Two MSSU women's track and field athletes earn Academic All-District recognition

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern State University senior Morgan Ash and junior Elena Bisotto were named to the Academic All-District Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team, selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) on Friday.

This is the second straight year that Ash and Bisotto have earned the honor.

Ash, a Biology/Pre-Physical Therapy major has a cumulative 3.80 GPA while Bisotto, a biology major has a perfect 4.00 GPA.

Ash is the school record holder for the javelin with a throw of 51.45 meters (168 feet, 9 inches). She holds four of the top ten marks in Southern history including three of the top four marks in the event.
Bissoto, who was a finalist for the MIAA Winter Women's Athlete of the Year, holds the No.3 spot in the performer's list in outdoor pole vault as she cleared 3.98 meters (13 feet, 0.75 inches). She holds the No. 2 mark in the Southern performer's list for the indoor portion of the season after she cleared 4.04 meters (13 feet, 3 inches).

The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Selections are made for track & field/cross country honorees separately in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Honorees selected first-team Academic All-District® will advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. Academic All-America honorees will be announced next month.

Missouri Southern is part of District 7, which puts the Lions up against student-athletes in the MIAA, the Great American Conference and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The group is two of four MIAA student-athletes that made up the All-District team.

MSSU men's basketball announces changes in camp schedule

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern Men's Basketball program has announced some changes to its summer camp schedules for this year.

The Lions will be putting on three different camps this year that will give attendees the chance to hone their skills with some of the nation's best coaches.

Southern will host a team camp on June 19-20 on the campus of Missouri Southern. The costs will be $375 per team for two days or $200 per team if only competing on one day. Six games will be played with a single-elimination tournament to finish up the camp and shirts will be provided for each team member.

There will be an individual day camp on July 20-23 for grades 1-9 with a cost of $85 per player. Times will be from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm with a lunch break from noon to 1 pm. To register for the camp, please go to www.abcsportscamps.com/mssumbb.

Finally, Southern will provide an elite camp on August 16 from 1-5 pm for grades 9-12. Cost to attend the elite camp is $50.

For more information on any of the camps, please contact assistant coach Cody Seidel at seidel-c@mssu.edu or 573-680-9063.

Twenty-one MSSU track and field athletes named All-Americans

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Board of Directors and Division II Track & Field Executive Committee announced that 21 individuals from Missouri Southern's track and field teams have been named All-Americans.

Jasmine Deckard earned All-American honors in three events, the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash and joined Elizabeth Adeoye, Chardae Overstreet and LaNea Wallace in the 4x400-meter relay. Deckard was No. 2 in the 200-meter dash and No. 7 in the 60-meter going into the NCAA Championships. Cornesia Calhoun-White and Kiara Smith were All-Americans in the 60-meter hurdles.

Southern earned four in the pole vault. Emily Presley will lead the way as she is ranked No. 1 headed into the event by clearing 4.30 meters (14-1.25). Elena Bisotto and Samantha Petry, who ranked in the top ten before NCAA competition at No. 7 and No. 10 respectively, as well as Lauren Sutherland (No. 19) earned the honors.

Southern, who had the No. 1 power ranked Vault Squad in the NCAA was the only program with four vaulters qualified and selected for the NCAA Championships.

In the throws, Payton Roberts had the nation's top throw entering the national meet in the shot put with a throw of 16.13 meters (52-11) while Kirsten Leisinger was an All-American in the weight throw.

On the men's side, Rajindra Campbell led a group of three throwers. He held the No. 1 spot in the shot put entering NCAA competition with a throw of 20.07 meters (65-10.25). Josh Fulmer and Travis Petersen earned the honor in the weight throw. They sat at No. 8 and No. 16 in the event, respectively, entering the meet.

In the long jump, Josh Norvile had the No. 2 mark in the nation with a leap of 7.72 meters (25-4) before the NCAA Championships. Adrain Broadus earned honors in the triple jump and Brendan Watkins earned the honor in both events. Dean Howard was All-American in the pole vault as he entered the meet at No. 6.

