Groves names captain of Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska JUCO team

Western Nebraska Community College's Katie Groves was named caption of the Omaha World Herald's All-Nebraska Junior College team, while five other Cougars made the first team.

Groves, who graduated in May and is headed to Central Missouri to play next year, helped the Cougars to a 43-21 record last season and a trip to the NJCAA national tournament in St. George, Utah. Groves has a pile of school records this season. This past spring, she hit .492 with a percentage of .878, an on-base percentage of .554, 15 home runs, 21 doubles, 86 RBIs and 97 hits.

The Bluffdale, Utah, native holds season record records for RBIs (86), runs scored (89) and home runs (17) and career records in homers (32), runs scored (166), RBIs (165) and doubles (35).

Other Cougars making the All-Nebraska JUCO team include pitchers Taylor Anderson of Riverton, Utah, and Stephanie Townsend of Roosevelt, Utah; third baseman Jordan Schoepflin of Arvada, Colo.; outfielder Adena Hagen of Birch Hills, Saskatchewan; and utility player Megan Bourdon of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan.

WNCC players that made the honorable mention include catcher Ashton Hughes of Regina, Saskatchewan, and outfielder Allie Alverson of Toole, Utah.

Other members of the first team include pitcher Kayla McDonald of North Platte CC; catcher Whitney Robinson of Central-Columbus; second baseman Kate Erickson of Central-Columbus; shortstop Ashley Szelag of Central-Columbus, and Danae McCorkle of McCook; outfielders Jina Hamm of Southeast Nebraska, and Natasha Coons of McCook; and designated player Jamie Peterson of Southeast Nebraska.

Still plenty of openings for the July 26-30 Soccer Camps

Western Nebraska Community College soccer coach Todd Ras­nic has plenty of openings for the Cougar Soccer Camp that will be conducted July 26-30.

Rasnic said early registration is important to get an early count on the number of T-shirts needed, even though registrations will be taken the first day of camp.

The camp will be conducted by Rasnic, his assistant coaches Jim Miller and Henri Preels, and Cougar players Marcel Sales and Pedro Escobar from the men’s team. Brooke Dudley and Brittany McNeil from the women’s team will be helping with the camp. Dudley was a member of the 2008 Region IX championship women’s soccer team. The other three players will be back for their sophomore season.

There will be two sessions of the camp. The first camp, for recreational players, will run from 9 a.m. – 12 noon. This camp will help players of all ages with their soccer abilities. The camp will have fun and creative activi­ties planned. The cost of the camp is $90 per camper.

Players ages 8 and under will partici­pate in the camp from 9-11 a.m. The cost for the younger players is $75.

The second camp, for advanced, com­petitive players, will run from 5:30-8:30 p.m. This camp will help the players fine-tune their soccer abilities in a more com­petitive arena. The camp will be more in­tense than the morning session. The cost of the camp is $90. The cost includes a T-shirt and a ball.

If players sign up for both sessions, they can get a discounted price of $80 per session. There is a $10 dis­count for families with more than one stu­dent attending.

For more information, contact Ras­nic at 308-631-8833, or rasnict@wncc.net. Camp registrations can be downloaded from the WNCC athletic website at sports.wncc.net.

UNC basketball player becomes WNCC's new assistant men's coach

Yahosh Bonner was known for his defense at the University of Northern Colorado. Now he will bring that defensive energy to the sidelines of Western Nebraska Community College to serve as an assistant coach for the Cougar men’s basketball team.

Bonner played two seasons at UNC where he captured the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Defensive All-American. Bonner played one year at Salt Lake Community College under Coach Beck (2006-07) helping the Bruins to the national tournament.

Bonner, who will also serve as a residence life director at Conestoga Hall, is excited to bring his energy for the game to Cougar Palace.

“I hope to bring a lot of energy to every practice and I hope that will carry on to the games and to the court,” he said. “I want the guys to really step it up in the defensive game. Before I went to college, my defense was OK. But once I got to college, I was coached by coaches that really focused on defense and I want to be one of those coaches that reward our players for playing great defense. They should take pride in that.”

WNCC men’s coach Russ Beck said Bonner will be a positive for WNCC.

“We are very fortunate to add Yahosh and Vanessa Bonner to our WNCC Cougar family. I had the opportunity of coaching Yahosh at Salt Lake Community College and he was an integral part of a historic season,” he said. “That team went 32-4 and made it all the way to the NJCAA National Championship before falling to South Plains CC. On the court he was a tenacious defender. His defensive abilities earned him Big Sky defensive player of the year honors this past season as he helped another team, Northern Colorado, to a historic season as they finished 25-8.

“Yahosh has been a huge contributor to success everywhere he has been. He is the ultimate team player and his passion and energy has helped foster a culture of winning; we expect that trend will continue as he steps into the coaching ranks here at WNCC.”

Bonner started every game for UNC last season in helping them to their best season ever. UNC qualified for the CollegeInsider.com Postseason tournament (CIT) where they defeated Portland, before falling to Pacific.

As a senior captain, Bonner averaged 27 minutes playing time and six points a game. His defense was his bread and butter, where he finished with 41 steals.

“We were the most winningest team that University of Northern Colorado has had,” Bonner said. “We finished second in the conference and had a great year. I was the defensive player of the year for the Big Sky Conference, and was a mid-major all-American for defensive. We had another guy on our team that was all-conference and a couple of other guys that went on to play professionally. So, we had some good players and had a real good season.”

Bonner, who played at Mountain View High in Mesa, Ariz., is looking forward to beginning a different chapter in his life as part of Beck’s coaching staff.

“I am really excited about being a part of Western Nebraska community college family,” he said. “When Coach Beck called me and said he would love to have me on staff, I was sold because I know what kind of person he is and what kind of coach he is. He has a very high basketball IQ and it will be a good situation for me to start my coaching career.”

Bonner, who started playing basketball when he was eight, said that running the offense as a point guard is like coaching.

“I did some coaching on the floor as a point guard,” he said. “Being a coach here, I think I can really focus on helping other people be better and helping improve the program. Basically I am excited to be learning from coach Beck and the game of basketball.”

Bonner said that from what he has heard about next year’s team, he expects them to compete for a regional title.

“Coach Beck is really excited about the players that we have coming in. He said not only are they good athletes, but they are great people,” he said. “He said he wants to bring players in that are good people, who are going to succeed here not just athletically but academically. I am excited to have some good guys on the team that are working for that central goal and not having selfish players.”

Beck said that Bonner is a good fit for Cougar basketball and WNCC as a whole.

“Coach Bonner brings an incredible work ethic and possesses a very high basketball IQ,” Beck said. “He carries himself with the upmost integrity and treats others with respect. I expect that he will really help with the development of our guards and I hope that his passion and desire to win will rub off onto our players.

“His attitude is contagious and he no doubt will assist in helping this team get back to “Hutch”.” He will be responsible for player development, study hall, recruiting and weights and conditioning . In addition to his coaching duties he will be serving in student housing as the Conestoga Hall Housing Director.”

Yahosh and his wife, Vanessa, are expecting their first child in August, a boy. He said the first couple of months will be hard with a new job and baby coming, but he is ready.

“It will be busy for me coming up,” he said. “But I am looking forward to that challenge. I will be doing things I like.”

Yahosh’s hobby is singing and he even tried out for American Idol, where he made the first cut in auditions before getting cut in the second round. Yahosh said while he loves to sing, his first love is basketball.

“For know I am taking coaching step by step,” he said. “I just want to be a part of a winning program and part my knowledge and energy to the players. What is important to me is to see improvement in my players and build those lifelong relationships with my athletes. While I like singing, basketball is still up there because I love basketball. Singing is a hobby, but basketball is a love.”

