Barton County Community College Athletics

Barton finishes 5th in NATYCAA Cup standings
The Barton Community College sports teams’ success on the field this past season put the school in 5th place nationally in the final standings of the NATYCAA Cup. The standings are based on points scored at National events for two year colleges. The National Alliance of Two Year College Athletics Administrators (NATYCAA) awards the Cup to the winner every year.

Brathwaite reaches Olympic A mark; sets school record in 110m hurdles
Barton Community College sophomore Ryan Brathwaite set the school record and reached the Olympic A standard in the 110m hurdles at the Central American & Caribbean Senior Championships. Brathwaite will compete for Barbados during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Brathwaite – the NJCAA Championship last season as a freshman for the Cougars – ran a 13.49 to break the Barbados national record, which he already held. In the last Olympics former Cougars Stephen Jones ran in the 110m hurdles for Barbados. In the finals, Brathwaite ran a 13.66, placing 5th.

All State performer Weiser commits to Barton women
The Barton Community College women’s basketball team continued its success in recruiting with the commitment of Kimber Weiser from Oakley High School in Oakley. Weiser will bring a wealth of playing experience to Barton as she was a 4-year starter in high school. Her career has been marked by numerous achievements both individually, as well as from a team standpoint which includes a 2A state championship her junior year.

Gay injured in 200m; Fountain, Davis just miss US team in jumps
Tyson Gay will not be seeking a sprint double in the 2008 Olympics, pulling up lame just a few meters into the quarterfinals of the 200m at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Gay had won the 100m with a new American Record in the 1st session of the Trials. Hyleas Fountain and Walter Davis just missed earning a spot on the US team in jumping events as Fountain took 4th in the women’s long jump and Davis 4th in the men’s triple jump. Fountain will be a part of the US team in the Heptathlon. Bernard Williams, Susan King, Cassandra Lee, and Garland Porter all made the finals of their event but did not finish in the top 3 to earn a spot on the US team in Beijing, China later this summer.

Gay breaks 100m American Record; Fountain dominates in Heptathlon
Tyson Gay and Hyleas Fountain both turned in dominate performances over the weekend at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon in the process of earning themselves a spot in the Olympics for the 1st time their careers. Gay broke the American record in the 100m while Fountain dominated the field in the heptathlon. Both will be back for more during the 2nd session of the US Trials. There were the only two former Barton Community College athletes to earn a spot on the US team during the 1st weekend of qualifying.

Campbell to defend 200m Olympic Gold; Sands to jump in Beijing
Former Barton Community College star and reigning Olympic Gold Medalist in the 200m Veronica Campbell-Brown will be defending her title in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing later this summer after earning a spot on the Jamaican Team this weekend during Olympic Trials in the country. Campbell won the 200m but will not be competing in the 100m at this year’s Olympics, finishing 4th in a highly competitive finals. Also earning a spot from the Caribbean will be Leevan Sands from the Bahamas, after winning the nations triple jump title. For Sands it will be a return trip to track and field’s highest stage after competing in the 2004 Olympics in the triple.

Caribbean nations in midst of Olympic Trials
Several former Barton Community College track and field athletes will compete this weekend for a place on their nations 2008 Olympic Team later this summer in Beijing, China. Jamaica and the Bahamas are two countries that will have former Cougars competing to make the Olympics. Trinidad & Tobago just completed their national championships this past weekend with one ex Cougar more than likely earning a spot at the Olympics when Aaron Armstrong qualified in both the 100m and 200m. This weekend reigning Olympic 200m gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown will vie for a spot on the Jamaican team again in both the 100m and 200m as well as the 4x100m relay. She will be among close to double digit former Cougars competing at the championships.

Former Cougars ready for US Olympic Trials
Several former Barton Community College track and field athletes will attempt to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics when the US Olympic Trials are held in Eugene, Ore. over the next two weekends. A handful of former Cougars are among the tops in the United States with a very good shot at making the US Olympic team. Another group of former Cougars will get the chance to make the team as longshots with anywhere from 15-20 ex Barton track and field stars expected to compete for a place on the US Olympic team. Qualifying marks are based on this year performance. In addition, those who medaled in the 2004 Olympics or at the World Championships in 2005 and 2007 or the World Athletic Finals in 2006 automatically qualify to participate in the US Olympic Trials.

Lawrence Star Signs with Barton women’s basketball
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team’s outstanding season is continuing to pay dividends as they have signed Lawrence High School senior Danielle Bird to a letter of intent. Danielle, a 5-11 wing, led Lawrence High to the 6A State Championship this season, and has decided to bring her talents to Barton to continue her career. Bird is coming off a tremendous senior season, in which she led a very balanced team in scoring at 11.2 points per game, and she also contributed 5.5 rebounds, and 3 assists. In back-to back games at the state tournament, Danielle scored 21 points and 17 points respectively en route to a state championship.

