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The 2011 Trojann Girls Golf Team has earned an Excellence in Academic Achievement Award from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Team members were: graduated seniors, Pammy Fixmer, Kristen Schuler and Sierra Worth; current senior Kaitlynn Walter; and, current sophomores Brooke Fletcher and Bailey Walter. These six girls finished last school year with a combined grade point average of 3.544. The Excellence in Academic Achievement Award is awarded to teams achieving a combined GPA of 3.2 to 3.6. Coach Kathy Hobson says, “Each year, the #1 priority on our team expectation guidelines is that each athlete make academics a top priority. These girls exemplify that expectation. I’m very proud of them.”
With the pairings set ticket sales have picked up for the NCAA womens basketball regional which begins in Des Moines on Saturday. Nationally top ranked Baylor plays Georgia Tech and Tennessee will play Kansas in Wells Fargo Arena. Chris Connolly, general manager of the Iowa Events Center says sales have been strong despite not having a local team in the field. Top ranked Baylor enters the “sweet 16” with a record of 36-0. Connolly says the city of Des Moines has developed a strong relationship with the NCAA and that should help attract future events. Saturday’s winners meet Monday night for the right to advance to the Final Four.
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Johan Santana cleared another hurdle in his comeback from shoulder surgery. The New York Mets left-hander pitched six innings in his longest outing of spring training in a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. Santana allowed a run on six hits in six innings with six strikeouts. Santana worked six innings for the first time since Aug. 28, 2010 against the Astros. The lone run came on an RBI single by Lance Berkman in the sixth. Mets Manager Terry Collins is optimistic about Santana return to major league action. He’s lined up to start the April 5 opener at home against the Braves. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook was even stingier, working six scoreless innings while allowing three hits. Westbrook has allowed one earned run in 15 innings. Westbrook is the first St. Louis pitcher to go six innings. The Mets are a major-league worst 4-12 this spring, while the Cardinals are 10-4.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State point-forward Royce White recorded one of the finest seasons in school history this past year while helping thrust the Cyclone men’s basketball program back into the national spotlight. After consulting with his family and Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg, White announced today he will enter his name into the 2012 NBA Draft.
“In conversations I’ve had with NBA personnel, Royce’s unique skill-set and big-time performances vs. elite competition have positioned him to realize his professional dreams,” said Hoiberg. “His ball-skill abilities coupled with his strength and size is a rare combination. Royce is a wonderful person and it was an honor for me to get the chance to coach him.”
White, a sophomore with two years of eligibility remaining, announced his intentions this afternoon at a media conference with Hoiberg by his side at the Jacobson Building.
White signed with an agent this week, therefore relinquishing his future eligibility at Iowa State.
“First of all, I want to thank the entire community of Ames and Iowa State University. There is no way to express how much I appreciate everything this community has done for me,” White said. “Ames has given me my life back, supported me in a way that allowed me to find myself, to improve myself as a man even more so than an athlete.”
“Coach Hoiberg is one of the greatest men I’ve ever met. I’m proud to have shared a piece of his legacy in his town,” White added. “I will always cherish Cyclone fans. They have uplifted me in so many ways, from support on the court, to allowing me to feel comfortable enough to share my problems with anxiety and pursuit of helping those who suffer from mental illness everywhere.”
A native of Minneapolis, Minn., White was arguably the most versatile collegiate basketball player in the nation in 2011-12. He is the only player in the nation to lead his team in scoring (13.4), rebounding (9.3), assists (5.0) , steals (1.1) and blocks (0.9), becoming just the second Cyclone in school history to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists in a season (Hoiberg did it in 1993-94). White also ranked in the top-100 nationally in three categories: rebounding (34th- 9.3), field goal percentage (37th- 53.4) and assists (57th- 5.0).
White’s outstanding play was the lynchpin for the Cyclones’ success on the hardwood in 2011-12, helping lead Iowa State to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in seven years, the third-most conference wins in school history (12-6) and the fourth-most overall wins (23) in the history of the program.
The All-Big 12 First Team selection started to see his name appear on many NBA mock draft boards throughout the season, but his stock rose dramatically after averaging 19.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in NCAA Championship games vs. national powers Connecticut and Kentucky. He also shot 71.4 from the field (15-21 FG) in the two NCAA Tournament games.
