Cougar Beat -- Feb. 8, 2018

This Week in Cougar Athletics

COUGAR BEAT

Western Nebraska Community College

Feb. 8, 2018 Issue 8

Cougars heading to winning seasons

What’s In A Number

55 The number of 3-pointers that women’s

basketball player Melisa Kadic has hit this season to lead the team. She now has made 94 for her career, which is now third in career 3-points made with 282, just 24 made threes from tying the record set in 2015 by Lyndie Puckett. __________________

68 The number of 3-pointers that Vinnie Shahid has made this season to lead the team. Vinnie is just four treys ahead of second-place Trent Harris with 64. Vinnie has made 137 3-pointers in his career at WNCC the past two seasons. __________________

Cougar Athletics Upcoming Events Thursday, February 8

l Softball at Howard College, Big Springs, Texas Friday, February 9

l Women’s Basketball at Trinidad State, Trinidad, Colo.., 5 p.m.

Video: http://www.tsjctrojans.com/broadcast/8swq8j

l Men’s Basketball at Trinidad State, Trinidad, Colo., 7 p.m. .

Video: http://www.tsjctrojans.com/broadcast/8swq8j

l Softball at Western Texas, Snyder, Texas Saturday, February 10

l Women’s Basketball at Laramie County, Cheyenne, Wyoming., 2 p.m.

Video: https://boxcast.tv/channel/gkf41locuen3s97e6dou.

l Men’s Basketball at Laramie County, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 4 p.m.

Video: https://boxcast.tv/channel/gkf41locuen3s97e6dou.

l Softball at Western Texas, Snyder, Texas Sunday, February 11

l Baseball at Garden City C.C., Garden City, Kansas Monday, February 12

l Baseball at Garden City C.C., Garden City, Kansas Friday, February 16

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. Lamar, Cougar Palace, 5:30 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/778957

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. Lamar, Cougar Palace, 7:30 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/778958 Saturday, February 17

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

Video: http://thecube.com/e/778959

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. Otero, Cougar Palace, 4 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/778960

l Baseball HOME vs. Miles Community College, Cleveland Field, 1 p.m.

381 The total number of wins the Cougar base-

Sunday, February 18

l Baseball HOME vs. Miles Community College, Cleveland Field, 1 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/778961

1,280 The career win total of the WNCC

Saturday, February 24

l Men’s Basketball at North Platte, North Platte, Nebraska, 6 p.m.

Video: https://evideo.mpcc.edu/Watch/NPCCSports

l Softball at Highland Community College, Highland, Kansas

l Baseball at Barton Community College, Great Bend, Kansas

ball team has accumulated during the 15 years.

The baseball team needs just 19 wins to get 400 career programs wins. __________________

men’s basketball team as of Jan. 21. WNCC needs to collect 20 more wins to get a program-best 1,300 wins. The first team was in 1940-41 and took a 3-year World War break.

Friday, February 23

l Women’s Basketball at McCook, McCook, Nebraska Video: . https://evideo.mpcc.edu/Watch/MCCSports

l Men’s Basketball at McCook, McCook, Nebraska Video: . https://evideo.mpcc.edu/Watch/MCCSports

l Baseball HOME vs. Northeastern Junior College, Cleveland Field, 1 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/778963

Sunday, February 25

l Softball at Northeast Community College, Norfolk, Nebraska

l Baseball at Barton Community College, Great Bend, Kansas Wednesday, February 28

l Softball HOME vs. Northeastern Junior College, Volunteer Field, 2 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/778965

Record-breaking performance Seay scores 48 points in win over EWC to break single-game scoring record of 38 set in February 1979

It was bound to happen Top 20 Women’s one of these days. For 39 Most Points in a Game years the record for most points in a game has stood 48 Karlie Seay.............................. EWC (2018) at 38 points.

38 Mary Ullrich............................. EWC (1979) Saturday, Feb. 4, that re36 Penny Mallet..................... Dawson (81-82) cord finally was broken as 36 Shana Coleman....... NW Wyoming (02-03) WNCC freshman Karlie 34 Ashley Strickland............. McCook (97-98) Seay poured in 48 points 33 Mary Ullrich...................... Trinidad (78-79) breaking the 39-year-old 32 Julie Cook........... National College (83-84) record for most points in a 32 Lisa Nelson........................... LCCC (85-85) game as the Cougar women 32 Penny Mallet....................... Casper (81-82) came back from a halftime 32 Kalli Feddersen................... Lamar (15-16) deficit in registering a 92-81 31 Penny Mallet................. Mid-Plains (82-83) Region IX South Sub-region 31 Ashley Strickland..................Otero (97-98) win over Eastern Wyoming 31 Melantha Herron.......... Mid-Plains (98-99) College Saturday evening in 31 Stormye Everett....... NE Nebraska (09-10) Torrington, Wyoming.

31 Jess Samorodova.Las Vegas Heat (12-13) The previous record was 30 Penny Mallet....... National College (82-83) set in February 1979 by 30 Fernanda Bosi......... Iowa Western (99-00) Mary Ullrich Christensen.

29 Anita Drayton......................CNCC, (87-88) Ullrich Christensen’s re29 Anita Drayton.........................EWC (87-88) cord-setting performance 29 Dyan Zyblut...................... McCook (80-81) that night came against a 29 Julie Cook........... National College (83-84) Lancer team at the regional 29 Karla Brisco...................... Trinidad (84-85) tournament. EWC went on 29 Karla Brisco.......................... LCCC (84-85) to win the regional tourna29 Shana Coleman......... Air Force JV (02-03) ment that season.

29 Lisa Durden............................ EWC (11-12) The record stood for 38 years until Saturday when Seay shattered the record by 10 points. Seay made Read Mary (Ullrich) Chriseight twos, four 3-pointers and was 12 of 13 from the free throw line. tensen’s take on playing “I didn’t even thing I scored that much for the Cougars and havto break it. But it is pretty cool,” Seay said. ing her record broken “It was just play as a team and keep the ball moving. If you are open take the shot.” after 39 years on page 5.

Seay’s 48 points is a career best for the Chicago native. Seay had 16 had halftime the Lancers as they had the hot hand. and scored 32 in the second half. Seay had Two other players came close to besting the 16 points in the third quarter. Seay added record when they scored 36 points in a game.

16 in the fourth period as well to erase the Penny Mallet in the 1981-82 season scored 36 long-standing record. against Dawson and Shana Coleman in 2002 Seay’s offensive effort, however, was aided 03 had 36 against Northwest Wyoming. by a Cougar second-half offense that 40 per- Kalli Feddersen, now a senior at Chadcent for the game. WNCC connected on eight ron State College was the last player to come 3-pointers. Seay had four while Melisa Kadic close, scoring 32 in 2015-16 against Lamar. had three and Anastacia Johnson had one.

Seay’s individual performance was out EWC shot 30 percent for the game, in- standing, but it was the play of the entire cluding seven 3-pointers. The first half was team that stood out in Satur-day’s win.

Karlie Seay brings the ball up the court during the EWC game on Feb. 4.

Seay said the difference in the game was how they came out to play the second half.

“We weren’t playing our brand of basketball at the beginning,” the freshman guard said. “But when the second half started, we started to pick it up defensively and started going offensively. We started going on our pace of the game and not theirs.”

The win was a tale of two halves for the Cougars. The first half, the Cougars couldn’t buy a bucket or a rebound as Eastern Wyoming dominated play leading 23-19 after the first quarter and then 41-38 at halftime.

In the second half, the Cougars took their first lead at 45-44 on a Seay trey. It was short-lived as EWC came back to grab a 5149 lead on a 3-pointer by Pamela Bethel.

That lead was also short-lived as Eva Langton tied the game at 51-51 with two free throws and the Cougars went on a 17-5 run to close out the third quarter leading 68-56. The last part of the third saw WNCC go on a 12-1 run behind back-to-back

Story continued on next page

Women’s basketball in final month of regular season Story continued from previous page buckets by Seay and Sophie Agorakis.

The fourth quarter was all WNCC as Seay took over. Seay broke the school record on a little 15-foot jumper to make the score 78-64 with her 39th point. She added nine more after that the rest of the way.

WNCC had three players in double figures. Seay led everybody with 48 points.

Jaleesa Avery tallied 16 points and Melisa Kadic had 11.

The Lancers were led by Abril Roure with 22 points and Lauren O’Connell with 21.

Agorakis led the team on the glass with 11 boards, while Giovanna Silva had nine and Avery with eight.

EWC’s Bethel finished with a double-double as she pulled down 20 rebounds.

She also had two steals.

WNCC also had six blocks in the game, two each from Avery and Langton.

WNCC, 21-3, will be back in action next weekend when they travel to Trinidad State Junior College and Laramie County Community College.

Cougars making strides in national statistics As much as Seay’s record-setting performance was, the team is making strides in the national statistic leaders.

The Cougars have a 21-3 record this season, which is the 31st straight year the team has won 20 or more games.

Nationally, the Cougars are ranked 9th in scoring offense at 84.4 points a game.

