OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Missouri Western softball team stayed alive in the MIAA Tournament, splitting on day one with a loss to Northwest Missouri State and a win over Fort Hays State. Missouri Western advances to play Emporia State on Friday at 11 a.m.

GAME 1: Northwest Missouri State 8, Missouri Western 1

The Griffon bats were kept quiet, managing just four hits and none until the sixth inning in an 8-1 loss to Northwest Missouri State.

Missouri Western scored their only run of the game in the sixth when Morgan Rathmann scored on a Sydney Washington triple. Rathmann’s hit was the first off Northwest’s Kendle Schieber. Janie Smith went five innings, allowing 13 hits and seven runs, three of them earned, with three walks and three strikeouts. Taylor Schaben went the final two innings, giving up two hits and one run.

Smith dropped to 16-10 on the year with the loss. Rathmann, Washington, Kailey Green and Katie Klosterman had the Griffons’ hits.

GAME 2: Missouri Western 8, Fort Hays State 0 (5 innings)

Missouri Western’s bats woke up in a big way in the second game. Missouri Western stole five bases and hit five doubles in the game to stay alive in the tournament.

Washington scored the first run in the first inning on a throwing error. Paige Shifflett drove in Gillaspy with a double in the third to put the Griffons up 2-0. Kailey Green made it 4-0 with a two-RBI home run to right in the third and Brooke Schaben’s sacrifice fly in the third made it a 6-0 Griffon lead. MWSU tacked on the final three in the fifth with Shelbie Atwell scoring on an error and Gillaspy driving in two with a single to center.

Janie Smith picked up the shutout, going all five innings and allowing just three hits. She walked one Tiger and did not pick up a strikeout. Gillaspy went 4-4 at the plate with two RBIs and Shifflett was 3-4 with an RBI.

Missouri Western sits 34-18 heading into day two of the tournament.

— MWSU Sports Information —

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – After a fourth place finish in the MIAA, the Missouri Western softball team has placed five student-athletes on the All-MIAA team.

Tiffany Gillaspy – First Team, Second Base
It’s the second straight first team selection for Gillaspy and her third appearance on the team after being named honorable mention in 2013. The team’s student-athlete of the year, Gillaspy leads the Griffons in batting average (.376), slugging percentage (.715), runs (46), hits (62), RBIs (46), home runs (14) and total bases (118). Gillaspy also enters postseason play in the top-five of at least six MWSU career offensive categories. She is just three home runs shy of breaking the MWSU career record (39). She has been named the MIAA Hitter of the Week and National Player of the Week this season in addition to being one of 25 finalists for the national player of the year award.

Janie Smith – Second Team, Pitcher
Smith earns her first All-MIAA selection after posting a team-low 2.67 ERA and team highs in strikeouts (111) and innings pitched (136). Smith is 17-9 overall and has posted a 1.94 ERA in MIAA games this season. She was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week earlier this season after helping her team to a 16-game winning streak.

Morgan Rathmann – Second Team, Outfielder
An honorable mention pick last season, Rathmann leads the MIAA and is third in the nation with eight triples this season. The sophomore is batting .364 in her last 10 games and .354 on the season. A threat to steal anytime she reaches base, Rathmann has swiped 27 bags in 30 attempts this season.

Paige Shifflett – Second Team, Designated Player
One of the brightest spots in a promising future for the program, Shifflett hit .356 in her freshman season with eight home runs and 40 RBIs. With an impressive ability to change her approach to match the situation, Shifflett posted a .430 on base percentage and led the team with a .472 average with runners in scoring position, a .696 average with a runner on third with less than two outs and a .600 success rate in advancing runners.

Katie Klosterman – Honorable Mention, Third Base
A member of the Griffons’ super-sophomore class, Klosterman is second on the team with a .358 average at the plate. She leads the team with a .432 on base percentage and 15 walks this season. She has hit safely in 15 of the team’s last 18 games.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Women’s Golf had three individuals land on the All-MIAA team for the 2014-15 season. Freshman Celine Lim, sophomore Madison Romjue, and freshman Tiffanie Yabut all earn spots for their performance this season.

Freshman Celine Lim finished the season as the Griffons top golfer and earned herself a spot on the All-MIAA second team. She fired a low-round of 75 with one top-five finish, six top-10 finishes and six top-20 finishes. She averaged a 79.2 this season. Her best finish came early this spring when she tied for fifth at the MWSU/Holiday Inn Express Classic at the St. Joseph Country Club. Lim is one of two individuals to qualify for regional play from the MIAA along with three teams.

