Sports – Page 396 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Bishop LeBlond boys’ soccer team wins first district title in four years

Posted on October 20, 2016October 21, 2016

The Bishop LeBlond boys’ soccer team earned their first district championship since 2012 as they defeated Northland Christian Thursday night at Eagles Stadium 6-0 in the title game of the Class 1 District 8 Tournament.

LeBlond improves to 11-8 this season and they advance to the Class 1 Quarterfinals where they’ll play St. Paul Lutheran. The Saints are 20-4 this season and they beat Barstow 3-1 in the championship of the Class 1 District 7 Tournament.

Bishop LeBlond’s quarterfinal game with St. Paul Lutheran will take place a week from Saturday, October 29, at a site and time to be determined.

Missouri Western women picked fifth in preseason MIAA coaches poll

Posted on October 20, 2016October 20, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team is picked fifth in the 2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Griffons are defending MIAA Regular Season Champions, setting an MIAA record with 20 conference wins one season ago. This year’s team will feature four new starters, but returns eight Griffons from last year’s team which advanced to the NCAA Central Regional.

2016 MIAA Tournament Champion Emporia State was picked first with 2016 Central Regional Champion Pittsburg State second and receiving two first place votes. Washburn and Fort Hays State rounded out the top-four, respectively.

2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Emporia State (12) – 168
2. Pittsburg State (2) – 156
3. Washburn – 132
4. Fort Hays State – 127
5. Missouri Western – 124
6. Central Oklahoma – 96
7. Nebraska-Kearney – 95
8. Central Missouri – 89
9. Missouri Southern – 83
10. Southwest Baptist – 75
11. Northeastern State – 43
12. Lindenwood – 40
13. Northwest Missouri – 31
14. Lincoln – 15

Rob Edmisson enters his fifth year as head coach of the Griffons. He led the team to the postseason in three of his first four years, including last year’s NCAA regional berth, a first for the program since 2004. It was also the program’s first MIAA Championship since 2002 and the most wins in program history (27-4).

The Griffons open the regular season Nov. 11 when they host the Drury Inn Tip-Off Tournament. Missouri Western will play host to Southwest Minnesota State in the opener.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest men’s basketball team ranked eighth in DII Bulletin Top 25

Posted on October 20, 2016October 20, 2016

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team was ranked eighth in the 2016-17 Division II Bulletin’s top-25 preseason poll. The Bearcats were the MIAA’s only representative on the poll. Nebraska-Kearney was listed as a team to watch. Junior Justin Pitts was named a Central Region Super 16 Selection by the publication.

On Wednesday, Northwest was ranked first in the MIAA preseason coaches poll. The Bearcats begin the 2016-17 season on Friday, Nov. 11, against Upper Iowa in St. Joseph, Mo., at 3 p.m. The first home action for Northwest will be on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., against defending national champion Augustana University.

Northwest returns four starters off last year’s team that went 27-6 overall and 19-3 in MIAA play. The Bearcats captured both the regular season and conference tournament titles, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 round for the third consecutive year. Pitts is the reigning MIAA Player of the Year and coach Ben McCollum was named MIAA Coach of the Year. Senior Zach Schneider earned All-MIAA third team honors while Chris-Ebou Ndow was an honorable mention performer.

— Northwest Athletics —

Kansas enters 2016-2017 at No. 2 in USA Today Men’s Basketball Coaches Top 25

Posted on October 20, 2016October 20, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s basketball enters the 2016-17 season No. 2 with one first-place vote in the USA TODAY Coaches’ Poll released Thursday. This is the highest ranking for the Jayhawks since KU was preseason No. 1 in 2009-10.

Kansas is ranked in the preseason for the 25th time in time in the 28-year history of the poll. The No 2 ranking marks the sixth time KU has been preseason No. 2 or higher in the coaches’ poll. Additionally, it is the 11th time in the Bill Self era the Jayhawks have been preseason seventh or higher, including each of the last five seasons.

For 2016-17, Kansas returns three starters and eight letterwinners from last season’s 33-5 team which went 15-3 in Big 12 play, winning its unprecedented 12th-straight, 16th Big 12 and NCAA-leading 59th overall conference regular-season championship. KU also won the 2015 Maui Invitational and 2016 Big 12 Championship titles and was the overall No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament where it advanced to the Elite Eight.

