WNCC Cougar Illustrated Athletic Newsletter

COUGAR

Illustrated

Special Giving Thanks Edition Gomes thankful to be here November 23, 2023 l Issue 3

Supporting the WNCC Cougars!

Located at 1402 E. 20th Street, Scottsbluff Phone: 308-633-2712

What’s Inside Ana Gomes

The women’s soccer player from Brazil had to overcome being run over by a bus in Brazil during COVID to continue her dream of playing college soccer and studying in the United States. Check out her journey to accomplishing her dreams

Katie Vierra overcoming ACL injury

Katie Vierra was ready to begin her collegiate basketball career until a season ending ACL injury as the Berthoud High star watching from the sidelines. Take a look what Katie is going through as she learns a different style of basketball.

Volleyball and Soccer all-region teams

The WNCC volleyball and soccer teams ended their seasons at the regional tournaments and 10 players were selected as all-region players on the All-Region teams that were released in November.

Looking back at 2004-05 season

In a special alumni section, here is a look back at events from the 2004-05 season as taken from the Cougar Weekly athletic newsletter. This year saw a new soccer coach hired, both basketball teams ranked No. 1 in the country, and many other things you need to read about.

Any story ideas, pictures, or updates on former Cougar athletes, send the information to Mark at mrein2963@gmail.com or mrein@wncc.edu.

Cougar athlete alumni, also send updates what you are doing. Will be putting something in the next Cougar Illustrated of what the former players are doing now.

­—— Cougar Sports Calendar —— Friday, November 24 MBB – AWAY – vs. College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, Idaho, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 25 MBB – AWAY – vs. Colorado Northwestern C.C., Twin Falls, Idaho, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, November 28 WBB – HOME vs. Eastern Wyoming, 5:30 p.m.

MBB – HOME vs. Eastern Wyoming, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, December 1 BB -- HOME – vs. Fairfield Inn Classic – WNCC vs. Casper Friday Schedule: WBB -- Southern Idaho vs. Otero, 3:30 p.m.

WBB -- WNCC vs. Csper College, 5:30 p.m.

MBB -- WNCC vs. Jump Start Academy, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 2 BB -- HOME – vs. Fairfield Inn Classic – WNCC vs. Casper Saturday Schedule: MBB -- NJC vs. Jump Start Academy, 12 p.m.

WBB -- Otero vs. Csper College, 2 p.m.

WBB -- WNCC vs. Souithern Idaho, 4 p.m.

Monday, December 4 MBB – HOME – vs. Laramie County C.C, Cougar Palace, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 7 WBB – AWAY – vs. Willison State at Gillette, Wyoming MBB – AWAY – vs. Williston State at Gillette, Wyoming Friday, December 8 WBB – AWAY – vs. Dawson C.C. at Border Wars Invite at Gillette, Wyo. MBB – AWAY – vs. Dawson C.C. at Border Wars Invite at Gillette, Wyo, Saturday, December 9 WBB – AWAY – vs. Miles at Border Wars Invite at Gillette, Wyo. MBB – AWAY – vs. Miles at Border Wars Invite at Gillette, Wyo.

WNCC freshman Nazir Griffin goes up for a dunk during the Cougars season-opening game against Casper College on November 1.

Monday, January 15 WBB – AWAY – at Lamar CC, Lamar, Colorado, 5 p.m.

MBB – Away – at Lamar CC, Lamar, Colorado, 7 p.m.

Friday, January 19 WBB – HOME – vs. Trinidad State, 5:30 p.m.

MBB – HOME – vs. Trinidad State, 7;30 p.m.

Thursday, December 14 WBB – HOME – vs. LCCC, 5 p.m.

Saturday, January 20 WBB – HOME – vs. Otero, 2 p.m.

MBB – HOME – vs. Otero, 4 p.m.

Friday, January 5 MBB – HOME – Taylor Made Prep, Cougar Palace, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 21 WNCC – Faculty Recital

Saturday, January 6 WBB – HOME vs. Central Wyoming, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, January 23 WBB – AWAY – at North Platte CC, North Platte, Neb, 4 p.m.

MBB – AWAY – at North Platte C.C., North Platte, Neb., 6 p.m.

Monday, January 8 WBB – AWAY – at EWC, Torrington, Wyo., 5:30 p.m.

MBB – AWAY – at EWCollege, Torrington, Wyo., 7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 26 WBB – HOME – vs. McCook C.C., 5:30 p.m.

MBB – HOME – vs. McCook C.C., 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 10 WBB – HOME vs. Western Wyoming, 4 p.m.

MBB – HOME vs. Western Wyoming, 6 p.m.

Saturday, January 27 HS -- Western Conference Tourney, Cougar Palace

Friday, January 12 WBB – AWAY – at Casper College, Casper, Wyoming, 6 p.m.

Friday, February 2 WBB – AWAY – at Otero College, LaJunta, Colo., 5 p.m.

MBB – AWAY – at Otero College, LaJunta, Colo., 7 p.m.

Cougar Shorttakes

Former Cougar Strawbridge captured his 1,000 4-year collegiate point at Evansville

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ormer WNCC men’s basketball player Kenny Strawbridge, who played for the Cougars in 2019-20, captured his 1,000 collegiate point when the University of Evansville with a 74-50 win over Ball State.

Strawbridge is in his final season with the University of Evansville, where he had 460 points a year ago.

In the Ball State game, Strawbridge scored 13 points to lead the team.

Strawbridge’s collegiate career started in 2018-19 when he red-shirted at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He then came to WNCC for a year in 2019-20 where he scored 464 points alongside Teddy Allen. After WNCC, he went to Alabama State for two years and had 513 points.

After two years at Alabama State, he transferred to Evansville where in 2022-23, he scored 460 points. This season, Strawbridge is off to 29 points as the Evansville team is 4-0 on the season.

If you look at Strawbridge’s career scoring including WNCC, Strawbridge needs 34 points for 1,500 career points in his collegiate

career and if he scored now 534 points this year and he will have 2,000 career collegiate points.

At Evansville, Strawbridge had a 25-point game against Fairfield on November 27, 2022. At Alabama State, his highest game was a 28-point game on February 21 against Bethune-Cookman. At WNCC, was 25 points against Northeastern Junior College at the Region IX tournament on March 6, 2020. That was about four days before everything was shutdown because of the pandemic.

Evansville will be back in action November 24 and 25 against Chattanooga and Southeast Missouri at Chattanooga, Tenn.

­— Photo from Evansville website

Former WNCC Cougar Biko Johnson playing at UNO alongside Luke Jungers, son of former Cougar coach John Jungers from mid 2000s

F Katie Smith PT, DPT, CLT

Shelly Koehler PT, DPT, SCS

Blake Wills DC, MS

Wishing all area athletes a safe and healthy season!

Elite Physical Therapy & Wellness Two Locations to Serve You

214 W. 27th Street Scottsbluff, Nebraska 308-633-2900

1270 10th Street, Suite 101 Gering, Nebraska 308-633-4440

www.elitept-scottsbluff.com

ormer Cougar Biko Johnson is seeing playing time in his first year at the University of Nebraska-Omaha men’s basketball team so far this season.

Johnson and the Mavs have played in three games this year his best game was against North Texas when he scored three points in 16 minutes of action. Johnson is a sixth or seventh player off the bench for the Mavs as he is rebounding more. His high rebound game came against Doane when he had four boards.

Also on the Mavs team is former WNCC coach John Jungers’ son Luke Jungers, who is a sophomore. Jungers is 6-foot-9 and is averaging 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds a game for the Mavs this season. Luke was a star at Creighton Prep High School in Omaha.

UNO will have a stretch of three home games when they faced Mid-American Christian on Nov. 22 followed by York on Nov. 27 and then Bellevue on Nov. 22 before traveling to face Texas Tech on Dec. 6.

Second chance

Gomes comes back from bus accident to play college soccer at WNCC

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na Gomes was given a second chance in life and she is doing everything in her power to thank God for what he has done to help her mold and shape her life after a bus accident that nearly ended her life.

You see, in 2020, Gomes was riding her grandma’s bike back home in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, when her life flashed before her eyes. That was when a bus collided with her and she went tumbling down the street, ending up with two broken ankles and lots of cuts and scrapes.

