WNCC Cougar Beat

Behind the scenes of Cougar Athletics

COUGAR BEAT

Western Nebraska Community College

October 31, 2018 Issue 13

Regional time

Volleyball team nearing end of season

What’s In A Number

2 The number of returners on the women’s basketball team from last year. The two returners are Merle Wiehl and Eva Langton. __________________

3 The number of softball players on the team that have the first name of Emma. The players are sophomore Emma McMillan and freshmen Emma Flynn and Emma Glawson. __________________

36 The number of goals scored by the men’s soccer team this season.

Ramses Atahualpa and Silvio Xavier led the team with eight goals each. __________________

69 The number of shots on goal for the women’s soccer team this season. The Cougar women scored 17 goals this year.

Caroline Vieira had the most shots on goal with 17. __________________

511 The number of digs that libero Ana Costas has this season. Three other players have over 200 digs. Enna Masaki has 304, Adia Sherbeyn 291, and Jayme Commins with 279.

This Week in Cougar Athletes Wednesday, Oct. 31

l Volleyball: AWAY at regionals, Storey Gym in Cheyenne, Wyo. t First match: WNCC vs. Sheridan/McCook winner, 1 p.m. t Video: https://boxcast.tv/channel/gkf41locuen3s97e6dou t Audio: KOZY 101.3FM or online at

http://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KOZY Thursday, Nov. 1

l Volleyball: AWAY at regionals, Storey Gym in Cheyenne, Wyo. t Video: https://boxcast.tv/channel/gkf41locuen3s97e6dou t Audio: KOZY 101.3FM or online at

http://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KOZY

l Men’s Basketball: AWAY vs. Central Wyoming, Riverton, Wyo., 6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 2

l Volleyball: AWAY at regionals, Storey Gym in Cheyenne, Wyo. t Video: https://boxcast.tv/channel/gkf41locuen3s97e6dou t Audio: KOZY 101.3FM or online at

http://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KOZY

l Men’s Basketball: AWAY vs. Southern Idaho, Riverton, Wyo., 3 p.m.

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY vs. Seward County, Liberal, Kan., 5 p.m.

t Video: http://www.sewardsaints.com/information/SC_Sports_Network Saturday, Nov. 3

l Volleyball: AWAY at regionals, Storey Gym in Cheyenne, Wyo. t Video: https://boxcast.tv/channel/gkf41locuen3s97e6dou t Audio: KOZY 101.3FM or online at

http://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KOZY

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY vs. Garden City, Liberal, Kan., 12 p.m.

t Video: http://www.sewardsaints.com/information/SC_Sports_Network

l Softball: Community Service helping with Warrior Run, 10 a.m. run start t Warrior Run will be held at Legacy of the Plains Museum, Gering Wednesday, Nov. 7

l Men’s Basketball: HOME vs. Colby C.C., Cougar Palace, 6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 9

l Men’s Basketball: HOME vs. Southern Idaho, Cougar Palace, 7:30 p.m. t First game: Casper vs. Salt Lake, 5:30 p.m.

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY at Iowa Western, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 4 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10

l Men’s Basketball: HOME vs. Salt Lake, Cougar Palace, 6 p.m. t First game: Casper vs. Southern Idaho, 4 p.m.

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY vs. Cloud County, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 12 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 14

l Women’s Basketball: HOME vs. Northwest College, Cougar Palace, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 16

l Men’s Basketball: HOME vs. Western Wyoming, Cougar Palace, 7 p.m. t First game: Central Wyoming vs. Williston, 5 p.m.

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY at Gillette College, Gillette, Wyo., 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 17

l Men’s Basketball: HOME vs. Central Wyoming, Cougar Palace, 4 p.m. t First game: Western Wyoming vs. Williston, 2 p.m.

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY vs. Colorado Northwestern, Gillette, Wyo., 11 a.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 20

l Men’s Basketball: AWAY at Colby C.C., Colby, Kansas, 6 p.m.

Going for 20th straight title

Cougar volleyball team competing in regional tourney Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 for trip to national tourney The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will be entering the Region IX tournament with a mission and that is to win their 20th straight regional tournament when action begins on Halloween at Storey Gym in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

WNCC, 24-9 on the season, have won 19 straight regional titles when the tournament format was divided into two tournaments, a north and a south with both champions making the national tournament.

The format this season is a little bit different with just one tournament with two teams making nationals in Hutchinson, Kansas, Nov. 15-17.

The format for the tournament might have changed, but the Commins focus on winning a regional title is still the same. Jayme Commins, a sophomore setter from Ogallala, said the team is ready to go as this will be a major event for the Cougar team.

“This year is a big year for WNCC volleyball as it could be 20 years in a row of winning regionals,” she said.

The road to a regional tournament will not be easy as 12 teams will vie for a national tournament berth. For the Cougars, they enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed from the South while LCCC is the top seed from the North. The two top seeds have split matches on the season with each winning a five-setter.

Commins, who is averaging nine set assists a game, said it will take teamwork to accomplish success at regionals.

“We will have to really work as a team and come together to achieve success,” she said.

WNCC’s first contest will be Halloween afternoon at 1 p.m. when they face the winner of a play-in match between Sheridan and McCook. Sheridan and McCook will play at 10 a.m. with the winner playing WNCC at 1 p.m.

WNCC sophomore Enna Masaki hits over the block of Sheridan College during a game Oct. 25 at Cougar Palace. WNCC opens regional play on Halloween at 1 p.m.

The other four play-in games with the winner advancing to the bracket portion of the tournament while the losers ending their season include Western Wyoming facing Trinidad State; Otero taking on Central Wyoming, and Lamar meeting Casper.

Those winners will face the top two seeds from the North and South in the quarterfinals.

This is where the bracket gets complicated. The first Region IX championship game will be played Friday at 4 p.m. between the two remaining winners of the eight teams that made bracket play. The winner of Friday’s title will win one Region IX championship and represent District C at nationals.

The other teams, who suffered a loss will drop to an elimination bracket with the winner of that bracket earning a berth at nationals representing District D as the

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WNCC freshman Santana Mitchell shits the ball for a kill during a match against Sheridan College recently.

Volleyball:

continued from previous page other regional champion. That means, the team that loses on Friday will fall automatically into Saturday’s championship match at 4 p.m.

Sounds complicated, but in a sense, the top two teams still qualify for nationals.

Last year LCCC won the North and WNCC won the South regional tourney.

The last team to win a regional title when all the teams were represented was Eastern Wyoming College in 1998 when they defeated Northeastern Junior College.

