Wednesday Afternoon Sports – Kearney High Hosts Collegiate Signing Day, Six Lopers Named All-MIAA Volleyball, Husker Football Coordinator Comments, Nebraska Volleyball & Basketball Earns Top Recruits

KEARNEY HIGH HOSTS COLLEGIATE SIGNING DAY FOR THREE BEARCAT ATHLETES:

Kearney High School will be honoring three Bearcat athletes who have announced they are taking their talents onto the next level with a Collegiate Signing Day celebration today at 4 PM. 

The athletes signing with their respective schools include: Ellie Mehlin signing with UNK Volleyball; Lucas Wegner signing with Pittsburg State Baseball; and Haidyn Skeen signing with the University of North Dakota for Track & Field. 

The event will take place in the CHAT Auditorium at Kearney High School this afternoon.

SIX LOPERS NAMED TO ALL-MIAA TEAM:

The 12th-ranked Nebraska Kearney Lopers have placed six on the 2022 All-MIAA volleyball team.

Making the first team is outside hitter Emersen Cyza (Alliance), middle blocker Bailee Sterling (Kearney), setter Peyton Neff (North Platte) and libero Jensen Rowse (Minden). Cyza is a repeat first-teamer with Sterling bumping up from 2021 second-team accolades. Neff and Rowse are honored for the first time.

Receiving honorable mention accolades was middle blocker Fallon Stutheit (Johnson) and right side Lauren Taubenheim (Lincoln). This is Taubenheim’s second All-MIAA honor and the first for Stutheit.

HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – COORDINATORS:

WHIPPLE – QUARTERBACK PRACTICE UPDATE:

Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple spoke to the media on Wednesday after practice and began his comments updating the quarterback situation for Saturday…

Nebraska has listed Casey Thompson as day-to-day heading into Michigan, while Logan Smothers and Chubba Purdy continue to take regular rotations at the No. 1 spot in practice.

WHIPPLE – TEAM DOES NOT HAVE TO GET MOTIVATED FOR MICHIGAN:

Mark Whipple, Nebraska Offensive Coordinator spoke about his offense’s need to get up and amped to play a stellar Michigan defense…

Nebraska has opened up contests very strong the past few weeks, but struggled beyond the first quarter. The Huskers open as four touchdown underdogs to the Wolverines on Saturday.

WHIPPLE – DROPPED PASSES MUST BE FIXED:

Mark Whipple, Nebraska Offensive Coordinator said at his Wednesday press conference that his team desperately needs to improve on the dropped passes from his receivers… 

Nebraska dropped multiple passes against Minnesota at home last Saturday, and hopes to remedy the issue prior to taking on No. 3 Michigan. 

BUSCH – GOOD PRACTICES; TEAM IS READY:

Nebraska interim defensive coordinator Bill Busch opened his comments after Wednesday’s practice about the level of practice his Huskers have had this week…

The Huskers have their biggest test of the season at No. 3 Michigan this Saturday as kickoff is set for 2:30 PM.

BUSCH – CORUM BEST BACK HUSKERS HAVE SEEN:

Bill Busch, Nebraska interim defensive coordinator, had the highest of praise for Michigan running back Black Corum leading into their matchup with the Wolverines…

Nebraska has given up a 100 yard rusher in consecutive weeks to Illinois’ Chase Brown and Mohammed Ibrahim. 

BUSCH – FARMER SUSPENSION HURTS HUSKERS:

Myles Farmer is suspended for the upcoming Michigan contest on Saturday after being arrested for a DUI on Saturday night after the Minnesota contest. Defensive coordinator Bill Busch spoke on the loss of the starting safety and the impact on the senior…

Nebraska’s suspension is currently set for only the Michigan game, announced by interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph earlier this week. 

NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL SIGNS TOP RANKED CLASS:

The Nebraska volleyball program announced its top-ranked recruiting class according to PrepVolleyball.com on National Letter of Intent Signing Day on Wednesday. 

