Ravenna grad Beranek earns honors for Lopers

KEARNEY Nebraska-Kearney sophomore forward Drake Beranek was named as a Daktronics first-team All-North Central selection.

The team is voted on by sports information directors from with in the region. The North Central includes the RMAC, NCC (North Central Conference) and NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference).

By making the first team, the Ravenna native moves on to the national ballot where he could earn All-American accolades. Joining Beranek on the first team were Winona State's John Smith and Jonte Flowers, David Dreas of St. Cloud State and Atila Santos of Minnesota State.

Smith and Flowers were named the Co-Region Players of the Year as well. Last year, Smith was the Division II national player of the year.

Other Lopers to earn All-North Central honors include Dusty Jura (2005-07), Nick Branting (2004), Nick Svehla (2001-03), Eric Strand (1999) and Mike Mueller (1995).

For the Lopers in 2008, Beranek averaged 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, both team-highs. He also led UNK in three pointers made (67) and was second in steals (55) and assists (89).

His scoring average is the second highest in school history by a sophomore and ranks as the third highest in the Division II era. The 20.5 average is also among the best in Division II this season.

UNK went 16-13 this past year, tying for the RMAC East Division title with Colorado Christian.

Wolbach hosting three-on-three tournament

There will be a three-on-three basketball tournament March 22 at Wolbach.

The tournament will feature six divisions, including divisions for both men, women, junior high, senior high and graduates. The cost is $40 for team with all proceeds going to the Wolbach Community Center Renovation Fund.

The entry deadline is March 20.

For more information, contact Randall Bar at (308) 246-5285 or Lori Newsham at (308) 246-5248.

* DIVING

Aqualopers fail to advance in NCAA Championships

COLUMBIA, Mo. Nebraska-Kearney divers Jennifer Kirkland and Annie Moyer failed to advance to the championship round of the diving competition at the NCAA Division II Championships Tuesday.

A total of 32 divers competed with the top 16 advancing to the championships round. A top-eight finish is good for All-American honors.

On the one-meter board, Kirkland of Kearney scored 150.55 points to place 21st with Moyer tallying 136.75 to finish 28th. The winner, Emilie Kluth of South Dakota, scored 201.00 points with the 16th and final qualifier coming in at 160.80.

At three meters, Moyer was 23rd (175.00) and Kirkland 25th (172.35). The winner here was Teagan Riggs of Clarion U. (270.95) with the 16th finisher scoring 192.40 points.

* SOFTBALL

HC makes changes to upcoming schedule

HASTINGS The Hastings College softball teams will host Briar Cliff University on Thursday at the Smith Softball Complex in Hastings.

The site of the games was changed from Sioux City, Iowa, to Hastings. They have now been moved back one day to Thursday. The doubleheader will start at 3 p.m. with game two set for 5 p.m.

Also, Hastings' doubleheader with Sioux Falls scheduled for Saturday has been postponed to March 29. The rescheduling of the event is due to an illness to the Sioux Falls softball team. The two teams will play at 1 p.m. on March 29 at the Smith Softball Complex in Hastings.

* BASEBALL

Grand Island home baseball opener moved up

Due a significantly better weather forecast for Thursday, Grand Island Senior High's varsity home baseball doubleheader against Millard North has been moved up a day and will now be played Thursday instead of Friday.

The first game is now scheduled to start at 3 p.m. at Ryder Park in Grand Island. The second game will follow at approximately 5 p.m.

Also, due to field construction in Lincoln, Grand Island's varsity and junior varsity baseball games with Lincoln Southeast, scheduled for March 20, have been moved to Tuesday. Start time for the varsity doubleheader is 5 p.m.

G.I. native powers Mavericks to doubleheader split

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Grand Island native Bryan Frew went 5-for-8 at the plate to help the University of Nebraska at Omaha earn a split with Northwest Missouri State in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday.

UNO (5-4) won the first game 10-2, pounding out 11 hits, but the Bearcats shut out the Mavericks 2-0 to end the Mavs' four-game winning streak in the nightcap.

Frew was 3-for-5 in game one with a double, triple and home run while driving in three. Frew went t2-for-3 in the second game for the Mavericks.

* college fOOTBALL

Local players committing to play for Doane College

Grand Island Senior High's Dalton Ryba and Grand Island Northwest's Devin Johnson will commit to play football for Doane College on Thursday.

Ryba's signing will take place in the conference room at Senior High at 8 a.m. Thursday. Johnson is scheduled to sign at Northwest High School at 8:30 a.m.

Woodhead tests well at NFL pro day

LINCOLN Chadron State's Danny Woodhead performed well at his NFL pro day on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Wednesday.

According to a report on nfldraftwatch.net, the NCAA's all-time leading rusher ran the 40-yard dash in a time of 4.33 to 4.38 seconds, depending on different stopwatches. Woodhead also bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times and had a vertical leap of 38 1/2 inches.

"I feel good about it," Woodhead said. "I'm excited about how well it went."

After his successful workout, nfldraftwatch.net projected the two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner as a late round pick.

The NFL Draft, which consists of seven rounds, is April 26-27.