Illustrated COUGAR
It is regional tournament time!
What’s Inside
Page 8 — Women’s Region IX Tourney Preview
Take a look at the women’s Region IX Tournament preview in which WNCC will host March 13-15 as eight teams come to Cougar Palace with hopes of earning the automatic berth to nationals.
Page 14 — Men’s Region IX Tourney preview
The WNCC men’s basketball team are in the quarterfinals of the Region IX tournament which takes place March 13-15 in Gillette, Wyoming. Here is a preview of the tournament with the bracket.
Page 20 — March is Athletic Training month
WNCC athletic trainer Doug Jones gives an insite of what an athlete trainer does as March is Athletic Training month. Doug is more than an athletic trainer at WNCC, he also helps out in many other things.
Page 25 — 20 Questions with Alyssa Albaugh
This issues 20 questions is with Torrington High graduate Alyssa Albaugh, who had to play high school softball in the season for Cheyenne South. She did help start a Torrington High School team, but the team in her senior year was just allowed to be a jayvee team.
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 ——
Thursday, March 13
Men’s Basketball: Region IX Tournament at Gillette, Wyo.
Women’s Basketball: Region IX Tournament at WNCC Games are slated for 12:30, 2:30, 5, and 7 p.m.
Baseball: AWAY – WNCC at Madison College and Chandler Gilbert in Arizona
Friday, March 14
Men’s Basketball: Region IX Tournament at Gillette, Wyo. Women’s Basketball: Region IX Tournament at WNCC Games are at 5 and 7 p.m.
Baseball: AWAY – WNCC at South Mountain in Arizona
Saturday, March 15
Men’s Basketball: Region IX Tournament at Gillette, Wyo.
Women’s Basketball: Region IX Tournament at WNCC Championship game is slated for 5 p.m.
Softball: HOME – Lamar at WNCC, Volunteer Field, 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 16
Softball: HOME – Lamar at WNCC, Volunteer Field, 11 a.m.
Friday, March 21
Baseball: HOME – Southeast at WNCC, Cleveland Field
Saturday, March 22
Baseball: HOME – Southeast at WNCC, Cleveland Field
Softball: AWAY – WNCC at Trinidad State, Trinidad, Colo.
Sunday, March 23
Softball: AWAY – WNCC at Trinidad State, Trinidad, Colo.
Thursday, March 27
Baseball: AWAY – WNCC at McCook, McCook, Neb.
Athletic trainer Doug Jones not only takes care of the Cougar athletes during games, but he takes care of the refs as well with water.
Cougar Faces
Chelsea Lyles
First-year head coach Chelsea Lyles earned the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Coach of the Year Award for Florida Gulf Coast University. Lyles took over a 0-2 program after the immediate departure of Karl Smesko to the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream. She stepped into the role and went 27-1, which included a win over a Power 4 and Big East team. Only FGCU and UConn have won 25 or more games for 15 straight years.
Do you know any former or current athletes or coaches
This is a new feature in the newsletter and if there are little things that former or current WNCC athletes or coaches have done or accomplished or honors received, please forward them on with a photo if possible. You can send them to mrein@wncc.edu or text them to 308-631-0459.
Spring Break
Quiet time at the college for some, but for others it is sports as usual
For many students, Spring Break is a time to go home for a week or go visit someplace while getting away from the everyday college life.
For many others, well, it is still playing sports and that is the for the softball and baseball team as they are competing in Arizona for Spring Break games.
As for the men’s and women’s basketball team, they are practicing every day as both teams will be in action March 13-15 at the Region IX tournaments. The men are in Gillette, Wyoming, while the Cougar women get to sleep in their own bed as WNCC hosts the Region IX tournament.
So, while four teams are still playing, some in sunny Arizona, others are relaxing someplace.
What are all these athletes and even coaches doing over Spring Break. Even former athletes, when they attended WNCC had many memories from that week off of school.
Personally, my favorite Spring Break memories were all the times me and Doug Jones spent at the national tournament in Lubbock, Texas, with the women’s basketball team. I was there more than Doug, but those times of relaxation were cool, especially taking the walks to visit the bookstore at Texas Tech University, touring Texas Texas basketball arena, and watching the Cougar team play in the Final Four in 2022, the last time I was there. We also got to watch Courtney Medina play a softball game for her Lubbock Christian team in 2017. One of the biggest things was eating for the first time at Raisin’ Canes in Lubbock and I never knew how good it was until 2017. That was also the first time I ate at and went to a Chuckie Cheese.
The other things I remember was visiting all the high school to practice and seeing the nice football and basketball courts that Continued on next page
One of the favorite things was meeting former Cougar Ed Mooney, who came to watch the team practice and play. Mooney lives in Lubbock, Texas, now. This was in 2022.
The softball team outside their hotel while we walked over to check on some of the players while both teams stayed in Amarillo for the night only a block away.
n Spring Break at WNCC, many memories ....
are in Texas. Also I remember me and Doug walking over to the hotel the softball team was staying in the morning in Amarillo to check on the team and then walking back to our hotel. We also walked to some farm and ranch store. That reminds me the time in 2017 when I was trying on cowboy hats at a western store. Doug Jones really thought I was going to buy one, but I didn’t. Instead, I bought tennis shoes because a women’s basketball player thought they were cool and looked good on me.
Then there was in 2022 when we got to meet former Cougar athlete from the 60s who went on to compete at nationals in track and field. Ed Mooney, who lives in Lubbock, watched the team play and practice.
So, what are some of other Spring Break memories from all the current or former players.
Next issue I will have a players look of what they did over Spring Break as soon as the athletes come back to classes that begin on once again on March 17.
So, if you are a Cougar athlete or coach whether current or former, send me your memories of going on Spring Break either this year or last year, or whenever you were here.
— Written by Mark Rein
And,
The team walking from the mall to grab something to eat while waiting for the bus to get fixed.
current assistant coach Shayane Poirot is in the middle giving a peace sign.
The picture that Doug Jones took of me wearing a cowboy hat. No, I didn’t but it.
The team at Chuckie Cheese back at the 2017 national tourney in Lubbock, Texas.
Region IX tourney time WNCC hosts women’s regional, team hoping to capture title
The Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team have put together a stellar season as the Cougars, under first-year WNCC head coach Ryan Davis enters this weekend’s Region IX tournament with a 24-5 record and a 19th-ranking in the NJCAA.
The Cougars won the South Sub-region with an unblemished record of 10-0 which gave them the right to host the Region IX tournament that begins Thursday, March 13 at Cougar Palace. The championship game is slated for Saturday, March 15 at 5 p.m.
Davis said he couldn’t be prouder of this team in their accomplishments this season and believes they have a good chance to make accomplish their goal of winning regionals or making the national tournament.
“I cannot say enough about this group this year. With only 10 players, I think a lot of people outside our program were looking to next year to see success, but it is a testament to our players’ toughness and perseverance that we are in the position we are in now,” Davis said. “They have not wavered at all in their buy in and I think we have gotten stronger as a unit as the year has gone on. No matter what happens in the tournament, I will remember this team forever, it has been a really special year.”
