MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University head women’s basketball coach Buck Scheel has announced the Bearcats’ 2017-18 schedule and roster. This year’s slate includes 11 home games including a pair of non-conference games played in Maryville, Mo.

“This season’s non-conference schedule is giving us the opportunity to play some Division II programs we haven’t seen for several years with Maryville, Quincy and McKendree,” said Scheel. “I think this will help bring a new level of excitement going into games against new opponents. Those games along with opening the season with Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State will be great tests as we prepare for the MIAA schedule at the end of November. I’m excited to see how our team competes with having several new additions to our roster to go along with our group of returners.”

Northwest begins the season at the SBU Classic against Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State on Nov. 10 and 11. The home slate begins on Nov. 15 against Peru State at 7 p.m. and continues on the 20th against Maryville University at 6 p.m.

The Bearcats will face Rockhurst and St. Mary at the Missouri Western Holiday Inn Express/Candlewood Suites Classic in St. Joseph, Mo., on Nov. 24 and 25.

The MIAA home schedule includes games against Northeastern State (Nov. 30), Central Oklahoma (Dec. 2), Central Missouri (Jan. 11), Southwest Baptist (Jan. 13), Missouri Western (Jan. 27), Lincoln (Feb. 1), Lindenwood (Feb. 3), Pittsburg State (Feb. 15) and Missouri Southern (Feb. 17).

Scheel has also announced two transfer additions from New Mexico Highlands University in forwards Mele Tupouta and Kaylani Maiava. Tupouta, a 5-11 forward, is from Patterson, Calif., and will be a senior for Northwest. Maiava is a 6-0 forward from Garden Grove, Calif., and will be a junior for the upcoming year.

“Both Kaylani and Mele will be great additions to our group of returners and the six freshman we have coming in,” Scheel said. “They will help bring athleticism, depth and college experience to our program during their time here at Northwest. They are both highly motivated individuals and we look forward to getting them here on campus in the fall.”

Click here for 2017-2018 roster.

— Northwest Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University’s Department of Athletics has announced the Bearcats will play their Saturday, Sept. 30, football game against the University of Central Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

“The Fall Classic is a tradition that brings exciting football to a venue that has long reminded football fans of a college gameday atmosphere,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. “We want to thank the Royals for their cooperation and coordination to ensure a fun, safe and efficient atmosphere for the players, coaches and fans for both schools. We are looking forward to another great Fall Classic match-up between Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri.”

The Bearcats defeated Central Missouri, 42-17, last season during the 2016 Fall Classic at Arrowhead. Game time has been set for 4 p.m. to coordinate with the Kansas City Royals home game scheduled for that afternoon. Northwest will be the visiting team in this year’s matchup.

Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs, played host to 12 annual meetings between the Bearcats and the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Northwest is 10-3 all time at Arrowhead. In the 13 contests at Arrowhead, the Bearcats have averaged over 30 points per game and have seven crowds of over 20,000.

“When we talk about the student-athlete experience, it doesn’t get better than playing in Arrowhead Stadium,” Wright said. “The day is special to our players, but just as important is sharing the experience with many of the other students from Northwest. Our band, steppers and cheer all share in the day. It’s fun to watch them come out for the first time. You can see the excitement on their faces. The Chiefs do an amazing job of making the event first class in every way and I appreciate their hard work and attention to detail. Between the efforts from the Chiefs, and each of our universities, it is much more than a game, it has become a showcase for Division II football.”

Northwest’s five-game home slate begins Thursday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. against Emporia State University. The complete 2017 schedule, including kickoff times for all games, can be found HERE.

Tickets for the 14th edition of the Fall Classic will go on sale to the public at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 19. Tickets can be ordered by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Arrowhead Stadium Ticket Office located between the Founder’s Plaza and the Hy-Vee Gate.

Jackson County residents will have the opportunity to purchase Fall Classic tickets starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 17. Jackson County pre-sale tickets must be purchased in person at the Arrowhead Stadium Ticket Office and purchasers must have one form of identification that includes a photo and a 2016 Jackson County, Missouri, personal property tax receipt. The Chiefs will contact Season Ticket Members, suiteholders and partners with special information on Fall Classic tickets.

