Connect with us

Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri, Selected to Receive $5.75M as Biden Administration Announces $254M to Tackle Polluted Brownfield Sites | US EPA

Published

on

Kansas City, Missouri, Selected to Receive .75M as Biden Administration Announces 4M to Tackle Polluted Brownfield Sites | US EPA


LENEXA, KAN. (MAY 19, 2022) – The Biden administration, by way of the U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA), introduced that Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, was chosen to obtain $5.75 million out of the $254.5 million in Brownfields and Revolving Mortgage Fund grants for 265 chosen communities.

Kansas Metropolis was chosen for $850,000 in Brownfields grants focusing on Parade Park Houses websites and $4.9 million in Brownfields Revolving Mortgage Funds. Of that $4.9 million, $1 million shall be obtainable to the Bi-State jurisdiction space that features the Unified Authorities of Wyandotte County and Kansas Metropolis, Kansas.

These grants are supported by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, which supplies a complete of $1.5 billion to advance environmental justice, spur financial revitalization, and create jobs by cleansing up contaminated, polluted, or hazardous brownfield properties.

Advertisement

$500,000 Brownfields Evaluation Grant

Kansas Metropolis was chosen for community-wide evaluation work and the event of two cleanup plans inside the metropolis’s 22 City Core Alternative Zones. The precedence web site is Parade Park Houses – South, which previously housed a big steam laundry plant and dry-cleaning facility and a former paint and polish producer. This chosen grant may even help a web site reuse plan and the preparation of outreach supplies in English and Spanish. Parade Park Houses – South has 17 buildings and a complete of 182 residential townhome items.

$350,000 Brownfields Evaluation Grant

Kansas Metropolis was additionally chosen for environmental evaluation and the event of cleanup plans for the Parade Park Houses – North web site, which previously housed a fuel station, an auto restore storage, and a dry-cleaning operation, and is adjoining to different former fuel stations and garages. This chosen grant additionally shall be used to develop a brownfields useful resource roadmap and conduct neighborhood outreach actions.

$3.9 Million Brownfields Revolving Mortgage Fund

The Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, Brownfields Revolving Mortgage Fund was chosen to obtain $3.9 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation funding as a result of it’s a high-performing program with 10 initiatives accomplished and one cleanup close to completion on the Hardesty Federal Complicated Constructing #9, which is anticipated to be primarily redeveloped as mixed-income housing. Different latest initiatives embrace the Negro League Baseball Museum Buck O’Neil Schooling Heart on the former Paseo YMCA, which can host a grand opening this fall. Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation funding will lengthen the capability of this system to supply funding for extra cleanups in probably the most overburdened areas of Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.

$1 Million Brownfields Coalition Revolving Mortgage Fund

The Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, Bi-State Brownfields Coalition Revolving Mortgage Fund was chosen to obtain $1.0 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation funding as a result of it’s a high-performing program, having dedicated most of its preliminary funds to the cleanup of the Crispus Attucks Elementary College within the 18th and Vine District. The historic faculty constructing is focused for redevelopment because the Zhou B Arts and Cultural Heart that can help native African American arts, and home Mates of Alvin Ailey and studio maker areas. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation funding will lengthen the capability of this system to supply funding for extra cleanups in probably the most deprived areas within the Bi-State jurisdiction, which incorporates Kansas Metropolis and Jackson County, Missouri, and the Unified Authorities of Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, and Wyandotte County.

This funding doesn’t require the conventional price share necessities for Revolving Mortgage Fund grants, thus additional facilitating native communities and builders’ reinvestment into the reuse of the brownfield properties.

Advertisement

Brownfield initiatives can vary from cleansing up buildings with asbestos or lead contamination to assessing and cleansing up deserted properties that when managed harmful chemical compounds. As soon as cleaned up, former brownfield properties could be redeveloped into productive makes use of, reminiscent of grocery shops, inexpensive housing, well being facilities, museums, parks, and photo voltaic farms.

