldawgs took the 15-14 lead on a 49-yard pass from junior Landen Lewis to Horgan (2-point conversion failed), before Riley County scored the game-winning TD.

Rossville, now 1-2, will be back at home Friday to host 2-1 Reno County Home School, which is coming off a 35-34 win over Hugoton.

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

(Allkickoffs at 7 p.m.)

FRIDAY'S GAMES

Kolby Kutscher, Shawnee Heights

Cale Ketter, Seaman

SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (1-1, 1-1 UKC) at SEAMAN (0-2, 0-2 UKC)

Shawnee Heights is coming off a heartbreaking 37-29 overtime United Kansas Conference loss to Leavenworth while Seaman dropped a 55-20 UKC decision to Basehor-Linwood, the 2025 Class 5A runnerup. Shawnee Heights senior quarterback Kolby Kutscher has completed 27 of 43 passes for 533 yards and six touchdowns, while sophomore Fletcher Terrell has 11 catches for 284 yards and five TDs. Senior Trone Purvis has carried the ball 27 times for 177 yards and two TDs while freshman Zayis Barksdale has rushed for 151 yards and two TDs on 11 carries. Seaman senior quarterback Cale Ketter has completed 42 of 73 passes for 665 yards and seven touchdowns while senior Coy Barta has 15 catches for 306 yards and two TDs. Viking junior Quentin Moravec has carried the ball 33 times for 187 yards and a TD. 

JoJo Kingcannon, Highland Park

ATCHISON (1-1, 1-0 Meadowlark) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (0-2, 0-1 Meadowlark)

At Hummer Sports Park

Highland Park dropped a 56-0 Meadowlark Conference decision to KC-Washington last Friday while Atchison is coming off a 34-24 conference win over KC-Wyandotte. Highland Park, which won the Meadowlark championship in 2025, is looking for its first win this fall after dropping a 33-6 non-league decision to USD 501 rival Topeka High in its season opener. Scot senior quarterback JoJo Kingcannon has rushed for 157 yards on 35 carries and has completed 7 of 21 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.

 Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural

BISHOP CARROLL (2-0) at WASHBURN RURAL (1-1)

Washburn Rural picked up a 21-7 non-league home win over Olathe South last Friday while Wichita Bishop Carroll improved to 2-0 with a 49-16 win over Wichita Southeast. Senior Amir Jones set up Rural's first touchdown against Olathe South when he picked off a pass and returned it to the 2-yard-line and the Junior Blues also scored a defensive touchdown when senior Tyler Tangye recovered a fumble in the end zone. Senior running back Jadyn Baum finished with 124 rushing yards and 2 and 32-yard TDs on 22 attempts to pace Rural's offense. Carroll senior quarterback Jonah Mull has completed 18 of 22 passes for 186 yards and a TD and rushed for 142 yards and four TDs on 19 attempts while senior Cooper Herrman has 24 carries for 180 yards and a TD.

Kipton Kruger, Silver Lake

JEFFERSON COUNTY WEST (2-0, 1-0 Big East) at SILVER LAKE (2-0, 2-0 Big East)

Silver Lake improved to 2-0 with a 42-27 Big East League win over Rossville in the annual War on 24 while Jeff West stayed unbeaten with a 27-0 non-league shutout over Centralia. Silver Lake sophomore quarterback Kipton Kruger has completed 33 of 53 passes for 372 yards and four touchdowns while junior running back Dominic Monhollon has carried the ball 36 times for 281 yards and five TDs. Tiger sophomore quarterback Brixton Schwinn has completed 25 of 38 passes for 421 yards and six TDs while senior Brody Schwinn has nine receptions for 204 yards and three TDs.

Landen Lewis, Rossville 

RILEY COUNTY (1-1, 1-1 Big East) at ROSSVILLE (1-1, 1-1 Big East)

Rossville is coming off a 42-27 road Big East League loss to rival Silver Lake last Friday while Riley County picked up its first victory, a 21-0 league decision over St. Marys. Rossville junior quarterback Landen Lewis has completed 30 of 43 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 301 yards and six TDs on 40 carries. Senior Cael Horgan has caught 12 passes for 162 yards and a TD. Riley County senior quarterback Kadrick Woodard has rushed for 273 yards and three TDs on 42 attempts.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

After suffering a pair of losses in last weekend's Bishop Miege tournament, a chance to finally get an opportunity to play in the Bueltel Activity Center was just what the doctor ordered for Class 4A's No. 2-ranked Hayden volleyball team.

No. 2-ranked (Class 4A) Hayden celebrates a point during Thursday's triangular sweep over Ottawa and Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Wildcats played their first 11 matches of the season on the road before celebrating their home opener Thursday night with a 25-12, 25-21 win over Ottawa and a 25-22, 25-17 victory over city rival Shawnee Heights.

The wins helped the Wildcats wipe the bad taste out of their mouths after losses to No. 1-ranked Miege and Eudora last Saturday.

Junior standout Hailey Schmidtlein (22) and the Hayden volleyball team swept Ottawa and Shawnee Heights Thursday night in the Wildcats' home opener. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"Obviously it would have been great to go 5-0, but the fact that we did lose those games, that gives us so much to work on,'' said Hayden junior standout Hailey Schmidtlein. "We know the stuff we're going to have to improve on if we want to make a run at state.

"I think we took it personally, we went to work this week at practice and we were getting ready for our first home game, so that's always fun and always brings a lot of adrenalin and a lot of excitement.''

Hayden senior Mallory Tanking (facing) celebrates a kill with her Wildcat teammates Thursday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Hayden coach Corrinne McGreevy was extremely pleased with how her team, now 10-3, bounced back from the losses.

‘’That was a really great tournament, but it showed us things we needed to work on,'' McGreevy said. "We had three solid practices. We got to work and we took care of business. 

"I tell the girls, 'I'm going to coach you hard so when it comes to the game times that you're flowing and you feel smoother and you feel more confident out there,' and they did that tonight. They played so confident and they played together as a team. It was good volleyball.''

Hayden rolled past Ottawa in its first set of the night, opening up 17-8 and 22-9 leads on the way to the 13-point win.

Ottawa pushed the Wildcats in the second set but Hayden held on for the four-point victory and the sweep.

Shawnee Heights hung with Hayden throughout the first set before the Wildcats took the 25-22 win.

Hayden took control early in the second set, going up 8-1, 12-4, 20-9 and 22-10 on the way to the 25-17 win.

Shawnee Heights volleyball celebrates a point during Thursday's Hayden triangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Shawnee Heights went 1-1 on the night, earning a 26-24, 25-20 victory over Ottawa in its first match of the night. 

Shawnee Heights senior Clara Morgan (27) sets the ball during Thursday's Hayden triangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Shawnee Heights built a 17-11 advantage in its first set against Ottawa but the Cyclones battled all the way back to tie the set at 23 and 24 before the T-Birds scored two straight points to take a win.

Heights took an early 7-1 lead in the second set and later went up 10-2 but Ottawa battled back within 17-16 before the T-Birds took control at 23-17 and closed out the five-point victory.

First-year Shawnee Heights coach Katie Glatczak said that it was definitely an up and down night for the T-Birds, now 10-6 on the year.

"Tonight was a battle for us,'' Glatczak said. "We have much more potential than what we showed tonight.

"There's bits and pieces where it's good and we found out tonight that we have a lot of work to do and we're not satisfied with where we're at right now and we've got a long road ahead of us.'' 

Match results

Hayden def. Ottawa, 25-12, 25-21; Shawnee Heights def. Ottawa, 26-24, 25-20; Hayden def. Shawnee Heights, 25-22, 25-17.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka High's boys cross country team edged USD 501 rival Topeka West in a tiebreaker to win West's Joe Schrag Invitational Saturday at Kanza Park.

Both the Trojans and Chargers finished the meet with 65 team points, but Topeka High took the title by virtue of a higher finish by its sixth runner (28-36).

Junior Easton Davis paced High with a fifth-place individual finish in a five-kilometer time of 18 minutes, 42.17 seconds while the Trojans also got an eighth-place showing from junior Oliver Snethen (18:58.41), a 16th from junior Amir Eljammel (20:16.07), a 17th from Nicholas McDonald (20:18.76) and a 19th from senior William Toland (20:51.08).

