We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Weber Announces the Signing of Levi Stockard

basketball-4MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of high school standout Levi Stockard (St. Louis, Mo./Vashon) on the third day of the Fall National Signing Period on Friday.

Stockard continues a legacy of St. Louis area signees for K-State, which includes current senior D.J. Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) in 2012 and Xavier Sneed (St. Louis/Hazelwood Central) in 2016. He is the 19th St. Louis area signee dating back to Jack Thomas (1969-72), including the third from famed Vashon High School, joining Randy Reed (1980-82) and Jonas Cody (1982-84).

Stockard joins Mike McGuirl (Ellington, Conn./East Catholic) and Nigel Shadd (Chandler, Ariz./Tri-City Christian Academy) who inked with the Wildcats on Wednesday. The three-man signing class ties for the largest of Weber’s tenure during the Fall Signing Period (also signed three in 2014) and includes a combo guard (McGuirl), a small forward (Stockard) and a power forward (Shadd) from three different states (Arizona, Connecticut and Missouri).

“We are excited to welcome Mike, Nigel and Levi to our program,” said Weber. “They are not only very talented basketball players, but they fit the mold of the type of player we always strive to attract at K-State. They are all good quality individuals from great families who receive excellent instruction for outstanding high school and summer league programs. In addition, they all have a winning mentality having been a part of highly successful high school programs with a combined four state championships between them.”

The trio went a combined 72-8 during their respective junior seasons in 2015-16 with McGuirl (Connecticut Class L State Champions) and Stockard (Missouri Class 4 State Champions) each claiming state titles and Shadd’s Tri-City Christian Academy falling in the state championship game. McGuirl also helped East Catholic High School to the Connecticut Class M title as a freshman in 2014, while Shadd also won a state championship in 2014.

“We felt like we needed to get more athleticism in this class with the graduation of both Wes (Iwundu) and D.J. (Johnson),” said Weber. “Levi brings a very athletic build to the post while also being a very intelligent player with a great feel for the game.”

The three signees would replace the impending graduations of seniors Carlbe Ervin II, Wesley Iwundu and D.J. Johnson, who all would complete their eligibility in 2016-17. The Wildcats still have one scholarship available for the 2017-18 season.


Levi Stockard

6-8 // 240 // F

St. Louis, Mo.

High School: Vashon (coached by Tony Irons)

AAU: Gateway Basketball Club (coached by Scott Schroepfer)

Primary Recruiter: Chris Lowery

 

Bio:

  • Led the Wolverines to a 26-4 overall record and a 10-0 record in the Public High School League standings en route to the 2016 Missouri State Class 4 State Championship as a junior.
  • Named to the 2016 Class 4 All-State Team by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association.
  • Averaged 10 points on 94.7 percent shooting (72-of-76) with 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 0.7 assists per game in playing 18 games in 2015-16.
  • Ranked first on the team in rebounding (5.3 rpg.), offensive rebounds (36), defensive rebounds (60) and blocks (1.8 bpg.) and was second in scoring (10 ppg.) and field goals made (72).
  • Scored in double figures 8 times, including a season-high 16 points vs. New Madrid CC (11/28/15) on 5-of-8 field goals and 6-of-6 free throws… Scored 10 points in the 69-58 win over St. Joseph Lafayette in the Class 4 State Championship Game… Collected 4 double-doubles.
  • Reached double-digit rebounds 6 times with a season-high 15 boards vs. Farmington (11/30/15).
  • Blocked 3 or more shots 6 times, including a season-best 6 vs. Charleston (11/27/15).
  • Helped the Gateway Basketball Club to a 36-9 record during the summer of 2016, which included a 7th-place finish at Adidas Gauntlet Series – Atlanta Gold Division… Played in all 14 games with 12 starts, averaging 9.6 points on 60.2 percent shooting (53-of-88) with 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21.1 minutes per game.
  • Also played football for the Wolverines, where he played both tight end and defensive end… Totaled 41 tackles with 20 solo stops, 11 tackles for loss and 8 sacks as a senior in 2016… Named to the 2015 Class 4 All-State Third Team by the Missouri Football Coaches Association as a junior after posting 81 tackles, including 47 solo stops and 11 sacks, to go with 2 fumble recoveries.

