Sports – Page 343 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers Begin Holiday Bowl Practice

Posted on December 10, 2014

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team returned to the practice field for the first time in preparation for its Dec. 27 National University Holiday Bowl game in San Diego against the USC Trojans. The Huskers went through a 60-minute practice under the guidance of Interim Head Coach Barney Cotton.

Cotton met with media members following the conclusion of practice. Cotton mentioned that the team’s first practice back together was really good and upbeat.

“It was a good practice today, very high tempo, a lot of good energy and a good serious conditioning session after practice,” Cotton said. “Up-beat practice—proud of them today.”

According to Cotton, he has a pretty simple message for the team moving forward, four basic things that the team should live by for the next three weeks.

“I am basically telling them four things—honor God with your effort. Honor your teammates with your effort. Honor Coach Bo (Pelini) with your loyalty and love and support, along with your effort.” Cotton said. “And let’s reveal our character one last time in the Holiday Bowl.”

As for the response has been getting from the players, Cotton said that the team has been working extremely hard to get back into good physical health.

“I think it has been very good so far, staying in touch with Coach Dobson and checking down in the weight room, I have been getting good—better than good, great reviews from the weight room,” he said. “I have been stopping down in the training room, everyone is trying to get themselves healed up for the bowl game and we are encouraging the guys to finish strong academically.”

Cotton added, “It was nice to honor 21 Academic All-Big Ten guys, their teammates game them a big round of applause there after practice.”

The Nebraska football team will be back on the practice field Thursday afternoon in preparation for their Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl matchup against the USC Trojans. Kickoff between the Huskers and Trojans will be at 7p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPN.

Husker Wrestling Battles Badgers on Saturday

Posted on December 10, 2014

No. 8 Nebraska (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) returns home for its final dual of 2014 when the Huskers host Big Ten rival Wisconsin on Saturday at the Devaney Center at 6 p.m. (CT). The dual can be followed on TrackWrestling.com as well as on Twitter by following @HuskerWrestling.

NU enters the matchup after a sixth-place finish at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev., last weekend. Senior Robert Kokesh won the 174-pound title, while James Green (2nd at 157), Justin Arthur (4th at 149) and TJ Dudley (7th at 184) also placed for the Big Red. Following the competition, Kokesh ascended to No. 1 in the country at 174 pounds in every major NCAA wrestling poll.

The Huskers last competed in a dual on Nov. 22 when NU defeated Duke and NC State on the road. Nebraska opened the season with a road victory over No. 25 Wyoming and added a home win over Maryland at the NU Coliseum.

The Badgers are 3-1, with a 1-0 record in Big Ten competition. Saturday’s dual will mark the 18th meeting in series history, with Wisconsin holding a 9-6-2 advantage. Last season, NU emerged with a 22-15 triumph in Madison, Wis., on Feb. 21, 2014.

In addition to Nebraska’s placers in Las Vegas, Tim Lambert (125), Eric Montoya (133), No. 20 Anthony Abidin (141), No. 20 Austin Wilson (165) and No. 14 Collin Jensen are all projected to start this weekend. At 184 pounds, either TJ Dudley or Aaron Studebaker will start, while the Huskers could see Micah Barnes or Spencer Johnson at 197 pounds.

Thalken Remembered by Former Players

Posted on December 10, 2014

Ryan Purdy, president of Mid-Plains Community College, presents Thalken with a plaque for her service to NPCC. It was part of a retirement celebration for Thalken at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium Tuesday evening.

It was an emotional night for Sally Thalken.

“I can’t believe this,” Thalken said looking around at the people crammed into the Knights VIP room. “I wasn’t prepared for all this, but isn’t it fun?”

Thalken, who retired Nov. 30 after a 34-year career as head volleyball coach at North Platte Community College, was honored Tuesday night during halftime of the NPCC Knights men’s basketball game.

Ryan Purdy, president of Mid-Plains Community College, presented Thalken with a plaque for her service to NPCC, and Dwight Livingston, mayor, officially proclaimed Dec. 9 as “Sally Thalken Day” in North Platte.

Jody Tomanek, MPCC’s area vice-president of academic affairs, read a recognition letter sent to Thalken on behalf of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Members of the first team Thalken led to nationals announced they would purchase two bleacher seats in the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium’s “Knight’s Court” and name them after Thalken’s parents. The purchase is part of a campaign to replace the bleachers.