The Brownfields program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which goals to ship no less than 40% of the advantages of sure authorities packages to deprived communities. Roughly 86% of the communities chosen to obtain funding as a part of right now’s announcement have proposed initiatives in traditionally underserved areas.

“With right now’s announcement, we’re turning blight into would possibly for communities throughout America,” stated EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA’s Brownfields program breathes new life into communities by serving to to show contaminated and doubtlessly harmful websites into productive financial contributors. Due to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, we’re considerably ramping up our investments in communities, with the majority of our funding going to locations which were overburdened and underserved for a lot too lengthy.”

“EPA Area 7 is proud to announce the number of Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, for 2 Brownfields Evaluation Grants and two Brownfields Revolving Mortgage Funds,” stated EPA Area 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “The Brownfields program has a confirmed document of empowering communities by way of advantages starting from native job creation to elevated property values. This funding will uplift Kansas Metropolis and supply measurable and significant change to the residents of Parade Park Houses.”

What They’re Saying

Congressional Members

“I’m happy to affix the Environmental Safety Company in asserting Kansas Metropolis’s choice as a recipient for Brownfields Evaluation Grants, particularly focusing on environmental testing and remediation for Parade Park Houses as they set up plans for redevelopment,” stated U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (Missouri). “As a proud supporter of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, I’m excited to see how the legislation is already serving to important, lengthy overdue initiatives like this attain the guts of Missouri’s fifth Congressional District. It’s initiatives like these which are going to assist us construct a greater America in Kansas Metropolis and past.”

Advertisement

“Proper now, Wyandotte County households live close to contaminated websites, coping with doable lead or chemical publicity and harmful well being results – it’s unacceptable,” stated U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (Kansas). “I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation to enhance the well being and financial outlook of our communities, and I’m glad to say that assistance is on the way in which to wash up these websites and guarantee each Kansas household has clear air, clear water, and a brighter future.”

Native Officers

“We’re happy right now to announce $5.75 million in grants chosen by the U.S. Environmental Safety Company for Kansas Metropolis, which positions our metropolis and Brownfield Coalition companions to construct upon our ongoing work to reactivate once-polluted and harmful industrial websites – which can profit Kansas Metropolis households, property house owners, and our local weather,” stated Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas. “I’ve met with EPA officers, each in Kansas Metropolis and Washington, to debate methods we are able to work collectively to create a cleaner and more healthy neighborhood. The federal assets shared right now will help each the evaluation of web sites and the redevelopment of present buildings important to the continued reinvestment in communities all through Kansas Metropolis. I thank the EPA for our continued partnership.”

“Congresswoman Sharice Davids (Kansas) is a champion for our neighborhood, and we’re most appreciative of her efforts to make sure that Wyandotte County is taken into account in all appropriations that would enhance the lives of those that reside right here,” stated Wyandotte County and Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, Mayor and CEO Tyrone A. Garner. “Our wants are nice and the help of the U.S. Environmental and Safety Company is important to our success.  We admire being included within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation allocation.”

EPA’s Brownfields grants and different technical help packages, just like the RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative, are additionally serving to to construct the clear vitality financial system. Right now’s announcement features a former coal mine in Greene County, Pennsylvania, that can turn into a 10-megawatt photo voltaic farm, and a former dump web site within the Fort Belknap Indian Group in Montana that shall be transformed to a photo voltaic farm, saving native residents an estimated $2.8 million in vitality prices over 25 years, amongst many others.

Right now’s announcement contains roughly $180 million from the historic $1.5 billion funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation to assist flip brownfield websites throughout the nation into hubs of financial development and job creation, together with over $75 million from fiscal yr 2022 appropriations.