The team’s goal is still alive and this team has played tough all year to win 24 games with just five losses. WNCC went 12-2 during the second semester.
“Making the national tournament is the end goal every year, of course,” he said. “It would mean that all our hard work has paid off. We expect to get into the tournament, but we know we have to earn that this coming week.”
The road to the national tournament will not be an easy one as the eight teams that are coming to Cougar Palace on March 13 all have the same goal. Four of the teams had to win first-round games to advance
while WNCC and the three other teams all received a first-round bye.
“I think the eight remaining teams bring toughness and talent,” Davis said. Winning games in the post season takes persistence and toughness no matter who you are playing. All the teams left have talented players and all have players that will be on their respective All-Region teams.”
WNCC opens the tournament against Highway 26 rival Eastern Wyoming College at 7 p.m. on Thursday. EWC earned a trip to the tournament after the Lancers had to defeat Northwest College on the road in a playoff game 63-56 in double overtime.
The other quarterfinal games will have South 2 seed McCook Community College taking on North 3 Gillette College at 12:30 p.m. followed by North 1 Casper College facing North 5 Northeastern Junior College at 2:30 p.m. The 5 p.m. contest has North 2 Western Wyoming Community College facing South 3 Trinidad State College followed by South 1 WNCC facing North 4 EWC in Thursday’s nightcap.
The four winners on Thursday will face each other in the semifinals on March 14 at 5 and 7 p.m. with the Region IX title game taking place on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Arianna Meyers goes up for a shot in a game with Colorado State Club team in February The Cougars are looking to make the national tournament with regionals this week.
n WNCC women ready to host regional tourney ....
Four teams had to advance with playoff games the week before. While EWC defeated Northwest in double overtime, Trinidad State needed double overtime to down Otero in an offensive shootout 130-122.
The other two first-round games saw NJC top Lamar 71-55 and then Gillette defeated Laramie County 64-49.
Davis said to win the regional tournament, it will take defense, and that is something that the Cougars have done all season in playing tough D.
“Two things come to mind in order to win the tournament,” he said. “The first is we have to defend. Great teams don’t just show up and try to outscore whoever they are playing. The second thing is rebound at a high level. I think if we come into Thursday with a focus on those two areas as will be in a good place.”
WNCC faces a familiar foe in EWC. The two teams faced each other twice this sea-
son, both games in November. WNCC defeated EWC 76-62 back on November 12 at Torrington and then topped the Lancers 86-60 at Cougar Palace on November 16.
That was three months ago. Davis knows that both teams are totally different entering the regional tournament.
“We should know a lot about Eastern Wyoming. We played them two times during the regular season, once in Torrington and once at home,” he said. “I am sure they have changed since then as we have, but it is good going up against a team we have some familiarity with.”
WNCC finished the season with six players averaging in double figures, led by freshman Zozefine Sipolina at 15.1 points a contest followed by Adelina Urtane at 13.2 points. Nataly Dunka is averaging 11.7 while Helena Kuck is at 10.6 points. Lidia Hernandez and Laura Montiel are averaging 10 points a game.
WNCC has a varied offense where they can go inside, but they also can shoot the 3-pointer. WNCC has buried 264 triples on the year while holding their opponents to just 132 3-pointers. Sipolina has buried 88 3-pointers this season followed by 79 from Kuck, 28 from Urtane, 19 from 6-foot-2 post player Dunka, and 18 from Montiel.
The Cougars come into the contest averaging 74 points a game while allowing 56.6 points by their opponents. WNCC has allowed 11 straight games of holding their opponents to under 70 points and have held their opponents to under 60 points in the last four games.
The Lancers can also play defense as they are averaging 72.7 points a game while giving up 67.6 points. EWC is 15-16 entering Thursday’s game.
The Lancers have four players that are averaging double digits, led by Yaiza Paredes at 12.4 points a game followed by Nikolina Vukcevic at 12.1. Aliya Tripp is next at 11.6 points and Luna Moreno is averaging 10 points.
The Lancers are the same type of team as the Cougars as they have made 234 3-pointers on the season, led by six players that have made 30-40 triples this season. EWC has given up 204 3-pointers this season.
Davis said the key for the Cougars to keep advancing is playing defense and staying under control.
“As I said in our keys to winning the tournament, defense is the most important aspect of our play,” he said. “When we defend we become a much better team on offense and I think we become a really confident group.”
The one thing in WNCC’s favor is they get to sleep in their own bed and play in front of the home crowd, even though it is Spring Break this week at the college and very few students are on campus. Still, that home court advantage is huge in a tournament like this.
“(Playing at home) means we do not have to travel, which we did a lot this year, so that is great. I think there is an advantage to not having to get on a bus and go
Nataly Dunka goes up for a lay-in in a game with NJC on February 10 at Cougar Palace. WNCC won the South Sub-region with a 10-0 mark and hosts regionals.
n WNCC women ready to host regional tourney ....
hours away to play,” Davis said. “There is a lot of familiarity you lose when you have to go on the road, so that should help. People should come out to see us play because we haven’t had as many home games as a normal season, so it is another chance to see their home team. Also, good home crowds help so much for the host of the Region IX Tournament, I think there is a big advantage we can gain if people come out. Lastly, we are the highest nationally ranked team in our region at #19 in the country, so hopefully we can put on a good show.”
WNCC, if they play together, can’t be ruled out as they try to get back to the national tournament like they did in 2022 when they finished in the Final Four. The favorite, though, has to be Casper, who is vying for their fourth straight Region IX title, something that only one other team has accomplished in the history of the tournament and that was WNCC when they won the title back in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Casper has won four of the last five regional titles, having lost to Otero in the 2021 season during the COVID pandemic season. Casper finished the North sub-region with an 11-1 record and at 24-6 overall. Casper is ranked 21st in the final NJCAA national poll.
All the second seeded teams are also teams to watch. Western Wyoming, who is on WNCC’s side of a semi-final match-up, comes into the contest at 22-8 having went 9-3 in the North sub-region. McCook, who finished second in the South Sub-region at 8-2, comes in with a 19-11 record. McCook is on the same side of Casper.
The winner of the Region IX tournament will qualify for the NJCAA national tournament March 25 through April 1 at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming.
What Davis likes about this team is they are resilient in how they play as they always find ways to win games with their play on the court.
“I would say the word for this team is resilient,” Davis said. “There have been so many things that have come up that would make a lot of teams fold up the tent and go home, but we never did. We have come
together and are a confident bunch now.
“Our strength is that we operate as one unit. I think when we play that way, we are really hard to beat. There is love for one another and knowledge that we all have each other’s best interests in mind and the strength of a team starts with those fundamental areas. We shoot the ball really well and have been a pretty-balanced scoring team too.”
