Fall Sports Preview
Star-Herald
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011 9
Girls Cross Country Summaries Continued Continued from page 8
Hemingford Nickname: Bobcats Class: D C o n f e r e n c e : We s t e r n Trails Head coach: Cindy Lanik Years coaching at Hemingford: 12 Assistant coach: Tim Lanik Returning starters: Ana Gibbons, so. Top newcomers: Cassie Elder, jr. Season outlook: “We are looking forward to the season, but we will not be able to field a girls team at this time,” Cindy Lanik said. Keys to performing well: “Staying healthy, avoiding injuries, improving times, and working together,” Cindy Lanik said. Team goals: “We want to work to improve individual times and compete hard in each meet,” Cindy Lanik said. Schedule Sept. 2 . . . . . .Gering Invite Sept. 9 . . . . . .Kimball Invite Sept. 17 . . . .Alliance Invite Sept. 20 . .Scottsbluff Invite Sept. 23 . .Torrington Invite Sept. 29 . . . . .Bayard Invite Oct. 7 . . . . .WTC at Kimball
Kimball Nickname: Longhorns Class: D C o n f e r e n c e : We s t e r n Trails Last year’s conference placing: First Head coach: Tiffany Johnson (5th season) Varsity assistant coach: Laurie Janicek Returning state qualifiers: Laura Flores, so.; Hailey Keller, jr. Other returning letter winners: Jordain Gawith, sr.; Dalton Luppen, jr. Top newcomers/transfers: Shelby Vogel, so.; Alexis Gawith, fr. Season outlook: “We
should be competitive against our conference schools and at districts,” coach Johnson said. “They are a hard-working group of ladies who want to do well.” Team strengths: “We have a couple great leaders who are constantly encouraging our other runners to do their best,” Johnson said. Team goals: “To win conference again and place in the top two at districts,” Johnson said. “[And] to be competitive at every meet.” Other comments: Last season Flores placed fifth at conference, 11th at districts, and 37th at state; and Keller placed third at conference, 12th at districts, and 34th at state. Jordain Gawith placed 15th in last year’s conference meet. Last year’s highlight: Winning the conference title Schedule Sept. 2 . . . . . .Gering Invite Sept. 9 . . . . .Kimball Invite Sept. 17 . . . .Alliance Invite Sept. 20 . .Scottsbluff Invite Sept. 22 . . . .Ogallala Invite Sept. 29 .Gothenburg Invite Oct. 7 . . . . .WTC at Kimball Oct. 13 . . . . . . . . . .Districts Oct. 21 . . .State at Kearney
Mitchell Nickname: Tigers Class: C Conference: WTC District: C-4 Head coach: Mike Harriger (2nd year) Returning letter winners: Mackenzie Watson, sr.; Lakin Beaver, sr. Team goals: Mitchell is hoping to get more girls out for a team. Other comments: Last season Watson placed seventh in the conference meet and 23rd at districts. Beaver was ninth at conference and 33rd at districts. Schedule Sept. 2 . . . . . .Gering Invite Sept. 9 . . . . .Kimball Invite Sept. 17 . . . .Alliance Invite
Sept. 20 . .Scottsbluff Invite Sept. 23 . .Torrington Invite Sept. 29 . . . . .Bayard Invite Oct. 1 .Western Conference at Chadron Oct. 7 . . . . .WTC at Kimball Oct. 13 . . . . . . . . . .Districts Oct. 21 . . . . . . . . . . . .State
Morrill Nickname: Lions Class: D Head coach: Craig Manley Runners: Jessica Strecker, jr. Comments: Strecker placed 11th in last year’s WTC meet. Schedule Sept. 2 . . . . . .Gering Invite Sept. 9 . . . . . .Kimball Invite Sept. 17 . . . .Alliance Invite Sept. 20 Panhandle Classic at Scottsbluff Sept. 23 . .Torrington Invite Sept. 29 . . . . .Bayard Invite Oct. 7 . . . . .WTC at Kimball Oct. 13 . . . . . . . . . .Districts Oct. 21 . . .State at Kearney
Pine Bluffs/Burns Nickname: Hornets Class: 2A Last year’s state finish: First Head coaches: Dustin Lee and Cole Manlove Returning state qualifiers: K y r a E b y, s r. ; J e s s i c a Phillipe, jr.; Angel McFarlin, jr.; Austin Asay, so.; Rylee Anderson, so.; Jesse Sowards, so.; Sam Hanson, so. Other returning letter winners: Susan Schmidt, so. Season outlook: “The girls now have to work harder this year than their state championship season last year,” coach Lee said. “Our team is relatively new to the sport with this being only the fourth year in existence and third year of being eligible at the state meet. So, we have kind of been a surprise to the state. Now, everyone knows what our girls can do. There certainly is a target on their back now, which I feel
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will only make them more competitive and certainly rise to the challenge. Coming out number one is not out of the question again this year, but they will certainly have to work hard for it.” Team strengths: “I’d have to say that experience is slowly becoming one of our strengths,” Lee said. “Last year I said it was being young. Well, now those ladies are growing up and getting stronger. Plus, they have the experience of running big meets like state. I really think the leadership of our juniors and senior will come through this year. Also, this is a combined team of the third and fourth placing teams at the state track meet last spring. Both schools bring a lot to the table and our kids have really done well working together for a common goal. There is a sense of pride among the kids.” Team goals: “Our team goals are to get better each week and to make another great showing at the state meet,” Lee said. Other comments: At last year’s state meet, Asay was first, Phillipe placed third, McFarlin was fourth, Anderson was seventh, Sowards was 13th, Hanson was 15th, and Eby was 16th. Last year’s highlights: “Seeing the girls improve from week to week, and also winning the 2A state title,” Lee said. Schedule Sept. 2 . . . . . .Gering Invite Sept. 9 . . . . . .Kimball Invite Sept. 16 Jackalope Invite at Douglas Sept. 23 . . .Saratoga Invite Sept. 30Sweetheart Invite at Loveland, Colo. Oct. 7 . . . .Cheyenne Invite Oct. 14 ABSARAKA meet at Glenrock Oct. 22 . . .State at Douglas
Scottsbluff Nickname: Bearcats Class: B
