PAGE 14 PRESS & DAKOTAN / PLAIN TALK ■ FALL SPORTS 2012

ATHLETES TO WATCH VANESSA MCFARLAND, CROFTON (So.): 27th in Class D in 2011 ABIGAIL BRAUN, CROFTON (Sr.): 28th in Class D in 2011 SADIE PETERSEN, LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE (So.): 40th SAMANTHA CAMENZIND, LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE in Class D in 2011 NEBRASKA (Sr.): 60th in Class D in 2011 CHASITY WILMES, CREIGHTON (So.): 85th in Class D in 2011 DANIELLE RIESBERG, CROFTON (Sr.): 4th in Class D in 2011 POST-SEASON SCHEDULE TIFFANY TRAMP, CROFTON (Sr.): 6th in Class D in 2011 DISTRICTS: October 10-12 GIRLS’ CROSS RACHEL LOECKER, HARTINGTON (Jr.): 29th in Class C in 2011 STATE MEET: Friday, October 19 — Class C Girls, noon; Class C KENDY KUBE, CROFTON (So.): 15th in Class D in 2011 Boys, 1 p.m.; Class D Girls, 2 p.m.; Class D Boys, 3 p.m.

Bloomfield ASSISTANT: Jason Arens the state meet where they sent two runners. VITALS: Class D, MidStates Conference RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Lyn- COACH: Duane Wilken (39th year) LAST YEAR: The Warriors won their dsay Dunn (Sr., Third year Letterwinner), VITALS: Class D, Lewis and Clark Confer- sixth consecutive Class D state title last fall, Rachel Loecker (Jr., Two-time State Qualifier) ence the third longest streak in Nebraska prep TOP PROSPECTS: Anna Broderson LAST YEAR: The Queen Bees did not cross country history. They also claimed con- (Jr.), Elizabeth Rembert (So.) have any state meet participants last season. ference and district team titles. The only run- RETURNING LETTERWINNER: Lily ner lost from last year’s squad is Elizabeth Nagengost (Jr.) Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Kube, 35th at the state meet and now running COACH: TOP PROSPECTS: Claire Trenhaile for Morningside College. Megan Virgil (5th season) (Fr.), Alexis Hamm (Fr.), Breanna Gollup (Jr., RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: VITALS: Class D, Northeast Nebraska Ac- gained through co-op with Wausa) tivities Conference Abby Braun (Sr., 28th at state), Danielle Reis- RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: berg (Sr., fourth at state), Tiffany Tramp (Sr., Sam- Creighton sixth at state), Brayton Hagge (Sr.), Jazmin mie Camenzind (Sr., state qualifier); Sadie Pe- Wubben (Jr.), Samantha Guenther (So.), tersen (So., state qualifier) COACH: Christine Baldwin (4th year) ASSISTANT: Vanessa McFarland (So., 27th at state), Kendy Ward Baldwin Kube (So., 15th at state) Niobrara-Verdigre VITALS: Class D, Northeast Nebraska Ac- TOP PROSPECTS: Whitney Miller (Sr.), COACH: Stacy Ludwig (15th year) tivities Conference Molly Bossman (So.), Abby Steffen (So.), LAST YEAR: The Lady Bulldogs quali- ASSISTANT: Mary Snowdon Quinn Wragge (So.), Keeley Haage (Fr.), Han- VITALS: Class D, Niobrara Valley Confer- fied one runner for state, then-freshman Cha- nah Kast (Fr.), Vanessa Downs (Fr.), Alyssa sity Wilmes. ence RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: White (Fr.) LAST YEAR: The Cougars lost senior Chastity Wilmes (So., 85th at state), Allison Ashley Chinana to graduation. She placed Morrill (So.) Hartington 54th at state last fall. RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: TOP PROSPECTS: Rachel Tauber (So.), COACH: Laura Noecker Tiffany Patrick (Jr.), KyLeah Sorensen (So.), ASSISTANT: Katie Hanvey (So.) Mandy Hochstein TOP PROSPECTS: Jacelyn Sukup (So.), Marrisa Frank (So.) VITALS: Class D, Lewis and Clark Confer- Andrea Burkhardt ence (Jr.), Rachel Dather (So.) Crofton LAST YEAR: The Wildcats won two invi- tational meets last season in preparation for COACH: Jayne Arens CROFTON LADY WARRIORS: Danielle Riesberg

ATHLETES TO WATCH TYLER SMITH, BLOOMFIELD (Sr.): 71st in Class D in 2011 HENRY GOEDEN, CROFTON (Sr.): 31st in Class D in 2011 DREW ESKINS, CROFTON (Jr.): 26th in Class D in 2011 POST-SEASON SCHEDULE NEBRASKA MATTHEW GUENTHER, CROFTON (Sr.): 37th in Class D in 2011 JOSHUA GOEDEN, CROFTON (So.): 105th in Class D in 2011 DISTRICTS: October 10-12 CALLEN KOESTER, BLOOMFIELD (Sr.): 109th in Class D in 2011 COLE STEFFEN, CROFTON (So.): 40th in Class D in 2011 STATE MEET: Friday, October 19 — Class C Girls, noon; Class C Boys, 1 COY REYNOLDS, NIOBRARA-VERDIGRE (Sr.): 59th in Class D in 2011 LANE WEIDNER, CROFTON (So.): 103rd in Class D in 2011 p.m.; Class D Girls, 2 p.m.; Class D Boys, 3 p.m. BOYS’ CROSS MELVILLE SEAGREN, BLOOMFIELD (Sr.): 120th in Class D in 2011

