Fall Sports 2013

D2

Fall Sports Preview

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

the north platte telegraph

Photo courtesy of Don Milroy

Bulldogs will rely on strong work ethic

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Work ethic is something North Platte football coach Bernie Madison will look for to counterbalance a small number of athletes on the field.

Although the number has grown by about 15 players to 75 in 2013, Madison Bernie said it still Madison presents problems competing in Class A. “Depth, as usual,” Madison said of the team’s concern. “It is a struggle to compete in Class A with our numbers.

“So we’ll look for work ethic. We don’t have a lot of kids, but the ones we do have out work hard.

That will breed success.”

Offense

Shane Mauch returns with experience at the quarterback position.

Mauch was 20-of-44 passing for 222 yards and two touchdowns in a limited back-up role a year ago.

Mauch also led returning rushers with 219 yards on

NPHS Football Aug. 30........... @Norfolk Sept. 6.. Lincoln Pius X Sept. 13...@Lincoln East Sept. 20....Bellevue East Sept. 27........ @Fremont Oct. 4... Lincoln N. Star Oct. 11... @Lincoln High Oct. 18.....Grand Island Oct. 25..........@Kearney 50 carries.

Alec Wesslund returns with the most receptions for the Bulldogs at 62 yards on four receptions.

Madison said it will be important for the Bulldogs to take care of the ball.

“Consistency is the best word for it. We had too many turnovers last year,” said the fifth-year coach. “Trying to move the chains on a more consistent basis, trying to keep our defense off the field.

“We will run the same offense, we’re just trying to simplify everything a little bit, make it a little more simplistic for the kids so we can run the

School: North Platte Nickname: Bulldogs Class: A Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Bernie Madison Player to Watch: Chase Hohnholt. Chase has been a workhorse this summer and played for us last year. He is a beast. He is also a very positive leader. With him and Alek Morales in the middle of our D we will be solid in the trenches.

Team Strength: Work ethic! We don’t have a lot of kids but the ones we do have out work hard. That will breed success. things we run well. Jack of all trades, master of none type of deal.”

Defense

Leaders back for the defense are Mauch with 27 solo tackles and 21 assists, one fumble recovery and an interception.

Alek Morales had six solo tackles and 18 assists with three sacks, while teammate Chase Hohnholt contributed with 23 tackles, five unassisted, with one sack.

On defense, Madison thinks going faster will help his squad compete.

“I think speed on the defensive side [will be key],” Madison said. “I know when I started in Class A football, you

Team Concerns: Depth, as usual. It is a struggle to compete in Class A with our numbers.

Season Outlook: We are going to be better. The kids have bought into the system and are excited to get on the field.

Key Game: Our first one with Norfolk. It would be great to start the season out with a win. We haven’t beaten the Panthers before, so that would add to the importance of a good start. One game at a time! I know, I know, a little cliche.

Possible Starters: QB: Shane Mauch: RB: Jordan Trijillo,

can’t make a living with those athletes on the edge because they’ve got equal athletes as we do and they were running around as fast as we were. So we have to be more sound and flying around to the ball.”

Madison said fans could see some stunts coming from his defensive line.

“We’re going to allow those lineman to slant more often,” said Madison. “Our philosophy is beat the guy in front of you and not trade one for one.”

Special Teams

After losing kick specialist Brandon Hedgecock from 2012, it could

Jacob Zimbelman: REC: Drew Callaghan, Jonny Guethlein; WG: Dustin Horton, Alec Wesslund; OT: Tyler Dubry, Chris Dotson, Skyler Bokoski, Matt Hernandez; OG: Chase Honholt, Alec Morales; C: Colton Hall, Chris SMith; DE: Chris Smith, Matt Hernandez: DT: Chase Honholt, Alek Morales; LB: Robert Kekahbah, Colton Hall; CB: Alec Wesslund, Brady Anderson: SS: Tyler Borson, Dustin Horton, Johnny Guethlein; FS: Shane Mauch; Punter: Shane Mauch, Brady Anderson, Robert Kekahbah; Kicker: Shane Mauch; PAT: Dakota Guenin

be kicking by committee in the coming season.

“Special teams is going to be tough,” Madison said. “We’re a little behind because we didn’t get two-a-days this year, so we’re going to have to focus on that the next few days before we kick things off against Norfolk.

“Brandon is leaving bit shoes to fill. He was a great kicker for us. I think Shane [Mauch] will kick some for us and Dakota Guenin has been kicking a little bit on our PAT system. Shane, Robert Kekahbah and Brady Anderson are ones that will do some punting for us.

“We talked to the kids

about how our best kids have to be on special teams. We can’t sub in or get the second-level guys in there because that’s a very important part of the game.”

Overall outlook

With a tough schedule ahead of them, Madison feels his troops will be improved.

“I truly believe we’re going to be better. I say that every year and I know every coach in the state says the same,” Madison said. “They’re going to look for improvement. You can only do that in the day-to-day work and game-to-game. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s the truth.”

NP girls golf ready to go

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

With seven players lost to graduation last spring, North Platte golf coach Jim Orcutt will need some girls with limited experience to step forward to help the Lady Bulldogs in the 2013 season.

Orcutt has 10 girls on Jim the roster.

Orcutt “Last year, 13 girls were on the largest team that I have had as a coach in the past seven years,” Orcutt said. “A lot of them were seniors who had been out for golf since they were freshmen.

“I may end up with 11 girls as another one is thinking about it. So this is a good number to

Orcutt has his eye on a senior and a freshman to lead his team early. Erin Green returns as a starter and Morgan Lashley Aug. 30..........@Kearney will try to find her niche Sept. 3........ @Lexington on the 2013 squad after a Sept. 6........... NP Invite summer of youth tournaSept. 10... McCook dual ments.

Sept. 13...... @Lexington “Erin has been on the Sept. 19.. @Gothenburg golf team for four years Sept. 19........@Hastings and has played varsity Sept. 23.........@Ogallala for three years,” said the veteran coach. “She Sept. 26.. @Gothenburg helps the team by giving Sept. 30... Kearney dual them a good example to Oct. 1................@GNAC follow and has a good work ethic.

“Morgan’s game is still work with. I am looking maturing, but she has a forward to watching the girls improve during this great attitude.”

Orcutt wants his team season.” to play with consistency.

What can Orcutt expect from his squad as The Lady Bulldogs will the season opens today at need their A-game today at Kearney. the Kearney Invite? “[Today’s] meet will “It is hard to tell this early in the season,” said be a tough one with some good schools,” Orcutt Orcutt. “We are worksaid. “That will be one of ing very hard to get our short games into tourna- our toughest meets of the season right off the bat.” ment shape.”

NPHS Girls Golf

Mark Obermeier / The North Platte Telegraph

School: North Platte Nickname: Bulldogs Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Jim Orcutt Player to Watch: Erin Green—Team leader with the most varsity experience.

Morgan Lashley—Freshman with some summer golf tournament experience.

Team Strengths: A willingness to make changes to improve their games.

Team Concerns: We have some

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experience but we are trying to recover from graduating seven seniors last year.

Season Outlook: We will work hard and do our best. There are quite a number of good lady golfers in the state in all classes.

Key Match: GNAC, districts and state at Norfolk CC Possible Starters: Erin Green, Courtney Ruda, Morgan Lashley, Amanda Beall, Courtney Kohl, Alexis Beacon

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Fall Sports Preview

the north platte telegraph

School: North Platte Nickname: Bulldogs Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Laura Miller Player to Watch: Allison Kuenle/OH—Allison hits the ball really well, plays all the way around and does a great job taking care of business.

Team Strengths: Lots of experience coming back from a great season last fall.

Team chemistry is better than ever at this time of the season.

Everybody is excited to get after it.

Team Concerns: Keep everybody healthy.

Season Outlook: We are very excited about what this team has to offer. Can’t wait to get into competitions.

Key Match: Ogallala three times, G.I., Kearney.

Possible Starters: Outside hitters: Allison Kuenle, Kaitlynn Harvey, Morgan Raska; Middle hitters: Olivia Nicholson; setters: Allison Sawyer, Alex Neff; libero: Madalynn Doughty, Haley Schanou; right side hitters: Catelyn Lee, Jordyn Kleinow, Taylor Johnson, Hope Wilke.

NPHS Volleyball Sept. 5...........@Ogallala Sept. 7... @Lincoln N. Star Sept. 12........... @Aurora Sept. 14......... @Alliance Sept. 17.......... Ogallala Sept. 20-21.... @Lincoln Sept. 24.........@Kearney Oct. 1.......... @Lexington Oct. 5......... @Columbus Oct. 12..... @Lincoln SW Oct. 17.......... @McCook Oct. 22..........@Ogallala Oct. 24.......Scottsbluff Oct. 26.......N.Platte Tri Oct. 29...@Grand Island Nov. 2.....GPAC Tourney

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

D3

Photo courtesy of Don Milroy

NP volleyball team returns experience

By MARk oBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

For most athletic teams, youth can be a concern.

But for North Platte volleyball coach Laura Miller, youth may be a strength.

With only four seniors on the squad, Miller will look for just that right mixture of youth and experience Laura to lead the Miller Lady Bulldogs into the 2013 season, Madalynn Doughty, Catelyn Lee, Jordyn Kleinow and Allison Sawyer are the returning veterans who Miller will look to blend into a youthful team.

“We are all very excited about what this team has to offer,” Miller said. “We

have a lot of experience coming back from a great season last fall. Team chemistry is better than ever at this time of the season.”

“We have to find our rights. We lost both of our rights from last year. So far Kaitlynn Lee, a senior, is doing a great job. We’re looking at Jordyn Kleinow, who is a senior, coming in with some height there. In the summer, Hope Wilke helped us out on the right side.

“We have a lot of depth but need another left, losing Anna Allberry from last year. We’ll miss her.

Kaitlynn helped us out this summer on the left.

Morgan Raska could step in there.

“It’s going to make our job complicated, finding the nine kids we’re going to jell together and play together.”

Front line North Platte has a lot of returning hitters and blockers coming back as both Olivia Nicholson and Jessi Hunt started a season ago.

“Jessi put up a huge block for us, which was a great surprise, and Olivia [142 kills] is an awsome hitter,” Miller said. “We just have to pass better so we can get her the ball more often this year.

“Allison Kuenle, on the left side, is returning as well. She led us in kills [224] last year and is doing awesome already this year. She’s quick, fast and can hit through the block, around the block and before the block even gets there sometimes.

Back row On the defensive side, the Lady Bulldogs are solid with Hunt and Nicholson returning with 31 solo blocks apiece. Miller said there will be several ath-

letes playing throughout the rotation.

“Allison and possibly Kaitlynn Harvey will stay in our left side and play all the way around,” the veteran coach said. “They’ll be key defensively. They’re digging the opponents’ left side, which is usually their best hitters, their go-to hitters.

“Our left back is going to need to be good a defensive player. Hayley Schanou is a possible DS [defensive specialist] back there for us. I think our defense is going to be really good this year.”

Libero Doughty returns for the Lady Bulldogs where she led the team in 2012 in digs with 462.

“She was just phenominal for us, dug up a lot of balls and did an awesome job,” Miller said. “She runs the defense really

Tennis players anxious to swing

Miller is enthusiastic when it comes to her team’s possibilities.

“I’m excited — we all are very excited,” Miller said.

“You could just see excitement in the gym in the early practices. They just can’t wait to get after it.

“We have both of our setters returning in our 6-2 [offense], Allison Sawyer and Alex Neff. They’re both delivering the ball really well during the summer and the preseason.

“I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. They’re going to be a fun team to watch but we only have three home dates and it will be a travel year for us.

“That’s OK, we’re used to it. It’s a great bonding time as well.”

CLASS B

By Mark OBermeier

School: North Platte Nickname: Bulldogs Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Dale Hall Team Strengths: Our varsity line up will be led by five seniors who have been playing tennis multiple years during their high school careers. We also have a great group of underclassmen and first-year players who are working hard and improving

Outlook

BOYS TENNIS

t sports@nptelegraph.com The North Platte boys tennis squad returns only two starters from 2012 but for the second consecutive year, the Bulldogs will have 16 athletes on the squad.

North Platte coach Dale Hall would love to see more boys give tennis a Dale Hall try.

“I would like to see more underclassmen who are not currently out for a fall sport give tennis a shot,” Hall said. “The boys don’t need to have experience in tennis but must be willing to work every day to improve their skills.”

Without much experience

well from the back. We’ll be looking for the same and more out of her.”

Mark Obermeier / The North Platte Telegraph

returning, the Bulldogs have been working on fundamentals and more fundamentals.

“We have been working more on [serving, return of serve, forehand, backhand and keeping rallies going],” said Hall. “The more consistent we can be in those areas as well as keeping our unforced errors down, the better off we’ll be as a team.

“We have played more games focusing on rallying and being more consistent with our shots.”

Returning starters Troy Hlavaty and Nick Wilkinson will be joined by David Elsten, Ben Jolliffe, Landon Jahnke and Justin Rimpley every day.

Team Concerns: The biggest team concern is the lack of varsity experience.

Season Outlook: This year’s team only has two returning varsity players but we have some good competition in the team. Varsity experience is limited but with hard work on fundamentals and more playing time, all players will imporve as the

in early-season action.

“Our top six players are all upperclassmen who have played for the past several seasons and have some good tennis skills,” Hall said. “I believe the more kids have to fight to keep their spot/position in the varsity line-up, the better prepared they will be for matches.”

Hall’s biggest concern is the lack of varsity experience returning for this year’s team.

“I’m going to see how things go early in the season and the challenge matches during the season will also help decide who will play where,” the coach said. “As season goes on. We hope to be ready to compete for GNAC title in early October Key Match: All tournaments are important but we want to be at our best for the conference and state tournaments.

Possible Starters: Troy Hlavaty, Nick Wilkinson, David Elsten, Ben Jolliffe, Landon Jahnke, Justin Rimpley.

close as some of the players are, I can see some spots that could change.”

As Hall looks to conference play, two teams stick out as favorites.

“I think Columbus and Kearney will be the teams to beat in our conference tournament because they have the most quality individuals returning,” Hall said. “With improvement every week, North Platte will be in the thick of things during the conference championships.”

NPHS Tennis Aug. 31............@Papillion Sept. 7............. @Kearney Sept. 10.............@Lincoln Sept. 13.................NP Tri Sept. 14............NP Invite Sept. 17............. Kearney Sept. 23..... @Pap-Lavista Sept. 24.............McCook Sept. 27.......... @Hastings Sept. 28.......... @Hastings Oct. 1............. Lexington Oct. 5......GNAC Tourney Oct. 10.............@McCook

School: Lexington Nickname: Minutemen Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Ben Klein Player to Watch: Brody Lauby, Coleman Evans—Both had reasonable amount of previous success and both are two-year letter winners.

Team Strengths: Experience and drastically improved athleticism and tennis knowledge compared to last year.

Team Concerns: Ability to finish close matches.

Season Outlook: I expect us to do well since we return a lot of guys with varsity experience. We also are not as worried about how to hit, so we can now focus on the strategy of tennis.

Key Match: Lexington Invite, GNAC Possible Starters: Brody Lauby, Coleman Evans, Edundo Tecla, Kevin Hua, Caleb Doyle, Caleb Lauby — School: McCook Nickname: Bison Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Matt Wiemers Team Strengths: Athletic squad with a solid work ethic. We return four letter winners and two players with state tournament experience. I like the personnel we have out for this year’s team.

Great kids wanting to compete.

Team Concerns: Only two players return with quality match play experience. We will be looking for players to step up and fill varsity roles. We also will need to piece together new doubles teams.

I feel confident that our upper classmen will be ready and willing to play at the varsity level.

Season Outlook: We may encounter some early-season setbacks but as the season plays along and our kids get more court experience, we should develop into a competitive team. We see quite a few quality opponents and will be on the road for a vast majority of our matches.

Key Match: Our conference meet will be interesting as there will be a lot of parity among the eight teams participating. The North Platte Invite is a pre-conference meet early in the season and the York Invite gives us a chance to play teams from the east, with those matches coming into play at the end of the season forseeding purposes.

Possible Starters: Our varsity will fluctuate throughout the season as we have some depth on our team. We will be led by a senior group of Kalan Stamm, Chase Midkiff, James Mitnik, Robin Suda and Conner Stamm. Junior Skyler Cappel rounds out our opening season matches at the varsity level. Senior Daius Bolli and sophomore Kaden Stizman have the talent and ability to step into a varsity position as well.

D4

Fall Sports Preview

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

the north platte telegraph

NPHS Softball Aug. 31.@Lincoln Invite Sept. 3..........Lexington Sept. 5...........@Kearney Sept. 7...@McCook Invite Sept. 10..@Grand Island Sept. 12.... @Lincoln SE Sept. 14.....Cozad Dual Sept. 17...........Kearney Sept. 21.....NP Tourney Sept. 24........ @McCook Sept. 26.........@Ogallala Sept. 28.... @Lincoln SE Oct. 1...... @Gothenburg Oct. 5... @GNAC Tourney Photo courtesy of George Hipple

Bulldog softball players have passion for game

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

A move from Class A to Class B won’t mean any changes for the North Platte Lady Bulldog softball team during the 2013 season.