“Literally God saved my life and was there with me every moment. If it wasn’t for him there protecting and guiding me, I think he was the one holding back because if I was about two seconds faster, I feel the bus would have got all of me and literally run over me and I would be dead, “Gomez, a freshman Western Nebraska Community College women’s soccer player, said. “He protected me and he was guiding me. He gave me a second chance in life and I am trying to make the best of it.”

May of 2020 was the day that changed Gomes with what she had to deal with after being hit by a bus just 40 feet from her house. It was that accident that changed her outlook as she turned to God to help her come back to achieve her dream of getting an education in the United States as well as playing soccer.

“The accident was in 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, and I was riding my grandma’s bike home. I was really close to home and I was riding the bike really, really fast. There were no cars on the street because it was the pandemic and everyone was scared to get out,” Gomes recalls. “I was going downhill on my bike really fast and listening to music, so I wasn’t paying much attention. I was turning onto my street like 40 feet away from my house, and the bus was coming from the other street

and it hit me and knocked me over. Thank God it didn’t run me over or else I would be dead. It knocked me over and my foot got stuck on the bike and I was rolling on the concrete. I broke my two ankles pretty badly. I still have a bone gap on my right ankle and tore every ligament in both ankles.”

The whole incident was a blur at the moment as the whole accident lasted a few seconds, but the recovery would last for a couple years.

“It happened so fast, it was like a split second,” she said. “I couldn’t even think about anything.

I thought I had scrapped the bus because I tried to turn but then it was all blurred and then I was laying on the floor looking up. I tried to get up but I couldn’t because both my feet were so hurt that I thought I lost them. I thought the bus had taken my feet.

Some people from the street came to help me and they called the ambulance. I was lying on the floor for an hour and a half to two hours because it was COVID and all the hospitals were busy and so were the ambulances. I was in pain for a long time.”

Up until the accident, Gomes was not happy and struggled with what she wanted to do. The accident gave her another perspective on life and she is bound and determined to make God and her family proud of her.

“I think having dreams gives you a perspective in life. I was really sad before my accident with the bus,” she said. “I was really depressed and really suicidal. I took a lot of meds for anxiety, depression, and

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n Gomes thanks God for second chance ......

ADHD. After I got hit by the bus, I was like I am alive after the bus hit me because God has a purpose for me in this life and I can’t be wasting time being like

‘I am going to die.’ I try to see the bright side of things and God in my life is everything now.

“After the bus crash, I started to search

Ana Gomes in a neck brace lays down while being treated after a bus hit the bike she was riding in her country of Brazil back in May of 2020. Gomes suffered two broken ankles, a neck injury, and bleeding from the ears from the accident.

for my purpose on Him and He gave me back those dreams. I was already 20 and quit playing soccer and God put those dreams back in my heart. I still had a purpose. Last year was one year that I was off my meds and God has been my hero and my strength and my everything.”

Her recovery from having two broken ankles was not easy. She couldn’t use crutches because it was both her feet and the wheelchair that she was in wouldn’t fit through the hallways of her family’s house.

So, she said she was literally crawling on the floor to go from room to room.

“I was in a wheelchair for two months and my wheelchair didn’t fit in my house so I had to go on the floor with a towel and crawl like a newborn baby,” she said.

“I literally had to learn to walk again from scratch. I was crawling and then I had to learn how to walk. I thought I would never be able to run again. I am slow now, but I am running.”

Besides having two broken ankles, she also suffered a neck injury and bleeding from her ears from the crash. Her physical therapy was long and it was made longer as she ended up with a torn ACL while coming back to play soccer a year later.

“I got run over in May 2020 and I started playing soccer again in 2021, but as soon as I started playing soccer again, I tore my ACL in practice so I had to sit out for eight more months,” she said. “I still never gave up because it was my dream and God was giving me strength. He was telling me ‘Hey, this is your purpose. I am going to make a way,’ and he did. This is all Him, nothing on me. It is all God.” Gomes quit playing soccer when she was 18 and went to college in Brazil, but she wasn’t happy with her major and knew that her dream from when she was little was to study in the United States. She had to find a way to make it happen and God was behind her 100% of the way.

“Back then, I was 18 when I had the accident and now I am 22. I went to college in Brazil but I wasn’t happy with my major and I wanted to come to the US. It has always been my dream to live in the US and study here since I was a child. I was thinking of ways of getting here, but I didn’t have the money. I thought about

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n Gomes thanks God for second chance ...... playing soccer again here, but I was unsure if I would be able to do it because of my injuries and because of my age because I was already 20.”

That was when she started to do physical therapy really hard to get back into playing shape.

“I started practicing and God literally gave me a second chance,” she said. “That is all Him, not me, because it is manually impossible. My doctor in Brazil says I need

surgery on both my ankles and I didn’t do surgery at all. He said he doesn’t know how I am playing, but if I am, just to keep going. That is why I am saying it is all Him. God gave me strength. He healed me not only physically, but mentally. He gives me strength every day.”

It was from there that she had to start finding a college. She had six offers and her church family kept praying with her and helped her make a deci-

Freshman Ana Gomes controls the ball while looking for someone to pass the ball from her defensive position in a match against Otero College earlier this fall. Gomes is coming back from several injuries to play soccr at WNCC.

sion and it was WNCC. “I got my first offer on May 1, 2022.

It wasn’t very long ago and I didn’t have a good highlight. I played like five games in Brazil before coming here and I never played outside, I only played inside. It was a miracle for me to get here,” she said. “I ended up with like six offers, which is a miracle. It was all God. I swear, I had nothing.

All that was happening in my life was God. I started talking to the coaches and I had some pretty good offers to places a lot. I prayed a lot with my church people back in Brazil and found a calling here.”

Her freshman year at WNCC started slow as she was injured but she overcame that and it was in a game against Central Wyoming that she started to make progress, which resulted in her starting five straight games as a defender.

“In the beginning of the season, I was injured so I didn’t play the first games and I lost a lot of confidence,” she said. “After I played against Central Wyoming, Coach Todd Rasnic and Coach Esseah Ingram said I had improved really well this season and I helped the team with the defense, clearing the balls, and a lot of sliding.”

That sliding part of the game is something she picked up in the States and it was something that is a highlight to her season.

“I did a lot of slides and I have never done slides in my life,” she said. “It was the first time here, and I now have 10 highlights sliding. They said I helped the team here because I never played as a centerback before. So, I am learning and growing and improving.”

With the new beginning, Gomes is liking it here because it is a healing process and she is getting better physically on the field. She said at some point, she will need surgery on her ankles, but for now, she said, “As long as my body can handle it, I am going to keep playing.”

The second chance in life started in Brazil and is continuing in Scottsbluff. She is hoping that it continues at a four-year institution as she hopes to major in international business working in the international trade market.

“I enjoy it here. I feel like I had to get out of Brazil because it is a healing process for me,” she said. “I am growing so much and I am learning and maturing. I am get-

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n Gomes’ thanks God for second chance ...... ting closer to God here, my one-to-one relationship with him, and I think this is the best part. But, I am in pain all the time. I feel my ankles all the time, sitting down or standing up, laying down. I feel pain all the time, but I am not giving up. This is a second chance and a new beginning. And it is all God and I am grateful.”

Gomes misses her mom and grandma in Brazil, but is taking on the second chance that God gave her.

“I miss my mom and my grandma, but I think I need this. I need this to grow and the opportunities I am creating for the future,” she said.

“I need this to heal because from the time I was 16 until I was 20 or 21, I was in pretty bad shape. In Brazil I was sad or depressed, I was not me at all. I am here to find myself again and find myself in God and take advantage of the new beginning and

the second chance it gave me.

“At this moment, it (Scottsbluff) is the right fit for me because I spent 21 years living in a 2 million-people city and there is a lot going on all the time. Here, it is quiet and I have time to actually heal and find myself again because I lost myself. God changed my life and he continues to change me and my life every day. It is all glory and all grace and all praise.” ­— Written by Mark Rein

Katie Vierra was all excited to begin her collegiate basketball career until an ACL injury sidelined her. Still, Vierra is part of the team and her players helped her by bringing her her Cougar gear so she wouldn’t had to go down the stairs on crutches in October.

