By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Topeka High inducted its second annual Sports Hall of Honor class on Thursday, inducting 15 individuals and two Trojan teams.
Former Topeka High track and field star Clardy Vinson, who later became the school's principal, was inducted into the Topeka High Sports Hall of Honor Thursday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High Hall of Honor inductees Shara Stafford (left) and Doshia Woods visit prior to Thursday's ceremonies. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Sports Hall of Honor inductees will also be recognized at halftime of Friday's boys varsity basketball game against Junction City, with the game starting at approximately 7:30 p.m.
The 2025 inductees included 1962 graduate John Grantham, Levi Lee (1964), Carky and Marky Alexander (1980), Glen Trammel (1985), Crystal Kemp (2002), Shara Stafford (2008), Will Geary (2013), Lee Dodson (1942), Chuck Nelson (1951), Clardy Vinson (1968), Kevin Hedberg (1970), Doshia Woods (1997), Joe Waldron (1990-2005 as staff member), Jeff Jacobsen (1969), the 1955 Trojan football team and the 1974 Trojan girls track team.
Hall of Honor capsules:
JOHN GRANTHAM -- A 1962 Topeka High graduate, Grantham was the first of only two city male tennis players to win three state championships and one of only six players to win multiple titles. During his time at Topeka High, he led the Trojans to multiple city and league team titles. After high school Grantham attended the University of Kansas, where he helped the Jayhawks win two Big 8 Conference titles. He also won one Individual title and one doubles title and helped the Jayhawks to a 14-2 record during his final Big 8 season. Grantham is a member of the Topeka Tennis Hall of Fame.
LEVI LEE -- A 1964 graduate, Lee starred in football and track at Topeka High. Lee was a three-year starter for the Trojan football team and is still considered one of the most talented players ever to come out of Topeka. He was an All-State running back in 1963, helping Topeka High win the Sunflower League championship and leading the Trojans to a 6-2 record his senior year. He also led his track and field team to the state championship while winning the state long jump championship with a leap of 21 feet. Lee was heavily recruited by some of the biggest names in college football before choosing Kansas. He eventually decided to leave school and joined the Navy, becoming a Vietnam War veteran.
Twin brothers Carky and Marky Alexander were inducted into the Topeka High Sports Hall of Honor Thursday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
CARKY AND MARKY ALEXANDER -- The twin brothers graduated from Topeka High in 1980, excelling in football, basketball and track. Contributing significantly to the Trojans their junior season they both entered their senior campaign ranked in the Preseason Top 40 prospects. Their contributions led the team to a 6-3 record and the I-70 League championship. Both Carky and Marky were named first-team All-City, All-I-70 League and All-Class 6A first team and All-State third team and selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. As seniors in basketball they led the team to the I-70 League championship, a second-place finish in the Topeka Invitational, a 6A sub-state championship and a runnerup finish in 6A. The twins were part of record-setting 440 and mile relay teams in track. The Alexanders played football at KU and played in the 1981 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl game.
Former Topeka High and Kansas star swimmer Glen Trammel was inducted into the Topeka High Sports Hall of Honor Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
GLEN TRAMMEL -- A 1985 graduate, Trammel was a five-time state swimming champion, specializing in the backstroke and individual medley. Trammel set three state records, including a mark in the 100 backstroke that stood for 14 years. He helped the Trojans take home second place as a team in the 1985 state championships. Trammel was a high school All-American. and nationally ranked multiple times. He went on to Kansas University, where he became a seven-time All-American. He set four school records and at one time was ranked 11th in the world in the 100 backstroke.