Coach BJ Songster hopes the change will mean a date in Hastings in October.

“The girls don’t BJ seem to be Songster too rattled or shaken by it,” Songster said of the move. “I think it will motivate them to go to Class B because they want to take the title. We’ve been so close in Class A getting to state.

“We’ll see the same teams and same competition. It doesn’t make it any easier for us, but hopefully it lights a fire and they’ll press on.”

Center Circle A big question mark for the Lady Bulldogs will be the performance in the center circle. With the graduation of Ashten Hernandez, Songster will look for pitching by committee.

Kaite Franzen, Jenny Keck, Marissa Ramos and Bryanna Schade will be looking to split time pitching.

“Big shoes to fill, losing Ashten,” said Songster.

“That being said, we have four pretty solid pitchers.

I think the key to success there will be to rotate them — use one, two or even three pitchers a game.”

Franzen is the most experienced of the pitchers. The junior pitched in 10 games a year ago with an ERA of 5.97. Pitching 29.33 innings, she had 10 strikeouts, gave up 48 hits and issued 10 walks.

Offense North Platte has also lost

the No. 3 and No. 4 hitters from a year ago in Hernandez and Syd Standage.

The top two RBI producers returning from 2012 are Mikenzie Wiseman with 23 and Franzen at 21 with a .556 batting average.

With only two seniors on the squad, Songster will look for a deep junior class to help out.

“I think with a year of growth and our juniors coming back we’ll be able to find a couple girls to fill those spots,” Songster said.

“McKenzie Wiseman is one that might be able to do that job. Along those lines, we have a couple freshman as well that we gained.

“Willow Chitty is very athletic and can hit the ball real well. She may be one that fills a spot and bumps someone else into the three or four hole.”

Defense

Defense should be a strong point for the Lady

School: North Platte Nickname: Bulldogs Conference: GNAC Head Coach: BJ Songster Players to Watch: Mikenzi Wiseman/catcher, Kaite Franzen/first base, pitcher Team Strength: Six returning starters, speed, athleticism Team Concern: Filling Bulldogs. With the return of six starters from 2012, North Platte only has two infield positions to fill.

Franzen and Wiseman led the Lady Bulldogs a season ago with fielding averages of .978 and .938, respectively.

“Our defense seems to be pretty solid,” the coach said. “A good thing is we have a lot of versatility — girls that can play a lot of different positions.

“We have Sally Hengen returning as a shortstop and Katie Franzen at first

a graduating pitcher’s spot Season Outlook: Winning GNAC, winning districts, heading to state, take state.

Possible Starters: Pitchers: Jenny Keck, Kaite Franzen, Marissa Ramos, Bryanna Schade; Frist Base: Kaite Franzen, Bryanna Schade, Willow Chitty; Second Base: Marissa Ramos, Willow base. Wiseman returns as a catcher and our whole outfield — Christina Yoshida in left, Hanna Hays in center and Rachel Kosmacek in right.

“We’re looking to fill second and third base. Jenny Keck, who was on our squad last year, played a lot of JV. We’re looking to her to play a lot of third base and a newcomer, Marissa Ramos, at second base.”

Overall

Passion for the game is something Songster sees

CLASS B

Photo courtesy of George Hipple

Cross country teams relish big numbers

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Numbers will not be a concern for North Platte cross country coach Dennis Fornander.

The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs have a combined 51 athletes running the hills Dennis and streets Fornander around North Platte.

It is a number that dwarfs any since the long-time coach has been

in her team.

“I’m very positive with this group of girls,” Songster said. “I’m impressed with their work ethic — they hustle. They seem to have a lot of passion for softball.

“They’re very, very athletic. With having such a large group of juniors [13], they want to start setting a tradition.

I know they want to get to state. They basically have a goal of two years to get there before they graduate.”

SOFTBALL

School: North Platte Nickname: Bulldogs Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Dennis Fornander Player to Watch: Wyatt McGuire—Conference and district champion who placed third at state. Libby Burrows—Seventh at districts and 37th at state.

Team Strengths: Good numbers Team Concerns: Need to be healthy, develop depth from numbers.

Season Outlook: Should be competitive Key Match: Districts

Bulldogs have mix of experience, new runners

Chitty, Sadie Vargas; Third Base: Jenny Keck, Willow Chitty; Shortstop: Sally Hengen, Rylie Cotton; Catcher: Mikenzi Wiseman, Kylie Engleman, Willow Chitty; Right Field: Rachel Kosmacek, Abby Jones, Sadie Vargas; Center Field: Hannah Hays, Rachel Kosmacek; Left Field: Christina Yoshida, Abby Jones, Sadie Vargas

NPHS CC Sept. 6............. @Cozad Sept. 13.........@Kearney Sept. 20........ @McCook Sept. 26...@Grand Isalnd Sept. 30.........@Kearney Oct. 3...... @Gothenburg Oct. 12..............@GNAC

in North Platte.

“We have the largest number of kids we’ve had since I’ve been here and that’s great,” said Fornander. “But a lot of them are young and unproven.

“We’re going to see what we have, but we have a lot of freshmen and a lot of underclassmen so I’m looking forward to watching them develop.”

The boys will look to

Supporting North Platte • St. Pat’s and surrounding Area Athletes

fill some holes while the girls squad has most everyone back from 2012.

The trick for the girls, though, will be to get healthy.

“As far as the boys team, we have Wyatt [McGuire] back and some of the upperclassmen who were running varsity last year,” Fornander said. “We have the basis there but we have to fill some holes that we lost to graduation.

“With the girls, we have almost everybody back but they’re not necessarily healthy, so it will depend on how they recover. We’ll have to fill in holes with some younger kids for a while until we get everybody back and healthy.”

McGuire returns for his senior season after two 12th-place finishes at state in his freshman

and sophomore years.

McGuire was conference and district champion in 2012 and broke the line in third place at the state meet in Kearney last fall.

“Wyatt is coming off of a great year last year. He ran very well all season and especially down the stretch at conference, district and state,” Fornander said. “He’s definitely one of the top runners in the state.

There are a lot of other good runners who will be pushing him all season.

It will be an interesting year for us.”

Other boys who figure in the mix are seniors Philip Hammer and Gilbert Seck and junior Christian Bradley.

“They were consistently in our top five last year,” Fornander said.

Senior Libby Burrows

is the lone returning state participant for the Lady Bulldogs.

“Libby is our only returning state qualifier for the girls. She had a good season last year,” Fornander said. “We’re waiting to see how she comes off of foot surgery, but she is definitely our lead runner coming into the season.

“We have some other juniors and sophomores who I think are going to be pushing her. So we’re looking for some good things coming from the girls.

“Vicky Tockey is a returning junior and McKenna Miller is a senior. They’re probably going to be leaders for us as well and running right there with Libby.

We’ll have to see how they develop as the season goes along.”

School: Cozad Nickname: Haymakers Key Match: McCook, North Platte — School: Lexington Nickname: Minutemaids Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Chris Mroczek Player to Watch: Katelin Schultze— Pitcher Team Strength: Great perseiverance on a team level and experience over summer.

Team Concern: Low numbers overall Season Outlook: High expectations and looking to get past last year’s loss in district finals.

Possible Starters: Pitchers: Katelin Schultze, Hannah Ostrom, Aly Leger; First Base: Ariel Hernandez, Kelsey Schwind; Second Base: Hannah Ostram, Blaire Edeal; Third Base: Aly Leger, Katelin Schultze; Shortstop: Hannah Ostram, Katelin Schultze; Catcher: Leesa Gierhan, Blaire Edeal; Right Field: Haley Rogers, Diana Romero; Center Field: Mackenzie McKeone; Left Field: Maddie Berke

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Fall Sports Preview

the north platte telegraph

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

D5

Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph

Irish plan to build on long-standing tradition

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

The football program at St. Pat’s has relied on senior leadership each season. This season, that senior leadership will go a long way to helping the future of Irish football.

“We don’t have a lot Kevin of seniors,” Dodson said St. Pat’s head coach Kevin Dodson. “But, we rely on those seniors to be leaders and to show the underclassmen the right way to do things. We’ll be depending on them as we go.”

Those seniors are Alex Harms, Nathan Chrisman, Collin Pieper, Jacob Cook, Chase Kimberling, Andrew Thalken and Mark Mayfield.

Of those seven, many will be starters on both offense and defense and will be expected to help newcomers find their way

early in the season.

“We have numbers, just not a lot of experience in some positions,” Dodson said. “It’s getting that experience, that playing time, that is important.”

Offense The Irish offense will rely on the seniors in many skill positions.

Harms starts at quarterback, while Pieper is starting running back and Kimberling will start at fullback. Mayfield returns to tight end and Cook starts at receiver.

“We’ve got a lot of kids playing line on the offense, just not a lot with experience,” Dodson said. “Hopefully our skill players will be able to do things and our line will come together quickly.”

Dodson said it’s been a battle for positions but the annual scrimmage a week ago helped sort things out.

“We saw some good things during the scrimmage and it’s given us some things we have been able to work on and improve,” Dodson said.

Dodson listed Kaleb Fourtner, Alex Mackley, Miguel Martinez, Ryan Dilley, Evan Klinkefus, Mike Elsten and David Trierweiler on the offensive line. Trierweiler will be the center, while Fourtner, Mackley and Martinez battle for two tackle positions and Dilley, Klinkefus and Elsten will vie for two guard positions.

“As the season goes on, our line will get better,” Dodson said. “Injuries, especially to our skill positions, could hurt us.”

Defense Harms and Mayfield return as starting defensive ends, which should make things easier for the rest of the defense.

“We’re fortunate to have Alex and Mark back at defensive ends as both played really well there for us last year,” Dodson said.

“However, we have a lot of holes to fill on the defense but I think we’re coming together really well.”

Kimberling, Klinkefus, Andrew O’Neill and Cook

St. Pat’s Football Aug. 30.............Kimball Sept. 6...... @Bridgeport Sept. 13.......... @Bayard Sept. 20..........Ravenna Sept. 27... @Wood River Oct. 11........Cambridge Oct. 18.........Dundy Co. Stratton Oct. 24.......... @Hershey will be the linebackers, while Pieper will start at safety. Nathan Chrisman and Drew McClellen will be the corners.

“Like on offense, we have numbers, just not a lot of experience,” Dodson said. “However, just like the offense, hopefully the seniors can lead the way and we can get experience as we go.”

Special teams The Irish are one of the area teams who always seem to be ahead of the game in special teams. McClellen will take over all kicking duties, including

School: St. Pat’s Nickname: Irish Class: C2 Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Kevin Dodson Team Strengths: Senior skills positions.

Team Concerns: Depth Season Outlook: Need to have great leadership from seven seniors; will depend heavily on underclassmen, expecially on the OL/DL. Key Game: All of them.

Possible Starters: QB: Alex Harms; punting, for the Irish.

“We’ve been lucky with kickers,” Dodson said.

“We put time into our special teams.”

Overall outlook The Irish are a traditional power.

In fact, when the Irish take the field today, they will do so celebrating 75 years of football.

Past state championship teams and players will be recognized and many will

RB: Collin Pieper; FB: Chase Kimberling; WR: Drew McClellen, Jacob Cook; TE: Mark Mayfield, Andrew O’Neill; OT: Kaleb Fourtner, Alex Mackley, Miguel Martinez; OG: Ryan Dilley, Evan Klinkefus, Mike Elsten; C: David Trieweiler; DE: Alex Harms, Mark Mayfield; LB: Chase Kimberling, Evan Klinekfus, Andrew O’Niell, Jacob Cook: CB: Drew McClellen, Nathan Chrisman; SS: Collin Pieper; Punter: Drew McClellen; Kicker: Drew McClellen. be on hand.

Continuing the tradition is important to the Irish team.

“We always want to make the playoffs,” Dodson said. “We want to take things one game at a time, build on our successes and learn from the mistakes.

“We expect our seniors to lead, we expect to work hard each day and we will do our best each week. If we do that, we don’t shortchange ourselves and we can be proud.”

Volleyball team bridging a gap at NP St. Pat’s ’13 graduation brings many new players to the court for the Irish

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Things look different on the volleyball court for St. Pat’s this season.

The Lady Irish graduated six seniors last season, including five starters, from the team that qualified for the state volleyball season two years in a Shelly Byrn row.

“I hate to say rebuilding,” said St. Pat’s head coach Shelly Byrn of her team.

“We’re bridging the gap between two classes.”

Byrn will lean on three seniors this season.

Brittany Lawrence, a 6-foot, 3-inch frontline player, has already signed with Creighton University.

Her classmates are Bree Saner and Zandra Carlini.

“The three seniors I have are great,” Byrn said. “They are all leaders in their own way.

Lawrence works hard and is a great kid with good grades.

“Saner has taken over as the vocal team leader.

She encourages everyone and lets them know what they are doing wrong.

Zandra us taking over as the libero for us this year.”

Front line

Briana Boyer and Elli Wid will be newcomers on the front line for St. Pat’s, joining Lawrence.

While the new girls will be important, Lawrence will be the key.

“We match up on defense,” Byrn said. “So, Lawrence will play on the other team’s best front-line player. If that player is on the opposite side, Brittany will go over.

“So it’s important for all our girls to know where they’re supposed to be.”

Back line

Peyton Irish and Katie Montgomery will be setters.

“We’re young and

Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph

we’re going to struggle some,” Byrn said. “Brittany is going to have to terminate balls and adjust on the fly.

“With young setters, she isn’t going to get great sets every time and I’ve told her she needs to terminate balls no matter where the set is.

“We’ve spent a lot of practice time throwing up balls and telling her to hit them, no matter what, to get used to hitting.”

Libero

Carlini will be the libero this season, taking over a crucial position for St. Pat’s.

In the Lady Irish rotation, the libero sees quite a bit of back-line play and is one of the

School: St. Pat’s Nickname: Irish Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Shelly Byrn Team Strength: Three outstanding seniors who have stepped into some big shoes left by last year’s seniors.

Great kids with amazingly positive attitudes.

Team Concern: Very young Season Outlook: May be up and down at the beginning but with team’s main serve-receive players.

Overall outlook

The Lady Irish may be missing some experience this season but they are also in a new class.

St. Pat’s dropped to

the leadership we have in the seniors and the willingness to learn in the younger kids. We hope to be playing our best volleyball at the end of the season.

Key Match: Entire conference is tough.

Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Bree Saner, Briana Boyer; Middle Hitter: Brittany Lawrence, Elli Wid; Setters: Peyton Irish, Katie Montgomery; Libero: Zandra Carlini Class D1 for volleyball this season.

“We kept the Class C1-C2 heavy schedule,” Byrn said. “We might struggle at times and we are young, but these young girls have some talent and I think by the

St. Pat’s Volleyball Sept. 5.........Perkins Co. Sept. 10.....@Dundy Co. Sept. 12..... St. Pat’s Tri Sept. 17.. @Gothenburg Sept. 21.....@Mid-Plains Sept. 24................ SMC Sept. 28.... @Sutherland Oct. 1............... @Mullen Oct. 8.........@Chase Co. Oct. 10................ Brady Oct. 12.......... @Hershey Oct. 15....... St. Pat’s Tri Oct. 17-19....SPVA Tourney Oct. 22..... @Sutherland Oct. 26....... @So. Valley Oct. 29..............Paxton

end of the year we’ll be playing our best volleyball of the season.”

Good Luck This Season All Area Teams

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D6

Fall Sports Preview

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

the north platte telegraph

Lady Knights off to a solid start on the year

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph

More Irish are running for St. Pat’s cross country

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Every season is different in sports but this season seems a lot different to St. Pat’s cross country coach Marie Brosius.

For the first time in four years, Brosius is fielding a Marie team that Brosius doesn’t include Mandy O’Malley and Maggie Vinton. The two runners graduated after running on varsity for four seasons.

“It’s a little different,” Brosius admitted. “Yet, it is the way of sports.”

For the St. Pat’s girls, Anna O’Malley and Julia Flores return.

“Both girls should qualify for state,” Brosius said, “and I think we could qualify as a team, but the expectations won’t be as high. It’s a building year for the girls team.”

Brosius does have five new juniors running on the girls team.

“I think several of them are running to make sure they are in shape for basketball

School: St. Pat’s Nickname: Irish Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Marie Brosius Possible Starters: Seniors: Brandon Adkins, Jared Brosius, Jared Gafke, Julia Flores; Juniors: Lexi Allison, Laura

Bjornstad, Erin Nozicka, Anna O’Malley, Brikelle Torrez, Megan Trieweiler; Sophomores: Merritt Eastman, Austin Hindman, Bailey Shurigar; Freshman: Sam Bradney, Ellie Buhrman, Justin Gafke, Tyler Galvan, Tanner Hand

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team has already had a successful beginning to the 2013 season. NPCC went 4-0 during the Subway Tournament at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium a week ago in what coach Sally Thalken said should help her team in future matches.