Conference: Western and GNAC Last year’s Western Conference placing: Third Last year’s GNAC placing: Fifth Last year’s district placing: First Last year’s state placing: Third H e a d c o a c h : Ta n y a Vaughn (17th season) Returning varsity runners: Ashley Hall, Tylii Muncie N e w c o m e r s : Ta y l o r Muncie, Celeste Calderon Season outlook: “We will be a mix of experience and youth,” coach Vaughn said. “We look to be one of the top three teams in the district.” Keys to success: “We will have a very challenging district,” Vaughn said. “Everyone will need to race to the best of their abilities.” Other comments: Hall placed 59th at last year’s state meet, and Tylii Muncie was 76th. Schedule Sept. 2 . . . . . .Gering Invite Sept. 16Liberty Bell Invite at Littleton, Colo. Sept. 20 Panhandle Classic at Scottsbluff Sept. 26 UNK Invite at Kearney Oct. 1 .Western Conference at Chadron Oct. 7 GNAC at North Platte Oct. 13 .Districts at Ogallala Oct. 21 . . State at Kearney
Sidney Nickname: Red Raiders Class: C Conference: Western District: 4 Last year’s district meet placing: Second Last year’s state meet placing: Third Head coach: Tony Neels (1st year) Varsity assistant coaches: Donna Wiedeburg, Kyle Larson Returning state meet qualifiers: Juli Smith, sr.; Hannah Riley, sr.; Mariah Mata, sr.; Amber Hodges, so.; Morgan Linneman, jr.
Other returning letter winners: McKenzie Rosdail, jr.; Rachel Borges, jr. Top newcomers/transfers: Alli Jay Ehler, fr. Season outlook: “We are looking forward to a season that should be very successful,” coach Neels said. “We return five of our six varsity runners from a year ago. We are excited about the potential this team is showing. We should be in contention for both the conference and district championships if all goes well. I expect that with the group of veteran runners we have returning, in addition to several talented newcomers, we should be very competitive in every meet we attend.” Team strengths: “The strength of this team will be its depth and leadership from the upperclassmen,” Neels said. “With nearly 30 athletes on this season’s roster, we obviously have great numbers. The leadership and experience of our returning runners will serve us well this season.” Team goals: “This year’s team is hoping to improve on last season’s third-place finish at state,” Neels said. “Winning both the conference and district meets are at the top of our list of goals.” Other comments: Last season Smith placed third at state, and Mata was 25th. Last year’s highlights: Last season Sidney earned a runner-up finish at districts and placed third in the Class C state meet. Former athletes competing in college: Kaitlyn Wells, UNL Schedule Sept. 2 . . . . . .Gering Invite Sept. 10 . . .Chadron Invite Sept. 17 . . . .Alliance Invite Sept. 22 . . . .Ogallala Invite Sept. 26 . . . .Kearney Invite Oct. 1 .Western Conference meet at Chadron Oct. 6 . . . . . . .Sidney Invite
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Sept. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hershey Sept. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mitchell Sept. 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gordon/Rushville Sept. 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bayard Sept. 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Morrill CROSS COUNTRY Oct. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chase County Sept. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gering Oct. 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sutherland Sept. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kimball Oct. 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Perkins Co. Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alliance Sept. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Scottsbluff VOLLEYBALL Sept. 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .UNK Inv. Sept. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bayard Sept. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kimball Oct. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WTC Sept. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bridgeport TRI Oct. 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Districts Sept. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gordon/Rushville Inv. Sept. 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sidney Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bridgeport Inv. GIRLS’ GOLF Aug. 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bayard Inv. Sept. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chadron TRI Sept. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Creek Valley Inv. Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hershey Inv. Sept. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mitchell Inv. Sept. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bridgeport TRI Sept. 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gering Inv. Sept. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leyton Sept. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kimball Inv. Oct. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Creek Valley Oct. 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mitchell WTC Conference Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Scottsbluff Oct. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gering Sept. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bridgeport Inv. Oct. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WTC Sept. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alliance Inv. Oct. 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mitchell TRI 4 p.m. Sept. 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Best of the West Nov 10-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .State Trny Oct. 3-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Districts Home Games Listed in Bold Oct 10-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .State Golf
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