Sports
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The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, October 6, 2017
Completed arena looks sharp By Cassidy Crites Staff Writer Two years ago, Hutchinson residents approved a sales tax dedicated to renovations being made to the Hutchinson Sports Arena, built in 1953. The 0.35 percent tax rise took effect in July 2015, and will remain in place for 10 years. The project totaled approximately $30 million. The improvements included new community gyms and running track, weight training and sports medicine room, locker and team areas, restrooms and elevators, offices, club areas and conference rooms and many other community and athlete friendly upgrades. The gym now seats more than 6,000 spectators, who can watch games and attend other events comfortably due to the new air conditioning. Hutchinson Community College student-athletes feel the benefit of it too. “There’s air conditioning now and that’s really nice,” sophomore volleyball player Patricia Joseph said. Joseph experienced practicing and playing in the muggy heat before the air conditioning was added. The Hutchinson Sports Arena has been home to the men’s NJCAA national
Allie Schweizer/The Collegian One of the new locker rooms used by Hutchinson Community College is displayed at the Sports Arena. After needing upkeep, the Hutchinson voters approved a tax increase to modernize the Sports Arena. basketball tournament for er communities and schools In addition to the Arena will now be the every year since 1949. Each wanting an opportunity to national tournament, each home of the NJCAA Diviyear, the city and NJCAA host the tournament, the March the Sports Arena sion 1 Women’s Volleyball officials have a meeting NJCAA indicated a desire also hosts the Kansas State Championships in 2017, discussing the tournament. to keep the tournament in High School Activities 2018 and 2019. The Kansas However, in 2013 the Hutchinson. Shortly after Association Class 3A boys Collegiate Athletic Conmeeting was different than the meeting, plans were and girls state basketball ference, which includes years’ past. constructed. tournaments, graduation schools like Sterling The NJCAA suggested In 2016, the NJCAA ceremonies and a lecture College and McPherson the city needed to look to signed to hold the NJCAA hall for community events, College, will have its conimprove the arena in order Division 1 Men’s Bassuch as the Dillon Lecture ference volleyball tournato keep the tournament. ketball Championship in Series. ment at the Sports Arena in While the NJCAA had othHutchinson until 2041. The renovated Sports November as well.
Soccer team still undefeated By Lucas Barlow Sports Editor The Hutchinson Community College women’s soccer team has been redhot through 11 games. The Blue Dragons, ranked No. 16 in the NJCAA, had their first blip Wednesday in a 1-1 tie at Barton but remain unbeaten. The key to the Blue Dragons’ 10-game winning streak has not only been their explosive offense, but their defense, which has only conceded one goal this season. The last three matches have all been won in a dominating fashion, with a 4-0 win over Hesston College, a 6-0 win over Garden City Community College, and a 8-0 beat-down of Dodge City Community College.
They are also 7-0 in Region 6 matches. Freshman forward, Brailey Moeder continues to lead the team in goals with 10 so far this season. She has scored in nine out of the 10 games. Moeder also leads the team in assists. As a team, the Blue Dragons have compiled a .475 shots-on-goal percentage and have averaged close to five goals per game. Goalies Ashley Main and Clara Bergmuller have played a big role in the squad’s undefeated streak, with nine clean sheets between the two. The Blue Dragons return home today to take on Pratt Community College at 4 p.m. They play three straight home games before hitting the road again to play Dodge City CC.
Sports schedules, results. All home games, events in caps. Cross country
Sept. 1, MASTERSON TWILIGHT CLASSIC, women 3rd, men 4th Sept. 16, at Missouri Southern State, women 10th, men 9th Sept. 30, at OSU Cowboy Jamboree, 8 a.m. Oct. 7, at FHSU Tiger Open, 8 a.m. Oct. 16, at Ollie Isom Invitational, 4:30 p.m.
Football
Sept. 23, HIGHLAND, W 13-10 2OT Sept. 30, IOWA CENTRAL, W 42-14 Oct. 14, at Ellsworth, 1 p.m. Oct. 21, BUTLER, noon Oct. 27, at Independence, 6 p.m. Nov. 4, FORT SCOTT, noon Nov. 11, at Dodge City, 1 p.m.
Golf
Oct. 2-3, at Newman invitational Oct. 9-10, at Iowa Western Oct. 15-16, at NJCAA Preview Oct. 23-24, at Missouri Southern Invitational
Soccer
Aug. 27, TRINIDAD STATE, W 6-0
Aug. 31, ROSE STATE, W 1-0 Sept. 6, HESSTON, W 4-0 Sept. 9, BARTON, W 6-0 Sept. 13, at Pratt, W 6-0 Sept. 16, at NW Kansas Tech, W 2-1 Sept. 20, DODGE CITY, W 8-0 Sept. 23, at Garden City, W 6-0 Sept. 27, at Cloud County, ppd. Sept. 30, at Hesston, W 4-0 Oct. 4, at Barton, T 1-1 Oct. 6, PRATT, 4 p.m. Oct. 11, NW KANSAS TECH, 4 p.m. Oct. 14, GARDEN CITY, 3 p.m. Oct. 18, at Dodge City, 6 p.m. Oct. 21, CLOUD COUNTY, 2 p.m.
Volleyball
Sept. 29-30, at Tyler Invitational, 2-2 Oct. 4, CLOUD COUNTY, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9, at Butler, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11, BARTON, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13-14, at West Plains Classic Oct. 16, at Dodge City, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18, COLBY, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20, PRATT, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28, at Seward County, 6:30 p.m.
Athlete of the week
(Sept. 24-30) Eric Forrest, football The week: Forrest, a freshman quarterback making his first career start for the injured Forrest Chris James, won’t likely forget this one, as he completed 8 of 12 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns, leading Hutchinson to a 42-14 win Saturday at Gowans Stadium against Iowa Central. His two second-quarter TD passes helped break open a tied game and give the Blue Dragons a 2814 halftime lead. The season: Forrest has appeared in three games this season, completing 13 of 20 passes for 272 yards and seven touchdowns.
Cross country teams fare well in Oklahoma By Lucas Barlow Sports Editor
The Hutchinson Community College cross country teams traveled down to Oklahoma to participate in the annual Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree. Coming into the meet, the men’s and women’s team were ranked 22 and 12, respectively. The women placed seventh out of 10 in the College Division 5K. However, they did beat last year’s average time of 22:25.9 with 20:58.7. Sophomore Maggie Lambert placed in the Top 20 with an 18th-place finish. Her time was
Lambert
Stark
20:15.5. Other Hutchinson runners, Aileen Gomez, America Garcia, and Sarah Patterson, placed in the top 40. The team scored 189 points. Iowa Central Community College dominated with 20 points. The men were led by freshman Jared Stark and three other Blue
Dragons, as all four placed under 28 minutes in the 8K run. Like the women, the men improved their average time from 29:16.2 to 27:40.3. The team scored 159 total points to place right behind Ranger College. St. Mary (Kan.) was crowned the champion in the college division with an average time of 26:31.4. Saturday, the team heads to Victoria to compete in the Fort Hays Invitational - the only back-to-back weekend meet the Blue Dragons compete in. The regular season wraps up Oct. 16 at the Ollie Isom Invitational in El Dorado. Region 6 is Oct. 30.