Bison tennis girls run into 'B" obstacle, take second at East-West

Senior No. 1 singles player Abby Schneider and the McCook girls tennis team will make two home appearances this weekend. They host duals against Scottsbluff and Gering on Friday starting at 4 p.m. Saturday features the annual McCook Bison Invitational with several teams hitting those courts at 9 a.m.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

KEARNEY, Neb. — One has likely fallen asleep at the steering wheel if a trip to Class B state tennis honors in Lincoln suddenly weaves through Gretna?!

However, going right through Gretna East sees to be exactly McCook’s path for another Class B state team title path next month.

“Gretna East is a strong squad, senior-heavy,” Bison coach Matt Wiemers said following Monday’s “East-West Shootout” eight-team showdown in Kearney. “They are thinking it’s their year to win it all.”

The 2025 champion Bison blazed into Kearney with a 17-1 dual record and are still respctably 20-2 after this East-West event.

Yet Gretna East delivered that second loss all season, 5-0, which featured four of five victories by at least an 8-4 margin.

Otherwise, McCook conquered duals with a talented York Dukes team besides Class A Lincoln and Omaha Mercy.

The Bison won their West Division over Kearney Catholic, familiar rival Lexington and Gothenburg.

Coach Wiemers offered some more remarks about McCook’s East-West Shootout performance:

“We did not have our best day and took some losses that we should not have. But there will be days like that and it was unfortunate to have a rough day against the competition we faced,” he said.

“We will take advantage of the next three days to get back in sync and work on basic fundamentals,” Wiemers added. “With only 12 matches to play, we really need to be sharp and build momentum heading into the state tournament.”

The Bison host two duals on Friday starting at 4 p.m. Scottsbluff duals McCook first before the Bison take on Gering around 6 p.m.

Several teams then join the Bison for Saturday’s McCook Invitational starting at 9 a.m.

Team standings: 1. Gretna East 4-0, 2. McCook 3-1, 3. Kearney Catholic 3-1, 4. York 2-2, 5. Lexington 2-2, 6. Lincoln High 1-3, 7. Gothenburg 1-3, 8. Omaha Mercy 0-4.

McCook 3,

York 2

1 Singles-Abby Schneider Lost to K. Brekke 9-8 (7-4)

2 Singles-Abi Thompson Def A. Kadavy 8-2

1 Doubles-Elizabeth McConville/Cassidy Rogers Def A. Real/S. Jacobsen 8-2

2 Doubles-Kenadi Porter/Madi Wilcox Def J. Rauert/K. Nunnenkamp 8-5

3 Doubles-Emma McConville/Analia Almanza Lost to K. Wardyn/S. Warren 8-5

Gretna East 5,

McCook 0

1 Singles-Abby Schneider Lost to Z. Katsavelis 8-0

2 Singles-Abi Thompson Lost to A. Lerch 8-3

1 Doubles-Elizabeth McConville/Cassidy Rogers Lost to J. Freeland/N. Khammahvong 8-6

2 Doubles-Kenadi Porter/Madi Wilcox Lost to A. Foltz/H. Wood 8-4

3 Doubles-Emma McConville/Analia Almanza Lost to A. Clarke/A. Highley 8-4

McCook 5,

Omaha Mercy 0

1 Singles-Abby Schneider Def K. Tauriella 8-0

2 Singles-Abi Thompson Def D. Hillyard 8-0

1 Doubles-Elizabeth McConville/Cassidy Rogers Def H. Carlsen/K. Woodling 8-3

2 Doubles-Kenadi Porter/Madi Wilcox Def R. Pensick/L. Williams 8-4

3 Doubles-Emma McConville/Analia Almanza Def B. Hanzik/M. McColley 8-3

McCook 3,

Lincoln High 2

Singles-Abby Schneider Def A. Devney 8-1

2 Singles-Abi Thompson Def H. Paw 8-3

1 Doubles-Elizabeth McConville/Cassidy Rogers Lost to N. Maly/A. Lemon 9-7

2 Doubles-Kenadi Porter/Madi Wilcox Lost to B. Moraga/E. Crotteau 9-8 (8-6)

3 Doubles-Emma McConville/Analia Almanza Def T. Way/I. Canchola 8-6.