Tiffanie Yabut and Madison Romjue each earned a spot on the All-MIAA Honorable Mention list. Yabut and Romjue each played in 21 rounds this season. Yabut finished the season with a low-round of 79 and finished in the top-5 in one tournament. Romjue tallied a low-score of 73 and earned two top-10 finishes along with five top-20 finishes.

First Team All-MIAA
Marla Souvannasing, Central Oklahoma **Golfer of the Year & Freshman of the Year
Lindsey Bensch, Central Oklahoma
Baylee Price, Northeastern State
Bethany Darrough, Central Oklahoma
Daniela Martinez, Central Oklahoma

Second Team All-MIAA
Katie Bensch, Central Oklahoma
Ana Summers, Nebraska-Kearney
Charter Lawson, Northeastern State
Celine Lim, Missouri Western
Kayla Schroeder, Northeastern State

Honorable Mention: Kelly Welker, Central Missouri; Yolanda Rotzinger, Lindenwood; Sydney Hawley, LIndenwood; Alanna Haynes, Lindenwood; Tiffanie Yabut, Missouri Western; Madison Romjue, Missouri Western; Lexi Amon, Northeastern State; Ashley Powers, Nortwhest Missouri; Taylor Gard, Northwest Missouri.

— MWSU Sports Information —

MIAA Coach of the Year: Michael Bond, Central Oklahoma

ST. JOSEPH – A remarkable turnaround season by the Missouri Western women’s tennis team has been capped by the program’s first All-MIAA selection in more than 10 years.

Meara Smith has been named All-MIAA honorable mention at the No. 6 singles position. The junior from Kansas City, Kansas, helped her team to its best finish in recent memory.

As a team, the Griffons went 11-10 overall and 4-6 in the MIAA. That overall record was a 10-game improvement over the 2014 win total and more wins than the previous three seasons combined. Smith was a big part of that success. She went 9-3 in singles action, including winning eight of her last nine singles matches. She was also 2-0 at No. 3 doubles with Ceara Boldridge and Lindsay Beger. Those nine wins gave Smith 12 for her career, tied for the fourth most in the program since 2008.

2015 ALL-MIAA WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAM

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Fanni Varga, Southwest Baptist

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Maria Josie Zehnder, Southwest Baptist

Co-COACH OF THE YEAR
Amanda Stone, Northeastern State & John Bryant, Southwest Baptist

Co-SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Alina Gorina, Central Oklahoma & Tawni Griffey, Emporia State

FIRST TEAM
1S: Fanni Varga, Southwest Baptist
2S: Patricia Husakova, Northeastern State
3S: Molly Worden, Northeastern State
4S: Valeriia Efimenko, Northeastern State
5S: Barbora Jirickova, Northeastern State
6S: Kari Emery, Nebraska-Kearney
1D: Kristina Savchenkov/Patricia Husakova, Northeastern State
2D: Maria Josie Zehnder/Lani Tuemmers, Southwest Baptist
3D: Kari Emery/Emma Neil, Nebraska-Kearney

SECOND TEAM
1S: Camila Quesada, Northwest Missouri
2S: Maria Josie Zehnder, Southwest Baptist
3S: Paula Jimenez, Nebraska-Kearney
4S: Aniek Kolen, Northwest Missouri
5S: Emily Semo, Central Oklahoma
6S: Marianne Hull, Northwest Missouri
1D: Fanni Varga/Christina Zentai, Southwest Baptist
2D: Molly Worden/Valeriia Efimenko, Northeastern State
3D: Barbora Jirickova/Easton Parker, Northeastern State

Honorable Mention
#1S: Kristina Savchenkov, NSU; Alina Gorina, UCO
#2S: Christina Zentai, SBU; Lorena Rivas Jarolim, NWMSU; Brittney Ricci, FHSU
#3S: Lani Tuemmers, SBU; Margaux Jaquet, NWMSU
#4S: Kaley Clark, ESU; Emma Neil, UNK
#5S: Stephanie Mannix, NWMSU; Amy Fugit, ESU; Zorana Jovanovic, SBU
#6S: Lucia Cerchlanova, NSU; Meara Smith, MWSU; Daria Panferova, NSU
#1D: Camila Quesada/Lorena Rivas Jarolim, NWMSU; Casyn Buchman/Jodie Blackim, WU
#2D: Paula Jimenez/Kristin Weems, UNK
#3D: Stephanie Mannix/Aniek Kolen, NWMSU; Beatrix Federer/Zorana Jovanovic, SBU; Natasa Brnovic/Olya Burak, UCO

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western women’s basketball coach Rob Edmisson has announced another camp this summer for high school girls.

The advanced skills camp is an intense, one-day camp featuring cutting edge skill instruction, competitions and games.

