photo by: Carter Gaskins

Bishop Seabury's Zach Bloch (11) makes a pass to teammate Stavian Jones (22) in the second quarter Friday night at Haskell Indian Nations University on Jan. 17, 2020.

Former Bishop Seabury standout Zach Bloch finally knows where he will be playing collegiate basketball.

Bloch, who last played for the Seahawks as a junior during the 2019-20 season, announced his verbal commitment to the University of Northern Colorado. Bloch posted a statement via his personal Twitter account Thursday night, stating that he is 110% committed to the Bears.

It is a move that certainly makes sense after the 6-foot-1 playmaking guard spent his senior season with Colorado Prep following three years at Bishop Seabury.

During his junior campaign, Bloch led the Seahawks in scoring by averaging 17.7 points per game. He also posted averages of 5.4 assists and 3.7 steals per contest on his way to being named Class 2A Player of the Year by Sports in Kansas.

That 2019-20 season ended abruptly when state tournaments were canceled due to COVID-19, with Bishop Seabury being one of the final four teams remaining in Class 2A. Seabury still set five school records that year: most wins (22), longest winning streak (15), points per game (71.3), total points (1,171) and average margin of victory (32).

Bloch also hit a pair of buzzer beaters against Veritas to highlight a sensational sophomore season, in which he averaged 19.1 points and 4.2 assists per game. He was named to the Journal-World’s all-area boys basketball first team as a sophomore and junior.

Northern Colorado went 11-11 during the 2020-21 campaign.

BSA girls soccer secures 5-0 win

Bishop Seabury’s girls soccer squad cruised to a 5-0 road win over Topeka Heritage Academy on Thursday. The Seahawks are now 2-0 to start the season, scoring eight total goals and not allowing any through two matches.

Junior Summer Hartzler had another two assists to lead the way for BSA, while her freshman Hannah Hartzler scored two goals in the win. Freshman midfielder Helena Gutierez scored her first goal of her career on a free kick from 30 yards out.

Sophomore Sofia Gonzalez also scored on a goal that was assisted by sophomore midfielder Maisy Rader. Senior forward Morgan Orozco was credited with the other score. Junior goalkeeper Brooke Spurlock notched her second shutout of the year.

BSA will travel to Heritage Christian Academy at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

LHS girls soccer loses home opener

Lawrence High’s girls soccer team was on the wrong end of a 7-0 affair against Olathe West Thursday night at LHS.

The Lions move to 1-1 on the year after losing their home opener. Despite surrendering seven scores, goalkeeper Cree Stewart had an impressive performance by notching double-digit saves in a losing effort.

LHS will travel to Mill Valley at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

FSHS girls soccer drop 2-0 decision

In what was a hard-fought defensive battle, Free State’s girls soccer squad dropped a 2-0 decision to Shawnee Mission South on Thursday at FSHS.

The Firebirds are now 1-1 on the year after losing their first home game of 2021. Still, it was a sign of growth for the program. FSHS had lost each of the last two meetings to Shawnee Mission South by a combined score of 15-0, with a 9-0 loss and a 6-0 defeat.

FSHS will travel to Shawnee Mission Northwest on Tuesday, April 13.

Local squads perform well in road swim meet

Lawrence High and Free State claimed the top-two spots in the team standings during the Shawnee Mission South quadrangular Thursday at the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center.

The Lions scored 253 points as a team to win the meet, while the Firebirds finished as runner-up with 199 points. The two teams were responsible for 10 of the 12 event victories on the day.

Lawrence won the 200 medley relay to start the meet and the 400 freestyle relay to end the meet. Iris Sherron, Ali Jones, Aubrey Fischer and Lillian Derby clocked a time of 1:59.22 in the former event. Fischer, Carmen Braden, Abi Jones and Madi Heckman posted a time of 3:49.15 in the latter event.

Braden also secured two individual victories to lead the way for LHS. She won the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:01.30, while finishing first in the 500 freestyle with a mark of 5:19.58. Free State’s Lolly Hindmann also secured two individual victories, posting first in the 200 IM with a 2:19.68 and winning the 100 butterfly with a 59.18.

The rest of the wins were all claimed by the Lions. Emily Brandt won diving with a score of 188.40. Madi Heckman was victorious in the 100 freestyle with a 55.60, and Ali Jones took first in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:12.04.

Lawrence’s quartet of Fischer, Ali Jones, Braden and Heckman also won the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:42.24.

Both teams will be back in action at a quadrangular at FSHS on Tuesday, April 13.

SM South quadrangular

Thursday at Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center

Team scores: 1. Lawrence High 253; 2. Free State 199; 3. SM South 190; 4. Turner 4.