The Cougars trail Region IX’s Miles Community College, who is 8th at 84.5. Shelton State leads the nation at 94 points a game.

Speaking of offense, WNCC ranks 32nd in the nation in 3-point shooting at 33.4 percent, having made 312-of-477 treys this season.

While WNCC has hit for many 3-pointers, it is the field goal shooting overall that is stellar, ranking 9th in the nation at 47.1 percent. Wabash Valley leads the nation at 51.5 percent.

Individually, the Cougars are also doing well. Merle Wiehl is tied 33rd in points with 371 points.

Melisa Kadic is also among the nations top 3-point shooters., ranking 46th in 3-point shooting at 41.4 percent and is

Melisa Kadic dribbles the ball while looking for an open player during their game with Eastern Wyoming College on Feb. 4. WNCC topped the Lancers 92-81 to move to 21-3 overall.

42nd in made 3-pointers with 55.

Karlie Seay is also among the leaders in dishing off the ball. The freshman is 20th in assists per game at 5.3. She is also 40th in steals per game at 2.9. Anastacia Johnson is 49th in steals per game at 2.8 per game.

Only five more regular season games left before regionals It is the final month of the season and the Cougar women have five games left before the regional tournament.

Currently, the Cougars are on top of the of the South sub-region with a 9-0 record.

WNCC has five regular season games at home, three on the road and two at home.

The Cougars will next be in action Friday, Feb. 9 and 10 when they travel for road games at Trinidad State on Friday and Laramie County Community College on Saturday in a Saturday afternoon matinée.

WNCC will then have two move games Feb. 16 and 17. The 16th they will face Lamar Community College and then Otero Junior College on Saturday.

The Otero game will be sophomore ap-

preciation for the seven players. They include Melisa Kadic, Jaleesa Avery, Sophie Agorakis, Olivia Wiberg, Kellie Gaston, Anastacia Johnson, and Giovanna Silva. All seven were a part of last year’s Region IX championship team.

The Cougars will wrap up the regular season on Feb. 23 when they travel to McCook Community College.

After that, it is the first-round regional tournament where the Cougars should host a first-round contest either March 2 or 3 against the South No. 8 team if they stay on top of the standings.

This year’s regional tournament, or Elite Eight tourney, will be played at the North No. 1 seed, which right now is Casper, Wyoming.

Former record holder talks about playing for Cougars, thoughts about her record being broken

Mary Ullrich Christensen never thought her scoring record would last for 39 years, especially since the 3-point shot arrived, but it did.

Many women’s basketball players have come close to scoring 38 points but none were successful. That was until Feb. 4 when Karlie Seay had one of those games that just stood out. Seay scored 48 points in a 92-81 win over Eastern Wyoming College at Torrington, Wyoming.

“I never thought my scoring record would last for 39 years. After the 3 point shot arrived in 1986-1987, I expected someone would certainly break my record. but that wasn’t the case.,” Ullrich Christensen said. “With the increase in talent and more scoring from many players on the team, individual scoring wasn’t as high. I think that might have been a factor attributing to the longevity of my record.

“About two weeks ago, I was rummaging through some old paperwork and I saw the certificate I received acknowledging the 30th anniversary of my record and wondered if I would be celebrating the 40th anniversary in 2019.”

Ullrich Christensen was a 5-foot-10 wing player from Mitchell, Nebraska, and she said because she was undersized for the post, she had to get creative with her shots. While she was a good shooter from outside, it was free throw shooting that was her specialty.

“I scored many of my points from the wing or outside the paint, but also inside scoring from offensive rebounds,” she said. “I was usually out-sized by many of the opponents so I had to find a way to get to the ball by focusing on trajectory and angles of the ball movement.

“A lot of my points were also from the charity stripe, which has always been a point of emphasis in my game. During one game against Trinidad that was a very physical game, it evolved into a ‘free throw shooting contest’ and I was fortunate to make 19 of 21 foul shots during that contest. I am a firm believer that ‘free throws win games.”.

Ullrich Christensen’s 38-point game came, in fact, against Eastern Wyoming College as well. It was almost the same type of game as both teams were down in the first half and stormed back in the second half. The 1979 team did fall to the Lancers 87-76 in the regional tournament game.

The Cougars of 1979 then played a second game against Southest Fairbury and fell in overtime. Ullrich Christensen scored 17 points in that contest, but she remembered that was her last collegiate basketball game. She remembers that game just as much.

“That is the game where we tied the game in regulation and we went into overtime,” she said. “I fouled out and going down I hit my head on the floor.

I went to the bench and didn’t know where I was so I had a concussion. We ended up losing by 14 points. That was the last college game of the season and the last game of my basketball career. You might say I went out with a bang.”

When Ullrich Christensen saw that her record was finally broken, she offered congratulations to Seay. The biggest thing that made Ullrich Christensen smile was Seay’s free throw shooting.

“Karli has achieved quite an accomplishment and I’m very happy for her record 48 point game, certainly noting she was 12 of 13 from the foul line,” she said. “I hope she can continue to set high goals for herself, and keep scoring and leading her team through the season and into tournament time.”

Ironically speaking of free throws, the one free throw that Seay missed during the EWC game would have been the point that would have set the record. Instead, Seay had to break the record on a little 15-foot jumper from the wing position for the record breaker.

Seay said the 48 points is her career high and didn’t realize she had scored

Mary Ullrich goes up for a rebound in a game against EWC when she played for the Cougars. (Picture from a newspaper clipping). that many points during the game. Seay made eight twos, four 3-pointers, and was 12-of-13 from the free throw line on the night. She scored 16 points in the first half and scored 16 points in both the third and fourth quarter.

“I didn’t think my record would be broken by 10 points but I did think about the impact of 3 point shooting and how many 3-pointers Karlie made that night,” Ullrich Christensen said.

Ullrich Christensen is still thankful that she had the record for that many years.

“It has been a blessing to have held this record for so many years,” she said. “I note that I am fortunate that Jordan Hooper and Brooke Schwartz both went to UNL, as they would have easily broken my record.”

Ullrich Christensen’s name will still be up in the record books for her outstanding play from 1977-79. Her 38 points and the many other points will still be looked on as achievements of excellence.

Ullrich-Christensen said she wanted to thank her coach, Harvey Schmidt, in helping her mold her game.

“I want to thank Harvey Schmidt for helping me improve my jump shot,” she said. “I want to thank him for everything he did for our team.”

Ullrich Christensen said the teams back then were different where they had just enough players to play and a lot of the players played nearly the entire game.

“We were lucky to have 6-8 players suiting up for most games, hence, we didn’t have much of a bench,” she said. “There was minimal time to rest as most of us were on the court for the entire game. This did give me more scoring opportunities. We had to watch our fouls too because we didn’t have that many extra players. One game we only suited up six players and got into foul trouble and two players fouled out and we finished playing the game with only four players on the court. The memories I will cherish from playing ball for NWC!”

WNCC men’s basketball making history this season Don’t look now, but the WNCC Cougar men’s basketball team is putting together a season that will have many bright spots to it.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Cougar men had a huge team effort, putting four players in double figures in picking up their 19th win of the season with a commanding 106-73 win over Eastern Wyoming College.

What the win did was push the Cougars even closer to a 20-win season. Why is that important. It has been over 10 years since the Cougars have had back-to-back 20 win season. Last year the Cougars finished 21-11. This season, the Cougars need one more win to notch 20 wins in a season for back-to-back 20-win seasons. The last time that happened was during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 season under the coaching of Ron Brillhart.

This has been a season of special feats with a team that plays like a team. There is not just one scorer on the team, but several that on any given night can ignite for double figures.

In Saturday’s win against EWC, it was a win that saw plenty of scorers in a game where the Cougars dominated after a brief slow start.

The EWC win was something that pleased head coach Cory Fehringer.

“We played better than we have been playing recently,” Fehrniger said. “We just talked about the strength of the whole is better than some of the parts and it shouldn’t matter to us who is on the floor because there is a specific way we expect to play.”

Saturday, it didn’t matter who was on the floor. The Cougars, after a back-and-forth 3-point shooting contest between the two teams early on settled in and took control of the game.

EWC started the game holding an 8-7 lead on a Alek Cosic 3-pointer. That was when WNCC heated up, going on a 10-0 run behind 3-pointers by Vinnie Shahid and Jervay Green for a 17-8 lead. WNCC kept excelling with mini runs that helped open the lead. EWC had runs of their own, too, cutting the lead to 20-14 at one time and then 30-18. That was when WNCC opened the contest on back-to-back treys from Austin Hoffman and Martin Roub that sent the Cougars on another 10-0 run.

WNCC went on to lead 55-33 at intermission.

WNCC’s Bryce Sanchious brings the ball up the court during the EWC game on Feb. 4.

The Cougars topped the Lancers 106-73 for their 19th win of the season.

The second half saw the lead stay around 20 points early going. WNCC started to widen the gap afte4r only leading 64-43 when they exploded on a 18-7 run that was highlighted by Trent Harris. Harris, during the run, sank three 3-pointers and scored 11 of his game-high 24 points for an 84-50 lead.

