A multi time state medalist, East Buchanan track star Brooklynn Johnson has signed to continue her career at Missouri Southern 

Johnson says from the moment she stepped on campus she felt a connection with the track and field team in Joplin 

“The team was so welcoming, and I just felt like a part of the team and Coach (Brian) Allen told me, he’s like everyone already feels like you’re part of the team so why don’t you just come down,” Johnson tells reporters.  “So, I really felt connected with Coach Allen, the coaching staff, they were all super nice, and I just loved the team and it’s obviously a bonus that I’m going to be with Trey.” 

Reuniting with Trey Johnson, Brooklyn’s brother, turned out to play a factor in joining the Lions, even though at first Johnson says she hesitated. 

“At first I was like would you want me to come to college with you, and he was like absolutely,” Johnson says.  “I was kind of expecting a no maybe, but he was super up for it, and he was super encouraging and I love that.” 

Trey committed to the Lions last year and is currently in his freshman year.  Both of the siblings have won state medals at East Buchanan.  

Johnson calls herself and Trey a dynamic duo, and says she knows being together nothing will be able to stop the two of them 

"I’m super excited to just have him there and just have comfort but also have pushing, because he knows how to push me, so I think it will be good to just step outside of my comfort zone up there,” Johnson explains.

East Buchanan head track coach Jeff Harlin says both Trey and Brooklyn defined the team's slogan of 'No Limits' and says the two have always been close 

"They’ve always been there for one another to congratulate each other, but there’s also a little friendly rivalry between the two, so they’ll hold each other in check, and they’ll push each other to have no limits,” Harlin says. 

Johnson won back-to-back runner ups in the shot put her freshman and sophomore year, before becoming a state champion last season as a junior.

Harlin says the Lions are getting an athlete in Johnson who's raw, with a lot of potential, but is excited she will get to learn from coach Brian Allen 

"Who coached the bronze medalist in the Paris Summer Olympics, and that thrower sometimes when he’s working out helps the throwers down at Missouri Southern, so there’s a chance that Brooklynn could be working with an Olympic bronze medalist when she’s down at Joplin competing for Missouri Southern,” Harlin says.  “So, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.” 

Johnson comes into this track season as the best returning shot put athlete in Class 2, and the sixth best in the state.   

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769794825082.jpeg" alt="East Buchanan track athlete Brooklynn Johnson signs her National Letter of Intent to continue her career at Missouri Southern/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>East Buchanan track athlete Brooklynn Johnson signs her National Letter of Intent to continue her career at Missouri Southern/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEA multi time state medalist, East Buchanan track star Brooklynn Johnson has signed to continue her career at Missouri Southern Johnson says from the moment she stepped on campus she felt a connection with the track and field team in Joplin “The team was so welcoming, and I just felt like a part of the team and Coach (Brian) Allen told me, he’s like everyone already feels like you’re part of the team so why don’t you just come down,” Johnson tells reporters. “So, I really felt connected with Coach Allen, the coaching staff, they were all super nice, and I just loved the team and it’s obviously a bonus that I’m going to be with Trey.” Reuniting with Trey Johnson, Brooklyn’s brother, turned out to play a factor in joining the Lions, even though at first Johnson says she hesitated. “At first I was like would you want me to come to college with you, and he was like absolutely,” Johnson says. “I was kind of expecting a no maybe, but he was super up for it, and he was super encouraging and I love that.” Trey committed to the Lions last year and is currently in his freshman year. Both of the siblings have won state medals at East Buchanan. Johnson calls herself and Trey a dynamic duo, and says she knows being together nothing will be able to stop the two of them "I’m super excited to just have him there and just have comfort but also have pushing, because he knows how to push me, so I think it will be good to just step outside of my comfort zone up there,” Johnson explains.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769795849877.jpeg" alt="Brooklyn Johnson and Trey Johnson each won multiple medals during their time with East Buchanan Track and Field.&nbsp; Trey is currently competing with Missouri Southern, while Brooklynn is in her senior year with the Bulldogs and just signed&nbsp; to continue her career with the Lions/ Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Brooklyn Johnson and Trey Johnson each won multiple medals during their time with East Buchanan Track and Field.&nbsp; Trey is currently competing with Missouri Southern, while Brooklynn is in her senior year with the Bulldogs and just signed&nbsp; to continue her career with the Lions/ Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>East Buchanan head track coach Jeff Harlin says both Trey and Brooklyn defined the team's slogan of 'No Limits' and says the two have always been close "They’ve always been there for one another to congratulate each other, but there’s also a little friendly rivalry between the two, so they’ll hold each other in check, and they’ll push each other to have no limits,” Harlin says. Johnson won back-to-back runner ups in the shot put her freshman and sophomore year, before becoming a state champion last season as a junior.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769795189043.jpeg" alt="Brooklynn Johnson/ Courtesy Photo" />
 <figcaption>Brooklynn Johnson/ Courtesy Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Harlin says the Lions are getting an athlete in Johnson who's raw, with a lot of potential, but is excited she will get to learn from coach Brian Allen "Who coached the bronze medalist in the Paris Summer Olympics, and that thrower sometimes when he’s working out helps the throwers down at Missouri Southern, so there’s a chance that Brooklynn could be working with an Olympic bronze medalist when she’s down at Joplin competing for Missouri Southern,” Harlin says. “So, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.” Johnson comes into this track season as the best returning shot put athlete in Class 2, and the sixth best in the state. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769794800276.jpeg" alt="East Buchanan Head track and field coach Jeff Harlin speaks during Brooklynn Johnson's signing ceremony/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>East Buchanan Head track and field coach Jeff Harlin speaks during Brooklynn Johnson's signing ceremony/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769795405018.jpeg" alt="Brooklynn Johnson and Coach Brian Allen during her official visit to Missouri Southern/ Photo by Lauren Mead courtesy of East Buchanan Track and Field Facebook" />
 <figcaption>Brooklynn Johnson and Coach Brian Allen during her official visit to Missouri Southern/ Photo by Lauren Mead courtesy of East Buchanan Track and Field Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

East Buchanan's Brooklynn Johnson signs with Missouri Southern track and field

The honors continue to roll in for Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey after his stellar 2025 season, despite the Chiefs offense being at times lackluster.&nbsp;

Humphrey has been named a finalist for the inaugural "Protector of the Year Award," recognizing the top offensive lineman in the league. He is one of six finalists alongside the Denver Broncos Garrett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz, the Miami Dolphins Aaron Brewer, the Detroit Lions Penei Sewell, and the Chicago Bears, and former Chiefs teammate, Joe Thuney.&nbsp;

Humphrey, a former second-round pick, earned First-Team All-Pro honors for the second consecutive season earlier in the offseason after a strong performance in 2025. The winner of the award will be announced during NFL Honors show on February 5th.

(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660590448378.jpeg" alt="Creed Humphrey (red) and Derrick Nnadi (white) in a blocking drill./ File photo" />
 <figcaption>Creed Humphrey (red) and Derrick Nnadi (white) in a blocking drill./ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)The honors continue to roll in for Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey after his stellar 2025 season, despite the Chiefs offense being at times lackluster.&nbsp;Humphrey has been named a finalist for the inaugural "Protector of the Year Award," recognizing the top offensive lineman in the league. He is one of six finalists alongside the Denver Broncos Garrett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz, the Miami Dolphins Aaron Brewer, the Detroit Lions Penei Sewell, and the Chicago Bears, and former Chiefs teammate, Joe Thuney.&nbsp;Humphrey, a former second-round pick, earned First-Team All-Pro honors for the second consecutive season earlier in the offseason after a strong performance in 2025. The winner of the award will be announced during NFL Honors show on February 5th.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Creed Humphrey up for inaugural award for best offensive lineman 

The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins with pool play in March, and as Team Venezuela takes shape, two Kansas City Royals teammates will feature hoping to help push their country to a championship.&nbsp;

Third baseman Maikel Garcia will join catcher Salvador Perez for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.&nbsp;&nbsp;Garcia is making his WBC debut after a breakout 2025 season in which he tallied an .800 OPS, 16 home runs, 23 steals, 17 outs above average and 5.6 WAR, also earning him a long term contract extension with Kansas City during the offseason.

Also joining Perez and Garcia will be Ronald Acuña Jr.,&nbsp; Jackson Chourio and Wilyer Abreu on Venezuela’s roster. In the 2023 WBC, Venezuela made it to the quarterfinals, where the team lost in an eventful 9-7 defeat against the United States.

It will be the second go around in the Classic for Acuña Jr. who oined Venezuela’s 2023 team before he embarked on a historic 41-home run, 73-stolen base season. After tearing his ACL in May 2024, he returned last season with a .935 OPS, 21 home runs and nine stolen bases in 95 games.

As for&nbsp;Chourio, he had not even made his Major League debut as of the last World Baseball Classic,&nbsp;ranking as MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 prospect entering the 2023 season. The young Milwaukee Brewers star, coming into this years Classic at just 21 years old, has hit 20-plus home runs and swiped 20-plus bases in each of his first two seasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Abreu has developed into one of the better all-around outfielders in baseball for the Boston Red Sox. Abreu’s 15 outs above average are tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll for the most among right fielders since 2024 and he’s posted a .784 OPS in that time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757174844824.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins with pool play in March, and as Team Venezuela takes shape, two Kansas City Royals teammates will feature hoping to help push their country to a championship.&nbsp;Third baseman Maikel Garcia will join catcher Salvador Perez for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.&nbsp;&nbsp;Garcia is making his WBC debut after a breakout 2025 season in which he tallied an .800 OPS, 16 home runs, 23 steals, 17 outs above average and 5.6 WAR, also earning him a long term contract extension with Kansas City during the offseason.Also joining Perez and Garcia will be Ronald Acuña Jr.,&nbsp; Jackson Chourio and Wilyer Abreu on Venezuela’s roster. In the 2023 WBC, Venezuela made it to the quarterfinals, where the team lost in an eventful 9-7 defeat against the United States.It will be the second go around in the Classic for Acuña Jr. who oined Venezuela’s 2023 team before he embarked on a historic 41-home run, 73-stolen base season. After tearing his ACL in May 2024, he returned last season with a .935 OPS, 21 home runs and nine stolen bases in 95 games.As for&nbsp;Chourio, he had not even made his Major League debut as of the last World Baseball Classic,&nbsp;ranking as MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 prospect entering the 2023 season. The young Milwaukee Brewers star, coming into this years Classic at just 21 years old, has hit 20-plus home runs and swiped 20-plus bases in each of his first two seasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;Abreu has developed into one of the better all-around outfielders in baseball for the Boston Red Sox. Abreu’s 15 outs above average are tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll for the most among right fielders since 2024 and he’s posted a .784 OPS in that time.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Maikel Garcia joins Perez on Team Venezuela for World Baseball Classic

For a fifth consecutive year, the Kansas City Royals Foundation will be providing free admission into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum throughout the month of February, honoring Black History Month.