Advertisement

The funding contains:

  • $112.8 million for 183 selectees for Evaluation Grants, which can present funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and neighborhood outreach.
  • $18.2 million for 36 selectees for Cleanup Grants, which can present funding to hold out cleanup actions at brownfield websites owned by the recipient.
  • $16.3 million for 17 selectees for Revolving Mortgage Fund Grants, which can present funding for recipients to supply loans and subgrants to hold out cleanup actions at brownfield websites.
  • $107 million for 39 high-performing Revolving Mortgage Fund Grant recipients to assist communities proceed their work to hold out cleanup and redevelopment initiatives on contaminated brownfield properties. Supplemental funding for Revolving Mortgage Fund Grants is obtainable to recipients which have depleted their funds and have viable cleanup initiatives prepared for work.

The record of chosen candidates is obtainable on-line.

Since its inception in 1995, EPA’s investments in brownfield websites have leveraged over $35 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. This has led to vital advantages for communities throughout the nation. For instance:

  • So far, this funding has led to over 183,000 jobs in cleanup, development and redevelopment, and over 9,500 properties have been made prepared for reuse.
  • Primarily based on grant recipient reporting, recipients leveraged on common $20.43 for every EPA Brownfields greenback and 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfields Grant funds expended on evaluation, cleanup, and revolving mortgage fund cooperative agreements.
  • As well as, an instructional peer-reviewed examine discovered that residential properties close to brownfield websites elevated in worth by 5% to fifteen% on account of cleanup actions.
  • Lastly, analyzing knowledge close to 48 brownfields, EPA discovered an estimated $29 million to $97 million in further tax income for native governments in a single yr after cleanup – two to seven occasions greater than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to the cleanup of these Brownfields websites.

“EPA’s Brownfields program is the true embodiment of turning adversity into alternative – it takes contaminated and doubtlessly hazardous locations and turns them into thriving turbines of financial prosperity,” stated Senate Committee on Atmosphere and Public Works Chairman Tom Carper. “Right now’s announcement is nice information for the nation, as we unveil very important investments from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation to assist extra communities profit from this transformative program.”

“Right now’s announcement is welcome information for the 149 million Individuals who stay inside 3 miles of a brownfield web site,” stated Home Vitality and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone. “These funds, predominantly from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, will enable households throughout the nation to relaxation a little bit simpler, understanding that among the most contaminated websites of their space will quickly be cleaned up, revitalized, and producing new jobs and financial alternatives. I’m grateful to Administrator Regan and the Biden administration for working so intently with Congress to prioritize the Brownfields program, and I’ll preserve preventing to make sure each neighborhood – significantly these which were traditionally neglected and underserved – receives the assets they want.”

“Final yr, President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act into legislation, which offered once-in-a-lifetime funding that’s essentially remodeling our important infrastructure,” stated Home Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio. “This Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation additionally included vital funding to EPA’s Brownfields program for the cleanup of legacy poisonous contamination that scars our communities with hazardous, blighted, or underutilized properties and threatens the well being of our households and the environment. The grants being introduced right now proceed the profitable custom of the Brownfields remediation program, whereas focusing on assets to these communities, each city and rural, that haven’t been in a position to take part in this system attributable to lack of local-technical capability or lack of native matching assets.”

Extra Background

A brownfield is a property for which the enlargement, redevelopment or reuse could also be difficult by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. Redevelopment made doable by way of this system contains all the pieces from grocery shops and inexpensive housing to well being facilities, museums, greenways, and photo voltaic farms.

Advertisement

The subsequent Nationwide Brownfields Coaching Convention shall be held August 16-19, 2022, in Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma. Supplied each two years, this convention is the biggest gathering of stakeholders targeted on cleansing up and reusing former industrial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this occasion with the Worldwide Metropolis/County Administration Affiliation (ICMA). Convention registration is open on-line.

Be taught extra about Brownfields grants. Be taught extra about EPA’s Brownfields program.

