Catcher Ally Steiner couldn’t quite tag the Neosho runner as the Larks fell in the playoffs.

Softball enjoys record-breaking season

The Larks softball team enjoyed a successful 2017 spring season by racking up 26 wins on the season (26-22), surpassing the programs’ previous record of 23 wins set during the 2012 season. Along with the team accomplishment, some Larks reached individual milestone during the record breaking spring. Jerrica Brown ’17 (Clovis, Calif.) became the Larks’ all-time leader in home runs (14) along with runs batted in (89). Catcher Ally Steiner ’17 (Phoenix, Ariz.), tied the records for career hits (113) and stolen bases (60). The Larks are led by coach Andrew Sharp ’99, who completed his eighth year at the helm of the program.

Student-athletes earn Academic All-American status

Sophomore student-athletes were recognized as Academic All-Americans by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for the 2016-17 year. (Photos in order of listing.) Earning the Pinnacle Award of Academic Excellence with a GPA of 4.0 were Rachel Brown (McKinney, Texas), women’s soccer; Renee Buckwalter (Wellman, Iowa), women’s cross country; Kyle Good (Harrisonburg, Va.), men’s cross country; Bailyn Piecewicz (Spokane, Wash.), softball; Jonah Short-Miller (Bellingham, Wash.), men’s cross country; Kristin Troyer (Shickley, Neb.), women’s track and field; and Ally Vogt (Hesston, Kan.), volleyball. Earning the Award for Superior Academic Achievement with a GPA of 3.8 to 3.99 were Wyatt Baer (Marshallville, Ohio), men’s cross country; Erin Brubaker (Goessel, Kan.), volleyball; Cierra King (Cochranville, Pa.), softball; Riley Kingsley (North Newton, Kan.), men’s tennis; and Calvin Plank (Marion, Kan.), men’s basketball. Earning the Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement with a GPA of 3.6 to 3.79 were Christy Kauffman (West Liberty, Ohio), women’s soccer; and Emma Schrock (Lakewood, Colo.), women’s cross country.

Komakech to lead tennis programs

James Komakech will assume the role of men’s and women’s tennis coach with the start of the 2017-18 year. Komakech, who hails from Uganda, has worked as a teaching pro at Genesis Health Club in Wichita, Kan., for the last 15 years. He is also active with the National Junior Tennis League in Wichita, which provides tennis and education to under-resourced youth and individuals with disabilities. Komakech played collegiate tennis at Barton County Community College (Great Bend, Kan.) and Bethany College (Lindsborg, Kan.). Prior to coming to the United States, he was a member of the Ugandan Davis Cup team, and he represented his country twice at the All African Games.