“The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a tremendous asset that we are fortunate to have in our city and The Royals Foundation is proud to once again support Free February—removing the barrier of admission so more people can experience and learn from the powerful stories within its walls,” said Amy Gale, Executive Director of The Kansas City Royals Foundation says in a news release. “The NLBM not only highlights the evolution of baseball but it also tells a vital chapter of our nation’s history. We hope people from across the region take this opportunity to visit and learn about the rich history of the Negro Leagues.”

Since the partnership began, more than 50,000 visitors have experienced the museum during February. This increased engagement has enabled The Kansas City Royals Foundation to contribute over $435,000 in support of the museum’s mission.&nbsp; To accommodate for the anticipated demand, the museum will operate on an extended schedule. 

The NLBM will be open on Mondays in February from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the exception of Presidents’ Day, when doors are open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Additionally, the museum will open at 9:00 a.m. every Wednesday throughout the month. Regular operating hours remain Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m.

“We can’t thank the Kansas City Royals and The Royals Foundation enough for once again opening the doors of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum free of charge for the entire month of February and we look forward to seeing the turnstiles spinning,” said Bob Kendrick, NLBM President. “This impactful community outreach initiative makes the museum more accessible for students, particularly those from underserved communities, while also encouraging more people to visit where they have an opportunity to learn about and be inspired by courageous athletes who overcame tremendous social adversity to play the game they loved.”

Groups of 50 or more may arrange self-guided tours by contacting the NLBM at 816-221-1920 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Smaller groups are welcome to visit without reservations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769617797871.jpeg" alt="Negro League Museum.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Negro League Museum.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)For a fifth consecutive year, the Kansas City Royals Foundation will be providing free admission into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum throughout the month of February, honoring Black History Month.“The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a tremendous asset that we are fortunate to have in our city and The Royals Foundation is proud to once again support Free February—removing the barrier of admission so more people can experience and learn from the powerful stories within its walls,” said Amy Gale, Executive Director of The Kansas City Royals Foundation says in a news release. “The NLBM not only highlights the evolution of baseball but it also tells a vital chapter of our nation’s history. We hope people from across the region take this opportunity to visit and learn about the rich history of the Negro Leagues.”Since the partnership began, more than 50,000 visitors have experienced the museum during February. This increased engagement has enabled The Kansas City Royals Foundation to contribute over $435,000 in support of the museum’s mission.&nbsp; To accommodate for the anticipated demand, the museum will operate on an extended schedule. The NLBM will be open on Mondays in February from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the exception of Presidents’ Day, when doors are open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Additionally, the museum will open at 9:00 a.m. every Wednesday throughout the month. Regular operating hours remain Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m.“We can’t thank the Kansas City Royals and The Royals Foundation enough for once again opening the doors of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum free of charge for the entire month of February and we look forward to seeing the turnstiles spinning,” said Bob Kendrick, NLBM President. “This impactful community outreach initiative makes the museum more accessible for students, particularly those from underserved communities, while also encouraging more people to visit where they have an opportunity to learn about and be inspired by courageous athletes who overcame tremendous social adversity to play the game they loved.”Groups of 50 or more may arrange self-guided tours by contacting the NLBM at 816-221-1920 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Smaller groups are welcome to visit without reservations.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Royals Foundation again offers free admission to NLBM in February

The Kansas City Royals announced today they have invited 25 players to Major League Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona, some that could be competing for a spot on the roster for the upcoming season.

Of the 25 invitees, 15 were originally drafted or signed by Kansas City: left-handed pitchers Chazz Martinez (17th round, 2022 Draft), Frank Mozzicato (1st round (7th), 2021 Draft) and Hunter Patteson (5th round, 2022 Draft); right-handed pitchers A.J. Causey (5th round, 2024 Draft), Dennis Colleran (7th round, 2024 Draft) and Shane Panzini (4th round, 2021 Draft), catchers Canyon Brown (9th Round, 2024 Draft), Omar Hernández (signed as IFA, 2018), Blake Mitchell (1st round (8th), 2023 Draft), Ramón Ramírez (signed as IFA, 2023) and Luca Tresh (17th round, 2021 Draft), infielders Daniel Vázquez (signed as IFA, 2021) and Peyton Wilson (Comp. B round, 2021 Draft), and outfielders Gavin Cross (1st round (9th), 2022 Draft) and Carson Roccaforte (Comp. B round, 2023 Draft).

There are also nine invitees who are new to the Royals, including pitchers Héctor Neris, Aaron Sanchez, and Helcris Olivárez, along with catchers Jorge Alfaro and Elih Marrero and infielders Connor Kaiser, Kevin Newman, Josh Rojas and Abraham Toro.

Right-handed pitcher Jose Cuas, who pitched for Kansas City from 2022-23, returns to the Royals after playing for the Cubs and Blue Jays. Last year, he split the season between minor league affiliates of the Phillies and Braves.&nbsp; 2026 marks the first invite to Major League Spring Training for 11 homegrown players, including Brown, Causey, Colleran, Martinez, Mozzicato, Panzini, Patteson, Ramírez, Roccaforte, Vázquez and Wilson.

The first workout for Royals pitchers and catchers is Wednesday, Feb. 11. The first full squad workout is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 16.&nbsp; You can hear select Royals Spring Training games on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) with the first airing on February 20th against the Texas Rangers at 2pm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743014601169.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)The Kansas City Royals announced today they have invited 25 players to Major League Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona, some that could be competing for a spot on the roster for the upcoming season.Of the 25 invitees, 15 were originally drafted or signed by Kansas City: left-handed pitchers Chazz Martinez (17th round, 2022 Draft), Frank Mozzicato (1st round (7th), 2021 Draft) and Hunter Patteson (5th round, 2022 Draft); right-handed pitchers A.J. Causey (5th round, 2024 Draft), Dennis Colleran (7th round, 2024 Draft) and Shane Panzini (4th round, 2021 Draft), catchers Canyon Brown (9th Round, 2024 Draft), Omar Hernández (signed as IFA, 2018), Blake Mitchell (1st round (8th), 2023 Draft), Ramón Ramírez (signed as IFA, 2023) and Luca Tresh (17th round, 2021 Draft), infielders Daniel Vázquez (signed as IFA, 2021) and Peyton Wilson (Comp. B round, 2021 Draft), and outfielders Gavin Cross (1st round (9th), 2022 Draft) and Carson Roccaforte (Comp. B round, 2023 Draft).There are also nine invitees who are new to the Royals, including pitchers Héctor Neris, Aaron Sanchez, and Helcris Olivárez, along with catchers Jorge Alfaro and Elih Marrero and infielders Connor Kaiser, Kevin Newman, Josh Rojas and Abraham Toro.Right-handed pitcher Jose Cuas, who pitched for Kansas City from 2022-23, returns to the Royals after playing for the Cubs and Blue Jays. Last year, he split the season between minor league affiliates of the Phillies and Braves.&nbsp; 2026 marks the first invite to Major League Spring Training for 11 homegrown players, including Brown, Causey, Colleran, Martinez, Mozzicato, Panzini, Patteson, Ramírez, Roccaforte, Vázquez and Wilson.The first workout for Royals pitchers and catchers is Wednesday, Feb. 11. The first full squad workout is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 16.&nbsp; You can hear select Royals Spring Training games on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) with the first airing on February 20th against the Texas Rangers at 2pm.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Royals invite 25 non-roster players to Spring Training

The Kansas City Chiefs announced today that two well known regional architectural design firms have advanced to the final stages of the design process for the new stadium to be built in Wyandotte County.&nbsp;

Following extensive interest in the RFQ and RFP process MANICA and Populous have been named as the final two firms by the Chiefs to design the new state of the art stadium that will be built after the Chiefs agreement to move to the state of Kansas.&nbsp; &nbsp;This is the first significant update in the project as the Chiefs share details throughout the stadium process to fans and other stakeholders.

“We’re thrilled to take this next step in our new stadium journey and announce the two finalists in our search for lead designer,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release from the team. “The Kansas City region is the central hub of global sports and entertainment venue architecture and design, so we didn’t need to go far to identify the top options to explore final concepts for the future home of Chiefs Kingdom.”

Notable MANICA projects include New Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada), New Milan Stadium at San Siro (Milan, Italy), Oklahoma City’s new arena (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Chase Center (San Francisco, California), Miami Freedom Park (Miami, Florida), Birmingham City Football Club’s new stadium (Birmingham, United Kingdom), and VTB Arena Park (Moscow, Russia).

“Our entire team would be thrilled to partner with the Kansas City Chiefs to help bring their new home to life,” said David Manica, president and owner, MANICA. “The Chiefs are a storied franchise and we envision a stadium that exemplifies the organization’s championship mentality and the awe-inspiring spirit of our beloved Arrowhead Stadium. Every element will be approached with intention, ensuring a bold and modern design that not only honors the team’s legacy but creates an even better game-day experience for all of Chiefs Kingdom.”