WNCC athletic teams finish 2009-10 season impressively

The 2009-10 athletic year was a banner year for the Western Nebraska Community College athletic teams. The Cougars finished the NATYCAA Cup as the highest Region IX team among competition among scholarship teams in the NJCAA.

WNCC finished tied for 73rd with Indian Hills Community College with 24.5 points. The National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators Cup rankings are formulated by awarding NJCAA institutions with points based on competition at NJCAA Championship events among all sports. A first place finish is worth 20 points, second place is worth 19 points, and so forth.

The Cougars earned their points on the bases of the Cougar volleyball and softball team's accomplishments. The volleyball team finished last season with a 42.4 record and a third place finish at the national tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The Cougar softball team won their second regional title in three seasons as they competed at the national tournament in St. George, Utah. The Cougar women finished with a 43-21 record.

Iowa Central Community College was the overall NATYCAA Scholarship Cup winner with 158.5 points followed by Cowley College (Kan.) and Monroe Community College (N.Y.).

Region IX had seven teams that earned points in the Cup race. WNCC's 24.5 points was just two points ahead of North Platte Community College, who finished 80th with 22.5 points (10.5 points in men's sports and 12 points in women's sports).

Other Region IX schools receiving points include Casper College (17 points), Northwest Wyoming (16.5), Gillette College (17 points), Southeast Nebraska (10 points), and Western Wyoming Community College (1 point).

Iowa Central is only the second NJCAA member college from the Scholarship Division to win the NATYCAA Cup in consecutive years. Monroe accomplished the feat in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Iowa Central earned their points with top finishes in women's indoor track & field and wrestling. The Tritons also had top 10 finishes in men's indoor track & field (second), Division II baseball (fourth), DI men's outdoor track & field (fourth) and men's swimming & diving (sixth). ICC's women's teams also contributed to the title as the Lady Tritons had top 10 finishes in Division I cross country (second), Division I outdoor track & field (third) and swimming & diving (sixth).

The top three teams in the scholarship and non-scholarship divisions received a cash award for their institutions general scholarship fund in the amount of $2,500 for first place and $1,000 for second and third place.

Gloucester Community College (N.J.) won the non-scholarship cup with 131 points over Herkimer Community College (N.Y.) and Mohawk Community College (N.Y.).

Three Cougars named NJCAA academic all-American

Three Western Nebraska Community College softball players were named National Junior College Athletic Association academic all-American last week.

WNCC sophomore Adena Hagen of Birch Hills, Saskatchewan, sophomore Taylor Anderson of Riverton, Utah, and sophomore Stephanie Townsend of Roosevelt, Utah, earned recognition by posting a 3.6 or higher grade point average.

Hagen had one of the highest GPAs, finishing with a 3.81 grade point average as she was named a distinguished all-American. Hagen had one of the highest grade point averages among Cougar softball players to receive NJCAA academic all-American.

Anderson and Townsend each earned academic all-American. Anderson finished with a 3.77 GPA, while Townsend had a 3.66 GPA.

Townsend will continue her academic and athletic success next year at Chadron State College where she will play softball.

Hagen was the starting centerfielder for the Cougars the past two seasons, while Anderson and Townsend were pitchers for the Cougars.

This past spring, the Cougars softball team captured its second Region IX title in three seasons and participated in the national softball tournament in St. George, Utah. The team finished the season with a 43-21 record.

Last year, the softball team had just one player -- Katelyn Groves -- earn academic All-American, and two years ago with a 3.66 average. Two years ago, two softball players in Natasha Dypchey (3.69) and Jessica McNabb (3.65) were academic All-American.

Shaffer brings her basketball talents to WNCC

Shaffer brings her basketball talents to WNCC. Read story here in the Fort Lupton, Colo., newspaper.

http://www.ftluptonpress.com/cgi-bin/c2.cgi?174+article+Sports+20100629182922174174003

Leyton graduate joins WNCC volleyball coaching staff

There will be a new coach roaming the sidelines for Western Nebraska Community College as Leyton High and Eastern Wyoming College graduate Lindsey (Winkelman) Gonzales will be serving as head coach Giovana Melo’s assistant this year.

Gonzales, who played against Melo for one year in college, is excited to be teaming up with her for the coming year.

“I am very excited to be helping Gi,” Gonzales said. “We became friends at the beginning of the year and things just progressed. We played against each other when I was a sophomore and she was a freshman in college at WNCC. That was the first experience against her. This year we ended up being on a YMCA women’s team together through mutual friends and I was able to see her competitive fire on the court inspired me.”

Gonzales, who also works for Regional West Medical Center, said she is ready to learn a different side of volleyball.

“I am ready to learn, that is for sure,” she said. “It will be a totally different side to the sport then playing it. I helped Gi with camp this summer and that was even different then just getting out and playing. You have to be there to teach and coach and help. I am excited to start something new, learn and I am looking forward to using my experience to help the players.”

The two youthful coaches bring plenty of success to the sidelines as Melo and Gonzales were top-notch setters for their collegiate teams in the early 2000s.

Gonzales sparkled on the court at Leyton high school, graduating in 2000, where she participated in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She was a member of the West team in the West Nebraska All-star Volleyball Match and Panhandle Prep all-star basketball game. She also helped the Warriors to the state volleyball tournament her freshman (1996) and junior year (1998). She was also one of the top hurdlers in the state, finishing second at the Nebraska state championships in the 100 high hurdles (15.55) and the 300 low hurdles (48.28) her senior year.

Gonzales elevated her game at the collegiate level, helping the Lancers to two runner-up finishes at the Regional tournament in 2000 and 2001. The 2000 team finished 31-19, while the 2001 team went 37-20. Both teams fell one match short of the national tournament, falling to Northwest Wyoming in the title contest.

Gonzales excelled both on the court and the classroom at EWC. Her sophomore year, she was selected to the all-tournament team at regionals, was a NJCAA distinguished academic all-American with a 3.8 GPA, and was academic all-region and all-conference.

She played in all 106 matches and all 328 games over her two seasons as a Lancer. She ranks fourth in Lancer volleyball history as a setter with a 97.2 setting percentage, 10^th overall in serving at 94.2 percent and served 673 points. She also had 2,118 career setting assists and finished with 768 career digs.

She said it was a big switch going from Leyton, a Class D-2 school to junior college volleyball, but she embraced the challenges and succeeded.

“The sport is a lot quicker and is more competitive. It forces you to become better and work harder,” she said. “I got a good foundation playing volleyball at Leyton and I gained a love for the game.”

Gonzales said that she became a different player in college and is thankful for her time at EWC.

“When I played at EWC, I saw how competitive it was immediately,” she said. “Coach Petsch and Lance helped me become better, and I learned so much from them about playing the game differently." She said it will be different when WNCC faces the Lancers and she is wearing blue and gold instead of EWC’s colors.

“I am not sure what it will be like, but I think Coach [Verl] Petsch will be happy, and I hope to get a smile from him,” she said. “I have come to games here and have seen him so he knows I am still in the area. I look forward to seeing them again and that I enjoyed playing for them, and I am thankful for that opportunity.”
Gonzales is not wasting time in getting her feet wet with helping the Cougars. She already has some assignments lined up and can’t wait until the first day of practice in August.

“I am very excited to get started,” she said. “I already have my assignments and here we go.”

Gonzales is married to Isaac, a graduate of Minatare High School who played one year of basketball at WNCC, and they have a 4-year son, XayVian.

