Athletics News

  • WNCC wins opener at regionals over Lamar
    May 09, 2024
    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Adrian Short struck out 10 and the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team scored five, 6th-inning runs to register the 8-5 win over Lamar Community College in the first-round of the Region IX Baseball Tournament in Colorado Springs, Colorado. WNCC advances in the winner bracket and will play top-seeded Southeast Community College at 12 noon. The other first-round contest on Thursday saw No. 6 Northeastern Junior College top No. 3 McCook Community College 10-7. NJC advances to play a 3 p.m. contest against the No. 2 seed Otero College. In an elimination game on Thursday, McCook eliminated Lamar 9-8. McCook moves on to play Friday at 6 p.m. against one of the second-round losing teams.
  • WNCC women’s soccer players Razo, Vasquez sign to continue playing
    May 07, 2024
    WNCC women’s soccer players are taking their talents to the next level after Tania Razo and Lesley Vasquez signed to continue playing at four-year schools. Razo is headed to Shaw University in North Carolina. Shaw is a Division II institution. Vasquez is head to William Carey, the NAIA national runner-ups a year ago. William Carey was 24-1 last fall. Vasquez said she picked William Carey because it was a good school with an outstanding soccer program.
  • WNCC former Cougar Fatima Balza hired as interim volleyball coach
    May 07, 2024
    Western Nebraska Community College has hired a familiar face to serve as interim head volleyball coach as Fatima Balza returns to WNCC to guide the volleyball team. Balza officially started her role as interim coach in late April after arriving on campus. Balza is excited to be back at WNCC, a place where she started her collegiate volleyball career.
  • WNCC tops NJC 3-2, sweeps series
    May 04, 2024
    STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team received excellent pitching and defense in taking an Empire Conference contest from Northeastern Junior College Saturday evening in Sterling, Colorado. WNCC’s four pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and the Cougars scored three late runs to earn the 3-2 win over the Plainsmen. WNCC, who moves to 27-28 on the season, swept the series after taking the first game on Thursday 6-3 at NJC and then the doubleheader at Scottsbluff on Friday 5-4 and 2-1. It was WNCC’s fifth straight win and moves the Cougars to 18-10 in the conference, which is tied with McCook as they get ready for the Region IX tournament that begins Thursday in Colorado Springs, Colorado. WNCC will play either NJC or Lamar Community College who are tied at 10-18 in the conference. Southeast won the conference at 25-3, followed by Otero at 20-8, and both get byes at regionals.
  • Pitching, defense propel WNCC to two wins over NJC
    May 03, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team got strong pitching from Rocco Harmon and Zane Hendrickx as the Cougars wrapped up the home portion of their schedule with an Empire Conference doubleheader sweep over Northeastern Junior College on a chilly afternoon at Cleveland Field. The first game saw Harmon go six inning allowing just tw0 runs and striking out four as the Cougars withstood a Plainsmen seventh-inning rally for the 5-4 win. The second game saw the Cougars’ two pitchers Hendrickx and Cam Meyer combine on five hits and just one run in getting he 2-1 win.
  • Peterson leads WNCC baseball to win over NJC in 11 innings
    May 01, 2024
    STERLING, Colo. – Bryce Peterson had a career day as a Cougar as the sophomore from Brighton, Colorado, finished with three doubles and six RBIs to help the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team earn a 6-3 11-inning Empire Conference win over Northeastern Junior College Monday in Sterling, Colorado. Peterson’s hot hitting saw the third-baseman smack two doubles that score three runs each to help the Cougars move to 15-10 in conference and 24-28 overall. NJC falls to 10-15 in conference and 24-25 overall. WNCC and NJC will have three more games this weekend. The Cougars will host NJC in a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. at Cleveland Field and then travel to NJC for a 9-inning game on Saturday to close out the regular season.
