INDIANAPOLIS – The 2017-18 Fort Hays State men’s basketball season saw 38,501 fans drawn to Gross Memorial Coliseum to support the Tigers. With their average of 2,264 fans per home competition, Fort Hays State finished at No. 6 in the NCAA Division II attendance rankings. This is the ninth-straight season the Tigers have been inside the top ten for attendance.
The strong support played a role in the Tigers amassing a 15-2 home record during the 2017-18 season. Fort Hays State led the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association for another season with their average. Three other conference programs were in the top ten, including No. 7 Washburn (2,141), No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney (1,848) and No. 10 Central Missouri (1,751).
After their 15-2 home stretch last season, Fort Hays State jumps to 363-60 overall inside Gross Memorial Coliseum since joining Division II. FHSU has achieved ten-win seasons in 40 of its 44 seasons housed in Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Northern State led the way nationally again, drawing 55,980 total fans with an average of 3,732 per contest. Dixie State averaged 2,630 per night to rank second. Augustana ranked No. 3 (2,421), Morehouse came in at No. 4 (2,407) and California Baptist rounded out the top five programs with 2,290 fans per home game.
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State head softball coach Adrian Pilkington announced the addition of three transfers for the 2019 season. The trio includes Michaelanne Nelson, Allison Jurgensen, and Katie Adler.
A native of Perry, Oklahoma, Nelson transfers to FHSU from Connors State (Okla.) College, where she played two seasons. Nelson was an all-region selection at pitcher as a sophomore in 2018, finishing with a record of 18-7, a 2.79 ERA, and 139 strikeouts in 170.1 innings pitched. As a freshman in 2017, she finished with a record of 18-5 to go with a 1.34 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 135.2 innings pitched. Nelson was the Stillwater News Press All-Area Softball Player of the Year as a junior and then the VYPE Ponca City Area Comeback Athlete of the Year as a senior at Frontier High School. In her junior year of high school, she recorded 25 wins, 278 strikeouts and nine no-hitters, which included two perfect games. She suffered an ACL injury in basketball as a junior before coming back to have a big senior year in softball when she recorded 30 wins, 429 strikeouts, and six no-hitters, helping her team to the state semifinals.
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Jurgensen transfers to FHSU from Butler (Kan.) Community College. As a freshman in 2017, Jurgensen batted .416 with 27 extra-base hits (11 doubles, 5 triples, 11 home runs), 60 RBIs, and 47 runs scored, earning All-KJCCC First Team honors at third base and helping the Grizzlies to the NJCAA Division I National Championship. She also earned All-Tournament Team honors at the NJCAA National Championship site. She had her sophomore year of 2018 cut short due to injury, but still finished with a .242 batting average with three doubles, 11 RBIs, and 10 runs scored. Jurgensen played her prep career at Maize High School, where she was an all-state selection as a junior and senior.
A native of Riverton, Utah, Adler transfers to FHSU from Colby (Kan.) Community College. As a sophomore in 2018, Adler batted .395 with 16 extra-base hits (12 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs), 23 RBIs, and 36 runs scored, while adding 14 stolen bases. As a freshman in 2017, she hit .384 with 18 extra-base hits (15 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs), 38 RBIs, and 32 runs scored, adding five stolen bases. Adler batted .415 over her final two years of prep softball at Riverton High School, helping the school to a state championship as a senior.
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State head volleyball coach Jessica Wood-Atkins has announced the signing of Haley Frederking in advance of the 2018 season. Frederking joins the Tigers after earning four letters at Peak to Peak High School in Lafayette, Colo., where she was named honorable mention All-State in Class 3A as a senior by the CHSAA.
A 5’9″ setter, Frederking also saw time as an outside hitter in her prep career. The Erie, Colo. native set numerous school records, including service aces in a season (37), digs in a season (207) and kills in a match (27). As a Puma, Frederking was a BoCoPreps.com honorable mention all-region selection as a senior and twice garnered all-league honorable mention accolades.
Frederking excelled as a setter at the club level, setting records for single season assists (504) and assists per set (11.98) at Alpine Volleyball Academy.
Frederking is also a leader in the classroom, graduating with a weighted GPA of 4.196. Additionally, Haley is the sister-in-law of her future teammate, senior Azlyn Cassaday.
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State head volleyball coach Jessica Wood-Atkins announced the signing of Isabelle Reynolds for the 2018 season. Reynolds comes to the Tiger program from Andover (Kan.) High School where she was a KVA All-State Second Team selection in Class 5A her senior year.
