High School sports seasons start this week

High School sports get underway this week with volleyball and cross country teams kicking off their seasons tomorrow, Sept. 1. Area football games begin Friday, Sept. 2.

Football

The C-2, District 7 Thayer Central Titans looks to have healthy offensive and defensive lines by returning 11 starters from the 2010 season; senior Brayden Hergott returns as quarterback. As a junior, Hergott passed for 514 yards.

Dietrich Brinegar, who was 17-for-236 yards in catching last year, returns as the team’s top receiver. Although the Titans failed to win a game last year, the two-man combo brings experience and skill to the field this year.

Other returning starters include Gregory Dightman, Michael Feulner, Clayton Hintz, Dalton Kenning, Brian Loontjer, Trenton Tietjen, Tyler Van Cleef, Kalen Wenske, and Andrew Wilshusen.

Josh Lanik returns for his second year as the head coach for the Titans who take on Cross County in Hebron this Friday at 7 p.m.

The D-1, District 4 Bruning-Davenport/Shickley Eagles return Luke Christiansen, Kendrick Holeman, Michael Houchin, Dylan Lauenstein, and Ryan Tegtmeier to the field. The Eagles, coached by the veteran duo of Mark Rotter and Chris Ardissono went 6-4 last year in its first season of the Bruning-Davenport and Shickley cooperative.

Ryan Tegtmeier returns as quarterback. Last season the junior was 66-of-123 passing for 740 yards and 13 touchdowns and completed ten touchdowns on rushes. His number one receiver, senior Kendrick Holeman, also returns to the BDS field and rushed for 894 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.

The Eagles open the season on the road as they travel to Henderson to take on the Heartland Huskies this Friday at 7 p.m.

The D-1, District 4 Deshler Dragons will hit the grid behind returning starters Charlie Buckles, Josiah Burger, Austin Cox, Luke Dlouhy, Brett Finke, Caleb Jarchow, Sarino Lebron, and Cyle Loupin.

Senior Luke Dlouhy, starting for his fourth year, rushed for 1,100 yards last year averaging 24 carries a game.

The Dragons, coached by sixth-year coach Cletus Corman, finished 5-4 last season and look to kick off the 2011 season on the road. The team travels to Adams to take on the Freeman Falcons this Friday. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.

Volleyball

The Class C-2, Subdistrict 9 Thayer Central Titans return starters Bridgette Baden, Kelsey Long, Kinsey Tietjen, Tarryn Tietjen and Claire Timmerman to the court behind veteran coach Kurk Wiedel season. The team finished 29-3 in 2010 and took third at the Class C-2 state competition last year.

Baden and Long provide the team’s strength returning as outside hitters, while Kinsey Tietjen handles the middle and Timmerman and Tarryn Tietjen provide the sets.

The Lady Titans open Thursday, Sept. 1, at Tri County. The varsity game begins at approximately 8 p.m., following the Freshman and Junior Varsity games.

The Class D-1, Subdistrict 2 Bruning-Davenport/Shickley Eagles, led by veteran Shickley coach Dan Sorge, returns Shelby Garland, Ashley Hinrichs, Taylor Houck, Whitney Walters and Makaleigh Yantzie. The Eagles finished 23-7 in its first season as a cooperative last year.
Garland and Yantzie look to lead the offense from the outside while Hinrichs and Walters provide sets and Houck attacks from the middle.

The Lady Eagles open on the road as they take on Hampton and two-time defending state champs Exeter-Milligan Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Timberwolves’ triangular. Games begin at 6:30 p.m.

The Class D-1 Subdistrict 2 Deshler Dragons, led by coach Heath Birkel, return starters Dana Dlouhy, Jenscena Hansen, and Ashley Hillman.

The team, which finished on a 9-16 mark, must fill in vacancies following the loss of five seniors to graduation. Hillman and Dlouhy will lead from the middle and back row while Hansen provides outside hitting experience.

The Lady Dragons head into a three-day competition on the road this week. The Freeman Invitational begins Thursday, Sept. 1. The first games begin at 4 p.m.  

Cross Country

The Class D Thayer Central Titans return Ethan Friesen, Heath Fink, Sydney Goertzen, Russ Heitmann, and Bailey Linton to the course. Andy Long takes over as coach for the 2011 season.

The team opens at Superior, Thursday, Sept. 1, at 4:15 p.m.

The Class D Deshler Dragons return seniors Mackenzie Mohrmann and Shannon Waite and juniors Christina Hoops and Craig Meier to the line-up. Led by long-time coach Shannon LeFave, the team also opens at Superior, Thursday, Sept. 1, at 4:15 p.m.