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Author: Dave Riggert

Western, Bird finish 2nd at MIAA golf championship

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The Missouri Western women’s golf team came up just short in its bid for its first ever MIAA Conference Championship finishing in 2nd place firing a two round total of 665 (336-329). The winner of the event was Fort Hays State firing 664 (333-331) while Northwest Missouri State finished third with a 667 (338-329). Natalie Bird finished second individually with a 160 (79-81) earning All-Tournament team honors.

Western had two other players finish in the top ten as Kristen Cooley (89-78) and Casi Webb (82-85) finished tying for 7th with 167’s. Shelby Stone (86-86) and Darcy Smith (91-85) finished firing 172 and 176 respectively.

Lincoln University and Truman State University rounded out the five team field firing 680 (348-332) and 700 (362-338) respectively. The winner of the event was Northwest’s Cassie Lowell as she fired 152 (76-76).

Western says good-bye to senior student-athlete’s Kristen Cooley, Sarah Campbell and Britni Nikes for all the hard work and efforts they put in for the black and gold.

All-Tournament Team
Cassie Lowell, Northwest Missouri
Natalie Bird, Missouri Western
StephCharteris, Northwest Missouri
Jordan Nixon, Fort Hays State
Payton Schooler, Lincoln
Carmen Thompson, Fort Hays State

Freshman of the Year: Steph Charteris, Northwest Missouri

Coach of the Year: Pat McLaughlin, Northwest Missouri

Missouri Western   336   329   665  +89   2nd
Bird,Natalie        79     81    160    +16   2nd
Cooley,Kristen     89     78    167    +23    t-7th
Webb,Casi         82     85    167    +23    t-7th
Stone,Shelby      86     86    172    +28    t-13th
Smith,Darcy         91     85    176    +32   t-17th

— MWSU Sports Information —

NWMSU’s Lowell wins MIAA individual title

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Sophomore Cassie Lowell fired a 76 for the fourth consecutive round as she took home the MIAA individual title for the first time in Northwest Missouri State history on Tuesday at Paradise Pointe Golf Course.

Lowell followed up Monday’s first round score of 76 with a second round 76 as she finished with 11 pars in the round and added a birdie on the par-4 17th. Lowell’s individual win is the first MIAA title for the Bearcats in only their fifth year of the program.

As a team Northwest was able to hang tough, but a few missed puts allowed Fort Hays State to hold on to its lead and claim the team title with a 664. Missouri Western split the Bearcats and Tigers finishing second with a 665 as Northwest was just two strokes back at 667 in third place.

Freshman Steph Charteris followed her first day 81 with an 80 on Tuesday to finish third overall as Natalie Bird of Missouri Western finish second. Charteris carded two birdies to close out her first season with the Bearcats earning 9 top five finishes in 11 events.

Tuesday saw better numbers on the course as the sun and calm winds helped playing conditions. However, the better numbers showed up on more cards than just the Bearcats.

Ashley Powers improved her first round score of 89 with an 87 for a two day score of 176. Powers finished tied for 17th to close out her freshman season.

Kristian D’Angela pushed her score into the top four with a second day 86. However, her 94 on Monday gave her a 180 for the championship and a tie at 21st.

Northwest closes out its season missing out in the West Region of the NCAA Region Rankings falling outside the top 10. The Bearcats picked up five team wins during the 2011-12 season including two which came to close out the spring season.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

KU adds former Notre Dame TE Mike Ragone

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Mike Ragone made official today what had been rumored for weeks. Ragone, a tight end, officially signed his grant in aid forms making his transfer from Notre Dame to Kansas complete. Ragone has already completed his undergraduate degree and is eligible to play for KU in 2012.

Ragone, a 6-foot-4, 262-pound tight end, joins the Jayhawks after being granted a sixth-year of eligibility from the NCAA. The Cherry Hill, N.J., native missed the entire 2008 season with a  knee injury and was lost for the 2011 season after suffering another knee injury during the third game of the year. He graduated from Notre Dame in May 2011 with a degree in sociology.

