Fort Hays State Athletics

The final exhibition match for the Fort Hays State men’s soccer team will now be played in Hays on Tuesday night (Aug. 26), 7:30 pm against Kansas Wesleyan at FHSU Soccer Stadium. The teams were originally scheduled to play in Salina, but due to renovations ongoing to the field at Kansas Wesleyan, the match will now be played in Hays.

This will be the final tune-up for the Tigers to work on things and gear up for the season opener against CSU-Pueblo on Friday, September 5, part of the FHSU/Days Inn Soccer Classic that will feature four teams. FHSU will also play Drury University two days later, beginning the season with two matches at home.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

After spending the last two years as an assistant at Emporia State, Adrian Mohr is coming home. The former Tiger standout was introduced as the new head softball coach at Fort Hays State at a Monday afternoon news conference. Mohr takes over for Erin Kinberger, who announced her resignation last week to take the head coaching job at her alma mater St. Leo University in Florida.

 

Mohr News Conference

 

 

Mohr was a pitcher and outfielder for the Tigers from 2007-10 garnering All-MIAA honors. She finished with a career .304 batting average, racking up 197 hits, 44 doubles, 10 triples and 15 home runs. In the circle, Mohr picked up 28 wins with 37 complete games, striking out  199 and tallying two saves in 374.0 innings pitched.

She spent two years as a graduate assistant at FHSU under both Julie LeMaire and Erin Kinberger before joining LeMaire’s staff at Emporia State. Mohr helped the Hornet team to an 87-34 record and two NCAA II tournament appearances. The 2014 Hornets won the MIAA regular season title.

Mohr was an All-MIAA First Team selection as a senior in 2010 after hitting .360 with 10 home runs, 16 doubles, three triples and 50 runs batted in.

Mohr is a native of Thornton, Colorado and holds two degrees from Fort Hays State, completing her bachelor’s in Recreation and Sports Management (2010) and a master’s in Exercise Science (2012).

The Fort Hays State volleyball team held their annual Black and Gold Scrimmage last night with each team taking two sets. Haley Corkill led the Gold with 13 kills and Bethany Farres had 32 assists. Teresa Wade recorded 12 kills for the Black and Raegan Vanderplas had 35 assists.

Coach Kurt Kohler discusses Thursday’s Black and Gold Scrimmage…

 

The Tigers open their season September fifth at a tournament in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

The defense dominated Thursday as the Fort Hays State football team held their second of three scheduled scrimmages prior to the start of their season in less than two weeks.

Raheeme Dumas had three of the defense’s four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Cornerback Ed Brown recovered a fumble.

The offense failed to find the endzone until their final red zone possession with the third team.

 

Coach Chris Brown shares his thoughts on the Tigers scrimmage…

FHSU Athletics

No. 23 Fort Hays State was picked to finish second in the MIAA Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll, released Thursday (Aug. 21), identical to its finish last year. The Tigers are coming off their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Brett Parker, going 12-5-3 in 2013 and reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Super Region 3 bracket.

Among the many returners for the Tigers in 2013, nine started at least 17 games last year. That group includes All-American Honorable mention Diego Cabral, a senior midfielder, who lead the team with seven assists while finishing second on the team in points (23) and goals (eight).

Cabral and five other Tigers started all 20 games for FHSU last year, joining seniors Tanner Brock, David Lucio (four assists last year), Eric Hymer (1,894 minutes played in 2013) and Carlos Linares, and sophomore Drew Wilson. Brock and Hymer were All-MIAA First Team selections in 2013, while Cabral was All-MIAA Second Team and Linares and now-junior Michael Cole (five goals, one assist in 2013) earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors.

In the net for FHSU, the 2013 MIAA Freshman of the Year (and All-MIAA Second Team selection) Jason Babyak and now-senior Kent Freund split time at goalkeeper last year. Babyak compiled a 9-3-2 record as a starter with six shutouts, allowing 1.01 goals per game. Freund was 3-2-1 as a starter, shutting out opponents three times and allowing just five goals (0.80 per game).

Mauricio Castorino and Maurizio Costa are among several newcomers who will help FHSU overcome the graduation of an All-American (Ricardo Yeverino) and a two-year All-Region performer (Daniel Peralta).

Lindenwood, which won the MIAA Championship in a shootout over the Tigers last year, and knocked FHSU out of the NCAA Tournament, was picked first with 35 points and five first-place votes, narrowly ahead of Fort Hays State and Northeastern State, each tied for second with 29 points and one first-place vote.

