WNCC Cougar Beat -- Issue 9, March 2

This Week in Cougar Athletics

COUGAR BEAT

Western Nebraska Community College

March 2, 2018 Issue 9

TOURNEY TIME!

What’s In A Number

5 The number of head coaches of the women’s

basketball team since they started playing in the 197677 season. Wayne Schumacher was the first followed

by Harvey Schmidt, then Dave Harnish, and last year Jennifer Pedersen was interim head coach for a month before Chad Gibney took over. __________________

16 The number of head coaches of the men’s

basketball team in their 78-year history of men’s basketball. There were three years (1942-45) where there was no team because of the war. The first coach was Bill Putman, Phil Brody, Bob Connor, Roy Kisling, Shelby Edwards, Bill Braunbeck, Ron Brillhart, Terry Layton, Mark Nixon, Dave Campbell, Trace Bevell, Dave Harnish, John Jungers, Brian Joyce, Russ Beck, and Cory Fehringer. __________________

606 The record for most points scored in a

season for women’s basketball. The record is held by Shana Coleman, who set the record in the 2002-03 season. Second is Penny Mallet (1981-82) with 566 points.

Cougar Athletics Upcoming Events Friday, March 2

l Softball HOME vs. Trinidad State JC, Volunteer Field, 1 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/783954

l Women’s Basketball HOME vs. McCook, Cougar Palace, 6 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/783716 Saturday, March 3

l Softball HOME vs. Trinidad State JC, Volunteer Field, 11 a.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/783958

l Men’s Basketball HOME vs. McCook, Cougar Palace, 6 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/783720

l Baseball Away at Lamar C.C., Lamar, Colo., 1 p.m.

Sunday, March 3

l Baseball Away at Lamar C.C., Lamar, Colo., 1 p.m.

Tuesday, March 6

l Softball HOME vs. North Platte C.C., Volunteer Field, 2 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/783960 Wednesday, March 7

l Baseball HOME vs. Northeastern J.C., Cleveland Field, 1 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/783962 Thursday, March 8

l Women’s Basketball Away at Regional Tourney, Casper, Wyo.

l Men’s Basketball Away at Regional Tourney, LaJunta, Colo.

Friday, March 9

l Softball HOME vs. Lamar C.C., Volunteer Field, 12 p.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/783964

l Women’s Basketball Away at Regional Tourney, Casper, Wyo.

l Men’s Basketball Away at Regional Tourney, LaJunta, Colo.

Saturday, March 10

l Softball HOME vs. Lamar C.C., Volunteer Field, 11 a.m.

Video: http://thecube.com/e/783965

l Women’s Basketball Away at Regional Tourney, Casper, Wyo.

l Men’s Basketball Away at Regional Tourney, LaJunta, Colo.

l Baseball Away at Otero J.C., LaJunta, Colo. 2 p.m.

Sunday, March 11

l Baseball Away at Otero J.C., LaJunta, Colo. 12 p.m.

Monday, March 12

l Softball Away at Tyler J.C., Tyler, Texas, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, March 13

l Softball Away at Trinity Valley C.C.., Athens, Texas, 2 p.m.

l Baseball Away at South Mountain C.C., Phoenix, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 14

l Softball Away at Tyler J.C., Tyler, Texas, 2 p.m.

l Baseball Away at South Mountain C.C., Phoenix, 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 15

l Softball Away at Angeline College., Texas, 2 p.m.

l Baseball Away at Phoenix College., Phoenix, 1 p.m.

Friday, March 16

l Baseball Away at GateWay C.C. Phoenix, 11 a.m.

l Baseball Away at Phoenix College., Phoenix, 1 p.m.

Tournament time

WNCC men, women host McCook Community College March 2, 3 in first round contests It is tournament time for Region IX basketball and both WNCC teams will be hosting first-round games March 2 and 3 against McCook Community College.

The Cougar women, who are ranked No. 22 in the latest NJCAA national polls, will battle the Indians on Friday at 6 p.m.

The Cougars enter the contest with a 26-3 overall record while going 14-0 on conference play. McCook finished the regular season 6-24 and 2-12 in conference play.

The Cougar women will be going after their second straight Region IX title. Last year, the Cougar women needed to win just three games to capture the school’s 13th women’s basketball regional title. This season, the Cougar women will need to win four games for the title.

This year’s women’s regional tournament will be held March 8-10 at Casper College with the winner advancing to the national tournament in Lubbock, Texas.

A year ago, the Cougar women won the regional title with plenty of excitement. The Cougar women, who hosted regionals a year ago, opened up with a 74-70 overtime win over Northwest College.

WNCC then ran over Gillette College with a thundering 63-49 win. That set up the championship against Eastern Wyoming College and the contest went down tot he wire. WNCC, who trailed by double digits in the second half, used a strong fourth-quarter defensive effort in dropping the Lancers 53-51 for the regional title.

At the national tournament, WNCC fell in the first round 64-42 to Jones County Junior College.

The rest of the women’s first round has the No. 2-seed Eastern Wyoming College Lancers hosting Otero at 6 p.m. The Lancers finished the regular season with a 20-10 record.

Other women’s first-round contests will have Laramie County Community College at Trinidad State Junior College at 7 p.m.; Northeastern Junior College at Lamar Community College; Gillette College at Sheridan College at 7:30 p.m.; Central Wyoming College at Miles Community College; and Western Wyoming Community

Marlon Sierra shows the expression as he gets ready to go up for a shot during a game with Lamar Community College in February. The Cougar men will host McCook on March 3 at 6 p.m. in a first round playoff game.

College at Northwest College at 4 p.m.

Casper College, who earned the No. 1 seed from the North, received a bye in the first round. Casper College will host the seven winners March 8-10.

WNCC, if they win, will face the Gillette/Sheridan winner at 3 p.m. on March 8 in the quarterfinals.

Region IX Basketball Titles

WNCC men ready for regionals Like the women, the Cougar men will also host a first-round contest. WNCC earned the No. 2 seed with a 12-4 conference record and 22-7 overall. The Cougars will face McCook Community College, the No. 7 seed, on Saturday at 6 p.m. McCook finished the year at 18-12 and 6-12 in conference play.

