Hayden High School Wildcats
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The game of golf came a lot tougher for Washburn Rural and Washburn University product Hayden Beck on Sunday than it had on Saturday when Beck set a Lake Shawnee course record with a sizzling 62 en route to opening up a four-stroke lead in the Topeka Golf Association City Stroke Play tournament.
Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University golfer Hayden Beck rolled in a birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday at Shawnee Country Club to win his first TGA City Stroke Play championship. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Beck, who will take over as Washburn Rural girls head coach this fall after serving as a Junior Blue boys assistant this past spring, battled through an up and down day to get the job done at Shawnee Country Club, draining a long birdie putt on the first playoff hole to top former Santa Fe Trail standout and Washburn Ichabod Blake Buessing to earn his first city championship.
Hayden Beck reacts after sinking his tournament-winning putt in Sunday's TGA City Stroke Play tournament at Shawnee Country Club. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"Being a coach now and getting to help out with the team this spring, I was always telling the guys, 'You're not always going to play perfect every single time. Even on your best rounds you could do some things better,' '' Beck said.
"I look back on yesterday and maybe I missed a couple of putts and got lucky a couple of times and it all kind of evens itself out. You've just got to stick in there.''
Beck carded a final-round 73 while Buessing shot a 69 Sunday and rallied from his four-stroke deficit at the start of the round to briefly take a one-shot lead.
Beck battled back to regain a one-stroke lead before Buessing pulled even on hole No. 17 and both players remained even on the final hole with a 54-hole total of 209 to force sudden death.
Buessing narrowly missed a birdie putt before Beck came through with his biggest shot of the day to end the tournament.
"I would have liked to win it in regulation, but rolling in the putt on the playoff hole was pretty sweet,'' Beck said. "It was nice to finally get one there at the end when it counts the most.''
TGA City Stroke Play champion Hayden Beck (left) exchanges congratulations with runnerup Blake Buessing Sunday at Shawnee Country Club. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Although he came up just short of the title, Buessing was pleased with his overall performance.
"It was fun, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way,'' Buessing said. "It was back and forth all day.''
Beck said that a highlight of the tournament for him was having his high school coach, Jared Goehring, serve as his caddie. Goehring is turning over the Rural girls coaching reins to his former standout while Beck will continue to serve as a boys assistant under Goehring.
"It was awesome to have coach on the bag,'' Beck said. "That was so cool just to have him out here and do that again. It kind of took me back to high school, just having him there keeping me level-headed. That was a huge help.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Over the coming days TopSports.news will take a look at all 10 Washburn University women's and men's finalists for the 2025-2026 school year, followed by the Ichabod athletes of the year.
Jack Bachelor, Washburn University [File photo/TSN]
JACK BACHELOR | Basketball
The former Washburn Rural star has started 76 consecutive games and 78 of 97 as an Ichabod, averaging 13.6 points for his career. Bachelor ranks 14th on Washburn's career scoring chart with 1,319 points, third in career assists (455), sixth all-time in steals (143) and seventh in career 3-pointers (207). Bachelor is a two-time first-team all-MIAA and NABC all-district selection. He averaged 15.5 points while hitting 95 3-pointers and dishing out 151 assists as a junior. Bachelor was named the MIAA Tournament most valuable player with games of 24, 27 and 14 points while also dishing out 22 assists.
Dillon Claussen, Washburn University [File photo/TSN]
DILLON CLAUSSEN | Basketball
Claussen played in 64 games with 29 starts for WU, averaging 11.3 points and 4.9 rebounds, adding 68 blocks and 55 steals. Claussen ranks No. 3 all-time at Washburn in career field goal percentage at .641. Led the Ichabods in scoring with a 15.6-point average last season, earning first-team NABC All-District, and All-MIAA honors. Claussen scored a career-high 27 points at Nebraska-Kearney hitting 11 of 16 shots including 3 of 5 3-pointers and adding eight rebounds.
Justin Forde, Washburn University [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
JUSTIN FORDE | Track and field
Forde was the 2026 NCAA Indoor national champion in the triple jump and finished third in the NCAA Outdoor championships. Forde was a three-time MIAA individual champion in the triple jump, winning two outdoor titles and one indoor title. Forde was a three-time all-region selection and is Washburn's school record- holder in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump. A Norwalk, Conn. native, Forde became Washburn's first NCAA individual champion when he won the indoor triple jump at 16.29 meters (53 feet, 5.50 inches.). Forde jumped a school-record 54-07.25 outdoors.
Jacob Fratzel, Washburn University [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
JACOB FRATZEL | Golf
The former St. James Academy star was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year and was a PING All-Region and first-team All-MIAA pick after leading the Ichabods with a 72.5 stroke average in 34 rounds. Fratzel posted six top-10 finishes, including one top-five placing. He recorded 14 rounds under par and finished in a tie for 18th at the NCAA National Championship with a 5-under 211.
Kamble Haverkamp, Washburn University [File photo/TSN]
KAMBLE HAVERKAMP | Football
The Centralia product was an All-MIAA first-team selection as a senior, while also being named second-team All-Region. Haverkamp was a four-year member of the Ichabods, playing in 28 games and recording 109 tackles. Haverkamp started all 11 games at safety, recording 76 tackles with 56 solo stops. He registered11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman track and field star Brody Anderson and Washburn Rural baseball star Aidan Newbery, who ended their high school careers with state championships, have been selected as TopSports.news' Shawnee County co-spring boys senior athletes of the year for the 2025-2026 season.
Brody Anderson, Seaman
Anderson claimed the 2026 Class 5A state championship in the 800 meters in a 5A meet-record time of 1 minute, 52.08 seconds.
A former state medalist in cross country, Anderson also posted second-place 5A state finishes in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters after winning the city title in the 800 and sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 titles in the United Kansas Conference meet.
Aidan Newbery, Washburn Rural
Newbery, a catcher, was named the Shawnee County and Centennial League player of the year after helping lead Washburn Rural to its first state baseball championship since 1952, capped by a 4-3 win over Free State in the 6A state championship game.
Newbery was also named to the 6A All-State second team by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches.
Other spring boys athlete of the year finalists
Caleb Cleverdon, Cair Paravel/Topeka High
CALEB CLEVERDON | Cair Paravel/Topeka High
SPORT: Golf
Cleverdon, who competed for Topeka High in the regular season and Cair Paravel Latin in the postseason, posted a second-place individual finish in the Class 2A state tournament with a 36-hole total of 149 (73-76) after taking a four-shot individual win in the Flint Hills League tournament with a 73. A first-team All-Shawnee County pick, Cleverdon tied for third in the Centennial League (75) and tied for first in 2A regional competition (71), finishing second in a playoff.
Brody Cooper, Shawnee Heights [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]
BRODY COOPER | Shawnee Heights
SPORT: Baseball
A standout pitcher, Cooper helped lead Shawnee Heights to the 2026 Class 5A state championship game and a runnerup finish. A two-time United Kansas Conference first-team selection, Cooper was named the conference pitcher of the year as a senior and was also named to the All-Shawnee County first team.
Jack Donovan, Rossville
JACK DONOVAN | Rossville
SPORT: Golf
Donovan was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick for the third straight season after earning a state medal for the fourth straight year (two in Class 3A, two in 2A) with a fifth-place finish in the 2A state event with a 36 hole score of 155 (79-76). Donovan finished third in a 2A regional with a 76 and was the Big East League individual medalist with a 71. Donovan, who tied for sixth in the 2025 state tournament, received All-Shawnee County recognition in three sports.
Drew Fay, Cair Paravel Latin
DREW FAY | Cair Paravel Latin
SPORT: Tennis
Fay capped an outstanding four-year high school career with a city-high fifth-place finish in the 2026 Class 3A-1A state tournament. Fay was a four-year state qualifier and a three-time state medalist, with a high finish of second place in doubles in 2025. Fay captured the city championship in No. 1 singles this past spring and also won a regional title. Fay was a three-time All-City pick.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Carsyn Broxterman, who helped lead Hayden to a perfect 21-0 record and the Class 4A-1A state soccer championship has been selected as TopSports.news' Shawnee County spring girls senior athlete of the year for the 2025-2026 season.
Carsyn Broxterman, Hayden
A forward, Broxterman was named the city and Centennial League player of the year as a senior and was also named the forward of the year in 4A-1A by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Broxterman scored the game-winning goal in the Wildcats' 1-0 victory over Rose Hill in the state championship game.
Broxterman will play collegiately at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Other springs girls athlete of the year finalists
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural
AUDREY APPUHN | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Swimming
Appuhn won four gold medals (two individual, two relays) to lead Washburn Rural to its 23rd straight city team title and earned three golds (two individual, one relay) in the Centennial League meet. Appuhn went 8 for 8 in individual events over her career in the city and league meets and earned multiple Class 6A state medals as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
Ella Foster, Hayden
ELLA FOSTER | Hayden
SPORT: Soccer
A midfielder, Foster helped Hayden go wire to wire with 21 straight victories for the 2026 Class 4A-1A state championship, capped by a 1-0 win over Rose Hill in the state final. A Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State first-team pick, Foster was also a second-team All-Centennial League and All-City honoree. As a senior Foster also helped the Wildcats win the 4A championship in basketball and post a runnerup state finish in volleyball.
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake
KAILYN HANNI | Silver Lake
SPORT: Softball/Track and Field
A four-sport standout, Hanni helped lead Silver Lake to the Class 3A state softball championship and also doubled up in track and field, placing third in the 3A javelin hours after the Eagles' 4-0 win over Southeast of Saline in the state softball final. Hanni, who was also a state medalist in golf and led Silver Lake to its second state basketball championship in three seasons, was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick in both softball and track and earned All-Class 3A first-team honors in softball.
Reese Huscher, Hayden
REESE HUSCHER | Hayden
SPORT: Soccer
Huscher was named the Class 4A-1A midfielder of the year by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association and also earned first-team All-City and All-Centennial League honors after helping lead the Wildcats to a perfect 21-0 record and the 4A-1A state title this past spring. Huscher also helped Hayden win the 4A championship in basketball and post a runnerup state finish in volleyball.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural wrestling star Landen Kocher-Munoz has been selected as TopSports.news' Shawnee County winter boys senior athlete of the year for the 2025-2026 season.
Landen Kocher-Munoz, Washburn Rural
Kocher-Munoz was named the Shawnee County wrestler of the year after winning his third Class 6A state championship in his fourth straight trip to the state finals as a senior.
Kocher-Munoz won the 144-pound title as a senior, posting a 39-4 record on the season while helping lead the Junior Blues to a third-place 6A team finish and sweeping Centennial League, regional and state individual crowns.
Other winter boys athlete of the year finalists
KaeVon Bonner, Seaman
KAEVON BONNER | Seaman
SPORT: Basketball
Bonner was named the Shawnee County co-player of the year as a senior after leading the Vikings to a 23-5 record and a third-place finish in Class 5A. Bonner was named the All-United Kansas Conference player of the year while earning all-county and All-UKC honors for the third straight season. Bonner averaged a city-high 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 2.6 steals for the Vikings while hitting 44 3-pointers.
Jack Donovan, Rossville
JACK DONOVAN | Rossville
SPORT: Basketball
Donovan made the All-Shawnee County Top 10 for the third straight season after being named the co-newcomer of the year as a freshman. Donovan helped lead the Bulldawgs to a 17-8 record and a second straight Class 2A state tournament berth this past season. Donovan finished his prep career No. 2 on Rossville's career scoring list, with a season-high 47 points. Donovan received all-county recognition in football, golf and basketball.
Ryder Harrison, Washburn Rural
RYDER HARRISON | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Wrestling
An All-Shawnee County first-team selection, Harrison finished second in Class 6A at 120 pounds as a senior while posting a 28-7 record on the season and helping lead the Junior Blues to a third-place team finish. Harrison finished second in 6A regional competition after winning a Centennial League championship with a 5-0 record and five straight pins.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
DAYNE JOHNSON | Silver Lake
SPORT: Basketball
Johnson was named the Shawnee County co-player of the year after finishing his career as Silver Lake's career leading scorer while helping lead the Eagles to a 22-7 record and a second straight third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament. A two-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 selection and a first-team All-Big East League pick, Johnson was also a two-time All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick in football for the Eagles.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Dylan Willingham, who helped lead Washburn Rural to the Class 6A state soccer championship last fall while earning Centennial League and 6A player of the year honors, has been selected as TopSports.news' Shawnee County fall boys senior athlete of the year for the 2025-2026 school year.
Dylan Willingham, Washburn Rural
Willingham, a star forward, was named the 2025-26 Gatorade Kansas Boys Soccer Player of the Year after helping lead the 19-1-1 Junior Blues to the 2025 Class 6A state championship.
Willingham set Washburn Rural's single-season scoring record with 37 goals and career record with 67 goals.
The two-time Centennial League Player of the Year was Kansas' only 2025-26 United Soccer Coaches All-American in addition to being recognized as the 6A forward of the year.
Willingham was also a four-time 6A state medalist in tennis.
Willingham will play Division I college soccer at Nebraska-Omaha.
Other fall boys athlete of the year finalists
Brody Anderson, Seaman
BRODY ANDERSON | Seaman
SPORT: Cross Country
A first-team All-Shawnee County pick in all three years he ran cross country, Anderson won his second straight city and United Kansas Conference individual titles last fall and was a Class 5A regional runnerup. He also won the prestigious Olathe Twilight Invitational, finishing ahead of runners from over 50 schools from multiple states. Anderson won the 5A 800 meters title in track while finishing second in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters.
