WNCC Cougar Beat Issue 7, Dec 25

This Week in Cougar Athletics

COUGAR BEAT

Western Nebraska Community College

Dec. 25, 2017 Issue 7

High flying Cougars!

What’s In A Number

12 The number of wins by the men’s and women’s basketball teams during the first semester. __________________

33 The number of wins the Cougar volleyball

team captured this season. The WNCC volleyball team captured their 19th straight regional title and 20th in program history. __________________

43 The number of players from Colorado on

the seven WNCC athletic teams. The women’s teams have 14 players while the men’s teams have 29 players from the Denver Bronco state. __________________

50.6 The number of points the 24th-ranked

women’s basketball team is giving up this year. On the flip side, the Cougar women are scoirng at a 79.8 point clip. __________________

102.1 The number of points the WNCC men’s baskeketball team is averaging after the first semester. WNCC has scored above 100 points in seven of its 10 games during the current win streak..

Cougar Athletics Upcoming Events Thursday, January 4

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. NW Kansas Tech JV, Cougar Palace,

** Video — http://thecube.com/e/769396 Friday, January 5

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. Laramie County, Cougar Palace, 5:30 pm.

** Video — http://thecube.com/e/769397

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. Laramie County, Cougar Palace, 7:30 p.m.

** Video — http://thecube.com/e/769398 Saturday, January 6

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. Trinidad State, Cougar Palace, 2 p.m.

** Video — http://thecube.com/e/769399

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. Trinidad State, Cougar Palace, 4 p.m.

** Video — http://thecube.com/e/769400 Monday, January 8

l Women’s Basketball at Casper College, Casper, Wyoming, 5:30 p.m.

l Men’s Basketball at Casper College, Casper, Wyoming, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 12

l Women’s Basketball at Otero JC, LaJunta, Colorado, 5 p.m.

l Men’s Basketball at Otero JC, LaJunta, Colorado, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 13

l Women’s Basketball at Lamar CC, Lamar, Colorado, 2 p.m.

l Men’s Basketball at Lamar CC, Lamar, Colorado, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, January 16

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. Nebraska All-stars, Cougar Palace 6:30 p.m.

Friday, January 19

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. North Platte, Cougar Palace, .7 p.m.

Saturday, January 20

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. McCook, Cougar Palace, .

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. McCook, Cougar Palace, .

Saturday, January 27

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. NJC, Cougar Palace, .

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. NJC, Cougar Palace, .

Friday, February 2

l Western Trails High School Basketball Tourney, Cougar Palace Saturday, February 3

l Western Trails High School Basketball Tourney, Cougar Palace

l Women’s Basketball at Eastern Wyoming, Torrington, Wyo., 5:30 p.m. .

l Men’s Basketball at Eastern Wyoming, Torrington, Wyo., 7:30 p.m. .

Friday, February 9

l Women’s Basketball at Trinidad State, Trinidad, Colo.., 5 p.m. .

l Men’s Basketball at Trinidad State, Trinidad, Colo., 7 p.m. .

Saturday, February 10

l Women’s Basketball at Laramie County, Cheyenne, Wyoming., 2 p.m. .

l Men’s Basketball at Laramie County, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 4 p.m.

Friday, February 16

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. Lamar, Cougar Palace, 5:30 p.m. .

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. Lamar, Cougar Palace, 7:30 p.m.. .

Holiday Traditions

Cougar athletes, today and past, talk about holiday traditions, what they are thankful for

With the holiday season many of the athletes that can go home for the holiday break do go home.

There are a number of athletes from the 50 states that have different Christmas traditions.

Cougar athletes from Hawaii to Florida to Chicago and Washington dot the rosters. These athletes get the opportunity to head home for the holiday break.

Christmas has many different traditions and meanings to all. Local players Austin Hoffman, a member of the men’s basketball team and Esai Hernandez, a member of the baseball team, have special meanings of Christmas.

“To me Christmas is about celebrating the life of Christ,” Hoffman, a 2016 Gering graduate said. “It is also being thankful for all the gifts he has given us.”

Christmas is more about giving. Just ask Cougar baseball player Esai Hernandez.