A team made up of five sophomores and seven freshmen, Thalken believes her team is headed in the right Sally direction.

Thalken “It is a confidence builder,” said Thalken of her team’s early success. “Hopefully it carries forward to the next practice and the next game. We beat some good teams.”

Front line

With so many contributions from different positions, opposing teams will have to pick their poison in trying to stop the Lady Knights.

“Offensively, we are trying to be a threat at every front-row position. We showed a lot of balance last weekend,” said the veteran coach. “We had many girls step up and put the ball away.

“I don’t believe we will be one dimensional.”

Defense St. Pat’s CC Sept. 6......@Cambridge Sept. 12.....@Chase Co. Sept. 20........ @McCook Sept. 26.... @Dundy CoStratton Oct. 3...... @Gothenburg Oct. 10..... @Perkins Co. season,” Brosius said.

“These girls are competitive and goal-oriented.”

Brosius almost had too many runners out for cross country.

“We are at 20 runners right now,” the coach said. “We started fall practice with 22 runners and I didn’t have enough uniforms.

“It’s a nice problem for cross country to have, not enough uniforms.”

The coach said while the girls team is rebuilding this year, the boys

team should be fairly strong.

“We qualified as a team last year for state, but we should be even better this year,” Brosius said. “Brandon Adkins is our team leader. He’s the one who is making sure no one falls too far behind, everyone is encouraged. He’s been great.”

Adkins, along with Jared Brosius and Jared Gafke, are the three seniors on the boys team. They are joined by several sophomores and freshmen.

“We will be better on the boys side this year,” Brosius said. “We have a lot of runners out and we know we have to improve as the season goes on.

“Hopefully, we can get everyone back to state again.”

St. Pat’s opens the season on Sept. 6 at the Cambridge Invite.

Whether it was a stuff block or a deflection at the net, the Lady Knights were able to transition to offense more efficiently.

“Defensively, we want to get our hands on every ball [at the net],” Thalken said. “We touched a lot of balls at the net last week, more stuff blocks than we’ve had in a while. We were able to transition quite a bit off of touched balls at the net.”

Libero

In the four matches during the Subway Tournament, 5-foot, 8-inch Shannon Liewer had 93 digs. The sophomore from Imperial was up to the challenge, getting to everything that came her way.

“We have a great libero back from last year in Shannon,” Thalken said.

“Again, we just want to play scrappy and sacrifice to keep balls alive.

“I thought we frustrated some people during the Subway because it was hard to put the ball away on us.”

Overall outlook

Optimism is the central theme for the Lady Knights 2013 season. Although Thalken knows there will be ups and downs, North Platte’s coach has reason to believe her squad will

NPCC VOLLEYBALL

Subway Invite Aug. 23......... Williston State,Sheridan Aug. 24..... Eastern Wyoming & Colby Aug. 28..........................@ Concordia JV Colby Classic Aug. 30................. Highland Community Aug. 31................Colby & Trinidad State Sept. 5............................@ Northeastern Sept. 11....................................McCook Pizza Hut Invitation @Sterling Sept. 13..........Trinidad & Barton County Sept. 14............Otero & Seward County Sept. 17................... Eastern Wyoming Sept. 19................ Central Community Sept. 24............................. Hastings JV Sept. 26......... @ Southeast Community Sept. 27-28 .......... @ Johnson Co. Invite Oct. 3..................................... Northeast Oct. 7............................... Northeastern Oct. 9............... Southeast Community Jimmy John Invite @ Columbus Oct. 11.Bismarck State & Iowa Western Oct. 12... Cowley Co. & Kansas City CC Oct. 14....................@ Eastern Wyoming Oct. 17.......................................@Central Oct. 18................................. @ Northeast Oct. 23....................................@ McCook Region IX Division II Tournament @ Beatrice Oct. 31-Nov. 2........@ NJCAA Region IX District G Playoff @ Region 9 winner Nov. 8-9.........................District G Playoff National Division II Tournament @ Toledo, OH Nov. 21-23................... NJCAA Nationals have the ability to take on anyone on the schedule.

“Last weekend confirmed the optimistic outlook we have for this year,” Thalken said. “We play a tougher schedule.

“We play some Top 10 D2 programs when we go to Johnson County and the Central Tournament. The Colby and NJC tournaments are big D1 teams that will push us.

“We scrimmaged Western Wyoming, who was huge. They had 18 girls and none less than 5-feet, 9-inches. Our kids never backed away from the challenge of attacking into a front line that was 6-1 to 6-3.

“We are pretty determined. I’m sure we will stumble a time or two but if we continue to play as we did last weekend, we will be a fun team to watch.”

GIRLS GOLF CLASS B

School: Broken Bow Nickname: Indians Conference: SWC Head Coach: Amy Taylor Player to Watch: Kaleigh Page, Jill Oatman— These two players are seniors and they are ready to compete this year. Kaleigh is a previous medal winner and Jill is pushing herself to be a medalist this year.

Team Strengths: We work together to improve as a team as well as individually. All of our players like to see everyone improve each week.

Team Concerns: We have to be more consistent. That is something we struggled with last year.

It is very easy to go back to bad habits, so this is something else we have to watch.

Season Outlook: I’m hoping to see some more medaliists from our team.

We have great attitudes, so I want to see some great improvement as the season progresses.

Possible starters: Kaleigh Page, Jill Oatman, Alexzandria Fielder, Taya Klein, Kendra Stabb, Tori Meschke, Abigail Olson, Brittany Renolds.

—

School: Cozad Nickname: Haymakers Conference: SWC Head Coach: Stan Mackowski Possible Starters: Emily Ratkovec, Andrea Neil, Tazah Weinmaster, Alyson Smock, Kaylei Becker.

— School: McCook Nickname: Bison Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Randy Ryser Player to Watch: Megan Vetrovsky, Breanna Redl—Returning state medal winner, just good players.

Team Strength: Returners Team Concern: New inexperienced players Season outlook: I think we will be good.

Key Match: Sub districts, tough. Loaded with Ogallala and Gothenburg Possible Starters: Megan Vetrovsky, Breanna Redl, Karlie Dueland, Kacee Samway, Hannah Kohl.

CLASS C

School: Mullen Nickname: Broncos Head Coach: Kyle Hoyt Team Strength: Both girls have the ability to hit

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the ball very well Team Concern: Experience, numbers, consistency Key Match: District tournament in Ogallala.

— School: Gothenburg Nickname: Swedes Conference: SMC Head Coach: Tara Foster Player to Watch: McKinley Harm and Taylour Marshall—Both McKinley and Taylour are juniors who portray leadership skills and great work ethic. They worked hard over the summer in order to maintain their golf games.

Team Strengths: This year we have developed a special comradery between players. The seniors and juniors have really stepped up when introducing the game of golf to the new freshmen and sophomores going out for the sport. Everyone does a great job of encouraging each other and supporting the different levels of golf that we have on our team.

Team Concerns: We have depth between our seniors and juniors, however, all of our freshman and sophomores out for the team this year are new to the sport. We will have

to start rebuilding our team from the bottom up.

Season Outlook: As a team, we hope to make another state appearance this year. Three out of five state qualifiers will be back this season and are looking for another shot at the state tournament.

Key Match: We are looking forward to the Kearney Catholic Invitational at Meadowlark Hills Golf Course. Last year we finished second and are hoping to be successful this season.

Possible Starters: Mallory McCoy, McKinley Harm, Taylour Marshall, Kelsey Kuhlman, Courtney Brown, Alex Boson, Morgan Weaver.

— School: Perkins County Nickname: Plainsmen Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Troy Kemling Players to Watch: Carra Johnson is a three year letterwinner and provides the strongest leadership for the team. She takes practice seriously and demonstrates focus before each shot. The other girls look toward her as an example. She also earned the lowest average in competition the past year.

Hailey Sletten is also a three-year letterwinner ready for her senior season. She played the most of any girl this past summer and participated in 1-2 tournaments outside school. She may have one of the more athletic swings of all the girls, enabling her to drive the ball well. She may be the longest hitter on the team.

Team Strengths: This team is loaded with experienced seniors. Now is the time for the girls to realize their potential and reap dividends of playing three years.

They know what to expect at each course we play and what scores it takes to advance to the state tournament. The senior girls are more motivated this year knowing it’s their last.

Team Concerns: Overall the girls did not play this summer as much as I would have liked.

Jobs and other responsibilities vie for their time.

Season Outlook: My goal is that we would see improvement each week as the season progresses. We may start out with higher team scores early on but I would expect those numbers to steadily fall through the first few

meets. We hope that, through season improvement, we are in position to challenge for individual(s) and a team berth in the state meet.

I would expect my seniors to have their best season this year. Also Amanda Riechert has shown much promise from her freshman year and expects to help out as well.

Our toughest competition at districts will come from a seasoned Valentine team that returns several girls. Also Chadron and Bridgeport should be in the mix.

— School: Valentine Nickname: Badgers Conference: SWC Head Coach: Devin Muirhead Player to Watch: Ashton Bancroft—Returning varsity player; only one this summer that coud practice golf. Had a membership to the Prairie Club.

Team Strength: New team this year with three varsity players graduating last year.

Team Concern: No local golf course due to owner closing it. Practice at a driving range.

Season Outlook: Get better everyday.

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e

Fall Sports Preview

the north platte telegraph

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

School: Hershey Nickname: Panthers Class: C2 Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Ryan Smith Team Strengths: This group has pretty good team chemistry and has a very strong work ethic.

Team Concerns: Staying healthy throughout the entire season.

Season Outlook: We feel we have a group that can be very competitive with our entire schedule.

D7

Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph

Panthers poised to follow record-breaking year

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

The bar has been raised for Hershey football.

The Panthers last season made school history — winning their first playoff game, winning the first-ever home playoff game Ryan Smith and advancing to the Class C2 quarterfinals.

According to head coach Ryan Smith, the team is looking to do

more this year.

“I know the bar has been raised,” Smith said. “It was November of last year when the team started talking about going farther — semifinals or final.

“I was like, ‘Enjoy the moment. We had a historical year, enjoy it.’ But the kids are already pushing to do more this season.”

The Panthers will begin their new quest on Sept. 6 when they host Kimball.

“It’s a whole new season and everyone is 0-0,” Smith said. “The team put in the work over the summer and into the fall and they want more.

“They’re adding pres-

sure on themselves to better what they did last year.

It’s good to have kids like that in the program.”

Offense

Logan Weir takes the reins of the offense, stepping in as quarterback.

“Logan caught our eye last season, playing some quarterback for us at times,” Smith said. “He’s going to be good. He’s a junior, but he’s handled things well, so far.”

If anything happens, Landan Maassen or Josh Margritz may take snaps.

Maassen will be used in various positions offensively, while Margritz will

be a big threat from the backfield.

“Maassen really played well at the end of last season,” Smith said. “We’re going to use him in a variety of roles this year.”

Terence Whiting returns at wide receiver and Chayton Crow also returns to the offense.

The biggest question facing the Panthers offensively may be the offensive line.

“As a group, these kids have never taken a varsity snap,” Smith said. “How fast they come together with chemistry may determine how good we are out of the chute.”

Defense

The Panthers’ defense is what carried them to their strong postseason showing a year ago and many of those pieces return, Smith said.

“I think our defense has a chance to be as good, if not better, than last year,” Smith said. “That’s a unit that really has good chemistry and plays well together.”

Overall outlook

“We want to be back in the playoffs and go further than we did a year ago,” Smith said. “We believe we have a team capable of

Change in class could be tough

By ROger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Hershey is returning to Class C1 after a year at C2 and the outlook is tough.

The Lady Panthers volleyball team will be in a sub-district this season with Ogallala, Cozad, Gothenburg and Chase County.

“It’s a tough sub-district,” said Hershey head coach Amy Beyer. Amy Beyer “We’ll have to be playing our best volleyball by the time the tournament rolls around.”

It’s good the team has some time as Beyer hasn’t figured out her best lineup yet.

“We’re still playing around with combinations,” the coach said. “I’ve got about eight girls I think will lead the varsity, but in what order, I’m not sure about.

“We got four girls who are all good outside hitters

Maddie Seamann and Maegan Hiatt return to lead the front line attack for the Lady Panthers.

Seamann, who is 6-feet, 1-inch, is the tallest player on the team and Hiatt is an athlete who enjoys hitting from the outside.

“Maegan is returning from a shoulder injury last year and will boost our offensive attack,” Beyer said. “Maddie has had a very good summer and is more assertive and more aggressive.”

Joining those two as front line players are Brooke Munsen, Ryca Troyer and Tessa Otzel.

Taylor Mustion may be another middle hitter.

Sept. 6..............Kimball Sept. 13........ So. Valley Sept. 20... @Perkins Co. Sept. 27.... @Bridgeport Oct. 4................Bayard Oct. 11..... @Dundy Co. Stratton Oct. 18......@Cambridge Oct. 24......NP St. Pat’s that, but we need to avoid injuries and stay healthy throughout the season.

“If we do, we believe we can be competitive throughout the season.”

Hershey Volleyball

from the left side, but one of them might have to move to middle.”

Luckily for Beyer, it’s a long season and she doesn’t have to know her best lineup for a while yet.

“The early part of the year, we’ll probably still be mixing it up,” Beyer said.

“We have some time.”

Front line

Hershey Football

Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph

“We’re still searching for another middle hitter,” Beyer said. “It’s possible one of the outside hitters may have to move inside to help out.”

Back line Setters for the Lady Panthers are Bobbi Brannan and Shawnie Swedburg.

“They are both very good setters,” Beyer said.

“We may play a 6-0 or 6-2 offense to keep both on the floor at the same time and balance both lines.”

Libero Beyer has three candidates for libero and hasn’t decided on one yet.

Otzel may be the choice, but the coach may have

School: Hershey Nickname: Lady Panthers Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Amy Beyer Players to Watch: Maegan Hiatt—Meg is returning at left hitter from a shoulder injury last year and will boost our offensive attack. Maddie Seamann, a middle hitter, has had a very good summer to keep her on the front line. Hannah Johnson and Britnie Brannan are the other two candidates for the position.

“We’re trying to find the best option,” Beyer said.

“We’ll give different looks and different lineups early

and is more assertive and aggressive.

Team Strength: Balance and good team fundamentals Team Concern: Small sized and searching for another middle hitter Season Outlook: I look for us to be compeitive in most all of our games. We should get better as the season goes on as kids grow into roles. in the season to see what we have and what we need to do.”

Overall outlook A more aggressive Seamann and returning Hiatt will make Hershey better, but the Lady Panthers are

Sept. 7....... @ Lexington Sept. 14..... @Elm Creek Sept. 21.....@Mid-Plains Sept. 26.......Southwest Sept. 28... Hershey Invite Oct. 3............Valentine Oct. 8............... @Cozad Oct. 10...... @Sutherland Oct. 12....... Hershey Tri Oct. 15....... Hershey Tri Oct. 17-19...SPVA Tourney Oct. 22......@Chase Co. Oct. 29...... Hershey Tri

Key Match: Sub districts, tough. Loaded with Ogallala and Gothenburg Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Meagan Hiatt, Brooke Munsen, Ryce Troyer, Tessa Otzel; Middle Hitters: Maddie Seamann, Tayler Mustion; Setter: Bobbi Brannan, Shawnie Swedburg; Libero: Tessa Otzel, Hannah Johnson, Britnie Brannan small in most areas.

“We have good balance and we have good team fundamentals,” Beyer said.

“We should be competitive in most of our games and we should improve as the season goes on and the kids grow into their roles.”

Hershey golfers have lofty goals

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Small schools with golf programs usually don’t have the problem Hershey currently has.

Plenty of numbers and four returning letter winners.

The Lady Panthers return four Teresa Rotert experienced golfers this season in seniors Samantha Miller, Kelsey Sides, Kaelyn Klaasmeyer and junior Courtney Laubner.

Head coach Teresa

School: Hershey Nickname: Panthers Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Teresa Rotert Player to Watch: Samantha Miller—As a senior and varsity member she has already set goals for herself and our team and is very determined to reach them.

Team Strength: Four returning varsity.

Team Concern:

Rotert also has seven other golfers out this season, bringing the total to 11.

“Right now, the fifth position on varsity will be held by a sophomore,” Rotert said. “We will go meet-to-meet on who the

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Fifth position will be up for grabs, could and should be a challenge to younger team members to earn it Season Outlook: Looking for a good season showing strong improvement.

Key Match: Leyton is always tough.

Possible Starters: Samantha Miller, Kelsey Sides, Kaelyn Klaasmeyer, Courtney Laubner

fifth golfer will be.”

