Bishop LeBlond senior and multi-sport athlete Emma Raines signed her letter of intent for Culver-Stockton women's soccer on Friday.

Raines, who's had a fruitful athletic career for the Golden Eagles in volleyball and girls' basketball as well, has played on defense for LeBlond in soccer, helping the Eagles to a district title in 2021 and a 12-7 record in 2022.

"This is really exciting for me," Raines said of her signing. "Especially going to the school my mom graduated from really means a lot to me. Glad I get to continue my soccer career and education at a school that I know will be really beneficial to me."

For Raines, the dream of playing soccer at the next level has been on her mind for the better part of 10 years.

"I don't want to stop playing this sport after high school," she said. "All of the other sports, I'd be okay with stopping after high school was over. But, this sport just stuck with me for a really long time and I enjoy it more than the other ones."

Raines played at a camp at Culver-Stockton in Canton, Missouri last summer. She says it was really then that she felt like the Wildcats were a fit for her.

Raines still has her senior season ahead of her this spring, and hopes to leave her mark on a program that's had some of its best years during her time at LeBlond.

"LeBlond has always been really family based with the soccer team," Raines said. "There were a lot of second place finishes and being close to winning districts. My sophomore year we got it done and it was a really good feeling and I just wasn't ready to stop there."

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671218882737.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBishop LeBlond senior and multi-sport athlete Emma Raines signed her letter of intent for Culver-Stockton women's soccer on Friday.Raines, who's had a fruitful athletic career for the Golden Eagles in volleyball and girls' basketball as well, has played on defense for LeBlond in soccer, helping the Eagles to a district title in 2021 and a 12-7 record in 2022."This is really exciting for me," Raines said of her signing. "Especially going to the school my mom graduated from really means a lot to me. Glad I get to continue my soccer career and education at a school that I know will be really beneficial to me."For Raines, the dream of playing soccer at the next level has been on her mind for the better part of 10 years."I don't want to stop playing this sport after high school," she said. "All of the other sports, I'd be okay with stopping after high school was over. But, this sport just stuck with me for a really long time and I enjoy it more than the other ones."Raines played at a camp at Culver-Stockton in Canton, Missouri last summer. She says it was really then that she felt like the Wildcats were a fit for her.Raines still has her senior season ahead of her this spring, and hopes to leave her mark on a program that's had some of its best years during her time at LeBlond."LeBlond has always been really family based with the soccer team," Raines said. "There were a lot of second place finishes and being close to winning districts. My sophomore year we got it done and it was a really good feeling and I just wasn't ready to stop there."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671219666148.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond's Emma Raines signs letter of intent to Culver-Stockton soccer

The St. Joseph Mustangs will return to Phil Welch Stadium in the summer of 2023, as they chase their fourth straight championship and tenth overall.

The Mustangs will begin with Fan Fest at Phil Welch Stadium on Tuesday, May 30. This free, fan friendly experience is open to the public. The team will conduct batting practice, on-field interviews, autographs and more. Additional details on the event will be released on the team's social media accounts and website.

The team will officially kick off the season at home the following night. The Mustangs host the Baldwin City Blues from Baldwin City, Kansas on May 31. The Mustangs will play 26 regular season home games this summer. The MINK League All-Star game will be in Chillicothe on July 9. The MINK League playoffs start July 24.

“There is nothing like summer in St. Joe at Phil Welch Stadium," said Mustangs president and owner Ky Turner. "It is two full months of just pure magic. The tradition of baseball blended in with some of the fun things that we do, maybe a fireworks show or dressing up like a dinosaur, home run derbies, or anything else that we dream up.

"St. Joe is a destination for collegiate baseball players all over the globe. Fans as well, last year we sold tickets to over 21 states, from California to Massachusetts, as well as a few international countries. We are blessed to have such a great community that we have right here in St. Joseph, Missouri, and the surrounding area. That also includes the incredible job our manager, Johnny Coy, and his staff perform each summer."

The Mustangs (37-15) won their third consecutive MINK League championship and their eighth since 2009 <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e3280f33-7af4-4c42-8074-3f65558017bf">with an 11-1 victory over the Joplin Outlaws</a> in the third and final game of the league championship series at Phil Welch Stadium on July 30 to finish the 2022 season.

"Last year had so many dramatic and thrilling walk off victories," Turner said. "We don’t need to manufacture entertainment with Tiktoks on the field like other teams- these players play out their heart and soul for this team, and it is so refreshing to see.”

The Mustangs open MINK League player on Saturday, June 3rd. Additional highlights include the annual patriotic celebrations on both July 3, versus the Chillicothe Mudcats, and July 4th, against the Sedalia Bombers. The final home game of the regular season will be on Saturday, July 22nd.

The Mustangs Alumni will return to Phil Welch on July 7. The team will take on a new opponent that night- the U.S. Military WarDogs. WarDogs Military Baseball takes the Military's best ball players and travels the U.S., playing Major, Minor and Collegiate teams in order to raise money and awareness for Veterans dealing with PTSD, suicide, unemployment and disability.

Season tickets for the 2023 season can be purchased online through the team’s website or by calling 816.279.STJO (7856).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671138703755.jpeg" alt="The Mustangs celebrate yet another MINK League title in July 2022. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>The Mustangs celebrate yet another MINK League title in July 2022. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs will return to Phil Welch Stadium in the summer of 2023, as they chase their fourth straight championship and tenth overall.The Mustangs will begin with Fan Fest at Phil Welch Stadium on Tuesday, May 30. This free, fan friendly experience is open to the public. The team will conduct batting practice, on-field interviews, autographs and more. Additional details on the event will be released on the team's social media accounts and website.The team will officially kick off the season at home the following night. The Mustangs host the Baldwin City Blues from Baldwin City, Kansas on May 31. The Mustangs will play 26 regular season home games this summer. The MINK League All-Star game will be in Chillicothe on July 9. The MINK League playoffs start July 24.“There is nothing like summer in St. Joe at Phil Welch Stadium," said Mustangs president and owner Ky Turner. "It is two full months of just pure magic. The tradition of baseball blended in with some of the fun things that we do, maybe a fireworks show or dressing up like a dinosaur, home run derbies, or anything else that we dream up."St. Joe is a destination for collegiate baseball players all over the globe. Fans as well, last year we sold tickets to over 21 states, from California to Massachusetts, as well as a few international countries. We are blessed to have such a great community that we have right here in St. Joseph, Missouri, and the surrounding area. That also includes the incredible job our manager, Johnny Coy, and his staff perform each summer."The Mustangs (37-15) won their third consecutive MINK League championship and their eighth since 2009 <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e3280f33-7af4-4c42-8074-3f65558017bf">with an 11-1 victory over the Joplin Outlaws</a> in the third and final game of the league championship series at Phil Welch Stadium on July 30 to finish the 2022 season."Last year had so many dramatic and thrilling walk off victories," Turner said. "We don’t need to manufacture entertainment with Tiktoks on the field like other teams- these players play out their heart and soul for this team, and it is so refreshing to see.”The Mustangs open MINK League player on Saturday, June 3rd. Additional highlights include the annual patriotic celebrations on both July 3, versus the Chillicothe Mudcats, and July 4th, against the Sedalia Bombers. The final home game of the regular season will be on Saturday, July 22nd.The Mustangs Alumni will return to Phil Welch on July 7. The team will take on a new opponent that night- the U.S. Military WarDogs. WarDogs Military Baseball takes the Military's best ball players and travels the U.S., playing Major, Minor and Collegiate teams in order to raise money and awareness for Veterans dealing with PTSD, suicide, unemployment and disability.Season tickets for the 2023 season can be purchased online through the team’s website or by calling 816.279.STJO (7856).Full schedule<figure>
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St. Joseph Mustangs release 2023 schedule

The Missouri Western men's basketball team saw their season put on pause for a third consecutive season last week due to COVID-19 protocols.

The Griffon men were scheduled to play home games against Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State, but it was announced last Tuesday that the games would be postponed to future dates still to be determined.

Missouri Western men's basketball coach Will Martin says the biggest task during that shutdown time was simply keeping the team connected.

"We've done a really good job with guys being out making them feel connected and making sure we don't lose any type of momentum," Martin said.

As Missouri Western returned to practice this week, Martin says the biggest key was just getting that everyday rhythm and routine back.

"The monotony of your offense and your defense and your coverages and your spacing and just being in rhythm with everybody, that takes time," Martin said. "When we get back to practice, the guys will probably hate me, because it's going to be very maniacal, it's going to be mundane, it's going to be boring just getting our rhythm and cadence back."&nbsp;

The Missouri Western men are 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA, most recently winning at Missouri Southern 79-65 on December 3 in Joplin - their fourth consecutive win.

Next up for the Griffons is a road game at Washburn (3-6) this Saturday. Martin says that first game back, that first game in 14 days, presents a formidable challenge.