“The meaning of the holiday season to me is to open your heart, to accept things the way they are, and just enjoying every minute of the season,” the Gering graduate said.

The holiday season for men’s soccer player Andre Matzuda is the same as ev-

Newsletter Survey Something New: Newsletter feedback — This issue, with the start of 2018, when you look back at 2017 and all the happenings with Cougar Athletics, what are some of the memories that stick out about Cougar athletics? Anyone (from players, coaches, Cougar fans, community) may email their take on 2017 in Cougar athletics.

Email to mrein@wncc.edu. eryone else. Matzuda, who is from Brazil, said it is about spending time with special people.

“I am thankful for all my family and friends who have supported me in the past year,” . I am grateful for every moment I spend with them, specially on the holidays.”

Matzuda added that the holiday season is about being grateful for your opportunities.

“Personally, holidays mean being grateful for the opportunities that you had and the people who love you,” he said. “They are always great days to spend

with the family.”

Then there is tradition of taking in the sites and sounds of the holiday season.

That is what women’s soccer player Morgan Smith and her family does.

“To me, the holiday season means that we get to listen to the best music,” Smith said. “We then get to get together with the ones we love and be able to celebrate the birth of Christ. I love the Christmas season because of all the joy and happiness it brings to each and everyone.”

Smith said she has been listening to Christmas music since July. Smith said her favorite Christmas music is really anything from the Pentatonix. “I love the upbeat, groovy Christmas music,” she said.”

Holiday traditions are varied, too.

Hernandez said his family’s tradition is snacking throughout the day and hanging ouit.

“One holiday tradition my family does is we always play games,” Hernandez said.

“And we snack throughout the night of Christmas Eve.” Other traditions involve church and family time.

Story continued on next page

Christmas traditions among Cougar athletes Story continued from previous page “We usually open one gift on Christmas Eve before we go to the church ceremony that night,” Hoffman said. “On Christmas Day we open presents in the morning and have Christmas dinner at my grandma’s.”

Hoffman added he enjoys spending time with family and friends. ““A lot of people that I know, including myself, like to go and drive around at night and look at Christmas lights,” he said. “If it snows, then sledding is a must as well.”

Matzuda says this time of year is spending time together.

“I always spend the night with my family and sometimes friends,” the soccer player said. “We have a nice dinner and also a wonderful time.”

Smith said because they have a lot of family in the area, the holiday season is about spending time together and having a fun get-together.

“We have a lot of family that lives here so every Christmas Eve my whole family (consisting of 25 people) gather at my house,” she said. “We always eat dinner, play some games, and open Christmas

gifts from one another. Then on Christmas Day we all go to my grandmas house for brunch and play more games there.

Then just my mom, dad, brothers, and I go to a movie in the evening.”

The holiday season is also about looking back and being thankful.

Smith said she is thankful for all the opportunities she has had playing soccer at WNCC. “I’ve been thankful for so many things this year,” the Scottsbluff High graduate said. “I am thankful for being able to play another year of soccer as a WNCC Cougar. I am thankful for all the support and love I receive from my family and friends.

Hernandez said he is thankful for everyone that has touched his life.

“I’m most thankful for the new people that I’ve gotten the chance to meet and get to know,” he said. “A lot of them have touched my life.”

Matzuda said he is thankful for playing a sport he loves and meeting new people.

“My top memories are spending time with my friends and family such as playing soccer at WNCC, working at the bookstore, and visiting my family in Peru and LA,” he said.

Smith, too, has many top memories while playing soccer at WNCC this past year.

“My, by far, top memories from this past year are going to Vegas for our first family vacation, scoring my first collegiate goal in my soccer game, and really any moments I have spent with my close family and friends.”

Former Cougar softball player and now WNCC head coach Katelyn Groves said she has many things to be thankful during her time at WNCC as a player and coach.

“My top memory of playing at Western would be the amount of support we had from every other sport and how tight knit we all were,” she said. “Winning a regional championship in 2010 with the baseball team sitting on the visitor dugout and volleyball player, Fatima Balza, running around in the Buddy costume in the outfield. The game was fun and there are a ton of memories that I could talk about for days but the people, teammates and those people both at the college and in the community truly made Western an amazing experience ­— WNCC gave me the opportunity to create a whole new family that still means the world to me today.”

