The Missouri Western football team has been ranked sixth in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason Poll for the second straight week.

Missouri Western is one of three MIAA school ranked in the top-25 with Northwest Missouri State being ranked No. 3 and Pittsburg State at No. 16.  The Griffons held on to their position in the poll after defeating the Central Missouri in the season opener by a score of 26-23.

Washburn, Emporia State and Missouri Southern are all receiving votes in this weeks poll.

The Griffons open their home schedule of the 2013 season Saturday as they take on the Missouri S&T Miners. The opening kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Spratt Stadium.

Team (1st place votes)	Record	Points	Pvs
1. Valdosta State (29)	1-0	795	1
2. Minnesota State (2)	1-0	762	2
3. Northwest Missouri State	1-0	705	4
4. West Texas A&M	1-0	699	3
5. Colorado State-Pueblo (1)	1-0	644	8
6. Missouri Western State	1-0	622	6
7. Minnesota Duluth	1-0	589	11
8. Indiana (Pa.)	1-0	549	10
9. Henderson State	1-0	516	13
10. Grand Valley State	1-0	503	14
11. Carson-Newman	1-0	429	17
12. West Alabama	1-0	427	16
13. Midwestern State	0-0	392	15
14. Indianapolis	1-0	354	19
15. Bloomsburg	1-0	347	18
16. Pittsburg State (Kan.)	1-0	290	21
17. Shepherd	1-0	259	25
18. Chadron State	1-0	244	20
19. Tuskegee	1-0	197	24
20. Winston-Salem State	0-1	172	5
21. Ashland	0-1	152	9
22. North Alabama	1-0	126	NR
T23. North Carolina Pembroke	1-0	92	NR
T23. West Chester	1-0	92	NR
25. Delta State	1-0	69	NR

Dropped Out: Shippensburg (Pa.) (7), New Haven (Conn.) (12), Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.) (22), Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) (23)

Others Receiving Votes: Shippensburg (Pa.), 61; St. Cloud State (Minn.), 60; Colorado School of Mines, 43; Washburn (Kan.), 38; Emporia St. (Kan.), 30; New Haven (Conn.), 25; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 22; California (Pa.), 20; Shaw (N.C.), 14; Bentley (Mass.), 13; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 11; Charleston (W.Va.), 9; Arkansas Tech, 5; Concord (W.Va.), 5; Michigan Tech, 5; New Mexico Highlands, 3; Ohio Dominican, 3; Missouri S&T, 2; Missouri Southern St., 2; Southwestern Oklahoma St., 1; Stillman (Ala.), 1; Tarleton St. (Texas), 1.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s soccer team used a big second half against MSU-Moorhead coming away with a 2-0 victory. The Griffons scored both their goals in the second half picking up the first victory of the season improving to 1-1 on the season.

The Griffons dominated the Dragons on Sunday afternoon outshooting MSUM 23-11 overall with 14 of their 23 shots getting on goal.

The two teams played to a 0-0 tie after the opening frame with the Griffons outshooting the Dragons 9-4 in the period. The Griffons had six shots on goal while the Dragons had two.

In the second period the Griffons picked up the pressure taking 14 shots with eight being on goal. Senior midfielder Ashley Juravich got the Griffons on the board in the 59th minute when she took a pass from freshman Bailey Dervin and put it in the back of the net giving MWSU the 1-0 lead. Junior transfer Tara Russell gave the Griffons a cushion blasting one past the MSU-Moorhead goalie at the 76th minute.

Freshman goalie Sarah Lyle picked up her first victory of her career making five saves on the afternoon. Russell led the way with seven shots with five of them finding their way on net. K.C. Ramsell had five shots with two on goal.

The Dragons fall to 0-2 on the season. They had 11 shots with five on goal. Anna Hulteng had three shots. Carole Braschayko had 12 saves for the Dragons as she falls to 0-1 with the loss.

The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, September 10 when they take on William Jewell College at 7:00 pm in St. Joseph, Mo.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished in 8th place at the Augustana Invitational which was held at Bakker Crossing. The Griffons moved up one place on day two of the invitational firing a 329 which was eight strokes better than their first round 337. The Griffons (666) was eight strokes better than Winona State (674) and 12 strokes behind Dakota Wesleyan (654). Minnesota State (Mankato) won the event with a two round 602 (301-301) which was 12 strokes better than Augustana’s 614 (302-312). There were 11 teams in the field.

