• July 2006 Volume 24, No. 4 The newsletter for athletics at Missouri State University
Lady Bears softball has remarkable season
The Missouri State Lady Be ars softball team poses with its MVC championship trophy. The Lady Bears, ending the season with an amazing 40-17 record, won the
conference tournament and reached the NCAA's West Coast Reg ional. The Lady Bears set a new all-time win record with the 40 victories. Photo by J.R. Compton
Without a doubt it was a year ro remember for the softball "This team has been a lot of fun," said Hesse. "The players Bears. know what it rakes ro get there, and they've done the work to make Although their bars fell silent at the end- a 1-0 loss ro San it happen. As a coach, that's very satisfying." Diego Stare at UCLA's Easron Stadium- it was a great season from Offensively, the Bears were the bes t Hesse has had at Misso uri beginning ro the bitter end. State in a decade. Was it the best Bear softball campaign ever? Probably. h was at On the pitching side of the ledger, she had a pair of aces in least one of the most memorable since the school began competi senior Shannon Buslepp and Porche. tion in NCAA Division I. Nor only was the recem past a year to remember, but the Following the losses to UCLA and San Diego State in the future looks promising as well. The Bears lose such quality per NCAA's West Coast Regional, Coach Holly H esse said, "We're dis formers as shortstop Alicia Jager, fmt baseman Samantha Fleeman, appoimed, but we played well. " cemer fielder Sara Cole and Buslepp, bur Porche returns along with They played well indeed. In the season finale, sophomore junior Katie Martin and a number of talented sophomores. pitcher Melissa Porche allowed only three hits, but one was a two Typical of the entire season was the Bears' play in the confer out homer in the first inning. ence tourney and in the finale against San Diego State. In the Said Hesse, "You can't ask for any more from a tean1. I'm Lady Bears' final contest, the scrappy never-say-die team was in proud of their effort." it down to the final out. Wid1 two outs in the seventh and fi nal The Bears finished with a remarkable 40-17 record. They won inning, Buslepp singled up the middle and sophomore Michelle the Missouri Valley Conference tOurnament tide, sweeping th e Armentrout walked before Porche popped out to end the game. competition tO earn their first NCAA bid since 1998. They had Fleeman, who put rogether an outstanding senior season, was emered the tourney as the No. 2 seed after spending all but the named d1e Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. very last day of league season arop the MVC standings. Buslepp and freshman Jessica Smith also were named ro the From the first pitch in d1e rourney, however, the Bears were all MVC first team, while Martin and Porche were second tean1 picks. business and all victOrious. Fleeman led the Bears in batting average, hits, RBis and home After winning d1e league rourney opener, d1ey tied the ream's runs. The five all-Valley picks are the most for the Bears since the all-rime record for victories in a season. They set the new all-time school joined the MVC in '93. BT win record with their second win of d1e tournament. Quire a record- and achievemem- for Hesse and a squad that wouldn't be denied. Missouri State Alumni Night at Hammons Field Mel Stole, '67, (left) senior offensive guard Steve Kohenskey, senior offensive tackle Justin Williamson and Steve Dunn, '83, pause for a picture at Missouri State
Alumni Night at Hammons Field. The event, held on May 2, allowed Missouri State alumni to purchase either half-price reserved seat tickets or an upper deck
package that included unlimited drinks and snacks. The Bears football team was on hand promoting season tickets for the upcoming 2006 campaign. Photo by Kevin Wh1te
The Missouri State Auction Benefiting Athletics will be held on August 25, 2006
2006 Football SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Se as on ticket seat preferen ce: Missouri• 0 Cha irba ck...... $ 100 0 Ble ac he r Bac k ...... $70 State. . 0 Bleac her ...... $50
2006 Missouri State Home Football Schedule
Sat., Sept. 9...... Southwest Baptist ...... 6:0D PM Sat., Se pt. 23...... Sam Hou sto n State ...... 6:00PM Sat., Se pt. 30 ...... Youngstown State*...... 6 :00 PM (MJssouJi State Family Weekend)
E Q Sat., Oct. 14 ...... Western Ke ntucky* ...... 2:00PM CJ (Missoun State Showcase) ~ ., Sat., Oct. 28 ...... Southern Ill inois* ...... 1:30PM CD"' (Missou11 State Homecoming) .l!l .s Sat., No v. 11 ...... Western Ill inois*...... 1 :00PM ~ (Missouri State Senior Day, Veterans Day) =Q V> V>
