WNCC Athletic Newsletter -- December 26, 2022 -- Issue 4

First semester complete

Volleyball wins regionals, basketball teams off and running to solid seasons after first semester

The first semester is complete and the first semester was an exciting one for the seven sports.

The Cougar volleyball team capped off the first semester with a Region IX title and a sixth place finish at the national tournament.

The Cougar volleyball team had two First Team NJCAA All-Americans in Erica Fava and Shanelle Martinez. The two also were AVCA Second Team All-Americans. The AVCA makes one 2-year college team with players from all three NJCAA divisions along with the west coast divisions into one. Fava was also named the Region IX South Player of the Year while Martinez was the South Freshman of the Year as well as the Setter of the Year.

The two soccer teams also competed at regionals and did well before falling in contests to Laramie County Community College.

Men’s soccer player Rodrigo Cercal was named the Region IX soccer player of the year.

While soccer and volleyball wrapped up in November, the basketball teams were just starting and the teams are off to good starts.

The women’s team is off to a 10-4 start and have won seven of their last eight games. The biggest win of the season for the Cougars came on November 26 when the team defeated Top 10-ranked New Mexico Junior College 63-54 in one of the most complete games the team has played all season.

In that game, the Cougars were led in scoring by Mackenzie Joseph with 15 points and Shiho Isono with seven rebounds.

The Cougars then went 2-1 at the Gillette Classic where they fell to Williston State College 66-57 in a game that the team wants to forget about.

The women wrapped up the first se-

(above) WNCC’s Rodney Sawyer slams home two points in a home game during the first semester. (below) Jayla Adam drives to the bucket during a game against Central Wyoming in December.

First semester complete with plenty of success

mester when they beat Northwest College 87-63 and then Central Wyoming College 70-51 at Cougar Palace.

In the Northwest win, Bre Fowler led the way with 23 points while Joseph had 16 rebounds. Against Central Wyoming, Isono had 13 points and Faith Walker had 10 rebounds.

The Cougar men are off to a 7-5 start and have won four of their last five games in December.

The Cougars went 3-0 at the Gillette Classic where they defeated Dawson Community College 95-72 behind a 20-point outing by Maurice Walker. Then the Cougar men topped Miles Community College 80-67 as Rodney Sawyer had a double-double of 20 points and 17 rebounds. After that, the Cougars topped Williston State 81-66 as Carl Thorpe had 16 points and Daniel Bula had 11 rebounds.

WNCC wrapped up the first semester gong 1-1 at the home WNCC Holiday Classic. The Cougar men fell in a close match to Northwest College 80-78 where the Cougars battled back from a double-digit, second-half deficit and had a change to win the game. Stephen Ovia led the way with 15 points.

WNCC rebounded with an 87-68 win over Jump Start Prep Academy as CJ Johnson led the way with 15 points.

Both Cougar basketball teams were supposed to play Laramie County Community College December 13 but that game was postponed because of weather to Monday, February 6.

The two teams will be back in action on Saturday, January 7 when they face Lake Region State College with the women’s game tipping off at 10 a.m. followed by the men’s game at 12 noon.

For the men, it will be their only home game in January as they rest of the month the Cougar men will be on the road.

The women will have a Region IX Crossover tournament the next weekend with four games a day from Thursday, January 12 through the 14.

The women will face Central Wyoming College on Thursday at 7 p.m., Casper College on Friday at 7 p.m., and then Western Wyoming Community College on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Also heating up in the spring semester

will be the Cougar softball and baseball teams.

Both teams will begin practice the middle of January as they open their season in February.

The baseball team opens February 1112 when they hit the road for games with New Mexico Military Military Institute. The baseball team’s first home games are February 25 and 26 when they host Miles

Tania Razo controls the ball during the NJC match in September.

Community College at Cleveland Field.

The softball team will also be opening their season in February, but all of their February games are on the road. Their first home games of the year will be March 11-12 when they host Lamar Community College.

Check out all the updated schedules on the WNCC athletic website at www.wnccathletics.com.

Rodrigo Cercal controls the ball during a match in the fall season.

The WNCC volleyball team stands while being introduced for the opening game at the national tournament against Blinn College.

Former Cougars Panem, Douglas play each other at Division I level

Clemson tops Radford in non-conference game

WNCC former players Ashley Panem and Ale’Jah Douglas were part of the women’s basketball team a year ago as the two lead the Cougars to a Final Four finish at the NJCAA national tournament.

On Tuesday, December 20, the two were on the same court once again, but playing against each other at the Division I level.

Douglas’ Clemson team led 26-9 after the first quarter and went on to the commanding 81-38 win.

Panem is a starter for Radford and finished with five points and three rebounds while burying a trey.

Douglas played 19 minutes off the bench and had eight points with four rebounds and two 3-pointers.

Panem said it was cool to play against Douglas.

“Ale’jah was one of my closest friends at WNCC,” Panem said. “Playing against her felt like a full circle moment. I definitely

miss playing with her though.”

Both players are playing Division I and Panem said it is always your goal to play Division I basketball.

“There are no words to say when it comes to making it to the next level. You always have a dream about playing at this level but it’s about keeping the dream alive and staying humble.”

At Radford, Panem has seed action in 10 games and has started the last two games against Furman and Clemson. Panem is averaging 4.9 points while pullilng down 1.5 rebounds. She has 16 assists and two blocks on the season, while knocking down 10 3-pointers.

Panem said her season is going well at the Virginia school.

