By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Men's picks No. 21-30 on the list of TopSports.news' Shawnee County All-Time Top 100 Athletes features two local basketball legends, a pair of players who made it to the Major Leagues, five of the county's most recognizable names in football and one of the most accomplished multi-sport athletes in local annals.
The late Ron Paradis and Delvy Lewis led Washburn Rural to a state basketball championship before going on to standout careers at Kansas State and Kansas, respectively, while Duff "Sir Richard' Cooley and former Hayden and Washburn standout Jerad Head made it to the Major Leagues in baseball.
Kyle McNorton (Seaman) was an All-Big 8 linebacker for Kansas and played in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs, Trey Lewis (Washburn Rural) was an All-American for Washburn and played for the Falcons, Will Geary (Topeka High) and Wyatt Hubert (Shawnee Heights) were multiple-time All-Big 12 picks for Kansas State and Ky Thomas (Topeka High) finished his prep career as the No. 2 all-time rusher in state history before going on to a Division I career.
Mark Elliott was a multiple sport standout for Silver Lake, was a pick in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, played quarterback at Washburn and is one of the area's most successful golfers.
TSN SHAWNEE COUNTY ALL-TIME TOP 100 MEN’S ATHLETES
The late Ron Paradis was a state-champion basketball player at Washburn Rural and played in the Final Four for Kansas State. [Kansas State Athletics]
21. RON PARADIS, Washburn Rural
Paradis, a 1962 Washburn Rural graduate, Paradis was a state basketball champion in 1960 and a two-time All-State selection for the Junior Blues and ended his high school career as Rural's career leading scorer with 1,609 points. Paradis was a four-year starter for Rural, averaging 24 points as a junior and 23 points as a senior for the Junior Blues. Paradis went on to become a three-year letterman at Kansas State and played for the Wildcats in the 1964 Final Four. He led the Wildcats in scoring as a junior with 308 points. During his career, he set the then-career free throw percentage record (.803) at K-State. Paradis, who also had a long career as a sports broadcaster, is a member of the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2010 at the age of 66.
The late Delvy Lewis was a state basketball champion for Washburn Rural and an All-Big Eight selection for Kansas. [Kansas Athletics]
22. DELVY LEWIS, Washburn Rural
A 1962 Washburn Rural graduate, the late Lewis helped lead Washburn Rural to a state basketball championship in 1960 and post a 67-7 record during his high school career. An All-Stater at Rural, Lewis went on to become an All-Big Eight player and three-year starter at Kansas. Lewis is a member of the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2012 after a long battle with cancer at the age of 68.
Kyle McNorton starred at Seaman and at the University of Kansas before playing with the Kansas City Chiefs. [Topeka Capital-Journal]
23. KYLE McNORTON, Seaman
McNorton was a standout linebacker for Kansas football from 1978-1981 and led the Jayhawks in tackles in 1980 and '81. McNorton ended his career ranked No. 4 on KU's career tackles list with 381. McNorton earned All-Big Eight Conference honors and went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. McNorton is a member of the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame.
Washburn Rural product Trey Lewis was an All-American for Washburn University and played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. [Washburn Rural]
24. TREY LEWIS, Washburn Rural
Lewis was a three-time All-MIAA defensive lineman for Washburn from 2004-2006 and earned AP Little All-America honors for the Ichabods. Lewis played in the NFL after being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round and became a starter in the fourth week of his rookie season. Lewis is a member of the Washburn Rural, Washburn University and MIAA halls of fame.
Will Geary was an All-State football player and two-time state wrestling champion at Topeka High before earning All-Big 12 honors three seasons for Kansas State. [Kansas State Athletics]
25. WILL GEARY, Topeka High
A two-time Class 6A state wrestling champion and was an All-State football player for the Trojans. Geary went on to become a first-team All-American (Pro Football Focus) and a three-time All-Big 12 selection as a defensive lineman for Kansas State. Geary became the first Wildcat interior defensive lineman with three straight first team all-conference honors since Reggie Singletary. Geary finished his career ranked 12th in school history in career tackles and fourth in career tackles for loss among interior defensive linemen. Geary started all 13 games as a senior, finishing seventh on the team with 44 tackles to go along with 9.0 tackles for loss and a team-high 4.5 sacks.
Wyatt Hubert starred at Shawnee Heights before earning All-Big 12 honors at Kansas State and signing with the Cincinatti Bengales. [Kansas State Athletics]
26. WYATT HUBERT, Shawnee Heights
The former Shawnee Heights star earned All-Big 12 first-team honors for Kansas State at defensive end as a sophomore and junior. Hubert was a 29-game career starter for the Wildcats who bypassed his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. Hubert finished his career tied for eighth in school history with 20.0 career sacks while his 34.0 tackles for loss were five shy of entering the school’s top 10. Finished his career ranked seventh in the nation among active players in sacks per game (0.59) and 10th in tackles for loss per game (1.00). Hubert started all 10 games as a junior, totaling 27 tackles, with 13.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
Duff "Sir Richard'' Cooley grew up in Topeka and played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues, making is debut in 1893. [Submitted photo]
27. DUFF "SIR RICHARD'' COOLEY
Born in 1873, Cooley played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1893-1905 for the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Beaneaters and Detroit Tigers. Cooley compiled 1,579 hits and had a career batting average of .294. Cooley was only the second player from Kansas to break into the Major Leagues. Cooley died in 1937 in Dallas.
