• July 2005 Vo lume 23, No.3 The newsletter for athletics at Southwest Missouri State

Season comes to end for Baseball Bears despite improbable 11-game winning streak

So near and yet so far. Bur it wasn't to be. That sums up the baseball Bears' plight as they- for the first The Bears fell one game short, despite putting together their time ever - missed the Missouri Valley Conference tourney by the longest winning streak since amass ing 12 in a row in 1999. proverbial "gnat's eyebrow." As time ran out on the Bears, first baseman Tim Rafferty Coach Keith Guttin's nine finished the year in impressive said, "This is the team we should have been al l year. fas hi on -with 11 straight wins. "We obviously had a lot of potential and showed it by But it simply wasn't enough. All the Bears needed was a win by winning 11 srraight." either Indiana Stare or Illinois State on the final day of the regular And no doubt the rest of the tourney field drew a co ll ective season. breath of relief when rime ran our on the Bears. As it turns our, SMS may be the only team in the nation that takes an 11-game winning skein into the '06 campaign. The Bear's season was damaged most by the dreary April, when they went 5-14 overall and 3-12 in the conference. During that rime, they were swept at Hammons Field by Indiana State and Wichita Scare. One win in those games wo ul d have turned the tide. "You shouldn't get swept at home, period," Guttin said. In summing up the year, Guttin noted, "We tried some yo ung guys early, and they didn't produce. Then some of the older guys didn't." Guttin feels the strong fini sh is indeed something to build on. "The yo ung guys got a taste of winning, and they got a taste of losing," noting they found out that winning tastes "very good" and losing "tastes horrible." In the final weeks of the season, he said, "In some respects, I really enjoyed having no margin for error. T he pressure was turned up, and our players responded." The Bears lose only four seniors from this year's squad that finished 26-29: lefr fielder Kirk McConnell, shortstop Scott Nasby, right fielder Jake Manning and pitcher Dave Smith, who signed a free agent contract with the Texas Rangers. Five .300 hitters are back: Adam Pummill (.352), Chris Taylor (.345) , Matt Weglarz (.333), Rafferty (.329) and Jake Hilge ndorf (.317). Weglarz had 49 RBis, while Hilgendorf had five home runs. Two returning pitchers recorded half of the SMS wins. Brett Si nkbeil finis hed 7-9 and C hris Krawczyk was 6-1. T he top four freshmen hurlers- Jake Bunten, Ross Detwiler, Jake Shafter and Chris Mackey - showed promise. "These fo ur, plus three freshmen we've signed, give us a nice foundation on the mound," Guttin said. As the Bears look toward next year, there's no noticeable doom and gloom. "We simply didn't earn it," Guttin said of missing the Valley tournament. "We simply have to learn from it and get better." BT

Fifty-nine student-athletes graduated uri ng May 13 commencement ceremonies

The 59 student-athletes who received their undergraduate degrees Whelan; Men's Soccer: Jim Levesque, Bryan Moll and Jon Watson; during the 2005 spring commencement represented 18 SMS Women's Soccer: Karen Hymer, Leah Owczarczak, Christel Poague, sq uads in 12 different sports. The recipients, named in order of Stephanie Schultz and Lexi Stormo; Sofrball: Deanna Keirn , Jessica sport, are as follows: Leathers and Christy Serwein; Men's Swimming/Diving: Ramiro Baseball: Scott Nasby and Tim Rafferty; Men's Basketball: Palmar and Justin Thompson; Women's Swimming/Diving: Becky Matt Engs trom, Treyvor Fisher, Tommy Johnso n and Manwell Bowles, Jenise Colby, Lindsay Giardina, Gretchen Hoey, Chauntelle Randl e; Women's Basketball: Jamie Bartlett; Field Hockey: Betsy Johnso n, Michaela Milan, Erin Seibel, Lesley Weaverling, Ashl ey Anderson and An1anda Hanson; Football: Matt Buchholz, Steve Welch and Allison Yates; Women's Tennis: Laura Alvarez and Cora, Rodderick Dobson, Brad Durham, Alan Kastler, Tim Meyer, Maria Amato; Men's Track/Cross Country: To ny Davis, Demeatrus Joe Meyerorr, Rod Pickert, Preston Portee, Jay Steinbroner and Emmanuel and Travis Mack; Women's Track/Cross Country: Kevin Tim; Men's Golf: D avid Dupy and Sandesh Sidhu; Women's Amber Cumberbatch and Eri n Sutton; Volleyball: Kelli Briscoe, Golf: Amy Garcia, Ashley Hanson, Saral1 Weigle and Kelly Chenille (Bayless) Gaumer and Linette White. BT Events aim to give athletics fans fun, sun and opportunity to inspire