 

Gateway Basketball Club Head Coach Scott Schroepfer:

“Levi will fit in well at K-State with Coach (Bruce) Weber and his staff.  He’s a very intelligent kid with a great basketball I.Q., who has the ability to adapt to any situation. Defensively, he is very good especially off the ball. He has soft hands with a great shooting touch and was probably one of our best passers. He was also a great, great teammate who just wants to do anything to help the team win whether that’s scoring 20 (points) or scoring 6 and holding the opposing team’s best player to a season low. This summer, no one could handle him down low especially one-on-one. He has all the qualities that you need to win, including a great positive attitude.”

 

Head Coach Bruce Weber:

“Levi is a versatile combo big man with great hands and great feet. He has skills to be out on the perimeter and has a very nice shooting touch with the ability to score with both his right and left hands. He is also a great passer. We like the fact that he played football which will only add to his physicality on the court. We are very fortunate that he played for one of the most storied programs (Vashon) in St. Louis, playing for head coach Tony Irons, whose father, Floyd, won more than 800 games and 10 state titles. St. Louis is a really important area for our program, as he follows in the footsteps of D.J. (Johnson) and Xavier (Sneed).”

 

K-State Hosts Western Illinois Friday Night

little basketballsGAME 1

WESTERN ILLINOIS (0-0, 0-0 Summit)

AT KANSAS STATE (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

Friday, November 11, 2016 >> 8 p.m. Bramlage Coliseum (12,528)

 

 

COACHES

Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)

Overall: 392-209/19th season

At K-State: 79-54/5th season

  1. Western Illinois: 1-0 (1-0 at home)

 

Western Illinois: Billy Wright (Bradley ‘96)

Overall: 18-37/3rd season

At WIU: same

  1. Kansas State: 0-0

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State

G: #3 Kamau Stokes

G: #5 Barry Brown

G: #25 Wesley Iwundu

F: #32 Dean Wade

F: #4 D.J. Johnson

 

Western Illinois

G: #1 Jabari Sandifer

G: #31 Garret Covington

G: #40 C.J. Duff

F: #15 Dalan Ancrum

C: #52 Brandon Gilbeck

 

INSIDE THE SERIES

Overall: K-State leads 3-0

  1. Summit League: K-State leads 29-2 (28-0 at home)

In Manhattan: K-State leads 3-0 (last meeting: 11/15/2009)

In Macomb: n/a

Current Streak: K-State, 3

Last Meeting: K-State won 82-50 in Manhattan (11/15/2009)

Weber vs. Wright: First meeting

 

GAME 1 – QUICK HITTERS

  • Kansas State officially tips off the 113th season of men’s basketball on Friday, as the Wildcats host Summit League member Western Illinois (0-0) in the second game of a doubleheader at Bramlage Coliseum. The game will tip off at 8 p.m. CT following the conclusion of the first game between the K-State women and Chicago State, which is set for 5:30 p.m. CT.
  • Friday’s opener is the first of four straight for the Wildcats at home to start the season, including Tuesday’s tilt with Omaha at 7 p.m., the Nov. 20 contest with Hampton and Nov. 22 game with Robert Morris.
  • K-State is 87-25 (.777) all-time in season openers dating back to the first season in 1903, including a 75-9 (.893) mark at home.
  • The Wildcats are 22-2 (.917) in season openers at Bramlage Coliseum, which includes a 16-game winning streak from 1995-2012. The 2 losses have come to Southern Miss (Nov. 27, 1993) and Northern Colorado (Nov. 8, 2013). Overall, the team is 24-4 (.857) at Bramlage in home openers.
  • K-State has a 79-5 (.940) record at home in non-conference play dating back to 2006-07, including a 77-4 (.951) mark during the regular season. The squad has won 68 of its last 71 non-conference home games.
  • The Wildcats went 8-0 at Bramlage Coliseum in non-conference play in 2015-16 with an average margin of victory of 16.5 points per game. The last home non-conference loss came to Georgia on Dec. 31, 2014.
  • Bruce Weber is 16-2 (.889) in his 18-year head coaching career in openers (Southern Illinois and Illinois), including a 16-1 (.941) mark in home openers. His 2 losses have come in 1998 (SIU) and 2013 (K-State).
  • Weber is 56-12 (.824) at Bramlage Coliseum since taking over as head coach with only non-conference losses to Northern Colorado (2013), Texas Southern (2014) and Georgia (2014). The 12 losses (9 of which have come in Big 12 play) have come by a total of 61 points (5.1 ppg.).
  • K-State won its 2015 opener, 80-53, over UMES, as the Wildcats scored 22 points off turnovers and dominated the paint, 38-18. Junior Wesley Iwundu led three Wildcats in double figures with game-highs in points (23) and rebounds (10), while sophomore Barry Brown added 17 points.
  • Iwundu has double-doubles in 2 of his 3 career openers, averaging 18.5 points on 63.2 percent shooting with 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
  • K-State went 2-0 in exhibition play defeating Pittsburg State, 85-72, on Oct. 28 and Washburn, 73-58, on Nov. 4. The Wildcats have now won 20 consecutive home exhibition games dating back to 2004.

