Former MSSU track coach inducted into MIAA Hall of Fame

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Former Missouri Southern track and field and cross country coach Tom Rutledge was inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame in a ceremony today.

Rutlege was one of ten individuals to be bestowed the honor by the MIAA. The ceremony was conducted at the Kansas City Public Library – Plaza Branch, in Kansas City, Mo.

Rutledge coached for 24 years at Missouri Southern after coming to Joplin in 1988 as an assistant football coach. In 1989, he became the first head cross country and track and field coach for both men's and women's programs.

During his tenure, Rutledge was named MIAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year five times and Indoor Coach of the Year twice. He was also honored as South Central Region Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year in 1999, 2004 and 2007, and South Central Region Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2007 for his contributions to the sport.

He mentored eight cross country All-Americans and fifty-eight Track and Field All-Americans, including many achieving multiple All-American honors.

The cross country course at Missouri Southern is named the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in his honor. Rutledge was inducted as a member of the MSSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008, while also being inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

Joining Rutledge tonight as part of the 2015 MIAA Hall of Fame Class were: Kim Anderson (UCM - Basketball Coach), Kristin (Anderson) Swisher (UCM - Track and Field), Leslie (Dudley) Morrow (PSU - Basketball), Kathy (Kearns) Behounek (NWMO - XC/TF), Tony Miles (NWMO - Football), Darla (Curp) Moberly (UCM - XC/TF), Danny Powers (UCM - Baseball), Clint Prange (NWMO - Track), and Brian Shay (ESU - Football).

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MSSU men's basketball adds Division One transfer

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern men's basketball coach Jeff Boschee has announced the addition of Division I transfer Isaac Kreuer from the University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Kreuer will have two years of eligibility left after transferring to the Lions from UMKC.

A native of Harrisonville, Mo., Kreuer (6-10/250) will come in and help solidify a post presence for the Lions.

As a sophomore for the 'Roos, Kreuer played in 29 games with eight starts. He averaged 10.5 minutes per game with 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest. He also had nine blocks on the season, while shooting 81 percent from the free throw line.

As a true freshman, he played in all 30 games, averaging 10.4 minutes per game. He scored a season-high 11 points at home against CSU-Bakersfield, while having a season high 5-8 shooting and eight rebounds against Creighton later in the season. He finished the year with three double-figure scoring games. He was a two-time Academic All-Conference selection at UMKC.

Kreuer prepped at Kansas City Metro Academy where he played for coach Robin Sullivan. While there he was ranked as one of the top homeschool players in the nation, garnering All-American honors as both a junior and a senior. As a senior, he averaged 19.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.5 assists per game.

After high school, Kreuer played at the Impact Basketball Academy in Las Vegas in order to prep for the next level.

The son of Ladd and Kelly Kreuer, both his parents are graduates of Minnesota State - Mankato. He has five siblings and plans to major in business at Southern.

"Isaac fulfills another much needed physical presence inside," Boschee said. "He has the ability to run the floor which is very vital to our style of play. He is a very physical player who understands how to post up and demand the basketball.

"He is a great kid and also excels in the classroom. We, as a staff, talked about bringing kids in that will be great additions to the locker room and will take pride in wearing the Green and Gold. Isaac will fit that mold perfectly. I am ecstatic that he chose to be a Lion."