MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State kicks off the 2015-16 indoor track season this weekend as it hosts the Carol Robinson Pentathlon on Friday and the K-State Winter Invitational on Saturday at Ahearn Field House.

Friday’s events are set to begin at 10 a.m. with the men’s 60-meter hurdles and continue throughout the day, concluding with the women’s 800 meter run at 3 p.m. Live results for events throughout the day can be found here.

Junior Adam Deterding will be vying to win the Carol Robinson Pentathlon title for the second-straight year after winning last year’s meet with a total score of 3,689 points.

On Saturday, field events are slated to begin at 11 a.m. followed by track events, which will kick off at 2 p.m. Live results for this meet can be found here. Participants in the event include Oklahoma State, UMKC and Nebraska Omaha.

Seniors Akela Jones, Sara Savatovic and Dani Winters, along with junior Kim Williamson, highlight the field for the Wildcats as defending indoor Big 12 champions in their respective events.

Sophomores A’Keyla Mitchell and Nate Gipson, coming off a sweep of the Big 12 Freshman of the Year awards, will also look to make a positive impact in their second season. Mitchell earned 1^st Team All-American honors in the 200M and 2^nd team in the 4×400, while Gipson was named 2^nd Team All-American in high jump.

Following this weekend’s meets, the Wildcats return to action on January 9 as it hosts the Wildcat Invitational at Ahearn Field House. Field events will kick off at 11 a.m. with track events following at 2 p.m.

For in-meet updates and the latest on K-State track and field, follow @kstatesports and @KStateTF on Twitter using the hashtag #KStateTF or on Facebook.

 

–www.kstatesports.com–

Josh Brunner – Graduate Assistant – Athletic Communications

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Royals finalized a three-year, $25 million deal with Joakim Soria on Thursday, reuniting the former All-Star reliever with the club where he spent his first five seasons.

Soria will make $7 million next season, $8 million the following and $9 million in 2018, with up to $4 million in incentives each year. The $10 million option for 2019 has a $1 million buyout.

Soria was one of the game’s premier closers during his first stint in Kansas City, but he missed the 2012 season for Tommy John surgery and the Royals decided not to exercise their option on him.

He signed with Texas and since pitched for Detroit and Pittsburgh, going 3-1 with 24 saves and a 2.53 ERA for the Tigers and Pirates last season.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Justin Edwards and Wesley Iwundu scored 14 points each, and Kansas State cruised past Coppin State 83-58 on Wednesday night.

Dean Wade and Stephen Hurt scored 12 points apiece and Austin Budke added 11 to round out a balanced effort for the Wildcats (7-1), who are off to their best start since the 2012-13 season.

Kansas State never trailed, building a 13-point halftime lead that grew to 66-44 on an emphatic, one-handed dunk by Iwundu in transition with 8:01 left in the game.

Terry Harris Jr. scored nine of his 14 points in the first half to lead Coppin State (2-7). James Sylvester added 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Coppin State was 8 of 34 from the field in the second half and shot 29 percent overall, including 2 of 21 from 3-point range.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Brannen Greene returned from suspension to score 14 points, Wayne Selden Jr. had 15 and second-ranked Kansas rolled to a 92-59 victory over Holy Cross on Wednesday night.

Frank Mason III added 13 points, Perry Ellis and Cheick Diallo scored 12 apiece, and Devonte Graham finished with 10 for the Jayhawks (7-1), who blew most of a 20-point lead before building an even bigger margin in the second half and cruising down the stretch.

Karl Charles led Holy Cross (3-6) with 12 points. Malachi Alexander had 11.

Greene had been suspended six games for conduct detrimental to the team, forcing the Jayhawks’ top outside shooter to miss the trip to the Maui Invitational. But coach Bill Self trimmed the suspension by a game and Greene made the most of his return, going 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – Fred VanVleet scored 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting to help lead Wichita State to a 56-50 win over UNLV in a Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge game on Wednesday night.

Ron Baker added 13 points and six boards for the Shockers (4-4), who have won consecutive games following a three-game losing streak.

After Zach Brown made two free throws to give Wichita State a 47-37 lead with 7:49 left to play, the Rebels (7-2) reeled off seven straight points, capped by Patrick McCaw’s 3-pointer, which cut the lead to three (47-44).