Ticket prices for the Region IX tournament are $20 for a 3-day pass. Individual day tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens.
— Written by Mark Rein
Region IX Tournament Pairings
Thursday, March 13
12:30 p.m. – McCook vs. Gillette
2:30 p.m. – Casper vs. NJC
5 p.m. – Western Wyoming vs. Trinidad 7 p.m. – WNCC vs. EWC
Friday, March 14
5 p.m. – Casper/NJC winner vs. McCook/ Gillette winner
7 p.m. – W. Wyoming/Trinidad winner vs. WNCC/EWC winner
Saturday, March 15
5 p.m. – Championship game
Helena Kuck goes and saves a ball from going out of bounds near McCook’s bench in their game with the Indians on February 21.
S1 -- W. Nebraska
N4 -- Northwest (56)
Sat., March 8
Time: 2 p.m. at Powell, Wyo.
N5 -- E. Wyoming (63)
N2 -- W. Wyoming
S3 -- Trinidad (130)
Fri., March 7
Time: 5:30 p.m. at Pueblo, Colo.
S6 -- Otero (122)
N1 -- Casper
S4 -- Lamar (55)
Fri., March 7
Time: 6 p.m. at Lamar, Colo.
S5 -- NJC (71)
S2 -- McCook
N3 -- Gillette (64)
Sat., March 8
Time: 6 p.m. at Gillette, Wyo.
N6 -- LCCC (49)
S1 -- W. Nebraska
Thurs., March 13
Time: 7 p.m.
N5 -- E. Wyoming
2025 Women’s Basketball Region IX Tournament March 13-15 @ Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Friday, March 14
Time: 7 p.m.
N2 -- W. Wyoming
Thurs., March 13
Time: 5 p.m.
S3 -- Trinidad
N1 -- Casper
Thurs., March 13
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 15 Time: 5 p.m. 2025 Champions
S5 -- Northeastern
S2 -- McCook
Thurs., March 13
Time: 12:30 p.m.
N3 -- Gillette
Friday, March 14
Time: 5 p.m.
2024-25 WNCC Lady Cougar
Women’s
Basketball Roster
Head Coach: Ryan Davis
Assistant Coach:
Student Manager:
Cougar men ready for regionals
Cougar men enter regional tournament as one of the highest scoring teams in the region
WNCC men’s basketball team will be entering the Region IX tournament in Gillette, Wyoming, as one of the teams that could be described as a team to watch.
WNCC enters the tournament after downing McCook Community College in a first-round playoff game at Cougar Palace 107-73 in a game that first-year WNCC head coach described as a complete team effort from the opening tip-off to the the final buzzer.
The Cougar men will be one of eight teams at the men’s Region IX tournament with hopes of earning the regional title and advancing to the national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The Cougars will open the quarterfinal action with a game against Northwest College at 5 p.m. Northwest earned a 62-53 win over Central Wyoming College in the first-round.
In other first-round games on March 8 from the South, Otero College upended North Platte Community College 78-72 while Lamar Community College topped Northeastern Junior College 87-78.
The other North first-round games saw Casper College defeat Eastern Wyoming College 98-76 and Laramie County Community College top Western Wyoming Community College 86-81.
Thursday’s quarterfinal schedule will have Casper taking on Lamar at 1 p.m., Trinidad State facing Laramie County at 3 p.m., WNCC meeting Northwest College at 5 p.m. and Gillette taking on Otero at 7 p.m.
The semifinals are slated for Friday, March 14 at 5 and 7 p.m. with the championship slated for 3 p.m. on March 15.
It will be the first meeting of the year between WNCC and Northwest. WNCC enters with a 13-16 record while Northwest are 19-11.
WNCC is one of the highest scoring teams in Region IX, averaging 91.1 points a contest. At the same time, they are also giving up 93.1 points a contest.
In the playoff win over McCook on March 8, the Cougars played totally different and head coach Roybell Baez said it was one of the most complete games his team has played all year.
“It was the first time all year that we had a complete game,” Baez said. “At halftime, they had 41 points, and I said, ‘Hey, fellas, if you guys are really serious about winning the tournament, you don’t allow them to score 30 points in the second half. They
had 33 and we had some guys in there late in the game, but I thought defensively in the second half, that was the best defense we have played all year.”
The 73 points that the Cougars allowed in the McCook game is only the sixth time the Cougars have held a team to under 75 points. In those six games, the Cougars are 6-1.
Offensively, the Cougars have scored 100-plus points in three straight games and have hit the century mark WNCC is 6-4. That also means when an opponent scores 100 points, which it has happened in 11
Continued on next page
Mathiang Maker goes up for a dunk during WNCC’s playoff game with McCook on March 8. WNCC defeated McCook 107-73 to advance to the quarter finals on March 13.
n Cougar men open regionals agianst Northwest ....
games and WNCC is just 2-9 when their opponent scores in the triple digits on the scoreboard.
While WNCC scores a lot and allows a lot, Northwest is just opposite.
The Trappers average 82.9 points a contest and are allowing just 76.4 points a game. Northwest has scored over 100 points just twice when they beat Laramie County on January 24 106-95 and then Northwest Alumni 113-78 on December 14.
Northwest is 4-4 since February 1 and have scored 90 points just once during that time. That game was against EWC when the Trappers won 90-79 on February 7.
Northwest has four players averaging in double figures. Collin Hayes leads the team at 16.3 points a contest followed by Drew Larson at 15.2 points, Tesioch Thong at 12.4 and Preston Condie at 10.6.
The Trappers have made just 221 3-pointers this season while giving up 284 triples.
WNCC is opposite from Northwest as the Cougars have buried 306 3-pointers this season while only allowing 226 treys. Eli-
jah Hollins leads with 90 threes followed by Kellon Harris with 51 and then Reece Randolph with 40.
WNCC has four players averaging in double digits. Hollins is scoring at 17.9
points a clip followed by Mathiang Maker at 17.6. Harris is averaging 14.5 while Elijah Burney is scoring at 10.3 points.
Hollins has scored double digits in the the last 20 games. During that stretch, he had a 27 point game against Otero on February 15. His high game for the year is 31 points in a 102-91 defeat to Gillette Collegte on November 18.
Maker has had five double-doubles during the second semester.
Harris has scored in double digits eight games and two of those eight games the Scottsbluff graduate had a double-double with a 23-point, 11-rebound game against McCook on February 21 and then a 25-point, 11-rebound game against Lamar on February 28.
Harris has netted double figures in 21 of the team’s 29 games.
The winner of the WNCC and Northwest game will face the winner of the Gillette and Otero game on Friday at 7 p.m. WNCC is 0-2 against Otero, falling to the Rattlers on the road on February 15 83-72 and also losing to Otero 112-105 at Cougar Palace.
WNCC is 0-2 against Gillette, falling 102-91 at Cougar Palace and then losing
Continued on next page
Elijah Burney controls the ball while being defended by a Gillette player during a game at Cougar Palace.
