WNCC Athletic Cougar Bulletin -- June 22, 2022

COUGAR

BULLETIN Newsletter The Latest in Cougar Athletic News

June 22, 2022 – Issue 2

It is a wrap

WNCC athletics close out 2021-22 season with plenty of individual, team honors;

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he 2021-22 athletic season is a wrap for the WNCC Cougar teams after both the baseball and softball teams wrapped up play at the Region IX tournaments in May. And what a year it was for the Cougars.

WNCC didn’t win any Region IX titles this season, but they did send one team to the national tournament and the women’s basketball team made history as they finished the tournament with a 3-1 record and a Final Four appearance.

The 2021-22 season started on August 1 when the volleyball and soccer players reported for pre-season practice and the year ended as the softball and baseball team lost in the Region IX tournament in May. Through all seven sports, the teams combined for a 127-97-4 win-loss-tie record.

The last three years, because of COVID, the number of games played among all seven sports have dwindled. in 2021-20, the seven sports combined for a 99-124 -2 record while the 2019-20 team was 107-58 because softball, baseball, and women’s basketball couldn’t finish their season because sports

were halted on March 12. The year prior, 2018-19, the seven sports combined for a 155-89-2 overall record.

This season was sort of unusual, too, as no Cougar team won a Region IX title and that was the first time since 1995-96 that a Cougar team didn’t win a regional title.

Just a note, the 2019-20 season doesn’t count as softball and baseball didn’t have a chance to play regionals since the seasons were canceled in March because of the COVID pandemic.

While no Cougar team won regionals, WNCC did send a team to the national tournament for the 26th straight year. That does include the 2019-20 season where the women’s basketball team qualified as an at-large team even though the national tournament was canceled because of, youknow-what pandemic.

This season’s women’s basketball team had one of it’s most successful seasons finishing the year at 30-3 and going 3-1 at the NJCAA national tournament in Lubbock, Texas. The team earned an at-large bid and

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A look back at 21-22 Volleyball

Record: 24-15 4th at Regionals All-Region Erica Fava, Macey Boggs, Ale Meoni, Hayleigh Fornstrom Erica Fava, Player of the Year Macey Boggs, Setter of the Year All-Tournament Erica Fava, Hyleigh Fornstrom NJCAA All-American Erica Fava, First Team

Men’s Soccer

Record: 8-6-2 Region IX Semifinals All-Region Rodrigo Cercal, First Team Washington Alves, First Team Saugat Rai, H. Mention Jacob Collins, H. Mention Vitor Huertas, H. Mention Rodrigo Cercal, Freshman of the Year

Women’s Soccer

Record: 2-11-2 All-Region Vanessa Vasquez, Second Team Raquel Ferreira, Second Team Litzi DeLarosa, Honorable Mention

Men’s Basketball

The WNCC women’s basketball team celebrates after defeating South Plains and moving into the semifinals of the national tournament in March.

Record: 17-14 Region IX Semis All-Region TK Koang, Third Team Region IX All-Tournament TK Koang Agwa Nywesh

It is a wrap: ...

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made it to the Final Four by winning three straight games. The only other team that won three straight at nationals was the 2003 team that lost in the championship in a format that saw the team only play four games with just 16 teams.

This year’s trek at nationals started with a first-round game against Murray State College and the Cougars won all four quarters as they topped Murray State 71-59.

That moved the Cougars into the second round and a match-up of Wabash Valley, who had a first-round bye. This game saw WNCC lead at halftime 34-30 and used a 20-11 fourth-quarter to earn the 70-59 win and move into the quarterfinals against South Plains College, a team that is just about 30 minutes from Lubbock.

The South Plains game was epic as the Cougars put together a gutsy second-half performance after trailing 30-24 at halftime. In the third quarter, WNCC won that 10-minute 13-9 to trail by one entering the fourth. The fourth quarter saw WNCC outscore South Plains 26-12 to win 63-21 and move into the Final Four.

WNCC faced Tyler Junior College in the Final Four and led the Apaches 43-40 at halftime. The second half was all Tyler as the Apaches outscored WNCC 48-33 to earn the 88-76 win. Tyler went on to win the national title. WNCC picked up their 30th win of the season, which was the first time since the 2015 season that they have had 30 wins.

The other teams also had fine seasons.

The volleyball team finished the year at 24-15 and were a couple wins from making a trip to the national tournament. The Cougars Erica Fava was named a NJCAA First Team all-American.

The two soccer teams also did well as the men’s soccer team made the semifinals before falling to LCCC. The men had the Region IX Freshman of the Year in Rodrigo Cercal.

The men’s basketball team finished the year at 17-14 and lost in the semifinals of the Region IX tournament to Trinidad State College 67-61. Trinidad went on to win the Region IX tourney.

The softball and baseball teams also competed well in the season. The softball team finished 25-30 and fourth at regionals. The team had two all-region players as Victoria Wharton was a First-team outfielder and Macyn Hartman was a Firstteam infielder. Wharton was also picked as the Freshman of the Year.

The baseball team finished with a record of 21-33 and lost in the first round of the Region IX tournament. The baseball team had one all-region play in Corbin Kirk, a First-team pitcher.

To look at things in another way, there were 20 Region IX all-region players this season and six Region IX all-tournament members. As for the NJCAA, there were two NJCAA All-Americans, both First Team selections, with Erica Fava from the volleyball team and Ale’Jah Douglas from the women’s basketball team.

A look back at 21-22 Women’s Basketball Record: 30-3 Region IX Semis Nationals — Final Four All-Region Ale’Jah Douglas Aminata Zie Amani Brown All-Defensive Team Ale’Jah Douglas Ashley Panem Aminata Zie Region IX All-Tournament Ale’Jah Douglas Payton Fields Amani Brown NJCAA All-Tournament Ale’Jah Douglas NJCAA All-American Ale’Jah Douglas, First Team

Softball

Record: 25-30 Region IX -- Fourth Place All-Region Victoria Wharton, First Team Outfield Macyn Hartman, First Team Infield Victoria Wharton, Freshman of the Year

Baseball

Record: 21-33 Region IX -- First Round All-Region Corbin Kirk, First Team Pitcher

Corbin Kirk throws a pitch in a game against Trinidad last fall on the road. Kirk was named a Region IX First Team pitcher this season.