Standing at 5’11”, Reynolds finished her senior season with 342 kills and a .308 hitting percentage as an outside hitter. She was the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League II MVP, while also earning Wichita Eagle All-Metro First Team honors. She was a three-time all-league selection, including All-AVCTL II First Team honors as a junior and senior. Reynolds also earned all-state honorable mention honors in basketball as a senior.
Reynolds’ club team, Fight Club-Shelby, based in the Wichita area won their division at the Colorado Crossroads in the spring of 2018, solidifying a bid in the USAV Junior National Tournament where the team placed 41st in the nation.
EDMONTON, Alberta – Former Fort Hays State standout running back Shaquille Cooper signed a free agent contract with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League in March of 2018. After a solid showing in minicamp and preseason action to solidify a spot on the team, Cooper looks to be a dynamic piece for Edmonton when it opens the season this week – Thursday night (June 14) on ESPN2 against the Winnipeg Jets at 7:30 pm CT.
Cooper earned All-America honors as a running back at Fort Hays State, rushing for 2,768 yards in his three-year career that included the 2012, 2015, and 2016 seasons. He tied the school record for career yards per carry, matching the 6.1 yards per attempt rate posted by Terry Blassingame, who played in 1997 and 1998. Cooper rushed for at least 100 yards in a game 12 times at FHSU, only topped by Clint Bedore’s 13 from 1992-95. He had two games in which he ran for over 200 yards with his single-game best a 263-yard effort against Northeastern State in 2015. Cooper became the 13th player in FHSU history to reach the 1,000-yard rushing plateau in a season, rushing for 1,441 yards in 2015 – the third most in a single season at FHSU.
Cooper shined in the team’s first preseason game on May 27 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, finishing with 118 all-purpose yards. He rushed for 36 yards, averaging nine yards per carry, which included an 11-yard touchdown run. He also caught three passes for 34 yards and returned four kicks/punts for 48 yards.
Cooper is one of the top two running backs listed on the depth chart for the Eskimos entering the season, joining CFL veteran C.J. Gable, a former standout running back at the University of Southern California from 2006-10.
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State head volleyball coach Jessica Wood-Atkins announced the signing of Breann Becker for the 2018 season. A junior setter, Becker transfers to FHSU from Neosho County (Kan.) Community College, where she was an NJCAA All-America Second Team selection in 2017.
Becker helped Neosho County to a 28-12 record as a sophomore in 2018, recording 1,158 assists for the season. She averaged 7.82 assists per set, while adding 2.72 digs per set (403 total) for the season. She led the team in service aces with 38 and managed to eclipse 100 kills for the season, finishing with 105. She had double-double performances in 23 games for assists and digs. She had a season-high 58 assists in the team’s final game of the season, while her season best in digs for a match was 24 during a game when she also had 35 assists. She was just shy of a triple-double against Fort Scott Community College on September 25 when she finished with a season-high eight kills to go with 29 assists and 12 digs.
Becker also had a solid freshman campaign in 2016 when she recorded 658 assists (5.62/set), 238 digs (2.03/set), 64 kills, and 20 service aces. She had seven double-doubles in assists and digs that season.
Becker was a two-time All-KJCCC and All-District selection, earning first team honors for both in 2017 and second team honors for both in 2016.
A native of Pratt, Kansas, Becker attended Pratt High School where she enjoyed an impressive prep sports career. She was an all-state selection in three sports – volleyball, basketball, and softball.
Pittsburg State has turned to the winningest coach of two MIAA school’s to be their new head baseball coach. Bob Fornelli, who is the winningest coach at both Fort Hays State and Emporia State, announced Tuesday he’s leaving the Hornet program after 15 years to take over the Gorillas.
Fornelli replaces Tom Myers who stepped down after two seasons as head coach.
At his alma mater Emporia State, Fornelli guided the Hornets to a 599-266 (.692) record in 15 seasons. He led the Hornets to 13 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and two trips to the D2 World Series and a national runner-up finish in 2009. Under his guidance, ESU won five MIAA regular season crowns (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2017) and a pair of MIAA Tournament titles (2007, 2014).
Fornelli compiled a 306-113 (.730) record in seven seasons at Fort Hays State. He led the Tigers to four Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the D2 national championship game in 2000. He remains the winningest head coach in FHSU program history.
Fornelli has a 905-379 (.705) record in 22 years as a collegiate head coach with 19 NCAA II Tournament appearances.