Battling back

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Vierra working on getting back on the court after ACL injury

hen Katie Vierra came to Western Nebraska Community College in August, she was excited to be a part of the women’s basketball team.

Vierra was working hard and was having an excellent pre-season.

Vierra’s basketball season became a different story on September 29, the last day of pre-season workouts when the Berthoud, Colorado, product tore her ACL.

Vierra is working hard to get back on the court after undergoing surgery on November 1.

“Before the injury, practices were going good,” Vierra, who was a standout basketball player at Berthoud and was following in the footsteps of a former player and her coaches that played at WNCC, said. “I could feel myself starting to settle in. Especially the week I tore it. I was really looking

forward to getting to play my first college games with my awesome teammates.”

That all changed in a fun 3-on-3 competition when she went down after hearing something pop.

“I got injured on September 29th, which was the last day of preseason for basketball,” she said. “When I first got injured, I wasn’t sure what to think. I was trying to be

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n Vierra working to get back on the court ...... optimistic about my MRI results but I knew something wasn’t right. When I called my mom she wasn’t particularly excited about the news but told me she’d be there every step of the way.”

The process of coming back from ACL surgery is a long one, but Vierra is determined to get back. She does know that she will be working hard to get back on the court.

“The ACL recovery is a long process.

Right after I tore it, my MRI showed a bone fracture, so I wasn’t allowed to put any weight on it,” she said. “This caused my knee to become stiff, so I had to ‘pre-hab’ to prepare for surgery. After surgery, it typically takes athletes nine months of physical therapy to return to playing their sport.”

Vierra is an athlete that loves to be out there. With the ACL injury, it is challenging watching her teammates play while she is sitting the sidelines and waiting through the

long process of coming back from an injury that has become common in the sports world.

“Although at first, the difficulties I had been facing were mostly physical. Learning how to walk on crutches and then learning how to walk again were the main struggles,” she said. “However, I think the challenges I’ll face moving forward are mental. It’s tough to sit out every day and stay positive all the time, but I have a good support system that makes this process 100 times easier.

“Right now, I have to work hard to regain strength and mobility of my leg, but I will have to work hard on the court once I am able to return. This summer I will have to work very hard to return better than I went out for the new season.”

That support system is crucial, from her current teammates, to high school teammates that have went through it, and to

WNCC freshman Katie Vierra passes a ball during an early season practice with her teammates. Vierra was looking forward to playing for the Cougars but will not concentrate on getting back from an ACL injury, which she is working hard to get back to running on the court. She said it will be several months before she can run again.

WNCC athletic trainer Doug Jones.

“I had a friend who went through an ACL tear going into our senior year of high school and she’s been very helpful with advice, she is now a division 1 athlete,” she said. “I never thought this would be an injury I would experience.”

The former Berthoud High athlete that is helping her out is Aiden Carr, who now plays lacrosse at CU-Boulder.

As for Doug Jones, Vierra said that what he does for not only her, but other athletes at the college, is priceless.

“Doug has been a huge help. He’s always there when I need him and he helps me with a smile on his face every time,” she said. “He drives me to physical therapy every other day (and I go see him on the days he doesn’t). He helped me prepare for surgery, and even drives me to my doctor appointments that are an hour away. Doug is the best.”

The injury this year is something different from her previous injuries. Vierra said she has had two broken noses, a concussion, and her gallbladder out. She said she never had an injury keep her out for this length of time.

Still, she enjoyed her high school playing days despite her freshman and sophomore year being cut short.

“My high school career was a ton of fun,” she said. “My freshman year was cut short by a concussion and my sophomore year was shorter than it should’ve been due to COVID, but my junior and senior years were great. My favorite memory from high school basketball was beating Colorado Academy in the third round of the state playoffs and getting to play in the coliseum in the fourth round.”

Coming to WNCC was a pretty easy choice after having her coaches and a former player play at the college. The former player was Bre Fowler, who graduated last year and is now playing in Oklahoma, while her former coaches are Bridgett Murtagh (now Weaver) and her sister Maggie Murtagh. Bridgett played here from 20012003 and was part of the Cougar team that finished second in the nation while Maggie played here in 2007-08.

“I had a few coaches and a former teammate who all came to WNCC to play

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n Vierra working to get back on the court ...... women’s basketball here, so I had some influence from them,” she said. “When I took my visit out here, I really liked it and I knew they had a good program so I decided to give it a shot.”

At Berthoud, Vierra averaged 9.7 points and had 6.1 assists and 4.5 steals a game during her senior year. With that type of talent, Vierra said it is hard sitting out watching from the stands, but she is learning so much more this year that will help her when she comes back.

“Watching practice is hard because I want nothing more than to be playing with all my teammates,” she said. “However, it’s a good learning experience for me to be able to see the game from the sidelines. I learn a lot from my coaches and teammates and they’re fun to watch.”

The women’s team is off to a 6-1 start through games played before Thanksgiving. She believes

the team has plenty of talent.

“I think our women’s basketball team can go as far as they can if they put their minds to,” she said.

“I watch them work hard every day and they continue to improve day in and day out. Each and every player is so talented, and I believe they can succeed against any team they’re matched against.”

While the team is succeeding, so is Vierra in a different way. She has plenty to be thankful as the holiday season is approaching.

“My advice to anyone who has to go through a knee injury like this one would be to stay positive and take it one day at a time,” she said. “I just want to thank everyone who has been here as support.

My teammates and friends are always checking in on me, carrying my bag, carrying my food for me, and doing anything in their power to make this easier for me.” ­— Written by Mark Rein

Write your own success story at Bellevue University.

Find out how you can take your associate degree to the next level when you transfer your Western Nebraska Community College credits to Bellevue University.

For questions scan the QR code or contact: Jennifer Schwab

Relationship Manager @ WNCC – Office G154

402-830-0548 jeschwab@bellevue.edu

Oumar Sissoko transferred from WNCC in 2020 and recently earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an Emphasis in Finance. Today, Sissoko coaches soccer full time while he considers pursuing his MBA. Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommision.org). Bellevue University is committed to providing an environment that is free from harassment and discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military obligations, or status in any other group protected by local, state, or federal lawn.

Bellevue University, 1000 Galvin Road South, Bellevue, NE 68005.

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Rhiannon Castle and Jorge Ortega came to WNCC from Colorado and England and played for the Cougars from 2014-16. Their time at WNCC has been a lasting one as the two got married in 2018 and have a little one as the two know life in Hastings.

WNCC builds families among athletes in many ways for a lifetime

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Rhiannon and Jorge with their little one at this year’s WNCC alumni soccer match that the two always come back fo play in and reunited with former players.

hanksgiving is a time for families and for Rhiannon Castle de Ortega and Jorge Ortega, they will be celebrating one last time the American holiday as they will be moving back to Rhiannon’s country of the United Kingdom.

“Things with us have been going great,” Rhiannon said. “We’ve made the decision to move back to the UK and we’re finally closing in on the big move.”

That is a move that the two former Cougars, who met while at WNCC, will soon leave the States.

She and Jorge are currently looking for houses to this day.

It is amazing how Cougar players from different cities, states, and countries come together after attending WNCC. Jorgee and Rhiannon are not the only ones, either.

Jorge Ortega is from Aurora, Colorado, while Rhiannon Castle came to the states from Prudhoe, England, to play soccer for the Cougars from 2014-16 and the two have become a family, getting married in 2018 and they have a

little one that they cherish.

“Married life is fun with a little one,” she said. “There is never a dull moment in our house; we’ve raised a little clown.”

What Rhiannon is thankful for this thanksgiving is plenty and as the two are taking in their last months in the states.

Rhiannon said she does miss her family in England but has an extended family in Jorge’s family here.

“Homesickness is an awful feeling that hits you in waves, one day your fine and the other you’re sick to your stomach,” she said. “I don’t think you’ll never feel accustomed being so far away from your family but I do have an amazing family over here in Jorge’s family, they’re seriously the best & I’m so thankful for them all.

After the two graduated from WNCC in 2016, the two went on to play college soccer in Louisiana. Rhiannon, or Red from what she was called at WNCC because of her red hair, went on to play at Louisiana State-Alexandra for a

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n Ortegas met at WNCC and happily married ...... year and then played at Hastings College.

