Almost time for another big fall! Sports in one week

McCOOK, Neb. — Yay! Another year to enjoy freedom and high school sports are near with McCook Bison teams all getting ready for the 2021 fall season.

A total of 196 Bison student-athletes started practices this week, according to latest information from MHS.

Bison football features more than 50 players again while softball, volleyball, cross country and boys’ tennis bring 31 to 37 into the ’21 campaign.

The girls’ golf team also features enough for a full varsity lineup as new coach Carol Brown begins her Bison career.

Both McCook golf and softball officially start fall competition on Thursday, August 19.

Coach Jason Cochran sends his softball girls to Gothenburg where they’ll face those rival Swedes.

Who could forget the last season opener at G-Burg in 2019?

McCook dropped a wild 15-14 extra-inning affair, but got revenge while winning the B-6 subdistrict title on that same diamond about two months later.

Meanwhile, the Bison golfers return some young players who gained varsity experience last fall. They’ll take on the Cambridge Trojans and Lexington at a Cross Creek Course triangular one week from today.

Some other McCook fall sports dates to mark on the first month calendar through September.

A full schedule of all Bison events also appears online at mccookgazette.com.

August 23: A first look at McCook’s volleyball talent vs. Dundy County-Stratton and Hitchcock County in the McCook Jamboree.

August 27: The Bison didn’t play a home football game until week five last year after their home opener vs. Crete was canceled.

Let’s all stay healthy and get ready to see the Hastings Tigers play an official season opener at Weiland Field. The Bison are due to give those Tigers a big ‘L’ considering Hastings has won three consecutive meetings including 30-7 at Weiland two years ago.

On this same “first Friday” of 2021-22, McCook High’s golf girls host their invitation at Heritage Hills where Southwest, Cambridge and DC-S are all set to compete.

August 28: It’s always fun to see a Matt Wiemers-coached tennis team especially when someone donates morning donuts.

The Bison boys return a lot of talent from last year’s Class B top five team and host a McCook Invitational starting at 9:30 a.m.

A good wake-up before Frost hits with his Nebraska Cornhuskers at Illinois just after noon.

September 4: McCook’s softball girls host their annual eight-team tournament at the Jaycees Complex.

There are nine seniors returning and several freshmen on what should be quite an entertaining Bison team.

September 9: Both McCook Junior High football and volleyball teams make their home debuts can cheer for two always-fun wins over North Platte.

September 11: Strap the chin straps tighter because York Dukes invade Weiland Field. It’s always a slobber knocker with points not scoring too easily.

September 16: Most should remember McCook’s super GNAC and district champion cross country girls. They’ll be running Heritage Hills on this Thursday afternoon against several teams including Cambridge, Chase County, Dundy County-Stratton and Hitchcock.

September 17: The Seward Bluejays arrive to begin a stretch of three Bison home games in their first four. They only played three at Weiland Field all season because of ughh COVID-19.

September 18: McCook High’s volleyball girls defend their McCook Invite title starting at 11 a.m. Cambridge, Southwest and Decatur Community (Kan.) are all competing again besides Class B foes like Alliance and Valentine.

September 27: McCook cross country makes the journey to a UNK Invitational always ran on Kearney’s Country Club Course. These Bison could make a real impact here and in their return to Kearney for Class B state in October.