The Kirkwood Community College women's basketball team poses for a picture after the game against Schoolcraft on March 21. This was the third consecutive year that the Eagles have gone home with a national championship title.
Eagles 3-Peat by Ali Carlson
The Kirkwood Community College women's basketball team defeated Schoolcraft College from Michigan to take the championship title for the third year in a row.
The Eagle women won their third consecutive NJCAA Division II national championship in Peoria, Ill., defeating Schoolcraft 63-38. Kirkwood became the first team to win three national championships in a row.
"I'm in shock. I still can't believe it. The women were so focused on the game and their work really paid off," said Jen Franceson, assistant basketball coach.
From the start of the game the women took the lead on the board and only gave it up twice during the 40 minutes.
The Eagles led into half time and never let Schoolcraft come close to catching up again. With just over three minutes remaining in the game, posters with "3-peat" and "Now that's five" began to appear in the gym.
This is the fifth time that the Kirkwood women have earned the title of national champions.
"It was unbelievable to see the Eagles win three in a row. It was great to see the support of the fans to come all the way to Peoria and see the women take another national championship," said Seth Vander Tuig, Student Life coordinator.
The Eagles have been known to play defense first and then worry about offense. "We guarded and rebounded like we have been doing all year," said head coach Kim Muhl.
Coach Muhl has been at Kirkwood for 20 years. During that time he has led the team to five national championships. He has also taken the Eagles to 14 national tournaments with an appearance in the last seven. In the past three seasons the Eagles have been national champions they have held a winning record of 102-8.
"It is pretty awesome to get a 3-peat. It doesn't happen very often for a team or coach," said Muhl.
"You can really see the chemistry that the team has. It is unreal," said Franceson.
MyKenya Johnson, sophomore guard, said, "This was an incredible moment. We really played well. You could see the improvement from the start of the year."
The MVP for the tournament was El Sara Greer.
This season, McKensey Long and Johnson were named to the All- Tournament team.
This was not the only honor given to Long; she was also named WBCA State Farm All American team. "She was the only one from Division II. All the others were from Division I," stated assistant coach Joe Hruska.
This year Muhl was also named Coach of the Tournament. "He had a game plan for each game and he made it simple enough for the players to understand and execute it," stated Hruska.
With an overall record of 33-1 going into the national tournament, the Kirkwood women's basketball team has been known as the team to beat all season.
The women played Marshalltown Community College on March 8 and took the Region XI Division II Womens Basketball Title.
After the game against Marshalltown, Kirkwood players El Sara Greer, Alicia Wright and McKensey Long were named to the Regional XI Division II Frist Team All Region group.
The women then went on to play North Platte Community College on March 10. Kirkwood defeated North Platte 81-54 and will travel onto Peoria, Ill. to play in the national tournament.
"We really had to come together tonight. This was the hurdle we had to overcome and worked so hard to get here," said forward Jayne Strand.
The women have been national champions for the past two years and say they are ready to take the title again.
"Not too many teams get an opportunity to win three titles in a row. We now have that chance," stated assistant coach Joe Hruska.
The women won their eighth straight regional championship and have won 11 of the last 13 regional titles. They have won national titles in 1997 and 2002 as well as 2007 and 2008. With national titles each of the last two seasons, the Eagles will be looking to a threepeat this year.
Forward MyKenya Johnson stated, "We want another one."
While there were no classes held on the Kirkwood Community College campus during winter break, the women's basketball team earned their seats at the front of the class. The team agreed they played some of their toughest competition and they are ready to play them again later this season.
"During the season you can definitely see the improvement as a team; we are definitely getting to know each other and where we are going to be on the court," said forward El Sara Greer.
At the start of the season, the women were not ranked in the top 15 nationally. They have said they are now the team they want to be and have gotten to the place they want to be. "We have worked really hard to make it to the top and it will all pay off in the end," stated forward Jayne Strand.
Right now the women said their focus is to play one game at a time and keep the larger goal in mind of getting to the national tournament.
"Our team is really doing well as a whole. If you look at our stats, every single person on the team is contributing. It is great to play on a team with so much depth," said Strand.
The Kirkwood women had a battle of the boards against Iowa Lakes on Jan. 24. Kirkwood won the game 83-80.
"This was a tougher game for us. It was a real eye opener because we could have gotten beat in the last minutes of the game," stated forward MyKenya Johnson.
After playing Iowa Lakes, the women have earned a record of 20-1. They are undefeated in the conference with a record of 9-0.
Eagles have too much inside for hosts to handle in Cougar Classic rout
A bigger, stronger and more physical Kirkwood women's basketball team powered its way to the title of the Cougar Holiday Classic.
The Eagles beat No. 2-ranked Illinois Central College 72-47 on Tuesday night at Lorene Ramsey Gymnasium to win their fourth crown in five years.
