WNCC volleyball team enter season unranked in pre-season polls

The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will have a little bit more incentive entering this season after winning the national championship last November.

The Cougars, who became the first team in WNCC history to win a national tournament, are unranked in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll, which was released Wednesday.

The lack of being ranked might be a good thing for this year’s squad. And, that is exactly how first-year head coach Giovana Melo is entering the season as the team prepares for Saturday’s Alumni Scrimmage, which begins at 7 p.m.

“The poll should just be an incentive and nothing else,” she said. “I do not care about what they think of us or not of us. We are just going have to prove it on the court.”

Miami Dade College, the team the Cougars beat last November for the national title, is on top of the pre-season polls followed by Frank Phillips College, College of Southern Idaho, Iowa Western Community College, and Blinn College.

Rounding out the top 10 includes Salt Lake Community College, University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith, Missouri State University-West Plains, Arizona Western College and Hillsborough Community College.

The Cougars will see six of the top 10 teams sometime this year.

Other teams the Cougars will or could face that are in the top 25 include No. 11 Casper College, No. 12 Indian Hills Community College, No. 13 Jefferson College, No. 15 Northeastern Junior College, No. 16 Seward County Community College, and No. 18 North Idaho College,

Melo still believes this year’s team should be ranked, but said they will have to just show everybody on the court how good they are.

“I do think we should be ranked because of our past results,” she said. “After winning a National title, I do not understand how we can not be ranked. But, I guess we are not ranked because we are a young team and I am also a new coach at WNCC."The news of WNCC not being ranked came a day after Melo experienced one of those weeks that was tough emotionally. Earlier in the week, Melo spent time at the hospital with two of her players – Nayka Benitez and Gregner Quinones. Quinones spent a couple hours in the emergency room, while Benitez spent a couple days. Both are now out of the hospital and ready to get back on the court."This week took a lot out of me not just physically but mentally,” she said. “However, I knew they needed me. Especially being from a different country, they don’t have any families here with them so I have to take the parent's role and take care of them as if they were one of my kids. I spent most of my days trying to get them better. I don’t think I even came to the office in the past two days."

Melo, who played for the Cougars in 2001 and 2002 seasons, said a coach is not only there to lead on the court, but also for them if they need help outside of the gym.

“My players have always meant everything to me,” she said. “I have always cared for them more than anything else. It is just the way I am. If they work hard for me, I will do the same for them when they need.

“I think if you do not care for your players, you should not be coaching any sports. They are your athletes. I know some coaches won’t go to the extreme of spending time in the hospital with their players, but that is just who I am. I will do anything for them as long as they work hard.”

The Cougars have one more week of practice before opening the season for real Aug. 22-23 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Cougars will face eight opponents in the two days. WNCC will take on Indian Hills Community, Kishwaukee Community College, Southwestern Iowa and Marshalltown Iowa on Friday, and then MSU-West Plains, Hutchinson Community College, Hillsborough Community College and Cloud County Community on Friday. West Plains, Hillsborough and Indian Hills are all ranked in the top 12 of the pre-season poll.

This years team, which fans can get a preview in Saturday’s alumni scrimmage which begins at 7 p.m. at Cougar Palace, includes three sophomores and nine freshmen. Returning players include Nayka Benitez, who was named the NJCAA Libero of the tournament at nationals last November, and Fatima Balza, an NJCAA all-American.

WNCC to host open practice Thursday at Scottsbluff High School

In a few weeks, the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will begin their defense of a national title, when they compete at the Molten Classic at Iowa Western Community College.

In the meantime, first-year head coach Giovana Melo is giving the public an opportunity to see this year’s team in action. On Thursday, Aug. 14, the Cougar women will host an open practice for the public at 3:30 p.m. at Scottsbluff High School for anyone to come out and watch.

Melo said this is away to get involved in the community.

“I want to get the community involved because they are important to our program,” she said. “Being in Scottsbluff, I want to get Scottsbluff more involved into the program. Scottsbluff high school volleyball is getting better and I want to get our team involved with them as well. I also want to get our names and faces out there for the people to see, and the people can see my style.”

WNCC will have another public showing this Saturday, Aug. 16, when they will host their annual Alumni Scrimmage. The scrimmage is slated for a 7 p.m. start at Cougar Palace.

The Cougars season will open for real on Friday, Aug. 22 at the Iowa Western Invite, where they will play eight matches in two days. The team is slated to face Indian Hills Community College, Kishwaukee Community College, Southwestern Community College and Marshalltown Community College on Friday. Saturday’s opponents will be Hutchinson Community College, Hillsborough Community College, Cloud County Community College, and Southwest Missouri-West Plains.

Scottsbluff's Marsden to play baseball for WNCC

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports Reporter

As a prep standout in four sports, Scottsbluff High School graduate Trace Marsden certainly had plenty of opportunities to continue his athletic career at the collegiate level.

But in the end, Marsden recently decided to start his career at the next level as a member of the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team.

"I just felt baseball would be a better fit for me and WNCC is a good place to start," said Marsden, who also excelled for the Bearcats in football, basketball and track and field. "Hopefully, if things go well here, I'll be able to go somewhere else a little bigger and keep playing."

As a three-year starter for the WESTCO Zephyrs senior legion baseball team, Marsden developed into one of the top offensive and defensive players in the region. He started nearly every game at shortstop over the last two seasons and was one of the Zephyrs' team leaders in most offensive categories, including leading the team in stolen bases this summer.

As fine tuned as Marsden is on the diamond with a bat and a glove, it's his overall athleticism and desire to win that quickly caught the attention of WNCC baseball coach Mike Jones.

"The thing that really stands out to me about him is he's just a super athlete and he's been a winner in everything he's done," Jones said. "Because he's such a good athlete, and can do so many things with his speed, his strength and his size, we're not sure what exactly is going to be the best position for him right now. He can play so many places."

Jones said a possible place for Marsden could be in the outfield. The Cougars return no starting outfielders to this year's team, so the competition for playing time at all three spots will be up for grabs.

"Right now our plan is to work him out in the outfield and see how well he does in the outfield," Jones said. "He was a great receiver in football and we think that might be an easy move for him. Our outfield is completely wide open."

