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Two MCC basketball players, golfer sign with new schools
McCook Community College sophomore men's basketball players Trey Harris and Mark Versen and sophomore golfer Sean Sterkel have found new homes.
Harris, a 6-foot guard from Colorado Springs-Mitchell High School, signed a letter intent Monday to play at NCAA Division I University of California-Irvine.
Versen, a 6-6 forward from Lakewood, Colo., and Green Mountain High School, signed with Dickinson State, N.D., where he will join former MCC coach Ty Orton and MCC teammate Jeremy Mallard, who signed two weeks ago.
Sterkel, who is a Bridgeport, Neb., High School graduate, will also matriculate to Dickinson State and will play golf.
Four MCC athletes are Dickinson State-bound. The other is Staci Moore, a Cambridge sophomore who signed with the women's basketball program.
Harris averaged 11.7 points and 3.8 assists a game during the 2006-07 season and shot 42.6 percent from 3-point range. He is projected as a 1-guard (point guard) but can play the 2 (shooting guard).
Harris said he weighed more than 20 NCAA Division I and II offers, including St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. He plans to major in marketing and sociology and carries a 3.3 grade point average.
Harris said MCC prepared him for the Division I level. He's looking forward to playing Cal-Irvine, which has the unique nickname of Anteaters.
"The competition and pace of the game was so fast," Harris said. "It's been awhile since they made the (NCAA) tournament. UC schools are good to get a degree from. It will be a little more diverse than it is here."
Versen chose Dickinson State over offers from Peru State, Lindenwood, Cardinal Stitch-Milwaukee, York College and Mount Marty, N.D.
Versen said the transition from MCC to Dickinson State should be smooth because he will be playing for Orton again.
"I'm trying to get out of college with no debt," said Versen, who will major in business management or marketing. He carries a 3.3 GPA. "I will play the 4-spot (power forward). Coach Orton has helped me with my speed and agility. It will fun."
Orton said he was thrilled that Harris and Versen were able to get scholarships.
"They're both going to represent the (MCC) program well," Orton said. "As long as Trey gets a scholarship, the levels (DI or DII) don't mean anything to me. They know they're going to have to work hard. Both know how to play.
"Trey is going to play a lot. But most importantly, Trey is on track to graduate in two years. The academics at UC-Irvine are excellent -- it's a great spot for him."
Sterkel chose Dickinson State over offers from Midland Lutheran in Fremont, Wayne State and the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He is a physical education major with a 3.0 GPA.
"I feel it's a good choice for me -- it will fit me well," Sterkel said.
Sterkel helped the Indians to a first-place finish at the Eastern Wyoming Invitational fall meet in September -- he finished third in the medal competition -- and second place in the Eastern Wyoming spring meet April 19-20.
MCC finished 10th at the recent NJCAA District III meet at Gothenburg.
"We stayed pretty consistent," he said about the Indian golfers.
Sterkel looks forward to playing golf at Dickinson State.
"We have four solid guys on the team that can play. We should be able top compete for a conference championship."