WICHITA, Kan. —&nbsp;Wichita State middle blocker Morgan Stout and setter Izzi Strand were named First Team All-American Athletic Conference on Thursday.

Regular season champion South Florida brought home three of the five major awards: Player of the Year (Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH), Setter of the Year (Caroline Dykes, Sr., S) and Coach of the Year (Jolene Shepardson). Tulsa's Marta Pecalli claimed Libero of the Year and Sydney Jones of Temple secured Freshman of the Year.

The Shocker tandem was selected Second Team All-Conference in 2023 and have delivered another standout campaign in their final seasons at Wichita State. 

Stout leads all middle blockers nationally in kills per set (3.10) and ranks second at the position in points per set (3.90) hitting a team-best .316 in the process. Her performance in conference play is even more impressive, as the native of Fowler, Kansas is averaging 3.46 kills per set and 4.38 points per set at a .343 hitting percentage. Over the final nine matches of the regular season, Stout recorded 13 kills or more in every match and had outings of 20 (2x), 22, and 23 terminations, establishing a new career high in the final regular season match against UTSA. She was named to the NCAA Volleyball Rotation of the Week after racking up consecutive kills-blocks double-doubles against Memphis and UAB, earning the first of two American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week Awards. 

Stout has also developed into a legitimate weapon from the service line, firing 27 aces after totaling 14 in her first three seasons combined. In addition to her offensive prowess, the redshirt senior is averaging 1.00 block per set with a career-best 14 solo blocks and 101 block assists and has even set new career highs in both digs (98) and digs per set (0.85).

Strand continues to pile up assists at a dizzying rate, ranking 11th nationally with 1,119 helpers entering play on Friday. Her 9.73 assists per set are third in the American Athletic Conference, and the 5th year senior is averaging 10.31 assists since the start of conference play. She has reached 40 assists in each of the last nine matches of the regular season, highlighted by a season-best 54 assists against North Texas on November 15. Strand has already eclipsed 100 kills for a second consecutive season (105) and has increased her kills per set to 0.91. The native of Carlsbad, California is also putting together another consistent campaign at the service line, with 17 aces and a 1:1 aces:error ratio.

Defensively, Strand is in the midst of her most complete season as both a blocker and digger. Her 0.47 blocks per set represents a new career high, featuring three matches with five rejections. Her 2.51 digs per set match her career high established last season and include six matches with 15 or more digs. Strand was one kill away from her first career triple-double against Memphis on October 25, when she finished with nine kills, 44 assists and 20 digs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732279933862.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita State AthleticsWICHITA, Kan. —&nbsp;Wichita State middle blocker Morgan Stout and setter Izzi Strand were named First Team All-American Athletic Conference on Thursday.Regular season champion South Florida brought home three of the five major awards: Player of the Year (Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH), Setter of the Year (Caroline Dykes, Sr., S) and Coach of the Year (Jolene Shepardson). Tulsa's Marta Pecalli claimed Libero of the Year and Sydney Jones of Temple secured Freshman of the Year.The Shocker tandem was selected Second Team All-Conference in 2023 and have delivered another standout campaign in their final seasons at Wichita State. Stout leads all middle blockers nationally in kills per set (3.10) and ranks second at the position in points per set (3.90) hitting a team-best .316 in the process. Her performance in conference play is even more impressive, as the native of Fowler, Kansas is averaging 3.46 kills per set and 4.38 points per set at a .343 hitting percentage. Over the final nine matches of the regular season, Stout recorded 13 kills or more in every match and had outings of 20 (2x), 22, and 23 terminations, establishing a new career high in the final regular season match against UTSA. She was named to the NCAA Volleyball Rotation of the Week after racking up consecutive kills-blocks double-doubles against Memphis and UAB, earning the first of two American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week Awards. Stout has also developed into a legitimate weapon from the service line, firing 27 aces after totaling 14 in her first three seasons combined. In addition to her offensive prowess, the redshirt senior is averaging 1.00 block per set with a career-best 14 solo blocks and 101 block assists and has even set new career highs in both digs (98) and digs per set (0.85).Strand continues to pile up assists at a dizzying rate, ranking 11th nationally with 1,119 helpers entering play on Friday. Her 9.73 assists per set are third in the American Athletic Conference, and the 5th year senior is averaging 10.31 assists since the start of conference play. She has reached 40 assists in each of the last nine matches of the regular season, highlighted by a season-best 54 assists against North Texas on November 15. Strand has already eclipsed 100 kills for a second consecutive season (105) and has increased her kills per set to 0.91. The native of Carlsbad, California is also putting together another consistent campaign at the service line, with 17 aces and a 1:1 aces:error ratio.Defensively, Strand is in the midst of her most complete season as both a blocker and digger. Her 0.47 blocks per set represents a new career high, featuring three matches with five rejections. Her 2.51 digs per set match her career high established last season and include six matches with 15 or more digs. Strand was one kill away from her first career triple-double against Memphis on October 25, when she finished with nine kills, 44 assists and 20 digs.

🏐 Stout, Strand get all-conference nods

Reno County Coaches Show airs Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. on KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) and on KWBWradio.com. Sean Boston, Glen Grunwald and Rob Dreher visit with area coaches and student-athletes throughout the school year for this weekly 30-minute show.

Rob Dreher w/ Steve Warner (Buhler head football coach)

Sean Boston w/ Josh Gooch (HutchCC athletic director)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726138917283.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Reno County Coaches Show airs Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. on KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) and on KWBWradio.com. Sean Boston, Glen Grunwald and Rob Dreher visit with area coaches and student-athletes throughout the school year for this weekly 30-minute show.Rob Dreher w/ Steve Warner (Buhler head football coach)Sean Boston w/ Josh Gooch (HutchCC athletic director)<div><iframe title="Reno County Coaches Show (Nov. 21, 2024)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=waica-1748da8-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 LISTEN: Reno County Coaches Show (Steve Warner & Josh Gooch)

🏈 K-State hosts Cincinnati on Senior Night

<a href="https://www.foxsports.com/live">WATCH</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://kuathletics.com/documents/2024/11/20/11_Kansas_vs._Colorado_Game_Notes.pdf">GAME NOTES</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://kuathletics.leanplayer.com/">LISTEN</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=530167">LIVE STATS</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/060060BFE078A71F">TICKETS</a>

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks will face a ranked opponent for a fourth-straight game this Saturday when they welcome the 16th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for a Senior Day matchup on FOX with Jason Benetti, Brock Huard and Allison Williams on the call. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT.

The Jayhawks topped No. 7 BYU on Saturday night in Provo to notch their second win over a ranked opponent in as many weeks for the first time in program history. The week prior, Kansas beat No. 17 Iowa State 45-36. Kansas now sits at 4-6 on the season and 3-4 in Big 12 Conference play after the two wins.

Coach Lance Leipold and Kansas will look to make it three wins over ranked opponents in three straight weeks when they face the Buffaloes on Saturday. Colorado comes to Kansas City at 8-2 on the year and 6-1 in the conference. The Buffaloes, under second-year coach Deion Sanders, have won four-straight games all by double digits and have climbed up the national rankings to No. 16 with their recent stretch.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has thrown for 3,222 yards and 27 touchdowns so far this season. He's second in the country with his 27 touchdown passes and is sixth nationally with his 3,222 yards. The 2023 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year has also rushed for four touchdowns and leads an offense that is third in the Big 12, averaging 34.1 points per game.

The Buffaloes also boast two-way standout and Heisman Trophy candidate Travis Hunter. Hunter, who plays wide receiver and cornerback, has 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns on offense. The nine touchdowns lead the Big 12 and the 7.4 receptions are second. Defensively, he's added 24 tackles, eight pass breakups, three interceptions and one tackle-for-loss.

The Jayhawk defense will look to be up to the task after a dominating performance against BYU last week. Kansas allowed 13 points in the 17-13 win, marking the team's fewest points allowed to a ranked opponent since surrendering 11 points to No. 2 Oklahoma in 1984. Senior cornerback Mello Dotson notched his fifth interception of the season in the win, which leads the Big 12 Conference and Kansas totaled five tackles-for-loss and a pair of sacks.

Dotson will be one of 30-plus seniors honored before the game for their contributions to the program. The senior class has led Kanas to back-to-back bowl games and wins over ranked opponents for three straight seasons. The headliner of the group may be running back Devin Neal. In his most recent home game against Iowa State, Neal became the school's all-time leading rusher and has since topped the 4,000-yard mark for his career. The Lawrence native is 74 yards away from his third-straight 1,000-yard season and has totaled 28 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons.