# # #

Be taught extra about EPA Area 7

View all Area 7 information releases

Advertisement

Join with EPA Area 7 on Fb: www.fb.com/eparegion7

Comply with us on Twitter: @EPARegion7



Source link

Advertisement

Missouri

Missouri Ethics Commission fines ‘Truth In Politics’ $250K for defying campaign laws

Published

on

Missouri Ethics Commission fines ‘Truth In Politics’ 0K for defying campaign laws


An investigation by the Missouri Ethics Commission found “reasonable grounds” that Truth In Politics — a group which primarily sought to influence the outcome of Springfield school board races — repeatedly violated campaign finance laws.

A consent order filed Dec. 18 and uploaded Friday, making it public, outlined the ways that Truth In Politics broke the rules, according to the MEC.

The five leaders behind the group were assessed a hefty financial penalty totaling nearly a quarter million dollars.

For a two-year period, while taking in more than $127,000, Truth In Politics failed to register as a committee, report contributions and spending, and file the required campaign finance reports.

Advertisement

A fee of $249,446 was jointly imposed by MEC against five leaders of Truth In Politics: Curtis Jared, president; George Husted, secretary and treasurer; and directors Lee Fraley, Royce Reding, and Sam Clifton.

If they pay $20,000 of the fee within 45 days, the remainder will be waived, provided none of the group members violate campaign finance laws for the next two years. If they do, the remaining $229,446 will be due.

Jared, Husted, Fraley, Reding and Clifton — as well as their attorney Lucinda Luetkemeyer — signed the consent order in December, waiving their right to a hearing.

It was also signed by MEC executive director Stacey Heislen.

Advertisement

Formed as a nonprofit corporation in July 2020, Truth In Politics started seeking contributions in March 2021 “with the express purpose of using such resources to influence the outcome of the elections” in April 2021 and 2022, according to the consent order.

In a two-year period ending in March 2023, the group raised at least $127,000 without reporting the contributions to the MEC. The gifts included $18,000 each from Humana and Centene Management, and $17,000 from Rapid Roberts.

They spent $119,826 during the same period “in support of candidates for office.”

Here are examples of ways in which Truth In Politics sought to influence the outcome of April elections in 2021 and 2022, primarily for school board but also Springfield City Council:

Advertisement
  • A flyer or door hanger that read “Paid for by Truth in Politics, Royce Reding, treasurer” alleged Springfield teachers were “forced to participate in Critical Race Theory, which has roots in Marxism” and urged support for school board candidates Kelly Byrne and Maryam Mohammadkhani. The flyer also touted support for City Council candidate Brent Brown;
  • Paid for billboard advertising for Brent Brown;
  • A political attack ad ran on TV falsely alleging incumbent Charles Taylor “hijacks meetings so he can push critical race theories over and over again.” The ad also urged support for candidates Kelly Byrne and Steve Makoski. At the time, Byrne publicly asked that the ad stop running.
  • Following calls for the TV ad to be removed, Reding issued a statement repeating allegations against Taylor and saying “We stand by our ad and will not back down to those afraid of the community learning the truth.”

In the 2021 board race, Mohammadkhani was elected along with Danielle Kincaid and Scott Crise. Brown, who donated to the Truth In Politics group, was not elected to the City Council.

In 2022, Taylor was defeated and Byrne and Makoski were elected to the school board.

There is no public, direct connection between the Truth In Politics group and candidates Mohammadkhani, Byrne and Makoski and none donated to the group. However, Rapid Roberts — where Makoski is employed — was a major donor. Byrne’s campaign treasurer, Tyler Creach, also donated $2,300 to the group.

In the 2024 school board race, an in-kind donation by a company owned by Curtis Jared also received scrutiny by the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The company placed billboards in support of board candidates Mohammadkhani, Landon McCarter and Chad Rollins in Springfield for more than four months before the April election.

McCarter and Rollins reported an $7,500 in-kind donation from Jared Outdoor LLC but the LLC was not classified as a corporation under federal tax code and it was not registered with the MEC, a required step.

