Cougar Beat -- WNCC Athletics Newsletter -- Dec. 24, 2018

Behind the scenes of Cougar Athletics

COUGAR BEAT

Western Nebraska Community College

December 24, 2018 Issue 14

Record Breaker

Green breaks individual game scoring record

What’s In A Number

12 The number of wins by both the women’s and men’s basketball teams during the first semester.

The women are 12-2 on the season while the men are 12-4. __________________

23 The NJCAA ranking the Cougar men are at heading into the holiday break. The Cougar men have been ranked as high as 14th in the nation, but dropped to 23rd after falling to Indian Hills and Iowa Lakes to end the first semester. __________________

43 The number of blocked shots the Cougar

men have after the first semester. Bryce Sanchious leads the team with 13 blocks. __________________

162 The number of made 3-pointers the Cougar women’s basketball team has made this season. __________________

1,749 The number of total kills the Cougar volleyball team finished with this past season. Amryi-Grace Paris led the team with 361 kills.

This Week in Cougar Athletes Monday, January 7

l Men’s Basketball: AWAY at. Laramie County C.C., Cheyenne, Wyo. 6 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html p VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3AS9-z_dS1BgH7ntCfZfeg

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY vs. Casper College, Casper, Wyo., 6 p.m. p VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb3DHh28nv3LmxO20UKdDsw Friday, January 11

l Men’s Basketball: HOME vs. Otero JC, Cougar Palace. 7:30 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html

l Women’s Basketball: HOME vs. Northeast CC, Cougar Palace., 5:30 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html Saturday, January 12

l Women’s Basketball: HOME vs. Otero JC, Cougar Palace, 2 p.m.

Friday, January 18

l Men’s Basketball: AWAY at Northeastern JC, Sterling, Colo.. 7:30 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY at Northeastern JC, Sterling, Colo.. 5:30 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html Saturday, January 19

l Men’s Basketball: AWAY at Lamar CC, Lamar, Colo.. 4 p.m.

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY at Lamar CC, Lamar, Colo.. 2 p.m.

Tuesday, January 22

l Men’s Basketball: HOME vs. McCook, Cougar Palace. 7:30 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html

l Women’s Basketball: HOME vs. McCook, Cougar Palace. 5:30 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html Friday, January 25

l Men’s Basketball: AWAY at North Platte CC, North Platte, Neb.. 6:30 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html Monday, January 28

l Women’s Basketball: HOME vs. Casper, Cougar Palace, 6 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html Wednesday, January 30

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY at Northeast CC, Norfolk, Neb., 4 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html Friday, February 1

l High School Basketball: Western Trails Conference, Cougar Palace Saturday, February 2

l High School Basketball: Western Trails Conference, Cougar Palace Sunday, February 3

l Men’s Basketball: HOME vs. Trinidad State, Cougar Palace. 4 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html

l Women’s Basketball: HOME vs. Trinidad State, Cougar Palace. 2 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html Tuesday, February 5

l Men’s Basketball: AWAY at McCook, McCook, Neb.. 6:30 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html

l Women’s Basketball: AWAY at McCook, McCook, Neb.. 4:30 p.m. p AUDIO: http://www.gifamilyradio.com/kozy/index.html

l Softball: AWAY at Frank Phillips, Borger, Texas,. TBA

Green setting records

Cougar sophomore becomes first men’s basketball player to score 50 points in a game When Western Nebraska Community College’s Jervay Green went off for 51 points in a game against Iowa Lakes Community College on Saturday, he became the first Cougar basketball player to score 50 points in a game.

The scoring record stood for nearly 53 years. The previous best scoring performance in a game was 49 points, originally set by Billy Stewart in a game on December 12, 1965, and then tied by Eric Gore at the NJCAA national tournament in 1990, when he joined Stewart atop the record with 49 points against San Jacinto College.

WNCC head coach said Cory Fehringer said Green had an efficient night on the court Saturday in a contest against Iowa Lake Community College despite the Cougars coming up short 102-93.

“Jervay had a really efficient night with the number of threes he made and didn’t miss,” Fehringer said. “It really appeared effortless. It just seemed the ball was going to go in the hole for every shot he took.

When he went to the rim, he went to finish.

I thought he played with a lot of certainty that he was going to be successful during the night.”

Green’s stat line for the night was insane.

The 6-foot-3 guard went 18 of 26 from the field, including converting 10 of 14 3-pointers. Green also pulled down four rebounds in the contest.

But, while Green can score, he doesn’t have to and that was evident in the previous two games last week when he dished off eight assists in a win over Laramie County Community College on Dec. 11 and had nine assists in a loss to Indian Hills on Friday.

Fehringer said that is what makes Green special.

“Jervay has been the most unselfish high-level player we have ever had in my program,” he said. “He had nine assists the night before against Indian Hills. He has 16 assists in a game earlier in the year. He fills the stat sheets across the board with points, rebounds, and assists. He is a guy that goes out and says, ‘what job needs to get done’.

He is always willing to pass it more, shoot

it more, or rebound it more. He is always willing to give us what we need.”

This season, Green is averaging 24.6 points a game, up 10 points from his freshman season where he averaged 14.9 points.

Green has already eclipsed his 3-point makes from a year ago. Green has converted 51 of 123 shots this season for 41.5 percent. A season ago, Green made 49 of 157 treys for 31.2 percent.

Green has scored in double figures in 15 of WNCC’s 16 games this semester. His previous high was a 44-point outpouring in a 103-100 loss to College of Southern Idaho, where he buried seven treys.

What makes Green lethal is the versatility of his team. Green is one of five players averaging in double figures. Dru Kuxhausen is second on the team at 18.2 points a game followed by Martin Roub at 16.6, Bryce Sanchious at 15.2, and Henry Tanksley at 11.0.

The Cougars are averaging 95.5 points a game and are 23rd in the nation in scoring. Fourteen teams are averaging over 100 points a game, led by Temple College at 119.9 points a game.

The Cougars were, however, second

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Jervay Green brings the ball up the court during a game during the first semester.

Green broke a school record for most points in a game against Iowa Lakes.

Dru Kuxhausen drives to the bucket in a game against Rainy River Community College during the Thanksgiving Classic.

Men’s Basketball: continued from previous page in the nation in made 3-pointers, having made already 189 treys on 450 attempts.

Only Snow College has made more treys, by one with 190 treys.

WNCC is ranked 10th in the nation in 3-point shooting at 42 percent.

Individually, WNCC has two players in the top five in made 3-pointers. Dru Kuxhausen is tied for third with 55 makes, while Green is tied for fifth with 51 made 3-pointers. Kuxhausen is 32nd in 3-point shooting at 50.9 percent.

Scoring-wise, Green is eighth in the nation with his 24.6 points a game. Tristan Jarrett of Three Rivers leads the nation at 28.2 points followed by Alonzo Verge from Moberly Area.

That is what makes the Cougars hard to slow down because of the many weapons n the court.

Fehringer said they have many players that can score. Fehringer said when Green is filling it, he can light it up.

“People are going to pack the paint on us with the athletes that drive the lane for us. So, when they are going to give something up against Jervay, they are going to give up jumpshots,” he said. “On the night he is feeling it and is confident, he shoots

the three at a high clip. Other nights, like the night before against Indian Hills, Jervay was a little less successful.”

WNCC is 12-4 on the season after the two defeats over the weekend. The Cougars, however, are still ranked in the NJCAA Top 25 at No. 23. Two other Region IX teams are ranked ahead of the Cougars with Casper College coming in at No. 11 and Sheridan College, a team the Cougars beat a couple weeks ago, is ranked No. 21.

WNCC will have some time off for the holidays. The players are scheduled to report back to practice January 2 and the first game is slated for January 7 when WNCC travels to face Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Elie Cadet goes up for a dunk during a game with Laramie County C.C.