Saturday's game will mark KU's final game this season at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas has won two straight at the venue, beating Houston before the win over Iowa State. The Jayhawks played their six home games in Kansas City this year, both at Arrowhead and Children's Mercy Park, while David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium undergoes major upgrades.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732211328636.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Athletics<a href="https://www.foxsports.com/live">WATCH</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://kuathletics.com/documents/2024/11/20/11_Kansas_vs._Colorado_Game_Notes.pdf">GAME NOTES</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://kuathletics.leanplayer.com/">LISTEN</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=530167">LIVE STATS</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/060060BFE078A71F">TICKETS</a>LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks will face a ranked opponent for a fourth-straight game this Saturday when they welcome the 16th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for a Senior Day matchup on FOX with Jason Benetti, Brock Huard and Allison Williams on the call. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT.The Jayhawks topped No. 7 BYU on Saturday night in Provo to notch their second win over a ranked opponent in as many weeks for the first time in program history. The week prior, Kansas beat No. 17 Iowa State 45-36. Kansas now sits at 4-6 on the season and 3-4 in Big 12 Conference play after the two wins.Coach Lance Leipold and Kansas will look to make it three wins over ranked opponents in three straight weeks when they face the Buffaloes on Saturday. Colorado comes to Kansas City at 8-2 on the year and 6-1 in the conference. The Buffaloes, under second-year coach Deion Sanders, have won four-straight games all by double digits and have climbed up the national rankings to No. 16 with their recent stretch.Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has thrown for 3,222 yards and 27 touchdowns so far this season. He's second in the country with his 27 touchdown passes and is sixth nationally with his 3,222 yards. The 2023 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year has also rushed for four touchdowns and leads an offense that is third in the Big 12, averaging 34.1 points per game.The Buffaloes also boast two-way standout and Heisman Trophy candidate Travis Hunter. Hunter, who plays wide receiver and cornerback, has 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns on offense. The nine touchdowns lead the Big 12 and the 7.4 receptions are second. Defensively, he's added 24 tackles, eight pass breakups, three interceptions and one tackle-for-loss.The Jayhawk defense will look to be up to the task after a dominating performance against BYU last week. Kansas allowed 13 points in the 17-13 win, marking the team's fewest points allowed to a ranked opponent since surrendering 11 points to No. 2 Oklahoma in 1984. Senior cornerback Mello Dotson notched his fifth interception of the season in the win, which leads the Big 12 Conference and Kansas totaled five tackles-for-loss and a pair of sacks.Dotson will be one of 30-plus seniors honored before the game for their contributions to the program. The senior class has led Kanas to back-to-back bowl games and wins over ranked opponents for three straight seasons. The headliner of the group may be running back Devin Neal. In his most recent home game against Iowa State, Neal became the school's all-time leading rusher and has since topped the 4,000-yard mark for his career. The Lawrence native is 74 yards away from his third-straight 1,000-yard season and has totaled 28 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons.Saturday's game will mark KU's final game this season at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas has won two straight at the venue, beating Houston before the win over Iowa State. The Jayhawks played their six home games in Kansas City this year, both at Arrowhead and Children's Mercy Park, while David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium undergoes major upgrades.

🏈 KU hosts No. 16 Colorado on Saturday in KC

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State High Activities Association Executive Board held its November meetings on Wednesday and Thursday in Topeka.

One of the topics on the agenda was behavior, as the KSHSAA says there have been 301 reported ejections from Kansas interscholastic activities during the fall sports seasons. There were 333 ejections around the same time last year.

Football had 162 total ejections to lead the way among the fall sports. There were 136 player ejections for unsporting conduct, six player ejections for targeting, 13 coach ejections for unsporting conduct towards officials and seven fan ejections.

Soccer had the second-most with 138 total ejections. There were 123 player ejections, 79 red cards that were direct red cards, 22 denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity, four taunting, 23 for using insulting, offensive or abusive language or gesture, two for spitting on an opponent and 15 for committing serious foul play. There were also eight coach ejections and seven fan ejections.

Volleyball had the least ejections of the three sports listed, with just one fan ejection.

The KSHSAA agenda says the staff will facilitate a discussion with the Board regarding behavior and appropriate next steps and tools to develop.

To see the full agenda, click <a href="http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Board/NovemberEB-Agenda-2024.pdf">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598357043542.jpeg" alt="KSHSAA" />
 <figcaption>KSHSAA</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State High Activities Association Executive Board held its November meetings on Wednesday and Thursday in Topeka.One of the topics on the agenda was behavior, as the KSHSAA says there have been 301 reported ejections from Kansas interscholastic activities during the fall sports seasons. There were 333 ejections around the same time last year.Football had 162 total ejections to lead the way among the fall sports. There were 136 player ejections for unsporting conduct, six player ejections for targeting, 13 coach ejections for unsporting conduct towards officials and seven fan ejections.Soccer had the second-most with 138 total ejections. There were 123 player ejections, 79 red cards that were direct red cards, 22 denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity, four taunting, 23 for using insulting, offensive or abusive language or gesture, two for spitting on an opponent and 15 for committing serious foul play. There were also eight coach ejections and seven fan ejections.Volleyball had the least ejections of the three sports listed, with just one fan ejection.The KSHSAA agenda says the staff will facilitate a discussion with the Board regarding behavior and appropriate next steps and tools to develop.To see the full agenda, click <a href="http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.kshsaa.org/Publications/Board/NovemberEB-Agenda-2024.pdf">here</a>.

KSHSAA says ejections down from last year for fall sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the rare NFL teams that is getting healthier, and perhaps deeper, as the season progresses.

The biggest boost yet for the two-time defending Super Bowl champs could come Sunday, when the Chiefs hope to have running back Isiah Pacheco and pass rusher Charles Omenihu available against Carolina. Both spent last week working on the scout team and had no problems as they come back from injuries, and that makes it more likely that they are active this week.

“We’ll see on both of those two,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said before heading out to practice Wednesday. “Go through practice and see where they’re at this week and go from there. We’ll just have to see.”

Pacheco has been out since Week 2, when he sustained an injury to his ankle requiring surgery. The Chiefs signed Kareem Hunt almost immediately afterward, and he has done a nice job filling in while Pacheco went through his rehab.

But now, the Chiefs could have both of them available, creating a two-headed attack of somewhat different skill sets.

Hunt is the quintessential between-the-tackle bruiser. He’s had at least 14 carries in each of his seven games with Kansas City, twice surpassing 100 yards rushing.

Pacheco tends to run hard, too, but with more speed and explosiveness. That lends itself to bigger chunk plays, something that the Kansas City offense has been sorely missing. And his infectious energy and enthusiasm is also a contrast to the more quiet, reserved Hunt, and the Chiefs are eager to have that back on the sideline, too.

“I mean, listen, he’s a sparkplug emotionally. He’s something that way,” Reid acknowledged, “and he’s worked his tail off to get to this point right now. We’ve got to keep an eye on him that way. He would have played three weeks ago if it was his choice.”

Indeed, the Chiefs — now 9-1 after a 31-20 loss in Buffalo — seem to be focused on protecting Pacheco from himself.

“It’s going to be us trying to hold him back,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “He wants to be out there as much as possible. But at the same time, he wants to win. He knows the long-term goals we have.”

Meanwhile, the Chiefs hope to have Marquise Brown back on the practice field sometime in December. The wide receiver had surgery on his shoulder after sustaining an injury in a preseason game, and for a while it appeared to be a season-ender. But he has hammered his rehab, and it’s possible that Brown could help the Chiefs at some point in the postseason.

“Making very good progress,” Reid said. “I can’t tell you a time he’ll be back, but he’s another one that’s excited to get out here and get going. I appreciate the way he’s approached this whole thing.”

The Chiefs have tried to upgrade their wide receiver group after losing Brown and Rashee Rice to injuries. The big splash was landing three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with Tennessee, but Chiefs general manager Brett Veach also has been scouring the waiver wire and even opposing practice squads for players that could provide additional depth.

The latest addition is wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, who joined the practice squad after he was waived by the Patriots on Saturday.

Thornton was a second-round pick of New England in the 2022 draft, when many teams were tantalized by the 4.28-second 40-yard dash time he registered at the NFL scouting combine. But he struggled to live up to expectations, appearing in 28 games with just 13 starts and totaling 39 catches for 385 yards and two touchdowns for the Patriots.

The Chiefs hope they can unlock his natural ability while supplying Mahomes with another player who can stretch the field.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732187286717.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 30-21. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 30-21. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the rare NFL teams that is getting healthier, and perhaps deeper, as the season progresses.The biggest boost yet for the two-time defending Super Bowl champs could come Sunday, when the Chiefs hope to have running back Isiah Pacheco and pass rusher Charles Omenihu available against Carolina. Both spent last week working on the scout team and had no problems as they come back from injuries, and that makes it more likely that they are active this week.“We’ll see on both of those two,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said before heading out to practice Wednesday. “Go through practice and see where they’re at this week and go from there. We’ll just have to see.”Pacheco has been out since Week 2, when he sustained an injury to his ankle requiring surgery. The Chiefs signed Kareem Hunt almost immediately afterward, and he has done a nice job filling in while Pacheco went through his rehab.But now, the Chiefs could have both of them available, creating a two-headed attack of somewhat different skill sets.Hunt is the quintessential between-the-tackle bruiser. He’s had at least 14 carries in each of his seven games with Kansas City, twice surpassing 100 yards rushing.Pacheco tends to run hard, too, but with more speed and explosiveness. That lends itself to bigger chunk plays, something that the Kansas City offense has been sorely missing. And his infectious energy and enthusiasm is also a contrast to the more quiet, reserved Hunt, and the Chiefs are eager to have that back on the sideline, too.“I mean, listen, he’s a sparkplug emotionally. He’s something that way,” Reid acknowledged, “and he’s worked his tail off to get to this point right now. We’ve got to keep an eye on him that way. He would have played three weeks ago if it was his choice.”Indeed, the Chiefs — now 9-1 after a 31-20 loss in Buffalo — seem to be focused on protecting Pacheco from himself.“It’s going to be us trying to hold him back,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “He wants to be out there as much as possible. But at the same time, he wants to win. He knows the long-term goals we have.”Meanwhile, the Chiefs hope to have Marquise Brown back on the practice field sometime in December. The wide receiver had surgery on his shoulder after sustaining an injury in a preseason game, and for a while it appeared to be a season-ender. But he has hammered his rehab, and it’s possible that Brown could help the Chiefs at some point in the postseason.“Making very good progress,” Reid said. “I can’t tell you a time he’ll be back, but he’s another one that’s excited to get out here and get going. I appreciate the way he’s approached this whole thing.”The Chiefs have tried to upgrade their wide receiver group after losing Brown and Rashee Rice to injuries. The big splash was landing three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with Tennessee, but Chiefs general manager Brett Veach also has been scouring the waiver wire and even opposing practice squads for players that could provide additional depth.The latest addition is wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, who joined the practice squad after he was waived by the Patriots on Saturday.Thornton was a second-round pick of New England in the 2022 draft, when many teams were tantalized by the 4.28-second 40-yard dash time he registered at the NFL scouting combine. But he struggled to live up to expectations, appearing in 28 games with just 13 starts and totaling 39 catches for 385 yards and two touchdowns for the Patriots.The Chiefs hope they can unlock his natural ability while supplying Mahomes with another player who can stretch the field.

