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Category: Sports

Priest Holmes to be inducted into Chiefs Hall of Fame

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ChiefsKansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt announced on Saturday that Priest Holmes will be the 2014 inductee into the Chiefs Hall of Fame. Holmes is the 44th player to earn this coveted honor which will be celebrated this evening at the 44th annual 101 Awards banquet in downtown Kansas City. The official enshrinement ceremony to the Chiefs Hall of Fame will be held during Chiefs Alumni Weekend at Arrowhead Stadium this fall.

“It is an honor to announce the induction of Priest Holmes into the Chiefs Hall of Fame,” Hunt said. “On behalf of my family and the entire Chiefs organization I would like to congratulate Priest on a remarkable career. As the Chiefs franchise all-time leader in rushing yards, total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns, Priest set a standard for excellence on and off the field during his time in Kansas City. We are grateful for his contributions to the team and the community.”

Holmes spent seven years on Kansas City’s roster (2001-07), after a four-year stint in Baltimore (1997-2000), where he originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 1997. Throughout his tenure with the Chiefs, Holmes was selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2001-03 and named All-Pro for those three years by numerous national media outlets. He was also presented with the club’s MVP award following the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

While with the Chiefs, Holmes recorded 6,070 rushing yards with 76 touchdowns, and tallied 83 total touchdowns, breaking franchise records in all three categories. During the 2003 season, Holmes scored two or more touchdowns in 10 games, which is tied for the NFL’s best mark with former running back LaDanian Tomlinson.

Maybe more impressive was Holmes’ ability to put up these statistics while entering the league as an undrafted free agent. In 2001, his first season with the Chiefs, Holmes was the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,555 yards, the only undrafted player to do so, until running back Arian Foster accomplished the feat in 2010.

Other accolades Holmes was bestowed with include NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2002), Phil Simms All-Iron Team (2001-02), Ed Block Courage Award (2004), as well as being a part of Baltimore’s Super Bowl XXXV championship team (2000).

A San Antonio, Texas, native, Holmes played collegiately at Texas, where he rushed for a career total of 1,276 yards with 20 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He is a member of the University of Texas Hall of Honor, the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He prepped at Marshall High School in San Antonio, where he currently resides and heads the Priest Holmes Foundation.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Kansas State outlasts No. 15 Iowa State, 80-73

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KSUMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane did all they could for No. 15 Iowa State on Saturday night. Outside of that dynamic scoring duo, though, hardly anyone else came through.

The rest of the Cyclones shot 6-for-35 (17 percent) from the field in an 80-73 loss to Kansas State, which put five players in double figures.

“You look at 38-2 on bench points, that’s a pretty telling stat right there,” Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said. “They did a great job.”

Will Spradling hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:38 left for Kansas State (20-9, 10-6 Big 12), in a four-way tie for second place in the conference with Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas.

Shane Southwell had 13 points for the Wildcats, trying to earn the No. 2 seed in the league tournament. They play at Oklahoma State on Monday and then host Baylor on Saturday to end the regular season.

Kansas State has won 15 straight at Bramlage Coliseum, its longest home winning streak since the 1981-82 season.

Ejim had 30 points and 16 rebounds, and Kane added 24 points and eight rebounds to pace the Cyclones (22-6, 10-6). Ejim, the Big 12’s active leader in career double-doubles, got his 31st by halftime with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

“He really struggled in his last game and only played 20 minutes,” Hoiberg said. “But we stepped up in his absence and got a big win despite him being on the bench for half of the game. His energy was off the charts tonight. To go out and have 30 and 16 on the road is a pretty big-time performance.”

Behind a 16-0 run, the Wildcats opened a 20-9 lead with 10:44 left in the first half.

Ejim and Kane answered the Kansas State spurt with 28 first-half points while cutting the deficit to 39-34 at the break.

As the “Big Three” for the Cyclones, Ejim, Kane and Georges Niang all came in with scoring averages above 17 points per game in conference play.

