Sports
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The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, November 3, 2017
HutchCC provides Jackson needed opportunity
Athlete of the week
Merissa Anderson/Collegian Hutchinson Community College’s Storey Jackson (1) tackles fellow Olathe native Maricio Chio during a game earlier this season at Gowans Stadium. Jackson has used HutchCC to boost his profile as a Division 1 college football player. By Lucas Barlow Sports Editor Community colleges around the country can be considered an important stepping stone to many athletes. Whether it’s the low tuition costs, the chance to develop yourself academically, or the ability to improve yourself physically, schools like Hutchinson Community College can help these athletes kickstart their collegiate sports career. After receiving zero NCAA Division 1 offers, defensive back Storey Jackson chose HutchCC to begin his football journey. The Olathe North product led his team
to a 10-2 record and a Kansas 6A semifinal appearance in 2015. Upon arriving at Hutchinson for his freshman year in 2016, Jackson knew he would get a opportunity to earn a starting position the next season, so he decided to find his role on the special teams. “My first year was so exciting,” Jackson said. “I knew my chance to get a starting role would come next year, so I balled out on special teams.” He was added to the kickoff, punt and punt return teams. As a freshman, Jackson had to work hard everyday and impress the coaches, all to make a name for
himself. As he began his sophomore season, Jackson accomplished what he set out to do – earn a starting spot. “I did such a good job as a freshman on the special team units,” Jackson said, “eventually it got me a starting spot on the defense.” Jackson has turned into a key player for the Blue Dragon defense as he currently leads the team in tackles (61) and assists (36) through nine games for the 6-3 Blue Dragons. “My sophomore season has being going great so far,” Jackson said. “I’m blessed to be able to
impact the team with my skills.” Jackson also stated he has an offer from Bethune-Cookman University. More offers could also be on the way for the talented defensive back. Jackson’s time as a Blue Dragon is coming to an end with only two regular season games left and possibly the Salt City Bowl. However, he does want to give a little advice to any newcomers next year. “Be sure you make or keep a relationship with God,” Jackson said. “Junior college isn’t easy and it’s not for everybody, but with consistent hard work, you can make it successful.”
Volleyball team wins at Region 6 Tournament By Lucas Barlow Sports Editor
Halloween night marked the first round of the Region 6 volleyball tournament as Hutchinson Community College hosted Dodge City Community College at the Sports Arena. The Blue Dragons weren’t frightened by the Conquistadors as they cruised to 3-0 sweep. Hutchinson dominated most of the night, although they almost dropped the first set. Down 22-18, they made a late comeback, scoring seven unanswered points to win the set 25-22. From that point on, the Blue Dragons never let the Conquistadors get close. The Allie Schweizer/HCC Sports Information second set saw Hutchinson go out to an early 17-5 lead, Hutchinson Community College’s Nina Pevic attempts to block a kill aten route to a 25-13 win. tempt by Dodge City on Tuesday in the first round of the Region 6 TournaThe final set of the evening ment at the Sports Arena.
was much like the previous one. With a comfortable eight-point margin, the Blue Dragons capped of the sweep with a 25-17 win. Sophomore Paige Hiebert led the team once again with 11 kills and a .300 hitting percentage. She also achieved her 10th double-double and moved to fourth on the career kills list with 931, passing Thais Franca (2004-05). Sophomores Nina Pevic and Tatyana Ndekwe, had nine and eight kills, respectively. Katie Jorn led the team in assists with 27, also adding five kills (.333). After Tuesday’s win over Dodge City, the Blue Dragons (25-12) advance to the NJCAA Region VI semifinals. They will travel to Liberal to play their next match on Saturday, taking on Garden City
(Oct. 22-28) Cole Gritton, golf The week: Gritton, a Manhattan sophomore, was the highest-finishing junior college Gritton golfer at the MSSU Men’s Fall Invitational Oct. 23-24 at Monkey Island, Oklahoma. After an opening-round 80, Gritton charged back with backto-back even-part 72s. He finished in a four-way tie for seventh, 10 strokes off the lead. The season: Gritton has finished 20th, 30th and 36th at his previous three tournaments for the sixth-ranked Blue Dragons.