Topeka West was led by senior Ezra Phelps' ninth-place finish (19:02.67), while sophomore Cameron Parrett finished 11th (19:24.98), sophomore Maks Rodriguez 13th (19:48.40), junior Rhys Green 14th (20:01.18) and sophomore Elijah Hernandez 18th (20:43.80).

Shawnee Heights sophomore Miles Hadley finished second individually in 18:12.62 to lead the T-Birds to a fourth-place team finish.

Heights also got a seventh-place finish from Andrew Schulte (18:51.28), and a 12th from junior Deyton Coufal (19:46.78).

Shawnee Heights' girls finished second as a team behind Lansing (25-55) as sophomore Hazel Rondash paced the T-Birds with a 10th-place finish (25:31.35).

Heights freshman Claudia Memmet finished 11th (26:00.89), sophomore Kendall Lewis 12th (26:17.09) and freshman Charlotte Richards 15th (26:34.07).

Topeka High junior Emma Womack was the top city girls finisher in eighth place (24:53.37) while High senior Victoria Reynaga was 13th (26:19.32).

Rural, Seaman compete in loaded Olathe Twilight 

Washburn Rural competed in the meet's premier Blue division in Saturday's Olathe Twilight at the Olathe District Activities Center, with junior Clayton Fink and sophomore Alyson Hinck pacing the Junior Blues.

Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural [File photo/TSN]

Fink finished 17th among 167 runners in 16:02.21 in the boys race while Hinck placed 28th among 173 competitors in the girls race (19:15.80).

Rural junior Duke Graf added a 22nd-place finish (16:13.70) and junior Jaxson Adams a 36th-place showing (16:26.70) in the boys race.

Junior Reese Beardslee finished 34th for the Rural girls (19:28.40) while sophomore Morgan Munson placed 43rd (19:53.00).

Seaman senior Brynn Spencer finished 37th in 19:31.40).

Seaman's boys competed in the Red division, with sophomore Trindon Jones placing eighth individually out of 124 runners (16:45.20), sophomore Weston Kennedy 14th (17:11.20), senior Conner Bloom 27th (17:32.60), junior Maddox Moore 45th (17:55.90) and sophomore Tate Oliva 48th (17:57.90).

Ali Gerber, Silver Lake [Submitted photo/Silver Lake cross country]

Gerber paces Eagles at Wamego

Silver Lake senior Ali Gerber finished 18th among 142 runners in the Class 3A-1A division of the Wamego Invitational in a time of 22:18.37 as the Eagles finished ninth among 18 teams.

Eagle freshman JessiLyn Mohler placed 36th (23:55.57) while Rossville senior Madilyn Wonnell finished 40th (24:18.26).

Junior Cason Kraus placed 25th among 185 runners in the 3A-1A boys race (19:33.11) while senior Lane Ray was 30th (19:41.71) as the Eagles finished seventh as a team among 17 schools.

Hayden junior Nick Newkirk competed in the 4A boys division, turning in a 22nd-place finish among 233 runners in 18:02.14.

By CHARLES SPURLOCK

Special to TopSports.news

Seaman hosted United Kansas Conference foe Basehor-Linwood in its home opener Friday night, and after keeping the game close throughout most of the first half, the Bobcats pulled away in the second half for a dominant 55-20 victory.

Seaman junior Quentin Moravec rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 55-20 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood. [File photo/TSN]

Basehor-Linwood, ranked No. 5 this week in the Class 5A KFBCA poll, received the opening kickoff and scored a touchdown on an eight-play drive as senior running back Peter Rodriguez bulldozed his way into the end zone on a 13 yard run, giving the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.

Seaman’s first possession was promising as the Vikings were able to move the ball down the field.

Junior running back Quentin Moravec broke loose on a 54-yard run, taking the ball inside the 5-yard-line, but there was a penalty on the play for a block in the back. The drive stalled and eventually the Vikings turned the ball over on downs, giving the Bobcats the ball near midfield.

Basehor-Linwood took advantage of the good field position and senior place kicker Colin Zimbleman kicked a 26-yard field goal to give the Bobcats a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter.

The Vikings continued to drive the ball down the field on the Bobcats and finally were able to put points on the board as Moravec scored on a 37-yard run down the sideline, cutting the Basehor lead to 10-7.

However, Basehor-Linwood responded with a five minute drive that culminated in the second touchdown of the night for Rodriguez, giving the Bobcats a 17-7 lead.

Seaman had a time consuming drive of its own and was able to get inside the Bobcat 10-yard-line with under 15 seconds left in the first half.

On the ensuing first-down play, senior quarterback Cale Ketter attempted a pass to the end zone, but Bobcat senior Lex Stanion stepped in front of the pass, intercepted it and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the half.

Zimbleman’s extra point was good and Basehor-Linwood took a commanding 24-7 lead into halftime.

The second half began with Seaman scoring a touchdown in the first 90 seconds on a 51-yard pass from Ketter to fellow senior wide receiver Josh Brown. Junior place kicker Oscar Serrano made the extra point, cutting the Bobcat lead to 24-14.

Basehor-Linwood continued to move the ball with relative ease, but the drive stalled and the Bobcats had to settle for another field goal. Zimbleman connected on a 38-yard field goal, making the score 27-14.

Following an interception by Ketter, the Bobcats scored another touchdown, as Rodriguez punched it in from a yard out, extending the lead to 34-14.

Rodriguez capped off his tremendous night with his fourth touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter, giving the Bobcats a 41-14 lead. The Bobcat running back, who started due to an injury to original starter Gavin Mitchell, finished the night with 35 carries for 262 yards.

Seaman concluded their scoring on a weaving, 45-yard touchdown catch by senior wide receiver Jack Becker from Ketter, making the score 41-20 with eight minutes remaining in the game.

Basehor-Linwood finished the scoring with a touchdown run from junior running back Thomas Schubert and a 91-yard interception return by junior defensive back Clay Weber, giving the Bobcats the 55-20 victory.

Seaman (0-2, 0-2) was led by Moravec with 112 yards rushing and a touchdown while Ketter threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

The Vikings will host Shawnee Heights (1-1, 1-1), who were defeated by Leavenworth 37-29 in overtime, next Friday at 7:00.

BASEHOR-LINWOOD 55, SEAMAN 20

Basehor-Linwood (2-0, 2-0) 10 14 10 21 - 55

Seaman (0-2, 0-2)                   0 7 7 6 - 20

Basehor-Linwood -- Rodriguez 13 run (Zimbleman kick)

Basehor-Linwood -- Zimbleman 26 yard FG

Seaman -- Moravec 37 run (Zimbleman kick)

Basehor-Linwood -- Rodriguez 2 run (Zimbleman kick)

Basehor-Linwood -- Stanion 100 interception return (Zimbleman kick)

Seaman -- Brown 51 pass from Ketter (Serrano kick)

Basehor-Linwood -- Zimbelman 38 yard FG

Basehor-Linwood -- Rodriguez 1 run (Zimbleman kick)

Basehor-Linwood -- Rodriguez 3 run (Zimbleman kick)

Seaman -- Becker 45 pass from Ketter (kick failed)

Basehor-Linwood -- Schubert 1 run (Zimbleman kick)

Basehor-Linwood -- Seber 91 interception return (Zimbleman kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing -- Basehor-Linwood: Rodriguez 35-262, Schubert 7-31, Parr 2-20, Richmond 5-15, Forshey 2-0. Seaman: Moravec 17-112, Piper 6-49, Ketter 1-12.

Passing -- Basehor-Linwood: Forshey 5-9-0, 39 yards; Richmond 2-3-0, 36. Seaman: Ketter 15-29-4, 206.

Receiving -- Basehor-Linwood: Duckworth 2-37, Parr 3-34, Essary 2-4. Seaman: Becker 5-79, Brown 3-75, Barta 4-39, Stallbaumer 1-16, Moravec 2-(minus)-3.

Punting -- Seaman: Cheney 2-44.5, Dunback 1-65.0.

Cair Paravel improves to 2-0 with 60-14 romp

Cair Paravel Latin improved to 2-0 Friday night with a 60-14 victory over 0-2 Stanton County at Yager Stadium, with the Lions equaling their win total from last season.

The Lions have now out-scored their opposition 106-14 over their first two games while giving new head coach Randall Bond wins in his first two games.

Cair Paravel will travel to Troy next Friday.

