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University of Central Missouri Athletics

A look back at 2024-25 graphic for web

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A Look Back at the 2024-25 Athletic Season for the Mules & Jennies

It was another outstanding season in 2024-25 for the University of Central Missouri Department of Intercollegiate Athletics! Take a look back at the many accomplishments the Mules and Jennies had in competition, in the classroom and in the community last season. 

2024-25 by the Numbers
  • 2 NCAA-II National Runners-Up performances
  • 2 NCAA-II Central Regional Championships
  • 2 MIAA Regular Season Championships
  • 1 MIAA Postseason Tournament Title
  • 78 All-MIAA selections
  • 21 All-American honors
  • 385 MIAA Academic Honor Roll selections
  • 147 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award honorees
  • 37 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections
  • 5 College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans
  • Nine NCAA-II Postseason Appearances
Mules Football
  • University of Central Missouri Mules football enjoyed another outstanding season. The Mules posted an overall record of 9-3 and finished tied for third in the MIAA with a conference mark of 6-3. UCM advanced to the postseason for a second consecutive year and defeated the University of Texas Permian Basin in the 2024 Heritage Bowl Powered by RIOT, 39-37, in double overtime on December 7 in Corsicana, Texas.
  • UCM quarterback Zach Zebrowski won the Harlon Hill Award as the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year for a second straight season. He is just the fifth repeat winner in the award's history and the first-ever MIAA football student-athlete to garner multiple Harlon Hill Trophy accolades.
  • Zebrowski was once again a consensus First-Team All-American quarterback. Offensive lineman Gabe Clark also received All-America honors during the 2024 season.
  • The Central Missouri offense paced NCAA Division II in passing (394.6 yards per game) and first downs (351), and ranked second in total offense (526.1 yards per game).
  • Gabe Clark and Cale Miller both earned prestigious College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors for their work in the classroom and on the field, marking the second straight year both have earned the honor.
Jennies Soccer
  • Compiled an overall record of 17-5-2 and went 9-2-1 in the MIAA in 2024, finishing in third place in the final regular season league standings. The Jennies won the program's seventh MIAA Postseason Tournament Championship after posting a 1-0 win over the Central Oklahoma Bronchos on November 16 in Wichita, Kan. UCM earned the top seed in the NCAA-II Central Region and hosted a portion of the regional tournament in Warrensburg. Central Missouri fell to second-seeded Minnesota State in the regional title match on December 1, 1-0 in double overtime.
  • Caroline Cole and Ashleigh Martin both garnered All-America honors. 
  • Izzy Joyce was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year and was one of seven student-athletes selected All-MIAA. 
Jennies Volleyball
  • Had three All-MIAA performers in junior Rachel Ziesman, middle blocker Elinor Engel, and sophomore Maya Fergerson. The Jens also had 13 MIAA Academic Honor Roll recipients, including three winners of the conference's prestigious Academic Excellence award. Parker, Colo., native Tiffany Little and redshirt junior Grace Winkelmann were CSC (College Sports Communicators) Academic-All District® Team selections.
  • Became just the fifth program in all of Division II to have a Taraflex® Sport M Plus playing surface, which prevents injuries by up to 35 percent thanks to state-of-the-art shock absorption technologies.
  • For the 22nd straight season, the Jennies earned a spot on the AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll for their team GPA during 2024-25. The 22 consecutive years mark the second-longest streak in NCAA Division II. 
Mules Basketball
  • Have the third most wins in Division-II with 1,778 and are only two wins shy of tying Northern State for second all-time.
  • Guard Kyran Tilley was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year, averaging 10 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
  • Senior DeAirius Barker was named to the MIAA Honorable Mention team, averaging 12.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
  • For the first time since 2018, the Mules advanced to the MIAA Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, defeating Northeastern State by a final score of 69-59.
Jennies Basketball
  • Reese Schaaf was named the MIAA Co-Newcomer of the Year and a Second Team All-MIAA selection, Taylor Weishaar was an Honorable Mention All-MIAA honoree.
