Editor's note: Over the coming days, TopSports.news will take a look at all of the nominees for the 2024 Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. All nominees will be recognized at the June 26 awards banquet, which will be held in conjunction with the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame induction at Washburn University's Memorial Union.
SPRING SPORTS: OUTSTANDING FEMALE NOMINEES
Rebecca Bearman
REBECCA BEARMAN | Topeka West
PARENTS: Alan and Shelly Bearman
SPORT: Track and field | GPA: NA
Bearman was a standout in track and field and girls basketball for Topeka West while also excelling in the classroom. Bearman finished fourth in the shot put in Class 5A regional competition as a senior, earning a berth in the state championships at Wichita. Bearman received All-Shawnee County honorable mention in track her senior season, ranking second on the Shawnee County Honor Roll in the shot put. In basketball Bearman received all-county honorable mention and also received honorable mention on the All-United Kansas Conference team. Bearman averaged 10.1 rebounds to finish second in the city and also averaged 7.6 points.
Ava Delgado
AVA DELGADO | Hayden
PARENTS: Richard and Alisha Delgado
SPORT: Softball | GPA: 3.125
Delgado compiled a .400 batting average over her four-year career for the Wildcats with an .800 fielding percentage. "Ava is an exceptional athlete and an outstanding individual as a teammate,'' Hayden softball coach Cody Reynolds said. "I know she will do great things on and off the field as she moves on to her collegiate career at Bethel. I'm lucky to have coached her and will miss her infectious smile. She will be missed on both sides of the ball as well as in the dugout.'' As a senior Delgado received All-Centennial League first-team honors and was a second-team All-Shawnee County pick.
Katherine Keys
KATHERINE KEYS | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Robert and Bev Keys
SPORT: Soccer | GPA: 4.83
Keys turned in an outstanding soccer career for the Lions, including two trips to the Class 4A-1A state semifinals and a state runnerup finish this spring. A two-time All-City first-team pick, Keys also received All-State recognition and was a three-time all-league honoree, earning league player of the year honors this past season. Keys scored 21 goals with 14 assists as a senior and finished her CPLS career with 100 goals and 52 assists. "Katherine was a team captain and as a leader she helped her teammates be better by encouraging them, challenging them and by continually demonstrating for them what hard work looks like,'' Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said. Keys, the CPLS Class of 2024 valedictorian, will play college soccer at John Brown University.
Kaibryn Kruger
KAIBRYN KRUGER | Silver Lake
PARENTS: David and Dena Kruger
SPORT: Softball | GPA: 4.0
Kruger helped lead Silver Lake to a second-place finish in the Class 3A state softball tournament after helping the Eagles win the 3A state championship in basketball. "Kaibryn has been a four-year starter in our program,'' Silver Lake coach Nick Hamilton said. "She has been an All-Mid-East League pick all four years and All-State three years.'' Kruger split her time between softball and track and field in the spring, running on Silver Lake's state championship team in the 4x400 relay as a senior while also qualifying for state in the triple jump. "She not only has been a good athlete but also an influence to our future Eagles,'' Hamilton said. "She has done an outstanding job continuing and building the rich tradition of Silver Lake, not only the winning success, but being competitive in everything that she does.''
Hayley Legg
HAYLEY LEGG | Washburn Rural
PARENTS: John and Cyndi Legg
SPORT: Soccer | GPA: 4.28
Legg helped lead Washburn Rural to a third-place finish in the Class 6A state tournament, leading the Junior Blues with 20 assists, which ranked second all-time for the Junior Blues. A first-team All-City and All-Centennial League pick, Legg finished her career with 18 goals and 31 assists, including nine in five postseason games this spring. "Hayley was everything a coach would want as a team captain her senior year,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "Great teammate, responsible in every way on and off the field and was an excellent role model for our younger players. She is the most positive player I've coached in my time at Washburn Rural.'' Legg will play college soccer at Truman State.
Maggie Lesmeister
MAGGIE LESMEISTER, Seaman
PARENT: Stephany Lesmeister
SPORT: Track and field | GPA: 4.185
Lesmeiester finished off her standout track and field career as a thrower for Seaman with a third-place finish in the Class 5A state championships at Wichita in the javelin with a top throw of 128 feet, 1 inch. Lesmeister's podium finish helped the Vikings post a solid fourth-place finish in the team standings. Lesmeister earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition, ranking second on the Shawnee County honor roll in the javelin with a throw of 130-9. Lesmeister finished second in 5A regional competition to punch her ticket to the state meet after winning a league title in the United Kansas Conference meet.
Kinsey Perine
KINSEY PERINE | Rossville
PARENTS: Jason and Shanna Perine
SPORT: Softball | GPA: 4.4
Perine was a three-sport star for the Bulldawgs in volleyball, basketball and softball, earning All-Mid-East League, All-Shawnee County and All-State recognition in all three sports in addition to being the valedictorian of her graduating class. "She is a role model not only to all her teammates but kids all over the town of Rossville,'' Bulldawg softball coach John Nitsch said. Perine helped lead Rossville softball to a fourth-place state finish in 2022 and to the Class 3A state title in 2023. "She is truly an exceptional young lady and athlete and will be greatly missed in all areas at Rossville High School,'' Nitsch said. Perine hit .462 as a senior with a .524 on base percentage and a .703 slugging percentage. Perine will play softball at Emporia State.
Avery Zimmerman
AVERY ZIMMERMAN | Topeka High
PARENTS: Kerry and Kari Zimmerman
SPORT: Soccer | GPA: 4.4
Zimmerman was a standout in both soccer and golf for Topeka High. Zimmerman was a multi-time All-Centennial League and All-City first-team selection in both sports in multiple seasons and scored 17 goals and registered seven assists as the Trojans' captain in soccer this spring. Zimmerman qualified for multiple Class 6A state tournaments in golf and earned her first city individual championship last fall, winning the title in a playoff. Zimmerman was a four-time All-City pick and three-time All-Centennial League selection. Zimmerman, who compiled a sparkling 4.4 grade point averge, is headed to Emporia State to play soccer in college.
Recent Topeka West graduate Rebecca Bearman is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Awards after earning all-county recognition in basketball and track and field as a senior. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden product Ava Delgado earned All-Centennial League and All-Shawnee County softball recognition as a senior for the Wildcats. [Submitted photo]
Cair Paravel product Katherine Keys (middle) helped lead the Lions to a second-place state finish in the Class 4A-1A state soccer tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Silver Lake product Kaibryn Kruger helped lead the Eagles to a runnerup finish in the Class 3A state softball tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Recent Washburn Rural graduate Hayley Legg helped the Junior Blues finish third in the Class 6A state soccer tournament this spring. [Submitted photo]
Seaman product Maggie Lesmeister finished third in Class 5A in the javelin throw as a senior. [File photo/TSN]
Recent Rossville graduate Kinsey Perine received All-State recognition in softball, volleyball and basketball during her high school career. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High product Avery Zimmerman was a four-time All-City and three-time All-Centennial League first-team soccer pick. [Submitted photo]
