Washburn Rural Junior Blues
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA (0-6, 0-1 Centennial League) at WASHBURN RURAL (4-2, 0-1 Centennial League)
Washburn Rural, ranked No. 4 in Class 6A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, was off Tuesday after a tough 46-44 Centennial League loss at Hayden last Friday. Sophomore Maddie Vickery led Rural with 15 points against Hayden while senior Kate Hinck added 11 points. Both of Rural's losses have been two-point road losses. Emporia is still looking for its first win after dropping a 66-12 decision to Hays on Tuesday. Game time: 6 p.m.
JUNCTION CITY (1-4, 0-1 Centennial League) at TOPEKA HIGH (3-3, 0-1 Centennial League)
Topeka High is coming off a 56-41 Centennial League loss to undefeated Hayden on Tuesday while Junction City dropped a 93-25 league game to Manhattan. Sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton and freshman Hailey Caryl led the Trojans with 11 points apiece against Hayden. Game time: 6 p.m.
KC-TURNER (0-5, 0-4 United Kansas Conference) at TOPEKA WEST (0-6, 0-6 United Kansas Conference)
Topeka West will be looking for its first win of the season Friday against the winless Bears after dropping a 71-29 UKC decision at undefeated and top-ranked Seaman Tuesday night. Turner is coming off a 70-11 loss to Basehor-Linwood Wednesday night. Game time: 5:45 p.m.
WEST FRANKLIN (2-6, 2-3 Flint Hills League) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-7, 0-4 Flint Hills League)
Cair Paravel is coming off a 69-10 Flint Hills loss to Osage City on Tuesday while West Franklin is coming off a 47-37 league win over Mission Valley. Game time: 6 p.m.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA (4-2, 0-0 Centennial League) at WASHBURN RURAL (5-2, 1-0 Centennial League)
Washburn Rural is coming off a 52-46 home non-league loss to Blue Valley West on Tuesday while Emporia is coming off a 41-36 non-league victory over Hays. Senior Kaden Ballard scored 15 points and hit three 3-pointers for Washburn Rural against Blue Valley West while junior Simon Rowley added 13 points. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
JUNCTION CITY (6-0, 1-0 Centennial League) at TOPEKA HIGH (0-7, 0-1 Centennial League)
Topeka High is coming off a 65-50 Centennial League loss to Hayden on Tuesday while Junction City took a 66-62 league win over Manhattan. Junior Jalen Aldridge led Topeka High with 17 points and hit three 3-pointers against Hayden. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
KC-TURNER (1-6, 0-5 United Kansas Conference) at TOPEKA WEST (4-2, 4-2 United Kansas Conference)
Topeka West will be looking for its third win of the week Friday, with the Chargers coming off a 59-57 come-from-behind United Kansas Conference win over Seaman Tuesday night. West is ranked No. 8 in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association while Seaman is No. 7. Junior Keimani Paul scord 17 points and junior Malakyah Duncan 14 points against Seaman, with Duncan hitting the game-winning free throws. Turner is coming off a 77-27 UKC loss to Basehor-Linwood Wednesday night. Game time: 7:15 p.m.
WEST FRANKLIN (3-5, 2-4 Flint Hills League) at CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (3-5, 1-3 Flint Hills League)
Cair Paravel is coming off a 61-37 Flint Hills loss to Osage City on Tuesday while West Franklin is coming off a 53-42 league league loss to Mission Valley. Lucas Marichal scored 12 points to lead Cair Paravel in the Lions' loss to Osage City. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Longtime former Washburn Rural teacher and tennis coach Kevin Hedberg, Brenda Holaday's 2008 Class 6A state championship softball team and the late Michael Brennan, a Rural graduate and world-renowned musician and composer, will be inducted into the Washburn Rural Hall of Fame Friday night at Rural.
A social hour will be held from 4:30-5 p.m. in the WRHS cafeteria, followed by the induction ceremony from 5-7 p.m. The inductees will also be recognized at halfcourt between the girls and boys varsity basketball games against Emporia.
2025 WRHS Hall of Fame inductees:
2008 GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM -- Coach Brenda Holaday's Junior Blues won the 2008 Class 6A championship at Hummer Sports Park. The team defeated Olathe Northwest in the championship game by a score of 2-1 and finished with an overall record of 23-2. During the State Tournament, the team did not allow a single earned run and gave up only one run in three games. The Junior Blues also won Centennial League and regional championships. The title was the second state championship for the softball program, which also won titles in 1995 and 2014. Holaday was named the Kansas softball coach of the Year in 2008 and Paige Ladenburger was named the Gatorade Player of the Year. Many of Rural's softball players played more than one sport at Rural and their ability to multitask, be team players, develop tremendous leadership skills and build great work ethic has contributed to their adult life and the impact they continue to have on others and in this community. Four of the 2008 players went on to earn their medical doctorate degrees in their chosen field, three became nurses or work in the medical field, two became teachers in USD 437, and four became business leaders. Seven of the 13 went on to play college ball. Coach Holaday left Washburn Rural in 2016 after being a part of all three state championships and posting a 351-93 record, 14 Centennial League championships and 16 6A state tournaments. In her 19 years of coaching at Rural Holday was named Centennial League and City Coach of the Year nine times. Holaday took over the reins at Washburn University’s softball program before the 2017 season. Her teams have won two MIAA Conference titles, appeared in three NCAA tournaments and she has been named MIAA Coach of the Year twice.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior James Kuta scored 12 points in Hayden's 67-54 Centennial League loss to Washburn Rural last Friday. [File photo/TSN]
HAYDEN (3-4, 0-1 Centennial League) at TOPEKA HIGH (0-6, 0-0 Centennial League)
Hayden is coming off a 67-54 loss to Washburn Rural last Friday night in the Wildcats' Centennial League opener while Topeka High's scheduled league game at Manhattan was postponed due to inclement weather. The Trojans have been off since an 81-42 loss to undefeated Highland Park on Jan. 3. Senior James Kuta and junior Kade Mitchell scored 12 points apiece for Hayden in Friday's loss to Rural. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Junior Kae Von Bonner led Seaman with 25 points in Friday's 57-43 UKC road win at Lansing. [File photo/TSN]
TOPEKA WEST (3-2, 3-2 United Kansas Conference) at SEAMAN (5-1, 5-1 United Kansas Conference)
Topeka West made its 2025 debut Monday night in a 71-38 United Kansas Conference romp past Leavenworth while Seaman is coming off a 57-43 UKC road win at Lansing last Friday. Pending today's rankings Seaman is ranked No. 7 and Topeka West No. 9 in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. Sophomore Prince Lassiterled the way for West in Monday's win over Leavenworth as seven Chargers scored 7 or more points while junior KaeVon Bonner scored 25 points in Seaman's win over Lansing, backed by senior Bryer Finley with 11 points. Game time: 7:15 p.m.