WNCC hit the century mark for the 12th time this season when Jervay Green had a driving bucket. WNCC continued scoring as Zane Bender had two buckets and Rashad Gillen had a bucket to close out the contest.

WNCC shot 53 percent for the field compared to just 30 percent for EWC. The Cougars nailed 16 3-pointers on the day.

Harris had six followed by three from Shahid and two from Roub. Five other Cougars also nailed a trey.

The Lancers buried just five treys, which proved to be the difference in the contest.

Cosic had two.

WNCC also had an abundance of scorers on the night, where 11 Cougars found the scoring column. Harris led the Cougar attack with 24 points Followed by Roub

Most wins in a season for men’s basketball Wins Year............................Coach 36 1994-95....... Dave Campbell 32 1996-97....... Dave Campbell 32 1998-99....... Dave Campbell 32 1993-94....... Dave Campbell 31 1978-79........... Ron Brillhart 29 2002-03............Trace Bevell 28 1989-90....... Dave Campbell 28 1980-81........... Ron Brillhart 27 1991-92....... Dave Campbell 26 2011-12................Russ Beck 26 2004-05........... Ron Brillhart 25 2008-09.............Brian Joyce 26 1981-82........... Ron Brillhart with 16 and Marlon Sierra with 15. Green finished with 11 points while also dishing off eight assists.

Story continued on next page

WNCC men’s basketball making history this season Story continued from previous page

WNCC making strides in national statistics While the Cougars are nearing another 20win season, the bigger news is the offense that Cougars are putting up this season.

WNCC is the seventh best team in the nation in scoring, averaging 100.2 points a game. Only six other teams are higher.

Temple College is leading the nation at 111.8 points followed by Eastern Oklahoma at 107.9.

The rest of the leaders include Miami Dade at 104.9, Southern Idaho at 103.0, Region IX’s Gillette College at 102.7, and Harcum at 100.5.

A big reason for the Cougars offense is their 3-point shooting. The Cougars lead the nation in made 3-pointers, converting on 317 of 692 shots from beyond the arc. The only other team with over 300 treys is Southern Idaho, who has 312 made. WNCC and Southern Idaho split games this season in November.

While the Cougars lead the nation in made threes, the team is second in 3-point shooting percentage. WNCC is connecting on 45.8 percent of their shots, only trailing Seminole State out of Oklahoma, who is at 46.2 percent.

The team’s field goal percentage is also among the nation’s best. WNCC is 11th in the country, making 52.1 percent of their field goals.

Good teams win games at the free throw lines and the Cougars are stellar there, too.

WNCC ranks fourth in the NJCAA in free throw shooting at 77.2 percent. WNCC had made 366 of 474 charity tosses this season.

Individually, several Cougars are making national headlines.

Vinnie Shahid is 26th in scoring with 437 points so far. Shahid is 43rd in the country in average at 19 points a game.

The 43rd place, however, is good for a team that doesn’t rely on one player to score points.

In fact, WNCC has six players that average 10 or more points a game.

After Shahid, Djodje Dimitrijevic is averaging 15.3 points, Marlon Sierra at 14.2, Jervay Green at 14.1, Trent Harris at 13.5, and Martin Roub at 10.0.

The diversity of the team shows in the national 3-point shooting percentage leaders, where five Cougars are in the Top 50.

WNCC’s Djodje Dimitrijevic looks for someone to pass the ball to while be heavily guarded by an EWC player on Feb. 4. WNCC captured the 106-73 win for their 19th win of the season.

Sierra ranks fifth in the nation connecting on 53.1 percent of his long-range shots followed by Dimitrijevic at 14th with a 51.2 percentage. Shahid is right behind at 16th with a 50.7 average followed by Roub at 49.4 percent and 23rd in the nation. Trent Harris is 37th overall, nailing 47.4 percet of his 3-point bombs.

The Cougars are also decent free throw shooters. Shahid and Dimitrijevic are 20th and 21st in the nation. Shahid is making 86.2 percent of his charity tosses, while Dimitrijevic is making 86.1 percent.

Regular season wrapping up The WNCC Cougars have just six more games left in the regular season and all six games are important contests if the Cougars want to host the Region IX tournament.

The winner of the South will get the number one seed and host of the tournament and right now the Cougars are in the driver’s seat to host regionals with a conference record of 9-1. Otero is second at 9-2 followed by Trinidad State Lmar, and Laramie County all at 6-5.

WNCC has already defeated Trinidad

State, Lamar and Laramie County this season. Otero has been the only Region IX South team to defeat the Cougars. The Rattlers won an overtime 85-81 contest back on Jan. 12 in LaJunta, Colorado.

The Cougars have all four of those teams coming up in the next two weeks.

The Cougars are on the road Feb. 9 and 10 when they travel to face Trinidad State on Friday and hen Laramie County in a Saturday afternoon matinée in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

WNCC will then have it’s last two home contests on Feb. 16 and 17. WNCC host Lamar on Friday, the 16th in what is dorm parent appreciation for all dorm parent families, whether the families have an athlete or non-athlete.

Then, the Cougars will have a rematch with Otero Junior College in an afternoon contest in sophomore recognition. WNCC will recognize the six sophomores Milos Popovic, Trent Harris, Vinnie Shahid, Marlon Sierra, Austin Hoffman, and Djordje Dimitrijevic.

WNCC will wrap up the regular season Feb. 23 and 24 on the road. The Cougars will take on McCook on Friday before traveling to North Platte on Saturday.

Cougar Men Season Recap Result Won (1-0)

Lost (1-1)

Won (2-1)

Lost (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)

Won (13-2

Won (14-2)

Lost (14-3)

Lost (14-4)

Final Halftime Opponent.............................................................................Date 120 - 54 55 - 25 Little Big Horn College..........................................................11/3 High Scorers: Shahid 23, Green 22, Dimitrijevic 15, Roub 14, Bender 13, Harris 11 High Rebounders: Green 10 98 - 106 49 - 44 College of Southern Idaho....................................................11/4 High Scorers: Shahid 26, Dimitrijevic 21, Harris 18, Roub 11 High Rebounders: Shahib 5 92 - 87 47 - 57 College of Southern Idaho..................................................11/10 High Scorers: Shahid 21, Dimitrijevic 21, Green 15, Roub 11, Harris 11 High Rebounders: Shahib 8, Sierra 8 94 - 105 42 - 55 Salt Lake Community College............................................11/11 High Scorers: Sierra 26, Sanchious 14, Harris 13, Shahid 12, Roub 10 High Rebounders: Harris 9 87 - 82 44 - 27 Central Wyoming College................................................11/17 High Scorers: Sierra 18, Harris 14, Rajanovic 14, Dimitrijevic 10, Roub 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 5 100 - 82 57 - 46 Western Wyoming Community College..........................11/18 High Scorers: Shahid 21, Dimitrijevic 19, Sanchious 15, Green 14, Harris 13 High Rebounders: Sierra 8 97 - 88 41 - 43 Frank Phillips College......................................................11/24 High Scorers: Dimitrijevic 25, Green 21, Sierra 17, Shahid 15 High Rebounders: Sierra 7 113 - 81 52 - 23 Nebraska All-stars............................................................11/25 High Scorers: Harris 16, Sanchious 16, Rajanovic 15, Hoffman 13, Cherry 13 High Rebounders: Sierra 9 106 - 67 41 - 27 Williston State College.....................................................11/27 High Scorers: Harris 21, Shahid 19, Green 17, Dimitrijevic 14, Sanchious 12 High Rebounders: Sierra 9 107 - 87 51 - 38 Northeastern Junior College................................................ 12/1 High Scorers: Shahid 27, Sierra 23, Dimitrijevic 18, Harris 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 9 102 - 70 40 - 19 Casper College................................................................... 12/5 High Scorers: Shahid 26, Harris 20, Dimitrijevic 17, Sierra 14 High Rebounders: Sierra 14 129-111 58 - 43 Eastern Wyoming College................................................ 12/9 High Scorers: Shahid 32, Dimitrijevic 27, Sierra 26, Green 13, Roub 11, Rajanovic 11 High Rebounders: Green 7, Sierra 6 88 - 83 54 - 46 Western Wyoming Community College............................. 12/15 High Scorers: Shahid 21, Green 21, Roub 19 High Rebounders: Green 5, Dimitrijevic 5, Sanchious 5 103 - 85 63 - 45 Central Wyoming College.................................................. 12/16 High Scorers: Sierra 21, Green 18, Shahid 17, Roub 17, Dimitrijevic 13 High Rebounders: Sierra 9 113 - 97 48 - 40 Laramie County Community College................................. 1/5 High Scorers: Shahid 29, Dimitrijevic 24, Green 20, Sierra 18, Roub 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 11 91 - 74 57 - 42 Triinidad State Junior College............................................ 1/6 High Scorers: Harris 18, Roub 17, Dimitrijevic 16, Green 13, Shahid 13, Sierra 12 High Rebounders: Sierra 6, Green 6 79 - 84 31 - 44 Casper College...................................................................... 1/8 High Scorers: Shahid 26, Green 17, Dimitrijevic 13 High Rebounders: Sierra 10 81 - 85 OT 31 - 35 Otero Junior College............................................................ 1/12 High Scorers: Dimitrijevic 25, Shahid 18, Sierra 14, Green 12 High Rebounders: Sierra 7, Green 6, Harris 6