Kellon Harris drives to the basket against a McCook defender during the Cougars game with the Indians in the first-round playoff game on March 8. WNCC defeated McCook 107-73 in a complete game according to head coach Roybell Baez.
n Cougar men open regionals agianst Northwest ....
112-83 at Gillette.
WNCC last won the Region IX tournament in 2018 when they defeated Otero in the championship game 86-78 in LaJunta, Colorado.
Last year, WNCC captured the South Sub-region and hosted the regional tournament and made it to the championship game. The Cougars opened the tournament a year ago with a quarterfinal win over Northwest 84-72 followed by an 82-78 win over Casper College before falling to Trinidad State 81-56 in the title contest.
— Written by Mark Rein
Men’s Region IX Tournament in Gillette, Wyoming
Thursday, March 13
1 p.m. -- Casper vs. Lamar
3 p.m. -- Trinidad vs. LCCC
5 p.m. -- WNCC vs. Northwest
7 p.m. -- Gillette vs. Otero
Friday, March 14
5 p.m. -- Casper/Lamar vs. Trinidad/LCCC
7 p.m. -- WNCC/Northwest vs. Gillette/ Otero
Saturday, March 15
3 p.m. -- Championship game.
Reece Randolph goes hard to the basket in a game against Trinidad State at Cougar Palace earlier this year. Randolph and his teammates are entering the regional tournament as one of the highest scoring teams this season.
Basketball Tournament
2024-25 WNCC Cougar Men’s Basketball Roster
March is athletic training month;
WNCC’s Doug Jones helps athletes get better
March is National Athletic Training Month. During NATM, Athletic Trainers across America are being recognized for their commitment to helping people prevent injuries, stay healthy and active, and helping them rehabilitate from their injuries.
As health care professionals, they are highly educated and dedicated to the job at hand. Athletic Trainers are found in high schools and colleges, corporations, professional sports, the military, performing arts, clinics, hospitals and physician offices.
This March, the theme for National Athletic Training Month is “Champions in Healthcare”.
Like many of my colleagues here, I wear different “hats” throughout my days at Western Nebraska Community College. One of my “hats” is being the Certified Athletic Trainer for our Cougar athletic teams. This is a position that I take great pride in, and a job that I truly love to do.
In addition to our Cougar athletes, I have also helped numerous staff members, faculty members, general students, fans, and visiting teams as the athletic trainer. I have treated, referred, and/or recommended care for several things, ranging from simple
cuts and scrapes to severe lacerations, simple strains to broken bones, minor tummy aches to blood clots and heart attacks.
What I want to share with you is this: Athletic Trainers are health care professionals who provide care for patients and ath-
letes of all ages and all activity levels. We are trained in the prevention, recognition, care, management, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. We can respond to
Continued on next page
Doug Jones checks on the well-being of an injured McCook player during the WNCC game with the Indians on February 21. Doug makes sure all athletes are taken care of no matter what team they are on.
n March is athletic training month ....
a sprained ankle or a cardiac emergency. 49 of the 50 states have a licensure system for athletic trainers that falls under the regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Many people see me at games handing out water. Maybe you know that I do more than that. Did you know that Athletic Trainers work with more than just high school, college, and professional athletes?
Athletic Trainers work in performing arts, medical clinics, military, corporations, and industrial settings? Many companies, such as Union Pacific, NASA, and Cirque du Soleil employ athletic trainers.
Did you know that not every school has an athletic trainer?
Only 37% of high schools across the US have a full-time athletic trainer. Not every college has an athletic trainer either. In our Region IX alone, at least two schools do not have an athletic trainer and others only have an athletic trainer who is there part time a few days per week. I am blessed to have the support from WNCC to be here to help our athletes.
Did you know that Athletic Trainers are also highly trained in concussion recognition and management?
Many states, including Nebraska, have deemed athletic trainers as being health care professionals qualified in releasing an athlete back to participation following a concussion.
Personally, I have done of 30 hours of continuing education in the last 2 years on concussions alone.
Did you know that more than 70% of
Doug Jones runs onto the field to check on an injured Cougar and offers to help her up during a soccer match in the fall. WNCC spends plenty of time helping athletes during a game or during the day in the state-of-the-art athletic training room.
athletic trainers nationwide have a master’s degree?
Athletic trainers are then required to 50 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their certification.
Through this education, we can broaden our skills, our knowledge, and reinforce learning and techniques, so that we many stay current with the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.
Please know I am not looking for recognition or to toot my own horn, but simply to bring awareness to my profession. I think athletic trainers serve a great purpose, and can help people at any point in their lives.
I am lucky enough to be the athletic trainer for the Cougars, and I (hopefully) get a chance to make a difference in the student-athletes lives, even if it is for just a short time.
What I am asking you to do is simple. Next time your son, daughter, niece, nephew, cousin, grandchild, relative, or anyone else has a game or event and you see an athletic trainer helping someone, make sure you thank them.
Athletic trainers do more than you see, and truly do provide compassionate care for all.
— Written by Doug Jones WNCC Athletic Trainer
Cougar baseball team doing well at home; competing on the road with teams
The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team have been competing against all the teams they are facing, but the road games have been a struggle while the team is finding the confines of Cleveland Field to their liking.
Through games March 12, the Cougars are 8-10 overall and on the road they are 2-6 and 6-4 at home. The team is currently on their annual Spring Break trip and hce played four competitive games through Wednesday.
WNCC started the Spring Break trip falling to Mesa Community College 5-4 where the team scored four, second inning runs. They then let Mesa plate one run in five different innings to get the win.
After that they dropped two heart-breaking games with Central Arizona College, falling 3-0 and then 14-9. The 14-9 game saw Landon Lockwood get two home runs with six RBIs. One of the home runs was a first-inning grand slam.
WNCC then fell in another close contest to Paradise Valley 6-4 where, once again, they gave up a four-run inning to fall.
WNCC wraps up the Spring Break trip with games with Madison College and Chandler-Gilbert on Thursday, March 13 and then a single game with South Mountain on Friday, March 14.
While the road games hasn’t seen a lot of victories, the home games have been nice wins. When they played Miles Community Collegte February 23 and 24, the team went 1-3 with their only win a 14-9 win on the second day.
They quickly rebounded with a 4-0 series with Dawson Community College where the team won 20-0 and 10-1 on March 1 and then claimed a 7-2 and 15-10 win on March 2.
In the Dawson series, WNCC scored 52 runs and allowed just 13. That last game of the series was a dandy where the team had to come back from an 8-0 deficit. That comeback in the second game on Sunday was huge as the team never gave up and got the hits when they needed to over-
Jin Kobayakawa makes contact with the ball in a game against Northeast on March 5. WNCC split the doubleheader against the Hawks, winning the first game 4-3 and then falling in the second game 7-1.
come the late 8-run deficit.
Calab Caciari, who went 2-2 in the game with a home run said the team needed a game like this.