Camden Granado, Shawnee Heights
CAMDEN GRANADO | Shawnee Heights
SPORT: Soccer/Football
Granado, a forward, was named the United Kansas Conference soccer player of the year last fall while also earning All-City first-team honors. A second-team All-State selection, Granado finished his career as Shawnee Heights soccer's all-time leading goal scorer. The T-Bird standout doubled up in football, handling place-kicking duties for Heights and earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
CONNOR HANIKA | Hayden
SPORT: Football
Hanika, a quarterback, helped lead the 12-1 Wildcats to their third straight Class 3A state championship game. Hanika completed 116 of 192 passing attempts on the season for 1,810 yards and 24 touchdowns and added 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Hanika was also a standout for Hayden's basketball team and helped lead the Wildcats to a runnerup finish in the Class 4A state baseball tournament.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
DAYNE JOHNSON | Silver Lake
SPORT: Football
Johnson, a wide receiver/defensive back, was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 repeat selection in 2025 after catching 75 passes for 1,053 yards and eight touchdowns and registering 59 tackles with two pass interceptions. Johnson, who earned first-team All-Big East League recognition on offense and second-team honors on defense in football, also helped lead the Eagles to a third-place Class 3A state finish in basketball and a runnerup finish in 3A baseball.
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural
BROOKS KEHOE | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Cross Country
A three-time All-Shawnee County first-team honoree, Kehoe helped lead Washburn Rural to the Class 6A state team championship by a single point. Kehoe was the Centennial League champion, placed second in the city meet, 19th in Class 6A regional competition and 25th at state. Kehoe, who helped the Junior Blues win city and league titles and finish second in a tiebreaker at regionals, finished as the 6A runnerup in the 1,600-meter run in track.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Jaiden Wise, who helped lead Silver Lake to the Class 3A state volleyball championship, has been selected as TopSports.news' Shawnee County fall girls senior athlete of the year for the 2025-2026 season.
Jaiden Wise, Silver Lake [Photo by Jesse Newell/Special to TSN]
Wise helped the Eagles post a 46-1 record last fall, including 37 straight wins to end the season, capped by a 25-21, 25-19 win over Holton in the 3A state championship match.
Wise was named to the 3A All-State Tournament team and All-State first team by the Kansas Volleyball Association and was also an All-Shawnee County first-team selection.
Jaiden Wise [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
As a senior Wise recorded 407 kills and 19 blocks on .378 hitting with 296 digs and 22 assists while serving 84.7 percent with 29 aces on the season.
Wise was also a state qualifier in track and field.
Other fall girls athlete of the year finalists
Lauren Borjon, Hayden
LAUREN BORJON | Hayden
SPORT: Golf
A three-sport athlete, Borjon capped her high school golf career with her fourth straight Class 4A state medal. Borjon tied for 12th with a 36-hole total of 170 (88-82) as the Wildcats finished fourth as a team. A three-time All-Shawnee County pick, Borjon finished second in the city tournament, fifth in the Centennial League and earned second-team 4A All-State recognition. Borjon helped lead the Wildcats to the 4A golf team title as a sophomore and junior and also helped Hayden win the 4A state title in basketball and post an undefeated run to the 4A-1A state crown in soccer as a senior.
Madeline Deters, Topeka High
MADELINE DETERS | Topeka High
SPORT: Tennis
Deters earned her second straight Class 6A state tennis medal last fall in her third state tournament appearance. Deters posted a career-best sixth-place state singles finish as a senior while finishing off a 32-6 record on the season. Deters finished second in No. 1 singles in the city tournament before winning Centennial League and 6A regional singles championships. Deters posted a 3-2 record at state.
Elise Eckert, Seaman
ELISE ECKERT | Seaman
SPORT: Golf
Eckert won her fourth straight Class 5A state golf medal to cap her first season at Seaman, tying for fifth in the state tournament with a 36-hole total of 161 (77-84). Eckert won the city title by eight strokes with a 68 and won the United Kansas Conference individual championship with a 73 before posting a runnerup finish in 5A regional competition. Eckert was a first-team All-State honoree in 5A.
Ella Foster, Hayden
ELLA FOSTER | Hayden
SPORT: Volleyball
Foster, a 5-foot-4 libero, helped lead 33-10 Hayden to a second-place finish in the 2025 Class 4A state volleyball tournament, earning Kansas Volleyball Association All-State Tournament honors. Foster earned first-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League recognition and was named to the KVA 4A All-State second team. Foster helped the Wildcats win the 4A state championship in basketball and the 4A-1A state crown in soccer as a senior and was selected to play in the KVA All-Star Match, helping the Red post a 4-1 victory.
Izzy Glotzbach, Hayden
IZZY GLOTZBACH | Hayden
SPORT: Golf
A three-time All-Shawnee County first-team selection, Glotzbach tied for fifth in the 2025 Class 4A state tournament with a 36-hole score of 164 (85-79), finished third in the city tournament and fourth in the Centennial League before tying for second in 4A regional competition. Glotzbach, who earned first-team 4A All-State recognition as a senior, helped lead the Wildcats to 4A state team titles as a sophomore and junior and also helped Hayden win a 4A team title in tennis as a junior.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Over the coming weeks TopSports.news will take a look at all of the senior finalists for the 2025-2026 Shawnee County High School Sports Awards from the fall, winter and spring seasons, followed by the athletes of the year for all three seasons and the overall outstanding girls and boys athletes of the year.
Brody Anderson, Seaman
BRODY ANDERSON | Seaman
SPORT: Track and field
Anderson ended his high school career with a Class 5A state championship, winning the 800 meters in a 5A meet-record time of 1 minute, 52.08 seconds. A former state medalist in cross country, Anderson also posted second-place 5A state finishes in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters after winning the city title in the 800 and sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 titles in the United Kansas Conference meet.
Caleb Cleverdon, Cair Paravel/Topeka High
CALEB CLEVERDON | Cair Paravel/Topeka High
SPORT: Golf
Cleverdon, who competed for Topeka High in the regular season and Cair Paravel Latin in the postseason, posted a second-place individual finish in the Class 2A state tournament with a 36-hole total of 149 (73-76) after taking a four-shot individual win in the Flint Hills League tournament with a 73. A first-team All-Shawnee County pick, Cleverdon tied for third in the Centennial League (75) and tied for first in 2A regional competition (71), finishing second in a playoff.
Brody Cooper, Shawnee Heights [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/Special to TSN]
BRODY COOPER | Shawnee Heights
SPORT: Baseball
A standout pitcher, Cooper helped lead Shawnee Heights to the 2026 Class 5A state championship game and a runnerup finish. A two-time United Kansas Conference first-team selection, Cooper was named the conference pitcher of the year as a senior and was also named to the All-Shawnee County first team.
Jack Donovan, Rossville
JACK DONOVAN | Rossville
SPORT: Golf
Donovan was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick for the third straight season after earning a state medal for the fourth straight year (two in Class 3A, two in 2A) with a fifth-place finish in the 2A state event with a 36 hole score of 155 (79-76). Donovan finished third in a 2A regional with a 76 and was the Big East League individual medalist with a 71. Donovan, who tied for sixth in the 2025 state tournament, received All-Shawnee County recognition in three sports.
Drew Fay, Cair Paravel Latin
DREW FAY | Cair Paravel Latin
SPORT: Tennis
Fay capped an outstanding four-year high school career with a city-high fifth-place finish in the 2026 Class 3A-1A state tournament. Fay was a four-year state qualifier and a three-time state medalist, with a high finish of second place in doubles in 2025. Fay captured the city championship in No. 1 singles this past spring and also won a regional title. Fay was a three-time All-City pick.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Over the coming weeks TopSports.news will take a look at all of the senior finalists for the 2025-2026 Shawnee County High School Sports Awards from the fall, winter and spring seasons, followed by the athletes of the year for all three seasons and the overall outstanding girls and boys athletes of the year.
KaeVon Bonner, Seaman
KAEVON BONNER | Seaman
SPORT: Basketball
Bonner was named the Shawnee County co-player of the year as a senior after leading the Vikings to a 23-5 record and a third-place finish in Class 5A. Bonner was named the All-United Kansas Conference player of the year while earning all-county and All-UKC honors for the third straight season. Bonner averaged a city-high 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 2.6 steals for the Vikings while hitting 44 3-pointers.
Jack Donovan, Rossville
JACK DONOVAN | Rossville
SPORT: Basketball
Donovan made the All-Shawnee County Top 10 for the third straight season after being named the co-newcomer of the year as a freshman. Donovan helped lead the Bulldawgs to a 17-8 record and a second straight Class 2A state tournament berth this past season. Donovan finished his prep career No. 2 on Rossville's career scoring list, with a season-high 47 points. Donovan received all-county recognition in football, golf and basketball.
Ryder Harrison, Washburn Rural
RYDER HARRISON | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Wrestling
An All-Shawnee County first-team selection, Harrison finished second in Class 6A at 120 pounds as a senior while posting a 28-7 record on the season and helping lead the Junior Blues to a third-place team finish. Harrison finished second in 6A regional competition after winning a Centennial League championship with a 5-0 record and five straight pins.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
DAYNE JOHNSON | Silver Lake
SPORT: Basketball
Johnson was named the Shawnee County co-player of the year after finishing his career as Silver Lake's career leading scorer while helping lead the Eagles to a 22-7 record and a second straight third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament. A two-time All-Shawnee County Top 10 selection and a first-team All-Big East League pick, Johnson was also a two-time All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick in football for the Eagles.
Landen Kocher-Munoz, Washburn Rural
LANDEN KOCHER-MUNOZ | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Wrestling
Kocher-Munoz was named the Shawnee County wrestler of the year after winning his third Class 6A state championship in his fourth straight trip to the state finals. Kocher-Munoz won the 144-pound title as a senior, posting a 39-4 record on the season while helping lead the Junior Blues to a third-place 6A team finish and sweeping Centennial League, regional and state individual crowns.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Over the coming weeks TopSports.news will take a look at all of the senior finalists for the 2025-2026 Shawnee County High School Sports Awards from the fall, winter and spring seasons, followed by the athletes of the year for all three seasons and the overall outstanding girls and boys athletes of the year.
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural
AUDREY APPUHN | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Swimming
Appuhn won four gold medals (two individual, two relays) to lead Washburn Rural to its 23rd straight city team title and earned three golds (two individual, one relay) in the Centennial League meet. Appuhn went 8 for 8 in individual events over her career in the city and league meets and earned multiple Class 6A state medals as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
Carsyn Broxterman, Hayden
CARSYN BROXTERMAN | Hayden
SPORT: Soccer
Broxterman, a forward, helped lead Hayden to a perfect 21-0 record and the Class 4A-1A state title as a senior, scoring the game-winning goal in the Wildcats' 1-0 victory over Rose Hill in the state championship game. Broxterman was named the city and Centennial League player of the year and was also named the forward of the year in 4A-1A by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Ella Foster, Hayden
ELLA FOSTER | Hayden
SPORT: Soccer
A midfielder, Foster helped Hayden go wire to wire with 21 straight victories for the 2026 Class 4A-1A state championship, capped by a 1-0 win over Rose Hill in the state final. A Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State first-team pick, Foster was also a second-team All-Centennial League and All-City honoree. As a senior Foster also helped the Wildcats win the 4A championship in basketball and post a runnerup state finish in volleyball.
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake
KAILYN HANNI | Silver Lake
SPORT: Softball/Track and Field
A four-sport standout, Hanni helped lead Silver Lake to the Class 3A state softball championship and also doubled up in track and field, placing third in the 3A javelin hours after the Eagles' 4-0 win over Southeast of Saline in the state softball final. Hanni, who was also a state medalist in golf and led Silver Lake to its second state basketball championship in three seasons, was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick in both softball and track and earned All-Class 3A first-team honors in softball.
Reese Huscher, Hayden
REESE HUSCHER | Hayden
SPORT: Soccer
Huscher was named the Class 4A-1A midfielder of the year by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association and also earned first-team All-City and All-Centennial League honors after helping lead the Wildcats to a perfect 21-0 record and the 4A-1A state title this past spring. Huscher also helped Hayden win the 4A championship in basketball and post a runnerup state finish in volleyball.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Over the coming weeks TopSports.news will take a look at all of the senior finalists for the 2025-2026 Shawnee County High School Sports Awards from the fall, winter and spring seasons, followed by the athletes of the year for all three seasons and the overall outstanding girls and boys athletes of the year.
Brody Anderson, Seaman
BRODY ANDERSON | Seaman
SPORT: Cross Country
A first-team All-Shawnee County pick in all three years he ran cross country, Anderson won his second straight city and United Kansas Conference individual titles last fall and was a Class 5A regional runnerup. He also won the prestigious Olathe Twilight Invitational, finishing ahead of runners from over 50 schools from multiple states. Anderson won the 5A 800 meters title in track while finishing second in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters.
