Team: Guardian Angels Central Catholic
Mascot: Bluejays
Colors: Blue and White
Class: C-2
Conference: Mid-State
Head Coach: Alex Stieren (3rd season)
2018-2019 record: 4-18 (lost to BRLD in Sub-Districts)
Returning Starters: 4
Overview:
The GACC Boys Basketball Team looks to be much improved from the last couple of years as the Bluejays return 4 starters off last year's team.
The returning starters for 3rd year Head Coach Alex Stieren are Brendan Rief (5'10, JR G), Ben Ulrich (6'2, JR G), Adam Reeson (6'3, SR P), and Casey Doernemann (6'5, SR P).
Stieren kind of looks for them to assert themselves as leaders of the team.
Other letterwinners/newcomers include Nate Niewohner (5'8, SO G), Tobias Steffensmeier (5'11, JR G), Cody Steffen (6'1, JR G), and Blake Pojar (5'11, SR G).
I feel like the Bluejays will have a good mix of size and speed.
I think GACC will be a tough matchup for teams this season.
Stieren says summer weightlifting went well. "Oh yeah we did a whole new school wide lifting program that did basketball, volleyball, softball, everything. Everyone was involved with it."
Offseason highlights include Speed Camp started back up for the town, lots of improvement from a lot of guys over the summer, and winning the Concordia Team Camp.
Stieren says team expects to do well this year. "Only lost one starter. All the guys listed played extensive minutes last year. Looking forward to me more balanced team and well conditioned."
That one senior was Jared Minnick. The other senior the team lost from last year was Tyson Snodgrass.
There's no reason to think the Bluejays won't be good and successful this year.
All the pieces are in place for GACC to have a successful season.
The Bluejays should be much improved, in my opinion.
I wouldn't be surprised if they at least doubled their combined win total of the last two seasons.
I look for GACC to make a big jump and leap this year.
I think you will see a much better Bluejay squad on the floor this year.
Season Outlook:
The GACC Boys figure to be much improved this year, but the schedule is very challenging.
The toughest games figure to come against Wisner-Pilger, Lutheran High Northeast, Columbus Scotus, Wynot, David City Aquinas, Oakland-Craig, Wayne, Battle Creek, Hartington Cedar Catholic, Fremont Bergan, and Winnebago.
The schedule sure has its challenges, but I feel the Bluejays have a chance to win a quite a few of these games.
There's no reason they shouldn't honestly.
GACC just has to become more consistent on both ends of the floor.
The Bluejays would have a strong defensive game last year, but the offense would struggle.
The offense would do well and then the defense would struggle.
GACC just has to find a way to put things together in multiple games this season.
Sure the Bluejays will struggle at times and on some nights, but GACC can also improve a lot throughout the season and be a good team.
The Bluejays open up the season at home on December 6th against Wisner-Pilger in action that will be aired on 107.9 the Bull.
That should be a heck of a matchup as the Gators return quite a bit of talent as well.
GACC is in Sub-District C2-3 with Oakland-Craig, Fremont Bergan, Yutan, and Omaha Brownell-Talbot.
Stieren shares his thoughts on the Sub-District. "I think it should be fun again. I mean a great team Yutan being Runner-Up last year. Obviously replaces BRLD for us. But it's good to switch it up every once in a while. We got kind of used to playing the same teams, and it's going to be fun to open up our schedule a little bit at the end of the year."
I think this season has the potential to be very good and a heck of a year for the Bluejays.
I wouldn't be surprised if GACC got back to their winning ways of the past.
The Bluejays need to get off to a strong start though.
GACC needs to be like 3-2 or at worst 2-3 heading into the Christmas Holiday.
2019-2020 GACC Bluejays Boys Basketball Schedule:
12/06/19 Wisner-Pilger
12/07/19 @ Lutheran High Northeast
12/10/19 @ Columbus Scotus
12/12/19 @ Wynot
12/14/19 Crofton
12/28-12/30 (To Be Determined) Homer Holiday Tournament Homer
01/04/20 Aquinas Catholic
01/07/20 @ Oakland-Craig
01/09/20 @ Pender
01/17/20 Wayne
01/18/20 Boone Central/Newman Grove
01/21/20 Battle Creek
01/24/20 O'Neill
01/25/20 @ Hartington Cedar Catholic
01/30/20 @ Mead D2
02/01-02/08 (To Be Determined) Mid State Conference Norfolk
02/11/20 Norfolk Catholic
02/13/20 @ Pierce
02/15/20 Archbishop Bergan
02/21/20 Winnebago
Team: Guardian Angels Central Catholic
Mascot: Bluejays
Colors: Blue and White
Class: C-2
Conference: Mid-State
Head Coach: Jerry Stracke (22nd season) (431-115 career record)
2018-2019 record: 15-9 (lost to Oakland-Craig in Sub-District Final)
Returning Starters: 3
Overview:
The GACC Girls look to return to state this year after having their 21-year streak snapped by Oakland-Craig last year.
