C’mon, college football, you’ve got to do better.

Coaches must set an example by wearing their masks. Fans shouldn’t be cheering from their seats or mugging for the cameras without face coverings. Schools must mandate safety checks for anyone entering the stadium.

That’s the only way they’re going to get through this most tenuous of seasons — somewhat safely, at least — in the midst of an unchecked pandemic that has already claimed more than 200,000 American lives.

The biggest game of this past weekend produced all sorts of disturbing images. Georgia, the third-ranked team in the country, requires fans to wear masks when they enter Sanford Stadium and while they’re on the concourses, but they can take them off at their socially distanced seats.

So, naturally, hardly anyone was wearing a mask while watching a 27-6 victory over Auburn in the first top 10 matchup of the season.

Sure, Georgia was following Southeastern Conference guidelines, and school officials insisted that they maintained a safe environment for an outdoor event, but the message was not a good one.

Especially when Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart seemed to spend most of the evening with his mask dangling beneath his nose or down around his neck.

Smart acknowledged that he must do a better job with this most basic — and arguably, most important — of safety protocols, a simple step that tens of millions of Americans are following every day despite the inconvenience.

“Absolutely,” Smart conceded. “I’ve been talked to by the commissioner and several others.”

He held up a mask to drive home his mea culpa.

“I just have to figure out a way to get it tighter and more comfortable on there,” he said. “The biggest thing is when you’re in the middle of coaching and talking to somebody, you have to get comfortable being able to leave it up and leave it on. And that’s probably the toughest thing.”

Then there’s LSU, the reigning national champion and another SEC powerhouse.

We’ve already heard coach Ed Orgeron casually drop that most of his team already contracted the coronavirus, as though it was nothing more than the common cold.

On Monday, the Tigers doubled down by announcing they’ll stop doing CDC-sanctioned wellness checks at stadium gates. Instead, they encouraged fans to do a self-assessment of their health before they leave the house.

LSU officials say they want to cut down on the long lines to get inside Tiger Stadium. For good measure, they also lifted a ban on alcohol sales, creating an even greater chance of irresponsible conduct from those in the stands.

Look at it this way: Since the fans won’t have to wait as long to get inside, they’ll be even more time for drinking.

Seriously, it’s baffling that anyone in a position of authority pondered the options and thought this was the way to go — especially in a state that has one of the nation’s highest COVID-19 death rates, roughly 1 in every 850 residents.

To its credit, the NFL has gotten serious about its safety protocols in the wake of games being postponed because of positive tests.

Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo warning the league’s 32 teams of penalties including potential forfeits of games for any violations that force changes in the schedule.

The league already doled out hefty fines to three coaches — Denver’s Vic Fangio, San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan and Seattle’s Pete Carroll — who thumbed their exposed noses at the league’s mask mandate. They were hit with $100,000 fines, while their teams got docked $250,000.

The SEC and other conferences should consider similar measures for coaches who don’t wear their masks, but don’t hold your breath.

We reached out to the league Tuesday and all we got was “there’s always room for improvement” before being pointed to an article in which Georgia officials said they were largely pleased with their safety measures for Saturday night’s game.

Georgia and LSU are hardly the only schools worthy of scrutiny.

In a season-opening upset of the defending national champs, new Mississippi State coach Mike Leach was caught many times with his face uncovered. He blatantly violated league rules, and then cast doubt on whether masks were needed at all.

“I try to do my best with it, but once you’re 6 feet apart, I can’t help but wonder if some of this isn’t an homage to politicians,” Leach said, doing his best to send the most irresponsible message to his players.

Thankfully, there are coaches like Duke’s David Cutcliffe, who understand the gravity of the situation.

“I’m first a believer that it’s important to other people that you wear a mask -- more important to other people than it is to you,” he said. “I promised our players and I promised our parents that the No. 1 priority that we would have would be the health and well-being of those young men.”

Of course, it was always gong to be difficult to maintain a safe environment in a high-contact sport played in close quarters.

We’ve already seen positive tests, and we will surely see many more before the season is done.

But the goal must be to get through this without anyone suffering long-term health problems or, heaven forbid, dying.

“If our players are disciplined enough to do all that they’re doing to stay playing football, why would we not do the same?” Cutcliffe said. “It’s not easy to talk and call plays on the sidelines, a constant thing that’s in your mind. But you know what? Personal discipline is the best way we’re going to face anything in life and handle tragic circumstances or tough circumstances. So we’re just going to go with it.”

C’mon, college football, you can do better.

Paul Newberry is a sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org or at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963. His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry

AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina contributed to this report.

By PAUL NEWBERRY - Associated PressC’mon, college football, you’ve got to do better.Coaches must set an example by wearing their masks. Fans shouldn’t be cheering from their seats or mugging for the cameras without face coverings. Schools must mandate safety checks for anyone entering the stadium.That’s the only way they’re going to get through this most tenuous of seasons — somewhat safely, at least — in the midst of an unchecked pandemic that has already claimed more than 200,000 American lives.The biggest game of this past weekend produced all sorts of disturbing images. Georgia, the third-ranked team in the country, requires fans to wear masks when they enter Sanford Stadium and while they’re on the concourses, but they can take them off at their socially distanced seats.So, naturally, hardly anyone was wearing a mask while watching a 27-6 victory over Auburn in the first top 10 matchup of the season.Sure, Georgia was following Southeastern Conference guidelines, and school officials insisted that they maintained a safe environment for an outdoor event, but the message was not a good one.Especially when Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart seemed to spend most of the evening with his mask dangling beneath his nose or down around his neck.Smart acknowledged that he must do a better job with this most basic — and arguably, most important — of safety protocols, a simple step that tens of millions of Americans are following every day despite the inconvenience.“Absolutely,” Smart conceded. “I’ve been talked to by the commissioner and several others.”He held up a mask to drive home his mea culpa.“I just have to figure out a way to get it tighter and more comfortable on there,” he said. “The biggest thing is when you’re in the middle of coaching and talking to somebody, you have to get comfortable being able to leave it up and leave it on. And that’s probably the toughest thing.”Then there’s LSU, the reigning national champion and another SEC powerhouse.We’ve already heard coach Ed Orgeron casually drop that most of his team already contracted the coronavirus, as though it was nothing more than the common cold.On Monday, the Tigers doubled down by announcing they’ll stop doing CDC-sanctioned wellness checks at stadium gates. Instead, they encouraged fans to do a self-assessment of their health before they leave the house.LSU officials say they want to cut down on the long lines to get inside Tiger Stadium. For good measure, they also lifted a ban on alcohol sales, creating an even greater chance of irresponsible conduct from those in the stands.Look at it this way: Since the fans won’t have to wait as long to get inside, they’ll be even more time for drinking.Seriously, it’s baffling that anyone in a position of authority pondered the options and thought this was the way to go — especially in a state that has one of the nation’s highest COVID-19 death rates, roughly 1 in every 850 residents.To its credit, the NFL has gotten serious about its safety protocols in the wake of games being postponed because of positive tests.Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo warning the league’s 32 teams of penalties including potential forfeits of games for any violations that force changes in the schedule.The league already doled out hefty fines to three coaches — Denver’s Vic Fangio, San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan and Seattle’s Pete Carroll — who thumbed their exposed noses at the league’s mask mandate. They were hit with $100,000 fines, while their teams got docked $250,000.The SEC and other conferences should consider similar measures for coaches who don’t wear their masks, but don’t hold your breath.We reached out to the league Tuesday and all we got was “there’s always room for improvement” before being pointed to an article in which Georgia officials said they were largely pleased with their safety measures for Saturday night’s game.Georgia and LSU are hardly the only schools worthy of scrutiny.In a season-opening upset of the defending national champs, new Mississippi State coach Mike Leach was caught many times with his face uncovered. He blatantly violated league rules, and then cast doubt on whether masks were needed at all.“I try to do my best with it, but once you’re 6 feet apart, I can’t help but wonder if some of this isn’t an homage to politicians,” Leach said, doing his best to send the most irresponsible message to his players.Thankfully, there are coaches like Duke’s David Cutcliffe, who understand the gravity of the situation.“I’m first a believer that it’s important to other people that you wear a mask -- more important to other people than it is to you,” he said. “I promised our players and I promised our parents that the No. 1 priority that we would have would be the health and well-being of those young men.”Of course, it was always gong to be difficult to maintain a safe environment in a high-contact sport played in close quarters.We’ve already seen positive tests, and we will surely see many more before the season is done.But the goal must be to get through this without anyone suffering long-term health problems or, heaven forbid, dying.“If our players are disciplined enough to do all that they’re doing to stay playing football, why would we not do the same?” Cutcliffe said. “It’s not easy to talk and call plays on the sidelines, a constant thing that’s in your mind. But you know what? Personal discipline is the best way we’re going to face anything in life and handle tragic circumstances or tough circumstances. So we’re just going to go with it.”C’mon, college football, you can do better.___Paul Newberry is a sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org or at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963. His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry___AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina contributed to this report.