Although Marsden's played the last two seasons at shortstop, he's willing to compete for any position on the field.

"It will be a change, but I think it will be fun," Marsden said of moving into the outfield. "I just want to play wherever I can to help the team out the best I can."

Marsden's decision to stay close to home will allow him to re-join his former Zephyr and Bearcat teammate Dallas Liptac on the WNCC squad. Liptac will be in his second year with the Cougars and will be competing for the starting catcher's job.

"It was always fun playing with Dallas," Marsden said. "He's always encouraging and he helps me quite a bit. It will be nice working with him again."

Marsden also said his decision to play at WNCC will allow his older brother, Tanner, to continue watching him. Trace credits Tanner for being a big inspiration to him.

"It's going to be fun," Marsden said. "Whenever you move up in any sport, it's going to be a lot more competitive and that's something I'm looking forward to.

"Playing under Mr. [Mark] Moran also helped prepare me for this. He taught me a lot about the game and the different situations you face."

Marsden had a sports year to remember as a senior. Before excelling for the Zephyrs this summer, he helped the Scottsbluff football team to a Class B state playoff berth and the Bearcat basketball team to a district runner-up finish. He also ran on Scottsbluff's 1,600-relay team that won an All-Class Gold Medal at the Nebraska state track and field meet in May.

Last month, Marsden was voted the No. 2 male athlete on this year's Star-Herald Dynamic Dozen Athletes of the Year List.

The WNCC baseball team opens practice on Aug. 26. Jones said he's expecting a roster size of around 31 players at the opening practice. In addition to Marsden, another local player joining the team this year is Brady Sanchez. Sanchez was a member of the Chappell Buckley Bombers team that qualified for three straight state tournaments and won a Class C state championship in 2007.

"The freshman class looks pretty good," Jones said. "We don't return a lot of guys from last year's team. There will be a lot of new faces and a whole new attitude. We're going to build things on fundamentals and hard work, and I feel we have a group of guys that fit that mold."

Joining Marsden and Sanchez in this year's freshman class that Jones is high on is right-handed pitcher Tim Kupfner. Kupfner, from Boulder, Colo., is the younger brother of former Cougar starting pitcher Josh Kupfner.

WNCC also received a boost to its roster when Dan Bauer decided to return to school this season. Bauer, a relief pitcher from Minnesota who features a nasty slider, sat out all of last season after being an integral part of WNCC's run to a Region IX championship in 2007.

Scottsbluff’s Abbott signs with WNCC soccer

The "Bearcat Pride" T-shirt that Laura Abbott wore Thursday when she signed a letter of intent with Western Nebraska Community College told the story for the Scottsbluff High School graduate.

Abbott's pride on the field, along with her passion for soccer, came full circle her senior season for Scottsbluff.

Now, that passion has led the talented soccer star to the next level after signing to play soccer at WNCC.

"I think this year she decided to go to that next degree," Scottsbluff coach Chad Larson said. "She was voted team captain and you just could see her conditioning on the field. She did a really good job of holding the ball and creating scoring opportunities. She scored some goals herself and even played keeper. She was a pretty well-rounded player and was just awesome on and off the field."

Abbott, who was leaning on playing soccer at Midland Lutheran College, decided that staying at home to play was a better choice.

"I choice WNCC because I just want to play soccer, and the other schools that wanted me, were too expensive," she said. "WNCC is a good program. I talked to the coach and hopefully he can move me somewhere."

Abbott had a tremendous year on the playing field, which raised her stock at playing college soccer. The mid-fielder earned Star-Herald all-region first team honors in helping the Bearcats to a 7-6 record before falling to Gering in the semi-finals of the Class B district tournament.

"Personally, I thought I did better then I have ever done," Abbott said about her senior season. "I have always loved soccer, but this year was the year I really started to get into it a lot. As a team we did really good. We had a lot of team unity."

Abbott credits her passion for the sport to Bearcat head coach Chad Larson.

"Personally, I really liked what Chad did as a coach," she said. "I think he was more into it and had a lot of love for the game, and so that made me want more love for the sport, too. He really inspired me."

Larson said Abbott's success is due because of her hard work.

"I know she can be as good as she wants to be and I know Todd will push her to be even a better player and improve the skills that she has been working on the past couple of years," he said. "[Coach Todd Rasnic] will probably put her in a couple different positions then where we had her, because she had to be in certain spots for us. He will have a little bit more flexibility where he can put her. I am looking forward to coming up and watching her play."

Rasnic said Abbott will probably be playing the right mid-fielder position and is excited to be getting a local talent like Abbott.

"Our local programs have none a good job of developing players and it is great when one of the players chooses to stick around here," he said. "I know Laura had opportunities at other places and we were fighting to get her to come back and stay with us for a couple of years. I think she will be a great addition to the team.

"I agree with her and Chad's assessment. What I saw when I was looking at Laura is that passion for the game came through. We want to bring on players that have the same type of drive and passion in the sport that us coached do. I think Laura has it and I think she will be a great addition."

Abbott not only excelled on the soccer field, she also was also a key member of the Bearcat cross country team this past year.

"That [running cross country] is something amazing because she never none cross country before and she just decided to do it," Larson said. "She worked hard at it and did very, very well at it."

Abbott has been working out while playing soccer on a traveling team this summer coached by Gering soccer coach John Scott. That traveling team will compete in a tournament in Steamboat Springs, Colo., next weekend.

After that tournament, captains training for the college team will begin July 28 with the first day of practice set for Aug. 1. Abbott is not only looking at the new challenges of college soccer, but playing alongside Gering's Taylor Johns and Keah Brost, who signed with the Cougars in May.

Speedy Hoffman to play soccer for Cougar men

Story published in the Windsor Beacon in May

Even a mysterious injury couldn’t slow down the Windsor 400-meter relay team Saturday at the Class 4A State Track and Field Championships at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood.

The foursome of seniors Matt Hoffman and Brian Hanlin and juniors Scooter Wiles and Bob Barbour smoked past the competition en route to the first state title for a Windsor track and field team or individual since 2000 when Bob Harms won the discus.

