Big dates to anticipate on Bison slate

McCook High's softball team will play several home games in August and early September at the Jaycees Complex.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Friday’s Gazette focused on McCook Bison football, but it’s time to mark many other great dates as all fall sports teams officially started practices today.

Aug. 22: McCook golf girls at Cambridge Triangular, 4 p.m.

The official first varsity sporting event of 2019-20 as McCook putts with not only Trojans but familiar district foe Lexington at Cross Creek Golf Course.

Aug. 23: McCook softball girls at Gothenburg, 6:30 p.m.

Friday night lights start on the diamonds where McCook meets an always feisty team of G-Burg Swedes.

Aug. 29: McCook volleyball girls at Lexington, 7 p.m. Bison volleyball debuts with plenty of talented young players who gained varsity experience last season.

Aug. 30: McCook Golf Invitational, 9 a.m. The season’s big home tournament brings several area schools to Heritage Hills including Southwest, Holdrege, Dundy County-Stratton, Minden and those Cambridge Trojans again.

Aug. 31: McCook Tennis Invitational, 9 a.m. The Bison boys host an early-season tourney this year to follow their historic GNAC tourney-wining season in 2018. Holdrege, Gering, Scottsbluff and Lexington are all scheduled to compete on the MHS courts.

Sept. 3: McCook volleyball home triangular, 5 p.m. A chance to see more Bison home matches with Chase County and Minden, who typically gather for this tri in late October.

Sept. 5: Triple the fun on this Thursday night because McCook tennis hosts Hastings (4 p.m.), softball invites Holdrege to the Jaycees Complex (6:30 p.m.) and and Bison volleyball will also be home for Hastings (7 p.m.).

Sept. 7: While Bison cross country debuts at Cozad (9 a.m.), McCook softball hosts its annual invitational (9 a.m.) with seven teams ranging from Alliance and Chadron to Grand Island Central Catholic.

Sept. 10: McCook softball hosts Kearney Catholic. The Stars are a new program making their historic first visit to McCook for this 6:30 p.m. varsity game.

Sept. 12: McCook softball hosting Lexington, 6:30 p.m. Every Bison fan has to love all these home softball games with early September weather that should still be nice and warm.

Sept. 17: McCook Cross Country Invite at Heritage Hills, 5 p.m. Always great races with Class B and C teams covering Heritage Hills. Cambridge, Dundy County-Stratton and Chase County are other area schools but others like North Platte, Ogalalla and Sidney will also compete.

Sept. 21: McCook Volleyball Invitational, 11 a.m.

Moved back into later September still means traditional challengers Alliance, Cambridge and Chase County will test the Bison. Southwest and Decatur Community (Kan.) are among the eight-team field.

Oct. 1: McCook volleyball at Cambridge Triangular, 5 p.m. Look out, because top hitter Korynn Clason’s back and leading that state-qualifying Trojan squad. Cozad will complete the trio for this evening at Cambridge High.

Oct. 5: Quite a Saturday in North Platte where both the GNAC softball and tennis tournaments will be taking place.

Oct. 10: McCook tbennis hosts North Platte, 3:30 p.m. A big dual with the Bulldogs as this season already will be moving into its home sttretch.

Oct. 12: McCook host varsity tennis, 11 a.m. North Platte, Beatrice and Scottsbluff join The Bison.

Oct. 14-15: The state tournaments already begin with golf these two days.

Oct. 16-18: State softball at Hastings, where the Bison were a Class B top four finisher two years ago.

Oct. 19: The GNAC volleyball tournament comes to McCook High, 9 a.m. How about the Bison hosting Columbus, Gering, Hastings, Scottsbluff and North Platte.

Oct. 25: Quite a Friday with state cross country at Kearney followed by the huge regular-season football finale where Scottsbluff visits McCook. So much for not mentioning football through this entire piece.

Oct. 29: Varsity district volleyball tournaments begin.

Nov. 2: McCook’s Unified Bowling team hosts a triangular with Cambridge and Lexington starting at 10 a.m. in TJ’s Family Fun Center.

Nov. 7-9: State volleyball time in Lincoln where McCook and all the area teams will be trying to reach. That will conclude fall sports except — of course — hopefully Bison football at Memorial Stadium.