AP Column: College football sending wrong messages vs COVID-19

By Heather Johnson - MPCC Area Information Specialist

Mid-Plains Community College has the top bull rider in the nation.

Koby Jacobson has proven to be a strong contender in the Great Plains Region throughout the fall and is now sitting at the top of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s leaderboard with 636 points.

“I didn’t set out to be first in the nation,” Jacobson said. “My goal was to get a big lead and be sitting number one in the region by year end. It’s hard to put into words how I feel about how things worked out. It’s just nice knowing that all the hard work paid off.”

Jacobson’s winnings helped propel the men on the MPCC Rodeo Team to another victory at the national level. Standings show they are second in terms of overall points, 2,726.50, - ranked only behind the University of Wyoming.

Jacobson wasn’t alone in making it onto the national leaderboard. MPCC’s steer wrestlers have dominated the fall rodeos, and several of them are getting recognition at the higher level.

Steer wrestler Zane Patrick, of Bartlett, is third in the nation, followed by his teammates: Wynn Schaack, of Wall, S.D., who is currently sixth, Landon Sivertsen, of Ree Heights, S.D., and Sterling Lee, of Rhame, N.D., who are tied for 10th and Marshall Still, of Oconto, who is 18th.

Schaack is also ninth in the team roping header category, and the points from that, along with his steer wrestling ranking, made him fifth in the all-around standings with 625 points.

Austin Madison, of Whiting, Iowa, is 10th in the tie-down roping, while Lee is in the 17th spot and Jacob Haren, of Erie, Colo., is 20th. The women’s team is 19th in the nation.

“The rodeo team as a whole has done phenomenal this fall,” said Garrett Nokes, MPCC Rodeo Team Coach. “Everyone has worked hard – especially Koby and the steer wrestlers. We’ve got five out of the top six steer wrestlers in the regional standings, and all of our steer wrestlers have scored points. That’s pretty awesome. It shows they’re really working at it, and I expect them to continue to do good things.”

Jacobson’s success is the result of a lifetime of hard work and dedication.

Although currently living in Hershey, Jacobson is originally from Haiku, Hawaii. His passion for rodeo began when he was about 3 years old.

“My dad basically threw me on a sheep and said, ‘Go do this’,” Jacobson said of his early days mutton busting. “It just kind of stuck.”

As he got older, Jacobson progressed to riding calves, then steers, then junior bulls and, finally, started on the large bulls when he was in middle school.

“I’m kind of an adrenaline junky for it,” Jacobson said. “From the beginning, it’s been fun and exciting. I love the feeling of success I get from riding a bull, and I’ve always had lots of support from people back home telling me to stick with it. I guess that’s why I have.”

Jacobson was a two-time state high school rodeo all-around champion. By the time he graduated, his sights were set on competing professionally. He knew he would need more training first.

“My sister [Kaile] rodeoed for Mid-Plains, so I would come to Nebraska over the summers and hang out with her. I got to know the rodeo coaches during that time,” Jacobson said. “When it was time to start college, I enrolled at MPCC because it had both the diesel degree I wanted to pursue and rodeo, and I was already comfortable with the coaches.”

Jacobson initially trained under Dustin Elliott, 2004 world champion bull rider and former rough stock coach for the MPCC Rodeo Team. This year, Jacobson has been working with former MPCC bull rider, turned assistant coach, Aukai Kaai.

“Aukai has been great because he knows what’s going through my head,” Jacobson said. “He knows it’s tough to balance school and rodeo, and he’s very understanding and supportive. He’s always there for me, pushing me and wanting me to do better. My riding ability has improved, and so has my mentality just by having him around.”

The latter part is especially huge – considering what Jacobson’s up against every time he swings his leg over a bull.

“In my opinion, bull riding is definitely more mental than physical or talent-driven,” Jacobson said. “If I climb on thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’ or ‘I might get bucked off,’ then I will get bucked off. What you think is how you perform.”

He builds confidence by spending more time in the practice pen, honing his skills, and not fretting over mistakes.

“If I do bad, I don’t doubt my abilities altogether,” Jacobson said. “I acknowledge the slip up but know that I can correct it and can always go back to the drawing board. Aukai has been having me read some books on positive thinking, and those have helped a lot, too.”

Jacobson qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in bull riding in 2019 and would have had enough points to qualify this year as well - if the finals had not been cancelled because of COVID-19.

Instead, he spent the summer practicing and traveling to local rodeos in addition to focusing on his health to get himself into the best shape possible.

“I’m having a lot more fun this year with the bull riding and not taking it so seriously,” Jacobson said. “I think that’s been a big part of why I’ve done as well as I have.”

Jacobson graduated with a diesel degree but doesn’t plan to transfer to a four-year college or university. He’s staying at Mid-Plains to continue rodeoing for the team and to pursue another degree in Automotive Technology.

“I never intended to transfer on, I just wanted to rodeo professionally after I graduated,” Jacobson said. “Then COVID hit, and I couldn’t rodeo as much. I decided I might as well take some more classes and earn two degrees in three years.”

