MVC Round-up: Valley's Gibson wins HAAC golf title

Gibson

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Missouri Valley College golfer Craig Gibson got off to a slow start, but made up for it in a hurry to win the gold medal at the Heart of America Conference Championships at Lawrence, Kan.

Monday's first-round scores were overall on the high side, so the five-over-par 77 turned in by the freshman from Brooks, Alb., was still good for second place -- three strokes off the lead. Gibson shot an even-par 72 to begin the second day, only a stroke behind the best score of the round, while the early leader fell back.

Gibson's 74 late Tuesday in the third and final segment put him on top with a seven-over 223, five strokes ahead of a pair of Lindenwood golfers who tied for second. Gibson recorded 35 pars in 54 holes, with five birdies and an eagle on the 524-yard par-five No. 11 hole.

Even with Gibson's victory, the Vikings couldn't keep pace with defending champion Lindenwood, which edged them, 918 to 934 points.

Valley sophomore Adam Novakowski had a one-over 73 in the second round, but didn't break 80 in the other two stretches, to tie for eighth place at 236. Junior Tyler Kasubek came in 11th at 241 and senior Tanner Fennewald shared 12th place with a 243 -- despite being the best player in the meet on par threes, shooting two-over on those 12 holes.

Although not factoring into the Vikings' scoring, sophomore Devan Bestgen's tie for 14th at 244 put him in the top half of the 35-man field.

Gibson qualifies for the 58th annual NAIA Championships, to be held May 19-24 near Moline, Ill., but it's doubtful the rest of the Valley team will join him. The Vikings were 32nd in the most recent NAIA poll, and were not expected to receive an at-large bid to the meet.

Track & Field

FAYETTE -- Missouri Valley senior Thiago Ferreira broke the meet record in the 5,000-meter race-walk last weekend during the Heart of America Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Fayette.

The two-time all-American from San Paolo, Brazil, covered the distance in 22:15.26, beating the mark set two years ago by NAIA champion Patrick Stroupe of Central Methodist by 1.26 seconds.

Even with Ferreira's victory, the Vikings finished seventh in the men's team standings with 43 points. Sophomore Darrell Madry had the next-best performance, placing third in the long jump (6.71 meters).

Sophomore William Coleman was fifth in the hammer throw (41.60) and sixth in the discus (40.18), while sophomore Merlin Benefield came in sixth in the shot put (14.05).

The top showing for the 10th-place Valley women (12 points) was a fourth in the 5,000 by sophomore Taylor Whitacre. Also medaling was junior Natalie Porter, sixth in the javelin (32.49).

Lindenwood was first in both the men's (264) and women's (321) standings.

Ferreira is the only Viking to thus far qualify for the NAIA Championships, May 21-23 at Edwardsville, Ill. Valley will take part in the ATG Twilight Qualifier, a last-chance meet hosted Saturday by Emporia State (Kan.).

Women's Wrestling

COLORADO SPRINGS -- Bueker Middle School student Ellen Woolsey of Marshall took home a silver medal while wrestling for the Missouri Valley squad at the FILA Body Bar National Championships, Friday and Saturday at Colorado Springs.

Woolsey won a 3-0, 2-1 decision over Brittany Harvey of TNT Michigan in her first match, but then was pinned in 29 seconds by the Bridger Valley (Wyo.) Bruins' Virginia Burkett to finish second in the seventh- and eighth-grade 134-pound weight class.

The three Lady Viking collegiate grapplers in the meet were unable to medal in the Junior division. Freshman Brittany Bertolani (55 kilograms) won one of three matches, freshman Summer Sistad (59) split her two bouts and sophomore Rachel Pike (59) was pinned twice.

Valley is scheduled to take part in the U.S. World Team Trials, May 30-31 at Council Bluffs, Iowa.