  • WNCC's Joseph headed to Division I U. of New Orleans
    May 01, 2024
    Mackenzie Joseph’s dream was to play Division I basketball. That dream came true as the Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball sophomore is going back to her home state of Louisiana to play for the University of New Orleans for the next two years. “Honestly this is a dream come true,” Joseph, the 5-foot-11 shooting guard said. “I always wanted to go Division I; that was my goal for a long time. Everyone that helped me get here. I really liked playing basketball when I was younger so being here at this stage now and knowing I am going Division I is a blessing.”
  • WNCC, McCook split conference doubleheader
    April 25, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team split a key Empire Conference doubleheader with McCook Community College Thursday at Cleveland Field. The first game saw WNCC spot McCook five first-inning runs and then scored eight times late in the game to claim the 10-5 win. The second contest saw a tight contest through the first five innings knotted at 2-2. After that, the teams had to endure an hour-plus rain and lightning delay. When play resumed, McCook scored 10 times in the next three innings to win 12-2.
  • WNCC athletics to hold annual Cougar Golf Classic June 8
    April 22, 2024
    Western Nebraska Community College athletics will hold their annual Cougar Golf Classic on Saturday, June 8 at Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering. The golf classic is a 4-person scramble with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. The cost for the day of golf is $80 person and includes carts and lunch. Entry deadline is June 6, but the sooner registered is better to be guaranteed a T-shirt. There are two divisions for the golf tournament, which is a fun and relaxed 18-hole tournament. There is a men’s division along with a women’s/coed division. First place in each division will get a gift certificate to the golf course. There are also hole prizes as well. There is also hole sponsorship opportunities and if anyone wants to donate items for prizes, contact the WNCC athletic office. Proceeds from the golf classic will benefit the WNCC athletic scholarship fund. There are three ways to register. You can register by downloading the golf classic flyer at www.wnccathletics.com. You may also register online by going to the WNCC athletics website, clicking the banner, and then the online registration link. You can also email WNCC athletic director Ryan Burgner at burgnerr@wncc.edu to register or for more details.
  • WNCC softball splits with McCook on Sophomore recognition day
    April 21, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team earned a split with McCook Community College on Sunday in the final regular season contest for the Cougars with WNCC ripping three home runs in the second game to earn a heart-pounding 9-7 win to earn a split with McCook at Volunteer Field. The first game saw McCook score early and then held on for the 11-1 win. WNCC ends the season at 14-24 overall and 10-14 in conference play. Northeastern Junior College earned the final spot for the 4-team regional tournament after taking the fourth game of their series against Trinidad State to earn a berth into the tournament at 11-13. Sunday’s game was also sophomore recognition for the three sophomores, Baylie Krueger, Devyn Priselac, and Katelynn Czerpak, who were recognized before the game.
  • WNCC baseball drops four games to Southeast over the weekend
    April 21, 2024
    BEATRICE – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped four games to Southeast Community College in Empire Conference action on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the Cougars fell to the Bobcats 27-1 and 9-6. Sunday’s action saw Southeast plate 30 runs in the two games compared to three for the Cougars. Southeast won the first game 18-1 and the second game 12-2. WNCC falls to 21-26 overall and to 12-8 in conference play. WNCC is fourth as Southeast leads the conference at 18-2 followed by McCook at 16-4 and Otero at 11-7.
  • WNCC softball splits with McCook on Friday
    April 19, 2024
    MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team earned a split with McCook Community College in key conference action on Friday. In the first game, McCook scored 10 runs in the first two innings and then held on for the 10-2 win. The second game saw a strong pitching performance from Kayli Cooper as the Cougars earned the 4-3 win. Friday’s win was important for the Cougars as they kept their season alive for a post-season tourney bid. WNCC is 9-13 in conference play and just one game out of the final playoff spot, which is held by NJC at 10-10. NJC has a 4-game series with conference-leading Trinidad State this weekend. WNCC will wrap up the regular season on Sunday when they host McCook at Volunteer Field.
