GISH girls finish second at Omaha Westside Invitational

The Grand Island Senior High girls tennis team took part in the high-profile Omaha Westside Invitational on Friday and came away with a second-place team finish.

Islander co-coach Nancy Cowgill said the result was a pleasant surprise, saying that she and her husband, co-coach Scott Cowgill, were hoping for, at best, a top-5 finish considering that formidable teams like host Omaha Westside and Omaha Marian were taking part.

Marian did as expected, finishing first in the team competition, but Westside faltered to finish fourth behind Marian, Grand Island and Millard West.

"It was an awesome day," Nancy Cowgill said. "We kept looking around seeing which teams had players left (still playing) and teams were leaving and we still had our whole team playing."

While GISH had no individual champions, the Islanders used solid play throughout the lineup to gather points. No. 1 singles player Kelsie Olson typified the G.I. effort, bouncing back from a second-round loss to win fifth place. Brigette Root, seeded second at No. 2 singles, advanced all the way to the final before losing to top-seed Kathy Schuele of Marian. 6-2, 6-2.

The GISH doubles teams captured two thirds and a seventh-place finish. At No. 1 doubles, the team of Sharon Zach and Alicia Wheeler defeated the Millard West team of Karoline Havorka and Libby Mason 6-1, 6-3 for third place. At No. 2 doubles, Ashley Wiedel and Sara Petska of G.I. took third place with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Lincoln East's Kendra Pope and Nikki Beecher. And at No. 3 doubles, the G.I. team of Christina Bandasack and Hannah Huston won seventh place.

"You just never know," Cowgill said. "We're going to enjoy this, but we're also going to keep working hard."

GISH boys finish third at Kearney Invitational

The Grand Island boys golf team used a balanced team effort to come away with a third-place finish Friday at the Kearney Invitational.

Ryan McCarty carded an 80 over 18 holes to lead the Grand Island effort. McCarty finished ninth overall. Following close behind were Islander teammates Logan Almond, Alec Anania and Seth Rhodes at 81. Overall, the Islanders shot a 323.

Lincoln Southwest won the team title at 296 behind medalist Austin Zimmerman, who shot a 71 to win by three shots over teammate Jake Stonecek and Norfolk's Scott Bruning. Norfolk was second in the team race at 312.

GISH coach Scott Fox said the effort was good but could've been better for his team.

"We were challenged all day," he said. "We putted poorly. Nobody got hot for us.

"Overall, it was a good experience to learn from."

Kearney Invitational

Friday in Kearney

Team scores Lincoln Southwest 296, Norfolk 312, Grand Island 323, Columbus 333, Hastings 338, Kearney 338, North Platte 342, McCook 343, Lexington 358, Cozad 360, Kearney JV 363, Minden 372.

Top 15 Individuals Austin Zimmerman, LSW, 71; Scott Bruning, Nor, 74; Jake Stonecek, LWS, 74; Jake Hedgecock, LSW, 75; Bryce Brown, LSW, 76; Tyler Erwin, Nor, 77; Justin Straight, LSW, 77; Casey Mefford, Nor, 79; Ryan McCarty, GISH, 80; Grant Davis, Kear, 80; Brandon Boosalis, LSW, 81; Alec Anania, GISH, 81; Logan Almond, GISH, 81; Seth Rhodes, GISH, 81; Jordan Williams, Col, 81.

GRAND ISLAND (323)

Ryan McCarty 80, Alec Anania 81, Logan Almond 81, Seth Rhodes 81, Gavin Brown 83, Joel Mostek 93.

Northwest boys finish second at Ord Invite

Led by 78s from Greg Saunders and Max Luber, Grand Island Northwest finished second at the Ord Invitational on Friday.

The Vikings finished with a team score of 320, three shots back from Kearney Catholic. St. Paul (335), Valentine (336) and Boone Central (336) rounded out the top five.

Matt Hollopter of Ainsworth was top individual golfer, shooting a 70.

Ord Invitational

Friday at the Ord Golf Club

Team scores Kearney Catholic 317, Grand Island Northwest 320, St. Paul 335, Valentine 336, Boone Central 336, Broken Bow 338, O'Neill 341, Ord 343, Ainsworth 355, Loup City 385, Aurora 387, Twin River 404, Burwell 412, Grand Island Central Catholic JV 458, Ord JV 525.

Top 15 Invidividuals Matt Hollopeter, Ain, 70; Adam Dredge, Val, 74; Brett O'Brien, Ord, 75; Jacob Poland, KC, 75; Bryce Morgan, BC, 76; Dillon Schroeder, KC, 77; Brady Torpin, O'Neill, 78; Kenny Stone, SP, 78; Greg Saunders, GINW, 78; Brian Gay, SP, 78; Max Luber, GINW, 78; Shawn Rodehorst, KC, 78; Logan Spanel, BB, 79; Nathan Cox, GINW, 82; Mike Winder, GINW, 82.

GRAND ISLAND NORTHWEST (320)

Greg Saunders 78, Max Luber 78, Nathan Cox 82, Mike Winder 82, Kurt Bills 84.