BEATRICE - One thing Southeast Community College will have a greater supply of, this coming year, is athletes.


SCC is greatly expanding its athletic offerings in men’s and women’s sports…and moving men’s and women’s basketball programs, cross country and track to the Lincoln Campus. The college core group of sports has included basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer.


Athletic Director Brett Bright said coaches have been hired for the various expanded sports, and athletes will be starting their seasons, soon.  "Right now, our goal is by the beginning of school is to have approximately 300 athletes total. Last year, we had 178."  The college has been filling full-time and part-time coaching positions for the various sports.


Tyson Parks, Assistant Athletic Director remains head baseball coach. Terry Pack has been hired as Men’s Wrestling Coach…Jake Hamilton is Women’s Wrestling Coach….Gary Lytle as a Softball Coach…Phillip Duncan as men’s and women’s cross-country coach….Andrew Paquette has been named Women’s Golf Coach…Christian Hartig as Women’s Soccer Coach…Devin Garcia as Co-Ed Shooting Sports Coach….and Chris Cummings, as Co-Ed E-Sports Head Coach.


The men’s wrestling team has about 40 athletes…..27 recruits in women’s wrestling. The Beatrice Campus of the school is also adding competitive rodeo, coached by 40th ranked national steer wrestler Reed Kreager. Steer wrestling, team roping and barrel racing will be initial competitions.


Bright also says SCC is starting a developmental team for SCC baseball.  "There are a lot more kids that are interested in coming that maybe don't have the skill to play at the collegiate level yet, so what we've talked about to each of them is if they want to come and be part of our developmental team, basically it is a redshirt for junior colleges, is the way you would look at it. So, they stay with us for a year and either continue on with our team or they can progress to another team. This gives them an opportunity to come and live on campus, work out with our regular baseball team...as well as grow and get that instruction that they deserve."


Twenty-four players have been recruited for the developmental team in baseball. The collegiate team has about 40 regulars and came within one victory of qualifying this past year for the NJCAA National Tournament.


Southeast Community College plans to announce a new mascot for SCC teams, in early August.