“It was really big to come back and it showed us who we are as a team,” Ciciari, the infielder from Evans, Colorado, said. “We work on those situations in practice and do nine outs just to keep our competitive level up and it showed right there where we came back in that one inning.”
The second game was the exciting one as WNCC fell behind 10-2 and it looked as if the Bucs were going to steal a game from the Cougars. The bottom of the fifth was the inning that changed the momentum of the contest.
Ciciari started the fifth with a solo home run. That home run jump started the of-
fense as the next two batters walked and the Cougars loaded the bases with one out after Catcher Gladysh was hit by a pitch. Two more scored on a one-out single by Landon Lockwood. With the bases loaded once again, Ren Sato scored three with a triple to make it a 10-8 contest. Sato would later score on a pick-off attempt at first that went away and then Cooper Wilson scored to tie the game on an Austin Cooper single. WNCC wasn’t through as they took the lead as Cooper scored on a fielder’s choice hit and Kensei Oikawa made it 12-10 WNCC when he scored on a Jin Kobayakawa double.
WNCC added more insurance runs in the sixth as Sato scored on with a single fol-
Continued on next page
n Cougar baseball 6-4 at home so far ......
lowed by Wilson scoring another with a triple. Wilson scored the last run on a Caciari single to make it 15-10.
WNCC had 15 hits in the win. Caciari and Sato each had two hits. Sato had four RBIs with a triple and two runs scored while Caciari had a home run and single with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Marshall Forsyth got the win in relief of starter Allard Helms. Forsyth went two innings in scattering two hits, allowing four runs and striking out three. Scottsbluff’s Carter Reisig finished off the game with two innings of work by allowing just one hit and striking out two.
After the Dawson game, the Cougars faced Northeast Community College, a team that was receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II poll.
WNCC split the doubleheader, but it was how they played in the opener that showed that they can compete. The opener was a 4-3 win before the Hawks captured the second game 7-1.
Both games were defensive contests and
pitcher duals and the Cougar defenders did everything they needed to get the win against a talented Hawk team. A year ago, WNCC went to Norfolk and fell to Northeast 13-3 and 14-4. This year, it was a different story.
Northeast started the first game off when Carter Noakes lead-off with a solo home run. Northeast then had two on in scoring position with just one out, but Spence settled in and got the next two out on strikeouts.
WNCC answered in the first as Matt Levesque led off with a walk followed by Vaughn Wilson reaching on an error. Levesque scored on Cooper Wilson’s grounder for the 1-1 tie.
WNCC followed the first with a 3-up, 3-down inning in retiring the Hawk batters. When the Cougars came to the plate, they managed to plate two in the second to take a 3-1 lead. Catcher Gladysh started the inning with a single followed by Calab Caciari earning a walk. WNCC loaded the bases after a Cooper Burgess single. Jase Satterfield
scored the first run after he was walked and the Levesque scored Caciari on a ground ball.
WNCC added a single run in the third when Gladysh was hit by a pitch. Caciari followed by rocketing a triple that scored Gladysh with the fourth run.
Northeast made it a 4-3 game when they scored two in the sixth, but that was all they could manage.
Spence got the win with four innings of work while allowing a run with three hits and two strikeouts. Austin Neeley followed with an inning of work with one strikeout followed by a inning of work from Zane Hendrickx who allowed two runs. Carter Reisig tossed the seventh for the save with a hit.
WNCC had just four hits in the contest with Caciari getting the only extra base hit. The second game saw ‘a five pitcher’s control the mound as they had a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Northeast was just
Continued on next page
n Cougar baseball 6-4 at home so far ......
four outs away from the no-hitter.
Northeast took control of the game early on as the Hawks scored twice in the first and three times in the second for a 5-0 lead. The Hawks added single runs in the fourth and fifth to lead 7-0.
WNCC, after the two-opening innings, controlled the Hawks’ bats after that. It was that early start that cost the Cougars.
WNCC got their first base runner in the third when Landon Lockwood led off with a walk, but that was all they could manage.
It was the sixth inning where the Cougars started to make some noise. Austin Cooper earned a 2-out walk and scored on the next batter when Vaughn Wilson got the team’s first hit, a double to right centerfield to make the score 7-1.
The top of the seventh saw Kensei Oikawa start off with a walk, but just like the previous innings, the Hawks defense got the next three batters out.
The two Hawk pitchers combined on 10 strikeouts of the 21 outs and walked three. WNCC’s only hit came from Vaughn Wilson.
WNCC, after they wrap up the Spring Break trip, will start the important part of their season with Empire Conference action. WNCC will begin that part of the season on Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22 when Southeast Community College comes to Cleveland Field.
Southeast, who won Region IX a year ago, is struggling this year as they are 3-11 on the season.
WNCC and Southeast have one opponent in common and that is Northeast. The Bobcats opened the season with a 3-1 win
Carter Reisig delivers a pitch in the fourth game in a series with Dawson the first part of March. Reisig got the save in the 15-10 come-from-behind win on the day. Reisig is from Scottsbluff.
over Northeast and then dropped the next two 12-8 and 4-2. The two teams hooked up on March 11 and Northeast won both by 10 runs or more. The first game was 15-5 and teh second 16-5.
Southeast has games on March 15 against Eastern Oklahoma State and March 15 against Crowder and then a contest March 19 against Concordia University be-
BidItBob Auction Service has proudly been serving the Nebraska Panhandle and Eastern Wyoming for over 10 years! We are a locally owned, family run business, specializing in auctions of all kinds. — located at 1624 1st Avenue, Scottsbluff —
fore they come out to Scottsbluff of the doubleheader action.
WNCC wraps up the month of March with two road games at McCook and then comes back home to Cleveland Field to face McCook in a doubleheader on March 29. Those games start a string of 10 straight home contests.
— Written by Mark Rein
20Questions with Alyssa Albaugh, softball player
Alyssa Albaugh is one of those players that came to WNCC to continue her softball playing and it was a place where she can improve as she aims to continue her playing at the next level.
But, Albaugh is just a freshman and still has a year to gain college softball experience. Albaugh comes to WNCC from Torrington, Wyoming, where she couldn’t play high school softball for her Trailblazer team so she commuted and played for Cheyenne South because Torrington just started softball her senior year and it was just jayvee. Albaugh was one of those die-hard softball players that helped to get softball and going as a high school sport.
Here is a quick 20 questions with Alyssa of how her freshman season is going and a little bit about her softball background and softball playing.
MR: Freshman year of college sports, how is it going?
AA: There’s definitely been a lot of challenges that we have faced this year, but overall we have improved so much since the first time we stepped on the field in august!
MR: What is it like to be playing college softball?
AA: There’s definitely a lot of highs and lows but when you have a team doing everything with you, it makes it a lot easier. Especially with all of the memories and friendships you build along the way.
MR: What are the biggest learning curves that freshmen have to face when playing in college?
AA: I think the biggest learning curve for freshman is that you don’t really get a break from softball it is grinding all year long so you really have to prioritize your school work and have good time management.