All in the Numbers

1 The participants of this year’s Cougar baseball camp listen to coach Mike Jones.

WNCC offers camps this summer for five sports

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estern Nebraska Community College will over five camps throughout the summer for youngsters ranging in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.

The first of those five summer camps for youngsters was held the first week of June and that was for baseball.

The next four camps will be held in July after the repainting of the Cougar Palace gym floor.

The next camps will be boys and girls basketball camps to be held the week of July 18.

The boy’s basketball camp, conducted by head coach Billy Engel, will be held for three days, July 18-20. That camp has three sessions with K-4th grade going from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., grades 5-8 going from 1-3:30 p.m., and grades 9-12 going from 4-6:30 p.m. The cost of the camp is $75 and includes a T-shirt.

The girl’s basketball camp will be held July 21 and 22 with two sessions. Girls in grades kindergarten through 4th grade will go from 9 – 11:30 a.m. while girls in grades 5-8 will go from 1-3:30 p.m. The cost of the 2-day camp is $50 and includes a T-shirt. The camp will be instructed by head coach Isaac Lu and current and former players.

Next are a series of volleyball camps running from July 23 through July 29 and will be conducted by WNCC volleyball coach Binny Canales, former and current assistants as well as former and current players.

The camps include an individual elementary camp from 9 am. – noon for grades first through fifth. Cost is $50 per camper and includes a T-shirt if registered by July 15.

July 24 and 25 will be the individual middle school camp for girls in the 6th through 8th grade from 8 a.m. – noon and the individual high school camp for girls in grades 9th through

12th from 1- 5 p.m. The cost of the camp is $75 per camper and includes a T-shirt if pre-registered by July 15.

July 26-27 will be the big Setter, Hitter, and Libero camp for girls in grades 7th through 12th grade. This camp will have a different format from the past. Liberos will go from 8 a.m.

– noon, and setters and hitters will go from 1-5 p.m. Cost is $50 per camper and includes a T-shirt if pre-registered by July 15.

The final volleyball camp is a volleyball team camp for high school teams to play each other.

This camp is slated for July 28 and 29 and costs $50 per camper. Campers must be a part of a team to register.

The last camp will be a WNCC soccer camp with two sessions from July 25-28. The soccer camps will be held at the Landers Soccer Complex.

This camp will be conducted by Cougar soccer coach Todd Rasnic and current and former players.

The first session of the soccer camp will be for players ages 13 and under. Ages 8-under will be held from 9-11 a.m. while ages 9-12 will run from 9-11:30 a.m. The 8-under cost is $65 while the 9-12 cost is $80. The price includes a camp T-shirt and a camp ball.

The second soccer camp is a competitive/advanced soccer camp from 5 – 7:30 p.m. This camp is open to soccer players in middle school or higher and is for competitive players. Cost is $80 per camper and includes a T-shirt and a camp ball.

Camp registrations can be downloaded from the WNCC athletic website at www.wnccathletics.com and then the camp/forms tab, or at the direct link at https://bit.ly/3My9dvF. Basketball camps do have a link to register online. Camp forms may also be picked up at the WNCC athletic offices in the Williams building on campus.

The number of national tournament appearances for the 2021-22 athletics teams and that was the women’s basketball team that made it to the Final Four of the national tourney.

93

The number of blocked shots the WNCC women’s team has this season. Aminata Zie leads the way with 25 followed by Rashaan Smith with 24.

222

Number of total 3-pointers the men’s basketball team made this season in 31 games played. Carter Brown led the team with 50 3-pointers followed by Agwa Nywesh with 49 treys and Biko Johnson in third with 36 3-pointers.

292

The number of RBIs the baseball team had this season.

Eli Hernandez led the way with 37 followed by Jack Jones with 35 and then Drew Book with 30 RBIs.

1975

That was the year that Nebraska Western College, now WNCC, hosted the Nebraska State Volleyball tournament.

On the Cover: Vitor Huertas, Ana Caroline Lopes, and Raquel Ferreira toss their caps and celebrate after they graduated from WNCC after spending three years in Scottsbluff because of the pandemic.

Lu named interim women’s basketball coach

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estern N e braska Community College has named an interim women’s basketball head coach and he has ties to the program. The college announced early this week that assistant coach Isaac Lu will move up to the head coaching position as the inIsaac Lu goes off game plans with some of the team before a terim head coach.

“I’m extremely game at the national tournament in March. Lu served two honored and bless- years as an assistant under Gibney before being named the ed to be named the head coach on June 1.

Francisco for welcoming me into their next head coach at Western Nebraska Community College,” program and allowing me to learn from Lu said. “I want to thank our Director of them. I’m especially grateful to Coach Athletics, Ryan Burgner, for this amazing Chad Gibney, who has been an unbelievable mentor to me over the past two years, opportunity and believing in me.”

Lu served as the women’s assistant coach for believing and trusting in me.”

Lu is a 2016 graduate of McKinley High the past two years under Chad Gibney.

Gibney left in May to become an assistant in Honolulu, Hawaii, and a 2020 graduate women’s basketball coach at Division I St. of the University of San Francisco. He Bonaventure. Lu said he is excited to contin- not only was a part of the women’s basue the national tourney legacy that Gibney ketball team as a manager, he also served as strength and conditioning interns. Lu has instilled at WNCC the past six years.

“To have the opportunity to lead a pro- served as the strength and conditioning gram like Western Nebraska two years intern for former Golden State Warriors into my coaching career is something I Strength Coach John Murray at Murnever expected to happen,” Lu said. “I’m ray Athletic Development and was the extremely excited to take the reins of this strength and conditioning intern at Archprogram and build upon its long history of bishop Riordan High School, home to one success. The tradition of excellence within of the premier Northern California boy’s Western Nebraska athletics is something basketball teams.

Lu is hoping to continue the long list I am looking forward to continuing for of successful women’s basketball coaches years to come.”

Lu has been around the coaching cir- at WNCC from Harvey Schmidt to Dave cles on the Division I and junior college Harnish to Chad Gibney.

