Cross country teams race into SEMO conference battle

Notre Dame, Jackson and Central will compete for cross country conference supremacy next week in Poplar Bluff.

The three area schools have had varied levels of success this season heading into Thursday's SEMO Conference meet. Notre Dame's boys team has scored wins over both local squads this season and is having its best year in the program's 10-year history.

Central possesses possibly the top female runner in the area and one of the best in the state in junior Jennifer Pancoast. Pancoast's teammates -- Holly Shaffer, Cassie Kipper and Linnea Woldtvedt -- also have made strides this season.

Jackson has battled through sickness in recent weeks on the boys side but has had strong showings from its girls team.

The meet will be the final regular season meet for both Jackson and Central, who will compete at the district meet Oct. 25 at Jackson.

Central football banged up

Central got more than its pride bruised in Thursday's football loss to Jackson.

Already without lineman T.J. Bishop, who hurt his hand against Dexter, Central played the second half without Patrick Slattery, who was inserted into Bishop's spot.

Slattery suffered a minor concussion and likely will be out a week. Starting center and linebacker Kyle Schuessler missed time in the first half with an ankle injury but did return and played the entire second half. The Tigers will have a long week to recover before a Saturday game at Sumner.

"We have to get better," Central lineman Darren Neels said. "We're not a good team, and we have to get better on all sides of the football."

County volleyball finals set

Volleyball district foes Advance and Bell City will meet for the second time this season today in the Stoddard County Conference Tournament.

Advance won the first meeting between the teams in three games. The two teams could meet again in the Class 1, District 2 final at Bell City later this month.

The Cubs (15-7) are led by hitter Katie Niemczyk and setter Whitney Abner. Advance (18-5) has a pair of powerful hitters in Dana Williams and Nicole Tropf.

Rushing record falls again

For the second time this season the single-game high school rushing record has fallen in Missouri.

Windsor's Blane Boss broke Jackson graduate Mario Whitney's record Sept. 19 with 508 yards against Hillsboro. Two weeks later Orrick's Austin Jones rushed for 522 yards to break Boss' record.

College notes

Central graduate Ashlie Voerg, a junior soccer player at Indiana State, has scored a goal in each of the Sycamores' past two victories. Indiana State is 5-2-2, including a 0-0 tie against Southeast Missouri State University. Voerg is tied for the team lead in goals with four and points with eight.

Scott Wittenborn, son of Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn and a Notre Dame graduate, scored his first collegiate goal in UMSL's 2-1 win over Northern Kentucky. Wittenborn is a sophomore after playing last year as a walk-on.

Central graduate Kim Pancoast, a redshirt freshman cross country runner at the University of Nebraska, put up her best time as a Cornhusker last Saturday in Chicago at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational. Pancoast placed 18th in a time of 18:07, 1:55 better than her previous personal-best.