Christian Creech battles a Salt Lake Community College for a rebound on a free throw attempt in November at Cougar Palace.

First Semester Men’s Basketball Statistics Player GP GS Min. FG Pct. 3PT Pct. FT Pct. PTS RBS ASTS STLS TOs Jervay Green 16 15 578 145-276 52.5 51-123 41.5 53-92 57.6 394 95 81 29 56 Dru Kuxhausen 15 14 477 81-159 50.9 55-108 50.9 56-62 90.3 273 47 42 12 29 Martin Roub 16 15 521 98-187 52.4 30-70 42.9 40-54 74.1 266 112 15 7 28 Bryce Sanchious 16 16 447 86-159 54.1 20-52 38.5 51-66 77.3 243 87 60 25 29 Henry Tanksley 16 16 451 58-143 40.6 28-71 39.4 32-54 59.3 176 56 29 11 21 Elie Cadet 16 2 452 57-106 53.8 2-8 25.0 17-26 65.4 133 61 19 14 25 LeBeck Warren 13 0 200 13-28 46.4 3-13 23.1 6-7 85.7 35 19 14 8 7 Ernesto Chavez 2 - 11 0-2 0.0 0-2 0.0 1-2 50.0 1 1 0 0 2 JyDonn Griffith 7 1 27 1-5 20.0 0-0 - 0-4 0.0 2 6 2 0 0 Bryce Haerer 7 1 33 0-2 0.0 0-1 0.0 2-4 50.0 2 0 2 0 0 Christian Creech 8 0 26 1-4 25.0 0-2 0.0 0-0 - 2 3 0 0 2 Team Stats 16 16 3223 540-1071 50.4 189-450 42.0 258-371 69.5 1528 482 262 108 230 Opponents 16 16 3223 496-1118 44.4 147-406 36.2 191-281 68.0 1435 628 243 114 204

Result Won (1-0)

Won (2-0)

Won (3-0)

Lost (3-1)

Lost (3-2)

Won (4-2)

Won (5-2)

Won (6-2)

Won (7-2)

Won (8-2)

Won (9-2)

Won (10-2)

Won (11-2)

Won (12-2)

Lost (12-3)

Lost (12-4)

WNCC Men’s Basketball scoring charts

Final Halftime Opponent............................................................................Date 111-106 54-52 Central Wyoming College.....................................................11/1 High Scorers: Sanchious 25, Green 24, Kuxhausen 19, Tanksley 17, Roub 15 High Rebounders: Roub 15, Kuxhausen 7, Sanchious 7 105-102 58-64 College of Southern Idaho....................................................11/2 High Scorers: Green 29, Roub 22, Sanchious 19, Tanksley 17, Cadat 11 High Rebounders: Roub 7 88-85 37-49 Colby Community College.................................................11/7 High Scorers: Green 30, Kuxhauson 24, Sanchious 16 High Rebounders: Roub 4 100-103 46-47 College of Southern Idaho.................................................11/9 High Scorers: Green 44, Kuxhausen 22, Tanksley 11, Roub 11 High Rebounders: Sanchious 7, Roub 7 108-78 28-61 Salt Lake Community College.........................................11/10 High Scorers: Sanchious 22, Kuxhausen 21, Tanksley 12, Roub 10 High Rebounders: Cadet 5 93-90 54-43 Western Wyoming Community College..........................11/16 High Scorers: Kuxhausen 26, Roub 20, Green 16, Sanchious 10 High Rebounders: Roub 6 99-70 59-20 Central Wyoming College................................................11/17 High Scorers: Cadet 27, Green 19, Tanksley 14, Sanchious 14, Kuxhausen 13 High Rebounders: Sanchious 7 96-86 51-40 Colby Community College..................................................11/20 High Scorers: Roub 27, Green 20, Kuxhausen 16, Tanksley 14, Sanchious 12 High Rebounders: Green 12 89-81 42-42 Indian Hills Community College......................................11/23 High Scorers: Green 31, Roub 17, Cadet 15, Sanchious 11, Tanksley 10 High Rebounders: Sanchious 9, Roub 8, Cadet 7, Green 7 104-83 51-38 Rainy River Community College.....................................11/24 High Scorers: Kuxhausen 27, Roub 26, Green 16, Sanchious 15, Cadet 10, Tanksley 10 High Rebounders: Kuxhausen 8, Sanchious 7 73-68 36-30 Eastern Wyoming College..................................................11/30 High Scorers: Green 24, Kuxhausen 22 High Rebounders: Green 7 111-93 47-51 Williston State College......................................................... 12/6 High Scorers: Sanchious 34, Green 26, Kuxhausen 25, Roub 16 High Rebounders: Roub 11, Green 9, Sanchious 7 101-88 52-46 Sheridan College................................................................. 12/7 High Scorers: Green 26, Kuxhausen 19, Tanksley 18, Sanchious 17, Roub 17 High Rebounders: Sanchious 8, Roub 7 101-76 45-44 Laramie County Community College..............................12/11 High Scorers: Roub 29, Kuxhausen 26, Green 17 High Rebounders: Roub 13, Green 7, Warren 7 86-94 53-48 Indian Hills Community College......................................... 12/14 High Scorers: Cadet 21, Tanksley 18, Roub 16, Green 13 High Rebounders: Tanksley 6, Green 6 93-102 43-51 Iowa Lakes Community College........................................ 12/15 High Scorers: Green 51, Sanchious 20, Roub 16 High Rebounders: Sanchious 6

Win streak continues

WNCC Lady Cougars win 11th straight heading into holiday break, record moves to 12-2 on season Ever since two early defeats in November, the Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team have been on a roll, winning their next 11 games before the team departed for the holiday break.

And they have been on a roll not only in winning the 11 straight games, but also also scoring points. The team is averaging 92.5 points a game, which is fourth in the nation.

Wabash Valley leads the nation at 101.2 followed by Tallahassee at 98.9 and Harford at 97.8 points.

WNCC offensive doesn’t stop with just overall scoring. The Cougars led the nation in made 3-pointers with 162 and they are 29 makes ahead of the second-place team, Midland with 133.

The Cougars are also shooting the threeball well, coming in eighth in the nation entering the holiday break. WNCC is making 38.2 percent of its treys.

WNCC wrapped up the first semester in great fashion with four straight road wins.

WNCC started the 4-game road wins with an 82-63 win over Eastern Wyoming College at Torrington, Wyoming. EWC came into the contest undefeated and trailed 4132 at halftime.

WNCC was led by Merle Wiehl in the win with 27 points and four 3-pointers.

WNCC followed that win with a road win at Powell, Wyoming when they beat Northwest College 88-52. WNCC led 50-25 at halftime.

The Cougars had four players in double figures. led by Wiehl with 19 points followed by Taylor Joplin with 16, R’Manie Pulling with 14, and Tishara Morehouse with 12.

WNCC then went to Sheridan, Wyoming, for a classic and topped Central Wyoming 101-72 and then beat Sheridan College 82-60.

WNCC finished the Central Wyoming game making 12 3-pointers. Wiehl had six treys to go with her game-high 30 points..

Against Sheridan, WNCC led 55-27 at halftime. The Cougars shot 51 percent

Tishara Morehouse drives to the bucket during a game with Colorado State Club in November at Cougar Palace. in the opening half, including burying 10 3-pointers.

WNCC had four players in double figures. Morehouse led all scorers with 24 points, including making three 3-pointers.

Wiehl followed with 19 points and five 3-pointers, while Joplin had 13 points and three treys. Pulling tallied 12 points and two treys.

While the team is scoring lots of points, Wiehl is also putting up some numbers. In fact, Wiehl is on line to break the career

scoring record and it could happen sometime in January.

Wiehl now has 882 career points and needs just 145 more to break the career scoring record of 1,026 set by Penny Mallet in 1981-83.