Ragone played in 37 games during his five seasons at Notre Dame, recording 11 catches for 109 yards. He played in 11 games for the Irish as a true freshman in 2007, hauling in one reception for seven yards versus Navy. Ragone also had six tackles on special teams as a freshman.

After missing the entire 2008 season due to injury, Ragone came back strong in 2009 tallying six receptions for 60 yards. He played in all 12 games, starting seven. He followed that up with three receptions for 32 yards, while playing in 12 games for Notre Dame during the 2010 season. He recorded one catch in 2011 before injuring his knee in the third game of the year.

Ragone was rated the No. 3 tight end in the country, third-best player in New Jersey and 83rd-best prospect in the nation by Rivals.com following his senior season at Camden Catholic High School. He was named the No. 2 tight end in the nation and 33rd-best prospect by CSTV/Tom Lemming and was rated the 55th-best prospect in the nation and No. 2 tight end in his class on the ESPN 150 list. Additionally, Ragone was named to the Scout.com National 100 list where he was ranked as the second-best tight end in the nation, the fourth-best player in New Jersey and the No. 56 prospect in the country.

Ragone, who played for Ricky Brown at Camden Catholic, sat out his senior year of high school with a knee injury, but was named first-team all-South Jersey by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a junior after catching 35 passes for 720 yards and nine touchdowns. A big-play tight end, six of his TD receptions went for 60 yards or longer, and he also scored on an 80-yard kickoff return. He was also the top wrestler in the East as he won the 2005 Beast of the East wrestling tournament competing as a heavyweight.

With the addition of Ragone, Kansas has now signed 26 players to its 2012 signing class. The Jayhawks have added six players as Division I transfers, nine junior college transfers and 11 high school athletes.

— KU Sports Information —

Missouri Western men place 3rd at MIAA championship; Gast 2nd

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The Missouri Western men’s golf team saved the best for last playing its best golf of the spring season at the MIAA Championships. The Griffons jumped two spots on the final day helping them finish 3rd after firing the second lowest team score (291) of the final round. Western fired a three round total of 900 (308-301-291) jumping them ahead of Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State. Tyler Gast played his best golf of the spring finishing in 2nd place firing an overall 1-under 215 (72-73-70) for the tournament. With his performance Gast also earned All-MIAA finishing in a tie for 6th with 13.5 points in the four MIAA events of the season. As a team the Griffons finished in a tie for 4th with 20.5 points.

Senior Logan Gilliland and freshman Shott Sheldon also played very well on the final day firing even par 72’s. Gilliland finished in a tie for 13th with a 227 (78-77-72) while Sheldon cracked the top-20 finishing in a tie for 19th with 230 (79-79-72). James O’Brien and Kenney Stone finished tying for 27th with 233’s.

Washburn’s Riley Piles was the medalist of the event firing 6-under 210 (71-71-68) while the team champions were the Mules of Central Missouri with an 877 (295-297-285) four strokes better than Washburn. Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State, Missouri Southern, Lincoln and Southwest Baptist rounded out the field firing 907, 908, 929, 932 and 978 respectively.

Western says good-bye to Logan Gilliland as the senior played his last round of golf today for the black and gold.

