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Author: Dave Riggert

Kansas football signs three on mid-year signing day

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riggertKULAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football head coach David Beaty got an early start on the 2016 Jayhawk signing class as he announced that three student-athletes signed letters of intent Wednesday on the first day of the mid-year signing period.

Beaty welcomed defensive tackles DeeIsaac Davis (Highland Community College) and Isi Holani (Riverside City College) and athlete Stephan Robinson (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) to the Jayhawk program as mid-year signees.

“We are very excited to be adding DeeIsaac, Isi and Stephan to our program,” Beaty said. “It is our goal to build Kansas football by addressing our biggest needs and at the same time finding the right people who fit the profile of who we want to be Jayhawks. All three of these guys help us accomplish that.”

All three signees are expected to report in January and enroll in classes full-time, while preparing for the spring football schedule. The trio is the first of a 2016 signing class that will be solidified in early February.

The trio of mid-year signees hail from three different states in Kansas, Oklahoma and Hawaii. Davis and Holani will arrive for spring football as juniors, while Robinson will have three years of eligibility as a Jayhawk.

“These student-athletes address our immediate needs,” said Beaty. “Having the opportunity to get these guys on campus in January was huge for our program moving forward and then also knowing we would have Stephan for three years was an added bonus.”

DeeISAAC DAVIS
Defensive Tackle 6-3 290 Jr.
Wichita, Kan. (Andover/Highland)

Highland Community College (2015): Played one season at Highland Community College for head coach Aaron Arnold… ESPN’s No. 12 junior college defensive tackle… A three-star prospect according to ESPN.com and 247Sports.com… Registered 82 tackles, including 5.0 sacks at HCC in 2015… Had three games with 10 or more stops, including a career-best 13 tackles against Butler Community College… Credited with 3.0 sacks versus Garden City Community College… Earned honorable mention Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference All-Conference honors.

Eastern Arizona College (2014): Spent his freshman season at Eastern Arizona College… Tallied 71 tackles in 11 games in 2014… Collected 2.5 sacks at EAC while playing for John O’Mera.

Andover High School: Played for head coach Mike Lee at Andover High School… Helped lead AHS to a district championship in 2012… Earned honorable mention Class 5A All-State honors from the Topeka Capital-Journal following his senior season… Named all-conference as a senior and was selected to play in the 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Personal: Son of Cecilia Wambugu-Davis and the late Dee Davis… Plans to major in sports marketing… Has two sisters, Kelly and Elizabeth… DeeIsaac is pronounced Dee-Isaac.

ISI HOLANI
Defensive Tackle 6-3 300 Jr.
Hilo Hawaii (Hilo/Riverside City)

Riverside City College (2015): Spent his sophomore season at Riverside City College suiting up for head coach Tom Craft… ESPN’s No. 15 junior college defensive tackle… A three-star prospect according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com… Helped lead the Tigers to an 8-3 mark in 2015… Recorded 26 total tackles, including 4.5 TFLs… Also credited with a fumble recovery in 2015… Helped lead RCC to the 2015 National Central League title, while advancing to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern California Regional Championships.

Reedley College (2014): Played his freshman campaign at Reedley College under head coach Randy Whited… Registered 34 total tackles, including 4.5 sacks, in 2014… Also credited with a forced fumble for the Tigers.

Hilo High School: Earned three letters playing football under head coach Dave Baldwin at Hilo HS… Also participated in basketball and track and field.

Personal: Son of Ane and Keni Holani… Plans to major in sociology… Full name is Tanikena Holani, but prefers to go by Isi… Isi is pronounced IS-see… Holani is pronounced hoe-lawn-ee.

STEPHAN ROBINSON
Athlete 5-11 173 So.
Old, Okla. (Westmoore/NE Oklahoma A&M)

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (2015): Spent one season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M playing for head coach Ryan Held… ESPN’s No. 14 junior college wide receiver… A three-star prospect according to ESPN.com… Hauled in 20 receptions for 192 yards as a freshman at NEO… Played on both sides of the ball, collecting eight tackles in just six games… Also saw action in the return game, registering seven kickoff returns for 116 yards and two punt returns for 12 yards… Overall, ranked fourth on his team with 326 all-purpose yards, despite missing three games with an injury.

Westmoore High School: Attended Westmoore HS in Oklahoma City… Earned all-city honors as a junior and senior, while picking up all-conference and all-district honors as a senior… Played under head coach Adam Gaylor… Collected 519 all-purpose yards, including 344 receiving yards, for the Jags in 2014… Played on both sides of the ball, picking up 36 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions on defense in 2014… Also lettered in track and field at WHS.

Personal: Son of Rolanda Canada and Ken Britton… Plans to major in sports management… Has four siblings: Kendrick Robinson, Isaiah Canada, Kedric Britton and Kensey Britton… His cousin, Daymond Patterson, was a wide receiver and defensive back at KU from 2008-12… Stephan is pronounced Steph-ON.