  • WNCC baseball ties home run record with split with Otero on Sunday
    April 14, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team tied a school record for most home runs in a contest when the Cougars blasted eight home runs in a 22-12 win over Otero College in the second game on Sunday. In the first contest, the Cougars offense wasn’t as explosive as they fell 4-1 to the Rattlers. WNCC dropped 3-of-4 to Otero over the weekend and is now tied with McCook in the Empire Conference at 12-4. Southeast Community College is on top at 14-2. WNCC will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Southeast for a crucial 4-game series. The second game had all the dramatics as the Cougars belted out 20 hits and 22 runs with eight home runs and three doubles. Otero also had the offensive going as they managed 18 hits with two home runs. WNCC’s home run power saw Arturo Montiel blast three including a grand slam followed two from Shintaro Inoue, and one each from Ashton Ross, Caleb Caciari, and Hunter McCollum. The eight home runs in a game ties the record set by the 2003 team when they hit eight in the regional tournament. Montiel came within one home run from tying the record for home runs in a game with his three. He is now tied with Pete Rogers (2003) and Aurello Monteagudo (2004). Rogers hods the record with four home runs in a game with McCook in 2003.
  • WNCC softball splits with Luna on Sunday
    April 14, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team split a conference doubleheader with Luna Community College on Sunday at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff. The first game saw the Cougars battle back from a 7-2 deficit with a 7-run fifth inning to get the 11-9 win. The second game saw WNCC play strong defensively for the first six innings as the Cougars held a 3-1 lead entering the final inning. Luna responded with six runs in their final at bat to steal the 7-3 win. WNCC will be back in action Friday and Sunday in key conference games with McCook Community College. WNCC travels to McCook on Friday before hosting McCook on Sunday. Sunday’s contests will be sophomore recognition day.
  • WNCC softball tops Luna for fourth straight win
    April 13, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball loves keeping their fans on the edge of their seats and that is exactly what they did Saturday as they captured a conference doubleheader against Luna Community College Saturday at Volunteer Field. In the first game WNCC fell behind 7-2 and later 12-5 before plating 12 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to claim the 17-15 win. The second game was a complete team effort as Jenika Fuentes went the distance in scattering 11 hits and allowing just three hits while striking out three. WNCC had 13 hits in the 7-3 win as Mykah Klumpp had a home run. The Cougars have won four straight and moved to 7-11 in conference play while Luna drops to 4-14. WNCC is just three wins out of third place after both McCook and Northeastern dropped games Saturday. Both of those teams are 10-8 in conference.
  • WNCC baseball falls twice to Otero
    April 13, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Otero College Saturday at Cleveland Field in key Empire Conference contests. In the first game, Otero scored nine runs in the first four innings and went on for the 14-3 win in six innings. The second game saw Otero hold WNCC scoreless until the ninth inning, but at the same time plated nine times for the 9-2 win. The two teams will be back at it again on Sunday with first pitch slated for 12 p.m. at Cleveland Field.
  • WNCC softball takes two from NJC
    April 09, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team put together two team wins as the Cougars took a conference doubleheader from reigning Region IX champions Northeastern Junior College Tuesday at Volunteer Field. The first game saw the Cougars jump out to a quick 8-1 lead and plating a run in five of the six innings to edge NJV 12-11 in a game that saw the teams combine for 31 hits. The second game saw NJC jump out to a 6-0 lead before the Cougars rallied with a 4-run sixth inning that saw Randi Mitchell hit the only home run on the day between the two teams as WNCC won 8-7. WNCC goes to 5-11 in conference play while NJC drops to 10-6. WNCC will have four important conference games this weekend at home when Luna Community College comes to Volunteer Field. Luna is 4-12 in conference play. Mitchell, who had the second-game tying home run, said the team played together and knew what was on the line.