Campers will be divided by both age and ability groups.
The camp will be held in the MWSU Fieldhouse on the campus of Missouri Western State University. Girls entering grades nine through 12 are eligible for attendance. The cost of the camp is $60 and includes instruction, lunch and t-shirt.

For more information, go to GoGriffons.com for the camp brochure or contact assistant coach Roger Smith at 816-271-4509 or [email protected].

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH – More than 20 awards were handed out and hundreds recognized as part of the 16th Annual St. Joseph News-Press Student-Athlete Honors Banquet Monday night at Missouri Western.

In an evening designed to honor excellence both past and present, Scott Groner (Griffon Football) and Erica Rottinghaus (Griffon Volleyball) took home the male and female student-athlete of the year honors for their outstanding performance on the field, hard work in the classroom and exceptional representation of Missouri Western State University.

Rottinghaus started every game of her two year career and was a two time First Team All-MIAA selection, being the first volleyball student-athlete since 2002 to achieve that honor. This season she was named an Honorable Mention All-American for her play on the court and a First Team All-American for performance on the court and in the classroom.

Groner was a four-year starter at the punter position and this season was named First Team All-MIAA for the second consecutive year and was an Honorable Mention All-American. He led the MIAA with an average of 42 yards per kick, including 15 punts over 50 yards. Academically, Scott graduated last December with his degree in Health & Exercise and as he began his career as a baseball player at MWSU and was a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll six times.

Rottinghaus and Groner were joined by Tiffany Gillaspy (Griffon Softball) as recipients of the Tom Smith Career Achievement Award, an award given to Griffon student-athletes whom exhibit excellence over an extended period of time and display extraordinary accomplishments.

The two were among 11 nominees for the award, one from each Griffon sport and one from the cheer squad. The student-athlete of the year from each sport were: Cheer Sqaud-Shae Fannon; Women’s Soccer-K.C. Ramsell; Women’s Tennis-Ceara Boldridge; Men’s Golf-Scott Sheldon; Women’s Golf-Callie Wilson; Football-Scott Groner; Volleyball-Erica Rottinghaus; Women’s Basketball-Alex Saxen; Men’s Basketball-Cortrez Colbert; Softball-Tiffany Gillaspy; Baseball-Ryan Degner.

Missouri Western Athletics Hall of Fame member Scott Graham received the Award of Valor. The award is presented to a student-athlete, coach or contributor to Griffon Athletics for having the strength of mind and spirit that enables a person to encounter life’s challenges with resolve and courage. Graham has served the institution in many capacities since graduation, including serving as the current Chairman of the Griffon Athletics Hall of Fame Committee and is a member of the Gold Coat Club Board of Directors.  He often drives from his Kansas City area home to campus to attend meetings, functions, take part in events and attends games frequently, all while working tirelessly in his successful business career.

For more than a year, Scott has been battling cancer and while he has been undergoing numerous treatments locally and at the Mayo Clinic, he has continued to fulfill his roles and provide leadership to the University in a first class manner in which he would never let you know the challenges he faces on a daily basis.  Through this difficult time he is still in the stands at many Griffon games home and away and exemplifies the true meaning of a Griffon and is definitely “Griffon Tough”.

Dr. Brenda Blessing and Gaylan Wood were awarded Silver Anniversary awards as individuals who have served the University with characteristics of integrity, dedication and leadership, with a commitment to excellence. Dr. Blessing will officially retire in August after serving as a faculty member in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation department form more than 30 years. Dr. Blessing has also served the athletic department as NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative for many years. Wood is a longtime bus driver, safely transporting countless Griffon student-athletes, coaches and staff to various events. Wood will also be retiring later this year.

Many other awards and recognition were handed out, including the James J. McMillen Scholar-Athlete Award. The award was established in 1995 to recognize the top graduating senior student-athlete based on cumulative grade point average. This year’s recipient was Griffon Soccer’s A.J. Powers. Alex Saxen (Griffon Women’s Basketball) was awarded the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s Community Service Volunteer of the Year award.

Eight Griffon student-athletes were also recognized for their achievement as All-Americans in 2014 and 2015 seasons. Those recognized as All-Americans: Scott Groner (Football-Don Hansen Honorable Mention; John Schmiemeier (Football-Don Hansen Honorable Mention); Michael Jordan (Football-First Team American Football Coaches Association and D2Football.com, Third Team Little All-American, Don Hansen Honorable Mention); Tiffany Gillaspy (Softball-Third Team National Fastpitch Coaches Association); Ryan Degner (Baseball-Third Team Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association); Erica Rottinghaus (Volleyball-First Team CoSIDA/Capital One Academic, Honorable Mention American Volleyball Coaches Association); Sarah Faubel (Volleyball-First Team CoSIDA/Capital One Academic).

