Athletic Roundup

Men’s Basketball
The Cowley College basketball team had its dream season come to an end with a 71-61 loss to Seward County March 11 in the Region VI title game played at Wichita’s Koch Arena.

Cowley finished with its best record in school history (31-3). Along with setting the school record for wins (31) in a season, Cowley also broke the school record for largest average of victory in a season as they outscored its opponents by an average of 19.2 points per game (80.2 to 61.0). The 1978-79 team set the previous record for average victory margin. The Tigers also captured their first outright Jayhawk East title since the 1990-91 season during head coach Steve Eck’s first season at the school.

Eck was named the Jayhawk East Coach of the Year, while Montrell McDonald was named to the All-Conference Team. Chris Rhymes was a second-team all-conference selection as was Reggie Cook.

Women’s Basketball
Regrouping after starting the season 5-7, the Cowley College women’s basketball team placed third in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division with a 14-4 conference mark. The Lady Tigers then won the first two games at the Region VI Tournament before suffering a heartbreaking 56-55 loss to Cloud County in the semifinals. Cowley finished the season with a record of 21-12. The Lady Tigers say goodbye to sophomores Lauren Cherry, Natasa Draganic, Alexis Wright and Caitlin Spencer. Of the four, only Cherry and Wright saw significant playing time.

Men’s Track and Field
Led by David Starnes being crowned the national champion in the pole vault, the Cowley College men’s indoor track and field team placed eighth at the NJCAA Indoor Championships in Charleston, IL. The Tiger men also captured the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title for the first time since 2005. Cowley broke several school records during the season.

Women’s Track and Field
Kelsey Poljansek added to her accomplishments at Cowley College as she was named the national champion in the shot put at the NJCAA National Indoor Championships in Charleston, IL. Poljansek is also the defending outdoor national champion in the shot put and discus. The Lady Tigers placed third in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division and eighth at the indoor national championships.

Softball
The No. 8-ranked Cowley College softball team, winners of the past four Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division titles, opened the 2008 season by winning nine of their first 12 games. The Lady Tigers began conference play with a bang as they run-ruled Coffeyville Community College in a pair of games. The talented pitching tandem of Heather Davis and Jacey Juden leads the Lady Tigers. At the plate, Cowley is batting .408 as a team. Freshman Kashilia Young got off to a hit start as she was batting .592 with nine homeruns and 25 RBI’s through the team’s first 14 games.

Baseball
The Cowley College baseball team, ranked 10th in the preseason poll, has had to battle through some adverse situations early in its season. Playing a tough early season schedule and trying to overcome the loss of a member of the Tiger family, the Tigers have not had the kind of start they were hoping for. However, winners of 11 of the past 13 Jayhawk East titles, Cowley opened the conference season by sweeping a doubleheader against Fort Scott.

Men’s Tennis
The Tigers men’s tennis team ranked sixth in the pre-season poll, has a balanced squad made up of five sophomores and three freshmen. Richard Filkuka, Diego Motivar and Sean Cobble highlight the talented returnees for first year head coach Josh Cobble. Ignacio Velez and Boomer Saia have proven to be valuable additions to the team. Saia, who teamed with Reid Bauer to win back-to-back state doubles titles at Arkansas City High School, picked up his first collegiate victory March 1 with a win over Washburn Unversity’s Brad Johnston in No. 5 singles.

Women’s Tennis
With a pair of national champions and three region champions returning to the squad, the Cowley College women’s tennis team will once again be one of the top teams in the nation.

The Lady Tigers are coming off one of its finest seasons in the program’s history as they captured three national titles and placed fourth at the national tournament.

Back for the Lady Tigers are Kasia Siwosz, the defending national champion at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles; Karolina Porizkova, who teamed with Siwosz to lose just one match at No. 1 doubles all season; and Monica Medina, the region champion at No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles. Joining the returning players are freshman Elizabeth Galindo and sophomores Thea Lonewolf and Cassie Powell.

Spring 2008