Wichita Eagle: Other Sports

U.S., Argentina volleyball teams to meet at Koch Arena in June

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:24 CDT

The U.S. men’s volleyball team will make its third appearance in Wichita this summer.

Koch Arena will play host to FIVB World League matches between Argentina and the United States on June 7-8.

The World League brings together 18 of the top men’s teams in the world for a summer competition. The U.S. team will also host France on June 14-15 in Tulsa and Bulgaria on June 28-29 in Reno, Nev.

Wichita should see big returns on its $650,000 investment in bowling tourney, tourism official says

Bill Wilson — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:13 CDT

Wichita got a bargain when it landed the 2019 United States Bowling Congress women’s tournament, a competitor for the event says.

Tourism officials in Reno, Nev., the de facto home of the USBC in the city-owned, $45 million National Bowling Stadium, say Wichita cannot lose economically by kicking in $650,000 to land the annual bowling classic.

“It boils down to this,” said Ben McDonald, communications director for the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority. “If you can’t make an investment for a group bringing thousands of people like this to your city over three months, what can you invest in?

Wichita lands 2019 national women’s bowling tournament

Beccy Tanner — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:13 CDT

Wichita’s bowling heritage, its bowling centers and a hefty financial package helped convince the United States Bowling Congress that Wichita should host the 2019 United States Bowling Congress women’s tournament.

The tournament, the 100th for the women, will run from April to June 2019. It will be held at Northrock Lanes, 3232 N. Rock, and Thunderbird Bowl, 2440 S. Oliver.

City officials made the announcement Wednesday and said they actively campaigned to get the tournament for the past six months, said Susie Berglund Santo, Go Wichita president and CEO. She said the three-month event will attract more than 30,000 bowlers from across the United States and have an economic impact of $14 million.

Sporting KC awaits winner of Dynamo-Fire match

TOD PALMER — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 23:47 CDT

For Sporting Kansas City and its fans, all eyes will be on Toyota Park in Chicago at 8 p.m. tonight, where the Fire hosts the Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference knockout round of the MLS playoffs.

The winner advances to face two-time reigning champion Sporting KC in the conference semifinals, which begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in either Chicago or Houston.

“As much as we know these teams, the intensity of the game is going to be heightened just because we know it’s the knockout round now,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. “We’ll be really tuned to the TV.”

Bowyer enjoys dirt track diversion while chasing Sprint Cup

RANDY COVITZ — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:19 CDT

NASCAR’s Clint Bowyer, in jeans and a flannel shirt, stood on a grass berm between turns one and two, overlooking the half-mile oval at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Bowyer ignored the dirt splattering through the fence and onto his boots and intently watched the two Clint Bowyer Racing late-models he owns careening at 130 mph in the World of Outlaws series.

Bowyer, a dirt racer at heart who grew up banging around the short track at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., was in his element. Three nights later, he would win the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway — his career-best third Sprint Cup win of the season — and move into fourth place in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Organizers look to keep building marathon

TAYLOR ELDRIDGE — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:57 CDT

The organizers of the Prairie Fire Marathon are not lost in delusions of grandeur.

They know Wichita will never contend with major races hosted in Chicago, New York and Boston.

But the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission, which took over operations of the race three years ago, eyes an opportunity waiting to be seized. There is a chance for Wichita to still be a destination for marathon runners across the Midwest.

The long run: Wichita races cathartic for cancer survivor

Taylor Eldridge — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:57 CDT

The finish line at a marathon isn’t just the conclusion of a 26.2-mile race.

It can initiate a new beginning in lives. It can be a rite of passage into sacred status among runners. And it can be the motivation for resolve to overcome doubt.

But Becky Faaborg testifies it can be so much more.

Runners to watch in Sunday’s marathon, half-marathon

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:57 CDT

Jacob Buhler

Life hasn’t slowed down for Buhler since winning the Prairie Fire marathon last October.

The 25-year-old Oklahoma City resident is closer to completing dental school at the University of Oklahoma. Buhler and his wife, Katie, are expecting their first child soon.

Sporting KC clinches playoff spot

TOD PALMER — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 08:09 CDT

Sporting Kansas City took another step toward a second straight Eastern Conference crown and broke the club’s all-time record for points in a season with a 2-0 win Friday night against the Chicago Fire at Livestrong Sporting Park.

The win – the first at home against the Fire in more than five years – also clinched a playoff berth for manager Peter Vermes’ club, which joins three Western Conference powers who already qualified for the MLS postseason.

“That (qualifying for the playoffs) absolutely was goal,” Vermes said. “It’s another one we check off at the bottom of our list. We’re working our way up. The next one would be to win the division so that we have home-field advantage through the playoffs.”

Sapong helps Sporting KC salvage draw at home

TOD PALMER — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:21 CDT

From the outset, C.J. Sapong’s scoring drought seemed destined to end.

He was a monster in the first half and already had set a career high with eight shots on goal when second-half stoppage time arrived — and a potentially crippling loss to the Houston Dynamo seemed inevitable Friday for Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Sporting Park.

