SPORTS - YEAR IN REVIEW

2017 was an exciting year for sports in Cheyenne County. Starting in January, these are the regions' top sports stories for the year:

POTTER-DIX GIRLS WIN THIRD MAC CROWN

The Potter-Dix Lady Coyotes Basketball Team won its third MAC crown, defeating Leyton 51-11 in the championship game. The Lady Coyotes held Leyton scoreless in the first period, and gave up only eight points in the second, on the way to a 33-8 halftime lead. So tough was the Potter-Dix defense, that Leyton got off only two shots in the first quarter.

VOWERS WINS 100TH MATCH

Sidney's Vowers Wins 100th match. The further Kaden Vowers advanced into the Western Trails Conference Tournament at Mitchell, the more nervous he became. That's because with each win, he felt more pressure associated with reaching a wrestling milestone not many achieve - especially at a young age - his 100th career win.

"I was really nervous going into the match," Vowers said.

But as his turn on the mat got closer, Vowers said the nervousness subsided as he began to focus more on the match. In the meet's first two rounds, Vowers dispatched opponents from Bridgeport and Hemingford by pin, notching wins number 98 and 99. In the third round, he met Holden Schleve from Morrill and controlled the match through the first period and into the second, recording his third pin - and his 100th win - with a fall in 2:53.

"I feel pretty proud to do this as a junior - this early in the season,"Vower said. Through the remainder of the day and into the weekend, Vowers added to his mark, winning two more matches on the way to first place at Western Trails, then added four more wins at the Ogallala Duals Tournament to bring his season record to 25-6.

Sidney Lady Raider basketball standout Meaghan Ross hit 6 three point shots in a 23 point effort against the Brush Beetdiggers. Ross' sixth three pointer eclipsed the old school mark of five, set in 2005.

Brandon and Amy Bondegard of Sidney qualified to advance to the American Pool-players Association Jack & Jill 8-Ball Doubles World Championship in Las Vegas.

Creek Valley High School senior Brett Godfrey scored his 1,000th career point in basketball during a win versus rival Leyton.

ROBB, ARELLANO CAPTURE WRESTLING TITLES

For the first time in more than 20 years, Sidney wrestlers came home with more than one state champion in their midst. Raiders Trey Arellano and Derek Robb captured gold over the weekend, becoming the first duo of Sidney champions since 1993. In all, five Sidney wrestlers competed in the state tournament, with Arellano, at 120 pounds, and Robb, 152, closing competition the as medalists. Other Raiders competing in Omaha included freshman Paul Houser (106), sophomore KC Higer (132) and junior Kaden Vowers (126). In winning his weight class, Arellano upset top-seeded Walker Moore of Blair, opening the match with a take down and closing it with near-pin back points to earn a 4-2 decision.

As ferocious on the mat as he is soft spoken in conversation, Sidney's Derek Robb tore through the competition at the Nebraska State Wrestling Tournament, winning his third consecutive title Saturday.

Robb, wrestling as the top seed in the 152-pound bracket, pinned all four opponents he faced on the way to the title, winning the championship match in the second period. Robb finished the season unbeaten, with a 56-0 record.

Raiders set school basketball record. The Sidney Red Raiders boys basketball team scored 92 points against Mitchell, establishing a new school record. The previous record was 90 points in the 2004-05 season, also against Mitchell.

VACH INDUCTED INTO WRESTLING HALL OF FAME

A former Sidney wrestling champion was informed that he had been nominated and will be inducted into the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Steven Vach, a two-time Sidney champion, will join the hall of fame at the NSCWA banquet along with four other former state champions and three coaches.

Vach won the state title at 119 pounds in 1993, and again at 145 pounds in 1996. He was third at 125 in 1994 and second at 142 in 1995. He is one of eight Sidney wrestlers who qualified for state during their career and had 139 career wins, at one point the Class B record for wins. Of his wins, 86 of them were by pin.

POTTER-DIX GIRLS WIN DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

The Potter-Dix Lady Coyotes basketball team won the D2-6 District Championship with an overall record of 20-3.

LADY RAIDERS LOST TO NORRIS IN STATE TOURNAMENT

The Sidney Lady Raiders basketball team won the B6 District Championship with an overall record of 20-5.

