Fast Forward: 2006 Cardinal Football Outlook

Most sports teams have a motto or a goal to rally around, and the William Jewell College Football Cardinals are no different. In his second season at the helm for the Cardinals, head coach Fran Schwenk decided it was time to change the motto. As players run out of the Mabee Center locker room this season they will slap a sign that reads: “Cardinal Football 1888-Today. Play Like a Champion Today for the Tradition of Tomorrow.” 

The Cardinals, who were picked to finish in last place a season ago, found themselves in third place at season’s end.  “I remember after our last home game, a win against Missouri Valley, it felt as if we had lost the game,” said Schwenk. “The team was really feeling down because they knew the season was over and that they were just starting to come into their own.” 

Offensively, 2006 could be a rebuilding year for William Jewell. The Cardinals lost 8 of 11 starters, and replacing quarterback Daniel Forrest will be a task that could come down to three people.  Junior Benny Palmer from Kearney, Mo.; Junior Shea Sowers from Atchison, Kan.; and Sophomore Nick Persell from Richmond, Mo., will all be vying to take the snaps from under center this year. 

Jewell will also be looking to rebuild the offensive line, which lost three starters to graduation. Junior Matt Callaway from Liberty, who was elected a team captain by his teammates, will be back to provide the leadership and toughness needed to carry the load in the trenches. Right Tackle Ryan Hardy also will be back.

Defensively things look very promising for the Cardinals. Jewell returns 8 out of 11 starters on defense and will have a new  coordinator at the helm in Chuck Lliteras.  Lliteras coached at Maryville High School for 16 years and last year was the defensive coordinator for the Missouri 3A State Champions from Harrisonville High School.  Lliteras will look to employ a 3-4 defense that has been very successful in his previous stops. With hard work and determination, the Jewell team will continue to build a great tradition of Cardinal Football.   

William Jewell and Entercom Partner to Broadcast Football Games

For the first time in William Jewell College history, Cardinal fans can listen to select football games on a commercial broadcast signal.  610 Sports and sister station 1660 KXTR AM, owned by Entercom Communications, will broadcast 6 Cardinal football games this season. Each broadcast includes a 15-minute pre-game show, half-time show, and a post-game show. Calling the action this season will be veteran high school play-by-play voice Mark Miller.  He will be joined in the booth by longtime Kansas University post-game host John Doolittle.  The games will be broadcast on 1660 KXTR.  In addition, 610 Sports will air a weekly coach’s show with the Cardinals’ head coach Fran Schwenk.  

“We’re excited about having 610 Sports and KXTR on board to broadcast our games,” said Jewell Athletic Director Dr. Jim Redd. “Our team has always enjoyed a great following in the Kansas City metro area, and we know that this new relationship with Entercom will be yet another tremendous avenue for our fans here in Kansas City to follow our team and the college.”

In addition to the commercial broadcasts, men’s football and men’s and women’s basketball games will be available to Cardinal sports fans via webcasts. Visit the college’s website at www.jewell.edu for more information.

Women’s Tennis Team Achieves Academic All-American Status

The William Jewell College women’s tennis team has been named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Academic All-American team for the third straight year. Jewell was one of 12 teams from the NAIA which received the honor, and only two squads in the Heart of America Conference were recognized. William Jewell’s women’s tennis team compiled a 3.49 GPA during the entire school year. To be eligible for consideration a team must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale). 

William Jewell also placed 8 individuals on the NAIA ITA Academic All-American squad, which was the most of any women’s tennis team in the NAIA.  Players honored are Jessica Williams, Allison Cobb, Ashley Fann, Tiffany Keller, Brittney Goldschmidt, Ann Lewis, Debra Bowman and Kate Culliane.
 
In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status a player must be a varsity letter winner, have a GPA average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year, and have been enrolled at their present school for at least 2 semesters (including freshman through senior year). 

Worstell joins William Jewell staff as Director of Sports Media and Broadcasting

Paul Worstell ’94, a 12-year veteran Kansas City radio personality and producer, has joined the staff of William Jewell College as Director of Sports Media and Broadcasting.

Worstell, a 1994 communications graduate of William Jewell College, most recently served as on-air announcer and morning show producer at KUDL Radio in Kansas City. In addition to his on-air and production responsibilities, he maintained and edited the station’s website and scheduled guests for in-studio and phone interviews. He was also host of “Challenge,” the station’s Sunday morning contemporary Christian music program.

“It’s great to be coming home to William Jewell,” Worstell said. “I am looking forward to working with the college’s gifted student-athletes to help tell the Jewell story to a wider audience.” While a student at William Jewell, Worstell handled play-by-play action for the college’s football and basketball radio broadcasts, in addition to writing and anchoring news and sports casts. In his new position, Worstell will manage all of the college’s broadcasting relationships and facilities along with athletic web page maintenance and direction of sports media activities. He will also continue his previous duties as men’s and women’s tennis coach.

Worstell can be reached at 816-415-5959, or by email at worstellp@william.jewell.edu.

Rewind and Fast Forward
For a review of spring ’05 sports team results and outlooks for fall 06 teams, visit the college’s website at www.jewell.edu and click on the Athletics bar at the top of the page.