ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Preseason accolades continue to roll in for Missouri Western football defensive back Mike Jordan. The senior was recently selected first-team D2football.com Preseason All-American and HERO Sports D2 Preseason All-American.

It brings Jordan’s total number of preseason All-American nods to five. The St. Louis native found his way on to four postseason All-American teams last season, including first team AFCA and d2football.com.

A two-time first team All-MIAA selection, Jordan was named MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2012 and honorable mention All-MIAA that same year. He led the MIAA in passes defended with 16, pulled in four interceptions and totaled 37 tackles in 2014.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The MIAA released its preseason coaches polls for men’s and women’s golf and the Griffon men are picked sixth and the MWSU women are fifth.

The women’s team had 51 votes, just one less than Nebraska-Kearney for fourth and the men were just two points away from fifth.

Last season marked a milestone for the golf program with individuals from both teams qualifying for NCAA regional play for the first time in program history. Corey Knight and Celine Lim both return for their teams in 2015-16.

Both teams return a host of experienced players. The women’s team returns all the members of the 2014-15 team and just two graduated from the men’s squad.

2015 MIAA Preseason Men’s Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (8) – 98
2. Central Oklahoma (3) – 93
3. Northeastern State – 75
4. Washburn – 67
5. Lindenwood – 60
6. Missouri Western – 58
7. Missouri Southern – 52
8. Nebraska-Kearney – 42
9. Lincoln – 23
10. Fort Hays State – 19
11. Southwest Baptist – 18

2015 MIAA Preseason Women’s Coaches Poll
1. Central Oklahoma (7) – 78
2. Northeastern State (3) – 75
3. Lindenwood – 65
4. Nebraska-Kearney – 52
5. Missouri Western – 51
6. Central Missouri – 43
7. Northwest Missouri – 35
8. Fort Hays State – 24
9. Southwest Baptist – 17
10. Lincoln – 10

— MWSU Athletics —

 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western State University director of athletics Kurt McGuffin has announced Shawn Becker as the next head coach of the Griffon Women’s Tennis team. Becker will begin duties Aug. 31.

“As a staff we really liked that Shawn has been a sitting head coach at the Division II level and that his teams have steadily improved from year to year,” McGuffin said. “His national and international recruiting ties will really benefit us at MWSU.”

“He is known to be a strong advocate for the student-athlete experience and I know he will build upon the momentum we have had the last couple of years.”

Becker comes to MWSU from Philadelphia University where he was head men’s and women’s tennis coach since 2012. In his three seasons leading the Philadelphia University women’s team, Becker posted a 41-24 record, twice leading the program to its second most wins (15 in 2014-15 and 14 in 2013-14). Becker’s 2013-14 women’s team advanced to the conference tournament, a first since 2009 for the program. As men’s coach he led the program to two CACC postseason tournaments and went 26-33 overall. Becker was promoted to women’s head coach in May of 2012 and men’s coach in November that same year after serving as an assistant the previous two years.

He takes over a program that achieved new heights in 2014-15. The Griffon Women’s Tennis team finished the season 11-10 overall, going 4-6 in MIAA play and qualifying for the MIAA Postseason Tournament. The 11 wins were 10 more than the previous season and more than the previous three seasons combined. Meara Smith was named honorable mention All-MIAA at the No. 6 singles position, the program’s first All-MIAA selection in more than 10 years.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me to come into a situation where success is new and the momentum is to be built upon,” Becker said. The team made huge strides on the court last year, gaining credibility in the MIAA and the Central Region as well.”

“For me, it’s fresh faces and a new challenge in a different location, but with the same end goal; manufacture a tennis culture that benefits from healthy competition within the team, improvement on the court, and success in the classroom.” When these pieces align, our team will be a force to be reckoned with.”

In 2009, Becker was the head women’s tennis coach at Division III Rosemont College. He led the team to a 6-4 record in conference play and coached the Colonial States Athletic Conference player of the year. Becker also had experience coaching in the high school ranks and was an instructor at Legacy Youth Tennis and Education Center in Philadelphia for three years.

