Making the Call - Ref Series 2024

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

Bearcats pick up home sweep over RiverHawks

Bearcat Athletics

MARYVILLE, Mo. —

On a blustery day at Bearcat Field, the Northwest Missouri State softball squad put up a pair of wins over the Northeastern State RiverHawks.

Northwest took the opener in five innings, 9-1, and then took care of business in the second game in six innings, 10-2.

The Bearcats hit four home runs in the doubleheader and improved to 19-21 overall and 8-8 in MIAA play. Northeastern State fell to 7-28 overall and 2-16 in league action.

GAME ONE

Northwest pounded out 11 hits en route to a 9-1, five-

Sophomore Brylee Acklin took home the coveted Golden Shoe Award on the girls side as the top overall individual scorer. It was the first Golden Shoe Award for a Spoofhound since Brooklyn Holtman won it in 2021.

“It’s really exciting,” Acklin said. “Coming into today I wasn’t focused on that I just wanted to make myself better and the points came with that.”

Bade said he had forgotten about the Golden Shoe and had not even give it any thought until he woke up last Wednesday morning. It was then he had the revelation that Acklin, although only a sophomore had a chance to win the coveted award. Acklin normally competes in three individual events and a relay, but on Friday she ran the 200m dash instead of being on a relay.

“I went ‘hmmm’ so I looked at what else she could do, I made the executive decision to pull here out of the relay and give her a shot because you never know,” Bade said.

Acklin won the triple jump with a distance of 10.29 meters, and the placed second in a trio of running events 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles with times of 16.74 and 47.46 respectively and the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.95.

For the boys winning as a team was accomplished with contributions up and down the roster.

Senior Wyatt Garner took first place in the long jump with a personal best leap of

inning victory to start the doubleheader.

Northwest put up a five-run first against Northeastern State to open up some breathing room.

After Lillie Filger led off with a groundout, the next five batters singled and all told, the next eight Bearcat hitters reached base.

Northwest tallied six hits in the first and led 5-0.

Northwest added two more runs in the third when Avery Mayberry and Sophie Mayhugh led off the innings with walks. Mayberry scored on a sac fly from Annie Gahan and Mayhugh crossed on a fielder’s choice in Filger’s at bat.

Abby Nolte launched her sixth home run of the season with a two-run blast to left

6.88 meters which broke a 15-year-old school record and now has him as having the longest jump in Class 3 so far this season.

“It’s a great feeling that all of this hard work is finally paying off,” Garner said.

“I want to really thank my coaches and everyone who has helped me. It’s turning out to be a really good season.”

In the javelin, Wesley Snead continues his great start to his season with a first-place throw of 46.87 meters, while fellow senior Connor Blackford won the 1600-meter run in 4:31.42.

The boys 4x400-meter relay team of Darren Dwight, Blackford, Delton Davis and Dylan Meyer ended the meet with a first-place race in a time of 3:38.17.

Other standout performances for the boys include Garner taking second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.43. The 4x200-meter relay team of Dylan Masters, Tuan Jacobson, Delton Davis and Garner were second with a time of 1:33.00. Meyer was second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.56.

Mace McKim continues his breakout freshman season with a second place throw of 14.88-meter in the shot put with Carson Sterling taking fifth at 14.10 meters. McKim also brought home third place in the discus with a throw of 42.47 meters.

The other boys relay teams also had strong performances with a pair of third place finishes in their races. The 4x100-meter relay team of Dwight, Jacobson, Davis and Garner ran a 44.51. The 4x800-meter

that plated Lauren Gray and gave Northwest a 9-1 advantage in the fourth. Bearcat starting pitcher Jadyn Streigle tossed a complete game and allowed one run on six hits. Streigle struck out one RiverHawk batter to improve to 7-8 on the season.

GAME TWO

Northwest hammered three homers in game two and Hayden Simmons took a shutout into the sixth in a 10-2, six-inning Bearcat victory.

Northwest took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Nolte drew a leadoff walk and scored on a single from Gahan. Gaige Pinkerton singled and scored on a bases-loaded walk by Filger.

The Bearcats took the long-ball approach in the fifth. Gahan ripped her second home run of the season to lead off the fifth. Gray lifted a two-out, tworun homer to left that just cleared the fence to put Northwest on top, 5-0. Nolte followed with a solo homer for back-to-back jacks that gave Northwest a 6-0 advantage.

Simmons worked five shutout innings, before the RiverHawks hit back-toback one-out home runs off her in the sixth. Head coach Naomi Tellez lifted Simmons for reliever Breck Dickey. Dickey worked the final 2/3 of the sixth by not allowing a hit.

Northwest put together a four-run rally in the sixth to

close out the 10-2 victory.

Omara Love drew a basesloaded walk to score Cora Schweitzer, who had pinch run for Lela Bryant. Skylar Pieper was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Gahan and give Northwest an 8-2 lead.

Nolte delivered a walk-off, two-run single to left-center to give the Bearcats a runrule win.

Simmons got the win to move to 5-1. Simmons allowed three hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched. She struck out eight RiverHawk batters.

The Bearcats will return to action Friday at home against Missouri Western. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at the Bearcat Softball Field.

relay team of Colton Berry, Dalton McDonough, Anmol Prabhakar and Jaren Dombek had a time of 9:10.25.

Blackford finished third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:02.56 while right behind him in fourth place at 2:04.36. Berry also excelled individually in his distance race taking third place in the 3200-meter run at 10:43.04.

Titus McKim was third in the triple jump with a distance of 12.35 and sixth place finishes in the javelin (37.22 meters) and high jump (1.70 meters). Fellow junior Kole Zarbano took third and fourth respectively in the 300-meter and

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100-meter hurdles respectively with times of 43.69 and 17.28.

Besides Acklin’s big day, several girls had excellent scoring days to help the Spoofhounds reach the century mark in points.

Ava Dumke was second in the javelin with a distance of 36.13 meters, while fellow senior Ainsley Watkins was third in the pole vault at height of 2.45 meters.

Juniors Ellie Willnerd and Rylee Hornbuckle had strong days throwing. In the discus Willnerd was third while Hornbuckle was fourth with throws of 32.25 meters at 31.85 meters respectively. In the shot put Hornbuckle was sixth at 9.48 meters and Willnerd seventh at 9.36 meters.

Katherine Pohren was third in the 3200-meter run in a time of 12:47.40 and fifth in the 1600-meter run at 5:47.99. Relays were also good for the Maryville girls. The 4x200-meter relay team of Payton McGinness, Jillian Bagley, Kora Grow and Isabella Kinderknecht brought home third place in a time of 1:51.00. The 4x800-meter relay of Nyah Davis, Kami Tobin, Julieann Conn and Ellie Parsons were fourth in a time of 11:37.08, while the 4x100-meter relay team of McGinness, Bagley, Schulte and Grow were also fourth in 52.94. The 4x400-meter relay team of Casey Stoll, Meah Schommer, Addison Bowe and Kinderknecht came in

BRIAN WATKINS

Sports Officiated Baseball & Softball

Years as an Official 18 years for baseball, 17 years for softball

Hometown: Maryville

More about Brian Watkins: His son, Kort Watkins, also umpires high school baseball and softball games

FRIDAY

MARYVILLE, Mo. -

The No. 4-ranked Rogers State Hillcats pulled off a doubleheader sweep of the Northwest Missouri State softball team Friday afternoon. The Hillcats won the opening game, 11-3, in five innings and then tallied a 4-2 triumph in the second game.

GAME ONE

The Hillcats used a trio of three-run homers to secure a 11-3, five-inning victory in the first game.

GAME TWO

The Hillcats out-hit the Bearcats, 9-2, but had to hang on for a 4-2 win to capture the doubleheader sweep.

fifth with a time of 4:38.34.

Other point scorers for the girls were Bowe in the 100-meter dash in sixth place at 13.70. A trio of girls finished in eighth place with Ella Schulte in the 100-meter hurdles (18.11), Lindsey Deering 400-meter dash (1:07.64) and Beatrice Diaferio in the 200-meter dash (28.27).

Additional point scorers for the boys were Sadler Viau triple jump at 12.08-meter (fifth place), Caden Eighmy (sixth place) 110-meter hurdles in 18.22, Jonah Miller (sixth place) 300-meter hurdles in 45.01, Viau (seventh place) 100-meter dash 12.28, Xander Brown (seventh place) 400-meter dash in 55.66 and Shawn Mahoney (eighth place) pole vault at 2.75 meters.

With so many people scoring for the Maryville boys, Garner was happy with how the meet went for the team and he said his fellow athletes are focused on what is ahead of them short term and long term.

“We came in here to win and that’s what we did,” he said. “We’re going to keep coming in to meets and trying to win them all no matter what.”

Acklin was equally happy with how the entire team performed.

“Our team did really well,” she said. “What helps us is we are really very competitive with each other at practice and we push each other to be the best we can. When we’re at the meet we all cheer each other on have such a great atmosphere it’s a lot of fun to be around.”

The Spoofhounds are back in competition on Thursday at the Winnetonka Invitational that will feature a lot of the top teams in the Kansas City area.

KEN GARNER/THE FORUM

Maryville junior Dylan Meyer runs a relay last Friday in Chillicothe.

HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS

Spoofhounds win ninth-straight on Senior Night

By JON DYKSTRA The Forum

MARYVILLE, Mo. —

After a season-opening 6-3 loss to Savannah, Maryville tennis has responded with 9-straight wins. Of those nine wins, seven have been 9-0 sweeps including Thursday’s 9-0 win over Clarinda at the Mark Rosewell Tennis Center.

The Spoofhounds celebrated Senior Night with Thomas Wilmes, Brody Stagner, Jaxson Staples, Landon Baker and Kason Teale. All five seniors played at least one varsity match as the Spoofhounds showcased their depth.

In doubles, George Groumoutis paired with Stagner as the No. 1 team and picked up a 8-2 win over Ben Miller and Creighton Bird from Clarinda.

“My backhand and beating Savannah,” Stagner said on what he is focused on the rest of the season.

In the reorganized doubles, No. 1 Teale paired with Wilmes in his first varsity start of his career.

The two had the closest singles match of the day and ended up with a 8-4 win over Clarinda’s Brady Cox and Robin Lin.

“It was definitely a new experience, playing with some faster people,” Wilmes said. “But it was really fun. I’ve never played that long of a game before. It was really fun playing with Kason. It was a new experience.”

Teale’s range allowed Wilmes to be aggressive and play the net. The senior had several winners to help propel the duo to the win.

“I’d say I got some pretty good slams in,” Wilmes said.

COLLEGE SOCCER

Spoofhound No. 3 Staples teamed with Baker for another all-senior group and they were able to roll to a 8-0 win over Clarinda’s Ian Smith and Isaiah Stugdill. “It was fun playing with someone I’ve never played with before,” Baker said. “It was a different play style. We were mixing stuff up, trying things and having fun. We weren’t taking it too seriously, but it was fun playing with him.”

In the non-conference match, Maryville coach

Nicole McGinness was able to get more of the roster playing time in varsity singles. She held out Teale and Staples and reconfigured the lineup with some of the team’s youth.

Usual No. 4 Will Sheil was also out with a leg injury he suffered in the win over St. Pius X.

Usual No. 2 Groumoutis was elevated to the No. 1 spot and rolled to an 8-2 victory over Miller. Freshman Kyler Skidmore, who was held out of doubles for the seniors, moved up from the No. 5 spot to the No. 2 spot and downed Bird 8-2.

Stagner is in his first

Teale signs with Buffaloes

By JON DYKSTRA

The Forum

MARYVILLE, Mo. —

Kason Teale knows that football is king during the fall, especially in Titletown, Missouri. But during Teale’s time in Maryville, he and his teammates have worked hard to raise the visibility of soccer in town.

Four-straight district titles and two state third-place trophies have helped do that. And Teale has been in the middle of it all as the first 4-time All-State selection in school history.

“Just the soccer community — I know that football is a large part in Maryville — but the soccer community of parents and through the last few years, we’ve gotten a lot more help in what we do and a lot more people supporting us,” Teale said.

Teale was an Honorable Mention All-State selection as a freshman and made the First Team as a sophomore when Maryville made its first-ever state semifinal appearance and finished third, losing a 1-0 heartbreaker to eventual state champion Lutheran (St. Charles).

The Spoofhound midfielder repeated on the First Team as a junior and as a senior, he helped lead the Hounds back to the semifinals where they lost a heartbreaker again, but rolled to third place. Teale became a 3-time First Team All-State selection.

“Being able to come into a good program freshman year, we were able to make it to sectionals,” Teale said. “The upperclassmen were always super nice to me, especially Teagan (Haer), Truett (Haer), James (DiStefano), Justin (Staples). They all took Jaxson (Staples) and I under their wing.”

All that success led to Thursday and Teale signing with West Texas A&M, a Division-II program in Canyon, Texas. Under coach Butch Lauffer, the Buffaloes have not had a losing season in 31 years. Lauffer has sent 23 players to the professional ranks, coached 13 All-Americans and 51 All-Region players.

Teale, who will study finance, says that he has had the goal of playing in the state of Texas for his college soccer and joining the Buffs program was the perfect opportunity to do that.

“I’ve wanted to go to Texas for some time now,” Teale said. “West Texas

is a very dominant school down there in the Lone Star Conference and their coach has been down there for about 33 years now and he’s only had one losing season. They are a very strong program.”

Teale and his senior class finished their Maryville with a 52-21-1 career record. In addition to Teale, Jaxson Staples is playing collegiately at Bellevue University and Boyd Gallaher has committed to Lincoln Trail College.

“There has always been a pretty decent-sized soccer community,” Teale said. “There has been Sunday soccer for years that a lot of people have gone to, so I’ve gotten to talk to a lot of the older upperclassmen who I didn’t actually get to play with like Jaden Hayes and Thomas DiStefano so I got to see them play. And I always looked up to them because I saw how good they were. I wanted to be just as good as they were when I was younger.”

in the lineup were junior varsity players stepping up to fill in for Teale, Staples and Sheil.

The No. 4 spot was a player very familiar with varsity action as Baker has been in the lineup previous seasons. Baker battled his way to an 8-4 win over Smith.

“Just focusing and really making sure I make good contact with the ball,” Baker said, was the key to the match.

Sophomore AJ Dinsdale stepped up as the No. 5 and rolled to an 8-0 win over Lin. The No. 6 spot gave TJ Kain the opportunity for his first varsity action and the match became a marathon for the sophomore.

“A lot of my friends, especially the seniors, have helped me with my serve and things,” Kain said.

Dinsdale and Sheil remained on the sideline cheering on Kain as the match quickly became the last one going on at the Rosewell Center. It was back and forth the entire way before eventually settling in at 8-8 for a tiebreaker.

season on the team. He played with his friends on the team previously and also plays pickleball, but has quickly become a varsity player for the Hounds.

“I’ve played a few times before just having fun and I’m really glad I came out,” Stagner said.

He played the No. 3 spot on Thursday and was dominant with a 8-0 victory over Cox.

“My serving has gotten better than most,” Stagner said. “At the beginning of the season, I couldn’t really serve, I would double fault sometimes. Now, I’ve got it pretty dialed in.”

The other three spots

“I was insanely nervous,” Kain said. “I came out on top though.”

Stugdill took a 5-1 lead in the first-to-7 tiebreaker, but Kain battled back with four-straight points and eventually had the chance to win it, but Stugdill and Kain traded winners to end those chances to end the match.

Eventually, Kain was able to cash in the 9-8 (12-10) victory for a hard-fought first career varsity win.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” Kain said. “It was so crazy. I didn’t think I would win. I was behind a lot of the game, and then that last one, I was so relieved.”

Maryville has a tournament on Wednesday before getting back into conference play Thursday against Bishop LeBlond at the Rosewell Center.

“Put our trust in our teammates and allow them to do what they need to do,” Baker said, is the key to the rest of the season. “They know what needs to happen to win.”

Maryville 9, Trenton 0 On Monday, the Spoofhounds picked up a 10th-straight win with a 9-0 win over Trenton. Trenton only had three players so Maryville’s Kason Teale and Jaxson Staples earned a 8-2 win over Victor Markell and Isaac Dixon. In singles, George Groumoutis topped Markell 8-1, Kyler Skidmore beat Dixon 8-1 and Brody Stagner beat Henry Lasley 8-0.

Maryville 7, St. Pius X 2 Last Wednesday, Maryville picked up a 7-2 win over St. Pius X in a Midland Empire Conference matchup. The Spoofhounds swept doubles action with Kason Teale and Jaxson Staples beating Justin Janasz and Clark Shields 8-4, George Groumoutis and Will Sheil beating Adam Champagne and James Green 8-1 and Kyler Skidmore and Brody Stagner beating Phu Du and Joshua Quintero 8-2. In singles, St. Pius X earned wins with Janasz beating Teale 8-4 and Sheil withdrawing with injury.

Maryville’s singles victories came with Groumoutis beating Shields 8-5, and Staples, Skidmore and Stagner each winning their matches 8-0.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville senior Kason Teale signed with West Texas A&M last Thursday. Pictured, seated from left, Anna Teale, Kason Teale, Adam Teale and Maryville coach Matt Stoecklein; standing; Maryville assistant coach Justin Staples.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville senior Thomas Wilmes returns a ball last Thursday against Clarinda at the Mark Rosewell Tennis Center.

Maryville 9, Clarinda 0

Spoofhounds fall to fifth-ranked Chicks

By JON DYKSTRA The Forum

MARYVILLE, Mo. —

The Spoofhounds have positioned themselves to be the No. 1 seeds in Class 2 District 8 when the district bracket is released.

Maryville is 6-2-2 this season while the only other team in the district with a winning record is Bishop LeBlond who Maryville beat 3-1 last week. If Maryville wins the district, the team would face the winner of District 7 for a place in the state semifinals.

The two favorites to come out of District 7 are Pleasant Hill (12-4) and St. Pius X (8-2). The Spoofhounds get a preview this week of what to expect from each team — facing Pleasant Hill on Thursday and St. Pius X next Tuesday.

“We need these types of competitions in order to prepare for bigger games, districts and state,” Maryville coach Stephanie Ingram said.

Thursday’s match featured added adversity for the Spoofhounds. They played all season without returning starters Presley Ingram (knee) and Jersey Ingram (knee). Last week, they lost two more starters with freshman defender Kori Quinlin (concussion) and freshman goalie Claire Walter (broken finger).

The short-handed Spoofhounds fell 3-1 to the Chicks for their second loss of the season.

“I saw a lot of fight from the girls,” Stephanie Ingram said. “I subbed once, so those girls played without a sub for 80 minutes and they gave it their all. It wasn’t the outcome that we necessarily wanted, but those girls fought and if we see them again, we can make some changes, hopefully get some players back and get a better outcome.”

Pleasant Hill freshman Kailynn Paschall opened the scoring seven and a half minutes into the match, but Maryville junior Jalea Price answered with a goal off of Braelyn Hannigan’s corner kick.

“We started a little bit differently this game,

starting Ryesen (Stiens) up and pulling Jalea and Braelyn back, hoping to create more through opportunities,” Ingram said.

The Chicks responded with 20 minutes left in the first half as Alexis Badger found the back of the net.

Maryville’s defense settled in from there with sophomore Mallory Coffelt stepping in at keeper and freshman Channing Harbin taking Quinlin’s spot on defense.

“We really just calmed down and kept our defense a lot more steady than we were at the beginning,” Harbin said.

Coffelt was in a position battle for the varsity keeper spot in the preseason with Walter and senior Tatum Burson.

“It has been a great opportunity to play in the position that I’ve wanted to play in for a while,” Coffelt said. “It has been great to play with the girls that I’ve been playing with the last two years.”

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

Harbin got her first career start in Maryville’s 8-1 win over Benton and joined an experienced defensive line in front of Coffelt with senior Ava Stiff, junior Makayla Yaple and sophomore Payton Kurz.

“It has been a lot to step into those big shoes and roll with the varsity players more,” Harbin said. “It has definitely been a cool experience to play with them and definitely get a lot better.”

The Spoofhounds created the next couple chances early in the second half with Price breaking away from the Chick defense, but Pleasant Hill keeper Campbell Gregory proving up to the challenge.

Coffelt had her own oneon-one opportunity on the other end with a rare defensive miscue. Coffelt answered the bell as well and stopped the shot.

“I was just watching the ball, talking with my girls and ready to go whenever it came at me,” Coffelt said.

Pleasant Hill scored the only goal of the second half with 11 minutes to go and seal the 3-1 win.

Platte Valley picks up wins against Mustangs, Tigers

By JON DYKSTRA The Forum

HOPKINS, Mo. — Platte Valley was able to run-rule North Nodaway on Monday night with a 18-0 victory in three innings.

Platte Valley juniors

Landon Wiederholt and Brody Staples each finished with 3-for-4 days. Each had a double and Wiederholt had four RBI.

Brandon McQueen had a double and triple while Dylan Klamm and Justin Miller each had two hits. Staples pitched all three innings, allowing one hit, no walks and four strikeouts.

North Nodaway’s Brice Trimble had the hit for the Mustangs.

Platte Valley 7, Princeton 2

On Tuesday, Platte Valley picked up a 7-2 win over Princeton.

Tucker Klamm led the efforts for Platte Valley with 5 2/3 innings pitched. The junior allowed two hits, no earned runs, four walks and nine strikeouts.

Brandon McQueen, Dylan Klamm, Justin Miller, Lane Acklin and Xavier Middleton each picked up hits for Platte Valley, who improved to 9-4 this season.

Late goal lifts No. 1 Warriors over Hounds

By JON DYKSTRA

The Forum

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Maryville has played two top-5 ranked teams in Class 2 this past week and proved that they are capable of playing right with the best in the state. The No. 11 Spoofhounds fell 3-2 to No. 1 St. Pius X on Tuesday at Bearcat Pitch.

“It was a well-fought game,” Maryville coach Stephanie Ingram said. “Playing the No. 1 ranked team in the state to the last two minutes — it is a tough loss, but it is also something to be proud of.”

