KEARNEY BOYS SOCCER HOSTS OMAHA CENTRAL:
After an El Clasico victory over Grand Island on Tuesday night, the Kearney boys soccer team continues their busy week hosting Omaha Central at Kearney High School tonight.
The Eagles began the season 4-0, but have dropped their past four contests – all losses to Creighton Prep and Papillion-LaVista.
Pregame coverage between Kearney and Omaha Central is set for 6:45 PM with Alex Hammeke on the call. Listen to the action on 1340 KGFW, 96.1 FM, on the free KGFW mobile app, and online at KGFW.com.
CLASS B ADOPTS SHOT CLOCK FOR ONE YEAR TRIAL; CLASS A ADDS PERMANENTLY:
Early Thursday, the NSAA board voted to approve the addition of the shot clock for Class B boys and girls basketball for a one-year trial run for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
The proposal does stay consistent with the Class A standards from last season, as any Class B school facing a Class C-1 or lower opponent can opt to pull with or without the shot clock for that varsity contest.
In other news from the meeting, Class A has voted to approve the shot clock for a permanent basis.
KEARNEY AREA ATHLETES SELECTED FOR MR. & MISS BASKETBALL ALL-STAR GAMES:
The 31st Annual Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball Kearney Senior All-Star games are set for Sunday, June 4 at the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Health and Sports Center.
Several local athletes will be represented in the contests, including many Kearney area athletes.
The Girls Red team will include Kearney Catholic’s Jenna Kruse and Kearney High’s Tatum Rusher and Maddy Province.
The Boys Blue team is led by Bearcat head coach Drake Beranek, with Kearney’s Jack Dahlgren and Amherst’s Scout Simmons as added additions.
Kearney Catholic’s Landon Edeal will play for Minden Whippet coach Carson Blum on the Red team.
Full roster details and more information can be found at KGFW.com.
HUSKER WOMEN’S HOOPS ASSISTANT RETIRING:
Nebraska women’s basketball assistant coach Tom Goehle is retiring from his position with the Huskers to pursue full-time mission work – a passion he has had off the court for many years.
Goehle who just completed his seventh season with the Nebraska women’s basketball program in 2022-23, and his eighth season working with Head Coach Amy Williams, helped the Huskers to a pair of NCAA Tournament bids (2018, 2022) and two WNIT appearances (2021, 2023).
An experienced coach at all levels, Goehle has spent 30 seasons in coaching, beginning with 15 at the high school level. He then worked at Coastal Carolina, North Dakota State and Sioux Falls before joining Williams at South Dakota. He worked specifically with the development of post players at each school. In addition, Goehle’s duties included recruiting, scouting, coordination of summer camps and game management.
LOPER SOFTBALL ADJUSTS WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
The Nebraska-Kearney softball team’s weekend trip to Lincoln and Central Missouri has been pushed back two full days due to expected inclement weather in the area.
UNK (14-24, 5-9) will now play the LU Blue Tigers (5-31, 1-17) on Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m. On Monday, the Lopers head over to Warrensburg to face the Jennies (27-14, 11-7) at noon and 2 p.m. All four games will be on The MIAA Network.
The Blue & Gold remains on the road next weekend with a trip to nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma and Newman.
HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – THURSDAY:
WHITE – EVALUATING DEFENDERS NOT EASY:
New Husker Defensive coordinator Tony White said after Thursday’s practice that he’s still trying to evaluate his roster…
Nebraska is aiming to make a defensive scheme change to White’s preferred 3-3-5 look, a defense he ran at Syracuse.
WHITE – NO INSTALL SINCE PRIOR TO EASTER:
Huskers defensive coordinator Tony White expressed to the media after Thursday’s practice that the past few practices have been all about getting back to basics…
The Huskers are hoping to put together a defensive scheme by Saturday’s scrimmage and their April 22 Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium.
WHITE – NEW POSITIONS MAY NEED TO BE FOUND:
Huskers defensive coordinator Tony White stated after Thursday’s practice that his evaluation of his players continues to fall back on him…
The Huskers are continuing to move pieces around on defense, looking for new players in new spots along with evaluating the fresh faces from recruitment, transfers, and more.
WHITE – ROLLINS MAKING WAVES AT D-LINE:
Creighton Prep grad AJ Rollins has made early impressions in spring camp after switching from tight end to defensive line, and Defensive coordinator Tony White has taken notice…
The Huskers are continuing to find new positions for other players as well.
WHITE – DB ROTATION CONTINUES TO FIND NEW FACES:
Tony White stated at Thursday’s practice for the Big Red that the defensive backs are showing some promise despite some new faces…
The Huskers are looking to find more experience and depth in the defensive backfield for the upcoming season.
BIG TEN ANNOUNCES NEW COMMISSIONER:
The Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) announced today that Tony Petitti has been named the seventh commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. He will begin his tenure on May 15. He replaces Commissioner Kevin Warren, whose final day with the Big Ten Conference is Friday, April 14. Warren was named president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Bears.