According to Rotert, this season should be a good one for her squad.

“Samantha has already told me her goal is to qualify for state,” Rotert said.

“Courtney Laubner, her

Hershey Girls Golf Aug. 30......... @McCook Sept. 5....@Creek Valley Sept. 10... @Perkins Co. Sept. 19.. @Gothenburg Sept. 23.........@Ogallala Sept. 26..............Cozad Oct. 1.... Hershey Invite

Courtesy photo

best meet last season was district and she’s really determined.

“Kaelynn worked hard over the summer and I’ve seen a big improvement in her game and Kelsey, on any given day, could have a really good day.

“They’re all very capable of doing great things,

so I’m excited for the year.”

Hershey opens the season today at the McCook Invite and will have two home events this season — Sept. 26 and the Hershey Invite on Oct. 1.

“The hardest thing about the early part of the

season has been the heat,” Rotert said. “It’s hard to get the girls out in this heat and play a practice round.

“Hopefully the heat will go away soon and we can have some good golf weather the rest of the season.”

GOOD LUCK SAILORS!!

D8

Fall Sports Preview

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

the north platte telegraph

Sutherland hoping to finally get over the hump Coach, players determined to end 2-year losing streak

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Sutherland hasn’t stopped fighting.

The Sailors are winless over the past two seasons and open the season with games John Sloup against Overton, Southwest, Arapahoe and Hemingford.

“We’re focused on Overton and going there and doing what we need to do,” said Sutherland head coach John Sloup.

“Our goal every play is to get 4 yards.

“If we get 4 yards every play, we can’t be stopped.”

Sloup preaches ball control to his troops.

“I’m big on time of possession,” the coach said. “If we take care of the football, drive it, hold it, get 4 yards a play, we limit the other team’s ability to score.”

One game has been highlighted on the Sailors’ schedule.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say we had Southwest circled,” Sloup said.

“We’re focused on Overton, but we look at Southwest as the chance

Sutherland Football Sept. 6...........@Overton Sept. 13.......Southwest Sept. 20...... @Arapahoe Sept. 27.... Hemingford Oct. 4..............Maxwell Oct. 10..................@SMC Oct. 18...............Paxton Oct. 24.............. @Morrill

to get a win.

“We ran over them in summer camp and we didn’t have a couple of our key guys with us.”

Southwest comes to Sutherland on Sept. 13 for homecoming.

Offense Quarterback Tyler Fear and running back Collin Fleecs will lead the Sutherland offense this season.

“These guys bought into the new system and philosophy immediately,” Sloup said of the duo. “They worked hard all summer and are vocal and physical leaders for the team.”

Sloup scrapped the throw-every-down offense used last season and has introduced a run-heavy offense with misdirection.

“It must be the right decision,” Sloup said.

Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph

“We’ve increased our numbers from 13 a year ago to 25 this year.”

Defense Sutherland’s challenge is to stop opponents.

The first four games feature three teams that were in the playoffs a year ago.

Add Paxton and Maxwell, two more playoff teams, and the Sailors’ defense will be tested often.

Zach McMillan, Brook Bloomstedt and Nick Hahn will man the defensive line with DJ VanDeWater, Lucas French, Tyler Fear and Nathan Maxcy at linebacker.

Fleecs will play safety.

“We know we have our work cut out for us on defense,” Sloup said.

School: Sutherland Nickname: Sailors Class: D1 Conference: SPVA Head Coach: John Sloup Player to watch: Tyler Fear-QB and Collin Fleecs-RB; Worked hard all summer, vocal and physical leaders, bought in to new system and philosophy immediately

Team Strengths: Returning experence, more numbers this year.

Team Concerns: Mentally blocking outh the last three years.

Season Outlook: Competing every game and getting over the hump with a few victories.

Key Game: Homecoming week 2, Southwest.

Possible Starters:

QB: Tyler Fear; RB: Collin Fleecs; FB: Zach Blake; TE: Brook Bloomstedt, Brandon Slack; OG: Lucas French, Nathan Foster; C: DJ VanDeWater; DE: Zach McMillian, Brook Bloomsteadt, Nick Hahn; LB: DJ VanDeWater, Lucas French, Tyler Fear, Nathan Maxcy; FS: Collin Fleecs; Punter: Tyler Fear

“But the boys have all worked hard all summer and we aren’t shying away from the challenge.”

be the Sailors’ kicker and punter this season, too.

Does that mean a fake punt might be in the works for this season?

Sloup wouldn’t say.

“Tyler is an incredible athlete,” Sloup said.

“We’re going to use him as much as we can.”

Overall outlook

Special teams Fear should be tired by the time each game is over. Not only will he play quarterback and linebacker, but he will

Sloup intends to get the Sailors “over the hump” with a few wins this season.

“We have to mentally block out the last three years,” the coach said.

“We are going to be competing every game and getting a few victories.”

Sailor seniors zoned in on team tradition With 3 straight trips to state, Sutherland looks to be back in the hunt again

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

The Lady Sailors seniors want to keep their tradition alive.

Sutherland’s senior volleyball players have been to the state tournament three consecutive years and would like to continue that trend.

Those seniors are Jalyne Schuster, Kelsey Dillanburg, Sam Staggs and Ali Meyer.

“We have strong senior leadership,” said Sutherland head coach Valerie Kershner. “We have athleticism and experience at some positions.”

The Lady Sailors have played tough schedules each season and, when it comes time for postseason play, that tough schedule allows Sutherland to play on.

“We will be competitive this year as our seniors strive for a fourth straight trip to state,” Kershner said.

“The team is motivated to achieve their goals and we will be tested early with our tough schedule.”

While the Lady Sailors are looking forward, some understanding can be gained by looking back.

Gone are Joli Hopping and Samantha Valerie KenneKershner dy, both playing for North Platte Community College.

Hopping handled setting duties, while Kennedy was a force at the net.

“I’m excited for the girls who are playing,” Kershner said. “I’m looking forward to this season.”

Front line All four seniors will see time at the outside

Sutherland Volleyball Sept. 5.............@Paxton Sept. 10.....@Southwest Sept. 12.............Sidney Sept. 14................@Cozad Sept. 21.....@Mid-Plains Sept. 24...@Creek Valley Sept. 26........... @Cozad Sept. 28.... @Sutherland Oct. 3.............@Maxwell Oct. 5...... @Gothenburg Oct. 10............ Hershey Oct. 15........ @Maywood Oct. 17-19...SPVA Tourney Oct. 22......NP St. Pat’s Oct. 29..... @Sutherland Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph

hitter position for the Lady Sailors.

“Jalyne is an explosive and powerful athlete,” Kershner said. “She will be one of our leaders this year.”

Dillanburg is one of the tallest returning members of the team at 5-feet, 10-inches, but Staggs and Schuster are each 5-8 and Meyer is 5-9.

At middle hitter are Allison Stewart and Kenzie White, who is 6-0 tall.

Back line/libero

Kershner hasn’t named a libero yet and may not until the date of the first match.

“I don’t know yet,” she said when asked. “We’re still working on where everyone will go.”

School: Sutherland Nickname: Sailors Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Valerie Kershner Player to Watch: Jaylyne Schuster is an explosive OH/MH and a powerful athlete.

Team Strength: Strong senior leadership, athleticism, experience at some positions, motivation

Team Concern: Lack of varsity level exereince at some positions.

Season Outlook: We will be competitive this year as our seniors strive for a fourth straight trip to state. The team is motivated to achieve their goals and we will be tested early with our tough schedule. We look to gain a lot of confidence and experience throughout the

As for other back positions, expect Schuster and Staggs to be on the court a majority of the time, based on their experience through the years.

land’s schedule, to ease into the season.

“It’s a good test for us,” she said of tough opponents to open the season. “We have to get after it from the get-go.”

Yet, Kershner is excited to see what her new team can do.

“Every year it’s a

Overall outlook

Kershner said it is impossible, with Suther-

Good Luck to All Area Schools

season in ourder to peak in the post season. We may lack varsity experience in some areas but we will make up for that with our strong work ethic and motivations.

Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Jalyne Schuster, Kelsey Dillanburg, Sam Staggs, Ali Meyer; Middle Hitters: Allison Stewart, Kenzie White; Setters: Marley Sandberg

fresh start,” she said.

“This team is very motivated and has strong work ethic.

“That combination can do a lot if given an opportunity. With our schedule, every one will be given an opportunity and I think we’re up to the challenge.”

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the north platte telegraph

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

D9

Full teams mean big year for Sailor cross country

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

The Sutherland cross country team is growing, both in numbers and in experience.

Sutherland enters the 2013 prep season with seven boys and five girls running this fall.

With full teams competing, Sutherland head coach Jessica Saner is looking forward to a big year.

“I am expecting to bring home several medals every week this season,” Saner Jessica said. “We have Saner a good size team with great male and female leadership, which is really going to pay off for everyone.

“I have been very impressed with their work ethic so far this fall and I know that will only get better as we startd competing in meets every week and they start to see success and their hard work paying off.”

On the girls side, Sutherland returns state qualifier Josie Burke.

“Josie qualified for state last year and ran a lot over the summer,” Saner said. “She’s showed a lot of leadership for

Sutherland CC Sept. 6................@Cambridge Sept. 12............... @Chase Co. Sept. 20.................. @McCook Sept. 26... @Dundy Co.-Stratton Oct. 3................ @Gothenburg Oct. 10............... @Perkins Co. the other runners.”

One runner who may push Burke is Kaley Stokey.

“Josie pushes hard every day in practice and Kaley Stokey wants to be beside her at the end of our district meet with a medal in her hand.

“We have a full girls team this year and I think by the end of the season they could be scoring well in meets and, hopefully, we can get our team to state this year too.”

Jayson Rezek is the leader for the boys team. He and Michael Hafer are the only two senior boys.

“Jason is the veteran on the team,” Saner said. “He has been running for me since seventh grade. This is going to be his year to shine.

“He has been working really hard in practice every day, pushing himself even more

Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph

than I have seen in the past, even with the heat of the past week.

“I expect good things from him this year and his leadership on the team will be greatly missed next season.”

Stokey, along with Nathan Fleecs, may be break-through stars for the Sailors.

“Kaley is a newcomer to the cross country team this year and she is a natural competitor,” Saner said. “It has been an adjustment for her since she is more of a sprinter, but she is

working hard in practice and she should really be a strong runner by the end of the season.

“Nathan Fleecs is also new to cross country. He has been running with Jayson so far this season and has really worked hard to push himself to get stronger and faster.”

With more runners and full teams, Saner is looking for a good season.

“Several of my runners have the goal of running in Kearney in October against the rest of Class D at the state meet,” Saner

School: Sutherland Nickname: Sailors Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Jessica Saner Player to Watch: Josie Burke qualified for state last year and ran a lot over the summer. She shows a lot of leadership for the other runners.

Team Strengths: We have some good male and female leaders who have been working hard in practice everyday to push themselves and each other returning state qualifier.

Team Concern: Pretty young.

Season Outlook: We will be fielding full boys and girls teams and we will see a lot of growth as the season progresses.

Possible Starters: BoysJayson Rezek, Nathan Fleecs, Michael Hafer, John Rogers, David Quick, Preston Blake; Girls-Josie Burke, Kaylynn Lantis, Kaley Stokey, Maggie Morris, Dakota Miller. said. “Others have time goals that they want to beat.

“So far, they are all on the right track to reaching those goals and we are going to do everything we can to make this season a big Sailor success.”

VOLLEYBALL CLASS C1

School: Chase County Nickname: Longhorns Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Jodie Schuller Season Outlook: Pretty competitive schedule once we get started. We will have to stay focused and be fundamentally sound to play with our competition.

Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Makenna Ketter, Kristen Jussel, Mindy Castle; Middle Hitter: Paige Spady, Makala Bartles; Setters: Bridget Langin, Kaycee Bubak; Libero: Shelly Jaeger — School: Cozad Nickname: Haymakers Conference: Southwest Head Coach: Darrel Francescato Player to Watch: Amanda German, libero, two-year SWC selection Team Strength: Better depth overall Team Concerns: Defense, passing Season Outlook:Much impoved from last year .500 Key Match: Minden, Ogallala, Gothenburg, Chadron Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Hannah Thramer, Kenzie Klein; Right Side: Payden Knudsen, Cydney Christner; Middle Hitters: Claire Christner, Alec Geiger; Setters: Sara Weber, Molly Cornellus; Libero: Amanda German.

— School: Gothenburg Nickname: Swedes Conference: Southwest Head Coach: Mary Clark Players to Watch: Middle hitters Regan Geiken and Tiani Reeves.

Geiken is a three-year starter and all conference for two years; Reeves is a two-year starter and all conference player Team Strengths: Five returning starters who are very athletic; 230 varsity

starts between returning five starters.

Team Concern: None Season Outlook: State caliber team Key Match: District— Ogallala, Conference— Minden Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Taylor Mroczek, Kim Whiting; Middle Hitters: Regan Geiken, Tiani Reeves; Setters: Aryn Meisinger, Madi Gilg — School: Ogallala Nickname: Indians Conference: Southwest Head Coach: Steve Morgan Player to Watch: Kendall Schroer-MH-Strong Middle-SMart Team Strength: Good fundamentals Team Concern: Youth of this team needs playing time and experience.

Season Outlook: Should be competitive but have some “learning.”

Key Match: North Platte Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Shelby Welsh, Jensen Geisert, Sophie Arensdorf; Middle Hitters: Sidney Mell; Kendall Schroer; Jenna Paloucek; Libero: Shawna Shaw, Demi Anderson

CLASS C2

School: Perkins County Nickname: Lady Plainsmen Head Coach: Penny Hite Season Outlook: Young team with inexperience on varsity, however hardworking and closeknit.

Possible Starters: Curtney McClenahan, Courtney Ostermiller — School: SMC Nickname: Cyclones Conference: Sandhills Head Coach: Kami Florea Player to Watch: Senior Samantha Riedel, OH, is a great leader on and off the court. She is willing to help her teammates get better by working with

them after practice.

Team Strength: We have very strong servers that do a great job placing it.

Team Concern: Lots of younger players will have to help carry the load.

Moved up a class.

Season Outlook: We have some good senior leaders to help with our young team. This will be a great season, we have improved a lot since last year, but have a ways to go.

Key Match: SHC is a tough conference so all of our matches are key to help us prepare for districts.

Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Samantha Riedel, Kayla Klosen, Natalie Jones, Haley Munson; Middle Hitters: Ashley Starr, Mariah Harm; Setters: Kadee Cutler, Dandace Ward; Libero: Haley Paben, Kallie Main

CLASS D1

School: Creek Valley Nickname: Storm Conference: Minuteman Head Coach: Rodger Behrands Players to Watch: The Team Team Strength: Experience should be our strength. We have five starters back. Should be very competitive.

Team Concern: Playing together as a team.

Being unselfish.

Season Outlook: Should compete with everyone.

Key Match: Leyton is always tough.

Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Summer Mueller, Jill Behrends; Middle Hitters: Hannah Schievelbein, Stefanie Mitchell; Setters: Shania Brown, Madison Blackwelder; Libero: Jerry Straber — School: Medicine Valley Nickname: Raiders Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Teresa Ruppert Player to Watch:

Shaylee Schroeder, setter, provides leadership and hustle.

Team Strengths: Experience, team unity Team Concern: Size Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Hllison Campbell, Hannah Hosick, Kylie Heinzle; Middle Hitters: Tasha Ruppert, Grayce Jorgensen; Setters: Shaylee Schroeder, Elle Martin; Libero: Regan Garey

CLASS D2

School: Eustis-Farnam Nickname: Knights Conference: FKC Season Outlook: The five returning starters, eight returning letterwinners, several new faces and two enthusiastic coaches, the Lady Knights volleyball team has high expectations this season. The team worked hard over the summer developing new skills and learning to work with new teammates. The Lady Knights attended a team camp in Lincoln put on by former Husker Maggie Griffin. They also attended a team camp in Hastings facing teams in Class B, C1 and C2. They worked hard during conditioning week to be preparied for the tough season ahead. The Lady Knights are again looking to the Johnson twins to continue their leadership roles on the floor as they will be key players for the team again this year. Anyone on the team is capable of playing any position at any moment. We have several younger girls looking to make an impact on the future of the Knights volleyball program. This has created enthusiasm and healthy competition amongst the team. The teams look to be very competitive throughout the season.

Possible Starters: Rachel Jack, Melanie Johnson, Melissa Johnson, McKenna Rieker, Breanna Stout, Brittany Wolf, Katie Adkisson and Southern Timm.