Head Coach John Cook and the Huskers secured the signings of five prospects, all ranked in the top 13 nationally. The 2023 signing class includes outside hitter Harper Murray (No. 2 overall), setter Bergen Reilly (No. 4 overall), libero Laney Choboy (No. 5 overall), opposite hitter Caroline Jurevicius (No. 7 overall) and middle blocker Andi Jackson (No. 13 overall). 

Led by assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jaylen Reyes, the Huskers have now signed the No. 1 class twice in the last three years, and they had the second-ranked class last year. 

All five signees will enroll at Nebraska in January, and all five have been chosen to play in the 2022 Under Armour All-America Game. 

NEBRASKA MEN’S HOOPS RECEIVES RECRUITMENT BOOST WITH RICE:

Nebraska Men’s Basketball Coach Fred Hoiberg announced Wednesday that Eli Rice (Gallatin, Tenn.) has signed a National Letter-of-Intent to play for the Husker basketball program in 2023-24.

Rice is a 6-foot-7, 195-pound guard who will play for IMG Academy’s postgraduate team this season after spending his senior year at Beech (Tenn.) High School. A three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and On3, he was rated No. 194 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings and among the top-25 recruits in the state of Florida by 247Sports.

Rice also considered Georgetown and VCU before signing with Nebraska.

HUSKER WOMEN’S HOOPS SIGN TWO STATE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR:

The Nebraska women’s basketball program signed a pair of state players of the year, as two-time North Dakota Gatorade of the Year Logan Nissley and 2021 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year Natalie Potts signed their National Letters of Intent to join the Huskers Wednesday.

Nissley, a 5-10 guard from Bismarck, N.D. has been ranked as the No. 91 player in the Class of 2023 by ESPN after averaging more than 21 points and three steals while hitting 47 percent of her three-pointers as a junior.

Potts, a 6-2 power forward averaged 20.7 points and 9.3 as a sophomore to earn Gatorade and MaxPreps Missouri Player-of-the-Year honors after leading Incarnate Word Academy to a Class 6A state championship in 2021.

HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – MICKEY JOSEPH:

JOSEPH – NO PRACTICE TUESDAY FOR THOMPSON:

Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph opened his comments on Tuesday by giving a practice update on starting quarterback Casey Thompson…

Nebraska was without Thompson for the last 6 ½ quarters, having been injured in the Illinois contest with nerve damage in his elbow.

JOSEPH – BLAKE CORUM THE BEST BACK HUSKERS HAVE FACED:

Nebraska interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph was asked his thoughts on Michigan’s running back Blake Corum, and where he stands among backs faced by the Huskers so far…

Nebraska has been gashed by Illinois’ Chase Brown and Minnesota’s Mohammed Ibrahim, both running for over 100 yards. 

JOSEPH – PREVIEW OF MICHIGAN WEEK:

Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph broke down the Wolverines and previewed the Huskers in his opening comments of his Tuesday press conference…

Nebraska is currently listed as four touchdown underdogs at the Big House. 

JOSEPH – FARMER OUT FOR MISTAKE:

Myles Farmer has been suspended for a DUI in Lincoln Saturday night, and interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph addressed the situation on Tuesday…

Nebraska will be without their starting safety for at least the Michigan contest. Police say Farmer had a blood alcohol content of .123 and was cited and released for DUI and failing to use a turn signal.

JOSEPH – QUARTERBACK DECISION WILL COME BY THURSDAY:

Nebraska Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph stated in his press conference he would be making a decision on what quarterback would take the first snap at Michigan later this week…

The Huskers saw Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers receive ample playing time against Minnesota last week.

JOSEPH – QUARTERBACK EVALUATION THROUGHOUT PRACTICE:

Mickey Joseph described his evaluation process for this week’s practices as he determines what quarterback will get the start for the Huskers in the Big House at Michigan…

Four quarterbacks suited up in last week’s loss to Minnesota: Chubba Purdy, Logan Smothers, Matt Masker, and Heinrich Haarberg. Casey Thompson is still listed as day-to-day with a lingering elbow injury.

