SEVERAL WILDCATS AWAIT DRAFT CALL

By Mark Janssen

The baseball lives of at least four Kansas State players could very well change today with dreams realized with the ring of the cell phone.
 
Based in Secaucus, N.J., and televised by the Major League Baseball Network, the 2011 Major League Draft will take place today through Wednesday.

SEVERAL WILDCATS AWAIT DRAFT CALL

By Mark Janssen

The baseball lives of at least four Kansas State players could very well change today with dreams realized with the ring of the cell phone.
 
Based in Secaucus, N.J., and televised by the Major League Baseball Network, the 2011 Major League Draft will take place today through Wednesday.

Also See: Allen Named Louisville Slugger All-American;
Kokot Selected Second Team Academic All-District

WILDCATS' MARSHALL GOING HOME

By Mark Janssen

Don't blame Evan Marshall for trying to politic with Wildcat baseball coach Brad Hill to be the starting pitcher today when Kansas State takes on Stanford at the Fullerton Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.
 
Now, Marshall, the Wildcats' setup man for All-American closer James Allen out of the bullpen, has no chance of winning the debate, but the K-State right-hander admits, "The longer I have the ball in my hand the better against this team."

K-STATE ATHLETICS AMONG ELITE COMPANY

By Tom Gilbert

With the baseball team's selection to a third consecutive NCAA Regional on Monday, Kansas State not only continued an outstanding 2010-11 athletics season, but also put the school in some elite company.  K-State is one of just six schools nationally to have its football team in a bowl game, its men's and women's basketball squads in the NCAA Tournament and its baseball team in an NCAA Regional.  The school joined Connecticut, Florida State, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas A&M to earn this feat.

"Our student-athletes and coaches should be commended for a terrific 2010-11 season, one that ranks as one of the most successful in school history. We have had championship-level performances across the board this year that have propelled our athletics program into elite company on the national stage and look forward to even more as our track and field and baseball teams continue competition at the NCAA Championship level. Our student-athletes continue to set a national standard for both academic and athletic achievement and play a pivotal role in us achieving our vision of a model intercollegiate athletics program."

Also See: Baseball Earns Third Straight NCAA Regional Bid

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

By Mark Janssen

The calendar says it's the last day of May, which was to mean the book would close on the 2010-11 chapter of Kansas State's "Sports Extra."

BUT, because of the response from you folks, we're going to stay around this summer (June and July) on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule as the Wildcat athletic department heads into the summer months; and then we'll pick back up in August on a daily basis for 2011-12.

BATH LEAVES LEGACY OF BEING 'TRUE TO K-STATE'

By Mark Janssen

A Kansas State institution, a behind-the-scenes Wildcat treasure of an icon, will soon retire and step down from her administrative assistant position to the athletics director.

Rita Bath, who has served within the Wildcat athletic department for 40-plus years, will box up her office belongings next month and not report for work for the first time since 1970.

Also See: Baseball's Run Ends at Big 12 Championship;
Nine Track Athletes Advance to NCAA Championships

WINNERS OF THE 'EXTRYS' OF 2010-11

By Mark Janssen 

The end of the 2010-11 Kansas State academic/athletic year means it's time to hand out the "Sports Extrys."

A time to recognize the best of so many great team victories, to those individual heroic games or moments ... and don't forget the coaches.

We encourage you to make your own list and let us know who your all-star Wildcats are for the soon to be completed sports year. 

Also See: Baseball Advances at Big 12 Championships;
Seven Wildcats Advance on Day 2 of West Regional

CURRIE EXCITED ABOUT K-STATE'S PLACE IN 'NEW' BIG 12

By Mark Janssen             

John Currie is quick to the point: "The Big 12 Conference is good for Kansas State and Kansas State is good for this league.  But most importantly, the Big 12 Conference is great for our fans, and we are in a position in the Big 12 that gives us an advantage over a lot of schools around the country."

Oh, and there's this that also comes from the Wildcat athletics director.

Also See: Wildcats Battle Rain to Advance at West Regional

K-STATE FALLS TO TEXAS A&M AT BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP

Staff Reports

Texas A&M right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha threw eight strong innings, helping the second-seeded Aggies post a 4-1 win over K-State in a winner's bracket game at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.

