The Columbus Telegram from Columbus, Nebraska • Page 30

12A-Columbus Telegram Columbus, Nebraska Thursday, December 1, 1977 Blue jays open mat season tonight at Spalding Academy Clarks matmen to build toward season's end NEWMAN we fill all weights, we can have a respectable season. We have three outstanding returnees: Greg Steensnes, Dan Wedekind and Dave Poland. We've got some good ex- perience back and hopefully we can fill in all our weights by the second or third meet," said Harry Prendergast, Newman Grove wrestling coach. Pendergast, second year coach, has seven returning starters and another wrestler who started two seasons ago but was injured in 1976-77. Steensnes won 23 matches last year with 16 victories on pins in the 112-pound class.

He qualified for state and lost only four times all season. Wedekind had 18 wins in the 155-pound class as a junior. The Bluejays 1 top man in the 138 weight class is Foland who posted 16 victories last year. Other returning starters are Ken Mock, 98-pound senior; sophomore Bruce Jacobsen, 167; junior Dean Nygren, 185; and sophomore Don Schumaker, 132. Returning after missing last year's competition is heavyweight Ken Jacobson, a senior.

George Boschen is a let- terman at 126. Other seniors on the squad are Mark Neilson, 132, and Dave Jen- son. 145. The Mid-State Conference winners should be Elgin Pope John says Prendergast. Assistant coach is Dan Shier.

After opening the season HARRY PRENDERGAST Newman Grove Coach tonight at Spalding Acad- emy, the Bluejays will be on the road Saturday for the Howells Tourney. A double- dual with Clarks and St. Edward at Clarks is Dec. 5. The Stanton Tournament is next on the schedule.

After a break for the Christmas holiday, the team is host for the Newman Grove Tourney Dec. 27. The Neligh Tourney, Jan. 7, starts the year for the Bluejays. The final meet is Feb.

4 with the Conference Tournament at Elgin. Bluejays Roster layer Greg Stensncs Dan Wedekind Dave Foland Ken Mock Bruce Jacobson Dean Nygren Don Schumaker Ken Jacobson George Boschen BaryWallin Kevin Kamrath Mark Nielsen Dave Jensen Dean Wedekind Lyle Bennett Jedd Broberg Bradley letter man CLARKS-It may take a while but the Clarks wrestling squad could show their strength by the end of the year. Three seniors head the 16-man team that finished third in the Goldenrod Con- ference last year. Coach Norm Manstedt, in his eighth year, said, "We will be young and inexperienced at most of our weights. However, I feel that by the end of January we should be very competitive." Three-time state qualifier Tim Beck finished fifth at state last year in the 132- pound class.

The senior will wrestle at 138 this season. Senior Ken Reieken, twice a state qualifier, moves to the 145 weight class after finishing sixth at 138 in the state tourney. With the graduation of Scott Pickrel, Kevin Miller will have the top heavyweight spot to himself. Pickrel finished third in state so Miller had no chance to qualify. Miller showed his talent by recor- ding an 8-1 mark in duals.

Other returning starters are junior Tom Branting, 132; junior Jeff Sundberg, 167; junior Allan Jefferson, 138; sophomore Gary Micek, 112; and sophomore Tom Church, 126. Four juniors, two sophs and two freshmen round out the remaining varsity members. The Blue Bomber schedule contains only double duals and meets. The season opens Saturday with the Friend Invitational. Highlighting the schedule is the Clarks Invitational on Jan.

6 and 7. Defending Class champion a a a will participate as will 15 other NORM MANSTEDT Bomber Mat Coach Clarks opens with BLUE JAY MAT LETTERMEN. front from Jensen, Dove Foland, Ken left, Ken Mock, Dannie Scliurnaker, Greg (missing from photo, George Boschen, Stensnes, back row, Dean Nygren, Dave Dan Wedokind) NEWMAN GROVE BLUEJAYS Head Coach: Will Baird. Assistant: Dallas Schulz NEWMAN GROVE BASKETBALL TEAM, first row from left. Jeff Johnson.