 

RECAPPING THE EXHIBITION SEASON

  • Kansas State went 2-0 in exhibition play, posting an 85-72 win over Pittsburg State on Oct. 28 and a 73-58 win over Washburn on Nov. 4… In all, the Wildcats went 5-2 in exhibition play, which includes a 3-2 mark during its European tour in August.
  • K-State is 63-20 (.759) all-time in exhibition play dating back to 1964, including a 42-9 (.824) mark at Bramlage Coliseum.
  • The Wildcats have now won 20 consecutive exhibition games dating back to 2004.
  • K-State is 8-0 in home exhibition play under head coach Bruce Weber.
  • K-State is now 6-0 vs. Washburn and 4-0 vs. Pittsburg State in exhibition play.
  • The Wildcats averaged 79 points during exhibition play on 45.1 percent (55-of-122) shooting from the field, including 37 percent (17-of-46) from 3-point range, with 41.5 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 9.5 steals and 6.0 blocks per game… The squad allowed 65 points on 36.1 percent (44-of-122) shooting, including 28 percent (14-of-50) from 3-point range.
  • K-State also averaged 31.0 points in the paint, 16.0 points off of turnovers, 8.0 fast-break points and 29.0 bench points.
  • Sophomore Barry Brown was the only Wildcat to score in double figures in both exhibitions, posting a game-high 17 points vs. Pittsburg State (10/28) on 6-of-11 field goals to go with a 15-point effort vs. Washburn (11/4) on 4-of-7 shooting… Brown averaged 16.0 points on 55.6 percent shooting (10-of-18), including 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from 3-point range.
  • Senior Wesley Iwundu (12.0 ppg.) and freshman Xavier Sneed (11.0 ppg.) also averaged double figures during exhibition play… Iwundu posted a double-double vs. Washburn (11/4) with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-13 field goals with a game-best 11 rebounds… Sneed scored 13 points vs. Pitt State (10/28) on 6-of-11 field goals to go with a 9-point effort vs. Washburn.
  • Iwundu led the team in rebounding (7.5 rpg.) and assists (3.0 apg.) in exhibition play.
  • Six different Wildcats tallied at least 6 made field goals in exhibition play.

 

THE OPPONENT: WESTERN ILLINOIS

  • Western Illinois returns 11 lettermen, including three starters, from a team that posted a 10-17 overall record and finished ninth in the Summit League standings… The team welcomes four newcomers, including two community college transfers.
  • The Leathernecks opened the 2015-16 season with a dramatic 69-67 win over Wisconsin, which was the first of 5 consecutive wins to start the season… However, the team lost 15 of its last 18 games, including a 11-game losing streak.
  • Western Illinois averaged 70.5 points on 44.4 percent shooting, including 38.8 percent from 3-point range, with 35.1 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 6.0 steals and 3.3 blocks per game in 2015-16… The team allowed 70.9 points per game on 42.9 percent shooting.
  • WIU returns sharp-shooter Garret Covington, who averaged a team-best 17.9 points on 44.4 percent shooting, including 42.3 percent from 3-point range… Senior Jabari Sandifer also returns after averaging 8.4 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game a year ago… Covington and Sandifer averaged 33.7 and 32.6 minutes per game, respectively, in 2015-16.
  • Head coach Billy Wright has an 18-37 overall record entering his third season at the helm.

 

BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES

  • Friday’s contest will mark the fourth meeting between K-State and Western Illinois on the hardwood and the first since 2009.
  • The Wildcats have won the previous three meetings with the Leathernecks, including a 67-57 win on Jan. 9, 1982, a 77-64 win over Nov. 17, 2007 and an 82-50 win on Nov. 15, 2009… This will mark the third meeting at Bramlage Coliseum.
  • K-State is 29-2 all-time against Summit League schools with a 28-0 record at home… The two losses came at Oral Roberts in 1978 and 1985… Western Illinois is the first of back-to-back Summit League foes to start the season, as the Wildcats host Omaha on Tuesday… K-State went 1-0 vs. the Summit League in 2015-16, posting a 93-72 win over South Dakota on Nov. 20, 2015.

