Washburn University Ichabods
Senior Brady Christiansen has played in 93 career games with 31 starts, averaging 6.6 points and 6.2 rebounds. Christiansen ranks 11th in career rebounds in program history with 577.
Washburn football looking to rebound against Griffons after OT heartbreaker
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod football team will hit the road on Saturday to take on Missouri Western, looking to bounce back from a 13-10 heartbreaking overtime loss to Fort Hays State last week.
"We talk about our seven-day season and the game is the end of that,'' Washburn coach Zach Watkins said. "We close the chapter after the game and Sunday we move on to the next opponent and try to get better from the film and learn, but this one was a little bit harder to move on from.
"You have some games that are easy to move on from, win or loss, and some are tough to move on from. This is one of the tougher ones, but the guys have done a great job of responding this week and are ready to go against another good opponent but another game that we've got to play well to win.''
Topekan Ky Thomas (8) rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's 13-10 overtime loss to Fort Hays State. [File photo/TSN]
Former Topeka High star Ky Thomas, who rushed for 95 yards and scored the Ichabods' lone touchdown against the Tigers, agreed with his coach that WU's focus has to be on bouncing back.
"We have to take what we can from that game and learn from it and move on to the next seven-game season as coach Watkins says,'' said Thomas, who has scored four touchdowns over the past three games. "We'll take it one day at a time and get just get better as the season goes on.''
Washburn will take a 2-6 overall record and 1-5 MIAA mark into Saturday's 2 p.m. game while the Griffons are also 2-6 and 1-5.
Saturday's game will mark the second season in a row the Ichabods and Griffons have played in St. Joseph, with the Ichabods winning last year's matchup, 24-16.
The Griffons are coming off a 19-12 road win over Missouri Southern last Saturday.
Sophomore linebacker JC Heim leads the MIAA and is third in the national rankings in tackles per game with 12.6 stops while junior L.J. Minner Jr. is fourth in the MIAA with 9.6 tackles per game.
Senior Jordan Finnesy's 239 career tackles rank 16th on the NCAA D2 active chart and he is 16th on the D2 active solo tackles chart with 146.
Senior punter Jake Zeller is fifth on the NCAA D2 active punting average chart at 41.8 and he is seventh in total punt yards (6,479).
Zeller is second in the MIAA and ninth in the national rankings in punting average at 42.6 and Zeller is second on the Ichabod all-time punting average chart at 41.8 and ninth in total yards at 6,479.
No. 2 Ichabod volleyball has eight-match win streak snapped by Griffons in five-set thriller
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 2-ranked Washburn University volleyball had its eight-match winning streak snapped on Friday night in a 3-2 road loss to No. 23 Missouri Western.
Senior Austin Broadie had 12 kills for Washburn in Friday's five-set MIAA road loss at Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods will look to bounce back on Saturday in Maryville, Mo. against Northwest Missouri, with first serve set for 3 p.m.
Friday's match marked the first time in conference play that Washburn (20-2 overall, 9-2 MIAA) played five sets.
After the Griffons (17-5, 9-2) took the first set 25-21 it snapped a 24-set winning streak for the Ichabods going back to the Sept. 27 meeting with Missouri Western, which has handed Washburn both its losses this season.
Set two went in the Ichabods favor, 25-19, with the next two split each way 25-13 for Western and 25-17 for Washburn. The decisive fifth set was won by Missouri Western 15-12 to take the match.
The first set was taken control of by the Griffons as they went on a 6-1 run to lead 9-6. Washburn battled back, tying the match at 13 on a kill by Keilah Rivers and going ahead briefly at 15-14. Another 6-1 burst by Missouri Western pushed them in front 22-18 and the Ichabods were unable to overcome the late deficit, falling by four points.
In the second Washburn got out to an early 6-3 lead, capped off by a Sydney Conner ace. Both teams traded 5-0 runs in the middle of the set, ending with a 15-13 Ichabod lead on an Austin Broadie kill. Washburn finished the set with three straight points and the final two coming on aces by Bella Limback to even up the match.
Missouri Western responded quickly, leading 13-4 in the third set after an 8-0 rally. The Ichabods won four points in a row, two coming on kills by freshman former Washburn Rural standout Layla Collins before the Griffons went on another 8-0 run pushing the lead into double figures. The Griffons would go on to take the set by 12 points.
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball on road to face No. 23 Griffons, Bearcats
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball hits the road this weekend for a 6 p.m. Friday MIAA match at No. 23-ranked Missouri Western and a 3 p.m. Saturday match at Northwest Missouri.
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball will go on the road this weekend to face No. 23 Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Missouri Western is the only team that has beaten Washburn in the Ichabods' 21 matches on the season, but WU coach Chris Herron said his team's full focus is on continuing to play well and not even talking about trying to avenge the earlier 3-1 loss to the Griffons in Whiting Fieldhouse.
"We don't look at that in any way, shape or form,'' Herron said. "I don't talk about it like that and we don't address it like that. We just address it as this is how we're going at this game, this is what we've got to do against this person and so on and so forth. There's none of that (revenge factor) for us because here's the deal. If you're looking at it like that with them you forget you play the next day, too, so then you use all your energy on that one and not save some for the next one.
"Here's what we know. Every team that we play from now on is good, so we're going to have to play well and if we don't play well we're going to get beat. I just think that you have to take that approach.''
The Ichabods enter the week with a 20-1 record overall and a 9-1 mark inside the MIAA while riding an eight-match and 24-set winning streak after sweeping No. 25 Emporia State last Friday.
But Herron said the streaks are another non-topic for the Ichabods.
"I haven't mentioned it once,'' he said. "I don't talk about a winning streak, I don't talk about sweeps. That's never a conversation that we have in our gym because then that becomes the focus instead of getting better.
"I think individually every kid can get better and if you get better as an individual our team gets better.''
Missouri Western enters Friday's match with a seven-match winning streak and a 16-5 record overall while Northwest Missouri is 8-11 after losing last time out.
Washburn remains ranked No. 2 in the AVCA poll, the highest ranking for the program since Sept. 18, 2022 when the Ichabods were also ranked No. 2.
Austin Broadie leads the Washburn offense with 231 kills (3.40 per set) while hitting .361, third best on the team. She has started all 21 matches and also has logged 45 blocks with 47 digs. The senior has 11 double-digit kill matches.
Bella Limback is slashing a team-high .521 with 135 kills (2.05 per set) while playing and starting in all 21 matches. She has also added 73 blocks (1.11 per set), also team high, and served 10 aces. She has hit over .400 in all but four matches this season with three double-digit kill efforts. She leads the nation in hitting percentage.
Alex Dvorak is second on the team with 72 blocks (1.09 per set) on the season while starting all 21 matches. Offensively she has made 136 kills (2.06 per set) along with hitting .467, second best on the team. The senior ranks third in the nation and second in the MIAA in hitting percentage.
Corinna McMullen has started all 21 matches this season and leads Washburn with 442 assists (6.60 per set). She has also chipped in a team-high 27 service aces while ranking second on the team with 176 digs (2.63 per set). The senior has delivered 12 matches of 20-plus assists and seven double-doubles.
Libero Taylor Rottinghaus leads the team with 277 digs (4.07 per set). She has chipped in 85 assists while serving 24 aces, second most on the team. The junior has two matches making at least 20 digs. double-figure dig matches.
Washburn leads the nation with a .307 team hitting percentage, the only team in the nation hitting over .300.
The Ichabods are 11th nationally and second among MIAA teams with 2.52 blocks per set.
On the defensive side Washburn is limiting opponents to a .126 hitting percentage, good for 11th nationally and first in the MIAA.
A1 Lock & Key Performers Oct. 27, 2025
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Elise Eckert
ELISE ECKERT, Seaman
A senior, Eckert captured her fourth straight Class 5A state girls golf medal in Emporia, tying for fifth with a 36-hole total of 161 (77-84). Eckert, who won city and United Kansas Conference individual championships and finished second at regionals, led the Vikings to a tie for fifth in the team standings.
Izzy Glotzbach
IZZY GLOTZBACH, Hayden
Glotzbach, a senior, finished her high school girls golf career with a tie for fifth in the Class 4A state tournament at Hutchinson's Carey Park. Glotzbach, who helped Hayden win the 4A team title as a sophomore and junior, had rounds of 85 and 79 to finish at 164 and lead the Wildcats to a fourth-place team finish.
