North Platte – North Platte Community College Knights basketball player Samuel Kearns has signed a national letter of intent to play his final three seasons of eligibility with the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles in Tulsa, Okla.

Kearns, a 6’0 freshman point guard, who came to NPCC from San Antonio, Texas, played one season for the Knights. Kearns, in his one season, score 12.8 points per game, had 3.1 assists per game and 2.6 rebounds per game. He was fourth in the nation in three-point shooting percentage at 53.4 percent, going 63 for 118 from behind the arc.

Kearns received First team All-Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference Honors and Second Team All-Nebraska Honors.

Knights Head Coach Kevin O’Connor said, “Obviously we are sad to see him leave but at the same time we are extremely happy for him as that was his goal when he came to NPCC. We will miss his tremendous talent but more importantly we will miss the leadership and character he displayed while he was here.”

The Golden Eagles are a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division One program. They are a member of the Summit League. University of Nebraska at Omaha is also in that conference.

“On my way home from North Platte, they (Oral Roberts) asked me to come for a visit. “ Kearns said, “It just felt like a great fit.”

North Platte – Victor Lewis, who played basketball for the North Platte Community College Knights the past two seasons has signed a national letter of intent with the West Texas A&M Buffaloes, located in Amarillo, Texas for the 2017-18 basketball season.

The Buffaloes are a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division Two program, competing in the Lone Star Conference. They finished the 2016-17 season with a 26-9 record and 12-6 in the conference, losing to Texas A&M-Kingsville in the conference championship game. The Buffaloes qualified for the NCAA South Central Regionals, going 2-1.

Lewis, a 6’4” guard from Arlington, Texas, averaged 9.4 points per game in 53 games for the Knights. During his sophomore season, Lewis averaged 10.7 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game, and 1.8 assists per game.

Lewis said that he chose West Texas A&M because of their strong business and medical programs. Lewis is going to major in healthcare management and minor in sports and athletic sciences.

“It is a top-tier school academically” Lewis said, “About 90 percent of the graduates have jobs before they graduate. It will give me a chance to suceed after my basketball playing days are over”

Lewis is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an academic honors society for two-year colleges.

Lewis said, “We will compete against some of the top teams in the country, including a possible exhibition against major Division I colleges.

North Platte – North Platte Community College Lady Knights Basketball team has announced the signing of Tiara Hartfield of Houston, Texas to a national letter of intent for the 2017-18 season.

Hartfield, a 6’ 2” post player played for KIPP Sunnyside High School, where she averaged 10.3 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game during her senior season. She also averaged 3.5 blocks per game her senior season.

Lady Knight Interim Head Coach Ashley Bell said, “I am very pleased and excited to have her next year. She is going to give us the size and strength we need in the post position.”

Hartfield is Bell’s first recruit for the 2017-18 season

North Platte – North Platte Community College will host the 11th annual Mid-Plains Area Basketball All-Star games on Friday, June 2 at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium on the South Campus of North Platte Community College.

The girl’s game will start at 6 pm, followed by the boy’s game at 7:45 pm.

The roster for the two games have also been set.

In the girl’s game, the Gold team will consist of: Madison Rut and Peyton Flack from Arthur CountyHigh School; Jessie Straber and Andie Ortgies from Creek Valley High School; Britni Brannan from Hershey High School; Rylie Brown, Skyler Sandoe , and Korinne Hansen from Medicine Valley High School; Riley Nitsch from North Platte St. Patricks High School; Kyra Miles and Rebecca Higgins from Sandhills/Thedford High School; Haeven Schuster from Sutherland High School.

Also in the girl’s game the Black team will be: Jayden Burnett, Jesica Spanel , and Kenzie McMullen from Anselmo-Merna High School; Hannah Destefano, Karnee Hatch, and Tara Callahan from Brady High School; Aubrey Wagner and Brooke Scott from Hitchcock County High School; Savana Quinn and Tia Norman from Southern Valley High School; and Madisen Messersmith and Maggie May from Wallace High School.

On the boy’s side, the Gold team will consist of: Brett Godfrey from Creek Valley High School; Brayden Baney from Dundy County Stratton High School; Clay Frels from Hershey High School; Matt Rippen and Will Kisker from Hitchcock County High School; Colby Rezac and Dillon Higgins from Ogallala High School; Gabe Vyzourek from North Platte Saint Patrick’s High School; Blake Scott from Sutherland High School; Brody Nordhausen and Greg Gaston from Wauneta-Palisade High School;

Also in the boy’s game the Black team will be: Hayden Rupe from Eustis-Farnam High School; Ty Clement from Gothenburg High School; Colby Crow from McPherson County High School; Brode McIntosh, Daniel Young, and Lance Moore from Mullen High School; Keith Murphy from Overton High School; Emmit Rosentrator from Paxton High School; Bailey Schrotberger and Miles Lagler from Perkins County High School; Yeager Price from Sidney High School;

Tickets for the game will be $5.00 and can be purchased at the door.