“It’s going pretty well at Radford,” she said. “I have made some really good friends. I’m very grateful to be here.”

Panem has goals at Radford.

“My goals are to keep improving individually as a player and to help the team win a big south championship.”

For Panem, this is her second Division I school. Panem signed with Florida Gulf

All in the in Numbers

2The number of NJCAA volleyball All-Americans for the Cougars this season. Both Erica Fava and Shanelle Martinez earned First Team honors on the NJCAA team.

The number of wins by the Cougar volleyball team this season. WNCC finished the year 34-5 and won the Region IX title to advance to the national tourney.

69

The number of rebounds that lead the Cougar men’s basketball team this season. Sophomores Rodney Sawyer and Carl Thorpe each have pulled down 69 rebounds so far this season in 12 games.

86

This is the number of 3-pointers that the Cougar women’s basketball team has knocked down so far this season. Bre Fowler and Mackenzie Joseph lead the team with 21 treys hit so far in 14 games played.

The number of ace serves the Cougar volleyball served up this season. Sophomore Ale Meoni led the way with 64 aces followed by Erica Fava with 52 and Jenna Curtis with 49.

On the Cover:

Cougar women’s basketball player Mia Jaye Sarkodee-Adoo drives to the bucket for an under-handed lay-up in a game with Northwest College in December.

Ashley Panem in action at Radford. (photo by Rob Simmons, Radford U. website).

Panem having good season at Division I Radford ...

Coast out of her Denver-area high school. After one season at Florida Gulf Coast, Panem transferred to WNCC and spent two seasons as a Cougar, coming back for a second year at WNCC because of her COVID year.

The junior at Radford said Division I basketball is more structured and harder.

“Division 1 basketball is a lot more structured as far as how you play and how you prepare for games,” she said.

As for Panem’s teammate at WNCC in Douglas, the former Cougar point guard out of Omaha is also having a good first year at Clemson.

Douglas has appeared in 11 games having started four. She is averaging 7.5 points a contest and buried eight 3-pointers. She is pulling down 2.3 rebounds and has nine assists and 20 steals in the early season for the 9-4 Clemson Tigers.

Both Douglas and Panem will be back in action with their teams on December 29. Clemson will host Virginia Tech at 4 p.m. MST and then have a New Years Day game with Wake Forest.

Radford will open Big South Conference action on December 29 when they play UNC Asheville at 12 p.m. MST followed by a conference game New Years Eve on the road to Presbyterian.

For now, Panem is back in Broomfield, Colorado, for the holidays visiting her family for the holidays before returning to the Radford, Virginia, college.

Panem said being away from her family is a lot harder this time especially since she was so close to her family playing for WNCC.

“It is actually a lot harder being away from my family after I’ve been so close to them while I was at WNCC,” she said.

At WNCC Panem averaged nine points and 3.1 rebounds a game while shooting 36.3 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Panem helped the Cougars to backto-back national tournament appearances. Her first trip to nationals in 2021, the Cougars made some noise as they went 2-1 at nationals topping Iowa Western Community College in the first round as Panem had 24 points. Then the Cougars followed that up by topping No. 1 Jones College 63-60 behind Douglas’ 27 points and 12 rebound game. WNCC then lost to Three Rivers 79-71, who went on to win the national title.

A year ago, the Cougars had another stellar trip to nationals going 30-3 and finishing in the top four. WNCC opened with a 71-59 win over Murray State followed by wins over Wabash Valley 70-59 and then over the host school South Plains College 63-51. WNCC fell in the semis to Tyler Junior College 88-76. Three Rivers went on to win the national title.

Panem said she misses her final four team and being in Scottsbluff.

“I miss our final four team and the people that surrounded me while there,” she said. “I still talk to my host family and I miss them everyday. I miss being every-

History of Cougar athletics will start over Christmas break

Over the Christmas break, I will start working on a history of Cougar Athletics writeup for the web and whatever.

To make this successful, if anyone has any information to help make this Cougar athletic history project successful, such as former players that can be contacted, coaches that can be contacted, or information that you know yourself about

Cougar athletics, please let me know.

All information can be emailed to mrein@wncc.edu or texted to 308-631-0459.

This is a project I have been thinking about for some time and I really want to make it special. I know there is some information out there that I can used from 1980 through today, but information about Cougar athletics from the 1970s and earlier is hard to come by without looking

in old college newspapers and yearbooks.

Former players, coaches, and fans have the best knowledge what it was like to have Cougar athletics from the first basketball teams in the 1930s to today when volleyball has won two national titles.

Something on athletic history is started on the web at https://wnccathletics. com/information/Cougar_Athletic_History

Formr WNCC players Ashley Panem (left) and Ale’Jah Douglas (right) in action during a national tournament game with South Plains last season.

Martinez, Fava earn First Team All-American honors

WNCC’s Erica Fava and Shanelle Martinez captured some prestigious honors when the NJCAA came out with the All-American Volleyball teams.

Both Cougar players garnered First Team honors after helping the team to a 34-5 and a Region IX championship. This is Fava’s second First Team honor after receiving the honor last year. The two were also selected as Second Team AVCA All-Americans. The AVCA ranks all the players from all three NJCAA divisions, the CCCAA, and the NWAC. There were 45 student-athletes from 39 two-year schools in the United States that made one of the three teams.

Fava, who was named Region IX South player of the year, said it is an honor to be selected First Team All-American by the NJCAA for a second straight season.