Camden Granado, Shawnee Heights
CAMDEN GRANADO | Shawnee Heights
SPORT: Soccer/Football
Granado, a forward, was named the United Kansas Conference soccer player of the year last fall while also earning All-City first-team honors. A second-team All-State selection, Granado finished his career as Shawnee Heights soccer's all-time leading goal scorer. The T-Bird standout doubled up in football, handling place-kicking duties for Heights and earning All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
CONNOR HANIKA | Hayden
SPORT: Football
Hanika, a quarterback, helped lead the 12-1 Wildcats to their third straight Class 3A state championship game. Hanika completed 116 of 192 passing attempts on the season for 1,810 yards and 24 touchdowns and added 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Hanika was also a standout for Hayden's basketball team and helped lead the Wildcats to a runnerup finish in the Class 4A state baseball tournament.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
DAYNE JOHNSON | Silver Lake
SPORT: Football
Johnson, a wide receiver/defensive back, was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 repeat selection in 2025 after catching 75 passes for 1,053 yards and eight touchdowns and registering 59 tackles with two pass interceptions. Johnson, who earned first-team All-Big East League recognition on offense and second-team honors on defense in football, also helped lead the Eagles to a third-place Class 3A state finish in basketball and a runnerup finish in 3A baseball.
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural
BROOKS KEHOE | Washburn Rural
SPORT: Cross Country
A three-time All-Shawnee County first-team honoree, Kehoe helped lead Washburn Rural to the Class 6A state team championship by a single point. Kehoe was the Centennial League champion, placed second in the city meet, 19th in Class 6A regional competition and 25th at state. Kehoe, who helped the Junior Blues win city and league titles and finish second in a tiebreaker at regionals, finished as the 6A runnerup in the 1,600-meter run in track.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Over the coming weeks TopSports.news will take a look at all of the senior finalists for the 2025-2026 Shawnee County High School Sports Awards from the fall, winter and spring seasons, followed by the athletes of the year for all three seasons and the overall outstanding girls and boys athletes of the year.
Lauren Borjon, Hayden
LAUREN BORJON | Hayden
SPORT: Golf
A three-sport athlete, Borjon capped her high school golf career with her fourth straight Class 4A state medal. Borjon tied for 12th with a 36-hole total of 170 (88-82) as the Wildcats finished fourth as a team. A three-time All-Shawnee County pick, Borjon finished second in the city tournament, fifth in the Centennial League and earned second-team 4A All-State recognition. Borjon helped lead the Wildcats to the 4A golf team title as a sophomore and junior and also helped Hayden win the 4A state title in basketball and post an undefeated run to the 4A-1A state crown in soccer as a senior.
Madeline Deters, Topeka High
MADELINE DETERS | Topeka High
SPORT: Tennis
Deters earned her second straight Class 6A state tennis medal last fall in her third state tournament appearance. Deters posted a career-best sixth-place state singles finish as a senior while finishing off a 32-6 record on the season. Deters finished second in No. 1 singles in the city tournament before winning Centennial League and 6A regional singles championships. Deters posted a 3-2 record at state.
Elise Eckert, Seaman
ELISE ECKERT | Seaman
SPORT: Golf
Eckert won her fourth straight Class 5A state golf medal to cap her first season at Seaman, tying for fifth in the state tournament with a 36-hole total of 161 (77-84). Eckert won the city title by eight strokes with a 68 and won the United Kansas Conference individual championship with a 73 before posting a runnerup finish in 5A regional competition. Eckert was a first-team All-State honoree in 5A.
Ella Foster, Hayden
ELLA FOSTER | Hayden
SPORT: Volleyball
Foster, a 5-foot-4 libero, helped lead 33-10 Hayden to a second-place finish in the 2025 Class 4A state volleyball tournament, earning Kansas Volleyball Association All-State Tournament honors. Foster earned first-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League recognition and was named to the KVA 4A All-State second team. Foster helped the Wildcats win the 4A state championship in basketball and the 4A-1A state crown in soccer as a senior and was selected to play in the KVA All-Star Match, helping the Red post a 4-1 victory.
Izzy Glotzbach, Hayden
IZZY GLOTZBACH | Hayden
SPORT: Golf
A three-time All-Shawnee County first-team selection, Glotzbach tied for fifth in the 2025 Class 4A state tournament with a 36-hole score of 164 (85-79), finished third in the city tournament and fourth in the Centennial League before tying for second in 4A regional competition. Glotzbach, who earned first-team 4A All-State recognition as a senior, helped lead the Wildcats to 4A state team titles as a sophomore and junior and also helped Hayden win a 4A team title in tennis as a junior.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twenty Shawnee County softball standouts have received All-State recognition from the Kansas Softball Coaches Association, including nine first-team selections.
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake
Riley Mohler, Silver Lake
State champion Silver Lake is represented on the All-Class 3A first team by senior outfielder Kailyn Hanni, junior pitcher Riley Mohler and sophomore infielder Saylor Liggatt.
London Backman, Topeka High
Kenslee Young, Topeka High
Henley Rapp, Washburn Rural
Olivia Koch, Washburn Rural
Topeka High, which finished third in 6A, put sophomore infielder London Backman and junior utility/designated player Kenslee Young on the All-6A first team while Centennial League champ Washburn Rural is represented by senior catcher Henley Rapp and junior outfielder Olivia Koch on the first team.
Aubrey Warren, Seaman
Kenna Perine, Rossville
Seaman senior infielder Aubrey Warren was named to the All-5A first team while Rossville freshman outfielder Kenna Perine was a first-team pick in 2A-1A.
Second-team All-State picks included Topeka High senior Taimane Isaia and juniors Campbell Dawson and Madilyn Poole in 6A, Shawnee Heights senior Cianna Graves, Seaman junior Acey Thompson and sophomore Lydia Dreher in 5A, Silver Lake senior Taylor Swygert and junior Savanah Wende in 3A and Rossville senior Brooke Springer in 2A-1A.
Shawnee Heights senior Addison Cooper and Hayden junior Emberly Connell received all-state honorable mention.
ALL-KANSAS SOFTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Over the coming weeks The Jones Project and A1 Lock&Key will sponsor TopSports.news' series of stories recognizing the top senior Shawnee County athletes from the recently completed 2025-2026 school year.
TSN will name girls and boys finalists for the fall, winter and spring seasons, followed by the announcement of the girls and boys athletes of the year for all three seasons.
The project will culminate with the announcement of the overall outstanding girls and boys Shawnee County athletes for 2025-2026.
Six Shawnee County girls teams captured state championships in five sports in '25-26, including a Silver Lake sweep of the Class 3A volleyball, basketball and softball crowns, while Hayden won 4A basketball and put together an undefeated 4A-1A run in soccer and Seaman won the 5A bowling championship by a 358-pin margin.
Washburn Rural's boys won Class 6A team titles in cross country, soccer and baseball while Shawnee Heights won its second 5A state bowling championship in three seasons.
Individually, 10 Shawnee County athletes captured individual state titles, including Washburn Rural senior Cody Spangler in 6A boys bowling, Rural senior Landen Kocher-Munoz in 6A boys wrestling, Seaman senior Brody Anderson in 5A boys track and field and Shawnee Heights senior Cianna Graves in 5A girls wrestling.
TSN will also recognize Washburn University female and male athletes of the year for '25-26 after the Ichabods put together a banner season that included a string of NCAA Tournament appearances.
Next up: The top 10 girls fall finalists.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden, which posted a perfect season on the way to the Class 4A-1A girls state championship this spring, dominates the TopSports.news 2026 All-City girls soccer team.
The Wildcats, who wrapped up the state title with a 1-0 win over Rose Hill, put a city-high four players on the first team while sweeping the individual awards.
Three-time Hayden All-City first-team pick Carsyn Broxterman has been named the city player of the year for 2026. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Emma Slyter has been named the city soccer newcomer of the year after helping the undefeated Wildcats win the Class 4A-1A state title. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Carsyn Broxterman, a three-time first-team selection, was named the city player of the year while freshman Emma Slyter was tapped for the newcomer of the year honor and Wildcat coach Klaus Kreutzer was selected as the coach of the year.
Joining Broxterman and Slyter on the All-City first team are seniors Reese Huscher and Kellyn Specht.
Washburn Rural senior Dayne Shriver earned first-team All-City soccer honors for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural, which posted a third-place state finish in 6A, put senior repeat pick Dayne Shriver on the first team along with senior Allie Schroeder and sophomore Ellie Vogel.
Seaman, which earned a share of the championship in the United Kansas Conference, is represented on the All-City team by seniors Ava Huston and Savannah Nelson and junior Julia Molleker.
Topeka West junior Micah Williams is a three-time All-City soccer first-team pick. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights juniors Nina Bolanos and Brylee Garner both earned first-team berths while Topeka West junior Micah Williams earned her third straight first-team honor in her first season with the Chargers and Cair Paravel Latin senior Kelly Ann Chada rounds out the top team.
ALL-CITY 2026 GIRLS SOCCER
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twenty city standouts have earned All-State recognition from the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association, including eight first-team picks and two players of the year.
Hayden, which posted an undefeated season on the way to the Class 4A-1A girls state championship, put six players on the All-State first team, including senior forward of the year Carsyn Broxterman and senior midfielder of the year Reese Huscher.
Hayden senior Carsyn Broxterman has been named the Class 4A-1A forward of the year by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden senior Reese Huscher was named the Class 4A-1A midfielder of the year by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association. [File photo/TSN]
Wildcat coach Klaus Kreutzer was selected as the 4A-1A coach of the year.
The Wildcats, who wrapped up the state title with a 1-0 win over Rose Hill, also put senior midfielders Grace Funk and Ella Foster on the first team along with senior defender Kellyn Specht and sophomore defender Sawyer Wrench.
Washburn Rural senior forward Allie Schroeder (14) has been named to the All-6A first team after helping lead the Junior Blues to a third-place state finish. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman senior Ava Huston has been named to the All-5A first team by the KHSSCA. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural, which posted a third-place state finish, put senior senior forward Allie Schroeder on the All-6A first team while Seaman senior midfielder Ava Huston was named to the All-5A first team.
Rural senior defenders Dayne Shriver and Emma Wong were named to the All-6A second team along with junior midfielder Emery Hall and sophomore midfielder Ellie Vogel.
Topeka West junior Micah Williams was named to the All-5A second team by the KHSSCA. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka West junior Micah Williams has been named to the All-5A second team along with Seaman senior forward Savannah Nelson and junior forward Julia Molleker.
Cair Paravel Latin senior forward KellyAnn Chada earned second-team All-4A-1A recognition.
Seaman seniors Maya Martin and Parker Ayres received all-state honorable mention in 5A while Cair Paravel seniors Avry Stafford and Hemi Duehring received honorable mention in 4A-1A.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Undefeated Class 4A-1A state champion Hayden dominated voting for the 2026 All-Centennial League girls soccer team, including a sweep of the three individual awards.
Hayden senior Carsyn Broxterman has been named the Centennial League girls soccer player of the year after helping lead the Wildcats to an undefeated Class 4A-1A state championship. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Emma Slyter has been named the Centennial League soccer newcomer of the year after helping the Wildcats win the Class 4A-1A state title. [File photo/TSN]
Wildcat senior Carsyn Broxterman was named the Centennial League player of the year while Hayden freshman Emma Slyter was selected as the newcomer of the year and veteran coach Klaus Kreutzer was named the league coach of the year.
Joining Broxterman and Slyter on the first team are Hayden seniors Reese Huscher and Kellyn Specht.
Washburn Rural, which posted a third-place finish in 6A, put seniors Allie Schroeder and Dayne Shriver and sophomore Ellie Vogel on the All-Centennial first team while Topeka High is represented by senior Raelee Shipley.
Hayden put seniors Ella Foster and Grace Funk and sophomores Avery Becker and Hailey Schmidtlein on the all-league second team while Rural is represented by seniors Peyton Merrick and Emma Wong and junior Emery Hall and Topeka High by sophomore Emma Schell.
Five city players received honorable mention.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE GIRLS SOCCER
First team
Lauren Booe, jr., Manhattan; Carsyn Broxterman, sr., Hayden; Kameron Felice, sr., Manhattan; Reagan Herrman, so., Emporia; Reese Huscher, sr., Hayden; Emersyn Johnson, jr., Emporia; Allie Schroeder, sr., Washburn Rural; Raelee Shipley, sr., Topeka High; Dayne Shriver, sr., Washburn Rural; Emma Slyter, fr., Hayden; Kellyn Specht, sr., Hayden; Ellie Vogel, so., Washburn Rural.
Second team
Avery Becker, so., Hayden; Ella Foster, sr., Hayden; Viveca Fuller, sr., Emporia; Grace Funk, sr., Hayden; Emery Hall, jr., Washburn Rural; Savanna Heitmann, so., Manhattan; Peyton Merrick, sr., Washburn Rural; Emma Schell, so., Topeka High; Hailey Schmidtlein, so., Hayden; Evelyn Thornburg, sr., Manhattan; Emma Wong, sr., Washburn Rural.
Honorable mention
Emporia: Madison Evans, jr.; Emma Swindle, sr. Hayden:Sawyer Wrench, so. Junction City: Michell Sykora, jr. Manhattan: Ava Connell, jr.; Avarye Meeker, so.; Lexie Oehme, fr. Topeka High: Natalie Barnes, sr.; Hailey Caryl, so.; Sara Valera Lopez-Pintor, jr. Washburn Rural: Brecken Murphy, sr.
Player of the year -- Carsyn Broxterman, Hayden.
Newcomer of the year -- Emma Slyter, Hayden.
Coach of the year -- Klaus Kreutzer, Hayden.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Class 3A state champion Silver Lake put a county-high four players on the 2026 TopSports.news All-Shawnee County softball first team, while Seaman senior Aubrey Warren and Washburn Rural junior Oliva Koch were named the co-players of the year and Rossville freshman Kenna Perine was named the newcomer of the year.
