Republic County High School, the defending NCAA boys’ champion, will get the season underway Thursday night when it travels to Nebraska’s Thayer Central for a showdown Thursday night. Minneapolis High School will also begin winter action Thursday when its wrestling team travels to Hillsboro for a triangular with Hillsboro and Halstead.
Republic County, which won the boys’ 2011-2012 title with a perfect 12-0 NCAA record, is also the defending girls’ champion after going 10-2 in NCAA action for the Lady Buffs.
Sacred Heart
The Lady Knights are entering their second season with Mark Ramsey serving as the Sacred Heart girls’ head coach. Last season the Knights posted a 4-17 campaign in Ramsey’s first season. This year he has four starters returning to the starting lineup and Hanna Doll returns after tearing her ACL last year. "The main strength shouldbe experience with all five starters returning with extensive playing time," Ramsey said. "Our first three off the bench are returning as well. Last season we struggled in that area. If everyone returns that should help us meet our goal of being competitive in ever ball game. We have average speed and quickness combined with team discipline and a positive attitude. We are hoping to improve our record and build toward next year." Pat Martin is beginning his sixth year at the helm of the Sacred Heart boys’ program and returns two starters from the team that posted a 10-12 record last year. "We have a great combination inside/pitside game with lots of depth," Martin said. "Above average
team speed. Lacking in size but post players are very athletic. A brutal scheduled should prepare us for another post season run." Sacred Heart is scheduled to begin this season Friday at Solomon.
Minneapolis
The Lady Lions basketball team is coming off a 12-9 campaign in 2012 but don’t have any of those starters from that squad returning for fifth-year head coach Bryan Weatherman. Weatherman, however, does have five players returning in 2012 who saw decent playing time last year. "We will be deep," Weatherman said. "We will have about 12 kids that can play and compete for a spot on the varsity. Our team speed with be pretty good." Those are the team strengths, according to Weatherman, but with those strengths also come one weakness. "We lost a ton of experience," Weatherman said. Our junior varsity was undefeated (last year) so we chould be competitive." Minneapolis is scheduled to begin the season Dec. 4 at the Tri-County Classic. The Lions wrestling team has a pair of wrestlers returning to the workout room in 2012 with state tournament experience. Senior Isaac Kuden and senior Garrett Lott (160) both return after qualifying for state last season. The squad has 10 varsity starters returning for this season. "This season’s team has a good chance at being successful," head coach Jeff Giles said. "Getting wrestlers into the proper weights and avoiding injuries are key. We will be coping with Bennington this season this should help our dual season." The Lions basketball team has two starters returning for seventh-year head coach Erik Shupe, who is coming off a season where the squad posted a 12-9 record. "We are a very young team with very little scoring and experience returning from last year. We will have to find consistent scoring and become a tough defensive team to have a successful season."
Southeast of Saline
The Trojan wrestling team will begin a new era in 2012 with Eric Deneault beginning his first year guiding the Southeast of Saline grapplers. "I believe we have a solid lineup of wrestlers returning," Deneault said. "It is hard to replace individuals like Brock Long and Kyler Besher who we counted on being in the finals each week. However, with that being said, I believe we have many juniors and seniors ready to step up and fill that void. We have a few individuals whose expectations of returning to state remain high after heart breaking finishes last year. Southeast of Saline is scheduled to begin its wrestling season Friday, Nov. 30 when the Trojans dual at Ellsworth. The Lady Trojan basketball team is coming off a 13-9 record in 2011-2012 and have three starters back from that squad. "We will be very young this year," head coach Wayne Sager said. "Must have our underclassmen develop for us to challenge for win/loss success." The Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team is entering its second season with C
hance Ptacek as its head coach. Ptacek guided Southeast to a 10-11 record last year, but has high hopes for this season. "We have a few similar faces from last year’s squad, but overall we will have a new look this year. We were able to finish strong and I expect this year’s group to build from that. We will have a successful season if we can stay committed to and focused on not only the physical aspects but also the mental aspects of the game."
Russell
The Lady Bronco basketball team is coming off a 15-7, 8-4 season last year while the Bronco boys are coming off a 1-20, 0-12 campaign. Russell High School basketball is scheduled to begin the season Friday night when it plays at Ellinwood High School. … The Bronco wrestling team is scheduled to begin its season Saturday when it competes in the Osborne Invitational.