Holiday photos from past Cougar teams

Cougar men move into Top 20 in nation WNCC men win 10 straight heading into second semester The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team is being rewarded for its first half play earning a spot in the NJCAA Top 20 for the first time in since 2012.

The Cougars, who won a 10-game winning streak after finishing the first semester with a 12-2 record, entered the NJCAA men’s basketball Top 25 polls this week at No. 20. WNCC is just one of four Region IX teams that earned recognition this week.

Gillette College is ranked No. 10 at 14-0 followed by Sheridan College ranked 18th at 14-1. Trinidad State Junior College received votes this week.

WNCC head coach Cory Fehringer says the rankings are nice, but there is more on the docket than the polls.

“I think it is a testament to the commitment the kids showed to get better each and every day,” the second-year WNCC head coach said. “I think all the players and coaches are aware that it doesn’t change the way that we feel we have to work in practice to continue to grow.”

The last time the Cougar men were ranked in the Top 20 was back on Feb. 7, 2012, when they were ranked as high as 11th in the nation. That season, the Cougars were ranked in the top 20 for three straight weeks, before finishing the season with a 26-7 record.

Fehringer said the ranking is for the community more for the team since the community supports the Cougar teams. He said the community deserves the honor.

“We are excited for our community to have the opportunity to be a part of it,” he said. “We are just glad that the community gets to be a part of this. When we took that job in Scottsbluff we said this was what we were going to do. We were going to play hard and play together, and we were going to try to represent the community of Scottsbluff with class.”

This year’s Cougar team, however, isn’t too bad either. The Cougars are the 10th highest scoring team in the nation, averaging 102.1 points a game. WNCC’s only two losses came to the College of Southern Idaho the first weekend of the season and then to then No. 5-ranked Salt Lake Community College. Since that Salt Lake loss, the Cou-

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

NJCAA Men’s Basketball Poll (Dec. 19)

College (1st Place Votes) State Record Northwest Florida State (16) FL 14-0 Vincennes IN 13-0 Indian Hills IA 13-0 Salt Lake UT 15-0 Eastern Florida State FL 13-1 Hutchinson KS 12-1 Motlow State TN 10-1 Moberly Area MO 13-1 Southern Idaho ID 13-1 Gillette WY 14-0 Shelton State AL 12-0 Florida SouthWestern State FL 12-1 Odessa TX 12-2 John A. Logan IL 11-1 Central Florida FL 12-1 McLennan TX 13-1 Sheridan WY 14-1 Coffeyville KS 11-2 Iowa Western IA 15-2 Western Nebraska NE 12-2 Barton KS 11-2 Tyler TX 11-1 Hill TX 13-2 Missouri State-West Plains MO 15-2

gars have run off 10 straight wins, including scoring 100 or more points in seven of the 10 wins.

“We have been focused in increasing possessions and playing with controlled chaos,” Fehringer said. “We want to play fast, play faster and speed up offensively and speed up defensively. We just want the players to have a really good pace and good space. Then, you need to trust them in making decisions.

They grow up each and every day, making better decisions on the floor as they play more games.”

The WNCC players will return to practice Dec. 31 for home Region IX South sub-region contests Jan. 5 against Laramie County Community and then Jan. 6 against Trinidad State Junior College.

Fehringer said the goal is to host the Region IX tournament and that entails defending their home course and taking care of business on the road.

“Our personalities and our mindsets is not to be concerned about national rankings or statistics,” Fehringer said. “We want to have a great experience and we want to make sure that a number has nothing to do with who hosts the Region IX South. Ultimately, the main objective is to protect home

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WNCC freshman Peter Cherry drives to the bucket during the Casper game in December. The Cougar men earned a spot in the NJCAA Top 20 at number 20 with their 12-2 record. court, win on the road, and have the opportunity to play in front of Western Nebraska fans for the Region IX tournament.”

Cougar women finish first semester 12-2 WNCC ladies ranked 24th in NJCAA national polls When the WNCC women’s basketball team started the season, their goal was to have another successful season.

