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 rosmith@missouriwestern.edu.
MWSU Director of Athletics (left), Female Student-Athlete of the Year Erica Rottinghaus, Male Student-Athlete of the Year Scott Groner and David Bradley of the St. Joseph News-Press at the 16th Annual St. Joseph News-Press Student-Athlete Honors Banquet.
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.
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.
MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University head women’s basketball coach Michael Smith has announced the additions of five student-athletes to the 2015-16 Bearcat roster. Arbrieal Benson (Omaha, Neb.), Tyra Moore (Springfield, Mo.), Mallory McAdrews (St. Joseph, Mo.), Jasmin Howe (Millicent, Australia) and Carlie Wilhelmi (Center Point, Iowa) will all enroll at Northwest Missouri State for the 2015-16 academic year.
“I thought we were able to identify quality individuals who will be able to fill some specific needs for us moving forward,” said Smith. “The addition of these student-athletes combined with our returners fits in well with what we want the future of our program to be.”
Benson, a 5-9 guard, was a standout performer for Omaha Benson High School. She was named second team all-metro and earned honorable mention all-state accolades. She averaged 10.0 points per game.
Moore was a first team all-conference and first team all-district performer for Parkview High School. The 5-7 guard averaged 21.0 points per game.
Benton High School product McAndrews earned first team all-city, all-conference, all-district and all-state honors. The 5-7 guard averaged 13.0 points per game.
Howe joins the Bearcats after spending the previous two seasons at Marshalltown Community College. The 5-8 guard was a first team all-region performer and averaged 17.0 points per game.
Fort Scott Community College’s Carlie Wilhelmi will be a junior for the Bearcats this fall. The 6-2 post earned honorable mention all-conference honors, averaging 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Earlier this season, coach Smith announced the additions of Macy Williams (Tabor, Iowa), Maria Dentlinger (Arcadia, Iowa), Ashley Nelson (LaVista, Neb.) and Elexis Martinez (Omaha, Neb.).
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.
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.
The Northwest Missouri State softball team picked up a pair of victories in the regular season finale against Washburn Sunday afternoon in Maryville.
The Bearcats used a pair of solo home runs and held off a late Ichabod rally to take game one, 3-2.
Northwest plated five runs in the second inning of game two and never looked back, taking the nightcap, 7-4.
The Bearcats improve their record to 24-22 overall and 16-10 in the conference, while Washburn dropped to 27-22 this season and 14-12 in the MIAA.
The twin bill was the final home game for Bearcat seniors Stephanie Mark, Paige Blythe, Abbie Vitosh and Lindsey Holt.
In game one, Sarah Baldwin earned her tenth victory this season after giving up just four hits in 6.2 innings pitched while striking out four Ichabod batters.
Senior Paige Blythe picked up the save after inducing a harmless ground ball to Chantel Adams at third for the final out.
Adams crushed her ninth home run of the season in her first at-bat, while Stephanie Mark had a solo home run of her own to lead off the fourth inning. Cassidy Lee singled and scored a run, and Rebecca Maher drove in her 33rd run this year with a single.
In game two, Kendle Schieber went the distance for the Bearcats, striking out eight after giving up five hits and just one walk. At the plate the junior finished 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
Jessica Rawie collected two RBI on a pair of base hits, Abigail Gilson crushed a double down the left field line in her first at bat, driving in one run and ultimately coming around to score, and Chantel Adams scored a pair of runs after reaching base on a double and a walk.
Northwest Missouri State will travel to Overland Park, Kan. on Thursday, April 30 for the MIAA Tournament. The team will play two games on Thursday with the first round beginning at 6 p.m.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 14 Mizzou baseball dropped its series finale at No. 8 Vanderbilt on Sunday at Hawkins Field. Vanderbilt scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally past the Tigers, who stranded eight men on base and squandered a great outing from junior right Peter Fairbanks (St. Louis, Mo.), who scattered five hits over 6.1 innings with just two runs. He struck out four and walked just two.
Mizzou’s 3-4-5 hitters – Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.), Josh Lester (Columbus, Ga.) and Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga. – each tallied two hits with Lester clubbing his fourth homer of the season in the sixth inning. Mizzou left 27 runners on base in the three-game series. It is the first time Mizzou has been swept in SEC play this season.
Fairbanks was sensational through the first four innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, facing the minimum through four innings. Mizzou threatened to score in the fourth, putting runners on the corners with no outs but couldn’t get a run across. The Tigers then had two men on in the fifth and couldn’t capitalize. The Tigers stranded six runners through five innings.
Zander Wiel then got to Fairbanks in the fifth, launching a solo shot to left center on the first pitch Fairbanks threw in the frame, staking the Commodores to a 1-0 lead. He pitched out of the fifth, allowing just two hits through five, unfortunately one left the yard.
But as quick as Vanderbilt jumped on top, the Tigers tied the game. Just like Wiel did, Lester jumped on the first pitch that Buehler threw in the sixth for a solo homer over the bleachers in right field. It was his fourth homer of the season and it tied the game at 1-1. Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) then singled in the next at-bat, but the Tigers couldn’t get anything else going.
Mizzou took the lead on a two-out, RBI single by Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) who knocked in Jack Klages (St. Louis, Mo.) on a hard-hit ball back up the middle. Klages led off the frame with a single before advancing to third as he reached base in three plate appearances Sunday.
Vanderbilt then tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame after Faribanks put runners on second and third with just one out. Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) did a great job of pitching Mizzou out of that jam, getting the final two outs of the seventh inning, including a strikeout looking of Vandy catcher Karl Ellison to strand the go-ahead run at third base.
Mizzou then got into trouble in the eighth inning as a hit and an error on a sacrifice attempt put runners on the corners with no outs. Then, with the bases loaded, Dansby Swanson roped a Breckin Williams (Oronogo, Mo.) pitch off the wall in left for a two-run, go-ahead double. Vandy added another run on a two-out single by Will Toffey and took a 5-2 lead into the ninth. Mizzou went 1-2-3 in the ninth inning as Vandy completed the sweep.
Mizzou will look to snap its four-game losing streak Tuesday at No. 15 Missouri State. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Hammons Field.
The Northwest Missouri State University men’s tennis team claimed the 2015 MIAA Tournament Championship on Sunday with a 5-0 victory over Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo.
The win moves Northwest to 18-6 overall while UNK falls to 20-4.
Northwest, who won the outright MIAA regular season title, claimed its sixth-straight tournament title and remains the only MIAA team to win the postseason tournament.
Under head coach Mark Rosewell, the Northwest men have claimed 12 regular season titles and six tournament titles.
The Bearcats claimed all three doubles points in dramatic fashion. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 teams were down a break but made a comeback to win in tiebreakers.
Singles competition
1. #34 Boissinot,Romain (NW) vs. Wakim,Georges (UNK) unfinished
2. #43 Tete,Mauro (NW) vs. Richards,Joey (UNK) unfinished
3. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) vs. El Zanaty,Mohab (UNK) unfinished
4. Azzaoui,Hicham (NW) vs. Garces,Lucas (UNK) unfinished
5. Altmann,Josef (NW) def. Nicholson,Jack (UNK) 6-2, 6-0
6. Glowick,Fin (NW) def. Nguyen,Justin (UNK) 6-0, 6-1
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.
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western women’s basketball coach Rob Edmisson has announced another camp this summer for high school girls.