The same foursome ran the race last year, using this season to hone in on their time.

Overall, Windsor’s boys finished 11th with 30 points and the girls took 15th with 24.
The four posted a school record with a time 42.49 seconds, which would have been good enough for third at the 5A level, to beat rival Greeley Central by almost three-tenths of a second.

“I didn’t know how it was going to turn out because all the teams were close together,” Hoffman said. “As the race kept going on, and we were pulling away a little bit, I was thinking ‘Wow, we’re going to win this.’”

Windsor was powered by smooth handoffs throughout the race and Hoffman slammed the door shut on the final straight-away to win the title. The Wizards were seeded second going into the finals after a preliminary time of 43 seconds, but came into the state meet with the fastest time of the season, up to that point.

Wiles led off the race with a strong first leg and Hanlin, Barbour and Hoffman, in that order, kept the pressure with each stride. But once the race was over, jubilation hit the four runners as two years of working together finally paid off.

“I wanted to win it for all of us because we’ve been together for two years and it means a lot to me,” Wiles said.

Last season, the four ran a 43.93 in the state finals and placed eighth, but head coach Conrad Crist helped the kids shave off over a second on their time.

“They basically stepped up their training and performance to another level,” Crist said. “Their handoffs were just perfect and that gained us speed. Scooter had a great start off the blocks to get us going and from there on out it just flowed.”

The team had it’s share of frightening moments over the past year and it almost fell apart three days before the start of the meet. Hoffman was plagued by a swollen right knee, an injury he had no idea how he got, but it healed just in time for the meet.

Wiles partially tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the basketball season, but elected not to have surgery until the summer. Barbour ruptured a disk in his back during football and underwent surgery in the winter, and Hanlin fought off illness after illness all year in time to prepare for state.

Though the team went through its fare share of injuries, confidence was never an issue.

“Right when he (Wiles) went out of the blocks I just knew,” Barbour said. “I had that feeling like, ‘We have this.’”

Hoffman and Hanlin will now leave Windsor on top and embark on new adventures in college next year. Hoffman will attend Western Nebraska Community College to play soccer while Hanlin will travel to Boulder and enroll at the University of Colorado.

Hanlin would like to run track for the Buffaloes, but for now will enjoy his team’s achievement.

“It’s been really awesome,” Hanlin said about his two years with his three teammates. “I think, really, the thing that let us win is that we came together.”

School Records set in 2008
Girls
Pole Vault — Chelsea O’ Connor, 9 feet 6 inches
400-meter dash — Emily Elliott, 59.21 seconds
800 — Lauren Bowers, 2:20.0
400-meter relay — Mallory Duran, Katie Hazel, Rachel Weakland and Emily Elliott, 49.77
800 relay — Duran, Hazel, Weakland and Elliott, 1:46.8
1,600 relay — Bowers, Hazel, Ellery Miller, Elliott, 3:57.02

Boys
400 relay — Scooter Wiles, Brian Hanlin, Bob Barbour and Matt Hoffman, 42.49
800 relay — Wiles, Hanlin, Barbour and Hoffman, 1:29.72
3,200 relay — Cal Englert, Chris Ullom, Seth Bott and Zane Hyland, 8:00.09

2008 State Placers
Girls
Shot Put — Katie Olson, 35 feet, 11.5 inches, 7th
Triple Jump — Weakland, 34 feet, 0.75 inches, 9th
Pole Vault — O’ Connor, 9 feet, 6 inches, 7th
400 relay — Duran, Weakland, Hazel and Elliott, 49.77 seconds, 5th
800 medley — Duran, Weakland, Hazel and Elliott, 1:50.72, 5th
1,600 relay — Bowers, Hazel, Elliott and Miller, 3:57.02, 3rd

Boys
400 relay — Wiles, Hanlin, Barbour and Hoffman, 42.49, State Champions
100-meter dash — Hanlin, 11.15 seconds, 5th
200 — Hoffman, 22.0 seconds, 9th
300 hurdles — Adam Winick, 41.94, 9th
800 relay — Wiles, Hanlin, Barbour and Hoffman, 1:30.30, 5th
1,600 relay — Englert, Ullom, Bott and Hyland, 3:31.34, 9th
3,200 relay — Englert, Ullom, Bott and Hyland, 8:01.26, 3rd

Former Cougar baseball player tabbed Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska baseball player of the year

From the Omaha World Herald website.

His time with Bellevue University lasted just one season, but Ulysses Roque made it count.

Roque was named Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and helped lead the Bruins to an MCAC tournament championship, their second in as many years.

"Ulysses knows how to win," Bellevue coach Mike Evans said. "He's a great competitor, and he's the kind of kid that, when he was pitching, we felt we had a chance to win against anyone in the country."

Roque, an honorable mention All-American, is the honorary captain of The World-Herald's All-Nebraska NAIA team. The squad is chosen by NAIA coaches in the state.

The 6-foot, 220-pound Roque fooled hitters with his one-seam fastball, which Evans said was a rare pitch to see. It dove to the hitter's feet at nearly 85 mph.

But after suffering a loss in his first start, the pitcher from Florida also showed his resourcefulness and guile.

Roque won 12 in a row before being handed his second loss to Embry-Riddle University in the NAIA World Series, finishing 12-2 overall and 9-1 in conference play.

"When he walked out there, you could never tell if he was going good or bad," Evans said. "But you knew he was going to go out there and be as tough as nails."

Roque's 12 wins ranked fourth among all NAIA Division I. He ranked 17th with a 2.20 ERA, and he led the MCAC in conference games with a 1.50 ERA.

"After that first game, he said that it's not going to happen again," Evans said. "And it's neat to have a guy on your team like that. I just wish I could have had him for more than one year."

Roque recently signed with the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League to replace closer Travis Hope, who suffered a rotator cuff injury. In his debut, Roque went six innings, allowing seven hits, giving up two earned runs and striking out two.

Evans said he knows Roque will do well for the Miners.

"He will compete just like he did for us," he said. "He's not going to be intimidated."

On a journey that took Roque through family hardships in Coral Gables, Fla., Evans said, the pitcher found a life of simplicity and camaraderie through baseball in Nebraska.