“Just like last year, being named NJCAA first team all-American is amazing,” Fava said. “It’s the best way to end my time at western Nebraska.”

For Martinez, the freshman Region IX South setter of the year for the Cougars from San Antonio, Texas, said it is humbling to receive that honor.

“This to me means that all of the days I spent trying to better myself finally paid off,” Martinez said. “I am greatly humbled to have received this honor. I’d like to thank my family, my friends, and my coaches. They’ve taught me everything I need to know to be a better daughter, sister, teammate, student, etc. Nothing would be possible without these incredible individuals that have been placed in my life.”

Martinez and Fava were two of the 12 members selected to the First Team. The other members of the team include Barbara Koehler of Florida Southwestern; Romina Cornelio of Miami Dade; Hennesys Lalane and Jarolin delos Santos of Indian Hills; Liznyela Lopez of Trinity Valley; Ruth Manuela Bibinbe of Missouri StateWest Plains; Laura Fiabane of Salt Lake; Iva Popovic of New Mexico; Mio Yamamoto of New Mexico Military, and Seyun Park of Seward County.

Florida Southwestern’s Koehler was also named the NJCAA Volleyball Player of the Year as well as she helped her team to their first national title with a win over

Miami Dade College.

Second Team All-Americans include Kaila Ru of Polk State; Yaliancis Flores of Monroe, Haley McUne of Utah State Eastern; Natalia Slazynska of Arizona Western; Kaia Baker of Eastern Arizona; Ivy Fink of Butler; Hanna Tylska of Navarro; Doga Kutlu of Missouri State-West Plains; Alohilani Bursey of Jefferson County; Roberta Pusashaj of Florida Southwestern; Tricia Tua’one of Snow; and Danika Washington of Vernon.

Honorable mention All-Americans include Daisy Manasco of Wallace State-Hanceville; Alice Munari of Hillsborough; Ilana Assis of Missouri StateWest Plains; Brinley Smith of Central Wyoming; Kennedy Kelly of Butler; and Sofia Velez of Trinity Valley.

Both Cougar players had solid seasons are thankful of their teammates for making the seasons special.

“I think I had a good season and I think I improved a lot and became a better player because I was lucky to be so trounced by many talented players,” Fava said. “As a team I would say it was an amazing sea-

son. We finished our season with a good record, won regionals, and finished 6th in the nation. I remember answering this question last year and I remember saying that ‘My goal for next year is to win the region IX tournament and then carry my team to nationals.’ I’m just so happy that I was able to put in actions what I said and it couldn’t have been possible without my teammates.”

This past season, Fava finished with 415 kills, 367 digs, and had 52 aces. For her two-year career, Fava had 964 kills, 879 digs, and served 119 ace serves.

Martinez had a stellar freshman year as the setter of the Cougar team. Martinez had 1,399 assists for a 10.36 average. She had 45 kills, 28 ace serves, and had 376 digs. Martinez said it was a great first-year for her and the team.

“I felt I had a great season overall. It was a very productive, enjoyable, and fast four months,” she said. “I felt as a team, we had an extremely strong season, we took care of business when needed and had a goal to do the best we possibly could.”

Shanelle Martinez sets the ball during a match against Central Wyomng College at the national tourney while Erica Fava (14) gets ready to play defense or hit from the back row, which Fava has done several times this season.

Martinez earn First Team All-American ...

Fava said she had a lot of memories from this past year and the biggest one was winning regionals.

“I have a lot of memories this season that I’ll never forget,” Fava said. “My favorite one is definitely winning regionals. I can still picture the moment, it’s amazing. Sophomore night was definitely another one, and I’m so grateful that I was able to play with my best friends, our group of sophomores was very close and I’ll miss playing with them for sure. Last but not least, our trip to nationals is something that I won’t ever forget and even if it didn’t go like we wanted, we fought until

the end.”

Martinez said her first year at WNCC was special in many ways and she hopes to grow even more next year and accomplish the same things as a member of the Cougar team.

“My memories for this season were for me getting the opportunity to make a new family here at Western Nebraska and see what it was like to play with athletes from different parts of the world and sharing all of the successes we made possible this year,” Martinez said. “My goals for next year are to be a two time All-American and to win the region for a second year in

a row. As well as making it to the National Tournament again because the experience and skill level is very exciting to compete with.”

Fava said that she hopes wherever she continues playing next year she have the same king of success as her past two years at WNCC.

“All I can say is that I’m just grateful for my time at western Nebraska,” she said. “I want to say that I would’ve not being able to get this honor if it wasn’t for the coaches and teammates that pushed me to be better every day in the gym, so this honor goes to them too.”

Cercal earns Region IX Player of the Year honor

WNCC’s Rodrigo Cercal finished up his sophomore season with quite a bit of honors recently when the Region IX All-Region teams were announced.

Cercal, a sophomore from Brazil, was named the Region IX soccer Most Valuable Player. Last year, Cercal was the Freshman of the Year.

On top of that, Cercal broke the career goal-scoring record for the Cougars with 29 career goals after scoring 14 this year and 15 his freshman year.

With all the region honors, Cercal was not selected as a NJCAA All-American when the teams were released Wednesday morning. Only one Region IX player made the team and that was Casper›s Ewan Gordon as a NJCAA First Team defender.

Still, Cercal is happy with his season and the honors he received.

“I am very happy and proud to be able to achieve these awards,» Cercal said. «It is very gratifying to see that it was two seasons of hard work and these awards are the rewards of that work. Being elected MVP of the region is not something easy to achieve, so I feel very proud to have my work recognized.”