Kistler headed to Concordia University to play basketball

Amber Kistler accomplished many goals while attending Western Nebraska Community College the past two years while playing for the Cougar women's basketball team. The one goal she didn't accomplish, though, was playing in the national tournament.

Kistler will try to accomplish that goal next year as she will take her skills on and off the court to Concordia University where she will play basketball. Concordia is located in Seward.

The Bayard High School 3-sport star was also looking at Kentucky Wesleyan, Metro State and a couple of places where she was considering walking on, before deciding on Concordia.

"I choose Concordia because Coach [Drew] Olson really sold his program to me, and he recruited me hard," Kistler said. "I wanted to be a part of a winning program right away and I can do that there. Also I can get an amazing education there and continue to play basketball, of course. Also, I will be closer to my family that lives up north [in South Dakota] and some friends who live in that area."

Kistler becomes a part of a Concordia team that finished last season 21-11 before falling in the first-round of the NAIA Division II National Tournament to Indiana Wesleyan. It was the Bulldogs' third straight appearance at the national tournament.

Kistler's goals at Concordia is to continue improving on the court and in the classroom.

"I want to excel in the classroom and I want to be an All-American," she said. "I want to continue to grow as a student and a ball player."
Kistler definitely made strides on the court at WNCC, where she was a key sixth player during her freshman year and then started every game her sophomore year, while being one of the team leaders on and off the court. Kistler averaged 10 points and four assists a game last season for the 24-8 Cougars.

Kistler said coming to WNCC was one of the best choices that she could have made.

"I can say that being with Coach [Dave] Harnish for two years could not have been any better," she said. "He taught me so much and I would not be the player I am today without him. It's quite the change going from high school ball to college ball and in order to play, I had no option but to get better. I think I owe a lot to the coaches and my teammates for the athlete I am today."

Kistler came to WNCC as a decorated athlete from Bayard, where she was all-conference in volleyball, basketball and track and field. She said couldn't imagine what she would be doing now if she wouldn't have came to WNCC.

"Wow, I can't even imagine what I would be doing," she said. "I probably would be working, wishing I would have went to school and regretting not playing basketball."

Well, she doesn't have to worry about that. Kistler not only excelled on the court, but she was successful in the classroom as well. She also was active in WNCC activities, serving as a Resident Assistant in the dorms as well as being a Student Ambassador. She also worked on the college newspaper, The Spectator, as well as earning a Phi Theta Kappa academic all-American honor.

Kistler said that being involved in activities outside of sports helped her shine as a person. She said academics is more important than being a good player.

" Being academically strong will get me and most other student-athletes farther than any sport could ever take them," she said. "Your education is something no one can ever take away from you. I really enjoy helping my teammates and others when they need it with class work or anything. In 10 or 20 years, people are not going to remember how many points I scored in a game, but they will remember my character and what I have done off the court."
Kistler said she never gives up and battles through all down times that she experiences. It is that mentality that makes Kistler a role model to the younger kids

"I want to say I lead by example, but I am not perfect," she said. "I'll be the first to admit I make mistakes, but it is how I get back up when I fall down that matters. I try to be my own role model and live up to my own expectations and if I inspire people along the way then that's awesome."
Kistler said it is difficult to say goodbye to her WNCC friends and the community, but she is ready to begin a new chapter in her life. Kistler will major in pre-optometry at Concordia.

"I will miss Coach Harnish, Coach Jennifer Pedersen, all the rest of the coaches," she said. " Also all the instructors because they worked so much with my teammates and myself to make everything work, they are truly amazing. I will miss everyone because you cannot go to WNCC without getting close to all the faculty, it is like a big family.
"I just really want to thank everybody at WNCC and everyone in the community for supporting Cougar athletics. They are a huge part of the program."

Groves named NFCA first team all-American

Western Nebraska Community College's Katie Groves had an impressive sophomore season this past spring and because of her success, the Cougar infielder was recognized by the other junior college coaches by being named to as a Louisville Slugger National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team All-American.

Groves is the school's first two-time softball all-American. The Cougar firstbaseman helped the Cougars to the national tournament this past season and a 43-21 season record. Groves was humbled by the honor.

"To be named to the NFCA first team all-American list is a huge honor," the Bluffdale, Utah, native said. "It is an honor especially since I am being recognized by other coaches around the country for what I have accomplished at WNCC."
The NFCA all-American list is voted on by the two-year coaches and the coaches noticed what Groves accomplished during her sophomore season at WNCC. Groves, who will be attending Central Missouri State next year, couldn't have asked for a better two years.

"Looking back on my time at WNCC I think it went pretty well," Groves said. "The only way it could have went better is with two trips to the national tourney. Still, I had an amazing experience at WNCC and I contribute that to my coaches, my teammates, and the people in the community.

"The coaches at WNCC truly care about the success of their athletes both on the field and in the classroom. The community takes the time to appreciate what athletes do and some of them took me in. I met some amazing people in Scottsbluff and Gering that I will never forget."

Groves finished her sophomore season as one of the best in the nation, hitting .492 on the year. She also led the team in RBIs (86), runs scored (89), home runs (15), hits (97), and singles (56). In her two seasons at WNCC, Groves finished with 32 home runs, 166 runs scored, 165 RBIs, 193 hits, 118 singles and 35 doubles.

As a freshman, Groves was named Region IX freshman of the year and was a NJCAA third team all-American and a third team NFCA third-team pick. Groves becomes the school's first two-time softball all-American selection after being named to the NFCA first team earlier this month.

Groves is joined on the first team by 15 talented players. Also making the NFCA first team include pitchers Erika Bennett, Miami Dade College, Kelsey Dennis, Wallace State-Hanceville, and Hope Bitzer, Seminole State-Florida; catchers Cyd Allen of Salt Lake Community College and Melina Trujilo of Pima Community College; infielders Sienna Miller of Navarro Community College, Jamie Holmes of Crowder Community College, Saige Wright of Wallace State, Katie Campbell of Seminole State, and Kaity Ingram of Pima Community College; outfielders Veronika Fukunishi of Miami Dade, Katie Pierce of Wallace State; Erika James of Salt Lake, Jessica Soria of Arizona Western College, and designated player Gabby Hernandez of Midland College.

Groves said her coaches and the Scottsbluff-Gering community can share in the honor.

"Coach Maria Winn took a chance on me and honestly I have to give a lot of credit to the coaching staff for my success," she said. "They provided me with all the tools I needed to succeed. I can't tell you how many hours I spent with Coach Molly [Bonuchi] and taking extra cuts after practice. They saw my drive and willingness to work hard and helped me every step of the way to make the work a little easier."
Groves said she found a second home in Scottsbluff.

"Attending WNCC was one of the best decisions I could have made," she said. "Coach Winn took a chance on me when no one else wanted me and for that I will always be grateful. The people of Scottsbluff and Gering, the WNCC community, and my teammates made the past two years of my life very special. I will never forget the friends I have made, and the new family I have in Nebraska.
Groves will continue her collegiate playing days at the University of Central Missouri with hopes of bringing the same success to their softball program.

"My goal at UCM is to obtain my bachelors degree in marketing, but other than that, my goals are the same as they were at WNCC, to win. My ultimate goal is to win a National Championship, I think that's what any athletes goal is at the college. I just want to get a degree and help their team achieve greatness."

The one thing that stands out about Groves is her community involvement. Groves was honored with the college's Cougar Award in May, which honors an athlete that achieves success on and off the playing field, as well as the playing field.
"Really, I just want thank all the people that I got to know over my time at WNCC and those ALL the people that supported me doing what I love," she said.

Ryan Burgner named interim athletic director

Ryan Burgner is ready to step into a new role at Western Nebraska Community College.