Cougar Men Season Recap (continued) Won (15-4)

Won (16-4)

Won (17-4)

Won (18-4)

Won (19-4)

Result Won (1-0)

Lost (1-1)

Won (2-1)

Won (3-1)

Won (4-1)

108 - 83 56 - 39 Lamar Community College.................................................. 1/13 High Scorers: Harris 26, Green 20, Roub 19, Siera 16, Shahid 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 5, Gillion 5 110 - 55 50 - 24 North Platte Community College...................................... 1/19 High Scorers: Shahid 29, Green 22, Harris 20, Sierra 14, Hoffman 11 High Rebounders: Sierra 9, Roub 7 90 - 85 34 - 48 McCook Community College............................................ 1/20 High Scorers: Harris 22, Green 17, Shahid 14, Sierra 11, Dimitrijevic 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 6, Green 6 97 - 92 49-32 Northeastern Junior College............................................ 1/27 High Scorers: Shahid 17, Dimitrijevic 14, Rajanovic 14, Roub 13, Harris 13, Sierra 11, Green 10 High Rebounders: Green 10, Sierra 7, Dimitrievic 7 106 - 73 55 - 33 Eastern Wyoming College..................................................... 2/4 High Scorers: Harris 24, Roub 16, Sierra 15, Green 11 High Rebounders: Rajanovic 8, Harris 6, Roub 6

Cougar Women Season Recap

Final Halftime Opponent.............................................................................Date 102 - 26 72 - 18 Little Big Horn College..........................................................11/3 High Scorers: Kadic 17, Agorakis 16, Wiehl 15, Silva 14, Johnson 10 High Rebounders: Agorakis 15, Wiehl 14 49 - 69 20 - 39 College of Southern Idaho....................................................11/4 High Scorers: Silva 11, Seay 10 High Rebounders: Seay 6, Silva 6 107 - 50 62 - 24 Nebraska All-stars..............................................................11/7 High Scorers: Kadic 25, Wiehl 19, Wiberg 16, Avery 14, Silva 12 High Rebounders: Perez 5 65 - 53 32 - 23 Iowa Western Community College.....................................11/10 High Scorers: Wiehl 17, Avery 17, Kadic 14 High Rebounders: Wiehl 6 61 - 58 37 - 30 Johnson County Community College.................................11/11 High Scorers: Seay 24, Avery 15 High Rebounders: Avery 8, Silva 8, Seay 7

Cougar Women Season Recap (continued)

Won (5-1)

Won (6-1)

Won (7-1)

Lost (7-2)

Won (8-2)

Won (9-2)

Won (10-2)

Won (11-2)

Won (12-2)

Won (13-2)

Won (14-2)

Won (15-2)

Lost (15-3)

Won (16-3)

W (17-3)

W (18-3)

W (19-3)

W (20-3)

W (21-3)

111 - 50 65 - 27 Little Big Horn College........................................................11/17 High Scorers: Silva 20, Wiehl 17, Agorakis 13, Kadic 12, Wiberg 10, Avery 10 High Rebounders: Silva 11 70 - 50 34 - 23 Sheridan College................................................................11/18 High Scorers: Wiehl 16, Silva 12, Kadic 10, Avery 10 High Rebounders: Silva 6 67 - 66 28 - 37 Utah State-Eastern.............................................................11/24 High Scorers: Wiehl 16, Seay 12, Avery 10 High Rebounders: Avery 5, Silva 5 70 - 82 42 - 33 Salt Lake Community College............................................11/25 High Scorers: Wiehl 19, Kadic 15, Seay 14 High Rebounders: Wiehl 6 98 - 35 64 - 15 Williston State...................................................................11/27 High Scorers: Wiehl 23, Johnson 14, Kadic 12, Seay 10, Perez 10 High Rebounders: Wiehl 6 85 - 56 36 - 23 Sheridan College..............................................................11/29 High Scorers: Avery 18, Kadic 16, Johnson 10 High Rebounders: Kadic 6, Avery 5, Silva 5, Perez 5 81 - 63 42 - 33 Northeastern Junior College................................................ 12/1 High Scorers: Wiehl 19, Seay 18, Kadic 12, Avery 11, Silva 10 High Rebounders: Silva 10, Wiehl 7, Avery 7, Kadic 6 77 - 72 33 - 30 Casper College................................................................... 12/5 High Scorers: Wiehl 18, Seay 18, Kadic 16 High Rebounders: Wiehl 11, Silva 6 74 - 64 35 - 19 Eastern Wyoming College................................................ 12/8 High Scorers: Johnson 19, Silva 16, Wiehl 12, Wiberg 12 High Rebounders: Wiehl 11, Silva 9, Johnson 6, Kadic 5 100 - 55 52 - 23 Northwest Tech Kansas J.V................................................ 1/4 High Scorers: Wiehl 21, Kadic 18, Avery 17, Silva 16 High Rebounders: SIlva 13, Avery 9, Johnson 6, Agorakis 6 94 - 69 49 - 28 Laramie County Community College................................. 1/5 High Scorers: Wiehl 24, Kadic 22, Johnson 11, Silva 10, Agorakis 10 High Rebounders: Wiehl 8, Avery 8, Kadic 7, Silva 6, Agorakis 5 82 - 57 41 - 27 Trinidad State Junior College............................................. 1/6 High Scorers: Kadic 19, Wiehl 14, Avery 14, Seay 13 High Rebounders: Avery 10, Silva 10, Wiehl 5 67 - 82 25 - 37 Casper College...................................................................... 1/8 High Scorers: Seay 20, Kadic 14, Wiehl 11 High Rebounders: Kadic 8, Agorakis 6, Johnson 5 76 - 44 27 - 24 Otero Junior College............................................................ 1/12 High Scorers: Kadic 15, Wiehl 13, Silva 12, Seay 11, Johnson 10 High Rebounders: Avery 9, Silva 6, Johnson 6, Kadic 6, Agorakis 5 82 - 59 45 - 36 Lamar Community College.................................................. 1/13 High Scorers: Wiehl 22, Kadic 13, Avery 12, Johnson 11, Seay 11 High Rebounders: Avery 10, Wiehl 7 107 - 32 63 - 17 Nebraska All-stars............................................................. 1/16 High Scorers: Avery 24, Kadic 21, Wiehl 21, Silva 17, Agorakis 14 High Rebounders: Silva 10, Wiehl 7, Agorakis 7 115 - 56 61 - 29 McCook Community College............................................ 1/20 High Scorers: Avery 19, Seay 18, Wiehl 15, Silva 15, Kadic 13, Perez 12, Johnson 10 High Rebounders: Silva 9, Seay 6, Avery 5, Agorakis 5.

94 - 59 51 - 24 Northeastern Junior College............................................ 1/27 High Scorers: Kadic 23, Wiehl 16, Silva 13, Seay 11.

High Rebounders: Silva 11, Wiehl 5, Seay 5.

92 - 81 38 - 41 Eastern Wyoming College.................................................. 2/4 High Scorers: Seay 48, Avery 16, Kadic 11.

High Rebounders: Agorakis 11, Avery 8, Perez 5.

Cougar softball opens up this week The Western Nebraska Community College softball team had very few days to practice outside since starting practice in January, but when the team hits the field Wednesday against Frank Phillips College in Texas, they will be more than ready to hit the diamond.

“We are all looking forward to getting outside and on a softball field,” second-year head coach Katelyn Groves said. “Having the weather we have from about November to March, we always get pretty excited for the first trip south in February. The focus for the first game is to play our game and have strong communication. When our team is communicating, we are much better in practice and I am excited to see it translate in games.”

The Cougars will open the season by playing four days in Texas against Frank Phillips, Howard College, and Western Texas. Cougar softball fans can follow the action on Gamechanger at WNCC Softball 2018.

Sophomore Madi Jackson, who was named a Fastpitch News pre-season all-American in January, said this team is ready to get going.

“I am super excited to get the season started,” Jackson said. “I think we have a lot of potential.”

Jackson said that they have been working hard in practice despite the wintery weather, making the best of different venues. The Cougars were outside a couple last times last week at Oregon Trail Park, but practices usually consisted of the Field of Dreams or working out in Cougar Palace, like they did Monday afternoon.

“We always find a way to get what we need done,” Jackson said. “We have a lot of good competitors on our team this year. I think we will just be fine.”

It is that spirit of getting the job done that reflects the competitiveness of this year’s team. The Cougars do have a lot of potential because of that commitment, but they will have to do it with a thin roster.

WNCC has just 13 players on the roster, but only 11 players healthy to play.

“The talent this season is strong. We have multiple girls that will be seen in multiple positions and filling different roles throughout the season,” Groves said. “Our strengths will be in our ability to move players around in different situations. We have a variety of players that will play different

WNCC’s Reagan Soloman goes to make a catch of a fly ball during a recent practice.