Former Topeka High and Kansas star Crystal Kemp speaks during Thursday's Topeka High Hall of Honor induction ceremony. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
CRYSTAL KEMP -- Kemp, a 2002 graduate, was a four-year letter-winner in basketball at THS. She averaged 22.6 points as a junior while earning All-City and All-I-70 recognition and second-team All-Class 6A honors. As a senior, Kemp averaged a team-best 21.7 points, 11.4 rebounds and shot a team-best 54.4 percent from the field. Kemp led her team to the state tournament for first time in 16 years, an I-70 League championship and a 19-4 overall record. She was an All-State first-team player and was named the city co-player of the year. In addition to her basketball accolades, Kemp was a three-year letter-winner in track and field and won the state discus title as senior with a throw of 145 feet, 6 inches, setting the school record. Kemp went on to a banner four-year career at Kansas, finishing her career ranked in KU's all-time top 10 in points (7th with 1,637), rebounds (8th with 826), field goals made (6th with 654), field goal percentage (10th at 50.9), free throw percentage (eighth at 73.6), blocked shots (7th with 90) and minutes played (6th with 3,620). Was an All-Big 12 first-team pick as a senior, reaching double figures in all 30 games. She became the sixth Jayhawk to accumulate more than 1,600 career points and 800 career rebounds. Was inducted into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2023
SHARA STAFFORD -- A 2008 Topeka High graduate, Stafford was a national-class swimmer. During high school Stafford was a three-time state champion, setting state records in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle. Stafford holds the vast majority of Topeka High's school records. In 2008 she was an Olympic Trials qualifier. Stafford continued her illustrious career in college at Florida and Missouri. While at Florida, she was a 13-time All-American and six-time All-SEC. She helped Florida capture the 2010 NCAA national championship. Stafford was also a part of the national-champion 200 freestyle relay team. Additionally she placed seventh in the 200 free and set a Florida school record in the 100 free. Following that season, she competed at 2010 US Nationals. She transferred to Missouri where she was named the Big 12 newcomer of the year. She placed first in the 2011 Big 12 championships in the 100 free and 200 free. She placed fifth in the 2011 NCAA Division I 50 free and sixth in the 100 free. Stafford set five Missouri school records. In 2012 she was once a USA Olympic Trials qualifier.
Former Topeka High football star and two-time state wrestling champ Will Geary was inducted into the Topeka High Hall of Honor on Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
WILL GEARY -- A 2013 graduate, Geary starred in football and wrestling for the Trojans. Geary was a four-time letterman in football and started every varsity game his entire high school career. As a senior Geary received All-City and All-State honors while being selected as the Class 6A defensive player of the year and selected for the Kansas Shrine Bowl. As a wrestler, Geary was the 6A heavyweight state champion his junior and senior years with a 31-0 record. Additionally he was a state champion in powerlifting. Geary was offered multiple wrestling scholarships, including powerhouse Oklahoma State, but opted to walk on in football at Kansas State. He became a starter during his final three seasons, starting every game and becoming a three time All-Big 12 first-team pick. Geary was named to the Outland Trophy watch two times and was a 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list member and a 2017 first-team All-American. He finished his K-State career 12th in school history in career tackles and fourth among interior lineman. He participated in four bowl games, including 2 wins.
LEE DODSON -- Dodson, a 1942 graduate, was a superstar baseball player during his high school career, throwing five no-hitters for Topeka High. Right after high school, Dodson began a minor league career as a pitcher. World War II was going on at the time and Dodson enlisted in the US Army, where he served in the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation, including fighting in the Battle of the Bulge until March 1946. After serving in the Army, Dodson resumed his minor league career, playing for multiple semi-pro and minor league teams. He played three seasons in the New York Yankees organization, including two seasons of AAA. He began his teaching career at Tecumseh Grade School and later he became a principal, then superintendent of Tecumseh Schools. Dodson also coached multiple American Legion and semi-professional teams in Topeka. He was a Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame inaugural member and in 2010 the Baseball Field at Hummer Sports Park was named in his honor.