That year only one team from Region IX qualified for nationals.

LCCC has never won a regional title when all the teams were represented while WNCC has garnered just one regional title in that format back in 1988.

The Cougars did finish runner-up in this year’s format in 1986 and 1976.

The tournament will be played at Storey Gym in Cheyenne. Story Gymnasium is located at 2811 House Ave. Admission to the tournament includes a tournament pass for $40, adult one-day pass $15, student day pass $5, and children under 10 free.

Tournament Schedule Wednesday, Oct. 31 Match 1 -- Western Wyoming vs. Trinidad, 8 a.m.

Match 2 -- Otero vs. Central Wyoming, 8 a.m.

Match 3 -- Sheridan vs. McCook, 10 a.m.

Match 4 -- Lamar vs. Casper, 10 a.m.

Match 5 -- WNCC vs. Sheridan/McCook winner, 1 p.m.

Match 6 -- Northwest vs. Otero/Central winner, 3 p.m.

Match 7 – NJC vs. Western Wyoming/Trinidad winner, 5 p.m.

Match 8 – LCCC vs. Lamar/Casper winner, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 1 Match 9 – Losers of Match 5 and 6, 12 p.m.

Match 10 – Losers of Match 7 and 8, 2 p.m.

Match 11 – Winners of Match 5 and 6, 4 p.m.

Match 12 – Winners of Match 7 and 8, 6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 2 Match 13 – Winner Match 9 vs. Loser Match 12, 12 p.m.

Match 14 – Winner Match 10 vs. Loser Match 11, 2 p.m.

Match 15 – Winners of Match 11 and 12, 4 p.m. – Region IX Championship 1 Winner will represent District C at nationals Saturday, Nov. 3 Match 16 – Winner Match 13 vs. Loser Match 14, 12 p.m.

Match 17 – Winner Match 16 vs. Loser Match 15, 4 p.m. – Region IX Championship 2 Winner will represent District D at nationals

Region IX Volleyball Champions

Year Champion........................................................................................................................Runner-Up 1974 Northeast Nebraska............................................................................................ North Platte C.C. 1975 CCC-Platte.......................................................................................................... Eastern Wyoming 1976 CCC-Platte..........................................................................................................Western Nebraska 1977 Eastern Wyoming...........................................................................McCook Community College 1978 Northeastern Junior College............................................................... Eastern Wyoming College 1979 CCC-Platte............................................................................................ Eastern Wyoming College 1980 McCook Community College................................................................ Western Wyoming C.C. 1981 Northeastern Junior College............................................................... Eastern Wyoming College 1982 Northeastern Junior College.............................................................................. North Platte C.C. 1983 Northwest College................................................................................ Eastern Wyoming College 1984 North Platte C.C....................................................................................... Western Wyoming C.C. 1985 Northwest College................................................................................ Central Wyoming College 1986 Eastern Wyoming College....................................................................... Western Nebraska C.C. 1987 Northwest College................................................................................................... Casper College 1988 Western Nebraska C.C........................................................................................... Casper College 1989 Northwest College............................................................................................... North Platte C.C. 1990 Northwest College................................................................................ Eastern Wyoming College 1991 Eastern Wyoming College............................................................................... Northwest College 1992 Central CC-Platte.............................................................................................. Northwest College 1993 Northeastern Junior College............................................................... Eastern Wyoming College 1994 Eastern Wyoming College..................................................................................Sheridan College 1995 Sheridan College.................................................................................. Eastern Wyoming College 1996 Eastern Wyoming College..................................................................................... Casper College 1997 Sheridan College.............................................................................. Northeastern Junior College 1998 Eastern Wyoming College.............................................................. Northeastern Junior College 1999 .............................................................................................................................................................

East Western Nebraska C.C..............................................................................Central CC-Columbus West Sheridan College..................................................................................................... Casper College 2000 .............................................................................................................................................................

East Western Nebraska C.C..............................................................................Central CC-Columbus West Northwest College.............................................................................................. Eastern Wyoming 2001 .............................................................................................................................................................

East Western Nebraska C.C...................................................................................Northeast Nebraska West Northwest College................................................................................ Eastern Wyoming College 2002 .............................................................................................................................................................

East Western Nebraska C.C..............................................................................Central CC-Columbus West Northeastern Junior College.................................................................................. Casper College 2003 .............................................................................................................................................................

East Western Nebraska C.C....................................................................................... North Platte C.C. West Casaper College........................................................................................ Western Wyoming C.C. 2004 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C.................................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Western Wyoming C.C................................................................................ Laramie County C.C. Dll North Platte C.C.........................................................................................Central CC-Columbus 2005 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C.................................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Sheridan College..................................................................................................... Casper College Dll Central CC-Columbus................................................................ Southeast Community College 2006 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C.................................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Western Wyoming C.C........................................................................................... Casper College Dll Central CC-Columbus....................................................................................... North Platte C.C. 2007 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C. (National Champs)................................. Northeastern Junior College North Casper College.......................................................................................... Western Wyoming C.C. Dll North Platte C.C.........................................................................................Central CC-Columbus 2008 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C.................................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Casper College................................................................................................... Northwest College Dll Central CC-Columbus....................................................................................... North Platte C.C. 2009 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C.................................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Northwest College................................................................................................... Casper College Dll North Platte C.C.........................................................................................Central CC-Columbus 2010 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C. (National Champs)................................. Northeastern Junior College North Western Wyoming C.C................................................................................ Laramie County C.C. Dll North Platte C.C.........................................................................................Central CC-Columbus 2011 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C. (3rd)......................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Western Wyoming C.C. (2nd)............................................................ Central Wyoming College Dll Central CC-Columbus....................................................................................... North Platte C.C. 2012 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C. (2nd)......................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Casper College.......................................................................................... Western Wyoming C.C. Dll Central CC-Columbus....................................................................................... North Platte C.C. 2013 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C. (3rd)......................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Northwest College (8th)......................................................................................... Casper College Dll Central CC-Columbus (7th)............................................................................. North Platte C.C. 2014 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C.(12th)........................................................ Northeastern Junior College North Northwest College (4th)......................................................................................... Casper College Dll Central CC-Columbus (7th)............................................................................. North Platte C.C. 2015 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C. (2nd)......................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Northwest College (4th).......................................................................... Western Wyoming C.C. Dll Central CC-Columbus (8th)..................................................................................Southeast C.C. 2016 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C. (8th).......................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Northwest College (6th).............................................................................. Laramie County C.C. Dll Central CC-Columbus (6th)............................................................................. North Platte C.C. 2017 .............................................................................................................................................................

