James Green went 35-5 as a senior and led the team in technical falls with 10. (Courtesy Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations)
Madison, WI – Jordan Burroughs and James Green are set to compete in the U.S. Senior World Team Trials with Colton McCrystal competing in the UWW Junior World Team Trials, June 12-14 in Madison, WI.
Green and McCrystal will be competing in the Challenge Tournament at the Alliant Energy Center. The winner of the Challenge Tournament will go on to face the winner of the U.S. Open in the best-of-three finals to claim a spot on the world team. McCrystal, a Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, native compiled a 24-5 overall record as a redshirt freshman in the 2014-15 season. The UWW Junior Challenge Tournament will begin Friday at 9:00am. Green, a Willingboro, N.J., native went 35-5 in his final regular season at NU and went on to place third at the 2015 NCAA Championships.
Olympic Gold Medalist and and assistant coach Jordan Burroughs will sit in the best-of-three finals to wait to battle the winner of the Challenge Tournament. This event is the final qualifier for the Junior and Senior World Teams.
Lincoln – University of Nebraska Basketball Coach Tim Miles announced Monday that Anton Gill has transferred to the University of Nebraska and joined the Husker basketball program. Gill began classes at Nebraska on Monday, the first of two summer sessions at UNL.
Gill, who spent the previous two seasons at the University of Louisville, will sit out the 2015-16 season and have two years of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2016-17 campaign.
A 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard from Raleigh, N.C., Gill spent two seasons at Louisville, where he played in 55 career games for the Cardinals, who reached the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in his tenure. A former top-50 recruit out of Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy, Miles believes that Gill, who selected Nebraska over Georgetown and East Carolina, will provide the Huskers additional scoring punch when he becomes eligible.
“I’m excited to add Anton to our team,” Miles said. “He is a high-caliber player who has played in an elite program and understands the regimentation it takes for a program to be successful. As I have got to know him, I enjoy the way he puts thought into his game. He has an outstanding basketball IQ and pays attention to the game, and that is someone who has traditionally excelled in our system. He was a renowned scorer on the AAU circuit and at Hargrave Academy. We think he can be someone who can step in and be scoring threat who can replace Shavon Shields after he graduates next year.”
As a sophomore, he played in 31 games, helping Louisville to a 27-9 record and a berth in the Elite Eight in 2014-15. He averaged 2.5 points and 0.7 rebounds per game in just under 10 minutes per contest. Gill posted a pair of double-figure efforts in 2014-15, including a career-high 15 point effort against Florida International and had 14 points, including a career-high four 3-pointers, in a win over Florida State. Gill also had seven points and a pair of steals in the final six minutes of Louisville’s East Regional semifinal win over North Carolina State, including the go-ahead basket with 5:55 remaining. As a freshman, he played in 24 game as a reserve for the Cardinals. In addition to his work on the court, Gill was named to the 2015 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Men’s Basketball team.
A consensus top-50 recruit, Gill averaged 28.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists for Hargrave Military Academy as a senior, including a school-record 56 point game and another 50-point effort, as the school went 38-8 on the season. He was a first-team all-state pick at Ravenscroft High School as a junior, averaging 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals to lead the program to a 31-4 record and the Class 3A North Carolina state championship.
Gill’s father, Anton, played basketball at East Carolina, earning first team All-Colonial Athletic Conference honors in 1995 and CAA All-Rookie team honors in 1992. He scored 1,485 points at ECU and ranks fifth on the Pirates’ all-time scoring list. Anton is the son of Anton and Shauntell Gill.
Gill’s Career Bests (at Louisville)
Rebounds
6 vs. Jacksonville St. (11/17/14)
Assists
3 vs. Cal State Northridge (12/23/14)
Blocks
1 (4 times), last vs. Syracuse (2/18/15)
Steals
4 vs. Savannah St. (11/24/14)
FGM
6 vs. Florida International (12/5/14)
FGA
10 vs. Florida International (12/5/14)
3FGM
4 vs. Florida State (2/28/15)
3FGA
5 vs. Houston (1/16/14); vs. Florida International (12/5/14)
FT
3 vs. Louisiana Lafayette (12/7/13)
FTA
4 vs. Louisiana Lafayette (12/7/13); vs. Minnesota (11/14/14)
The Heils: Mike, father Randy, and R.C. (from left to right), volunteer their time each year at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte. They work behind the scenes: and Randy running gates, and R.C. as the out-gate man, opening and closing the gate behind bucking horses and bulls.
