Menu
Many moments to remember during 2019?
The new year 2020 inspires a final look at not quite 20 top memories from area sports in 2019:
Springing to state championships!
There were tornado watches and weather delays, yet the McCook Bison finished 2018-19 as state champions!
McCook senior Colin Giron unleashed the best Bison shot put throw in 47 years (55’6 1/4”) while winning a Class B title.
Among rain drops and puddles, Bison classmate Alec Bunger claimed the Class B long-jump (21’9 1/2”) title. The Bison finished just two points behind Lexington, 70-68, in that team title chase.
Gross can be great!
McCook’s last two decades of fine football reached a milestone with coach Jeff Gross’ 200th career win on Oct. 4.
His record reached 200-48 (.802 winning percentage) thanks to a 41-0 blanking of Alliance where the Bison allowed just two first downs all game.
It was quite a recovery from the double-overtime defeat at Lexington one week earlier.
His reverence for Bison fans at Weiland Field was never more apparent.
“I would have liked to get the win at Lexington last week (an overtime defeat),” Gross admitted. “But maybe this was meant to be. To get it here seems right.”
Editor’s note: No coach has been better than Gross in helping the media. Every Monday — no matter what happened that previous weekend — complete game stats and the lineup for McCook’s next opponent are awaiting int the Gazette’s E-mail.
Yes, they did it again!
There’s never a doubt that Dundy County-Stratton has delivered the best basketball during recent years.
It was true again in 2019 since those DC-S girls reached another Class D-1 state title game.
The Tigers trounced defending champ North Central, 38-28, then won a tough semifinal over top contender Pleasanton less than 24 hours later.
“That’s our goal is to get to Pinnacle Bank Arena,” new coach Matt Thomas proclaimed.
The Tigers lost that D-1 final to Archbishop Bergan, but have finished 2019 with seven straight wins as they’ll likely pursue a title again in two months.
Huskers so close to home!
A historic moment arrived on April 20 when the mighty University of Nebraska volleyball team played its spring match at McCook’s Graff Events Center.
Fans packed the arena to see Big Red score a four-set win over Colorado State University. It was everything both fans and players were expecting — perhaps even more.
“As soon as we got here, people were honking and waving. I’m not sure we expected anything quite like this,” leading Cornhusker hit No more football this fall.
Injuries forced Southern Valley High to cancel its final four football games last fall because of limited players. However, the Eagles were already playing some eight-man JV games so they can hit 2020 at full speed.
Hofman has been amazing!
McCook alum Noah Hofman had an amazing 2019, setting all sorts of golf low-round records at Ottawa (Ariz.) University and even qualifying for the U.S. Amatuer Tourney in August.
Trojans are among best in state!
Cambridge senior Preston Carbaugh wins the Class C state golf title while current Trojan Deryk Huxoll sets D-1 football receiving playoff records.
Umps go home?
Though umps left an earlier game, McCook Legion Juniors baseball still hosts a successful Class B state tournament later in July.