2007 William Jewell Athletic Recognition Day

The William Jewell College Athletic Department recently held its third annual Athlete Recognition day in the Yates/Gill College Union on the Jewell campus in Liberty, Mo.

The event celebrated the Male and Female athletes of the year from 2006-2007 and also recognized scholarship winners from various sports programs. The event was lead by Dr. James C. Redd Athletic Director and chair of the Physical Education Department at Jewell.

   Kyli Hufford (volleyball) was selected as the Female Athlete of the Year. Hufford, a Circleville, Kan., native, finished the 2006 volleyball season with 338 kills and 57 service aces in regular season play and earned first team Heart of America Athletic Conference honors and first team Region V honors. She finished the season ranked seventh in the conference in kills, and sixth in service aces. She also finished fourth in the HAAC in total digs with 568. Kyli was named to the All-Tournament Teams at the Baker and Lindenwood tournaments, respectively. Hufford was also part of Jewell’s second-ever HAAC Championship.

For the first time in Jewell history, two male athletes shared the designation of Male Athlete of the Year. Allan Nekuda was honored for his achievements on the soccer field, and Mark Brackman was honored for his contributions in baseball.

 Nekuda, a Liberty, Mo., native, was a vital part of the historic 2006 men’s soccer season for William Jewell. The Cardinals became the first team in Heart of America Conference history to go undefeated in the conference without any ties. They also won the HAAC Championship for the first time in over 20 years. The men’s team finished the 2006 campaign with a record of 18-3-2. Nekuda was named to the HAAC first team, and also was awarded the title of MVP of the Conference. He was also named to the Region V All-Region team and was the Region Player of the Year. Nekuda was also named as an NAIA first team All-American performer. In addition, he was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Ignition in the 2007 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) college draft.


Brackman, an Olathe, Kan., native, was named to the HAAC first team in baseball, and also earned HAAC pitcher of the year by going 12-0 with an ERA of 2.27. Brackman was also named Region V Pitcher of the Year and was a National Associate of Intercollegiate Athletics first team All-American. In addition, Brackman has become the latest member of the Cardinal baseball team to be drafted in the Major Leagues. He was drafted in the 16th round by the Detroit Tigers in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft. He was assigned to Detroit’s Single A Affiliate Oneonta Tigers in Oneonta, N.Y., and had a 3-3 record with a 4.33 ERA in 12 games started.


For the fifth consecutive year, the William Jewell College men’s athletic teams have earned the honor of winning the Heart of America Athletic Conference Commissioners’ Scholarship Award. Jewell’s men’s athletic teams had the highest GPA in the conference with a 2.98.

In addition, the 2006-2007 HAAC Commissioners Male Scholarship winner for the second consecutive year is senior football player Stephen Bader with a GPA of 3.81. Stephen is the starting kicker for the Cardinals and is Physics major.

Junior Volleyball player Tori Hallett was selected as the Omar William Nadler Scholarship winner. The Omar William Nadler Scholarship is presented to a female athlete who demonstrates outstanding qualities of sportsmanship, perseverance, and dedication to a sport and/or to a female athlete who has demonstrated an unusual ability to develop athletic skills because of the instruction and inspiration of a William Jewell College coach. Tori is the 11th recipient of this award. Hallett was a first team All-Conference player in her first-year and sophomore year. She was named setter of the week seven times in her first year. She holds the record for Setter of the Week awards received by a Jewell Volleyball athlete. Last year she led the HAAC in assists per game and was voted by her team as the most inspirational player and the ideal team player. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Hallett of Olathe, Kan.

Senior Baseball player Jesse McSpadden was honored as the 34th recipient of the The R.E. “Dad’ Bowles Scholarship is given by the Dr. Richard Bowles family in honor of his father, a 1912 Graduate and Jewell’s first Athletic Director from 1912 to 1947. The award is given to a young man who is keenly interested in athletics and has shown outstanding qualities of sportsmanship, perseverance, and dedication to sports, as well as demonstrates an unusual ability to develop previously unrecognized skills because of the instruction and inspiration he has received from coaching at William Jewell College. This past September we lost Dr. Richard Bowles who was a great supporter of Jewell athletics and will be sorely missed. Jesse is a three-year letter winner who helped his team capture the HAAC Conference Championship in 2007. He is also a William Jewell Scholar Athlete and will graduate in May with a Recreation and Sport Major. Jesse is the son of Mrs. Lynn McSpadden and the late Robert McSpadden of Kansas City, Mo.

Senior Volleyball player Lindsay Weisz was the recipient of the Raymond L. Burris Scholarship. The Raymond L. Burris Award was set up in 1990 to honor Christian students who have been formally accepted in the teacher education program for secondary teachers. Lindsey is the 17th and 18th recipient of this scholarship. Lindsay has been a Jewell Scholar Athlete and a member of the Dean’s List. Lindsay is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Weisz of Norbone, Mo.

Senior Basketball player Kayron Parrish was awarded the Benjamin Jones Simpson Memorial Scholarship. This award was established in 1976 to honor a male, Christian varsity athlete who demonstrates leadership and sportsmanlike characteristics both on and off the playing field. Parrish is the 36th recipient of this award. He is a two-year letter winner and starting power forward for the men’s basketball squad. Kayron is the son of Ms. Lottie Jones Parrish of Kansas City, Mo.
Brackman also was honored with The Paul McKinley Lamberts, Jr. Memorial Award. This award goes to a recent graduate that wants to pursue a career in coaching and education. Mark is the 28th recipient of this award.

Junior Jordan Carey was the recipient of The Robertson-Carmichael-Patterson Scholarship. The award is given to a member of any athletic team who is in good academic standing and must exemplify good sportsmanship and be making satisfactory progress toward a degree. Jordan is the 12th winner of this award and is a two-year letter winner in basketball. He is the son of Patrick and Janelle Carey of Raytown, Mo.

First-year Football player Travis Foerschler was awarded The Michael Murphy Memorial Scholarship. His family began the award to honor a male first-year varsity football player who demonstrates leadership and sportsmanlike characteristics both on and off the playing field. Foerschler lettered and earned a starting position at linebacker this season for the Cardinals. Travis is the 13th winner of this award and he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Foerschler of Harrisonville, Mo.

Senior Baseball player Zach Reed was honored with The Fred Flook Baseball Scholarship. This award is given to a member of the Jewell Baseball team who is in good standing and is recommended by the coach. He must exemplify good sportsmanship and be making satisfactory progress toward a degree. Reed is a two-time NAIA Academic All-American and he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenton Reed of Excelsior Springs, Mo.