Ahh, the good ol' days: Bison win Hoehner Invite

Thursday, April 2, 2020
The April 2 Gazette sports pages in 2019 were with Hoehner Invitational track/field results as then-senior and eventual state jump champion Alec Bunger sped to a 100-meter dash lead. McCook High’s boys won the team title with 161 points.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — What a fantastic April Fools Day in 2019 where McCook High’s boys roared past eventual Class B team champion Lexington.

The annual Leroy Hoehner Invitational had been moved to Monday following some typically troublesome early-spring weekend weather.

McCook Bison didn’t mind as the boys totaled 161 points while finishing far ahead of runner-up Lex’s 117.

McCook then-junior Elsi Rodewald moved along to a 3200-meter run title at the 2019 Hoehner Invitational.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Senior DJ Gross swept both the shot put (54’10”) and discus championships (158’1”) with classmate Colin Giron (51’7”, 151’11”) giving McCook 1-2 domination.

Senior Morgan Fawver soared to a long jump title (22’5”) beyond Lexington rival Ajack Walkur (21’10”).

Senior Gabe Sehnert hurled to a 300-meter title (41.62) besides helping Isaac Hegwood, Cam Berry and Ty Stevens finish a 1600-meter relay victory.

Bison sprinting speed also beat everyone from Gothenburg Swedes to Southern Valley Eagles.

Corban Jernigan, Alec Bunger, James Mockry and Fawver won the race in 44.68 ahead of Gothenburg’s 46.9.

The McCook High girls also delivered a great Monday performance, earning second place among seven teams with 98 points.

Junior Elsi Rodewald ran to the one Bison event title as her 13:24.1 was nearly 30 seconds faster than her top 3200-meter challenger.

Many other Bison were high placers like seniors Jayceea Hanson (second, discus), Robin Grigg (second, long jump), Mackenzie Smith (third, shot put) and Brolin Morgan (third, triple jump).

The Bison 1600-meter relay of then-freshman Peyton Doucet, Morgan, Emma Dutton and Addison Randel also took third overall (4:31.98).

That final effort gave McCook just enough points to edge Gothenburg, 98-97, for second overall.

Lexington’s 139 points took home top team honors.

On that same April 1, the McCook High tennis girls scored a super 61-60 win over Class A Kearney High in North Platte’s tourney. Senior Kassidy Michaelis went 5-0 at No. 1 singles.

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