The games will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1410 and www.northplattepost.com.

North Platte HS
Alli Skala
–Discus, 4th place, 119-7.0
–Shot Put, 6th place, 37-4.5
Delano Hernandez
–Pole Vault, t8th place, 12-6.0
Jacob Harvey
–Pole Vault, 2nd place, 14-2.0
Payton Smith
–High Jump, 4th place, 6-4.0
Trevon Weaver
–Long Jump, 2nd place, 22-5.0
–100 Meter, 2nd place, 10.5
–200 Meter, 4th place, 21.8
Joey Larson
–Discus, 5th place, 140-1.0
Elliott Purdy
–Discus, 8th place, 135-9.0
Nick Bocott
–300 Meter Int. Hurdles, prelims, 42.21

North Platte St. Patrick’s HS
Amanda McClellan
–Pole Vault, t12th place, 9-0.0
Gracie Rippen
–Pole Vault, 4th place, 10-0.0
Allie Montgomery
–High Jump, 20th place, 4-8.0
Rebecca Pasquinelly
–Discus, 15th place, 100-10.0
Kaleigh Kummer
–Triple Jump, 4th place, 35-4.5
–300 Meter Hurdles, prelims, 49.31
Girls 400 Meter Relay
–14th place, 53.2, (Hayley Homan, Amanda McClellan, Kaleigh Kummer, Jordyn Childears)
Girls 1600 Meter Relay
–14th place, 4:25.2, (Gracie Rippen, Madison Kleewein, Kaleigh Kummer, Hayley Homan)
Ethan Munson
–High Jump, no mark
Jaydn Brown
–Long Jump, 21st place, 19-0.5
James Schroll
–100 Meter, prelims, 11.57
–200 Meter, prelims, 23.26
Lane Knisley
–100 Meter, prelims, 11.91
Garrett Foust
–400 Meter, prelims, 52.1
–300 Meter Int. Hurdles, prelims, 43.7
Chase Ochs
–400 Meter, prelims, 52.4
–800 Meter, 15th place, 2:05.3
Gary White III
–110 Meter Hurdles, prelims, 16.18
Boys 400 Meter Relay
–DNF, (Jacob Swift, Lane Knisley, Gary White III, James Schroll)
Boys 1600 Meter Relay
–10th place, 3:31.9, (Gabe Vyzourek, Chase Ochs, James Schroll, Garrett Foust)

Brady HS
Michaela Jurjens
–Pole Vault, 2nd place, 10-0.0
–300 Meter Hurdles, 6th place, 47.9
Tara Callahan
–Shot Put, 2nd place, 39-6.0
–Discus, 1st place, 117-6.0
Emery Swan
–400 Meter, 5th place, 59.96
–800 Meter, 1st place, 2:20.1
Girls 1600 Meter Relay
–4th place, 4:13.5, (Michaela Jurjens, Joya Most, Emily Mann, Emery Swan)
Colton Lovitt
–Long Jump, 3rd place, 20-4.0
Christian Gentry
–Discus, 18th place, 109-11.0
Noah Jurjens
–1600 Meter, 19th place, 5:01.5
Boys 3200 Meter Relay
–9th place, 8:47.4, (Noah Jurjens, Colton Lovitt, TJ Roe, Tyrell Rossman)

Maxwell HS
Sydney Mullin
–Long Jump, 14th place, 15-11.0
–Triple Jump, 14th place, 32-9.0
–100 Meter, prelims, 13.33
–200 Meter, prelims, 28.32
Nicole Howitt
–Discus, 4th place, 112-11.0
Caden Messersmith
–Pole Vault, 19th place, 10-0.0
Will Huffman
–Long Jump, 13th place, 18-10.0
–Triple Jump, 16th place, 39-9.0

Paxton HS
Mason Schimonitz
–High Jump, t20th, 5-6.0
Roper Chandler
–Shot Put, 3rd place, 49-9.0
Bennett Perlinger
–1600 Meter, 12th place, 4:54.5
Boys 3200 Meter Relay
–5th place, 8:39.6, (Emmit Rosentrater, Mason Schimonitz, Kaden Schow, Bennett Perlinger)

