FHSU Sports Information Department
Fort Hays State women’s basketball coach Tony Hobson announced the signing of seven student-athletes for the 2016-17 season. All seven inked with FHSU in the early signing period. Joining the Tigers next year will be Belle Barbieri, Kyleigh Kasper, Kacey Kennett, Madison Mittie, Robin Ritsema, Taylor Rolfs, and Lindsay Shupe. All seven are from Kansas.
Barbieri is currently a senior at Abilene High School in Abilene, Kan. She has twice been named all-state honorable mention in Class 4A and is a three-time all-league first team selection. As a junior, she averaged 12.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Standing at 6’0″, she has shot over 50 percent from the field in all three years of high school so far. She is an honors student that plans to major in Biology at FHSU.
Kasper is currently a senior at Russell High School in Russell, Kan. She was an all-league first team selection last year and an honorable mention pick as a sophomore. She has also been an all-league first team selection twice in softball. As a junior, she averaged 14.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and shot nearly 80 percent at the free-throw line. Kasper stands at 6’0″ and she is also an honors student that plans to major in Radiology at FHSU.
Kennett is currently a senior at Olathe South High School in Olathe, Kan. She was an all-state honorable mention selection in Kansas Class 6A while also earning all-league honors as a junior. As a junior, she averaged 11.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, while shooting nearly 80 percent from the free-throw line. She has also garnered all-league honors as a softball player. Kennett is a tall guard standing at 6’0″. An honors student, she plans to major in Physical Therapy at FHSU.
Mittie is currently a senior at Manhattan High School in Manhattan, Kan. The 5’10” guard was an all-league honorable mention selection as a junior, her first year in Manhattan after attending high school in Texas the two years prior. She was also an all-county and all-district selection in Texas at Aledo High School. Also an academic honoree, she plans to major in Elementary Education at FHSU. She is the daughter of current Kansas State head women’s basketball coach Jeff Mittie.
Ritsema is currently a senior at Lakin High School in Lakin, Kan. A 6’3″ post player, she averaged 10.3 points and nine rebounds per game last year to earn all-state honorable mention and all-league honors. As a sophomore, she had similar numbers at 10.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. She plans to major in Psychology at FHSU.
Rolfs is currently a senior at Central Plains High School in Claflin, Kan. She was an all-state first team selection in basketball last year in Class 2A and a two-time all-state first team selection in volleyball as a junior and senior. A 5’11” guard, Rolfs hit the game-winning jumper in the state championship game to help Central Plains to an undefeated season in 2014, then helped her team to another state title last year with a record of 25-1. As a junior, she averaged 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 2.0 assists per game. She has also been recognized as the 2A State Tournament Most Outstanding Player in basketball and the Hutchinson News Player of the Year in volleyball. She is the daughter of Barton (Kan.) Community College women’s basketball head coach Trevor Rolfs.
Shupe is currently a senior at Minneapolis High School in Minneapolis, Kan. A 5’7″ point guard, she was an honorable mention all-state selection in Class 3A as a junior, while also earning all-league honors. She was also the 2015 state champion in the 200 meters in track and field in Class 3A. She was the state runner-up in the 100 and 200 meters in 2014 as a sophomore. On the court last year, she averaged 19 points, four assists, and three rebounds per game. Shupe plans to major in Psychology at FHSU.