Although two of the three lit up the Wildcats’ defense, Kansas State coach Bruce Weber was happy with his team’s effort.

“They had two special players in that arena with Ejim and Kane,” Weber said. “Both of them are up for being the top players in the league. They’ve had the big three all year and we did the job on Niang. Some of it was getting him in foul trouble, which helped.”

Foul trouble plagued the Wildcats, too, as Spradling and leading scorer Marcus Foster sat out much of the first half with two fouls.

“We had some unconventional lineups in there,” Weber said. “But they didn’t go down. They kept battling.”

Foster ended the first half with two points on the opening basket of the game and finished with 11. Thomas Gipson and D.J. Johnson both scored 12 for Kansas State.

Ejim, the Big 12’s leading scorer with an average of 18.4 points, opened the second half with a three-point play.

Kansas State pushed its advantage to five before the Cyclones rallied to take their first lead in nearly 23 minutes. But the Wildcats answered in the closing minutes, and Spradling’s 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining gave them a 72-69 edge they did not relinquish.

“Their two shooters made big shots when they needed them,” Hoiberg said. “Spradling came off after struggling and knocks a big one down. Foster did the same thing the next time down. That’s what great players do, a four-year player in Spradling and one of the best freshmen I’ve seen in a long time in Foster.”

Kansas State closed it out with six free throws in the final 1:23.

“They came right back and hit some big shots,” Ejim said. “We played hard, guys came in, stepped up and made some big shots, but truly they were able to make some big shots down the stretch and make some stops.”

A 12-point first half from Southwell was a welcomed sight for the senior as he broke out of a monthlong slump. His 13 points were his most since scoring 14 at Iowa State on Jan. 25.

— Associated Press —

Northwest softball gets walk-off win against Sioux falls

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Northwest2013riggertThe Northwest Missouri State softball team defeated Sioux Falls Saturday with a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning to take home the 6-5 victory.

Torri Blythe knocked in the first run of the game when she hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field which enabled Taylor Blackford to score from third to put the Bearcats up 1-0.

Sioux Falls was able to plate two runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 4-1 lead.

Baylee Scarbrough reached on an error to start the bottom half of the fourth inning and was later driven in by Maddie Jones to cut the USF lead to 4-2.

Both teams traded runs in the sixth inning with Northwest’s coming from a solo home run off the bat of Taszia Roseberry, her team leading fourth home run of the season.

The Bearcats trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Jordan Ereth started the inning off by reaching first base on a fielding error. Steph Mark drove her in from first with a double to the right center ally. Chantel Adams then hit a rocket by the shortstop to score Ashley Wilcox, who had come into run for Mark, and tied the game at 5-5.

Scarbrough hit an infield single which put the winning run on third base. Cassidy Lee then stepped to the plate and hit a shot up the middle, which was stopped by the diving second baseman of USF who was unable to get the throw off. Lee was safe at first and Adams crossed home plate to complete the last inning comeback for the 6-5 win.

Northwest moves to 3-6 on the season. Head Coach Ryan Anderson’s squad will open conference play Saturday as they take on Washburn in Topeka, Kan. with game time set for noon.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Griffons drop two games to Northwest Missouri State Friday

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MWSUThe Missouri Western baseball team tried to comeback twice on Friday afternoon against Northwest Missouri State but came up short falling 7-4 and 7-6 in MIAA play. The Griffons fall to 6-5 overall and 4-2 in MIAA play. The doubleheader scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled due to potential poor weather.

Game 1
NWMSU 7
MWSU 4

Despite scoring the first run of the game the Griffons would struggle offensively falling 7-4 against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. The Griffons gave up seven runs before scoring three runs in the top of the 7th. Jake Schrader got three of the Griffons seven hits which included two RBI and a runs scored.

The Griffons used a leadoff walk by Trevor LaHonta in game one to take a 1-0 lead. LaHonta scored on a Ryan Degner double down the left field line. From there the Bearcats would scored the next seven run including two in the second inning. Austin Wulff and Jon Pomatto both stole home giving Northwest the 2-1 lead after two.

