KU Freshman Named Omaha World Herald Athlete of the Year

Aug. 24, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas baseball freshman Jimmy Waters has been named the Omaha World Herald’s Western Iowa Male Athlete of the Year for the 2006-07 school year. Waters, a graduate of Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa, starred in baseball, football and wrestling in high school.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Waters was a three-time state champion and a four-time state finalist, but chose to come to the University of Kansas to play for the baseball team. The 5-foot-11 infielder was a two-time All-Western Iowa selection in baseball and led the Lewis Central baseball team to a state semi-final appearance in 2006.

This past summer, he played for the Arizona Clash of the Premier Baseball organization in Phoenix, Ariz. In a July 11 all-star game at Arlington, Texas, featuring many Division I recruits, Waters went 3-for-3 with a single, double, triple and sacrifice.

Waters and the rest of the Jayhawks will open fall practice on Sept. 1, and play host to the Croatian National team in an exhibition game the following evening at 5 p.m. He is one of 13 new faces on the KU’s 2007 fall roster.