Seaman senior Aubrey Warren has been named the co-Shawnee County softball player of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Olivia Koch has been named the co-Shawnee County softball player of the year for 2026. [File photo/TSN]
Rossville freshman Kenna Perine has been selected as the 2026 Shawnee County softball newcomer of the year. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake, which finished off a 28-4 season with a 4-0 win over Southeast-Saline in the state championship game, is represented on the all-county first team by seniors Kailyn Hanni and Paige Heiman, junior Riley Mohler and sophomore Saylor Liggatt while Eagles coach Nick Hamilton received Shawnee County coach of the year recognition for the third straight season.
Warren was named the United Kansas Conference player of the year for the second straight season while Koch was a repeat pick as the Centennial League player of the year.
London Backman, Topeka High
Topeka High, which finished third in 6A, is represented on the first team by sophomore London Backman and juniors Campbell Dawson and Kenslee Young while 2A quarterfinalist Rossville put senior Brooke Springer and sophomore Nora Mitchell on the first team.
Joining Koch on the first team for Washburn Rural are senior Henley Rapp and junior Justice McBurney while Warren is joined on the first team by Seaman teammate Lydia Dreher.
Shawnee Heights put seniors Addison Cooper and Cianna Graves on the first team while Hayden is represented by junior Emberly Connell and sophomore Blakely Walter.
Backman, Hanni, Warren, Koch and Rapp are all all-county first-team repeat picks.
2026 ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY SOFTBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Recent Hayden graduate Ella Foster brought down the curtain on her outstanding multi-sport career Saturday night in Washburn University's Whiting Fieldhouse... but not before adding a couple of final highlights.
Hayden multi-sport star Ella Foster helped lead the Red to a 4-1 win over the Blue in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match in Whiting Fieldhouse. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Foster, who helped lead the Wildcats to two state team titles and a runnerup finish as a senior, helped the Red post a 4-1 win over the Blue in the Kansas Volleyball Association's 40th annual All-Star Match while also receiving the Judy Bellamo Most Inspirational Player Award.
Foster contributed a team high 19 digs and also added three consecutive service aces in the fifth set as the Red took a 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-6 victory over the Blue.
It was a fitting farewell to competitive athletics before Foster heads off to Kansas State this fall.
"This is it,'' Foster said. "It was nice to have one final hurrah, one last game. It was really fun and I got to play with some of my best friends.
"I think I will (miss it), but I know I spent my time well. I'm really glad I did it, but we'll see what the future asks. I think it's time and I'm really excited I did it and I'm really happy and I'll still probably be around the sport. I'm coaching next year (for Topeka Impact) so I'm really excited about that.''
Foster's appearance in Saturday's All-Star Match came exactly one week after she helped the Wildcats finish off an undefeated season with the Class 4A-1A state soccer championship.
Foster admitted that she was a little rusty when she reported for KVA practice, but was able to quickly round into volleyball shape.
"It took a minute,'' Foster said. "Practice was rough for sure, but I think once I got on the court and just being on the stage it really was just like a switch flips in my brain and I'm like, 'Oh, it's go time.'
"I was ready to go. I was excited.''
Hayden Meats (Gardner-Edgerton) High School led the Red with 12 kills while
both Jade Xu (Emporia) and Katharine Engle (Halstead) added nine
kills each.
Washburn Rural product Stella Kelly contributed 24 assists in the Red's 4-1 win in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural product Stella Kelly (Washburn Rural) led the Red in
assists with 24, followed by Neely Leathers (Olathe West) with 18.
Silver Lake product Paige Heiman (3) celebrates a block with her Red teammates in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Delaney Childs (Nickerson) led the Red with five blocks while Olivia Nzioki (Mill Valley) and Silver Lake's Paige Heiman added four each.
Engle led the Red in aces with four.
Cami Sher (Olathe West) led the Blue in kills with 14, while Brynna Zoeller (Rock Creek) led the Blue with 22 assists.
Shawnee Heights product Avery Willey had 16 digs for the Blue in Saturday's KVA All-Star Match. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Carlie Pandjaris (Blue Valley West) had 20 digs, with Shawnee Heights product Avery Willey adding 16.
Pandjaris contributed three service aces.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior player of the year Aidan Newbery headlines the TopSports.news 2026 All-Shawnee County baseball team.
Washburn Rural senior catcher Aidan Newbery has been named the Shawnee County Player of the Year after helping lead Rural to the Class 6A state championship. [Photo by Selena Rivas Favela/TSN]
Newbery, a catcher, helped lead the Junior Blues to the Class 6A state championship last Saturday in Wichita, Rural's first baseball state championship in 74 years.
Newbery, who was also named the Centennial League player of the year, is joined on the all-county first team by senior teammates Austin Ditch and Nate Selm and junior Tyler Edmiston while Washburn Rural coach Jay Mastin was named the coach of the year after the Junior Blues posted a 22-9 record, capped by a 4-3 win over Free State in the 6A title game.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
Kade Mitchell, Hayden
Class 4A runnerup Hayden (21-6) is represented on the first team by seniors Connor Hanika, Kade Mitchell and Aiden Roberts and junior Caleb Menke while 5A runnerup Shawnee Heights (21-10) put seniors Brody Cooper and Cayden Lindsay on the all-county team and T-Bird sophomore Gabe Escobar has been tapped as the county newcomer of the year.
Brody Cooper, Shawnee Heights
Silver Lake, the 3A runnerup at 18-12, put senior Drew Womack on the first team while Rossville (25-5), third in 2A-1A, is represented by the senior trio of Jacoby McDonnell, Canann Mitchell and Cameron Miller and Seaman put juniors Axton Brewer and Beau Jessop on the first team.
Brewer, Ditch, Menke, Miller, Canann Mitchell, Kade Mitchell and Selm are all first-team All-Shawnee County repeat picks while Cooper, Edmiston, Hanika, Roberts and Womack move up from the second team and Lindsay received honorable mention last season.
Axton Brewer, Seaman
Brewer received 5A All-State first-team honors from Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches while Womack was a first-team pick in 3A and Miller and Canann Mitchell earned first-team honors in 2A-1A.
Canann Mitchell, Rossville
Newbery was a second-team pick in 6A, Jessop a second-team selection in 5A, Hanika and Kade Mitchell second team in 4A and McDonnell second team in 2A-1A.
2026 ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BASEBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Four former Shawnee County high school volleyball standouts are scheduled to play in the 2026 Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at 5 p.m. Saturday in Washburn University's Whiting Fieldhouse.
Ella Foster, Hayden [File photo/TSN]
Avery Willey, Shawnee Heights [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake's Paige Heiman, Hayden's Ella Foster and Washburn Rural's Stella Kelly will play for the Red team while Shawnee Heights' Avery Willey will play for the Blue.
Paige Heiman, Silver Lake [Photo by KSHSAA Covered]
Stelly Kelly, Washburn Rural [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake captured the Class 3A state championship last fall while Hayden was the 4A runnerup and Washburn Rural advanced to the 6A state tournament.
The players selected were first nominated by their high school coaches (who must be KVA members), and then recommended by a committee to fill the squads based on achievements, positions, classifications, collegiate plans and availability.
KVA ALL-STAR MATCH
BLUE
Carlie Pandjaris, Blue Valley West; Kyndal Moore, Ellinwood; Brooke Doile, McPherson; Cami Sher, Olathe West; Jadence Stewart, Greeley County; Avery Willey, Shawnee Heights; Ava Smith, Valley Heights; Jaden Goldberg, Blue Valley North; Emerson Waldren, Buhler; Reese Stuhlsatz, Garden Plain; Brynna Zoeller, Rock Creek; Emma Parker, Olathe Northwest.
Coaches -- Head: David Schuler, Jefferson County North. Assistants: Alli Snapp, Rock Creek; Nicole Jones, Manhattan.
RED
Ella Foster, Hayden; Arika Feldman, Little River; Olivia Nzioki, Mill Valley; Paige Heiman, Silver Lake; Regan Widener, Ellinwood; Ava Romero, McPherson; Jade Xu, Emporia; Hayden Meats, Gardner Edgerton; Katharine Engel, Halstead; Elyse Haxton, Ellsworth; Stella Kelly, Washburn Rural; Neely Leathers, Olathe West; Delaney Childs, Nickerson.
Coaches -- Head: Kristel Bontrager, Holton. Assistants: Amy Bott, Linn; Shannon Funk, Hays.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
State champions Brody Anderson of Seaman, Christian Hartman-Babb of Washburn Rural and Landen Lewis of Rossville headline the 2026 All-Shawnee County boys track and field team.
Brody Anderson posted a state championship and two runnerup finishes in the Class 5A state track meet. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Christian Hartman-Babb won the Class 6A state 100 meters title and finished second in the 200. [File photo/TSN]
Rossville sophomore Landen Lewis won the 2026 Class 2A-1A state title in the javelin. [Submitted photo]
Anderson, a senior, won the Class 5A 800 meters in a 5A meet-record time of 1 minute, 52.08 seconds after finishing second in the 3,200 (9:05.70) and the 1,600 (4:12.48) earlier in the meet.
Junior Hartman-Babb won the 6A 100-meter dash in 10.59 seconds and finished second on a photo-finish in the 200 (21.40) while sophomore Lewis captured the 2A javelin championship at 181-9.
Anderson finished his season as the Shawnee County leader in the 800, the 1,600 (4:08.2 converted from mile) and 3,200 while Hartman-Babb led the county in the 100 (10.36) and 200 and Lewis had a county-best performance of 202-9 in the javelin.
Washburn Rural senior Brooks Kehoe finished second in the Class 6A 1,600 meters in last week's state meet. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Brooks Kehoe was the 6A runnerup in the 1,600 (4:22.04) while the Silver Lake foursome of senior Thomas Fisher, junior Owen Rottinghaus, senior Joel Miller and senior Braxton Rupp finished second in the 4x100 relay (43.14) and the Eagles' Rottinghaus, Fisher, Miller and sophomore Jake Workman placed third in the 4x400 relay (3:28.56).
Shawnee Heights senior Jason Slay finished third in the 5A 400 (49.51) and teamed with senior Xavier Fisher and juniors Dallas Owens and Mason Haas to place fourth in 4x400 relay (3:25.32).
Anderson, Hartman-Babb, Kehoe, Miller and Rupp are all first-team All-Shawnee County repeat picks along with Seaman junior high-jump state placer Jack Esser and Washburn Rural seniors Draden Chooncharoen and Liam Morrison.
Chooncharoen and Morrison missed the postseason with injuries, but the two ran on back-to-back 4x400 state-champion relay teams in 2024 and 2025, including a 6A state meet record in '25, while Morrison also won the 300 hurdles in '25.
Washburn Rural senior Liam Morrison won three Class 6A state titles during his high school career. [File photo/TSN]
Also earning spots on the all-county first team were Rural sophomore Zach Hancock, Rossville junior Charles Chance, Cair Paravel senior Lucas Marichal, Hayden junior Kelton Meier, Highland Park senior Termaine Savage and Washburn Rural junior Cohen Thiessen.
Highland Park senior Termaine Savage earned a Class 5A state medal in the 400-meter dash. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Thiessen, Hancock, Marichal and Savage were state medalists while Meier was a state qualifier.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY 2026 BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee County girls track and filed athletes came up short in their bids for state titles in the 2026 Kansas Track and Field Championships last weekend in Wichita, but the local contingent still had plenty to celebrate, including multiple top-three finishes and 13 total top-eight medal showings in four classes overall.
Washburn Rural senior Morgan Ray finished second in the Class 6A javelin event for the second straight season. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
Hayden junior Sofia Harper was the Class 4A runnerup in the 400-meter dash. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Morgan Ray was the state runnerup in the Class 6A javelin at 145 feet, 1 inch, while Hayden junior Sofia Harper finished second in the 4A 400-meter dash while posting a top time of 58.83.
Washburn Rural junior Kailyn Petersen placed fourth in the Class 6A discus for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake junior Ali Gerber was a double medalist in the Class 3A state track meet. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake senior multi-sport star Kailyn Hanni posted a third-place finish in the 3A javelin (129-7) while Washburn Rural junior repeat 6A medalist Kailyn Petersen was fourth in the discus (133-2), Seaman freshman Baylee Ayres was fourth in the 5A high jump (5-foot-2) and Silver Lake junior Ali Gerber finished fourth in the 3A 400 (58.75) while also teaming with Eagle teammates Kinley Weber, Jaylie Whitehead and Karys Deiter to place fifth in the 4x400-meter relay (4:09.64).
Washburn Rural freshman Alyson Hinck (3) earned a pair of Class 6A state medals in her first state track meet. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural freshman Alyson Hinck posted a fifth-place finish in the 6A 800 (2:18.43) while Shawnee Heights freshman Tanesia Johnson earned medals with sixth-place finishes in both the 5A 100 and 200-meter dashes.
Washburn Rural's Ray and Petersen and senior state medalists Emily Graf and Kenzie Maddox are all all-county repeat picks along with Seaman juniors Kinley Robinson and Brynn Spencer, Topeka High senior Keimara Marshall and Silver Lake's Gerber and Deiter.
Also earning spots on the first team are Hayden junior Alana Mitchell, Silver Lake junior Addy Just and Washburn Rural freshman Clara Dillon, who all earned state medals, along with seniors Jurnee Cole of Highland Park, Jayana Washington of Topeka High and Journey Manhart of Silver Lake.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY 2026 GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Twelve Shawnee County baseball players and one coach have received All-State recognition from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches.
Leading the county contingent are first-team selections Axton Brewer of Seaman in Class 5A, Drew Womack of Silver Lake in 3A and Cameron Miller of Rossville and Canann Mitchell in 2A-1A, while Bulldawg coach Kenny Swart was named the 2A-1A state coach of the year.
