HASTINGS, NEB. (June 17, 2018) – The Nebraska High School Rodeo season wrapped up last weekend with the high school finals in Hastings at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Rodeo athletes from across the Cornhusker State competed in two go-rounds on June 14-15 and the short go-round on June 16. The top four contestants in each of twelve events were determined, and they will go on to compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyo., July 15-21.

 

Champions from the 2018 Finals are: Trey Seevers, North Platte, bareback riding; Grant Turek, St. Paul, tie-down roping; Sage Miller, Springview, saddle bronc riding; Jaylee Simonson, Dunning, pole bending; Sage Konicek, Ord, boys cutting; Bayli Bilby, Chadron, girls cutting; Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo., goat tying; Danielle Wray, Ord, breakaway roping; Marshall Still, Oconto, steer wrestling; Cauy Pokorny, Stapleton, and Clay Holz, Niobrara, team roping; Bailey Witt, Valentine, barrel racing; Conner Halverson, Gordon, bull riding; Colten Storer, Sutherland, reined cow horse; Jack Skavdahl, Marsland, trap shooting; and Ralph Saults, Big Springs, rifle shooting.

 

The girls year-end all-around award went to Bailey Witt of Valentine, with the reserve all-around to Jaylee Simonson of Dunning. The boys year-end all-around winner was Chase Miller, Broken Bow, and the reserve all-around went to Colten Storer, Sutherland. Girls rookie of the year was Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo., and the boys rookie of the year was Clay Holz, Niobrara. The 2018 Nebraska High School Rodeo queen title was awarded to Joscelyn Soncksen, Lexington.

 

The following are highlights of a few of the champions.

 

Steer wrestling champion Marshall Still, Oconto

Marshall Still ended his high school rodeo career with a championship at the Nebraska High School Finals Rodeo.

 

The nineteen-year old cowboy entered the finals in second place but took advantage of opportunities to win the year-end title. “It was one of those deals that I knew I had a shot at it, but I just had to make good runs to get through it. Everything worked out all right.”

 

This is the fourth time Still has qualified for the state finals but the first time he will go on to the National High School Finals Rodeo. He also competed in the team roping at state.

 

In addition to high school rodeo, Still competes in youth events like the Ote Berry Junior Steer Wrestling World Championships, where he is ranked in the top five. Still competed at the Junior National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas last December and hopes to qualify again this year.

 

A graduate of Callaway High School, he played football, basketball and wrestled, was part of the one acts, quiz bowl, speech, FFA, and a member of the National Honor Society.

 

This fall he will attend McCook (Neb.) Community College, competing collegiately and with the goal of earning his art education degree. He enjoys painting with water color and acrylics.

 

He is the son of Richard and Brenda Still.

 

Barrel racing champion Bailey Witt, Valentine

Bailey Witt had the best year of high school rodeo she’s ever had. She held the lead for much of the year. “The competition in the barrel racing in Nebraska was really, really tough,” she said. “We just had a great, great year.”

 

By “we”, Bailey includes her horse, Gus, a ten-year-old sorrel gelding. Horses are an integral part of the barrel racing, and Gus made a difference for his rider. “Running barrels on him is so amazing,” Witt said. “Every time I come out of the arena, I’m out of breath. He’s hard to ride, but at the same time, he’s fun.”

 

Keeping Gus healthy this year was key to Bailey’s success. “He’s been feeling his best. In the past few years, we’ve struggled with him being sore and having injuries. This year we were both one hundred percent, and we got on a roll.” Bailey also breakaway ropes on the horse, which the family has owned since he was two years old.

 

This is Bailey’s third year of state finals qualification. Last year, she finished fourth at state, qualifying her to go on to Nationals. Because Gus wasn’t at the top of his game, she didn’t do well there. She has a game plan for this year. “We’re just going to keep riding, getting him in the best shape he can be and making sure he’s feeling good. Then we’ll put three good runs together.”

 

Bailey will be a senior at Valentine High School this fall. She plays basketball and is involved in FFA, student council, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

 

This summer, she will compete at the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Oklahoma and at Nebraska State Rodeo Association and Mid-States Rodeo Association rodeos.

 

She is the daughter of John and Michele Wit.

 

Tie-down roping champion Grant Turek, St . Paul

Last year, Grant Turek won the high school tie-down roping title, and he did it again last weekend in Hastings.

 

The seventeen-year-old cowboy led the standings for most of the year and made two good runs at state, winning first place in the first round and fourth place in the second round. He missed his calf in the short round, but had enough points amassed to hang on to the title.

 

This year was a tougher year for him than last year. His horse died at the end of the fall rodeo season, so he and his family had to purchase a new one for the spring. He and the new horse, an eleven-year-old sorrel gelding, “clicked,” he said. “It worked out good.”

 

At nationals last year, Grant finished the year twentieth in the nation.

 

He will be a senior at St. Paul High School this fall. He plays basketball and is involved in FFA and student council. He is also a member of the National Honor Society.

 

Grant is the son of Jeff and Sheila Turek.

 

Pole bending champion Jaylee Simonson, Dunning

Jaylee Simonson is the 2018 pole bending champion for the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association.

 

The eighteen-year-old cowgirl, a resident of Dunning, won the first round, knocked over a pole in the second round, and placed fifth in the short round to win the title.

 

She has qualified for state finals all four years of her high school career, but this will be her first trip to nationals.