Cercal said achieving the career record is special. The previous record was held by Lawan Abary of 26, set in 2016, and second was his assistant coach Silvio Xavier Henrique of 25, set in 2017.

“It means a lot to me, because it is something that will remain in the history of

WNCC and will be forever in my memory,» he said. «There is a verse in the book of Ephesians that I like and believe a lot. This verse says that God can do infinitely more than anything you can ask or imagine, and He really blessed me in a huge way here, because I imagined coming here and making many goals, but it did not come out of my mind to be the athlete with more goals in the history of WNCC.»

Not only was Cercal selected Region IX MVP, which is voted on by the Region IX coaches, he was one of four Cougar men›s players that earned All-Region honors.

Cercal was the only Cougar on the First Team, garnering a First Team forward nomination along with three other Region IX players with Jesper Van Halderen and Cole Venable of Casper College, and Otero›s Pape Souleymane Diof. Venable was named the region›s Freshman of the Year.

Other Cougars that earned all-region honors included sophomore Rennan Sousa as a Second Team Midfielder and sophomore Tom Pelzer as a Second Team Defender. Freshman Samuel Acosta was named an Honorable Mention Defender.

With all honors the team got, the Cougars didn›t have the best season, finishing at 4-7-1 and falling to Laramie County Community College 4-2 in the quarterfinals of the regional playoffs.

Cercal realizes that, but he is still satisfied with the season.

“Unfortunately, from a team aspect, we

did not have the season we wanted,» he said. «Individually, I was very satisfied with my season; it was a great experience to be able to play my last season for WNCC, I enjoyed every practice and game and it was a fun year.”

Cercal now will take his soccer talents onto the next level, but he isn›t sure what school he will be attending.

“My goal is to go to a school that has a good atmosphere, that has a competitive soccer program, and one where I can continue my major,» he said. «At this time I have nothing certain about where I will go in the future.

“What he does know, however, his he will take several memories with him from his playing days at WNCC. This season, he scored four goals in a game with Northwest College on Sept. 24. That match was the final home game of the season for the Cougars and he tied the school record for most goals in a match that was held by Abary in 2017 and Jose Netto back in 2011. Ironically, those two also scored four goals against Northwest.

“To be honest, I have very good memories but I also have some not so good memories, mainly of not advancing further in the playoffs and losing games that we knew we could have won,» he said “However, it was a fun year, I have many good memories of some special wins that we had this year, and I had a good time with my teammates during games, practice sessions and travels.“

Jimenez inks with Central Methodist University

Western Nebraska Community College soccer player Andrea Jimenez will be taking her soccer talents to the next level after she signed to play at Central Methodist University in Missouri on Wednesday.

Jimenez, who will be heading to Central Methodist in January, said it was an easy decision to pick Central Methodist after visiting the school.

“When I was looking at the program, it was a pretty competitive school overall. They just won their conference and went to nationals. The high expectation that the coach has for all of his players is something that I really need for me to grow. One of my former teammates, Raquel is down there and she is excited for me and the new journey.”

When Jimenez heads across I70 to her new college from her hometown of Denver, she will have someone that she knows as she will be joining former Cougar Raquel Ferreira. Jimenez said she helped her in the journey to Central Methodist.

“I am pretty close to her overall and she has helped me with the process of signing up to the school, getting in touch with the coach, and putting in a good word for me,” she said. “I appreciate that and I have played with her so it is nice that I get to play with her again and I am looking forward to it.”

Central Methodist is a competitive NAIA school that went 19-3-1 and lost in the second round of the NAIA national tourney. Two years ago, the team went 22-2 and lost in the semifinals to William Carey University.

Jimenez is excited to continue her playing career in college and hopefully beyond.

“I always had that passion and ambition for my sport and it is very unexplainable,” she said. “It has helped me grow as a person overall. I started playing very young and I honestly didn’t picture myself in this situation. I know I am making my younger self happy and proud of myself. If I don’t continue professionally, I know the sport is something I left.”

Jimenez graduated from Adams City High School in Denver and spent the last three years playing at WNCC. She got that

extra year because of the COVID pandemic. In her three seasons at WNCC, she scored 20 goals with nine assists with a shot-on-goal percentage of .500. She scored 12 goals in her freshman year in the spring of 2021 and then scored four goals each the past two seasons.

Jimenez said she has grown as a player and person in her 2 ½ years at WNCC.

“I definitely had some ups and downs and I am not going to say it was all rainbows and butterflies,” she said. “But I persisted with my goals and ambitions and I know this extra semester helped me grow a lot and wherever I go, there is always room for growth. The challenges that make us uncomfortable are the ones that help us grow a lot. My coaches, my teammates helped me grow a lot. I know if I continue to have that strong mentality, I can get anywhere.”

Her time at WNCC is coming to an end as in a week, after final tests next week, Jimenez will be saying goodbye to her current teammates as she gets ready to head to Central Methodist in January. Jimenez said it will definitely be hard saying goodbye to her teammates, the ones that she shared a special bond with.

“It is going to be difficult (when I leave). WNCC will always be a part of me. People affected me in a lot of ways,” Jimenez said while getting choked up with emotion. “I know they were there not only as teammates but best friends and I really appreciate that from them. I have met great people here from different countries, from the same state, just kind of a mixture of everything. I am really happy that I have had this experience. There is nothing I will change about it and there is no regret. I am leaving with peace with the school and I definitely would recommend it to my friends.”