Junior Simon Rowley led Washburn Rural with 18 points in Friday's 67-54 win over Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
BLUE VALLEY WEST (3-5) at WASHBURN RURAL (5-1)
Washburn Rural takes a break from Centennial League action to host Blue Valley West in a non-league contest. The Junior Blues are coming off a 67-54 league win at Hayden last Friday night as junior Simon Rowley led four double-figure scorers with a game-high 18 points. Senior Amare Jones added 15 points, junior John Hoytal 11 and Kaden Ballard 10 points for Rural. Blue Valley West is coming off a 55-41 victory over Lee's Summit West, Mo. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
RILEY COUNTY (2-4, 1-2 Big East League) at ROSSVILLE (4-2, 2-1 Big East League)
Riley County is coming off a 63-55 Big East League road win at Jefferson West last Friday while Rossville dropped a 57-55 road decision to league foe Hiawatha. Junior Jack Donovan paced Rossville with 18 points against Hiawatha while Kameron Badura added 11 points and Andre Johnson 10 points for the Bulldawgs. Rossville was ranked No. 5 in Class 2A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association in last week's state rankings. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
JEFFERSON WEST (3-3, 1-2 Big East League) at SILVER LAKE (4-1, 3-1 Big East League)
Silver Lake had games against St. Marys and Holton postponed last week due to inclement weather, with the Eagles now idle since a 70-57 Big East win over Hiawatha on Dec. 20. Jefferson West dropped a 63-55 league decision to Riley County last Friday. Game time: 7:30 p.m.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Senior Millie Ramsey scored a game-high 17 points in Hayden's 46-44 Centennial League win over Washburn Rural last Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
HAYDEN (7-0, 1-0 Centennial League) at TOPEKA HIGH (3-2, 0-0 Centennial League)
Hayden, ranked No. 3 in Class 4A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, stayed unbeated with a 46-44 home Centennial League win over Washburn Rural on Friday, with senior Millie Ramsey pacing the Wildcats with 17 points and senior Brylee Meier adding 12 points. Topeka High has been off since earning a 48-42 win over Wichita Life Prep on Jan. 3. Sophomore Ahsieyrhuajh Rayton scored 25 points, including 19 in the second half, in the win over Life Prep and is averaging 21.6 points on the season. Game time: 6 p.m.
TOPEKA WEST (0-5, 0-5 United Kansas Conference) at SEAMAN (6-0, 6-0 United Kansas Conference)
Seaman, top-ranked in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, made its 2025 debut on Friday with a 72-9 United Kansas Conference road win at Lansing. The Vikings got 21, 8 assists and 4 steals from senior Anna Becker while senior Kinley Wilhelm had 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals against the Lions. Topeka West returned to action Monday night, dropping a 62-50 UKC decision to Leavenworth in the Chargers' 2025 debut. Junior Imani McGlory led the Chargers with a 16.5 scoring average and had connected on 14 3-pointers going into the holiday break. Game time: 5:45 p.m.
Sophomore Nora Burdiek (22) scored a career-high 31 points in Friday's 70-62 Rossville loss to Hiawatha. [File photo/TSN]
RILEY COUNTY (4-2, 3-0 Big East League) at ROSSVILLE (3-3, 0-3 Big East League)
Rossville will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak, all in Big East League play, and faces another tough league test against a Riley County team that is unbeaten in the league. Rossville is coming off a 70-62 road loss to Hiawatha Friday night despite a career-high 31 points from sophomore Nora Burdiek and 25 points from junior Rylee Dick. Riley County is coming off a 52-21 league win over Jefferson West. Game time: 6 p.m.
JEFFERSON WEST (3-3, 1-2 Big East League) at SILVER LAKE (4-1, 4-0 Big East League)
Silver Lake, ranked No 5 in Class 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, has been idle since a 60-27 Big East League win over Hiawatha on Dec. 20, with the Eagles' game at Holton last Friday postponed by inclement weather. Jefferson West is coming off a 52-21 loss to Riley County on Friday. Game time: 6 p.m.
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
For the second straight game Hayden girls basketball faced a tough test against a Class 6A opponent.
And for the second straight game the third-ranked (Class 4A) Wildcats passed that test, taking control down the stretch in a 56-41 Centennial League road win at Topeka High.
Freshman Hailey Schmidtlein (2) scored a game-high 19 points in Hayden's 56-41 Centennial League win at Topeka High Tuesday night. [Photo by Kylee Manthe/Special to TSN]
Hayden, which pulled out a 46-44 win over Washburn Rural last Friday, improved to a perfect 8-0 overall and 2-0 in the league while Topeka High fell to 3-3, 0-1.
"When (the Trojans) had a little run in the fourth quarter, it was another opportunity like we had Friday to test our toughness and I thought our girls answered and being able to close it out was big,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said.
The Wildcats trailed by a point (11-10) at the end of the opening quarter but used a 20-9 second quarter to take a 30-20 lead at the halftime break.