Petitti is a proven leader who brings nearly four decades of sports, business and media industry acumen to the Big Ten Conference. He served as deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball and president and chief executive officer of MLB Network.
A 14-time National Sports Emmy Award winner, Petitti has held senior executive roles at CBS Sports and ABC Sports overseeing rights acquisition deals for a variety of sports leagues and collegiate and professional sports events, including the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, regular season men’s basketball, college football, NFL, PGA Tour, the Masters, U.S. Open Tennis Championships, and the Little League World Series, as well as leading in the creation of the Bowl Championship Series to determine college football’s national champion.
The 14 current Big Ten Conference member institutions, in addition to the two new members who will join the conference in 2024, participated in the interview process and the final selection of Petitti.
HUSKER MEN’S HOOPS ADD BIG MEN TRANSFERS:
One of Nebraska’s Men’s Hoops top priorities entering the spring NCAA Transfer Portal season was replacing do-it-all big man Derrick Walker.
The Huskers did just that by landing a commitment from Bradley transfer Rienk Mast on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-10, 240-pound senior from the Netherlands chose NU over Iowa and Cincinnati. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
The Huskers also landed a commitment from Charlotte guard transfer Brice Williams on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-7, 215-pound native of Huntersville, N.C., was second-team All-Conference USA and named MVP of the CBI this past season as a redshirt junior.
NEBRASKA WOMEN’S HOOPS SIGNS ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN STAR:
Australian National Program member Jessica Petrie will join the Nebraska women’s basketball team for the 2023-24 season, as the 6-2 power forward signed with Head Coach Amy Williams and the Huskers on the opening day of the spring signing period Wednesday, April 12.
Petrie, from Gold Coast, Queensland, is averaging 18 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists through six games for the Basketball Centre of Excellence in Australia’s semi-professional NBL1 East Division.
Petrie starred at three levels for the Australian National Team in the summer of 2022. She averaged 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists over five games for the Australian U18 National Team at the FIBA Asian Championship.
KEARNEY HIGH CELEBRATED SEVEN BEARCATS ON COLLEGIATE SIGNING DAY:
Kearney High School hosted their spring Collegiate Signing DayWednesday at the CHaT Auditorium.
Bearcat Athletics celebrated the signing for seven different athletes who inked their name to continue their athletic careers.
Grave Siecers will continue her softball career at Northeast Community College, while KHS teammates Kaylee and Jaylin Harsh are both setting their sights to Peru State College.
Brodie Arnold has committed to Midland Baseball, while Jaxson Romero is signing with CCC-Columbus to play soccer.
Finally, Ben Cumpston will participate in Track at Nebraska Wesleyan while Tatum Rusher is committing to Doane University to further her basketball career.
More details and stories on these signings to come at KGFW.com.
ELKHORN SOUTH’S MURPHY COMMITS TO NEBRASKA:
The Nebraska staff have added their third commitment to the class. Ashton Murphy from Elkhorn (Neb.) Elkhorn South committed to Nebraska following an unofficial visit to Lincoln on Tuesday. The 6-foot-5 and 242-pound defensive line target connected with the Husker coaching staff, making him feel right at home.
Murphy was in Lincoln Tuesday, but is fresh off of a series of visits to other schools. He says that he needed to find the best fit and felt like he found it in Lincoln.
The Huskers see Murphy playing on the defensive side of the ball while some other schools saw him as an offensive tackle.
HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – TUESDAY:
GARCIA-CASTENADA – ADJUSTMENT OUT OF PORTAL:
Wide Receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castenada initially left the Husker Football program after the announcement of the firing of Head Scott Frost last September. IGC explains what that adjustment looked like in the transition away from the team…
Nebraska welcomed the former New Mexico receiver transfer back into the fold in January under the new coaching staff.
GARCIA-CASTENADA – NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE HUSKERS:
Huskers wide receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castenada used his Tuesday practice media session to explain that he truly never wanted to leave Nebraska after entering the transfer portal last season…
IGC had an electric start, catching four passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in the opening game of the season but only having one more catch the rest of the season before entering the portal in late September.
GARCIA-CASTENADA – LAST YEAR WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE:
Nebraska wide receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castenada spoke briefly after Tuesday’s practice about his intention to enter the transfer portal last season after the firing of Scott Frost…
The transfer receiver from New Mexico is looking to make a bigger impact on the receiver room this season after leading Nebraska with a four catch, one touchdown performance in Ireland last year.
McGUIRE – BETTS IS A PHYSICAL FORCE:
New Husker receivers coach Garrett McGuire addressed the media on Tuesday after practice and said the physical traits of Zavier Betts stand out immediately…
The former Bellevue West star did not play last season after leaving the team in the middle of spring camp, but has returned after the announcement of the hiring of Matt Rhule.
McGUIRE – SHOW PROFESSIONALS TO TEACH:
Garrett McGuire – new Nebraska Football receivers coach – explained why he uses NFL tape to aid in teaching his current receiving group…
Nebraska is aiming to provide more NFL talent from the receiver room after Trey Palmer left the team this offseason to declare for the NFL Draft.