 

She rode a horse leased from Jim Sybrant who has been ridden by four previous high school pole bending cowgirls. The horse, Snoop, is 21 years old and “knows his job,” she said. She is grateful to the Sybrants for the opportunity to ride the horse, who started his life as a ranch horse before being trained for the pole bending.

 

A 2018 graduate of Sandhills High School in Dunning, Jaylee was involved in volleyball, basketball, FFA, FBLA, one-acts, and the National Honor Society.

 

This fall she will attend Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo., where she will compete in the breakaway roping and barrel racing and major in ag business.

 

Jaylee also competed at state finals in the barrel racing and goat tying.

 

She is the daughter of J.W. and Cindy Simonson.

 

Rifle Shooting champion Ralph Saults, Big Springs

Ralph Saults was surprised by his win in the rifle shooting at the state finals in Hastings.

 

He knew the other competitors were tough, and he knew he could shoot well, but he wasn’t sure how things would turn out. “The others behind me are pretty good, dead-eyes, too,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if I’d even place with all the competition I had. It was kind of a surprise. I didn’t know I was going to do so well.”

 

The seventeen-year-old cowboy gets plenty of practice shooting. He loves to hunt nearly anything, from deer to coyotes to prairie dogs, but his favorites are waterfowl: geese and ducks. This is the third time he has qualified for state finals, but his first time to go to nationals. He has a plan: “have fun and try my best.”

 

Ralph will be a junior at South Platte High School this fall. He plays basketball and is involved in FFA, quiz bowl, and is a member of the National Honor Society. In addition to rifle shooting, he competed in the tie-down and team roping in Hastings as well.

 

He is the son of Scott and Jill Saults.

 

For complete results, visit http://www.hsrodeo-nebraska.com/results. For more information on the state finals and national finals, www.hsrodeo-nebraska.com, and www.nhsra.com.

 

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Nebraska High School Qualifiers for the 2018 National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming July 15-21.

 

Bareback riding:

Champion: Trey Seevers, North Platte

2. Gauge McBride, Kearney

3. Jared Schultis, Tryon

 

Boys cutting:

Champion: Sage Konicek, Ord

2. Colten Storer, Sutherland

3. Ty Bass, Brewster

4. Chase Miller, Broken Bow

Alternate – Wacey Flack, Maywood

 

Girls cutting:

Champion: Bayli Bilby, Chadron

2. Concey Bader, Palmer

3. Brook Bushhousen, St. Libory

4. Alexis Rutar, Springview

Alternate – Ashton Troyer, West Point

 

Bull riding: Conner Halverson, Gordon

2. Mason Ward, North Platte

3. Dodge Daniels, Scotia

4. BJ McAbee, Ansley

Alternate – Ben Wood, Greeley

 

Goat tying:

Champion: Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo.

2. Emily Knust, Verdigre

3. Jessica Stevens, Creighton

4. Britney Brosius, Ashby

Alternate – Bailey Witt, Valentine

 

Tie-down roping

Champion: Grant Turek, St. Paul

2. Kurtis Palmer, Madison

3. Tanner Whetham, Morrill

4. Clayton Symons, Mitchell

Alternate – Chase Miller, Broken Bow

 

Saddle bronc riding

Champion: Sage Miller, Springview

2. Gus Franzen, Kearney

3. Jack Skavdahl, Marsland

4. Trey Seevers, North Platte

Alternate – Garrett Long, North Platte

 

Barrel racing

Champion: Bailey Witt, Valentine

2. Sydney Adamson, Cody

3. Shanna Bailey, Lakeside

4. Lexie Lowery, Burwell

Alternate – Reece Stanley, Sidney

 

Breakaway roping

Champion: Danielle Wray, Ord

2. Emily Knust, Verdigre

3. Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo.

4. Jentri Hulrburt, Arcadia

Alternate – Maddie Stump, Elsmere

 

Pole bending

Champion: Jaylee Simonson, Dunning

2. Riata Day, Fleming, Colo.

3. Halli Haskell, Ainsworth

4. Madison Mills, Eddyville

Alternate – Danielle Wray, Ord

 

Steer wrestling

Champion: Marshall Still, Oconto

2. Gus Franzen, Kearney

3. Talon Mathis, Atkinson

4. Chase Miller, Broken Bow

Alternate –Quade Potter, Cambridge

 

Team roping

Champions: Cauy Pokorny, Stapleton, and Clay Holz, Niobrara

2. Cameron Jensen, Bingham, and Tanner Whetham, Morrill

3. Gus Franzen, Kearney, and Tomas Margritz, Lexington

4. Ty Chasek, Mitchell, and Clayton Symons, Mitchell

Alternates: Grant Lindsley, Osceola, and Nathan Poss, Scotia

 

Reined cow horse

Champion: Colten Storer, Sutherland

2. Cadell Brunsch

3. Ty Bass, Brewster

4. Kaine Stokey, Sutherland

Alternate  Faith Storer, Sutherland

 

Trap Shooting

Champion: Jack Skavdahl, Marsland

2. Keo Wever

3. Faith Simon, Burwell

4. Hannah Simon, Burwell

Alternate – Brecken Preitaur, Stamford

 

Rifle Shooting

Champion: Ralph Saults, Big Springs

2. Sam Florell, Kearney

3. Andrea Meyer, Stapleton

4. Caleb Smith, Broken Bow

Alternate – Jaycee Wooters, Elwood

 

North Platte, Neb. (June 14, 2018) – Tie-down roper Randall Carlisle made his first trip to the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte on Thursday, and he hopes he’s making a fresh start.