Burgner, the assistant baseball coach and assistant athletic director, has been appointed interim athletic director, taking over for Jennifer Pedersen, who resigned the position in April. Pedersen’s last day at WNCC was June 4 and Burgner’s first day as athletic director was June 7.

The new assistant to the athletic director will also come from within the department. Todd Rasnic, men’s and women’s soccer coach, will take on those duties on an interim basis.

The positions will be considered for regular appointment next year.

Burgner’s goal is to keep building the Cougar athletic program in a winning direction.

“I am excited for the opportunity to keep leading the athletic department in the direction that Coach Pedersen has established in the classroom, on the field, and in the community,” he said. “She has done a great job of getting Cougar athletics back on the map. We will miss her greatly.”

Burgner knows firsthand what the role of an athletic director is, having worked as Pedersen’s assistant over the last five years.

“I have worked pretty close with Coach Ped on everything we have done,” he said. “There are a few things I will have to learn and get better at. But I know I am up to the challenge of progressing Cougar athletics into the future.”

The one thing that will remain constant in the athletic department is the Cougar’s positive visibility in the community. Burgner cites the community and WNCC administration support as a huge part of its success as an athletic department.

“We want the community to take pride in our athletic department. I know that our student athletes appreciate the support they receive from the community and school.”

Both men have been at the college for awhile. Burgner came to WNCC in 2002 as an assistant coach for baseball. Burgner graduated from Manzano High in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1994, and played baseball at Dodge City Community College under current WNCC baseball coach Mike Jones. Burgner earned All-Jayhawk West Conference as a pitcher.

After Dodge City, he went on to play at Iowa State where he got his degree in sports management. He was also with the Albuquerque Dukes, a Triple A affiliate to the LA Dodgers as the director of ticket operations and assistant general manager. He came to WNCC after spending a year and a half as pitching coach at Northeastern Junior College.

Rasnic took over the men’s soccer program in 2005 and then the women’s program in 2006. Rasnic has over 33 years of soccer experience and has instilled good discipline and integrity to the program.

Rasnic was an NACA all-American in soccer in 1983, leading his team to both a state and national tournament victory recording 28 goals and 17 assists. In 1992, he joined the American Youth Soccer Organization and has volunteered coaching and referring for the past 15 years. He holds coaching licenses from AYSO and the NSCAA.

In his five years at WNCC, Rasnic has a 27-46-3 record with the men’s team in five years, including nearly capturing the Region IX title last fall. He has experienced more success on the women’s side. In four years, Rasnic has a 35-28-5 record, including winning the Region IX title in 2008. Last season, the women’s team lost the regional championship game in a shootout.

Rasnic is excited about his new position.

“I think it will be a good change of focus for me. I have spent the last few years setting up community education classes and working with community coordinators,” he said. “It will be an interesting switch to be involved directly in the athletic department. I think it will be better, in a sense, because I can be more visible to my students. I think things will continue to move in a positive direction because we’re all focused on the overall success of the athletic program here.”

Burgner and Rasnic said they have big shoes to fill in filling Pedersen’s accomplishments.

“I would suspect that we could have hired six people to fill Ped’s shoes,” Rasnic said. “There are a lot of people on my list that I admire for their work ethic and their overall success in the program, and Ped has done an absolutely fabulous job with the athletic department. Ryan and I have big shoes to fill. We are just going to do the best we can. Obviously there will be a learning curve and hopefully we will hit the ground running and continue to provide excellent game activities, concessions, and everything in between, including the department’s fundraising efforts. Our goal is to continue the traditions that Ped established.”

WNCC women's basketball team signs 10 players

Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball coach Dave Harnish is reloading for next season after signing 10 players with plenty of athleticism.

Harnish said he is pleased with the players who have signed so far.

“You are always excited about your new kids coming in,” Harnish said. “I really think we will be more athletic next year and a better team that will fit my style in terms of full court press. There were a lot of things we couldn’t do this year because we weren’t athletic enough and we really couldn’t defend well because we were too big.”

Next year’s class includes 10 players, seven of whom played the guard position.

“I think we addressed [with the recruits] from what we lacked last year and that was guard play. We really didn’t have a true point guard,” Harnish said. “We were able to do that with Samantha [Sanders] from Denver East and also Mykal Suggs from Minnesota. Both are pretty good kids that can play the point guard and they have good quickness and athletic ability.”

The 10 players Harnish has signed so far include Suggs, 5-foot-10 from St. Paul, Minn.; Sanders, 5-6 from Denver; Lisa Durden, 5-9 from Inglewood, Calif.; Leona Garrett, 6-0 from Imperial, Calif.; Shelby Jones, 6-0 from Loveland, Colo.; DaRachia Johnson, 5-9 from Thibodaux, La.; Kyra Verniel-Peterson, 5-9 from Lafayette, Colo.; Ashley Soucie, 5-11 from Basalt, Colo.; Brittany Macey, 5-8 from Northglenn, Colo.; and Samantha Scheiber, 6-1 from Parker, Colo.

Suggs played at Johnson Senior High and finished her senior season averaging 15 points a game. She had 14 double-figure games, including a season-high 23 points against Roseville. As a junior, she averaged 15.1 points and shot 46 percent from the field.

“She is versatile where she can play the two or three guard position. She can shoot the 3-pointer,” Harnish said. “I am surprised that we got her with her ability. She is very aggressive and very athletic. She can play all three guard spots.”

Harnish is also excited about Sanders, who played at Denver East in Denver. Sanders was second team all-state in 5A helping her East team to the state championships. Sanders finished with 17 points in the championship game against Legacy to help East end a 13-year state title drought.

Sanders averaged 13.5 points a game last season. She also averaged five rebounds a game and shot 57 percent from the field. Sanders was the Denver Prep League Player of the Year, as well as the Denver Post second team 5A.

“Sanders is hopefully what we were looking for in a guard. She has really good quickness,” Harnish said. “I think she is the best point guard in Colorado or if not, she is one of the top five. I am looking at her have a big year.”

Garrett played for Imperial High in California, where she averaged 19.7 points and 10.3 rebounds a game. She also had 3.5 steals and two assists a game. Garrett scored 473 points her senior season, including having three 30-plus games in the final five games of the season. Garrett scored 36 points against Calipatria. Garrett was also the All-Imperial Press Player of the Year.

“Leona is a very athletic kid, who can play inside and outside,” Harnish said. “She has good range and can score.”

Durden is another player that Harnish inked from California. Durden played at Redondo Union in Inglewood, where she played basketball and also ran track and field. This past year, Durden concentrated on track and field and was one of the top sprinters in the state.

“Lisa is a very good 3-point shooter and handles the ball well,” Harnish said.

Johnson comes from the same hometown as current men’s basketball player and volleyball player Joe and Kathryn Stock. Johnson played basketball and ran track and field at Thibodaux High. Johnson is one of four seniors to sign to play junior college basketball from her high school.

Johnson was also was a 35-foot triple jumper this past year.

“DaRasha is another two, three guard that is also good defensively,” Harnish said. “She gives us some speed and will help us on the front.”

Jones comes to WNCC after having a successful career at Loveland High School. Jones was a first team all-Front Range selection of the Loveland Reporter-Herald, where she averaged 12 points and four rebounds a game, while playing a forward position. Jones connected on 29 3-pointers last season.

Jones’ best game last season was a 24-point performance against Air Academy, where she was 15 of 16 from the free throw line. She also had two other 20-point performances.

“Jones plays hard on the court and also can play inside or outside,” Harnish said. “I like her work ethic, and she is very aggressive.”