Connor Hanika
CONNOR HANIKA, Hayden
Hanika, a senior quarterback, completed 14 of 21 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers last Friday as the 8-0 Wildcats wrapped up the Class 3A District 4 championship with a 42-0 home victory over Jefferson West. Hanika has now completed 75 of 127 passes for 1,117 yards and 16 touchdowns while throwing just one interception on the season.
Bricelyn Betts, Kylie Hinrichs notch first career goals in Ichabods' 2-1 MIAA win over Fort Hays State
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer showed off its resiliency and depth Sunday in Yager Stadium as the Ichabods stretched their unbeaten streak to 11 games with a 2-1 MIAA victory over Fort Hays State.
The Ichabods, now 10-2-3 overall and 7-0-2 in the conference, never trailed after freshman Bricelyn Betts scored her first career goal with 11:49 left in the opening half off an assist from sophomore Sam Searcey, but the Tigers (3-10-1, 1-7-1) squared the match just 1:39 into the second half on a goal from Chaley French.
The game remained tied for just over 30 minutes until junior Kylie Hinrichs recorded her first career goal for the game-winner, with Searcey again providing the assist, and the Ichabods were able to hold on the rest of the way.
Washburn freshman Bricelyn Betts is mobbed by her teammates after scoring the Ichabods' first goal in Sunday's 2-1 win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn freshman Kylie Hinrichs delivers the game-winning goal in the Ichabods' 2-1 win over Fort Hays State Sunday in Yager Stadium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
For the second straight game Washburn scored the game-winning goal in the final 15 minutes.
"The resiliency of this group, they just stay so committed to the process day-in and day-out, training, games,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "Teams have to beat us. They truly have to beat us and there'll be a moment here and there in games where they might get a goal, but takes a lot to beat us.
"Credit the girls, they find a way. We are going to need that down the stretch here. We're going to need big moments late in games and knowing they can produce them is comforting and should give us confidence in these tight games down the stretch."
Washburn football drops 13-10 overtime heartbreaker to Tigers
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football did a lot of good things, particularly in the first half, in Saturday's Homecoming game against Fort Hays State in Yager Stadium.
Senior Ky Thomas had 95 rushing yards and Washburn's lone touchdown in Saturday's 13-10 overtime loss to Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But in the end, WU coach Zach Watkins felt like the Ichabods let a win get away, with Fort Hays State scoring the final 13 points to escape with a 13-10 overtime MIAA victory.
"We did a great job in the first half, but it's a two-half game, a four-quarter game and we didn't finish,'' Watkins said.
"The mark of a really good team in the MIAA is how you finish and we didn't finish today.''
The Ichabods (2-6 overall, 1-5 MIAA) struck first when Ky Thomas scored on a 3-yard run (Aidan Battle kick) midway through the first quarter after Braiden Lagafuaina's interception return to the Fort Hays State 20-yard-line.
Washburn extended its lead when Battle drilled a 32-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 12:37 to go before halftime and ending the first-half scoring.
Fort Hays (5-4, 4-3) finally broke through in the third quarter, taking advantage of a Washburn turnover on an interception to score on an 18-yard keeper from Tiger quarterback Caleb Heavner.
The Tigers tied the game later in the period with a 25-yard field goal by Zane Hall.
Neither team managed points in the fourth quarter as both defenses forced turnovers and traded punts in increasingly wet conditions.
Washburn got the ball first in overtime and reached the red zone, but missed a 41-yard field goal attempt in overtime before the Tigers' Michael Polley connected from 34 yards out to seal the win.
"You're not defined by one game, but those are the type of games that you have to win to make the leaps in this conference that we want to make and know we can make and are capable of making,'' Watkins said. "But that's a game you have to win to take the next step.
"We'll get back to work tomorrow and we'll improve and get better from there.''
Former Topeka High star Thomas, a senior, powered the Ichabods' ground game with 95 yards on 16 carries, averaging 5.9 per attempt, and added 16 receiving yards.
Washburn freshman quarterback Logan Madden had 101 passing yards in Saturday's 13-10 overtime loss to Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Freshman quarterback Logan Madden went 16 for 29 for 101 yards, with redhirt freshman Henry Mohrmann catching three passes for 26 yards and Jaden Abongo Jr. adding 21 yards receiving and 38 on kickoff returns.
Late Mackinly Rohn goal pushes Ichabod soccer past No. 12 Jennies, 1-0
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University soccer team posted a statement MIAA win Friday night in Yager Stadium, topping No. 12-ranked Central Missouri 1-0 on a late goal from junior Mackinly Rohn.
Junior Mackinly Rohn scored the game's only goal in the 85th minute in Friday's 1-0 Washburn soccer win over No. 12-ranked Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"I'm so proud of the team for their effort and ability to compete against a really good team in UCM,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "They executed things we talked about throughout the week at a really high level.
"Sunday will provide another really tough test that we will need to be our best for, but tonight is a really good night for our team."
In the 85th minute, Rohn, a former Washburn Rural star, found the bottom right corner of the net for what would be the game's only score.
It was a back-and-forth opening 45 minutes, with both teams having two shots each. Washburn forced the UCM goalie to make a save. The Ichabods had five corners to the Jennies' two.
Coming off big MIAA win, Washburn football set to host Tigers in Homecoming tilt
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Fresh off its first MIAA win of the season last week in a 37-17 decision over Central Missouri last weekend, Washburn football team will host Fort Hays State at 1 p.m. Saturday in Yager Stadium as part of WU's Homecoming Week.
First-year Washburn coach Zach Watkins picked up his first MIAA win as a head coach last week in the Ichabods' 37-17 win over Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn is now 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the MIAA after snapping a four-game losing streak while the Tigers are 4-4 and 3-3 in the MIAA after suffering a 52-3 loss at No. 19 Northwest Missouri last Saturday.
"We keep talking about the fact that we have a very good process that we're implementing and we're running the program in the right way, but you have to see some tangible evidence that are wins to really back that up,'' Washburn coach Zach Watkins said. "Even without the wins for the last few weeks the players and coaches knew we were doing it the right way and kept working, but when you get a win it does validate it and it does give you some positivity that, 'Hey, we are on the right track.' ''
Ichabod sophomore linebacker JC Heim, a former Washburn Rural star, leads the nation in tackles per game with 13.6 stops per contest and junior L.J. Minner Jr. is third in the MIAA with 9.6 tackles per game, ranking 19th in NCAA D-II.
Senior safety Jordan Finnesy, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the win over UCM, has 239 career tackles to rank 16th on the NCAA D-II active chart and he is also 16th on the active solo tackles chart with 146.
Senior Jake Zeller is fifth on the D-II active punting average chart at 41.9 yards per punt and he is seventh in total punting yards (6,196). Zeller is second in the MIAA and ninth in the national rankings in punting average this fall at 43.0 yards and is second on the Ichabod all-time punting average chart at 41.9 and ninth in total yards at 6,196.
Junior Chase Allen-Jackman's seven touchdown receptions lead the MIAA and rank 12th in the nation.
The Ichabod defense is 11th in turnovers gained in the national rankings and second in the MIAA and the Ichabods lead the MIAA in turnover margin and rank 14th in the nation.
The eight turnovers forced by the Ichabods last weekend against Central Missouri was a school record, as were the six interceptions, tying the six pickoffs recorded at Missouri Southern on Oct. 8, 2016.
Making his first career start, redshirt freshman Logan Madden completed 20 of 31 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns against Central Missouri while adding 14 rushing yards and a TD.
Former Topeka High star Ky Thomas posted 87 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards with two total touchdowns, and Allen-Jackman caught seven passes for 73 yards and a TD.
Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown was an assistant at Washburn as the defensive coordinator for nine years while another former Ichabod coach on the Tiger staff, defensive coordinator Cooper Harris, was at Washburn from 2002-11, serving as linebackers coach and one season as the defensive coordinator before joining Brown in Hays.
Brown is in his 14th season as head coach at Fort Hays State, leading the Tigers to an MIAA Championship in 2017 and a co-championship in 2018 as well as their first NCAA postseason games since 1995.
Watkins has a great deal of respect for both Brown and Harris.
"Coach Brown was my D-Coordinator the whole time I played, coach Harris was my linebacker coach the whole time I played and then coach Brown hired me at Fort Hays for my first full-time coaching job,'' Watkins said. "I coached with him and coach Harris out there for three years after playing under them.
