Meet our future high school football, cross country and volleyball teams

Jr. high Lady Hornets take second! Coach Nancy Malcolm is not quiet about her pride in the Pine Bluffs junior high volleyball team. “Our junior high team was wonderful,” said Malcolm. “We were very small in numbers but this team has a lot of heart.” Malcolm commended the girls for being “coachable” and pushing themselves in practice. Even though it was the smallest team Malcolm had ever coached, 12 girls suiting up, she said it was easier to find the strengths in each player. “I am very happy with the progress we have made so far,” Malcolm said even before placing second in the SEWAC after Saturday’s tournament. The eight players going into high school next year look to improve on the skills learned by the small team experience and graduate their skills to the next level. Team picture includes Torri Long, Karla De La Cruz, Kammie Ragsdale, Allysa Miller, Cailyn Popham, Tillie Heithoff, Kayla McCune, Nora Vega, Tyne Vialpando, Kenzie Graves, Courtney Herman, Paige Thompson, and coach Nancy Malcolm.

Undefeated and top of SEWAC! The Pine Bluffs junior high football team accomplished something not many teams do. They went undefeated this season. The 17 boys out, which included 12 seventh graders and 5 eighth graders, will bring their experiences and the flavor of a winning season to the high school level in the next few years. But this year, this moment, they bask in the glow of a 5-0 season. Although three of their games they kept their opponent out of the end zone, the Southeast game went into three overtimes. With the win over Lusk Saturday morning, Pine Bluffs is the 2013 SEWEC champion. Front row left Coach Matt Thurin, Colby Lamb, Corbin Martinez, Andrew Fornstrom, Jack Heithoff, Zeb Ornelas, Ishmael DePaulitte, Beau Scarborough, Trenton Popham, Mark Merryfield, coach Pat Walter. Back row left John Merryfield, Doug Fornstrom, Isaiah Montanes, Bradley Scmidl, Wyatt Fornstrom, Hayes Fornstrom, Hunter Jeffres, Josh Herman.

Burns junior high volleyball team. The Burns junior high volleyball team ended their season 2-9 overall and 2-4 in SEWAC. “We had a disappointing SEWAC tournament, but the team improved greatly over the season,” Allen said of his young team. “We have some 8th graders who have potential to do well in high school if they continue to work hard at volleyball. Our 7th grade class showed a lot of promise and talent.” Allen thanked Noble for helping him this season and all the people who helped with line judging, keeping scorebooks and running the scoreboard at the games. Kayla Krakow, front left, Elizabeth Underwood, Nicki Talkington, Mara Schindler, Mackenzie Faircloth, Sadie Elliott, Malli O’Neal. Rachel Harada, middle left, Viviana Duarte, Kylie Trembath, Kylee Pohlman, Destiny Ladd, Karah Ipsen, Willow Martin, Rachel Kelly, Kristen Lounsbury, Emily Keiter, Isabella Sanchez. Coach Eric Allen, back left, Sammie Andrews, Brice Curry, Cassidy Weibel, Gillian Petsch, Ariana Cudney, Helen Brown, Hunter Keslar, Izzy Matney, Madisyn Mirich, and manager Renee Miller. Not included in the picture are manager Jordan Liley, Kassey Banville, Chassidy Wooldridge, and coach Alicia Noble.

Burns Broncs experience loss. An 0-5 season leaves plenty of room to build on. But Burns junior high football coach Dan Clayson says he looks forward to next year. “We only had three eighth graders out, so next year should be better,” sighed Clayson. Members of the team in no particular order are Matt Zettler, Zach Wagner, Alex Pyle, Daniel Childers, Ethan Purdum, Aiden Carroll, Graydon Colbaugh, Brayden Wiesen, Spencer Bloomer, Kolby Humphrey, Lash Branigan, Levi Berg, Austyne Zettler, Danny Jensen, and managers Shaylee Clark and Kayla Deselms and coach Dan Clayson.

Pawnee football strong in junior high. In six-man football, strengths need to come from quality, not quantity. But Coach Doug Miller looks to improve both in the next few years as twelve quality players will be able to join his high school team. “Some of the eight graders plan to go on to play high school ball,” Miller said. And that would be good for Pawnee. Miller has an attitude of developing the quality he needs through solid values and fundamental coaching in junior high. He added he likes the team to “have fun” and treats them like family, but he works with the youth on the basics for the next level of the game. The junior high have a record of 2-3 with two games left. Members of the Pawnee junior high football team are coach Doug Miller back left, Miguel Moraeno Clay Kinnison, Brandon Wakefield, James Krist, Wyatt Schug, Josh Keipeoo, Trey Moore, Coy Cox, Jade Cass, Logan Cascciola, Malachai Russell.

The junior high Pawnee volleyball is half way. Half way to high school, half way to successfully learning the basics of volleyball, and they split their wins and losses in half. The team was 5-4 when they went into their last game against Fleming. But Coach Amanda Kinnison is quick to show how completely proud she is of her team. Kinnison asked the team what they are and they loudly shouted, “A team!” All of the eighth grade members plan to play in high school which will help the empty bench of Pawnee high. Members of the Pawnee junior high volleyball team are Coach Amanda Kinnison, back left, Hannah Kinnison, Mandi Amend, Jaycie Hahn, Malaurianna Russell, Ailana Suppes, Allishia Wakefield, Emily Ellis, Shawna Cline, Rhiannon Mowery, Cora Cox.

Pine Bluffs/Burns team goes the distance. It might only be a distance of 2 miles for some meets, but the six junior high runners for the combined Pine Bluffs/Burns team often run it as if it’s just around the block. The new uniforms solidify the team in their school colors and the grassy surface of the meet locations soften the tread as they achieved their personal goals this season. Coaches Cole Manlove and Dustin Lee said it was nice seeing all of the junior high members compete at the last meet after losing one or two of them each week to injuries. Team members included Sarah Love, seated at left, Tucker Norman, Nolan Brooks, Tyler Norris, Tristen Zitek, Taylor Krause. Standing behind the team is coaches Cole Manlove, left and Dustin Lee.