🏈 Chiefs could have Pacheco, Omenihu back on Sunday

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A nice finish for a pair of Royals... <a href="https://t.co/fVtKHhzLOG">https://t.co/fVtKHhzLOG</a>&mdash; Nick Gosnell (@NickGosnell11) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickGosnell11/status/1859601252310524279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

⚾ Royals have two in Cy Young top four

WICHITA, Kan. –&nbsp;On November 20, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a request from Wichita State to enhance the name of the on-campus baseball stadium to Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field at Gene Stephenson Park.The stadium name was enhanced to honor Hall of Fame coach Gene Stephenson who was the head coach at Wichita State from 1978-2013.

"We are grateful to the Kansas Board of Regents for their support of this important honor," said Wichita State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. "Gene Stephenson developed Wichita State into a national baseball power, advanced one of the top facilities in the country and even today, continues his loyal support of this beloved program.&nbsp; We are proud to enhance the naming of this incredible facility in Coach Stephenson's honor." &nbsp;

When he came to WSU in 1977 from the University of Oklahoma, the Shocker baseball program was just being started again. He was instrumental in building the program and the stadium from the ground up.

Stephenson was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and is a three-time NCAA Coach of the Year and 11-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. In 1989, he led the Shockers to the College World Series championship.

He led WSU to seven College World Series appearances, 27 NCAA Regional appearances, two NCAA Super Regional appearances, 20 Valley regular-season titles, and 17 Valley tournament championships. He directed Wichita State to more wins than any NCAA Division I program in the country eight times and coached 33 players at Wichita State who played in the Major Leagues.

He coached three players named NCAA Player of the Year and one named NCAA Pitcher of the Year. He also coached two players named NCAA Academic Player of the Year and 20 players who earned Academic All-America honors a total of 27 times.

He coached 54 All-Americans, 33 Freshman All-Americans, 15 conference Players of the Year, 12 conference Pitchers of the Year and 13 MLB first-round draft picks. He is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team and won 60 or more games five times and 50 or more games 19 times.

His number 10 is the only Shocker baseball number to be retired.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732198285930.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita State AthleticsWICHITA, Kan. –&nbsp;On November 20, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a request from Wichita State to enhance the name of the on-campus baseball stadium to Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field at Gene Stephenson Park.The stadium name was enhanced to honor Hall of Fame coach Gene Stephenson who was the head coach at Wichita State from 1978-2013."We are grateful to the Kansas Board of Regents for their support of this important honor," said Wichita State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. "Gene Stephenson developed Wichita State into a national baseball power, advanced one of the top facilities in the country and even today, continues his loyal support of this beloved program.&nbsp; We are proud to enhance the naming of this incredible facility in Coach Stephenson's honor." &nbsp;When he came to WSU in 1977 from the University of Oklahoma, the Shocker baseball program was just being started again. He was instrumental in building the program and the stadium from the ground up.Stephenson was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and is a three-time NCAA Coach of the Year and 11-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. In 1989, he led the Shockers to the College World Series championship.He led WSU to seven College World Series appearances, 27 NCAA Regional appearances, two NCAA Super Regional appearances, 20 Valley regular-season titles, and 17 Valley tournament championships. He directed Wichita State to more wins than any NCAA Division I program in the country eight times and coached 33 players at Wichita State who played in the Major Leagues.He coached three players named NCAA Player of the Year and one named NCAA Pitcher of the Year. He also coached two players named NCAA Academic Player of the Year and 20 players who earned Academic All-America honors a total of 27 times.He coached 54 All-Americans, 33 Freshman All-Americans, 15 conference Players of the Year, 12 conference Pitchers of the Year and 13 MLB first-round draft picks. He is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team and won 60 or more games five times and 50 or more games 19 times.His number 10 is the only Shocker baseball number to be retired.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⚾ Gene Stephenson honored through naming enhancement at Eck Stadium

Another five-star recruit is coming to KU women's basketball.

Another five-star recruit is coming to KU women's basketball.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NEWS: Keeley Parks, a five-star prospect in the class of 2025 has committed to Kansas. Parks chose Kansas over Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. <a href="https://t.co/q3v6bnyX88">pic.twitter.com/q3v6bnyX88</a>&mdash; Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) <a href="https://twitter.com/DushawnLondon1/status/1859371205092073665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🏀 KU women with another big commit

AP Sports Summary for November 21st, 2024:

Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal take Cy Young Awards after both were pitching triple crown winners

Atlanta's Chris Sale and Detroit's Tarik Skubal have each won their first Cy Young Award. The left-handers were honored Wednesday night after sharing the MLB lead with 18 wins while leading their respective leagues in strikeouts and ERA. Sale went 18-3 and topped the National League with 225 strikeouts, while his 2.38 ERA in 29 starts was the best among all major league qualifiers in his first season with the Braves. The 35-year-old was an All-Star for the eighth time and won his first Gold Glove this year. Skubal, who turned 28 on Wednesday, went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and a big league-best 228 strikeouts in 31 starts to take the American League prize in a unanimous vote.

Trump feuded with NFL players in his first term. Now, some are busting out his dance moves

Donald Trump and the National Football League had an adversarial relationship during his first term in the White House. Now, players are breaking out the 'Trump dance' to celebrate sacks and scores. It involves swaying one's hips slowly and swinging the arms back and forth like Trump has long done on the campaign trail. The celebrations began two weekends ago when Nick Bosa hit the Trump dance following a sack only days after he was fined for wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap on TV after a game. On Sunday, four players made the Trump dance the centerpiece of their celebrations.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma breaks NCAA wins record, getting 1,217th career victory

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Geno Auriemma soaked in the moment. The UConn Hall of Fame coach now stands alone atop the NCAA college basketball wins list. Auriemma broke a tie with former Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer, earning his 1,217th career victory with an 85-41 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday night. He has spent four decades building UConn into the standard for women's basketball. The school celebrated those 40 years Wednesday night. Surrounded by the greatest players in UConn history, including Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Rebecca Lobo, Auriemma and longtime assistant Chris Dailey took in the incredible achievement in a postgame ceremony.

Steinbrenner wants his relationship with Soto to be similar to how he gets along with Judge and Cole

NEW YORK (AP) — Hal Steinbrenner wants his relationship with Juan Soto to be similar to his friendship with Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole, and the New York Yankees owner emphasized the team's commitment to continually improve its roster if the star free-agent outfielder stays in the Bronx. Steinbrenner said the Yankees delegation at Monday's meeting included team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and senior adviser for baseball operations Omar Minaya. Asked how confident he was about keeping Soto, Steinbrenner said: "No idea. We'll be in the mix. I'll leave it at that."

MLB will test robot umpires at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026. MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019 but is still working on the shape of the strike zone. An agreement for big league use would have to be reached with the Major League Baseball Umpires Association, whose collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says: "I would be interested in having it in '26."

Las Vegas Grand Prix in better shape after ironing out inaugural year kinks that nearly ruined race

LAS VEGAS (AP) — There's never been a faster 180-degree turn than the one Max Verstappen took a year ago at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Dutchman hated the event before he arrived. By the time he crossed the finish line for his 18th win of the season, he was singing "Viva! Las Vegas!" on his radio. Just like that, the race that seemed on a crash course for failure was stamped as one of the best of the 2023 season. The second Las Vegas Grand Prix is coming up on Saturday night and Verstappen could clinch a fourth consecutive title.

Freddie Freeman's historic walk-off grand slam ball from the World Series to hit the auction block

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (AP) — Freddie Freeman's historic walk-off grand slam ball from Game 1 of the World Series is hitting the auction block. The Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman homered in the 10th inning against the New York Yankees last month, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 victory. They went on to win the Series in five games and Freeman was named MVP. A 10-year-old boy named Zachary Ruderman corralled the ball in the stands. It will be part of a sale run by SCP Auctions from Dec. 4-14. Company president David Kohler says he believes the Freeman ball is "easily worth seven figures."