At first glance, the SMS campus seems fairly quiet during the hot, The final "SMS" parry is set for Friday, Aug. 26. The 19th lazy days of summer. But take a closer look, and you'll see Plaster annual Auction Benefiting Athletics will be held in rhe Expo Field occupied with various camps, football coaches making final Cemer, with doors opening at 5 p.m. Last year, more than preparations before practice starts in August and several behind-the­ $135,140 was raised, with attendees bidding on items such as a scenes people planning events to carry fans out of the Centennial New York Broadway package, Super Bowl tickets, a spa package, and into the first season of Missouri State, which officially begins coach-for-a-day privileges and Barry's (Hinson) Barbecue. This year, Aug. 28. additional service items include a full set of braces from an area Turn to page 4 and you'll find a list of upcoming home games orthodontist, dry cleaning, landscaping and restaurant certificates. that will give fans the opportunity to be part of the first-ever Missouri State's inaugural Homecoming is Oct. 28-29. Friday Missouri State football, volleyball and men's and women's soccer will be filled with class reunions and the Homecoming dinner and home crowds. awards ceremony. Saturday morning will feature the annual 5K And below, you'll find additional offerings that will no doubt run, Homecoming parade and, of course, BearFest Village, which make the 2005-06 season truly historic: is always big on food, music and activities. Both days culminate Season tickers for the very first season of Missouri State with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff of the Missouri State vs. Indiana State football are on sale now. Reserved chair seats ($100, each+ a Bears Homecoming game. Coaches and players invite friends, families, Fund donation of Diamond Bear level or higher), bleacher back neighbors and alumni to fill up all 16,300 seats at Plaster Field. seats ($80, each) and bleacher seats ($70, each) are available, in And in December, when the threat of snow hangs over the addition to the $100 Family Plan, which is four reserved bleacher Missouri State campus, the Lady Bears will be playing in the 5th seats for every home game. annual Fun in the Sun Shootout Dec. 18-19. The tournament A new progran1 reflecting our Public Affairs mission is being (Dec. 17-21) will be held in beautiful Playa del Carmen, Mexico, implemented for the 2005 football season. BAY- Bears Assisting and Grear Southern Travel has arranged special packages for the Youth- provides a chance for area youth groups to attend Bears event. Each package includes roundtrip air fare between Sr. Louis home games free of charge. The BAY progran1 is supported entirely and Cancun, as well as all meals and drinks. Participants will be by the charitable efforts of private donors and corporate sponsors. escorted from St. Louis by both a Missouri State staff member and Participation cons1srsof purcnasmg a season ticket(s) that will be GreatSoumernTravelstaff member. Forrnoreinformation, please donated to a chariry or youth group in the purchaser's name. Youth contact Karen Garrison at 883-5244 or 1-800-555-4335. BT groups include Boys and Girls Clubs and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Contributors will be recognized throughout the football season.