All-MIAA Team
1. Player of the Year: Jared King, Central Missouri – 30
2. Riley Piles, Washburn – 18
3. Joe Migdal, Central Missouri – 16.5
4. Justice Valdivia, Pittsburg State – 15
5. Sean Elliott, Central Missouri – 14.5
T6. Cy Moritz, Central Missouri – 13.5
T6.Tyler Gast, Missouri Western — 13.5
8. Jason Vann, Central Missouri – 13
9. Steven Mallow, Lincoln – 12
10. Bryan Steele, Southwest Baptist – 11.83

2011-12 MIAA Team Standings (FINAL)
1. Central Missouri – 40
2. Washburn – 35
3. Fort Hays State – 26.5
T4. Pittsburg State – 20.5
T4. Missouri Western – 20.5
6. Missouri Southern – 14
7. Lincoln – 13.5
8. Southwest Baptist – 10

Missouri Western       308     301     291   900    +36   3rd
Gast,Tyler                 72         73         70       215    -1        2nd
Gilliland,Logan         78         77         72       227    +11    t-13th
Sheldon,Scott        79         79         72       230    +14    t-19th
O’Brien,James         81         74         78       233    +17     t-27th
Stone,Kenny           79         77         77       233    +17       t-27th

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest tennis earns No. 1 seed at MIAA Tournament

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The Northwest Missouri State men’s tennis team claimed the No. 1 seed for the upcoming MIAA Centennial Men’s Tennis Championships with a 7-2 victory over Washburn on Tuesday at the Washburn Tennis Complex.

Northwest saw its record move to 17-4 overall and a perfect 4-0 in league play. The Ichabods fell to 7-7 on the year and 1-2 in conference action as they will wrap up their final MIAA match on Thursday.

It’s the second consecutive season the Bearcats have finish with an unblemished record in conference play as they look for their third straight MIAA Tournament Title.

In doubles action the Bearcats jumped out to an early 2-1 lead with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Both pairs won their matches by identical 8-1 scores while Northwest fell at No. 1 doubles 9-7.

In singles, Northwest quickly raced out to a 6-2 lead claiming easy wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles via Mario Jakovljevic and Rafael Bugiga. Jakovljevic took a 6-2, 6-2 win while Bugiga claimed his No. 2 singles with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Luis Altimires fell for only the second time at No. 5 singles, but the Bearcats picked up their teammate taking wins at No. 4 and No. 6 singles to seal the match.

Calvin Patterson closed out the match for Northwest at No. 1 singles with another tough win. Patterson claimed a 7-5, 7-5 win for his 10th victory of the season.

The men’s MIAA Championships begin on Saturday as Northwest takes the No. 1 seed into the tournament. The Bearcats open play at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City at 11 a.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Chiefs sign defensive back Mikail Baker

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The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Tuesday that the club has signed free agent defensive back Mikail Baker.

Baker (6-0, 205) originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft choice (216th overall) of the St. Louis Rams in the 2011 NFL Draft. Baker was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of his rookie campaign before being released by the Rams on Oct. 13, 2011.

The Baylor University product played in 50 games (13 starts) during his collegiate career. He recorded 52 tackles (40 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, five passes defensed, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He also played receiver for the Bears, catching 26 passes for 354 yards (13.6 avg.) with two touchdowns. He owns 83 kickoff returns for 1,963 yards with one touchdown. Baker is regarded as the most prolific kick returner in Baylor history as he holds the school’s career records for returns (83) and return yardage (1,963).

The Dallas, Texas, native was a two-time all-district selection as a wide receiver at Skyline High School.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Bishop LeBlond names Tim Wenkel as boys basketball coach

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Bishop LeBlond High School Principal Solon Haynes introduced Tim Wenkel as the new boys basketball coach on Monday.

Wenkel comes to LeBlond after being head boys coach at Hermann (Mo.) High School for the past five years. He led the Hermann Bearcats to an 83-50 record, and captured the school’s first district championship in 31 years in 2010. He was named the 2010 Central District Coach of the Year. Six of his former players are now playing collegiate basketball including Jake Schannuth who signed last year to play at Benedictine College.

Under Wenkel’s guidance, the Bearcats earned two 2nd place finishes in the Four Rivers Conference although Hermann is the 2nd smallest school in the conference. Some 28 of his players earned Academic All-Conference honors and 10 earned Academic All-State Honors.