"Everybody on the team just loved his personality and being his teammate," Evans said. "Everything he did was for the team and not for himself."

World-Herald All-Nebraska NAIA baseball team
Psn: Name, school.........................Record/Avg.
P: Zane Cascini, Nebraska Wesleyan.........................6-1
P: Ulysses Roque, Bellevue.........................12-2
C: Joe Jeanjaquet, Hastings..........................370
1B: Matt Huggins, Midland Lutheran.......................321
2B: Tim Jacoby, Midland Lutheran..........................361
3B: Nolan Koehn, Midland Lutheran..........................372
SS: Bret Compliment, Hastings..........................336
OF: John Richards, York College..........................426
OF: Mike Mendenhall, Doane..........................429
OF: BJ Juelfs, Concordia..........................357
OF: Nick Damas, Bellevue..........................420
DH: John Rust, Nebraska Wesleyan..........................382
U: Pat Morey, Hastings..........................256
Honorary captain: Ulysses Roque, Bellevue.
Honorable mention: Drew Farley, Dave Powell, Matt Anderson, Josh Northrup, Brett Scarpetta, Bellevue; Jack Holmberg, Casey Rodriguez, Concordia; Quentin Connealy, Austin Lunn, Robert Riggs, Dana; Bryan Dutcher, Tim Engelhaupt, Chris Williams, Doane; Leigh Jochimsen, Hastings College; Mike Burdine, Adam White, Midland Lutheran; Andy McGowan, Jared Meays, Corey Petersen, Steve Schaffer, Nebraska Wesleyan; Gary Hall, Jonathan Harder, Will Hays, Mark Houck, Peru State; Nick Jones, Kellen Love, Dylan Connolly, York College.

Former WNCC softball players Marsico, Ventoza to play against Team USA softball team in Bound 4 Beijing softball tour

The USA Softball National team is preparing for next month’s 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China with a Bound 4 Beijing tour across the United States. And, for three area players with local ties, they will get a chance to play against Team USA, the reigning World Champions.

Chadron State junior-to-be Stephanie Hillman and former Western Nebraska Community College player Kari Marsico will be part of the South Dakota softball team that will take on Team USA July 15 in Rapid City, S.D., while former WNCC and current University of Washington softball player Jessica Ventoza will compete against Team USA July 10 in Spokane, Wash.

All three players said this is a dream come true to play against some of the top softball players in the world.

“I am really excited and it will be a fun experience to get to play against the best team in the world,” Ventoza said. “It will be a great experience. It will be tough but it will be fun because not too many girls get to play against the best in the world and the best players in the world. It will be fun to see what I can do against them and compete.”

Hillman is steal in disbelieve that she will be playing against the best in the world.

“It is awesome to say the least,” she said. “I have been playing the sport since I could remember and now I get to play against the best in the sport. It is hard to even think about it. Once I step on that field, it will be surreal.”

The three college players earned the right to play against Team USA through different avenues. University of Washington softball coach Heather Tarr asked Ventoza if she wanted to play against TEAM USA. Ventoza didn’t hesitate in saying yes, so Ventoza along with her Husky teammates Ashley Tuiasosopo and Alicia Blake will be facing the likes of Jennie Finch, Cat Ostermann and Monica Abbott.

“I am looking forward to meeting Jessica Mendoza and Crystal Bustos. That will be fun,” Ventoza said. “And then depending who pitches, it will be fun to play against Jennie Finch and Cat Ostermann. I am just excited for all of them and it will be a great experience.

While, Ventoza didn’t have to go through a try out to play against Team USA, Hillman and Marsico, both Rapid City natives, had to try out for the chance to play against the best softball team in the world. Only players with South Dakota ties, whether through high school or college were eligible to try out for the all-star team.

“Playing softball all my life [since I was six years old], I knew this was going to be my last year for collegiate softball and I could have my last game be with Armstrong or have an opportunity to play against the Olympic team,” Marsico said. “For me to say my last collegiate softball game was against Team USA, in the last year they had softball in the Olympics, is priceless.”

Hillman, who grew up as a pitcher in high school but has played first base primarily at Chadron State, said she had butterflies when trying out for the team.

“I had butterflies when trying out for the team that was going to play against the team, but it wasn’t like I was really nervous,” Hillman said. “At the same time, I thought, ‘what do you have to lose.’ It is a once in a lifetime thing for you so you have to go for it.”

It still hasn’t set in that the three are actually going to be playing against Team USA.

“I didn’t even know what to say when I found I made the team,” Hillman said. “It is just so big to me that even right now; I don’t think it has set in that I am going to play the US Olympic team. I know I am, but it hasn’t set in. I think once we start practicing it will hit me. I am stoked about it and excited. I am really excited and I think we will be having a really good group of girls and we will have a good team.”

Tickets for the Rapid City game July 15 at Post 320 Pete Lien Field are sold out. Marsico said at one time there was a waiting list of 700 individuals that wanted tickets, so they added another 500 seats to the baseball diamond that was turned into a softball field for the event.

Marsico and Hillman will start practices next week for the contest, and will also have a day where they can hang out with Team USA. Ventoza will also begin practice next week for her chance to play against the USA softball team.

Chances are that Team USA will come away with a win. Team USA lost just once on the Bound 4 Beijing tour sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken, and that was to the University of Virginia Tech 1-0. In fact, Team USA was no-hit by Virginia Tech, a team that made the College Softball World Series. Team USA has a 50-1 record so far on the tour.

“You have to be realistic, this is the US Olympic team, so you probably not are going to win,” Marsico said. “But we are going to try to give them the best competition. We can and put on a good show and try to win. But this is the best team in the World, so we probably not going to win.”

Ventoza and her Washington teammates had a chance to watch Team USA play in California in March when they went to a Cal-State Fullerton tournament in March and she it won’t be easy to pull out a win.

“Anything can happen. Virginia Tech beat them. I don’t know the girls I am playing with, but it will be fun. I am just going to go out and play and whatever happens, happens,” Ventoza said. “They are a lot bigger in person, but they are pretty nice. It was cool to step on the same field as them and now playing against them will be even better.”

