Topeka-area high school athletes recognized at Northeast Kansas High School Sports Awards show
A two-sport star at Kansas State University, Peyton Williams stands as the example of what many young athletes hope to emulate.
Williams, a standout basketball and volleyball player at Cair Paravel and Kansas State, was the special guest at the 2022 Northeast Kansas High School Sports Awards on Tuesday at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. Williams now plays basketball overseas.
Produced in partnership with the Kansas State Treasurer's Office and The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus, the show put a bow tie on the 2021-22 high school sports year as it honored more than 200 high school athletes from the area.
Williams took photos with each winner and participated in a question-and-answer session during the awards show.
With candidates from Shawnee, Jackson, Jefferson and Douglass counties, following are the 2022 Northeast Kansas High School Sports Awards honorees:
Coach of the Year: Derrick Hammes, Rossville football.
Boys Athlete of the Year: Tanner Newkirk, Senior, Hayden.
Girls Athlete of the Year: Kadence Jeffries, Senior, Topeka West.
Girls Team of the Year: Topeka High softball.
Boys Team of the Year: Seaman basketball.
Scholar Athlete: McKenzie Marcum, Senior, Free State.
Courage Award: Daigan Kruger, Senior, Silver Lake.
Fall sports winners
Boys Cross Country: Tanner Newkirk, Senior, Hayden.
Girls Cross Country: Madeline Carter, Junior, Washburn Rural.
Football (Offensive): Jet Dineen, Senior, Free State.
Football (Defensive): Matthew Etzel, Senior, Shawnee Heights.
Boys Golf: Giles Frederickson, Senior, Washburn Rural.
Girls Golf: Lois Deeter, Junior, Seaman.
Boys Soccer: Porter Schaefersman, Senior, Washburn Rural.
Boys Swimming: Nathen Trachta, Senior, Washburn Rural.
Girls Tennis: Grace Unruh and Lauren Sweeney, Senior and Junior, Seaman.
Volleyball: Brooklyn DeLeye, Junior, Washburn Rural.
Spring sports winners
Baseball: Maddox Burkin, Senior, Free State.
Girls Soccer: Belle Kennedy, Senior, Washburn Rural.
Softball: Kira Baker, Senior, Eudora.
Girls Swimming: Kadence Jeffries, Senior, Topeka West.
Boys Tennis: Ian and Miles Cusick, Juniors, Topeka West.
Girls Track: Bethany Druse, Junior, Seaman.
Boys Track: Tanner Newkirk, Senior, Seaman.
Winter sports winners
Boys Basketball: Elijah Brooks, Senior, Topeka West.
Girls Basketball: Harper Schreiner, Senior, Eudora.
Girls Bowling: Makenzie Millard, Senior, Seaman.
Boys Bowling: Jack Easum, Senior, Seaman.
Boys Wrestling: Austin Fager, Senior, Washburn Rural.
Girls Wrestling: Madyson Gray, Senior, Free State.
Contact Seth Kinker at skinker@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @SethKinker.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Northeast Kansas High School Sports Awards caps off 2021-22 season