 

The Athens, Louisiana cowboy made an 8.4 second run to take the lead in the second round.

 

The two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) qualifier has had some bad luck lately, not drawing well and not winning any money. The calves tie down ropers compete on are drawn randomly by their ear tag number, and lately Carlisle’s haven’t been the best pick of the herd. “I’ve had too many kickers or something always happens,” he said. His run in North Platte “finally broke the ice. I am pretty happy. I’m thankful to have a good calf.”

 

Carlisle and his traveling partner Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, met in North Platte at the rodeo; they’ll travel together for the next several months, during the busy rodeo season. After competing in slack on Thursday morning, they headed to Reno, Nev. to compete at the rodeo there on Saturday morning. After that, they turn the rig north for rodeos in Wainwright and Sundre, Alberta. Then they will fly to Greeley, Colo. for the Greeley Stampede June 22 through July 4. Their rig and three of their horses will head towards rodeos in Prescott, Ariz. and Pecos, Texas, while they compete on another horse that was driven to Greeley from North Platte in a second rig. Then it’s up to Cody, Wyo. Carlisle estimated they will make nineteen competition runs in six days over the busy July Fourth holiday. Solomon has a driver who helps; Carlisle’s girlfriend helps drive as well. He loves the competition, but not the driving. “Other than that, it’s good,” he said. Rodeo is “better than having a day job. You get to see a lot of country.”

 

Carlisle is ranked thirty-third in the PRCA world standings; his traveling partner Solomon is ranked eleventh.

 

Other leaders from Thursday’s slack and performance are bareback rider Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. (80 points); steer wrestler Justice Johnson, Bismarck, N.D. (4.0 seconds), and team ropers Brian Dunning, McClave, Colo., and Tad Sheets, Goodland, Kan. (6.3 seconds). Saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., had the high score for the night; his 80 points sits second overall. Barrel racer Taci Bettis, Round Top, Texas had a time of 17.50 seconds to be the fast time for the night. Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla. scored 82 points to be the high score for the performance.

 

Night number three of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo takes place on Friday, June 15 at the Wild West Arena in North Platte. Tickets are available online at www.NebraskaLandDays.com, at the NLD office or at the gate.

 

– ### –

 

High scores and fast times from the second performance, June 14, 2018

North Platte, Nebraska – Buffalo Bill Rodeo

 

Bareback riding

1. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 80 points on Beutler and Son  Rodeo Co.’s Sure Motion; 2. Blake Smith, Zap, N.D. 79; no other qualified rides.

 

Steer wrestling

2^nd go-round

1. Justice Johnson, Bismarck, N.D. 4.0 seconds; 2. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah 5.4; 3. Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho 6.4; 4. Jason Thomas, Benton, Ark. 7.0.

 

Tie-down roping

2^nd go-round

1. Randall Carlisle, Athens, La. 8.4 seconds; 2. Joey Dickens, Loveland, Colo. 8.5; 3. Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla. 8.6; 4. Lane Livingston, Seymour, Texas 12.0.

 

Saddle bronc riding

1. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. 80 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo Co.’s Jack Knife; 2. Preston Burr, Stratford, Texas 77; 3. Roper Kiesner, Ripley, Okla. 72; 4. Rhett Fanning, Martin, S.D. 66.

 

Team roping

1. Brian Dunning, McClave, Colo./Tad Sheets, Goodland, Kan. 6.3 seconds; no other qualified runs.

 

Barrel racing

1. Taci Bettis, Round Top, Texas 17.50 seconds; 2. (tie) Jennifer Hiler, Greeley, Colo. and Ali Armstrong, Lexington, Okla. 17.77 each; 4. Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas 17.84.

 

Bull riding

1. Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla. 82 points on No. 124; 2. Colten Beaty, Seymour, Texas 65; no other qualified rides.

 

** All results are unofficial.

North Platte, Neb. (June 13, 2018) – Some of the best cowboy and cowgirl talent in the nation converge on North Platte each June for the annual Buffalo Bill Rodeo.

 

World champions and those in the top fifteen in the world standings will compete for over $100,000 over the four days of the rodeo, June 13-16.

 

But it was a weekend warrior who leads the steer wrestling after the first day of competition.

 

Steer wrestler Tee Burress, Piedmont, S.D., leads the pack of 86 steer wrestlers after competition on June 13 with a time of 3.6 seconds.

 

The 33-year-old cowboy has a wife, three kids and a business to run at home, so he chooses to rodeo on weekends.

 

He has competed at the North Platte rodeo six or eight times since he began rodeo, but the first time he came, it was in the bull riding.

 

He rode bulls for several years, switching over to the steer wrestling at age 21, “when I gained twenty pounds,” he joked.

 

Burress and his father Marty co-own a construction company, which gives them more freedom in their schedule. His dad ropes at local rodeos. “Dad likes to rope, so when he goes and ropes, I stay home,” Burress said, “and when I go and steer wrestle, he stays home. It works out good.”

 

Burress and his wife have a daughter, who is nine, and sons who are ages four and five. The boys love rodeo. “You can’t keep them away from the arena,” Burress said. “I suppose in another year or two, I’ll have to slow down more to take them to rodeos.” The boys aren’t looking to ride bulls, like their dad did. “Their mother has talked them out of bull riding. They’re talking about being steer wrestlers and ropers,” he said. “I keep telling them they can ride one of those (roping) steers, but they look at me funny. But that’s fine. They can do what they want.”

