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Category: Sports

Northwest tennis upsets Washburn to advance to Sweet 16

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TOPEKA, Kansas – The No. 24-ranked Northwest Missouri State University women’s tennis team advanced to the program’s eighth Sweet 16 with a 4-1 dual win over No. 8-ranked Washburn University on Tuesday at the Washburn Tennis Complex.

Northwest’s last trip to the Sweet 16 came in 2008.

Northwest, the No. 6 seed in the Central Region, improved to 19-6 overall. Washburn, the No. 2 seed in the Central Region, sees its season come to an end at 22-4 overall.

The Ichabods captured the doubles’ point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. Northwest’s No. 2 doubles’ team of Irene Recuenco and Julia Aliseda held a 6-5 lead over Washburn’s Svea Crohn and Jacqueli Engelbrecht when the match was halted because the Ichabods had clinched the doubles’ point.

Washburn’s No. 3 doubles’ duo of Maria Soler Valverde and Kinsey Fields held on for a 6-4 win over Northwest’s Julie Rinderknech and Sara Grozdanovic.

Washburn’s No. 1-nationally ranked doubles’ pair of Logan Morrissey and Alexis Czapinski posted a 6-2 win over Northwest’s No. 15-ranked team of Marta Ferrando and Tania Teruel.

Northwest gained the upper hand in the dual with a pair of straight sets victories in singles.

Rinderknech came out on top at No. 5 singles with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Crohn.

Recuenco, ranked No. 17 in the ITA, toppled the nation’s No. 4-ranked singles player in Czapinski, 6-2, 6-4. Recuenco’s win gave Northwest a 2-1 lead in the dual.

Ferrando built a 3-1 advantage with a three-set victory at No. 3 singles over No. 49-ranked Maria Soler Valverde, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.

Aliseda, ranked No. 57 in the nation, scored the dual-clinching win with a three-set triumph at No. 4 singles. Aliseda came from a set down and posted a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Morrissey.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western’s Williams selected to compete in the 400 at Track & Field National Championships

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ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western sophomore track & field student-athlete Hanna Williams was selected for qualification to the 2019 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. Williams’ qualified in the 400 meter with her 54.69 in the event at the SBU Bearcat Invite on April 6.

Williams was an automatic qualifier in the 400 meter for the indoor national championships, but was unable to compete due to injury. This time, the provisional mark achieved in April was enough to get Williams to her first-ever national championship appearance. She will become the second member of MWSU’s second-year track & field program to qualify for the NCAA outdoor national championships, following Phil Thompson who achieved All-American status in the triple jump last year. Williams’ qualifying mark ranked 17th in the nation this year.

The national championships will be held at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas, May 23-25.

— MWSU Athletics —

MWSU’s Ong earns All-Central Region honors

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CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Missouri Western Women’s Golfer Shi Qing Ong was named All-Central Region by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.

It is the third career WGCA All-Region honor for Ong who was competing as an individual at the NCAA Division II National Championships when this year’s all-region team was announced. The most decorated women’s golfer in school history was a two-time MIAA Women’s Golfer of the Year (2018-19) and at two-time MWSU Women’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

Ong won five events during her senior season including a string of four-straight spring event wins and after a one week break, claimed her second consecutive MIAA Women’s Golf Championship title. Over her four-year career, Ong claimed 14 individual titles.

— MWSU Athletics —

Royals calling up top prospect Nicky Lopez from minors

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals are bringing up top prospect Nicky Lopez from Triple-A Omaha, and he could make his big league debut when Kansas City opens a series against Texas on Tuesday night.

Right-hander Jake Newberry was optioned to Omaha in a corresponding roster move Monday. The Royals will still need to make a move with their 40-man roster before selecting Lopez’s contract from Omaha and facing the Rangers.

The 24-year-old Lopez was the Royals’ fifth-round pick in the 2016 amateur draft. He was hitting .353 with three homers and nine stolen bases in 31 games for the Storm Chasers, and hit a combined .308 with Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas last season.

That success earned him the organization’s George Brett Hitter of the Year award.

— Associated Press —

Northwest women’s tennis defeats Augustana in NCAA Tournament opener

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TOPEKA, Kansas – The No. 24-ranked Northwest Missouri State University women’s tennis team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament with a 4-1 triumph over No. 32-ranked Augustana.

The Bearcats (18-6 overall) opened up a 1-0 lead in the dual by capturing victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.