A Jerome Seagears 3-pointer with 24 seconds left trimmed the Shockers lead to 52-50. But UNLV could not get over the hump as Conner Frankamp and Baker each hit a pair of free throws to ice the game.

Stephen Zimmerman Jr. scored 11 points and was the only Rebel in double figures.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State track and field team signed nine athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLIs) during the fall signing period, head coach Cliff Roveltoannounced.

 

The fall signing class is made up of two jumpers/sprinters, two multi-event athletes, three throwers and two distance runners. The athletes come from three countries, as well as six different states.

 

Making up the signing class are: Jullane Walker (Sprints/Jumps); Wurrie Njadoe (Sprints/Jumps); Ariel Okorie (Multi); Lauren Taubert (Multi); Gabi Lavington (Throws); Shaelyn Ward (Throws); Helene Ingvaldsen (Throws); Erin Lee (Distance); Paityn Howat (Distance).

 

Jullane Walker | Calabar High School | 100M & Long Jump

 

Walker joins the Wildcats from Calabar High School in Kingston, Jamaica, where he competed in the 100M and long jump. He finished as the 2014 and 2015 Jamaican High School National Championships runner-up. Walker’s personal bests include a 10.31 mark in the 100M and a jump of 7.50/24’7.25” in long jump.

 

What Rovelto says…

“Jullane is a very talented long jumper and sprinter.  Good teams need quality, versatile athletes like Jullane.  He will have a significant impact in the long jump, short sprints and short relay for us.”

 

Wurrie Njadoe | Shorecrest High School | 100M, 200M & Long Jump

 

After a stellar 2015 season which saw her win Washington High School state titles in the 100M, 200M, long jump and high jump, Njadoe looks to make a big impact in sprints and jumps at K-State. She also took the championship at the 2015 USATF Junior Olympics in long jump and added a 2nd-place and 3rd-place finish in the 100M and 200M, respectively.She has set personal bests in the 100M (11.66), 200M (23.87), long jump (5.87/19’3”) and high jump (1.65/5’5”)

 

What Rovelto says…

“Wurrie is a very fine long jumper and sprinter.  She will have a significant impact on our program immediately.”

Ariel Okorie | Waynesville High School | Multi

A multi-event athlete from Waynesville High School In Waynesville, Missouri, Okorie joins 2015 National Championship winner Akela Jones competing in multi-events. During the 2015 season, she finished runner-up in long jump and 3^rd in the 100H in the Missouri high school championship meet. She also finished 3^rd in the USATF Youth Championships Heptathlon in 2015 and won the event in 2014. Her personal best in the heptathlon is 4,643 points, as well as a 43.74 mark in 300H and a leap of 5.82/19’1.25” in long jump.

 

Lauren Taubert | Natrona County High School | Multi

Taubert is the second multi-event athlete of the fall signing class, joining Ariel Okorie. A two-time state champion in Wyoming in 300H and high jump, Taubert boasts an impressive mutli-event resume. In 2013, she won the USA Youth Outdoor Championships. Her personal bests include scoring 4,713 points in the heptathlon, a 43.45 mark in the 300H and a 1:03.46 mark in the 400H. She also a personal best in high jump with a jump of 1.73/5’8”.

 

What Rovelo says…

“Ariel and Lauren are very talented and versatile young combined event athletes.  In addition to having previous combined event experience in high school they both possess some very strong individual events.  They both will have a significant impact on our team in that they can contribute in a number of events much like many of the more recent heptathletes in our program.”

 

Gabby Lavington | Cheney High School | Throws

The only in-state signee of the class, Lavington dominated throws at the 3A level in Kansas. During the 2015 season, she won the discus state championship, as well as set the record for the shot put for 3A. Her personal bests include a 13.30/46’11” throw in shot put and a 37.08/121’8” throw in discus.

 

Shaelyn Ward | Lincoln Christian High School | Throws

Ward joins the Wildcats from Lincoln Christian High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma and looks to make an impact on an already solid throws group. She holds personal bests in Shot Put (13.13/43’1”), discus (41.64/136’7”) and hammer throw (39.50/129’7”).