For the three players, though, they won’t get a chance to play for Team USA since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is eliminating the sport after this year.

“That would be amazing to get to play for Team USA,” Ventoza said, “But, I know they are taking it out of the Olympics and it is unfortunate for the softball world because it is starting to get big and grow a lot. It would be great to play on a USA team of some sort.”

Marsico and Hillman agreed.

“It is a huge disappointment that they are taking it out of the Olympics just because it is associated with baseball,” the WNCC career home run hitter said. “I think they overlook softball and the kind of competition and vive it brings to the Olympics. Just because Team USA is so dominate, I don’t that is a good enough reason to take it out of the Olympics. I think it is a huge sport especially for women’s sports. A lot of women’s sports are overlooked.”

Hillman said dropping softball from the Olympics will be a big blow to the sport.

“I think [dropping softball at the Olympics] will be a big hit to softball in general,” she said. “That was the epitome or as high as you could get in softball, and now we are not going to have that. I think it will take a hit to the softball programs.”

Marsico, in fact, is thankful to get the opportunity to play another softball game. In fact, she never thought she would even have this kind of softball success coming from Rapid City. Marisco played for the Cougars in 2005 and 2006, and them played the last two years at Armstrong Atlantic, earning pre-season conference honors her senior season.

“Being from Rapid City, there are not a whole lot of opportunities to play college softball,” she said. “When I had the chance to come to Western Nebraska, I didn’t know what to expect at all. After I had a good sophomore season, I never thought I would be in Savannah, Georgia. And now since I am here, I never thought I would be playing Team USA.

“It is every girls dream to do play for Team USA or keep playing after college, and they do have those women’s fast pitch leagues. But, I think it is a good way to end my career against team USA.”

Former Cougar coach Chris Green to help with Setter/Hitter camp on July 7-8

Western Nebraska Community College first-year head coach Giovana Melo has announced that former coach Chris Green will help with the July 7-8 Setter/Hitter camp. It will Green’s final time on the volleyball court of Cougar Palace before heading to the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he accepted the head coaching position in March.

Green, who was the Cougar’s head coach the past nine years and helped led them to the college’s first national championship last November, will instruct the hitters during the camp. Melo, who was an all-American setter for the Cougars in 2001 and 2002 before moving on to the University of Arizona State, will instruct the setters.

The Setter/Hitter camp is for girls in the 11^th and 12^th grades. The camp will run 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m. each day. The cost of the camp is $75.

The Setter/Hitter camp is designed to fine tune setting and hitting techniques. The camp will be an intense camp with a lot of reps and one-on-one instruction. The camp is limited to 24 hitters and 12 setters, and there are still openings.

For more information on the camp, contact Melo at 308-635-6028 or at melog@wncc.net. A camp brochure can be downloaded from www.wncc.edu and then College Athletics.

WNCC to host soccer camp July 21-25

Western Nebraska Community College, along with the RECCOS Futbal Clulb, will host a soccer camp for individuals ages nine and up from July 21-25 at the Landers Soccer Complex in Scottsbluff.

The camp will have two sessions. Recreational players will attend from 9 a.m. to 12 noon all five days, while competitive players will have their camp from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each day. The cost of the camp is $90 for one session and $160 for both sessions. There is a $10 discount per player if more then one player from a family is attending. The cost for children 8 and under is $75.

The aim of the recreational camp for is to help all ages with their soccer abilities. The camp will have fun and creative activities planned, as well as small-sided games. Players 8 and under will attend from 9 – 11 a.m.

The evening camp is aimed more for the advanced and competitive players. This camp will be more intense then the morning session, with fun and creative activities planned as well as small-sided games.

Also, during the advanced camp, there will be a 3-day goal keeping session for anyone interested in improving their goal keeping skills. That mini session will be directed by Gering High School boy's coach Justin Clark.

The soccer camps will be directed by WNCC men's and women's soccer coach Todd Rasnic, along with assistant coach Jim Miller. Past, current and incoming Cougar soccer players will also help with the camp.

For more information on the camp, contact Rasnic at rasnict@wncc.net or at 308-635-6150. A camp brochure can be downloaded at www.wncc.edu and then College Athletics.

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.

WNCC making name for itself in Australia, Colwell home for the break enjoying Australia life

WNCC is making a name for itself in Australia, as this story on Cougar basketball player Jenna Colwell appeared in the Townsville Bulletin in Townsville, Queensland, Austalia. For the complete story instead of the brief about Jenna, you can go to this link: http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/05/27/13396_talknorth.htmlu

Jaws sign grows on southside publican
FORMER Queensland rugby league prop forward and founding member of the unofficial North Queensland Rugby League Hall of Fame Marshall Colwell has an interesting sign above the doorway of his vibrant Commonwealth Hotel in South Townsville.

Marshall's nickname is Jaws or The Jawman, a fact not missed by local signwriter Scottie Peters, who designed and put up the new sign while Marshall was away.

It's become the talk of the pub and even the big fella himself admits to having grown to like it.

Meanwhile, much ado in the Colwell household today with the arrival home from America of basketball-playing daughter, Jenna, 20 (pictured below).

The former St Joey's on The Strand student, who honed her basketball skills in Year 12 at Town High and went on to play for Queensland, is now on a full scholarship to the Western Nebraska Community College.

Hit that college's website and you'll see her name up in basketballing lights.

She's on summer break and has just had a few days in Brisbane playing catch-up with older brothers, the twins, Sam and Dan.

She'll be home in Townsville tonight for a roast dinner with a very excited mum and dad. While here she will probably even grace the bar of the old man's rubbidy for a cold glass of lemonade.

Three WNCC softball players named NJCAA All-American

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team continues adding honors to their record-setting season. This time three Cougars were named NJCAA All-American after helping the Cougars to a 54-10 season and a berth at the national tournament.

It is the first time in school history that any WNCC player earned All-American recognition. Freshman Kelsey Garner led the team, earning first team honors as a pitcher, while sophomores Lauren Mills received second team outfield honors and Kara Ryman picked up second team infield honors.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said these honors are a testament of hard work from not only these three players, but the entire team as well.