The Lady Raiders lost to Norris in a close game at the State Tournament, but were honored as a team with the Class B Sportsmanship Trophy. Playing Norris in the first round, Sidney led 7-6 after one quarter of play in a defense-heavy contest. Sidney's hopes appeared dashed when the Titans put up 11 points to just two by the Lady Raiders in the second eight minutes of play. If hope was lost, the Lady Raiders didn't know it, battling back to within one point approaching the end of the third period. Norris extended its lead back to six points in the last quarter, but Sidney hung on with its tenacious defense and moved to within one shot, 39-36, when Katelyn Sylvester hit both attempts on a two-shot foul with seven seconds left to play. Forced to foul, Sidney couldn't make up the difference when Norris got one more point from the foul line, outlasting the Sidney effort 40-36.

BRAUER WINS 3200

Sidney Track standout Collin Brauer won the 3200 meter race at the Chadron State College Invitational for the second year in a row, shattering his previous years' time by over 30 seconds.

LINNEMAN, JOHNSTONE SET NEW TRACK RECORDS

Sidney track standouts Alex Linneman and MJ Johnstone established new meet records at the Mitchell Invitational. Linneman won the Long Jump with a best of 22'6".25, and Johnstone won the Pole Vault with 10'9" effort.

SIDNEY GOLFERS BEAT GERING IN HOME INVITE

In golf, Sidney High School won the Sidney Invitational, beating out Gering to take top honors. Both teams were tied at 346 after the end of regulation play, so a one-hole playoff was used to determine the winner. The Sidney boys golf team would go on to win the Western Conference title.

FIVE SIDNEY BASKETBALL PLAYERS SELECTED FOR ALL-CONFERENCE

The Sidney Red Raiders basketball teams had five All-Conference selections. For the boys, Mitch Porter and Zack Means were honored, and for the girls Meaghan Ross, Kelsey Knight, and Annalise Lecher were selected.

SIDNEY BOYS TRACK WINS BEST IN THE WEST REGIONAL

The Sidney boys track team won the Best in the West Regional Track Meet, and won the Western Conference Title, topping Gering 140-137.

SIDNEY, POTTER GIRLS ARE ALL STARS

The Western Nebraska All-Star Volleyball selections honored four local high school girls; Kelsey Knight and Abby Mills from Sidney High School, and Alex Rozelle and Dawson Sharman from Potter-Dix High School.

DORMANN LEADS WIN AT DISTRICT

Led by Connor Dormann's 75, the Sidney High School golf team won the districts by 10 strokes, qualifying for the State Tournament.

SIDNEY PLACES 4TH AT STATE

Sidney High School golfers capped off a hugely successful season with a fourth place team finish at the Class B state tournament at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln.

"We didn't meet our final goal (of a state win)," said Coach Chuck Christiansen. "But all in all we had a great season."

Through that season the Raiders won six meets, plus the Western Conference and District team titles.

"The kids have a lot to be proud of," Christiansen said.

Two Raiders, senior Nate Dvorak and junior Connor Dormann, finished state play in medalist positions. Dvorak, who was five over after five holes the final day, roared back to an even-par finish and fifth place for a two-day total of 150. Dormann, who led the tournament after the first day of play, came in with an 81 on the second round and was sixth, one stroke behind Dvorak.

JOHNSTONE WINS STATE POLEVAULTING

Sidney High School girls track standout MJ Johnstone won the Nebraska State Class B Pole Vaulting title with a best of 11'02".00. Johnstone went without a miss through the 11-foot mark on the way to the winning height of 11-feet, 2-inches. She won the championship over a Holdrege vaulter, who matched her height but had an earlier miss.

SIDNEY WRESTLERS DO WELL AT NATIONALS

A Sidney quartet made their marks on the national wrestling ranks, competing in the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Scholastic Duals in Florida. The five-day event, also known as the Disney Duals, featured nearly 2,300 wrestlers on 133 teams. Competing for Sidney as part of the Nebraska National Dual Team were Derek Robb, Tristan Ahrendt, Trey Arellano and Kaden Vowers. Three of the four, Robb, Ahrendt and Vowers, earned All-American status based on their performances, while Arellano still finished third in his bracket. Vowers received a silver medal for his performance, while Robb and Ahrendt were first in their brackets. When speaking with the Sun-Telegraph on the way home from the tournament the young competitors, without exception, listed the desire to get better at their sport as one of the reasons for participating.

"Mat time and getting better is what it's all about," said Robb, who last year won his third straight high school title.

LONG TIME POTTER COACH TO HALL OF FAME

To many, he was simply "Coach." To others, "Mr. Combs." But to all within the Potter community, Al Combs was for many years held in high regard, both within the confines of the school and in the community.