 

In the saddle bronc riding, it was a rematch between a cowboy and a bucking horse.

 

Oklahoma cowboy Hardy Braden, who won his event at the 2017 Buffalo Bill Rodeo, drew the same horse this year that he rode last year, Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Painted Desert.

 

Last year, he scored 86.5 points. This year, it was 81, good enough for the lead but probably not good enough to last through the next three nights of rodeo.

 

His eight second ride was a battle; the horse turned back towards the chutes instead of going straight out. “It’s a little harder for a bronc rider to spur when the horse is turning back. I was trying to stay off her head the best I could and stay in the saddle, but it was a fight towards the end.”

 

Last year was magical for Braden. He spent most of the rodeo season in the top 15 in the world standings and qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR). While in Las Vegas for ten days of the WNFR, he earned about $160,000, which he didn’t spend on frivolous things. “The government got a big chunk of it,” he said, “and we invested some of it.” He didn’t buy any more cattle for his herd; (“I have all the cows I can handle”) but he did buy a “toy,” a utility vehicle to be used around his ranch. “I could use it as a tax write-off,” he said. “I figured, why not?”

 

Braden is ranked twenty-fourth in the world standings; the top fifteen on September 30, the end of the rodeo year, go on to compete at the WNFR. He’s not concerned about his ranking; he knows the busiest and richest part of the rodeo season is about to start. “There’s still a lot of year left. The months of July, August and September are pretty nuts.” Braden knows qualifying a second time is “attainable. If things go right, and you can draw decent, it’s very attainable.” Drawing good horses to ride is the key. “It’s just trying to find a good dance partner.”

 

After the morning’s slack and the evening competition, other leaders are bareback rider Grant Denny, Minden, Nev. (81 points), tie-down roper Jordan Ketscher (8.3 seconds), team ropers Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla. and Chase Boekhaus, Rolla, Kan. (4.4 seconds), barrel racer Kelly Bruner, Millsap, Texas (17.41 seconds) and bull rider Kenan Isabell, Gatesville, Texas (84 points).

 

The 2019 Miss Rodeo Nebraska was crowned, with the title going to Eva Oliver of Merriman, Neb. The twenty-year-old cowgirl is a student at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, where she is studying veterinary technology. She will serve as lady in waiting until January 1, 2019, when she will begin her reign, and will represent the state at the 2019 Miss Rodeo America pageant in Las Vegas. She is the daughter of Chuck and Stacie Oliver. 

 

The second of four nights of rodeo takes place Thursday, June 14 at 8 pm. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show awareness of breast cancer, and proceeds will be donated to the Callahan Cancer Center in North Platte. Tickets are available at www.NebraskalandDays.com  and at the gate.

 

The results from the first day are below (note all results are unofficial): 

 

Results, 1^st Performance and slack, June 13, 2018.

North Platte, Nebraska – Buffalo Bill Rodeo

 

Bareback riding

1. Grant Denny, Minden, Nev. 81 points on Shattered Dream; 2. Justin Pollmiller, Weatherford, Okla. 75; no other qualified rides.

 

Steer wrestling

First go-round results

1. Tee Burress, Piedmont S.D. 3.6 seconds; 2. Jon Herl, Goodland, Kan. 3.9; 3. (tie) Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La. and Cyler Dowling, Newell, S.D. 4.0 each.

 

Tie-down roping

First go-round results (the first go-round was completed with tonight’s performance)

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

 

Saddle bronc riding

1. Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla. 81 points on Painted Desert; 2. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Fla. 80; 3. (tie) Taygen Schuelke, Newell, S.D. and Dawson Dahm, Tomahawk, Calif. 79 each.

 

Team roping

1. Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla./Chase Boekhaus, Rolla, Kan. 4.4 seconds; 2. Jake Orman, Prairie, Miss./Will Woodfin, Marshall, Texas 5.3; 3. Jr Dees, Aurora, S.D./Quincy Opela, Stapleton, Neb. 5.4; 4. Cole Cooper, Sheridan, Wyo./JC Flake, Mesa, Ariz.

 

Barrel racing

1. Kelly Bruner, Millsap, Texas 17.41 seconds; 2. Shelby Janssen, Coleman, Okla. 17.5; 3. Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo. 17.85; 4. Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi, Victoria, Texas 18.26.

 

Bull riding

1. Kenan Isabell, Gatesville, Texas 84 points on Classic Tide; no other qualified rides.

 

** All results are unofficial.

Indianapolis, In – The College Football landscape just was changed with a stroke of the pen on June 13.

From NCAA.com:

College athletes competing in Division I football can participate in up to four games in a season without using a season of competition, the Division I Council decided this week at its meeting in Indianapolis.

Division I student-athletes have five years to compete in up to four seasons of competition. The new exception allows football players to preserve a season of competition if, for example, injuries or other factors result in them competing in a small number of games.

Council chair Blake James, athletics director at Miami (Florida), said the rule change benefits student-athletes and coaches alike.

“This change promotes not only fairness for college athletes, but also their health and well-being. Redshirt football student-athletes are more likely to remain engaged with the team, and starters will be less likely to feel pressure to play through injuries,” James said. “Coaches will appreciate the additional flexibility and ability to give younger players an opportunity to participate in limited competition.”

The proposal was tabled in April over questions about timing, the number of games and potential application to other sports. To mitigate one concern, the Council adopted noncontroversial legislation to specify that midyear enrollees who participate in postseason football competition that occurs before or during the student-athlete’s first term at a school cannot use the exception.