On the track Gidieon Kimutai was All-American in the 5,000-meter run while Ryan Riddle is in the mile. Kimutai posted a time of 14:03.08 with an automatic qualifying time to sit in sixth. Riddle was No. 13 entering the meet in the mile.

Tommy Herr, John Tudor, Bill White named to St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame

(From the St. Louis Cardinals)

In a televised special on FOX Sports Midwest this evening, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that Tom Herr, John Tudor and Bill White will be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.

This is the seventh induction class since the team dedicated the Cardinals Hall of Fame with an inaugural class on Opening Day in 2014. 

Details regarding a formal induction ceremony for the 2020 Induction Class will be announced at a later date. 

Chosen by the fans, Tom Herr and John Tudor were the top two-vote getters in the Cardinals Hall of Fame online balloting presented by Edward Jones. The ballot was selected by a Red Ribbon committee of St. Louis baseball experts through a secret ballot process. Cardinals fans cast a record 113,000 votes over the nine-week voting period.

In addition to nominating modern players for fan balloting, the Red Ribbon Committee also elected Bill White, a veteran player, for induction using a secret ballot process.

White, a Gold Glove first baseman and African-American pioneer, was a starter for the Cardinals from 1959-1965 and returned to finish his career in 1969. The 1964 World Champion would later become the first black president of a major sports league when he was named National League President in 1989.

"Selecting the members of the Cardinals Hall of Fame Induction Class is one of our organization's greatest traditions," said Bill DeWitt Jr., Cardinals Chairman and CEO. "We thank the over 100,000 fans and our Red Ribbon Committee who cast their votes for this year's induction class and look forward to celebrating the achievements of these remarkable players with Cardinals Nation very soon."

The St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame was established as a way to recognize the exceptional careers and significant achievements of the greatest players in Cardinals history, as well as those who have made exceptional contributions to the organization. 

Each member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame is permanently enshrined in the Cardinals Hall of Fame Gallery presented by Edward Jones that is located on the second floor of Cardinals Nation in Ballpark Village, just outside the entrance to the Cardinals Museum. Fans can visit cardinals.com/HOF for more information.

MSSU women's basketball camps canceled, High School Elite Camp date pushed back

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern Head Women's Basketball program announced today that the MSSU Young Players Camp and Team Camps scheduled for this summer have been canceled.

The program also announced that the High School Elite Camp, has been pushed back to August 15th.

For more information on the camp, which is open to girls from 9th through 12th grades, click here.

Thirty-six MSSU track and field athletes earn MIAA academic honors

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)


The MIAA announced its academic awards for men's and women's track and field today and 36 student-athletes were highlighted by the league.

The MIAA released both the Academic Honor Roll and Academic Excellence Award lists today. To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll list, one must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 or above at the certifying member institution.

The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. An MIAA Academic Excellence Award recipient must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of at least 4.00 at the certifying member institution. 

The honoree also must have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.

The Southern women had 24 student-athletes on the Academic Honor Roll, while the men had 12 representing the team.

For the women, Elizabeth Adeoye, Morgan Ash, Jordan Banker, Elena Bisotto, Jasmine Deckard, Julianna Determan, Kelsey Evans, Mady Gepford, Janna Hautala, Kelie Henderson, Gabrielle Hill, Shanice Hucey, Alexis Kuehl, Ashlee Kuykendall, Kirsten Leisinger, Claire Luallen, Wynter Nekola, Emily Presley, Danielle Prince, Alexandra Rodriguez, Ojurere Shonekan, Lauren Sutherland, Megan Tramel and Ashlynn Vanatter were all part of the Academic Honor Roll.

For the men, Rajheim Carby, Trace Henault, Dean Howard, Jon Johnson, Gidieon Kimutai, Kevin Koester, Jordyn Manier, Jarod Ozee, NAthan PAinter, Reed Service, Michael Shanahan and Brendan Watkins were named to the list.

Two women, Banker and Tramel, both were given the Academic Excellence Award as they both maintain 4.00 GPAs in biology. The pair were two of just 15 female student-athletes to earn that honor.

MSSU baseball players receive MIAA academic awards

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The MIAA announced its baseball academic awards today and the Lions' baseball program had nearly 20 student-athletes make the list.