It was at Hastings College that Rhiannon shined.

“I went from WNCC to LSUA then Hastings, the journey was very tough but I wouldn’t change it. I met some amazing people in Louisiana and Jorge got to play for a semi-pro team down there,” she said. “Then, at Hastings, I had to wait a year to play, and then I was chosen to co-captain with my best friend which we lead the team to the NAIA National Tournament. It was such a great way to end my collegiate career.”

Today, the couple live in Hastings and Rhiannon is a stay-at-home mom while Jorge is a mechanic at a Ford dealership.

Rhiannon hasn’t played since her senior year at Hastings, but Jorge has been playing soccer still.

“I unfortunately do not play and haven’t since my senior year because where we live there’s no football around,” she said. “But Jorge did get asked to play on an indoor league this fall and then this week we both got asked to play on a coed team in January, which is exciting that we will be able to play together again.”

The two have made a lot of friends and one of them Corrie McDonald, came to WNCC with Rhiannon from England. The two are now married and living in Eastern Nebraska, Corrie and her husband live in Lincoln. Rhiannon said they have talked several times.

“It’s crazy we’re not far away,” Rhiannon said. “I’ve been in touch & congratulated her. I am so happy for her and her family and I know she’ll be a great mum!”

The two still stay in touch with their WNCC families -- the Cougar teammates and coaches. Jorge and Rhiannon come back early for the alumni soccer matches

Rhiannon and Jorge front row toward the left set with members of the alumni men’s team in August. The two always make the trip back for the game, but next year might be a different story as the two are planning on moving to the United Kingdom.

and they have nothing but great memories while playing for WNCC. She said that if she wouldn’t have followed her dreams of playing college soccer, she probably would be working and would not met the love of her life in Jorge.

“I have nothing but great memories of WNCC, by far those were the best two years of my collegiate career,” she said. “I believe I would have gone home after I graduated, and I would just be working a regular job.”

Rhiannon’s advice to all the high school athletes is don’t be afraid to look at a two-year school because what you learn and gain at those first years does wonders at your next school.

“My advice would be go to a JUCO,” she said. “There’s so much stigma on JUCO’s not being as good as a 4-year university, but going to a JUCO helps you grow, develop & adjust to America.”

As for all their Cougar alumni, she wished them well and wishes all the cur-

rent players to soak in their time at the college.

“To all the Cougar alumni from 14-16, Jorge and I hope you’re all doing fine and wish you all the best and we thank you for all the great memories we had together!,” she said. “To all the current WNCC students, enjoy every minute, time seriously flies and the best memories we have are at WNCC and the connections we made there.”

One last thing with this being the holiday season, Rhiannon is thankful for what she has gained while at WNCC. “I am so thankful for my health, my little family & my extended family, and of course to our dogs who have been through everything with us,” she said.

“Finally happy Thanksgiving to everyone past, present and future. Also, give your friends and families an extra squeeze.” ­— Written by Mark Rein

20

+Questions

K

with Kayli Cooper

ayli Cooper, a freshman on the Cougar softball team, got to celebrate two Thanksgivings as the softball team had a Canadian Thanksgiving for Cooper in October and then the American Thanksgiving in November. Cooper came to WNCC from North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, and is a pitcher for the Cougars as well as playing other infield positions. Because of the Thanksgiving holidays, it was only fitting to talk to the Canadian about her time at WNCC and other things in this issue’s 20+ questions.

MR: First off, how is your freshman year going?

KC: So far freshman year has been going really well. I’ve gotten used to the campus and have made lots of new friends.

MR: Last month, the softball team celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving. What was that like that the team did that?

KC: I loved how they put something together to celebrate with me, it meant a lot to me. It made me feel at home and I was so glad that I got to enjoy my thanksgiving with all of my teammates as-well as coaches.

MR: Now, with Thanksgiving this weekend, what is Canadian Thanksgiving and is it different

or the same from the American version?

KC: For the most part thanksgiving is the same, you spend time with family, bond, eat things like turkey and say what you are thankful for. The only big difference is that Canadian thanksgiving is in October while American thanksgiving is in November.

MR: What are you thankful for during this time of the year?

KC: I am thankful for all of my family, my friends, the opportunities I have gotten, my teammates and coaches, and for being able to continue playing softball at WNCC. MR: Did you go home for the holiday break or how are you celebrating Thanksgiving?

KC: I did not go home for the break, instead I’m spending Thanksgiving with one of my friends and her family in Colorado.

MR: How different are Canadian and American traditions that you have noticed so far?

KC: Some of the food during thanksgiving is different that I have never seen/ heard of, and the family I went home with didn’t stay at any of their own homes, but instead stayed at a cabin.

MR: What is it like meeting new friends from all

over and how many friendly relationships have you made this semester?

KC: It’s really cool to meet people from all over the states and even some from different parts of Canada and also different countries. I never thought I’d meet so many people from all over but I’ve learned a lot of new things from them and have seen lots of similarities and differences from where each of us live. I’ve made tons of new relationships with those that play other sports and those who don’t play sports as well throughout the past couple of months.

MR: What is it like being away from your family playing a sport that you love?

KC: It’s definitely hard being away from my family for so long, but being at WNCC with my team and close friends have made it much easier than I thought it would be. I’m very grateful to have this opportunity and it helps knowing that my family is still cheering me on from home.

MR: How is college softball different from high school?

KC: Where I live we did not have any high school ball. So instead I was on a winter travel

Continued on next page

n Cooper got to celebrate two Thanksgivings ...... team, and then switched to a summer travel team where we would go to the states for tournaments to play, since we couldn’t in Canada considering the weather.

MR: How much talent is on this year’s team?

KC: I think we have a lot of talent on the team. There are a lot of hard workers and as a team we push each other a lot. But we still have lots of room to get better before spring and grow more as a team.

MR: What is your softball playing background?

KC: I’ve been playing softball since I was 8 years old. I played in my small town of North Battleford up until u14 then I went out of the province playing for Lloyd and Edmonton teams that were more competitive. Then my sophomore and junior year I moved to Saskatoon to go to a softball academy, while I also was apart of a winter travel team called the 222’s where I got the chance to play all over the states.

MR: What are some memories that you will remember so far from this semester?

KC: Some memories that I will remember from this semester is having Canadian thanksgiving with my team, getting to travel and play my first college game, meeting all of my teammates, and always hanging out with my roommates and close friends, having movie nights, going for a drive, etc.

MR: When you come back from the Christmas break, the season starts for real and practices will mean a lot more. Are you excited for the spring season and to play games for real?

KC: I am super excited to start practicing outdoors and starting our season. Though I am a little nervous for our first game, I cannot wait to be back outside on our field.

MR: Did you play any other sports in high school?

KC: In high school I played basketball my freshman year and also played volleyball up until my senior year.

MR: There have been a consistent pipeline of players from Canada down to WNCC, what does it mean that you get to continue that tradition and do you know any of the former Canadians?

KC: It means a lot that I get to play here at WNCC, I’ve worked very hard to get here and am thankful that I got the chance to play college ball in the states considering it is more competitive than that of Canadian teams.

MR: What is the hardest thing for someone outside of the USA to get used to in American?

KC: I think the hardest thing would probably be getting used to not having your family members there, or any of your close friends. When you come to the US you have no friends and no family with you so it’s hard to get used to that. Another thing is not being able to go home every other weekend or break, some people may go home every weekend if they are close, but

it’s harder for those outside of the country to go home.

MR: Who is the funniest player on the softball team?

KC: Personally, I think Bailey Legere is the funniest player. She always knows how to lighten a mood and cracks jokes at the most random times.

MR: I see the softball team supporting the other teams at games when they can, how important is it for other teams to support the other sports?

KC: I think it’s very important to support the other teams. We are all apart of WNCC so having everyone support makes the games feel more energetic and shows how much of a family WNCC feels like.

MR: Since you have been here for college, have you been some things you have done outside of the college?

KC: I have done things like go bowling, go to the movies, and go for supper with some of my friends.

MR: What are you hobbies?

KC: I don’t have a whole bunch of hobbies, but I do love to read when I have the time.

MR: What makes a winning team?