Stapleton HS
Lucas Harbur
–Triple Jump, 12th place, 40-3.25
Trenton Harbur
–100 Meter, prelims, 11.64
–200 Meter, prelims, 24.46
–400 Meter, 6th place, 51.3
Nathan Holmes
–3200 Meter, 15th place, 11:10.0

Mullen HS
Addy Vinton
–High Jump, 1st place, 5-2.0
–100 Meter Hurdles, 6th place, 16.4
–300 Meter Hurdles, 8th place, 48.7
Haley Jones
–800 Meter, 4th place, 2:27.0
Molly Paxton
–3200 Meter, 11th place, 12:48.1
Girls 1600 Meter Relay
–10th place, 4:19.7, (Addy Vinton, Brittni McCully, Aubrey Frye, Haley Jones)
Lane Edis
–High Jump, 9th place, 5-10.0
Tell Spies
–Discus, 9th place, 132-0.0
Luke Christen
–800 Meter, 9th place, 2:06.8
–1600 Meter, 4th place, 4:43.7
Lance Moore
–110 Meter Hurdles, 1st place, 14.9
–300 Meter Int. Hurdles, 1st place, 40.9
Samuel Vinton
–300 Meter Int. Hurdles, prelims, 45.84
Boys 400 Meter Relay
–7th place, 45.8, (Daniel Young, Lance Moore, Lane Edis, Brode McIntosh)
Boys 1600 Meter Relay
–3rd place, 3:33.9, (Justin Wiens, Lance Moore, Lane Edis, Brode McIntosh)

Wallace HS
Hannah Nelson
–Long Jump, 21st place, 15-0.5
Peyton Messersmith
–Triple Jump, 18th place, 29-0.0
Margaret May
–200 Meter, prelims, 29.31
Madisen Messersmith
–400 Meter, prelims, 1:04.82
Girls 1600 Meter Relay
–13th place, 4:25.2, (Jayden Widener, Peyton Messersmith, Margaret May, Madisen Messersmith)
Micah Swedberg
–High Jump, t13th, 5-8.0
–400 Meter, 4th place, 51.0
Jared Sullivan
–Triple Jump, 22nd place, 38-3.25
Boys 1600 Meter Relay
–14th place, 3:45.4, (Tyler Daniels, Jared Sullivan, Robbie Nelson, Micah Swedberg)

Gothenburg HS
Kasey Wellman
–Long Jump, 7th place, 16-3.5
–Triple Jump, 16th place, 31-7.25
Amaya Ackerman
–Long Jump, 8th place, 16-0.75
Arleigh Costello
–Shot Put, 11th place, 35-11.75
Andie Geiken
–400 Meter, prelims, 1:01.47
Kayla Weyers
–800 Meter, 19th place, 2:30.67
Girls 1600 Meter Relay
–7th place, 4:11.80 (Kayla Weyers, Kasey Wellman, Andie Geiken, Madison Harpole)
Girls 3200 Meter Relay
–11th place, 10:08.65 (Liliana Sitorius, Madison Harpole, Courtney Harpole, Kayla Weyers)
Tyce Hruza
–Pole Vault, 2nd place, 14-0.0
Wyatt Hotz
–Pole Vault, t8th place, 12-6.0
Patrick Hudson
–Discus, 16th place, 126-4.0

Hershey HS
Bailie Vanarsdall
–1600 Meter, 20th place, 5:55.7
–3200 Meter, 19th place, 12:28.4
Ashley Hassett
–100 Meter Hurdles, prelims, 17.61
–300 Meter Hurdles, prelims, 50.68
Kyler Banks
–Pole Vault, 7th place, 13-6.0
Jason Davis
–Shot Put, 19th place, 44-6.0
Monte McNeil
–800 Meter, 5th place, 2:00.6
Eli Huebner
–1600 Meter, 23rd place, 4:58.1
–3200 Meter, 19th place, 10:55.0
McKade Smith
–300 Meter Int. Hurdles, prelims, 42.75
Boys 3200 Meter Relay
–14th place, 8:38.5, (McKade Smith, Dalton Ebmeier, Eli Huebner, Monte McNeil)

Sutherland HS
Bailee Fear
–Long Jump, 3rd place, 16-4.75
–Triple Jump, 17th place, 33-1.5
–100 Meter, prelims, 13.38
Dani McNeel
–Discus. 18th place, 91-8.0
Haeven Schuster
–200 Meter, prelims, 28.66
Morgan Burke
–3200 Meter, 22nd place, 13:03.4
Garrett Elfeldt
–Pole Vault, t8th place, 13-6.0
Blake Scott
–Pole Vault, 11th place, 13-0.0
Jade Paxton
–3200 Meter, 21st place, 11:06.1

North Platte – North Platte Community College sophomore women’s basketball player Mai’Zhrae Zeno signed a national letter of intent to continue her basketball career at Ottawa University, located in Surprise, Ariz.

