Benedictine College Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer announced Tuesday morning that Raven wrestling coach Cy Wainwright has resigned his position as head coach of the first-year Benedictine program.

“We are extremely disappointed in the timing of the decision,” said Gartenmayer. “But we understand it was a difficult decision that faced Coach Wainwright.   “We are excited about the momentum that was created from the results of our first competition and we are looking forward to an exciting inaugural wrestling season for the program.”

Graduate Assistant Thomas Williams has been elevated to interim head coach as Wainwright’s resignation is effective immediately.

“We feel we have the right kids in place to have a successful season,” said Gartenmayer. “Moving forward under the leadership of Coach Williams, we are expecting to continue to see more successful outcomes as the season unfolds.”

The search for Wainwright’s permanent replacement will begin March 1.

— BC Sports Information —

Benedictine College men’s basketball coach Ryan Moody has announced the addition of Kyle Blackbourn to the Raven basketball coaching staff for the 2012-13 season.

“We are excited to have Kyle join our program,” said Coach Moody. “He brings experience and energy to the position and is a great complement to our staff. Kyle has a personality that our players will like and has the number one trait needed for a good coach, passion. I look forward to working with him.”

Blackbourn spent last year at Grand View University, in Des Moines, Iowa, where he helped GVU to a 17-13 record in the 2011-12 campaign and an appearance in the conference championship game. He also worked directly with two first team MCC performers in Kevin Smith and Kody Ingle.

Blackbourn also served as Grand View’s head junior varsity coach, where he set a school record for wins in a season.

Prior to GVU, Blackbourn spent the 2010-11 season as the head women’s assistant for Clarke University, in Dubuque, Iowa. While at Clarke, Blackbourn helped CU to the most wins the program has seen in nine seasons. He also worked directly with newcomer of the year Brittany Collier.

Blackbourn also spent three seasons at Shullsburg High School, in Shullsburg, Wisc. During the 2007-2010 seasons, Blackbourn served as head boys’ varsity assistant, while running his own junior varsity program. In the 2006-07 season Blackbourn began his coaching career at Scales Mound High School, in Scales Mound, Ill. He served as the head boys’ varsity assistant.

Blackbourn earned a Physical Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, while also obtaining a minor in health education, a certificate in adapted physical education and an endorsement in coaching.

— BC Sports Information —

Trailing by 11 points with 56 seconds left in the game on Monday night, the Raven men’s basketball team erased their double-digit deficit and almost pulled off another Ralph Nolan Gymnasium thriller over Missouri Valley College.

Benedictine (15-12, 9-7 HAAC) closed within two points inside the final 10 seconds of the game only to have Missouri Valley (10-18, 5-11 HAAC) convert two free throws late to hold off the Ravens offensive storm, 73-69.

The Ravens forced three turnovers in the final minute of the game and outscored the Vikings 9-2 to nearly pull off the miracle comeback.

The loss for Benedictine puts them in a three-way tie for fourth place in the HAAC standings with Avila University and Graceland University with two regular season games remaining. The Ravens split their season series with Graceland and lost the first game of the series to Avila on Jan. 21. Benedictine closes out the regular season on the road Saturday in Kansas City, Mo., against Avila.

Monday, after playing through two ties and five lead changes in the games first six minutes, Valley took over the lead and outscored Benedictine 21-12 over the final 12 minutes of the first half to lead by 11 at the break, 31-20.

Benedictine was limited to just seven first-half field goals while Valley knocked in 11 of 24. Defensively, the Ravens did hold the Vikings scoreless from beyond the arc in the first half as Valley went 0 for 7.

After Valley scored a field goal on their first possession of the second half, the next seven points were all scored from the charity stripe until Benedictine guard Elgin Caldwell (Sr., Tempe, Ariz.) converted a basket in the paint to pull the Ravens within 12 with sixteen minute and 33 seconds left in the game.

Over the next 15 minutes, every time Benedictine managed to cut into the Valley lead, the Vikings found an answer. Valley pushed its lead to as much as 22 points before Benedictine began to gradually chip away at their deficit.