He’s also taking advantage of the lack of rodeos to prepare for when they start up again.

“Aukai has been helping me figure out the business side of the industry,” Jacobson said. “He’s taught me how to live on the road and spend money wisely. He’s helped me figure out what’s worth traveling to and what’s not. I’m bettering myself so when I do go out there – I’m ready.”

Kaai has been impressed with Jacobson’s drive as well as his character.

“Koby has been outstanding,” Kaai said. “He’s been putting in the work – getting on the drop barrel and practice bulls every chance he gets. He’s fun to be around and makes it easy to be a coach. Koby is definitely one of the team leaders. He might be first in the nation, but he’s not taking time off. He’s still wanting to practice and is getting better every day.”

More information about the MPCC Rodeo Team can be found online at mpcc.edu/rodeo.

By Heather Johnson - MPCC Area Information SpecialistMid-Plains Community College has the top bull rider in the nation.Koby Jacobson has proven to be a strong contender in the Great Plains Region throughout the fall and is now sitting at the top of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s leaderboard with 636 points.“I didn’t set out to be first in the nation,” Jacobson said. “My goal was to get a big lead and be sitting number one in the region by year end. It’s hard to put into words how I feel about how things worked out. It’s just nice knowing that all the hard work paid off.”Jacobson’s winnings helped propel the men on the MPCC Rodeo Team to another victory at the national level. Standings show they are second in terms of overall points, 2,726.50, - ranked only behind the University of Wyoming.Jacobson wasn’t alone in making it onto the national leaderboard. MPCC’s steer wrestlers have dominated the fall rodeos, and several of them are getting recognition at the higher level.Steer wrestler Zane Patrick, of Bartlett, is third in the nation, followed by his teammates: Wynn Schaack, of Wall, S.D., who is currently sixth, Landon Sivertsen, of Ree Heights, S.D., and Sterling Lee, of Rhame, N.D., who are tied for 10th and Marshall Still, of Oconto, who is 18th.Schaack is also ninth in the team roping header category, and the points from that, along with his steer wrestling ranking, made him fifth in the all-around standings with 625 points.Austin Madison, of Whiting, Iowa, is 10th in the tie-down roping, while Lee is in the 17th spot and Jacob Haren, of Erie, Colo., is 20th. The women’s team is 19th in the nation.“The rodeo team as a whole has done phenomenal this fall,” said Garrett Nokes, MPCC Rodeo Team Coach. “Everyone has worked hard – especially Koby and the steer wrestlers. We’ve got five out of the top six steer wrestlers in the regional standings, and all of our steer wrestlers have scored points. That’s pretty awesome. It shows they’re really working at it, and I expect them to continue to do good things.”A long time comingJacobson’s success is the result of a lifetime of hard work and dedication.Although currently living in Hershey, Jacobson is originally from Haiku, Hawaii. His passion for rodeo began when he was about 3 years old.“My dad basically threw me on a sheep and said, ‘Go do this’,” Jacobson said of his early days mutton busting. “It just kind of stuck.”As he got older, Jacobson progressed to riding calves, then steers, then junior bulls and, finally, started on the large bulls when he was in middle school.“I’m kind of an adrenaline junky for it,” Jacobson said. “From the beginning, it’s been fun and exciting. I love the feeling of success I get from riding a bull, and I’ve always had lots of support from people back home telling me to stick with it. I guess that’s why I have.”Jacobson was a two-time state high school rodeo all-around champion. By the time he graduated, his sights were set on competing professionally. He knew he would need more training first.“My sister [Kaile] rodeoed for Mid-Plains, so I would come to Nebraska over the summers and hang out with her. I got to know the rodeo coaches during that time,” Jacobson said. “When it was time to start college, I enrolled at MPCC because it had both the diesel degree I wanted to pursue and rodeo, and I was already comfortable with the coaches.”Jacobson initially trained under Dustin Elliott, 2004 world champion bull rider and former rough stock coach for the MPCC Rodeo Team. This year, Jacobson has been working with former MPCC bull rider, turned assistant coach, Aukai Kaai.“Aukai has been great because he knows what’s going through my head,” Jacobson said. “He knows it’s tough to balance school and rodeo, and he’s very understanding and supportive. He’s always there for me, pushing me and wanting me to do better. My riding ability has improved, and so has my mentality just by having him around.”The latter part is especially huge – considering what Jacobson’s up against every time he swings his leg over a bull.“In my opinion, bull riding is definitely more mental than physical or talent-driven,” Jacobson said. “If I climb on thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’ or ‘I might get bucked off,’ then I will get bucked off. What you think is how you perform.”He builds confidence by spending more time in the practice pen, honing his skills, and not fretting over mistakes.“If I do bad, I don’t doubt my abilities altogether,” Jacobson said. “I acknowledge the slip up but know that I can correct it and can always go back to the drawing board. Aukai has been having me read some books on positive thinking, and those have helped a lot, too.”Jacobson qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in bull riding in 2019 and would have had enough points to qualify this year as well - if the finals had not been cancelled because of COVID-19.Instead, he spent the summer practicing and traveling to local rodeos in addition to focusing on his health to get himself into the best shape possible.“I’m having a lot more fun this year with the bull riding and not taking it so seriously,” Jacobson said. “I think that’s been a big part of why I’ve done as well as I have.”Jacobson graduated with a diesel degree but doesn’t plan to transfer to a four-year college or university. He’s staying at Mid-Plains to continue rodeoing for the team and to pursue another degree in Automotive Technology.“I never intended to transfer on, I just wanted to rodeo professionally after I graduated,” Jacobson said. “Then COVID hit, and I couldn’t rodeo as much. I decided I might as well take some more classes and earn two degrees in three years.”He’s also taking advantage of the lack of rodeos to prepare for when they start up again.“Aukai has been helping me figure out the business side of the industry,” Jacobson said. “He’s taught me how to live on the road and spend money wisely. He’s helped me figure out what’s worth traveling to and what’s not. I’m bettering myself so when I do go out there – I’m ready.”Kaai has been impressed with Jacobson’s drive as well as his character.“Koby has been outstanding,” Kaai said. “He’s been putting in the work – getting on the drop barrel and practice bulls every chance he gets. He’s fun to be around and makes it easy to be a coach. Koby is definitely one of the team leaders. He might be first in the nation, but he’s not taking time off. He’s still wanting to practice and is getting better every day.”More information about the MPCC Rodeo Team can be found online at mpcc.edu/rodeo.

MPCC bull rider ranks first in the nation

<ul>
 <li>Due to NSAA &amp; social distancing requirements at the Dowhower Softball Complex, all fans wishing to sit INSIDE the Softball Complex MUST be on the District A-4 PASS LIST. All other fans are encouraged to sit outside the fences on Field B or E.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Face Coverings Encouraged</li><li>No Passes Accepted&nbsp;</li><li>Concessions Available&nbsp;</li><li>All Children/Students&nbsp;Must Sit with Family Members&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

NPHS Softball: District guidelines for spectators 

10.6.2020 NPHS Volleyball @ Kearney Catholic LIVESTREAM

By Heather Johnson - MPCC Area Information Specialist&nbsp;

The Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team is leading the Great Plains Region following a successful run in Dickinson, N.D. over the weekend.