Jim Geyer. Doyl Wonder- check. Kevin Switzer. Kent Lee. Todd Stewart.

Mark Motl: second row. coach Will Bolrd. Jerry McGill. Jeff McWitliams, Dale McGill, Leon Voelkor. Wayne Johnson.

Barry Johnson, Gory McGill. coach Dallas Schuli. (Missing from photo. Randy Nelson). NEWMAN GROVE BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Dec.

2 Madison Jon. 20 at Humphrey St. Francis at Clarkson Jan. 24 Spalding Academy Elgin Pope John Jon. 28 at Battle Creek Elkhorn Volley Feb.

3 at Humphrey at Lindsay Holy Family Feb. 4 Fullerton ot Elkhorn Valley Tourney Feb. 6 1 1 ot Mid-Stote Conference Tourney Dec. 9 Dec. 10 Dec.

16 Dec. 20 Jon. 7 Jon. 1 3 Jon. 14 at Dodge Feb.

CLARKS-Can the Blue Bombers better the 4-13 record posted last season? Can the inside strength carry the team until the guards develop? Those questions and more will begin to be an- swered Friday when Clarks' basketball team travels to Wolbach to open the season. Fourth-year coach Richard Alt, a 1971 graduate of Kearney State, will try to get favorable replies by using four lettermen and several underclassmen to get back on the i i track. His assistant is Rick Bell. Top player for Clarks is senior Icttcrman Tad Dittrncr who stands 6-1 and plays forward. The pivot position will be handled by senior Chris Huston, 6-3 letterman.

Both players were starters last season. Two other lettermen are forward-guard Rex Kuhn, 6-1 senior, and Joey Iamb, 5-11 junior forward. They provide the solid inside strength and depth needed to improve the season record. Alt said, "Our inside game should be fairly consistent. If our yuards develop early, we could have a good season." Three junior guards highlight the picture.

They are 5-11 Larry Herman, 5-10 Rick Gcier and 5-10 Jon Schlondorf. Alt predicts the Goldenrod conference winner as St. Edward. Alt will get to see how good a forecaster he is during the Goldenrod Con- ference Tournament at Genoa Jan. 23-27.

Outside of the tourney, the Blue Bombers play only 12 games. The first three are on the road before Hordville visits Clarks on Dec. 17. Blue Bombers Roster Plaver Pos. Yr.

HI. x-TadDittmer x-Chris Huston x-Rfx Kuhn G-F RICHARD ALT Clarks Cage Mentor Sam Beck Jerry Carlson f- Tom Hannappel Jerry Schlondorf Tim Siatko K-lettcrman Genoa girts GENOA "The lack of seniors and experienced varsity players might be offset by quite a few girls with good athletic ability," said Coach David Rippke. The Genoa girls basketball team only has four letter winners. Splitting duty between guard and center will be Kris Cromwell, 5-7 junior. The two forwards will be Mary Ramaekers and Susie Engstrom.

Ramaekers is a 5-7 junior and Engstrom is 5-8 and the only senior on the team. All three were starters on the 1976-77 team that finished 3-6. The remaining letter winner is Lori Jarecki, a 5-5 junior guard. The Orioles start the season tonight (Thursday) against Polk. The only regular season tournament action is Jan.

23 at the Goldenrod Conference Tournament. Mike Stewart assists Rippke, 1972 graduate of the University of South Dakota. Cooch Harry Prendergott, Assistant Cooch Dan ShieM NEWMAN GROVE WRESTLING TEAM Iron! row from left. Kenneth Mock. Borry Wollin.

Bradley Nelson. Greg Sleensnos. George Boschen. Kovin Komrath: middlo row, Mark Nielsen. Don Schumakor.