With the loss, K-State (35-22) falls to an elimination game on Friday night against No. 12 Oklahoma (41-16) at 7 p.m.  The winner would have to defeat Texas A&M (40-18) twice on Saturday, beginning at 12:30 p.m., to advance to Sunday's championship game.

Wacha (7-3) allowed just one run on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in his eight innings.  After a Jason King RBI double in the first inning, Wacha went on to retire 19 of the next 21 batters and faced just one over the minimum until Dan Klein double with one out in the eighth inning.  After a ground out moved Klein to third, Wacha rebounded to strike out Ross Kivett to keep the Aggie lead at 3-1, which proved to be his final batter faced.

"It was pretty simple," said head coach Brad Hill.  "Michael Wacha pretty much dominated tonight.  We never could string together at-bats.  We would get a couple of doubles and need a two-out hit to score them and never got it done.  He made pitches when he had to make pitches.  He would drop his breaking ball in for a strike.  We didn't even swing at it, and he continued to drop it in for a strike.  Once he was ahead 0-1, he would start going in and out on us. He was outstanding and dominated us today."

A&M's Nick Fleece worked around an infield single in the ninth to record his third save of the season.

Texas A&M strung together three two-out hits in the second inning off K-State starter Matt Applegate (5-4), including a RBI single by Brandon Wood and a run-scoring double off the right-field wall by Kenny Jackson to take a 2-1 lead.

In the third inning, Jacob House drove home a run and Texas A&M loaded the bases with one out, which prompted the 'Cats to turn to Justin Lindsey.  The right-hander came in to record a strikeout and a fielder's choice to get out of the inning.  Lindsey threw five scoreless frames after that to keep K-State in the game.

"He gave us a chance," said Hill of Lindsey.  "He held it to 3-1 and forced them to throw up a lot of zeroes.  Unfortunately, they did, but you couldn't let them extend the score there knowing their pitching staff.  Justin was outstanding tonight.  He had great command.  He made big pitches when he had to.  He really matched Wacha for that period of time."

Lindsey allowed just four hits in 5.2 innings of work with two walks and four strikeouts.  He recorded the longest relief outing by a Wildcat since Thomas Rooke went 7.1 innings at Texas Tech in 2008.

King collected three of K-State's six hits against the Aggies.  His first-inning double extended his hitting streak to a career-long 14 games, the longest by a Wildcat since Carter Jurica end his career on a 14-game hitting streak last season.  He also registered his 48th career double to tie for fifth in school history.

King is 6-for-8 in his two Big 12 Championship games to rank second in the league in both average and hits.

Adam Smith led Texas A&M with a 2-for-3 effort.  Charlie Curl drove in the final Aggie run in the ninth inning on a two-out infield single.

The Wildcats will battle the Sooners for the fifth time on Friday, looking to improve their resume for a possible bid to a NCAA Regional.  The squad has won three of four meetings this season, the most vs. Oklahoma since 1990, including a 5-4 win in the opening day of the championship on Wednesday.

"It won't be very easy at all," said Hill.  "The winner gets to survive.  For us, it may be for next week (NCAA Regionals).  It's going to be really important for us tomorrow to do everything we can to stay here, get one more win and keep hopes alive not only for this tournament but for next week."

We hope you enjoy K-State Sports Extra. We would like to hear your comments and any story ideas for future emails, so fire them our way. Contact either Mark Janssen or Kansas State Director of Athletic Communications/SID Kenny Lannou.  For those who would like to share Sports Extra with a friend or family member, or change your current email address, click here.

Also See: Baseball Opens Big 12 Championship vs. OU

17 WILDCATS OFF TO WEST REGIONAL

By Mark Janssen

The world of track and field confuses its own at times.
 
With meets measured by the metric system, coaches often times give guesstimates on what the distance is in feet and inches.

Also See: K-State Scores Record Marks in Latest APR Report

WILDCATS FACE SOONERS IN TOURNEY OPENER

By Mark Janssen 

"I hope so. I hope we'll have some," said K-State head coach Brad Hill when asked about the momentum gained from sweeping Kansas entering the Big 12 Tournament opener at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Oklahoma City against Oklahoma.  "We had one bad inning of defense, but we pitched it pretty well and we swung the bats really well.  We were consistent and had some gutty performances."
 