"So this week is not about me of course, but it's a special week to play your mentors in the head coaching role for the first time. We have the utmost respect for everybody we play, but especially guys you know on a personal level like those guys.''
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball tops No. 25 Emporia State for eighth straight sweep
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball extended its consecutive set winning streak to 24 with a sweep Friday night in Whiting Fieldhouse. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]Washburn (20-1 overall, 9-1 MIAA) took control early in the first two sets, winning 25-17 and 25-15, but would need to battle back from a deficit in the third set to earn the sweep over the Hornets (17-4, 8-2) with a 25-23 win.
The first three points of the match all went to the Ichabods on kills set up by Corinna McMullen. A kill by Alex Dvorak sparked an 8-0 run, culminated with an ace from McMullen to put Washburn up 16-6.
Emporia State battled back to bring the score within six but were held to just a .100 hitting percentage as a team.
The final two points of the set came on kills by WU's Keilah Rivers.
The Ichabods got out to an early lead in the second set with the Hornets staying close, pulling within one at 10-9 after a three-point burst.
Dvorak started a 7-2 rally with a kill, putting Washburn up 17-11 after a Sydney Conner ace.
After hitting just .194 in the first set, the Ichabod offense hit .407 in the second, pulling away down the stretch with Dvorak ending the set on a kill.
Emporia State started the third set quicker, leading 9-6 after two straight points.
A four-point rally for Washburn put them in front 11-10 after two aces by Taylor Rottinghaus, but the visitors quickly flipped it back with three in a row of their own.
The Ichabods were able to come back for good and create some separation with a 6-1 run, capped by a kill by Austin Broadie to lead 22-18.
Washburn reached match point at 24-21 and twice the Hornets held firm until a kill by Sydney Buscher ended the match.
Ichabod soccer to put nine-game unbeaten streak on the line against No. 12 Jennies
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod soccer team, in the midst of a nine-game unbeaten streak, will be at home Friday to face No. 12-ranked Central Missouri in a 6 p.m. MIAA contest in Yager Stadium.
Freshman Leah Henke leads Washburn soccer with nine goals entering Friday's home MIAA match against Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn is 8-2-3 overall and 5-0-2 in the MIAA 5-0-2, while Central Missouri, 8-2-4, 5-0-3 MIAA 5-0-3, comes in on a 10-game unbeaten run, with seven wins and three ties.
"UCM is a well-coached and talented team,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "It's really fun playing in meaningful, big-time college soccer games this late in the season, so I'm excited that our ladies have earned the opportunity to compete in matchups like what Friday night offers.
"I'm looking forward to coaching our team, playing with the right mentality, and putting in another really good performance this Friday."
The Ichabods remain ranked No. 6 for the second straight week in the United Soccer Coaches Central Region Poll. Washburn currently sits third in the MIAA standings with 17 points, just one point back of league-leaders Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri State.
Offensively, Washburn is powered by freshman Leah Henke, who leads the team with nine goals, ranking second in the MIAA and tied for 22nd nationally.
As a team, the Ichabods have outscored opponents 23-11 and outshot them, 181-101.
The Jennies have been nationally ranked for eight consecutive weeks, climbing as high as No. 9 in the country.
Ichabod quarterback Logan Madden looking to build off first start, first victory
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Like virtually all freshmen, quarterback Logan Madden began his collegiate career towards the bottom of the Washburn Ichabods' depth chart.
Washburn redshirt freshman quarterback Logan Madden earned his first college start last Saturday, helping lead the Ichabods to a 37-17 home MIAA win over Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But after using a redshirt campaign to get accustomed to college football, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Arvada, Colo. native worked his way into a chance to get on the field for the Ichabods this fall and has made the most of that opportunity, earning his first start in last Saturday's 37-17 MIAA win over Central Missouri in Yager Stadium.
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball set to host No. 25 Emporia State in MIAA rematch
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 2 ranked Washburn volleyball will face Emporia State for the second time this season on Friday in Whiting Fieldhouse after taking a 3-0 win at Emporia on Oct. 7. [File photo/TSN]Bella Limback is slashing a team-high .547 with 133 kills (2.11 per set) while playing and starting in all 20 matches. She has also added 72 blocks (1.14 per set), also a team high, and served eight aces. She has hit over .400 in all but three matches this season with three double-digit kill efforts. She leads the nation in hitting percentage and is third in the MIAA in blocks per set.
Alex Dvorak is second on the Ichabods with 70 blocks (1.11 per set) on the season while starting all 20 matches. Offensively, Dvorak has made 129 kills (2.05 per set) along with hitting .459, second best on the team. She has recorded five or more blocks in nine matches. The senior ranks third in the nation and second in the MIAA in hitting percentage among qualified hitters. She is also fourth in the MIAA in blocks per set.
Corinnna McMullen has started all 20 matches this season and leads Washburn with 425 assists (6.64 per set). She has also chipped in a team-high 23 service aces while ranking second on the team with 170 digs (2.66 per set). The senior has delivered 12 matches of 20-plus assists and has seven double-doubles.
Taylor Rottinghaus leads the team with 269 digs (4.14 per set). She has chipped in 82 assists while serving 22 aces as well, second most on the team. The junior libero has two matches making at least 20 digs. She ranks seventh in the MIAA in digs per set and 10th in total digs.
Brynne Topolski is second on the Ichabods with 157 kills (2.42 per set) while hitting .276. She has come off the bench in all 20 matches while making 38 blocks with 29 digs. She has five matches with double-digit kills.
Washburn leads the nation with a .306 team hitting percentage, the only team in the nation hitting over .300.
The Ichabods are ninth nationally and second among MIAA teams with 2.59 blocks per set.
On the defensive side Washburn is limiting opponents to a .121 hitting percentage, good for 10th nationally and tops in the MIAA.
The Ichabods are dishing out 13.95 assists per set on offense, good for second in the nation and first in the MIAA.
Washburn knocks down 14.86 kills per set to rank third in D-II and first among MIAA programs.
Freshman Leah Henke makes an immediate impact for Ichabod soccer
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Like most college freshmen, former Bishop Carroll soccer star Leah Henke didn't know exactly what to expect when she arrived on the Washburn University campus earlier this fall.
Former Bishop Carroll star Leah Henke leads Washburn soccer with nine goals in just 13 games as a freshman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But it's safe to say that the 5-foot-6 forward didn't expect a team-leading nine goals, including a hat trick, in 13 games for an 8-2-3 Washburn team that is in the midst of an unbeaten streak that has reached nine games.
"I did not expect to be doing this well, so I'm definitely surprised,'' Henke said.
Henke, who helped lead Bishop Carroll to the Class 5A state title as a senior, said her goal at the start of the season was just to do whatever she could to contribute to a Washburn team that graduated a talented senior class off last year's team that won a second straight MIAA regular-season title while earning a second straight NCAA Tournament berth.
"I guess I was a little bit intimidated at first,'' Henke said. "I feel like I did pretty decent in high school, but coming here I just expected that everybody's going to be better than me, so I just wanted to do well and succeed, score goals and do what I came here to do.''
Henke scored a goal in her very first college game, had two goals in her third game and was off and running.
"She was an All-American out of high school and she's really good,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "You never know though until they get on campus and how they adjust to college. One of the things we talk about it everything is different in college. In some areas, if the social piece isn't right or if academics aren't strong it's really hard to translate to on-field success, so you never really know until they get here and they compete.
"To Leah's credit, I think the first two weeks was just a lot, with me coaching and all of that, but then once she settled into it you could just see the comfort level rise with every game and every training session and it was just letting her go.''
Henke took her game to another level in Washburn's 5-1 road win at Missouri Southern on Oct. 10 when she recorded a three-goal hat trick in a four-minute span.
"Three goals in four minutes was unbelievable,'' Phillips said. "It was just that quick. Leah took over and it was like bang, bang, bang and the game just went to bed. She's been really good all year, but that night was unbelievable.''
A1 Lock & Key Performers Oct. 20, 2025
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Brody Anderson
BRODY ANDERSON, Seaman
Anderson, a senior cross country standout, won his second straight boys United Kansas Conference individual title Thursday in Kansas City, Kan. while posting his fifth individual victory of the 2025 season. A Class 5A state medalist in cross country and track, Anderson posted a winning five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 38.30 seconds while leading the Vikings to a runnerup conference team finish.