“Western Nebraska has had some great levels. Before joining WNCC two seasons ago, Lu was a part of the women’s basket- coaches at the helm of this program over ball team at University of San Francisco the years,” he said. “I’m excited and ready for the challenge of leading a team that coaching staff as a manager.

“I’m extremely lucky to have been able will live up to our standard of excellence to be around and work with some of the and compete for region championships best coaches in the country,” Lu said. “I and national titles.”

Lu said he learned a lot from Gibney owe a lot of credit to Coach Molly Goodenbour, Coach Janell Jones, and Coach during his two years at WNCC and that Arthur Moreira at the University of San Continued on next page

Gibney heading to Division I as assistant coach

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had Gibney has spent six years at Western Nebraska Community College in making the women’s basketball program one of the elite in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

On Friday, it was announced that Gibney will be heading to the Division I level after being hired as an assistant coach for Division I St. Bonaventure University.

Gibney brings an extensive coaching resume to St. Bonaventure. He joins the Bonnies after a decorated tenure at Western Nebraska Community College where he guided the Cougars to a 161-24 record over the past six seasons and six NJCAA National Tournament Appearances.

“Excited to bring Chad to St. Bonaventure,” St. Bonaventure women’s basketball coach Jesse Fleming said. “Chad has coached at the highest levels of junior college, bringing his team to the final four and producing some big time players. I have known Chad for close to 10 years and I always respected the way he ran his program. He is a great coach, he is going to be great recruiter and he has a bright future in this business.”

Gibney is excited to taking his coaching expertise to the Division I level.

“I am excited for a new opportunity and a new challenge,” Gibney said. “It is a really high level of basketball and I am excited to grow as a coach and get better and challenge myself at the highest level.”

Gibney said that when he came to WNCC in the summer of 2016

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Gibney heading to St. Bonaventure: ... as a first-year men’s assistant basketball coach, he never thought he would become one of the top women’s coaches in the junior college level.

“Absolutely not,” Gibney said. “My time in Scottsbluff has been such a blessing and it took me places that I thought I would never go. I cannot say enough good things about my time at Western Nebraska. It holds a special place in my heart because of all the people and all the memories.”

Gibney has a long list of women’s basketball achievements during his six years as the head coach at WNCC. Gibney became the interim women’s basketball head coach in January 2017 and has held that position ever since taking the Cougars to the NJCAA national tournament the past six years.

“It has been an amazing success,” Gibney said. “I can’t say enough good things about Western Nebraska. It has been a special place in my heart and the people there is what makes it so special for my time at Western Nebraska.”

Lu named: ... included last year when the team went 3-1 at the national tournament and made it to the Final Four.

“Chad is one of the best coaches in the country and has the accolades to show for it,” Lu said. “He’s taught me about every aspect of running a program and getting the most out of our teams. He’s also one of the best defensive coaches I have ever been around.”

The Cougars return four players from last year’s 30-3 team. The Cougars also sent six players on to the Division I level so far from that Final Four team. Lu said he is looking forward to continuing the women’s basketball team’s success.

“I’m looking forward to bringing in a group of young women who will not only achieve great things on the basketball court, but also be outstanding members of our community and strive for academic excellence,” he said.

Chad Gibney talks to former Cougar track and field athlete from the 1960s Ed Mooney during a practice session in Lubbock, Texas, at the national tournament. Mooney know lives in Lubbock, Texas.

Gibney is a four-time NJCAA Region IX Coach of the Year, a two-time District I Coach of the Year and was the 2019-20 World Exposure National Coach of the Year. Gibney’s teams ranked in the Top 25 in the national NJCAA polls all six years during his tenure, ranking as high as No. 2 at the end of the 2019-20 season.

Originally from Lincoln, Gibney has led the development of three NJCAA First Team All-Americans in Merle Wiehl (2018-19), TK Morehouse (201920) and most recently Ale’jah Douglas, who also was named the World Exposure National Sophomore of the Year.

Gibney also coached Bree Paulson, who played for WNCC in the 2016-17 season. Paulson then went on to play two years at St. Bonaventure, the same college that Gibney will now be an assistant coach.

During the 2021-22 season, Gibney led Western Nebraska to a 30-3 record, going undefeated in league play and claiming the Region IX South Championship. The Cougars advanced to the NJCAA national Final Four and finished fourth in the nation falling to the Tyler Junior College, who went on to win the national tourney.

From 2017-2020, Western Nebraska

won a remarkable 54 consecutive home games and 49 consecutive conference games.

Gibney’s teams also excelled in the classroom, earning NJCAA All-Academic Team honors four times.

Gibney graduated from Lincoln Pius High School in Lincoln and then graduated from Wichita State in 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in sports management with a minor in communication and graduated in 2016 with a Master’s Degree in sports management.

Gibney said his time at WNCC has been great.

“I just want to say thank you to Ryan Burgner for obviously giving me this opportunity. He is the best AD that you could ask for. He gave me a chance when I was 24 years old and he has been tremendous. I want to thank Cory Fehringer for initially hiring me for being the men’s assistant and then giving me the confidence to move over to the women’s program. I just want to thank the community of Scottsbluff and Gering because there have been so many great people I got to know in my time here. I want to thank all the players that have made this possible because they are the ones that got the job done. I am so thankful for them.”

Former Cougar Medina named head softball coach

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ourtney Medina is coming home, so to speak, after the former Western Nebraska Community College softball player and volunteer assistant coach was named the new Cougar softball head coach.

Medina is the fifth softball head coach in school history since the sport was added in 2000 following in the footsteps of previous coaches Sara (Wells) Klein, Dan Lewis, Maria Winn-Ratliff, and Katie Groves.

“It means the world to me (to be the head coach),” Medina said. “This is a program and a community that means a lot to me and a lot to a lot of people, so I am super fired up about getting to come back.

This is where I started my college playing career, this is where I started my college coaching career, so getting to start my head coaching career here is pretty special. This community and program raised me from the time I was a freshly graduated 18-year-old and has welcomed me back with open arms twice now. That type of support is rare, and I am so blessed to be a part of it.”