The MIAA released both the Academic Honor Roll and Academic Excellence Award lists today. To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll list, one must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 or above at the certifying member institution.

The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. 

An MIAA Academic Excellence Award recipient must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of at least 4.00 at the certifying member institution. The honoree also must have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.

Representing the baseball team on the Academic Honor Roll is Henry Kusiak, Clay Milas, Scott Duensing, Joe Kinder, Marco Navarro, Brad Willis, Davin Gummere, Marco Martin, Will Bausinger, Jeremiah Kennedy, Will Larson, Lee Musgraves, Cole Woods, Zac Shoemaker, River Wright, Matt Miller and Troy Gagan.

Kusiak earned the Academic Excellence Award, maintaining a 4.00 GPA in biology and was one of just five MIAA baseball players to earn the honor.

Sixteen MSSU softball players earn MIAA academic honors

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced the Softball Academic awards for the 2020 season today. The Lions had 16 players earn honors.

The prestigious Academic Excellence Award was earned by two Lions as a total of 11 softball student-athletes earned the distinction. 

An MIAA Academic Excellence Award recipient must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of at least 4.00 at the certifying member institution. 

The honoree also must have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. The complete list of Academic Excellence members for the 2020 softball season is available here.

Junior Abby Atkin, a marketing management major, and sophomore Tori Frazier, a biology major, were the two to earn the Academic Excellence Award.

To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll list, one must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 or above at the certifying member institution. The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. The complete list of Academic Honor Roll recipients for softball is available here.

In addition to Atkin and Frazier, Rion Boyd, Natalie Hamm, Emily Harris, Taylor Hinnenkamp, Sidnie Hurst, Meredith Iden, Makaila Leonhart, Erika Lutgen, Emilee Meyer, Lynnlee Parrott, Haleigh Scott, Kristen Wade and Elizabeth Windsor were named to the Academic Honor Roll.

MSSU golfers named to MIAA Academic Honor Roll-Academic Excellence list

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The MIAA announced its men's and women's golf academic awards today and the Lions' golf program had more than a dozen student-athletes make the list.

The MIAA released both the Academic Honor Roll and Academic Excellence Award lists today. To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll list, one must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 or above at the certifying member institution.

The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. An MIAA Academic Excellence Award recipient must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of at least 4.00 at the certifying member institution. 

The honoree also must have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.

The Southern men had eight student-athletes named to the academic honor roll, while the women had five. For the men, Alec Dominic, Logan Greer, Taylor Haltom, Jon Lenz, Trip McConnell, Fletcher McSpadden, Jonathan Sanchez and Grant Sikes were all on the list. For the women, Allison Cunningham, Kenzie Kirkhart, Maggie Moore, Trina Shorter and Hannah Torres made the cut.

Moore won the Academic Excellence Award. She was one of just five women golfers to earn the honor.

MSSU's Martin, Bisotto named finalists for MIAA Winter Student-Athlete of the Year

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern junior student-athletes Cam Martin and Elena Bisotto have been named finalists for their respective Winter Student-Athlete of the Year Awards presented by the MIAA.

The award this year is being done in place of the typical Ken B. Jones Award that is given annually to the top male and female student-athlete in the league.

With the Covid-19 pandemic halting play in the spring sports, the MIAA instead is awarding a Male and Female Fall and Winter Student-Athlete of the Year with the same qualifications of the Ken B. Jones Award.







Martin and Bisotto are one of five finalists in their respective genders.

This season, Martin was a Finalist for the Bevo Francis Small College Basketball Player of the Year Award. He was a first-team All-MIAA, All-Region and All-America selection and a member of the MIAA All-Tournament Team. 

He led the MIAA in scoring, rebounds, defensive rebounds, double-double's free throw attempts, free throws made, total field goals made, total points and total rebounds, while ranking second in blocks, field goal percentage, total blocks and total field goal attempts. Martin averaged 24.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this year, while shooting 58 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line.