— School: Hitchcock County

Nickname: Falcons Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Kylee Forch Players to Watch: Bryce Jones, OH, and Victoria Wickizer, libero, for their leadership and work ethic Team Strengths: Heart and perservance Team Concern: Fundamentals Season Outlook: Surprise a lot of people and ourselves Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Bryce Jones, Haley Hrnchir; Middle Hitters: Brooke Hoyt, Brooke Scott; Setters: Kori Bauer, Aubrey Wagner; Libero: Victoria Wickizer — School: Maywood Nickname: Tigers Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Les Reinke Player to Watch: Abby Werkmeister, MH, will be the nuculeus of our team as a very powerful and our go-to player. Abby is a complete all-around player.

Team Strengths: Girls have been working hard and they have positive attitudes.

Team Concerns: Experience and winning.

Season Outlook: These girls have a desire to win some games! If they stay focused and continue to be ositive good things will happen.

Key Match: Rival: Medicine Valley; Toughest Opponent: Southwest Possible Starters: Outside Hitter: Corey Eshleman, Brianna Phillips; Middle Hitters: Abby Werkmeister, Bailey Brown; Setters: Brooke Moore — School: Mullen Nickname: Bronco Conference: LVC/Sandhills Head Coach: Belinda Coble Team Strengths: We’ve had a winning tradition qualifying for the state tournament four of the last five years. Living in a agricultural, small commu-

nity, these girls are used to working hard and working as a team. We have 33 girls out this year and everyone is pushing to improve.

Team Concern: Being a D2 school with 33 girls out, it will be difficult to get everyone playing time when the majority of the schools we play have 12-15 girls out.

Key Match: Minden, Ogallala, Gothenburg, Chadron Possible Starters: Haley Gracey, Libero; Jessica Lovitt, Middle Hitter; Ally Ginkens, Outside Hitter — School: Paxton Nickname: Tigers Conference: RPAC Head Coach:Jody Rhodes Team Strengths: Defense, experience Team Concern: Blocking Season Outlook: Lost one player to graduation so we hope to be improved in all areas.

Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Bailee Schow, Emma Holz, Karlee Schow, Nicole Keller; Middle Hitters: Austin Hackney, Taylor Holzfaster; Setter: Leanne Gamet — School: Wauneta-Palisade Nickname: Broncos Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Michelle Harchelroad Team Strengths: Serving, communication Team Concerns: Defense and quickness Season Outlook: Looking forward to a solid season. We have some experience and talent so I hope that translates into success.

Key Match: Paxton, Chase County, Dundy County Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Abbie Fanning, Tailor Lee; Middle Hitters: Brooklyn Nordhausen, Lesley Stehno; Setters: Sydnee Harchelroad, Leiauana Alberts; Libero: Brianna Einspahr

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D10

Fall Sports Preview

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

the north platte telegraph

Size, speed, experience boost Wallace Wildcats

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

WALLACE — The Wallace Wildcats football team has a good mix of size and speed coming back from the 5-4 2012 squad.

Wallace coach Gary Hager said the Wildcats should have players with a lot Gary Hager of varsity experience.

“We return five starters on offense and defense,” Hager said, “with Andrew Gardner and Tanner Clough getting valuable playing time as freshmen.

We have nine total letter winners coming back.”

Offense The Wildcats offense will count on John

Marquardt and Landon Swedberg to be integral parts of its production.

Marquardt, taking over for an injured Swedberg in 2012, ran for 1,000 yards and passed for another 928 yards.

“Our offense is a mixture of power running and spread,” the third-year coach said. “We expect a lot of production from John and Landon.”

Defense The defense will also have plenty of experience led by Jeffery Harms.

“Our defense is a lot of three- and four-man fronts,” Hager said. “Jeffery led us in tackles last season with 104.

“We return five starters on defense with Harms, Marquardt, Josh May, Swedberg and Shane Anders. I expect Andrew Gardner and Tanner Clough to fill

Wallace Football Aug. 30....... @So. Platte Sept. 6..... Creek Valley Sept. 13...........@Paxton Sept. 20............ Loomis Sept. 27...@Hayes Center Oct. 4................. Brady Oct. 11..@Hitchcock Co. Oct. 18....... Med. Valley Courtesy photo

spots on defense.”

Special teams Hager is looking for improvement from his special teams from a year ago.

“The specials teams are a place we need to improve on from last season,” Hager said. “Landon will do the punting and Shane the kicking.”

Overall outlook Hager is positive about

School: Wallace Nickname: Wildcats Class: D2 Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Gary Hager Player to watch: John Marquardt QB, is a great team leader, picked up

his team’s chances to make a playoff run. A key ingredient will be staying away from injuries on a team without much depth.

our offense when Landon Swedburg got injured and ran for 100 yards and passed for 928 yards.

Team Strengths: Good mix of size and speed. Lots of players with varsity experience.

Team Concerns: Not

real deep, injuries could effect our season.

Season Outlook: Should be competative in every game. Hope to make playoffs and compete for district title.

Key Game: Hayes Center

“We expect to have a winning record and look to make the playoffs,” said Hager. “I feel Hayes Center is our biggest game

because they return so many starters back from last year, including Seth Gohl. They are also our first district game.”

CROSS COUNTRY CLASS B

Courtesy photo

Wallace girls expecting to be small but mighty

By Mark Obermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

WALLACE — Wallace volleyball coach Elizabeth Strand looks to improve on the Wildcats 10-12 record from a year ago and feels her team can be competitive against everyone they face.

“I expect our team to be fairly competitive this year,” Strand said. “I think our goals are Elizabeth to have a good start to the Strand season and to continue being competitive in conference, sub-district and district play.”

Front line

The Lady Wildcats will be short in stature, not having anyone on the floor taller than 5-feet, 7-inches. To make up for their lack of height, Wallace will try to use quickness as a weapon.

“We are looking to run a more quick-tempo offense this year,” Strand said. “We will have to be quick to beat the blocks.”

Sara Hubbard (5-5), Paige Aylward (5-6) and Mickayla Sheets (5-2) will man the outside hitting positions. Christina Daniels and Hayley Storm, each 5-7, will be the Wildcats’ middle hitters.

Daniels was first-team Republican Plains Activity Conference in 2012.

School: Wallace Nickname: Wildcats Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Elizabeth Strand Player to Watch: Christina Daniels, MB, was first team RPAC last year.

She is a tough competitor, team leader on the court and tough summer weights, camps, ect.

Team Strengths: Defense, attitude

Wallace Volleyball Sept. 5........... @Wauneta-Pal. Sept. 10.............@Hitchcock Co. Sept. 13.................. @Paxton Sept. 17............ @Hayes Cen. Sept. 24............. @Paxton Tourn.

Sept. 27.............@Hayes Center Oct. 1..................... @Wallace Oct. 4.........................Brady Oct. 10................ @So. Platte Oct. 11.......... @Hitchcock Co. Oct. 14................@Potter-Dix Oct. 18.............. Med. Valley Oct. 21-22............ RPAC Tourney Oct. 29.......... Wauneta-Pal. “Christina is a tough competitor,” Strand said.

Back row

Strand said the Lady Wildcats are trying to get back to what they have done best in the past.

“Wallace has been known for playing tough defense,” said the second-year coach. “We are

GOOD LUCK INDIANS!!

Team Concern: Lack of varsity experience Season Outlook: Look to improve on last year. Should be competitive against everyone we face.

Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Sara Hubbard, Paige Aylward, Mickayla Sheets; Middle Hitters: Christina Daniels, Hayley Storm; Setters: Alexandria Lundval, Morgan Messersmith; Libero: Maggie May trying to get back to that.

“Some of the girls who will be seeing time in the back row include Mickayla Sheets, Maggie May, Morgan Messersmith and Myah McConnell.”

Libero

After a year of experimentation, Wallace plans to give the libero position another year.

“Last year we experimented with the libero position. This year we plan to use it again, possibly with Maggie May,” said Strand. “The libero has to be quick, fearless and a good communicator. We are trying to develop those skills in all of our players.”

Overall outlook

Strand hopes to see work over the summer transition to the 2013 season.

“Several of these girls have put in time in the off-season, and I expect them to be leaders for this team,” Strand said. “I think for all of our players, the team success will be their first priority.”

School: Lexington Nickname: Minutemen/Minutemaids Conference: GNAC Head Coach: Sam Jilka Player to Watch: John Mark Shields—Enthusiastic, quality runner, encouraging; Odaliz Santoyo—Great personal mannerisms, tough athlete.

Team Strength: Boys— Young but have talent; Girls— Strong performance with Odaliz.

Team Concern: Boys—Lack of depth, small room for error; Girls—Experience, lacking but some young ones have talent.

Season Outlook: Boys— will have to maximize effort and stay healthy; Girls—intensify effort.

Key Match: Districts B-4 Possible Starters: Girls— Odaliz Santoyo, Erica Martinez, Ana Hernandez, Katherine Galvin; Boys—Chandler Flynn, John Mark Shields

CLASS C

School: Ogallala Nickname: Indians Conference: SWC Head Coach: Shane Fruit Player to Watch: Kelsey Crymble—two time state medalist Team Concern: Very young.

Lost most of last year’s team.

Class D

School: Chase County Nickname: Longhorns Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Carl Zuege Player to Watch: Holden Dreiling, Indy Smith—Both guys had strong track seasons and solid summer training.

Team Strengths: Depth, experience, enthusiasm for running.

Team Concerns: Youth, no state qualifiers in Class C last year.

Season Outlook: With our return to Class D, our boys should be very competitive in our district with every runner returning from last season.

Key Match: SPVA, Imperial Invite, UNK, District Possible Starters: Boys— Holden Dreiling, Indy Smith, Andrew Vaverek, Garret Thompson, Ike Maxwell, Ryan Moline; Girls—Allyssa Moreno, Mallory Coleman, Emma Engbrecht, Andrea Hogsett, Rose Sullivan.

— School: Eustis-Farnam/Medicine Valley Nickname: Knights Conference: FKC Head Coach: Adam Hock Season Outlook: Looking forward to another successful year, welcoming many new faces to the E-F/MV cross country team this year.

Assistant coach Kelli Wiiest leads the new faces form Medicine Valley joining the team this season. Her college experience

will be a welcome addition to our coaching staff.

Returning seniors Connor Russell and Savannah Willis, and senior addition Thomas Foster will be leading a team looking for another successful year.

Both the boys and girls are looking to make a strong showing in the FKC and RPAC. The goal for each team is a trip to Kearney in October to compete at the state cross country meet.

— School: Maywood Nickname: Tigers Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Molly Greene Player to Watch: Justine Stone, Quinton Phillips; Both have shown consistent improvement and were state qualifiers last year.

Team Strengths: Senior leadership.

Team Concerns: Small team and minor injuries in the summer could flare up again.

Season Outlook: Justine and Quinton are looking to continue their cross country success. Tucker has two great mentors that will push him to be his best.

Possible starters: Justine Stone, Quinton Phillips, Tucker Hartley — School: Paxton Nickname: Tigers Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Dale Schroeder Players to Watch: Tyler Cossell—Experienced and dedicated Team Strengths: We have lots of experience back this season Team Concerns: We are low in numbers with only four boys and four girls.

Season Outlook: Positive— Boys are all experienced and good runners, all ran at state last year. Girls have a few new faces but great attitudes.

Key Match: District will be tough, loaded with Ogallala and Gothenburg Possible Starters: Boys— Tyler Cassell, Connor Merrill, Jordan Loeffler, Joel Schroeder; Girls—Annie Wasserman, Gabby Perlinger, Brooke Beckius, Audrea Welch.

— School: Perkins County Nickname: Plainsmen Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Paula Wurst Player to Watch: Emily Kemling—Returning state qualifier and team leader.

Team Strengths: Emily, Courtney, Kendra all returning state qualifiers (Last year’s team 10th at state.)

Season Outlook: Excited to see everyone run and get better.

Key Match: District Possible Starters: Courtney Lyon, Brady Mailand, Kendra Hoffert, Coy Aerni, Emily Kemling

I

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Fall Sports Preview

the north platte telegraph

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

D11

Maxwell forced to break in new skill players

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

It’s more of the same in Maxwell.

The Wildcats once again made the playoffs last season — at 3-5 and a very tough schedule — and once again graduated most of its starting skill players.

“Nothing changes,” head coach Ryan Jones said. “We’re right where we were going into last season. We have all new skill players, some returning linemen, and Ryan Jones we fully intend to make the playoffs.”

The Wildcats are also dealing with injuries. Starting linebacker Jaylon Sturdivant is out with a knee injury.

“That one hurts because he was a guy who would hardly leave the field for us this season,” Jones said. “But, Jaylon hopes to be back in time for the playoffs and if he is, we’ll use him.”

Maxwell opens the season today at Brady and the schedule will stay tough through the first three games with Maxwell hosting Arapahoe on Sept. 6 and at Elm Creek, the preseason No. 6 in Class D1.

“We always try to play a tough schedule,” Jones said. “It’s always better in the long run to play a tough schedule and get better as a team throughout the season.”

Offense

Wyatt Strickland may be the

Maxwell Football Aug. 30....................... @Brady Sept. 6................... Arapahoe Sept. 13...............@Elm Creek Sept. 27...................... Paxton Oct. 4..................@Sutherland Oct. 11.........................Morrill Oct. 18..........................@SMC Oct. 25............. @Hemingford workhorse for the Wildcats this season. Strickland played tight end for Maxwell last season, but takes over at running back this year. He will be paired in the backfield with quarterback Taylor McKeeman.

“We have a lack of speed,” Jones said. “Offensively we’re going to run the ball with a power running attack like we always do. That’s not to say we won’t throw the ball, but it will be mainly a running attack.”

The experience on offense is the line. Marcus Miller, Jeremiah Keith and Charley Kesterson will man the center and guard positions.

“Jeremiah was a guard last year before he got injured and Marcus took over for him last year,” Jones said. “We moved Miller to center this year and Charley’s a senior who earned his chance to start this year.”

Defense

Strickland returns to his linebacker position where he led the team in tackles a year ago.

McKeeman and Ethan Lunkwitz are the other linebackers.

Courtesy photo

School: Maxwell Nickname: Wildcats Class: D1 Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Ryan Jones Player to Watch: Wyatt Strickland, RB/LB, led team in tackles last year at LB. Moved to running back this year on offense where played TE las year.

Team Strength: Tough defense will hit and should carry team early on. O-Line is developHouston Crane and Call Boland will be defensive linemen with Hunter Schleicher and Sage Galley, a sophomore, starting at defensive ends.

Josh Meyers will be the safety for the squad.

“Our defense will hit and should carry the team early

ing well and is a strength.

Team Concerns: Lack of speed. Breaking in new skill positions.

Season Outlook: Make the playoffs and win games while there is a team goal. Tough schedule will prepare us well for the playoffs, if we make it in.

Key Game: Brady, Arapahoe and Elm Creek both will be tough non-conference games, Hemingford should be best on,” Jones said.

Special teams

McKeeman will handle the punting duties, while Zac Miller and Strickland will both kick.

Overall outlook

“We will make the playoffs

team in district.

Possible Starters: QB: Taylor McKeeman; RB: Wyatt Strickland; FB: Ethan Lunkwitz; TE: Zac Miller, Bryson Keller; OG: Charley Kesterson, Jeremiah Keith: C: Marcus Miller; DE: Hunter Schleicher, Sage Galley: LB: Wyatt Strickland, Ethan Lunkwitz, Taylor McKeeman; DL: Houston Crane, Call Boland, FS: Josh Meyers; Punter Taylor McKeeman; Kicker: Zac Miller, Wyatt Strickland and will win games,” Jones predicts for the year. “The tough schedule will prepare us well for the playoffs, if we make it in.

“We will play Maxwell football like we always do. The kids are ready for the season to get started.”

Runner numbers expand

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Courtesy photo

It’s all about the team

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

In Maxwell, it’s all about team.

So much so that volleyball head coach Lori Mau refused to provide a roster to The North Platte Telegraph.

“I haven’t handed out jerseys yet,” Mau said.

Lori Mau “I will be doing it soon, but handing out the jerseys is something I’m waiting on.”

The Lady Wildcats were a team loaded with freshmen last season. Mau started the season just trying to explain where to stand and how to play the game.

“We took such a big step last year,” the coach said.

“I went from teaching the basics with them to a team that learned how to play, how to compete.

“This summer, we’ve been working on strategy, not just where to line up at the start. The girls are focused on getting better and most of them are just sophomores.”

Mau is enjoying the theme of team.

“The girls are very committed to being a team and

Maxwell Volleyball Sept. 5................ Brady Sept. 6.......... Arapahoe Sept. 12...... @Maywood Sept. 14..............@Loomis Sept. 17..... @Elm Creek Sept. 21.....@Mid-Plains Sept. 24..... Med. Valley Sept. 28...@Brady Toruney Oct. 1...............@Paxton Oct. 3........ Maxwell Tri Oct. 10......... @So. Loup Oct. 12.......... @Hershey Oct. 17-19...SPVA Tourney Oct. 22...........@Elwood Oct. 28.Eustis-Farnam Oct. 29.........@Bertrand not individuals,” the coach said. “They are working hard to become a more consistent team to build on the experience we gained last year.”