It is those friendships that she gained that she will cherish for a lifetime and getting to meet players from Brazil, New Zealand, and different states is what makes college sports special.

“At the end of the day, we all have the same passion and the same love for the sport,” she said. “I surround myself with them because they have the same ambition as me and that is something that has helped me grow as a player. I think we always push each other to do our best during training or during games. It is nice to be getting that mixture.”

Andrea Jimenez (middle) takes a picture with her team after signing to play at Central Methodist University next year. Jimenez will leave WNCC at semester and head to her new school in January.

Kuxhausen having success in pro league in Georgia

Former Scottsbluff and Western Nebraska Community College basketball player Dru Kuxhausen is living the dream of playing professional basketball and his playing is taking place in Georgia, but not the Georgia in the United States.

Kuxhausen is on the BC Olimpi team in Tbilisi, Georgia, in the country that is just north of Turkey and Iran. Kuxhausen said his team is part of two leagues in the Eurobasketball league.

“The season is going good so far,” Kuxhausen said. “It has been very enjoyable to start my career in Georgia playing for BC Olimpi. We are a part of two different leagues; the Georgian Superleague and the CBL in Armenia, and currently on an 8 game winning streak.”

Kuxhausen is having a stellar season with just a few games left in the season. Kuxhausen is ranked eighth in the league in scoring at 17.13 points a contest in the Superleague and he had the seventh-best scoring game in league history when he scored 38 points in a game against TSU on November 26 when he buried five 3-pointers.

Kuxhausen has scored in double figures in every game except for the first two games of the league back on October 29 and November 4. Since then, he had a 32-point performance in his last game on December 11 when he buried six 3-pointers. He also had a season best 7 3-pointers in games on November 11 against Cilicia and then on December 3 against Vera.

“The main league, Georgian Super league, is the league here in Tbilisi Georgia, where we play mostly teams from Tbilisi and a few other teams from outside of the city, such as Batumi, Kutaisi, and Rustavi. The games can be watched at GBF.ge.”

Kuxhausen and

his Olimpi team were in action Christmas Eve, December 24, when they played Kavkasia and then they wrap up the regular season December 30 against Cactus. Olimpi is third in the standings with a 5-2 record while Kavkasia leads the league at 7-1 and Cactus is second at 6-1.

Kuxhausen said playing professionally overseas is definitely a different experience, but one that is elevating his game.

“Playing overseas is definitely a different type of basketball than I have ever experienced,” Kuxhausen said. “The physicality is something that I have had to adjust to, but overall it is definitely helping my game a lot right now. I’m just taking it one day at a time and trying to improve myself any way I can.”

While Kuxhausen is having a stellar professional career overseas, his college career in the United States has been great. At Scottsbluff, he scored 2,110 career points and ranked 17th all-time among boys in the state of Nebraska. He averaged 11.5 points a game his freshman year as a Bearcat and his senior year saw him average 28.5 points a contest.

After high school, he signed to play at

Dru Kuxhausen, the one on the right holding the sign, stands in line with his team as his BC Olimpi team in Tbilisi, Georgia, sends a message to stop violence against women during a game overseas.

Chadron State College his freshman year before transferring back to WNCC his sophomore year. At WNCC he averaged 19.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and three assists while connecting on 51 percent of his 3-point shots, sinking 119 treys, which ranks xx in the WNCC record book.

He also shot 89.1 percent from the charity stripe and scored in double figures 27 times. He tipped the 30-point mark twice and had 20 or more points in a game 15 times.

After WNCC, Kuxhausen signed with Division I McNeese State where he scored 753 points in his two years averaging 14.7 points his junior year and 11.8 points his senior year. He also buried 125 3-pointers his junior year and had 199 in two years. His junior year at McNeese saw Kuxhausen break or tie five individual school records and one conference record when he made those 125 treys in the season. He also led the NCAA with 3-pointers made and was only the second McNeese player to lead the nation in a statistical category.

Kuxhausen then used his COVID year and played one year at the University of Northern Colorado last year where he averaged 11.1 points in 37 games, finishing with a 42.3 percentage from beyond the arc.

The one thing that Kuxhausen has to get used to playing overseas is the style of basketball. But the team he is on fits his style of play perfectly.

“The biggest difference between overseas basketball and basketball at home has been the physicality,” he said. “Playing against older, stronger players, it has really forced me to play a different style of basketball. Playing for BC Olimpi has been very good for me because they play toward my strengths and allow me to shoot the ball and be in a style of offense that really fits my game.”

Kuxhausen said his goal for the season is to get his Georgia team as far as he can in the playoffs and keep getting better before he returns home for the summer.

Kuxhausen will be eligible for the 2023 NBA draft

“My goals for this season are really to just put together a complete rookie year and help my team go as far in the playoffs as possible before coming home in the summer,” he said.

While Kuxhausen does miss his family back home, he is also liking his time in Tbilisi, Georgia. He said he is learning a different culture and the food.

“The country of Georgia is a beautiful place. I have really enjoyed getting to learn about their culture and experiencing a different way of life,” he said. “My favorite thing about Georgian is definitely the food. Khinkali and Hachapuri are my favorites right now.”

Kuxhausen is one of 19 former WNCC players playing overseas all around Europe. See list at the right for all the men’s and women’s players playing professional

overseas or in the USA.

Kuxhausen is it cool watching former Cougars play professional as well as his former teammates.