St. Pius X (12-2; 5-0 MEC) is ranked first in the Missouri Soccer Power Rankings points system with the point differential between the Warriors and No. 2 Logan-Rogersville being the same as the difference between Logan-Rogersville and No. 13 Southern Boone.

“It just shows that we can compete with top teams,” Maryville junior Braelyn Hannigan said.

Maryville (6-3-2; 4-1 MEC) leaned into its strong defense early in the game, making sure to contain the speed of the Warriors front line. Sophomore goalkeeper Mallory Coffelt, in for the injured Claire Walter, was busy in goal, but she and the defense kept the Warriors scoreless.

“They’ve got a lot of speed up front and connect passes really well,” Ingram said.

With just under 14 minutes to play in the half, Maryville created an opportunity of its own and Hannigan fed Jalea Price, who out-ran the defense to the ball and finished the shot for a 1-0 lead.

“I think it was a great way to start the game,” Price said.

The Spoofhounds maintained that lead until the 4:24 mark in the first half when the Hounds were called for a foul just outside the penalty box. Warrior senior Macy Wilderson took the free kick and sank it into the back of the net to tie the game going into halftime.

St. Pius X continued its momentum five minutes into the second half with sophomore Kate Sell scoring for a 2-1 lead.

Again, the 1-goal margin stood for a big chunk of the second half, but that familiar combination for the Spoofhounds found space again. Hannigan fed Price and the junior beat the defense again to set up a 1-on-1 with the keeper.

“All I really had to do was play it to her general vicinity and she is so fast that she will get to it,” Hannigan said. “Good ball and a good run and it equaled a goal, so perfect.”

This time, Michaela Hawkins attacked instead of sitting back. Price was able to dribble around her and tap in an uncontested goal to tie the game with 15:12 left.

“Jalea’s speed is unmatched,” Ingram said. “… Once Jalea has the ball at her feet, she can really just take off and find the back of the net.”

The teams battled over the next 12 minutes with each creating chances, but St. Pius X created another free kick on a Maryville foul. The Hounds stopped the initial kick, but in the ensuing scramble, Wilderson picked up her second goal of the night.

That goal with 2:40 left proved to be the difference as the Warriors took command of the Midland Empire Conference as the final unbeaten team.

“They are a really great team and I think we played really well against them considering that they are ranked in the state,” Price said. “We can definitely beat them if we meet them down the road. This was a great learning opportunity. It helps us see where we can improve for the next time that we play them.”

Maryville gets another challenge on Thursday against Harrisonville. The Spoofhounds and Wildcats played to a 1-1 draw in the Smithville Round Robin on April 4.

“It helps us learn and helps us pick up our pace,” Hannigan said of the tough schedule.

DeKalb 4, North Nodaway 3

North Nodaway built a 3-0 lead in DeKalb last Friday, but the Tigers rallied for a 4-3 victory.

Freshman Trevin Wyllie led the Mustangs with three hits while Brice Trimble added two.

Trimble pitched all six innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville sophomore Payton Kurz goes airborne to secure a pass on Thursday against Pleasant Hill at Bearcat Pitch.

Pleasant Hill 3, Maryville 1

St. Pius X 3, Maryville 2

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville junior Jalea Price (9) celebrates her goal on Tuesday with junior Braelyn Hannigan (25) at Bearcat Pitch.

Area Leaderboard

Boys

Continued from C1

team titles to go along with individual champions as well as solid point contributors from top to bottom.

“We kind of thought we were a complete team early in the year and today certified that,” coach Rodney Bade said.

Although the Spoofhound boys are accustomed to winning, it’s a feeling that senior Wyatt Garner, said never gets old and is even sweeter with it being a total team championship.

“It’s amazing you know,” he said. “It’s a great feeling knowing that it’s not just one person who gets all the points, it’s everybody as a team.”

In regards to that team concept, Garner said that the coaching staff has shown complete confidence in the team to put together high scoring events and vice versa.

“I bet it’s a great feeling for the coaches as well knowing that they can put anyone almost anywhere in any position and that person is going to get points for our team,” he said.

Maryville was crowned MEC champions in eight events.

Garner is the conference champion in the long jump with a distance of 6.56m.

Titus McKim was third in the event with a distance of 5.92 meters.

Dylan Masters is champion of the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.27.

Fellow junior Dylan Meyer was runner-up in 52.75.

Girls

Continued from C1

Field events were strong for the Spoofhounds as Brylee Acklin is the title holder in the triple jump with a leap of 10.51m.

Ainsley Watkins is the conference champion in the pole vault with a height of 2.75 meters.

Ava Dumke is the MEC champion in the javelin with a throw of 37.95 meters.

On the track, Katherine Pohren is the conference champion in the 3200-meter run in a time of 13.12.20, with fellow junior Nyah Davis just behind as runnerup in 13:15.66.

The relay events were also major point earners for the champs with a trio of runners-up finishes.

The 4x100-meter relay team of McGinness, Ella Schulte, Bagley and Grow were came in second with a time of 52.68.

The 4x800-meter relay team of Kami Tobin, Derr, Isabella Kinderknecht and Meah Schommer were second in a time of 11:03.30.

The 4x400-meter relay team of Casey Stoll, Lindsay Deering, Avery Derr and Schommer secured the team title with there runner-up finish in a time of 4:21.38.

There were also multiple individual second and third place efforts.

Pohren was runner-up in 5:49.66 in the 1600-meter run.

Acklin was the runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.93, while Schulte was in third place at 17.84. Acklin also captured third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 27.03.

Ellie Willnerd is the conference runner-up in the discus with a distance of 32.34 meters, while Rylee Hornbuckle took third place in the shot put at 9.49 meters.

Senior Connor Blackford is the conference champ in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:24.60 nearly 10 seconds faster than second place. Junior Bradley Deering was in third place at 4:35.84.

Deering won the conference title in the 3200-meter run in a time of 10:27.14. Colton Berry placed third at 10:32.62.

Carson Sterling is the conference champion in the discus with a distance of 45.14 meters. Mace McKim was third at 40.83 meters.

The Spoofhounds swept the titles in the hurdle events as Sadler Viau won the 110meter variety in a time of 16.63 and Kole Zarbano is the 300-meter champion in 47.02.

Maryville also earned a conference championship in a relay with the 4x200-meter team of Tuan Jacobson, Meyer, Delton Davis and Garner won the event in a time of 1:32.77.

There were also several other point contributors for the Spoofhounds.

Beatrice Diaferio was fourth in the 200-meter dash and seventh in the 100m race in 27.91 and 13.62 respectively, Isabella Kinderknecht was fourth in the 400meter dash in 1:03.90 while Lindsay Deering was fifth in 1:05.73. In the 100-meter dash Bowe was fifth with a time of 13.37 In the 1600-meter run Audrey Deering took fourth in 6:16.07, and in the 800meter run Julianne Conn was fifth in 2:43.64, while Ellie Parsons was eighth in 2:55.56.

In the 300-meter hurdles, Casey Stoll was in fourth place at 51.54. Stoll also placed fourth in the long jump with a distance of 4.46 meters with Gwyn Bilke just behind her in fifth place at 4.44m.

Willnerd was fifth in shot put at 9.42 meters and

There were also numerous runners-up and other top-3 finishes.

Sterling took second place in the shot put with a distance of 14.51, while Garner captured second in the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.00.

The 4x400 meter relay team of Davis, Blackford, Masters and Meyer were runners-up in a time of 3:32.17 as were the 4x100-meter relay team of Darren Dwight, Jacobson, Davis and Garner in a time of 44.63.

The 4x800-meter relay team of Berry, Jaren Dombek, Anmol Prabhakar, Xander Brown was third in a time of 9:02.23. Blackford also took third in the 800 meter run at 2:06.10.

Titus McKim was third in the javelin with a throw of 36.75 meters as conference leader Wesley Snead did not compete for Maryville due to injury. Brody Shepherd was third in the pole vault with a height of 2.9 meters.

There were also multiple other athletes scoring points for the team champion Spoofhounds. In sprinting events, Masters placed fourth in the 200 meter dash in 23.87, while Jacobson fifth place in 11.69 in the 100-meter dash while Shepherd was in eighth at 12.03.

In the hurdles Jonah Miller was fourth in the 300-meter version in a time of 47.02, while Caden Eighmy placed fifth (18.87) in the 110 meter race.

In field events, Mace McKim and Shawn Mahoney each captured fifth place in the shot put (13.86m) and pole vault (2.75m) respectively. In the high jump, Brown and Titus McKim placed sixth and seven respectively with heights of 1.70mm and 1.65m, while Viau was seventh place at 11.88m in the triple jump and Titus McKim was eighth at 11.79.

Dalton McDonough earned eighth place for the 800 meter run in 2:12.61.

It’s that type of point scoring that Bade depended on to win the overall team title and hope that it continues in the upcoming district meet.

“We spread things out and target races on purpose to try and make sure we are scoring across the board, and we had some kids step up in field events,” he said. “That’s just really encouraging.”

The junior varsity boys also won the team conference title in convincing fashion by scoring 146 points. The Spoofhounds will have the Class 3 District 8 meet on Saturday in Plattsburg.

Hornbuckle was eighth in the discus at 27.35 meters.

Alayna Pargas in the pole vault and Bilke in the high jump each finished seventh in their events with heights of 2.15m and 1.35m respectively.

It’s that total effort from the team and the crossevent ability of the athletes that McGinness credits the victory.

“To know we’re so wellrounded as a team coaches can put us in any event and we will succeed no matter what the event is,” she said. The junior varsity girls also were MEC champions with a score of 143 points. The Spoofhounds will have the Class 3 District 8 meet on Saturday in Plattsburg.

KEN GARNER/THE FORUM

Maryville’s Carson Sterling throws the shot put on Monday in Chillicothe.

KEN GARNER/THE FORUM Maryville senior Jillian Bagley takes a handoff from senior Payton McGinness at Monday’s MEC Championships in Chillicothe.

Mustangs’ Herndon signs with Midland University

By JON DYKSTRA

The Forum

HOPKINS, Mo. — There has only been one year in the last 11 seasons for North Nodaway basketball where there wasn’t a Herndon sister on the team. When Lauren Herndon’s big sister Bethany Herndon began her varsity career, Lauren was in the second grade.

She grew up in the Mustang program and that made Thursday that much more special as she signed to continue her basketball career at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska.

“It definitely was a goal of mine to go play college ball because my sisters held me to such high standards,” Herndon said. “I knew that if they could do it, I could do it.”

Lauren Herndon joins her sister Kristin Herndon in signing at the next level. Kristin Herndon was a 2-year starter at Division-III Knox College.

“I’m really excited for the chance to go to the next

level and see what I can do there,” Herndon said. “It was close to home and when I went to visit the campus, it felt like that was where I needed to be. I really connected with the coaches and it felt like that was the best place for me to go.”

Lauren Herndon will join Midland’s NAIA program.

For Mustang coach Sami Jackson, it is special to see the youngest of the Herndon sisters continue playing basketball at the next level.

“It is always fun coaching siblings,” Jackson said.

“With this group, it is special. We joke with Lauren that you see a little bit of both of her sisters in her — some days you see Bethany, some days you see Kristin. I would say as a player for North Nodaway, she has taken all those good traits from both of them and been able to excel.”

Herndon is a 3-sport athlete at North Nodaway. She was the Forum’s Volleyball Player of the Year this fall before averaging 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds as the team’s point guard on the hardwood. She

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

is a high jumper on the track team this spring.

“She has really just grown all four years,” Jackson said.

While Herndon is excited about the opportunity at Midland, she says the North Nodaway program is special to her.

“North Nodaway has made me the player that I am,” Herndon said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without Sami as my coach. I am really thankful for the four years I got to play here.”

Herndon went on a visit to Fremont in November for a game and came away very impressed with the program.

Midland was 7-21 last season — a three win improvement from the previous year — and also has a junior varsity team which played 10 games.

“We knew for a long time that this was a goal of hers and something that she wanted to do,” Jackson said. “… For her to make a decision and be a part of that small percentage who moves on to the next level to play, it is just awesome.”

Washburn ends Bearcats’ season

Bearcat Athletics:

EDMOND, Okla. — The No. 4-seeded Washburn Ichabods tallied an extrainning victory over No. 5-seeded Northwest Missouri State in the quarterfinals of the 2024 MIAA Tournament, 1-0.

The pitcher’s duel was decided in the bottom of the eight as the Ichabods scratched across the first run of the game to end the Bearcats’ season.

Bearcat starting pitcher

Washburn 1, Northwest 0

Jadyn Streigle pitched a complete game and allowed five hits. She allowed one unearned run as she struck out five batters. Streigle completes the year with a 10-10 mark in the circle.

Washburn starter Jaycee Ginter tossed eight scoreless innings of five-hit softball to gain the win. Ginter moved to 17-7 on the year. Ginter

struck out six Bearcats.

Skylar Pieper had a twogame to lead the Bearcat offense.

The Ichabods scored the winning run with one out in the eighth. Marrit Mead singled to third base with one out. A Bearcat error by Abby Nolte on a sacrifice bunt left runners on second and third. Washburn’s Alexis Tanguma singled to left field to drive in Mead for the game’s only run.

Northwest finishes its season with a mark of 28-25.

MAKING THE CALL

Sports Officiated Track & Field, Cross Country

Years as an Official Eight years

Hometown: Grant City More:

Borey is the all-time winningest coach in Missouri 8-man football history with 155 wins over 16 seasons with five state titles at Worth County.

Sponsored by

Local Lions Clubs support district golf tournament

BY

On Monday, Maryville High School hosted the Boys Class 3, District 4 Golf Tournament at the Mozingo Lake Recreation Park. The Maryville Host and Maryville Pride Lions Clubs participated in providing sack lunches for approximately 150 players, coaches and volunteers at the event. Present as checks were presented were, from left to right, Maryville Host Assistant Treasurer Chuck Hetrick, Maryville coach Brenda Ricks, Maryville Hy-Vee Store Director Nate Jaster, Maryville Pride Treasurer Ken Barnes and Maryville assistant coach Larry Ricks.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM Maryville senior Jacob Scott chips onto the 18th green Monday at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.

Golf

Continued from C1

swing coaches and game coaches. We will come back from a tournament and they will still come out here and hit on the range. They don’t quit. They don’t quit on their game. It is nonstop.”

Class 3, District 4 is a loaded district with the top private schools — Summit Christian Academy, Barstow and Bishop LeBlond — moving up to Class 3 due to their success at lower levels. Those three finished as the top three teams in the district with Maryville finishing fourth.

Kaleb Groomer had an up-and-down day with three double bogeys spread throughout his round, but was able to avoid it snowballing each time. He finished with an 81.

“Stay focused after the double bogeys,” Kaleb Groomer said. “I made a few too many of those and just had to stay focused after I made those. … Putting the bad holes behind me is definitely getting a lot better than it has been.”

That tied him for 15th in the 83-golfer field.

Dylan Groomer one-upped his brother with an 80 to tie for 11th overall. He also had a double bogey, but was able to respond as well.

“It is pretty special,” Dylan Groomer said. “I went last year to districts and I didn’t play well, so it feels good to be able to go this year.

“The front nine was good, but the back nine started off with a double (bogey). I had to come back from that. I made three

pars in a row after that and that kind of got the rhythm back.”

The brothers are sticking together next week in the state tournament and Dylan Groomer is excited about that.

“He didn’t think he was going to be able to go, so it feels pretty good that he was able to go too,” he said.

The season ended for the rest of the Spoofhound roster as Jacob Scott and Jack Dinsdale each shot an 87 and finished tied for 26th overall. Junior Lucas Vierthaler finished with a 96 and took 47th.

The Groomers, Vierthaler and Dinsdale are set to return as seniors next season. The district tournament caps the careers of the seniors including Jacob and Ethan Scott.

“I’m going to miss them tremendously,” Ricks said. “Golf is their one game. I’ve had them since they were little 5 year-olds and you could tell them apart by the color of glasses they had on. It has been so much fun having them grow up in the game.”

The Class 3 State Tournament is next Monday and Tuesday at Springfield’s Rivercut Golf Course.

“Have fun and play with confidence,” Dylan Groomer said is the key to next week.

Class 1, District 4 Tournament

The season ended for Worth County golf on Monday in the Class 1, District 4 Tournament in Cameron.

Brayden Combs led the Tigers with a 104 to finish tied for 33rd. Cannon Fletcher had a 107 and tied for 39th. Wyatt Hill was 46th with a 113 and Hayden Sanders tied for 53rd with a 122. Andrew Griffin tied for 60th with a 128.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

North Nodaway senior Lauren Herndon signed last Thursday in Hopkins to play basketball at Midland University.

SUBMITTED

W.R. O’RILEY

Bearcats fall to Lopers after topping Vikings in Central Regional

Bearcat Athletics:

KEARNEY, Neb. — The No. 20-ranked Northwest Missouri State University women’s tennis team dropped a heart-breaking 4-3 decision to No. 15-ranked Nebraska-Kearney in the NCAA Central Regional second-round.

The Lopers rallied with four singles wins, including a pair of three-set triumphs to secure a spot in Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Northwest gained an initial 1-0 lead when the Bearcats captured the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3. The Lopers took the No. 1 doubles match with a 6-1 win. It is the 20th time this season the Bearcat women have secured the doubles point in a dual match.

Northwest evened it up quickly when Tessa Kwakernaak and Angela per Moreno dialed up a 6-1 trouncing of UNK’s No. 2 doubles squad of Tanyaradzwa Midzi and Fabiana Gamboa. Kwakernaak and per Moreno bounced out to a 4-0 lead and did not look back. It was the 10th consecutive win for the Bearcat pairing this spring. Kwakernaak and per Moreno are 21-3 on the season and 20-2 in dual play.

The doubles point came down to the No. 3 match. Northwest’s Laura Prieto Sieiro and Marielena Muench never trailed against UNK’s Alexis Bernthal and Jazmin Zamorano. Prieto Sieiro and Muench faced a crucial point in the match at 4-4 but trailed 15-40. The Bearcat duo responded with three straight points to gain a 5-4 advantage. Muench then served out the match at love to gain the 6-4 triumph. It was the 20th win of the season for the Bearcat duo as they improved to 20-7 overall and 16-7 in dual action.

Northwest procured a pair of singles victories at No. 5 and No. 6 to put the Bearcats on the brink of knocking off UNK. Per Moreno breezed to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Alexis Bernthal at No. 5 singles. Muench gained a 6-4, 6-4 straight sets victory over UNK’s Midzi at No. 6 singles. Per Moreno ended the season on a 13-match winning streak and went 24-4 on the year in singles. Muench ended her season at 22-9 in singles action.

Carolina Oliveira and Prieto Sieiro

were pushed to three-set matches at No. 1 and No. 4 singles, but the Lopers were able to hand the Bearcats two setbacks.

Oliveira dropped the first set to Jazmin Zamorano, 6-1, but bounced back with a 6-4 win in the second. Zamorano closed out Oliveira with a 6-3 defeat in the third.

Prieto Sieiro looked to be in control after scoring a 6-0 blanking in the opening set with Fabiana Gamboa. However, Gamboa rallied with wins of 6-4, 7-5 in the final two sets to send the Lopers on to nationals.

Northwest finishes the 2023-24 season with a mark of 22-5 overall.

Northwest 4, Augustana 1 KEARNEY, Neb. — The Northwest Missouri State University women’s tennis team recorded a 4-1 victory over the Augustana Vikings in the first round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament.

Northwest took care of business in doubles play by scoring victories at No. 1 and No. 2.

Northwest’s top doubles squad of Carolina Oliveira and Sofia Pignataro gained a 6-1 triumph over Augie’s Aleksandra Kistanova and Flo Hadjigeorgiou.

Northwest’s second pairing of Tessa Kwakernaak and Angela per Moreno posted a 6-2 victory over Augie’s Gabriela Jancikova and Simone Karouza for their ninth consecutive win. Kwakernaak and per Moreno are 19-2 on the season.

The bottom half of the Bearcat singles order came through with a trio of straightsets wins.

Laura Prieto Sieiro landed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Augie’s Mia Garcia. Prieto Sieiro improved to 23-3 on the year.

Per Moreno secured a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Jancikova at No. 5 singles. Per Moreno moved her singles mark to 23-4 on the year with her 12th straight win.

Marielena Muench produced a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Augie’s Smilte Bakyte at No. 6 singles. Muench is 21-9 in singles action.

The 22 duals wins ranks tied for the third-most victories in school history. The 1997 squad set the school mark with 28 dual triumphs.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE GOLF: Central Regional

Hoffman ties for 29th in Regional Championship

Bearcat Athletics:

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Northwest Missouri State University junior golfer Paige Hoffman rose 11 spots on the leaderboard with a final-round 75 as she tied for 29th at the 2024 NCAA Central Region Tournament held at Hillcrest Country Club.

Hoffman made two birdies on the day as he continued her daily improvement in the 54-hole event. She began her final round on hole No. 10. She was at fourover par when she drained her first birdie

of the day at the par-5 18th hole. Hoffman moved to two-over on the day when she sank a birdie at the par-4 second hole. Hoffman played her last seven holes at one-over with her only hiccup coming with a bogey on the par-3 6th hole.

Hoffman had one birdie on Monday, two on Tuesday and two in Wednesday’s final round.

Hoffman capped the tournament with a three-day total of 237 strokes (+21). Hoffman began the tourney with an opening-round 83 and came back yesterday with a second-round 79.

Busby’s season ends in sectionals

By JON DYKSTRA The Forum

ADRIAN, Mo. — Northeast Nodaway junior Baylie Busby finished seventh in the high jump at Saturday’s Class 1, Sectional 4 Championships in Adrian.

That wraps up the season for the Bluejays who saw a growth in participation and

performance from the team perspective this year.

Busby was a leader in that team growth and was able to get to sectionals for a third-straight season. Her 4-foot-6.25 jump left her 1.75 inches from the fourthplace mark to advance to state.

Pattonsburg’s Annabelle Gardener and Worth County’s Riley Ridge had the top jumps of the day at 5-foot-0.75. Concordia’s Olivia Hemme was at 4-foot-9.5 and Academie Lafayette’s Lauryn Yarnevich was at 4-foot-8 to round out the qualifiers. The Bluejays will return all six of their boys and four of their five girls next season with senior Dalanie Auffert being the lone graduate.