South Western Nebraska C.C. (12th)....................................................... Northeastern Junior College North Laramie County C.C. (10th)...............................................................................Sheridan College Dll Central CC-Columbus (9th)............................................................................. North Platte C.C. 2018 .............................................................................................................................................................

DII North Platte C.C.........................................................................................Central CC-Columbus

Volleyball sophomores recognized on special night

Defending the title

WNCC men’s basketball open season ranked 14th, will have plenty of home games in November The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team will enter the season with plenty of people watching after the NJCAA men’s basketball pre-season polls were released Monday.

The Cougars, who captured the Region IX title a year ago and went 1-1 at the national tournament, enter the season ranked 14th in the nation.

WNCC will open the season this week when they travel to Riverton, Wyoming, for games on Thursday and Friday. WNCC opens Thursday against Central Wyoming College before facing No. 3 College of Southern Idaho on Friday.

WNCC head coach Cory Fehringer said is team is ready somewhat.

“We have not put a whole of stock in either team,” he said. “We are focused on what our team has to do offensively and defensively in transition with communication. It is for them to go out and enjoy themselves and play hard is the key as they compete for Western Nebraska.”

Last season WNCC finished with a 27-8 record and were 14-1 at home while averaging 95.6 points a game.

Fehringer said he doesn’t know what it will take to win back-to-back regional titles considering he is focused on getting his team ready for the season.

“We are trying to beat Central Wyoming right now; I have no idea what it will take to repeat,” Fehringer said. “We don’t know what the league has to offer and how talented the other teams are. We just know that we have a few pieces that no other team has.

I think that gives us confidence to say it is us against you.”

When WNCC opens the season Thursday, they will see a November slate of games field with competitive teams. Most of those games will be at home, too. WNCC will face No. 3 College of Southern Idaho twice on Friday and then against on Nov. 10 at Cougar Palace. They will also face No. 12 Indian Hills in a home and away series with Indian Hills making a trip to Cougar Palace on Nov. 23 and 24 for the Thanksgiving Classic.

Freshman Elie Cadat of West Orlando, FLoirdan looks to make a move in a scrimmage against Chadron State in October. The Cougars open the season as teh 14th ranked team in the NJCAA pre-season polls.

WNCC will battle No. 8 Salt Lake Community College at Cougar Palace on Nov. 9 as well as facing No. 20-Division II ranked Iowa Lakes Community College on the road.

“If there was a time to face adversity, I would say doing it at home is a lot better than doing it on the road,” Fehringer said.

“These boys will at least have a chance to have the support at Cougar Palace, the community of Scottsbluff which always gives us a little extra juice when we are in

the Palace.”

WNCC will have plenty of firepower when they open the season this week with four players returning that saw plenty of action a year ago. The returners are led by University of Nebraska verbal commit Jervay Green, a 6-foot-3 guard from Denver.

Green averaged 14.9 points a year ago while making 49 treys and pulling down five rebounds a game.

Also returning 6-10 Martin Roub, who

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Defending the title: continued from previous page is a threat from inside and out. Bryce Sanchious, a 6-5 guard from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, will also be counted on this season. The fourth returner, Marko Rajanovic, a 6-7 forward from Serbia, will set out this season because of injuries.

WNCC will also have a handful of transfers this season, including Scottsbluff ’s sharpshooting guard Dru Kuxhausen, who played one season at Chadron State College. The Cougars also have a pair of transfers from Central Wyoming College that will add depth. Henry Tanksley, a 6-3 long-range shooting guard from Omaha, and Marquis White, a 6-3 guard from Anchorage, Alaska, will supply depth.

“We have arguably one of the best guards in the country in Jervay Green, who has traveled to Florida, Wichita, Dallas, and Colorado for a lot of major exposure events.

A lot of coaches will take Jervay Green on their team besides myself,” Fehringer said.

“We also have one of the best bigs you will see on a nightly bases in Martin Roub, who can score inside and out with 3-pointers.

He is a great worker.

“And then you still have Dru Kuxhausen.

There is not a lot of kids that can shoot it as well as him, but what the fans will be glad to see is how he passes the ball and how hard he defends. He is a winner and he is going to put it on the floor. We added Henry Tanksley, who is one of the best big-win athletes that we added to a program that I coached. Those four kids alone give you a chance to win games. That is before you talk about Elie Cadet, and Bryce Sanchous as a returner, who guards everybody and is really tough. There is enough pieces if these kids want to play together.”

The freshmen class is also talented. TJ O’Connor, a 6-2 guard from Miami is back after redshirting a year ago.

The true freshmen include LeBeck Warren, a 6-4 guard from Grand Island; Ernesto Chavez, a 5-9 guard from Boulder, Colorado; Bryce Haerer, a 5-10 guard from Bottineau, North Dakota; Aloung Kang, a 6-7 forward from Minneapolis, Minnesota; Elie Cadat, a 6-5 forward from West Orlando, Florida; JyDonn Griffith, a 6-8 center from Lewisvile, Texas; and Christian Creech, a 6-8 center from Hastings.

Other members of the team include Sami Harun, a 6-4 guard from Stockholm, Sweden, Ashley Jones, a 6-0 guard from Scottsbluff, and Caeser Nworked, a 6-0

Scottsbluff graduate and WNCC sophomore Dru Kuxhausen defends a Chadron State player during a scrimmage in October. The Cougar men, who are ranked 14th in the nation, open up the season this weekend when they travel to Riverton, Wyoming, Nov. 1 and 2 to face Central Wyoming and College of Southern Idaho. guard from Canarsie, Brooklyn.

While Fehringer is pleased with the talent, the team has had its share of bad breaks with injuries and other issues. He said those adversities has affected the team.

“At one point this season we were at a point of playing seven sophomores and a couple freshmen,” he said. “Now we are looking to playing three or four freshmen and around five sophomores.

“We have dealt with some early stumbles out of the blocks. We had some issues with injuries which I am sure a lot of people are dealing with and they happen to be two pretty good players that we expected to produce for us on a regular basis. We have had some issues academically that are keeping kids off the floor as well. It is just some self-inflicted wounds at this point, but when you are talking about the first weekend of the year against good teams, it will allow us to find some identity facing adversity.”

After the opening week, the Cougars will have seven straight home games. WNCC opens the home season Nov. 7 against Colby Community College at 6 p.m. They then will have three straight weekends at home, hosting CSI, Salt Lake, and Casper Nov. 9-10; Central Wyoming, Western Wyoming, and Williston Nov. 16-17, and then

Indian Hills, Trinidad State, and Rainy River Community College over Thanksgiving.

