Volleyball Season Starts Thursday Night

ELGIN — Inside the gymnasiums in this town, a high school volleyball team is taking shape which could surprise foes this year.

Elgin Public-Pope John will play volleyball together for the first time ever. 

What began last year as a winter and spring sports co-op comes full circle this week when the two schools compete together in fall sports.

Under the tutelage of Tina Thiele-Blecher and assistants Emily Borer (head coach at Pope John last year) and Sandi Henn. 

The fruits of their labors will be on display Thursday night when the team competes at a double triangular at Wheeler-Chambers to be played in Bartlett at 5 p.m.

The Wolfpack will take the court with plenty of experience, albeit on two separate teams.

Coach Thiele-Blecher has four players from Elgin High who started one year ago (Michelle Bauer, Ashley Bode, Brieann Grosserode and Jessica Heithoff) and two from Pope John (Lauren Selting and Carey Eischeid).

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Wolfpack Opens Football Season Friday Night

ELGIN — A new chapter is about to be written into Elgin’s storied past of football tradition. 

Having tasted gridiron success separately for years, Elgin High and Pope John Central Catholic combine as the Wolfpack this season.

Coach Carlie Wells begins his 11th year as head coach, the first at the helm of the Wolfpack. Together with assistants’ Mark Dwyer, Randy Eisenhauer, Brad Cornell and Steve Busteed, the Wolfpack will compete in Class D-1 and will kickoff the season Friday night at home against the Creighton Bulldogs. 

The Bulldogs opened the season last week by defeating Clearwater-Orchard.

“We do have a difficult schedule to start with but I believe playing this type of competition will prepare us for later in the season,” Wells said. Aside from Creighton, other home games this year will be against Osmond, Burwell, and Niobrara-Verdigre. 

Away games will be against Fullerton, West Boyd, Clearwater-Orchard (Orchard) and at North Central.

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Abundance of Pheasants This Year!

The abundance of pheasants appears to be high in southwest Nebraska this year, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s 2010 Upland Game Hunting Outlook. Combined with public access, this region should offer excellent pheasant hunting opportunities. 

The outlook is based on surveys and input from biologists and staff. 

According to the outlook, the abundance of pheasants in Nebraska this year is highest in the southwest, followed by the Sandhills, central, northeast, Panhandle, and southeast regions. Overall, the abundance statewide is slightly lower than in 2009. 

Severe winter weather in parts of Nebraska and above-average rainfall this spring had an impact in parts of the state. 

The forecast for other species: 

Quail ˆ Populations were hurt by long periods of deep snow, ice and freezing temperatures, as well as above-average rainfall and localized hail storms during the breeding season. Abundance is highest in the southeast region and lowest in the northeast. 

Grouse ˆ Sharp-tailed grouse abundance is lower than in 2009 on four of seven breeding-ground survey routes in the Sandhills, and prairie chickens are lower in abundance on eight of 10 routes in the Sandhills and southeast. The July Rural Mail Carrier Survey shows a modest statewide increase in prairie grouse. Biologists report that the best areas for grouse in the Sandhills will be west of Bassett, where winter conditions were milder. 

Cottontail ˆ Abundance is higher statewide compared to 2009. The northeast and southwest are the only regions where abundance is lower. Highest abundances are in the central, southeast and southwest regions, in decreasing order. Field observations support survey results and indicate a good year for cottontail hunting.

NCA Recognizes Coaches with Ties to Elgin

Two high school athletic coaches with ties to Elgin were recognized during the 43rd annual Awards & Recognition Banquet held by the Nebraska Coaches Association.

The event was held July 25 at the Great Hall Train Station in the historic Haymarket section of Lincoln.

Receiving the NCA Girls Basketball Award was John Miller. The son of Gerald and Lois Miller, he graduated from Elgin High School in 1975 and later from Kearney State College in 1980. His coaching experience is 30 years at Chambers High School. According to the NCA, “After 30 consecutive winning seasons and an overall record of 585-113, Coach Miller is handing over the girls basketball program at Chambers and will be coaching the boys next year (2010-2011 season). He led the Lady Coyotes to 12 conference championships, four state runner-up finishes, and five state championships. In addition to coaching the girls basketball team, he also heads up boys track and football, winning the state title in football in 2007 by defeating the Elgin Eagles.

“Among Miller’s many honors, he was named Coach of the Year by Huskerland magazine in 2004, and also was awarded the magazine’s Bob Schnitzler Award for football in 2008.”

John and his wife Sandy have three children, Randi, Ross and Seth.

Another former Elgin resident honored by the NCA was Edward K. Johnson of Ewing. He has coached 35 years, starting first at Bishop Neumann. Other stops have been Elkhorn Valley and Family Christian Academy, LA before landing in Ewing where he has coached since 1992.

AMH Foundation Golf Tourney Held

On Friday, July 30, the Sixth Annual Antelope County Healthcare Foundation Golf Tournament was held at the Summerland Country Club near Ewing. 

It was sponsored by the Antelope County Healthcare Foundation and Antelope Memorial Hospital. Eighty golfers from area communities and businesses participated. The tournament, originally scheduled for July 9 at the Antelope Country Club near Neligh, was rescheduled due to flooding.

Team winners of the tournament were – Championship Flight - First Place: Bruce Hild Team, Second Place: Clearwater Feed & Grain and Third Place: Brunswick State Bank. First Flight - First Place: Dr. Roger Rudloff Team, Second Place: Cardiovascular Institute - Dr. Doug Welsh team and Third Place: Pinnacle Bank. Second Flight - First Place: Faith Regional Health Systems, Second Place: Columbus Orthopedics and Third Place: Dr. Troy Dawson Team

The afternoon concluded with a meal of grilled Windsor Loin and side dishes. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to purchase equipment or other items required to support the health care needs of area residents.

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