By JON DYKSTRA The Forum

ADRIAN, Mo. — Platte Valley was perfect at sectionals on Saturday with all four girls they brought to sectionals qualifying in every event. The boys saw all six of their athletes advance with just one event not qualifying, but that athlete making it in two other events.

Platte Valley junior Justin Miller led that effort by qualifying in four events and winning both his individual events on Saturday.

Miller’s individual wins came in the triple jump with a 13.05 meter jump and the long jump with a 6.02 meter jump. His personal-best triple jump moved him up to fifth in Class 1 — just 0.02 meters from third and 0.1 meters from second. He ranks ninth in the long jump.

“It’s pretty great,” Miller said of his triple jump. “It shows that I can get that far. I didn’t think that I could yet. I’m hoping I can continue that through to state.

“My first goal was just to run fast and get good footwork jumping. My mom kept yelling at me to do good, so that was pretty much it.”

The Platte Valley 4x800meter relay team of Brandon McQueen, Alex Mattson, Ethan Holtman and Miller took second with a 8:48.79

PLATTE VALLEY STATE SCHEDULE

Friday:

10 a.m. — Miller in triple jump finals 10:30 a.m. — Boys in 4x800 finals 1:15 p.m. — Wray in 1600-meter finals 4 p.m. — Collins in shot put final

p.m.

and ranks ninth in Class 1.

The 4x400-meter relay team of Lane Acklin, Mattson, Miller and Holtman was third with a 3:38.41 while running the fifth-fastest time in Class 1.

“Most of these boys — like Alex and Brandon — they didn’t do track last year,” Miller said. “It is good that we can start to get good times with them and hopefully place at state.”

Acklin added to the boys medal count with a thirdplace finish in the high jump and senior Ean Meyer took third in the javelin.

The girls were led by sophomore Mya Wray, the defending state champion in the 3200-meter and 1600-meter runs, as she cruised to first in the 3200meter run and took second in the 1600-meter run at Adrian.

Wray leads Class 1 by 29 seconds in the 3200-meter run while the 1600-meter run is shaping up to be one of the premier races of the state weekend with Nodaway Valley’s Paige Hanson, Liberal’s Ally Barton, Stoutland’s Mallory Shaw and Wray all as top contenders for that crown and none of them being seniors.

Wray teamed with Maggie Collins, Mylie Holtman and Allison Riley to take third in the 4x800-meter relay — an event they rank 11th in for Class 1. Riley also qualified fourth in the 3200-meter run. Collins is heading to state in both her throwing events — taking third in the discus and fourth in the shot put. She ranks fifth in the state in the discus and sixth in the shot put.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Northeast Nodaway junior Baylie Busby high jumps at Saturday’s Class 1, Sectional 4 Meet in Adrian.

DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Valley junior Justin Miller triple jumps on Saturday afternoon in Adrian.

SCOREBOARD

Perryville (16-6)

Whitfield (12-3)

Notre Dame de Sion (12-7-1)

4 p.m.

Maryville (12-5-2)

St. Charles West (10-16)

Helias Catholic (13-9) Saturday, 2 p.m.

Logan Rogersville (22-4)

Class 2 Soccer State Tournament

31, 2:30 p.m. June 1, 4 p.m.

Saturday, Noon June 1, 2:30 p.m. Third Place

p.m.

Moberly (24-4)

North County — 5

Lutheran South — 0

Clayton — 5

Metro — 0

STEAM Academy — 0

Seattle (Castillo 4-5) at N.Y. Yankees (Gil

at Oakland (Estes 1-1), 2:37 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Atlanta at Pittsburgh, 5:40 p.m.

Seattle at Washington, 5:45 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at Cincinnati, 6:10 p.m. Milwaukee at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

San Francisco at N.Y. Mets, 6:10

p.m. Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m. Philadelphia at Colorado, 7:40 p.m. Miami at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at San Diego, 8:40

p.m.

CONFERENCE FINALS (Best-of-7; x-if necessary)

Class 1 State Tennis Championships

Chiefs’ Rice won’t face charged in alleged assault

Associated Press:

DALLAS (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice won’t face charges from the injured person over his reported involvement in an alleged assault a little over a month after Rice was one of the speeding drivers in a chain-reaction crash that led to multiple charges.

Dallas police said Tuesday the reporting party had signed an affidavit of non-prosecution over the incident at a downtown nightclub, but that the investigation is continuing.

Law enforcement officials have told The Dallas Morning News that Rice was suspected of assaulting a person early May 6, and that the person went to a hospital after the encounter.

Dallas police did not name Rice as the suspect in detailing a report of the incident to The Associated Press.

Rice’s attorney, Texas state Sen. Royce West, didn’t respond to a message from the AP seeking comment. The NFL declined to comment.

Clayton — 5

Father Tolton — 5

Father Tolton — 5 At Springfield

Moberly — 5

North County — 0 Clayton Tolton

Moberly — 0

Osage — 4 Saturday, 9 a.m.

Logan-Rogersville — 1

Forsyth — 5 Forsyth — 1

Monett — 0

Bolivar — 5

Lafayette Co. — 3

St. Pius X — 5

Trenton — 0

Bolivar — 5

Maryville — 5 Saturday, 9 a.m.

St. Pius X — 1

Maryville Bolivar Maryville — 5

Saturday, 3 p.m. Third Place Saturday, 3 p.m.

Rice reported to the Chiefs for voluntary workouts last month, not long after turning himself in to Dallas police over multiple charges, including aggravated assault, involving the high-speed crash.

West has previously acknowledged Rice was speeding in a Lamborghini SUV when the crash involving six vehicles happened March 30. Police said Theodore Knox was driving a Corvette.

According to a Texas Department of Transportation report, Rice was driving the Lamborghini at a top speed of 119 mph before impact, while the Corvette that Knox was driving had a top speed of 116 mph.

Rice, a former SMU and Dallas-area high school player who turned 24 last month, and Knox have been charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. Knox also played for SMU.

Four people were injured in the crash, and police said the occupants of the Lamborghini and Corvette left the scene without providing information or determining whether anyone needed medical attention.

Rice was drafted in the second round by Kansas City last year and played in 20 games, including the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco in the Super Bowl. He led the team with seven touchdowns receiving in the regular season.

NU’s Memorial Stadium renovation scaled back

Associated Press:

Gideon — 1

Oran — 13

Leopold — 4

Norwood — 5

Brashear — 6

Green City — 17

Braymer — 2

Oran (17-5)

Norwood (14-12)

Green City (18-7)

Platte Valley (14-6)

Class 1 Baseball State Tournament

Final Four in Springfield

Platte Valley — 6 Monday, 4 p.m.

Exeter — 2

Lockwood — 3

Wheatland — 4

Halfway — 1

St. Elizabeth — 1

Sacred Heart — 3

Kingsville — 3

Lockwood (15-6)

Wheatland (25-9)

Higbee — 0 Monday, 7 p.m.

Sacred Heart (23-4)

Kingsville (9-11)

Tuesday, 4 p.m. Third Place Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Conference Boston 1, Indiana 0 Tuesday, May 21: Boston 133, Indiana 128, OT Thursday, May 23: Indiana at Boston, 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25: Boston at Indiana, 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 27: Boston at Indiana, 7 p.m.

x-Wednesday, May 29: Indiana at Boston, TBA x-Friday, May 31: Boston at Indiana, TBA x-Sunday, June 2: Indiana at Boston, TBA Western Conference Minnesota vs. Dallas Wednesday, May 22: Dallas at Minnesota, (n) Friday, May 24: Dallas at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 26: Minnesota at Dallas, 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 28: Minnesota at

x-Thursday, May 30: Dallas at Minnesota, TBA x-Saturday, June 1: Minnesota at Dallas, TBA x-Monday, June 3: Dallas at Minnesota, TBA FINALS (Best-of-7) (x-if necessary)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The proposed massive renovation of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium has been downsized for the time being, meaning the south end of the stadium won’t be torn down after the 2024 season as originally planned, AD Troy Dannen said in a statement Friday.

Former athletic director Trev Alberts in 2022 announced an estimated $450 million project to update the 100-yearold stadium. The first phase would have temporarily removed nearly 25,000 seats for the 2025 season while a new south-end section was built.

Dannen’s revised plan would address the east and west sides of the stadium, and work would begin no sooner than after the 2025 season. Bleacher seating would be replaced with chairbacks in some, if not all, sections and other amenities would be added. Renovations on the south end are in the long-range plan but there is no timetable.

“We are all aligned on the need to modernize our aging stadium,” Dannen said. “But as we have said, any work we do needs to follow our guiding principles. First, it needs to help us win. Second, it needs to advance our goals for acquisition and retention of talent. Third, and equally importantly, it must preserve our financial stability — one of the greatest assets of Husker Athletics.”

A comprehensive funding plan has not been announced, though Alberts said he expected private dollars would be used for a substantial portion of the project.

Athletic department budget projections are in a holding pattern with the NCAA and major college conferences considering a possible settlement of an antitrust lawsuit. The proposed settlement of House vs. the NCAA would require Power Five schools to spend $20 million per year on athlete compensation.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM Maryville senior Ava Stiff is introduced on Senior Night against Cameron at Bearcat Pitch. The defender was named to the All-MEC First Team as well as the All-District Second Team.

Four Spoofhounds earn All-MEC First Team

By JON DYKSTRA The Forum

MARYVILLE, Mo. — All-MEC and All-District awards have been released for Spoofhound soccer after they advanced to the state quarterfinals, won the district and took second in the Midland Empire Conference.

First-year coach Stephanie Ingram led off the honors by being named the MEC Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 14-6-2 record.

Junior forward Jalea Price led Maryville with 39 goals and 13 assists this year. She earned both All-District and All-MEC First Team recognition.

Junior midfielder Braelyn Hannigan was more often than not the one connecting with Price for those goals and was also named to both first teams. She finished with 21 goals and 24 assists.

Sophomore defender Payton Kurz repeated as both First Team All-District and All-MEC after spearheading the Spoofhounds defense once again. She had a goal and three assists from her defensive spot.

Senior defender Ava Stiff rounded out the All-MEC First Team selections as another steady force on the defense. She was also named Second Team All-District.

Another key to the defense, junior Makayla Yaple, was Second Team All-District and Honorable Mention AllMEC. She had a goal this season as well.

Freshman Miah Stoecklein was a consistent presence in the Spoofhounds’ midfield, controlling possession. She had one goal and three assists, which earned her Second Team All-MEC and Honorable Mention All-District.

Junior forward Ryesen Stiens finished with 10 goals and 11 assists. She was named First Team All-District and AllMEC Honorable Mention.

Freshman Kori Quinlin was a versatile weapon for Ingram’s team this season and was named to the AllDistrict Honorable Mention. Freshman Leah Wonderly also helped patrol the middle of the field and was All-MEC Honorable Mention.

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: Wolves 105, Mavericks 100 Towns, Edwards lift Wolves over Mavs

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer

DALLAS (AP) — Karl-

Anthony Towns finally found his rhythm, and the Timberwolves finally closed a game in the Western Conference finals.

Now they head back to Minnesota to see if they can make things even more interesting against Dallas.

Towns scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half and the Wolves held off the Mavericks 105-100 on Tuesday night to avoid a sweep.

Anthony Edwards had 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Wolves stayed alive in their first trip to the conference finals in 20 years, and just the second in the franchise’s 35 seasons. Game 5 is Thursday night.

Towns, who was shooting 28% from the field in the series coming in, was 9 of 13 from the field, including four of five from 3-point range. And that was after picking up fifth foul midway through the third quarter.

“Being aggressive,” Towns said. “Ain’t no time to have any doubts in your mind, especially at this time, it’s Game 4, down 3-0. Ain’t no time to have any doubts.”

Luka Doncic had 28 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in his sixth triple-double of these playoffs, but he and co-star Kyrie Irving were just

Soccer

Continued from C1

The game started off with Notre Dame de Sion putting heavy pressure on the Maryville defense as sophomore Payton Kurz stopped a free run at the goal. Notre Dame quickly recovered with a fast march down the field and goal from sophomore Mia Hebert.

After a quick goal from Hebert, the focus was pointed at her. With Kurz, junior Makayla Yaple and sophomore goalie Mallory Coffelt making beautiful stops to save goals.

Looking to get something started, all-state junior Jalea Price got deep into Notre Dame territory. The Storm quickly swarmed her and pushed it down the field for a goal. The road team scored another soon after to make it a 3-goal deficit for the Hounds going into halftime.

The Hound defense greatly improved in the second half. With Notre Dame de Sion scoring just one goal and Maryville getting as close as

MAKING THE CALL

13 of 39 from the field. Irving, who was 14-0 in his career in closeout games coming in, made just one of six from long range and finished with 16 points.

“That game’s on me. Just didn’t give enough energy,” said Doncic, who was 7 of 21 from the field, including 1 of 5 in the fourth when he and Irving had combined as closers to build the big series lead. “They won one game. We’ve just got to focus on the next one.”

The Wolves have led in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter of every game in the series, and this time they finished.

Towns put the Wolves ahead for good on a 3-pointer with 5:41 remaining, then hit another from deep the next time down. His third 3 of the final quarter put Minnesota up six with three minutes to go.

“He was super confident,” Edwards said. “He wasn’t worried about any shots previous to the shots that he hit tonight. He played exceptionally well.”

by

“It’s hard to close in this league,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said after his team shot 29% from 3 in the second half. “Understanding we didn’t play our best. Give Minnesota credit. They did.”

The biggest sign of Towns’ rhythm came in the third, when he scored 10 points in the first seven minutes before picking up his fifth foul for elbowing P.J. Washington Jr. in the face as Towns went up for a shot.

The call against Towns prompted a technical foul against Minnesota coach Chris Finch from the second row, where he’s been confined since the start of the second round of the playoffs because of a knee injury that required surgery. Assistant Micah Nori has been roaming the sidelines.

Finch flirted with a second technical, which would have meant an ejection, a few minutes later when Edwards was called for his fourth foul going for a steal against Daniel Gafford.

Edwards put the Wolves up five with a jumper just inside the arc with 39 seconds left, and Minnesota hung on despite Edwards fouling Doncic on a made 3-pointer for a three-point Dallas deficit with 12 seconds to go. Doncic missed the free throw, and Naz Reid hit a bucket to push the margin back to five with 11 seconds remaining.

“To have him be on the sideline but behind the bench for the majority of these playoffs, you forget the impact he can have,” said Mike Conley, who scored 14 points. “When your coach is up getting technicals and yelling and when you see him hobbling around to do it, it’s impressive. It lit a fire on all of us.”

Towns fouled out in the final two minutes, while Edwards and Rudy Gobert, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds, finished with five apiece.

“We weathered a lot of foul trouble out there, which was frustrating to say the least,” Finch said. “Credit to our guys. They found a way to win the game. It was a lot like Games 1 and 2, and we were able to get it done tonight.”

The Wolves avoided being the 16th team out of 21 to get swept after losing the first three games of a series that started at home. Now they’ll try to be just the fourth to force at least six games.

Jaden Hardy scored 10 of his 13 points in a 3:38 stretch that spilled into the first bucket of the fourth quarter, a corner 3 that pulled Dallas within two. Four of the game’s 11 lead changes came in the fourth.

The Mavs were without rookie center Dereck Lively II, who injured his neck when Towns accidentally kneed him in back of the head in Game 3.

Maxi Kleber, who has been out since May 3 with a separated shoulder, returned to give Dallas another option inside. But Daniel Gafford didn’t have his regular tag team partner as a rim protector at center, and the Wolves shot a series-best 53% from the field.

ever to scoring their first.

“I would preach about our defense, I feel like we have a solid defense,” Stephanie Ingram said. “Notre Dame definitely gave us a run for our money.”

Ending the season just one game away from state, the Hounds tied the school’s deepest postseason run.

Graduating only two starters, Lauren Jaster and Ava Stiff, the Hounds will look to make another deep playoff push next year.

“I feel like we have a good group of girls coming up,” coach Ingram said. “We have a very young team. So although we’re losing valuable players, I feel like we have a lot of growth. I feel like, although we were young this year, it just gives us even more room to grow.

“Just the way they’ve grown together, I really feel like it’s a family here. I’m really proud of them.”

Rain Shineor

TUCKER KLAMM/THE FORUM

Maryville fell to Notre Dame de Sion on Saturday at Bearcat Pitch in the Class 1 State Quarterfinals.

SWIMMING: Sharks’ Intrasquad Meet

By JON DYKSTRA

The Forum

MARYVILLE, Mo. —

Leading the Maryville Sharks swim team is not something that Ainsley Watkins just decided she wanted to do this summer. Ever since she began coaching the Sharks two years ago, she wanted to be the head coach.

Watkins coached under head coaches Lauren Macali and Grace Wright the past two seasons, but this year, was offered the chance to be the head coach in the team’s 60th season.

“I remember coming in when I was an 8-andunder,” Watkins said. “And I remember being that little kid who was just trying to make it across. … I made it through all the stages, so I can really tell you — swim team was the best thing I ever got to do and it is the best thing I get to be a part of now.”

Last season, Watkins coached two age groups. This season, with the added head coaching responsibilities, she is leading the 11-12 age group.

“I’m so excited to be here and I hope I can make them excited to be here,” Watkins said. “I hope that they can have a good experience with this so they continue to do it throughout the older age groups.”

The Sharks opened their season on Friday with the annual intrasquad meet. Their first competition is at home on Wednesday against Shenandoah, Tarkio and Clarinda. The first road meet is next Saturday at Auburn.

“We have so many more kids this year,” Watkins said. “We have a little over 120 kids. Last year, we had 90-something. The groups are definitely bigger and it is great. And I have such a great coaching staff.”

Watkins’ coaching staff includes Brayden Hanf, Jillian Ternus, Avery Baker, Cooper Lynn and Meah Schommer.

“I’m so glad to have people who are as passionate about it as I am,” Watkins said.

Brayden Hanf

Age Group: 8-and-under Hanf returns for her second season coaching the Sharks and working with the 8-and-under swimmers. She is studying Early Childhood Education at Northwest Missouri State and sees coaching the Sharks as an intersection between her passion for teaching and swimming.

“I just loved last year so much — watching them grow and create the relationship that I did with the kids, parents and families,” Hanf said. “… Just the atmosphere that the Sharks swim team creates is a lot of fun. It is like a family atmosphere and that is why I came back.”

Hanf’s group this season includes plenty of newcomers to the team and she is looking forward to introducing them to competitive swimming.

“We have 11 returning swimmers this year and 23 new swimmers,” Hanf said. “So I am very, very excited for all of the new swimmers who are joining us to learn and be able to compete.”

Meah Schommer

SHARKS SCHEDULE

6/5 Home

6/8 at Auburn

6/10 at Savannah

6/12

Age Group: 8-and-Under Schommer has been around the Sharks from a young age, but this season, she decided that she wanted to get back to the program and give back to it by joining the coaching staff.

“I’ve swam since I was little and 8-and-under,” Schommer said. “I missed it so I decided that this year instead of swimming I would coach them.”

The Maryville junior is helping Hanf coach the beginner swimmers with the 8-and-under group and has already felt the rewards of seeing them grow each day.

“I just get to teach them the basics of swimming and help form them into good swimmers hopefully for oncoming years,” Schommer said. “…

Through the first four days of practice, they’ve really improved, honestly a ton. We were swimming with them a lot the first few days and they kinda did it all on their own today which was exciting to see.”

Avery Baker Age Group: 9-10 Baker is not a new face around the team, but it is her first official year as a coach.

“I love swimming,” Baker said. “I think it is such a good sport for everyone to learn how to do. Learning to swim is important. … I was kinda honored that they asked and thought I’d be good at it.”

The former Spoofhound and current Bearcat is working with the 9-10 age group this season and says that is a group that she is really excited to teach.

“I try to cheer on everyone, but I am officially the 9-10 coach,” Baker smiled. “… They (the 9-10s) are just fun to begin with. They are eager to learn and definitely ready to listen. I have great help with Cooper Lynn. They are fun to hang out

with. Honestly, nine- and 10-year olds — they are just fun.”

Cooper Lynn Age Group: 9-10

Lynn is the only Shark this season who will be a playercoach. The rising junior at Maryville High School is swimming in the 15-and-up division for the Sharks, but also getting into coaching with the 9- and 10-year olds.

“I just feel like coaching helps the younger kids grow a lot and it helps them swim a lot better,” Lynn said.

Lynn had his own cheering section when he was swimming on Friday as well, with the kids he coaches supporting him in his races.

“They are a really fun group to work with,” Lynn said. “Most of them know how to swim already so we can work on technique. A lot of them are really close to breaking records this year. It is fun to see them improve as time goes.”

Jillian Ternus Age Group: 13-and-Up

Other than Lynn, the coach who most recently competed for the Sharks is Ternus who swam throughout her eligibility with the program and also swam for the Stingrays club team in Iowa. She is joining the coaching staff this season.

“I did swim team for a really long time when I was a kid and was actually on three different teams, so I

have a little bit of experience helping out with my team in Clarinda,” Ternus said. “I really wanted to come back into swimming, help the kids grow, help their technique and watch them enjoy the season.”

Ternus is working with the oldest age groups as they look to finish their time with the Sharks strong.

“They are really fun to work with because they already have a really good idea of what they are doing, so I get to be really nitpicky and help them fix their strokes.” Ternus said.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville Sharks coach Ainsley Watkins demonstrates a stroke to a swimmer on Friday at the intrasquad meet in Maryville. Watkins is entering her first season as head coach.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville Sharks assistant coach Brayden Hanf guides a swimmer on Friday at the intrasquad meet in Maryville.

Column

Continued from C1

The head coach that Northwest plucked from Central Missouri is Mark Rosewell, who was hired as the Bearcat head tennis coach in 1984. While Rosewell has been incredibly successful and is a Bearcat legend, the state of hiring in college athletics has changed a lot in the past 40 years, so Rosewell’s hiring doesn’t apply much for this year’s searches.