And now, the regard Coach Combs held has landed him in the Nebraska Eight Man Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Combs, who coached at Potter High School for 20 years, from 1958 to 1978, was the first man named to the Hall of Fame during halftime ceremonies at the Sertoma Eight Man Football All Star Game in Hastings June 17. By coincidence, Combs was also the assistant coach for the west at the very first Eight Man All Star game in 1978.

Potter won the conference championship three years running, beginning with the 1960 season. When the league changed from the Lodgepole Valley Association to the Minuteman Activities Conference, Combs' Coyotes continued their success, winning the conference championship 14 times.

By the time Combs closed out his coaching career in 1978, his teams amassed a record of 146 wins, 27 losses and five ties. In honor of their coach, the community placed his name on its field, and athletes have played on Combs Field ever since.

SIDNEY WOMAN TOPS LONG RANGE SHOOTERS

Sidney area shooters hit the mark, and often, at a competitive match in mid-June, bringing home first place recognition in three events and second in two others in Forsyth, Montana.

The prizes were earned amongst 647 entries in the Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match. What sets the shoot apart are mainly two things: type of weaponry (using black powder or smokeless ammunition, rather than modern center fire) with cast bullets, and the sheer distances involved, ranging from 350 to 805 yards (a half mile). For 26 years the shoot has been held, inspired by the 1990 movie "Quigley Down Under."

Shooters from across the country now travel to Forsythe annually to make and renew friendships, and test their skills with old-style weapons. Since its inception the event, like the search advertised in the movie, has drawn shooters from around the globe. This year, shooters from New Zealand, Australia, England and Canada made the trip. Throughout the years competitors from eight foreign nations have made the journey.

This year two Sidney woman, DewAnn Smith, and Brianna Sage finished first and second in the women's division, where shooters age 17-61 compete. Smith, who has competed in the event since 2002, won the women's division after finishing second last year and third the previous two years.

Sage's second-place women's finish is impressive enough, but more so considering the 17 year old was making her first appearance in the adult division. She has excelled in years past as well, but announced herself as a shooter to watch in the future. Her 33 was also enough to place 26th overall, ranked against all shooters in all divisions. Smith was 12th best shooter in the overall rankings, one place behind her husband, Dexter. As a husband-wife team, their score topped all others in the competition.

THE SIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS GOLF TEAM FINISHED TWO DAYS OF STATE COMPETITION TO TAKE FIFTH PLACE IN COLUMBUS

"Fifth place is a great accomplishment for these girls," said coach Ryan Plummer. "I'm sad to close the chapter on this season, but I'm excited for the future."

Senior Emma Alexander lead the Lady Raiders with a two-day finish of 169: 80 on round 1 and 89 on round 2. Juniors Janay Brauer and Tiara Ginther finished the tournament with 195 each, senior Paige Langley earned a 208 and Dru Rowan a 222.

PEETZ BULLDOGS RECLAIMED THE 6-MAN STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

The Peetz Bulldogs reclaimed the 6-man State football championship title, defeating Stratton/Liberty 38-28 in Joes, Colorado. The game started with the Knighted Eagles of Stratton/Liberty earning 14 points while keeping the Bulldogs off of the scoreboard. Peetz earned the only points of the second quarter, earning a touchdown but missing the extra-point. The first half ended with the Knighted Eagles in an eight-point lead, 14-6. The game was decided in the fourth quarter when Peetz earned 24 points to Stratton/Liberty's eight points.

Tre Fehringer, senior, lead the Bulldogs' passing game. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Logan Sircy, senior, earned 105 yards receiving with eight receptions averaging 13.1 yards per carry and earning three touchdowns. Senior Helmuth Wenneker carried the ball six times for 30 yards, senior Hunter White carried the ball eight times for 22 yards and one touchdown. Junior Bryson Long carried the ball 13 times for 72 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and earning a touchdown. Peetz had 157 yards rushing and 161 yards receiving. The Bulldogs finished the 2017 season with a 10-1 record. Their only loss iwas 44-41 to Prairie in New Raymer Oct. 6.

SIDNEY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY PLACES 8TH IN STATE TOURNAMENT

SHS junior Collin Brauer lead the boys team, placing 11th in a field of 92 runners and 12 teams. He also received a medal for his time of 17:09.9. Junior Carlos Lucero placed 21st in the field with a time of 17:35.

Also running for Sidney, senior Kaden Vowers finished 46th with a time of 18:08.7, Caedon Snider, junior, placed 70th in the field with a time of 18:34.3, Jacob Peckham finished 81st with a time of 18:55.9, and Mitchell Porter finished 83rd with a time of 19:00.07.