The Missouri Western men’s basketball team ranked in the top 25 in attendance among the nearly 300 NCAA Division II basketball playing schools. The Griffons drew an average of 1,655 fans to their 13 home games in the MWSU Fieldhouse during the 2012-13 season to rank 21st nationally.

This is the second straight year that the Griffons were in the top-25 as in 2011-12 the Griffons averaged 1,760 during their 14 home games.

The Griffons were among six MIAA teams in the top 30 nationally. As a conference the MIAA drew 254,543 fans to the 186 gams to lead all Division II conference in average attendance at 1,369 fans per game. The MIAA’s total attendance was better than 10 NCAA Division I conferences.

Rank  Division II             G/S    Attendance  Avg.
1.       Northern St.           17      54,383           3,199
2.       Dixie St.                12      34,818           2,902
3.       Midwestern St.       12      31,600           2,633
4.       Central Mo.            13      33,297           2,561
5.       Ky. Wesleyan         18      44,780          2,488
6.       Augustana (SD)      16      39,132          2,446
7.       Washburn              13      31,210          2,401
8.       Grand Canyon        16      38,330          2,396
9.       Elizabeth City St.   14      32,577          2,327
10.      Fort Hays St.         15      34,015         2,268
11.      Drury                     17      32,068        1,886
12.      Benedict                13      23,636        1,818
13.      Bellarmine              15      26,803        1,787
14.      West Ga.               14      24,665        1,762
15.      Mo. Southern St.    13      22,680        1,745
16.      SW Minn. State      12      20,498        1,708
17.      Tarleton St.            17      28,796        1,694
18.      St. Cloud St.          14      23,613        1,687
19.      Emporia St.            13      21,818        1,678
20.      UNC Pembroke       14      23,401        1,672
21.      Mo. Western St.     13      21,520        1,655
22.      S.C. Aiken              17      28,014        1,648
23.      Winston-Salem       13      21,255        1,635
24.      Indiana (PA)            18      28,565        1,587
25.      Tuskegee                 9      14,156        1,573
26.      Minn. St. Mankato   18      27,913        1,551
27.      Southern Ind.           15      22,800        1,520
28.      Fairmont St.            13      19,503        1,500
29.      Virginia Union          12      17,925        1,494
30.      Winona St.              15      22,182        1,479

— MWSU Sports Information —

USA College Football has released its 25th annual Preseason All-America Teams with five Missouri Western players earning recognition: Senior quarterback Travis Partridge and senior tight end Reggie Jordan were named to the first team while sophomore linebacker Yomi Alli was selected to the second team. Senior offensive lineman Jeremy Jacobsen and senior linebacker Wallace Carter were selected to the third team.

Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors, CFL and NFL agents and franchise scouts, broadcast, internet, national and regional print and magazine media, members of football writers’ associations along with the staff of USA College Football contributed to the selection process.

#12 Travis Partridge (QB, 6-4, 230, Sr., St. Joseph, Mo./Savannah HS)
The MIAA First Team All-MIAA quarterback, Partridge has also been tabbed a Preseason All-American by BSN. Partridge 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 for 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.

2012 Awards
– MIAA Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 10)
– First Team All-MIAA
– Don Hansen Football Honorable Mention All-American
– 2012 Don Hansen All-Super Region Three First Team
– Beyond Sports College Network Honorable Mention All-American
– Daktronics Super Region Four Second Team

#89 Reggie Jordan (TE, 6-3, 240, Sr., Hazelwood, Mo./Hazelwood Central HS)
Jordan was also selected to the Sporting News Preseason All-America Team. Last season Jordan started all 14 games catching 23 passes with 11 being for touchdowns. He also had one rushing touchdown on Oct. 13 against Missouri Southern, when scored from 86 yards on a fake punt. He had two touchdowns against Northeastern State on Oct. 6 and in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs against Henderson State on Nov. 24.

2012 Awards
– Honorable Mention All-MIAA
– Honorable Mention D2Football.com All-American

#5 Yomi Alli (LB, 6-0, 225, RSo., St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central HS)
Before being sidelined in game three last season due to injury Alli was off to an explosive season. In two games he had 13 tackles with one interception, a pass breakup and a blocked kick.

#74 Jeremy Jacobsen (OL, 6-3, 315, Sr., Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf HS)
Jacobsen will be the anchor of the offensive line this season. He played in all 13 games a season ago with three starts at offensive guard.

#33 Wallace Carter (LB, 6-0, 245, Sr., Centerville, Iowa/Centerville HS)
Will be a key component to the Griffon defense. Last season he played in 13 games while compiling 60 tackles (4.5 for loss). He forced one fumble and two pass breakups. He had his best game of his career on November 17 in the Griffons’ first-ever NCAA DII Playoff victory against Minnesota-Duluth where he recorded 13 tackles.

Missouri Western’s five preseason All-Americans along with the rest of the Griffons will report to camp this Wednesday, August 14 and hit the practice field for the first time on Thursday, August 15. The season opener is in Warrensburg, Mo. on Thursday, September 5 against Central Missouri at 7 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western State University Griffons were picked 10th in the MIAA preseason coaches poll which was released Tuesday (August 13) by the league office. The Griffons report for camp on Saturday, August 13 and will have their first practice on Aug. 19 at 9:00 am. The Griffons, who finished the 2012 season with a 16-16 record, will open the season on Sept. 6 participating in the Pittsburg State University Invitationa. The Griffons will take on Rockhurst University at 12:00 pm and Quincy University at 4:30 pm.