Griffon Athletics thanks all involved in making the banquet possible, including title sponsors the St. Joseph News-Press.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western women’s golfer Celine Lim has been selected to compete in the 2015 NCAA Division II Central Regional.

Lim joins men’s golfer Corey Knight as representatives of Griffon Golf in postseason play. The Central Regional will be played May 2-5 at Hillcrest Country Club in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, hosted by Northeastern State. The top three teams and top three individuals not with a team qualifying for the regional, will advance to the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships to be held May 13-16 at the Meadows Golf Course in Allendale, Michigan.

Lim finished the season as the Griffons top golfer. She fired a low-round of 75 with one top-five finish, six top-10 finishes and six top-20 finishes. She averaged a 79.2 this season. Her best finish came early this spring when she tied for fifth at the MWSU/Holiday Inn Express Classic at the St. Joseph Country Club. Lim is one of two individuals to qualify for regional play from the MIAA along with three teams.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH – After winning 10 of its final 13 games of the regular season, the Missouri Western baseball team has earned the fourth seed in the MIAA Tournament and will host a best of three series beginning on Thursday.

Missouri Western will host fifth-seeded Washburn beginning Thursday, April 30 at 6 p.m. The two teams split a four-game series in Topeka, Kansas earlier this season.

The Griffons won their last three MIAA series, taking three of four games from Nebraska-Kearney, Southwest Baptist and Northwest Missouri State.

MWSU and Washburns will play one game Thursday, one game Friday, May 1 and, if necessary, the third game will be played Saturday, May 2. Thursday and Friday’s games are scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch. Should game three become necessary, first pitch will be at 1 p.m. The winner of that series will advance to the final four of the tournament on May 7-9 at Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Griffons finished the regular season 29-19 overall and 22-14 in MIAA play. Last season, Missouri Western advanced to the championship of the MIAA tournament, losing two straight games to Emporia State. Missouri Southern claimed the regular season championship and will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Emporia State is seeded second and Central Missouri is third.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team has landed the fourth seed in the MIAA Tournament after finishing the regular season 33-17 and 17-9 in the MIAA.

The defending tournament champions will face rival Northwest Missouri State on Thursday, April 30 at 6 p.m. to open tournament play.  The double-elimination tournament will be played at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kansas.

This season, the Griffons went 3-1 against Northwest Missouri State. MWSU swept an MIAA doubleheader from the Bearcats in St. Joseph and split a non-conference doubleheader in Maryville.

The winner of Thursday’s game will advance to face the winner of top-seeded Central Missouri and eighth seeded Fort Hays State at 8 p.m., Thursday. The loser will face the loser of the Central Missouri, Fort Hays State game.

The games on Thursday will be broadcast on ESPN 1550 AM and here on StJosephPost.com.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team had its offense stymied in a doubleheader sweep at the hands of No. 20 Emporia State in MWSU’s final regular season games of the season. Kaitlyn Caston won both games for Emporia State, holding MWSU to two runs and 11 hits on the day.

GAME 1: Emporia State 2, MWSU 1

All the scoring in game one came in the first frame as No. 20 Emporia State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one with a two-run home run from Danielle Sprinkle off Janie Smith.

The Griffons added one in the bottom half of the inning when Kailey Green grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Tiffany Gillaspy. Missouri Western got just four hits off Kaitlyn Caston in the game and stranded four runners on base. Katie Klosterman went 2-3 at the plate with Morgan Rathmann and Gillaspy picking up the other Griffon hits.

Smith was solid after the first, holding the Hornets to just those two runs on nine hits. She struck out seven and walked two. The loss dropped Smith to 16-9 on the season.

GAME 2: Emporia State 5, MWSU 1

Three unearned runs in the top of the fifth broke a scoreless tie and gave the Hornets the only runs they needed to complete the sweep.

With two already out in the top of the fifth an error by Griffon shortstop Shelbie Atwell kept Emporia State alive. The Hornets followed the error with two-straight RBI singles and a wild pitch allowed the third run of the inning to score. The Griffons had a chance to answer in the bottom half of the inning. Sydney Washington doubled with one out and Atwell followed with a single, then a stolen base to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Rebekah Mueller struck out to record the second out and Brooke Schaben ended the inning with a foul out.

MWSU threatened again in the bottom of the sixth but Caston was able to get out of it again. Emporia State scored their fourth and fifth runs of the game, all with two outs, when Caston hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh.

After the game, seniors Tiffany Gillaspy and Brooke Schaben were honored for their contributions to the Griffon Softball program. The team finished the regular season 33-17 overall and 17-9 in the MIAA. They will move on to play in the MIAA Tournament next weekend. Tournament play begins Thursday in Overland Park, Kansas.