By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The names should probably already be familiar to anyone who follows local sports, but a long and growing list of athletes who call Topeka/Shawnee County home have made a big-time mark at a big-time level in just the past few weeks.
Here's a look at just some of the stars who continue to make their hometown proud:
Carly Bachelor
CARLY BACHELOR, Washburn Rural/Creighton -- Bachelor earned All-State recognition in basketball, volleyball and soccer at Washburn Rural, leading the Junior Blues to the Class 6A state basketball title and a runner-up state finish in soccer in 2019. A 6-foot guard/forward, Bachelor is coming off the best game of her college career for 6-2 Creighton, scoring a game and career-high 23 points in the Bluejays' 69-62 win over Arizona State on Sunday. Bachelor hit nine of 11 shots, including two of two 3-pointers, and went three of four from the free throw line while also grabbing five rebounds and recording two steals.
Megan Cooney
MEGAN COONEY, Shawnee Heights/Illinois -- Cooney helped Shawnee Heights win a Class 5A state volleyball title as a senior in 2016 and helped Illinois reach the Final Four in 2018. Cooney, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter who competed as a graduate student this fall, was an All-Big 10 first-team selection, helping the lead the Illini to the third round of the NCAA Tournament and a 22-12 record. Cooney had 376 kills this season and over 1,500 in her career and finished her career at Illinois' all-time leader for sets played with 546. Cooney had 83 blocks, 282 digs and 29 service aces this season.
Teven Jenkins
TEVEN JENKINS, Topeka High/Chicago Bears -- After starring at Topeka High and earning All-Big 12 honors at Oklahoma State as an offensive lineman, Jenkins, 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Bears. In preseason Jenkins was forced to undergo back surgery which sidelined him for a big chunk of his rookie season, but he has returned to play in the past two games and saw his most extensive action in Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, throwing the lead block on a Chicago touchdown.
Faith Rottinghaus
FAITH ROTTINGHAUS, Shawnee Heights/Washburn -- A former state champ at Shawnee Heights in volleyball and softball, Rottinhaus capped a record-setting volleyball career at Washburn University last Saturday in the NCAA Division II championship match, helping lead the Ichabods to a program-best national runner-up finish and a 31-6 record. Rottinghaus, who set the Washburn record for career digs, earned first and second-team All-America honors, was named to the Elite Eight all-tournament team and received the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 academic award at the national tournament for having a 4.0 cumulative grade point average as a kinesiology major.
Mitch Schurig
MITCH SCHURIG, Washburn Rural/Washburn -- Schurig received All-MIAA first-team honors at quarterback as a senior this fall, helping lead the Ichabods to a 9-3 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II national football playoffs. Schurig finished his career as Washburn's career leader in completion percentage (63.8 percent) and he finished his career No. 3 on the Ichabods all-time list with 6,825 passing yards and No. 2 with 63 career touchdown passes. As a senior Schurig completed 191 of 288 attempts for 2,602 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Ky Thomas
KY THOMAS, Topeka High/Minnesota -- After ending his football career at Topeka High as the second-leading rusher in Kansas high school history, Thomas has continued to shine as a redshirt freshman at Minnesota. Getting his chance to play after injuries to other Minnesota running backs, Thomas leads the 8-4 Gophers in rushing with 680 yards and five touchdowns on 145 carries (4.7 yards per carry) in just eight games. Thomas has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark four times. Minnesota is currently preparing to play West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Camryn Turner
CAMRYN TURNER, Seaman/Kansas -- A 5-foot-8 true freshman setter, Turner helped the Kansas Jayhawks volleyball team reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for only the third time in program history. Turner played in 27 of 30 matches for the 18-12 Jayhawks and the former city and Centennial League multi-time player of the year registered 602 assists and 217 digs. Turner, who finished her high school career as Seaman's all-time leader in kills and assists, also had 39 kills and 10 service aces this past season.
Ty Zentner
TY ZENTNER, Shawnee Heights/Kansas State -- Zentner was a basketball state champion for Shawnee Heights in 2017 as well as a standout in soccer and football before excelling for Kansas State as a punter and kickoff specialist. Zentner earned All-Big 12 honorable mention as a punter this fall for the 7-5 Wildcats, who will face LSU in the Textas Bowl, averaging 44.3 yards on 39 punts, with a long of 63 yards and 15 punts inside the 20-yard-line. Zentner also recorded 33 touchbacks on 58 kickoffs for the Wildcats.