North Platte, Neb. (June 8, 2015) – Randy Heil hasn’t missed a year of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo since he was thirteen years old in 1965.
The North Platte man began attending the rodeo as a kid, and then, in the early 1980s, began volunteering at it.
And his sons R.C. and Mike have followed in his footsteps.
It all began when Randy heard the committee could use a little help setting up the turn back fence, the panels set up in the arena during the bull riding to keep the bulls bucking close to the chutes. They are no longer used, but when they were, it took a lot of man power to set them up in a hurry so fans didn’t have to wait for the bull riding.
Randy volunteered, and soon R.C., who was a youngster, was helping, too. Terry Miller, R.C.’s mother, had been a trick rider so R.C. was familiar with rodeo, having traveled in the summers with her to rodeos where she trick rode.
R.C. was thirteen when he began helping his dad at the rodeo. And after the fence wasn’t used anymore, the Heils stayed on as volunteers, each helping in their own ways: Randy as the gate man for the entrance behind the chutes, R.C. as the out gate operator, where the bucking bulls and horses go after their ride, and Mike as the gate man for where the specialty act comes in and out of the arena. Mike also unties calves during the tie-down roping.
For R.C., as the out gate man, he’s in what can be a dangerous spot. Horses and bulls are bucking and running as they head to the out gate, and often a pickup man is behind them, sometimes with a rope around them. R.C. could get hurt if he’s not careful; he never has been, but “you’ve got to be paying attention,” he said. And there’s not a better place to watch the rodeo, he said. “The only people who have a better seat than me are (announcers) Randy Corley and Hadley Barrett.” He sees what the fans don’t see; what goes on once the horses and bulls are run through the stripping chutes and the bareback riggings, bronc saddles and bull ropes are removed. “There are a lot of things the fans don’t ever see. There can be some wrecks back there (behind the chutes).”
R.C. is quick to acknowledge his fellow volunteers who the fans never see, those behind the scenes running the stripping chute. “I have good help behind me. There are three other guys back there, and that helps. It’s a big team effort.”
Randy, who is 62, figures he has never missed a year of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo since 1965. He may not have made it to all four performances, but he’s made it to the rodeo at least once each of those years.
Even last year, as he was recovering from knee surgery, he didn’t miss the rodeo. “I went out there on crutches,” he said, “and stood up there against the fence, at the north end of the bucking chutes, where I’m usually at.”
The Buffalo Bill Rodeo is produced by volunteers, so the Heils know their time and efforts are appreciated, and they love being involved. “We know everybody, and every year we come and help and do whatever we can,” Randy said. Mike agrees. “You get to see friends you don’t get to see that often.”
The rodeo takes place June 17-20 at the Wild West Arena in North Platte. It begins at 8 pm each night, with tickets ranging in price from $7 to $20. Tickets can be purchased online at NebraskalandDays.com, at the NebraskalandDays office at its new location at 2801 Charlie Evans Drive (at the Wild West Arena), and at the gate. For more information, visit the website or call 308.532.7939.
GRETNA, Neb. (AP) — People who want to learn the basics of fly fishing are invited to attend Fly Fishing School on June 20 at Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium.
The six-hour class will be presented by the Cornhusker Fly Fishers, beginning at 9 a.m. It will cover casting, terminology, fly selection, catching fish, strategies, fish food and ethical handling and releasing of fish.
The cost is $15. Registration is required online at cornhuskerflyfishers.org.
The aquarium is situated at Schramm Park State Recreation Area, a few miles south of Interstate 80, Exit 432.