— KU Athletics —

Missouri’s Beckner, Brady, Fatony earn freshman All-America honors

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riggertMissouriCOLUMBIA, Mo. – A trio of Mizzou Football standouts were named Freshman All-Americans by Sporting News on Wednesday (Dec. 16). DT Terry Beckner, Jr. (East St. Louis, Ill.), DE Walter Brady (Florence, Ala.) and P Corey Fatony (Franklin, Tenn.) were the three Mizzou players selected to the Freshman All-America Team. Mizzou’s three Freshman All-Americans are tied for the most among any team in the nation with Alabama.

Beckner was one of the nation’s most dominant freshmen as a DT before being sidelined by injury on the first play vs. BYU on Nov. 14. In what turned out to be just nine games worth of work, Beckner tallied 27 total tackles (13 solo) while tallying eight tackles-for-loss and three sacks. His eight TFLs were the most among Mizzou interior linemen and he was playing his best football before getting hurt vs. BYU. In the previous four games prior to BYU, Beckner tallied five of his eight TFLs, 18 (10 solo) of his 27 tackles and all three of his sacks. He was one of eight true freshmen to see the field for Mizzou in 2015.

As good as Beckner was along the defensive line, Brady may have been the most productive freshman defensive lineman in the nation in 2015. He tied for the team lead in sacks (seven) and was second on the team with 12.5 tackles for loss with an interception, two pass break-ups, seven quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. His seven sacks led all freshmen nationally and he ranked eighth in the SEC in that category. His 12.5 TFLs ranked 14th in the SEC and no freshman in the SEC had more sacks or TFLs than Brady. He was a Hendricks Award Watch List honoree midway through 2015.

Fatony, who earned the team’s Special Forces Player of the Year, was tremendous as the team’s starting punter. Fatony set the Mizzou single season record with 81 punts, passing a record that had stood at Mizzou since 1995. He was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List and was the Ray Guy National Player of the Week following Mizzou’s game against Florida (Oct. 10) in which he punted nine time while averaging 47.8 yards per punt with a career-long of 61 yards, pinning the Gators inside the 20 four times with three kicks over 50 yards. He finished the season ranked first among freshmen nationally in net punting, averaging 42.9 yards per punt.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest women’s basketball coach Michael Smith announces resignation

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Northwest2013riggertMARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University has announced the resignation of Michael Smith, the head coach of its women’s basketball program, effective immediately, due to personal reasons. Assistant Coach Buck Scheel becomes interim head coach.

Smith was named the seventh head women’s basketball coach at Northwest in 2013 and led the Bearcats to a 20-43 mark during his tenure.  Northwest Missouri State is 2-8 this season and 0-4 in the MIAA.

Scheel came to Northwest with Smith after three seasons as the top assistant at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo., where the program went 68-28 and advanced to the Region 16 tournament all three years, including a regional championship in 2011. Prior to that, he served as the head women’s basketball coach at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, from 2007 to 2010.

Scheel played junior college basketball at Lincoln School of Commerce, now Kaplan University, in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was a co-captain and was the team’s MVP in 2003. Scheel transferred to Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, where he was a co-captain for two years and helped the team advance to the Midwest Classic Conference championship game.

“We thank Michael for his time at Northwest, and we wish him the best in the future,” Northwest Director of Athletics Mel Tjeerdsma said, adding, “I’m very confident in Coach Scheel as he takes on the responsibilities as our head coach.”

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons move up to No. 16 in latest USA Today WBCA Top 25 poll

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riggertMissouriWesternST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team has moved up one spot in the latest USA Today Sports WBCA Top 25 poll as they are No. 16 this week.

It’s the fourth-straight week the Griffons (9-0, 4-0 MIAA) have appeared in the poll and the third-straight week the team has moved up, beginning at No. 22. This past week the Griffons handed Pittsburg State its first loss of the season and hung on to become just the second team to defeat Missouri Southern in 2015. For her efforts, LaQuinta Jefferson was named MIAA Women’s Basketball Co-Athlete of the Week. It was the second time in three weeks Jefferson received the honor.

Missouri Western is officially off to its best MIAA start since beginning 4-0 in 1997 and its best overall start since the 2001-02 season. The 2006-07 team began the season 10-0 in the MIAA and 21-0 overall but had to vacate all wins that season. The Griffons best MIAA start ever was the 1993-94 team that went 16-0 in MIAA play to claim the first of two-straight regular season MIAA championships. The Griffons followed up the undefeated run with a 15-1 record and regular season MIAA Championship in 1994-95. That team won 10 league games before losing in MIAA play.

This weekend the Griffons have a rare Friday-Sunday swing on the road. Missouri Western visits Lindenwood on Dec. 18 and Lincoln on Dec. 20. After that, the Griffons play four in a row at home, beginning with a non-conference tilt against the University of Saint Mary on New Year’s Eve.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri Western’s Jordan named D2CCA First Team All-American

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MWSUST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western senior defensive back Mike Jordan has added a second All-American award after being named first team Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-American by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America.