Prior to his tenure at FHSU, Fornelli served as pitching coach at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., from 1992-96. The Grizzlies posted a 195-86 (.694) record during his five seasons on staff, finishing third in the NJCAA World Series in 1994.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In the first race beyond his collegiate competition days at Fort Hays State, Decano Cronin hit a European Championships “A” Standard in the 800 meters at the Music City Distance Carnival on Saturday night. He ran a time of 1:46.67, going 0.7 seconds better than his quickest effort at Fort Hays State over the last two years.
Cronin’s best effort at Fort Hays State happened the previous week at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, where he ran a time of 1:47.37 to set a new FHSU record. It was the final collegiate race of his career, finishing as a three-time All-American for the Tigers in the 800 meters. He was the 2017 national champion in the event for the outdoor season, and then finished as national runner-up in both the indoor and outdoor seasons this year.
The European Championships entry standard is 1:47.60 in the 800 meters. The “A” Standard in Ireland is 1:47.10 and the “B” standard is the standard for the European Championships. Currently, no other athlete from Ireland has reached the A or B standard. Cronin has to place in the top three at the Irish Championships to compete at the European Championships.
Cronin’s time ranks him 73rd on the world performance list and 18th on the European performance list. He now ranks first in Ireland by 1.19 seconds.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced that Southwest Baptist University has formally withdrawn from the conference and accepted an invitation from the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The departure is effective August 1, 2019.
“We are disappointed to see Southwest Baptist leave the MIAA. They have been an outstanding representative of our conference since they joined the MIAA in 1986,” stated MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy. “We appreciate that SBU leadership has kept the conference informed about their membership study this past year, and we support SBU’s efforts to do what they believe is best for their programs and student-athletes. We wish them well and much success in the GLVC.”
Last January, the MIAA CEO Council appointed two task forces to take a strategic look at important issues facing the MIAA. One task force is working on football-related issues, including a study of various scheduling models to help strengthen MIAA football programs. The other task force is exploring membership issues, including the development of tools to help communicate the mission, alignment and value of the MIAA for member institutions and communities. “In an ever-changing climate in college athletics, the MIAA is committed to being proactive, resourceful and innovative in order to maintain our reputation as one of the most successful conferences in the NCAA,” Racy added.
Since being founded in 1912, the MIAA has a rich tradition of success with 42 National Team Championships and hundreds of student-athletes recognized as Academic All-Americans in their sports. The MIAA competes in the NCAA Central Region and has member institutions based throughout Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
Fort Hays State University Director of Athletics Curtis Hammeke announced the hiring of Jerod Goodale as head baseball coach on Thursday (May 31). A native of Hays and alumnus of Fort Hays State University, Goodale returns to guide the program where his collegiate baseball journey began. He becomes the 15th head coach in the program’s history.
Goodale
“Today is a special day for myself and my family. I am truly honored and grateful to lead the baseball program at Fort Hays State University and would like to thank Curtis Hammeke for providing me this opportunity,” said Goodale. “I am proud of what we accomplished at Colorado School of Mines during the past seven years, but Hays is home, it’s where I grew up, went to school, met my wife, and started my coaching career. My hope is that I can give back to FHSU and the community of Hays as much as its given to me and my family. I am excited to start the process of bringing our program back to a championship caliber level and look forward to putting in the work to make that happen.”
Over the last seven seasons (2012-18), Goodale was head coach at Colorado School of Mines where he built the baseball program into a conference and national contender. Taking over a program that had 12 consecutive losing seasons before his arrival in Golden in the fall of 2011, Goodale ended a streak that reached 14 years by guiding the program to a 24-23 mark in his third year (2014). The last three seasons (2016-2018), Colorado School of Mines vaulted into one of the top programs in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference by winning
an average of 33 games per season. The 2017 and 2018 seasons were the only years of 30 or more wins in the program’s history, culminating with it’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018. The Orediggers finished the 2018 season 37-18 overall and touted two All-America selections, including RMAC and South Central Region Player of the Year Mikey Gangwish. The two seasons prior, the Orediggers produced records of 29-15 and 32-22. Colorado School of Mines reached the RMAC Tournament Championship Finals in each of the last two years and came up just one win shy of playing for the South Central Regional Championship in 2018. Colorado School of Mines reached the RMAC Postseason Tournament only two times in the program’s history prior to Goodale’s arrival, but qualified six of seven years with him at the helm.
In his seven years at Colorado School of Mines, Goodale coached four All-America selections. Of the four, Nate Olinger earned All-America honors in consecutive seasons (2014 and 2015). In 2018, Mikey Gangwish earned All-America First Team honors at catcher by the ABCA, D2CCA, and NCBWA. Goodale coached 27 All-RMAC selections, including 14 fi rst-team selections. He earned RMAC Coach of the Year honors in 2016.