Notable Populous projects include New Highmark Stadium (Buffalo, New York), New AS Roma Stadium (Rome, Italy), New Kai Tak Stadium + Sports Park (Kowloon, Hong Kong), Wrexham AFC New Kop Stand (Wrexham, United Kingdom), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, United Kingdom), Co-op Live (Manchester, United Kingdom), Sphere (Las Vegas, Nevada)  and the New Grand Stade Hassan II Stadium for the 2030 World Cup (Casablanca, Morocco).

“For more than 40 years, Populous has proudly called Kansas City home,” Scott Radecic, Co-Founder and Global Director of Populous said. “From here, we have redefined modern sports venue design, creating iconic places that unite communities and transform how fans connect with their teams and each other. We are honored to collaborate with the Kansas City Chiefs on a project that reflects their legacy, the passion of Chiefs Kingdom and the promise of what’s next.”

The $3 billion state-of-the-art stadium and surrounding mixed-use development that could include sports, entertainment, dining, shopping, office, hotel, and residential properties will open at the start of the 2031 NFL season. Based on State of Kansas estimations, the fixed-roof stadium project is slated to deliver more than 20,000 jobs and more than $4.4 billion in economic impact for Kansas during the construction phase alone. The overall project is expected to generate more than 3,500 jobs and more than $1 billion in economic impact annually.

The project will be financed through a public-private partnership, with the public portion funded through Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund. Both funding mechanisms were established specifically to ensure that there will be no new state taxes and no impact on the state budget. The remaining portion&nbsp; will be privately funded. The Hunt Family is also committing $1 billion in additional development as part of the relocation to Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764785437708.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)The Kansas City Chiefs announced today that two well known regional architectural design firms have advanced to the final stages of the design process for the new stadium to be built in Wyandotte County.&nbsp;Following extensive interest in the RFQ and RFP process MANICA and Populous have been named as the final two firms by the Chiefs to design the new state of the art stadium that will be built after the Chiefs agreement to move to the state of Kansas.&nbsp; &nbsp;This is the first significant update in the project as the Chiefs share details throughout the stadium process to fans and other stakeholders.“We’re thrilled to take this next step in our new stadium journey and announce the two finalists in our search for lead designer,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release from the team. “The Kansas City region is the central hub of global sports and entertainment venue architecture and design, so we didn’t need to go far to identify the top options to explore final concepts for the future home of Chiefs Kingdom.”Notable MANICA projects include New Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada), New Milan Stadium at San Siro (Milan, Italy), Oklahoma City’s new arena (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Chase Center (San Francisco, California), Miami Freedom Park (Miami, Florida), Birmingham City Football Club’s new stadium (Birmingham, United Kingdom), and VTB Arena Park (Moscow, Russia).“Our entire team would be thrilled to partner with the Kansas City Chiefs to help bring their new home to life,” said David Manica, president and owner, MANICA. “The Chiefs are a storied franchise and we envision a stadium that exemplifies the organization’s championship mentality and the awe-inspiring spirit of our beloved Arrowhead Stadium. Every element will be approached with intention, ensuring a bold and modern design that not only honors the team’s legacy but creates an even better game-day experience for all of Chiefs Kingdom.”Notable Populous projects include New Highmark Stadium (Buffalo, New York), New AS Roma Stadium (Rome, Italy), New Kai Tak Stadium + Sports Park (Kowloon, Hong Kong), Wrexham AFC New Kop Stand (Wrexham, United Kingdom), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, United Kingdom), Co-op Live (Manchester, United Kingdom), Sphere (Las Vegas, Nevada) and the New Grand Stade Hassan II Stadium for the 2030 World Cup (Casablanca, Morocco).“For more than 40 years, Populous has proudly called Kansas City home,” Scott Radecic, Co-Founder and Global Director of Populous said. “From here, we have redefined modern sports venue design, creating iconic places that unite communities and transform how fans connect with their teams and each other. We are honored to collaborate with the Kansas City Chiefs on a project that reflects their legacy, the passion of Chiefs Kingdom and the promise of what’s next.”The $3 billion state-of-the-art stadium and surrounding mixed-use development that could include sports, entertainment, dining, shopping, office, hotel, and residential properties will open at the start of the 2031 NFL season. Based on State of Kansas estimations, the fixed-roof stadium project is slated to deliver more than 20,000 jobs and more than $4.4 billion in economic impact for Kansas during the construction phase alone. The overall project is expected to generate more than 3,500 jobs and more than $1 billion in economic impact annually.The project will be financed through a public-private partnership, with the public portion funded through Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund. Both funding mechanisms were established specifically to ensure that there will be no new state taxes and no impact on the state budget. The remaining portion&nbsp; will be privately funded. The Hunt Family is also committing $1 billion in additional development as part of the relocation to Kansas.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Chiefs name two regional firms as finalists to design new stadium in Kansas

Gearing up for 2026 Spring Training camp, the St. Louis Cardinals invited 27 non-roster invitees, among them the clubs top prospect, that will head to Jupiter, Florida next month.&nbsp;

2025 Texas League MVP and Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year JJ Wetherholt, the clubs top prospect who will be vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster,&nbsp; and 2025 Texas League Pitcher of the Year Ixan Henderson will be among those highlighting the group of non-roster invitees.&nbsp; Eight players who were acquired this offseason or after the start of last season will also report with the big leaguers with pitchers Scott Blewett, Skylar Hales, Gerson Moreno, Jared Shuster, and Bruce Zimmermann.&nbsp; First baseman Blaze Jordan outfielder Nelson Velázquez, and catcher Andy Yerzy will be part of the group as well.

Eleven non-roster invitees will take part in their first Major League camp including pitchers Luis Gastelum, Pete Hansen, Henderson, Austin Love, Hancel Rincón, catchers Graysen Tarlow and Yerzy, infielders Jordan, Ramon Mendoza, and Brody Moore; and outfielder Mike Antico.&nbsp; 2024 MiLB &amp; Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year Quinn Mathews also returns to St. Louis’ spring roster along with other members who were in camp last season including pitchers Max Rajcic, Sem Robberse and Zack Thompson, catcher Carlos Linárez, infielders Jeremy Rivas and Wetherholt,&nbsp; and outfielders Chase Davis and Matt Koperniak.

Cardinals pitchers and catchers will hold their first practice at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex on Thursday, February 12, with the first full squad workout scheduled for Monday, February 16.&nbsp; The 27 non-roster invitees brings the Cardinals’ Spring Training roster to 67 players.

You will be able to hear St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training action on the home of the St. Louis Cardinals KY 102 (102.5FM)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739983851935.jpeg" alt="The St. Louis Cardinals are gearing up for Spring Training, inviting 27 non roster invitees to their upcoming camp in Jupiter, Florida/ File photo" />
 <figcaption>The St. Louis Cardinals are gearing up for Spring Training, inviting 27 non roster invitees to their upcoming camp in Jupiter, Florida/ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)Gearing up for 2026 Spring Training camp, the St. Louis Cardinals invited 27 non-roster invitees, among them the clubs top prospect, that will head to Jupiter, Florida next month.&nbsp;2025 Texas League MVP and Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year JJ Wetherholt, the clubs top prospect who will be vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster,&nbsp; and 2025 Texas League Pitcher of the Year Ixan Henderson will be among those highlighting the group of non-roster invitees.&nbsp; Eight players who were acquired this offseason or after the start of last season will also report with the big leaguers with pitchers Scott Blewett, Skylar Hales, Gerson Moreno, Jared Shuster, and Bruce Zimmermann.&nbsp; First baseman Blaze Jordan outfielder Nelson Velázquez, and catcher Andy Yerzy will be part of the group as well.Eleven non-roster invitees will take part in their first Major League camp including pitchers Luis Gastelum, Pete Hansen, Henderson, Austin Love, Hancel Rincón, catchers Graysen Tarlow and Yerzy, infielders Jordan, Ramon Mendoza, and Brody Moore; and outfielder Mike Antico.&nbsp; 2024 MiLB &amp; Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year Quinn Mathews also returns to St. Louis’ spring roster along with other members who were in camp last season including pitchers Max Rajcic, Sem Robberse and Zack Thompson, catcher Carlos Linárez, infielders Jeremy Rivas and Wetherholt,&nbsp; and outfielders Chase Davis and Matt Koperniak.Cardinals pitchers and catchers will hold their first practice at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex on Thursday, February 12, with the first full squad workout scheduled for Monday, February 16.&nbsp; The 27 non-roster invitees brings the Cardinals’ Spring Training roster to 67 players.You will be able to hear St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training action on the home of the St. Louis Cardinals KY 102 (102.5FM)(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Top prospect Weterholt among non roster invitees to Cardinals Spring Training

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association this week released it's bi-weekly boys basketball polls with several teams from around the region making the rankings or receiving votes.&nbsp;

In Class 4, the Benton boys basketball team stayed near the top of the rankings, still at #2, with 69 points behind defending state champion Vashon with 79 points at #1.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Cardinals are 15-1 on the season and have matchups this week against St. Pius X tomorrow and Carl Junction on Saturday.&nbsp;

In Class 3, the Mid-Buchanan Dragons boy's basketball team also ranked near the top of the MBCA poll, coming in at #2, with 68 points, well behind the #1 team Principia with 80 points.&nbsp; The Dragons are 13-2 on the season, coming off a narrow 55-51 over North Platte on Friday, and will participate in the North Platte Invitational this week.

Some other teams around the region made the rankings as well.&nbsp; In Class 1, Princeton came in at #5 with 47 points.&nbsp; The Rock Port boys did not make the rankings this week but also received votes.&nbsp; In Class 2, the Gallatin boys basketball team ranked #7 with 22 points.&nbsp;

The MBCA alternates between releasing girls and boys polls, so the next boys rankings will come out on February 9th.&nbsp; The girls rankings should be released next week on February 2nd.