Brewer was an All-5A first-team pick as the utility player while Womack was the All-3A first-team first baseman and Miller was an All-2A-1A first-team pitcher and Mitchell a first-team infielder.
Womack helped lead Silver Lake to a runnerup finish in 3A while Miller and Mitchell helped Rossville finish third in 2A-1A.
Class 6A state champion Washburn Rural put senior catcher Aidan Newbery on the All-6A second team while Junior Blues junior Tyler Edmiston received All-6A honorable mention.
Seaman junior Beau Jessop was named to the All-5A second team as a middle infielder.
Hayden, the 4A runnerup, put senior pitcher Connor Hanika and senior outfielder Kade Mitchell on the All-4A second team while junior Caleb Menke received honorable mention at third base.
Rossville senior outfielder Jakoby McDonnell was a second-team All-2A-1A pick and junior pitcher Cael Horgan received honorable mention.
Swart was named the 2A-1A coach of the year after leading the Bulldawgs to a 25-5 record and the third-place state finish.
KANSAS ASSOCIATION OF BASEBALL COACHES
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
GIRLS
100 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 12.27
Ciera Hartz, Topeka High 12.51
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.57
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 12.59
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.63
200 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 25.13
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 26.04
Sofia Harper, Hayden 26.40
Ciera Hartz, Topeka High 26.48
Jaylie Whitehead, Silver Lake 26.72
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake
400 METERS
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 58.48
Sofia Harper, Hayden 58.83
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 59.07
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 60.13
Julia Molleker, Seaman 61.88
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural (3)
800 METERS
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 2:16.83
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 2:20.45
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:20.86
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:23.65
Itzel Woods, Topeka High 2:31.24
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural
1,600 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:13.49
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 5:14.04
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 5:15.09
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 5:17.54
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 5:22.98
3,200 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 11:06.46
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 11:18.10
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 11:27.63
Reese Beardslee, Washburn Rural 11:34.94
Lily McCoy, Washburn Rural 14:09.97
100-METER HURDLES
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 15.70
Rylee Dick, Rossville 16.44
Marchayla White, Topeka High 17.74
Megan Alderson, Washburn Rural 18.14
Kaylyn Smith, Topeka West 18.23
300-METER HURDLES
Rylee Dick, Rossville 50.00
Marchayla White, Topeka High 51.34
Megan Alderson, Washburn Rural 51.60
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake 53.33
Avery Villines, Seaman 54.18
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 49.60
Silver Lake 49.63
Washburn Rural 50.53
Seaman 51.42
Topeka West 52.33
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 4:06.84
Silver Lake 4:07.17
Topeka High 4:10.27
Seaman 4:11.72
Topeka West 4:26.38
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 9:58.99
Topeka High 10:39.23
Seaman 11:17.22
Silver Lake 11:18.38
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
BOYS
100 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 10.36
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 10.91
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 10.96
Emmitt Hochstedler, Seaman 10.98
Israel Edmonds, Washburn Rural 11.02
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural
200 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 21.40
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 22.30
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 22.34
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 22.59
Jonel Tibbs, Topeka High 22.60
400 METERS
Jason Slay, Shawnee Heights 48.85
Termaine Savage, Highland Park 49.89
Draden Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 50.25
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 50.68
Thomas Fisher, Silver Lake 51.28
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:52.08
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 1:56.64
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 1:56.96
Mason Haas, Shawnee Heights 2:02.62
Everett Un, Washburn Rural 2:03.26
1,600 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:08.2 (mile converted to meters)
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:20.32
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 4:24.35
Nick Newkirk, Hayden 4:27.18
Duke Graf, Washburn Rural 4:32.87
3,200 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 9:05.70
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 9:23.61
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 9:24.34
Jaxson Adams, Washburn Rural 9:42.46
Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural 9:42.94
110-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 14.07
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 15.31
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 15.49
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 15.54
De'sean Lunkins, Topeka High 15.85
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
300-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 37.61
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 41.72
Jackson Tuckwin, Washburn Rural 42.01
Kellan Parcaro, Seaman 42.03
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 42.09
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 42.20
Washburn Rural 42.77
Highland Park 42.80
Silver Lake 42.95
Seaman 43.03
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 3:21.82
Shawnee Heights 3:21.91
Silver Lake 3:28.28
Highland Park 3:28.48
Topeka West 3:29.56
4x800-METER RELAY
Seaman 8:16.32
Washburn Rural 8:16.60
Shawnee Heights 8:24.81
Silver Lake 8:35.28
Topeka High 9:09.82
HIGH JUMP
Jack Esser, Seaman 6-4
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 6-0
Archer Greene, Seaman 5-10
Creighton Frisby, Washburn Rural 5-8
Sebastian Kingcade, Washburn Rural 5-8
Cody Quy, Seaman 5-8
POLE VAULT
Keygan Breault, Silver Lake 12-0
Sam Bruntz, Silver Lake 11-6
Luke Deering, Washburn Rural 11-6
Sawyer Hermesch, Silver Lake 10-0
Desmond Grindol, Washburn Rural 10-0
LONG JUMP
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 21-2.25
Josh Brown, Seaman 21-0.50
Owen Rottinghaus, Silver Lake 21-0
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 20-8
Lucas Marichal, Topeka High/CPLS 20-7.25
TRIPLE JUMP
Lucas Marichal, Topeka High/CPLS 42-9.25
Cody Quy, Seaman 42-8.50
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 42-2.50
Camden Kruger, Silver Lake 41-7.75
Abe Heffley, Seaman 40-5.25
SHOT PUT
Charles Chance, Rossville 50-5
Amir Bass, Shawnee Heights 48-4.25
Sam Scott, Washburn Rural 47-7
Adrian Shuler, Shawnee Heights 46-7
Kelton Meier, Hayden 46-2,50
DISCUS
Zachary Hancock, Washburn Rural 163-4
Myles Fisher, Silver Lake 158-3
Sam Garner, Shawnee Heights 156-4
Adam Humphrey, Topeka High 148-8
Kelton Meier, Hayden 142-10
JAVELIN
Landon Lewis, Rossville 202-9
Kelton Meier, Hayden 196-6
Jackson Haas, Hayden 175-11
Andre Johnson, Rossville 170-5
Dylan Tjachman, Washburn Rural 169-11
The 2026 All-Shawnee County boys golf team: From left -- Evan Michalski, Seaman; Chase Hastert, Topeka High/Cair Paravel Latin; Caleb Cleverdon, Topeka High/Cair Paravel Latin; Peyton Goehring, Washburn Rural; Higgins Hawks, Washburn Rural; Michael Wilson, Washburn Rural; Wyatt Dean, Washburn Rural. Not pictured: Jack Donovan, Rossville. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Eight state qualifiers, including three state medalists and four members of a Washburn Rural team that won its 16th straight city championship, comprise the 2026 All-Shawnee County boys golf team.
Caleb Cleverdon, who competed for Cair Paravel Latin in the postseason and Topeka High in the regular season, finished a county-high second in last week's Class 2A state tournament while Rossville senior Jack Donovan, a three-time all-county first-team selection and four-time state medalist, finished fifth in 2A and CPLS sophomore Chase Hastert placed 17th.
Washburn Rural, which won its 16th straight city team championship, is represented on the All-Shawnee County team by senior repeat pick Higgins Hawks, senior city champion Peyton Goehring, senior Michael Wilson and sophomore Wyatt Dean.
Rounding out the first team is Seaman senior Evan Michalski, a 5A individual qualifier with a tie for sixth place at regionals after tying for fourth in the United Kansas Conference tournament.
All-Shawnee County capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural junior Olivia Koch was a repeat selection as the Centennial League softball player of the year as city players earned eight of 11 first-team spots.
Washburn Rural junior Olivia Koch has been named the Centennial League softball player of the year for the second straight season. [File photo/TSN]
Koch is joined on the all-league first team by senior Henley Rapp and junior Justice McBurney after the Junior Blues went undefeated in league play while Topeka High, third in Class 6A, is represented by sophomore London Backman and juniors Campbell Dawson and Kenslee Young and Hayden by junior Emberly Connell and sophomore Blakeley Walter.
Topeka High's Shane Miles was voted the Centennial League coach of the year while Mamhattan's Foveaux was named the newcomer of the year.
City players combined to put seven players on the second team while 10 players received honorable mention.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE SOFTBALL
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Weather delays and moving from an outdoor field to indoors proved to be little more than an inconvenience for Hayden's soccer team Saturday as the Wildcats wrapped up a perfect season with a 1-0 win over Rose Hill in the Class 4A-1A championship game at the Stryker Soccer Complex in Wichita.
Hayden soccer celebrates its 1-0 win over Rose Hill in Saturday's Class 4A-1A state championship game at Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
After a scoreless first half, Wildcat senior Carsyn Broxterman scored the only goal the Wildcats would need just 1:25 into the second half off an assist from junior Avery Becker and Hayden was able to close out its championship run after finishing second in a double-overtime loss to Bishop Miege a year earlier.
Hayden soccer finished off its undefeated season with a 1-0 win over Rose Hill in Saturday's Class 4A-1A state championship game at Wichita. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
“I haven’t even processed this yet,'' Broxterman said. "I’ve been dreaming about this for so long and when it actually happens, I can't even, I'm just so excited."
Both Hayden and Rose Hill had to deal with sudden change after inclement weather forced the teams to play the championship game inside.
"We were not very excited about that,'' Broxterman said. "But we practiced in here and we were ready for anything. We weren't going to let this take us out at all. We came in and we gave it our best.
“It was very muggy in here. We were sweating a lot, but other than that, I mean, it would have been the same.”
After the scoreless first half and a talk with Wildcat coach Klaus Kreutzer, Hayden had a quick response after the break to get the goal it needed.
“We were all kind of jittery and nervous, like, 'Oh my gosh, this is tied. I don't know what to do,’ '' Broxterman said. “And (Kreuzter) was just kind of like, ‘We're fine. You guys are fine, you're playing fine. Go out there and play your game and you'll be okay.’ ''
After Broxterman's goal Rose Hill turned up its offensive pressure, but the Hayden defense and senior goalkeepers Kadence Watts and Lauren Borjon were able to keep the Rockets out of the net.
“After we scored that goal, they definitely came out stronger,'' Broxterman said. "They definitely wanted it. But I think we really went on lockdown very well. We were covering each other's backs, we were marking our players.
"Even though we didn't have possession, we were really locking down.”
By NATHAN SWAFFAR
Topsports.news
MANHATTAN – Friday was truly a moment 40 years in the making for Mulvane baseball
Thanks to a four-run fifth inning and a big two-way performance by senior Manny Myers, Mulvane captured the Class 4A title over Hayden, 9-4, the school’s second state title and first since 1986.
Hayden senior Kade Mitchell (2) is congratulated by teammate Max Becker after scoring a run in Friday's Class 4A state championship game. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Mulvane coach Steve Nelson did not downplay what the win means not only for the program, but also for the entire town.
“You can probably look around in the crowd and what it meant for them and how many people we had travel even farther than they normally do for this,” Nelson said. “We just have a really close-knit town as it is, and I know everyone wanted this really bad. It means a ton.”
After only pitching five total innings all season, Myers entered in relief of Mulvane starter Brody Clasen, who allowed four runs in 2⅔ innings, and was nails the rest of the game. He pitched the final 4⅓ innings, only allowing one hit and striking out two.
And Myers came up just as big at the plate, including a two-run, bases-loaded single in the fifth inning.
After heading into the fifth with a 5-4 lead, Mulvane led 9-4 at the end of the inning and kept it that way to the end.
Outside of Myers for Mulvane, Reed Hackleman added two RBI and two walks despite not collecting a hit. Clasen and Hagen Warkins also added RBI.
Hayden senior Kade Mitchell slides home to score a run in Friday's 9-4 Class 4A championship game loss to Mulvane. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Hayden senior Kade Mitchell ended the day with two hits and a team-leading two RBI. Zayne Litchenauer and Everett Tourtillot also finished with RBI.
Starting pitcher Max Becker took the loss for Hayden.
Despite Friday's defeat, Hayden coach Bill Arnold said this Wildcat group should have nothing but pride in their season.
“It’s been a great group of kids to coach,” Arnold said. “This group of seniors is special, and we weren’t able to bring home a state championship today, but they have nothing to hang their heads about. They represented our school, our community very well.”
Mulvane got on the board first in the bottom of the first, scratching two runs across in an inning that included multiple hit batters and walks.
But Hayden responded in the top of the third, scoring four runs to take the lead.
Mitchell tied things up with a two-RBI single before back-to-back RBI singles by Zayne Litchenauer and Everett Tourtillott made it 4-2 after the top half of the inning.
But Mulvane answered swiftly with two runs in the bottom of the frame to tie it up at 4-4.
By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
WICHITA -- The 2026 state track and field championships began early on Friday morning in and around Crossland Stadium, formerly known as Cessna Stadium, on the campus of Wichita State University.
The morning session included Class 4A, 5A and 6A competing in preliminaries along with a few finals in the 3,200 meter run and various field events.
The morning began with the finals in the 3,200 meter races in 4A, 5A and 6A. There were also several field events where local athletes competed going on throughout the first session of the day.