The key to the hefty early season schedule is just staying the course Fehringer said.

“It is staying healthy and getting some of these kids back next semester and continuing to keep that identity going that will serve us throughout some of these tough games,” he said. “These guys will face being punched in the mouth a couple times and they will have to determine how they will respond.”

Northwest Florida State, who defeated the Cougars at the national tournament 109-91 a year ago, is the pre-season No. 1 ranked team followed by South Plains, Southern Idaho, Coffeyville, Kansas, and Eastern Florida State.

The top 10 is rounded out with Vincennes at No. 6 followed by Odessa, Salt Lake, Hutchinson, and Florida Southwestern State. Holmes Community College, who the Cougars beat in the first-round of nationals last year 87-73, is 13th in the nation, just one slot ahead of WNCC on the pre-season ladder.

The first regular season poll will be released December 4. By then the Cougars will have played 11 games. WNCC opens the home season Wednesday, Nov. 7 against Colby Community College at 6 p.m.

Meet the 2018-9 WNCC Men’s Basketball Team

Western Nebraska Community College Cougar Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Cl.

Ht.

Wt.

Hometown/High School Scottsbluff, Nebraska / Scottsbluff

0

Dru Kuxhausen

G

Soph

6-2

175

2

Marquis White

G

Soph

6-3

Anchorage, Alaska / East

3

LeBeck Warren

G

Fresh

6-4

Grand Island, Nebraska / Grand Island

4

Bryce Sanchious

Soph

6-5

210

Fort Lauderdale, Florida / Northeast

5

Sami Harun

G

Fresh

6-4

188

Stockholm, Sweden / -

10 TJ O’Connor

G

RS Fresh

6-2

155

Miami, Florida / Dr. Krop

11 Ernesto Chavez

G

Fresh

5-9

175

Boulder, Colorado / Monarch

12 Bryce Haerer

G

Fresh

5-10

165

Bottineau, North Dakota / Bottineau

13 Aloung Kang

F

Fresh

6-7

200

Minneapolis, Minnesota / The Skill Factory

15 Marko Rajanovic

F

Soph

6-7

Zrenjanin, Serbia / Sunrise Christian

21 Elie Cadat

F

Fresh

6-5

West Orlando, Florida / NorthEast

22 Henry Tanksley

G

Soph

6-3

Omaha, Nebraska / Lincoln Parkview Christian

Soph

6-3

210

Denver, Colorado / George Washington

25 Christian Creech

C

Fresh

6-8

180

Hastings, Nebraska / Hastings

31 JyDonn Griffith

C

Fresh

6-8

205

Lewisville, Texas / Lewisville

33 Martin Roub

Soph

6-10

205

Kolin, Czech Republic / -

Ashley Jones III

Fresh

6-0

152

Scottsbluff, Nebraska / Scottsbluff

Caesar Nworked

Fresh

6-0

175

Canarsie, Brookyn / Nazareth Regiond

23 Jervay Green

WNCC freshman Allysah Boothe drives to the bucket against a Metro State defender during a scrimmage on Oct. 27 at Cougar Palace. The WNCC women open the season Friday in Liberal, Kansas, against No. 10 Seward County Community College.

Women’s basketball ready to open season After two straight appearances at the NJCAA national tournament, the Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team will open the season Friday with the hope of earning a third straight trip to nationals.

This year’s team will be a little different in the fact only two players return from last year’s team that went 29-5 overall before losing in the Region IX championship game to Casper. WNCC earned a berth at nationals with an at-large big, falling to Tallahassee Community College 97-85, who went on to win the national title.

Third-year head coach Chad Gibney says this team has potential this season.

“This is a very unique group. We have a very deep roster that can do multiple things which allows us to be flexible and allows us to play different styles,” Gibney said. “Obviously, we want to stay with what we have done and be successful but this season I think we can play multiple ways and take advantage of our depth.”

This unique group will get things going early when they head to Liberal, Kansas, for a tournament on Friday and Saturday. The Cougars open the season Friday night against No. 10 Seward County Community College before taking on Garden City Community College on Saturday.

Gibney said things are going well

to open the season after four dates of pre-season scrimmages.

“Things have been going well,” he said.

“The team has bonded. They continue to get better as you can see in practice and they are starting to play with each other as time goes along.”

WNCC will be young this season with just Merle Wiehl and Eva Langton back from last season. Wiehl, a 6-1 wing player from Germany, will be the main threat this season after averaging 16.9 points and 5.7 rebounds a game a year ago. Wiehl was a NJCAA second team all-American as a freshman.

Langton, a 6-1 wing from New Zea-

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Women’s basketball: continued from previous page land, was a key performer off the bench and will be key this season.

That leaves nine newcomers on the team, two of which are transfers. The two transfers are Andrijana Reljic, a 6-3 forward from Bosnia, and Allysah Booth, a 5-5 guard from Chicago. Booth played at Lincoln College last year while Reljic played at Northwest Florida State, a team that played at the NJCAA national tournament last season.

The seven freshmen include Tishara Morehouse, a 5-3 guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Kolby Underwood, a 6-0 guard from Chicago; Anyssia Gibbs, a 5-11 guard from Apple Valley, California; R’Manie Pulling, a 5-7 guard from Denver; Yuliyana Valcheva, a 6-1 forward from Bulgaria; Taylor Joplin, a 6-1 guard from Garden Plain, Kansas; and Yaidelis Torres, a 6-1 forward from Puerto Rico.

What Gibney likes about this team is its versatility where they can do different things with their height and quickness.

With just 11 players, Gibney said there is depth.

“That is the thing that makes our team so valuable is we have an entire roster that can come in and do something that helps us,” he said. “That will be extremely valuable when we start to wear teams down throughout the game.”

After this weekend, WNCC will hit the road Nov. 9 and 10 when they head to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to face No. 19 Iowa Western Community College and Cloud County Community College. WNCC will open the home season Nov. 14 against Northwest College.

WNCC’s goal this year is to win the Region IX title like they did two years ago. The winner of the South sub-region will host the regional tournament. Gibney said the goal is to do just that.

“You want to win the region and make a third straight trip to the national tournament,” he said. “Hopefully, then we will have an opportunity to advance down there at nationals.”

Freshman Tishara Morehouse goes in for a bucket during a scrimmage against Metro State on Oct. 2. Morehouse is a 5-3 guard from Milwaukee. The WNCC women have just four sophomores and seven freshmam on the team this season with just two returners.

