Old School Budweiser snares Cougar Golf Classic title on Saturday

The Champs -- Old School Budweiser

The fifth annual Cougar Golf Classic is in the books with the Old School Budweiser team claiming top honors with a 51.9 handicapped score for the team championship on Saturday at Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering.

The Old School team, made up of Eric Freeburg, Dennis Hill, George Kildrow and John Dyer, won the title over the Bytes Computer team of Todd Lewis, Doug Rupp, Mark Payne and Darrell Lewis. Bytes Computer had a score of 52.6.

Third place went to Burgner's Boys, last year's tournament champs, with a 54.2 over Linweld (54.4) and Hadenfeldt's (54.5). Burgner's Boy's team members were Mike Jones, Ryan Burgner, Doug Scholz and Bob Hessler.

The top women's team was G-MAC, who finished sixth overall with a 55.7 score. G-MAC members included Stacy Mitchell, Wendy Goos, Stacy Celli, and Joy Arnold.

Hole prize winners included, longest put (women), Joy Arnold; longest drive (men), Jeff Rotherham; closest to the pin in 2, Ted Schaff; shortest drive (men), Rod Green; closest to teh water, Rob Jones; longest drive (women), Becky Randall; closest to the sand, Bob Klein; shortest drive (women), Wendy Goos; and longest putt (men), Delmar Porupsky.

There were 28 teams competing in the Cougar Golf Classic this year.

WNCC basketball, softball get players from same high school out of Colorado

Hannah Strauss and Malari Gomer attended Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colo., and have known each other for a while. However, the two have never played the same sport.

Now, the two will continue their friendship at WNCC as each will be playing different sports for the Cougars next year. Strauss, a 5-foot-6 infielder will be joining the softball team, while Gomer will be suiting for the women’s basketball team.

Both are excited to be joining two programs that achieved Region IX titles a year ago.

“I’m very excited to come here,” Strauss said. “I decided to come up here to play because I knew I would regret it if I didn’t continue my career after high school. That way, if I hate it, I can still go home after a year and if I love it, I can still keep playing.”

Gomer decided that attending WNCC was a good fit for her as well.

“The classroom size, definitely drew me to WNCC,” Gomer said. “Also, because it is a two-year school so that I can go bigger or not do anything after two years.”

Strauss had a excellent season for Ralston Valley, helping them to the state championship. Strauss was a first baseman this past year, but usually played shortstop or third base. She was also looking at Metro State, Colorado State and Otero Junior College, but settled on WNCC.

“Coach [Maria] Winn actually called me after the state tournament. It was really unexpected,” she said. “I just want to get in and find a good major that I can hopefully pursue after I transfer out . I also want to succeed in softball and do everything I can.”
Strauss brings plenty of experience to the diamond having played the sport for the past eight years. She also hit her first home run out of the ball park when she was 13. She hopes to bring that same success to WNCC and help them back to the national tournament.

“It would be nice to do it [go to nationals] again,” she said.

Strauss realizes, though, that college ball will be a little different, but is up for the challenge.

“It might be a little harder like the work load might be different, but other then that I don’t think it would be that bad,” the all-league softball selection said.

Next year’s softball team will be loaded with freshmen, but Strauss doesn’t see that as a problem of succeeding.

“Not really because sophomores and freshmen are so close in ages,” she said. “It is not a very big age differential. I think it would be different if it was a four-year school.”

While Strauss is anxiously waiting for the college softball season to help the Cougars back to the national tournament, Gomer is doing the same. In fact, Gomer comes to WNCC with plenty of basketball highlights, including being named the Athletic of the Year at Ralston Valley.

Gomer also has her name plastered among the records books in a number of categories such as scoring, 3-point and free throw shooting, assists and steals.

Gomer, who stands 5-8, is primarily a shooting guard, and is excited for the new chapter in her life.

“I am very excited,” she said. “Coach [Dave] Harnish called me and I came up for a visit, looked at the campus and I really liked it.”

Gomer said she was also looking at Adams State and Metro State, but it was WNCC that won out. And, the Cougars are getting a heck of a good athlete in the meantime, especially from a team that finished in the Sweet 16 of the state tournament last year with a 19-6 record.

“We did pretty good this year,” she said. “Two of our key players were hurt during the state playoffs, so we didn’t go as far as we hoped. But we had a pretty good season.”

While Strauss played just one sport in high school, Gomer was an all-around athlete, participating in cross country and track and field. But, it was the basketball court where she excelled the most. Gomer averaged around 14 points a game and hopes to achieve the same success at WNCC as she did at Ralston Valley.

“I think there will be higher expectations here,” Gomer said. “I think you will have to work harder, but I think it should be fun.”

WNCC baseball team loses recruit to Seattle Mariners

Western Nebraska Community College baseball coach Mike Jones thought he found a prized recruit when he signed Miami’s Jarrett Burgess to a letter of intent earlier this spring.

