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Tuesday's State/Local Briefs
USHL HOCKEY
Storm players to visit Tri-Cities restaurants
KEARNEY — Hockey fans will have a chance to meet and hang out with Tri-City Storm players and staff this week when the team hosts its Pack It In Purple Caravan at restaurants in Hastings, Grand Island and Kearney.
Team president Greg Shea and play-by-play announcer Skip Berry will accompany storm players at the following times and locations:
% 6-7 p.m. Tuesday at Bullseye’s Sports Bar & Grille in Hastings. Players attending include: Jaden Schwartz, Kenny Brooks and Mitch Hughes.
% 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Chicken Coop in Grand Island. Players attending include: Max Tardy, Nate Jensen and Tucker Long.
% 6-7 p.m. Thursday at Old Chicago in Kearney. Players attending include: Rick Pinkston, Cody Murphy and Brett Mohler.
The player appearances will promote the Storm’s 7:05 p.m. game on Friday against Lincoln at Kearney’s Viaero Event Center, where fans are encouraged to wear purple to the game. The team’s annual Pack It In Purple game is dedicated to raising money for the United Way of the Kearney Area through an auction of game-worn jerseys that will occur after the game.
In the past 10 years, the Storm organization has raised almost $130,000 for the United Way, with some player jerseys in recent years bringing in as much as $2,000 apiece.
Fans attending this week’s caravan stops can register to win season tickets for next season, while other prize drawings also will occur at each location.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
UNK’s Hiett Wins DII Rimington Award
KEARNEY — Nebraska-Kearney senior Jack Hiett has recently been tabbed the 2009 winner of the NCAA Division II Dave Rimington Award as the nation’s top center.
The Rimington Trophy is given annually to the top center in NCAA Divisions I, II, II and the NAIA. Outside of Division I, Don Hansen’s Football Gazette chooses the winners.
The Boomer Esiason Foundation, which established the Dave Rimington Trophy in 2000 to honor the top center in Division I, expanded the award in to 2003 to include the top center on each of Don Hansen’s All-American teams.
On Jan. 16th in Lincoln, Florida’s Maurkice Pouncey was honored as the 2009 Division I winner.
Hiett (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.) started all 44 games in his Loper career and was selected to all five Division II All-American teams this season.
He was a 1st-team pick by the Football Gazette and AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) and made the 2nd-team on Daktronics (chosen by sports information directors), D2football.com and the Associated Press Little All-America squad.
The 6-1, 255 lbs. Hiett also was a national finalist for the 2009 Gene Upshaw Division II Linemen of the Year Award.
Also UNK’s deep snapper, Hiett is pursuing a pro career in that capacity.
COLLEGE SOCCER
Lopers adds 12 players
KEARNEY — Nebraska-Kearney women’s soccer head coach Mike Munch Monday announced the names of 10 high school seniors and two transfers who will suit up for the Lopers in the fall.
This is UNK’s first-ever signing day class; the program was started in September 2008 with Munch being hired in January 2009. The Lopers’ first-ever team, which made its debut last August, was a mix of a high school recruits (signed in the spring of 2009), transfers and current UNK students.
“Our initial signing group is heavy on offensive players; players who can create and score goals,” said Munch. “While we have needs at every position, it is nice to have addressed some of our deficiencies in front of the goal. And while we have upgraded our ability to score goals, we have also upgraded our athletic ability and technical skills. Those are important traits in our need to be competitive in the RMAC.”
Those hailing from Nebraska include Sara Downey (central midfielder) and Dani Messersmith (forward/midfielder) of Scottsbluff, Bellevue West product Caitlin Parra (outside midfielder) and Lauren Zach (central midfielder) of Columbus Scotus.
Also, Hastings High graduate Melanie Patrick (central defender) has transferred in from Nebraska-Omaha and will have two years of eligibility remaining. The other transfer is Omaha Burke graduate Jordan Pfeiffer (central midfielder), who has four years remaining after spending this fall at Metro Community College.