KC: I believe a winning team is a team that is able to be energetically connected with each other as well as is able to push and pick up one another. I also think that a team that works hard and always gives it there all is what contributes to a winning team

Volleyball team ends season at regionals; four players make All-region South team

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he Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team ended their season at the regional tournament in a matter that wasn’t expected.

The Cougars, finished the year at 1617 and it was a season that had it’s ups and downs.

Still, sophomore Charli Blackman said they didn’t end the season they way they wanted, but they have to be proud of how they fought through all the adversity they had to overcome.

“I think we had a bumpy road the entire season just because we didn’t have a lot of stability. I think the girls did as good as what we had and played as well as they could,” Blackman said. “I definitely don’t think it was the season that we wanted but I think it was a season we made for each other and I think we all fought to the end and I am just really proud of the girls.”

The Cougars finished the year at 16-18 where they dropped their first two matches at the Region IX tournament in Sterling, Colorado.

The Cougars opened the tourney with an heartbreaking 5-set loss to Laramie County Community College where the Golden Eagles had a reverse sweep in winning the final three sets for the win.

WNCC won the first two sets 25-19, 25-18 before falling in a very close third set 25-23.

LCCC then took the fourth and fifth sets 2513, 25-11.

That dropped the Cougars into the second tournament bracket and the Cougars in the second tournament bracket before falling to Central Wyoming College in four sets.

WNCC won the first set 25-14, before

2023 Region IX South All-Region Members

S. Martinez First Team

K. Gabriel First Team

dropping the next three 25-20, 25-23, 25-10.

After the tournament, the Cougars had four players earn Region IX South All-Region honors.

Shanelle Martinez and Kyana Gabriel earned First Team honors while Finja Schul and Lilly Zwart earned honorable mention honors.

While it wasn’t the way the team wanted to end the season, Blackman remained upbeat and wanted her teammates know that she was proud of them of how they kept fighting through the bumpy season.

“I think every girl fought really hard and nobody never gave up in any of the spots,” Blackman said. “I think we were all proud of each other because we stayed until the end and kept fighting. That is all we could ask for.”

For many of the players, it was their last time wearing a Cougar uniform and that was an emotional moment after they ended their season.

“I think during the last set it all hit us that it was our last game wearing a Cougar jersey,”

L. Zwart Second Team

F. Schul Second Team

Blackman said. “It was really heart breaking and it definitely wasn’t the way we wanted to go. We all cried a few tears at the end but we were all just grateful that we got to spend these last two years together.”

For Blackman, it hit her pretty hard, especially that she won’t be playing with her two best friends, Shae Hardy and Megan Bewley, that she got to know during her two years at WNCC. “I know personally for me that I got really teary-eyed after that last set because I wasn’t going to share the court with my two best friends of Shae and Megan,” Blackman said.

“Those two girls have been my entire world the last two years and I couldn’t have done it without them. That is really heart-breaking that I won’t be playing with them again.

“And, I know it will be really sad leaving Lilly, the other New Zealand girl here because I brought her here and it is really sad to leave her. But, I know that she will do amazing things here and they will do great things next year.”

Blackman said htree of the five sophomores are planning on going on to play, while Shae and Megan played their last volleyball games.

Through it all, Blackman is just proud of the girls and wishes the freshman good luck next year.

“I am just really proud of the girls,” she said. “I want the them to know the season doesn’t define us and they will come back stronger next year and that is all that matters is to focus on the 2024 Cougar season.” ­— Written by Mark Rein

Five men’s soccer players make all-region

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2023 Region IX Men’s Soccer All-Region Members

he Western Nebraska Community College men’s soccer team was well-represented on the Region IX All-Region team that was released last week.

The Cougar men garnered two First-Team selections as redshirt freshman Eduardo Oliveira earned honors as a forward while sophomore E. Oliveira Samuel Acosta captured First Team first team honors as a defenders.

The Cougars had one Second Team All-Region member as sophomore Pablo Dominguez earned a spot as a mid-fielder.

The Cougars had two honorable mention recipients as freshman Isrrael Rodriguez earned recognition as a mid-fielder while sophomore Hernan Burdiles was selected as a goalkeeper.

Oliveira had a strong first season for the Cougars where he scored nine goals in 10 games while dishing off five assists in earning first-team honors. Acosta, as a defender, had a strong season where he scored a goal and had three shots during the season.

Dominguez, in earning second-team honors, started 13 games for the Cougars where he scored five goals and had five assists in his sophomore season.

Rodriguez and Burdiles also had strong seasons in earning honorable mention honors. Rodriguez, a freshman, started 14 of 15 matches where he had four goals and one assist this season. Burdiles, a sophomore, was one of the top goalkeepers in Region IX as the sophomore logged in over 2,300 minutes in goal in his two years at WNCC. He also had just 18 goals against him this year while registering 92 saves. He finished his 2-year career with 155 saves in net.

Other First Team members besides Oliveira and Acosta included Forwards: Otero’s Deanroy Phillip,

S. Acosta First Team

P. Dominguez Second Team

Casper’s Cole Venable, and Northwest’s Pedro Teixeira; Mid-fielders: Casper’s Tuto Hatayama, Northwest’s JJ Mullane, NJC’s Elias Khodri, and Otero’s Breno Andreucci; Defenders: Casper’s Kohta Yamanashi, and Otero’s Patrick Vukojc and Gio Poliero; and Goalkeeper: Casper’s Hugo Amo. Second Team members besides WNCC’s Dominguez includes Forwards: LCCC’s Azael Marrufo, Northwest’s Ricardo Da Silva, Central Wyoming’s Tanner Johnson, and Casper’s Isa Bramble; Mid-fielders: Casper’s Jules Foll, Otero’s Yuto Komine, and Central Wyoming’s Pedro da Costa; Defenders: Northwest’s Daniel Gargolla Saverda, Casper’s Sho Horie, and LCCC’s Brandon Young and Jonathan Ruvalcaba; and Goalkeeper: Otero’s Gabe Selby.

Honorable Mention members besides WNCC’s Burdiles and Rodriguez include Forwards: Gil-

I. Rodriguez H. Mention

H. Burdiles H. Mention

lette’s Julen Arteaga, Casper’s Hayden Hollinger, Trinidad’s Victor Quintana Antillon, Central Wyoming’’s Dorian Penner, and NJC’s Lasse Bieg; Mid-fielders: Casper’s Louis Simon, NJC’s Dante Walcott, Casper’s Garrett Morris, and Gillette’s Phillip Avendano Castillo; Defenders: Trinidad’s Mohammed Haidara, Otero’s Luis Gonzalez, NJC’s Cameron Sickels, Northwest’s Bridger Meyer, and Gillette’s David Silva; and Goalkeeper: Northwest’s Inigo Chavarria Bezunartea.

Other big honors saw co-MVP honors going to Casper sophomore Yuto Hatayama and Otero freshman Deanroy Phillip. Phillip also earned Region IX Freshman of the Year. The Region IX Defensive Player of the Year went to Casper sophomore Kohta Yamanashi while the Coach of the Year went to Casper’s Ben McArthur.

Vasquez, Barrera earn all-region honors

W

estern Nebraska Community College women’s soccer players Lesley Vasquez and Lizbeth Barrera earned post-season soccer honors for their play on the pitch this season.

Vasquez, a sophomore, earned Region IX All-Region First Team honors as a midfielder, while Barrera, a freshman, garnered All-Region honorable mention honors as a defender.

Vasquez was one of the top vote getters for all-region honors from the Region IX coaches. Vasquez finished her sophomore year with nine goals and six assists. For her career, she tallied 17 goals and 14 assists.

Barrera, from Aurora, Colorado, started all 14 matches for the Cougars this season and was a consistent mainstay on the defensive backline.

Other First Team Region IX honorees include Forwards: Otero’s Bello Omoqunmi, Laramie County’s Caroline Kuhn;

2023 Region IX Women’s Soccer All-Region Members

L. Vasquez First Team

Midfielders: WNCC’s Vasquez, Western Wyoming’s McCall Hogge, LCCC’s Tayler Miller, and Otero’s Juliana Kottbauer; Defenders: Otero’s Judy McIntosh, Western Wyoming’s Callee Hill, LCCC’s Kayt Ward, and Casper’s Haley Seaich; and

Keoho, Hernandez lead SMWC to most wins in school history

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ormer Cougar volleyball players Alex Hernandez and Lexi Keoho helped Saint Mary of the Woods to a record-setting season in posting 28 wins to 7 losses.

