There is no doubt that there was a strong senior presence dominated in AHS varsity sports this year. Twelve seniors were on the roster for the Alliance High School varsity football team, eight seniors on the varsity basketball team, and six on the varsity wrestling roster. The graduating class of 2017 has had a great impact on the face of sports at Alliance High.

    The Alliance High School football team has had many successes throughout the years. The past two years resulted in the team participation in the district championship, and making it to the playoffs in the 2015 season. Sadly, the team ended their 2016 season with a loss to Scottsbluff at the district championship, and did not make it to playoffs. Their final season record was 5-4.

“We are going to need a lot of players to step up. The kids that are returning are going to have to take on a bigger role,” junior and quarterback Owen Shelmadine stated about the team.    

“I think the team will continue to exemplify all of the components that will make them a strong, competitive group. Their strong points will be our coaching staff teaching the guys what they need to know and do, but their weak spots could be the lack of depth. They will still compete very hard and do very well! We have a lot of talent coming up and now it’s their time to show what they can do,” senior Brody Brennan stated about the football team.

Eight seniors will be leaving the basketball team, drastically changing next year’s starters. The one remaining starter will be sophomore, Mason Hiemstra. With the seniors being as tall as they are, the team is more diverse for both defense and offense. Even though the team will be losing the seniors, they will perform to the best of their ability and continue to work hard to represent Alliance. The Alliance Bulldogs are currently 19-4, and their season is soon coming to an end as they enter districts.

“I am confident in our underclassmen coming up and being a big roll for the team with only having two seniors and five juniors next year. It is going to be a learning year with all the young players coming up and not knowing the pressure of a varsity game. We will be okay without the seniors. We will not have the size they have, so we will have to box out, but we have a lot of really good shooters and defensive players that will play varsity next year,” according to sophomore Mason Hiemstra.

“I believe the team will continue to perform very well. It will have a completely different look next year, but we have got several classes of kids in a row that, although undersized, are very skilled. Our JV team has put that skill to good use over the course. The ball handling, speed, and outside shooting abilities of our younger guys should be great benefits to have in neutralizing other team size advantage. As long as the kids continue to

practice with the same work ethic and skill development that they have in the past, I have no doubt that they will be competing with the best for the next few years,” Mr. Waters, the freshman basketball coach, stated about the team’s future.

The Alliance High School wrestling team has also had a very successful past two seasons. Six seniors are a part of the varsity roster, and each has a lot of talent. Seven wrestlers made it to the 2017 state tournament, four of whom were seniors; Rey Valdez, Danny Vallejo, Lane Lauder, and Bryant Wilson. Valdez, Trout, and Vallejo all sustained an injury throughout the season, but still continued to put in the work during weights and practice. Rey Valdez and Danny Vallejo medaled at the state tournament; however, Tyler Trout was unable to compete during his last wrestling season. All of the seniors were successful during their career and represented the AHS team very well.

The 2017 graduating class has been on the starting lineup for two to three years now, and have all played a very big roll on the team. Many fans and students can say that it is sad to see all of the senior athletes leave after graduation.

The Alliance High School senior class has had a great impact on the face of sports today. They have been great role models to the underclassmen and upcoming high schoolers during their high school sport careers. Alliance High School hopes the lessons learned during high school sports will guide them through the future. Just as a sub is waiting to get into the game, the referee is beckoned to bring them on the floor, and another leaves the game.