Advertisement

As a result, McCarter and Rollins were each assessed a fee of $7,500 under separate consent orders in December but were allowed to pay only $750 as long as they don’t violate campaign finance laws for two years.

In all, MEC found that Truth In Politics failed to file 12 campaign finance reports, which are due quarterly and on specific dates before and after elections.

Truth In Politics also failed to quickly report large contributions and spending as required by law right before and after elections including four donations of $5,000 or more.

As part of the report, Truth In Politics publicly detailed the funds it accepted and spent. The details were included in the consent order.

Advertisement

Contributions in 2021, 2022

This includes total contributions of $500 or more. In some cases, an individual made a dozen or more contributions over the two-year period.

  • $18,000 − Centene Management; Humana;
  • $17,000 − Rapid Roberts;
  • $7,750 − Curtis Jared;
  • $5,500 − Ronald Neville;
  • $5,000 − Jeffrey Caison; Bryan Magers; Brent Davis;
  • $3,000 − Loren Cook II;
  • $2,500 − Nicholas Austin; Brent Brown;
  • $2,400 − Carson Buckman;
  • $2,300 − Royce Reding; Joe Passanise; Tyler Creach; Kandice Prewitt;
  • $2,200 − John Ruder;
  • $2,100 − Caleb Arthur; Sam Clifton;
  • $2,000 − Candice Ehase; Fraley Masonry; Sam Coryell;
  • $1,500 − Penn Enterprises; 311 S. Hampton LLC;
  • $1,200 − Nathan Adams; David Havens;
  • $1,000 − Judy Beisner; Mavis Busiek; Mark and Margaret Bult; Unknown donor;
  • $900 − Scott Speight;
  • $500 − Gordon Kinne; Ginco Facilities Management;

Spending in 2021, 2022

Truth In Politics paid more than a dozen companies and individuals over the two-year period. Here are the amounts of $5,000 or more.

  • $35,105 − Ax Media;
  • $34,926 − Vanguard Field Strategies:
  • $16,498 − Axiom Strategies;
  • $6,974 − Remington Research Group;
  • $5,000 − WPAI.



Source link

Continue Reading

Missouri

Ranking the top 25 Missouri girls high school wrestlers (12/27/2024)

Published

on

Ranking the top 25 Missouri girls high school wrestlers (12/27/2024)


With the Holiday break upon us, it’s time to rank out our midseason rankings of the top 25 high school girls wrestlers in the state of Missouri.

While some teams are still only getting their seasons going – or are choosing to pace themselves for the second half stretch – others have been participating in highly-competitive tournaments both in-state and across the country.

Newcomers and decorated champions alike highlight this talented crop of wrestlers. With several competitors moving weight classes this season, production volume during the 2024 Missouri high school wrestling season played a factor in these rankings.

Only wrestlers listed on active Missouri high school rosters were eligible for these rankings.

Advertisement

Other Missouri high school sports stories:

2024-25 National High School Wrestling Rankings (12/27/2024)

Top 25 Missouri high school football rankings (12/24/2024)

Top 25 Missouri Girls High School Basketball Rankings (12/25/2024)

Top quarterbacks in Missouri high school football: Vote for best in 2024

Advertisement

Ranked one of the top 140-pound girls high school wrestlers in the nation by flowrestling entering the season, Juitt is off to a 19-0 start after winning the daunting Kansas City Stampede last week.

A 2023 state champion, Lilly Breeden is proving why she’s one of the best pound-for-pound high school girls wrestlers in Missouri. Off to an 18-0 start in 2024, Breeden cruised to the 100-pound title at the Kansas City Stampede in convincing fashion last week.

Ward would probably sit a bit higher on this list if she had a few more matches this season. Through no fault of her own, she’s only competed in one tournament so far – the Wentzville Liberty Girls Invite – and took first at 130. She currently sits at 5-0 and is easily one of the state’s premier talents.

