By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman state tennis champion Grace Unruh was named the TopSports.news Topeka Shawnee County Fall Female Athlete of the Year during Wednesday's awards banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Washburn University.
Unruh finished her high school career as the Seaman record-holder for the most varsity tennis wins.
Unruh teamed with Lauren Sweeney to win the Class 5A state doubles championship as a senior, with the Viking duo posting a perfect 36-0 record.
Unruh placed fourth in 5A state doubles as a junior.
"It was an honor to coach Grace,'' Seaman coach Jamie Robinson said. "She works hard at improving all facets of her tennis game and physical training by researching and tweaking new techniques. Grace told me she wants to have a strong tennis legacy behind at Seaman High School. Grace will accomplish that mission.''
Unruh, who also swam at Seaman, will play tennis at Fort Hays State. She finished high school with a 4.05 grade point average.
Other candidates:
Khloi Bird
KHLOI BIRD | Washburn Rural
PARENTS: Ricky Cole and Lezlie Oetting
SPORT: Cross country | GPA: 4.12
Bird transferred to Washburn Rural as a sophomore and has been a three-time All-City/All-Shawnee County selection in cross country while helping the Junior Blues win three straight city team titles, a Centennial Leaue championship and a Class 6A regional team title. Bird posted a 14th-place individual finish in the 6A state meet last fall. In track Bird was a state qualifier as a junior and senior, earning a state medal in the 4 x 800 relay as a junior. "Khloi has been an important part of our cross country and track programs the past three years,'' Rural cross country coach Matt Swedlund said. "Her consistent high-level performances were key contributions to our team's success.'' Bird plans to run cross country and track at Butler Community College.
Anna Newcome
ANNA NEWCOME | Topeka West
PARENTS: Scott and Patricia Newcome
SPORT: Tennis | GPA: 4.36
Newcome qualified for the Class 5A state tournament as a senior, posting a third-place finish in 5A regional singles competition. "Anna has an excellent work ethic,'' Topeka West coach Kurt Davids said. "She shows up to her commitments on time, every time with a positive attitude and an open mind. Anna was an accomplished leader as well, setting an impeccable example in the classroom as well as on the court. Anna's junior season was cut short by COVID restrictions. Beyond the initial disappointment, Anna became even more focused and determined to not be denied a trip to the state tournament.'' Newcome plans to attend the University of Nebraska.
Camilla Ossola
CAMILLA OSSOLA | Silver Lake
PARENTS: Cody and Megan Johnson (host parents)
SPORT: Volleyball | GPA: 3.5
Ossola came to Silver Lake as a foreign exchange student from Italy and made an immediate impact for the Eagles' volleyball team. Ossola led Silver Lake in kills, hitting percentage and blocks. "She did an excellent job connecting with the setters and her teammates despite the language and cultural barrier,'' Silver Lake coach Sarah Johnson said. "Camilla loves the game of volleyball and competing at a high level.'' Ossola received All-Mid-East League and TopSports.news All-Shawnee County first-team honors and was named Silver Lake's most valuable player by her teammates. Ossola, who compiled 223 kills, will play collegiately at Johnson County Community College.
Kate Roeder
KATE ROEDER | Hayden
PARENTS: Brent and Sheila Roeder
SPORT: Golf | GPA: 4.3
Roeder was an All-Shawnee County first-team selection after posting a second-place individual finish in the Class 4A state tournament last fall. Roeder, also a soccer standout for the Wildcats, was Hayden's No. 1 golfer all season, earning medals in four events. "Kate played on a team in which she was the only senior on varsity,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "The girls looked up to her to be the leader and she accepted the challenge and built relationships with the girls that they will never forget. She kept getting better and better which culminated in a second-place finish at the 4A state tournament.''