Hayden never trailed the rest of the way, leading by as many as 15 points midway through the third quarter and by a game-high 17 (56-49) with a minute left, but the Wildcats had to fight their way through numerous mini-runs by the Trojans, who got as close as seven points (46-39) with four and a half minutes remaining before the visitors took control behind freshman Hailey Schmidtlein, who scored eight straight points down the stretch.
Hayden freshman Hailey Schmidtlein (2) scored 8 straight points down the stretch as the Wildcats pulled away for a 56-41 win at Topeka High Tuesday night. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Schmidtlein led all scorers with 19 points while seniors Millie Ramsey and Brylee Meier added 13 apiece for the Wildcats.
"Hailey really played great the whole game because we put a lot on her plate defensively and then we fed her the ball twice down the stretch for big layups and then she got steals and breakaways and she was big for us,'' Reynoldson said.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KaeVon Bonner
KAEVON BONNER, Seaman
A 6-foot-3 junior guard, Bonner scored a game-high 25 points in Friday night's 57-43 United Kansas Conference road victory at Lansing, helping Seaman improve to 5-1 overall and in the UKC.
Nora Burdiek
NORA BURDIEK, Rossville
Burdiek, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, scored a career-high 31 points for the Bulldawgs Friday night as Rossville (3-3) came out on the short end of a 70-62 Big East League road loss at Hiawatha.
Logan Glinka
LOGAN GLINKA, Washburn Rural
Glinka opened his senior bowling season in Thursday's Free State Invitational at Royal Crest Lanes in Lawrence with a fourth-place individual finish with a 708 series while leading Washburn Rural to a second-place team finish in the 18-school event. Glinka bowled games of 248, 247 and 213.
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Two-time defending state champion Washburn Rural girls wrestling rolled up 388.5 points Saturday en route to the team title in the 12-school Lady Vikes Invitational at Seaman.
Molly Spader (middle) reached the 100-win milestone Saturday as Washburn Rural captured the team title in the Lady Vikes Invitational at Seaman. [Washburn Rural wrestling]
Rural easily out-distanced runnerup Gardner-Edgerton, which had 198 points, while Hays finished third as a team (178) and host Seaman fourth (157.5).
Junior Blue senior star Molly Spader won the 105-pound title while reaching the 100-win milestone for her career while Rural also got individual championships from 120-pound junior Lacey Middleton, 140-pound junior Madison Blanco, 145-pound junior Madison Blanco, 155-pound senior Ashley Schwarz, 170-pound junior Elia Smith and 235-pound sophomore Eve Luea.
Spader, a state runnerup last season, improved to 18-2 with a 1:26 pin over Lansing freshman Baylee Baragary in the 105 final.
Middleton (18-3) out-dueled Seaman senior star Taylie Heston (12-2) in the 120 final, taking an 8-4 decision.
M. Blanco (15-2) won with a 5:21 pin, while E. Blanco (17-4) clinched her title with a 3:40 pin, Schwarz (16-4) took a 15-0 technical fall, Smith (15-4) needed just 11 seconds for a win by fall in her final and Luea (11-3) recorded her fourth pin of the day, which all came in the first period.
Rural also got second-place finishes from senior Maddy Blow (110), senior Annie Gallegos (125), sophomore Leah MacPherson (155) and freshman Janiah Matthie-Johnson (190).
In addition to Heston's runnerup finish, Seaman also got second-place finishes from senior Natalie Smith (110) and freshman Hollister Olson-Thomas (130).
Shawnee Heights' girls earned the team title in the T-Birds' home invitational. [Shawnee Heights wrestling]
Heights girls claim crown in home invite
Shawnee Heights' girls wrestling team claimed a 49-point team championship in Saturday's Shawnee Heights Girls Invitational, with the T-Birds earning five individual titles.
Heights, which won the team crown by a 209-160 margin over Spring Hill, got wins from 120-pound sophomore Audrey Hinkly, senior Reece Taylor (125), senior Isabel Reyes (130), senior Madison Freeland (140) and junior Cianna Graves (155).
Hinkly won her title with a 1:01 win by fall over Hayden junior Katie Mead, while Taylor won with her fourth first-period pin of the the tournament and Reyes, Freeland and Graves also clinched titles with first-period pins.
Santa Fe Trail finished third as a team with 140.5 points, getting individual wins from junior Audrey Johnson-Wood (105), sophomore Makenzie Roberts (110), sophomore Sydnee Sleichter (115) and junior Morgan Pickering (135).
Mead, now 9-3 on the season, led Hayden to an eighth-place team finish with her second-place finish while sophomore Lilly Charvat (115) posted a fourth-place showing.
Shawnee Heights got runnerup individual finishes from freshman Ava Gutierrez (100), junior Olivia Stevens (145), sophomore Brooklyn Binkley (170) and junior Shelby Watson (190).
Four city wrestlers claim titles at Heights
Host Shawnee Heights and Hayden combined to capture four individual championships in the Heights Invitational on Saturday.
The T-Birds, who finished third as a team, got wins from 150-pounder Gavin Hartman and 165-pounder Kael Westgate while fourth-place Hayden got victories from Jude Krentz at 175 pounds and Broderick Desch at 190.
Hartman posted four first-period pins on the day in 31 seconds, 1:05, 35 seconds and 1:15 while Westgate posted a pair of pins and Krentz and Desch went 3-0 with three pins apiece.
The T-Birds got runnerup finishes from Jacob Reyes (113), Brody Brown (138) and Carson Anderson (144) while Hayden got a second-place finish from Caleb Menke (157).
Spring Hill won the team title with 200 points, followed by Santa Fe Trail (186), Shawnee Heights (168.5) and Hayden (96.5).
The Chargers, coached by former Shawnee Heights state champ Tyler Gonzales, got individual wins from Tanner Bolt (106), Tanner Sleichter (120), Drake Kirby (126), Blake Slavin (132) and Atticus Guenther (138).
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: School closures/inclement weather have resulted in multiple postponements again Friday. Games involving Cair Paravel Latin, Highland Park, Silver Lake, Topeka High and Topeka West have all been postponed while other Shawnee County schools are scheduled to be in action.