  • In addition, Schaaf was tabbed a WBCA Division II Coaches' Honorable Mention All-American.
  • The Jennies also excelled in the classroom, as they received special mention on the WBCA Team Academic Honor Roll for tallying a 3.689 team GPA in 2024-25. 
Jennies Bowling
  • Qualified for the ITC National Tournament in Las Vegas after finishing third at the ITC Sectionals on March 9.
  • UCM had three All-GLVC honorees in Andrea Perez Perez, Haylee Bates, and Norma Romero Alarid.
  • Jennies Bowling had seven individuals earn National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-Academic Awards in Camryn Cramer, Haylee Bates, Jenna Speich, Megan Lelli, Myla Cathey, Norma Alicia Romero Alarid and Tiffany Hediger. In addition, the team placed 10th out of 49 teams on the NTCA All-Academic Scholar Team list with a GPA of 3.668.
  • The Jennies earned several Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) academic honors. Six Jens were named GLVC Academic All-Conference, while Cramer, Hediger, and Lelli secured the Brother James Gafney Distinguished Scholar Award with a perfect 4.0 GPA during the year.
  • Hediger was also awarded the GLVC Council of Presidents Academic Excellence Award, which is given to student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility in the intercollegiate sport in which they participated and maintained at least a 3.5 grade point average throughout their academic careers.
Mules Wrestling
  • Jakason Burks won the NCAA-II National Championship at 125 pounds.
  • The Mules had their highest finish ever as a team at the NCAA-II Championships, finishing seventh.
  • Damon Ashworth, John Ridle, and Burks all received All-American accolades.
  • Three Mules earned All-MIAA honors as Burks and Ridle were both second team selections, while Torin Forsyth garnered Freshman of the Year honors.
  • UCM earned a spot on the 2024-25 NWCA Team Scholar All-America rankings, placing 17th in NCAA Division II with a 3.322 team GPA during the academic year. 
UCM Track & Field
  • The Mules & Jennies had two First Team All-Americans at the NCAA-II Indoor Championships: Rachael Molloy in the women's weight throw and Rawley Chard in the men's 400m dash.
  • The Mules 4x400m relay, Reagan Ulrich (pole vault), and Parker Wormek (60m hurdles) earned USTFCCCA Second Team All-America accolades.
  • UCM track & field had five All-MIAA selections at the MIAA Indoor Championships.
  • Mules & Jennies Outdoor Track & Field tallied six, First Team All-America honors at the 2025 NCAA-II Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 22-24 in Pueblo, Colo. Rachael Molloy (hammer throw), Addison Throckmorton (javelin), Karsyn Kanzler (javelin), Ally Fox (javelin), Parker Wormek (110m hurdles) and Rawley Chard (400m dash) all received top honors. The Jennies' three javelin All-Americans were the most among any team.
  • Four Jennies individuals and the 4x400m relay earned All-MIAA accolades at the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships in Emporia, Kan., including Addison Throckmorton, who captured the 2025 MIAA Women's Javelin Conference Title, while eight Mules received All-MIAA honors.
  • Eighteen student-athletes earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors, and both the Mules & Jennies garnered spots on the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Award list for 2024-25. 
Mules Baseball
  • Mules Baseball had yet another phenomenal year on the diamond, winning their sixth straight and 31st overall MIAA Regular Season Title.
  • UCM also won the NCAA-II Central Regional Championship to advance to the Division II College World Series for the 21st time in program history and finished as the 2025 NCAA Division II National Runner-Up.
  • Third baseman Jacob Steele, relief pitcher JD McReynolds, outfielder Vance Tobol and designated hitter Dayvin Johnson all earned All-America accolades while Steele was also named the MIAA Co-Player of the Year. Fourteen (14) Mules earned All-MIAA honors.
  • UCM head coach Kyle Crookes became the all-time winningest coach in program history after surpassing 418 career wins. He has 446 career victories through the 2025 season.
  • Tobol was named a First-Team College Sports Communicators academic All-American, his second straight year earning the prestigious honor.