Individually the Griffons were led by two sophomores. Amber Chivington and Callie Wilson both finished in 29th place firing 163 (82-81). Freshman Madison Romjue finished in a tie for 32nd with a 165 (85-80) while senior Darcy Smith played as an individual tying for 45th with a 169 (86-83). Senior Shelby Stone fired a 175 (88-87) while sophomore Anna Kloeppel fired 177 (88-89).

Tabitha Kunst, Dani Selberg and Kanya Sethasompobe all from Minnesota State tied for first with 149’s. Kunts shot 77-72, Selberg shot 75-74 and Sethasompobe fired 74-75.

The Griffons return to action on Sunday, September 15 when they participate in the Concordia-St. Paul Holiday Inn Invitational in Lake Elmo, Minn. The event will be a two day event and will be played at Tartan Park Golf Club.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western volleyball team and first year head coach Marian Carbin picked up their first victory over the season defeating the Quincy Hawks 3-1 in the Pittsburg State Invite. The Griffons improve to 1-1 with the victory.

Things did not look good early for the Griffons as they 25-17 in the opening set. The Griffons had just five kills to seven errors in the opening set.

The second and third sets were extreamly close with the Griffons coming away with a 28-26 and 25-23 victories. In set two the Griffons hit .256 with 16 kills while in set three they hit .306 with 15 kills. The Griffons closed out the match with a 25-18 victory picking up the win.

The Griffons were led by Stephanie Hattey with 11 kills and 24 set assists. Lindsay Partridge had her best match as a Griffons hit .389 with 10 kills while Jodan Chohon had 16 set assists. Sarah Faubel and Erica Rottinghaus had 22 and 14 digs apiece.

The Hawks fall to 1-1 on the season. They were led by Samantha Haegele with 11 kills while Joslin Briann had 10. Courtney O’Brien had 16 set assists while Haegele had 15 digs.

The Griffons return to action tomorrow with two more matches. The open up the day with a match against Ouachita Baptist at 1:00 pm. They close out the invite with a non-conference match against host school Pittsburg State at 5:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s soccer team got off to a slow start giving up two first half goals en route to a 2-0 season opening loss against Bemidji State. Freshman Bailey Dervin led the way for the Griffons with six shots and five making it on goal. The Griffons fall to 0-1 with the loss.

The first half was all Beavers as they scored two goals six minutes apart. Avigail Nyquist scored the first goal off an assist by Christine Szurek at the 24:20 mark of the opening period. Sarah Stram got the second goal from an assist by Nyquist at the 30:16 mark of the half.

The rest of the way the Griffons held the Beavers scoreless. Unfortunately the Griffons could not find the back of the net getting seven shots on goal on 11 shots.

Amanda Garvin got the victory for the Beavers making seven saves. Stram led the Beavers offensively making four saves with three shots on goal. As a team BSU had 15 shots with seven on goal. BSU improves to 1-0 with the victory.

Sarah Lyle picked up the loss for the Griffons making five saves.

The Griffons return to action on Sunday, September 8 when they travel to Moorhead, Minn. to take on the MSU-Moorhead Dragons. Game time is set for 12:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The 6th ranked Missouri Western Griffons put together a last second drive scoring with 15 seconds remaining on a pitch and catch from Travis Partridge to Reggie Jordan coming away with a 26-23 victory over the Central Missouri Mules. With the victory the Griffons have won 10 of the last 11 games against the Mules. The Griffons improve to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play.

Things did not go as planned in the first quarter for the Griffons as they did not get a single first down accumulating just 31 yards of total offense on 14 plays.

On the other side of the ball the Mules had 130 yards on 20 plays which included a 73 yard scoring strike from Hayden Hawk to Anthony Kirkwood with 1:55 to play in the quarter. A missed extra point by Zach Gebhardt kept the score at 9-0 Mules. UCM’s other score came on the first possession when the Mules went 43 yards on 10 playes with Gebhardt connecting on a 42 yard field goal.