Last year, the Cougar men finished the season at 21-11. The Cougar men won the first round playoff game with a huge 93-74 win over Northeastern Junior College before falling in the quarterfinals to Casper

1979, 1981, 1982, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003**

Women’s Championships 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017

Men’s Championships

**WNCC won title that year and then forfeited championship

College 62-60.

WNCC’s season this season has been one of ups and downs. The Cougar men, after a loss to Salt Lake Community College on Nov. 11, ran off 12 straight wins, including a high-scoring win over Eastern Wyoming College 129-111.

Story continued on next page

WNCC men, women host McCook in first-round games Story continued from previous page The Cougars’ 12-game win streak was snapped on the road to Casper College on Jan. 6. WNCC went 10-5 during second semester games.

But, the Cougar men have a potent lineup as they enter the regional tournament.

WNCC is one of the highest scoring teams in the nation, ranking 10th in the nation while scoring 96.4 points a contest. Gillette College is the only Region IX team that is scoring more points than them.

Gillette is ranked fifth in scoring 99.2 points a game.

A big percentage of the the Cougars’ scoring lies with their 3-point shooting, where the Cougars rank No. 1 in the nation in made 3-pointers. WNCC has connected on 387 of 875 treys this season. WNCC is also third in the nation in 3-point percentage, making 44.2 percent of their shots.

The men’s regional tournament should be up for grabs as a number of teams have the potential of win-

ning the tournament, including the Cougars.

All the men’s first-round games will all be played on Saturday, March 3.

Besides the WNCC and McCook game, other first-round contests pit Northwest College at Central Wyoming, Little Big Horn at Sheridan College, Laramie County at Lamar, Miles at Gillette, North Platte at Trinidad State, Northeastern Junior College at Otero, and Western Wyoming at Casper.

Otero, who won the South sub-region, will be the host of the men’s regional tournament March 8-10 unless the Rattlers get upset and then the tournament will be moved.

WNCC, if they win and no teams are reseeded, will face the winner of the Central Wyoming/Northwest contest on Thursday, March 8 at 1 p.m.

The winner of the men’s regional tournament will qualify for the NJCAA national tournament March 19-24 in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Women’s Region IX Tourney First Round Games South First Round Games McCook at Western Nebraska C.C. Otero at Eastern Wyoming College Laramie County at Trinidad State Northeastern Junior College at Lamar North First Round Games Casper College (Bye -- Host School) Gillette at Sheridan Central Wyoming at Miles Western Wyoming at Northwest College

Men’s Region IX Tourney First Round Games South First Round Games McCook at Western Nebraska C.C. Northeastern Junior College at Otero Laramie County at Lamar North Platte at Trinidad State North First Round Games Miles at Gillette Little Big Horn at Sheridan Northwest Wyoming at Central Wyoming Western Wyoming at Casper

WNCC’s Anastacia Johnson goes up for a lay-up during a game against Otero Junior College in the Cougars’ final home regular season game on Feb. 17. WNCC opens regional play on March 2 against McCook.

Cougar Men Season Recap Result Won (1-0)

Lost (1-1)

Won (2-1)

Lost (2-2)

Won (3-2)

Won (4-2)

Won (5-2)

Won (6-2)

Won (7-2)

Won (8-2)

Won (9-2)

Won (10-2)

Won (11-2)

Won (12-2)

Won (13-2

Won (14-2)

Lost (14-3)

Lost (14-4)

Final Halftime Opponent.............................................................................Date 120 - 54 55 - 25 Little Big Horn College..........................................................11/3 High Scorers: Shahid 23, Green 22, Dimitrijevic 15, Roub 14, Bender 13, Harris 11 High Rebounders: Green 10 98 - 106 49 - 44 College of Southern Idaho....................................................11/4 High Scorers: Shahid 26, Dimitrijevic 21, Harris 18, Roub 11 High Rebounders: Shahib 5 92 - 87 47 - 57 College of Southern Idaho..................................................11/10 High Scorers: Shahid 21, Dimitrijevic 21, Green 15, Roub 11, Harris 11 High Rebounders: Shahib 8, Sierra 8 94 - 105 42 - 55 Salt Lake Community College............................................11/11 High Scorers: Sierra 26, Sanchious 14, Harris 13, Shahid 12, Roub 10 High Rebounders: Harris 9 87 - 82 44 - 27 Central Wyoming College................................................11/17 High Scorers: Sierra 18, Harris 14, Rajanovic 14, Dimitrijevic 10, Roub 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 5 100 - 82 57 - 46 Western Wyoming Community College..........................11/18 High Scorers: Shahid 21, Dimitrijevic 19, Sanchious 15, Green 14, Harris 13 High Rebounders: Sierra 8 97 - 88 41 - 43 Frank Phillips College......................................................11/24 High Scorers: Dimitrijevic 25, Green 21, Sierra 17, Shahid 15 High Rebounders: Sierra 7 113 - 81 52 - 23 Nebraska All-stars............................................................11/25 High Scorers: Harris 16, Sanchious 16, Rajanovic 15, Hoffman 13, Cherry 13 High Rebounders: Sierra 9 106 - 67 41 - 27 Williston State College.....................................................11/27 High Scorers: Harris 21, Shahid 19, Green 17, Dimitrijevic 14, Sanchious 12 High Rebounders: Sierra 9 107 - 87 51 - 38 Northeastern Junior College................................................ 12/1 High Scorers: Shahid 27, Sierra 23, Dimitrijevic 18, Harris 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 9 102 - 70 40 - 19 Casper College................................................................... 12/5 High Scorers: Shahid 26, Harris 20, Dimitrijevic 17, Sierra 14 High Rebounders: Sierra 14 129-111 58 - 43 Eastern Wyoming College................................................ 12/9 High Scorers: Shahid 32, Dimitrijevic 27, Sierra 26, Green 13, Roub 11, Rajanovic 11 High Rebounders: Green 7, Sierra 6 88 - 83 54 - 46 Western Wyoming Community College............................. 12/15 High Scorers: Shahid 21, Green 21, Roub 19 High Rebounders: Green 5, Dimitrijevic 5, Sanchious 5 103 - 85 63 - 45 Central Wyoming College.................................................. 12/16 High Scorers: Sierra 21, Green 18, Shahid 17, Roub 17, Dimitrijevic 13 High Rebounders: Sierra 9 113 - 97 48 - 40 Laramie County Community College................................. 1/5 High Scorers: Shahid 29, Dimitrijevic 24, Green 20, Sierra 18, Roub 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 11 91 - 74 57 - 42 Triinidad State Junior College............................................ 1/6 High Scorers: Harris 18, Roub 17, Dimitrijevic 16, Green 13, Shahid 13, Sierra 12 High Rebounders: Sierra 6, Green 6 79 - 84 31 - 44 Casper College...................................................................... 1/8 High Scorers: Shahid 26, Green 17, Dimitrijevic 13 High Rebounders: Sierra 10 81 - 85 OT 31 - 35 Otero Junior College............................................................ 1/12 High Scorers: Dimitrijevic 25, Shahid 18, Sierra 14, Green 12 High Rebounders: Sierra 7, Green 6, Harris 6