Wiehl is also nearing the career 3-point record. Wiehl, who hails from Germany, currently has 91 career 3-pointers, including 52 this season, and needs 28 more 3-pointers to break the record by Lyndie Puckett set back n 2013-15.

ABOVE: R’Manie Pulling dished off a pass to a player during the Colorado State Club game the end of November. The Cougar women are on a 11-game winning streak and will return to action January 7 at Casper College. BELOW: Merle Wiehl drives to the bucket during the Colorado State Club game.

Yuliyana Valcheva goes up for a shot during a game in November. Valcheva is one of six players that have scored over 100 points during the first semester. Valcheva has scored 108 points.

First Semester Women’s Basketball Statistics Player Merle Wiehl Tishara Morehouse Taylor Joplin R’Manie Pulling Yuliyana Valcheva Allysah Boothe Anyssia Gibbs Eva Langton Kolby Underwood Andrijana Reljic Yaidelis Torres Totals Opponents

GP GS Min. FG 14 14 341 129-221 14 0 307 86-177 14 14 299 65-142 14 0 280 46-100 14 0 212 44-73 14 14 282 34-77 11 0 134 22-43 14 14 292 17-45 12 0 124 17-37 14 14 201 18-31 14 0 145 10-39 14 14 2619 488-985 14 14 2619 260-752

Pct. 3PT Pct. FT Pct. PTS RBS ASTS STLS TOs 58.4 52-112 46.4 15-19 78.9 325 51 39 23 19 48.6 23-70 32.9 36-38 94.7 231 35 38 41 29 45.8 26-65 40.0 26-38 68.4 182 72 22 13 11 46.0 13-42 31.0 15-18 83.3 120 22 39 14 23 60.3 4-5 80.0 22-34 64.7 114 62 10 4 31 44.2 23-56 41.1 17-17 100.0 108 27 38 15 31 51.2 10-23 43.5 5-8 62.5 59 36 9 9 10 37.8 4-24 16.7 6-6 100.0 44 51 23 7 10 45.9 2-8 25.0 7-14 50.0 43 32 7 5 9 58.1 0-0 - 6-10 60.0 42 62 10 14 26 25.6 5-19 26.3 2-2 100.0 27 27 4 7 5 49.5 162-424 38.2 157-204 77.0 1295 561 240 157 204 34.6 67-238 28.2 171-247 69.2 818 423 113 93 280

WNCC Lady Cougar Basketball scoring charts Result Lost (0-1)

Won (1-1)

Lost (1-2)

Won (2-2)

Won (3-2)

Won (4-2)

Won (5-2)

Won (6-2)

Won (7-2)

Won (8-2)

Won (9-2)

Won (10-2)

Won (11-2)

Won (12-2)

Final Halftime Opponent............................................................................Date 64-74 33-31 Seward County Community College.....................................11/2 High Scorers: Wiehl 21, Boothe 14, Joplin 14 High Rebounders: Langton 7 96-59 38-30 Garden County Community College.....................................11/3 High Scorers: Morehouse 36, Wiehl 19, Valcheva 12, Joplin 10 High Rebounders: Reljic 11, Joplin 11 75-80 37-30 Iowa Western Community College.......................................11/9 High Scorers: Wiehl 27, Morehouse 14, Boothe 13, Joplin 12 High Rebounders: Wiehl 6 99-54 51-25 Cloud County Community College......................................11/10 High Scorers: Wiehl 22, Morehouse 20, Valcheva 14, Pulling 12, Joplin 11, Langton 10 High Rebounders: Wiehl 6, Reljic 6, Morehouse 6 101-56 45-26 Northwest College............................................................11/14 High Scorers: Wiehl 32, Morehouse 19, Joplin 13, Valcheva 13 High Rebounders: Reljic 5 91-68 45-29 Gillette College...................................................................11/16 High Scorers: Wiehl 25, Joplin 21, Morehouse 12 High Rebounders: Valcheva 7 94-43 48-21 Colorado Northwestern Community College......................11/17 High Scorers: Wiehl 27, Joplin 17, Morehouse 14 High Rebounders: Reljic 9, Underwood 8, Valcheva 7 110-62 53-34 Trinidad State Junior College..........................................11/23 High Scorers: Boothe 21, Morehouse 21, Pulling 15, Wiehl 13, Joplin 10, Gibbs 10 High Rebounders: Reljic 5, Langton 5 102-33 64-18 Nebraska All-stars............................................................11/24 High Scorers: Wiehl 19, Gibbs 16, Joplin 15, Boothe 10, Pulling 10 High Rebounders: Gibbs 9 110-42 60-22 Colorado State Club.........................................................11/17 High Scorers: Wiehl 25, Valcheva 15, Pulling 14, Morehouse 13, Gibbs 11 High Rebounders: Gibbs 9 82-63 41-32 Eastern Wyoming College..................................................11/30 High Scorers: Wiehl 27, Morehouse 16, Pulling 11, Joplin 10 High Rebounders: Wiehl 12, Joplin 9 88-52 50-25 Northwest College............................................................... 12/7 High Scorers: Wiehl 19, Joplin 16, Pulling 14, Morehouse 12 High Rebounders: Underwood 6 101-72 53-34 Central Wyoming College.................................................. 12/14 High Scorers: Wiehl 30, Morehouse 14, Joplin 11, Valcheva 11, Pulling 10 High Rebounders: Valcheva 8 82-60 55-27 Sheridan College............................................................... 12/15 High Scorers: Morehouse 24, Wiehl 19, Joplin 13, Pulling 12 High Rebounders: Reljic 8

Former Cougar part of Atlanta United championship Former Western Nebraska Community College men’s soccer player Manolo Garcia, the soccer operations coordinator of the Atlanta United of the MLS, became part of history for the professional Atlanta soccer program recently..

Atlanta captured the MLS cup with a 2-0 win over the Portland Timber earlier in December and the city of Atlanta celebrated for the first time in 23 years since the Atlanta Braves won a championship for the city.

Garcia said this win feels special to him and the organization.

“It’s an amazing feeling to have won the MLS Cup and it’s the result of a lot of hard work on behalf of the players, coaching staff, and everyone involved with the organization,” Garcia said. “However, like every successful team, we have already begun eying up next year. You can’t get complacent because you just won a championship. Now it’s time to prepare to win another one.”

The role Garcia has with the Atlanta United is different than what he is used to doing and that is playing.

“I didn’t help recruit any players as I got to the organization once our roster was completed,” he said.

“However, as part of the front office for our soccer operations department, we are responsible for player relocation. I helped about five international players with searching for housing, getting their drivers licenses, getting their immigration documentation sorted, etc.”

He still got to travel and watch the United win the title and that, he said, is rewarding in itself.

“It’s definitely a different feeling [being in the front office], but it is also extremely rewarding,” he said.

“There’s a lot of work that goes in behind the scenes to get to this point.

I’m extremely proud of my contribution, but at the end of the day, the players and coaching staff got the job done in a fantastic way. Seeing the joy of the players, coaches, and their families after the game was definitely one of the most gratify-

ABOVE: Manolo Garcia kisses the MLS championship trophy after the Atlanta United beat Portland 2-0 to win the MLS championship. BELOW: Manolo Garcia and another United representative hold up the MLS Cup championship T-shirts that Atlanta won earlier this month. ing things I’ve been apart of in my young career.

Garcia played for the Cougars in 2010 and 2011. After WNCC, he went on to play soccer at Belmont Abbey College just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. He then went to West Virginia University for his Masters in Sports Management. Last year he was in the front office at Clemson University helping the women’s soccer program.

Once Garcia finished his playing days, he still stayed involved in soccer in the states. That led him to the front office staff of the United.

Garcia said his role is working with the players.