The Cyclone star recorded 15 points and 13 rebounds in a 77-64 victory over defending national champion Connecticut, doing most of his damage vs. Andre Drummond, who is listed as the sixth-best prospect on ESPN’s Chad Ford’s top-100 NBA hopefuls. He then followed that performance with a 23-point, 9-rebound showing against top-ranked Kentucky, holding his own against the Wildcats’ Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Davis is projected as the No. 1 pick in the majority of the 2012 mock drafts. Kidd-Gilchrist is also a potential top-10 pick in this year’s draft.
White, who was named the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year and earned all-district recognition from both the USBWA and NABC, assessed his potential with Hoiberg, who played 10 seasons in the NBA and spent five seasons in front office positions in the NBA. Both White and Hoiberg felt now is the time to make the jump into professional basketball.
“Iowa State is a special place and there will always be a special place in my heart for this university and my experiences here,” White said. “I will always remember beating the Jayhawks and making our way back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years. Lastly, I want to thank my teammates, without them none of our success would have been possible. They’re some of the best young men I’ve ever been around. I love each and every one of them. The same is true for our brilliant coaching staff and hardworking graduate assistants and managers. Thank you Cyclone Nation!”
Other exploits White produced during his lone Cyclone season was the fourth triple-double in Iowa State history vs. Texas A&M (10 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists) and the highest rebounding total (316) by a Cyclone since Dean Uthoff (378) in 1978.
The 2012 NBA Draft is scheduled to be held on June 28 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Apparently in response to an Omaha newspaper report that Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall turned down a $2 million offer to become Nebraska’s basketball coach, athletic director Tom Osborne issued a statement saying that the school has not offered the job to anyone.
The Omaha World-Herald, citing two unnamed sources, reported that Marshall rejected the offer.
Nebraska spokesman Keith Mann said Osborne didn’t tell him why he wanted to issue a statement. But no media outlet has reported that any other coach has been offered the job.
Osborne said, “A job offer would not be extended without athletic department officials first having an opportunity to meet in person with that candidate.”
Marshall didn’t immediately respond to an Associated Press email seeking comment.
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has suspended New Orleans head coach Sean Payton for the 2012 season, and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is banned from the league indefinitely because of the team’s bounty program that targeted opposing players.
Commissioner Roger Goodell will review Williams’ status after the upcoming season and consider whether he can return to the league.
Also Wednesday, Goodell suspended Saints general manager Mickey Loomis for the first eight regular-season games of 2012, and assistant coach Joe Vitt has to sit out the first six games.
In addition, the Saints are being fined $500,000 and forfeit second-round draft picks this year and in 2013.
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Kansas City Royals closer Joakim Soria will take a few days to consider his options after receiving a second opinion on his elbow injury.
The club said Wednesday he had damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Soria had reconstructive elbow surgery in 2003 to replace the same ligament. He was examined Tuesday by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles.
Soria, a two-time All-Star, has 160 career saves, including a career-high 43 in 2010. Even if the 27-year-old Soria chooses not to have surgery, he would likely miss three months.
Manager Ned Yost says Jonathan Broxton, Greg Holland and Aaron Crow are candidates to close games.
NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Tebow has been traded to the Jets.
The team said Wednesday it has acquired the polarizing quarterback from the Broncos. Denver general manager Brian Xanders says the Broncos will receive fourth- and sixth-round draft picks, while New York gets a seventh-rounder — all in 2012.
The trade first was reported by Fox Sports.
Denver started shopping Tebow after signing Peyton Manning.
Tebow is expected to complement starter Mark Sanchez, who received a $40.5 million contract extension, with $20.5 million guaranteed, earlier this month. The Jets also had pursued Manning.
Tebow led the Broncos to the playoffs last season — along the way beating Sanchez and the Jets, who missed the postseason. But Denver executive John Elway believed Manning gave the team a better chance at winning a championship now.
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter won’t start opening day after a setback in his recovery from a bulging disk in his neck. The right-hander returned to St. Louis on Tuesday for tests. He threw live batting practice Sunday but didn’t feel right the next day. Manager Mike Matheny says “his shoulder is just not responding and they’re uncertain of the root of it.” Kyle Lohse will start April 4 at Miami in his place. Lohse was 14-8 with a 3.39 ERA last season. Righty Lance Lynn, a setup man, will take Carpenter’s spot in the rotation.
Carpenter turns 37 in April. He was diagnosed with the bulging disk March 3.
He pitched 273 1-3 innings last season – including playoffs – the most in baseball.
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