[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College men’s and women’s cross country team added another milestone to its 2018 season on Wednesday with the announcement of the first United States Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association NJCAA Division I rankings of the season.

 

For the first time in 16 years, both Blue Dragon cross country teams are ranked in the Top 10 at the same time.

The men are ranked No. 5 in the first rankings of the season. The women start out at No. 6.

The last time both Hutch men and women were ranked in the Top 10 was 2002 when the Blue Dragon men were No. 7 and the women were No. 10.

Hutchinson’s men have won two team titles this season, which is the first time since 2000 that has happened. The Dragons won the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic and then placed six runners in the Top 10 at the Missouri Southern Stampede last weekend in Joplin, Missouri.

The Blue Dragon men are the second-highest ranked Jayhawk Conference team in the Top 10. Cloud County is No. 3 in the first rankings, followed by Hutchinson at No. 5, Allen at No. 7, Colby at No. 13 and Cowley at No. 16. Central Arizona is the No. 1-ranked team in the first regular-season rankings. Iowa Central is No. 2.

This is the Hutch men’s first Top 10 national rankings appearance since 2013 when the Blue Dragons started No. 8 in the nation.

The Hutchinson women knocked on the door of a Top 10 ranking last season, climbing as high as No. 12. The last time Hutchinson was ranked in the Top 10 was a No. 7 national ranking in 2004.

The Blue Dragons have one team championship to their credit this season, the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic. Hutchinson finished fourth at the Missouri Southern Stampede last weekend.

Lisayo Ewoi broke Ruth Limo’s 17-year record at the Stampede last weekend with a Blue Dragon-best 18:29.1.

The Blue Dragons will next run at the Emporia State Invitational on Saturday, October 6.

USTFCCCA/NJCAA DIVISION I CROSS COUNTRY RANKINGS

MEN

1. Central Arizona

2. Iowa Central

3. Cloud County

4. El Paso

5. Hutchinson

6. South Plains

7. Allen

8. Trinidad State

9. Southern Idaho

10. Louisburg

11. Lansing

12. Hawkeye

13. Colby

14. Ranger

15. Waubonsee

16. Cowley

17. North Iowa Area

17. Mesa

19. Grand Rapids

20. Indian Hills

 

Women

1. Iowa Central

2. El Paso

3. Cowley

4. Central Arizona

5. South Plains

6. Hutchinson

7. Allen

8. Southern Idaho

9. Pratt

10. Highland

11. Mesa

11. Trinidad State

13. Hawkeye

14. North Iowa Area

15. Lansing

16. Pasco-Hernando

17. Pima

18. Dodge City

19. Monroe

20. Macomb

[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College football team had a clean sweep this week as three Blue Dragons were named Jayhawk Conference Football Players of the Week, the league released on Tuesday.

Quarterback Mason Schucker was named the conference’s offensive player of the week. Cornerback Art Green was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Sebastian Garcia became the third Blue Dragon this season to capture Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Schucker, a 6-foot-4, 207-pound freshman quarterback from Searcey, Arkansas, continues to make steady improvement each week. A statement to that fact came Saturday when he threw four touchdown passes in a 61-21 No. 12 Hutch victory over Fort Scott. Schucker completed 11 for 22 passes and touchdowns of 4, 48, 73 and 11 yards, all coming in a first half where Hutch built a 38-7 lead. Schucker is the first Blue Dragon QB since 2014 to have at least four touchdown passes in one game.

Green, a 6-2, 201-pound freshman cornerback from St. Louis, Missouri, became the second Blue Dragon this season with a two-interception game. Green had two picks in the victory over Fort Scott. Green had four total tackles; three were solo stops and one pass broken up. Green’s second interception of the game was a highlight-reel one-handed grab right on the sidelines at the Hutch 4-yard line.

Garcia highlighted a busy day against Fort Scott with a school-record 48-yard field goal. A 6-1, 205-pound freshman from Greer, South Carolina, was 6 of 6 on point-after tries and 2 of 2 on field goals from 33 and 48 yards. Garcia also had seen kickoffs and three touchbacks. He averaged 28.1 yards per punt on seven attempts.

Schucker, Green and Garcia are the fourth, fifth and sixth Blue Dragons to earn Jayhawk Conference Football Player of the Week honors.

BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler volleyball team suffered two losses at home Tuesday evening.

In match one, the Crusaders fell to Circle in straight sets 16-25 and 21-25. In the late match, the Crusaders lost in three sets to Andale by scores of 13-25, 25-23 and 8-25.

Buhler falls to 9-4 on the season and 2-2 in the conference.

In other volleyball action:

Central Christian lost a pair of matches in Wichita, falling to Medicine Lodge 2-0 and Sunrise Christian 2-0.

Nickerson won twice by beating Classical School of Wichita 2-0 and then Kingman 2-0.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The HutchCC soccer team is at home for a 6 p.m. match against Dodge City.

The Dragons have had trouble finding the goal as of late despite numerous opportunities.

Head Coach Sammy Lane says it is starting to get a little frustrating for the team:

 

The match gets underway at 6 p.m. at the Salthawk Sports Complex.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The HutchCC volleyball team is on the road this evening for a match at Butler. The Dragons are coming off a win over Garden City on Saturday.

Head Coach Patrick Hall says the team is starting to turn the corner a little bit since a disappointing loss at Colby last week:

 

Match time is 6:30 p.m. from El Dorado.

SALINA, Kan. — Hutch High golfer Meredith Kinney continued her fine season as she placed 6th out of a field of 70 golfers at the Salina South Invitational on Monday. Kinney shot an 18-hole score of 89. Also for Hutch, Rylie Cannon finished 49th with a 117; Carter McFadden was next in 56th with a 123 and Evann Deal ended up 65th with a score of 137.

As a team, Hutchinson finished 11th for the day with a total score of 460.

 

Complete results:

Team Results
Place Team Score
1 Maize 366
2 Manhattan 371
3 Hays 393
4 Salina-South 401
5 Concordia 403
6 Great Bend 412
7 Derby 419
8 Goddard-Eisenhower 426
9 Newton 427
10 Dodge City 448
11 Hutchinson 460
12 Haysville Campus 475
13 Salina-Central 488

 

Individual Results