Volleyball Bears begin promising 2005 season with back-to-back tournaments

On Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27-28, the volleyball Bears will Other games in the tourney: On Aug. 27, Arkansas-Little Rock make a bit of history. plays rwice, against Southeast Missouri and Saint Louis. On Aug. When they take the floor as hosts of a four-team invitational 28, Saint Louis plays Southeast. tourney at Hammons Student Center, they'll become the first Preceding the tourney, the Bears have a Maroon and White Missouri State intercollegiate team to participate in athletic scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. competition. The Bears of Coach Melissa Stokes also host rwo tournaments The school officially becomes Missouri State University on in September- the Missouri State Invitational, Sept. 9-10, and the Sunday, Aug. 28. Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational, Sept. 24-25. On Saturday of the 27th, the Bears play rwo visiting teams: Visiting teams in the Sept. 9-10 invitational are Utah, Iowa Southeast Missouri and Saint Louis Universiry. State and Arkansas. On the 28th, they host Arkansas-Little Rock. Guests in the Mary Jo Wynn meet are Wichita State, North Dakota State and Oral RobertS. Sandwiched between the rwo September meets are Missouri Valley Conference home dares with Indiana State, Sept. 16; Illinois State, Sept. 17; and Wichita State, Sept. 23. As the new season approaches, the Bears loom as one of me favorites in the MVC. They return all but one player from a team that finished 23-10 overall and 13-5 in the Valley. Sabrina Apker, an honorable mention All-America pick a year ago, leads the long list of returnees. The Bears, in fact, have to make only one ree1!£ement on the back row, replacin& last year's lone senior, Jane Parker. Bur the task is formidable, considering Parker set a mark with 596 digs as the libero. Last year, Apker finished with a .363 hitting percentage and ranked No.4 in the nation with 1.75 blocks per game. As a team, me Bears ranked second in blocks per game with 3.40. Apker and setter Ashley Warren were all-MVC choices a year ago. Warren set an SMS single-season record with 1,515 assists and ranked third in the Valley with 12.62 assists per game. She was also a standout at the net with 1.06 kills and 0.92 blocks per game. Along with Apker in the middle, the Bears return Sarah Lansing for her mird season as a starter. A year ago, Lansing posted 2.04 kills and hit .271 while ranking fourth in the MVC and 37th nationally with 1.43 blocks per game. On the outside, the Bears appear solid with the trio of Katie Werges, Katie Kreimer and Erin O 'Connor all returning. Werges finished last year as the Bears' kill leader, with 3.41 kills per game (fifth in the Valley). O'Connor had 3.21 kills per game (eighth in me MVC). And Kreimer had 2.29 kills, 2.90 digs, 0.43 blocks and 0.47 assists per game. Freshmen on this year's roster: Kelly Andress, Arnold, Mo.; Jami Youmans, Kearney, Mo.; Courtney Bowman, DeWitt, Iowa; Ashley Kell, Houston, Mo.; and Nikki Vandepopulier, Kansas Ciry, Mo. (Park Hill South). Stokes' teams have compiled a 194-96 record in nine seasons. She needs just six more wins to reach the 200-victory plateau. BT It's a privilege tobe a Bear: Ap rofile of the new coaches at SMS

Coach Kim Gardand, Field Hockey my efforts and ambitions were with SMS. I wanted to bear Pacific Ask the greatest of coaches and they will no doubt list two must­ simply because SMS was my team." haves for excellence in their field: care for yo ur players and know Fortunately the feeling she has toward SMS isn't simply school your stuff. Assistant Field Hockey Coach Kim Garcland strives to spirit. One of Garcland's concerns is to make sure her players do both. understand she is there to back rl1em up. Growing up on the East Coast, Garcland's fam­ "I try to stay involved with my players so that I know what is ily was involved with ice hockey and soccer. going on in their lives," she explains. "It lets me in on things that In the early 1980s, her dad moved the family might be affecting each player. Plus it shows the ream I care about from Delaware to California, where Gartland them and nor just the game." perfected her soccer skills. However, when she was a sophomore in high school, a family friend Coach John Heavner, Football introduced Gartland to field hockey, "the perfect A son learns things from his father that no one else can teach. And combination of both ice hockey and soccer," she quite often, those lessons are woven into the subject of sports. For says . Garcland tried our, made the team and decided to stick with Quarterbacks Coach John Heavner and his dad, a retired high it. "I might have been more into field hockey at an earlier age if we school coach, football has always been the connection. had stayed on the East Coast, bur I have no reservations about our "We have a great relationship, and we're move west. I enjoyed growing up in San Diego, and I thank my close," Heavner says. "Football plays a big role dad for raking us there." in that because it's a love we bocl1 share. We like While in college, California also gave Gartland the opportu­ to go fishing and do all those different things, nity to play against her future home. "I actually like the fact that but there's never going to be a rime when we're I am now coaching a team I once competed against," she admits. together that football isn't brought up in so me "It gave me a sense of familiarity when I first started." However, shape." returning to Pacific in 2004 was bitter sweet. "I was excited ro see Bur it's no wonder. Heavner grew up in my old players, and I always hope Pacific succeeds," she says. "But Norman, Okla. - home of me Oklahoma Sooners - where he and