“I am the Soccer Operations Coordinator, working in the front office along with our Vice President Technical Director/GM,” Garcia said. “We are in charge of facilitating player performance and experience, and ensuring coaches can easily focus on pre-

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Garcia: continued from previous page paring the team to perform at the best of their abilities. I helped both our first and second teams with travel logistics, player relocation, game day operations, etc.”

In fact, wherever Garcia has ended up he has brought success. At West Virginia he helped the women’s soccer team win a Big 12 Regular Season title in 2014, Clemson women with an ACC title in 2016, and now a MLS Cup championship for the Atlanta United this year.

Garcia said since he was a youngster playing soccer, he has been involved n about 7-10 as a kid plus several in his professional career.

“I’ve been very lucky to work for great organizations along with some amazing people,” he said. “I work hard on a daily basis to be an asset and make a positive impact. Do I strive for success? Absolutely, success is a collective effort in which I merely contribute.”

As for next year, Garcia said the staff is already working on getting a team together for next year.

“We are already getting ready for next season. We have our technical staff at looking at a new coaching staff as well as players. I take care of the next step,” he said.

“Once the players get to Atlanta, my position entails taking care of their relocation.

I’ll also begin to work on travel logistics for next season.”

Garcia still is learning and same day would love to be a general manager of a major league soccer team.

“It’s been a long journey from my time at Western Nebraska to where I am today.,” he said. “However, the strange thing is that the closer people might think I am to my ultimate goal, the further I feel I am. My aspirations keep growing, and with that so does the work needed to get to the top. My ultimate goal is to one day become a GM or Vice President of Soccer Operations at an MLS Club.”

With everything Garcia has went through and accomplished, Garcia said he got to where he is today by dreaming and making it happen.

“To all the student-athletes at Western Nebraska, don’t be afraid of dreaming.,” he said. “Dream big and use everything you learn from sports to achieve those goals.

When you make your decision to transfer, make sure that school that gives you the best chance at succeeding on and off the field.”

Nayara, Vieira earn women’s soccer all-region honors The WNCC women’s soccer team placed two players on this year’s All-Region team that was released in November..

Thais Nayara, a freshman from Brazil, earned first team honors as a defender, while Carol Vieira, a freshman from Brazil, garnered second team honors as a midfielder.

Nayara led the Cougars in scoring this season, tallying six goals with one assist for 13 points.

Vieira was the team’s third leading scorer,

finishing with three goals and two assists.

Other First Team recipients include goalkeeper Markell Freeman of Western Wyoming; defenders Katie Loken of Laramie County, Makayla Barnes and Jaclyn Edwards of Western Wyoming; midfielders Annie Rolf and Taylor Stoeger of Laramie County, Jordan Quig of Sheridan, and Emma Barnes of Western Wyoming; forwards Maylee Thompson of Western Wyo-

ming and Jaycie Dillenburg of NJC; at-large representatives Karlie Valdez of Gillette and Shaney McCabe of Laramie County.

Second Team recipients include goalkeeper Ellie Bowman of Laramie County; defenders Dhawnae Inama of Gillette, Kieli Stults of Sheridan, and Kaitlyn Pryor of Western Wyoming; midfielder Annette Gomez of Otero; and forward Kelsey Hogan of Gillette.

Pinho headed to Point Park University WNCC men’s soccer player Alan Pinho came to Western Nebraska Community College to learn soccer.

In two seasons, Pinho, a defender for the Cougars from Brazil, has developed his game drastically and will be continuing his playing at the next level after signing with Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“I decided to go there because it is a good city and good program,” Pinho said. “I talked to the Brazilian guys there and they said good things about the coach and the college. The college is good in business.”

Pinho said in his two years at WNCC, he has learned a lot about the game and himself as well as having continued support in helping him to continue playing soccer.

“It was a dream come true to come to the United States to study and play soccer,” he said. “I developed a lot coming to Western Nebraska Community College.

Coach [Todd] Rasnic showed and taught me soccer. I remember my first time here and I knew I had to grow up a lot as a soccer player. I now have two more years to keep improving.”

Rasnic said that when Pinho showed up two years ago, he saw a guy that was rough but loved his work ethic. Rasnic said Pinho had a lot of personality on the field.

“He was kind of an unpolished stone. He had a lot of natural ability in the game and not let anyone fool you, he worked really hard to get where he got today,” Rasnic said.

“He was nowhere near the player he is now when he walked into my office in the spring of 2017. He played with us a few times and I was ‘Oh boy, we are in trouble.’ He listened and he developed into a player that was very useful in a game.

Rasnic said that work ethic helped him get the scholarship he did at Point Park.

“He came in with a pretty good disadvan-

tage and he overcame it,” he said. “I don’t get to say that a lot about players, but there are certain players that come in that have the right mentality to continue to play the game at the next level. That is what he is going to do. He is going to a good school in a good town, and they gave him a fantastic scholarship. All of those things indicate to me that he came here to become a better player and better student in culminating into another school.. We are very happy for Alan and wish him the best as he moves on.”

Pinho is going to a Point Park men’s soccer team that went 10-6-1 in the fall. Pinho is the second Cougar to attend Point Park in the last three years. Izzy Hunter went to Point Park to play on the women’s soccer team and became an all-conference player for the Green and Gold Pioneers.

Rasnic said Pinho will fit in nicely at Point Park.

“He is probably one of the more intense players I have coached in a while and I say that jokingly,” Rasnic said. “He has to be a guy that is very tenacious and direct all the time. He has to be very strong when he goes into tackles. The league he is going in is a very physical league so I think he will fit perfectly. I think he will be a player that can produce for two years at this college.”

Pinho said it will be hard to leave Scottsbluff in May when he graduates with all the people he met.

“It is going to be hard to leave because I made a lot of friends including my dorm parents who support me a lot,” Pinho said.

“I love my teammates because they support me.”

Parker, Berg headed to Ft. Hays for baseball.

WNCC baseball players Hunter Parker and Zach Berg will be taking their baseball talents to the next level when they leave WNCC after signing with Ft. Hays State College last week.

The pitchers have known and played with each other for a long time and they said it was fitting that they go to the same college to play baseball next year.

“Me and Zach have been teammates since early high school, sophomore year,” Parker, an Eaglecrest High in Centennial, Colorado, said. “It means a lot that we have been sticking together the last couple years and in the future.”

Berg added that going with a teammate makes the signing that more special.

“It is really awesome for both of us,” Berg, who graduated from Chaparral High in Parker, Colorado, said. “We experienced living together and playing together for some time. We had hopes that was something that we could continue and now it is actually a reality.

The one thing that they still have hopes for is winning a championship, whether it be this spring for WNCC or a conference championship at Ft. Hays State. Both, they said, are within reach.

“I am going there because I love the town, I love the baseball team, and I want to improve at a Division II school,” Parker said. “It always has been a dream of mine to be a college baseball player so signing with Ft Hays means a lot to me.”

For Berg, Ft. Hays was a place he has been looking at while in high school.

“I decided to go there because it has been a place I have been looking at since coming out of high school,” the right-handed pitcher said. “Now, with the new coaching staff and a lot of the guys they are bringing in, I feel like it is a really good place to go and win some games and compete for a conference championship.”

Parker and Berg join a long line of WNCC players that have played at Ft. Hays, including on this year’s team junior Tyler Olson and senior Ryan Grasser.

Parker said he also visited Pittsburgh State College in Kansas, but after weighing both schools together, picked Ft. Hays.

“I want a championship at Ft. Hays,” Parker said. “That is what I want and I also want a 3.0 GPA,” he said.

Last season with WNCC, Parker had an 8.87 earned run average with 51 strikeouts

in 44.2 innings of work.

Parker said this year’s team has one goal in mind, to win a Region IX championship.

“We have a thing between the team from the fall season that we want to get a championship,” he said.

Also, for Parker, this season will help him when he plays in the summer collegiate league this summer with the Western Nebraska Pioneers.

