Sneed captures Lions’ highest athletics honor

Her coach says she might be the perfect example of an excellent student-athlete.

She was named Missouri Southern’s Outstanding Graduate for 2005 and was selected the Honors Graduate of the Year.

She played a key role on one of the most improved NCAA Division II women’s soccer teams in the country.

On Wednesday night (May 4), senior Sarah Sneed (Topeka, Kan.) added one more line to her growing resume. She received the Missouri Southern State University athletic department’s highest honor, winning the E.O. & Virginia Humphrey Award.

“I’d just like to thank the Missouri Southern Athletics Department, coach (Trevor) Wachsman, Sallie Beard and all of the staff. They’ve been so supportive,” Sneed said. “I’d like to thank my teammates; we were one of the most improved teams in the nation last year. I’m very thankful for the experience. This is such an honor.”

Others receiving major awards on Wednesday included seniors DeMarcus Mathes (Dallas, Texas) and Danee Jones (Clayton, Mo.). Mathes, who broke Rod Smith’s single-season football receptions record in 2004, was named MSSU’s Male Athlete of the Year. Jones, closing out a brilliant career as a thrower with the Southern women’s track & field team, was named the University’s Female Athlete of the Year.

Sneed started all 20 games for the Missouri Southern women’s soccer team this past fall, helping the Lions to a 10-8-2 overall record, including a conference mark of 8-5-1 for third place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Southern ended tied for the fifth-most improved team in the nation.

In 2004, she tied for second on the team with three goals and tied for third on the squad with eight total points. Sneed was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick this season and was an honorable mention selection to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region All-Academic Team, a unit that includes NCAA Division I players.

In 70 games played (67 starts) Sneed finished her career fourth at MSSU all-time in career goals (8), assists (8) and total points (24). Three of her eight collegiate scores were game-winners, including two in 2004.

“As a senior, Sarah chose to live with three of our team’s incoming freshmen ... I can’t think of a better example for the incoming players of how to carry themselves on and off the field,” said Sneed’s college coach, Trevor Wachsman.

“Sarah may be the perfect example of an excellent student-athlete,” Wachsman said. “She impresses everyone she comes in contact with. It may be her athletic ability, her intelligence, her humility, her kindness, her humor, or her dedication to her friends and family.”

In the classroom, Sneed will earn a Bachelor’s degree in biology (pre-medicine) with a 3.6 grade-point average. She has been accepted to numerous medical schools for the upcoming fall semester.

Sneed has also served the MSSU Athletics Department as a Student Athlete Advisory Committee representative for two years, including a term as president. She has been a volunteer at the Joplin Community Clinic and held an internship position with the Pediatric Associates of Southwest Missouri.

Sneed has also been a Freshman Orientation Leader for the past two years and received the Outstanding Student Orientation Leader for the 2004-05 academic year. She has also served as treasurer for Omicron Delta Kappa.

The Humphrey Award is presented annually to Missouri Southern’s most outstanding student-athlete in recognition of the highest respect for the University, outstanding athletic ability, outstanding leadership, and respect for fellow teammates and students.

On-the-field achievements are the primary focus of the department’s male and female athlete of the year awards.

Mathes, a wide receiver and kick returner on the Southern football team, caught a school record 69 passes for 1038 yards in 2004 and joined Rod Smith, the current Denver Broncos All-Pro and former MSSU gridder, as the only players in Missouri Southern history with 60 pass receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Mathes’ 69 catches this year broke Smith’s school record.

Mathes finished his career with 134 receptions for 1822 yards and nine touchdowns, also scoring three times on returns. A rookie camp invitee of the Kansas City Chiefs this year, he finished his three-year MSSU career with 3865 all-purpose yards.

Jones, the fourth straight track & field athlete to claim Female Athlete of the Year honors, heads into the weekend looking to add to her 14 career All-MIAA honors. This year, Jones has been an MIAA Athlete of the Week six times and won her third straight conference indoor championship in the weight throw. She’s a five-time MIAA champion, having also won the last two conference outdoor crowns in the hammer throw.

Jones, a three-time All-America, holds school and MIAA records in the weight throw and also owns the school mark in the hammer throw and discus. She’s a four-year indoor national qualifier and is likely to become a three-year outdoor national qualifier later this month.