Sally Thalken waves to the crowd gathered in the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium Tuesday night. Her retirement celebration was attended by her family, friends and former players.

Although humbled and grateful for the accolades, it was the turnout for the reception that truly touched Thalken’s heart.

More than 100 of her former players attended the event to see old friends, share memories and, most importantly, pay tribute to the woman who will forever be a legend in their eyes.

“I love Sally. She’s a great lady,” said Renee Tatman, of North Platte. “I played basketball for her in 1981, and she looked as young as we did. She will always be ‘Coach’ to me. She taught my son, and he calls her ‘Coach,’ too. That’s just who she is – retiring or not.”

Carmen (Buckbee) Erickson, of North Platte, also played basketball for Thalken in ’81.

“It was an awesome experience,” Erickson said. “Sally wasn’t much older than us, which made her relatable. She was about 27, and we were 19. We all got really close.”

More recent players shared the same sentiment.

Kendra Nollette, of Hastings, played volleyball for Sally during the 2005-06 season as a libero.

“I will always remember pushing boards and conditioning on the sand volleyball court,” said Nollette. “But, my strongest memory will be of the relationships Sally built among the players. We became a family, and now we’re going to each other’s weddings and baby showers.”

Kristin Gewecke, of Kearney, played for Thalken during 2004-05 and was part of a team that qualified for nationals.

“Coach brought so many friends together and had a big role in our lives,” Gewecke said. “I remember the team playing twice at Columbus and hurting my wrist during the first game. Coach didn’t think it was a good idea for me to play the second game. She was always caring and had our best interests in mind.”

Thalken recruited Emily Hudson, formerly of Benkelman and now living in Trenton, after watching her compete at districts.

“I played for NPCC in the fall of 2005 and fall of 2006,” said Hudson. “I had heart surgery my sophomore year, so sat next to [Thalken] on the bench. She said if I wasn’t going to play, I was going to learn to coach. I’m a coach now, and it’s all because of her influence.”

Brenda (Schadegg) Smith, of Sidney, was on Thalken’s volleyball team in ’81.

“I will never get her passion and excitement out of my mind,” said Smith. “She genuinely cared about her players. When we were young and away from home, she was someone we could go to for support. Those are the kind of people you always want to keep in touch with, and we have.”

Dena (Weinman) Mills, of Arnold, played basketball in ’83 and ’84 and also traveled with Thalken’s volleyball team to nationals.

“She was a big influence,” said Mills, of Thalken. “She would drive through my town recruiting and stop to visit. It means a lot that she’s still vested in our lives and wants to know about our kids and grandkids.”

Lauri (Tomas) Blake, was on the same team as Mills. She is now a state district judge in Bonham, Texas. Blake said she owes a big part of her success in the professional world to Thalken.

“She took time to introduce her girls to people who could make a difference in their lives,” Blake said. “If there’s one word to describe her, it’s ‘selfless.’ She worked 24-7 and was concerned about improving us as people – not just as athletes.”

Jacqueline (Mecomber) Yenni, of North Platte, agreed with that statement.

“Sally was and continues to be an inspiration,” Yenni said. “I work as a mental health therapist. I own my own business and am an entrepreneur and a landlord. It all started with someone caring, and that person was Sally.”

Yenni was offered scholarships to play volleyball at NPCC.

“My family didn’t have the money for me to go to school,” said Yenni. “The scholarships got me the education I needed and provided a stepping stone for the rest of my life. Now, I have a master’s degree. The whole NPCC athletic experience wasn’t about what we did – it was about who we became in the process.”

Thalken only retired from coaching. She will continue to teach at the college and will remain area chair of the MPCC mathematics and science division

21 Football Student-Athletes Named Academic-All-Big Ten

Posted on December 10, 2014

The Big Ten Conference announced its fall Academic All-Big Ten honorees on Wednesday, including 21 members of the Nebraska football program.

The 21 football student-athletes named to the Academic All-Big Ten team, include seven three-time academic all-conference selections and six players who earned the honor for the second time in their Nebraska careers.