“I am actually committed to the Western Nebraska Pioneers for this summer. So I will be playing here in Nebraska,” he said.

“It is a privilege and really exciting [to play for the Pioneers]. They came into the league in the first year and won it all. I get to be a part of that next summer and that is a real honor.”

As for Berg, his goal at WNCC is to win.

Berg appeared in 13 games a year ago tossed 39.2 innings with a 4.76 ERA. He had 31 strikeouts and walked just 12 batters.

“This year we want to win a bunch of games, really,” he said. “That is the goal.

We want to win the conference and I definitely think we have a good shot at it this year. We have a stronger team this year and I am looking forward to showing off

to everybody what we got. We have had a lot of good competition in the fall season.

We have a lot of really good players at every position this year. We have a lot of guys that were working hard to get better and I think

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20

QUESTIONS with Reagan Solomon, Cougar Softball

Reagan Solomon is a sophomore pitcher on the WNCC softball team from Farmington, Utah. Last season, Reagan appeared i 36 games and tossed 139.1 innings with 66 strikeouts and an ERA of 6.58. This year, Reagan is also a Resident Life Assistant and was nominated for homecoming queen.

1it been Sophomore year at WNCC: How has going for you with everything you

are involved in?

My sophomore year has gone by so fast.

The sophomores on the softball team are all very close and we have had a ton of fun together the past two years. It’s been really busy for me, but I have enjoyed it a lot and I’m really going to miss it when it is over.

2lookWhat does this year’s softball team like with 21 players for the spring?

I am confident that we will have a great year. Our team chemistry is great. We have a lot of talent and we have worked really hard. I’m really excited for everyone to see what we will accomplish this year.

3yourHowfreshman much have you improved from to sophomore year?

I have improved a lot. Our coaches are great and have pushed me to achieve my full potential. They have helped me realize what I can become.

4andWhat are you all involved in at WNCC what can you take from those areas

for the future?

I am on the softball team and I work as a resident assistant in Conestoga Hall. I learn a lot from being a part of both teams. Some of the most important things I have learned are discipline, hard work, and leadership skills. I believe that all three of these are very important and will help me be successful throughout my life.

5I loveWhysoftball is softball so fun to play for you? because it is a team sport that can be very individualized at times. It is really fun when we are able to work together as a team and bring each other up.

WNCC sophomore Reagan Solomon starts her wind-up during a game this fall. Reagan, from Farmington, Utah, is ready for her final year of playing softball at WNCC when the spring semester rolls around.

6ingFriendships: How important is maknew friends at college?

I wouldn’t have been able to get through my freshman year if it weren’t for my teammates who are my best friends. I think that the friends you make in college really will last a lifetime.

7How hard will it be to leave WNCC in

May when you graduate?

It will be really hard to leave WNCC because I have grown to love it so much.

There’s nothing like being a Cougar.

8WNCC If you were not playing softball at last year and this year, what do

you see yourself doing or being?

If I wasn’t playing softball I probably would have been working full time and going to school somewhere in Utah, which sounds very boring, so I’m really glad I’m here.

9MyFavorite Utah college team and why? family has always been huge fans of the BYU Cougars. You can never go wrong with cheering for the Cougars!

10 What is the best part of being a pitcher?

The best part of being a pitcher is that you can help your team get outs every play.

Story continued on next page

Reagan Solomon: continued from previous page 11 Hobbies?

Softball! I’m not that well-rounded. Watch-

Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, South Dakota, Montana, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, and New York. My favorite is definitely Hawaii!

ing and playing softball will always be my favorite hobby.

12 What does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas is important to me because it is a

18 If they made a movie of your life, what would the name of it be and who

time to celebrate the birth and life of Christ.

would you like to play you?

That is a really hard question, but I would definitely want Jennifer Aniston to play me.

13 Is Santa Claus real and why?

My mom always says if you don’t believe

19 What is the key to being successful for all the younger students in high school

in Santa then he won’t come, so I keep on believing! I love Santa Claus because he teaches children to believe in something they cannot see, and keeps us all young!

and even college students?

I will always believe that the key to success is hard work and heart. If you want something bad enough and you are wiling to work hard, there isn’t much that can stand in your way.

14 If you could rename Santa’s reindeers, what names would you give them?

I love Santa’s reindeer! I don’t think they need new names.

15 Going through all your past Christmases, what is the one present that

you will always cherish and why?

My sister gave me a bracelet that says “everything happens for a reason.” I love it and wear it all the time. When things get tough it is a reminder that there is always a bigger picture to look at and that everything will work out in the end.

20 What are your goals for the second semester in school and softball and what

one(s)?

I have been to: Utah, California, Nevada,

are your plans after WNCC? Our biggest goal as a team is to be Region IX champions and compete for a national championship. In school, I have a goal to get the first 4.0 of my academic career. After I graduate from WNCC, I will be getting married in June and I plan to continue my education and softball career, but I have not yet decided on a school.

Silvio Xavier, who signed last week with Bethel University in Kentucky, and Ramses Atahualpa each earned First Team South all-region honors as forwards. Xavier finished last season with eight goals and five assists, while Atahualpa finished with eight goals and 10 assists.

Also nabbing first team honors as Thomas Franze as a midfielder. Franze, a sophomore, finished the season with one goal and four assists.

Earning First Team South defender honors was freshman Vincius Viana.

WNCC’s Daniel Matty, a freshman, earned second team South All-region for a defender.

Other members of the First Team include forwards Jean Carre of NJC and Marcus Horwood of Central-Columbus; midfielders Arturo Chairez of Otero, Dani Van Steijn

of NJC, and Hakim Williams of Trinidad; defenders Gaetan Garcia of NJC, Isaiah Alexander of Otero, and Ronaldo Watson of Trinidad; and goalkeeper Petar Pesic of Otero.

Second team South All-region players include forwards Diego Garrido of Otero, Christopher Badibengi and Iahleel Cunningham of Trinidad, Maurice Von Winkler of NJC, and Luis Tovar of CCC-Columbus; midfielders Bryson Chiles and Sebastian Garcia of Otero, Quenstin Hornung of NJC, and Peterson Costa of CCC-Columbus; defenders Alexandro Ayala and Jesse Flores of Otero, and Pim con Zoest of NJC; and goalkeeper Luc Denisselle of NJC. NJC’s Carre, a sophomore, earned South Most Valuable Player honors while Freshman of the Year was shared between Otero’s Bryson Chiles and NJC’s Luc Denisselle.

16 What do you prefer: snow or beach?

Beach! I love warm weather.

17 How many states have you visited and what are they, including your favorite

Men’s soccer players earn all-region honors The Western Nebraska Community College men’s soccer team garnered five players on the South All-region team that was announced recently while head coach Todd Rasnic was named the South Coach of the Year.

Rasnic guided the Cougar men to a 9-6 record this past season before falling in the first round of the Region IX playoffs to Laramie County Community College 1-0. LCCC would go on to win the Region IX title.

Rasnic just completed his 14th season as the men’s soccer coach and has guided the team to a school record 12-6 record two years ago. In the last five years, Rasnic has a 42-26-3 record.

While Rasnic earned the South Coach of the Year honors, four Cougars earned South All-region first team honors while another earned South second team honors.

Men’s soccer players head to Bethel University WNCC’s Silvio Xavier and Leandro Faria spent one season on the pitch with each as members of the Cougar men’s soccer team.

The two now will be spending another two years together as both inked with Bethel University in Kentucky last week.

The two are excited to be going to a fouryear soccer program that is ranked in the NAIA national polls.

“I am going there because they have a good soccer program and they are going to pay for my school and my dorms,” Xavier said. “I talked to them and [Leandro] is going there, too. He is a good friend of mine. I think I will be happy over there.”

Having teammates to go together is a plus, especially for Xavier and Faria.