“This is exciting for our program,” the Region IX coach of the year said. “We had a wonderful year and had a lot of great things happen, and do have our program have its first NJCAA All-American is amazing of what our program stands for and what these young ladies have done.”

Garner, Mills and Ryman, however, were just a part of a Cougar team that achieved plenty of success last season. The team won the college’s first Region IX championship in May and then competed at the national tournament in Plant City, Fla. Winn-Ratliff said while she is proud of what these three did, it is the end result of the entire team that helped everyone achieve success.

“I am very proud of those three, but when we look at the these awards, we have to look at the whole team aspect because they got supported day in and day out by the other 14 young ladies on the team,” she said. “This is just an honor for our program. I couldn’t be more excited and I wish the two sophomores success in their journeys where they are going to go, and I look forward to having Kelsey returning and doing bigger and better things next year.”

Garner had one of those seasons that turned out just magical in the circle. The freshman from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, went 32-4 and set school records in innings pitched (208.33), wins (32), strikeouts (259), and ERA (1.32). She also earned two NJCAA Pitcher-of-the-Week honors last season, including coming within one batter of throwing a perfect game.

“Kelsey had an amazing season going 32-4 and being a first team All-American, which is well-deserving,” Winn-Ratliff said. “We hope she can continue that success next year and then on to the next level.”

Garner was just one of three freshmen on the first team. There were 16 first team individuals on the team. The other two freshmen on the All-American team were Iowa Western Community College outfielder Toni Dance, and Sante Fe Community College outfielder Brittany Cannon.

Ryman and Mills also were deserving of the honors as each overcome many obstacles in their two years at WNCC.

“What a way for Kara and Lauren to go out in getting second team All-American,” Winn-Ratliff said. “It proves of their hard work and what they have done to buy into what we want to accomplish.”

Winn-Ratliff said both players played several positions in their two years in the Cougar program.

“Kara comes in as a high school shortstop and we move her over to second. She also bought into our hitting a little bit more this year then last year and made huge strides,” she said. “She also played hurt and a lot of people didn’t know that. She worked hard and got through a lot of things.”

Ryman finished the season batting .450 and holds the school record for doubles in a season (28) as well as career (36). She played primarily second base this season, except for a 12-game stretch when she was shifted to shortstop for the injured Jessie McNabb.

Ryman will take those talents to the University of Northern Colorado, as she tries to lead the Bears to the NCAA Division National Tournament just as she did at WNCC.

Mills, just like Ryman, also played hurt off and on during the season. But, one never realized it with her toughness, said Winn-Ratliff.

“Lauren Mills was juggled all over the place from playing right, left and center fields. She did some DP [designated player] work for us,” the coach said. “She probably played injured more then she played healthy, but she just worked hard and she is a gutsy kid.”

Mills led the team in home runs this season with 13, including many that either led off the game or an inning. Mills also batted .460 this season along collecting a team-leading 67 runs 78 hits, and 54 RBIs. Mills is still undecided where she will be playing next year.

Winn-Ratliff said these three hopefully will be the first of many more NJCAA All-Americans in years to come.

“I couldn’t be more proud of those three, but there are more then those three that should have had the opportunity to have those awards. I see our whole team as All-Americans,” she said. “It is just a great honor for us and I hope we continue to have that success in years to come in being recognized by the NJCAA. I hope to continue having coaches buy in and believe in what we are doing, seeing that we are a success, and seeing that this program will continue to be a success.”

Northern Colorado hit by tornadoes

Many of the WNCC athletes are from the Northern Colorado area and that area was hit hard by tornadoes on Thursday. Photos of the disaster from the athletes and their families and friends will be posted here for individuals to view.

Anybody that has photos or video or comments about what they saw, please email them to mrein@wncc.net and they will be posted on this blog site.

The first photo is courtesy of Kendra Schauermann, Cougar volleyball player, who was driving home in the storm.

Despite falling twice at nationals, WNCC softball team's season had plenty of success at 54-10

PLANT CITY, Fla. -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team’s magical season and a run at a national championship came to a close Thursday at the NJCAA National Tournament in Plant City, Fla.

The Cougars dropped two games in the double elimination tournament to finish the season at 54-10.

WNCC fell 4-1 to Wallace State Community College and then dropped an 8-0 5-inning contest to Tallahassee Community College. Both teams were seeded in the top five of the tournament.

Even with the two losses, WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff couldn’t be happier with how her team achieved success this season, including becoming one of the final 16 teams in the nation.

“There are 16 great ball clubs and 300-plus great athletes,” Winn-Ratliff said. “There is no bad team here and you can’t have an off day. I don’t think it was our best day of softball. We have performed much better then we did today. But we can’t be disappointed about being here. If we had one bad day in our season, it was today. Unfortunately, it had to be at the national tournament.”

The tournament definitely was a learning experience in many ways for the team, as they know what it now takes to be a championship ball team.

“You have to fight every game you are in to just get here and this team did that this year,” the coach said. “Now, they know what to do when they get here and they know what the teams are like. The teams are tough and they play hard.”

The weather also might have played a factor in the team’s performance. The Cougars played in 90-degree heat with humidity levels in the 80s.

“The heat might have got to us a little bit,” Winn-Ratliff said. “Not to make any excuses, it is a whole different environment of what we are used to playing in. It is a big venue and I am proud to be a part of it.”

The Cougars, however, did battle in the first game before falling 4-1 to Wallace State. The Cougars made a late-inning run, after falling behind 4-0 after three innings. The Lady Lions scored their four runs on four hits, one error and three walks.

The Cougars, fought back in the sixth and seventh inning, getting to winning pitcher Jennifer Sexton. In the sixth, Mandy Pounds led off by drawing a walk. After Lauren Mills sacrificed Pounds, the speedy freshman scored on a Jessie McNabb double. Lauren Bourdon followed by stroking a single to centerfield, only to have McNabb tagged out at the plate to end the inning.

WNCC tried to make a seventh-inning comeback. With one out, Kara Ryman singled followed by Alec Voci reaching base on a fielder’s choice to put runners at first and second. That was it as Sexton struck out the final two batters to end the game.