Chuck Nelson, a 1964 United States Olympian, was inducted into the Topeka High Sports Hall of Honor on Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
CHUCK NELSON -- A 1951 Topeka High graduate, Nelson is an example of an athlete who earned fame by playing a sport that wasn’t available to him during his time at THS. During his youth and high school career, Nelson was a multi-sport athlete, participating and excelling in football, basketball, track, tennis and baseball. After high school, he had a short stint at Nebraska, but graduated from Washburn University after playing football, basketball and track and field. It was during college when he began playing volleyball at the YMCA as a hobby. After college, Nelson joined the Air Force and became a fighter pilot and continued to play volleyball in the Air Force. After leaving the Air Force in 1959, Chuck competed for the Hollywood Comets and Stockton California YMCA Teams before being invited to play in the 1959 Pan American Games, where the team went on to win the gold medal. Nelson went on to compete at the 1963 Pan American games, where the team took home silver. Then in 1964, Nelson was selected to the first-ever men’s Olympic Volleyball team that competed in Tokyo. After his Olympic experience, Chuck picked the tennis racket up again and became an elite master’s tennis player, competing at both the national and international levels. He has won seven doubles national titles and three world mixed Titles. In 1973 he was inducted into the Washburn University Athletic Hall of Fame.
CLARDY VINSON -- A 1968 graduate, Vinson was a track and field phenom at Topeka High, specializing in the 880-yard run. Vinso won three state track championships in the 880 and still holds the state meet record in the 880 with a time of 1:53.7. That time still ranks in the Top 20 of all-time of 880 yard/800 meters. He still has school records in the 880 and mile run. He initially attended Butler Community College, where he became a national champion in the 880 and the mile relay. After transferring to Kansas State University, he was a Big 8 Champion in 880, running 1:47.5 (still a top 10 time). Additionally, he helped set American and World Records in the sprint medley relay. Vinson finished his career at K-State as a two-time All-American in 1971 and 1972. He went on to a long career as the Topeka High track coach before becoming a principal in USD 501 at the elementary level and at Topeka High. He is a member of the KSHSAA Hall of Fame.
Former Topeka High tennis star and legendary Washburn Rural coach Kevin Hedberg was inducted into Topeka High's Sports Hall of Honor Thursday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
KEVIN HEDBERG -- Hedberg, a 1970 graduate, was a star tennis player at Topeka High and the University of South Florida before embarking on a legendary coaching career. Hedberg placed fourth in state singles for the Trojans as a junior and third as a senior. After high school, he went on to play tennis at the University of South Florida, where he was team captain his final two years. After college Hedberg came back to become head tennis pro at Topeka Country Club and also had stints at the Houston Racquet Club Assistant Pro and the Kansas City Indoor Racquet Club Pro. He went to Seaman High School, where he was head tennis coach for 11 years before moving on to Washburn Rural, where he amassed 22 coach of the year awards. He coached 47 city championship teams, 42 league champs, 41 regional champs, and five Class 6A state champions, spread between boys and girls tennis. Twenty-four of his teams placed in the Top 3 at state. Hedberg was inducted into the Missouri Valley Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2013, the Kansas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in 2023 and was a charter inductee in the Topeka Tennis Association Hall of Fame.
Current Denver women's basketball coach Doshia Woods was inducted into the Topeka High Sports Hall of Honor on Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
DOSHIA WOODS -- A 1997 Topeka High graduate, Woods excelled in basketball for the Trojans while also playing volleyball, softball and track. As a basketball player she was an All-City guard and also served as the senior class vice-president. Woods began her college career at Barton Community College, where she earned second-team All-Jayhawk West Conference honors and led the team to a 29-2 record. She transferred to Western Illinois, where she played in 57 games and earned second-team All-Mid-Continent Conference recognition as a senior. During that season she made 62 3 pointers, setting a school record, and in two seasons she made 102 3s. After her playing time, Woods followed her dream of coaching. She served as an assistant coach at Western Illinois, New Mexico State, Oregon State, Missouri and Tulane and is currently the head coach at Denver University.