The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the forth when the Bearcats got three runs on three hits. Garrett Fort got a two RBI triple in the inning helping NWMSU to the 5-1 lead.

In the 5th the Bearcats got two more runs on two hits taking the 7-1 lead heading to the final inning. In the 7th the Griffons got hits from David Chew, Schrader and Will Carter to score three runs.

Mason Queen got the loss for the Griffons going 3.2 innings giving up seven hits and five earned runs. He falls to 1-1 striking out four.

The Bearcats had nine hits with Eric McGlauflin and and Pomatto both had two hits. Ryker Fox went five innings giving up four hits and one earned run. He improves to 2-1.

Game 2
NWMSU 7
MWSU 6

The Griffon baseball team scored six runs in the final four innings but it wasn’t enough as they fell in walk off fashion in game two against Northwest Missouri State.

The Griffons got down early giving up five hits and four runs in the second inning. Four straight hits by the Bearcats including a two RBI single by Blake Hardegree gave the Bearcats a 4-0 lead after two.

In the fifth the Bearcats tacked on two more with four more hits. They took the 6-0 lead after five innings of play.

The Griffons had just one hit until the 6th innings when they got four hits. Jeremy Monty got things going doubling to right field and then scored on a single by Degner. Two batters later Will Carter stayed hot singling in Chew and Degner cutting the lead to 6-3. Schrader scored on a Cody Childs fielders choice which cut the score to two at the end of six innings.

The score remained the same until the 8th when the Griffons tacked on one more but left the bases loaded. Degner tripled to right center and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Carter. Jerico Burasco and Cody Childs hit back-to-back singles loading the bases with one out. Mitch Thorman struck out and Trevor LaHonta hit into a fielder choice ending the threat.

In the 9th the Griffons lead off single by Monty to get things going. Monty scored the tying run with two outs when Schrader hit a double to right center.

Unfortunately the Bearcats would load the bases with two outs and Austin Wulff singled to left field giving Northwest the doubleheader sweep. They improve to 7-5 overall and 4-2 in MIAA play.

Cater finished with three hits and three RBI while Monty and Degner each had two. Grant Woods picked up the loss going four innings in relief giving up three hits and one earned run. He falls to 0-1 on the season.

The Bearcats had 11 hits with Wulff, Steven Garber and Jon Pomatto all had two hits. Brian Schmiedt got the victory going two innings. He gave up five hits and one earned run. He improves to 2-1. Hondo Pearcy pitched very well going 5.1 innings giving up four earned runs and one strikeout.

The Griffons return to action next on Friday, March 7 with the first game of a four game series with the Washburn Ichabods. Game time is set for 2 pm in St. Joseph, Mo

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western tennis comes up short against Rockhurst

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MWSUThe Missouri Western tennis team fell in a close battle with the Rockhurst Hawks 5-4 Friday afternoon at the Genesis Health Club. The Griffons fall to 0-2 with the loss while the Hawks improve to 1-2.

The Griffons took a 2-1 lead after the doubles matches picking up victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. The duo of Denise Chiao and Lindsey Beger defeated Fabi Juarez Herrera and Jessica Koraleski 8-6 while Kayla Dysart and Alyssa Dougan defeated Alex Schelble and Maddy Kayser 8-3 at No. 3 doubles.

In singles the Griffons got wins from Ceara Boldridge and Alyssa Dougan. Boldridge won 6-1, 6-0 while Dougan won by retirement of Abby Kayser. Denise Chiao battled tough but fell 6-2 and 7-5 at No. 4 singles.

The Griffons return to action on Monday, March 3 when they host Ottawa University at 2:00 pm in St. Joseph, Mo.