The Cougar softball team open the season this week in Texas. McMillan is one of two pitchers on the team this season. roles - I think the depth in which each player holds is one of our biggest strengths.”

WNCC returns just two players that saw action a year ago in Jackson, a utility player from Herriman, Utah, and Alyssa Guymon, another utility player from Stansbury, Utah.

The Cougars do have the services of two transfers n Brooke Doumer and Beanie Luttig. Doumer, an infielder from Parker, Colorado, came to WNCC from Iowa Western Community College. Doumer already inked to continue her playing at Colorado Mesa.

As a Reiver last season, Doumer appeared in 44 games, batting .389 with four home runs, 40 RBIs, 47 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. In three games against WNCC last season, Doumer was 4-for-8 with two doubles, a run scored and three RBIs. Doumer earned Academic All-Region XI first team honors last year for the Reivers.

Story continued on next page

Alyssa Guymon makes contact with a pitch during batting practice at a recent practice.

Cougar softball opens up this week Story continued from previous page Iowa Western won two of the three games against the Cougars a year ago.

Luttig, a sophomore from Kennard, Nebraska, is a catcher that spent one year at Butler Community College. Luttig batted .261 last year with three doubles, 16 runs scored and 12 RBIs for the defending NJCAA national champions.

WNCC’s other two sophomores, Chelsea Gorman and Christina Nelson, have been hampered with injuries, but they have contributed in other ways that have benefited the team.

With just four sophomores that have seen junior college action, a lot of the punch will come from the freshmen class. Jackson said it doesn’t matter who is on the field this year because it is just not the sophomores that are leaders, everybody is leaders in their own way.

“You could say the sophomores are leaders, but I think we have a lot of natural leaders on our team,” Jackson said. “We have silent leaders and leaders that talk. It is just not the sophomores this year, it is like there are a lot of good freshmen this year that know how to lead the team as well.”

The team will be led by the two pitchers in Emma McMillan from Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, and Reagan Solomon from Farmington, New Mexico.

The catching prospects will be handled

by Luttig as well as Gabby Loya, a freshman from Wheatridge, Colorado, and Hannah Schaeffer of Anaconda, Montana The rest of the roster will play an important part as well. They include Marlee Grant, of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada; Michaela Kelly of Castle Rock, Colorado; and Abriana Ramirez of Arvada, Colorado.

Jackson said the small roster won’t be a problem with this team.

“We have a lot of talent and you can pretty much put anyone anywhere on the field and they will get the job done,” she said.

Groves agrees this is a group that is equal.

“All of our players will be key at given times,” the coach said. “We have a great group and I truly believe they will each play a key part throughout games and throughout the year. I am looking forward to watching our freshmen step up in big ways and our sophomores to provide in game

Madi Jackson is a Fastpitch News pre-season All-American Madi Jackson

Brooke Doumer prepares to make a throw during one of the team’s outdoor practices. experience that will help control the tempo and direction of our team.”

After this week, the Cougars will have a week off as they prepare for their annual soup supper fundraiser on Feb. 17. After that, they will travel to face Highland Community College and Northeast Community College Feb. 24 and 25. The Cougars first home game is slated for Feb. 28 when they host Northeastern Junior College.

Groves is just excited to get this season started.

“I am excited to get this team to Texas and watch them do their thing,” she said.

“They are a fun group, great people, and very hard working.”

2018 schedule (subject to change) February 7 -- @ Frank Phillips 12/2 p.m.; 8 -- @ Howard College, 12/2 p.m.; 9 -- @ Western Texas, 12/2 p.m.; 10 -- @ Western Texas, 10 a.m./12 p.m.; 24 -- @ @ Highland, Kansas, 12/2 p.m.; 25 -- @ Northeast Nebraska, 12/2 p.m.; 28 – Northeastern Junior College, 2/4 p.m.

March 3 – Trinidad State, 1/3 p.m.; 4 – Trinidad State, 11 a.m./1 p.m.; 6 – North Platte, 2/4 p.m.; 9 – Lamar, 12/2 p.m.; 10 – Lamar, 11 a.m./1 p.m.; 12 – @ Tyler Junior College, 2/4 p.m.; 13 -- @ Trinity Valley,

WNCC softball player Madi Jackson received some pre-season mention, making the Fastpitch News NJCAA Pre-season All-American team.

Jackson, from Herriman, Utah, was named a first-team All-American as a utility player.

Last season for the Cougars, Jackson played in 54 games while batting .484 with 19 doiubles, three triples, and two home runs. Jackson scored 76 runs and had 54 RBIs. Jackson joins fFPN first team members from other colleges such as Ashlee Snyder of Salt Lake, Sheena Robinson of Marshalltown, Savannah Rowel of Coastal Alabama, Kaliegh Wynne of Chattanooga State, Monica Pepe of Louisburg, Monique Ashley of Seward County, Elisas Favela of Bossier Parish, Kenzie Young of Butler, Morgan Cushman of Central Florida, Chelsea Fagan of Bossier Parish, Ashley Kriesel of Galveston, Jaydee Boursaw of Yavapai, Rebeca Snow of Tyler, and Dalliah Barrera of Temple. ¼ p.m.; 14 -- @ Tyler Junior College, 2/4 p.m.; 15 -- @ Angelina College, 2/4 p.m.; 17 -- @ Navarro, 12/2 p.m.; 21 -- @ Northeastern Junior College, 2/4 p.m.; 22 – vs. Iowa Western at North Platte, 1/3 p.m.; 24 - @ Trinidad State, 12/2 p.m.; 25 -- @ Lamar, 11 a.m./1 p.m.; 27 – vs. Iowa Western at North Platte, 12/2 p.m.; 30 -- @ Otero, 3/5 p.m.; 31 -- @ Otero, 11 a.m./1 p.m..

April 4 – McCook, 2/4 p.m.; 7 – Otero, 11 a.m./1 p.m.; 10 – McCook, 2/4 p.m.; 11 -- @ North Platte, 3/5 p.m.; 14 -- @ Northeastern Junior College, 12/2 p.m.; 15 -- @ McCook, 11 a.m./1 p.m.

Cougar baseball ready to open the season The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team is out to repeat as Empire Conference champions as they open the season this weekend in Garden City Community College.

WNCC head coach Mike Jones said there is plenty of optimism for a successful season with the talent that returns, including the Cougars top three starting pitchers.

“I think there is excitement around the team. Last year’s group was an outstanding group of people,” Jones said. “Winning the Empire Conference was a big step in helping our program grow. With this year’s team, I don’t think there is any added pressure. It is the same pressure that has been there in the past. We will take it one day and one game at a time and see who has the better team in May.” While the season opens up this weekend, Jones said they will use this to get ready for the conference schedule and just on the field. The baseball team has been using creative ways to practice the last month because of the snowy weather, including using Cougar Palace, throwing on non-snow areas of the college, and the Oregon Trail Park open area.

“I think the team is excited to get on the road, put on the uniforms, and get on the field and play. From a coach’s point of view, we aren’t nearly ready physically. But this weekend will help us get better,” Jones said.

“Whether we had a million practices on the field or not, it is not going to matter. We need to go out and play and see the speed of the game, make some mistakes and learn from them, and just get going.”

The early February games are just that, a way to get in the baseball routine of a contest. This year’s team has a lot of potential to earn back-to-back Empire Conference championships.

Jones is hoping the outlook for the team is for a sunny forecast. On paper it should be with 11 players that saw action either last year or the year before.

The one place that has plenty of experience is pitching with three of the four starters back from a year ago.

“We have some big guys back that pitched a lot for us a year ago, and we even have ones that weren’t in our starting rotation,” he said. “You have Alex Oehme, Claude Bova, and Jacob Pekol were starters for us a year ago and threw a lot for us as freshman and they only will be better this

Brandan Maher makes a throw during one of the team’s outdoor practices at the open area at Gering’s Oregon Trail Park. The baseball team opens the season this weekend against Garden City Community College. year. We also have Jonathan Bermudez, who sat out last year with an injury and he has experience at the college level. Then you got Brian Slaymaker who pitched a ton for us and he has experience. We definitely have experience on the mound. We will play good defense behind these guys and we will have to get creative in ways to score runs.”

Pekol was the leader on the team, finishing with an earned run average of 3.159.

Pekol was 5-4 a year ago with one save.

Oehme finished with a 3-5-1 record and a 3.086 ERA while Bova had a 4.218 ERA with a 6-5 record. All three guys led the team in strikeouts. Bova fanned 68 batters followed by Pekol with 65, and Oehme with 4.086.

As much as the pitching should be improved, the position players also will have depth. The Cougars return five position players that saw plenty of action a year ago.

Leading the list of returners are local players Cooper Buchhammer of Scottsbluff and Esai Hernandez of Gering.

Other returners include Cole Williams of Parker, Colorado, Brandan Maher of Westminster, Colorado, and Tyler Shubert of Windsor, Colorado.