Medina came to WNCC in 2014 having graduated from Fossil Ridge High School in Ft. Collins, Colorado. In her three years at WNCC, two as a player in 2015 and 2016, and one as an assistant coach in 2019, she was a part of the Region IX championship team.

Medina said she is ready to help the

program with the same kind of work ethic on and off the field to the players.

“I am stoked to get this opportunity to coach at such a special place,” she said. “As far as plans for the program, it is just to create strong, empowered women through the vessel of softball. The goal is to be good people, good students and then good softball players. This community has always been so kind to this program, so giving back to the community will be a focus point for us as well.”

Courtney Medina (on the right) poses by the Home of the Cougar backdrop when she helped WNCC win a regional title in 2015. Medina returns to WNCC as the new head coach.

Medina said she is close her family but has so many people here that are family to her and she wants to see this program continue on the positive track it has.

“It means so much to me (to be back at WNCC),” she said. “This program and this community has always felt like a second home to me and has been so great for not just me but my family as well. To be the head coach here and getting to see this program and community impact these young women the way that it has impacted me, my teammates and our alum is incredible.”

Medina started as the head coach on June 1 and she is somewhat nervous, but has plenty of support to help her as she begins that new chapter in her coaching career.

“I think it’s natural to be nervous in taking over a program but, thankfully, we have a lot of great people supporting Cougar softball with whatever we need and having that type of support makes me more confident in my first year as the head coach,” Medina said. “Coach (Ryan) Burgner has been there for me every step of the way and on my first day Coach (Bob) Hessler met us out at the field and told me he would help with whatever we need. I have great dorm parents in Amy and Scott Winters that have been a huge support for me. So many families and friends have reached out since I announced that I was coming back offering help and support. It takes a village to run a program and we have the best one here in Scottsbluff, so I find a lot of confidence in knowing we have great people around the program.”

In her two years at WNCC as a player, Medina is sixth in career singles with 120, ninth in career runs scored with 128, and fifth in career stolen bases with 80. Medina leads in season singles with 88 and is 26th in season batting average at .438, fourth in season hits with 106, second in season runs scored with 91, and third in season stolen bases with 57.

After WNCC, Medina went on to play at Lubbock Christian University where she was the Heartland Conference Newcomer of the Year and a Conference first team selection in 2017 and made conference second team in 2018.

Medina named head softball coach ...

After Lubbock, Medina served as the assistant coach at WNCC before being a graduate assistant coach at Emporia State University from 2019-2021 while she obtained her MBA. This past season, she was an assistant coach at Colorado State University-Pueblo under former Cougar pitcher and CSU-Pueblo head coach Bianca Duran.

Medina is getting her feet wet as the softball head coach already has meet the team and is focusing on bringing in players and getting ready to get started in August.

“The focus for this summer is to evaluate our current team, add student athletes that will fit into our culture and prepare

for a great upcoming year,” she said. “The team that we are going to be is one that is rooted in a good solid work ethic and selfless in our actions while always putting our community, our teammates and our program at the forefront of our decisions.”

Her coaching style will be similar to the coaches that she was under as a player and assistant coach.

“My coaching style is to coach hard and love them harder,” she said. “The expectations of this program are going to be high in everything that we do. We’re going to be good students, good people and good softball players and we are going to keep those expectations high, but it is going to be a

lot of love and a lot of open lines of communication. As a coach you want to know that you prepared your athletes for the next part of their journey, that you have equipped them with the necessary tools to take on life and for me it’s more about preparing them to be strong women through the vessel of softball than the wins and the losses.”

As she gets settled into her office and surroundings, Medina is excited to get going.

“I am thankful for Coach Burgner giving me this opportunity,” she said. “I look forward to getting on the diamond with this team and making our community, alumni and program proud.”

Future Cougars, Cougar Sophomores Headed To Other Schools Newcomers signed for 2022-23 Volleyball Emmalei Mapu.....................Kahuku, Hawaii Charli Blackman.....Auckland, New Zealand Maya Angelova............. Kyustendil, Bulgaria Shanelle Martinez.......... San Antonio, Texas Megan Bewley............Scottsbluff, Nebraska Autumn Bennett........................ Sandy, Utah Shae Hardy..................... Windsor, Colorado Paige Nakanelua...............Honolulu, Hawaii

Jackie Castro....................Denver, Colorado Sykla McConnell............Elizabeth, Colorado Debora Pires Lopes.............................Brazil Yasmin Watson...............................Australia Taila Viera............................................Brazil Sara Rebecca......................................Brazil Flavia Fernandez.................................Brazil Matilda Kwao..................................... Ghana Tania Razo....................................................

Layla Fernandez Robledo............................

Men’s Soccer Pedro Roche.............................. Puerto Rico Jason Escamilla..........Scottsbluff, Nebraska Adolpho Rojas..................Denver, Colorado Pablo Dominguez................................Spain Wellington Quieroz Xavier...................Brazil Paul Leroy.........................................France Eduardo De Oliviera............................Brazil Joao Brasilliano...................................Brazil Hernan Burdles.....................................Chile Dikasi-Dube Nseke........................ Cameron Bernardo Bender..........................................

Samual Acosta..............................................

Jose Martinez...............................................

Eduardo Hernandez.....................................

Sebastian Arenas.........................................

Abraham Hafner...........................................

Dominic Matei...............................................

Softball Alex Jones..................Scottsbluff, Nebraska Brynna Gestrin..........................Eagle, Idaho Bethany Stackburger......Anchorage, Alaska Liv Bruch....................................... Roy, Utah

Women’s Soccer Aileen Perez.....................Denver, Colorado Lesley Vasquez................Denver, Colorado Tania Razo........................Denver, Colorado Summer Parnell.............Hastings, Nebraska

Baseball Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Where Cougar Sophomores Are Headed Volleyball Macey Boggs................. U. of Wyoming (DI) Jullia Moccellin.........Park University (NAIA) Andrea Sanjurjo..........Taft College (NJCAA) Laura Milori..........Midland College (NJCAA) Men’s Soccer Ygor Brito..........................Judson U. (NAIA) Washington Alves..Arizona Christian (NAIA) Vitor Huertas..........Arizona Christian (NAIA)