Mark Elliott (left), with his late father, Larry, who coached Elliott at Washburn, was a multi-sport standout at Silver Lake and Washburn while also playing minor league baseball. [Topeka Capital-Journal]
28. MARK ELLIOTT, Silver Lake
After an outstanding high school baseball career for Silver Lake, Elliott was selected in the sixth round of the 1977 Major League draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and played three seasons in the minors. He spent his last two seasons with Class A Clinton (Iowa) and finished as a .262 hitter in the minors. Elliott 36 career homers for Silver Lake and went 8-0 as a pitcher as a senior. Elliott played quarterback at Washburn and is an accomplished golfer, qualifying in 2013 as an amateur for the U.S. Senior Open and playing professionally on mini-tours.
Jerad Head starred at Hayden and Washburn University before making it to the Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians. [Wikipedia]
29. JERAD HEAD, Hayden
Head was a football, basketball and baseball star for Hayden, earning All-State recognition in all three sports, before becoming a basketball and baseball standout at Washburn and embarking on a long professional baseball career. Head made it to the Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians. In 2010, Head received the Bobby Murcer Most Valuable Player award after leading the Columbus Clippers to the Triple A national championship. Head hit .485 with 15 RBIs in the nine-game postseason. In 2009, Head was selected postseason MVP after his Akron Aeros won the Double-A Eastern League championship.
Ky Thomas finished his Topeka High football career as the No. 2 all-time rusher in Kansas history and is currently playing at Kent State. [Kent State Athletics]
30. KY THOMAS, Topeka High
Thomas finished his prep football career for the Trojans as the city's all-time rushing leader and the No. 2 rusher in state history with 7,703 yards, including 3,009 yards as a senior, when he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year. Thomas has played collegiately for Minnesota and Kansas, playing in bowl games for both schools. Thomas has played in 18 collegiate games in collegiate career to date and has averaged 4.5 yards per carry on 219 attempts and scored eight touchdowns. Thomas rushed for 824 yards and six touchdowns in one season at Minnesota after redshirting his first season at the school. Thomas is currently playing at Kent State.
31. TANNER GARDNER, Shawnee Heights
32. TED EVANS, Topeka High
33. JOHN TETUAN, Hayden
34. MARK TURGEON, Hayden
35. DALE CUSHINBERRY, Highland Park
36. DAN DAVIS, Hayden
37. JAHMAL McMURRAY, Highland Park
38. JOHNNY JOHNSON, Seaman
39. DAN CNOSSEN, Shawnee Heights
40. AUSTIN HANSON, Seaman
41. “DODE” LESSER, Seaman
42. ED DELK, Highland Park
43. TONY LEIKER, Silver Lake
44. TOM BUNGER, Washburn Rural
45. MARCEL CARTER, Shawnee Heights
46. CARROLL RAY “DINK” MOTHELL
47. NICK STRINGER, Hayden
48. RYAN ZEFERJAHN, Seaman
49. JUSTIN GLASGOW, Seaman
50. JARED HUSKE, Highland Park
51. JOEL HOFFMAN, Topeka High
52. DAN O’MARA, Hayden
53. GLENN TRAMMEL, Topeka High
54. BOB BENOIT, Topeka West
55. ART GRIGGS, TOPEKA HIGH
56. DUANE "BLACKIE'' MELVIN, Seaman
57. SCOTT LEON, Shawnee Heights
58. BILL McDONALD, Topeka West
59. JIM GOLDEN, Silver Lake
60. JASON STUKE, Seaman
61. LAMAR MADY, Topeka High
62. WILL COKELEY, Washburn Rural
63. LEVI LEE, Topeka High
64. J.P. WRIGHT, Seaman
65. CHUCK NELSON, Topeka High
66. TROY SLUSSER, Topeka High
67. LUKE YARNELL, Washburn Rural
68. KEN “HOOK” JOHNSON, Topeka High
69. MILO MITCHELL, Topeka High
70. JOE DOUGLAS, Topeka High
71. CLARDY VINSON, Topeka High
72. C.B. MCGRATH, Topeka West
73. TOMMY HUNTER, Hayden
74. JOHN GRANTHAM, Topeka High
75. BENNIE SIMECKA, Rossville
76. THERON WILSON, Highland Park
77. DAVID PROCTOR, Topeka High
78. RICK DEHART, Seaman
79. SHANNON KRUGER, Silver Lake
80. TUCKER HORAK, Rossville
81. ANDREW BECKLER, Washburn Rural
82. TAGEN LAMBOTTE, Rossville
83. BISHOP MURRAY, Washburn Rural
84. MICHAEL HOFFER, Shawnee Heights
85. RAPHEAL POSEY, Highland Park
86. ZEKE METZ, Seaman
87. LAMONT AUSTIN, Highland Park
88. CHRIS CARLSON, Seaman
89. SHANE WRIGHT, Hayden
90. DUANE ZLATNIK, Rossville
91. AUSTIN HALSEY, Washburn Rural
92. JACOB MORGAN, Washburn Rural
93. LARRY MILLER, Topeka High
94. TANNER NEWKIRK, Hayden
95. TRE RICHARDSON, Highland Park
96. DESMOND PURNELL, Hayden
97. JORDAN COOPER, Shawnee Heights
98. ROB HAYS, Topeka West
99. BEN CARLSON, Seaman
100. JACK L. BYBEE, Washburn Rural
UPCOMING TOP 100 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
July 25 -- Women's No. 11 through 20.
July 26 -- Men's No. 11 through 20.
July 27 -- Women's No.10 through 1.
July 28 -- Men's No. 10 through 1.