With knowing more about the game and growing last season, the Lady Wildcats have high expectations.

“The problem with high expectations is it adds pressure,” Mau said. “I don’t want the girls putting too much pressure on themselves for no reasons.”

Mau said one of the reasons her team improved so much a year ago was the

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School: Maxwell Nickname: Ladycats Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Lori Mau Team Strength: We have a lot of returning players and experience this year. The team is working extremely hard to improve and become more consistent. The girls are very committed to being a team and not individuals.

Key Match: Our sub-district is loaded competition in the South Platte Valley Association.

“There’s no question that playing conference volleyball against other SPVA teams makes us better,” Mau said. “There were three SPVA teams at the state tournament last year.

“And we play them all at least twice. We have no choice but to get better each time out against those schools.”

Mau plans on keeping her team just that — a team.

“We are committed to only team accomplishments during the season,” Mau said. “These girls committed to each other for four years and I intend to help them complete that commitment.”

The Maxwell cross country team is growing.

Last season there were three Wildcat runners.

Now there are seven.

“I’ve always said, I won’t say no to anyone who wants to run cross country,” said head coach Jarod Meinheit.

“So, our numbers are up some, which is good.”

LeadJarod ing the Meinheit way for Maxwell are seniors Zac Gregg and Brooke Orr. “Zac and Brooke have really come full circle since their freshmen year,” Meinheit said. “I have watched them grow as individuals, athletes and teammates.

“Zac has looked good so far and I look forward to seeing what he does.

“Brooke had a solid summer and a great attitude. She is coming off an injury, so we hope to get her back soon.”

Of the four new runners, one has a strong background in competing in other sports.

“Jacob Whisenhunt is running for us,” Meinheit said. “He hurt his shoulder, so he can’t play football, and he wants to be in shape for wrestling, so he’s running.

“At first he didn’t want to compete in meets, but he’s so competitive and such a good athlete, that

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he will now and he’s getting excited about it.”

One of the issues the Wildcats will face is staying healthy.

“Staying injury free is a concern,” Meinheit said. “Also, experience is a concern. Four of the seven will be running in their first cross country meet soon.”

Meanwhile, the coach is happy with his increased numbers and the work the team has put in.

School: Maxwell Nickname: Wildcats Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Jarod Meinheit Player to Watch: Zac Gregg, Brooke Orr have really come full circle since freshman year. I have watched them grow as individuals, athletes and teamates.

Zac has looked good do far and look forward to seeing what he does.

Brooke as well. She has a solid summer and a great attitude, she is coming off a injury, so hoope to get her back soon.

Team Strengths: Have a fairly young team.

Only two seniors, so we will have a solid group returning. Overall young group shows a lot of promise. We inherited a football player (Jacob Whisenhunt) due to injury, and he has shown a great work ethic and

“We had a pretty solid summer getting in the miles,” Meinheit said.

“It’s going to be a tough road for us.

“This is the first full boys team in a few years, so I’m excited to see what they can do. We have a shot to take runners to the next level, we just have to make sure we are injury free and peaking at the right time.”

The Wildcats open the season on Sept. 6 at the Cozad Invite. positive attitude, that filters through the team.

Team Concerns: Staying injury free. Also with a young team comes a bit of inexperience as many will run in their first meet.

Season Outlook: We had a pretty solid summer getting in miles.

It’s going to be a tough road ahead of us. First full boys team in a few years, so excited to see what they can do. We have a shot to take runners to the next level, just have to make sure we are injury free and peaking at the right time Key Match: McCook Invite-tough meet (teams and course); conference and district Possible Starters: Zac Gregg, Brooke Orr, D’Lainee Groseth, Jacob Wisenhunt, Kylee Meyer, Aaron Schaub, Jeremy Ochner

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D12

Fall Sports Preview

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

the north platte telegraph

Photo courtesy of Misty Horn

Eagles return plenty of experience Last year’s injuries may be this year's saving grace

six players on offense that have started at least two games last year due to the injuries. And we return seven players on defense that started at least two games last year.”

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Seamann said off-season work was used to fine tune the offense.

“Last Andy year it Seamann took us three games for the players to completely understand the offense and for me to understand what our kids do well in our scheme,” Seamann said. “It has allowed us this off season to concentrate on fine tuning our schemes instead of learning them for the

BRADY — Injuries can decimate a football team’s drive for a successful season.

In the Brady football team’s scheme of things, the injuries incurred in 2012 might just be a positive for the upcoming season.

“We return a lot of experienced players,” said Brady coach Andy Seamann. “Last year we lost numerous athletes to serious injuries. Those injuries gave our younger players the opportunity to get playing and starting experience.

“We actually return

Offense

first time.

“Our offense is very quarterback driven and we lost all-district, all-area quarterback Zach Mann. We are looking at junior Trevor Mann stepping into the role of starting quarterback.

“So far this off-season, Trevor has done a tremendous job of working hard in the weight room and on the football field.

I think Trevor will do a great job of leading the offense.”

Defense Leading the way on both the offensive and defensive lines is senior Dalton Simants.

“Dalton brings hard work and tenacity to both sides of the ball,” said Seamann. “He has great footwork and has been working relentlessly in the weight room and on improving his hand technique.

“Defensively is where we need to make the biggest improvements [as a team]. “Last year we gave up entirely way too many points. I think our improvements start in the weight room.

“The kids really dedicated themselves to the summer strength and conditioning program as we had triple the number of kids in the weight room this summer.

“I expect the added strength and experience should result in better results on the defensive side of the ball.”

Overall outlook Brady only has to look to its closest neighbor to the west to find incentive for improvement.

Maxwell is a tough opponent for multiple reasons,” the coach said.

“They are a long-time rival and any rivalry game is going to be tougher. Maxwell is a

Brady Football Aug. 30............Maxwell Sept. 6..........@Bertrand Sept. 13......... @Amherst Sept. 20.................SEM Sept. 27..... Med. Valley Oct. 4............. @Wallace Oct. 11....Hayes Center Oct. 24...@Hitchcock Co. well coached team that plays very aggressive and especially tough on defense.

“Medicine Valley is the two-time defending district champ and is coming off a season in which they went undefeated in the regular season and won a couple games in the playoffs.

“They lose a great senior class, but they have a lot of talent returning and will be a very tough game on our schedule.

The district champion

School: Brady Nickname: Eagles Class: D2 Conference: Sandhills Head Coach: Andy Seamann Player to Watch: Dalton Simants, OL/ DL, returning two year starter and all-district player on both offense and defense.

Team Strengths: Experience up front return three of five on offensive line and defensive line. Playing experience a lot of defensive returners with playing and starting experience.

Team Concerns: Breaking in first-year quarterback in junior Trevor Mann.

Season Outlook: The kids have worked harder this summer than they ever have and with the added experience under may system and continued growth and health will lead to the playoffs.

Key Game: Maxwell—Rivalry game; Medicine Valley— tougher oppponent and district match-up.

Possible Starters: QB: Trevor Mann; RB: Jon Taullie; FB: Eric Roe; TE: Troy Lusk, Cody Most; OG Dalton Simants, Austin Widick; C: Nate Sitoriss; DE: Troy Lusk, Chase Viter; LB: Levi Destefano, Eric Roe, Trevor Mann; DT: Dalton Simants, Nate Sitorius; SS: Jon Taullie; Punter: Trevor Mann; Kicker: Jon Taullie. will have to go through Curtis.

“Our team motto is ‘Last Play’ which to our kids means we need to treat every day, practice, and repetition as if it may be their last opportunity. If the athletes buy into the motto and work hard every day, get better every day, we believe we will have a successful season.”

Brady has been there, done that, wants to go again Eagles intend to use their experience to return to state

on skill and it can be focused on strategies on the court.

“They have all played in the state tournament once and some of them twice. They are very good at keeping their cool.”

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Front line

BRADY — The Brady volleyball team has enjoyed much success as of late.

The Lady Eagles finished last season with a stellar 21-8 record.

Brady played to a third-place Lynne finish at Johnson the 2011 state tournament and in a return trip in 2012 lost a tough three-set back-and-forth battle to runner-up Mead in the opening round.

Brady coach Lynne Johnson, in her 13th year as a head coach, will look toward plenty of returning experience for hopefully another state tournament run in 2013.

“The nice thing about having so many girls with a lot of experience is their knowledge of the game,” Johnson said.

“They have learned the when and why to the decisions that they make on the court.

“They have played enough ball that all of their energy doesn’t have to be focused

Brady will have a formidable group in the front line.

Seniors Madison Elliott, Valerie Most and Lexi Franzen, along with juniors Autumn Hild and Josie Palmer, will patrol the net.

Freshman Tara Callahan will also be counted on.

“We will have two middles this year that are 6-feet and above, Josie and Tara,” said Johnson.

“We have quite a bit of depth on the outside with Madison, Valerie, Lexi and Autumn, who also plays the right side.

“Alexis Mann and Sydney Widick played right side last year at state and will be back this year.”

Libero The Lady Eagles will have a familiar face handling the position of libero.

Carissa Rayburn feels right at home in the back row.

“This will be Carissa’s third year as libero,” Johnson said. “She does an awesome job there and knows the game well enough that she can direct her hitters to holes on the court.”

Photo courtesy of Misty Horn

Brady Volleyball Sept. 5........ @Maxwell Oct. 8..........Brady Tri Sept. 10.......Brady Tri Oct. 10.. @NP St. Pat’s Sept. 13...... @Amherst Oct. 11...Hayes Center Sept. 14.....@Callaway Oct. 14.....@Arthur Co. Sept. 17...@Med. Valley Oct. 22-26................SHC Tourney Sept. 20.............. SEM Sept. 28............ Brady Oct. 24.........@Hitchcock County Tourney Oct. 1...........@Wallace Oct. 29.....@Sandhills/ Thedford Oct. 4...........@Wallace

Overall outlook Brady will not overlook any team on the schedule.

The Lady Eagles will be preparing each day during the season for a difficult post-season tournament.

“We have a very tough district this year,” Johnson said. “I think our conference will have a couple really tough teams also. We try not to consider any team easy.”

Call in your team’s scores — 532-6000

School: Brady Nickname: Eagles Conference: Sandhills Head Coach: Lynne Johnson Players to Watch: I have quite a few to watch: Madison Elliott, Val Most, Josie Palmer, Carissa Rayburn, Josie Palmer, all with a lot of expereience.

Team Strengths: Experience, knowledge of game, versatility.

Team Concern: Getting

everyone in the right places.

Season Outlook: We should be pretty good. We have a lot of experience, lots of seniors.

Possible Starters: Outside Hitters: Madison Elliott, Valerie Most, Autumn Hild, Lexi Franzen; Middle Hitters: Josie Palmer, Tara Callahan, Val Most; Setters: Alexis Mann, Sydney Widick, Tara Callahan; Libero: Carissa Rayburn

Fall Sports Preview

the north platte telegraph

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

D13

FOOTBALL Class B

School: Lexington Nickname: Minutemen Class: B Head Coach: Jeff Rowan Season Outlook: We have a good combination of speed on the outside and some size up front. If we get the younger players to mature we could have a special season.

Possible Starters: Arliss Alvarez, WR: Patrick Spicer, WR; Ted Berke, WR; Erik Lemus, RB; Logan Farrell, LB; Luis Nunez, DE; Alex Galvan, DE; Dolin Keaton, OL.

Class C-1

School: Chase County Nickname: Longhorns Class: C1 Head Coach: Dan Lenners Team Concerns: OL/ DL concern with depth Possible Starters: QB: Kelton Fisher; RB: Dan Sullivan, Troy Milner; FB: Justis Wallin, Jeff Dickey; WR: Kevin German, David Almanz; TE: Isaac Sorenson; OT: Jacob Christensen, Sam Haarberg; OG: Khris Kuhlman, Charles Holman, Louis Rodriguex; C: Eli Engbrecht; DE: Isaac Sorensen, Khris Kuhlmann, Louis Rodriguez, Jacob Christensen; LB: Justis Wallin, Jeff Dickey; CB: Dan Sullivan, Troy Milner, David Almarz, Shay Eidson; SS: Kelton Fisher; Kicker: David Almanza — School: Gothenburg Nickname: Swedes Class: C1 Conference: Southwest Head Coach: Craig Haake Team Strengths/ Weaknesses: Swedes return four starters on offensive line and TE. We have lost our two leading rushers but a talented group of players return to fill those spots, many of those players got valuable time on the field last year.

We returned much of our defense which posted two shutouts in the playoffs last year. We are excited for the year. We need to develop depth (like every C-1 school-every year).

Our strengths should be in the front lines, which is a great place to be experienced.

Possible Starters: Blake Ristine QB/DB; Connor Schwanz FL/DB; Jacob Clark QB/DB; Ross Ostendorf FL/DB; Skyler Kottwitz RB/LB; Zach Wolf RB/LB; Adam Speck OL/ DL; Tanner Borchardt OL/ DL; Dylan Folkers OL/DL; Roy Slacl TE/DB — School: Ogallala Nickname: Indians Class C1 Conference: Southwest Head Coach: Jeff McBride Season Outlook: Ogallala looks to build on the expereince several of their young kids received last year. Experience and maturity of the kids will be two strengths of the Indi-

ans this year. We need to be more disciplined about our responsibilities on and off the field to become a complete team. With 10 starters back on both sides of the ball and the kids working hard to get better. Ogallala is excited abouh what this year could be.

Possible Starters: Dylan Folchert-QB/DB; Brody Cleveland-RB/ LB; Wes Orr-RB/LB; Ben Ewert-C/DE; Dalton Jarosz-TE/LB; Nick Rivas-OL/ DL; Brad Clinesmith-OL/ DL; Cole Beckius-OL/ DL; Jarod Jeager-OL/ DL; Adam Candrall-WR/ DB; Trenton Zink-WR/ DB; Brandon Fuller-WR/ DB; Grant Packard-DL/OL; Trevor Riess;LB/QB; Jon Hood-DB/RB — School: Valentine Nickname: Badgers Class C1 Conference: Southwest Head Coach: Craig Schmeckpeper Player to watch: Gunner Hitchcock, OT/DL, is our leader up front and has a lot of potential to be an all-state caliber player.

Team Strengths: We have a great nucleus of skill players.

Team Concerns: We are young and inexperienced.

Season Outlook: We feel if our young athletes can develop, we could have a pretty good season. We’re excited to get to work.

Key Game: Broken Bow is a district game, and they’ll be one of our toughest opponents. That game is always physical.

Possible Starters: QB: Brooks Coleman; RB: Jacob Hand; FB: Triston Eklund; WR: Taylor Monroe, Kalen Hollopeter; TE: Brad Michalek; OT: Gunner Hitchcock, Chet Tetherow; OG: Jake Julton, Caden Billing; C: Quincy Eggelston: DE: Gunner Hitchcock, Quincy Eggelston, Caden Billing; LB: Taylor Monroe, Triston Ecklund, Kalen Hollopeter, Brad Michalek, Jake Fulton; CB: Jacob Hand, Brooks Coleman; SS: Lance Hockenbary: Punter: Brad Michalek; Kicker: Brad Michalek

Class C-2

School: Cambridge Nickname: Trojans Class C2 Head Coach: Josh Graves Team Strengths/ Concerns/Outlook: We will have 37 athletes out for football and thanks in part to injury, we return eight starters on each side of the ball. Several sophomores and juniors from last year’s team gained valuable playing time and we will surely benefit from that this year. We will be small on the offensive and defensive lines again so getting those positions to play with great technique, aggressiveness, and knowledge of the game will be key. Senior TJ Greg-

ory played QB and RB last year, but will start the year at fullback in our WB offense. His tough running style allowed him to gain 702 yards and 5 TDs last year and we would expect more of the same this year.

We are loaded with skill athletes to complement TJ including senior WR/RB Jake Witte and junior RBs Jack Moore, Trevor Fritz and Brandon Andrews.

Senior Taylor Kubik split time with Gregory at QB last year and will likely man the position this year.

Returning starters on the offensive line include seniors Weston Rich and Taten Banzhf. Juniors Jake Whipple and Alex Burke also saw starting action on the line last season.

Seniors Anthony Fischer and Justin Dick along with several undercalssmen will fight for playing time on both the offensive and defensive lines.

— School: Perkins County Nickname: Plainsman Class C2 Conference: SPVA Head Coach: Carlie Wells Player to watch: Tim Johnson RB, He is a great leader by example. He is really our only returner.

Team Concerns: Youth and lack of experience Season Outlook: We look to improve each week and feel we can get better and better as we gain experience.