“It is important because when you go by yourself you have new people and you don’t know what will happen,” Xavier said. “I am going with Leandro and it will be good because we know each other, and we can help each other if we need.”

Finding the right soccer school was also important to Xavier.

“Soccer is my life and soccer is important to me,” he said. “Everyplace I go I look for a place to play soccer. It is important to me to continue my career as a soccer player.”

Faria, who was the goalkeeper for the Cougars for one year, is excited that he gets to go with Xavier to play soccer.

“It will be easier because we know each other and we can help bring them all together,” he said. “It will be nice for the

friendship and we have each for support.”

For Faria, his teammates this year meant a lot to him and helped mold him as a player and person.

“At first when I got here, I was scared about the weather,” he said. “I learned a lot as a player, as a person, and I think it was a great experience to make my mind stronger and learn from my mistakes.”

Same with Xavier, who also grew as a person and player.

“I have improved a lot as a player, but I improved a lot as a person because I met my teammates and coach [Todd Rasnic],” Xavier said. “This school helped me grow as a man. As a player, I have grown with Thomas [Franze], Leo [Palamo], and all the guys, including the Brazilians. I am always learning.”

Last season at WNCC, Xavier and Faria

helped the Cougars to a 9-win campaign before losing in the first-round of the Region IX playoffs 1-0 to Laramie County Community College. LCCC went on to win the regional title.

Xavier was the leading goal scorer for the Cougars, finishing with eight goals and on assist this past season. For his career, Xavier finished with 25 goals and 12 assists.

As a freshman, Xavier kicked in 17 goals, which is second on the season goal-scoring charts. Xavier’s 25 goals is second on the career scoring chart, one goal behind Lawan Abary’s 26 career goals.

Faria was in net in 13 matches this year and gave up 1.17 goals per match, while recording 90 saves.

With the success the two have had at WNCC, both say it will be hard to leave WNCC and Scottsbluff.

“It will be so hard leaving here because I have good friends, especially coach. He is like my dad here,” Xavier said. “He helped me more than I need and I really appreciate to have him as a coach. I will also miss my dorm family and my little brother and little sister. I will miss everyone here.”

Same with Faria, who got a little emotional thinking about it.

“It will be hard leaving here especially leaving my friends, my roommates, and the school,” he said. “The staff here is really nice to me. I will miss my dorm parents and everyone. Everyone always was supporting me. It will be really hard especially now that I have a girlfriend.”

20

QUESTIONS with Men’s Soccer Player Leandro Faria

Men’s soccer player Leandro Faria came to WNCC from USC Sumter and played one season for the Cougars. Faria played in 13 matches and allowed 14 goals with 90 saves.

Faria signed in November to continue his playing at Bethel University in Tennessee.

1WNCC How has your time at WNCC gone? was a great experience for me, and

now what is surprising me the most is the crazy weather in Nebraska

2 What are the things you will remember

WNCC sophomroe goalkeeper Leandro Faria kicks the ball during a game earlier this fall. Faria signed to continue his playing at Bethel University in November.

the most about WNCC and Scottsbluff?

First the soccer is a great experience. Scottsbluff is a small city, but here everyone is willing to help you.

3US toHasplayit and been hard to come over to the go to school?

At the beginning yes, especially because I didn’t speak English well. But now the experience is amazing.

4soccerWhatin thedo future? you hope to accomplish in I hope to go to a good school and become professional, but if I don’t make it, at least I will have my degree.

9keeper?

What is the pressure like to be a goal- 15 You could be in one musical band and perform, who would you choose and I think the pressure is because I can be a hero or a villain. The last person to make a mistake is the keeper, and if I make it, it is crucial.

10 \ Who is your hero and why?

Jesus Christ, He is our savior.

why?

I think Blink 18. The life the guys showed they had in California was awesome.

16 Best feeling in the world?

Happiness.

17 How many countries have you 5ingPlans after WNCC? How hard is it goto be to leave WNCC and Scottsbluff? 11 What is your favorite holiday and visited (list them) and which is your fawhy? vorite and why?

I want to go to a 4-year school. It will be hard to leave the friends. Leandro signed with Bethel University in November.

Carnaval, it is a Brazilian holiday,. It is almost a week with parties everyday.

I am from Brazil and I visited US, I really like US , but I love where I am from.

6whatIf doyouyouwould not have come to WNCC, 12 Where would you like to spend 18 Which country would you most your retirement years and why? like to travel to that you haven’t visited see yourself doing?

Probably trying to play in some college.

Probably somewhere close to nature, so I can relax and be close to my family.

7Soccer Reasons you choose WNCC? program is really nice, and the 13 Favorite place to shop?

Adidas is my favorite brand. school is really cool as well, I like the facilities here.

8FirstSoccer memories? game against Otero Junior College.

We won 2-1 and I could help the team with some good saves.

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

I think I want a better world, I would like, less hunger, less violence and more peace, where everyone can love the neighbor as they love themselves.

and why?

Egypt, I love the mythology and I would like to see it in person.

19

How many children do you want to have and names?

I think 2, I have no idea about the names yet, but I really like my name.

20 why?

Do you prefer dogs or cats and

I like both, all animals have their qualities. I don’t have a favorite one.

Loya, Ramirez sign with York College for softball Western Nebraska Community College softball team’s Gabby Loya and Abriana Ramirez will be continuing their softball playing for another two years after signing with York College on Sunday.

Loya and Ramirez were vital contributors for the Cougars last season and both are excited they get to continue their playing careers at the next level after they graduate from WNCC in May. “I am going to York College because I found an opportunity to play softball and to continue my education,” Loya, a Wheatridge High graduate from Denver, said. “It is exciting that I get to play softball because I wouldn’t know what to do without it.”

Ramirez picked York because it was the right fit for her in that she loved how she was treated on her visit and how the York and WNCC programs mirror each other.

“I remember meeting Coach [Roni] Miller the first day and she looked at me and said you need York College,” Ramirez, a Pomona High graduate in Colorado, said.

“I didn’t know what she meant at first, but when arriving on campus I understood what she meant. It reminded me a lot of here in just the sense of community and the town. The professors care about you and I just knew that is where I needed to be. Gabby and I talk about it all the time. We said that is what was meant to happen; it just fell in our lap. We are just thankful for that opportunity to play and to have her with me along for the ride.”

Ramirez said it will be special that she will be going to York with a teammate.

“It means a lot to me considering Gabby is one of my best friends and just having her be there for two more years and be my roommate for two more years means so much to me,” she said. “I know I need someone there with me and Gabby is the perfect one.”

Loya and Ramirez will be the third Cougar to play softball at York College. Amanda Saldivar played for the Panthers from 201214 after playing two years at WNCC. Last season Loya had a .308 batting average with six home runs, 12 doubles, 41 RBIs, and 26 runs scored. Ramirez hit .152 and had 10 runs scored in just 55 at bats.

The two will have one more season at WNCC and Loya and Ramirez said they have grown as a player and person while at WNCC.

“I am going to miss the culture, the team, and the community,” Loya said. “Everyone is by your side in whatever you do.”

For Ramirez, her two years was special.

She added if it was a four-year school she would be here for four years.

“I have learned so much from Coach [Katelyn] Groves,” she said. “I am a better person coming here. I learned so much discipline, so much about myself that I don’t think I would have learned anywhere else.

This place is something special and I am thankful for that. There is nothing like being a Cougar. If this was a four-year school,

I definitely would be here [four years], but I can’t unfortunately.”

Loya, who is majoring in pre-physical therapy, said leaving WNCC will be hard.

“I will miss all the family from the team and coaches,” she said. “We are so close together because we have to walk together.

That is what I will miss the most.”

Ramirez said the friendships she made while here will stand out.

“I will miss my friends without a doubt,” she said. “I will also miss this community because I met my best friends here and I am just going to miss it.”