Becker received his bachelor of science in health sciences from Philadelphia University in 2012 and an MBA in athletic administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 2014. He was a three-year letter winner at Lebanon Valley College from 2004-07. He totaled 69 wins and reached the finals of the 2006 Middle Atlantic Conference second doubles tournament.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The MIAA has released the 2015 Preseason Coaches Poll for Women’s Soccer and it looks a lot like the final 2014 standings, including Missouri Western’s position. The Griffons have been picked sixth, the same spot they finished a season ago. That 2014 team broke more than 20 team and individual records, including most wins in a season (9).

Eight starters and 14 letter winners return from the 2014 team that qualified for the MIAA Tournament, a first for the program. Key returners include second team All-MIAA selections Sarah Lyle (GK) and Taylor Gant (D); third team All-MIAA pick Sydney Andrews (D) and honorable mention defender Paige Phipps. Even with all that returning experience, the team is still relatively young with five seniors on a roster of 22.

Head coach Chad Edwards became the program’s all-time wins leader in 2014, his fourth season with the program. Edwards is pleased to see the team garnered expectations to at least match last season’s success but wants to see his team take the next step.

“It’s nice to look back and see that we had that success, but it’s not good enough. We have to continue to get better,” Edwards said. “We’re going to have to execute that much better. We’re going to have to show up every game and we’re going to have to score more goals.”

The Griffons open their season Sept. 4 when they host three other teams in the MIAA/GAC Challenge.

2015 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (11) – 121
2. Southwest Baptist (1) – 104
3. Central Oklahoma – 103
4. Fort Hays State – 95
5. Lindenwood – 71
6. Missouri Western – 70
7. Northeastern State – 63
8. Emporia State – 56
9. Northwest Missouri – 36
10. Nebraska-Kearney – 30
11. Missouri Southern – 28
12 . Washburn – 15

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Coming off a memorable, turnaround season in 2014, the Missouri Western volleyball team has been picked fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

In her second season at the helm, Marian Carbin led the program to its most ever MIAA wins in a season (16) and most overall wins (22) since 1998. This year’s team features two first team All-MIAA selections and an honorable mention All-MIAA pick from 2014. Jessie Thorup finished the year just two kills shy of the team lead behind All-American Erica Rottinghaus. Last year Thorup led the team with a .286 attack percentage and averaged 3.6 kills per set. Jordan Chohon racked up 1,296 assists last year, averaging close to 12 per set. Thorup and Chohon were both named first team All-MIAA. Carbin expects the core of returning players to help set the tone for several newcomers, who will be expected to contribute. Last season, MWSU went 22-8 overall and 16-6 in the MIAA, finishing fifth in the league.

2015 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (9) 119
2. Washburn (2) 108
3. Nebraska-Kearney (1)   98
4. Central Oklahoma   95
5. Missouri Western   84
6. Northwest Missouri   66
7. Emporia State   64
8. Fort Hays State   46
9. Pittsburg State   39
10. Southwest Baptist   27
11. Missouri Southern   25
12. Lindenwood   21

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After finishing in a tie for fourth last year in the MIAA, the Missouri Western football team has been picked fourth by the media and fifth by the coaches in the 2015 MIAA Preseason Polls.

The Griffons return 15 starters and 36 letter winners from a squad that went 7-4 one season ago. Those returners include the 2014 team’s top passer (Skyler Windmiller) and rusher (Raphael Spencer) along with team leaders in sacks (Cody Lindsay) and interceptions (Michael Jordan) and receiving yards (Dee Toliver). Jordan and Spencer join Travis Anderson as 2014 first team All-MIAA selections returning for 2015. Jordan was also named to four All-American teams in 2014 and Spencer and Anderson were both third team Don Hansen All-Region selections last season. Overall, the team returns eight players named All-MIAA last season.