McGUIRE – RECEIVER ROOM IS WORKING HARD:
The new Nebraska Football receivers coach Garrett McGuire refused to give individual praise for his receivers after practice on Tuesday, but did unintentionally give some love to a few unheralded names on the roster…
Nebraska’s receiver room has been talked about early in spring as one of the stronger position groups early in camp.
LOPER TENNIS TAKES DOWN TIGERS:
The now 43-ranked Nebraska-Kearney women’s team beat rival Fort Hays State, 6-1, Wednesday afternoon at Harmon Park.
This was the regular season finale for the Lopers (14-10, 4-4). They’ll likely be the sixth seed in next weekend’s (April 21-23) MIAA Tournament in Edmond, Okla. The brackets for that event will be released this weekend after completion of all regular season duals.
To beat the Tigers (7-13, 0-8) for an 11th straight time, UNK allowed just five combined points in doubles and won four singles matches in straight sets.
The NCAA Region Rankings were released again today with UNK remaining sixth in the Central. The region receives six bids to the NCAA Tournament next month.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
WEDNESDAY:
- UNK:
- Women’s Tennis: v. Fort Hays State
- UNK 6-1 FHSU
- Women’s Tennis: v. Fort Hays State
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- Softball: v. Midland
- Midland 8-2 HC
- Softball: v. Midland
- HC 7-5 Midland
- Softball: v. Midland
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Girls Tennis: v. KHS Invite @ Harmon Park – 9:30 AM
- Boys Golf: @ Hastings Invite @ Lochland Country Club – 10 AM
- Track & Field: @ Omaha Central Invite @ Burke Stadium – 4 PM
- Boys Soccer: v. Omaha Central @ Kearney High School – 7 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 6:45 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Boys Golf: @ Hastings Invite – 10 AM
- Track & Field: @ Gothenburg Invite – 2:30 PM
- Boys Soccer: @ Platteview – 4:30 PM
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: @ Bryan Clay Invite @ Azusa, CA
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ KU Relays – 1 PM
- Women’s Golf: @ CSM Spring Classic @ Omaha, NE – 10 AM
- Women’s Tennis: @ Doane – 3 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 6:45 PM)
- Kearney Boys Soccer v. Omaha Central (6:45 PM – 8:45 PM)
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Track & Field: @ KU Relays – TBD
- Baseball: v. Fremont @ Memorial Field – 4 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 3:45 PM
- Girls Soccer: @ Lincoln North Star @ Beechner Field – 6 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Girls Tennis: @ Lexington Invite – 9 AM
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: @ Bryan Clay Invite @ Azusa, CA
- Softball: @ Lincoln @ Jefferson City, MO – 1 PM
- Softball: @ Lincoln @ Jefferson City, MO – 3 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ KU Relays – 1 PM
- M/W T&F: @ Concordia Outdoor Invite – 1 PM
- Softball: @ Dordt @ Sioux City, IA – 4 PM
- Softball: @ Dordt @ Sioux City, IA – 6 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney Baseball: v. Fremont (3:45 PM – 6:45 PM)
- Nebraska Baseball: v. Northwestern (6:45 PM – 10 PM)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Track & Field: @ KU Relays – TBD
- Girls Tennis: v. Gering @ Harmon Park – 9 AM
- Girls Tennis: v. Scottsbluff @ Harmon Park – 11 AM
- Baseball: v. Hastings @ Memorial Field – 12 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 11:45 AM
- Boys Soccer: @ Lincoln Pius X @ Pius X High School – 1 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Girls Tennis: @ Scottsbluff – 9 AM
- Girls Tennis: @ Gering – 9 AM
- Girls Soccer: @ Omaha Mercy – 1:15 PM
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: @ Bryan Clay Invite @ Azusa, CA
- M/W T&F: v. Loper Invite @ KHS – 11 AM
- Softball: @ Central Missouri @ Warrensburg, MO – 12 PM
- Women’s Soccer: v. College of St. Mary @ Foster Field – 12 PM
- Softball: @ Central Missouri @ Warrensburg, MO – 2 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ KU Relays – 1 PM
- M/W T&F: @ Concordia Outdoor Invite – 1 PM
- Men’s Tennis: v. Mount Marty – 12 PM
- Women’s Tennis: v. Mount Marty – 12 PM
- Baseball: v. Briar Cliff (IA) @ Duncan Field – 1 PM
- Softball: @ Northwestern (IA) – 1 PM
- Softball: @ Northwestern (IA) – 3 PM
- Baseball: v. Briar Cliff (IA) @ Duncan Field – 4 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney Baseball v. Hastings (11:45 AM – 2:45 PM)
- Nebraska Baseball v. Northwestern (2:45 PM – 6 PM)
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- Baseball: @ Midland – 2 PM
- Baseball: @ Midland – 4:30 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Baseball v. Northwestern (12 PM – 4 PM)
