The headline games in 6A appear to be Topeka High at Manhattan and Washburn Rural vs Wichita Heights, both scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 19.
For Topeka High, the task looks simple on paper and difficult in practice: survive on the road against a higher seed. Washburn Rural, by contrast, appears to have the profile of a side that should expect to advance, but knockout soccer rarely respects seed lines for long.
Among the 5A teams, Seaman seems to have the most favorable blend of form and bracket position.
That makes Seaman the obvious side to watch. Strong records matter in this format because they usually reflect repeatable habits: defensive control, game management and the ability to avoid giving away soft goals.
In 4-1A, the bracket is shorter and sharper. Reports say Cair Paravel, the No. 8 seed, hosts No. 9 Mulvane on May 19, with the winner likely moving into a final against Hayden, the reported No. 1 seed with a perfect 17-0 record, on May 21.
That setup gives the area one of its clearest storylines: can anyone earn the right to challenge the bracket favorite? By Thursday, the picture around Topeka should look much clearer, with state-tournament places suddenly feeling either very close or already out of reach.