GIRLS
Washburn Rural sophomore Maddie Vickery leads the city in scoring with a 22.6 average. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Senior Millie Ramsey had 15 points and 11 rebounds in Hayden's 60-47 win over Shawnee Heights to open 2025. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
WASHBURN RURAL (4-1, 0-0 Centennial League) at HAYDEN (6-0, 0-0 Centennial League)
Friday's game matches Washburn Rural, ranked No. 3 in Class 6A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, against Hayden, No. 3 in 4A, in what will be the Centennial League opener for both schools. Hayden opened 2025 with a 60-47 home non-league win over Shawnee Heights, with senior Norma Greco scoring 17 points, seniors Brylee Meier and Millie Ramsey 15 points each and freshman Hailey Schmidtlein 13. Washburn Rural has not played since a 59-38 win over Shawnee Mission Northwest in its final game before the Christmas break, with games against Olathe North and Junction City postponed earlier this week. Sophomore Maddie Vickery averages a city-high 22.6 points for the Junior Blues while also pulling down 9.2 rebounds per game. Game time: 6:15 p.m.
Seaman Anna Becker averages a team-high 18.6 points with 6.4 assists for the 5-0 Vikings. [File photo/TSN]
SEAMAN (5-0, 5-0 United Kansas Conference) at LANSING (0-4, 0-3 United Kansas Conference)
Seaman, the defending Class 5A state champion, is top-ranked in 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. The Vikings have been idle since a 53-50 United Kansas Conference win over De Soto on Dec. 20, with a Tuesday night matchup with St. James Academy postponed. Senior Anna Becker averages a team-high 18.6 points and a city-best 6.4 assists. Junior Maddie Gragg averages 13.2 points while senior Ava Esser averages 12 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Vikings. Game time: 5:45 p.m.
ROSSVILLE (3-2, 0-2 Big East League) at HIAWATHA (3-3, 2-2 Big East League)
Rossville has been off since a 71-61 Big East League loss to Holton on Dec. 20 while Hiawatha returned to action last Friday, falling to Holton 54-40 in a league game. Bulldawg junior Rylee Dick is averaging 24.8 points with 25 3-pointers, shooting 51 percent from outside the arc while sophomore Nora Burdiek is averaging 18.2 points and 12.2 rebounds for the Bulldawgs. Game time: 6 p.m.
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Friday wasn't Norma Greco's night... until it counted the most.
Hayden's 5-foot-6 senior guard missed her first eight shots from the field and went 1 of 10 on the night in Friday's Centennial League battle against Washburn Rural.
Hayden senior Norma Greco (30) scored all seven of her points down the stretch in the Wildcats' 46-44 Centennial League win over Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But Greco scored all seven of her points in the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds, including five straight to put Hayden ahead to stay as the third-ranked (Class 4A) Wildcats took a 46-44 nailbiter over the third-ranked (6A) Junior Blues at the Bueltel Activity Center.
"Obviously I was a little frustrated, but also I was like, 'I can't not play because my team needs me,' so I had to keep going,'' Greco said. "My shots were going to fall at some point, so I had to keep shooting, keep passing, keep dribbling and keep playing.''
Greco hit her first basket of the night, a 3-pointer, with 2:35 remaining to give Hayden a 40-38 lead and hit two free throws at the 1:49 mark to put the Wildcats up by four points.
"It felt good,'' Greco said about the crucial 3-pointer. "I felt a little bit of relief that one finally dropped for me. It's always a good game between us and Washburn so we were happy to get a win.''
Greco added a pair of free throws over the final 49.5 seconds, including the Wildcats' final point with 3.5 seconds remaining, as Hayden improved to 7-0 and picked up a big league win in its Centennial opener.
By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Playing for the first time in three weeks, Washburn Rural's boys basketball team showed some understandable rust in Friday's 2025 debut against Hayden.
But Alex Hutchins' Junior Blues were sharp enough to improve to 5-1 with a 67-54 road win over the Wildcats in the Centennial League opener for both schools.
Junior Simon Rowley scored a game-high 18 points Friday night as Washburn Rural improved to 5-1 with a 67-54 win over Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I felt like it kind of ebbed and flowed,'' Hutchins said. "There were periods of the game where I thought we looked real good and sharp and then there were periods where it was pretty sloppy.
"The first game after being off that long and the kids haven't been at school for a week, there were a lot of factors that could have been excuses and maybe are excuses, so we're happy to get a win. But at the same time, there's things we need to clean up. We know we need to clean some things up and get better.''
Rural junior Simon Rowley, who led all scorers with 18 points, agreed with his coach.
"It was a tough win and we weren't really executing like we wanted to rebounding,'' Rowley said. "It was kind of like the Chiefs. It was ugly, but we won.''
Washburn Rural jumped out of the gate with nine straight points and built a double-digit lead at 12-2 at the 4:13 mark of the opening quarter before Hayden responded with a 9-0 run, capped by a Mason Becker 3-point play to knot the game at 12 with 2:25 left in the quarter.
But Rural built its lead back to 18-14 by the start of the second stanza and used a 13-5 second quarter to take a 31-19 cushion into the halftime break.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
CAMRYNN AHRENS, Washburn Rural
A junior, Ahrens earned second-team All-City recognition last season after helping the Junior Blues post a second-place team finish in the Class 6A state tournament. Ahrens shot a 557 three-game series at state and shot a 502 series to help Washburn Rural win a 6A regional team championship.
ASHLEY BILLUPS, Washburn Rural
Billups, a senior, received second-team All-City honors last season after helping Washburn Rural finish as the state runnerup in the Class 6A state meet. Billups shot a 557 three-game series in the state tournament. Billups shot a 520 series in the city tournament and a 493 series in 6A regional competition.