MPCC competed in two rodeos at the Blue Hawk Stampede Thursday through Saturday. The men’s team won its first rodeo and finished third overall at the second rodeo – giving Mid-Plains a 700-point lead going into spring.

“There hasn’t been a team that’s had a 700-point rodeo,” said Garrett Nokes, MPCC Rodeo Team coach. “I kept expecting us to have a 1,000-point rodeo sometime this fall, but with talent as deep as we’ve got it, we’ve had two or three people carry us through every competition we’ve been to.”

That was true in Dickinson as well, with Koby Jacobson, of Hershey, and MPCC’s steer wrestlers leading the pack.

“Koby is definitely the leader of our team,” Nokes said. “He didn’t quite qualify for all-around because you have to have 200 points in at least two events, and he’s sitting at 160 in the steer wrestling right now. He’s got more total points than anyone in the all-around standings.”

MPCC ended up with eight steer wrestlers in the top 10 in the first rodeo at Dickinson.

“That was cool,” Nokes said. “It goes to show we’ve got a group that is pushing each other – wanting to beat each other, not just the other teams. Beating all your teammates in this group is pretty phenomenal. It pushes everyone to be better in the practice pen, and that’s what we’re seeing come out in the rodeos.”

Mid-Plains stumbled a bit in the second rodeo with only three team members making it back to the short go and only two in the top six in the steer wrestling.

“That’s the first time we’ve let that happen, and it’s the first time we’ve allowed someone else to claim the championship this fall,” Nokes said. “We’ve won the steer wrestling at five of the six rodeos we’ve competed at.”

The team didn’t walk away without any wins at all. Austin Madison, of Whiting, Iowa, won the tie-down roping – stopping the clock at 8.4 seconds.

“Austin showed why he’s competing at the professional level,” Nokes said “That last round had some calves that were tricky to be fast on, but he came out with ice in his veins and made a run that would have been hard to beat in the professional arena.”

One of the underdogs of the team, Jacob Haren, of Erie, Colo., made it to the short go in both of the rodeos. He placed third and fourth, respectively, in the tie-down roping and was also fourth in the steer wrestling on Saturday.

“Jacob is really talented,” Nokes said. “I expected him to win more than he has this fall, but he’s done well at the last three rodeos and that’s what we’re going to see over the next couple of years from him. He’s been working hard, and I’m happy to see him have the success that he deserves. He’s going to be an all-around threat.”

Dickinson rounded out what has been a busy fall for the team with six rodeos condensed into three weeks because of COVID-19. The athletes won’t have much time off, however. They are hosting a timed event fundraiser Oct. 9-10 at the Kiplinger Arena in McCook.

“Our season is done, and the only question I’ve been getting from the team is, ‘When do we get to practice again?’ They want to get back to it. When we’ve got athletes that competitive and that driven, the other teams are going to have some tough competition in the spring,” said Nokes.

Individual results from Dickinson are as follows:

Steer wrestling: first – Sterling Lee, Rhame, N.D.; second – Landon Sivertsen, Ree Heights, S.D.; third – Zane Patrick, Bartlett; fourth – Austin Madison; fifth – Quade Potter, Stockville; eighth – Marshall Still, of Oconto

Tie-down roping: third – Jacob Haren; seventh – Sterling Lee

Team roping: fifth – Nick Rettinger, Amidon, N.D.; eighth – Ethan Wright, Sanborn, Iowa/ Brooklyn Spencer, Ulen, Minn.

Tie-down roping: first – Austin Madison, fourth – Jacob Haren

Breakaway roping: second – Aluxyn Hollenbeck, Valentine; fifth – Danielle Wray, Ord

Steer wrestling: second – Wynn Schaack, Wall, S.D.; fourth – Jacob Haren

By Heather Johnson - MPCC Area Information Specialist&nbsp;The Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team is leading the Great Plains Region following a successful run in Dickinson, N.D. over the weekend.MPCC competed in two rodeos at the Blue Hawk Stampede Thursday through Saturday. The men’s team won its first rodeo and finished third overall at the second rodeo – giving Mid-Plains a 700-point lead going into spring.“There hasn’t been a team that’s had a 700-point rodeo,” said Garrett Nokes, MPCC Rodeo Team coach. “I kept expecting us to have a 1,000-point rodeo sometime this fall, but with talent as deep as we’ve got it, we’ve had two or three people carry us through every competition we’ve been to.”That was true in Dickinson as well, with Koby Jacobson, of Hershey, and MPCC’s steer wrestlers leading the pack.“Koby is definitely the leader of our team,” Nokes said. “He didn’t quite qualify for all-around because you have to have 200 points in at least two events, and he’s sitting at 160 in the steer wrestling right now. He’s got more total points than anyone in the all-around standings.”MPCC ended up with eight steer wrestlers in the top 10 in the first rodeo at Dickinson.“That was cool,” Nokes said. “It goes to show we’ve got a group that is pushing each other – wanting to beat each other, not just the other teams. Beating all your teammates in this group is pretty phenomenal. It pushes everyone to be better in the practice pen, and that’s what we’re seeing come out in the rodeos.”Mid-Plains stumbled a bit in the second rodeo with only three team members making it back to the short go and only two in the top six in the steer wrestling.“That’s the first time we’ve let that happen, and it’s the first time we’ve allowed someone else to claim the championship this fall,” Nokes said. “We’ve won the steer wrestling at five of the six rodeos we’ve competed at.”The team didn’t walk away without any wins at all. Austin Madison, of Whiting, Iowa, won the tie-down roping – stopping the clock at 8.4 seconds.“Austin showed why he’s competing at the professional level,” Nokes said “That last round had some calves that were tricky to be fast on, but he came out with ice in his veins and made a run that would have been hard to beat in the professional arena.”One of the underdogs of the team, Jacob Haren, of Erie, Colo., made it to the short go in both of the rodeos. He placed third and fourth, respectively, in the tie-down roping and was also fourth in the steer wrestling on Saturday.“Jacob is really talented,” Nokes said. “I expected him to win more than he has this fall, but he’s done well at the last three rodeos and that’s what we’re going to see over the next couple of years from him. He’s been working hard, and I’m happy to see him have the success that he deserves. He’s going to be an all-around threat.”Dickinson rounded out what has been a busy fall for the team with six rodeos condensed into three weeks because of COVID-19. The athletes won’t have much time off, however. They are hosting a timed event fundraiser Oct. 9-10 at the Kiplinger Arena in McCook.“Our season is done, and the only question I’ve been getting from the team is, ‘When do we get to practice again?’ They want to get back to it. When we’ve got athletes that competitive and that driven, the other teams are going to have some tough competition in the spring,” said Nokes.Individual results from Dickinson are as follows:First RodeoBull riding: first – Koby JacobsonSteer wrestling: first – Sterling Lee, Rhame, N.D.; second – Landon Sivertsen, Ree Heights, S.D.; third – Zane Patrick, Bartlett; fourth – Austin Madison; fifth – Quade Potter, Stockville; eighth – Marshall Still, of OcontoTie-down roping: third – Jacob Haren; seventh – Sterling LeeTeam roping: fifth – Nick Rettinger, Amidon, N.D.; eighth – Ethan Wright, Sanborn, Iowa/ Brooklyn Spencer, Ulen, Minn.Second RodeoTie-down roping: first – Austin Madison, fourth – Jacob HarenBreakaway roping: second – Aluxyn Hollenbeck, Valentine; fifth – Danielle Wray, OrdSteer wrestling: second – Wynn Schaack, Wall, S.D.; fourth – Jacob Haren

