Wallace Sports

Football

The struggles for the Wallace football team are real. The concerns at the beginning of the season were lack of numbers and experience and now the greatest concern is injuries.

The Wildcats started last Friday’s game against Brady with just 11 players. Kaden Hager is out with a head concussion, Blake Pelster is battling a shoulder injury and Dylan Kuhlman has a knee injury. As the game unfolded, more names and injuries were added to the list. The game had to be called early in the fourth quarter due to the fact that Wallace didn’t have enough players to finish the game.

The Wildcats had a good start to the game when Tu-Tu Nyamakope returned the opening kick off to the Wallace 31-yard line. On the first play, Micah Swedberg had a successful run up the middle for a 35-yard gain. Brady’s defense held the Cats however and took over on downs four plays later.

The Eagles only needed four snaps to march the ball down the field for a score. The Wildcat defense just didn’t have an answer for all the strengths in Brady’s offense. The Eagles were able to score on all but one of their possessions.

Wallace did have a few highlights during the game. They were able to go to the air and get a couple big plays and few first downs. Tyler Lundvall, Kolton Hager, Mitchell Flaming and Nyamakope all came up with some big pass receptions during the game but the Cats were never able to get the ball into the end zone.

The game was called with Brady leading 51-0. It was a difficult game for the Wildcats. Besides the injuries, the players were dealing with extremely warm temperatures and most of the players were playing both sides of the ball. In spite of being out-numbered and out-sized, the Wallace boys played with everything they had.

Due to the number of injuries, the Wallace football team had to forfeit this week’s Thursday night game with Sandhills/Thedford. The remainder of the season will be a week-to-week decision.

By LaDonna Swedberg

Cross Country

The cross country team competed at the Arapahoe meet on Sept. 14. Mariah Gardner received a bronze medal with Hannah Robertson medaling ninth. Brianna Juarez placed 11th. 

In the boys race, Aidan McClintock placed 21st, Jackson Sinsel 23rd and Camden McConnell 34th.

Their next meet will be in Ogallala this Thursday.

Volleyball

The Lady Wildcats lost to Sutherland on Sept. 11 in three sets: 15-25, 15-25 and a close 24-26. 

Coach Elizabeth Hock said the girls showed a great defensive effort. “I’d like to recognize Meredith McCoy especially for her hustle all over the court on defense. She was relentless.”

Sydney Pelster led service aces with 15 and kills with seven. Natalie Marquardt and Juliana Rosentrater each had five digs, and McCoy, Pelster and Quinn Koop each had four. 

In the game vs Brady on Sept. 14, the Lady Cats suffered another loss in three sets: 7-25, 13-25 and 11-25. Hock said they need to work on playing with confidence consistently. 

Hailey Brooks led service aces, kills and digs with eight, four and seven respectively. 

The girls played in Paxton on Tuesday and will play Sandhills-Thedford at home Thursday, Sept. 20. They will host a triangular next Tuesday, Sept. 25.