Another Denver Post second team selection was Kyra Peterson. Peterson played at Centaurus High as a guard. She averaged 12.5 points and three rebounds a game. She also connected on 26 3-pointers, had 50 assists and 45 steals.

“She is an extremely good 3-point shooter,” Harnish said. “She plays hard and shoots the ball very well. She had over 50 threes for her career.”

Another Colorado product is Ashley Soucie, a 5-11 forward. Soucie is the niece of former Cougar Danielle Stott, who played for Harnish in 1995-97. Soucie missed last season because of a new injury but has the same drive on the court that Stott had when she played for the Cougars.

“She was a guard in high school and I like her smarts and her basketball IQ,” Harnish said. “She plays outside and can handle the basketball.”

Two more Colorado recruits include Brittany Macey and Samantha Scheiber. Macey played at The Pinnacle Charter High School, where she earned Denver Post 3A honorable mention. Macey also played in the Colorado all-state basketball 3A game in March. She is also selected to play in the June 12 CHSCA all-star basketball game, along with WNCC recruit Kyra Peterson.

"Brittany is a quick guard that can penetrate to the basket real well," Harnish said. "She can create things off the dribble."

Scheiber is a forward that will be counted on in the paint, who played for Ponderosa High School in Parker. Scheiber averaged 7 rebounds, six points and had 29 steals as a senior. She had a season-high 14 rebounds against Gateway, and had 10 rebounds in a loss against state-champion Denver East.

"Samantha will make a name for herself for rebounding and her defensive ability to play inside," Harnish said. "She is a kid that plays hard."

Harnish said that rebounding was one of the team's weaknesses last year and with Scheiber along with the other forwards; they answered that need.

"We were a terrible rebounding team last year and with Leona and her athletic ability and her ability to rebound, and with Shelby from Loveland and Samantha from Ponderosa, we addressed the rebounding needs," he said. "We still have one scholarship open and we are looking for a big kid that can play inside.

"We have six or seven new guards coming in so that is going to help. So, we really need someone with a little bit of size to post up on the block and score for us. We are just waiting around for the best kid that can do that."
The Cougars home the season with three straight home games, beginning with Little big Horn College on Nov. 5. They will then face Hastings College junior varsity on Nov. 6 and Lamar Community College on Nov. 9.

WNCC baseball ends season with loss to Central Arizona

Submitted byBy JEREMY WOZNICK, Star-Herald Sports Reporter

LAMAR, Colo. - The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team had its season come to an end in the second day of the NJCAA Western District Tournament Friday in Lamar, Colo.

A day after suffering a heartbreaking, last at-bat loss to No. 2 College of Southern Nevada, the Cougars might still have been stinging as they dropped a 17-4 setback to No. 11 Central Arizona College.

"It was a bad combination of us not being ready to play and Central Arizona hitting on all cylinders," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "I do think [Thursday's] game took a lot out of us, but we just didn't play well. We made two errors on the first two batters of the game. Central Arizona jumped on us early and they didn't let up."

WNCC finished its season with a record of 24-39. The Cougars saved some of their best baseball for the postseason by claiming the No. 2 seed in the Region IX playoffs. WNCC beat Trinidad State Junior College in the opening round of the playoffs before finishing runner-up to Lamar Community College. The second-place finish in the regional playoffs qualified the Cougars for the Western District Tournament.

"It was great to play in the Western District Tournament," Jones said. "We really gave it a good shot [Thursday]. Unfortunately, we didn't have much fight in us today.

"It's been a year of some ups and downs. We had a really slow start, but the guys were able to preserve and get through it. They really turned it into a good season down the stretch. It was fun to compete against some of the best teams in the nation down here this week."

In eliminating WNCC from the tournament, Central Arizona pounded out 13 hits and blasted five home runs.

After scoring five times in the top of the first inning, Central Arizona went on to score seven times in the next three innings to build a 12-2 advantage. The Cougars plated two runs each in the first and fifth before Central Arizona put the game away with five runs in the sixth.

WNCC finished the game with seven hits.

Elvis Garcia hit a two-run home run in the fifth for WNCC. Jason Sloan led the Cougars offensively by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Jared Baros added a double.

All three of those sophomores played their final game in a Cougar uniform Thursday.

"This has been a great group of sophomores for us," Jones said. "They have really been the core for us the past two years on two solid teams. We're definitely going to miss some of these guys. We're thankful that they put in so much hard work to help the program."

Another sophomore, Armani Gonzalez, took the loss on the mound for WNCC. Gonzalez struck out three and allowed six hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.

Central Arizona (44-19) 524 105 - 17 13 0
WNCC (24-39) 200 020 - 4 7 4
LP - Armani Gonzalez.
HR - Elvis Garcia. 2B - Jared Baros.

WNCC baseball team losses heartbreaker to No. 2 Southern Nevada

Submitted By JEREMY WOZNICK, Star-Herald Sports Reporter

LAMAR, Colo. - The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team gave second-ranked College of Southern Nevada all it could handle before suffering a 9-8 heartbreaker in the opening day of the NJCAA Western District Playoffs Thursday in Lamar, Colo.

With the score tied 8-8 and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Southern Nevada scratched out the game-winning run to thwart WNCC's valiant upset bid.

"It was a great college baseball game," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "Our guys played their guts out. We really played as well as we could. Unfortunately, we just made a couple errors that hurt us and gave them some runs. It was a great ball game."

WNCC will try and keep its season alive today when it battles No. 11 Central Arizona College in an elimination game at 11 a.m. Lamar Community College beat Central Arizona in Thursday's other tournament game.

Southern Nevada jumped to an early lead against WNCC when Bryce Harper blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Harper is projected to be one of the top picks in this year's Major League Baseball Draft. Many scouts have the power-hitting catcher going first overall in the draft.

Jones said all of the attention Harper is receiving is well deserved.

"He just hit a monster shot in the first," Jones said. "After that we tied him up pretty good. He hit a couple ground balls to second base and we hit him inside with a fastball once. He knows what he's doing and he's a strong hitter. There's a lot of power in his swing."

After falling behind early, WNCC quickly answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second to knot the score at 2-2.

The Cougars then ignited for five runs in the top of the fourth to grab a 7-2 advantage. However, Southern Nevada rallied back to take an 8-7 lead by scoring two runs each in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.

WNCC managed to even the score at 8-8 with a single run in the top of the eighth before Southern Nevada scored the game winner in the ninth.

Jones said he was proud of the effort put forth by his ball club against one of the top teams in the nation.

"We weren't intimidated and we never backed down," Jones said. "We made some great plays defensively, Tim Beard pitched a good ball game for us and we had some good at-bats. I'm extremely proud of the guys. It just shows the character of our guys and our program."

Beard started the game on the mound for WNCC and allowed six earned runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. He struck out four. Julio Davila took the loss on the mound for the Cougars.

Offensively, Josh Parker led WNCC with four hits and two runs batted in. Three of Parker's four hits were doubles.

Camilo Baldelomar finished with three hits and scored a run, while Jared Baros had two hits and drove in two. Shane Wade added a double. WNCC out-hit Southern Nevada 13-8.

Against Central Arizona today, WNCC will send sophomore Armani Gonzalez to the mound. Gonzalez is 1-1 in the postseason.

"He's been really good for us in the postseason," Jones said of Gonzalez. "He's really stepped up. We expect nothing but his best effort again [today]."

WNCC (24-38) 020 500 010 - 8 13 4
Southern Nevada (47-13) 200 220 201 - 9 8 3
LP - Julio Davila.
HR - Bryce Harper. 2B - Josh Parker (3), Shane Wade.

