DRAGON ATHLETICS
Dragon TALES
DRAGON TALES
By Larry Scott, MSU Moorhead Sports Information Director
Armed with a wealth of experience, including four returning starters, Minnesota State University Moorhead women open the much anticipated 2007-08 basketball season this weekend at the North Dakota Classic in Grand Forks, ND. MSUM meets Metro State at 4 p.m. on Friday and Montana State Billings at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the BESC. Picked second to Concordia University on the 2007-08 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coaches’ pre-season poll, the Dragons make their home against national stronghold University of North Dakota November 24. MSU Moorhead men christen their season at backyard rival Concordia College on Tuesday, November 20, at 7:30.
MSUM MEMOS. . . . . Minnesota State Moorhead enjoyed a most rewarding fall athletic campaign in the NSIC, capturing championships in men and women’s cross-country and runnerup finishes in both soccer and volleyball. . . . . MSU Moorhead senior quarterback DUSTIN LONG was saluted as Offensive Player of the Year in the NSIC and joined wide receiver JABARI TAYLOR on the 2007 All-NSIC first team. Offensive tackle AARON CRIBB was a second team choice while four Dragons--offensive guard RYAN CHATTERTON, linebacker JONATHAN MILLER, defensive lineman JON SWART and kicker KYLE WILCOX--attracted honorable mention. MSUM finished 4-7 with a 41-27 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday night at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. . . Long is seventh in NCAA Division II in passing yards, 3,223, and eighth in passing yards per game, 293.0, and total offense, 308.2. Taylor is second in receptions per game, 8.2, and eighth for receiving yards per game, 104.3. MSUM linebacker Miller is 15th for total tackles, 11.1, and tied for 19th in solo tackles, 5.9. . . . . MSUM placed ninth on the final NCAA Division II North Central Regional volleyball poll, narrowly missing the eight-team regional tournament that begins this weekend at Duluth. . . . . MSU Moorhead placed second in a five-team field at the CSB/SJU Invitational last Saturday at Collegeville. St. Cloud State finished first with 1083.5 points, followed by MSU Moorhead, 665, St. Benedict’s, 519.5, St. Thomas, 340, and Macalester College, 119. ANN GUSEWELLE was a double winner in the 100 yard breaststroke, 1:07.95, and 200 yard breaststroke, 2:32.96. . . . . The Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced a couple of major awards for ex-Dragons AL GOEDEN and SPENCER YOHE. A native of Staples, Goeden will receive the State Courage Award this spring. A transfer from Itasca Community College and a two-year letterman at State, Goeden survived a hunting accident that left him paralyzed below the waist to make a significant contribution to the sport. According to Minnesota Chapter Vice-President Scot Davis: “Goeden overcame adversity to be one of the top Boy Scout leaders and Board of Directors while giving back. . . by serving as a youth and junior high school coach for the past 20 years.” A graduate of Winona State, Yohe charted a rewarding high school coaching career and later served as an assistant at MSU Moorhead under John Sterner. . . . . The Dragons rank 15th on the NCAA Division II Coaches’ pre-season wrestling poll. JARRETT HALL, 174, ranks sixth individually. . . . . The Dragons have unveiled a new athletic website designed by TOM CHALLEY. . . . . BRETT BEESON, the NCAA Division II Player of the Year and a national scoring champ at MSUM in 1995-96, continues to flourish in professional basketball abroad. Beeson put together a triple-double in just 28 minutes of play with 19 points, 11 boards and 10 assists last week for Archena, Spain. . . . . The next Dragon Fire luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, November 14, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Moorhead. . . . . Dragon basketball games are broadcast over ESPN Radio 1660 AM. STEVE d’EUSTACHIO returns as play-by-play announcer. All Dragon games are also available on the World Wide Web at www.msumdragons.com. . . . .