MR: What makes this softball team special this year?
AA: Our team has a lot of different roles that each girl can fill in, because of how diverse we are on the field. We also are all really close so we have not only been team-
mates but we have been family on and off the field.
MR: What fun things have you and the team experienced since you started in August?
AA: Our team has done a lot of fun things together, we love going to support other teams at WNCC. We also have done fun things on our trips like going to Z’s fun factory over spring break!
MR: You are from Torrington and how did you come to WNCC to play?
AA: I came to WNCC because it was close to home and when I came to visit it felt like it was home. So when coach reached out to me I knew it was where I would go!
MR: What was your high school softball playing like and who did you all play for and memories?
AA: In high school I played for Cheyenne Extreme (Adam and Michael Galacia) and Cheyenne South High School (Curtis Quigley and Xia Wysocki). My favorite memory
Continued on next page
n 20 questions with Alyssa Albaugh ......
from Extreme was going to the world series game last summer with my teammates. And from South was my freshman year when we went to Gillette, we played games with our coaches.
MR: Torrington High School just started high school softball in the spring a year ago, but the first year was just jayvee, what does it mean that the girls of Torrington get a chance to play high school softball now. Did you help in getting it started or not?
AA: My freshman year of high school softball became a sport in Wyoming, there were only two people from my high school interested in playing at the time, Myself and Michaela Moorehouse, we had looked into every option to be able to play high school softball.
However, we knew we would not be able to start a team in Torrington because we didn’t have enough girls. So we got the opportunity to commute to Cheyenne and play with Cheyenne South high school. My sophomore year Michaela Moorehouse was no longer there because she graduated the year before, so then it was just me. I still did
the commuting and loved playing so nothing would stop me. But my parents and I kept pushing to start a team in Torrington, but the answer was still no. But then my junior year, there were more girls interest-
ed in playing, now there were 5 of us and more girls were interested but didn’t play because they didn’t want to have to drive to Cheyenne. So we pushed to our school
Continued on next page
n 20 questions with Alyssa Albaugh ......
board again to start a team in Torrington, they then said there would be a team in Torrington but that it would be my senior year and it would have to start as a JV team.
So my senior year they created a softball team in Torrington that started as a JV team so I still was not able to play in Torrington. Because I was a Senior and as a senior you can’t play JV so I still had to travel to Cheyenne. Now Torrington has a softball team and I would like to say I had a very big part in this happening!
MR: You can play several positions, what is your favorite position and when did you start playing that position?
AA: Catching is my favorite position and I started when I was 7.
MR: Did you play any other sports at Torrington and what?
AA: I played volleyball for all four years and basketball for three
MR: Who is your favorite softball play to watch on TV?
AA: Kinzie Hansen
MR: Is softball something you would like to continue in college and beyond?
AA: Softball is something I plan to continue in college and beyond. I plan to keep playing college ball until I finish my degree and then eventually I plan to coach!
MR: Fast-pitch softball or slow-pitch softball, which is better? Why?
AA: Fast pitch softball because it’s a faster pace and it’s all I have ever played.
MR: Outside of softball, what do you enjoy doing for hobbies, relaxation, etc.?
AA: Hanging out with my friends and catching up on sleep.
MR: 15) What is the hardest part of college?
AA: I think the hardest part of college is being away from your family and your home. Especially as an athlete because you are always on the go, and don’t really have time to travel home.
MR: What is the easiest part of college?
AA: The easiest part of college is meeting new people, everywhere you go on campus there is someone new!
MR: How many new friends have you met in college and what is it like getting to know people from all over?
AA: I have made so many new friends from all over the US and even from other countries. Getting to know people from all over the world is really interesting because you get to learn new things about other countries/cultures. I have friends from Spain, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and almost one from every US state, so it’s really interesting being around people from so many different places.
MR: If you could redo anything from your high school playing days, what would it be and why?
AA: If I could redo anything from my high school playing days I would have had more fun playing sports, I wouldn’t have been so hard on myself.
MR: What is your walk-up song to bat and why?
AA: Oye Mi Canto by Daddy Yankee, and because Jenika and I would always sing and listen to it, so it just gave me good vibes for
when I am hitting.
MR: Favorite major league baseball team and why?
AA: I don’t really watch MLB.
MR: Favorite sports movie and why?
AA: A miracle season because I would always watch it with my mom.
MR: 22) Favorite holiday and why?
AA: My favorite holiday is Christmas because I get to be around all of my family to celebrate.
MR: 23) Advice to the younger softball players?
AA: My advice to the younger softball girls is don’t let someone tell you, you can’t do something. If you have 100% attitude and effort and you put your mind to it you can do anything. I also would tell them to value every single game that you play because one day you won’t be able to play anymore.
— Written by Mark Rein
Cougar softball team gaining experience as they begin conference season after Spring Break
The Western Nebraska Community College softball team has had eight home games this season during the winter months and so far, Volunteer Field has been good to the team.
The Cougars first home games of the year came February 25 and 26 when Miles Community College came down from Montana to play some games.
The first day saw the two teams split as WNCC won the first game 17-9 before falling 10-7 in the second game.
The final two games of the series also was a split with Miles winning the first and then WNCC battled back from an 8-2 deficit in the second game to claim the 10-8 victory.
Freshman Faythe Lafirenza, had the big day on day two as the Kingman, Arizona, product went 7-for-8 on the day with three doubles and a triple. Lafirenza said the comeback win was a team win as the team did what they needed to get the win.
“I think the second game we picked up our talk and picked up the energy,” Lafirenza said. “We were like we all need to come together because this is game. We just talked and we were having fun. This is something we want to do and we all played since we were little and now we are in college. It is a fun sport.”
WNCC was on the brink of dropping the second game after Miles went up 8-2 in the fourth inning. That was when the Cougars decided to wake up and play the way they know how offensively and defensively.
“Everyone came together. The talk, while many people outside of sports doesn’t think talking is important, but talk in a huge thing in sports,” Lafirenza said. “We held that energy and we played together and really came together. It started coming and coming with all the talk and all the hype, we all felt like we could do it.”
Both teams scored in the first inning and then the pitchers settled in. Jenika Fuentes, got the win going all seven innings in scattering 15 hits but only allowing eight runs, walking just two, and striking out two. For Miles, they picked up in the second
game where they left off in the first game with three runs. WNCC answered in the bottom of the first. JoLee Huffaker got things started with a 2-out single and scored on a Lydia Tibbals double. Tibbals scored on the next batter as Tina Horton had a double to make it 3-2.
It was the fourth inning when Miles took the 8-2 lead on seven singles. The Cougars knew they had to regroup and they did, with six runs in the bottom of the fourth to tied the score at 8-8.