Also Wednesday, MSSU coaches handed out team awards for the 2004-05 season. Winners included: Evan Bates (Sr., Seneca, Mo.) as baseball most valuable player; Hiram Ocasio (Sr., Toa Alta, P.R.) as men’s basketball Don Gross Leadership Award; Vonny Wilson (Sr., Fort Worth, Texas), women’s basketball MVP; Paul Koehler (Sr., St. Louis, Mo.), men’s cross country MVP; Megan Russell (Sr., Jefferson City, Mo.), women’s cross country MVP; Cody Hilburn (Sr., Neosho, Mo.), football most inspirational; Andrew Koehler (Sr., Superior, Wis.), men’s golf MVP; Blake Wright (Fr., Conway, Ark.), men’s soccer MVP; Tera Reisner (Sr., San Angelo, Texas), women’s soccer MVP; Alese Woolard (Sr., Claremore, Okla.), softball MVP; Lacey McMunn (Sr., Parsons, Kan.), women’s tennis MVP; Matt Campbell (Jr., Worthington, Ind.), men’s track & field MVP; Danee Jones (Clayton, Mo.), women’s track & field MVP; and Amy Barnicle (Redshirt Fr., Springfield, Mo.), volleyball Lions’ Heart Award.

Lionbacker Awards of Excellence were presented to Daniel Ritchhart (Sr., Jasper, Mo.), baseball; Orestus Cavness (Sr., Atlanta, Ga.), men’s basketball; Nicole Greninger (Jr., Webb City, Mo.), women’s basketball; Kyle Davis (Fr., Potosi, Mo.), men’s cross country; Ashley Caffey (Sr., Lebanon, Mo.), women’s cross country; Nathan Emert (Fr., Springdale, Ark.), football; Danny Sinksen (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.), men’s golf; Seamus O’Donnell (Sr., Fulton, Mo.), men’s soccer; Sarah Sneed (Sr., Topeka, Kan.), women’s soccer; Callie Stanford (Jr., Webb City, Mo.), softball; Kristen Meschede (So., Grain Valley, Mo.), women’s tennis; Neil Hombs (Sr., Boonville, Mo.), men’s track & field; Iashia Castle (Kansas City, Mo.), women’s track & field; Sara Jaynes (Sr., Springfield, Mo.), volleyball.

Fifty senior student-athletes received 8”x10” photographs of themselves in action during the course of their Lion careers.

Six MSSU student-athletes also received fifth-year enhancement scholarships. They were: Hilburn, football; Chelsea Michael (Iola, Kan.), women’s track & field; O’Donnell, men’s soccer; bates, baseball; Geir Askvik (Oslo, Norway), men’s golf; and Jaynes, volleyball.

Cameo Harrington, Alumni Board President, presented awards to coaches Robert Corn and Warren Turner for milestone wins during the course of the latest academic year.