Sixth-ranked and two-time reigning national champs Kirkwood (15-1) got 38 points in the paint and forced the Cougars to just three two-point field goals.
'That was it,' ICC coach Steve Garber said of the Eagles' interior play.
'You could see the matchups down (in the post). Whether we're trapping, whether we're fronting, whether we're playing behind (them). They have other players in there that can step up and crash the boards.'
Two of the biggest inside presences were MyKenya Johnson and El Sara Greer.
Johnson, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half.
Greer sparked Kirkwood in the first half after a pair of Haley Jones' free throws at the 5:41 mark brought the game within 24-23.
But then the 6-2 Greer scored on back-to-back possessions to put Kirkwood up 28-23
'It's a war in that paint,' Garber said. 'They have the troops to do it and we don't.'
For a majority of the first half, though, it seemed that it was going to be a 3-point shootout.
ICC made its first six field goals from behind the arc but trailed Kirkwood 22-18 with 8:28 before halftime.
At one point Kirkwood coach Kim Muhl switched his man-to-man defense to zone but quickly changed back.
'I don't think (zone defense) was very effective with the way they shoot,' Muhl said. 'They were really shooting well.'
The Cougars (12-3) went cold in the second half and shot just 22 percent (6-for-27) from the field and twice went over four minutes without scoring.
Former Journal Star small school Player of the Year McKensey Long was named tournament most valuable player after a 20-point performance.
The Carthage product was 7-for-10 from the field and scored 13 of Kirkwood's first 15 points.
'She's a pretty solid player,' Muhl said. 'McKensey has been around for a year and knows what we expect out of her.'
A Look Inside
With their iPods turned on and the plays for the game running through their heads, the members of the women's basketball team makes their way to the court to take on their opponents.
By the time the women reach the court they have not only put in many hours of practice but put their bodies through the strict routine of diet and exercise as well.
There are no set nutrition regulations for the team but the players know they should maintain a healthy diet. "If anything gets out of hand then coach will step in," said Jayne Strand, forward. The women agreed that what they eat effects how they perform. "We just want to stay healthy for the season," stated Strand.
With no certain requirements, coach Muhl stated "The biggest thing is to take care of themselves physically and get something to eat four hours prior to the game."
Outside of nutrition requirements and working out plays during practice, the women said they enjoy time to bond as a team. "As a team we laugh and talk before the games and try to get as ready as we can," said MyKenya Johnson, forward.
As soon as the women touch the wood after leaving the locker room their mental thoughts switch from what they see themselves doing, to how they are going to match up after meeting the opponent on the court.
"For the pre-game preparations we try and go over the other teams' personal play sets and how we will defend them," stated Muhl.
Before each game the women focus on reaching their goal of earning their way to the national tournament.
"Coach says that we can get there if we just continue to work hard and prepare," stated El Sara Greer, forward.
"When I am with the team I try to make sure everyone is encouraged and positive before we play the game," said Strand.
Athletic Family Reunites
Here's the story of the Eagle family. They were bringing back nine players of their own. All of them are talented, like their coaches. The shortest one at 5'2".
Under the roof of Johnson Hall, a group of veteran athletes who have no blood relation but who share common attitudes, interest and goals frequently come together to play the game of basketball.
The returning players from last year are now the leaders for this season. They are working to show they are one unit and that they can come together as a family on and off the court.
"The sophomores are going to be the coaches on the floor and help the upcoming freshmen," stated Darin Pint, men's assistant basketball coach.
Bringing leadership and energy to the court is what the sophomores say they control.
"The coaches told us sophomores from day one that we are going to have to make sure we are talking out on the court and that we are bringing good energy to the table," stated Bryant Kucera, forward.
The returning players agree that the strongest part of the game is their teamwork. The sophomores say they are ready to get into the season and see what they can do together.
"We work together as a team, we support each other as a team, we win and lose together as a team," stated MyKenya Johnson, forward.
Taking the drive and energy from the sophomores last year, they agree that they hope to pass on that drive to the freshmen this year.
"It took us a while to adapt to each other. We have a lot of talent on that team and the new players on the team are definitely going to make it hard to keep the Eagles away from Danville," stated Kucera. Each year for Nationals the men have the opportunity to travel to Danville while the women travel to Peoria.
Many of the players have agreed that coaches will coach but the freshmen need an example of the qualities it takes to play basketball at the college level.
"The group of returners will account for a large amount of time on the court this year. As freshmen we contributed a large amount and now as sophomores we need to be the leaders," stated Jayne Strand, forward.
The sophomores return to their court in early December with the men hosting Indian Hills on Nov. 18 and the women coming back to the court against Illinois Central on Dec. 12
Women Break Two Records At Recent Game
History changed when 15 women traveled 283 miles to St. Louis to play their seventh game of the basketball season on Nov. 7. The Eagles scored 140 points and after 40 minutes of playing, the team walked away with two broken records.
