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12 Oct. 27, 2022 | The Eagle | csceagle.com Sports
2022 SEASON FOOTBALL STANDINGS sponsored by
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As of Oct. 25, 2022 1. Colorado School of Mines 2. Western Colorado 3. CSU Pueblo 4. South Dakota Mines 5. Black Hills State 6. New Mexico Highlands 7. Adams State 8. Chadron State 9. Colorado Mesa 10. Fort Lewis
2022 SEASON VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS
As of Oct. 25, 2022 1. MSU Denver 2. Colorado Mesa 3. Colorado School of Mines 4. Regis 5. CSU Pueblo 6. Colorado Christian 7. South Dakota Mines 8. Fort Lewis 9. UCCS 10. Adams State 11. Chadron State 12. Westminster 13. Black Hills State 14. New Mexico Highlands 15. Western Colorado
Archive Photo CSC guard Gage Delimont, sophomore of Ainsworth, scrambles to secure the ball during a game against the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis in the Chicoine Center on Dec. 3, 2021
Eagles open season against Huskers
u By Eben Rosentrater
Sports Editor
The CSC men’s basketball team opened up the 2022-2023 season with an 87-60 exhibition loss in Lincoln against the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.
After coming off their best season since 2014, the Eagles were eager to get back out on the court with hopes of seeing more improvement. Despite the Eagles’ rough loss to the Huskers, CSC Head Men’s Basketball Coach Shane Paben believes there is a lot to look forward to for both his players and their fans.
“Obviously, they’re a Big Ten opponent,” Paben said to CSC Sports Information. “They were able to grab offensive rebounds and get points underneath the basket, just because of their sheer size. But we competed and gave a great effort.”
The Eagles started off the game well. Porter Anderson, junior of Russellville, Arkansas, set the tone early, getting underneath the hoop and slamming a dunk for the first score of the game. The Eagles continued to roll after that, hitting nine of 15 shots at the beginning of the first half. The team held the lead or were tied for a large portion of the first half, a shock, especially against the Division I Huskers.
However, midway through the first half, the Huskers began to hit their stride, scoring 12 unanswered points and breaking away from the Eagles by a large margin. The Eagles kept it manageable going into halftime trailing 43-28.
Athletes Weekof the
Grant Swenson
Despite facing the tough defense of CSU Pueblo, Swenson, in his first career start, nearly doubled his total receiving yards recording 70 overall on nine receptions and scored his first career touchdown, the Eagles’ only TD of the game. Please see, Basketball, page 14
Mayson Fago
Fago continues to be asset at the net, both offensively and defensively. This weekend against UCCS and CSU Pueblo, Fago recorded 18 total kills, two blocks, and recorded a .291 hitting percentage between the two matches.
Sports
Photo by Kamryn Kozisek CSC quarterback Preston Pearson (10), redshirt freshman of Kearney, looks down the field as he rushes during a game against the Adam State Grizzles at Don Beebe Stadium on Oct. 15, 2022.
F’Ball short win streak ends
u By Eben Rosentrater
Sports Editor
It was a disappointing weekend for the CSC football team after a tough defensive battle turned into 34-12 lost against the Thunderwolves of CSU Pueblo in Colorado.
The Eagles were flying high going into the weekend after beating the Grizzlies of Adams State in a close 2927 game, their second win of the season. However, the Thunderwolves had no intent of letting the Eagles’ win streak continue. But with the return of first-string quarterback Heath Beemiller, junior of Chandler, Arizona, the Eagles had some hope.
The game looked optimistic for the Eagles for all of the first half. The first drive of the game, Thunderwolves quarterback Hunter Raquet, senior of Santa Cruz, California, hit a 63-yard pass to receiver Andrew Cook, redshirt sophomore of Tucson, Arizona. However, the Eagle defense was stout and held the Thunderwolves to a field goal to which they missed. The Eagles were the first to score after a Pueblo turnover led to a seven-yard touchdown connection between Beemiller and receiver Grant Swenson, sophomore of Broomfield, Colorado.
After that, the game was a stalemate. The Thunderwolves quickly tied the game 6-6, and the defenses battled for the rest of the first half. Going into the halftime, the score was still tied, something nobody expected considering the CSU Pueblo offense is the second highest scoring offense in the RMAC right behind Colorado Mines.