Story continued on next page

Tommy McRill prepares to make a throw during one of the team’s outdoor practices.

Cole Williams makes an airborne, diving catch during a practice at Oregon Trail Park recently.

Cougar baseball ready to open the season

Story continued from previous page

Other returners back from a year ago are Blake Slaymaker of Johnstown, Colorado, and Nathanael Andresen of Gilbert, Arizona.

The Cougars also have the services of two transfers. They include Tyler Olson from Olathe, Kansas, and Tommy McRill of Parker, Colorado.

Jones sees several newcomers as contributing this season.

“Tyler Olson will be a newcomer that should get a lot of at bats for us and be an offensive guy,” he said. “Mitch Lightbody will get a lot of innings for us and should contribute to us offensively as well. Tommy McGill will see a lot of time at first base.”

Then there are others that will be role players and that is the key in having a good season. ] “It is a full team game and everybody needs to contribute and find out how they can help the team, and help the team be successful,” Jones said. “There are so many ways to help out with this baseball team without being the starting pitcher or the star offensive player. It will be a process but I think guys understand where they are at and what they need to do.”

The rest of the active roster includes Zach Berg of Parker, Colorado; Braden Lofink of Scottsbluff; Andres Garcia of Milliken, Colorado; Arnoldo Malto-Garcia of Brush, Colorado; Brandon Rollinson of Ft. Collins, Colorado; Kale Litzelman of Hotchkiss, Colorado; Welinton Mariano of Miami; Brevin Book of Gunnison, Colorado;

Nothing is out of the realm this season.

Jones believes this team can surprise some people.

“I really hope we are just an overall good team,” he said. “I know when you look at it on paper, pitching and our defense is what stands out, but offensively we might surprise some people. We just might be a very good offensive team unit and find ways to score runs and not rely on just one or two guys and able to do it all the way through the lineup.

Brevin Book prepares to make a throw from the outfield during one of the team’s outdoor practices.

Devin Deboer of Littleton, Colorado; Nate Kolb of Surrey, British Columbia; Harrison Yates of Laramie, Wyoming; Hunter Parker of Centennial, Colorado; and Brevin Owen of Falcon, Colorado.

Jones doesn’t know what kind of offensive team it will be this season, whether it will be a power team or a base-hitting team.

What he wants is just a good hitting team.

“Getting guys on base will generate scoring opportunities, then it comes down to getting big hits with guys on base,” he said.

“We have seen it time and time again from our guys that they understand the situation and they come up big in the clutch when we need it and that is what we need. Hopefully, that is what we can do again this year.”

2018 Baseball Schedule (Schedule subject to change) February 11-12 -- @ Garden City Community College; 17-18 – HOME vs. Miles Community College; 23 -- @ Northeastern Junior College; 24-25 -- @ Barton Community College.

March 3-4 -- @ Lamar Community College; 7 – HOME vs.

Northeastern Junior College; 10-11 -- @ Otero Junior College; 13-14 -- @ South Mountain in Phoenix; 15 -- @ Phoenix College in Arizona; 16 – @ GateWay Community College in Mesa, Arizona; 16 -- @ Phoenix College in Arizona; 17 -- @ Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona; 24-25 – HOME vs. Trinidad State Junior College; 27 -- @ McCook Community College; 30-31 – HOME vs. Lamar Community College.

April 7-8 -- @ Trinidad State Junior College; 11 -- @ McCook Community College; 14-15 – HOME vs. Otero Junior College; 19 -- @ Northeastern Junior College; 22 – HOME vs. Colorado State Club; 25 – HOME vs. Northeastern Junior College; 28-29 – HOME vs.

McCook Community College.

May 4-6 -- @ Miles Community College.

What former Cougars are doing now Spreier selected to conference academic team

Former Cougar volleyball player Kaylee Spreier was one of 34 Dakota State fall athletes to make the North Star Athletic Association Academic team that was released Feb. 1.

Spreier was one of 12 volleyball players to make the team. To make the team, an athlete must have a grade Kaylee point average of 3.25 on a scale.

Spreier 4.0

Spreier, a 6-foot middle hitter, earned her name in the Trojans record book this season. Spreier had eight blocks during a match with Briar Cliff back on Sept.

8. She is tied for ninth in blocks in a game with two other Dakota players.

For the season, Spreier finished with 247 kills, 13 aces, 44 digs, 95 block assists, and 14 solo blocks.

Spreier had season highs in kills of 16 against Walforf on Nov. 4, Dakota College finished the season with a record of 12-24.

Giefer’s team plays on Astros field

WNCC’s Giefer opened Mines’ season playing on World Series’ champions field.

Former Cougar and now a pitcher for Colorado School of Mines Giefer enjoyed opening up the Mines’ season playing at Minute Maid Park, the home of World Series champions Houston Astros.

The School of MInes Nate opened the season going Giefer 2-1.

They opened the season with a 3-0 loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Colorado School of Mines followed that up with two wins, dropping Tarleton State on Saturday, winning 6-1, before finishing off the 3-day trip to Houston with a 6-0 win over Central Missouri.

Grasser opens up baseball season with an explosive start

Ryan Grasser

Former WNCC baseball player Ryan Grasser had a big game in a 6-3 win over Texas-Premian Basin over the weekend for his Fort Hays State University baseball team.

The former Cougar had a big day at the plate, driving in one run on four hits

in five at bats. The second baseman picked up two doubles and scored two critical runs for the Fort Hayes Tigers.

Grasser helped Fort Hays win its first three games over Texas-Prermian Basin. In the 3-game series, Grasser scored four runs,had six hits, two RBIs, three doubles and walked four times.

Sawyer helps No. 9 Dixie State to two season-opening wins

Former WNCC softball player Kenzie Sawyer helped the No. 9 Dixie State softball team to two wins over Northwest Nazarene 13-5 and 7-0.

In the first game, Sawyer went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Sawyer’s bat was hot in the second game, going 1-for2 with two RBIs and a run scored. The big hit for Sawyer was a second-inning 2-run home run.

Sawyer batted .327 with four home runs last season Kenzie for Dixie State.

Sawyer Dixie State will be back in action Thursday at home against Metro State.

They will also face CSC-Pueblo on Friday, Chadron State on Saturday, and Colorado Mines on Sunday.

$100 Club Monthly Winners

September Winners

$150 — Kimberly Belford, ..............Ft. Collins, Colorado $100 — Jeff Peck, .............................. Gering, Nebraska $50 — Shawn Hergenreder, ..............Scotsbluff, Nebraska

October Winners

$150 — Sabrina Kadic, .................. West Valley City, Utah $100 — Roxie Shaul, ................................. Gering, Nebraska $50 — Scott & Amy Winters, ................ Scottsbluff, Nebraska

November Winners

$150 — Joan Koehler.......................... Gering, Nebraska $100 — Lynn Wolworth..............................Mitchell, Nebraska $50 — Rudy & Angie Hernandez................ Gering, Nebraska

December Winners

$150 — CedJuan Johnson.............Centennial, Colorado $100 — Scott Winters........................... Scottsbluff, Nebraska $50 — Jane Spillman.......................................... Hyrum, Utah

January Winners

$150 — Yvette Morales....................... Gering, Nebraska $100 — Gil Magdeleno................................ Gering, Nebraska $50 — Werner Liehl.................................................. Germany

February Winners

$150 — Brad Shaul............................. Gering, Nebraska $100 — Peyton Simmons...........................Gordon, Nebraska $50 — AJ Jackson....................................... Denver, Colorado

Each month the winners will be announced here as well on the WNCC athletic website at wnccathletics.com

Kansas’ Joplin inks with women’s basketball Joplin was a 2-sport athlete at Garden Plain High School in Wichita, Kansas

Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball coach Chad Gibney is hot on the recruiting trail and inked his first player for next year Kansas senior Taylor Joplin signed on to play for the Cougars.

Joplin, a 6-foot wing from Garden Plain High School in Wichita, was a two sport athlete participating in volleyball and basketball.

Joplin, who was also looking at Newman University, Bethel College, Kansas Wesleyan University, and Pratt Community College, is excited to becoming a Cougar.

“When I went on my visit at Western Nebraska, I was able to meet the girls on the basketball team and we got along really well,” she said. “I also believe that playing for Coach Gibney will be a great experience.

Also, the support that the sports teams receive from the community in Scottsbluff, remind me of Garden Plain and the support that we get from the community.”

Gibney, who graduated from Wichita State University, knows all about high school basketball in Wichita. Gibney said she brings a lot of talent on and off the court to the program.

“We got ourselves a good one. We are excited to help Taylor develop her game and utilize her strengths as far as shooting the basketball and being a strong, smart player,” Gibney said. “She has high character and comes from a great family. She understands what it takes to win and be successful.”

Gibney said Joplin brings a lot of talent to the program.

“We are really excited to have Taylor,” he said. “She provides a lot of versatility for us.

She can play inside and can play outside.

She is a big-time shooter and brings a lot

of toughness. She brings a high IQ of basketball and we are very fortunate to have Taylor on our roster next year.”