"It will be the toughest game of the year," he said. "If you just look at it holistically. The fact that (Washburn) is 0-3 (in the MIAA), they have an overtime loss and they just had a loss where they were up 18 points at Rogers State. They're going to be ready to go and playing urgent. You add in the fact we've been shut down for a bit."

The Griffon men and women both play at Washburn Saturday (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) and, then at Emporia State Monday (1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.).

All games will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671135549562.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Taye Fields had a go-ahead dunk with three seconds left in a 66-65 win at Pittsburg State on Dec. 1 in the first MIAA game of the season. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Taye Fields had a go-ahead dunk with three seconds left in a 66-65 win at Pittsburg State on Dec. 1 in the first MIAA game of the season. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western men's basketball team saw their season put on pause for a third consecutive season last week due to COVID-19 protocols.The Griffon men were scheduled to play home games against Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State, but it was announced last Tuesday that the games would be postponed to future dates still to be determined.Missouri Western men's basketball coach Will Martin says the biggest task during that shutdown time was simply keeping the team connected."We've done a really good job with guys being out making them feel connected and making sure we don't lose any type of momentum," Martin said.As Missouri Western returned to practice this week, Martin says the biggest key was just getting that everyday rhythm and routine back."The monotony of your offense and your defense and your coverages and your spacing and just being in rhythm with everybody, that takes time," Martin said. "When we get back to practice, the guys will probably hate me, because it's going to be very maniacal, it's going to be mundane, it's going to be boring just getting our rhythm and cadence back."&nbsp;The Missouri Western men are 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA, most recently winning at Missouri Southern 79-65 on December 3 in Joplin - their fourth consecutive win.Next up for the Griffons is a road game at Washburn (3-6) this Saturday. Martin says that first game back, that first game in 14 days, presents a formidable challenge."It will be the toughest game of the year," he said. "If you just look at it holistically. The fact that (Washburn) is 0-3 (in the MIAA), they have an overtime loss and they just had a loss where they were up 18 points at Rogers State. They're going to be ready to go and playing urgent. You add in the fact we've been shut down for a bit."The Griffon men and women both play at Washburn Saturday (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) and, then at Emporia State Monday (1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.).All games will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU men's basketball ready for return to action after COVID pause

Bishop LeBlond senior Shae Lewis is continuing what now feels like a sort of tradition - a Golden Eagle playing basketball at Benedictine.

Lewis signed her letter of intent to play for the Ravens Thursday, becoming the fourth LeBlond girls' basketball player to officially commit to Benedictine.

She joins former high school teammate Kianna Herrera, who's a freshman on the team now, along with Nicole Fields (Reilly), who graduated from there in 2008, and current LeBlond head coach Jackie Steltenpohl (Ziesel), who graduated from Benedictine in 2015.

All of them played, are playing, or will be playing, for current Benedictine head coach Chad Folsom, who's led the Ravens to NAIA National Tournament appearances in seven of the last 10 seasons.

"When I went down there, I could tell it was definitely like a family and community," Lewis said. "I loved being close to home. I'm really close to my parents and that's all I could ask for. The basketball team is great and welcoming and I can't wait to start my future down there."

Lewis, who plans to study biology at Benedictine, has played a key role for the Golden Eagles each of the last several years, helping the Golden Eagles to consecutive district titles in 2021 and 2022.

Lewis averaged 11.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2 steals per game last season in her junior year, helping the Eagles to a 22-8 mark.

LeBlond picked up where they left off last season, racing off to a 6-0 start in 2022-23.

"We need to not expect to go so far and just take it game by game," Lewis said, "and just realize we're going to win some and lose some and just take it game by game."

For Steltenpohl, it's a point of pride to send a second player who she's coached down to Atchison to play for her alma mater.

"It's definitely rewarding as a coach to see," she said. "That these athletes want to continue playing and it just shows that our program has changed so much in the last 5-6 years I've been coaching. It all comes from the players and how hard they work. We wouldn't be where we are today without these players here."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671132344879.jpeg" alt="Shae Lewis (22) is the fourth Bishop LeBlond girls' basketball player to sign to Benedictine women's basketball. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Shae Lewis (22) is the fourth Bishop LeBlond girls' basketball player to sign to Benedictine women's basketball. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBishop LeBlond senior Shae Lewis is continuing what now feels like a sort of tradition - a Golden Eagle playing basketball at Benedictine.Lewis signed her letter of intent to play for the Ravens Thursday, becoming the fourth LeBlond girls' basketball player to officially commit to Benedictine.She joins former high school teammate Kianna Herrera, who's a freshman on the team now, along with Nicole Fields (Reilly), who graduated from there in 2008, and current LeBlond head coach Jackie Steltenpohl (Ziesel), who graduated from Benedictine in 2015.All of them played, are playing, or will be playing, for current Benedictine head coach Chad Folsom, who's led the Ravens to NAIA National Tournament appearances in seven of the last 10 seasons."When I went down there, I could tell it was definitely like a family and community," Lewis said. "I loved being close to home. I'm really close to my parents and that's all I could ask for. The basketball team is great and welcoming and I can't wait to start my future down there."Lewis, who plans to study biology at Benedictine, has played a key role for the Golden Eagles each of the last several years, helping the Golden Eagles to consecutive district titles in 2021 and 2022.Lewis averaged 11.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2 steals per game last season in her junior year, helping the Eagles to a 22-8 mark.LeBlond picked up where they left off last season, racing off to a 6-0 start in 2022-23."We need to not expect to go so far and just take it game by game," Lewis said, "and just realize we're going to win some and lose some and just take it game by game."For Steltenpohl, it's a point of pride to send a second player who she's coached down to Atchison to play for her alma mater."It's definitely rewarding as a coach to see," she said. "That these athletes want to continue playing and it just shows that our program has changed so much in the last 5-6 years I've been coaching. It all comes from the players and how hard they work. We wouldn't be where we are today without these players here."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671133885425.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671133931809.jpeg" alt="The LeBlond girls' basketball team poses with Shae Lewis after her signing." />
 <figcaption>The LeBlond girls' basketball team poses with Shae Lewis after her signing.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond's Shae Lewis signs with Benedictine women's basketball Thursday

The St. Joseph Sports Commission, in partnership with the Junior League of St. Joseph, announced the creation of the inaugural St. Joseph, Missouri Marathon which will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023.

The race will feature five different distances for participants to choose from, including a full marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles), 10K race (6.2 miles), 5K race (3.1 miles) and a relay team element that encompasses the full route. Full marathon participants will have the opportunity to achieve a Boston Marathon qualifying time as the course will be officially certified.

This scenic and challenging race route, which begins and ends behind Civic Center Park in downtown St. Joseph, will take participants from north to south. The route includes numerous St. Joseph landmarks like Krug Park, Hyde Park, Lovers Lane, Ashland Avenue, Pony Express Museum, the Museum Hill Area, all incorporating the 12 miles of the city’s historic parkway system.

Race weekend begins with a Packet Pick-Up Community and Fitness Expo which will be held at Civic Arena on Friday, September 22. On race day, pre and post event activities will be staged in Civic Center Park within easy access to the start and finish line.

“In the continued quest of creating or attracting events that have interest, fit and niche in our community, the establishment of a true, community wide, marathon type of event quickly gained traction among many earlier this year,” said Brett Esely, Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission.

“The vision for this event not only encompasses our local and regional running community but will be a true tourism event that will potentially attract participants from all over the country. These events are major undertakings with a lot of moving parts, hundreds of volunteers, people working together and is a great way to showcase our community.”

The partnership with Junior League of St. Joseph expands on a decade-long foundation they’ve created with the former Pony Express Run, which included a half marathon and most recently a 5K race.

A portion of the St. Joseph Marathon’s proceeds will benefit Junior League’s initiatives which include; Cinderella’s Closet, Hope Totes, Community Assistance and Literacy Grants along with their support of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph.

Registration and pricing information for the St. Joseph Marathon will be announced and open in mid-January 2023.

