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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WNCC men's basketball signs 6-10 Cody Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

33 teams competed in Cougar Golf Classic, Winnelson captures title

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

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

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

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

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

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

               Proceeds from the tournament go to WNCC athletic scholarship fund.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CACC                                     110 122 x – 7 11 0

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

WNCC softball falls in opening round, second contest postponed because of rain

                  ST. GEORGE, Utah – Salt Lake Community College’s Ariel Zimmerman fanned a tournament high 16 Western Nebraska Community College batters as the Cougars fell in their opening round contest 5-1 against the Bruins Thursday in the first day of the NJCAA national tournament in St. George, Utah.

                WNCC’s elimination contest with Central Alabama Community College was halted because pf rain after two innings with the Trojans ahead 2-1. The contest will resume Friday morning at 9 a.m. with the winner advancing into another must-win contest at 1 p.m.

                “We did struggle at the plate in the first game. Their pitcher threw really well and we didn’t make adjustments at the right time,” freshman Mariah Faifer said. “We didn’t hit to our full potential and we didn’t hit like we usually do and that would have made a difference between a win and a loss.”

                The Cougars know have their backs against the wall where they know that one loss and their season is over. The Cougars could have four games on Friday if they win the early morning contest against Central Alabama. Faifer said there is no room for error.

                “I think knowing that a loss ends our season will motivate us because everyone here wants to start a new tradition,” she said. “We want to win and play how we expect because we want to keep moving forward.

The opener was all Zimmerman, who controlled the Cougar bats in tossing a one-hitter. WNCC, however, had their chances to plate runs, but couldn’t get the clutch hit when needed.

                Zimmerman, in the meantime, placed her name in NJCAA tournament history. Her 16 strikeouts were the second-highest total in NJCAA tournament history, one shy of the 17 punch outs set by Lauren Eckermann of Temple JC in 2006.

Salt Lake got all the offense it needed in the first two innings as the Bruins tallied a single run in the first and three more in the second, with the big blow coming off a two-run single by shortstop Krystin Jachim.

WNCC finally cracked the scoreboard with a single run in the fourth. Jacqui Cappuccilli reached base after being hit by a pitch. Jordan Schoepflin followed after reaching base on a hard hit to the second baseman. Cappcuccilli then stole home on a double steal for the only run of the contest.

The Cougars also had a prime scoring opportunity in the fifth as Aria Agle and Amanda Saldivar were walked with just one out. But, both runners were stranded

Mariah Faifer had the only hit of the contest with a single in the third inning. Salt Lake managed eight hits on the day, six of which came in the first two innings where the Bruins did their damage.

WNCC starter Ashton Hughes pitched well in a losing effort, allowing three earned runs (five total) on eight hits with five strikeouts Trojans each have three hits in the contest.

Against Central Alabama, the Cougars fell behind 2-1 after two innings before the game was stopped because of wet fields. Faifer said they need to come out and get their offense going and not leave runners on base. In the CACC contest, the Cougars have already stranded five runners.

“We need to figure out what will work for us and what will benefit us to win,” she said. “The only way to win is by scoring.”

WNCC (51-14)    000 100 0 -- 1 1 2

Salt Lake              130 001 x -- 5 8 1
WP – Ariel Zimmerman; LP – Ashton Hughes.

First Round Tournament scores

Yavapai College 3, Pitt C.C. 1

McLennan 6, Iowa Western 2

Tallahassee 3, Butler 2 (8 innings)

Miami Dade 7, Darton 5

Lake Land 6, Blinn 2

Northeast Oklahoma 13, Volunteer State 2

Howard 6, Central Alabama 2

Salt Lake 5, WNCC 1

Today’s games

9 a.m.

Pitt vs. Iowa Western

Butler vs. Darton

Blinn vs. Volunteer State

WNCC vs. Central Alabama

11 a.m.