conci11ued 011 page 4 Grid Bears working toward continued improvements

Coach Randy Ball's football Bears play their first home game under receiver. H e was one of cl1e rop punt returners in Division I-AA two the new Missouri State banner on Saturday, Sept. 10, hosting years ago but missed last season with an injury. Quincy College our of Quincy, Ill. In the past, the running game has been a mainstay of Ball's It's the first of two straight 6 p.m. home outings for the Bears, offense. This year, his two most experienced returning ball carriers who also host Southeast Missouri on Sept. 17. are Brandon Taylor and Gerald Davis. Ball also is looking at a The Bears open the season at University of Arkansas in number of transfers and newcomers. Fayetteville- a short, two-hour road trip -Saturday, Sept. 3. In fact, he's looking at several talented newcomers both on This year, the Bears hope to rake another big step upward. Last offense and defense as cl1e team hopes to continue its climb up the year, they made forward strides, and they're hoping for even bener Gateway Conference ladder. days (an d nights) in 2005. A number of lettermen who missed all or part of last season Offensively, Ball and company return quarterback A.J. Porter, due to injury are back and could become impact players - such as wide receiver Kaya Farris, tackle Groshawn Edwards and guard tackle Justin Williamson and linebacker Kevin Sears, who was a Bryan Byrd from last year's starting unit. starter in 2003. Defensively, the returning starters are linebackers Darryl As a matter of fact, several newcomers and redshirt returnees Johnson and Michael Evans, end Demetrius Harmon and back looked good in spring practice and sparkled in the spring game. Chris Harris. "It was one of our better springs," says a hopeful Ball, who is Also returning is consensus 2004 All-America and 2005 eagerly awaiting his seventh season as head coach. preseason All-America placekicker Jon Scifres, who, wirhour a Based on the spring report card, rounding out the offensive doubt, gives the team a foot up in the kicking department. Last line will be Jake Elliott, Steve Kohenskey, Bryan Byrd and David year, Scifres was a perfect 15 of 15 in field goal tries, giving him a Tillman, a former defensive tackle. Defensively, veterans Tony new NCAA record for 3-pointers hit in a season without a miss. Gillon, Amir Khalil and Sidney Rone figure to join Harmon on the His accurate kicking gave the Bears their margin of victory in four line. wins as SMS finished with a 6-5 record. In the secondary, Marcus Colbert, Derrick Byrd and redshirt Last year, Porter, as a junior, passed for 1,830 yards and 13 Mike Radon look to start alongside Harris. T Ds with a .549 completion percentage. His top returning target As fall drills and the new season approach only a couple of is Farris, who snagged 36 passes for 478 yards. T he one TD pass he things appear set in concrete. O n the other hand, Bears starting caught last year was a dazzler- a sliding grab with two seconds left lineups - both on offense and defense - appear subj ect to change that gave the Bears a 33-31 victory over Sam Housron State. and the Gateway Conference again looms as one of the top This year, the Bears also have Michael Sparks back as wide Division I-AA leagues, if not rhe top, in the nation. BT Southwest Misso uri Stare University Non-Profit O rg. Ath.lecics Deve.lopmenr U.S. Postage 100 Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center YEARS 300 Souch jefferso n, Suite 100 PAID Springfield, MO 65806 Springfield, MO 1905-2005 Permit No. 1555