Sponsorship and expo booth information will also be available at that time. Volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups will be available in early spring.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671057614710.png" alt="St. Joseph Marathon logo. Courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission and St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau." />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Marathon logo. Courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission and St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Sports Commission, in partnership with the Junior League of St. Joseph, announced the creation of the inaugural St. Joseph, Missouri Marathon which will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023.The race will feature five different distances for participants to choose from, including a full marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles), 10K race (6.2 miles), 5K race (3.1 miles) and a relay team element that encompasses the full route. Full marathon participants will have the opportunity to achieve a Boston Marathon qualifying time as the course will be officially certified.This scenic and challenging race route, which begins and ends behind Civic Center Park in downtown St. Joseph, will take participants from north to south. The route includes numerous St. Joseph landmarks like Krug Park, Hyde Park, Lovers Lane, Ashland Avenue, Pony Express Museum, the Museum Hill Area, all incorporating the 12 miles of the city’s historic parkway system.Race weekend begins with a Packet Pick-Up Community and Fitness Expo which will be held at Civic Arena on Friday, September 22. On race day, pre and post event activities will be staged in Civic Center Park within easy access to the start and finish line.“In the continued quest of creating or attracting events that have interest, fit and niche in our community, the establishment of a true, community wide, marathon type of event quickly gained traction among many earlier this year,” said Brett Esely, Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission.“The vision for this event not only encompasses our local and regional running community but will be a true tourism event that will potentially attract participants from all over the country. These events are major undertakings with a lot of moving parts, hundreds of volunteers, people working together and is a great way to showcase our community.”The partnership with Junior League of St. Joseph expands on a decade-long foundation they’ve created with the former Pony Express Run, which included a half marathon and most recently a 5K race.A portion of the St. Joseph Marathon’s proceeds will benefit Junior League’s initiatives which include; Cinderella’s Closet, Hope Totes, Community Assistance and Literacy Grants along with their support of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph.Registration and pricing information for the St. Joseph Marathon will be announced and open in mid-January 2023.Sponsorship and expo booth information will also be available at that time. Volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups will be available in early spring.

St. Joseph Sports Commission unveils city's first marathon coming in 2023

Boys’ basketball Lafayette 58 Mid-Buchanan 25. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/36fd593b-6ad7-4d4c-af8d-de707a5711e7">Full coverage here</a>. Park Hill South 56 Benton 46 St. Joseph Christian 84 King City 71 Truman 62 St. Joseph Central 50 North Andrew 46 Worth County 33 Stewartsville-Osborn @ DeKalb - missing Mound City 37 North Platte 34 Rock Port 65 South Holt 44

Girls’ basketball East Buchanan 38 Savannah 25 Benton 59 St. Michael the Archangel 47. The Cardinals are now 6-0. King City 34 St. Joseph Christian 33 Truman 57 St. Joseph Central 35 North Andrew 50 Worth County 23 Stewartsville-Osborn @ DeKalb - missing North Platte 63 Mound City 30 South Holt 48 Rock Port 46

Wrestling The Mid-Buchanan boys and girls' teams scored wins at home over Savannah. Mid-Buch's Clancey Woodward picked up his 100th career victory as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671022930217.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBoys’ basketball Lafayette 58 Mid-Buchanan 25. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/36fd593b-6ad7-4d4c-af8d-de707a5711e7">Full coverage here</a>. Park Hill South 56 Benton 46 St. Joseph Christian 84 King City 71 Truman 62 St. Joseph Central 50 North Andrew 46 Worth County 33 Stewartsville-Osborn @ DeKalb - missing Mound City 37 North Platte 34 Rock Port 65 South Holt 44Girls’ basketball East Buchanan 38 Savannah 25 Benton 59 St. Michael the Archangel 47. The Cardinals are now 6-0. King City 34 St. Joseph Christian 33 Truman 57 St. Joseph Central 35 North Andrew 50 Worth County 23 Stewartsville-Osborn @ DeKalb - missing North Platte 63 Mound City 30 South Holt 48 Rock Port 46Wrestling The Mid-Buchanan boys and girls' teams scored wins at home over Savannah. Mid-Buch's Clancey Woodward picked up his 100th career victory as well.

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area high school scoreboard - December 13, 2022

FAUCETT - The Lafayette boys' basketball team got off to an 11-2 start, locked down on defense all night and rolled to a 58-25 win at Mid-Buchanan on Tuesday night.

Leading 15-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Irish (3-2) outscored the Dragons 14-2 in the second to go up 29-9 at the break.

Things never got closer after that, as Mid-Buchanan (4-4) was held to just nine made field goals offensively. The Dragons also turned the ball over 16 times.

"I thought we played pretty good," Lafayette senior Camden Bennett said after leading his team Tuesday with 19 points. "We ran out in transition and got easy buckets. We played really good defense tonight, and I'm just proud of my team for that."

Lafayette, now on a three-game winning streak, spread the scoring out among seven different players. Sophomore Antonio Williams came off the bench and scored 15 points. Senior Mikey Thomas finished with 10.

"All around, we played really good," Williams said. "It started with defense, really. We got a lot of traps and a lot of deflections to turn into offensive points. On the offensive side, we passed the ball a lot and everyone got to touch it. Our offense was just flowing really good. Everyone was knocking down shots and stuff."

Mid-Buchanan was led in scoring by junior Jackson Sauvage, who logged 10 points, including a pair of made three-pointers. The Dragons suffered a tough injury midway through the second quarter when freshman Raife Smith was helped off the floor with an apparent left foot injury.

After playing their first five games in eight days, Lafayette will get an eight-day break before returning to action on December 21 against St. Joseph Central at Civic Arena in the inaugural St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame Holiday Hoops Classic.

"We just want to keep gradually getting better and getting better," Lafayette coach Kevin Bristol said. "I think we took another step tonight of getting better and reaching the goal we want to get to."

Mid-Buchanan stays home to host North Platte on Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670991452726.jpeg" alt="Lafayette's Caleb Bennett (35) goes up for a layup during the Irish's 58-25 win at Mid-Buchanan Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Lafayette's Caleb Bennett (35) goes up for a layup during the Irish's 58-25 win at Mid-Buchanan Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostFAUCETT - The Lafayette boys' basketball team got off to an 11-2 start, locked down on defense all night and rolled to a 58-25 win at Mid-Buchanan on Tuesday night.Leading 15-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Irish (3-2) outscored the Dragons 14-2 in the second to go up 29-9 at the break.Things never got closer after that, as Mid-Buchanan (4-4) was held to just nine made field goals offensively. The Dragons also turned the ball over 16 times."I thought we played pretty good," Lafayette senior Camden Bennett said after leading his team Tuesday with 19 points. "We ran out in transition and got easy buckets. We played really good defense tonight, and I'm just proud of my team for that."Lafayette, now on a three-game winning streak, spread the scoring out among seven different players. Sophomore Antonio Williams came off the bench and scored 15 points. Senior Mikey Thomas finished with 10."All around, we played really good," Williams said. "It started with defense, really. We got a lot of traps and a lot of deflections to turn into offensive points. On the offensive side, we passed the ball a lot and everyone got to touch it. Our offense was just flowing really good. Everyone was knocking down shots and stuff."Mid-Buchanan was led in scoring by junior Jackson Sauvage, who logged 10 points, including a pair of made three-pointers. The Dragons suffered a tough injury midway through the second quarter when freshman Raife Smith was helped off the floor with an apparent left foot injury.After playing their first five games in eight days, Lafayette will get an eight-day break before returning to action on December 21 against St. Joseph Central at Civic Arena in the inaugural St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame Holiday Hoops Classic."We just want to keep gradually getting better and getting better," Lafayette coach Kevin Bristol said. "I think we took another step tonight of getting better and reaching the goal we want to get to."Mid-Buchanan stays home to host North Platte on Friday.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Lafayettes-Antonio-Williams---121322-e1s7n43" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Lafayettes-Camden-Bennett---121322-e1s7n5c" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Lafayette-boys-basketball-coach-Kevin-Bristol---121322-e1s7n6n" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670991522982.jpeg" alt="Antonio Williams (4) pulls up for a shot." />
 <figcaption>Antonio Williams (4) pulls up for a shot.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670991551634.jpeg" alt="Joe Clark." />
 <figcaption>Joe Clark.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670991577555.jpeg" alt="Mikey Thomas." />
 <figcaption>Mikey Thomas.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670991594421.jpeg" alt="Quinn Lowe." />
 <figcaption>Quinn Lowe.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670991614607.jpeg" alt="Jackson Sauvage (10)." />
 <figcaption>Jackson Sauvage (10).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670991640535.jpeg" alt="Ian Wegenka (5)." />
 <figcaption>Ian Wegenka (5).</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Lafayette scores big win at Mid-Buchanan Tuesday, Irish win third game in a row

STARKVILLE, MS(AP) —Mike Leach, the gruff, pioneering and unfiltered college football coach who helped revolutionize the passing game with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-college-football-sports-mike-leach-texas-dc84b9b6c1f92acb64d1c5f37f82dd59">the Air Raid offense,</a>&nbsp;has died following complications from a heart condition, Mississippi State said Tuesday. He was 61.

Leach, who was in his third season as head coach at Mississippi State, fell ill Sunday at his home in Starkville, Mississippi. He was treated at a local hospital before being airlifted to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) away.

“Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather. He was able to participate in organ donation at UMMC as a final act of charity," the family said in a statement issued by Mississippi State. "We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the hospital staff, and football fans around the world. Thank you for sharing in the joy of our beloved husband and father’s life.”