:i Home games played at Plaster Field, Springfield, Missouri All games are broadcast on KTXR (101.3 FM) in Springfield ::;: *Indicates Gateway Football Conferen N Bears finish second in MVC tournament, regular season standings Although they missed the NCAA postseason tournament by the narrowest of margins, it was a great season for Coach Keith Currin's baseball Bears nonetheless. The Bears finished the year with a 33-22 record. In the Missouri Valley Conference tournament at Wichita, the Bears fell a game shy of the championship. Unbeaten going into the final day, they lost rwice to Evansville, including 2-1 in the tide game. So near.. . as was the case in the regular-season league race where they finished a half game behind No. 1 Evansville. Without a doubt, Missouri State was one of the final teams passed over as the NCAA put together its 64-team tournament field. Said Guttin, "The most disappointing thing is, this year- with our pitching staff- I felt we could have done well in the postseason had we gotten in." A lack of offense, a problem throughout the campaign, ul timately took its roll. The Bears finished with a .275 team batting average and 5.3 runs per game. The program hasn't seen numbers this low since 1973. Junior catcher Matt Weglarz leads off of first base looking to steal second. Since the year 2003, when they last played in the NCAA tourney, the team averaged 6.4 runs in '03, 6.0 in '04, 5.8 in Weglarz is looking forward to re-entering the lineup and contributing next '05, and th is year's 5.3. year after his season was cut short due to hand injuries. Missing 14 games, G uttin said the reason for the lack of offensive power Wegla rz was still able to bat .272 and drive home 25 RBis. Photo by J.R. Compton appears to be rwofold: "Less talented, physical players out there" and "better arms than a few years ago." The Missouri State pitching staff, without doubt one of the best in the Valley if not "the best," compiled an ERA of 3.97- the team's best since '01. In addition, a number of talented pitchers have indicated they Junior pitcher Brett Sinkbeil was selected by Florida in plan to contend for roster spots in '07. the first round of this year's Major League draft- the 19th Offensively, three seniors who figured to lead the attack player chosen overall, the highest draft choice in Missouri State Adam Pummill, Jake Hilgendorf and Tim Rafferty - hit a collective baseball history. Teammate Scott Carroll was drafted by the Los .249 with 57 RBis. The team was further crippled this past season Angeles Angels in the 16th round, and senior Chris Krawczyk when junior clean-up hitter Matt Weglarz missed 14 games with was drafted in the 22nd round by Detroit. Sinkbeil was 5-1 hand injuries. He will be an additional boost to the team next with a 2.45 ERA, Carroll was 6-4 and 3.73, while Krawczyk season. He finished with a .272 average and 25 RBis. was 6-5 with a 2.84 ERA and nine saves. Junior Clay Coulter returns in '07, along with sophomore Carroll, a sophomore and quarterback on las t year's Bear outfielder Nolan Keane (.331 and 35 RBis), sophomore infielder football team, indicated he may bypass the pros for a year Matt Lawson (.330 and 28, with 20 stolen bases), freshman and pitch again for the Bears next year. If so, he'd be parr of a infielder Brayden Drake (.289 and 35) and ca.tcher Weglarz. Also talented 1-2 combo that includes sophomore Ross Derwiler (7- back are sophomore pitchers Jake Shafer and Jacob Bunten. 4, 2.81). Freshman Matt Frevert (4-2, three saves) inherits the Krawczyk and Keane were named to the All-Missouri Valley closer's role. first team; with Sinkbeil, Lawson and Coulter second team. BT Men's swimming and diving to join Sun Belt Conference The Missouri State University men's swimming and diving Missouri State has been first or second in men's conference team will be one of rwo current Missouri Valley Conference swimming competition in 31 of 37 years since the school added the members to join the Sun Belr Conference as associate members for sport in 1965. The Bears won six Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic the sport for 2006-07. Association tides on the Division II level prior through 1981 and Sun Belt Commissioner Wright Waters notified Missouri State then won Mid-Continent Conference tides from 1982-84 under Director of Athletics Bill Rowe, as well as MVC member Southern three