Several representatives of different governance groups reiterated concerns that caused the proposal to be tabled in April. The Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee will examine how a similar concept could be applied to other sports, including what number of games would be appropriate. In its review, the committee will consult with the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Both the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision representatives on the Council adopted both rules. They are effective for the 2018-19 football season.

Basically giving football players a safety blanket.

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Jeff Thurman as the new head women’s basketball coach.

Thurman, a native of Abingdon, Ill., played collegiate basketball at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Ill., from 2005 – 07.  Following his playing days, Thurman stayed on at Carl Sandburg College as an assistant coach from 2007 – 15 on the men’s basketball team.  In 2016, he was named head women’s basketball coach at Black Hawk East College in Galva, Ill., which he finished with a record of 23-8.  After one season, the college dropped all athletic teams.

Thurman went to graduate school at Western Illinois University and was on the staff as a graduate assistant and the video coordinator.  He received his Master of Science-Sports Management in 2017.

 During the 2017-18 season, Thurman went back to Carl Sandburg College and was a recruiting coordinator and academic advisor.  He also helped coach the men’s basketball team.

 Thurman said, “I really don’t have a specific style of play.  I kind of just mold it around the players I have each year.”

 Thurman said, “We will play hard, and we will execute.  That is one thing I hang my hat on is effort and execution.  Being in the right spot at the right time, just doing the things that are necessary to be successful on and off the floor as well.

 Thurman said that as a player he liked to get out and shoot the three. My teams are the same way, I like to shoot the three ball from players one to five, all the way down to players 12-15 are expected to be able to shoot the three at a high percentage.

 Thurman said that in recruiting, he doesn’t recruit a style of individual, but high character individuals. They have to be great people, great students, wanting to learn in the classroom, on the floor.

Community outreach is important for Thurman.

 Thurman said, “It is key for the student athlete to get out into the community and myself to get out into the community and build that community support for our athletic program and our athletic department, and it starts with me.”

 “I love to recruit in the community and surrounding area.  Getting student athletes to stay in the community and giving back to the community,” Thurman said. “I will recruit no matter where. I’m in the midst of recruiting all over the place, trying to find student athletes who will fit what we are looking for in building a program.”

One of the factors is drawing Thurman to North Platte is the campus.

“The small campus feel with large opportunities for students and the support,” Thurman said. “I was only there a short time, and everybody was welcoming. The small class sizes and being able to build the program to what the North Platte community and the institution expects of the program.”

 “Winning is what we are here for, winning basketball games, a region championship and a district championship,” Thurman said. “Realistically, it is going to be a process. I want to build the program back to the successful tradition of the past and build upon that.”

 Another goal of Thurman is to get all the student athletes under his tutelage to graduate and move on to a four- year school.

Thurman said, “Academics are a huge part of my overall philosophy, overall sentiment as a coach is being a great student, graduating with an associates and moving on to a four year.”

 Thurman said, “My family and I are excited to join the North Platte Community College family and the community as well. I want to thank Dr. Tomanek, Coach O’Connor and the whole hiring committee for giving me this unbelievable opportunity and showing the confidence in me. I do look forward to working with the team to bring a new era, a new everything to the women’s program here at North Platte. The family and I are ready to get started on July 2.”

 Thurman will also serve as the assistant activities coordinator in North Platte.

Hastings, Neb.  (June 10, 2018) The entry list has been set for the Nebraska State High School Finals Rodeo, to be held in Hastings June 14-16 at the Adams County Fairgrounds.

Nearly 150 high school rodeo athletes will compete in twelve events. The top four competitors in each event at the state level will earn a berth at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Rock Springs, Wyo., July 15-21, where national champions will be crowned in each event.

Included in the contestant list are North Platte residents Trey Seevers, who enters finals first in the bareback riding and third in the saddle bronc riding, and Mason Ward, who leads the bull riding and will also participate in the boys cutting.

Sutherland sends three contestants to finals: Colten Storer (boys cutting, team roping, tie-down roping and steer wrestling), Faith Storer (breakaway roping and girls cutting) and Kaine Stokey (boys cutting and bull riding).

Wallace’s Ansley Brown will compete in the pole bending.

The twelve events include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending, barrel racing, boys cutting, girls cutting, and bull riding.

The Finals, the culmination of 28 regular season rodeos, will be held at 10 am and 6 pm on June 14-15, with the short round on June 16 at 1 pm. After Thursday and Friday’s performances, the top ten contestants in each event will advance to the short round on June 16. The cutting will be held at 7:30 am on June 14-15, with the short round at 8 am on June 16. The 2018-2019 Miss Nebraska High School Rodeo Queen will be crowned prior to the performance on June 16.  For more information, visit www.AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com or call 402.462.3247. For information on the Nebraska State High School Rodeo Association, visit www.hsrodeo-nebraska.com.