Key Game: Holyoke, Because we lack experience Possible Starters: QB: Christian White, Derek Sis; RB: Tim Johnson: FB: Kaleb Vak; WR: Chase Miyamoto, Chris Thorckmorton; TE: Justin Briggs; OT: Zak Kurkowski, Dylan Malmkar; OG: Garret Toner, Trevor Walker; C: Michael Tucker; DE: Zak Kurkowski, Garret Pollard, Michael Turner, Dylan Malmkarl; LB: Tim Johnson, Trevor Walker, Kaleb Vak, Justin Briggs; CB: Derek Sis, Chris Throckmorton, Mitchell Sestak, Christian White; SS: Kaleb Vak; FS: Chase Miyamoto; Punter: Tim Johnson; Kicker: Tim Johnson

Class D-1

School: Hitchcock County Nickname: Falcons Class: D1 Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Clark Benne Team Strengths/ Weaknesses: While we return a lot of starters, we need significant improvement on both sides of the ball and in terms of strength and toughness to improve. We are emphasizing the weight room and doing the work to get better. It is very possible that we may have younger players that were not starters a year ago take away positions from returning players. “Playing time will be earned” this year.

Possible Starters: Austin Blume ALL/DB; Ryan Rogers RB/LB; Jacke

Viox REC/LB; Morgan Wimer OL/LB; Justin Kefalas OL/DL; Branson Rawlings TE/LB; Alex Whipps QB/LB; Justin Kershaw TE/ DE; Daniel Arp TE/DE; Levi Baughman RB/DB — School: Paxton Nickname: Tigers Class: D1 Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Mike Morland Player to watch: Tlyer Schimonitz, RB/LB, has been the leading rusher past two years. Has developed into a leader of a football team. Will have to play quite a few minutes this year.

Team Strength: We have kids who want to be here. This group is very coachable. They will have to work hard to get where they want to go. We are physically there, have to get mentally strong.

Team Concerns: Like most class D schools lack of numbers. Lost eight seniors so lack of starting experience. Younger kids will have to develop quickley so we have depth.

Season Outlook: Be competitive and get better daily.

Key Game: First game of the year against Hayes Center. Being young it will be imperative we play well so we can get better each and every week. Plus we get to play against all state player in Seth Gohl. The Cardinals you just know they will be in the state playoffs this year. A lot of respect for them.

Possible Starters: QB: Alex Fox, Cade Schimonitz; RB: Tyler Schimontz, Cody Blackwell; FB: Trey Zumga; TE: Brett Storer, Cam O’Connor; OG: Rett O’Connor, Chance Morland; C: Drake Ludke; DE: Alec Fox, Rhett O’Connor, Coby Quinn, Drake Luedke; LB: Tyler Schimonitz, Brett Storer, Justin Hardwick; SS Cody Blackwell

Class D-2

School: Eustis-Farnam Nickname: Knights Class: D2 Head Coach: Paul Pistulka Team Strength: Solid core of offensive linemen. These players have immense amount of game experience from the past few years. This year should prove to be a postive one for the team.

Season Outlook: I look for us to compete hard and to continue to have more success on the field this year. I know our athletes will play hard, and our goal is to make the playoffs after not getting a chance to play in the post-season last year.

Possible Starters: Aaron Hueftle, DB; Garhett Nielsen, OL/DE; Jared Rupp, DE; TAnner Redenbaugh, S; Chris Werth, DB; Collin Thompson, RB; Austin Boller, OL/DL; Marcus Wilcox, OL/DL; Mitch Rieker, TE; Mitch Head, TE/DE —

School: Hayes Center Nickname: Cardinals Class D2 Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Dusty Gaston Player to watch: Seth Gohl, RB/LB, is an all-state caliber player and a team leader. He has started since his freshman year.

Team Strengths: Game time experience, We lost two seniors last year, only one was a two-way starter.

Team Concerns: Depth. With only 18 boys on the roster, we can’t afford an injury.

Season Outlook: I think we will be better than last year with the potential to win our district.

Key Game: Medicine Valley should be tough again and it’s our last game of the regular season. It could decide who wins district.

Possible Starters: QB: Tristan Johnson; RB: Seth Gohl; FB: Kasey Schuank; WR: Austin Meyers; TE: Tyrone Brane; OG: Taylor Walker, Joe Soncksen; C: Mason Mason Harouff; DE: Taylor Walker, Kasey Schwenk; LB: Seth Gohl; CB: Zach Cook, Austin Meyer; DT: Tyrone Brane, Joe Soncksen; FS: Tristan Johnson; Punter: Seth Gohl; Kicker: Austin Meyers — School: Medicine Valley Nickname: Raiders Class: D2 Conference: RPAC Head Coach: Scott Johnson Team Strength: Good group of skill position players.

Team Concerns: Lack of experience and lack of ilneman depth.

Season Outlook: The potential is there to again have a successful season Possible Starters:QB: Chase Barthel; RB: Wuainton Chancellor, Ty Contrerez, Cody Aspenleiter; WR: Zane Mickelsen, Marcus Florom; TE: Sage Schmidt, Keaton Lenz; OG: Cory Merrigan, Zach Hawke, Brett Jones; C: TJ Aanenson: DE: Sage Schmidt, Cody Aspenleiter, Brett Jones; LB: TY Contrerez, QUinton Chancellor, Keaton Lenz; CB: Zane Mickelsen, Chase Barthal, Marcus Florom; DL: Cory Merrigan, TJ Aanenson.

— School: Mullen Nickname: Broncos Class: D-2 Conference: Loup Valley & Sandhills Conferences Head Coach: Mitch Pfeiffer Team Strength: A good core of returning starters and letterwinners Team Weakness: Some key positions to fill due to graduation.

Possible Starters: RB: Bailey McMillin, Gideon Monette; L: Carrett Cox, Britt McIntosh; E: Tye Spies

Six Man

School: Hyannis Nickname: Longhorns

Class: 6-Man Conference: SMAC West Division Head Coach: Bob Frederickson/Kris Krause Player to watch: Travis Hoover, RB/DB, is a senior leader who has started for three years.

Team Strength: Overall strength and more seniors.

Team Concerns: Team speed Season Outlook: We play in a tough conference. The state champ has come oth of the west the last four years.

Key Game: Cody-Kilgore, Arthur County, Sioux County Possible Starters: QB: Austin Antony; RB: Travis Hoover; FB: Gabe Haney; TE: Emmett Hoover, Wyatt Roe; C: Blake Johnson, Joe Hebbert; DE: Emmett Hoover, Wyatt Rowe: CB: Travis Hoover, Gabe Haney, Austin Anthony, Jeremy Davis; Punter: Travis Hoover; Kicker, Gabe Haney — School: Maywood Nickname: Tigers Class: 6-Man Conference: SMAC West Division Head Coach: Charles Jones Team Strength: Skill positions, we return a core of players at the skill positions that will help our team compete.

Team Concerns: Depth. We have 12 playersa who are either first-year players or only have one year of experience, the young players will have to step up and help our team to compete week to week.

If our young players can help fill roles we will be very competitive.

Season Outlook: The west division of the SixMan Coaches Association is very strong this year, we will have to play at a high level every week to give ourselves a chance to win games. We have six teams on our schedule that made the playoffs last year, three of those teams were in the semi-finals. If we can get off to a good start the sky is the limit.

Possible Starters: QB: Dalton Littell; HB: Jace Walther; C: Dakota Werkmeister; WR: Jericho Vieyra, Jacob Dibbern, Calyn Werkmeister; Austin Phillips, Bryar Gerlach; DE: Jace Walther, Austin Phillips; LB: Dalton Littell, Jericho Vieyra; DB: Jacob Dibbern, Calyn Werkmeister — School: Wauneta-Palisade Nickname: Broncos Class 6-man Conference: SMAC Head Coach: Joseph Frecks/Randy Geier Player to watch: Wes Anderjaska QB/RB/LB Has great football knowledge and instincts. Great leader. Had more than 100 tackles in 2012.

FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE Aug. 30 High School Football North Platte at Norfolk Scottsbluff at Lexington Aurora at McCook Ogallala at Gothenburg Bayard at Cambridge Kimball at St. Pat’s Perkins County at Holyoke, CO South Loup at Anselmo-Merna Maxwell at Brady Elwood at Medicine Valley Hayes Center at Paxton Hitchcock County at Southwest Mullen at Twin Loup Wallace at South Platte Stuart at Sandhills/Thedford Overton at SMC Maywood at Arthur County Wauneta-Palisade at Cody-Kilgore Potter-Dix at Creek Valley High School Softball Perry, Okla. at McCook High School Girls Golf Kearney Invite (North Platte) College Volleyball Colby CC Tourney (NPCC) Louisiana-Monroe vs. Nebraska

Aug. 31 High School Softball Holdrege Invite (Cozad, McCook) Lexington Invite (Gothenburg) LPS Invite (North Platte) Perry, Okla. at Chase County High School Boys Tennis Papillion South Invite (North Platte)

College Volleyball Colby CC Tourney (NPCC)

Sept. 3 High School Softball McCook at Cozad Lexington at North Platte McCook at Lexington Holyoke, CO, at Chase County (DH) High School Girls Golf North Platte at Lexington Kearney Catholic at Cozad

Sept. 5 High School Football Adams Central at Cozad Sandhills/Thedford at North Central High School Volleyball Ogallala Tri (North Platte, Sidney) Lexington at Minden McCook at Hastings Gothenburg at Broken Bow Haxtun, CO at Chase County Southern Valley at Cozad Winner, SD Tri (Valentine, Ainsworth) Perkins County at St. Pat’s Hyannis Tri (SMC, Cody-Kilgore) Brady at Maxwell SEM Tri (Elwood) Eustis-Farnam Tri (Elm Creek, Axtell) Hitchcock County Tri (Dundy County-Stratton) Southwest Tri (Maywood) Mullen at Twin Loup Wallace at Wauneta-Palisade High School Girls Golf Perkins County at Creek Valley

College Volleyball NPCC at Northeastern JC

Sept. 6 High School Football Lincoln Pius X at North Platte York at Lexington McCook at Scottsbluff Broken Bow at Ogallala Gordon-Rushville at Chase County Mitchell at Gothenburg Oberlin, Ks at Cambridge Kimball at Hershey St. Pat’s at Bridgeport Dundy County Stratton at Perkins County Brady at Bertrand Eustis-Farnam at Hayes Center Cheylin, KS at Hitchcock County Creek Valley at Wallace Chamberlain, SD at Valentine Burwell at South Loup Sutherland at Overton Arthur County at Hyannis Sioux County at Maywood Minatare at Wauneta-Palisade Leyton at South Platte Arapahoe at Maxwell High School Volleyball Beatrice Tourney (Ogallala) Arapahoe at Maxwell Elwood at Medicine Valley Anselmo-Merna at Sandhills/ Thedford Sioux County at Maywood Paxton at Garden County Minatare at Wauneta-Palisade High School Girls Golf North Platte Invite (Cozad)

High School Cross Country Cozad Invite (North Platte, Lexington, Maxwell, Paxton) Cambridge Invite (St. Pat’s, Eustis-Farnam, Maywood)

Sept. 7 High School Volleyball Lincoln North Star Double Tri (North Platte) Lexington Invite(McCook, Broken Bow, Chase County, Cozad, Hershey) Beatrice Tourney (Ogallala) Minden Invite (Valentine) Gregory, SD Invite (Cody-Kilgore) High School Softball McCook Invite ( Cozad, North Platte, Gothenburg) High School Boys Tennis Kearney Invite (North Platte)

Sept. 10 High School Volleyball Wray, CO at Chase County Southwest Tri (Gothenburg, Sutherland) Valentine Tri (Burwell, North Central) Brady Tri (Paxton, SMC) Dundy County-Stratton Tri (Cambridge, St. Pat’s) Mullen Tri (Hyannis, Sandhills/Thedford) North Central at Cody-Kilgore Cheylin-Brewster, KS Tri (Hayes Center) Wallace at Hitchcock County Loomis Tri (Maywood) High School Softball Hastings Tri (Cozad) Lexington at McCook

North Platte at Grand Island (DH) Girls High School Golf McCook at Grand Island Holdrege Tri (Cozad) Grant Dual (Hershey, Perkins County) High School Cross Country Lexington Invite Boys High School Tennis Capitol City Invite (North Platte)

Sept. 11 High School Volleyball North Platte at Aurora McCook at Holdrege St. Pat’s Tri (Cozad, Broken Bow) Cambridge at Overton Maxwell at Maywood Sandhills/Thedford at South Loup Sidney at Sutherland Elwood at Bertrand Maxwell at Maywood St. Francis at Wauneta-Palisade High School Softball North Platte at Lincoln Southwest (DH) College Volleyball MPCC and NPCC

Sept. 12 High School Cross Country Imperial Invite (Maywood, Paxton)

Sept. 13 High School Football North Platte at Lincoln East

Lexington at Gering McCook at Northwest Gothenburg at Broken Bow Chase County at Sidney Cozad at Mitchell Ogallala at Gibbon Cambridge at Kimball Southern Valley at Hershey St. Pat’s at Bayard Anselmo-Merna at Sandhills/ Thedford Brady at Amherst Elwood at Hayes Center Medicine Valley at Eustis-Farnam South Platte at Hitchcock County SMC at Mullen Wallace at Paxton Valentine at Gordon/Rushville South Loup at Overton Southwest at Sutherland Cody-Kilgore at Arthur County Hyannis at Wauneta-Palisade Maywood at Minatare Maxwell at Elm Creek Creek Valley at Leyton High School Volleyball SMC at Mullen Brady at Amherst Medicine Valley at Eustis-Farnam Cody-Kilgore at Arthur County Maywood at Minatare Wallace at Paxton High School Softball North Platte at Lincoln Southeast Scottsbluff Tourney (Chase County, Gothenburg)

Continued on next page

D14

Fall Sports Preview

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

the north platte telegraph

FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE Sept. 13 High School Cross Country Kearney Invite (North Platte) Chase County Invite (St. Pat’s) High School Girls Golf Lexington Invite (North Platte, Cozad, Perkins County) High School Boys Tennis Alliance & Scottsbluff at North Platte College Volleyball Pizza Hut Invite at Sterling, CO (NPCC)

Sept. 14 High School Volleyball Alliance Tri (North Platte, Gering) Cozad Invite (Broken Bow, Gothenburg, Ogallala, Valentine, Perkins County) Elm Creek Tourney (Hershey, Cambridge) Seven Valley Tourney at Callaway (Brady, Sandhills/ Thedford, South Loup, Mullen) Loomis Tourney (Maxwell, Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) Hitchcock County Tri (Hayes Center, Wauneta-Palisade) High School Softball Cozad Invite (North Platte, Lexington) Scottsbluff Tourney (Chase County, Gothenburg) High School Boys Tennis North Platte Invite High School Cross Country Broken Bow Invite (Eustis-Farnam, Maxwell) Lexington at Broken Bow College Volleyball Pizza Hut Invite at Sterling, CO. (NPCC)

Sept. 16 High School Cross Country Alma Invite (Eustis-Farnam)

Sept. 17 High School Volleyball Ogallala at North Platte Chase County at Holyoke, CO. Alma Tri ( Cozad, Arapahoe) St. Pat’s at Gothenburg SMC Tri (Hyannis, Sandhills/ Thedford) Medicine Valley Tri (Brady, South Loup) Arthur County Tri (Mullen) SEM Tri (Eustis-Farnam) Hayes Center Tri (Dundy County-Stratton, Wallace) Maywood at Hitchcock County Paxton at Leyton Southwest at Wauneta-Palisade High School Softball Cozad at Lexington McCook at Hastings Kearney at North Platte Gering at Chase County (DH) High School Girls Golf Gothenburg Invite (Cozad) High School Boys Tennis Kearney at North Platte College Volleyball Eastern Wyoming at NPCC

Sept. 19 High School Volleyball Ravenna Tri (Broken Bow, Lexington) Phillipsburg, KS. at McCook Wauneta-Palisade at Chase County Perkins County Tri (South Platte, Paxton) Medicine Valley at Hitchcock County South Loup at SEM Elwood Tri High School Softball Northwest at Cozad Gothenburg at Holdrege High School Cross Country Lexington at Central City High School Girls Golf Hastings Invite (North Platte) Perkins County at Kimball College Volleyball Central CC at NPCC

Sept. 20 High School Football Bellevue East at North Platte Northwest at Lexington Gering at McCook Broken Bow at Cozad Chadron at Chase County Kearney Catholic at Ogallala Cambridge at Southern Valley Hershey at Perkin County Ravenna at St. Pat’s Mullen at Anselmo-Merna Sumner-Eddyville-Miller at Brady Alma at Elwood Eustis-Farnam at Amherst Hayes Center at Southwest Hitchcock County at Bertrand Axtell at Medicine Valley Loomis at Wallace Sandhills/Thedford at SMC Elm Creek at South Loup Sutherland at Arapahoe Arthur County at Wauneta-Palisade Minatare at Cody-Kilgore Hyannis at Sioux County Paxton at Leyton High School Volleyball LPS Classic at Lincoln (North Platte) Sandhills/Thedford at SMC SEM at Brady Arthur County at Wauneta-Palisade Minatare at Cody-Kilgore