Women’s Soccer Ana Carolina Lopes........... Cleary U. (NAIA) Raquel Ferreira.....Central Methodist (NAIA) Women’s Basketball Ale’Jah Douglas................. Clemson U. (D1) Amani Brown...U. of Louisiana Monroe (D1) Ashley Panem......................... Radford (D1) Shanti Henry..........Sam Houston State (D1) Aminate Zie.................U. of Minnesota (D1) Shayane Pioret......... Western Carolina (D1) Payton Fields.............. St. Bonaventure (D1) Baseball Owen Vanthillo...........Henderson State (DII) Harold Baez.................. Pittsburg State (DII) Jordon Rollins........ Mississippi College (DII) Jack Jones....................... Wayne State (DII) Quinn McCafferty............. Wayne State (DII) Corbin Kirk....................... Wayne State (DII) Joe Kinneberg................... Newman U. (DII) Softball Emma Schweitzer.... Johnson & Wales (DIII) Current Sophomores, please contact Mark Rein via text at 308-631-0459 or email when you decide to attend a specific college.

High School seniors, if you are coming to play sports at WNCC, please send Mark Rein information on high school, hometown, height, and which sport you are planning playing.

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Cougar Hoops wins Cougar Golf Classic

he Cougar Hoops foursome of Billy Engel, Jon Darnell, Travis Hounshell, and Brian Gutwein captured the 2022 edition of the Cougar Golf Classic Saturday at Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering.

Cougar Hoops fired a handicapped score of 51.29 to take home the $400 firstplace honor. Cougar Hoops defeated Safetyline Consultants team of Bob Hessler, Amando Casteneda, Ryan Burgner, and Greg Sell who had a 54.49 handicapped score.

The defending champs The Legends finished third with a score of 54.85. The Legends were made up of Mike McKee, KC McKee, Rick Gable, and Ethan Bellairs.

The COED division was won by the team of Libby + 3 made up of Doug Jones, Luke Stobel, Libbie Stobel, and Kevin Hauser. Libby + 3 shot a handicapped score of 50.31 to earn the $400 first prize from the golf pro shop.

Libby + 3 captured the top prize over the Sterling Cougars team of Todd Book, Jess Book, Josh Dorcey, and Tyler Blood who had a 54.9 score while the third-place team of Sedgewick Swatters finished with a 56.9 score. Sedgewick Swatters were made up of Coleton Spitz, Rachael Spitz, Parker Redfern, and Kayla Redfern.

There were 18 teams that participated in this year’s Cougar Golf Classic.

There were also hole prize winners. The longest putt on hole 2 by a woman was Rachael Spitz, while the longest put on hole 18 by a make went to Rick Gable.

The longest drive on hole 4 by a man went to Clarence Gealy while the longest dive on hole 10 by a women went to Kayla

Josh Buttle watches his marshmallow that he hit on hole 8. Buttle won the longest drive with a marshmallow on hole 8.

The Cougar Hoops team of Billy Engel, Jon Darnell, Travis Hounshell, and Brian Gutwein won the Cougar Golf Classic on Saturday, June 11 at Monument Shadows Golf Course.

Redfern.

The winner of the closest to the pin in two shots on hole 5 went to Josh Dorcey, while the closest to the water on hole 9 went to Ty Wilson. The winner of the closest to the sand on hole 12 went to Mike Jones, while the closest to the pin on hold 13 was Daniel Lockard.

Then, on the fun hole 8 where the golfers got to hit a marshmallow to see who had the longest drive, the men’s winner was Josh Buttle while the women’s winner was Amy Hauser.

The Cougar golf classic was started in 2004 and has played every year except 2020 when the pandemic hit.

Kayla Redfern hits a marshmallow on hole 8 at the golf classic.

Several athletes walk through graduation in May

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NCC graduated 264 students in ceremonies on May 14 and xx Cougar athletes took part in the ceremonies at Cougar Palace and it was a mixture of emotion before and after the ceremony.

Mackenzie Bakel, a sophomore from Thornton, Colorado, spent three years at WNCC playing softball and enduring the COVID years, was one of those that received her degree. Bakel, who received the Presidential Award at the April 28 Scottsbluff Campus Award Ceremonies, said Saturday was a bittersweet moment for her and the other students.

“It was bittersweet to graduate on Saturday,” Bakel said. “Graduating was the final step for my time here and will be the last memory at WNCC, but I am thankful that I got to be a part of this institution and to have been able to graduate from here.”

A lot of the students have spent two or three years because of the COVID pandemic and those three years have made their time at WNCC special.

Bakel agreed that attending college during the pandemic was a trying time.

But through it all, Bakel and Tamirat as well as the other graduating students succeeded with much success.

Caden Eymann, Brian Bruxcoort, Sergio Tarango, Dillon Fabricus, and Spencer Ohu poss together before graduation. These five baseball players walked through the graduation ceremonies to get their degree.

“My three years at WNCC are full of memories,” Bakel, who played on the Cougar softball team, said. “There were some hard ones like the season ending early and getting sent home because of COVID my freshman year as well as having to switch to online and navigating that. But there’s also so many good memories that include

Cougar Athletes of the Week

Female Athletes of the Week

Sept. 1............ Erica Fava, volleyball Sept. 9........Macey Boggs, volleyball Sept. 16............Ale Meoni, volleyball Sept. 22... Juliana Oliveira, volleyball Oct. 13............ Litzi Delarosa, soccer Oct. 29............ Erica Fava, volleyball Nov. 17.......Shanti Henry, basketball Dec. 1... Ale’Jah Douglas, basketball Dec. 8.....Rashaan Smith, basketball Jan. 13.......Amani Brown, basketball Jan. 20..... Ashley Panem, basketball Jan. 31......... Aminata Zie, basketball Feb. 18. Ale’Jah Douglas, basketball March 8........... Erin Hanafin, softball March 25.Women’s Basketball Team April 5..........Katie McMillan, sofftball April 15........ Lexi Butterfield, softball April 23.....Mackenzie Bakel, softball

Male Athletes of the Week

Sept. 1..........Rodrigo Cercal, soccer Sept. 9............ Jacob Collins, soccer Sept. 15......... Imanal Munoz, soccer Sept. 27.............Paul Cerros, soccer Oct. 13.............Yael Armenta, soccer Oct. 29..........Rodrigo Cercal, soccer Nov. 17.......Them Koang, basketball Dec. 1.... Rodney Sawyer, basketball Dec. 8.......... Carl Thorpe, basketball Jan. 13..... Agwa Nywesh, basketball Jan. 20.......Biko Johnson, basketball Jan. 31......Chancelor Johnson, bball Feb. 18.. Rodney Sawyer, basketball March 8...... Eli Hernandez, baseball March 25. Dawson Hurford, baseball April 5......... Jordan Rollins, baseball April 15.. Quinn McCafferty, baseball April 23...... Dillon Fabricus, baseball

being with my team and living with my best friends.”