Leach fought through a bout with pneumonia late in this season, coughing uncontrollably at times during news conferences, but seemed to be improving, according to those who worked with him.

News of him falling gravely ill swept through college football the past few days and left many who knew him stunned,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Holgorsendana/status/1602140964742696961">hoping and praying</a>&nbsp;for Leach's recovery under grim circumstances.

His impact on college football over the last two decades runs deep and will continue for years to come.

Leach was known for his pass-happy offenses, wide-ranging interests — he wrote a book about Native American leader Geronimo, had a passion for pirates, a taught a class about insurgent warfare — and rambling, off-the-cuff news conferences.

Leach’s teams were consistent winners at programs where success did not come easy. In 21 seasons as a head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, Leach went 158-107. And his quarterbacks put up massive passing statistics, running a relatively simple offense called the Air Raid that he did not invent but certainly mastered.

An interview with Leach was as likely to veer off into politics, wedding planning or hypothetical mascot fights as it was to stick to football. He considered Donald Trump a friend before the billionaire businessman ran for president and then campaigned for him in 2016.

He traveled all over the world and his curiosity knew no bounds. He most appreciated those who stepped outside of their expertise.

“One of the biggest things I admire about Michael Jordan, he got condemned a lot for playing baseball. I completely admired that,” Leach told The Associated Press last spring. “I mean, you’re gonna be dead in 100 years anyway. You’ve mastered basketball and you’re gonna go try to master something else, and stick your neck out and you’re not afraid to do it, and know that a lot of people are gonna be watching you while you do it. I thought it was awesome.”

As much as Leach enjoyed digging into topics other than football, he was excellent at the Xs and Os.

Six of the 20 best passing seasons in major college football history were by quarterbacks who played for Leach, including four of the top six.

Calling plays from a folded piece of paper smaller than an index card, Leach turned passers such as B.J. Symons (448.7 yards per game), Graham Harrell (438.8), Connor Halliday (430.3) and Anthony Gordon (429.2) into record-setters and Heisman Trophy contenders.

“You have to make choices and limit what you’re going to teach and what you’re going to do. That’s the hard part,” Leach told the AP about the Air Raid’s economical playbook.

STARKVILLE, MS(AP) —Mike Leach, the gruff, pioneering and unfiltered college football coach who helped revolutionize the passing game with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-college-football-sports-mike-leach-texas-dc84b9b6c1f92acb64d1c5f37f82dd59">the Air Raid offense,</a>&nbsp;has died following complications from a heart condition, Mississippi State said Tuesday. He was 61.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">MSU Bulldog family, college football community mourns the death of Coach Mike Leach<a href="https://t.co/LzWyLyX3xM">https://t.co/LzWyLyX3xM</a>&mdash; Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/HailStateFB/status/1602664206389706755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Leach, who was in his third season as head coach at Mississippi State, fell ill Sunday at his home in Starkville, Mississippi. He was treated at a local hospital before being airlifted to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, about 120 miles (200 kilometers) away.“Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather. He was able to participate in organ donation at UMMC as a final act of charity," the family said in a statement issued by Mississippi State. "We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the hospital staff, and football fans around the world. Thank you for sharing in the joy of our beloved husband and father’s life.”Leach fought through a bout with pneumonia late in this season, coughing uncontrollably at times during news conferences, but seemed to be improving, according to those who worked with him.News of him falling gravely ill swept through college football the past few days and left many who knew him stunned,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Holgorsendana/status/1602140964742696961">hoping and praying</a>&nbsp;for Leach's recovery under grim circumstances.His impact on college football over the last two decades runs deep and will continue for years to come.Leach was known for his pass-happy offenses, wide-ranging interests — he wrote a book about Native American leader Geronimo, had a passion for pirates, a taught a class about insurgent warfare — and rambling, off-the-cuff news conferences.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Forever one of the most innovative minds in history. Our entire department mourns the passing of Coach Leach. <a href="https://t.co/wcsXhDMLTK">pic.twitter.com/wcsXhDMLTK</a>&mdash; Texas Tech Red Raiders (@TechAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/TechAthletics/status/1602672740309270530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Leach’s teams were consistent winners at programs where success did not come easy. In 21 seasons as a head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, Leach went 158-107. And his quarterbacks put up massive passing statistics, running a relatively simple offense called the Air Raid that he did not invent but certainly mastered.An interview with Leach was as likely to veer off into politics, wedding planning or hypothetical mascot fights as it was to stick to football. He considered Donald Trump a friend before the billionaire businessman ran for president and then campaigned for him in 2016.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sending our deepest condolences to the family of Coach Leach and the entire <a href="https://twitter.com/HailStateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HailStateFB</a> program this morning. Incredibly sad day for the entire college football community.&mdash; Lance Leipold (@CoachLeipold) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachLeipold/status/1602684997688852480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He traveled all over the world and his curiosity knew no bounds. He most appreciated those who stepped outside of their expertise.“One of the biggest things I admire about Michael Jordan, he got condemned a lot for playing baseball. I completely admired that,” Leach told The Associated Press last spring. “I mean, you’re gonna be dead in 100 years anyway. You’ve mastered basketball and you’re gonna go try to master something else, and stick your neck out and you’re not afraid to do it, and know that a lot of people are gonna be watching you while you do it. I thought it was awesome.”As much as Leach enjoyed digging into topics other than football, he was excellent at the Xs and Os.Six of the 20 best passing seasons in major college football history were by quarterbacks who played for Leach, including four of the top six.Calling plays from a folded piece of paper smaller than an index card, Leach turned passers such as B.J. Symons (448.7 yards per game), Graham Harrell (438.8), Connor Halliday (430.3) and Anthony Gordon (429.2) into record-setters and Heisman Trophy contenders.“You have to make choices and limit what you’re going to teach and what you’re going to do. That’s the hard part,” Leach told the AP about the Air Raid’s economical playbook.

Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach dies at 61

DENVER (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs own the Denver Broncos — even when Patrick Mahomes throws three interceptions and a 27-0 lead turns into a nail-biter.

Mahomes counterbalanced his mistakes with a trio of touchdown passes and the Chiefs (10-3) outlasted the Broncos 34-28 on Sunday. Russell Wilson left with a concussion early in the fourth quarter as Denver (3-10) lost to Kansas City for the 14th consecutive time.

“Just three bad decisions,” Mahomes said. “Luckily for me, the rest of the team stepped up. Defense made a lot of stops in some critical moments when we were putting them in some bad situations. Even my special teams. (Punter) Tommy (Townsend) flipped the field a couple of times for us.”

Mahomes improved to 10-0 against Denver, becoming the fourth QB to ever beat one team 10 times without a loss. The Chiefs reached double digits in wins for the eighth straight season and they inched closer to their seventh consecutive AFC West crown.

The Broncos, well, they came up short again and lost a one-score game for the seventh time this season under rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett.

The Broncos, who have lost five straight overall and eight consecutive AFC West games for the first time since divisional play began with the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, turned their 27-0 deficit into a ballgame by scoring three touchdowns over a 3 1/2-minute stretch spanning halftime.

Jeudy's third TD came from backup Brett Rypien, making it 34-28 shortly after the Broncos&nbsp;lost Wilson to a concussion&nbsp;on a 14-yard scramble to the Chiefs 2.

Rypien had a chance to put the Broncos ahead following linebacker Josey Jewell's second interception of the game with just under six minutes left. But Rypien was hit by Chris Jones just as he released a deep throw toward Jeudy, and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed picked off the high pass with 4:21 remaining.

A personal foul on Frank Clark after that interception pushed the Chiefs back to their 15-yard line, but Mahomes &amp; Co. chewed up the rest of the clock, never letting the Broncos get another crack at the upset.

Mahomes threw for 352 yards and one of his three touchdowns was a&nbsp;no-look hook pass&nbsp;to Jerick McKinnon, who had two TD catches.

Mahomes was scrambling for a first down when he shook defensive lineman D.J. Jones and flung a pass across his body to a wide-open McKinnon, who raced down Denver's dejected sideline for a 56-yard touchdown and a 13-0 lead.

“I was committed to running,” Mahomes said, “and I saw I was about to get hit like I did last week in Cincinnati, so I just kind of flicked it. I was just trying to get it to him whatever way possible.”

Mahomes and McKinnon connected on a more traditional 10-yard TD on Kansas City's next possession. At that point, Mahomes had 224 passing yards to Wilson's 33, but things would get even worse for Denver's scuffling quarterback before they got better.

On fourth-and-2 at his own 45-yard line, Wilson tried to throw a screen pass to Brandon Johnson but didn't get it high enough. Linebacker Willie Gay reached up and&nbsp;deflected the throw, corralled the ball in his left hand and stiff-armed Wilson with his right, sending him tumbling as he raced 47 yards for the touchdown.

