By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural, which captured its 29th straight Centennial League boys championship (outright or shared) and finished third in the Class 6A state tournament, leads the 2023 Topeka All-City boys soccer team with four first-team picks.
The Junior Blues are represented on the 13-member first team, selected by city coaches, by seniors Griffin Heinen (midfielder), Cohen Nimz (defender), Devon Rutschmann (forward) and Ethan Uhlrig (goalkeeper) while Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel was named the city co-coach of the year with Topeka West's Josh Kutter.
Shawnee Heights, which advanced to the Class 5A state quarterfinals, is represented on the All-City team by seniors Jack Martin (forward), Jack Phillips (defender) and Roscoe Poyner (midfielder).
Topeka High put senior midfielder Chris Gomez and junior forward Jaime Alvarado on the All-City squad while Seaman is represented by senior defender Jacob Anderson and junior midfielder Kaelin Loy.
Topeka West put senior forward Isaac Gonzalez-Talavera on the team while Hayden is represented by junior defender Cooper Grace.
West's Gonzalez-Talavera and Rural's Rutschmann are first-team All-City repeat picks while Alvarado, Gomez, Loy and Uhlrig all received honorable mention in 2022.
Rutschmann was named the Centennial League player of the year this fall while Rural's Heinen, Nimz and Uhlrig and High's Alvarado and Gomez were also first-team picks.
Seaman's Martin, Phillips and Poyner, Topeka West's Gonzalez-Talavera and and Seaman's Anderson were all named to the All-United Kansas Conference first team.
2023 TOPEKA ALL-CITY SOCCER
First team
Name, school Class Position
Jaime Alvarado, Topeka High Jr. Forward
Jacob Anderson, Seaman Sr. Defense
Chris Gomez, Topeka High Sr. Midfield
Isaac Gonzalez-Talavera, Topeka West Sr. Forward
Cooper Grace, Hayden Jr. Defense
Griffin Heinen, Washburn Rural Sr. Midfield
Kaelin Loy, Seaman Jr. Midfield
Jack Martin, Shawnee Heights Sr. Forward
Cohen Nimz, Washburn Rural Sr. Defense
Jack Phillips, Shawnee Heights Sr. Defense
Roscoe Poyner, Shawnee Heights Sr. Midfield
Devon Rutschmann, Washburn Rural Sr. Forward
Ethan Uhlrig, Washburn Rural Sr. Goalkeeper
Honorable Mention
Hayden: Preston Meitner, jr.; Josh Wolf, sr. Highland Park: Antonio Aguirre, jr.; Jaiden Williams, sr.; Seaman: Jace Brake, sr.; Phoenix Cannon, sr.; Tyler Siverston, sr.; Blake Toyne, jr. Shawnee Heights: Alex Austin, sr.; Camden Granado, so. Topeka High: Billy Lutz, so. Topeka West: Brendan Komma, sr.; Jaden Patterson, sr.; Jafet Rodriguez, jr. Washburn Rural: Ryder Nikkel, jr.; Hayden Shriver, sr.; Dylan Willingham, so.
Co-Coaches of the Year -- Brian Hensyel, Washburn Rural, and Josh Kutter, Topeka West.
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