Hiring from within Northwest’s hires from within the athletic department are football’s Rich Wright, women’s basketball’s Austin Meyer, women’s golf’s Andy Peterson and volleyball’s Amy Woerth. Wright and Meyer were internal candidates with suitors across the country. They provided the easiest of decisions for Mel Tjeerdsma, Peterson’s predecessor, as they were top assistants for national title teams.

Tjeerdsma also hired Peterson to lead the golf program. The lone internal hire that wasn’t by Tjeerdsma was the decision of Wren Baker in 2012 to make interim head coach Amy Woerth, the full time coach. Since then, Woerth has become the all-time winningest coach in the program’s history and a 2-time MIAA Coach of the Year.

Woerth didn’t have a winning MIAA season until her fifth season in 2016 and since then, they haven’t had a losing season in league play and won the MIAA Championship in 2022.

First-time head coaches

Peterson has made four head coaching hires since becoming the Director of Athletics. Three of those are first-time head coaches — Brandon Masters, Naomi Tellez and Jandron.

Masters and Tellez have proven to be stellar hires.

The resurgence of the track and field program under Masters has been obvious with two top-10 indoor programs this season and two top-15 outdoor programs. The Bearcats have had at least one national champion in the last five NCAA

Division-II National Championships.

Tellez hasn’t had national success yet, but has been showing growth in the program through her first three years. In her first year, the team was 15-36, but have won 28 games in each of the last two years — a win total that hadn’t been reached since 2017.

Rising from the NAIA ranks

During the search for a men’s basketball coach, Peterson said that Northwest was looking for someone with previous head coaching experience — a change from his previous hires, but a method that has been proven to work for Northwest in the past.

Tjeerdsma’s final head-coaching hire was soccer’s Marc Gordon, who Northwest plucked from NAIA Ottawa University (Kansas). The Bearcats won two matches in his first year, six in his second season before breaking out with 34 over the last three seasons and the first two NCAA Tournament appearances in school history.

Peterson followed that model with the men’s basketball search and ended up landing another Ottawa University — but the one in Arizona — product Matt Keeley.

Best path?

What Northwest has proven over the years is that all these models have the ability to work. Not ruling out any path to find the right candidate has been the right way.

The truth is that the Bearcats currently have the winningest volleyball coach in program history, the only coach to ever lead a soccer team to the postseason, a track and field coach setting new high standards each season, a women’s basketball coach who brought the team back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, and a seven-time regional tennis coach of the year.

The athletic department is as healthy as it’s ever been across sports and Northwest has time and again proven the ability to find program-builders across sports. Time will tell with the most recent hires of Keeley and Jandron, but history indicates that fans should be confident.

MAKING THE CALL

4s Actively Works NIAA, DII, Division III JuCo D1, JuCo D2 Basketball

Continued from C1

“Just having (Malia) with me there my first year just kinda eased me into things I think,” Collins said. “Honestly, that first senior group that was there with me was great at incorporating all of us freshmen in and I think that set me up for success.”

And after a dominant junior high career, the sports-loving Platte Valley community couldn’t wait to see what the younger Collins’ daughter was capable of as a highschool athlete.

“I don’t think there was ever a time throughout her career where I had to question if she was bringing 100 percent or not,” Platte Valley basketball coach Tyler Pedersen said. “She just brought it every single night.

“Speaking of her freshman year, her sister was a senior on that team and we had some really good leaders. Malia was one of those. ... Those girls, that team, they were on a mission.”

Those expectations didn’t diminish as a freshman — the one year that Maggie got to team with her sister. With Malia at shortstop and Maggie at catcher, Platte Valley made it all the way to the state championship game in softball — falling 1-0 to Vienna in the final with the Collins girls collecting four of the team’s five hits.

In basketball, Platte Valley had a perfect 31-0 season with Maggie starring in the championship game as the only player in double figures with 19 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and four steals.

“Her role that season, it was a big one for a freshman, but one that Maggie just played throughout her career,” Pedersen said.

Those seasons kicked off four-straight where Maggie was a first-team all-state basketball player each season. She was a 2-time first-team all-state softball catcher while making the second team once.

Platte Valley repeated as state basketball champions in Maggie’s sophomore season. She had 13 points and nine rebounds in the state final.

“Maggie is a winner,” Pedersen said. “She just makes plays.”

Collins’ junior season brought new challenges. She injured her wrist going into softball season and began the year unable to play her primary position at catcher.

In basketball, she got back to healthy, but lost in the state playoffs for the first time in her career, losing in the state semifinals to Chadwick and settling for third place.

been such a big part of what Platte Valley had been the last several years. The girls know that losing a player like that is going to be a huge determent to the team, but that is also their friend and they want their friend out there on the floor with them.

“We took a little time and we were able to kinda piece together some wins during that stretch. We put a lot on Maggie during that time. She basically put us on her back and kinda carried us through.”

Without Angle, everyone had to step up for Platte Valley and that meant Collins had to take on even more of the scoring load with even more of the defense’s attention, but Collins was at her best in the biggest games of the season.

“We pulled the seniors in and I just asked them flat out — ‘do our goals change from here on out?’” Pedersen said.

“Of course, they said no.

“I went to (Maggie) and I said, ‘I believe that you are the best player in Class 1, so why can’t the team that has the best player in Class 1, win the state championship? You need to play with the confidence that you are the best player in Class 1.’ It didn’t take much. I didn’t have to spend much time talking to Maggie to get her pumped up to compete.”

Platte Valley survived its toughest test of the postseason with a 45-41 win over Nodaway Valley in the district championship. They showed their mettle with a 41-28 win over St. Joseph Christian in sectionals, then routed Pattonsburg 58-23 in the quarterfinals.

“Obviously, (Brylie) struggled for a while and we all struggled for a while,” Collins said. “But she really stepped up into a new leadership role. She wanted to see us win. She wanted to see us succeed and that was my biggest motivation — to accomplish what she couldn’t physically help us with anymore.

Back at state, Collins was at her best in a 55-25 demolition of Liberal where she had 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. In the state final, a 64-52 win over Northeast (Cairo), Collins had the best game of her career with 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting with 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals and no turnovers.

said. “In the moment, as I’m watching Maggie just put us on her shoulders and carry us to victory, I thought to myself that she has to have Brylie on the floor with her one last time. She is obviously motivated to win and motivated for our team goals, but she wanted her best friend on the court with her one last time.”

Collins finished her career with 1,833 points, 1,078 rebounds, 358 steals, 287 assists and 115 blocked shots.

“She is just one of those incredible players that you don’t ever want to take for granted when you have an opportunity to coach a player like that,” Pedersen said. In basketball, the senior class finished with a 118-6 record. In softball they were 69-30. Combined it was 18736.

“We’ve been playing together since we were super little and we’ve just grown so close together over the years,” Collins said of her senior class. “... They have become like sisters to me at this point. I’m just so thankful for those friendships.”

She capped her Platte Valley career with a state medal in the discus — giving her three individual state medals for her career.

Collins is the Maryville Forum’s Female Athlete of the Year for the second time — after winning the award as a sophomore as well. She will play basketball at Northwest Missouri State next season.

“It is still just kinda crazy to think about all the things I’ve been able to accomplish throughout the years, but it has started to sink in that that chapter is closing,” Collins said. “I am ready to move onto the next. I’m just super excited for everything that the future has in store for me.”

HONORABLE MENTION

Mya Wray, Platte Valley All Wray did as a sophomore was win a state title for every season. She captured state titles in cross country and the 3200-meter run. She was also third in the 1600-meter run.

Collins responded as a senior with a second-straight First Team All-State softball season and the third district title of her career. She hit .500 with 14 doubles, a triple and eight home runs.

In basketball, the team was reloading with two new starters, but had the dynamic All-State duo of Brylie Angle and Collins to build around.

Platte Valley was 16-0 and working to discover its third scorer going into the finals of the North Platte Tournament. Platte Valley went to 17-0 with a hardfought 40-36 win over St. Joseph Christian, but in the closing seconds, Angle was attempting to run out the clock and was run into — tearing her ACL.

“There is an emotional setback that you take with an injury like that, just because the girls are so close,” Pedersen said. “Brylie has

“She stepped up to the moment,” Pedersen said.

“We had to have her do everything that she did. ... They came out in the second half, made some adjustments and picked up their pressure. And Maggie does what Maggie does. She does anything and everything that she has to do to help us be successful. That is what it became. Ultimately, what it was was her handling their pressure and their press. She was a 1-man press break at certain points.”

The team was able to have control of the game late and Angle checked in for the final seconds of the game.

“Something that we talked about at halftime was that we had to maintain this lead because if we had a comfortable lead as the final seconds ticked down, then we were going to get Brylie out there on the court,” Pedersen

Wray stepped into Angle’s starting spot when she was injured in basketball. She also stepped up in the biggest games with a strong performance to hold off Nodaway Valley and then was second on the team with 13 points.

Jalea Price, Maryville The junior was a leader for Maryville in three sports this year. In volleyball, the First Team All-MEC selection finished the season with 530 digs. In basketball, she was also an All-Conference First Team selection. She averaged 14.6 points per game with 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists. In soccer, she was the region’s Offensive Player of the Year with 39 goals and 13 assists and was First Team All-State.

Eva Engel, Worth County The Tiger junior went back-to-back with state championships in the pole vault. She also helped the Tigers medal in 4x100-meter relay.

During the fall, she added a state appearance in golf.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Platte Valley’s Maggie Collins looks to the dugout for a sign against Maryville in Conception Junction on Sept. 11, 2023.

Misener, D2Football.com changed the game

Last week, D2Football.com released that its founder Brandon Misener had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke on May 7. Misener has been hospitalized since then and just recently was transferred to an acute rehab facility. The timeline on his recovery is still largely unknown although he is making progress.

Misener, a Northwest Missouri State graduate, recognized the need for a nationwide source on all things Division-II football. In 2000, he helped create that with his website. When Misener created the website and sparked the community that grew up around it, I was nine years old and going to elementary school in Farragut, Iowa. My family followed the Bearcats back then because my dad had massive respect for Mel Tjeerdsma, remembering him from his days building up Northwestern College’s program.

We were far from diehards though — evidenced by the fact I went to Missouri

That eventually rose to where he’s been the last three years where he has been putting in 60-mile weeks consistently throughout the year, but Blay’s first crack at competition came the same way many kids’ first track and field experience is — with elementary track meets. And he was immediately hooked.

“I’ve never really liked any other sport,” Blay laughed. “I love the independence part of track and field and cross country. Your time depends on you. … Running is my home.”

The elementary meets turned into Junior Olympics which fed into junior high, and in the eighth grade, Blay’s running career was altered when his big brother Tyler Blay decided that he was going to throw himself fully into his running career.

“There have been so many miles shared between us two,” Tyler Blay said. “When he first came in, I’m not going to lie — I was a little jealous because I was a sophomore and he was in eighth grade. Even as a freshman, he was still competing with me in workouts. But competition breeds success and there is nobody better to do it with than your brother.”

Tyler Blay began putting in huge weeks and went from an unknown in cross country to the state runnerup as a junior. The next year, he captured state titles

Western to study sports management. It was at Western that I became more aware of the work D2Football.com was doing and that it was a good source for MIAA content.

Fast forward several years and I was taking the job at the Forum in 2017 and came in with the goal to provide the best coverage of Northwest that I possibly could. For me, in order to best understand Northwest’s program, I felt like I needed to understand the schools they were competing with.

I made sure to do preview stories on every MIAA team each year. I sat in and asked questions to every team at MIAA Media Day every year to understand the league more — and I still do that. I got pretty confident in my MIAA knowledge by the time I left to take the sports editor’s job at the Opelika-Auburn News to cover Division-I sports with the Auburn Tigers.

While there, I saw the difference between Division-I and Division-II sports in Alabama. Our Auburn writer would enjoy going once or twice a year to cover Division-II Tuskegee right down the road.

The Tuskegee folks were very appreciative of the coverage — since they got basically none before he started doing that.

When I made the decision to come back

FORUM ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

in cross country and the 3200 meters.

While Tyler was finding his success, Riley Blay was beginning to make a name for himself as well. The freshman was 16th at state cross country. He took third in the 3200-meter run and seventh in the 1600-meter run.

“I didn’t get any state titles obviously, but I got the insight on what it takes to be a state champion through (Tyler),” Blay said. “And through my dad honestly too. Both of them being state champions — I knew what it took to be there.”

With Tyler moving on to college, there was a void atop the podium in Class 1 distance running which needed filled and Riley Blay was determined to not let anyone else take it.

“My freshman year I was probably at 45 or 50 miles (per week),” Blay said.

“My sophomore year I was around 60.”

As a sophomore, Blay announced his presence to the rest of the state by beating Plato senior David Held — the runner-up to Tyler the previous year and an eventual Missouri Southern runner — by 24

seconds. He was 25 seconds faster than Tyler’s time the previous year.

During the track and field season, he raised the bar again. He dominated the 3200- and 1600-meter races all season and added the 800-meter run to his arsenal midway through the season, completing a jaw-dropping comeback in the final 100 meters at the state championships to win his fourth state title of his sophomore year.

Going into his final two years of high school, Blay was on the map in the state of Missouri. He went from a strong runner and state medalist to the standard for Class 1 running.

“Once he had that boom sophomore year, there was a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure to continue to do well,” Bill Blay said of his son.

Blay’s encore performance was met with some struggles by his standards. He cruised to another state title in cross country, this one by 33 seconds. But track and field was met with adversity in the 800 meters.

Dora’s Cade Nold broke out to take Blay’s title in that event while Blay defended

to Maryville, I knew that was something I could do better. While Northwest might get the most coverage of any Division-II in the country between all the outlets who cover it, and the MIAA as a whole gets a lot of coverage — comparatively speaking — I wanted to expand my knowledge base nationwide.

That’s where Brandon’s website became super valuable. Most of the schools in the country don’t get any media coverage and many even struggle to update their own websites with gamers, but D2Football.com became my source to the wider world of Division-II football.

The columns and polls were helpful, but the best way to quickly consume the most information is the ‘Inside D2Football’ YouTube show that Brandon hosts alongside several of the columnists at D2Football.com.

With experts from around the country, the 7 p.m. show on Sundays wraps up the weekend and provides coverage that many of those schools would never get otherwise.

Bearcat fans are fortunate with the amount of people striving to provide them with the best coverage possible, but the service that Brandon and his team provide for the rest of the country is unmatched. And by lifting up the entire sport, it elevates the

understanding on a local level for the rest of us. If it wasn’t for Brandon and Chuck Bitner, I wouldn’t be able to tell you a thing about Slippery Rock or Kutztown come playoff time. If it wasn’t for Brandon and Matt Witwicki, the Northern Sun and Super Region 4 would be a mystery. If it wasn’t for Brandon and Tony Nicolette, MIAA fans would have a lot less of an idea of what was waiting for them in the state of Michigan when the playoffs rolled around. If it wasn’t for Brandon and Kris Ferguson, the HBCUs in Division-II would get next to no coverage.

That website and the work that Brandon did building it has completely changed the game for Division-II football and completely elevated the sport.

Now as coaches and players prepare for the season, Brandon would love to be doing the same, but is stuck in a rehab facility. Get well soon my friend, and thank you for what you’ve given to a sport that so many of us are so passionate about.

If you would like to donate to Brandon to help him on his road to recovery, his family and the team at D2Football.com have set up a gofundme page (Support Brandon in his stroke recovery) for his medical expenses.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Nodaway Valley’s Riley Blay runs at the district track and field championships in May at King City.

his titles in the mile and 2-mile.

This season, Blay provided the exclamation mark on an unprecedented high-school running career.

In cross country, he broke his own Class 1 record at the Gans Creek championship course with a 15.48.2 and became just the second runner in state history to win 3-straight state titles — joining West Plains’ Chris Zinn, who did it in Class 4 in 1981, 1982 and 1983.

The 3-peats became a theme that carried into track and field season with two more titles in the 3200and 1600-meter runs as he finished with 10 state championships in his final three years of high school.

In the 3200-meter run, he broke his brother’s Class 1 state record with a 9:32.56.

“Beating my brother’s record and doing it solo pretty much from the front,” Blay said is his favorite state title. “I think that is the one that stands out the most.”

In true Blay fashion, he didn’t allow himself much time to celebrate as he was in Alabama the following weekend and Blay did what he does — “run fast.” He smashed his personal best with a 9:10.82 in the 3200meter run.

“I’m really excited to get into shape to where I can run under 9,” Blay said. “Just spend the whole year completely training and not worrying about racing.”

For the first time in three years, the Blay brothers are set to be teammates again — this time with Northwest.

Tyler Blay has two more seasons to compete and Riley Blay will redshirt this season and compete the following year.

“It was exciting to see him succeed so much,” Bill Blay said with his voice full of emotion. “I don’t know why I’m choking up. Pride. The Blay brothers — that’s enough — they will be back together.”

HONORABLE MENTION

Kason Teale, Maryville Teale leaves his own historical legacy at Maryville. The West Texas A&M soccer signee led the Spoofhounds to their first two state trophies in soccer — taking third as a sophomore and third as a senior. In tennis, he helped lead the Hounds to their first appearance in the state final four, where they earned their first state trophy — a third-place finish.

He became the first 4-time All-State selection in program history and had 33 goals and 13 assists this season. He and Jaxson Staples are 2-time state medalists in doubles tennis — taking fifth this season.

Tyler New, Worth County Four-sport athletes are quite rare in Missouri — considering that there are only three sports seasons.

But not only was New a 4-sport athlete this season, he excelled in all four.

The First Team All-State quarterback led his team to the state championship game before they fell to Archie. He finished with 1,226 yards passing, 1,589 yards rushing and 60 total touchdowns.

In basketball, he was an All-State selection after averaging 21.7 points per game this season with 4.8 assists. The Tigers finished as the district runner-up. In track, New was a conference and district champion in the javelin and earned state medals in two relays.

In baseball, he hit .357 to lead his team and finish with all-conference and alldistrict honors.

Derek Quinlin, Maryville Quinlin finishes his Spoofhound career as the Maryville leader in singlegame, single-season and career passing. He finished this season with 2,253 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions.

He also ran for 208 yards and seven touchdowns as Maryville won the Midland Empire Conference. The Morningside basketball signee finished the season with 17.5 points per game and was the District Player of the Year after leading the Spoofhounds to a district championship.

Jon Dykstra

Cardinals respond this year is a major storyline entering the season.

5. Mason Casner, sr., Platte Valley Casner was a breakout player last season, stepping in for Carter Luke as Platte Valley’s running back. With all three linemen returning for Platte Valley, Casner is primed for another breakout.

Here is my initial top-10 rankings — subject to change before season.

1. Braymer Last season — 12-1; state semifinalist Conference — CRL

The offense for Braymer has been prolific the last few years, but when the Bobcats have met a defense capable of providing resistance, games have gotten out of hand. The defense has to be better this season to live up to this ranking and the offense has to be ready for the type of teams that the final four presents. Time will tell, but with the attrition from the other top teams, this leap is possible.

2. Archie Last season — 14-0; state champion Conference — WEMO

No Briar McIntire, no Brock Smith, no Kaden Sutton. This will be a new-look Whirlwind team, but a dominant front line does a lot to remedy those issues. The line play for Archie is what flipped the script last year and set the table for the title. Senior Brayden Daniels is as good of a building block up front as there is. Shane Heider and Tristan Leeper add to the returning talent.

3. Platte Valley

Last season — 9-2; district runner-up Conference — 275

Platte Valley loses quarterback Aydan Blackford and two of their top 3 receivers with Lane Acklin and Brandon McQueen. They return the running back trio of Mason Casner, Lucky Ferry and Lealand Otto — all of which had at least 500 yards. They return the offensive line of Blaine Clements, Landon Wiederholt and Andy Mattson. The team also benefits from the healthy return of defensive end/end Justin Miller.

4. Worth County Last season — 12-2; state runner-up Conference — GRC

Similar to Platte Valley, Worth County returns its top three running backs while losing most of its passing game. The team will miss do-it-all quarterback Tyler New, but the reputation of this year’s sophomores is quite impressive and they get larger roles this season. Building a line will be the key for the Tigers with Kolten Smith and Elias Alarcon graduating.

5. South Holt Last season — 12-1; state semifinalist Conference — 275

Medsker is special. Trace Milne, Trevor Markt and Griffin Kemerling provide an experienced supporting cast, but filling out

the rest of the lineup will be the key — especially the line around Milne. The sky’s the limit for this Knight group when you have a player like Medsker, but there are questions to answer before I move them higher.

6. St. Joseph Christian Last season — 7-4; district runner-up Conference — GRC

The Lions return a pair of 1,000-yard rushers with Cy Carlson and Peyton Hausman. Levi Miller and Mason Stewart return after each splitting time at quarterback. The Lions were winless in 2021, had one win in 2022 and jumped to seven last season. How far can they climb this season?

7. Albany Last season — 7-3; district quarterfinalist Conference — GRC

Pattonsburg was Albany’s kryptonite last season, but other than those two losses, their only defeat was to Worth County. With Kyle Emerson and Chase Cline leading an 11-man senior class and Elliot Mercer coming off a 831-yard freshman season, the Warriors are capable of being even better this season.

8. Appleton City Last season — 7-3; district semifinalist Conference — WEMO

Cash Anderson sets the tone as the Bulldogs look to become the primary challenger for Archie in the south. Hayden Bock is the complement to Anderson with 500 yards rushing and 292 yards passing last season.

9. Nodaway Valley Last season — 7-3; district semifinalist Conference — 275

The Thunder were another breakout team last season. Injuries took their toll towards the end of last season, but wins over Rock Port (despite injuries) and a full-strength North Andrew team in Week 1 showed the improvement that Nodaway Valley made. They lose star quarterback Michael Cook who was part of the injured group last year, but return playmakers Preston Jenkins, Ben Cordell, Dylan Walker, Cooper Snodderley and Tye Hoyt. Garrett Carpenter is one of the state’s top linemen.