Upper Iowa, the other MIAA tournament competitor last year, was picked fourth with 20 points, ahead of Harding’s 16 tallies. Southern Nazarene (12 points) and Southwest Baptist (six points) closed out the poll.

FHSU hosts Midland University in an exhibition on Thursday (Aug. 21) at 7 p.m., with the regular season action set to begin Sept. 5against Colorado State University-Pueblo, at the Days Inn Soccer Classic in Hays, Kan.

The complete MIAA Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll is below…

2014 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Lindenwood (5)               35
T2. Fort Hays State (1)       29
T2. Northeastern State (1)  29
4. Upper Iowa                     20
5. Harding                          16
6. Southern Nazarene        12
7. Southwest Baptist            6

FHSU Athletics

Weekly meetings of Tiger Club are set to begin on Wednesday, August 27th. The club meets for lunch every Wednesday from 12-1 pm in the Victor E. Lounge inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Membership to Tiger Club is $100 per individual. The cost of lunch every Wednesday is $8 per meal. Included in the membership is a free pre-game meal at all home football and basketball games. For any other information, please call the FHSU Athletics office at 785-628-4050.

FHSU Athletics

The Fort Hays State Women’s Soccer team was picked to finish seventh in the 2014 MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, releasedWednesday (Aug. 20) by the league office.

FHSU was tabbed two spots ahead of its finish last season, when the Tigers were 7-8-3 (3-5-3 MIAA) and narrowly missed a postseason berth. 

This season, FHSU features a strong core of experienced returners, mixed in with newcomers set to make an immediate impact. 

In the backfield, senior Dani Harris was an All-MIAA selection last season and anchors a strong group of returners. Though listed as a defender, Harris was tied for the team lead in goals (four), assists (two) and points (10) last year, and will be one of five seniors on the team, joined by Jamie Babyak, Hailey Davey, Margaret Meier and Jordan Shaw. 

Harris and junior Gabrielle Makatura both started all 18 games for the Tigers last year, joining Mallory Diedrich, Babyak and Regnier as upperclassman defenders that limited opponents to 20 goals last year.

Offensively, Davey (two goals, four assists in 2013) and junior Ember Albertson (one assist) will look for breakout seasons on a team that had 26 goals last season. Shaw and junior Jordan Hester will help manage a group of newcomers that includes Kelsey Steffens and Fiorella Fustagno, who have impressed thus far in preseason.

A crowded pack of upperclassman will compete for playing time in the midfield, with Meier as the group’s lone senior. Juniors Cenayda Guzman (two goals in 2013) and Kylee Loneker, who had three goals last year, saw extensive playing time last year in addition to sophomore Hannah Jurgens. Jurgens tallied eight points (two goals and four assists) as a freshman.

Between the pipes, redshirt freshman Kristen Thompson, junior transfer Kimi Kaniaupio and freshman Abbie Flax are fighting for a starting spot, as both goalkeepers from 2013 are no longer with the squad.

Central Missouri, the 2013 MIAA regular season champion, tops the poll with eleven first place votes and 121 total points, followed by Southwest Baptist, picked second with 100 points. SBU won last year’s MIAA tournament in overtime over Central Oklahoma, which is picked third and just two points behind SBU, earning one first place vote. Picked fourth, Northeastern State grabbed 91 points, well ahead of fifth-picked Washburn (72 points).

From there, things are close with just two points separating WU, Lindenwood (71 points) and the Tigers (70), in seventh. 

Closing out the final five spots is Nebraska-Kearney (50 points), Emporia State (47 points), Missouri Southern (30 points), Northwest Missouri (27 points) and Missouri Western (15 points).

Fort Hays State hosts Kansas Wesleyan in exhibition action this Saturday (Aug. 23) at 11 a.m., and will kick off the regular season on Friday, Sept. 5 in Marshall, Minn., against No. 21 Southwest Minnesota State.

2014 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (11)     121
2. Southwest Baptist          100
3. Central Oklahoma (1)      98
4. Northeastern State          91
5. Washburn                        72
6. Lindenwood                     71
7. Fort Hays State               70
8. Nebraska-Kearney          50
9. Emporia State                 47
10. Missouri Southern         30
11. Northwest Missouri        27
12. Missouri Western          15

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

After spending six years with the Fort Hays State softball program, head coach Erin Kinberger is heading home. Kinberger has been officially named to the same position at her alma mater, St. Leo University in Florida, where she  replaces John Conway who resigned last week.