He had a team-high 46 blocks and was third on the team with 61 assists and set the MSSU single-game scoring mark with 54 points at Missouri Western (the most points scored by a Division II player in a single-game this season). He is the only player in MSSU history to score 700 or more points twice in a single-season and currently has the top career scoring average at MSSU (23.3) and is third on the active D-II player list for that stat. Martin was named the MIAA Athlete of the Week seven times this year.

Bisotto was an All-MIAA pick in the indoor pole vault this year, finishing third at the 2020 MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. She qualified for her fifth NCAA Division II National Championships, but did not get a chance to compete due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Bisotto was ranked 7th nationally going into the National Championships with an NCAA Automatic Qualifying mark of 13 feet, three inches (4.04 meters) which she obtained at the MIAA Indoor Championships. She is a two-time All-MIAA and All-America selection.

Bisotto carries a 3.95 GPA in biology and has been a three-time MIAA Academic Honor Roll selection, while twice being named an MIAA Scholar-Athlete. Martin carries a 3.30 GPA in business and has twice been a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

Throughout the year, Bisotto and Martin have helped their fellow Southern student-athletes in participating in various community service projects including helping out with the Ronald McDonald House and Big Red Shoe Run, various trash pick-up dates, volunteering with the St. Louis Cardinals Caravan, as well as helping out in the athletic department's annual Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat program - a canned food drive that helped fill the pantry of one of the local food banks for more than six months.

Other finalists on the men's side for the winter award include Brandan Ball of Fort Hays, David Kizan of Lincoln, Matt Malcom of Nebraska-Kearney and Levi Wyrick of Pittsburg State. Finalists in the women's award include Morgan Fleming of Central Missouri, Kacey Kennett of Fort Hays State, Tiara Schmidt of Nebraska-Kearney and Haven Lander of Pittsburg State.

A 15-member committee comprised of one administrator from each MIAA institution and the conference office ranked each candidate based on excellence in three categories: Athletic Achievement in that academic year, Career Academic Achievements, and Community/Campus Service during the Academic Year. A nominee must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average through the previous full semester term through February 1 of the academic year of nomination at the certifying member institution. The winners will be announced on May 22.

MSSU student-athletes post success in the classroom

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern athletic department once again can boast about the success of its student-athletes as the spring semester grades have been posted.

The student-athletes at Missouri Southern have posted a cumulative grade point average (GPA) above a 3.00 for the fifth-straight semester.

This is the second year in a row the Lions have finished the year with a cumulative 3.16 department GPA. Fourteen of the 16 sports and activities it sponsors report a 3.00 team GPA or higher, with the remaining sports at 2.75 or higher. 

The volleyball team had the highest team GPA at 3.58, while the men's golf program had the highest GPA for men's programs at 3.32.

The numbers don't stop there as 199 student-athletes had a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better with 105 of them posting a 3.50 cumulative GPA or higher. Nine student-athletes maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA, while the department graduated 97 student-athletes in 2019-20.

The success for the department this year wasn't only in the classroom, but also in the field of play. The department had 23 MIAA Athletes of the Week throughout the year, including two National Players of the Week. Fifty-five were named All-MIAA, while 24 were named All-Region and multiple student-athletes earned All-American honors.

MSSU softball adds five transfers

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern Head Softball Coach Hallie Blackney announced that five transfers will be joining the Lions for the program's 2021 campaign.

This is Blackney's second official recruiting class at the helm after taking over the role as head coach back in October 2018.

The five players join four incoming freshmen that include Independence, Mo. pitcher Kara Amos, Garden City, Kan. utility player, Grace Parrott, Garden City, Kan. utility player Yazmin Vargas and Adrianna Young, an utility player from Tulsa, Okla. For more information on these signees, click here.

"In addition to our returners, this 2020 class is a solid group who will help continue to establish a culture of excellence at MSSU," said Blackney.

The nine players join a Southern Softball team that was 11-9 during the 2020 COVID-19-shortened season with a roster that possessed five starters that hit above .330.

MSSU Softball 2021 Transfer Class

Leighton Withers

Withers becomes a member of the Missouri Southern team after two seasons at Ouachita Baptist University and a successful high school career at Harmony Grove High School in Benton, Arkansas.

