Delgado invited to tryout for Mexico National Team for World University Games

               When Western Nebraska Community College sophomore Raul Delgado heads back home to Mexico he will not only be visiting family, he will also be trying to make the Mexico National basketball team alongside longtime friend and former Cougar basketball player Francisco "Paco" Cruz.

               Cruz is also a former WNCC Cougar who will be a senior at the University of Wyoming next year.

               Delgado and Cruz will have the opportunity to make the Mexico World University Games roster when they compete for a spot June 24-30 in Mexico. The World. University Games are organized by the International University Sports Federation and are held every other year. The games are open to amateur men and women between the ages of 17 and 24, who have been a college student within the past year.

               WNCC third year coach Russ Beck said it shows the talent of the players on the Cougar basketball team.

               "It is an honor for us to have two our Cougars that will have the chance to compete in representing their home country against the top amateur players across the globe," Beck said.

               Delgado said it is an honor to be competing for a chance to represent his country.

               "Mexico has a tons of talent; lots of people who can play the game," he said. "To be asked to be a part of the Mexican team has been one of my dreams. It's always good to play for your nation and wear the Mexican jersey. Also, playing with Paco is going to be an amazing experience because the last time we played together was in 2006 when we went to Brazil for the NBA camp. So, it's good to know we are going to be back on the same court."

               Cruz and Delgado will train with the top-60 Mexican players. The top 18 players will then remain in the country for a three-week practice period, including four games.

               After that, the team will be trimmed to a final roster of 12 player and three reserves. That group will play a four game stretch against other national teams in Chihuahua, Mexico, from July 27-30, and one of the scheduled games will be against the United States. The final roster will then compete in the World University Games August 13-23 in Shenzhen, China.

               Mexico will be in the same pool at the World University Games in August as the United States, Israel, Finland, South Korea and Hungary. All in all, there will be 24 teams taking part in the games

               Delgado said this is a good place to showcase just how much he has improved has a basketball player.

               "When I got asked the first thing that came through my head was what a great opportunity to show Mexico how much my basketball level has increased the last two years," he said. "Right now, is when I'm playing probably the best basketball that I've ever played, so it's the perfect time. All this time of hard work will show in the basketball court."

               Making the Mexico National Team won't be easy, but it would mean a lot to him and his family to play with and against some of the best players in the country.

               "To make the national team would mean a lot to me as much to my family as well," he said. "I want my nation to be proud of me and I want my family to feel the same way as well."

               Delgado is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, but graduated from Springville High School in Utah. Cruz is also from Chihuahua, but graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Denver.

               This past season for the Cougars, Delgado had an outstanding, where he averaged nine points and four rebounds a game. Delgado, though, played his best down the stretch in February, where he averaged nearly 16 points and six rebounds a game. Delgado said he is glad he decided to be a part of the WNCC family.

               "Being a cougar means a lot for me, especially for the support that they provide for us," he said. "I'm also exited for this coming up year. We have a lot of talent and we should be a better team than last year. We have a packed team with a lot of big bodied guys who are strong. Coach Beck and [assistant coach Yahosh] Bonner have been helping everyone on the team to get better and get that chemistry that we need to have success in the upcoming season"

WNCC men's basketball signs 6-10 Cody Johnson

                Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball coach Russ Beck is adding some beef the roster with his latest signing of Cody Johnson of Salt Lake City, Utah.

                Johnson, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound center, has been referred to one of the most under-rated big man in the state of Utah during his high school playing days. Johnson, visited the WNCC campus on Wednesday and signed his letter of intent that same day, said WNCC has a lot to offer in his quest to play NCAA Division I basketball.

                “I loved the coaching staff and the campus was perfect of what I am trying to do,” he said. “I liked the small town and I liked how the city supports the basketball team.”

                Johnson played last year at Air Force Prep where he developed into an all-around player from the inside and outside, averaging a double-double for the Huskies last season. But, he decided that the prep school wasn’t for him. Besides WNCC, Johnson also had interest from Division I schools Utah, Weber State and St. Mary’s.

