FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State returned to Tiger Stadium with a doubleheader split against Northeastern State on Friday. The Tigers fell in extra innings in game one, 5-4, before rallying for a 13-4 run-rule victory in six innings for game two.

FHSU (16-13, 9-5 MIAA) continued to swing the bat well, racking up 30 hits over the two games.  FHSU has had at least 25 hits in the previous three doubleheaders and has scored 52 runs over the previous six games, breaking out of an early season slump that hampered the team early.

The Tigers continue their 10-game homestand on Saturday with a Noon doubleheader against No. 19 Central Oklahoma.

Game 1: Northeastern State 5, Fort Hays State 4 (8 innings)
FHSU rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to force extras, but a solo home run in the top of the eighth proved to be the winning run as Northeastern State took game one, 5-4.

Paxton Duran (8-6) saw her four-game winning streak snapped in the circle.  Duran threw all eight innings, striking out four with five runs allowed on nine hits.  For NSU, Kayce Woolridge (7-6) also threw a complete game, giving up 10 hits with one strikeout.

Rilee Krier was 3-for-4 at the plate while Kylie Strand had two hits and an RBI, including her fifth double of the season.

Scoreless through the first 4.5 innings of play, FHSU took a 1-0 lead in the fifth off Courtney Dobson’s RBI single.  FHSU had runners on first and second with no outs in the inning, but a line drive out and double play followed to end the Tigers’ threat.

NSU rebounded in the sixth with four runs on five hits, taking advantage of back-to-back doubles from Alyssa Aguilar and Ryan Martin in the inning.

Down to its final chance in the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers scrapped together four hits and took advantage of an NSU error to tie the game up.  Krier led off the inning with an infield single before Mackenzie Villarreal walked and Dobson reached on a fielder’s choice.  With one out, Strand doubled through the left side to score Knittig (who re-entered for Villarreal) and a single from Elmore followed to push Dobson home.  With two outs, the Tigers loaded the bases when Samantha Villarreal reached on a two-out error to send Amanda Vaupel to the plate.  Vaupel singled up the middle on the first pitch she saw to score Strand and tie the game, but the Tigers couldn’t push the game winner home and went to extras.

In the top of the eighth, Paige Gann’s eighth home run of the season was the go-ahead run and eventual game winner as FHSU couldn’t score in its half of the eighth and fell, 5-4.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 13, Northeastern State 4 (6 innings)
Fort Hays State strung together 20 hits, including five extra base hits while cruising to a 13-4 run-rule win in the doubleheader finale.

Kelsey Kimminau (7-6) earned the win, tossing six innings with 10 hits allowed and seven strikeouts.  Kimminau allowed four runs in the first two innings but settled down over the final four frames.  The RiverHawks’ Laura Fleck started the game, throwing two innings before Krissy Crow (1-3) entered.  Crow took the loss after allowing four runs in 1.1 innings pitched before Alex Files threw the final 1.2 innings to close the game.

Strand had a team-high four hits while Vaupel, Mackenzie Villarreal and Krier all finished 3-for-4.  Vaupel had a three-run home run and Elmore, Tori Beltz, Knittig and Mackenzie Villarreal had doubles.  Dobson had four RBI in the game off of two hits.

NSU struck with three runs in the first behind Aguilar’s three-run home run, but the Tigers responded with a four-spot in the bottom half to take a 4-3 lead.

Strand singled and Elmore doubled to start the inning before both scored on Beltz’s two-RBI single into center field.  From there, Samantha Villarrel was hit by a pitch and Mackenzie Villarreal had a one-out single through the left side that scored Beltz.  Later in the inning with bases loaded, Knittig hit a sacrifice fly deep enough to center and plated Samantha Villarreal.

The RiverHawks tied the game, 4-4, in the second after an FHSU error allowed runners on second and third with no outs.  Jessica Boone’s single scored Bailey Applegate, but the Tigers limited the damage and held the RiverHawks to just one run.

FHSU tacked on five more runs in the fourth to retake the lead, 9-4.  Elmore singled to start the inning and Beltz walked, and with one out Vaupel drove the first pitch she saw over the left field wall. Mackenzie Villarreal followed with a double to restart the offensive threat and after a Rilee Krier single (and a stolen base), Dobson took a 2-1 pitch back up the middle to score both Tigers.