The No. 2 doubles pairing of Irene Recuenco and Julia Aliseda picked up a 6-2 win over Augustana’s Taylor Jackson and Anca Rusu. The victory improved Rucuenco and Aliseda’s doubles’ mark to 7-1 this season.

The No. 3 duo of Sara Grozdanovic and Julie Rinderknech posted a 6-2 triumph over Grace Goble and Annika Teske. It marked the third win this season for the Grozdanovic and Rinderknech pairing.

Aliseda tallied the first singles win of the day at No. 4. Aliseda scored a 6-2, 6-0 win over Goble. Aliseda, ranked No. 57 in the latest ITA singles rankings, improved to 23-7 on the year.

Grozdanovic gave Northwest a 3-0 lead in the dual with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Taske. Grozdanovic improved to 15-6 on the year in singles play.

Larua Arce Vieyra put Augustana on the board with a win at No. 2 singles over Northwest’s Tania Teruel, 6-1, 6-2.

Marta Ferrando clinched the dual victory for the Bearcats at No. 3 singles with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Jackson. Ferrando moved to 21-8 on the year, including a 17-5 mark at No. 3 singles.

Northwest, the No. 6 seed, will take on No. 2 seed Washburn (22-3 overall) at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Central Region final.

— Northwest Athletics —

Former Chiefs head coach Gunther Cunningham dies At 72

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Longtime NFL coach Gunther Cunningham, who emigrated from postwar Germany as a child and then dedicated his life to football, has died after a brief illness. He was 72.

Cunningham’s wife, Rene, said in a statement that he died Saturday.

Cunningham spoke no English when his family arrived in the U.S., and he was ridiculed for both his accent and ancestry as a child. But he developed into a standout prep football player in California and earned a scholarship to play linebacker at Oregon.

He eventually coached the Ducks along with Arkansas, Stanford and California before spending time in the CFL. He arrived in the NFL as an assistant with the Colts in 1982, then worked with the Chargers and Raiders before making a name for himself with the Kansas City Chiefs.

He went 16-16 during two years as their head coach.

— Associated Press —

Royals drop series finale to Phillies 6-1

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Cole Irvin barely slept Friday night and was a nervous wreck Saturday. But when he showed up to Kauffman Stadium on Sunday, Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler knew the 25-year-old lefty was ready for his major league debut.

“We knew he was poised, we knew he was aggressive, we knew he was confident,” Kapler said.

Spotty showers, or “duck weather” as Irvin called it, couldn’t dampen his debut. Irvin threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits with one walk and five strikeouts to lead the Phillies to a 6-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Philadelphia scored six times in the fifth to break the game open. Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run double and Odubel Herrera followed with a two-run single to back Irvin (1-0).

“He stayed on the gas pedal the entire outing,” Kapler said.

Seranthony Dominguez and Juan Nicasio each tossed a scoreless inning to close it out.

“Man, that was fun,” Irvin said. “Big inning in the fifth, and just allowing J.T. to take me for a ride.”

Kansas City has lost 12 consecutive series rubber games, a streak that stretches back to May 30 last year, when the Royals took two of three against Minnesota.

Irvin’s strong start continued an impressive run by Philadelphia’s rotation. Over their last 15 games, Phillies starters have a 2.36 ERA — second-best in the majors during that span.

Royals starter Jakob Junis (3-4) cruised through four innings but fell apart in the fifth. After Nick Williams reached on an error with one out, Junis walked three of the next four batters, the last one chasing him from the game.

“I got away from my command a little bit,” Junis said. “My fastball started to move a little more. Couldn’t make a pitch when I was 3-2, fell behind in the count a little bit when I needed to get ahead and it just came back to bite me.”

Realmuto greeted Richard Lovelady with a first-pitch double down the right field line, and Herrera hit his two-run single two pitches later. Herrera and Jean Segura each had two hits for the Phillies, and Andrew McCutchen was on base four times via three walks and a single.

Despite allowing just three hits, Junis was tagged for five runs due primarily to five walks. Free passes were an issue all weekend for Royals pitchers, who walked 18 batters during the three-game set.

“They’re learning that if you try to be too fine, you’re not going to be successful in this league,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “Either you can’t throw strikes or you won’t throw strikes, and neither one of them will keep you here long, or neither one of them are going to allow you to be successful. Our guys all can throw strikes. They’ve all got good stuff. They’ve just got to trust it.”

