The Sumner Academy volleyball team celebrated after scoring late in the second set of the sub-state final against Lansing. The Lady Sabres lost the final but made a big impression with their gutsy second-set performance. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Sumner Lady Sabres volleyball team lost in the 5A sub-state finals to defending state champions Lansing, but officials, coaches and fans came away from the game impressed with the Sumner spirit.
The Lady Lions romped through the final’s first set, powering to a 25-8 advantage and looking for an easy second set to send them on their way to the state tournament. What they got from Sumner was something completely different.
The Lady Sabres opened up an early second-set lead with never-say-die defense from libero Sui Par and high-flying kills from hitters Anabelle Cacho and Kylie McCleary. When the Sumner lead reached 8-4, Lansing called a timeout to pull the team together.
The break got the Lady Lions back on track, and they pulled even at 9-9, with their powerful outside hitters getting into the action. Sumner head coach Caylie Yessa called a timeout, and her team responded with another run, powered by a service streak from sophomore setter Keneth Rodriguez-Acosta, Sumner’s leader in aces.
The Lady Sabres pulled away to a 16-11 lead, forcing another Lansing timeout. The Lady Lions began to chip away at the lead and pulled even at 20. Sumner kept fighting for every last point, even denying Lansing’s match point service at 24-21, but Lansing closed out the set and match at 25-22.
After the game, Yessa praised the leadership of her senior class.
“We have four seniors on the team,” said the coach, “and Anabelle [Cacho] and Kylie [McCleary] are our outsides. They worked their four years being on our program, and they really came together and pulled the team together as co-captains and led our team to a conference championship and our first win at sub-state.”
Sumner defeated familiar foe Washington in the first round of sub-state competition, winning in two sets (25-11, 25-15), while Lansing had a similarly easy time against Basehor-Linwood (25-10, 25-14) in its first-round game.
The Sumner Lady Sabres finished the season with a 23-11 record, earning the Meadowlark Conference championship with a perfect 12-0 conference record.
Sumner senior Anabelle Cacho. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior Anabelle Cacho. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner junior Sui Par. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner sophomore Micaela Patrick. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior Kylie McCleary. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner junior Brooke Smith-Nash. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner junior Brooke Smith-Nash. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner coaches Caylie Yessa, right, and Katie Larson celebrated with the team when Lansing called a timeout. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Sumner Lady Sabres posed together after the sub-state final. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner sophomore Keneth Rodriguez-Acosta. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior J’Layne Hulse. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner freshman Izabella Cook. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington sophomore Brooklyn Dillard. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington junior Hning Thang. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington senior Jada Schuler. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington sophomore Analysia Rodriguez. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior quarterback Logan Ladish outraced the Seaman defense on a 34-yard touchdown run. Ladish ran for two touchdowns and threw for another in Piper’s 31-13 win over the Seaman High School Vikings. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Piper Pirates beat Topeka’s Seaman Vikings 31-13 Friday evening in their last regular season game of 2022. Hundreds of fans packed Piper Stadium on a breezy and warm mid-October evening.
Senior quarterback Logan Ladish led the scoring with two long touchdown runs of 34 and 48 yards. He also connected with receiver Che’ Clemons for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Senior receiver Colin Vigil scored on a 9-yard run in the first quarter, and kicker Zane Busick converted a 26-yard field goal.
Defensive back Tannar McDaniel made an impact on the defensive side, grabbing an interception at the end of the first half that led to a scoring drive. He also made some hard-hitting open field tackles on Seaman’s receivers over the middle.
Piper finished the regular season with a 5-3 record and are seeded 8th in the east bracket of the KSHSAA 4A playoffs. The Pirates will play at home next Friday against the Tonganoxie Chieftains in their first round match, starting at 7 p.m.