Freshman Yuliyana Valcheva looks to make a move toward the bucket in a scrimmage against Metro State. Valcheva is a 6-1 forward from Bulgaria. WNCC opens the season Nov. 2-3 in Liberal, Kansas.

Meet the 2018-19 WNCC Cougar Women’s Basketball Team

No. Name

Pos.

Cl.

Ht.

Hometown/High School

4 Tishara Morehouse

G

Fresh

5-3

Milwaukee, Wisconsin / Rufus King

5 Merle Wiehl

G

Soph

6-1

Gottingen, Germany / Theodor Heuss

10 Allysah Boothe

G

Soph

5-5

Chicago, Illinois / Evanston Township

11 Andrijana Reljic

F

Soph

6-3

Sarajevo, Bosnia / Druga Gimnazija Zenica

13 Kolby Underwood

G

Fresh

6-0

Chicago, Illinois / Morgan Park

21 Anyssia Gibbs

G

Fresh

5-11

Apple Valley, California / Granite Hills

23 R’manie Pulling

G

Fresh

5-7

Denver, Colorado / East

24 Eva Langton

G

Soph

6-1 Stratford, New Zealand / St. Mary’s Diocesan School

32 Yuliyana Valcheva

F

Fresh

6-1

Sofia, Bulgaria / First Language School

34 Taylor Joplin

G

Fresh

6-1

Garden Plain, Kansas / Garden Plain

52 Yaidelis Torres

F

Fresh

6-1

Tuncos, Puerto Rico / Colegio La Luz

Head Coach: Chad Gibney — Assistant Coach: Matt Vavro

Cougar softball, baseball take part in school walk The morning of Oct. 10 was International Walk to School day and the WNCC Cougar softball team along with some members of the baseball team ventured to Lincoln Elementary in Gering to walk with students.

The event was a chance to help out in the community and talk to youngsters..Freshman Jaila Johnson loved being with the kids.

“Being able to interact with the kids made it tons of fun,” she said. “Being able to help out and making sure they walked safe was a good feeling to me knowing I got to help make sure they were safe. And I did used to walk to school when I was younger For sophomore Michaela Kelly, helping out with the community was special.

“I really enjoy getting involved with the community and I love being around kids, so to do something small but so meaningful like walking with the kids at Lincoln Elementary was really special, and I know it probably meant a lot to them, especially those kids who sometimes don’t have company when walking to school.”

For Kelly, though, she never had to walk to school so this was a different experience for her.

“I never really had to walk to school when I was younger because it was too far from my house, but a lot of my friends had to walk to and from school so sometimes I would walk with them,” she said.

20

QUESTIONS with Men’s Soccer Player Daniel Matty

1DM:HowMyhastimeyourat wncc time at WNCC gone? so far has been very good. Bit disappointed with how the season turned out to be but still happy!

2theWhat are the things you will remember most about WNCC and Scottsbluff?

WNCC freshman Daniel Matty, from Norwich, Norfolk, has been a key defender for the Cougar men’s soccer team this season. Matty said he has nine countries and has dreams of making the MLS draft. Matty, in the picture, heads the ball in a game against Trinidad State this season. The Cougar men finished second in their conference and fell to LCCC in the first round.

LCCC went on to win the regional title, 2-0 over Sheridan.

DM: The volleyball games for now, and the my coaches and teammates!

3to theHasUSit tobeenplayhard to come over and go to school> DM: No, it’s been pretty easy. I’ve moved a lot in Europe and played in many countries so for me it wasn’t a big challenge.

4plishWhatin

do you hope to accomsoccer in the future?

DM: I hope to play for a top 25 D1 school and make it into the MLS draft.

5DM:Plans after WNCC? I would like to travel the world but also secure a job as a surgeon, unless soccer has other plans for me.

6whatIf you would not have come to WNCC, do you see yourself doing?

DM: I would of been at another school playing college soccer.

7WNCC? Reasons you choose to come to DM: Coach Rasnic had a big influence on my decision and it is a good program!

8DM:Soccer memories?

Scoring a goal in the county cup final when I was 13 years old.

9DM:College major and why?

Medicine, I really enjoy this field of study and always did well.

event/time that you have experienced?

DM: My first time going trick or treating was when I moved to England. We didn’t celebrate it the same way in Spain so it was really cool to get free candy and being out in the dark in costumes.

11 What is your favorite Halloween

16 Worst feeling in the world?

DM: Failure

17 How many countries have you vis12 Who is your favorite instructor at ited and which is your favorite?

WNCC? DM: Coach Jones

13 What is your favorite food to eat and favorite restaurant?

DM: My favorite food to eat is cheesecake and my go o restaurant is Nando’s.

14 If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?

DM: The fact that everything is valued in money.

10 Who is your hero and why?

15 If you had a choice between a DM: I don’t have any heroes, I like to think million dollars or living forever, which of myself as the greatest.

to go through loosing all your loved ones even your children.

would you pick and why?

DM: I would pick a million dollars, living forever sounds scary, especially having

DM: Spain, England, Hungary, France, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Belgium and now USA. Spain is my favorite because it has beaches and the food is great.

18 If you could eat only one food for the next year, what would it be and why?

DM: Cheesecake, my reasons are unclear but it taste so good.

19 If you could be a star in a movie, which one would it be?

DM: Guardians of the Galaxy, and I’d be star lord.

20 Best time to study and why?

DM: In class. It’s where you are meant to study, I’m not a fan of homework.

Cougar Alumni Watch Whitney Roth enjoys working at Division I level When Gering’s Whitney Roth was younger, her dream was to play Division I volleyball. What Roth is doing now is not playing or coaching at the Division I level, it is a different role at that level as the Director of Volleyball Operations at the University of Arkansas, an SEC school.

“It’s still very surreal to me that I’m at this level,” the former Gering volleyball player said. “I never thought that I’d have my dream position in a Power 5 Conference. They opportunities that we have here to be successful are endless and I’m still in awe of it all.”

The path to the Division I level took many turns and major thoughts.

“I think every player’s dream is to play at the Division 1 level but that’s not always attainable,” Roth, who played two years of volleyball at Western Nebraska Community College, said. “I wanted that dream like everybody else, but I found that dream in a different capacity. When I was younger, I had no idea that this job existed. I was all over the board with what I wanted to do from marine biologist, to fashion designer, to teacher, to coaching.”

Director of volleyball operations has a different role among colleges. Roth helps out in different capacities, but she is not allowed to help coach or help with drills.

