NWC coaches see little impact locally

A winter rule change by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) regarding international players is expected to have a significant impact when it takes effect in two years. Locally, though, Northwest College officials aren’t seeing many changes to the way things are done on campus.

Pioneers open 2011 season with plenty of questions

After producing 94 wins the last two seasons, back-to-back state titles and Northwest Region tournament appearances and a 2010 regional runner-up pennant, the Powell Pioneers American Legion baseball team finds itself with something it hasn’t had for a while.

Questions.

Last regular-season event May 6-8

The Northwest College men’s and women’s rodeo teams placed sixth at Dawson Community College over the weekend. Only one regular-season rodeo remains on the Big Sky Region calendar.

Rebecca Toavs turned in the Trappers’ top performance of the weekend with a third-place finish in barrel racing. The Trapper women also received a fifth-place finish from Jessica Ehlers in breakaway roping and an eighth-place finish from Pam Vanek in goat tying.

Boys third, girls fourth at Sheridan

The Powell Panthers took their stab at some larger competition last Thursday as the track teams competed at Sheridan, placing fourth in the girls’ standings and third in the boys’ standings. Several competitors turned in season bests performances.

In all, the Panthers qualified five additional event slots for the 3A state championships next month. Four of the five automatic qualifiers came on the girls’ side of the meet.

Boys third, girls fourth at Sheridan

The Powell Panthers took their stab at some larger competition last Thursday as the track teams competed at Sheridan, placing fourth in the girls’ standings and third in the boys’ standings. Several competitors turned in season bests performances.

In all, the Panthers qualified five additional event slots for the 3A state championships next month. Four of the five automatic qualifiers came on the girls’ side of the meet.

PHS shares top honors with Kemmerer

The Powell Panthers tied with Kemmerer for top honors at the Thermpolis invitational as spring golf action continued last week. The Panthers carded a 336 to share top billing with Kemmerer.

Park County rival Cody was third with a 348. The Broncs were also the only other team in the eight-school field to finish within 30 strokes of the leaders.

New head coach coming from North Carolina

Yellowstone Quake president Bob Bole announced Charlotte, N.C., Metro director of hockey operations Joe Cardarelli as the team’s new head coach on Friday. Cardarelli replaces Craig Furstenau, who guided the Quake to the North Pacific League’s playoff quarterfinals this past hockey season.

“I’m excited,” Cardarelli said by telephone after being named the team’s new coach. “Hockey is a way of life, and it is a big part of who I am. I’m interested in getting to Cody as soon as possible and becoming a part of the community.”

Northwest Trapper men also announce signing

Powell High School senior Leslie Thronburg will keep her talents in Powell after signing a letter of intent to play basketball with the Northwest College Trappers for the next two seasons. Head coach Janis Beal announced the signing.

“I’m excited to have Leslie joining our team for next season,” said Beal. “I have enjoyed getting to know her and watching her play for the last couple of years. It will be good to get her in a Trapper jersey.”

PHS nets two goals in win

The Powell High School girls’ soccer team scored its second win of the season, taking down Pinedale by a 2-1 count. The game followed on the heels of a 5-0 loss to Jackson.

Both games against former 3A West foes were non-conference affairs under the state’s new quadrant system for high school soccer.

Ten Northwest College student-athletes, representing three different sports, were recognized with a wide array of post-season accolades this week. Denise Kobbe, senior program assistant for Northwest College athletics, announced the awards on Wednesday.

Northwest College men’s soccer player Gavin LaFollette was named a second-team All American following a stellar sophomore season. LaFollette transferred to Northwest after the Trappers fielded their first intercollegiate soccer team this last fall. LaFollette, who played high school soccer for Cody, helped direct the Trapper men to an appearance in the Region IX championship game.