different coaches: Barry Harrwyk, Kent Kirchner and Steck. Illinois University, of Sun Bel t acceptance of the rwo Valley schools Steck won four more MCC titles from 1987 through 1990 before for next year's men's league meet, scheduled Feb. 15-17, 2007, in Missouri State joined the Valley. The MVC made men's swimming Nashville, Tenn. The associate membership involves only the league a league sport in 1995 and the Bears finished second to SIU five meet with no regular season competition. years in a row before winning the crown four of the past six years, "This is a great opponunity for our program," said Jack Steck, including rwo of the last three in the Missouri Valley Invitational head coach of both the men's and women's teams at Missouri format. State. "And we look forward to again being able to compete for a Missouri State added women's swimming in 1998 and the conference championshi p. T he other members of this league on the Bears have claimed the league crown in that competition each of men's side all have quality programs and we're excited about being the past four seasons. BT ~ C> able to extend our competition through this affiliation." N > The Misso uri State women's team will continue to compete in "') the MVC along with SIU, Evansville, Illinois State and Northern ..:.:= ~ Iowa. The MVC women's swimming meet next year will be Feb. 8- :;.. 10 in Carbondale, Ill. ...,I:D Eleven Prospects Signed Bears, Lady Bears have productive recruiting seasons Coach Hinson (left) and Coach Abe recently finished their offseason acquisition duties. Coach Hinson signed four players: three incoming freshmen and one juco transfer. One of Hinson's high school signees is Springfield-product Kyle Kirk (Kickapoo). Coach Abe signed seven, six of which are incoming freshmen. Coach Abe's lone transfer signee is Maggie Dwyer, a 6-foot junior guard from Michigan State. As the 2006-07 basketball season approaches, it appears both Coach Abe also will have the services of two redshirts from a the Bears and Lady Bears have had successful recruiting years. year ago, 5-9 freshman Tag Morris and 5-10 juco transfer Brandi Bear Coach Barry Hinson signed four prospects, while Lady Johnson. Bear Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson signed seven. Only four Lady Bears return from last year's 17-15 team: 5-6 - insons signees include three incoming freshmen allcfa juco junior Tahnee Ba:Ierio, 6-2 junior TiffTerwelp, 6-3 so ph Breton transfer. The frosh are 6-5 Kyle Kirk (Lady Bear Hannah Kirk's Wyatt, and 5-10 so ph Davida Moore. So ph Kayli Combs opted not brother), of Springfield Kickapoo, the school's all-time leading to return. scorer who averaged 18 points as a senior; 6-5 Ryan Jehle, Overland Hinson, on the other hand, returns eight players from last Park, Kan., who averaged 19 points for Shawnee Mission South; year's 22-9 squad: juniors Nathan Bilyeu (6-6), Tyler Chaney (6-5) and 6-4 Terrist Parramore, Fort Worth (Tex.) Southwest, who and Blake Ahearn (6-2); sophomores Dale Lamberth (6-5), Drew averaged 23 points before suffering a season-ending injury at Richards (6-9) and Sky Frazier (6-1 O); and freshmen Shane Laurie mid-year. Hinson's juco product is 6-7 power forward Dextroy (6-2) and Kyle Rausch (6-8). Manswell, a native of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, who Four redshirts from a year ago are also in the fold: Deven averaged 13 points and eight rebounds last year at Williston (N.D.) Mitchell, a two-year letterman (6-5) ; freshmen Justin Fuehrrneyer State College. (6-0) and Matt King (6-8); and guard Spencer Laurie (6-2), a Lady Bear signees are Erica Biel, 6-1, who averaged 17 points at transfer from Missouri. Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity High; Whitney Burgess, 6-1, Huntsville, Preseason practice for both the Bears and the Lady Bears begins Ark., 15 points and 10 rebounds; Melissa Busby, 6-1, Edmond, in October. Okla., 21 points and 10 rebounds; Taylor Silas, 5-10, Flushing, Last year, the Lady Bears won the Missouri Valley tourney Mich., 14 points and 7 rebounds; Ashley Lord, 6-3, Marrnaton title and advanced to the NCAA tournament. The Bears tied for Valley in Moran, Kan., 26 points and 15 rebounds; and Roxanne second place in the Valley and advanced to the National Invitation Stiles (yes, she's Jackie's sister) , 5-8, Claflin, Kan., 13 points and 3 Tournament quarterfinals. BT rebounds. Maggie Dwyer, a 6-foot junior guard, has transferred to Missouri State from Michigan State and will redshirt the corning season. Bear Briefs Track and Field/Cross Country Softball Breshears, Mack and Wahlig Three Softball Bears selected to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team earn-Academic-All-District-Honers--- ...... ,-.'