Fourteen Missouri Western football players have been named to the 2014 All-MIAA team.

Earning first team distinction for Missouri Western were running back Raphael Spencer, offensive lineman Travis Anderson, defensive back Michael Jordan and punter Scott Groner. Both Jordan and Groner repeat as first team selections. Spencer made the second team last year and it’s the first All-MIAA selection for Anderson.

Kicker John Schmiemeier, defensive lineman Arbanas Elliot and linebacker Stephen Juergens were named to the second team. It’s the first All-MIAA selection for Schmiemeier. Juergens was an honorable mention pick a season ago with Elliot being named to the third team last season.

Defensive back Meshack Kennedy was named to the third team. It was his first All-MIAA honor. Tight end Alek Ferbet, offensive linemen Leonard Wester and Christian Orduno, linebackers Yomi Alli and Cody Lindsay along with defensive back Marc Harrison were all named honorable mention.

Raphael Spencer: Spencer received first team honors after rushing for 1,126 yards on 243 carries. The junior was second in the MIAA in rushing. He also moved into third on the all-time rushing list at MWSU after his 145-yard rushing performance at Missouri Southern. The junior rushed for seven touchdowns and averaged 4.6 yards per carry and just over 102 yards per game.

Travis Anderson: The redshirt sophomore started all 11 games for the Griffons at left guard. He helped Spencer to another 1,000-yard season and also was a key part of an offensive line that allowed just 1.6 sacks per contest.

Michael Jordan: The junior’s 16 passes defended were tops in the MIAA. He also tied for the MIAA lead with four interceptions this season. He took one of those interceptions back 39 yards for a touchdown at Washburn. It’s the second straight first team nod for Jordan. He was the MIAA Freshman of the year and an honorable mention pick in 2011.

Scott Groner: The Australian native joins Jordan on the first team for the second year in a row. Groner led the MIAA with a 42.2 yard per punt average. He boomed 15 kicks over 50 yards, including a long of 70 yards in the season opener against Central Missouri. The senior also forced 15 fair catches and induced just four touchbacks on 60 punts.

John Schmiemeier: The senior was named second team despite leading the MIAA in field goal percentage (72%) and tying for the league lead in made field goals (18). Schmiemeier was also perfect on point after attempts and was named MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week twice.

Arbanas Elliot: The junior started all 11 games on the defensive line, playing primarily at the nose guard position. He racked up 28 total tackles including three for loss and 2.5 sacks. Elliot also recorded one interception that set up the Griffons winning touchdown against Central Missouri.

Stephen Juergens: After leading the Griffons in tackles for the third straight year and earning MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week once, Juergens landed a second team nod. The senior tallied 108 total tackles, including 59 solo stops. He also led the team with 12 tackles for loss and added 3.5 sacks and an interception.  Juergens was also a key part of a Griffon defense that finished third in the MIAA in total defense and allowed the second fewest points in school history (179).

Meshack Kennedy: In his first year as a full-time starter, the senior finished second on the team with 81 total tackles. Kennedy also had 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, an interception, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.

Alek Ferbet: The junior tight end had big shoes to fill, replacing the NFL-bound Reggie Jordan. Ferbet didn’t disappoint, hauling in 15 catches for 196 yards, including a long reception of 63 yards against Nebraska-Kearney.

Leonard Wester: The junior started all 11 games for the Griffons at left tackle and helped pave the way for Spencer’s All-MIAA campaign. Wester and the rest of the offensive line also allowed the fifth fewest sacks in the MIAA.

Christian Orduno: The senior started all 22 games he played in at right tackle for the Griffons. He was part of a unit that has helped Raphael Spencer post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and move into third on the all-time rushing list at MWSU. Orduno and the rest of the offensive line also allowed the fifth fewest sacks in the MIAA.

Yomi Alli: A key part of a promising junior class, Alli finished third on the team in tackles with 71 total. His 11.5 tackles for loss were second most on the team and he added two sacks and four quarterback hurries. Last year, Alli was a second team selection.

Cody Lindsay: A stellar freshman campaign from Cody Lindsay saw the Ozark, Missouri native finish second in the MIAA with seven sacks. He appeared in all 11 games with five starts on a defense that came just shy of setting new program marks for fewest points allowed. Lindsay finished with 37 total tackles, 10 for loss.

Marc Harrison: The senior finished his final season with the Griffons tied for the MIAA lead with four interceptions. His 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against Northeastern State tied a school record and earned him MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week honors. Harrison had 53 total tackles, broke up one pass and defended five more. He also forced two fumbles and recovered another.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western softball coach Jen Bagley Trotter has announced the signing of two student athletes for the 2016 team. Taylor Hamilton and Shelby Uhl have each signed national letters of intent to play softball for the Griffons.

Hamilton is a catcher from Cameron, Missouri. She is a four-year letter winner in softball and basketball, being named first team All-MEC, All-District and All-Region all four years in softball. Hamilton hit .548 in her four years for the Dragons and hit a, state record, 41 home runs.

“We are fired up to add Taylor Hamilton to our roster,” Trotter said. “She had an outstanding high school career.  She is the current career home run record keeper for the state of Missouri.  We will look for her to push our records here at Western.”

She is the daughter of Rick and Linda Hamilton and plans on majoring in sports management at MWSU.

Uhl played at Southeast Polk High School in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. The outfielder batted .321 and posted a 100 percent stolen base percentage. She lettered four years in softball and was named All-Conference and All-Eastern Division. She was also named second team All-State and a team captain. Uhl also was an All-State selection in track, lettering four years and was a captain on her school’s state championship basketball team.

“Coming off of an Iowa State Championship team, Shelby knows how to win,” Trotter said. “Her speed is different and we are excited to watch her utilize it in our outfield and base paths.”

She is the daughter of Jesse and Connie Uhl and plans on majoring in elementary education. Uhl is also a member of the National Honor Society, Honor Roll and National Council on Youth Leadership.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western senior linebacker Stephen Juergens has been named the MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week. It’s the first time Juergens has received the honor.

The Kearney, Missouri native came up big for the Griffon defense in his final game. Juergens tallied 13 total tackles, three for loss and a sack. His third tackle for loss stopped Missouri Southern on a fourth down play that sealed the 22-21 victory for Missouri Western.

For the third straight season, Juergens led Missouri Western in tackles with 108 total stops. His 59 solo tackles were best on the team by 15 and his 12 tackles for loss were the most of any Griffon defender. He also had 3.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries a fumble recovery and an interception.

Juergens joins fellow Missouri Western linebacker Kirk Resseguie and safety Marc Harrison as the three Griffons to receive the award this year. Kicker John Schmiemeier was also named the MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week twice this year.

Western finished the 2014 season 7-4.

— MWSU Sports Information —