Qualifying high school rodeo contestants for the 2018 Nebraska State High School Finals Rodeo (list and ranking of student athlete subject to change; hometown is in Nebraska unless specified):

Bareback Riding

1. Trey Seevers, North Platte
2. Gauge McBride, Kearney
3. Jared Schultis, Tryon

Barrel Racing

1. Bailey Witt, Valentine
2. Lexie Lowery, Burwell
3. Sydney Adamson, Cody
4. Reece Stanley, Sidney
5. Mable McAbee, Ansley
6. Madison Stracke, Stuart
7. Madison Mills, Eddyville
8. Jaylee Simonson, Dunning
9. Shanna Bailey, Lakeside
10. Brooke Becker, Hastings
11. Brooke McCully, Mullen
12. Adeline Hobbs, Mitchell
13. Danielle Wray, Ord
14. Hadley Teut, Lincoln
15. Mataya Eklund, Valentine
16. Sheyenne Hammond, Valentine
17. Taya McMillen, Lodgepole
18. Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo.
19. Brooklyn Leach, Dunning
20. Ashlyn Jensen, Burwell
21. Riata Day, Fleming, Colo.
22. Brieann Schipporeit, Ainsworth
23. Elle Ravensroft, Nenzel
24. Hanna Huffman, Burwell
25. Taryn Underwood, Crawford
26. Lauren Lehl, Alliance
27. JoSee Saults, Big Springs
28. Anna Esch, Spalding
29. Jadyn Ross, Harrisburg
30. Tallyn Simpson, Maxwell
31. Payton Gorwill, Hyannis

(there are 31 contestants because Tallyn and Payton are tied for 30^th place)

 

Boys Cutting

1. Sage Konicek, Ord
2. Ty Bass, Brewster
3. Wacey Flack, Maywood
4. Colten Storer, Sutherland
5. Chase Miller, Broken Bow
6. Kaine Stokey, Sutherland
7. Hayden Jennings, Seneca
8. Mason Ward, North Platte

Breakaway Roping

1. Emily Knust, Verdigre
2. Danielle Wray, Ord
3. Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo.
4. Mable McAbee, Ansley
5. Sydney Adamson, Cody
6. Brooke McCully, Mullen
7. Jentri Hurlburt, Arcadia
8. Riata Day, Fleming, Colo.
9. Elle Ravenscroft, Nenzel
10. Bailey Witt, Valentine
11. Maddie Stump, Elsmere
12. Aluxyn Hollenbeck, Valentine
13. Hadley Teut, Lincoln
14. Brooke Becker, Hastings
15. Ashley Odenbach, Taylor
16. Andrea Meyer, Stapleton
17. Mataya Eklund, Valentine
18. Joscelyn Soncksen, Lexington
19. Talli Pokorny, Bartlett
20. Britney Brosius, Ashby
21. Faith Storer, Sutherland
22. Jaya Nelson, Bassett
23. Raesha Warren, Thedford
24. Tehya From, Crookston
25. Shailey McAbee, Hyannis
26. Clare Kohl, Surprise
27. Maddie Meidell, Harrison
28. Calli Bauer, Arcadia
29. Lexie Lowery, Burwell
30. Morgan Darnell, Gordon

Bull Riding

1. Mason Ward, North Platte
2. Conner Halverson, Gordon
3. BJ McAbee, Ansley
4. Dodge Daniels, Scotia
5. Ben Wood, Greeley
6. Teran Sharman, Palmer
7. Reid Helgoth, Burwell
8. Jared Shaw, Bassett
9. Kaine Stokey, Sutherland
10. Clayton Miller, Ord

Girls Cutting

1. Bayli Bilby, Chadron
2. Concey Bader, Palmer
3. Brook Bushhousen, St. Libory
4. Ashton Troyer, West Point
5. Alexis Rutar, Springview
6. Kesha DeGroff, Broken Bow
7. Maddie Stump, Elsmere
8. Faith Storer, Sutherland

Goat Tying

1. Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo.
2. Riata Day, Fleming, Colo.
3. Emily Knust, Verdigre
4. Jessica Stevens, Creighton
5. Britney Brosius, Ashby
6. Bailey Witt, Valentine
7. Jaylee Simonson, Dunning
8. Mataya Eklund, Valentine
9. Talli Pokorny, Bartlett
10. Hadley Teut, Lincoln
11. Joscelyn Soncksen, Lexington
12. Raesha Warren, Thedford
13. Andrea Meyer, Stapleton
14. Gracie Pokorny, Bartlett
15. Hanna Huffman, Burwell
16. Aluxyn Hollenbeck, Valentine
17. Katie Miles, Arthur
18. Mable McAbee, Ansley
19. Elle Ravenscroft, Nenzel
20. Avery Hobbs, Mitchell
21. Hope Brosius, Ashby
22. Rylee Naprstek, Gothenburg
23. Shanna Bailey, Lakeside
24. Jordan Peterson, Arthur
25. Ally Micheel, Sargent
26. Brooklyn Leach, Dunning

Pole Bending

1. Jaylee Simonson, Dunning
2. Madison Mills, Eddyville
3. Halli Haskell, Ainsworth
4. Riata Day, Fleming, Colo.
5. Danielle Wray, Ord
6. Ashlyn Jensen, Burwell
7. Mataya Eklund, Valentine
8. Lauren Lehl, Alliance
9. Lexie Lowery, Burwell
10. Adeline Hobbs, Mitchell
11. Gracie Pokorny, Bartlett
12. Jordan Peterson, Arthur
13. Brooke McCully, Mullen
14. Bailey Witt, Valentine
15. Madison Stracke, Stuart
16. Ashley Odenbach, Taylor
17. Hanna Huffman, Burwell
18. Ansley Wood, Wallace
19. Shailey McAbee, Hyannis
20. Reece Stanley, Sidney
21. Shanna Bailey, Lakeside
22. Samantha Schemper, Holdrege
23. Andrea Meyer, Stapleton
24. Elle Ravenscroft, Nenzel
25. Britney Brosius, Ashby
26. Brooklyn Leach, Dunning
27. Taya McMillen, Lodgepole
28. Anna Esch, Spalding
29. Sheyenne Hammond, Valentine

