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Highland Men’s Cross Country Records Fall at Fort Hays
The #11 nationally ranked men’s cross country team from Highland Community College had a huge day at the Fort Hays State Tiger Invitational. The men took 2nd place in the 20 team Invitational. As a team, the men broke the Highland record for best overall team time, and Brian Martinez (Pasadena, TX) broke his own Highland record that he set a year ago.
The Scotties record-breaking performance saw them beat nationally ranked NJCAA teams Iowa Western, Butler, and Pratt. Number six nationally ranked Allen County Community College won the meet in a close and competitive battle with the Scotties.
Individually, Martinez led the way with his school record performance of 25:21 in 7th place, followed by Rey Quinones-Velez (Clermont, FL) in 25:52 at 10th, and Ronnie Carroll (Smyrna, DE) 26:12 in 16th. Rounding out the scoring was Fernando Lucero’s (Rio Rancho, NM) 19th place in 26:30, Christian Salazar’s (San Antonio, TX) 29th in 26:56, Derrick Zaldivar’s (Topeka) 38th place in 27:34, and Corey Scott’s (Pasadena, TX) 40th place in 27:36.
Coach Chad Clevenger commented on the performance, “This was a great team effort. It’s always exciting to see teams perform at such a high level that the institutional records fall. We went out to a great course, competed against some of the best NJCAA teams in the country, and held our own. We’re looking forward to the Championship part of our season as we look to break a few more records at our Conference, Regional, and National Championship meets over the next three weeks. Our Region is pretty tough. We have eight teams that have been ranked throughout the season. We’re looking forward to rise up to that challenge.”
The men’s and women’s cross country team compete next on October 25 at the Regional/KJCCC Championship meet hosted by Colby Community College. The women race at 10:00 am, and the men follow at 11:00 am.
Updates to the HCC Men’s Cross Country Records (Top 15):
1. Brian Martinez 25:21 2014
2. Rey Quinones-Velez 25:52 2014
3. Ronnie Carroll 26:12 2014
4. John Farlinger 26:21 2000
5. Fernando Lucero 26:30 2014
6. Richard Brusk 26:34 2000
7. Brian Weishaar 26:42 2000
8. Derrick Delanty 26:46 2000
9. Brett Simshauser 26:50 2013
10. Pat Younger 26:50 2000
11. Jesse Griffin 26:51 1989
12. John Russell 26:52 1992
13. Seth Parres 26:54 2013
14. Christian Salazar 26:56 2014
15. Travis Jenkins 26:56 1997
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Highland Football Drops Last Road Test to Red Ravens
The Highland Community College football team fell on Saturday night on the road to the #15 ranked Coffeyville Red Ravens by the final of 49-24.
The Scotties, 5-4 overall and 2-3 in Jayhawk Conference play, simply could not stop a very potent Red Raven offense that ran up a 42-10 halftime lead. In the second half, the Scotties cut the lead to 42-24 in the third quarter but would never get any closer.
Freshman quarterback Danten Cosentino (Leawood) threw for 328 yards on 28 of 64 passes and two touchdowns. Freshman wide-out Bob Pugh (Foley, AL) caught six passes for 88 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Austin Moses (Overland Park) caught three passes for 35 yards and one score. Sophomore Josh Pasley (Lenexa) connected on one field goal attempt from 21 yards. Freshman Cedrix Reed (Foley, AL) returned a Coffeyville kick-off 87 yards for a score to round out the Scottie scoring.
Linebackers Tyree Horton (freshman, South Dade, FL) and Emmanuel Jones (sophomore, Roosevelt, NY) led the Scotties in tackles with 11 and 10 respectively.
The Scotties host the #19 ranked Butler County Grizzlies on Saturday, November 1, at Kessinger Stadium. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
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Highland Women Start Season Ranked in Hoops Top Ten
After finishing the 2014 season at 33-3, Jayhawk East champion, Region 6 champion, and National Runner-up (losing the championship game in overtime), the Highland women’s basketball team starts the 2014-15 season ranked #9 in the pre-season NJCAA rankings.
The Scotties had their highest national finish last season as well their first Jayhawk Conference championship. “Last year was a great experience for our team, but it was exactly that . . . last year,” stated Highland head coach BJ Smith. “This year is a new season and our departing sophomores left us with a whole lot of production to replace, as well as lots of leadership.” The Scotties are the only college team in America at any level that had three players on the All-American list. “At this level, every year is a new season. This year is especially new as we are replacing three All-Americans, which will be very difficult,” said Smith.
In addition to the departing sophomores, the Scotties have already been bitten by the dreaded injury bug as returning sophomore Cassie Ledgerwood (Lenexa) was lost to the season with an ACL and returner Ashleigh Bristol (St. Joseph, MO) will be out until January with a broken wrist. This will leave the Highland women with just five returners who saw action a year ago. “Injuries are a part of every season and it’s important that we understand that injuries are just an opportunity for other players to grow and develop. Injuries don’t change what are expectations are,” said Smith.
The other five returning Scottie sophomores are Maria Bello (Port Arthur, TX), Justice Daniel (Olathe), Anna Deegan (Bonner Springs), India Johnson (Overland Park), and Faith Rolen (Carrollton, TX). Along with Bristol, Daniel, Deegan, and Johnson all played key roles for the Scottie run last year and will be looked to for the leadership needed in the upcoming season.
The Scotties were also picked 2nd in the Jayhawk East Conference for the third straight year. “Pre-season picks and rankings are fun, and I believe we have gained a small modicum of respect from being picked 7th in the Conference our first year, but in the end, all that fun doesn’t get us any baskets. Our goal is to be there in March, and we have more work than days right now, so we will focus on improving daily,” Smith noted.
Highland opens play this Friday, October 31 – which is perhaps only right as Smith notoriously sounds scary about every new season -- in Allen Fieldhouse at 5:00 pm against Little Priest Tribal College. When asked about a prediction on the season, Smith said, “We have some guards, we have some forwards, and we are thinking about putting in a couple of offenses and defenses. Hopefully, we can find a way to be as good as the corn crops have been in Highland.” Time will tell, but regardless of the departures and the injuries, Scottie fans know they will have fun watching the 2015 rendition and are looking forward to seeing their new team in this new season.
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Highland’s Armon Qualifies for Nationals
Courtney Armon, a Highland Community College freshman from Farmington, MO, met the standard for the NJCAA National Cross Country Meet when she ran a career-best time of 20:28, finishing 4th in the Jayhawk East Conference, and earning All-Conference honors. Her 18th place overall fell just short of All Region recognition.
Coach Tom Bond’s all freshman cross country squad finished 3rd in the Jayhawk Conference East and 9th in Region 6. All the harriers had career-best times at the NJCAA Region VI Championship that had a field of 89 runners and was held at the Meadow Lake Golf Course in Colby.
Armon will run at the National Meet to be held in Lubbock, TX on November 8.
Results: 5K
Courtney Armon Farmington, MO 18th place 20:28
Kalli Moreland Louisburg 38th 21:29
Jennifer Hall Carbondale 49th 22:05
Skylie Hughes St. Joseph, MO 76th 23:50
Syvannah Williams Leavenworth 82nd 24:24
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