With the three-game sweep of the Jayhawks, the Wildcats climbed to 34-21, which includes a 12-14 Big 12 record.  The 34 overall wins and 12 league wins both tie for fourth-most in school history.

KING HELPS LEAD WILDCATS TO BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP

By Mark Janssen

Jason King says this week's pressure will be a tad different than that of last week.
 
A week ago, Kansas State faced must-win games against Kansas to reach the Big 12 Baseball Championship.  The team that won at least two games of the three-game series would advance.

Also See: Baseball Sweeps Kansas; Earns No. 6 seed at Big 12 Championship

"HOOT" STILL PLAYING FOR THE GOLD

By Mark Janssen

Kansas State's run for a national basketball championship may have ended in March, but that's not true for former Wildcat John "Hoot" Gibson.
 
Gibson was a forward for Jack Gardner's Wildcats from the 1948-49 season through the 1951-52 campaign when K-State won a pair of Big Seven titles, plus advanced to the NCAA title game in 1951 when the squad lost to Kentucky, 68-58.

Also See: Martin Remembers Recruiting Mavs' Guard J.J. Barea;
'Cats Continue Series with Kansas

'TEX MESSAGES' SALUTES FORMER WILDCAT COACH

By Mark Janssen

Larry Weigel laughs at some of the responses he's received to his new book, Tex Messages.
 
Attempting to get reflections from former Wildcat players, Weigel chuckled as he repeated the response that came from more than one former K-Stater: "I don't text message," some of the old-timers responded.  "I don't even use e-mail."

Also See: 'Cats Open Series with Kansas

HILL PLAYED ROLE IN PUTTING K-STATE BACK ON THE MAP

By Mark Janssen

Dalonte Hill called it a "... very tough decision.  It took several days to get my appetite back."
 
The decision came early this week with the K-State associate head men's basketball coach and recruiting coordinator deciding to leave the Wildcats to become Mark Turgeon's lead assistant at Maryland.

K-STATE VS. KU: IT'S ALL ON THE LINE

By Mark Janssen

When it comes to Big 12 baseball, 10 is normally the magic number of league wins that it takes to get a team to the Big 12 Tournament.

But that's normally.

WILDCAT SUMMER CAMPS FOR ONE AND ALL 

So do you think K-State's sports teams shut down during the summer?  Well, think again.  Oodles of summer camps are available starting the first week of June.
 
More information can be received through each team's website, but here are some of the particulars of this summer's collection of camps.

Also See: Athletics To Phase-Out University Funding;
Baseball Takes On Wichita State

NIEDERMAYEROVA NO. 1 IN BIG 12, NOW ON TO NATIONALS

By Mark Janssen 

Kansas State tennis coach Steve Bietau sums up the season of freshman Petra Niedermayerova like this: "So many times this year she took on a good player and made it look like a relatively easy win."
 
After being named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and International Tennis Association Central Region Rookie of the Year, and Big 12 Player of the Year and the ITA Central Region Player to Watch, the native of Brno, Czech Republic, is now set to enter next week's NCAA Tennis Championships in Stanford, Calif. 

K-STATE CREATED THE SCHULTE OF TODAY

By Mark Janssen

"Captain" just seems to fit with the name Jason Schulte.
 
This year the Kansas State senior was "captain" of the Wildcat men's golf team.  By the time the calendar flips to 2016, the Kansas City native hopes to be a "captain" in the United States Marines.

Also See: Baseball Sweeps New Orleans;
Track Wraps Up Big 12 Championships

WILDCATS BEGIN TOUR OF KANSAS

By Mark Janssen

On your mark, get set, go, and go, and go, and go some more.
 
The annual Kansas State Catbacker Tour begins today in the western Kansas community of Dodge City, and won't end until six weeks later on June 30 in Independence, located in the southeastern corner of the state.

Also See: 36 Student-Athletes Earn Degrees;
Erik Kynard Wins Big 12 High Jump Title 

SNYDERS - BILL AND SEAN - WORKING AS ONE

By Mark Janssen

Some say not to mix family matters with business.
 