The defending Class 1 state champion at 100 pounds, Hairston swept the Festus Girls Tuesday Night Scramble, Fort Zumwalt North Tournament, Fort Zumwalt East Tournament and Union Girls Tournament to start 18-0.

Ranked No. 38 nationally in the class of 2005 and No. 10 at 110 pounds by flowrestling, Joiner cruised to the 115-pound championship of the KC Stampede to improve to 9-0.

Advertisement

Wrestling at 145, Haynes has already won the Lady Longhorn Roundup, Valkyrie Clash Tournament, Fort Zumwalt East Tournament and swept the Schuman Scramble for an 18-0 start.

Winning the 130-pound title at the KC Stampede shouldn’t have been as easy as Benson made it seem. She’s now 23-0 to start 2024.

Wrestling at 100 pounds, she’s already won the Valkyrie Clash Tournament, Holiday (Fl.) Knockout, Wentzville Liberty Girls Invite, Bolivar Girls Wrestling Tournament and went 3-0 at the Schuman Scramble. She’s currently 17-0.

While her schedule this high school season hasn’t been as busy as some others, Shelton – reigning Class 1 champion at 155 who has bumped up to 170 this season – managed to sweep the Indian Girls’ Classic with five wins. Her only loss came in a major decision to Highland (Ill.) standout August Rottman in the finals of the Wentzville Liberty Girls Invite.

The reigning Class 1 champion at 170, Thelin is off to a 17-0 start after winning the KC Stampede last week. She bested another person on this list – Willard sophomore Emily Brixey – 8-1 in the finals of the Stampede.

Advertisement

At 190, Vargas is 14-0 with wins at the Wild West Kickoff Classic and Battle at the Katy Trail while also sweeping the Excelsior Springs Girls Tournament.  

Nope. You’re not seeing double. Sandy Breeden joins Lilly Breeden on this list as the sisters continue to be a dominant force at Liberty. The reigning Class 2 champion at 105, Sandy Breeden took the 105 crown at the KC Stampede with a 4-2 decision over Oklahoma City’s Krystan Perez. The win improved Breeden to 17-1.

Opponents haven’t stopped her and neither did moving up weight classes. Gibbs, 2023-24 Class 1 Champion at 145, remains undefeated at 155 this season – winning every match by fall. She’s competed at the 2024 Tiger Mat Classic, Lady Longhorn Classic and Blair Oaks Tournament.

Another stellar 155-pounder, McNack is 21-0 after winning the KC Stampede, Nixa Girls Invite, NKC – Tussle for the Tiara and Versailles Girls Tournament.

Stinson has been dominant so far this season. She won every match by fall to win the 235-pound title at the KC Stampede. She also had a big win over Jayden Moehle (Grain Valley) to win the Lady Pirate Invitational. Stinson’s only loss was to Iowa standout and eventual champion Reese Baxter (Raccoon River-Northwest) in the semifinals of the Dan Gable Donnybrook in Iowa City, Iowa. She rebounded with a pair of pins – both in under 1 minute – to take third in that tournament.

Advertisement

Fuglsang has been singing a winning tune. Wrestling at two weight classes (110 and 115), Fuglsang remains unbeaten at 20-0. She won the Versailles Girls Tournament at 115 before going to 110 to win the Bolivar Girls Wrestling Tournament, 2024 Union Girls Tournament and the Nixa Girls Invite.

A defending Class 2 state champion at 170, Calvert hasn’t been beaten this season and owns a head-to-head victory over Willard standout sophomore Emily Brixey.

Brixey has three losses and three second place finishes this season. Two of her losses, however, came at the hands of No. 10 Alana Thelin – in the KC Stampede and Lady Pirate Wrestling Invitational. She also took second at the Nixa Girls Invite, losing by fall to Winnetonka’s Autumn Calvert.