The Tigers had four straight hits to start the inning and all six Tigers who went to the plate reached base as FHSU scored four runs and run-ruled the RiverHawks in the sixth.  Krier again reached base to lead off the sixth with a single through the right side, moving to third on Knittig’s double.  Dobson added to her RBI total with a single through the right side that scored both Krier and Knittig, and the Tigers loaded the bases off when Strand singled and Elmore reached on an error. Beltz  then doubled on a 1-0 pitch to score Dobson and Strand while clinching the win.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State tennis dropped a conference match to 19th-ranked Southwest Baptist on Thursday at the FHSU Tennis Courts in Hays. SBU took the match by a score of 7-2 with FHSU picking up its wins by forfeit.

Led by the top ranked player in the region, Fanni Varga, who is also ranked No. 20 nationally, the Bearcats won all seven of the matches contested on the afternoon. SBU has four individuals in the top 20 of the region rankings, but only three were in action on Thursday as their second-best individual, Christina Zentai, was out of the lineup.

The No. 1 doubles team of Camille Caron-Bedard and Michelle Miller fell 8-0 to the region’s 10th-ranked team of Lani Tuemmers and Maria Josie Zehnder. The No. 2 team of Brittney Ricci and Katie Hipp fell 8-3 to Varga and Zorana Jovanovic. Jessica Johnson and Raven Dick received a forfeit win at No. 3 since SBU had only five players available for the dual.

In singles play, Varga defeated Caron-Bedard at No. 1, 6-1, 6-0. Zehnder blanked Ricci at No. 2 6-0, 6-0. At No. 3, Tuemmers defeated Miller 6-0, 6-2. At No. 4, Beatrix Federer defeated Hipp 6-2, 6-1. At No. 5, Jovanovic defeated Johnson, 6-0, 6-2.

The Tigers will be in search of their first MIAA win on Saturday when they host Lincoln University at 10 am.

FHSU Sports Information

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association released its 2015 Outdoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday (Mar. 26). Fort Hays State’s men were selected sixth, while the women were picked 10th. Outdoor season begins this week for FHSU as it hosts its annual home meet, the Alex Francis Classic on Friday and Saturday (Mar. 27-28).

The FHSU men received 30 voting points in the poll, tying Lincoln University for the sixth spot. Pittsburg State received all first-place votes from the coaches, topping the list with 81 points. Central Missouri received a first-place vote from PSU since coaches cannot list their own team in the poll they fill out. The Mules are picked second in the conference at 73 points. Missouri Southern, Nebraska-Kearney, and Emporia State round out the top five.

Brady Tien was the only individual selected to compete in the NCAA Championships last outdoor season. He was just two places shy of earning All-America status in the outdoor pole vault last year, but he did grab All-America status during last year’s indoor season. Cory Keehn (distance) qualified for two events at indoor nationals this year and looks for a good outdoor season to cap his successful collegiate career on the track.

On the women’s side, FHSU received 23 points to hold the No. 10 slot out of 11. Central Missouri received all but one possible first-place vote with 99 points. Lincoln received two first-place votes and was selected second at 91 points. The UCM women are coming off a national championship as a team for the 2015 indoor season, but Lincoln is the defending outdoor national champion from 2014.

FHSU returns one of two individuals that were selected to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last year in sophomore Madison Wolf. She burst on the collegiate scene last year to finish sixth nationally as a true freshman. She was the MIAA Champion in the event last year.

Below are the MIAA Preseason Coaches Polls for 2015…

2015 MIAA Preseason Men’s )TF Poll
1. Pittsburg State (9) 81
2. Central Missouri (1) 73
3. Missouri Southern 63
4. Nebraska-Kearney 59
5. Emporia State 49
T6. Lincoln 30
T6. Fort Hays State 30
8. Northwest Missouri 24
9. Lindenwood 22
10. Southwest Baptist 19

2015 MIAA Preseason Women’s OTF Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (9) 99
2. Lincoln (2) 91
3. Pittsburg State 81
4. Missouri Southern 74
5. Nebraska-Kearney 58
6. Emporia State 53
7. Southwest Baptist 52
8. Northwest Missouri 31
9. Lindenwood 30
10. Fort Hays State 23
11. Central Oklahoma 13

The two teams combined for eight home runs but a couple of errors and a passed ball end up being the difference in Southwestern Oklahoma State’s 12-10 victory over the Fort Hays State Tigers Wednesday at Larks Park. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out in the ninth and FHSU nearly escaped the jam, but a throw from third to first in an attempt to turn a double play got by Cooper Langley and SWOSU scored. A passed ball later in the inning allowed another run to score.

