2B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
INSIDE SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2004
Student's innocence on thin ice
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Katie Wolfmeyer was "just a pawn," in former St. Louis Blues player Mike Danton's murder-for-hire plot, Wolfmeyer's attorney said yesterday.
Opening statements and testimony began in the trial for Wolfmeyer, the 19-year-old suburban St. Louis woman who prosecutors accuse of being Danton's accomplice.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Clark said Wolfmeyer was a willing participant in the plot. The trial is expected to last six days. Wolfmeyer faces federal charges of conspiring to arrange a murder for hire and using a telephone across state lines to arrange it.
Danton already has pleaded guilty and faces sentencing Oct. 22. Judge William Stiehl has ruled that Danton does not have to testify against Wolfmeyer.
Steven Bartkoski/KANSAN
Prosecutors said Danton tried to hire a hit man for $10,000 in April to kill his agent, David Frost, at Danton's suburban St. Louis apartment. The two men had argued over Danton's "promiscuity and use of alcohol," and Danton feared Frost would talk to Blues management, authorities said.
Frost was not hurt and has maintained he was not the intended target
wolfmeyer, a college student and athlete, also worked at the St. Louis Mills mall, where the Blues have a practice rink. She met Danton there in March and the two began to date.
Among those out with Wolfmeyer that night was Justin Levi Jones. Clark said Wolfmeyer gave the cell phone to Jones, who was approached about the killing by Danton. The two spoke again later that night on Jones' cell phone, and Jones began taping the conversations. Clark said. He alleged that Danton suggested the killing be set up to look like a botched burglary at Danton's apartment, where Frost was staying.
Clark told jurors that Wolfmeyer was partying with friends on the night of April 14, though she was not drinking, when she received cell phone calls from Danton, who was with the Blues in San Jose, Calif., for a playoff game. He allegedly asked if she knew of anyone who could help carry out a plot.
jones, a police dispatcher from Illinois, notified Columbia, Ill., police, who alerted the FBI.
"The evidence will show (Wolfmeyer) contributed to a murder-for-hire plot so she could continue an affair ... with Mike Danton," Clark said.
But Wolfmeyer's attorney, Art Margulis, said Wolfmeyer did not know Danton was engaging her in a murder-for-hire plot, realizing it only after she drove Jones to the apartment.
"Our evidence will be that Katie was just a pawn." Margulis said.
Danton allegedly told Wolfmeyer a false cover story that he needed her help getting rid of someone who was trying to kill him over a debt, according to the criminal complaint.
Chad Reynolds (left), Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, and Cole Robinson (right), Prairie Village junior, both scramble for a loose ball while playing sand volleyball last night. Fall intramural sports have been in full swing since the season began last week.
Danton spent the 2003-04 season with St. Louis, but was not re-signed.
Serving it up - Intramural style
Sports bring family of athletes together; 'a dream come true'
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ABILENE, Kan. — When one team calls for "coach" it has no better meaning than with the Willey family.
Mark Willey is head coach of the Abilene Middle School football team and his top assistants are his brother, Michael, and father, Dan. Mark Willey's son, Marcus, is a ball boy for the eighth-grade team.
The toughest moments working together brings about quick laughter and a familiar Willey smile.
"The hardest part is being called Coach Willey and who answers to it." Mark said. "I'm coach Willey. Dad is Motor (a reference to a college coach who liked Dan's attitude) and Michael is Coach M.T."
In the classroom Dan Willey is known as Mr. Willey Sr.
For Dan Willey it is a dream come true.
He remembers in 1996 while taking a human relations class that he put down an answer that he hoped someday he could work together with his sons.
"Sometimes dreams do come true." Dan said.
Even then, his dream was not fulfilled until, less than a month ago. Until recently, Michael was in Hays, where he planned to continue to work as a substitute teacher and coach.
However, he was offered an opportunity to be a physical education teacher in the Abilene district. The answer was easy.
Mark, 34, is in his fourth year at Abilene Middle School. The three Willeys will call the defense. On offense, the decisions rest on Mark's shoulders.
He will expect recommendations from his dad and brother, Mark said.
but adds that is what any head coach would expect.
"We're no different than any other coaching staff." Mark said.
Dan Willey said he read a story about the Emporia State University football program where the Wiemens family works together, yet David is the head coach and his father serves as an assistant at the pleasure of his son.