Tom Gilbert – Associate Director for Athletic Communications – K-State Athletics

Nine Wildcats Named to Academic All-Big 12 Team

cross-country-3MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State cross country team saw nine student-athletes named to the Academic All-Big 12 Cross Country Team, the conference office announced on Thursday afternoon.

In all, 114 student-athletes throughout the conference were named to either the first or second teams, with 44 selections coming on the men’s team and 70 selections coming from the women.

“These kids work really hard in the classroom as well as work hard to become good runners,” head cross country coach Ryun Godfrey said. “It is good to see them recognized for all of their efforts in the classroom.

Named to the first team were: Joe Gorthy, Sam Oxandale, Bryan Zack, Kayla Doll, Marija Stambolic, Morgan Wedekind and Emma Wren. Colton Donahue and Blake Goodin were both named to the second team.

First team members were required to maintain a 3.20 GPA or better, while second team members were student-athletes whose GPA fell between 3.00 and 3.19. To qualify, student-athletes were expecting to maintain a 3.00 GPA or better and participate in at least 60 percent of the team’s competitions.

Freshman and transfer students were not eligible in their first year of competition, while seniors who competed for a minimum of two years and have met the grade requirements but did not compete in 60 percent of all competitions are also eligible.

For the latest on K-State cross country, follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.

Academic All-Big 12 Teams

First Team:

Joe Gorthy                             So.           Industrial Engineering                                         Stilwell, Kan.

Sam Oxandale                      Jr.            Mechanical Engineering                                     Holt, Mo.

Bryan Zack                             Jr.            Business Management                                        Overland Park, Kan.

Kayla Doll                              Jr.            Kinesiology                                                            Garden City, Kan.

Marija Stambolic                  Sr.           Mass Communications                                        Belgrade Serbia

Morgan Wedekind              Sr.           Communications Sciences and Disorders       Valley Center, Kan.

Emma Wren                         So.           Architectural Engineering                                  Portland, Ore.

 

Second Team:

Colton Donahue                   Jr.            Marketing                                                              Overland Park, Kan.

Blake Goodin                        Sr.           Agribusiness                                                         Princeton, Mo.

 

Weber Announces the Signings of McGuirl, Shadd

basketball-2MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of high school standouts Mike McGuirl (Ellington, Conn./East Catholic) and Nigel Shadd (Chandler, Ariz./Tri-City Christian Academy) on the first day of the Fall National Signing Period on Wednesday.

McGuirl is just the second Wildcat to hail from the state of Connecticut in school history and the first since Marcus McCollough (Danbury/Olney Central Community College, 1996-98), while Shadd is the third player from Arizona and the first since Adam Lopez (Glendale, 1997-98).

“We are excited to welcome Mike and Nigel to our program,” said Weber. “They are not only very talented basketball players, but they fit the mold of the type of player we always strive to attract at K-State. They are all good quality individuals from great families who receive excellent instruction for outstanding high school and summer league programs. In addition, they all have a winning mentality having been a part of highly successful high school programs with a combined three state championships between them.”

basketball-3The duo went a combined 46-4 during their respective junior seasons in 2015-16 with McGuirl’s East Catholic squad winning the Connecticut Class L State Championship and Shadd’s Tri-City Christian Academy team falling in the state championship game. McGuirl also helped the Eagles to the Connecticut Class M title as a freshman in 2014, while Shadd also won a state championship in 2014.

“We felt like we needed to get more athleticism in this class with the graduation of both Wes (Iwundu) and D.J. (Johnson),” said Weber. “Nigel brings a lot of the same qualities as D.J., with his athleticism and physicality in the low post, but is a little more skilled at this point in his development. Mike is a great compliment to both Barry (Brown) and Kamau (Stokes) in our program as he can play both spots. He’s not only a talented 3-point shooter, but a very adept ball handler.”

The two signees would replace the impending graduations of seniors Carlbe Ervin II, Wesley Iwundu and D.J. Johnson, who all would complete their eligibility in 2016-17. The Wildcats still have two scholarships available for the 2017-18 season and are expected to sign one player during the Fall period.


Mike McGuirl

6-2 // 175 // G

Ellington, Conn.