Washburn Rural sophomore Megan Glinka was a first-team All-City pick last season as a freshman after helping Rural finish second in Class 6A. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
MEGAN GLINKA, Washburn Rural
Glinka, a sophomore, was a first-team All-City selection last season as a freshman after playing a major role for a Washburn Rural team that won Centennial League and regional championships and placed second as a team in the Class 6A state tournament. Glinka shot a 535 series at state after placing 11th at regionals (550), 13th in the Centennial League (487) and shooting a 536 in the city tournament.
Junior Claire LaDuke helped Seaman place third in Class 5A in 2024. [File photo/TSN]
CLAIRE LaDUKE, Seaman
A junior, LaDuke shot a 484 three-game series in the 2024 Class 5A state tournament, helping Seaman earn the third-place team trophy. LaDuke finished seventh individually in 5A regional competition with a 541 three-game series. LaDuke shot a 504 series in the city championships.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
CHASE BLASER, Hayden
A senior, Blaser capped the 2024 season with a ninth-place individual finish in the Class 4A-1A state meet with a 637 three-game series, leading Hayden to a fifth-place team finish. Blaser won a 4A-1A regional title with a 603 series while leading the Wildcats to the team championship and he bowled a 556 series in the city meet.
Senior Caden Cochrane placed third in Class 5A last season, helping lead Shawnee Heights to the state team title. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
CADEN COCHRANE, Shawnee Heights
Cochrane, a senior, posted a third-place individual finish in the 2024 state meet with a 685 three-game series, helping lead Shawnee Heights to its first-ever Class 5A state boys team championship. A second-team All-City selection as a junior, Cochrane posted an 18th-place regional finish and shot a 605 series in the United Kansas Conference meet.
Sophomores Trey Donath (right) and Evan Jones return for state-champion Shawnee Heights after earning first-team All-City honors last season. [File photo/TSN]
TREY DONATH, Shawnee Heights
Donath, a sophomore, earned first-team All-City recognition last season as a freshman after placing eighth in the Class 5A state meet with a 667 series to help Shawnee Heights win its first-ever 5A state boys team title. Donath finished 13th at regionals (569) and shot a 617 in the United Kansas Conference meet and a 614 in the city meet.
TYLER FAUROT, Washburn Rural
A senior, Faurot was a second-team All-City selection in both 2023 and 2024. Faurot finished fifth in the city tournament with a 663 three-game series and placed fifth in the Centennial League meet with a 619 series. Faurot, a member of Rural's Class 6A state championship team in 2023, Faurot shot a 576 series in the 2024 regional meet.
Washburn Rural senior Logan Glinka is a two-time All-City pick and the reigning city champion. [File photo/TSN]
LOGAN GLINKA, Washburn Rural
Glinka, a senior, won the city championship with a three-game 729 series and finished second in the Centennial League with a 653 series as the Junior Blues won the team championship. A three-time first-team All-City pick, Glinka finished seventh in the 2023 Class 6A state tournament as Washburn Rural captured the 6A state team championship.
Sophomore Dylan Hunt helped Seaman finish third in Class 5A last season. [File photo/TSN]
DYLAN HUNT, Seaman
A sophomore, Hunt finished third in the United Kansas Conference championships with a 673 series and placed sixth in Class 5A regional competition with a 626 series and followed that up with a 560 three-game series at state to help the Vikings earn the third-place team trophy.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's Max Huston and Kaden Jordan, Washburn Rural's Caden Estrada and Hayden's Jensen Schrickel are among the 88 players who have been selected to play in the 2025 Kansas Shrine Bowl all-star football game, which will be played on Saturday, June 21, at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City.
Estrada, Huston, Jordan and Schrickel will all play for the East team while Seaman coach Jared Swafford will serve as an assistant coach for the East.
Estrada, Huston, Jordan and Schrickel were all named to the All-Shawnee County Top 22 this past season.
Caden Estrada
A 6-foot-1, 285-pound senior, Estrada filled several roles on the offensive line for the 3-6 Junior Blues and moved up to the All-Shawnee County Top 22 after being a Second 22 pick as a junior. Estrada earned first-team All-Centennial League recognition the past three seasons and helped Washburn Rural post an 11-1 record and advance to the Class 6A semifinals his junior season.
Max Huston
Huston, a 6-1, 185 senior quarterback, completed 170 of 266 passes for 2,532 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushed for 779 yards and 13 TDs as the Vikings posted an 8-3 record and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 5A playoffs. Huston was named the Shawnee County co-offensive player of the year and was an All-United Kansas Conference first-team pick and All-Shawnee County Top 22 selection for the second straight season.
Kaden Jordan
A 6-2, 305 senior nose tackle, Jordan was named the Shawnee County defensive player of the year and was an All-United Kansas Conference first-team selection after helping lead the Vikings to an 8-3 record, the UKC championship and the 5A quarterfinals. Jordan was in on 57 total tackles with 15 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. Jordan moved up to the All-Shawnee County Top 22 this past season after being a Second 22 pick in 2023.
Jensen Schrickel
Schrickel, a 5-10, 160 junior wide receiver/defensive back, was a three-time All-Shawnee County Top 22 selection after helping lead Hayden to an 11-2 record and a second straight runnerup finish in Class 3A. A multi-time state champion in track and field, Schrickel caught 49 passes for 799 yards, carried the ball 56 times for 606 yards, had six kickoff returns for 176 yards, had five punt returns for 80 yards and scored 23 total touchdowns and a 2-point conversion. Defensively, Schrickel was in on 33 tackles and he was named the county all-purpose athlete of the year.
NOTE: Statistics for city girls basketball teams were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley. The following stats are the first of three statistical reports which will be released during the 2024-2025 season, capped by the season-ending stats.