Maui Invitational returns to a Lahaina still grappling with raw emotions left by deadly wildfire

HONOLULU (AP) — Residents of the Hawaii town devastated by last year's wildfire are awaiting the return of one of the nation's most prestigious basketball tournaments with mixed feelings. Fans are excited about the Maui Invitational bringing high-caliber competition to Lahaina. And they welcome the economic boost Lahaina will get from the thousands of travelers eating in restaurants and staying in hotels. But there's also a fear that travelers might show disrespect by wandering into the burn zone and taking photos of the devastation. And there is worry tourists might trigger unpleasant memories with questions about that catastrophic day. Residents say feelings are still raw.

Gallaudet women's volleyball team is signing, quietly winning and rolling into the NCAA Tournament

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sometimes opponents think players on Gallaudet's women's volleyball team are trying to distract them by using their hands and arms to talk in American Sign Language. They're happy to let them think that because the team made up almost entirely of deaf and hard of hearing athletes is 30-4 this season. Gallaudet is back in the NCAA Division III Tournament, succeeding in silence in a sport usually predicated on verbal communication. A victory would be the program's first in the tournament since 2006.

College football picks: Never mind Hoosiers, Ohio State has lots riding on showdown at the Horseshoe

Much has been made about the stakes for unbeaten Indiana in Saturday's top-five showdown with Ohio State. Don't forget what this game means for the Buckeyes. Ohio State hasn't won a Big Ten championship since 2020. That also was the last time the Buckeyes made the College Football Playoff. Ohio State has had its last three seasons ruined by Michigan in the final regular-season game. Imagine the noise in Columbus if Indiana is the spoiler this year. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day says every game has been a must-win situation for his team since its loss to Oregon.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

Final	(23)Texas A&amp;M	71	Southern U.	54	

		UNC-Greensboro	at	(16)Indiana	6:30 p.m.	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Thursday, November 21st, 2024" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Thursday, November 21st, 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Summary for November 21st, 2024:<div><iframe width="100%" height="95" src="https://embeds.audioboom.com/posts/8611709/embed?v=202301" style="background-color: transparent; display: block; padding: 0; width: 100%" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="allowtransparency" scrolling="no" title="Audioboom player" allow="autoplay" sandbox="allow-downloads allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe></div>Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal take Cy Young Awards after both were pitching triple crown winnersAtlanta's Chris Sale and Detroit's Tarik Skubal have each won their first Cy Young Award. The left-handers were honored Wednesday night after sharing the MLB lead with 18 wins while leading their respective leagues in strikeouts and ERA. Sale went 18-3 and topped the National League with 225 strikeouts, while his 2.38 ERA in 29 starts was the best among all major league qualifiers in his first season with the Braves. The 35-year-old was an All-Star for the eighth time and won his first Gold Glove this year. Skubal, who turned 28 on Wednesday, went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and a big league-best 228 strikeouts in 31 starts to take the American League prize in a unanimous vote.Trump feuded with NFL players in his first term. Now, some are busting out his dance movesDonald Trump and the National Football League had an adversarial relationship during his first term in the White House. Now, players are breaking out the 'Trump dance' to celebrate sacks and scores. It involves swaying one's hips slowly and swinging the arms back and forth like Trump has long done on the campaign trail. The celebrations began two weekends ago when Nick Bosa hit the Trump dance following a sack only days after he was fined for wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap on TV after a game. On Sunday, four players made the Trump dance the centerpiece of their celebrations.UConn coach Geno Auriemma breaks NCAA wins record, getting 1,217th career victorySTORRS, Conn. (AP) — Geno Auriemma soaked in the moment. The UConn Hall of Fame coach now stands alone atop the NCAA college basketball wins list. Auriemma broke a tie with former Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer, earning his 1,217th career victory with an 85-41 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday night. He has spent four decades building UConn into the standard for women's basketball. The school celebrated those 40 years Wednesday night. Surrounded by the greatest players in UConn history, including Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Rebecca Lobo, Auriemma and longtime assistant Chris Dailey took in the incredible achievement in a postgame ceremony.Steinbrenner wants his relationship with Soto to be similar to how he gets along with Judge and ColeNEW YORK (AP) — Hal Steinbrenner wants his relationship with Juan Soto to be similar to his friendship with Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole, and the New York Yankees owner emphasized the team's commitment to continually improve its roster if the star free-agent outfielder stays in the Bronx. Steinbrenner said the Yankees delegation at Monday's meeting included team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and senior adviser for baseball operations Omar Minaya. Asked how confident he was about keeping Soto, Steinbrenner said: "No idea. We'll be in the mix. I'll leave it at that."MLB will test robot umpires at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teamsNEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026. MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019 but is still working on the shape of the strike zone. An agreement for big league use would have to be reached with the Major League Baseball Umpires Association, whose collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says: "I would be interested in having it in '26."Las Vegas Grand Prix in better shape after ironing out inaugural year kinks that nearly ruined raceLAS VEGAS (AP) — There's never been a faster 180-degree turn than the one Max Verstappen took a year ago at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Dutchman hated the event before he arrived. By the time he crossed the finish line for his 18th win of the season, he was singing "Viva! Las Vegas!" on his radio. Just like that, the race that seemed on a crash course for failure was stamped as one of the best of the 2023 season. The second Las Vegas Grand Prix is coming up on Saturday night and Verstappen could clinch a fourth consecutive title.Freddie Freeman's historic walk-off grand slam ball from the World Series to hit the auction blockLAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (AP) — Freddie Freeman's historic walk-off grand slam ball from Game 1 of the World Series is hitting the auction block. The Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman homered in the 10th inning against the New York Yankees last month, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 victory. They went on to win the Series in five games and Freeman was named MVP. A 10-year-old boy named Zachary Ruderman corralled the ball in the stands. It will be part of a sale run by SCP Auctions from Dec. 4-14. Company president David Kohler says he believes the Freeman ball is "easily worth seven figures."Maui Invitational returns to a Lahaina still grappling with raw emotions left by deadly wildfireHONOLULU (AP) — Residents of the Hawaii town devastated by last year's wildfire are awaiting the return of one of the nation's most prestigious basketball tournaments with mixed feelings. Fans are excited about the Maui Invitational bringing high-caliber competition to Lahaina. And they welcome the economic boost Lahaina will get from the thousands of travelers eating in restaurants and staying in hotels. But there's also a fear that travelers might show disrespect by wandering into the burn zone and taking photos of the devastation. And there is worry tourists might trigger unpleasant memories with questions about that catastrophic day. Residents say feelings are still raw.Gallaudet women's volleyball team is signing, quietly winning and rolling into the NCAA TournamentWASHINGTON (AP) — Sometimes opponents think players on Gallaudet's women's volleyball team are trying to distract them by using their hands and arms to talk in American Sign Language. They're happy to let them think that because the team made up almost entirely of deaf and hard of hearing athletes is 30-4 this season. Gallaudet is back in the NCAA Division III Tournament, succeeding in silence in a sport usually predicated on verbal communication. A victory would be the program's first in the tournament since 2006.College football picks: Never mind Hoosiers, Ohio State has lots riding on showdown at the HorseshoeMuch has been made about the stakes for unbeaten Indiana in Saturday's top-five showdown with Ohio State. Don't forget what this game means for the Buckeyes. Ohio State hasn't won a Big Ten championship since 2020. That also was the last time the Buckeyes made the College Football Playoff. Ohio State has had its last three seasons ruined by Michigan in the final regular-season game. Imagine the noise in Columbus if Indiana is the spoiler this year. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day says every game has been a must-win situation for his team since its loss to Oregon.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Cleveland	128	New Orleans	100	Final	Milwaukee	122	Chicago	106	Final	Oklahoma City	109	Portland	99	Final	Houston	130	Indiana	113	Final	Memphis	117	Philadelphia	111	Final	Golden State	120	Atlanta	97	Final	New York	138	Phoenix	122	Final	L.A. Clippers	104	Orlando	93	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal	Carolina	4	Philadelphia	1	Final	Toronto	3	Vegas	0	Final	Dallas	5	San Jose	2	Final	Seattle	3	Nashville	0	Final	Buffalo	1	Los Angeles	0	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal	(3)Gonzaga	84	Long Beach St.	41	Final	(8)Alabama	100	(25)Illinois	87	Final	(23)Texas A&amp;M	71	Southern U.	54	Final	(24)Rutgers	74	Merrimack	63	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Detroit	at	Charlotte	7 p.m.			Minnesota	at	Toronto	7:30 p.m.			Utah	at	San Antonio	8 p.m.			Orlando	at	L.A. Lakers	10:30 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE		Carolina	at	New Jersey	7 p.m.			Colorado	at	Washington	7 p.m.			N-Y Islanders	at	Detroit	7 p.m.			Tampa Bay	at	Columbus	7 p.m.			Utah	at	Boston	7 p.m.			Vegas	at	Ottawa	7 p.m.			San Jose	at	St. Louis	8 p.m.			Florida	at	Chicago	8:30 p.m.			Minnesota	at	Edmonton	9 p.m.			N-Y Rangers	at	Calgary	9 p.m.	___NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE		Pittsburgh	at	Cleveland	8:15 p.m.	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL		(11)Tennessee	at	Virginia	9:30 p.m.			(13)Baylor	at	(22)St. John's	7 p.m.			UNC-Greensboro	at	(16)Indiana	6:30 p.m.	___

📢📰🎧 Sports Headlines for Thursday

GREAT BEND, Kan. — Hutchinson (4-3, 0-1) scored its least amount of points in the first half of play this season and gave up the most en route to a 10-point halftime deficit to No. 1 Barton (6-0, 1-0).