While the over 250 students that received their degrees were celebrated, Bakel has advice to those returning and the incoming students. They said it is a must to build those friendships because WNCC is a big family.

“I would tell them that if they come in willing to succeed and use their resources and build relationships, WNCC will reward them and they will be successful with their time here,” Bakel, who did that on the playing field and off the field, did.

Bakel said receiving that non-athletic Presidential Award showed that she was more than an athlete at the college.

“A lot of the time, athletes (especially myself), base their success on their sport,” Bakel said. “To be recognized outside of softball was a great privilege because it shows that there’s more to me than just softball and other people recognize that as well.”

For Bakel, it wasn’t a forever goodbye, but more of a “see you later” moment.

“Saying goodbye was extremely hard.

We are a family here and I have built some very strong relationships so leaving that is difficult,” Bakel said. “Luckily it’s not a goodbye forever it’s just a ‘see you later’.”

The six sophomore softball players pose one more time together after graduation on May 14. The six are (l-r) Mackenzie Bakel, Lexi Parker, Taylor Klein, Bella Coffman, Emma Schweitzer, and Erin Hanafin.

Taylor Klein is all smiles as she sets in the graduation ceremonies.

The four Cougar women’s soccer players who walked through graduation include Ana Caroline Lopes, Jackie Valenciano, Litzi Delarosa, and Raquel Ferreira.

(left) Yugo Brito’s mom flew in from Brazil to watch her son graduate, while (right) all the Brazilians that were at graduation, past or present, pose for a group picture after the ceremonies.

Current and former Cougars playing summer ball

Former WNCC baseball players met up on June 13 when the Western Nebraska Pioneers played the Gem City Bison in a collegiate woodbat league game on June 13. the players are Pioneers Jerson Morales, Brian Bruxvoort, Paul Panduro and Adrian Short, while Gem City players were Quinn McCafferty and Jack Jones.

Redoing the gym floor

For the next six weeks, Cougar Palace will be closed as the repainting of the gym floor takes place. Here is what the gym floor looks like three days into the project (left) and then what the floor looks like a week later as all the paint is being sanded off the floor for a refreshing new look. The project calls for a new design on the court with some interesting additions. The gym floor should be ready by time the basketball camps begin in July.

The five on the bench and the two players standing on the left and right side are all headed to the NCAA Division I level.

The seven are the most from one class that are headed to Division I since 2002.

On to Division I basketball

WNCC women’s basketball sends 7 to Division I

I

t is official as the final Cougar from the 2021-22 Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team signed to continue at the next level.

All-in-all, WNCC is sending seven players onto the NCAA Division I level with a flurry of signings in May and June.

The seven heading to Division I from this year’s class is by far the most in school history. The Cougars sent four to Division I back in 2002 and have three onto Division I in many other years. Now, 20 years later, seven are headed to the Division I level.

The signings all started during the season when Ale’Jah Douglas signed to play at Clemson University back in November.

That was followed a month after the season when freshman Shayane Poirot signed to play at Western Carolina University.

Then the flurry of signings happened as five players signed beginning in May. That flurry started when Aminata Zie signed to play at the Division I level in the Big 10 with the University of Minnesota Gophers.

WNCC Division I signings

2021-2022 Ale’Jah Douglas.................. Clemson Payton Fields........... St. Bonaventure Amani Brown........ Louisiana-Monroe Aminata Zie.......................Minnesota Ashley Panem...................... Radford Shanti Henry....... Sam Houston State Shayane Poirot...... Western Carolina 20 Years Earlier -- 2002 Four players signed Division I Thais Celiberto..................... Fairfield Awa Diop............................ Syracuse Desiree Gutierrez...........Illinois State Astrid Speigel...U. of California Riverside

Soon after, Amani Brown found herself heading to the Division I level, signing with the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

Ashley Panem was next as she picked Radford University followed closely behind by Shanti Henry, who is headed to Sam Houston State in Texas. The final signing was Payton Fields and Fields is headed to join former Cougar coach Chad Gibney at St. Bonaventure University in upstate New York.

“To have so many sophomores go Division 1 is a testament to how great this team really was,” Panem said. “We all bought into what Coach Gibney wanted us to do

and sacrificed the individual for the team.

In the end that’s what got everyone where they deserve to be.”

Henry said the bond that the players had on the team showcased just how team-oriented they were. She said it is the fact that they are now “Cougars 4 life.”

“I think the fact that everyone who is moving on to another school is going D1 just proves how good of players we had on our team,” the Wichita, Kansas, native said.

“It’s pretty crazy to think about how much talent we had on our team and I think our season results show that. Competing in practice against each other every day was

Continued on next page

7 sign to Division I basketball ... probably the most beneficial thing for all of us since we were each other’s hardest competition. I’m also just really proud of my teammates and can’t wait to see what they all they accomplish next year at their new schools!”

The seven could be facing each other at the next level at some point of the season.

Henry and Panem actually graduated in 2021 from WNCC but because of COVID, they had the option to return. It was one of their best decisions because the options for college opened up even more.

“Playing at the next level has been my goal since the beginning, so being able to accomplish this goal meant all my hard work has payed off,” Henry, who transferred to WNCC from Mineral Area Community College, said. “It feels pretty fulfilling and I’m excited for this next chapter.”

Her decision to find Sam Houston State was challenging of finding the right fit for her.

“Finding a school wasn’t too difficult because my coaches at WNCC helped with having options to pick from so in the end it was just difficult picking the best school for me,” Henry said. “There’s a lot of factors I took into my decision. In the end I choose the school that felt most like

home.”

