Tuesday Afternoon Sports – UNK Football Adds New Recruiting Coordinator, Duncan Field Set to Host Legion State Tournament, Loper Football Continues to Add to Staff, Huskers Returning From Transfer Portal, Local Sports Schedule

UNK ADDS NEW RECRUITING COORDINATOR, LINEBACKER COACH:

Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced today that Jesse Ornelas is the Lopers new recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach.

Ornelas spent this past season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at NAIA Graceland (Ia.) University. Previously, he had three stints at Independence (Kan.) Community College (2016-18, 2019, Spring 2022), was at Iowa Central C.C. in 2018 and spent multiple years at both MIAA member Central Oklahoma (2019-21) and FCS member Eastern Illinois (2009-11).

Ornelas was at UCO for two seasons which included the pandemic year. He coached the Bronchos running backs, served as recruiting coordinator as well as the program’s digital/social media coordinator

HASTINGS’ DUNCAN FIELD TO HOST 2023 NEBRASKA STATE SENIOR TOURNAMENT:

For the first time since 2015, Duncan Field and the Hastings American Legion will host a state baseball tournament.

The announcement was made by the Nebraska American Legion following its meeting Friday.

Duncan Field will host the National Division half of the Class A senior state baseball tournament, which will run July 22-26.

The American Division will play at Bellevue West. As the host team, Hastings Five Points Bank automatically qualifies to compete in the state tournament. The Chiefs have qualified through area tournaments each of the last eight seasons.

The Class A senior Area 7 tournament will be in Grand Island. The Class A junior area tourney is in North Platte. The juniors state tournament will be held in Bennington. 

LOPER FOOTBALL ADDS LEXINGTON NATIVE MANDELKO TO STAFF:

Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced today that Jake Mandelko is the Lopers new special teams coordinator and defensive line coach.

The Lexington native is a former standout safety for the Lopers, earning All-Region honors as a senior in 2009. He is a rare UNK football player turned UNK full-time coach, joining the likes of Claire Boroff and Monte Meadows. 

Mandelko most recently worked under former Loper assistant coach Grant Mollring at NCAA Division III Buena Vista (Ia.) University where he was assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for six seasons. He also served as DC, defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Hastings College for two years while beginning his coaching career at Nebraska

For the ‘Huskers over four years, Mandelko handled quality control for the DB’s and special teams and assisted with on-campus recruiting.

Mandelko was part of a 2009 Loper team that won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) regular season title, posted an 11-2 record and won the program’s first-ever playoff game. He had a combined 27 tackles in two playoff games that fall and currently ranks 22nd (194) on the all-time tackles list.

GEORGIA FIVE-STAR TRANSFER JOINS HUSKERS:

Former five-star Georgia edge rusher MJ Sherman has committed to Nebraska.

Sherman’s sister Rasia Sherman-Blue confirmed to HuskerOnline that he took an official visit to Lincoln this weekend and committed to the Huskers as it ended on Monday.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Sherman played in 28 games in the last two years. He could start and be a difference maker about anywhere he went, according to a Georgia expert.

GARCIA-CASTANEDA SET TO RETURN FOR HUSKERS:

Nebraska wide receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda isn’t leaving Lincoln just yet, as he’s withdrawn his name from the NCAA Transfer Portal.

The Cornhuskers wide out originally entered the portal all the way back in October, but he’ll be staying put with Nebraska after a couple months of uncertainty.

The news comes in a similar time frame as the announcement of the return of Zavier Betts, the former Bellevue West receiver who entered his name in the transfer portal but returned to Nebraska just last week.

NFL PLAYOFF SCORES/SCHEDULE

MONDAY:

NFC – #5 Dallas Cowboys 34-14 #4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Wrestling: Triangular v. GICC & North Platte St. Pats – 6 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Men’s Wrestling: @ Doane – 7 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Emporia State – 5:30 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Emporia State – 7:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Doane – 7:30 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball v. Ohio State (5 PM – 8:45 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Swimming & Diving: Norfolk Dual @ Kearney High School – 4 PM
  • Wrestling: @ Columbus Dual – 7 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: Norfolk Dual @ Kearney High School – 4 PM
  • Girls Basketball: @ Aurora – 5:30 PM
  • Boys Basketball: @ Aurora – 7:30 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 6 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 5:45 PM
  • Boys Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 7:45 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at conclusion of KHS GBB
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Men’s Wrestling: @ Missouri Valley Invite @ Marshall, MO – 9 AM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Dakota Wesleyan @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 5 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: v. Dakota Wesleyan @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 6:45 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney High Girls Basketball v. Norfolk (5:45 PM – 7:45 PM)
  • Kearney High Boys Basketball v. Norfolk (7:45 PM – 9:45 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Swimming & Diving: @ Ralston Dive Invite – 9 AM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: @ Ralston Dive Invite – 9 AM
  • Wrestling: @ Centennial Conference – 10 AM
  • Girls Basketball: v. Aquinas – 1:30 PM
  • Boys Basketball: v. Aquinas – 3:30 PM
• UNK:
  • Wrestling: v. Northern State – 9 AM
  • Wrestling: v. Western Colorado – 10:30 AM
  • Wrestling: v. Adams State – 12 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ NW Missouri State Open – 12 PM
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Washburn – 1:30 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Washburn – 3:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE: 
  • M/W T&F: @ Polar Dog Invite @ Concordia – 10 AM / 1 PM
  • Men’s Wrestling: @ Missouri Valley Invite @ Marshall, MO – 9 AM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Jamestown @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 1 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: v. Jamestown @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2:45 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball @ Penn State (12:15 PM – 4 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Women’s Basketball v. Maryland (12:45 PM – 4 PM)