 

What Rovelto says…

“Gabby and Shaelyn are versatile and athletic.  Coach Watson has done a remarkable job of developing these types of athletes.  I am confident these young ladies will contribute significantly in the years to come.”

 

Helene Ingvaldsen | Bergen, Norway | Throws

The final thrower of the signing class, Ingvaldsen joins Ward and Lavington in what will be a strong throws group. In 2013, she finished in 8^th-place at the IAAF World Youth Championships. In the same year, she competed at the IAAF World Junior Competitor. Her personal best in the hammer throw is 58.39/191’6”.

 

What Rovelto says…

“Helene is a very capable hammer thrower.  It is difficult to replace an athlete of Sara’s ability but Helene may very well end up successfully doing so.”

 

Erin Lee | York High School | Distance

After a dominant high school career, Lee will look to continue her success with the distance group and the cross country team at K-State. Lee won the Nebraska Class B State championship in the 800M, 1,600M and 3,200M during the 2015 season. She was also a Nebraska State High School Class B Champion in cross country all four years of high school. She has set personal bests in the 800M (2:11.82) and in the 1,600M (5:02.05).

 

Paityn Howat | Central High School | Distance

Howat continues the St. Joe pipeline to Kansas State as she will provide another spark to the distance group. She recorded two top-5 finishes in the Missouri High School Class 5 meet in the 800M in 2013 and 2015.  She also took 8^th-place in the 1,600M at the 2015 Missouri High School Class 5 meet. She set a personal best with a 2:11.82 mark in the 800M and a 5:02.05 mark in the 1,600M.

 

What Rovelto says…

“Erin and Paityn are very fine middle-distance runners who have also experienced success in cross country.  They are valuable additions to our team.”

 

For the latest on K-State track and field, follow @kstatesports on Twitter using the hashtag #KStateTF or on Facebook.

 

 

–www.kstatesports.com–

 

 