Joplin definitely brings plenty of basketball savvy to the Cougar team. Joplin was part of state tournament teams, where the volleyball team won state in Kansas her sophomore year and the basketball team made state also her sophomore season.

She also played club basketball for Next Level Eclipse, where she traveled to different states playing the sport she loves in basketball.

At Garden Plain, Joplin is averaging 14 points, six rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and 1.5 steals a game. She is hitting on 81 percent of her free throws for the Owls.

This season, the Garden Plain Owls are currently 9-0 on the season. In nine games this season, Joplin has scored double figures in seven of the games, including 20 points in a 60-45 win over Rose Hill and a 45-25 win over Remington. She made four treys in the Remington win.

For her career at Garden Plain, she is

averaging 10.6 points and five rebounds a game. She has scored 838 points in four years and needs just over 160 points to hit the 1,000 career mark.

On the volleyball level, Joplin was a 3-year varsity player, racking up 158 kills this past fall with 65 blocks.

Joplin has earned plenty of honors, earning first team All-CPL conference her sophomore and junior year as well as 3A state honorable mention both seasons. She also earned second team CPL volleyball this year.

Joplin, who is undecided on a major said the season is going great so far, but they have some tough games coming up. She added that as the season is winding down, the realization of closing out her high career is drawing near.

“It’ll be sad to know that it’ll be my last high school game, playing with my teammates since grade school, but I will be excited knowing that I am getting closer to finally being able to play for WNCC,” she said.

New Mexico’s Silva inks with Cougar women Albuquerque star signs with WNCC after winning 6A state title for Sandia As a junior, Marisol Silva helped her Sandia High School basketball team capture a state basketball championship in the largest class in New Mexico.

It is that experience that led Silva, a 5-foot-11 wing player, as a top player on college’s recruiting list. Silva, halfway through her senior season, made up her mind of her college choice, picking Western Nebraska Community College over Region IX schools Lamar Community College and Trinidad State Junior College.

“I decided to come to WNCC because the moment I stepped on campus, I could feel the culture of the program and knew it was best the fit for me,” Silva said. “I know Coach [Chad] Gibney has high expectations for the girls and pushes them to fulfill their potential. I really liked how much the community is involved and how supportive they are.”

It is at WNCC Silva hopes to continue growing as a player.

“My goals at WNCC are to learn and grow as a player and as a teammate,” the Albuquerque, New Mexico, product said. “I want to help the program continue to be successful.”

WNCC head coach Chad Gibney sees bright things from Silva next year.

“Mari is a very good defensive player and she is extremely versatile,” he said. “She has a knack for the ball and always seems to make winning plays.

She can guard multiple positions and pursues the basketball off the glass.

Mari won a state championship in high school so she is not afraid of

the moment and understands what it takes to win at a high level.”

Last season as a junior, Silva was named the MVP of the state championship game in helping her team to the state title. She was second team All-Metro as a junior as well as being nominated for the Metro Defensive Player of the Year her sophomore and junior years. She was also All-Academic last year.

As a junior, Silva average 11 points and seven rebounds game in 32 games.

This season, through 11 games, she is averaging 11 points, eight rebounds, and two steals a game. Silva said her senior season was cut short because of an ankle injury.

“Unfortunately, due to an ankle injury, I will be unable to finish my senior year on the floor with my teammates,” she said. “Instead, I will be cheering them on from the bench.”

Silva is a four-sport athlete at Sandia, but it is basketball where she shines.

Silva ran track for two seasons, played volleyball for a year, and played club soccer since she was four years old before stopping to play her sophomore year in high school.

Silva plays basketball year around and that is where Gibney found Silva, It was a tournament this summer in Denver that Silva caught Gibney’s eye.

“When I saw Mari play this summer, I loved the effort in how she flew around the court defensively and after rebounds,” he said. “Her toughness and unselfishness will fit in perfect with the culture that we have established at WNCC. Mari loves the game and is an outstanding worker. We are excited to help her develop as a player and person.”

Silva plans to major in criminology at WNCC.

Men’s soccer signs three players in central Nebraska WNCC men’s soccer coach Todd Rasnic was busy signing players in central Nebraska a couple weeks ago.

Rasnic started the trip by inking a pair of players from Lexington High School.

Wilmer Hernandez and Bryan Mejia will be Cougars next year.

Hernandez has appeared in 20 games for the Minuteman, scoring seven goals and collecting four assists.

Mejia also has appeared in 20 games for Lexington. Mejia has one goal and four assists. Mejia is projected to play the center back position in college.

Rasnic also signed North Platte’s Scott Dike. Dike has appeared in 25 games for the Bulldogs as a defender. Dike is a 5-foot10 multi-sport athlete at North Platte, who also is a member of the Bulldog swim team.

Rasnic signs several athletes in Colorado

Rasnic spent the National Signing Day in Colorado inking a plethora of players.

Rasnic signed three at Eaglecrest High.

Inking for the men’s team were Hector and Arcye Salgado.

Both Salgado’s earned second team All-Centennial League in the fall.

Bryan Mejia and Wilmer Hernandez of Lexington pose for a picture after signing with WNCC men’s soccer recently. (courtesy photo) The Raptors finished the soccer season with a 8-8 record.

Rasnic also inked Gateway’s Saul Aguilar on Feb. 7.

Rasnic also signed Bethany Fuchs for the women’s team. Fuchs is a midfielder who also played for the Rapids Select traveling team.

Rasnic also signed a pair from Bruce Randolph High School in Denver on Wednesday. Joining the men’s team is Jorge Rojas. Rojas played in 53 games in four years at Bruce Randolph. This past fall, Rojas has four goals and nine assists. He fin-

Photos of Colorado soccer players that Todd Rasnic signed on Feb. 7 include Amy Romero (left). In the below picture, you have brothers Hector and Arcy Salgado along with Bethany Fuchs. Also, in the bottom right photo, the two Gateway High players sign in Perla Guzman and Saul Aguilar.

ished his high school career with 12 goals and 29 assists.

Lesly Miranda-Limon will also be joining the women’s soccer program from Bruce Randolph. Miranda-Limon was the captain of the team her junior year, where she played in 12 games and had three assists and a goal.

Another women’s soccer player that Rasnic inked in Colorado on Feb. 7 was Amy Romero of Vista Peak Prep School in Aurora, Colorado.

Rasnic also inked Perla Guzman of Gateway high school in Colorado.

Former Cougar Varela comes back to work for TCD Former WNCC volleyball player and recent Chadron State College graduate Gabriela Varela has joined the Twin Cities Development (TCD) team as a marketing specialist working with the eCenter.

Varela is excited to be back in Scottsbluff and a part of the TCD family.

“I am very excited to say that I am living in Scottsbluff after being involved in the community for the last four years,” she said. “I am even more excited to be working with Twin Cities Development! TCD sees the potential in Scottsbluff like I do and wants to help it grow.”

Varela’s position with TCD will be working with the eCenter.

“We want to increase commu-

nity engagement,” she said. “TCD eCenter focuses on allowing companies and entrepreneurs develop by providing assitance with our services.”

The eCenter assists new and startup companies and entrepreneurs with the resources needed to start out in business. Among the center’s numerous services are assistance with writing business plans, budgeting, mentorship opportunities and getting new entrepreneurs connected with the funding sources they need for success.

In a press release, TCK director of community and economic development Keith Elis said they are excited to have Varela on board.

Varela came to the Panhandle from Dorado, Puerto Rico in 2013 to play volleyball for WNCC. She played one year before transferring to Chadron State, where she played on the Eagles volleyball team the past three season.

Varela said that she had the option to play volleyball overseas, but decided that furthering her professional skills was more important.

“My college volleyball days are over, but working out and playing volleyball is something I will continue to do outside of work,” she said. “I have the option of playing volleyball overseas, but have decided to further my professional career and enter the business world as I have always dreamed.”

Fluent in both English and Spanish, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and entrepreneurship.

During her course of study, she wrote business plans, did marketing research, created surveys, and did presentations along with podcasts.

“TCD’s eCenter facilities are excellent and we want the community to bring in their ideas and make them happen at the eCenter,” she said.

WNCC Athletes of the Week -- Female Athlete of the Week for Week Ending Feb. 4 -Karlie Seay, a freshman from Chicago, had a record-setting performance on Saturday. Seay broke the 39-year-old record of most points in a game of 38 when she netted 48 points in a 92-81 win over EWC. Seay connected on four 3-pointers, but it was her free throw shooting that was excellent, going 12-of-13 for the game. Seay had 16 points at halftime and then 16 points each in the third and fourth quarter. Seay set the record on a 15-foot jumper from the leftside of the free throw line.

