Scottsbluff, NE – It came out of the blue, a 30 year career has come to an end. Late in the afternoon on Jan 8th Joe Benson informed Scottsbluff High School that he was resigning effective immediatly.

Soon after that AD Dave Hoxworth sent out an email explaining the situtation:

Good Afternoon,

The purpose of this email is to inform you that Coach Joe Benson has resigned his position as Head Football Coach at Scottsbluff High School.

This position will be opened up immediately and remain open until filled.

Coach Benson has agreed to help the team transition through the winter conditioning season, and our goal is to have a replacement for him as soon as possible.

Through Coach Benson’s 30 year career at Scottsbluff, Joe coached at the freshman level for 2 years and the last 28 years with the varsity program and the last 12 years as the head coach. Coach Benson compiled an 85-39 record as the head coach of the Bearcats. Prior to becoming the head coach, Joe served as the defensive coordinator for several years.

It is very difficult to lose a coach that has had such a positive impact on our football program for the last 30 years. Joe has a tireless work ethic and is a coach that truly loves the game of football, but most importantly, Coach Benson loved building relationships with our student-athletes and treating kids with a tremendous amount of respect. One of Joe’s greatest qualities was to get the absolute best from every athlete that competed on our football team. Coach Benson has a unique gift to place a player in positions on our football team that would directly impact the success of our team.

We wish Coach Benson the best and thank him and his family very much for the long-lasting impact and the sacrifices they have made that comes with the responsibility of being a head football coach.

North Platte – Four members of the North Platte Community College Knights volleyball team were named to the Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska Two-Year College volleyball team.

Luisa Hernandez Marin, from Yuma, Colo., was named to the first team. Taylin McNair, from Imperial;, Sydney Mullin, from Maxwell, and Bailey Chintala, from Fleming, Colo, were named honorable mention.

Hernandez Marin, a sophomore outside hitter, led the Knights in kills with 404. She also had 468 defensive digs and 29 service aces on the season Hernandez Marin was named to the All-Region IX Division II team and the Region IX Division II All-Tournament team.

McNair, a sophomore setter, led the Knights in set assists with 752 and service aces with 47. McNair also had 297 defensive digs. McNair was also named to the Region IX Division II All-Tournament team.

Mullin, a freshman middle blocker, led the Knights in total blocks for the season with 98 and was fourth in kills with 245.  Mullin also had a .231 kill efficiency which led the Knights. Mullin was named to the All-Region IX Division II team.

Chintala, a freshman libero, led the Knights with 563 defensive digs. She also had 75 set assists.

The Knights were crowned the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II champions in November.

North Platte – Two members of the Nebraska State Class D-2 third place Mullen High School Broncos, Alysen Daniels and Courtney Rice, signed letters of intent to play volleyball at North Platte Community College in the 2019 season.

The Broncos finished the season at 29-4

Daniels, a 5’ 8 outside hitter, was a captain on the 2018 Broncos and played on the varsity team for three seasons. In her career, Daniels finished with 567 kills, 127 blocks, 431 defensive digs, and 60 set assists.

“Alysen is an athletic kid that plays a lot bigger than her size, Knights Head Volleyball Coach Alexa McCall said. “She’s a solid player that will add depth to our outside position.”

Rice, a 5’ 11” middle blocker, played four seasons on the varsity team. In her career, Rice had 231 kills, 117 total blocks, 120 defensive digs and 43 set assists.

“Courtney adds height to our roster and will be a good blocker for us on the right side,” McCall said.

“Both come from a solid program and we are excited to add them to our 2019 recruiting class,” McCall said.

They join Erica Hopping, from Sutherland, on the 2019 recruiting class for the NPCC Knights Volleyball team