Cougar volleyball signs pair of Gering players WNCC volleyball coach Binny Canales didn’t have to look far in recruiting height for next season after signing Gering’s giants Olivia Schaub and Ariana Mitchell to Letter of Intents on Monday.

Schaub, a 6-foot outside hitter, and Mitchell, a 5-11 middle hitter, had stellar careers at Gering over their four-year careers.

The two become the fourth player signed

by Canales through this week. The other two are Olivia Transfiguracion of Kapolei, Hawaii, and Alexandra Hernandez of El Paso, Texas. Transfiguracion is a 5-7 setter, while Hernandez is a 5-8 hitter.

Schaub and Mitchell have known the Cougar program for quite a while and are thankful that they get to be a part of a nationally-known program.

“I have always had it in my mind to play there. I never thought I would stay local; I thought I would be one of those kids that would say they want to leave town and get out,” Schaub said. “This year, especially talking to coach [Canales] and talking to this coach [Amanda Cochran] they have been helping be out. Everybody had been helping me make my decision. I think scrimmaging with the team helped me make my decision.”

For Mitchell, she had to set out most of the season but came back to play in the final weeks of the season. For her to continue playing college volleyball at the same college that her sister, Santanna, played at and helped the Cougars to a runner-up finish at nationals, is special.

“I decided to go there because it was close to home and family and friends,” Mitchell said. “My sister went there, too, so

she has taught me a lot about the program.

I even watched her play.”

Canales said he is fortunate to sign the two Gering teammates.

“I think they are a huge upside to our program,” he said. “I think they will get nothing but better and I feel fortunate to have them both. They have good size. They are good athletes. I see them helping us in the next two years.”

Gering coach Amanda Cochran is excited to watch them play volleyball for the next two seasons.

“I am super excited that these two get to continue their education more than anything and play a sport they love,” Cochran said. “There is a room full of people here [at the signing], so do you see that. So good luck to you.”

Both hitters had outstanding careers at a Bulldog. Not only were they standouts in volleyball, but they also were standouts on the basketball court.

Schaub had an outstanding senior season. The outside hitter finished with 311 kills, 31 aces, 35 solo blocks, and 319 digs.

For her 3-year varsity career, Schaub tallied 584 kills, 85 blocks, 639 digs, and 89 aces.

Schaub said that she has improved over the years and is ready to improve even more.

“I played a little bit of varsity my sophomore year. I got in and that was exciting,” she said. “My junior year I started and that was a huge growth from playing a little bit of varsity my sophomore year and jumping to a starter. Then from my junior to senior year, I had to grow a lot, especially in those two years with the challenges we faced. I liked growing as a player this year.

She isn’t done growing either. “[At WNCC] I will need to catch up to the speed of their sets, their blocking, serving and passing, and pretty much everywhere,” she said. “I am excited to be playing at that speed.”

For Mitchell, she appeared in just 11 sets at the end of the season this season and finished with 16 kills with just five hitting errors in 69 attempts.

It was her junior year that Mitchell stood out. The 5-11 middle hitter finished with 256 kills, 21 aces, 64 blocks, and 182 digs.

Story continued on next page

Gering players: continued from previous page For her 4-year volleyball career, Mitchell tallied 533 kills, 71 solo blocks140 total blocks, 47 aces, and 295 digs.

Mitchell said just coming back to get back on the court was her goal and she accomplished that.

“My main goal was to get back on the court, maybe for a set or maybe just practicing,” she said. “Now, at WNCC, I just want to grow as a player I guess and get used to the speed of the play up there.”

Cochran said Mitchell’s dedication to come back is what makes her special.

“I can’t say enough about the character that you showed this year in coming back to get on the court,” Cochran said. “I can’t wait to see what you do with the next two years.”

Schaub and Mitchell have been a part of a senior group of girls that have really stepped up and excelled. Schaub said that is something that she treasures, being a leader.

“Stepping up as a leader this year was su-

2019-20 Incoming Cougar Freshman

Softball Ashley Alcozer......................... Temple, Texas Mackenzie Bakel................... Thornton, Colo.

Taylee Braegger...................Cedar City, Utah Jade Gomez-Chavarria............ Golden, Colo.

Bailey Nay..................................Layton, Utah Alexis Parker..............................Draper, Utah Corrtney Rees........................Plain City, Utah Baseball Harold Baez..........................Scottsbluff, Neb. Dawson Hurford.....Langley, British Columbia Kyle Pfeifer.............Langley, British Columbia Volleyball Alexandra Hernandez............. El Paso, Texas Arianna Mitchell..........................Gering, Neb. Olivia Schaub.............................Gering, Neb. Olivia Transfiguracion............ Kapolei, Hawaii Only players that are listed as “signed” on the NJCAA list are listed above.

per important with the challenges we faced as a team,” she said. “I knew we were going to need someone step up on the court.”

Cochran said the senior class was special this season.

“This senior group of girls is a pretty awesome group of kids,” Cochran said.

“They have shown great leadership this year and they had to endure the challenges that we faced like Olivia said. They have gone through a lot off the court together, so they have taught each other how to care for one another and love one another no matter what we are going through.”

Canales said that both players have all the tools to succeed at the next level.

“They have good platforms. They just have to get used to a faster serve. They are great kids and I am thankful that we signed them.

What made their decision easier was when the two went up and visited the college and played with the team.

“That [playing with the team] was a huge factor in my decision,” Schaub said. “I didn’t know how well we would fit in. They made us feel like we were part of the team.

From the moment we stepped on the court they knew our names.”

And, to have Mitchell at her side for the next two years will even be more special.

“I am very excited [to have Arianna coming with me],” Schaub said. “I am so blessed to have her with me and I just love her so much. I am glad I get to take my best friend to college with me and play with her a few more years.”

For Mitchell, playing for WNCC will be fun and her goal is to accomplish what her sister did and to even go further.

“It was a pretty big factor [knowing that I have watched them,” she said. “They have always been good. They have gone to nationals and won Region IX titles. I want to be a part of that.”

Scottsbluff’s Baez inks with Cougar baseball Harold Baez came to Scottsbluff from Miami to play baseball and to get an education.

Baez’ dedication to the game of baseball has led him to signing to play baseball for WNCC. “I choose to become a Cougar because I feel like I have a lot of people here supporting me, people that care,” the Scottsbluff High senior said. “I just like the environment and it is something I want to be a part of.”

Baez has connection to WNCC in that his brother, Roybell, is the assistant men’s basketball coach at WNCC. Roybell also serves as an assistant coach for the WESTCO Zephyrs and Express the past two season.

Last summer with the WESTCO Zephyrs, Harold Baez was a shortstop and pitcher. Harold batted .252 with 22 RBIs, 24 runs scored, and eight doubles.

On the hill, Baez had a 2.333 earned run average with 53 strikeouts .

Harold said that when he was in Miami, he would play baseball year round starting when he was seven.

That is why he picked baseball over basketball.

“I know I have to get way better,” he said. “But back in Miami I would play baseball year round. Since I was seven, I would play baseball every day.”

Now, Harold is settled into Scottsbluff and away from the big city of Miami.

His older brother was a big factor in getting Harold up to Nebraska and out of Miami, too.

“We went a lot of years without being with each other,” Roybell said of the time he spent away from his little brother. “So, being here together now and then next year and the year after that is a blessing for sure.”

“It was huge [to bring him up here],” he said. “For a lot of years, my brother was unstable with my father. For five years I tried to get him with me but I was

playing college basketball so I couldn’t. The second I was able to, Cory [WNCC head basketball coach Cory Fehringer] gave me the green light. I had no support to bring him and the minute I brought him, Kelsey and AJ [Kuxhausen] said we will take him and then Robert and Sara [Quijas] came in the second year and said we will take him. I did it for the love of my brother.