“Jerod has established himself as a successful baseball coach and draws from several experiences that have led to his growth,” said Fort Hays State Director of Athletics Curtis Hammeke. “We look forward to Jerod continuing on his path of success here at Fort Hays State University.”
Prior to his fi rst head coaching position, Goodale spent two years (2010-2011) as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, where he helped the program to 59 wins. Before that, he served as an assistant coach at Wichita State University for three years (2007-09) primarily working with catchers, while in charge of opponent scouting reports and assisting with hitters and defense. He helped the program to a 131-66 overall record, five Missouri Valley Conference Championships (three regular season, two tournament), and NCAA Tournament appearances all three years, reaching the Super Regionals twice.
Goodale began his collegiate coaching career at Fort Hays State University, where he served as an assistant coach for two years (2005-06). He served as pitching coach and helped guide the Tigers to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006, the last time the program reached the national tournament. The pitching staff in 2006 set an RMAC record for lowest team earned run average (3.65), while boasting the RMAC Pitcher of the Year. Fort Hays State had a record of 76-39 over his two years as an assistant.
Goodale’s coaching resume also includes summer coaching stints as an assistant with the Liberal (Kan.) Bee Jays in 2007 and the Thomasville (N.C.) Hi-Toms in 2005.
In Goodale’s 14 years as a collegiate baseball coach, he has helped produce a total of 12 All-Americans, 77 all-conference performers, 80 academic all-conference performers, four Academic All-Americans, two national gold glove award winners, 31 players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, and four players that have reached the Major League Baseball level.
Goodale was a student-athlete at Fort Hays State University, playing from 2001 to 2004. He was a two-year captain and two-time all-conference performer at catcher, helping the Tigers to the RMAC regular season and tournament championships in 2003. The 2003 team hosted the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament. He helped the team to an overall record of 157-66 in his time at FHSU as the team won at least 30 games all four years and eclipsed the 40-win mark twice. He served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from 2002-2004.
Goodale enjoyed summer collegiate league stints as a player with the Clarinda (Iowa) A’s and the Hays Larks. Goodale was a member of the last two Fort Hays State teams to reach the NCAA Tournament, as a player in 2003 and as an assistant coach in 2006. Goodale holds two degrees from Fort Hays State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health and human performance (emphasis in sports and recreation) in 2004 and then his master’s in health and human performance (emphasis in sports administration) in 2006.
Goodale and his wife, Jessica, have two daughters, Riley and Lauryn, and one son, Andy.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – One national title and seven All-American honors highlighted day three of the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the Fort Hays State track and field team on Saturday. The Tigers accumulated 15 team points on the women’s side while totaling 13 points in the men’s standings.
Madison Wolf earned the second national title in as many years for the Tigers, winning the javelin throw in her fourth trip to the national meet. The senior sat in second after one round of throws before posting a toss of 161-1 on her second attempt, a mark that would hold up as the best of the day. It was Wolf’s fourth All-American honor. The Bennington, Kan. native is the seventh NCAA champion from the women’s program and is the first outdoor champ since 1999 (Janet Eck, high jump).
Decano Cronin picked up his third All-American trophy in the last calendar year, finishing second in the 800m run. The senior opened the race in the back of the pack but passed five runners over the final 300 meters to finish in a time of 1:47.37, bettering his own school record by more than one second. Cronin took the national title in the same race a year ago before finishing runner-up in the 800m at the indoor meet earlier this season.
Brett Meyer earned his fourth All-American trophy in the last two years after placing fourth in the 1,500m run. The junior started towards the front of the pack before falling back to the middle of the field by the midway point. Meyer made his move around the final turn, passing two runners to finish fourth in a time of 3:46.43.
Senior Kelly Wycoff shattered her own school record in her final collegiate race, placing fifth in the 400m dash after crossing the line in 53.52. It is the Scott City, Kan. native’s second All-American award after garnering second team status a year ago in the same race.
Alexcia Deutscher earned a spot on the national podium for the first time after finishing eighth in the javelin, recording a top throw of 145-4 on her second attempt of the day. The sophomore earned All-American accolades for the second time after picking up second team honors last year.
Jake Morrow and Sam Dreiling both picked up second team All-American honors in the pole vault, each earning national status for the second time this year after finishing in the top eight indoors. Morrow placed ninth with a mark of 16-8. The Grand Island, Neb. native needed just four attempts to clear the first three bars, but was unable to eclipse the 17-0 mark, which would have tied the school record. Dreiling finished in a tie for 11th after soaring over the 16-0 bar on his first attempt.