Kansas will face two nationally-ranked teams, including No. 1 Duke, in its first two regular-season games of the 2016-17 season. The Jayhawks will play No. 12 Indiana on Nov. 11, in the State Farm Armed Forces Classic in Honolulu and will then play Duke in the State Farm Champions Classic, Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Overall, KU will play seven games against teams in the coaches’ preseason poll this season.

Last season Kansas tied its previous season’s record by facing 16 ranked foes. The Jayhawks’ 12 wins against ranked teams was an all-time season high.

In 2015-16 Kansas opened the year No. 5 in the preseason coaches’ poll and ended No. 3.

USA Today Coaches Poll (preseason)
Rank. Team (first place votes) – points
1. Duke (27) – 792
2. KANSAS (1) – 721
3. Villanova (1) – 700
4. Kentucky (2) – 695
5. Oregon (1) – 620
6. North Carolina – 614
7. Virginia – 596
8. Xavier – 552
9. Michigan State – 544
10. Wisconsin – 487
11. Arizona – 468
12. Indiana – 435
13. Gonzaga – 371
14. Louisville – 367
15. Purdue – 324
16. Connecticut – 239
17. Syracuse – 224
18. West Virginia – 204
19. Saint Mary’s – 203
20. UCLA – 185
21. Maryland – 153
22. Texas – 124
23. Creighton – 113
24. Rhode Island – 85
25. Cincinnati – 75

Others receiving votes: Florida State 65, Iowa State 56, California 43, Miami 35, Dayton 34, Oklahoma 33, Seton Hall 24, Texas A&M 22, Notre Dame 18, San Diego State 17, Virginia Tech 16, Wichita St 15, Butler 14, USC 14, Ohio State 12, Colorado 11, Florida 11, Clemson 11, Michigan 10, Pittsburgh 7, Georgia 6, Yale 6, VCU 6, Chattanooga 5, Washington 4, Kansas State 3, Nevada 3, Davidson 2, Valparaiso 2, Arkansas 2, Utah 1, SMU 1

— KU Athletics —

Lafayette rallies past Chillicothe to win first district volleyball title in school history

Posted on October 19, 2016October 19, 2016

The Lafayette volleyball team became the second St. Joseph High School to win a district championship this week as they defeated Chillicothe Wednesday in three sets in the Class 3 District 16 title game at Cameron.

The Fighting Irish lost the opening set to the Hornets 25-15 before rallying to win the next two, 25-17 and 25-22. It’s the first district championship in school history for Lafayette.

LHS improves to 20-13-1 this season and they move on the Class 3 Sectionals on Saturday against Pleasant Hill. The game will take place at St. Pius X in Kansas City as Pleasant Hill comes into the match with a 32-2-1 record.

Bishop LeBlond won the Class 2 District 16 championship on Tuesday as they’ll play their sectional game Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran in Concordia. The Eagles, who are 26-7-2, will take on Holden (24-5-4) with a trip to the quarterfinals on the line.

Saxton Thuston named Benton’s winner of the Wendy’s High School Heisman

Posted on October 19, 2016

St. Joseph, Missouri (October 19, 2016) – There are some students who set the bar. They work harder, show more passion and lead by example—in the classroom, on the field and within the community. Wednesday, Wendy’s High School Heisman recognizes Saxton Thuston from Benton High School and his dedication to never cutting corners by naming him Benton High School’s Winner.

“Saxton is known by his teachers and friends for his commitment to excellence. We are excited and honored that a program like Wendy’s High School Heisman is also recognizing his hard work,” said Principal, Beery Johnson, of Benton High School.

Since 1994, Wendy’s and the Heisman Trophy Trust have been running the same play to perfection: honoring more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed students. This year, Wendy’s will celebrate the accomplishments of thousands of the best high school seniors, awarding winners in five phases.

Both School Winners and State Finalists were announced Wednesday. School Winners will receive a School Winner certificate and a Wendy’s High School Heisman Patch. State Finalists will receive a bronze medal, a Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist patch and a $25 gift card. From the group of State Finalists, one senior male and female will be selected from each state and announced as State Winners on October 20.

For more information or to track a student’s progress through the competition, please visit www.WendysHeisman.com.

— Wendy’s Heisman Press Release —

Griffons picked to finish 12th in preseason MIAA Men’s Basketball poll

Posted on October 19, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team is selected 12th in the 2016-17 MIAA Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll which was released Wednesday morning.