Hyannis at Sioux County Mullen at Anselmo-Merna High School Softball Chadron at Chase County High School Girls Golf Dawson County (Cozad) High School Cross Country McCook Invite (North Platte, St. Pat’s, Maxwell) Arapahoe Invite (Eustis-Farnam, Maywood, Paxton)

Sept. 21 High School Volleyball LPS Classic at Lincoln (North Platte) McCook Invite (Chase County) Mid Plains Tourney (Hershey, SMC, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Eustis-Farnam, Paxton) Ogallala at Gering Bridgeport Tri (Perkins County)

Sept. 23 High School Volleyball Maywood Invite (Elwood) High School Softball Cozad at Holdrege High School Girls Golf Ogallala Invite (North Platte, Cozad, Perkins County) High School Boys Tennis Papillion-LaVista Invite (North Platte)

Sept. 24 High School Volleyball

North Platte at Kearney Lexington Tri (Ogallala, Cozad) Hastings Tri (McCook) Sidney at Chase County Minden Tri (Gothenburg, Axtell) SMC at St. Pat’s Medicine Valley at Maxwell Elm Creek Tri (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna) Elwood at Southern Valley Wilcox-Hildreth Tri (Eustis-Farnam) Paxton Tourney (Wallace, Wauneta-Palisade) High School Softball Chase County at Cozad Gothenburg Tri (Lexington) North Platte at McCook (DH) High School Boys Tennis North Platte at Hastings College Volleyball Hastings College JV at NPCC

Sept. 26 High School Volleyball Ravenna Invite at Cozad (Broken Bow) Dundy County-Stratton Tri (Chase County, St. Francis, KS.) Sutherland at Cozad Hershey at Southwest Perkins County at Ogallala Burwell at Valentine Cambridge Tri (Hitchcock County) Garden County at Creek Valley Overton Tri (Elwood) Hayes Center at Wauneta-Palisade Cambridge at Hitchcock County South Platte at Paxton High School Softball Gothenburg Invite (Gering, Chase County, McCook, Chadron, North Platte, Gothenburg) High School Girls Golf Hershey at Cozad High School Cross Country Grand Island Invite (North Platte) Dundy County-Stratton Invite (St. Pat’s, Maywood) Paxton at Ogallala College Volleyball NPCC at Southeast CC

Holdrege Invite (McCook) Sutherland Invite (Broken Bow, Chase County, St. Pat’s) Hershey Invite (Gothenburg) Brady Tourney (SMC, Maxwell, South Loup, Eustis-Farnam, Mullen, Wauneta-Palisade) High School Softball Crete Invite (Lexington) Lincoln Southeast Invite (North Platte, McCook) Scottsbluff at Chase County (DH) Gothenburg Invite High School Boys Tennis Hastings Invite (North Platte) High School Cross Country Minden Invite (Eustis-Farnam, Lexington, Maxwell) College Volleyball Johnson County Invite at Overland Park, KS (NPCC)

Sept. 30 High School Volleyball Perkins County at Holyoke, CO. High School Cross Country UNK-Kearney Invite (North Platte, Eustis-Farnam, Lexington, Maywood) High School Girls Golf Kearney at North Platte

Oct. 1 High School Volleyball North Platte at Lexington Cambridge Tri (McCook, Cozad, Wauneta-Palisade) Gothenburg Tri (Perkins County, Chase County) Valentine Tri (North Central, Hyannis) Wallace Tri (Brady, Maywood) Paxton Tri (Hayes Center) St. Pat’s at Mullen Twin Loup Tri (Sandhills/ Thedford, Anselmo-Merna) Hitchcock County at Wauneta-Palisade High School Softball Centennial Tri (Cozad) North Platte at Gothenburg (DH) High School Girls Golf Broken Bow Tri (Cozad) Hershey Invite (Perkins County) Boys High School Tennis Lexington at North Platte

Oct. 3 High School Volleyball Broken Bow at Holdrege Maxwell Tri (Sutherland, Chase County) Valentine at Hershey Perkins county at Sedgwick County, CO. Potter Dix at Creek Valley Medicine Valley Tri (Arapahoe, Paxton) Twin Loup Tri (South Loup) Elwood Tri Hyannis at Garden County Wauneta-Palisade at Dundy County-Stratton High School Softball Gothenburg at Cozad Hastings at Lexington Kearney at McCook (DH) Holdrege Tri (McCook) High School Girls Golf SWC at Minden (Cozad) High School Cross Country Gothenburg Invite (St. Pats, Eustis-Farnam, Lexington, Maxwell, Paxton) College Volleyball Northeast CC at NPCC

Oct. 4

Twin Cities Tourney (Lexington, Scottsbluff, Gering, McCook, Ogallala) Gothenburg Invite (Chase County, Perkins County) West Holt Tri (Valentine) Southwest at Perkins County Four Corners Tourney at Sargent (SMC, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) Dundy County Stratton Invite (Cambridge, Hayes Center, Hitchcock County, Maywood) High School Softball Yutan/Mead Tri (Cozad) GNAC at Columbus (North Platte, McCook, Lexington) Chadron Tri (Chase County) High School Boys Tennis Conference Meet at North Platte

Oct. 7

High School Girls Golf Districts (North Platte) B Districts (Cozad) C Districts (Perkins County) College Volleyball Northeastern JC at NPCC

Oct. 8

High School Volleyball Hastings St. Cecilia (Broken Bow) Chase County Tri (St. Pat’s, Southwest) Hershey at Cozad Valentine Tri (Ogallala, Gothenburg) South Loup at SMC Brady Tri (Medicine Valley, Maywood) South Platte at Arthur County Oberlin-Decatur Quad (Hitchcock County) Dundy County-Stratton at Paxton High School Softball Lexington at Holdrege High School Girls Golf Districts (North Platte) B Districts (Cozad)

Oct. 9

College Volleyball Southeast CC at NPCC

Oct. 10

High School Football Sutherland at SMC High School Volleyball McCook Tri (Lexington, Gothenburg) Minden Tri (Broken Bow, Ogallala) Chase County at Perkins County Cozad at Minden Hershey at Sutherland Brady at St. Pat’s Cambridge at Southern Valley Bridgeport at Creek Valley South Loup Tri (Maxwell, Sandhills/Thedford) Sutherland at Hershey Elwood at Arapahoe Loomis Tri (Eustis-Farnam) Mullen at Hyannis Wallace at South Platte High School Cross Country North Platte at McCook Perkins County Invite & SPVA (St. Pat’s, Maxwell) RPAC (Eustis-Farnam, Maywood, Paxton) High School Softball District (North Platte)

Oct. 11

High School Football North Platte at Lincoln High Holdrege at Lexington Hastings at McCook Broken Bow at Ord Chase County at Gothenburg Cozad at Kearney Catholic Mitchell at Ogallala Cambridge at St. Pat’s Hershey at Dundy County-Stratton Oberlin, KS at Perkins County Anselmo-Merna at Bertrand Hayes Center at Brady Loomis at Elwood Sumner-Eddyville-Miller at Eustis-Farnam Wallace at Hitchcock County Medicine Valley at Southwest Mullen at Garden County Valentine at O’Neill Sandhills/Thedford at Creek Valley Arthur County at Minatare Maywood at Hyannis Paxton at Hemingford South Platte at Potter-Dix Morrill at Maxwell High School Volleyball Hayes Center at Brady Cody-Kilgore at Sioux County Arthur County at Minatare Maywood at Hyannis Wallace at Hitchcock County Medicine Valley at Southwest Mullen at Garden County Sandhills/Thedford at Creek Valley South Platte at Potter-Dix High School Softball Districts (North Platte) College Volleyball Jimmy John Invite at Columbus (NPCC)

High School Football North Platte at Fremont Lexington at Northwest McCook at Sidney Valentine at Broken Bow Cozad at Chase County Minden at Gothenburg Perkins County at Cambridge Hershey at Bridgeport St. Pats at Wood River Anselmo-Merna at Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Medicine Valley at Brady Bertrand at Elwood Loomis at Eustis-Farnam Wallace at Hayes Center Sandhills Thedford at Mullen SMC at Morrill Loup City at South Loup Hemingford at Sutherland Cody-Kilgore at Maywood Minatare at Hyannis Wauneta-Palisade at Sioux County Paxton at Maxwell South Platte at Garden County Crawford at Creek Valley High School Volleyball Sandhills/Thedford at Mullen Arthur County at Banner County Cody-Kilgore at Maywood Wallace at Hayes Center High School Boys Tennis North Platte at Hastings College Volleyball Johnson County Invite at Overland Park, KS (NPCC)

High School Football Lincoln North Star at North Platte Lexington at Sidney Alliance at McCook St. Paul at Broken Bow Chase County at Mitchell Gothenburg at Cozad Ogallala at Chadron Bayard at Hershey Perkins County at Kimball Eustis-Farnam at Anselmo-Merna Brady at Wallace Elwood at Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Hitchcock County at Medicine Valley Hay Spring at Mullen Ord at Valentine Garden County at Sandhills/ Thedford SMC at Hemingford South Loup at Ansley-Litchfield Maxwell at Sutherland Sioux County at Arthur County Hyannis at Cody-Kilgore Wauneta-Palisade at Maywood Morrill at Paxton Creek Valley at South Platte High School Volleyball Twin Cities Tourney (Lexington, Scottsbluff, Gering, McCook, Ogallala) Brady at Wallace South Loup at Ansley-Litchfield Sioux County at Arthur County Hyannis at Cody-Kilgore Elwood At SEM Eustis-Farnam at Anselmo-Merna Hay Springs at Mullen High School Girls Golf Conference at McCook (North Platte)

High School Volleyball Lincoln Southeast Double Tri (North Platte) Hershey Tri (St. Pat’s, Maxwell) St. Francis, KS. Quad (Hayes Center) High School Cross Country GNAC (North Platte, Lexington)

Sept. 28

Oct. 5

Oct. 14

Sept. 27

High School Volleyball GINW Invite (Lexington)

High School Volleyball Columbus Invite (North Platte)

Oct. 12

High School Volleyball Brady at Arthur County

Bennett County, SD at Cody-Kilgore Fort Kearney Conference (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) Potter-Dix Tri (Wallace) High School Girls Golf A State (North Platte) C State (Perkins County) College Volleyball NPCC at Eastern Wyoming College

Oct. 15 High School Volleyball Southwest at McCook Ainsworth at Broken Bow Hershey Tri (Perkins County, Dundy County-Stratton) St. Pat’s Tri (GICC, Ogallala) Hitchcock County at Cambridge Creek Valley at Paxton Wauneta-Palisade at Medicine Valley Twin Loup at Sandhills/Thedford Sutherland at Maywood Fort Kearney Conference (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) High School Golf A State (North Platte) C State (Perkins County)

Oct. 16 High School Softball State at Hastings

Oct. 17 High School Volleyball North Platte at McCook Kearney Tri (Gothenburg, Lexington) Broken Bow at Shelton SPVA at St. Pat’s (Chase County, Hershey, Perkins County, Maxwell) Gordon-Rushville Tri (Valentine, Alliance) Hayes Center at SMC Medicine Valley at Arapahoe South Platte Tri (Arthur County, Hyannis) Ainsworth Tri (Cody-Kilgore) Fort Kearney Conference (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) High School Softball State at Hastings High School Cross Country A Districts (North Platte) B Districts (Lexington) C Districts (St. Pat’s) D Districts (Eustis-Farnam, Maxwell, Maywood, Paxton) High School Boys Tennis State at Omaha (North Platte) College Volleyball NPCC at Central CC

Oct. 18 High School Football Grand Island at North Platte Lexington at Hastings McCook at Holdrege O’Neill at Broken Bow Kearney Catholic at Chase County Minden at Cozad Gothenburg at Ord Ogallala at Gordon Rushville Hershey at Cambridge Dundy County-Stratton at St. Pat’s Perkins County at Bayard Loomis at Anselmo-Merna Elwood at Eustis-Farnam Hitchcock County at Hayes Center Medicine Valley at Wallace Creek Valley at Mullen Ainsworth at Valentine South Platte at Sandhills/ Thedford Maxwell at SMC Palmer at South Loup Paxton at Sutherland St. Edward at Arthur County Walthill at Cody-Kilgore Santee at Hyannis Silver Lake at Maywood High School Volleyball SPVA at St. Pat’s (Chase County, Hershey, Perkins County, Maxwell) Medicine Valley at Wallace Loup Valley Conference at Anselmo-Merna (Sandhills/ Thedford) Hitchcock county at Hayes Center High School Softball State at Hastings High School Boys Tennis State at Omaha (North Platte) College Volleyball NPCC at Northeast CC

Oct. 19 High School Volleyball Ogallala Tri (McCook, Scottsbluff) SPVA at St. Pat’s (Chase County, Hershey, Perkins County, Maxwell) Valentine Tourney (Cozad) Loup Valley Tourney (Sandhills/Thedford)

Oct. 21 High School Volleyball RPAC Tourney (Cambridge, Hitchcock County, Maywood, Paxton, Wallace, Wauneta-Palisade)

Oct. 22 High School Volleyball North Platte at Ogallala Holdrege at Lexington Broken Bow Invite (Gothenburg, Valentine) Hershey at Chase County Hastings at Cozad Perkins County at Kimball Sandhills Conference at Dunning (SMC, Brady, Sandhills/Thedford, Cody-Kilgore, Mullen) Creek Valley Tri

Maxwell at Elwood St. Pat’s at Sutherland Ansley-Litchfield Tourney (South Loup) RPAC (Cambridge, Hitchcock County, Maywood, Paxton, Wallace, Wauneta-Palisade)

Oct. 23 High School Volleyball Sandhills Conference (SMC, Brady, Sandhills/Thedford, Cody-Kilgore, Mullen) College Volleyball NPCC at MPCC

Oct. 24 High School Football Broken Bow at Ainsworth Chase County at Minden Gothenburg at Kearney Catholic Cozad at Ogallala St. Pats at Hershey Anselmo-Merna at Elwood Brady at Hitchcock County Eustis-Farnam at Bertrand Hayes Center at Medicine Valley Chadron at Valentine SMC at Paxton South Loup at Twin Loup Sutherland at Morrill Maywood at St. Edward High School Volleyball Scottsbluff at North Platte Hastings Tri (Norfolk, Lexington) Sandhills Conference (SMC, Brady, Sandhills/Thedford, Cody-Kilgore, Mullen) Brady at Hitchcock County Garden County Tri (South Platte) Hayes Center at Medicine Valley

Oct. 25 High School Football North Platte at Kearney Lexington at McCook Cozad at Ogallala Cambridge at Dundy County-Stratton Bridgeport at Perkins County Mullen at South Platte Arthur County at Walthill Cody-Kilgore at Santee Hyannis at Elkhorn Valley Wauneta-Palisade at Silver Lake Maxwell at Hemingford Garden County at Creek Valley High School Volleyball Sandhills Conference (SMC, Brady, Sandhills/Thedford, Cody-Kilgore, Mullen)

Oct. 26 High School Volleyball North Platte Tri (Kearney, Grand Island) Alliance Invite (Lexington) Southwest Conference Tourney (Brady, SMC, Sandhills/Thedford, Cody-Kilgore, Mullen) Southern Valley Invite (St. Pat’s)

Oct. 28 High School Volleyball Valentine at Bennett County, SD. Eustis-Farnam at Maxwell

Oct. 29 High School Volleyball North Platte at Grand Island Chase County at McCook Hershey Tri (Broken Bow, Kearney Catholic) Chase County at McCook Cozad at Perkins County Cody-Kilgore Tri (Arthur County, SMC) Sandhills/Thedford Tri (Brady, Ansley-Litchfield) Sutherland Tri (Elm Creek, Cambridge) Creek Valley at Potter-Dix Maxwell at Bertrand Dundy County-Stratton Tri (Medicine Valley) St. Pat’s at Paxton Anselmo-Merna Tri(Mullen, South Loup) Hayes Center Tri )Maywood, Hitchcock County) Ainsworth at Hyannis Wauneta-Palisade at Wallace

Oct. 31 High School Volleyball Hyannis Tri. (Crawford, Banner County) College Volleyball NJCAA Region IX at Beatrice (NPCC)

Nov. 1 High School Volleyball Centura at Broken Bow Cozad at Gothenburg Bayard Tri (Perkins County) Little Wound, SD. at Cody-Kilgore College Volleyball NJCAA Region IX at Beatrice (NPCC)

Nov. 2 High School Volleyball GNAC at Hastings (North Platte, Lexington, McCook) College Volleyball NJCAA Region IX at Beatrice (NPCC)

Nov. 8-9 College Volleyball District G Playoff (NPCC)

Nov. 21-23 College Volleyball NJCAA Nationals at Toledo, OH (NPCC)