In the end, it was the Division I school in Texas that fit Henry’s bill.

“I chose Sam Houston State after going on my visit and I just felt it was the right fit for me,” she said. “When I met the coaches in person for the first time, I could tell that they really cared about their players and program. It felt like a family atmosphere, and I could definitely see myself playing there and enjoying it.”

For Panem, she spent a year at the Di-

vision I level at Florida Gulf Coast University before transferring to WNCC. The Broomfield, Colorado, native said she wanted to go back to the Division I level to play and found a perfect fit in Radford.

“It means a lot because I have always wanted to back to the division level and compete. Now I have that chance again,” Panem said. “I chose Radford because it gave me the best option and the best opportunity. It was a quick decision, but it felt right, and I didn’t want to wait any longer because of how crazy the portal is.”

Radford head coach Mike McGuire said he is excited to have Panem on the team.

“Ashley is a high-level two-way player. She is a talented, versatile offensive player but will also have the ability to impact the game on the defensive end of the floor,” he said.

“Ashley is a complete player in our eyes. She is excited to come here and make a difference for our program. I am really looking forward to working with Ashley over the next two years.”

Brown is joining the Louisiana-Monroe team as someone that head coach Brooks Donald Williams is excited to be getting a NJCAA all-American. Brown was an All-American two years ago at Vincennes University before transferring to WNCC last season. She also went over the 1,000 career point list in her three years at the two junior colleges.

“We are thrilled about Amani joining

our program,” Williams said. “Amani is a big-time addition to our backcourt. She is a scoring punch and can play multiple positions. She is a high-level finisher and has an edge about her, offensively.

“Amani is a scoring guard and a playmaker that fits our team and shoots the ball with a high efficiency. She has played for one of the best teams in the country at the JUCO level, was extremely well coached and gives our team an added dimension on both ends of the floor.”

Brown said her dream has always been to play Division I and she got that opportunity when she transferred to WNCC for a third year of eligibility because of the

Continued on next page

7 sign to Division I basketball ...

COVID year.

“It’s been my dream to play D1 somewhere down south since I was a kid,” Brown said. “Actually, getting this opportunity is a blessing. I am very grateful and excited for this next chapter at ULM and hope to bring success, positivity and more.

I wouldn’t be who I am without my parents, so thank you to them and everyone else who has helped me along the way.”

Fields was the last Cougar to sign and she said because of the transfer portal, her recruiting picked up late. But, Fields is excited to be joining her junior college coach.

“I wanted to find a place with a culture that aligned with hard work and playing for each other,” Fields said in a story in her hometown of El Paso, Texas. “I’m excited about the opportunity. With the transfer portal, recruiting for me picked up late, but things worked out and I’m looking forward to playing at the Division I level. I loved playing at Western Nebraska.

The learning experience and culture at Western Nebraska was amazing. We had a strong team bond and we played for each other and pushed each other to be the best we could be.”

All-in-all, the seven had great memories of their time at WNCC, where they helped the women’s basketball team make the Final Four at last March’s national tournament in Lubbock, Texas.

“My time at WNCC has been nothing but great,” Panem said. “I enjoyed my time on the court learning how to play different roles and gaining my confidence back. I have grown so much as a player and I’m so grateful that I have learned so much.

“My favorite part of WNCC was probably making it to the national tournament both years and definitely going to the final four this year. I enjoyed my teammates and especially after this year I know we will still keep in touch.”

Last year’s women’s basketball team pose for a picture with former WNCC alumni Ed Mooney after a practice session at Frenship High School in Lubbock, Texas.

For Henry, her two years at WNCC has been something that she will cherish for a lifetime where the 3-point shooting ace grew as a player and person.

“My time at WNCC has been filled with ups and downs but I wouldn’t trade my time for anything,” Henry said. “My game has grown so much as a player. I’ve gained more confidence and matured all around.

I appreciate my coaches for always being patient with me and helping me to develop my game in places I was lacking.”

Henry said the past two years is filled with memories, especially being around her teammates 24/7.

“My favorite memories at WNCC would be going to nationals twice and just ballin’ and hangin’ with my friends. I always enjoyed playing at nationals because we had pretty good competition and that is what makes basketball fun,” she said.

“Also just goofing around at practice or while traveling to games with my teammates and coaches. Just being bored in the dorms with my teammates is something I’ll miss. We always kept ourselves entertained!”

The hardest part for Henry wasn’t choosing a college but leaving WNCC. It was harder than she realized.

“Leaving WNCC in May was a lot harder than I ever imagined it would be,” Henry said. “It is crazy to think since I would constantly complain about how small the town was but it’s not about the location but the people. I made some great friendships, and it was hard to say goodbye to them. I’ve been with some of those friends for two years so not being around them anymore will be very new. I got pretty close to all my teammates, so not being with them 24/7 is going to be sad.”

Are there any good story ideas about what Cougar athletes, teams, coaches are doing with the current teams or any interesting tidbits of what former Cougars are doing now? If so, send the information to Mark at mrein@wncc.edu.

Youngsters practicing their baseball skills at camp

ALUMNI ATHLETIC NEWS

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

23 former Cougars playing in Eurobasketball league

W

estern Nebraska Community College has 23 former men’s basketball player playing in the EuroBasket Pro league.

Here is the weekly report that is emailed each week.

Currently there are 23 active former Cougars who continue their career after graduation (only in active leagues, there may be some others who currently do not play as their leagues have not started yet).

Some top performances last week by former Cougars include Raul Delgado (6’3’’-G-1991, played in 2010-11, who plays pro in Mexico). He could not help one of the league’s weakest teams Halcones de Ciudad Obregon (19-15) to beat Rayos de Hermosillo (19-15) in the Mexican CIBACOPA. This season Delgado averages 3.5ppg, 1.3rpg and 1.3apg.

Sebastian Suarez (6’4’’-SF-1991, played in 2011-13, plays in Chile). He led CD Espanol Osorno to a victory over the closely-ranked Truenos (1-4) 87-75 in the Chilean LNB 2 (second division) in Saturday night’s game. He was MVP of the game.