10. Drexel

Last season — 7-4, district runner-up Conference — WEMO

T.J. Munter is to defensive statistics as Jordan Haley is to offense. Munter had 126 tackles with 39 of them behind the line of scrimmage. Mason Jackson returns after 1,678 passing yards and 837 rushing yards last season on top of 44 total touchdowns. Kolbi Nichols and Cole Kimbrough each had over 500 yards receiving.

Best of the rest (alphabetical order): Bishop LeBlond (4-5, Player to watch: Jacob Winkelbauer); Concordia (7-3, Player to watch: Triston Hass); East Atchison (6-6; Player to watch: Tate Johnson); Lockwood (9-3; Player to watch: Nik Thieman); North Andrew (2-8, Player to watch: Avrey Miller)

MAKING THE CALL

to anyone that watched his Thunder career, Cook stepped into the spot to help his team.

At the end of the day, the Green team, led by Pattonsburg star quarterback Gage Iddings, picked up a 28-14 victory. The game and event was about far more than a score for Nodaway County participants Brandon McQueen (Platte Valley), Lane Acklin (Platte Valley), Andrew Lightner (Nodaway Valley) and Cook.

“I had a lot of fun with the practices and stuff, and the downtime in between,” Cook said. “I had a lot of kids who I just met this weekend. A majority of the kids I hung out with, we created bonds and it felt like we’ve been talking for years. … It was just a great experience for me and I am so glad that I was able to have this opportunity.”

Lightner said it was nice having Cook by his side for another game.

“It was really nice having Cook down here because he is so open to everybody,” Lightner said. “He kinda helped me open up too and I made a lot of new friends down here.”

Eight-Man football remains very regionalized in the state of Missouri with the northwest, northeast and southern portions of the state rarely playing each other until deep into the playoffs. Saturday’s game offered the opportunity for players from all corners of the 8-man footprint to meet

each other and see each other’s skills.

“You meet a lot of new people and I like to talk, so I know pretty much everybody on this team and it was a good experience,” Acklin laughed. “I had to see what that Archie talk was all about and I found out, I found out.”

Two of the standouts and the players who ended up being named the MVPs of the game are two who don’t get the media coverage of some of the other portions of the state, but showed on the big stage how talented they are. Osceola’s Bill Snider was the Defensive MVP while Schuyler County’s Mayson Humphrey was the Offensive MVP.

“It was a total blast — coming down, meeting new people and making new

friends, playing a sport that I love,” McQueen said. “You don’t always get the chance to play with other players but it is always great when teams get together and mesh well. It is just a blast.” Platte Valley improved each of the last four seasons with a 2-8 record McQueen’s freshman year, a 8-3 record his sophomore season and 9-2 records in both his junior and senior years. Acklin joined the team as a senior.

Nodaway Valley has also improved each season with a 2-8 record in their first season in 2021, a 3-7 record in 2022 and a 7-3 record in 2023.

“It was a real honor to come down here and play, for sure,” Lightner said. “It felt really good to put the pads on again. I’m definitely going to miss it.”

Hometown:

Worked an 8-man football state championship in 2018. Plant manager at MFA Oil & Propane, volunteer firefighter and co-captain for 140 rescue squad in Burlington Jct. and part-time farmer

souri State twice — once in 2019 and again in 2021. He and Ben McCollum were complimentary of each other following the games.

“I met with their coach, really liked him and got a good vibe,” Mattson said.

“From there, I was ready to go.

“They run a run-and-gun offense, pick up full court, very similar to what we run here in high school. They

like to bring in a lot of freshmen and build through the program. I like the idea of that culture and that’s something that I want to be a part of.”

St. Mary went 18-12 last season — doubling their win total from a season ago.

They finished the regular season by winning 11-of-12 games.

Mattson plans to be a math major at St. Mary.

“From day one moving in as an eighth-grader, he has been my biggest supporter,” Mattson said of

Jermain. “Nothing but love for Coach Jermain. Just a great coach and great guy. He really just cares about the kids here.

“Moving here has been one of the best things that ever happened to me. Jefferson obviously has a rich history of winning basketball games, but bringing Platte Valley together and meeting some new guys that I didn’t know and working hard with them — it is just a great culture and I’m just really happy to be a part of it.”

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Nodaway Valley’s Michael Cook and Andrew Lightner, along with Platte Valley’s Lane Acklin and Brandon McQueen played in Saturday’s Missouri 8-Man Coaches Association All-Star Game in St. Joseph.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM Nodaway Valley’s Andrew Lightner pumps his fist after a touchdown for SIlver in Saturday’s Missouri 8-Man Coaches Association All-Star Game in St. Joseph.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Alex Mattson signed with St. Mary on Monday morning at Jefferson High School. From left, Francis Mattson, Tim Jermain, Alex Mattson, Linda Mattson.

Rwanda

Continued from C1

One of the organizations that the Wildcats have worked closely with is Team Hally — an organization which is dedicated to honoring the memory of Hally Yust who lost her life at the age of nine in 2014.

Team Hally is a Christian organization with three missions — share God’s Word, love God’s people and encourage God’s people. More information on Hally Yust and Team Hally can be found on teamhally.org.

The Wildcats play in a Team Hally Game each season. This past year, it was a 67-65 win over BYU where Sundell had 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and no turnovers — including the two go-ahead free throws with 37 seconds left.

In May, the team had the chance to take a trip with Team Hally to Rwanda. The trip lasted for 10 days total.

“I’ve wanted to do something more significant with a foreign trip,” Kansas State coach Jeff Mittie said. “Those for college programs have turned into more like vacations I think. I just wanted something significant where we could make a difference hopefully and have an experience that would be eye opening and give a different perspective to our studentathletes. It was a great trip. It did all the things that I wanted it to.”

The entire roster and a majority of the coaching staff went on the trip including Mittie and his wife.

“It was a lot of fun,” Sundell said. “We stayed in a nunnery, so that was interesting and we had a lot of fun memories. Each day, we went to this village and we built a basketball court for them. We painted. We put up a fence. We put up goals. And we put up bleachers.”

The trips into the village were memorable for Sundell with one of the memories that sticks out being what was supposed to be a short trip to the school to meet some of the kids and give them some K-State souvenirs.

“We got to the school and there were just a whole bunch of kids lined up around this outdoor basketball court with these beautiful mountains in the background,” Sundell said. “There was a girls’ team that was out there warming up. They had their jerseys on and everyone was cheering them on. … We actually played up-anddown full-court for a little scrimmage and it was a lot of fun with all these kids cheering us on from the sidelines. So that was probably my favorite part.”

The main part of the trip was building a basketball court for the community as the players and coaches worked to get it finished in time to host a basketball camp for the children.

“On the last day, when it was finished, we had a basketball camp where we had probably 150 kids show up,” Sundell said. “We walked them through some different drills and stuff. Obviously there was a language barrier, but it was really fun to share the sport that brought us all together.”

The team also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial — a place of remembrance and learning dedicated to the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda 30 years ago. They also attended a church service in the community they were serving.

“That was pretty interesting to see how much they value things that we take for granted every day,” Sundell said.

The team — which returns four 4-year starters — has been through a lot together over the years, but this experience is not one the players will soon forget.

“All of our players said the same thing when they came back,” Mittie said.

“There was such joy and acceptance from the people in the village who had nothing — literally had nothing. … I think there was a lot of emotion and a lot of bonding that just came naturally though that experience.”

For Sundell, the word that stood out was ‘grateful.’

“It was a really eye-opening experience,” Sundell said. “I’m really very grateful that I got to go.”

MAKING THE CALL

RECOGNIZING THE OFFICIALS WHO MAKE THE GAME HAPPEN

KORT WATKINS

Sports Officiated: Softball and Baseball

Years as an Official: 1 year for softball 2 years for baseball

Hometown: Maryville

More:

His father, Brian Watkins, has umpired high school baseball for 18 seasons and umpired high school softball for 17 seasons.

by

Sponsored

K-State

and won a game in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years. It was assumed that AllAmerican center Ayoka Lee would lead the young team the next season as a senior before handing the reins to the young backcourt, but that theory was derailed in 2022-2023 when Lee suffered a seasonending injury. Despite that disappointment, the young Wildcats still managed a 19-win season and made it to the third round of the NIT.

Last season, the growth continued with a memorable start to the season, including a win in Iowa City over Caitlin Clark and the second-ranked Hawkeyes.

The team started the season 20-1 and climbed to the No. 2 ranking in the nation. Lee was injured in a double-overtime loss at Iowa State and the Wildcats struggled down the stretch, but still managed to earn a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. A 26-win season ended in the second round of the tournament with a loss to fifth-seeded Colorado.

On April 7, Lee made the announcement that she would be taking advantage of her COVID-19 extra year of eligibility. Lee will share her final year at Kansas State with Sundell and the Glenn twins as they have their final seasons.

“Oh my goodness, that was huge for us,” Sundell said. “She is just great in so many ways — on the court, off the court, as a leader. She can just control the game.

“She texted us in our group chat and said, ‘I think I need to win a Big 12 Championship before I leave,’ or something along those lines was her text, so we were all super excited.”

Lee has started all 114 games of her career. Sundell has started all 103 games of her career. Jaelyn Glenn has started 99 of the 102 games she’s played. Brylee Glenn has started 93 of 102 games she’s played.

“We just finished up a Kids Camp yesterday and one of the little girls asked me if I was going to be here next year, and it was weird to say, ‘no, I’m not actually,’” Sundell said. “It has flown by. … It has been a lot of fun and I am blessed to be going into a senior season where we can have the best season we have had since I’ve been here.”

Now the four return together with 407 total starts between them and the highest expectations for the program in years.

“I think with a veteran group, the positive is that they know each other, but you gotta keep the fire burning,” Kansas State coach Jeff Mittie said. “We have a desire to do more than we did a year ago and this is a team that has championship goals.”

Sundell and Lee were each First Team All-Big 12 selections last season. Lee is a 4-time First Team All-Big 12 selection and has earned All-American accolades in three of those seasons.

“I remember going into my freshman year and my dad being like, ‘if you go to Kansas State, you will be able to play with Ayoka Lee for at least one year,’” Sundell said. “That is what I was thinking — that I was going to get one year with her. So for it to end up being four, it is pretty crazy.”

Lee and Sundell also have

the potential to not have this be their final year playing basketball. In April, the Athletic and the New York Times released their initial WNBA Draft Rankings for 2025. Lee was ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the nation and Sundell was ranked 11th.

“I know me and Yokie aren’t too worried about that right now,” Sundell said. “We just want to try and make our last season the best one.”

The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant wrote of Sundell: “Sundell takes advantage of the fact that she is 6-1, and Big 12 guards felt it all season. She has great court vision and was 26th in the country with 5.6 assists per game. Sundell is also a crafty finisher who shot nearly 40 percent from 3 in 2023-24. If she can put together another season like the last one, she’ll rocket up draft boards.”

Mittie hopes to see the 2-player game between his two stars become even more dynamic this year and get Lee the ball on the move more often.

“The goal for me this offseason with those two is to become connected even better in the ball-screen game,” Mittie said. “It is an area that we haven’t spent a lot of time with Lee on — mainly because Lee has had to use the offseasons to battle back from injury. This is the first offseason that she has been healthy in three years. So the ballscreen action is somewhere that Serena and Lee have to have a better connection.”

While the Glenn sisters return, Kansas State replaces its other starter in its 4-guard lineup with third-leading scorer Gabby Gregory gone. Gregory scored 9.4 points per game — only behind Lee’s 19.7 and Sundell’s 12.1 — and led the Wildcats in 3-pointers made.

The outside shooting has been a focus for Kansas State as Sundell shot 39.8% but was third on the team in attempts. The Glenns shot a matching 31.6% from deep.

“There are a ton of areas that we can improve on,” Mittie said. “We have a good portion of time laying that out for our team. Shooting the basketball can be much better. Offensively, we made great improvements last year, but we feel like we can be an even better offensive team than a year ago.”

The Wildcats return all of their top bench players with forward Eliza Maupin, forward Gisela Sanchez, guard Taryn Sides and guard Zyanna Walker. Walker played starter-level minutes with over 20 per game.

Sanchez made six starts with Lee out and Sides was the second-most accurate 3-point shooter on the team at a 33.3% clip.

“We have a really experienced group,” Sundell said. “It is kinda a

deal where there are not a lot of excuses, you just got to go and get things done.

“This year, by far, our roster has the most talent that I’ve ever been a part of on a team, so that is going to be a lot of fun.”

While Lee was the biggest recruit of the season, Kansas State didn’t stop there this offseason.

“We wanted to add shooting and we wanted to add some scoring,” Mittie said.

Senior forward Temira Poindexter was the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year last season and an Honorable Mention All-American. The 6-foot1 transfer from Tulsa averaged 21 points per game and made 88 3-pointers at a 32.2% clip.

“First of all from a person standpoint, she is just a lot of fun to be around,” Sundell said. “I don’t know if people care about that, but that is a big deal to us. Are you going to be a selfish player? How are you going to handle yourself? She is a lot of fun to be around. … From a basketball standpoint, she is very lengthy. She is my height, maybe taller than me by a little bit, with long arms. She is going to be a great defender, I’ll tell you that. And she can just score the ball. That is what she did at Tulsa, and that is what she wants to come here and do.”

Mittie didn’t stop there. He added post depth behind Lee with 6-foot-3 Kennedy Taylor. Taylor comes from Missouri State where she showed she can excel off the bench as the Missouri Valley Conference’s Sixth Player of the Year last season. She was a 2-time Third Team All-MVC selection and averaged 10.7 points per game with 7.1 rebounds.

“We needed a big kid with a physical, strong body who rebounds the ball well,” Mittie said. “She put up good numbers at Missouri State. I think both (Poindexter and Taylor) not only filled a need but complement our existing group.”

With Mittie signing a new 5-year contract last week and six seniors guiding the program into the season, the Wildcats enter the year as a very stable program with big-time goals. Sundell is determined to make it a memorable final season in purple.

“Definitely this year, we want to win a Big 12 Championship,” Sundell said. “I think everyone understands that. Coach Mittie has already said that. We aren’t going to avoid it. We are going to speak it into existence and make that our focus, but obviously that doesn’t just happen, it is one game at a time.

“It is a balance of knowing that your goals are big, but not trying to take on the world. How can you get better each day?”

K-STATE ATHLETICS

Kansas State senior Serena Sundell, right, alongside coaches paints the basketball court that the team built on a trip to Rwanda this May.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM Kansas State point guard Serena Sundell drives down the floor during a win on Dec. 9, 2023, over Missouri in St. Joseph.

Mustangs

Continued from C1

As the last two weeks of the season approach, Bodenhausen and the Mustangs are in a familiar place with a 3-game lead in the MINK standings as they try to lock up the top seed for the 6-team playoff.

“It has been going great,” Bodenhausen said. “We’ve run into some struggles, but it is always great to run into those before the playoffs start, so that we can learn to persevere and play better as a team.

“I can’t wait to see what we do in the playoffs and obviously I have a ton of confidence in our team.”

Clarinda sits in second-place and cut into that lead on Sunday with a 9-4 win in St. Joseph. Bodenhausen was the star of the game for St. Joseph with two hits and a walk.

The outfielder and leadoff hitter is hitting .314 this season with a .465 on-base percentage. He also has 10 stolen bases.

“Noah is just the ultimate ballplayer, man,” St. Joseph manager Johnny Coy said. “He doesn’t do anything too flashy, doesn’t have a ton of power. He just always squares balls up. Always gets base hits. You ask him to do anything on the ball field and he will always do it. He was born and raised a ballplayer.”

Bodenhausen teams with plenty of familiar players in St. Joseph, but two stand out with his little brother Truman Bodenhausen and his college teammate Andrew Clark.

“Having Bodie is awesome,” Clark said. “Having his little brother around too — he is literally his twin.”

Clark has also been very good for the Mustangs this season as he prepares for his senior season at Northwest. Clark has thrown 27 innings this season with a 4.67 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and 15 walks.

“Andrew just does his job,” Coy said. “He goes out there and he has a good 3-pitch mix. His changeup is better than it was last year and that is really going to help him when he goes back to Northwest. His curveball is good too. He

doesn’t throw super hard, but when you have three pitches that you can throw in any count, you don’t have to throw that hard.”

Clark was strong on Sunday, coming in down 8-0 in the fourth inning. He threw four innings and allowed just one run on two hits.

“It is never ideal coming in out of the bullpen and having to throw four innings,” Clark said. “That usually means something went wrong, but your job is to just go out there and keep the team in it for as long as you can. We’ve got a great offense and you never know when they are going to catch fire.”

The Bearcat says he enjoys playing his home games at Phil Welch Stadium during the summer. He credits former Bearcat Max Spitzmiller with introducing him to the Mustangs.

“It is really cool coming out here,” Clark said. “You get kinda a minor-league atmosphere. Some of us will never get to really get to experience that other than St. Joe. Some guys might get the chance to go play minor-league baseball, but we get to kinda soak it up.

“This crowd — there is nothing like it. They are a bunch of St. Joe people so of course with my Maryville roots, I’m not the biggest fan of St. Joe when it comes to Mo West, but when it comes to the Mustangs, there is nothing better.”

Clark is looking forward to his final season at Northwest under first-year coach Tony Jandron — who also played for the Mustangs during his playing days.

“Skip Darin Loe is always going to have a special place in the Bearcat baseball program, there is no doubt about that,”

Clark said. “… Me and (Jandron) talk a lot, just over the phone about pitching, things that we need to add to the team, or stuff that I can work on. He is just young. He is fired up. He is ready to go. He is awesome.

“I’m really looking forward to the new culture that he is going to bring in. Not that Darin Loe didn’t have a good culture, but Jandron is just going to bring something different that I think we are going to really enjoy.”

Continued from C1

that we love to hit the driver, and they don’t get to hit the driver here. … That is a good thing so they have to rely on their other clubs. That is the other part of the game.”

Maryville senior Dylan Groomer continued to play well on the summer-long tour — winning for the second time in the 16-18 age division. He won the 14-person division by four strokes with a 1-under 57.

“Short par-4s were fun,” Groomer said. “How long were they? 220? I birdied them three out of four times. That was a lot of fun.”

Rock Port’s Hayden Cook and Maryville’s Kaleb Groomer tied for second by each scoring a 61. Spoofhound senior Jack Dinsdale was fourth with a 63 while Lucas Vierthaler was tied for eighth with a 67.

Maryville had a participant in the 14-15 age division with Joe Snyders finishing tied for seventh in the 14-person division with a 79.

“Doing this Northwest Junior Series, the experience of competing — playing golf and competing at golf is entirely different,” Ricks said. “For him to come and compete, I just love to see it.”

On the girls’ side of the bracket, Maryville’s Halle Zimmerman and Taylor Akon played in the 14-15

age division. Zimmerman finished third in the division with an 86 behind Lake Waukomis’ Delaney Fry (74) and Richmond’s Caroline Dooley (85). Akon finished fifth with an 89.

“A grandfather from Liberty North, he told me — I want you to tell Taylor how much her golf swing has improved in the two or three weeks that I’ve watched her play with my granddaughter,” Ricks said. “That is what this does. It gets them out competing and working on their game. It is awesome.”

In the girls’ 16-18 division, Tarkio’s Alex Barnett won the division with a 65. The Northwest Missouri Junior Tournament Series has two more tournaments with the last regular-season tournament being Monday at Savannah’s Duncan Hills Golf Course. The Tour Championship is an invitation-only event on July 22 at St. Joseph Country Club.

A’s

Continued from C1

Starting pitching has been the story for Clarinda in their matchups with the Mustangs. On June 28, Luke Spencer pitched seven scoreless innings.

On July 2, Noah Benavides had six scoreless innings.

On Sunday, it was Jose Calcano’s turn with five scoreless innings before giving up four in the sixth.

“Throwing strikes and being aggressive in the strike zone,” Clarinda coach Ryan Eberly said on the key against the Mustangs. “They are free swingers and when we get a lot of quick outs, pitchers are able to go deep.”

With the league-leading Mustangs finding their bats and cutting Clarinda’s 9-0 lead to 9-4 — the A’s had to stop the bleeding and the team turned to Northeast Nodaway graduate and current North Central Missouri College pitcher Dylan McIntyre.

McIntyre gave up an immediate double to Jackson Glueck and it appeared as though the

Mustang rally was on. McIntyre immediately settled right back down to get the next three outs and leave Glueck stranded.

“Next pitch,” McIntyre said when asked about the lead-off double. “Just focus on the next AB if the first one doesn’t go very well.”

McIntyre gave up a walk to open the eighth inning, but buckled down again with a ground out, fly out and strikeout to finish his day. McIntyre threw two scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and one strikeout.

“Curveball was moving pretty good,” McIntyre said. “Fastball was getting me ahead in the count and I’d just come back with the breaker to put them away.”

Clarinda closer Xzavier Vargas ended the game with a hitless ninth inning to keep the momentum rolling for the A’s.

McIntyre only threw 15 2/3 innings during his freshman season at North Central Missouri College where he was on the same staff as Calcano. He had thrown the same amount already for Clarinda and has had back-to-back scoreless appearances.

“His mental part — knowing that he belongs here,” Eberly said of McIntyre’s growth. “I think that is the biggest thing — talking with him and coaching him up. He has good enough stuff to get anybody out. Once he believes in himself, he is going to be lights out, I think.”

The MINK League advances six teams to playoffs and the top three teams have separated themselves in the standings with St. Joseph at 26-6, Clarinda at 22-9 and Jefferson City at 19-12 while no other team is above .500.

“It is a blast,” McIntyre said.

Clarinda has 10 games left in the regular season with eight of those being league games. St. Joseph has nine games left with eight league games. They play each other twice in the last three games.

“It feels good to be winning,” McIntyre said.

“We’ve been winning a lot here recently. … We are all ready for the playoffs and to win the whole thing.”

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Clarinda pitcher Dylan McIntyre winds up on Sunday night in St. Joseph. McIntyre plays college ball at North Central Missouri College.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

St. Joseph pitcher Andrew Clark delivers against Clarinda on Sunday at Phil Welch Stadium.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville senior Lucas Vierthaler chips onto the green on Monday at the Northwest Missouri Junior Tournament Series event at St. Joseph’s Copper Hill Golf Course.