The Tigers had runners reach second and third in the bottom of the ninth, but an Alex King ground out ended the game.

Fort Hays State rallied with home runs from King and Cooper Langley to score five in the eighth to tie the game 10-10. That was after SWOSU had taken a 10-4 lead with a five-run fifth inning.

Giles Fox took the loss for FHSU. He entered at the start of the ninth, but allowed two hits and two walks with a strikeout. Only one of the two runs Fox allowed was earned.

Austin Unrein hit two of the Tigers four home runs. His three-run shot in the first gave FHSU the early lead. He later added a solo shot in the Tigers two-run fifth. Alex King added a two-run pinch homer along with Cooper Langley’s three-run shot in the eighth.

The Tigers drop to 5-18 on the season. They return to MIAA play Friday night with their annual “Pack the Park” game at 7pm against Northeastern State.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State needed eight innings to defeat McPherson College by a score of 11-1 by run-rule in eight innings on Tuesday evening in McPherson, Kan. The Tigers used four home runs to power their way to victory.

Kevin Czarnecki led the power surge for FHSU, hitting two home runs on the afternoon, while leading the team in RBI with four. He hit a two-run homer in the third and then a solo shot in the fourth. He also drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning to get the scoring started for FHSU.

Connor Ross and Andre Vieyra also homered for the Tigers. Ross got both of his RBI in the game on his two-run shot in the fourth, while Vieyra led off that inning with a solo shot for his lone RBI. FHSU had a total of three home runs in the fourth, a four-run inning.

Joe Mapes, Alex King, Cooper Langley and Clayton Basgall all drove in one run. Mapes had a sacrifice fly RBI, King and Langley each had RBI singles, and Basgall had an RBI groundout. By inning, FHSU scored three in the first, two in the third, four in the fourth, and single runs in the seventh and eighth.

Alex Cox picked up the win on the mound, tossing a pre-determined three innings in his start. He struck out four, while allowing just one hit and one walk. Trevor Rinne  threw three innings and allowed just two hits. Will Amen allowed the only run to McPherson in the seventh and he went 1.0 innings with three hits allowed and a walk.  Ty Thomas picked up the last three outs in the eighth, allowing one hit, while striking out two.

The Tigers return to action Wednesday at home in a non-conference contest against Southwestern Oklahoma State. Game time is set for 2 pm at Larks Park in Hays.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State men’s golf finished 14th at the Broncho Invitational in Oklahoma City, hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma. The Tigers played at Gaillardia Country Club, a par-72 venue.

Dylan Wonnacott led the way for FHSU, shooting rounds of 74 and 73 (3-over par overall). He tied for fourth overall individually. Trey Herman was only three strokes back with two rounds of 75, finishing 6-over par. He tied for 15th.

With rounds of 80 and 87, Grant Storey finished in a tie for 83rd. Billy Frey finished 92nd with rounds of 88 and 84. Kade Megaffin finished 96th with rounds of 92 and 89.

As a team, FHSU shot scores of 317 and 319 for a total of 636. Central Oklahoma won the tournament with a total of 596 and Central Missouri was second five strokes back at 601.

FHSU returns to action in two weeks at the Lindenwood Invitational in St. Charles, Mo., April 6-7.

FHSU Athletics

The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today the eight 2015 United States Marine Corps/WBCA NCAA Division II Regional Coaches of the Year, all of whom are finalists for the Pat Summitt Trophy to be presented to 2015 United States Marine Corps/WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year.

The WBCA Region Coaches of the Year are as follows:
Trisha Brown, Stonehill College (East Region)
Bill Cleary, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (Atlantic Region)
Jonathan Norton, Columbus State University (Southeast Region)
Lisa Carlsen, Lewis University (Midwest Region)
Mark Campbell, Union University (South Region)
Mark Kellogg, West Texas A&M University (South Central Region)
Tony Hobson, Fort Hays State University (Central Region)
Ryan McCarthy, University of Alaska – Anchorage (West Region)

Hobson guided Fort Hays State to its first-ever Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Regular Season Championship in 2014-15. FHSU finished the year 30-4 overall, earned the No. 1 seed in the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament (hosted the regional), and grabbed its first-ever NCAA Tournament wins (2), reaching the Sweet 16 (Regional Final) of the tournament. It was the first-ever 30-win season in Fort Hays State’s NCAA Division II history and added to a string of four consecutive seasons in which the Tigers won at least 20 games.