Halfway through the season, that definitely can be said.

The Cougar women are 12-2 on the season and ranked 24th in the nation.

The Cougars are currently 2-0 in South sub-region play after picking up conference wins against NJC and Eastern Wyoming.

The EWC win came on the team’s final game before the holiday break when they defeated the Lancers 74-64.

The win is WNCC’s 12th of the season and fifth straight leading into the holiday break. EWC, which falls to 8-5 on the season, travels to Casper on Tuesday.

Sophomore center Giovanna Silva, who finished with 16 points and nine rebounds in the win, said that the rivalry between the two teams is always a good game and the Cougars wanted to notch one more win before the Christmas break.

“It was a pretty tough win. We knew they were going to come at us hard,” she said. “Playing against EWC is always a good game because they play us tough.

EWC is our rival and we all wanted to win. It was the last game before break and we wanted to go to break with a good feeling of winning.”

The last game before break is always the toughest game, too, as the Cougar players are making plans to go home for the break or get ready for finals.

In 2013-14, the Cougars lost to Trinidad State in the final game before break 80-69. Last year, the Cougars held on for a 70-63 win over the Trojans.

But what the Cougars have accomplished this season has been spectacular.

Under the guidance of Chad Gibney, the Cougars have not skipped a beat, including beating two ranked teams early in the season on the road when they beat Division II No. 2 ranked Johnson County Community College xx-xx and then topped top 15 ranked Iowa Western xxxx.

WNCC freshman Merle Wiehl and an EWC player use their arms to try to get the better position. The Cougar women topped the Lancers 74-64 to end the first semester.

WNCC also picked up a big road win against a talented Utah State-Eastern squad 67-66 in Salt Lake.

This Cougar team this year have put up some good numbers. The Lady Cougars are averaging 79.1 points a game while giving up 50.6 points a game.

Individually, the Cougars have four player averaging in double figures and another two that are averaging over eight points a game.

Freshman Merle Wiehl is scoring at a clip of 15.4 points a game. Wiehl is shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line.

Sophomores Melisa Kadic and Jaleesa Avery are next in line. Kadic is scoring at 12.3 points a game while Avery is at 10.8 points a game.

Freshman Karli Seay is the fourth Cougar in double digits at 10.2 points.

Close to that margin are Giovanna Silva and Anastacia Johnson. The two are averaging 9.1 and 8.6 points respectively.

The Cougar women will return to action the first weekend in January with three contests, all at home.

The WNCC women will open with a Jan. 4 contest against the Northwest Kansas Tech junior varsity on Thursday followed by South Sub-region contest Friday, Jan. 5 when they host Laramie County Community College followed by a Saturday afternoon contest against Trinidad State.

WNCC sophomore Giovanna Silva drives to the bucket for two points during the Cougars home game with Eastern Wyoming College recently. WNCC finished the first semester with a 12-2 record.

WNCC’s Marshall inks with Dickinson State for two sports: volleyball and track and field Kadara Marshall’s passion for sports runs deep and after spending two seasons at Western Nebraska Community College playing volleyball, the 5-foot-9 middle hitter will be heading to the next level to participate in two sports – volleyball and track and field.

Marshall made it official Monday afternoon, inking a letter of intent with Dickinson State University in North Dakota in front of a a packed room of teammates, coaches, friends, and dorm families.

“I decided to go there because I get to dual sports in volleyball and track and field,” the sophomore from Hawaii said.

“Not only that, the culture and the community I experienced when I went on a visit felt like WNCC as a community and a family. That is important to me.”

The opportunity to do two sports was something that she couldn’t resist, either.

“I always wanted to do track and field in college from high school, but then I decided to just focus on volleyball,” she said.

“When I got the opportunity to do both it was like a sign. I said I am going to do it because I always wanted to do it.”

A Waiakea High in Hilo, Hawaii, Marshall was a state champion in the triple jump in her senior year with a jump of 37 feet, 6 ½ inches. She also finished third in the long jump with a leap of 17-5 ¼. Be-

Kadara Marshall signing with Dickinson State in North Dakota.