Some say that a father-son relationship in the work force is a recipe for disaster.
 
To Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder, and his son Sean, that's a bunch of baloney. 

Also See: Wildcats Open Series with New Orleans;
Track Competes at Big 12 Championships

HAYES ADDS MULTITUDE OF EXPERIENCE TO K-STATE STAFF

By Mark Janssen

Tom Hayes has multiple memories of Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder.

Now the first-year secondary coach of the Wildcats, Hayes first encounter came in 1986 at the Rose Bowl: "I was at UCLA and all I know is that he caused me some late nights preparing for his offense at Iowa."

Also See: 'Cats Conclude Homestand vs. New Orleans

ALLEN 'STOPS' THEM ALL

By Mark Janssen

On the mound, his 6-foot, 197-pound frame is not that imposing.

Oh, he has a tuft of a blondish goatee, but it's hardly of Jacob Pullen "Fear The Beard" caliber.

Also See: Lawrence Looks for Fresh Start at K-State

BIG 12 TRACK AND FIELD LOADED

By Mark Janssen

It was back in late-February that Kansas State track and field coach Cliff Rovelto said, "In my opinion, the Big 12 Indoor Championships was the best meet the Big 12 has ever had in terms of quality and NCAA qualifiers.  Right now, the league is just loaded with outstanding athletes, and future Olympians."

Starting Friday in Norman, Okla., Rovelto fully expects another Big 12 track and field extravaganza that will rank as one for the ages.

CLEVE, KOKOT GIVE DEFINITION TO 'STUDENT-ATHLETE', PART 2

Editor's Note: Kansas State's athletic department celebrated the academic side of being a student-athlete last week with the second annual Mark A. Chapman Powercat Choice Awards.  Winners of the 2010-11 Scholar Athlete Awards - Nina Kokot of Slovenia and Moritz Cleve of Germany - both came from the Wildcat track and field program, and both happen to be international student-athletes.  Sports Extra sat down with the two K-State honorees to learn their view on being a stellar student, and an Olympic caliber athlete.  Yesterday, our Q&A focus was on the academic side; today's conversation is on adjusting to life in America and their future in track and field.

By Mark Janssen

When roll calls are announced for the elite of the elite women's long jumpers and male multi-athletes in the nation, the names of Kansas State's Nina Kokot and Moritz Cleve are among the first to be involved in any track and field conversation.
 
Kokot currently ranks third on the NCAA charts in the long jump at 21-2½, which is bettered only by Nebraska's Mara Griva (21-7¼) and Clemson's April Sinkler (21-6¼).  Take a moment to visualize, or even walk off just how far seven yards is that Kokot is sailing.

CLEVE, KOKOT GIVE DEFINITION TO 'STUDENT-ATHLETE'

Editor's Note: Kansas State's athletic department celebrated the academic side of being a student-athlete last week with the second annual Mark A. Chapman Powercat Choice Awards.  Winners of the 2010-11 Scholar Athlete Awards - Nina Kokot of Slovenia and Moritz Cleve of Germany - both came from the Wildcat track and field program, and both happen to be international student-athletes.  Sports Extra sat down with the two K-State honorees to learn their view on being a stellar student, and an Olympic caliber athlete.

By Mark Janssen

Let's play the pretend game for a bit.
 
Let's pretend you come to the United States for the very first time.  You come from ... let's say Germany, or maybe Slovenia.

Also See: 'Cats Drop Series to Tigers, 12-8

HILL, UNDERWOOD TO ATTEND VILLA 7

By Mark Janssen

Kansas State assistant basketball coaches Dalonte Hill and Brad Underwood have received invitations to attend the Villa 7 Consortium, sponsored by Nike and Virginia Commonwealth University's Center for Sport Leadership.
 
The purpose of the event is to bring athletic directors and the country's elite assistant men's and women's basketball coaches together to prepare both for the next generation of college basketball leaders.

Also See: K-State Evens Series with Missouri, 8-5;
Wildcats Dominate Home Meet, Break More Records

AFTER SPRING COMES SUMMER ... FOR THE WILDCATS

By Mark Janssen

In the fall, you play the games; then comes the winter off-season program; next is the 15-practice spring season; and then summer time when sessions are organized, but without the watchful eyes of the coaches.
 