Western is coming off a 12-18 overall record last season, including a 9-13 mark in MIAA play. The Griffons finished 11th in the standings last season, upsetting Washburn in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament before being eliminated by Missouri Southern.

Fifth-year head coach Brett Weiberg returns five lettermen from the 2015-16 team.

Defending champion Northwest Missouri State was picked first in the poll. Washburn, Fort Hays State, Lincoln and Missouri Southern rounded out the top-five.

The Griffons open the season Nov. 4 with an exhibition game at Texas Tech. The first home game is Nov. 11 during the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic. Missouri Western will play Wayne State (Neb.) and Upper Iowa in the event.

2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (13)     169
2. Washburn (1)                     147
3. Fort Hays State                  129
4. Lincoln                                123
5. Missouri Southern               111
6. Nebraska-Kearney              104
7. Central Oklahoma                 94
8. Pittsburg State                      93
9. Central Missouri                    92
10. Lindenwood                         72
11. Emporia State                      55
12. Missouri Western                 45
13. Northeastern State              22
14. Southwest Baptist                18

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou Athletics receives $8 Million gift for football facility project

Posted on October 19, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has received yet another major gift toward its planned football facility. The confidential donor has made an $8 million gift for the new football facility in the south end zone at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field.

This gift comes on the heels of two other recent gift announcements which rejuvenated the push for new football facilities. The $8 million gift, coupled with a previously announced $10 million gift, means that in the past two months, Mizzou Athletics has received two of its top-five largest donations in program history.

“We are so grateful for such a transformational gift,” said Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. “We’re very excited to continue this process and keep momentum going. Our next steps include meeting with architects to determine all of the details of the project and then our goal will be to present our final plan with the funding model to our Board of Curators for their approval in February,” he said.

The latest gift puts the current fundraising total for the project at approximately $67 million.

“This is such an exciting time for our program, and I’m so impressed with our donors and the support they’re giving for this project,” said Head Football Coach Barry Odom. “I can’t say enough just how thankful we are for gifts like this. We’re going to create a first-class facility, something that our fans will be proud of, and something that will have a huge impact for years to come for our student-athletes,” he said.

Specific details and scope of the campaign and project will be unveiled at a later date, after plans are approved and finalized.

— Mizzou Athletics —

LeBlond wins district volleyball title; Lafayette advances to championship

Posted on October 18, 2016

Three high school volleyball teams in the city were in action Tuesday as the district tournament semifinals took place around the state.

In the Class 2 Distrcit 16 tournament at Lawson, the semifinals and championship all took place Tuesday and the Bishop LeBlond Golden Eagles won the district title.

LeBlond swept Lawson in the semifinals 25-22, 25-19 and then played top-seeded Mid-Buchanan in the championship. The Dragons defeated East Buchanan in their semifinal game, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23. Bishop LeBlond rallied in the title game after losing the first set 25-20 to win the next two 25-22 and 25-17.

The Eagles improve to 25-7-2 and they’ll play in the Class 2 Sectionals on Saturday. St. Paul Lutheran in Concordia will host the Sectional, but LeBlond will play the winner of the Class 2 District 13 tournament. That tournament will be completed Wednesday as they play the semifinals and championship on the same night.

At Cameron in the Class 3 District 16 semifinals Tuesday, the Lafayette Fighting Irish advanced to the championship game with a win over Savannah in three sets, 25-20, 21-25, 25-22. Lafayette will play Chillicothe for the district title as the Hornets outlasted Benton in three sets, 25-19, 20-25, 25-22, in the other semifinal.

The first serve of that district championship for the Irish and Hornets is at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday.

Western men’s golf team finishes 14th in final event of fall season

Posted on October 18, 2016

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Missouri Western men’s golf team wrapped up their fall season Tuesday as they shot a 951 at the Lindenwood Invitational on Missouri Bluffs Golf Course in St. Charles, Missouri.

MWSU finished 14th out of the 16 teams in the field. Missouri-St. Louis won the team title, followed by Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma and Lindenwood.

The Griffons were led by freshman Patrick McCarthy with a 9-over par 222 to finish the tournament tied for sixteenth place. Kevin Kim had a three round total of 244, while Jacob Majeske shot a 247. Jakob Rudosky and Lucas Horseman both finished with a score of 249 for MWSU.

— MWSU Athletics —