Alex Gordon brought home the Royals’ only run with an RBI single in the third. After the umpires initially ruled Billy Hamilton was thrown out at third base before Cam Gallagher crossed the plate, a replay review showed Hamilton beat the throw.

Hamilton and Gordon had two hits apiece for Kansas City.

SPECIAL TRIBUTE

Phillies slugger Rhys Hoskins, who lost his mom to cancer in 2009, added some extra decoration to his pink Mother’s Day cleats. Hoskins wrote “Miss u mom” and the date she died on them, along with “humble” and “perseverance” near the toe. Both are words she instilled in Hoskins.

“Her will to live, her will to love, to be there for my sister and I, kind of embodied who she was as a woman and as a mother,” Hoskins said. “She just would always remind me to make sure that I stay humble and that I’m a humble person. It was something that she always said to me and it stuck with me.

“I thought the shoes were a cool way to show love in a different way.”

ROSTER MOVES

Before the game, the Phillies called up Irvin optioned LHP Austin Davis to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Davis had been recalled on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (3-0, 4.57 ERA) starts Monday night against Milwaukee in the opener of a seven-game homestand. Nola has given up just one run in each of his last three outings.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (1-1, 3.06 ERA) makes his fourth start of the year Tuesday night against Texas. Duffy held Houston to two runs over six innings in his last outing to earn his first win of the season.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis loses third straight to Pirates

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ST. LOUIS — Josh Bell put on a show for his mom on Mother’s Day.

With his mother Myrtle in the stands at Busch Stadium, Bell homered and drove in a career-high five runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Adam Frazier added a two-run, tiebreaking pinch-hit double as the Pirates scored five times in the seventh inning and twice in the eighth to rally from a 6-3 deficit.

Pittsburgh has won six of eight, including the final three of its four-game series at St. Louis.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle had warned Bell that he’d better come through.

“Jokingly, before the game, I said, `You need to do something special for Myrtle,” Hurdle said. “He said, `Yeah, I’ve got this.”

Bell went 4-for-4, extending his hitting streak to a major league-best 12 games. He reached base five times, including an intentional walk, and is 20-for-49 (.408) during the streak with four homers and 16 RBI.

“It was awesome,” Bell said. “It’s one of those scenarios where I know my mom would be just as excited to watch me play if I go 0-for-4. To be able to celebrate the win with (her) watching, it’s unbelievable.”

Myrtle lives in Louisiana and travels to see her son play at least once a month.

“His work ethic is one of the best I’ve ever seen,” Pittsburgh infielder Kevin Newman said. “He’s in the cage all the time. He works his tail off on defense. I couldn’t be any happier for him.”

Bell’s three-run homer off John Brebbia (1-2) in the seventh tied the game at 6-6. Francisco Cervelli, who had three hits, followed with a double, Melky Cabrera drew a walk and then Frazier smacked a two-run double to right.

Paul Goldschmidt and Jose Martinez homered for the Cardinals, who have lost five of six and nine of 11.

Chris Stratton (1-2), acquired from the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, worked a scoreless sixth for the win.

Brebbia (1-2) gave up three runs on three hits in one inning.

“When you make bad pitches to guys who are taking good swings, it’s not going to be good,” Brebbia said.

Colin Moran added two-run double in the eighth to conclude the scoring.

After the Pirates scored three times in the first, Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer off Steven Brault in the bottom half to start a four-run outburst.

Martinez, who went 3-for-5, had a two-run homer in the third. Bryan Reynolds made a leaping catch in the ninth to rob him of a possible second homer.

St. Louis starter Dakota Hudson gave up three runs on nine hits over six innings.

Brault, making his second start of the season, lasted 3 2/3 innings. He gave up six runs on nine hits.

Goldschmidt, who was 9-for-17 in the series, snapped an 18-game streak without a home run.

“We obviously haven’t won as many games as we’ve wanted to the last 10 or 11 games,” Goldschmidt said. “The focus is just to go out there and win the next one.”

FULL HOUSE

The crowd was announced at 48,555, the largest in the history of the new Busch Stadium, which opened in 2006. It was St. Louis’ fourth sellout of the season.

ON THE WAY BACK

Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez threw a scoreless inning on Friday for Triple-A Memphis. He has not given up a run in three rehab appearances covering three innings. Martinez has not pitched in the majors this season because of a right shoulder cuff strain.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: RHP Nick Burdi was transferred to the 60-day injured list. He has pain in his right biceps.

Cardinals: INF Matt Carpenter was held out of the starting lineup for a day of rest. He walked as pinch-hitter in the eighth.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Nick Kingham (1-0, 5.94 ERA) will start in the opener of a three-game series at Arizona on Monday night. Kingham, who has nine appearances as a reliever and one as a starter this season, is 5-7 in 16 lifetime starts.

Cardinals: RHP Jack Flaherty (3-3, 4.32) will face Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz (0-2, 5.94) as the teams begin a three-game series Tuesday. The Cardinals were shut out in each of Flaherty’s last two starts.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western gets knocked out of MIAA Tournament by Pitt State

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PITTSBURG, Kan. – No. 4-seeded Pittsburg State got two runs in the sixth to take its first and only lead, defeating the No. 8-seeded Missouri Western baseball team 5-4 Saturday afternoon in the MIAA Championships. The elimination game loss ended the Griffons season with a 21-24 record.

The Griffons led 3-2 headed to the sixth, but the first four Gorillas reached in the sixth, the fourth getting on with a two-RBI single up the middle that gave Pitt State a 4-3 lead. Kellan Richards replaced Jacob Miller with one out and two in scoring position in the sixth, getting two strikeouts to limit the damage.

Pittsburg State scored its fifth run on a Josh Oliver single on an 0-2 pitch with two out in the eighth. The single came off Anthony Castaneda who replaced Richards in the eighth to make his third appearance in as many days in the MIAA postseason tournament.

Andrew Curry’s second hit of the day was an RBI single with two out in the eighth that scored Fahd Shakeel. A strike out and caught stealing executed by Levi Abrahamson and Will Jibas in the top of the ninth helped Abrahamson work around a leadoff single and send MWSU to the plate down just one in the top of the ninth, but the Griffs went down in order in the final frame.

Jibas drove in two in his final game as a Griffon. Shakeel went 2-for4 with a pair of runs scored in his final game. Curry, also a senior, went 2-for-4. Roy Robles got the start and struck out six over three innings, but also walked three and gave up two earned runs on four hits. Miller took the loss, going 2 1/3 and allowing two earned runs on four hits. Richards added to his MWSU career appearances record, going 2 1/3 and allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Castaneda recorded an out and gave up one hit. Abrahamson allowed one hit and now runs in an inning of work.

— MWSU Athletics —

Small College Basketball announces 2019 National Hall of Fame Class and National Hall of Fame Classic Lineup

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KANSAS CITY, MO – Small College Basketball Announced its 2019 National Hall of Fame Class and 2019 National Hall of Fame Classic, presented by Hillyard, field at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday afternoon.

The Small College Basketball (SCB) National Hall of Fame Classic, presented by Hillyard, will return to the St. Joseph Civic Arena on Friday and Saturday, November 1-2, while the National Hall of Fame will now take place at the Missouri Theater in St. Joseph on Thursday, Oct. 31.

John McCarthy, Founder of Small College Basketball, remarked, “We are very grateful to Missouri Western State University and the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau for their partnership and tremendous support of Small College Basketball. Josh Looney (Athletic Director at Missouri Western), Brett Esely (Senior Associate Athletic Director), Lindsay Bernard (St. Joseph CVB) and Kathy Brock (St. Joseph Civic Arena) have been awesome! Their enthusiasm and professionalism is greatly appreciated. We’re excited to be back in St. Joseph!”

Below is the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame Class of 2019:
Phog Allen (Central Missouri, Baker, Haskell Indian Nations; deceased; Coach/Contributor)
World B. Free (Guilford; living; Player)
Mike Harper (North Park; living; Player)
Marques Haynes (Langston; deceased; Player/Contributor)
Cleo Hill (Winston-Salem State; deceased; Player)
Larry Humes (Evansville; living; Player)
Vern Mikkelsen (Hamline; deceased; Player)
Danny Miles (Oregon Tech; living; Coach)
Mel Peterson (Wheaton; living; Player)
Bo Ryan (Wisconsin-Platteville; living; Coach)
Ed Smallwood (Evansville; deceased; Player)
John Smith (Winona State; living; Player)

“We are very excited to welcome the Class of 2019 into our Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame,” said SCB founder John McCarthy. “This is a tremendously accomplished and impressive class, and I am very thankful to our Hall of Fame Committee, as they have spent a great deal of time researching and analyzing many, many potential candidates for this prestigious induction. Congratulations to every member of this special class.”

The SCB National Hall of Fame Classic, presented by Hillyard, will consist of some of the finest teams within NCAA Division II basketball. All games will take place at the St. Joseph Civic Arena. Here are the teams, match-ups and game times for the 2019 SCB National HOF Classic, presented by Hillyard:

Friday, Nov. 1, 2019
12:00 Davenport vs. USC-Aiken
2:30 West Texas A&M vs. Lincoln Memorial
5:00 NW MO State vs. Daemen
7:30 Missouri Western vs. Southern Nazarene
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019
12:00 Davenport vs. Lincoln Memorial
2:30 West Texas A&M vs. USC-Aiken
5:00 NW MO State vs. Southern Nazarene
7:30 Missouri Western vs. Daemen

Additionally, we are very pleased to announce that the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association has awarded the SCB National Hall of Fame Classic a three-year exemption for this national event, beginning with the 2019 event.

“The Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association is very pleased to announce the three-year extension of its agreement with Small College Basketball to continue to operate a D2CCA Men’s Basketball Tipoff Classic,” said Reid Amos, Commissioner of the Mountain East Conference and Chair of the D2CCA External Relations Committee. “Participating student-athletes have had outstanding experiences during previous years of this event and we think it is an outstanding way to get the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball season underway.”

Tickets for the Hall of Fame Induction and Classic, featuring eight premier NCAA Division II basketball teams, will be available in the near future.

“The Small College Basketball Classic has established itself as NCAA Division II’s premier in-season national tournament and this year’s field of teams only enhances that reputation,” said Missouri Western Director of Athletics Josh Looney. “We are honored to host Division II basketball fans, coaches and student-athletes in our community, and showcase St. Joseph’s rich basketball history. Partnering with Small College Basketball, Hillyard Inc., and the City of St. Joseph is a win for the community and NCAA Division II basketball.”

“Congratulations to all eight teams that have been included in the 2019 Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame Classic, presented by Hillyard,” said McCarthy. “This event has become THE most prominent in-season event within all of NCAA Division II basketball and we are thrilled with the teams and match-ups this year. We are very grateful to the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association for granting an exemption for the SCB National HOF Classic. I’m so proud and excited that the Division II CCA has awarded our event a three-year exemption, beginning with this 2019 event. We are truly grateful, and we’re really excited to tip off the NCAA Division II men’s basketball season at the St. Joseph Civic Arena. Additionally – and importantly – we sincerely thank Hillyard for their continued support of our national classic. Partnering with an organization so steeped in basketball history, based in St. Joseph, make obvious sense.”

The 2018 SCB Hall of Fame Classic had an estimated economic impact for the St. Joseph, Missouri community of $220,950. This will mark the fourth Small College Basketball Classic and Hall of Fame, which began in 2016.

2019 HALL OF FAME CLASS BIOS
Phog Allen (Central Missouri, Baker, Haskell Indian Nations; deceased; Coach/Contributor) 
Considered the “Father of Coaching”, Allen coached at Baker University (1905-1908), Haskell Indian Nations (1908-1909) and Warrensburg Teachers College (1912-1919). Allen got his coaching start at Baker University in 1905, where he coached for three seasons, going 45-9. At Warrensburg Teachers College, Allen won conference championships (1913 & 1914) in his first two seasons and finished with an 84-31 overall record. By winning the 1913 conference championship, his team became the inaugural winner of the MIAA conference. At Haskell Indian Nations, his teams went 27-5.

Allen is the Founder of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), and was the first President of the organization. The organization is credited with starting the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Allen was the driving force behind the addition of basketball to the Olympic Games in 1936. He coached Team USA to a gold medal in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He is a charter inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (1959) and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (2006).

World B. Free (Guilford; living; Player)
Led Guilford to the NAIA National Championship & named Tournament MVP in 1973; led the 1973 NAIA Tournament in points with 120; scored 30 points in the National Championship game and was the first freshman to be named MVP; scored 2,006 points over a 3-year collegiate career (85 games) for a career average of 23.6 ppg; Two-time NAIA All American; Inducted into the Guilford and NAIA Hall of Fames. Member of the NAIA’s 50th & 75th Anniversary Teams.