Following last Saturday's spring game, head coach Bill Snyder addressed the summer goals:  "There needs to be continued continuity and a drawing together ... unification.  We've taken a great stride, but we can draw closer.  We'll continue trying to do that through some summer with some team activities."

Also See: K-State Settles Lawsuit with Former Football Coach

MARTIN ADDS HALF-DOZEN TO 2011-12 ROSTER

By Mark Janssen

Kansas State basketball coach Frank Martin has bolstered his 2011-12 roster with the addition of four new signings to the class of 2011.
 
The newest Wildcats are junior college transfers Jeremy Jones (Chicago, Ill./Seward County [Kan.] Community College) and James Watson (Atoka, Okla./Cowley [Kan.] College), Division I transfer Omari Lawrence (Bronx, N.Y./St. John's), and high school standout Angel Rodriguez (Miami, Fla./Krop) are the recent signees.  

K-STATE VS. IOWA STATE MOVED TO DEC. 3
There will be no turkey weekend football for Kansas State, as the Nov. 26 game against Iowa State has been moved to Dec. 3, to facilitate television coverage.
 
"Moving the Iowa State game to the first weekend in December presents us with several opportunities," said Athletics Director John Currie.  "Not only will this date enhance our television exposure for Big 12 football, but it also affords our team with an additional bye week during the regular season."
  

WIN-OR-ELSE TIME IN THE BIG 12

By Mark Janssen 

Talk about a pack, that's exactly what the Big 12 Conference has become with its lower six baseball teams.
 
Kansas State enters Big 12 play against Missouri this weekend with an 8-12 record.  That's good for only eighth place in the current standings, but also just one-half game in back of the three-way tie for fifth, sixth and seventh where Baylor, Texas Tech and Kansas stand with 9-12 marks.

Also See: Baseball Wraps Up Cal State Bakersfield Series

HAYLETT MEET TO FEATURE K-STATE, NEBRASKA

By Mark Janssen

Kansas State will host the Ward Haylett Track and Field Invitational on Saturday, which will feature the Wildcats, Nebraska, plus several other at-large entries from regional schools.
 
"It's the last big opportunity for several of our athletes to make the (Big 12) conference squad," said K-State head coach Cliff Rovelto.  "Nebraska has quality athletes, but if nothing else, fans can see a high level of competition within our team."

Also See: Krais Performs Well at K-State (Philadelphia Inquirer)

AN EVENING OF WILDCAT SUPPORT

By Mark Janssen

A crowd of nearly 600 gathered in Bramlage Coliseum Friday night, not to cheer the Wildcats on to another hoop victory, but instead to open their pocketbooks to support the winning cause of all of Kansas State's athletics teams.

The 27th annual Powercat Auction raised over $250,000 that will go toward the Ahearn Fund, which supports all student-athlete scholarships, plus any other needs of the athletics department.

Also See: Baseball Begins Homestand Tuesday

WILDCATS WALK THE PURPLE CARPET

By Mark Janssen
 
The purple carpet was rolled out and the Wildcats walked it in elegant pastels to shocking colors for the ladies, while spiffy shirts and ties were the rule for the men, as Kansas State's student-athletes gathered in Bramlage Coliseum Monday night for the 2nd Annual Mark A. Chapman Powercat Choice Awards.
 
"It's a great time to have an evening to see what everyone looks like all dressed up," said Victoria Ayers of the equestrian team.

RUOFF: K-STATE'S UNKNOWN COACH

By Mark Janssen

Dani Ruoff likes to first off clear the air.
 
One, cheerleading is a sport.

THOMAS GOES IN ROUND 2 TO MIAMI
 
By Mark Janssen

Daniel Thomas admits that the wait was "long and frustrating at times," but he quickly added, "While I thought I would go higher, everything happens for a reason and I'm in a beautiful situation in Miami."
 
K-State's No. 2 all-time leading rusher was drafted as the 30th selection in the second round by the Miami Dolphins in Friday's edition of the 2011 NFL Draft. 

