LINCOLN, Neb. – Congratulations go out to area school members from Sutherland and North Platte for an impressive showing at the High School Bass Tournament Championship:

The Sutherland team of brothers Hunter and Jaron Cooper won the Bass Federation – Student Angler Federation Nebraska High School Bass Tournament Championship at Lewis and Clark Lake’s Weigand Marina on July 21.

The team, coached by Kent Priel, caught five fish weighing a total of 12 pounds, 4 ounces.

A Star City Anglers team from Wahoo took second place. Colton Kelle of Beatrice and McKael Gollin of Firth caught five fish weighing 9 pounds, 13 ounces.

Taking third place with five fish weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces was the Lincoln County Bass Bosses team of brothers Zane and Chase Leibhart from North Platte.

Hunter Cooper also caught the tournament’s biggest fish, a 3-pound, 5-ounce bass.

Eighteen teams participated in the tournament.

Chicago – University of Nebraska wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. was one of the 10 players included on the 2018 preseason honors list released Monday morning in conjunction with 2018 Big Ten Media Day.
A panel of conference media members select 10 players – five from the East and West Divisions – as preseason nominations. Morgan, a two-time member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list, is the only wide receiver on the 10-player list.

Morgan leads an experienced Husker receiving corps, setting career bests with 61 catches, 986 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017. A second-team All-Big Ten pick, Morgan ranked second in the conference in receiving yards and touchdowns and fourth in catches per game as a junior. His 986 receiving yards broke the school record held by 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, while Morgan’s five 100-yard receiving games were the most by a Husker in school history. In Big Ten play, he was in the top five among conference receivers in 100-yard games (first), receiving yards per game (second) and receptions per game (fifth).

Morgan, along with seniors Jerald Foster and Mick Stoltenberg, will represent the Huskers at 2018 Big Ten Media Days in Chicago today and tomorrow. Fans can watch much of the action on BTN and online at BTN.com and on the Fox Sports Go app beginning at 11 a.m. today.

2018 Big Ten Players to Watch
EAST DIVISION
Rashan Gary, Jr., DL, MICH
Brian Lewerke, Jr., QB, MSU
Nick Bosa, Jr., DE, OSU
J.K. Dobbins, So., RB, OSU
TRACE MCSORLEY, SR., QB, PSU

WEST DIVISION
Noah Fant, Jr., TE, IOWA
Stanley Morgan Jr., Sr., WR, NEB
Paddy Fisher, So., LB, NU
T.J. Edwards, Sr., LB, WIS
Jonathan Taylor, So., RB, WIS
Unanimous honoree in ALL CAPS

Nebraska Preseason Big Ten Honorees (2011-Present)
2018 – Stanley Morgan Jr., WR
2015 – Maliek Collins, DT
2015 – De’Mornay Pierson-El, WR
2014 – Ameer Abdullah, RB
2014 – Randy Gregory, DE
2013 – Taylor Martinez, QB
2012 – Rex Burkhead, RB
2011 – Jared Crick, DT
2011 – Lavonte David, LB

North Platte – First year Lady Knights basketball coach Jeff Thurman continues adding to the 2018-19 Lady Knight basketball team by signing Madisyn Francis, a transfer from Ranger College in Texas.

Francis, a 4’ 11” point guard played her high school basketball at North Shore High School in Houston, Texas.  She graduated in 2017.

At Ranger, Francis played sparingly, averaging 1.8 points per game and 0.4 rebounds per game. She had a career high with 11 points against Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf.

At North Shore, during her senior season, Francis averaged 14.6 points per game and six rebounds per game. She also averaged 4.4 assists per game and 3.7 steals per game.

“I was told that a school in Nebraska was looking for players and that they gave the coach my name,” Francis said. “Coach Thurman contacted me and I liked his energetic approach.”

Francis is planning to major In nursing.

“Madisyn brings that sophomore leadership and junior college basketball experience that will be invaluable for our incoming freshman. Her ability to handle the ball and play off the ball with help us as well,” Thurman said. “She is a high-character student-athlete and we are very excited for her to join our program and institution.”

Francis joins Leilani Pinedo from Tucson, Ariz.; Alizea McClanahan, Katie Cox, Emily Joseph from Tampa, Florida;  and Jordan Novinger from Centennial, Colo., in the 2018-19 recruiting class for the Lady Knights.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team has signed Leilani Pinedo from Tucson, Ariz., to a national letter of intent for the 2018-19 season.