	May 4, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sneed captures Lions’ highest athletics honor Jones, Mathes named Athletes of the Year Her coach says she might be the perfect example of an excellent student-athlete. She was named Missouri Southern’s Outstanding Graduate for 2005 and was selected the Honors Graduate of the Year. She played a key role on one of the most improved NCAA Division II women’s soccer teams in the country. On Wednesday night (May 4), senior Sarah Sneed (Topeka, Kan.) added one more line to her growing resume. She received the Missouri Southern State University athletic department’s highest honor, winning the E.O. & Virginia Humphrey Award. “I’d just like to thank the Missouri Southern Athletics Department, coach (Trevor) Wachsman, Sallie Beard and all of the staff. They’ve been so supportive,” Sneed said. “I’d like to thank my teammates; we were one of the most improved teams in the nation last year. I’m very thankful for the experience. This is such an honor.” Others receiving major awards on Wednesday included seniors DeMarcus Mathes (Dallas, Texas) and Danee Jones (Clayton, Mo.). Mathes, who broke Rod Smith’s single-season football receptions record in 2004, was named MSSU’s Male Athlete of the Year. Jones, closing out a brilliant career as a thrower with the Southern women’s track & field team, was named the University’s Female Athlete of the Year. Sneed started all 20 games for the Missouri Southern women’s soccer team this past fall, helping the Lions to a 10-8-2 overall record, including a conference mark of 8-5-1 for third place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Southern ended tied for the fifth-most improved team in the nation. In 2004, she tied for second on the team with three goals and tied for third on the squad with eight total points. Sneed was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick this season and was an honorable mention selection to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region All-Academic Team, a unit that includes NCAA Division I players. In 70 games played (67 starts) Sneed finished her career fourth at MSSU all-time in career goals (8), assists (8) and total points (24). Three of her eight collegiate scores were game-winners, including two in 2004. “As a senior, Sarah chose to live with three of our team’s incoming freshmen ... I can’t think of a better example for the incoming players of how to carry themselves on and off the field,” said Sneed’s college coach, Trevor Wachsman. “Sarah may be the perfect example of an excellent student-athlete,” Wachsman said. “She impresses everyone she comes in contact with. It may be her athletic ability, her intelligence, her humility, her kindness, her humor, or her dedication to her friends and family.” In the classroom, Sneed will earn a Bachelor’s degree in biology (pre-medicine) with a 3.6 grade-point average. She has been accepted to numerous medical schools for the upcoming fall semester. Sneed has also served the MSSU Athletics Department as a Student Athlete Advisory Committee representative for two years, including a term as president. She has been a volunteer at the Joplin Community Clinic and held an internship position with the Pediatric Associates of Southwest Missouri. Sneed has also been a Freshman Orientation Leader for the past two years and received the Outstanding Student Orientation Leader for the 2004-05 academic year. She has also served as treasurer for Omicron Delta Kappa. The Humphrey Award is presented annually to Missouri Southern’s most outstanding student-athlete in recognition of the highest respect for the University, outstanding athletic ability, outstanding leadership, and respect for fellow teammates and students. On-the-field achievements are the primary focus of the department’s male and female athlete of the year awards. Mathes, a wide receiver and kick returner on the Southern football team, caught a school record 69 passes for 1038 yards in 2004 and joined Rod Smith, the current Denver Broncos All-Pro and former MSSU gridder, as the only players in Missouri Southern history with 60 pass receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Mathes’ 69 catches this year broke Smith’s school record. Mathes finished his career with 134 receptions for 1822 yards and nine touchdowns, also scoring three times on returns. A rookie camp invitee of the Kansas City Chiefs this year, he finished his three-year MSSU career with 3865 all-purpose yards. Jones, the fourth straight track & field athlete to claim Female Athlete of the Year honors, heads into the weekend looking to add to her 14 career All-MIAA honors. This year, Jones has been an MIAA Athlete of the Week six times and won her third straight conference indoor championship in the weight throw. She’s a five-time MIAA champion, having also won the last two conference outdoor crowns in the hammer throw. Jones, a three-time All-America, holds school and MIAA records in the weight throw and also owns the school mark in the hammer throw and discus. She’s a four-year indoor national qualifier and is likely to become a three-year outdoor national qualifier later this month. Also Wednesday, MSSU coaches handed out team awards for the 2004-05 season. Winners included: Evan Bates (Sr., Seneca, Mo.) as baseball most valuable player; Hiram Ocasio (Sr., Toa Alta, P.R.) as men’s basketball Don Gross Leadership Award; Vonny Wilson (Sr., Fort Worth, Texas), women’s basketball MVP; Paul Koehler (Sr., St. Louis, Mo.), men’s cross country MVP; Megan Russell (Sr., Jefferson City, Mo.), women’s cross country MVP; Cody Hilburn (Sr., Neosho, Mo.), football most inspirational; Andrew Koehler (Sr., Superior, Wis.), men’s golf MVP; Blake Wright (Fr., Conway, Ark.), men’s soccer MVP; Tera Reisner (Sr., San Angelo, Texas), women’s soccer MVP; Alese Woolard (Sr., Claremore, Okla.), softball MVP; Lacey McMunn (Sr., Parsons, Kan.), women’s tennis MVP; Matt Campbell (Jr., Worthington, Ind.), men’s track & field MVP; Danee Jones (Clayton, Mo.), women’s track & field MVP; and Amy Barnicle (Redshirt Fr., Springfield, Mo.), volleyball Lions’ Heart Award. Lionbacker Awards of Excellence were presented to Daniel Ritchhart (Sr., Jasper, Mo.), baseball; Orestus Cavness (Sr., Atlanta, Ga.), men’s basketball; Nicole Greninger (Jr., Webb City, Mo.), women’s basketball; Kyle Davis (Fr., Potosi, Mo.), men’s cross country; Ashley Caffey (Sr., Lebanon, Mo.), women’s cross country; Nathan Emert (Fr., Springdale, Ark.), football; Danny Sinksen (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.), men’s golf; Seamus O’Donnell (Sr., Fulton, Mo.), men’s soccer; Sarah Sneed (Sr., Topeka, Kan.), women’s soccer; Callie Stanford (Jr., Webb City, Mo.), softball; Kristen Meschede (So., Grain Valley, Mo.), women’s tennis; Neil Hombs (Sr., Boonville, Mo.), men’s track & field; Iashia Castle (Kansas City, Mo.), women’s track & field; Sara Jaynes (Sr., Springfield, Mo.), volleyball. Fifty senior student-athletes received 8”x10” photographs of themselves in action during the course of their Lion careers. Six MSSU student-athletes also received fifth-year enhancement scholarships. They were: Hilburn, football; Chelsea Michael (Iola, Kan.), women’s track & field; O’Donnell, men’s soccer; bates, baseball; Geir Askvik (Oslo, Norway), men’s golf; and Jaynes, volleyball. Cameo Harrington, Alumni Board President, presented awards to coaches Robert Corn and Warren Turner for milestone wins during the course of the latest academic year.