Jordan Finnesy
JORDAN FINNESY, Washburn University
Finnesy tied a school record with two interceptions while adding nine tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in Saturday's 37-17 MIAA win over Central Missouri in Yager Stadium. Finnesy helped Washburn record a school-record eight turnovers against the Mules en route to snapping a four-game losing streak and picking up the Ichabods' first conference victory of 2025.
Molly Gorman
MOLLY GORMAN, Seaman
A senior tennis standout, Gorman earned her fourth straight Class 5A state medal with a sixth-place singles finish Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. After placing in the 5A state meet in doubles as a freshman and sophomore, Gorman earned singles medals her final two high school seasons for the Vikings, helping Seaman finish second as a team to cap the 2025 season.
WU soccer stretches unbeaten streak to nine games with 1-1 tie against Hillcats
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sunday was a frustrating day for Washburn University soccer in some respects, with the Ichabods having a first-half goal taken off the board and having to come from behind after Rogers State scored early in the second half.
But in the end Washburn found a way to earn a 1-1 tie at Yager Stadium, stretching its unbeaten streak to nine games.
Washburn freshman Kate Hinck (7) battles Rogers State's Kelsey Hogan for the ball in Sunday's 1-1 tie at Yager Stadium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I thought the performance was really good,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "We out-shot them 17-4 and in the game of soccer it's hard to score goals and a ref takes one away from you it makes a big difference on the game.
"But I'm proud of the mentality and the performance. There's probably 20 minutes in the second half we weren't at our best, but other than that I thought it was a really good performance from us. It's just turning performance into wins, which is really, really hard in soccer.''
Washburn is now 8-2-3 overall and 5-0-2 in the MIAA while Rogers State is 1-5-6 overall and 1-3-3 in the MIAA.
Sunday's game was scoreless at the half after Washburn had a goal ruled out due to a foul on the Hillcat goalkeeper.
Washburn recorded 12 shots in the half, with a shot off the post and two others on goal, and out-shot Rogers State 17-4 on the day, with all of the Hillcats' shots coming in the second half.
But it was Rogers State that drew first blood two minutes into the second half on a free kick that bounced around and eventually found the net.
Washburn would have control of the ball for the rest of the contest and finally pulled even in the 80th minute, scoring from a corner by way of Shaye Taylor, who scored her second career goal.
Washburn will be back at home on Friday as the Ichabods host the Central Missouri Jennies in a 6 p.m. MIAA contest at Yager Stadium.
Ichabods force school-record eight turnovers in 37-17 MIAA romp past Central Missouri
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football turned Hall of Fame Saturday into its best performance of the year, using six interceptions and forcing two more fumbles as the Ichabods scored 30 points off of Central Missouri turnovers and added a balanced offensive attack to take down the Mules 37-17 in Yager Stadium, notching their first MIAA win of the season.
Linebacker L.J. Minner Jr. had a pick six as Washburn forced eight Central Missouri turnovers in Saturday's 37-17 MIAA win. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods, after winning the opening coin toss, took advantage of a Central Missouri fumble on the second play from scrimmage that was forced and recovered by Jordan Finnesy, setting the Ichabods up at the UCM 45 less than a minute into the game.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Logan Madden threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a TD in Washburn's 37-17 MIAA win over Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Making his first career start, quarterback Logan Madden capped an 8-play, 45-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter to give Washburn a 6–0 lead.
After the teams traded punts, Central Missouri cut the lead in half at 6-3 after a 36-yard field goal by Will Peacock cut the margin to 6-3 with 1:24 to play in the opening frame.
The Mules briefly went ahead 10–6 in the second quarter on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Donovyn Omolo to Rossville product Bo Reeves capping a 12-play, 81-yard drive with 8:24 to go in the first half.
But the Ichabods quickly regained control.
Ky Thomas had rushing and receiving touchdowns in Saturday's 37-17 Washburn win over Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods punted after the UCM score, but Josh Grant intercepted a pass at the visitors' 15-yard line and three plays later Madden found former Topeka High star Ky Thomas on a 9-yard touchdown strike, giving Washburn a 13-10 halftime edge.
WU soccer stretches unbeaten streak to eight games with 4-0 win over RiverHawks
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn soccer continued its hot streak Friday night in Yager Stadium, stretching its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 4-0 shutout MIAA victory over Northeastern State.
Freshman Kate Hinck scored the only goal Washburn would need 10 minutes into Friday's 4-0 home win over Northeastern State. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods improved to 8-2-2 overall and 5-0-1 in the MIAA, while Northeastern State fell to 6-5-1, 1-4-1.
"The ladies did an amazing job executing our game plan tonight,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "I'm so proud of the fight and intentionality of the team tonight. We were organized defensively and had a few really good finishes.
"I feel growth in every game, and we have to look forward to a tough test on Sunday vs. Rogers State.''
Washburn opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a goal from freshman Kate Hinck, with the former Washburn Rural star finding the bottom left corner for her fourth goal of the season.
Rilyn Snyder would take a free kick in the 21st minute, which found the back of the net for her first career goal.
Ichabods' Weber thankful to be back on field after fighting through rare medical affliction
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Like most football players, Washburn University junior Ty Weber has battled his share of injuries over his career.
Washburn tight end Ty Weber, who will wear No. 0 this fall, missed the Ichabods' first five games of the season while battling a rare illness. [File photo/TSN]
But nothing prepared the 6-foot-4, 230-pound tight end and former Washburn Rural star for what he's been forced to deal with this fall, a condition that forced the Ichabod captain to miss Washburn's first five games of the season.
"I developed something called amyloidosis,'' Weber said. "To put it in laymen's terms, it's like your body loses proteins and eats away your muscles a little bit, and it just came from dehydration as well as probably something underlying, like an illness or what not.
"It's something that took me by shock. You're weren't expecting it at all. It was crazy, something I never experienced before because it was just cramps everywhere, all over my body. I've been through a lot of injuries before and that was by far the worst ever.''
The illness put Weber in the hospital before he began a frustratingly slow process to get back to 100 percent.
"I was there for probably a day and a half and stayed overnight and they probably pumped 10 bags of fluids into me to get me back to where I was before,'' Weber said.
The initual prognosis was that Weber, who developed his condition well into fall camp, might only miss a game or two but then he got the news that his return would be delayed.
"The trainers did a great job with my return to play program and I practiced and went and got a blood test and the blood test wasn't very positive,'' he said. "There were a lot of issues with my kidneys and liver and they wanted to give me a couple of options and said we could go through another four weeks and see if by that point I'd be able to play, and if I was I could play out the remainder of the season, so I decided to do that.
"My cutoff was (Pittsburg State last Saturday) because everything before that's when you have the option of a medical redshirt and at Pitt I got to play and probably played 12 snaps, which was awesome to be back out there. It was a great environment, just not the result we wanted obviously (a 34-10 loss).''
Weber has steadily gotten closer and closer to being back to full speed and expects to be 100 percent for Saturday's 2 p.m. Hall of Fame game against Central Missouri.
This fall's battle has made Weber appreciate the opportunity he's been given to play college football even more.
"I can't even emphasize how blessed I am and I give all the glory to God because he gave me the perspective of, 'This is your life without football,' and it totally just changed my perspective on leadership and the ability to play the game I love,'' Weber said. "Without him it wouldn't be possible for me.''
Ichabods set to host Mules
Washburn returns to Yager Stadium for the first time since Sept. 27 to host Central Missouri on Saturday at 2 p.m. as part of Washburn Athletics Hall of Fame Day.
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball posts seventh straight sweep in home win over Southern
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball worked a seventh straight sweep and extended its set winning streak to 21 with a 3-0 takedown of Missouri Southern on Friday night in Whiting Fieldhouse.
Washburn volleyball stretched its winning streak to 21 straight sets in Friday's 3-0 home win over Missouri Southern. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods, now 19-1 overall and 8-1 in the MIAA, have a full week off before returning to action facing Emporia State on Friday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. in Whiting.
Both the first and second sets went long, but both went to Washburn, which posted a 28-26 come-from-behind victory followed by a 27-25 win in the second over the Lions (8-11, 2-6). The third set was not as dramatic, with the Ichabods taking a 25-18 decision to close out the match.
Early in the first set Washburn jumped out to a 5-1 lead after Emery Keebaugh took a pass from Sydney Conner for a kill.
But the next seven points were all scored by Missouri Southern. The lead grew to five points at 15-10 after three more in a row by the visitors.
The Ichabods chipped away, finally tying it on a Kali Henry ace and going in front 18-17 with a Brynne Topolski kill.