Female Aug. 27........Brooke Kaawa, Vball Sept. 4...... Genesis Benitez, Vball Sept. 14... Jayme Commins, Vball

Sept. 21.... Kadara Marshall, Vball Sept. 28......Syenna Masaki, Vball Oct. 1....... Joise Maldonado, Vball Oct. 8...........Sarena Bartley, Vball Oct. 16.......Morgan Smith, Soccer Oct. 22.........Brooke Kaawa, Vball Oct. 29........Syenna Masaki, Vball Nov. 5.................. Volleyball Team Nov. 12............ Karli Seay, Wbball Nov. 26......... Merle Wiehl, Wbball Dec. 17.Anastacia Johnson, WBB Jan. 7..............Melisa Kadic, WBB Jan. 14................Karli Seay, WBB Jan. 21..........Jaleesa Avery, WBB Feb. 4...............Karlie Seay, WBB

-- Male Athlete of the Week for week ending Feb. 4 -Martin Roub, a freshman from the Czech Republic, had a decent game on Saturday in a 106-73 win over EWC. Roub came off the

bench, playing 16 minutes in scoring 16 points with two 3-pointers and six rebounds. Roub also had a 13-point performance the week before in a win against NJC. Roubis averaging 10 points a game and has connected on 44 3-pointers this season.

Male Aug. 27....... Lawan Abary, Soccer Sept. 4....Thomas Franze, Soccer Sept. 14. Ramses Atahaulpa, Soccer Sept. 21...Andre Matzuda, Soccer Sept. 28.....Ade Oshikoya, Soccer Oct. 1........... Silvio Xavier, Soccer Oct. 8............Owen Parra, Soccer Oct. 16........ Lawan Abary, Soccer Oct. 22......... Silvio Xavier, Soccer Oct. 29........ Soccer Team, Soccer Nov. 5........... Vinnie Shahid, Bball Nov. 12..........Marlon Sierra, Bball Nov. 26... Marko Rajanovac, Bball Dec. 17............Martin Roub, Bball Jan. 7......Djodje Dimitrijevic, Bball Jan. 14............. Trent Harris, Bball Jan. 21...........Jervay Green, Bball Feb. 4..............Martin Roub, Bball

Women’s basketball signs player from Bulgaria Valcheva comes to WNCC having played on Bulgaria National team Yuliyana Valcheva wanted to become a better basketball player and she will get that chance next season after signing to play for the women’s basketball team at WNCC. “I choose WNCC because I wanted to be a better player,” Valcheva said. “I saw in WNCC a good opportunity to achieve my goals because of the good quality of education and sport.

It is also a chance to realization and preparation for the professional future life.”

Valcheva comes to WNCC from Varna, Bulgaria, where she was a 6-foot-1 forward for her high school team. She earned the MVP honors in the national championship in 2016.

WNCC coach Chad Gibney said Valcheva fits into the culture of the women’s basketball program.

“Yuliyana is a long, tall, athletic skilled forward,” Gibney said. “She does a really good job of finishing with either hand around the basket. She is athletic enough that she can get out and run up and down the floor and fit in an up-tempo system. We are excited because she fits our culture as far as understanding what it takes to be successful from coming from a winning program and she has shown the dedication of wanting to be a really good player.”

Valcheva has an impressive background on the basketball court. She was a 4-time national champion of Bulgaria for Cherno More Odesos, three times national champions of Bulgaria for her high school team of First Language School, and participated in three European Championships with the National team from Bulgaria.

She earned four individual awards, twice for rebounds and twice for top scorer.

This season, she has appeared in 41 games, averaging a double-double of 14 points and 10.9 rebounds. For her career

in 239 games, she is averaging nine points, 7.5 rebounds, three assists, and 1.2 steals a game.

Valcheva, who was also looking at Sheridan College and Western Wyoming Community College, said the season is going well.

“We are playing in the best and most competitive league in our country and we have a lot of wins, mostly in home games,” she said. “But there are also some lost games, too.”

Gibney likes that experience that he is getting, not only with Valcheva, but the previous two players he signed with Marisol Silva of New Mexico and Taylor Joplin of Wichita, Kansas.

“We have been able to add that length and athleticism and that ability to defend in multiple positions,” Gibney said. “We look for quickness. We look for length. We look for athleticism. We look for toughness. She

fits that mold and we are excited for her to come over to the United States and show her that warm Cougar welcome.”

For Valcheva, she wants to get better as a player and receive an education. She plans to major in media and communications and to specialize in journalism.

“My goals are connected with both education and basketball,” she said. “II will strive for great grades, passing all of my exams and play basketball on high level.”

Valcheva is looking forward to starting a new chapter in the United States and leaving her high school in Bulgaria.

“It would be really emotional to wear the T-shirt with the name of my favorite school for the last time, but I think that everyone should go through this,” she said. “The reason is because life is changing constantly and we must learn from our past, not to live in it.”

WNCC Softball Soup Supper Saturday, Feb. 17

Location: WNCC main campus in the Pit Time: 1 p.m. until half of men’s game Cost: $5 per person Get your ticket from any player or coach Women’s/Men’s Basketball play Otero beginning at 2 p.m.

WNCC Athletes of the Week -- Female Athlete of the Week for Week Ending Feb. 4 -Karlie Seay, a freshman from Chicago, had a record-setting performance on Saturday. Seay broke the 39-year-old record of most points in a game of 38 when she netted 48 points in a 92-81 win over EWC. Seay connected on four 3-pointers, but it was her free throw shooting that was excellent, going 12-of-13 for the game. Seay had 16 points at halftime and then 16 points each in the third and fourth quarter. Seay set the record on a 15-foot jumper from the leftside of the free throw line.

Female Aug. 27........Brooke Kaawa, Vball Sept. 4...... Genesis Benitez, Vball Sept. 14... Jayme Commins, Vball

Sept. 21.... Kadara Marshall, Vball Sept. 28......Syenna Masaki, Vball Oct. 1....... Joise Maldonado, Vball Oct. 8...........Sarena Bartley, Vball Oct. 16.......Morgan Smith, Soccer Oct. 22.........Brooke Kaawa, Vball Oct. 29........Syenna Masaki, Vball Nov. 5.................. Volleyball Team Nov. 12............ Karli Seay, Wbball Nov. 26......... Merle Wiehl, Wbball Dec. 17.Anastacia Johnson, WBB Jan. 7..............Melisa Kadic, WBB Jan. 14................Karli Seay, WBB Jan. 21..........Jaleesa Avery, WBB Feb. 4...............Karlie Seay, WBB

-- Male Athlete of the Week for week ending Feb. 4 -Martin Roub, a freshman from the Czech Republic, had a decent game on Saturday in a 106-73 win over EWC. Roub came off the

bench, playing 16 minutes in scoring 16 points with two 3-pointers and six rebounds. Roub also had a 13-point performance the week before in a win against NJC. Roubis averaging 10 points a game and has connected on 44 3-pointers this season.

Male Aug. 27....... Lawan Abary, Soccer Sept. 4....Thomas Franze, Soccer Sept. 14. Ramses Atahaulpa, Soccer Sept. 21...Andre Matzuda, Soccer Sept. 28.....Ade Oshikoya, Soccer Oct. 1........... Silvio Xavier, Soccer Oct. 8............Owen Parra, Soccer Oct. 16........ Lawan Abary, Soccer Oct. 22......... Silvio Xavier, Soccer Oct. 29........ Soccer Team, Soccer Nov. 5........... Vinnie Shahid, Bball Nov. 12..........Marlon Sierra, Bball Nov. 26... Marko Rajanovac, Bball Dec. 17............Martin Roub, Bball Jan. 7......Djodje Dimitrijevic, Bball Jan. 14............. Trent Harris, Bball Jan. 21...........Jervay Green, Bball Feb. 4..............Martin Roub, Bball

Parting Shot

WNCC basketball players and coaches pose for the camera after the Cougars topped Eastern Wyoming College 106-73 on Feb. 4.

The Cougars are in first place in the South sub-region with only one loss followed by Otero Junior College with two losses. WNCC and Otero will battle each other Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. with first place on the line. Otero already defeated WNCC once this season in an overtime thriller at LaJunta, Colorado.

Platinum Sponsors Absolute Painting B&C Steel Bellevue University FBG Fremont Motors Ideal Linen LOGOz Peerless Tire Pepsi Perkins Platte Valley Bank Quick Care Regional West Runza Scottsbluff Screenprinting Steel Grill TEAM Chevrolet/Toyota Western States Bank Gold Sponsors Ameri-Co Carriers

Cougar Frontline Sponsors Arby’s Bluff ’s Sanitary Supply Douglas, Kelly, Ostdiek, Ossian, Vogl, and Snyder, P.C. First National Bank Gary’s Cleaning Inland Truck Monument Smiles NTC US Bank

Panhandle COOP Pinnacle Bank Reganis Auto Roosevelt Public Power Safetyline Consultants Sandberg Implement Schank Roofing Simmons-Olsen Law Firm Vertex Western Sugar

Blue Sponsors Backaracks Bid It Bob Chaloupka, Holyoke, Snyder, Chaloupka, & Longoria Law Firm First State Bank Floyd’s Truck Service Hampton Inn & Suites Hurst Sports Racquet Intralinks Monument Physical Therapy

White Sponsors Chadron State College Carr-Trumbull Lumber Dominos Kriz Davis Company Ole’ Restaurant Rusch’s General Contracting Route 26 Mart Scottsbluff Star-Herald Valley Dental Center