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10 Aug. 26, 2021 | The Eagle | csceagle.com Sports
2021 PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL STANDINGS sponsored by
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As of Aug. 25, 2021 1. Colorado School of Mines 2. CSU-Pueblo 3. CHADRON STATE 4. Colorado Mesa 5. Western Colorado 6. South Dakota Mines 7. Adams State 8. New Mexico Highlands 9. Black Hills State 10. Fort Lewis
2021 PRE-SEASON VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS
As of Aug. 25, 2021 1. Adams State 2. Black Hills State 3. CHADRON STATE 4. Colorado Christian 5. Colorado Mesa 6. Colorado School of Mines 7. CSU-Pueblo 8. Fort Lewis
Eagles prepare for a familiar fall season
u By Mackenzie Dahlberg
Sports Editor
The masks can come off and game faces are on.
This season, the Eagles will return to the court in the fall, playing their last game only five months ago. Currently, their schedule consists of 26 matches.
“Volleyball is always traditionally played in the fall,” Head Volleyball Coach Jennifer Stadler said. “So, it goes back to what you’re comfortable with, what you’ve known since you’ve started playing volleyball. I think that helps get the girls into their groove a little bit earlier.”
Chadron State volleyball team finished its 2020 season against South Dakota School of Mines, March 26, after the season was moved to the spring due to COVID-19 regulations. They finished with a 4-10 record, 3-9 in the conference, with three games played in Chicoine Center.
“Overall, as far as improvement from last season, is our serve-receive game, as well as our offense,” Jennifer Stadler said. “I thought we did some really nice things last year defensively, both in the back row and in the front row with blocking. But offensively, we’ve got to get a little bit quicker, a little bit more explosive, and also we have to terminate the ball at a higher level.”
A few key players have returned for the fall season, ready to improve and take the team farther than it’s been.
“I just really want to be a team leader this year, and just keep the team encouraged because last year was draining on everyone,” Rylee Greiman, junior of Windsor, Colorado, said. “I just want to do a good job with keeping the team together, staying positive and striving to be better every day.”
Greiman appeared in all but one set, in the spring. The outside hitter ended the season with 51 kills, 16 assists, 11 blocks and 95 digs.
“I think there’s always room for improvement,” Greiman said. “We have missed the RMAC tournament by just a few points the last two years I’ve been here, so I’m really hopeful that we’re making that tournament this year.”
Seeing the court for 10 matches, Amelia Berg, senior of Fort Collins, Colorado, earned 56 kills and 18 blocks as a right-side hitter.
Setter Kincaid Strain, senior of Elk River, Minnesota, earned 10 kills, 100 assists, and five ace serves in 30 sets.
Aracely Hernandez, senior of Greeley, Colorado, played in 18 sets, and recorded 22 digs, eight kills and an assist.
Please see Volleyball, page 11
Athletes Weekof the
Naishaun Goldsberry
Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts Class: Junior Sport: Track & Field
Goldsberry traveled to Allendale, Michigan, to compete nationally, May 27. He jumped 25 feet, 1.25 inches in long jump to place third, being half an inch shy of the second place mark. Goldsberry earned All-American honors for the event.
Photo by Mackenzie Dahlberg Aiyana Fujiyama, right, freshman of Wahiawa, Hawaii, attacks the ball after Amelia Berg, senior of Fort Collins, Colorado, tossed up the volleyball during a hitting drill during practice, Monday, Aug. 23, in the Chicoine Center.
Bailey Marvel
Hometown: Lakewood, Colorado Class: Senior Sport: Softball
Marvel was named to the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Gold Glove Team. She had the highest fielding percentage at .972, led the RMAC in assists and was third in the region. Marvel also led the bats, averaging .399 and scored 34 runs.
Sports
Photo by Mackenzie Dahlberg Elijah Myles, junior of Hawthorne, California, catches a pass during a drill at practice, Monday, Aug. 23, at Don Beebe Stadium.