Hobson now has 13 “Coach of the Year” honors in his 23-year history as a women’s college basketball coach. This is the second this year after he was named the MIAA Coach of the Year. He has guided three different colleges to at least 30 wins in a season in his career (FHSU for the first time this year, Hastings College five times, and Barton (Kan.) Community College once). He now has an overall record of 545-177 as a college coach, a .755 win percentage.

The 2015 United States Marine Corps/WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year will be named during the Fifth Annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 6, in the Grand Ballroom at the Tampa Marriott Waterside. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

“The WBCA congratulates these eight outstanding coaches on being named finalists for the Pat Summitt Trophy, presented to the 2015 United States Marine Corps/WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Each coach was selected as a finalist by their peers after leading their respective teams to exceptional seasons. The WBCA appreciates and applauds each coach’s commitment to their student-athletes, institutions, and communities.”

“The Marine Corps congratulates the finalists for the 2015 United States Marine Corps/WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year,” said Lieutenant Colonel Brian C. Proctor, Assistant Chief of Staff Diversity, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. “The hard work and dedication needed to achieve this recognition from their peers exemplifies the Marine Corps leadership values of honor, courage and commitment.”

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State’s Kate Lehman was named a finalist for the 2015 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year Award and was selected to the 2015 WBCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team, announced Monday by the organization.

The recognition is the latest award for Lehman, who finished a historic career earlier this month as a member of the Tigers’ NCAA Division II Sweet 16 team that finished 30-4 (best record in the program’s NCAA Division II history).

Lehman was also named to the Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America First Team earlier today, so this is her second All-America First Team selection for the season.

Lehman is among four finalists for the WBCA Player of the Year. The WBCA presents the player of the year award annually to the top player in five WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA, junior/community college and high school). The winner will be announced during the Fifth Annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 6, in Tampa, Fla. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s Final Four®.

The finalists are:

• Shareta Brown, 6’1″, Senior, Center, Wayne State University (Mich.)
• Aquillin Hayes, 5,8″, Senior, Guard, University of New Haven
• Kate Lehman, 6’4″, Senior, Center, Fort Hays State University
• Amy Philamlee, 5’5″, Senior, Guard, Union University

“Congratulations to each of these fine student-athletes on being named finalists for the 2015 WBCA Division II Player of the Year award,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Each student-athlete has played an integral role in guiding their respective team to an exceptional season, and is very deserving of this distinguished honor.  The WBCA celebrates each of these finalists for their contributions to the game during the 2014-15 season.”

Lehman adds this to the list of post-season honors she has received this year. Below are the honors she has already collected…
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association All-America First Team
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association Central Region Most Outstanding Player
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association All-Central Region First Team
-MIAA Player of the Year
-MIAA Defensive Player of the Year (3^rd straight year)
-All-MIAA First Team (3^rd straight year)
-MIAA All-Defensive Team (3^rd straight year)
-All-MIAA Tournament Team
-NCAA Central Regional All-Tournament Team
-CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America First Team

Maybe most impressive of the accomplishments is that Lehman was the only women’s player in Division II this year to earn All-America First Team honors for her accomplishments on the court and Academic All-America First Team honors for her efforts in the classroom.

Lehman finished the season with a near double-double average of 19.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, posting her best single-season scoring average as a Tiger. She finished with 655 points, 337 rebounds, and 141 blocked shots for the season, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field.

At the MIAA Tournament in early March, Lehman became the first women’s basketball player in Division II history to reach at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots in a career. But the point and rebound marks didn’t just scrape by. She nearly had 2,000 career points, finishing with 1,917, and pulled down 1,109 career rebounds. She recorded 515 career blocks (second most in NCAA Division II history) and is now the school record holder in career rebounds and blocked shots. She finished second all-time in scoring. She finished fourth all-time at any level of NCAA (Division I, II, or III) in blocked shots.