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

(Allkickoffs at 7 p.m.)

THURSDAY'S GAME

Courtney Sanders, Topeka High [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

DODGE CITY (1-0) vs. TOPEKA HIGH (1-0)

At Hummer Sports Park

Senior Courtney Sanders scored three touchdowns to lead Topeka High to a 33-6 season-opening victory over USD 501 rival Highland Park last Thursday. Sanders scored his first touchdown on an 18-yard past from senior quarterback Asher Filbeck, scored on a 40-yard run and returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown to give the Trojans their 26-0 halftime advantage. Filbeck, making his first career start at quarterback, finished the night with a game-high 128 rushing yards on just seven attempts while his lone pass completion went for the TD to Sanders. Dodge City opened its season with a 42-20 win over Wichita West. The Red Demons are coached by former Seaman coach Glenn O'Neil.

FRIDAY'S GAMES

ROSSVILLE (1-0, 1-0 BIG EAST) at SILVER LAKE (1-0, 1-0 Big East)

Rossville opened its season with a 35-14 home Big East League win over Perry-Lecompton while Silver Lake shut out St. Marys 27-0 in a league game at St. Marys. Junior Landen Lewis, who was making his first start at quarterback for the Bulldawgs, carried the ball 21 times for 167 yards and all five Rossville touchdowns while also completing 13 of 17 passes for 159 yards. Junior Cale Horak led the Bulldawgs with seven tackles. Silver Lake sophomore quarterback Kipton Kruger completed 14 of 29 passes for 165 yards and a TD while junior Dom Monhollon carried the ball 10 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 67 yards and a TD. Senior Myles Fisher led the Eagles with 17 tackles.

JoJo Kingcannon, Highland Park [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

KC-WASHINGTON (1-0, 1-0 Meadowlark) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (0-1, 0-0 Meadowlark)

At Hummer Sports Park

Highland Park is coming off a 33-6 non-league loss to USD 501 rival Topeka High last Thursday while Knsas City-Washington rolled to a 48-0 Meadowlark Conference victory over KC-Schlagle. Highland Park scored its lone touchdown on a 27-yard touchdown pass from senior JoJo Kingcannon to senior G'Honi Montgomery. Kingcannon rushed for 64 yards on 12 carries and he passed for 62 yards and the TD. Washington opened up a 38-0 halftime advantage over the Stallions and cruised the rest of the way. Wildcat junior quarterback Benito Morrell completed 12 of 24 passes for 232 yards and four touchdowns while senior Alvin Riley rushed for 103 yards and a TD on eight carries. Highland Park will be beginning defense of its Meadowlark Conference championship.

OLATHE SOUTH (0-1) at WASHBURN RURAL (0-1)

Washburn Rural will be playing its home opener at Bowen-Glaze Stadium Friday night after dropping a 58-13 road decision to 2025 Class 4A state champion Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel, which is moving back up to 5A this fall. Olathe South will also be looking for its first victory after the Falcons dropped a 27-0 Sunflower League decision to Olathe Northwest in its opener. 

Cale Ketter, Seaman [File photo/TSN]

BASEHOR-LINWOOD (1-0, 1-0 UKC) at SEAMAN (0-1, 0-1 UKC) 

Seaman dropped a 48-34 United Kansas Conference road decision at De Soto last Friday while Basehor-Linwood took a 59-35 UKC win over Leavenworth. Seaman senior quarterback Cale Ketter completed 27 of 43 passes for 456 yards and five touchdowns while Coy Barta caught 11 passes for 267 yards and two TDs, Josh Brown had five catches for 57 yards and two TDs and Jack Becker had five grabs for 56 yards and a TD. Seniors Bryson Fehr and Bishup Liggett were in on 13 tackles for the Vikings. Basehor-Linwood junior quarterback Dane Forshey completed 7 of 7 passes for 141 yards and four touchdwns against Leavenworth while junior Gavin Mitchell carried the ball seven times for 143 yards and a touchdown. 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Four Shawnee County teams earned spots in the Kansas Volleyball Association Week 1 State Rankings, released Wednesday.

Senior Lila Day (25) and Silver Lake volleyball remain No. 1 in the KVA Class 3A state rankings. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Defending state champion Silver Lake remained No. 1-ranked in Class 3A, starting the season 9-0 and extending its winning streak to 46 straight victories.

Senior Nora Burdiek (22) and Rossville volleyball climbed one spot to No. 2 in the KVA Class 2A state rankings. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Hayden moved up to the top spot in 4A after being ranked No. 2 in preseason while Rossville moved up a spot to No. 2 in 2A and Shawnee Heights cracked the rankings in 5A at No. 10. 

KVA STATE RANKINGS

Class 6A

1. Blue Valley West

2. Mill Valley

3. Blue Valley

4. Lawrence Free State

5. Garden City

6. Olathe North

7. Olathe Northwest

8. Olathe West

9. Shawnee Mission East

10. Manhattan

Class 5A

1. St. Thomas Aquinas

2. St. James Academy

3. Blue Valley Southwest

4. Maize South

5. Great Bend

6. Bishop Carroll

7. Kapaun Mt. Carmel

8. Lansing

9. Andover Central

10. Shawnee Heights

Class 4A

1. Hayden

2. Clay Center

3. Andale

4. Bishop Miege

5. Eudora

6. Circle

7. McPherson

8. Wellington

9. Rose Hill

10. Mulvane

Class 3A

1. Silver Lake

2. Hoisington

3. Halstead

4. Beloit

5. Riley County

6. Hesston

7. Cheney

8. Wellsville

9. Holcomb

10. Holton

Class 2A

1. Ellinwood

2. Rossville

3. Jefferson County North

4. Oakley

5. Inman

6. Valley Heights

7. Moundridge

8. Mission Valley

9. Conway Springs

10. Medicine Lodge

Class 1A Division I

1. Centralia

2. Little River

3. South Gray

4. Goessel

5. Decatur Community

6. Wabaunsee

7. St. John-Hudson

8. Burden-Central

9. Rural Vista

10. Quinter

Class 1A Division II

1. Linn

2. Hanover

3. Axtell

4. Cheylin

5. Victoria

6. Marais des Cygnes Valley

7. Ingalls

8. Golden Plains

9. Argonia

10. Hutchinson-Central Christian

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Defending state champion Silver Lake retained the No. 1 spot in Class 3A in Wednesday's Kansas Volleyball Association State Rankings for the third straight week.

Junior Karys Deiter (23) and the Silver Lake Eagles retain the No. 1 spot in the KVA Class 3A state rankings. [File photo/TSN]

Silver Lake was 10-2 at the start of the week after losses to 6A Manhattan and 5A Shawnee Heights and a victory over 5A Seaman at Manhattan last Thursday.

Hayden dropped one spot to No. 2 in 4A while Rossville fell one spot to No. 3 in 2A. 

Hayden placed second in 4A a year ago while Rossville was a state tournament team in 2A.

KVA STATE RANKINGS

(Records through Monday)

Class 6A

1. Blue Valley West 4-1

2. Mill Valley 11-0

3. Blue Valley 6-0

4. Lawrence Free State 12-2

5. Garden City 9-2

6. Olathe North 7-2

7. Olathe Northwest 5-4

8. Olathe West 7-3

9. Gardner-Edgerton 8-1

10. Olathe South 5-6

Class 5A

1. St. Thomas Aquinas 8-1

2. St. James Academy 8-3

3. Maize South 12-1

4. Bishop Carroll 11-2

5. Lansing 8-4

6. Great Bend 8-0

7. Blue Valley Southwest 5-4

8. Kapaun Mt. Carmel 10-3

9. Andover 10-2

10. De Soto 6-2

Class 4A

1. Bishop Miege 7-1

2. Hayden 5-1

3. Clay Center 12-2

4. Andale 9-4

5. Eudora 8-7

6. Circle 7-2

7. McPherson 5-3

8. Rose Hill 11-2

9. Paola 9-2

10. Louisburg 5-2

Class 3A

1. Silver Lake 10-2

2. Hoisington 10-0

3. Beloit 12-1

4. Halstead 9-2

5. Riley County 12-2

6. Hesston 9-3

7. Cheney 13-2

8. Royal Valley 10-1

9. Wellsville 9-3

10. Holcomb 7-1

Class 2A

1. Ellinwood 10-0

2. Inman 12-2

3. Rossville 6-3

4. Jefferson County North 9-0

5. St. Mary’s-Colgan 11-1

6. Moundridge 7-2

7. Oakley 8-3

8. Mission Valley 8-1

9. Thomas More Prep-Marian 9-6

10. Medicine Lodge 12-3

Class 1A-Division I

1. Centralia 10-0

2. South Gray 13-0

3. Goessel 10-0

4. Little River 8-2

5. Wabaunsee 7-3

6. Burden-Central 9-0

7. Decatur Community 9-3

8. Quinter 8-2

9. St. John-Hudson 8-4

10. Bishop Seabury 7-2

Class 1A-Division II

1. Linn 9-0

2. Axtell 8-2

3. Hanover 6-4

4. Ingalls 17-1

5. Cheylin 11-2

6. Marais des Cygnes Valley 13-3

7. Argonia 8-1

8. Victoria 8-3

9. Hutchinson-Central Christian 9-5

10. Dighton 5-2

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn Rural sophomore cross country standout Alyson Hinck and Rossville junior football standout Landen Lewis have been selected as the Brandon Aldridge State Fram Insurance Agency Rising Stars of the Week.