(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.)&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769468692143.jpeg" alt="The Benton boys basketball team ranked near the top of the MBCA boys basketball polls in Class 4, coming in at #2 this week/ Photo courtesy of Clifton Grooms" />
 <figcaption>The Benton boys basketball team ranked near the top of the MBCA boys basketball polls in Class 4, coming in at #2 this week/ Photo courtesy of Clifton Grooms</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association this week released it's bi-weekly boys basketball polls with several teams from around the region making the rankings or receiving votes.&nbsp;In Class 4, the Benton boys basketball team stayed near the top of the rankings, still at #2, with 69 points behind defending state champion Vashon with 79 points at #1.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Cardinals are 15-1 on the season and have matchups this week against St. Pius X tomorrow and Carl Junction on Saturday.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769469267864.jpeg" alt="The Mid-Buchanan boys basketball team also came in near the top of Class 3, ranking #2 in this week's MBCA poll/ Photo courtesy of Clifton Grooms" />
 <figcaption>The Mid-Buchanan boys basketball team also came in near the top of Class 3, ranking #2 in this week's MBCA poll/ Photo courtesy of Clifton Grooms</figcaption>
 </figure>In Class 3, the Mid-Buchanan Dragons boy's basketball team also ranked near the top of the MBCA poll, coming in at #2, with 68 points, well behind the #1 team Principia with 80 points.&nbsp; The Dragons are 13-2 on the season, coming off a narrow 55-51 over North Platte on Friday, and will participate in the North Platte Invitational this week.Some other teams around the region made the rankings as well.&nbsp; In Class 1, Princeton came in at #5 with 47 points.&nbsp; The Rock Port boys did not make the rankings this week but also received votes.&nbsp; In Class 2, the Gallatin boys basketball team ranked #7 with 22 points.&nbsp;The MBCA alternates between releasing girls and boys polls, so the next boys rankings will come out on February 9th.&nbsp; The girls rankings should be released next week on February 2nd.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Benton boys near top of the ranks in Class 4 MBCA polls; Mid-Buch tops Class 3

With the legalization of sports wagering in Missouri, the Kansas City Royals have announced a partnership with Circa Sports as the teams official sports betting partner.&nbsp;

The partnership will debut at Royals Rally Casino Night at Kauffman Stadium, featuring giveaways to Circa Resort &amp; Casino in Las Vegas, on Friday.&nbsp; Circa Sports will offer premium experiences for Royals fans, including prize packages with stays at Circa, premium seating, and more with 10 prize packages being given away during the event.

 The collaboration will also extend to fan experiences with VIP hospitality, signage, and promotions to enhance the connection between baseball and sports betting.&nbsp; The Circa Sports' mobile app is now available in Missouri, offering high limits, player-friendly pricing, and exceptional customer service.

(By MATT PIKE)With the legalization of sports wagering in Missouri, the Kansas City Royals have announced a partnership with Circa Sports as the teams official sports betting partner.&nbsp;The partnership will debut at Royals Rally Casino Night at Kauffman Stadium, featuring giveaways to Circa Resort &amp; Casino in Las Vegas, on Friday.&nbsp; Circa Sports will offer premium experiences for Royals fans, including prize packages with stays at Circa, premium seating, and more with 10 prize packages being given away during the event. The collaboration will also extend to fan experiences with VIP hospitality, signage, and promotions to enhance the connection between baseball and sports betting.&nbsp; The Circa Sports' mobile app is now available in Missouri, offering high limits, player-friendly pricing, and exceptional customer service.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Royals partner with Circa Sports as official betting partners

After initially moving the games tipoff times to noon on Saturday, North Central Missouri College has now postponed the basketball games due to forecasted inclement weather over the weekend.&nbsp;

North Central Missouri College has announced that the men’s and women’s basketball games scheduled for Saturday against St. Louis Community College have been postponed.&nbsp; At this time, a makeup date has not been determined.&nbsp; Updated information regarding rescheduled dates will be announced once finalized.

As a result of the postponement of the games, the North Central Missouri College Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the class of 2026 that was scheduled to take place in conjunction with the doubleheader has also been postponed.

&nbsp; You can learn more about who will be honored in the Hall of Fame class by reading our previous story&nbsp;<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/a2be4816-7517-4b65-be43-92fbf8f607b0">HERE.</a>

(By MATT PIKE)&nbsp;After initially moving the games tipoff times to noon on Saturday, North Central Missouri College has now postponed the basketball games due to forecasted inclement weather over the weekend.&nbsp;North Central Missouri College has announced that the men’s and women’s basketball games scheduled for Saturday against St. Louis Community College have been postponed.&nbsp; At this time, a makeup date has not been determined.&nbsp; Updated information regarding rescheduled dates will be announced once finalized.As a result of the postponement of the games, the North Central Missouri College Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the class of 2026 that was scheduled to take place in conjunction with the doubleheader has also been postponed.&nbsp; You can learn more about who will be honored in the Hall of Fame class by reading our previous story&nbsp;<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/a2be4816-7517-4b65-be43-92fbf8f607b0">HERE.</a>(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

NCMC postpones Saturday basketball games, Hall of Fame ceremony

With a major winter storm set to hit the area over the weekend, Missouri Western State University and Washburn have agreed to move their matchup in Topeka up one day.&nbsp;

MoWest will now face the Ichabods tomorrow afternoon at Lee Arena in Topeka, Kansas.&nbsp; Griffon Women's Basketball will tip off at 4 p.m., followed by the men's game at 6 p.m.&nbsp; MoWest's women will look for a series sweep of the Ichabods, while the men hope to slow down the #1 team in the nation which remains undefeated, hoping for a series split after a second half rally fell short at the Looney Complex.&nbsp;

Tomorrow marks the 108th all-time meeting with Washburn for the Griffon women. The Ichabods hold a 58-49 lead in the series, though the Griffons have won eight of the last nine contests since February 2022. MoWest has swept Washburn in the regular season three times in the last four seasons.

On the men's side, this will be the 110th all-time meeting with Washburn. The Ichabods lead the series at 65-44, having won each of the last five contests. Washburn has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series dating back to March 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769115179850.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western State University and Washburn have agreed to move their matchup up one day with a major winter storm set to hit the area over the weekend.&nbsp; The Griffons and Ichabods will now matchup tomorrow, rather than on Saturday/ Photo courtesy of MoWest Athletics&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western State University and Washburn have agreed to move their matchup up one day with a major winter storm set to hit the area over the weekend.&nbsp; The Griffons and Ichabods will now matchup tomorrow, rather than on Saturday/ Photo courtesy of MoWest Athletics&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)With a major winter storm set to hit the area over the weekend, Missouri Western State University and Washburn have agreed to move their matchup in Topeka up one day.&nbsp;MoWest will now face the Ichabods tomorrow afternoon at Lee Arena in Topeka, Kansas.&nbsp; Griffon Women's Basketball will tip off at 4 p.m., followed by the men's game at 6 p.m.&nbsp; MoWest's women will look for a series sweep of the Ichabods, while the men hope to slow down the #1 team in the nation which remains undefeated, hoping for a series split after a second half rally fell short at the Looney Complex.&nbsp;Tomorrow marks the 108th all-time meeting with Washburn for the Griffon women. The Ichabods hold a 58-49 lead in the series, though the Griffons have won eight of the last nine contests since February 2022. MoWest has swept Washburn in the regular season three times in the last four seasons.On the men's side, this will be the 110th all-time meeting with Washburn. The Ichabods lead the series at 65-44, having won each of the last five contests. Washburn has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series dating back to March 2021.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

MoWest moves basketball games against Washburn to Friday to beat weather

With winter weather expected to hit the area over the weekend and impact travel, the matchups between UCM and Northwest Missouri State have been moved to tomorrow.

UCM and Northwest have agreed to move the games from Saturday to Friday at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center. The UCM wrestling team will take on Fort Hays State at 3 p.m.,&nbsp; which will be followed by the doubleheader against the Bearcat basketball teams at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m , with the women tipping off first in Warrensburg.&nbsp;

Central Missouri holds a 77-29 lead in the all-time series over Northwest. The Jennies recorded a 66-61 win over the Bearcats in Maryville Jan. 7.&nbsp; In that matchup Ella Moody scored 13 points to lead Northwest, while Reese Schaaf recorded a double-double for Central Missouri with 25 points and 10 rebounds.&nbsp;

Meanwhile for the men,&nbsp;Central Missouri owns a 130-103 lead in the all-time series against Northwest.&nbsp; The Mules scored a 76-72 win over Northwest in Bearcat Arena.&nbsp; Royce Williams led with 18 points for the Bearcats in that matchup while Mikhail Abdul-Hamid scored 12 points.&nbsp; For Central Missouri Lazerek Houston recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kyran Tilley and Trinell Parker each scored 19 points.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767855324236.jpeg" alt="Northwest's Andrea Lopreato (3) drives to the basket against UCM/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Northwest's Andrea Lopreato (3) drives to the basket against UCM/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)With winter weather expected to hit the area over the weekend and impact travel, the matchups between UCM and Northwest Missouri State have been moved to tomorrow.UCM and Northwest have agreed to move the games from Saturday to Friday at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center. The UCM wrestling team will take on Fort Hays State at 3 p.m.,&nbsp; which will be followed by the doubleheader against the Bearcat basketball teams at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m , with the women tipping off first in Warrensburg.&nbsp;Central Missouri holds a 77-29 lead in the all-time series over Northwest. The Jennies recorded a 66-61 win over the Bearcats in Maryville Jan. 7.&nbsp; In that matchup Ella Moody scored 13 points to lead Northwest, while Reese Schaaf recorded a double-double for Central Missouri with 25 points and 10 rebounds.&nbsp;Meanwhile for the men,&nbsp;Central Missouri owns a 130-103 lead in the all-time series against Northwest.&nbsp; The Mules scored a 76-72 win over Northwest in Bearcat Arena.&nbsp; Royce Williams led with 18 points for the Bearcats in that matchup while Mikhail Abdul-Hamid scored 12 points.&nbsp; For Central Missouri Lazerek Houston recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kyran Tilley and Trinell Parker each scored 19 points.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Northwest moves up matchups with UCM as winter weather hits area

Just two days after requesting to interview Eric Bieniemy, the current running backs coach for the Chicago Bears, the Kansas City Chiefs are set to hire and reunite with Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator.&nbsp;

Matt Nagy, the Chiefs' offensive coordinator the past three seasons, was not expected to return in 2026. His contract expired after the Chiefs finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs earlier this month, and he has spent the past two weeks going through coaching interviews across the league.&nbsp; With the position open, the Chiefs reached out to Bieniemy, who served as the offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022.&nbsp;

Bieniemy was the lone interview request the Chiefs made Monday, the first day Reid could begin interviewing candidates in person.&nbsp; In his previous five seasons as the Chiefs' coordinator, Bieniemy helped the Kansas City offense finish no lower than sixth in points per game. In 2022, Bieniemy played a major role in Mahomes winning league MVP and the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl.