Erin Kinberger on accepting St. Leo head coaching position

 

FHSU AD Curtis Hammeke on Kinberger departure and search for new coach

 

 

Kinberger ranks first all-time in win percentage among coaches in FHSU history, at .677, and is second all-time in wins to Ed Wilkerson’s 142. Additionally, the Tigers’ 47-12 record in 2013 was the winningest season in program history and Kinberger was named MIAA Coach of the Year, prior to her team winning the 2013 MIAA Tournament. Kinberger also served three years as an assistant with the Tiger program.

Under Kinberger’s guidance, the Tigers were ranked nationally for the first time in school history, reaching as high as No. 10 in the in the NFCA Top 25 in 2013.

Graduate Assistant Coach Maddie Holub will be continuing her coaching career alongside Kinberger at Saint Leo.

Fort Hays State Athletics Director Curtis Hammeke announced that a search for Kinberger’s replacement is in progress.

Kinberger spent one year as a graduate assistant at St. Leo following a solid four-year playing career as the Lions’ catcher.

Graduate Assistant Coach Maddie Holub will be continuing her coaching career alongside Kinberger at Saint Leo.

After winning six of their final seven games a year ago to finish with a winning record, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the Fort Hays State football team, however one player is probably more excited than the rest. Junior offensive lineman Matt Erbert was injured during the Tigers first scrimmage last season and had to sit out the entire 2013 season.

Erbert is back in uniform and was on the field for the Tigers first scrimmage Sunday morning and looking forward to his return to the starting lineup.

 

Despite not having a starter, the offensive line does have experience with four players having started 10 or more games in their career including Erbert who made 10 starts as a freshman in 2012. Sophomore Luke Edney started in all 11 games last season while sophomore Mason Dickey played in all 11 games and made 10 starts last season. Junior Jarred Stindt also returns after making 10 starts as a freshman and playing in seven games last season.

Kansas City, Mo. – Northwest Missouri tops the AFCA Preseason Football Poll and are joined by two other MIAA teams in the top 25.

Pittsburg State is ranked ninth in the poll with Emporia State picked in a tie for 22nd overall. Central Missouri, Missouri Western and Washburn all received votes in the poll which was released today.

The MIAA season is set to kick-off with five games on Thursday, Sept. 4.
2014 American Football Coaches Association Preseason Division II Coaches’ Poll – August 18, 2014

Rank	School (1st votes)	2013 Rec.	Pts.	Prev.*	Season Opener	Head Coach
1.	Northwest Missouri State (31)	15-0	799	1	Sept. 4 vs. Nebraska-Kearney	Adam Dorrel
2.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	12-3	725	3	Sept. 4 at No. 22 Azusa Pacific (Calif.)	Matt Mitchell
3.	Minnesota Duluth	11-2	634	8	Sept. 6 vs. Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)	Curt Wiese
4.	Colorado St.-Pueblo	11-1	619	7	Sept. 4 vs. No. 11 West Texas A&M	John Wristen
5.	North Alabama	10-3	589	10	Sept. 13 at Mississippi College	Bobby Wallace
6.	Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)	13-2	538	2	Sept. 6 vs. Point (Ga.)	Ian Shields
7.	Minnesota State	11-1	530	6	Sept. 4 vs. No. 15 St. Cloud State (Minn.)	Todd Hoffner
8.	Henderson State (Ark.) (1)	11-1	523	13	Sept. 6 at Southern Nazarene (Okla.)	Scott Maxfield
9.	Pittsburg State (Kan.)	10-2	522	19	Sept. 6 vs. Northeastern St. (Okla.)	Tim Beck
10.	West Chester (Pa.)	13-2	477	4	Sept. 6 at New Haven (Conn.)	Bill Zwaan
11.	West Texas A&M	11-3	407	11	Sept. 4 at No. 4 Colorado St.-Pueblo	Mike Nesbitt
12.	Shepherd (W.Va.)	11-1	393	9	Sept. 6 at West Liberty (W.Va.)	Monte Cater
13.	Ohio Dominican	10-1	390	12	Sept. 6 vs. Malone (Ohio)	Bill Conley
14.	Winston-Salem State (N.C.)	10-2	389	14	Sept. 6 vs. No. 21 North Carolina-Pembroke	Kienus Boulware
15.	St. Cloud State (Minn.)	12-2	350	5	Sept. 4 at No. 7 Minnesota St.-Mankato	Scott Underwood
16.	Carson-Newman (Tenn.)	10-3	333	17	Sept. 4 vs. Edinboro (Pa.)	Ken Sparks
17.	Tarleton State (Texas)	7-3	266	NR	Sept. 13 at No. 11 West Texas A&M	Cary Fowler
18.	Indianapolis (Ind.)	10-2	229	18	Sept. 6 at Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.)	Bob Bartolomeo
19.	Delta State. (Miss.)	7-3	206	NR	Sept. 6 at Fort Valley St. (Ga.)	Todd Cooley
20.	Indiana (Pa.)	9-2	167	24	Sept. 6 vs. St. Augustine’s (N.C.)	Curt Cignetti
21.	North Carolina-Pembroke	9-2	140	15	Sept. 6 at No. 14 Winston-Salem St. (N.C.)	Shane Richardson
22t.	Azusa Pacific (Calif.)	10-2	133	NR	Sept. 4 vs. No. 2 Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	Victor Santa Cruz
22t.	Emporia State (Kan.)	9-2	133	20	Sept. 4 vs. Missouri Southern St.	Garin Higgins
24.	Bloomsburg (Pa.)	10-2	103	16	Sept. 6 at Stonehill (Mass.)	Paul Darragh
25.	Tuskegee (Ala.)	8-3	98	25	Sept. 6 vs. Alabama A&M	Willie Slater