WNCC’s Kadara Marshall, front center, with her teammates after she signed to continue her playing at Dickinson State for both volleyball and track. cause of those jumps, she became her high school’s first female athlete ever to win a state championship.

But after she finished jumping at the Hawaii state meet, it was time to hang up her track spikes as well as her soccer spikes and enter two seasons playing volleyball for the Cougars. Marshall was a 3-sport athlete in high school.

In Marshall’s two years with the Cougars, she helped them to two Region IX South titles and berths in the national tournament.

This past season, the middle hitter pounded home 113 kills with 12 ace serves, 25 solo blocks, and 52 total blocks.

At Dickinson State, she not only will be playing volleyball but track and field. She is looking forward to the dual roles when she heads to Dickinson State in January.

“I am super excited to be doing track and field,” she said. “In high school, I was a trisport athlete so it was something that I was always on the go. It felt kind of normal to me but I know it will be different. But once I get into my routine, I will enjoy it.”

But it will be hard for Marshall to leave WNCC and her friends. Marshall recalled all the friendships that she made, including Sophie Lau, who injured her knee early in the season and went back to Germany for her knee operation. Lau joined the signing by watching Marshall sign via Facebook

Live.

“I have so many memories from this school,” a teary-eyed Marshall said. “I really love everyone that I talked with. Everyone means so much for me even the people I just say hi to everyday. It means a lot because you know everyone and I have a connection with everyone here. I am going to miss everyone so much that it is crazy. I love them all.”

Marshall recalled how special winning the school’s 19th straight title was, topping NJC for the Region IX South championship.

“I love this team. From the start we were close,” she said. “Just the things we went through, you wouldn’t get with any other team, but we persevered through everything. The fact that we came back to secure the regional title even though we lost to NJC twice was really big. We also lost our biggest cheerleader early in the season and we still miss her to this day. Even though she wasn’t here, she was still with us. I think that helped us a lot. I love these girls.”

At Dickinson State, Marshall will major in sports management. In parting, Marshall was thankful for all the support she received during her time at WNCC. “I am so thankful to everyone that is here and that is not here,” she said. “I love you so much. Leaving is so hard.”

Scottsbluff’s Panduro inks with Cougar baseball Scottsbluff ’s Paul Panduro didn’t have to go far when looking for a college. Plus it wasn’t a hard decision between baseball or football either.

Panduro signed to continue his playing days at WNCC after signing to play baseball with the Cougars.

“Over the years I got to know coach Mike Jones and he really helped me get better over the years,” the Scottsbluff senior said. “I like the environment at WNCC. I like the school. I like that it is close to home.

I am excited to be a Cougar now.”

Panduro just finished his final season on the football team where the Bearcats fell to York in the semifinals. While football was a love for him, it is baseball that his heart lies.

“Baseball was always number one over anything else I do,” Panduro said. “I just love the sport. I am just lucky to get this chance to go to WNCC and keep the line going of Zephyrs coming here. I am ready for this. I am ready for college and all that.”

Panduro will be a pitcher for the Cougars and WNCC coach Mike Jones said he will get better as a pitcher. Jones said what stands out about Panduro is his competitive nature.

“Paul brings a lot to the table with his allaround ability. He is a good player and he has a lot of potential as a college pitcher for sure,” Jones said. “His arm action is really good. The velocity is coming around a lot and he has developed a curve ball the past two years as well as a change-up.

“The one thing that is special about Paul is the way he competes. Paul will compete in anything he will do, whether it is baseball, football, I am sure a board game or a video game. Whatever it is with Paul, he will compete really hard. We love having guys like

Paul Panduro signs his letter of intent surrounded by his parents, WNCC head coach Mike Jones, and WESTCO Zephyrs coach Mark Moran. that. We are going to point Paul in the right direction and I think Paul will be unstoppable. We expect big things out of him.”

Last year for the Zephyrs, Panduro appeared in nine games and finished with a 2-1 record with a 3.098 earned run average.

He 17 strikeouts and allowed just 11 runs.

At the plate, Panduro hit .239 with 13 runs scored and six RBIs in just 46 at bats.

At the college level, it is the mound that former Zephyr coach Mark Moran said he will be successful at.