After the Major League Baseball draft last week, the Seattle Mariners found something special in Burgess as they drafted the centerfield in the 6th round with the 196th pick overall. Burgress, thus, signed with the Mariners, foregoing his college eligibility and his trip to Scottsbluff next year.

“I had spoken with him on Wednesday [of last week]. We knew he was going to get drafted, but we just didn’t think it was going to be that high,” Jones said. “I am happy for him. He will get a big signing bonus and a chance at his dream.”

Burgress has all the tools to excel at the next level. The 2008 Florida Christian High School graduate stands 6-foot-3 and Jones said he has all the tools in making it big in the Big Leagues.

“He was a good, strong player,” Jones said. “he was big for a centerfielder and was still pretty quick. He has all the tools to be a great player. We are certainly happy for him. We were excited to have the opportunity to have him and we were excited to watch him grow.”

The loss of Burgess, Jones is back on the recruiting trail to try and find another outfielder.

“He had every intention to play for us and then go on to play in the major leagues [before the draft],” he said. “We now have to replace him and it isn’t easy to find a guy with his ability and talent.”

So far, the Cougar baseball team has signed five players for next season, including Dan Bauer of Bemidji, Minn. Bauer played for the Cougars two seasons ago.

The other recruits signed so far include Ben Dorn of Calhan, Colo., Elvis Garcia of Miami, Armani Gonzlaez of Coral Gables, Fla., and Tim Kupfner of Superior, Colo. Kupfner’s brother Josh played for the Cougars a couple of years ago.

Ryman, Garner make NFCA second, third team for softball

Western Nebraska Community College’s Kara Ryman and Kelsey Garner continue to earn honors after helping the Cougar softball team to a 54-10 overall record and a Region IX championship. This time, the two players received recognition from the coaches in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Both players earned first-team NFCA All-West honors — Garner for pitching and Ryman for her play at second base. There were three all-region teams and then those selections were pared down to an overall first, second and third team national NFCA all-American selection.

In the overall selection process, Ryman earned second team NFCA honors, while Garner took third team honors overall. The selections were voted on by member coaches of the NFCA. Ryman said receiving All-American honors in both the NJCAA and NFCA, was surprising.

“It is definitely an honor and something that I had never thought I would be,” Ryman said. “It wouldn’t have been possible [without the other players]. There are nine players on the field for a reason and without one we wouldn’t have made it as far as we would did. The other 13 players supported me everyday and some have supported me for two years. Another thing is that we all learn new things from each other, whether it was offense or defense, we were always there to help each other out.”

Ryman said that in her two years at WNCC, she has became a better player as well as person going through head coach Maria Winn-Ratliff’s program.

“I have grown a lot on the softball field. I think that my skills have improved immensely, especially my hitting,” she siad. “I also think that I have grown more knowledge about the game then I knew before.

“ I knew that I was going to learn new things from Coach Winn that would help me to move onto a four year school, but I never imagined that it would have turned out as well as it did. When I first came, she was in the process of building a winning program and it’s a great feeling to know that I was apart of two great teams that had winning seasons.”

While Garner is only a freshman and is slated to return next year after earning Region IX Freshman and Player of the Year honors, Ryman will be headed to the NCAA Division One level and the University of Northern Colorado. Ryman hopes to continue her outstanding softball playing at that level.

“I hope to continue developing my skills and learning new things,” she said. “I also hope to be a part of a new tradition and hopefully a winning one. I hope to make new friendships just like the many friendships that I made in my past two years at WNCC.

“A big reason as to why I chose UNC was because it was close to home and I was offered an opportunity to play Division 1 softball, something that I have always dreamed of doing since I was younger.”

A lot of the success to the season not only lies with the goal the players had at the beginning of the season, but also the head coach.

“This team was so good because when we needed to we worked together as a team on the field and no team is good unless they work well together on the field,” she said. “I also think that this team all had one goal in mind and that was to win regional’s and when everyone is on the same page then it all clicks together. Coach Winn pushed us to be the best that we could be and the ending result shows how good we were.”

In two years at WNCC, Ryman has gained plenty of special bonds and memories. It is two years that she will remember for a long time, including a national tournament appearance in Plant City, Fla.

“It was very different from the teams that we play in our region, but it was a once in a lifetime experience, that I was glad to be a part of,” she said. “It was a great experience to get to play against teams from different regions and different parts of the United States.”

Even though the team lost two games at nationals — the opener to the national champions Wallace State 4-1, Ryman will remember this season.

“Probably the biggest memory from this year that I will always remember is winning Region 9 for the first time in school history,” she said. “I will also remember the numerous fans that supported us the entire tournament. Lastly I just want to thank the community for all of their support and all of the support that I received the past two years from the dorm parents that were there supporting us at all of our home games."

Bayard's Kistler inks with WNCC women's basketball

Bayard’s Amber Kistler has a dream of playing Division I basketball someday. She also realizes that to get there, her first step is to start small.

Monday, Kistler took the first step in achieving that dream by officially inking a letter of intent to play for Dave Harnish and the national power Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team.

Kistler said the decision was an easy.