A 4-1 run by the Lions put them back in front, 22-20, but Washburn came right back to tie it up. There were four more ties after the 22-22 knot. Finally, kills by Alex Dvorak and Keilah Rivers ended the set at 28-26.
Both sides traded runs to begin the second set, eventually splitting the first 20 points. Missouri Southern went in front 12-10 after a three-point burst and stayed in front over halfway through the set.
A kill by Keebaugh began a five-point rally by the Ichabods to put them in front, 19-16. Washburn led 23-19 before the Lions went on a 5-0 run to go in front and force set point. The Ichabods navigated with two points in response.
After one more tie Dvorak got a kill and then teamed with Austin Broadie on a block to end the set.
In the third set Washburn used a five point burst at the beginning to go in front 10-5. It turned into a 8-1 run after Broadie slammed a kill.
Missouri Southern got within four points after scoring five in a row, but the Ichabod offense didn't let up down the stretch, hitting .375 in the final set to win, 25-18.
WU soccer to put seven-game unbeaten streak on the line in pair of weekend MIAA contests
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Leah Henke
Sam Searcey No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball posts sixth straight sweep in home win over No. 24 Jennies
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 2 nationally ranked Washburn University volleyball is on an unquestioned hot streak... and just keeps getting hotter.
The Ichabods stretched their win streak to six straight sweeps, covering 18 straight sets, Thursday night at Whiting Fieldhouse with Washburn taking a 25-20, 25-21, 25-23 MIAA victory over No. 24 Central Missouri.
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball celebrates a kill from senior Austin Broadie (23) in Thursday's 3-0 MIAA sweep over No. 24 Central Missouri. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn, which posted its second straight win over a ranked opponent, improved to 18-1 overall and 7-1 in the MIAA while Central Missouri fell to 14-4, 6-2.
"Really solid,'' Washburn coach Chris Herron said of the Ichabods' performance. "But that's a really good (UCM) team. I have to be honest with you, in all my scouts this year so far, that team worried me more than anybody, just because their middles are good, their outsides are good, their (libero) is good and their setter has gotten so much better.''
But the Ichabods were definitely up to the challenge.
"Our middles both hit for a really high percentage, which opens stuff up for (Austin) Broadie and Broadie's playing at an All-American level,'' Herron said. "And our setters are smart enough to know where the gravy is on the biscuit, so I thought they did a good job as well.''
Senior Alex Dvorak, the reigning MIAA Offensive Player of the Week, also gave her team high marks for its work against the Jennies.
"I think that we've found our flow so well and being in like the middle of the season, I think we're in a great spot to just keep on rolling,'' Dvorak said.
Dvorak admitted that being ranked No. 2 and in the midst of a winning streak could bring along some pressure with it, but she said the WU team is good about just being able to concentrate on the task at hand.
"I think we're very good about always trying to get better,'' she said. "Like in practice, we're always trying to get better and we're not hesitating or slowing down, so there may be some kind of pressure on us, but with us wanting to keep growing, we're just kind of flowing with it.''
Central Missouri led 4-3 early in the opening set but Washburn's Brynne Topolski got a kill that started a 4-1 run, putting the Ichabods in front.
The Ichabods held the narrow lead until Topolski got another kill that became the first of six points for Washburn. A Corinna McMullen ace made it 19-12.
The Jennies would score five in a row later in the set to pull within three but an Ichabod offense that hit .324 in the set finished off the five-point win on another Topolski kill.
The Ichabods took control early in the second set, with a setter kill by Sydney Conner sparking a 6-2 run that put Washburn in front, 15-10.
Central Missouri stormed back, tying the set at 16 after four straight points.
With the score once again tied, this time at 19, Topolski and Keilah Rivers slashed kills and Shawnee Heights product Kali Henry served an ace. Another three-point WU run ended the set at 25-21.
The first four points of the third set belonged to Washburn, starting with a kill by Dvorak.
The Jennies hung around, eventually coming all the way back to tie the set at ten. They would go in front with a 5-1 run at 15-14.
After five ties the Ichabods created a two-point advantage with Bella Limback making a solo block to put Washburn in front at 21-19. Central Missouri tied it back up at 23 but the final two points of the match belonged to the home squad to complete the sweep.
Washburn men's basketball reloads for another title shot
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The 2025-2026 Washburn men's basketball team will have to replace four players who all received MIAA postseason honors from last season's 30-4 team that advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals.
Jack Bachelor
Brady Christiansen
But the Ichabods' cupboard is far from bare. In fact, Washburn coach Brett Ballard feels like the pieces are in place for the Ichabods to challenge for another MIAA championship and put together a strong postseason run.
"I think we have five guys returning that all either had started, did start or probably would have started on almost any team in the country last year,'' Ballard said. "We were just deep and talented.''
Junior Jack Bachelor, a first-team All-MIAA pick last season, is the Ichabods' lone returning starter, but Washburn also returns several other experienced players from last year's team, including seniors Sam Ungashick and Brady Christiansen, and sophomores Dillon Claussen and Tyson Ruud.
"Jack has started, Sam has started in the past, and now is healthy and playing as good as anybody,'' Ballard said. "Brady has started before and has shown that he's a high-level MIAA guy and then Dylan Claussen didn't start last year because he was playing behind Andrew Orr, but he would have started on most of the teams in our conference.
"And Tyson Ruud, when healthy, I think showed you he's a high-level MIAA guy, so yes we lost a lot, but I really feel good about the talent and leadership of the guys returning.''
Ungashick, an All-MIAA honorable mention honoree as a sophomore before battling back from knee injuries last season, agrees with his coach that the Ichabods are capable of putting together another banner season this winter.
"We definitely feel that way,'' Ungashick said. "We have a lot of guys who played real minutes in our games last year and they're all back on this team and all playing at a high level in practice so far this fall.''
Washburn was picked No. 1 in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media polls and Ungashick said the Ichabods embrace that challenge.
"We've kind of talked about that in practice, that we'd rather be No. 1 than last place, so I think that target on our back is forcing us to prepare in a good way for the season and I think that's pushing us to be the best and play to the best of our abilities,'' Ungashick said.
Bachelor, a 6-foot-2 point guard, averaged 13.6 points and 5.5 assists last season while hitting 66 3-pointers and shooting 85.6 percent from the free throw line.
Christiansen (6-7) has played 93 games as an Ichabod with 31 starts and averaged 7.0 points and 5.6 rebounds with 36 3-pointers last season while Claussen (6-8) averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds as a freshman, including a 17-point performance in the national quarterfinals.
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball continues homestand with pair of MIAA matches
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 2 ranked Washburn volleyball will put its 15-set win streak on the line Thursday night against Central Missouri in Whiting Fieldhouse. [File photo/TSN]Experienced Washburn women's basketball counting on another big jump in 2025-2026
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball has made steady progress in Lora Westling's previous three seasons as the Ichabods' head coach, posting a seven-win improvement during that span.
And with an experienced, talented returning cast, the Ichabods are looking forward to making another big jump in the upcoming 2025-2026 campaign.
Yibari Nwidadah
Payton Sterk
Washburn, led by All-MIAA second-team picks Yibari Nwidadah and Payton Stert, is coming off an 18-13 season with a 11-8 mark inside the MIAA and was tapped No. 2 with a conference-high six first-place votes in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the Media Poll.
And while the expectations for the Ichabods are higher than they've ever been under Westling, the former WU standout said her team welcomes the challenge.
"Nobody wants to motivate being the underdog for many years,'' said Westling, whose Ichabods are in their first full week of official preseson practice. "You kind of know when you come in that you've got to turn some things around, but if you stay the underdog something's not going well, so I'm really excited for our players and returners to kind of have some return on that investment and showing that experience matters and they're doing things the right way and setting themselves up for a chance to be really good.
''They've got to flip their mindset and make a decision that they're going to be unbeatable and they're going to be hard to beat and they're going to do their best every time and know that the results will come if their doing what they do the best they can do it.''
Nwidadah, a 6-foot-2 senior post player, and Sterk, a 5-10 senior guard, give the Ichabods two of the conference's best players to build around while Washburn also returns its other three starters -- Gabi Giovannetti (5-10 senior), Madelyn Amekporfor (5-11 junior) and Brooke Gomez (5-7 sophomore) -- along with top reserve Aniah Wayne (5-8 senior).
Nwidadah averaged 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds last season while shooting 62.6 percent from the field and Sterk averaged 15.7 points and hit a team-high 62 3-pointers and shot 84.6 percent from the free throw line.