“I echo what Coach Jones said,” Moran said. “Paul has a really good fastball. He has to develop his secondary pitches a little better. The best thing about Paul is how he competes and how tough he is and how bad he wants it. That is what makes him different from most players.

Moran sees Panduro having a successful

stint in college baseball.

“I don’t know what will stop him from having a good college career,” he said. “He has enough velocity now and that will keep getting better stronger and once he gets better with those secondary pitches. He should be a big contributor for the Cougars.”

Panduro, who is planning on majoring in criminal justice at WNCC, has one more year at the American Legion level. Panduro said his goal is to win an Area 7 title.

Panduro said his baseball success goes to several people.

“I just want to thank everyone in my family, my mom and my dad because I wouldn’t be here without them. They provided me everything I needed for baseball,” he said. “I just want to thank Coach Benson over there, Coach Moran in getting ready for this.”

$100 Club Monthly Winners

September Winners

$150 — Kimberly Belford, ..............Ft. Collins, Colorado $100 — Jeff Peck, .............................. Gering, Nebraska $50 — Shawn Hergenreder, ..............Scotsbluff, Nebraska

$100 — Lynn Wolworth..............................Mitchell, Nebraska $50 — Rudy & Angie Hernandez................ Gering, Nebraska

December Winners

October Winners

$150 — CedJuan Johnson.............Centennial, Colorado $100 — Scott Winters........................... Scottsbluff, Nebraska $50 — Jane Spillman.......................................... Hyrum, Utah

November Winners

Each month the winners will be announced here as well on the WNCC athletic website at wnccathletics.com

$150 — Sabrina Kadic, .................. West Valley City, Utah $100 — Roxie Shaul, ................................. Gering, Nebraska $50 — Scott & Amy Winters, ................ Scottsbluff, Nebraska $150 — Joan Koehler.......................... Gering, Nebraska

The 12 months of 2017 in pictures

JANUARY . . .

FEBRUARY . . .

In one of the bigger games in February, the WNCC women topped Iowa Western after falling to the Reivers in November. Sladjana Rakovic drives between two players.

MARCH . . .

Vinnie Shahid drives around a LCCC player during a January game. The Cougar men finished last season with a 21-11 record.

APRIL . . .

The women’s basketball team stand at the center of the Texas Tech gym. The Cougar women won their 13th Region IX title and competed in the national tournament in Lubbock, Texas, in March.

The WNCC baseball team put together a strong finish in April to capture the Empire Conference title and host of the Region IX tournament. WNCC finished second at the regional tournament to Trinidad State.

EXTRA . . .

Action in the Region IX baseball tournament that WNCC hosted in May.

MAY . . .

The 12 months of 2017 in pictures JUNE . . .

May was graduation time for several sophomore athletes. The seven Cougar sports teams saw plenty of athletes that walked through graduation in May. Here (top} the seven softball sophomores visit Volunteer Field one last time, holding their caps and wearing the shirts of the schools they are headed to Every June for the past 14 years, the athletic department holds its to play the sport they love. (Bottom) women’s soccer players Cougar Golf Classic. Last summer The Legends captured their pose before graduation fourth straight team title. Winning members included Mike McKee, Matt Hessler, Ron Johns, and Rick Gable. The event was held at Monument Shadows Golf Course.

JULY . . .

AUGUST . . .

Every summer the Cougar athletic teams hold several camps throughout the summer. The soccer camp is always the last camp to August was alumni month and the WNCC volleyball team be held. Here are the two group photos of the morning and evening played their alumni in a pre-season scrimmage and won. campers. Other camps held during the summer include girls and Here, the current Cougars take a photo of the players from boys basketball, volleyball, and softball. past years.

The 12 months of 2017 in pictures

AUGUST . . .

SEPTEMBER . . .

August was alumni month and the soccer team invited alumni back to play once again like they do every year. The top picture shows all the former women’s players that came back to play while the bottom picture is the men’s players that came back. If you are a former player and want to play, contact Coach Todd Rasnic or stay tuned during the summer for when the alumni match will be.