Saddle Bronc Riding

1. Sage Miller, Springview
2. Gus Franzen, Kearney
3. Trey Seevers, North Platte
4. Garrett Long, North Platte
5. Brody McAbee, Ansley
6. Jack Skavdahl, Marsland
7. Nathan Burnett, Shelton
8. Samuel Florell, Kearney
9. Dalton Kunkee, Lexington
10. Tyce Stoner, Kilgore

Steer Wrestling

1. Talon Mathis, Atkinson
2. Marshall Still, Oconto
3. Chase Miller, Broken Bow
4. Tyler Ravenscroft, Nenzel
5. Gus Franzen, Kearney
6. Blake Henry, Rushville
7. Cauy Pokorny, Stapleton
8. Quade Potter, Cambridge
9. Sage Miller, Springview
10. Tanner Whetham, Morrill
11. Evan Hewett, Dunning
12. Zeb Heggem, Torrington, Wyo.
13. Clayton Symons, Mitchell
14. Colten Storer, Sutherland
15. Dalton Kunkee, Lexington
16. Jackson Davis, Bingham
17. Clay Holz, Niobrara
18. Weston Kunkee, Lexington
19. Rhett Witt, Valentine
20. Parker Johnston, Maywood
21. Ty Chasek, Mitchell
22. Trayton Travnicek, Minatare
23. Colt Hesseltine, Halsey

Team Roping

1. Cauy Pokorny, Stapleton
2. Clay Holz, Niobrara
3. Grant Lindsley, Osceola
4. Nathan Poss, Scotia
5. Cameron Jensen, Bingham
6. Tanner Whetham, Morrill
7. Danielle Wray, Ord
8. Ralph Saults, Big Springs
9. Tomas Margritz, Lexington
10. Gus Franzen, Kearney
11. Ty Chasek, Mitchell
12. Merit Van Horn, Page
13. Ty Bass, Brewster
14. Mitchell Tucker, North Platte
15. Tee Whited, Lincoln
16. Clayton Symons, Mitchell
17. Colten Storer, Sutherland
18. Kurtis Palmer, Madison
19. Sage Konicek, Ord
20. Blaine Flack, Crawford
21. Lane Chasek, Mitchell
22. Talon Mathis, Atkinson
23. Calli Bauer, Arcadia
24. Trey Garey, Broken Bow
25. Sean Miller, Callaway
26. Jentri Hurlburt, Arcadia
27. Brody Davis, Cody
28. Wyatt Colman, O’Neill
29. Cole Dwyer, Burwell
30. Chase Miller, Broken Bow
31. Ashley Odenbach, Taylor
32. Evan Hewett, Dunning
33. Grant Turek, St. Paul
34. Talon Petska, Ord
35. Sage  Miller, Springview
36. Quade Potter, Cambridge
37. Sheyenne Hammond, Valentine
38. Jackson Davis, Bingham
39. Hadley Teut, Lincoln
40. Andrew Koenig, Ewing
41. Cody Fosket, Mitchell
42. Morgan Darnell, Gordon
43. Brody McAbee, Ansley
44. Cinch Heikel, Hazard
45. Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo.
46. Hunter Heath, Minden
47. Bailey Witt, Valentine
48. Rhett Witt, Valentine
49. Jake Chasek, Mitchell
50. Justin Chasek, Mitchell
51. Nathan Lancaster, Beatrice
52. Cameron Lancaster, Beatrice
53. Dalton Kunkee, Lexington
54. Mable McAbee, Ansley
55. BJ McAbee, Ansley
56. Cole Laible, Atkinson
57. Trent Marshall, Burwell
58. Maddie Stump, Elsmere
59. Payton Gorwill, Hyannis
60. Marshall Still, Oconto
61. Weston Kunkee, Lexington
62. Wacey Flack, Maywood

(there are 62 contestants because of ties)

Tie-Down Roping

1. Grant Turek, St. Paul
2. Mitchell Tucker, North Platte
3. Clayton Symons, Mitchell
4. Merit Van Horn, Page
5. Chase Miller, Broken Bow
6. Kurtis Palmer, Madison
7. Tanner Whetham, Morrill
8. Sean Miller, Callaway
9. Colton Storer, Sutherland
10. Talon Mathis, Atkinson
11. Cameron Jensen, Bingham
12. Gus Franzen, Kearney
13. Jake Chasek, Mitchell
14. Clay Holz, Niobrara
15. Sage Miller, Springview
16. Brody Davis, Cody
17. Grant Lindsley, Osceola
18. Cole Laible, Atkinson
19. Blaine Flack, Crawford
20. Justin Chasek, Mitchell
21. Rhett Witt, Valentine
22. Quade Potter, Cambridge
23. Ty Chasek, Mitchell
24. Kaden Wooters, Elwood
25. Ty Bass, Brewster
26. Ralph Saults, Big Springs
27. Sage Konicek, Ord
28. Jackson Davis, Bingham
29. Wacey Flack, Maywood
30. BJ McAbee, Ansley

North Platte – On Friday, North Platte Community College Vice- President Dr. Jody Tomanek has announced the hiring of Jeff Thurman as the new head coach for the North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team and Assistant Activities Coordinator.