Cougar Men Season Recap (continued) Won (15-4)

Won (16-4)

Won (17-4)

Won (18-4)

Won (19-4)

Lost (19-5)

Lost (19-6)

Won (20-6)

Lost (20-7)

Won (21-7)

Won (22-7)

108 - 83 56 - 39 Lamar Community College.................................................. 1/13 High Scorers: Harris 26, Green 20, Roub 19, Siera 16, Shahid 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 5, Gillion 5 110 - 55 50 - 24 North Platte Community College...................................... 1/19 High Scorers: Shahid 29, Green 22, Harris 20, Sierra 14, Hoffman 11 High Rebounders: Sierra 9, Roub 7 90 - 85 34 - 48 McCook Community College............................................ 1/20 High Scorers: Harris 22, Green 17, Shahid 14, Sierra 11, Dimitrijevic 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 6, Green 6 97 - 92 49-32 Northeastern Junior College............................................ 1/27 High Scorers: Shahid 17, Dimitrijevic 14, Rajanovic 14, Roub 13, Harris 13, Sierra 11, Green 10 High Rebounders: Green 10, Sierra 7, Dimitrievic 7 106 - 73 55 - 33 Eastern Wyoming College..................................................... 2/3 High Scorers: Harris 24, Roub 16, Sierra 15, Green 11 High Rebounders: Rajanovic 8, Harris 6, Roub 6 72 - 81 38-35 Trinidad State Junior College................................................ 2/9 High Scorers: Shahid 16, Harris 15, Dimitrijevic 10, Rajanovic 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 8, Harris 7 80 - 98 33 - 47 Laramie County Community College................................... 2/10 High Scorers: Shahid 21, Green 16, Harris 14 High Rebounders: Shahid 5, Sierra 5, Rouib 5 93 - 82 45 - 50 Lamar Community College............................................... 2/16 High Scorers: Harris 25, Shahid 17, Green 13, Sierra 12 High Rebounders: Green 7 82 - 86 41 - 48 Otero Junior College......................................................... 2/17 High Scorers: Sierra 21, Green 19, Shahid 16, Rajanovic 11 High Rebounders: Sierra 8, Green 8, Rajanovic 6 77 - 65 46 - 25 McCook Community College............................................... 2/23 High Scorers: Shahid 18, Harris 15, Green 11, Sanchious 10 High Rebounders: Dimitrijevic 5.

86 - 58 42 - 31 North Platte Community College......................................... 2/24 High Scorers: Shahid 21, Green 13, Sierra 12, Harris 10 High Rebounders: Sierra 10

Cougar Women Season Recap Result Won (1-0)

Lost (1-1)

Won (2-1)

Won (3-1)

Won (4-1)

Won (5-1)

Won (6-1)

Won (7-1)

Lost (7-2)

Won (8-2)

Won (9-2)

Won (10-2)

Won (11-2)

Won (12-2)

Won (13-2)

Won (14-2)

Won (15-2)

Lost (15-3)

Won (16-3)

Final Halftime Opponent.............................................................................Date 102 - 26 72 - 18 Little Big Horn College..........................................................11/3 High Scorers: Kadic 17, Agorakis 16, Wiehl 15, Silva 14, Johnson 10 High Rebounders: Agorakis 15, Wiehl 14 49 - 69 20 - 39 College of Southern Idaho....................................................11/4 High Scorers: Silva 11, Seay 10 High Rebounders: Seay 6, Silva 6 107 - 50 62 - 24 Nebraska All-stars..............................................................11/7 High Scorers: Kadic 25, Wiehl 19, Wiberg 16, Avery 14, Silva 12 High Rebounders: Perez 5 65 - 53 32 - 23 Iowa Western Community College.....................................11/10 High Scorers: Wiehl 17, Avery 17, Kadic 14 High Rebounders: Wiehl 6 61 - 58 37 - 30 Johnson County Community College.................................11/11 High Scorers: Seay 24, Avery 15 High Rebounders: Avery 8, Silva 8, Seay 7 111 - 50 65 - 27 Little Big Horn College........................................................11/17 High Scorers: Silva 20, Wiehl 17, Agorakis 13, Kadic 12, Wiberg 10, Avery 10 High Rebounders: Silva 11 70 - 50 34 - 23 Sheridan College................................................................11/18 High Scorers: Wiehl 16, Silva 12, Kadic 10, Avery 10 High Rebounders: Silva 6 67 - 66 28 - 37 Utah State-Eastern.............................................................11/24 High Scorers: Wiehl 16, Seay 12, Avery 10 High Rebounders: Avery 5, Silva 5 70 - 82 42 - 33 Salt Lake Community College............................................11/25 High Scorers: Wiehl 19, Kadic 15, Seay 14 High Rebounders: Wiehl 6 98 - 35 64 - 15 Williston State...................................................................11/27 High Scorers: Wiehl 23, Johnson 14, Kadic 12, Seay 10, Perez 10 High Rebounders: Wiehl 6 85 - 56 36 - 23 Sheridan College..............................................................11/29 High Scorers: Avery 18, Kadic 16, Johnson 10 High Rebounders: Kadic 6, Avery 5, Silva 5, Perez 5 81 - 63 42 - 33 Northeastern Junior College................................................ 12/1 High Scorers: Wiehl 19, Seay 18, Kadic 12, Avery 11, Silva 10 High Rebounders: Silva 10, Wiehl 7, Avery 7, Kadic 6 77 - 72 33 - 30 Casper College................................................................... 12/5 High Scorers: Wiehl 18, Seay 18, Kadic 16 High Rebounders: Wiehl 11, Silva 6 74 - 64 35 - 19 Eastern Wyoming College................................................ 12/8 High Scorers: Johnson 19, Silva 16, Wiehl 12, Wiberg 12 High Rebounders: Wiehl 11, Silva 9, Johnson 6, Kadic 5 100 - 55 52 - 23 Northwest Tech Kansas J.V................................................ 1/4 High Scorers: Wiehl 21, Kadic 18, Avery 17, Silva 16 High Rebounders: SIlva 13, Avery 9, Johnson 6, Agorakis 6 94 - 69 49 - 28 Laramie County Community College................................. 1/5 High Scorers: Wiehl 24, Kadic 22, Johnson 11, Silva 10, Agorakis 10 High Rebounders: Wiehl 8, Avery 8, Kadic 7, Silva 6, Agorakis 5 82 - 57 41 - 27 Trinidad State Junior College............................................. 1/6 High Scorers: Kadic 19, Wiehl 14, Avery 14, Seay 13 High Rebounders: Avery 10, Silva 10, Wiehl 5 67 - 82 25 - 37 Casper College...................................................................... 1/8 High Scorers: Seay 20, Kadic 14, Wiehl 11 High Rebounders: Kadic 8, Agorakis 6, Johnson 5 76 - 44 27 - 24 Otero Junior College............................................................ 1/12 High Scorers: Kadic 15, Wiehl 13, Silva 12, Seay 11, Johnson 10