“I was an athlete all through high school,” Gay said, “so I knew I was going to be able to get that.”

His pick-6 put the Chiefs in charge at 27-0 with 4:32 left in the half.

Jeudy caught his first two touchdown passes, from 18 and 5 yards out, after Mahomes uncharacteristically threw interceptions — to Josey Jewell and Patrick Surtain II — on consecutive possessions, making it 27-14 at the half.

On the opening drive after halftime, running back&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1602076235122630658">Marlon Mack</a>&nbsp;caught a short pass from Wilson and raced 66 yards for the end zone to pull Denver within 27-21.

Mahomes countered with a 4-yard TD strike to JuJu Smith-Schuster.

“Luckily we got the win,” Mahomes said. “But you don't win a lot of games when you've got three interceptions.”

By improving to 10-0 against the Broncos, Mahomes joined Andrew Luck, who started 11-0 against the Titans; Tom Brady, who went 10-0 against the Falcons; and John Elway, who won his first 10 against the Patriots.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Mahomes had a difficult day connecting, but coach Andy Reid said, “you've got to give a couple of shout-outs to Kelce” after he caught four passes (out of nine targets) for 71 yards.

That made Kelce the first tight end in NFL history to record seven straight 1,000-yard seasons, and he became the fifth tight end to top 10,000 yards, joining Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Antonio Gates and Shannon Sharpe.

“Honestly," Kelce said, “right now the winning means more than any of those stats.”

The Chiefs play at Houston this Sunday at noon. The game will be on KFEQ (680, 95.3) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670846811726.jpeg" alt="Willie Gay (50) had a pick-six in the first half of the Chiefs' 34-28 win at Denver. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Willie Gay (50) had a pick-six in the first half of the Chiefs' 34-28 win at Denver. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>St. Joseph PostDENVER (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs own the Denver Broncos — even when Patrick Mahomes throws three interceptions and a 27-0 lead turns into a nail-biter.Mahomes counterbalanced his mistakes with a trio of touchdown passes and the Chiefs (10-3) outlasted the Broncos 34-28 on Sunday. Russell Wilson left with a concussion early in the fourth quarter as Denver (3-10) lost to Kansas City for the 14th consecutive time.“Just three bad decisions,” Mahomes said. “Luckily for me, the rest of the team stepped up. Defense made a lot of stops in some critical moments when we were putting them in some bad situations. Even my special teams. (Punter) Tommy (Townsend) flipped the field a couple of times for us.”Mahomes improved to 10-0 against Denver, becoming the fourth QB to ever beat one team 10 times without a loss. The Chiefs reached double digits in wins for the eighth straight season and they inched closer to their seventh consecutive AFC West crown.The Broncos, well, they came up short again and lost a one-score game for the seventh time this season under rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett.The Broncos, who have lost five straight overall and eight consecutive AFC West games for the first time since divisional play began with the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, turned their 27-0 deficit into a ballgame by scoring three touchdowns over a 3 1/2-minute stretch spanning halftime.Jeudy's third TD came from backup Brett Rypien, making it 34-28 shortly after the Broncos&nbsp;lost Wilson to a concussion&nbsp;on a 14-yard scramble to the Chiefs 2.Rypien had a chance to put the Broncos ahead following linebacker Josey Jewell's second interception of the game with just under six minutes left. But Rypien was hit by Chris Jones just as he released a deep throw toward Jeudy, and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed picked off the high pass with 4:21 remaining.A personal foul on Frank Clark after that interception pushed the Chiefs back to their 15-yard line, but Mahomes &amp; Co. chewed up the rest of the clock, never letting the Broncos get another crack at the upset.Mahomes threw for 352 yards and one of his three touchdowns was a&nbsp;no-look hook pass&nbsp;to Jerick McKinnon, who had two TD catches.Mahomes was scrambling for a first down when he shook defensive lineman D.J. Jones and flung a pass across his body to a wide-open McKinnon, who raced down Denver's dejected sideline for a 56-yard touchdown and a 13-0 lead.“I was committed to running,” Mahomes said, “and I saw I was about to get hit like I did last week in Cincinnati, so I just kind of flicked it. I was just trying to get it to him whatever way possible.”Mahomes and McKinnon connected on a more traditional 10-yard TD on Kansas City's next possession. At that point, Mahomes had 224 passing yards to Wilson's 33, but things would get even worse for Denver's scuffling quarterback before they got better.On fourth-and-2 at his own 45-yard line, Wilson tried to throw a screen pass to Brandon Johnson but didn't get it high enough. Linebacker Willie Gay reached up and&nbsp;deflected the throw, corralled the ball in his left hand and stiff-armed Wilson with his right, sending him tumbling as he raced 47 yards for the touchdown.“I was an athlete all through high school,” Gay said, “so I knew I was going to be able to get that.”His pick-6 put the Chiefs in charge at 27-0 with 4:32 left in the half.Jeudy caught his first two touchdown passes, from 18 and 5 yards out, after Mahomes uncharacteristically threw interceptions — to Josey Jewell and Patrick Surtain II — on consecutive possessions, making it 27-14 at the half.On the opening drive after halftime, running back&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1602076235122630658">Marlon Mack</a>&nbsp;caught a short pass from Wilson and raced 66 yards for the end zone to pull Denver within 27-21.Mahomes countered with a 4-yard TD strike to JuJu Smith-Schuster.“Luckily we got the win,” Mahomes said. “But you don't win a lot of games when you've got three interceptions.”SELECT COMPANYBy improving to 10-0 against the Broncos, Mahomes joined Andrew Luck, who started 11-0 against the Titans; Tom Brady, who went 10-0 against the Falcons; and John Elway, who won his first 10 against the Patriots.KELCE 10KChiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Mahomes had a difficult day connecting, but coach Andy Reid said, “you've got to give a couple of shout-outs to Kelce” after he caught four passes (out of nine targets) for 71 yards.That made Kelce the first tight end in NFL history to record seven straight 1,000-yard seasons, and he became the fifth tight end to top 10,000 yards, joining Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Antonio Gates and Shannon Sharpe.“Honestly," Kelce said, “right now the winning means more than any of those stats.”The Chiefs play at Houston this Sunday at noon. The game will be on KFEQ (680, 95.3) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

Mahomes, Chiefs outlast the Broncos in Denver Sunday

The Missouri Western women's basketball team went blow-for-blow with Fort Hays State in the first half, and the Griffons opened the second half on a 10-0 run to go up 35-27 with 7:54 left in the third.

Hays (7-3, 3-0 MIAA) hit back with runs of their own, including a 13-3 run midway through the fourth quarter, and the Tigers prevailed 64-58 at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday.

The Griffons (7-4, 2-2 MIAA) trailed by only two entering the fourth, but fell behind 52-44 with 6:02 remaining, and then back-to-back buckets by Hays' Olivia Hollenbeck put the Tigers up 56-47 with 3:33 left.

Missouri Western got back to within five, but never any closer.

"I thought we had people just nowhere to be found in the building that we depend on," Missouri Western women's basketball coach Candi Whitaker said. "I thought we made a lot of mistakes defensively that created offense for them in the first half."

Fort Hays State outrebounded Missouri Western in the fourth quarter 12-4, including 6-1 on the offensive glass. In fact, 10 of Fort Hays State's 13 offensive boards came in the second half.

The Tigers also turned 14 Missouri Western turnovers into 19 points the other way.

Fort Hays State also cashed in on 15-of-23 free throw attempts, while Missouri Western was just 4-of-7 at the line. Three-point shooting was also a factor.

The Griffons made just two of their first 20 three-point attempts and finished 4-of-24 from downtown. Hays was 9-of-24.

"Had some moments of good things, but too many turnovers," Whitaker said. "We couldn't make a shot for the longest time. When you can't make a shot, you have to find your way to the foul line, and obviously we did not."

Freshman Cleao Murray led the Griffons with a career-high 17 points. Junior Connie Clarke had 13 points and six rebounds. Junior Trinity Knapp logged eight points and six boards.

"Trinity Knapp was unbelievable in the first half defensively," Whitaker said. "She was taking things away from all over and not just Hollenbeck."

"Really proud of (Cleao) and really thought her last two games have been fantastic."

Sophomore Katie Wagner led Fort Hays State with 17 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Olivia Hollenbeck scored 13 points, nine of that in the second half, to go with seven rebounds.