Haynes said the search committee was excited to find someone with Wenkel’s credentials. “We were really impressed with not only his knowledge of the game, but his emphasis on developing young men in all aspects of their lives,” Haynes said. “Everyone I talked with commented on how they would hate for Hermann to lose him, but that we would be getting a dedicated, hard-working coach who cares about his student-athletes.”

Prior to arriving at Hermann, Wenkel spent one year as an assistant coach at Steelville High School, and two years at Chamois High School. He also has been a track and field coach and helped design and equip a new 2000 square foot weight room at Hermann.

“I am very humbled and excited about being the next coach at Bishop LeBlond. There is a tradition of excellence here that we can only build upon. Everyone here is committed to winning in the classroom, on the court and in the community,” Wenkel said.

Wenkel attended Owensville (Mo.) High School, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University. He took additional coursework in theology and philosophy at St. Louis University and earned a theology degree from Conception Seminary College. He is certified to teach Physical Education, Health and Social Studies.

Haynes said Wenkel will teach religion at Bishop LeBlond.

— Bishop LeBlond Press Release —

Griffons, Bird sit in 2nd after round one of MIAA Tournament

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Natalie Bird and the Western women sit in second place after day one of the MIAA Women’s Golf Championships held in Smithville, Mo. at Pardise Pointe Country Club. As a team the Griffons fired 336 just three strokes back of leader Fort Hays State (333) and two strokes ahead of Northwest Missouri State (338).

Casi Webb sits in 6th place firing an 82 while Shelby Stone, Kristen Cooley and Darcy Smith fired 86, 89 and 91 respectively. The leader of the first day is Northwest Missouri State’s Cassie Lowell firing three better than Bird with a 76.

Lincoln and Truman round out the team scores with 348 and 362 respectively.

The event will conclude tomorrow with first group of the day teeing off at 7:30 am. The first MWSU group will tee off at 8:20 am with the final group teeing off at 9:00 am. Western will be paired with Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State.

MISSOURI WESTERN    336    +48    2nd
Bird,Natalie        79    +7    2nd
Webb,Casi        82    +10    6th
Stone,Shelby        86    +14    t-10th
Cooley,Kristen        89    +17    t-14th
Smith,Darcy        91    +19    t-17th

— MWSU Sports Information —

Kansas officially signed prep guard Andrew White

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Standout guard Andrew White from Chester, Va., has signed a national letter of intent to play men’s basketball at Kansas, KU head coach Bill Self announced Monday.

White inked his NLI Monday afternoon in a ceremony at Miller School, located in Charlottesville (Va.). The 6-6, 210-pound, White verbally committed to Kansas in December.

Ranked No. 48 by ESPNU100 and No. 56-ranked by Rivals.com, White averaged 22.9 points and 10 rebounds a game for 20-10 Miller School in 2011-12. Described as an outstanding shooter, White chose KU over North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Richmond, Texas, Georgetown and others. Additionally, White will play in the Capital Classic All-Star game on April 21 in Alexandria, Va.

“I’m glad we can finally talk about Andrew,” Self said. “He’s been committed for a long time and we are so excited to have him. He’s a tall guard. He can shoot it. He’s a good athlete. He’s tough, loves to play and certainly will be a great representative of our university.”

“He’s has been very well drilled and well coached at Miller under Scott Willard. The transition to the collegiate level should be very smooth for him,” Self said of White. “We see him being an impact player for us beginning from day one upon his arrival on campus.”

“Andrew’s entire family has been great and so supportive to us throughout this process and what a great job Joe Dooley did in recruiting him,” Self added. “One of the reasons we like him so much is the quality of person that he is. I believe having the Whites as part of our KU family will do nothing but enhance our program.”

White becomes the fourth incoming freshman for the 2012-13 season with three fall 2011 signees: Perry Ellis of Wichita, Kan., Landen Lucas of Portland, Ore., and Zach Peters of Plano, Texas.

— KU Sports Information —

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