Missouri Western was picked 10th in the coaches poll with 116 points trailing 9th place Lindenwood by three points (42). Nebraska-Kearney tops the poll with 118 points and eight first place votes while Central Missouri received 108 points and one first place vote. Washburn is close behind in third with three first place votes and 107 points while Emporia State, Pittsburg State and Northwest come in 4th, 5th and 6th with 89, 71 and 68 points respectively. Fort Hays State received 65 points in 7th place while Central Oklahoma is in 8th with 52 point. Southwest Baptist and Missouri Southern round out the poll with 21 and 12 points respectively.

Missouri Western will have its home opener against Fort Hays State on Sept. 24 starting at 7 p.m. in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons return 8 players who started at least 10 matches last season and 11 players who played in 20 or sets. The Griffons return honorable mention All-MIAA selections Stephanie Hattey (S/OH, 5-9, Sr., Kearney, Mo.) and Jessie Thorup (RS, 5-11, So., Olathe, Kan.).

Stephanie Hattey had a solid 2012 for the Griffons. Hattey, who is normally a setter, was forced into playing outside hitter this season. Hattey had eight matches where she had double digit kills which included a career best 15 on November 9 at Pittsburg State. She also had double digit sets in 28 of her 32 matches which included a season high 39 on October 13 against Central Oklahoma. Hattey was also solid on defense tallying double digit digs in 22 matches with a season high 24 in the Griffons last game of the season on November 10. Hattey guided the Griffons to their most victories in a season since 2006 when they matched the 16 win mark. Hattey was second on the team with 243 kills with a 2.11 kill per set. She led the team with 656 set assists on the season, and was second with 369 digs.

As a freshman Jessie Thorup led the Griffons with 274 kills and 2.38 kill per set. She also hit .230 making just 109 errors on 718 attack attempts. Thorup had double digit kills in 12 matches which included a career best 14 on November 6 in a Griffons 3-1 victory over Quincy University. She had a career best hitting percentage on November 9 at Pittsburg State, hitting .440 with 12 kills and just one error. On October 13 against Central Oklahoma she had seven of her 53 blocks on the season.

The Griffons finished the season 16-16 overall, which is their best record since 2006 when they were 16-15. The 16 victories was the most under head coach Cory Frederick as he had 11, 12, 14 and 16 wins the past four seasons. Frederick resigned as the MWSU volleyball coach this spring and former assistant Marian Carbin will begin her first year as the Griffon head coach. Carbin assisted with the program the past four seasons.

2013 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1.  Nebraska-Kearney (8)  118
2.  Central Missouri (1)     108
3.  Washburn (3)              107
4.  Emporia State              89
5.  Pittsburg State             71
6.  Northwest Missouri       68
7.  Fort Hays State           65
8.  Central Oklahoma        52
9.  Lindenwood                 42
10. Missouri Western       39
11. Southwest Baptist       21
12. MIssouri Southern       12

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western head baseball coach Buzz Verduzco announces the signing of four more student-athletes for the 2014  season. Junior college transfers Cody Childs (Mt. Hood CC) from Troutdale, Ore., Reid Martinez (Yakima Valley CC) from Seattle, Wash., Matthew Estes (Longview CC) from Odessa, Mo. and Joshua Lansangan (Hutchinson CC) from Kansas City, Mo. join Charles Koehler, III, Michael Yeager, Hunter Weiss, Matthew Russell, Grant Woods, Derek Rottinghaus, Tyler Sanders, Jonathan Temenak and Tyler Tuepker on next years squad.

Childs is a 5-11 infielder who comes to Missouri Western from Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore. He played his high school baseball at Reynolds HS in Troutdale, Ore. While at Mt. Hood CC he was a Gold Glove regional winner at third base as well as being named 2nd Team All-Region short stop. Last season he hit .361 with 17 runs scored, 9 RBI, 2 doubles and one home run. In high school he was a 1st Team All-Conference infielder as well as Honorable Mention All-State. As a junior he was a 2nd Team All-Conference pitcher. He is also a very good student who plans on majoring in education.

“There is nobody more prepared and qualified to take over our SS position vacated by Michael Schultz to the draft,” said Coach Verduzco. “Cody is a very high energy player and will be amongst the best in our league. He is as consistent a fielder as we’ve seen in a while.”

Martinez is a 6-1 outfielder who comes to MWSU from Yakima Valley CC in Yakima, Wash. He played his high school baseball at Roosevelt HS in Seattle, Wash. While at Mt. Hood he was a two time 2nd Team All-Region selection and a 2nd Team NWAAC selection. While in high school he was a two time captain as well as being named team MVP twice. He is also a solid student who plans on majoring in political science.

“Reid is a pure hitter coming from the state if Washington,” stated Coach Verduaco. “We see Reid stepping right into the heart of our order. He one of our top incoming JC players and we very excited that he has our program.”

Estes is a 6-0 outfielder who comes to MWSU from Longview CC in Lee’s Summit, Mo. He played his high school baseball at Odessa HS in Odessa, Mo. While at Longview he was a two time captain and selected to the All-Region team. While in high school he was a 1st Team All-Conference performer. He plans on majoring in physical education at Missouri Western.

“Matt will come in and compete for an outfield position this season,” commented Coach Verduzco. “He is a very consistent hitter that can use the whole field in his approach. A definite plus in our offensive scheme.”

Lansangan is a 5-10 pitcher who comes to Missouri Western from Hutchinson Community College in Kansas City, Mo. He played his high school baseball at Staley HS in Kansas City, Mo. Last season he pitched in five games with three starts. He pitched 13.2 innings with 12 strikeouts. He is currently undecided on a major at Missouri Western.

“Josh is a big time competitor,” stated Coach Verduzco. “He will solidify a very good bullpen and also look for him to challenge for a starting role. He has a very high baseball IQ and thrives on the tight moments in a game.”

— MWSU Sports Information —