High School: East Catholic (coached by Luke Reilly)

AAU: Connecticut Basketball Club

Primary Recruiter: Chester Frazier

 

Bio:

  • Rated the No. 4 recruit in the state of Connecticut and the No. 19 overall recruit in all of New England by the New England Recruiting Report.
  • Has helped East Catholic High School post a 64-15 record the past three seasons, which includes CIAC State Championships in 2014 (Class M) and 2016 (Class L) and state semifinal appearance in 2015 (Class M).
  • Led the Eagles to a 26-3 overall record and the 2016 Class L State Championship as a junior, posting a team-high 16 points on 5-of-7 field goals to go with 3 steals and 3 rebounds in the 62-51 win over Middletown in the title game.
  • Named First Team Class L All-State by the Connecticut High School Basketball Coaches Association as well as by the New Haven [Conn.] Register… Selected to the Fab 15 All-Courant Team by theHartford Courant.
  • Averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks in 2015-16… Posted a quadruple-double in a game vs. Manchester, posting 22 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals.
  • Played most of the season with a mask after sustaining multiple facial fractures while being fouled during a game in early January 2016.
  • Played for the Connecticut Basketball Club, where he averaged 11.1 points on 47.2 percent shooting, including 44.6 percent from 3-point range, with 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

 

East Catholic High School Head Coach Luke Reilly:

“Simply stated Mike McGuirl is a winner. He is a dynamic player that can score in a multitude of ways. He has unlimited range, a deadly pull-up game and can finish above the rim with flare and style. His athletic ability is only surpassed by his high character and the positive impact that he has had on his school community as a role model and leader. As proud as I am of Mike for his commitment to play for such a prestigious program, I’m more excited that he will be mentored by Coach (Bruce) Weber and his staff.”

 

Head Coach Bruce Weber:

“As a staff we are always on the lookout for that up-and-coming player and Mike is someone who caught our attention this summer. He really had a nice summer and played with a lot of confidence. He is a versatile, physical guard who can play both positions. He can score in a lot of different ways. He can shoot the 3 and also drive and shoot the pull-up jumper. He already has a solid build and has great physicality. He also comes from a really solid high school program, where the players receive good coaching.”


Nigel Shadd

6-9 // 238 // PF

Chandler, Ariz.

High School: Tri-City Christian Academy (coached by Paul and James Brown)

AAU: Arizona Power Factory (coached by Kenny Mullins)

Primary Recruiter: Chester Frazier

 

Bio:

  • Among the Top 5 players in state of Arizona by PrepHoopsAZ.com, ArizonaVarsity.com and ArizonaPreps.com… Has a 7-foot-4 inch wingspan.
  • Has helped Tri-City Christian Academy post a 61-8 record the past three seasons, which includes a state championship in 2014 and state runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2016.
  • Averaged 11.5 points on 65.5 percent shooting (342-of-522) in his high school career with 8.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game game… Already holds the school record for blocked shots (166) and is closing in on the mark for total rebounds… Has 28 career double-doubles, including one triple-double.
  • Twice named to the Canyon Athletic Association Division III All-State Team (2015, 2016).
  • Averaged 18.5 points on 69.3 percent shooting (156-of-225) with 14 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game as a junior in helping the Warriors to a 20-1 record and a state runner-up finish in 2015-16… Led the state of Arizona in field goal percentage… His 14.0 rebounds per game average were the second-highest in Arizona and a school record.
  • Scored in double figures in 17 of 19 games played in 2015-16, including a season-high 32 points on 15-of-18 field goals vs. Heritage Academy (12/1/15) and 13-of-20 field goals vs. Metro Tech… Totaled six 20-point games, including two 30-point contests.
  • Collected 15 double-doubles as a junior, including a triple-double vs. Skyline Prep (1/14/16) with 24 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks… Also had another 20-20 double-double game vs. Metro Tech (12/15/15) with a season-tying 32 points and 23 rebounds… Reached double-digit rebounds 17 times as a junior in 2015-16 with a season-high 23 boards vs. Metro Tech.
  • Blocked 4 or more shots 10 times, including a season-best 10 vs. Skyline Prep.
  • Averaged a double-double as a sophomore in 2014-15 with 15.1 points on 67.4 percent shooting (145-of-215) with 11.6 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game in helping the team to a 19-4 mark… Tallied 13 double-doubles… Scored in double figures 17 times with a season-high 36 points vs. Arizona Compass Prep (2/2/15) on 18-of-24 field goals… Had three 20-point games, including two 30-point outings.