WNCC softball falls at national tournament

ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team dropped two contests at the NJCAA national softball tournament Thursday, ending their season with a 43-21 record.

The Cougars found the going tough against Miami Dade College sophomore Erika Bennett as she struck out 16 in a 7-0 win. WNCC was then eliminated in a tightly contested contest against Temple College 5-1.

Even with the two losses, the Cougars still kept their heads up, realizing that they were just one of 16 Division I softball teams to make the national tournament.

“We played good and we left it all on the field,” sophomore Brittany Chacon said. “No one gave up and we wanted to win at least one game. We just left it all on the field and played our hearts out.”

The Cougars goal of winning came up short with the two losses on Thursday, but this team proved that that they are one of the top 16 teams in the nation.

The big thing that wasn’t going the Cougars way on the day was their offense. WNCC managed just six hits on the day, even though they had plenty of opportunities to score.

“Overall we had good times and we bad times,” sophomore pitcher Taylor Anderson said. “We came here the underdogs and we really proved ourselves. We went seven innings against some elite teams. This is the best in the nation and we came here and went all seven innings with them. We had opportunities to score, and our pitching staff did really well. That is all we can really do.”

Anderson, who recorded one of these six hits in the Temple game, said playing in the national tournament was something that she will cherish. Anderson transferred to WNCC this year and had just one year of eligibility. She owes everything to the team for the ride she received to play among the elite.

“I did well this year and I am glad I did,” she said. “I met coach [Winn-Ratlif] a week before school started and it is a blessing, I would have to say, because nobody else wanted me and coach did. She saw something in me that no one else did. We went to nationals. We are a bunch of misfits, but we proved ourselves completely today that we can hang with the best, and we are one of the best.”

The Cougars just couldn’t get any breaks on the day. In the team’s opener against Miami Dade, Bennett was sizzling in the circle striking out four of the Cougar’s first four batters. The Sharks then scored a lone run on an error to go up 1-0.

WNCC didn’t let the Sharks’ lone run stop them as they had a prime scoring opportunity in the second inning. With one out, Jacqui Cappuccilli walked. Ashton Hughes then beat out an infield single. WNCC couldn’t capitalize on the scoring chances.

That was all the base runners WNCC would get the rest of the game as Bennett recorded 15 straight outs. The loss pushed the Cougars to the loser’s bracket against No. 11 Temple College. Temple lost a first-round contest against Blinn College 8-7 in nine innings.

This game was a tight contest. Temple jumped on top with two runs in the first inning on two hits to take a 2-0 lead. WNCC sliced the lead in half as Hughes blasted a solo home over the left field fence.

Temple added two more runs in the third inning on three hits and a couple errors. The Leopards had opportunities to break the game open, but the Cougars’ came up big defensively as they recorded a force out from Jordan Schoepflin to Hughes at home before Schoepflin snagged a line drive.

WNCC had another prime scoring chance in the fourth inning as Schoepflin reached base on a fielder’s choice. Cappuccilli then singled to left field, but WNCC left both runners stranded.

WNCC had base hits in the last three innings, but just couldn’t string enough base hits together on the night.

Temple finished the game with nine hits and five runs, while the Cougars had just five hits and three errors.

Even though the Cougars fell short of their goal at the national tournament, the team remained up beat once they whipped the tears from their eyes.

“Before our season even started and when we stepped on campus, we said we were going to be Region IX Champions and go to the national tournament,” Chacon said. “We wrote it down on something that was very important to us and looked at it every day. We accomplished that goal.”

Chacon said no one can take away from the season that they had this season.

“We had our ups and downs this season, but we’ve gotten better,” she said. “We have great players and great talent. Coach Winn told us that we will leave a mark at WNCC. I can’t picture a season without these girls. We did great and I don’t think there were any other words that you could put it.”

Anderson, who took the loss in the first game and then finished the second game, said they just fell short.

“Our main goal was to make nationals. Being here is great. We didn’t care who we were playing, we just needed to go all out. There was nothing else that we could do,” Anderson said. “We just needed to execute more and get our bats going. But, also, the other pitchers are great here, too. It is alright. We held our own and I am proud of the team.”

Game One
WNCC 000 000 0 – 0 1 5
Miami 105 010 x – 7 10 1
WP – Erika Bennett; LP – Taylor Anderson.

Game Two
WNCC (43-21) 010 000 0 – 1 5 3
Temple College 103 100 x – 5 9 1
WP – Samantha Meyer; LP – Stephanie Townsend; 2B – Temple (Yesenia torres); HR – WNCC (Ashton Hughes).

Cougar softball ready for national tourney

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team’s road to a national tournament begins Thursday when they face Miami Dade College.

The No. 14-seed Cougars, 43-19, face off against the No. 3 Sharks (46-7-1) at 12:30 p.m. at the Canyon Softball Complex in St. George, Utah. The winner advances to a 7 p.m. contest against the winner of the Blinn College (44-9) and Temple College (33-20) game, while the losers of the two games fall into the loser’s bracket with a 4:30 p.m. contest.

WNCC is playing in their second national tournament in three years. In 2008, the Cougar women went 0-2 at Plant City, Fla. This year’s team is not content of just playing two games and going home; they want to make a statement that they belong.

“We are very excited to be at the national tournament,” freshman Megan Bourdon said. “I think it is a great opportunity. We were looking on the Internet of who we were going to play against and saw all the different schools from all over the country. Especially for me, being from Canada, I get to play teams from Miami, Arizona.”

Miami Dade will not be easy to upend. The Sharks finished second in the regular season polls. The Sharks are 6-2-1 in their last nine games, including dropping a 14-0 game to Chipola College in the Florida State Championship game.

The Sharks have two of the top three pitchers in the nation. Geovanny Nunez leds the nation with a whopping .36 earned run average. Nunez is 14-2 on the season with 108 strike outs and allowed just 17 runs. Just as impressive is Erika Bennett, who is third in the nation with a .46 ERA. Bennett is 19-1 on the season with 184 strike outs and allowed just 19 runs.

The Cougars are playing their best softball at the end of the season. Bourdon said after their Arizona spring break trip, this team has clicked. They went 3-9 over the 10-day spring break trip. Since then, they are 29-8, including winning 24 of their last 27 games.

“We have come a long ways since Arizona,” Bourdon said. “By us coming together as a team, we definitely made it happen. In Arizona, I doubt anybody was going to say we were going to win the regional championship, but we put it together and that is what it takes.

What makes this team special is that there really isn’t one player the team counts on to win a game – everybody had clutch game-winning hits or runs. Freshman Jordan Schoepflin was named Region IX player of the year and was the NJCAA player of the week in mid April. Schoepflin, from Arvada, Colo., is batting .392 with 58 runs scores, 57 RBIs and seven home runs.

Katie Groves, last year’s freshman of the year, is having another MVP season. Groves, from Bluffdale, Utah, is second in the nation in RBIs (86) and runs scored (89). She is batting .505 on the season with 15 home runs. She now has 32 home runs in her two-years at the college.

These two are just part of a team. In the Cougars’ 11-2 Region IX championship win on May 9, the Cougars erupted for eight seventh-inning runs. In that inning, Jacqui Cappuccilli, of Las Vegas, Nev., hammered her fifth home run of the season.

The Cougars have plenty of deep threats as just two of the active players have not hit a home run. Ashton Hughes has hit 11 home runs followed by Brittany Chacon and Bourdon with five each.

“That is it with our team that we are all equal and we have confidence in everyone,” Bourdon said. “In every at bat whoever goes up to the plate, I have no doubt that they can win the game for us.”