Yavapia vs. McLennan

Tallahasse vs. Miami Dade

Lake Land vs. NE Oklahoma

Howard vs. Salt Lake

WNCC softball ready for national tournament

                ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team enter the NJCAA national tournament with plenty of fire.

                For starters, the Cougars enter the tournament with a No. 15 seed with a 51-13. WNCC will tangle with Salt Lake Community College, the No. 2 seed with a 52-6 record at 1 p.m. at The Canyons Softball Complex in St. George, Utah.

                The match up pits two of only four 50-plus winners in the first-round of the double elimination tournament.

Sophomore Allie Alverson, from Toole, Utah, said that when they heard they drew Salt Lake in the first round, they were excited since six of the Cougar players are from Utah.

“We are ready. We have been practicing the last two days getting ready in preparing for Salt Lake Community College. I think we will be prepared for them,” Alverson said. “I think we have a good chance at beating them or everyone. I think this will be a good game and us Utah kids really want to show it to them.”

                WNCC is on an 11-game winning streak and have won 21 of its 23 games. What sets this team apart is their drive to make some noise at the national tournament.

                “This team has told me that they want to go back to back and they also want to be the first to win a game at the national tournament and show people we are Western Nebraska,” WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “It is not just about getting to the national tournament; it is about competing when we get there. We tell them to win every inning and if we can do that, we will be in position to win at the end of the game.”

                Alverson said this team can live up to the goals they have set since practices have been going well.

                “I think we can. I think this team can win not one but a couple games down here,” she said. “we have a good team and will be ready to go tomorrow [Thursday]. Practices down here have been going really good and we all have been excited and ready to play.”

                WNCC’s march to its second consecutive trip to the national tournament and third in the past four years, was highlighted by a team that doesn’t have one or two stars; they have many players that have stepped up throughout the year.

                The Cougars are paced by two 20-game winners in the circle Ashton Hughes, who was named Region IX player of the year, comes into the tournament with a sparkling 30-4 record with an earned run average of 2.17. The sophomore from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, set a school record for strikeouts in a season with 261.

                Right behind Hughes is Amanda Jones, a freshman from Las Vegas, Nev., has also sizzled from the circle with a record of 20-8 with an ERA of 3.42. Jones has struck out 90 in 163 innings pitched.

                Winn-Ratliff said that while the entire pitching staff has performed well, including relief pitchers Sarah Ward-Hadden and Aria Agle, she said that every one of the players, at some time, have come up with key games.

                “Both pitchers have done a good job for us all year and offensively we have done a good job of supporting them,” Winn-Ratliff said. “I have a ton of depth in the circle and that is a big attribute for us. Sarah Ward-Hadden has also come in and did the things she needed to do when she was called upon and Aria Agle has played with a broken finger most of the year before seeing time as a pitcher late.

                “But, I don’t want to take credit away from any one because I thought all 14 of them, day in an day out, did what we needed then to do. This is a total team effort. In previous years we might have had some kids stand out, but this year it has been a team effort and someone different would show up every day.”

                The Cougar’s depth includes an offensive attack that has hammered the ball to the tune of 75 home runs this season, a school record. Megan Bourdon leads the team with a school-record 18 homes. The sophomore also has 66 RBIs and 70 runs scored from her lead-off position.

                Right behind Bourdon is freshman Jocelyn Stubbs who has 16 home runs on the season along with 67 RBIs and 54 runs scores. Stubbs was named Region IX Freshman of the Year. Jacqui Cappuccilli also has provided a boost as well with 15 round trippers.

                Like WNCC, Salt Lake also has plenty of power. The Bruins have hit 91 home runs on the season, led by sophomore Krystin Jachim with 19 home runs. Freshman Savanah Webster has also hammered 13 homes with a batting average of .503.

                The Bruins’ pitching staff is bolstered by Ariel Zimmerman with a 26-3 record and a 2.14 ERA. Zimmerman has struck out 279 batters this season. Right behind Zimmerman is Kylee Colvin with an 18-1 record and a 2.36 ERA.