Lehman finished with 55 double-doubles and three triple-doubles in her career at FHSU. Her 167 free-throws made and 256 free-throw attempts in 2014-15 also set new single-season school records.

The WBCA presents the player of the year award annually to the top player in five WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA, junior/community college and high school).  The winners will be announced during the fifth annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 6, in Tampa Bay.  The event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four.  The WBCA All-America Team is selected by a 10-person committee, comprised of one representative from each of the nine geographical regions and a chairperson.

Below is the WBCA All-America Team for 2014-15…

Name	Institution	Year	Pos.	Height
Shaunteva Ashley	Augustana College	Senior	Guard	5’8″
Jada Blackwell	Cal State Poly – Pomona	Senior	Center	6’1″
Mariyah Brawner-Henley	Lewis University	Junior	Forward	6’0″
Shareta Brown	Wayne State University (Mich.)	Senior	Center	6’1″
Tori Faieta	Stonehill College	Senior	Center	6’2″
Aquillin Hayes	University of New Haven	Senior	Guard	5’8″
Kate Lehman	Fort Hays State University	Senior	Center	6’4″
Michelle Mitchell	Columbus State University	Junior	Guard	5’9″
Amy Philamlee	Union University	Senior	Guard	5’5″
Chontiquah White	West Texas A&M University	Senior	Center	5’11”

The following have been recognized as Coaches’ All-America Team Honorable Mentions in Division II:

	Name	Institution	Year	Pos.	Height
	Taylor Beverly	University of West Georgia	Senior	Forward	5’11”
	Danielle Blake	Michigan Technological University	Junior	Forward	6’0″
	Alicia Brookins	Limestone College	Senior	Forward	5’8″
	Emily Caswell	Caldwell University	Senior	Forward	6’0″
	Erin Chambers	Simon Fraser University (BC)	Senior	Forward	6’1″
	Samantha Creed	Newberry College	Junior	Guard	5’10”
	Mikaylah Glenn	California University of Pennsylvania	Sophomore	Guard	5’7″
	Kayleen Goggins	Montana State University – Billings	Senior	Forward	6’1″
	Anna Hackert	University of Southern Indiana	Senior	Forward	6’1″
	Kailee Howe	West Liberty University	Junior	Guard	5’10”
	Stephanie Huffman	University of North Georgia	Senior	Guard	5’9″
	Lizzy Jeronimus	Pittsburg State University	Senior	Forward	5’11”
	Jamie Johnson	Lewis University	Junior	Guard	5’7″
	Shanteona Keys	Georgia College and State University	Senior	Guard	5’9″
	Abby Kirchoff	University of Colorado – Colorado Springs	Senior	Guard	5’11”
	Laurel Lindsay	Edinboro University	Senior	Guard	6’0″
	Emma Mahady	California University of Pennsylvania	Senior	Guard	5’11”
	Kelly Mannix	Adelphi University	Senior	Guard	5’10”
	Megan Mullings	University of Alaska – Anchorage	Junior	Forward	6’0″
	Suzanna Ohlsen	Seattle Pacific University	Senior	Guard	5’7″
	Morgan Pullins	Saint Mary’s University	Senior	Forward	6’0″
	Merissa Quick	Emporia State University	Senior	Forward	6’3″
	Erin Reichle	Colorado Mesa University	Sophomore	Guard	5’6″
	Jazzmine Robinson	Cameron University	Senior	Guard	5’6″
	Marla Simmons	Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania	Senior	Guard	5’10”
	Jordan Spencer	Wayne State College (Neb.)	Senior	Forward	5’11”
	DeAnna Thompson	Union University	Senior	Center	6’2″
	Anh-Dao Tran	Adelphi University	Senior	Guard	5’6″
	Kayk Wilson	Florida Institute of Technology	Senior	Guard	5’7″

Below are the Record Lists that feature Lehman …

FHSU Career Records
1^st all-time in Rebounds (1,109)
1^st all-time in Blocks (515)
1^st all-time in Free Throws Made (523)
1^st all-time in Free Throw Attempts (787)
1^st all-time in Double-Doubles (55)*
2^nd all-time in Scoring (1,917)
2^nd all-time in Field Goals Made (697)
Tied 2^nd all-time in Scoring Average (15.8)
3^rd all-time in Field Goal Percentage (.543)
6^th all-time in Field Goal Attempts (1,283)