“It is cool to see my old teammates still playing the game and even guys from WNCC that I watched growing up,” he said. “I like to keep up with my old teammate Henry Tanksley, who is also a rookie over season right now.”

Overall, Kuxhausen is just blessed that he gets to keep playing the game that he loves.

“I am just blessed to be able to still play the game I love,” he said. “I am thankful that BC Olimpi has given me the opportunity to keep going.”

Former Cougar named head coach at Alaska Anchorage

AA former WNCC volleyball player has been named the head coach of the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team.

Llongtime assistant and former Seawolf player, Stacie Meisner has been named the next head coach taking over after former coach Chris Green, also a WNCC and Gering alumni, stepped down.

“As an alum and former player, I am thrilled to be in this new role as head coach,” said Meisner, a 2011 UAA graduate. “I am deeply committed to the success and well-being of our student-athletes and am excited to give back to the institution that has played such a crucial role in my development. I look forward to building on the strong foundation that Coach Green established, and leading the Seawolf volleyball program to new heights. I’d like to thank athletic director Swartwood and everyone in the administration for their support in this process and trust in me to take over leadership of the program.”

In her six years on Green’s staff, Meisner helped the Seawolves achieve a 119-42 record and NCAA Tournament appearances in four of those five non-COVID-19 affected seasons. UAA has also gone a combined 74-20 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference during her assistant-coaching tenures, finishing no worse than third place and capturing the league title in 2022.

“We are thrilled to have Stacie Meisner serve as our next volleyball coach,” Swartwood said. “Her experience as a former student-athlete and assistant coach made her our top candidate for continued success with the program.”

In her role as associate head coach this past season, the Gering, Neb., native was instrumental in helping UAA to 27-3 record – the second-best in program history – and the No. 1 NCAA West Region seed. The 2022 Seawolves reached as high as No. 4 in the AVCA Top 25 poll and finished at No. 10, producing national player of the year Eve Stephens and fellow All-American Ellen Floyd.

Meisner has also aided UAA teams that have excelled in the classroom. Most recently, all four UAA seniors earned spots on this year’s College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Volleyball Team, led by Lisa Jaunet’s 4.00 GPA.

Meisner began her collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant on UAA’s 2011 club that went 18-9 and earned an NCAA berth. She rejoined UAA in the same capacity in 2018 and was promoted to top assistant in 2019.

As UAA’s starting libero from 2008-09, Meisner was part of Green’s first two Seawolf teams, helping spark the program’s turnaround. In 2009, she led UAA with 4.54 digs and 0.36 aces per set as the Seawolves won their first GNAC title, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and equaled the best record in school history at 23-8. An honorable mention All-GNAC and academic all-conference honoree, she finished No. 2 in digs per set (4.53) and No. 3 in aces per set (.357) on UAA’s career lists.

Meisner graduated with magna cum laude honors in English in 2011 before earning her Master of Arts in English from UAA in 2015.

What is coming up What is up in Cougar Athletics in Athletics

Saturday, January 7

WBB – HOME vs. Lake Region State College, 10 a.m.

MBB – HOME vs. Lake Region State College, 12 p.m.

Thursday, January 12

WBB – Region IX Crossover at WNCC Cougar Palace

1 p.m. – NJC vs. Western Wyoming

3 p.m. – Lamar vs. EWC

5 p.m. – Ballers vs. Casper

7 p.m. – WNCC vs. Central Wyoming

Friday, January 13

WBB – Region IX Crossover at WNCC Cougar Palace

1 p.m. – Western Wyoming vs. Lamar

3 p.m. – EWC vs. Ballers

5 p.m. – Central Wyoming vs. NJC

7 p.m. – WNCC vs. Casper

MBB -- @ Casper College, Casper, Wyoming, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 14

WBB – Region IX Crossover at WNCC Cougar Palace

12 p.m. – Ballers vs. Central Wyoming

2 p.m. – Casper vs. Lamar

4 p.m. – NJC vs. EWC

6 p.m. – WNCC vs. Western Wyoming

MBB – vs. Western Wyoming at Casper, Wyoming, 2 p.m.

Monday, January 16

WNCC – Springs Classes Begin

WBB -- @ Eastern Wyoming College, Torrington, Wyoming, 5:30 p.m.

MBB -- @ Eastern Wyoming College, Torrington, Wyoming, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 20

WBB -- @ McCook Community College, McCook, Neb. 1 p.m.

MBB -- @ McCook Community College, McCook, Neb. 3 p.m.

Friday, January 27

WBB -- @ Otero College, La Junta, Colorado, 5:30 p.m.

MBB -- @ Otero College, La Junta, Colorado, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 28

WBB -- @ Trinidad State College, Trinidad, Colorado, 2 p.m.

MBB -- @ Trinidad State College, Trinidad, Colorado, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, January 31

WBB -- @ Lamar Community College, Lamar, Colorado, 5 p.m.

MBB -- @ Lamar Community College, Lamar, Colorado, 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 2

MBB – HOME vs. North Platte Community College, 6 p.m.

Friday, February 3

High School – Western Trails Conference BB Tourney

ALUMNI ATHLETIC NEWS

Former Cougar Velazquez spending time in the Army

Former WNCC men’s soccer player Bryant Velázquez is now taking a different approach to his career as a member of the US Army after spending a year on the WNCC men’s soccer team in the 2015 and 2016 seasons and playing professionally in Puerto Rico.

