AURORA, Col. – The Missouri Western Women’s Golf team shook off a rough first round on Wednesday to improve by 18 strokes during the second round, Thursday, at the NCAA Division II National Championships

The Griffons shot a 309 Thursday after turning in a 327 on Wednesday. The rough start still left the Griffons in 12th place after two rounds, but the team’s Thursday score was better than 11th place West Texas A&M and the same as Augustana which is currently tied for eighth. Missouri Western will enter round three on Friday, 16 strokes out of 11th and 30 strokes behind Northeastern State.

Shi Qing Ong was again the top finisher for the Griffons, shooting an even 72 Thursday to leave her tied for 22nd, individually. Madison Romjue and Tiffanie Yabut were both 5-over on Thursday and Celine Lim and Callie Wilson fired 83s.

Rollins College took over sole possession of first place, shaving two strokes off their round one 290 with a 288 on day two. Hally Leadbetter from Rollins is the individual leader after two rounds, with a 3-under 141 total.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western’s David Glaude and Landon Mason have added to their 2016 honors as both were named to All-Region teams this week.

Glaude was a first team third baseman on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association team and second team on the Division 2 Conference Commissioners’ Associaion team. Mason was named second team shortstop on both teams. Both Griffons were named first team All-MIAA earlier this month.

Mason, a junior from Blue Springs, Missouri, leads the team with a .408 batting average while Glaude isn’t far behind. The junior from Quebec City, Canada is batting .403 and leads Missouri Western in hits, doubles, and RBIs. As a first team NCBWA selection, Glaude is now eligible for the NCBWA All-American team.

— MWSU Athletics —

AURORA, Col. – Common Ground Golf Course proved challenging for the Missouri Western Women’s Golf team on day one of the NCAA Division II National Championships.

The Griffons shot a 327 in the first round, leaving the team in 12th place, 18 strokes behind 11th place West Texas A&M. Individually, Shi Qing Ong’s five over, 78 was the lowest score on the team. The All-Region freshman is tied for 49th after the first day. Celine Lim turned in an 80 with Madison Romjue one shot behind at 88. Tiffanie Yabut shot an 88 on day one with Callie Wilson firing a 92.

Missouri Western begins round two on Thursday at 9:50 central time when Wilson tees off. Ong will be the last to begin for Missouri Western at 10:30. Nova Southeastern and Rollins College sit tied for first after 18 holes, each firing a 290. Nova Southeastern’s Mailen Domecq Chantry is the individual leader with a three-under 69.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Add another honor to Missouri Western freshman women’s golfer Shi Qing Ong’s growing list.

Already MIAA Freshman of the Year and first team All-MIAA, Ong has also been named to the WGCA All-Central Region team. The remarkable first season continues for Ong as she and her team are competing at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Aurora, Colorado this week. Ong had a remarkable, eight top 10 finishes, in 11 events this year. The season was highlighted by her individual championship at the Holiday Inn Express Classic played at the St. Joseph Country Club in March.

Ong was one of six MIAA golfers named to the All-Region team.

2015-16 WGCA All-Central Region Team
Anna Frandsen, Freshman, Arkansas Tech
Rachel Gray, Senior, Concordia St. Paul
Emily Israelson, Sophomore, Augustana University
Sierra Langlie, Sophomore, Augustana University
Charter Lawson, Senior, Northeastern State University
Daniela Martinez, University of Central Oklahoma
Shi Qing Ong, Missouri Western State University
Baylee Price, Junior, Northeastern State University
Kayla Schroeder, Senior, Northeastern State University
Marla Souvannasing, Sophomore, University of Central Oklahoma
Marisa Toivonen, Junior, Augustana University
Kali Trautman, Sophomore, Augustana University

— MWSU Athletics —

DENVER, Colo. – For the first time in program history, the Missouri Western Women’s Golf team will compete for a national championship.

The team is competing in the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in Denver, Colorado this week. It’s the program’s first ever appearance in the national championship field. It’s been a record breaking season for the program, filled with firsts. A win over Arkansas Tech in a team playoff at the program’s first NCAA regional appearance two weeks ago got the team to Denver with a third place finish at the Central Regional in Axtell, Nebraska.

WHEN/WHERE (all times Central)

Common Ground Golf Course – Aurora, Colorado
Practice Round: Tuesday, May 17 – 9:30 a.m.
First Round: Wednesday, May 18 – 9:30 a.m.
Second Round: Thursday, May 19 – 9:30 a.m.
Third Round: Friday, May 20 – 9:30 a.m.
Final Round: Saturday, May 21 – 9:30 a.m.

HOW THEY GOT HERE
The season has seen records fall and the regional was no different. After a program record 297 on day one at Awarii Dunes, the team was tied for first. All the Griffons did the next day was set a new program-low with a 295. Missouri Western had its worst day on the final round with a 307, but had left itself in a good position the first two days, ending the final round tied for third with Arkansas Tech.

