Neb.-Kearney's Mathis receives All-Region honors

KEARNEY Nebraska-Kearney senior forward Amy Mathis has been 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 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, North Central Conference and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

By making the first-team, Mathis moves on to the national ballot where he could earn All-American accolades. Joining Mathis on the first team are Concordia-St. Paul's Amanda Behnke and Katie LaViolette, Jeana Hoffman of South Dakota and Ashley Langen of North Dakota. Langen was also a unanimous pick as the Region Player of the Year.

Other Lopers to earn All-North Central honors include Kalee Modlin (2004-05), Allison Kruger (2002 and 2004), Beth Swift (2000-02), Darcy Stracke (1998-99) and Jessica Kedrowski (1998).

The RMAC player of the year and academic player, of the year, Mathis is averaging 17.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The Millard North graduate is also among the national leaders in 3-point percentage (47.9 percent) and free-throw percentage (89.5).

Mathis' current point total (566) is the third highest in UNK history for a single season. She'll need just five points Friday in the NCAA Division II Tournament to become the eighth Loper to reach 1,500 points for a career.

UNK (26-6) plays Fort Lewis Colo.) at 8 p.m. Friday in Vermillion, S.D., in first-round play of the North Central Regional.

Future Stars Nebraska tryouts Sunday in Columbus

COLUMBUS Future Stars Select Basketball will hold Nebraska team tryouts Sunday from noon-4 p.m. at Central Community College in Columbus. Tryouts are open to boys basketball players current grade seven through graduating seniors.

If selected players will participate in a 30-game summer schedule against some of the best players from across the Midwest. The program is directed by CCC Men's Coach Damon Vogt, and several high school and college coaches from across the state.

More than 600 Nebraska players have played on Future Stars Nebraska Select teams since 1999 including more than 300 who have gone on to play college basketball up to the NCAA Division I level.

To register or for more information visit www.futurestarsonline.com or call (402) 285-9319.

* TRACK & FIELD

Huskers primed for NCAA Indoor Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. The Nebraska track and field team will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Friday and Saturday.

The meet is hosted by the University of Arkansas at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

The Huskers will send six athletes including automatic qualifiers Dusty Jonas (high jump) and Peter van der Westhuizen (one mile). NCAA provisional qualifiers making the trip include Sheryl Morgan (400 meters), Epley Bullock (high jump), Lukas Hulett (400 meters) and Paul Hamilton (high jump). Seniors Morgan and van der Westhuizen along with freshman Hamilton are making their first career trip to the indoor championships.

Jonas, a three-time indoor All-American, is looking for his first national title as he has finished runner-up twice in 2005 and 2007. Bullock will also try to improve on last year's finish as she earned All-America honors as a freshman finishing ninth overall and as the fifth American. Hulett also earned All-America honors last year after finishing 11th overall while and as the eighth American.

The meet will begin on at 9:45 a.m. Friday and continue on at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Check Huskers.com for live results and a recap of each days events. Highlights of the meet can also be seen on ESPN2 on March 20, from 3-4:30 p.m. CST.

Carlstrom sets school records at national meet

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. Regan Carlstrom, a junior at Doane College, completed the indoor track season by competing in the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Meet held in Johnson City, Tenn., March 6-8.

Carlstrom, a graduate of St. Edward High school, broke her own Doane College school records. She bettered her own indoor record in the 60-meter dash by running a 7.74.

Later, Carlstrom broke her Doane indoor record in the 200 by running a time of 25.29 seconds.

* SOFTBALL

Hastings splits doubleheader with Briar Cliff

Hastings College split a doubleheader with Briar Cliff University on Thursday afternoon at the Smith Softball Complex in Hastings, winning 3-1 in the first game and dropping the second game, 3-1.

Stephanie Baltazor had a home run in game one for Hastings (5-5). In game two, Chelsey Woodside got the win for the Broncos, who will host Northwestern College on Friday. Game one will start at 4 p.m.

* RODEO

PRCA Championship Rodeo coming to G.I.

The Heartland Events Center will host a two-night performance of PRCA Championship Rodeo Friday and Saturday in Grand Island.

Start time is 7:30 p.m. each night.

The PRCA event will bring top professional contestants from across the nation to compete in seven events as they try to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas each December. Each night matches the sport's best athletes against the award-winning stock of Mosbrucker Rodeos.

Professional cowboys and cowgirls will compete in bareback riding, tie-down roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, ladies barrel racing, team roping and bull riding.

Premium ticket prices are $22 in advance for adults and $25 the day of show. Kids (ages 2-12) tickets are $11 in advance and $12.50 the day of show.

Standard ticket prices are $15 in advance for adults and $18 for the day of show. Kids advance tickets are $7.50 and $9 the day of show.

Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com and weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Fonner Park business office or the ticket office on each day of the rodeo. Tickets may be charged by phone at (402) 475-1212. For more information, contact the Heartland Events Center ticket office at (308) 382-4515 or log on to the Web site at www.heartlandeventscenter.com.