It took until the 93rd minute, but Sapong finally had a meal again – his celebration “always watin’, always hungry” hadn’t been seen in the last 12 league appearances – but the reigning MLS Rookie of the Year delivered a 1-1 draw and salvaged an important point for Sporting KC.

Wichitan Nick Taylor wins third Paralympics gold; Jordan Bird advances in 800

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:13 CDT

Wichita’s Nick Taylor teamed with David Wagner to win their third straight gold medal in quad doubles wheelchair tennis at the London Paralympics on Wednesday.

Taylor and Wagner defeated Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne and Peter Norfolk 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. The pair won in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.

“We knew it was going to be difficult form the beginning, but we battled through and played well,” Taylor wrote in an e-mail to The Eagle. “Playing against the home team was an incredible experience and one I will never forget.

Third Paralympics no different for Nick Taylor

Paul Suellentrop — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:41 CDT

Before his first Paralympics, Wichitan Nick Taylor told himself it would be his last. Why or how he came to the conclusion, he can’t remember.

“You’ve made your Olympics,” he remembers thinking in 2004 as he prepared for the games in Athens. “Whatever happens, you’re done.”

Not even close, as Taylor himself realized before the opening ceremony.

Sporting KC takes attack on the road

TOD PALMER — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:30 CDT

Don’t take this the wrong way, Cauldronites, but sometimes Sporting Kansas City prefers to play on the road.

Mind you, that has nothing to do with the atmosphere.

Sporting KC loves you. The club also believes its stadium and its fans are the best in MLS and provide a distinct edge every home match.

Sporting KC climbs back in top in East with win

Tod Palmer — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 23:27 CDT

So much for a championship hangover.

Fears that Sporting Kansas City might come out flat returning to MLS action Saturday against D.C. United only three days after clinching the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on the same field proved unfounded.

Far from enduring a letdown, Sporting KC recaptured first place in the MLS Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win, moving to 43 points — two ahead of the New York Red Bulls.

Soccer title just part of Northwest grad's journey

TONY ADAME — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 07:32 CDT

To one end, the goal of the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Soccer team is to win gold medals – to go head-to-head with international competition in places like Taiwan, Turkey and Bulgaria.

But to another end, it’s about more than that. Sydney Andrews discovered as much this summer.

“We all come from different backgrounds, but there’s that automatic bond that brings you all together,” said Andrews, an All-Metro pick for Northwest this spring. “It’s something that nobody else can understand and, almost automatically, you begin to look out for each other. I love my teammates … it was amazing experience.“

Kingman athlete to compete in world duathlon championship two years after accident

SARAH TUCKER — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:27 CDT

Brad Saens is a born competitor.

Friends and family describe Saens, 42, as passionate and proud about everything he does, whether it’s competing in duathlons or working as an IV therapist at Via Christi.

“Everything he puts his mind to, he excels at,” his wife, Julie Saens, said.

A day later, Katie Verbil basks in her record-setting 879 series

Jeffrey Lutz — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:33 CDT

Katie Verbil answered her phone in two rings Thursday, hardly surprising since the flow of well-wishers wouldn’t let her be away from it for too long.

A day after setting what is a national women’s bowling record with an 879 three-game series at West Acres Bowl, Verbil took congratulatory calls from friends, family, media and members of the bowling community.

The 32-year-old Verbil said she never imagined she would bowl 33 strikes in a row — two 300 games and the first nine strikes of the third — and after it happened the attention she received was equally surprising.

Local bowler Katie Verbil rolls an 879 series; possible national record

TONY ADAME — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:33 CDT

After 33 strikes in a row, Katie Verbil’s arm may have been just a little bit tired.

“That stubborn 10 pin got me,” Verbil said, laughing. “What are you going to do?”

What Verbil did Wednesday night was shoot an 879 series at West Acres Bowl, missing a 900 by two strikes, picking up a spare on the 10th frame of the final game and following that with a strike to end her amazing night.

Sporting KC settles for 0-0 draw

TOD PALMER — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 23:36 CDT

First, the good news: Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper and captain Jimmy Nielsen recorded his league-leading ninth shutout of the season Saturday against the New England Revolution.

Unfortunately, Sporting KC’s attack didn’t generate any goals, resulting in the club’s second straight 0-0 draw at Livestrong Sporting Park.

The draw, coupled with a 2-0 win earlier in the day for the New York Red Bulls against the Philadelphia Union, leaves Sporting KC (11-6-4) in second place in the Eastern Conference.

Sporting KC retools lineup

TOD PALMER — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 00:57 CDT

Sporting Kansas City will be forced to continue its swap-meet approach to the starting lineup as injuries, international duty and even a suspension continue to pile up for the Eastern Conference leaders.

The latest casualty is right back Chance Myers, who had played every minute in the MLS competition for Sporting KC before Wednesday’s loss in Houston.

Myers, the No. 1 overall pick in 2008, has been ruled out for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the New England Revolution with a groin strain, making a second consecutive start for Michael Harrington likely.