United Group Insurance

Iowa State’s Gibson Wins Heavyweight Big 12 Title

Sports

March 5th, 2012 by Jim Field

COLUMBIA, Mo. – After nearly pinning his opponent in the championship match, Iowa State heavyweight Matt Gibson earned the 2012 Big 12 Championship heavyweight title Saturday at the Hearnes Center. Gibson defeated Austin Marsden of Oklahoma State in an 8-3 decision for the crown. Missouri won the team title with 77 points. Oklahoma State (73), Oklahoma (60.5) and Iowa State (24) rounded out the team scoring.

Iowa State will take at least Gibson, Ryak Finch (125), Andrew Sorenson (165) and Boaz Beard (184) to the NCAA Championships, March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo.

Missouri led as a team by four points heading into the final match of the evening, as many Tiger faithful supported Gibson throughout the match. As Gibson earned a three-point near fall in the second period, the crowd continued to cheer for the Vallejo, Calif., native and gave him a slow clap in the final 20 seconds of the match.

Gibson is now 24-8 overall and has received an automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Championships.

At 184 pounds, Boaz Beard lost a tight match to No. 1 seed Mike Larson of Missouri. Beard trailed 4-2 entering the third period and posted a reversal 30 seconds in to knot the score 4-4. The Wichita, Kan., native wasn’t able to pull off the win after an escape by Larson with 1:20 remaining.

Iowa State senior Andrew Sorenson earned a second-place finish after losing a 3-2 decision to Zach Toal of Missouri. Sorenson was in deep three times and has his opponent hopping on one leg, but ultimately could not finish the ensuing scrambles that followed. Sorenson is now 26-2 overall.

Iowa State travels to St. Louis, Mo., for the NCAA Championships March 15-17.

FINAL TEAM SCORES: Missouri, 77; Oklahoma State, 73; Oklahoma, 60.5; Iowa State, 24

Finals Results

125 pounds: Alan Waters (MU) dec. Jarrod Patterson (OU), 7-0

133 pounds: Jordan Oliver (OSU) dec. Nathan McCormick (MU), 10-2

141 pounds: Kendric Maple (OU) dec. Josh Kindig (OSU), 11-5

149 pounds: Jamal Parks (OSU) dec. Kyle Bradley (MU), 8-3

157 pounds: Drake Houdashelt (MU) dec. Matt Lester (OU), 3-1

165 pounds:  Zach Toal (MU) dec. Andrew Sorenson (ISU), 3-2

174 pounds: Chris Perry (OSU) dec. Dorian Henderson (MU), 8-2

184 pounds: Mike Larson (MU) dec. Boaz Beard (ISU), 5-4

197 pounds: Cayle Byers (OSU) dec. Brent Haynes (MU), 5-0

285 pounds: Matt Gibson (ISU) dec. Austin Marsden (OSU), 8-3

Royce White Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

Sports

March 5th, 2012 by Jim Field

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State sophomore forward Royce White has burst onto the national collegiate basketball scene and the Big 12 coaches have taken notice. White, who is ranked in the Big 12’s top-five in both rebounding (9.2) and assists (5.2), was honored as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, announced today by the league office.

White is the only player in the nation to lead his team in scoring (12.9), rebounding (9.2), assists (5.2), steals (1.2) and blocks (1.0). The Minneapolis, Minn., native, has nine double-doubles to rank second in the league and the point-forward registered just the sixth triple-double against league competition in Big 12 history with 10 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists vs. Texas A&M.

White, who was recently named to the Naismith Award Top-30 Watch List, is averaging 6.8 assists in his last nine games. He was a three-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week honoree during the season.

White is the fifth Cyclone in school history to earn conference newcomer of the year honors: Zaid Abdul-Aziz (1966, Big Eight), Bill Cain (1968, Big Eight), Dedric Willoughby (1996, Big Eight) and Jamaal Tinsley (2000, Big 12).

Hoiberg Earns Big 12 Co-Coach Of The Year Honors

Sports

March 5th, 2012 by Jim Field

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg orchestrated the greatest turnaround in Big 12 history in his second season at the helm. The Big 12 coaches recognized the extraordinary efforts of Hoiberg during the 2012 season, selecting him as the Big 12 Co-Coach of the Year, announced today by the league office.

Hoiberg shared the award with Kansas head coach Bill Self, who led the Jayhawks to their eighth-straight Big 12 regular-season title.

“I am humbled to be recognized as the co-coach of the year in a league with outstanding head coaches,” Hoiberg said. “This award is a credit to our players and coaching staff, who worked tirelessly throughout the season to improve each day. I can’t thank them enough for their hard work.”

The Cyclones were predicted to finish eighth in the preseason Big 12 Coaches poll, but Hoiberg and Cyclones earned the No. 3 seed at the Big 12 Championship, tying for third in the Big 12 with a 12-6 record. Iowa State’s 12 wins in league play is the third-best total in school history.

After finishing last in the Big 12 at 3-13 a year ago, Iowa State improved its conference win total by nine (12-6). It is the largest turnaround by any team in all-time Big 12 play. The Cyclones also finished the regular-season with 22 victories, the third-best total in Iowa State history.

The Mayor, who has a 38-25 overall record at ISU, led the Cyclones to a pair home wins over top-10 teams (Kansas, Baylor) for the first time since 1992. He also energized the Iowa State fan-base, as the Cyclones finished second in the league in attendance (13,015), selling out four of their last six home games.

Hoiberg joins former Iowa State head coaches Tim Floyd (1996-Big Eight) and Larry Eustachy (2000, 2001- Big 12) as coach of the year award winners.

