Midland names new offensive coordinator

Please join me in welcoming John McMenamin to Midland Lutheran College. John comes to us from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he served as the Quarterback’s Coach. John will be the Offensive Coordinator for the Warrior Football Program.

Originally from Elkhorn, NE, John earned his Bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University and his Master’s degree from UNO. At Northwest Missouri State, John earned All-Conference honors at quarterback in 2001 and 2002 and All-America honors in 2002.

I’m pretty excited about this. The Mavs have had some solid quarterbacks and good offenses the past few seasons.

Introducing: Blake Reynolds, women’s soccer

From the Athletic Department:

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our new Head Women’s Soccer Coach at MLC.  Blake Reynolds began his duties at MLC today and has an office in Hopkins Arena.  His extension is x6431 and his e-mail is breynolds@mlc.edu.

Blake comes to us from Baker University, Baldwin City, KS, where he served as an assistant coach the past two years.  He is a graduate of Baker and is near completion of his master’s degree from South Dakota State University.

Please welcome Blake to Midland Lutheran College.

Keith Kramme
Director of Athletics/Head Softball Coach

Go pink for Halloween

OK, at least go pink to show your support for the Midland Lutheran Women’s basketball team during the season-opening Godfather’s Pizza Basketball Classic this weekend

To show support for breast cancer awareness and research, the team will trade in some of the home orange for a more pinkish hue.

A donation will be made to the American Cancer Society, five breast cancer survivors will be honored, and the team will warm up in some snazzy pink shirts, donated by Lou’s Sporting Goods.

Coach Bracker and the team would like to see all the fans in pink as well. Aside from showing support for the home team, it helps send a message of support to all whose lives have been touched by breast cancer (like my mom, for example).

Warrior athletes receive GPAC honors

Kudos go out to the latest Warrior athletes to be honored by the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

Soccer – Women’s Defense – Ashley Kirkman, Midland Lutheran – Defender
Midland Lutheran defender Ashley Kirkman is the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Soccer Defensive Player-of-the-Week. Kirkman, a junior from Centennial, Colorado, helped solidify the Warriors defense in a pair of key GPAC wins. Midland defeated Nebraska Wesleyan and Morningside on the week. Kirkman was the 2006 GPAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year. The Warriors are now 8-4-1.

Football – Special Teams- Paul Maielua, Midland Lutheran – Kicker
Midland Lutheran kicker Paul Maielua is this week’s GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Special Teams Player-of-the-Week. Maielua, a junior from Makawao, Hawaii, made a pair of field goals in the Warriors 27-0 win over Dordt. One the field goals was a career long 46 yarder as time expired in the first half. He also made all three of his PAT’s in the game. Midland Lutheran is 5-2 on the season, and 4-2 in the GPAC. The Warriors will play at Morningside at 1PM this weekend.

Midland netminder named to GPAC honor

Soccer goalkeeper Eric Vrba has been named the Great Plains Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his shutout of Northwestern.

The junior from Columbus made nine saves in the 0-0 tie.

Congratulations!

More love for the Warriors

My old pal Ken Hambleton from the Lincoln Journal Star has joined in the lovefest for our Warrior football lads.

Aside from writing a killer column, Kenny also makes a mean cheeseburger. You know, just in case you were wondering.

Please keep Ken and his wife R.J. in your thoughts…. They’re Chicago Cubs fans.

A nice column on the football team

Barry Fouts of the Victory Sports Network has a pretty nice article about Coach Thiele and the Midland Warrior football team.

It provides some insight into the success the team has seen this season, especially when faced with some challenges.

Take a read to help you get fired up about the 4-0 Warriors taking on Dakota Wesleyan tomorrow.

Remember, the game is a BLACKOUT! so wear your best black.

THINK ORANGE!

WEAR BLACK!

Get your Warrior Zone spirit on

This year’s edition of the Warrior Zone shirt is available TODAY over at the OSC.

Designed in stunning black, this top features the Warrior Zone logo on the front and a subtle warning to all who oppose our Warrior teams on the field, the pitch, the court, and the diamond.

$8 for S – XL sizes, $9.50 for 2XL and up. Stop by Student Development or see Taylor Wentz (he’s the tall, skinny dude).

Remember, black goes with everything… and while it’s not in my nature to mysterious, there may be a need for black shirts soon.

Stay tuned!

No. 22 and rising!

The latest NAIA football poll is out… and Midland continues to climb the ladder.

Now ranked 22, the Warriors look to keep up the winning ways this weekend against Briar Cliff.

So, who do you think will be the next Warrior Player of the Week?

Make your prediction by clicking the “comments” link.

(As an aside, I spent one whole semester at No. 19, Black Hills State, back in the 90s. Not a lot of fun. Let’s leapfrog the Yellowjackets!)

Another game, another win, another player honored

Continuing the streak, this week’s GPAC Defensive player of the Week is Midland’s own Eric Frenzen.

Linebacker extraordinaire, Frenzen made seven solo tackles, assisted on six more… Oh, and sealed the deal against Doane by picking off a pass with 24 seconds left.

Not bad for an afternoon’s work.