  • Central Missouri received the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award for its performance in the classroom during the academic year. 
Mules Golf
  • For the 31st straight season, Mules Golf advanced to the NCAA-II postseason.
  • After finishing fourth in the region, UCM placed 19th at the NCAA-II Men's Golf Championship.
  • Lawson Barks was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year while CJ Phillips earned All-MIAA recognition.
  • Calvin Dillion, Nick Fallin and Andrew Whittaker earned Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar recognition for their performances in the classroom and on the course in 2024-25. 
Jennies Golf
  • Jennies Golf made history during the 2024-25 season.
  • UCM captured the program's first-ever NCAA-II Central Regional Championship and advanced all the way to the 2025 NCAA-II National Championship match at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev., before falling to Dallas Baptist to finish as the national runner-up, the highest finish in program history.
  • Central Missouri also captured its third straight MIAA Women's Golf Championship.
  • Mia Rallo was named a WGCA Second Team All-American and the 2025 MIAA Golfer of the Year for a second straight season
  • Head coach Chris Port earned both Golf Pride WGCA Central Region and MIAA Coach of the Year accolades.
  • Assistant Coach Jess Green earned the 2025 Golf Pride WGCA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
  • Mia Rallo, Nicole Rallo, Libby Green and Maya McVey were all named WGCA All-Central Region and earned All-MIAA Women's Golf honors.
  • Kiki Bruner, Green, McVey, Reece Nimmo and Mia Rallo earned WGCA All-American Scholar accolades for their achievements in the classroom and on the golf course.
  • Mia Rallo was named a Second Team College Sports Communicators Academic All-American.
  • The Jennies ranked number one on the WGCA All-Scholar Team Academic Award Top-25 in Division II with a team GPA of 3.945 in 2024-25.
Jennies Softball
  • The Jens ended the season with a 30-win campaign, highlighted by four top-25 wins on the year, including a victory over No. 8 Rogers State and a win over No. 5 UC.
  • Sophomores Brooke Weimer and Taylor Thompson were named First Team All-MIAA selections while first baseman Bailey Brumley was an Honorable Mention nod and junior Jadyn Sheffield was the All-MIAA Gold Glove selection at second base.
  • Weimer threw the 24th no-hitter in program history against Missouri Western, collecting her 200th career strikeout in the process.
  • Thompson was named the 2025 College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-American while Morgan Shields, Brumley, Sheffield, and Weimer earned Academic All-District honors.
  • The Jennies finished third in NCAA Division II on the NFCA Team GPA list for 2024-25, compiling a team GPA of 3.80. 
Mules & Jennies Cross Country
  • Mules Cross Country had top-five team finishes in their first five meets of the season, highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota, before taking fifth at the 2024 MIAA Championships. Warrensburg, Mo., native Cooper Palmer and freshman Cosmas Kiprop both qualified for the National meet, with Palmer placing 87th overall. Along with their success in competition, the Mules were awarded the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association's All-Academic team award with a 3.41 GPA, while Luke Engel and Palmer earned individual accolades for good measure.
  • On the women's side, the Jens had a trio of top-30 finishers during the season in Abigael Kimurgor, Clara Lackman, and Chloee Belgum. Kimurgor paced Central Missouri at the NCAA-II Central Region Meet, taking 85th place with a time of 22:54.52.
Academic Achievement
  • UCM student-athletes compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.26 for the 2024-25 athletic year, including a 3.29 GPA for the spring semester and 3.22 GPA for the fall semester.
  • 385 UCM student-athletes earned MIAA Academic Honor Roll honors for the 2024-25 athletic year.
  • 147 Mules & Jennies earned D2 ADA Academic Achivement Award accolades. 
  • Ninety UCM student-athletes graduated in the spring or are slated to graduate in the summer with a degree. Another 13 student-athletes graduated in the fall 2024 semester for a grand total of 103 graduates in 2024-25.
  • Five UCM student-athletes garnered College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors: Cale Miller (Mules Football), Gabe Clark (Mules Football), Taylor Thompson (Jennies Softball), Vance Tobol (Mules Baseball) and Mia Rallo (Jennies Golf). 