MPCC Rodeo Team leads the region

And here is a list of the final powerpoint standings:&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601923732354.png" alt="2020 softball A4.PNG" />
 <figcaption>2020 softball A4.PNG</figcaption>
 </figure>And here is a list of the final powerpoint standings:&nbsp; Class A:<ul>
 <li>Papillion-LaVista&nbsp;(29-0),&nbsp;46.4828</li><li>Lincoln Southwest&nbsp;(29-7),&nbsp;43.8611</li><li>Omaha Marian&nbsp;(20-6),&nbsp;43.5385</li><li>North Platte&nbsp;(26-9),&nbsp;43.4000</li><li>Lincoln East&nbsp;(29-9),&nbsp;42.9737</li><li>Lincoln Southeast&nbsp;(27-13),&nbsp;42.6750</li><li>Lincoln North Star&nbsp;(22-12),&nbsp;42.5000</li><li>Norfolk&nbsp;(27-9),&nbsp;42.4167</li><li>Bellevue East&nbsp;(19-11),&nbsp;42.3667</li><li>Papillion-LaVista South&nbsp;(19-13),&nbsp;42.1563</li><li>Millard West&nbsp;(14-13),&nbsp;41.5926</li><li>Gretna&nbsp;(13-14),&nbsp;41.5185</li><li>Elkhorn South&nbsp;(15-14),&nbsp;40.8621</li><li>Millard North&nbsp;(14-13),&nbsp;40.8148</li><li>Kearney&nbsp;(16-20),&nbsp;40.5556</li><li>Fremont&nbsp;(18-17),&nbsp;40.5429</li><li>Millard South&nbsp;(13-16),&nbsp;39.4138</li><li>Lincoln Pius X&nbsp;(10-23),&nbsp;38.6061</li><li>Grand Island&nbsp;(10-28),&nbsp;38.0263</li><li>Omaha Westside&nbsp;(7-17),&nbsp;37.4583</li><li>Lincoln Northeast&nbsp;(7-26),&nbsp;37.4242</li><li>Columbus&nbsp;(6-24),&nbsp;37.3000</li><li>Bellevue West&nbsp;(2-25),&nbsp;36.2593</li><li>Lincoln High&nbsp;(0-22),&nbsp;33.9545</li>
 </ul>

NPHS Softball snags top 6 spot, will host District A-4

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs returned all negative results, allowing their game rescheduled for Monday night to be played, and the Tennessee Titans have their first day clear of positive results in a week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

The NFL postponed the Patriots’ game at Kansas City (3-0) from Sunday after New England quarterback Cam Newton and Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu were added to the COVID-19 reserve list Saturday.

The Patriots (2-1) wrote on social media Monday morning, “Game day.”

Now in quarantine, Newton wrote Sunday on Instagram that he’ll use his time off from football to “get healthy and self reflect on the other amazing things that I should be grateful for.”

The Titans’ outbreak reached 20 cases Sunday with the team’s sixth straight day of at least one positive with 18 returned since Tuesday. But Tennessee had no positives back Monday morning. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Monday because neither the NFL nor the Titans announced the latest results.

Tennessee will need continued negative results to host Buffalo (4-0) on Sunday, and Wednesday is the earliest the Titans can get back inside their facility as long as the franchise has back-to-back days of negative test results.

Titans linebacker Will Compton wrote on Twitter, “No positive tests. Victory Monday.”

Minnesota, which lost to Tennessee a week ago, beat Houston 31-23 on Sunday following new protocols for teams exposed to a COVID-19 outbreak.

The negative test results Sunday include New Orleans Saints fullback Michael Burton, who falsely tested positive on Saturday. The Saints learned of the positive test after leaving New Orleans for Sunday’s scheduled game in Detroit and ran another series of tests on players and staff overnight.

The Saints beat the Lions 35-29 in Detroit.

Tennessee’s outbreak appears to have started Sept. 24 when the team placed cornerback Greg Mabin from its practice squad on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Then outside linebacker coach Shane Bowen’s test result came back positive Sept. 26, and he did not travel with the Titans to Minnesota.

Then eight positives come back Sept. 29 when the NFL told the Titans to close their facility.

That was the first of six straight days of positive results putting key players on the reserve/COVID-19 list — defensive linemen DaQuan Jones and Jeffery Simmons, wide receiver Adam Humphries, long snapper Beau Brinkley, cornerback Kristian Fulton and outside linebacker Kamalei Correa. Fullback Khari Blasingame will be added to that list today after being the last player to test positive.

After the NFL postponed the Titans’ game set for Sunday against Pittsburgh, the league rescheduled the game a day later for Week 7 on Oct. 25 during Tennessee’s bye. The league also moved Baltimore’s bye to Week 7, so the Ravens now can play Pittsburgh on Nov. 1.

Officials from the NFL and its players’ union met with the Titans on Friday reviewing the situation around the team’s outbreak.

AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed to this report.