Ottawa will begin playing women’s basketball in the 2017-18 school year. They will compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Zeno, who is from Beaumont, Texas, played the past two seasons for the Lady Knights at the forward position. Zeno averaged 3.6 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game. She also finished the season with 22 steals and 29 assists.

“I am excited to go to another state because I like travelling.” Zeno said, “I talked to the coach and he made me excited to go and be a part of his program.”

Zeno said, ”NPCC helped me come a long way. The coaching staff helped me in developing my shooting ability, my defense and my rebounding.”

North Platte HS
Alli Skala – Shot Put, Discus
Delano Hernandez – Pole Vault
Jacob Harvey – Pole Vault
Payton Smith – High Jump
Trevon Weaver – Long Jump, 100 Meter, 200 Meter
Joey Larson – Discus
Elliott Purdy – Discus
Nick Bocott – 300 Meter Int. Hurdles

North Platte St. Patrick’s HS
Amanda McClellan – Pole Vault
Gracie Rippen – Pole Vault
Allie Montgomery – High Jump
Rebecca Pasquinelly – Discus
Kaleigh Kummer – Triple Jump, 300 Meter Hurdles
Girls 400 Meter Relay (Hayley Homan, Amanda McClellan, Kaleigh Kummer, Jordyn Childears)
Girls 1600 Meter Relay (Gracie Rippen, Madison Kleewein, Kaleigh Kummer, Hayley Homan)
Ethan Munson – High Jump
Jaydn Brown – Long Jump
James Schroll – 100 Meter, 200 Meter
Lane Knisley – 100 Meter
Garrett Foust – 400 Meter, 300 Meter Int. Hurdles
Chase Ochs – 400 Meter, 800 Meter
Gary White III – 110 Meter Hurdles
Boys 400 Meter Relay (Jacob Swift, Lane Knisley, Gary White III, James Schroll)
Boys 1600 Meter Relay (Gabe Vyzourek, Chase Ochs, James Schroll, Garrett Foust)

Brady HS
Michaela Jurjens – Pole Vault, 300 Meter Hurdles
Tara Callahan – Shot Put, Discus
Emery Swan – 400 Meter, 800 Meter
Girls 1600 Meter Relay (Michaela Jurjens, Joya Most, Emily Mann, Emery Swan)
Colton Lovitt – Long Jump
Christian Gentry – Discus
Noah Jurjens – 1600 Meter
Boys 3200 Meter Relay (Noah Jurjens, Colton Lovitt, TJ Roe, Tyrell Rossman)

Maxwell HS
Sydney Mullin – Long Jump, Triple Jump, 100 Meter, 200 Meter
Nicole Howitt – Discus
Caden Messersmith – Pole Vault
Will Huffman – Long Jump, Triple Jump

Paxton HS
Mason Schimonitz – High Jump
Roper Chandler – Shot Put
Bennett Perlinger – 1600 Meter
Boys 3200 Meter Relay (Emmit Rosentrater, Mason Schimonitz, Kaden Schow, Bennett Perlinger)

Stapleton HS
Lucas Harbur – Triple Jump
Trenton Harbur – 100 Meter, 200 Meter, 400 Meter
Nathan Holmes – 3200 Meter

Mullen HS
Addy Vinton – High Jump, 100 Meter Hurdles, 300 Meter Hurdles
Haley Jones – 800 Meter
Molly Paxton – 3200 Meter
Girls 1600 Meter Relay (Addy Vinton, Brittni McCully, Aubrey Frye, Haley Jones)
Lane Edis – High Jump
Tell Spies – Discus
Luke Christen – 800 Meter, 1600 Meter
Lance Moore – 110 Meter Hurdles, 300 Meter Int. Hurdles
Samuel Vinton – 300 Meter Int. Hurdles
Boys 400 Meter Relay (Daniel Young, Lance Moore, Lane Edis, Brode McIntosh)
Boys 1600 Meter Relay (Justin Wiens, Lance Moore, Lane Edis, Brode McIntosh)

Wallace HS
Hannah Nelson – Long Jump
Peyton Messersmith – Triple Jump
Margaret May – 200 Meter
Madisen Messersmith – 400 Meter
Girls 1600 Meter Relay (Jayden Widener, Peyton Messersmith, Margaret May, Madisen Messersmith)
Micah Swedberg – High Jump, 400 Meter
Jared Sullivan – Triple Jump
Boys 1600 Meter Relay (Tyler Daniels, Jared Sullivan, Robbie Nelson, Micah Swedberg)