Pinedo, a 5’ 8” shooting guard, played her high school basketball at Cienega High School in Vail, Ariz.

Pinedo played half the season her senior season, playing in nine games.  She averaged 8.1 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game.  During her junior season, she was named third-team all-state and honorable mention. In her junior season, Pinedo played in 21 games and averaged 6.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg.  She also had 1.7 assists per game and 1.8 steals per game.

Jeff Thurman, Lady Knight first year coach contacted Pinedo after she had turned down a previous offer.

Pinedo said, “I was pretty bummed about it, but wanted to still play, so I took the opportunity.”

Thurman said, “We are very fortunate to get Leilani at this late in the game.  She is a good shooter, a good student, a good person from a good family.”

Pinedo said that one of her athletic goals is to get this team going and start heading in the right direction..

Pinedo is majoring in nursing.

“I want to finish my general education classes for nursing and try to get some summer classes ahead so when I go back to the University of Arizona,” Pinedo said. “I want to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing.”

Pinedo said that she likes the campus, the size of the classrooms.

“I looked at some of the classrooms and I think some of the ratios will be really good.” Pinedo said. “I never want it to be like a huge lecture seminar.

Pinedo likes the gym and the weight room.  She said that she will definitely be on the treadmill.

Nebraska Head Coach Scott Frost announced Wednesday that Ron Brown has joined the Cornhusker football staff as Director of Player Development.

Brown has 24 previous years of coaching experience at Nebraska, serving as an assistant coach from 1987 to 2003, and again from 2008 to 2014. Brown served as associate head coach at Liberty University for the past three seasons, working for Head Coach Turner Gill.

In his new role at Nebraska, Brown will serve in a non-coaching role, mentoring Husker football student-athletes in numerous off-field development areas. Brown will work closely with Nebraska’s nationally renowned Life Skills program and assist in community outreach efforts of Husker football players and staff.

“Coach Brown had a tremendous impact on me during my playing career at Nebraska, and I am sure he will have a similar impact on many young men in our football program in the years ahead,” Frost said. “Coach Brown understands Nebraska and what makes this a great place for student-athletes to grow and learn in all areas.”

Brown will bring 31 years of college coaching experience to the Nebraska football staff. Brown coached for four seasons at his alma mater, Brown University, before his 24 seasons at Nebraska and the past three years at Liberty.

In addition to outstanding team success that included three national championships at Nebraska, Brown coached more than 40 academic all-conference players and nearly 40 players that went on to professional careers.

Brown coached the Nebraska tight ends (2008-10) and running backs (2011-14) during his most recent stint with the Huskers. During that time, he tutored future NFL running backs Rex Burkhead and Ameer Abdullah, who rank second and sixth, respectively, on NU’s all-time rushing list.

Burkhead earned first-team Academic All-America honors in both 2011 and 2012, while Abdullah was a Doak Walker Award finalist as a senior in 2014. Abdullah left Nebraska as the school’s No. 2 all-time rusher and all-time leader in all-purpose yards.

During his time as an assistant from 1987 to 2003, Brown coached the Nebraska wide receivers and tight ends. Brown’s players had a reputation for their tenacity and downfield blocking, helping Nebraska to nine NCAA rushing crowns in 17 seasons.

Brown spent four years from 2004 to 2007 as the Nebraska State Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A native of New York, Brown earned his bachelor’s degree from Brown in 1979, and a master’s degree from Columbia in 1982.

16-18 boys:
1st place Drew Phillips 152
2nd place Gavin Fox 153
3rd place Connor Dormann 154
4th place Jayden Jones 156
5th place Tanner Ruda 161

 

 

14-15 boys:
1st place Kasch Morrison 144
2nd place Cole Fedderson 154
3rd place Preston Skeen 157
4th place Colbi Smith 160
5th place Teegan Sonneman 170

 

 

 

12-13 boys:
1st place Luke Hiltibrand 190
2nd place Bowden Fox 193
3rd place Caleb Castillo 212
4th place Caleb Shaner 213
5th place Jacob Klooz 218

 

 

 

11 boys:
1st place Cooper Fedderson 101
2nd place Jameson Estill 115
3rd place Max Negley 120
4th place Ethan Hardin 126

 

 

 

 

10 and under boys:
1st place Chase Wingett 90
2nd place Ean Julius 112
3rd place Lukas Dawson 148

 

 

 

 

 

16-18 Girls:
1st place Harley Hiltibrand 157
2nd place Kailey Johnson 183
3rd place Katie Wagner 190
4th place Kaylee Wach 195
5th place Haley Jackson 227

 

 

 

 

13-15 Girls:
1st place Baylee Steele 157
2nd place Karsen Morrison 161
3rd place Madi Schlaepfer 169
4th place Ali Boswell 173
5th place Dani Nolde 219

 

 

 

 

12 and under Girls:
1st place Makinley Mitchell 95
2nd place Camryn Johnson 101
3rd place Janee Wagner 160

Lincoln — Nebraska basketball players Tanner Borchardt and Johnny Trueblood were recognized for their efforts in the classroom Thursday, as both players were named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court.