Bieniemy will once again face some major development objectives returning to the Chiefs, with improving the development of the Chiefs' skill-position players, such as receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.&nbsp; Kansas City will also hope he can help find more production in the run game from whomever the Chiefs have in the backfield next season.

 Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt were among the NFL's worst. Pacheco didn't have a single rush of 20 or more yards while Hunt had just one.&nbsp; Both Hunt and Pacheco are currently set to become free agents in the offseason.&nbsp; With Dameon Pierce also becoming a free agent, Kansas City currently is carrying just Brashard Smith on their roster as well as&nbsp;ShunDerrick Powell who is currently signed to a futures contract.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bieniemy made a significant impact during this season on Chicago's running attack, which was second best in the league with D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai carrying the ball.&nbsp; Kansas City could turn to the free agent market this offseason where running backs such as the New York Jets Breece Hall and the Seattle Seahawks Kenneth Walker III could be available among some of the names possibly to hit the free agent market following the Super Bowl.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769064802877.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took to Instagram to celebrate the hiring of Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy.&nbsp; Bieniemy was the OC in Mahomes first year as a starter for the Chiefs/ Photo courtesy of Patrick Mahomes Instagram story" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took to Instagram to celebrate the hiring of Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy.&nbsp; Bieniemy was the OC in Mahomes first year as a starter for the Chiefs/ Photo courtesy of Patrick Mahomes Instagram story</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)Just two days after requesting to interview Eric Bieniemy, the current running backs coach for the Chicago Bears, the Kansas City Chiefs are set to hire and reunite with Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator.&nbsp;Matt Nagy, the Chiefs' offensive coordinator the past three seasons, was not expected to return in 2026. His contract expired after the Chiefs finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs earlier this month, and he has spent the past two weeks going through coaching interviews across the league.&nbsp; With the position open, the Chiefs reached out to Bieniemy, who served as the offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022.&nbsp;Bieniemy was the lone interview request the Chiefs made Monday, the first day Reid could begin interviewing candidates in person.&nbsp; In his previous five seasons as the Chiefs' coordinator, Bieniemy helped the Kansas City offense finish no lower than sixth in points per game. In 2022, Bieniemy played a major role in Mahomes winning league MVP and the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl.Bieniemy will once again face some major development objectives returning to the Chiefs, with improving the development of the Chiefs' skill-position players, such as receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.&nbsp; Kansas City will also hope he can help find more production in the run game from whomever the Chiefs have in the backfield next season. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt were among the NFL's worst. Pacheco didn't have a single rush of 20 or more yards while Hunt had just one.&nbsp; Both Hunt and Pacheco are currently set to become free agents in the offseason.&nbsp; With Dameon Pierce also becoming a free agent, Kansas City currently is carrying just Brashard Smith on their roster as well as&nbsp;ShunDerrick Powell who is currently signed to a futures contract.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bieniemy made a significant impact during this season on Chicago's running attack, which was second best in the league with D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai carrying the ball.&nbsp; Kansas City could turn to the free agent market this offseason where running backs such as the New York Jets Breece Hall and the Seattle Seahawks Kenneth Walker III could be available among some of the names possibly to hit the free agent market following the Super Bowl.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Chiefs reuniting with former OC Eric Bieniemy in same role

Kansas lawmakers were updated by representatives of the Kansas City Chiefs on the team's move into the state with a new stadium set to be built in 2031. 

Attorney Korb Maxwell led the Chiefs' presentation, highlighting the agreement made without raising taxes on Kansas taxpayers. The STAR bonds package, authorized for 30 years, may be paid off earlier due to development generated by the new stadium being built in Wyandotte County and the team headquarters and practice facility in Olathe. 

Potential developers have shown interest in opportunities near the proposed locations, with unique entertainment opportunities wanting to associate with the NFL and the Chiefs. Opportunities for the metro area and beyond are expected to arise from the move as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766434608613.png" alt=" Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly holds a Chiefs jersey with team owner Clark Hunt ahead of a news conference Dec. 22, 2025, at the Kansas Docking State Office Building in Topeka. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly holds a Chiefs jersey with team owner Clark Hunt ahead of a news conference Dec. 22, 2025, at the Kansas Docking State Office Building in Topeka. (Photo by Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)Kansas lawmakers were updated by representatives of the Kansas City Chiefs on the team's move into the state with a new stadium set to be built in 2031. Attorney Korb Maxwell led the Chiefs' presentation, highlighting the agreement made without raising taxes on Kansas taxpayers. The STAR bonds package, authorized for 30 years, may be paid off earlier due to development generated by the new stadium being built in Wyandotte County and the team headquarters and practice facility in Olathe. Potential developers have shown interest in opportunities near the proposed locations, with unique entertainment opportunities wanting to associate with the NFL and the Chiefs. Opportunities for the metro area and beyond are expected to arise from the move as well.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Kansas lawmakers updated by Chiefs on stadium move

Due to forecasted cold weather conditions, with possible snow, North Central Missouri College has moved up the tip off times of it's men's and women's basketball games on Saturday.&nbsp;

The women’s basketball game will now tip off at noon, with the men’s game to follow after the conclusion of the women’s contest.&nbsp; Between the two games, NCMC Athletics will host its Hall of Fame induction ceremony, honoring the 2026 Hall of Fame class.

You can learn more about who will be honored in the Hall of Fame class by reading our previous story <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/a2be4816-7517-4b65-be43-92fbf8f607b0">HERE.</a>&nbsp;

In conjunction with Saturday’s events, the Campus Store, located in the newly opened Dr. Neil and Susanne Nuttall Student Center, will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Fans and patrons are encouraged to stop by and visit the store during their time on campus.

(By MATT PIKE)Due to forecasted cold weather conditions, with possible snow, North Central Missouri College has moved up the tip off times of it's men's and women's basketball games on Saturday.&nbsp;The women’s basketball game will now tip off at noon, with the men’s game to follow after the conclusion of the women’s contest.&nbsp; Between the two games, NCMC Athletics will host its Hall of Fame induction ceremony, honoring the 2026 Hall of Fame class.You can learn more about who will be honored in the Hall of Fame class by reading our previous story <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/a2be4816-7517-4b65-be43-92fbf8f607b0">HERE.</a>&nbsp;In conjunction with Saturday’s events, the Campus Store, located in the newly opened Dr. Neil and Susanne Nuttall Student Center, will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Fans and patrons are encouraged to stop by and visit the store during their time on campus.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

North Central moves up tip times on Saturday, still to honor Hall of Fame class

Former St. Louis Cardinals backstop Yadier Molina is returning to the team, this time with a special role in the front office assisting new President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom

&nbsp;In this role, Molina will work with the team's catchers in training and player development, as well as collaborate with the front office executive.&nbsp; After his time in St. Louis, Molina&nbsp;managed Puerto Rico in World Baseball Classic and Caribbean Series.&nbsp; He was also&nbsp;a guest coach during two Cardinals series last year.

 The Cardinals organization is excited to welcome Molina, who during his time in St. Louis&nbsp; was a two-time World Series champion and nine-time Gold Glove winner, back to allow a young roster to benefit from his expertise and championship mindset. 

Molina, a retired player, has expressed interest in managing at the major-league level and will use this new role to mentor young catchers and provide valuable feedback.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769027764267.jpeg" alt="Yadier Molina/ Photo courtesy of MLB on Facebook" />
 <figcaption>Yadier Molina/ Photo courtesy of MLB on Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)Former St. Louis Cardinals backstop Yadier Molina is returning to the team, this time with a special role in the front office assisting new President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom&nbsp;In this role, Molina will work with the team's catchers in training and player development, as well as collaborate with the front office executive.&nbsp; After his time in St. Louis, Molina&nbsp;managed Puerto Rico in World Baseball Classic and Caribbean Series.&nbsp; He was also&nbsp;a guest coach during two Cardinals series last year. The Cardinals organization is excited to welcome Molina, who during his time in St. Louis&nbsp; was a two-time World Series champion and nine-time Gold Glove winner, back to allow a young roster to benefit from his expertise and championship mindset. Molina, a retired player, has expressed interest in managing at the major-league level and will use this new role to mentor young catchers and provide valuable feedback.&nbsp;(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Yadier Molina returns to Cardinals in front office role

he Kansas City Chiefs had a disappointing 2025 season, which resulted in less recognition at the end of the year than usual, but two Chiefs standouts were highlighted by the Professional Football Writers of America

After being named to the AP All-Pro team last week as the only Chiefs player on the list, center Creed Humphrey was also the only player from Kansas City selected for the Professional Football Writers of America’s All-NFL team. 

