ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western men’s basketball head coach Brett Weiberg has announced the signing of three student-athletes for the 2015-16 season. All three signees have ties to the state of Iowa and one has a family connection to Griffon Basketball.

Mataika Koyamainavure
Suva, Fiji / Southwestern Community College
6-8, Forward

Brother of Griffon Women’s Basketball student-athlete, Miliakere Koyamainavure…second team All-Region at Southwestern Community College where he averaged 13 points and seven rebounds per game…won MVP awards all four years as a high school player at Marist Brothers High School…his favorite athlete is Tim Duncan…plans on majoring in communications…dream job would be broadcasting.

“Mataika is an exceptional young man,” Weiberg said. “He is a quality student and is the type of person we want here at MWSU.  Mataika is a big, physical power forward that can post and also play facing the basket.  He will come in and compete for playing time immediately.  Mataika played for Todd Lorenson at SWICC and Todd has done a great job developing Matiaka.  I also believe his better days are ahead of him.”

Trey Sampson
Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Des Moines Area Community College
6-0, Guard

Second team All-Region, averaging 10.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game at DMACC…two-sport athlete at Xavier High School…second-team All-Conference and first team All-Metro in basketball…first team Alll-State and All-Metro in football…second team All-Conference in football…plans on majoring in biology…would like to be a marine biologist…favorite athlete is Bo Jackson…chose MWSU because it felt like family.

“I am pleased that Trey has decided the join the Griffon Basketball Family,” Weiberg said. “He is a young man that can really shoot the ball.  Trey defends at a high level and he was a very important part of the DMACC team that won their conference and made it to the Final Four of the NJCAA National Tournament.  Trey plays with passion and plays hard.  Most importantly, Trey is an outstanding young man, a good student and a fantastic teammate and competitor.  Coach BJ McGuinn and his staff have done an excellent job developing Trey.”

Miles Wentzien
Ft. Madison, Iowa / Ft. Madison High School
6-3, Guard

Lettered four years in basketball and golf and two years in baseball…all-time leading scorer at Fort Madison High School…averaged 23 points, eight rebounds, three steals and five assists per game…host of honors as a high school basketball player, including conference MVP, Academic All-Conference, All-District and All-State (on-court and academically)…undecided on his major.

“Miles is a young man that we have recruited all year,” Weiberg said. “He is a strong, physical guard.  Although Miles is the all-time leading scorer at Fort Madison High School, we feel that one of his best attributes is defending.  We believe Miles is a competitor and a leader and we expect him to have an opportunity to play.  More importantly, Miles is a good young man, a good student and will be a great teammate.  Miles played for Jon Schmitz at Fort Madison.  Coach Schmitz has done a great job with Miles.”

Koyamainavure, Sampson and Wentzien join Calvin Winker as signees to the 2015-16 team. Winker’s signing was announced in November. The team went 12-15 and 8-11 in the MIAA in Weiberg’s second season as the head coach. They advanced to the MIAA Tournament, losing in the first round at Central Oklahoma. Weiberg and his staff will be looking to replace four departed seniors, including All-MIAA honorable mention selection Cortrez Colbert. Zack Price, Dareon Jones and Hans Thun were the team’s other three seniors.

— MWSU Sports Information —

EDMOND, Okla. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team fell to Central Oklahoma 5-4 after returning to action on Sunday afternoon. The Griffons are now 10-8 overall and sit 4-5 in MIAA competition, ranking them sixth in the conference.

Missouri Western fell behind early in singles matches with the No. 1, No. 2 and No.3 positions all coming up short. The Griffons did manage to snag two singles victories, coming from Yasmine El Ghazi and Meara Smith. El Ghazi won 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 4 position and Smith earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory in her match.

In doubles matches, the Griffons won the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. Sarah Giraldo and El Ghazi won their match 8-4 while Sophia Aguilera and Kayla Dysart won 8-6.

Missouri Western will finish up their trip to Oklahoma on Monday with a match against Southern Nazarene and Northeastern St. starting at 9 a.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team stayed offensive in sweeping a doubleheader at Southwest Baptist on Friday. The pair of wins clinched the series for MWSU, three games to one. It’s the first time the team took a series on the road since winning three of four at Emporia State in February.

GAME 1: MWSU 9, SBU 6

Banks Born picked up his fifth win, Richard Peoples earned his fifth save and the Griffon bats stayed hot in a 9-6 win in the first game of the day. Missouri Western got home runs from Ryan Degner and Trevor LaHonta and got two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to help preserve the win.

MWSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first but SBU got one in the bottom frame. Degner’s solo shot in the second inning put MWSU up 4-1. Southwest Baptist pulled within one after the third with two runs in the inning but the Griffons stretched their lead again with three in the fourth. A Christian Binger three-run home run in the sixth pulled the Bearcats back within one. LaHonta’s two-run home run gave Peoples the cushion he needed to complete his fifth save of the season.

Degner finished 3-4 with three runs and an RBI. LaHonta was also 3-4 with two driven in and two runs scored. Cosimo Cannella and David Glaude each drove in a pair with one hit apiece.