By TERESA M. WALKER - Associated PressNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs returned all negative results, allowing their game rescheduled for Monday night to be played, and the Tennessee Titans have their first day clear of positive results in a week, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.The NFL postponed the Patriots’ game at Kansas City (3-0) from Sunday after New England quarterback Cam Newton and Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu were added to the COVID-19 reserve list Saturday.The Patriots (2-1) wrote on social media Monday morning, “Game day.”Now in quarantine, Newton wrote Sunday on Instagram that he’ll use his time off from football to “get healthy and self reflect on the other amazing things that I should be grateful for.”The Titans’ outbreak reached 20 cases Sunday with the team’s sixth straight day of at least one positive with 18 returned since Tuesday. But Tennessee had no positives back Monday morning. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Monday because neither the NFL nor the Titans announced the latest results.Tennessee will need continued negative results to host Buffalo (4-0) on Sunday, and Wednesday is the earliest the Titans can get back inside their facility as long as the franchise has back-to-back days of negative test results.Titans linebacker Will Compton wrote on Twitter, “No positive tests. Victory Monday.”Minnesota, which lost to Tennessee a week ago, beat Houston 31-23 on Sunday following new protocols for teams exposed to a COVID-19 outbreak.The negative test results Sunday include New Orleans Saints fullback Michael Burton, who falsely tested positive on Saturday. The Saints learned of the positive test after leaving New Orleans for Sunday’s scheduled game in Detroit and ran another series of tests on players and staff overnight.The Saints beat the Lions 35-29 in Detroit.Tennessee’s outbreak appears to have started Sept. 24 when the team placed cornerback Greg Mabin from its practice squad on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Then outside linebacker coach Shane Bowen’s test result came back positive Sept. 26, and he did not travel with the Titans to Minnesota.Then eight positives come back Sept. 29 when the NFL told the Titans to close their facility.That was the first of six straight days of positive results putting key players on the reserve/COVID-19 list — defensive linemen DaQuan Jones and Jeffery Simmons, wide receiver Adam Humphries, long snapper Beau Brinkley, cornerback Kristian Fulton and outside linebacker Kamalei Correa. Fullback Khari Blasingame will be added to that list today after being the last player to test positive.After the NFL postponed the Titans’ game set for Sunday against Pittsburgh, the league rescheduled the game a day later for Week 7 on Oct. 25 during Tennessee’s bye. The league also moved Baltimore’s bye to Week 7, so the Ravens now can play Pittsburgh on Nov. 1.Officials from the NFL and its players’ union met with the Titans on Friday reviewing the situation around the team’s outbreak.___AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed to this report.

AP source: Pats-Chiefs all clear; no positives for Titans

These games subject to change. Stay up on the week's schedule here on the post.&nbsp; Monday: Girls Golf Varsity Districts @ Lake Maloney- TBD&nbsp;

Tuesday: Girls Volleyball Varsity duel @ Kearney Catholic - 6:30pm

Wednesday:&nbsp; Girls Softball Varsity Districts @ Dowhower Softball Complex - TBD

Thursday: Girls Softball Varsity Districts @ Dowhower Softball Complex - TBD Boys Tennis Varsity Duel vs McCook @ Cody Park - 2:30pm Cross Country Varsity Invite @ Sidney - 3:00pm

Friday:&nbsp; Football Varsity @ Lincoln East (Seacrest field) - 4:30pm

Saturday:&nbsp; Girls Volleyball Varsity Quad @ Kearney - 9:00am Boys Tennis Varsity Invite @ McCook - 11:00am

These games subject to change. Stay up on the week's schedule here on the post.&nbsp; Monday: Girls Golf Varsity Districts @ Lake Maloney- TBD&nbsp;Tuesday: Girls Volleyball Varsity duel @ Kearney Catholic - 6:30pmWednesday:&nbsp; Girls Softball Varsity Districts @ Dowhower Softball Complex - TBDThursday: Girls Softball Varsity Districts @ Dowhower Softball Complex - TBD Boys Tennis Varsity Duel vs McCook @ Cody Park - 2:30pm Cross Country Varsity Invite @ Sidney - 3:00pmFriday:&nbsp; Football Varsity @ Lincoln East (Seacrest field) - 4:30pmSaturday:&nbsp; Girls Volleyball Varsity Quad @ Kearney - 9:00am Boys Tennis Varsity Invite @ McCook - 11:00am

NPHS Athletics: Varsity Schedule for 10/5-10/10

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The NFL postponed this week's game between New England and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs&nbsp;after ''positive COVID-19 tests on both teams.'' ESPN reported on Saturday that Patriots&nbsp;quarterback Cam Newton&nbsp;was among those testing positive.

The NFL said on Saturday that the game, originally scheduled for 4:25 p.m. EDT on Sunday, will be played on Monday or Tuesday, a move that would be possible only if there is no wider spread of the disease on the rosters.

The Patriots confirmed that a player has tested positive but did not reveal his name. Newton's agent did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking confirmation.

The only known Chiefs player to test positive is quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, a member of the practice squad who has not appeared in a game but would have spent time in meetings with Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and the team's other QBs.

It is the second game this weekend that has been affected by COVID-19. After an outbreak on the Titans, the matchup between Pittsburgh and Tennessee was postponed - originally for a day or two, and then until Oct. 25 as the positive tests accumulated.

To fit it in, the Steelers' game against Baltimore that day was pushed back to Nov. 1.

The Patriots had been planning to fly to Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. Instead, players left the facility to await further instructions. The team said in a statement that the COVID-positive player has entered self-quarantine and that players, coaches and staff who were in close contact with him were tested Saturday morning and all were negative.

Earlier this week, Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty&nbsp;said the league might have grown overconfident after making it through training camps and the first two weeks of the season without a major outbreak.

''But at the end of the day, we are in a pandemic,'' he said. ''So what happened in Tennessee, although it kind of shocks us, it's not really surprising. I think we all knew at some point we might get some positive tests.

''So it's like, 'We got this,''' he said. ''I think this is just a little shocker, but it's also a wakeup call, like 'Hey, the virus is still here and it will affect any and everybody. It doesn't care that we're trying to play football.'''

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584619937558.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The NFL postponed this week's game between New England and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs&nbsp;after ''positive COVID-19 tests on both teams.'' ESPN reported on Saturday that Patriots&nbsp;quarterback Cam Newton&nbsp;was among those testing positive.The NFL said on Saturday that the game, originally scheduled for 4:25 p.m. EDT on Sunday, will be played on Monday or Tuesday, a move that would be possible only if there is no wider spread of the disease on the rosters.The Patriots confirmed that a player has tested positive but did not reveal his name. Newton's agent did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking confirmation.The only known Chiefs player to test positive is quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, a member of the practice squad who has not appeared in a game but would have spent time in meetings with Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and the team's other QBs.It is the second game this weekend that has been affected by COVID-19. After an outbreak on the Titans, the matchup between Pittsburgh and Tennessee was postponed - originally for a day or two, and then until Oct. 25 as the positive tests accumulated.To fit it in, the Steelers' game against Baltimore that day was pushed back to Nov. 1.The Patriots had been planning to fly to Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. Instead, players left the facility to await further instructions. The team said in a statement that the COVID-positive player has entered self-quarantine and that players, coaches and staff who were in close contact with him were tested Saturday morning and all were negative.Earlier this week, Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty&nbsp;said the league might have grown overconfident after making it through training camps and the first two weeks of the season without a major outbreak.''But at the end of the day, we are in a pandemic,'' he said. ''So what happened in Tennessee, although it kind of shocks us, it's not really surprising. I think we all knew at some point we might get some positive tests.''So it's like, 'We got this,''' he said. ''I think this is just a little shocker, but it's also a wakeup call, like 'Hey, the virus is still here and it will affect any and everybody. It doesn't care that we're trying to play football.'''

🏈 Chiefs-Patriots game off amid report Newton has COVID-19

10.2.2020 NPHS Football vs Creighton Prep LIVESTREAM

It was a fun day at the Gothenburg Invitational.  Both teams ran hard for their team! For some it was a very quick turnaround after racing Monday, but the Bulldogs were hungry and ready to compete.  