SMWC closed out their season in falling in the quarterfinals of the River States Conference tourney to Rio Grande (Ohio) in five sets.

Keoho finished that

L. Barrera H. Mention

match with 22 set assists and eight digs, while Hernandez had four kills.

For the season, SMWC had the most wins in school history. Keoho finished the season with 91 digs, 278 set assists, and six aces in 19 matches.

Hernandez appeared in 23 matches and had 138 kills for a .376 hitting percentage, 38 digs, and 32 blocks.

Both are juniors at SMWC.

GoalKeeper: LCCC’s Kiara Kershaw.

Second Team members include Forwards: LCCC’s Macy Woolcock and Northwest’s Autumn Wilson; Mid-fielders: Casper’s Michelle Cave, LCCC’s Abby Williams, Trinidad’s Yaddelis Alderete, and Casper’s Kaylinn Gallup; Defenders: Casper’s Haylee Anderson, Western Wyoming’s Lilly Bailey, LCCC’s Kjerstin Bunderson, and Northwest’s Sam Bonar; and Goalkeeper: Otero’s Nagi Kawahata.

Those receiving honorable mention honors include Forwards: Casper’s Emma Goetz, Otero’s Sheranda Charles, and Northwest’s Pressly Taylor; Mid-fielders: Western Wyoming’s Brynleigh RitchieOtero’s Celia Keck, Northwest’s Kaitlyn Campbell, Otero’s Madison Bussey, and Gillette’s Cesia Swain; Defenders: WNCC’s Barrera, Western Wyoming’s Mackenzie Osborn, NJC’s Kade Rodriguez, and Gillette’s Camree Tribe; and Goalkeeper: Western Wyoming’s Addie Welsh.

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Fava helps UNO volleyball to 1st NCAA tourney Tsvetanova leads Coppin State to national tourney

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wo former Cougar volleyball players will be heading to the NCAA Division I volleyball tournament after leading their teams conference titles.

The UNO Maverick volleyball team made history capturing the Summit League Championship in a reverse sweep in taking out No. 1 Missouri-Kansas City in five sets.

Former Cougar Erica Fava was part of that team that earned the schools’ first Division I tournament appearance.

The Mavericks have made 19 NCAA Division II tournament appearances including a Division II national title in 1996.

The Mavs earned the conference championship with scores of 18-25, 20-25, 2624, 25-12, 15-11. UNO previously finished runner-up four times.

For Fava, it is the second straight year that she will be attending a national tournament. Last year for WNCC, Fava was part of the Region IX championship team last year and going 2-2 at the NJCAA national tourney.

This year Fava is having a stellar season

as a libero/defensive specialist for UNO. Fava as appeared in 99 sets and has 277 digs, five kills, and 76 set assists for a UNO team that is 15-13 on the season.

The Mavs opened the tournament with a five-set win over the University of Denver in the semifinals winning 25-21, 25-21, 2025, 15-25, 16-14. Fava had a team high 19 digs in the match.

The selection show will be held on Sunday, November 26 to see where the Mavs will land in the bracket.

Fava will join and another former Cougar in the national tournament as Andrea Tsvetanova helped her team to the national tournament with a win over Howard to win their first-ever conference title in the MEAC Tourney.

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Coppin State swept Howard 25-20, 2624, 25-19. Tsvetanova is in her third season at Coppin State after spending two years at WNCC. Tsvetanova led the team in the title game with 20 assists.

Coppin State is 27-4 on the season and have won five straight. Their last loss was to Howard in the regular season, but Coppin State got revenge on them when it mattered.

Tsvetanova will leave Coppin State as one of the school’s top setters after earning Setter of the Year in MEAC honors.

Tsvetanova quarterbacked the league’s top offense, ranking first with 9.44 assists per set and 0.59 aces per set as the Eagles hit a league-high .229 with 12.90 kills per set. A redshirt senior from Sofia, Bulgaria, Tsvetanova put up 1.96 digs/set and added 44 kills and 18 blocks. Tsvetanova was a four-time MEAC Setter of the Week this season, recording at least 40 assists in 10 matches.

Tsvetanova ranks first among all active Division I players with 223 career aces in 331 sets (0.67 per set), both of which are school records. She also ranks second in CSU history with 2,953 assists and eighth with 721 digs.

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Cougar Frenzy

Cougar athletes have less than five minutes to respond to some interesting topics

Question Athlete

How many times have you sat on Santa’s lap

Favorite Winter Activity

What Are You Thankful For

Turkey or Ham

Favorite Holiday Movie or Show

10

Christmas Movies

Dogs and Family

Turkey

Home Alone 1

Turkey

The Grinch

5

Cook With My Family and See Fireworks

Thankful for my family, friends, my life, and everything around me

Turkey

I don’t have one

7

Skiing and Watching Christmas Movies

Thankful for my family, friends, and people around me

Turkey

Home Alone 2

2

Eat Colombian Food With My Family

5

Watching Christmas Movies and Activities

Reagan Werth Softball

53

Sledding

Emilee Hunsley Women’s Soccer

Sebastian Arenas Men’s Soccer

Adeline Urtane Women’s Bball

Samuel Acosta Men’s Soccer

Keyla Cervantes Women’s Bball

My Family and Friends

My Family

My Family

Turkey

Turkey

Spirited

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Scottsbluff’s Reisig inks with Cougar baseball

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he Scottsbluff High multi-sport athlete will be taking his athletic talent to Western Nebraska Community College after signing to play for the Cougar baseball team Tuesday evening.

Reisig, who has played with the WESTCO and Gering American Legion teams, said he is excited to continue playing baseball in college, a sport that he has played since he as a tiny tot.

“I would like to say that Coach (Mike) Jones helped me a lot, too, the last couple of years and guided me to where I wanted to be today,” Reisig said about his decision to play baseball for the Cougars. “He has been watching me for a long time. I have been going to his camps since I was 10, so I always looked up to him and all the players, too, so I knew right away that I had to go.”

Picking was a pretty easy decision for Reisig even though he was a stellar football and basketball player at Mitchell and now Scottsbluff.

“I have been playing baseball since I was four years old and I always loved it,” Reisig said about playing his favorite sport. “Football is super hard on your body, but I have always liked football. Basketball is the same thing, it is super hard on your body. I just fell in love with baseball super early and I

Scottsbluff ’s Carter Reisig signs his letter of intent to play baseball for the Cougars on November 7. Reisig played for both the WESTCO and Gering Legion teams and will be a pitcher for the Cougars next year. am super grateful.”

Reisig will be destined to be a pitcher at the college level and that was where he shined for the WESTCO and Gering PVC programs the past three years. His goal is to get stronger and better as a pitcher during his time at the college.

“I think I can become a way better pitcher. I can make my mechanics way better and my body and hit the weight room,” Reisig said. “I just want to focus on getting bigger and stronger. Eventually I would like to be a starter but it is all up to him in the end.”

While he used to throw a knuckleball in the past, that pitch is no longer in his repertoire. His strength is two pitches, a fastball and a curveball. But, he said, he does want to throw the batters a curve and develop a slider.

“I used to throw a knuckleball but I quit doing that. When you get older you can’t throw that junk anymore,” he said. “Right now I am throwing a fastball and a curve ball and I would like to develop a slider and get more velocity on the curve ball.”

His goal when he comes to WNCC next fall is to get better so he can continue on at a four-year level and keep playing as long as he can.

“Definitely I would like to play as long

as I could and at a high level, too,” he said.

“It (WNCC) is a great opportunity and I am beyond blessed. My family and my brother helped me so much to be where I am today.

I can’t thank them enough.”

During his summer playing experience, his biggest memory was for the Express when they went to Kearney for a tournament. He said he had one of his best games down there.

“I remember my freshman year going to Kearney for area and played one of the best games I have played in my life, even with just nine guys, too,” he said. “We had just two freshman, three sophomores, and we just all balled it out that weekend.”

This summer, Reisig is ready to play on the new revamped Cleveland Field and the new artificial turf, which is also home the Cougars. He said he can’t wait to play on the turf infield.