Suarez scored 20 points, had 5 boards, handed out 3 passes and blocked 2 shots. Suarez has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages

19.2ppg, 6.3rpg and 3.5apg in six games he played so far.

Other former Western Nebraska Community College players, who play in pro basketball: Francisco Cruz (6’3’’-SG-1989, played in 200910) plays for Tofas Bursa in Turkish BSL Joao Paulo Batista (6’9’’-C-1981, played in 2002-03) plays for Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in Brazilian NBB Du’Vaughn Maxwell (6’7’’-F-1991, played in 2010-12) plays for Phoenix in Filipino PBA Scott Bamforth (6’2’’-SG-1989, played in 200910) plays for Le Mans Sarthe Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA Djordje Dimitrijevic (6’2’’-G-1997, played in 2016-18) plays for KK Sloboda Uzice in Serbian KLS Phil Fayne II (6’7’’-C/F-1997, played in 2015-16) plays for JobStairs Giessen 46ers in German BBL Terrance Motley (6’7’’-F-1991, played in 201112) plays for Krivbas in Ukrainian Superleague Miguel Gotti (6’8’’-C-1990) played for Club Deportivo Panteras in Panamanian LPB few monts ago Andrew Ramirez (6’2’’-G-1997, played in 201516) plays for Copenhagen in Danish BasketLigaen

Tyrell Williams (6’9’’-F-1994, played in 2015-16) plays for Prizreni-16 in Kosovan Superliga Deividas Busma (7’0’’-C-1987) plays for Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions in Austrian BSL Leon Tomic (6’7’’-PF-1996) plays for Samobor in Croatian Prva Liga Marko Rajanovic (6’7’’-F-1998) plays for Proleter in Serbian 2MLS Vinnie Shahid (5’11’’-PG-1998, played in 201618) plays for Entente Cergy Osny Pontoise BB in French NM1 DouDou Gueye (6’9’’-C-1992, played in 201214) plays for DMV Warriors in the TTBL Diamond Onwuka (6’8’’-F-1997, played in 2016-17) plays for Villarrobledo in Spanish LEB Silver Julio Guity (6’9’’-F-1995, played in 2013-15) plays for Shabab in Kuwaiti D2 Ricards Pinne (6’5’’-G-1997) plays for Gulbenes Buki in Latvian RNBL Michael Sparks (5’10’’-PG-1995, played in 2015-16) plays for Gyumri Falcons in Armenian League A Marlon Sierra (6’7’’-F, played in 2016-18) played for Depiro in Maltese BOV League D1 last year.

RJ Palmer (6’7’’-F-1996) played for Gulf Coast Lions in the TBL last year.

Zach Berg earns MIAA Academic honors

Former WNCC baseball player Zach Berg picked up some academic honors at Ft. Hays State University this past year.

Berg was placed on the MIAA Baseball Academic Honor Roll with a 3.68 GPA. Berg spent three seasons at Ft. Hayes and appeared in 13 games last season with 43.1 innings pitched with 20 strikeouts.

For his career, Berg has 71 strikeouts in 101 innings pitched.

Berg is slated to be back for his senior season at Ft. Hays State University because of COVID eligibility.

Ft. Hays also had a pair of other Cougars on the team including pitcher Hunter Parker and catcher Mikey Felton.

A little throwback to International Walk To School Day from around 2015 when the Cougar softball team went to walk kids to school at Lincoln Elementary in Gering.

ALUMNI ATHLETIC NEWS

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

A look back in pictures of past Cougar Athletics

Here are some photos from past years including the three black and white photos from the 1980s of basketball and volleyball. Also cheerleaders from the 1980s to women’s basketball from the 1990s and then Cougar men’s basketball from the early 2000s.

If anyone has past photos, send them to mrein@wncc.edu.

A look back at the 2021-22 Cougar Athletic Teams

Back Page

Cougar Trivia -- Past and Preset - Crossword Puzzle

Cougar Frontline Sponsors

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Platinum Sponsors Absolute Painting B&C Steel Bellevue University FBG Fremont Motors Ideal Linen LOGOz Peerless Tire Pepsi Perkins Platte Valley Bank Quick Care Regional West Runza Scottsbluff Screenprinting Steel Grill TEAM Chevrolet/Toyota US Bank Western States Bank

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Gold Sponsors Ameri-Co Carriers Bluff’s Sanitary Supply Douglas, Kelly, Ostdiek, Ossian, Vogl, and Snyder, P.C. Gary’s Cleaning Inland Truck JBC, Inc. Monument Smiles Reganis Auto Blue Sponsors Back-a-racks Bid It Bob Bluffs Vision Floyd’s Truck Service Hampton Inn & Suites Holyoke, Snyder, Longoria, Reichert, Rice Law Hurst Sports Racquet Intralinks Panhandle COOP Pinnacle Bank Riverstone Bank Roosevelt Public Power Safetyline Consultants Sandberg Implement Sherman-Williams Simmons-Olsen Law Firm

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Cougar Trivia -- Past and Preset - Crossword Puzzle

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White Sponsors Advantage Chiropractic Chadron State College Carr-Trumbull Lumber Dominos Johnson Cashway JC Golf Carts Kendell Henderson/American Family Insurance Kriz-Davis/Border States Electric R/C Welding Rusch’s General Contracting Scottsbluff Star-Herald

https://mycrosswordmaker.com/1070730/Cougar-Trivia-Past-and-P

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2 Town in Wyoming where a Cougar is from

1 Athlete from California

4 Athle�c Trainer

3 Sport that won rst Region IX �tle

8 Women's basketball place at na�onals

5 Longest ac�ve head coach

9 First women's basketball coach

6 Baseball career ba�ng average leader

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13 NFL Hall of Famer

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14 Cougar Award Winner

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15 NJCAA All‐American

22 Country where athletes are from

16 Twins at WNCC

23 Where Zie is from

17 Cougar Hall of Fame Inductee

25 Freshman of the Year ‐‐ So�ball

21 Sco�sbluff Graduate

6/22/2022, 12:49

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Any story ideas, pictures, or updates on former Cougar athletes, send the information to Mark at mrein@wncc.edu. Cougar athlete alumni, also send updates what you are doing.