Benedictine closed within seven points with just under two minutes left to play when guard Quaran Johnson (Sr., Philadelphia) knocked in a 3-pointer to make the scored 67-60 Valley.

Valley had a chance to put the game away from the charity stripe inside the final two minutes but went 4 for 6 at the free line before Benedictine was able to make their last-second offensive swing.

After Benedictine converted baskets down low off the Vikings first turnovers of the final minute from forwards Alex Miller (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Charlie Wallrapp (Soph., Omaha), guard Brett Fisher (Fr., Overland Park) hit his fifth 3-pointer of the night to pull the Ravens within two inside the games final seconds.

Benedictine hit 17 second half field goals to work their way back into the game but in the end couldn’t overcome the free throw shooting of Valley in the second half.

Valley converted 18 of 29 from the charity stripe in the second half alone. Benedictine finished the night converting 12 of 22.

Four players scored in double figures for Benedictine, led by the 15 points of Fisher and Miller. Wallrapp finished with 13 followed by Johnson with 11.

Valley was anchored by the game high efforts of Kevin Stander and Matt Baker, who each scored 16 points. The duo also hit a combined 14 of 23 from the charity stripe.

The Ravens finished the game forcing Valley into 20 turnovers, off which they held a 23-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

Benedictine holds home court one last time during the regular season, hosting rival Baker University at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night. Thursday is Senior Night at the Nolan Gymnasium with the Raven and Lady Ravens Seniors being honored between games.

— BC Sports Information —

The Raven women’s basketball team came out Monday night looking a little shell-shocked by the offensive attack of the Missouri Valley College Vikings.

After dropping the first meeting of the season to Valley (11-15, 6-10 HAAC) in Marshall, Mo., on Feb. 4, Benedictine (15-12, 10-6 HAAC) overcame a nine field-goal first half to earn a 69-60 win.

For both teams, the game allowed for the half-game to disappear in the HAAC standings as they were able to catch up to the number of games the rest of the conference had played.

Benedictine heads into the final two games of the regular season Thursday and Saturday just a game behind Central Methodist University for third place in the HAAC.

Monday night, Benedictine and Valley played the kind of game that the series has been known for over the past four or five seasons. The score went back and forth and each team took their fair share of contact in the paint and around the perimeter.

Benedictine led early by as much as five points but then went cold offensively which allowed Valley to take over the lead by the midpoint of the first half.

The first half saw seven ties and 10 lead changes with each team leading five times throughout the opening 20 minutes.

By the halftime break, the Vikings managed to pull ahead by eight points after leading the final three minute and 30 seconds of the half.

Still trailing by eight points six five minute into the second half, the Ravens went on a run and outscored the Vikings 11-3 over the next three minutes to pull the game even at 43 points.

Valley regained the lead briefly but then couldn’t find an answer for Benedictine guard Kelsey Wolfe (Sr., DeKelb, Mo.). Wolfe drained back-to-back 3-pointers to push the Ravens back ahead and then converted a bucket in the paint after coming up with a steal with just over eight minutes left in the game.

The Ravens never gave up their lead, pushing ahead by as much ass 11 points in the final minute of the game before earning the nine-point win.

Benedictine’s inside-out combo, led the squad in scoring. Wolfe along with center Teresa Zienkewicz (Sr., Wichita) each scored a game-high 17 points.  Guard Rosie Youngstrom (Soph, Fairway) and forward Erin Murphy (Jr., Olathe) each scored nine points to round out the Ravens top scorers.

Valley was led by Ashley Troyer, who scored 16 points off the Vikings bench to anchor an effort that outscored Benedictine 30-22.

After being limited to just nine field goals in the first half, Benedictine knocked in 13 in the second half and shot 46.4 percent from the floor.

Defensively, the Ravens held the Vikings to just eight second-half field goals and a 29.6 percent shooting effort. Benedictine also outscored Valley 13-0 off turnovers forcing the Vikings into 23 turnovers.

Benedictine remains at home on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. game against rival Baker University. Thursday night is also Senior Night with the Raven and Lady Raven seniors being honored and recognized between games.

— BC Sports Information —