Continued from C1

3. Hudson Bailey, jr., St. Pius X Bailey was a revelation last season, stepping in for graduated Jack Mosh at quarterback. The Second Team All-MEC selection only improved as the season went with one of his best games coming in the district championship game at Maryville.

4. Lucas Vierthaler, sr., Maryville Vierthaler is one of the top 2-way players in the league on both sides of the line. With the graduation of a majority of the Spoofhound skill players, the line will have to be dominant and with the Second Team All-State selection Vierthaler, Major Scarbourgh, Phoenix Phillips and Mace McKim leading the way — it shapes up to be a special group.

5. Cooper Burnsides, sr., Savannah Yet another great defensive linemen — Burnsides was Third Team All-State last season. If Savannah is going to continue to challenge the top two teams in the MEC, Burnsides will be a big reason why.

6. Gus McCollough, sr., Maryville McCollough joined Vierthaler on Second Team All-State and will be even more pivotal to the Spoofhound defense and the linebacking core with fellow outside linebacker Delton Davis at Northwest Missouri State now.

7. Jackson Rotterman, sr., St. Pius X Rotterman is never going to be the guy putting up the most statistics on this loaded St. Pius X offense, but if you follow the H-back, a lot of times you will find the ball. Rotterman was Second Team All-State.

8. Larry Cascone, sr., St. Pius X

Yet another Second Team All-State player for the Warriors. Eighth feels too low for Cascone, but it is so tough to sort out all the playmakers on that offense. He ran for 1,423 yards and 20 touchdowns.

9. Silas Midgyett, sr., Chillicothe Midgyett topped the 1,000-yard plateau for the second-straight season as a junior. He ran for 1,082 yards and 12 touchdowns. With Javon Kille and Lane Nickell graduating, even more will be placed on Midgyett this season.

10. Landon Noland, sr., Savannah Noland, a multi-sport star for Savannah, was Third Team All-State at linebacker last season and helps lead a Savannah defense which had four-straight shutouts at one point last season.

11. Charles Ross, sr., St. Pius X Why put an 11th spot on this list? Because how can you not put a First Team All-State player on a list like this. Ross was First Team All-State as a returner and First Team All-MEC as a defensive back.

I bet that player ranking gave you an idea as to who tops this next list, but let’s dive into the team rankings.

1. St. Pius X Last Year: 11-3; Second in MEC; Lost in Class 3 State Semifinal

The Warriors are simply loaded this season. Anthony Simone’s team — in addition to the five guys on that top11 list — returns First Team All-MEC selections Kyler Kuhn, Carl Mille and Jimmell Hollman. This team is just the favorite for an MEC title, it is one of the favorites for a state title.

MEC August 30 Games

Maryville at Blair Oaks, 7 p.m.

Marshall at Chillicothe, 7 p.m.

St. Pius X at Rockhurst, 7 p.m.

Center at Lafayette, 7 p.m.

Pleasant Hill at Savannah, 7 p.m.

Oak Grove at Cameron, 7 p.m.

Benton at Northeast (KC), 7 p.m.

2. Maryville

Last Year: 9-2; First in MEC; Lost in Class 3 District Championship

Maryville topped St. Pius X in the game to decide the conference last season, but St. Pius X got its revenge in the district championship. The Air-Webb offensive is likely more ground-bound this season, but with a line like theirs and running backs like Sadler Viau and company, Maryville should be able to lean on smash-mouth football and a stellar defense.

3. Savannah

Last Year: 7-4; Third in MEC; Lost in Class 4 District Semifinal

This top 3 has been the way of the MEC for the last few years with the order just shifting around. With junior quarterback Aiden Knechtenhofer leading the offense and defensive stars like Noland and Burnsides, Savannah should be safely in the top three again. This is not breaking news, but Cade Chappell was a very good football player and has graduated. That will be a key spot to fill.

4. Chillicothe

Last Year: 5-6; Fourth in MEC; Lost in Class 3 District Semifinal

Chillicothe makes no secret to how they are going to attack you. With Midgyett behind guys like Smith and Trent Jacobs, the Hornets are a scary rushing attack. Jaishon White is a mismatch problem at tight end too.

5. Cameron

Last Year: 6-5; Fifth in MEC; Lost in Class 3 District Semifinal

The Dragons keep improving under coach Wes Bell. They won 4-straight games last season before running into a Spoofhound buzzsaw in districts. Losing runners like Peyton Garr and Kenton Gates hurts though. Senior Hudson Lodder will be counted on to lead the Dragons after earning Second Team All-MEC last season at fullback and First Team All-MEC at linebacker.

6. Benton

Last Year: 2-8; Seventh in MEC; Lost in Class 4 District Quarterfinals

The Cardinals are coming off a winless conference season and one of their two non-conference wins was a forfeit victory last season. The low point of the season was 26-14 home loss to rival Lafayette in Week 3, but down the stretch, the Cardinals got better even if it didn’t show in the win/ loss column. In the regular-season finale, they held Chillicothe to 22 points. Senior Jaxon Rich is a player to watch after he earned Second Team All-MEC last season.

7. Lafayette

Last Year: 1-9; Sixth in MEC; Lost in Class 4 District Quarterfinals

To climb this list, the Irish defense has to make major strides. Over the last seven games last season, Lafayette gave up 50 points to Savannah, 49 to Sarcoxie, 79 to Chillicothe, 54 to Cameron, 83 to St. Pius X, 71 to Maryville and 70 to Savannah.

Senior lineman Javonte Simms will be looked to as a leader in that defensive resurgence after earning Second Team All-MEC last year.

NWMO All-Stars win Junior League State Championship

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Northwest Missouri Little League All-Stars Juniors Division won the state championship last weekend in Concordia. They defeated Joplin to earn the title and the chance to go to the Regional Tournament in Midland, Michigan, on July 22-27 where they will face teams from Ohio, Nebraska, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Illinois. They won the district championship on July 1 by beating the Harrison County All-Stars. Pictured, front from left; coach Jason Dannar, Jordan Dannar, Liam Cordell, Brady O’Connell, Landon Hawkins, Lucas Redden, Ezra Morriss; back; coach Alan Gockel, Troy Madison, Tyson Wilmes, Jace Burns, Kaleb Meek, Luis DeWilde, Brant Jensen, Wyatt Scadden, Grady Gockel and coach Jeffrey Burns.

Minton

Continued from C1

A member of that special senior class, Perry had the kill to end the state semifinals that season against topranked Hermann. Now she coaches the Slammers club program in Maryville.

“She was my first coach,” Maryville rising freshman Channing Minton said. “She taught me every single basic, basically. Then I also started doing private (lessons) with Alyssa (Rezac) Stout and she helped me a bunch.”

The Slammers have introduced the next generation of Spoofhounds to the sport. One of those products is Minton, who played her first two years of competitive volleyball with the Slammers before moving to Kansas Citybased Mizuno Club North.

“Last year was my first year, but I bonded with everyone really easily,” Minton said of her new squad.

Over the past four years, Minton has fallen in love with the sport and her hard work paid off this summer with a trip to the USA Volleyball National Championships in Las Vegas.

The team traveled the country to play in big tournaments including a home one in February with the Triple Crown Volleyball NIT in Kansas City where they took third in their bracket. The team lost its first three pool-play matches in that tournament, but came back with 4-straight wins including rallying back twice after dropping the first set.

Minton’s club qualified for nationals by winning the Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier in Minneapolis in March. The squad won the 24-team division.

“There were definitely ups and downs, but overall, we did really good — good enough to get a bid to nationals,” Minton said. “… I’ve always wanted to do that (make nationals).”

Club North continued its busy season, but it all led up to this past week in Las Vegas. They got off to a slow start with a pair of losses on Day 1 of the tournament and then a heart-breaking 2-1 loss to open Day 2 after they won the first set.

“It is really hard the first game always — we lose a lot of the first games,” Minton laughed. “Just getting used to how people are playing and how the environment is at certain places. When we won the first game, it helped us continue to win

SUBMITTED PHOTO

her

‘We just tried to have fun while we were doing it because if we don’t have fun, we don’t really win.’

‑ Channing Minton

and continue to have fun with it.”

Minton and her teammates got things turned around quickly though and won their final two matches of Day 2 to wrap up the first round of pool play in the 14-and-U National Division.

“We just tried to have fun while we were doing it because if we don’t have fun, we don’t really win,” Minton said. “When we do have fun, it helps us get through it.”

That set the team up for another pool-play round on Day 3 and they played very well with back-to-back straight sets wins then rallied from dropping the first set to complete a 3-0 day.

The next day saw the season wrap up for the Kansas City-based squad with a loss in singleelimination bracket play to the Minnesota Select squad as their bracket also featured teams from North Carolina and Arizona.

“It is a lot different than if you are going to a normal tournament just locally,” Minton said. “There are

a lot better players and a lot of big college coaches there who come watch you play and watch other people play.”

Minton’s team finished the tournament with a 5-4 record. They also didn’t take too long to rest up as Club North held tryouts for next season the day after returning from Las Vegas.

“Definitely back row and defense, I want to get a lot better to try to help the Spoofhounds win,” Minton said.

Next up for Minton though is her introduction to highschool volleyball. She is not the only talented player the Spoofhounds are adding this season either with Maryville Middle School going 10-4 this season.

“They have a lot of talent in that group,” Perry said.

“I can’t say specific names just because there are so many of them. … They have a lot of talent and they are all pretty driven. They are athletic, but they are very driven and want to be good for themselves.”

The Spoofhounds are coming off a 12-20-2 season in coach Alyssa (Rezac) Stout’s first season after she finished up her AllAmerican playing career at Northwest Missouri State. Maryville’s varsity opens the season on September 2 when the Hounds host Benton.

“I’m really excited for it,” Minton said. “I feel like playing so much club in the past year is really going to help me keep up with the older kids.”

Maryville 14-year-old Channing Minton and

Mizuno Club North teammates went 5-4 overall at the USA Volleyball National Championships in Las Vegas.

NWMO 11U All-Stars take third at State Tournament

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The 11-and-under Northwest Missouri All-Stars went to Waynesville for the state tournament and took third place. In the second game, against Carthage, Preston Salsbury hit a 3-run home run in the top of the first inning to get things started for the win over Carthage. The home run was his first-ever home run, and was the first home run by a little leaguer on that field. Pictured, front from left: Jaxson Eaton (King City), Jace Mullock (Worth County), Zane Worley (Stanberry), Jaxon Browning (Albany), Theodore Holtman (South Nodaway); back of players; Brock Giedd (Jefferson), Owen Shisler (Stanberry), Preston Salsbury (South Nodaway), Kasey McNeely (Maysville), Hudson Hague (Stanberry), William Beattie (North Andrew); Coaches: Joel Browning, Michael Mullock and Tyler Salsbury.

TIER 1:

1. Central Missouri

Media: 1, Coaches: 1

If coaches would only let everyone know when they have the nation’s best player on their bench to start the year, this prediction game would be easier. Now everyone knows that Lambo had Zach Zebrowski, so they feel like the safest bet here.

2. Pittsburg State

Media: 2, Coaches: 2

Chad Dodson Jr. is back. The Gorillas recruit with the best of them. There is a lot going for Pittsburg State this year, but a new coach and some new pieces around Dodson puts them in the two spot for me.

TIER 2:

3. Northwest

Media: 3, Coaches: 3

Just like last season, there is consensus with the top three — and we got two of those three right last season. The Bearcats have a giant unknown at quarterback, but return a ton defensively and on the offensive line. They have the bones of a team that can jump right back into national contender status, but with the question at the game’s most important position, they can’t be in that tier 1 status yet.

4. Fort Hays State

Media: 5, Coaches: 5

I will gladly be higher on the Tigers than everyone else. I think Chris Brown is a heck of a coach and he returns 20 starters from a team that was fifth last season.

5. Missouri Western

Media: 4, Coaches: 6

The media is higher on Western every year than the coaches are, and this season I’m right in the middle. They have a question mark at quarterback. Unlike Northwest they are loaded at the skill positions and only return one lineman. I’ll bet on the trenches over skill players every time. The defense also has more questions than Hays and Northwest.

TIER 3: 6. Central Oklahoma Media: 7, Coaches: 7 Adam Dorrel is entering Year 3 and I just trust this team to keep getting better.

7. Missouri Southern Media: 8, Coaches: 8

I feel similarly about my confidence in what Atiba Bradley is doing in Joplin. They were supposed to be built around the running of Nathan Glades last season and he simply wasn’t himself, but Southern still found a way to improve. And with nothing to play for while Missouri Western had the playoffs on the line, the Lions ended those hopes in the season finale. That’s a culture win and a team that doesn’t quit.

8. Emporia State Media: 6, Coaches: 4

I think I messed this one up. On Media Day, it was announced that Emporia State landed Gunnar Gundy to replace Braden Gleason. Gundy was 21-of34 for 202 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions at Oklahoma State last year.

The son of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy probably shouldn’t be a Big 12 quarterback, but he also held his own in that conference. Garin Higgins might have himself another one.

9. Washburn

Media: 9, Coaches: 9

Washburn was incredibly young last season and Craig Schurig is a very good coach. Second-to-last in the league feels wrong, but I don’t know who to push them over, and the other pollsters obviously didn’t either.

TIER 4:

10. Nebraska-Kearney

Media: 10, Coaches: 10

Unfortunately, this was the first spot I filled out on my ballot. Any other league in the country and the Lopers aren’t last, but with how disappointing last season was, its impossible to pick them anywhere else. Hopefully, they take that chip on their shoulder and prove everyone wrong.

MIAA

Continued from C1

“I flat out told (Athletics Director Jim Johnson), I said there are three or four teams who I want to reach out to,” Pittsburg State coach Tom Anthony said. “Really, to me, your hand is almost forced from a playoff perspective. When we look at (Super) Region 3 and where we are at, you have to bolster your strength of schedule somehow, some way. … In 2022, we were sitting there as MIAA champs, undefeated in the toughest conference in the country and somehow we draw the three seed in our region because our regional strength of schedule wasn’t good enough.”

The only previous meeting between the two teams occurred in the 2022 playoffs with Ferris State winning 17-14 in Big Rapids, Michigan. Ferris State went on to win its second-straight national title that season.

Pittsburg State was picked second in the MIAA this season and is led by senior quarterback Chad Dodson Jr.

“You don’t want to schedule someone who is going to come in and roll over, you want to schedule one of the top programs in the country, which Ferris State is,” Anthony said. “It was a no-brainer for us, and it is a hame-and-home so they come to us this year and we go up there in 2025.”

2. Minnesota State at Northwest Aug. 29, 6 p.m.

Fortunately for Division-II football, the two premier games of its first week of action occur on different nights with Northwest meeting Minnesota State on Thursday night of Week 0.

The two teams have played five times in their history with Northwest winning four, but the Mavericks winning the most recent game in 2012 in double overtime 38-35 in Mankato, Minnesota.

The Mavericks return senior quarterback Hayden Ekern to lead their team into Maryville. In the Lindy’s preseason poll, Minnesota State was No. 11 and Northwest Missouri State was No. 23.

“I think it is great,” Northwest coach Rich Wright said. “I was around Coach (Mel) Tjeerdsma for a long time and I think that playing quality opponents at the beginning of the season helps you.

“I’ve listened to a lot of people talk about us and our closed schedule for multiple years now, so why not kick the thing off with a playoff team and go take a test? I’ve been proud of the other schools in the MIAA who have done the same. Week 0 should be exciting for Division-II college football.”

3. Angelo State at Emporia State

Sept. 7, 1 p.m.

Week 1 gets a fun game as well with two teams used to postseason football matching up. Angelo State is 30-7 over the last three seasons under coach Jeff Girsch. Meanwhile, Emporia State is 9-3 in each of the last two seasons and returns 17 starters. While Northwest tests the MIAA against the Northern Sun’s best and Pittsburg State against the standard bearer for the GLIAC; Emporia State has the opportunity to make a statement against the class of the Lone Star Conference.

4. Angelo State at Fort Hays State

Sept. 29, 7 p.m.

Emporia State should have a good scouting report on Angelo State as the Rams go to Kansas twice in as many weeks.

The Tigers had a return to the upper echelon of the MIAA last season and a Week 0 win over Angelo State would certainly show that they have no intention of sliding back down.

Fort Hays State returns 20 starters from last season.

5. Colorado School of Mines at Washburn

Sept. 14, 1 p.m.

The first Week 2 game to make the list is a visit to Yager Stadium from the 2-time defending national runners-up. It is another unique conference matchup with the RMAC getting involved.

Mines loses its superstar quarterback and former Harlon Hill winner John Matocha, but you don’t win as many games as the Orediggers have on the way to 5-straight RMAC titles if you are a one-man show.

Washburn was picked ninth in the MIAA this season, but could make a very early big statement if they show they can play with the boys from Golden, Colorado.

“Years ago we had some non-conference game, and I think it is always fun,” Washburn’s Craig Schurig said. “It is fun for the coaches and fun for the players to play someone that you don’t play every year. Obviously, if you can play someone who is good and challenging, your players like it.

“We want to be a playoff caliber team, just like we were in 2021, and to get there, strength of schedule matters.”

6. Nebraska-Kearney at Chadron State

Aug. 29, 7 p.m.

Yes, Danny Woodhead played at Chadron State. I think that any time that Chadron is mentioned in the MIAA, that is required to be said.

Also trophy games are cool. The Lopers have two non-conference games this season with a trip to Southwest Minnesota State being the other, but an in-state rivalry is always a fun game.

The Lopers won two games last season while Chadron State won five.

Considering the strength of the MIAA, the Week 0 game feels like a must win for Nebraska-Kearney though.

“When we go up to Chadron and get on that bus — we better be one team, one heartbeat,” Loper coach Ryan Held said.

7. Central Missouri at Davenport Sept. 21, 11 a.m.

This game shouldn’t be as competitive as some of the others for the top tier teams in the MIAA. Davenport

went 8-2 last season, but was throttled at the end of the season against by powerhouses Grand Valley State and Ferris State.

However, there should be an almost spiritual cleansing with an MIAA school going up to Michigan and earning a win. For Pittsburg State and Northwest the last several seasons, the trip to Michigan has represented the end of the season.

Central Missouri isn’t going there to play Grand Valley State or Ferris State though. The No. 3 team in Lindy’s preseason poll should be able to bring a win back south.

8. Missouri Southern at Midwestern State Aug. 29, 7 p.m.

The Week 0 fun includes a road trip to Texas for the Lions. Midwestern State is a good Division-II brand in the Lone Star Conference and went 4-6 last season with three losses by one score. Missouri Southern should be considered the favorite as they head south, but it won’t be a walk in the park to bring back a victory.

“That’s part of the D-II experience,” Missouri Southern coach Atiba Bradley said. “I’m excited to show these guys a different stadium that they haven’t played in. I’m excited for our Texas guys to go back home to Texas where their families can watch them.”

9. Quincy at Missouri Western Nov. 16, 2 p.m. The Griffons’ placement of their non-conference game is more interesting than the opponent. Missouri Western will likely rout the over-matched GLVC squad. Western placing that game in the final week of the season instead of Week 0 is the interesting development. Opening up Week 0 gave them the option for a premier opponent, but instead they moved Northeastern State there and added Quincy to the end of the schedule — essentially guaranteeing that they open the season with a win and close it with a win, but not helping their playoff resume like other teams will.

10. Langston at Central Oklahoma Sept. 7, 7 p.m. Central Oklahoma took the Western blueprint and went even farther. Instead of a mediocre GLVC team, the Bronchos picked up a 6-4 NAIA team with Langston. Langston lost 68-27 last season to Ottawa (Ariz.) in NAIA action. The Bronchos clearly went the Division-I rout with a tune-up first game, but unlike Western and Quincy, the game won’t effect their playoff resume at all as NAIA games do not factor in.

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Northwest Missouri State running back Jadon Brady speaks to the media on Tuesday afternoon in Kansas City at MIAA Media Day.

Croy

Continued from C1

Croy was a standout collegiate golfer at North Central Missouri College, where his mother Jenni Croy has served as the head women’s basketball coach for 17 seasons.

Croy also has family connections to the Bearcats with former men’s basketball players Dillon and Dray Starzl being his cousins.

“It is a dream come true,” Croy said. “It is something that ever since I played in college, I knew that I wanted to do whatever I could to get involved on the coaching side of things. I was blessed with the opportunity to be a student assistant when I first got to Northwest and that translated into the grad assistant role where I got to do a lot of things that a normal grad assistant wouldn’t get to do in terms of running practices and things of that nature.”

Croy credits Peterson with helping him grow as a coach.

“He has been the best,” Croy said. “… He’s led me the entire time, showed me the ropes and trusted me enough to work with the program.”

Dreamer

Continued from C1

and four,” Dresden coach Fabian Strauss said in a press release. “The player should also have defensive qualities and be able to make good decisions and shoot well on offense. Wes meets all of these criteria and after I met him in person in Madrid this summer, it was clear to me that his character was a great fit for us. He is also young and hungry to take his first steps in professional basketball, but already seems very mature.”

Dreamer moves with his wife Ellie and their daughter.

“With Wes we are getting another young and talented player in the team,” Dresden managing director Michael Born said in a press release. “In the USA he proved what a strong player he is and I am convinced that he will also prove his skills with us.”

The program has seen growth in recent years, sparked by Paige Hoffman, who became the program’s first NGCA All-Region in 2023 after becoming the program’s second-ever MIAA individual champion.

“We’ve gotten better as a program, no doubt,” Peterson said. “I think our culture has gotten better and we are more competitive. D-2 golf has gotten more competitive. That is really the next step — to have a coach, a head coach that can dive into this thing head-first and take us to the next level.”

Croy is excited for Northwest’s returning veteran core with seniors Kylie Carey, Madilyne Schlaepfer and Hoffman, along with juniors Lauren Kohl and Kayla Moline.

“We’ve really been on a positive trend for the last four years or so,” Croy said.

The Bearcats will open their Fall season on Sept. 3 in Blue Springs at the Central Region Preview.

“We start fast,” Croy said. “We are in classes for a week then it is kinda wheels up and we are off to the races. We’ve got six events set for the fall.”