Missouri Western is on the road on Saturday, December 17 at Washburn. The women will play at 1 p.m., the men at 3 p.m. Both games will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670712462263.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Kassandra Caron (42) tries to shoot over a defender during the Griffons' 65-58 loss to Fort Hays State on Saturday. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Kassandra Caron (42) tries to shoot over a defender during the Griffons' 65-58 loss to Fort Hays State on Saturday. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team went blow-for-blow with Fort Hays State in the first half, and the Griffons opened the second half on a 10-0 run to go up 35-27 with 7:54 left in the third.Hays (7-3, 3-0 MIAA) hit back with runs of their own, including a 13-3 run midway through the fourth quarter, and the Tigers prevailed 64-58 at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday.The Griffons (7-4, 2-2 MIAA) trailed by only two entering the fourth, but fell behind 52-44 with 6:02 remaining, and then back-to-back buckets by Hays' Olivia Hollenbeck put the Tigers up 56-47 with 3:33 left.Missouri Western got back to within five, but never any closer."I thought we had people just nowhere to be found in the building that we depend on," Missouri Western women's basketball coach Candi Whitaker said. "I thought we made a lot of mistakes defensively that created offense for them in the first half."Fort Hays State outrebounded Missouri Western in the fourth quarter 12-4, including 6-1 on the offensive glass. In fact, 10 of Fort Hays State's 13 offensive boards came in the second half.The Tigers also turned 14 Missouri Western turnovers into 19 points the other way.Fort Hays State also cashed in on 15-of-23 free throw attempts, while Missouri Western was just 4-of-7 at the line. Three-point shooting was also a factor.The Griffons made just two of their first 20 three-point attempts and finished 4-of-24 from downtown. Hays was 9-of-24."Had some moments of good things, but too many turnovers," Whitaker said. "We couldn't make a shot for the longest time. When you can't make a shot, you have to find your way to the foul line, and obviously we did not."Freshman Cleao Murray led the Griffons with a career-high 17 points. Junior Connie Clarke had 13 points and six rebounds. Junior Trinity Knapp logged eight points and six boards."Trinity Knapp was unbelievable in the first half defensively," Whitaker said. "She was taking things away from all over and not just Hollenbeck.""Really proud of (Cleao) and really thought her last two games have been fantastic."Sophomore Katie Wagner led Fort Hays State with 17 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Olivia Hollenbeck scored 13 points, nine of that in the second half, to go with seven rebounds.Missouri Western is on the road on Saturday, December 17 at Washburn. The women will play at 1 p.m., the men at 3 p.m. Both games will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western falls at home to Fort Hays State Saturday

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Grant Wahl, one of the most well-known soccer writers in the United States, died early Saturday while covering the World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands. He was 48.

U.S. media seated near him said Wahl fell back in his seat in a section of Lusail Stadium reserved for journalists during extra time of the game, and reporters adjacent to him called for assistance.

Emergency services workers responded very quickly, treated him for 20 or 30 minutes on the spot and then took him out on a stretcher, said Keir Radnedge, a veteran British sports journalist who was working nearby at the time.

The World Cup organizing committee said he was taken to Doha's Hamad General Hospital, but it did not state a cause of death. “We are in touch with the US Embassy and relevant local authorities to ensure the process of repatriating the body is in accordance with the family’s wishes,” it said in a statement.

Wahl, who wrote for Sports Illustrated for a decade then started his own website, was a major voice in introducing professional soccer to an American public more used to seeing the sport as a school-level game. He also brought a critical eye to the organizational bodies of the international sport.

He “really helped put soccer on the mainstream sports map in the States,” Radnedge said.

“Grant had a strong moral compass, on where sports should be and how sport ... should help set standards for people,” he said. “There was never any doubt that Grant was on the side of the good guys in wanting soccer to make the best of itself.”

Wahl was covering his eighth World Cup. He wrote Monday on his website that he had&nbsp;<a href="https://grantwahl.substack.com/p/world-cup-daily-day-22">visited a medical clinic</a>&nbsp;while in Qatar.

“My body finally broke down on me. Three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you,” Wahl wrote. “What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort.”

Wahl wrote that he tested negative for COVID-19 and sought treatment for his symptoms.

“I went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis. They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. But still: No bueno,” he wrote.

Wahl tweeted on Wednesday that he had celebrated his birthday that day.

“We could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game, and its major protagonists,” the U.S. Soccer Federation said in a statement. “Grant’s belief in the power of the game to advance human rights was, and will remain, an inspiration to all. Grant made soccer his life’s work, and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us.”

Wahl's wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, tweeted that she was thankful for the support of her husband’s “soccer family” and friends who had reached out.

“&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/celinegounder/status/1601404727014879232?s=20&amp;t=Wpv4uCqNxr74RB-kYxrn-w">I’m in complete shock</a>,” wrote Gounder, who is an associate professor at New York University School of Medicine, an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital Center and a CBS News contributor.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/StateDeptSpox/status/1601419687619067904">in a tweet</a>&nbsp;that American officials were in touch with Qatari authorities “to see to it that his family’s wishes are fulfilled as expeditiously as possible."

<a href="https://grantwahl.substack.com/p/an-unexpected-detention-by-world">Wahl wore a rainbow T-shirt in support of LGBTQ rights to the United States' World Cup opener against Wales on Nov. 21</a>&nbsp;and wrote that security refused him entry and told him to remove the shirt. Gay and lesbian sex is criminalized in Qatar, a conservative Muslim emirate.

Wahl wrote he was detained for 25 minutes at Ahmed Bin Ali stadium in Al Rayyan, then was let go by a security commander. Wahl said FIFA apologized to him.

Among Wahl’s work before he began covering soccer exclusively was&nbsp;<a href="https://vault.si.com/vault/2002/02/18/ahead-of-his-class-ohio-high-school-junior-lebron-james-is-so-good-that-hes-already-being-mentioned-as-the-heir-to-air-jordan">a Sports Illustrated cover story</a>&nbsp;about LeBron James in 2002, when James was a junior at St. Vincent-St. Mary High in Akron, Ohio.

“He was always pretty cool to be around. He spent a lot of time in my hometown of Akron,” James said in Philadelphia after the Los Angeles Lakers lost in overtime to the 76ers. “Any time his name would come up, I’ll always think back to me as a teenager having Grant in our building down at St. V’s. It’s a tragic loss. It’s unfortunate to lose someone as great as he was. I wish his family the best. May he rest in paradise.”

A voter at times in FIFA’s annual awards, Wahl was among 82 journalists honored last week by FIFA and the international sports press association AIPS for attending eight or more World Cups.

“His love for football was immense and his reporting will be missed by all who follow the global game,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.

Wahl graduated from Princeton in 1996 and worked for Sports Illustrated from 1996 to 2021, known primarily for his coverage of soccer and college basketball. He then launched his own website.

Wahl also worked for Fox Sports from 2012-19.

His death at the World Cup left fellow journalists covering the games stunned.

“You come to a World Cup as a journalist to work, to share the stresses, the pressures but also the enjoyments and the fascination of it — and to share that with your readers, your listeners, your viewers. That’s what Grant was doing, that’s what he enjoyed doing. Everybody recognized that enthusiasm in him,” Radnedge said.

“So for him to not be with us anymore at such a young age, that’s an immense shock.”