“The old field was something else, it wasn’t good,” he said. “I am excited for turf. It will be fun.”

Reisig plans on majoring in sports medicine when he enrolls at WNCC. “I would like to thank God and thank my family; I couldn’t have done it without them,” he said. ­— Written by Mark Rein

Cougar baseball team cleans up St. Agnes Premiere

Cougar Athletes of the Week

Female Athletes of the Week

July 20.........................................Megan Bewley, Vball August 23........................................... Lilly Zwart, Vball September 7.............Yasmin Urbina, Women’s Soccer September 13..............Aileen Perez, Women’s Soccer October 6................ Lesley Vasquez, Women’s Soccer October 20............................. Shanelle Martinez, Vball November 8........... Helena Kuck, Women’s Basketball November 16....... Ebere Egbirke, Women’s Basketball November 25................................................................

Male Athletes of the Week

July 20................................Paul Cerros, Men’s Soccer August 23....................Hernan Burdiles, Men’s Soccer September 7.............. Isrrael Rodriguez, Men’s Soccer September 13.............Eduardo Oliveira, Men’s Soccer October 6...................... Roberto Rivero, Men’s Soccer October 20..................Eduardo Oliveira, Men’s Soccer November 8............................... JJ Harris, Men’s BBall November 16................... Maurice Walker, Men’s Bball November 25................................................................

Around the country ...

A look at what Cougars are doing now

Juliana Oliviera named Heart of America All-Conference Former WNCC volleyball player Juliana Oliviera had an outstanding junior season at Missouri Valley College where the Riberia Preto, Brazil, native earned Heart of America Conference Second Honors to lead the team.

Overall, four members of the team earned All-Conference honors.

In Oliviera’s first year at Missouri Valley, the former Cougar led the team in kills (314), kills per game (3.08), total points (364) and ranked third overall in the Heart in points per game (3.8). She also finished second on the team in service aces (31), totaled 269 digs and posted 12 double-doubles.

Missouri Valley lost in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament and finished the year at 15-17.

Former Cougar Cardenas has successful junior year Hazel Cardenas, former women’s soccer player, had an outstanding season at Wayland Baptist University this season as the Aurora, Colorado, product started 12 of the 14 matches for the Pioneers.

Cardenas had just one goal this year and that came on September 30 against Central Christian College. That goal was Wayland’s only goal of the game and it was the game-winner as they won 1-0.

Cali Wright started all 14 matches at Northwestern Scottsbluff and WNCC graduate Cali Wright was a key starter for the Red Raider soccer program this past fall.

Wright started all 14 matches for the Northwestern as the Red Raiders finished the year at 5-7-2.

Wright had two shots this season in her junior year.

Former Cougar coach back in the college coaching world as the head coach at Southern Virginia University Former WNCC men’s basketball coach Trace Bevell is back in the college coaching ranks as the head coach at Southern Virginia University, a NCAA Division III program.

Bevell joins the basketball program in Buena Vista, Virginia, from Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah, where he has been the head boys basketball coach for the past decade. Overseeing all aspects of the program, Bevell led Jordan to unprecedented heights, including a Utah 5A State Runner-up Title during the 2018–19 season, while also being named Utah’s 5A Coach of the Year.

Before becoming the head coach at Jordan, Bevell was the assistant coach for Lone Peak High School’s varsity boys basketball program, where he contributed to the program’s 26–1 record en route to the Utah 5A State Championship in 2012–13. After the season, Lone Peak was named the MaxPreps National High School Champions.

Prior to Lone Peak, Bevell served as the head men’s basketball coach at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyoming, from 2007–12. There, he guided the program to a 109–57 record (66% winning percentage). During the 2010–11 season, Bevell led WWCC to a Region IX Championship and a

seventh-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament.

Bevell also held coaching tenures at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and McCook Community College in McCook, Nebraska. As the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at both institutions, Bevell led his teams to multiple Region IX Championships and appearances in the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament.

Gibney now at Eastern Kentucky as assistant coach Former WNCC head women’s basketball coach Chad Gibney is now an assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky University serving also as the recruiting coordinator.

Prior to his arrival in Richmond, Gibney was an assistant on St. Bonaventure’s staff during the 2022-23 season and played a key role in helping the Bonnies’ recruiting and development efforts.

Before his time at St. Bonaventure, Gibney led Western Nebraska Community College from 2017-2022 and helped the program to a 161-24 record with appearances in the NJCAA National Tournament in all six seasons as head coach.

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Rollerskating fun

WNCC athletes show off their rollerskating talents during a night of fun night at the rink

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New feature on athletic website: How far Cougar athletes have traveled

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here is a new feature on the WNCC athletic website and it called WNCC athletes: The road to and from WNCC. The link is at https://wnccathletics. com/information/Alumni_--_Where_ Are_They_Now_Link and it will show the former players from where they came from to WNCC and then where they transferred to after WNCC and where they are now.

The athletes listed re from players that have gone on to play and they have had to submit information since it is hard to track exactly where they have gone.

So far there isn’t a lot of athletes on there, so if you are a former Cougar, and id doesn’t matter if you only played here one year, one semester, two years or three years, you are a Cougar Alumni. Even players that were here for half a semester are Cougar alumni.

What you need to do is send the following information to Mark at mrein@ wncc.edu or mrein2963@gmail.com. You can also text the information to 308-6310459.

When you hover over the sports, it will tell you how many miles is listed among the athletes.

For example, women’s soccer has two players listed and it shows their mileage as 1,949. The two are Bethany Fuchs at 779 miles from Aurora, Colorado, to Seward, Nebraska, and back to Scottsbluff, where she works now.

The other soccer player that turned in

her information is Katelyn Pyle. She graduated from Sterling, Colorado and came to WNCC. She then went to Laramie, Wyoming, and finally, she is now living in Dallas, Texas. Her mileage is 1,170.

Just a note that all mileage is googled and taken from there so there might be a few miles off.

Cougar volleyball has three athletes listed and the total miles right now for them is 18, 683 miles.

The three players on the list, two of which I know their travel from playing to where they are now, include Brooke Kaawa from Hawaii and she has traveled 6,528 miles. She is now in Walla Walla, Washington as a head coach.

Then there is Giovana Melo, who has 8,863 miles traveled coming from Brazil to WNCC to Arizona State back to WNCC and now at Bakersfield, California as a head coach.

Stacie Meisner has just 3,082 miles and she is from Gering, which started out like three miles from Gering to WNCC. But aftet that she went to play at Alaska and she is still there as the head coach at Alaska Anchorage.

Men’s soccer currently has one player in Hector Salgado that turned in his information and he is at 1,895.

Baseball has one player that has got back with information and that is Zach Berg and he is only at 925 miles.

Softball has just one player that returned information and that was Christina Nelson.

Her total is 868 from Denver to WNCC to

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Denver to now Kearney.

Men’s basketball has one from which I know his traveling to get an education and that is Austin Hoffman, which is just 994 miles.

And, there are no women’s basketball players as of yet.

It is a neat feature and something that is cool to look at the total miles that athetes come from. When more and more athletes get listed, there will probably be a cool graphic.

So, once again, if you are a Cougar athlete that has been here from one semester, one year, two years, three years, or maybe four years (never now with COVID), send in your traveling to get an education.

When sending in information, included this information: 1) Name 2) Hometown 3) Where you went to school after WNCC (and it might be several schools, so include that).

4) Where you are know living and what you are doing.

5) And, if you want, give some information what you are doing now, if you are married or single, a family, and any information that you want to give.

6) Lastly, if you have a current (or WNCC pix) send it as well.

Remember, the information should be send to Mark at mrein@wncc.edu or mrein2963@gmail.com, or texted to 308-6310459. ­— Written by Mark Rein

First home games of year for Basketball WNCC women win, men fall

2023-24 WNCC Cougar Dance Team

This year’s Cougar Dance Team will perform for the first time during the November 28 home basketball games with Eastern Wyoming College.

The dance team members include (back row) Lillian Golden, Gabriella Lopez, Kyra Brannon, Madison Still; and (front row) Ashlyn Lopes, Philipine Andjawo, Kathryn Blankenship, and Gisele Guerrero.