FHSU Season Records (Highest career total only)
1^st in Free Throws Made (167 in 2014-15)
1^st in Free Throws Attempts (256 in 2014-15)
1^st in Rebounding Average (11.2 in 2013-14)
1^st in Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
1^st in Double-Doubles (20 in 2013-14)*
2^nd in Rebounds (337 in 2014-15)
2^nd in Scoring (655 in 2014-15)
Tied 4^th in Scoring Average (19.3 in 2014-15)
4^th in Field Goals Made (244 in 2014-15)
10^th in Field Goal Attempts (422 in 2014-15)

FHSU Game Records (Highest career total only)
1^st in Blocks (11, Kansas Wesleyan, 12/16/14)
1^st in Free Throws Attempted (20, vs Central Missouri, 3/7/15)
Tied 8^th in Field Goals Made (14, Missouri Southern, 1/3/15)
Tied 8^th in Free Throws Made (12, last vs Central Missouri, 3/7/15)
Tied 10^th in Rebounds (17, last vs Northeastern State, 2/28/14)

Unofficial MIAA Records (as of March 23, 2015)
1^st all-time in Career Free-Throw Attempts (787)
1^st all-time in Career Blocks (515)
1^st in Single-Season Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
Tied for 1^st in Single-Game Blocked Shots (11, Kansas Wesleyan, 12/16/14)

Unofficial NCAA Division II Records (as of March 23, 2015)
2^nd all-time in Career Blocks (515)
Tied for 3^rd all-time in Career Triple Doubles (Three)
Tied for 4^th in Season Triple Doubles (Two)
Tied for 5^th in Season Blocks Average (5.3 in 2013-14)
6^th all-time in Career Double-Doubles (55)
7^th in Single-Season Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
Tied for 17^th all-time in Consecutive Double-Doubles (Nine in 2013-14)
Tied for 18^th all-time in Single-Season Double-Doubles (20 in 2013-14)
Only Player in NCAA Division II history to record at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 blocked shots

* NCAA Division II Era Only

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State’s Kate Lehman was named to the Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-America First Team on Monday. Lehman is the second player in FHSU women’s history to earn All-America honors in back-to-back seasons, joining only Annette Wiles, but is the first-ever All-America First Team selection at the NCAA Division II level for Fort Hays State.

A WBCA and Division II Bulletin All-America Honorable Mention selection in 2013-14, Lehman continued her rise to prominence in 2014-15. She is one of just five All-America First Team selections by Daktronics. She joins Shareta Brown of Wayne State (Mich.), Amy Philamlee of Union, Lindsay Stamp of Indiana (Pa.) and Morgan Pullins of St. Mary’s (Texas) as first-team selections this year.

Brown was named the National Player of the Year as she averaged 22.0 points and 14.7 rebounds per game, while shooting a Division II-best 64.9 percent from the field for the season. Lehman finished the year at 19.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.1 blocked shots per game and became the first player ever in Division II history to reach at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots in a career. Philamlee is the nation’s top scorer at 24.7 points per game, but also ranks second in the country in assists per game at 7.9. Stamp averaged 19.6 points per game and Pullins averaged a double-double of 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.

Lehman helped FHSU reach new heights in its NCAA Division II history in 2014-15, helping the Tigers to a record of 30-4 and their first-ever MIAA Regular Season Championship. It was the first-ever 30-win season at the NCAA level for FHSU and it extended a run of four straight seasons in which the program has churned out at least 20 wins, which spanned Lehman’s four years at FHSU. She helped the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years and the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament wins, reaching the Sweet 16 (Central Regional Final).

Lehman adds this to the list of post-season honors she has received this year. Below are the honors she has already collected…
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association Central Region Most Outstanding Player
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association All-Central Region First Team
-MIAA Player of the Year
-MIAA Defensive Player of the Year (3^rd straight year)
-All-MIAA First Team (3^rd straight year)
-MIAA All-Defensive Team (3^rd straight year)

Lehman finished 2014-15 with 655 points, 337 rebounds, and 141 blocked shots, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field.