It was a busy weekend at Bill Wood Field in North Platte where the First Nationals hosted Laramie and Lincoln Southeast. On Saturday, North Platte Senior Legion lost both of their games, falling 7-3 to Lincoln Southeast in the early game and dropping a 14-6 decision vs. Laramie in the nightcap. Sunday started with another tough game for the Nats with a 5-3 loss to Lincoln Southeast. The First Nationals were able to salvage one game from the weekend with a 17-2 victory over Laramie in the final game on Sunday evening.
The North Platte First Nationals Junior Legion team played four games in Kearney over the weekend. On Friday night the First Nationals defeated Lincoln Southwest 10-3 before falling 8-4 against Lincoln Southeast on Saturday. The juniors split their two games on Sunday with an 8-4 loss to Creighton Prep before winning 10-2 over Omaha Gross to cap off the weekend.
Both teams are in action tonight at Bill Wood Field hosting Lexington in a make-up of a rain-out from earlier this season.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a solo home run with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting the Kansas City Royals over the Texas Rangers 4-3.
Perez hit his eighth homer, sending a pitch from Keone Kela (4-2) into the Royals’ bullpen.
Wade Davis (3-1) picked up the victory, working around Prince Fielder’s double in the eighth. Greg Holland pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 10 opportunities.
DENVER (AP) — Adeiny Hechavarria hit a two-out homer in the 10th inning, lifting the Miami Marlins to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
Hechavarria drove a slider from reliever Boone Logan (0-2) into the trees in straightaway center field. It was Hechavarria’s first homer since April 25.
Marcell Ozuna had a two-out, two-run single in the first inning to help the Marlins take two of three in the series.
Carlos Gonzalez tied the game at 2 in the seventh with a solo homer. The Rockies had a chance in the ninth with two outs and runners on first and second, but Sam Dyson (3-2) got pinch-hitter Ben Paulsen to ground out.
DENVER (AP) — Wilin Rosario homered twice and Carlos Gonzalez hit a three-run shot to back the solid pitching of Chris Rusin, and the Colorado Rockies shrugged off another rain delay at Coors Field to beat the Miami Marlins 10-5 Saturday.
Thunder showers delayed the game’s start for 71 minutes, the 13th time this season a game in Denver has been postponed or delayed by weather. Colorado has had a total of 15 hours, 40 minutes, of rain delays at home this season.
Once the weather cleared, the Rockies came out swinging, putting together a four-run inning in the first and a five-run inning in the fourth, when Rosario and Gonzalez teamed up to hit the first back to back home runs by the Rockies this season.
Rusin (2-0), claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs last September, allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings in winning for the first time in his last 10 starts dating to Aug. 14, 2013.
American Pharoah ended a record 37-year drought without a Triple Crown winner by soaring to victory in the Belmont Stakes on a historic Saturday in front of 90,000 cheering fans.
The brilliant 3-year-old colt seized the lead from the start and fought off every one of his seven challengers, and made no doubt he was worthy of Triple Crown glory by refusing to wilt in the final quarter-mile of the 1 1/2-mile “Test of the Champion.”
What a win for the record books. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert failed on three previous Triple Crown attempts, and jockey Victor Espinoza was 0 for 2 in Triple attempts, including last year with California Chrome.
A roar from the crowd went up as soon as American Pharoah came around the far turn, and it Belmont Park was rocking when the colt came barreling down the stretch.
American Pharoah, who won the Kentucky Derby on May 2 and the Preakness on May 16, won by 5 1/2 lengths over Frosted.
“He’s just a great horse,” Baffert said. “It takes a great horse to do it.”
The winning time was 2:26.65.
“I’m thrilled,” said Penny Chenery, the 93-year-old owner of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, who was in a private box at Belmont. To owner Ahmed Zayat, she said, “Welcome.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven strong innings and the Texas Rangers defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-2 Saturday for their seventh win in eight games.
Texas has won six straight series for the first time since 2012. The AL champion Royals have lost nine of 11.
Rodriguez (3-2), a 36-year-old lefty who signed with the Rangers in early April after Atlanta released him in spring training, gave up one run and six hits. He walked none and struck out four.
Yordano Ventura (3-5) continued to struggle early, allowing four runs in the first two innings.