Hutchinson made just 1-of-7 three-point attempts in the first 20 minutes, while Barton shot 45.7% from the floor and made five more buckets.

The Dragons only hit 11-of-16 free throws (68.8%) in the first half, while the Cougars hit 10-of-11 (90.9%).

Hutchinson responded in the second half by knocking down 6-of-7 triples and 8-of-8 free throws to force overtime.

A 9-0 Dragon run with 3:39 left in regulation was capped by a Bobby Cannon triple that put Hutchinson up 75-74.

Aris Rodriguez quickly answered on the other end with a basket of his own to take back the Barton lead.

The teams traded scores over the final two minutes when Barton took the final shot of regulation.

Keandre Kindell had his buzzer-three rattle out with the game deadlocked at 82.

Bo Aldridge scored 16 of his team-high 21 in the second half and overtime, including a triple that knotted things up in the extra frame with 2:24 to play.

DJ Dudley hit one-of-two free-throw attempts with 1:19 left in overtime to tie things up at 89.

With 46 seconds left, Sebastian Muchitsch nailed just his third three-pointer of the season to put Barton up 92-89.

A Cannon three-pointer with 18 seconds left was well off the mark and Rodriguez iced the game at the free-throw line.

Five Dragons scored in double figures, led by Aldridge (21). Cannon finished with 17 off the bench, Kobe Smith added 15 (including a career-high four three-pointers), while Dudley finished with 16 and Quez Thornton 10.

Seven Cougars scored in double figures, led by Kindell's 19.

Hutchinson travels to Goodland Saturday to face Fort Hays Tech Northwest (formerly Northwest Kansas Tech).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732168270271.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>GREAT BEND, Kan. — Hutchinson (4-3, 0-1) scored its least amount of points in the first half of play this season and gave up the most en route to a 10-point halftime deficit to No. 1 Barton (6-0, 1-0).Hutchinson made just 1-of-7 three-point attempts in the first 20 minutes, while Barton shot 45.7% from the floor and made five more buckets.The Dragons only hit 11-of-16 free throws (68.8%) in the first half, while the Cougars hit 10-of-11 (90.9%).Hutchinson responded in the second half by knocking down 6-of-7 triples and 8-of-8 free throws to force overtime.A 9-0 Dragon run with 3:39 left in regulation was capped by a Bobby Cannon triple that put Hutchinson up 75-74.Aris Rodriguez quickly answered on the other end with a basket of his own to take back the Barton lead.The teams traded scores over the final two minutes when Barton took the final shot of regulation.Keandre Kindell had his buzzer-three rattle out with the game deadlocked at 82.Bo Aldridge scored 16 of his team-high 21 in the second half and overtime, including a triple that knotted things up in the extra frame with 2:24 to play.DJ Dudley hit one-of-two free-throw attempts with 1:19 left in overtime to tie things up at 89.With 46 seconds left, Sebastian Muchitsch nailed just his third three-pointer of the season to put Barton up 92-89.A Cannon three-pointer with 18 seconds left was well off the mark and Rodriguez iced the game at the free-throw line.FINAL: Barton 94 Hutchinson 89Five Dragons scored in double figures, led by Aldridge (21). Cannon finished with 17 off the bench, Kobe Smith added 15 (including a career-high four three-pointers), while Dudley finished with 16 and Quez Thornton 10.Seven Cougars scored in double figures, led by Kindell's 19.Hutchinson travels to Goodland Saturday to face Fort Hays Tech Northwest (formerly Northwest Kansas Tech).

🏀 MBB: Dragons force No. 1 Cougars to OT

GREAT BEND, Kan. — No. 1 Hutchinson (7-0, 1-0) returned to Great Bend for the third time in five days, this time to open conference play against Barton (4-3, 0-1).

In just her third start of the season, Regina Donanu led the Cougars with a career-high 15 points at halftime.

Hutchinson hit just 1-of-8 three-pointers in the first 20 minutes and trailed Barton by seven at the break.

Kahlen Norris scored all 12 of her points in the second half and Brynne Katcher added another 10 to her total 12 as the Dragons outscored the Cougars 35-12 in the final 20 minutes.

Barton went scoreless for 13 minutes and 27 seconds in the second half as Hutchinson surged to a 21-point lead with 3:34 to play.

Hailey Jackson scored 11 of her team-high 13 in the first half and added seven rebounds.

The Dragons held Donanu to two points in the second half and 1-of-5 shooting.

The Dragons caught fire from deep in the fourth quarter and hit 4-of-5 triples.

Hutchinson has now won 44-straight games, 29-straight in conference play.

The Dragons head to Goodland Saturday to face Fort Hays Tech Northwest (formerly Northwest Kansas Tech).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732167559303.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>GREAT BEND, Kan. — No. 1 Hutchinson (7-0, 1-0) returned to Great Bend for the third time in five days, this time to open conference play against Barton (4-3, 0-1).In just her third start of the season, Regina Donanu led the Cougars with a career-high 15 points at halftime.Hutchinson hit just 1-of-8 three-pointers in the first 20 minutes and trailed Barton by seven at the break.Kahlen Norris scored all 12 of her points in the second half and Brynne Katcher added another 10 to her total 12 as the Dragons outscored the Cougars 35-12 in the final 20 minutes.Barton went scoreless for 13 minutes and 27 seconds in the second half as Hutchinson surged to a 21-point lead with 3:34 to play.Hailey Jackson scored 11 of her team-high 13 in the first half and added seven rebounds.The Dragons held Donanu to two points in the second half and 1-of-5 shooting.The Dragons caught fire from deep in the fourth quarter and hit 4-of-5 triples.FINAL: Hutchinson 59 Barton 43Hutchinson has now won 44-straight games, 29-straight in conference play.The Dragons head to Goodland Saturday to face Fort Hays Tech Northwest (formerly Northwest Kansas Tech).

🏀 WBB: No. 1 Dragons erase halftime deficit

BLUE DRAGON MEN'S BASKETBALL Hutchinson (4-2, 0-0) at No. 1 Barton (5-0, 0-0) When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Where: Barton Gym, Great Bend, KS Tipoff:&nbsp;7:30 p.m. Radio:&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT" target="_blank">KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 7:15 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Daren Dunn (Analyst)</a> Video:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kjcccsports.net/hutchcc/?B=1575463" target="_blank">Cougar Sports Network (PPV)</a> X: @bluedragonsport

<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/files/Game_7_-_Barton_men.pdf">CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)</a>

For the third-straight meeting, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team will play Barton with the Cougars as the No. 1-ranked team in the NJCAA.

The Blue Dragons and Cougars will open the KJCCC season at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Barton Gym in Great Bend.

This is the first time Hutchinson and Barton open a conference season since the 1995-96 season.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 7:15 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) and Daren Dunn (Analyst) calling the action. The game will be streamed live on the Cougar Sports Network, which is pay-per-view.

Last season, the Blue Dragons dropped three games to Barton, which included a pair of battles with the Cougars as the No. 1 team in the nation, the final game in the Region 6 Tournament championship game. In fact, the Blue Dragons have lost a series-record six games in a row to Barton.

The Blue Dragons fell out of the NJCAA Top 25 this week after going 4-2 in the non-conference season. The Dragons are still receiving votes after NOC-Enid upset the Blue Dragons 75-69 on Saturday in the final game of the Barton Classic in Great Bend. The Blue Dragon shot a season-low 41.5 percent against the Jets, including 2 of 22 from 3-point range, just 1 of 15 from distance in the second half.

Still, the Dragons have put up overall strong numbers in Kyle Fisher's first six games as Hutchinson's head coach. The Dragons are averaging 86.2 points per game offensively while shooting 48.8 percent from the field. The Dragons are shooting 35.6 percent from the 3-point line.

Hutchinson has been balanced offensively with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/thornton_jaquez_fh4s">Jaquez Thornton</a>&nbsp;leading the team at 14.2 points per game while shooting 58.8 percent from the field. Five players are currently averaging in double figures for HutchCC. D.J. Dudley averages 11.3 points, Bo Aldridge is at 10.5 points,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/abdul-hamid_mikhail_7s9c">Mikhail Abdul-Hamid</a>&nbsp;is at 10.2 points and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/cannon_bobby_1l4l">Bobby Cannon</a>&nbsp;is at 10.0 points per game.