The girls started off the day by winning the team championship.  This was a great week for the girls and capping it off with a victory with runners from 24 schools in attendance was great for each of them!  I was very proud of how all of them battled and many set all time personal records today.  Zarah won her first ever individual championship today.  She has gotten second so many times this season, so seeing her get over that hump, beat a girl she hasn't beaten all season, and run her fastest 5K of all time was awesome! In addition to Zarah Blaesi finishing first the girls, we also had every varsity girl medal.  (Nelia Rivas 5th, Evelyn Blaesi 8th, Lexi Hoatson 9th, Baylee Evarts 14th, and Marissa Holm 17th).  

The boys competed very well today! Our Varsity boys stayed home and trained, which gave our JV runners a chance to step up and run with the "big dogs".  They were determined and were ready to compete with any team's varsity! In an all varsity meet, the JV boys finished 4th overall in the varsity division! I was very proud of how they came together and represented their team so well!  Lots of boys that had never ran a varsity race before had a chance to step up and go make it happen!  Leading the way for the boys 4th place team finish was Trenton Golter (13th), followed by Ben Steele (16th), Rayce Moerke (18th), and Ainsley Schroeder (20th).  

Next Thursday we will be in Sidney at the Sidney Invitational.

<a href="http://onlineraceresults.com/event/view_event.php?event_id=23574">You can see a link to the results here</a>

By Jake Hasenauer - NPHS CC Head CoachIt was a fun day at the Gothenburg Invitational. Both teams ran hard for their team! For some it was a very quick turnaround after racing Monday, but the Bulldogs were hungry and ready to compete. The girls started off the day by winning the team championship. This was a great week for the girls and capping it off with a victory with runners from 24 schools in attendance was great for each of them! I was very proud of how all of them battled and many set all time personal records today. Zarah won her first ever individual championship today. She has gotten second so many times this season, so seeing her get over that hump, beat a girl she hasn't beaten all season, and run her fastest 5K of all time was awesome! In addition to Zarah Blaesi finishing first the girls, we also had every varsity girl medal. (Nelia Rivas 5th, Evelyn Blaesi 8th, Lexi Hoatson 9th, Baylee Evarts 14th, and Marissa Holm 17th). The boys competed very well today! Our Varsity boys stayed home and trained, which gave our JV runners a chance to step up and run with the "big dogs". They were determined and were ready to compete with any team's varsity! In an all varsity meet, the JV boys finished 4th overall in the varsity division! I was very proud of how they came together and represented their team so well! Lots of boys that had never ran a varsity race before had a chance to step up and go make it happen! Leading the way for the boys 4th place team finish was Trenton Golter (13th), followed by Ben Steele (16th), Rayce Moerke (18th), and Ainsley Schroeder (20th). Next Thursday we will be in Sidney at the Sidney Invitational.<a href="http://onlineraceresults.com/event/view_event.php?event_id=23574">You can see a link to the results here</a>

NPHS Cross Country: Gothenburg Invite Recap and Results

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The NFL’s statement on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Titans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Titans</a>-<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a>... <a href="https://t.co/osODJxecO3">pic.twitter.com/osODJxecO3</a>&mdash; Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1311659939006484480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

NFL postpones first game due to COVID

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601509835017.jpeg" alt="2020 CC districts.jpg" />
 <figcaption>2020 CC districts.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>

NPHS Cross Country: District assignments - Boys 8th overall, Girls 12th

Earlier this afternoon, the NSAA distributed the following information to all NSAA member schools regarding fall postseason contests:

As the fall regular season draws to a close, the NSAA calls upon member schools to host sub-districts, districts, and playoffs for the NSAA.&nbsp;In most activities, the team with the highest seed earns the right to host these events. In other activities, member schools volunteer to host.

The health and safety of students, staff, and local communities remain the priority of the NSAA.

The NSAA is implementing the following requirements for host schools of all NSAA fall sub-district, district, and playoff contests:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Participants are permitted to wear face coverings during competition, but not required.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Coaches and non-active participants are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times while attending indoor events.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times while attending outdoor events when physical distancing (6ft) is not possible.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The host school may establish additional requirements in consultation with local health departments. Any additional requirements implemented by the host school must be the same for all teams, officials, and spectators.

All participating schools and spectators are expected to adhere to these requirements.&nbsp;

In addition, to advance in the fall postseason a team/individual must participate in their state qualifying contest(s). If an NSAA member school is unable to participate due to COVID-19, sub-district, district final and state championship contests will not be postponed or canceled.

The NSAA has great appreciation for all its member schools and their tireless efforts to provide opportunities for learning and participation in NSAA activities.&nbsp;Communication, flexibility, and patience will be key in supporting our high school student participants as they pursue an NSAA State Championship this fall. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Earlier this afternoon, the NSAA distributed the following information to all NSAA member schools regarding fall postseason contests:As the fall regular season draws to a close, the NSAA calls upon member schools to host sub-districts, districts, and playoffs for the NSAA.&nbsp;In most activities, the team with the highest seed earns the right to host these events. In other activities, member schools volunteer to host.The health and safety of students, staff, and local communities remain the priority of the NSAA.The NSAA is implementing the following requirements for host schools of all NSAA fall sub-district, district, and playoff contests:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Participants are permitted to wear face coverings during competition, but not required.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Coaches and non-active participants are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times while attending indoor events.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times while attending outdoor events when physical distancing (6ft) is not possible.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The host school may establish additional requirements in consultation with local health departments. Any additional requirements implemented by the host school must be the same for all teams, officials, and spectators.All participating schools and spectators are expected to adhere to these requirements.&nbsp;In addition, to advance in the fall postseason a team/individual must participate in their state qualifying contest(s). If an NSAA member school is unable to participate due to COVID-19, sub-district, district final and state championship contests will not be postponed or canceled.The NSAA has great appreciation for all its member schools and their tireless efforts to provide opportunities for learning and participation in NSAA activities.&nbsp;Communication, flexibility, and patience will be key in supporting our high school student participants as they pursue an NSAA State Championship this fall. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

NSAA: Health guidelines for postseason play

Two Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team members claimed all-around titles in rodeos at Fort Dodge, Iowa over the weekend. They were Koby Jacobson, of Hershey, and Zane Patrick, of Bartlett.

The team competed at the Iowa Central Community College Triton Stampede in what was essentially a doubleheader. With three colleges in the Great Plains Region unable to have rodeos this fall because of COVID-19, the Triton Stampede picked up one of the events that was cancelled. That meant packing two rodeos into three days – Thursday through Saturday.

The men on MPCC’s team had enough points to win the first rodeo and place second in the second rodeo. A total of 21 team members advanced to the short go Saturday night.

Jacobson led the charge – winning the bull riding in the first rodeo then placing second in the bull riding and winning both the steer wrestling and the all-around championship at the second rodeo.

“That’s pretty impressive,” said Garrett Nokes, MPCC Rodeo Team coach. “To go from one end of the arena to the other and win as much as Koby did is phenomenal.”