Seaman senior Brody Anderson began his three-event state meet bid with a runnerup finish in Friday's Class 5A 3,200-meter run. [File photo/TSN]
The 5A boys race saw Seaman senior Brody Anderson locked in another battle with fellow senior Daniel Enriquez of Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
Enriquez was able to pull away over the last two laps to win the race in a meet-record- breaking time of 8 minutes, 59.18 seconds. Anderson ran a personal best of 9:05.70, only three-10ths of a second off the meet record as well.
Anderson commented on his second-place finish and the outstanding move by Enriquez late in the race.
“I knew the move was coming, especially if I took it out early,'' Anderson said. "I felt really comfortable over the first six laps, then I felt him making his move. Once he passed me, he was full speed, props to him, he’s a great runner.
"It was a great race and better than I could have ever expected -- running a personal best by six seconds in only my sixth 3,200 of my life.”
Anderson is now looking forward to the two races against Enriquez that will take place on Saturday -- the 1.600 and 800 meter races.
Other local results:
By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
WICHITA -- The final day of the 2026 Kansas state track and field championships got underway on Saturday morning with the final track preliminary races as the 100 meters started at 8:30 a.m. on the campus of Wichita State University and due to two lengthy weather-related suspensions, the meet finally concluded around 11 p.m. Saturday night.
The marathon final day of competition produced three local boys state champions, with Washburn Rural junior Christian Hartman-Babb winning the Class 6A 100-meter dash, Seaman senior Brody Anderson winning the 5A 800 and Rossville sophomore Landen Lewis earning the title in the 2A javelin.
Seaman senior Brody Anderson ended his high school career with the Class 5A state 800 meters championship Saturday night in Wichita. [File photo/TSN]
Anderson capped his outstanding track and cross country career for the Vikings with his first career state title after finishing second to Kapaun Mt. Carmel star Daniel Enriquez in the 3,200 and 1,600 earlier in the weekend.
After finishing finished second in the 3,200 meters Friday morning, Anderson finished second to Enriquez again in the 5A boys 1,600 meters with a time of 4 minutes,12.48 seconds.
Following Saturday's first weather delay, the duo faced one another again in the 800 meters.
In a race where 15 of the 18 runners had qualifying times under two minutes, the competition was going to be at a high level.
Anderson didn’t go immediately to the lead and after the first 400 meters, sitting in fifth place.
“I went into the race trying to play it tactical to see how the field spread out before I made my move, rather than taking the race from the lead like I did in the 3,200 and 1,600 races,'' Anderson said. "After 400 meters, I was trapped against the rail, but I found a gap and took off and never looked back.”
He came all the way back and won the race in a personal best time of 1:52.08, finishing ahead of junior Nathan Webb of Valley Center (1:52.78) and Enriquez (1:52.99).
All three of the runners broke the state meet record in 5A, but it will be Anderson’s name that goes into the record books.
“It feels amazing to wrap up the last race of my high school career with a victory and state title,'' Anderson said. "I’m so grateful for all of my coaches and family that helped me reach this point.”
Washburn Rural junior Christian Hartman-Babb won the Class 6A 100-meter dash and finished second in the 200 Saturday in Wichita. [File photo/TSN]
Hartman-Babb was the first local state champion with his victory in the 6A boys 100 meters.
He finished the final in a winning time of 10.59 seconds after qualifying early on Saturday morning with a time of 10.63.
Hartman-Babb returned later after the first weather delay for the 6A boys 200 race, where he finished second to senior Nicolas Cabral of Olathe East by only 0.003 seconds (21.397 to 21.400).
The third local state champ was Rossville's Lewis, who won the 2A javelin title with a throw of 181 feet, 9 inches.
His championship throw came on his fourth attempt, which was 18 feet further than any of his other attempts during the competition.
Lewis had a long wait for his title, with the 2A event originally scheduled for Friday evening before being pushed back to Saturday by weather. Then the event was delayed further by Saturday's inclement weather before finally being contested.
Saturday's other Shawnee County medalists:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 10.36
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 10.91
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 10.96
Emmitt Hochstedler, Seaman 10.98
Israel Edmonds, Washburn Rural 11.02
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural
200 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 21.78
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 22.30
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 22.34
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 22.59
Jonel Tibbs, Topeka High 22.60
400 METERS
Jason Slay, Shawnee Heights 48.85
Termaine Savage, Highland Park 49.89
Draden Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 50.25
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 50.94
Thomas Fisher, Silver Lake 51.28
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:53.34
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 1:56.64
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 1:58.65
Mason Haas, Shawnee Heights 2:02.62
Everett Un, Washburn Rural 2:03.26
1,600 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:08.2 (mile converted to meters)
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:20.32
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 4:24.35
Nick Newkirk, Hayden 4:27.18
Duke Graf, Washburn Rural 4:32.87
3,200 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 9:11.63
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 9:23.61
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 9:24.34
Jaxson Adams, Washburn Rural 9:42.46
Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural 9:42.94
110-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 14.07
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 15.31
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 15.54
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 15.53
De'sean Lunkins, Topeka High 15.85
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
300-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 37.61
Jackson Tuckwin, Washburn Rural 42.01
Kellan Parcaro, Seaman 42.03
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 42.09
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 43.26
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 42.20
Washburn Rural 42.77
Highland Park 42.80
Seaman 43.03
Silver Lake 43.28
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 3:21.82
Shawnee Heights 3:21.91
Silver Lake 3:28.28
Highland Park 3:28.48
Topeka West 3:29.56
4x800-METER RELAY
Seaman 8:16.32
Washburn Rural 8:16.60
Shawnee Heights 8:24.81
Silver Lake 8:35.28
Topeka High 9:09.82
HIGH JUMP
Jack Esser, Seaman 6-4
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 6-0
Archer Greene, Seaman 5-10
Creighton Frisby, Washburn Rural 5-8
Sebastian Kingcade, Washburn Rural 5-8
Cody Quy, Seaman 5-8
POLE VAULT
Keygan Breault, Silver Lake 12-0
Sam Bruntz, Silver Lake 11-6
Luke Deering, Washburn Rural 11-6
Sawyer Hermesch, Silver Lake 10-0
Desmond Grindol, Washburn Rural 10-0
LONG JUMP
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 21-2.25
Josh Brown, Seaman 21-0.50
Owen Rottinghaus, Silver Lake 21-0
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 20-8
Lucas Marichal, Topeka High/CPLS 20-7.25
TRIPLE JUMP
Cody Quy, Seaman 42-8.50
Lucas Marichal, Topeka High/CPLS 42-3.25
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 42-2.50
Camden Kruger, Silver Lake 41-7.75
Abe Heffley, Seaman 40-5.25
SHOT PUT
Charles Chance, Rossville 50-5
Amir Bass, Shawnee Heights 48-4.25
Sam Scott, Washburn Rural 47-7
Adrian Shuler, Shawnee Heights 46-7
Kelton Meier, Hayden 46-2,50
DISCUS
Zachary Hancock, Washburn Rural 163-4
Myles Fisher, Silver Lake 158-3
Sam Garner, Shawnee Heights 156-4
Adam Humphrey, Topeka High 148-8
Kelton Meier, Hayden 142-10
JAVELIN
Landon Lewis, Rossville 202-9
Kelton Meier, Hayden 196-6
Jackson Haas, Hayden 175-11
Dylan Tjachman, Washburn Rural 169-11
Andre Johnson, Rossville 170-5
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 12.27
Ciera Hartz, Topeka High 12.51
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.57
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 12.59
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.63
200 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 25.41
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 26.04
Sofia Harper, Hayden 26.40
Ciera Hartz, Topeka High 26.48
Jaylie Whitehead, Silver Lake 26.72
400 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 59.07
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 59.19
Sofia Harper, Hayden 59.44
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 60.13
Julia Molleker, Seaman 61.88
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural (3)
800 METERS
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 2:16.83
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 2:20.45
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:20.86
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:23.65
Itzel Woods, Topeka High 2:31.24
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural
1,600 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:13.49
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 5:14.04
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 5:15.09
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 5:17.54
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 5:22.98
3,200 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 11:06.46
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 11:18.10
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 11:27.63
Reese Beardslee, Washburn Rural 11:34.94
Lily McCoy, Washburn Rural 14:09.97
100-METER HURDLES
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 15.70
Rylee Dick, Rossville 16.44
Marchayla White, Topeka High 17.74
Megan Alderson, Washburn Rural 18.14
Kaylyn Smith, Topeka West 18.23
300-METER HURDLES
Rylee Dick, Rossville 50.00
Marchayla White, Topeka High 51.34
Megan Alderson, Washburn Rural 51.60
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake 53.33
Avery Villines, Seaman 54.18
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 49.60
Silver Lake 50.29
Washburn Rural 50.53
Seaman 51.42
Topeka West 52.33
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 4:06.84
Silver Lake 4:07.17
Topeka High 4:10.27
Seaman 4:11.72
Topeka West 4:26.38
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 9:58.99
Topeka High 10:39.23
Seaman 11:17.22
Silver Lake 11:18.38
9By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sixty-seven individual qualifiers in 83 events are set to represent Shawnee County in Friday and Saturday's state track and field championships in and around Wichita State's Cessna Stadium while county teams are also qualified to compete in 19 total relays.
Big-school 3,200-meter runs as well as field event competition are scheduled to get under way at 7:45 a.m. Friday, followed by preliminaties in Class 6A, 5A, 4A.
Competition will resume on Saturday, with field events at 8 a.m. and running events at 8:30.
Shawnee County athletes to watch:
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural
• Washburn Rural junior Christian Hartman-Babb swept the 100 and 200-meter titles in last Friday's Class 6A regional and ran the leadoff leg on the Junior Blues' winning 4x400-meter relay team.
Hartman-Babb recorded 6A fastest 100 regional time (10.36 seconds) and tied for the fastest time in the 200 (21.83).
Brody Anderson, Seaman
• Seaman senior Brody Anderson finished third in the Class 5A 800 meters last season and is qualified in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 this weekend.
Anderson is likely to go head to head with Kapaun Mt. Carmel star Daniel Enriquez in all three events and is ranked No. 2 based on regional times in the 1,600 (4:15.23), fifth in the 800 (1:55.12) and eighth in the 3,200 (9:29.78).
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural
• Washburn Rural senior Brooks Kehoe helped lead the Junior Blues to the Class 6A state cross country championship last fall and won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in last Friday's regional meet.
Kehoe is ranked No. 10 in the 1,600 (4:26.88) and No. 12 (9:52.39) in the 3,200 based on regional performances.
Morgan Ray, Washburn Rural
• Washburn Rural senior Morgan Ray placed second in the Class 6A girls javelin a season ago and is expected to challenge for the title again this weekend.
Ray captured the regional championship in her specialty with a throw of 141 feet, 6 inches and is ranked third in 6A based on regional throws.
• Shawnee Heights freshman girls sprinter Tanesia Johnson has been a star since she stepped on Heights' campus and is expected to be a factor in the 100 and 200 this weekend.
Johnson ranks No. 4 in 5A in the 100 (12.34) and 200 (25.41) based on regional times.
• Rossville's Landen Lewis and Hayden's Kelton Meier are expected to contend for state boys javelin titles this weekend.
Lewis is the No. 1 Class 2A thrower in the state at 181-8 based on regional performances while Meier ranks No. 2 in 4A at 190-7.
SHAWNEE COUNTY STATE TRACK AND FIELD QUALIFIERS
BOYS
Class 6A
Topeka High -- Adam Humphrey (discus), De'sean Lunkins (110 hurdles), Malachi Murph (100), 4x100 relay.
Washburn Rural -- Jaxson Adams (3,200), Christian Hartman-Babb (100, 200), Zachary Hancock (discus), Brooks Kehoe (1,600, 3,200), Sam Scott (shot put), Dylan Tajchman (javelin), Cohen Thiessen (800, 1,600), 4x400 relay, 4x800 relay.
Class 5A
Highland Park -- Termaine Savage (400), 4x100 relay.
The 2026 All-City girls swimming and diving team -- Front, from left: Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden; Riley Strother, Seaman; Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High; Rhiannon Good, Washburn Rural; Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights. Back, from left: Avery Skinner, Topeka High; Megan Strobel, Seaman; Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights; Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural; Ava Von Lintel, Wasnburn Rural; Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior Rhiannon Good, a two-time Class 6A state diving medalist, and senior 16-time city and Centennial League individual champion Audrey Appuhn headline the 2026 All-City girls swimming and diving team.
Good returned from ACL surgery late in the season to post her second straight top-five finish in the 6A state meet while Appuhn, a multi-time state medalist capped her oustanding career by finishing eight of eight in career individual races in both the city and Centennial League meets.
Rural, which won its 23nd straight city title, put a city-high four swimmers on the All-City first team, which is determined by performances in the city meet.
Washburn Rural put Appuhn, Good and senior repeat picks Sophie Heinen and Ava Von Lintel on the first team while Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo joins Appuhn as a four-time All-City first-team pick.
Shawnee Heights is represented on the All-City first team by junior repeat picks Kaitlyn Aldridge and Clara Sobba while Seaman is represented by senior Megan Strobel and sophomore Riley Strother after the Vikings finished second as a team in the city meet.
Junior Kaelyn Gerdel, a two-time city and Centennial League champ, represents Hayden on the All-City first team while Topeka High freshman city champ Avery Skinner joins Del Castillo on the first team.
All-City first-team capsules:
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's Ella Foster and Reese Huscher have already enjoyed sensational senior years, playing in back-to-back-to-back state championship games.
