MSU Welcomes New Lady Bears Head Coach

With her mild but forceful Tennessean accent, Kellie Harper said she wants to win a championship next season at today’s press conference which welcomed her as the new Missouri State women’s basketball coach.

Steph Anderson | The Standard

Missouri State athletic director Kyle Moats announced Kellie Harper as new women’s basketball head coach on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Prime Overtime Club in JQH Arena.

Missouri State’s Desiree Phillips claps with her teammates as Kellie Harper is announced their new women’s basketball coach on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Prime Overtime Club in JQH Arena.

Kellie Harper laughs as the marching band plays the fight song after she was announced the new women’s basketball coach on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Prime Overtime Club in JQH Arena.

Kellie Harper, Missouri State’s new women’s basketball coach, speaks to the players on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Prime Overtime Club in JQH Arena.

Kellie Harper, Missouri State’s new women’s basketball coach, speaks during a press conference on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Prime Overtime Club in JQH Arena.

NiJay Gaines and Bry Snow smile as Kellie Harper, Missouri State’s new women’s basketball coach, speaks during a press conference on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Prime Overtime Club in JQH Arena.

Kellie Harper, Missouri State’s new women’s basketball coach, speaks during a press conference on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Prime Overtime Club in JQH Arena.

Members of the Missouri State women’s basketball team smile as Kellie Harper, their new coach, speaks during a press conference on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Prime Overtime Club in JQH Arena.

Kellie Harper laughs with fans after she was announced Missouri State’s new women’s basketball coach on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Prime Overtime Club in JQH Arena.

University Carillonist Jeremy Chesman

About a week or so ago while I was walking home past the library, I saw maintenance workers in the carillon fixing the bells. Instantly, I thought I need to find a way to go up there to photograph!

Luckily, Jeremy Chesman, the official university carillonist, was scheduled to play his first concert of the semester that following Sunday. Honestly, I never knew there was an actual person that played up there. I thought it was all a recording.

I asked if I could photograph him playing, and he was totally willing. As we were walking up the huge stairwell, in between my wheezing, I asked him all sorts of questions.

Here is what I learned:

It is the world’s largest instrument. MSU’s has 48 bells (about standard size).
MSU’s carillon was cast in Asten, Netherlands. Most originate from the Netherlands and Belgium.
The carillon just celebrated its 500th anniversary, which makes it older than the piano.
There are only two carillons in Missouri. The other one is in Saint Louis, Mo.
Chesman studied carillon at the University of Michigan, where he was the first person to earn a Master of Music degree in Carillon Performance.

University carillonist Jeremy Chesman, an associate professor in the music department at Missouri State, performs on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012 at the Jane A. Meyer Carillon.
Steph Anderson | The Standard

Brandon Wielert Portraits

For the Springfield News-Leader’s campus notes.

Steph Anderson | MSU Photographic Services

Brandon Wielert, a physical therapy graduate student, poses for a portrait on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 at the Missouri State physical therapy clinic.

Brandon Wielert, a physical therapy graduate student, instructs a patient about the spinal cord on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 at the Missouri State physical therapy clinic.

First Day as Photo Editor

Our first production day and publication of our campus newspaper The Standard went incredibly well thanks to the hard work of our new staff.

After some initial nervousness and a little intimidation by having more leadership at the paper this year, I am learning slowly how to do my job as seamlessly as possible.

I am so grateful to be given the opportunity and for my friend Megan Gates, our new editor-in-chief, to think of me when filling the position.

This is going to be a great senior year.

Steph Anderson | The Standard

Here are some of my favorite recreation center photos that were published online this week.

Resident advisor Diana Dominguez welcomes freshmen students during the bear path convocation as part of the new student festival on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012 in front of the new Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center.

Members of the men’s swimming team relax on the lazy river on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012 in the new Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center.

Onlookers are silhouetted by the pool’s upper windows on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012 in the new Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center.

Students enjoy a game of pick-up soccer on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012 in the new Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center.

People of all ages in the community are welcome to purchase a gym pass for the new Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center.

A student is silhouetted by the red windows next to the stationary bikes on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012 in the new Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center.

Kenny Olsen lifts a barbell in the weightroom on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012 in the new Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center.

Students enjoy the rock wall on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012 in the new Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center.

Students enjoy a pick-up game of basketball on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012 in the new Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center.

Blairstock Benefits Relay for Life

Blairstock, named after Woodstock in the 70′s and MSU’s residence hall Blair-Shannon, raised money for Relay for Life on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at the Bear Paw. There was popcorn, sno-cones, music, t-shirts, games, a chicken wing eating contest and more.

Baseball Bears Swatted by No. 28 Purdue

Missouri State contained Purdue, who is ranked top hitting team in the country with a .376 batting average, to only four runs, but could not keep up after an early deficit as MSU lost 4-2 at Hammons Field tonight.

Bears pitcher Clay Murphy struck out eight Boilermakers within seven innings despite Purdue’s three runs in the first three innings to give the visitors the upper hand until the end.

Overall, it was a slow moving game with barely any exciting plays. But shooting baseball was the perfect excuse to be outside in 80 degree weather on a school night.