The Brandon Aldridge Agency will recognize top Shawnee County underclassmen throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

Here's a brief look at last week's accomplishments of Hinck and Lewis.

Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural
ALYSON HINCK, Washburn Rural

Hinck opened her sophomore cross country season with a fourth-place individual finish in last Saturday's 11-school Manhattan Invitational at Warner Park.

Hinck clocked a five-kilometer time of 20 minutes, 18.6 seconds while leading the Junior Blues to a second-place team finish behind host Manhattan (28-54). 

Hinck was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick last fall as a freshman after finishing second in the city meet for the team-champion Junior Blues and placed sixth in the Centennial League, eighth in Class 6A regional competition and a team-high 25th in the state meet. Hinck was also a first-team all-county pick in track, placing fifth in the 6A 800 meters.

Landen Lewis, Rossville 

LANDEN LEWIS, Rossville

Lewis, a junior who was making his first career start at quarterback, scored all five of Rossville's touchdowns in last Friday's 35-14 season-opening home Big East League victory over Perry-Lecompton.

Lewis scored on runs of 11, 3, 6, 22 and 8 yards as the Bulldawgs pulled away for the decisive victory after trailing twice in the early going. Lewis' three first-half touchdowns helped Rossville open up a 21-14 lead at the break before adding his final two TDs in the third quarter.

Lewis received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall as the Bulldawgs went 11-2 and finished second in Class 1A and he won the 2A state title in the javelin in track and field last spring.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Cair Paravel Latin's soccer team got Topeka High's attention with an early goal in Tuesday's non-league contest at Hummer Sports Park.

But the Trojans answered with five unanswered goals, taking a 5-1 non-league win over the Lions.

Topeka High senior John Martinez (10), battling Cair Paravel senior David Toenjes, scored a goal in Tuesday's 5-1 Trojan win at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Cair Paravel drew first blood with an early goal from senior Judah Congdon, but the Lions were shut out for the remainder of the contest as Topeka High took control, rallying for a 2-1 halftime advantage before tacking on its final three goals after the break.

"That's not always a bad thing,'' Topeka High coach Derek Snook said of getting Cair Paravel's early wakeup call. "It started in the middle of the field and its something we've struggled with since last year.

"We pass to the wrong color (jersey) and we were making a pretty good run on the outside and just passed it right to them and they caught us off balance and made a heck of a shot from about 20 yards out. They slapped us in the mouth early and away we go.''

Senior Carlos Acosta-Martinez had a goal and two assists for the Trojans, who also got goals from senior Santi Ovalle, senior John Martinez, sophomore Emyr Vargas and freshman Juan Lopez.

"Overall it was better,'' Snook said of High's performance. "We were a little frustrated in the first half and that comes with maybe being a little rusty because we hadn't placed since last Tuesday.

"But overall I think we came back well. I think we all started doing what we wanted to do and just trying to control the ball and it turned out fantastic, to be quite honest with you.'' 

Topeka High improved to 2-1 on the season, with its lone loss a 2-1 overtime loss to Lawrence, while Cair Paravel fell to 1-2.

The Trojans will travel to Shawnee Heights on Thursday while Cair Paravel will travel to Atchison-Mt. Academy. 

TOPEKA HIGH 5, CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 1

Cair Paravel (1-2)  1 0 -- 1

Topeka High (2-1) 2 3 -- 5

Cair Paravel -- Goal: Judah Congdon.

Topeka High -- Goals: Santi Ovalle, John Martinez, Emyr Vargas, Carlos Acosta-Martinez, Juan Lopez. Assists: Carlos Acosta-Martinez 2.

Hayden freshman Grayson Imming (6) defends Eudora's Caden Dunback in Tuesday's 1-0 Cardinal win over the Wildcats. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Wildcats fall to Eudora on penalty kick

Hayden soccer fell to 0-2 on the season Tuesday night, dropping a heartbreaking 1-0 home non-league decision to Eudora.

The Wildcats and Cardinals battled to a scoreless tie for more than 39 minutes of the first half before Hayden was whistled for a foul in the box and Eudora junior Grant Hurla converted the penalty kick to account for what would be the only goal of the game.

Hayden threatened to tie the game late in the match, but Eudora was able to come up with the save just a few inches outside of the goal.

The Wildcats will be back in action Thursday, hosting Piper in a non-league contest.

EUDORA 1, HAYDEN 0

Eudora 1 0 -- 1

Hayden 0 0 -- 0

Eudora -- Goal: Grant Hurla.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Defending Class 6A boys state champion Washburn Rural opened its 2026 cross country season with the team title in Saturday's Manhattan Invitational at Warner Park.

The Junior Blues edged host Manhattan by a 56-67 margin for the team title, while Lawrence finished third in the 11-school meet with 91 points.

Junior Duke Graf paced Washburn Rural with a second-place individual finish behind senior champion Anthony Testa of Junction City, clocking a five-kilometer time of 17 minutes, 01.2 seconds. Testa won in 16:51.9.

Sophomore Julius Wood-Nichols posted an eighth-place finish in the field of 81 runners for the Junior Blues in 17:21.1 while Rural got a 12th-place showing from junior Jaxson Adams (17:34.1), a 13th from junior Clayton Fink (17:36.3) and a 22nd from senior Cohen Thiessen (18:07.2) to round out the Junior Blues' top five.

Hayden junior Nick Newkirk placed 20th in 18:00.3 while junior Oliver Snethen paced Topeka High with a 27th-place finish (18:24.5) and senior Ezra Phelps led Topeka West with a 38th-place showing (18:50.8).

Washburn Rural's girls finished second as a team to Manhattan by a 28-54 margin, with Free State third with 63 points.

Manhattan senior Gabrielle Converse (19:03.3) and sophomore Zara Koehn (19:48.3) posted a one-two finish for the Indians in the field of 49 runners while Washburn Rural sophomore Alyson Hinck finished fourth in 20:18.6.

Rural junior Reese Beardslee finished sixth (20:26.5) while sophomore Morgan Munson placed ninth (20:48.4) to earn individual medals. 

Seaman senior Brynn Spencer finished fourth in the season-opening Bobcat Invitational at Wyandotte County Park. [File photo/TSN]     

Nine Vikings earn medals in season-opener

Seaman's boys posted a second-place team finish in Thursday's season-opening Bobcat Invitational at Wyandotte County Park, edging meet host and United Kansas Conference rival Basehor-Linwood by a single point (70-71) while Blue Valley Southwest won the team title with 32 points.

Sophomore Trindon Jones paced six Seaman individual medalists with an eighth-place finish, posting a five-kilometer time of 17 minutes, 36.78 seconds.

The Vikings also got a 10th-place finish from sophomore Weston Kennedy (17:54.78), a 12th from senior Conner Bloom (18:00.36), a 19th from junior Emmanuel Armstead (18:20.22), a 21st from sophomore Tate Oliva (18:26.12) and a 25th-place showing from junior Maddox Moore (18:43.10).

Shawnee Heights' boys finished ninth in the team standings as sophomore Miles Hadley earned an individual medal with an 11th-place finish (17:59.40).

Seaman girls finished tied for third with Eudora with 79 points, finishing fourth on a tiebreaker.