September saw WNCC athletes give back to the community by helping out with the Geil Back to School Bash, something they have done for at least seven or more years. WNCC helps out with a number of community events each month in some fashion. Here the men’s and women’s basketball teams help with the Back to School Bash.

OCTOBER . . .

October was Sophomore Recognition month for both the volleyball and soccer teams as each sophomore was recognized before the final home game. Above, the six volleyball sophomores were recognized before the Barton match, while on the right, the six women’s soccer sophomores and the 10 men’s soccer sophomores were recognized before the Gillette match.

The 12 months of 2017 in pictures

NOVEMBER . . .

DECEMBER . . .

November was a big month for the WNCC volleyball team as they captured their 19th straight regional title and berth at the national tournament. The Cougars title run was amazing as they entered the tourney as the No. 2 seed and had to upend Otero in five sets before taking out No. 1 seed NJC in straight matches, the first one in straight sets and then winning a five-set thriller for the title.

December saw both basketball teams get ranked in the NJCAA polls, the men at N. 20 and the women at No. 24. It was a perfect way for Cougar athletics to cap off 2017 with two teams that finished the first semester at 12-2. Both teams will get back into action in January, the women on Jan. 4 against NW Kansas Tech JV and then both teams against LCCC on Jan. 5.

NOVEMBER EXTRA . . .

DECEMBER EXTRA . . .

Once again, the WNCC soccer team helped out with the loading of presents for Operation Christmas Child at the First Baptist Church. It has become a tradition for the soccer team to help with this chore. This year, the two teams boxed and loaded over 4,000 shoe boxes for youngsters overseas and they did it in under an hours time.

A good way to close out the 2017 athletic year with the WNCC softball team wishing everyone a Happy Holidays. Plus, it has been six straight years that the softball team has taken this holiday picture with the Santa hats and this year it was a balmy weather outside for the photo.

Three volleyball players selected First Team All-Nebraska Kaawa, Masaki, Benitez selected to Omaha World Herald JUCO All-Nebraska First Team The Omaha World Herald released it’s All-Nebraska JUCO Volleyball team and three WNCC Cougars were members of the first team that was released Dec. 23.

Earning first team honors were sophomore outside hitter Brooke Kaawa at a hitter position, Syenna Masaki, a freshman from Hawaii as a setter and hitter, and Genesis Benitez, a sophomore from Puerto Rico, as the libero.

Central-Columbus’s Maeghan Pieper, who earned Division II First Team All-American honors, was named the honorary captain of the JUCO team.

Pieper missed half the season with an ACL injury.

While three Cougars earned first team honors, six other players were placed on the honorable mention team.

Those receiving honorable mention honors included sophomores Josie Maldonado of Puerto Rico, Kadara Marshall of Hawaii, and Kirstee Trees of Riverton, Wyoming; and freshmen Sarena Bartley of Washington, Jayme Commins of Ogallala, and Kaile Tuisamatatele of Hawaii.

Other members of the All-Nebraska first team include North Platte’’s Larisa Hernandez; Central-Columbus’ Jacie Laetsch, Maeghan Pieper, and Chainey Tompkins; McCook’s Megan Orth; and Northeast’s Savannah Nelson.

Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska First Team Selections

Kaawa

Masaki

Benitez

Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska Honorable Mention

Marshall Maldonado

Trees

Other members on the honorable mention list include Central-Columbus’ Amber Anderson, Paxton Throne, and Jessica Eurek; McCook;s Dylann Bylund, Ashley Carson, Ryan Maddera, and Jessica Mahan.; North Platte’s Aly Camacho and Carlie Wytulka; Northeast’s Samantha Brester, Patyon Roach, Monique Schafer and Macy Stewart; and Southeast’s Katie Ellard, Addi Schramm, and Stevie Tobin.

In other news on the All-Nebraska volleyball team, former WNCC Cougar Gaby Varela earned First Team honors for the NCAA Division II team. Varela spent

Bartley

Commins Tuisamatatele

one year at WNCC before playing three years at Chadron State. Varela was a senior this past season for the Eagles.

Two former Cougars named to OWH All-Nebraska 4-year Soccer Team Former WNCC women’s soccer players capped off their collegiate careers at York College with a couple more honors.