Tight end Travis Kelce was named to the All-AFC team after a standout season leading AFC tight ends in receiving yards. Kelce's durability and performance in 2025 have sparked speculation about his future in the league.&nbsp; Kelce has said he will make a decision on retirement during this offseason.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722105594971.jpeg" alt="Travis Kelce holds off a defender as he runs downfield/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Travis Kelce holds off a defender as he runs downfield/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)&nbsp;he Kansas City Chiefs had a disappointing 2025 season, which resulted in less recognition at the end of the year than usual, but two Chiefs standouts were highlighted by the Professional Football Writers of AmericaAfter being named to the AP All-Pro team last week as the only Chiefs player on the list, center Creed Humphrey was also the only player from Kansas City selected for the Professional Football Writers of America’s All-NFL team. Tight end Travis Kelce was named to the All-AFC team after a standout season leading AFC tight ends in receiving yards. Kelce's durability and performance in 2025 have sparked speculation about his future in the league.&nbsp; Kelce has said he will make a decision on retirement during this offseason.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660590448378.jpeg" alt="Creed Humphrey (red) and Derrick Nnadi (white) in a blocking drill." />
 <figcaption>Creed Humphrey (red) and Derrick Nnadi (white) in a blocking drill.</figcaption>
 </figure>(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Despite disappointing season, Chiefs Humphrey and Kelce honored by PFWA

The Kansas City Chiefs are continuing to search for their new offensive coordinator with Matt Nagy's contract coming to an end, and their former offensive coordinator once again in the running for head coaching jobs interviewing with the likes of the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans.

With the Chicago Bears now elimnated from the playoffs, after falling to the Los Angeles Rams 20-17 in overtime, the Chiefs have requested permission to interview Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy for the offensive coordinator role. Bieniemy previously served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator from 2018-2022. 

After leaving the Chiefs in 2022, Bieniemy was interviewed for some head coaching jobs, but ultimately made a lateral move to the Washington Commanders as offensive coordinator but was dismissed at the end of the season after a tumultuous tenure with&nbsp;players reportedly clashing with his demanding style and a head coaching change from Ron Rivera to current head coach Dan Quinn . He then spent a year at UCLA before joining the Bears' staff in 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768851961052.jpeg" alt="With the Chicago Bears now eliminated from the playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs have requested to interview Bears running backs coach, and former Chiefs offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy for the open OC job in Kansas City/ Photo courtesy of X" />
 <figcaption>With the Chicago Bears now eliminated from the playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs have requested to interview Bears running backs coach, and former Chiefs offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy for the open OC job in Kansas City/ Photo courtesy of X</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)The Kansas City Chiefs are continuing to search for their new offensive coordinator with Matt Nagy's contract coming to an end, and their former offensive coordinator once again in the running for head coaching jobs interviewing with the likes of the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans.With the Chicago Bears now elimnated from the playoffs, after falling to the Los Angeles Rams 20-17 in overtime, the Chiefs have requested permission to interview Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy for the offensive coordinator role. Bieniemy previously served as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator from 2018-2022. After leaving the Chiefs in 2022, Bieniemy was interviewed for some head coaching jobs, but ultimately made a lateral move to the Washington Commanders as offensive coordinator but was dismissed at the end of the season after a tumultuous tenure with&nbsp;players reportedly clashing with his demanding style and a head coaching change from Ron Rivera to current head coach Dan Quinn . He then spent a year at UCLA before joining the Bears' staff in 2025.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

In search for new OC, Chiefs request to talk with Eric Bieniemy

If you know someone who is deserving of having their name enshrined forever into the the history of St. Joseph sports, now is the time to nominate them for the St. Joseph Missouri Area Sports Hall of Fame.&nbsp;

Nominations are now open for the 2026 class of the Hall of Fame.&nbsp; Nominees can range from athletes to coaches, to teams and athletic administrators, and all the way to the media and more To be eligible, nominees need to meet just one of three criteria

Nominations close in March for the class of 2026. The class of 2026 will be announced this summer, with the induction ceremony for the class held in August.&nbsp; If a nominee is not selected for the current year's class, their nomination stays active for five years.

You can find more details, as well as a nomination form, by clicking <a href="https://stjomosports.com/hall-of-fame/nominations/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPaISdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFiSk52MWNDbTNPYzBuZ0s2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHi5_xynfnBSyc0cF7-SkxYOgZakPrI4uwbVBFqwYfL-BXshfVuAuzuex0kIl_aem_Z8Om_XQqf1C6heJO2sLqZQ">HERE</a>.

(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648580960759.jpeg" alt="Brett Esely, director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission, announces the first ever St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame Class in June 2021. Stock photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Brett Esely, director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission, announces the first ever St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame Class in June 2021. Stock photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)If you know someone who is deserving of having their name enshrined forever into the the history of St. Joseph sports, now is the time to nominate them for the St. Joseph Missouri Area Sports Hall of Fame.&nbsp;Nominations are now open for the 2026 class of the Hall of Fame.&nbsp; Nominees can range from athletes to coaches, to teams and athletic administrators, and all the way to the media and more To be eligible, nominees need to meet just one of three criteria<ol>
 <li>Have been born in Buchanan County</li><li>Made their sports career or accomplished feats in Buchanan County</li><li>Contributing to sports currently in Buchanan County</li>
 </ol>Nominations close in March for the class of 2026. The class of 2026 will be announced this summer, with the induction ceremony for the class held in August.&nbsp; If a nominee is not selected for the current year's class, their nomination stays active for five years.You can find more details, as well as a nomination form, by clicking <a href="https://stjomosports.com/hall-of-fame/nominations/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPaISdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFiSk52MWNDbTNPYzBuZ0s2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHi5_xynfnBSyc0cF7-SkxYOgZakPrI4uwbVBFqwYfL-BXshfVuAuzuex0kIl_aem_Z8Om_XQqf1C6heJO2sLqZQ">HERE</a>.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Nominations open for 2026 St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame class

Kansas City Royals catcher and captain Salvador Perez was honored with an award by the NAACP branch of Olathe, Overland Park, and Leawood, Kansas for his role being a leader and advocate in the sports world.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Perez was announced as the winner of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Diversity Advocate Award in Sports.&nbsp; Royals Executive Vice President and General Manager, J.J. Picollo, will accept the award on behalf of Perez as part of the 22nd annual Legacy and Scholarship Awards Dinner tonight at the Sheraton Overland Park.

“Martin Luther King, Jr.’s courage helped change the world and create opportunities for so many of us in sports and other pursuits,” said Perez in a news release from the Royals. “Receiving an honor with his name on it, wow, this is humbling and something I never could have imagined. His legacy is amazing and will last forever.”

Perez has played all 14 years of his Major League career in Kansas City, with nine All-Star appearances, five Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, five Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards and a World Series MVP in 2015. In 2024.&nbsp; He was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award following the 2024 season, which is given to a Major League player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

“Salvador Perez represents how a person can become the leader of men and a hero to them, and a city, by treating everyone with respect, equality and showing them how to be a winner,” said Henry E. Lyons, the President of the NAACP representing Olathe, Overland Park and Leawood, Kan. “These are the same traits that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. possessed.”

The award recognizes sports figures who honor Martin Luther King, Jr.’s principles. Previous winners include Royals Chairman and CEO, John Sherman, and Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach, Andy Reid.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768842802293.jpeg" alt="Salvador Perez was honored with the Martin Luther King Jr Diversity Advocate in Sports Award by the NAACP branch of Olathe, Overland Park, and Leawood, Kansas/ Photo courtesy of X" />
 <figcaption>Salvador Perez was honored with the Martin Luther King Jr Diversity Advocate in Sports Award by the NAACP branch of Olathe, Overland Park, and Leawood, Kansas/ Photo courtesy of X</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)Kansas City Royals catcher and captain Salvador Perez was honored with an award by the NAACP branch of Olathe, Overland Park, and Leawood, Kansas for his role being a leader and advocate in the sports world.&nbsp;&nbsp;Perez was announced as the winner of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Diversity Advocate Award in Sports.&nbsp; Royals Executive Vice President and General Manager, J.J. Picollo, will accept the award on behalf of Perez as part of the 22nd annual Legacy and Scholarship Awards Dinner tonight at the Sheraton Overland Park.“Martin Luther King, Jr.’s courage helped change the world and create opportunities for so many of us in sports and other pursuits,” said Perez in a news release from the Royals. “Receiving an honor with his name on it, wow, this is humbling and something I never could have imagined. His legacy is amazing and will last forever.”Perez has played all 14 years of his Major League career in Kansas City, with nine All-Star appearances, five Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, five Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards and a World Series MVP in 2015. In 2024.&nbsp; He was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award following the 2024 season, which is given to a Major League player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.“Salvador Perez represents how a person can become the leader of men and a hero to them, and a city, by treating everyone with respect, equality and showing them how to be a winner,” said Henry E. Lyons, the President of the NAACP representing Olathe, Overland Park and Leawood, Kan. “These are the same traits that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. possessed.”The award recognizes sports figures who honor Martin Luther King, Jr.’s principles. Previous winners include Royals Chairman and CEO, John Sherman, and Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach, Andy Reid.(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Royals captain Salvador Perez honored with advocacy in sports award

In the latest round of it's bi weekly girls basketball polls, the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association has voted and the Lafayette girls basketball team has claimed the top spot in Class 4.&nbsp;

The Lady Irish moved up from #2 to #1, with 71 points in this week's poll.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Benton Lady Cardinals also moved up a spot from #8 to #7, with 31 points, still trailing Chillicothe who also moved up a spot from #7 to #6 with 38 points.&nbsp; After only receiving votes in the last poll, Savannah made it's way into the polls at #10 with 13 points.

The polls were voted on prior to the Kearney Tournament championship game between Benton and Lafayette.&nbsp; A shakeup could be seen on the next round when they are released on February 2nd.&nbsp; The MBCA releases the girls and boys polls every other week, alternating between each.