Both Patrick and Pfeiffer have enrolled at UNK for the spring semester and are currently working out with the Lopers.
UNK then went into Colorado to pick up Rebecca (forward) and Sara (outside defender) Talcott of Cherry Creek High in Denver, Jordan Hampton (outside defender/midfielder) of Parker’s Chaparral High and Raliegh Mercer (forward) and Nicole Thompson (central midfielder) of Arapahoe High in Centennial.
And coming in from Texas is central midfielder Kirsti Rehler of James Bowie High in Austin.
In its first-ever game last August, UNK beat Wayne State, 2-1, in front of a Division II-record crowd of 3,227. The Lopers (1-18-1) would also tie RMAC power Regis with freshman keeper Marissa Niday of Fremont being among the national leaders in saves.
COLLEGE GYMNASTICS
Huskers maintain 10th-place ranking
LINCOLN — The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team maintained its 10th-place national ranking in the latest GymInfo poll released Monday after posting a season-best 196.225 against Oklahoma and TWU last the weekend. The poll, which is calculated by average team score, also ranks NU third in the South Central region and second in the Big 12 Conference. In addition, the Huskers are eighth nationally in team vault scoring (49.065), 13th on bars (48.825), 13th on beam (48.665) and eighth on floor (49.015).
Individually, junior Maria Scaffidi is ranked 23rd in the all-around (39.106) and 18th on floor (9.855). Sophomore Lora Evenstad also comes in tied at 16th on floor (9.86). Junior Erin Davis is ranked sixth on vault (9.88), and senior Kathryn Howard is ranked at 18th on beam (9.82).
The Huskers meet Illinois, Denver and Iowa at the IGI Chicago Style Invite on Friday in Chicago. Competition is set to being at 7:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
Neb. Hall of Fame banquet nearing
While the weather here in Nebraska might not have you thinking “spring training”, it’s nearly time again for the annual Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony. This year’s event will take place on Feb. 21, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Beatrice Eagles Club, located at the intersection of Eighth and Court Street in Beatrice.
According to banquet director Bob Steinkamp, a question and answer session with two former Major League players from Nebraska and Oklahoma will be one of the event’s highlights. Bob Cerv, who played with four Major League teams including Kansas City where he had is best season in the bigs with 38 homers and 104 RBIs in 1958 and the New York Yankees, and former teammate Ralph Terry, who played with the Yankees in 1956-57 and 1959-64 (and three other clubs) and was the World Series MVP in 1962, will answer questions from baseball enthusiasts who attend the banquet.
The five new inductees to the Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame will also be announced at the Feb. 21 banquet.
“The Nebraska Hall of Fame Selection Committee selected five individuals with Nebraska roots for induction for 2010,” said this year’s Hall of Fame President Rich Mueller of Geneva. “I encourage you to attend this year’s banquet, which honors these deserving baseball men.”
This year’s inductees include: Seward-native Bob Rine; Buddy Hunter, a coach and player in the Boston Red Sox organization from Omaha; current UNO baseball coach Bob Herold of Omaha, who also served a stint as hitting coach for the Omaha Royals; Big 12 umpire Steve Farlee of Norfolk; and Adrian Rikosky of Omaha, who manages the Omaha semi-pro team The Diamond Spirit, who is taking the place of the Beatrice Bruins in the MINK League.
For ticket information about the banquet, contact Larry Bornschlegl at (402) 463-1071. Tickets will also be available at the door. A silent auction is also planned. After a refreshment hour, dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with the program slated to start at 6:30 p.m.
YOUTH SOFTBALL
Girls softball sign-up scheduled
Leagues are now forming for all girls in Grand Island that wish to play city league recreational softball for the 2010 summer season. All games will be played in Grand Island at the Ryder Park softball complex.
Registration will be held at the Conestoga Mall food court on Feb. 13 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information contact Mark Galvan at (308) 380-8684 or visit online at www.cngsa.com.
