MONTICELLO, Ark. -- Having gained a slim lead over defending NIRA Ozark Region champion Tennessee-Monticello to begin the second half of the rodeo season, the Missouri Valley College men lengthened it last week.

The Vikings racked up a staggering 950 points, more than 250 points over its league-leading average, to win the Arkansas-Monticello Rodeo. In that, sophomore Jake Shaw played no small part, contributing 225 points to the effort.

Shaw placed second in steer wrestling and was header to sophomore Adam Gilchrist's heeler for fifth in team roping. However, as a collective, Valley's saddle bronc riders carried the day.

Senior Kirk Nelson, freshman Will Smith, senior Rylie Hoffman and Gilchrist took the second through fourth spots -- three of them on the official line-up to accumulate 440 points. Nelson added another 70 points while finishing fourth in steer wrestling.

The bareback riders, sophomores David Clapp and Kyle Brennecke, were second and third for 235 points. Although they didn't count toward the team tally, senior bull rider Cooper Link, sophomore bareback rider Matt Cossitt and junior saddle bronc rider Codey Payne all came in fourth in deep fields.

The Vikings now lead the region by 235 points, with dangerous UTM on their heels.

The Valley women finished fifth with 140 points, the host Boll Weevils adding to their lead in the standings.

Most of the Viking cowgirls' points came from junior Kallie Agre's fourth in goat tying. Junior Casey Chapman provided 60 points with a seventh in barrel racing, one spot behind freshman Chelsea Clapsaddle, and eighth in breakaway roping.

Senior Sarah Wageknecht and sophomore Keely Christensen had two successful throws in breakaway roping to finish second and fifth, and junior Amy Adametz placed second in goat tying, but they didn't count toward the team score.

Valley will go into Skyhawk territory April 10-12 when it attends the Tennessee-Martin Rodeo.

Viking linskters claim two tourney titles

The Missouri Valley College men's golf team went into the weekend ranked third in NAIA Region V, but would seem poised to rise a spot following a pair of tournament championships in four days.

The Vikings bested eight other teams Friday and Saturday at the Evangel Invitational at Springfield. Sophomore Raphael Marguery of suburban Paris, France, shot a one-under par 71 on the second day at Rivercut Golf Course to finish third at 146 as Valley beat Baker for first place, 610 to 620 points.

The Vikings' three other scorers were also in the top 12: freshman Devan Bestgen (152) of Tipton tied for third, sophomore Neil Thomas (155) was eighth and junior Tanner Fennewald shared 11th (157). Although he wasn't on the team's official line-up, freshman Adam Novakowski (153) wound up in fifth.

On Tuesday, Valley got by Iowa Wesleyan, 298-302, to take the title at the William Woods Invitational.

Sophomore Jessie Singh, who was 22nd at the Evangel tourney, shot an even-par 72 on Tanglewood Golf Course for third place. Margery (73) tied for third, while Fennewald (74) was among those in fifth. Thomas (79) winding up in 34th place got the Vikings in under the wire.

Valley will play Monday in the Bison Invitational, hosted by Oklahoma Baptist.

CMU takes two from Lady Vikes

Central Methodist's pitching stifled the bats of the Missouri Valley College softball team twice Saturday, the sixth-ranked team in NAIA Region V claiming a pair of five-inning Heart of America Conference victories in the Lyon Bowl, 12-2 and 8-0.

Sophomore Chelsea Fuemmeler of Salisbury allowed only four hits and struck out seven in the first game, which saw the Lady Eagles (11-6, 4-0 HAAC) take the lead for good with six runs in the second inning. Junior Jessica Taylor had a two-run single and two more scored on a triple by sophomore Jessica Henderson, another former Lady Panther.

Taylor singled and freshman Stephanie Sullivant doubled to drive in runs in the fifth and freshman Annie Duffner hit a three-run homer in the fifth.

The Lady Vikings didn't score until the bottom of the fifth, junior Lindsey's Stapp's two-out double bringing in both runs.

Sophomore McCall Kenney was even more dominant in the finale, firing a one-hit shutout, fanning six batters. She helped her own cause with a three-run homer in the second inning and senior Katie Dove smashed a grand slam in the fourth.

Valley (9-13, 1-2) will try to snap a four-game losing streak Saturday at Culver-Stockton.

Three close matches go against Valley

A singles win by junior Nicki Erickson of Marshall wasn't enough to get the Lady Vikings past Illinois-Springfield. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

The Missouri Valley College tennis teams didn't have many breaks go their way last weekend, the men losing two close matches and the women falling in another one.

Illinois-Springfield posted a doubleheader win over the Vikings on Friday, beating both teams, 6-3. The Valley men won one doubles match over the Prairie Stars (6-2), an 8-4 decision by seniors Eugenio Huerta and Miguel Pacheco at No. 2. Huerta had one of the two singles wins, a 6-1, 6-4 match at No. 6, with freshman Derek Gillilan of Higginsville getting the other one at No. 5, 6-3, 0-6, 10-5.

Illinois-Springfield (7-2) beat the Lady Vikings the same way, although in different singles spots. Valley (1-5) got a 6-1, 6-3 victory by freshman Helene Sallas at No. 2 and a 6-3, 6-0 win by junior Nicki Erickson of Marshall at No. 3. Sallas and freshman Shruti Bedi got the only doubles win, an 8-0 shutout at No. 2.

McKendree (Ill..) edged the Valley men Saturday, 5-4. The Vikings (1-8) actually held a 2-1 lead over the Bearcats (2-3) after doubles play, the team of freshmen Lorenz Pestinger and Alonso Marroquin joining Huerta-Pacheco (8-1) in victory with a 9-7 decision at No. 1. Gillilan (6-0, 6-1) and Huerta (7-5, 6-4) again won their singles matches.

"It is very disappointing because we have lost so many close matches this year," noted MVC coach Ryan Carney. "We are making progress in the areas we need to, but we can't quite get over the hump."

Valley will look to do that today during a Heart of America Conference doubleheader at Graceland.