Blue Valley Southwest won the team title with 18 points while Piper was second, just three points ahead of Eudora and Seaman.                         

Senior Brynn Spencer, a returning Class 5A state medalist, paced Seaman with a fourth-place individual finish (20:47.09) while freshmen Brinley Cochran and Morgan Ransom also earned individual medals.

Cochran finished 12th (22:07.17) and Ransom placed 18th (22:34.81).

Silver Lake senior Ali Gerber opened her 2026 season with a third-place finish in Saturday's Silver Lake Invitational at Kanza Park. [Submitted photo]

Gerber third in Silver Lake Invitational

Silver Lake senior Ali Gerber posted a third-place individual finish in Saturday's Silver Lake Invitational at Kanza Park, leading the Eagle girls to a second-place team finish.

Gerber clocked a five-kilometer time of 22 minutes, 55.01 seconds to finish third behind Osage City freshmen Elizabeth Vehige (20:52.47) and Eliana Lowery (22:38.87). 

Osage City won the team title by a 51-84 margin over Silver Lake.

The Eagles also got a 14th-place finish from freshman Jessilyn Mohler (24:24.29), a 23rd from sophomore Pearl Eisenbarth (26:09.59), a 26th from sophomore Adrianna Gerber (27:53.54) and a 31st from sophomore Lena Jahr (28:29.15). 

Rossville seniors post top-seven finishes

Rossville seniors Payton Shaddox and Madilyn Wonnell finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in Thursday's Mission Valley Invitational girls cross country meet at Mission Valley.

Shaddox was sixth in a five-kilometer time of 25 minutes, 52.76 seconds while Wonnell was right behind in seventh place in 25:53.17.

Sophomore Keegan Pollock paced the Rossville boys with a 34th-place finish in 25:42.31.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Junior Landen Lewis, who made his first career start at quarterback, scored all five Rossville touchdowns Friday night as the Bulldawgs rallied from two early deficits to take a 35-14 home Big East League victory over Perry-Lecompton.

Junior Landen Lewis scored all five of his team's touchdowns in his first start as Rossville's quarterback Friday night, leading the Bulldawgs to a 35-14 win over Perry-Lecompton. [File photo/TSN]

The Kaws took first-half leads of 7-0 and 14-7, but the Bulldawgs, the Class 1A state runnerup a year ago, finished with 28 straight points to take control.

Rossville used 11, 3 and 6-yard Lewis touchdown runs to take a 21-14 halftime advantage before the Bulldawg QB scored from 22 and 8 yards in the third quarter to give the hosts their final 21-point margin.

Julian Goj went 5 of 5 on extra points for the Bulldawgs.

Next up for Rossville is the storied War on 24 rivaly with Silver Lake, with the Eagles hosting this year's game next Friday.

Hayden drops 22-19 nailbiter to Cardinals

Hayden traveled to Eudora Friday for a rematch of last year’s season-opener and the Cardinals were able to turn the tables from last season’s 28-6 Wildcat victory and earn a come-from-behind 22-19 win.

Eudora, ranked No. 4 in the Class 4A KFBCA preseason poll, took the opening kickoff right down the field and scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run by senior running back Grayson Moody. Following the extra point by senior kicker Caden Dunback, the Cardinals led 7-0.

Hayden, No. 2 in the 3A KFBCA poll, responded with 4-yard run by senior running back Mason Becker, who added the extra point to even the score at 7-7 with just over two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Wildcats dominated the second quarter both offensively and defensively.

Hayden took its first lead of the game on a 14-yard pass from junior quarterback Ryker Tetuan to senior wide receiver Logan Power with 5:07 left in the half (kick failed).

The Wildcat defense stepped up on the next drive as sophomore linebacker Jairus Todwong stripped the ball from Eudora senior wide receiver Preston White and returned the fumble 70 yards for a touchdown (kick failed) and Hayden took a 19-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.

While the first half saw Hayden score 19 straight points, the second half was just the opposite as Eudora’s offense and defense made the necessary adjustments.

After the Cardinals forced a punt on Hayden’s first possession, they drove down the field and scored a TD on a 7-yard run by junior running back Keelyn Duncan. Dunback’s extra point cut the Wildcat lead to 19-14 with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Over the next 10 minutes of game time, both teams were able to move the ball offensively, but neither could score.

With about nine minutes remaining in the game, Eudora began a drive that led to their second touchdown of the second half when Moody scored his second touchdown of the evening on a 2-yard run. Duncan ran in the 2-point conversion, giving Eudora its 22-19 lead with 4:37 left.

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

When Highland Park football coach Jermaine Monroe was approached with the possibility of renewing the Scots' rivalry with fellow USD 501 school Topeka High this season it was one of the easiest decisions he'll ever make.

"There were four different schools that were possibilities and when it was presented to me at the time and I saw the first name was Topeka High, I said, 'It's got to be that,' '' Monroe said. "I don't even remember who the other three schools were, but it's something that we always have to play each other.

"I do believe the leagues that we're in are fit for us, but we have to always play each other.''

Topeka High coach Jason Filbeck is also excited for the renewal of the rivalry, which will open the 2026 season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Hummer Sports Park.

"I'm not from here, but I know what it means,'' Filbeck said. "Everywhere I've been there's been a crosstown rival and I think the kids are very excited to play them. Some of them are their friends from middle school because of the way Topeka is built, so the kids are pumped up.''

Highland Park returns a strong nucleus of players from last year's team that went 5-1 on the field, with G'Honi Montgomery and JoJo Kingcannon headlining a 19-member senior class

The Scots return 10 three-year starters and two four-year starters.

G'Honi Montgomery returns for his senior season at Highland Park after earning All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors last season. [File photo/TSN]

A 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back, Montgomery earned All-Shawnee County and All-Meadowlark Conference first-team honors last fall.

Montgomery carried the ball 69 times for 704 yards (10.2 yards per carry) as a junior, caught 10 passes for 128 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns while compiling 1,268 all-purpose yards.

Senior JoJo Kingcannon will take over as Highland Park's starting quarterback this fall after starring in a variety of roles as a junior. [File photo/TSN]

Kingcannon, a 6-foot, 190-pound quarterback/defensive back, played receiver, running back and quarterback as a junior, scoring from all three positions, and will be the Scots' starting quarterback this fall.

Kingcannon received All-Shawnee County honorable mention for the Scots in 2025, catching 10 passes for 338 yards and rushing for 408 yards on 32 attempts.

Seniors Tayseaun Rouser, Tavion Johnson and Shawnee Heights transfer Zyhir Foster will be counted on to anchor Highland Park's offensive line while Jaiden Smith, Ka'Sioun Drew and Lorenzo Sullivan-Sowell are top receivers.

Defensively, senior Rayshon Pollard is a four-year starter in the defensive backfield and is joined by veterans Drew, Montgomery and Kingcannon.

A three-time all-league honoree, Pollard was in on 22 tackles last season with three sacks and two interceptions.

Topeka High's Courtney Sanders, a senior wide receiver, was a second-team All-Centennial League selection for the second straight season and received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last fall for the Trojans. 

Senior Courtney Sanders is a top returner for Topeka High, earning second-team All-Centennial League recognition the past two seasons. [File photo/TSN]

A junior running back, Ricardo Dowd was a second-team All-Centennial League selection last season as a sophomore while also receiving All-Shawnee County honorable mention. 

Trey Lutz, a senior defensive lineman, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention for the second straight season and also received All-Centennial League honorable mention last season.

Other top returners for Topeka High include seniors Isaac Roman-Chavez, Art Jones and Devin Ponte and juniors Jones Erby and Marion Collins.

Senior Asher Filbeck, the coach's son, and sophomore Kadyn Lucas have been battling it out in preseason for the starting quarterback spot after the graduation of Zane Smith.

FRIDAY'S GAMES

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Topeka West soccer handled the 100-degree heat and the rust that went with a season-opener Tuesday at Hayden, dominating the second half on the way to an 8-0 non-league win over the Wildcats.

Topeka West senior midfielder Diego Gonzalez-Talavera (9), who had two goals, tries to get past Hayden junior midfielder Isaac Woods in Tuesday's 8-0 Charger win over the Wildcats at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Chargers, who are coming off back-to-back banner seasons, led 2-0 at halftime despite letting numerous scoring opporunities get away and then peppered the net after the break, scoring six goals to end the game by the eight-goal spread rule with 11:15 remaining.