Storm players to visit Tri-Cities restaurants
KEARNEY — Hockey fans will have a chance to meet and hang out with Tri-City Storm players and staff this week when the team hosts its Pack It In Purple Caravan at restaurants in Hastings, Grand Island and Kearney.
Team president Greg Shea and play-by-play announcer Skip Berry will accompany storm players at the following times and locations:
% 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Chicken Coop in Grand Island. Players attending include: Max Tardy, Nate Jensen and Tucker Long.
% 6-7 p.m. Thursday at Old Chicago in Kearney. Players attending include: Rick Pinkston, Cody Murphy and Brett Mohler.
The player appearances will promote the Storm’s 7:05 p.m. game on Friday against Lincoln at Kearney’s Viaero Event Center, where fans are encouraged to wear purple to the game. The team’s annual Pack It In Purple game is dedicated to raising money for the United Way of the Kearney Area through an auction of game-worn jerseys that will occur after the game.
In the past 10 years, the Storm organization has raised almost $130,000 for the United Way, with some player jerseys in recent years bringing in as much as $2,000 apiece.
Fans attending this week’s caravan stops can register to win season tickets for next season, while other prize drawings also will occur at each location.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
UNK’s Hiett Wins DII Rimington Award
KEARNEY — Nebraska-Kearney senior Jack Hiett has recently been tabbed the 2009 winner of the NCAA Division II Dave Rimington Award as the nation’s top center.
The Rimington Trophy is given annually to the top center in NCAA Divisions I, II, II and the NAIA. Outside of Division I, Don Hansen’s Football Gazette chooses the winners.
The Boomer Esiason Foundation, which established the Dave Rimington Trophy in 2000 to honor the top center in Division I, expanded the award in to 2003 to include the top center on each of Don Hansen’s All-American teams.
On Jan. 16th in Lincoln, Florida’s Maurkice Pouncey was honored as the 2009 Division I winner.
Hiett (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.) started all 44 games in his Loper career and was selected to all five Division II All-American teams this season.
He was a 1st-team pick by the Football Gazette and AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) and made the 2nd-team on Daktronics (chosen by sports information directors), D2football.com and the Associated Press Little All-America squad.
The 6-1, 255 lbs. Hiett also was a national finalist for the 2009 Gene Upshaw Division II Linemen of the Year Award.
Also UNK’s deep snapper, Hiett is pursuing a pro career in that capacity.
COLLEGE SOCCER
Lopers adds 12 players
KEARNEY — Nebraska-Kearney women’s soccer head coach Mike Munch Monday announced the names of 10 high school seniors and two transfers who will suit up for the Lopers in the fall.
This is UNK’s first-ever signing day class; the program was started in September 2008 with Munch being hired in January 2009. The Lopers’ first-ever team, which made its debut last August, was a mix of a high school recruits (signed in the spring of 2009), transfers and current UNK students.
“Our initial signing group is heavy on offensive players; players who can create and score goals,” said Munch. “While we have needs at every position, it is nice to have addressed some of our deficiencies in front of the goal. And while we have upgraded our ability to score goals, we have also upgraded our athletic ability and technical skills. Those are important traits in our need to be competitive in the RMAC.”
Those hailing from Nebraska include Sara Downey (central midfielder) and Dani Messersmith (forward/midfielder) of Scottsbluff, Bellevue West product Caitlin Parra (outside midfielder) and Lauren Zach (central midfielder) of Columbus Scotus.
Also, Hastings High graduate Melanie Patrick (central defender) has transferred in from Nebraska-Omaha and will have two years of eligibility remaining. The other transfer is Omaha Burke graduate Jordan Pfeiffer (central midfielder), who has four years remaining after spending this fall at Metro Community College.
Both Patrick and Pfeiffer have enrolled at UNK for the spring semester and are currently working out with the Lopers.