At the MIAA Tournament in early March, Lehman became the first women’s basketball player in Division II history to reach at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots in a career. But the point and rebound marks didn’t just scrape by. She nearly had 2,000 career points, finishing with 1,917, and pulled down 1,109 career rebounds. She recorded 515 career blocks (second most in NCAA Division II history) and is now the school record holder in career rebounds and blocked shots. She finished second all-time in scoring. She finished fourth all-time at any level of NCAA (Division I, II, or III) in blocked shots.

Lehman finished with 55 double-doubles and three triple-doubles in her career at FHSU. Her 167 free-throws made and 256 free-throw attempts in 2014-15 also set new single-season school records.

Below is the Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-America Team for 2014-15…

First Team
Name School Pos. Ht. Class Hometown
Shareta Brown, Wayne State (Mich.), Center, 6-1, Senior, Pontiac, Mich.
Amy Philamlee, Union, Guard, 5-5, Senior, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Kate Lehman, Fort Hays State, Center, 6-4, Senior, Newton, Kan.
Lindsay Stamp, Indiana (Pa.), Guard/Forward, 5-10, Senior, Erie, Pa.
Morgan Pullins, St. Mary’s (Texas), Forward, 6-0, Senior, Franklin, Mich.

Second Team
Morganne Comstock, Hawaii Pacific, Center, 6-2, Senior, Seattle, Wash.
Aquillin Hayes, New Haven, Guard, 5-8, Senior, Harlem, N.Y.
Michelle Mitchell, Columbus State, Guard, 5-9, Junior, Eastman, Ga.
Emily Caswell, Caldwell, Forward, 6-1, Senior, Wakefield, R.I.
Mariyah Brawner-Henley, Lewis, Forward, 6-0, Junior, Skokie, Ill.

Third Team
Madison Rowland, Queens (N.Y.), Guard/Forward, 5-10, Sophomore, Albany, N.Y.
Fatima Adams, Arkansas Tech, Forward, 5-10, Junior, Bryan, Texas
Shaunteva Ashley, Augustana (S.D.), Guard, 5-8, Senior, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Chontiquah White, West Texas A&M, Forward/Center, 5-11, Senior, Dallas, Texas
Jamie Johnson, Lewis, Guard, 5-8, Junior, South Holland, Ill.
Verdine Warner, Shaw, Center, 6-4, Senior, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Honorable Mention: Erin Chambers (Simon Fraser), Jada Blackwell (Cal Poly Pomona) Alicia Brookins (Limestone), Jasmine Wilkins (Nova Southeastern), Megan Mullings (Alaska Anchorage)

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State women’s golf finished 13th at the Missouri Western/Holiday Inn Express Invitational in St. Joseph, Mo., held Sunday and Monday (Mar. 22-23). The tournament took place at the St. Joseph Country Club, a par-72 course.

Megan DeWerff led the way for FHSU, shooting a total of 177 to tie for 50th. She shot rounds of 87 and 90. Samantha Hobson tied for 60th with a total of 181, carding rounds of 95 and 86.

Quillen Eichhorn was consistent over two days, shooting two rounds of 92 for a 184 total and 65th place finish. Abby Schmidtberger was 69th with a 194, carding rounds of 98 and 96. Hadley Tharp also played, shooting rounds of 106 and 105.

The Tigers as a team shot a total of 736. FHSU was eight strokes better on the second day, going from 372 to 364. Arkansas Tech won the tournament with a total of 619, just one stroke ahead of Central Oklahoma. Rebecka Surtevall of Arkansas Tech won the tournament individually with a 7-over par total of 151.

FHSU returns to action next week at the UNK Invitational at Awarii Dunes Golf Course, just to the south of Kearney, Neb.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State fell in the series finale at Northwest Missouri State by a score of 4-3 on Sunday (Mar. 22). FHSU tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth, but NWMSU won the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom half of the inning on a bases loaded walk. NWMSU took three of four games in the series.

Errors plagued the Tigers throughout the game as three of Northwest Missouri’s four runs were unearned. FHSU committed four errors in the game.

NWMSU scored in the first to take a 1-0 lead as the leadoff man, who reached by error, came in to score on a RBI bunt single. From that point, FHSU starter Justin Hersch settled in to hold the Bearcats at bay through the sixth inning.

FHSU tied up the game in the third on a Kevin Czarnecki RBI double, also benefitting from an error that led to the run.