Much of the third quarter was similar to the first half, low scoring with a lot of defense. The Thunderwolves didn’t take the lead until late in the third with a touchdown connection between Raquet and Beck, the second touchdown pass of four between the two players, making the score 13-6.
Raquet and Cook continued to roll scoring two more touchdowns. The Eagle offense struggled and only scored six more points of the foot of Gunnar Jones, graduate student of Rogersville, Alabama. The team would fail to pick up speed and went on to lose 34-12.
Offensively, the Eagles were led by Beemiller, who completed 23 passes on 35 attempts for 148 yards and one touchdown. However, Beemiller threw another interception, his eighth of the year. Jalen Starks, senior of Chicago, yet again, led the Eagles in rushing netting 61 yards on 18 carries, averaging just over three yard a carry. The receiving game was led by a new face. Swenson made his first career start over the weekend and nearly doubled his total career yards recording 70 on 9 receptions and scoring the team’s only touchdown.
Defensively, another new face led the team. Defensive lineman Hunter O’Connor, sophomore of Broomfield, Colorado, racked up 10 total tackles, one pass breakup, and three-and-a-half sacks, the most sacks by an Eagle defender all season.
“We changed our defensive front this week,” CSC Football Head Coach Jay Long said to CSC Sports Information, “from a tight formation to a wider one. Hunter has really provided a great rush in that formation. Today was one of those days he really stood out.”
The Eagles will look to get back on track against the Cowboys of New Mexico Highlands at Don Beebe Stadium, in Chadron, next Saturday.
Photo by Kamryn Kozisek 1-on-1: CSC wide receiver Ahlonte Hair (right), junior of Live Oak, Florida, holds up a number one as he runs into the end zone for a touchdown as Adams State cornerback Ahmed Bernard (left), junior of Pass Christian, Mississippi, chases him during a game at Don Beebe Stadium on Oct. 15, 2022.
14 Oct. 27, 2022 | The Eagle | csceagle.com
Sports
Eagles drop eighth straight match
u By Eben Rosentrater
Sports Editor
The CSC volleyball team faced another uphill battle last weekend being swept in both road matches against the Mountain Lions of UCCS and the Thunderwolves of CSU Pueblo.
The Eagles were desperate for a win going into the weekend. The team was on a six-game losing streak and had not won a match since sweeping Western Colorado on Sept. 24. However, neither match would hold any good fortune for the Eagles.
Friday’s match against the Mountain Lions started off promising. The first set was back and forth, however, a short four point run by the Mountains Lions made the difference. The first set ended 25-23 for UCCS. It only got worse for the Eagles from there. The second set was dominated by UCCS, going on a 10-2 run halfway through the set, ending 25-17 for the Mountain Lions. The Eagles were finally swept, ending the match in the third set losing 25-21.
Saturday’s match against the Thunderwolves ended no better for the Eagles. CSU Pueblo dominated the net every single set, scoring fast and allowing few points for the Eagles. The Eagles were held to just 12 points in the first set, losing 25-12. The second set was the best for CSC. A back and forth set, however, ended poorly for the Eagles losing narrowly by two points. CSU Pueblo again dominated the final set, holding the Eagles to just 10 points as they won the third set, confirming the sweep and the Eagle’s eighth straight loss.
Over the weekend, the Eagles were led offensively by Mayson Fago, sophomore of Evans, Colorado, who racked up 18 total kills, closing out the weekend with a hitting percentage of .291 averaged between the two matches. Rylee Greiman, junior of Windsor, Colorado, and Lexi Hurtado, junior of Aurora, Colorado, also found success at the net combining for another 17 kills over the weekend.
Defensively, the Eagles were led by Abby Schaefer, senior of Greeley, Colorado, who recorded 28 total digs between the two matches. Hurtado also had success defensively racking up another 20 digs.
The Eagles will look to snap their losing streak when they take on the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colorado, and the Griffins of Westminster in Salt Lake City, Utah, this weekend.