“I coordinate all our travel at home and away; itineraries, hotels, meals, transportation, practices, meetings. I do practice set up and take down, attend practice and help in any capacity my coaches need me to as I can’t do any coaching or be involved in drills,” Roth said. “I plan official visits and alumni weekends. I handle all our budget and any type of purchasing/buying of anything our team needs. I handle facility usage and working with other groups who may need to use our arena. I can be extremely busy at times and I feel like I won’t have time to get all my duties done.”

So far she is loving wearing the red and white of Arkansas.

“The U of A is an awesome place to work.

I’m very fortunate to have been chosen for this position,” she said. “I love the town of Fayetteville. It’s a great college town with lots of stuff to do. I’m really excited for all the trees to start changing colors; it will be gorgeous here in a couple weeks. Northwest Arkansas

is a gorgeous area.”

The Razorback volleyball is coming back around, too. They are 10-11 right now after splitting a pair of matches over the weekend.

“We’re doing alright right now. We started out well then went into a slump and lost a bunch and now lately we’re winning some important SEC matches,” she said. “In the coming years we have some big-time athletes committed to us and I see us being very good in the SEC.” Would Roth like to get into coaching?

Well, she loves what she is doing now.

“I really enjoy this aspect of volleyball,” she said. “My stresses are very different from my coaching staff. At times I do miss that I can’t coach. I’ve dreamed about being in this position for a while now and it’s been everything that I thought it was going to be.

Roth ended up at Arkansas after spending last season at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as a volunteer assistant, helping them to an 11-5 Southland Conference record while also serving as head coach for the 18’s team with the CC Storm Volleyball Club.

Previously, Roth played volleyball for WNCC in 2008 and 2009 and helping the Cougars to a 101-8 record and two thirdplace finishes at the national tournament.

Roth played volleyball and tennis at Texas

A&M-Kingsville, and then was an assistant coach at Chadron State College for two seasons, serving as an interim head coach for the Eagles for a semester. She was also an assistant coach at WNCC in 2016 and helped the Cougars to a 35-7 record.

Through all her coaching stops, she has learned a lot about the game.

“To say that I have learned a lot is an understatement. I can’t put into words what I have learned from the coaches that I have had,” she said. “I am eternally grateful to all of them for giving me the opportunity to play for their respective school. I’ve learned so much from each coach and their varying styles.

The NJCAA had national NJCAA Day on Oct. 18 and Roth said attending WNCC was one of the best moves she made.

“I probably have the most memories from WNCC,” she said. “I absolutely adore WNCC and the opportunities that it provided me and other students. I love the idea of giving credit to NJCAA Day and broadening the horizons of what the NJCAA has to offer. I literally wouldn’t be where I am today without WNCC and the connections I made there.”

Her best memories come from her time at WNCC? “I sometimes find myself going back through my Facebook photos and looking through my pictures and laughing because of the situation we were in and I can usually remember what we were doing or talking about,” she said. “I think what I’m most proud of is the success that we had while I was there.

To this day I tell people about my college playing days and will say that WNCC is one of the best junior colleges in the country. I’m very proud to have donned the uniform for two years.

Roth’s advice to all the high school athletes is simple: take your schooling serious.

“Take everything you do in high school seriously from grades, strength and conditioning, practice, and games,” she said. “All those things matter when you get into college and the better you are at each of those things will only help your college experience. Keep an open mind when selecting colleges. Too many times athletes have one option in mind and there are so many other options available if your open to anything; division, location, scholarships, etc.”

Halloween time: Cougar athletes with pumpkins

Top left: Several WNCC athletes carved pumpkins with the Hernandez’ recently. Top right: Devon Rees carves her pumpkin Left: Cougar softball players Jaila Johnson, Lindsey Allie, and Devon Rees stand with their pumpkins.

Right: Ethan ”Q” Miller stands by his pumpkin. Middle Left: The dorm kids with Rudy and Angie Hernandez with their pumpkins.

Below Middle. Kale Litzelman traces a design on his pumpkin.

Bottom: The WNCC softball team pose with all their pumpkins they picked at the pumpkin patch and carving them.

Former Cougar Castle de Ortega leads Hastings soccer Hastings College’s Rhianna Castle de Ortega, a senior who played two years at WNCC, earned the GPAC Women’s Soccer Athlete of the Week honors on Monday, Oct. 22, in netting her team-leading 12th goal of the season in a 4-1 win over Dordt College on Saturday.

Castle de Ortega said earning Athlete of the Week honors is a big thing for her.

“It means so much because I have worked so hard and I am playing with my heart,” the former Cougar said. “This year is all I have and to get recognition like this means the world to me. Plus it’s pretty late in the season to get it so the timing is perfect because it must mean I’m doing something right.”

Castle de Ortega played two seasons at WNCC before going to a college in Louisiana. She has spent the past two seasons at Hastings.

This year, the Hastings team is having a good season. Castle de Ortega has helped the Broncos to an undefeated season so far – the only undefeated team in their division with a 13-0-3 overall record and 10-0-2 in the GPAC. Castle de Ortega has had two matches where she scored the hat trick, scoring three goals in games against St. Mary College on Oct. 6 and Mount Marty on Sept. 29. Castle de Ortega notched her 13th goal of the season on Saturday when she made a second half goal in a 3-0 win over Northwestern College. Hastings will open conference tournament action Wednesday against the College of St. Mary in Hastings.

“My season is going phenomenal, we’re undefeated and we’re the only team in the country left to be undefeated,” she said.

“Couldn’t have asked for a better senior year up to now.”

Castle de Ortega said scoring like she has is an honor, but it couldn’t have been done without her teammates.

“You know what I have 12 goals but I could definitely have more,” she said. “I missed some good opportunities but I’ve also got some very important goals to keep us in it, I am happy with 12 but couldn’t have done it without my 29 other teammates and Coach Clements. I had to redshirt last year due to credits not transferring, and this was the lowest time of my time in the US but I didn’t stop working and I have pushed through injuries and I will keep pushing because football is my life.”

Hastings College’s Rhiannon Castle de Ortega, who played two years at WNCC, kicks the ball toward the goal in a recent game for the Broncos. Castle de Ortega has netted 13 goals this season in helping Hastings to an undefeated season. Castle de Ortega recently was honored with GPAC Conference Player of the Week. (Courtesy Photo) Castle de Ortega, who came to WNCC from England, and recently got married to Jorge, who also played soccer at WNCC, said she has dreams of where she wants to take her soccer playing.