FARMER SUSPENDED FROM HUSKERS WITH DUI:

Nebraska safety Myles Farmer was stopped by Lincoln police over the weekend and cited for driving under the influence.

Lincoln Police Department Sgt. Chris Vollmer says Farmer was stopped by an LPD officer at 10th and P streets around 12:30 a.m. Sunday for failing to use a turn signal. LPD says the officer observed signs of impairment and additional tests were conducted.

Police say Farmer had a blood alcohol content of .123 and was cited and released for DUI and failing to use a turn signal.

Farmer, in his fourth year at Nebraska, has started all nine games this season and is the team’s second-leading tackler.

AREA COACHES SELECTED AS NSAA COACHES OF THE YEAR:

The NSAA in partnership with the NFHS announced the 2021-22 Nebraska State Coaches of the Year on Tuesday. 

Local coaches receiving honors included: Broken Bow’s Kelly Cooksley for Girls Golf, Brian Fleischman from Overton for Boys Golf, Lexington’s Sam Jilka for Boys Cross Country and Joel Lemus-Leon for Boys Soccer.

All coaches will be honored during halftime of the Class A Girls State Basketball Semifinal game on Friday, March 3 rd, 2023 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

GEORGIA NEW No. 1 IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF POLL:

Georgia was the new No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night, followed by Ohio State, Michigan and TCU.

The Bulldogs’ rise from No. 3 was no surprise after their dominant victory against previously top-ranked Tennessee on Saturday.

Clemson, which was No. 4 in the selection committee’s first rankings last week, also lost, clearing the way for changes in the top four.

Ohio State stayed at two. The Buckeyes’ Big Ten rival, Michigan, moved up from five to three. TCU jumped three spots to No. 4, putting the nation’s four unbeaten teams at the top of the rankings.

NEBRASKA MEN READY TO DEFEND PBA FROM OMAHA:

Nebraska looks to improve to 2-0 on the season on Thursday night, as the Huskers host Omaha at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff for the intrastate matchup between the Huskers and Mavericks is set for 7 p.m.

The Huskers (1-0) are coming off a 79-66 win over Maine Monday night in the season opener. The Huskers placed three players in double figures, led by senior Sam Griesel’s 22 points and nine rebounds

Under the direction of first-year coach Chris Crutchfield, Omaha comes to Lincoln looking for its first win of the season. Crutchfield, who played both basketball and football at Omaha, returns to his alma mater after spending the 2021-22 season as an assistant at Oregon.

KGFW’s pregame begins at 6 PM with Kent Pavelka on the call from the Huskers Radio Network.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Collegiate Signing Day @ Kearney High School – 4 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Volleyball: MIAA Tournament @ St. Joseph, MO – 12 PM
    • UNK v. Missouri Western State
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball v. Omaha (6 PM – 9:45 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Swimming: @ Eagle Invitational, Oklahoma City, OK – 10 AM/6 PM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Minnesota-Crookston @ Health & Sports Center – 7 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Volleyball v. Iowa (5:30 PM – 8:45 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Unified Bowling: @ Grand Island Invite @ Westside Lanes – 1 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Swimming: @ Eagle Invitational, Oklahoma City, OK – 10 AM/6 PM
  • Wrestling; @ Dakota Wesleyan Open, Mitchell, SD – 9 AM
  • Football: @ Northeastern State, Tahlequah, OK – 2 PM
  • Women’s Basketball v. Southwest Minnesota St. @ Health & Sports Center – 4 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Football @ Michigan (10:30 AM – 9:30 PM) – KGFW
  • Nebraska Football @ Michigan (1:45 PM – 7:45 PM) – KQKY-HITS 106

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Swimming: @ Eagle Invitational, Oklahoma City, OK – 10 AM/6 PM
  • Wrestling: v. Chadron State @ Health & Sports Center – 12 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • N/a