The Pershing County Mustangs scrimmaged against visiting Californians on Saturday afternoon. Air thick with smoke hid most of Lone Mountain. You could just discern its outline. “We weren’t sure we were going to be able to play, but the wind picked up and helped us. The day was awesome,” said Mike Brooks, now starting his fourth year as head varsity football coach.
The Mountain West released its 2021-22 men’s basketball schedule Friday, as the slate returns to its 18-game format. With the conference schedule returning to its traditional look after a 20-game slate in 2020-21, Nevada will play home-and-homes with eight schools, while playing one opponent at home only (New Mexico), and one on the road only (Air Force).
Matt Lisle, who holds more than 16 years of coaching experience at the collegiate and professional level, has been named Nevada baseball’s director of player and program development, head coach T.J. Bruce announced Aug. 18. In 2020, Lisle helped lead the Fresno State softball program to an unprecedented turnaround. The Bulldogs, who finished No. 64 and No. 89 in the RPI the last two seasons, improved to No. 12 in 2020.
Nevada quarterback Carson Strong and running back Toa Taua found their names on a pair of 2021 preseason watch lists, with Strong being tabbed a candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Taua a candidate for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. Strong has previously, this summer, been named a candidate for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy, and Manning Award, while the announcement is Taua’s second recognition, following his addition to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List last week.
Asami Morita has been named assistant coach for the Nevada women’s basketball program, head coach Amanda Levens announced Monday. In her seven seasons at Robert Morris, the Colonials made five Northeast Conference Championship Games, winning titles in 2016, 2017, and 2019. RMU went 133-78 (.630) since 2014-15 and notched 91 wins in league play.
The Pershing County Mustangs hosted an old friend last week for four days of concentrated volleyball. “This is the second Gold Medal Squared camp I’ve organized for my players,” said head coach Monica Halverson. “It has been going on since Shauna Bake ran the program.”
All last week, the PCHS soccer players met on their home field for conditioning and team building. Coach Matt Fuller and Eva Matuszyk were mindful of the late summer's heat. The girls met early in the morning for a couple of hours and came back in the evening for more.
Nevada quarterback Carson Strong was named to his fourth preseason watch list of the summer, being tabbed a candidate for the Manning Award. Ahead of the 2021 campaign, Strong has already been named a candidate for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, and CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy.
The Lovelock Volunteer Fire Department sponsored the annual Frontier’s Day bike races on Sunday afternoon. Chief Rodney Wilcox and his helpers officiated, lining up dozens of helmeted racers at the starting line. It was all over in a flash as the speedy youth careened down Elmhurst Avenue. Former racer Lily Burt encouraged her little sister, Abigail, racing for the first time. Honor student Lily begins high school this fall.
The Frontier Day’s competitors agree that the most challenging part of a tractor pull is to get the thing going. However, on Sunday afternoon, they hauled the machines down Elmhurst Avenue as fast as they could. Some almost appeared to trot.
Dozens of Lovelock families met on Elmhurst Avenue on Sunday afternoon, the last day of Frontier Days weekend. They came to watch the weight carry, tractor pull and youth bike races. Many would compete for cash prizes. People commented on the weather. The temperature hovered in the low nineties, but Elmhurst is known for its shade trees Besides, the heatwave had passed and a gentle breeze comforted everyone.
There’s nothing like a three-peat. The Lovelock Softball Association held its fourth league championship tournament on July 29. Thick N Wild walked away with their third consecutive title.
Nevada athletics has single-game tickets for all six football home games on sale at www.mynevadatickets.com. Additionally, Wolf Pack fans can purchase single-game tickets for the coming season by phone, at 775-348-PACK (7225). Those who may have questions or need assistance may also contact the ticket office by phone or by emailing wolfpackticketinfo@unr.edu. Adult single-game tickets will start at just $20, with youth (eighth grade and under) tickets starting at $10. Season tickets for 2021 are still available for as low as $89 per seat.
Ann-Marie Fenner brought the Northern Nevada Gymkhana Club to Lovelock’s rodeo grounds in 2017. The membership lost out on the 2020 season because of the pandemic.
Teamwork pays. Pershing County’s 4-H coordinator Colby Burke recently collaborated with high school coaches Jared Jensen and Jesse Canchola to bring the Major League University to Lovelock. As a result, over 80 Lovelock girls and boys had a productive and fun midsummer weekend. The MLU baseball and softball clinics took place at two of Lovelock’s most scenic spots – the high school baseball field and McDougal Park. Many of the four through eight-year-olds at McDougal picked up a bat for the first time. “The goal with the younger group was to make softball and baseball fun as well as teaching the game,” said Jensen. “The kids learned some great skills from knowledgeable coaches.”