Hersch would pitch a total of 6.1 innings, surrendering one more run in the seventh. Kyle Vogt relieved him right before a sacrifice fly, which was charged to Hersch’s run total. But once again the run was unearned due to a run earlier in the inning. NWMSU went up 2-1 after seven innings.

The Bearcats added one more in the eighth courtesy of another error to lead off the inning. A double brought the runner in and the unearned run was charged to Giles Fox, who allowed a hit with a strikeout in 0.2 innings of work. Austin Unrein entered to pick up the final out of the inning with a strikeout.

FHSU put its first two batters aboard in the ninth before Cooper Langley knocked them in with a two-RBI triple. Langley attempted to score on a ground ball off the bat of Casey Sedbrook, but he was cut down at the plate by the second baseman.

Unrein ran into trouble on the mound in the ninth as he hit the leadoff batter and then allowed a bunt single. He got the next batter to pop out on a bunt and then induced a flyout to centerfield for the second out, while the runners remained at first and second. However, he allowed back-to-back walks to end the game, forcing in the winning run (the only earned run of the game for NWMSU).

Carson Smith picked up the win in relief for NWMSU, going 2.1 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts. NWMSU starter Nikko Pablo went 6.2 innings and allowed six hits and a walk, while striking out eight.

FHSU left 14 runners on base in the game, leaving two or more on base in five of the nine innings.

The Tigers moved to 4-17 overall and 4-12 in the MIAA. Northwest Missouri State moved to 12-12 overall and 9-7 in the MIAA.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State baseball snapped a 12-game losing skid on Saturday (Mar. 21) by splitting a conference doubleheader at Northwest Missouri State. FHSU dropped the first game of the day 8-3 before earning the split with a 10-5 win in game two.

Game 1: NW Missouri State 8, Fort Hays State 3

Fort Hays State took an early 2-0 lead in the first game of the day, but it was short lived as NWMSU responded with two in the first inning as well. The Bearcats went on to score three in the third and three in the fourth to pull away for the win. FHSU picked up its final run in the sixth in the seven-inning contest.

Back-to-back RBI doubles by Austin Unrein and Kevin Czarnecki in the first pushed FHSU out to the 2-0 lead. Andre Vieyra had the other RBI for FHSU in the sixth on a sacrifice fly. Connor Ross and Czarnecki each went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Gus Strunk was 1-for-1 with two walks.

FHSU starting pitcher Tyler Patty allowed all eight runs to the Bearcats (six earned) over 3.0 innings of work. He faced three batters in the fourth before being lifted for reliever Will Amen. He went an inning before yielding to Joe Mapes for the final two innings. Mapes allowed just one hit and struck out three. Patty moved to 1-2 on the year with the loss.

Joseph Hietpas grabbed the win for NWMSU, going 5.1 innings in his start. He allowed three runs on seven hits with four walks and struck out four. Austin Battaglia pitched the final 1.2 innings for NWMSU, keeping the Tigers scoreless.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 10, NW Missouri State 5

Fort Hays State jumped out to a 4-0 lead and Northwest Missouri State could never catch up. FHSU snapped its 12-game losing streak by pulling away with a run in the fourth and five in the sixth. The Bearcats scored single runs in the sixth and seventh, but it was too little, too late in another seven-inning contest.

Joe Mapes got the Tigers on the board in the second with a fielder’s choice RBI. Austin Unrein and Kevin Czarnecki each recorded RBI singles in the third and Czarnecki came in to score later on an error, making it 4-0.

After NWMSU plated three runs in the third to make it 4-3, FHSU added a run on the fourth on an RBI single by Nick Hammeke.

FHSU took advantage of a big sixth inning to take a comfortable lead of 10-3. Connor Ross had a RBI single and then Cooper Langley drove in two on a single. Czarnecki came in to score on a wild pitch and Mapes added an RBI single.

FHSU starting pitcher Chase Newman had a solid outing to move to 1-0 on the year. He allowed just three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of work, while striking out three.

Giles Fox pitched two innings in relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with two strikeouts. Unrein took the mound in the seventh with two runners on and shut the door, allowing just one hit with a strikeout.

The Tigers are now 4-16 overall and 4-11 in the MIAA. NWMSU moved to 11-12 overall, 8-7 in the MIAA. The final game of the series is on Sunday (Mar. 22) at 12 pm.