Other Awards
  • For the 19th straight season, UCM Athletics finished in the top 30 of the Learfield Directors' Cup standings, placing 16th with 554 points.
  • The 2025 Vernon Kennedy Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award went to Mules Football's Zach Zebrowski and Mules Wrestling's Jakason Burks, while the 2025 Dr. Peggy Martin Senior Female Athlete of the Year honor went to Jennies Track & Field's Rachael Molloy and Jennies Soccer's Caroline Cole.
  • Sydney Beck (Jennies Soccer), Cate Cooper (Jennies Track & Field), Laken Manns (Jennies Track & Field), and Tiffany Little (Jennies Volleyball) received awards for maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout their undergraduate careers at UCM.
  • MIAA Hall of Fame: Former UCM Athletics Administrator Kathy Anderson and wrestler Mark Burrell were inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame. Anderson became the first individual to be inducted both as a student-athlete and administrator, while Burrell was the first individual wrestler to be inducted into the conference's hall of fame.
  • UCM Athletic Hall of Fame: Ten individuals and two teams were inducted into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame. Brad Crede (Mules Baseball), Mark Danner (Mules Wrestling), Steven Edwards (Mules Track & Field), Garrett Fugate (Mules Football), Paige Redmond (Jennies Basketball), Annie Reilly (Jennies Volleyball), Jenna Stones (Jennies Soccer), Rhonda Crews (Special Recognition), Virdia Stevens (Special Recognition) and the late Cliff Harris (Special Recognition - posthumous), and the 2015 Jennies Soccer Team and 2016 Mules Baseball Team.
Facilities
  • Jennies Field infield turf
    • Jennies Field at the South Recreation Complex, home of Jennies Softball, will have artificial turf installed on the infield prior to the start of the 2026 season.
    • The state-of-the-art AstroTurf surface will replace the natural surface and give the Jennies one of the top softball facilities in the MIAA and NCAA Division II Softball.
    • The surface will allow the Jennies to host postseason tournaments and limit the number of weather-related cancellations/postponements.
  • Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field Lights
    • Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field will have new, state-of-the-art MUSCO lights installed prior to the start of the 2025 Mules Football season.
    • The new lights are designed specifically for NCAA Broadcast standards and will also help create a safer stadium environment with better illumination.
    • Additionally, the new lights will enhance the fan experience and elevate Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field's Game Day environment.
  • Traditions Restaurant
    • Traditions Restaurant at Mules National Golf Club is currently undergoing renovations to expand the kitchen size and add a new conference and four-season room to the patio space that can be utilized year-round.
    • In addition, the renovations will include new and updated kitchen equipment, a renovated bar, new furniture, carpeting, paint, decorations, and an upgraded audiovisual system.
  • Terry Noland Football Offices
    • The rededication of the Terry Noland Football Offices occurred in September 2024. The renovation project was a collaboration between UCM and private support, with more than 80 donors contributing support for the facility. The complete overhaul of the space in 2024 incorporated the modernization of coaches' offices, position meeting rooms, and a reception area.
  • UCM Athletics Fueling Station
    • UCM cut the ribbon on a new fueling station for Mules & Jennies student-athletes in November 2024 at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in the weight room. The fueling station allows UCM student-athletes to receive protein shakes, supplements, and more to help them refuel after practice and maintain optimal health for maximum output.
Community Engagement
  • Warrensburg Main Street
    • UCM student-athletes volunteered their time to make the town festival, Burg Fest, happen.  So much so that they won the Warrensburg Main Street Community Partner of the Year award, and from there went on to win the "Premier Partner" award from "Missouri Main Street", the umbrella organization of city Main Street organizations in the state of Missouri. 
  • Literacy Team
    • Another successful literacy team, making it over three decades. UCM Athletics donated over 100 books to Warrensburg Public Schools.
    • The student-athletes read to every classroom in Warrensburg's four elementary schools. 
  • In total, UCM student-athletes recorded over 5,000 hours of community service in 2024-25. 
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