Bison starring in class with 44 all-GNAC

MCCOOK, Neb. — Volleyball’s killing it in the classroom as six 4.0 students on coach Audrey Feeney’s team top 44 McCook all-GNAC academic selections.

The Bison spikers feature 11 overall who’ve topped a 3.5 GPA this fall, just one more than coach Jason Cochran’s softball girls with 10.

McCook football (eight), combined cross country (eight) and boys’ tennis (seven) almost equally divide another 23 all-GNAC academic selections.

Senior Class B state qualifier Kaylie Puckett represents the smaller Bison girls’ golf squad.

Coaches nominate their athletes for all-GNAC honors. They must be a high school senior or junior letterwinner.

A glance at all McCook academic honorees:

Volleyball

4.0 GPAs — SeniorsTiara Matson, Liviya Wier and Elsa Wilcox; juniors Emma Dutton, Addison Randel and Ainsley Taylor.

Senior Harley Cribbs leads other all-GNAC (3.976) volleyball Bison followed by classmates Bree Janousek, Charity Malleck and Narissa Fawver.

Softball

4.0 GPAs — Senior Ashley Miller and junior Aliyah Redfield.

Senior Emma Kehler (3.974), juniors Carly Peters (3.862) and Tesa Nelson (3.821) are other Bison leaders along with senior Savannah Donovan, juniors Graci Nelson, Emily Alberts, Kaedin Waugh and Jada Berry.

Football

4.0 GPA — Senior Mark Arp.

Senior Alec Langan (3.975), junior Nathan Renner (3.867) and senior Luke Maris (3.762) are other best of the Bison. Joining them are senior Ty Stevens, juniors Cole Thomas, Matthew Nichols and Logan Havlicek.

Cross country

4.0 GPAs — Seniors Lexi Hauxwell, Kailynn Rodewald, Madison Tarenz-Rasmusen and junior Tucker Gillespie.

Junior Grace Cappel (3.971) and senior Bryce Dutton (3.905) join the Bison bests along with juniors Joslyn Hammond and Josh Hegwood.

Boys’ tennis

4.0 GPA — Junior Isaac Hinze.

Junior Ethan Graff (3.966), senior two-time Class B No. 2 singles state champion Mason Michaelis (3.714) and junior Isaac Nielsen (3.7) bring other high marks along with juniors Jadon Karp and James Neel.

Girls’ golf

Top average: Senior Kaylie Puckett leads the Bison at 3.975 besides making Class B state.