 

Tri-City Christian Academy Head Coach James Brown:

“Nigel has really come a long way and we are really excited about where he is going. He is a young high school senior (turns 18 in May) so his development and where he can go as a basketball player are just touching the surface. Physically, he already has an NBA-caliber body (at 238 pounds) with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. He can run. We like to push the ball and he might be my most conditioned athlete. He’s like a gazelle running up and down the court. It is hard for someone to get passed him and go over the top of him, so he’s a difficult matchup. He is also a rebounding machine (he is closing in on the school record for rebounds) and can really finish around the rim.”

 

Head Coach Bruce Weber:

“We feel like Nigel is a perfect replacement for D.J. (Johnson) with a similar body. He is very strong and athletic and will give us a tremendous presence on the inside. He is very physical in the post and a big-time rebounder. He just loves to rebound. He also plays very hard. We feel like his best basketball is ahead of him.”

Wildcats Ready For NCAA Midwest Regional

cross-country-2MANHATTAN, Kan. – Coming off a hard-run Big 12 Championship race, the Kansas State cross country teams set their sights on the NCAA Midwest Regional competition, which will be held at the Ashton Cross Country Course in Iowa City, Iowa.

The national regional will begin at 11 a.m. CT with the women’s 6K race, followed by the men’s 10K race, which is slated to begin at noon CT.

At last season’s NCAA Midwest Regional at the Rim Rock Farm cross country course, the Wildcat men finished in 21st place, while the women’s squad finished inside the top 20 after recording a 16th place finish.

Senior Morgan Wedekind led the way for the Wildcat women at last season’s competition, finishing in 23rd place with a time of 20:56.6 to earn Midwest All-Region Team honors. On the men’s side, junior Colton Donahue led the way for the Wildcats, taking 55th place after crossing the finish line in 31:24.9.

K-State is looking to bounce back after the 2016 Big 12 Championship race where the women finished in 10thplace with 261 points, while the men finished in eighth place with a final score of 217 points. Wedekind again led the women, finishing in 36th place with a time of 21:54.7, while junior Bryan Zack led the men with a career-best 34th-place finish with a time of 26:34.5.

More information on the meet, including course maps, box assignments and a link for live results, can be found on the meet’s homepage by clicking here.

For the latest on K-State cross country, follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.

K-State’s Willis Earns Nod on Hendricks Award Midseason Watch List

jordan-willis
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Boasting 13.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks during his senior campaign, Kansas State defensive endJordan Willis is one of 24 players nationally to be named to the midseason watch list for the 2016 Hendricks Award, the Ted Hendricks Foundation has announced.

 

Willis is the third player in school history to be named to the midseason watch list for the award that is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding defensive end. He joins Ian Campbell, who was a semifinalist in 2006 and a midseason candidate in 2008, as well as Ryan Mueller in 2013.

 

A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Willis ranks third nationally and tops in the Big 12 in sacks, while he is ninth in the country in TFLs and second in the conference. He is one sack shy of tying for 10th in school history for a single season, while he has 23.5 career sacks to rank fourth in K-State history, the most career sacks by a Wildcat since Darren Howard set the school record with 29.5 from 1996-99.

 

Willis, who has sacks in six of K-State’s nine games this season and TFLs in eight contests, also has 36.5 career tackles for loss as he is 3.5 TFLs away from a tie for ninth in school history, a list that has not been touched by any Wildcat in the last 15 seasons.

 

The Ted Hendricks Foundation will trim the midseason list to a final watch list in two weeks. The process to select finalists and the 2016 recipient will take place in late November, and the organization will reveal its winner on Wednesday, December 7.

 

Kansas State travels to No. 25 Baylor next Saturday, November 19. The game time and television designation will be announced this Saturday night or Sunday morning. The Wildcats’ next home game is the Dillons Sunflower Showdown against Kansas on Saturday, November 26, a game that will kick off at either 11 a.m., or 2:30 p.m., on FS1. Kick time will be announced on Monday, November 14.

 

Tickets to the game against the Jayhawks can be purchased through the K-State Athletics Ticket office online at www.k-statesports.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or in the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.

 

k-statesports.com

 RYAN LACKEY

Asst. Director/Athletics Communications | K-State Athletics

K-State Weekly Football Press Conference

 

snyder-latest

Kansas State does not have a game this week. The Wildcats lost to Oklahoma State last Saturday.