Washburn Rural sophomore Maddie Vickery leads the city of Topeka in scoring with a 22.6 average. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
SCORING
Name, school Gms. Pts. Avg
Vickery, Washburn Rural 5 113 22.6
Carter, Highland Park 3 64 21.3
Rayton, Topeka High 4 83 20.8
Emmot, Shawnee Heights 4 82 20.5
Becker, Seaman 5 93 18.6
I. McGlory, Topeka West 4 66 16.5
Ramsey, Hayden 4 55 13.8
Gragg, Seaman 5 66 13.2
Meier, Hayden 4 52 13.0
Schmidtlein, Hayden 4 51 12.8
Torrez, Shawnee Heights 4 50 12.5
Esser, Seaman 5 60 12.0
Marshall, Topeka High 4 45 11.3
Hinck, Washburn Rural 5 52 10.4
Broils, Highland Park 3 31 10.3
Highland Park sophomore Pearmella Carter is the city leader in rebounding with a 10.7 average. [File photo/TSN]
REBOUNDING
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Carter, Highland Park 3 32 10.7
Benning, Topeka High 4 39 9.8
Ramsey, Hayden 4 37 9.3
Vickery, Washburn Rural 5 46 9.2
Hinck, Washburn Rural 5 44 8.8
Torrez, Shawnee Heights 4 35 8.8
Broils, Highland Park 3 25 8.3
Esser, Seaman 5 39 7.8
Caryl, Topeka High 4 29 7.3
Hall, Topeka West 4 29 7.3
Vega, Shawnee Heights 4 28 7.0
Becker, Seaman 5 31 6.2
Wilhelm, Seaman 5 31 6.2
Keeling, Topeka West 4 23 5.8
Meier, Hayden 4 23 5.8
Seaman senior Anna Becker leads the city of Topeka with a 6.4 assist average. [File photo/TSN]
ASSISTS
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Becker, Seaman 5 32 6.4
Brees, Shawnee Heights 4 14 3.5
Hinck, Washburn Rural 5 17 3.4
Sanders, Highland Park 3 10 3.3
Marshall, Topeka High 4 12 3.0
Wilhelm, Seaman 4 14 2.8
Vega, Shawnee Heights 4 11 2.8
Beaton, Seaman 5 13 2.6
Gragg, Seaman 5 13 2.6
Emmot, Shawnee Heights 4 10 2.5
Meier, Hayden 4 10 2.5
Greco, Hayden 4 10 2.5
Vickery, Washburn Rural 5 12 2.4
Schmidtlein, Hayden 4 9 2.3
Hirschi, Washburn Rural 5 11 2.2
Highland Park senior Tahtionna Broils is the city steals leader with 4.7 per game. [File photo/TSN]
STEALS
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Broils, Highland Park 3 14 4.7
Hartz, Highland Park 3 14 4.7
Greco, Hayden 4 18 4.5
Schmidtlein, Hayden 4 18 4.5
Sanders, Highland Park 3 13 4.3
Marshall, Topeka High 4 17 4.3
Hinck, Washburn Rural 5 19 3.8
Jones, Highland Park 3 10 3.3
Becker, Seaman 5 14 2.8
Torrez, Shawnee Heights 4 11 2.8
Brees, Shawnee Heights 4 11 2.8
Rayton, Topeka High 4 11 2.8
Vega, Shawnee Heights 4 10 2.5
I. McGlory, Topeka West 4 10 2.5
Miller, Seaman 4 9 2.3
Keeling, Topeka West 4 9 2.3
NOTE: Statistics for city boys basketball teams were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley. The following stats are the first of three statistical reports which will be released during the 2024-2025 season, capped by the season-ending stats.
Highland Park senior Ja'Corey Robinson leads the city in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocked shots. [File photo/TSN]
SCORING
Name, school Gms. Pts. Avg
Robinson, Highland Park 4 90 22.5
Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 4 71 17.8
Bonner, Seaman 5 82 16.4
Finley, Seaman 5 78 15.6
Williams, Highland Park 4 58 14.5
Rowley, Washburn Rural 5 72 14.4
Ballard, Washburn Rural 5 70 14.0
Paul, Topeka West 4 55 13.8
Guest, Topeka High 5 66 13.2
Pavlik, Cair Paravel 6 77 12.8
Aldridge, Topeka High 5 59 11.8
Kelley, Highland Park 4 45 11.3
Pomeroy, Shawnee Heights 4 44 11.0
Wiltz, Seaman 5 53 10.6
Hales, Highland Park 4 41 10.3
REBOUNDING
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Robinson, Highland Park 4 44 11.0
Pomeroy, Shawnee Heights 4 38 9.5
Kelley, Highland Park 4 34 8.5
Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 4 30 7.5
Ford, Topeka West 4 27 6.8
Finley, Seaman 5 28 5.6
Roeder, Cair Paravel 6 33 5.5
Lee, Shawnee Heights 4 22 5.5
Paul, Topeka West 4 22 5.5
Ballard, Washburn Rural 5 27 5.4
Rowley, Washburn Rural 5 27 5.4
Kuta, Hayden 5 26 5.2
Smith, Seaman 5 26 5.2
Hanika, Hayden 5 25 5.0
Hoytal, Washburn Rural 5 25 5.0
Highland Park junior Jamon Wilson (3) leads the city in assists with a 7.8 average. [File photo/TSN]
ASSISTS
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Wilson, Highland Park 4 31 7.8
Robinson, Highland Park 4 25 6.3
Pavlik, Cair Paravel 6 35 5.8
Hales, Highland Park 4 19 4.8
Leonard, Washburn Rural 5 20 4.0
Williams, Highland Park 4 16 4.0
Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 4 14 3.5
Bonner, Seaman 5 17 3.4
Ballard, Washburn Rural 5 16 3.2
Finley, Seaman 5 15 3.0
Hoytal, Washburn Rural 5 13 2.6
Rowley, Washburn Rural 5 13 2.6
McFadden, Topeka High 5 12 2.4
Zuniga, Seaman 5 11 2.2
Guest, Topeka High 5 11 2.2
Hastert, Cair Paravel 6 13 2.2
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee County high schools captured a pair of boys state team titles in 2024 while county athletes combined to earn a whopping 16 individual/relay championships, led by three athletes who captured multiple gold medals.
Shawnee Heights' bowling team is No. 1 on TopSports.news' list of the Top 10 boys high school sports stories of 2024 after winning its first-ever Class 5A state boys bowling title while Hayden baseball garnered the No. 2 spot after the Wildcats caught fire in postseason to capture the 3A state crown.