Giovannetti averaged 11.6 points, shot 84.6 percent from the free throw line and hit 47 3-pointers, Amekporfor averaged 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, Gomez averaged 4.6 points with a team-high 83 assists and Wayne averaged 5.8 points.
"I could not be more excited about this season just because of how they've worked,'' Westling said. "They're hungry, they want it and it's a pleasure to be around.''
The Ichabods have also added three transfers, Britany Kogbara (6-0 junior), Kellyn Hunter (5-4 junior) and Kylin Shipman (5-8 sophomore), who could make an immediate impact this winter.
Kogbara was a first-team juco All-American last season for Mesa Community College when she averaged 13.4 points and 9.5 rebounds, Hunter averaged 14.1 points with 40 3-pointers last season for Spring Hill College and Shipman transferred in after seeing action as a freshman for Regis.
"They're going to be a lot of fun I think for Ichabod fans,'' Westling said. "They've got some pretty impressive skill sets that are really complimentary to what we're doing and credit to my staff, they just kind of hit a home run with our recruiting class.''
Washburn will open the season on Nov. 14 and 15 in Edmond, Okla. against St. Cloud State and Southwest Minnesota State in the Central Region Challenge.
The Ichabods will make their home debut in newly-renovated Lee Arena on Nov. 21-22 in the Washburn Classic against Southwest Baptist and Metropolitan State of Denver.
Searcey stars as WU soccer runs unbeaten streak to seven games with 2-0 win at Pitt State
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod soccer team completed an undefeated MIAA weekend Sunday at Pittsburg State as sophomore Sam Searcey scored both goals in a 2-0 shutout over the Gorillas.
Sophomore Sam Searcey scored both Washburn goals in Sunday's 2-0 win at Pittsburg State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn is unbeaten in seven straight games, while allowing just one goal.
"A great team performance from us today,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "We were able to force the game into places we felt comfortable in the first half, and in the second half, we grinded out an important team win.
"I'm so proud of the team for this weekend's performance."
Washburn would break through in the 33rd minute with Searcey's first goal of the day.
Washburn was held to four shots in the half, with two being on goal. Ichabod goalkeeper Lili Everleyhad one first-half save, as Pitt State had six shots in the half.
Washburn would continue to defend their goal, and in the 84th minute, Searcey would score her second goal of the game and fourth on the year to put away the Gorillas.
Washburn faced 13 shots from the Gorillas, and Everley would record five second-half saves for a total of six on the day.
Washburn heads back home, where the Ichabods will host Northeastern State at 6 p.m. on Friday night at Yager Stadium.
The Ichabods will host Rogers State next Sunday at 1 p.m.
No. 9 Washburn volleyball records fifth straight sweep in win over No. 2 Lopers
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 9-ranked Washburn University volleyball picked up its first victory of the year over a nationally ranked team in dominant fashion on Saturday afternoon in Whiting Fieldhouse, knocking off No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney in three sets.
Washburn volleyball knocked off No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney for its fifth straight sweep Saturday at Whiting Fieldhouse. [File photo/TSN]
It was a back-and-forth affair in the first set, but after coming away with a 25-21 win, Washburn (17-1 overall, 6-1 in the MIAA) didn't look back, winning 25-13 and 25-14 in the final two sets over the Lopers (18-2, 5-2 MIAA) to post its fifth straight 3-0 sweep.
The win over Nebraska-Kearney was the highest-ranked victory for Washburn since Sept. 18, 2021 when the Ichabods also defeated the Lopers, who were ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time.
The Ichabods' 17-1 start matches the best start to a season since 2021 when Washburn also began the season 17-1.
Within the first 16 points of the match there were six ties as both sides traded blows. A eight-point rally from the Ichabods began with Brynne Topolski slashing a kill and ended at 14-8 after Austin Broadie delivered back-to-back kills.
Nebraska-Kearney came nearly all the way back, getting within one point, but Washburn had an answer, landing four straight points with a block by Limback and Keilah Rivers capping off the rally. Broadie eventually landed another kill to end the set at 25-21.
The momentum carried over into the second set for the Ichabods as they jumped out to a 6-0 run with the last three points all coming from Alex Dvorak on a solo block and two kills. Also at the net, Limback and Emery Keebaugh combined for a block to make it 10-2 and force another Loper timeout. Washburn eventually pushed the lead to double-digits at 22-12 before taking three of the final four points to win 25-13.
Ichabod football drops 34-10 MIAA decision on the road to Gorillas
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Topeka High star Ky Thomas scored Washburn's lone touchdown in Saturday's loss at Pittsburg State. [File photo/TSN]
The Gorillas (5–2 overall, 4–1 MIAA) struck first midway through the opening quarter with a 42-yard field goal before adding a 17-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jackson Berry to go ahead 10–0.
Washburn (1–5, 0–4) answered early in the second quarter when Logan Madden engineered a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
Madden hit Ky Thomas on an 8-yard swing pass to cap the march, trimming the Gorilla lead to 10-7.
Pittsburg State countered immediately with a 75-yard drive of its own, ending in Berry's second rushing touchdown from 19 yards out.
After forcing a Washburn punt late in the half, the Gorillas extended the margin when Berry connected with Jaelon Travis for a 73-yard score with six seconds left before intermission, pushing the lead to 24–7 heading into the break.
Washburn's defense stiffened in the second half, forcing a turnover and limiting PSU to a pair of field goals and a late short touchdown. The Ichabods turned a recovered Gorilla fumble into a 34-yard Battle field goal early in the fourth quarter to make it 24–10, but the hosts pulled away down the stretch.
The Ichabods were limited with time of possession in the game (21:16 to PSU's 38:44).
Madden completed 14 of 28 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown. Thomas caught four passes for 26 yards and a score, while D.J. Bell added five catches for 31 yards and 39 return yards for a team-high 84 all-purpose yards. Chase Allen-Jackman provided the game's longest Washburn play with a 40-yard reception in the first quarter.
Defensively, linebacker JC Heim paced the Ichabods with 12 total tackles, while L.J. Minner Jr. added 10 stops. Defensive end Elijah Clarke-Boyd contributed 1.5 sacks as Washburn recorded two total on the day.
Pittsburg State finished with 481 total yards to Washburn's 170, powered by a 260-26 advantage on the ground. Berry threw for 221 yards and rushed for 29 more with three total touchdowns.
Washburn punter Jake Zeller was strong again, averaging 47.5 yards on six punts with three pinned inside the 20.
The Ichabods who were top-five in the nation in least penalty yards and least penalties called against, were flagged for 108 yards and 10 calls. The Gorillas were called for 12 flags for 143 yards.
No. 9 Washburn volleyball records fourth straight sweep in home MIAA win over Tigers
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 9 Washburn University volleyball recorded a fourth straight sweep on Friday night in its return to Whiting Fieldhouse, taking down Fort Hays State, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22.
No. 9 Washburn volleyball improved to 16-1 Friday night with its fourth straight MIAA sweep. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods are back in action at 2 p.m. Saturday, hosting No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney in a top-10 battle.
Washburn improved to 16-1 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA Friday night.
With the score tied 4-4 in the first set against Fort Hays State, a three-point rally was finished by two straight kills by Bella Limback.
Fort Hays State came back to tie the set at 10 before another three point burst by the Ichabods put them back in front. The lead was at five when the Tigers strung together five straight to tie the set at 19, and again at 20. An offense that hit .387 in the set led the way for WU, with Austin Broadie knocking down a kill to end the set.
A solo block at the net by Limback capped off a 5-1 start to the second set by Washburn. The lead grew to five at 10-5 on another solo rejection, this time by Alex Dvorak. Fort Hays State kept it within five until a three-point rally with kills by Dvorak, Broadie and Keilah Rivers created separation. Corinna McMullen set up Dvorak for the set-ending kill.
Washburn soccer rides hot streak into MIAA road games
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University women's soccer team is on a legitimate hot streak, posting four wins and a tie over its last five games while not allowing a single goal.
The Ichabods, 5-2-2 overall and 2-0-1 in the MIAA, will be looking to continue their run with road games at Missouri Southern (6 p.m.) on Friday and at Pittsburg State (1 p.m.) on Sunday.