The honor is presented to players who are a junior or senior academically at an institution and posted a GPA of 3.20 or better at the conclusion of the 2017-18 academic year.

This is the second straight year that Borchardt has been recognized by the NABC, while it is the first time that Trueblood has received the honor. Both players helped the Huskers to a 22-11 record in 2017-18, including a school-record 13 conference wins.

Borchardt earned a scholarship last season with his play in the Husker front court. He played in 20 games, totaling 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 points per game. He set career bests in points (eight), rebounds (10) and blocked shots (two) in 14 second-half minutes in a win over Stetson. In the classroom, the management major is a five-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll member and has garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors in each of the last two seasons.

Trueblood, an accounting major, played a major role on the scout team and appeared in seven games last season as a reserve, totaling three rebounds and an assist in limited time. In the classroom, he was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2018 and is a three-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll.

North Platte, Ne – The Annual NPCA Junior Golf Classic has one day in the books. The event tee’d off at Lake Maloney for the first day and will travel to Rivers Edge for day two.

Below is the day one results for the age groups:

Boys 16-18

Chesney Tatman – 85

Connor Dormann – 75

Gavin Fox – 77

Trevor Oberg – 80

Dillon Muirhead – 96

Max McIntosh – 92

Dillon Wise – 76

Tanner Ruda – 78

Finn Lucas – 88

Eli Fox – 87

Seth Daup – 111

Drew Phillips – 76

Jayden Jones – 79

Boys 14-15

Kasch Morrison – 70

Preston Skeen – 77

Jaxon Cadwallader – 115

Jake Hiltibrand – 96

Casey Peterson – 98

Ryan O’kief – 95

Cole Fedderson – 75

Peyton Zeller – 116

Brady Davis – 87

Perry Swarm – 93

Brett Downing – 99

Cole Schroer – 87

Teegan Sonneman – 79

Connor Hasenauer – 101

Colbi Smith – 82

Boys 12-13

Bowdie Fox – 99

Schuyler Mustin – 112

Luke Hiltibrand – 101

Logan Muirhead – 146

Matthew Phelps – 127

Caleb Shaner – 107

Sam Erbert – 143

Caleb Castillo – 102

Kyce Shimmin – 139

Jacob Klooz – 107

Girls 16-18

Harley Hlitibrand – 75

Ryanna Devries – 122

Kaylee Wach – 97

Haley Jacson – 111

Taylor Empfield – 118

Katie Wagner – 94

Kailey Johnson – 90

Lauren Brott – 138

Girls 13-15

Dani Nolde – 100

Jessica Folchert – 133

Karsen Morrison – 82

Baylee Steele – 80

Madi Schlaepher – 88

Ali Boswell – 90

North Platte – The Omaha World Herald has announced the All-Nebraska Two-Year College softball team for the 2018 season.

Five North Platte Community College Knights players were named honorable mention on the team. They are: Erin Renwick, Emily Marsden, Ana Talaroc-Kaniho, Kenlee Wanlass, and Hallei Morales.

Renwick, a sophomore from Brighton, Colo. Batted .438 with three home runs and four doubles.  Renwick also had an earned run average of 5.31 with 36 strike outs.

Marsden, a freshman from Papillion,, batted .364 with two home runs, one triple and three doubles for a slugging percentage of ..464.  Marsden had a 6.71 earned run average with five strike outs.

Talaroc-Kaniho, a sophomore from Lahaina, Hawaii, batted .362 with one home run and three doubles.  She tied for the Knights lead in stolen bases with five.

Wanlass, a freshman from Elsinore, Utah, batted .293 with three doubles.  Wanlass had a slugging percentage of .345. Wanlass had five stolen bases to tie for the team lead and broke the all-time Knights record for fewest errors in a season.

Morales, a freshman from North Platte, batted .290, led the team with nine home runs and had one double.  Morales had a slugging percentage of .591 to lead the Knights

 

North Platte, Neb. (June 16, 2018) – It was déjà vu all over again for bareback rider Austin Foss.