New Coaches Continued, from page 3 his dad frequented Big 12 college football games. And when his dad was on the field with his own team, the young Heavner was either on the sidelines or in the stands. "From the time I was pretty young, I wanted to coach col­ lege football," Heavner says. "Why college football - I don't know. But I couldn't avoid being involved with the sport in some aspect. I was around the guys, and they treated me nicely. And I thought it was unbelievable to get to be around a football Bear Talk is produced for The Bears Fund donors by che Office of Publications in cooperatio n wi ch team." che Department of Athletics aod che Development and Alumni Office of Souchwest Missouri State University, 90 1 S. National, Springfield, Mo., 65804. Third class postage paid at Springfield, Mo. Heavner, a four-year letterman at East Central University in The Bears Fund donors support the unive.rsiry's athletic program by co ntributing at any of these Oklahoma, began coaching as an assistant under his head coach, levels - Hall of Fame Club, $10,000 or more; AII·Ame rican Club, $4,000 or more; Champions Club, Hank Walbrick, and eventually became offensive coordinator. $2,000 or more; Diamond Bears Club, $1,000 or more; Gold Bears Club, $600 or more; Si lver Bears "It was unbelievable," Heavner says of his former title. "It Club, $300 or more; Bruin Club, $150 or more; Cu b Club, $50 or more. For informacio n concerning The Bears Fund, contact Brent Dunn, director of athletics development, SMSU, 417-836-4143. was something I always dreamed of doing. To actually call the Southwest Missouri Scare University is a comm uni ty of people with respect fo r diversity. The University plays is an exciting thing, and I would love to have the opportu­ emphasizes the dignity and equaliry common ro all persons and adheres m a strict nondiscriminacion nity to do that again." policy regarding che treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. ln accord wich federal law and It was also at that time Heavner was introduced to the app ~ cab l e Missouri srarures, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, rdigion, sex, SMS campus. In both 2002 and 2003, East Central came nacional origin, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran status in employmenr or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by rhe University. In addi tion, the University does nor discriminate on any basis to Springfield only to be defeated by the Bears. H owever, not rdared to the ap p~cab l e educational requirements for srudenrs or the app licable job requirements for H eavner's impression of SMS was that it was a "tremendous employees. The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any place to be." person who bdieves he or she has been discrimi nated against. Somhwesr Missouri Stare Universiry is an Equal Opponuniry/AffirmativeAccion employer. Inquiries concerning the grievance procedure, Affirmative Now that he's here, H eavner is grateful for the opportunity, Action Plan, or compliance with federal aod state laws aod guidelines should be addressed to )ana E.rergard, especially because he has his own son to share the experience Equal Opportunity Officer, Siceluff Hall 296, 90 I Souch National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65804, with. Caleb, born March 10, 2004, has already been to practice 417-836-4252. and is exploring his own knack for throwing - something his dad is cautiously proud of "Honestly, and I can say this from the bottom of my heart, if he loves football, that's great. If he doesn't, that's great too. As long as he acts right, he can do whatever he wants, career-wise. "I do really think I mean that." BT

Upcoming Home Games SMS Intercollegiate Athletics Mission Statement Football Women's Soccer (approved by the Board of Governors Ocr. 1995, Plaster Field Cooper Sports Complex revised Nov. 1999, Dec. 2001, Oct. 2003) Sept. 10 vs Qu incy Aug. 26 vs Arkansas State Abridged Version Sept. 17 vs Southeast Missouri State Sept. 4 vs Tennessee-Martin Southwest Missouri Stare University (SMSU) is committed ro an intercollegiate achletics program which complements the mission of the University and operates in accordance with Volleyball the principles and regulations of the National College Athletic Association. As a member of various athletics conferences, SMSU is committed m academic and athletics excellence, Hammons Student Center so und fiscal management practices, enhancement of the physical and educationaJ welfare Aug. 27 vs Arkansas-Little Rock of srudenr-athletes, equal opportunity, characrer deve1opmenr, principles of amateurism, as Aug. 27 vs Kansas State well as the fundamental values of sportsmanship, civility, and the common virrue of good Aug. 28 vs Southeast Missouri State citizenship. TIITJ~ [}l]~ ~ Men's Soccer Missouri State Athletics Cooper Sports Complex \effeahteAU9\'~I 28,2005) Sept. 9 vs Centenary College Sept. 10 vs Oral Roberts