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, student-athletes must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Nebraska’s honorees were highlighted by sophomore wide receiver Lane Hovey, who earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the second straight season. Hovey was one of three football student-athletes and 26 overall student-athletes recognized for maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. An Adel, Iowa, native, Hovey is majoring in business administration and already has a senior academic standing, despite having two seasons of eligibility remaining.

The three-time Academic All-Big Ten selections include senior offensive guard Jake Cotton, senior cornerback Josh Mitchell, senior offensive guard Mike Moudy, senior center Mark Pelini, junior offensive tackle Givens Price, junior center Ryne Reeves and senior linebacker Trevor Roach.

Joining Hovey as two-time honorees were senior I-back Ameer Abdullah, sophomore tight end Sam Cotton, sophomore receiver Brandon Reilly, junior tight end David Sutton and sophomore receiver Jordan Westerkamp.

Eight additional Huskers earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the first time.

The 21 football student-athletes were among a group of 47 Nebraska student-athletes earning Academic All-Big Ten honors in their respective sports. The group includes nine members of the soccer program, nine volleyball student-athletes and four members of both the men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Football Academic All-Big Ten Selections (Year listed reflects academic standing, not eligibility)

Ameer Abdullah, Sr., History, Homewood, Ala. (2nd Selection)
Josh Banderas, Soph., Broadcasting, Lincoln, Neb.
Maliek Collins, Soph., Undeclared, Kansas City, Mo.

Jake Cotton, Graduate, History, Lincoln, Neb. (3)

Sam Cotton, Jr., Business Administration, Lincoln, Neb. (2)

Joey Felici, Sr., Management/Business Administration, Omaha, Neb.

Kevin Gladney, Soph., Child, Youth and Family Services, Akron, Ohio

Greg Hart, Soph., Finance/Marketing, Dayton, Ohio

Lane Hovey, Sr., Business Administration, Adel, Iowa (2)

Harrison Jordan, Soph., Business Administration, Omaha, Neb.

Alex Lewis, Sr., Sociology, Tempe, Ariz.

Josh Mitchell, Sr., Communication Studies, Corona, Calif. (3)

Mike Moudy, Sr., English, Castle Rock, Colo. (3)

Mark Pelini, Sr., Mathematics/History, Youngstown, Ohio (3)

Givens Price, Sr., Accounting/Management, Houston, Texas (3)

Ryne Reeves, Sr., Economics/Management, Crete, Neb. (3)

Brandon Reilly, Jr., Marketing, Lincoln, Neb. (2)

Trevor Roach, Sr., Finance/Management, Elkhorn, Neb. (3)

David Sutton, Sr., Management/Marketing, Lincoln, Neb. (2)

Chris Weber, Jr., Undeclared, Omaha, Neb.

Jordan Westerkamp, Jr., Business Administration, Lombard, Ill. (2)

Chiefs’ Charles, Hali Held Out with injuries

Posted on December 10, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, linebacker Tamba Hali and tight end Anthony Fasano were held out of practice Wednesday with knee injuries.

All of them are considered day to day, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.

Defensive lineman Allen Bailey also missed practice as he continues to recover from a concussion, but wide receiver Junior Hemingway returned to the field after passing his concussion tests. Hemingway had missed the previous two games.

The Chiefs (7-6) have lost three straight, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy. They play the Oakland Raiders on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Nine Huskers Earn Academic All-Big Ten Honors

Posted on December 10, 2014

The Big Ten Conference announced its fall Academic All-Big Ten honorees on Wednesday morning, including nine members of the Nebraska volleyball program.

Junior Cecilia Hall earned her second career honor. Hall is a biochemistry major. Eight Huskers were honored for the first time: Alexa Ethridge (speech-language pathology), Kelly Hunter (marketing), Melanie Keil (dietetics), Kira Larson (marketing), Mary Pollmiller (nutrition science), Amber Rolfzen (business administration), Kadie Rolfzen (advertising & public relations) and Justine Wong-Orantes (child, youth & family studies).

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, student-athletes must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Owners Approve New Personal Conduct Policy

Posted on December 10, 2014

IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL owners approved changes to the personal conduct policy Wednesday, but Commissioner Roger Goodell will retain authority to rule on appeals.

A special counsel for investigations and conduct will oversee initial discipline, Goodell said. The commissioner also may appoint a panel of independent experts to participate in deciding an appeal.