"I'm glad to get that first one out of the way and kind of put into a game what we've been working on and see where we can improve from what we've been working on in practice,'' Topeka West coach Josh Kutter said. "Overall it was a positive.''

Hayden, which was also opening its season, was still in the game at halftime, but West boosted its lead to 3-0 at the 30:25 mark of the second half, starting a run of three goals in less than five minutes, and continued to roll from there.

"It always seems like once one falls then the rest start to come, but I guess that's just something we've got to keep working on, finishing under pressure,'' Kutter said. "I know sometimes it's just knocking the rust off.

"We've got lot of guys that are capable of finishing and scoring and creating great plays.''

Senior midfielder Diego Gonzalez-Talavera and senior defender Kameron Ortiz scored two goals apiece for the Chargers while West also got goals from junior forward Valentin Del Real, senior forward Henry Miller and sophomore forward Yahel Garcia as well as an own goal.

Junior Makaly Martinez and Topeka West opened the 2026 soccer season with an 8-0 win at Hayden Tuesday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Ortiz, Del Real and senior midfielder William Lara were credited with assists while junior Kevin Voelker picked up the shutout in goal as the Chargers limited Hayden to very few offensive opportunities.

TOPEKA WEST 8, HAYDEN 0

Topeka West (1-0) 2 6 -- 8

Hayden (0-1)          0 0 -- 0

Topeka West -- Goals: Diego Gonzalez-Talavera 2, Kameron Ortiz 2, Valentin Del Real, Henry Miller, Yahel Garcia, own goal. Assists: Kameron Ortiz, Valentin Del Real, William Lara. Shutout: Kevin Voelker.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Four Shawnee County teams earned spots in the 2026 Kansas Volleyball Association Preseason State Rankings, released Wednesday.

Silver Lake volleyball is ranked No. 1 in the KVA Class 3A preseason state rankings after posting a 46-1 record last season, including 37 straight wins to end the season. [File photo/TSN] 

Defending state champion Silver Lake is No. 1-ranked in Class 3A after posting a 46-1 record last season and ending the year with 37 straight victories.

Hayden is second-ranked in 4A after posting a runnerup state finish last fall while Rossville is No. 3 in 2A and Washburn Rural No. 7 in 6A. Both the Bulldawgs and Junior Blues were state qualifiers last season. 

KVA PRESEASON STATE RANKINGS

Class 6A

1. Blue Valley West

2. Mill Valley

3. Olathe Northwest

4. Blue Valley

5. Manhattan

6. Blue Valley North

7. Washburn Rural

8. Garden City

9. Olathe West

10. Lawrence Free State

Class 5A

1. St. Thomas Aquinas

2. Maize South

3. St. James Academy

4. Andover Central

5. Blue Valley Southwest

6. Great Bend

7. Kapaun Mt. Carmel

8. Bishop Carroll

9. Lansing

10. De Soto

Class 4A

1. Andale

2. Hayden

3. Clay Center

4. Bishop Miege

5. Eudora

6. McPherson

7. Circle

8. Wellington

9. Rock Creek

10. Paola

Class 3A

1. Silver Lake

2. Hoisington

3. Holton

4. Hesston

5. Halstead

6. Beloit

7. Cheney

8. Ellsworth

9. Wichita-Trinity Academy

10. Riley County

Class 2A

1. Ellinwood

2. Valley Heights

3. Rossville

4. Jefferson County North

5. Oakley

6. Hillsboro

7. Moundridge

8. Inman

9. Conway Springs

10. Thomas More Prep-Marian

Class 1A Division I

1. Little River

2. Centralia

3. Goessel

4. Wabaunsee

5. Quinter

6. South Gray

7. St. John-Hudson

8. Sylvan-Lucas

9. Greeley County

10. Rural Vista

Class 1A Division II

1. Linn

2. Hanover

3. Axtell

4. Cheylin

5. Marais des Cygnes Valley

6. Wheatland-Grinnell

7. Victoria

8. Argonia

9. Hutchinson Central Christian

10. Western Plains

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Editor's note: TopSports.news will post preview stories for all 10 Shawnee County high school football programs over the coming days, leading into the opening games of the 2026 season on Sept. 3 and 4.

                                          -----------------------------------------

Perennial state football power Hayden, which has advanced to three straight state championship games, has a lot of spots to fill this fall, with Bill Arnold's Wildcats returning just one starter on offense and three on defense.

Bill Arnold's Hayden Wildcats will be aiming for a fourth straight trip to the Class 3A state championship game this fall. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN] 

 But history tells you that by the end of the 2026 season Hayden is likely to be back in its accustomed position as a state contender.

"You sit there and you look, 'Yeah, we don't have very many starters returning on either side of the ball, but we have guys that have played varsity ball,' '' said Arnold, who has a 233-70 career coaching record. "We had two, three classes back to back to back that those seniors were really good players and these guys had to go against them every day in practice.''

Arnold is also hopeful that a productive winter and summer will pay off for the Wildcats. 

"I thought we had a really good winter,'' Arnold said. "I thought the guys really made some great gains in the weight room January, February, March and in the summer we're able to do enough stuff, particularly with as many spots as we have to fill, that we were able to shuffle some people around so we're on the right track as soon as we got started (Monday).

"I'm old enough that now when you start in August is about where you used to be the third game into the season.'' 

The Wildcats won a pair of undefeated Class 4A titles under the late Tom Stringer in 1998 and 2004 and have continued to be a perennial state power in Arnold's 19 years seasons at the Hayden helm, including a 4A crown in 2008 and a 12-1 record a year ago, with Hayden's lone loss coming in a 38-6 loss to Andale in the state final.

Hayden senior Mason Becker (4) is a returning All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick for the Wildcats. [File photo/TSN] 

Headlining the list of Wildcat returners are senior running back/defensive back/kicker Mason Becker (6-foot, 165), a TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick last season, senior running back/defensive back Logan Power (6-1, 175), senior offensive tackle/defensive tackle Mar Barnett (5-9, 220), senior halfback/inside linebacker Jace Wolff (6-0, 1900), senior offensive guard Andrew Droge (5-11, 200) and junior fullback/inside linebacker Evan Huntley (6-1, 195). 

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Jones Project’s executive director, Damon Parker, a two-time state wrestling champion as an athlete and a five-time state champ as a coach, is always looking for new mountains to climb.

So after Parker and the Advisors Excel/The Jones Project team completed the equivalent of a climb to the top of Mount Everest over 36 hours last weekend in Steamboat Springs, Colo., they have already turned the page to the next big project: the launching of The Jones Project’s Leadership Academy, a free eight-week program open to students selected from each of the 10 Shawnee County high schools.

The Jones Project, named in honor of the late Josh Jones, a native Topekan who served as a vice-president at Advisors Excel before passing away in March of 2021, provides free mental health programming to secondary students, providing assistance to students who are struggling while emphasizing the importance of specific mental health interventions already in place at schools.

In its first four years The Jones Project has reached more than 115,000 students from 267 different stages. In 2023 TJP created an endowment for The Jones Family Scholarship, which has since provided scholarships to six  Kansas high school graduates who are studying to become mental health professionals.  

The 29029 climb in Steamboat, Colorado kicked off Year 5.

"It's an event where you start at the base of a mountain and you climb it to the summit and then you ride a gondola back down to the bottom and then you do that over and over and over again,'' Parker said. "This year at Steamboat we had to climb 14 times in 36 hours. If you do that then you've reached the vertical gain of Mount Everest.

"The Jones Project and Advisors Excel has had a team that's worked together on this and done it as a fundraiser every year. This is one of the two big fundraisers that keeps The Jones Project afloat. This year we've really made a push on it so that we can use this campaign to fund The Leadership Academy.''

Parker, who has coached the Rural girls to four state titles and coached the Junior Blues to the 2021 boys championship, has served as the executive director of The Jones Project since its inception after being approached by Advisors Excel co-owner Cody Foster.

"He and I had met several times and when he presented the vision he had for The Jones Project to me, I saw it as an opportunity to still work with young people but to do it on a much larger scale and to be able to help kids that were falling through the cracks.  Many of them were in a truly under-served population,'' Parker said. "And it was like, 'How do you say no to the opportunity to do something like that?' 