After earning all-conference honors earlier, the two were named honorable mention on the women’s All-Nebraska 4-year team that was released on Dec. 23.

Sugar Valley Singers sing national anthem The Sugar Valley Singers, a local men’s singing group, performed the national anthem at the WNCC and EWC basketball games on Dec. 8.

WNCC women and men each topped the EWC Lancers on the evening.

Cougars are FANtastic

WNCC Athletes of the Week -- Female Athlete of the Week for week ending Dec. 17 -Anastacia Johnson, a sophomore from Aurora, Colorado, had a solid performance in the Cougars last game before break when they topped EWC. Johnson finished with 19 points but also pulled down six rebounds, dished off 9 assists, picked up three steals, and connected on 3-pointers. Johnson also had a seven-point performance in a win against No. 18 Casper College where she had four rebounds and seven assists.

Female Aug. 27........Brooke Kaawa, Vball Sept. 4...... Genesis Benitez, Vball Sept. 14... Jayme Commins, Vball

Sept. 21.... Kadara Marshall, Vball Sept. 28......Syenna Masaki, Vball Oct. 1....... Joise Maldonado, Vball Oct. 8...........Sarena Bartley, Vball Oct. 16.......Morgan Smith, Soccer Oct. 22.........Brooke Kaawa, Vball Oct. 29........Syenna Masaki, Vball Nov. 5.................. Volleyball Team Nov. 12............ Karli Seay, Wbball Nov. 26......... Merle Wiehl, Wbball Dec. 17.Anastacia Johnson, WBB

-- Male Athlete of the Week for week ending Dec. 17 -Martin Roub, a freshman from the Czech Republic, had three big games. The 6-foot-9 inside and outside hitter showed his shooting range in finishing with 36 points and eight 3-pointers in two wins over

Western Wyoming and Central Wyoming. Against Central, Roub had 17 points and five 3-pointers, while tallying 19 points and three treys against Western Wyoming. Roub has scored in double figures in the last three games to help the Cougar men to a 12-2 record in the first semester.

Male Aug. 27....... Lawan Abary, Soccer Sept. 4....Thomas Franze, Soccer Sept. 14. Ramses Atahaulpa, Soccer Sept. 21...Andre Matzuda, Soccer Sept. 28.....Ade Oshikoya, Soccer Oct. 1........... Silvio Xavier, Soccer Oct. 8............Owen Parra, Soccer Oct. 16........ Lawan Abary, Soccer Oct. 22......... Silvio Xavier, Soccer Oct. 29........ Soccer Team, Soccer Nov. 5........... Vinnie Shahid, Bball Nov. 12..........Marlon Sierra, Bball Nov. 26... Marko Rajanovac, Bball Dec. 17............Martin Roub, Bball

Parting Shot

The WNCC men’s basketball coaching staff plus one watch the action and plot out s tragedy during the EWC game. WNCC coaches picture from left to right include women;’s basketball coach Chad Gibney, men’s assistant Billy Engel, men’s assistant Roybell Baez, and men’s head coach Cory Fehringer. The Cougar men are 12-2 on the season.

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 Western States Bank Gold Sponsors Ameri-Co Carriers

Cougar Frontline Sponsors Arby’s Bluff ’s Sanitary Supply Douglas, Kelly, Ostdiek, Ossian, Vogl, and Snyder, P.C. First National Bank Gary’s Cleaning Inland Truck Monument Smiles NTC US Bank

Panhandle COOP Pinnacle Bank Reganis Auto Roosevelt Public Power Safetyline Consultants Sandberg Implement Schank Roofing Simmons-Olsen Law Firm Vertex Western Sugar

Blue Sponsors Backaracks Bid It Bob Chaloupka, Holyoke, Snyder, Chaloupka, & Longoria Law Firm First State Bank Floyd’s Truck Service Hampton Inn & Suites Hurst Sports Racquet Intralinks Monument Physical Therapy

White Sponsors Chadron State College Carr-Trumbull Lumber Dominos Kriz Davis Company Ole’ Restaurant Rusch’s General Contracting Route 26 Mart Scottsbluff Star-Herald Valley Dental Center

Happy Holidays from Cougar Athletics