Cougar Women Season Recap (continued)

Won (17-3)

Won (18-3)

Won (19-3)

Won (20-3)

Won (21-3)

Won (22-3)

Won (23-3)

Won (24-3)

Won (25-3)

Won (26-3)

High Rebounders: Avery 9, Silva 6, Johnson 6, Kadic 6, Agorakis 5 82 - 59 45 - 36 Lamar Community College.................................................. 1/13 High Scorers: Wiehl 22, Kadic 13, Avery 12, Johnson 11, Seay 11 High Rebounders: Avery 10, Wiehl 7 107 - 32 63 - 17 Nebraska All-stars............................................................. 1/16 High Scorers: Avery 24, Kadic 21, Wiehl 21, Silva 17, Agorakis 14 High Rebounders: Silva 10, Wiehl 7, Agorakis 7 115 - 56 61 - 29 McCook Community College............................................ 1/20 High Scorers: Avery 19, Seay 18, Wiehl 15, Silva 15, Kadic 13, Perez 12, Johnson 10 High Rebounders: Silva 9, Seay 6, Avery 5, Agorakis 5.

94 - 59 51 - 24 Northeastern Junior College............................................ 1/27 High Scorers: Kadic 23, Wiehl 16, Silva 13, Seay 11.

High Rebounders: Silva 11, Wiehl 5, Seay 5.

92 - 81 38 - 41 Eastern Wyoming College..................................................... 2/3 High Scorers: Seay 48, Avery 16, Kadic 11.

High Rebounders: Agorakis 11, Avery 8, Perez 5.

101 - 57 46 - 23 Trinidad State Junior College................................................ 2/9 High Scorers: Wiehl 23, Kadic 22, Seay 14, Avery 12, Johnson 11, Silva 11 High Rebounders: Wiehl 8, Avery 7, Seay 5, Johnson 5, Silva 5, Langton 5 78 - 60 39 - 34 Laramie County Community College................................... 2/10 High Scorers: Wiehl 26, Seay 14, Kadic 11 High Rebounders: Silva 15, 95 - 52 43 - 25 Lamar Community College............................................... 2/16 High Scorers: Wiehl 22, Avery 18, Seay 18, Kadic 13 High Rebounders: Silva 9, Wiehl 8, Langton 6, Avery 5 79 - 39 40 - 20 Otero Junior College......................................................... 2/17 High Scorers: Kadic 22, Avery 15, Wiehl 14, Seay 13 High Rebounders: Silva 11, Avery 9, Seay 6, Wiehl 6, Wiberg 5, Kadic 5 94 - 65 44 - 32 McCook Community College............................................... 2/23 High Scorers: Wiehl 21, Kadic 20, Seay 13, Silva 12 High Rebounders: Wiehl 8, Silva 8, Agorakis 6

WNCC softball set for home openers After eight games on the road, the Western Nebraska Community College softball team will have their home opener this weekend when they take on Trinidad State Junior College Friday and Saturday.

Friday’s conference doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. followed by Saturday’s doubleheader at 11 a.m.

WNCC has spent the last eight games on the road. The Cougars opened the season the first part of February when they went 3-3 in Texas.

After nearly two weeks off, the Cougars returned to action Wednesday against Northeastern Junior College.

The Cougars didn’t fare well in the contests with NJC on Wednesday, falling 5-4 and 19-11.

WNCC will look to get back on the winning track against a Trinidad State squad that won the Region IX title last season. Both teams enter with sub .500 records. WNCC is 3-5 on the season, while Trinidad enters with a 8-10 mark.

Trinidad is 1-1 in conference play, after splitting a pair of games with Otero Junior College on Wednesday. The Trojans topped Otero 10-2 in the first game before falling 5-4 in the second game.

The two Region IX perennial powers only have one opponent in common so far this season and that is Frank Phillips. WNCC topped Frank Phillips back on Feb. 7 when they beat the Texas team 12-0 and 18-3.

Trinidad played Frank Phillips on Thursday, where they won the first game 10-2 and 15-1 in the second game.

The two teams are equal on the season. Trinidad is batting .296 on the year with 78 runs scored. The Trojans have blasted seven home runs this season, led by Katie Glaze with three. Trinidad has also tallied 21 doubles and four triples.

WNCC is batting .306 on the year with 56 runs scored. The Cougars have hit four home runs this season along with 22 doubles. Leading the Cougar team is sophomores Brooke Doumer and Madi Jackson. Jackson is batting .500 on the year with five doubles, eight RBIs, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases.