                Johnson’s decision to attend WNCC ended up being a pretty simple one considering that he has family in the area. His sister, Jamie, is on the Equestrian team at Laramie County Community College, and his mom lives in Sheridan, Wyo. Plus, the fact that WNCC coach Beck is originally from Utah helps with that family feel.

                “The coach is from Utah and my family is pretty close and they all support me pretty well,” he said. “My sister is in Cheyenne right now going to school, so she is pretty close.”

                Johnson spent his middle school years in northern Wyoming before playing his high school years in Utah. He played three years at Juan Diego, a small catholic school, and then his senior season at Alta, where they won the 5A state title last season. He was second team all-state his senior year.

                Johnson said his senior season went OK, considering he was still coming back from a knee injury he suffered his junior year.

                “I played OK considering I was injured and had knee surgery my junior year, which I wasn’t fully healed going into my senior year,” he said. “I started, but nothing every clicked and then the academy gave me a shot and I took it. I then really developed into a pretty good player.”

                His goal at WNCC is to improve and move onto a Division I program. He also wants to bring a national title to the college.

                “The main goal is a national title which I think, if we come in and really work together as a team, we can accomplish,” he said. “I won 5A state in high school which was a good feeling, one of the better feelings that I had, and I just want to create that feeling here.

                “The main reason I am here is to play basketball and to further expose myself to college coaches and move onto a DI program.”

                In high school, he was primarily an inside player, averaging five points and six rebounds a game. He also had a double-double his senior season at Alta of 14 points and 14 rebounds. At Air Force Prep, he said he widened his game, knocking down about 20 3-pointers.

                “I play big, but I also can shoot the ball and drive from the outside,” he said. “I am a diverse player. I had around 20 threes last season.”
                Johnson is looking to get into physical therapy and also major in psychology. Outside of basketball, he loves to golf, fish with his day to get away from the grind of basketball, and just relax.

                Johnson is the eighth incoming players that Beck has signed for next year. The others include Du’Vaughn Maxwell, 6-7, 210 from Petersburg, Virg.; Marcus Johnson, 6-10, 235 of Grantsville, Utah; Tahir Little, 5-10, 175 of Richmond, Virg.; Mason Smith, 6-5, 175 from Alpine, Utah; Sebastian Suarez Garcia, 6-4, 210 of Ancud, Chili; and Raaquim Brown, 6-9, 225, and Cal McCoy, 5-9, 180 of Omaha Benson High School out of Omaha.

WNCC boy's basketball camp's early registration ends this week

                Individuals interested in participating in next week’s Western Nebraska Community College Summer Boy’s Basketball Camp have until the end of this week to sign up at the early registration rate of $50. The cost increases to $55 the day of the camp.

                The camp will be held June 27-30 from 9 a.m. – 12 noon at Cougar Palace. The camp is open to boys from kindergarten through 12^th grade.

Russ Beck, the Cougar’s third-year basketball coach, said the camp is designed to give campers a competitive opportunity to develop the fundamental skills of basketball. The camp will teach and focus on basic skills of basketball. The camp will involve different stations with individuals going through drills to mold and enhance their game. Beck will instruct the camp along with assistant coach Yahosh Bonner, and former and current Cougar players.

For more information on the camps, contact Beck at 308-635-6151 or beckr@wnc.net. Registrations forms can be downloaded from the WNCC athletic website at sports.wncc.edu.

33 teams competed in Cougar Golf Classic, Winnelson captures title

               The Winnelson team came out on top in the Western Nebraska Community College Cougar Golf Classic that was held Saturday at the Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering.

               Winnelson shot a 49.75 to capture first place over 32 other foursomes. The 33 teams in the tournament was the largest field in the history of the golf classic.

               Members of the winning Winnelson team include Darren Duncan, Jeff Dunn, Russ Knight and Shane Reynolds. Second place went to the Rich Jackson team of Jackson, Gary Null, Kim Moore and Rick Rein with a 49.8 score. Third pace, with a 51.2 score, was the foursome of Dave Harnish, Eric Wilcox, Ty Yeager, and Terry Yeager.

               Fourth place, with a score of 52.0 went to Shane Hays, Jeremy Jackson, Bob Klein and Chris Klein, while fifth place, with a score of 52.05, went to Dave Groshans, Brady Uhrich, George Taylor, and Pat Heath.