In the Class 3 ranks, the Mid-Buchanan girls fell down four spots to #9 with 16 points.&nbsp; In Class 1, the Rock Port girls jumped up to the top spot as well, moving above Chadwick, sitting #1 with 74 points.&nbsp; Once again in Class 1, the Mound City girls received votes, but remained unranked.&nbsp;

(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768630341115.jpeg" alt="Rozlyn McDevitt (11) goes for a contested layup against Benton'sJenna Cox.JPG" />
 <figcaption>Rozlyn McDevitt (11) goes for a contested layup against Benton'sJenna Cox.JPG</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)&nbsp;In the latest round of it's bi weekly girls basketball polls, the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association has voted and the Lafayette girls basketball team has claimed the top spot in Class 4.&nbsp;The Lady Irish moved up from #2 to #1, with 71 points in this week's poll.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Benton Lady Cardinals also moved up a spot from #8 to #7, with 31 points, still trailing Chillicothe who also moved up a spot from #7 to #6 with 38 points.&nbsp; After only receiving votes in the last poll, Savannah made it's way into the polls at #10 with 13 points.The polls were voted on prior to the Kearney Tournament championship game between Benton and Lafayette.&nbsp; A shakeup could be seen on the next round when they are released on February 2nd.&nbsp; The MBCA releases the girls and boys polls every other week, alternating between each.In the Class 3 ranks, the Mid-Buchanan girls fell down four spots to #9 with 16 points.&nbsp; In Class 1, the Rock Port girls jumped up to the top spot as well, moving above Chadwick, sitting #1 with 74 points.&nbsp; Once again in Class 1, the Mound City girls received votes, but remained unranked.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768630389506.jpeg" alt="Eliana Arambula (5) goes for a layup against Nenah Ross (20) as Laniya Carriger (23) guards the paint/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Eliana Arambula (5) goes for a layup against Nenah Ross (20) as Laniya Carriger (23) guards the paint/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Lafayette girls now top spot in Class 4 MBCA polls, Benton up one spot as well

The Benton girls basketball team claimed their first Kearney tournament title since 2016, defeating Lafayette 60-46, holding off a rally from the Lady Irish in the second half after posting a dominant first half effort.&nbsp;

The Cardinals took over things in the first half of the game, in the first quarter knocking down four shots from beyond the arc and taking a 14-7 lead, before outscoring Lafayette in the second quarter 14-4, as the Lady Irish got off just two shots in total the entire quarter, going into the halftime break trailing 28-11.

Benton knocked down just five three's in the first half, taking 13 shots total.&nbsp; Senior Eliana Arambula says what she saw through the first half was drive and kick.&nbsp;

"Being able to attack we knew that they were going be out pressuring us a lot, so the best way to do that is go right through them and then try to find the kick out," Arambula tells reporters after the game.&nbsp; "I know we have some really amazing shooters on our team, so being able to find them was really the biggest part for us."

Head Coach Rebecca Bailey says she thought her team did a good job getting downhill in the first half and getting open for shots on those kickouts.

"We tried to penetrate and do the same thing in the second half, we just weren't hitting as well in the second half as we were in the first half, but I thought the girls did a really good job of just trying to penetrate, draw the defense, and then knock the shots that we needed to hit when we hit them," Bailey says.

The Cardinals did continue to pull away in the third quarter, making the game look well in hand, though the Lady Irish fought back into it, trailing still by double digits at the end of the third quarter 44-25.&nbsp; The fourth quarter, things began to get interesting, and a last ditch effort by Lafayette proved fruitful.&nbsp;

The quarter was filled with mistakes for Benton, turnovers and missed shots that gave the Lady Irish the ball back, and Lafayette capitalized, ultimately cutting the Cardinals 19 point lead at the end of the third, down to as few as eight points.&nbsp; That's when Bailey called the timeout that turned the tide back in Benton's favor.&nbsp;

"The message to the girls was hey we're still up so don't hang your heads, you have worked your rears off to get to this point, so take a deep breath, be patient, go do what we know how to do, so just lock it in real quick," Bailey explains.&nbsp; "Really concentrate on doing the little things, getting where you need to be on defense, boxing out every possession, being really strong with the ball, moving the ball on offense, so just really take a deep breath, and let's get back to doing what we know how to do let's just do those basics, just kind of help us take a deep breath and reset a little bit."

Out of the break, Benton extended their lead back to double digits, and never let Lafayette get closer on way to the victory.&nbsp; It was the Cardinals first victory in the Kearney Bulldog Classic since 2016 when standout&nbsp;Daejah Bernard, a current assistant coach for the Arizona Sun Devils, was on the team.&nbsp; Arambula along with&nbsp;Jalynn Brown were named to the All Tournament team for Benton, while&nbsp;Emery Omon &amp; Laniya Carriger made the team for Lafayette.&nbsp;

Arambula and Brown both had 14 points to lead the Cardinals.&nbsp; Klarabelle Turner had nine points.&nbsp; For the Lady Irish, Omon had 14 points, while Carriger had 12 points.&nbsp; Rozlyn McDevitt had nine points.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768624451273.jpeg" alt="The Benton girls basketball team defeated Lafayette 60-46 for their first win in the Kearney basketball tournament since 2016/ Photo courtesy of Clifton Grooms" />
 <figcaption>The Benton girls basketball team defeated Lafayette 60-46 for their first win in the Kearney basketball tournament since 2016/ Photo courtesy of Clifton Grooms</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)The Benton girls basketball team claimed their first Kearney tournament title since 2016, defeating Lafayette 60-46, holding off a rally from the Lady Irish in the second half after posting a dominant first half effort.&nbsp;The Cardinals took over things in the first half of the game, in the first quarter knocking down four shots from beyond the arc and taking a 14-7 lead, before outscoring Lafayette in the second quarter 14-4, as the Lady Irish got off just two shots in total the entire quarter, going into the halftime break trailing 28-11.Benton knocked down just five three's in the first half, taking 13 shots total.&nbsp; Senior Eliana Arambula says what she saw through the first half was drive and kick.&nbsp;"Being able to attack we knew that they were going be out pressuring us a lot, so the best way to do that is go right through them and then try to find the kick out," Arambula tells reporters after the game.&nbsp; "I know we have some really amazing shooters on our team, so being able to find them was really the biggest part for us."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768630286379.jpeg" alt="Jalynn Brown (10) drives the paint and does a no look pass out to Eliana Arambula waiting beyond the three point line/Photo by Matt PIke" />
 <figcaption>Jalynn Brown (10) drives the paint and does a no look pass out to Eliana Arambula waiting beyond the three point line/Photo by Matt PIke</figcaption>
 </figure>Head Coach Rebecca Bailey says she thought her team did a good job getting downhill in the first half and getting open for shots on those kickouts."We tried to penetrate and do the same thing in the second half, we just weren't hitting as well in the second half as we were in the first half, but I thought the girls did a really good job of just trying to penetrate, draw the defense, and then knock the shots that we needed to hit when we hit them," Bailey says.The Cardinals did continue to pull away in the third quarter, making the game look well in hand, though the Lady Irish fought back into it, trailing still by double digits at the end of the third quarter 44-25.&nbsp; The fourth quarter, things began to get interesting, and a last ditch effort by Lafayette proved fruitful.&nbsp;The quarter was filled with mistakes for Benton, turnovers and missed shots that gave the Lady Irish the ball back, and Lafayette capitalized, ultimately cutting the Cardinals 19 point lead at the end of the third, down to as few as eight points.&nbsp; That's when Bailey called the timeout that turned the tide back in Benton's favor.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768630341115.jpeg" alt="Rozlyn McDevitt (11) goes for a contested layup against Benton's Jenna Cox/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Rozlyn McDevitt (11) goes for a contested layup against Benton's Jenna Cox/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>"The message to the girls was hey we're still up so don't hang your heads, you have worked your rears off to get to this point, so take a deep breath, be patient, go do what we know how to do, so just lock it in real quick," Bailey explains.&nbsp; "Really concentrate on doing the little things, getting where you need to be on defense, boxing out every possession, being really strong with the ball, moving the ball on offense, so just really take a deep breath, and let's get back to doing what we know how to do let's just do those basics, just kind of help us take a deep breath and reset a little bit."Out of the break, Benton extended their lead back to double digits, and never let Lafayette get closer on way to the victory.&nbsp; It was the Cardinals first victory in the Kearney Bulldog Classic since 2016 when standout&nbsp;Daejah Bernard, a current assistant coach for the Arizona Sun Devils, was on the team.&nbsp; Arambula along with&nbsp;Jalynn Brown were named to the All Tournament team for Benton, while&nbsp;Emery Omon &amp; Laniya Carriger made the team for Lafayette.&nbsp;Arambula and Brown both had 14 points to lead the Cardinals.&nbsp; Klarabelle Turner had nine points.&nbsp; For the Lady Irish, Omon had 14 points, while Carriger had 12 points.&nbsp; Rozlyn McDevitt had nine points.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768630389506.jpeg" alt="Eliana Arambula (5) goes for a layup against Nenah Ross (20) as Laniya Carriger (23) guards the paint/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Eliana Arambula (5) goes for a layup against Nenah Ross (20) as Laniya Carriger (23) guards the paint/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.)

Benton girls top Lafayette for first Kearney Tournament title since 2016

Ahead of Spring Training beginning, the Kansas City Royals announced their minor league coaching staffs for 2026.

With longtime coach Mike Jirschele retiring after over three decades with the organization, Patrick Osborn will take over as manager for the Omaha Storm Chasers.&nbsp; Osborn becomes the 20th manager in the history of the franchise, after serving as the Stormchasers bench coach in 2025.&nbsp; His staff will include, pitching coach Dane Johnson, hitting coach Bijan Rademacher, assistant pitching coach David Lundquist, assistant coach Tripp Keister, athletic trainers James Stone and Amanda Gallone, strength and conditioning Coach CJ Mikkelsen, and clubhouse coordinator Mike Brown.