GAME 2: MWSU 8, SBU 6

Second verse much like the first only this time it was Southwest  Baptist getting an early lead, Missouri Western catching up and the Griffons eventually holding on for the victory.

SBU got one in the first and one in the second then MWSU tied it at two in the third with RBI singles from Orencio Fisher and Cody Childs. SBU jumped back ahead in the fifth with two more runs before the Griffs plated five in the top of the sixth that included a solo home run by Cosimo Cannella. SBU scored two more in their half of the sixth to pull within one, 7-6, but another RBI single from Childs in the ninth provided some insurance for MWSU.

Matt Russell went the final three and a third innings to get the win for MWSU. Russell did not allow a hit and struck out two. Grant Woods went the first four innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Josh Lansangan lasted just a third of an inning in relief, giving up two runs on three hits. Weston Caindec gave up two runs on two hits while recording just two outs. Fisher was 3-4 with two RBIs, while Dylon Kock, Brandon Downs and D’Andre Heggie each picked up two hits in game two.

Missouri Western improved to 26-18 overall and 19-13 in the MIAA. The Griffons will host Northwest Missouri State in the team’s final series of the regular season, next weekend.

— MWSU Sports Information —

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Eleven runs was good enough for a win in game two of a doubleheader at Southwest Baptist for the Missouri Western baseball team, but it wasn’t enough for a win in game one.

The two teams split the twin bill on Friday with Southwest Baptist handing the Griffons their eighth walk-off loss in game one. Five different Griffons hit home runs on the day as the team’s record moves to 24-18 overall and 17-13 in the MIAA.

GAME 1: SBU 12, MWSU 11

The Griffons hit five home runs in the game, three in the first three innings, but it was a Southwest Baptist home run that made the difference in the game. Trevor Bowling’s solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh off Richard Peoples handed MWSU its eighth walk-off loss of the season.

The Griffons got off to an incredible start, jumping out to a 6-0 lead on home runs by David Glaude, Brandon Downs and Cody Childs. Glaude hit his first of two homers in the game in the first to put the Griffs up 3-0. Downs led off the second with a solo shot and Childs’ two-run shot in the third gave Missouri Western what appeared to be a comfortable lead.

SBU would get five in the bottom of the fourth after the first seven Bearcats reached base in the inning. Starter A.J. Martinez put the first six on, including three walks and a home run. Kyle Kelly allowed a two-RBI single to the first batter he faced but Ryan Degner threw out a runner to record the second out of the inning. Kelly limited the damage to five, getting the next batter to ground out. After an error allowed Orencio Fisher to score in the top of the fifth, Cosimo Canella hit a two-run home run to put MWSU up 9-5 but Southwest Baptist scored six in the sixth to take an 11-9 lead. Glaude’s second home run of the game tied the game at 11 in the top of the seventh but Bowling’s solo shot ended it.

Peoples took the loss, his second of the season. Fisher was 3-4 with three runs scored. Childs was 2-3 with three driven in and three runs scored. Glaude went 2-4 with four driven in and two runs scored. Cannella, Dylon Koch, Downs and Michael Yeager were the only other Griffons to get hits. Martinez went the first three innings, giving up five runs on five hits with three walks and a strikeout. Kelly went an inning and a third, allowing five runs on three hits.

GAME 2: MWSU 11, SBU 3

Trevor Bowling picked up where he left off in game one, blasting a two-run home run in the second inning off Weston Caindec but it was all Griffons from that point on as MWSU scored 11 again, this time holding SBU to just three runs for the win.

After falling behind 2-0 in the second, the Griffons piled on five runs in the top of the third to go up by three. Cody Childs got the scoring going with an RBI-single. Childs capped off the inning when he reached on an error that allowed Orencio Fisher to scored. David Glaude drove in three in the inning with an RBI-single and a two-RBI double. Fisher drove in Ryan Degner in the seventh to put MWSU up 10-3 and Degner hit the Griffons’ sixth home run of the day in the top of the ninth with a two-run shot to left.

Fisher went 4-6 with an RBI and two runs scored in game two. On the day, the junior was 7-10 with five runs scored. Glaude picked up three more hits and three more RBIs in game two going 3-5 in game two to finish the day, 5-9 with seven driven in. Matt Russell picked up the win in relief. He went three and two thirds in relief of Caindec, allowing just one run on two hits. Josh Lansangan did not allow a hit, pitching the final four innings of the game.

The two teams play another doubleheader Friday beginning at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Western junior Weston Caindec has been named the MIAA/AstroTurf Pitcher of the Week.

Caindec went 2-0 in two starts last week, pitching 10 innings and allowing just two runs on 11 hits. The junior struck out four and walked just one. On Sunday, Caindec helped MWSU clinch a four-game series win over second-place Nebraska-Kearney.

On the season, the Las Vegas native is 3-0 with a 4.26 ERA. He’s appeared in 12 games with two starts. In 31.2 innings, Caindec has struck out 21 batters and walked 11. He’s the second MWSU pitcher to win the award this season. Richard Peoples took home the honor earlier in the year.