Senior receiver Colin Vigil fended off a tackler on a fourth quarter run. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore defensive back Tannar McDaniel brought down Seaman junior receiver Callen Barta before he could turn up field after a catch. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior running back Miguel Martin made a run around the right end. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior receiver Mason L’Heureux leaped high to bring down a pass on the right sideline. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior offensive lineman Camden Beebe led the team in thanking the fans after the game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior kicker Zane Busick converted 4 extra points and a 26-yard field goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Piper Pearls dance team performed a cops-and-robbers themed dance number at halftime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Piper cheerleading team posed with their senior members before halftime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore lineman Maddix Davis burst through to sack Seaman sophomore quarterback Max Huston. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore receiver Che’ Clemons snared a 25-yard touchdown pass. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior receiver Jaron Brown kept his concentration on the ball and made a 60-yard touchdown reception after the ball was tipped by two defenders. The touchdown gave the Golden Bears a 21-18 lead, but Topeka West made a late comeback for a 26-21 win. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The classic Journey hit “Don’t Stop Believin'” played over the loudspeakers of the Turner District Athletic Complex at halftime of Friday’s homecoming football game — a perfect tune for a Golden Bears’ performance that had the players, coaches and fans all believing.
Hard-hitting defense and an opportunistic offense gave the Golden Bears a halftime 7-6 lead over the Topeka West Chargers, and they still held a lead late into the fourth quarter until West’s touchdown drive gave the Chargers a 26-21 lead and broke up the dreams of Turner’s first win in its new stadium.
The teams traded scoreless possessions in the first quarter, and Turner got on the board first two minutes into the second quarter on Xavier Wimer’s 2-yard touchdown run.
The score was set up by a 26-yard Wimer toss to Jaron Brown, who made a fantastic catch, reaching around the defensive back’s helmet to secure the ball and keep hold as he hit the turf.
Topeka West took advantage of a short Turner punt to put together a scoring drive just before halftime. West quarterback Malachi Berg ran in from nine yards out, but a failed extra point try left the Chargers down 7-6.
A third quarter interception and long runback by safety Diego Castillo set up another Bears’ touchdown. Running back Donovan Moore ran the ball from the 20 down to the 2-yard line, and Wimer punched it on with two consecutive keepers. A successful 2-point conversion gave the Bears a 15-6 lead going into the final quarter.
The Chargers scored two touchdowns in quick succession in the fourth quarter, the second one set up by a Bears fumble on their own 21-yard line. West failed both 2-point conversions and led 18-15 midway through the quarter.
Turner recovered the lead on another amazing catch by Brown, who snagged the ball after it was tipped by two West defenders and then raced to the end zone for a 60-yard score.
The Turner defense held Topeka West on downs and the Bears got the ball on their own 35 with under 6 minutes remaining but couldn’t make headway on offense.
A good punt by Turner pushed the Chargers to start at their own 28-yard line, but a long pass to the Turner 25 and then a quarterback run to the 2-yard line set the West offense up for the heartbreaking, lead-taking score.
After the game ended, some players were visibly emotional about the loss, when a win had been so close. Head coach Rick Byers consoled them, telling the gathered team that their hurt was a good sign because they cared about the game, and that their future successes would be that much sweeter because of the difficult times now.
The Turner Golden Bears will head to De Soto High School for next Friday’s match starting at 7 p.m.
The loss on a late Topeka West touchdown drive was a tough one for players and fans. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior receiver Jaron Brown leaped to bring down a pass. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior running back Donovan Moore ran a sweep around the right side. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Turner’s homecoming queen and king from the class of 1972, Connie (DeCoster) Rodriguez and Dick Leeper, were on hand for the 2022 homecoming ceremony. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Turner marching band performed at halftime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior receiver hauled in a catch for a first down. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior quarterback Xavier Wimer plowed through a pile of Topeka West defenders to get to the goal line. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior receiver Jaron Brown reached around the defender to snare a 26-yard reception. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior quarterback Xavier Wimer ran for a short gain. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Topeka West senior quarterback Malachi Berg was stopped just short of the goal line. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