Practice begins with familiar and new faces
u By Mackenzie Dahlberg
Sports Editor
The Eagles start their season with a large group of new and returning players, following a fourgame season in 2020.
“Last year was really a difficult season and time for everybody,” Head Football Coach Jay Long said. “It was also difficult for our players who did a lot to play in those four games. They’re looking forward to being able to play this fall.”
CSC finished their 2020 season with a record of 2-2, with only one game on Elliott Field.
The Eagles were handed losses from Colorado Mesa and University of Nebraska-Kearney, while they came out victorious against South Dakota School of Mines both times they met.
CSC finished third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) preseason poll with 62 points, falling behind Colorado School of Mines with 76 points and CSU Pueblo, with 70 points.
With a schedule currently consisting of 11 games, Long said their focus is the same as it always is and that’s to get better and to prepare the team to compete in the RMAC.
Please see Football, page 12
Volleyball, from page 10
Outside Hitter Lexi Hurtado, junior of Aurora, Colorado, killed 111 attacks, dug 112 times, blocked 16 attacks, and earned 136.5 points for the 2020 season.
Breshawna Kelly, junior of Casper, Wyoming, played all 14 matches as a setter, only missing two sets in the spring. Kelly earned 285 assists and dug 103 attacks for her first season at CSC.
Olivia Moten-Schell, sophomore of Billings, Montana, played in 43 sets, only missing two matches, and earned 19 blocks.
“For a very first initial practice, I was pleasently surprised seeing everybody interacting together,” Stadler said. “The freshman and new transfers as well did a good job of fitting in to the team really well and there’s exciting points of seeing them stand out right away.”
Stadler recruited seven new players to the team, hailing from Colorado, Kansas, Hawaii and Wyoming, bringing the team to a total of 22 players.
“We’ll still have to test at certain points before we start playing,” Stadler said. “We’re trying to do the best we can to keep our team safe, our players safe, but also trying to get a bit normal season.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) released new COVID-19 guidelines, Aug. 4. Currently, fully vaccinated individuals have the decision whether to wear a mask.
“I’m really looking forward to having a set schedule and actually knowing when we’re going to be practicing, when our games are, when we’re traveling,” Greiman said. “Obviously, it was hard on all sports teams and everyone not having a set schedule.”
The Eagles will begin their season with two nights of triangular matches, Friday, Sept. 3 and Saturday, Sept. 4 in Pueblo, Colorado. Chadron State will first play University of Mary, Bismark, North Dakota, at 9 a.m., Friday.
The Eagles last played the Marauders, Sept. 2, 2017, in Seward and triumphed over them, 3-1.
“I’m just super excited overall to get back on the court,” Greiman said. “With the team, we have a lot of new girls and the culture this year is definitely going to turn around for the best.”
Williams creates new goals after Nationals
u By Mackenzie Dahlberg
Sports Editor
A CSC cowgirl roped in her goals at Nationals over the summer break.
Brianna Williams, recent graduate of Buffalo, South Dakota, finished fourth in breakaway roping, June 19, while competing at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper Wyoming.
“I talked to many different girls who have been there in the past and asked them what their game plan looked like and what my focus should be,” Williams said. “All of them said the same thing: just catch four. My ultimate goal then was to catch all four of my calves, and I did just that.”
Williams said she focused on one run at a time. In the finals, she caught her calf in 5.3 seconds, placing her sixth in the go-round. She was one of the seven ropers out of 58 contestants that lassoed all four of her calves.
Her total time of all four runs was 17.9 seconds.
“My experience at nationals was amazing,” Williams said. “It is something I will never forget. The atmosphere, the crowd, the intensity, I loved every minute of it.”