Velázquez currently is serving in the Army after stints of playing soccer in Puerto Rico and the United States and he is doing that because of his son.

“I am in the US Army at this moment and I joined because, as everyone in life, we go through different situations in life that can change what you’re aiming for,” he said. “In my case I had a son who was born with an amazing condition of Cleft Lip and Palate, and me being a separate father, I chose to give my goals for his well being.”

Velázquez, who is living in Texas right now, said he is an infantryman right now and really enjoys it.

“Becoming an infantryman was a tough choice because as number one priority this job wasn’t my favorite, even having good scores to join I did because necessity of money and this job offered me an opportunity of a better lifestyle in the economic part,” he said. “My goal being in the army is to serve proudly to a country who gave me the opportunity of a betterment lifestyle while I truly help my family with these amazing benefits I am getting.”

While he is serving in the Army to help out his family, he is also working as a journalist in the sport he dearly loves, soccer.

“Right know I’m working aside from my career as journalist and panelist for a newspaper in Puerto Rico,” he said. “I am helping in a big fight of helping Puerto Rican soccer on what it is the biggest administrative situation in the national federation for the rights of womens soccer, youth soccer and other concerns that are going out of hands from the high level people.”

Velázquez was a goal-keeper on the WNCC team and loved it at WNCC where he met a lot of wonderful teammates and coaches.

“My time at WNCC was awesome,” he said. “I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people, including Coach Rasnic who helped me a lot in my time there.”

He never had a chance to continue on playing in college because of an injury, but he did play in Puerto Rico after he was healed up.

“I didn’t have that chance because I had an injury at the end of my last season and I choose to return back to Puerto Rico to start my recovery and get my surgery,” he said. “After I got recovered from my injury, I signed to play professionally in the Puerto Rico Socce League (LigaPro) for a year and after that I got the opportunity to go and play back in the United States for Chivas USA an MLS Reserve team. That opportunity opened me the chance to go back into the Puerto Rico Men’s national team again after being called while playing for WNCC.”

Velázquez said his time at WNCC was a groing up experience and he definitely is thankful for that opportunity.

“As I said, WNCC has been a big part of who I am right now,” he said. “What I learned from Coach Rasnic and other amazing people there really fitted on who I am right now and I can be more blessed about that.”

His advice to others is to listen to the leaders because they know best.

“All I can say is that nothing is impossible in this life,” he said. “First thing is to listen to your leaders, second is to take action, and thirdly and not less important, but get your degree and have it with you anywhere you go because nobody can take out from you what you learn but what you let them take out from you.”

Velázquez still stays in contact with some of his teammates and said always keep your dreams in the forefront because those are important.

“I still in contact with some of my former colleagues from the team,” he said. “Always enjoy your journey and never forget where you come from. Let your dreams take out your desire of sleep.

Scottsbluff Junior College  Nebraska Western College  Western Nebraska Community College

(Above) Bryant Valaquez Toro in his Army outfit while serving the United States Army.

(Below) Bryant Valaquez receives his sophomore award during a game in his sophomore year.

ALUMNI ATHLETIC

H a p p y H o l i d a y s

Holiday photos from past years in Cougar Athletics

From 2011 Santa in the Cafeteria, several members of the soccer teams are all smiles as they were nice, while one women’s player is crying because Santa told her she was naughty.

From 2010, members of the men’s basketball team let Santa sit on their laps during the Cafeteria Santa Dinner.

From

From

Scottsbluff Junior College  Nebraska Western College  Western Nebraska Community College

This year’s Cougar softball team at their team Christmas party.

2018, softball girls posing with their Santa hats.

2013, Softball girls posing during the yearly photo with Santa hats.

ALUMNI ATHLETIC NEWS

H a p p y H o l i d a y s

Holiday

photos

from past years in Cougar Athletics

In 2012, the softball team helped put up decorations. Here the team pose by an igloo and penguin in the yard.

In 2002, several Brazilians couldn’t go home for Christmas and they stayed in a house that they rented for a month in Gering. Here, the Brazilians have a small tree and some presents. Pictured in the back row leaning on the sofa is former player and coach and now head coach at California Bakersfield Giovana Melo.

In 2011, WNCC athletes from different sports study for their finals during a true Midnight Pancake Breakfast. Today, the late night breakfast is held around 9 or 10 p.m. and not like midnight over 10 years ago. Also, the players are studying in what is now the rec room of Pioneer Hall revamped.

From 2009, Gianno Bianconi pretends he is Santa at the Cafeteria With Santa dinner.

Scottsbluff Junior College  Nebraska Western College  Western Nebraska Community College

Holiday Recipes from WNCC Athletics Holiday Recipes from WNCC Athletics

Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole

by Baylie Krueger (and family) Current Cougar Softball Player

Ingredients

Can of croissant rolls

2 Tbsp Butter

4 Eggs

Sausage

Chopped Green Chiles Cheddar Cheese

Preparation

1) Roll out a can of croissant rolls into a 9x13 casserole dish, spreading to cover the bottom of the dish and slightly up the sides. Pinch all seams together and brown in oven at 350 degrees for about 5-10 minutes, until dough is just slightly golden brown.

2) Melt 2T butter in a bowl and then beat in 4 eggs. Pour mixture over croissant roll crust and spread evenly.

3) Sprinkle with cooked, crumbled breakfast sausage (about 12 oz), chopped green chilies, and shredded cheddar or fiesta blend cheese.

4) Bake for another 20-25 minutes, until egg mixture is set.