Photo by Kamryn Kozisek CSC setter Breshawna Kelly (18), senior of Casper, Wyoming, prepares to set up a spike for middle hitter Bella Adams (22), freshman of Pueblo, Colorado, during a match in the Chicoine Center. Basketball from Page 12
The Eagles were able to bring the game back within reach after scoring nine unanswered points and cutting the Husker lead to just six. However, the Huskers fought back, shooting 50 percent from the three-point line. Conversely, the Eagles hit just 33 percent of their shots in the second half leading to an 8760 loss.
For scoring, the Eagles were led by Bryce Latimer, junior of Stone Mountain, Georgia, who scored 12 points. Freddy Reeves Jr., junior of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anderson also combined for another 19 points. Reeves Jr. also led the Eagles in threepoint shooting hitting two. The team hit the boards fairly well with 33 rebounds, but suffered in the turnover battle with 18 total, six more than the Huskers.
“It was a great experience for the team the whole weekend,” Paben said. “We have some things we can go back and work on, like untimely turnovers, but we’re not going to see any team like that for the rest of the year.”
The Eagles will begin regular season play in Laredo, Texas when they take on the Dustdevils of Texas A&M International on Nov. 11.
Coach Jeffrey preps for upcoming season
u By Whitley Reder
Reporter
Head Women’s Wresting Coach Alijah Jeffery started coaching in August of 2021 for the Chadron State College and in the short extent of his tenure, he has already distinguished himself as one of the best coaches in the country.
Jeffery immediately brought in eight talented young individuals to CSC women’s wrestling and coached them well.
He took 50 percent of his team to the 2022 NCAA National Championships, a surprise for a coach in his first year on coaching a NCAA Division II team. Five of those eight girls became Academic All-Americans as well.
Prior to Jeffery’s coaching career, he wrestled for Linn-Mar High School in Marion, IA. He won a high school championship at 120 pounds in 2014. At the collegiate level, he was in the starting lineup for four years at Northern Illinois University. Jeffery was USA Folkstyle National Champion and a Fargo Freestyle Nationals All-American Honor.
Jeffery began his collegiate coaching career in 2019 at Indian Hills Community College, in Centerville, Iowa. Jeffery coached three Warriors to be the national championships and 12 All-Americans in the 2020-21 wrestling season.
“Women’s wrestling has been around for a while,” Jeffrey stated in an email. “However, it has just recently gained popularity and become an emerging sport at the NCAA level.”
Jeffery stepped up his recruiting plan with 21 new recruits for the fall season of 2022, one of the largest recruiting classes in the country. Jeffery was active on the national scene in 2021-22, traveling to national high school tournaments and building great relationships.
“Our goals start by just seeing all the athletes become the best version of themselves that they can be,” Jeffery stated. “If they continue to grow and succeed, great things can happen for this team. Our freshman class, along with the transfers we got in are incredibly talented with a lot of potential.”
The women’s team’s first wrestling match is on the road Oct. 5 at Colorado Mesa University, in Grand Junction, Colorado. Their first home meet is Dec. 10 against Hastings College.
“With any new program comes challenges,” Jeffrey stated. “We are working this year to build an excellent culture and a lasting program that will become elite on the national scene.”
Sports
Eagle women’s golf finishes subpar in final fall invite
CSC Sports Information Kinsey Smith, junior of Windsor, Colorado, watches her ball fly after swinging her driver during the CSU Pueblo Farmer’s Insurance Sam Proal Invite in Colorado on Oct. 11.
u By Kennie Gable
Reporter
The CSC women’s golf team rounded out its fall season with a subpar sixth place finish at the CSU Pueblo Farmer’s Insurance Sam Proal Invite in Colorado on Oct 11.
“Our results from Pueblo were not what we expected,” Head Women’s Golf Coach John Ritzen said. “There are some teams finishing ahead of us that we know we can play with, but we just can’t seem to put a solid round together as a group.”
After coming back from a hand injury, Brooke Kramer, junior of Aurora, Colorado, led the Eagles shooting a 75 in the first round and 83 in the second for an overall score of 157, a score good enough to earn her eighth overall in the contest.