The Griffons got the offense going a little bit in the second quarter getting five first downs. Missouri Western cut the Mule lead to 9-7 on an 11 yard run by Raphael Spencer capping a 70 yard nine play drive. Spencer had 35 yards on five carries in the half.

The Griffons struggled catching the ball with four dropped passes which included a would be touchdown. Despite the struggles the Griffons defense was able to hold the Mules to just nine points after Gebhardt missed a 42 yard field goal with under a minute to play.

In the half the Griffons had 64 yards rushing and 44 passing. Travis Partridge connected on just 5-of-13 passes with Crockom catching two for 24 yards. Defensively Stephen Juergens had six tackles with one being for a loss. Yomi Alli and Janis Matulis each had five tackles with Matulis getting one sack.

The Mules had 225 yards with 213 coming through the air. Hawk completed 17-of-21 passes with one touchdown. LaVance Taylor led the charge offensively with nine carries for 31 yards. Defensively Ramond Hunter had five tackles with two being for a loss.

In the second half both teams had numerous opportunities to take command with turnovers and mistakes.

Midway through the third quarter Tevin Teamer intercepted a Partridge pass and scampered 30 yards putting the Mules up 16-7 with 5:26 to play in the third quarter.

The young Griffon squad did not get rattled as they responded with a three play 72 yard drive which was capped by a 55 yard pitch and catch from Partridge to Stephon Weaver. The touchdown marked Weaver’s first of his career. The extra point was muffed by a bad snap cutting the Mules lead to 16-13 with 2:27 to play in the third.

The Griffons took their first lead of the game early in the fourth when Partridge hit Derek Libby from 56 yards out giving them the 20-16 lead with 14:47 to play in the game.

The Mules responded midway through the quarter putting together a 14 play 53 yard drive where they converted on three fourth down plays. Hawk connected with Cullen Rosine from 15 yards out giving the Mules a 23-20 lead with 4:32 to play.

Partridge then put together the drive where he completed three passes and rushed for 19 yards on the 62 yard seven play drive. Partridge connected with senior tight end Reggie Jordan from five yards out giving them the 26-23 victory.

The Griffons tallied 347 yards of total offense with 198 coming through the air and 149 on the ground. Spencer finished with 91 yards on 13 carries while Partridge rushed 14 times for 57 yards.

Partridge threw for three touchdowns with Weaver, Libby, Crockom and Jordan all getting three catches apiece. Weaver had 75 yards receiving while Libby had 66.

Griffon punter Scott Groner punted seven times for a 44.9 yards per kick with 59 being his long. Juergens finished with 14 tackles while Nick Williams finished with 10. The Griffons had four sacks with John Oglesby getting two.

The Mules finished with 362 total yards with 322 coming in the air and just 40 on the ground. Hawk connected on 28-of-42 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns. Tristan McClelland caught eight passes for 87 yards while Ray Harris rushed 18 times for 40 yards.

Zach Quines led the way on defense with nine tackles while Ramond Hunter had eight tackles with two sacks and three tackles for a loss.

The Griffons return to action next week when they take on former offensive coordinator Tyler Fenwick and the Missouri S&T Miners on Saturday, September 14 in St. Joseph, Mo. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm from Spratt Stadium.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western senior quaterback Travis Partridge received recognition from the Collegiate Development Football League (CDFL) preseason Division II All-America squad. The senior from St. Joseph received honorable mention honors.

The 2012 MIAA First Team All-MIAA quarterback, Partridge has also been tabbed a Preseason All-American by BSN and USA College Football.

He had an outstanding junior campaign helping the Griffons to their first MIAA Regular Season Championship and into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Partridge started all 14 games while throwing for 2,706 yards and 30 touchdowns.
He threw four touchdowns in three different games (Nebraska-Kearney, Northeastern State and Pittsburg State) while leading the Griffons to a single season record for wins with 12. He rushed for an MWSU single season record 18 touchdowns while being named First Team All-MIAA and MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Northwest Missouri State.