 

For the second year, the Terrebonne, Oregon man claimed the bareback riding title at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte with a score of 87 points on the Beutler and Son Rodeo Co. horse Nutrena’s Anything Goes.

 

Nutrena’s Anything Goes, a seven-year-old mare, was a horse that Foss knew he could win money on. “That horse really bucked. She was really strong right out of the chute, the kind you want to win on.” Last year, he made an 87.5 point ride on the Beutler horse Pendleton Whisky’s Red Bandana to win the rodeo. “I remember coming here last year, and I remember getting on one that bucked, and what do you know? It happened again this year.”

 

The last two weeks have been good to the 26-year-old cowboy. He’s won about $8,000 in two weeks with a first place finish at the Union, Ore. rodeo, and placings at rodeos in Eagle, Colo., Sisters, Ore., and Clovis, N.M. It’s jumped him from twenty-sixth in the PRCA’s world standings to sixteenth, giving him a shot at being in the top fifteen in the world. A top fifteen ranking at the end of the rodeo season allows a cowboy to compete at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las Vegas in December, where world champions are determined. Foss has been at the WNFR three times (2013-2015) and wants to go again. “I’m knocking at the door.”

 

Foss was coming from home when he traveled to Nebraska, making the 1000 mile trip and leaving on Thursday afternoon, but it was worth it. “I drove here from Oregon, and I’d do it again,” the jubilant cowboy said.

 

The Saturday night performance saw the high score in the bull riding for the rodeo.

 

Jeston Mead, Holcomb, Kansas, scored 85 points on the Beutler and Son bull Roll Tide.

 

The 29-year-old called his friend Ty Clearwater, who rode the bull on Thursday night, to see what bucking pattern the bull might have. Clearwater got bucked off, but Mead didn’t. The bull “really fired. He performed for me really well,” Mead said.

 

Mead, who has been riding bulls since he was twelve years old, considered the significance of winning the North Platte rodeo, named after the west’s biggest showman, Buffalo Bill, with the rodeo grounds within sight of Buffalo Bill’s famed Scouts Rest Ranch. “I always thought it would be a great memory to win (North Platte), just because of all the history behind the rodeo. It’s a great event.”

 

He and his wife and two children, a daughter, age six, and a son, age two, will camp out in the campground next to Scouts Rest Ranch tonight then head home to southwestern Kansas tomorrow. Mead runs a cattle processing crew and has 1,000 head of cattle to work on Monday before flying to Reno, Nevada for another rodeo on Tuesday.

 

The 2018 Trail Boss Award was awarded to Tricia Schaffer. The North Platte woman has served on the Nebraska High School Rodeo Queen committee, as an event director for the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association, and as a national director for the Neb. High School Rodeo Association since 1996. Five years ago, the National High School Rodeo Association recognized her as the NHSRA Woman of the Year. She was instrumental in securing the National High School Finals Rodeo to be held in Lincoln in 2020 and 2021.

 

Other 2018 champions include steer wrestler Tee Burress, Piedmont, S.D. (8.1 seconds on 2 head), tie-down ropers Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla. and Cody Huber, Albia, Iowa (both with 18.1 seconds on two head) 2015 world champion saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley, (86.5  points), team ropers Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla. and Chase Boekhaus, Rolla, Kansas (4.4 seconds), and barrel racer Kelly Bruner, Millsap, Texas (17.41 seconds).

 

NEBRASKAland Days activities continue until June 23. Next weekend’s highlights include a concert on Fri., June 22 with Florida-Georgia Line and special guest Brett Young. The Sat., June 23 concert is Alabama, with special guest the Charlie Daniels Band.  For more information, visit www.NebraskaLandDays.com.

 

– ### –

 

Results, North Platte, Nebraska – Buffalo Bill Rodeo 2017

 

Bareback riding – 2018 champion: Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Oregon

1. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. 87 points on Nutrena’s Anything Goes; 2. Tyler Scales, Buffalo, Wyo. 84; 3. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. 82; 4. Grant Denny, Minden, Nev. 81; 5. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 80; 6. Blake Smith, Zap, N.D. 79; 7. Justin Pollmiller, Weatherford, Texas 75; 8. (tie) Chance Merrill, Coffeyville, Kan. and Mike Fred, St Marys Kan. 73 each.

 

Steer wrestling – 2018 champion: Tee Burress, Piedmont, S.D.