Dan Willey, 60, spent 12 years of coaching — six at Raytown, Mo., and six at Clay Center — before settling in this area. Dan Willey, who for years was a fixture in the Pearl elevator, substituted in the Abilene district and that piqued his interest into being an assistant coach. Abilene Middle School principal Ron Wilson had asked Dan Willey about helping with the program.
"When we added seventh-grade football, we knew we were going to add to the coaching staff," Mark said.
The Willeys have played together in competitive softball tournaments and golf tournaments, among other activities.
He likes what his dad and brother bring to the staff. His dad played college football at Bethey College in Lindsborg, Michael, now 30, played tennis at Fort Hays State University and Mark played college basketball there.
As a result, they all bring different experiences, which will mean different approaches to solving problems, a great asset to any coaching staff, Mark said.
All three said they believe their competiteness will bring out the best in their players, just like they learned in their high school days.
"We're all competitors," Mark said. "That's the biggest thing, and we want what is best for the kids."
Mark and Michael played high school football under Paul Dennis and top assistant Greg Wade, who became head coach after Dennis retired after the 1992 season.
"In all my coaching I tried to incorporate my own thinking," Mark said, adding that he took important lessons from Dennis and Wade that he teaches to his student-athletes.
"We are very competitive on the field and we are gentlemen off the field," he said.
Michael said one of his role models is current high school coach Rex Cearley, who was Michael's middle school coach in the late 1980s.
"That was such a positive experience for me," Michael said. "You wanted to position yourself so that as you advanced in each grade you improved. We are the first step now and we want to keep participation high."
Coaching at the eighth-grade level is ideal for the Willeys.
"This is the perfect age. They'll do everything you ask at full speed," Mark said. "It has been a blast."
"You get to start them out with good habits in practice and in four years we'll get to see how it turns out," Michael said.
Enjoying sports has brought the family a lot of joy for many years, Mark said.
"Athletics have played a huge part in our family. You can learn a lot through athletics," Mark said.
"Athletics teach you about the ups and downs of life and that whether you win or lose, you have to handle it all with class."
Coaching sports is one way the Willeys believe they can help serve their community.
"We all want to give back to the community," Dan said. "I know I want to give back."
Kansas athletics calendar
THURSDAY
Soccer at Furman, S.C. 6 p.m
FRIDAY
Volleyball vs. Rhode Island (KU)
Invitational Tournament 12 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Wisconsin (KU Invitational Tournament) 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
*Soccer vs. Clemson at Furman, S.C. 11 a.m.
*Vollvehlbvs. vs. Denver 2 p.m.*
Men's golf at East Tennessee State
Cross Country at Wildcat Invitational in Topeka
Football vs. Toledo 6 p.m.
TALK TO US
Tell us your news. Contact Danielle Hillix or Joe Bant at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
THURSDAY'S INTRAMURAL RESULTS
Men's:
FLAG FOOTBALL
Nimrod vs. 6th Floor — Nimrod win. 30-0
CoRec:
Nimrods vs. Random Task Nimrods win by forfeit
Pi Kappa 1 vs. Mangino's Men —
Pi Kappa 1 wins 14-0
Royals hitter a nightmare for the Tigers
DETROIT — Dee Brown has no idea why he's been so successful against the Detroit Tigers throughout his career. Whatever the reason, he's sure to be in the starting lineup whenever the Kansas City Royals play them.
Brown has six career homers against Detroit and just eight against the rest of the majors. He's homered twice against the Twins, and once each against six teams.
Brown had his first career two-homer game and drove in four runs to lead the Royals to a 6-2 victory Tuesday night.
"I don't know if I just see the ball well here or what _ it is a really big ballpark." Brown said. "It's better this year, but their pitching hasn't been very good in the past."
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Serrano, who hadn't pitched since Aug. 28, walked the first two batters he faced, but only allowed one more baserunner.
Jimmy Serrano (1-1) picked up his first major league victory with three scoreless innings of relief, helping the Royals win for just the fifth time in 16 games.
Royals manager Tony Pena doesn't have an explanation either, but plans to ride the hot hand.
"I guess I better keep playing him against the Tigers," he said.
"That was exciting," he said. "I've got the ball and the scorecard."
Carlos Pena and Craig Monroe homered for the Tigers, who had their two-game winning streak end.
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