Barton (5-0) is the defending NJCAA National champions and is riding 32-game winning streak.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732111933398.jpeg" alt="Bobby Cannon and the Blue Dragon men's basketball team opens the KJCCC season on the road at No. 1 Barton, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Great Bend. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Bobby Cannon and the Blue Dragon men's basketball team opens the KJCCC season on the road at No. 1 Barton, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Great Bend. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>BLUE DRAGON MEN'S BASKETBALL Hutchinson (4-2, 0-0) at No. 1 Barton (5-0, 0-0) When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Where: Barton Gym, Great Bend, KS Tipoff:&nbsp;7:30 p.m. Radio:&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT" target="_blank">KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 7:15 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Daren Dunn (Analyst)</a> Video:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kjcccsports.net/hutchcc/?B=1575463" target="_blank">Cougar Sports Network (PPV)</a> X: @bluedragonsport<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/files/Game_7_-_Barton_men.pdf">CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)</a>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationFor the third-straight meeting, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team will play Barton with the Cougars as the No. 1-ranked team in the NJCAA.The Blue Dragons and Cougars will open the KJCCC season at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Barton Gym in Great Bend.This is the first time Hutchinson and Barton open a conference season since the 1995-96 season.The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 7:15 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) and Daren Dunn (Analyst) calling the action. The game will be streamed live on the Cougar Sports Network, which is pay-per-view.Last season, the Blue Dragons dropped three games to Barton, which included a pair of battles with the Cougars as the No. 1 team in the nation, the final game in the Region 6 Tournament championship game. In fact, the Blue Dragons have lost a series-record six games in a row to Barton.The Blue Dragons fell out of the NJCAA Top 25 this week after going 4-2 in the non-conference season. The Dragons are still receiving votes after NOC-Enid upset the Blue Dragons 75-69 on Saturday in the final game of the Barton Classic in Great Bend. The Blue Dragon shot a season-low 41.5 percent against the Jets, including 2 of 22 from 3-point range, just 1 of 15 from distance in the second half.Still, the Dragons have put up overall strong numbers in Kyle Fisher's first six games as Hutchinson's head coach. The Dragons are averaging 86.2 points per game offensively while shooting 48.8 percent from the field. The Dragons are shooting 35.6 percent from the 3-point line.Hutchinson has been balanced offensively with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/thornton_jaquez_fh4s">Jaquez Thornton</a>&nbsp;leading the team at 14.2 points per game while shooting 58.8 percent from the field. Five players are currently averaging in double figures for HutchCC. D.J. Dudley averages 11.3 points, Bo Aldridge is at 10.5 points,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/abdul-hamid_mikhail_7s9c">Mikhail Abdul-Hamid</a>&nbsp;is at 10.2 points and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/cannon_bobby_1l4l">Bobby Cannon</a>&nbsp;is at 10.0 points per game.Barton (5-0) is the defending NJCAA National champions and is riding 32-game winning streak.

🏀 Hutch men open KJCCC play at No. 1 Barton

BLUE DRAGON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL No. 1 Hutchinson (6-0, 0-0) at Barton (4-2, 0-0) When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Where: Barton Gym, Great Bend, KS Tipoff: 5:30 p.m. Radio:&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT" target="_blank">KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 5:15 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Daren Dunn (Analyst)</a> Video:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kjcccsports.net/hutchcc/?B=1575446" target="_blank">Cougar Sports Network (PPV)</a> X: @bluedragonsport

<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/files/Game_7_-_Barton_women.pdf">CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)</a>

The No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team begins its 24-game Jayhawk Conference marathon Wednesday night with a road trip to play the Barton Cougars.

The Blue Dragons (6-0, 0-0 KJCCC) and Cougars (4-2, 0-0 KJCCC) will tip off at 5:30 p.m. at the Barton Gym in Great Bend.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 5:15 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) and Daren Dunn (Analyst) calling the action. The game will be streamed live on the Cougar Sports Network, which is pay-per-view.

Hutchinson completed its non-conference season 6-0 - after wins over the Kansas Wesleyan JV and Redlands last weekend at the Barton Classic - to extend its school-record winning streak to 43 games. The Blue Dragons have also won 28-straight regular-season KJCCC games dating back to the 2022-23 season.

The Blue Dragons enter the league season averaging 84.0 points per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field. Hutchinson is allowing 53.2 points and 34.8 percent shooting.

Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/bios/jackson_hailey_q6t6">Hailey Jackson</a>&nbsp;leads the Blue Dragons in both scoring and rebounding at 17.8 points and 9.2 rebounds. Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/bios/katcher_brynne_qgrf">Brynne Katcher</a>&nbsp;is the only other Blue Dragon averaging in double figures at 10.7 points per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the field.

Barton opens its season with a pair of losses to No. 14 Odessa (66-63) and No. 3 New Mexico Junior College (86-38), but have reeled off four-straight wins since then. The Cougars defeated Redlands (87-60) and the Kansas Wesleyan JV (98-42) last week in the Barton Classic.

The Cougars are averaging 42.3 points offensively and 61.2 points defensively. Sophomore forward Vivian Onugha is averaging a double-double with 15.8 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.

The Blue Dragons will play their first two conference games on the road. Hutchinson travels to Goodland to play Fort Hays Tech Northwest at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732111802423.jpeg" alt="Katie Duncan and the Blue Dragon women's basketball team opens KJCCC play on Wednesday at Barton with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff in the Barton Gym (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Katie Duncan and the Blue Dragon women's basketball team opens KJCCC play on Wednesday at Barton with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff in the Barton Gym (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>BLUE DRAGON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL No. 1 Hutchinson (6-0, 0-0) at Barton (4-2, 0-0) When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Where: Barton Gym, Great Bend, KS Tipoff: 5:30 p.m. Radio:&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT" target="_blank">KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 5:15 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Daren Dunn (Analyst)</a> Video:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kjcccsports.net/hutchcc/?B=1575446" target="_blank">Cougar Sports Network (PPV)</a> X: @bluedragonsport<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/files/Game_7_-_Barton_women.pdf">CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)</a>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationThe No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team begins its 24-game Jayhawk Conference marathon Wednesday night with a road trip to play the Barton Cougars.The Blue Dragons (6-0, 0-0 KJCCC) and Cougars (4-2, 0-0 KJCCC) will tip off at 5:30 p.m. at the Barton Gym in Great Bend.The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 5:15 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) and Daren Dunn (Analyst) calling the action. The game will be streamed live on the Cougar Sports Network, which is pay-per-view.Hutchinson completed its non-conference season 6-0 - after wins over the Kansas Wesleyan JV and Redlands last weekend at the Barton Classic - to extend its school-record winning streak to 43 games. The Blue Dragons have also won 28-straight regular-season KJCCC games dating back to the 2022-23 season.The Blue Dragons enter the league season averaging 84.0 points per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field. Hutchinson is allowing 53.2 points and 34.8 percent shooting.Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/bios/jackson_hailey_q6t6">Hailey Jackson</a>&nbsp;leads the Blue Dragons in both scoring and rebounding at 17.8 points and 9.2 rebounds. Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/bios/katcher_brynne_qgrf">Brynne Katcher</a>&nbsp;is the only other Blue Dragon averaging in double figures at 10.7 points per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the field.Barton opens its season with a pair of losses to No. 14 Odessa (66-63) and No. 3 New Mexico Junior College (86-38), but have reeled off four-straight wins since then. The Cougars defeated Redlands (87-60) and the Kansas Wesleyan JV (98-42) last week in the Barton Classic.The Cougars are averaging 42.3 points offensively and 61.2 points defensively. Sophomore forward Vivian Onugha is averaging a double-double with 15.8 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.The Blue Dragons will play their first two conference games on the road. Hutchinson travels to Goodland to play Fort Hays Tech Northwest at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday.

🏀 No. 1 HutchCC women open conference play at Barton

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro finished second in the MLB manager of the year voting as he led the boys in blue back to the postseason with a 30-win improvement over 2023.

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro finished second in the MLB manager of the year voting as he led the boys in blue back to the postseason with a 30-win improvement over 2023.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> manager Matt Quatraro runner up in AL Manager of the Year voting after 30-win improvement: <a href="https://t.co/zDHwRlIEXC">https://t.co/zDHwRlIEXC</a>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1859042697140633977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

⚾ Quatraro manager of year runner-up

A five-star girls basketball prospect has committed to Kansas. Jaliya Davis, who preps at Blue Valley North, made her announcement on Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609550863288.jpeg" alt="KU basketball stock.jpg" />
 <figcaption>KU basketball stock.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>A five-star girls basketball prospect has committed to Kansas. Jaliya Davis, who preps at Blue Valley North, made her announcement on Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The moment Jaliya Davis made it official. <a href="https://t.co/PhuRWqnOSN">https://t.co/PhuRWqnOSN</a> <a href="https://t.co/kW8BDsUSBH">pic.twitter.com/kW8BDsUSBH</a>&mdash; Michael Swain (@MSwain247) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSwain247/status/1858983595668627787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🏀 KS girls prep star commits to KU

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson had 15 points and 15 rebounds, Dajuan Harris Jr. scored 16 points, and No. 1 Kansas shrugged off a sluggish start to beat UNC Wilmington 84-66 on Tuesday night and give Jayhawks coach Bill Self his 800th career win.

David Coit added 13 points and Zeke Mayo had 10 for the Jayhawks (5-0), who led 43-38 at halftime before going on a 12-2 run to start the second half. They stretched the lead to 20 and coasted to their 18th straight nonconference home win.

The Jayhawks next face No. 12 Duke in the Vegas Showdown on Tuesday.

Khamari McGriff had 18 points and Noah Ross had 10 with nine boards for UNC Wilmington (4-1), which was picked to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association after winning 21 games last season.

The Seahawks weren't intimidated by the 372nd straight sellout at Allen Fieldhouse. They beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena just last season. And while Kansas started the game with energy, UNC Wilmington matched it for the first 20 minutes. It wasn't until Harris led the Jayhawks' early second-half charge that they put the game away.

