Nathan Dunn

Many children grow up dreaming of becoming professional athletes, but only a selection of children achieve that dream. That is not the case for Matt Besler. A native of Overland Park, Besler not only became a professional athlete, but he did so for his hometown team with Sporting Kansas City over the course of 12 seasons from 2009 to 2020. From an early age, Besler had dreams of playing professional sports. Playing soccer, basketball and baseball as a youth, Besler would dream of making it pro

The Park University women’s volleyball team booked their ticket to the NAIA National Tournament Final Site in Sioux City, Iowa for the 10th straight season. The Pirates fell to Missouri Baptist 3-2 in the national championship just last season. This year, Park won a share of the regular season conference championship but lost to MidAmerica Nazarene in the conference tournament championship 3-2. Another deep national tournament run would quickly erase the pain of defeat in the conference tourna

The No. 13-ranked Park women’s volleyball team remained perfect on Claude English Court as the Pirates beat the undefeated MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers 3-2 to claim a share of the Heart of America Conference regular season title for the third consecutive season. Breckon Sports Center hosted the conference-deciding matchup between the Pirates and the undefeated No. 10-ranked Pioneers on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The Pioneers, looking to claim their first conference title since 2016, needed to beat Park

Park women’s soccer celebrated homecoming with a 1-0 win at Julian Field over conference rival Baker Wildcats on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Pirates were winless from the last 12 meetings with Baker, last beating the Wildcats in 2005, but a 70th-minute strike from senior Harper Manley was all the offense needed to overcome the Wildcats on homecoming. The game’s only goal came after the first attempt rattled the crossbar before the rebound deflected to Manley, who put the Pirates ahead with her first

The Park University softball team’s offensive struggles continued as the Pirates were swept by the Baker University Wildcats in the last home game of the season on April 23. In game one, the Pirates were shutout for a second straight game with a 2-0 loss. Baker’s starting pitcher, Skylar Gorrell, tossed a one-hitter complete-game shutout. She struck out seven of 23 batters while giving up no walks in seven innings. The game was scoreless until the top of the fifth. Baker broke the deadlock whe

For the first time since 2019, Park University’s annual Research and Creative Arts Symposium returned to the university’s underground with in-person displays of posters and art as well as oral presentations. This year’s symposium, taking place on April 18 and April 19, featured academic work from 85 students, according to the symposium’s program. Patty Ryberg, PhD, symposium director and associate professor of biology, described the symposium as “a place where students can showcase the work that they have done while here at Park University. It doesn’t matter what discipline they are in. If they have something they would like to present, they are welcome to present it.” A major part of the symposium includes the display of fine art, which was displayed along Park Avenue on both days along with other posters. Being able to view work in-person was important for viewers to fully observe all the details. “It's nice to see students and what they’re actually doing because when you see pictures, it’s not the same as actually seeing the actual presentations,” Ryberg said. “It’s really nice to have it back live and in person.”

Masks are not required at Park University campuses throughout the nation for the first time in two years. Unless otherwise required by federal, state or local mandates, Park University will only require face masks in classrooms and university-sponsored transportation, effective March 7. Park University President Shane Smeed explained that a significant factor in the decision was when Platte County’s community level was removed from the high category in late February. The CDC looks at the combi

For the first time in about two years, masks are not required at Park University campuses throughout the nation. Unless otherwise required by federal, state or local mandates, Park University will only require face masks in classrooms and University-sponsored transportation, effective March 7. Park University President Shane Smeed explained that a significant part of the decision came when Platte County’s community level was removed from the high category in late February.

Esports and video games, in general, have become more popular throughout the world. Park’s esports team has been part of that movement for four seasons, competing out of the Parkade Battlegrounds in the underground. “The bigger esports gets in the collegiate space and the scholastic space; the better for everyone as more and more people buy-in,” said Adam Farm, Park esports head coach. “I think it’s going to grow much more rapidly, especially when high schools start picking it up.” According t

Park University’s men’s soccer program has produced more than a dozen professional soccer players over the past decade, although they are not playing the same type of soccer they played for most of their lives. The soccer they have turned to is indoor soccer, a high-scoring and high-intensity game played on a smaller field and in the confinement of wa

Park University's men's soccer program has produced more than a dozen professional athletes over the past decade, although they aren't playing the same soccer they played most of their lives. The soccer they turn to is indoor soccer, a high-scoring and high-intensity form of soccer played within a smaller field and in the confines of walls. More than a dozen Park alumni have graced a professional indoor soccer field over the past decade. The majority have done so playing for the Kansas City Comets.

For the first time in more than two decades, Park University has a new director of athletics. Claude English served as Park’s director of Athletics for more than 25 years. Following his retirement in August 2021, Park University’s athletic department is now under new leadership with the in October, following a nationwide search. A resident of Roeland Park, Kansas, Gillette received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from William Jewell College and a Master of Arts in sports infor

Cathy Kline has been an artist all her life, spending many hours painting murals before developing her art gallery. Now, she is creating opportunities for students at the Cathy Kline Art Gallery. Kline encourages students to visit her gallery and enjoy some of the art on display. She views art as a break from the difficulties of life and a positive avenue of communication to live a more joyful life. “It makes you live a more abundant life. It just makes your life richer,” Kline said. One oppo

For the first time in more than two decades, Park University has a new director of athletics. Following the retirement of Claude English as director of athletics in August of 2021, a position he held for more than 25 years, Park University’s athletic department is now under new leadership with the appointment of Kristin Gillette in October of 2021 following a nationwide search. A resident of Roeland Park, Kansas, Gillette received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from William Jewell College and a Master of Arts in sports information from Gonzaga University. After her time at Gonzaga she decided to return home, working nine years for the NAIA before serving as associate director of athletics/compliance at MidAmerica Nazarene.

Starting the season with a 2-5 conference record, the Park University men’s basketball team sat in last place of the South Division in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Pirates have since had a change of luck with four straight wins since Jan. 17. The team jumped three spots and sit fourth in the division with a 6-5 conference record, 11-6 overall, as of Jan. 25. Park’s recent surge began with a 74-67 win on the road against Peru State. Then, they started a five-game homestand with

“The rest of us were irate that he didn’t get in, but Buck O’Neill never expressed any ill-will toward those who made the decision,” said Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “He took it like a man. That’s what he did.” Kendrick was good friends with Buck O’Neil, one of baseball’s greatest contributors who spent much of his life in Kansas City. Kendrick delivered the news to O’Neil that he had been rejected admittance into the National Baseball Hall of Fame following a committee vote in February 2006.

“This would blow all other events out of the water,” said James Dupree, a Kansas City resident and sports fanatic. “The AFC Championships, the World Series, the Big XII Tournament, and all the soccer events we’ve hosted in the past decade, they are all like minnows compared to what the World Cup would bring to Kansas City.”

“I didn’t know what I was doing and I didn’t know what I wanted to study,” said MacKenzie Coder. Coder, now 22, is a senior Communications major at Park University who hasn’t had a smooth route in college. After three semesters in Columbia, Missouri at the University of Missouri, she knew something needed to change. Those three semesters of college had taken Coder’s love for education away.

The Park Hill volleyball team will be looking to some fresh faces as head coach Lindsey Hood returns for her 12th season with the Trojans. The Trojans worked out in the sand three days a week over the summer. Hood said that sand helps to work on jumping and agility as well as strength and movements. It also helps stability for the knees, hips and ankles.