Freshman Leah Henke has a team-high five goals on the season for Washburn soccer. [File photo/TSN]
Former Washburn Rural star Kate Hinck has scored two goals this fall for 5-2-2 Washburn soccer. [File photo/TSN]
"That's kind of what we talked about as a team is the callouses of success and how hard work prepares you for more hard work and success,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "There's a difference between trying to get a team there and then once you've reached that level, 'OK, here's the benchmark, now it's just maintaiing the benchmark.' ''
Washburn graduated a strong senior class off the team that won back-to-back MIAA titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament both seasons, but Phillips is very pleased with the progress his Ichabods have made this fall.
"They're doing a really good job,'' he said. "I had to become more patient with them the last few weeks and allow them the space to go and make decisions. I think I was trying to stifle that a little bit and it's funny how trust works because once you give them the freedom and they do it, inherently you develop more trust throughout the process.
"It's working through the unknown until it's the known.''
Washburn freshman Leah Henke starred again last Friday night in a 3-0 Ichabod win over Nebraska-Kearney, assisting on fellow freshman Kate Hinck's opening goal and then scoring the game's final goal in the second half after Shaye Taylor scored off an assist from Aubrey Tanksley to give WU a 2-0 halftime advantage.
Henke is tied for third in the conference for goals scored with five.
Freshman Lili Everley is third in the conference in shutouts with four on the season in addition to an 0-0 tie and is a two-time MIAA goalkeeper of the week.
No. 9 Washburn volleyball faces MIAA home tests after big road sweep over Hornets
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn volleyball improved to 15-1 on the season with a 3-0 MIAA sweep over Emporia State on Tuesday. [File photo/TSN]Fort Hays State enters Friday's match 13-4 overall and 2-3 inside the MIAA, while the Lopers are a perfect 18-0 and 5-0 in the MIAA entering the week.
The Ichabods enter the weekend with a 15-1 record overall and a 4-1 mark in the MIAA after completing a three-match road trip with a 3-0 sweep over Emporia State on Tuesday.
"We played great, I thought we played really well,'' Washburn coach Chris Herron said.
Senior Austin Broadie said Tuesday's win should give the Ichabods momentum going into this weekend's matches.
"It does for sure,'' Broadie said. "Maybe it will make people a little bit scared of us if they look and check what happened (Tuesday), so it's a lot of momentum.''
Broadie leads the Washburn offense with 185 kills (3.49 per set) while hitting .384, third best on the team. She has started all 16 matches and has logged 33 blocks with 38 digs.
Broadie has nine double-digit kill matches and ranks 20th nationally in hitting percentage and third in the MIAA. She is second among conference players in kills per set.
Bella Limback is slashing a team-high .546 with 103 kills (2.02 per set) while playing and starting in all 16 matches. She has also added 57 blocks, a team high and served seven aces. She has hit over .400 in all but two matches this season with two double-digit kill efforts. Limback leads the nation in hitting percentage and is fifth in the MIAA in total blocks and fourth in blocks per set.
Alex Dvorak is second on the team with 55 blocks (1.08 per set) on the season while starting all 16 matches. Offensively she has made 99 kills (1.94 per set) along with hitting .438, second best on the team. She has recorded five or more blocks in seven matches. The senior ranks fourth in the nation and second in the MIAA in hitting percentage. She is also fifth in the MIAA in blocks per set.
Corinna McMullen has started all 16 matches this season to lead Washburn with 341 assists. She has also chipped in 17 service aces while ranking second on the team with 133 digs. The senior has delivered nine matches of 20-plus assists and six double-doubles.
Taylor Rottinghaus leads the team with 210 digs (3.96 per set). She has chipped in 66 assists while serving a team-high 19 aces. The junior has two matches with at least 20 digs. She ranks eighth in the MIAA in digs per set and 10th in total digs.
Brynne Topolski is second on the Ichabods with 127 kills while hitting .284. She has come off the bench in all 16 matches while making 33 blocks with 26 digs. She has four matches with double-digit kills.
Washburn leads the nation with a .308 team hitting percentage and the Ichabods are ninth nationally and second among MIAA teams with 2.59 blocks per set.
On the defensive side Washburn is limiting opponents to a .109 hitting percentage, good for fourth nationally and first in the MIAA.
The Ichabods are dishing out 13.81 assists per set on offense, good for third in the nation and second in the MIAA.
Washburn knocks down 14.70 kills per set to rank fourth in NCAA D-II and second among MIAA programs.
Coming off bye week, Ichabod football on the road to face Gorillas
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn sophomore linebackers JC Heim (9) and L.J. Minner Jr. rank one-two in the MIAA in tackles entering Saturday's 2 p.m. game at Pittsburg State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]The Ichabods are 1-4 this season and looking for their first conference win after falling 31-24 last time out to Nebraska-Kearney in Topeka.
Pittsburg State is 4-2 overall and 3-1 in MIAA play after topping Nebraska-Kearney in its last game, 23-6. The Gorillas are ranked 15th in the AFCA Coaches Poll and seventh in the d2football.com poll.
Washburn sophomore linebacker JC Heimleads the MIAA tackles with 13.6 per game and sophomore L.J. Minner Jr. is second with 10.2 tackles per game, with the duo ranking second and 13th, respectively, in the NCAA Division II national rankings.
Jake Zeller is fourth on the NCAA D-II active punting average chart at 41.7 and he is seventh in total punt yards (5,746). Zeller is second in the MIAA and 14th in the national rankings in punting average at 42.3 yards per punt.
D.J. Bellis second in the MIAA and 25th in the nation in all-purpose yards at 128.6 yards per game.
Zahmari Palode-Gary leads a one-two Pittsburg State rushing punch in rushing at 75 yards per game and Cleo Chandler, Jr. averages 71 yards per game.
Washburn soccer rides Henke hat trick to 5-1 win at Missouri Southern
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University soccer team rode freshman Leah Henke's three-goal hat trick to a 5-1 MIAA road win at Missouri Southern Friday night.
Washburn freshman Leah Henke had a hat trick in Friday's 5-1 win at Missouri Southern and now has eight goals on the season. [File photo/TSN]
"I thought we did well in most aspects of the game tonight,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "It's always tough to get points on the road in this conference, so I'm very happy with the team performance today. We have to make sure we continue to grow, but I'm really proud of the progress the team continues to make."
The first half was filled with goals. Missouri Southern opened the scoring with a goal in the 11th minute from a penalty kick. Washburn responded directly back in the 13th minute with a goal from Henke, then Henke would score two more in the 15th minute (assisted by Grace Peterson) and 17th minutes to complete her hat trick.
Henke recorded the first hat trick by an Ichabod player since 2022 by Khloe Shuckman, who also did so against Missouri Southern. Henke now has eight goals on the season and has scored in three straight games.
Washburn recorded 15 shots in the opening half, with nine of them on target, while only allowing three shots in the half.
Washburn would add a fourth in the 55th minute on freshman Kate Hinck's third goal of the season, and was assisted by Brynn Alison. Washburn would wrap up the scoring with a fifth goal by Jules Wardlaw (assist by Bricelyn Betts) in the 73rd minute. Washburn took five second-half shots with four on goal.
Washburn will be back on the road against Pittsburg State on Sunday at 1 p.m.
No. 9 Washburn volleyball snaps Hornets' 13-match win streak in 3-0 road sweep
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EMPORIA -- Emporia State volleyball had No. 9-ranked Washburn University's complete attention before Tuesday night's MIAA match even started, and that proved to be bad news for the Hornets.
Bella Limback (20) and Brynne Topolski (3) celebrate a Keilah Rivers kill in Tuesday night's Washburn MIAA sweep at Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Ichabods, well aware of the fact that the Hornets had won 13 straight matches, including a sweep over a Missouri Western team that handed Washburn its only loss of the season, responded with one of their most complete performances of the season in a 25-22, 25-17, 25-17 sweep at White Auditorium.
Austin Broadie (23) records one of her match-high 10 kills in Tuesday's MIAA Washburn sweep at Emporia State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"We played great, I thought we played really well,'' veteran Washburn coach Chris Herron said. "I thought we played with so much intensity and I would tell you this, their crowd being as loud and nasty as they were, helped us get to that intensity.
"I'm not thanking them, but I'm saying that they helped us get to that level of intensity. I'm really proud of my kids. I thought we played a solid game all the way around. We out-blocked them, out-hit them.''
Washburn improved to 15-1 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA while Emporia State fell to 13-3 and suffered its first loss in five conference matches.
"We had a nice plan, but I know they had a nice plan, too,'' Herron said. "Ours just was effective.''