Lower Level tickets are $25 while tickets on the Scout Investments Club Level are $40. Student tickets are available for $10 through a special link distributed by each university, or in person at the schools’ ticket offices or the Arrowhead Stadium Ticket Office. Suites are available by calling (888) 99-CHIEFS (24433). Parking will be $15 while RV and bus parking is $25.

— Northwest Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University’s Kyle Zimmerman has been named the MIAA’s Ken B. Jones Award winner for 2016-17. The award is given to the conference’s top male and female student athletes, with criteria including athletic, academic and community service accomplishments. The award 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 with the inaugural Class of 2010.

Zimmerman was the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and earned second team All-American honors from several publications. He led the Bearcats to a perfect 15-0 record and their second straight NCAA Division II National Championship. He was named the Division II Academic All-American of the Year and is an MIAA Scholar Athlete. He was named the Kansas City Sports Commission Sportsman of the Year and finished second in the Harlon Hill voting. An active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), he helped lead devotionals at Northwest for the past five seasons.

This marks the sixth time a Northwest football player has won the Ken B. Jones Award. Zimmerman joins Tucker Woolsey (2001-02), Josh Lamberson (2005-06), Myles Burnsides (2009-10), Jake Soy (2010-11) and Trevor Adams (2013-14).

The ceremony also included the introduction of the MIAA Hall of Fame Class. Former Northwest defensive lineman Aaron Becker and long time Bearcat men’s basketball coach Steve Tappmeyer were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

— Northwest Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State University track and field ‘s Ryan Cox and Shelley Laures each earned All-America honors on Saturday at the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championships.

– Cox capped his Bearcat career with a third place finish in the men’s 1,500, running 3:50.57.

– Laures earned a seventh place finish in the javelin, breaking a school record with a throw of 151-9 on her second attempt.

– Teammate Nicole Hopkins threw 131-8 to finish 18th in the women’s javelin.

– Cox again slowly moved up the field, running the first 300 in 48.45 to put him in eighth place. After getting into fourth place over the next two laps, Cox moved up one spot on the final lap, which he ran in 55.83.

– Laures threw 121-11 on her first attempt before marking 151-9 on the second attempt. On her first throw of the finals, she had a distance of 146-1.

– The meet was held at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

— Northwest Athletics —

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Northwest Missouri State University senior pitcher Anthony Caenepeel has been named to the 2017 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region second team. Last week, the right hander was also named to the 2017 National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association All-Central Region second team and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Central Region second team.

The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America Committee.

Caenepeel, the 2017 MIAA Pitcher of the Year, went 8-5 this season, setting Northwest single-season records with 114 strikeouts and 106.2 innings pitched. He allowed just 25 walks and held opponents to a .226 batting average. He was twice named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week and earned All-MIAA First Team honors. He set the Northwest career record with 267 strikeouts and 278 innings pitched.

— Northwest Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University has nominated football’s Kyle Zimmerman and softball’s Torri Blythe for the 2017 Ken B. Jones Award. Zimmerman graduated in December with a 3.95 GPA in Business Management. Blythe has a 3.63 GPA in Applied Health/Sport Sciences.

The award, which is in its 22nd 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 24 league-wide nominees will be paired down to three male and three female finalists on Friday, May 26. Those six individuals will be invited to Kansas City for the MIAA Awards Ceremony which will be held on Monday, June 5, 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: 2016-17 athletic accomplishments; career academic accomplishments; 2016-17 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 February 1, and must have completed at least their junior season of eligibility in the 2016-17 academic year.

— Northwest Athletics —

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University head men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum has announced that Blue Spring High School guard Tyree King will join the Bearcats’ 2017-18 roster.

“We are excited that Tyree will be joining our program,” said McCollum. “He was a three-sport athlete in high school and is a proven winner. Tyree is athletic, he shoots the ball very well, is extremely unselfish and has great feet defensively. He is a high character kid who comes from a great family.”