Singles competition
1. Schelble, Emma (RU) def. Dysart,Kayla (MWSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Revling, Taylor (RU) def. Beger,Lindsay (MWSU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Juarez Herrera, Fabi (RU) def. Smith,Meara (MWSU) 6-0, 6-2
4. Koraleski, Jessica (RU) def. Chiao,Denise (MWSU) 6-2, 7-5
5. Boldridge,Ceara (MWSU) def. Kayser, Maddy (RU) 6-1, 6-0
6. Dougan,Alyssa (MWSU) def. Kayser, Abby (RU) 1-6, retired

Doubles competition
1. Revling, Taylor/Schelble, Emma (RU) def. Smith,Meara/Boldridge,Ceara (MWSU) 8-6
2. Chiao,Denise/Beger,Lindsay (MWSU) def. Juarez Herrera, Fabi/Koraleski, Jessica (RU) 8-6
3. Dysart,Kayla/Dougan,Alyssa (MWSU) def. Schelble, Alex/Kayser, Maddy (RU) 8-3

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest softball loses games to Sioux Falls & Wayne State

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Northwest2013riggertThe Northwest Missouri State softball team dropped two games Friday as the Bearcats fell to Sioux Falls, 6-5, in game one and 6-1 to Wayne State in game two.

The pitchers for both teams dominated the first five innings as they totaled 13 strikeouts while allowing only one walk.

The Bearcats were the first team to get a hit when Jordan Ereth doubled to left center field to leadoff the fourth inning. Stephanie Mark singled to right center to knock in Ereth and put her team up 1-0.

Bailee Scarbrough added to the lead in the fifth inning when she knocked her first collegiate home run over the left field fence.

Sarah Baldwin took a no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth for Northwest, but was unable to keep the Sioux Falls hitters at bay. SF was able to scrape across six runs to take a 6-2 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning.

Mark leadoff the inning with a solo home run, which was followed by a double off the bat of Chantel Adams. Adams was able to trot home when Taszia Roseberry hit her third home run of the season. The Bearcats fell one run short in their last inning comeback bid, falling 6-5.

Game two pitted Northwest against Wayne State.

Mark provided the only offensive spark for the Bearcats as she hit her second home run of the day in the bottom of the second inning to put her team up 1-0.

WSU scored two in the sixth and four more in the seventh as Northwest was unable to answer.

Abbie Vitosh was tagged with the loss in the 6-1 defeat.

The Bearcats move to 2-6 on the season and will turn around and play Sioux Falls Saturday in a one game affair, with first pitch scheduled for noon.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Jayhawks’ Wiggins named semifinalist for Naismith Trophy

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KUKansas freshman Andrew Wiggins has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2014 Men’s Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Friday.

Four finalists for the Naismith Trophy will be announced March 23. On Thursday, Feb. 27, Wiggins was also selected as one of 15 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which is the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s (USBWA) National Player of the Year award. He, along with KU teammate Joel Embiid, is also one of six finalists for the USBWA’s Wayman Tisdale Award, recognizing the organization’s National Freshman of the Year.

Wiggins leads Kansas with a 16.3 scoring average, the best among Big 12 freshmen and ninth overall in the conference. The Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, guard has made 35 threes this season and is the team leader with 29 steals. Wiggins’ 5.8 rebound average is third on the team and 18th in the conference. A gifted shooter, Wiggins also ranks among the Big 12 leaders in field goal percentage (11th at 44.8) and free throw percentage (ninth at 75.9). He is a two-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and was the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week on Jan. 28.

The last Jayhawk to be named a Naismith Trophy semifinalist was Thomas Robinson in 2012. He would later be named one of the four finalists for the award.

No. 5/6 Kansas (22-6, 13-2) has won at least a share of the 2013-14 Big 12 Conference regular-season title, its 10th-straight, 14th Big 12 and NCAA-leading 57th overall. The Jayhawks will travel to Oklahoma State (18-10, 6-9) Saturday, at 8 p.m. on ESPN College GameDay.

