Goepfert area athlete of week

AREA STAR JOSH GOEPERT

Marysville, senior wrestler

HIS PERFORMANCE: In a showdown of the No. 2 and 3-ranked 113-pounders in Class 3-2-1A, Goepfert (No. 3) knocked off undefeated Brady Lowell of Republic County (No. 2) in the finals of the Jayhusker Invitational at Marysville to earn Outstanding Wrestler honors. Goepfert used a pair of reversals to take a 4-2 victory to improve to 20-0 on the season.

COMMENT: “Josh is having a great season so far,” Marysville coach Cole Fredrickson said. “He is really focused and working really hard. He stayed active on bottom, picked up two reversals, and had a good ride-out in the thirrd to win.”

OTHER CANDIDATES

Alyx Bloom, G, Clay Center
Scored 30 in win over Abilene

Calahan Brown, G, Frankfort
Averaged 23.5 ppg in 2 wins, high of 31

Austin Budke, C, Beloit
Averaged 27.5 ppg in 2 wins, high of 43

Julius Coats, wrestler, Tonganoxie
Won 195-pound title at Basehor-Linwood Inv.

Elena Flott, F, Olpe
Averaged 21.5 ppg in 2 wins for LCL champs

Trey Francka, wrestler, Chase County
Won 113 title at Halstead Inv.

Brady Geist, G, West Franklin
Averaged 22 ppg, high of 31

Kate Hula, F, Council Grove
Averaged 16.5 ppg in 2 wins for FHL champs

Jared Johnson, wrestler, Pleasant Ridge
Won 170 title at St. Marys Inv.

Hunter Price, wrestler, Holton
Won 120 title at St. Marys Inv.

Mark Price, G, Marais des Cygnes Valley
Averaged 19.5 ppg in 2 wins for LCL champs

Ashley Romig, F, Waverly
Averaged 19.5 ppg in 2 wins

Arika Smith, F, Atchison
Scored 31 in win over KC Schlagle

Taliaferro city athlete of week

CITY STAR BEN TALIAFERRO

Shawnee Heights, senior wrestler

HIS PERFORMANCE: Taliaferro won a dual match against Seaman on Wednesday, then notched the 195-pound championship in Marysville's Jayhusker Tournament on Saturday. Taliaferro is now 19-1 on the season with eight pins and has won tournament titles at Tonganoxie, Maize and Marysville.

COMMENT: “Ben Taliaferro is one of the hardest-working athletes I've ever coached,” Shawnee Heights coach Chad Parks said. “When we tell athletes, ‘Hard work pays off,’ Ben is a prime example. He did all of his summer football workouts, wrestling camps and also extra strength and conditioning workouts. I honestly feel he is just now coming into his own and hitting his athletic stride.”

OTHER CANDIDATES

Bryant Guillen, wrestler, Seaman
Became school record-holder for wins

Bailey Kelly, wrestler, Seaman
Runner-up in 36-school Bobcat Classic

Will Geary, wrestler, Topeka High
285-pound champ, 3 pins in Topeka Inv.

Carter Hall, wrestler, Shawnee Heights
Won 152-pound title at Marysville tourney

Nick Meck, wrestler, Shawnee Heights
Won 182-pound title in Marysville tourney

Shannon Meck, wrestler, Shawnee Hts.
Won 285-pound title in Marysville tourney

Zach Campbell, wrestler, Topeka West
Won 106-pound title in Topeka High Inv.

John-Martin Schmidt, swimmer, Hayden
Two individual wins in Topeka West Inv.

Cooper Self, wrestler, Topeka High
Won 132-pound title in Topeka High Inv.

Briman Williams, wrestler, Topeka High
Won 138-pound title in Topeka High Inv.

Tavarous Givens, wrestler, Topeka High
Won 160-pound title in Topeka High Inv.

Merrick Whetstone, wrestler, Topeka High
Won 170-pound title in Topeka High Inv.

Dominic Boatwright, wrestler, Topeka West
Won 182-pound title in Topeka High Inv.

Tray Wheeler, G, Highland Park
34 points in three wins, high 18

Shaffee Carr, C, Highland Park
39 points in three wins, high 14

Raymond Solis, P, Topeka High
39 points in two games, high 24

Riley Landuyt, G, Washburn Rural
36 points in two games, high 18 twice

Destini Gillian, G, Highland Park
19 points, four 3s, in win vs. Topeka West

Bailey Wells, G, Shawnee Heights
23 points, five 3s, in win vs. Highland Park

Mandy Madden, C, Topeka High
35 points in two games, high 21

Erika Lane, G, Washburn Rural
27 points in two games, high 14

Ben Taliaferro's dad wrestled at ACCHS - Effingham...Just an FYI. Nice to see the influence of Coach Tilton, Beal, Madden and Maendele being passed down.