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Grant Wahl, one of the most well-known soccer writers in the United States, died early Saturday while covering the World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands. He was 48.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Just now: Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.” <a href="https://t.co/TvSGThMYq8">pic.twitter.com/TvSGThMYq8</a>&mdash; Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantWahl/status/1594721724746338305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. media seated near him said Wahl fell back in his seat in a section of Lusail Stadium reserved for journalists during extra time of the game, and reporters adjacent to him called for assistance.Emergency services workers responded very quickly, treated him for 20 or 30 minutes on the spot and then took him out on a stretcher, said Keir Radnedge, a veteran British sports journalist who was working nearby at the time.The World Cup organizing committee said he was taken to Doha's Hamad General Hospital, but it did not state a cause of death. “We are in touch with the US Embassy and relevant local authorities to ensure the process of repatriating the body is in accordance with the family’s wishes,” it said in a statement.Wahl, who wrote for Sports Illustrated for a decade then started his own website, was a major voice in introducing professional soccer to an American public more used to seeing the sport as a school-level game. He also brought a critical eye to the organizational bodies of the international sport.He “really helped put soccer on the mainstream sports map in the States,” Radnedge said.“Grant had a strong moral compass, on where sports should be and how sport ... should help set standards for people,” he said. “There was never any doubt that Grant was on the side of the good guys in wanting soccer to make the best of itself.”Wahl was covering his eighth World Cup. He wrote Monday on his website that he had&nbsp;<a href="https://grantwahl.substack.com/p/world-cup-daily-day-22">visited a medical clinic</a>&nbsp;while in Qatar.“My body finally broke down on me. Three weeks of little sleep, high stress and lots of work can do that to you,” Wahl wrote. “What had been a cold over the last 10 days turned into something more severe on the night of the USA-Netherlands game, and I could feel my upper chest take on a new level of pressure and discomfort.”Wahl wrote that he tested negative for COVID-19 and sought treatment for his symptoms.“I went into the medical clinic at the main media center today, and they said I probably have bronchitis. They gave me a course of antibiotics and some heavy-duty cough syrup, and I’m already feeling a bit better just a few hours later. But still: No bueno,” he wrote.Wahl tweeted on Wednesday that he had celebrated his birthday that day.“We could always count on Grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game, and its major protagonists,” the U.S. Soccer Federation said in a statement. “Grant’s belief in the power of the game to advance human rights was, and will remain, an inspiration to all. Grant made soccer his life’s work, and we are devastated that he and his brilliant writing will no longer be with us.”Wahl's wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, tweeted that she was thankful for the support of her husband’s “soccer family” and friends who had reached out.“&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/celinegounder/status/1601404727014879232?s=20&amp;t=Wpv4uCqNxr74RB-kYxrn-w">I’m in complete shock</a>,” wrote Gounder, who is an associate professor at New York University School of Medicine, an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital Center and a CBS News contributor.U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/StateDeptSpox/status/1601419687619067904">in a tweet</a>&nbsp;that American officials were in touch with Qatari authorities “to see to it that his family’s wishes are fulfilled as expeditiously as possible."<a href="https://grantwahl.substack.com/p/an-unexpected-detention-by-world">Wahl wore a rainbow T-shirt in support of LGBTQ rights to the United States' World Cup opener against Wales on Nov. 21</a>&nbsp;and wrote that security refused him entry and told him to remove the shirt. Gay and lesbian sex is criminalized in Qatar, a conservative Muslim emirate.Wahl wrote he was detained for 25 minutes at Ahmed Bin Ali stadium in Al Rayyan, then was let go by a security commander. Wahl said FIFA apologized to him.Among Wahl’s work before he began covering soccer exclusively was&nbsp;<a href="https://vault.si.com/vault/2002/02/18/ahead-of-his-class-ohio-high-school-junior-lebron-james-is-so-good-that-hes-already-being-mentioned-as-the-heir-to-air-jordan">a Sports Illustrated cover story</a>&nbsp;about LeBron James in 2002, when James was a junior at St. Vincent-St. Mary High in Akron, Ohio.“He was always pretty cool to be around. He spent a lot of time in my hometown of Akron,” James said in Philadelphia after the Los Angeles Lakers lost in overtime to the 76ers. “Any time his name would come up, I’ll always think back to me as a teenager having Grant in our building down at St. V’s. It’s a tragic loss. It’s unfortunate to lose someone as great as he was. I wish his family the best. May he rest in paradise.”A voter at times in FIFA’s annual awards, Wahl was among 82 journalists honored last week by FIFA and the international sports press association AIPS for attending eight or more World Cups.“His love for football was immense and his reporting will be missed by all who follow the global game,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">U.S. Soccer Statement On The Passing Of Grant Wahl: <a href="https://t.co/CBp1mCK1mQ">pic.twitter.com/CBp1mCK1mQ</a>&mdash; U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/1601401947692863489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Wahl graduated from Princeton in 1996 and worked for Sports Illustrated from 1996 to 2021, known primarily for his coverage of soccer and college basketball. He then launched his own website.Wahl also worked for Fox Sports from 2012-19.His death at the World Cup left fellow journalists covering the games stunned.“You come to a World Cup as a journalist to work, to share the stresses, the pressures but also the enjoyments and the fascination of it — and to share that with your readers, your listeners, your viewers. That’s what Grant was doing, that’s what he enjoyed doing. Everybody recognized that enthusiasm in him,” Radnedge said.“So for him to not be with us anymore at such a young age, that’s an immense shock.”

⚽️ Writer Grant Wahl, who wore rainbow shirt to World Cup, dies in Qatar

The Missouri Western women's basketball team fell behind a couple of times in the first half, and after a back-and-forth start, it seemed the lead might change hands many times.

The Griffons (7-3, 2-1 MIAA) grabbed the lead back at 24-23 with 5:08 left in the second quarter off of a Brionna Budgets three-pointer, and Missouri Western never trailed again in a 68-65 win over No. 22 Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The game remained a single-digit affair for the next 2.5 quarters, but the Griffons led by as many as nine on a couple of different occasions, and they held off a late push from UNK to score a key, early season win over the Lopers.

"I loved our defense," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "We ran a lot of people in and out to try to be as up tempo as we could defensively and really fly around and play really hard and I thought we did that."

Missouri Western led 56-47 with 6:39 to play, and were still up 64-57 with 3:18 remaining. Nebraska-Kearney (9-2, 2-1 MIAA) then had a 6-0 run to pull within 64-63 with 1:08 to go.

With both teams in the double bonus, junior Connie Clarke got to the free throw line twice in the final minute, making three out of four attempts to put the Griffons up 67-63 with 11 seconds to go.

Kearney had one more look at a tying three with 0.6 seconds left, but Clarke blocked the attempt from Trinity Law.

Clarke was defended hard all night, but she still finished with seven points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block.

"I can't say enough about Connie all year," Whitaker emphasized. "She wasn't necessarily there a ton tonight offensively, but my goodness she has now had three tight ball games where she has come up with a play defensively to ice the game for us and give us an opportunity to win it at the end."

Junior Jordan Cunningham led Missouri Western Thursday with 14 points and a career-high eight rebounds.

"After losing that tough game to (Missouri Southern Saturday 75-69), we really went back and really evaluated ourselves and what we did wrong and really flipped that switch tonight," Cunningham said. "It was almost the same case and we really showed that we can finish out games. I think that was a great step for us and a big improvement."

Budgets had 13 points for the Griffons, while freshman Cleao Murray scored 10. Junior Trinity Knapp had eight points and six rebounds in her second start of the season. Sophomore Alyssa Bonilla did big things off the bench, especially in the second half, and she finished with five points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals.

Law led UNK with 20 points on four made threes. Fifth-year senior Elisa Backes scored 17 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

The win Thursday marked the first victory over Nebraska-Kearney at home for Missouri Western women's basketball since January 2017. It's the first regular season over UNK for Candi Whitaker, and it's also the second ranked team the Griffons have beat this season.

"I think tonight just shows how much we've improved just from the games we've already played," Cunningham said. "I think it's a huge win in general for (coach) Whitaker and for the team and I'm just really proud of everybody."

Missouri Western stays home to face (RV) Fort Hays State (6-3, 2-0 MIAA) on Saturday. Tip-off from the MWSU Fieldhouse is set for 1:30 p.m. Coverage starts at 1 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670555039132.jpeg" alt="Photo by Chris Roush." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chris Roush.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team fell behind a couple of times in the first half, and after a back-and-forth start, it seemed the lead might change hands many times.The Griffons (7-3, 2-1 MIAA) grabbed the lead back at 24-23 with 5:08 left in the second quarter off of a Brionna Budgets three-pointer, and Missouri Western never trailed again in a 68-65 win over No. 22 Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse.The game remained a single-digit affair for the next 2.5 quarters, but the Griffons led by as many as nine on a couple of different occasions, and they held off a late push from UNK to score a key, early season win over the Lopers."I loved our defense," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "We ran a lot of people in and out to try to be as up tempo as we could defensively and really fly around and play really hard and I thought we did that."Missouri Western led 56-47 with 6:39 to play, and were still up 64-57 with 3:18 remaining. Nebraska-Kearney (9-2, 2-1 MIAA) then had a 6-0 run to pull within 64-63 with 1:08 to go.With both teams in the double bonus, junior Connie Clarke got to the free throw line twice in the final minute, making three out of four attempts to put the Griffons up 67-63 with 11 seconds to go.Kearney had one more look at a tying three with 0.6 seconds left, but Clarke blocked the attempt from Trinity Law.Clarke was defended hard all night, but she still finished with seven points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block."I can't say enough about Connie all year," Whitaker emphasized. "She wasn't necessarily there a ton tonight offensively, but my goodness she has now had three tight ball games where she has come up with a play defensively to ice the game for us and give us an opportunity to win it at the end."Junior Jordan Cunningham led Missouri Western Thursday with 14 points and a career-high eight rebounds."After losing that tough game to (Missouri Southern Saturday 75-69), we really went back and really evaluated ourselves and what we did wrong and really flipped that switch tonight," Cunningham said. "It was almost the same case and we really showed that we can finish out games. I think that was a great step for us and a big improvement."Budgets had 13 points for the Griffons, while freshman Cleao Murray scored 10. Junior Trinity Knapp had eight points and six rebounds in her second start of the season. Sophomore Alyssa Bonilla did big things off the bench, especially in the second half, and she finished with five points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals.Law led UNK with 20 points on four made threes. Fifth-year senior Elisa Backes scored 17 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and two steals.The win Thursday marked the first victory over Nebraska-Kearney at home for Missouri Western women's basketball since January 2017. It's the first regular season over UNK for Candi Whitaker, and it's also the second ranked team the Griffons have beat this season."I think tonight just shows how much we've improved just from the games we've already played," Cunningham said. "I think it's a huge win in general for (coach) Whitaker and for the team and I'm just really proud of everybody."Missouri Western stays home to face (RV) Fort Hays State (6-3, 2-0 MIAA) on Saturday. Tip-off from the MWSU Fieldhouse is set for 1:30 p.m. Coverage starts at 1 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).Postgame interviews<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-WBB-coach-Candi-Whitaker---UNK-postgame-12822-e1s067n" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-junior-Jordan-Cunningham---UNK-postgame-12822-e1s0697" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western WBB tops No. 22 Nebraska-Kearney Thursday

Tyler Fenwick made memories to last a lifetime during his six years as the Missouri Western football team's offensive coordinator from 2007-2012.