Also See: K-State Drops Game 2 at Oklahoma State

PURPLE WINS IN LAST FIVE SECONDS (sort of)

By Mark Janssen

In reality, the Purple team had no problems in handling the White squad Saturday in the Spring Game staged at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

Purple 59, White 16.

Also See: Baseball Takes On Oklahoma State

BROWNS TO TAKE CENTER STAGE SATURDAY

By Mark Janssen

The most ballyhooed brother combination in Kansas State football history will dig their cleats into the Bill Snyder Family Stadium turf today at 1:10 p.m. for the Annual Purple-White Spring Game.

Wearing No. 4 will be 6-0, 220-pound sophomore running back Bryce Brown, while No. 46 will be the jersey number of 6-1, 223-pound junior linebacker Arthur Brown. 

ROWERS SET FOR FIRST OF 'TWO' CONFERENCE MEETS

By Mark Janssen

Coming off what coach Patrick Sweeney called "a pleasant weekend," Kansas State heads into the Big 12 Rowing Championships this weekend at Wyandotte County Lake in Kansas City.

The Wildcat rowing team reclaimed the Kansas Cup from rival Kansas on Saturday, winning the final two races of the day to post a 13-6 victory after claiming both Varsity 8 races.

FINNEY IN THE CENTER OF O-LINE SUCCESS

By Mark Janssen

BJ Finney fits the image of that 1950s lineman that would totally accept wearing the leather helmet and going to battle in the trenches.
 
Chuckling at the notion, the 6-foot-4, 292-pounder ... topped with an old-fashion crew cut, said, "Everybody tells me I'm old fashion and maybe too mature for my age.  My dad and uncle were in the Marines and I had two uncles in the Navy, so I was raised in a disciplined home and had an old-fashion upbringing.  Yeah, I consider myself old fashion." 

Also See: Basketball Announces Year-End Awards

WILDCATS FACE JAYHAWKS IN BIG 12 OPENER

By Mark Janssen

Kansas State's women's tennis team will be out to make a great season even greater today in Waco, Texas, as the Wildcats face archrival Kansas in the opening round of the Big 12 Women's Tennis Championships.

Not only are the Wildcats playing to better their record-setting season, and not only are they playing for a Big 12 title, but also to get into the NCAA Championships as a team.
 

Also See: 'Cats Continue Series with Cal State Bakersfield

TO SNYDER, SATURDAY IS THE '15TH PRACTICE'

By Mark Janssen

To the K-State fan, Saturday is the Wildcats' Purple-White "Spring Game," but to coach Bill Snyder it's looked at as the Wildcats' 15th organized practice.
 
When the Purples line up across from the Whites Saturday at 1:10 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the Wildcat coach says, "The purpose is to try not to have 14 practices and a showcase game, but to be able to have 15 practices.  I want there to be coaching and teaching, so our players can gain something out of it."
 

Also See: Baseball Battles Cal State Bakersfield

ADAMS AWAITING NAME TO BE CALLED

By Mark Janssen

You're 22 years old, in a college setting, but already a Kansas State University graduate.
 
Your college career is over, but you're anxiously awaiting the 2011 National Football League Draft.
 

Also See: K-State Cheer Squad to Hold Spring Camp

PRAIRIE DUNES AWAITS BIG 12 GOLFERS

By Mark Janssen

Don't be upset with Tim Norris' thinking.  There's some reasoning to his hoping for windy conditions, and, even throw in some droplets of rain for this week's Big 12 Men's Golf Championship at the Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.

"Poor weather can be a great equalizer," said the K-State golf coach.  "Good players can still play good golf, but this course can wear on you.  It's all about damage control."
 

Also See: Baseball Completes 1st Sweep of Texas Tech;
Tennis Ties Wins Mark in Win over KU;
Rowing Retains Kansas Cup

THOMAS ANXIOIUSLY AWAITING THE CALL

By Mark Janssen

If you think college recruiting is stressful, how about NFL recruiting?
 
"No comparison," said former K-State running back Daniel Thomas.  "This process is a lot more stressful because they're picking you instead of you picking a school or a team."
 