Evans went 5-0 at the Raytown Holiday Tournament and 2-0 at Battle of The Braids and currently carries an 18-2 mark. Her losses so far have been a 10-8 decision to Juliana Tice (North Kansas City) in the finals of the NKC – Tussle for the Tiara 2024 and by fall to Sandy Breeden in the semifinals of the Lady Pirate Wrestling Invitational.

The Class 2 runner-up behind Jessa Joiner at 115 pounds as a freshman last season, McDowell is off to a strong start after winning the 120-pound class at the KC Stampede. That performance came on the heels of a third-place finish at the Valkyrie Clash Tournament.

Advertisement

Won the Valkyrie Clash and Chip Allison Tournaments at 190 pounds and took second at the KC Stampede – her only loss an 8-2 decision to Emma Heaton of Canyon Randall, Texas.

Moehle has been tested early in the 235 class. At 15-4, she has second place finishes at the Steve Leslie Girls Invitational and the Lady Pirate Invitational – losing to Logan Sumner (Blair Oaks) and Alexis Stinson (Liberty) in the finals, respectively. After four wins at the KC Stampede, she suffered consecutive losses to Chloe Vawter (Little Axe, Okla.) and Sophiea Quinn (Lebanon).

A former Class 2 champion, Gonier defeated Crystal Loera (Garden City, Kan.) to reach the 125 finals of the KC Stampede before losing to Violet De La Cruz of Conroe Woodlands College Park (Texas). She also won the Park Hill Girls Invitational and swept her matches at Battle of the Braids and Excelsior Springs Girls Tournament

Freeman hasn’t seen much time on the mat in the early season – she’s won her only recorded match by fall – but her talent is undeniable. Wrestling at 235, she’s one of the best in the state any time she steps into the circle.

The talented senior has seen the podium twice so far this season – winning the Lady Longhorn Classic at 170 pounds and placing second at the Chip Allison Tournament.

Advertisement

Also considered: Kamryn Bourbon, Nixa; Ellie Higginbotham, Willard; Paige Strauch, NKC; Sophiea Quinn, Lebanon; Kendall Angelo, Oak Park; Keely Fallert, Oak Grove; Calyese Dupree, Nixa; Jacinda Espinosa, Rock Bridge; Ella Healthman, Nevada; Averi Dawn, Nevada.



Source link

Continue Reading

Missouri

Ex-Stanford punter signs with Missouri

Published

on

Ex-Stanford punter signs with Missouri


Another Stanford transfer has found a new home. Early in December, punter Connor Weselman was one of the handful of Stanford players who put their name in the transfer portal ahead of next year. And now it looks like Weselman has found his next destination for 2025, opting to sign with the Missouri Tigers for his final season of eligibility.

With Aidan Flintoft serving as Stanford’s primary punter, Weselman primarily served as the holder in 2024, not punting one time. In 2023, Weselman appeared in all 12 games as the primary holder, but served as a punter in eight of the team’s games, totaling 22 punts for 928 yards while averaging 42.2 yards per punt.

He also had seven punts of 50 yards or more (with a long of 59) while pinning three punts inside the 20. In 2021 and 2022, he did not compete, making only one appearance as a holder as a true freshman in 2021.

Weselman brings a powerful leg and is expected to compete immediately for the starting job at Mizzou, with 2024 starter Luke Bauer leaving and backup Orion Phillips transferring to Utah. With both guys gone, Weselman found a spot where he has a legitimate shot of getting meaningful playing time.

Advertisement

For Stanford, special teams was a major strength in an otherwise tough season, with kicker Emmet Kenney establishing himself as one of the best kickers in the nation and being a big reason why Stanford was able to pull off upset wins over both Syracuse and Louisville this year.

However, in the case of the Tigers, getting reinforcements on special teams has been a big focus, as in addition to both of last year’s punters leaving, the program saw inconsistencies at kicker with freshman starter Blake Craig struggling to find a rhythm this year.

Weselman coming in is the first step in revitalizing a unit that could be a major difference maker in making sure the team wins those close games.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending