WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
CLASS 3 BOYS SECTIONAL
Maryville 65
Lawson 63
CLASS 3 GIRLS SECTIONAL
Trenton 54
Lawson 26
CLASS 2 BOYS SECTIONAL
Wellington-Napoleon 50
Mid-Buchanan 42
CLASS 2 GIRLS SECTIONAL
Mid-Buchanan 64
Santa Fe 58
THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
CLASS 5 DISTRICT 16 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Central vs. Park Hill – 7:00 – ESPN 1550 or click here
CLASS 4 DISTRICT 16 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Lafayette vs. Chillicothe – 6:00 – 680 KFEQ or click here
ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team is back in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top 25 poll. The Griffons enter this week’s poll at No. 24 after winning nine of its last 10 games to sit at 16-4.
Western ranks near the top of the MIAA in nearly every statistical category, including leading the league in doubles, and ranking second in slugging percentage (.488), on base percentage (.399) and fielding percentage (.978).
Individually, Sydney Washington’s five home runs lead the MIAA and Katie Klosterman’s three sacrifice flies are tops among MIAA hitters. Shelbie Atwell sits third in the conference with a .466 batting average, and Klosterman and Washington are tied for second with 37 RBIs each.
Missouri Western is one of two MIAA representatives in this week’s poll with Central Oklahoma ranked No. 11. The Griffons host Lindenwood on March 10 in the team’s home and MIAA opener.
— MWSU Athletics —
The Northwest Missouri State University men’s tennis team defeated UMKC, 6-1, on Wednesday afternoon at Frank Grube Courts in Maryville, Mo.
The match was the spring opener for the No. 12 Bearcats who moved to 1-0 on the year. UMKC falls to 6-4 on the year.
Wednesday’s match was played with Division I rules with doubles counting as one point.
Northwest moves to 16-5 all time against UMKC with the victory.
Sergi Fontcuberta and Romain Boissinot got a win at No. 2 doubles along with Josef Altmann and Aymeric Autones at No. 3 doubles.
In singles, Fontcuberta, Mauro Tete, Josef Altmann, Autones and Fin Glowick all picked up singles victories.
Singles competition
1. Castellano,Airam (UMKC) def. Boissinot,Romain (NW) 6-3, 6-3
2. Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) def. Gaismins,Uldis (UMKC) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Tete,Mauro (NW) def. Navette,Amaury (UMKC) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
4. Altmann,Josef (NW) def. Kruse,Tom (UMKC) 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
5. Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Pham,Vinh (UMKC) 2-6, 6-2, 10-8
6. Glowick,Fin (NW) def. Izadifar,Daniel (UMKC) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Navette,Amaury/Gaismins,Uldis (UMKC) def. Tete,Mauro/Serrano,Jorge (NW) 6-1
2. Boissinot,Romain/Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) def. Kruse,Tom/Castellano,Airam (UMKC) 6-0
3. Altmann,Josef/Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Izadifar,Daniel/Pham,Vinh (UMKC) 6-3
Up Next
Northwest will play a pair of neutral site matches this weekend starting with Midwestern State on Friday in Bolivar, Mo., followed by a neutral site match against UIndy in St. Charles, Mo., on Saturday.
— Northwest Athletics —
CLASS 5 DISTRICT 16 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Oak Park 44
Central 39 (19-7)
Park Hill 61
Staley 49
CLASS 4 DISTRICT 16 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Lafayette 71 (14-10)
Chillicothe 54
Benton 54 (18-7)
Savannah 45
CLASS 1 BOYS SECTIONALS
North Andrew 55
Jefferson 50
Worth County 52
Braymer 43
CLASS 1 GIRLS SECTIONALS
Mercer 53
Southwest Livingston 36
Jefferson 46
King City 32
ST. JOSEPH – Three members of the Missouri Western women’s basketball team received All-MIAA honors on Tuesday.
Chelsea Dewey highlighted the group as a first team selection. Sefulu Faavae was named All-Defensive team along with honorable mention, and Dwanisha Tate was also named honorable mention.
It was the first time Dewey had been named first team after earning honorable mention distinction as a junior. Dewey finished fourth in the MIAA with 4.3 assists per game and led the conference with a 3.3 assist to turnover ratio. The guard led Missouri Western with her 13.3 points per game and finished third in the MIAA by averaging 33.8 minutes per game.
Faavae was named MIAA All-Defensive Team as well as being an honorable mention All-MIAA selection. The senior led the MIAA with 72 total steals, 2.6 per game. Faavae also wasn’t far behind Dewey at seventh in the MIAA with 3.5 assists per game.
Tate finished the regular season strong and earned herself honorable mention All-MIAA. The senior guard averaged 12.3 points per game and shot close to 41 percent from the field while pulling down 4.4 rebounds per game.
The three All-MIAA performers will face the winner of Tuesday’s Northwest Missouri at Central Oklahoma game on Friday night at 8:30 in Kansas City’s historical Municipal Auditorium.
Player of the Year
Kelly Moten, G, Sr., ESU
Defensive Player of the Year
Kelly Moten, G, Sr., ESU
Freshman of the Year
Kallie Bildner, F, Fr., LWU
Coach of the Year
Lane Lord, PSU
All-MIAA First Team
Kelly Moten, G, Jr., ESU**[r3]
Mikaela Burgess, So., G, PSU**[r2]
Paige Redmond, So., G, UCM**
Melinda Murillo, Jr., G, UCO
Chelsea Dewey, Sr., G, MWSU
**Unanimous Selection
[r2] Two time repeat First Team Selection
[r3] Three time repeat First Team Selection
All-MIAA Second Team
Megan Rosenbohm, Jr., G, SBU
Deb Holcomb, Sr., G, MSSU
Kathrynn Flott, Sr., F, ESU
Tanya Meyers, Jr., F, NWMSU
Alyxis Bowens, Sr., F, WU
All-MIAA Third Team
Hayden Herlocker, Sr., G, PSU
Michaela Barry, Jr., G, UNK
Addie Lakey, Jr., G, ESU
Rylie Torrey, So, G, NSU
Jesheon Cooper, Jr., C, UCO
All-MIAA Defensive Team
Kelly Moten, Sr., G, ESU
Paige Lungwitz, Sr., G, PSU
Kayonna Lee, Jr., F, UCM
Sefulu Faavae, Sr., F, MWSU
Jesheon Cooper, Jr., C, UCO
All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Kayonna Lee, UCM
Megan Skaggs, UCM
Marley Anderson, UCO
Olivia Mason, UCO
Carly Heim, FHSU
Jill Faxon, FHSU
Nikola Kacperska, FHSU
Tatyana Legette, FHSU
Hunter Yoakum, LU
Kallie Bildner, LWU
Desirea Burge, MSSU
Dwanisha Tate, MWSU
Sefulu Faavae, MWSU
Cailyn Long, NSU
Jasmine Howe, NWMSU
Madison Northcutt, PSU
Shelby Lopez, PSU
Paige Lungwitz, PSU
Caylee Richardson, SBU
Erika Lane, WU
— MWSU Athletics —
The Northwest Missouri State University women’s basketball team fell to the fifth-seeded Central Oklahoma Bronchos, 67-50, on Tuesday evening.
– The MIAA Tournament first round game was played at the Hamilton Field House in Edmond, Okla.
– The Bearcats finish the year with a 9-18 overall record while the Bronchos improve to 23-6. UCO will now play fourth-seeded Missouri Western on Friday night.
– Tanya Meyer recorded her 12th double-double of the year, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Key Northwest Statistics
– The Bearcats shot 34.4 percent from the field, hitting 21-of-61 attempts. Northwest tied the Bronchos with 36 rebounds each.
– UCO shot 45.8 percent, connecting on 27-of-59 attempts, including four from beyond the arc. Central Oklahoma went 9-for-9 from the charity stripe while the Bearcats were 5-of-7.
– Meyer was 5-of-16 from the field and hit a pair of long range attempts. Five of her rebounds came on the offensive end. She also recorded one of two Bearcat steals.
– Caitlin Sudduth hit four of her eight shot attempts and was 4-of-5 from the charity stripe to finish with 12 points. It marked her fourth game in double figures for Northwest this season.
– Maria Dentlinger scored in double figures with 11 points and added six rebounds. It was the third game this year that she scored at least 10 points.
– Arbrie Benson grabbed seven rebounds and finished with six points.
– As a team, Northwest grabbed 11 offensive rebounds while holding UCO to just seven.
– The Bearcat bench outscored the Broncho reserves, 16-6.
– UCO led, 29-25 at the break. Northwest outscored Central Oklahoma, 18-17, in the fourth quarter.
Key Northwest Sequence
– Northwest got off to a good start, scoring nine of the game’s first 13 points. After UCO missed a jumper to begin the game, Meyer hit a three pointer off an assist from Benson for the game’s first points. After a pair of Broncho layups, Meyer hit a layup to give Northwest a 5-4 lead. The Bearcats forced a UCO turnover and Howe was able to find Wilhelmi for a jumper to make it 7-4. After each team came up empty on the next trips down, Northwest got another turnover and Benson turned it into a layup, pushing the Northwest lead to 9-4.
— Northwest Athletics —
The Kansas City Chiefs have reached a six-year, $78 million deal with Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry that includes $40 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus, a source confirmed to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
K.C., Duvernay-Tardif reach 5-year extension
Guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and the Chiefs have agreed to a contract extension. It is a five-year, $41.25 million deal that includes $20 million in guaranteed money, a source told ESPN.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, it would be the most guaranteed money for any current safety contract. The NFL Network first reported the agreement between Berry and the Chiefs. Berry will earn $30 million in the first two years of the deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
“Keeping Eric Berry in a Chiefs uniform long term has been a significant goal of ours,” said Chiefs general manager John Dorsey. “He’s a special football player and an incredible person. We’re thrilled we were able to get this deal done.”
“I’m very happy for Eric and his family,” added Chiefs coach Andy Reid. “He has put in the hard work and preparation and is without question one of the backbones of our defense and a team leader. He’s a special player and an exceptional human being.”
Berry, 28, played on the Chiefs’ franchise tender in 2016 and had perhaps the best season of his seven-year NFL career.
He delivered a number of big plays that helped the Chiefs win close games. None was bigger than an interception late in the fourth quarter on a two-point conversion attempt that Berry returned for a score; those two points were crucial in lifting Kansas City to a 29-28 win at Atlanta in Week 13.
Big plays aside, Berry was a solid player against both the run and pass. The Chiefs used Berry in a variety of roles, sometimes as a deep safety and sometimes lined up close to the line of scrimmage, and he was equally effective in either role. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Chiefs allowed the third-lowest completion percentage on passes thrown 15 yards or more downfield last season.
Berry tied his career high with four interceptions and returned two for touchdowns to tie for the NFL lead in that category. He earned the fifth Pro Bowl selection of his career.
Off the field, Berry was a positive voice in Kansas City’s locker room and an inspiration to many of his teammates. Berry was diagnosed with lymphoma in November 2014 but returned to play by the start of the 2015 season and was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year.
— ESPN NEWS SERVICES —
MANHATTAN, Kan. – John Currie, who since arriving in 2009 has led K-State Athletics through one of the most successful periods in department history, has been named the new Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Tennessee.
Since Currie’s introduction as director of athletics in May 2009, the Wildcats’ athletics program has experienced a seven-year period of athletic, academic and fundraising excellence that ranks among the best in school history. Currie, who will begin his new position on April 1, spent 10 years at Tennessee prior to his arrival at K-State.
Laird Veatch, current Deputy AD and former Wildcat football standout, has been named acting athletics director and will manage the department until a permanent hire has been made.
“I want to thank John for his tremendous leadership and efforts on behalf of our student-athletes and university,” said President Richard Myers. “It has been impressive to see the growth of our athletics department with the goal of building a Model Intercollegiate Athletics Program. I look forward to working with acting athletic director Laird Veatch and the staff as we continue to strengthen what is already a very strong relationship between intercollegiate athletics and the university community.”
Under Currie’s leadership, K-State has evolved into one of the NCAA’s most financially solvent programs while initiating $210 million in comprehensive facility improvements – all privately funded with zero state tax or university tuition dollars – including the new Vanier Football Complex, West Stadium Center at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Ice Family Basketball Center, Intercollegiate Rowing Center and Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.
Athletically, Currie’s tenure has been marked by across the board success including seven straight bowl appearances in football, Big 12 Conference championships in football, men’s basketball and baseball, 47 individual Big 12 and eight NCAA titles in track and field, five men’s basketball NCAA Tournament appearances, three in women’s basketball, four in volleyball and three in baseball. The 2012-13 campaign was also one for the ages as K-State became just the fourth BCS school since 1998 to win league titles in football, men’s basketball and baseball the same year.
“Words cannot express how grateful our family is for the time and experience we have had here at K-State and in the Manhattan community,” Currie said. “Tennessee reached out to me earlier this week and encouraged me to visit with Chancellor Davenport about the position. It was evident early in our discussion that she has a tremendous vision for the University, and I am excited to be a part of her leadership team.
“From when I arrived at K-State back in 2009, I have experienced some of the most enjoyable moments in my life, filled with some of the most genuine and caring people I have ever met. As I have said so many times, the collective group of head coaches we have here rival those of any in all of college athletics. Our primary goal has been to provide a World-Class Student-Athlete Experience, and I know we have made tremendous progress in this arena. And of course, our fans continue to support the Wildcats in record numbers, and I know that will continue.”
Academically, all Wildcat programs boast multi-year APR marks of at least .944, with the football, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s cross country and women’s cross country teams sporting Big 12-leading scores. Approximately one-half of all 450-plus Wildcat student-athletes achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher this past academic year.
With the tag line of “Welcome to K-State” symbolizing the goal of providing The Best Fan Experience in the Big 12, K-State’s marketing and fundraising efforts have been completely overhauled in Currie’s tenure. K-State supporters have pushed attendance to new heights, while $200 million in total gifts have now been raised for K-State Athletics since Currie’s arrival.
K-State Athletics has also proven to be a great partner to the university, having eliminated approximately $3 million in annual state and direct university funding of intercollegiate athletics under Currie’s leadership to become the only institution in Kansas and one of only approximately two dozen nationwide to operate without these subsidies.
New ticket initiatives have led to 42 sellout crowds at Bill Snyder Family Stadium since 2009, including a current streak of 33 straight. The Cats have also set new season total and average attendance records in baseball, sold a record number of season tickets for volleyball and baseball and rank among the Top 35 nationally in attendance in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball and baseball.
The 2013 Bobby Dodd AD award winner and a 2012 UnderArmour AD of the Year, Currie has served on the NCAA Division I Administrative Cabinet and was the chair of the Big 12 ADs in 2013-14 while also being one of only two intercollegiate ADs named to SportsBusiness Journal’s 2011 prestigious Forty Under 40 list of national sports leaders.
— K-State Athletics —
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Tuesday that the club has released running back Jamaal Charles.
“On behalf of my family and the entire Kansas City Chiefs team, I’d like to thank Jamaal Charles for his contributions and dedication over the last nine seasons,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “Jamaal has been one of the most prolific players in our organization’s history, and I have an enormous amount of respect for what he has accomplished. He’ll always be a part of the Chiefs family, and we’ll be ready to honor him for his outstanding playing career when the time is right.”