Former Topeka High state-champion soccer coach Joe Waldron was inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Honor on Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
JOE WALDRON -- Waldron was a staff member at Topeka High from 1990-2005, coaching the boys soccer team. Waldron attended high school at McLuer North High School, St. Louis, Mo. and as a youth competed in two National Youth Championship Soccer Tournaments. He attended Quincy University, where his team won the National Championship in 1981 and followed that the next year making it to the National semifinal. Waldron was inducted into the Quincy Hall of Fame in 2010. At Topeka High he led the team to five straight Class 6A state championship game appearances in a row (‘95, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99), winning the state championship in 1997. The ‘97 championship was the first for Shawnee County high schools and Waldron was recognized as the National Federation of High School Sports boys soccer coach of the year in ‘97. Waldron has coached at all levels, including the University of Evansville, Benedictine College, Shawnee Mission West, Blue Valley North, Topeka High, Leavenworth, Mill Valley and Lawrence Free State.
JEFF JACOBSEN -- Jacobsen is a 1969 Topeka High graduate and it is in high school where he began his photo journalism career as the primary THS photographer for the school’s newspaper and yearbook. Though he began college at Washburn University, graduating in 1976, he also started working for the Topeka Capital-Journal right out of high school as an 18-year old, learning from famed photographer Rich Clarkson. In 1979 he moved to Phoenix and worked at the Arizona Republic newspaper until 1983, covering a variety of sports. He came back to the Capital Journal in ‘83 to become the managing editor of photography, earning national acclaim and consistently appearing in national and regional magazines throughout his career. In 1997 he became the full-time photographer for the Kansas University athletic department. He has published two books showcasing his photography -- “Tribute to Crimson and the Blue,” highlighting his work at KU, and an award-winning book entitled “The Heart and Soul of Kansas Sports.” In 2019 Jacobsen was inducted into the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame for his work with the Kansas City Royals, including the 1985 World Championship team.
Members of Topeka High's undefeated 1955 football team returned to their alma mater Thursday as the team was inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Honor. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
1955 TOPEKA HIGH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL TEAM -- The Trojans were coached by Otto Boadenhausen while Larry Reid served as assistant coach and Ray Christian and Norman Swartz were co-captains. The Trojans posted an 8-0 record and were recognized as the mythical state champion. THS has not had an undefeated season since that season and there have been only five undefeated seasons in THS football history. The Trojans were Sunflower League champions and out-scored opponents for the season, 141-58. Team members were Ernie Longstaff, Ted Wheat, John Escobar, Alvin Williams, Stan Thompson, Gary Davis, Darl Everett, Don Wells, Larry Schneider, John McDonald, David Stahl, Dan Perkins, Gabriel Lopez, Dan Swearingen, Karlen Peterson, John Petterson, Rex Polter, Joe Copp, Mel Lewis John Shideler, Fred Rogers, Clyde Sipes, Bob Bradley, Tom Coleman, John McGrew, Clifford Starbuck, Larry Mather. Ken Sturm, Clayton Brice, Larry Barngrover, Bob Kaul, Jim Mah, Bob Edendorf, Dave Mohler, Charles Holle, Willie Coleman, Ed Alberg, J.B. Littlejohn, Bob Wanamaker, Dick Brinker, Ken Payne, Harry Jolley, Dan Rumsey, Winston Lee, Joe Kelly, Ray Christian and Norman Swartz.
1970 TOPEKA HIGH GIRLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TRACK AND FIELD TEAM -- The Trojans were coached by Jan Magnuson, with Marylou Rivera serving as an assistant coach and Candy Christopher serving as team captain. The 440-yard relay Team of Darla Benning, Candy Christopher, Nannette Lee and Celessa Russell was the repeat state champ. The 1970 team was the first THS girls team to win regionals and the first Trojan girls team to win the state championship. Russell and Lee both won multiple gold medals as THS beat Kansas City-Wyandotte by 16 points. Lee won two relays and one individual win. Team members were Candy Christopher, Chandra Gill, Sally Hare, Celessa Russell, Becky Souders, Tina Martin, Linda Hartocolis, Sarah Griggs, Cindy Owens, Darla Benning, Nanette Lee, Nancy MaGee, Sharon Lewicki, Barb Swopes, Regina Wells, Lesia Moore, Vanetta Crabb and Christy Owens.