                If the Cougars win their opener, they will face the winner of the Howard College and Central Alabama Community College at 7 p.m. Thursday. A first-round loss puts the Cougars in the loser’s bracket against the loser of the Howard and Central Alabama game at 4:30 p.m.

                The double elimination tournament continues through Saturday with the championship game. Tournament games will have live audio for games 1 through 27 and then live video for the rest of the games.

NJCAA First Round Tournament Schedule

Thursday, March 19

#1 Yavapai (AZ) College (62-4) vs. #16 Pitt (NC) CC (49-8), 10 a.m.
#8 McLennan (TX) CC (36-16) vs. #9 Iowa Western CC (47-12), 10 a.m.
#4 Miami Dade (FL) College (33-20) vs. #13 Darton (GA) College (47-9), 10 a.m.
#5 Tallahassee (FL) CC (37-20) vs. #12 Butler (KS) CC (45-8), 10 a.m.
#2 Salt Lake (UT) CC (52-7) vs. #15 Western Nebraska CC (51-13), 1 p.m.
#7 Howard (TX) College (40-18) vs. #10 Central Alabama CC (45-5), 1 p.m.
#3 Blinn (TX) College (51-6) vs. #14 Lake Land (IL) College (41-10), 1 p.m.
#6 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (48-11) vs. #11 Volunteer (TN) State College (38-8), 1 p.m.

WNCC's Pinto signs with Oregon State

                Western Nebraska Community College’s Thais Pinto never had dreams of playing sports in college before coming to the United States.

Now, after two years at WNCC, the 6-foot-7 center will get to showcase her basketball talents at Oregon State University after signing a letter of intent.

                “I chose Oregon State because I feel very comfortable with the school's environment,” Pinto said. “Also, I felt very welcomed when I visited. I'm very excited to come there because I feel that Oregon State will send me in the right path with my major, as well as athletics.”

                Pinto is the tallest player ever to compete in Oregon State women’s basketball history and ties for the second tallest player to ever compete in Pacific 10 Conference history. Oregon State coach Scott Rueck is excited to sign the WNCC center.

                “I am excited to announce the addition of Thais Pinto to this year’s recruiting class,’ Rueck said in a press release. “She is a talented and experienced international student-athlete with a bright and charming personality that will fit our program perfectly. To go along with her height, she is a gifted athlete, has great hands and a mature feel for the game. As is true with our previous signees, we expect Thais to have an immediate impact on our program. She is one more reason we’re excited about our future.”

                Pinto said she had several colleges that made contact with her, including University of Southern California, Kansas and Austin Paey, but decided to be a Beaver over a Trojan.

                Pinto, from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, led the country in field goal percentage last season, converting 68 percent of her attempts (100-148) to average 11.0 points per game, adding 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots over 20 games played.

                Pinto is entering an Oregon State team that is on a rebuilding mission. Last season the Beavers went 9-21 and won just two games during the second semester. The Beavers have a very young squad returning with just one senior.

Pinto hopes she is ready for the Division I level.

                “I really don’t know if I am ready for the next level,” she said. “I think that I have to work hard and develop some abilities that I don’t have. With all my effort, I will be prepared to play.”

                Pinto said before she came to WNCC, she had plans to just study in Brazil, but the opportunity to play in the states piqued her interest in the sport. She also played volleyball in Brazil. Pinto will graduate with an associate’s degree from WNCC on Saturday. She said she holds many memories from her two years in Scottsbluff.

                “My two years was great,” she said. “My first year was very difficult for me because I didn’t know English well. But a lot of people helped me during this time. The second year was amazing. The team was good and I could understand what coach Harnish was saying. I have some of the great memories here. I want to say thank you to coach Harnish and WNCC for all support during these two years. I will miss all teachers, coaches and friends.”