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.
WINTER SPORTS: OUTSTANDING MALE NOMINEES
Caleb Annan-Noonoo
CALEB ANNAN-NOONOO | Topeka West
PARENTS: K.O. Noonoo and Anna Annan-Noonoo
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: NA
Annan-Noonoo was a three-year varsity player for the Chargers in basketball while also starring in the classroom, ranking as Topeka West's valedictorian for the class of 2024 and earning numerous academic scholarship offers. Annan-Noonoo turned in a solid senior season for the Chargers, shooting 55.9 percent from the field while ranking seventh in the city with a 5.5 rebounding average and leading the city with 1.4 blocked shots per game. He also averaged 1.6 steals on the season.
Rykan Carver
RYKAN CARVER | Shawnee Heights
PARENTS: Corey and Tricia Carver
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 4.53
A standout in football, wrestling and track and field for the T-Birds, Carver ended his high school wrestling career with the Class 5A 285-pound state title. Carver was a four-time letterman in wrestling, winning a pair of United Kansas Conference titles and qualifying for the 5A state tournament three times. "Rykan is a team leader and captain in all three of his sports and also thrives in the classroom, taking honors courses throughout high school and graduating with a 4.53 GPA,'' Shawnee Heights wrestling coach Chad Parks said. "This GPA and workload earned Rykan the distinction of being in the top one percent of GPAs for the entire state of Kansas.'' Carver will attend Kansas State to study engineering.
Cooper Colboch
COOPER COLBOCH | Hayden
PARENTS: Craig and Torri Colboch
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.166
Colboch helped lead the Wildcats to a Class 3A state tournament berth as a senior, averaging 8.2 points per games while hitting 39 3-pointers and shooting 81.3 percent from the free throw line. "Cooper had a great senior season,'' former Hayden coach Trey Brown said. "He was the voice of our team all year long and hit countless big shots for us. He is a great kid on and off the court and was a big reason we had success this season. Colboch also played football for Hayden before being sidelined midway through his senior season with an injury.
Simon Everhart
SIMON EVERHART | Cair Paravel Latin
PARENTS: Dave and Rachel Everhart
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 4.17
Everhart was a Top 10 All-Shawnee County selection as a senior, averaging 16.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game while scoring 35 percent of the Lions' points. "Simon is consistent in his approach and very reliable to his teammates,'' Cair Parave coach Chip Kueffer said. "A leader by his actions, not just words. The team depended on him heavily to show up and there was never a moment during the year when Simon let a teammate down. Simon demonstrates humility and perseverance. Despite being one of the top players in Topeka, Simon was never 'too big time.' He consistently swept the court before practices started and led as a team captain with a servant's heart.''
Barrett Lietz
BARRETT LIETZ | Rossville
PARENTS: Eric and Kelly Lietz
SPORT: Wrestling | GPA: 4.10
Lietz was a four-time state qualifier and a two-time Class 3A-1A regional champion in wrestling. Lietz capped his wrestling career with a second-place finish in the 3A-1A state tournament at 215 pounds. "Barrett consistently performs at a high level, demonstrating advanced skills, strategies and athleticism,'' Rossville coach Couy Weil said. "Barrett also shows leadership and sportsmanship both on and off the matt, serving as a positive role model for other students and contributing to a positive team culture. The commitment from this young man was outstanding and seen by many coaches and athletes around him.'' Lietz was also a standout for the Bulldawgs in football, earning Top 22 All-Shawnee County honors and being selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Isaiah Lyons
ISAIAH LYONS | Topeka High
PARENTS: Geo Lyons and Jennifer Mosqueda
SPORT: Basketball | GPA: 3.1
Lyons was a basketball standout for Topeka High, fighting through injuries to average 13.2 points, 2.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game while playing for his father, Geo Lyons, the Trojans' head coach. One of the city's top 3-point shooting threats, Lyons received first-team All-Centennial League honors as both a junior and senior and also received All-Shawnee County recognition both seasons. Lyons plans to attend Washburn Tech.
Brogan Meier
BROGAN MEIER | Washburn Rural
PARENTS: Kirk and Nicole Meier
SPORT: Swimming | GPA: 4.11
Meier capped an oustanding high school swimming career with the Class 6A 50-yard freestyle while helping lead Washburn Rural to a third-place team finish. Meier was a four-time All-City and All-Centennial League honoree, helping the Junior Blues win four city team titles and three league championships. "Brogan was a fantastic captain for our swim team, demonstrating great leadership and always being an encouraging teammate to all fellow swimmers,'' Rural coach Janson Garman said. "Brogan brought incredible talent, backed by a great work ethic, to our swim team and it really paid off for him in the end.'' Meier plans to attend Missouri State.
Recent Topeka West graduate Caleb Annan-Noonoo (24) is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights multi-sport standout Rykan Carver won the Class 5A state wrestling title at 285 pounds as a senior. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Hayden's Cooper Colboch is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County High School Sports Awards after helping the Wildcats advance to the Class 3A state basketball tournament as a senior. [File photo/TSN]
Recent Cair Paravel Latin graduate Simon Everhart is a nominee for the Topeka Shawnee County High School Awards. [Submitted photo]
Rossville's Barrett Lietz was the Class 3A-1A wrestling runnerup at 215 pounds as a senior. [Submitted photo]
Topeka High product Isaiah Lyons received All-Centennial League and All-Shawnee County basketball recognition the past two seasons. [Submitted photo]
Washburn Rural's Brogan Meier was a Class 6A state swimming champion as a senior, helping Rural finish third as a team. [Submitted photo]