The players’ union has sought negotiations with the NFL on any revamping of the policy, and said Tuesday it would “reserve the right to take any and all actions” should the owners act unilaterally. The union could consider Wednesday’s vote by the owners as a violation of the collective bargaining agreement reached in 2011 to end the lockout of the players.

No. 12 Huskers Look to Rebound in Annual Battle with Bluejays

Posted on December 10, 2014

The No. 12 Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to road action Thursday when the Huskers head to Omaha for their annual clash with Creighton.

Tip-off between the Huskers (7-1) and Bluejays (4-4) in the 40th meeting between the two teams is set for 8 p.m. (central) at D.J. Sokol Arena with live national television coverage from Fox Sports 1. Eric Collins and LaChina Robinson will be on the call for Nebraska’s first-ever appearance on Fox Sports 1.

Live radio coverage will be provided by the Husker Sports Network, with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch on the call on stations across the network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and 93.3 FM in Omaha. Free live audio also will be available on Huskers.com.

Nebraska will try to bounce back from its first loss of the season, a 53-51 setback to Alabama at Tuscaloosa on Sunday. Senior guard Tear’a Laudermill led the Big Red with 25 points on a school-record-tying seven three-pointers. Her final three came with 18.1 seconds left to tie the game at 51, after the Huskers battled back from a 50-42 deficit with four minutes left. However, Alabama’s Nikki Hegstetter hit a putback with 2.5 seconds left to seal the win for the Crimson Tide, who improved to 8-3.

Laudermill (12.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg) is one of three Huskers who enter the game averaging in double figures. Wade Trophy and Wooden Award candidate Rachel Theriot leads the Big Red with 17.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. The 6-0 junior point guard has produced double figures in seven of NU’s first eight games, including three 20-point performances. Senior Emily Cady has added 13.4 points and a team-best 8.4 rebounds per game. Cady, a 6-2 forward from Seward, Neb., is the Big Ten’s active rebound leader and owns 25 career double-doubles, including three this season.

Creighton heads into Thursday’s game with a 4-4 record after rallying from a 16-point halftime deficit to win 58-56 at Northern Iowa on Monday night. Nebraska will be the third top-15 foe on Creighton’s schedule so far this season, joining road losses at UConn and California.

#12 Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
3 – Hailie Sample – 6-1 – Sr. – F – 6.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg
23 – Emily Cady – 6-2 – Sr. – F – 13.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg
1 – Tear’a Laudermill – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 12.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg
13 – Brandi Jeffery – 5-7 – Sr. – G – 9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg
33 – Rachel Theriot – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 17.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Off the Bench
31 – Anya Kalenta – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 6.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg
5 – Natalie Romeo – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 4.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg
22 – Allie Havers – 6-5 – So. – C – 3.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg
34 – Jasmine Cincore – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 1.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg
30 – Chandler Smith – 6-0 – Fr. – G – 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
11 – Esther Ramacieri – 5-8 – So. – G – 0.2 ppg, 0.4 rpg
12 – Emily Wood – 5-5 – Fr. – G – 0.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg
50 – Darrien Washington – 6-2 – Fr. – F – High School
Head Coach: Connie Yori (Creighton, 1986)
13th Season at NU (248-143); 25th Season Overall (443-283)

Creighton Bluejays (4-4, 0-1 BIG EAST)
11 – Bailey Norby – 6-2 – Fr. – F – 2.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg
23 – Marissa Janning – 6-2 – Jr. – F – 16.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg
45 – Alexis Akin-Otiko – 6-0 – So. – F – 10.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg
3 – MC McGrory – 5-8 – So. – G – 8.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg
14 – Sydney Lamberty – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 7.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Off the Bench
50 – Brianna Rollerson – 6-0 – So. – F – 6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg
22 – Taylor Johnson – 5-11 – Jr. – G/F – 5.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg
5 – Sammy Jensen – 5-5 – Sr. – G – 4.4 ppg, 0.6 rpg
12 – Lauren Works – 5-7 – So. – G – 4.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg
1 – Jade Owens – 5-6 – Fr. – G – 2.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg
2 – Myah Mellman – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 1.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg
20 – Tessa Leytem – 5-11 – Jr. – G – 0.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg
33 – Kylie Brown – 6-3 – Fr. – F – 0.3 ppg, 0.5 rpg
Head Coach: Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987)
13th Season at Creighton (239-155); 13th Season Overall (239-155)

Manning, Gronkowski on All-Fundamentals Team

Posted on December 10, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning, Rob Gronkowski and Earl Thomas are among the 26 players chosen by USA Football for its All-Fundamental team.