— KU Sports Information —

K-State receives $60 million gift from the Vanier Family

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riggertKStateThe Jack Vanier family has made a gift of $60 million — the largest private donation in the history of K-State. The gift provides $40 million to benefit students, faculty, programs and facilities on both the Manhattan and Salina campuses, and $20 million for Phase III of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium master plan.

“Kansas State has always been a very important part of our lives,” the Vanier family said. “We feel very fortunate and are honored to be able to make this gift to the university. More importantly, we are thrilled to see so many other K-Staters from across the country investing in the lives of young people in Manhattan and Salina. The confidence we have in President Schulz and his leadership team, and the transparency with which they guide the university made the decision to make this gift an easy one. Our hope is that this will inspire others to make their investments in this great university.”

$40 million for students, faculty, programs and facilities

Student scholarships and fellowships have been established in the College of Technology and Aviation at K-State Salina, the College of Business Administration and the Biosecurity Research Institute. Additional support for students across both campuses includes Presidential Scholarships and a gift for the K-State Proud Student Opportunity Awards.

Faculty professorships and fellowships have been established in the College of Human Ecology and at the Biosecurity Research Institute, as well as several professorships that may be awarded in any college.

Excellence funds have been established for the Biosecurity Research Institute and at K-State Salina. These funds provide flexible funding to allow university leaders to respond to urgent needs and emerging opportunities. Additionally, a research fellows program will be established at the Biosecurity Research Institute.

Facility support on the Manhattan campus has been provided for the K-State Welcome Center. This unique facility will be one of the first in the country to provide a central location for students and families to connect with new student services, admissions, financial assistance, housing and dining services, and career and employment services. The east side of Memorial Stadium will be renovated and revitalized to house the Welcome Center.

$20 million for K-State Athletics

Phase III of the master plan includes dramatic upgrades for student-athlete needs spanning the entire 16-sport department. These include a new academic learning center, new football operations offices, new sports medicine operations and new strength and conditioning spaces. Basic fan amenities in the north end zone will also be enhanced as the end zone seating and services are upgraded.

— KSU Sports Information —

No. 9 Ravens fall on the road at 15th-ranked Culver-Stockton

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riggertBenedictine3Needing just one more win to clinch their first-ever outright HAAC championship, the No. 9-ranked Raven men’s basketball team hit the road on Thursday to take on No. 15-ranked Culver-Stockton College in their final regular-season road game.

Benedictine (20-7, 13-4 HAAC) gave up a season-high 96 points to Culver-Stockton (21-6, 12-5 HAAC) as the Wildcats came out firing en route to a 96-81 win.

After Charlie Wallrapp converted a pair of free throws just under two minutes into the game, the Ravens led 2-0 before a 3-pointer from Culver-Stockton’s James Johnson gave the Wildcats their first lead, 3-2, seconds later.

That 3-pointer sparked a 22-3 run that allowed the Wildcats to take control of the game.

Benedictine was limited to just seven points over the first nine minutes of the game as the Wildcats held the Ravens scoreless from the field.

Back-to-back baskets from John Harris Jr. and Wallrapp gave Benedictine its first field goals of the opening half and cut their deficit to 22-11 with just under 10 minutes left in the first half but that would be all the closer the Ravens would get in the first half as Culver-Stockton led 55-37 at the half.

Culver-Stockton finished the half connecting on 54.5 percent from the floor while converting on 9 of 14 from beyond the arc.

In the second half, the Ravens warmed up to 58.1 percent from the floor while holding the Wildcats to 43.3 percent and just 3 of 7 from beyond the arc.

While outscoring Culver-Stockton 44-41 in the second half, the Ravens just couldn’t overcome their slow start as they suffered the loss.

Wallrapp was the only Raven in double figures with 17 points while Steven O’Brien and Harris Jr. finished with 8 points each.

The Ravens host No. 19 Evangel University at 4 p.m. Saturday inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium. A win by Benedictine would still give them the outright HAAC Championship while a loss would move the Ravens, Evangel and Culver-Stockton into a three-way share of the HAAC Championship.

— BC Sports Information —

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