UNC Wilmington got just seven points from Donovan Newby. He had 20 in a recent win over USC Upstate.

Kansas lost freshman Flory Bidunga to an injury in the first half. He did not put any weight on his right leg as he was helped to the bench. He did not return. Bidunga's loss would be a big blow to the Jayhawks' interior depth.

Kansas roared out of halftime on the run that ultimately decided the game.

The Jayhawks won despite shooting 6 of 25 from 3-point range.

The Seahawks play Colgate on Nov. 27. The Jayhawks play the Blue Devils on Tuesday.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson had 15 points and 15 rebounds, Dajuan Harris Jr. scored 16 points, and No. 1 Kansas shrugged off a sluggish start to beat UNC Wilmington 84-66 on Tuesday night and give Jayhawks coach Bill Self his 800th career win.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">History made. <a href="https://t.co/jYdSuHOe7v">pic.twitter.com/jYdSuHOe7v</a>&mdash; Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUHoops/status/1859070225657839705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>David Coit added 13 points and Zeke Mayo had 10 for the Jayhawks (5-0), who led 43-38 at halftime before going on a 12-2 run to start the second half. They stretched the lead to 20 and coasted to their 18th straight nonconference home win.The Jayhawks next face No. 12 Duke in the Vegas Showdown on Tuesday.Khamari McGriff had 18 points and Noah Ross had 10 with nine boards for UNC Wilmington (4-1), which was picked to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association after winning 21 games last season.The Seahawks weren't intimidated by the 372nd straight sellout at Allen Fieldhouse. They beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena just last season. And while Kansas started the game with energy, UNC Wilmington matched it for the first 20 minutes. It wasn't until Harris led the Jayhawks' early second-half charge that they put the game away.<h2>Takeaways</h2>UNC Wilmington got just seven points from Donovan Newby. He had 20 in a recent win over USC Upstate.Kansas lost freshman Flory Bidunga to an injury in the first half. He did not put any weight on his right leg as he was helped to the bench. He did not return. Bidunga's loss would be a big blow to the Jayhawks' interior depth.<h2>Key moment</h2>Kansas roared out of halftime on the run that ultimately decided the game.<h2>Key stats</h2>The Jayhawks won despite shooting 6 of 25 from 3-point range.<h2>Up Next</h2>The Seahawks play Colgate on Nov. 27. The Jayhawks play the Blue Devils on Tuesday.___

🏀 No. 1 KU beats UNC Wilmington to give Bill Self 800th career win

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Ugonna Onyenso came off the bench to score 16 points in 12 minutes and Kansas State shook off a poor first half to beat Mississippi Valley State 74-56 on Tuesday night.

On a night the Wildcats (3-1) shot just 36%, Onyenso was 6 of 7 from the floor and made all four of his free throws. C.J. Jones scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half. David N’Guessan added 10 points while Coleman Hawkins, who was just 1-of-11 shooting with two points, grabbed 13 rebounds.

Arthur Tate scored 16 points and Antonio Sisk 15 for the Delta Devils (1-4).

The Wildcats led 25-23 at halftime, having been up by as many as 14, after shooting just 29% and 1 of 13 from 3-point range. They finished 3 of 23 from the arc but hit 25 of 27 free throws.

Brenden Hausen, averaging over 15 points a game for Kansas State, got his first points of the game and the Wildcats' first of the second half with a 3-pointer, and that started a 10-0 run. The lead reached 19 with seven minutes to go.

Mississippi Valley State made a final run to get within 10 but the Wildcats responded with nine straight points, the last four by N'Guessan, to push the lead back to 19.

In the first half, the Delta Devils got a pair of 3-pointers from Tate and five points from Donovan Sanders to outscore the Wildcats 16-4 over the final 4 1/2 minutes to tie before David Castillo's jumper at the end of the half gave the lead back to the Wildcats.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732072855675.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Ugonna Onyenso came off the bench to score 16 points in 12 minutes and Kansas State shook off a poor first half to beat Mississippi Valley State 74-56 on Tuesday night.On a night the Wildcats (3-1) shot just 36%, Onyenso was 6 of 7 from the floor and made all four of his free throws. C.J. Jones scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half. David N’Guessan added 10 points while Coleman Hawkins, who was just 1-of-11 shooting with two points, grabbed 13 rebounds.Arthur Tate scored 16 points and Antonio Sisk 15 for the Delta Devils (1-4).The Wildcats led 25-23 at halftime, having been up by as many as 14, after shooting just 29% and 1 of 13 from 3-point range. They finished 3 of 23 from the arc but hit 25 of 27 free throws.Brenden Hausen, averaging over 15 points a game for Kansas State, got his first points of the game and the Wildcats' first of the second half with a 3-pointer, and that started a 10-0 run. The lead reached 19 with seven minutes to go.Mississippi Valley State made a final run to get within 10 but the Wildcats responded with nine straight points, the last four by N'Guessan, to push the lead back to 19.In the first half, the Delta Devils got a pair of 3-pointers from Tate and five points from Donovan Sanders to outscore the Wildcats 16-4 over the final 4 1/2 minutes to tie before David Castillo's jumper at the end of the half gave the lead back to the Wildcats.

🏀 Onyenso sparks Kansas State in win over Mississippi Valley State

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals announced today they selected left-handed pitcher&nbsp;Noah Cameron&nbsp;and right-handed pitchers&nbsp;Luinder Avila&nbsp;and&nbsp;Eric Cerantola. Kansas City’s Major League Reserve List is now at 37.

Cameron, 25, split last season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas (16 starts) and Triple-A Omaha (9), and went 7-6 with a 3.08 ERA (44 ER in 128.2 IP) and 149 strikeouts, pacing all Royals minor leaguers in strikeouts while finishing with the 3rd-lowest ERA. He was crowned the International League Pitcher of the Month in August after he combined to go 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA (6 ER in 31.2 IP) and 36 strikeouts across 5 starts (his first full month with Omaha). In three seasons with the Royals organization, he has pitched to a 3.97 ERA (133 ER in 301.2 IP) while striking out 380 batters (11.3 K/9, 29.9 K%) in 68 starts. A graduate of Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo., he was selected in the 7th round of the 2021 MLB Draft from the University of Central Arkansas, and signed by scout&nbsp;Matt Price.

Avila, 23, has spent each of his first six professional seasons in the Royals organization, reaching as high as Triple-A Omaha in 2024. The Venezuela native made 20 starts last season, including 19 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and combined to post a 4.14 ERA (40 ER in 87.0 IP) with 85 strikeouts (8.8 K/9, 22.4 K%). He was an Arizona Fall League Fall Star selection earlier this month after allowing 5 earned runs in 14.2 innings pitched (3.07 ERA) while striking out 17. The right hander owns a 4.48 lifetime ERA (208 ER in 418.0 IP) across 103 games (80 starts) since signing as an international free agent on March 3, 2018, by scouts&nbsp;José Figuera&nbsp;and&nbsp;Joelvis Gonzalez.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694083714074.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City RoyalsKANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals announced today they selected left-handed pitcher&nbsp;Noah Cameron&nbsp;and right-handed pitchers&nbsp;Luinder Avila&nbsp;and&nbsp;Eric Cerantola. Kansas City’s Major League Reserve List is now at 37.Cameron, 25, split last season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas (16 starts) and Triple-A Omaha (9), and went 7-6 with a 3.08 ERA (44 ER in 128.2 IP) and 149 strikeouts, pacing all Royals minor leaguers in strikeouts while finishing with the 3rd-lowest ERA. He was crowned the International League Pitcher of the Month in August after he combined to go 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA (6 ER in 31.2 IP) and 36 strikeouts across 5 starts (his first full month with Omaha). In three seasons with the Royals organization, he has pitched to a 3.97 ERA (133 ER in 301.2 IP) while striking out 380 batters (11.3 K/9, 29.9 K%) in 68 starts. A graduate of Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo., he was selected in the 7th round of the 2021 MLB Draft from the University of Central Arkansas, and signed by scout&nbsp;Matt Price.Avila, 23, has spent each of his first six professional seasons in the Royals organization, reaching as high as Triple-A Omaha in 2024. The Venezuela native made 20 starts last season, including 19 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, and combined to post a 4.14 ERA (40 ER in 87.0 IP) with 85 strikeouts (8.8 K/9, 22.4 K%). He was an Arizona Fall League Fall Star selection earlier this month after allowing 5 earned runs in 14.2 innings pitched (3.07 ERA) while striking out 17. The right hander owns a 4.48 lifetime ERA (208 ER in 418.0 IP) across 103 games (80 starts) since signing as an international free agent on March 3, 2018, by scouts&nbsp;José Figuera&nbsp;and&nbsp;Joelvis Gonzalez.

⚾ Royals select 3 players to 40-Man Roster

COLBY, Kan. – The final Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Football Player of the Week honors have been announced with Hutchinson’s Waymond Jordan Jr. (Offensive), Kedrick Walker (Defensive), and Butler’s Chevy Edwards (Special Teams) each earning the final awards of the season.

Offensive Player of the Week (Waymond Jordan Jr. - Hutchinson) -Waymond Jordan Jr., a sophomore running back from Pensacola, Florida, posted his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season and jumped four spots on the Blue Dragon single-season rushing list to No. 7 in number two Hutchinson's 42-17 win over Garden City. For the game, Jordan rushed 22 times for 135 yards and one touchdown. Now with 1,332 yards for the season, the NJCAA's leading rusher moved into seventh place on the Blue Dragon single-season rushing list and is tied with Alvin Kamara for second in single-season rushing touchdowns with 18.