“I always wanted to play college basketball and I want to go D1 after two years here,” the 5-foot-8 guard/forward said. “I was also looking at a school in Texas, but I decided to go to WNCC because they have a good program and I think I can work hard here for two years and then go where I want to in two years.”

Harnish is getting a player that was a bear on the court for the Bayard Tigers the past four years, earning Star-Herald All-Region First Team honors this past winter. Kistler averaged 17.4 points and 8.8 rebounds a game, as the four-year starter collected over 1,000 points in her career.

“I think Amber will definitely bring us some very good athleticism. I like what she is able to do and I followed her for four years,” Harnish said. “She came to our summer camps and our summer league on Monday nights. She is able to play all four positions. Early on in her career, she played more of a guard and the last couple of years she played more of the forward and was able to post up. She brings us the ability to be able to play all the positions on the floor.

Kistler is no stranger to the Cougar Palace flow this past year. The multiple sport standout played Western Trails Conference basketball game at WNCC in February, as well as just finishing up two all-star game appearances at the college in the Panhandle Prep basketball game as well as the West Nebraska All-star volleyball game. Kistler will even be back on the Cougar Palace hardwoods next week when she will help instruct in the Cougar girl’s basketball camp that begins Monday.

It is that all-around mentality that has Harnish extremely pleased of what he is getting in a talent like Kistler, especially after what she did in the Panhandle Prep game last month. Kistler finished the game with 10 points to pick up the MVP honors of the contest.

“I thought she had an outstanding weekend here [in the basketball all-star game] and proved the level that she can play at in being the MVP of the game,” Harnish said. “She will be able to come in and shoot for us and play the guard position. We will get her to play a little bit harder and get some defense under her. But, she certainly has the skills and athleticism to play at this level and we are excited to have her.”

Kistler was not only stellar on the basketball court, but she was also a fierce middle hitter as well as one of the top hurdlers in the region and state. Kistler earned all-state honorable mention honors for both volleyball and basketball, as well as Academic All-State with a 3.9 grade point average. Kistler was an Star-Herald All-Region First Team selection in volleyball, and finished 8^th in the 300 hurdles at the Nebraska Track and Field Championships.

While Kistler will be leaving the halls of Bayard, she is excited to begin a new chapter in her life.

“I will miss playing at Bayard because of all my friends and just having everyone know you. I will also miss my coach as well as the community support,” she said. “I think I had a good career at Bayard. It was fun.”

Kistler said by her staying here for two years, she can have the Bayard faithful follow her two more years.

“I chose WNCC because it is close and everyone from Bayard will get to watch,” she said.

Harnish said it is hard to get local stars to come to WNCC to play. But, it is a credit to his program when they do stay at home in the Panhandle.

“We are always excited to have the local kids that really want to come out to WNCC to play,” Harnish, who will beginning his 21^st year coaching at the college, said. “We are always looking for the community support and we will be getting that from Bayard. It is an honor here to keep the kids here especially for the kids that can come in and help our program and play at this level.

“I think we have built such a great program and tradition here to help Amber go on to the next level after two years. I think it will be good for her as well as us. It really brings in that community support and brings in that local flair. She knows she can play here and that is the biggest thing in having the confidence of playing at this level.”

Kistler said that she was only looking at basketball to play in college and would love to take the Cougars back to the national tournament as well as improving her skills.

“I think I am ready for [college basketball practices],” she said. “There is always room for improvement.”

WNCC offering volleyball camps this summer

First-year Western Nebraska Community College volleyball Giovana Melo will conduct four volleyball camps this summer.

The volleyball camp sessions begin June 23-24 with a team camp for varsity and junior varsity teams, followed by specialty camps. The first specialty camp is an Individual Skills Camp June 30 and July 1 for girls in grades 5th through 8th. A Setter/Hitter Camp will follow for girls in 11th and 12th grade on July 7-8, followed by a Skills Camp for girls in grades 9th – 12th on July 9-10.

The purposes of the camps are to help the area volleyball players fine tune their volleyball skills. The Setter/Hitter Camp will be an intense camp with a lot of reps and one-on-one instruction. Hitters need to be physically prepared for heavy use of shoulders and legs. The Individual Skills Camps will give the campers an opportunity to develop and fine tune the fundamental skills of serving, blocking, hitting, passing, setting and defense.

The camps will be conducted by Melo, who was hired as Cougar volleyball coach in May. Melo is no stranger to WNCC volleyball, having played for the Cougars in the 2001 and 2002 seasons and leading them to the national tournament. While a member of the Cougar squad, she earned second team NJCAA All-American honors her freshman year and first team All-American honors her sophomore year.

After WNCC, Melo went on to star at Arizona State University, where she played two seasons, where she earned PAC-10 All-Academic honors in 2005. She has been a graduate assistant and assistant coach at ASU the past two years.

For more information on the volleyball camp, contact Melo at 308-635-6028, 308-635-6151 or via email at giovana.wncc@gmail.com. Camp brochures can also be downloaded off the Cougar Athletic website at sports.wncc.net.