“I have a great deal of admiration for Jamaal Charles, his toughness, and what he’s been able to achieve in his time in Kansas City,” General Manager John Dorsey said. “These decisions are never easy, but we felt it was in the best interests of the club to move on at this time. We wish Jamaal and his family the best of luck in their next step.”
“I’ve been privileged to work with a lot of talented players over the years, and Jamaal Charles ranks up there with the great ones,” Head Coach Andy Reid said. “I appreciate the way he came to work every day, he gave us everything he had day-in and day-out. I’ve said it before, I think he’s a future Hall of Famer.”
Charles (5-11, 199) has played in 103 games (69 starts) in nine NFL seasons with the Chiefs (2008-16). His career numbers include 1,332 rushes for 7,260 yards (5.5 avg.) with 43 touchdowns. He has recorded 285 receptions for 2,457 yards (8.6 avg.) with 20 TDs. Charles tallied 9,717 scrimmage yards and 64 total touchdowns with the Chiefs. A four-time Pro Bowler, he is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher. His best statistical season came in 2012 when he rushed 285 times for 1,509 yards (5.3 avg.) and five touchdowns.
Charles originally entered the NFL as the Chiefs third-round pick (73rd overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Port Arthur, Texas, native, played collegiately at the University of Texas.
— Chiefs Press Release —
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball head coach Robin Pingeton has been named the 2017 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, as announced by the league Tuesday. The award was voted on and selected by the conference’s coaches.
Pingeton is Mizzou Women’s Basketball’s first head coach to receive Coach of the Year honors since 1990 and the second coach to do so in program history, joining Joann Rutherford (1984, 1985 and 1990). Pingeton has now earned conference Coach of the Year recognition three times in her career after being named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2010 at Illinois State.
Despite losing All-SEC forward Jordan Frericks and key reserve Bri Porter in the frontcourt to preseason injuries, Pingeton has guided Mizzou to a historic campaign in 2016-17, leading the Tigers to back-to-back 21-win seasons for the first time since 1983-84 and 1984-85. Picked to place seventh in the SEC in the preseason poll, Mizzou finished third in the league with an 11-5 mark in conference play. Mizzou’s 11 conference wins are its most since 1990.
Under Pingeton, Mizzou now has five consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1985-1990. The Tigers, who owned an 11-7 record four games into league action, won 10 of their final 12 games to clinch a double bye in the SEC Tournament and catapult into the Associated Press Top 25. During the home stretch, Mizzou put together a pair of five-game win streaks, MU’s longest streaks in conference play since 1990. It marked the first time in program history that Mizzou rattled off two separate win streaks of five or more in league play.
Pingeton and company won 15 home games during the 2016-17 season, knocking off three ranked opponents, No. 25 Kentucky, No. 25 Texas A&M and No. 6 South Carolina, along the way. Dating back to last season, the Tigers have won five consecutive games over ranked opponents at Mizzou Arena.
Pingeton’s emphasis on the importance of rebounding and free throw shooting has paid big dividends this season. Despite the loss of two forwards, Mizzou outrebounded opponents in 22 of 30 games and held opponents to a league-low 31.0 rebounds per contest in conference play. The Tigers, who rank second in the nation in free throw percentage shooting 80.1 percent, are also on pace to shatter single-season program and SEC records at the charity stripe. Mizzou has shot above 70 percent in 27 of 30 games.
Pingeton has racked up 457 career victories, including 122 and counting in seven seasons at Mizzou. With an unforgettable regular season in the books, she and the Tigers now turn to the postseason, which begins with the 2017 SEC Tournament in Greenville, S.C. With a double bye locked up, Mizzou rests until the quarterfinals on Friday. Tip off is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. CT.
— Mizzou Athletics —