Patrick also won the steer wrestling and was third in the team roping in the first rodeo – earning enough points to make him the men’s all-around champ.

Continuing the streak in the steer wrestling, Marshall Still, of Oconto, placed fourth; Nick Rettinger, of Amidon, N.D., was fifth; Jacob Haren, of Erie, Colo., came in sixth and Austin Madison, of Whiting, Iowa, was seventh.

“That’s just awesome,” Nokes said. “Our steer wrestlers continue to dominate. We’ve now won the steer wrestling at all four rodeos we’ve competed in this season, and all 11 of our steer wrestlers have scored points.”

Wynn Schaack, of Wall, S.D., also won one of his events – team roping in the first rodeo. The full list of individual results are as follows:

Steer wrestling: first – Zane Patrick; fourth – Marshall Still; fifth – Nick Rettinger; sixth – Jacob Haren; seventh – Austin Madison.

Tie-down roping: third – Austin Madison

Team roping: first – Wynn Schaack; third – Danielle Wray, Ord, and Zane Patrick; sixth – Ethan Wright, Sanborn, Iowa and Brooklyn Spencer, Ulen, Minn.

Breakaway roping: third – Jentri Hurlburt, Arcadia

Steer wrestling: first – Koby Jacobson; fourth – Barrett Schlieker, Fort Lupton, Colo.

Breakaway roping: third – Sheyenne Hammond, Valentine

Tie-down roping: fourth – Sterling Lee, Rhame, N.D.

Team roping: fourth – Barrett Schlieker and Jentri Hurlburt

The team will compete in the last of the fall rodeos Oct. 1-3 in Dickinson, N.D.

Two Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team members claimed all-around titles in rodeos at Fort Dodge, Iowa over the weekend. They were Koby Jacobson, of Hershey, and Zane Patrick, of Bartlett.The team competed at the Iowa Central Community College Triton Stampede in what was essentially a doubleheader. With three colleges in the Great Plains Region unable to have rodeos this fall because of COVID-19, the Triton Stampede picked up one of the events that was cancelled. That meant packing two rodeos into three days – Thursday through Saturday.The men on MPCC’s team had enough points to win the first rodeo and place second in the second rodeo. A total of 21 team members advanced to the short go Saturday night.Jacobson led the charge – winning the bull riding in the first rodeo then placing second in the bull riding and winning both the steer wrestling and the all-around championship at the second rodeo.“That’s pretty impressive,” said Garrett Nokes, MPCC Rodeo Team coach. “To go from one end of the arena to the other and win as much as Koby did is phenomenal.”Patrick also won the steer wrestling and was third in the team roping in the first rodeo – earning enough points to make him the men’s all-around champ.Continuing the streak in the steer wrestling, Marshall Still, of Oconto, placed fourth; Nick Rettinger, of Amidon, N.D., was fifth; Jacob Haren, of Erie, Colo., came in sixth and Austin Madison, of Whiting, Iowa, was seventh.“That’s just awesome,” Nokes said. “Our steer wrestlers continue to dominate. We’ve now won the steer wrestling at all four rodeos we’ve competed in this season, and all 11 of our steer wrestlers have scored points.”Wynn Schaack, of Wall, S.D., also won one of his events – team roping in the first rodeo. The full list of individual results are as follows:First RodeoAll-around: Zane PatrickSteer wrestling: first – Zane Patrick; fourth – Marshall Still; fifth – Nick Rettinger; sixth – Jacob Haren; seventh – Austin Madison.Bull riding: first – Koby JacobsonTie-down roping: third – Austin MadisonTeam roping: first – Wynn Schaack; third – Danielle Wray, Ord, and Zane Patrick; sixth – Ethan Wright, Sanborn, Iowa and Brooklyn Spencer, Ulen, Minn.Breakaway roping: third – Jentri Hurlburt, ArcadiaSecond RodeoAll-around: Koby JacobsonSteer wrestling: first – Koby Jacobson; fourth – Barrett Schlieker, Fort Lupton, Colo.Bull riding: second – Koby JacobsonBreakaway roping: third – Sheyenne Hammond, ValentineTie-down roping: fourth – Sterling Lee, Rhame, N.D.Team roping: fourth – Barrett Schlieker and Jentri HurlburtThe team will compete in the last of the fall rodeos Oct. 1-3 in Dickinson, N.D.

MPCC Rodeo Team members win all-around championships

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) - Hastings College is pausing some in-person classes and all of its athletics this week after six members of the college tested positive for the coronavirus and another 54 were self-isolating or in quarantine.

The decision will keep students on campus but change the way they attend classes for the rest of the week, according to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hastingstribune.com/covid-19/hastings-college-pausing-in-person-lectures-sports-this-week/article_33cfcb5c-01ff-11eb-9ea5-dbaaa35a2caa.html" target="_blank">the Hastings Tribune</a>. All athletic practices and contests are suspended through Saturday.

The suspensions went into effect at 4 p.m. Monday and are set to expire at 9 a.m. Sunday. The situation will be reviewed on Friday, however, so officials can determine if the suspensions need to continue.

The Hastings College Athletics Department reported that, as of Monday, the college had a total 38 people isolating because they had tested positive for the viral infection, known as COVID-19, or had been tested and were awaiting results. Another 22 were in quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure.

Hastings College has nearly 1,000 students enrolled this fall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1571749269912.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) - Hastings College is pausing some in-person classes and all of its athletics this week after six members of the college tested positive for the coronavirus and another 54 were self-isolating or in quarantine.The decision will keep students on campus but change the way they attend classes for the rest of the week, according to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hastingstribune.com/covid-19/hastings-college-pausing-in-person-lectures-sports-this-week/article_33cfcb5c-01ff-11eb-9ea5-dbaaa35a2caa.html" target="_blank">the Hastings Tribune</a>. All athletic practices and contests are suspended through Saturday.The suspensions went into effect at 4 p.m. Monday and are set to expire at 9 a.m. Sunday. The situation will be reviewed on Friday, however, so officials can determine if the suspensions need to continue.The Hastings College Athletics Department reported that, as of Monday, the college had a total 38 people isolating because they had tested positive for the viral infection, known as COVID-19, or had been tested and were awaiting results. Another 22 were in quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure.Hastings College has nearly 1,000 students enrolled this fall.

Hastings College pauses in-person lectures, sports

9.29.2020 NPHS Softball vs Gothenburg LIVESTREAM

The NFL could be looking at the first cancellation of games due to the coronavirus pandemic as the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings have a few members of the team test positive.&nbsp;

Right now there is no word on games cancellations but in today's world its not out of the realm of possibility.&nbsp;

The NFL could be looking at the first cancellation of games due to the coronavirus pandemic as the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings have a few members of the team test positive.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601391543418.jpeg" alt="NFL Covid.jpg" />
 <figcaption>NFL Covid.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Right now there is no word on games cancellations but in today's world its not out of the realm of possibility.&nbsp;