Peanut Brittle by Hunter McCollum

Current Cougar Baseball Player (Recipe is from his great grandma Dugger)

Ingredients

2 Cups Sugar

1.2 Cup Water

1 Cup light-colored corn syrup

1/4 Cup Butter (real butter)

2 1/2 Cups Raw Peanuts

1/4 Tsp Baking Soda, sifted

Instructions

1) Butter 2 large baking sheets; set aside. Butter the sides of a 3-quart heavy saucepan. In saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, and 1/2 Cup water. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture boils. Clip a candy thermometer to side of pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue boiling at a moderate, steady rate stirring occasionally until the thermometer registers 2750F, soft-crack stage (about 30 minutes). Adjust heat as necessary to maintain a steady boil.

2) Stir in nuts; continue cooking over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until thermometer registers 2950F, hard-crack stage (15-20 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; remove thermometer. Quickly sprinkle baking soda over mixture, stirring constantly. Immediately pour onto prepared baking sheets. Use 2 forks to lift and pull candy as it cools. Cool completely; break into pieces. Story tightly covered for up to one week.

Famous Meatballs by Nicole Messman

Former Cougar Softball Player

Ingredients

1 (13.25 ounce) Can Pineapple Chunks

1 Green Bell Pepper

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Tpsn Cornstarch

2 Tbsp Soy Sauce

2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1 (3-pound) bag frozen cooked meatballs (thawed)

Directions

1) Pour pineapple chunks with juice into a saucepan. Stir green bell pepper, brown sugar, corn starch, soy sauce, and lemon jioce through the pineapple chunks until sugar and corn starch dissolve.

2) Bring the mixture to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 10 minutes.

3) Place meatballs into slow cooker crock pot; pour pineapple mixture over meatballs.

4) Cook on medium for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.

Rolo Pretzels

Ingredients

Little Square Pretzels

Rolos

M&Ms (for the top)

Directions

1) Turn oven to 3500F.

2) Put a Rolo on a square pretzel.

3) Put in the oven for two minutes.

4) Place an M&M on top of the Rolo as soon as you pull it out.

by Morgan (Smith) Anderson Former Women’s Soccer Player

Holiday Recipes from WNCC Athletics from WNCC Athletics

Broken Glass Dessert

by Mark Rein, Sports Information

(Please note you can use Sugar-Free Jello and Whipped Cream in this, which I always do)

Ingredients

1 Pkg Red Jello

1 Pkg Lime Jello

1 Pkg Yellow or Orange Jello

1 Cup Pineapple Juice

1 Tbsp sugar

1 Pkg Knox unflavored gelatin

1 Container of Whipped Cream

1/4 Cup Butter

Vanilla Wafers or Graham Cracker Crumbs

CRUST

Crush vanilla wafers or use graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup butter. Mix together and line pan with crust mixture

Topping

Dissolve each package jello in 1/2 cup hot water. Put in bread pan and refrigerate until firm and then cut into cubes. In a small saucepan, bring to a boil pineapple juice, sugar and plain Knox gelatin. Let cool and set aside. Put whipped cream in a bowl and fold in the cooled pineapple juice mixture and Jello cubes. Pour over the top of the crushed wafers/ graham cracker crumbs and top with walnuts or remaining graham cracker crumbs. Put in refrigerator and let it chill.

Sugar Cookies

by Hunter McCollum

Current Cougar Baseball Player (Recipe is from his late great grandma Ginny)

Ingredients

3/4 Cup Shortening

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Tsp Grated Orange Peel

1/2 Tsp Vanilla

1 Egg

4 Tsps Milk

2 Cups Sifted All-purpose Flour

1 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

1/4 Tsp Salt

Instructions

1) Thoroughly cream shortening, sugar, orange peel, and vanilla. Add egg; beat until light and fluffy. Stir in milk.

2) Sift together dry ingredients; blend in creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Chill 1 hour.

3) On lightly floured surface, roll to 1/8-inch. Cut in desired shapes with cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 3750F about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool slightly; remove from pan. Cool on rack. Decorate. Makes 2 dozen.

4-layer Dessert

by Mark Rein

WNCC Sports Information

(I make this all the time and have the recipe memorized and wing it a lot of times when making it, changing up pudding flavors.

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crumbs

Margarine

2 packages Low-fat Cream Cheese

2 Containers Sugar-free Whipped Cream (you can use regular or low-fat)

2 pkgs Sugar-Free Instant Pudding (Any flavor you want) (You can use regular Instant, too)

Directions

1) First Layer -- melt margarine and put graham cracker crumbs in and mix. Press in a 9x13 pan.

2) Second Layer -- Mix two packages of cream cheese with a container of whipped cream. (You can use less cream cheese and more whipped cream, too). Chill in refrigerator.

3) Third Layer -- Mix your pudding and pour over second layer. Refrigerate until firm.

4) Fourth Layer -- Smooth whipped topping on top of the pudding layer. Sprinkle with extra graham cracker crumbs or if chocolate chips or whatever you want.

Courtney Courtney

Medina Softball

Mike JMike ones BJonesaseball Baseball

Binny CBinnyanales VCanales olleyball Volleyball

Todd Rasnic Rasnic Soccer

Billy EBillyngel Engel Basketball

Isaac Isaac Lu Lu Basketball

Ryan

Burgner

Athletic DAthletic irector Director

WNCC Fall Athletic Team Photos Fall Athletic Team Photos

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