Bill Snyder met with the media on Tuesday.

Head Coach Bill Snyder
On running back Alex Barnes…

“He really is playing well. I like the way he plays. I like the way he practices. I think he has a bright future ahead of him. You know, he has very good size. He has some strength to him in regards to explosiveness and yet, at the same time, he has good vision and he can redirect himself and change direction better than you would think someone of that size would. He is still learning, he is still finding his way, but he has made a lot of progress and I think he will be a fine player.”

 

On the performance of the safeties in terms of defending both the run and pass…

“I will not designate the schemes, but you know in some of the offensive schemes, sometimes we get caught off inside a little bit which can end up creating some problems. But, more often than not, they have done a pretty decent job of doing what they have been asked to do and to identify it. But by the same token, when you are put in the position to have to make that decision and to have to play both effectively, that is not an easy task by any stretch.”

 

On spreading out playing time due to depth at multiple positions…

“I am not into making everybody happy. I want everybody to do as well as they can, and it just boils down to somebody has to be the number one. In all fairness, that is the whole element of it, whoever is playing the best, that is the individual who becomes number one. Now, you would like to see as many as you can get opportunities to play but not to the point where it impacts the outcome of the ballgame. As it relates to your question, it is not just the matter of depth, it is the matter of the quality in several positions. At the quarterback position, I think Jesse (Ertz) has clearly defined himself right now and therefore is going to get the starts and the vast majority of the playing time if it remains that way. The wide receiver position has defined itself a little bit as well, maybe not quite the depth that we had originally hoped for, and at the running back position there is some good quality there, too. That changes from week to week. One week someone does extremely well, then the next somebody else does extremely well, so that is probably the arena that you mentioned where the depth has some equity to it between all of the players.”

 

On spreading out the ball between running backs…

“We ran the ball well, primarily our backs did a nice job, but our offensive line again took another step forward and played well. We were running the ball well enough that they all had a hot hand, and so they all performed reasonably well and there was not a break down that says this running back had a better ball game than anyone else. I thought they all played well. Dalvin (Warmack) probably did not get as much as we would have liked, but the other three certainly did.”

 

On what the team will work on during the bye week…

“I addressed what I think is significant and is important for them in the coming week. You know, first and foremost, we pay detailed attention to the mistakes we have made and areas of improvement that are a necessity, and at the same time an assessment of Baylor. It is not about what has happened in previous ballgames, but it is what we need to do to perform at our very best when we do go down there in a week and a half.”

Redshirt Freshman Running Back Alex Barnes

On offensive line play…

“They were just blowing open holes for all of us. They were really good at identifying blitzes and things that Oklahoma State was trying to do. They were able to recognize that and open up the holes for us.”

 

On the learning process at running back…

“It really came quickly with game reps. You really have to learn and adapt on the move, and it has helped getting those reps like that.”

 

On how the running backs help each other…

“We just talk about what the other team is doing schematically to try to stop us, whether it is stunts, blitzes or player tendencies. Also, pre-snap alignment and what we think they are trying to do against us on a particular play.”

 

Sophomore Tight End Dayton Valentine

On the timing of this bye week…

“It is definitely bittersweet. After a tough loss, we want to get back out there and get a win. At the same time, we can use it and learn from mistakes. We can get better and we need to prepare for a tough game at Baylor. I think it will help us out. It is tough, because we came so close (against Oklahoma State). We still have some frustration built up, but we are using that as motivation. We want to come back and get another win. Now having two weeks to get another shot out there, it is definitely a little tough because you just want to get out there and play as soon as you can. We just need to keep preparing this week, so we can go out there and bounce back.”

 

On what Coach Snyder addressed to the team…

“Coach Snyder touched on the fact that we did a lot of good things, but at the same time there are things that we need to correct and work on. We need to just continue to build on all of those good things while using these two weeks to correct those things a put it all together so we can get a win.”

 

On what makes Alex Barnes successful…

“I think just the fact that he runs hard. Blocking for a guy, all you ask for him is to run hard. He really lowers his pads. If it is a play that some guy would get one yard, he would get three or four just from sticking his nose in there and really running hard. It is fun blocking for every single one.”

 

Freshman Defensive End Kyle Ball

On the upcoming bye week…

“It is kind of nice to have a week to just refocus, regather and let our bodies heal up a little bit before we take on Baylor. An extra week will be good because they are a great team. We are working to improve on the mistakes that we have been making and just working on making ourselves better.”