Courtney Geiger finished 19th in the discus throw thanks to a heave of 136-8 on her first attempt. The senior was the top MIAA finisher in the event.
Adding in performances from the first two days of the national meet, the Tigers picked up 10 All-American honors.
tState track and field team picked up three more All-American honors on day two of the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships Friday (May 25).
Defending 800m champion Decano Cronin secured a chance to defend his title in Saturday’s finals, winning the third heat of the prelims with a time of 1:49.42. The senior maintained the second position for the majority of the race before taking the lead through the final turn and holding on down the final straightaway.
Kolt Newell earned second team All-American honors after finishing in a tie for 12th in the high jump, soaring over the 6-8.75 bar on his first attempt.
TJ Dozier picked up second team All-American accolades for the second year in a row after finishing 12th in the discus, recording a toss of 167-8 on his third and final throw.
Kelly Wycoff and Amber Forbes placed 14th and 16th, respectively, in the 200m dash prelims. Wycoff completed the race in 24.44 with Forbes close behind, crossing the line in 24.53.
The national meet concludes Saturday with eight Tigers competing, including Jake Morrow (pole vault), Sam Dreiling (pole vault), Brett Meyer (1,500m run), Cronin (800m run), Madison Wolf (javelin), Alexcia Deutscher (javelin), Courtney Geiger (discus) and Wycoff (400m dash). Find a complete schedule of Saturday’s finals below.
Saturday, May 26 (all times central)
Men’s pole vault (Morrow & Dreiling) – 11:30 a.m.
Women’s javelin throw (Wolf & Deutscher) – 12:15 p.m.
Men’s 1,500 meter final (Meyer) – 2:45 p.m.
Women’s discus (Geiger) – 3:00 p.m.
Women’s 400 meter final (Wycoff) – 3:35 p.m.
Men’s 800 meter final (Cronin) – 4:05 p.m.
Fort Hays State announces its football schedule for the 2018 season. The Tigers will play six games at home, coming off their best season in program history. FHSU went undefeated during the regular season in 2017, winning its first MIAA Championship. The Tigers begin defense of their title on Thursday, August 30, when they open the season against Central Missouri in Hays.
In-state rivals Washburn and Pittsburg State are slated to make the trip to Hays this season. Central Oklahoma will serve as the Homecoming opponent on September 29. Lindenwood and Northeastern State will also make the journey to Lewis Field Stadium.
2018 Home Games
August 30 – Central Missouri, 7 pm (Eagle Communications Kickoff Classic)
September 15 – Washburn, 7 pm
September 29 – Central Oklahoma, 7 pm (Homecoming – Fireworks following the game)
October 13 – Pittsburg State, 2 pm (Hall of Fame Game)
October 27 – Lindenwood, 2 pm
November 10 – Northeastern State, 2 pm (Senior Day)
All games in the regular season will be conference games for the fifth-straight year, with 12 schools in the MIAA for football (Southwest Baptist and Lincoln do not compete in the MIAA in football). The Tigers went a perfect 11-0 in MIAA play last year and made their first NCAA Playoff appearance since 1995. The Tigers enter their eighth year under the guidance of head coach Chris Brown, who owns a 49-31 mark at FHSU.
Season Ticket Information
Season tickets are now available to the public. Reserved seats on the west side of the stadium are $78 per seat for the season. New chairback seats were installed on the west side of the stadium in the summer of 2017. Supporters can donate an additional $250 to get their name engraved on a seat. Faculty/Staff/Alumni receive a 10% discount. Walk-up prices for reserved tickets on game days are $15. General admission tickets are $10 (East side seating only). Youth tickets (grades K-12) on game days are $5. Call (785) 628-4050 or fill out the 2018-19 season ticket form. Forms are available at the following link…
Tiger Tailgate Spots
Reserved tailgate parking spots for the 2018 season are going fast, with only 45 spots remaining. The reserved tailgating spots are $100 for the year. The Tiger Tailgate on game days was a hit in 2017. Do not miss out on a great time this upcoming season! Stop by the FHSU Athletics office to see which spots remain.
Tiger Football Autograph Day (Sponsored by Nex-Tech Wireless)
The annual Tiger Football Autograph Day will be on Saturday, August 25, from 1-3 pm at Big Creek Crossing in Hays. Come out and meet the Tigers before the season kicks off the following week.