"I loved teaching, it was wonderful, and I'm still in education, I just have a bigger classroom now. Every year TJP has evolved and we've become more effective with what we've done. It took awhile to find out where those needs were and exactly what kids needed. It started off with just a mental health and suicide prevention talk, but now we do talks on bullying prevention, student leadership, culture building, you name it.  We’ve talked to athletic teams in the locker room before competitions, strength and conditioning programs, and summer STUCO camps.  Wherever there is a school or student organization that needs a speaker, we can help fill that gap.”  

Parker said the Leadership Academy represents another major step forward.

"If we can take a couple of students from each high school in the Shawnee County area and we can give them real, actionable leadership skills, that is going to instantly impact the organization of which they are a part.  Whether it's the basketball team, the debate team, or the marching band is inconsequential.  We’re helping them improve their building culture because now we're taking those kids and we're teaching them how to bring up those younger kids,'' Parker said.

"And when the younger kids are learning from those older kids they realize, 'This is how you do it, this is how you treat people,’ and then they carry that forward with them throughout their remaining time in high school.”

The Leadership Academy is now taking applications and will begin meeting in mid-September.  

"I'll be reaching out to basically every coaching and A.D. contact in my rolodex saying, 'Hey, we're doing this thing and it's definitely something that you want your kids to be involved in,' '' Parker said.     

"We're going to start taking applications now and then the first week in September is when we're going to announce who is accepted into the program. And then we're going to get it kicked off. We will absolutely be up and rolling with students by mid-September, so they’ll want to get in their applications as soon as possible.  This is the start of something HUGE here in Shawnee County.''

Students can use the website www.TopekaLeadershipAcademy.org to apply.

For more information email Coach Parker at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Former Hayden star Finn Dunshee hasn't played football since helping lead the Wildcats to a runnerup finish in Class 3A in 2023 and playing for the East in the 2024 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Finn Dunshee (33), who helped 12-1 Hayden post a runnerup Class 3A state finish in 2023, is back on the football field after a two-year absence with hometown Washburn University. [File photo/TSN] 

But even though he had gone on to run Division I track at Texas Christian University after winning six state titles for the Wildcats, Dunshee never completely lost his love for the gridiron.

And as time went on, that love got stronger, prompting Dunshee, named the TopSports.news Shawnee County Male Athlete of the Year in 2024, to leave TCU and accept the opportunity to play football for the hometown Ichabods.

"I'd been thinking about it, maybe not my freshman year, but that summer going into my sophomore year I had been down there at those Texas games and Texas football's a little different,'' Dunshee said. "Everybody's going crazy and I was like, 'Man, I miss football.'

"I started to get the itch again. I went through my sophomore (track) season and I came home and I ended up hitting the portal and I was like, 'Hey, you guys interested?' ''

When Washburn reached out, Dunshee said it was a relative easy decision to come home. 

"I have a big family here in Topeka and I've got all these nieces and nephews and I love them to death, so I was like, 'Why not Washburn?' '' said the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder, who is projected as a wide receiver and returner for WU.

"They were interested in me in high school and just reached out. They were like 15 dudes over their limit, but they ended up giving me a spot, so I was pretty excited.''

Dunshee, a three-time state champion in track as both a junior and senior, joined Washburn for summer workouts to get re-acquainted with the game of football before opening up fall camp this week.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County football players to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches.

RYAN AUSTIN, Washburn Rural

A 6-foot-2, 170-pound senior, Austin was named the All-Centennial League first-team place-kicker last season for the 6-4 Junior Blues. Austin also received All-Shawnee County honorable mention as a junior.

Coy Barta, Seaman [File photo/TSN]

COY BARTA, Seaman

A senior wide receiver, Barta earned second-team TopSports.News All-Shawnee County and second-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition last season for the 3-6 Vikings. Barta caught 38 passes for 642 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.

Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

JADYN BAUM, Washburn Rural

A senior running back, Baum helped lead Washburn Rural to a 6-4 record and the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs last fall, earning TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League first-team recognition after carrying the ball 139 times for 1,262 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 9.1 yards per attempt. Baum also won a 6A state wrestling championship at 215 pounds.

Mason Becker, Hayden [File photo/TSN]

MASON BECKER, Hayden

A first-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick, Becker, a 6-foot, 160-pound senior, was a perfect 100 percent on extra-point kicks last season, was two of two on field goals, carried the ball 32 times for 438 yards, caught 13 passes for 224 yards, had nine kickoff returns for 121 yards, scored nine touchdowns and was in on 30 tackles with five pass interceptions for the 12-1 Wildcats, the Class 3A runnerup. Becker is also a basketball and baseball standout for the Wildcats.

Josh Brown, Seaman [File photo/TSN]

JOSH BROWN, Seaman

Brown, a junior wide receiver, was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection for the 3-6 Vikings last season. Brown caught 40 passes for 627 yards and eight touchdowns over the 2025 season. 

STEVEN CANTRELL, Washburn Rural

A senior defensive end, Cantrell is a top returner for Washburn Rural after earning first-team All-Centennial League recognition as a junior for the 6-4 Junior Blues. Cantrell also received All-Shawnee County honorable mention.

CHARLIE CHANCE, Rossville

A senior offensive/defensive lineman, Chance was named the Shawnee County defensive newcomer of the year last season for the Bulldawgs, who posted an 11-2 record and finished second in Class 1A. Chance was in on 54 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and three sacks, earning second-team all-county and All-Big East honors. 

CADE DANIELSON, Washburn Rural

Danielson, a senior outside linebacker, will be counted on to be a team leader for the Junior Blues this fall after helping Washburn Rural post a 6-4 record and reach the second round of the Class 6A playoffs in 2025.

Ricardo Dowd, Topeka High [File photo/TSN]

RICARDO DOWD, Topeka High

Dowd, a junior running back, was a second-team All-Centennial League selection last season for the 3-6 Trojans as a sophomore while also receiving All-Shawnee County honorable mention. 

MYLES FISHER, Silver Lake

A senior offensive/defensive lineman, Fisher received second-team All-Shawnee County honors and All-Big East League honorable mention last season after helping Silver Lake post a 7-3 record. Fisher was in on 73 tackles for the Eagles.

Chase Hastert, Cair Paravel [Photo by Barry Benteman/Special to TSN]

CHASE HASTERT, Cair Paravel Latin

Hastert, a junior quarterback/linebacker/defensive back, is a top returner for Cair Paravel after taking over as the Lions' starting quarterback last fall. The Lions, coming off a 2-6 season, return to the Eight-Man ranks this fall after playing 11-man the past two seasons. Hastert is also a basketball and golf standout for the Lions, earning first-team All-County honors in golf.

COLE HAUBAULD, Cair Paravel Latin

Haubauld, a senior running back/linebacker, earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention as well as All-Flint Hills League recognition as an offensive guard and linebacker last season for the 2-6 Lions and is expected to play running back on offense for CPLS this fall. Cair Paravel returns to Eight-Man Division I competition this season.

CALE HORAK, Rossville

Horak, a junior, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season as Rossville posted an 11-2 record and finished second in Class 1A. Horak caught 15 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore while also registering 21 tackles (16 solo).  

CAEL HORGAN, Rossville

A senior, Horgan earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season as Rossville posted an 11-2 record and finished second in Class 1A. Horgan caught seven passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore while also registering 37 tackles (21 solo) with three interceptions.   

EVAN HUNTLEY, Hayden

A 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior fullback/inside linebacker, is a top returner on both sides of the ball for a Hayden team that posted a 12-1 record and finished second in Class 3A for the third straight season last fall.

ALEX HUSTON, Seaman

A senior linebacker, Huston received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season for the 3-6 Vikings. Huston was in on 106 tackles as a junior, including 61 solo stops.

AMIR JONES, Washburn Rural

Jones, a senior linebacker, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping Washburn Rural post a 6-4 record and advance to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.

Cale Ketter, Seaman [File photo/TSN[ 

CALE KETTER, Seaman

Ketter, a senior quarterback, was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection last season for the 3-6 Vikings. Ketter completed 136 of 231 pass attempts for 2,013 yards and 23 touchdowns in eight games.