Williams also enjoyed her time in Casper away from the arena by
watching a softball tournament and the CINCH Style Show. Williams’ love for the rodeo and competing in it started when she was younger. “I started going to junior rodeos at about the age of five,” Williams said. “Rodeo has always been a part of me.” From five years old, she continued competing in junior high, making it to nationals then. She continued competing through high school, eventually making it into college rodeo. Brianna WIlliams “My love for roping, barrel racing and tying goats pushed me to start competing,” Williams said. “I could spend all day every day in the arena riding so it’s definitely something I love.” She never got tired of it and still doesn’t. Her biggest motivation to continue to improve herself are her personal goals. Williams had the goal of making it to the college finals and because she has reached it, she already has new goals that she wants to accomplish. “I never stop making goals whether they are small or big,” Williams said. “That keeps me going.” Even though she graduated in May, she will compete on CSC’s rodeo team for two more years while she works for a master’s degree in organizational management.
12 Aug. 26, 2021 | The Eagle | csceagle.com Sports
Photo by Mackenzie Dahlberg Cole Thurness, senior of Rapid City, South Dakota, secures and rushes the football after catching a kickoff during a practice drill, Monday, Aug. 23, at Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium. Football, from page 11
“Just the more we can get back to normal the better, in my opinion,” Long said. “I’m excited for the season. I have some key returners and we’re excited to come out and compete.”
Elijah Myles, junior of Hawthorne, California, remained in California due to the uncertainty of fall 2020, but has returned as an Eagle.
Having started all four games, Dalton Holst, senior of Gillette, Wyoming, recorded 63 rushing yards, and threw for 1,060 yards, throwing seven touchdowns. He also punted twice for 54 yards.
On specials, Cole Thurness, senior of Rapid City, returned six punts for 65 yards and three kickoffs for 39 yards. He rushed for 34 yards with no loss, and scored a touchdown on a rush. The wide receiver caught 15 passes for 241 yards, securing two touchdown passes.
Jeydon Cox, redshirt freshman of Jackson, Wyoming, played all four games and netted 242 yards with 32 carries, earning an average of 7.6 yards per carry. The running back also caught three passes for 17 yards.
Christopher Busby, junior of Scottsbluff, earned two touchdowns and gained 47 yards throughout the four games. Montel Gladney, junior of Flowood, Mississippi, played three matches and received 135 yards with six catches.
Jahani Wright, redshirt freshman of Miami, Florida, recorded 127 receiving yards with eight receptions with one touchdown, and returned a kickoff for 12 yards. Due to an injury in 2019 and being redshirted in 2018, Wright still has four years of eligibility.
Last year’s starting tackles, Justin Calderon, senior of Levittown, New York, and Juan Estrada-Sanchez, junior of Denver, will be joined by returning guards, Austin Rapp, senior of Moville, Iowa, and Jake Norris, senior of Fort Morgan, Colorado; and Center Michael DeCamillis, sophomore of Broomfield, Colorado, on the offensive line.
Leading the team with 37 tackles, Jeremiah Makahununiu, senior of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, had 16 solo and 21 assisted tackles and broke up one pass.
Jeremiah Gutierrez, senior of Compton, California, recorded 12 solo and nine assisted tackles. Bobby Peele, senior of Fresno, California, intercepted a pass for three straight games in 2020. Peele broke up five passes and gained 22 tackles, 14 solo and eight assisted.
Travis Wilson, senior of Fresno, California, played in all four games as linebacker and recorded 30 total tackles, with two for a loss of four yards. Wilson also intercepted a pass, assisted on a sack and returned a kickoff for 33 yards.
Drake Holdren, junior of Greeley, Colorado, totaled 119 yards with two kickoffs and kicked a 36-yard field goal at South Dakota School of Mines. Holdren also made 15 extra points of 16.
“We had really good leadership this summer,” Long said. “We had the most kids stay here over the summer than we have ever had in the past. Coach Kreis and Coach McLendon did a terrific job over the summer going to the weight room. I’m excited to see the kids’ strengths and conditioning show how they practice.”
CSC will start their fall season, Saturday, Sept. 4, against Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado.
The last time the Eagles faced the Mountaineers was Oct. 5, 2019, and CSC took the loss, 33-32.
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