Beloit
Ryan Eilert returns for his fifth season at the helm of the Beloit boys’ basketball team this year. Eilert has two starters returning from a squad that went 17-7 overall and 9-3 in the NCAA last year. "For us to have success this year, we are going to have to have some young guys step up right away to take the pressure off of our returning players," Eilert said. "Staying healthy will be a big key as well as depth, especially in the post, could be an issue." The Beloit wrestling team has four returning state qualifiers from last season, including Bowe Behymer, who is only in his junior season, but is coming off a fourth-place state finish a year ago. "We have four kids coming back with state tournament experience led by Bowe Behymer," Beloit head coach Andy Niemczyk said. "Our middle weights will be very competitive and our lower weights will be made up of younger kids. We will be a better dual team than last year. I feel we have a chance on qualifying five or six for the state and possibly medaling that many.
"The Lady Trojans basketball team is coming off a 17-7, 10-2 season last year. Beloit will open its basketball season Friday night when they play at Concordia.
Ellsworth
The Lady Bearcat basketball team is coming off a 6-15, 2-10 record last season while the Bearcat boys were 9-12, 5-7 last season. Both teams are scheduled to open the 2012-2013 season this Friday when they play at Lyons High School. The Bearcat wrestling team is scheduled to begin its season this Thursday when it hosts Hays’ Thomas More Prep for a dual.
Republic County
The Republic County High School basketball fans will see a familiar face at an unfamiliar time. Alan Sheets, who guided the Republic County boys’ program for 23 years, has switched roles in 2012. Sheets is still coaching basketball at Republic County High School, but now he is beginning his first season coaching the Lady Buffs. "The Lady Buffs were 21-5 last year, finished third in Class 2A. They return four starters and four additional lettermen from last year. The Lady Buffs have been well coached the last two seasons which will make practices competitive and spirited as the Lady Buffs prepare to make as much noise as possible by the end of the season." Republic County is scheduled to begin the 2012 season Friday, Nov. 29 at Thayer Central (Neb.) High School. Replacing Sheets at the helm of the boys’ program is Kevin Kuhlman. Kuhlman will take over a team which has one starter returning from an 18-4 team. "This team has the potential to have a successful season with everyone accepting their roles and playing for one another. They have a very rugged schedule with not only their league play but also the Hillsboro Tournament but through that it will prepare them for the stretch at the end of the year," Kuhlman said. The Republic County High School wrestling team is scheduled to open its season Saturday at the Lincoln Round Robin tournament.
The 2012-2013 North Central Activities Association’s winter season is set to begin in the coming days.
Republic County High School, the defending NCAA boys’ champion, will get the season underway Thursday night when it travels to Nebraska’s Thayer Central for a showdown Thursday night. Minneapolis High School will also begin winter action Thursday when its wrestling team travels to Hillsboro for a triangular with Hillsboro and Halstead.
Republic County, which won the boys’ 2011-2012 title with a perfect 12-0 NCAA record, is also the defending girls’ champion after going 10-2 in NCAA action for the Lady Buffs.
Sacred Heart
The Lady Knights are entering their second season with Mark Ramsey serving as the Sacred Heart girls’ head coach. Last season the Knights posted a 4-17 campaign in Ramsey’s first season. This year he has four starters returning to the starting lineup and Hanna Doll returns after tearing her ACL last year. "The main strength shouldbe experience with all five starters returning with extensive playing time," Ramsey said. "Our first three off the bench are returning as well. Last season we struggled in that area. If everyone returns that should help us meet our goal of being competitive in ever ball game. We have average speed and quickness combined with team discipline and a positive attitude. We are hoping to improve our record and build toward next year." Pat Martin is beginning his sixth year at the helm of the Sacred Heart boys’ program and returns two starters from the team that posted a 10-12 record last year. "We have a great combination inside/pitside game with lots of depth," Martin said. "Above average team speed. Lacking in size but post players are very athletic. A brutal scheduled should prepare us for another post season run." Sacred Heart is scheduled to begin this season Friday at Solomon.
Minneapolis
The Lady Lions basketball team is coming off a 12-9 campaign in 2012 but don’t have any of those starters from that squad returning for fifth-year head coach Bryan Weatherman. Weatherman, however, does have five players returning in 2012 who saw decent playing time last year. "We will be deep," Weatherman said. "We will have about 12 kids that can play and compete for a spot on the varsity. Our team speed with be pretty good." Those are the team strengths, according to Weatherman, but with those strengths also come one weakness. "We lost a ton of experience," Weatherman said. Our junior varsity was undefeated (last year) so we chould be competitive." Minneapolis is scheduled to begin the season Dec. 4 at the Tri-County Classic. The Lions wrestling team has a pair of wrestlers returning to the workout room in 2012 with state tournament experience. Senior Isaac Kuden and senior Garrett Lott (160) both return after qualifying for state last season. The squad has 10 varsity starters returning for this season. "This season’s team has a good chance at being successful," head coach Jeff Giles said. "Getting wrestlers into the proper weights and avoiding injuries are key. We will be coping with Bennington this season this should help our dual season." The Lions basketball team has two starters returning for seventh-year head coach Erik Shupe, who is coming off a season where the squad posted a 12-9 record. "We are a very young team with very little scoring and experience returning from last year. We will have to find consistent scoring and become a tough defensive team to have a successful season."