Doumer is batting .429 on the season with five doubles, a home run, four RBIs, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases.

WNCC also is led by Reagan Solomon at the plate with a .500 batting average. The freshman has seven hits, including a home run. She as a team-leading nine RBIs. Trinidad State is led by Rachel Duran with a .545 batting average with seven runs scored and 12 hits in nine games plated. Katie Glaze is batting .464 with eight doubles, 17 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. She also has six stolen bases. Avery Boccelio is right behind with a .423 batting average and 11 RBIs and six runs scored.

After this weekend’s four-game series, WNCC will host North Platte Community College on Tuesday before hosting Lamar Community College March 9-10.

WNCC’’s Hannah Schaefer shovels snow into a four-wheeler as the team moved snow off the field last week to get ready for this week’s season-opening softball games.

WNCC softball drops games to NJC STERLING, Colo. – The WNCC softball team dropped a conference doubleheader with Northeastern Junior College on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in Sterling, Colorado.

The first game saw NJC score four late runs to earn the 5-4 win. The second game saw the two squads combine for 30 runs and 26 hits as the Plainswomen earned the 19-11 win.

Wednesday’s opening game saw WNCC jump out to a 3-0 lead through four innings. NJC sliced the lead to 3-2 with two in the fifth and took a 5-3 lead after six.

WNCC had a seventh inning rally. Abi Ramirez started the rally with a single and then Alyssa Guymon walked. Madi Jackson game through with run-scoring single to plate one run, but WNCC couldn’t get a clutch hit to score the tying run.

WNCC outhit NJC 10-9 in the game.

Jackson led the way with three hits including a double, two singles, and two RBIs. Doumer had two hits in the contest with a

Story continued on next page

Emma McMillian racks up the snow off the grass during a day last week where the team cleared the snow off the field.

WNCC softball drops games to NJC Story continued from previous page double and a run scored.

Emma McMillian suffered the defeat, going six innings in allowing nine hits and five runs. McMillian struck out three and walked five.

The second game proved to be a high scoring contest. NJC jumped out to an 8-0 lead before WNCC mounded a comeback.

The Cougars scored four times in the third to slice the lead in half, 8-4.

Doumer started the third-inning explosion with a solo home run. Hannah Schaefer followed with a double. WNCC went on to load the bases with no outs when Reagan Solomon and Emma McMillian each scored one run with grounders before Gabby Loya scored the fourth run with a 2-out single.

WNCC grabbed an 11-9 lead after scor-

ing seven times in the fifth on four hits.

The inning started with Marlee Grant ripping a one-out double. WNCC loaded the bases once again with Schaefer and Jackson each scoring a run with a hit to cut the NJC lead to 9-7. Michaela Kelly followed with a run-scoring single and then McMillian had a grounder to score the tying run.

WNCC went ahead 11-9 after Loya ripped a 2-run double.

The Cougars couldn’t hold the lead as NJC plated five runs each in the fifth and sixth to grab the 19-11 win.

WNCC pounded out 12 hits in the contest, while NJC had 14 hits. There were six home runs hit combined. NJC had five home runs while WNCC had one.

There were also six doubles hit in the contest. WNCC had five two-baggers, led

by Schaefer’s two doubles.

Doumer, Schaefer, Loya, and Grant each had two hits. Schaefer had two doubles, two runs scored and a RBI. Doumer had a double, home run, two runs scored, and a RBI. Jackson and McMillian each had two RBIs, while Loya had three RBIs with a double.

Game 1 WNCC 001 200 1 – 4 10 2 NJC 000 023 x – 5 9 0 LP – Emma McMillian; 2B – Brooke Doumer, Madi Jackson.

Game 2 WNCC 004 070 – 11 12 5 NJC 440 155 – 19 14 2 LP – Emma McMillian 2B – Brooke Doumer, Marlee Grant, Gabby Loya, Hannah Schaefer 2; HR – Brooke Doumer.

Soup Supper Members of the Cougar softball team man the raffle table during the softball team’s annual soup supper. This year’s supper was held Feb. 17 in the Pit with several varieties of soup and dessert available. The soup supper had a good turnout with raffles and a silent auction.

Future Cougars — Early signings for 2018-19 Volleyball Adia Sherbeyn.................Torrington, Wyoming Gabriela Canavati...................... Laredo, Texas Ana Costas......................Caguas, Puerto Rico Leslie Mamai Lagafuaina.............Aiea, Hawaii Santana Monroe...... Greenwood Village, Colo.

Amryi-Grace Paris................... Kapolei, Hawaii Men’s Soccer Saul Aguilar.......................... Aurora, Colorado Scott Dike.................... North Platte, Nebraska Wilmer Hernandez...........Lexington, Nebraska Ricardo Martinez.......................Reno, Nevada Bryan Mejia.....................Lexington, Nebraska Jorge Pojas-Pimental...........Denver, Colorado Hector Rufferman........... Centennial, Colorado Arcy Rufferman............... Centennial, Colorado Women’s Soccer Bethany Fuchs............... Centennial, Colorado

Purta Guzma Ruvalcaba...... Aurora, Colorado Laramie Lake...................Cheyenne, Wyoming Lesly Miranda Limon............Denver, Colorado Amy Romero-Avila................ Aurora, Colorado Melody Kaup........................Gering, Nebraska Softball Lindsey Allie...................................Toole, Utah Hannah Baesler..............Northglenn, Colorado Emma Flynn.................... Longmont, Colorado Brianna George....................... Plain City, Utah Kendall Glasgow............. Ft. Collins, Colorado Emma Glawson........Victoria, British Columbia Hayley Gordon.........Victoria, British Columbia Sidnee Hogan....................South Jordan, Utah Jaila Johnson......................... Niwot, Colorado Ashtyn Meibos......................... Plain City, Utah Mykell Mills........................ Spanish Fork, Utah Peyton Propp...................Lakewood, Colorado Devon Rees..............Victoria, British Columbia

Madison Simons........................... Salem, Utah Baseball\ Garrett Declue................ Centennial, Colorado Michael Felton...................Loveland, Colorado Dermos Fritsch...................Brisbane, Australia Kyler Harris............................. Magnolia, Texas Ethan Miller....... Greenwood Village, Colorado Mitch Millen..........Highlands Ranch, Colorado Joseph Olson.......................... Olathe, Kansas Paul Panduro..................Scottsbluff, Nebraska Avery Peterson................ Longmont, Colorado Matthew Womack...........................Katy, Texas Chandler Young............... Ft. Collins, Colorado Women’s Basketball Taylor Joplin..................Garden Plain, Kansas Marisol Silva...........Albuquerque, New Mexico Yuliyana Valcheva................... Varna, Bulgaria

Rough start for Cougar baseball during 1st month The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team had flashes of scoring runs, but it wasn’t enough runs as the Cougars dropped a doubleheader to Barton on Monday at Great Bend, Kansas.