The Eagles scored 140 points against the St. Louis club team, breaking their older record of 133 points. They also shot 16 three-pointers, breaking yet another record. "It is always exciting to be apart of a team that breaks a record," stated Jayne Strand, forward.
Going into the game the team did not know that they would walk out as record breakers. The records did not seem too important as the Eagles went on to play their best.
"We didn't know until halftime [that we broke any records]," said El Sara Greer, forward. "We just kept going."
Although this St. Louis may have been some easy competition, it still provided the team the opportunity to better their own skills. It also gave them the chance to play against a new team.
"Obviously these teams weren't challenging for us but it is always good to play people other than ourselves," said Strand. "A win is a win."
The outlook of the season is bright as the Eagles continue to improve. "As long as we can stay healthy and survive the road, the season outlook is good," said Coach Kim Muhl.
"Not all of our games are going to be as easy as the games this past weekend," said Strand. "We still need to work hard and get better everyday."
Kirkwood goal: Fight complacency
Kim Muhl Kirkwood women's basketball coach
CEDAR RAPIDS — You have to admire Kim Muhl for his bluntness. The Kirkwood women's basketball coach was asked the other day if he has allowed himself to even begin thinking about winning a third consecutive NJCAA Division II national championship.
The Eagles went 66-7 in winning titles the previous two years. Kirkwood has finished fourth or better nationally the past seven years.
Muhl's teams are always a championship threat, so the wildly successful coach must have had some sort of initial thought about a three-peat, right?
"Not with this group," Muhl said. "It would be nice; it could be done. But they're going to have to stay healthy, and we're going to have to have some kids improve for us to do that. And we do have some kids that could improve."
It's not like Kirkwood has turned into the Little Sisters of the Poor. It is 4-0 with wins over NJCAA Division I Missouri schools Three Rivers and Moberly Area and over a pair of Illinois club teams by a combined score of 251-53.
Kirkwood plays in a tournament this weekend at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.
"I think we just take it more one game at a time," said sophomore point guard McKensey Long. "We can't go into the season saying we're going to win a national championship."
"(But) that's always on our minds," said sophomore center El Sara Greer, a former Waterloo East prep. "You always want to get back and get another one. It's like the (class) before us got two of them."
Long and Greer are two of five returning sophomores. The other players with championship rings are forward Jayne Strand (a Northern Colorado commitment), forward MyKenya Johnson and guard Alicia Wright.
"We don't know, yet, where everyone is going to be (on the floor)," Greer said. "We don't know what everyone's weaknesses and strengths are yet. But we're getting there. You could see from that first game to that second game how we are starting to figure each other out."
The newcomers include former Benton Community prep Kari Goodchild and former Olin prep Kalli Hansen. Probably the most impressive early is 5-foot-3 sophomore guard Nicole Holman, a transfer from NCAA Division I Tennessee-Martin.
"She can stand out of bounds flat-footed and make 3s all day long," said Assistant Coach Joe Hruska.
Nine former Kirkwood players are playing NCAA Division I basketball this season. That's just kind of what Muhl does every season: wins games and moves players on to four-year programs.
"If we can keep them healthy, this is a pretty good group overall," he said. "Last weekend was kind of a bad thing because we destroyed those teams. They think they're good right now, which is not a good thing. That's a good way to get beat."
Getting beat is pretty foreign for this program.
Jayne Strand Commits to Northern Colorado Bears
Eagles basketball standout will head to Greeley after 2008-09 season and Kirkwood graduation October 14th, 2008
A standout player for the Kirkwood Community College women’s basketball team will take her talents to Greeley, Colorado next year. Jayne Strand has signed a letter of intent for the University of Northern Colorado and will transfer there in the fall of 2009.
The 6-foot sophomore forward was a key contributor to the Eagles’ second NJCAA national championship in 2008. She averaged 4.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in her first Kirkwood season, with 154 total rebounds in 2007-08. Strand was also effective at the free throw line with a 59 percent average. She saw playing time in every one of Kirkwood’s 37-game schedule last year.
The Ames, Iowa high school graduate also competed in soccer and cross country at Ames High School. In three sports, Strand was able to compete in six total state tournaments. She will earn her Kirkwood degree in business administration before transferring to the UNC Bears team.
Kirkwood Head Coach Kim Muhl said Strand “should be a great asset to UNC” in the coming years.
“Jayne came to us as a good player and improved even more during the year, both inside and outside. She had an exceptional summer in the Iowa City Prime Time League play, too. That summer work showed her willingness to get better and improve her skills to the next level. We are happy for her opportunities in Colorado but look forward first to her contributions at Kirkwood this season,” Muhl said.
The Kirkwood Eagles women ended last year at 31-6 overall on their way to a repeat NJCAA Division II national championship. The success also garnered Muhl with WBCA D-II Coach of the year honors.