 The support staff also includes assistant coordinator, Minor League video Ben Nicholas and nutrition fellow Alyssa Druey.

Other notable changes include Brooks Conrad leading the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Jesus Azuaje returning as manager for High-A Quad Cities. The coaching staffs for the Arizona Summer League team and Dominican Summer League were also announced, with several new additions and returning coaches. 

Additionally, there are several changes and additions to the player development and operations staff within the organization.&nbsp; Mitch Maier returns as Director of Player Development and&nbsp;Rusty Kuntz will serve as special assistant to the GM.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768599223788.jpeg" alt="Werner Park home of the Omaha Stormchasers, the Kansas City Royals Triple A affiliate.&nbsp; The Royals announced their minor league coaching staff, including new Stormchasers manager Patrick Osborn/ Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Werner Park home of the Omaha Stormchasers, the Kansas City Royals Triple A affiliate.&nbsp; The Royals announced their minor league coaching staff, including new Stormchasers manager Patrick Osborn/ Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)Ahead of Spring Training beginning, the Kansas City Royals announced their minor league coaching staffs for 2026.With longtime coach Mike Jirschele retiring after over three decades with the organization, Patrick Osborn will take over as manager for the Omaha Storm Chasers.&nbsp; Osborn becomes the 20th manager in the history of the franchise, after serving as the Stormchasers bench coach in 2025.&nbsp; His staff will include, pitching coach Dane Johnson, hitting coach Bijan Rademacher, assistant pitching coach David Lundquist, assistant coach Tripp Keister, athletic trainers James Stone and Amanda Gallone, strength and conditioning Coach CJ Mikkelsen, and clubhouse coordinator Mike Brown. The support staff also includes assistant coordinator, Minor League video Ben Nicholas and nutrition fellow Alyssa Druey.Other notable changes include Brooks Conrad leading the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Jesus Azuaje returning as manager for High-A Quad Cities. The coaching staffs for the Arizona Summer League team and Dominican Summer League were also announced, with several new additions and returning coaches. Additionally, there are several changes and additions to the player development and operations staff within the organization.&nbsp; Mitch Maier returns as Director of Player Development and&nbsp;Rusty Kuntz will serve as special assistant to the GM.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

With spring training looming, Royals announce minor league staff

The Kansas City Chiefs offensive struggles have been well documented over the past two seasons, and they were even more prominent this past season, prompting cries for a new offensive coordinator on the sidelines.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As the Chiefs continue to shuffle their coaching staff, that change could be likely, with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy a candidate for head coaching jobs around the league and not under contract for 2026.&nbsp; Patrick Mahomes says he trusts Head Coach Andy Reid to make the right decision on the next offensive coordinator, whether it be Nagy or a new face, most likely after head coaching positions around the league are filled.&nbsp; 

For himself though, Mahomes expressed his desire for an offensive coordinator who is passionate about football, holds players accountable, and brings fresh ideas to the team. 

"That’s something that we have to continue to do if you want to continue to be great in this league, is you have to continue to evolve and get better and better," Mahomes told Kansas City reporters on a Zoom conference "And that’s something that we’ll try to do here and I want to get back to that winning culture of being accountable to each other and going out there and playing great football every single day, practice or game.”

Mahomes spoke to reporters about the rehab process following his season ending knee injury.&nbsp; Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in a week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and underwent surgery the next day.&nbsp; Mahomes says rehab is going well, and is aiming for a return in week one of the 2026 season.

"The doctor says that I could be, but I can’t predict what’s going to happen throughout the process but that’s my goal, so I’ll try to prepare myself to be ready to play in that week one and have no restrictions," Mahomes says.&nbsp; "You want to be out there healthy and giving us the best chance to win. Obviously, I hope to be able to do some stuff in OTAs and get to training camp and hopefully be able to do a lot there. I’m excited for the process. It’s a long process, but I’m excited for it.”

The recovery time for such an injury is about nine months, though it could vary by several months depending on various factors. Next season is expected to kick off Sept. 10, 2026, and the Chiefs could play their first game a few days later.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754597064618.jpeg" alt="Patrick Mahomes warms up as Matt Nagy watches on/Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Patrick Mahomes warms up as Matt Nagy watches on/Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)The Kansas City Chiefs offensive struggles have been well documented over the past two seasons, and they were even more prominent this past season, prompting cries for a new offensive coordinator on the sidelines.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the Chiefs continue to shuffle their coaching staff, that change could be likely, with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy a candidate for head coaching jobs around the league and not under contract for 2026.&nbsp; Patrick Mahomes says he trusts Head Coach Andy Reid to make the right decision on the next offensive coordinator, whether it be Nagy or a new face, most likely after head coaching positions around the league are filled.&nbsp; For himself though, Mahomes expressed his desire for an offensive coordinator who is passionate about football, holds players accountable, and brings fresh ideas to the team. "That’s something that we have to continue to do if you want to continue to be great in this league, is you have to continue to evolve and get better and better," Mahomes told Kansas City reporters on a Zoom conference "And that’s something that we’ll try to do here and I want to get back to that winning culture of being accountable to each other and going out there and playing great football every single day, practice or game.”Mahomes spoke to reporters about the rehab process following his season ending knee injury.&nbsp; Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in a week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and underwent surgery the next day.&nbsp; Mahomes says rehab is going well, and is aiming for a return in week one of the 2026 season."The doctor says that I could be, but I can’t predict what’s going to happen throughout the process but that’s my goal, so I’ll try to prepare myself to be ready to play in that week one and have no restrictions," Mahomes says.&nbsp; "You want to be out there healthy and giving us the best chance to win. Obviously, I hope to be able to do some stuff in OTAs and get to training camp and hopefully be able to do a lot there. I’m excited for the process. It’s a long process, but I’m excited for it.”The recovery time for such an injury is about nine months, though it could vary by several months depending on various factors. Next season is expected to kick off Sept. 10, 2026, and the Chiefs could play their first game a few days later.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

Patrick Mahomes has his ideas of what he wants in a new offensive coordinator

Three from Savannah are set to be inducted into the USA Softball of Missouri Hall of Fame later this month.

Wayne Miller, Edwin Smith, and Rodney Gray, will be inducted into the USA Softball of Missouri Hall of Fame on January 24th at Canterberry Hill Winery near Jefferson City.&nbsp;&nbsp;The trio will join fellow Savannah natives Kirby Hatcherm Savannah High School Class of 1970, and Robert Newhart, Savannah High School Class of 1978, in the Hall of Fame.

The inductions honor more than four decades of fastpitch softball excellence. All three were teammates in 1982 on the Walnut Products team of St. Joseph and also represented USA South at the USA Olympic Festival in Indianapolis that same year.

Miller, a member of the Savannah High School Class of 1965, played from 1963 to 1984 for teams in Columbia, Kansas City, Savannah, St. Joseph and Springfield. A dominant pitcher and switch hitter, he earned multiple ASA All-Regional honors and competed in eight ASA National Tournaments.

Smith, Savannah High School Class of 1970, made his mark as a coach and manager from 1968 to 1986, leading teams from Savannah, St. Joseph and Jefferson City. His teams captured an ASA Midwest Regional title, appeared in three ISC World Tournaments and five ASA National Tournaments, and finished fourth nationally in 1981.

Gray,&nbsp; Savannah High School Class of 1978, a catcher and third baseman, played from 1974 to 1998. He won three Junior/Senior Boys National Championships in 1974, 1975 and 1977, along with an ASA Men’s Major National Championship in 1998. 

Gray competed in 13 ASA National Championships and 14 ISC World Tournaments, earning three ASA All-American honors and one ISC All-World Team selection. He has also been inducted into the St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame with teammates from the Meierhoffer/Frontier Casino era.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768433187230.jpeg" alt="Wayne Miller (top), Rodney Gray (left), and&nbsp; Eddie Smith (right) all of Savannah will be inducted later this month into the USA Softball of Missouri Hall of Fame/ Photos courtesy of USA Softball of Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Wayne Miller (top), Rodney Gray (left), and&nbsp; Eddie Smith (right) all of Savannah will be inducted later this month into the USA Softball of Missouri Hall of Fame/ Photos courtesy of USA Softball of Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThree from Savannah are set to be inducted into the USA Softball of Missouri Hall of Fame later this month.Wayne Miller, Edwin Smith, and Rodney Gray, will be inducted into the USA Softball of Missouri Hall of Fame on January 24th at Canterberry Hill Winery near Jefferson City.&nbsp;&nbsp;The trio will join fellow Savannah natives Kirby Hatcherm Savannah High School Class of 1970, and Robert Newhart, Savannah High School Class of 1978, in the Hall of Fame.The inductions honor more than four decades of fastpitch softball excellence. All three were teammates in 1982 on the Walnut Products team of St. Joseph and also represented USA South at the USA Olympic Festival in Indianapolis that same year.Miller, a member of the Savannah High School Class of 1965, played from 1963 to 1984 for teams in Columbia, Kansas City, Savannah, St. Joseph and Springfield. A dominant pitcher and switch hitter, he earned multiple ASA All-Regional honors and competed in eight ASA National Tournaments.Smith, Savannah High School Class of 1970, made his mark as a coach and manager from 1968 to 1986, leading teams from Savannah, St. Joseph and Jefferson City. His teams captured an ASA Midwest Regional title, appeared in three ISC World Tournaments and five ASA National Tournaments, and finished fourth nationally in 1981.Gray,&nbsp; Savannah High School Class of 1978, a catcher and third baseman, played from 1974 to 1998. He won three Junior/Senior Boys National Championships in 1974, 1975 and 1977, along with an ASA Men’s Major National Championship in 1998. Gray competed in 13 ASA National Championships and 14 ISC World Tournaments, earning three ASA All-American honors and one ISC All-World Team selection. He has also been inducted into the St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame with teammates from the Meierhoffer/Frontier Casino era.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Sports Feed