*– Ranking in final AFCA Division II Poll of 2013

Others Receiving Votes: Saginaw Valley State (Mich.), 87; Central Missouri, 82; West Alabama, 67; Valdosta State (Ga.), 59; American International (Mass.), 51; Ferris State (Mich.), 41; California (Pa.), 38; Missouri Western State, 38; Albany State (Ga.), 32; Midwestern State (Texas), 31; Harding (Ark.), 27; Colorado School of Mines, 20; Newberry (S.C.), 20; Concord (W.Va.), 19; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 19; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 13; Eastern New Mexico, 12; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 9; Winona State (Minn.), 9; Fayetteville State (N.C.), 7; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 7; Truman State (Mo.), 5; Findlay (Ohio), 3; Miles (Ala.), 3; Chadron State (Neb.), 2; Michigan Tech, 2; Washburn (Kan.), 2; West Georgia, 2.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

The Fort Hays State football team closed out their first week of practice with a scrimmage Sunday morning at Lewis Field. Quarterbacks Treveon Albert and Kevin Spain connected on several long touchdown passes but both also threw interceptions. Kenneth Iheme returned what would have been a 98 yard kickoff return and Drew O’Brien connected on a 51 yard field goal.

Coach Chris Brown

Albert was intercepted by Nathan Lindsey on the first series featuring the No. 1 offense and No.1  defense. Alex Schmidtberger picked off Spain later in the scrimmage.

Spain guided the No. 1 offense to their first score, hitting Tyler Bacon on a 20-yard touchdown pass on third and seven. It was the third, third-down conversion of the drive.

Evan Jennings hauled in a 27-yard TD pass from Albert. Ed Williams hauled in a 32 yard receptions and also had a four-yard TD catch from Spain.

In addition to his long kickoff return, running back Kenneth Iheme scored on a 21-yard touchdown run.

The Tigers are scheduled to scrimmage again Thursday then again on on Wednesday the 27th. They open their season at home September fourth against Central Oklahoma.

The Fort Hays State football team closed the 2013 season winning six of their last seven games. One of the reasons for the strong finish was improved play on defense. The Tigers finished plus-14 in turnover margin over those final seven games. After scoring just seven points off three turnover in the first three games, tallied 114 points off 24 turnovers in the final seven contests.

The Tigers finished plus-three in turnover margin for the season which included 18 interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

Cooper Harris, who is in his second season as the Tigers defensive coordinator, hopes to continue the trend this season.

Cooper Harris

The Fort Hays State offense has shown steady improvement over each of the first two seasons under head football coach Chris Brown. Last season they averaged 34.9 points per game, up nearly 12 points form 2012. The Tigers gained 429.2 yards per game, 81.2 yards better than the year before.

Offensive Coordinator Justin Schreiber talked about the Tigers offense following Wednesday’s practice at Lewis Field.

Justin Schreiber