McPherson standout signs to play basketball for Barton women
The Barton County Community College women’s basketball team has landed one of the top players in the state of Kansas with the announcement that McPherson standout Jordi James has signed a letter of intent to play basketball in 2008-2009. As a senior, James averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3 steals per game for the Bullpups as they claimed the 5A State Championship. She led her team in every statistical category with the exception of rebounds, finishing second. James will help replace 3 sophomores – all starters – from Barton’s 34-4 team last season that took 4th at the NJCAA National Tournament.

Barclay takes over as head coach for Barton women’s basketball
For the 2nd time in 2 years the Barton County Community College women’s basketball team will have a new head coach. Thanks to the success of the Cougars in the past few years, the team will have its 3rd coach in 3 seasons, naming Jill Barclay as the school’s 10th head coach. Barclay has taken over the duties pending the approval of the school’s Board of Trustees Tuesday during its June meeting. Barclay replaces Chance Lindley, who led Barton to a 34-4 mark this past season before taking an assistant coaching job at the University of Arizona.

Kohler reassumes head volleyball coaching duties
A familiar face will be on the sidelines next season for the Barton County Community College volleyball team. Barton Athletic Director Kurt Kohler will be guiding the Cougars next fall in addition to the AD duties. Kohler coached Barton volleyball for 1 season before resigning to become the Athletic Director. He will replace Ryan Parker, who moved on James Madison University to become an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I school.

Campbell runs top 100m time this year in New York at Reebok Grand Prix
Former Barton County Community College sprinter Veronica Campbell ran the fastest 100m time of the year this past weekend, taking gold in the Reebok Grand Prix in New York. Campbell ran a 10.91 for the win, beating 7 Americans in the race with her. That bested the time of 10.93 turned in earlier this year by Allyson Felix. Campbell had run an 11.02 previously for her best time this year. Her career best is 10.85 which she ran in 2005. She ran a 10.89 last year. Campbell also ran a 22.38 in the 200m during May, which is the 4th fastest time in the world. She is the defending 200m Olympic Gold Medalist from 2004 and will look to defend that title this summer in Beijing in August

Cougar men and women take 5th at NJCAA Outdoor Meet; Simmons wins 2 golds
The Barton County Community College men’s and women’s track and field teams both finished 5th this past weekend at the NJCAA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Levelland, Texas. The men captured two gold medals on the way to 52.5 points. South Plains (Texas) won the men’s title with 135, followed by Central Arizona (119). The Cougar women had a double gold medal winner in Jasmine Simmons as the women won 3 events and ended with 84 points. Central Arizona won the meet with 131 while host South Plains was 2nd at 124.

Barton men finish 8th at NJCAA Tennis Championships
The Barton County Community College men’s tennis team placed 8th at the NJCAA Championships in Plano, Texas this past week on the campus of Collin County. The Cougars tied for that 8th spot with 21 points. Laredo (Texas) won the championship with 47 points while Tyler (Texas) was runner-up with 41 points. Barton had one player reach the semifinals as Petr Grigorev made the semis at No. 6 singles.

Former Cougars finding their homes in pro baseball
Several former Barton County Community College baseball players are settled in for another season of baseball as the season gets underway. So far five formers players are already underway with their seasons while 3 more await the beginning of their seasons. Jason Stanford and Nate Field will again start the season just one step from the big leagues, pitching in AAA. Jeff Christy is up to AA to start the season and Steve Edlefsen has moved up to Advanced A. Pitching in A right now is Derek McDaid with Ronald Morales slated to go back to rookie ball. Ryan Phillips and Chad Lee have all fought injuries and have not been assigned yet.

Karst named 1st Team All Jayhawk West; 5 Cougars earn recognition
Barton County Community College sophomore Clayton Karst earned 1st team All Jayhawk West baseball this past week, the only Cougar to be named to the 1st team at 3rd base. Barton had 3 players earn 2nd team All Jayhawk West – sophomores Kenny Burkhead (1st base), Marc Albers (2nd base), and Ryan Romo (pitcher). Freshman David Allbritton was an honorable mention selection at catcher. Barton finished the season 28-22 and went 19-13 in the West for 3rd place.

Barton Coach Lindley takes assistant job at University of Arizona
After guiding Barton County Community College women’s basketball team to one of its best season ever, head coach Chance Lindley is moving on to become an assistant at the University of Arizona. He will be part of a new coaching staff at the Pac 10 school with Niya Butts taking over the women’s basketball program. Lindley, who coached Barton for just one season, led the Cougars to a 34-4 mark this past year and a 4th place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament – both bests in school history.