Marques Haynes (Langston; deceased; Player/Contributor) 
With an initial $25-church scholarship Marques Haynes enrolled at Langston University. He was an athlete-student there from 1942-46. During that time the team went 112-3, including a 59-game winning streak. He also was named to the all-conference team and led his team in scoring. In 1946 his Langston team upset the Harlem Globetrotters. Haynes would gain international acclaim as a member of the Globetrotters and as an ambassador of the game. Considered to have been among the game’s greatest ball handlers, he was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2011. Observers claimed that Haynes was able to dribble a ball three times in a second and control the ball just an inch or two off the floor.

Cleo Hill (Winston-Salem State; deceased; Player) 
The 6-1 guard played for Coach Clarence Gaines at Winston-Salem State from 1957-61 and is the school’s second all-time leading scorer behind Earl Monroe. Hill scored 2,488 points for a ppg average of 25.4 in a total of 98 games. He averaged 27.7 ppg in 1959-60 and 26.7 ppg in 1960-61 to help the Rams claim consecutive Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships. In doing so, Hill earned all-CIAA honors for both seasons. Winston-Salem State posted records of 19-5 and 26-5 in those two seasons. In recognition of his senior-year performance, Hill earned NAIA first-team all-American honors in 1961. A member of the Winston-Salem State/Clarence “Big House” Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame, Hill also was inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame in 1994. In 1961 Hill became only the fifth African-American from a historically black college/university to be taken in the first round of an NBA draft.

Danny Miles (Oregon Tech; living; Coach)
Danny Miles was the coach at Oregon Tech for 45 years (1971-2016) and led the Hustlin’ Owls to three NAIA Division II National Championships (2004, 2008 and 2012). Coach Miles led Oregon Tech to 1,040 wins during his career, and finished with a 1,040-437 record, for a 70.4% winning percentage. He had 10 seasons of 30 or more wins, and he was named NAIA National Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2008, and the NABC Coach of the Year in 2012. Coach Miles has been elected to the following Halls of Fame: Medford High School; City of Medford Sports Hall of Fame; State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame; NAIA Hall of Fame; National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He was awarded the NAIA’s National Winner of the Champion of Character Award (for all sports) in 2009; he was given the John Wooden “Keys to Life” Award; in 2013, the NABC gave him the Guardians of the Game Pillar Award for Advocacy. Additionally, the court is named after Coach Miles at Oregon Tech, and in 2016, a street was named in his honor (Danny Miles Way).

Mike Harper (North Park; living; Player)
As the starting center, the 6-10 Harper led North Park to three consecutive NCAA Division III national championships in 1978, ’79, and ’80 and was named the national tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 1978 and 1979. He also was named the most outstanding player in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) in 1978, ’79, and ’80. An NCAA Division All-American in 1979 and 1980, Harper had a career CCIW Field goal percentage of 61%. North Park’s overall won/lost record during the three years was 83-10 (43-5 in CCIW play) and included wins against several DI and DII teams. For his career, Harper scored 1,180 points (second highest all-time total in North Park history) and grabbed 1,184 rebounds (all-time school record). His single-game bests were 43 points vs. Chicago State in 1980 and 25 rebounds vs. St. Xavier, also in 1980.

Larry Humes (Evansville; living; Player) 
Two-time Associated Press Little College All-American 1964, 1965; Two-time United Press International Small College All-American 1964, 1965; Won two NCAA College Division Championship 1964, 1965; Two-time NCAA College Division Championship All-Tournament Team 1964, 1965; Scored 2,236 career points for a 26.4 average.

Vern Mikkelsen (Hamline; deceased; Player) 
Played 1947-49… Won an NAIA national title with Hamline in 1949… Two-time NAIA All-Tournament Team Member… Scored 179 points in 11 NAIA tournament games, averaging 16.3 ppg… Two-time NAIA All American… Member of the NAIA 50th & 75th Anniversary Teams… Inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1956… Went on to play in the NBA. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Mel Peterson (Wheaton; living; Player) 
Wheaton (Ill.) (1956-60); Was a 3-time All-American … As just a freshman, named Most Outstanding Player of the 1957 NCAA Men’s College Division Basketball Tournament, leading the Crusaders to 28-1 record and the inaugural NCAA college division championship (89-65 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan) … Averaged 22.7 points and 15.8 rebounds over his career, and still holds the Wheaton record for points per game, career points (2,522), field goals made (1,031), and career rebounds (1,767) … Was an 11th-round draft pick of the Detroit Pistons in the 1960 NBA draft … Joined the Army and thus was selected as the Army rep to the USA team that won 1963 Pan American Games gold medal (played with Willis Reed and Lucious Jackson)… Member of the Wheaton Hall of Fame.