1^st go-round

1. Tee Burress, Piedmont, S.D. 3.6 seconds; 2. Jon Herl, Goodland, Kan. 3.9; (tie) Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., Cyler Dowling, Newell, S.D. and Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas 4.0 each; 6. Trever Nelson, Calera, Okla. 4.2.

 

2^nd go-round

1. Trell Etbauer,   3.6 seconds; 2. Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas 3.9; 3. (tie) Justice Johnson, Bismarck, N.D. and Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala. 4.0 each; 5. Cody Pratt, Pueblo, Colo. 4.1; 6. Jacob D Edler, Dacoma, Okla. 4.3.

 

Average

1. Tee Burress, Piedmont, S.D. 8.1 seconds on 2 head; 2. Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas 8.7; 3. J.D. Struxness, Milan, Minn. 9.0; 4. (tie) Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala. and Jon Herl, Goodland, Kan. 9.4 each; 6. Kody Woodward, Dupree, S.D.  9.5.

 

Tie-down roping – 2018 co-champions: Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla. and Cody Huber, Albia, Iowa

1^st go-round

1. Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif. 8.3 seconds; 2. (tie) Lane Livingston, Seymour, Texas and Cody Huber, Albia, Iowa, 8.4 each; 4. Stetson Vest, Childress, Texas 8.8; 5. Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas 8.9; 6. Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla. 9.0.

 

2^nd go-round

1. Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas 8.1 seconds; 2. Randall Carlisle, Athens, La. 8.4;  3. (tie) Joey Dickens, Loveland, Colo. and Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. 8.5 each;

5. (tie) Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla. and Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash. 8.6 each.

 

Average

1. (tie) Cody Huber, Albia, Iowa and Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla. 18.1 on 2 head; 3. Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla. 18.6; 4. Jordan Ketscher, Squaw Valley, Calif. 18.8; 5. Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash. 18.9; 6. Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas 19.2.

 

Saddle bronc riding – 2018 champion:  Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas

1. Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas 86.5 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo Co.’s Nutrena’s Ole Flame; 2. Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D. 85.5; 3. (tie) Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla. 81 and Leon Fountain, Socorro, N.M. 81 each; 5. (tie) Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Fla., Dalton Davis, Holcomb, Kan. and Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. 80 each; 8. (tie) Dawson Dahm, Lane Wimberly, Belen, N.M. and Taygen Schuelke, 79 each.

 

Team roping – 2018 champions: Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla. and Chase Boekhaus, Rolla, Kansas

1. Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla./Chase Boekhaus, Rolla, Kan. 4.4 seconds; 2. Mason Boettcher, East Bernard, Texas/Ty Arnold, Midway, Texas 5.0; 3. Corey Whinnery, Powderhorn, Colo./Robert Murphey, Congress, Ariz. 5.2; 4. (tie) Jake Orman, Prairie, Miss./Will Woodfin, Marshall, Texas and Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb./Dustin Harris, O’Neill, Neb. 5.3 each; 6. (tie) Jr Dees, Aurora, S.D./Quincy Opela, Stapleton, Neb. and Cooper White, Hershey, Neb./Tucker White, Hershey, Neb., 5.4 each; 8. Jesse Stipes, Salina, Okla./Jake Smith, Broken Bow, Okla. 5.5.

 

Barrel racing – 2018 champion: Kelly Bruner, Millsap, Texas

1. Kelly Bruner, Millsap, Texas 17.41 seconds; 2. Emily Miller, Weatherford, Okla. 17.47; 3. Taci Bettis, Round Top, Texas 17.50; 4. Shelby Janssen, Coleman, Okla. 17.58; 5. Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D. 17.69; 6. Erin Williams, Moorcraft, Wyo. 17.71; 7. (tie) Jennifer Hiler, Greeley, Colo. and Ali Armstrong, Lexington, Okla. 17.77 each; 9. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo., Colo. 17.78; 10. Jody McKay, Red Oak, Okla. 17.82; 11. Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Teas 17.84; 12. Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo. 17.85.

 

Bull riding – 2018 champion: Jeston Mead, Holcomb, Kansas

1. Jeston Mead, Holcomb, Kan. 85 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo Co.’s Roll Tide; 2. Kenan Isbell, Gatesville, Texas 84; 3. Elijah Mora, Wiggins, Colo. 83; 4. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah 82.5;  5.Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla. 82; 6. Bart Miller, Pleasanton, Neb. 79.5; 7. Tyler Bingham, Honeyville, Utah 79; 8. Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah 68.

 

** All results are unofficial.