King, a 6-1 combo guard, averaged 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists for head coach Adam Jones. The three-time all-district performer also shot 39.0 percent from beyond the arc. He was an All-Suburban Big Seven performer during his junior and senior years. King started the past three seasons for Wildcats and earned four varsity letters. On the football field, he was an all-district performer and helped lead Blue Springs to a MHSAA Class 6 state title game appearance. King also earned three all-state honors in track and field.

— Northwest Athletics —

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University senior pitcher Anthony Caenepeel has been named to the 2017 National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association (NCBWA) All-Central Region second team. Caenepeel was the 2017 MIAA Pitcher of the Year.

Caenepeel went 8-5 this season, setting Northwest single-season records with 114 strikeouts and 106.2 innings pitched. He allowed just 25 walks and held opponents to a .226 batting average. He was twice named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week and earned All-MIAA First Team honors. He set the Northwest career record with 267 strikeouts and 278 innings pitched.

— Northwest Athletics —

INDANAPOLIS, Ind. – Five members of the Northwest Missouri State University track and field teams have qualified for the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championships. The championship meet will begin on Thursday, May 25, at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The Bearcats will be represented by Jordan Hammond in the 400 hurdles, Ryan Cox in the 1,500 and Audrey Wichmann in the high jump. Shelley Laures and Nicole Hopkins will each compete in the women’s javelin competition.

Hammond finished the season with a time of 59.76, ranking 10th nationally in the hurdles. Hopkins’s throw of 148-9 was the 10th best throw in the nation this year while Laures’ mark of 145-1 ranked 18th. In the men’s 1,500, Cox ran 3:46.51 last week in Illinois to rank 14th. His MIAA-winning time of 3:44.94 would have been the fourth-fastest time in the nation but was not eligible due to the race being hand timed. Wichmann was tied for the 19th best mark in the high jump at 5-7.75.

Live statistics as well as a live video stream for portions of the meet will be made available on NCAA.com.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team picked up a 6-4 victory over Southwest Baptist on Friday in the second round of the MIAA Tournament at Missouri Southern State University.

– Northwest improves to 32-19 overall while Southwest Baptist ends its season with a 30-21 record.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored five runs in the third and one in the fifth. Southwest Baptist scored twice in the first, once in the third and once in the eighth.

– Northwest had six runs on 10 hits. SBU had four runs on 11 hits. Neither team had an error.

– Alixon Herrera was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

– Garrett Fort went 2-for-5 with a run scored.

– Ozzie Adams was 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk.

– Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-2 with an RBI double. He also walked twice.

– Kevin Handzlik went 1-for-2 with an RBI, a run scored, a walk and a sacrifice bunt.

– James Holler scored a run and drove in a run, going 1-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt.

– Kolby Greenslade was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

– Landon Figg went 1-for-4.

– Joseph Hietpas went 5.2 innings for the win, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked four.

– Jacob Wagner got the last out of the sixth inning after entering the game with two outs and the bases loaded. He got a groundout to second against the only batter he faced.

– Eddy Kraber worked 2.0 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits.

– Nikko Pablo picked up his 11th save of the year, working a flawless ninth inning to close out the victory.

Key Northwest Innings
– Northwest plated five runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Handzlik started the frame with a leadoff single and went to second on a Rycraft sacrifice bunt. Fort hit a single to right to put runners on the corners. Adams followed it up by taking the first pitch he saw into right for an RBI single. A flyout in the next at bat allowed Fort to tag up and move to third. Holler, Herrera and Greenslade all singled in successive order, each driving in a run. Hrdlicka drew a four-pitch walk, prompting an SBU pitching change. After the break, Handzlik drew a four-pitch walk to force in Herrera from third to make it 5-4 Northwest.

– With one down in the fifth, Herrera hit a single to right to reach base but was forced out on a Greenslade fielder’s choice. With two down, Hrdlicka doubled down the right field line into the corner, allowing Greenslade to come all the way around from first to make it a 6-3 advantage.

Up Next
– Northwest will face Missouri Western on Saturday at 9 a.m.

— Northwest Athletics —