Offensively, eight starters return from the 2014 squad. Windmiller started nine games after winning a quarterback battle and finished the year with 1,799 yards passing and nine touchdowns. Spencer is back and enters his senior year third on the MWSU career rushing chart with 3,069 yards. He needs 330 yards to move into second and is 1,900 yards behind career leader Michael Hill. Four starters on the offensive line return, including Anderson and 2014 All-MIAA honorable mention tackle Leonard Wester. Tight end Alek Ferbet was also honorable mention All-MIAA last year with 15 catches for 196 yards. Dee Toliver is the leading, returning receiver. The senior was second on the team in 2014 with 31 catches and led the team with 457 yards and four touchdowns.

Seven starters and 17 lettermen return to a defense that allowed the fifth fewest points in MWSU history. One of the MIAA’s best units last season will again be highlighted by Jordan. Lindsay had an outstanding first year with the Griffons, leading the team with seven sacks. Yomi Alli and Lindsay were honorable mention All-MIAA last year and returning defensive lineman Arbanas Elliott was a second team All-MIAA pick. All three starters up front return, with Lindsay and Alli returning as starting linebackers. Jordan and Sam Brown will again form one of the MIAA’s most formidable corner back duos. The defense will have to replace both of 2014’s starting safeties but have a handful of experienced defensive backs to choose from.

Maybe the biggest battle in the 2015 preseason will be in the kicking game. The Griffons must replace an All-American punter (Scott Groner) and an All-American kicker (John Schmiemeier). Groner is now on the coaching staff after breaking nearly every MWSU punting record in his four-year career. Schmiemeier led the MIAA in 2014 on his way to an honorable mention Don Hansen All-American nod. The team added two punters and three kickers in the offseason to battle for those two positions. They won’t have to worry about inconsistent snapping as Cameron Glenn returns for his third year as the Griffons’ long snapper. Brandyyn Clark led the team with 13 punt returns and 91 punt return yards and is back for the 2015 campaign. Clark returned three kicks for 74 yards last season, the most of any returning player.

2015 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (8)                118
2. Pittsburg State (4)                      114
3. Central Missouri                           92
4. Central Oklahoma                        91
5. Missouri Western                         82
6. Fort Hays State                           71
T7. Emporia State                           59
T7. Washburn                                 59
9. Nebraska-Kearney                       39
10. Lindenwood                               34
11. Missouri Southern                      17
12. Northeastern State                     16

2015 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (28)          478
2.  Pittsburg State (13)               455
3. Central Oklahoma                  382
4. Missouri Western                   350
5. Central Missouri                     344
6. Fort Hays State                      284
7. Emporia State                        226
8. Washburn                              213
9. Nebraska-Kearney                  153
10. Missouri Southern                 144
11. Lindenwood                           122
12. Northeastern State                  47

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri Western football senior defensive back Mike Jordan has been named to the InstantScouting Division-2 Preseason All-American Team.

Jordan is a two-time first team All-MIAA selection and was named to four All-American teams following the 2014 season, including first team AFCA and D2football.com. His four interceptions in 2014, were tied for the most on the team and he led the MIAA with 16 passes defended. The St. Louis native has 11 career interceptions and was the MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2012. Jordan was the only member of an MIAA football school to make the list.

InstantScouting is a Canadian based independent global scouting service that is committed to helping aspiring athletes at the collegiate and free agent level showcase their abilities to all professional football teams in North America and Europe. They offer coaches and professional scouts the opportunity to view some of the best football talent from around the world right from their computers. The InstantScouting All-American teams are chosen exclusively by scouts who work to create professional football opportunities for athletes.

— MWSU Sports Information —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Missouri Western volleyball team is one of 113 programs in Division II and 676 total teams to receive the 2014-15 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.

The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale. Griffon Volleyball went 22-8 last season and 16-6 in the MIAA, setting a new program record for MIAA wins in a season and winning the most overall matches since 1998. Seniors Erica Rottinghaus and Sarah Faubel were named first team Captial One Academic All-Americans. Rottinghaus was also named MWSU Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Both earned MIAA Academic Honor Roll and MIAA Scholar Athlete awards, while Faubel also received an MIAA Academic Excellence Award. Kelsey Olion also received an MIAA Academic Excellence award and MIAA Scholar Athlete Award. Overall, Griffon Volleyball had 14 student-athletes named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and five receive MIAA Scholar Athlete Awards.