The team playoff was set up by a 10-foot putt by Sophomore Tiffanie Yabut on 18. The two teams remained tied after the first two holes of the playoff before Missouri Western was able to best the Golden Suns on the third hole of the playoff. Yabut ended the regional tied for sixth with a 221. It was the best finish all season for the sophomore.

Three Griffons were named All-MIAA with Shi Qing Ong named Freshman of the Year and first team all-MIAA. Sophomore Celine Lim and junior Madison Romjue were named honorable mention All-MIAA. The team finished in the top 10 of all 11 events it has played this season with a high finish of second at the Lindenwood Fall Invitational. The two record breaking rounds at the Central Regional were the third and fourth times this season the Griffons set a program record for low rounds.

FOLLOW ALONG
The NCAA will provide live scoring at golfstat.com. Be sure to also check gogriffons.com and social media for updates throughout the week.

THE FIELD
Central Super Regional Teams:
1. Augustana (South Dakota)
2. Northeastern State
3. Missouri Western State

Central Super Regional Individuals:
1. Daniela Martinez, Central Oklahoma
2. Caroline Fredensborg, Arkansas Tech
3. Rachel Gray, Concordia-St. Paul

East Super Regional Teams:
1. Indianapolis
2. Grand Valley State
3. Findlay

East Super Regional Individuals:
1. Ali Green, Ashland
2. Kasey Frazier, Wheeling Jesuit
3. Anastasia Carter, Southern Indiana

South Super Regional Teams:
1. Nova Southeastern
2. Rollins
3. Saint Leo

South Super Regional Individuals:
1. Felicia Leftinger, Florida Tech
2. Paloma Vaccaro, West Florida
3. Elaine Wood, Montevallo

West Super Regional Teams:
1. Tarleton State
2. Dallas Baptist
3. West Texas A&M

West Super Regional Individuals:
1. Erica Wang, California Baptist
2. Audrey Meisch, Oklahoma Christian
3. Sterling Hawkins, Academy of Art

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA has announced 22 nominees for the 2015-16 Ken B. Jones Awards, which include two Missouri Western student-athletes.

Leonard Wester from the Griffon Football team and Jessie Thorup from the Griffon Volleyball team were the two Missouri Western nominees. Finalists for the awards will be revealed Friday, May 20.

The award, which is in its 23rd year, is named in honor of the man who served as the MIAA’s first full-time commissioner for 16 years. Jones retired in 1997 and passed away in May 2004. He was inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame in the inaugural Class of 2010.

The 22 nominees will be paired down to three male and three female finalists that will be invited to Kansas City for the MIAA Awards Ceremony which will be held June 1 at the Kansas City Public Library-Plaza Branch. At the event one male and one female will be announced as the winners of the Ken B. Jones Award.

A 15-member panel of athletics directors, senior woman administrators, faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors – including a representative from each member institution – select the finalists.

Each nominee is judged in four areas: 2015-16 athletic accomplishments; career academic accomplishments; 2015-16 campus/community service; and career athletic and service achievements.

To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average as of Feb. 1, and must have completed at least their junior season of eligibility in the 2015-16 academic year.

Male Nominees
Travis Mays, Central Missouri (Golf)
Brent Wilson, Emporia State (Football)
Jon Inman, Fort Hays State (Wrestling)
Jesse Rall, Missouri Southern (Baseball)
Leonard Wester, Missouri Western (Football)
Eric Crawford, Northeastern State (Soccer)
Conner Crooker, Northwest Missouri (Basketball)
Josiah Gustafson, Pittsburg State (Men’s Basketball)
Christian Binger, Southwest Baptist (Baseball)
Kyle Carnahan, Washburn (Baseball)

Female Nominees
Heavin Warner, Central Missouri (Track and Field)
Katy Davis, Central Oklahoma (Volleyball)
Kathryn Flott, Emporia State (Basketball)
Beth Bohuslavsky, Fort Hays State (Basketball)
Yanique Ellington, Lincoln (Track and Field)
Jessie Thorup, Missouri Western (Volleyball)
Laramey Becker, Nebraska-Kearney (Basketball)
Baylee Price, Northeastern State (Golf)
Chloe Wichmann, Northwest Missouri (Track and Field)
Kylie Gafford, Pittsburg State (Basketball)
Natalie O’Keefe, Southwest Baptist (Track and Field)
Marina Quimby, Washburn (Softball)

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western Baseball team has qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third time in school history as the Griffons received an at-large bid and will be the No. 5 seed in the Central Region Tournament.