It’s Jordan’s first CoSIDA All-American nod after earlier picking up his second AFCA All-American award of his career. The defensive back is also a nominee for the Cliff Harris Award, given to the nation’s top small college defensive player. Jordan also plans on participating in the East-West Shrine game, one of just two Division II student-athletes invited to the event.

Tied for second on MWSU’s all-time career interceptions list with 16, Jordan pulled in five picks his senior year along with 22 passes defended, which was second in the nation after the regular season. The Hazelwood, Missouri native was a three-time first team All-MIAA selection (unanimous in 2015) and an honorable mention pick in 2012 when he was also named the MIAA Freshman of the Year. Last season Jordan was named first team AFCA All-America, first team d2football.com All-American, third team AP Little All-American and honorable mention Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American.

Jordan was one of four MIAA representatives on the first team defense and one of six overall MIAA members to be first team D2CCA All-American. Linebackers Connor Harris (Lindenwood) and Brock Long (Fort Hays) were also named first team along with safety Kevin Berg (Northwest Missouri). Punter Matt Klingler (Lindenwood) and offensive lineman Shane Smith (Northwest Missouri) were the MIAA’s other first team selections.

— MWSU Athletics —

MWSU’s Jefferson named MIAA Co-Player of the Week

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MWSUST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western guard LaQuinta Jefferson has picked up her second MIAA Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week award, being named co-athlete of the week with Nebraska-Kearney’s Laramey Becker.

Jefferson, a senior from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, averaged 24 points, five rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.  She also shot 48 percent from the field and 94 percent at the free throw line.

Jefferson scored 24 with six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Saturday against Missouri Southern, Jefferson again dropped 24 points, adding four rebounds and two assists.

Two weeks ago, Jefferson was named the national player of the week and the MIAA Athlete of the Week. Jefferson enters this week fifth in the nation, scoring 22 points per game.

Missouri Western is on the road this Friday as they play at Lindenwood at 5:30 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and here on StJosephPost.com.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri’s Brothers earns AP First Team All-SEC, Harris lands on Second Team

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riggertMissouriCOLUMBIA, Mo. – A pair of standouts from Mizzou Football’s excellent defense have been recognized among the best in the SEC as senior LB Kentrell Brothers (Guthrie, Okla.) and sophomore DE Charles Harris (Kansas City, Mo.) have been named to the Associated Press All-SEC Teams. Brothers was a first team honoree while Harris landed on the second team. That is the same distinction that each landed last week when the SEC announced the coaches’ All-SEC Team.

Brothers put together one of the most prolific seasons in MU history in 2015, and was named a first-team All-SEC performer for his efforts. The tackling machine ended the season with 152 total tackles, which leads the nation (next-most is 140), while his 12.7 tackles per game mark is also tops in the country.  He also leads the nation in 2015 with three blocked kicks on the year.  The 152 tackles ranks as the 4th-most in Mizzou season history, and gave him 358 for his career, which puts him 8th all-time on the MU career chart. He became the first Tiger in the Gary Pinkel era with seven consecutive games of 10+ tackles to close the season. He broke the 15 tackle mark four times in 2015 and added 12.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions and was second in the nation with three blocked kicks.

Brothers becomes the first Mizzou linebacker to win all-SEC acclaim by league coaches since joining the conference in 2012.  He was a second-team All-SEC pick by the Associated Press in 2014 when he led Mizzou with 122 total tackles.  He is the first Tiger linebacker to receive first-team all-conference honors since Andrew Gachkar in 2010 (Associated Press).  The last time a Tiger linebacker was first-team all-conference by league coaches was in 2009 by Sean Weatherspoon.

Harris continued the proud lineage of outstanding play by #DLineZou, as he won second-team All-SEC honors by the AP for a season that included 18.5 tackles for loss (ranking him 8th nationally and first in the SEC) and 7.0 sacks.  Harris, a first-year starter, led the Tigers with 10 quarterback pressures and two forced fumbles, while finishing with 56 total tackles and a pass breakup.

Mizzou’s defense was among the nation’s best in 2015, as it finished the season ranked in the top-10 in scoring defense (sixth – 16.2 ppg) and ninth in total defense (302.0 ypg).

— Mizzou Athletics —

Royals sign RHP Dillon Gee to Minor League contract

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riggertRoyalsNEW YORK — Right-hander Dillon Gee has signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals.

Gee, 29, declared free agency after the season. He went 0-3 with a 5.90 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) for the New York Mets and finished the 2015 season at Triple-A Las Vegas without a September call-up.

Gee originally was drafted in the 21st round in 2007 by the Mets. He was a career 40-37 with a 4.03 ERA in 114 appearances (110 starts) with the club over six seasons.

— ESPN News Service —

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