————
Josh Brunner
Graduate Assistant | Athletics Communications

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Highlighted by Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year Morgan Burns, Kansas State placed 10 football players on the 2015 All-Big 12 teams as the conference office announced the coaches’ selections on Wednesday.   Burns, who set a Big 12 record with four-straight conference player of the week honors over the final month of the season, picked up Kansas State’s third-straight Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year honor following Tyler Lockett’s awards in 2013 and 2014. It was only the second time in league history one school had the offensive, defensive or special teams player of the year in three-consecutive seasons (Oklahoma State, 2010-12, special teams).   Burns was also named an All-Big 12 First Team kick returner and earned honorable mention consideration as a defensive back. He was joined on the first team by senior offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, senior place kicker Jack Cantele and redshirt freshman fullback Winston Dimel, while senior defensive tackle Travis Britzand sophomore linebacker Elijah Lee were named to the second team. Cantele also received votes for Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, and Whitehair earned votes for the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year award.   K-State’s honorable mention selections included sophomore defensive tackle Will Geary, sophomore place kicker Matthew McCrane, senior offensive lineman Boston Stiverson and sophomore punter Nick Walsh.   Burns tied the school and Big 12 single-season records for kickoff-return touchdowns with four, including three over the final four weeks of the regular season. He set a new school record with 221 kickoff-return yards at Texas Tech – a game that featured a 93-yard touchdown – while he had 100-yard returns on the season-opening kickoff against South Dakota and against Iowa State, which helped spark a 21-point comeback victory over the Cyclones. He also helped fuel a comeback victory in K-State’s bowl-eligibility clinching win over West Virginia with a 97-yard touchdown, part of a school-record 67.0-yard average performance on three returns.   A product of Wichita, Kansas, Burns enters the bowl season ranked second nationally with a 33.8-yard return average, a mark that currently ranks third in school history. His 30.9-yard career average is first nationally among active players and second in school history, while his five career return touchdowns are tied for the K-State and Big 12 records.   In addition to his returns, Burns was also a factor on other specialty units over the final two games as he tackled the punter after a bobbled snap and later recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown against Kansas. The next week, Burns blocked a Mountaineer punt in the first quarter.   Whitehair earned All-Big 12 honors for a fourth-straight season but picked up first-team accolades for the first time. An in-state product who has played in all 51 games over the last four years with 50 starts, the Abilene, Kansas, native is regarded as one of the most versatile offensive linemen in the league as he has started at both guard and tackle, including the last two years at left tackle.   A native of Wichita, Kansas, Cantele has made 12-of-14 field goals this season to rank second in the Big 12 and 14th nationally in percentage (85.7). He hit the game-winning field goal with three seconds left to help K-State complete a 21-point comeback over Iowa State, while he was true on four field goals against Louisiana Tech en route to Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.   One of the most versatile fullbacks in the Big 12, Dimel has started all 12 games in 2015 and has been instrumental to the offense as a blocker, runner and receiver. Dimel has recorded five rushing touchdowns – the third-most among freshmen in K-State history – including two-touchdown games against South Dakota and Kansas. He has also caught seven passes for 213 yards and another score as his 30.4-yard average per reception is the highest in school history among players with seven or more catches.   A three-time All-Big 12 honoree, Britz has recorded 36 tackles, including 11.0 tackles for loss and four sacks during his final campaign. He ranks 13th in the Big 12 and third among defensive tackles in TFLs thanks in part to recording 4.0 at Texas, the most by a K-State defender in a game since 2006.   Lee has led the Wildcats with 75 tackles to go along with 7.5 TFLs, 5.0 sacks and two interceptions during his first full campaign as a starting linebacker. Both of his interceptions came against TCU, as he became the first K-State linebacker with two picks in a game since 2002. He ranks 17th in the Big 12 in sacks but third among underclassmen.   Riding a three-game winning streak to become bowl eligible for the 19th time in school history and 17th time under Hall of Fame head coach Bill Snyder, K-State will take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl on January 2, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The game, which kicks off at 2:20 p.m., will be shown to a national audience on ESPN and can be heard across the K-State Sports Network and on ESPN Radio.   Public tickets for K-State fans who did not place a pre-order are available now at the K-State Online Ticket Office and through the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum or via phone at 1-800-221-CATS. Fans are strongly encouraged to order through K-State’s official allotment to ensure that all Wildcat fans are seated in the official K-State sections of the stadium. The location for K-State’s ticket allotment at the Liberty Bowl is among the best of any bowl game with prime sideline seating locations available for $85. Student tickets, priced at $85, will go on sale at 2 p.m., Wednesday to ICAT members, while all remaining students can purchase tickets beginning Thursday at 8:30 a.m.   The K-State Alumni Association will also provide official travel packages to the bowl game. Visit the Alumni Association’s official bowl travel page – www.k-statesportstours.com – for travel package information.   Coaches’ All-Big 12 Awards/Teams (Kansas State) Special Teams Player of the Year: Morgan Burns First Team All-Big 12: Winston Dimel (FB), Cody Whitehair (OL), Jack Cantele (PK), Morgan Burns (KR). Second Team All-Big 12: Travis Britz (DL), Elijah Lee (LB) Honorable Mention All-Big 12: Morgan Burns (DB), Jack Cantele (Special Teams Player of the Year), Will Geary (DL), Matthew McCrane (PK), Boston Stiverson (OL), Nick Walsh (P), Cody Whitehair (Offensive Lineman of the Year).   – k-statesports.com –     ———— RYAN LACKEY Assistant Director | Athletics Communications   Click here to Reply or Forward 1.48 GB (9%) of 15 GB used Manage Terms – Privacy Last account activity: 2 hours ago Details

COPPIN STATE (2-6, 0-2 MEAC)

AT KANSAS STATE (6-1, 0-0 Big 12)

Wednesday, December 9, 2015 >> 7:10 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) >> Manhattan, Kan.

 

 

COACHES

Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)
At K-State: 68-39 (4th year)
Overall: 381-194 (18th year)
vs. Coppin State: 2-0

Coppin State: Michael Grant
At CSU: 10-29 (2nd year)
Overall: 262-227 (17th year)
vs. K-State: 0-0

 

STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (6-1)
G: #3 Kamau Stokes (6-0, 170, Fr.-HS)
G: #14 Justin Edwards (6-4, 200, Sr.-1L)
G/F: #25 Wesley Iwundu (6-7, 210, Jr.-2L)
F: #32 Dean Wade (6-10, 225, Fr.-HS)
F: #41 Stephen Hurt (6-11, 265, Sr.-1L)