JoJo Kingcannon, Highland Park [File photo/TSN]

JOJO KINGCANNON, Highland Park

A 6-foot, 190-pound senior quarterback/defensive back, Kingcannon played receiver, running back and quarterback as a junior, scoring from all three positions. Kingcannon received All-Shawnee County honorable mention for the Scots, who went 5-1 on the field, catching 10 passes for 338 yards and rushing for 408 yards on 32 attempts. Kingcannon earned second-team all-county recognition in basketball.

Kipton Kruger, Silver Lake [File photo/TSN] 

KIPTON KRUGER, Silver Lake

A 5-foot-11, 165-pound sophomore quarterback, Kruger was named the Shawnee County offensive newcomer of the year last fall after completing 178 of 252 passes for 2,158 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Eagles. Kruger was a second-team All-Shawnee County pick and received All-Big East honorable mention. Kruger is also a basketball and baseball standout for the Eagles.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University women's soccer has been picked No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Women's Coaches National Pre-Season Rankings released Tuesday.

Davy Phillips' Ichabods are coming off a 14-4-6 season in 2025, including 8-0-4 in MIAA play, and advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals.

Senior defender Lindsey Maul returns for No. 4-ranked Washburn soccer after earning first-team All-MIAA and all-region honors in 2025. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

Sophomore Leah Henke is a top returner for No. 4-ranked Washburn University soccer after being named the MIAA freshman of the year last season. [File photo/TSN] 

The Ichabods return a key nucleus of players from last year's team, including first-team All-MIAA picks Lindsey Maul, a senior defender, and Leah Henke, a sophomore forward. Henke was named the MIAA freshman of the year last fall.

Also returning are All-MIAA second-team pick Rilyn Snyder, a senior defender, third-team conference selections Grace Peterson (senior midfielder), Mackinly Rohn (senior midfielder) and Sam Searcey (junior forward) and honorable mention honorees Kate Hinck (sophomore forward) and Lili Everley (sophomore goalkeeper).

Washburn Rural products Rohn and Hinck are two of the five Topekans on the Washburn 2026 roster along with Rural grads Destiny Higgs, a redshirt freshman, and freshman Dayne Shriver, and Hayden freshman Reese Huscher.  

Washburn will open its regular season at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 in Yager Stadium against pre-season No. 21 Maryville.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County boys cross country runners to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches.

Jaxson Adams

JAXSON ADAMS, Washburn Rural 

 A junior, Adams earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the first time last fall after finishing fifth in the city meet, ninth in the Centennial League, 22nd in a Class 6A regional and 42nd at state as the Junior Blues captured the state team title by a point after earlier winning city and league championships and finishing second on a tiebreaker at regionals. Adams was a 6A state track qualifier in the 3,200 meters, posting a third-place regional finish.

Conner Bloom

CONNER BLOOM, Seaman

A senior, Bloom was a first-time member of the All-Shawnee County first team last fall after finishing ninth in the city meet and 11th in the United Kansas Conference meet for the runnerup Vikings. Bloom finished 24th in a Class 5A regional at Wichita and will be counted on to be a leader for the Vikings this fall. Bloom was a 5A state qualifier in track in the 4x800 relay this past spring. 

EASTON DAVIS, Topeka High 

Davis, a junior, has received All-Shawnee County honorable mention the past two seasons. Davis finished 17th in the city meet last fall and went on to earn an individual berth in the Class 6A state meet with a 14th-place regional finish.

Clayton Fink

CLAYTON FINK, Washburn Rural

A junior first-team All-Shawnee County first-team repeat pick, Fink placed fourth in the city championships and the Centennial League meet for the champion Junior Blues and finished seventh in a Class 6A regional and placed 26th in the state meet as Washburn Rural captured the team championship. Fink received all-county honorable mention this past spring in track.

Duke Graf

DUKE GRAF, Washburn Rural

Graf, a junior, earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the first time after finishing third in the city meet, 14th in the Centennial League, second in Class 6A regional competition and 28th in the Class 6A state meet as the Junior Blues won the team title by a point over Blue Valley. Graf also helped Rural win city and league titles.

Henry Laubach

HENRY LAUBACH, Washburn Rural

A junior All-Shawnee County first-team repeat pick, Laubach bounced back from an injury to post a team-best 22nd-place finish in the Class 6A state meet, helping lead Washburn Rural to the state title. Laubach placed seventh in the Centennial League and 12th in a 6A regional. Laubach received all-county honorable mention in track.

Nick Newkirk

NICK NEWKIRK, Hayden

Newkirk, a junior, posted a sixth-place finish in the city meet, was 18th in the Centennial League meet and earned a individual berth in the Class 4A state meet with a 14th-place finish at regionals. A first-team All-Shawnee County pick, Newkirk capped his season with a 34th-place finish at state. 

HUNTER ROOKS, Silver Lake

Rooks, a senior, is a multi-time Class 3A state qualifier, helping the Eagles qualify as a team last fall. Rooks posted a 60th-place finish in the state meet to pace Silver Lake.

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County volleyball players to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season and coach recommendations, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches. 

Brynn Anderson, Washburn Rural [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

BRYNN ANDERSON, Washburn Rural

Anderson, a 5-foot-11 sophomore hitter, was a first-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League selection and named the county and league newcomer of the year last season after helping lead the Junior Blues to the Centennial League championship and a ninth straight Class 6A state tournament berth. Anderson registered 397 kills on the season along with 20 block kills, 96.3 percent serving with 29 aces and 229 digs. Anderson was also a first-team all-county pick in basketball and a state qualifier in track and field.

Nora Burdiek, Rossville [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]   

NORA BURDIEK, Rossville

A senior hitter, Burdiek is a two-time TSN All-Shawnee County first-team selection after being named the county newcomer of the year and earning second-team honors as a freshman. Burdiek has registered 1,373 total kills in her career with 936 digs. Burdiek was a first-team All-Big East selection as a junior after helping lead the Bulldawgs to a Class 2A state berth and earning All-State Tournament and All-2A first-team recognition from the Kansas Volleyball Association. Burdiek is also a basketball and softball standout, helping Rossville advance to the state tournament in both of those sports.

Campbell Dawson, Topeka High [File photo/TSN]

CAMPBELL DAWSON, Topeka High

Dawson, a senior, earned second-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honors last fall in her third season as a varsity player. Dawson also earned second-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League recognition as a sophomore. Dawson was a first-team TSN All-Shawnee County and second-team Class 6A All-State selection this past spring in softball after helping lead the Trojans to a third-place state finish.

Karys Deiter, Silver Lake [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]  

KARYS DEITER, Silver Lake

Deiter, a junior hitter, helped lead the Eagles to the Class 3A state championship with a 46-1 record, including a 37-match winning streak to end the 2025 season. A first-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick and second-team 3A All-State honoree, Deiter finished the year with 313 kills, a 34.7 kill percentage, 18 blocks and 253 digs. Deiter also earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors in basketball and track and field after helping lead Silver Lake to the 3A state championship in basketball and earning a 3A state medal in track.

Kylie Hanni, Silver Lake [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]

KYLIE HANNI, Silver Lake

A senior setter, Hanni was named the TopSports.news Shawnee County Player of the Year last season after helping lead Silver Lake to the Class 3A state championship with a 46-1 record, including 37 straight wins to end the season. Hanni was named to the 3A All-State Tournament team and All-3A first team by the Kansas Volleyball Association and was also a first-team All-Big East League pick after registering 1,181 assists, with 45 kills, 22 blocks, a 91.7 serving percentage with 33 aces and 174 digs. Hanni also helped the Eagles win 3A state titles in basketball and softball.

ADY HENRY, Rossville

Henry, a senior libero, helped Rossville reach the Class 2A state tournament last season while earning second-team TSN All-Shawnee County and third-team All-Big East League recognition. 

HADLEY KILGORE, Washburn Rural

Kilgore is expected to be a key contributor for the Junior Blues at middle hitter this fall in her first season at the varsity level. Kilgore joins a Washburn Rural team that won the 2025 Centennial League championship and advanced to the Class 6A state tournament for the ninth straight season.

Clara Morgan, Shawnee Heights [Submitted photo]   

CLARA MORGAN, Shawnee Heights

A senior setter, Morgan was a second-team TSN All-Shawnee County selection last season while also receiving All-United Kansas Conference honorable mention. Morgan surpassed the 1,000 assist mark for her career last season.