Sexton, a sophomore from Harvest, Ala., struck out 10 Cougar batters, while scattering five hits.

Kelsey Garner took the loss in the circle. The freshman scattered six hits, while walking six and striking out four.

In the second game, the Cougars couldn't find an answer to Tallahassee's ace pitcher Amanda Reyes, who threw a one-hitter and allowing just two WNCC runners in five innings.

The Cougars' only hit of the game came in the fourth inning when Jessie McNabb hit a shot up the middle. That, though, was it for the Cougar's offense.

Tallahassee, on the other hand, bettered the Cougar pitching staff for eight runs on 13 hits, including a 3-run home run in the fourth inning. Kelsey Garner took the lose, allowing six runs on 10 hits. Ashley Patton finished off the game, giving up two runs on three hits.

“We made some adjustments in the sixth inning, but it was a little late,” Winn-Ratliff said. “We started to get to their pitcher, but we had one bad inning in the Wallace game and that is all they needed. Tallahassee put up runs in the third, fourth and fifth. Both are both ball clubs and they made adjustments offensively. We were a little outmatched today.”

While it is disappointing for now to watch the rest of the tournament from the stands, Winn-Ratliff said they hopefully be back to the national tournament in future years.

The Cougars lose 10 sophomores that paved the way for the team this year. It was those players that set the tone for the championship run.

“It has been a special all year and I am especially proud of them [the sophomores],” Winn-Ratliff said. “It was sad today to see the 10 sophomores in their blue and gold uniform one last time. But the reality that it is, the kids played hard all year and lived up to my expectations. We now know what it takes in the program to be national title contenders. Those expectations will be there every year for us.”

“This has been a great year for us and I want to thank everybody that has supported us and I hope we can continue to build a winning program and continue to have success with Western Nebraska softball,”

WNCC 000 001 0 – 1 5 1
Wallace (65-8) 004 000 x – 4 6 0
WP – Sexton, LP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (McNabb), Wallace (Ashley Smith).

WNCC (54-10) 000 00 -- 0 1 1
Tallahassee (29-23) 003 32 -- 8 13 0
WP -- Reyes; LP -- Garner; 2B -- TCC (Heather Maulden, Mary Helen Tyler 2, Alayshia Jarrell; HR -- TCC (Tyler).

WNCC softball ends season at 54-10 with loss to Tallahassee Community College at nationals

The WNCC Cougars magical season and run to a national championship came to an end Thursday at the NJCAA National Tournament in Plant City, Fla., after falling 4-1 to Wallace State Community College and then 8-0 to Tallahassee Community in an elimination game.

In the second game, the Cougars couldn't find an answer to Tallahassee's ace pitcher Amanda Reyes, who threw a one-hitter and allowing just two WNCC runners in five innings.

The Cougars' only hit of the game came in the fourth inning when Jessie McNabb hit a shot up the middle. That, though, was it for the Cougar's offense.

Tallahassee, on the other hand, bettered the Cougar pitching staff for eight runs on 15 hits, including a 3-run home run in the fourth inning. Kelsey Garner took the lose, allowing six runs on 12 hits. Ashley Patton finished off the game, giving up two runs on three hits.

WNCC (54-10) 000 00 -- 0 1 1
Tallahassee (29-23) 003 32 -- 8 15 0
WP -- Reyes; LP -- Garner; 2B -- TCC (Heather Maulden, Mary Helen Tyler 2, Alayshia Jarrell; HR -- TCC (Tyler).

WNCC falls to Wallace State 4-1 in first round of national tournament

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team will have to earn a national championship the hard way after dropping their opening round game to Wallace State Community College Thursday at the NJCAA national tournament in Plant City, Fla.

The Cougars, despite making a late-game run, fell to the Lady Lions 4-1. WNCC, 54-9, drops to the loser’s bracket and an elimination game against either San Jacinto College-South or Tallahassee Community College at 4 p.m. today in an elimination game in the double elimination tournament.

WNCC fought hard in the game, but couldn’t string together enough back-to-back hits. Wallace State, in the mean time, took advantage of a 4-run third inning to claim the victory. The Lady Lions scored their four runs in the third inning on four hits, one error and three walks to bolt to a 4-0 lead.

The Cougars, fought back in the sixth and seventh inning, getting to winning pitcher Jennifer Sexton. In the sixth, Mandy Pounds led off by drawing a walk. After Lauren Mills sacrificed Pounds, the speedy freshman scored on a Jessie McNabb double. Lauren Bourdon followed by stroking a single to centerfield, only to have McNabb tagged out at the plate to end the inning.

WNCC put together a run in the seventh. With one out, Kara Ryman singled followed by Alec Voci reaching base on a fielder’s choice to put runners at first and second. That was it as Sexton struck out the final two batters to end the game.

Sexton, a sophomore from Harvest, Ala., struck out 10 Cougar batters, while scattering five hits.

Kelsey Garner took the loss in the circle. The freshman scattered eight hits, while walking five and striking out four.

WNCC (54-9) 000 001 0 – 1 5 1
Wallace (65-8) 004 000 x – 4 8 0
WP – Sexton, LP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (McNabb), Wallace (Ashley Smith).

WNCC softball ready for national tournament action

It’s not hard to see the smiles on the Western Nebraska Community College softball players faces as they get ready for the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament in Plant City, Fla.
The players, however, are not just satisfied with being a participant at the tournament; they want to make a statement that they belong among the elite 16 teams in the nation.

WNCC will begin that trek for a national title today at 9 a.m. when they face 64-8 Wallace State Community College in the double elimination tournament that runs through Saturday. The game can be heard on KOZY 101.3 FM as well as the Internet.

“[I’m] nervous but excited,” sophomore Ashley Patton said. “I have never been to a big tournament like this but I am really looking forward to it. We just need to stay focused game to game, make sure our defense is good, get a good performance in the circle, and make sure our hitting is on.”

WNCC, who enters the tournament with an eye-popping 54-8 record, is fresh off winning its first Region IX tournament championship two weeks ago with a dominating performance. The Cougars, in getting the regional trophy, blanked 7-time defending champs Otero Junior College twice, 7-0 and 6-0.