The Cougars were shutout on Sunday in 4-0 and 5-0 contests and on Sunday, the Cougars plated runs. In the first game on Monday, WNCC dropped an 8-3 contest before falling in the second game 20-3.

The opening game was actually a competitive contest with Barton striking first with two runs in the first. WNCC sliced the lead in half with a single run in the second on a Mitch Lightbody single that plated Brevin Owen with the first run of the contest.

Barton added a single run in the third and two in the fourth for a 5-1 lead. WNCC kept battling, plating two in the fifth. Braden Lofink led off with a single followed by Esai Hernandez reaching base on an error.

Brandan Maher came through with a 2-out single to plate Lofink and Hernandez to cut the lead to 5-3.

That was as close as WNCC got in the contest.

The Cougars finished with six hits in the contest to Barton’s 10. Maher led the way with two hits, including two RBIs. Hernandez also recorded a stolen base.

Jonathan Bermudez was saddled with the loss. The sophomore went four innings in giving up nine hits, five runs and striking out four.

Wellington Mariano, Nate Kolb, and Nat Andresen all saw action on the mound as well, each tossing one inning or less.

The second game started out fine for the Cougars, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the opening at bat when Bermudez had a 2-out single to plate Tyler Olson for the 1-0 lead.

Barton took control of the game after that, plating four in the first and three in the second for a 7-1 lead. Barton would go on to score in the first five innings, including a 9-run fourth for the 20-2 lead.

WNCC added single runs in the fifth and seventh inning. In the fifth, Olson singled in Arnoldo Maltos-Garcia for one run.

The seventh saw Olson score on a Tommy McRill fly ball.

WNCC was outhit in the contest 14-4.

Bermudez led the way with two hits and an RBI. Olson scored two runs with a RBI. WNCC went through four pitchers.

Blake Slaymaker took the loss, going just

WNCC’s Blake Slaymaker pitches during the second day of a four-game series with Miles Community College on Feb. 18. WNCC dropped four games to Miles in the home opener back in February. one inning allowing five runs on four hits.

Also seeing time on the rubber were Hunter Parker, Jacob Pekol, and Kale Litzelman.

Sunday’s contests were competitive, close contests. Sunday’s opener was actually a good ball game with Barton scratching across four runs on just three hits. Barton plated one in the second, two in the fourth, and a single run in the sixth for their four runs.

Barton’s big hitter was Kaden Flower, who had a triple, home run, two runs scored, and a RBI. WNCC’s five hits came from five different players. Mitch Lightbody had the only extra base hit with a double.

WNCC pitchers Alex Oehme and Nate Kolb gave up just four hits while striking out three and walking none. Oehme was saddled with the loss in going five innings.

The second game was just as evenly matched with both teams netting six hits.

The difference in the game was WNCC committed four errors and surrendered four early runs. Barton scored twice in the first and second inning.

After the second inning, the contest was evenly played in the nine-inning contest.

The only run after that was a Barton run in

Story continued on next page

Harrison Yates goes to make a catch in a game against Miles Community College earlier this season.

WNCC catcher Tyler Schubert catches the ball behind the plate during a game with Miles Community College.

Cougars experience rough February

Story continued from previous page the seventh inning.

WNCC was led at the plate by Brevin Owen with two hits, both singles. Cole Williams and Jonathan Bermudez each had a double in the contest.

WNCC’s pitchers Claude Bova and Zach Berg combined to give up five runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Both pitchers went four innings. Bova took the loss giving up four runs while striking out four.

WNCC will be back in action this weekend when they open up Empire Conference play at Lamar Community College. The Cougars will play a single 9-inning game on Saturday followed by a doubleheader on Sunday. \ The Cougars will then be at home March 7 when they host Northeastern Junior College in a 9-inning contest.

The Cougars will then hit the road for four games at Otero Junior College March 10-11 before heading off to Arizona for their Spring Break trip against community

colleges in Arizona.

Monday’s Games Game 1 WNCC 010 020 0 – 3 6 1 Barton 201 221 x – 8 10 2 LP – Jonathan Bermudez.

Game 2 WNCC 100 010 1 – 3 4 6 Barton 431 930 x – 20 14 5 LP – Blake Slaymaker.

Sunday’s Games Game 1 WNCC 000 000 0 – 0 5 2 Barton 010 201 x – 4 4 1 LP – Alex Oehme; 2B – Mitch Lightbody.

Game 2 WNCC 000 000 000 – 0 6 4 Barton 220 000 10x – 5 6 1 LP – Claude Bova; 2B -- Cole Williams, Jonathan Bermudez.

Tyler Olson crosses home plate during the first day of games with Miles. Photo

by Jayme Commins.

What former Cougars are doing now Rakovic helping Wyoming to a standout season

Former WNCC women’s basketball Sladjana Rakovic is having a good season at the University of Wyoming.

Rakovic has appeared in all 28 games Wyoming averaging 16.1 minutes a game. Rakovic started one contest and is averaging 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds a game.

The Cowgirls are 20-8 on the season and will play their final regular season contest on Friday, March 2 when they host Boise State.

The Boise State game will be Sladjana crucial in the MWC standRakovic ings as Wyoming, Boise State, ad UNLV are tied for the lead at 13-4.

Wyoming has the best record of the three at 20-8, while Boise State is 19-9 and UNLV is 18-10.

