Author: Ward

Star-studded women’s basketball recruiting class at KCKCC

by Alan Hoskins

Reaching a new personal pinnacle in wins in a 24-8 season wasn’t enough for Kansas City Kansas Community College coach Valerie Stambersky. Now she wants to do it again.
Working closely in conjunction with assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Shaun Burki, Stambersky has eight signees for the 2014-2015 season with what could be one of KCKCC’s best recruiting classes.
“This group is going to bring so much more versatility and depth, especially to the guard position where we needed more depth this past year,” Stambersky said. “With a good corps coming back, it’s exciting to think about this group for next year.”
The Blue Devils return seven players from this year’s team including five players who started 15 or more games.
Two of the newcomers, teammates Cierra Gaines and Erin Anderson at Edwardsville, Ill., High School, are already in the Blue Devil camp having transferred in at the start of the spring semester. A 5-7 shooting guard, Gaines averaged 12.7 points and 5.6 rebounds at St. Louis Community College while Anderson is a 5-8 guard who signed with Southwestern Illinois but redshirted because of a knee injury.
“Both are legitimate starting prospects with their ability to score, rebound, play defense and compete along with the benefit of being here for a semester and understanding of the expectations both offensively and defensively,” says Stambersky.
Point guard depth will come from 5-3 Aricca Daye of Des Moines East and 5-7 Artasia Carnes-Marshall of Memphis East. A first team all-conference selection, Daye averaged 10.3 points and 4.1 assists on a 20-3 East team that finished ranked No. 7 in Iowa while Carnes-Marshall was ranked among the top 25 players in Tennessee. Averaging 12 points and 3.6 assists, she originally signed with Kennesaw State, an NCAA Division I member.
They’ll join Cassidy Harbert, an honorable mention All-American, at the point guard position. “All three are different and will provide depth,” Stambersky said . “Arrica is more of a ball distributor; Artasia can also play the two position.”
Two Kansas standouts will be in the mix at the small forward position, 5-10 Janay Jacobs of Wichita’s Kapaun-Mt. Carmel High School and 5-9 Sierra Roberts of SM South. Jacobs was a member of a team that won the state championship in her sophomore season and was fourth and third the last two seasons. A participant in the Kansas-Missouri All-Star game, Roberts averaged 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds to earn first team all-conference honors.
“Jacobs is a blue collar athlete who can shoot, rebound and works hard; Sierra has a great shooting touch from the outside. Smart, she can also get to the rim,” Stambersky said.
The Blue Devils will also get valuable help from a pair of standouts from Bradley Tech High School in Milwaukee, 5-9 guard Ky’Ana French and 5-11 forward Myranda Keeler. One of the top 20 players in Wisconsin as a senior, French averaged 18.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists while Keeler averaged 9.8 points and 11.8 rebounds with season highs of 24 points and 23 rebounds.
“A lefthander, French is a slasher with a great scoring mentality; Keeler brings a lot of athleticism – a rebounder and shot blocker who runs the floor,” Stambersky said.
In addition to Harbert, the Blue Devils will return guards Rashaun Casey and Alyson Weber, forwards Janai Mitchell, Iland Shurn and Eirenei Alesana and post Julia Garrard.
“We’re not done recruiting yet,” Stambersky said. “There’s always a place for good players.”

Facts about the war on wheat

by Lori Wuellner

There’s a good chance that you know someone who has banned wheat from their diet or even declared that they have gone gluten-free.  What’ up with this evolving craze?  A number of books and television programs have popularized this diet by claiming that wheat is responsible for belly fat, gastrointestinal issues and mental health conditions.  However, there isn’t enough science to back up the authors’ claim.  So, if you are thinking about eating gluten or wheat-free, here are the facts:
Celiac Disease, Wheat Allergy and Wheat Sensitivity/Gluten  Intolerance
Wheat isn’t for everyone.  Just less than 1 percent of people in the U.S. suffer from an autoimmune condition called celiac disease.  In addition, an estimated one-half of one percent of people in the U.S. are allergic to wheat, and unknown number of Americans have a less well-defined condition often characterized as wheat sensitivity or gluten intolerance.  The key here is that you should be diagnosed with one of these conditions by your health care provider before eliminating these foods from your diet.  People who have been diagnosed with celiac disease, wheat allergy, or gluten intolerance should avoid eating foods that contain any type of wheat, and may have to avoid barley and rye which also contain gluten.
True celiac disease is wicked, and the diet is not fun to follow.  People with it wish they could occasionally eat just one slice of bread but that one slice of bread will ravage their gut.  People without the disease may feel better eating gluten free but most likely they are experiencing the “halo” or placebo effect.
Belly fat
Eating too many calories and not exercising contributes to belly fat, and it’s easy to eat too many refined grains found in pastries, snacks and other processed foods.  So, instead of eliminating all wheat, choose more whole grains.  A recent study found that people who at least 3 servings of whole grains each day including wheat had 10 percent lower belly fat compared to people eating no whole grains.
Your brain on wheat
The claims about what effect wheat may have on the brain don’t stand up to scientific scrutiny either.  The brain needs carbohydrates for energy, and grain foods are an excellent source.  When you don’t eat enough carbohydrates, you will feed tired, unable to focus, irritable and may have headaches, and memory and learning problems.
Gut health
Followers of these popular diets may say that they feel better when they give up wheat and as mentioned they may be experiencing a “halo” or placebo effect.  However, when you eliminate grains from your diet, it’s difficult to get the fiber you need to maintain a healthy gut, immune system and overall health.  Fiber helps with maintaining good blood sugar control and good blood cholesterol and avoiding constipation.  Fiber also serves as food for the friendly bacteria that keep your gut healthy.
Bottom line
If you still want to try a gluten-free or wheat-free diet, look for other whole grains that you can include instead like brown rice, quinoa, or popcorn.  Visit the Whole Grains Council for more ideas and recipes and for gluten-free recipes you might want to check out www.celiac.com.
(Source:  Lisa Martin, MPH, RD, LD, County Extension Agent, Shawnee County)

Lori Wuellner is a Wyandotte County Extension agent, Family and Consumer Sciences, K-State Research and Extension, 1216 N. 79th St., Kansas City, Kan. Telephone 913-299-9300, email [email protected].

KCK author writes new book

“Brandeen, In the Shadow of Captain Moonlight,” a new book by Helen Walsh Folsom, is now available.

Folsom is from Kansas City, Kan., and has written other books, including “St. Patrick’s Secrets,” “Fianna,” and “Ah, Those Irish Colleens.”  Drawing on her Scots Irish heritage, she decided that in her retirement she would write books with Irish settings.

This new book is the story of Brandeen, who lived with her tender-hearted mother, Peig, in the town of Cullymor, Ireland. Her life was not at all pleasant. She was considered illegitimate and treated horribly by the town folk. When she learns of her father’s return, she burns with anger and resentment.

Brandeen resents this estranged father who forces her away from her secure little cottage home into an uncomfortable house and dangerous circumstances that repeatedly threaten her life.

Although she grows to enjoy her training to become a shipping company magnate, she still resents her father until slowly and surely she realizes the man she hates is the man she would risk anything to defend, even to revealing the identity of Captain Moonlight.

The book is available for purchase by Kindle on www.amazon.com.