Cyclones Well-Represented On Big 12 Award List

Sports

March 5th, 2012 by Jim Field

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State men’s basketball was well-represented on the Big 12 annual postseason award list, announced today by the conference office. Sophomore Royce White was named to the All-Big 12 First Team, senior Scott Christopherson earned third-team honors, senior Chris Allen was an honorable mention pick along with sophomore Melvin Ejim. White also made the all-rookie team.

White, a 6-8, 270-pound forward from Minneapolis, Minn., is the fifth Cyclone to earn All-Big 12 First-Team accolades by the conference coaches: Dedric Willoughby (1997), Marcus Fizer (2000), Jamaal Tinsley (2001) and Craig Brackins (2009).

White is the only player from a power-six conference to rank in the top-100 nationally in rebounding (44th-9.2) and assists (50th-5.2). Both his season rebounding (284) and assist (160) rank in Iowa State’s single-season top-20.

Christopherson, a native of LaCrosse, Wis., is Iowa State’s career leader in 3-point percentage (44.2 percent). Christopherson is currently the Big 12 leader in both 3-point percentage (45.5 percent) and free-throw percentage (89.5 percent).

A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Allen ranks sixth in Big 12 3-pointers per game at 2.3. Allen’s 72 3-pointers ranks ninth on Iowa State’s single-season record chart.

Ejim, who hails from Toronto, Ontario, is averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds. Ejim improved his play dramatically in conference action, averaging 10.9 points and 7.1 rebounds. His conference rebounding average was the sixth-best total in the league.

Red Oak arrests

News

March 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Sunday, of 33-year-old Kevin Duane Staley. Staley was taken into custody on charges which include two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and gathering where drugs are used. Staley was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bond. Also arrested Sunday, was a 17-year-old Red Oak male, and 21-year-old Kirstin Lynn Wilwerding, of Omaha. The pair face charges of gathering where controlled substances were used. Wilwerding faces an additional charges of unlawful possession of prescription drugs. She posted a $1,000 bond, while the teen was released to the custody of his parents.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Mon., March 5th 2012

Podcasts, Weather

March 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the forecast for the KJAN listening area, and weather stats for Atlantic…

Play

Man arrested on harassment charge in Red Oak

News

March 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak say one person was arrested early this (Monday) morning on a couple of charges. 24-year old Richard Dean Pierce III (no address given), was taken into custody a little after 3-a.m. in the 400 block of East Washington Street. Pierce faces an aggravated misdemeanor charge of 1st Degree Harassment, and a felony charge Violation of his probation. He was being held in the Mongtomery County Jail on $7,750 bond, pending a court appearance.

This is “Take 5 Iowa Day” — Parents need to talk to kids about drugs

News

March 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

This is the 5th of March and “Take 5 Iowa Day,” as parents are encouraged to take five minutes to talk with their kids about the importance of living drug free. Peter Komendowski, president of the Partnership at DrugFreeIowa.org, says studies repeatedly show teens who learn about the risks through ongoing dialog with parents are up to 50-percent less likely to ever use drugs. Komendowski says, “The whole idea behind Take 5 is really a reminder that parents and children need to connect and parents need to take a very strong, positive initiative to talk to their children.” In recent months, Iowa has seen increased reports of teenagers using new synthetic drugs and many of them are ending up in hospitals. He says it just reinforces the need for parents to set aside time to talk with their young sons and daughters about making healthy choices.

“It’s so hard to get children to talk about what their peers are saying and what’s going on at school,” Komendowski says. “Children are afraid to disclose to parents how many threats they encounter in the course of a day. We see enough children end up in emergency rooms to know that’s just the tip of the iceberg.” A study found 90-percent of parents say they talk to their kids about drugs, but only 20-percent of kids say they’d had such a talk with their parents.  “We know it’s difficult and we know it’s challenging,” Komendowski says. “We’re asking parents to dig a little deeper and try talking a little bit longer. Children really do want to engage. It’s just a strange territory for them to talk about the world of their peers with parents.” He says research shows when parents ask questions, set boundaries and monitor friends, it can reduce the odds of teenagers ever using drugs.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

EUGENE SIMMONS, 82, of Coon Rapids (Svcs 3/7/12)

Obituaries

March 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

EUGENE SIMMONS, 82, of Coon Rapids, died Sun., March 4th, at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids. Services for EUGENE SIMMONS will be held on Wednesday, March 7 at 10:30 AM at the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids.  Ohde Funeral Home in Coon Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.

————————————-

Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 6 after 4:00 PM.

Burial will be at Union Township Cemetery near Coon Rapids.

EUGENE SIMMONS is survived by:

Wife:  Shirley Simmons of Coon Rapids

2 daughters:  Sue (Dean) Brummer of Storm Lake and Kaynette (Brian) Whitecotton of Coon Rapids

2 sons:  Eugene Simmons Jr. of Coon Rapids and Tom (Tammy) of Coon Rapids

Brother:  Jerald (Betty) Simmons of Guthrie Center

4 grandchildren

Kansas dominates voting by Big 12 coaches

Sports

March 5th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DALLAS (AP) — Kansas forward Thomas Robinson has been voted the Big 12’s best player by league coaches, while Bill Self was picked as co-coach of the year along with Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg. Robinson was joined on the All-Big 12 first team on Sunday by teammate Tyshawn Taylor. The Cyclones’ Royce White, Marcus Denmon of Missouri and J’Covan Brown rounded out the five-member squad. Baylor’s Quincy Acy and Pierre Jackson made the second team along with Missouri’s Ricardo Ratliffe, Oklahoma State’s Keiton Page and Rodney McGruder of Kansas State. Bears forward Perry Jones III was joined on the third team by Iowa State’s Scott Christopherson, the Jayhawks’ Jeff Withey and Missouri guards Kim English and Phil Pressey.