Doon Wedokind. Bruce Jocobson. Kenneth Jocobson; last row. coach Harry Pronder- gasl. David Foland.

David Jonson. Daan Nygren, coach Don Shiort. (misting from photo. Lyle Bonnotl. Dan Wodekind).

Dor I Doc. 3 Newman Grove Wrestling Schedule at Spalding Academy Jan. 12 ivitational ells In Doc. 5 at Clorks with St. Edward Doc.

10 at Stanton Invitational Oec. 27 Newman Grovo Invitational Jan. 7 at Noligh Invitational 16. Elgin Pope John Elgin Jon. 24 at Leigh Jon.

31 Fullerton Fob 4 a Mid-State Conference Tourney (Elgin) NEWMAN GROVE BLUEJAY BOOSTERS BARNES MINI MART QMtty.tkUnirrk.1 THE FIRST NAT'L BANK OF NEWMAN GROVE Member FDK NEWMAN GROVE BOWL FAMILY CENTER CroctriM Dry FOWLKES REALTY INSURANCE City-Form Phone 447-6113 teams covering all four coached Clarks to the Class classes. This is one of the best state championship in 1972. and oldest wrestling tour- itue tombert Roittr naments in the state. The BKll conference tournament will be held Feb. 2 at Fullerton.

Manstedt, a John F. Ken- nedy College graudate in 1969, -Kevin Miller Hwl -Tom Branting 13' K-Giry Micek jiHtran David staroiiica 101 unchurch us i Jerry cnurcti 155 1 TomBeek Terry Morris 155 1 AndyDubas 11 Kevin Rieken 10 x-letterman CLARKS MAT VEIS first row from left. Tim row Tom Branting. Kevin Miller, Jeff Sun- Beck, Gary Micek, Ken Rieken; second dberg. CLARKS BLUE BOMBERS Clorks Basketball Head Cooch Richard Alt; Assistant Rick Bell ClARKS BASKETBALL TEAM-front from left, tarry Herman, Joe Lamb, Jon Schlondorf, Mike Branting, Chris Caley, Kelly back, coach Richard Alt, Rick Gcier, Robert Clements, Chris Huston, Tad Dittmer, Rex Kuhn, coach Rick Bell.

(Missing from photo, Dona Schulti). BOMBER VETS, kneeling, Joey iamb, standing from left, Tad Dittmfir, Chris Huston, Rex Kuhn. WRESTLING COACH: NORM MANSTEDT CLARKS WRESTLING TEAM, first row from left, Andy Dubas, James Beck, Kevin Rieken, Tom Beck, David Starostka, Gary Micek; second row, Steve Strobet, student manager, Terry Morris, Ken Rieken, Tim Beck, Tom Branting, Tom Church; third row, Carl Church, Allan Jefferson, Kevin Miller, Joff Sundberg, Jerry Church, coach Norm Manstedt. CLARKS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Dec. Dec.

Doc. Doc. Jon. Jan. Jan.

Jon. Jon. Feb. CLARKS WRESTLING SCHEDULE 3 at Friend Invitational Newman Grove and St. Edward 13 at Fullerton with Oiceola 17 at Wahoo Invitational 6-7 Clarks Invitational 12 at Grand Island Control Catholic with Wood River 14 at Stromiburg Invitational 21 at Stromtburg with Palmer 28 at Volley Invitational 2.

at Goldenrod Conf.ronco (Fullorton) Dec. 2 at Wolbach Doc. 3 at Genoa Dec. 10 at Rising City Dec. 17 Hordville Doc.

20 at Silver Creek Jan. 13 Polk Jan. 23-27 at Goldenrod Conference (Genoa) Jan. 28 Osceola Fob. 3 Cedor Rapids Fob.

4 Palmer Feb. 7 at Marquette Feb. 10 St. Edward Feb. at Stromsburg CLARKS BOOSTERS Co-op Association Grain and Seed Orki City Pollard Propane Oil Inc.

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