“I wrote my dream on a board in WNCC it was ‘to be the female Lionel Messi’ and this will be my next step is to try and pursue this dream,” she said. “Then after that I will settle down and start a family with my husband Jorge, which I credit WNCC for helping us find each other.”

The move to Hastings, she said, was a positive one.

“Honestly I LOVE Hastings. I was lucky to be asked to step up and be the captain this year,” she said. “It’s a huge responsibility but I wouldn’t want to be a captain to any other team - the girls are amazing, the campus is beautiful and the facilities are phenomenal, I’m so proud to play for the Haitch.”

Castle de Ortega couldn’t have got

this far without several people that helped her along the way. She credits WNCC coach Todd Rasnic for changing her life.

“I would love to thank the man who helped me become the player and person I am today Coach Rasnic,” she said. “I really cannot thank him and his wife Nancy enough. They have literally been my family out here. I want to thank my family for their constant support, they’re the best. I want to thank Jorge, he is my rock and pushes me when I’m down, I couldn’t ask for a better man to spend my life with! I have also been blessed with Jorge’s family. I just have so many people to thank I could go on forever haha! Lastly just want to shout out to MVW, thank you for watching over me, I love you!”

Hastings College will begin the GPAC tournament on Halloween night when they host College of St. Mary. The semifinals are set for Nov. 3 with the finals Nov. 8.

20

QUESTIONS with Bethany Fuchs, Women’s Soccer

1BF:How has your time at WNCC gone?

My experience here at WNCC has been very welcoming. I made a lot of new friends right away, particularly with the soccer team.

2ber What are the things you will rememthe most about WNCC and Scotts-

bluff?

BF: So far the most memorable moments between WNCC and Scottsbluff are the moments I’ve shared with my friends: All of the late nights going to Lake Minatare, having bonfires, telling ghost stories, and watching movies.

3WhoYouarehavetheyrelatives here in Scottsbluff. and how has that helped

your stay and have they watched you play?

BF: Yes I have my Grandparents, my great uncle and aunt, my other uncle and aunt, and my 3 cousins here in Scottsbluff. Having them here has helped me to get to know the area before I even came to WNCC. Having them here is like my home away from home. It’s always nice having a support group during our home games.

4soccerWhatin thedo future? you hope to accomplish in

BF: I hope to become one of the top goal scorers next season here at WNCC. After that I hope to get a scholarship to a four year college that way I can continue my soccer career.

5BF:Plans after WNCC??

My plans after WNCC are to attend a four year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice as well as continuing my soccer career.

6whatIf you would not have come to WNCC, do you see yourself doing?

BF: I would probably have gone to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or another college back in Colorado.

7BF:Reasons you choose WNCC? I chose WNCC because it’s in a town

WNCC freshman Bethany Fuchs of Denver goes after the ball during a game this season.

Fuchs helped the Cougar soccer team to four wins this season. Fuchs played in 12 matches and finished with four assists this season. The Cougar women’s soccer team qualified for the regional tournament, falling to Western Wyoming 3-1 in the first round. Western Wyoming went on to win the regional tourney with a 1-0 win over LCCC. that I’m very familiar with because I have a lot of relatives that live here. It feels like my home away from home. Along with that, I tried out for the girls soccer team and was offered a position on the team as well as a scholarship from Coach Rasnic.

8BF:Soccer memories?

So far my favorite memory has been

when my team did a slip-N- slide kickball game. I think that was the most fun and the best laughs we’ve had together.

9do inWhat other sports/activities did you high school?

BF: In high school, soccer was really the only sport I participated in. That and we

had an annual powder puff game where the junior and senior girls would play football against each other. During my time in high school I also played the piano.

10 Have you always lived in Colorado, or have you lived in other places and if so where?

BF: I’ve only ever lived in Colorado.

11 You are coming back from an injury? What was it like to go through all the

rehab and everything and what did it feel like to finally get on the field?

BF: Going through such an injury for me was more mentally challenging than phys-

Story continued on next page

Bethany Fuchs: continued from previous page ically. I had already been through this two times before so I knew the drill as to what rehab was going to look like. It’s so easy to mentally slip up and just say you quit when things get hard or things don’t look like they’re going your way. It was a challenge to keep myself positive during the months where I couldn’t play soccer, but all I could really do is tell myself that I could overcome anything if I just set my mind to it. When I finally got cleared to play, I felt a sense of relief, like worst was over. This was the time where I had to just do my own thing and slowly, but surely, everything would fall back into place; I’d gain back what I had once lost and become the player I know that I can be.

12 Who is your hero and why?

BF: I have a lot of people I’d consider to

be my hero, particularly in my family.

But if I had to choose just one, my mom has been definitely one of the biggest inspirations in my life. There’s nothing she hasn’t done for me. She’s always been right by my side during my highs and lows throughout life. She always picks me up when I feel like falling down. I don’t know what I’d do or where I’d be without her. I’m so grateful for her and sometimes I feel like I don’t tell her enough. But I’m definitely a mama’s girl.

13 Favorite car you have or want to own and why?

BF: I love the car that I have right now, it’s a Honda Civic. I named it Blue.

14 Favorite vacation spot?

BF: So far out of all the places I’ve been, Costa Rica is my favorite vacation spot.

15 What is wrong with the Denver Broncos and should they make changes and where?

BF: Hah. Don’t ask me. I don’t watch football enough to know what’s wrong.

16 If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?

BF: I would want to change the way people treat animals. Things like destroying their habits, polluting the oceans, etc. Makes me sad.

17 If you could be in one musical band and perform, who would you choose and

why?

BF: I’d want to perform with Thomas Rhett because he’s my favorite country singer, I’ve seen him three or four times in concert, and have pretty much all of his songs memorized.

18 You are invited to talk to middle school children. What advice would you

tell them about the high school years and what they need to do?

BR: I’d tell them that while they should still have fun during high school, they also need to understand that it’s a crucial stepping stone in life. It’s never too early to start looking at colleges, to start applying for scholarships, to start going to ID camps to be looked at by college coaches. Don’t

wait till your final two years to get everything done because you’ll feel rushed. Also, everyone going into high school has their mind fixed on their dream school, but don’t limit yourself to just that one school. Keep an open mind!

19 Is Santa Claus real, why or why not?

BF: Of course Santa Claus is real, the cookies don’t just eat themselves.

20 Favorite movie and why?

BF: My favorite movie is “Unbroken”. I read the book and have seen the movie a million times. I find this film to be heartbreaking yet so inspiring at the same time.