The Cougars are also a late-inning team as they have mounted comebacks from the fifth inning on.

“We never get down,” Bourdon said. “The sixth-inning is our inning. Hopefully we can make something happen at the national tournament and get a couple of wins.”

To get a couple of wins, though, the team needs to click on all cylinders.

“We need to have good pitching and hitting,” she said. “It seems like the defense is fine. Our defense has been pretty good the whole year. As long as we don’t think about the national tournament, we will be fine.”

Other first round games at the national tournament include No. 1 Salt Lake Community College, Utah, (59-3) against No. 16 Pitt Community College, N.C. (39-11); No. 8 Seward County Community College, Kansas, (47-12) against No. 9 Seminole State Community College, Okla., (43-12); No. 5 Yavapai College, Ariz., (50-14) against No. 12 Indian Hills Community College, Iowa, (33-22); No. 13 John A. Logan College, Ill., against No. 4 Wallace State Community College, Ala., (56-7); No. 3 Miami Dade College, Fla., (45-7-1) against WNCC (43-19); No. 6 Blinn College, Texas, (44-9) against No. 11 Temple College, Texas, (33-20); No. 15 Georgia Perimeter College, Ga., (28-13) against No. 2 Chipola College, Fla., (47-11); and No. 7 Chattanooga State College, Tenn., (51-12) against No. 10 Odessa College, Texas, (33-27).

WNCC games can be heard on KOZY 101.3 FM as well as the web at kozy1013.com. The games will also be video streamed on the Internet at PSBlive.com.

The championship game is slated for Saturday afternoon. Bourdon said they can make a run at the national tournament.

“I think we can. We just need to have confidence,” she said. “I think we are going in there scared a little bit, but as long as we are confident that we can beat anyone, we should be able to win.”

National tournament notebook

** Two WNCC players or student assistants have been at the national tournament before. Student assistant coach Natasha Dypchey was a member of the 2008 Cougar team that went to the national tournament. Freshman Megan Bourdon also was at nationals in 2008, but she was watching her sister Lauren play for the Cougars. Bourdon said

“It was fun watching them, especially seeing how happy they were getting to play,” Bourdon said. “I know how happy she was and I am feeling the same way.”

Bourdon knows a little bit about the teams that will be there – they all are good.

“Seeing them play against those teams, I know there will be a lot better pitching, better hitters and everything at nationals,” she said. “We just have to be ready to go and have fun.”

** The Canyons Complex will not be new for several of the Cougar players as many have played at the complex in the past. The players that have played at the complex include Katie Groves (March 2008), Allie Alverson (March 2009), Jacqui Cappuccilli (June 2009), Taylor Anderson (March 2008 and July 2008), and Stephanie Townsend (July 2008).

WNCC baseball team opens district play on Thursday against Southern Nevada

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team is entering the West District Playoffs with nothing to lose. And, for the Cougars, that is a good thing considering who the Cougars open up with Thursday afternoon in Lamar, Colo.

The Cougars, 24-37, will battle No. 2 ranked College of Southern Nevada 46-13) and potential No. 1 major league draft pick Bryce Harper. The Cougars and Southern Nevada face off in the four-team district tournament at 3 p.m. The other game pits No. 13 Lamar Community College (47-10) against No. 11 Central Arizona College (43-18) at noon to open the tournament.

“There is no pressure on us,” sophomore pitcher Armani Gonzalez said. “We just need to go out and play our game. We really don’t have to play to anybody else; we just need to play our game and we should be fine.”

The Cougars definitely have their hands full as they enter the tournament against three 40-plus win teams. Gonzalez says that anything can happen in the tournament – the key is offense.

“We have been a team based on pitching and defense, so that is what we have to be solid at. We can’t be making errors and we can’t be walking people,” Gonzalez, who was the winning pitcher in the opening round playoff win against Trinidad State on May 9, said. “Most importantly, we have to get some timely hitting. The last game we played against Lamar on Saturday, it was that we didn’t hit, we just didn’t come up with the timely hit. We had situations where we could have scored and we just need to come up with the big hit in those situations. If we come up with a couple clutch hits here and there, we could upset some people.”

WNCC will have their hands full against Southern Nevada, who is ranked second in the NJCAA. Harper, a 6-foot-3 freshman catcher from Las Vegas is the real deal according to many Major League scouts. Harper is third in the nation in home runs with 23 in 180 at bats. Harper is batting .417 on the year with 71 runs scored and 68 RBIs.

Gonzalez said playing against the best can only bring out the best in them. He is looking forward to playing CSN.

“I think it will be a good opportunity for us to play against the best and a lot of people will be watching,” he said. “if you want to play you want to beat the best, so if that guy is the best, then we will play against him.”

The Cougars, even though they enter districts with a below record, are playing well themselves. The pitching staff has been the key for the Cougars success behind Tim Beard, Gonzalez, Rodil Martinez, JC Morales and Julio Davalo.

Beard is 9-3 on the season and is hoping to bounce back from a rough outing against Lamar last Friday. Gonzales, though, is hoping he stays on fire. He is 1-1 in playoff games, and despite him picking up the loss in the 2-0 loss to Lamar on Saturday, he has pitched well. Gonzalez said he goes out on the mound and leads by example.

“I just take it [pitching in the playoffs] as any other game even though it not,” Gonzales said. “I just try to lead by example and get the guys fired up. I figure if I can go in and get three outs, I will give my team a chance to score. That will then give us a better chance of winning.”

WNCC Is making its second appearance in the West Districts. The Cougars hosted the district tournament back in 2007 when Western Nevada Community College defeated Central Arizona College for the trip to the NJCAA World Series. Gonzales said that he would love to make that national tournament trip.

“We are pretty excited to be playing in the district tournament,” he said. “Even though we came up short for the regional championship we still can be the team that has gone the farthest and make it to the Junior College World Series.”

The losers of the first round will face each other in an elimination game on Friday at 11 a.m., while the winners face off at 2 p.m. The championship is slated for Saturday at noon with an if-necessary game to follow.

The winner of the West Districts qualifies for the JUCO World Series May 29 through June 5 in Grand Junction, Colo.

WNCC men's basketball teams signs eight players

Western Nebraska Community College basketball coach Russ Beck is excited with the freshmen talent that he has signed for next season.

Beck’s has signed eight players for next season with a lot of athleticism and height, including a pair of athletes from Nigeria.

The signed players include Michael Peltz, 5-10 guard from Alliance; Akinsanya “Tayo” Akintao, 6-11, 240-lb center from Nigeria; Faruk Oyalade, 6-8 power forward from Nigeria; Raul Delgado, 6-4 guard from Mapleton, Utah; Preston Eaton, 6-0 guard from Mapleton, Utah; Aamir Kelliehan, 6-3 guard from Mableton, Ga.; Stephan Shepherd, 6-8 forward from Long Beach, Calif.; and Justin Standley, 6-3 guard from Oakland, Calif.

Beck said he likes the talent that is coming in.

“The exciting thing is that the potential for us to be good not only this coming year, but the following year as well is really great,” he said. “I think we have some really versatile guards that are between 6-foot and 6-3 and 180 and 210 pounds. We have some horses there. With our foreign kids, I have always enjoyed the young men from Africa because they are very thankful and they work hard, and they will do whatever is asked. I think both those guys will be a good fit in the community and give us great effort on the floor.

“Right now we still need to add a small forward, two more centers, and another power forward and then we should be in good position. In terms of talent level of the first eight or nine guys signed, I think we are looking pretty good, but it always looks good on paper, though.”

The one goal Beck is aiming for is winning the East sub-region and getting a chance to host the regional tournament next March.