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM Northwest’s Wes Dreamer takes a shot during the MIAA semifinals on March 9 in Kansas

MAKING

NATHAN RYSER

Sports Officiated: Football & Basketball Years as an Official: 13 years for Football 18 years for Basketball

Hometown: Wathena, KS

More: I stay busy. I’m a truck driver by day. When I’m not officiating, I’m coaching my 11 yr old daughter and 8 yr old son’s ball teams. I also work at the Chiefs games too.

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BEARCAT ATHLETICS

Northwest golfer Paige Hoffman and coach Lathan Croy discuss a shot during a tournament for the Bearcats. Last Friday, Croy was promoted to become the team’s head coach.

City.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

The 10-and-under Trojanettes won the Mother’s Day Classic in Manhattan, Kan., the Falls City Travelers Invitational and the Strike Out Cancer Tournament in Olathe, Kan. They finished the season with a 27-12-1 record. Pictured; front from left, Renee Gladstone (Worth), Addi Cowden (Burlington Junction), Kynnadi Schieber (Stanberry), Harlyn Skoglund (Bolckow), Brynlee DeAguiar (Albany), Layla Livengood (Tarkio); second row; Arianna Owens (Hopkins), Paisley Oelze (Maryville), Waverly Groomer (Stanberry), Gwyn Healy (Grant City), Alanah Devers (Maryville); back row (coaches); Addie Groomer, Dustin Skoglund, Curt Livengood and Joe Carroll.

took

in

Slide into Summer Tournament,

Out Cancer Tournament. They finished the season

record. Pictured;

left, Kinsley

(Maysville), Eryn O’Connell (Ravenwood), Gabbey Maudlin (Grant City); back row (coaches); Shorty Villegas, Rob Blythe, David Carroll and Bryce George.

The 14-and-under Trojanettes

Tournament, Falls City Tournament

Tournament,

took second in the Rawlings Mantra Tournament. They finished

season with a 39-11 record. Pictured; front from left, Audrey Runde (Worth), Paizlee Milne (Oregon), Stevie Gaines (Rock Port), Zoey Redmond (Fillmore), Tagen Eversold (Gallatin); second row; Annilea Livengood (Tarkio), Blair Nelson (Ravenwood), Chloe Colescott (St. Joseph), Alayna Shepherd (Clarinda), Jacklyn Kirkland (Kearney), Avah Eckley (Maryville); back row (coaches); David Carroll, Adam Kirkland, Joe Shepherd and Jim DeFreece.

The 16-and-under red squad Trojanettes won the USSSA State Championship, took second in the Ringneck International Tournament and May Madness, and took third in the Six in the Spring, the KC Metro Tournament and the Strike Out Cancer Tournament. They finished the season with a 30-13-2 record. Pictured; front from left, Lilly Nelson (Plattsburg), Hadley Defreece (Ravenwood), Kaylor Hodge (Trenton), Karydon Jones (Gallatin), Sophia Smith (Faucett); second row; Sophia Redman (Maysville), Dru Pearson (Faucett), Macee Blythe (Savannah), Avery Clark (Trenton), Brynn Bird (Gallatin), Siarrah George (Savannah). Coaches were Bryce George, Josh Redman, Robby Blythe, Andy Pearson and Brandon Jones.

Preseason picks on major MIAA awards

Zach Zebrowski wasn’t even Central Missouri’s starting quarterback last year at this time and he went on to run away with the Harlon Hill Trophy, the most prestigious award in Division-II football.

2023 MIAA

AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year: Zach Zebrowski, QB Central Missouri

Defensive Player of the Year: Dakari

Streeter, DL, Missouri Western

Jon Dykstra

With that in mind, I realize how ridiculous it is to try to predict the end-of-season awards before even one game has been played this season. But I’m not doing this to try to be right. The idea of this column is to highlight the top athletes in the MIAA and some athletes to watch when they match up with your favorite team.

Offensive Player of the Year

NFL Films released their players’ vote of the top 100 players in the league a couple week’s ago and provide bulletin board material for Patrick Mahomes by ranking him fourth. I’m sorry, Josh Lamberson, but I’m not going to give similar motivation to Zach Zebrowski.

The Central Missouri quarterback was unbelievable last season, leading a team that was likely the second-best team in the country at the end of the season with a 2-point loss at national champion Harding. Zebrowski completed 417-of-602 passes for 5,157 yards with 61 touchdowns and just five interceptions. On the ground he had 101 carries for 533 yards and two touchdowns.

Central Missouri is going to be really, really good this year and Zebrowski is going to be a story beyond just the MIAA. This is a quarterback award and Chad Dodson Jr. is as household of a name as there is in the MIAA. If Pittsburg State can beat out Central Missouri for the MIAA title and Zebrowski’s numbers dip, Dodson could make this race interesting.

Emporia State is always going to put up huge offensive numbers and new quarterback Gunnar Gundy could find himself with some huge numbers at the end of the year, but most of those numbers will likely find the hands of Tyler Kahmann. In any other conference, Kahmann would be a frontrunner.

Other names to think about are Fort Hays State quarterback Jack Dawson, Missouri Western running back Brandon Hall and all of Zebrowski’s weapons at Central Missouri.

Prediction: Zach Zebrowski, QB, Central Missouri

Defensive Player of the Year

This one won’t be a repeat as Missouri Western’s Dakari Streeter is out of eligibility. This award was previously dominated by Northwest Missouri State defensive linemen and Rich Wright should have another contender this season with senior defensive end Jake Fisher. Fisher had 12.5 tackles for loss last season with six sacks, a blocked kick and a forced fumble. Pittsburg State’s defense is led by linebacker Jack Barkley after he had 95 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception. He was an All-American last season.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Ross Brungardt, P, Emporia State Freshman of the Year: Seth Cromwell, RB, Missouri Western Coach of the Year: Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri

Linebacker John Johnson and defensive end Myles Menges lead the Fort Hays State defense. Johnson had 89 tackles and two interceptions. Menges had seven sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and 44 tackles.

Other names to know include Northwest cornerback Cahleel Smith, Pittsburg State linebacker Alex Gaskill, Pittsburg State safety Jordan Rogers and Central Missouri safety Charles Gadie.

Prediction: Jack Barkley, LB, Pittsburg State

Special Teams Player of the Year

The Special Teams Player of the Year Award is usually the most fun when it goes to an explosive returner, but last year, it was a punter. The top returning kick returner is Washburn receiver D.J. Bell. As a freshman he averaged 23.1 yards per kick return and was Second Team All-MIAA.

The favorite to win this award has to be the reigning First Team All-MIAA kicker Cody Watson. Watson made 14-of-20 field goals last season with a long of 47 and two of those misses were blocked.

The Second Team All-MIAA kicker last season was Pittsburg State’s Austin Schmidt. Schmidt was more accurate than Watson, making 15-of-18 with a long of 45 yards.

Other players to watch are Pittsburg State returner Ryan Medeiros and Northwest kicker Noah Guastella.

Prediction: Cody Watson, K, Missouri Western

Coach of the Year

Coach of the Year generally goes to the conference champion, but Central Missouri’s Josh Lamberson won it last year and the Mules are picked to win the league in every poll. It would have to be a very special season for Lamberson to repeat.

A couple teams in the top half of the league who could out-perform their preseason poll standings are Fort Hays State and Northwest. Both squads are led by defensive-minded coaches with Chris Brown and Rich Wright. If either one can find a way to slow down Zebrowski and Central Missouri then they probably vault to the top of these rankings.

Tyler Fenwick was probably the runner-up for this award last year as he nearly got Missouri Western into the playoffs. If he is able to get them there this year, he’d probably win this.

Central Oklahoma’s Adam Dorrel and Missouri Southern’s Atiba Bradley are each very respected coaches and if either team jumps into the top of the half of the league they could contend.

Prediction: Chris Brown, Fort Hays State

9; Football, 1; Baseball, 1

Hometown: Council Bluffs, IA

More about George: 7-12 Health and Physical Education Teacher at Tarkio High School and head football coach of East Atchison Wolves for 10 years. Previously taught at Craig and coached Craig /Fairfax. Began coaching at South Nodaway.

COLUMN: MIAA Preview Edition

Handicapping the Week 0 MIAA slate

he MIAA office and commissioner

TMike Racy fought for it and now Week 0 in Division-II football is a reality. Racy and the MIAA have also heard about not playing non-conference games for years.

Now both non-conference games and Week 0 are both a thing. And it leads to a very exciting first weekend of Division-II college football with seven games featuring MIAA teams occurring on Thursday, August 29, and one game on Saturday, August 31, but the game on Saturday is the game of the week in Division-II college football with Ferris State visiting Pittsburg State for a top-5 showdown in the Jungle.

That is far from the only great matchup though. Let’s do some MIAA Network planning and look at all seven matchups.

Minnesota State at Northwest Missouri State Thursday, August 29, 6 p.m.

The Mavericks were a playoff team in 2023 led by a dominant rushing attack with former Missouri Western running back Shen Butler-Lawson’s 1,446 yards and 15 touchdowns.

It appeared for much of the offseason like Butler-Lawson would be back in Mankato, but he decided to transfer to Indiana State after the spring.

The Mavericks do return starting quarterback Hayden Ekern, who is a senior and began his college career at Division-I FCS South Dakota. He threw for 2,654 yards and 23 touchdowns while also running for 330 yards.

The Bearcats lost their top quarterback, top running back and top two receivers in the offseason, but return four offensive linemen and a ton of defensive talent. They will have to lean on their defense in this one to pull what nationally will probably be considered a mild upset.

Prediction: Northwest 14, Minnesota State 13

Missouri Western at Northeastern State Thursday, August 29, 6 p.m.

The former MIAA matchup was a 44-0 Missouri Western victory last season. This game is simply a tuneup for the Griffons before a big game with Fort Hays State the following week.

The most interesting subplot of this game is how Tyler Fenwick handles the Griffon quarterback situation which he called a 4-man competition at MIAA Media Day. Whoever gets the nod should be set up for success against the RiverHawks.

Prediction: Missouri Western 52, Northeastern State 10

Washburn at Emporia State Thursday, August 29, 7 p.m.

The only conference game of the weekend is the Turnpike Tussle that Emporia State won 38-23 last season.

The Hornets are without crafty lefty Braden Gleason for the first time in years, but we are likely to get our first look at Oklahoma State transfer Gunnar Gundy, also a left-handed quarterback. Around the quar-

terback, the Hornets are loaded on offense. I expect Washburn to be far more competitive this year, but I don’t think they have enough to pull off this upset.

Prediction: Emporia State 31, Washburn 13

Nebraska-Kearney at Chadron State Thursday, August 29, 7 p.m.

Chadron State is picked seventh in the RMAC while Nebraska-Kearney is picked 10th in the MIAA. The MIAA is widely considered the best conference in Division-II football.

Chadron State returns its quarterback Preston Pearson and running back Jake Marschall from last season’s roster, but the top of the scouting report will be wide receiver Tommy Thomas who had 55 catches for 908 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Lopers were incredibly disappointing last season, but I’m counting on the strength of the MIAA with this pick.

Prediction: Nebraska-Kearney 27, Chadron State 24

Missouri Southern at Midwestern State Thursday, August 29, 7 p.m.

The Lions are picked eighth in the MIAA while Midwestern State is picked fifth in the Lone Star Conference.

The two-handed rushing monster for the Mustangs is junior Devin Cross with 813 yards last season and Jalen March with 739 yards.

I’m a huge fan of what Atiba Bradley is building in Joplin though and despite the long trip, I think the Lions open the season with a strong statement in Texas.

Prediction: Missouri Southern 38, Midwestern State 27

Angelo State at Fort Hays State Thursday, August 29, 7 p.m.

This one flips the last matchup’s mileage with the Texas school heading to Hays, America. Angelo State is picked second in the Lone Star Conference while the Tigers are fifth in the MIAA.

Running back Brayden Wilcox is the player to watch for Angelo State after he rushed for 510 yards on a 5.4 yards per carry average.

I am higher on the Tigers than the polls though. I think Chris Brown has a playoff darkhorse and this is a must-win if that’s going to be a possibility.

Prediction: Fort Hays State 27, Angelo State 20

Ferris State at Pittsburg State Saturday, August 31, 7 p.m.

Ferris State won back-to-back national championships before a first-round loss last season with a tough draw against rival Grand Valley State. Ferris State is ranked fourth in the Lindy’s preseason national poll. Pittsburg State is ranked third in that poll with the return of senior quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. and an extremely talented back7 on defense. With Central Missouri looking like a powerhouse, the Gorillas have no room for error if they drop this game. Other than Grand Valley State on Oct. 26, this will be Ferris State only true test of the season. Ferris State is built around a dominant offensive line led by Bryce George and Lawrence Hattar.

Prediction: Ferris State 18, Pittsburg State 17

Jon Dykstra

C2

Head Coach: Marc Gordon (7th season)

Assistant Coach: Quaid Curtin

Last Season: 8-5-6 (5-24 MIAA)

Postseason: Lost 3-0 to Emporia State in MIAA

Quarterfinals

MIAA Preseason Poll: 4th

Returning Leaders:

Kills: Adell Gore (sr.) — 4 goals, 3 assists

Assists: Ximena Arnau (soph.) — 4 assists, 3 goals

Saves: Lily Ellis (jr.) — 78 saves, 14 goals allowed, 8 shutouts

Schedule: 9/5 at Southern Naz.

9/7 UMSL (Topeka)

9/10 at SW Baptist

9/13 Grand

Soccer

Continued from C1

in those moments will shine through in import moments throughout the season,” coach Marc Gordon said.

Teaming with Emily Yakle, the Bearcats have the luxury and ability to put four veteran defenders across the line in front of Ellis.

“It is always nice to have some consistency defensively,” Mueller said.

“It just helps us to grow and learn how to play with each other defensively. Defensive back lines can be so relationship focused and I feel like that is something that is not talked about enough.”

The biggest shoes to fill going into last season belonged Letycia Bonifacio at center back after she was the MIAA’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Franck took on that challenge and started all 19 matches for the Bearcats last season.

“Coming into last year, I was a little nervous, but we had a back line with a lot of experience, and they were great role models and helped me get into it,” Franck said. “I’m excited to be back this year.”

Franck finished the year on the All-MIAA Third Team.

Mueller has been a 3-year starter in the middle for the Bearcats. With 60 career starts, she is in her second season as a team captain.

at

Head Coach: Brandon Masters (7th season)

Assistant Coaches: Wick Cunningham, Nikki Segrest

Last Season: Men finished 3rd in MIAA, Women finished 6th in MIAA

Schedule: 9/6 at Creighton

9/20 at Minnesota

9/21 at Nebraska

10/5 at Missouri Western

10/26 MIAA*

11/9 Central Region**

11/23 NCAA*** * — at St. Joseph ** — at Joplin

— at Sacramento, Calif.

“We just looked a little more confident in the spring than we have in the past,” Mueller said of a spring

Cross

Continued from C1

Aside from the newcomers, the Bearcat men return a talented group of veterans who earned a place at the NCAA Division-II National Championships last season and ended up placing 24th overall. That group is led by returning All-American and junior Drew Atkins.

“Having everyone back on campus to start the year is always fun,” coach Wick Cunningham said. “There is so much hope, excitement, energy, everything is new and that is one of those things that we hope to sustain through the year. People have been putting in a lot of hard work this summer and it is going to be nice to get together and see it pay off.”

Atkins is the eighth AllAmerican in the program history and the first since 2019.

“We’ve also got a few transfers coming in who have big names themselves with

where they out-scored four opponents by a total of 10-0.

“We looked healthy, looked fresh and played together well. That was a good experience to have moving into the summer and into the fall.”

Dain is also a 3-year starter with 53 career starts. She also scored her first career goal last season.

“It is great to have a lot of experience, especially in the back because we know how different it is coming from high school to college and how the play varies,” Dain

Grant Bradley especially and Sam Shipp,” Blay said. “I know that they can contribute to the team. That top five or seven — I think that we are gong to make a name for ourselves in the conference. And that is hard to do in the MIAA.”

Nate Mueller was right on Atkins’ heels for much of the season, including finishing one spot behind him at the MIAA Championships and Regional Championships.

The Bearcat men finished third as a team in both those races.

“They are all pushing each other,” Cunningham said. “No one wants to get left behind, so everyone is really clawing and fighting for their spots in a good way — a healthy competition, not a overly competitive team.”

Dillon Grover, Brandon Mundorf and Blay rounded out the top-5 in the lineup for the Bearcats last season. With that core plus the incoming talent, Blay has high expectations for this season — although he’s choosing to

said. “Having that chemistry back there and working together with Syd for five years, we know how each other works. We know what the next person is going to do. Especially having Mo and Lily back there as well, it helps us just know how each other plays so we know how to cover each other.”

Yakle has 18 career starts on the other wing.

The midfield for the Bearcats has proven to be where the Arnau sisters roam. Senior Yesenia Arnau has 27 career starts and is an

keep those goals to himself for now.

“I hold myself to a high standard and I’ll keep those private so no one knows, but it is a high standard,” Blay said. “We will see what I can do. I’ve put in a lot of work, but I know that the team has a goal and it is definitely making in to California (for the NCAA Championships) and I think we can do that.”

One of the newcomers is someone who Blay is quite familiar with already as his brother and 3-time MSHSAA Class 1 state champion Riley Blay is joining the team and taking a redshirt season this year.

The only state title that Riley Blay didn’t win was when his brother won it.

“It is nice — kinda like a throwback to my senior year of high school when he was a freshman,” Tyler Blay said.

“It is enjoyable having him around and I know that he is in the correct place that he needs to be to get better.”

On the women’s side, they underwent a bit of a transition

extension of the defensive group when she is in.

Sophomore Ximena Arnau made an immediate impact as a freshman last season with three goals and four assists in 13 starts. She was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year.

Senior Lucia Fernandez is a mainstay in the middle — making 13 starts last season and scoring three goals.

Sophomore Makenna West had 13 starts as well and three assists.

The biggest question for the Bearcats going into the

last season as they replaced a big senior class, but return a group that still managed to get sixth at the MIAA Championships last season.

“I think our team really grew last year,” senior Alyna Thibault said. “... I’m really excited for us to continue to learn from each other.”

Seniors Thibault and Taylor McCreedy lead the group into the season. Thibault took 11th at the MIAA meet and McCreedy was 17th.

“My goal this year is to just place as high as I can at conference and regionals — really aim for that top10, top-15,” Thibault said.

“And also try to individually qualify for nationals as well as team qualify. I really do have faith in our team to both our boys and girls go to nationals. That is really one of my big goals is for both our teams to go to nationals.

And then kinda be selfish and try to go to nationals by myself as well.”

Juniors Lydia McGlocklin and Whitney Post as well as sophomore Shelby Harris add

Sports Officiated: Basketball, Football, Track & Field

Years as an Official: Basketball, 22; Football, 18; Track & Field, 11

Hometown: Maryville, MO

More: I enjoy working with coaches and players to facilitate opportunities for youth to grow and develop. It is a joy to see the students as they grow and sometimes become coaches or officials.

season is the same as its been for the last few years — where will they find goals from?

The answer the last two years has been First Team All-MIAA forward Kaylie Rock, but with Rock graduated, Gordon hopes that a more balanced attack could prove even more effective.

“I think there is a different mentality,” Gordon said. “I think that there is maybe a bitter taste for some of our returners from the end of last year, where we were at and felt that we didn’t fulfill who we are as a team.”

Senior Adell Gore is the veteran returner at forward after making 18 starts last season and soring four goals with three assists.

Sophomore Ekaterina Theoharidis made an immediate impact as a freshman with three goals and six starts. Sophomore Margaret Madden, at 5-foot11, also offers the Bearcats another weapon with her size on the front line.

“We have a very effective group of sophomores in the attack,” Gordon said. “We have Adell as a nine. Margo can play anywhere across the front. ... I think we have some depth. It is just going to be the execution and finishing.”

The Bearcats open the season with their first three matches on the road before the home opener on Sept. 13 against Grand Valley State.

“This year, I think that we are the fittest that we’ve ever come in and we are the most eager,” Dain said. “Everyone is very determined.”

to a deep lineup as the season approaches for the Bearcats.

“Alyna made a nice jump and I think she is ready to make another nice jump in cross country,” Cunningham said. “Lydia McGlocklin and Taylor McCreedy would also be in that boat. Some of those freshmen like Shelby Harris, Bree Mauro and Mayson Hartley are also people who are no longer freshmen and you never know what could happen that second year. Amanda (Seggerman) is going to be a junior this year and it is going to be fun to watch her progress.”

The Bearcats are set to open the season on Friday, Sept. 6, at the Platte River Rumble “Gold” race hosted by Creighton University in Omaha.

“I’m really excited for this year and I think that the freshmen are really going to grow and learn from us,” Thibault said. “The freshmen from last year really grew from their experience so I am really excited to see what they do this year.”

senior Sydney Mueller passes the ball last season during a match on Sept. 15, 2023, at Bearcat Pitch

HIGH

SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Blair Oaks 61, Maryville 12

Allen scores twice as Hounds fall to Falcons

By JON DYKSTRA The Forum

WARDSVILLE, Mo.

— The final score doesn’t indicate many positives from Friday night’s season opener for Maryville at Blair Oaks, but the Spoofhounds saw some in the 61-12 loss and many more opportunities to improve should they see the Falcons again down the road.

“I hope to see them in the playoffs because I’m sure it will be a much better game than what we put out today,” Spoofhound senior Gavin McAtee said. “I’m excited for the weeks to come. We are going to bounce back. We are going to work really hard.”

The Spoofhounds (0-1) were driving for what looked like would be the game’s first score on their second possession, when Matthew Walter thought he could fit a ball in to Darren Dwight at the 10-yard line, but Blair Oaks junior Shay Linhardt jumped right in front of Dwight and ripped the ball away.

The Falcons (1-0) immediately capitalized with their second drive of the game — a short pass to brand-new Falcon Brady Dapkus and the Southern Boone transfer sprinted 81 yards for a touchdown.