 

Coppin State (2-6)

G: #1 Trevon Seymore (6-4, 170, Jr.-TR)

G: #10 Christian Kessee (6-2, 180, Jr.-2L)

G: #22 Keith Shivers (6-4, 195, Jr.-TR)

F: #15 Blake Simpson (6-6, 230, So.-1L)

F: #12 Terry Harris (6-8, 205, Jr.-TR)

 

INSIDE THE SERIES

Overall: K-State leads 6-0

1. MEAC: K-State leads 28-0 (28-0 at home)

In Manhattan: K-State leads 6-0

Current Streak: K-State, 6

Last Meeting: K-State, 68-57, in Manhattan, Kan., on 11/25/2006

Weber vs. Coppin State: Weber leads 2-0 (2-0 at home)

Weber vs. Grant: First meeting

 

LAST GAME SUMMARY

K-State 68, Georgia 66

Game 7  *  Stegeman Coliseum  *  December 4, 2015

Freshman Dean Wade hit the game-winning jumper with 4.3 seconds left to lift K-State to a 68-66 win over Georgia Friday night before 6,949 fans at Stegeman Coliseum. Wade, who scored 16 of his game-high 17 points in the second half, gave K-State a 66-65 lead with 53 seconds left before Georgia’s Mike Edwards made 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game at 66-all 24 seconds later. After Wade’s basket, the Bulldogs’ last-chance 3-pointer was off the mark at the buzzer. Wade knocked down 6-of-8 field goals, including 1-of-2 from long range, in the second half in just 13 minutes after missing all five of his field goals in the first half. He was one of four Wildcats in double figures, as he was joined by junior Wesley Iwundu (14), fellow freshman Kamau Stokes (13) and senior Justin Edwards (12). K-State recorded its first non-conference road victory since 2012.

 

QUICK HITTERS

• Kansas State (6-1) makes a brief stop at home between road games on Wednesday, as the Wildcats welcome Coppin State (2-6, 0-2 MEAC) at 7 p.m. CT. It will be the team’s last home game before hosting North Dakota (4-4) on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
• K-State will meet its third MEAC member this season after defeating UMES, 80-53, in the season opener on Nov. 13 and South Carolina State, 68-66, on Nov. 29. The Wildcats are 28-0 all-time against the conference with all 28 coming a home.
• This will be the seventh meeting between K-State and Coppin State, but the first since a 68-57 Wildcat win on Nov. 25, 2006. K-State has won the previous six meeting by an average score of more than 15 points.
• K-State is off to its best start since 2012-13 when the Wildcats also went 6-1 to open the Bruce Weber era. That is also the last year that the team started 7-1. The squad started 6-1 each year from 2009-10 to 2012-13.
• K-State has a 75-5 (.938) record at home in non-conference play dating back to 2006-07, including a 73-4 (.948) mark during the regular season. The squad has won 64 of its last 67 non-conference home games.
• K-State has a 52-11 record in the month of December since 2006-07, including an 18-4 mark under Bruce Weber. The Wildcats are 33-3 at home in December, including 14-2 under Weber.
• Weber is 48-7 (.873) at Bramlage Coliseum since taking over as head coach with losses to No. 3 Kansas (2012), Northern Colorado (2013), Baylor (2013), Texas Southern (2014), Georgia (2014), West Virginia (2015) and Texas (2015). The 7 losses have come by a total of 24 points (3.4 ppg.).
• The Wildcats are coming off a 68-66 win at Georgia on Dec. 4, as recently named Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Dean Wade hit the game-winning jumper with 4.3 seconds. It was the first non-conference road victory since a 65-62 win over George Washington on Dec. 8, 2012.
• The key to K-State’s successful start has been its balanced scoring, as five different players have led the team in scoring and six players have at least two double-figure scoring games. It marks the first time the Wildcats have started a season with five different leading scorers since 1998-99.
• K-State has used the same lineup in all 7 games and those starters are responsible for over 75 percent (403/526) of the team’s scoring.
• Senior Justin Edwards is one of only 9 players nationally (only Big 12) to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and minutes.

 

–www.kstatesports.com–

————
TOM GILBERT
Associate Director for Athletics Communications | K-State Athletics