Men’s XC finishes third in conference By Cassidy Crites Staff writer
The Hutchinson Community College men’s cross country team finished sixth overall in the Region VI Cross Country Championships on Monday. The Blue Dragons ran to a thirdplace Jayhawk West team standing. Leading the men’s side was freshmen Connor Kaufman and Jared Stark who both finished in the top 10 of the conference. Kaufman finished running a time of 27 minutes and 18 seconds to finish 15th in the region and fifth in the conference, earning first team all Jayhawk West honors. Stark followed shortly behind placing 16th in the region and sixth in the conference running a time of 27:28.1. The next Blue Dragon to finish was freshman Grant Clothier running a 28:25.4. Clothier was 33rd in the region and 16th in the conference. Sophomore Jeremy Stiebens ran 28:27.2 to earn 36th in the region and 19th in the Jayhawk West. The next four Blue Dragons to finish all ended consecutively lead by freshman Kade Gerlach running a 28:38.5 to finish 39th See Men, Page 5
Blue Dragon sports schedules, results. All home games, events in caps. Cross country
Oct. 30, Region 6 meet, Garden City, men 3rd, women 4th
Football
Aug. 28, COFFEYVILLE, W 50-42 Sept. 2, at Iowa Western, L 27-21 Sept. 9, REZOLUTION PREP, W 91-0 Sept. 16, at Garden City, W 31-28 Sept. 23, HIGHLAND, W 13-10 2OT Sept. 30, IOWA CENTRAL, W 42-14 Oct. 14, at Ellsworth, W 25-13 Oct. 21, BUTLER, L 38-10 Oct. 27, at Independence, L 24-19 Nov. 4, FORT SCOTT, noon Nov. 11, at Dodge City, 1 p.m.
Golf
Oct. 2-3, at Newman invitational, 6th Oct. 9-10, at Iowa Western, 4th Oct. 15-16, at NJCAA Preview, 8th Oct. 23-24, at Missouri Southern Invitational, 8th Oct. 30-31, at Dr Pepper Invitational
Men’s basketball (nonconference)
Nov. 1, FRIENDS JV, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, NORTH LAKE, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, NEO, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, at Tabor JV, 7:30 p.m.
Soccer
Aug. 25, NORTHEAST NEBRASKA, W 3-0
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. 30, at Hesston, W 4-0 Oct. 4, at Barton, T 1-1 Oct. 6, PRATT, W 4-0 Oct. 11, NW KANSAS TECH, L 4-0 Oct. 14, GARDEN CITY, W 14-0 Oct. 18, at Dodge City, W 8-0 Oct. 21, CLOUD COUNTY, L 3-2, OT Oct. 23, at Cloud County, L 2-1 Oct. 28, COFFEYVILLE, L 2-1
Volleyball
Aug. 25-26, at New Mexico Military tournament, 2-2 Aug. 30, GARDEN CITY, W 3-0 Sept. 1, at Cloud County, W 3-0 Sept. 6, DODGE CITY, W 3-0 Sept. 8-9, at Southern Idaho tournament, 2-2 Sept. 13, BUTLER, W 3-1 Sept. 16, at Colby, L 3-1 Sept. 18, at Barton, W 3-0 Sept. 20, at Pratt, W 3-0 Sept. 22-23, Blue Dragon Classic, 3-1 Sept. 25, at Garden City, W 3-0 Sept. 27, at Seward County, L 3-1 Sept. 29-30, at Tyler Invitational, 2-2 Oct. 4, CLOUD COUNTY, W 3-0
Oct. 9, at Butler, W 3-1 Oct. 11, BARTON, W 3-1 Oct. 13-14, at West Plains Classic, 2-2 Oct. 16, at Dodge City, W 3-0 Oct. 18, COLBY, W 3-0 Oct. 20, PRATT, W 3-0 Oct. 28, at Seward County, L 3-1 Oct. 31, DODGE CITY, W 3-0 Nov. 4, vs. Garden City at Liberal
Women’s basketball (nonconference)
Nov. 1, BETHANY JV, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 7, LAMAR, 6 p.m. Dec. 29, Santa Fe, at Bradenton, Florida, noon Dec. 30, at Florida Southwestern, 2 p.m.