Sunday Edition: Chasing Noah

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If you don't know about this nowhere, you don't know me / Not everybody thinks we got it made, but we do, don't we? — from "Don’t We” by Morgan Wallen

There is something peaceful about a drive out west down Nebraska Highway 61. On a day like last Tuesday — hot and steamy, with a slight breeze — it ends at Chase County High School’s discus ring.

This is a land of rolling hills, ranches, cattle, fiber internet (if you know, you know) and, well, hard work. Indeed, this mountain time zone oasis is not for everyone. But, it fits Longhorn Noah Rau just perfectly.

“The people of Chase County, the support they give us is just amazing,” Rau said, not long after competing for a final time in Imperial on Tuesday.

Rau has sprung up out of this land like a corn field in June. Planting his seed and then working hard to be the best he can be. Now, the Chase County senior and Nebraska track and field pledge — not on anyone’s mind until this time last year — is one of the top-five prep discus throwers in the United States.

At last year’s state meet, he broke the state record with his throw of 203’9” to win Class B and the all-class gold medal. It was his first throw over 200-feet in competition after he had thrown 198’10” in districts. Marty Kobza’s mark had stood since 1981.

Now, 200-feet is commonplace for Rau who has hit the mark in four meets this year including yesterday in Hershey. He has not lost a Nebraska discus competition since he finished 15th at state as a sophomore and now, with Chase County back in Class C for 2026, he holds the state record in two different classes.

But, Noah Rau’s secret ingredient to his state record in the discus — now standing at 207’3” — isn’t going to take long to tell you about.

He did it the Chase County way.

“Every day, you have to wake up with an attitude that you are going to get better,” Rau says behind his home bleachers. It’s too bad a group of youngsters weren’t listening. “It wasn’t like overnight I went from a 130 (feet) thrower to a 150-feet thrower.

“One week it started at 130, then 135 and just progressively it got better. It’s crazy what you can make happen with consistency, hard work and dedication.”

Longhorn track coach Carl Zuege has seen it all first hand. He said Rau’s success has spread, not only in his track team but throughout the school.

“When your best athlete is your hardest worker that’s when you see excellence like Noah has, but it’s contagious,” Zuege said. “You can’t put a value on a kid like Noah.

“He’s in the weight room at 6:00 AM every day; he comes out by himself and throws on the weekend. I think early last year, we knew we’d have a good one. I am not sure we fully expected this, but he has done everything it takes to get to this level.”

This Highway 61 corridor has seen it’s fair share of recent success, too. Zuege said many of the area athletes feed off each other.

Last spring, behind distance phenoms Mason McGreer and Elijah Goodell, the Perkins County boys won the Class C state track title. Down the road in Benkelman, the Spargo sisters and the Bailey brother-sister combo have set Dundy County-Stratton up for a chance at back-to-back boys and girls titles in Class D.

Last fall, the Chase County girls cross country team won the Class C state championship. All that in addition to Rau’s all-class gold.

“We have seen a lot of kids around here — even at this meet — like Mason last year and the Spargo girls and Dundy County this year,” Zuege said. “It’s a rising tide. Southwest Nebraska has been on fire in track and field recently.”

Noah Rau’s discus has taken him across the country.

From Kentucky to Oregon, he visited many of the top track and field programs in the nation. He flew in above the horse training facilities in Kentucky and performed in the Nike Nationals meet at venerable Hayward Field in Eugene, OR.

“(The recruiting process) was just so much fun,” he said. “You really have to embrace it and I got to enjoy that with my family. Each trip meant a lot to us.”

In the end, with the focus on throws in Lincoln all that traveling led back home for Rau. 

“It wasn’t a close decision at the end of it,” he admits. “Nebraska was fantastic. The new facilities are just amazing and they have a throws focus with their coaches. The new throws facility they have is one of the best in the nation. I am super excited to be a part of it.”

Zuege wasn’t surprised, either.

“Noah comes from just a great, humble, solid family,” he said. “You never worried about him making the wrong decision.”

Before Lincoln, there is still work to do for Noah Rau. It’s conference, district and, finally, state track season where the Imperial wonder will have his eyes on another state championship, another all-class gold medal.

“The last few summers, it has just been a lot of work in the weight room and a lot of work in the ring,” he says. “Improving by 40-feet last year was just awesome to see. I put in even more work last summer just trying to get better. It’s hard to get 40-feet better when you are at 200, but it’s fun to see what we have gotten out of the work this year.”

Now, a final high school step awaits Noah Rau. You sense he is completely ready.

“We like to say pressure is a privilege,” he adds. “You just have to embrace it and see where the Lord can take you.”

North on Highway 61 out of Imperial, Interstate 80 is about 45 miles away. When Chase County turns east for Burke Stadium, Rau will have one final chance for more history.

Everyone else, it seems, will just be chasing.

“Discipline, drive, and dedication. Competitive spirit. A commitment to constant improvement. These qualities make great athletes and coaches. They also make great financial advisors. Northwestern Mutual advisors educate clients to make important decisions to live differently and achieve their goals of financial security. Learn more about joining our team. Karges Financial Group and the Great Plains District are proud supporters of Nebraska high school athletics.