Sophomore Jessie McNabb, who missed 12 games this year because of a broken jaw, was one of the catalysts behind the team’s success.

“We are real excited to be at the national tournament. It is like a lifetime experience that we never had before,” she said. “It is definitely an accomplishment because we have been working on it since last year and Coach [Maria] Winn has been working on it for a while. We finally got there.”

The Cougars went through a practice Wednesday to get adjusted to the Florida weather. Sophomore Whittany Foster said the team is pumped for their opening game.

“I think practice went pretty well, actually. It is pretty hot down here so we are adjusting to that,” she said. “We are excited to be here and we didn’t come down here to lose. We are just going to do what we do every day.”

The Cougars, though, aren’t overlooking any opponent but are gaining a positive attitude heading into the tourney opener today.

“The competition will probably be pretty good. This tournament is the 16 best teams in the nation, so we are excited to be a part of it,” Foster said. “We have enough confidence but we are not over confident. I think we will do well.”

The national tournament definitely won’t be easy. WNCC could play as little as six games to win a national title, if they stay unbeaten. If they drop their opening game, the team will need to win eight straight games to win a championship.

“I think we will do very well,” Patton said. “If we keep winning, we only have to play five games [for a championship]. If we lose, we can end up playing a bunch more. We just need to stay focused. But, if we have to play a lot of games, we will do what we have to.”

WNCC, win or lose, will have one more game today against either Tallahassee Community College or San Jacinto College-South. If they win, they will play at 6 p.m. and if they falter, they will play at 4 p.m. in an elimination game.

The players know they can’t overlook any opponent and the key for them to succeed is to take it one game at a time.

“It will take a lot of team work and we will all need to come out ready to play strong,” McNabb said. “I think we will all need to show up to play every game and not be worried who we are playing. Just play our game.”

The Cougars game is a stingy defense, a strong and deep pitching core, and an offense that has sparkled for 59 home runs, 22 triples and 134 doubles this season.

Freshman Kelsey Garner leads the pitching staff with a 1.13 earned run average and a 31-2 record. Garner has already struck out 254 batters in 198 innings of work. Garner also garnered Region IX’s Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors this season.

Garner will see the majority of the innings in the circle this weekend. However, sophomores Natasha Dypchey and Patton will be ready in a heartbeat when called upon. In fact, Dypchey and Patton have picked up clutch wins this season. Dypchey enters the tournament with a 12-3 record and a 2.31 ERA, while Patton has a 6-2 record and a 1.69 ERA. Patton said that all the pitchers have to be ready in case they are called upon at the national tournament.

“We have to be ready at all the time,” Patton said. “We need to stay focused, pay attention to the game of what is happening, and pay attention to the hitters. We need to understand what is going on at the point that you come in off the bench.”

As well as the pitching staff has sparkled this season, the offense has also come up clutch. The team has a .380 batting average, led by McNabb’s .509 average, including 53 RBIs and 60 runs scored.

The team is also paced by Kara Ryman, who leads the team with 69 runs batted in and 28 doubles. Ryman is also batting .446 on the season and is second on the team in home runs, tied with sophomore Lauren Bourdon.

Lauren Mills has also been dangerous as the team’s lead-off hitter. Mills leads the team with 13 home runs. She is also batting .462 with 67 runs scored and 54 RBIs. In fact, Mills’ has had a number of lead-off home runs, including a shot against Otero Junior College in the winner’s bracket final.

Bourdon and Amanda Torimaru are also two more hitters who have stepped up big this season. Bourdon is hitting .412 with eight home runs and 54 RBIs, while Torimaru is hitting .425 with 56 RBIs, five triples and five home runs.

But the one player that really has contributed the last few weeks of the season is sophomore Foster. Foster is batting .380 on the season, including batting .625 over the last two weeks of the season.

Foster said this team can do well; all they need is to play like they have in the 54 wins this season.

“We have to have good pitching for one thing. Then we will have to have good bats and good defense,” she said. “We usually feed off of each other pretty well. If the pitching is going well, we hit well and play defense well.”

WNCC Athletic Banquet Award Winners

Photos of the Athletic Award Night can be viewed by clicking following the following link -- http://wncccougars.albumpost.com/cougar-special

Western Nebraska Community College’s Soriana Pacheco continues raking in the honors after the WNCC Athletic banquet on Wednesday.

The setter from Venezuela earned the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year honor after helping her team to the National Championship in November. Pacheco also garnered MVP honors off the volleyball team.

while Pacheco snared the Female honor, men’s soccer player Edwin Enriquez took home the top honors for the Male Athlete of the Year. Enriquez also earned another honor on the night; that of top Grade Point Average – Male.

The other big winners on the night included Gering High’s Stacie Meisner. Meisner received recognition for three honors. She earned the Cougar Award, which is given to an outstanding athlete that shows excellence off and on the court, as well as leadership. Meisner also earned the top Grade Point Average – Female. Meisner also picked up the volleyball team’s Cougar Pride Award. The Cougar Pride Award is given to a player that is the epitome of what a Cougar athlete should be with sportsmanship, and work ethic on and off the playing surface.

The softball team also garnered a huge award on the night, claiming their fourth straight team GPA honor.

The night also included each team presenting their MVP and Cougar Pride winner. MVP honors in the seven Cougar sports included Jessie McNabb, softball; Pacheco, volleyball; Tawny Drexler, women’s basketball; Steven Estrada, men’s soccer; Stacey Agnew, women’s soccer; and Rich Miller, baseball. Men’s basketball coach Brian Joyce didn’t give a MVP honor saying that all through the year, different players stepped up at times and picking just one player was to hard to do.

As for Cougar Pride winners, though, Joyce presented Chris Hamblin with that award. Other award winners included Lauren Mills, softball; Meisner, volleyball; Emma Beddome, women’s basketball; Zach Gillis, baseball; Aaron Oesterle, men’s soccer; and Amanda Arrant, women’s soccer.

athletic Director Jennifer Pedersen also presented Sports Racquet and TEAM Chevrolet the Patron of the Year awards. She also gave special recognition to women’s basketball coach Dave Harnish, who has won 20 games every season in his 20 years at the college.