Bo Ryan (Wisconsin-Platteville; living; Coach) 
Bo Ryan served as the Head Coach at Wisconsin-Platteville from 1984-1999, where his teams posted an overall record of 352-76 for an 82% winning percentage. He guided the Pioneers to four NCAA Division III National Championships, winning the title in 1991, 1995, 1998 and 1999. The ’95 and ’98 titlists posted 31-0 and 30-0 records, respectively, only the second and third time that feat has been accomplished in DIII history. He also won eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and set a Division III scoring defense record in 1997, with his team allowing only 47.5 points per game. During his tenure, UW-Platteville was the winningest NCAA men’s basketball program of the 1990’s (all divisions of the NCAA) with a 266-26 record, good for a remarkable 90.8% winning percentage. In his last 12 seasons at Platteville, his teams had a home record of 157-7. Ryan was named DIII National Coach of the Year four times and also earned WSUC/WIAC Coach of the Year honors six times. He is a member of the UW-Platteville Athletic Hall of Fame, the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame at Wilkes University (his alma mater). The court at UW-Platteville now bears his name.

Ed Smallwood (Evansville; deceased; Player)
Three-time United Press International All-American 1958, 1959, 1960; Won two NCAA College Division Championships 1959, 1960; Two-time NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player 1958, 1960; Chosen to NCAA Elite Eight 50th Anniversary Team; Scored 1,898 career points for a 23.1 average; Grabbed 981 career rebounds for a 11.9 average

John Smith (Winona State; living; Player)
Division II Player of the Year 2007 and 2008; Won national championship in 2006 and 2008 (runner-up in 2007); All NSIC conference 2006/2007/2008 (player of year in 2007 and 2008); 2006 Most Outstanding Player in NCAA tournament

Smith was an integral player for the Winona State men’s basketball team that won two national championships in 2006 and 2008 and a national champion runner-up in 2007. Smith helped lead Winona State to a NCAA Division II record 57-game win streak, and the Warriors had a remarkable 105-6 record during his final three seasons.

He recorded numerous accolades during his illustrious Warrior career. He was the 2008 National Player of the Year in the NABC, Division II Bulletin, and the Basketball Times as well as the 2007 National Player of the Year in the same publications as well as earning the Daktronics National Player of the Year as well. He earned First Team All-American honors in 2007 and 2008 and both the Daktronics and the NABC Regional Player of the Year awards. Smith earned the NSIC Most Valuable Player awards in both 2007 and 2008 as well as made the NSIC First Team All-Conference in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Smith not only made his mark on the Winona State record books, but the Division II basketball record books as well. He is WSU’s record holder in points scored (2,265), field goals made (849), free throws made (541), free throws attempted (790), and games played (146). He is also Winona State’s second all-time leading rebounder (1,334) and shot blocker (423) as well as hold WSU’s second best field goal shooting percentage (56.19). Smith’s 146 games played is the NCAA Division II record. He is eighth in NCAA Division II record book for career rebounds and second in career blocked shots.

In 2006, Smith led Winona State to a Division II National Championship win over Virginia Union 73-61. He received the NCAA Division II Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. In 2007, Smith led Winona State to a 35-1 record and a runner-up in the NCAA Division II National Championship game.In 2008, Smith again led Winona State to its third NCAA National Championship game in three years, this time winning the championship 87-76 over Augusta State. Smith scored 18 points and knocked down four three-pointers to help WSU secure the win after coming back from 12 down at halftime to win the game.

The 2019 National Hall of Fame Class is selected by the distinguished Hall of Fame Committee including: Steve Knight, Don Landry, Mike Lightfoot, Danny Miles, Greg Moore, Jim Nelson, Doug Palm, Roy Pickerill, Gary Pine, Jim Poteet, Butch Raymond, John Rinka, Steve Shepherd, Matt Simms, Gary Stewart and Rick Zvosec.
Special Advisor, Mark Sills.

— MWSU Athletics —

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