Bloomfield year) placed sixth as a team at the Class D Conference Niobrara-Verdigre ASSISTANT: Ward Baldwin state meet, only three points out of fifth RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: COACH: Duane Wilken (39th year) VITALS: Class D, Northeast Ne- and 26 points back from first. Tanner Fischer (So.) COACH: Stacy Ludwig (15th year) VITALS: Class D, Lewis and Clark braska Activities Conference RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: TOP PROSPECTS: Dylan Smith ASSISTANT: Mary Snowdon Conference LAST YEAR: The Bulldogs did not Matt Guenther (Sr., 37th at state), Henry (Sr.), Jared Fuelberth (Fr.), Charles Dowl- VITALS: Class D, Niobrary Valley LAST YEAR: The Bees placed have any athletes qualify for the 2011 Goeden (Sr., 31st at state), Drew Eskins ing (Fr.), Noah Noecker (Fr.), Jay Reifen- Conference eighth in the Class D state meet, but lost state meet. (Jr., 26th at state), Cole Steffen (So., 40th rath (Fr.) LAST YEAR: Junior Coy Reynolds state champion Austin Hamm and 17th- TOP PROSPECTS: Joshua at state) led the Cougars by qualifying for state place finisher Silas Oltjenbruns to gradu- Borgmann (Fr.) TOP PROSPECTS: Lane Weidner last fall. They lost fellow state qualifier ation. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Clayton Hanzlik to graduation. (So., 103rd at state), Ronnie Ausdemore COACH: RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: (So.), Josh Goeden (So., 105th at state), Megan Virgil (5th season) RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Tyler Smith (Sr., 71st at state), Melville Crofton VITALS: Class D, Northeast Ne- Coy Reynolds (Sr., 59th at state) COACH: Mark Lange (Fr.), Brady Stucky (Fr.), Seagren (Sr. 120th at state) Jayne Arens John Haberer (Fr.), Justin Mueller (Fr.) braska Activities Conference TOP PROSPECTS: Caleb Vakoc TOP PROSPECTS: Adam Hargh ASSISTANT: Jason Arens RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: (So.), Aaron Pavelka (Fr.), Tanner Hrbek (Jr.), Tyler Hargh (Fr.), Kyle Young (Fr.) VITALS: Class D, Mid-State Confer- Adam Haahr (Jr.), Christpher Heydon (Fr.) ence Hartington (Jr.) Creighton LAST YEAR: The Warriors won a COACH: Laura Noecker TOP PROSPECTS: Jordan Jansen district title and finished runner-up at ASSISTANT: Mandy Hochstein (Fr.), Aaron Haahr (Fr.), Ethan Gubbels COACH: Christine Baldwin (4th the Mid-State Conference meet. They VITALS: Class D, Lewis and Clark (Fr.) Burkhead, Nebraska Covet Big Ten Football Title BY COLLEEN KANE Rex, will keep him stronger and © 2012 Chicago Tribune healthier throughout the whole Husker season,” senior tight end Kyler (MCT) — If Rex Burkhead is Reed said. operating in the shadow of Wis- Football “If we’re more balanced, what consin’s Montee Ball, Nebraska 9/1 Southern Miss 2:30 pm happens is teams won’t be able coach doesn’t notice. to stack the box on us. If we’re “I wouldn’t trade him for an- 9/8 @ UCLA 6:30 pm going deep, making good plays in other player in the country,” 9/15 Arkansas State 11 am the passing game, they’re going Pelini said after running through 9/22 Idaho State TBA to have to respect the passing Burkhead’s accomplishments on game a lot more than they did the field, in the community and 9/29 Wisconsin (HC) 7 pm last year. That will open it up for in the classroom. 10/6 @ Ohio State 7 pm Rex. It’s hard to run in between After rushing for 1,357 yards 10/20 @ Northwestern TBA the tackles if you’ve got nine on 284 carries last season and 10/27 Michigan 7 pm guys in there, eight guys in winning over fans Nebraska-wide there.” if not beyond, the 5-foot-11, 210- 11/3 @ Michigan State TBA Nebraska is in its second year pound Burkhead gives the Big 11/10 Penn State TBA under offensive coordinator Tim Ten a second All-America candi- 11/17 Minnesota TBA Beck, and Burkhead expects a date at along with noticeable difference. 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist 11/23 @ Iowa 11 a.m. “You’ll see a lot more comfort- Ball. able offense, a lot more confident But Burkhead doesn’t covet offense,” Burkhead said. “You’ll Ball’s Heisman campaign. It’s the Big Ten with 162.7 yards per see guys that know where to line Wisconsin’s conference champi- game. up immediately, know what onship last season that kept the “This offense wants to be play’s being called and are react- senior in the film room learning more balanced, and being more ing quicker.” to read defenses more quickly balanced will take some plays off this offseason. Nebraska last won NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS: Rex Burkhead (22) a conference championship game in the Big 12 in 1999 and championships in the mid-1990s. of the school record of 286 car- this season. That would mean failed to secure a berth in its first “I’m just focused on the Big ries in a season. He had 35 car- more on the shoulders of third- season in the Big Ten. Ten championship,” Burkhead ries for 130 yards in a win against year starting quarterback Taylor The Cornhuskers won at least said, brushing off awards talk. then-No. 9 Michigan State and a Martinez and sophomore run- nine games in each of Pelini’s “That’s where I want to get to.” school-record 38 carries for 160 ning back . first four seasons, including a 9-4 Burkhead undoubtedly will yards in a win against Iowa. Martinez passed for 2,089 finish last year, but Burkhead let carry Nebraska much of the way. Coaches have talked about yards and rushed for 874 yards YOU CAN COUNT ON US on it wasn’t enough for the pro- In an All-Big Ten season as cutting down Burkhead’s touches last season. The Cornhuskers’ Serving families since 1931 101 West Cherry gram, which won three national junior, he was two attempts shy in an effort to keep him healthy passing offense ranked 10th in Vermillion, SD 1220 E. 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