Defensive Player of the Week (Kedrick Walker - Hutchinson) –Sophomore linebacker Kedrick Walker had a career-high nine tackles in leading the number two ranked Blue Dragons defensively in a 42-17 victory over Garden City on Saturday. Walker had seven solo tackles and a key tackle on a Garden City fourth-down play in the first half with the game tied at 7-7.

Special Teams Player of the Week (Chevy Edwards - Butler) –Edwards finished with five punts in a 7-3 win over Iowa Central and had a 41.6-yard average. He had a long of 53 and put one punt inside the 20. He punted impressively despite wind gusts up to 25 mph throughout the game.&nbsp;

Other Offensive Players Nominated:None&nbsp;

Other Defensive Players Nominated:None&nbsp;

Other Special Teams Players Nominated: Kordell Gouldsby - Hutchinson

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732052294898.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy KJCCC" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy KJCCC</figcaption>
 </figure>KJCCCCOLBY, Kan. – The final Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Football Player of the Week honors have been announced with Hutchinson’s Waymond Jordan Jr. (Offensive), Kedrick Walker (Defensive), and Butler’s Chevy Edwards (Special Teams) each earning the final awards of the season.Offensive Player of the Week (Waymond Jordan Jr. - Hutchinson) -Waymond Jordan Jr., a sophomore running back from Pensacola, Florida, posted his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season and jumped four spots on the Blue Dragon single-season rushing list to No. 7 in number two Hutchinson's 42-17 win over Garden City. For the game, Jordan rushed 22 times for 135 yards and one touchdown. Now with 1,332 yards for the season, the NJCAA's leading rusher moved into seventh place on the Blue Dragon single-season rushing list and is tied with Alvin Kamara for second in single-season rushing touchdowns with 18.Defensive Player of the Week (Kedrick Walker - Hutchinson) –Sophomore linebacker Kedrick Walker had a career-high nine tackles in leading the number two ranked Blue Dragons defensively in a 42-17 victory over Garden City on Saturday. Walker had seven solo tackles and a key tackle on a Garden City fourth-down play in the first half with the game tied at 7-7.Special Teams Player of the Week (Chevy Edwards - Butler) –Edwards finished with five punts in a 7-3 win over Iowa Central and had a 41.6-yard average. He had a long of 53 and put one punt inside the 20. He punted impressively despite wind gusts up to 25 mph throughout the game.&nbsp;Other Offensive Players Nominated:None&nbsp;Other Defensive Players Nominated:None&nbsp;Other Special Teams Players Nominated: Kordell Gouldsby - Hutchinson

🏈 HutchCC's Jordan Jr., Walker named KJCCC Players of the Week

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State junior&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;was one of 10 running backs in the country – including four from the Big 12 – to be named a semifinalist for the 2024 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday.

Giddens is the fourth player in school history to be named a semifinalist or finalist for the award that recognizes the top running back in college football. Darren Sproles was a finalist in 2003, while Daniel Thomas (2010) and Deuce Vaughn (2021 and 2022) were each semifinalists.

A product of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens has rushed for 1,128 yards and five touchdowns on 176 carries in addition to hauling in 18 catches for 219 yards and another score. He ranks eighth in the country in scrimmage yards per game (134.70), ninth in total rushing yards, 10th&nbsp;in all-purpose yards per game (134.70) and 15th&nbsp;in rushing yards per carry (6.41).

Giddens is the fourth player in school history to record multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining the aforementioned Sproles (2002, 2003, 2004), Thomas (2009, 2010) and Vaughn (2021, 2022). He ranks second in school history in single-season rushing yards per carry (6.41), sixth in rushing yards per game (112.8) and tied for eighth in 100-yard rushing games (6), while he is 98 rushing yards shy of entering the single-season top-10 list and 13 yards away from tying for fifth in school history among juniors.

Three finalists for the 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced next Tuesday, and the winner will be unveiled live on ESPN during&nbsp;The Home Depot College Football Awards&nbsp;on December 12. The formal presentation of the award will take place at the annual banquet scheduled for January 31, 2025.

Kansas State returns to action on Saturday when the Wildcats host Cincinnati inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The Senior Night contest kicks off at 7 p.m., and will be shown on ESPN2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698528013094.jpeg" alt="Kansas State running back DJ Giddens carries the ball in for a touchdown against Houston during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State running back DJ Giddens carries the ball in for a touchdown against Houston during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State AthleticsMANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State junior&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;was one of 10 running backs in the country – including four from the Big 12 – to be named a semifinalist for the 2024 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday.Giddens is the fourth player in school history to be named a semifinalist or finalist for the award that recognizes the top running back in college football. Darren Sproles was a finalist in 2003, while Daniel Thomas (2010) and Deuce Vaughn (2021 and 2022) were each semifinalists.A product of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens has rushed for 1,128 yards and five touchdowns on 176 carries in addition to hauling in 18 catches for 219 yards and another score. He ranks eighth in the country in scrimmage yards per game (134.70), ninth in total rushing yards, 10th&nbsp;in all-purpose yards per game (134.70) and 15th&nbsp;in rushing yards per carry (6.41).Giddens is the fourth player in school history to record multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining the aforementioned Sproles (2002, 2003, 2004), Thomas (2009, 2010) and Vaughn (2021, 2022). He ranks second in school history in single-season rushing yards per carry (6.41), sixth in rushing yards per game (112.8) and tied for eighth in 100-yard rushing games (6), while he is 98 rushing yards shy of entering the single-season top-10 list and 13 yards away from tying for fifth in school history among juniors.Three finalists for the 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced next Tuesday, and the winner will be unveiled live on ESPN during&nbsp;The Home Depot College Football Awards&nbsp;on December 12. The formal presentation of the award will take place at the annual banquet scheduled for January 31, 2025.Kansas State returns to action on Saturday when the Wildcats host Cincinnati inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The Senior Night contest kicks off at 7 p.m., and will be shown on ESPN2.

🏈 K-State’s Giddens named semifinalist for Doak Walker Award

WICHITA, Kan. — Sometimes you just have to win ugly, and that's just what happened Monday night in Charles Koch Arena as Wichita State overcame its worst game of the season to complete a comeback win over Monmouth, 70-66.

Wichita State (4-0) was without starting center Quincy Ballard who missed the game with a sprained ankle, and Ronnie DeGray III got banged up in the first half, playing just eight minutes. Without two of its top rebounders, Wichita State was outrebounded by seven on the night, it largest margin of the season.

Eleven of Monmouth's 41 rebounds came on the offensive end.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732018439387.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State University" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State University</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita State AthleticsWICHITA, Kan. — Sometimes you just have to win ugly, and that's just what happened Monday night in Charles Koch Arena as Wichita State overcame its worst game of the season to complete a comeback win over Monmouth, 70-66.Wichita State (4-0) was without starting center Quincy Ballard who missed the game with a sprained ankle, and Ronnie DeGray III got banged up in the first half, playing just eight minutes. Without two of its top rebounders, Wichita State was outrebounded by seven on the night, it largest margin of the season.Eleven of Monmouth's 41 rebounds came on the offensive end.Players not named Corey Washington were a combined 0-for-11 from three-point range. Washington scored a game-high 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, 2-for-4 from three and 4-for-8 from the free throw line.Entering the night Wichita State was shooting nearly 78 percent from the free throw line, but had its worst night of the season, going 20-for-31 (64.5 percent).Harlond Beverly finished with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals on 7-of-11 shooting. Matej Bosnjak made his first career start in place of Ballard and logged 12 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting. Xavier Bell was the lone Shocker not to miss a free throw, going 8-for-8. He finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four steals.Justin Hill had an off night, missing all four of his three-point attempts and 8-of-12 field goals overall. He still managed to reach double figures with 11 and five assists.From the opening tip the Shockers just seemed flat, falling behind 9-3 right out of the gates. They would settle in briefly to take a 15-11 lead with 12:06 remaining, but would not make a field goal for nearly 11 minutes. A Beverly layup with 1:14 to go in the half tied the score at 28-28 to snap the field goal drought.On the next offensive possession, Hill and Beverly connected on the first of two alley-oops on the night to go up by one with 33 seconds left. Monmouth, however, would come right down and hit a jumper in the paint to give the Hawks a 31-30 lead at halftime.Monmouth would carry that momentum into the second half, extending its lead to seven at the 14:34 mark.The Hawks led for a majority of the half until back-to-back dunks from Beverly and Washington gave Wichita State its first lead with 4:39 to go. That lead quickly disappeared behind four straight from the Hawks to take a 58-56 lead.Finally Washington's second triple of the night broke a 59-59 tie and just 1:39 on the clock, giving the Shockers a lead that they would not surrender. Washington pushed the margin to five on a breakaway dunk just 30 seconds later and Bosnjak made it a 65-59 game on a pair of free throws.Monmouth splashed in a three-pointer with 26 seconds left, but Wichita State converted at the line to ice the game in the final seconds.Up NextWichita State heads to Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic where they will face Saint Louis on Friday, Nov. 22 at 9:30 p.m. on Peacock.