Individually, Shawnee Heights distance ace Jackson Esquibel capped his high school career with his third career state title in two sports while Washburn Rural's Easton Broxterman became a two-time state wrestling champ and Hayden's Finn Dunshee and Jensen Schrickel and Seaman's Aaron Merritt all captured multiple state track and field championships in 2024.
Here's a look at TopSports.news' Top 10 Shawnee County boys prep stories of 2024:
Shawnee Heights' bowling team celebrates its first-ever Class 5A boys state team championship last March in Wichita. [File photo/TSN]
1. PERFECT PEAK -- Shawnee Heights' boys bowling team had been knocking at the door all season, posting top-three team finishes in city, league and regional competition. The T-Birds knocked that door down in the Class 5A state tournament in Wichita, capturing the school's first boys state bowling team title by a 3,547-3,519 margin over Kansas City-Turner while Seaman finished third at 3,353 as United Kansas Conference teams swept the top three places. Shawnee Heights won the championship after not having a state qualifier in the 2023 state meet and despite not having a senior on the state team (two freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors) as the T-Birds put four bowlers in the top 20. Junior Caden Cochrane finished third individually with a 685 three-game series while freshman Trey Donath was eighth, freshman Evan Jones ninth and sophomore Henry Schattilly 18th.
Hayden's baseball team celebrates its 2024 Class 3A state championship in Manhattan. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN[
2. PERFECT PEAK PART II -- Struggling to reach the .500 mark late in the season, Hayden's baseball team earned a Class 3A state tournament berth as the No. 7 seed and completed its Cinderella run to the state championship with a 5-3 win over top seed Wichita Trinity in Manhattan, finishing the season 18-12. Hayden then-junior pitcher Liam Annand went 6.2 innings pick up the win in the title game while allowing three runs on just four hits before then-sophomore Aiden Roberts closed out the victory with an inning of relief as the Wildcats picked up their first state title since 2015. Then-sophomore Kade Mitchell went two for three with three RBI. Then-junior Cooper Grace keyed the Wildcats' title run, earning first-team All-State honors.
Shawnee Heights 2024 senior Jackson Esquibel (3657) ended his high school distance career with three Class 5A state titles in two sports. [File photo/TSN]
3. DISTANCE KING --Shawnee Heights 2024 graduate Jackson Esquibel joined an elite group of distance runners when he won Class 5A state titles in back-to-back-to-back seasons. Esquibel ended his junior track season in 2023 with the 5A state championship in the 3,200 meters and followed that up with the 5A individual cross country title in the fall of '23 before capping his high school career with a second straight 3,200 title in the 2024 state meet. Esquibel also finished second in the 1,600 meters in track as a junior and senior before beginning his college career at Kansas State.
Washburn Rural senior Easton Broxterman has already won a pair of Class 6A state wrestling titles and has been a three-time state finalist. [File photo/TSN]
4. STILL ADDING TO HIS LEGACY -- Washburn Rural senior wrestler Easton Broxterman is early in his final high school season for the Junior Blues and with every win continues to cement his legacy as one of the best ever in Kansas. Broxterman advanced to the state championship match as a freshman and followed that up with back-to-back Class 6A titles. The Shawnee County Wrestler of the Year in 2024, Broxterman capped a 49-1 junior season with a 15-0 technical fall in the 132-pound final, ending the match just 27 seconds into the second period after building a 13-0 first-period advantage. Broxterman will wrestle collegiately at Army.
Hayden 2024 grad Finn Dunshee won three gold medals in the '24 Class 3A state track and field championships. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Hayden then-junior Jensen Schrickel was a three-time gold medalist in the 2024 Class 3A state track and field championships. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
5. A GREAT DAY TO BE A WILDCAT -- Hayden's track team didn't quite have enough depth to challenge Holcomb for the Class 3A team championship, with the Longhorns placing in 12 of 18 events on the way to an 80-61 margin over the Wildcats. But no team in 3A could match the Wildcats' quality, with Hayden winning five events, two more than any other team in the field. Hayden 2024 grad Finn Dunshee swept the 100 and 200-meter dashes while then-junior Jensen Schrickel won the long jump and Dunshee and Schrickel teamed with then-juniors Liam Stegman and John Strickland to win 4x400-meter relay.
Seaman 2024 grad Aaron Merritt won a pair of Class 5A state titles in the 2024 track and field championships. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
6. FINISHING WITH A FLOURISH -- Seaman 2024 graduate Aaron Merritt capped his high school track career in grand style, winning the first two Class 5A gold medals of his high school career while also adding a second-place relay finish for the Vikings. Merritt won the 100-meter dash and the 110-meter hurdles and also anchored Seaman's 4x100 relay to a second-place finish. Merritt's winning times in the 110 hurdles (14.48 seconds) and 100 dash (10.32) in the state meet were the fastest in all classes.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee County girls high school sports teams and individuals enjoyed another banner year in 2024, with county schools capturing six state team championships in four different sports in five different classifications and posted seven runnerup team finishes, including a pair of local teams that came within a tiebreaker of state crowns
Individually, local athletes combined for five individual/relay titles.
That across-the-board success made it nearly impossible to narrow down TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County girls sports stories to just 10, and even harder to decide which accomplishments deserve to be at the top of the list.
In fact, if you polled five different people you could have five different No. 1s. But having said that, here's one person's opinion.
Rossville wrestling star Kendra Hurla capped her prep career with a fourth straight individual title while helping lead the Bulldawgs to the Class 4A-1A team title. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
1. FOUR FOR FOUR, PLUS TWO MORE -- Rossville 120-pound girls wrestling star Kendra Hurla capped one of the most dominant high school careers in state history with her fourth straight Class 4A-1A state championship in the 2024 state meet at Hays. But Hurla's four-peat wasn't the only thing the Bulldawgs had to celebrate, with fellow senior Hailey Horton adding the 155-pound championship and as the Bulldawgs won thir first-ever state team crown by a half point, 82.5-82.0 over Oakley.