The fourth inning started with Randi Mitchell earning a walk and then Ellie Soper singled home Mitchell for the first run. Lafirenza followed with a double. WNCC made it 8-4 when Soper scored on a passed ball. Huffaker than singled to score another and Tibbals doubled to score two runs to make it 8-7 with just one out. WNCC loaded the bases and tied the score on a sacrifice fly by Mitchell.
Neither team scored in the fifth and
WNCC held Miles scoreless in the sixth and seventh as well. WNCC won the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth when Tibbals led off with single. Mykah Klumpp than came up with a huge hit as she had two strikes on her and went the opposite field to leftfield for a double, scoring Tibbals with the go-ahead run. Klumpp would score later on a Mitchell single for the 10-8 lead.
Lafirenza led the Cougars with a 4-for-4 game with a run scored and two doubles. Tibbals finished with three hits with two doubles, three runs scored, and three RBIs. Huffaker and Klumpp each had two hits. The first game was also a close contest until one innings, the fifth-inning when Miles scored eight runs and WNCC just three.
Lafirenza led the way with a 3-for-4 day with a double and triple with a run scored. Duke and Huffaker each had two hits. Duke had three RBIs.
Continued on next page
Faythe Lafirenza gets ready to lay down a bunt in the Cougars’ fourth game with Dawson on March 2. WNCC picked up both wins on Sunday against the Bucs. WNCC, after a Spring Break trip, will be back at home March 15 and 16 when they host Lamar.
n Softball team has winning record at home ......
In their next four-game series at home against Dawson on March 1 and 2, the Cougars and Bucs split on the first day with WNCC winning 5-3 and then the Bucs winning in game two 8-1.
Sunday’s games were a little different as sophomore pitcher Kayli Cooper picked up both wins from the circle in close contests. WNCC won the first 5-2 and then held on to capture the second 5-4.
Sunday’s contests saw the Cougars score early in game one and then held on as Cooper went the distance in the circle allowing just three hits in the 5-2 win. The second game saw Cooper get the win in the circle in relief and it was a Mykah Klumpp sixth-inning solo home run that proved to
be the winner in the 5-4 win.
Cooper, the sophomore pitcher from Saskatchewan, had all three wins from the circle over the weekend. The defense was a key factor in the way the Cougars played over the weekend.
“I think we played really good today. I think our energy was higher going into it,” Cooper said about the two wins on Sunday. “We already knew their pitchers and we knew what they were throwing. We just kept our energy up.”
Cooper said getting those timely hits along with the defensive players behind the pitchers were the keys to the games this weekend.
“We knew what she was throwing and
just get base hits,” Cooper said. “Mykah just pulled in and it was a clutch hit for her.”
As for getting three pitching wins over the weekend where she threw 17 innings in scattering 17 hits, allowing just six runs, and striking out 11 for the weekend, Cooper knew she just had to throw and rely on her defense, and the Cougar defense came through.
“I knew I couldn’t strike everybody out. I trusted my teammates to get the ground balls and pop flies for me. I really honed in and I knew I had a job to do and I just went out and tried my best,” Cooper said. “The defense was really big today. I have grats to all my infielders and outfielders today Continued on next page
Serving Scottsbluff and Gering as well as the Panhandle with medical facilities for over 50 years!
n Softball team has winning record at home ......
because they really had my back and they stopped everything. They gave so much effort.”
Sunday’s games were intense. The first game saw the Cougars come out ready to play and plated two runs in the first and second innings for a quick 4-0 lead. In the first, WNCC loaded the bases on two walks and an error. Randi Mitchell then scored the first run with a sacrifice fly and Cooper scored the second run on a ground out for the 2-0 lead.
The second inning saw JoLee Huffaker lead off with a single and scored one batter later on a Tori Travers single. Travers came in to score on a Tina Horton single.
WNCC added a single run in the fourth as Sierra Hilgner doubled and scored on a Mitchell hit. Dawson plated two runs in the sixth, but that was all they could get.
Cooper got the win going all seven innings in striking out three and scattering three hits.
WNCC had just four hits in the contest,
but they came when it counted. Hilgner had the only extra base hit with a double. The second game was just as intense as both teams played great defense. The Cougars opened the game with two in the first when Horon got things started with a single and scored two batters later on a Mitchell 2-out single. Mitchell would score to make it 2-0 on a Tori Travers single.
Dawson fought back to tie the game with two runs in the third. WNCC retook the lead with two in the fourth. Travers started things on getting hit by a pitch. She would come in to score on a Huffaker double and Huffaker scored on a Klumpp sacrifice fly to lead 4-2.
Dawson came right back in the fifth with a 2-run home run to tie the game at 4-4. WNCC had a prime opportunity in the fifth when they loaded the bases with no outs and couldn’t get a run in. The sixth inning, though, saw WNCC take the lead when Klumpp hit a shot to centerfield for a
Continued on next page
Kayli Cooper delivers a pitch during the second day of their games with Dawson Community College. The sophomore picked up both wins on Sunday.
n Softball team winning at home ......
solo home run to put the Cougars on top. The seventh inning saw Cooper get three fly balls to rightfield, where Huffaker calmly hauled in all three outs to end the game.
Cooper got the win in relief of Jenika Fuentes. Fuentes went three innings in allowing four hits and two runs, while Cooper went four innings in allowing five hits and two runs while striking out three.
Horton led the offense with three hits while Huffaker had two hits with a double, and Klumpp had a hit with two RBIs.
Saturday’s games were classic softball games. Game one was a pitcher’s dual for all seven innings. Dawson took a 1-0 lead with a run in the fifth. WNCC took the lead with five runs in the fifth on just one hit and a couple Dawson fielding errors for the win. WNCC had just two hits, a double by Lydia Tibbals and a single by Randi Mitchell.
Game two on Saturday saw WNCC take
All in the Numbers
18
The number of home runs that the baseball team has hit through games through March 11 so far this season. Landon Lockwood leads the way with four home runs.
33
The number of doubles the Cougar softball team has hit through games entering Spring Break. Lydia Tibbals leads the way with six doubles.
a 1-0 in the first as Kallie Stocking drove in Adi Duke with a double. After that, Dawson plated three runs in the third, four in the fifth and one in the sixth for the 8-1 in over the Cougars.
— Written by Mark Rein
Cougar Athletes of the week
Female Athletes of the Week
August 28
September 18
October 4 ......................................
October 10
October 17
October 31
November 18
November 24 ....................
December 11
January 26
February 2 ......................
February 14
February 21
Lilly Zwart, Volleyball
Amanda Duarte, Soccer
Danae Montalvo, Soccer
Taylor Tyser, Volleyball
Emily Villagomez, Soccer
Chloe Grady, Volleyball
Nataly Dunka, Woman’s Bball
Lidia Hernandez, Women’s Bball
Adelina Urtane, Women’s Bball
Laura Montiel, Women’s Bball
Zozefine Sipolina, Women’s Bball
JoLee Huffaker, Softball
Zozefine Sipolina, Women’s Bball
February 28 ........................