The Cowgirls will then compete in the Mountain West tournament that begins Monday, March 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Former Cougar starting for Illinois State

Former men’s basketball player Phil Fayne is having a fantastic junior season at Illinois State.

The former Cougar, who spent one year at WNCC has started 24 of 26 games for the Redbirds.

Illinois State is 156-14 on the season. Fayne is the team’s third leading scorer, averaging 15.3 points a game. Fayne also has pulled Phil down 7.1 rebounds a game, Fayne the team leader.

Fayne, as a sophomore, was named to the conference all-newcomer team.

The Redbirds will open up the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on Friday, March 2 when they face Indiana State in St. Louis, Missouri. A win Friday will move the Redbirds to the semifinals on Saturday.

Former Cougar Medina helping Lubbock Christian to strong start

Courtney

Medina

Former WNCC softball player Courtney Medina is helping the Lubbock Christian University softball team to a strong start so far.

Medina has started 13 of the 14 games in batting .231 with a double, a triple, 14 runs scored and three RBIs. Medina is in her senior year for the Lady Chaps.

Last year, Medina led the team with 27 stolen bases while recording 46 runs on 59 hits. She had two doubles, one home run, and 17 RBIs. Lubbock Christian will next be in action March 2 when they face Newman College in Wichita, Kansas, before hosting Texas-Permian Basin on March 6.

Pauley having a big junior year for Northern Colorado baseball

Former WNCC baseball player Jack Pauley picked up where he left off from his sophomore year the Division I level for the University of Northern Colorado.

Last season in his first year with the Bears, Pauley appeared in all 54 games and started in all 54 games for the Bears.

He led the team in batting average at .332, and also led the team in at-bats with 214. Pauley was voted Second Team All-WAC as an outfielder for the 2017 season.

This season, Pauley Jack is batting.333 having apPauley peared in eight games.

He has had four games where he had two RBIs, including three times against San Jose State.

UNC, 4-3, will next be in action this weekend when they host North Dakota State.

$100 Club Monthly Winners

September Winners

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

October Winners

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

November Winners

$150 — Joan Koehler.......................... Gering, Nebraska $100 — Lynn Wolworth..............................Mitchell, Nebraska $50 — Rudy & Angie Hernandez................ Gering, Nebraska

December Winners

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

January Winners

$150 — Yvette Morales....................... Gering, Nebraska $100 — Gil Magdeleno................................ Gering, Nebraska $50 — Werner Liehl.................................................. Germany

February Winners

$150 — Brad Shaul............................. Gering, Nebraska $100 — Peyton Simmons...........................Gordon, Nebraska $50 — AJ Jackson....................................... Denver, Colorado

March Winners

$150 — Joyce Gibney.........................Lincoln, Nebraska $100 — Doretta Fernandez......................................Utah $50 — Jack Berg........................... Bridgeport, Nebraska

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

Melodyy Kaup, third from left, , takes a picture with five of her WNCC teammates next year. Kaup signed to play soccer for the Cougars and will be joining two of her Gering teammates, Sydney Heimbouch and Leah Martin.

Gering’s Kaup joins WNCC women’s soccer Gering goalkeeper excited to be a Cougar Melody Kaup’s dream of continuing to play soccer after high school will come true after the Ger­ing senior signed a letter-of-intent to play at Western Nebraska Community College on Wednesday.

Kaup, who’s been play­ing soccer since the age of 8, is excited to become a Cougar, a program she has watched over the past years.

“I decided to go with WNCC because it is my hometown college and I have watched WNCC play for a long time. I have been inspired and wanted to really just wanted to play for WNCC,” Kaup said. “I am very excited to be with WNCC and play with them.

Playing college soccer is what I wanted. I wanted to continue with soccer as long as I can and getting to do that is my life dream.”

Kaup said coming to a program she is familiar with will help her in college.

“Knowing the WNCC program is a big plus,” she said. “I feel a lot more comfortable going in. there are not as much new things to learn as well as getting to know my new team and building from that.”

Kaup added that she is looking forward

to reunited next year with a couple of Gering graduates [Sydney Heimbouch and Leah Martin] that were members of the Cougars last season.

“It is exciting and I am so excited to play with Sydney and Leah,” she said.

“They are people I was comfortable with before and they are people who I have established a good relationship with. I am really excited.”

WNCC coach Todd Rasnic is excited to get another area player on the team and feels she will fit in fine. Several of the Cougar freshmen were in attendance watching Kaup sign her letter of intent. ““I think she will bring experience and she has played competitively over the years and had good technical training,” Rasnic said. “When I watch her play in competition, she does a lot of things correct. My expectations on keepers is they come in fully ready to play. I think she is at that level and I think the game itself will give her the ability to see the game at a higher rate of speed.

I think she will bring some good qualities to the team and I think it speaks well of our club program when we can bring in local student athletes and let them compete.”

Kaup will bring experience to the team next year. She started playing soccer when she was 8-years old but didn’t start playing goalkeeper until a few years later because of AYSO rules in her age group. But, when she started to travel with her club teams when she was 10, she was primarily a goalkeeper.

Through the years she has continued to grow as a keeper and hopes to keep improving and playing the game for as long as she can. Last year, she shared goalkeeping duties with Leah Martin.

The Gering girls started practice for the coming year this week and the team’s first matches are slated for March 17 when they host Scottsbluff. Kaup said they should have a good season this season.

The hard part, though, is come May when she closes out her high school career. She said she will miss her friends the most.

“I think the one thing I will miss about Gering is all the girls I play with,” she said.

“I think I have developed a family here and I definitely going to miss them.”

March is Athletic Trainer month

WNCC’s athletic trainer Doug Jones is more than an athletic trainer

Fellow colleagues: The month of March every year has been selected as National Athletic Training Month across the US. This March, the theme for National Athletic Training Month is “Compassionate Care For All”.

WNCC athletic trainer Doug Jones came to WNCC in 2006. During his 11-plus years at WNCC, he has helped numerous athletes get better.

His time in the training room, sometimes gets overwhelmed, and at times it is a place where athletes feel at home.

Athletic trainers like Jones have a Check out a schedule that is unpredictable between Q and A games, practices, with class schedules, and WNCC’s the all-of-a-sudden call from an athlete Doug Jones that something is next page wrong or they don’t feel good.