 

On traveling to Baylor…

“Not having won at Baylor for a while is huge motivation. I have never played there before, but I have heard the atmosphere is crazy, and it is just a cool place to play. I am looking forward to going there, playing for the first time and getting to experience the whole thing. They have a really intense atmosphere, and they have a great team, so it will be a tough battle to play there.”

Wildcats Set for Daytime Kicks in Final Two Football Games

football-2MANHATTAN, Kan. – On the heels of placing Kansas State’s November 19 game at Baylor on the six-day ready list, the Big 12 Conference and FOX Sports announced Tuesday that the Wildcats’ final two regular season games of the 2016 will kick off either in the morning or mid-afternoon.

K-State’s Senior Day contest against Kansas on November 26, will begin at either 11 a.m., or 2:30 p.m., and be televised by FS1. The final time and television designation for the Dillons Sunflower Showdown will be made on Monday, November 14.

The Wildcats’ regular-season finale at TCU on December 3, will also kick off at either 11 a.m., or 2:30 p.m., and be televised by FOX or FS1. FOX Sports will pick one of three games – K-State at TCU, Baylor at West Virginia and Oklahoma State at Oklahoma – to be played at 11 a.m., on FOX, while the other two will serve as a FS1 Big 12 doubleheader at 11 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. FOX Sports will announce the time and television designations on a six-day notice, no later than Sunday, November 27.

Announced on Monday, K-State’s next game – November 19 at Baylor – will be played at either 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., on either ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or FS1. If the game is selected for an FS1 telecast, it will begin at 11 a.m.

Tickets to K-State’s game against Kansas can be purchased through the K-State Athletics Ticket office online at www.k-statesports.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or in the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.

Big 12 TV Selections for Weekend of Saturday, November 26
TCU at Texas 2:30 p.m. FOX or FS1 (Friday, November 25)
Baylor vs. Texas Tech 5 p.m. ESPN (Friday, November 25)
Kansas at K-State 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. FS1
West Virginia at Iowa State 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. FS1

Big 12 TV Selections for Saturday, December 3
K-State at TCU 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. FOX or FS1
Baylor at West Virginia 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. FOX or FS1
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. FOX or FS1

Solis Clinches Spot on Centennial League Honorable Mention

BlueJay-ENHANCEDLady Jay Senior Kaileigh Solis, earned a spot on the 2016 Centennial League All-League Honorable Mention team.

Coach of the Year was awarded to Laura Curry of Shawnee Heights, while Senior Jazz Sweet of Shawnee Heights was awarded player of the year.

First Team

  • Carly Bachelor, Washburn Rural
  • Brooklyn Clink, Manhattan
  • Megan Cooney, Shawnee Heights
  • Amanda Desch, Hayden
  • Kelsey Gordon, Emporia
  • Faith Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights
  • Jazz Sweet, Shawnee Heights
  • Amaya Tillman, Shawnee Heights

Second Team

  • Dani Dodge, Washburn Rural
  • Val Golder, Shawnee Heights
  • Brooklyn Hunter, Hayden
  • Lexie Longbine, Emporia
  • Mady Myers, Hayden
  • Kayla Neigenfind, Seaman
  • Mikayla Simons, Emporia
  • Kenzie Smith, Manhattan

Honorable Mention (local)

  • Kaileigh Solis, Junction City
  • Jaylie Thorton, Manhattan
  • Gigi McAtee, Manhattan
  • Kenzie Pease, Manhattan

Three Soccer Players Make All-League Honors

Screen Shot 2012-04-06 at 8.05.18 AMThe 2016-17 Centennial League All-League Boys Soccer Selections included three Junction City athletes, with the highest selection in 2nd Team All-League Honors.

Cross town rival, Manhattan High had 2 athletes to make 1st Team honors.

1st Team All League

  • Conall Root, Manhattan
  • Ben Choi, Manhattan

2nd Team All League

  • Dylan Thomas, Manhattan
  • Modou Faburay, Manhattan
  • Jimmy Lechuga, Junction City

Honorable Mention All-League

  • Nate Awbry, Manhattan
  • Adam Campbell, Junction City
  • Elijah Jepsen, Manhattan
  • Ford Harter, Junction City
  • Ethan Englehorn, Manhattan

Coach of the Year – Craig Rocastle, Seaman HS

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File