Tonight was student appreciation night at Hammons Field. All MSU students who showed their ID card were admitted free.

Purdue senior David Miller makes a back-peddling catch on a pop fly ball on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Hammons Field.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephanderson/6834850142/in/photostream

MSU senior Brent Seifert misses a line drive along third base on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Hammons Field.

MSU assistant coach Brent Thomas yells to the outfielders on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Hammons Field.

Purdue junior Kevin Plawecki high-fives Cameron Perkins who hit a homerun on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Hammons Field.

Fans reach onto the field for a foul ball on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Hammons Field.

Several MSU players say a quick prayer after their loss on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Hammons Field.

Murphy and Bears Lasso Cowboys in Home Opener

Junior pitcher Clay Murphy’s first career complete game with eight strike outs propelled the Bears past Oklahoma State 5-2 today at Hammons Field which extends their winning streak to five games.

After senior Brock Chaffin built early momentum with a lead-off double in the second to give MSU its first hit of the day, sophomore Trey Massenberg smacked the ball over the fence good for his first career two-run homer.

The Cowboys lessened the early blow with a homer of their own by Jared Womack in the third and pulled another run in during the fourth before MSU took over the rest of the game.

A young girl follows her father by holding onto his Pujols jersey before entering the ticket gate on Tuesday, March 5, 2012 at Hammons Field.

MSU head coach Keith Guttin, right, discusses with the umpires where playable areas are around the field before the start of the home opener on Tuesday, March 5, 2012 at Hammons Field.

OSU senior Jared Womack miscalculates a foul ball on Tuesday, March 5, 2012 at Hammons Field.

Keenan Maddix, right, and Brock Chaffin, center, greet Trey Massenberg at home plate after his two-run home run on Tuesday, March 5, 2012 at Hammons Field.

Sophomore Trey Massenberg misses a home run ball in the third inning on Tuesday, March 5, 2012 at Hammons Field.

Freshman Dylan Becker misses a ball in the outfield on Tuesday, March 5, 2012 at Hammons Field.

Fellow pitcher Grant Gordon, right, and teammates congratulate pitcher Clay Murphy on his complete game victory over OSU on Tuesday, March 5, 2012 at Hammons Field.

Multiple Preseason Honors for Baseball Bears

The Missouri State baseball team compiled preseason honors over the past week including the Missouri Valley Conference top pick chosen by league coaches, Baseball America and CollegeBaseballInsider.com. Additionally, Baseball America predicts MSU to earn first NCAA Regional bid since 2003 while Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s Top 40 Pre-Season Poll ranked the Bears 31st.

The Bears return eight regular starters and 20 letter-winners from a roster that finished fourth in the MVC regular season race, registering a 33-23 season record. Head coach Keith Guttin will begin his 30th year with MSU, just eight wins shy of the 1,000 career victory mark.

Leading the veteran-laden Bears will be returning All-MVC performers Kevin Medrano, Nick Petree and Brock Chaffin.

Senior second baseman Medrano could become the first player in the 66-year history of the MVC to be named to the first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference and is just nine hits shy placing in the top 10 at MSU for career hits.

Senior infielder Chaffin led the squad with a .344 average and a .550 slugging percentage to earn a second-team All-MVC nod last season.

Petree’s arm solidified the Bears bullpen with a notable debut campaign landing him Valley Freshman of the Year.

The first pitch in Missouri State’s season will be thrown February 17 with games against Tennessee Tech and Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas.

Bears Control Panthers, 63-51

After several disappointing one-point heartbreakers recently, the Bears gained some confidence against MVC rival Northern Iowa by winning 63-51 on Saturday, Januaray 28, 2011 at JQH Arena.

Although the past four matchups had been one-point decisions, the Bears used scoring threat Kyle Weems, who notched 20 points and 10 rebounds for his 13th career double-double, to maintain UNI for most of the game.

The Panthers led 9-3 early in the contest, but the Bears caught up quickly to control the lead until the final buzzer.

Steph Anderson/MSU Photographic Services

Lady Bears Victorious at Home

With 21 forced turnovers against the Indiana State Sycamores and four players scoring with double digits, the Lady Bears improved to5-3 in the MVC standings with the 84-70 win on Friday, January 27, 2011 at JQH Arena.

Despite Sycamore Deja Mattox’s career high of 31 points, ISU could not keep up, trailing 45-41 at the half, their tightest margin of the game. Mattox tied her school record for three-pointers in a single game, going 7-for-10 from behind the arc.

Roberson led the Lady Bears with 19 points, Shorter added 18 and a career high seven steals, and Buer scored 13 points for a season high. Garrison, who played with a protective mask after breaking her nose in a previous game, sunk 12, while Snow matched her career high with nine points.

I ordered three PocketWizard Plus IIs last week, and so far only one has showed up at my doorstep. Nevertheless, I used the one I had and shot this game with The Standard’s four strobes mounted high up on the catwalk. The rich color is incomparable to existing light when shooting in JQH Arena!

Steph Anderson/The Standard