Also See: K-State Continues Series With Texas Tech;
Improvements Continue at Bill Snyder Family Stadium


SNYDER LIKES ATHLETICISM ON DEFENSE

By Mark Janssen

Bill Snyder says he thinks K-State's defense is "... making some headway.  I think the effort is getting better and better.  You find them around the ball more frequently than before.  There is still a long ways to go, but I think that we are moving in the right direction."

Speaking of the collective defense, the K-State coach says, "As a group, we run better and I think we will be a bit more physical.  I think we'll be better defending the pass because we'll be a little more athletic than we were."
 

Also See: Baseball Opens Crucial Big 12 Series with Texas Tech

'CATS HEAD TO BIG 12 WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Mark Janssen 

Kansas State women's golf coach Kristi Knight admits, "On paper, it doesn't look like we have much of a chance, but the game's not played on paper."

Instead, the Big 12 Women's Golf Championships will be played at the Club At Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Mo., starting today and concluding on Sunday.
 

K-STATE TO FACE CHINA IN VOLLEYBALL EXHIBITION

By Mark Janssen

Calling it a "tremendous opportunity," Kansas State's volleyball team will be entertaining China's Bridgestone Tianjin professional team this afternoon at 5 p.m. in Bramlage Coliseum.

"It will be some of the fastest, yet most controlled volleyball that you're going to see," said K-State coach Suzie Fritz.  "Teams from China are very well known for their efficiency.  Their game is built on timing, yet their offense is very fast developing."

Also See: Wildcats Battle Missouri State in Baseball

WILDCATS IMPROVING, BUT WITH INCONSISTENCIES

By Mark Janssen

Bill Snyder's update on his spring football camp on Tuesday was no different this week than it was seven days ago.
 
Yes, the Wildcats are improving, but in Snyder's words, that forward movement is "consistently inconsistent."
 

Also See: K-State Drops Finale To Nebraska, 5-4

"GOIN' COUNTRY" FOR ONE AND ALL K-STATERS

By Mark Janssen

This is you!

Whether headed to the feed yard or the country club, just think of doing so in a 1962 Buick Invicta!  Make that a purple, topped in white customized 1962 Buick Invicta!

It's guaranteed that you'll be the only one on your block, or square mile, to have one as it truly is a one-of-a-kind car.
 

Also See: King, Allen Help K-State Tie Series with Nebraska,
Novice 8 Wins Gold at SIRAs

K-STATE READIES STUDENT-ATHLETES FOR THE FUTURE

By Mark Janssen

Kansas State's student-athletes are prepared to succeed in competitions by their coaches, but the athletics department also has a goal to prepare those Wildcat players for their life after the final buzzer sounds on their career.

One step toward that mission happens on Thursday with the Career Cat Luncheon that will be staged at Bill Snyder Family Stadium with a luncheon, followed by mock interviews by roughly 40 potential employers that will come in from Manhattan, Topeka, Wichita and Kansas City.

Also See: Equestrian Repeats As Reserve National Champion;
Baseball Drops Opener to Nebraska

INCONSISTENCIES IN THE K-STATE SPRING CAMP

By Mark Janssen

The first third of the K-State spring practices are in the books with head coach Bill Snyder saying that he has seen progress, but, "I also see the inconsistency of making improvement one day in a certain area and then the next day it levels off, or drops off a little bit."

It's just a part of coaching, especially in the spring when a host of first-timers dot the field on offense and defense, that leaves Snyder antsy about the present, not to mention the future.

Also see: Equestrian Advances At National Championships

CLASSY CATS CLASSY AT NATIONALS

By Mark Janssen

Kansas State's Classy Cats get a charge out of performing with the K-State Marching Band in front of 50,000 fans, and in front of the sold-out Bramlage Coliseum frenzied crowds, but the Wildcats' dance team earned a bonus last weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Competing in the National Dance Alliance championships, the Classy Cats earned a fifth-place performance, which is believed to be the highest finish for the squad in school history.  The previous best was a seventh-place finish in 2008.

By Mark Janssen

Kansas State's 2010-11 basketball year had weeks of turbulence, and extended days of being as good as any team in the country.
 
Players were suspended, and two simply quit the team; players improved dramatically, and in Jacob Pullen's case, had a single season, not to mention career, like few Wildcats before him.