  • Inoue breaks two records, WNCC takes DH from Lamar on Monday
    April 08, 2024
    LAMAR, Colo. – Shintaro Inoue broke two career records Monday as the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team picked up two wins over Lamar Community College on Monday. Inoue broke the career runs scored record in the first game when the Cougars won 8-2. Inoue then broke the career home run record when he had a solo home run in the eighth inning of game two as the Cougars won 10-1. WNCC swept Lamar in the 4-game Empire Conference series to move to 20-19 overall and remains on top of the conference standings at 11-1. Southeast Community College is second in the conference at 10-2 followed by McCook Community College is 7-3 and Otero College fourth at 5-5. WNCC will have Otero, Southeast, and McCook in contest over the next three weekends. The Rattlers come to Cleveland Field this weekend for a 4-game series on Saturday and Sunday with Saturday’s action beginning at 1 p.m. WNCC travels to Southeast April 20-21 for a key series as well.
  • WNCC baseball takes two from Lamar on Sunday
    April 07, 2024
    LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team got the offense rolling in an Empire Conference doubleheader win over Lamar Community College on Sunday in Lamar, Colorado. The Cougars spotted Lamar two runs in the first inning of the opening game and then came back and captured the 11-6 win. The second win saw the Cougars score 10 times in the first inning followed by a Tyler Easter grand slam in the fourth for the 17-2 win. WNCC moves to 18-19 on the year but, more importantly, is still on top of the conference standings at 9-1. Lamar drops to 14-22 overall and 4-6 in the conference. Southeast is second in the conference at 8-2 followed by McCook at 7-3.
  • WNCC falls to NJC on Friday
    April 05, 2024
    STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community Collee softball dropped a conference doubleheader to Northeastern Junior College on Friday in different style of contests in Sterling, Colorado. The first game saw the Cougars fall behind early and managed just three hits in falling to the Plainswomen 9-0. The second contest saw WNCC get home runs from Bailey Legere, Mykah Klumpp, and Madi VanRiper but came up short, falling 11-8. The Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday against Northeastern Junior College at Volunteer Field in a game that was originally slated for Sunday, but was moved because of the forecasted weather conditions. First pitch at the Cougar’s home diamond is slated for 1 p.m. After being shutout in the first game, the Cougars played totally different in game two where they outhit NJC 13-10 and blasted four extra base hits.
  • WNCC baseball drops doubleheader to Garden City
    April 02, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team couldn’t find their offense in dropping a doubleheader with Garden City Community College on Tuesday at Cleveland Field. The first game saw the Cougars start strong, but then Garden City scored three times in the fourth and sixth inning to claim the 8-4 win. The second game saw WNCC manage just four hits as Garden City rolled to an 8-0 win behind a 10-strike out night from the six Garden City pitchers. WNCC will be back in action Sunday and Monday when they travel to Lamar Community College for a 4-game Empire Conference series.
  • WNCC, Trinidad split conference games Saturday
    March 30, 2024
    PUEBLO, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team split an Empire Conference doubleheader Saturday in contrasting fashion in Pueblo, Colorado. The first game saw the Cougars score five times in the fifth and Valentin Blanc went the distance, striking out six in helping the Cougars to the 5-2 win. The second game saw an offensive contest with the teams combining for 31 runs and 34 hits. In the end, Trinidad State got two solo home runs in the bottom of the ninth to claim the 16-15 win. WNCC moves to 16-17 on the season and are still in first in the conference standings at 7-1 just ahead of McCook, who split contests with Otero on Saturday. McCook is 6-2.
  • WNCC softball splits with Colby on Sunday
    March 24, 2024
    COLBY, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team earned a split with Colby Community College on Sunday to finish the weekend series in Colby, Kansas. WNCC won the first game on Sunday 4-3 with a team-like win. The second game saw the Trojans register a 14-1 win. The Cougars fell to Colby on Saturday 10-2 and 11-0. WNCC, 7-19, will be back in action April 5 when they travel to face Northeastern Junior College before hosting the Plainsmen on April 7.