FSHS/LHS results

200 medley relay: 1. Lawrence (Iris Sherron, Ali Jones, Aubrey Fischer, Lillian Derby), 1:59.22; 2. Free State (Emma Day, Mina Khosh, Lolly Hindmann, Silvia Liu), 2:01.38.

200 freestyle: 1. Carmen Braden, LHS, 2:01.30; 2. Madi Heckman, LHS, 2:02.39; 3. Emma Day, FSHS, 2:13.32; 6. Rudy Benton, FS, 2:36.79; 8. Macie McDermott, LHS, 2:40.27; 9. Allison Cindrell, FS, 2:40.31; 11. Ima Rodenbeek, LHS, 2:45.86.

200 IM: 1. Lolly Hindmann, FSHS, 2:19.68; 2. Ali Jones, LHS, 2:21.14; 3. Iris Sherron, LHS, 2:32.65; 5. Molly Nuckolls, FS, 2:35.66; 6. Anna Marburger, LHS, 2:49.39; 8. Karsyn Robertson, FS, 2:53.87.

50 freestyle: 3. Silvia Liu, FSHS, 27.08; 4. Lillian Derby, LHS, 27.84; 5. Abbey Hossler, FSHS, 28.23; 6. Mina Khosh, FSHS, 29.26; 7. Alayna Baker, FSHS, 29.67; 9. Emily Brandt, LHS, 30.10; 11. Ella Williams, LHS, 30.77; 12. Clare Benton, FSHS, 30.79; 13. Nethni Weerasekara, FSHS, 30.97; 14. Emma-Frances Smith, LHS, 31.00; 15. Laura Teska, LHS, 31.05.

Diving: 1. Emily Brandt, LHS, 188.40; 3. Peyton Fowler, LHS, 169.20; 4. Meara Kingery, LHS, 167.90; 5. Audrey Hoey-Kummerow, FSHS, 165.00; 6. Annie Shew, LHS, 160.55; 7. Maya Huang, FSHS, 153.25; 8. Darby Van Fleet, LHS, 148.25; 10. Josephine Warrior, FSHS, 145.90; 11. Tori Corckett, FSHS, 139.25; 12. Kate Bartle, FSHS, 113.20; 13. Charlotte Stineman, LHS, 82.10.

100 butterfly: 1. Lolly Hindmann, FSHS, 59.18; 2. Aubrey Fischer, LHS, 1:00.96; 5. Abi Jones, LHS, 1:14.21; 6. Nisa Kay Khosh, FSHS, 1:15.86; 7. Anna Marburger, LHS, 1:19.17; 8. Savannah Randall, FSHS, 1:33.61.

100 freestyle: 1. Madi Heckman, LHS, 55.60; 3. Emma Day, FSHS, 59.33; 5. Paige Unekis, LHS, 1:05.89; 6. Molly Daugherty, LHS, 1:09.11; 8. Emma-Frances Smith, LHS, 1:09.72; 9. Nethni Weerasekara, FSHS, 1:09.90; 10. Macie McDermott, LHS, 1:10.90; 12. Ima Rodenbeek, LHS, 1:12.53; 13. Rorie Sturgeon, FSHS, 1:13.73; 14. Karalynn Horting, LHS, 1:14.54.

500 freestyle: 1. Carmen Braden, LHS, 5:19.58; 2. Molly Nuckolls, FSHS, 5:51.67; 3. Iris Sherron, LHS, 5:59.33; 4. Nisa Kay Khosh, FSHS, 5:59.92; 6. Karsyn Robertson, FSHS, 6:45.18; 8. Mara Manolescu, LHS, 7:03.00.

200 freestyle relay: 1. Lawrence (Aubrey Fischer, Ali Jones, Carmen Braden, Madi Heckman), 1:42.24; 3. Free State (Lolly Hindmann, Mina Khosh, Alayna Baker, Silvia Liu), 1:51.42.

100 backstroke: 2. Abi Jones, LHS, 1:09.37; 3. Abbey Hossler, FSHS, 1:09.60; 6. Savannah Randall, FSHS, 1:25.37; 7. Allison Cindrell, FSHS, 1:26.91; 8. Addie London, LHS, 1:27.13; 9. Ella Williams, LHS, 1:29.63; 11. Ragan Mauldin, LHS, 1:40.88.

100 breaststroke: 1. Ali Jones, LHS, 1:12.04; 2. Mara Manolescu, LHS, 1:16.64; 3. Mina Khosh, FSHS, 1:19.73; 4. Silvia Liu, FSHS, 1:22.52; 6. Laura Teska, LHS, 1:28.70; 7. Mya Gilbert, LHS, 1:38.33.

400 freestyle relay: 1. Lawrence (Aubrey Fischer, Carmen Braden, Abi Jones, Madi Heckman), 3:49.15; 3. Free State (Abbey Hossler, Molly Nuckolls, Nisa Kay Khosh, Emma Day), 4:14.61.