Allen tabbed 1st team All Conference
Barton County Community College sophomore Brittany Allen was tabbed a 1st Team All Jayhawk West softball selection on the recent all conference team released. Allen was the only 1st team selection for the Cougars while Whitney Boeh, Alicia Salazar and Brooke Pearce were honorable mention picks. Allen and Pearce were also named 2nd team All Region VI.

Barton drops pair in Region VI tournament; ends with 28-22 record
The Barton County Community College baseball team had its season end with a pair of losses at the Region VI Championships in Wichita over the weekend. Barton lost 7-4 to Johnson Saturday then dropped an 8-4 decision to KCK Sunday in the loser’s bracket, ending the Cougars season with a 28-22 mark. Barton finished the season 3rd in the Jayhawk West and had a stellar home mark of 23-3. But the Cougars struggled away from Lawson-Biggs Field, finishing 5-19 in non-home games, including the two neutral site losses in Wichita this weekend.

Etienne and Schmidt 2nd in No. 3 doubles; Barton finishes 9th at NJCAA
The Barton County Community College women’s tennis team finished 9th at the NJCAA National Championships in Tucson, Ariz. this past week. The No. 3 doubles team of Nyska Etienne and Shea Schmidt made it all the way to the finals before losing to the top seed in the draw from Hillsborough (Fla), 6-4, 6-1. Etienne reached the quarterfinals at No. 3 singles while the No. 1 doubles team of Le Nguyen Trang and Kateryna Chorna also reached the quarterfinals. The Cougars were the highest finisher in from the Region. Seven of the eight schools ahead of Barton were from Texas and Florida. Hillsborough won the title with 44 points with Lee College (Texas) and Abraham Baldwin (Ga) on its heels with 43 and 42. Barton ended with 29 points.

Henry to run for US Virgin Islands in 2008 Olympics
Barton County Community College men’s track standout Tabarie Henry will run in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China later this summer as a member of the US Virgin Island team. Henry can run for either the USA or Virgin Islands since he was born in the Virgin Island before his family moved to the US. His mother is a native of the Caribbean Country. Henry has recently been informed by the Olympic committee in the Virgin Island that he will be part of the team.

Cougars rally to advance in Region VI ; Karst, Sickinger hit 9th inning homers
The Barton County Community College baseball team received some 9th inning heroics Sunday afternoon from Michael Sickinger and Clayton Karst to win the best 2 of 3 series with Independence in 3 games. After splitting games Saturday, Barton trailed nearly the entire game Sunday before Karst tied the game with a solo homer in the bottom of the 9th. Two batters later, Sickinger ended the game with a 2-run shot to left for an 8-6 win. Barton had lost the opener 7-6 then came back to win 14-9 in the nightcap Sunday. Barton will now advance to the Region VI double-elimination tournament at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita. Barton will open the tournament at 10 am Saturday against Johnson County.

Cougars battle back through loser’s bracket; fall in Region VI title contest
The Barton County Community College softball team dropped its opening game of the Region VI Championships this past weekend then battled all the way to the championship before falling to Butler in Wichita. The Cougars lost their opener Friday to Colby but won 3 games Saturday before finally losing in their 4th game of the day in the championship contest. Barton entered the 7-team tournament as the No. 5 seed. The Cougars finish their season with a 26-36 overall record.

Cougar men and women take 2nd at Region VI meet
The Barton County Community College men’s and women’s track and field teams both took 2nd place this past weekend at the Region VI Championships in Coffeyville. The men battled Butler for the top spot, coming up just short 157-140.5. The Barton women were a distant 2nd in the meet Butler 219-143. The women crowned 5 individual champions as well as 2 relay champions while the men had 3 individual champions and 3 relay champions. Next on the agenda will be the NJCAA Championships in Levelland, Texas May 15-17.

Barton men and women win Region VI tennis titles
The Barton County Community College men’s and women’s tennis teams finished off its dominance of its Region VI foes this season with a Region VI Championship captured over the weekend in Wichita. The men held off a challenge by Johnson, scoring 21 1/2 points for the win while Johnson was 2nd with 18 1/2. Cowley was 3rd with 16. For the women, Barton scored 22 1/2 points for the win while Seward was 2nd with 16. The Barton men captured 3 of the 6 singles titles and 2 of the 3 doubles titles. The women were champions in 3 singles and 2 doubles as well. The women play at the NJCAA National Championships May 3-9 while the men will hold its NJCAA Championships May 11-16.