“A hearty congratulations to all the volleyball coaches whose teams won the AVCA Team Academic Award,” said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. “Teams do not succeed in the classroom by accident any more so than they do on the court. The same coach who taught them volleyball skills cared enough about their academic achievement to gather their grades, calculate their GPA, and submit a nomination on their behalf. In doing so, these coaches sent a clear message that classroom success is just as important as volleyball success. All involved should celebrate this award!”

The AVCA Team Academic Award has become one of the AVCA’s fastest growing awards programs, seeing an impressive surge in teams honored over the past several years. Since the 2000-2001 season, the number of recipients have increased every single year but one, while amassing a 476 team increase over the span of the last decade. Since the award’s inception in 1993, the amount of award winners has increased from 62 to its current number of 752.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH – Four new faces have joined the Missouri Western Football coaching staff for 2015. Head coach Jerry Partridge has also announced some other minor changes to assignments with returning members of the staff.

Andy Ball joins the staff as an assistant coach and will work primarily with offensive linemen. Offensive Coordinator Todd Throckmorton will focus on working with tight ends after also working with linemen in previous seasons. Ball is no stranger to the area. He was born in St. Joseph while his father, Randy, was an assistant at MWSU. Randy was a head coach at Western Illinois and Missouri State and is now a pro scouting assistant for the Kansas City Chiefs. Andy comes to MWSU from Truman State University where he was offensive line coach, co-recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator for three seasons. He also spent four seasons as an assistant at Missouri S&T and three seasons as an assistant at Culver-Stockton College.  The 2001 Central Missouri graduate worked as a student assistant and graduate assistant on the Mules coaching staff for three seasons.

Scott Groner will step right out of his Griffon uniform and into the shoes of his mentor Jay White. Groner will be the team’s equipment manager in addition to working with specialists. The three-time All-American punter will also serve as assistant facilities director for the athletic department, assuming the role formerly filled by White, who accepted a position with the Kansas City Chiefs this spring.

Colin McQuillan and David McGarvey have joined the staff as graduate assistants. Neither are strangers to Griffon Football. McQuillan was a student assistant from 2010-12 and graduated from MWSU in 2012 with a bachelor’s in Physical Education. Since then, he has coached in the high school ranks, spending two seasons at Riverside High School in Wathena, Kansas and two at KC Wyandotte High School. He was also the head girl’s basketball coach at Union Star High School from 2008-2011. McGarvey’s father, Stan was the head coach at MWSU from 1991-96. McGarvey recently graduated from Missouri Valley College. His coaching experience includes two stints at Missouri Valley, where he worked with running backs and fullbacks in addition to serving as junior varsity head coach and offensive coordinator. He was also offensive coordinator at Marshfield High School, in Marshfield, Missouri from 2009-12. McQuillan will work with defensive backs while McGarvey will focus on wide receivers at MWSU.

Joel Beard will assume the role of passing game coordinator after working exclusively as a quarterbacks coach the previous two sesaons. Beard will now work with both the quarterback and wide receiver position groups to coordinate the Griffon passing attack. Longtime assistant Regi Trotter has been given the additional title of assistant head coach. Now in his 11th season as an assistant at his alma mater, Trotter also coaches defensive backs. After nine seasons as the wide receivers coach, Aaron Bell resigned from the Griffon coaching staff earlier this summer.

Partridge enters his 19th season as head coach and is the winningest coach in program history. His 107 MIAA wins rank him third all-time and first among active MIAA coaches. 2014 marked the 10th consecutive season his team had a record of .500 or better and the sixth-straight over .500. The 2015 team features 36 returning letter winners and 15 returning starters from last year’s team that went 7-4.

— MWSU Sports Information —