Molly Spader (with trophy) celebrates with her teammates after helping Washburn Rural win its fourth straight girls wrestling state title in five seasons. [File photo/TSN]
2. UNPARALLELED DOMINANCE --Damon Parker's Washburn Rural Junior Blues continued to set the standard for all Kansas high school girls wrestling programs in 2024, with Rural winning its fourth team title in the five seasons that girls wrestling has been an official sport in Kansas. After the Junior Blues had their two-year title reign snapped in 2022, finishing second to Dodge City, Rural has bounced back to win the last two Class 6A-5A championships, including a win by a 118-96 margin over Garden City in 2024. Then-junior state runnerup Molly Spader (105 pounds) led the way as six Junior Blues earned state medals.
Silver Lake girls basketball posted a perfect 26-0 record in the 2023-2024 season, winning the Class 3A state title. [File photo/TSN]
3. WIRE TO WIRE -- Traditional state girls basketball power Silver Lake added to its legacy with a dominating 2023-2024 campaign, capping a perfect 26-0 season with a 66-61 win over Hesston in the Class 3A state championship game. Makenzie McDaniel, now a freshman at Emporia State, was named the TopSports.news Shawnee County co-player of the year while fellow 2024 senior McKinley Kruger and then-sophomore Kailyn Hanni joined McDaniel on the all-county Top 10 and five Eagles earned all-county recognition.
Hayden senior Ainzley Zulueta won her third Class 4A state singles title this past fall, helping the Wildcats win the 4A team championship for the second time in three seasons. [File photo/TSN]
4. PICKING UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF -- After dominating Class 4A singles as a freshman and sophomore Hayden tennis star Ainzley Zulueta sat out her junior high school season after attending an out-of-state tennis academy. But Zulueta was back on the court this past fall, capturing her third state championship in as many tries while leading Hayden to its second team title in three seasons by a 40-28 margin over McPherson. Zulueta capped an 24-0 undefeated season without dropping a single game in either regional or state competition, posting eight straight 6-0, 6-0 victories. All six members of Hayden's team earned state medals, including a runnerup doubles finish from senior two-time state champ Emily Sheetz and freshman Sophia Wichman.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The names are well known to anyone who has followed area sports over the past several years, but a long and growing list of athletes who starred at Shawnee County high schools have made a big impact at the college and/or professional level this fall and winter.
Here's a look at just some of the stars who continue to make their fans proud:
Sophomore guard Jack Bachelor has helped Washburn University achieve a 12-0 record and a No. 2 national ranking this season. [File photo/TSN]
JACK BACHELOR, Washburn Rural/Washburn -- The 6-foot-2 sophomore guard has played a major role as the Ichabods are off to a 12-0 start this season while achieving a No. 2 national ranking in NCAA Division II. Bachelor, who has started all 12 games for the Ichabods, is currently averaging 12.7 points with 20 3-pointers while hitting 28 of 33 free throws (84.8 percent). Bachelor is also averaging 4.0 rebounds with a team-high 60 assists and 21 steals.
Former Shawnee Heights and Washburn standout Corey Ballentine has put together a six-year NFL career as a defensive back. [packers.com]
COREY BALLENTINE, Shawnee Heights/Washburn/Green Bay Packers --A 5-foot-11, 196-pound cornerback, the former Shawnee Heights and Washburn Univerity star has played in 11 games with one start this season for the 11-4 Packers. The sixth-year pro has played in 65 career games with 11 starts for the Giants, Jets, Lions and Packers, recording 100 tackles, including 76 solo stops with two forced fumbles and an interception.
Former Topeka West star Elijah Brooks had a career-high 29 points for Houston Christian earlier this season. [Houston Christian Athletics]
ELIJAH BROOKS, Topeka West/Houston Christian -- A 6-foot-4 junior guard, the former Mr. Kansas Basketball for Topeka West has appeared in all 13 games with 11 starts for the 4-9 Huskies, averaging 9.9 points and 4.1 rebounds with 25 assists. Brooks, who began his college career at North Dakota, scored a career-high 29 points earlier this season and also had a 21-point game.
Former Washburn Rural star Brooklyn DeLeye was a first-team AVCA All-American, the SEC Player of the Year and a finalist for the AVCA National Player of the Year this fall for Kentucky. [Kentucky Athletics]
BROOKLYN DELEYE, Washburn Rural/Kentucky -- The former three-sport Washburn Rural star, a 6-foot-2 sophomore outside hitter, had a huge 2024 season for Kentucky volleyball, being named the SEC Player of the Year, a first-team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America selection and one of four finalists for the AVCA National Player of the Year award. DeLeye helped lead the 23-8 Wildcats to their eighth straight conference championship and the fourth round (regional final) of the NCAA Tournament. DeLeye started all 31 matches, leading the Wildcats with 531 kills while also compiling 179 digs and 36 blocks.
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kaden Ballard
KADEN BALLARD, Washburn Rural
Ballard, a 5-foot-11 senior, scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds while connecting on 6 of 9 3-pointers Friday night as Washburn Rural's boys improved to 4-1 with a 71-55 non-league win over Kansas City, Mo.-Barstow in the Junior Blues' home-opener.
Anna Becker
ANNA BECKER, Seaman
A 5-foot-11 senior, Becker reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career with a 20-point performance in last Tuesday's 81-11 United Kansas Conference girls win over Kansas City-Turner and followed that up with 18 points and four 3-pointers in Friday's 53-50 UKC win over De Soto for the 5-0 Vikings.
Pearmella Carter
PEARMELLA CARTER, Highland Park
Carter, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, scored 52 points in two Highland Park wins on back-to-back nights last Thursday and Friday, scoring 30 points in a 76-18 home win over Kansas City-Turner and registering 22 points and 14 rebounds in a 57-39 Meadowlark Conference road win at KC-Wyandotte.