“We can’t allow the big explosives,” Maryville coach Matt Webb said. “When we made them drive

down the field, we did well. We just gave up way too many big plays, and when their athletes get in the open field, we have to make a tackle.”

Maryville was driving again, but a drop on fourth down gave the ball back to Blair Oaks and returning Second Team All-State quarterback Tyler Bax went 66 yards on a quarterback counter for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead after Maryville blocked the extra point.

“We’ve just got to keep consistent,” McAtee said. “Yard by yard, we can’t slow down because once we slow down, we kind of crumble apart.”

The Spoofhound defense stood strong after Blair Oaks made another interception.

Gus McCollough had a sack then Lucas Vierthaler finished the drive with one.

Maryville drove to the Blair Oaks 34-yard line again before a fourthand-5 stop and Blair Oaks capitalized this time with a 35-yard touchdown strike. Bax threw another touchdown to Dapkus — a 39-yard pass — for a 26-0 lead. Then Dapkus found the end zone for a third time just before half with a 20-yard pass from Bax.

“We were progressing ourselves down the field,” Maryville coach Matt Webb said. “And now, the learning part is sustaining those long drives. We just stalled out or turned the ball over.”

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville sophomore Luke Allen bursts through the line on Friday night in Wardsville. Allen had receiving and rushing touchdowns in the game.

Dapkus ran the opening kickoff of the second half back to the Maryville 7-yard line, but the Spoofhound defense dug in and forced a 4-and-out.

The relief was short-lived with a fumble giving it back to Blair Oaks and Second

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Blair Oaks 61, Maryville 12

Spoofhounds set to open new-look Hound Pound

By JON DYKSTRA

The Forum

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Friday night is set up to be a special one in Maryville as the Spoofhounds have their home opener against Pleasant Hill. It is the first home game for any sport at the new Hound Pound with its turf, video board and other upgrades.

“I can promise you that you are going to see a high-school football game on the field that is just like we are used to seeing and represents our community,” Maryville coach Matt Webb said. “That includes our band, that includes the Dazzlers and cheerleaders, and that includes everything that is entailed in Friday night lights in Maryville. Come early, get a seat and get some popcorn cause it is going to be a great show.”

While the venue is set to be top notch, so should the game with a couple of the area’s perennial powers. Pleasant Hill (1-0) went 9-2 last season, finishing second in Class 4, District 5 while Maryville (0-1) was also 9-2 and took second in Class 3, District 8. The Roosters began their

season by opening another MEC stadium remodel in Savannah. Pleasant Hill won a tight game 14-12.

“Very good football team,” Webb said of Pleasant Hill. “Coach (Justin) Hamilton does a great job. They came up and we had a good quarterfinal game here a couple years ago and they ended up on top.”

The Rooster offense is led by returning 1,000-yard rusher Garrison Hartsell. Hartsell had a touchdown in Savannah and was the focal point of the offensive attack. Last season, the team averaged over 300 yards rushing per game.

“They really pound the rock on offense,” Webb said. “They have a really good tailback and a really big offensive line. They are really well schemed in their up-tempo pace and they get in and out of plays really quick.”

Junior Sawyer Richcreek is a first-year starting quarterback. He threw the go-ahead touchdown on a 35-yard pass to Jace Feazel where Feazel made the final 30 yards happen after a broken tackle.

Senior Aiden Minor is the team’s top returning receiver as a 5-foot-6 slot

target. Kyler Wallace-Riley and Kordell George are the other top targets.

The Rooster defense is led by returning All-State safety Brady Roe who had nine interceptions and two defensive touchdowns last season. Turnovers plagued the Hounds last week at Blair Oaks.

“They run a 3-3 stack,” Webb said. “It is a big, physical, strong group. They really control the run and they were really good against Savannah at stopping their run game. Savannah likes to run the ball, so I was very impressed with what their front seven brings.”

The Spoofhounds will look to gain momentum after a 61-12 loss at Blair Oaks.

“I don’t know how in 25 years of coaching that you can feel positive about losing 61-12, but I’ve never felt better about a group,” Webb said. “After evaluating our loss to Blair Oaks, there are so many things that are fixable. We’ve got a great group of kids and a great group of coaches, and we can fix those things.”

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. It is Youth Night at the Hound Pound.

Team All-State running back Hayden Lackman getting his first touchdown of the season with a 7-yard carry.

a 47-6 lead. The Spoofhounds ran it well on the next drive and Allen punched in a 1-yard touchdown.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Allen said, who had a fumble. “Our line did really well blocking today and our backs just couldn’t handle the ball today. We ran hard, but their defense was a little bit better than our offense was.”

Blair Oaks added two more late scores with the running clock as Bax threw his fifth touchdown of the game with the runningclock rule in effect and the Falcons added another on a scoop-and-score from junior Warren Davis.

“We can’t be successful with the turnover margin the way it was today,” Webb said. “… All three phases have a lot to improve on and now we get to apply it, we get to coach them and they get to learn and apply it to a better product next Friday night.”

Maryville resets this week and prepares for its home opener next Friday against Pleasant Hill. The Roosters beat Savannah 14-12 on Friday.

“He scrambled,” Allen said. “I was going to go block, but he chucked the ball up and I took it.”

Dapkus immediately answered by returning the kickoff for a touchdown and

Maryville got on the scoreboard on its next drive with Walter finding sophomore Luke Allen on a scramble drill for a 45-yard touchdown.

“Gotta look to the next play,” McAtee said. “We can’t let this game decide who we are. Some people are going to count us out after this game, and we can’t let that happen. We got to go out there and play our butts off.”

Sponsored

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville junior Sadler Viau gets to the edge on Friday night in Wardsville. Viau had seven carries for 57 yards.

NFL: Kansas City 27, Baltimore 20

Chiefs win thriller against Ravens

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick

Mahomes thought for a moment that the Chiefs were headed to overtime. So did Ravens counterpart Lamar Jackson, who had found Isaiah Likely in the back of the end zone with no time left for a touchdown that appeared to tie the game. In the end, the NFL’s season opener Thursday night was decided by referee Shawn Hochuli undertaking a video review.

With a capacity crowd that included pop superstar Taylor Swift waiting in anticipation, Hochuli needed just seconds looking at that final play before making his announcement: Likely landed with his toe on the endline, putting the Baltimore tight end out of bounds, and giving the Chiefs a 27-20 victory as they began pursuit of a record third consecutive Super Bowl title.

“Definitely nerve-wracking because it looked good from my angle on the sideline,” Mahomes said, “but then the first view you could see his cleat. ... You have to wear white cleats next time. That’s my advice for him.”

Mahomes threw for 291 yards and with a touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy, who also scored a rushing TD in his NFL debut, as the Chiefs not only won the rematch of last season’s AFC title game but beat the Ravens for the fifth time in six meetings.

That lopsided ledger has been especially frustrating for Jackson, who has called Kansas City the Ravens’ “kryptonite.” He was sublime Thursday night, throwing for 273 yards and a touchdown and adding 122 yards on the ground, but that review of the final play left him to rue another missed opportunity to finally upstage Mahomes and Co.

“I thought it was a touchdown,” Jackson said. “Still think it was a touchdown.”

The Ravens were trailing 27-17 in the fourth quarter before kicking a field goal, then got the ball back at their own 13 with 1:50 left and no timeouts. Jackson completed a couple of throws to Likely, who had 111 yards receiving and a score, and scrambled for a crucial first down. Two plays later, Jackson found Rashod Bateman down the sideline for 38 yards to move the Ravens to the Kansas City 10 with 19 seconds remaining.

Jackson’s first pass was a throwaway, but his second missed wide-open Zay Flowers in the back of the end zone. Then came the final throw, after Jackson had scrambled for what seemed like an eternity, and Likely looked like he had forced overtime.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh even signaled for his team to try a winning 2-point conversion, though it never got the chance.

“I thought our guys (overcame) setbacks at times, and fought like crazy to overcome. It looked like we had an opportunity there to tie the game up and try to win,” Harbaugh said. “Didn’t happen at the end, but our guys fought.”

The wild ending came after the start was delayed about 20 minutes by a storm that brought heavy rain and lightning.

MAKING

The Ravens proceeded to open with an 11-play, 70-yard drive that ended with Derrick Henry, who had tormented the Chiefs in six previous meetings while he was with Tennessee, plunging into the end zone from 5 yards out for the early lead.

But the high-octane Chiefs, trying to avoid back-to-back season-opening losses, needed just two minutes to answer.

Mahomes twice connected with Rashee Rice, who has so far avoided any NFL punishment for his role in an alleged street-racing crash in Dallas, before Worthy showed why the Chiefs made him their first-round pick with his 21-yard touchdown run.

After those two drives, though, the first half was mostly marked by Week 1 blunders.

Jackson was strip-sacked by Chris Jones deep in his own territory, leading to a Kansas City field goal. Flowers was stopped short of the first-down marker on fourth-and-3 near midfield on the Ravens’ next series, leading to another field goal. And even Justin Tucker, one of the league’s most accurate kickers, pulled a 53-yard field-goal attempt wide left.

The Chiefs were not immune to mistakes. Mahomes’ pass was picked off by Roquan Smith on a poor throw late in the first half, leading to a chip-shot field goal that got Baltimore — which trailed twice at halftime all of last season — to 13-10 at the break.

Yet the Ravens’ inability to get into the end zone, and swing the momentum their way, ultimately proved costly.

The Chiefs opened the second half with an 81-yard touchdown march to extend their lead. Then, after Jackson had connected with Likely on a broken play for a 49-yard touchdown throw, Mahomes drove them 70 yards against the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL last season for a touchdown that made it 27-17 with 10 minutes to go.

Tucker made it a one-score game with his field goal with 4:54 to go, and Baltimore quickly forced a punt. But despite Jackson’s impassioned play, he was left to trudge off the field after another disappointing loss to the Chiefs.

“It was a fight down to the end,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “When they say it’s a game of inches, might be shorter than that.”

Star-studded crowd

Swift, the girlfriend of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, wasn’t the only star attending the NFL’s opening night. Quincy Hall, the Olympic 400-meter champion, was in the crowd along with AC Milan midfielder Christian Pulisic, who will join his U.S. teammates Saturday night for an exhibition against Canada at nearby Children’s Mercy Park.

Injuries

Baltimore: LB Kyle Van Noy left six plays into the second half because of an eye injury and did not return.

Up next

Ravens: Host Las Vegas on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Chiefs: Host Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 15.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Missouri 38, Buffalo 0

Cook leads Tigers past Bulls

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, Mo.

(AP) — Most of the talk about Missouri in the offseason centered around quarterback Brady Cook and All-American wide receiver Luther Burden III, and the way the ninthranked Tigers’ high-octane offense could put them in the College Football Playoff mix.

It’s been their defense that has stood out two weeks into the season.

New defensive coordinator Corey Batoon’s bunch blanked Buffalo on Saturday night in a 38-0 rout, giving the Tigers backto-back shutouts for the first time since 1966 — and consecutive shutouts to start a season for the first time since 1935.

“It’s a great confidence booster for us,” Missouri defensive back Marvin Burks said, “but at the end of the day, we know we still have to keep our head down and keep working. ... Every day is going to keep getting tougher and tougher as we go.”

Cook still threw for 228 yards and ran for two touchdowns, and Burden added a score before leaving late in the first half with an illness. But they had plenty of help: Theo Wease Jr. had 13 catches for 149 yards, and Nate Noel added 73 yards rushing and a touchdown, as the Tigers (2-0) rolled to their 18th

straight nonconference win at Memorial Stadium.

That matches the best streak in school history with Boston College coming to town next Saturday.

“They’ve earned where they’ve gotten, and that’s been the cumulative effect of the last two or three seasons,” said first-year Buffalo coach Pete Lembo, who faced the Tigers at his most recent stop as an assistant at South Carolina.

C.J. Ogbonna, who played against the Tigers on Faurot Field while with Southeast Missouri State a few years ago, completed only six passes for 55 yards.

Jacqez Barksdale had 67 yards rushing and the Bulls (1-1) just 169 yards of total offense.

“Really, really proud of the way our defense has been playing,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said.

Cook and Burden were expected to be one of the best pass-catch duos in the nation, but so far they’ve been one of the best one-two punches on the ground. Each had a touchdown run during the Tigers’ season-opening 51-0 rout of Murray State, and each of them were back in the end zone in the first half against Buffalo.

Burden scored first on an end-around to make it 10-0 in the second quarter. Cook’s first TD came on third-and-goal from the Buffalo 3, when he hesitated on a designed run and darted through a gap for the

score. His second came on a 31-yard scramble that Cook finished by somersaulting over two defenders at the goal line.

It was about that time that Burden headed to the locker room for what a team spokesperson described as an illness.

The Tigers were just fine without him, though, getting Noel into the end zone late in the third quarter to make it 31-0. Most of the starters gave way to the backups in the fourth quarter with the game well out of reach.

“I think it’s easy for certain teams to overlook opponents,” Cook said, “and waste an opportunity to dominate the way we have. ... Two shutouts to start the season is crazy.”

Game Ball

Missouri defensive end Eddie Kelly Jr. had a pair of tackles just three days after his mother died unexpectedly. The team presented the junior from Orlando, Florida, with one of the game balls in the postgame locker room.

“She was here the week before at the game, went home and had a medical emergency and passed away,” Drinkwitz said. “For him to still be here and for our team to play around him the way they did tonight was a special, special moment.”

Up Next Missouri: At Boston College next Saturday.

BOB STUBBLEFIELD

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“Pure swing with all the mechanics together,” Brenda Ricks said. “She’s just been knocking the crap out of it. It is like, ‘woah.’”

As she hunts for more consistency moving forward, Pargas is focused on her irons and short game.

“It gave me some confidence and it let me know what I need to work

on,” Pargas said.

Sophomore Halle Zimmerman finished 15th overall with a personal-best 18-hole round of a 107.

She has built on a busy summer of golf and started the season strong.

“I’m really happy,” Zimmerman said. “That is my best score. … My drives and my chipping were good, but my putts were not.”

Zimmerman was paired with sophomore Taylor Akon for best ball. Akon

finished with a 117 to tie for 37th overall.

“I got to see my own improvement, but still be with my friends,” Zimmerman said.

Maryville had two players play junior varsity on the Watson 9 with freshman Avonlea Mitchell and foreign-exchange student Aizere Naizabay continuing to prepare for the season. Naizabay is from Kazakhstan.

“Avonlea is a freshman, but she is catching on fast,” Brenda Ricks said. “Aizere hadn’t even seen a golf course before. To introduce someone to something, she is just in awe of how beautiful it is.”

The Spoofhounds play against Mid-Buchanan on Tuesday before a dual with Central at Moila Country Club on Thursday.

“They just have fun together,” Brenda Ricks said. “Any time you are with them, they are laughing and having a good time.”

Golf

Continued from C1

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM

Maryville sophomore Jaidaci Wilmes putts on Monday at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.

Platte Valley keeps rolling with win over Mound City

By NICK TERRY

The Forum

HOPKINS, Mo. — In a story that would play out early and often, Platte Valley showed their size, strength and speed on the first two plays of the game versus the visiting Mound City Panthers in Hopkins.

After a quick ten yard scamper on first down, junior running back Lucky Ferry took the second snap of the game for a 40-yard touchdown run just twenty-two seconds into the game — putting Platte Valley on the path to a 52-6 final at halftime.

After the first play pass from quarterback Creyton Roup to Chauncey Brown resulted in a first down, the Panther offense was stifled by the Platte Valley defense, led by senior end Justin Miller. On the second play from scrimmage, Miller was able to get to the quarterback for a loss.

“We knew their quarterback was fast, and we needed to get back there and make him cut back,” Miller said. “So that backside defense could go and get him.”

After a good punt, Platte Valley again took their chance with the ball for a quick score. Sophomore quarterback Ridge Clements talked about the offensive success early.

“A lot of those reads worked really well, I just was reading the defensive ends,” Clements said. “Our line blocked great today too.”

Two long runs set up Ferry for his second score in the first three minutes of the game as he took the handoff seven yards for another touchdown.

A quick three and out by the Panthers, followed by a net zero yard punt, gave Platte Valley the ball on the Mound City 21-yard line. Clements took the third play for another quick score from 11 yards out. He was led by a convoy of blockers featuring Andy Mattson, Landon Weiderholt and Miller, allowing him to walk in basically untouched leading to a quick 24-0 lead for Platte Valley.

Mound City was able to answer the onslaught with their first sustained offensive drive of the game, which saw them driving all the way to the Platte Valley 8-yard line.

H.S. FOOTBALL: Nodaway Valley 44, East Atchison 18

Larabee leads Thunder to win

Nodaway Valley quarterback Lane Larabee (pictured) completed 10-of-15 passes for 74 yards in Nodaway Valley’s 44-18 victory over East Atchison last Friday in Fairfax. Larabee was also the team’s leading rusher with 70 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Cooper Snodderley added 45 rushing yards and a touchdown. Senior linebacker Preston Jenkins made his season debut for the Thunder and had a pick-six to go along with nine tackles. Senior Ben Cordell had 12 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two and a half sacks. Garrett Carpenter added seven tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. Tye Hoyt had an interception and a team-leading seven catches for 36 yards. Nodaway Valley is set for its biggest test of the season on Friday night when the Thunder play Platte Valley in Hopkins.

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER: Maryville 8, Chillicothe 0

“We knew we had to keep contain as defensive ends so the quarterback couldn’t just run outside,” Miller said. “And they did that with some success.”

After senior Kegan Etter was able to get into the Panther backfield, the drive stalled on a fourth-down play in which junior Jayden Sturm was able to record a tackle in the backfield, giving Platte Valley the ball on its own 6-yard line.

The Platte Valley offense was undeterred however, as Clements continued to shine by calling his own number. Clements scored on the final play of the drive on a 38-yard keeper around the edge to make the margin 32-0 in the first quarter.

“I knew I could pull the ball because the defensive end wasn’t really looking at me, so the edge was open,” Clements said.

The Panthers compounded their problems, by failing to field the ensuing kickoff, giving Platte Valley the ball again just outside the red zone. However, the lone highlight of the game for Mound City came when the defense scooped up a fumble and returned it for a 61-yard score.

While Platte Valley continued to dominate with touchdown runs by Clements, and defensive stops by the dominant front line, the only unpredictable play was a touchdown pass from Clements.

On a first-and-goal from the 12-yard line, following a penalty, Clements dropped back to pass, and found junior Bruce Otto for a touchdown. Miller, who was looking for his first receiving touchdown of the season, was happy for Otto.

“I blame (offensive coordinator Zach) Dyer for not calling the right play.” Miller said with a smile, “I’m really glad that Bruce Otto got a touchdown.”

Clements echoed the sentiment: “I wish I could’ve gotten Justin a touchdown.”

The final score of the game came once again on an explosive play from Ferry, scoring from 23 yards out. The Platte Valley backfield, depleted by injury, looked as dangerous as ever, showing their depth and the strength of its offensive-line dominance, ending with a 52-6 win.

Platte Valley will take on Nodaway Valley, with both teams looking to stay undefeated in the “Battle of the Valley” on Friday in Hopkins.

MAKING THE CALL

RORY BREDLOW

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on Tuesday evening against

Spoofhounds pick up victory on home turf

By JON DYKSTRA The Forum

MARYVILLE, Mo. —

The Spoofhounds saw some positives in the Excelsior Springs Tournament, but ended up with 1-goal losses to Excelsior Springs and Smithville, and a 0-0 draw with Kearney.

“That was a tough, tough trip down there,” Maryville coach Matt Stoecklein said of the Barstow and Excelsior Springs Tournaments prior to Tuesday’s home opener.

“Six times in 12 days, 21 hours on a bus, so to be at home is awesome.”

Only allowing three total goals in three matches against larger schools is a tremendous credit to goalkeeper Titus McKim and the defensive group for Spoofhounds.

“Titus has had an amazing past few games,” Maryville senior Tucker Wilmes said.

“He has only played soccer for two years. When you see him playing, you’d never know he’s only been playing two years. He is really skilled at his position. Our defense has been playing amazing.”

One of the goals going into Tuesday’s Midland Empire Conference opener

was more goals. The offense got that going with an 8-0 win over Chillicothe.

“That is one thing we’ve been working on — just pass that ball to an open teammate,” Stoecklein said.

They also got the first win on the new turf field after previously playing their home games at Northwest Missouri State. Junior Cooper Lynn got the first goal at the new Hound Pound 11 minutes into the match with a header that settled into the back of the net.

“I just saw the defense not playing up and ready, and Tuan (Jacobson) crossed it in right to my head,” Lynn said. “… Scoring the first goal, that was good and all, but after that, we really started connecting the ball better and we really got our passes going.”

Stoecklein wasn’t happy with the ball movement early on in the match, but as that improved, the goals began to flow. Wilmes had the team’s next two goals with junior Connor Moore dropping off a pass to the senior for the second one and a 3-0 lead.

“It felt really good,” Wilmes said of getting into the scoring column.

Senior Anmol Prabhakar,

who had the ball on a string much of the night with his superb ball handling, got into the scoring column next with 17:25 left in the half. Prabhakar had the lone goal in the Excelsior Springs Tournament.

Moore was all around the action the entire half and got his own goal with 15:13 left in the half. Sophomore Derek Evans had the next goal to make it 6-0. Jacobson and freshman Nathan Walter rounded out the scoring to invoke the mercy rule at halftime with an 8-0 lead. The Spoofhounds had seven different players score in the contest as the ball movement only improved as the match went on.

“We’ve been struggling in terms of putting a lot of goals up,” Wilmes said. “Today, I think almost everyone on our team shot it.”

Maryville (2-4-1; 1-0 MEC) will be back at home on Wednesday, Sept. 25, against Savannah.

“This game will hopefully set the bar for us players, seeing how fun it is to win by a lot, and hopefully we can stick with it and keep winning through conference,” Wilmes said.

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NICK TERRY/THE FORUM

Platte Valley quarterback Ridge Clements scrambles last Friday against Mound City in Hopkins.

Maryville junior Tuan Jacobson handles the ball

Chillicothe at the Hound Pound.

SUBMITTED BY KARLENE JENKINS