Mr. Thurman will begin his duties on July 2.

More details to follow soon.

North Platte – This year will be the 12th annual Mid-Plains area All Star game. The rosters have been announced, we are still waiting on numbers and coaches

Boys Gold:

Colton Lovitt  – Brady
Christian Ramos  – North Platte
Tyler Heiss  – St. Pat’s
Ryan Fox  – Paxton
Hunter Potthoff  – McCook
Treyton Hebblethwaite  – Paxton
Mason McMeen  – Broken Bow
Paul White  – Maywood/Hayes Center
Dawson Helmer  – Paxton
Luke Christen  – Mullen
Zavion Mitchell  – North Platte

Boys Black:

Clayton Stevens  – McCook
Bryce Burry  – Bayard
Padyn Borders  – Broken Bow
Corbin Mironenko  – Arthur County
Wesley Wach  – Maywood/Hayes Center
Chaston Burgeson  – Southern Valley
Jeff Storer  – Paxton
Connor Dormann  – Sidney
Grant Edgecombe  – Minden
Cade Connell  – South Loup
Gary White III  – St. Pat’s
Tyler Johnson  – Hershey

Girls Gold:

Bailee Fear  – Sutherland
Kati Moore  – Cambridge
Ashlynn Schmaderer  – Kearney Catholic
Emily Arnold  – Amherst
Hope Stone  – Medicine Valley
Payje Misegadis  – Creek Valley
Cassi Bose  – Southern Valley
Rachel Lashley  – Medicine Valley
Sydney Wolken  – Hershey
Shaley Petersen  – Bayard
Grace Koubek  – Maywood/Hayes Center
Sami Mauch  – North Platte

Girls Black:

Jasmine Youngquist  – Hitchcock County
Hannah Nelson  – Wallace
Haylee Evans  – Medicine Valley
Maggie Earl  – Perkins County
Hannah Higgins  – Sandhills/Thedford
Mari Farr  – Medicine Valley
Madison Christophersen  – Brady
Samantha Schmid  – Creek Valley
Kyilee Elsten  – North Platte
Janessa Madsen  – Minden
Ansley Wood  – Wallace
Katy Hansen  – North Platte

 

Lincoln, Neb – The Huskers are going on tour, no this isn’t a bad joke or a PR stunt. Members from Husker football will be going around the state on a two-day blitz to let fans ask questions and meet the new coaching staff.

Below is a list of the events and times as well as who will be there.

GO BIG RED!

2018 Husker Nation Tour Presented by First National Bank

MONDAY, JUNE 11
STAFF	TOWN	TIME	LOCATION
Bill Moos, Scott Frost, Matt Davison	Scottsbluff Alliance	12:30 – 1:30 p.m. 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.	Gering Civic Center Newberry’s
Erik Chinander, Frank Verducci	Ogallala	5:30 – 7 p.m.	Open Range Grill
Troy Walters, Mike Dawson	Valentine	5:30 – 7 p.m.	Bolo Brewery & Tap Room

 

TUESDAY, JUNE 12
STAFF	TOWN	TIME	LOCATION
Erik Chinander, Frank Verducci	Imperial McCook Lexington	8:30 – 9:30 a.m. 1 – 2 p.m. 5 – 6 p.m.	Chase County Fair & Expo Coppermill Steakhouse LakeShore Marina Bar
Troy Walters, Mike Dawson	O’Neill Aurora Seward	8:30 – 9:30 a.m. 1 – 2 p.m. 4 – 5 p.m.	O’Neill Community Center Bremer Community Center Harvest Hall-County Fairgrounds
Jovan Dewitt, Ryan Held	Kearney Hastings Geneva York	8:30 – 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 3 – 4 p.m. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.	First National Bank (Downtown) Lochland Country Club Rialto Theater Holthus Convention Center
Sean Beckton, Barrett Ruud	Norfolk South Sioux City West Point Blair	9 – 10 a.m. 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. 3 – 4 p.m. 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.	Norfolk Country Club Hy-Vee Nielsen Community Center Woodhouse Auto Family
Travis Fisher, Mario Verduzco	Wahoo Fremont David City Beatrice	8:30 – 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 2 – 3 p.m. 5 – 6 p.m.	Hilltop Country Club Sid Dillon Chevrolet Par IV Restaurant & Lounge The Black Crow
Bill Moos, Greg Austin, Zach Duval	Falls City Auburn Plattsmouth Gretna	9 – 10 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. 5 – 6 p.m.	Pritchard Auditorium Arbor Manor Plattsmouth Community Center Spikers Sports & Spirits

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team has announced the signing of Courtney Murrell to a national letter of intent to play for the Knights in the 2018-19 season.

Murrell a 5’11 point guard from the Hebron High School Hawks in Carrolton, Texas averaged 19 points per game 4.0 assists per game and five rebounds per game.

Murrell was the Hawks offensive player of the year.  He was named to the Academic All-District team and the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All- Region Team.

Murrell, led the Hawks to a 22-10 overall record and 12-2 in District 5-6A play. The Hawks were the District 5-6A champions.

In an interview by Friday Night Glory on why he chose NPCC, Murrell said “I felt this was the best thingfor me and my family, and thought it was the best choice for me.”

Murrell joins fellow Texan, Da’May Jones from Houston, and Nebraskans Gary White III, from North Platte St. Patricks and Luke Christen from Mullen, as recruits tor the Knights in the 2018-19 season