Players from 22 NFL teams have been selected with guidance from a five-man committee of Bill Polian, Herm Edwards, Merril Hoge, Charles Davis and Carl Peterson.

USA Football, the governing body for the sport in the United States, recognizes NFL players who employ proper technique, particularly when blocking and tackling, which fosters safety benefits and better on-field performances.

Among the other players chosen for the squad are Reggie Wayne, Golden Tate, Matt Forte, Joe Thomas, Luke Kuechly, Cameron Wake, Gerald McCoy and three rookies: place kicker Chandler Catanzaro, linebacker Khalil Mack, and guard Zack Martin.

“These 26 men serve as examples to the millions of youth football players across the nation that fundamentals are vital to success at every level,” said Peterson, USA Football’s chairman and a longtime NFL executive. “According to medical experts, players who master the fundamentals and learn them at younger ages are safer as they progress within the sport.”

The team:

Quarterback: Peyton Manning, Denver

Running Back: Matt Forte, Chicago

Fullback: John Kuhn, Green Bay

Wide Receivers: Golden Tate, Detroit; Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis

Tight End: Rob Gronkowski, New England

Center: Ryan Kalil, Carolina

Guard: Zach Martin, Dallas; Marshal Yanda, Baltimore

Tackle: Jason Peters, Philadelphia; Joe Thomas, Cleveland

Defensive End: Cameron Wake, Miami; Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets

Defensive Tackle: Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay; Kyle Williams, Buffalo

Linebacker: Khalil Mack, Oakland; Luke Kuechly, Carolina; Tamba Hali, Kansas City

Cornerback: Vontae Davis, Indianapolis; Terence Newman, Dallas

Safety: Ryan Clark, Washington; Earl Thomas, Seattle

Placekicker: Chandler Catanzaro, Arizona

Punter: Jon Ryan, Seattle

Return Specialist: Jacoby Jones, Baltimore

Long Snapper: Cullen Loeffler, Minnesota

NPCC Knights Defeat Northeastern JC

Posted on December 10, 2014

The North Platte Community College Knights men’s basketball team defeated the Northeastern Junior College Plainsmen 85-81 Tuesday.

The Plainsmen jumped out to a 8-2 lead at the beginning of the game. North Platte tied the game at nine on a dunk by Marco Pascolo.

The Knights took their largest lead in the first half 33-23 on a field goal by Shyquinn Dix with 7 minutes left in the first half. The Plainsmen went on a 18-10 run to cut the lead at halftime 43-41.

In the second half, Knights freshmen Matt Thomas, Shyquinn Dix, and sophomore Cameron Williams scored 19 points to increase the Knights lead to eight, 62-54 with 10:16 left in the game.

There were 8 lead changes and 10 ties in the game. The last tie was with 6:14 to go at 64-64.

Free throws down the stretch from Williams, Tyree Peter, and Loick Pouale sealed the victory. The Knights for the game went 19 of 23 from the free throw line.

Cameron Williams led all scorers with 32 points. Williams moved into 49^th place on the North Platte scoring list, knocking head coach Kevin O’Connor out of the top 50.

Other Knights to score in double figures were: Shyquinn Dix with 16 points, Matt Thomas with 14 points, and Marco Pascolo with 10 points. Pascolo also led the Knights with 11 rebounds. Peter contributed with 8 rebounds.

The Plainsmen were led in scoring by Isiah Cooper with 21 points. Four other Plainsmen scored in double figures. James Dumes and Logan Kelley each had 11 points. Shikei Blake and Robert Jones both had 10 points.

The victory improves the Knights record to 9-2 on the season and 3-1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX South Sub-Region.

The Plainsmen fall to 10-4 on the year and 3-1 in the south sub-region.

The Knights don’t have much time to celebrate their victory. Northwest Kansas Technical College comets to town Wednesday, December 10. The game may be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 or online at www.northplattepost.com. It will also be video live streamed at www.coachesaid.com . Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CST.