I really didn’t have no plan for bringing him here; I just knew I had to get him out. God took care of the rest and it was awesome.”

Roybell and Harold both know he needs to get better.

“He will bring athleticism in the infield. My brother will bring a lot of stuff,” Roybell said. “I think he still needs to get better as person and a player, and he will have to trust the process of whatever coach Jones has plans for him. I think he will bring charisma and athleticism and he is a nice looking and good kid.”

WNCC Athletes of the Week

Female Athletes of the Week

Male 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. 8............. Tishara Morehouse, Bball Nov. 21....................... Merle Wiehl, Bball Dec. 5................... R’Manie Pulling, Bball Dec. 13...................... Taylor Joplin, Bball Dec. 21....................... Merle Wiehl, Bball Jan. 12.....................................................

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. 8................ Bryce Sanchioius, Bball Nov. 21........................ Erlie Cadet, Bball Dec. 5................... Dru Kuxhausen, Bball Dec. 13.................... Jervay Green, Bball Dec. 21...................... Martin Roub, Bball Jan. 12.....................................................

Merle Wiehl thanks athletic trainer Doug Jones as Jones delivers water to the team during a timeout.

Cougar Culture

Martin Roub

Eva Langton

Chad Gibney

Favorite Christmas Song Snapchat or Instagram

Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Women’s Basketball

Nate Kolb

Baseball

Madison Simons

Rolničky, rolničky (Jingle Bells in Slovak)

Silent Night

Silent Night

“Let It Be Christmas”

by Alan Jackson

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Snapchat

Snapchat

Instagram

Snapchat

Snapchat

No reindeer name

Rudolph

Rudolph

Rudolph

Dasher

Who will win the College Football Playoffs

Don’t Know

Alabama

Alabama

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Favorite Vacation Spot

Japan

Cook Islands

The Beach

Jones Lakes in Chillwack, British Columbia

Hawaii

Favorite Reindeer

Softball

Cougar Alumni — A Look Back in Photos

Cougar Alumni — A Past Story Top 10 Sporting Events of 2007 Taken from the WNCC Cougar Blogspot https://wncccougarathletics.blogspot. com/2007/12/top-10-cougar-events-of-2007.html

What a 2007 for Western Nebraska Community College athletes. The Cougars have seen it all from a first-ever national championship, two Region IX champions, a Major League baseball signing and plenty of winning successes in all seven sports.

As one looks back at 2007 . From a first national championship to first regional championship, there were plenty of highlights from the past year as we venture into 2008.

So, what were biggest memories at the college in the past year? Well, here are the top 10 events that stood out this past year.

10) The WNCC men’s soccer team also had a nice season earning the most wins, eight, in school history since the programs first year in 2003. The team had some fantastic finishes at the end of the season, defeating Garden City in double overtime 3-1 before defeating Western Wyoming 1-0 in the last minute of the regional playoffs.

9) This is a fitting place to put the Cougar volleyball team’s ninth Region IX title in nine years just because of all the nines. Plus, there will be even bigger events to come on the list for the volleyball team later on. But if one looks at it this way, if the Cougars would not have won their ninth straight regional title, they wouldn’t be national champions. Anyway, was there any doubt that they wouldn’t win. This team went through regionals winning all three matches, defeating Lamar and then Northeastern Junior College twice without dropping one game. And they did it without Region IX Libero of the Year Nayka Benitez, who was hospitalized with a kidney infection.

8) When WNCC hired men’s basketball coach Brian Joyce in May, they were looking for someone to bring back that winning tradition that WNCC once had.

Joyce had plenty of success at Northeastern Junior College before coming to WNCC and brings plenty of excitement. So far this year, though, the team is just 9-7, but look for good things in 2008 and many years to come.

7) The WNCC women’s basketball team

The 2007 Cougar baseball team that won the Region IX tournament and got to host the district playoffs. put together another top season finishing the season at 27-2. The team went through the regular season with just one loss, falling to Casper on the road. They then lost out on a chance to host regionals by beating Casper at Cougar Palace by four points, which pushed the regional tourney to Casper. WNCC then lost to Casper in the title game, which ended its four-year hold on the championship.

6) The WNCC women’s soccer team is back after being suspended in 2005. Yes, this fall, the women’s team finished with double-figure wins, claiming 10 victories on the season (10-7-2) before falling to nationally-ranked LCCC in the regional title game. It was only the second time in school history that the team earned double-digit wins – the first year was 2003 when they went 19-1. The Cougar women outscored their opponents 58-48, while playing much of the season with a team that resembled a MASH unit. These girls hung tough and put together a nice season, including winning three in a row twice.

5) Soriana Pacheco became only the second player in school history to be a national player of the year after leading the Cougar volleyball team to the national championship. Pacheco, a sophomore who is headed

to Kansas State University, was tabbed the AVCA junior college player of the year. She also earned NJCAA first team all-American honors for a second straight year, made the NJCAA all-tournament team for a second straight year, was a Region IX all-region and all-tournament selection, and set a couple of school records in the process. The last time a Cougar athlete was player of they year was in 1995 when Bernard Garner was NJCAA men’s basketball player of the year after helping the team to a third place finish at nationals. Pacheco was also tabbed the Omaha World Herald Nebraska Junior College captain of the all-Nebraska JUCO team that was announced last week.

4) WNCC sophomore Phillips Orta signs with the New York Mets. Yes, Orta signed a six-figure contract with Major League Baseball’s New York Mets. He reported to the minor leagues shortly after signing and is in process of moving up the farm-system ranks. Orta spent two seasons at WNCC after being drafted by the Mets after his freshman year.

3) The WNCC softball team has been taking steps to getting that first regional title. Last May, this freshman-dominated team almost achieved that goal before fall-

Story continued on next page

Cougar Alumni — A Past Story

The 2007 WNCC volleyball team hold up the NJCAA National Championship trophy after capturing their first national title in school history in November 2007 at West Plains, Missouri.

2007 Top 10: continued from previous page

ing to Otero Junior College in the if-necessary game of the Region IX tournament.

Yes, the if-necessary game, as WNCC fought back through the loser’s bracket and defeated Otero, which was the first time they have defeated the Rattlers at regionals, to force the extra game. The team finished with a school record 36-21 and had several all-region players. Jessica Ventoza also signed with Division 1 Washington over the summer.

2) WNCC baseball coach Mike Jones came to WNCC in 2001 to start up a baseball program. It took just six seasons before the Cougars brought home a Region IX title in May as they beat Trinidad State Junior College in two championship games. The team then hosted the district tournament, in which they fell to Central Arizona College and Western Nevada Community College (the other WNCC) to finish the season at 30-29. It was a banner year for Cougar baseball with a regional title and a player that signed a major league contract.

1) National Championship. Of course this has to be No. 1 because the Cougars

are now No. 1 in the country. The Cougar volleyball team, behind ninth-year head coach Chris Green, brought home the schools first national title in November with a four-game win over Miami Dade College. Many of the players said that one of the reasons they won the title was because they did not have one easy match The 2007 Cougar softball team finished 2007 with a second at nationals and knew straight runner-up finish and forcing an if-necessary game. what it took to win. national championship game. The team Take the semi-final match against Salt Lake then went on to take down national power Community College. The Cougar fans Miami Dade College, a team that has won thought the team was beat. Even some of nine national titles, by the scores of 30-27, the Cougar players thought so. But, this 30-24, 21-30, 30-22. The team placed three band of champions came back. Down by players on the all-tournament team in Aida a score of 18-10 in the second game, they Bauza, Soriana Pacheco and Fatima Balza. fought back to win that game 31-29. They Bauza was also tabbed the tournament’s then won games four and five 30-24 and MVP, while coach Chris Green was the 15-12 to earn their second trip into the coach of the tournament.

Parting Shot Happy Holidays Everyone!

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