“We have a chance to host the tournament this year if we bring in the right guys,” he said. “That is the biggest thing; we want to bring in the right guys this year that will give us minimal if any distractions off the floor, give us great effort in the classroom, and compete day in and day out on the basketball court.”

With what he has signed so far, Beck is on his way in re-establishing Cougar basketball as a force in Region IX. Last year the Cougars finished 19-13 on the season before falling in the second round of the regional tournament. The new recruits coming in all have the potential to lead the team to the regional championship, beginning with the two basketball players from Nigeria.

“Tayo has a reputation of being a very good shot blocker and rebounder. He is a really tough and gritty player. He tries to be an intimidator and will give a good defensive presence on the floor and ability to control the boards. We are excited about Tayo and think he will have a big impact right away.

“Then we signed Faruk who played for the under 19s national team. Faruk is about 6-8 and plays a small forward and is very athletic. He is a slasher and scorer. Both of these players should be high impact players for us.”

Delgado is another talent that Beck signed because of former Cougars Francisco Cruz and Saul Torres. Delgado is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, and attended high school at Springville in Mapleton, Utah.

“Most of us have heard a little bit about Raul Delgado. He is a guy that would be in Division I basketball right now like the University of Utah, BYU or Utah State, which was all interested in him out of high school. They wanted to put him at a prep school, but he felt very comfortable coming here because he has relationships with both Francisco Cruz and Saul Torres [who both graduated this May from WNCC].He is very athletic and very strong. He can shoot the three and slash to the basket. I suspect he will be a very good player for us.

Eaton comes to WNCC after spending a couple years on a mission for his church. Beck said he started recruiting Eaton when he was coaching at Southern Utah University. Eaton led 4A in Utah averaging about 24 points a game prior to serving a two-year LDS mission.

“Eaton red-shirted this past year at Utah State and he is looking to come in and play some significant minutes and have a key role,” he said. “I suspect he will be a really good scoring threat for us on the perimeter. He has some good leadership skills and he has maturity because he is about 21 or 22 years old. He is a combination guard that can play the point or the two position. He has a very strong body and a very good work ethic.”

Beck said that Peltz should see minutes as well and likes the Alliance graduate’s drive on the basketball court.

“Michael had a strong body and is a really tough kid,” he said. “He is left-handed and shoots it. I expect him to come in and challenge for a lot of minutes. With Peltz, I think if he lived in a bigger area where he played summer travel ball, I think he would be a Division I player right now. He will come in and add some stability, and I think he will spend a lot of time in the weight room and do some really good things for us on the floor.”{

Another player that Beck likes is Kelliehan.

“I am very excited about Aamir. He played at Queens City Prep School this last year and averaged about 26 points a game,” he said. “He is extremely athletic and extremely strong. He can really slash. He has very long arms. We are very fortunate to get Aamir because he has the potential to be an all-region, all-American type of player by the time he leaves here. I think he will have significant impact on the floor.”

Beck said that he saw Shepherd when he was recruiting in Las Vegas and likes what he sees from the 6-8 forward.

“Shepherd is very skilled and throws his body around in and underneath the basket, and can take the pass from a bounce and try to create to get to the rim,” he said. “He is a good student and a little bit under the radar. I think he gives us some versatility at the power forward or small forward spot.

Standley is the last recruit Beck has signed so far. Standley actually attended WNCC last semester, working out with the team. He is a guy that Beck said has a lot of potential. Standley spent the fall semester at New Mexico State.

Beck said that because of his relationship with Standley and his dad by recruiting other McClymonds High School players, he got Standley to come to WNCC.

“He can really shot the basketball and has good toughness. We are excited about Justin.”

WNCC softball to face Miami Dade College in first round of national tournament

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team road to a national title will not be an easy one after the pairings for the NJCAA national tournament in St. George, Utah, were released on Sunday.

The 20th-ranked Cougars, 43-19, earned the No. 14 seed in the tournament that starts Thursday. WNCC will open the tournament against second-ranked Miami Dade College (45-7-1) at 12:30 p.m. Miami Dade garnered the third seed in the tournament.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said that she doesn't know a lot about Miami Dade.

"I do not know a whole lot about them, but they have been very good all year long," she said. "We will just need to pitch well, attack pitches we can handle and minimize our mistakes."

Miami Dade enters the tournament having fallen to No. 2 seed Chipola College 14-0 in the Florida State Championship game last weekend. The Lady Sharks are 6-2-1 in their last nine contests having to beat Seminole State in the their regional tournament 7-6 and 6-1.

WNCC has been playing well in the last month of the season where they won 23 of their last 26 games. The Cougars captured their second regional title in the last three years after dropping Trinidad State 11-2 in the title game on March 9.

"We were not seeded as high as I thought we would be, but I think all the games will be exciting," Winn-Ratliff said. "If we play well and do the little things right anything is possible for this team. The young ladies are very excited and eager to get to Utah."

First-round games at the national tournament that begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday include No. 1 Salt Lake Community College (59-3) against No. 16 Pitt Community College (39-11); No. 8 Seward County Community College (47-12) against No. 9 Seminole (Okla.) State (43-12), No. 5 Yavapai College (50-14) against No. 12 Indian Hills (33-22), and No. 4 Wallace State (56-7) against No. 13 John A. Logan College (38-9).

The first-round games set for 12:30 p.m. include No. 3 Miami Dade against No. 14 WNCC, No. 6 Blinn College (44-9) against No. 11 Temple College (33-20), No. 7 Chattanooga State (51-12) against No. 10 Odessa College 33-27), and No. 2 Chipola College (47-11) against No. 15 Geogia Perimeter (28-13).

WNCC played just Odessa College during the regular season, splitting with the Texas school during a spring break trip to Arizona in falling 12-4 in the first game before winning the second game 14-8.

If the Cougars win, they will play at 7 p.m. on Thursday against the winner of the Temple and Blinn contest. A loss in the first round pits the Cougars in an elimination game against the loser of the Temple and Blinn game at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Action in the double-elimination tournament continues through Saturday.

Seven of the 16 qualifying teams played for the title in St. George last year, including Wallace State, which won the 2008 national title and was the national runner-up to Yavapai in 2009. Meanwhile, Salt Lake CC, Blinn College, Seward County CC, Seminole State and Odessa College join Yavapai and WSCC in making their second national tourney appearance in Utah’s Dixie.

This year, the NJCAA has partnered with Panhandle Sports Broadcasting (PSB) to provide live streaming video/audio play-by-play coverage of the entire 2010 NJCAA Division I Women’s Softball Championship. PSB will is to have cameras and announcers at all four fields for the three-day tournament. For more information and a complete broadcast schedule, please visit www.psblive.com.

This is the second year of a three-year agreement between the City of St. George and the NJCAA to host the annual championship tournament. Last year, the NJCAA tournament was the first sports national championship at any collegiate level to be held by the City of St. George at The Canyons Softball Complex, which is an eight-time “Complex of the Year” award winner.
The festivities get underway on Wednesday, May 19, with individual team practice sessions at the complex. In addition, a special welcome banquet to honor all the teams and participants will take place that evening at 6:00 p.m., at the St. George City Town Square, featuring a keynote address by Michelle Delloso, a three-time All-American infielder at the University of South Carolina and former member of the Colorado Silver Bullets women’s professional baseball team, which has been inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

For more information about the NJCAA Division I Fast Pitch Softball Tournament, including bracket pairings and game times, or to pre-purchase tickets at discounted prices, please visit www.jucostg.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the St. George City Recreation Center at 285 S. 400 E., or by telephone by calling 435-627-4560.