Not only did the Griffons go a combined 53-18 during that time and average 35.1 points per game in the process, but Fenwick developed lasting relationships with players, alums and community members.

Relationships that would ultimately, a decade later, pave his road back to St. Joseph as the seventh head coach in Missouri Western football history.

He credits his old boss, former Missouri Western head coach Jerry Partridge, for making it possible.

"He gave me the opportunity to run the offense here," Fenwick said Thursday at his introductory press conference at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

"He allowed me to coach his son (quarterback Travis Partridge). We had a lot of success here and a lot of fun and the staff we had here, they're memories you don't forget."

Missouri Western athletic director Andy Carter made the announcement on November 13, one day after the 2022 season ended, that there would be a change in leadership for Griffon football.

Over a span of just 24 days, Carter worked with Russell Wright and Collegiate Consulting to navigate through a field of over 100 candidates who applied.

On Thanksgiving night, Carter narrowed the field from 100 candidates to 11. By the evening of Black Friday, that list was narrowed to seven.

The more he heard from and heard about Tyler Fenwick, the more convinced Carter was that Missouri Western found their guy. Fenwick was announced the Griffons' head coach on December 6.

"A real kicker on the back end of this was that he had been here before," Carter said. "He had seen us have success and had been a part of that success. He's tied into the alums. That wasn't the primary part of this, but that put it over the top for me. The candidate pool was crazy good."

For Fenwick, who coached Southeastern Oklahoma State in the Live United Bowl this past Saturday, the process of accepting the job and getting to his introductory press conference all culminated in less than a week's time.

"It was like, 'Hey, do you want the job? Yes, I want the job. Okay, be here tomorrow, let's get this going,'" Fenwick explained. "We drove up here (Wednesday) night, and lo and behold with three kids, we had to go to Target to make sure we got some pants."

Fenwick has accumulated 10 years of head coaching experience since leaving Missouri Western in 2012. He was the head coach of Division II Missouri S&amp;T in Rolla from 2013-2018.

Taking over a Miners program that had just five winning seasons from 1986-2012, Fenwick led S&amp;T to a 10-2 season in 2018 and took the program to just its second bowl game appearance in history.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670535921063.jpeg" alt="MWSU football Tyler Fenwick delivers remarks at his opening press conference at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>MWSU football Tyler Fenwick delivers remarks at his opening press conference at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostTyler Fenwick made memories to last a lifetime during his six years as the Missouri Western football team's offensive coordinator from 2007-2012.Not only did the Griffons go a combined 53-18 during that time and average 35.1 points per game in the process, but Fenwick developed lasting relationships with players, alums and community members.Relationships that would ultimately, a decade later, pave his road back to St. Joseph as the seventh head coach in Missouri Western football history.He credits his old boss, former Missouri Western head coach Jerry Partridge, for making it possible."He gave me the opportunity to run the offense here," Fenwick said Thursday at his introductory press conference at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex."He allowed me to coach his son (quarterback Travis Partridge). We had a lot of success here and a lot of fun and the staff we had here, they're memories you don't forget."Missouri Western athletic director Andy Carter made the announcement on November 13, one day after the 2022 season ended, that there would be a change in leadership for Griffon football.Over a span of just 24 days, Carter worked with Russell Wright and Collegiate Consulting to navigate through a field of over 100 candidates who applied.On Thanksgiving night, Carter narrowed the field from 100 candidates to 11. By the evening of Black Friday, that list was narrowed to seven.The more he heard from and heard about Tyler Fenwick, the more convinced Carter was that Missouri Western found their guy. Fenwick was announced the Griffons' head coach on December 6."A real kicker on the back end of this was that he had been here before," Carter said. "He had seen us have success and had been a part of that success. He's tied into the alums. That wasn't the primary part of this, but that put it over the top for me. The candidate pool was crazy good."For Fenwick, who coached Southeastern Oklahoma State in the Live United Bowl this past Saturday, the process of accepting the job and getting to his introductory press conference all culminated in less than a week's time."It was like, 'Hey, do you want the job? Yes, I want the job. Okay, be here tomorrow, let's get this going,'" Fenwick explained. "We drove up here (Wednesday) night, and lo and behold with three kids, we had to go to Target to make sure we got some pants."Fenwick has accumulated 10 years of head coaching experience since leaving Missouri Western in 2012. He was the head coach of Division II Missouri S&amp;T in Rolla from 2013-2018.Taking over a Miners program that had just five winning seasons from 1986-2012, Fenwick led S&amp;T to a 10-2 season in 2018 and took the program to just its second bowl game appearance in history.That season earned him the honor of Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year.In 2019, Fenwick took the head coaching job at Southeastern Oklahoma State - a DII school in the Great American Conference.After a 1-10 record in '19, and after COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season, a combined 31 starters and second string players&nbsp; stayed and helped Fenwick lead the Savage Storm to a 9-3 finish and a Live United Bowl victory over Emporia State in 2021.That season earned him the honor of Great American Conference Coach of the Year."I've been a head coach now for 10 years," Fenwick said. "Which seems like it's flown by. Doesn't feel like it's been that long. I've been a head coach now at two different institutions. Both great places and both allowed me to be who I am."Fenwick inherits a Missouri Western team coming off of a 5-6 season in 2022 - the Griffons' first losing season since 2017. He inherits a roster of 93 total players, though numerous Griffons have since entered the transfer portal, including sophomore running back and last year's MIAA Freshman of the Year Brandon Hall.More over, Missouri Western football hasn't been to the playoffs since&nbsp; 2012 - Fenwick's last year as offensive coordinator. While it's hard to know exactly when the Griffons will get back to that point, Fenwick took this job to fully embrace that challenge, going against a stout MIAA conference."I've got to make sure I put the surrounding people around me and have the roster so we can compete with the big dogs in the MIAA," Fenwick said. "It's a tough conference. Every week is a tough week. That's why we get into coaching. That's the challenge and competition of it."Missouri Western football is a member of perhaps the best DII conference in the nation with top notch facilities. Its campus, 50 minutes north of Kansas City, has been the host of Kansas City Chiefs training camp for over a decade.The location, revenue, resources and passion are all there. Now, Fenwick hopes to unleash the program's potential, and lead the Griffons back to where they haven't been since he left in 2012 - competing for an MIAA title. Getting into the playoffs. Winning playoff games."It's going to come down to building a culture and staff and development system and coaching these guys up to let them be successful," Fenwick said. "I can tell you the team we put on the field in September is going to be a physical football team, a fast football team and a disciplined football team. All of those things, that's a process you have to go through."Other news and notesCarter confirmed that co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Patrick St. Louis was retained and helped run the recruiting and day-to-day activities of the program.Graduate assistants Dalton Franks, Clay Marshall, Bryce Bailey and Ace Ventura also stayed back to help with those things. The shape of the future staff, Carter says, will be up to Fenwick."He loves the program and is an alum," Carter said of coach St. Louis. "He's done a fantastic job for us and keeping things on the rails and moving forward and communicating with our recruits and student-athletes. At the end of the day, coach Fenwick will decide who's on staff."Fenwick had his first team meeting on Thursday afternoon following the press conference.&nbsp;Fenwick's record as a head coach is 53-48. He was 37-29 at Missouri S&amp;T from 2013-2018, and 16-19 at SEOSU from 2019-2022.The Savage Storm, like MWSU, played two unofficial games in 2020. One of those was a 12-9 win over Emporia State in the spring of 2021 in a scrimmage.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670537661229.jpeg" alt="MWSU athletic director Andy Carter addresses the room at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex on Thursday before introducing Tyler Fenwick as the Griffons' next head football coach. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>MWSU athletic director Andy Carter addresses the room at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex on Thursday before introducing Tyler Fenwick as the Griffons' next head football coach. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670537780491.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western president Elizabeth Kennedy delivers remarks Thursday at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western president Elizabeth Kennedy delivers remarks Thursday at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.</figcaption>
 </figure>AUDIO<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-football-coach-Tyler-Fenwick-media-QA---12822-e1rvqc3" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-athletic-director-Andy-Carter-media-QA---12822-e1rvqfo" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.