Undefeated Hayden soccer celebrates after Wednesday's 2-1 Class 4A-1A semifinal victory over Bishop Miege, ending the Stags' nine-year state title run. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And now, after ending Bishop Miege's nine-year Class 4A-1A state soccer championship reign with Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Stags, the Wildcats have the opportunity to put together a perfect ending to 2025-2026 in Saturday's state championship game in Wichita.
Foster and Huscher, along with sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein, helped the Wildcats post a second-place finish in volleyball and a state championship in basketball before advancing to their second straight state soccer championship game.
"It's been a whirlwind, definitely a lot of blood, sweat and tears this year,'' Huscher said. "I've had Ella by my side through all three and I couldn't of ask for anybody else better to go through it all with, and Hailey, too.''
Foster agreed.
"It's been an amazing feeling and I've been through the trenches with these girls and just to finish it with three state championship games is a great way to go out,'' Foster said.
Hayden, now 20-0-0, advances to Saturday's 7 p.m. state championship game at Wichita's Stryker Sports Complex to face Rose Hill (15-5-0), a 6-2 semifinal win over Louisburg. Hayden was the most recent school other than Miege to win a 4A-1A state title.
"I think we're so ready,'' Huscher said. "I don't think we've ever been more ready in the past years for sure and I think getting past (Miege) we proved to ourself and to our state that we're here to win it and we're not here to lose another state championship.''
"I think we definitely knew they were going to come out strong,'' Foster said. "They definitely came out and put a lot of pressure on us and we didn't play our best game, but we pulled through and we pushed hard and fought through the adversity going down early. I think we'll come together and put together a good game Saturday.''
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
EMPORIA -- The Hayden baseball team rescued its season with some seventh inning heroics Monday, plating four runs to pull off a dramatic 7-6 comeback over Rock Creek and advance to the semifinal round of the Class 4A state tournament.
Hayden baseball celebrates its 7-6 come-from-behind Class 4A state quarterfinal win Monday in Emporia. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Down to its final strike multiple times in the top of the seventh, trailing 6-3, Hayden just kept battling.
The Wildcats exploited two passed balls and a throwing error that could have ended the game to give themselves a chance.
Mason Becker drove in Everett Tourtillott from third to shave a run off the Rock Creek lead. Then, with two outs and runners at second and third, Caleb Menke drove a liner back through the middle to give Hayden an improbable lead, 7-6.
“My dad (assistant coach Shawn Menke) talked to me before I went up to bat and he was just like, ‘Listen, you’re gonna have to fight off curveballs. You’re gonna have to fight deep into the count. But once you get that fastball, you can’t miss it,' ” Menke said. “I fought off curveballs for what felt like forever until I finally got that fastball on a full count. And I just managed to put a good swing on it.”
Relief pitcher Tourtillott, who helped the Wildcats stay in it through the rocky middle innings, closed the seventh by stranding two runners on base to preserve the win.
Tourtillott entered the game in the fourth inning after a wild sequence that saw Rock Creek score three runs on errors to take a 4-3 lead. He struck out three Mustangs to help Hayden restore its hope.
“I got a great group of guys in that dugout that believe in me,” Tourtillott said. “We never doubted. I just went out there with nothing to lose. We don’t give up here. We’ve got tough practices, a good coach. We work on situations all the time. It was the right moment. We just don’t give up.”
Tourtillott struck out eight batters and allowed just one hit over four innings, but the hit was a big one. He gave up an RBI triple and then a wild pitch that let Rock Creek pad their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Trailing 6-3, the Wildcats appeared all but finished.
“Credit to the kids. They didn’t ever give up. They kept fighting,” said Hayden coach Bill Arnold. “We’ve got a great group of kids that are going to fight to the very end.”
“Everyone in that dugout loves each other. We don’t play for ourselves. We play for the team and we play for God,” Menke said of the Wildcats’ belief they could come back. “We knew that, in that last inning, we’d get down to our last strike and we couldn’t fold. And we didn’t fold.”
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden entered Monday's Class 4A-1A state soccer quarterfinal against Wichita Trinity Academy as the clearcut favorite and left no doubt, scoring three goals in the opening 19 minutes on the way to a 4-0 shutout win over the Knights.
Freshman Emma Slyter scored a pair of goals in Hayden's 4-0 win over Wichita Trinity in Monday's Class 4A-1A state quarterfinal. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"That's what we talked about is getting a goal or two early and putting them on their back foot, and it worked well,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said. "I think we're focused and focus at practice and I think they're ready to take on whatever challenge is ahead of them.
"I think they work hard and if you work hard then good things happen.''
The Wildcats improved to 19-0 while advancing to Wednesday's 4 p.m. semifinal to host nine-time defending state champion Bishop Miege (11-8-0), a 5-1 quarterfinal winner over Bishop Seabury.
The Stags took a 2-1 double overtime win over Hayden in the 2025 state championship game while Hayden shut out Miege 5-0 on the road early in the regular season.
Hayden senior Grace Funk scored the Wildcats' first goal in Monday's 4-0 Class 4A-1A quarterfinal win over Wichita Trinity. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden, which beat Wichita Trinity 3-1 earlier in the season, scored the only goal it would need in Monday's rematch just 8 minutes 40 seconds into the game when senior Grace Funk found the back of the net.
Junior Avery Becker (3) scored a goal Monday to help Hayden improve to 19-0 with a 4-0 Class 4A-1A state quarterfinal win over Wichita Trinity. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Freshman Emma Slyter made it a 2-0 game just 3:40 later and junior Avery Becker gave the Wildcats a commanding 3-0 halftime advantage with a goal at the 21:11 mark.
Slyter scored her second goal of the day to end the scoring with 12:17 remaining, with Monday's two goals continuing her outstanding freshman season after her family moved to Topeka from Arizona last summer.
"It's definitely different because Arizona's so much bigger than the town I live in now, but out of all the schools I could have gone to this is the best school for me,'' Slyter said. "All of the girls are so welcoming and the team just always wants what's best for all the girls and no one's selfish and are all just good teammates.
"The coaching is awesome and it's a good fit for me. It's really good teamwork and the practices are perfect.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior diver Rhiannon Good completed a successful return from ACL surgery Saturday at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatic Center, posting her second straight top-five Class 6A finish.
Washburn Rural senior Rhiannon Good placed sixth in Saturday's Class 6A diving event, her second straight top-five state finish. [File photo/TSN]
After finishing third as a junior Good finished fifth on Saturday while posting a final score of 379.35 points.
Good was sixth in the 6A standings after Thursday's semifinals before cracking the top five in the finals.
Irene Gettya of Olathe East won her third state title with a 570.85 score.
Cair Paravel freshman Avery Rosenow finished 10th in diving in her first Class 5A-1A state meet. [File photo/TSN]
Rosenow finishes 10th in 5A-1A in state debut
Cair Paravel Latin freshman Avery Rosenow posted a 10th-place finish in Class 5A-1A diving on Saturday's at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatic Center in her state debut.
Rosenow, who competed for Hayden in the regular season, finished with a final score of 304.00.
Allisyn Weiss of Emporia won her third 5A-1A state championship.
Hayden junior Kaelyn Gerdel posted two top-16 finishes in the Class 5A-1A state meet Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
Gerdel posts top-16 finishes in 5A-1A
Hayden junior Kaelyn Gerdel placed in a pair of Class 5A-1A 'B' finals Satursday at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatics Center.
Gerdel finished 13th in the 200-yard freestyle 'B' final in 2:13.51 after qualifying 16th and finished 16th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:18.86.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden soccer opened what has all the signs of being a long postseason run Thursday with a 6-1 win over city rival Cair Paravel Latin in a Class 4A-1A regional final at Hayden.
Hayden soccer hoists the Class 4A-1A regional championship trophy after Thursday's 6-1 win over Cair Paravel Latin. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden soccer's seniors are presented the Class 4A-1A regional championship trophy Thursday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Wildcats finished second in 4A-1A a year ago, dropping a double-overtime decision to perennial state champion Bishop Miege in the championship game, and have not lost since, with Thursday's win Hayden's 18th straight on the year, including a first-round regional bye.
"I think we're definitely all very fired up,'' said Hayden senior Carsyn Broxterman, who recorded a three-goal hat trick. "We've had a really great season and we all really, really want it bad.
"I think winning this one will just only push us farther and make us work harder to keep going.''
Hayden, the top 4A-1A West seed, will be back at home Monday, for a 4 p.m. state quarterfinal game against Wichita Trinity Academy (7-7-3), a 5-1 winner over Circle on Wednesday.
The Wildcats took control Thursday with goals from Broxterman and freshman Emma Slyter in the first 2:22 of the game and Broxterman scored her second goal of the game with 21 minutes left before halftime to put Hayden up 3-0.
Cair Paravel senior standout KellyAnn Chada cut the Lions deficit to 3-1 at the half with a goal at the 14:02 mark, but Hayden added three goals after the break as Broxterman finished off her hat trick and the Wildcats also got goals from seniors Reese Huscher and Avey Uhl.
Junior Avery Becker registered two assists for Hayden while Broxterman, Huscher, senior Grace Funk and sophomore Sawyer Wrench also picked up assists.
"I think we played pretty decent,'' Broxterman said. "There's definitely a couple of things that we could have cleaned up, like our passes were a little off and moving the ball overall, but I think we did a pretty decent job.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural senior Rhiannon Good and Cair Paravel Latin freshman Avery Rosenow advanced through Thursday's Class 6A and 5A-1A preliminaries and semifinals to make it to Saturday's state diving finals at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatic Center.
Rhiannon Good, Washburn Rural
Avery Rosenow, Cair Paravel Latin
Rosenow, who competed for Hayden in the regular season, competed in the morning 5A-1A session and will enter Saturday's 10 a.m. finals in seventh place.
Rosenow recorded a preliminary score of 151.05 and had a semifinal score of 230.10.
Maize South's Sydney Schumaker is setting the 5A-1A state pace with a semifinal score of 331.05 while two-time state champion Allisyn Weiss of Emporia is second at 326.00.
Good, who placed third in 6A as a junior before missing most of her senior season after surgery for a torn ACL, is currently in sixth place entering Saturday's 4 p.m. finals.
Good posted a preliminary score of 184.45 and had a semifinal score of 270.50.
Two-time state champ Irene Gettya of Olathe East is leading 6A with a semifinal score of 409.00.
Gerdel, Sobba, Del Castillo to compete in multiple events
Hayden junior Kaelyn Gerdel, Shawnee Heights junior Clara Sobba and Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo are all scheduled to compete in two individual events in Friday's state prelims at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatics Center.
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High
Gerdel will compete in the Class 5A-1A 200-yard freestyle and100 breaststroke while Sobba will compete in the 50 free and 100 free, with the 5A-1A prelims scheduled for for 10 a.m. Friday.
High's Del Castillo will compete in the 100 free and 100 backstroke, with the 6A prelims set for 4 p.m. Friday.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
A senior track star, Anderson posted a distance triple in Thursday's United Kansas Conference meet at Turner. Anderson won the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 30.93 seconds, the 800 in a personal-record time of 1:53.34 and finished his night wiith a victory in the 3,200 in 9:48.57.
Audrey Appuhn
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
Appuhn, a senior, closed out her competitive swimming career with a pair of individual wins in the Centennial League meet Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, giving her eight career individual league titles in eight attempts. Appuhn won the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 19.72 seconds and the 100 backstroke in 1:02.29 while also teaming with Ava Von Lintel, Stella Berry and Sophie Heinen to win the 400 free relay (4:20.55).
Caleb Cleverdon
CALEB CLEVERDON, Cair Paravel Latin
A senior golfer, Cleverdon took a four-stroke individual victory with a 73 in the Flint Hills League tournament, leading the Lions to a 32-stroke victory (338-372) over Lyndon in the team standings. Cleverdon followed that up with a runnerup finish in Monday's Class 2A regional, shooting a 71 to tie for the championship and losing in a playoff. Cleverdon led the Lions to a state berth with a second-place team finish.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden baseball's upperclassmen will never completely forget the Wildcats' heartbreaking 2025 regional loss that ended an undefeated season.
But the Wildcats took a major step towards wiping that sour taste out of their mouths with a dominating performance in Tuesday's Class 4A regional at Hayden, punching their ticket to the state tournament with a 7-1 victory over Ottawa after a 6-0 semifinal win over Chanute.
Hayden celebrates its 7-1 win over Ottawa in the championship game of Tuesday's Class 4A regional at Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden hoists the Class 4A regional championship plaque after Tuesday's 7-1 win over Ottawa. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"All of us were crushed after last year,'' said Wildcat senior right-fielder Keaton Waggoner. "The season we had and then to have it happen like that was heartbreaking and we knew that we couldn't let that happen again.''
Hayden coach Bill Arnold said the Wildcats discussed last year's premature end to the season heading into Tuesday's regional.
"A year later I didn't have any answers to us losing last year,'' Arnold said. "But what we did talk about was staying together as a team and we talked about if somebody makes a mistake, make sure you're the guy who gets his confidence back to make the play the next time. Let it go and make the next one.''
Now 19-5 on the season, Hayden fell behind Ottawa (16-9) 1-0 in the top of the first in the championship game, but the Wildcats took the lead to stay with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and added a run in the third before breaking open the game with two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
Senior pitcher Connor Hanika went the distance for the win in Tuesday's 7-1 Hayden victory over Ottawa in the Class 4A regional championship game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Ottawa stranded two runners in the second and left the bases loaded in the third, but Hanika got stronger as the game went on, striking out a pair of Cyclones in the fifth and striking out the side in the sixth en route to finishing the game with eight strikeouts while allowing just six hits.