3 starters return for long time Head Coach Jerry Stracke, and they are Marissa Hunke (5'7, SR G), Hannah Knobbe (5'6, SR G), and Sophia Hass (5'7, SO G).
Other returning letterwinners and newcomers include Brenna Rief (5'6, JR G), Erica Engelmeyer (5'7, SO P), Kate Gnad (5'3, SO G), Livia Hunke (5'4, SO G), and Brandi Doernemann (5'11, JR P), who is coming off an ACL tear.
Stracke says the offseason was a success. "We had a big turnout. The girls got after it in the weightroom. We've kind of put in a new program in. And summer league went really well."
He adds the team has their work cut out for them this year. "We will be young - just two seniors and two juniors - not very tall - Class C2 will be one of the toughest class this year."
The Bluejays graduated Hannah Hrbek, Ally Plagge, Maddie Bracht, and Angela Jansen last year.
GACC also lost Reece Snodgrass to West Point-Beemer.
I think it's imperative that Doernemann stay healthy this year.
The Bluejays really need her to score points and block shots down low.
GACC has to really get after it defensively with their guards as well.
The Bluejays have to be tough and strong physically and mentally, and have to take the ball strong to the basket.
GACC can't be afraid of or shy away from contact.
The Bluejays have to be physical, and get up right their opponents' grills.
GACC has to be the hardest working team in the state.
This is a very proud program, and I wouldn't be shocked whatsoever if the Bluejays got back to state this season.
It's going to take a lot of hard work and determination on GACC's part, but it can definitely happen as long as the Bluejays make it happen.
Season Outlook:
GACC hopes to recapture the glory days of State Basketball in Lincoln this year.
Stracke hopes the team can just play this year. "Last year they were feeling the pressure. And hopefully this year they can have some fun and just enjoy playing."
The schedule sets up nicely early on for the Bluejays.
I wouldn't be surprised if GACC won all or almost all of their games before Christmas and took home another Holiday Tournament Title.
The schedule intensifies to start the new year though with the likes of Aquinas, Wayne, Bishop Neumann, and Fremont Bergan on the schedule all in a row.
GACC has a lot of tough road games the second part of the season so we'll see what that brings when the time comes.
The Bluejays open up the year at home against Wisner-Pilger on December 6th in action that can be heard on 107.9 the Bull.
Stracke says he's looking forward to the matchup. "They're coming off a great Volleyball season. And they're always going to give you your best shot. So we're looking forward to a good game and hopefully we'll see some improvement from last year."
GACC picked up a thrilling win over Battle Creek last year and then went 3-6 to end the season.
The Bluejays will need to play better basketball down the stretch this year if they hope to make it back to state.
GACC is in Sub-District C2-4 with BRLD, Wisner-Pilger, Ponca, and Homer.
Stracke says the Sub-District is loaded. "Ponca made it to state last year. BRLD is always good. Homer has people back from last year that were good."
I think Sub-State could be a very good thing for the Bluejays this year.
GACC needs to play well throughout the season to make a Sub-State game should they not win their Sub-District, but the Bluejays are very capable of getting the job done, both playing well in the regular season and winning their Sub-District.
It's a long season with a lot of games so GACC has to be mentally and physically ready for the long haul.
2019-2020 GACC Bluejays Girls Basketball Schedule:
12/06/19 Wisner-Pilger
12/07/19 @ Lutheran High Northeast
12/10/19 @ Columbus Scotus
12/12/19 @ Wynot
12/14/19 Crofton
12/19/19 Winnebago
12/21/19 Norfolk Catholic
12/28-12/30 (To Be Determined) Homer Holiday Tournament Homer
01/04/20 Aquinas Catholic
01/06/20 @ Wayne
01/14/20 @ Bishop Neumann
01/16/20 @ Archbishop Bergan
01/18/20 Boone Central/Newman Grove
01/21/20 Battle Creek
01/24/20 O'Neill
01/25/20 @ Hartington Cedar Catholic
01/30/20 @ Mead
02/01-02/08 (To Be Determined) Mid State Conference Norfolk, WSC
02/11/20 @ Pender
02/13/20 @ Pierce
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