March 8
Male Athletes of the Week
August 28
Adelina Urtane, Women’s BBall
Kayli Cooper, Softball
Eduarda Oliveira, Soccer
September 18 ......................................... Paul Denz, Soccer
October 4
October 10
Anthony Lemus, Soccer
Eduardo Oliveira, Soccer
October 17 .......................................... Lucas Ovalle, Soccer
October 31
November 18
November 24 ...............................
December 11
January 26
February 2
Febuary 9
Simon Echeverry, Soccer
Kellon Harris, Men’s Bball
Elijah Hollins, Men’s Bball
Isaiah St. Preux, Men’s Bball
Mathiang Maker, Men’s Bball
Reece Randolph, Men’s Bball
February 21 .................................
February 28
March 8
Clay Brandon, Baseball
Elijah Hollins, Men’s Bball
Elijah Burney, Men’s Bball
Austin Cooper, Baseball
66
The number of blocks the Cougar men’s basketball team has this season. Mathiang Maker leads the way with 28 blocks followed by Kellon Harris with eight and Elijah Hollins with five.
264
The number of 3-pointers the women’s basketball team has made this year. Zozefine Sipolina leads the way with 88 triples this season.
626
The number of rebounds that Anita Drayton has in her career while at WNCC. Drayton played from 1986-88 and is second in Region IX in career rebounds. First in Region IX is McCook’s Kendra Baucom with 751 rebounds.
776
The number of wins that Dave Harnish has while he was coach for the women’s team from 1988 through 2016. He leads Region IX in wins.
JoLee Huffaker makes a catch in the outfield. Huffaker made all three outs in the second game to secure the win.
Cougar men’s basketball sophomore day
2025 Cougar Volleyball Summer Skills Camps Summer
CAMP 1
About Volleyball Camp Instructors
CAMP
Little Cougars Camp — June 19 & 20
One full day and 1 half day open to girls and boys to learn the sport of volleyball. Morning: 9 a.m.-noon and afternoon 1-3 pm. Grades 3rd-5th, Cost: $100 per camper.
n Cost: $100 per camper; Grades 3rd-5th. Bring your own lunch.
Elite Camp with Coach Green — June 23 and 24
Fatima Balza begins her second year as the WNCC head volleyball coach and Balza has plenty of volleyball background. Balza started her collegiate career at WNCC under Coach Chris Green, helping the Cougars to a NJCAA national title n 2007. She then played at Penn State where she won two national titles for the Nittely Lions. After Penn State, Balza came back to become an assistant coach with Giovana Melo and then spend time coaching and doing clinics in Europe before coming back to be WNCC’s head coach last year.
2
CAMP
3
The camp will be instructed by former Cougar coach Chris Green, who coached Fatima Balza when she was at WNCC. This camp will be intense to learn attacking, serve receive, serving, setting, defense, and blocking.
n Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. both days (bring your own lunch)
n Cost: $180 per camper. Limited to 36 campers
n Ages: High School Grades 10th - 12th
Team Camp JV (max of 8 teams) — June 26 & 27
The camp will instruction and playing with the first day AM skill session. Each camper must be a part of a team. $45 per camper.
n Time: 8:45 a.m. - Noon and 12:45 - 3 p.m. (Bring your own lunch)
n Cost: $45 per camper.
n Ages: Jayvee Teams (Players must be a part of a tam)
Team Camp Varsity (max of 8 teams) — June 30 & July 1
CAMP
4
CAMP
5
The camp will instruction and playing with the first day AM skill session. Each camper must be a part of a team. $45 per camper.
n Time: 8:45 a.m. - Noon and 12:45 - 3 p.m. (Bring your own lunch)
n Cost: $45 per camper.
n Ages: Jayvee Teams (Players must be a part of a tam)
Middle School Campers -- All Skills Camp (option 1) — July 8 & 9
The camp is designed to fine tune the volleyball skills. Skills covered include attacking, serve receive, serving, setting, defense, and blocking. (Max of 24 hitters and 12 setters)
n Time: 9 a.m. noon and 1-3 p.m. (bring your own lunch)
n Cost: $120 per camper
Chris Green is a Gering High School graduate and started the WNCC volleyball program on its national recognition with a Region IX championship in 1999 and then won the school’s first national title in 2007. He later coached at U. of Alaska Anchorage for 15 years. He has a strong knowledge of volleyball.
CAMP 6
CAMP 7
n Ages: Grades 6th through 9th
Middle
School
Campers -- All Skills Camp (option 2) — July 8 & 9
The camp is designed to fine tune the volleyball skills. Skills covered include attacking, serve receive, serving, setting, defense, and blocking. (Max of 24 hitters and 12 setters)
n Time: 9 a.m. noon and 1-3 p.m. (bring your own lunch)
n Cost: $120 per camper
n Ages: Grades 6th through 9th
Half Day Clinics -- Serving, Passing, Setting, Attackng — July 9 & 10
These are half-day volleyball skills camps with a max of 20 players. Cost: $50
n Serving Clinic: July 9 from 9 a.m. to noon
n Passing/Defense: July 9 from 1-4 p.m.
n Setting Clinic: July 10 from 9 a.m. to noon
n Hitting/Blocking: July 10 from 1-4 p.m.
WNCC volleyball has supported local volleyball programs from Eastern Wyoming, Nebraska, Northeastern Colorado, and western South Dakota with 82 players playing at WNCC since 1990, including three signees from that region for next year so far.
Gold Sponsors (1,000)
u Allo Communications **
u Ameri-Co Carriers
u Mackenzie Westphal Photography
u Monument Smiles
u Panhandle COOP
u Quick Care
Platinum Sponsors (1,500)
u Absolute Painting
u B&C Steel
u Bellevue University
u FBG
u Ideal Linen/Bluff’s Sanitary
u Kendell Henderson/American
u Family Insurance
u LOGOz
u Peerless Tire
u Pepsi
u Platte Valley
u Regional West Medical
u Runza
u Scottsbluff Screenprinting
u Steel Grill
uTEAM Chevrolet/Toyota
u US Bank
u Bluff’s Chiropractic **
u Dominos **
u Douglas, Kelly, Ostdiek, Ossian, Vogl, and Snyder, P.C.
u Inland Truck
u Reganis Auto
Blue Sponsors (600)
u Back-a-racks
u Bid-It-Bob
u Bluffs Vision
u Chadron State College
u Elite Physical Therapy
u Floyd’s Truck Service
u Hampton Inn & Suites
u Holyoke, Snyder, Longoria, Reichert, Rice Law
u Intralinks
u JBC, Inc.
u R & C Welding
u Riverstone Bank
u Roosevelt Public Power
u Sandberg Implement
u Sherman-Williams
u Simmons-Olsen Law Firm
u Scottsbluff Star-Herald
u WESTCO
White Sponsors (400)
u Advantage Chiropractic
u Alarm Security Technicians **
u Border States Electric
u Carr-Trumbull Lumber
u Johnson Cashway
u Rusch’s General Contracting