Missouri Western is 38-18 after finishing second in the MIAA Tournament and they’ll open Central Regional play on Thursday as the five seed, taking on fourth seeded Arkansas-Monticello (35-14). The game will be played at 1:30 p.m. and the regional tournament will be played at top seeded St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The 38 wins for Missouri Western this season are the second most for head coach Buzz Verduzco in his 17 years and the third most all-time for the program.

Arkansas-Monticello is one win from a program record and won its first ever GAC Tournament Championship this year.

Missouri Western will be one of three MIAA teams in the regional along with second seeded Central Missouri and sixth seeded Emporia State. The Griffons also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and 2013.

NCAA Central Region
1. St. Cloud St. (35-8)
2. Central Missouri (38-13)
3. Minnesota Duluth (39-14)
4. Arkansas-Monticello (35-14)
5. Missouri Western (38-18)
6. Emporia State (37-17)
7. Southwestern Oklahoma (29-14)
8. Minnesota State (33-16)

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team advanced to the championship game of the MIAA Tournament, where the team had an incredible rally attempt stopped short in the bottom of the ninth.

After eliminating Emporia State with a mostly dominant 7-3 victory early Sunday afternoon, the Griffons battled back time and time again in a 16-14 loss to top seeded Central Missouri . Down 16-10 going to the bottom of the ninth, Missouri Western scored four and had the tying run at the plate in Jeremy Alvarado who fouled out to the first baseman to end the game and give UCM the regular season and postseason MIAA titles.

Missouri Western out-hit the Mules 22-18 but left 11 runners stranded in the game. Conner Schwienebart was the only Griffon pitcher to last more than 1.1 innings, going the final 6.2 to help stop the bleeding some. After earning the save in the Griffons first win of the day, Schwienebart was the fifth pitcher to enter the UCM game for the Griffons. He gave up 10 hits, three hits and struck out six.

The fourth seeded Griffons won three games on the weekend and will learn their poststeason fate Sunday night at 9 p.m. during the NCAA Division II Baseball selection show. Missouri Western was ranked sixth in the latest Central Region poll with the top eight teams advancing to the regional.

— MWSU Athletics —

St. Charles, Mo. – Fourth seeded Missouri Western forced a second game with second seeded Emporia State winning 6-5 in the MIAA Baseball Tournament.

Emporia State struck first in the top of the third inning as Dalton Wheat doubled down the right field line to score Taylor Steen. Derek Francis followed that up with a single that scored Wheat later in the inning.

Missouri Western would answer in the bottom of the third as Nick Gawley hit a solo shot over the left field fence. The Griffons would then tie it up as Brandon Downs homered to nearly the same spot in the bottom of the sixth inning. They kept the scoring going as later in the inning Ozzie Rodriguez drove in a run with a single and Fisher brought one home on a fielder’s choice to make it a 4-2 lead.

They tacked on two more in the inning using a David Glaude single and a Kody Matthews fielders choice to drive in runs and make it a 6-2 lead heading into the seventh inning.

Emporia State would make it interesting in the top of the ninth as Dalton Wheat drove in a run with a single. Derek Francis was then hit a pitch to drive home a run and Koehler added another on a fielders choice.

For the Griffons Gawley finished two for four with a run scored and a run driven in. For Emporia State Wheat finished three for five with two runs scored and two runs driven in.

On the mound Preston Bailey pitched the final five innings striking out six to pick up the win while Conner Schwienbart recorded the final two outs to earn the save.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. with a berth in the MIAA Championship Game on the line from the Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.

— MIAA Press Release —

St. Charles, Mo. – Top seeded Central Missouri racked up 13 hits as they defeated fourth seeded Missouri Western 10-0 in seven inning on the second day of the MIAA Baseball Tournament.

Central Missouri got things going in the bottom of the first as Bennett Oliver hit an RBI single driving in Matt Elliott, then Collin Nevil doubled to drive in Oliver. UCM grabbed two more in the bottom of the third inning as Cole Distler singled to drive in Jake Alexander and Dylan Farrell.

The Mules would strike again in the bottom of the fourth as Matt Elliott started the scoring with a two run doubles. Farrell then doubled to drive in one and Alexander came up after him and singled in a run.

UCM got their ninth run when Cole Distler reached on a fielding error that allowed Nevil to score. Blake Wilfong walked to force home the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

For the Mules Matt Elliott was two for four with two runs scored and two runs driven in while Collin Nevile went three for four and Farrell was two for three with two runs scored. For the Griffons Andy Rieth, David Glaude, Kody Matthews and Ozzie Rodriguez all finished with hits.

On the mound Ethan Westphal went all seven innings allowing just four hits and striking out eight in the complete game victory.

Central Missouri will play in the 12:30 p.m. game tomorrow and Missouri Western will face Northwest Missouri at 4 p.m. tomorrow from Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.

— MIAA Press Release —