The CDFL All-American team selections will be evaluated to comprise the 2013-14 USA National team for International competitions. Only graduating seniors in 2013 are eligible for preseason CDFL All-America team selectionThe USA team features players from the collegiate ranks who will compete against a team of European All-Stars in December. For more information, visit www.CDFLbowlgames.com.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team fired a two round total of 630 (319-311) on day one of the Missouri Intercollegiate which is being held at the The Club at Porto Cima. This also marks the first tournament of the year for the Griffons.

Western sits in 8th place out of 14 teams after round one firing at 319 with junior Scott Sheldon leading the way with a 78. The Griffons fired eight strokes better in round two with a 311. Junior, James O’Brien fired a 72 which was nine strokes better than his round one total of 79. He led the Griffons on the day with a two round total of 151.

Scott Sheldon was one stroke back of O’Brien with a 152 (78-74) while senior Evan McCarthy finished the day with a 162 (81-81). Freshman, Dylan Queen fired a 165 (81-84) in his first collegiate action while junior Derek Hawkins finished with a 167 (82-85).

The Griffons will play the final round to the event Wednesday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western Director of Athletics Kurt McGuffin has announced the hiring of Greg Dillon as the new Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach. Dillon comes to MWSU after four years at Colorado State University-Pueblo and takes over for Cathy Habermehl and Jim Perry who retired this past summer.

“I believe Greg will be a great fit not only to lead our golf programs but also for the community of St. Joseph,” commented McGuffin. “He is very knowledgeable not only as an instructor of the game of golf but has been a highly successful NCAA Division II Coach.”

While at CSU-Pueblo, Dillon established one of the top women’s golf programs in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  He also established himself as one of the top women’s golf coaches in RMAC history.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have this opportunity to come to Missouri Western,” Dillon said.  “We have a rich golf tradition and I am eager to arrive to build on that and to hit the ground running.”

Dillon, a three-time RMAC Coach of the Year recipient, took the women’s golf program from “worst to first,” taking over a last place program in 2009 and systematically improving the program to conference champions and beyond.

His step-by-step process began in 2010 as the ThunderWolves had their first All-RMAC golfer in Rachel Means.

In 2011, CSU-Pueblo rose to 4th in the conference as RMAC Freshman of the Year Michaela Breit became the program’s first ever golfer to qualify individually for the NCAA Division II Super Regional. In recognition of his team’s performance in 2010-11, Dillon was named the RMAC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year.

In year three, the “worst to first” journey was complete as the ThunderWolves caught fire at the end of the season, winning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship and qualifying as a team for the NCAA Division II Super Regional.  He again was named the RMAC Coach of the Year.

By 2013, his team won nearly every tournament, barely missing out on a second straight RMAC championship by finishing second to close the season and qualifying RMAC Golfer of the Year, Leina Kim, for the NCAA Division II National Championship as an individual, finishing in the top 40.

“I am very proud of the program we built at CSUP and it was very tough to leave but the opportunity to come to a school and a situation such as Missouri Western was just to enticing to pass up,” said Dillon.  “I am excited to work with the current student-athletes and we will recruit nationally to build a team that will compete for MIAA Championships and NCAA Regionals on a yearly a basis.”

In addition to being the Women’s Golf Coach at CSUP, Dillon served as the Director of Instruction at Desert Hawk Golf Club in Pueblo.  He is a member of the Professional Golfers Association of America as he has Class A-1 Certification and has received commendation from the PGA as a junior golf instructor.

Dillon has extensive experience in the golf industry as before returning to CSU-Pueblo, he served as a golf professional in a variety of locations, including Pueblo West, Colorado; New Port Ritchie, Florida and Cheyenne, Wyoming including being the Head Golf Professional and General Manager of the Shadow Hills Golf Club in Canon City, Colorado for 17 years.

He also has an extensive background as a player.  Collegiately he’s an alum of CSUP and was a member of the ThunderWolves’ golf team from 1975-78 and helped lead the team to the 1978 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship where he was an all-RMAC selection, as well as two NCAA Division II Regional appearances (1976, 1978).  He currently competes in many PGA section events as well as other regional qualifiers.

Dillon will officially take over on September 9th as he will join the Griffon Men’s Golf Team in Kearney, Nebraska at the UNK Loper Invitational.

— MWSU Sports Information —