Chadron State College’s Strength and Conditioning degree program One of nine undergraduate programs accredited by the Council on Accreditation in Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE)

Learn more: csc.edu

Special Holiday Project needs submissions

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here is a special holiday project that is planned for December after going through some boxes, I found a couple booklets of the Cougar softball team having a holiday recipe book.

Thinking, what about making a Cougar athletic recipe book? So, during December, that is one of the projects on the docket.

So, for all the current WNCC athletes, coaches as well as former athletes and coaches, if you want to donate your favorite holiday recipes(s) please do so.

These are projects that I love to keep the tradition going.

If you want to donate you can drop them off at my office in the athletic building, which is the Williams Building on campus (office is located inside the weight room).

The recipes can also be emailed to mrein2963@gmail.com or mrein@wncc.edu, or they can be texted to 3086310459.

Speaking of keeping up the tradition, back in the 90s Cougar trading cards were made and there are still some from those years available.

When I saw those, I thought, let’s bring those back as well. Guess what, they are coming back and it is hoped by sometime

in December, the volleyball trading cards will be completed and then work on the men’s and women’s soccer teams will start followed by men’s and women’s basketball, and then softball and baseball. With over 100 athletes, it will take sometime to put those all together, but that is the goal.

There will be 56 cards of each player made.

So, see there is plenty happening here at WNCC so stay tuned with all the exciting things.

And don’t forget, get those recipes turned in. ­— Written by Mark Rein

ALUMNI ATHLETIC NEWS

Scottsbluff Junior College l Nebraska Western College l Western Nebraska Community College

I

Cougar history: Looking back at the 2004-05 season through newsletters

was going through my archives that I have saved from the old, old Cougar athletic website and I found newsletters that I did from 2004-2005 season and started to read those 4-page editions.

The one thing I forgot about is the fact that the WNCC men’s soccer team actually can call themselves Region IX champs (in 2004 that is), but because of what happened afterwards, the two teams decided to forfeit a regional championship that year and not send anyone to the national tournament.

I read this in the 2004 November issue of the athletic newsletter and still trying to figure out why they decided what they did.

Here is what I wrote in the story that “it was a weird season for the Cougar men’s soccer team and after falling to Laramie County Community College 1-0 in the Region IX playoff, they had a bitter taste in their mouth.

“But, about seven to 10 days after the Cougars finished their season, they were notified that LCCC had to forfeit that game because of the use of ineligible players. So, with the forfeit, it is save to say, in ones mind, that the Cougar men can call themselves Region IX Champs.

“Even with the forfeit win, the two schools decided not to send a representative to the district playoffs after the shouting match after the playoff game. Believe

me, that is all it was, an innocent shouting match between two teams.

“With that aside, lets get back to the Cougar men. Back-to-back Region IX champions, doesn’t that sound sweet. Well, for the next year, the Cougar men can say that. Even with a 5-11 overall record, the only match that really batters is the last one played. With the forfeit win, the Cougar men will be entering next season with a two-match winning streak.”

There were some other interesting stories in those newsletters during that year that I totally forgot about.

One was a story in the March 29, 2005, edition that had a fundraiser for the athletic department called “Dance at the Elks.” Yes, that is right, the athletic department hosted a dance that was held at the Elks Lodge on April 2 with tickets at $25 for a couple and $15 for singles. Dr. K and the Shantays provided the music, which they were a band out of Rapid City that played in Deadwood and surrounding towns.

The picture at the right was copied from the newsletter and shows a couple dancing at the event. The event also had give-aways and a silent auction.

The Cougars also had an athletic banquet that was held on April 22 in Cougar Palace and the keynote speaker was former 1994 Nebraska Husker football player Aar-

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ALUMNI ATHLETIC NEWS

Scottsbluff Junior College l Nebraska Western College l Western Nebraska Community College

n Old athletic newsletters bring back memories .......... on Davis. The athletic banquet also served a way to present WNCC team awards along with the male and female athletic of the year.

There was something else started in January 2004 and I was wondering how the individual pictures were won by the different sponsors. While, in the August 25, 2005, athletic newsletter I found the answer.

And guess what, I am going to bring that back starting with the Eastern Wyoming men’s and women’s basketball game on November 28.

What this idea is that all the frontline sponsors were given a box on the program and each box had a number. Depending what the last number of the final score was, they would win a picture of that team.

When I saw the list of winners in the May athletic newsletter, I was wondering what was going on.

Oh, there are so many ideas that was once done at the college and just recollecting through all these newsletters is fun.

I don’t know if it was a good idea to look through these newsletters, but the memories of Cougar athletics runs deep of what WNCC athletics means to the community and the school.

The other thing I saw was the hiring of a head soccer coach right before Todd Rasnic took over. That hiring happened in May of 2005 and the coach resigned in July, which then brought Rasnic in as the head coach. So, Rasnic’s first year coaching the

men’s team was 2005 and when he coaches in 2025, he will have been at the college for 20 years as the head soccer coach.

Rasnic is the second-longest active coach at WNCC right now. The coach that has been with the Cougars the longest is Mike Jones, who came to the college to begin the Cougar baseball team in 2001. Jones has been a part of the Cougar family for 23 years.

The snapshot above is a player from the 2004-05 of Gering graduate Jeff Koncaba who is warming up in January 2005 in 50 degree weather.

Because WNCC athletics has been a hot topic in the area, Brian Hale at that time Hale Multimedia started a Cougar website

called CougarBall.net and it included photo contests, action photos, video clips of the games, a link to listen live and other exciting information.

Hale has been a Cougar basketball enthusiast since his father, Howard, announced games for the Cougars back in the 1980s and 90s.

One of the bigger stories from the 200405 sports season happened in January when the men’s basketball team earned the No. 1 spot in the nation.

The story that I ended up reading was interesting with comments from former players and fans.

Here is a part of the story from that

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n Old athletic newsletters bring back memories .......... newsletter.

------From probation to No. 1 in one year.

How about those cookies for the WNCC men’s basketball team.

The Cougar men became the first Cougar athlete team to climb to No. 1 in a NJCAA poll on Tuesday and when the word got out that the Cougar achieved school history, the excitement began.

“Wow, we’re number one,” WNCC head coach Ron Brillhart said. “It is a great honor but with it comes a big responsibility in coming ready to play, playing hard, playing smart and trying to prove over and over and over again that you are the number one team in the nation,” he said. “I take it as an honor and a responsibility.”

The Cougar men received 11 first place votes and 130 total votes to Arizona West ern, the No. 2 team in the country. WNCC was previously ranked second, but moved up after previously No. 1 San Jacinto College-Central fell to Lon Morris 79-76 in overtime Jan. 12.

This is the first time in school history a

Cougar team can lay claim to being No. 1 in the country. Even the players are a little bit a w e d with the excitem e n t .

E v e n the talk around town and country has been electrifying.

Tom Van Wyhe, a Gering graduate who played for the Cougars in the early 1980s, emailed congratulations before the news hit the media.

“I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy being able to follow my beloved Cougars from all the way up north here in Min-

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n Old athletic newsletters bring back memories .......... neapolis,” he said via email.

The attention the Cougar men are receiving is spectacular and Brillhart said this is an honor not only for the college, but the community.

“It is a rare honor (to be ranked number one),” he said. “It doesn’t come very often and not very many teams throughout the United States have a chance to be number one.

“It is a rare occurrence and it doesn’t happen very often for a little, old junior college out in the plains of Nebraska. It is a state honor to be number one in the country.”

------That was a story back in January, but that year got even better in February as the women’s basketball team was ranked number one in the country. In fact, for a few days, the WNCC men’s and women’s team were ranked No. 1 in the same week.

The Cougars made the climb to No. 1 as they went to 25-0 on the season and moved up because Gulf Coast fell to Chipola College. The number two team in the nation was College of Southern Idaho.

In the coming weeks or over the Thanksgiving break, the 2004-2005 athletic

newsletters will be available on the WNCC athletic website under the fanzone tab.

And, just think, I might find even more interesting items from the old, old website that is saved on an external drive and the

next issue will indulge into more history of Cougar athletics just like the above photo of the softball team in 2005 visited the stadium where Friday Night Lights was filmed. ­— Written by Mark Rein

Looking back in photos

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