  • WNCC sweeps Luna on Saturday, captures fifth straight
    March 23, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team swept Luna Community College on Saturday in an Empire Conference doubleheader at a chilly Cleveland Field on Saturday. The first game saw Scottsbluff’s Hunter McCollum register five RBIs including a go-ahead 2-run home run in the sixth inning for the 6-5 win. The second contest saw the Cougars get strong pitching from Nick Tremblay and Gus Allred as the two combined on nine strikeouts for the 7-5 win. WNCC has now won five-straight and are sitting on top of the North conference at 4-0 with McCook in second at 3-1, Northeastern Junior College at 2-2 and Southeast at 1-2. McCook took 3-of-4 from Lamar Community College over the weekend while NJC split with Trinidad State. WNCC will be back in action Friday and Saturday when they hit the road for a 4-game series at Trinidad State.
  • WNCC baseball takes two from Luna Community College
    March 22, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College baseball opened Empire Conference action with a doubleheader sweep over Luna Community College Friday at Cleveland Field. The first game was action-packed as Luna hit five home runs and led 9-8 in the Cougars final at bat and the Cougars scored twice in the final inning as Shintaro Inoue had the game-winning double that scored Mathieu Levesque with the game-winner for the 10-9 win. The second game saw WNCC score nine times in the third inning in registering the 13-1 win in a contest that saw Adrian Short toss a strong six inning on the mound, striking out five and allowing just one run. WNCC and Luna will be back in action for another doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 noon to wrap up the 4-game series at Cleveland Field.
  • WNCC, Trinidad softball split on Saturday
    March 16, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team got a grand slam in the seventh inning to register a come-from-behind win over Trinidad State College Saturday 7-6 in the first game of a doubleheader. The second game saw Trinidad score in four of the five innings for the 12-0 win. WNCC and Trinidad will be back in action Sunday at 11 a.m. for another Region IX conference doubleheader.
  • Trinidad downs WNCC for Region IX title
    March 16, 2024
    The Trinidad State College men’s basketball team received 28 points from Lateef Patrick as the Trojans won their third straight Region IX title with an 81-56 win over Western Nebraska Community College Saturday evening. Trinidad never trailed in the contest and held a commanding 23-2 lead through the first 13 minutes of the opening half. After the slow start, the Cougars started to come back as they out-scored Trinidad 17-14 in the final seven minutes of the half to trail 37-19 at intermission. The second half was more of a ball game as WNCC tried coming back as they sliced the deficit to just 15 points on a JJ Harris bucket and an Anthony Simo 3-pointer. Trinidad answered with a 20-4 run to lead 67-36 as Kenyon Elliott hit a big 3-pointer. The Trojans led 70-40 on two free throws by Amir Reeves with 5:20 to play.
  • WNCC men top Casper, will play for regional title Saturday night
    March 15, 2024
    The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team will be playing for a Region IX title Saturday evening after a heart-pounding 82-78 win over Casper College in the semifinals of the Region IX tournament at Cougar Palace. WNCC, who have now won 13 straight, will be facing Trinidad State College for the title at 5 p.m. at Cougar Palace. Trinidad State had to hang on to down Gillette College 86-83 in the other semifinal game Friday. WNCC coach Billy Engel said it was a heck of a game and his team battled tooth and nail to get the emotional win.
  • WNCC comes back to down Paradise Valley to end Spring Break trip with a win
    March 15, 2024
    PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team used some late-inning magic in capturing a 7-4 win over Paradise Valley Community College Friday afternoon in Phoenix, Arizona, to wrap up their Spring Break trip. The Cougars will next be in action March 23-24 when they host Luna Community College in four Empire Conference contests at Cleveland Field. Friday afternoon, the Cougars fell behind 3-0 before they mounted a comeback in the seventh and eighth inning. Paradise Valley was cruising along with a 3-0 lead after scoring twice in the first and one in the third.
  • WNCC women fall to Western Wyoming at regionals
    March 14, 2024
    CASPER, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team saw their season come to an end at the Region IX tourney in Casper, Wyoming, after falling to Western Wyoming Community College 58-52. The Cougars end the season at 25-7 while Western Wyoming moves on in the semifinals to face Northeastern Junior College. NJC was a 77-50 winner over Gillette College.
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