Southeast of Saline
The Trojan wrestling team will begin a new era in 2012 with Eric Deneault beginning his first year guiding the Southeast of Saline grapplers. "I believe we have a solid lineup of wrestlers returning," Deneault said. "It is hard to replace individuals like Brock Long and Kyler Besher who we counted on being in the finals each week. However, with that being said, I believe we have many juniors and seniors ready to step up and fill that void. We have a few individuals whose expectations of returning to state remain high after heart breaking finishes last year. Southeast of Saline is scheduled to begin its wrestling season Friday, Nov. 30 when the Trojans dual at Ellsworth. The Lady Trojan basketball team is coming off a 13-9 record in 2011-2012 and have three starters back from that squad. "We will be very young this year," head coach Wayne Sager said. "Must have our underclassmen develop for us to challenge for win/loss success." The Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team is entering its second season with Chance Ptacek as its head coach. Ptacek guided Southeast to a 10-11 record last year, but has high hopes for this season. "We have a few similar faces from last year’s squad, but overall we will have a new look this year. We were able to finish strong and I expect this year’s group to build from that. We will have a successful season if we can stay committed to and focused on not only the physical aspects but also the mental aspects of the game."
Russell
The Lady Bronco basketball team is coming off a 15-7, 8-4 season last year while the Bronco boys are coming off a 1-20, 0-12 campaign. Russell High School basketball is scheduled to begin the season Friday night when it plays at Ellinwood High School. … The Bronco wrestling team is scheduled to begin its season Saturday when it competes in the Osborne Invitational.
Beloit
Ryan Eilert returns for his fifth season at the helm of the Beloit boys’ basketball team this year. Eilert has two starters returning from a squad that went 17-7 overall and 9-3 in the NCAA last year. "For us to have success this year, we are going to have to have some young guys step up right away to take the pressure off of our returning players," Eilert said. "Staying healthy will be a big key as well as depth, especially in the post, could be an issue." The Beloit wrestling team has four returning state qualifiers from last season, including Bowe Behymer, who is only in his junior season, but is coming off a fourth-place state finish a year ago. "We have four kids coming back with state tournament experience led by Bowe Behymer," Beloit head coach Andy Niemczyk said. "Our middle weights will be very competitive and our lower weights will be made up of younger kids. We will be a better dual team than last year. I feel we have a chance on qualifying five or six for the state and possibly medaling that many." The Lady Trojans basketball team is coming off a 17-7, 10-2 season last year. Beloit will open its basketball season Friday night when they play at Concordia.
Ellsworth
The Lady Bearcat basketball team is coming off a 6-15, 2-10 record last season while the Bearcat boys were 9-12, 5-7 last season. Both teams are scheduled to open the 2012-2013 season this Friday when they play at Lyons High School. The Bearcat wrestling team is scheduled to begin its season this Thursday when it hosts Hays’ Thomas More Prep for a dual.
Republic County
The Republic County High School basketball fans will see a familiar face at an unfamiliar time. Alan Sheets, who guided the Republic County boys’ program for 23 years, has switched roles in 2012. Sheets is still coaching basketball at Republic County High School, but now he is beginning his first season coaching the Lady Buffs. "The Lady Buffs were 21-5 last year, finished third in Class 2A. They return four starters and four additional lettermen from last year. The Lady Buffs have been well coached the last two seasons which will make practices competitive and spirited as the Lady Buffs prepare to make as much noise as possible by the end of the season." Republic County is scheduled to begin the 2012 season Friday, Nov. 29 at Thayer Central (Neb.) High School. Replacing Sheets at the helm of the boys’ program is Kevin Kuhlman. Kuhlman will take over a team which has one starter returning from an 18-4 team. "This team has the potential to have a successful season with everyone accepting their roles and playing for one another. They have a very rugged schedule with not only their league play but also the Hillsboro Tournament but through that it will prepare them for the stretch at the end of the year," Kuhlman said. The Republic County High School wrestling team is scheduled to open its season Saturday at the Lincoln Round Robin tournament.