-Missouri Stat~ softballSe~io F~antha Flee~an, junior K;;:;ie- Three members of the Missouri State men's track and field/cross Martin and sophomore Melissa Porche were selected to the country team have earned ESPN The Magazine/ Academic All- Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team for the 2006 District honors. Michael Breshears and Travis Mack have been season. Both Fleeman and Martin were first team selections, while named to the All-District First Team and will advance to the Porche was named to the honorable mention team. national ballot with the opportunity to earn Academic All Track and Field American honors, while Mike Wahlig was named to the second Partain selected as USTFCCCA Athlete of the Year team. Tracy Partain, a senior on the Missouri State track and field team, Men's Golf was selected by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Pyatt voted to MVC scholar-athlete squad Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as the Midwest District Missouri State junior Nick Pyatt has been named to the Missouri Athlete of the Year. Six winners, including men's and women's Valley Conference men's golf scholar-athlete squad. Pyatt is part coach, men's and women's track athlete, and men's and women's of the six-player team that was recognized for achievement in the field athlete, were selected in each of the nine districts. Division classroom as well as on the golf course. I coaches nominated and selected the winners. Partain won the Women's Golf outdoor Missouri Valley Conference heptathlon with a score of Bear pair named to Valley academic squad 5,756 points, ranking her third in the nation entering the NCAA E Q Championship meet. Her score also set a Missouri State varsity ... A pair of Missouri State student-athletes have been named to the ~ record. Partain also won the 100-rneter hurdles at the 2006 outdoor "' Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete First lXI.. Valley meet with a time of 13.38 and set a University record in the .s Team. Junior Sally Hinton and sophomore Missy Linnens are part event. @ of the seven-player unit that was recognized for achievement in :::1 Q en the classroom as well as on the golf course. Missouri State was the en :i only league member to place two players on the first team. ...i Partain Excels Partain finishes second in heptathlon at NCAA Outdoor Championship Senior Tracy Parrain ended her Missouri State track and field career with a second-place fi nish in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championship in Sacramento, Cali£ Partain posted a personal-best and school record score of 5,827 points. Jacquelyn Johnson, an Arizona State sophomore, led the heptathlon through al l seven events and took home the gold with 5,939 points. Washington State's Diana Pickler finished third with 5,757 points. Partain tied for a fourth-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 19'-3.5". In the javelin throw, she placed seventh with a distance of 125'-8". In the final event of the day, the 800-meter run, Partain recorded a personal-best time of 2:17.11 that placed her sixth. Partain's second-place national finish, earns her All Ameri ca honors. Partain leaves Missouri State with four University varsity records including the indoor 60-meter hurdles (8.56 seconds), the pentathlon (4,017 pts.) , the outdoor 100- meter hurdles (13.38 seconds), and the heptathlon. In 2005, Partain fi ni shed 13th in the heptathlon at the NCAA Championship with 5,399 points. With Partain's second-place finish in the heptathlon, she earned Missouri State eight points and a 33rd-place finish in the championship meet. Auburn won the women's side of the meet with 57 points and Florida State won the men's championship with 67 points. BT Tracy Partain Spence selected as USTFCCCA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year Fritz Spence, a Missouri State track and field assistant coach, Spence has been an assistant coach with the Missouri State has been recognized by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross track and field teams for the past five years and has been recognized Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as the Mideast Region for his outstanding work during the 2006 outdoor season. He Assistant Coach of the Year for women's jumps and combined specializes in working with the Bears' jumpers, throwers an d events category. The USTFCCCA honors the top assistants in four multi-event contenders. Tracy Partain, a 2006 outdoor All regions (East, Midwest, Mideast and West) in the categories of American, was one of Spence's star athletes. Partain won Missouri men's and women's throws, distances, sp rints/hurdles and jumps/ Valley Conference tides in the heptathlon and the l OO m hurdles. combined events. She finished second in the heptathlon at the NCAA O utdoor Championship. BT Call (417) 836-7678 for tickets Season tic ket seat preference: Men 0 Lower leve l* .. .