               Hole winners included Trish Lacey, longest putt (woman) on hole 2; Nate Nolen, longest drive (man) on hole 4; Pat Heath, closest to the pin in 2 on hole 5; James Rameriz, shortest drive (man) on hole 8; Brooke Blomenkamp, closest to the water on hole 9; Kim Moore, longest drive (women) on hole 10 ; Cory Voight, closest to the sand on hole 12; Bob Hodges, closest to the pin (tee shot) on hole 13; Devon Hadden, shortest drive (women) on hole 15; and Tim Propp, longest putt (man) on hole 18.

               The best dressed team honors went to the Randalls (Becky and Rod Randall, Cathy Reynolds, and Steve Schwab: and Runza WNCC Volleyball Alumni (Brooke Blomenkamp, Sierra Schmidt, Emily Hoehn, and Whitney Roth).

               Proceeds from the tournament go to WNCC athletic scholarship fund.

Cougar softball team ends season with 7-5 loss at nationals

St. GEORGE, Utah – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team’s history-making season came to an end Friday at the National Junior College Athletic Association softball tournament in St. George, Utah, Friday morning.

                But, it didn’t end without the Cougars putting up a fight in falling 7-5 to Central Alabama Community College, which was the continuation of a game that was started Thursday before rain halted the game.

                “I thought we started out rocky and not many people believed we could do it, not even ourselves,” sophomore Jacqui Cappuccilli said. “We just ended coming together once the season came around and we just came up short.”

                The Cougars finished the season at 51-15 and were the second team in school history to notch 50 or more wins. The team also scored the most combined runs at the national tournament of the three qualifying teams, scoring seven runs in the two games.

                “I thought we played OK. When you come down here you can’t make any errors,” sophomore Megan Bourdon said. “I think that first game [against Salt Lake] we came out kind of nervous. But, I am really proud of this team. I thought we accomplished a llot. At the beginning of the year I didn’t think we could. Getting here is a lot for this team. I am really proud of everybody.”

                Cappuccilli and Bourdon were the big hitters on the day along with freshman Sarah Hawryluk. Hawryluk went 2-for-4 with two singles, but Cappuccilli and Bourdon each delivered home runs to help jumpstart a Cougar offensive that had trouble adjusting to the national tournament-type of pitching.

                The Trojans led the Cougars 2-1 after two innings when rain stopped lay on Thursday. When the two teams resumed play on Friday, both teams offenses caught fire. Central Alabama went up went up 3-1 on a solo home run from Jade Sasser. WNCC cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth as Bourdon smacked her 19^th home run of the season over the left field fence.

                CACC came right back in the bottom of the frame with two runs on two walks and a costly error for a 5-2 lead. The Trojans added two more suns in the sixth on a Shanice Hudson home run over the right field fence.

                WNCC, as they have done n the past, fought back scoring three times in the top of the seventh. Amanda Saldivar led off the inning with a single followed by Bourdon earning a walk. Cappuccilli then delivered the big b low with a 3-run shot over the left field fence. That was the closest they would get to finish their season.

                Ashton Hughes went two innings on Thursday, giving up two runs on three hits. Amanda Jones threw on Friday for an injured Hughes. Jones went four innings, five runs and five hits.

                Bourdon went 2-for-2 with two runs scored with a double, home run and two walks. Cappuccilli went 1-for-2 with a home run.

                Cappuccilli said that her two years at WNCC was filled with a lot of memories.

                “It was a good two years,” Cappuccilli said. “It was a good tournament and good life experiences. Maybe next year the girls will win one. I think they will have a chance. It was a good season because we won 51 games and we learned from our losses.”

                Bourdon, who is undecided of where she will be going next year, leaves WNCC as the season home run leader with 19 bombs this season.

                “I think I did OK this season. she said. “I think our sophomores did really well. I am really proud of them and I will miss them a lot.”

WNCC (51-14)                    100 010 3 – 5 6 2

CACC                                     110 122 x – 7 11 0

LP – Ashton Hughes; 2B – Megan Bourdon; HR – Bourdon, Jacqui Cappuccilli.