Props to Bethel’s Paige McKinney — the tennis standout from Newton HS was named a first-team NAIA All-American earlier this week. That’s nothing to sneeze at in a sport dominated by warm weather schools, i.e. Cali and the South. McKinney was the only KCAC player to make the team after leading the Threshers to the KCAC Tournament title and the NAIA National Tournament.
You’ll see the Bethel Web Site lists her as a junior but the KCAC and the NAIA both have her as a senior. By my math this should be her junior year … I found a story from September 2004 by yours truly in his Eagle correspondent days that said she was a junior so that would have made her Class of 2006. Just wondering.
Here’s a crazy fact — out of the 16 first-teamers this year, they represent 14 different countries.
There is no shortage of potent volleyball matches and great storylines headed into the weekend, with the Wasbhurn-Emporia State tilt Friday in Topeka getting top billing.
ARICA
Where to start with this one? Two top ten teams squaring off (Washburn is No. 9, ESU is No. 10)? The MIAA
ASHLEY
title on the line? Or the sister vs. sister battle between Emporia State All-American hitter Arica Shepard and twin sister Ashley, the top hitter for Washburn?
I’ll take ‘em all.
The Hornets are on a 19-match winning streak, and are 8-0 in MIAA play. They’ve never won an MIAA title. Washburn’s two conference losses were on the road to ranked opponents Truman State (No. 12) and Central Missouri (No. 14). I’m otherwise occupied, otherwise I’d be up the Turnpike to see this one. Go if you can and let me know about it. Will all of Rossville be there? I hope so.
Big props to Bethel football player Braden Dragomir and Sterling soccer player Ryan Covey for their national awards this week — Dragomir was named the NAIA special teams player of the week and Covey was the NAIA men’s soccer player of the week. Not bad work, fellas. Dragomir made one field-goal attempt (52 yards), made 5 of 5 PAT attempts, and had 6 kickoffs for 310 yards (long 70 yards). The 52-yard field goal set a new school record for the longest field goal made, breaking a nine-year-old record set back in 1999. Covey recorded a hat trick and two assists in Sterling’s 6-2 victory over Southwestern on Tuesday. Covey then again scored three goals in their 4-0 shutout over Bethel on Saturday. He now has scored thirteen goals and has five assists so far this season.