$315 0 Upper level* .$279 0 Bleac her ... . .$185 Women 0 Lower level* . .$255 0 Upper level* .... .$220 0 Blea ch er .. . .$160 * Requires Bears Fund Annual Seat Assessment IB3AtlBEARS ASSISTING rDUTI-1 The Bears Assisting Youth IBAYI program provides opportunities for the Ozarks area youth groups to attend Missouri State athletics events free of cha rge. Th e BAY program is supported entirely by the charitable efforts of private donors and corporate sponsors. C.D ~ Your partici pation in the BAY program wil l include purchasing a season ticket to .?:- :::> Missouri State basketball. The season ticket will be donated to a charity or youth ...... group in your name . ;§ .,~ CQ"' "' Athletics Developmem Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Cenrer Missouri 300 Sourh jefferson, Suire 100 Stat•e . Springfield, MO 65806 Bear Talk is produced for The Bears Fund donors by me Office of Publications in cooperation wi th the Departmenr of Athletics and rhe Development and Alumni Office of Missouri Stare University, 90 1 S. National, Springfield, Mo. , 65897. Third class postage paid ar Springfield , Mo. The Bears Fund donors suppon rhe Univers ity's athletic program by conrri bming ar any of these levels - Hall of Fame Club, $10,000 or more; All-American Club, $4,000 or more; Champions Club, $2,000 or more; Diamond Bears Club, $1 ,000 or more; Gold Bears Club, $600 or more; Silver Bears Club, $300 or more; Bruin Club, $150 or more; Cu b Club, $50 or more. For information co ncern ing The Bears Fund, contact Brenr Dunn, director of athletics development, Misso uri State, 417-836-4143. Missouri Sratc University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphas izes the dignity and equaliry commo n ro all persons and adheres ro a srricr nondiscrim ination policy regarding the treatment of ind ividual facu lry, staff, and srudcnrs. In accord with federal law and applicable Missou ri srn.rmes, d1e Universiry does nor discriminate on t:he basis of race, colo r, religion, sex, national origin, ancesny, age, disability or veteran srarus in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by rhe University. In addition, the Universiry does nor discri minate on any basis not related to the applicable educational requiremenrs for srudenrs or the applicable job rcquiremems fo r employees. The Un iversity maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available w any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opporruniry/AffirmariveAcrion employer. Inquiries co ncerning rhe grievance proced ure, Affirmative Action Plan or compl iance wirh federal and stare laws and gu idelines should be addressed ro Jana Estergard, Equal Opportunity Officer, Sieduff Hall 296, 901 South National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897,4 17-836-4252. DEV 446 06 Sophomore pitcher Melissa Porche, above, winds up as she prepares to deliver some "smoke" to the opposing hitter. Right, the Bears baseball team honors America during Missorui State Intercollegiate Athletics the playing of the National Anthem prior to one of its contests at Hammons Field. Mission Statement (a pproved by me Board of Governors Ocr. 1995, revised Nov. 1999, Dec. 2001, Oct. 2003) Abridged Version M isso uri State University is commined ro an inrercoUcgiJ[e athletics program wbid1 complements rh e mission of rhe Unive rsity and operates in acco rd ance with rhe prin ciples and regulations of the National College Athletic Association. As a member of various athletics CO ilfere.n ces. Missouri State is committed ro academk an d athletics excel lence, sound fiScal management practices, enhancement of rhe phys ical and educational welfare of studenr athl eces, equal opportuni ty, character development. principles of amateurism, as well as rh e fundamental values of sportsmanship, civility and rhe common vlrtue of good ci tizenship.