"It felt really good,'' Washburn senior star Austin Broadie said. "(Herron) was encouraging us so he definitely thought we played good and it felt really good. I think everyone played really well.
"We came in knowing that they were undefeated in conference and they beat Mo. West so that was really important and we wanted to come out and play our best.''
Washburn never trailed in the opening set and there were just two ties, but Emporia State fought back from an 18-11 deficit to get within a point at 22-21 and 23-22 before the Ichabods closed out the win with back-to-back kills from Emery Keebaugh.
The Hornets took their first lead of the night at 2-1 in the second set, but Washburn steadily took control, taking a 16-9 advantage on a Broadie kill and going in front 19-12 on another Broadie kill.
Emporia State rallied to get as close as 19-16 on a kill from Brailee Bogle, but Washburn scored six of the final seven points to close out the win.
Washburn men's basketball picked No. 1 in both MIAA preseason polls
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn men's basketball has been tapped for the No. 1 spot in both MIAA preseason polls after winning an NCAA regional title and reaching the national semifinals last season. [File photo/TSN]Fort Hays State, the defending MIAA tournament champion, finished 22-10 overall and 12-7 in the MIAA last season.
Both MIAA coaches and media members also included Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State in their top five.
Washburn women's basketball No. 2 in MIAA preseason Coaches Poll, No. 3 in Media Poll
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Preseason MIAA polls for the 2025-26 season have Washburn women's basketball slotted at No. 2 in the Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the Media Poll released on Monday morning by the conference.
Lora Westling's Washburn women's basketball team has been picked second and third in the MIAA preseason polls. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn is coming off an 18-13 season with a 11-8 mark inside the MIAA that saw them reach the MIAA Tournament semifinals.
In the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll the Ichabods landed at No. 2 with 148 points and six first-place votes, the most among any team in the conference among coaches.
Fort Hays State sits atop the poll with 152 total points and two first-place votes. Pittsburg State is slotted at No. 3 with five first-place votes and 144 points. Central Missouri claims the final first-place nod, with 138 total points at No. 4.
In the media poll Washburn sits at No. 3 with 276 total points and three first-place votes.
Pittsburg State leads the media ballot with 13 first-place votes and 326 total points. Fort Hays State is second with five first-place votes and 299 points. Behind the Ichabods is Central Missouri at No. 4, with the final four first-place votes and 271 total points.
Haverkamp's move to Washburn pays dividends for former Centralia star, Ichabods
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Centralia multi-sport star Kamble Haverkamp cherished his time in the Kansas State football progam.
But Washburn University offered Haverkamp an opportunity that the 6-foot, 205-pound senior free safety wasn't sure if or when he'd ever get from the Wildcats -- a chance to play on a regular basis.
Centralia product Kamble Haverkamp's decision to transfer to Washburn has been a good one for him and the Ichabods. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"There were a lot of great guys (at Kansas State) that taught me a lot, great leaders, as far as how you have to study and prepare and how you approach all the things you have to do as a student-athlete, so I definitely grew a lot in my time there for sure,'' Haverkamp said.
"You're there and it's awesome. It's a great place to be, you can't deny that, but whenever you look at all the time you have to put in to be a student-athlete and all the early mornings and all the lifting, eating right and all the time that it takes just to be a student-athlete, the bare minimum, if I'm going to do all of that I want to play on the field.
"I want to play and contribute to my team and make all that time worth it and get the reward of playing.''
And four seasons after making the decision to transfer to Washburn, it's safe to say the move has been a good one for both Haverkamp and the Ichabods.
"Absolutely, one of the best decisions I've ever made,'' Haverkamp said. "Obviously, playing football is great and that's awesome, but it's also just all the people that I've gotten to meet, teammates that are now brothers, and coaches that have impacted me, especially coach Wat (Ichabod coach Zach Watkins).
"I've been with him four years now and he's just a great guy to be around and he's taught me so much and he's a mentor to me.''
No. 9 Washburn volleyball on road at Emporia State for Turnpike Tussle Part 1
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 9-ranked Washburn will go on the road Tuesday to face Emporia State at White Auditorium. [File photo/TSN]Washburn returns to home on Friday, hosting Fort Hays State at 6 p.m.
Senior Austin Broadie leads the Washburn offense with 175 kills (3.50 per set) while hitting .389, third best on the team. She has started all 15 matches and has also has logged 31 blocks with 37 digs.
Broadie has eight double-digit kill matches and ranks 16th nationally in hitting percentage and third in the MIAA. She is second among conference players in kills per set.
Bella Limback is slashing a team-high .552 with 98 kills (2.04 per set) while playing and starting in all 15 matches. She has also added 52 blocks, a team high, and served seven aces.
Limback has hit over .400 in all but two matches this season with two double-digit kill efforts. She leads the nation in hitting percentage and is sixth in the MIAA in total blocks and fifth in blocks per set.
Alex Dvorak is second on the team with 51 blocks (1.06 per set) on the season while starting all 15 matches. Offensively she has 91 kills (1.98 per set) along with hitting .428, second best on the team. She has recorded five or more blocks in seven matches.
The senior ranks eighth in the nation and second in the MIAA in hitting percentage among qualified hitters. She is also sixth in the MIAA in blocks per set.
Corinna McMullen has started all 15 matches this season to lead Washburn with 322 assists (6.57 per set). She has also chipped in 16 service aces while ranking second on the team with 124 digs (2.53 per set). The senior has delivered nine matches of 20-plus assists and six double-doubles. She ranks seventh in the conference in assists per set.
Junior libero Taylor Rottinghaus leads the Ichabods with 204 digs (4.08 per set). She has chipped in 61 assists while serving 19 aces, a team-high. Rottinghaus has two matches with at least 20 digs. She ranks seventh in the MIAA in digs per set and 11th in total digs.
Washburn is second in the nation and leads the MIAA with a .309 team hitting percentage.
The Ichabods are 12th nationally and second among MIAA teams with 2.55 blocks per set.
On the defensive side Washburn is limiting opponents to a .114 hitting percentage, good for sixth nationally and second in the MIAA.
The Ichabods are dishing out 13.82 assists per set on offense, good for third in the nation and second in the MIAA.
Washburn knocks down 14.68 kills per set to rank fifth in all Division II and second among MIAA programs.
The Hornets are receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll.
Hurla back in action, looking to help Washburn mount second-half turnaround
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After playing in all 11 games last fall with three starts as a redshirt freshman, Washburn University sophomore quarterback Keller Hurla was excited for the 2025 season before a preseason injury put him on the sidelines.
Quarterback Keller Hurla is back in action for Washburn after recovering from a pre-season hamstring injury. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But after missing the Ichabods' first three games, the former St. Marys star is back in action and hoping to help Washburn get hot over the second half of the season.
"I had a Grade 2 hamstring tear that happened late in fall camp,'' Hurla said. "At first they thought it was a Grade 1, so I thought I'd be back in a week or so and hopefully be back for Week 1 or Week 2, but then it ended up being a little worse than they thought so they held me out four or five weeks.
"I was able to return the week of (Central Oklahoma). That Wednesday I was able to get a full go and start practicing again. It's good to be back and healthy and just being with the guys out there again. I feel like (last week) I was finally getting back to 100 percent and now it feels great.''
While splitting time with graduate QB Justin Lewis, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Hurla has completed 11 of 20 passes for 149 yards and two TDs and carried the ball 21 times for 60 yards and two scores as WU pushed UCO and Nebraska-Kearney to the limit in six and seven-point losses.
Hurla also split time running the offense last season when he passed for 812 yards and five TDs and ranked No. 2 on the Ichabods with 332 rushing yards and a team-high five rushing TDs.
"It's kind of tough not knowing exactly when you're going to be thrown in, but it's always just staying ready and being prepared as if you're the starter every week and just being ready to go whenever your name's called,'' he said.
"I've kind of learned how to deal with situations like that just in the past year, so it's really nothing new for me and I'm just trying to take advantage of every opportunity I get.''
Washburn, 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the MIAA, faces a tough test Saturday on the road at Pittsburg State, but Hurla feels like the Ichabods' best days are ahead of them in the second half of the season.
"It's going to flip,'' Hurla said. "It will, just with our culture of this new coaching staff and the leaders on this team.
"We have the same mindset every week, just attack the new seven-day season no matter what happened last week. We flush it, we move on and attack the seven-day season and attack it to the best of our ability.''
Top Sports News Team
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