Baseball

The Trojan baseball season has been about nothing but improvement.

“As the season has gone on, we have all grown as players and our team chemistry has improved,” Corey Thomas, sophomore, said. “It shows on the field.”

Last season, Topeka High finished 7-13. This year’s team is currently 6-10.

“We are going to surpass our record from last year,” Thomas said. “[The improvement] is a good sign.”

While this team continues to improve on the field, it’s also improving off the field.

“We enjoy each other not only on the field but off it as well,” Thomas said. “We all hang out a lot outside of school and it helps for big situations in games.”

Men’s Tennis

Topeka High’s men’s tennis team has made 2015 one of their best seasons in a long time.

“Overall, this is one of the best teams we’ve had,” Ethan Heckard, senior, said. “On any given meet we have at least one or two guys getting medals.”

Heckard loves his team, but was complimentary of a couple players in particular.

“Matthew [Gonzales is] 23-7 on the year and his obnoxious grunts have yet to be stopped,” Heckard said. “I like the way Chris [Gernon] plays too, especially with being only a sophomore.”

Ultimately, Heckard loves this team as a whole.

“The experience went by a little too fast honestly. This team is the craziest group of bros. We’re fortunate to have a coach (Duane Pomeroy) who wants to be just as adventurous as us. I think he really helped us grow closer,” Heckard said. “So many people are adamant about making tennis so proper, but really, we’re high school kids, so why do that? We’re not afraid to look dumb but when it comes down to it, we’re one of the best teams in the region.”

Men’s and Women’s Track and Field

Both men’s and women’s track at Topeka High have made a lot of progression this season.

“I’d say that we’re a pretty solid group this year. The guys work their specific events and are improving significantly as the season progresses,” Obi Nwakpuda, sophomore, said.

“We have had a lot of juniors step up and show leadership, as well has Cheyenne Kahler and I, who are the lone seniors,” Holloman said. “Even the incoming freshman and underclassmen continue to improve each week.”

When asked about the season as a whole Nwakpuda has some simple, yet true words to say.

“For the remainder of the season, we’re aiming to break more P.R’s (Personal Records) and accumulate more medals. And hopefully a trophy by the end of the year. But all in all, [Topeka High’s track team] does what we do best, and that is ‘eat’.

Softball

Currently 9-3, Topeka High softball has had a tremendous season.

“We are doing very good,” Sarah Eckhart, senior, said. “Although we are young, we have a lot of talent and it’s paying off for us this season.”

Ciara Stallons, freshman, has had quite the experience playing strictly varsity in her first season.

“It’s been hard, but I’ve gotten my way through it,” Stallons said. “Since I was young, I’ve waited to be on this team and I’d hoped to make varsity, so when I found out I was really really happy.”

It’s been clear that while this team is talented, it is one that gels just as well.

“We don’t break down. If we get down, we lift ourselves back up. We keep going, and even if we lose, we’re still alright. We alway feel like we’ll get them next time.” Stallons said.
“It’s been so fun this season and I couldn’t want my senior season going any differently. We’ve definitely improved mentally. We’ve become very co

Women’s Soccer

Topeka High’s womens’ soccer team is very young, but has only continued to grow throughout the season.

“We have one senior, two juniors and the rest are freshmen and sophomores. I’d say we’ve improved a lot. It’s also very good that we won’t lose too many people from here, so we can continue to improve,” Ruth Fiander, sophomore, said.

Of the improvements everyone made, the main improvement this team had was finding the idea and essence of teamwork.

“Being new [to the team], I think we’re pretty good as a team,” Morgan Carranza, freshman, said.

“We definitely have learned to play as a team,” Fiander said. “Our first game against Manhattan, we were blasting the ball all over the place and playing as 11 individuals instead of as a team. So, we’ve learned to posses the ball and move up and down the field as a team,”

To this point, the Trojans are 4-6 on the season. Fiander leads the team in goals scored with 11, and Carranza scored one.

Women’s Swim and Dive

The Trojans’ women swim team has endured a season full of improvement and fun.

“At the beginning of the season, we weren’t that great. But, over the weeks we’ve gotten more focused,” Grace Hatesohl, freshman, said. “At Emporia we went into the last event losing to [Topeka West] by about 30 points. Then before the last event, the 400 freestyle relay, we all had a pep talk and went into the 400 and ended up beating West.”

While the team is full of very determined swimmers, this team also knows how to have fun.

“Everyone should know that this team is always on one,” Hatesohl said. “Whether we’re at practice or sitting in the crash area at a meet, we’re always having fun and making the best out of it.”

The team has two state qualifiers in Hatesohl and Grace Meyers, senior. Both will be competing for the team at the City Meet on May 6th at 4:00 pm at Hummer Sports Park.

Men’s Golf

If there’s one thing Topeka High mens’ golf team members had to say about their sport, it’d be two words: mental game.

“It’s very much a mental game,” Jayce Yoder, senior, said. “You have to be in super-good shape, but if you let your emotions get to you in the middle of a round, you’re probably going to end up doing awful.”

“At the beginning of the season, I thought I was doing great, but just this past week, I shot 30 strokes over my best and it hasn’t escaped my head, it just stays with me,” Jack Palmer, sophomore, said.

When asking Yoder how the team has done this year, he made sure to keep things positive.

“We haven’t gotten last,” Yoder said. “We’re an inner city school that doesn’t have a bunch of rich white kids, so we’re not usually winning the tournaments.”

Even if this year’s golf team isn’t coming home with trophies left and right, it’s one that has chemistry.