SPORTS C

Friday, October 31, 2014 | The Topeka Capital-Journal

Junior Blues ready for state
Seven-time state champs Washburn Rural back
at state meet after rare absence in 2013.
VOLLEYBALL | PAGE 7C
Spiker
packs a
punch
By Brent Maycock
brent.maycock@cjonline.com
When Alyssa Schultejans
rst started playing volley-
ball in second grade, she
admits she wasnt exactly a
natural at the sport.
I was pretty awkward
back then, Schultejans
said. It was basically be
tall and hit the ball.
Thats good enough to
get things done at the parks
and rec level. But even
then, it still wasnt good
enough for Schultejans.
I was determined to be
that person where theyre
like, Watch out for her,
SPIKER continues on 6C
SEPTEMBER 2014 FILE PHOTO/THE C-J
Silver Lakes Alyssa Schulte-
jans is closing in on becom-
ing the states all-time
single-season kill leader.
Eagles Schultejans
preparing to cap
her record career
By Dave Skretta
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
The emotions were still
raw, the sting of defeat still
fresh from Game 7 of the
World Series when Billy
Butler stood in front of his
locker and spoke in a voice
full of conviction.
They would be back,
this scrappy bunch of kids.
Their return to the playofs
after 29 years was just the
beginning, their 3-2 loss on
Wednesday night hardly
the end. The same team
that swept through the
playofs before falling to
the San Francisco Giants
has brighter days ahead.
We have so many guys
up here that are young, tal-
ented, Butler said. You
saw some young guys take
that next step in the post-
season, and its an exciting
thing to see, and for the
future of this organiza-
tion. The future couldnt
be brighter. The whole nu-
cleus is extremely young,
and I think theyre going to
build of it. I just hope Im
part of that process.
Thats the kicker: Butler
may not be part of it.
The Royals must decide
by Monday whether to ex-
ercise his expensive club
option for next season,
and most expect them to
decline. That would make
Butler a free agent for the
rst time in his career and
leave Kansas City in search
of a new designated hitter.
Even if they decline it,
you can still talk, Butler
said. If its not here, its
somewhere else, but Id
rather it be here. Thats the
way it is. Were a small mar-
ket. Business is business,
but I feel like its a little bit
more than that here.
ROYALS continues on 4C
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Royals must decide by Monday if they will exercise
Billy Butlers club option for next season.
KCs future unclear
Butler, Shields among core players
team could lose in the ofseason
RIVALRY RENEWED: THE WAR ON 24
CHRIS NEAL/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
Rossvilles Dawson Hammes battles his way through the Silver Lake defense while playing in Thursday nights War on
24 in Rossville. The Bulldogs defeated Silver Lake, 24-14, their second win over the Eagles in the last three meetings.
Rossville gets physical,
knocks of Silver Lake
Bulldogs rise to occasion on defense, stymie No. 1 Eagles
By Brent Maycock
brent.maycock@cjonline.com
ROSSVILLE There
have been times this sea-
son when the Rossville de-
fense has had issues.
Nothing major, mind
you. The Bulldogs didnt
get to 8-0 entering Thurs-
days War on 24 showdown
with Silver Lake having se-
rious deciencies on that
side of the ball.
Whatever minor trou-
bles the Bulldogs have
had, when the stakes have
been highest the Rossville
defense has more than an-
swered the bell. They did it
against Centralia midway
through the season and
were arguably even better
in the Class 3A No. 1 vs. No.
2 clash with arch rival Sil-
ver Lake.
Rossville held the visit-
ing Eagles to zero points
and just ve rst downs
through three quarters. By
the time Silver Lake found
some ofensive rhythm, the
Bulldogs were in full con-
trol on their way to a 24-14
victory.
I denitely say we
stepped it up this week,
Rossville senior line-
backer Nick Reesor said.
Throughout the year,
weve had our lapses where
everything wasnt clicking
right. It all came together
tonight. Coach (Derick)
Hammes put a great defen-
sive scheme in and we got
the job done.
Rossville (9-0) wrapped
up its second straight Mid-
East League title and the
3A District 4 crown and
will play host to Pleasant
Ridge (5-4) in Tuesdays
playof opener. Silver Lake
(8-1) fell for the rst time
and takes on Maur Hill
(7-2) in the rst round.
Physical dominance has
been Silver Lakes calling
card in its domination of
the series in recent years,
but on Thursday night,
Rossville was not only the
Eagles match, but perhaps
even more. After yielding a
pair of rst downs on Silver
Lakes opening drive of the
game, the Bulldogs buckled
down and Reesor knocked
down a fourth-down pass
ROSSVILLE continues on 5C
ROSSVILLE
TURNING TIDE
Silver Lake has been a
powerhouse for much of the last
decade, winning 3A state cham-
pionships in 2006, 10 and 13.
But with Fridays 24-14 win, rival
Rossville has now won the last
two regular-season matchups
with the Eagles. Here are the
last 10 regular-season results
from the War on 24:
2005 SILVER LAKE 24-21, OT
2006 SL 20-10
2007 SL 46-6,
2008 SL 47-0
2009 SL 35-3
2010 SL 34-28
2011 SL 20-18
2012 SL 32-12
2013 ROSSVILLE 27-21
2014 RV 24-14
LB set
to face
former
team
By Dave Skretta
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
Finally healthy and given a
shot to start, veteran line-
backer Josh
Mauga sud-
denly leads
the resurgent
Kansas City
Chiefs in
tackles near-
ing the mid-
way point of
the season.
Never heard of him? The
New York Jets can give you
a primer.
When they visit Arrow-
head Stadium on Sunday,
they will gaze across the
eld at the very same line-
backer that they decided
was washed up. Mauga
struggled with so many in-
juries the past couple sea-
sons that the Jets nally let
him go, only for him to nd
a home in Kansas City.
Not only did Mauga earn
a job in training camp, he
quickly became the starter
when Pro Bowl linebacker
Derrick Johnson tore his
Achilles tendon in the sea-
son opener.
Whirlwind? You bet. But
in the best way possible.
Absolutely, Mauga said.
CHIEFS continues on 5C
Veteran played
for Jets before
joining Chiefs
Mauga
Seaman,
Heights
to clash
for title
By Rick Peterson
rick.peterson@cjonline.com
Both Seaman and Shaw-
nee Heights have already
clinched Class 5A playof
berths, but
theres still
plenty to play
for in Fridays
7 p.m. Dis-
trict 2 nale
at Shawnee
Heights.
First and
foremost, Friday nights
winner will win the dis-
trict championship and get
a home game in the rst
round of the playofs while
the Vikings and T-Birds,
both 4-4 overall and 2-0
in district play, are in the
midst of three-game win-
ning streaks and will be
looking to continue build-
ing momentum.
Our goal was to make
it to the playofs, but cer-
tainly it is a big advantage
to be able to play a home
game and we know how
important winning district
is, Seaman coach Blake
Pierce said. We have been
getting better every week
and were exactly where
we want to be at the end of
the year.
5A continues on 5C
Pierce
Vikings, T-Birds
already assured of
5A playof berths
Blues soccer
advances in
6A playofs
By Todd Fertig
Special to The Capital-Journal
It took Washburn Rural
just two minutes to claim
a lead in its state regional
battle with
W i c h i t a
North. The
Junior Blues
never relin-
quished that
a d v a n t a g e
and avenged
a disappoint-
ing exit from regionals a
year ago.
Goal-scorer extraordi-
naire Austin Halsey boot-
ed home a header pass from
BLUES continues on 7C
Halsey