UNK then went into Colorado to pick up Rebecca (forward) and Sara (outside defender) Talcott of Cherry Creek High in Denver, Jordan Hampton (outside defender/midfielder) of Parker’s Chaparral High and Raliegh Mercer (forward) and Nicole Thompson (central midfielder) of Arapahoe High in Centennial.
And coming in from Texas is central midfielder Kirsti Rehler of James Bowie High in Austin.
In its first-ever game last August, UNK beat Wayne State, 2-1, in front of a Division II-record crowd of 3,227. The Lopers (1-18-1) would also tie RMAC power Regis with freshman keeper Marissa Niday of Fremont being among the national leaders in saves.
COLLEGE GYMNASTICS
Huskers maintain 10th-place ranking
LINCOLN — The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team maintained its 10th-place national ranking in the latest GymInfo poll released Monday after posting a season-best 196.225 against Oklahoma and TWU last the weekend. The poll, which is calculated by average team score, also ranks NU third in the South Central region and second in the Big 12 Conference. In addition, the Huskers are eighth nationally in team vault scoring (49.065), 13th on bars (48.825), 13th on beam (48.665) and eighth on floor (49.015).
Individually, junior Maria Scaffidi is ranked 23rd in the all-around (39.106) and 18th on floor (9.855). Sophomore Lora Evenstad also comes in tied at 16th on floor (9.86). Junior Erin Davis is ranked sixth on vault (9.88), and senior Kathryn Howard is ranked at 18th on beam (9.82).
The Huskers meet Illinois, Denver and Iowa at the IGI Chicago Style Invite on Friday in Chicago. Competition is set to being at 7:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
Neb. Hall of Fame banquet nearing
While the weather here in Nebraska might not have you thinking “spring training”, it’s nearly time again for the annual Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony. This year’s event will take place on Feb. 21, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Beatrice Eagles Club, located at the intersection of Eighth and Court Street in Beatrice.
According to banquet director Bob Steinkamp, a question and answer session with two former Major League players from Nebraska and Oklahoma will be one of the event’s highlights. Bob Cerv, who played with four Major League teams including Kansas City where he had is best season in the bigs with 38 homers and 104 RBIs in 1958 and the New York Yankees, and former teammate Ralph Terry, who played with the Yankees in 1956-57 and 1959-64 (and three other clubs) and was the World Series MVP in 1962, will answer questions from baseball enthusiasts who attend the banquet.
The five new inductees to the Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame will also be announced at the Feb. 21 banquet.
“The Nebraska Hall of Fame Selection Committee selected five individuals with Nebraska roots for induction for 2010,” said this year’s Hall of Fame President Rich Mueller of Geneva. “I encourage you to attend this year’s banquet, which honors these deserving baseball men.”
This year’s inductees include: Seward-native Bob Rine; Buddy Hunter, a coach and player in the Boston Red Sox organization from Omaha; current UNO baseball coach Bob Herold of Omaha, who also served a stint as hitting coach for the Omaha Royals; Big 12 umpire Steve Farlee of Norfolk; and Adrian Rikosky of Omaha, who manages the Omaha semi-pro team The Diamond Spirit, who is taking the place of the Beatrice Bruins in the MINK League.
For ticket information about the banquet, contact Larry Bornschlegl at (402) 463-1071. Tickets will also be available at the door. A silent auction is also planned. After a refreshment hour, dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with the program slated to start at 6:30 p.m.
YOUTH SOFTBALL
Girls softball sign-up scheduled
Leagues are now forming for all girls in Grand Island that wish to play city league recreational softball for the 2010 summer season. All games will be played in Grand Island at the Ryder Park softball complex.
Registration will be held at the Conestoga Mall food court on Feb. 13 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information contact Mark Galvan at (308) 380-8684 or visit online at www.cngsa.com.
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| Tuesday's Local/State Briefs | Hastings College's Slough scores 61 in Broncos' 4 OT win over Midland Lutheran |
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