How many athletes has Jones helped? During the 2016-17 school year, there were 156 athletes and 94 percent of them made at least one visit to the training room.

Plus, Jones opens up the training room to help others, including three coaches, seven officials, and five faculty members that he has helped a year ago.

During last year, there were 3,141 treatments. The percentage of the treatments were minor, such as taping, treatment on the STEM machine, and just getting the athlete ready to play.

There were only six major surgeries a year ago, including ACL, ankles, knees, and elbows.

Jones is at every home game, and if there are conflicts with multi games at the same time, he gets someone to help cover. In turn, Jones has never missed a home game and is there to help support the athletes.

With all the visits of the athletes, as well as others

Like many of you, 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. This is the reason for this email.

Please know I am not looking for recognition or to toot my own horn, but simply to bring awareness to my profession.

In addition to our Cougar student-athletes, I have also helped numerous staff members, faculty members, administrators, general students, fans, visiting teams and officials 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 athletes 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 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 Cirq 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 4 schools do not have an athletic trainer, and another 3 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 student-athlete back to participation following a concussion. Personally, I have done of 45 hours of continuing education in the last 2 years on concussions alone.

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.

Have a great day!

Respectfully, Doug Jones, MS, ATC

Q and A with Athletic Trainer Doug Jones

WNCC athletic trainer Doug Jones is someone that loves sports and helping the teams.

His role at WNCC is as the athletic director, but he also teaches athletic training classes and some physical education classes. He serves on several committees at the college as well.

His time helping out WNCC athletes or the college as a whole goes over 40 hours a week. But he absorbs it all with passion for seeing a smile the athletes faces.

In his time away from WNCC, he has served as the head coach for Gering Legion Baseball, coaching them to a state title in 2012. He also coaches Gering girls softball in the summer.

Here is a sit-down interview with Doug Jones during some down time he had on Thursday.

What is the best part of your job as athletic trainer?

The best part is getting to know the students and the diversity of student we have.

I enjoy being able to help these students, as well as being able for them to drop by to just say hello and catch up.

What are the parts of your job that you don’t care for?

Paperwork, insurance, and waiting for doctor’s appointments and results. It’s part of the job, but I could definitely live without all the paperwork.

What does it mean to you when you can take care of an athlete and get them back to 100 percent?

Seeing an athlete struggle through rehab, or miss significant playing time is always hard.

To see them put in the work and have it pay off is a great feeling. I enjoy it when I can see the happiness in an athlete when they return.

What are some of your memories of being an athletic trainer at WNCC? Obviously, being with Volleyball in 2007 and 2010 when they won the national Championship was amazing, but that’s just a small part of what I remember. I actually remember more of the funny stories about athletes, and getting to know the athletes.

How many athletes have you been in contact with during your time and do you ac-

tually now all of their names?

I haven’t kept track of how many athletes I have worked with, but it’s probably in the thousands. I remember most of them, but occasionally forget some of them due to my age.

What does it mean to you to see some of your athletic training students doing well in your field of study?

I am very proud to have had a part in their education. I currently have former students in Raleigh, NC, Omaha, NE, Salt Lake City, UT, Denver, CO and in Brazil. I try to keep in touch with them and will contact them to bounce ideas off of them when certain situations arise to get a different perspective.

If you could change anything about your job, what would it be?

Not much. An assistant to help out on days where there are multiple events going on could help, but I’m pretty content.

Is there ever a time that you never saw someone for treatment or advice?

Several times. I typically hear the phase “I thought it would go away” two or three times per week. After I help those athletes,

they usually don’t hesitate to call or stop in with questions.

What is the worst injury that you had to deal with?

Probably the worst injuries I’ve dealt with were in college 2 days apart from each other.

A soccer goalkeeper and a baseball catcher had identical open fractures/dislocations of their right ankles. The soccer player did his first and we got him treated. 2 days later, when the baseball player injured himself, it felt like deja vu. I was definitely more comfortable helping the second time around.

How important is time management in being an athletic trainer?

It is the single most important skill you can have. You have to plan out every minute of the day so you don’t get behind or waste time. And sometimes you have to sacrifice sleep or meals to help, so you have to plan ahead and go to bed early or bring lunch or dinner with you.

Anything else you want to add?

I really enjoy being at WNCC and I want to thank everyone who allows me to perform my job to the best of my ability every day.

COUGARS in the COMMUNITY

Reading Dr. Seuss to pre-school students

Volleyball players Brooke Kaawa and Kirstee Trees read Dr. Seuss to pre-schoolers at Bear Cub Pre-School on March 2.

WNCC Athletes of the Week

-- Female Athlete of the Week for Week Ending Feb. 25 --

Giovanna Silva, a sophomore from Brazil, had a productive and consistent last two weeks. Silva, in three games, scored 30 points and 28 rebounds.

She also had 12 steals and seven assists in those three games. She finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and two assists in the team’s game with McCook on the road. She had five steals in a win against Lamar.

The Cougar women will open up regional tournament play on March 2 at home against McCook.

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 Jan. 7..............Melisa Kadic, WBB Jan. 14................Karli Seay, WBB Jan. 21..........Jaleesa Avery, WBB Feb. 4...............Karlie Seay, WBB Feb. 11............. Merle Wiehl, WBB Feb. 25.......Giovanna Silva, WBB

-- Male Athlete of the Week for week ending Feb. 25 -Marlon Sierra, a sophomore from Miami, had a big four-games to wrap up the regular season. In a win over Lamar, Marlon had 12 points with five assists. Against Otero, Marlon finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.

In the final two regular season games on the road, Marlon continued to be

consistent. Against North Platte, Marlon had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds and then in a big win over McCook, Marlon finished with eight points, four rebounds, and two assists. WNCC will enter the regional tournament as the No. 2 seed.

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 Jan. 7......Djodje Dimitrijevic, Bball Jan. 14............. Trent Harris, Bball Jan. 21...........Jervay Green, Bball Feb. 4..............Martin Roub, Bball Feb. 11.......... Vinnie Shahid, Bball Feb. 25..........Marlon Sierra, Bball

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