Close behind Kramer was Kinsey Smith, junior of Windsor, Colorado who shot an 82-78-160, good enough to earn her a fourteenth overall placement at the tournament. 10 teams, including eight from the RMAC, competed in the tournament. The Eagles kept consistent, shooting 648 overall just three over their previous invite in Marshall, Minnesota.
Ritzen expressed his hope that the team will find some more success going into the spring season.
“Being 100% committed to each shot will help us avoid those bad holes that seemed to haunt us this fall,” Ritzen said.
The team will look to fulfill some individual goals for the spring season. They hope a less than stellar fall season will spur on some more wins for the spring season to come.
The Eagles will return to competition when they travel to Litchfield Park, Arizona for the SMSU Spring Invite at the Wigwam Resort to open up the spring season.
Men’s XC sets school records in Kansas
u By Ahlonte Hair
Reporter
A handful of CSC men’s cross country runners are now school record holders after running at the Colby Community College Trojan Invite in Colby, Kansas, on Oct. 15.
Charles Fossey, freshman of Rock Springs, Wyoming, led the Eagles with a time of 25:38.2, finishing in 27th place out of 109 runners. Fossey’s time was good enough to earn him the fourth fastest eight-kilometer race in CSC school history. Moreover, Kyle Shirley, junior of Queen Creek, Arizona, and Topi Alahuhta, freshman of Pine, Colorado, placed 35th and 36th respectively, with times good enough to earn them the ninth and 10th fastest eight-kilometer times in CSC school history.
In the women’s competition, four CSC women finished in the top 40 in the six-kilometer race. The Eagles were led by Lexi Rule, freshman of Buffalo, Wyoming, who finished 27th with a time of 19:45.9. Alissa Wieman, sophomore of Box Elder, South Dakota, placed 33rd with a time of 20:14.8. Lydia Peters, freshman of Sidney, placed 35th with a time of 20:20.6, and Josie Diffendaffer, freshman of Berthoud, Colorado, placed 37th with a time of 20:26.5.
Schools from across the country gathered for the competition including the NCAA Division I Air Force Academy of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Overall, the CSC men’s team took fifth and the CSC women’s team finished sixth out of 11 area schools, a solid performance for both teams whose runners are very young.
The Eagles will continue their season Nov. 5 when they compete for the 2022 RMAC Cross Country Championships in Durango, Colorado.
Photo by Noelle Meagher Charles Fossey, freshman of Rock Springs, Wyoming, runs down the course during a home dual meet against Black Hills State University on Sept. 16.
16 Oct. 27, 2022 | The Eagle | csceagle.com Sports
Photo by Kamryn Kozisek A Chadron State College cowgirl (left) throws out her rope as other rodeo competitors and coaches watch on during the breakaway roping event at the CSC Rodeo at the Dawes County Fairgrounds on Sept. 16-18.
Skavdahl leads team in final fall rodeo
u Eben Rosentrater
Sports Editor
The CSC rodeo team finished well with a handful of individual placers in their final fall competition at the Laramie County Community College rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming from Oct. 14-16.
Of all of the Eagle cowboys, Jack Skavdahl, junior of Harrison, led the team placing third overall in saddle bronc riding. Skavdahl, a transfer student who previously rode broncs at Casper College, scored well in both go-rounds scoring 73 and 67 points in respectively for an overall score of 140.
Skavdahl is not new to having success in saddle bronc. Not only did he place third in Cheyenne, but he also snuck in a fifth-place finish at the Sheridan College rodeo two weeks prior. Skavdahl even qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo last year.
Skavdahl was not the only Chadron cowboy to find success in Cheyenne. Cinch Kiger, freshman of Overton, finished seventh in bareback riding. Grant Turek, freshman of St. Paul, found success again in tie-down roping finishing sixth. Colton Storer, senior of Arthur, and Blaine Fleck, senior of Crawford, worked together to earn seventh in team roping.
As for the women’s team, the Eagles were led by Phannette Gray, senior of Ridgeview, South Dakota, who finished fifth in barrel racing. Brooke Worman, junior of Sheridan, Wyoming, and Kadra Clark, junior of Yoder, Wyoming, finished seventh and eighth respectively in goat tying as well.
The Eagles will compete again when they start their spring season next March.