I love learning about American History and hearing about people’s personal experiences.

Cougar soccer sophomore men recognized

Cougar Culture

Kaile Tuisamatatele

LeBeck Warren

Natalie Peterson

Wellington Mariano Baseball

Women’s Basketball

Taylor Joplin

Volleyball

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Soccer

Favorite Eating Place

Wing Stop

Olive Garden

Texas Roadhouse

Chinese food

Chipolte

Ketchup or Mustard

Ketchup

Ketchup

Ketchup

Ketchup

Ketchup

A Dog’s Name

Kiona

Kobe

Spike

Cupito

Ben

Favorite College Subject

Athletic Training Practicum

Basketball

Soccer

Coaching Baseball

Intro to Recreation

What is a “Blind Pig”

Bacon

A swine

A pig that can’t see

A blind animal

Future dinner

Cougar soccer sophomore women recognized

WNCC Athletes of the Week Female Athletes of the Week Aug. 30..........................Ana Costas, Vball Sept. 11.............. Caroline Vieira, Soccer Sept. 19................ Thais Nayara, Soccer Sept. 25.Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina, Vball Oct. 13............Kaile Tuisamatatele, Vball Oct. 23................... Sarena Bartley, Vball Oct. 28..............Amryi-Grace Paris, Vball Nov. 4......................................................

Male Athletes of the Week Aug. 30................... Silvio Xavier, Soccer Sept. 11........Ramses Atahaulpa, Soccer Sept. 19.............. Ruam Barvosa, Soccer Sept. 25............. Hector Salgado, Soccer Oct. 13...............Thomas Franze, Soccer Oct. 23............ Josue Fernandez, Soccer Oct. 28................ Viktar Kravets , Soccer Nov. 4......................................................

Softball helps out at Geil Elementary Back to School Bash

WNCC softball players (left to right) pose with Western Nebraska Pioneers mascot Hiram at the Geil Back to School Bash. Softball players include Peyton Propp, Hayley Gordon, Sidnee Hogan, Lindsey Allie, Mickie Mills, and Jaila Johnson.

Above: Softball players manning the cake walk include Tylar Davis, Hannah Baessler, and Bri George. Right: Tylar Davis helps a little girl put her ear warmers on at the bounce house.

Left: Making slim are Mickie Mills and Hayley Gordon.

Jervay Green verbally commits to be a Nebraska Husker The long recruiting process is over for Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball player Jervay Green after the Cougar sophomore verbally committed over the weekend to stay in-state by selecting to become a part of Tim Miles’ basketball program at the University of Nebraska over the weekend.

Green said it was an easy choice in picking Nebraska. Green was also thinking about Iowa State, Arizona State, and Pacific. Green said this is a decision that he is happy with to get out of the way as be heads to the Big 10 conference after his sophomore year at WNCC. “It is a dream come true,” Green said. “I have been in love of the game all my life, basically. This is big for me and my family back home. The feeling is unbelievable and I didn’t think it was going to be this big at all. When it happened, it is a blessing.”

Green was a player that was getting plenty of looks from coaches from around the United States. Gonzaga’s Mark Few, Arizona State’s Bobby Hurley, and other coaches from big-time programs made visits to Cougar Palace in hopes of landing the Cougar’s 6-foot-3 guard.

Nebraska’s Miles wanted Green since the summer when he saw him at a Mullen’s Top 11 Junior College Camp in St. Louis and kept in contact with Green and his mom since the summer.

Green made his official visit to Lincoln this past weekend, toured the campus, met some of the players, and watched the Nebraska and Michigan State volleyball game. Green said he knew Lincoln was the place for him when he stepped off the plane.

“I got to Lincoln on Friday and as soon as I got off the plane it was love everywhere,” Green said. “Coach picked me up and we went to get some food and it was crazy. The support he gets is real big. They told me where they used to play ball, it is now the volleyball gym, That game was crazy and ridiculous. I didn’t get there for the football game,” Green said Miles was ecstatic when he verbally committed to become a Husker.

“He jumped on the table. It was crazy and it was wild,” he said. “Everyone was excited. I was excited. He was on the other side of the table and jumped on the table and gave me a big hug.”

Green becomes the third Cougar to become a Husker. The first was Bernard Garner, who played for the Cougars from 1993-95 and earned the NJCAA Player of the Year in 1995. Garner went on to help the Huskers

capture a NIT title in 1996.

Mike Peltz was the second Cougar to play for Huskers. Peltz, of Alliance, played for WNCC from 2010-12, played for Nebraska from 2012-2014. One of the biggest things Peltz did while at Nebraska was propose to his girlfriend Shelby Campbell during the pregame senior night.

Green said it feels good to be the third Cougar to play for in-state Nebraska.

“I think that is big [following in their footsteps],” he said. “Like I said, it was all about fan support. I know at WNCC the fan support is big, so at Lincoln it will be bigger. I just wanted to be a part of that.”

Last year at WNCC, Green was part of history as the Cougar men recaptured the Region IX title after 17 years of absence. The Cougars finished the year at 27-8, capturing a regional title and going 1-1 at the national tournament.

Green averaged 14.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals a game. Green buried 49 treys his freshman season and was 74 of 110 from the free throw line.

Green finished the year scoring in double figures in the 11 games and 23 of the teams last 24 games. Green had a season high 35 points against Central Wyoming College at the regional tournament.

Green graduated from Denver’s George Washington High School where he averaged nearly 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals for a team that went 25-3.

What Green brings to the team is a tenacity for defense and how he makes other players better.

“They liked how I rebounded the ball, my size as a point guard, and how I pushed the ball and got my teammates involved,” he said.

WNCC men’s basketball coach Cory Fehringer said Green will fit in nicely into the Nebraska program.

“We were well aware that Jervay was going to be a big time recruit the first time I went and watched him. We always knew he was a special player and special kid, and what is undervalued is how special of a person and human being he is,” Fehringer said. “It is no surprise to us that the individuals that came to our gym, came to visit a young man that has a lot of talent besides just basketball. As far as him [Green] coming to Western Nebraska, we knew from the beginning he was the best player from Colorado and if we got him we probably would win a regional title.

He produced and helped provide us an opportunity to be at the national tournament.

“For him to make a decision to stay instate and for him to make a choice for his future at the University of Nebraska, it says a lot. I think it speaks volume of what we are doing at Western Nebraska and for him to stay in the state of Nebraska, is huge for our community and our fan base. We are really proud of him and we can’t wait to see him more often because he is staying in the state of Nebraska.”

Parting Shot

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