Withers represented the Tigers in 52 games, starting 49 of them, in 2019. She posted a .227 batting average with 29 hits including nine doubles and seven home runs. She scored 25 runs while pushing 26 RBIs across the plate. She was named to the 2019 Great American Conference (GAC) All-Tournament team her freshman season after OBU went 1-1 in the tournament as the No. 8 seed.

The win was a 5-4 upset over No. 19 Southern Arkansas in the opening round. The win was secured by a game-winning home run in the eighth inning by Withers.

In the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign, Withers started the all the Tigers' 21 games where she boasted a .302 batting average. She had 16 hits with three doubles, three home runs, five runs scored and five RBIs.

Prior to OBU, Withers represented the HGHS Cardinals. She posted a .480 batting average, a .580 on-base percentage with165 hits, 26 home runs, 142 runs scored and 135 RBIs. She was a four-time All-Conference player and an All-State performer as she helped the Cardinals capture the 2018 Class 3A State Championship. The team had three state semifinal appearances that included two 5-3A District Tournament Championships and led her squad to three 5-3A Conference Championships.

While at HGHS, Withers also participated in basketball and volleyball where she was All-Conference in both sports twice.

She is the daughter of Jennifer and Chad Withers and plans on majoring in business administration and marketing during her time at Southern.

Ashlynn Williams

Williams becomes a Lion after attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City the last two years and prepped at Midwest City High School in Oklahoma City, Okla.

While a member of the Roos, Williams posted a .294 batting average and a .400 on-base percentage.

Prior to Kansas City, Williams was an All-State catcher for the Bombers. She was also a four-time First Team All-Conference player as she was named the Class 6A-2 Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. Academically, Williams was named valedictorian at MCHS.

She is the daughter of Wes and Jojo Williams.

Shandria Jackson

Jackson comes to Missouri Southern after two seasons at Crowder College in Neosho, Mo. and a successful high school career at Vian High School in Sallisaw, Okla.

While at Crowder, she was a member of the Region XVI All-Tournament Team and led the Roughriders to the Region XVI Championship.

Prior to Crowder, Jackson represented the VHS Wolverines in softball, basketball and track. In softball she was a First Team All-Conference selection and academically was VHS' Valedictorian.

She is the daughter of Tania Choate and plans on majoring in health care administration at Southern.

Abbey Gann

Gann comes to Joplin to become a Lion after playing at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. as well as a successful high school career in the circle at West Plains High School in West Plains, Mo.

While a member of the Raiders, she appeared in 29 games that included 23 starts. She finished her career with an 18-4 record with four saves. She maintained a 2.64 ERA over 138.0 innings pitched and tallied 187 strikeouts. She was named First Team All-Region and First-Team All-Conference for Three Rivers.

Prior to TRC, Gann represented the Zizzers. The four-year starter broke the school's record for total strikeouts with 608, and career wins with 72. She was a four-time First Team All-Conference selection, a four-time First Team-All-District selection, a two-time First Team All-Region selection and a Second Team All-State Selection. 

She was awarded the Most Valuable Player for WPHS her junior campaign that saw the Zizzers win their first district title and first Ozark Conference championship.

While at WPHS, Gann also participated in soccer as a defender.

She is the daughter of Penny and Gary Gann and plans on majoring in clinical psychology during her time at Southern.

Bailey Lacy

Lacy comes to Missouri Southern after two seasons at Highland Community College in Highland, Kan. and a successful high school career at Thomas More Prep-Marian in Hays, Kan.

While a pitcher for HCC, Lacy appeared in 25 games where she started in 19 games. She had a 16-5 record and three saves as she tallied 66 strikeouts for a 3.75 ERA over 115.2 innings pitched.

She was named Second Team All-KJCCC Pitcher. During her stint with Highland, she helped the team win the Regional Championship and a top-six finish at the NJCAA national tournament.

Prior to HCC, Lacy represented the Monarchs. While at Thomas-Moore, Lacy also participated in volleyball, basketball and softball. She helped pace the Monarchs to three regional championships and helped them to three state tournament appearances.

She is the daughter of Brian and Kerri Lacy and plans on majoring in elementary education during her time at Southern.