Jock Talk

The Junior High Wrestling Team got the season underway this past Saturday at the Banner County Tournament and Coach Klent Schnell was happy with the success of his young grapplers in their first outing. The Shorthorns had 3 champions in Scott Hunsaker, Ethan Ratzlaff, and Steve Bateman, all going 3-0 on the day. Connor Maginnis and Zavyer White wound up 2nd in their weights with 2-1 records, Todd Hunsaker was 1-2 and Cory Gardner 0-3.

Coach Schnell and assistant Wade Brashear have a total of 10 wrestlers checked out but were without 3 of their squad members at Banner County. This past Tuesday Kimball hosted their own Tournament.

Exciting news to report as we follow some of our former Kimball High athletes who are now competing at the college level. Jonathon Withrow, a true freshman at Dakota Wesleyan, got his first start for the Tigers at a running back position after the upper classman ahead of him suffered a broken collar bone. Jon responded in the fashion Kimball fans were accustomed to seeing him as he rushed for 155 yards and scored two touchdowns in the 50-17 win over Nebraska Wesleyan. Dakota Wesleyan is now 7-2 on the year and if they can win the next two games have a good shot at making the playoffs. This Saturday they are at home hosting Concordia.

Big Mike Daum, and I do mean Big, as this guy has really filled out and put on some muscle, played in his first exhibition game for South Dakota State this past week against South Dakota School of Mines and in his 13 minutes of court time scored 8 points and pulled 4 rebounds. At 6’9” he was playing a post position this week but may also be used as a stetch-4 spot which puts him outside where he can show off his long range shooting talents as well. The announcers covering the game were very complimentary of his play. He has another exhibition game tomorrow (Nov. 6) before they open the regular season on Nov. 13 hosting Chadron State. If you are smart enough to figure out how, you can catch all of Mike’s games on the Jackrabbit Sports Network. Check with Mike’s family and they can clue you in.

Kendall Ferguson, yet another Big Guy, and former Kimball High standout, is starting at a forward position for Hastings College and what a weekend he had at the Doane Classic. Hastings took number 8 ranked Bellevue into overtime before losing 92-86 on Friday evening and Kendall had 2 points and 6 rebounds. On Saturday night he turned it up a bit as he had a team high 14 rebounds and 9 points on 4 of 7 shooting from the field and 1 of 2 at the line plus charting blocks, steals, assists. This weekend they play at Crete.

Last former Kimball High Big Guy standout to report on this week is Jake Reader who helped his Fort Lewis Football Team to a 39-24 win over Western States of Gunnison. Jake, a tight end for Fort Lewis, had a 19 yard catch along with his usual solid blocking role. Fort Lewis is now 5-4 on the season and host Adams State this weekend. Remember, they close out the regular season at Chadron State on November 14.

On the opposite side of the ledger as far as Big Guys go, one of Kimball High’s finest athletes, Duane Foote, a 1954 grad who went on to star at Scottsbluff Junior College after completing his standout Kimball High career, passed away this past week from a rare lung disorder. This was one battle he could not win despite giving it his best shot. At his funeral I enjoyed comments from his grandson, Cody Wilson, who himself was an outstanding football and track star at Scottsbluff High and went on to play at Chadron State. Cody praised his grandpa for his role in his own love of athletics, and for his success.

As I looked through the scrap book his family provided for those who cared to look, and marveled at the awards and honors he received. Most amazing was his size listing in the Junior College programs of 5’7” and 135 pounds. He was special!