Bison tennis girls deliver wins 400, then 401 for coach

Friday, March 24, 2023
McCook sophomore Rowen Wiemers (above) puts plenty of power in her return against the Hershey Panthers on McCook’s home tennis courts Thursday afternoon. Rowen teamed for two doubles and a singles varsity win during this triangular.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Here’s an amazing tribute to most every McCook High tennis player since 1999:

The Bison boys have scored 200 dual wins for coach Matt Wiemers during these past 24 seasons;

With Thursday’s home sweep, the McCook girls could celebrate wins 200 and 201.

McCook coach Matt Wiemers (right) talks tennis with No. 1 doubles partners Jaci Meyers (center) and Abbie Johnson (left) during a win over North Platte Thursday.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

The Bison girls took 201 in style as they swept North Platte, 9-0, following a 7-2 opening win over Hershey Thurday afternoon.

“Obviously, you have to have the horses,” Wiemers said about neither gender suffering a losing dual season since his first three years at McCook High. “And we’ve had some phenomenal athletes play tennis here. You also have to have the belief in the program and the support from everyone — which we’ve had.”

Thursday was a sparkling setting after skies cleared and temperatures rose above 50 degrees for both duals.

McCook sophomore Brooklyn Gillen won matches at both No. 2 and No. 3 singles in Thursday’s triangular.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

The only real setback was McCook missing one senior varsity regular due to illness.

Yet nothing was slowing like ‘99 dial-up internet on this day.

Varsity-proven senior Laci Stewart and sophomore Brooklyn Gillen delivered as did freshmen Abby Schneider and Jayee Hammond in their varsity debuts.

“I knew girls like Laci and Brooklyn would be ready. They’re good, versatile athletes we can move around,” Wiemers explained. “Playing varsity wasn’t even a blip on the radar.”

Meanwhile, Schneider didn’t drop one game while Hammond blasted across an 8-1 win.

Bison versatility showed again vs. North Platte, where Gillen went from No. 3 to No. 2 singles and still triumphed 8-1.

Seniors Abbie Johnson and Jaci Meyers both returned to the varsity lineup where they trounced both Bulldogs.

Perhaps McCook’s best win of this home-opening triangular was that Johnson-Meyers do delivering an 8-5 beating of North Platte’s No. 1 combo.

“I thought that was a real nice win against a good, competitive North Platte team,” coach Wiemers said.

McCook’s No. 2 doubles team featuring sisters Rowen and Roslyn Wiemers also finished a 3-0 first week with neither match closer than 8-2 on Thursday.

Wiemers agreed all these solid 3-0 starts are a tribute how McCook players of both genders work together.

Take new No. 1 singles player Clause as a great example.

“She worked on her game a lot, went to Florida in the off-season, played against boys and tough competition,” coach explained. “The boys work with this team as do the girls with our boys in the fall.”

Both the McCook boys and girls have won Class B state championships during these past six years under Wiemers’ guidance.

The Bison return to practice today and prepare for another home dual on Tuesday against Hastings. First matches are set for 4 p.m.

McCook 7, Hershey 2

SINGLES

No. 1: Izzy Clause, MC, won 8-3 over B. Bode

No. 2: K. McNeil, won 8-4 over Rowen Wiemers, MC

No. 3: Brooklyn Gillen, MC, won 8-4 over J. Messersmith

No. 4: Laci Stewart, MC, won 8-1 over C. McNeel

No. 5: Abby Schneider, MC, won 8-0 over K. Woolley

No. 6: Jaylee Hammond, MC, won 8-1 over A. Quiroga

DOUBLES

No. 1: Johnson/Myers, MC won 8-2 over C. McNeel/Quiroga

No. 2: Wiemers/Wiemers, MC, won 8-2 over Messersmith/Woolley

No. 3: Bode/K. McNeel won 8-4 over Stevens/Wolcott, MC

McCook 9, N.Platte 0

SINGLES

No. 1: Izzy Clause, MC, won 8-3 over L. Daily

No. 2: Brooklynn Gillen, MC, won 8-1 over B. Lundgreen

No. 3: Abbie Johnson, MC, won 8-1 over R. Douglas

No. 4: Rowen Wiemers, MC, won 8-6 over H. Hamilton

No. 5: Roslyn Wiemers, MC, won 8-3 over S. Bedlan

No. 6: Jaci Meyers, MC, won 8-2 over C. McClain

DOUBLES

No. 1: Johnson/Myers, MC won 8-5 over Douglas/Hamilton

No. 2: Wiemers/Wiemers, MC, won 8-2 over Bedlan/McClain

No. 3: Clause/Stewart won 8-3 over Lundgreen/Daily

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