Gothenburg HS
Kasey Wellman – Long Jump, Triple Jump
Amaya Ackerman – Long Jump
Arleigh Costello – Shot Put
Andie Geiken – 400 Meter
Kayla Weyers – 800 Meter
Girls 1600 Meter Relay (Kayla Weyers, Kasey Wellman, Andie Geiken, Madison Harpole)
Girls 3200 Meter Relay (Liliana Sitorius, Madison Harpole, Courtney Harpole, Kayla Weyers)
Tyce Hruza – Pole Vault
Wyatt Hotz – Pole Vault
Patrick Hudson – Discus

Hershey HS
Bailie Vanarsdall – 1600 Meter, 3200 Meter
Ashley Hassett – 100 Meter Hurdles, 300 Meter Hurdles
Kyler Banks – Pole Vault
Jason Davis – Shot Put
Monte McNeil – 800 Meter
Eli Huebner – 1600 Meter, 3200 Meter
McKade Smith – 300 Meter Int. Hurdles
Boys 3200 Meter Relay (McKade Smith, Dalton Ebmeier, Eli Huebner, Monte McNeil)

Sutherland HS
Bailee Fear – Long Jump, Triple Jump, 100 Meter
Dani McNeel – Discus
Haeven Schuster – 200 Meter
Morgan Burke – 3200 Meter
Garrett Elfeldt – Pole Vault
Blake Scott – Pole Vault
Jade Paxton – 3200 Meter

North Platte – Several of the Region IX Division II softball champion North Platte Community College Lady Knights received postseason awards at the recent Region IX Division II tournament.

Sarah Beaton, Shelby Belloni, Samantha Foster, Samantha Gill, and Erin Renwick were named to the All-Region IX Division II team.

Beaton, Belloni, Foster, Gill, and Shelley Heredia were named to the All-Region IX Division II Tournament team.

Beaton, a sophomore from Vancouver, B. C., was also chosen as the Region IX Division II Offensive Player of the Year. Beaton finished the season with a .478 batting average and a .610 slugging percentage. Beaton had nine doubles, three triples, and three home runs.

Gill, a sophomore from LaSalle, Colo., was named Region IX Division II Defensive Player of the Year. Gill played primarily as a catcher this season had a .971 fielding percentage in 239 total chances. Offensively, Gill batted .464 with 13 doubles and eight home runs.

Foster, a sophomore from Frederick, Colo., was chosen as the Region IX Division II Pitcher of the Year. Foster had a 3.37 earned run average with 102 strikeouts in 31 appearances. Offensively, Foster led the Knights in home runs with 12 and runs batted in with 65. Foster batted .461 and had a .762 slugging percentage.

Belloni, a sophomore from Wheat Ridge, Colo., batted .448 with 10 doubles and two home runs. Belloni led the Knights in stolen bases with 18.

Heredia, a sophomore from Moreno Valley, Cal., on the season batted .211 and one home run. In the tournament, Heredia batted .500, going three for six with two runs batted in, and scored the tying run in game two.

Renwick, a freshman from Brighton, Colo., batted .390 on the season with five home runs and 45 rbi. In the ring, Renwick had an earned run average of 3.78 and 69 strikeouts.

Knights Head Coach Janelle Higgins was named Region IX Division II Coach of the Year.

The Knights finished the season at 30-28. The 30 wins is a new record for wins in a season for the Knights.

North Platte – North Platte Community College has named current Lady Knights assistant coach Ashley Bell as the interim head women’s basketball coach for the 2017-18 season.

Bell was a volunteer assistant for the Lady Knights during the 2015-16 season and the assistant coach during the 2016-17 season.

Bell, a native of Beaumont, Texas, played for the Lady Knights from 2006-08. Bell is number two on the Lady Knights all-time scoring list with 897 points. She also holds Lady Knights single season records in offensive rebounding (109), defensive rebounds (210), total rebounds (319), field goals made (221) and points (550) during her sophomore season. She was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Region IX team both her freshman and sophomore seasons.

After her career at NPCC, Bell played for Huston-Tillotson University in Texas where she averaged 15 points per game and 12 rebounds per game. Bell was a first-team Red River Athletic Conference selection, Huston-Tillotson most valuable player and was a nominee for national player of the week during her senior season.

Bell graduated from Huston-Tillotson with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in education in 2010.

NPCC Athletic Director Kevin O’Connor said, “We are pleased that Ashley has agreed to be our women’s basketball coach for next year. She has sacrificed a great deal personally, and worked diligently as the assistant coach for the program the past two years.”