— MWSU Sports Information —

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished 12th at the Central Region Spring Preview in Springfield, Missouri Tuesday as they accumulated a team score of 663 in their two rounds of golf.

Celine Lim recorded a team-low 154 over the two days and managed to finish ninth individually. Tiffanie Yabut and Callie Wilson finished the tournament with a 168 and 169, respectively. Junior Amber Chivington finished with a 177 for the tournament.

Central Oklahoma won the team title tallying a 622 team score and Augustana (SD) was second with a 629 score.

Concordia-St. Paul’s Kari Opatz won the individual title with a 78 in round one and 72 in round two.

The Griffons will tee-off at the MIAA championships on Monday, April 20 in Lawrence, Kansas at the Alvamar Golf Course.

— MWSU Sports Information —

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – The Missouri Western tennis team reached the 10 win plateau with their 9-0 win against Baker University on Tuesday afternoon.

The Griffons dominated in all three doubles matches, winning 8-0 in the No. 1 position and earned an 8-2 win in the No. 2 spot. The final doubles match featured Ceara Boldridge and Lindsay Beger defeating their opponents 8-6.

In singles matches, Yasmine El Ghazi and Ceara Boldridge both claimed 6-0, 6-0 victories in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively. Meara Smith earned a 6-3, 6-2 win in the No. 6 singles match.

Singles competition
1. Giraldo,Sarah (MWSU) def. Henry,Megan (BU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Aguilera,Sofia (MWSU) def. Barnard,Brooke (BU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Dysart,Kayla (MWSU) def. Chestnut,Holly (BU) 6-1, 6-0
4. El Ghazi,Yasmine (MWSU) def. Barr,Nathalia (BU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Boldridge,Ceara (MWSU) def. Myers,Jaimie (BU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Smith,Meara (MWSU) def. Lockwood,Caroline (BU) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Giraldo,Sarah/El Ghazi,Yasmine (MWSU) def. Barnard,Brooke/Henry,Megan (BU) 8-0
2. Aguilera,Sofia/Dysart,Kayla (MWSU) def. Chestnut,Holly/Barr,Nathalia (BU) 8-2
3. Boldridge,Ceara/Beger,Lindsay (MWSU) def. Myers,Jaimie/Swartzendruber,T. (BU) 8-6

Missouri Western will head to Tahlequah, Oklahoma on Saturday for matches against Southern Nazerene and Northeastern State starting at 10:00 a.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

TOPEKA, Kan. – After one round of play at the Washburn Invitational, the Missouri Western men’s golf team sit in sixth place after recording a 303 at the Topeka Country Club.

Central Missouri leads the tournament with a 279 team score followed by Central Oklahoma firing a 295 on day one. Currently the Griffons are one stroke behind Northeastern St. and four strokes behind Washburn in fourth place.

Scott Sheldon scored a 3-over-par 74 to finish tied for 15th in the tournament. The Griffons Corey Knight and James O’Brien each tallied a 76 in their first round of golf. Ryan Hand and Jakob Rudosky finished the day with a 77 and 78 respectively.

The individual leader is Alex Springer of Central Missouri scoring a 68 in his round of golf.

The tournament will finish up Tuesday morning with a shot gun start at 9 am.

— MWSU Sports Information —

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Freshman Celine Lim led the Missouri Western women’s golf team through the first round of the Central Region Spring Preview with a score of 75 and the Griffons currently sit in third place after finishing with a team score of 319.

Central Oklahoma leads the pack after scoring a 313 in their first round and Southwest Oklahoma State recorded a 315 in their round one.

Missouri Western also had solid rounds out of Tiffanie Yabut and Callie Wilson, scoring an 80 and 81 respectively. St. Joseph native, Amber Chivington fired an 83 in round one.

Marla Souvannasing of Central Oklahoma and Margaret Musser of Southwest Oklahoma State are tied with a score of 74 in the individual standings.

Missouri Western will finish out the Central Region Spring Preview on Tuesday morning.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team needed a boost and they got it, winning the final game of a four-game series with Nebraska-Kearney 6-2. MWSU took the series from the MIAA’s second-place team, three games to one, and improves to 23-17 overall and 16-12 in the MIAA.

Two three run innings gave MWSU the runs they needed to support another solid pitching performance. The Griffons jumped ahead in the bottom of the fourth with two singles. Cosimo Cannella tied the game at one with an RBI-single up the middle and Zach Taylor put the Griffs ahead with a two-RBI single to right. In the seventh, Ryan Degner put MWSU up 6-1 with a three-run home run to left field for his second three-run shot in two days.

Degner was 1-4 on the day with a run and three driven in. Taylor went 2-4 with two driven in and a run scored. Griffon pitching once again held the Loper offense well below their 9.5 run per game average. Weston Caindec picked up his third win of the year, pitching the first five innings and giving up one run on five hits. Josh Lansangan, David Anderson and Richard Peoples finished the game in relief with Peoples picking up his fourth save of the season, striking out a batter with the bases loaded in the ninth.

Missouri Western travels to Southwest Baptist to begin a four-game series Friday in Bolivar.

— MWSU Sports Information —