"I found my groove and I had a good command for every pitch and was throwing them for strikes,'' Hanika said. "I got in my groove and went with it.
"You can't let those guys get on with easy bags -- walks, hit batters. That's just unanacceptable and then errors we can clean up this week at practice.''
Senior Keaton Waggoner had a big day at the plate Tuesday as Hayden won a Class 4A regional championship. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Waggoner got the Wildcats on the board with a clutch two-run hit in the first inning while junior third baseball Caleb Menke had a run-scoring single and a two-run knock in the sixth.
"Everybody did a really good job, top to bottom in the lineup,'' Hanika said. "They hit really well.''
Hayden took control early in its semifinal win over Chanute, scoring two runs in the first and single runs in the second and third before adding its final two runs in the sixth on a two-run single from junior Mason Becker.
Menke, Waggoner, senior Kade Mitchell and senior Zayne Litchenauer all had doubles in the game for the Wildcats.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural boys golf punched its ticket for the Class 6A state tourmament with a third-place finish in Tuesday's regional tournament at Manhattan Country Club.
Washburn Rural golf poses for a team picture after qualifying for the Class 6A state tournament with a third-place regional finish Tuesday in Manhattan. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Rural golf]
Led by Higgins Hawks and Keaton Stoner, who shot team-low 78s to tie for 10th place individually, the Junior Blues posted a team score of 316 to earn the final 6A state berth by four strokes over Shawnee Mission Northwest.
Rural's Wyatt Dean tied for 14th with a 79 while Camden Ismert tied for 15th with an 81, Michael Wilson tied for 21st with an 83 and Peyton Goehring tied for 23rd with an 84.
Centennial League champion Manhattan captured the regional team title by a single stroke over Mill Valley (296-297) while Mill Valley's Eli Platz shot a 70 to take medalist honors by two strokes over Manhattan's Charlie Haney and Mill Valley's Liam Dolan.
The 6A state tournament will be contested next Tuesday and Wednesday at Firekeeper Golf Course in Mayetta.
Wildcats' Bean a 4A state qualifier
Hayden's Austin Bean earned an individual berth for next week's Class 4A state golf tournament at Hesston while the Wildcats tied for sixth as a team in Tuesday's 4A regional at Atchison Golf Club at Bellevue.
Bean shot an 87 to tie for 16th place and advance to next Tuesday and Wednesday's state event.
The Wildcats posted a team score of 363 to tie for sixth while Wamego won the regioanal team title by a 313-327 margin over Bishop Miege.
Wamego's Regan Kueker shot a 75 to take individual medalist honors.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After posting a third-place Class 6A state finish in one-meter diving a year ago, Washburn Rural senior star Rhiannon Good would love to equal or surpass that performance in this week's state meet at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatic Center.
Washburn Rural senior diver Rhiannon Good has fought back from ACL surgery last August to compete in this week's Class 6A state meet. [File photo/TSN]
But Good, who will begin her state quest in Thursday's 4:30 p.m. 6A prelims and semifinals, has already posted her biggest victory just by being in the field.
Good, also a cheerleader for Washburn Rural, suffered a cheer injury last spring and competed at state with a large brace on her right knee but nobody knew how serious her injury was until much later.
"It actually happened in the middle of last year's dive season,'' Good said. "I was doing tryouts for our club cheer team and I tore my ACL and my meniscus. We didn't know it was hurt last season.
"They just kept telling me it was a sprain and then when I went in for my sports physical over the summer they told me to get an MRI and then they told me it was torn and I had to have surgery, so I had surgery in August.''
At that point Good's senior season was in severe jeopardy, but nine months later she was able to return for one regular-season meet before competing in the city and Centennial League championships.
"I was not sure,'' Good said. "They told me my window was that I could be cleared in time or I could be cleared months after the season was over, so I was hoping to be cleared by now, but I didn't want to rush anything. But I'm here now.''
Good is not only back on the diving board, but has quickly regained her status as one of the state's best.
Good won the city championship and then finished second in the Centennial League behind two-time state champion Allie Weiss of Emporia.
Good's 11-dive score of 446.40 in the league meet puts her second in 6A behind two-time defending state champ Irene Gettya of Olathe East.
"I'm just happy to be back,'' Good said. "I wasn't guaranteed to even be able to compete at city or league, so I'm just happy that I was able to compete at city and I did really well, first time ever winning city and I qualified for state.
"It was definitely easier to come back than I thought it would be, but I'm still working out some of the kinks. It is definitely like, 'Man, I haven't done anything for a year and I'm definitely feeling it.' ''
And no matter what happens at state, Good, who will cheer next year at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, has already surprised herself.
"Absolutely,'' she said. "I wasn't expecting to qualify for state. Honestly, I had kind of put that out of my mind. I decided I wasn't going to stress about it, I just wanted to complete the dives I was able to and have fun.
"Then I qualified at city and it was my best scores I think I've ever had and I was shocked. I was like, 'Wow,' so I would love to do well at state but I'm trying not to stress myself out too much because I wasn't even expecting to be able to do this. So everything's just a bonus now.''
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 12.27
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 12.57
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 12.59
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 12.66
Adriana Raub, Washburn Rural 12.75
200 METERS
Tanesia Johnson, Shawnee Heights 25.83
Jurnee Cole, Highland Park 26.04
Ciera Hartz, Topeka High 26.48
Jaylie Whitehead, Silver Lake 26.72
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 26.82
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High
400 METERS
Keimara Marshall, Topeka High 59.07
Ali Gerber, Silver Lake 59.19
Sofia Harper, Hayden 59.44
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 60.13
Julia Molleker, Seaman 61.88
800 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 2:20.86
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 2:21.50
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 2:23.63
Ryin Miller, Seaman 2:23.65
Clara Dillon, Washburn Rural 2:33.45
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural
1,600 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 5:13.49
Alyson Hinck, Washburn Rural 5:14.04
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 5:15.78
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 5:17.54
Kinley Robinson, Seaman 5:22.98
3,200 METERS
Emily Graf, Washburn Rural 11:06.46
Kenzie Maddox, Washburn Rural 11:18.36
Brynn Spencer, Seaman 11:27.63
Reese Beardslee, Washburn Rural 11:34.94
Lily McCoy, Washburn Rural 14:09.97
100-METER HURDLES
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake 15.70
Rylee Dick, Rossville 16.44
Marchayla White, Topeka High 17.74
Megan Alderson, Washburn Rural 18.14
Kaylyn Smith, Topeka West 18.23
300-METER HURDLES
Rylee Dick, Rossville 50.00
Marchayla White, Topeka High 51.34
Megan Alderson, Washburn Rural 51.60
Journey Manhart, Silver Lake 53.33
Avery Villines, Seaman 54.18
4x100-METER RELAY
Topeka High 49.60
Silver Lake 50.29
Washburn Rural 50.55
Seaman 51.63
Topeka West 52.33
4x400-METER RELAY
Silver Lake 4:09.56
Topeka High 4:10.27
Washburn Rural 4:11.18
Seaman 4:20.94
Topeka West 4:26.38
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 10:12.53
Topeka High 10:39.23
Seaman 11:17.22
Silver Lake 11:18.38
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 10.43
Malachi Murph, Topeka High 10.91
Braxton Rupp, Silver Lake 10.96
Emmitt Hochstedler, Seaman 10.98
Israel Edmonds, Washburn Rural 11.02
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural
200 METERS
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 21.78
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 22.30
Jayden Lindsey, Topeka West 22.38
Jonel Tibbs, Topeka High 22.60
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 22.65
400 METERS
Jason Slay, Shawnee Heights 49.89
Draden Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 50.25
Termaine Savage, Highland Park 50.61
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 50.94
Thomas Fisher, Silver Lake 51.28
Brody Anderson, Seaman
800 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 1:53.34
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 1:56.64
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 1:59.79
Mason Haas, Shawnee Heights 2:02.62
Everett Un, Washburn Rural 2:03.26
1,600 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 4:08.2 (mile converted to meters)
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 4:20.32
Cohen Thiessen, Washburn Rural 4:24.35
Nick Newkirk, Hayden 4:27.18
Duke Graf, Washburn Rural 4:32.87
3,200 METERS
Brody Anderson, Seaman 9:11.63
Brooks Kehoe, Washburn Rural 9:23.61
Henry Laubach, Washburn Rural 9:24.34
Jaxson Adams, Washburn Rural 9:42.46
Clayton Fink, Washburn Rural 9:42.94
110-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 14.07
Christian Hartman-Babb, Washburn Rural 15.31
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 15.54
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 15.71
De'sean Lunkins, Topeka High 15.85
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural
300-METER HURDLES
Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural 37.61
Kellan Parcaro, Seaman 42.03
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 42.09
Isiah Pennington, Seaman 43.26
Colin Miller, Silver Lake 43.41
4x100-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 42.77
Topeka High 42.90
Seaman 43.27
Silver Lake 43.28
Topeka High 43.52
4x400-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 3:21.82
Shawnee Heights 3:23.24
Silver Lake 3:28.28
Highland Park 3:28.48
Topeka High 3:33.40
4x800-METER RELAY
Washburn Rural 8:21.93
Shawnee Heights 8:33.62
Seaman 8:34.58
Silver Lake 8:57.48
Topeka High 9:09.82
HIGH JUMP
Jack Esser, Seaman 6-4
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 6-0
Archer Greene, Seaman 5-10
Creighton Frisby, Washburn Rural 5-8
Sebastian Kingcade, Washburn Rural 5-8
Cody Quy, Seaman 5-8
POLE VAULT
Keygan Breault, Silver Lake 12-0
Sam Bruntz, Silver Lake 11-6
Luke Deering, Washburn Rural 11-6
Sawyer Hermesch, Silver Lake 10-0
Desmond Grindol, Washburn Rural 10-0
LONG JUMP
Rayshon Pollard, Highland Park 21-2.25
Josh Brown, Seaman 21-0.50
Owen Rottinghaus, Silver Lake 21-0
Joel Miller, Silver Lake 20-8
Lucas Marichal, Topeka High/CPLS 20-7.25
TRIPLE JUMP
Bryson Burgos, Silver Lake 42-2.50
Camden Kruger, Silver Lake 41-7
Lucas Marichal, Topeka High/CPLS 40-11
Abe Heffley, Seaman 40-5.25
De'drian Keeling, Topeka West 40-3.75
SHOT PUT
Amir Bass, Shawnee Heights 47-11
Sam Scott, Washburn Rural 47-7
Kelton Meier, Hayden 46-2,50
Charles Chance, Rossville 46-0
Brogen Brown, Seaman 45-10.75
DISCUS
Zachary Hancock, Washburn Rural 163-4
Sam Garner, Shawnee Heights 156-4
Myles Fisher, Silver Lake 151-3
Adam Humphrey, Topeka High 146-8
Kelton Meier, Hayden 142-10
JAVELIN
Landon Lewis, Rossville 202-9
Kelton Meier, Hayden 196-6
Jackson Haas, Hayden 175-3
Dylan Tjachman, Washburn Rural 167-4
Andre Johnson, Rossville 166-5
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news will compile a weekly girls swimming and diving honor roll for Topeka high schools throughout the 2026 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY
Washburn Rural 2:11.82
Shawnee Heights 2:14.60
Seaman 2:18.07
Hayden 2:25.76
Topeka High 2:41.23
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden
200-YARD FREESTYLE
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden 2:11.68
Avery Skinner, Topeka High 2:14.96
Ava Von Lintel, Washburn Rural 2:28.77
Megan Strobel, Seaman 2:37.54
Stella Berry, Washburn Rural 2:43.23
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural
200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural 2:19.72
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 2:34.07
Kaitlyn Aldridge, Shawnee Heights 2:34.20
Riley Strother, Seaman 2:51.05
Avery Skinner, Seaman 2:51.97
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights
50-YARD FREESTYLE
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights 26.94
Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural 27.28
Riley Strother, Seaman 27.61
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High 27.76
Ava Carlson, Seaman 28.56
Rhiannon Good, Washburn Rural
ONE-METER DIVING
Rhiannan Good, Washburn Rural 239.85 (six dives) 446.40 (11 dives)
Avery Rosenow, Hayden/CPLS 188.55 (six dives) 359.65 (11 dives
Mackenzie Caryl, Topeka High 147.45
Abigail Culbertson, Topeka High 122.50
Madilyn Typer, Seaman 105.40
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Centennial League baseball champion Washburn Rural put four players on the all-league first team, led by senior player of the year Aidan Newbery.
Joining Newbery on the All-Centennial first team are seniors Austin Ditch and Nate Selm and junior Tyler Edmiston while Washburn Rural coach Jay Mastin was selected by league coaches as the co-coach of the year with Manhattan's Don Hess.
Washburn Rural posted a 9-1 league record to win the league title by two games and will take a 17-8 overall record into Class 6A postseason play.
Hayden, 17-5 on the season, is represented on the first team by seniors Connor Hanika, Kade Mitchell and Aiden Roberts.
Washburn Rural put seniors Isaac Ansley, Drew Moore and AJ Payne on the all-league second team while Hayden is represented by juniors Mason Becker and Caleb Menke.
Topeka High seniors Drayden Accosta and Elisha Guest and junior Cole Haubold all received honorable mention along with Hayden sophomore Max Becker, senior Brady Deutsch and junior Everett Tourtillott and Washburn Rural juniors Preston Bahr and Dominic Nimz and seniors Brody Haas and Gavin Payne.
Manhattan sophomore McLain Aslin was selected as the Centennial newcomer of the year.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE BASEBALL
